Sympathy and Outrage

Katrina. We all know who/what Katrina is (was).

Sympathy: It goes to every last person affected by the devastating hurricane which passed through many states, worse so in La and Ms. I have several friends who live in the NOLA area, and all but one have been accounted for (thanks for the info Steve G). The pictures in today's paper are depressing, revolting and down right humbling. A ton of people in the area will be without power for up to 2 months. The people in the Superdome are growing sick, four are dead, and none of them have showered for days. The governor has ordered a clearance of the Superdome, which will leave people without a place to go. I understand her point, yet, cannot fathom the experience. I will continue to pray for everyone involved, and I hope you do to.

OUTRAGE: also seen in today's paper: Looters. People robbing everything they can from everywhere they can. People doing this directly in front of law enforcement. Folks, I could get REAL UGLY right now and tell you what I am really thinking, but instead I will refer to them as F**KING SCUM. What in the wide world of sports do these SCUM suckers think they are going to accomplish by doing this? Are they going to drive to a different state and hock the stolen goods? Sell them at a flea market? Nothing will happen in New Orleans. Another prayer: I pray to our Good Lord and God that these F'N Idiots are caught, punished with the maximum the law will allow, and forced to clean s**t from public bathrooms for the rest of their worthless lives. I am so angry, because I have put myself in the shoes of the people in law enforcement and disaster relief personnel, all of which are completely weary and weak, and I cant even imagine what is going on in their heads. I feel very sorry for all of them... Almost more sorry for the victims who decided to 'chance it' and stay (who had SUFFICIENT warning of the storm and time to leave).

I think if I were governor or mayor, I would declare Martial Law for a day or two, and let these Scum sucking f**kers learn the hard way. I am disgusted with these people (are they even human?).

Please help me keep the victims and their families in prayer. Help me keep all of law enforcement and emergence personnel and disaster relief workers in our prayers too. God Bless them all. Even the scumbags.

Hurricane Hell

So we've all seen a hurricane or two that we consider to be devastating and/or destructive. I, personally, have been alive enough to see some awful hurricanes. Folks, Hurricane Katrina might just turn out to be the topper of all natural disasters I have seen in my lifetime. As I write this, it is about 5 hours from nailing New Orleans. News reports claim that this hurricane is greater than 450 miles in width, and absolutely no wooden structure in New Orleans will be able to withstand this hurricane. Even skyscrapers in downtown are said to have the potential to topple onto themselves. It is also said that New Orleans can be more than 30 feet under water.

This is insane. If New Orleans is 30 feet under water, that is what I call a new coastline. This is awful, it is scary, and devastating is quite the understatement.
What I would like to ask anyone viewing this post on my blog, is that you include every last person affected by this disaster to be in your prayers. Even if you don't believe in our Good Lord, please believe long enough to pray for these people. Several have already died just trying to avoid death and destruction. We, in the 'mainland' have little to fear as we are nowhere close to the coast. Storms kill people everyday. The Tsunami a few months ago was just as awful. Please people. Lets do our part in helping. A simple prayer and a donation when the time comes will go a LONG way. God bless these people. God bless the people who have family members down there.

Texas Strangers

Wow. Who is this team that the Rangers have become? This is a baseball team that could proudly claim first place, if only a brief time, earlier in the season. We had some pretty decent players to be proud of, before they were designated for assignment or on a terrorist binge with the media. My favorite baseball team is now a laughing stock and an embarrassment. 13 1/2 games out of first place, swept by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.... yuk.
SO... Who do we blame this on? Bad players? Bad coaching/management? Tom Hicks? Media? Fans? Godzilla? I guess all of them seem reachable for any disgruntled Ranger fan. Here's my opinion...
MANAGEMENT. John Hart. That's step one. GET HIM OUT OF HERE!!! He has single handedly turned this ball club into a mockery of sports. I wont get into detail about this clown, those would then be wasted words (much like the previous). Tom Hicks.. I have an enormous amount of respect for him as a business man. We have to admit it, like it or not, he is a good business man, however, not for sports. Here's why I think Tom should sell to Mark Cuban: Tom Hicks should be running an oil company or a Fortune 500 company of some sort (or some such as Rhynes would say). He should not be in sports, because his sole interest is money, money, money. BOTTOM LINE folks. It's the American way.. No one should blame him. As a result of this, his sports franchises are suffering. The fans don't want a money hungry owner in the Presidential seat (not to be confused with the smaller seat Jeff Cogen sits in). The fans want their team to be number one, or at LEAST in the freaking playoffs. Money hungry owners would not benefit from this, therefore they don't necessarily want this.
Buck Showalter, manager. What do we say about Buck? He's not a bad manager, he just doesn't get lucky with the organizations he ends up with. HA HA. Yeah, OK. Not so much. I am sick and tired of his ridiculous answers to GOOD and legitimate questions from the media. Stop dancing around Buck. We know our team sucks now. We're all embarrassed enough, stop adding to it by dancing around questions and giving us John Kerry like answers.
Players? OK, there are some goods. There are some bads. The goods seem to stay in trouble, the bads seem to get worse. MORALE folks, there is none left. All of the above mentiones certainly contributes to that. There is no motivation for these players to go out there and give it their all anymore. Your number one pitcher being suspended and acting like an arse. Soriano and the 'should I stay or should I go' routine. Who can blame him if he wants to go?? Thank God he's probably going to stay. We can go on and on I'm sure.
So, now what? There's always 2006, right? Heh. Should I save this story and re-post it next year? Lord, I hope not. Like all of the Ranger fans... I am tired of waiting. Tired of the false sense of hope when they are doing good, knowing full well that hope shouldn't exist. Let's get a general manager who can make all of the right moves. Let's give Buck Showalter a HAPPY going away party, and call it a run. Let's rebuild the management team and part of the front office with people who are STILL into the game of baseball, and have good sense. THEN we can restructure the team... In the OFFSEASON. Not during. Agree?
My fellow Ranger fans. When I close with the following statement, I will walk away saying what I HATE TO HEAR. There's always next year. ::sigh::

Letter To James

James,
You are about to be with my sister for the rest of your life. I have never met you. I haven't a clue what you look like, act like or what it is you believe in. What I do know, is that my sister loves you. I also know the look in her eyes when she talks to you, and about you. It's the same look in my eyes that I've had for seven years when I talk to and about Nichole.
James, this is not the expected "brotherly threat" letter. Stacey is a grown woman who can take care of herself. I wont waste your time talking shit or threatening anything. What I would like to do is just simply ask that you take care of Stacey, spend the rest of your life treating her like she's the Princess in your life that you know right now. Just remember your place in life when times are rough, and remember that the woman you are with is one of a kind, and will not abandon you on petty things, and will never let you be alone during those times when we ALL feel like we're alone in the world.
You are a Staff Sergeant in the military. GOD BLESS YOU. You are also the staff sergeant in Stacey's heart that will be there to regulate when things get uncertain or out of hand. You are the man in her every thought and dream. PLEASE, James, live up to those thoughts. Make her proud every single day, make her feel like you two just met every single time you see each other. Believe me James, everything else will fall into place.
I wish to give you my blessing and let you both know that you are and will always be in my prayers. I hope you two will live a very long and happy life with one another, and you need to know that Nichole and I get her back at least twice a year! Good luck to you both... I know you will do well... simply by the reassurance Stacey gives me with the look in her eyes when she's talking to you.
I am looking forward to next May, and looking forward to meeting my future brother-in-law. Take care James. Thank you for making my big sister happy. DON'T FUCK IT UP! (kidding, but what kind of brother would I be if I didn't say that once?!?!)
- Jamie 'Beaker' Willingham

Tribute To A Sister

This is a tribute to my sister, Stacey (pictured on the right, next to our friend Nichole). Stacey was recently engaged, and is to be married next May. As a result, she is moving to his hometown in North Carolina to begin a new life and a new family.
Now, sister means female sibling, I know. To me, and a lot of other people, the word sister or brother means more than that. Most of you who know one or both of us very well know we have different parents. I really don't want to use the tired term "Brother from a different Mother" or the retarded "Sister from a different Mister"... Stacey is my big sister. I cant remember how or when that all got started, or under what circumstance, but I do know that this woman has always been here to catch me screwing up, or give me emotional support when needed (not like that was often tho.... Me and my pride), basically, whenever I needed her (whether I wanted it or not!) she was there.
Guys and Gals... We all have someone in our lives who we like to refer to as a brother or sister, related or unrelated, it doesn't matter. If you do, I think one phone call a day or one visit a week is very important for that person in your life. Forget about your significant other for a few minutes, or for one afternoon, and pay a visit to your 'brother' and/or 'sister'. I screwed that one all kinds of up. I always took for granted that Stacey would be here if I needed her, and always figured I would see her soon enough. I didn't call as often as I wanted, nor did I visit her as often as I would have liked. NOW FOLKS.... that chance is all gone (well, it's not, but it's not a 20 minute drive to sisterville anymore!!). Take the time ladies and gentleman... you never know when your brother or sister or good friend might move away!! I am just glad it's for her happiness. That makes it all worthwhile!
Stacey, you are an awesome woman. You have touched the lives of everyone you have ever met, and you always make every one of your friends feel special. Now, it's time to go save more lives on the east coast! You will do amazing in your new life, and I am sure I can speak on behalf of everyone making that trip: I CANT WAIT UNTIL MAY 6TH!!!!
What a fun road trip that's gonna be!!
I love you Sis. You mill be missed.

Troy Aikman

Ladies and Gentleman.... The 'Hot' story today is the status of Troy Aikman making it into the Hall Of Fame. Folks, why is this even a question?
First off... I am a Tampa Bay Bucs fan, one who no longer cares much for the Cowboys (who happens to be my home town team). I really enjoyed watching Cowboy games with my family in the 80's and 90's, but really have always had my heart with the Bucs.
NOW... To ask if Troy Aikman should be in the Hall Of Fame, because of his stats and lack of titles and awards is ASININE. OF COURSE I agree that stats, MVP awards, Championship titles and all of the like should be considered for a hall of fame inductee candidate, but that should only be HALF of what is looked at. HALF folks.

Did you read my HSO on Mike Modano? See below if not. If you did, you might remember me calling Modano the 'face of hockey in Dallas'. Now, Troy Aikman is not really the face of football in Dallas by any stretch of the imagination, HOWEVER, when asked about the 90's dynasty of the Dallas Cowboys.... Who do you think of? Jerry Jones? Not. Jimmy Johnson. Ok, kind of. Folks... The answer is the TRIPLETS. Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and guess who? Troy has THREE Super Bowl rings. He earned MVP status in his first Super Bowl. He had a 99.0 passer rating in 1993. He played in SIX consecutive Pro Bowls. He made all kinds of All Rookie teams. In college, he had the third highest QB rating in NCAA HISTORY when he turned pro (someone from the Ticket please tell me if he still holds that honor). He won the 1989 Cotton Bowl against Arkansas (I was there!!!). He played in the state all star game in High School.... Damn people, I can go on forever!

Check out some stories by searching Google about everything Troy Aikman has done for this community. Do you remember when Troy was busted for drugs, rape, killing someone on SH75, or placed in jail for something absurd. NOPE. Never happened. Do you remember when Troy greedily went to another team (SPARE team) in his last few years for more money? NOPE. Never happened. Do you remember that time when Troy was in the news for soliciting prostitution? NOPE. Again, never happened.

Instead, Troy has done things in Music (Oklahoma Nights), is actively involved with musicians in country bands (national acts no less), He sells all of your pretty faces in Dallas top off the line Ford products (his second dealership, by the way), Have you ever heard of The Troy Aikman Foundation?? Please check it out if you haven't. (Just go to Aikman.com and link yourself there). I can go ON and ON and ON... But that's for YOU to do.

Come on folks.... There should be NO QUESTION if Troy Aikman should be in the Hall Of Fame. NONE. He was a great football player, and now a great broadcaster (which a lot of ex players cannot say).

Congratulations Troy. You did a lot of good for my hometown, and I am very proud of you. You deserve to be in the Hall Of Fame... Hands down.

What's Up With The Timing??

It seems that every time I post a complaint or HSO about something, the very next day it is either solved or answered!
For example: Last night I was upset and fearful that Mike Modano would be a player in another hockey organization. Today he signed with the Stars. I posted a complaint about Kenny Rogers still playing baseball when he should be on suspension, the next day Bud Selig told Kenny to stick his appeal where the sun don't shine. I mentioned how comparing Lance Armstrong and Tiger Woods for America's best athlete was like comparing apples to oranges, and I have yet to hear anything else about it!
Of course there are still two sides.... People continue to whip my pals on The Ticket (check 'em out at ) and of course Palmeiro is still in the wide open in where he will end up.
Damn, if this is the case, I will NOW talk about (and wish for the best) my Tampa Bay Bucs. I have been a fan my whole life (or at least THEIR whole life as a team). I have been a fan of the biggest spare football team that ever graced the NFL. I (we) finally got our heyday by winning a Super Bowl, but soon followed the traditional "lets have some spare years immediately following a Super Bowl victory" ways. It seems that 'ol Jon is putting together a dynamic offense this year, but Greise is still at the QB helm. Not a big deal... Yet. We'll see what happens there. It was a good move getting rid of the shit talking duo of Sapp and K. Johnson, but we still need some talent. All of our "talent" are old and/or retired now or just plain old and injured.
While I don't realistically expect there to be a miracle tomorrow, my "tomorrow" in this case is the up coming season. I will simply pray for the best and see what happens. NO MORE NEW ENGLAND.... PLEASE!!!!

Mike Modano

What a freaking nightmare. As I write this, we all stand waiting to see if Modano will end up back here in Dallas, or if he will go with someone else. Here's why he should stay, and Tom Hicks should be less Jew:
1) Look what this man has done with Dallas hockey. For those of you not much into hockey, please know that the Dallas Stars moved from Minnesota, and were previously known as the Minnesota Northstars. Said subject was part of that team that moved to Dallas. He has been the "face" of hockey here in Dallas since DAY ONE. I have TONS of friends who don't know the first thing about hockey, but absolutely know who Mike Modano is.
2) He's a FREAKING STUD HOCKEY PLAYER. What the hell else does anyone need to know???
3) The money Hicks will spend to retain him in Dallas will come back to him TENFOLD through the duration of the contract (hopefully 5 years)
4) After a complete season of absence, will Dallas Stars fans be the same if Modano is a Bruin? Or somewhere else??? NO F'N WAY.
5) Modano has clearly stated he wants to stay in Dallas. His issue is NOT the money entirely. I would have the same issue: Signing another player (of the same age) to the same contract Modano desires. Yes, I am talking about Zubov. Who's the better hockey player? DON'T WASTE MY TIME by looking at your newspapers and stat books. LOOK with your OWN 2 EYES! Who's' the better player?? Why would they sign the "other guy" and completely shun Mike?

Anyway, this has a lot of rant potential, but I wont. If you want to rant, please post a comment. Otherwise, if Modano ends up out of town, you can find my head in the dirt out in the front yard.

I fear what will happen to The Stars if Modano leaves (and I'm not just talking about the team, I'm talking about Dallas hockey in general).

Rafael Palmeiro

For those of you that do not know what's going on with Rafy, please proceed to the next post!
Palmeiro has some issues, in my opinion, only with how the public views him. Months ago, he swore up and down he has never used steroids... NEVER! And here was very adamant about it. Now, after being busted once again, he uses the line "I never INTENTIONALLY put steroids in my body" (or something to that effect).
Wow. What can you say about this? Obviously, the boys on the Ticket have plenty to say, thankfully it all makes perfect sense. Me, on the other hand, can rant and rave about "today's sports figures", etc. Palmeiro has used roids. Canseco calls his ass out in a book! Honestly... who really gives a shit? The guys not being an ass about his suspension like a certain member of the Rogers family has been known to do. He's taking his suspension, now preaching to kids and fans about being "absolutely careful in what you put in your body". OK, maybe not a lot of credibility there, but who cares. I bet if I "randomly" tested everyone in MLB, I would find a lot more users. I AM NOT CONDONING WHAT PALMEIRO IS DOING, please understand that. But, right now, we are talking about a potential Hall Of Famer, who now claims he doesn't belong in the Hall Of Fame. OK, maybe a rule is in order about illegal substances in sports, stating if you use, you are ineligible for Hall Of Fame status.... Whatever.
What I want to ask your opinion on is this:
Should Palmeiro be in The Hall Of Fame now, regardless of steroid use (or not??).
I Welcome all comments. :)