Alright, it's time for a rant from me.  It's been a while, but lately I have been so fucking irritated this year with their moronic lack of effectiveness to get anything fucking accomplished.  Let me start from the top.

I like President Bush, I always have, but he gets a raw deal.  He is NOT a good commander in chief of our armed forces, but he has done a good job with the Presidency up to this point.  And I do not think it is his fault by any means that we are in this fucking shit hole of an economic down turn.  The blame needs to be put solely on all aspects of the government, not just President Bush.  Look at the Democrat controlled Congress that has the lowest approval rating in history.  Are they not to blame for this shit as well?

Wall Street Investment Bankers fucked us all over.  Please tell me how someone who has built up their stock portfolio for 20 years now has to come out of retirement to make sure they can live their life the way they choose to.  Every single one of those fucking assholes, making millions a year, that fucked up our portfolios need to be dragged out in the street, beat to a fucking pulp and then shot in the head...alright that's a bit much, but they need to be held accountable for their stupidity and greed.

$700 billion bailout plan!  Good or Bad is indifferent right now.  Our PRESIDENT, like him or not, told us we HAVE to get this approved or our financial crisis will worsen.  We did not get it approved and what a fucking shocker, our markets dropped the largest point drop in history yesterday.  I don't know if it is the right plan or not, but if it is not then give me an alternative.  DON'T FUCKING DENY THE PLAN, LEAVE FOR THE NEXT 2 DAYS AND TRY AND FIGURE IT OUT ON THURSDAY (which is when the House meets again)!  This is the time we need our Congress to work FOR us.

Bottom line is this, our Government, both Democrats and Republicans are not doing their job.  Politics is getting in the way.  I don't care what your alliance is, if any, to the parties.  This is a time for leadership in Washington to help us get out of this.  If this isn't the plan to do it, fine, just give us something to help alieviate the pressures of everyday life now.

THIS SHIT FUCKING SUCKS!

*Parden My French*

It is a truely sad day in American Culture.  On a day when we worry more about what a radio host said about female basketball players and the father of Anna Nicole's baby than we do about our soldiers battling everyday for their lives so we can have the freedom to watch such shit like that.  Personally I think Imus was out of line in his comments, but seriously, have we come to such a point in our politcally correct world that one man cannot express his view without someone bringing race into it?  Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton have done great things in the world, how about taking your democratic view over to Iran and figure out a way to deal with this Nuclear shit that's going on?  Is that too dangerous?  We have soldiers that are on the front line of this shit in the middle east and all we care about is bullshit American Idol, who's coming out for the NBA draft and who said what about whom?  I could not give two shits less about who is Anna Nicole's baby daddy, or Imus meeting with the Rutgers womens team to apologize...again.  I think it is a truely sad day when we can not acknowledge the ones putting their lifes in danger for us everyday of their lives.  Agree with the war or not, they are over there and all we hear about is a five minute blurp about how a bomb exploded because of some coward ass militia bastard who won't face up to fight like a man.  Well I'm going to take my time now to acknowledge the soldiers risking their lives everyday:

To my brothers and sisters in battle or just coming home...Thank You from the bottom of my heart.  I realize that because of you I have these freedoms to speak my mind and lay my head down at night without a fear that a bomb will go off.  It is because of you that I can raise my daughter to the best of my ability and will be able to introduce her to real hero's.  It is because of you that she will be able to play outside and be a kid, as opposed to being recruited to carry a bomb and hurt someone else.  It is because of you that I'm extremely glad to be American and from this great country.  Keep your head up, if for nothing else to keep on going knowing that many of us are grateful...even if the media will not show what a tremendous job you all are doing.  Thank You.

For those of you who have known me for a while, or even a split second know that I'm a sports nut.  Let me tell you what, today was just a glimpse of insanity from the week.  Starting off with Daytona and the NEXTEL Cup Series.  The "Super Bowl" of racing is this weekend and NASCAR is apparently cracking down on the "cheating" in the sport.  Four crew chiefs have been suspended and drivers docked points already, we have not had a points race this season!  So these morons are going into the season down on points already.  The biggest came when Michael Waltrip's car was impounded and inspected with a fine tooth comb.  Turns out that the NAPA 55 car was using an additive in the fuel that resembled jet fuel.  Yes, that was jet fuel.  Now I don't care that people are "cheating" in the sport, even Richard Petty the so called "King" admitted he has cheated once or twice.  But with Michael Waltrip introducing a new team and a new car, Toyota, there must have been an extreme amount of pressure on his shoulders.  My advice to him would have been make some parts out of Bond-o, or weigh the car down in the front, anything but freakin' jet fuel.  That's a little noticeable.  Cheating in the sport has been going on for as long as it has been around, let us not forget the origin of the sport was from moonshiners running from the police.  The object is to go faster, and teams will find a way to make their car go faster, legal or not.  Regardless of all the suspensions Waltrip still qualified and will race, but his crew chief is likely done in the sport.  Unfortunate for him.  Good for the sport?  That has yet to be decided.

This week there was an ex NBA player that announced he was gay.  Congratulations.  I do not give a shit.  This is nothing more than a money making ploy to just happens to come at the same time his book is coming out.  With all the hype from ESPN about it you would think it was the end of the world, a professional sports player showing that he's strong to admit he's gay.  I'm all for you being gay, if that's what you choose, it's not for me but to each their own.  Well if that wasn't bad enough a reporter asked former NBA Superstar Tim Hardaway how he felt about it, asked him his opinion.  Hardaway responsed harshly saying that there is no room for gay people in the world and just completely flipped out over the subject and ended it with a "I hate gay people".  Now I admit that was a bit extreme, I guess with everything perfect in the world Hardaway has nothing to complain about but gay people.  Stupidest thing anyone could have said in this Politically Correct world we live in.  But here is my beef, Hardaway is entitled to his opinion, which is what this reporter asked for, and he got it.  He didn't like the answer so it blew up and way out of proportion.  If you are going to ask for someone's opinion then you better understand that it is THEIR opinion, shit you asked for it and he gave it to you.  Accept it, rather right or wrong in your eyes is irrelevent.  My personal opinion about homosexuality is it isn't for me, but I know people who subscribe to that lifestyle and that's fine, we're still friends regardless.  But don't ask for an opinion then disagree with it.

So here's the deal, opinions are like assholes and everyone has one.  So don't get mad at me for my opinions, if you disagree you disagree, it's fine.

I was all in favor of us going into Iraq, whether bogus or not doesn't matter, Saddam needed to be brought to justice.  With that being said there needs to be a plan to get our men and women out of there.  I'm not saying it needs to happen this year, or next, but just have a plan.  I am a  supporter of President Bush and agree with what he has done with the exception of Iraq.  For him being a "President" he has done well, as for a General in a war he has fallen off.  He handled 9/11 well, the economy is up and America is thriving...except for the war.  This is in no fault of our brave troops overseas, I know quite a few, but there needs to be an exit strategy and it needs to be established soon.  All we ask as a public is to be informed, this hasn't happend, so Mr. President please take the advice of others when making a decision on Iraq and let us citizens know.

I did a blog last X-mas about stupid purists and eliminating the baby jesus or anything Christian from CHRISTmas.  I was listening to the radio on the way home from work the other day when I heard that a high official in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools added every holiday for Christmas except Christmas.  There was Kwanzaa, Hanakah and even an Islamic Holiday!  You can put all of these in there but not the one that gave you the fucking holiday!  I'm not saying that we need to have everyone saying Merry Christmas, or have everything saying Jesus was born on this day, but just be equal.  It is your right to celebrate what you want and I respect that.  That is what makes this country the greatest in the world, however let us celebrate OUR holiday.  Merry Christmas Everyone!

Parenthood has been great for the past 8 months!  There is a breaking point that everyone gets to, and I think Dara and I have hit that point.  For the second consecutive night Lily has been up all night crying.  Hard to complain about it when you have had 7 months of no problems, but it does take a toll on you.  Dara is a wonderful mother and I like to think I'm at least a decent father, but for those of you that don't have kids this stress can put a strain on your marriage.  You need to remember to make time for each other.  Dara I love you, keep going because Lily is a miracle from God and he has blessed us tremendously!

That's all my ranting for now.  I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...peace

I realize not everyone in the US is a fan of soccer, but what one must realize is that this tournament isn't just a tournament.  This is the best of the best and it only happens every 4 years.  This is the World Cup to crown a World Champion!  Not like baseball's World Series where only American teams play, this is countries from all over the world battling it out for bragging rights that will last at least the next 4 years, if not a lifetime.

For me, I have 2 dogs in the fight, well one now, but we'll get to that.  I have my beloved USA team, and of course my roots and the "Bloody English".  Some are saying this is the best English team since 1966 since they won it, I would agree in terms of paper.  But in order to win the cup you need to show up as a team, not an individual.  The US comes in ranked 5th in the World...you heard me correct, 5th.  That's tremendous pressure on a team that is marginal at best, but still one of the best teams the US has ever put together.

Well the US embarassed themselves as well as their fans.  You can say the bogus calls by the officials were the result, but in all honesty Bruce Arena(Head Coach) didn't allow the men to just play the sport.  He tried controlling everything and not using the turnovers the way you should in such an event.  The cup is all about precision, possession, and most of all, LUCK!  But without anyone up front there is no luck to happen, at least not good luck.  So needless to say the US scored one goal, though nice, and went out in the Group Stage.  Maybe 2010 which is what I've been saying for 8 years now.

As for my England boys, they are in the Quarterfinals and play Portugal on Saturday.  They breezed through the Group stage with a 2-0-1 record while playing very un-England like.  Again with the expectations, however a Win is a Win regardless of how it happens.  With Portugal coming up there is a need for everyone on this team to step it up and start playing like a team.  We'll see how that ends, but Portugal scares me on the pitch.

Let's address the card situation in the Cup.  Portugal v. Netherlands saw a record tying 16 yellow cards, which led up to 4 red cards.  This is ridiculous.  Apparently the referee's are trying not to make it fun for the players anymore, eliminating all contact.  That's BS!  Soccer is physical, whether you want to accept it or not, it's more demanding than American Football.  When's the last time you've seen anyone on a football field run over 5 miles during a game?!  But with the referee's making every single call then giving them a yellow card it has eliminated the teams being able to gel together and ultimately eliminates the great games!  Just fed up with it all, however I'm still watching because again it only happens every 4 years.

For those "purists" who say that America was an embarassment and soccer shouldn't even be in the US!  I have this to say to you.  Remember the US men's basketball team and them getting beat by teams that don't deserve to be on the court with them.  How about our "pasttime" sport and baseball.  No one should be able to touch us, yet we had an extremely dissapointing performance in the World Baseball Classic.  So basically it boils down to everyone is no longer scared of the US Athletes.  I'm done ranting now...peace.

For those of you who are stuck in the friggin' mud under a rock, I have a beautiful baby girl who was born on April 14, 2006.  Along with her and my beautiful wife I am by far one lucky ass man!  Considering what I came from it's a freakin' miracle I am where I am.  I still work at the Y here in Charlotte and my business is up and running.  I'm about half way through my MBA and I'm on track to graduate with the equivilent of a B-...good shit for me!  I'm still missing the Caribbean!  I have finally gotten a hold of my drinking issue to where I can have a glass of wine and be alright.  I think a lot of my issues have subsided now and I'm enjoying life.  I tell you when you look in your child's eyes, or when they smile for the first time at you, shit changes.  I can begin to tell you how happy I am in my skin right now.  That's a wonderful change from the past.  If there is anything I left out that you are wondering about please feel free to ask me.  If not it's cool...just remember these last words:

"When you feel like life has gotten you down and kicked the shit out of you...just remember...

IT AIN'T NUTHIN' BUT A G' THANG...BABY!"

Peace!

I was just sitting here contemplating the last year and all that has changed.  So I figured I'd let you all know, that is if you were interested to read the blog.  Let's start with work, I went from the Associate Sports Director to the actual Sports Director and I'm in charge of leagues that have about 1,500 kids in them.  Dara got knocked up and we're expecting our first "human" child in April of this year.  We expanded our family from 2 cats, to 2 pure bred labradores and a horse.  And 2 firebelly toads, but they don't count.  Anyways, I also started my Masters degree online, which by the way if you're strapped for time and can't commit it's the best way to go.  I'm enrolled at the University of Liverpool over in England and gaining an entirely different view on everything.  Other than that we are hoping 2006 will bring us more joy than pain, but always remember that joy wouldn't be joy without the pain.  Just hope it out weighs it.  Wishing you and yours a grand ol' 06...peace...