Enough is Enough

Several things in the past week have led me to believe that our country is again, on the brink, of yet another "military action" in Korea. Obviously with 28,000 troops stationed just below the 38th parallel, any military activity in the region will draw the attention of our commander in chief. So last week's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island by the North, coupled with the new Iraqi Prime Minister declaring that no U.S. troops would be necessary in Iraq after 2011, is all adding up to disaster in the making. Let us not forget, we tried this 60 years ago and it didn't work out too well for us the first time.

I saw a car yesterday sporting an "Obama/Biden" bumper sticker just above a "End This (meaningless) War" sticker. How surprised do you think Obama voters are going to be when he is forced to activate those almost 30,000 troops in Korea? Because if the growing tensions continue to fester, another war on the Korean penninsula is inevitable. And if war breaks out, who is always the first to jump in and pick a side(considering we've already got our side picked)? We will be dragged into yet another war, that in the end, truly means nothing to the well being of our country. This means billions more spent to help preserve another nation, that could instead be used to he preserve our own nation.

I am a veteran. I understand what we fight for. I believe in the cause of our military. But I am also an American citizen, and I see the shambles that our country is currently in. The last thing we need, is another reason to throw our hats into a ring that doesn't concern us. I know, in the end, if a war in Korea occurs, inevitably, our troops will indeed be involved, but I would only beg the President, to rely on the division we have in country to handle the task at hand. Do not start sending hundreds of thousands of troops into a fight that really doesn't need our help fighting. The Koreas ARE NOT, Iraq and Afghanistan. They already have well trained, well equipped armies that know how to fight. If we become more involved than we already are, the losses to our troops will be exponentially greater than all the middle east wars combined.

I say this as yet another good friend is laid to rest this weekend because of the mess we are still involved in in Afghanistan and Iraq. We train, we fight, and we die for a belief. But it doesn't have to be in vain, and if we leave Iraq, only to turn around and continue fighting in Korea, it will be.

R.I.P SGT Justin Culbreth

Second Chances are Earned...

I read an article in the paper yesterday, and I finally decided that I've had enough. For about 2 years now, Mike Vick has been the topic of football conversation in Philadelphia(more so nationally lately). Now let me preface this by saying, I do not agree in any way, what he did to get sent to jail. On the other hand, the man has admitted his wrong doing, accepted his punishment, humbled himself to a third string re-entry into the league, and gone full circle to once again being the most exciting athlete, not only in football, but possibly in pro sports.

In my experience listening to sports talk radio and reading the paper/listening to the news, people are "pro-vick" or "anti-vick." There is no in between. It is no secret that I have been on the "pro-vick" side since we signed him. It had nothing to do with him as a football player, or him as a person. It had to do with the fact that the man has paid his debt to society, and in this country, a person has the right to live a life free of persecution. He made mistakes in his life, he admitted those mistakes, and he did his time.

Now back to the article, it was about how many people have looked beyond his past transgressions and have accepted him as our starting quarterback. It was a great thing to see, until i came to the one "anti-vick" person in the story. Now I have friends who don't like him, and that is their right. But this man said that he doesn't believe that Vick is rehabilitated because there was a shooting at his birthday party and the Eagles and NFL covered up his involvement. Now last time I checked, it wasn't the NFL who investigated criminal activity. When the local authorities, his probation officer and anyone else involved in the investigation cleared him of any wrong-doing, that was sure as hell good enough for me. I wish I could talk to the man who made this comment, and anyone else who is searching high and low for anything to damn this man. In the end, if you don't know him, you cannot say factually that you know he is not rehabilitated. I for one, will take the word of the people who are trained to make such decisions.

I have become a front runner in the "sign Mike Vick IMMEDIATELY" fan club because of, not only what he has done on the field, but what he does on the sidelines, and off the field. I have seen leadership in him that we never saw in 11 years of Donovan McNabb. I have seen sincerety in his interviews and confidence in his team(also something we didnt see with 5).

If you want to dislike him because of his past, that is your choice and your right. Second chances are something that are earned in this society, but I believe Vick has earned his chance and deserves a chance to succeed as a contributing member of society. I will continue to support him until he gives me a reason not to. I believe this man should be the leader of this team, and he she be given the opportunity to make his living without having to look over his shoulder. He's earned that much.

The Sports Effect

I've been a sports fan my whole life. I played any and every sport that I could when I was younger, and have followed all of them inside and out. I have also observed the effect that sports can have on a person's well being. Anyone who considers themselves a fan of a particular team, and let me clarify, not a bandwagon jumper, fair weather fan, but one who lives and dies with their respective team, can recall with exact precision where they were, what they were wearing/eating/doing when the most important moments of their sporting lives occurred. I have seen how an entire city can be deflated for months because of only a few seconds of game time. I have also seen how that same city can be invigorated for years because of a similar amount of game time.

Now I'm saying this today because anymore, it actually means more to me when my teams win. I currently work the graveyard shift by myself for 8 hours everyday, and for the second week in a row, I have gone to work after watching my team win a big game. And I truly feel like I have an energy boost that will help me through my shift. That is an amazing effect. I do not enjoy working this shift. I do it because it is necessary. So when something happens that helps me get through my shift, it is a welcomed change.

After this win tonight, I decided to go back and look at other big sports moments and their effect on my own, or other peoples' state of being. When the Eagles won the NFC Championship, I was so excited, I did a backflip into a snow pile and tore my bicep. When they lost the subsequent Super Bowl, I drove around aimlessly for a few hours. It was the day that I finally realized, it was just a game. I was heart broken, but it was then that I adopted the age old adage, "The sun will rise again tomorrow." It has gotten me through both high and low times ever since. I have learned that no matter how good, or bad it gets with my teams, that I still have to live my life. I feel great when my team wins, and it gives me that little extra energy for a few hours, but after that, it's time to move on to the next thing. I feel horrible when my team loses, but after that run down feeling has run it's course, again, I have to move on to the next thing.

Next I look at my wife's life long football struggle with being a Saints fan. And it is not just hers, but hers is the experience I can reference. I love watching her watch a game(There is just something sexy about a woman who enjoys football, but that's a whole other conversation). When the Saints were powering through their season last year, it was great to see her enjoy them finally riding that winning wave. And for the first time in my life, I actually felt myself start rooting for a team other than my own. Her excitement was infectious, but it was welcomed. I cheered whole heartedly for the Saints in the Super Bowl, partly because I despise Peyton Manning, but mostly because I felt the joy that it brought her. And the effect on her when they won was even more impressive. She will always be a fan, but to her, that Super Bowl win, was the culmination of a lifetime of sticking with a losing team.

In 27 years, I have seen every professional Sports team in my city go to a championship game/series. I have seen one team win. 1 win in 6 attempts. Each game or series has had a distinctly different effect on my psyche, but they have all had an effect on my personal outlook as a fan. And I believe they have a personally specific and different effect on every fan in their in right. I will always be a sports fan. I will always follow my teams with reckless abandon, while they are playing. But I have finally learned how to use the emotion that comes with those games, to enhance other aspects of my life. And THAT is the Sports Effect.

It Doesn't Last Forever...

It's been a couple days since my last blog, but in that time, I have been taking account of everything in my life. I tend to do this every couple weeks, sometimes more, but I feel it is necessary to keep my priorities in line.

This week has been a turning point for me as I have taken the more difficult steps in finishing my degree. It has been about 20 months since I left the Army, and now that I have completed the application and ordered my transcripts, all I can do now is wait for an acceptance and starts school in the spring. Now of course I want to finish school for myself, but even moreso, just like most decisions I make in my life, I did it because I know it will help me to provide for my family and give them all the things they want and deserve.

I am a family driven person, and though I sometimes lose sight of the end goal, I always have them in mind when I make a decision that could be a life changer. This is because my family is my life. My kids are my imprint on this earth. When they become who they are eventually going to be, they will be a reflection of the things my wife and I have taught them, and knowing that, I know, I can't afford to fail them. I can't afford to give them anything less than the best of me. I never want to find out that my kids are not everything they could be because of something I did or did not do.

Then there is my wife. And I reference her second not because she is less important, but exactly the opposite. My wife Amanda, is everything to me. She is the one person that I truly believe I was meant to be with. After four and a half years of marriage, I know this fact more everyday. I know this because she married me and stood by me when I chose to enlist in the Army while she was pregnant with my daughter. She left everything she knew to move across the country when I got stationed out west. She is the first person I remember seeing when I woke up from my back surgery, which was one of the scariest experiences of my life. After every argument, and fight, and hard times, and the worst times, she has never left. Even when we both thought maybe it wasn't going to work, she stayed, and we worked together to keep going. We have been a team since the beginning, and hopefully will be until the end. She is a wonderful mother, always checking to make sure I haven't forgotten anything(which I do quite often), and an amazing wife, always trying to do for me anything she can to make me happy. And she does this continuously knowing that I don't always do the same(which is why I have to constantly reassess my priorities to make sure she remains on top).

I, by no means, am a perfect person. I have made my fair share of mistakes as we all have. I have wronged my family on several occasions, and yet, there they are everyday, always there to make me smile and remind me what this life is all about.

My wife said something to me the other day. We were in the truck with our daughter, who was just talking away, and I made a comment jokingly about how she probably wouldn't stop talking until she went to bed. My wife said, and I'm paraphrasing, it doesn't last forever, so enjoy it now. And that was the beginning of my mind reassessment. She was right. It doesn't last forever. Just a week away from my daughter's 4th birthday, and I'm watching her grow so fast, and I know, it won't last. Nothing lasts. But it is how we choose to enjoy the experiences that we have with our families that makes the difference. I am thankful everyday for just getting one more day with them, because it could be over in a second. All I can really do is cherish every moment I have with my kids, and hope that I get to spend a long, happy life with the person I love most in this world. Because it doesn't last forever.

A Salute to All Who Came Before

A veteran, by definition, is one who has served in a military force, especially, but not exclusively, during a time of war. In our brief existance as a soveriegn nation, we have seen our fair share of war. From mexico and florida, to our own backyards; the great plains, and the great world wars; Korea, Vietnam, Somalia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan. I'm sure there are still some that I've missed. But the one thing that was the same in all of these fights, was an idea. The idea was and will always be, all men, no matter race or creed, are created equal, and should be treated as such.

We fight to free people from the rules of tyrants, from the threats of mad men, and in some cases, from their own ignorance. But we fight. And we fight not because we believe we are better, but because we believe in the cause. The cause of a free world. A world free to live, and prosper, and grow in knowledge, strength, and pride.

So many have fought and died in the belief that they were dying so that someone else could live free. This is the day to salute those who have fought. Be proud of those who chose to make the ultimate sacrifice for someone else. Be grateful that we live in a country that allows you to make that choice. Be thankful that we have people who are ready, able, and willing to make that choice. And be thoughtful of what that choice means for everyone left behind.

Having served only a short time in the service myself, I was still able to meet and work with modern day heroes, who joined, fought and in some cases, did not come back. The fights we wage now, are not much different from 200 years ago. We are still fighting to protect the way of life we believe is correct.

I can only say, that I am honored, and blessed to even be mentioned in the same name as any of those who have served, or are currently serving in the military. The work you all do is the work of heroes. You ARE heroes. And I am forever grateful for your unselfish sacrifice. Happy Veterans Day. And Thank You All.

Now that's How Democracy is Supposed to Work!

A government founded on the voice of the people, has become moreso a voice of the "party" with little regard for those who are split on particular government issues. Anymore, you either have to vote democrat or republican, and if your side wins, you just have to deal with policies that are pros for your party, whether you carry the same views or not. It is truly disturbing to think that the voice of our generation is one of the majority and not truly of everyone(including those who may have voted for the incumbant in power).

The Senate Race in Alaska has definately opened some eyes in this time of "one side or the other." In a stunning defeat in the Republican Primary, Tea Party supported and Sarah Palin-backed newcomer Joe Miller took the Republican vote, leaving incumbant Rep. Senator Lisa Murkowski without a leg to stand on. She was not ready to give up her seat that easily however. She lobbied herself against her own right wing stance, as a moderate and a "Candidate of the Peope."

After President Obama was elected, Murkowski shifted to a far right stance in an attempt to keep herself in good standing with her party. But after basically being ousted by her own supporters, Murkowski has reverted back to her original moderate views. Running on a platform of limited abortion, she also does not believe that building a wall will end the illegal immigration problem, or that social security would be best forgotten, leaving those already collecting without a steady source of income.

By placing herself as a candidate whose seniority could help by working on both sides of the fence, she has picked up support in both parties and made the senate ballot in Alaska a three-horse race. After Democratic candidate Scott McAdams conceded his campaign, Murkowski appears to be in the lead with write-in votes having a 13-thousand plus lead over Miller. The write-in vote count begins Wednesday, and no matter the outcome, for the first time in recent history, it appears every vote will actually matter in this election. And that my friends, is Democracy.

Leave it all out on the field

I have been involved in sports my whole life. I played in some form organized or not throughout college. I was always told by coaches to put forth full effort. Leave it all out on the field.

Now with the advancement in knowledge of sports related injuries, players are told to hold back. They are fined exhorbitant(sp?) amounts of money(in some cases more than some people make in a year), they are suspended for several games, and in even the least severe of cases, penalized which in some cases, changes the momentum and outcome of the game.

I understand how injuries can linger and become worse later in life. But if someone chooses to play football for a career, they obviously have been playing their entire lives already. They understand the risk that goes along with playing the game. We've seen people get paralyzed, beaten, bruised, and in some cases, head injuries cause mental health problems and death later in life...again I say, this is the choice these men have made, knowing full well the risks of the game.

By telling these players that they are no longer allowed to hit a ballcarrier, they are basically saying, "Take everything you know about the game, and forget it." The league is over-reacting to a few isolated incidents, and in turn turning the game into a less than desirable product.

The game is played for the fans. The word Fan being short of FANATIC, names every person who waits all week long for the next game. The person who spends the last of their money on their favorite player's jersey. The person who pines during the entire off season on the moves that their team makes. It is the blue collar factory worker and the white collar business man. On game day, it is all about the fan, because without them, the games wouldn't be played.

The new rules about playing are bringing fans who spend their hard earned money to watch in question. If the league is so concerned about concussions, they should make the new helmets that prevent concussions mandatory. I know they exist, deshawn jackson wore one this week.

If they continue down this road, they wont need to worry about a lock out...the league's existance is actually on the line now. Players are questioning the judgment of the officials(commissioner included), and fans are questioning the legitimacy of the game itself.

As a lifelong fan of football and all sports, I think it's time for the leagues to stop sticking their hands in the games and stick to fielding a professional, exciting, acceptable product on the field. By worrying so much about injuries(that are going to happen anyway) they are making the final product less impressive. I'm not sure how much more I can watch. And I know I'm not alone.

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No Doldrums Here!

I love this time of year. A lot of people think I'm crazy, but I do. The air smells better. There is a little bite that comes with the chill of fall. Ever since I was a kid, this time of year has always been my favorite. There is just something about being outside in the cool air, and then going into a warm house, drinking a nice, hot cup of coffee and having that warmth just surge through your entire body.

I know this may not be my usual topic type, but I'm currently having the same conversation and it made me want to write it. I guess as I've grown, more things have surfaced that make me look forward to november, december, etc..., with the elections just past, so too did one of my favorite times. I love a good debate, and over course nothing brings out a good lively debate than election time. Football season is in mid-swing, hockey just starting up, and anyone who knows me knows how i feel about sports.

The leaves changing, then falling. The sun going down earlier(4:47pm today). The holidays always bring a good feeling as well. Good food and friends/family. The first snowfall of the year... and the subsequent 80 inches that follow...ok it was just last year, but I loved it nonetheless.

There really is nothing about this time of year that doesn't make me just a little bit more happy. I guess someone has to enjoy it...might as well be me. You can keep your warm beaches and sunny weather. Give me an overcast, breezy november day with a hot cup of coffee, a football game on tv, and good people around me. Now that, I could live on forever!

Social Networking Meets Poker

A little more than a year ago, while randomly surfing the web, I came across a website that grabbed my attention. In the midst of the social networking boom, I found a this site... www.pokerspace.com . A website dedicated to bringing poker players from around the world together with a common interest. From tutorials and free roll tournaments for beginners, to more complex tournament styles like deep stack, high roller, and my personal favorite, a team oriented tournament style that required your to work in teams of up to 6 players to have the highest cumulative finish(a style that only really works online).

The thing about pokerspace though, wasn't just the idea of player poker. It is a vast community of players who have strengths and weaknesses, similarities and differences, but all come together, usually in a cordial and respectful manner, and teach and learn from each other.

There are now many poker social networking sites, but none that match the professionalism and vision of pokerspace. I had the privelage of working for a short time as a staff writer for this website, and I got to see first hand how much time and effort was put into making everything from pokerspace sponsored tournaments with amazing prizes, to message boards and personalized profile pages. Steve, Michelle, "The Dude"(Chris) and the rest of the Pokerspace staff really worked very hard to put a top quality site together, and they succeeded.

This is an excellent site for anyone who enjoys playing poker whether online, or in person; professionally, or just as a hobby, pokerspace.com has something to offer.

Be aware, Be vigilant, Be responsible

Many who may read this are already aware of my background, but for those of you who are not, let me start this blog with a little history lesson. I was a broadcasting student at Temple University for 3 years. Though I did not finish my degree, it gave me a basis of where I thought I wanted my life to go. After trying and failing to get a job that could provide for me and my family, wife(girlfriend at the time), son, and daughter on the way, I decided to make a life choice and join the Army. Now with my background already in broadcasting, being a broadcast journalist in the Army only seemed like a perfect match. Little did i know that broadcasters often got stationed with infantry units since the air force got all of the nice studio jobs. This is where my brief personal bio will end for now.

After spending 3 years with an infantry unit that was constantly deploying whether it be Iraq or Afghanistan, I got used to friends not coming home. It's not an easy thing to become accustomed to, but eventually the memorial services and the names coming across the wire become just another part of the job, especially as a reporter. My problem began when I was medically retired from the Army and as I left to restart my civilian life, my unit was again leaving for deployment. I found myself everyday looking at the press releases and reading names of friends that were not coming home. This became increasingly more frequent, and with every name I read, I felt not just sadness, but guilt. I felt like i abandoned my friends. I felt like i belonged over there with them instead of safely stateside in my house with my family. The names kept piling up, sometimes just acquaintances, sometimes close friends, but everytime, a brother in arms.

Then, before I knew it, a year had passed and my unit came home, a few soldiers lighter than when they left, but with another tour under their belt. This is where everyone else comes in. Many of these soldiers come home wounded and scarred, and they need help whether they seek it or not. It's not just the physical toll of war, but the psycological damage that we all need to be made aware of. Much has been discovered about the mental damage fighting a war can do, but too little is being done to combat these issues when soldiers redeploy to the states. Many are let out of the Army with very little in the way of help, usually because they withheld information during testing. This is no excuse. We must be more vigilant as a society when it comes to noticing and treating PTSD in soldiers as well as in civilians who suffer through trauma. It is our responsibility as a developed people to take a stand and get these heros the treatment they need so they can live a fruitful life.

I say all this on the heels of news that I never wanted to hear. One of my first friends in the Army from training, after two tours of duty in a combat zone, came home 6 months ago, and before I got a chance to speak to him again, he took his own life. He hid his problems from the Army because, from what I can only guess, he didn't want to appear weak. Because of his deception, and the lack of proper testing, this brave young man is not longer with us. It is a loss on many levels, one very personal to me, and one that should have been prevented. He is not the first, and he most certainly will not be the last soldier to succumb to the war, even after he managed to survive the combat zone. So I say to anyone who has a loved one in this time of war who may be in need of help, BE AWARE. BE VIGILANT. AND BE RESPONSIBLE. It is our duty as Americans.

R.I.P. SPC Frank Tillis (1985-2010)

Scams-R-Us

It always amazes me how often, and in how many different ways, people get scammed. It's actually quite amazing that people continue to find ways to get around the law, and cheat honest people out of their hard earned money. I'll admit, i have been the victim of a scam or two, the worst actually being a job that ended up costing me hundreds in gas and tolls, not to mention a solicitation ticket in a town that i hope to never go to again...all this and i was constantly shorted on my pay until the day i saw it for what it was and juts quit.
It happens that way all too often, people dont realize whats happening until it's too late and the damage is already done.
Whether it's a pay-to-play scheme, or a simple pyramid, it seems the laws never seem to stop these people from finding the naive and taking advantage them.
Now i think about this as i've been watching wall to wall political ads for weeks about how much these politicians want to help americans, but how hard would it really be to pass a small piece of legislation that actually makes it impossible, or at least more difficult to get away with these scams. These people are just in it for a quick buck...make it too difficult or annoying and they would quickly go away. There will always be someone out there looking to make that quick buck at the expense of someone less fortunate, but if these people were policed a just a little bit more, maybe things would get a little better for a small group of people...things can only get better for everyone, if they get better for someone first.

Politics in Review

Every time another election rolls around, our televisions and radios, newspapers and front lawns are covered in political ads that are meant to sway our votes one way the other. Well I say we call it what it really is, OVERKILL. This business of plastering your name everywhere you can buy space is just too much. If that's not enough, i dont remember the last time i saw a political ad that actually told me what a candidate stood for without trying to defame his/her opposition. This in turn leads the opponent to run an equally offensive and almost childish ad until we start calling people witches and nazis. Why can't a campaign just be run honestly and honorably. These ads don't do anything but make the candidates seem so insecure in their own agenda, that they have to make sure you know just how bad their opponent is and not how great they are. I garuntee that after 6 months of horrible campaign ads, the only thing that is actually determined is that less people show up to the polls on election day. I truly believe that if a candidate ran on his/her agenda alone, without running a single negative ad, the polling numbers would be truly surprising in a positive way. Do I think this will happen anytime soon? Probably not. But it sure is fun to wonder, and someday maybe we will find out. But until then, we will have to continue to watch our country's two main party throw pot shots at each other, always in the end, forcing us to choose the lesser of two evils instead of the better of two good legitimate choices...here's to election day, and the end of 24/7 political slandering for another year.