Where’s the Outrage?

Sports is NOT as important as politics but we spend a lot of time talking about it and watching it. There has been a ton of interesting news.

First, the Atlanta Falcon’s implosion. Alge Crumpler has been in this league for years. He has been quiet and works hard. He has been one of the best tight ends in the league. This year Crumpler has been very vocal about their lack of offensive production. Yes, Michael Vick their star quarterback has been in a little trouble but that shouldn’t mean that the whole team would self-destruct. The combination of Bryon Leftwich and Joey Harrington has been awful. Then the coach just up and quits. No, I’ll wait until the end of the season. Just I’m outta here. I have been watching pro football for over 40 years. I don’t remember that ever happening before.

Secondly, the owner, Arthur Blank, of the beleaguered Atlanta Falcons basically blames the coach for all of the team’s problems this year. (for more on his reaction check out the Atlanta Falcons web site.) Well, he has to take a little if not a lot of the blame.

Then, Major League Baseball has now completed their investigation into drugs (steroids) in Baseball. Former Senator George Mitchell who has a great reputation for being a straight shooter, delivered his long awaited report. Tons of players are using steroids. No news there. So, Baseball commissioner, Bud Selig will accept all of his recommendations except for one. Mitchell suggested that the league should look forward and not punish players for old offenses. Selig promised strong action against those named in the report.

Tags: Sports by ecthompson
2 Comments »

St. Nicholas ,who morphed into Santa Claus, was the fourth-century Bishop of Myra. Myra was then in Greece. It is now in Turkey.

Not much is known of the life of St. Nicholas. He is said to have been generous to children and to the poor. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children. Here is a link to a list of Saints.

St. Nicholas is said to have been born into a prosperous home. His parents died when he was a young man and he was left an inheritance. Nicholas used this inheritance to help a poor man support three daughters who otherwise would have been sold into prostitution to support the family home.

It was this gift giving that is the connection between the St. Nicholas of old and the Santa of the modern day. In the spirit of the gifts for the three children, people in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands began to give each other gifts at Christmas. Santa Claus is, after a few mutations, St. Nicholas.

Here is a link to the website of Adbusters. Adbusters suggests you should buy as little as you get away with at Christmas and offers often insightful critiques of consumer culture.

It is said Nicholas brought back to life two or three boys who had been cut-up and tossed in a brine-tub by an innkeeper. The innkeeper was going to sell the boys as pickled pork. It is not known how Nicholas performed this feat.

[Read more →]

Tags: General, Religion by Texas Liberal
5 Comments »