10 Years Later - A Traumatized Nation

"Oh my, folks!  We could be witnessing the greatest upset in the history of the world! If you're just joining us, we're ringside in what has turned out to be a surprising, one-sided boxing match.  Bin Laden, out of the "dead" corner, is taking full control of the blue corner's, Sammy Stripes, and is on pace to end the fight with a knock-out blow!"

Ever since the tragic events on Sept. 11, 2001, American security measures have increased immensely.  With this increase, there has been a corresponding, and somewhat inevitable, rise of fear within Americans, including myself.

This fear has hindered my ability to remain calm in uncontrollable situations, specifically traveling on planes.  I can't travel on a plane without a pre-flight panic attack followed by a superstitious routine that includes contemplating whether or not I should pay attention to the safety briefing.

Once my palms begin to dry from the sweat, the plane begins to take off and my uneasiness subsides for a short while until the plane is off the ground.  Then, it's "say-your-prayers" time.  The fate of everyone on the plane is entrusted to the pilot, who, for all we know, could be an undercover terrorist and has a secret landing spot in the Pacific Ocean he'd like to show us.

After hours at the cruising altitude, the pilot finally asks the cabin to prepare for landing, and all I am thinking is, "listen man, you prepare for landing! Get this damn bird on the ground!"  As the plane closes in on touching down, fear of an unsuccessful landing settles in.  But as soon as the plane lands safely and that fasten seatbelt sign is turned off, it's as if I just came up for air after getting pummeled by a cascade of waves. 

Yeah, you could say I have a fear of flying, but what American doesn't?  Don't you think the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 have anything to do with it?  You'd be lying if you said they didn't.

For me, this hysteria has gotten so bad I can't even go to the bathroom on a plane without thinking a bomb might be triggered by flushing the toilet, or, better yet, the flight attendants were paid off by hijackers who have machine guns.  I mean, the possibilities are endless, especially in today's world of technology, advanced knowledge, and continued conflict. 

Kathleen Parker, an opinion writer for The Washington Post , shares this idea by stating, "something was unleashed 10 years ago that bears our scrutiny. It wasn’t only evil, though the attacks were certainly that. The event was so cataclysmic and horrifying that it caused a sort of emotional breakdown in the American constitution. Simply put, it damaged our collective soul and seems to have released a free-ranging hysteria that has contaminated our interactions ever since."

But, let's be honest, we're screwed either way.  Osama bin Laden and his followers have successfully crippled the American people.  It's the whole "damned if you do, damned if you don't" philosophy.  If we take preventative measures, it's almost as if we have no peace of mind, always fearful of something disastrous to happen.  Then, if we don't prepare for a dangerous attack, well, I don't even want to go there.

My fear of flying is one thing, but is this fear one big slippery slope affecting our everyday lives?  Again, I'd be lying if it weren't the case.  According to Parker, "being for or against the war, first in Afghanistan and later in Iraq, divided us as wars do, but this time was different. Friendships ended, marriages suffered, people crossed the street to avoid those with whom they disagreed. Ten years later, we are still at war. Tack on the global financial crisis, stagnant unemployment, the further dissolution of trust in our institutions, and we have all the ingredients for moral panic.

To me, the tragic events on Sept. 11, 2001 have lingered in the hearts and minds of Americans, festering like a bacteria, plaguing our everyday lives.  It's almost as if Osama bin Laden's ultimate attack on Americans wasn't manifested through planes crashing into buildings so much as it was a virus of fear he implanted into the American people.

Looking back, I never thought that such a tragedy conspired by one man could be so detrimental to one nation.  Granted, bin Laden is no slouch, but we're talking about the United States of America, the biggest, baddest, SOB on the block!

"Gee Larry, I don't know how much more Stripes is going to be able to take!  We're 10 rounds into this fight and bin Laden has been in control all night."

"Yeah Jim, but all Stripes needs is one big punch to get back in this fight."

A Numbers Game - Or is it?

Often when sports enthusiasts talk about numbers it is mostly in terms of statistics.  Batting averages, completion percentages, field goal percentages, and so on.  Sure, statistics give some indication on production - or lack their of - of athletes and teams, but are they really that important?  Last I checked, America loves winners, and to me, the number one statistic isn't so much a number as it is a letter.  Yeah, W.  Now, don't mistake me for a win-at-all-cost guy, I believe that win or lose, there is nothing greater than the thrill of competition.  However, it seems as though in today's world of sports, the desire for W's comes after % and $.  That may seem a tad brash, and granted, I am not a professional athlete, therefore, most of my interpretation is, well, interpreted.  But, with that said, I think the art of competition is lost.  There's a reason athletes like Rafael Nadal, Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Ray Lewis, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Derrick Rose, and Jered Weaver are amongst my favorite athletes to watch. 

Why? 

It's pretty simple; they compete.
 

Football Weekend's Best

NCAA FOOTBALL

UPSET: Clemson takes down 21 Auburn to snap a 17-game winning streak.

TEAM UNIT: Les Miles' LSU Defense.

PLAYER: Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina. 37 carries for 246 yards and 3 TDs in a 24-21 W against a pesky Navy ballclub.

TEAM: Oklahoma Sooners.  A 23-13 W against 5 Florida State in Tallahassee showed the Sooners are for real.  Honorable Mentions should be made for LSU and Alabama.  I predict Oklahoma to meet the winner of LSU-Alabama for the BCS National Championship.

NFL

UPSET: It's the NFL, there really aren't any upsets.  But, the Tennessee Titans' thrashing of the visiting Baltimore Ravens caught some by surprise.  After looking unbeatable in a Week 1 against the rival Steelers, the Ravens were beat by the Titans 26-13.

TEAM UNIT: Detroit Lions Offense/Defense.  Stafford and company put up 48 points, while the defense forced 6 turnovers allowing only 3 points against the Chiefs.  Safe to say this was a complete W for the Lions as they move to 2-0 en route to a long-awaited playoff berth.

PLAYER: Really?

TEAM: Again, really?  It's that guy (up there) and his comrades in New England.  An honorable mention could be made for the defending champion Packers, but as long as Brady is healthy - look out.  As of now, look for these two teams to square off in February.

MV7

Michael Vick returns to the Georgia Dome this Sunday to face his old team, the Atlanta Falcons.  Vick returns this time in a new uniform with new expectations.  It should make for some entertaining football as it airs Sunday night on NBC as the prime-time game of the week.

The below article I wrote for my opinion writing class.  It addresses Vick's new contract with the Eagles and his continued path to redemption...

Talk about paying your dues.  $100 million for 6 years, $40 million of it guaranteed. 

That's the recent contract the ever-so polarizing quarterback Michael Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.  With those millions of dollars, came millions of questions, specifically from those who hold the opinion that forgiving Michael Vick is premature. 

There are public opinions out there that that feel Vick's involvement in illegal dogfighting activitiies doesn't warrant him praise on the football field or as a role model.  On the contrary, there are those who believe that Michael Vick served his 21-month sentence and deserves a second chance.

I happen to support the latter.

Quite frankly, I am of the opinion that Michael Vick has been the brunt of criticism far too long.  I understand what he did was cruel, unethical, and unthinkable but it's unreasonable to condemn him for the rest of his life. Despite the magnitude of the crime, I feel he served a fair sentence and has become a better person throughout this entire process. 

Those who wish to see Vick fail are stubborn hypocrites, in my opinion.  Americans pride themselves on comeback stories and second chances.  Why is it any different for Michael Vick?  Are you so perfect and self-righteous that you have never made regrettable and poor decisions?

Michael Vick is one of my favorite athletes of all time, and when I look at Michael Vick, I look at who he is now.  I don't judge him on his past, I judge him on the present.  I believe Michael Vick has changed and nobody needs to tell him what he did was wrong; he knows.

According to him as reported by ESPN, "dogfighting is a terrible thing and I reject it. I take full responsibility for my actions.  Not for one second will I sit right here and point the finger and try to blame anybody else for my actions or what I've done.  I offer my deepest apologies to everybody out in there in the world who was affected by this whole situation. And if I'm more disappointed with myself than anything it's because of all the young people, young kids that I've let down, who look at Michael Vick as a role model. And to have to go through this and put myself in this situation, you know, I hope that every young kid out there in the world watching this interview right now who's been following the case will use me as an example to using better judgment and making better decisions."

And if actions speak louder than words, then I am of the opinion that what Michael Vick has done on the football field is his way of reconciling his sins and proving to not only the public, but to himself, that he is sincerely sorry for his criminal activity.  Vick's football talent and mere athleticism has always been evident, but in my opinion, there are few athletes, let alone people, that can rebound from such a low point in their life like Vick has.

Bruce Arthur (no relation) applauds just how special of an athlete Vick is by stating, "however you feel about the crimes of Michael Vick, what he has accomplished is remarkable. He spent 21 months in prison, lost just about everything he had, was released back into the world in the middle of the night, and has now indisputably returned to the pinnacle of professional football, or near enough."

You might argue that Vick was already a star player and his athletic abilities have never been in question, only his character.  Very true, but something tells me this dogfighting incident was the best thing that could have ever happened to Vick.  Call it a wake-up call, a reality check, call it what you wish, I feel that those years in Leavenworth really shaped who he is today not only as an elite NFL athlete, but as a humbled and grateful man.

"Once again, I offer my deepest apologies to everyone. And I will redeem myself. I have to." 

I believe in you Mike.

Kelly Thomas RIP

Dad! Help me Dad! Please Dad! Save me! Dad! Please!

All Kelly Thomas wanted was his dad.  Instead, he was beaten, and ultimately killed, allegedly at the hands of six Fullerton police officers.

On July 5 of this year, Kelly Thomas, a diagnosed schizophrenic and homeless man by choice was subdued by six Fullerton policemen on suspicion of an auto burglary.  According to the LA Times, "Thomas’ father, a retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy, has asserted that officers used excessive force to subdue his son, who was unarmed, slight and of medium height."  Mike Riggs specifies these remarks and states Thomas weighed 135 pounds.

Wait, so you mean to tell me it takes six police officers to subdue an unarmed 135-pound man?  What kind of fitness regiment are these people running over in Fullerton?  Six guys?  Really?

Okay, now on a more important note, why in the world would six officers need to taser a man several times to subdue him? Why would they need to beat him?  Six officers can’t hold a 135-pound man down, handcuff him, and place him in the back of a patrol car?

I guess not.

That, to me, and many others, is reprehensible.

After Thomas was publicly beaten he was placed at UCI Medical Center and put on life support.  "When I first walked into the hospital, I looked at what his mother described as my son ... I didn't recognize him.  This is cold-blooded, aggravated murder," said Thomas' father. 

I empathize with the entire Thomas family and can't even begin to fathom the amount of sadness, frustration, and rancor the entire family must be feeling.  The unfortunate incident has caused an uproar in the normally quiet north Orange County community of Fullerton.  Citizens are outraged; and rightly so.

Now, thanks to these six ruthless officers, police officers everywhere have to answer the skepticism. As with any profession, there are the good and the bad.  But now, officers in Fullerton and throught the country (since this story has received nationwide attention) will be the subjects of hatred and mistrust.

For me, I've always had my doubts and resentment towards police.  They're arrogant, power-hungry, and think their damn badge permits them to do whatever the hell they want.  However, I’m smart enough to realize that despite my own perception, there are good cops out there that serve their community honorably.  However, now, even the good ones are tainted, all thanks to six callous individuals.

And, let's just call a spade a spade.  No matter how you perceive what transpired, there is no way in hell that a self-defense plea is passable.

I'm all for safety and protecting yourself in life-threatening situations, but this incident was by no means life-threatening for any one of those six officers..  This was the "big-bad" seniors picking on the weak freshman who ate lunch by himself on the football bleachers.  This was an unwarranted beating that these men will have some time to think about; that is if they don't get the death penalty.

According to NBC, Thomas' father states, “What I want to see done is the primary guy that was beating my son in the back of the head with a taser, because this was indeed a hate crime.  I want him to get the death penalty and I’ll pull the switch.”

I don't know if the death penalty is the appropriate solution to this matter.  With that being said, I wouldn't want to be one of those six officers and run into Mr. Thomas.  Otherwise, like he said, he'd pull the switch himself.

My best regards go out to Thomas' family and friends.  May Kelly rest in peace.

Heart of a Champion

Over the course of my life, athletics has been constant.  I have always played and watched them as if they were apart of me.  Recently, I have pondered about athletes of my generation and have thought, first of all, how lucky I have been to watch great players like Tiger Woods, Wayne Gretzky, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roger Federer, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Derek Jeter, the Williams sisters, Michael Phelps and countless other individuals who have made their mark in their respective sport.  Second of all, to go into more depth, what is that makes an athlete truly great?

A lot of people deem greatness by numbers, some by championships, others by an athlete's influence on the game.  For me, I judge greatness on heart.  Sure, talent plays a part in being successful, but as the late great John Wooden stated, "success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."  So where does heart come into play?  Well, it's nurtured in the off-season and is different for each athlete I'm sure, but it is manifested in the closing seconds of a game, on the 18th green, in the final set at Wimbledon, in the World Series.  It happens on the game's biggest stage.

My grandfather always said, the cream will rise to the top.  You don't get to the top based soley on talent alone though, it takes heart.  Heart is what makes champions.  Heart is defined as wanting to win more than the other person and working harder than them to get there.  Heart is defined in the players I have listed above.  Sure, they are all great athletes and have talent, but they have maximized their talent through hard work and effort to become who they are now.  There's a reason people talk about the "heart of a champion" and not the talent of a champion or the influence of a champion.  It takes heart, miles and miles of heart, a la Jimmy McGinty, Shane Falco, and Chase Arthur.

The Great Debate

No, not Kobe or Lebron, not Red Sox or Yankees, not Democrat or Republican, but So Cal or Nor Cal.  The Southern California - Northern California rivalry has existed for quite some time, and luckily for me, I have been able to experience both sides of the coin.  The similarities exist, however they are almost considered differences because of the originality involved.  From what I have been able to grasp, they both possess unique and beautiful qualities about them that makes choosing one over the other a difficult task.

Let's start with home.  Southern California has been my home for 21 years, however 2 of them have been spent in Northern California.  It's hard not to like Southern California.  It boasts some of the best weather and location in the entire world.  After getting home the other day from school in Northern California, I was just in awe at how beautiful the area is.  I guess after 21 years I have finally come to appreciate all that exists in my backyard.  I mean people around the world consider Southern California a vacation destination, and for me, it's just home.

Aside from the weather and gorgeous homes, I think the variety of scenery in Southern California is under-appreciated.  The beach, the nature-filled canyons, the lakes, the isolated hilltops, and the mountains are all within reach.  Not to mention, as far as living, Southern California offers it all.  It offers homes practically anywhere just mentioned.  There sure is a lot of variety, and all of it at the top of its class. However, when it comes to people, Southern California receives some knocks.  I'm trying not to generalize, but from my experiences in Southern and Northern California the people in Northern California are far more approachable, courteous, and down to earth.

I have been in Northern California for 2 years, both during college.  At first, I hated the place.  It took some getting used to with everyone saying hella, dressing differently, and having a different attitude towards life.  Northern California people, from my experience, are genuine, very loyal, and passionate towards everything in their life, especially their sports' teams.  They may not boast the expensive houses like Newport Beach, but they don't give a damn about the car you drive compared to who you are as a person.  And don't get me wrong, Northern California has some beautiful areas to live like Saratoga, Los Gatos, Redwood City, San Mateo, Palo Alto and many others that might not get the attention like some of the Southern California homes.

I guess after writing this, they possess a lot of the same characteristics with their own wrinkle to them.  It's hard for me to describe, and I'm stuck.  I don't know who wins the debate, it is something you are going to have to experience for yourself.  I obviously have a bias towards Southern California since it is my home, but I also owe a lot of my growth and appreciation for life to Northern California.  I have gained so much perspective from Northern California and its such a refreshing place, but home is home and it's hard to compete against a place like Southern California.  Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not picking a winner, I cherish both, and attribute who I am to both places.  Both of them are a great place to live, making it a tough decision on where I want to live in the future.  However, something tells me I'll want to stay down here at home.  Until then though, I'm not ruling out any ideas of heading North again and settling up there.

A Tribute to the Big Fella, Shaquille O'Neal

It's not often that the league witnesses a player like Shaquille O'neal.  A 7 foot 1 inch 325 lb absolute beast, he completely revolutionized his position and quite frankly, the game.  He was so big, so strong, and so talented around the rim that he was almost impossible to stop.  A first ballot Hall of Fame player, Shaq will be inked into the pages of NBA history as one of the greatest and most dominant players to ever play the game.

With that being said, I think his legacy would have been far better if he retired earlier.  I wasn't a fan of seeing such an iconic player wear a different uniform each year chasing after a 5th ring.  There was a time when players were dependent on Shaq, and it was troubling to see him play minimal minutes in the hopes of latching onto another championship. This was disappointing for me, but aside from that, people should not forget what this guy brought to the league.  I mean, if Shaq had the ball in the paint, it was as close to an automatic 2 points as you could get.  Not to mention, he was a legitimate force on the boards as well as a shot blocker.

It's a sad day for the NBA, losing a great basketball player and personality.  Shaq will be remembered for his jovial personality, original interviews, and his pure dominance on the court.  His presence will be missed by fans, but not by opposing players and coaches.  I wish him nothing but the best and appreciate what he brought to the league.  Take it easy big fella, and congratulations on your accomplishments throughout your highly successful career.


Throughout his 19 years in the NBA, Shaq was able to accomplish the following:

Career Season Average (1,207 Games Played): 23.7 PPG 10.9 RPG 2.5 APG 2.3 BPG
Career Playoff Average (216 Games Played): 24.3 PPG 11.6 RPG .5 APG .5 BPG
Ranks All Time: 5th in Points, 5th in Field Goals, 7th in Blocks, and 12th in Rebounds

4 NBA Championships
3 NBA Finals' MVP
1 NBA MVP
15-time NBA All Star
15-time All NBA Team
3-time All NBA Defensive Team
3-time NBA All Star Game MVP
Rookie of the Year ('92-'93)
In 2000 was Finals MVP, NBA MVP, and All Star Game MVP


Aside from his basketball game, Shaq is notorious for his assortment of nicknames which are listed below:

Shaq, The Big Aristotle, The Diesel, Superman, Shaq Fu, The Big Cactus, The Big Shaqtus, The Real Deal, Dr. Shaq, The Big Shamrock, Shaqovic, The Big Conductor, Big Fella, The Big Daddy, and many others.

In Remembrance

To the men and women of our armed forces, thank you.  The emotional and physical demands you are called to endure far outweigh any obstacle we must overcome here at home.  You are all worthy of more recognition and deserve to be called heroes for the rest of your lives.  I wish you all a safe and happy return home.  To all those that have passed but are not forgotten, it is with great respect and honor that I wish you eternal peace and happiness.  Thank you and Happy Memorial Day.

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