Good Guys and Bad Guys

I know, we are not to judge. The problem is from birth until death we are encouraged daily to make a judgment or some judgment is made for us to accept matter-of-fact.

My first recollection of a pre-judgment was the 'boogieman' at NIGHT. Therefore, night was bad and daylight was good. Finally, I reached those 'you're up to no-good' teenage years and realized, 'night' was not all that bad. Those Saturday afternoon double-feature cowboy and Indian movies drew a distinct line between the good guys and the bad guys...movie producers did a hellava job advancing that bigoted narrative about the 'REDMAN. It was easy picking out the good guys in a Superman or Zoro serials. And those white hats and white horses aided us in picking out the good and bad.(Note: If John Wayne was in the movie it became easy picking out good guy.)

As an athlete I could easily determine the good guys / bad guys because we wore different uniforms. History books, novels and movies provided a plethora of information and data to suggest and support stories of good guys bad guys. I cannot help but wonder if school history books throughout the world  give the same slant on Hitler, Mussolini, Churchill, FDR, Truman, the Holocaust and hundreds of other historical   figures and events.

These days the pressure is off. None of us need angst over the question, who's good and who's bad because we can pick a television network that fits our pre-determined inclinations much like that religious doctrine that best floats our boat. MSNBC will provide viewers with all the ammunition  you need to dish-on-the Donald while Fox News will serve up all the 'Trump Tea.' Warning>> Tox News ratings are a 'leg' up on all other networks.

Even in my beloved music world, I can choose songs about the good guys or the bad guys. For example: Bad guy, "Stagger Lee" shot Billy so bad that a bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender's glass," or good guy "Jim Dandy" who "Met a girl named Sue, she was fellin' kinda blue; Jim Dandy was a kinda guy that never liked to see a little girl cry...Jim Dandy to the rescue...go Jim Dandy!"

My wife's family even has a photo taken years ago that is referenced as 'The Good Guys / Bad Guys Picture.' It is actually two pictures in one of those Side-by-Side frames. In one frame is a group of  brother-in laws & sister-in laws while the other frame holds a picture of my wife and her sisters and  brothers. How's that? You wish to know which were the good guys and which were the bad guys? Well, let me answer that question telling you that brother-in law Jack Conrad christened it.
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A Head Scratcher

I could site a number of my Facebook friends who support President Trump regardless of anything showing Trump in a negative light. These friends will post a photo of a bloodied soldier in uniform alongside an NFL player kneeling during the National Anthem with a caption asking who is the true patriot. A couple of days later that same Facebook friend will show a photo of Trump with a caption, 'A President Who wishes to secure our borders.' Next to Trump will be a photo of Robert Mueller with a caption: "Two years wasting millions of tax dollars probing nothing."

Listen up friends: Anytime Trump's photo appears in a post with a photo of Robert Mueller, the caption should read: "One of these fellas is a decorated War Hero with a Bronze Star for valor and a Purple Heart, the other guy could not serve in that Vietnam War due to heel bone spurs, which never appears to bother this overweight fella on the golf course."
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He Got Spurs

Fifty-Four Years Between Hugs

It was like many of the St. Louis Cardinals' recent home openers. I was comfortable in an easy chair in our family room enjoying the pre-game hoopla as only St. Louis can do; but what other Major League Baseball city has The Clydesdale's?

Born in a East St. Louis, Illinois seventy-nine years ago and spending my first 18-years years a stones-throw from the Cardinals' Sportsman's Park, I was destine to develop a passion for the Redbirds. My father could tell me first-hand stories of the Old Gashouse Gang and the antics of Dizzy Dean and Pepper Martin. He made me focus on the hustle of Enos 'Country' Slaughter and the smooth fluid motions of shortstop, Marty Marion. What my dad failed to tell me you could bet the hyper, overzealous Redbirds' broadcaster, Harry Carey would exaggerate more. I would be hooked for a lifetime...a Cardinals' fan. Of course, I would adopt my own childhood idol, Stan 'The Man' Musial.

Back to yesterday's' 2018 home opener. There was a moment that was unlike any other home opener I've watched. Several retired former Cardinals players who are either in the National Baseball Hall of Fame or the Cardinals' Hall of Fame had been introduced and wearing their striking red blazers were stationed along the first base line. It was moving to see Lou Brock, one of the great base runners of the game limp gamely on an artificial limb towards teammates Ozzie Smith and Willie McGee. However, when newly inducted Cardinals' Hall of Famer, Tim McCarver was hugged by old time battery mate and Hall,if Famer, Bob Gibson, I felt warm tears swelling in my eyes. You see, I had a  real personal flashback. It was October 1964 and I was coaching basketball at Mason City, Illinois. My father telephoned me the night before the Cardinals-Yankees 7th game of the World Series. "I've got tickets, he said, can you make it?" Make it I DID. I was going to watch a World Series Championship decided with my Dad.

I arrived at St. Louis and met my dad near the Park. My brothers' Tom and Marty were also there. I thought how wonderful, Dad and his three sons at the Series. Wrong! Dad could only manage three tickets, which he handed to his sons and said, "You boys bring home a winner." Well, Gibson brought home a Cardinals World Series Winner by a 7-4 score.

I remember the final out of that World Series and how McCarver ran to the mound to hug his pitcher who had gone the distance and once again yesterday the now 82-year old Gibbly and 77-years young, McCarver once again hugged at home plate. Why those  tears in my eyes...? Sure do miss Dad. What an incredible classy guy and father. He was also made of Hall of Fame stuff.
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Thank You For Being My Dad

What Goes Up...?

I'm sure you all heard the warning over the past weekend. Apparently, a Chinese Space Station was breaking apart as it fell to earth. We're not to worry, however because the chances of an individual getting hit by the space 'junk' is less likely than the individual winning the lottery.

I did a bit of research on this 'stuff' falling out of the skies and discovered that thousands of pounds of debris and scattered fragments fall daily onto the earth's surface; so it ain't just the Pigeons overheard that need to concern you.

This entire issue caused me to wonder about our lack of giving much consideration to consequences for actions. People drive highways not using seat belts and yet using cell phones talking and texting even though accident statistics speak to negative probabilities. The medical and pharmaceutical industries give constant warnings about prescription and illegal drugs yet both are consumed by Americans at alarming rates with a shrugged of the shoulders regarding consequences. Tobacco usage in our nation continues at alarming rates as users flaunt scientific evidence of ill health consequences.

A popular  general agreement is that teenagers believe they are immune from 'bad stuff' happening to them...after all the young is invincible but unfortunate consequences are known to happen. A nation continues to hold strong division-lines regarding protecting planet earth for future generations. We continue to argue about air and water pollutions...are we abusive or not? Ah, probably not...hell the space debris didn't hit me or you last weekend...ITS ALL GOOD.
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what Goes Up...

Ah, That Great Food Delicacy

I would guess that I am doing what hundreds of thousands of Americans are doing today; I'm making 'bean soup.' I'm sorry, I get ahead of myself. First, I should tell you that for the past six years, I likely do 70% of our dinner preparation-cooking. It's only fair for me to that.  For thirty-nine years, my wife sat in gymnasiums where I was coaching and often times just a couple of rows behind my bench. From that perspective, she would on occasion yell out coaching advise to me. I am simply paying back that debt by nudging her from the kitchen and doing 'that' thing. I will tell you that my personal cookbook is now thicker than my basketball playbook. back to my bean soup. I know what my basketball fan-adversaries are thinking...bite your tongue, you 'Drugstore Cowboys!' Back to the 'beans.'

I follow the 'Senator Bean Soup' recipe. That Bean Soup first appeared on the United States Senate's luncheon menu back in the early 1940's at a Bowl cost of .15 cents. It's closer to $5.00 today and the bowl is smaller...there should be a special counsel appointed to investigate this Senate Bean Soup cost scandal.

 My navy beans, ham, celery, potatoes, onion, garlic, salt and pepper will undoubtedly challenge my digestive system for a day or two after consumption but it will be worth the restroom visits. Actually, The Bean Soup is not the best part of this experience...nope! It's the next evening when I take cold beans from the fridge and spread them on two slices of bread...Oh, BUDDY. I do this late at night with the lights off and listening to the music recording of 'Bread &'Butter,' by The Newsbeats.
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Bread & Butter

Let's Go Get Stoned

We continue to hear Donald Trump's gibberish-jabber about his Mexico-border-wall. When he first got his base all giddy about keeping those 'thugs' out of our country, he really got applause saying, "And who's going to pay for the wall?" Then the 'sheelple' would holler back, MEXICO!" Of course, Mexico has told 'hair-do' what he can do with his wall. Now Trump wants our military to pay for his wall. Yeah, let's hear for Making America Great Again!

 People who favor a 'wall' along the United States -Mexico border may desire such for a variety reasons but when they offer the reason of reducing illegal drugs entering our country, well those people are simpletons! A recent survey indicates that the United States leads all countries in the consumption of illegal drugs. That's correct, "Were #1 'getting wasted!'

Anybody who understands the basic concepts of economics accepts the principal of 'supply and demand.' If Americans did not have this insatiable appetite for drugs, we (USA) would gain more control over porous borders. Secondly, if we (USA) paid fair wages for some of our undesirable jobs perhaps that would 'fill' the work-force void facing corporate/farming businesses and thus fewer workers would be flooding across the Mexico-America.

It would appear that we should be looking 'inward' for some problem solving solutions before laying the blame at the wrong feet. Face it my fellow Americans, we are a entitled gluttonous society. If you're offended by this statement then vent your anger towards this writer but before you do examine some of our biggest health issues and ask yourself, 'why?'
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Lets Go Get Stoned

I Believe

This past Good Friday, my blog regarding my personal perceived blessings of salvation through the blood of Christ shed on Calvary's Cross was met with a myriad of interesting responses. Some of those comments touched off challenges between 'believers' and 'non-believers.' I have never entered those debates with the notion I am right in 'believing' and others are wrong in 'not believing.' The reader should not conclude that I fail to care about my non-believing brothers and sisters because if that was the case, I'd stop praying for them. Actually, if I was not a proud liberal-Democrat, I might very well be a libertarian embracing the doctrine of 'free will.'

The last time I checked figures regarding 'the believing numbers,' Christianity was still the largest religion in the world with approximately 2,200,000,000 followers, which is nearly 1,000,000,000 more than the #2 religion, Islam. This means that over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ with twelve followers began the largest movement ever known to mankind. WOW! How about that 'fake news' sustaining, eh?

I not only have the conviction and faith in this movement, I have even used it as blueprint in my personal work-ethic approach. Frequently when committed to a project and having little backing or support, I dug my heels in and reminded myself, 'one does not need large numbers to accomplish great things; one needs conviction and passion.' In my journey, I discovered 'gotta wanna' and to punch your ticket for the next journey, 'you gotta BELIEVE.'

I Believe! Have a great week.
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I Believe