And So What if the Man Doesn't Want to Meet the President

James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers is making headlines today because he doesn't care to travel with the rest of his Super Bowl Champion team to the White house to meet President Barack Obama. It is customary for the president to invite the title-earners of our nation's major sports leagues and even NCAA championship teams to the White house for a ceremony to celebrate the team's accomplishments.

Harrison insists that the reason he will not go has nothing to do with political affiliations. Instead, he simply feels that the invitation to Washington isn't very personal since it would be the Cardinals traveling to meet the president had the Steelers not come back to win the game at the end of the Superbowl. In Mr. Harrison's opinion, if the President really wanted to meet the Steelers, he would have invited them at a different time before now.

The last time the Steelers won the Super Bowl, George W. Bush was President of the United States. Guess who didn't travel to Washington to meet President Bush with the rest of his team? You got it - James Harrison. I don't recall hearing any outrage in the media when Mr. Harrison declined the invitation of our last president. This story was leading the news on Sports Center today. I heard it mentioned on national radio. I think members of the mainstream media are just shocked that there is even one person on God's green earth who is not clamoring to meet President Obama. I guess the thinking was that when Harrison snubbed President Bush - that was to be expected. It was no surprise to the media-types that someone would decline an invitation to meet with the incompetent Bush. However, to decline an invitation from President Obama - well, that's just downright un-American isn't it? If James Harrison wants to stay home instead of going to the White house that is his prerogative. Personally, I find it ridiculous that he doesn't want to go but surely no more ridiculous now than it was the last time the Steelers were world champs.

For the record, I would love to meet the President of the United States. The History teacher in me will not let me feel otherwise no matter how much of a Republican I may be. To be in the same room with the most powerful person in the world would be an awe-inspiring experience whether one agrees with his policies or not. It would be something to see anyway. Besides, I'm sure the little smokies, rotel dip, and other snacks will be first-rate.

Don't Believe the Hype - Games are Rarely Decided by Single Plays

Please don't get me wrong. No one was more upset about the outcome of the Dallas-Denver playoff game last Saturday than I was. The way the game ended was a travesty but not for the reasons you may expect me to list. I thought the non-call of the now infamous phantom foul was malarkey. Those officials knew the situation - they knew Dallas would be using their last foul.

The NBA is usually quick to give out fines and suspensions for fouls they deem to be too hard which makes it even more confusing why no foul was called. Next time a team is in the same situation, they'll make sure they get their money's worth with their foul no matter what the league may decide to do as punishment. HOWEVER, there are some things that must not be forgotten when examining this game.

The Mavs lost by one point - they missed seven free throws in the game. Some may say, "So what, all teams miss free throws." The Mavericks are one of the best free throw shooting team in the league. Their performance Saturday from the charity strip was uncharacteristically choke-worthy. If they had made half of their misses they would have won the game.

One reason the Mavericks played so much better in game three than in the previous two games was because the Mavs posted up Nowitzki and Kidd in one-on-one situations. This strategy worked well all night. Then for whatever reason, in the last three minutes and thirty seconds, Dallas started jacking up the jumpers and at one point missed seven shots in a row from the field. It's hard to win any game missing shots in that manner much less a playoff game.

That brings us to the play everyone has been mulling over on talk radio for the past two days - the attempted foul. When the foul was "committed" it appeared as though the Mavericks and even some of the Nuggets stopped playing. The problem, of course, was that no whistle blew to stop the game. That is a central lesson we teach to young basketball players all over the country - play until you hear a whistle. Apparently, the Mavericks need a refresher course in this area. Fans could blame the officials but coaches and players aren't. They know better than to make such statements. If the Mavericks are the kind of team we hope they are, they are claiming responsibilty for that loss and making up their mind that they will do whatever it takes to never again trust the outcome of the game to anyone other than themselves.

The good news is the Mavericks won tonight and what a gutsy performance by Nowitzky. The bad news - the series is now 3-1 in the Nuggets favor going back to Denver rather than tied at two as it should be. Anything is possible, of course, but I'm afraid by winning, the Mavs have simply delayed the inevitable.

A Little Bit of Bad Could be Really Good

The Mavericks have been adiosed in the first round of the playoffs for the past two years. If one were to look at the previous two season's stats, players, and performances along with the same information from this season's team, one would find it unlikely that this season's team would be the one to make it to the second round while the others did not, yet here we are. Maybe that is what going out and hiring a playoff-tested coach will get for a team.

However, the stay in the second round will be short-lived if this team doesn't figure out how to, well, grow a pair. Yesterday's start of the second-round series between Dallas and Denver began with Dirk picking himself up from the floor after a forearm from Kenyon Martin in the opening seconds of the game. The Nuggets or Thuggets as they have come to be called this season wasted no time in setting the tone for the series. It was a cheap shot, of course; and Martin did receive a technical foul but the Nuggets did not care. They were testing the Mavericks by seeing how Dallas would respond to the foul and they failed that test miserably.

No one answered for the foul on Dallas' best player. Jason Terry came to defend Dirk by mouthing something but someone on this Dallas team has got to decide that they will be the heavy. When another team puts a dirty player out on the floor - the Mavs have to counter with someone. It is probably too late for that to happen this season but it is something that should be addressed this off-season.

Denver had their way physically with the Mavericks all afternoon. The Mavericks had chances to answer. Late in the first half, Jason Kidd committed a foul on Anthony Carter as AC was streaking uncontested to the basket. Such fouls, should be hard and memorable. This one was tantamount to a tickle at a teenage-girl's pillow fight.

Watching the game, I was reminded of the 1988 NBA finals which featured the finesse of the LA Lakers' Showtime versus the grind it out style of the Detroit Piston's "Bad Boys." In that series, finesse won out but the Mavericks don't have the star power that Lakers squad did and Kenyon Martin and this current Nuggets team may be meaner than that Bill Laimbeer Piston unit. Those facts do not bode well for Mavericks and their fans.

This Mavericks team appeared to be peaking at just the right time. Can they rise above Sunday's disappointing loss or will they get bullied right out of the playoffs? We'll know soon enough.

Favorite Baseball Flicks

Recently on Facebook, I listed my twenty favorite films. There were a few sports films in the mix and one baseball film specifically. See if you can guess what I feel is the best baseball film of all time as I count down my ten favorite baseball flicks.

10. Angels in the Outfield - (1994) An underrated and entertaining movie. Far-fetched for sure but fun for the kids.

9. The Naked Gun - (1988) Not a movie about baseball but the movie reaches its climax at the Big A in Anaheim as Reggie Jackson tries to assassinate the Queen Mum. Leslie Nielson as an umpire was hilarious.

8. Eight Men Out - (1988) An underrated film for sure - the true story of the 1913 Chicago "Black Sox." One of America's most notorious scandals.

7. Major League - (1989) This was the movie to see when I was in eighth grade. In the late eighties the Indians really were as bad as the movie depicted. Famous line from Bob Eucker: "Juuussst a bit outside."

6. Field of Dreams - (1988) A great tale of redemption and following your dreams with a little lesson in faith mixed in.

5. Bull Durham - (1988) Considered by some to be the best baseball movie ever. Good flick about life in the minors.

4. Sandlot - (1993) Baseball through the eyes of kids. I lived this movie as a child. Nineties pop-culture quote: "You're killin' me Smalls."

3. The Pride of the Yankees - (1942) There have been few movies in the history of American film in which the actor, in this case Gary Cooper, does a more seamless job of portraying his subject, the great Lou Gehrig. Though the movie is a classic, it's also a real downer.

2. *61 - (2001) This made for HBO movie is without doubt the best baseball movie you have never seen. It is exceptional. Barry Pepper and Thomas Jane are dead on in their portrayals of Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle respectively. The film gives great insight to the struggles Roger Maris faced while chasing Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record.

1. The Natural - (1984) One of the best movies ever - baseball or not. There are two scenes in the Natural that give me goose-bumps every time I see them. The scenes where Roy Hobbs crushes the clock at Wrigley and the one where Hobbs smashes the bank of stadium lights creating a pseudo fire-work display with sparks falling all around him while he is circling the bases to score the winning run in the game against the Pirates are classic scenes from American cinema.

If I missed anything, feel free to put me in my place. I know I left some good ones off the list. Let me hear what you think.

There is but One

Well, we all know how the old saying goes - where there's smoke there's fire. There has been a lot of smoke coming from Rangers and Stars owner Tom Hicks lately. He has talked openly of defaulting on his loans for his professional sports franchises and he is openly seeking someone to buy a minority share of his teams.

Before I go any further let me say that I am blogging this as a Rangers fan. To be totally honest, I really couldn't care what happens to the Stars. I know they were the Metroplex's last championship team but I am just not in to them and I don't like the idea of sharing Rangers' baseball money with them - don't even get me started on Mr. Hicks' soccer exploits.

Since he has owned the Rangers, Mr. Hicks has envisioned his team as a knock-off New York Yankees franchise but he has always tried to run them on a Pittsburgh Pirate Budget. The Rangers are a top-five market team, meaning there are more potential fans here than most other teams have access to. The problem is the team is budgeted like a bottom-five market team. There are many problems with the Rangers but the biggest one is that they have an owner who is not willing to spend the big bucks where he needs to.

A few years ago, the Rangers money whipped Alex Rodriguez to get him to come to Texas but then wouldn't pay to put a team around him. The Rangers operate in a league without a salary cap. Operating in a non-salary cap system with an owner unable to spend some money is a recipe for failure. Last year, the Tampa Bay Rays were hugely successful with home-grown talented young players and a low budget. However, mark my words, when the contacts of these young players expire, these players will walk to the Yankees, Red Sox and Dodgers of the big leagues.

The Rangers have a great nucleus of young players with the best minor-league system in baseball. Imagine what kind of team Texas would have if they could continue to develop talent as they have been able to as of late while supplanting their roster with some key off-season free-agent signings. This will never happen with the current ownership in place. We must begin looking for a new owner, an owner chosen by the people. He must be a baseball fan and must have a vested interest in the metroplex.

There is but one individual for this job - the incomparable Mark Cuban. I think Mark Cuban is a bit of a nut job. His antics wear me out but he is a good owner to his team. He spends money where he should and has made a team relevant that had previously been a running joke in the NBA for a decade. He can do this for the Rangers as well. The Rangers and the Nationals (formerly the Expos) are the only major league teams to have never made it to their respective League Championship Series. Cuban could change this. We know he would like to own a baseball team because of his flirtation with the Chicago Cubs. Please join me in humbly asking Mr. Cuban to save us from penny-pinching and mediocrity. Mark, if you're out there reading this, go find Tom the next time you are both around the AAC and make the man an offer he can't refuse. Who knows, he may even pay you to take the Stars.

What a Weekend

You gotta love weekends like this past weekend. The local athletes gave us plenty to talk about at the water cooler this morning; the Rangers once again snatched defeat from the jaws of victory thanks to a shaky bullpen, the Mavs lost what could be considered a must-win game as they angle for prime playoff positioning and the "grandaddy" of all golf-tournaments was played at a little course in Augusta, Georgia and man, was it a dandy.

I really think that Sunday's Masters action will be talked about for a long time as one of the great collective rounds of golf. What happened in Augusta yesterday will undoubtedly restore some of the luster and panache that this tournament has lost over the recent years. The Woods/Mickelson pairing for the final round was a match made in golf heaven - Phil, Tiger, and Augusta. For golf fans, it just doesn't get any better. Mickelson's performance on the front nine on Sunday further solidified his position as one of the best golfers of all time and the play of Tiger Woods has helped him re-establish himself (after his surgery and time away) as on of the best clutch athletes of all-time (in any sport.)

While the world was routing for Mickelson or Woods to sneak up on Kenny Perry and over-take him for the lead, two underdogs were lurking about. Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell each mounted late charges to force a play-off which Cabrera walked away from victoriously. It might not have been the ending golf fans were hoping for since Woods and Mickelson exited without the green jacket but by the time the duo had left for the clubhouse, no one could turn the channel, we were legitimately interested in the outcome of the tournament.

The 2009 version of the Masters might have single-handedly restored the tournament to its rightful place in the pantheon of American Sporting events. After all, when people are talking about golf around the water cooler in East Texas when baseball and basketball are also going on - it's got to be a big deal.

Radio Days

Driving back from Austin this weekend, I frantically searched for the Louisville-Michigan State game on my radio dial. As you may know, yours truly had picked the Cardinals of Louisville to win the entire shootin’ match, as they say. As you may further know, Louisville went on to lose that game and my interest in the Final Four has, as a result, waned. Anyway, I never found the game on any radio station AM or FM. However, in Belton, I managed to pick up the Rangers-Angels spring training game on the all-powerful KRLD. It came in loud and clear, I could have possibly picked it up even further south had I been surfing the radio dial earlier.

Every year when I hear my first broadcast of the season, I am flooded with so many reminders of youth. For as long as I can remember, we have listened to Ranger’s baseball. It is a part of who I am. I can remember as a very young child, laying in bed and hearing my dad’s radio barely audible over the window unit. Mark Holtz and Eric Nadel there with me until I would fall asleep. I can remember leaving a game early because my Uncle Mike wanted to beat traffic and Texas was losing badly so we listened to the end of the game on the way home. The Rangers batted around and Odibe McDowell won the game for the Rangers in the home half of the ninth by belting a grand slam. I also recall listening to Nolan Ryan getting Ricky Henderson looking for his 5,000th career strikeout – we were on our way home from Six Flags at the time.

I would lay in bed at night (while I was supposed to be asleep – I usually had to be in bed by the 7th inning stretch) with my earphones on listening in as Bo Jackson feasted on Rangers pitching; and I recall the hope and enthusiasm of an organization conveyed through its broadcasters when they would mention young Ranger prospects and how they were faring in the minors – Rodriguez, Gonzalez, and Sosa. It was a sad day when Mark Holtz left the radio booth for the TV gig. We were still able to hear “Hello Win Column!” but it just wasn’t the same for some reason. Now Holtz is gone, of course. No one has ever sounded as good next to Eric Nadel. I don’t know what I’ll do the day he leaves the broadcast booth for the last time. That to me will symbolize the final great passing of my youth. Listening to him call baseball games serves as somewhat of a soundtrack for my summers and a backdrop for the re-living of sweet memories from days gone by. It’s a shame the Rangers have never made it to the World Series – I would like to know how the boys of summer sound in autumn.

And So It Begins

I am venturing where few brave men have ever dared tread. I am doing something I have never done before - something so terrifying I am not sure if I will even survive the ordeal. I am coaching my sons' T-ball team this season.

I tried to stay out of it. Really. I had no desire to subject myself to the kind of punishment that only T-ball coaches have to endure - scheduling practices, figuring out who's bringing Capri Suns next week - you know the routine. I assumed that I would again get an opportunity to coach one day but really thought it might be when my sons were a bit older. But, the league needed another coach and since one-sixth of the team was my flesh and blood, I answered the call. I am the Dwight Eisenhower of Van, Texas T-ball. The position of coach sought me, I did not seek the position.

Since being involved with this, I have been reminded of a few things I may have subconsciously forgotten since I left the academic coaching ranks. I have been reminded why so many kids are burnt out on their sports by the time they get to highschool. Youth sports have become more of a hobby for adults and parents than a means of teaching kids about team concepts and work ethics. At the lowest of levels, we emphasize winning too much.

As a high school baseball coach, I loved to win. Winning is important at those levels. It teaches athletes a lesson on the fruits of labor. But as I listen to rec-league coaches and officials discuss ways to make T-ball more competitive, I am greatly discouraged because I know that this blind infatuation with the game of baseball or the vicarious living out of youthful dreams will only lead to resentment of the sport later on during adolescence. The job of T-ball coaches is to let kids enjoy the sport and teach the fundamentals of the game. It is even appropriate to introduce some baseball etiquette and lingo.

Perhaps I am too old fashioned and the game has already passed me by. Maybe a good T-ball coach should try to win at all cost. Nothing is like it used to be and that's a hard pill to swallow sometimes.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Make Your Selections Now

It is time for March Madness again - that time of year when brackets are passed around the office and hopes rise and fall with the performances of the NCAA tournament's heroes, underdogs and Cinderella stories.

For those of you too busy or lazy or indifferent to research who is going to the dance and which teams will make a run through the tournament, please allow me to assist.

In the Midwest:

Upset Alert - I like number 12 Arizona to knock off number 5 Utah. The rest of this regional should go pretty much as expected. I like USC over Boston College in a minor upset.

I think this division will come down to two college basketball powerhouse: Michigan State and Louisville and I give the nod to Louisville.

In the West:

Upset Alert - The only upset I like in this regional is number 10 Maryland over number 7 California. Go Terps!

Texas ties - Though it pains me to say it. I expect BYU to knock out Texas A&M in the opening round. Sorry, Aggies.

This division should offer some great games. If things go as I expect, look for match ups featuring UConn vs. Purdue (Give me UConn), Memphis vs. Missourri (I'll take Memphis) and Memphis and UConn squaring off to decide who will go to the Final Four. Be smart and take the Tigers of Memphis.

In the East:

Upset Alert - The only upset I project is number 9 Tennessee defeating number 8 Oklahoma State.

Texas Ties - Look for the Longhorns to go down in the second round to the hungry Blue Devils of Duke.

Overall number 1 seeded Pittsburgh should have a cake walk to the Final Four. Duke could prove me wrong but I doubt it.

In the South:

Upset Alert - Western Kentucky has the goods to pull off a big upset of number 5 Illinois. This would be huge and I'll go out on a limb and pick them but I'll stop short of giving them Cinderella status because I think Gonzaga will beat them in the second round. I like Michigan over Clemson in the first round as well. This would be seen as a minor upset but it would not be totally unexpected.

Texas ties - I am proud as I can be of our East Texas SFA Lumberjacks but I just don't see them beating the Orangemen of Syracuse.

Like the West, look for some great games in the third and fourth rounds. The third round should go like this: North Carolina vs. Gonzaga with UNC coming out on top. Syracuse and Oklahoma will go head to head with the edge going to OU. That means Oklahoma and North Carolina will play for the chance to advance to the Final Four and my pick is the Tar heals of UNC.

The Final Four -

The finals should shake out as such: Louisville and Memphis with Louisville advancing to the Championship. The other half of the Final Four will feature a Pittsburgh-North Carolina match up with UNC coming out on top. In the title game, two of my favorite programs will square off and in a Louisville-UNC championship, I am selecting Louisville as my 2009 NCAA Champions. Good luck, Cardinals.

When filling out your brackets, you can take the advice of experts and do some research or you can use the coach's wife approach and choose teams based on team color schemes and mascots. I am not so sure that one way is better than the other but hopefully I have helped someone. Remember, get those brackets filled out before Thursday!

Don't Let the Door Hit Ya!

Short of firing the General Manager of his team, Jerry Jones took steps towards righting his ship this past week. Since he can't fire himself, giving Terrell Owens his walking papers was a good consolation prize. The Cowboys are a team in disarray and only time will tell if sending T.O. packing was the right move from a purely performance standpoint - the way Roy Williams plays in the spotlight will determine the success of the move in this aspect.

From a morale standpoint, things should already be better. No one likes to be called out by teammates - especially teammates who have never bought into the team concept in the first place. Athletes don't like getting barked at for dropping the ball by teammates who have a penchant for displaying the butter fingers themselves. T.O. was a distraction. His sideshow antics were old. What a sad thing to see so much talent just bounced around from team to team after one worn out welcome after another.

Another aspect to this move - and this is big - is that Dallas isn't afraid to add through subtraction even if it means eating millions of dollars in guaranteed money. If an all-pro receiver can get the axe, is anyone immune?

The best thing for Terrell would be to finish his career with a team like the Colts with a quarterback like Eli Manning who just oozes credibility. It will take someone with such a track record to be able to tell Owens to "Shut up" in the huddle and to let him know whose team it really is. He will need a strong quarterback if he is to experience success at a high level again. He did not have that in Dallas. Good thing for him he is going to . . . oh wait, that's right he's going to Buffalo where - say who's the quarterback there anyway? Good luck with that.

Petitioning for Warning Signs

On a warm July fourth weekend in Texas, friends and family were gathered together in celebration of the national holiday. Canton is a city located between Dallas and Tyler. Close enough to the big city to head there on a whim for shopping and fun, but secluded in a peaceful small country town set a part from the modern day hustle and bustle of suburbia. The day had begun with a country breakfast feasted on by young couples and their children. Everyone gathered around the table for eggs and croissants and ham, served with coffee and juice. The leisurely pace was much appreciated by all who were there. The opportunity to relax and enjoy the company of familiar individuals further developing lifelong friendships was a blessing. It was nice to slow down for a brief couple of days.

The afternoon was spent on the front porch deck watching the young children playing together. They enjoyed the companionship of their cousins in the same way that the adults remembered doing when they were the same age as their kids are now. The water hose was turned on for the greater part of a day. The children played in the water and in the plastic wade pool splashing about with the joyous laughter of youth.

The men watched their children play. They reminisced of old times as their wives caught up on the gossip. They recalled the mischief that they got into as teenagers. And how they had fun together at all things. They were in singing groups together. Yes, they were amateur songwriters and vocalists. They played sports together. The spent the night with each other and rolled girls’ houses that they had crushes on. And they were pranksters, each in their own way. Even as they were older, they still enjoyed playing a joke now and then.

As it grew later in the afternoon, as per tradition when living outside the city limits, the fireworks stand was visited. Several hundred dollars was spent on the nights’ upcoming entertainment. Bottle-rockets, roman candles, canons, sparklers, and a slue of other items were purchased and brought to the Johnson’s home.

As it grew darker outside and the large orange sun started to set, the men excitedly began preparing launching stations. Two liter bottles were buried in the ground at seventy degree angles. Perfectly measured trajectories when taking into account the wind velocity and range of their arsenals. The time was just about at hand.

The women sat up chairs in the lawn for themselves and the children and lit sparklers that started this years’ Fourth of July show. Spectacular homemade firework displays were a matter of pride for the men. The ladies laughed at their husbands’ anticipation as they could see them instantly turn into children again.

The launch pads were manned and the firing order scheduled. And with a final countdown the show began. Blasts of colors soared high into the sky exploding into multicolored starbursts that were a fantastic display. In the distance other independent firework shows were underway, but nothing compared to the barrage of bright color and sound that illuminated the Johnson land. And then, a dud exploded a few feet above the ground. With a loud pop it sent sparks and flames flying in the direction of a nearby fence. The embers that landed started a small fire.

The men ran over to the burning ground and began to stomp out the small fire. As the adrenaline rushed, Jason, Rodney and Kish frantically tackled the fire so as not to spread it into the open field were Jason’s livestock grazed. As they stomped, they laughed nervously as they could see their emergency reaction pursuits had just about paid off. A few flames had escaped into the pasture just underneath the wire fence.

Kish went to the flames grabbed hold of the fence and began stomping on the flames. “Dang it!” he yelled. A few remaining flames scattered a bit further from the fence line. He still grabbed hold of the fence and used it to steady himself as he stretched his leg forward and began to yell frantically. “Son of a gun. These flames are shooting up my pant leg!” Kish painfully yelled to the other men that had stopped extinguishing the flames and began laughing hysterically. Kish then realized that he was in a world of anguish while finally stomping out the last flames. “Jason, is this fence electric?” Kish asked as he let go of the top wire.

“Yes. Yes it is.” Jason replied with a smile on his face. “We use it to keep the horses from coming onto this side of the property. You just kept grabbing it. I was wondering how long it would take you to figure out what you were doing.” As Jason made that statement Rodney was in tears with the ladies as they laughed at the mishap.

“Wish I would have known that,” Kish said. “Or it sure would have been nice to see a sign or something.”

MLB Predictions

Well the season is just around the corner so here are my predictions for the year.

American League West

1. Angels
2. Rangers
3. A's
4. Mariners

note: 2-4 could finish in any order - Angels will win this division by 15 games.

American League East

1. Red Sox
2. Rays
3. Yankees
4. Blue Jays
5. Orioles

note: the Yankees will implode by August.

American League Central

1. Tigers
2. White Sox
3. Twins
4. Indians
5. Royals

note: Tigers go from worst to first.

National League West

1. Dodgers*
2. Giants
3. Diamondbacks
4. Padres
5. Rockies

note: Most wide-open division in baseball.
* Contingent on Manny Ramirez signing.

National League East

1. Phillies
2. Mets
3. Braves
4. Marlins
5. Nationals

note: Phils win in a nail-biter.

National League Central

1. Cubs
2. Cardinals
3. Astros
4. Brewers
5. Reds
6. Pirates

note: possibly the most competetive division in baseball.

World Series Prediction:

Red Sox v. Cubs
Cubs win in seven. The curse has to be broken sometime.
We Ranger fans will wait yet another year for our first playoff series win.

First in the Hearts of His Countrymen?

It has been a slow sports week so I decided to share my other love with you - American History. We honor our presidents in February so here is a blog on our first commander-in-chief. A little Washington 101, if you will.

As a former secondary school History teacher, I was always amazed at how little my incoming students knew about our first president, the incomparable, George Washington. What they knew of him was that he was indeed our first commander-in-chief and that his face is on the piece of paper currency they are undoubtedly the most familiar with, the one dollar bill. There is so much more to this man, that many Americans don't know and I fear will never know. There seems to be a push from liberal crowds even in academic circles to nudge early American History out of the books or at the very least to minimize the role of early Americans. The reasons for this are many and that in and of itself is a topic for another blog some rainy day. But today, the day following Washington's birthday - I am asking you, my fellow Americans (did that sound presidential?) to make George Washington relevant again.

To many, he is the first American. Not just because he held the Continental Army together during the Revolutionary War and presided over our fledgling government but because he was an embodiment of the American spirit that would come to define a nation. He was larger than life - literally. In a time when adult males were traditionally short, Washington stood six feet, three inches tall. He was easily recognizable -the perfect face of a new nation. In addition, he was a master horseman, the closest thing to a superstar athlete in late eighteenth-century America. And of course, he was a warrior, an action hero.

During his younger days, when he was a member of the Virginia militia and still a loyal British subject, Washington fought the French during the Seven Years War. After a particular battle that featured a fierce fire fight, Washington emerged unscathed from fighting though many of his fellow soldiers lost their lives. Once back within the realm of safety, it was pointed out that Washington's garments had sustained a series of bullet holes - seven to be exact, but he, himself was unharmed. That was just one such tale of survival - there were others, like the time he and a guide survived on an iceberg while lost in the wilderness. These are the kind of stories that give you goose bumps to read about. It was as if he was being protected or saved for a greater purpose.

He was a man of character and one who realized great responsibility. As a president, every decision he made, he considered what kind of precedent he may have been setting for future presidents. He warned about becoming entangled in foreign affairs and worried about the divisive nature of emerging political parties. Issues that are still very relevant today. Washington made the comment that his conduct would have consequences for "generations upon generations of yet unborn Americans" and he was fine with that because he felt it held him accountable. Accountability is a quality that too many "leaders" today seem to be lacking in.

As time progressed, other great leaders were born and made their ways to the fore-fronts of the American subconscious: Lincoln, Teddy, Truman, Ike, and the Gipper. They all have their "Great Predecessor"to thank for paving their political ways. Of course it was once said that Washington was "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." I wonder if that is still true today. Sadly, I doubt it is. To many, George Washington is simply, "that guy on the quarter." Do something American today and google George Washington or any of our other great and courageous leaders and help me make Washington relevant again. Happy birthday, Mr. President.

David Ortiz For Commissioner

Last week we learned that the individual generally regarded as the best player in baseball has used steroids during his illustrious career. Ever since, we have been subjected to the fallout of this, yet another steroid scandal involving a major league baseball player. I could spend time ranting about how one more hero has fallen and further tarnished a once great game or how these individuals cannot achieve any further goals without a shadow of doubt being cast over every thing they accomplish.

However, all of that has already been said and blah-blah-blahed by people who are much better spoken than myself. I would rather focus on the responsibility aspect of the situation. There are professional athletes and media members who believe that simply admitting to a mistake can get someone off the hook. That there should be no discipline for those who confess to wrong-doing. Over the past few years, we have seen the likes of Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, and Sammy Sosa among others deny that they have ever used steroids or any other performance-enhancing drugs. Even with those denials, baseball writers and sports journalists across the country have said that there is no room in the Baseball Hall of Fame for such individuals.

Last week, Alex Rodriguez, the mighty A-Rod, admitted to using performance enhancing drugs after his name appeared in a federal investigation and he was painted into a corner by a now immortal Sports Illustrated article (He had publicly denied the allegation in the past). I have been waiting for someone to say that there is no place in the Hall for A-Rod and I was hugely disappointed at the lack of such talk.

Then Monday rolled around. This is the week that most major league ball players will report to their respective spring training facilities. Some players have already reported - and they are sounding off. Jaime Moyer, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher and former A-Rod team mate, says he can't see how Rodriguez will get any Hall of Fame consideration and David Ortiz of the Red Sox says that he thinks any player who tests positive for steroids should have to miss an entire season. This is huge for athletes in a sport who belong to a players union that has traditionally supported their own - even when their own has been wrong. Maybe players are finally realizing how important public perception is to the survival of their sport - especially in a time of economic downturn. There are a lot of people who would rather save their hard-earned dollars than to go throw it at a bunch of millionaires who cheat and those teammates who defend them.

I know there is a difference between supporting and defending a teammate. To support a teammate through hard and difficult times is admirable. Who could ask for anything more as a teammate. But still I wonder if some athletes get it. I heard Mark Teixiera telling the national media how he and his teammates would be supportive of Rodriguez and I have no problem with that but then he followed it by saying "What matters is what's on that field?" Really? I thought it was that mentality that got us to this point in the first place.