Alabama, Oregon, FSU, and Ohio State in the Playoff. WOW. The conspiracy theorists are definitely going to call this one a media conspiracy:
4 of the top revenue, fan base, and media market teams.
All of these teams are filled with top NFL talent. In fact, we have reached an era where parody is becoming greater in college football, because the top programs have too much talent.
Many of these programs recruit so well, that they have many NFL prospects sitting on the bench for 2 years before they get their first start. As soon as they do, BOOM, NFL scouts, then draft inquiry... GONE.
As this cycle continues, the great coaches are finding that they must build entirely new, cohesive units, on every side of the ball... every year.
Whereas other coaches are able to develop a team over a few years, it seems as though the top few programs in football are more called to develop NFL talent. (Coach Will "Boom" Muschamp could back me up.)
LSU seems to turnover its defensive personal faster than a Cutco sales team and Alabama's backfield is at worst an on-deck circle for the NFL since Glen Coffee (7 years ago).
That being said... ...why is it 2014 and we still haven't figured out how to properly compensate and mentor these kids?
Yes, I'm talking about those 19 year old guys who are heroes and idols to many.
Some of these guys don't even know how to separate whites and non-whites in their laundry, boil noodles properly, or take care of themselves in general, LIKE MANY 19 year olds!
Some of these guys grew up in situations that were great...
Let's be honest though. Most college football athletes come from impoverished rural and urban backgrounds. (Except QBs, they come from suburbs only, right? How else can you get that perfect hair?)
Many of them will be lucky to have a solid role model take an active presence in their life, until their coach (hopefully).
For some of them football is a mental escape from the rest of their horrific up-bringing. For some, it is an escape from a horrific environment.
Yet, we expect them to practice hard, go to (sometimes) classes, refuse temptation, and learn how to speak well, when a mic is thrown at them randomly. AND, all the time, be perfect role models.
These are things that everyone struggles with on an every day basis, even the most successful people in the US.
And we wonder why some of these players act out? We wonder why many have psychological disorders? Wonder why some of them, break-down, perceive themselves as above the law, or common ethics?
Jameis Winston might be a good person, or a bad person, but right now, in my mind, even if he sold his signature, he is just a young kid, having fun, who is really damn good at football.
If I root against FSU in the playoff, it won't be because I dislike him. It will be because I'm one of those insane Alabama fans that I keep hearing about.
I love the game as much as anybody, but we need to find a solution.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, November 1, 2013
Fore-fathers Thoughts on Today
We have an inefective Congress and its not the first time...
150 years ago today, the United States was in two. Confederate and Union. We could say that our nation was divided, but that is incorrect. Two separate states existed with mal intent for each other. For a while, there was an internationally recognized Confederate States of America, whose existence was intertwined with slavery.
The goal of this exercise is to ignore the innate doctrinal wrongs of the federation and to focus on the effects of a divided nation, especially how it pertains to our modern governance.
Movements, as they are known, in the history of the United States are mostly originally considered to be 'grass roots'. The United States of America, even before its inception, exemplified its progressivism at the Boston Tea Party. Even at the onset of the Revolutionary War, the Colonials were no more than a present day National Guard Battalion. Up against the odds of the most powerful army in the world, they took the risk for what they believed.
Again, our fore-fathers exemplified their spirits of revolution and independence by signing and then ratifying the Declaration of Independence. In a short 8 year span, our 'fore-fathers' not only fought to found our great nation, but they also fought for the future of the world. Our fore-fathers were not all Americans. Many sought new lives in America, but to think that patriotism for our great nation was born overnight is naive. Our forefathers did not hold sacred the same values and American heritage that we do today. They didn't know America. They would have bittersweet thoughts about the world today.
Stepping off a ferry in New York City, any human being, especially an 18th century diplomat, would be awed by what human desire can accomplish. The New York City skyline is iconic and famous for its population, grand position in the Northeast, Wall Street, TV, etc. All of these things are great, but "The City" is an amalgamation of a million minds, not a coincidence of property and war. Any great fore-father would have trouble comprehending these large buildings. They wouldn't understand anything they came across really. The fact of the matter is that although we would like to present a fairy-tale rendering of our fore-fathers, they were mostly slave-wielding, under educated, backwoods, pioneers. Although essential to our existence and worthy of praise, their inight into our present situation is akin to the founder of basketball trying to teach Lebron James how to do things.
Please, lets begin understanding that the United States of America doesn't stand for one thing or another. We stand for what is right. And we always should. The solution to our problems is unclear, but there has never been a greater need for innovative thinkers and leaders.
150 years ago today, the United States was in two. Confederate and Union. We could say that our nation was divided, but that is incorrect. Two separate states existed with mal intent for each other. For a while, there was an internationally recognized Confederate States of America, whose existence was intertwined with slavery.
The goal of this exercise is to ignore the innate doctrinal wrongs of the federation and to focus on the effects of a divided nation, especially how it pertains to our modern governance.
Movements, as they are known, in the history of the United States are mostly originally considered to be 'grass roots'. The United States of America, even before its inception, exemplified its progressivism at the Boston Tea Party. Even at the onset of the Revolutionary War, the Colonials were no more than a present day National Guard Battalion. Up against the odds of the most powerful army in the world, they took the risk for what they believed.
Again, our fore-fathers exemplified their spirits of revolution and independence by signing and then ratifying the Declaration of Independence. In a short 8 year span, our 'fore-fathers' not only fought to found our great nation, but they also fought for the future of the world. Our fore-fathers were not all Americans. Many sought new lives in America, but to think that patriotism for our great nation was born overnight is naive. Our forefathers did not hold sacred the same values and American heritage that we do today. They didn't know America. They would have bittersweet thoughts about the world today.
Stepping off a ferry in New York City, any human being, especially an 18th century diplomat, would be awed by what human desire can accomplish. The New York City skyline is iconic and famous for its population, grand position in the Northeast, Wall Street, TV, etc. All of these things are great, but "The City" is an amalgamation of a million minds, not a coincidence of property and war. Any great fore-father would have trouble comprehending these large buildings. They wouldn't understand anything they came across really. The fact of the matter is that although we would like to present a fairy-tale rendering of our fore-fathers, they were mostly slave-wielding, under educated, backwoods, pioneers. Although essential to our existence and worthy of praise, their inight into our present situation is akin to the founder of basketball trying to teach Lebron James how to do things.
Please, lets begin understanding that the United States of America doesn't stand for one thing or another. We stand for what is right. And we always should. The solution to our problems is unclear, but there has never been a greater need for innovative thinkers and leaders.
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