Money and Self-Indulgence

Read a recent educational study, which suggests that children learn better if they sleep later. It seems that kids starting the school day at 8:30AM instead of 8:00 AM get smarter sooner. The study maintains that youngsters are less groggy and likely ate some breakfast when allowed the later bell ringing. The study findings have received a little push-back from some parents who prefer the school start and end times coincide with adult workday hours thus eliminating kid-watching problems.

Don't you just love American educational debates? I recall another study a few years ago which indicated that Asian school children who are achieving at a much higher academic success rate, not to mention kicking our butts in spelling-bee contests, is occurring due to the Asian Nations' 'year-round' educational concept. Some American States entertained the year-round school idea until they began crunching cost numbers regarding busing, air-conditioning, teachers' salaries and angry parents deprived of vacations.

I have a suggestion. There should be an American educational study, which examines the decades of the 1940's and 1950's. That era when parents told little Missy and Junior to get a bath at 8 o'clock and go to bed at 8:30PM without any toys or games. Come now! We have all observed youngsters of ALL ages attached to their cell phones throughout the day. We can assume with great certainty that those kids engage their friends late into the night.

God forbid parents make their kids unhappy with disciplined lives...instead we shall explain away our failures by blaming the system and those teachers.

Beware of 'Those' People

Make no mistake, I believe the 'fear factor' is a strong motivating tool. I recall as a young boy, Grandpa E V Bennett shaved every morning with a straight razor. He'd lather his face first and before shaving, he would grab the bottom of his leather razor strap (hanging from the wall) and begin stroking the razor blade back and forth across that leather to sharpen the blade. Once satisfied with the sharpness, E V began to shave. E V used that old leather-razor strap for another purpose. A fear-factor purpose. When any of the youngsters would become rambunctious or misbehave, E V would nod towards that imposing strap and say, "You best straighten up or I'll be takin' that razor strap to your backside."

I believe the 'fear factor' got a foothold in American politics in the 1960's when the Democrats passed those civil rights laws. It was then that the Republican Party began blanketing the South with boogieman stories about 'those' people. The Deep South, once a Democratic stronghold has voted Republican ever since. The GOP continues to be successful with 'color' fear mongering. The suggestion is always 'Big Government' is taxing working White folks to subsidize lazy Black folks. Never mind that the biggest government handout goes to White farmers. Republicans advance the fearful notion that another 'brown skin' group (Hispanics) are undercutting White workers as they accept lower wages. Really? We know very well the true story there...some of those jobs done by Hispanics are refused by Whites and many corporations and farmers find it to their financial advantage to actually hire the undocumented workers at the cheaper wage. Pay attention to the States with Republican Governors who have 'broken the trade unions (Wisconsin) or Governors who are trying to bust the trade unions (Illinois).

There is historical references to this fear-factor propaganda behavior. Germans and Jews have written books about it and America can tell endless Native American stories as documentation. The irony is that the Republicans have one of their own to blame...A. Lincoln. In 2016, the fearful folks elected an individual who was extremely clever with both verbal and subliminal fear mongering.

What's in it for me?

It is obvious that the perception of 'success' is much like beauty...it's in the eye of the beholder or shall we say, predicated on 'how' one is impacted. Let me explain.

Fifteen years ago, I retired from coaching. I stayed busy writing a book, speaking around the nation at educational conferences and school districts. I was approached by the Decatur school district to serve in a sport consultant capacity and coordinate the financially failing boys' Thanksgiving basketball tournament. Pulling the tournament from the financial fires was relatively simple: Identify strong corporate and business financial support and cleanup the events' administrative abuse of power, which undermined revenue stability. It's kinda like making a restaraunt profitable; to do so, you must do three things: (1) Stop employees from stealing product, (2) cut food portions and (3) increase prices. That's the blueprint we used with the tournament and today we are solvent year after year giving out $18,000.00 to participating schools, $4,500.00 for security, etc., suffice to say a total of 31,000.00 in costs.

Still not everyone smiles with joy. Some coaches don't like the team pairings, other coaches disagree with all tourney selections. Some fans don't like the VIP hospitality-room food offerings while others are angry with the pass gate arrangements or the 'no pass out-re-entry' philosophy. Some of the parents expect free admission because their son or daughter is singing the National Anthem or half-time tumbling performers. Other parents become offended when challenged at the admission gate using a player's pass to gain free entrance. Central Illinois newspapers may or may not 'cover' the games but expect all box scores and stats faxed to them in a timely fashion.

In our attempt to explain 'reasons' and resolve issues, I use two straight-forward simplistic comments: First, I try to offer the 'reason' for the policy or situation and that's a 50/50 acceptance likelihood. If that comment is rejected, I suggest to the person complaining that they should consider other entertainment choices.

If I have noticed anything in this journey, I have certainly observed the ever expanding individuals' perceived self-importance and their expectation to have their desires and wishes met above all other considerations. That said, I realize that I have always been an easy person to dislike...wish it wasn't so.

Nearly nine thousand fans enjoyed terrific high school basketball talent last week at the 47th Annual Decatur/Team SOY Capital Turkey Tourney. I witnessed homecoming reunions, law enforcement officials and local ministers we recognized as community heroes while celebrating two 1966-state basketball finalist teams. God willing, I'll answer His call next year.

What's in it for me? Celebrating others' talents and joy while digging my heels in against narcissistic behavior.

Everybody plays; Everybody Gets a Trophy

In the 1950's & 1960's, the Illinois High School Association, which governs prep sports had a post-season basketball tournament rule that mandated a maximum10-player tournament number. That was always a nasty rule to embrace. Most teams then, as today, carried 15-players, therefore back-in-the-day, the coach had to decide, which 10-of-15 kids get to suit-up for post season tournaments. Just another terrific opportunity to place the mentor between a rock and a hard place as his decision would surely disappoint five players and piss-off a number of moms, dads and grandparents. Of course, those prep basketball decades gone by only saw a head coach and one assistant coach.

Opening night at this year's 47th Annual Team Soy Capital / Decatur Turkey Tournament, which I have directed the past 15 years, we recognized the 1966 Decatur High team that finished 4th in State and the Harvey-Thornton team, which won the Title. A nifty-fifty-year reunion.

A few players from that year have passed and some others were unable to attend. However, former Decatur head coach, Jack Kenny was present along with four of his '66 Tournament ten players whom he introduced. Before the festivities got underway, the old coach was going over his list. One player, DR Roberts, who was a reserve on that 1966 team asked his long ago mentor the following, "Coach, is Hippe here?" Coach said, "No." Roberts asked, "Is Beasley here?" Coach responded, "No." Roberts  then inquired, "Is Cook here?" And Coach Kenny again said, "Nope." Roberts then exclaimed, "Coach, I might get into the game tonight!"

During the Decatur Eisenhower vs. Harvey-Thornton game Tuesday night, I looked at both benches and counted 15 players, a head coach and four assistants. Besides more players, each school had18-cheerleaders per squad. Participation Philosophies have, indeed, changed. More s NOT better but it gives the impression that 'your kid' is good enough to be a varsity player or cheerleader.

A Thanksgiving Wish for YOU

May the comforting knowledge of God's love for you through the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ and the joy of family love fill your Thanksgiving Day.

Goin' Shoppin'

I recall Grandpa E.V. Bennett telling one of his daughters, "Don't buy it from a salesman at your front door; it'll cost you more." I guess E. V. was suggesting to get off your butt and go price shop for the item. E.V. would be deeply puzzled by the 'online' shopping mentality of today's consumers.

I think about this shopping change every time I see one of those endless television commercials that make some offer and then require you to telephone with credit card in hand. This is the great American 'lose-lose' scenario! Come on, connect the dots. First, you risk identity theft with the repeated online use of credit card-exposure. Secondly, the online shopping is killing the retail stores, which hire local people. Finally, Americans propensity to sit at a computer ordering goods is just another indication of our laziness, which leads to a more sedentary lifestyle and extra-large people seated next to us on airplanes.

I am very sensitive in behalf of the American work force. I refuse to use a self checkout line. I told my Doctor that I would not use his office computer-scanner to check-in for an appointment. If we don't draw the line somewhere more people will lose those jobs. I refuse to cross picket lines.

Our American consumer thinking is bassackwards. We wish to buy goods as cheap as possible therefore most of those goods come from foreign countries with a low labor cost. Americans then bitch about our nation's unemployment numbers. Oh, we like labor unions if 'our' family member is a skilled or semi-skilled tradesman but if 'ours' don't need that Union wage and benefit protection then let's screw the unions. Reminds me of the old farts in my neighborhood who told me that they would NOT vote for an increased sales tax for schools because "their kids are out of school." What asses!

Well, I suppose you've guessed by now; I'm buying 'My Pillow' at Kohl's.

Bringing joy to self.

Yesterday morning, I went to McDonald's for coffee and sat down with a group of gents I used to have coffee with every morning. I suppose it's been nearly a year since I joined them for AM Java.

About three minutes to the gathering, I remembered why I stopped going to coffee. The conversation was rapid fire between two fella's complaining to one another about how little appreciation their kids and grandkids show for all that they do for them. This crying conversation continued for another three minutes when I realized I had two choices. I could speak my piece or excuse myself, grab a cup lid and leave. I elected to exercise both choices.

I asked both grandpas, "Why do you guys do so much for your kids and grandkids?" They each looked at me as if I was an idiot. I pressed on with a second question, which created silence and I'm sure a degree of anger. I asked, "Do you always do loving gestures seeking a payback?" At that moment, I knew it was time for choice #2, grab the lid and depart the coffee clutch. Before leaving the table, I said in a urgent voice, "By golly, I forgot to collect eggs from the chicken coop this morning; gotta run fellas." It'll be another year, to their delight, before I return to that nonsense conversation.

I don't keep scorecards. I really don't. When I reach out to kids, grandkids or neighbor's, I do so because they need and/or I love. My reward comes in the 'reaching.' Sometimes those folks reach back and the reward is blessed with a greater relationship. Other times it ends with my reach...and that's okay with me. Don't get me wrong, I am not without 'loving needs' but I refuse to fish for such.

NO. I Don't!....................................................................................................have chickens.