The Republicrats Have Failed This Nation

In order to heal what is ailing this nation, we have to get to the source or root of the problem.  What Pelosi's Congress has done over the past four years is the equivalent to strapping a band-aid over a gunshot wound.  The source of our pain is the money grubbing entities which are more self-serving than anything else.  In no particular order, they are our Congress, the media, lobbyists, and unions.  Let's take a bit of a closer look at a few ideal ways to heal America.  Follow along after the jump...

Did Coach Stoops Open Up the Can of Quit?

Coach Bob Stoops: Men, we are trailing 36-27 with a little more than 2:24 left in the game.  I know we have owned Missouri in the past, but I am not sure if we can pick up this 4th down and 10, from our own 7 yard line.  We are going to punt the football even though every instinct in me says to give you all a shot at converting this 1st down and hopefully winning this football game. 

Team:  Um, Coach?  We have never quit on anything related to a football game in our lives, much less here at OU. Why do you want to punt here?  Come on Coach!

Coach Bob Stoops:  Men, I know you do not understand, but I need you to trust me.  It is not that I do not have faith in your abilities, but if we do not get this first down and Missouri scores, we will lose by 16 points and the result will make this loss appear worse than it actually will be. 

Team:  So, you really want us to quit coach?  You honestly do not believe we can pull this one out?  All we need is a field goal and a touchdown.  With our offense, we have a shot!  Plus, we have plenty of time! 

Coach Bob Stoops:  Men, all of you are warriors.  To try and win this battle may actually cause us to lose the war. 

Welcome to the new era of "strategic quitting" in college football's BCS era.  Let me explain...

NPR, Juan Williams, and Me, Circa 1994.

“I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.” ~ Juan Williams, Former NPR journalist, Current Fox News Analyst

"Juan Willilams should have kept his feelings about Muslims between himself and 'his psychiatrist' or his publicist." ~ Vivian Schiller, CEO of NPR

Ms. Schiller terminated the contract of Williams for his comment in quotes above.  She then immediately offered her own apology for her comments about Williams, but has yet to apologize to Williams personally.  Hey, Ms. Hypocrite, you should be terminated on the spot.  You are apparently unfit to run a media organization.  You essentially just offended the mentally ill in this nation in the same manner which you held Williams' feet to the fire for his comments.  And let's get one thing straight:  Williams was not advocating mistreatment, discrimination, or hostility towards Muslims.  He simply said how he feels when he is in that situation.  I'm sure he is not alone.  It's called classical conditioning, madam.  Not bigotry.  Let me give you a personal example...

Are We Overly Politically Correct?

I've been thinking about this for quite some time.  I'm not opining to open a religious debate, but the First Amendment is a primary example of political correctness gone awry.  Here is the wording:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.  My how this has been twisted and turned over the years...

Common Sense: Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should

This past week, emotions spilled over during Bill O'Reilly's visit on "The View."  Now, I know what you are thinking...Tony, why on earth were you watching The View?  What has happened to you?  Did hell freeze over?  Um...well...uh...not exactly.

For the record, I did not tune in to the entire program.  But, when I learned of the story and why the tension built, I was intrigued to say the least.  Therefore, I did some high-level recon work...

BCS Bowls are Charities? Oh Really...

It's that time of year.  This weekend, the very first BCS rankings will be released.  It is expected that Boise State will be atop the rankings as the computers love their schedule thus far.  That will change in the forthcoming weeks as the Broncos venture into the thick of their whack WAC schedule.  But, let's set all of this aside for a moment and turn our attention to the BCS Bowls themselves.  These are self-proclaimed charitable institutions, much like XYZ Cancer Institute.  Let's explore just how charitable they truly are...

Officially: How Some Games Are Lost

Twenty years ago, the Colorado Buffaloes (11-1-1) earned a share of the National Championship with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-0-1), even though GT was the lone team without a loss on the season.  What is even more miraculous, is the fact that the Buffaloes were given 5 downs in their game against Missouri some 1,040 weekends ago...

Go (Away) Big Red

Get your Heisman ballots ready.  Taylor Martinez is making a strong case in Lincoln, NB for his name to be atop that frat boy ballot.  If this season goes the way many suspect, Martinez very well could bring the hardware back to Lincoln.  But, at least we will all be spared from having to tune out the perpetually annoying Billy Sims screaming "Boomer" umpteen times while Sam Bradford does his best "I'm with Stupid" T-Shirt impersonation.  Many believe this is the year of Corn Nation vs. Roll Tide.  Looking for proof?  Follow along after the jump...

Bud Selig: You're Fired.

I cannot believe this will be two baseball posts in a row.  What gives?  I'll tell you: The Kevin Brown Rule.  The year is 1998.  Remember this Astros fans?  The Astros completed the season with a nice curb-stomping of its Central Division foes with an overall record of 102-60.  This was our year.  Remember?  More after the jump...

How to Save Baseball: Less is More

Last week, the Tampa Bay Rays were on the cusp of clinching a post-season berth for the second time in three years.  The Rays are an excellent young team, built by Gerry Hunsicker, the brains behind the 2005 National League Champion, Houston Astros.  God, do I miss having competence at the helm of the Astros franchise (Drayton McClane, not included).  For those who do not know, Hunsicker was the Astros' General Manager from 1995-2004 .  Go ahead, count their post-season appearances during that span.  You will need two hands.  What's more, Tampa does not seem to care about the Rays.  I've got my theories as to why and we'll explore them after the break...

BCS, Please RIP...Quickly.

I love the month of October.  It finally begins to feel like fall, unless you live on Kaua`i.  The leaves are changing, unless you live on Kaua`i.  The temperature is dropping, unless you live on Kaua`i.  Your wardrobe is changed out, unless...ok...OK!  I'll stop complaining about living on Travel and Leisure's #2 ranked island worldwide.  But, and it's a big but, I do miss the seasons.  Moreover, I know you don't feel bad for me as I wake up every day to this:

Well, I don't wake up right here at this exact spot, but you get the drift.  Do you know why else I love the month of October?  Football you say?  Well, that is a given.  Let's delve a bit deeper.  I especially love this time of year as the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) rankings are set to make their debut on October 17, 2010.  Why do I love it you ask?  Because I get to ramp up the disdain for a system that is embraced by a few, loathed by many, yet seems set in stone for the foreseeable future.  Why am I so disenfranchised?  Glad you asked.  Let's explore that after the jump...

The Tunnel: Texas/OU

This piece is from SneezyBeltran at Burnt Orange Nation.  Enjoy....

This is my favorite weekend of the year and this is always a great read on the Friday morning before the Red River Shootout. This is from TornJock over at HornsFans, a friend of my buddy's dad and a former UT player, obviously. Enjoy and Hook'em Horns!

This is my recollection of how things were back before the 1974 game, my last against the Sooners.
It's hard to believe that 35 seasons have passed since that day, but the images, sensory, olfactory, and visual, are as clear in my mind today as they were back then.

I just hope the outcome of this year's game is more favorable than it was in '74.
That was a heartbreaker...