Lebron and the Race Card

I’m a firm believer that race, along with class, sex and religion, plays a role in every aspect of our lives. It happens every day of our lives, and in every situation. When our President’s religious beliefs are questioned like no other President in history, his race is at least part of the reason. When we sports fans notice the amount of blacks on any given team in any given sport, yet never make the same observation when its white players, race is in play. It’s not just race. I can’t stand Sarah Palin, but I’ve read countless comments about her being a woman.


So you’d think I’d take Lebron James’ side when he states that race is playing a role in the way the public has turned on him in less than a year. Only I don’t buy it. I don’t completely disregard it, either, but I don’t think it’s the driving force. It was the way he handled everything. It started when he was in high school, and began calling himself “King” James. Then a few years ago, when everyone began to speculate on what Lebron would do, and rather than simply say “no comment” he fanned the flames. Up to how poorly he played his last few games as a Cleveland Cavalier, and continuing with the groveling he forced teams to go through to recruit him. Right up to the awful one hour special that his team thought of. Every one of these actions lead to him becoming one of the most hated athletes in America from one of the most loved.

Had he just left Cleveland, the way Alex Rodriguez left Seattle; sure there would have been a backlash. Much like there was for A-Rod. It would have been a little more personal, because after all, Lebron is from Ohio. It wasn’t just someone leaving, it was a home town kid. And generally, the only time an icon in sports is given a pass, for signing with a new team, is when he signs WITH his hometown team. That’s why Ken Griffey Jr was still loved in Seattle, after he left them for Cincinnati. Barry Bonds was often disliked, but no one was really upset that he went to play for the Giants. A-Rod could have signed with the Mets or the Yankees, and still been the highest paid ever, and most people would have been okay with the move.

So right there, Lebron was volunteering to fight a losing war. But because he had so openly flirted with the Knicks, Nets, Bulls, Clippers and Cavs that so many more fans had a vested interest. For years, Knicks fans were convinced that he would be playing in the Garden. Then he started treating free agency like a season of “The Bachelor.” It all came to head with his one hour special, filmed in New York. He was sending mixed signals. Why would he host a special, if he wasn’t going to say “I’m staying,” unless he wanted to rub every ones noses in his decision? Why would he set this thing up in New York if he wasn’t signing with the Knicks?

Picking Chicago made sense even, as it was so well known how much he loved Michael Jordan. So much, that he has campaigned for Jordan’s #23 to be retired. He even announced last season, that he was changing his number to 6. Only if he was changing teams, he wouldn’t need to submit paperwork to the league offices, as he did. This was another, very public, sign that he was staying.

Lebron made this a public spectacle. So, in turn, his fans made their disapproval his behavior just as public when he signed with the Miami Heat. Some went too far, but let’s remember, fan is short for fanatic. And picking Miami, well that was just another middle finger to basketball fans. Never before had a player in the middle of the prime of his career, joined forces with his buddies. It insulted the competitive nature of sports.

Had he played his cards close to his chest, then left, he would have only broken the hearts of Cleveland fans. Who just so happen to be the most broken hearted group of fans in the country. They would have called him a traitor and cursed him for leaving home. But he insulted fans from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles too. That’s a lot of people, a lot of passionate fans, to piss off. They weren’t pissed because he was black, they were pissed because they believed he was coming to save them. He worked hard to cultivate his image. One of a loyal guy, who surrounded himself with his high school buddies. He chased greatness and accepted the Jordan comparisons with open arms. He smiled and joked around with everyone, and made so many fans fall in love with him. And he did this at a time where sports fans were growing tired of antics. Tired of the Favre watch, or rape charges, DUI’s, and the TO’s. Lebron looked to be the good guy. But he chose to piss all over that.

Lebron now says that race has played a role in the backlash, I honestly feel that race hasn’t played a smaller role in a situation at any point in our history.

Really, Never Forget.

Nine years. Can’t believe how fast it’s gone by and how much has changed, in both, the country and my own life. Nine years ago I was scared shitless, as we all were. Today, I’m still scared, perhaps even more so. And I’m also pissed. In the days, weeks and months after 9/11, I saw countless “Never Forget” bumper stickers. Sadly, it was a promise we didn’t keep. Oh, we remember the gory details. I bet more Americans remember the flight numbers of those doomed planes, than they remember that the Alamo doesn’t have a basement.

We just forgot everything else that we promised to “never forget.” We forgot courage, kindness and decency. 

Shame on us. As scared as I was in the aftermath of watching that iconic image wiped off the face of the earth, there was a sense of pride in my country that I felt, and felt around me. Unlike the North and South Towers, there’s no footprint remaining. We should be ashamed of ourselves. Remembering who took the towers down, and attacked the Pentagon as well as killed those innocent men and women in a field in Pennsylvania, that was never going to be forgotten. Just as no one has forgotten who killed 12 million men, women and children during World War II.

Remember how your political party wasn’t important? You cared about your friends, your co-workers and your neighbors. Even the ones you didn’t really get along with before 9/11.  If you had to travel, you were understanding of the waits at the airport, and you appreciated them. Life slowed down, just the right amount. We kept moving forward, because shit, we had to, only we took time to appreciate the fact that we could move forward. Even if that meant carrying guilt.

We were angry, and rightfully so. We wanted the bastards that did this to us. But at some point we lost sight of who that was. It was a select number of assholes, who had long left the reservation. It wasn’t everyone who prayed like they did, or lived in the same country. In fact, the country they came from was a friend. We wanted to wage war, and avenge our fallen. America, fuck yeah, let’s roll. So we rolled on em. Only we never took time to ask why. Why did they feel so much hatred towards us? So much that they’d give up their own lives, to take out innocent victims on our side. That’s a whole new level of hate. Above and beyond what we felt towards those damn Russians in the good ole days.

Nothing makes more sense, than to ask why. If you work with someone that doesn’t like you, maybe you know why, or maybe you guys just don’t mesh. Fine, that’s life. Now if that guy wants to knock you the fuck out, you might want to figure out what’s caused these feelings. So, you know, you can prevent him from pushing your teeth down your throat. Chances are, the hate doesn’t stem from the fact that your cube has a view, and his doesn’t. Even if he does end up punching you, it’s good to understand what you did to push him to that action. Not because he’s sane, but because you have to worry about the crazies. Crazies have a long history of fucking things up for the rest of us.

Just recently, I was re-watching Bowling for Columbine. Those two kids had it rough, as do so many kids in high school.  What they did wasn’t at all a logical response, but it was a response none the less. And it’s the illogical responses you have to worry about. Every action could have a completely insane reaction. It doesn’t normally happen, but when it does, you’re sure going to remember it. So be a little proactive, and try not to piss off the crazies.

We didn’t do that. We still don’t do t hat, and that’s why we feel just in burning Korans or telling Muslims where they can build. It’s not the logical, peace loving Muslims we have to worry about offending. It’s creating another Osama Bin Laden, or worse yet, someone else who is willing to fly a plane into one of our buildings. Or worse.

(In regards to Park51, build the damn thing. 71% of American’s are against it? Fine, build it quickly. How many Americans were for abolishing slavery at the time? How many fought against Civil Rights? America isn’t about doing what’s popular, or it shouldn’t be. It’s about doing the right thing. Or so I was taught. They aren’t comfortable? So, they’ll adjust. Don’t be a dick about it, but since when has religion cared about making everyone happy.)

We promised to never forget, and we haven’t kept that promise. That doesn’t mean it’s too late. Try to think back to how you treated people on 9/12. What was important then can be important again. Rebuilding, be it a building or an economy, isn’t just about speed. It’s about doing it right. Keeping the good stuff in mind, and not just making dolla dolla bills ya’all.

I just realized I wrote a similar post  last year  and I’m going to keep saying it, because I haven’t forgotten. 

Game on Beck-heim

Religion belongs in politics, like children belong in porn. I seriously mean that, and I’m not just talking young kids, I mean the 16 and 17 year olds too. First off, it’s wrong, and against every moral value we supposedly stand on. It’s also gross and hugely offensive. But that’s what “Restoring Honor,” brought to us by that Glenn Beck tool, is all about. He’s such a humble guy, he was telling us ahead of time how this was going to change the country.

Of course, I don’t think Beck believes that. I don’t think he really believes most of the garbage he spews. Look at his back ground, it isn’t one of a journalist. He isn’t a professor or even a college graduate. He’s an entertainer, who plays the role of a leader of some kind. Glenn Beck isn’t Jesus, he isn’t Jon Stewart and he isn’t Anderson Cooper. He most closely resembles Howard Stern, just a shock jock. Only Stern is funny while being offensive, and Beck is just dangerous.

Beck earned a reported $32 million last year. Earning such a healthy wage is his right, though not God given, just American given. But when someone, with no training in reporting, is able to pull such an insane amount of cash, you have to start wondering why. It’s not, as he often says, because the truth hurts. In fact, the truth doesn’t hurt at all, it’s living a lie that hurts.  The money is a motive, like it often is, to bend the rules. Not so much laws, but to start emphasizing aspects of one’s self. Like a porn star getting a boob job. I’m sure Beck is a fan of the Constitution and a conservative fella, I just don’t actually believe he agrees with every stance he takes. But for $32 million, I might even tell you I’m a Nascar fan who rocks Zubuz on the weekend.

You know how they say teenage drivers act like “it won’t happen to me?” Well, that’s how most of us really act when it comes to the country going to shit. If you listen to past generations, it’s been going to shit since this thing got up and running. But no one really thinks they’ll see the collapse of the country in their lifetime. We’re not Russia for crying out loud. And this is just how Beck thinks. It won’t happen, but why not make a few bucks jumping up and down crying fire in a crowded theatre, it’s a pretty good paying gig.

So now he’s going to restore our honor, and I’m not even sure what that means.  We had honor? When did we lose and who took it? Oh that’s right, the non-believers.  Even though a recent report states that roughly 75% of adults in this country would call themselves Christians, there’s some how a lack of believers in America, and we need to find God so bad, that we should throw out a few of our core fundamentals. Freedom of religion? Gone, and see ya later Seperation of Church and State. Only what happens when you combine religion and decision making? You get Iran, or Hamas, you get the nut bags and extremist.

We have had our boots in the sand in Saudi Arabia for 20 years. And what, it’s just a coincidence that 15 of the 19 terrorists on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia? Right, and it was just a coincidence that the SS worked for Hitler. But when an Imam states that America has blood on its hands, as well, that’s just the most offensive thing since “your momma was a snow blower.” We have blood on our hands. We fight wars, and over stay our welcome, that’s what happens.

Most Americans aren’t far right or far left, we’re pretty much in the middle. But if you listen to either side, you’re either with em, or against em. Never mind the fact that most of us want the same things. A job, a safe place to raise our families, a future we can be excited about, and for anyone with 13 items in the 12 items or less lane to be shot on site. But saying that doesn’t get ratings and therefore it doesn’t make money. If 75% of us are believers and wanted religion in our politics, we’d be a one party system by now. Funny how that hasn’t happened.

If we could just exorcise  religion from politics only, we could debate issues and decide what makes sense to us, and which Church one prays at would be as relevant as which football team we root for. Instead, we actually spend time polling Americans to see how many think Obama is a Muslim. I wish, when asked about his religious beliefs, President Obama would have said nunya. It’s simply none of our business. Only you can’t get elected if you keep your religious beliefs to yourself, or your marital issues inside your marriage.

End result? Rather than Beck, and most of us, being right that America won’t really fall in to an abyss in our lifetimes. Well, it just fucking might. Lord help us. Oh, and like George Carlin, when I pray, I pray to Joe Pesci. 

Switch

Two things you should know. Okay, two things you probably already know: I’m a fan of Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy, and I’m a fan of Jennifer Aniston. Those two collide in my head today because of something Simmons’ wrote. Basically, he summed up Aniston’s career as a bust, and that she isn’t married because by playing the role of the victim, she remains relevant. The first point is more complicated, and the second isn’t my business. Now it’s true that Aniston hasn’t picked the best roles. I can’t even bring myself to consider watching The Bounty Hunter. Derailed was actually painful and embarrassing to watch, and Along Came Polly is as memorable as a trip to the DMV. She picked those movies, and they weren’t any good. So she’s guilty of some bad decisions.

I think the real issue, isn’t just her bad choices, it’s the lack of quality roles to pick from. She’s in her 40’s, she’s attractive and she’s funny. How many roles are out there for someone fitting that description to begin with? And aren’t studios first calling up Julia Roberts? Then Sandra Bullock, and after that, its either a 20 or 30 something, or ask Meryl Streep to do it. Ask yourself, where have Naomi Watts, Uma Thurman, and Nicole Kidman gone? Hell, the last time I saw Ashley Judd was when the Kyd rented The Tooth Fairy. Has Cameron Diaz been memorable in anything since There’s Something About Mary? If Hollywood wants a serious actress, they’re calling Hillary Swank or Kate Winslet. Occasionally they ring Angelina, but not that often. Two of the better actresses who just happen to be around the same age as Jennifer are now working on Showtime series. There are simply not enough quality roles to keep the top actresses working in quality movies. Two roles that come to mind, that I think Aniston would have been good for, are smaller roles. Roles that went to Vera Farmiga, The Departed and Up in the Air.

Honestly, I do not actually want to see this, but the writers easily could have made Hot Tub Time Machine or the Hangover vehicles for the ladies. And you know what; there still wouldn’t be a role for Aniston, because they largely went with cheaper talent. Truth is, most of the public only wants to see her as Rachel Green, and she still looks just like Rachel. Tom Hanks resembles the guy from “Bosom Buddies.” 

Hirp'd Off

I never really meant for this blog to get all political, but that seems to be the only consistent topic to get me riled up enough to post.

This week it’s the idiots who are losing their minds about a proposed Islamic Faith Center, and Mosque, in lower Manhattan. The site is actually 2 ½ blocks away from Ground Zero, although that doesn’t matter. I have yet to read about a magical boundry that makes everything okay, eight blocks? Jersey? It has nothing to do with where it is, just that there are some very religious people, who don’t believe what most Americans believe, and that a few of their so-called “believers” did a tremendously horrible thing. For shits and giggles, along with a splitting headache, I sometimes like to read Sarah Palins Tweets. She’s always full of such wisdom. If wisdom had the same meaning as bullshit. “Peace-seeking Muslims, pls understand, Ground Zero mosque is UNNECESSARY provocation; it stabs hearts. Pls reject it in interest of healing”

A Mosque isn’t a provocation; it’s a place of worship. I’m used to reading Sarah Pain going on about how great the United States is because of our freedoms. When Dr. Laura went off her rocker and dropped the “N” bomb 11 times, and then, by her own choice, decided to against renewing her radio contract, Ms. Pain rallied her troops with an impassioned tweet “Dr.Laura:don't retreat...reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence"isn't American ,not fair") Shocking, she defends the rights of a conservative and not the rights of Muslims. She sure has leader written all over her. She’d be great as the head of the KKK.

The truth is, those who are most uncomfortable with this Mosque should be the ones fighting for it the hardest. They’re the ones who most need to understand that Muslims have the same split as the rest of the religions. They have their nuts, but by in large, most are just looking for some sort of guidance and a feeling of belonging. Timothy McVeigh was a registered Republican, yet I don’t think anyone is worried about how close the Oklahoma GOP office in OKC is to the memorial park. Jews drive German cars, and Hawaiians’ drive Japanese cars. Southerners even travel to New York City. People, some how, are able to cope with all these things, even though there’s been some serious shit in the past.

I’ve also read that some have issue with the Imam behind this idea. I guess he said something in the past about He pointed some blame at the US for the 9/11 attacks. I know this is hard to take, but yeah, we did some shit that lead to that awful day. If someone walks up to you and punches you in the jaw, it’s good to understand what you may have done that upset someone so much that they’d take such a chicken shit way to retaliate. We didn’t see things through to the end after helping Afghanistan defeat Russia. We bailed on Iraq after the first war and we left our troops in Saudi Arabia for years. And we’re offended by a Mosque? That attacks our sensibilities? If you hear someone saying that, the truth is, they don’t have any sensibilities to be offended. Does that justify the killing of 3,000 innocent citizens? Hell no, but you can’t discount the fact that it upset some peeps.

Of course, once religion gets involved, all the rules fly out the window..oh there’s a really horrible pun there, and I won’t touch it. Leave it up to me, and I’d like to see every religious house of worship shut down. Only it isn’t up to me, thankfully, and the Constitution affords all of us the freedom of religion. And the Constitution wasn’t written by gang members, so there’s no territorial claims in that motha. Again, this is just one more of the worlds problems that wouldn’t exists in a world that had no organized religion.

All of this is really just crap to build campaigns around, I even doubt if most people believe this is such a horrible thing. But it’ll get people upset enough to pick a side on Election Day. And that got me to thinking: after a Tsunami or a major earthquake, we send out the Clinton and Bush show. Those two have actually built some sort of genuine relationship, and we like to pimp that sort of thing. Only we pimp it around the globe. Well its time we send those boys out around this country. Two former Presidents, who really piss off the other party, working together, for the good of the United States. That may be the one thing that can actually help bring us together. That, or another terrorist attack. Which would you rather see?

Shady’s Back

Guess whose back, back again. Hirp is back, tell a friend. I'd like to start off by thanking Senator Orrin Hatch for pushing just the right moment to make me write again. See, since being laid off I decided against blogging. I was afraid to write about how much being unemployed sucked, would only make being unemployed suck even more. It's stressful enough, and this is one thing I have total control of. Then tonight the better half and I were watching the "Rachel Maddow Show" and she showed a clip of your statement that chased me back to the keyboard.

You've gone on the record, saying you believe those receiving unemployment benefits should be drug tested. Okay, that's bullshit, but I'll respond to that in a minute. Then you took it a step further, and for one of your reasons for blocking an extension of benefits you said this, "will just buy drugs with it anyway."

Well that got my attention, and after some ridiculous Facebook updates, I decided I had more to say. Since you haven't been in my shoes, the last 7 months, where I've sent out hundreds upon hundreds of resumes. Which has resulted in no less than 5 interviews and just a handful more call backs. And every time I'm online looking for a job, I see a few dozen iPhone ads, which just serve as a reminder to why I'm unemployed. Because the former Executive Douche where I worked, passed on the iPhone, cost the company billions and when he was shown the exit door, he had a nice $55 million check to cushion his fall. Hell, I should be doing drugs at this point.

Only I never have. I haven't even smoked a cigarette in my life, let alone a joint or a line of coke. But because I was unlucky enough to be laid off in a shitty economy, you just assume I'm using that money to buy drugs. You must be talking about bills, cause they sure keep getting higher, not me. So you want me drug tested, fine, let's do it. Not because I'm unemployed, but because I cash checks that the government signs. Based on that logic, I'm good to go. But you and your staffers better be being in a cup too. Till then, shut the hell up.

I'm not asking you to shut up because you're a complete jackass, I can only think that helps make the Democrats look better. I'm asking you to shut up, because what if just one potential employer hears you're wild accusation, and believes it. Now, not only am I competeing with thousands of others who were just laid off, but its assumed that I'm a drug addict too. Because I really need that.

Which reminds me of this gem from Good Will Hunting:

"Why shouldn't I work for the N.S.A.? That's a tough one, but I'll take a shot. Say I'm working at N.S.A. Somebody puts a code on my desk, something nobody else can break. Maybe I take a shot at it and maybe I break it. And I'm real happy with myself, 'cause I did my job well. But maybe that code was the location of some rebel army in North Africa or the Middle East. Once they have that location, they bomb the village where the rebels were hiding and fifteen hundred people I never met, never had no problem with, get killed. Now the politicians are sayin', "Oh, send in the Marines to secure the area" 'cause they don't give a shit. It won't be their kid over there, gettin' shot. Just like it wasn't them when their number got called, 'cause they were pullin' a tour in the National Guard. It'll be some kid from Southie takin' shrapnel in the ass. And he comes back to find that the plant he used to work at got exported to the country he just got back from. And the guy who put the shrapnel in his ass got his old job, 'cause he'll work for fifteen cents a day and no bathroom breaks. Meanwhile, he realizes the only reason he was over there in the first place was so we could install a government that would sell us oil at a good price. And, of course, the oil companies used the skirmish over there to scare up domestic oil prices. A cute little ancillary benefit for them, but it ain't helping my buddy at two-fifty a gallon. And they're takin' their sweet time bringin' the oil back, of course, and maybe even took the liberty of hiring an alcoholic skipper who likes to drink martinis and fuckin' play slalom with the icebergs, and it ain't too long 'til he hits one, spills the oil and kills all the sea life in the North Atlantic. So now my buddy's out of work and he can't afford to drive, so he's got to walk to the fuckin' job interviews, which sucks 'cause the shrapnel in his ass is givin' him chronic hemorrhoids. And meanwhile he's starvin', 'cause every time he tries to get a bite to eat, the only blue plate special they're servin' is North Atlantic scrod with Quaker State. So what did I think? I'm holdin' out for somethin' better. I figure fuck it, while I'm at it why not just shoot my buddy, take his job, give it to his sworn enemy, hike up gas prices, bomb a village, club a baby seal, hit the hash pipe and join the National Guard? I could be elected president."

Orrin Hatch, you're the shrapnel in my ass.