Republicans Aren’t Sitting As Pretty As They Think | The New Republic

Republicans Aren’t Sitting As Pretty As They Think The New Republic

HAPPY 2010

The professionals at the American Literacy Council say it is to be pronounced 20-10 not two thousand and ten.  The latter form is supposedly illiterate.  I prefer the 20-10 one anyway because it sounds more sci-fi 'ish and more futuristic.  Whatever, right?!!! 

ANYHOW--- Here's wishing all a Happy 20-10!!!

May the recession end, the politicians figure out a way to reform health-care to benefit everyone, and may any/all catastrophes which occur world-wide this year (as they are certain to do) remind us ALL to be more compassionate - not tolerant, but accepting!!!

2010 BCS National Championship (my prediction and my theory)

I first posted the theory data on my Facebook wall yesterday and today, I predicted the outcome of tonight’s college championship game. I was merely testing a theory I heard during the "Mike and Mike in the Morning Show" on Monday morning at 5 AM. I awoke laughing my head off as usual at the comedic banter for which Greeny and Golic are known.

They spoke about sport’s superstitions which often accompanies all players and fans. Apparently Greeny's dad did not want to change his vacation & flight plans to attend the next NY Jets game because in changing plans, he may jinx the team's ability to win another game versus the Cincy Bengals (this time a playoff game). Greeny had first brought up the idea for his dad to change his plans in order to help his dad save some time because his dad was going to have to make two separate trips on separate days almost half-way across the country to see the playoff game in person. Greeny then had second thoughts after his dad explained the jinx theory and changed his mind as well and agreed with his dad to leave vacation and flight plans “as is”.

The dos Mikes went on about other superstitions and it reminded me how I also have some pretty quirky ones of my own. For me though - in order to "meet my fears" and to spite my own idiosyncrasies which are my superstitions, I tend to do the complete opposite of what my superstition devils feed into my ears and into my thoughts. Most often I despite them and I end up on the short end of the stick, per se.

Here is some data about what I mean:

1) When I tell someone which team I am supporting, 2 out of 3 times they win...thus; I am 70-30 with voicing my beliefs even though I have promised myself I would not make any vocal predictions. Going forward I need to keep my opinions to myself and not tell anyone what I think. Except concerning Texas Tech…I am always on their side.

2) When I write down which team I am supporting, 1 out of 3 times they win...thus, I am 30-70 when I write down my predictions. I seriously need to stop writing down my predictions for the Karma Gods are out to spite me.

This time around I decided to try something new with a team whose results really do not concern me at all. I told everyone that the University of Texas Longhorns were going to beat the Alabama Crimson Tide and win the 2010 BCS National Championship. I wrote it down as well as a “fearless prediction”. I am actually more in favor of the Tide to win for obvious reasons surrounding the last time Texas played and almost lost to the Cornhuskers of Nebraska had it not been for that “one second incident”.

I am not buying into the idea that Texas is totally going to fall apart and not give ‘Bama a run for their money, but neither am I convinced that Texas can win this game - if they do it will be close. No matter which team wins, it will be close and low scoring. Colt McCoy, who had my support for Heisman, is not your ordinary player. He is clutch when the opportunity calls for it and when the situation demands it. His favorite target at WR is Jordan Shipley (6th year senior-ala red-shirt due to previous IR status); Jordan is not one to give up either. The UT kicker is definitely clutch to boot, pardon the pun. These UT guys will combine to give the Tide a good fight. However, there might be way too many weapons on the ‘Bama side, offense and defense, so I fear that the ‘Horns will be unable to keep their 17 game win steak alive after tonight’s game and will fall a bit short of winning the national championship.

After the game is over, I will post my real “fearless prediction” for this game as I did 4 weeks ago via ESPN when I entered their 2010 College Bowl Mania contest. I had the ability to change my prediction for this game up thru today, but I never once waivered. I kept the score as I chose it 4 weeks ago especially when I was not too impressed with UT’s Big 12 Championship last-second victory over the ‘Huskers. However, I also chose to keep the score close for a couple of reasons. I saw something in Coach Nick Saban as he downplayed having beaten Florida during their SEC Championship game. Nick seemed confused or maybe surprised at their win no matter how many points they won by, he seemed shocked. Nick himself appeared to not want to predict anything about the national championship game, and I don’t believe that he refrained from commenting too much about the game or their opponents even after they knew it would be Texas because he is a classy guy. Nick seemed plagued by the very superstitions which hinder all fans and he wanted to say as little as he could. There was something else I saw in Saban’s eyes a couple of days later after their SEC title game…a bit of fear…maybe the fear which reminded him of the fact that 32 days would lie in wait until the national championship would take place and it would be sufficient time for UT to fix their issues - enough time for UT to give ‘Bama a tough time and maybe even beat them. UT won’t go out so easily and lose as badly as sport’s pundits and 74% of the nation believes they will. UT may lose, but it won’t be by a landslide. At the end of the game, Alabama might win and if they do, they will -should- appreciate their victory even more.

Team Leach Rally Data

Alright guys, we want this rally to be MASSIVE, and in order to keep doing what we're doing, we have to keep spreading the word! Our new target is those who do not have facebook. Here's what you can do...

Go to: http://www.shinerbock.com/Team%20Leach%20Flyer.pdf

print off as many as you want or can.  Shove them in mailboxes in your neighborhood, put them on people's windshields, put them in magazines, newspapers, ANYTHING to get people to see it.  Put one in YOUR car for people to see.  Anyway you can to spread the word would be absolutely amazing!

TEAM LEACH!!

Note" A very special "thank-you" to Lauren Guerrero Gongora.  A fellow facebook friend and Texas Tech fan/alumnus.  Lauren first posted the above data via an FB evite today (01-06-10).  She was gracious enough to allow me to post the data on my blogs.

Fire Craig James and Aaron Taylor Petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/Firetrev/

To: ESPN/ABC

In light of ESPN's dismissal of Trev Alberts, we the people urge that the ABC/ESPN network "finish the job" and fire Craig James and Aaron Taylor.

Like Trev, Mr. James and Mr. Taylor have no redeeming value to justify their presence on television. We are so sickened by their "analysis" that we are taking this opportunity to demand their removal. Please restore the sanctity of college football and "finish the job".

(view the web site to see the many hundreds who have signed already)

ALABAMA : 2010 BCS National Champions!

Alabama Crismson Tide: 35
University of Texas Longhorns: 17
This was my true prediction from 12-05-09
I officially wrote it down on this blog on 01-04-10 at 6:00 AM
following the "Mike and Mike in the Morning" show!

Texas Tech vs Coach Mike Leach: My stories/my arguments

Yesterday I was asked if I would write a story about the chaos brewing at Texas Tech University, but I was unable to for different reasons -mostly mental fatigue. Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about all things Texas Tech and how torn up I have been because of said chaos. I have been a fan since the age of 5, and I still firmly believe it is an excellent learning institution with much to offer and it continues to be competitive among other fine universities anywhere. This truly is an issue which could easily tear at the very fabric between fan and foe, but I for one refuse to allow it. Persons with close ties to the university are in shock over the firing of Coach Mike Leach and are experiencing some kind of disappointment and disdain and that is where I have been emotionally.

Today, however, I am in a better place spiritually and mentally and I have reached a resolution for myself that one can be for something without having to be against another; therefore because I am for Coach Leach does not mean I am against Texas Tech – the university. That the good ole boy saying which goes as such: “you are either with us or against us” is nothing but rubbish – just meaningless semantics with no real cause except to try to bully people. I do hold true to my beliefs of the other adage I posted yesterday on my FB wall which states: "A person who stands for nothing will fall for anything".

With that said and off my shoulders and with no more cross to bear, per se, this is my story.

As I began my morning ritual this morning, I kept thinking that I wish things were different in Red Raider land and that the public events which began Monday’s unfair suspension of Coach Mike Leach and his ultimate termination on Wednesday were just a dream. I say public events because the lynch mob, which is the Texas Tech brass, had already met and convened several days ago in regards to the Coach Leach allegations and had long ago decided on a “guilty verdict” and sentence to terminate his employment. Yep, they were going to show him! By the way the Tech brass, as I will refer to them going forward consists of: President Guy Bailey, Chancellor Kent Hance and Athletic Director Gerald Myers. They are the very culprits who paved the way for Coach Leach’s ultimate demise as head football coach of Texas Tech U. They are the ones who did the dirty deed yesterday and rid our university of the most successful Coach that our football program has ever had. How I would have preferred that the brass had instead extended an olive branch to Coach Leach and allowed him to tell his side of the story versus treating him like he had broken the Geneva Convention and been sending out orders of torture towards his players. This would be a non-issue if the school had been true to their own and allowed Coach Leach to tell his side of things first and foremost.

I do believe that this controversy was started by the Tech brass indeed when they listened to people (James family) who clearly never had Tech’s best interest in mind. The Tech brass began their witch hunt of Coach Leach and then had the audacity to believe that no one would care or pay attention to their unethical decisions against Coach Leach. Because the Tech brass did that, they had part in drawing a proverbial line in the dirt which in turn forced Tech fans/alumni to do what we thought was best. Thus “Team Leach” was formed and many of us have joined it in support of him. This is our stance and we stand true in our convictions and steadfast at what needs to be done. In the end, right is right and the Tech brass got it wrong as Coach Leach was “not afforded process” as he himself stated.

Coach Leach will have his day and the truth is certain to come out eventually, but for now, let's keep minds open as the Tech brass should have done and let due process run its course. I am not insinuating that the cited allegations should have been swept under the rug or kept hush-hush; no one is in support of torture of any player but this incident falls short of that by any means. As I stated above in reference to the Geneva Convention comment, Coach Leach broke no rules there - which has no bearing whatsoever on college ball, I merely used it to drive a point. Nope, no sir, no rules broken there much less any NCAA rules. In fact the NCAA says that they have nothing to do with said ordeal and are allowing Texas Tech to conduct their own in house investigation. If Coach Leach had indeed broken any rules by mistreating an injured player, the NCAA surely would have intervened and had their hands all over this issue - like “white on rice”! The Tech brass did need to listen to the allegations brought about by the James family, but they should have done it carefully and not so hastily…started out quietly (in house as the NCAA stated) and not made it so public so quick. It needed to be a lengthy process instead it was expedited. Coach Leach was not allowed the right which states one is innocent until found guilty. Unfortunately - it was vice versa and he was made to look guilty from the get-go stemming from actions that his own employers took against him.

Disappointedly so - in the end, this entire ordeal just places an ugly blotch on Texas Tech U. The Tech brass will be able to hide behind the curtain which is their authority and the James family will be allowed to continue their associations with the university (and ESPN) like things are okay and status quo. However, the reputations of the university, the football program and Raider Nation is forever tainted and perhaps jaded.  I for one would like to kindly request that Adam James be removed from the Red Raider football team immediately and not be take part in the Alamo Bowl, and that he then register and attend another university. As I write this, I do wish him well.

“Thank you” to all my family and friends (FB friends as well) who are joining me in support of Coach Leach.

Why Texas Tech fans and alumni have created and joined “Team Leach”:

As supporters of Coach Leach, we stand up for doing the right thing, we are not Tech haters, quite contrary, we still love our university. However, we are focused on our university also doing the right thing and siding with someone who has been with them for 10 years and has brought a lot of fame and fortune their way versus siding with a player (Adam James) who has not established himself as a football player or shown any signs of siempre fidelis to Texas Tech and their football program. Adam has rather shown signs of laziness and entitlement because of who his father (Craig James) is. By the way, Craig (the helicopter dad) was neither ethical himself when he played football at SMU nor did he leave behind a reputable legacy for Adam to follow. As part of the “pony express”, Craig accepted illegal-financial-hand-outs by SMU alumni which lead directly to the “death penalty” brought upon SMU by the NCAA. Craig himself is a persona non grata at SMU as I am afraid Adam will become at Texas Tech. I don’t blame the James family for Coach Leach being fired as they clearly do NOT have that kind of clout no matter what they may want to think in that narcissistic world of theirs. The Tech brass is merely using them as an end to a means.

Why Texas Tech should have been more patient:

The brass should have waited for the Alamo Bowl to conclude and then set forth with its investigation to involve all parties…James, Leach, other coaches, trainers, players and parents! Doing all of this before an important bowl game is ludicrous. It messes with the mindset of players and coaches to finish the season on a positive note. It just makes the Tech brass appear like money hungry mongrels hell-bent on keeping Coach Leach from getting any monies owed to him. Never mind what it does to the recruiting aspect as potential players become leery of attending a university with so many issues at hand. Coach Leach, although at times different and maybe quirky, drew players to our university who otherwise might not have given Tech a second look. The immature brass at Tech acted like keepers of the flame; they agreed to punish Coach Leach long ago when his contract was extended earlier this year. That was when they decided to deal a mighty blow to Coach Leach, and like the vultures they have been portraying, to look out for anything and everything that would help their plight to rid themselves of this successful Coach. Thus, in December 2009 do enter the James family and said allegations…do let the witch trials begin, my friends.