The Circle of (Football) Life

We’ve all heard “it’s the circle of life” whenever a beloved family member or pet passes away.  Obviously, this phrase implies that people and animals are born and soon or later they die.  Could the same phrase imply to college football programs and conferences?

Take, for example, Baylor University.  In the ‘70s, Baylor was one of the top football programs in the Southwest Conference.  Overtime, Baylor was put through a series of poor coaching and unable to obtain spectacular players thus becoming one of the bottom feeders of the Big XII.  Then along comes Robert Griffin III and Art Bryles.  By RG3’s sophomore year, Baylor has their first bowl game in years.  By RG3’s junior year at Baylor, he was lighting up the skies with spectacular passes and torching the grass with his speed.  With his spectacular video game like stats, RG3 slid into the Heisman race.  He would go onto win and become Baylor’s first Heisman winner.  RG3 then led Baylor to their second consecutive bowl and pulled out a win in an arena football style game.  With RG3 gone, the future is unclear for the Baylor football program.  One thing is for sure, Baylor is no longer the unknown team of the Big XII anymore.

If you think Baylor was a fluke, what about the University of Florida?  In the mid 2000s, Tim Tebow shared playing time with senior quarterback Chris Leak.  Florida went onto beat Ohio State for the National Championship.  During Tebow’s sophomore season, Florida lost 3 games and ended up playing in the Gator Bowl.  Despite not making any BCS bowl, Tebow became the first sophomore to ever win the Heisman.  After suffering an upsetting loss to Ole Miss, Tebow and the Gators began to stomp every team in their path into submission on their way to another National Championship victory over Oklahoma.  Tebow’s perfect senior season was cut short by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC championship game.  After Tebow left, Florida dwindled into a middle of the pack team.

Not every program’s circle of life is bad.  The University of Alabama was at one time the most dominant football program in the country.  However, after the NCAA put the program on suspension and limited their scholarships, Alabama became a border line bottom dweller of the SEC.  After firing Mike Shula, Alabama hired Nick Saban.  Saban was former National Champion coach with LSU and then floundered in the NFL.  After superb recruiting and game planning, Saban has led Alabama to two National Championships giving the Crimson Tide a historic total of 14 National Championships.  

So, the answer to the question is yes, there is a circle of life in college football.  However, unlike in natural life, the life of a college football program is determined by circumstances such as the coming and going of NFL caliber players and winning coaches.  The life span of a college football program is determined by factors as well.  These factors include how well a coach can recruit players and win games with those players, if a program can follow the guidelines set by the NCAA, and how long the coach stays with the program.

Currently Alabama, LSU, and Georgia are the top dogs of the SEC.  However, there will come a time when these three lives will come to an end and new top dogs will rise.  The same could be said for the SEC as a whole.  The SEC has been the king of college football for years.  However, just like the programs in this conference, the SEC’s life will come to a temporary halt and a new conference or conferences will become kings.  The point of a circle of football life is to never lose hope in your team because eventually your favorite program will have their moment in the spotlight.

The True Cancer of America

There is a cancer amongst our culture.  It’s not gay marriage, gun control, abortion or illegal immigration.  The true cancer of the United States of America is the two party system.  It has caused us to fight for centuries.  The two party system, in a way, led to the Civil War.  Even today, Republicans and Democrats divide this country in two over every issue.  

As comedian Christopher Titus said, if you’re so far left you believe that you deserve a job, citizenship, and a free heart transplant, you’re mentally ill.  On the other hand, if you’re so far right, you believe that anyone who isn’t a citizen and doesn’t have a job should have their heart cut out and sold on E-bay, you’re mentally ill.  

This country doesn’t need another puppet president.  America doesn’t need a president who is going to do as his party asks him no matter the cost.  What the USA needs is a man or woman who will do the right thing even if costs them popularity points within their own party.  We need the same style of leaders we had when this country was founded.  Leaders who fought, scratched and clawed their way to victory in order to see a free country.

Just like every American, whether they want to admit it or not, I have a set of beliefs that align with a political party or parties.  Some of my beliefs do align with the Republican party. However, I also do have beliefs that align with anarchists.  While I believe that the role of the government should be small, I believe that the government should also govern properly.  When the government fails the people, the people should do anything necessary to make the government to be for the people, by the people, and by the people no matter the cost.  

In general, I try to stay away from politics because of the division it causes.  Again, it’s not the issues that are the cancer of America, it’s the people in DC who blow the issues out of proportion that cause the divide.  This country is no longer the United States of America, instead it is the Divided States of Embarrassment.  So, when the DSE becomes the USA again, maybe politics will matter to me.  Until then, don’t bother me with what’s going on in Washington, D.C.  If you think I’ve gone too far, you can never go too far when telling the truth.

Say What You Want...

Say what you want about John Cena.  Say that he can only do four or five moves.  Say that no matter the match, he transforms into “Super Cena” and can some how come out on top.  Say that he can’t wrestle. Say that Vinny Mac doesn’t want to lose profits and that’s the only reason why he’s kept around.

Say what you want about The Rock.  Say that he only came back to promote his new movies. Say that he will leave after a small run and forget about the wrestling universe again.  Say that he truly doesn’t give a damn about the wrestling industry because he has the movie industry to supply his paycheck now.  

Say what you want about Chris Jericho.  Say that he comes and goes as he pleases.  Say that he’s not entertaining anymore and that he should retire and never come back.  Say that he sucks and can’t do anything in the ring anymore.

Say what you want about Rey Mysterio.  Say that he complains too much.  Say that he takes too long to comeback from injury.  Say that he’s not the in ring performer he used to be.  Say that he’s lucky to be in this business due to his size.

The truth about John Cena is this: he has the best work ethic out of any performer in WWE history.  He shows up day in and day out to put smiles on the fans that love him and believe in him.  No superstar has ever drawn a more emotional response out of the WWE Universe.  How many matches have we heard those five famous words “Let’s go Cena!” quickly followed by “Cena sucks!”  Did you run out of fingers? Yeah I thought so.

The truth about The Rock is this: he literally helped put WWE into pop culture.  Sure he left when it wasn’t too popular to be a professional wrestler but he’s still thought of as one of the best wrestlers in WWE history.  Without The Rock or the other guys he performed with, the WWE wouldn’t be where it is today.  

The truth about Jericho is this: he truly is the best in the world at what he does.  What other wrestlers do you know who can accomplish what Jericho has accomplished in the ring?  How many other wrestlers have recorded hit records and written not one but two New York Times bestselling autobiographies.  Jericho is one of the best and will be in the Hall of Fame one day.  Jericho has the talent to have his hands in many worlds of entertainment but the WWE schedule doesn’t allow him to do the other things that he does which is why he leaves for the long periods of times but when he comes back what do we all do? Lose our minds.

The truth about Rey Mysterio is this: his size brings inspiration to those of us who are told that we’re too small to do what we dream of doing.  He can do things many other high flyers only dream of doing.  Not only that but he can bring inspiration to nearly every single member of the WWE Universe.  The man has had about seven surgeries on his knee.  What athlete would be the same after multiple knees surgeries? That’s right; none. 

So what’s my point? Why am I defending all these guys?  Because the fans make me sick.  We all have our own opinions of who we think is the best or who should be in the main event spotlight or who should turn heel or face.  That’s the beauty of opinions we’re all right and wrong at the same time.  We demand that WWE or TNA or ROH or whatever wrestling company we follow should do as the fans ask.  Yet, we fail to realize while we want these companies to do what we want they also have business decisions to make in order to stay in the black.  

These companies are trying to do their best in order to both please us and keep raking in profits.  I do agree that the product does lack what it use to be but a change of direction is necessary in order to stay current.  This PG era WWE is in was used to draw the younger demographic in.  In both sports and entertainment you have to evolve to stay current.  Without evolution any type of entertainer whether they be actor, singer, or athlete would die out and our entertainment would go nowhere and no one likes monotony. 

Becoming a Kid Again

“When you grow up, you can be whatever you want.” Does that sound familiar? You probably heard this from your parents during your elementary school years.  However, as you grow up, you realize that the same people who told you that Santa Claus, the Easter bunny, and the tooth fairy were real told you that you can be whatever you want.  As you enter middle school or high school you realize that it’s going to be a lot harder to be Batman than you thought it was in the third grade.  The truth is you can still be whatever you want within reason.  

I’d like to introduce to you a friend of mine.  He’s been around for quite some time and you’ve probably met or at least heard of him.  Some people say that he’s died and no longer exists but I still think he’s out there waiting for someone to find him and believe that he is real again.  His name is the American Dream.  Yes, I still believe that the American Dream is still alive and well in our country.  Many people think that this idea has died and gone away when in actuality they’ve given up hope or have just stopped trying.

The American Dream is not the same for everyone.  For some you could have a job that has caused you to move around quite a bit but on the side you pursue you dream that your parents shot down long ago.  For others, it could be the standard life with a spouse, kids, a pet and a house.  Personally, it’s to become something no one thinks I can be.  My American Dream is to prove everyone wrong.  I want to be a professional wrestler.  I want to make a name for myself and be remembered.

The trick to life isn’t to live by the phrase “the kid with the most toys wins” but to be whatever you want; to live your American Dream. So go out into the world, find something that you feel passionate about and want to chase even after you’ve grabbed a hold of it.  Go out there and become a kid again; be whatever you want.  Go and live your American Dream.

The Effect of Nike Pro Combat Uniforms

Recently, many college football teams who use Nike as their supplier for athletic apparel have been wearing what is known as a "Nike Pro Combat" uniform.  These uniforms are meant for a once a season, one time usage for a major game on the team's schedule.  An example this season of teams who have already worn a Nike Pro Combat uniform would be Boise State, Georgia, and Oregon.  Stanford, LSU, Ohio State, Michigan State, Navy and Army will also wear one later this football season.

Ever since the introduction of the Nike Pro Combat uniforms, a discussion is stirred up every year about the necessity of these uniforms.  One argument states that the uniforms are unnecessary because most of theses special uniforms made by Nike aren't very appealing.  However, this argument is made by the seasoned businessman who still believes Notre Dame uniforms are relevant.  Unfortunately for you, Mr. Businessman, these uniforms aren't meant to catch your eye.  They're meant to catch the eye of your seventeen year old son who is deciding on where he should go to play football next fall.

Picture yourself as a high school football player in his senior year.  You've received a scholarship from so many schools you've lost count.  The start of the college football season opens up with Boise State vs. Georgia in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia.  You watch both teams take the field in their brand new one time use only Nike Pro Combat uniforms which are both eye catching.  You begin to think to yourself "If these teams were deemed good enough by Nike to get special uniforms, they might get them again so I should play for one of those teams."

The truth is that there is a very good point for Nike Pro Combat uniforms. The point being that these schools choose to wear them in order to get high school football recruits interested in their football program enough to hopefully commit to their school for football.

Thoughts About Jeff Hardy

For those of you who don't know, I am a professional wrestling fan.  I love the business and can't get enough of it.  Becoming a part of the business on the wrestling side is a living dream of mine.  I eat, breath, sleep pro wrestling. As of recently, one of my favorite pro wrestlers and an inspiration of mine has returned after a long and unnecessarily drawn out court battle.  His name is Jeff Hardy.

In a nutshell, Jeff debuted with what is now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in the late 1990s.  After being exposed to the life on the road at the young age of 16, Jeff fell into drugs and had gotten in trouble with WWE brass frequently causing his release.  Jeff then wrestled for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) which is now Impact Wrestling.  After about 3 years, Jeff returned for another run with WWE in which he won the WWE Championship and the World Heavyweight Championship.  Jeff declined to resign his contract with WWE and went to wrestle for TNA for a second time.  Jeff quickly rose through the ranks and became the TNA World Champion in the middle of a "heel" or bad guy turn.  After a few months as the champ, Jeff arrived at a TNA Pay-Per-View in no condition to compete.  TNA then sent Jeff Hardy home until his drug court case-which had been going on since his return to TNA-was over with.  As of today, Jeff Hardy has plead guilty and will serve 10 days in jail, 30 months of probation and pay a $100,000 fine.  Also, Jeff Hardy returned to TNA or Impact Wrestling tonight and apologized to the fans for what he had put them through.

As I said, I'm a huge Jeff Hardy fan.  I love how he wrestles and he is one of many inspirations of mine to become a pro wrestler.  On the other hand, watching Jeff's rise to fame, fall from grace, rise again, fall again and hopefully another rise has really made me think of the kind of person I want to be when I become a pro wrestler.  I understand that there are many temptations to become friends with a bottle of alcohol or pills but seeing all the repercussions it is brought not only Jeff but many other wrestlers has made me really think of how I will combat these temptations.  In no way has Jeff's career in or out of the ring made me rethink my dream but it has made me think ahead.  I want to remember my time in front of the camera, not just pretend to.  I plan on being a family man.  To me, my future family comes before my career.  I will do any and everything possible to provide the best life I can for them and I know that booze and pills can't do that.

Jeff's one of the lucky ones.  By that, I mean despite everything he does out of the ring he's still alive.  There probably hasn't been such a heavily followed drug case involving a pro wrestler since the Chris Benoit incident in 2007.  Chris's steroid problem caused him to kill his wife, son and them himself.  It also nearly killed the WWE.  My plea to those who read this is truly inspect your heroes lives.  Just because you want to do what you see them do doesn't mean you should do what they do when the cameras are off.