I don't pull any punches here, and I am certainly not going to pull any punches today.
And you are free to disagree with me, which also makes this a pretty democratic blog, too.
Today, there are a couple of stories that I would like to cover, but not in a full blog, so we have out occasional "Bits and Pieces" entry.
Here goes, and hit me with your best shot, if you dare.
National Anthem Controversy Continues: I am just going to say this at the outset of this mini-entry: NFL players who kneel and show disrespect for out flag and our nation in doing so have every right, under our Constitution, to do so.
If this is what they choose to do, then millions of other people can also make their own choice, whether to support this nonsense or take the players out for their stance (or in this case, their kneeling).
And again, I am not going to get into specifics here, but probably the saddest thing about this entire movement happened yesterday at the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Chicago Bears game.
The Steelers decided to stay in the locker room while the anthem was played, showing team unity by simply not being out on the field when the anthem was played.
That is, except for one player.
Offensive tackle Al Villeneuva, a West Point graduate and an Army Ranger, doing three tours of duty in Afghanistan, who while on duty protected the very rights that allows his fellow NFL players to protest while the anthem is played, came out on the field during the anthem, the only Steelers player to do so.
According to reports, the rest of the team, which was in the runway behind Villeneuva and out of sight of fans and TV cameras when the anthem was played, was somewhat miffed that their teammate defied the agreement they had to stay completely off the field when the anthem was played.
Here is Villeneuva's take on this, which was made in 2016 but certainly carried over to his decision to break away from his team during the playing of the anthem:
"I agree that America is not perfect. I agree that there are a lot of issues with minorities in this country. I agree that we should do something about it. But I don't know if the most effective way is to sit down when the national anthem of the country that is providing you freedom and providing you $60 million a year is the best way to do it when there are black minorities that are dying in Afghanistan and protecting our freedom for less than $20,000 a year."
'Nuf said.
Aaron Judge Nears Rookie Home Run Record: Onto other sports matters, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has returned to his former pace in the first half of the season, and he has helped propel the Bronx Bombers into the playoffs, albeit the one-game Wild Card round.
Judge hit two more home runs yesterday in the Yankees' 9-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday, giving him 48 for the season. If he can hit one more in the team's last week of games, he will tie Mark McGwire's all-time rookie record of 49 for the season.
And since everything McGwire did during this career is subject to question, as he was one of the poster boys for PED use, I think the MLB would like nothing more than for Judge to shatter this record, taking McGwire out of the record books.
Judge is a smart, likable player with a tremendous amount of talent. He is in the top five of just about every offensive category this season, spectacular of any player but even more notable because he is, in essence, a first year MLB player, although he did have the proverbial "cup of coffee" with the Yankees at the tail end of last season.
In my estimation, his feats this season not only merit his consideration as Rookie of the Year, but also as the American League's Most Valuable Player.
Through his ups and downs this season--and he had a two-month span after the All-Star break where he was nearly invisible in the Yankees's offense--he has been the bellwether of the Yankees.
Where would they be without him?
You can clearly say that the Yankees would not be vying for the playoffs if he didn't do what he has done this year, and to me, that makes him not only the American League's top rookie, but also its MVP.
Team goals are more important, of course--and Judge would say that too--but c'mon, this guy has been spectacular this season, becoming his own "must-see at bat" every time he steps up to the plate.
Whether strikeout, base on balls or tape measure home run, this guy has energized baseball this season as its most exciting player.
He is the real deal.
Crazy Weather in the Northeast: If our backyard pool was open yesterday, we would have had a nice swim in it.
The pool has been closed for a few weeks, but the weather yesterday--at the beginning of fall--was summer-like, to say the least.
It was at or near 90 yesterday in most of the New York Metropolitan Area, which made it about 15 to 20 degrees higher than it should be during this part of the year.
Those of us who had put away the shorts just two weeks ago had to get them out again.
Yes, it was that warm yesterday and this weekend, breaking records all over the area.
We had to use the air conditioning again, and if you were outside, it was truly uncomfortable.
All of this is in comparison to what has been happening in other parts of the country, where hurricanes have left their unsightly mark.
It doesn't seem at all fair, but when has Mother Nature ever been considered to be fair and equitable?
The hot weather is supposed to continue to mid-week, and by next weekend, everything is set to return to the normal 70 degree area that we normally have this season, but suffice it to say that it has been nice to see Indian Summer come to our area, albeit it for such a short period.
My Job Prospects: Well, at least there is a smidgen of news to report this time around.
I actually had my first real, honest to goodness, face-to-face interview two weeks ago, and while it didn't lead to a new position, it at least gave me hope, something I haven't had in the 10 months I have been looking.
Yes, it took me 10 months to get a real job interview--that is how bad the job market is, so don't believe what you read in the newspapers about this market opening up and providing us with many new jobs.
Or maybe it is because I am of the age where employers simply don't want to hire people like me, I simply don't know.
But at least I can say that this interview was somewhat fair.
I knew I didn't get the position when I left the interview, but at least I did speak to someone who I thought gave me a fair couple of minutes of his time.
At this point, I guess that is all I can ask.
Speak to you again tomorrow.
"If this is what they choose to do, then millions of other people can also make their own choice, whether to support this nonsense or take the players out for their stance (or in this case, their kneeling." How do you suggest that one "take the players out"? Maybe Dinner And A movie, or did you have something more permanent in mind?
ReplyDeleteMost veterans I know absolutely support the players. Most owners published statements in support of the players? Why? Because if it were just a few players, and the idiot in chief at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue didn't stick his nose in it, the protests would have quietly gone away.
ReplyDeleteNo, most veterans are not for the players, not the ones who I have seen interviewed at the games and have spoken out about this. The President spoke about it because he is like most of us, fans of sports, and he does not like to see sports brought down by this nonsense. If you spouted off your political views at work, you would be at least reprimanded if not fired. The players' "office" is the field, so why are they allowed to spout off there? And you darn well know why the owners and the commissioner align themselves with the players--without the players, they are nothing, and the players know that, and take advantage. And, Allen, from the up above comment, I should have said call them out. And they have done just that.
ReplyDeleteAnd Robin, that "idiot in chief," as you call him, happens to be your President, and you still can't get over that your gal lost the election. Do something about it next time around, don't berate him for trying to do what is not PC, but what is right.
ReplyDelete