Finally some news I can comment on...

Get this... (from AP)

"OXON HILL, Md. – Giving in to the young-and-younger movement in college basketball recruiting, the NCAA has decreed that seventh-graders are officially classified as prospects. The organization voted Thursday to change the definition of a prospect from ninth grade to seventh grade – for men's basketball only – to nip a trend in which some college coaches were working at private, elite camps and clinics for seventh- and eighth-graders. The NCAA couldn't regulate those camps because those youngsters fell below the current cutoff. "It's a little scary only because – we talked about this – where does it stop?" said Joe D'Antonio, chairman of the 31-member Division I Legislative Council, which approved the change during a two-day meeting at the NCAA Convention. "The fact that we've got to this point is really just a sign of the times." Schools had expressed concern that the younger-age elite camps were giving participating coaches a recruiting advantage, pressuring other coaches to start their own camps. "The need to nip that in the bud was overwhelming," said Steve Mallonee, the NCAA's managing director of academic and membership affairs. While men's basketball is the only sport affected, D'Antonio said he could envision future discussions on lowering the limit for other sports, notably football."

I think Mr. D'Antonio said it perfectly, "...where does it stop?" This is friggin ridiculous. 7th Graders are now prospects? 7th grade? Hell, when I was in 7th grade I was nowhere close to thinking about college. I was a short, chubby kid that wasn't very good at any sports. Now, I'm a 6'2 chubby guy that thought he was pretty good at sports in high school (but in retrospect was probably only "average"). I mean, seriously, the chances that any given 7th grader is going to be the same type of athlete four years later is slim. The chubby kids (like me) get tall and skinny in high school and suddenly are able to whip some of the kids that were good in middle school. But that's not the most serious point. What I worry about the most is what this does to the kids. Unreal expectations is almost a given because of this. How many kids will get sucked into thinking they have a chance at a serious scholarship because they could dribble without tripping? And these coaches that are "recruiting" 7th graders are pathetic. Let the kids grow up at least A LITTLE before filling their heads with what will mostly turn out to be crap.

Long lay-off

So, it's been a few years since I posted anything. My life has changed dramatically since I was posting on here. Well, my job changed. I'm working for the man now. No more construction industry (It was never really for me anyway). I travel quite a bit now. New and exciting (and not-so-exciting) places. Korea (yuck), Japan (nice), Hawaii (phenomenal) and hopefully Germany this year. Life is good for the most part.

But, to stick with the main theme of most of my blogs, I'm going to post one from my myspace account from a couple months ago. I think I'll start posting on here again. I'm sick of myspace.

So, the democratic national convention was last week. I read some of the articles written during it... here's a taste of the "headlines"...

"Striking the Right Note", "Defining Regular Americans", "Michelle Obama's Comfy Shoes", "Sorry, No Jonas Brothers", "Putting on Airs in Denver", "Obama Chooses Chicago Clothier", "Carter Warns Against Disunity", "The Convention: Redefining Change" (This one was about a new tactic the dems have... "throwing the bums out"), "DNC Trash Being Turned into Compost Outside Denver", and the best headline... "Freewhelin' at the Democratic National Convention: "What A Great Ride!""

Now it's time for the Republican National Convention. Has anyone read the headlines after just a couple days?

"Giuliani, other also-rans go to bat for McCain", "Palin mocks Obama; McCain claims nomination", "Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention", "Noonan, Murphy trash Palin on hot mic: "It's over"", "McCain must embrace his party... and break with it", "GOP contradicts itself on Palin family", "McCain camp plays sexism card for Palin", "Father of Bristol Palin's baby to attend RNC", "McCain hugs Palin upon his arrival in Twin Cities" (HOLY CRAP! HE HUGGED HER???!!!! You know, Bill Clinton would have tried to put his dick in her...).

I'm so fucking sick of the COMPLETELY biased liberal media. I started paying attention to this a couple years ago at election time (right after the last presidential election). This is the worst I've even seen it. I mean, seriously, they actually wrote columns about Barack Obama's Wife's choice of clothing! And now they call Rudy Giuliani and others "also-rans", say Palin "mocks" Obama and talk about how the GOP's "attacks and praise stretch the truth". What? And the media isn't doing EXACTLY that? Pathetic. I'm disgusted. Really. But what can a person do? Nothing really. Just let them force feed their crap to the millions of Americans who don't see it for what it is. I can't say I'm a "supporter" of McCain. I don't dislike Barack Obama. I just don't like the liberal media. Let's try to be a LITTLE non-biased? Is that too much to ask?