Thoughts on the Convention

If you are like me, you spent at least a few minutes over the last couple of days watching the Democratic National Convention. Rather than get into the specifics of what the various commentators, politicians, candy vendors, and anyone else who had an invitation to be part of the program had to say, I want to focus on the participants. A defining moment for me came Thursday night at Invesco Field when Stevie Wonder was singing his great song, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," a favorite of Michelle Obama. But it was not the music. It was the crowd. One of the cameras showed a small group of Sikh men, in their turbans, with American flags, movin' and groovin' to Stevie's music. Why did this catch my attention? Because all around these guys were others just like them. Men and women, old and young, who were not just white. Crowded into the arena were people from every hue and color of God's rainbow. It looked to me like America. The melting pot imagery that we have frequently used to describe our country. Whether you agree with all the politics of the Dems or not, you have to ask why it is that in this increasingly pluralistic society that is America, one party seems to be much more comfortable living within that diversity.

Connecticut Adults Whiff in Little League Scandal

Jeremy Scott, pictured above in an AP photo, is too good for little league. At least that is what league officials are saying. In a sport known for parental excess, youth baseball has finally crossed the line. Apparently there are rules against being too good. Nine year old Jeremy has been banned from competition because no one in the league can hit his fastball. You see, the parents of the kids with somewhat lesser abilities, and league lawyer Peter Noble, are mad that their spoiled brats cannot win when Jeremy pitches. Apparently he is so good that opposing coaches would rather forfeit the game than have their players face him. So what did the league do in response to these opposing teams? Did they sanction them for not playing? Did they take away another win? Did they penalize them in any way? Nope. But they did disband Jeremy's team. That's right. Instead of teaching our kids to work hard and improve, they are teaching them to run from tough competition. They are teaching kids that competition is only good when you can win. Call me stupid if you want, but I find that idiotic. Whatever happened to doing your best, holding your head up and letting the chips fall where they may? Can you imagine teams refusing to play the Dodgers in the 60's because Sandy Koufax was pitching? He too was literally unhittable but no one forfeited against them. Maybe Tiger Woods should not be allowed to return to the PGA after his rehab. After all, he is clearly the best golfer around. I'm still amazed anyone risked their egos getting in the pool to swim against Michael Phelps. For all you supporters of the New Haven, the Connecticut Youth Baseball League, and their lawyer, Peter Noble, you have blown it. You let your kids down and have succeeded in making the words of the Little League pledge, "I will try hard... but win or lose, I will always do my best." ring hollow. Nice job, you just struck out! **Update** I also cross post most of my sports writings over at a site called Bleacher Report. Within a few hours of posting this article, which went out on Google New Services, a few visitors commented that I had my facts wrong and that this little issue did not involve Little League Baseball of Williamsport, the actual holder of the name Little League. They are right. And for that reason I tried hard to make sure my article did not say it was Little League. Somehow though, I missed the title. So, for all you lawyers out there, this is for you. The youth baseball league that I referenced, to my knowledge, is in no way, nor was I trying to imply that they were, affiliated with Little League Baseball, based in Williamsport, PA. (anything you see here is my personal opinion. as always if ya like it, pass it along. if not, drag it into your trash can!)

A Little Punny Humor

How time can fly. It seems like just a few days ago I was watching Hermana Rebeca and Alfredo get married in Ensenada, Mexico. Yet it has been almost a month since that special day and about three weeks since my last post. In that time I have been through Guadalajara, Mexico in the state of Jalisco to train a team and then south to Oaxaca City for a rough two weeks of ministry among the Zapotec people of the Tlacolula Valley. As I was checking my mail waiting for a plane, I came across a few good puns from a long time friend. I warn you, some of them are pretty bad, but that is the point of pun, isn't it? Enjoy Two antennas met on a roof, fell in love and got married. The ceremony wasn't much, but the reception was excellent. A jumper cable walk s into a bar. The bartender says, 'I'll serve you, but don't start anything.' Two peanuts walk into a bar, and one was a salted. A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm, and says: 'A beer for me and one for the road.' Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: 'Does this taste funny to you?' Two cows are standing next to each other in a field. Daisy says to Dolly, 'I was artificially inseminated this morning.' 'I don't believe you,' says Dolly. 'It's true; no bull!' exclaims Daisy. An invisible man marries an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too. A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office, and asked them to disperse. 'But why,' they asked, as they moved off. 'Because,' he said, 'I can't stand chess-nuts boasting in an open foyer.' And my personal favorite... Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him... .... A super-calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.