Tuesday, May 31, 2011

OSU, Jim Tressel, and Responses to Fans Comments...

By now, you have surely heard that Jim Tressel has resigned as head coach of the Ohio State University football program. SI's sweeping investigation into Tressel and the program bring to light that the transgressions are far wider than the school and coach led on.

With this, aOSU fans are commenting on various blogs their thoughts. I've scoured various blogs including Along the Olentangy, Elevan Warriors, and Off Tack Empire among others. Here they are with my thoughts:

"Again…...swapping their own personal property, giving autographs for goods and services….
BIG.FREAKING.DEAL. Division I football players receiving benefits, discounts, and preferential treatment. Astounding. Who would have thought."

The "Everyone is Doing it Defense" is commonly used by aOSU fans. This excuse is a cop out and lame. Every school is NOT doing it. I would rather loose to an SEC school and loose doing it the right way than to loose to an SEC school while breaking the rules. The fact that aOSU cheated and still lost to the SEC all these times says volumes. Finally, breaking the rules is breaking the rules no matter how trivial the infraction is. 

"what a maroon
You think academic fraud is the same as selling their own things? Wrong troll! If a football player plays minor league baseball, guess what? That’s ok. It wasn’t as if the player’s were getting six figures to come to OSU. Give me a break."
 


First off, a rule is a rule. Yes, murder nets a more severe punishment than burglary, but burglary is still wrong and still nets a punishment. This commenter suggests that since they are not paid six figures to play, then all is well. Wrong. Many, if not most, players get a full ride. Were talking upwards of $50,000 for four years at a public school. Much more at private schools. That's a lot of money. Not discussed is that there is more than just trading merchandise for tattoos. Some players were "borrowing" cars for personal use, trading merch for drugs, among others according to Sports Illustrated. We all know a lot of these kids grew up in tough situations. If they were trading memorabilia for money to send home, that's one thing. But they are trading for tattoos. Hardly a necessity.

Here is a long back and forth with a writer for Along the Olengtangy:

I must address the troll accusation   
I’ve drank little more tonight the other nights However a troll hits and runs and never backs up their post so might I say I’ll cut you some slack the blog is busy tonight you couldn’t possible of taken the time to research you accusation and for that I think you would make a fine ncaa investigator!

You have a habit of only popping up in threads where bad news for Ohio State is being discussed. That makes you a troll.
You haven’t broken any explicit rules, but you have been warned for posting unnecessary pictures and clogging the discussion. Please refrain from passive-aggressively baiting Ohio State fans, or you will be banned.

Passive-aggressively baiting?
I wish I was that smart but sorry I ain’t, I say what I really feel not into entrapping people, true I have only come on the verge of bad news, simply because you don’t need me when things are going good .. ;) but this event does effect me in that it looks to cause potential loss of future enjoyment to one of my favorite games the Michigan OSU game. I believe I’ve been very constant in my remarks and arguments.

No one needs you when things are going bad. You aren’t here out of service; you’re here to have some fun.

This isn't fun
However it is history.
I know you see plenty of idiots , it’s what I would expect as well I understand.
In my business I find it’s always best to find the positives in everything that happened to you even when you mess up, it’s my nature to comfort ;) trust me if this was a political board you’d quickly see there is a hole other side of me that is out cold, I have a low tolerances for liberals ;) to say they would find my correspondence with you much different then they themselves are accustom to would be an understatement.
But you must understand this effects me as it does you , and frankly there is no having a reasonable discussion about this at a Michigan blog or any other blog for that matter.
I’m in no mood to pile on like they are right now and for what ever reason I’m drawn to the more realistic conversation going on here hell tonight I launch a new youtube and 2 threads and yet I haven’t even gone back to check on them simple because I’m more interested in what is happening on this thread, I find the conversation more enlightening and real sorry I’ll refrain from posting and just read ..
Peace out.


Despite Darth Prophet being a conservative Michigan fan and having a "low tolerances for liberals", I find it asinine that he is getting singled out for commenting against aOSU on the board by the moderator. Just goes to show you, no matter how true the issues are for aOSU, when an "outsider" comments, they are considered an agitator because they have a different point of view.

"Fuck you terelle pryor. fuck you espn. fuck you world. might as well start just buying quarter million dollar players."

Some how the whole issue is Pryor's fault and his alone. Oh, and ESPN and the world's fault too. Intelligent. 

May God bless JimTressel.  I have to say, if ever I need anyone on my side, I would choose Jesus Christ and Jim Tressel.  Two men that have made tremendous sacrifice for human-kind in our day.  We may worship you in different mindsets, but your duty and service for others can never be forgotten.  The media likes to kick both of you without any regard, but we will never forget your contributions.  Thank you for your service and your commitment to us.  We will never forget you.

Jim Tressel is Jesus, if Jesus was the type who cheated to help the poor and meek. Jesus was focused on "the greater good."


In an era where programs are under so much pressure to win, and every move gets put under a microscope, this man led Ohio State to a decade of dominance and national relevance.  It's very hard to sustain success in the current climate, and no coach has been more successful than Jim Tressel.  That's why, in my opinion, he's the greatest coach Ohio State has ever seen.  It's impossible to say for sure, but I don't know that Woody could've coached today's game and everything that comes with it. 
I was proud to say Jim Tressel was my favorite team's coach.  I liked the pride he had in the school, the success on the field, and the countless stories that prove he's a good man.  It's a sad day for me and truth be told college football.  The game needs people like Jim Tressel in it, and it's sad he's been lost. 
All that being said, the blame rests squarely on Jim Tressel.  He had the information, he could've done the right thing or he could made a run at a national title.  Regrettably, he made a horrible decision.  You can't give speeches and write books about accountability and doing the right thing, then turn around and do the exact opposite.  I hate that he's gone, but unfortunately he had to take the fall on this one. 
Stories and articles about players who have been in trouble over the years will not change my mind about Jim Tressel.  He's in a sleazy business.  There aren't too many people who can honestly say they haven't gotten their hands dirty once in a while.  I'll judge the man, not by the lies he told that led to his demise, but the actions he took while in his position.  He could've taken the cowards way out and took off early on.  He stayed and faced the music.  He almost survived it.  He took the bullets for the program.  Hopefully, it won't be too bad. 

"I'll judge the man, not by the lies he told that led to his demise, but the actions he took while in his position." Actions that included lying, cheating, and covering up.

Next, there is this piece from Eleven Warriors that I thing misses the point. The article discusses the good deeds of one Mr. Tressel, who visited children at Nationwide Children's Hospital to bring cheer to sick kids. I don't thing anyone is disputing his compassion for people and that he has done his fair share of good for the community. The piece comes off as a desperate attempt to try to clear Tressels name by showing the good he has done versus the lack of action and control over his players. They want us to think about the positive while dismissing the cheating as "no big deal." Well, the problem with this is cheating is cheating. There is no such thing as doing what you know is wrong for "the greater good." Teaching kids that they are above the rules and law is not a lesson that should be taught, no matter how many bible passages you make your players read. It's all for naught.

Anyway, does the reaction from aOSU fans surprise anyone?

Thursday, May 12, 2011

I'm Now Giving Up On Fast Food
















I've decided it's time to give up on fast food. A list of exceptions may include:

  1. Chain sandwich shops (Togo's, Subway, etc.)
  2. Non-chain quick restaurants, food carts (taquerias, etc.)
  3. In-and-Out Burger (fresh ingredients, quick service)
I've had a hard time nixing this habit. I'd find myself eating Mc. D's, BK, Taco Bell, etc. and feeling like crap afterwards. Most recently, we had Taco Bell the other day as it was late and my wife and I were exhausted enough that making dinner was too much. After dinner, I felt nauseous and my wife was feeling ill. Plus, it's not good for the high blood pressure.

Time to say, "farewell!"

PS I have no real rationale behind Subway being on there. I'm not sure how they get to claim to be "fresh" with their line-up of microwaved or toaster oven heated food. There veggies are no fresher than McDonalds. That chicken breast is just as processed as a can of Lysol.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Trump University

 According to the SF Chronicle, Trump University "didn't deliver, suit says."

Trump University? I've never heard such a thing! I can just imagine:

"I got my bachelors in racist quackery at Trump U., then got my masters at Beck U. Currently, I'm looking for a job, but the market is pretty tough. Thank goodness for unemployment."