Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER I ROOTED FOR THE OPPOSITION TOO! THIS SAYS IT ALL ABOUT THE REAL DIVISION BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHTES IN THE USA!
RAY McNULTY: Shani Davis puts self above team
Scripps Howard News ServiceLast updated: February 17th, 2006 02:35 PM (PST)TURIN, Italy (SH) - Is it OK for an American to root against an American?
Because I want to.
I want American speedskater Shani Davis to lose Saturday in the Olympic men's 1,000-meter race - and lose badly.
He's behaving like a selfish, me-first jerk isn't.
Davis, the reigning world all-around champion, had a chance to help the United States win a gold medal Wednesday in the team-pursuit competition. He had a chance to help his teammate, Chad Hedrick, chase history. He had a chance to embrace the Olympic spirit and put the team ahead of himself.
He had more than a chance, really. He had an obligation.
And he shrunk from it.
After failing to medal in the 5,000-meter race last Saturday, after watching Hedrick skate to Olympic gold, Davis turned his back on his U.S. teammates and went his own way.
He deserted. He has made these Winter Games all about him. He has become the Terrell Owens of his sport.
Rather than skate for the U.S. in the team-pursuit races, he withdrew, saying he wanted to focus his energy and efforts on the 1,000-meter - his best event.
"I didn't come here to skate the team pursuit," Davis said at the time. "I've been training all year for the 1,000-meter. I want to give myself the best opportunity in the 1,000-meter. Skating the pursuit would take away from that. It's not a difficult decision."
It should have been a no-brainer.
He's here to skate for his country, which is supposed to be an honor, even a privilege. He should've skated for his country. He should've been a team player.
But, clearly, he isn't.
"It's my career," said Davis, 23, who grew up on the tough streets of Chicago's South Side. "I could care less what people say about me."
Then he won't mind me saying this: He's a disgrace to the uniform.
Davis might be a terrific skater, but he's a lousy teammate. He's a lone wolf. He's not exactly somebody you want in your foxhole.
It's bad enough that Davis, who is striving to become the first black competitor to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics, put his pursuit of personal glory above the success of the team. But he did something every bit as deplorable. He knowingly, maybe intentionally, let down a teammate.
"There can be only one No. 1," he recently told a Chicago newspaper.
He wants it to be him.
And, please, for those of you who might disagree, let's keep race out of it.
The fact that Davis is black is irrelevent.
Hedrick came to Italy with a believable chance to become Eric Heiden, the American speedskating legend who won five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
Just to put that in perspective: Heiden was Mark Spitz - on frozen water. He was unbeatable on ice. And if it hadn't been for Herb Brooks and his lovable U.S. hockey team, which pulled off a miraculous upset over the Soviet Union and went on to win an unimaginable gold medal, Heiden would've been the face of those Olympics.
Hedrick's quest was to share Olympus with such a skating god. But because the team-pursuit event was added to the Winter Olympics this year, he needed help to get there. He needed Davis to skate with him in the team pursuit.
"I'd like him to be in it because it would be a pretty sure gold medal, so it's tough to swallow," the 28-year-old Texan said after Davis backed out. "You would have the two best skaters in the world on the same team."
Davis, however, refused to skate. And the Hedrick-led U.S. team failed to medal, losing to eventual-champion Italy in the quarterfinals.
Afterward, Hedrick, a class act, said there was no one to blame. But he was wrong. And everyone knows it.
Even Heiden.
In an interview with NBC's Olympic Web site, Heiden tried to be diplomatic, saying Davis' dilemma was a "tough call." But he also said, given the same situation, he probably would've skated in the team pursuit.
"I think it would've been very easy to participate and come back well-rested for the 1,000-meter, and maybe even use that race as training," Heiden told NBCOlympics.com, later adding, "I can't imagine that racing on Wednesday, only one round, would limit his ability to race in the 1,000-meter on Saturday. That's a long time. Physically, I think he was more than capable of doing both. And he missed a great opportunity to test the ice at race speed."
Davis missed more than that.
He missed a chance to be a team player, to selflessly help Hedrick do something special, to endear himself to America, which loves to root for the good guy.
Now, no matter what happens today, Davis will come away from these Olympics as just another self-absorbed, all-about-me athlete who doesn't get it.
I hope he doesn't get a medal, either.
Ray McNulty is sports columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. Contact ray.mcnulty@shns.com, or on the Web at www.tcpalm.com.
Originally published: February 17th, 2006 02:35 PM (PST)
Scripps Howard News ServiceLast updated: February 17th, 2006 02:35 PM (PST)TURIN, Italy (SH) - Is it OK for an American to root against an American?
Because I want to.
I want American speedskater Shani Davis to lose Saturday in the Olympic men's 1,000-meter race - and lose badly.
He's behaving like a selfish, me-first jerk isn't.
Davis, the reigning world all-around champion, had a chance to help the United States win a gold medal Wednesday in the team-pursuit competition. He had a chance to help his teammate, Chad Hedrick, chase history. He had a chance to embrace the Olympic spirit and put the team ahead of himself.
He had more than a chance, really. He had an obligation.
And he shrunk from it.
After failing to medal in the 5,000-meter race last Saturday, after watching Hedrick skate to Olympic gold, Davis turned his back on his U.S. teammates and went his own way.
He deserted. He has made these Winter Games all about him. He has become the Terrell Owens of his sport.
Rather than skate for the U.S. in the team-pursuit races, he withdrew, saying he wanted to focus his energy and efforts on the 1,000-meter - his best event.
"I didn't come here to skate the team pursuit," Davis said at the time. "I've been training all year for the 1,000-meter. I want to give myself the best opportunity in the 1,000-meter. Skating the pursuit would take away from that. It's not a difficult decision."
It should have been a no-brainer.
He's here to skate for his country, which is supposed to be an honor, even a privilege. He should've skated for his country. He should've been a team player.
But, clearly, he isn't.
"It's my career," said Davis, 23, who grew up on the tough streets of Chicago's South Side. "I could care less what people say about me."
Then he won't mind me saying this: He's a disgrace to the uniform.
Davis might be a terrific skater, but he's a lousy teammate. He's a lone wolf. He's not exactly somebody you want in your foxhole.
It's bad enough that Davis, who is striving to become the first black competitor to win an individual gold medal in the Winter Olympics, put his pursuit of personal glory above the success of the team. But he did something every bit as deplorable. He knowingly, maybe intentionally, let down a teammate.
"There can be only one No. 1," he recently told a Chicago newspaper.
He wants it to be him.
And, please, for those of you who might disagree, let's keep race out of it.
The fact that Davis is black is irrelevent.
Hedrick came to Italy with a believable chance to become Eric Heiden, the American speedskating legend who won five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
Just to put that in perspective: Heiden was Mark Spitz - on frozen water. He was unbeatable on ice. And if it hadn't been for Herb Brooks and his lovable U.S. hockey team, which pulled off a miraculous upset over the Soviet Union and went on to win an unimaginable gold medal, Heiden would've been the face of those Olympics.
Hedrick's quest was to share Olympus with such a skating god. But because the team-pursuit event was added to the Winter Olympics this year, he needed help to get there. He needed Davis to skate with him in the team pursuit.
"I'd like him to be in it because it would be a pretty sure gold medal, so it's tough to swallow," the 28-year-old Texan said after Davis backed out. "You would have the two best skaters in the world on the same team."
Davis, however, refused to skate. And the Hedrick-led U.S. team failed to medal, losing to eventual-champion Italy in the quarterfinals.
Afterward, Hedrick, a class act, said there was no one to blame. But he was wrong. And everyone knows it.
Even Heiden.
In an interview with NBC's Olympic Web site, Heiden tried to be diplomatic, saying Davis' dilemma was a "tough call." But he also said, given the same situation, he probably would've skated in the team pursuit.
"I think it would've been very easy to participate and come back well-rested for the 1,000-meter, and maybe even use that race as training," Heiden told NBCOlympics.com, later adding, "I can't imagine that racing on Wednesday, only one round, would limit his ability to race in the 1,000-meter on Saturday. That's a long time. Physically, I think he was more than capable of doing both. And he missed a great opportunity to test the ice at race speed."
Davis missed more than that.
He missed a chance to be a team player, to selflessly help Hedrick do something special, to endear himself to America, which loves to root for the good guy.
Now, no matter what happens today, Davis will come away from these Olympics as just another self-absorbed, all-about-me athlete who doesn't get it.
I hope he doesn't get a medal, either.
Ray McNulty is sports columnist for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. Contact ray.mcnulty@shns.com, or on the Web at www.tcpalm.com.
Originally published: February 17th, 2006 02:35 PM (PST)
Saturday, February 18, 2006
MACON MARKETED ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF MIDDLE GEORGIA AS RETIREMENT HAVEN
AFTER TAKING A GUN SAFETY CLASS, THIS GRANDMA IS READY TO RETIRE IN MACON. LIFE IS BORING IN THE MIDWEST PART OF THE UNITED STATES, SO GRANNY SOLD THE FARM AND MOVED TO THE SOUTH. AFTER READING A BROCHURE, SHE LEARNED THAT CRIME WAS FINE, EXCEPT FOR SHOOTINGS. WHEN INTERVIEWED, GRANNY SAID THAT SHE REMEMBERED WATCHING "THE UNTOUCHABLES" AS A CHILD, AND SHE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EXCITING TO DRIVE AROUND IN A TOWN WITH CRIMINAL ACTION. LIFE IS GETTING CRAZY IN MACON FOR SURE.
Friday, February 10, 2006
MY SON IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MANY COMPUTERS AS AN IT SPECIALIST
While relaxing at home, Mark likes to wear a shirt that he would love to wear at work. I am so proud that you are self-reliant son, and able to make it in the world!
When I call you and ask you to help me with my computer all of the time are you wearing this shirt? Thank you for your unwavering patience with me and Pops. Love Mom.
The shirt says "Let me drop everything and work on your problem."
This post is updated to say congratulations son! We are so proud of your job offer today with Northrup Grumman!!!!!!!!!! I know you will be as good at this job, as you were a Marine! Way to Go! Now, we will be able to visit the Virginia area. I just wonder how you got so darn smart? Ha! I suppose you take after Mom, right? The green is for the increase in pay that I suppose you will be getting. You deserve this job, and you will go far in life. Just remember to stay faithful to the Lord. We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, February 06, 2006
EVEN LIBERTY LOVING BEN FRANKLIN KNEW THAT A SOCIETY WAS GREATER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL
"We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." Benjamin Franklin
I knew it was only a matter of time before David Corr and I would butt heads. David wants to run for Mayor of Macon, even though he does not have a "snowballs chance in hell of winning." I am smart enough to know that he thinks he will garner support from the denziens of society that think Macon would be a better place to live with nude so-called gentlemen's clubs in the City. David argues a Libertarian stance, and at the same time tramples on the rights of what he calls fascist mob rule that we happen to call society. So, I say that Benjamin Franklin is correct with his quote that insists that we definitely do not want to hang separately.
Society rules absolutely have a right to exist in our United States, and if society does not wish to coexist with sleezy nude clubs that exploit young women into a life style that leads to drug use, prostitution, alcoholism and a very dysfunctional life, then the members can fight against that which debases its moral foundation. David Corr criticizes collective fascism, while at the very same time thinks that individual fascism is just all right. I give a thumbs down to David Corr's so-called fight for freedom.
I knew it was only a matter of time before David Corr and I would butt heads. David wants to run for Mayor of Macon, even though he does not have a "snowballs chance in hell of winning." I am smart enough to know that he thinks he will garner support from the denziens of society that think Macon would be a better place to live with nude so-called gentlemen's clubs in the City. David argues a Libertarian stance, and at the same time tramples on the rights of what he calls fascist mob rule that we happen to call society. So, I say that Benjamin Franklin is correct with his quote that insists that we definitely do not want to hang separately.
Society rules absolutely have a right to exist in our United States, and if society does not wish to coexist with sleezy nude clubs that exploit young women into a life style that leads to drug use, prostitution, alcoholism and a very dysfunctional life, then the members can fight against that which debases its moral foundation. David Corr criticizes collective fascism, while at the very same time thinks that individual fascism is just all right. I give a thumbs down to David Corr's so-called fight for freedom.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
YES I WANT THE PRESIDENT TO USE WIRE TAPPING TO PROTECT MY FAMILY AND THOSE MORONS THAT CAN ONLY CRITICIZE!
Jack Nicholson, A Few Good Men (1992):
"You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know - that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives."
"You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know - that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives; and my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives."
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