We are not a people who take losing easily. This is only magnified when it appears that our noses are being rubbed in it. That being said, stop chasing Roman Polanski.
Yes, he pled guilty to a crime and ran on the eve of his sentencing. Yes, he has studiously avoided putting himself in a position where he would be subject to extradition. Yes, he continues to try to obtain relief through our court system, still claiming misconduct by the judge in his case. There is certainly a knee jerk response that would say we will get you no matter how long it takes. But that would serve no useful purpose.
32 years is long enough to chase this fugitive. Mr. Polanski's victim has long since forgiven his transgressions. He has a distinguished career in his profession. He has even been awarded an Oscar in the intervening years. This does not excuse his wrongdoing, but we are not chasing a lifetime criminal. We are pursuing a 76 year old film director.
Being angry at Mr. Polanski does not justify the attention being directed at him by the authorities. It only makes them look petty and evil.
Mr. Polanski should not be perceived as a victim herein. But neither is he to be hunted and prosecuted further. For once we should close the book on a bad chapter and move on. For once, and forever, after over 3 decades, it is time to let it go.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
3 For The Money
With the advent of free agency in the 1970's, we all learned to view the baseball horizon very differently. No longer did teams need to build through their farm systems or by way of trades. If you had money, and were willing to open your pocketbook, the possibilities were endless.
The Yankees have spent the last 35 years showing us the good and the bad of free agency. In the early years, signings of Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage turned a team that had wandered aimlessly for a decade into world champions in successive years.
Yet, through the years, for every signing of a Mike Mussina, Hideki Matsui or Jimmy Key, there were the epic disasters like Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown or Jose Contreras. Many have produced mixed returns, like Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield or Randy Johnson. Sometimes, opportunities like Johann Santana have not been acted upon.
When it comes to free agency, there are no guarantees. General managers can look brilliant one moment, and not-so-brilliant the next. That is why this year's signinga of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira by the Yankees, and the immediate results they produced, are so unique. Granted, a long term commitment of $423 million will give you a greater chance at success. And I understand that over 100 regular season victories still may not translate into World Series victory 27.
But, the Yankees had been floundering at the top of their rotation for several years. Chien Ming Wang seemed a less-than-intimidating leader of the Yankee rotation. The everyday lineup was starting to age and was in need of a true complement to A-Rod. With CC and AJ, there is now a chance to compete and win in a playoff series where having 2 top flight pitchers becomes of paramount importance. Maybe A-Rod will be also live up to his abilities during the post-season, now that not quite as much of the limelight shines upon him.
The long term benefits of these free agent signings are still unknown. A short and unproductive post-season would tarnish the image we now see. An injury or a sudden falling out could quickly reverse the Yankees' good fortunes. But, for now, it appears that this year's free agent signings were the best in recent memory.
The Yankees have spent the last 35 years showing us the good and the bad of free agency. In the early years, signings of Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson and Goose Gossage turned a team that had wandered aimlessly for a decade into world champions in successive years.
Yet, through the years, for every signing of a Mike Mussina, Hideki Matsui or Jimmy Key, there were the epic disasters like Carl Pavano, Kevin Brown or Jose Contreras. Many have produced mixed returns, like Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield or Randy Johnson. Sometimes, opportunities like Johann Santana have not been acted upon.
When it comes to free agency, there are no guarantees. General managers can look brilliant one moment, and not-so-brilliant the next. That is why this year's signinga of CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Mark Teixeira by the Yankees, and the immediate results they produced, are so unique. Granted, a long term commitment of $423 million will give you a greater chance at success. And I understand that over 100 regular season victories still may not translate into World Series victory 27.
But, the Yankees had been floundering at the top of their rotation for several years. Chien Ming Wang seemed a less-than-intimidating leader of the Yankee rotation. The everyday lineup was starting to age and was in need of a true complement to A-Rod. With CC and AJ, there is now a chance to compete and win in a playoff series where having 2 top flight pitchers becomes of paramount importance. Maybe A-Rod will be also live up to his abilities during the post-season, now that not quite as much of the limelight shines upon him.
The long term benefits of these free agent signings are still unknown. A short and unproductive post-season would tarnish the image we now see. An injury or a sudden falling out could quickly reverse the Yankees' good fortunes. But, for now, it appears that this year's free agent signings were the best in recent memory.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sleeping with the enemy
Normally, when we have guests, we want to make sure everything is perfect for them. If they haven't stayed with us before, we fret over the weather forecast, the food we serve, if the bed is too hard or too soft, and almost anything else you could imagine that would detract from the experience. We want them to walk away glowing. We have guests with us this weekend. I am very conflicted about how good a time I want them to have.
Shirley and Pete took the bus down from Springfield, Massachusetts to New York City yesterday. Shirley is our hero. Several years ago we were forced into a situation where we had to find a home for our 3 pets, including a blind dog, an old dog with bad hips and an obese cat. Shirley came to our rescue. Thus, for us, she can do no wrong. Well, maybe I should qualify that. Shirley is a Red Sox fan.
We picked Shirley and Pete up, walked them through Times Square at 5PM on a Friday, took them to Zabars and Fairway and overloaded their minds and their stomachs. We sat out on our terrace in Fort Lee, on a beautiful evening, staring at the bright lights of the city. This was as close to perfect as possible.
This morning I woke up to find Pete and Shirley once more on the terrace. Wispy clouds hung over the city. I picked up bagels and the newspaper for them.
It is all too idyllic to last. I know that once Richie, Pete, Shirley and I get on the bus this afternoon and head to the Stadium for the Red Sox-Yankee game all those good vibes will fade. Once we take our seats and CC Sabathia throws the first pitch, my admiration for Shirley will recede into the background. The first good moment for the Sox, if Shirley or Pete cheer, I will glare at them. A Red Sox victory might mean a ride back to New Jersey in complete silence.
Shirley and Pete are relaxing this morning, blissfully unaware of my thoughts. They most likely consider me, for the moment, a perfect host. This afternoon I am not a host but a Yankee fan. I hope this doesn't lead to the end of a beautiful weekend. Maybe combining a visit to us with a ballgame at the Stadium was not such a good idea after all.
Shirley and Pete took the bus down from Springfield, Massachusetts to New York City yesterday. Shirley is our hero. Several years ago we were forced into a situation where we had to find a home for our 3 pets, including a blind dog, an old dog with bad hips and an obese cat. Shirley came to our rescue. Thus, for us, she can do no wrong. Well, maybe I should qualify that. Shirley is a Red Sox fan.
We picked Shirley and Pete up, walked them through Times Square at 5PM on a Friday, took them to Zabars and Fairway and overloaded their minds and their stomachs. We sat out on our terrace in Fort Lee, on a beautiful evening, staring at the bright lights of the city. This was as close to perfect as possible.
This morning I woke up to find Pete and Shirley once more on the terrace. Wispy clouds hung over the city. I picked up bagels and the newspaper for them.
It is all too idyllic to last. I know that once Richie, Pete, Shirley and I get on the bus this afternoon and head to the Stadium for the Red Sox-Yankee game all those good vibes will fade. Once we take our seats and CC Sabathia throws the first pitch, my admiration for Shirley will recede into the background. The first good moment for the Sox, if Shirley or Pete cheer, I will glare at them. A Red Sox victory might mean a ride back to New Jersey in complete silence.
Shirley and Pete are relaxing this morning, blissfully unaware of my thoughts. They most likely consider me, for the moment, a perfect host. This afternoon I am not a host but a Yankee fan. I hope this doesn't lead to the end of a beautiful weekend. Maybe combining a visit to us with a ballgame at the Stadium was not such a good idea after all.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
More on Serena
THIS IS A GUEST POST FROM BRETT KAPLAN, A FORMER COMPETITIVE TENNIS PLAYER
When competing, especially on the field/court, it's very hard at times to keep one's emotions in check. Yet that's exactly what is expected, especially of the people whom we pay to watch and make millions playing a sport. But honestly, it's just not human nature. You can't expect someone to play as hard as they can, want to compete and win at all costs, wear their heart on their sleeve, all the while doing so in a gentlemanly manner and making sure that they're being proper.
Professional athletes are like you and me, just performing better in their chosen arena. But because they're more proficient than us at the sport, does that mean they need to become emotionally non-human? One cannot expect someone not to react to a terrible call at a crucial moment, a hard foul, a bad line call, a tough penalty, a bad miss, etc. If we are being totally honest, most fans, in similar circumstances, would likely react the same way.
Now, without a doubt, I do believe that professional athletes need to conduct themselves in a certain manner and should be held accountable for their actions, but people can't expect them to be robots. This is no more evident than in tennis.
Tennis players are out on an island by themselves dealing with the opposing player, the conditions, their own play, emotional and physical situations and circumstances, etc. It's just them. No coach. No caddy. No teammates to lean on or to be substituted for if they're having a bad day. No plays being drawn up or timeouts for rest or to stop momentum. The individuals must figure out how to win, how to weather the storm, how to navigate through the match and come out the victor all by themselves
They wear their heart on their sleeve and bleed on the court. And it's done in front of the thousands or millions of people watching.
This is not an easy task at any level, let alone when you're talking about the top players in the world. There is much on the line--from money to pride. But we, the fans and the ruling committees, believe that the athletes must always be on perfect behavior. It's just not realistic.
We say that we want someone to be polite and proper on the court. Pete Sampras was polite, quiet, proper, and oh, possibly the best player of all time (at the time) but apparently that wasn't good enough and he was called boring. People wanted him to show more emotion, be more vocal. Johnny Mac and Marat Safin were the opposite. They were too emotional and vocal, but they're entertaining. Even Lleyton Hewitt, who mostly just yelled “Cmon” and not anything of the negative sort, was said by some to be a little annoying.
And herein lies the problem: We ask athletes to walk such a fine line emotionally while competing. Be polite, but not too polite that you're boring. Be vocal and emotional, but not too emotional that you come off poorly.
I'm not saying one way is right and one is wrong. Athletes must handle themselves in a certain manner. Mac and Safin, in my opinion, were/are overboard and athletes like these should conduct themselves better. And yes, maybe Sampras could have shown a little more emotion at times. But most athletes are not on the extremes and outbursts are not the norm. There is definitely room for emotion to be displayed, and it is at times. If it's too much, the chair umpire will make that call and probably deservedly so. But you know what, whichever side they may fall, that's just who they are. That's just the athlete, the person, being human, being themselves and trying to navigate to win. That's the end goal and what we cheer for, right?
Now, I believe Serena went way beyond appropriate in her reaction but I understand a response to the call. If she just stopped at the initial yelling, no problem. Natural frustration at a ridiculous call (unless it's blatant, especially at that juncture). Most of us would react similarly. But to carry on like she did does deserve some sort of penalty. To end THAT match on a point penalty, I didn't agree with it. Not there. Not after a controversial foot fault call. Not a match like that. But if not, a financial penalty is surely deserved.
I agree that it looks poorly at times and we don’t want children to mimic these bad attitudes. And I understand that when it happens, it’s definitely a talking topic. But I think it's time for many of us to stop acting holier than thou. For people to stop whining, writing a bunch of articles about someone’s character, and making a huge deal when a person whom we ask to do whatever it takes to win, to bleed on the court, to kill themselves, to be great, and to expose themselves to all watching, once in awhile acts a little like the rest of us.
When competing, especially on the field/court, it's very hard at times to keep one's emotions in check. Yet that's exactly what is expected, especially of the people whom we pay to watch and make millions playing a sport. But honestly, it's just not human nature. You can't expect someone to play as hard as they can, want to compete and win at all costs, wear their heart on their sleeve, all the while doing so in a gentlemanly manner and making sure that they're being proper.
Professional athletes are like you and me, just performing better in their chosen arena. But because they're more proficient than us at the sport, does that mean they need to become emotionally non-human? One cannot expect someone not to react to a terrible call at a crucial moment, a hard foul, a bad line call, a tough penalty, a bad miss, etc. If we are being totally honest, most fans, in similar circumstances, would likely react the same way.
Now, without a doubt, I do believe that professional athletes need to conduct themselves in a certain manner and should be held accountable for their actions, but people can't expect them to be robots. This is no more evident than in tennis.
Tennis players are out on an island by themselves dealing with the opposing player, the conditions, their own play, emotional and physical situations and circumstances, etc. It's just them. No coach. No caddy. No teammates to lean on or to be substituted for if they're having a bad day. No plays being drawn up or timeouts for rest or to stop momentum. The individuals must figure out how to win, how to weather the storm, how to navigate through the match and come out the victor all by themselves
They wear their heart on their sleeve and bleed on the court. And it's done in front of the thousands or millions of people watching.
This is not an easy task at any level, let alone when you're talking about the top players in the world. There is much on the line--from money to pride. But we, the fans and the ruling committees, believe that the athletes must always be on perfect behavior. It's just not realistic.
We say that we want someone to be polite and proper on the court. Pete Sampras was polite, quiet, proper, and oh, possibly the best player of all time (at the time) but apparently that wasn't good enough and he was called boring. People wanted him to show more emotion, be more vocal. Johnny Mac and Marat Safin were the opposite. They were too emotional and vocal, but they're entertaining. Even Lleyton Hewitt, who mostly just yelled “Cmon” and not anything of the negative sort, was said by some to be a little annoying.
And herein lies the problem: We ask athletes to walk such a fine line emotionally while competing. Be polite, but not too polite that you're boring. Be vocal and emotional, but not too emotional that you come off poorly.
I'm not saying one way is right and one is wrong. Athletes must handle themselves in a certain manner. Mac and Safin, in my opinion, were/are overboard and athletes like these should conduct themselves better. And yes, maybe Sampras could have shown a little more emotion at times. But most athletes are not on the extremes and outbursts are not the norm. There is definitely room for emotion to be displayed, and it is at times. If it's too much, the chair umpire will make that call and probably deservedly so. But you know what, whichever side they may fall, that's just who they are. That's just the athlete, the person, being human, being themselves and trying to navigate to win. That's the end goal and what we cheer for, right?
Now, I believe Serena went way beyond appropriate in her reaction but I understand a response to the call. If she just stopped at the initial yelling, no problem. Natural frustration at a ridiculous call (unless it's blatant, especially at that juncture). Most of us would react similarly. But to carry on like she did does deserve some sort of penalty. To end THAT match on a point penalty, I didn't agree with it. Not there. Not after a controversial foot fault call. Not a match like that. But if not, a financial penalty is surely deserved.
I agree that it looks poorly at times and we don’t want children to mimic these bad attitudes. And I understand that when it happens, it’s definitely a talking topic. But I think it's time for many of us to stop acting holier than thou. For people to stop whining, writing a bunch of articles about someone’s character, and making a huge deal when a person whom we ask to do whatever it takes to win, to bleed on the court, to kill themselves, to be great, and to expose themselves to all watching, once in awhile acts a little like the rest of us.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Mental Battles
(In response to Maladies of Interpreters - NY Times, 9/22/09) The most complicated problem that confronts our country as we muddle through a seemingly endless Iraq and Afghanistan effort, is that war has become as much a mental action as a physical one. We increasingly talk about making progress not by eradicating an enemy, but by talking nicely to those we would like to be our friends. How can we possibly define victory?
If we thought trying to find Bin Laden is hard, it is child's play compared to the mysteries of dealing with these territories. We appear adrift as we wrestle with ideas that are as foreign to us as the people. We don't understand their culture and we don't understand our role. As unpopular as our actions are here at home, the critical public opinion is the one on the street in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Before we increase our troop presence in Afghanistan, let us be honest in our assessments. If interpreters are key to success in Afghanistan, then maybe that's the surge we should pursue.
If we thought trying to find Bin Laden is hard, it is child's play compared to the mysteries of dealing with these territories. We appear adrift as we wrestle with ideas that are as foreign to us as the people. We don't understand their culture and we don't understand our role. As unpopular as our actions are here at home, the critical public opinion is the one on the street in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Before we increase our troop presence in Afghanistan, let us be honest in our assessments. If interpreters are key to success in Afghanistan, then maybe that's the surge we should pursue.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Dear Mr. Trost and/or the Chief Operating Officer of the New York Yankees
To Lonn Trost and/or the Chief Operating Officer of the New York Yankees-
Thank you so much for your notification, which I received today, regarding the 2009 postseason and the 2 Preliminary Pre-On-Sales (henceforth abbreviated Pre-Pre-On-Sale) and the 2 Pre-On-Sales that will afford me the opportunity to attempt to acquire 2 tickets to either and/or both of the first 2 rounds of the playoffs.
You must have hired a very adept attorney to help craft the clear letter and the accompanying Terms and Conditions of the opportunities available to those of us who hold at least 1 Partial Plan (i.e. Ticket Licensees with a 20 game plan, 15 game plan, 12 game plan and/or an 11 game plan in their ticket account), but not those who hold either a Full Season and/or 41 game plan in their ticket account, to purchase post-season tickets. As clearly indicated, those who purchased Full Season and/or 41 game plans are NOT eligible to participate in the Drawings, the Pre-Pre-On-Sale, or the Pre-On-Sale but are, I assume, forced to buy tickets when the general public clamors for them, after us lucky Partial Plan holders.
Thank you for telling me to carefully review the new Terms and Conditions of the Pre-Pre-On-Sales and the Pre-On-Sales as you advise they differ from prior years' Pre-On-Sale Terms and Conditions for postseason games, which changes you so thoughtfully do not highlight in the already lengthy letter and accompanying Terms and Conditions, perhaps in the interest of brevity and clarity.
I found it particularly illuminating that you provided examples discussing the weighted system of the Drawings with each Eligible Licensee being assigned a certain number of entries (each an "Entry," and collectively, the "Entries") determined by multiplying this times that. I am grateful that you advised in bold lettering that there is no guarantee that any Eligible Licensee's Entry would be drawn in the relevant Drawing regardless of the number of Entries the Eligible Licensee may have. Otherwise, I might have thought I would automatically be drawn based on the fact that this times that must equal the other.
I think that you already held the first Pre-Pre-On-Sale Drawing today, if I understood the Terms and Conditions correctly, though I have not yet received an email notification with the results of said Drawing, as also indicated in the Terms and Conditions. I therefore wait as the clock approaches midnight, with breathless anticipation, to find out if I am eligible for the Pre-Pre-On-Sale or just the regular Pre-On-Sale. I am glad that, either way, "Pre" will precede my ticket purchase time window, unambiguously denoting that I get to buy tickets before other people buy tickets, but not necessarily before some other people get to buy them first, pending the outcome of the Drawings.
Most importantly, if I understand you correctly, whether or not I am in the Pre-Pre-On-Sale or just the regular Pre-On-Sale, I may or may not be eligible to attempt to purchase 2 tickets to either 1 and/or 2 of the first 2 rounds of the playoffs, if the Yankees advance that far. I am assuming that if I am selected and/or the Yankees advance through the first 2 rounds, I will have, at my own discretion, the choice of attempting to buy tickets to 1 and/or 2 rounds of the playoffs.
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to explain in such detail and with such clarity the great benefits that I may or may not receive as a result of being a Partial, but not Half or Full, season ticket holder.
Very truly yours and/or not very truly yours,
Robert Nussbaum and/or Richard Nussbaum
P.S. We greatly appreciate that you sent us an email after we attended a game on Saturday September 26, in which you thanked us for buying tickets and presented us with a coupon toward a future ticket purchase--with an expiration date of September 10.
Thank you so much for your notification, which I received today, regarding the 2009 postseason and the 2 Preliminary Pre-On-Sales (henceforth abbreviated Pre-Pre-On-Sale) and the 2 Pre-On-Sales that will afford me the opportunity to attempt to acquire 2 tickets to either and/or both of the first 2 rounds of the playoffs.
You must have hired a very adept attorney to help craft the clear letter and the accompanying Terms and Conditions of the opportunities available to those of us who hold at least 1 Partial Plan (i.e. Ticket Licensees with a 20 game plan, 15 game plan, 12 game plan and/or an 11 game plan in their ticket account), but not those who hold either a Full Season and/or 41 game plan in their ticket account, to purchase post-season tickets. As clearly indicated, those who purchased Full Season and/or 41 game plans are NOT eligible to participate in the Drawings, the Pre-Pre-On-Sale, or the Pre-On-Sale but are, I assume, forced to buy tickets when the general public clamors for them, after us lucky Partial Plan holders.
Thank you for telling me to carefully review the new Terms and Conditions of the Pre-Pre-On-Sales and the Pre-On-Sales as you advise they differ from prior years' Pre-On-Sale Terms and Conditions for postseason games, which changes you so thoughtfully do not highlight in the already lengthy letter and accompanying Terms and Conditions, perhaps in the interest of brevity and clarity.
I found it particularly illuminating that you provided examples discussing the weighted system of the Drawings with each Eligible Licensee being assigned a certain number of entries (each an "Entry," and collectively, the "Entries") determined by multiplying this times that. I am grateful that you advised in bold lettering that there is no guarantee that any Eligible Licensee's Entry would be drawn in the relevant Drawing regardless of the number of Entries the Eligible Licensee may have. Otherwise, I might have thought I would automatically be drawn based on the fact that this times that must equal the other.
I think that you already held the first Pre-Pre-On-Sale Drawing today, if I understood the Terms and Conditions correctly, though I have not yet received an email notification with the results of said Drawing, as also indicated in the Terms and Conditions. I therefore wait as the clock approaches midnight, with breathless anticipation, to find out if I am eligible for the Pre-Pre-On-Sale or just the regular Pre-On-Sale. I am glad that, either way, "Pre" will precede my ticket purchase time window, unambiguously denoting that I get to buy tickets before other people buy tickets, but not necessarily before some other people get to buy them first, pending the outcome of the Drawings.
Most importantly, if I understand you correctly, whether or not I am in the Pre-Pre-On-Sale or just the regular Pre-On-Sale, I may or may not be eligible to attempt to purchase 2 tickets to either 1 and/or 2 of the first 2 rounds of the playoffs, if the Yankees advance that far. I am assuming that if I am selected and/or the Yankees advance through the first 2 rounds, I will have, at my own discretion, the choice of attempting to buy tickets to 1 and/or 2 rounds of the playoffs.
Again, thank you so much for taking the time to explain in such detail and with such clarity the great benefits that I may or may not receive as a result of being a Partial, but not Half or Full, season ticket holder.
Very truly yours and/or not very truly yours,
Robert Nussbaum and/or Richard Nussbaum
P.S. We greatly appreciate that you sent us an email after we attended a game on Saturday September 26, in which you thanked us for buying tickets and presented us with a coupon toward a future ticket purchase--with an expiration date of September 10.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Lessons from Lincoln
I thought that quotes from one of our most highly respected former Presidents, with one assist from another held in high renown, had clear application to today's contentious environment. See if you agree.
If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
-If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.
Author: Abraham Lincoln -
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.
Author: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
We live in the midst of alarms; anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end. If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, ten angels swearing I was right would make no difference.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
-If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.
Author: Abraham Lincoln -
You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
The time comes upon every public man when it is best for him to keep his lips closed.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth.
Author: Franklin D. Roosevelt
Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Quarrel not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare time for personal contention.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Truth is generally the best vindication against slander.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
I don't like that man. I must get to know him better.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
We live in the midst of alarms; anxiety beclouds the future; we expect some new disaster with each newspaper we read.
Author: Abraham Lincoln
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Fair or foul
Emily give me the ball back.
That was the first thought that ran through my mind as I watched the story unfold on tv. It seems a dad caught a ball at a recent Phillies game, handed it to his 3 year daughter, who promptly threw it down to another level in the stands. The shock and dismay was soon replaced by a warm and loving embrace of father and child. This morning, the Dad, daughter, with the Mom and other child, formed a perfect picture, as the Today show and the Phillies showered them with baseball related presents.
I figure I have been to at least 700 Yankee games over a span of decades. During that time I can count on 1 ungloved hand the close encounters with a baseball. The ball my dad caught that Yogi Berra hit in his 2000th game is still in my firm grasp. A friend next to me grabbed an Oscar Gamble foul ball in the playoffs. A Paul O'Neill line drive into the stands left a welt on my hip for days, but the ball eventually caromed 50 feet from my grasp.
Then there was the one and only. I do not recall the opponent or the batter. I do not know why I was there just with my friend Tom and his young daughter. My children were probably away at camp. What I do know is that the foul ball headed directly at me, or more precisely at the empty seat next to me where my jacket was taking up space. In an instant, I dove for the ball and smothered it in my body and clothing.
I must have watched 150,000 pitches at the games I have attended. There are several reasons I am drawn to the ball park. Taking home a souvenir and a lifetime memory is one of them.
I do not know why I exhibited a generosity of human spirit that day. Without thinking, the prize slipped from my grasp into the tiny hands of young Emily. That was the last time my fingers would ever grasp the stitching on that ball.
It is almost 20 years, I think, since that moment in time. Emily has now graduated college and is living in New York City, working as an NBC page. She has moved on with her life and has probably long ago left behind the ball with other dusty mementos of her youth.
I don't know if that instant will ever repeat itself. If I am lucky enough I will go to 700 more games and see another 150,000 pitches. Emily, I love you, but if we are sitting together when that ball heads towards us, you are on your own. The next one you have to earn.
That was the first thought that ran through my mind as I watched the story unfold on tv. It seems a dad caught a ball at a recent Phillies game, handed it to his 3 year daughter, who promptly threw it down to another level in the stands. The shock and dismay was soon replaced by a warm and loving embrace of father and child. This morning, the Dad, daughter, with the Mom and other child, formed a perfect picture, as the Today show and the Phillies showered them with baseball related presents.
I figure I have been to at least 700 Yankee games over a span of decades. During that time I can count on 1 ungloved hand the close encounters with a baseball. The ball my dad caught that Yogi Berra hit in his 2000th game is still in my firm grasp. A friend next to me grabbed an Oscar Gamble foul ball in the playoffs. A Paul O'Neill line drive into the stands left a welt on my hip for days, but the ball eventually caromed 50 feet from my grasp.
Then there was the one and only. I do not recall the opponent or the batter. I do not know why I was there just with my friend Tom and his young daughter. My children were probably away at camp. What I do know is that the foul ball headed directly at me, or more precisely at the empty seat next to me where my jacket was taking up space. In an instant, I dove for the ball and smothered it in my body and clothing.
I must have watched 150,000 pitches at the games I have attended. There are several reasons I am drawn to the ball park. Taking home a souvenir and a lifetime memory is one of them.
I do not know why I exhibited a generosity of human spirit that day. Without thinking, the prize slipped from my grasp into the tiny hands of young Emily. That was the last time my fingers would ever grasp the stitching on that ball.
It is almost 20 years, I think, since that moment in time. Emily has now graduated college and is living in New York City, working as an NBC page. She has moved on with her life and has probably long ago left behind the ball with other dusty mementos of her youth.
I don't know if that instant will ever repeat itself. If I am lucky enough I will go to 700 more games and see another 150,000 pitches. Emily, I love you, but if we are sitting together when that ball heads towards us, you are on your own. The next one you have to earn.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Say it ain't so, Joe
In the spring of 1954, Senator Joe McCarthy was on a witch hunt. In televised hearings regarding alleged Communist ties to the military, McCarthy attempted to attack a young colleague of another Joe, Joe Welch, the Army's chief lawyer. Welch, speaking for many said words that echo chillingly true 55 years later: "Until this moment Senator, I think I never really gauged your cruelty, your recklessness."When McCarthy protested, Welch responded quickly and forcefully: "Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last, have you left no sense of decency"?
In December of that year, the Senate finally issued a long overdue formal rebuke to a member of its body that had brought disgrace to its doorstep.
Yesterday, the Congress challenged the action of Joe Wilson, the Congressman from South Carolina, in response to his action of open disdain for the President during his speech to their body and to the nation last week.
The reply of this latest Joe, "hero" to many, was to say to the Congress of the United States that he was done apologizing for his outburst. Joe Wilson had the chutzpah (I know he must use that word around his house all the time) to tell us it was time to get back to the business at hand. 166 Republicans voted that Mr. Wilson was right, and that a rebuke was unwarranted.
In the early days of the 20th century, American baseball was rocked by allegations of throwing World Series games. Another Joe, Shoeless Joe Jackson, was at the center of this inquiry. In an incident, maybe more fiction than fact, a young boy goes up to his fallen hero and asks in pleading and bewildered tones: "say it ain't so,Joe".
We have a right to ask, and demand that this Joe say it ain't so. It is a slap in the face of the President that the rebuke of Joe Wilson was not unanimous. There is a sense of decorum and respect that comes with holding the most difficult job in the country. Wilson's outburst was inexcusable for its assault on the sanctity of the office. There is no excuse and no rationale that would permit this action to go officially unchallenged or unpunished.
When Simon and Garfunkel viewed a land that was losing its compass, they spoke of a Joe, who was the picture of grace, civility and dignity."Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio. Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you?''
When I hear the words of Joe Wilson, see the support of him by so many, and find that almost every Republican has voted that Wilson's words did not demand formal reprimand, I am reminded of the response to the songwriter's inquiry:
"What's that you say Mrs. Robinson, Joltin Joe has left and gone away?"
There is no room in our most precious house for actions of the likes of Joe McCarthy or Joe Wilson. We need to demand in a united voice, in that hallowed ground, on this day and forever, that Joe say it ain't so.
In December of that year, the Senate finally issued a long overdue formal rebuke to a member of its body that had brought disgrace to its doorstep.
Yesterday, the Congress challenged the action of Joe Wilson, the Congressman from South Carolina, in response to his action of open disdain for the President during his speech to their body and to the nation last week.
The reply of this latest Joe, "hero" to many, was to say to the Congress of the United States that he was done apologizing for his outburst. Joe Wilson had the chutzpah (I know he must use that word around his house all the time) to tell us it was time to get back to the business at hand. 166 Republicans voted that Mr. Wilson was right, and that a rebuke was unwarranted.
In the early days of the 20th century, American baseball was rocked by allegations of throwing World Series games. Another Joe, Shoeless Joe Jackson, was at the center of this inquiry. In an incident, maybe more fiction than fact, a young boy goes up to his fallen hero and asks in pleading and bewildered tones: "say it ain't so,Joe".
We have a right to ask, and demand that this Joe say it ain't so. It is a slap in the face of the President that the rebuke of Joe Wilson was not unanimous. There is a sense of decorum and respect that comes with holding the most difficult job in the country. Wilson's outburst was inexcusable for its assault on the sanctity of the office. There is no excuse and no rationale that would permit this action to go officially unchallenged or unpunished.
When Simon and Garfunkel viewed a land that was losing its compass, they spoke of a Joe, who was the picture of grace, civility and dignity."Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio. Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you?''
When I hear the words of Joe Wilson, see the support of him by so many, and find that almost every Republican has voted that Wilson's words did not demand formal reprimand, I am reminded of the response to the songwriter's inquiry:
"What's that you say Mrs. Robinson, Joltin Joe has left and gone away?"
There is no room in our most precious house for actions of the likes of Joe McCarthy or Joe Wilson. We need to demand in a united voice, in that hallowed ground, on this day and forever, that Joe say it ain't so.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Foot (in mouth) fault
The words of John McEnroe must have been resonating somewhere in the back of Serena William's mind as she heard the foot fault call at the most critical of moments in her match with Kim Clijsters. You cannot be serious!!! But the linesman was, and the USTA certainly was. After one of the ugliest, most profane outbursts in recent tennis history, Serena Williams, and her chance to once more capture the US Open title, faded into the night.
It was an inexcusable, reprehensible response by Ms. Williams. I am certain that once the moment passed, she was mortified by the level of her anger. She has not spent a career like this. This was not in keeping with her persona. Her action demanded swift reply by the gods. The question was whether the penalty fit the crime.
Sports has long lived by the unwritten rule that an umpire, referee or linesman should not decide the outcome of the event. In crucial moments, let the players play unless there is 'clear and convincing' evidence of wrongdoing. When a basketball player drives the lane in the last seconds of a 1 point game, the referee should swallow his whistle if there is ANY doubt whether the defender has done wrong. In football, that holding call by the lineman should go unpunished on the last play unless a blind man could see the penalty. Can anyone who follows baseball and its histrionics forget the outburst by George Brett directed at the umpire in the famous pine tar incident, for deciding the game winning homer was in fact an out because of excessive goo on the bat?
The pressure of the defining moment in individual endeavors, like tennis, can only be magnified. Serena, spending an evening battling her game and her composure was ready to boil over even before this call. She had done in a racket at the end of the first set, prompting a 'warning' that now put her on double secret probation. One more outburst, and a point penalty would be the automatic result.
When the call was made, all the emotion of the evening poured out. It was a combination of frustration, anger at herself, and the breaking of the unwritten rule, that set Serena off.
I grew up in an era with the nasty boys of tennis, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors and most famously, Johnny Mc. Referees and linesmen must have run for cover when they learned of being assigned to handle the matches of one of these players. They were boorish, immature and generally (truth be known) somewhat entertaining. One was never sure whether to laugh or cry when one of these moments surfaced.
We have now lived through an era of Mr. Federer and all that is proper and wonderful. In fact, for some time his attire on the court was almost formal wear. We have come to expect civility.
Yet, in balancing the crime and the punishment, I feel that we, and Serena were cheated. Let her finish the match. For the fans watching this epic struggle, it was an unhappy and uncomfortable ending. For Kim Clijsters, let her complete the task at hand. She wanted the battle to go on.
There were other ways to make the point with Serena. Default her from the doubles final she was to play with her sister. Default her from next year's US Open Hit her hard in her pocketbook, even if that has little true meaning to one in her financial position.
I know that rules are rules. I know that we cannot have standards only when it is convenient. But, I also know there is an unwritten creed to let the players decide, in the most excruciating of moments, who wins. The linesperson should not have called a questionable foot fault. The USTA should have allowed play to move forward, uninterrupted, and for the moment, forgiven the unforgivable. We could have enjoyed the end, one way or the other, to the most compelling match of the women's tournament. We could have taught our lesson to Serena in the days to come. I think everyone lost when Serena Williams was forced off the court.
--
It was an inexcusable, reprehensible response by Ms. Williams. I am certain that once the moment passed, she was mortified by the level of her anger. She has not spent a career like this. This was not in keeping with her persona. Her action demanded swift reply by the gods. The question was whether the penalty fit the crime.
Sports has long lived by the unwritten rule that an umpire, referee or linesman should not decide the outcome of the event. In crucial moments, let the players play unless there is 'clear and convincing' evidence of wrongdoing. When a basketball player drives the lane in the last seconds of a 1 point game, the referee should swallow his whistle if there is ANY doubt whether the defender has done wrong. In football, that holding call by the lineman should go unpunished on the last play unless a blind man could see the penalty. Can anyone who follows baseball and its histrionics forget the outburst by George Brett directed at the umpire in the famous pine tar incident, for deciding the game winning homer was in fact an out because of excessive goo on the bat?
The pressure of the defining moment in individual endeavors, like tennis, can only be magnified. Serena, spending an evening battling her game and her composure was ready to boil over even before this call. She had done in a racket at the end of the first set, prompting a 'warning' that now put her on double secret probation. One more outburst, and a point penalty would be the automatic result.
When the call was made, all the emotion of the evening poured out. It was a combination of frustration, anger at herself, and the breaking of the unwritten rule, that set Serena off.
I grew up in an era with the nasty boys of tennis, Ilie Nastase, Jimmy Connors and most famously, Johnny Mc. Referees and linesmen must have run for cover when they learned of being assigned to handle the matches of one of these players. They were boorish, immature and generally (truth be known) somewhat entertaining. One was never sure whether to laugh or cry when one of these moments surfaced.
We have now lived through an era of Mr. Federer and all that is proper and wonderful. In fact, for some time his attire on the court was almost formal wear. We have come to expect civility.
Yet, in balancing the crime and the punishment, I feel that we, and Serena were cheated. Let her finish the match. For the fans watching this epic struggle, it was an unhappy and uncomfortable ending. For Kim Clijsters, let her complete the task at hand. She wanted the battle to go on.
There were other ways to make the point with Serena. Default her from the doubles final she was to play with her sister. Default her from next year's US Open Hit her hard in her pocketbook, even if that has little true meaning to one in her financial position.
I know that rules are rules. I know that we cannot have standards only when it is convenient. But, I also know there is an unwritten creed to let the players decide, in the most excruciating of moments, who wins. The linesperson should not have called a questionable foot fault. The USTA should have allowed play to move forward, uninterrupted, and for the moment, forgiven the unforgivable. We could have enjoyed the end, one way or the other, to the most compelling match of the women's tournament. We could have taught our lesson to Serena in the days to come. I think everyone lost when Serena Williams was forced off the court.
--
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)