Category: Sports

Pulling a “Mercedes”……

As my last post of the day….I will venture into the world of Formula One racing…..it is my guilty pleasure….I spend so much time researching and analyzing that I need something to break my days up….Formula One is just that time for me to sit back and enjoy.

This post will not have usual informative stuff…this one is a personal thing that I need to write about…..

From a very young age when I was living in Europe I became a fan of Formula One racing….especially Team Ferrari……those were the days when their were no sponsorship except for the company that built the car and NO multi-million dollar driver contracts……

The was 1960 and Ferrari was all the rage on the tracks….my driver of choice was Wolfgang von Trips….and no he had nothing to do with the “Sound Of Music”….he was an excellent driver and in 1961 he was in the lead in points for the World Championship with he was killed at the Italian Gran Prix at Monza…..while my driver was gone I never wavered from Team Ferrari and am still rooting for them……….

(this is when racing was racing and not some techno blood bath)

Now that brings us to this year…..Ferrari is playing second fiddle to Mercedes as it has for a couple of years and I have been beside myself….is it the car….or the driver…or the massive amount of technology…..maybe it is the constantly changes rules of the race…..anyway it is disconcerting to me…..but it will NEVER make me jump ship from Ferrari.

Now it brings me to yesterday’s race, 2016 Spanish Gran Prix……

The favorite to win the Gran Prix was Nico Rosberg who drives for Mercedes and next would be Hamilton who also drives for Mercedes…My guys for Ferrari were off their game this year so far…..

Now for the #GoingMercerdes……one the first lap the two Mercedes drivers tried to be cute and took each other out of the race completely…..giving the win to Red Bull and Ferrari finishes second and third……

Needless to say I was laughing my ass off and the rest of the race was good but just the fact that the ego idiots could not let their egos go they ruined the chance for Mercedes to have a sweep of the Gran Prixs which has NEVER been done in the history of the sport.

So I am trying to start a trend for now on when teammates screw the whole team because of egos it should go down as #GoingMercedes.

(Sorry I cannot provide shots of the wreck…..copyrights and all that shit)……but if you would like to read about the wreck…..

http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/36297948

In case you are wondering…….I am still laughing my ass off……that was one of the most bone head moves I have ever since in all my years of Formula One….

Does Patriotism Have a Price?

Back in May of this year I wrote about a program where the Pentagon was paying pro teams for their patriotic programs…..

In case you do not recall my piece……let me refresh your memory……

Source: Patriotism Has Its Price | In Saner Thought

I bring this up because this scandal has once again been foisted into the national dialog……

You know when you go to a baseball game and invariably during some inning break the team points out a group of soldiers or national guard members in the stands and tries to get a big round of applause going? That doesn’t just happen.

A new report from Sens. John McCain (R – AZ) and Jeff Flake (R – AZ) revealed that the Pentagon has spent over $10 million in recent years to keep those “shows of patriotism” active across sporting events.

Whether it’s paying for special VIP parking for generals or for some team to show the military’s logo on their jumbotron, these programs are overwhelmingly pay-to-play sponsorship schemes. If 20 members of the military are getting the “Richard Petty ride-along experience,” it comes as part of a $1.5 million annual expenditure.

Interestingly, Congressional leaders seem to be of two minds about this heavily subsidized pretense of a pro-military environment, insisting it is a waste of money but largely expecting the teams to continue the programs irrespective of whether they pay for them.

That’s probably not going to be realistic, particularly in the long run, and while it’s certainly a waste of taxpayer money to have the National Guard buying a block of Red Sox tickets, Congress may be about to learn that in the absence of “paid patriotism” there’s going to be a lot less VIP treatment coming the military’s way.

(antiwar.com)

I have been a critic of Americans and their patriotism……

I want to know why the American people are NOT more outraged at this practice…..I mean they are always telling veterans that they are loved and that we appreciate their sacrifice….and yet this seems to be a “not a big deal”…..it is pathetic that these people need to be paid to show some respect……

Could it be that some form of misplaced loyalty to some team is more important than the integrity of the veterans?….if that is it then I have NO use for you or your moronic loyalty…..and definitely no use for these money grubbing sports teams.

There is absolutely NOTHING important than the well being of our veterans…….

Will anyone else speak up?

 

A Morality Tale

My weekend begins and so does the mental downtime I need…..

I do not like doing post on fluff or gossip….but from time to time there comes something that needs to be addressed….this Lamar Odom story is one of those BS news items……

First let me say that the news of Odom is truly sad…..a great b/ball player that should not be in this condition……my hopes go out to him.

When the news broke…….

– It’s not looking good for former NBA star Lamar Odom, who was hospitalized on Tuesday afternoon after being found unconscious at the Love Ranch brothel near Las Vegas. Sources tell TMZ that Odom is fighting for his life in a Las Vegas hospital and that ex-wife Khloe Kardashian is at his side. The 35-year-old, who spent most of his playing career with the LA Lakers and Clippers, had been at the brothel since Saturday, and owner Dennis Hof says he had been taking a lot of herbal Viagra, but employees didn’t see him with any other drugs and he didn’t finish a bottle of cognac he ordered over the weekend, the Los Angeles Times reports.

“He just wanted to get away, have a good time, and relax,” Hof tells the AP. He says that when two women went to check on Odom on Tuesday afternoon, they found him facedown and unconscious and he started “throwing up all kinds of stuff” when the women turned him on his side. Police say they were called to the ranch at 3:15pm Tuesday and Odom was stabilized at a nearby hospital before being taken by ambulance to Las Vegas, which is 70 miles away. Authorities say they tried to airlift Odom to the hospital, but the 6-foot-10-inch man was too tall for the helicopter, the Times reports.

Okay he is in a coma….but does the media really need to keep harping on the brothel part of this story?

Then the gossip part of this tragic tale starting appearing in the media…….

Conflicting reports are out as to the current state of Lamar Odom, who was found unconscious at a Nevada brothel Tuesday. Rev. Jesse Jackson visited Odom Wednesday and, upon exiting the hospital, told reporters Odom was still on life support but that “doctors felt he is much better off today than he was yesterday. At least there is some responsiveness now,” as the Orange County Register reports. But sources tell TMZ that Jackson only spent a few minutes with Odom and is dead wrong; they claim Odom is still unconscious and unresponsive, has suffered from multiple strokes, and is on dialysis for kidney failure. Sources at the hospital previously told TMZ Odom had cocaine and opiates in his system, and track marks on one arm, when he was found.

As for what went wrong, sources tell TMZ Odom’s meltdown started Sunday after he heard about the latest episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. On it, his ex-wife Khloe Kardashian was shown getting two phone calls from Odom, and Kim chastised her for flirting with him; Khloe was also shown expressing concern that Odom might lose control after a friend of his died, and leaving a club when she heard Odom was on his way in. Odom was upset about his portrayal on the show up until he was found Tuesday, the sources say. It was previously reported that Odom had been drinking cognac and taking either Viagra or an herbal substitute for Viagra; the substitute can restrict blood flow to organs and cause low blood pressure. Khloe, Kim, and Kris Jenner are with Odom, TMZ reports, but KUWTK is not filming there.

And then more of the brothel part of this story…..

Sad that the media is making damn sure that the world knows he was in a brothel……and that he was partying and screwing……why?

What part of that furthers the story of a great ball player and the tragic situation he is in?

The media seems to want to make it more about the “sex” than the condition of the person….why is that?

At what point is the MSM the moral police of this country?

Please remember that he is a great basketball player that is now fighting for his life…..do not be part of this petty bullshit.

I have spent a lot of time ranting about these spoiled prima donnas in the sports world …..but for Christ sake…..the man is fighting for his life put your moronic morals away……and remember the man…..not some gossipy shit that sells magazines.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Sunday and my last day of mental clarity……and guess what……I will give you some history that you will enjoy (go figure)……

America’s national pastime……FOOTBALL!

The football season is just a few weeks old….but did you know that was a time when the game was facing oblivion?

The world turns on the games of the week……there are fantasy football leagues where normal people go batcrap crazy putting together a team and  try desperately to win enough money to pay the rent……..then there is the collegiate teams which is much like legal insanity…..

But back at the turn of the century football was just catching hold in American colleges, especially in the Ivy League region…..it was so brutal that players died playing the game…..one college president decided it was time for this practice to end and pushed to abolish the sport on campus……

But one person who enjoyed the game stepped up to save the game for prosperity…….Teddy Roosevelt.

A little history on how Teddy saved football…..

………. look back at football’s brutal beginnings and President Theodore Roosevelt’s quest to save the sport from abolition.

Source: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football – History in the Headlines

Every time you watch a game think about Teddy……for without his intervention the game may well have disappeared from college campuses…..and where would school spirit be if that had occurred?

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I know it is Sunday and all eyes will be on the TV screen…… I do not post much that is too complicated….but I found this and since today is  a day of football…..I thought some might find this piece a bit interesting….and possibly a little frightening….or at the very least disturbing.

Are you a sports fan?  Cool!

How about football?  Me?  I am not a fan, yes I watch a game or two but it is not all consuming…..to me I think football is a diversion that the media wants people to fixate on so that real news will not be that important to them.

I mean look at your news…..always reports on this team, that player or that scandal…..none of which plays a very big part of the grand scheme of the universe…..sports is a way to control the news and in doing so to control people’s responses.

I mean what does Brady’s balls have to do with the grand scheme of the world?

Now let’s move on shall we?  Remember when you went batcrap crazy over the NSA and its collection of your personal data?

This article reports on many aspects of the game….from the ball to players to spectators……how long before the government or corporations use this data in one fashion or another……

Source: How the NFL—not the NSA—is impacting data gathering well beyond the gridiron | Ars Technica

While you spend all your spare time working on your fantasy team….the government and business will be spending all their time using your data against you……

Still a sports fan?

America: Time For A Change?

With the approach of the 2016 US election….one might assume that this post is about the possibility of a political change in government…..that is just silly if that is what one is thinking…….. you are mistaken.

As I watched a town hall meeting that Trump had in New Hampshire I got to thinking about what was happening in this country….he decided to have a Q & A session with his supporters to explain some of his ideas….a good idea if that was what had happened……

Donald Trump, apparently forgetting about the time he pressured the president of the United States into producing his birth certificate, failed to correct a man at a town hall event last night who claimed President Obama is a Muslim—and not an American. The questioner at the Rochester, NH, event described Muslims as a “problem” and went on to say, “Our current president is one. We know he’s not even an American. We have training camps growing where they want to kill us. That’s my question: When can we get rid of them?” Trump responded: “A lot of people are saying that and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there. We’re going to be looking at that and a lot of different things,” Politico reports.

When another man stood and said he wanted to “applaud the gentleman who stood and said Obama is a Muslim born abroad and about the military camps,” Trump said, “Right” before moving on, the Hill reports. Hillary Clinton calls Trump’s failure to denounce the remarks “disturbing,” while DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz calls the candidate’s behavior “horrendous” but “unsurprising,” saying “Trump’s racism knows no bounds,” CNN reports. Trump’s campaign manager tells CNN that Trump didn’t hear the remark about Obama being Muslim, and that the real issue is the president’s “war on Christianity.” (A recent poll found that 43% of Republicans still think Obama is a Muslim, which rises to 66% among Trump supporters.

It had not crossed my mind that he may still be one of those “birthers”……I know….silly me.

His lack of a response lead me to start thinking about maybe it is time for a change…..was this person an example of the average Trump supporter?

After all I have read by people writing on Trump….my conclusion would be….yes it is the average.

With that said here is my ideas for an American change……since immigrants will bring down the country because of their demands for the “good life” then why not take down the Statue of Liberty……a bit too extreme for the patriots?   Probably is too extreme I mean we do have and need our symbols………Then at least remove the plaque from the statue…..(not sure of what I am referring)…….let me help the mental process for you…..

The famous plaque attached to the Statue of Liberty is a sonnet…….

New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

That one line is probably the only part that most Americans will know…….”Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,…….”

Remove that plaque and replace it with a sign that reads….”Closed ‘Til Further Notice”….or maybe “Go Away”…….or maybe “Filled To Capacity”……something along that line…….

A bit extreme?  Not really.  This is the perfect cover for the hatred of immigrants/refugees……….since some Americans do not want the country to be all inclusive….it is the perfect solution……the Statue is a symbol of liberty and freedom….take away the temptation for others to want such rights.

You may scoff at this post….but take a look around and listen to the people you encounter……..it is sad…..it is scary…..it is shameful!  At least I am willing to go beyond the echo chamber and do some original thinking….can you?

Paying For Patriotism

Back in May I wrote a piece about the military paying NFL teams for their patriotic theme programs……in case you may have missed my scathing post……

http://lobotero.com/2015/05/11/patriotism-has-its-price/

After I let these people know what I think of that the Congress has taken up the issue…….and has made its decision known……..

The Senate today voted in favor of a bill which will bar the Pentagon from giving taxpayer money to NFL teams or other sports franchises in return for them “honoring the troops” during their games.

Reports of the “Patriotism for Profit” program emerged last month, with the revelations that 14 NFL teams had received $5.4 million in return for timeout displays of thanking troops for their service. This was quickly condemned by several top Congressmen.

The NFL, the apparent primary beneficiaries of this program, criticized the bill, saying it was a “distorted picture” of the long-standing relationship between the military and professional football. A spokesman went on to insist the programs to “honor the troops” would continue even if the money stopped.

Apparently Patriotism does have a price, at least for the NFL.

Are you telling me that the way these toads in Washington check fiscal policy that No one knew what was happening with these payments…..maybe they should spend more time doing their jobs and less time performing oral sex on their donors……whatcha think?

There is too much fake patriotism in this country…..and the NFL is a prime mover in that…….

When this story first came out it was pretty much ignored by most….like the NFL was some sort of God that one could not speak ill of without facing damnation……I have called the NFL a douche bag organization supported by mental midgets and cowards…..do I need to say more?

Turn The Page!

FIFA: Say Good-Bye To An Era

Once again I feel it necessary for me to post on sports…..something I seldom do…..but this is just too big to ignore.

The big story around the world has been the corruption indictments against FIFA, the world football organization……ever since the story broke there have been calls for Sepp Blatter the Prez of FIFA to resign….not because he was involved but there are those that believe he had knowledge of what was happening around him.

Blatter was up for re-election to the presidency of FIFA and after a couple of rounds he won……I believe it was Jordan’s Prince Ali that was the runner up…….maybe he will get his chance at the spotlight now……..why now?

Sepp Blatter’s triumphant fifth term as president of FIFA is crashing to a halt after all of four days. Blatter today announced that he will resign as president of soccer’s governing body as soon as a successor is named in special elections, reports the BBC. In an almost comical understatement amid the growing corruption scandal, Blatter said, “My mandate does not appear to be supported by everybody.” While Blatter has avoided any criminal charges so far, the New York Times reports that his top lieutenant, Jerome Valcke, has now been linked to $10 million in bribes, suggesting that charges against Blatter himself are possible.

In case anyone is interested in what Blatter had to say in his resignation………

“I have been reflecting deeply about my presidency and about the forty years in which my life has been inextricably bound to FIFA and the great sport of football. I cherish FIFA more than anything and I want to do only what is best for FIFA and for football. I felt compelled to stand for re-election, as I believed that this was the best thing for the organisation. That election is over but FIFA?s challenges are not. FIFA needs a profound overhaul.

While I have a mandate from the membership of FIFA, I do not feel that I have a mandate from the entire world of football ? the fans, the players, the clubs, the people who live, breathe and love football as much as we all do at FIFA.

Therefore, I have decided to lay down my mandate at an extraordinary elective Congress. I will continue to exercise my functions as FIFA President until that election.

That chapter is closed and now we can open a whole new line of pay to play…….

FIFA: The Conspiracy

From the fleeting thoughts of Chuq

Since the mid 90’s conspiracy theories have been spread around like peanut butter in grade school……today we have them on just about anything you can think of……coming from Far Right to Far Left…….and they all somehow make the 6 o’clock news…..

After these couple of days of non-stop reporting on the FIFA scandal……could there be a conspiracy going on behind the scenes?

I know Americans are not too keen on football (soccer to them) but this story is too big even for those small minds to ignore.

It appears the the Department of Justice, after an exhausted investigation, has issued indictments against several within the FIFA organization……..from simple bribery to money laundering to coercion to corruption….a total of 13 people and/or institutions……..

I know….I know…..where’s the conspiracy?

There is to be a vote and NO I am not talking about the vote for the president of FIFA……there is another vote that the world may not be aware of coming up…….that is the vote to sanction Israel……HUH?

a dramatic shift in focus for the FIFA conference, and the planned vote on suspending Israel for the mistreatment of Palestinian footballers seems almost certain to be delayed.

The indictments have been issued by the US…….is this the US doing what it always does…….protect Israel?

I question the timing of the indictments.  Were they issued to do as much damage as possible to stop the vote against Israel?

When the issue came up Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu was crowing about this, and bragged of telling FIFA president Sepp Blatter that a vote of the suspension of Israel would mean the destruction of FIFA outright.

A bit odd if you ask me……..is it possible that the timing was not necessarily about justice but rather to protect Israel from a possible suspension from football?

I am not a big conspiracist….but I also do not believe in coincidences……

Just a final thought on a Friday afternoon……

P.S.  CRAP!  I had a perfectly good conspiracy theory going and then the news hit……..

The Palestine Football Association (PFA) on Friday dropped its motion to have FIFA suspend Israel from international football, with the Jewish state saying the decision helped it avoid “an absurd situation”.

Better luck next time, Chuq…..this is why I do not like conspiracy theories…..they can bite you in the ass…..

What kind of unholy deal was made for this to happen?

Enjoy your weekend and a good night…….

Later

The World’s Game

I do not normally post much on sports…..but this story is too big too ignore……

Football, soccer to Americans, is the most popular sport in the world…..and unless you are asleep you have noticed that this is a major international story……..all the corruption and pay to play stuff…….but how many know what to look for or what they are talking about?

In case you would like to be better informed then here is your source….

(Newser) – It’s FIFA corruption scandal, day two. Here’s a guide to what you should know, watch, and read:

  • Vladimir Putin had strong words for the US regarding yesterday’s FIFA arrests, which he framed as “yet another blatant attempt [by the United States] to extend its jurisdiction to other states.” Among his comments, per the Guardian: “I suppose that someone broke some rules, I don’t know. But definitely, it’s got nothing to do with the USA. Those officials are not US citizens.”
  • The AP notes that in fact, of the 14 people charged (nine current and former FIFA officials, four sports marketing execs and an accused intermediary), at least two hold American citizenship.
  • Jon Stewart last night translated the scandal for a US audience in a segment flavored like this: “FIFA is so bad, they got arrested by the Swiss, a country whose official policy on Nazi gold was, and I quote, ‘we’ll allow it.'” Watch.
  • As for FIFA leader Sepp Blatter, the AP reports he today missed a scheduled speech—his third skipped appearance in 24 hours as many clamor for his resignation and for tomorrow’s election (he’s up for a fifth term) to be delayed. What he has done, per the BBC: chaired an emergency meeting. The New York Times takes a look at Blatter, who “has been dodging scandals almost from the moment he was elected president … in 1998” in a piece worth reading.
  • Another New York Times piece worth a read: “Chuck Blazer, a Soccer Bon Vivant Laid Low.” He’s the former FIFA executive committee member who appears to have become a “cooperating witness.” When indictments were unsealed yesterday, the feds revealed Blazer pleaded guilty a year and a half ago.
  • The AP looks at American and Swiss investigators’ months-long preparations for the raids’ dramatic end point: FIFA’s annual congress in Zurich. The AP puts it dramatically: “Any leak could have given the game away, allowing international soccer officials to scramble out of Switzerland or time to destroy important evidence.” Read more.
  • At Politico, Josh Gerstein zeroes in on Loretta Lynch, who has gone from being “known mostly as the woman who couldn’t get an up-or-down vote on her nomination as attorney general” to making a “stunning debut” as the world watched. Read.
  • What’s next, in terms of extradition, additional arrests, and the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups? This CNN guide has you covered. Read.
  • Still confused? John Oliver broke down FIFA’s corruption … last year. Watch.

Now you can talk like a pro……you are welcome!