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Tell The Truth: Who’s Been Bullying Who

The internet is a strange, yet consummately wonderful place. It allows for a feed from thought leaders and journalists, and with a new age real time speed emphasis, with the ability of other, and different on a granular level, voices to respond. It is a wonderful, even if still difficult, medium of interaction. Twitter is the epitome of it all.

Some will say Facebook, but I think Twitter is a far better avatar, especially for those that really think about hard news, current events and some sort of equilibrium of differing political discourse. Is it a little rough, unfiltered and harsh because of the proverbial 140 character limit? Sure. Absolutely. You hope that the friends you make are equal to the knowledge you take, whether you agree or disagree at any given point in time.

And then comes a day where a small fish gets accused of “bullying” by far bigger fishes. As if simple political and moral distinctions and views are “bullying” or otherwise unconscionable among people that have been agreeing and disagreeing/parrying with and against one another for give or take a decade.

Instead, I was always taught to go into a forum, argue like hell for what you think you must and/or right, and then go have a cocktail with your adversary, or at least shake hands and walk off with the understanding there are two sides to any legitimate argument. And, I will be honest, the “fight like hell” part is always job one. Indeed, criminal defense attorneys are schooled to zealously do just that.

So, recently, I was accused of “bullying”. By a friend with a perch several exponents above mine. I tried to explain. I apologized. And I got nothing in response but for the initial intellectual scorn and accusation that I was “bullying” the big fish.

But for the sadness, both on a personal and interpersonal plane, and greater intellectual one, I might laugh instead of cry. But I cannot. I will not.

The times are severe. The moment is critical. Let us all rise above this type of impertinent interaction. You can still respect and admire people you occasionally have real and very hard differences with. And you can talk to them. Both sides will be all the better for that discourse.

Trying times, civil rights, equality of justice, and the American experiment itself, depend on all of us.

[If you didn’t know, that was not just Slow Clapton in the video but also the one and only Yvonne Elliman too. She is, and always has been, special.]

Big Game Rivalry Weekend Trash Talk

I hope one and all survived and had a glorious Thanksgiving. As you may recall, it did not go so well for us Cheeseheads. Ouch, the Kitties put a licking on. Just goes to prove, if you want to win a football game, it helps to have a quarterback. But, here we are and the Big Game between the Wolverweenies and the Artists Formerly Known As The Sweatervests is underway. And multiple players have been ejected already! Big Blue has a 21-14 lead in the second quarter. I’ll be rooting for the Michigan Men, but not gonna bet any money on them.

The big game here is, of course, Arizona State hosting the dreaded Wildcats of Arizona. This is as bitter a rivalry as there exists in sports, bar none. For the last four years, the away team has won. Let’s hope that does not hold tonight. Rich Rodriquez has the Cats gelling and looking very good in their last game, a huge whipping of the then fifth ranked Oregon Ducks. The Cats’ running back, Ka’Deem Carey almost went to ASU out of high school, and now he is a beast and Arizona’s all time leading rusher; he went off for 205 against the Quackers. Their QB, BJ Denker is a competent manager, and very good on short and mid range passes, and he runs pretty well in Rich Rod’s spread offense too. The Devils will likely be without leading rusher, and touchdown machine, Marion Grice, who has a tender knee. But Taylor Kelly has really solidified into a decent QB, and the Devils have explosive capabilities at all the skill positions. On defense, ASU is more experienced and more capable on paper. With the game being played on Frank Kush Field, the Devils should have the clear edge; but that never works against the Cats, this is a must watch game and a pick em.

Other rivalry games today include Alabama at Auburn; take the Tide to roll. Clemson at South Carolina pits the number 6 versus the number 10 team and should be a bloodbath. Clemson has too much firepower though, and the ‘Cocks defense has not been as good as expected this year. Texas A&M at Mizzou should also be a great game. Johnny Football stunk up the joint against LSU last week and will be looking for redemption. Tough road against the next set of Tigers. Notre Domers go to visit the Trees, and that won’t go well for the Irish. Lastly, the Trojans and the Bruins square off in the battle of LA. Hard to not see USC having the edge here, they are playing very well since dumping Lane Kiffen on the tarmac at LA International Airport. Also, I owe Kevin Drum a huge one for rooting for the Devils against UCLA, so I am returning the favor here. Go Tommy Trojan!

In the pros, the big game is, as it was a couple of weeks ago, the Broncos and Chefs. This time, however, the game in in the BBQ pit of Arrowhead, and man that is every bit as tough a forum as Mile high is. I still don’t think KC has enough offense to hang with the Peytons, but this should be a lot closer. Rams at Niners may be a pretty darn good game, but take SF at home. Kellen clemens has done great filling in for Sam Bradford, but Kaepernick and the Niners have their groove back. Dolphins at Jets might be very interesting, I’ll take the Jets Jets Jets in an upset (no idea why, the Fish are probably better). Saints at Squawks is the Sunday Night game on NBC, and it should be a barnburner. No way I will pick against Seattle at home though, even though they have had some turmoil from drug suspensions.

Lastly, there will be another pretty big, and good, game here in the Valley of the Sun – the Eagles coming to visit the Cardinals. And Valley of the Sun is right, the weather has been to die for lately; should be 75° and clear blue sky here both weekend days. Both teams are really coming together late in the season, and both QBs, young Nick Foles and Carson Palmer have been in grooves. This game is another pick em….except the Cards are really tough at homw, so the slightest edge goes to Arizona.

Well, that is it, hoop it up! Music this week is Saint James’ Infirmary by Dr. John and Eric Clapton, and it is superb.

The Wonderful Wet At Wimbledon and Silverstone

While we in the States deal with sweltering heat across the country, our “special friends”, the Brits, are having a run of wet weather over one of the most compelling fortnights in recent history across the pond. You see, not only has Wimbledon been proceeding at the All England Club Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, but this is also the week of the famed British Grand Prix. It is not just a remarkable concurrence of perhaps the two biggest sporting events, of any year, for England; it is bigger than that. For the first time since 1939 a subject of the Kingdom, Andy Murray, is in the finals at Wimbledon. Add to that, at least three British F1 jockeys have a legitimate shot at winning the British Grand Prix at Silverstone; Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Paul di Resta. Heady times in the Isles, and it is all wet. Soaking. Dripping. Wet.

First up, Wimbledon. When I started writing this, Serena Williams had just polished off Aga Radwanska 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 to win her fifth Wimbledon title. Now I, and whoever may read this, will be much further into the day than I intended*. For several reasons, I have never personally been a big Serena Williams fan, but have always respected greatly what she has accomplished. Today, I could not help but be a huge fan. Serena was herself, powerful, the face of the US, and a champion. She showed all of it on the biggest stage her sport has to offer. Simply wonderful.

The American cruised through the first set 6-1, and looked to be on a blowout roll. But Radwanska, aided by a delay from the wet weather, took the second set in a tie break and appeared to have clear momentum.

But then the power, and force of will, that is Serena Williams took over. It was a thing of tennis beauty. Aga Radwanska showed heart and skill; someday she will be a champion. Today, Serena Williams showed Aga what a champion looks like. The wet at Wimbledon brought about something special in the Women’s Final. Wow.

Almost enough to temporarily forget there is an equally compelling, if not far more so, Men’s Final left on tap. Because the Men’s Final at Wimbledon is another vignette of Read more