His Darkness Brought Me Light

In my seventy-eight-year journey there has been over twenty-eight thousand sunsets. Oh, one can make the argument about 'cloudy days' but in reality the earth rotated those days and the sun disappeared from our horizon. Let's not knitpic.

I suppose most people become more aware of the beauty of a sunset when that bright glowing ball disappears over the ocean's horizon or behind the magnificent mountain range. I do admit that frequently, while wintering in Florida, my wife and I walk the beach at sundown and capture that moment of day's end on film; I imagine we have scrapbooks documenting many of those times.

A few night's ago, we were at the Gulf's shore  waters at sundown and watched for several minutes the beauty of our Creator's commentary. It was not the only commentary taking place. Behind us we could hear a constant voice broadcasting the detailed-description of this sunset with all kinds of 'object' analogies. The on-going commentary described shapes, colors and accompanying sights. It was non-stop and became irritating.

Finally, the darkened landscape above the distant water's edge signaled to viewers permission to leave. As I turned to head towards our auto, I began searching the nearby people in the attempt to possibly recognize 'that' voice of the 'sunset analyst.' Suddenly, I heard his voice and spotted he and his wife and son. The couple was guiding their 11-12 year son through the maze of parked cars. The boy was blind and I was ashamed of my thoughts!

At that moment, I recalled my court side coach's prayer that I whispered over a thousand times every time the National Anthem was being played. Just before the tip-off of those basketball games, I thanked God for the healthy bodies on that court readied for competition and prayed his comforting grace on those young people who are unable to play such games due to physical or mental compromising maladies.

Folks, my sunset watching is changed forever. Whatever number of sunsets remain in my ride, I will be whispering another prayer when the sun descends.

Some things Change / Some things Remain

Standing in a concession line in a Florida high school gymnasium, I overheard one parent ask another, "Are you pleased with your son's basketball Year?" Follow up remarks between the two gents left little doubt that the conversation carried a more sinister subliminal-solicitation: 'Shall we consider promoting a coaching change?'

I spent 14-years participating in sports, 39-years coaching sports and 26-years speaking at sport education conventions and seminars. My sport perspective also includes endless events as a parent and grandparent. None of this suggests that I am an 'expert' but it does bode well suggesting my sport experiences overshadows that of casual sport observers and parents interested in sports during their off springs' participation.

Parenting attitudes and methods are like other cultural mores; they evolve slowly but make no mistake change comes. Once our television industry wrestled with the idea of 'showing' Lucille Ball's pregnant stomach during filming of the 'I Love Lucy Show.' They decided NOT to show the belly. Today, our television industry is pushing the envelope to show the 'making' of babies. Once upon a time, children were bent on pleasing their parents. Today, we note parents on a mission from hell to please their kids.

I get it: All parents want for their child, health, happiness, success and love. Well, here is a news flash for mom and dad: that health you wish for is but by the grace of God or luck (pick your belief). Happiness and success are intertwined and only happens when a person's work is their passion while they find time to serve others less fortunate. That leaves 'love.' A parent can assure their unconditional love but any other love sought requires risks.

You can fire the coach, you can curse those who reject your child and you can throw money at the child's problems...it only guarantees the child's weakness by stifling growth, independence and accountability. Twenty-five years from now, these two fathers that I overheard questioning the coach will likely be sitting in McDonald's enjoying their senior coffee discussing why they will vote against the 'new school' referendum because their kids are out of school.

Common Sense Ruling

Reflecting on my professional relationship within the Illinois High School Association, I can honesty say it was a wonderfully enlightening experience. I served several years on the Boys' Basketball Advisory Board, a few years on the Athletic Directors' Advisory Board, two-years as the IHSA Boys' Basketball Class AA State Finals' television analyst and two -years as the IHSA National Liaison for Coaching Certification (ASEP). I remain grateful for such terrific opportunities. It was those experiences, which opened speaking engagements throughout Illinois and across the nation. I was blessed, indeed!

Today, I wish I was a member of the Texas High School Athletic Association and in particular, I'd like to be on their Board of Directors...here's why>> According to the Associated Press, Mack Beggs won two wrestling matches in the Texas High School Wrestling State Finals recently. Mack is a 17-year old boy who is transitioning to a girl. You guessed...Mack, the boy taking testosterone during his transitioning to a female has made him too strong to be wrestling girls; so say the girls.

I cannot believe 'this' is a situation. Look, in this nation of freedoms, I believe if you don't wish to live in the body of your birth and have bra preferences over jockstrap preferences or vice-versa that's up to the individual to decide. The Freedoms stop there however! You do not get to change traditional rules of engagement. Aside from that if you take any performance enhancing drugs, i.e. testosterone you can only wrestle bears at the local circus.

Be Careful What You Chase

Several years ago when my wife and I were vacationing in Florida, we attended the dog races. I have never been big on betting at the race tracks; dog or horse races. I will say without reservation that I enjoy watching the magnificent power and poetic movement of Greyhounds and Thoroughbreds in race competition...both are beautiful and fun to watch.

Of course, the big difference between dog and horse races is the jockey motivating the horse and the mechanical rabbit moving along the rail ahead of the dogs beckoning 'catch me if you can.'
I often wondered what would happen if the dogs ever did catch that rabbit. Well, my research disclosed today that on one occasion when the mechanical rabbit broke down, that actually happened...the dogs caught up to the rabbit. Evidently, the dogs became confused, discouraged and depressed and that particular dog pack never raced again.

That story, myth or reality reminds me of today's Republican Party. For six years the GOP has been 'chasing after Obamacare with the intent to catch and kill.' Repeal and replace. The past six years, the US House passed dozens of bills to repeal Obamacare knowing the repeals would not happen. HOWEVER, they could then say to those Tea Party folks, "We are trying; if only we could gain the White House and Congressional majority, we would catch, skin and cook that rabbit.

SURPRISE! Grand Old Party folks, who walk loudly and carry a little stick, you have 'caught the rabbit.' How's that? You got NOTHING? Lost your appetite, cousin?

You've been telling people for six years that you have a better plan, which was an obvious lie. You may, in time, develop a better plan and I hope you do for the sake of the American people.
My point is this: Own your lie, wipe the egg off your face and do something with the damn 'rabbit.'

Let's Punish All Offenders

It would appear to be a natural question, 'Why?' Why do we have 11-million undocumented immigrants in the United States? What pushes them from their homeland and what attracts them to America?

Seemingly the answer is 'Job's.' When I visit people in upscale affluent areas, I notice many lawn maintenance/ landscaping vehicles and several Hispanic laborers. When visiting regions of rapid home-building, (Plano, Texas/Plainfield, Illinois), I notice numerous Hispanic workers. When traveling across the country side near truck farms, it is not unusual to see truck loads of Hispanics being transported to ripened fields.
When speaking in Orlando, Florida, San Diego, California, Braintree, Massachusetts, Appleton, Wisconsin and other cities, I note endless Hispanic hotels employees.

One must wonder if these jobs are undesirable by white (Americans) or has business employers managed to keep the wages so low that whites refuse the work leaving an open door to immigrants.
There was a time, I remember when union laborers showed up at their union halls everyday waiting for a 'call' that gave them a day's work at a decent hourly wage. In recent times we note more and more states 'breaking unions,' i.e. Wisconsin, which benefits corporations while creating a labor force anxiety and so-called 'scab-labor.'

If one steps back and surveys the undocumented situation in the nation, one can certainly see the cause is multifaceted. Perhaps while rounding up the undocumented Mexicans and deporting them, we should arrest those who hired them, paid them cash and was an accomplice in the crime.

A Changing America

You've heard the old adage, "There's Show and there's Go." I interpret that to suggest, there's people and institutions that purport one ideal but their actions contradict the position. The other side of that saying suggests some people and institutions' actions demonstrate their stated mission. Therein, we have 'show' and 'go.'

I cannot help but fear that our United States of America is experiencing slippage, if not failure, living up to our pontificated freedoms and beliefs.

Let's examine one purported ideal pontificated by our Constitution: 1) Freedom of Religion- The majority of Americans claim to be Christian and quickly advance the concept that our nation was founded upon Judea-Christians principles; Yet, The KKK membership doubled during President Obama's administration. Attacks on Jewish Synagogues and properties have increased the past year. While anti-Semitic  activities escalate, we note attacks on the American-Muslims has elevated. Oh, and in this 'Christian' nation, we find 14-to-18 % attendance in Christian Churches on Sunday morning...an all-time low.

Talk is cheap...pointing to the heavens when hitting a home run is phony..It's SHOW. I cannot imagine God favoring one man to triumph over another man, however, I can envision God wanting one man to reach out and love the other man who looks and believes entirely different.

What's going on? Well, one thing that hurts is the constant scare-tactics wrapped in the current President's rhetoric; things he states and things he fails to state. He talks about a need for a wall and anchors that need suggesting Mexico is sending murderers, drug dealers and rapists to our country. Then he fails to denounce the Ku Klux Klan's endorsement. Why? Because THEY are the deplorables in his camp.

This President has recently demonstrated some good leadership 'picks' to his credit. Now, if he would stop with the lies, attacks on our nation's free press, which is essential in a democracy, and distance himself from hate scare tactics, we just might slow the erosion of America's founding ideals.

Like it or Not, I'm Back!

I missed posting a 'rant-blog' yesterday due to a computer issue. Let me confess upfront that this old boy is lost when examining anything that has more 'moving parts' than a watermelon. I must clarify the computer reference by telling you that I stop using a desk top computer years ago. For the past five years, I have had a love-in with my Apple iPad. Well, yesterday morning, I could not get any response from the iPad. I know it was sufficiently charged but nonetheless when I pushed any button, NOTHING.

I was prepared to purchase a new Internet apparatus as I headed off to the Destin, Florida Best Buy.
When I entered the store the lady at the service counter informed me that I would need to make an appointment to speak with a 'Geek.' There you go...those brainy little middle school 'turds' that I used to hit first in a P.E. class dodge-ball game are now getting even with the dumb jocks by making us stand in line before humiliating us with questions about our computers.

One hour and ten minutes later, I returned to Best Buy for my appointment. The 'Geek' asked, "What's your problem?" (Note: I am convinced that this 'machine' is dead and I'll need to purchase another.) I answered, "I cannot get the iPad to turn on and show a screen." I continued when I should have stopped, "I think the power button is broken. Mr. Whiz Kid said,  "No it's not." And with that declaration, he held down both buttons at the same time and walla, I'm back in business. These 'Geeks' should have agents and cheerleaders.

Since the young man saved me the purchase of a new iPad, my wife said she is going back to the Destin Commons Mall to shop. If it ain't a 'nerd' kicking me in the butt it's my wife.