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The PolitiJim Twitter FF List

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Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Bulls Media Bitten by the Cubs Bug

179738-650-366

I awoke from my 2nd consecutive night of nightmarish Bulls dreams to a Sam Smith article entitled, “The State of the Bulls is sound."  It’s quite interesting the word “sound” is not in proper title case, and I thought perhaps Smith was at his peak playoff prose performance in defining it is “errant noise” rather than than that of being “sturdy and strong.”

Unfortunately, I think instead he is as deluded as our current President who – with record poverty, record REAL underemployment/unemployment and record debt, deficits and fear of America’s financial future also characterized the state of the nation the same way.

Granted, I think the Bulls are better off than the nation as a whole.  But c’mon.  The Bulls are “sound”?  If you believe that you may be the same guy who thought signing Carlos Zambrano or Soriano would singularly set up a World Series run.  Like the delusion we Cub fans have had for years, I’m not so sure we are a player away from our playoff fantasies.  In fact, I think Thibodeau may need to go to the Theo school of rebuilding a number of things about our Bulls.

Let’s start with everyone’s #1 Bulls issue.  Derek “the thorny” Rose.  Clearly Bulls aren’t playoff competitive without him.  So the two salient questions are:

1. Will he ever be healthy and have sustainable basketball brilliance?; and,

2. Is his surrounding cast truly sufficient for championship contention?

Derek Rose’s Unreal Body Dynamics
Of course no one knows the answer to the first.  Everyone assumes he can return given his age and drive.  Smith references Bernard King and Zydrunas Ilgauskas as examples of why this is likely.   However, it is more likely that Rose is probably more similar to Tiger Woods in the enormous torque and stress he places his body under to accomplish his acrobatic feats.  He’s never been a pure shooter or (yet) developed the Jordan/Kobe (and even Ray Allen) dynamics that rely more on basketball IQ than physicality, so CAN he be an All Star premier player without his unreal speed and creative contortions?  Doubtful.  The 2 games just prior to his latest injury showed signs that he could be the original Rose.  But I think we are deluding ourselves to think that the long term proposition for Rose being “Rose” beyond even a year or two is 50/50.  Athleticism will fade and he won’t get any taller.  Truth be told he looked old against the young guns like Wall in the beginning of the year.

And what of that supporting cast?  We know OKC can survive without Westbrook (and Hardin) and suspect that Pacers might not be any better with all of their talent at full speed.  Are we REALLY just a Rose away from greatness?  Noah’s standout year was wonderful, but at the end of the day – he couldn’t do squat against the Wizard’s big men.  Butler still hasn’t come of age offensively (and may never do so) but clearly Taj showed sustainable greatness even in the playoffs.  Dunleavy, Boozer and Snell are all expendable.  Do YOU think a Noah/Gibson/Butler/(Hinrick or Augstin) platoon equals the offensive firepower that Miami, Washington, OKC, Houston or the Clippers have?  The “bench mob” was profound because it showed just how important a second unit was to long term winning.  Like my beloved Cubbies, you can have an MBL leading starting rotation but without a stellar bullpen you will continue to be…well.. the Cubs.  I’m not sure the Bulls can sustain any prolonged San Antonio caliber offensive or defensive threat at a championship level with our mix of players.

And the addition of a star like Carmelo Anthony seems to bring the Bulls to (perhaps) a 2nd round contender but not a Championship team if you add up all the numbers.  The brilliant article by Kelly Scaletta shows, a ‘Melo addition is a diminishing one in more ways than one.  (Kevin Love on the other hand isn’t.)

I actually believe the Bulls position is much better than the Bears and slightly better than the Cubs.  The addition of the “Real Madrid MJ” AND someone like Kevin Love would make the Bulls uber-competitive with or without the re-blooming of Rose and the current cast.  But Rose’s unknowns and an aging selfish shooter like Carmelo doesn’t give me much confidence.

thibodeau_tomPerhaps the major concern of the Bulls is one that no one dares entertain.  One Coach Tom Thibodeau.

On one hand it is remarkable that any coach could motivate professional prima donnas to the playoffs after the triple sucker punch of loosing your MVP twice and your only other All Star leader.  I truly can’t understand how Thibs only came in 4th in Coach of the Year voting after what he accomplished this year.

On the other hand you have to ask, “how is it that you couldn’t make significant enough STRATEGIC adjustments (not just tactical ones) to the Wizards after barely eeking out 1 win in 4 tries?”  The whole “we just have to play harder” mantra is great time-out tutelage but doesn’t address the key fact that your “defense wins all” strategy …doesn’t.  Or at least it didn’t last year or this year.

All the Wizards had to do was swarm Dunleavy to dampen his deviate scoring display and use an Ariza antidote on Augustin and waala – no O.  Thibs seems to think that scoring is merely a nuisance for the NBA pansies who won’t work at defense.  It might shock him to know that James Naismith create a game that focused on giving points for putting a ball in a basket and didn’t reward any points to the opposing team for deny them.

Don’t get me wrong.  I still love Thibs, but it turns out he is perhaps the best REGULAR season coach in the NBA and the worst playoff coach.  The whisper that he overworks players during the regular season to overperform (and that the Bulls have no 2nd gear come the playoffs) is now louder and more persistent than Boozer’s mouth.   They have yet to show they DO have a different  - more competitive gear – to match the intensity of their playoff opponents.  All that “practicing top effort” for an entire season hasn’t paid off TWO YEARS IN A ROW.  (Yes, the Heat were beatable last year.)

Clearly, Tom T overvalues defense and despises offense.  His first year success came more from merely delegating offense to Rose than any ingenuity in embracing and creating it in his other players.  Didn’t Phil focus his players on defensive excellence despite his offensive calling card?

One of the greatest things Phil Jackson and Pat Riley did was to create entirely different “looks” both offensively AND defensively against their opponents to keep them off guard in the playoffs.  (Tex Winter was a big part of that).  Outside of tweaking spacing or  - as in Dunleavy’s 35 point extravaganza – merely running plays for one guy, Thibodeau seems out matched when it comes to creating scoring.  Mentioning the best pure shooter the team was worse than saying “Tea Party” in the oval office.  “Jimmer” who proved he was the most productive scorer in his limited minutes wasn’t even allowed to take his sweats off even in second platoon relief.  Imagine where the Rockets would be if they were afraid to put Troy Daniels in?

Someone needs to spend his summer learning how to be just as ingenious at offense as he does D.  And with his knowledge of the game, who knows he doesn’t come up with something rivaling Phil’s “triangle” offense to match his defensive brilliance?

My guess is not only is the current coaching approach not “sound” for the future of the Bulls, it will never create a dynasty we all long for.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Dempster Digs Finally Make Me Embarrassed to be a Cub Fan

RyanDempsterHarryCarey

You would think that following up two near runs at the playoffs over the past 10 years with the worst record in baseball would make any sports fan embarrassed to wear the jersey of their favorite team if not winning the World Series for 192 years wouldn’t it.  (I know but it FEELS like 192 years.)

Or, certainly finding out the most successful, charismatic Cub since “MR. Cub” was a doped, cork drilling, dinger-defrauding narcissist would make you at little less willing to call yourself “die-hard.”

Not me.  The only negative expression seen on me is proudly wearing road gray’s the day after going 71-91 or 66-96.  And part of the reason for that is that the widely acknowledged Cub fan was hopeful, saavy, big hearted and undyingly loyal, and not some fly-by-nighter that starts showing up when Pujols is signed.

Even the town rags were trying to make fun of us for filling seats and making the Ricketts a bit richer during the depressing first few months of the season - an incomprehensible action to the US Cellular crowd.

When the Sun-Times ran an article early in the week that Cub fans on Twitter were all worked up over Ryan Dempster’s nixing of the young Dodger pitching prospect deal, I thought it was just more bored Chicago sportswriters trying to make hay.

However, castigating comments toward Ryan ran about 4 to 1 against, and I was shocked.  This man only has a few years left of maximum earning potential before he has see if his shtick will perpetuate his comedy career in places like Akron, Ohio.  (Can you ever get tired of a Harry Carey impersonator?)

Didn’t he make fan life a little easier during the Middle Milton Bradley Ages and personally cut the Cubs Carlos Z psychiatry bills in half?  How many of your young pitchers learned how to adjust not just physically, but mentally to the game because of Ryno 2.0?

This is a guy who came back from a 6.54 ERA, 3-7 season in 20 starts AND Tommy John surgery to climb his way back into the bullpen, then closer and rotation near-ace.  We all knew he SHOULD have been the #1 pitcher during Z’s last two years, but he never went to the media or complained a lick.  He just went out, did his job and threw a few whipped cream pies in front of the WGN cameras for our entertainment.

He lived with payments of left over stadium peanuts for the first few years until we realized the character of someone WE saw as one of us.  The winner buried within the ankle weights of failure.  And let’s not mention the medical demands on his family as well, that the Dempsters turned into a tireless effort to help many more than just themselves through Chicago and beyond.

And these idiot fans want to complain?

When Kerry Wood came back from the Yankees at a fraction of his value, and then didn’t perform as expected, there were a few light-in-the-mental-lobe losers who complained of Wood’s lackluster performance.  But most of us realized that he gave up cash money to retire a Cub, and we were still grateful.

Shouldn’t we be equally thankful for a guy who knows that if he hadn’t earned his no trade option, Theo and company would have already shipped him off?  Shouldn’t we be thankful that he told the new front office, that he wanted to retire a Cub, rather than stick through what everyone knew (and was told) would be two to three years of dim cellar dwelling in the NL Central?

These fans embarrass me.  They do NOT exemplify the hopeful, good faith, appreciating of players who not only give their all – but their hearts to the worshipers at Wrigley.

While we Cub fans have lived through losing Greg Maddux, Rafael Palmeiro, Dennis Eckersley, (and of course, Lou Brock), we have more than enough reason to be gleefully hopeful for what is coming in the next two or three years.  If you want greedy and boorish – skedaddle to the South Side with your Occupy Wall Street friends.  Those are the folks that think other’s people efforts should come under their control.

In this age of pessimism, cynicism and selfishness, one of the great things we held as Cubs fans, was that we WERE a bit different.

No – we ARE different.  And we aren’t going to let you idiots corrupt the character of the Chicago Cubs.  So, STFU!

And Ryan, know that you are loved and appreciated not only for what you have done for the Cubs and we fans, and if at all possible – most of us would love to have you back after you’ve taken care of what is best for your family.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Sometimes You Just Need Someone To Believe In You

copyright ESPN

Cubs Outfielder Bryan LaHair is an overnight success and is on his way to playing first base at the MLB All Star game next week. 

“…to think that after my first full year on the books I’d be an All-Star, it’s kind of crazy.’’

Only one thing.  He’s not a child prodigy like Starlin Castro and he can’t blame the other “Castro” in Cuba for living in communist country that wouldn’t let him out.  He’s 29 years old and has spent over 5 years in the minors waiting.  Working.  And waiting some more.

Some of you may feel the same way about your lives.  Just like Bryan, you KNOW where you are at isn’t where you are supposed to be.  You can feel it.

‘‘I had a dream when I was little that I played in the major leagues and was an All-Star,’’ said LaHair, who got emotional last Sunday when he was told of his selection. “

Some of us have caused many of our own problems.  LaHair can relate.  In speaking of his coach (who is now the GM of the Toronto Blue Jays) he says:

‘‘I didn’t exactly take [Ricciardi’s] advice all the way through,’’ said LaHair, who was the Massachusetts high school player of the year in 2000 before going undrafted after a Clemson commitment and a perception that he was unsignable dropped him from consideration as a potential pick in the first five rounds. ‘‘I mean, if I would have listened to him, who knows? Maybe I would have been a first-rounder.’’

LaHair was drafted in the 39th round.  That’s like the round where the Big’s start laying claim to All City League players in juvenile detention.  And after your co-draftees start rising up through the system, or giving up to go back home, it takes a toll on your ability to believe.

It’s tough to do it by yourself.  His coach was key.

‘He always believed in me,’’ LaHair said. ‘‘He always told all the scouts, always told the GMs, always told all the agents that I was going to be a real good player and had a real shot.’’

If you’re like PolitiJim, you’re happy for Bryan LaHair but you can’t help but wish you had someone like that.  And perhaps in the middle of your pity Spring Break, it might dawn on you there is Someone who does.  Or perhaps many someone’s whether they are currently in your life or not.  It may be one small encouraging word from a teacher from 7th grade, or an Aunt you seldom saw.

But know that that dream wasn’t put in you to waste away.  And also know that even more than you believe in God, He believes in you.

I wrote an article yesterday on how we Americans have to BELIEVE that God isn’t done with our great country yet for Him to work. 

The same is true for the destiny you dared to dream once.  Keep waiting expectantly.  Keep doing what you can to improve your skills in that area.  Trust God and one day, like Bryan LaHair, you’ll finally get called up to live your dream.

God IS faithful.


All quotes from the GORDON WITTENMYER column in the Chicago Sun Times.

Photo: ESPN - Benny Sieu/US Presswire

Monday, June 25, 2012

Brandon Marshall Is My New Tim Tebow

Mashall-Tebow 

Yep.  You heard it right.  After being pessimistically distant from any good expectations out of ‘da Bears - much less happy about who they ARE as people – I am now rooting for Brandon Marshall the way I did Tim Tebow last season.

Unlike some fans who only root for winners regardless of how immoral, crude or unlikeable their sports heroes are – I’m ain’t one of ‘em.  Having a likeable or loveable player isn’t MORE important to me than winning, but, it is a requirement for my affection.  For instance, I could never root for Mike Tyson as long as he derided common decency no matter how dominant he was in the ring.

I officially entered NFL fan free agency last year when my Bears couldn’t even lose without blaming everyone else on the team or looking like spoiled brats.  Cutler DID begin to show some sportsmanship and leadership toward year’s end but – as noted in this video – I wasn’t the only one to find him as one of the 5 most annoying players in the NFL.  Thank God for Devin Hester.  Tom Waddle dissing Pastor Joel Osteen and the supposedly Christian Coach Lovie Smith making overtly racist campaign commercials for our infanticide loving President made me feel like I was married to Janet Napolitiano. Yup.  Sick to my stomach.  I may still love my Chicago Bears – but I didn’t like them or the company I was keeping in rooting for them. 

The apologists on both national and local TV played the same old liberal violin with regards to Matt Forte’s contract blaming “the man” (who happens to be a woman) without ever acknowledging that Forte himself turned down an extremely lucrative contract to play last season without a net.  The Bears are a business, and like Chris Harris during the walkout, they somehow felt that the NFL teams owed them the right over business decisions without those players taking any fiscal risk and responsibility themselves.  Call it – Occupy NFL.  Finally, my favorite Chicago media scribe that I have bipolar opinion on – the love/hate David Haugh – said what I have been saying since LAST year.  Forte’ is a petulant prim Madonna.  Hardly worth looking forward to no matter how many games he play without getting inevitably injured as he is since arriving.

I’ve written about the terribly dishonest and non-objective reporting of the Chicago sports media at times (and more than once), but Jared Hopkins of the Chicago Tribune has written an amazing piece on former Denver Bronco and Jay Cutler teammate Brandon Marshall that may be some of the best sports writing I’ve ever read.  Only one small angle at the end rubbed me wrong, and my addressing that observation by Mr. Hopkins, is the ONLY thing I could possibly add to this well told story.

BRANDON MARSHALL
Career highlights and awards

Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2011
Receptions 494
Receiving Yards 6,247
Receiving TDs 34
Stats at NFL.com

Hopkins interviewed Marshall’s homeys in his old hood of Pittsburgh which prompted a call from Brandon himself:

"You want to understand me? Come and stay with me."

The Chicago Tribune reporter landed a plumb opportunity by actually living with Marshall and his wife for 3 days so that he could better “understand” him.

Hopkins points out that Marshall is the best receiver the Bears have ever had, even before he plays a single down in a slightly different shade of Burnt Orange and Navy from those hanging in his closet from Denver.  And despite Bear’s history from Tank Johnson to drug runner Sam Hurd, Marshall could also compete as the worst off field head case.  Hopkins contrasts it in two paragraphs showing two extremes:

The numbers suggest Marshall is already the best wide receiver the Bears have ever had. Since the team was founded in 1919, only one player has caught 100 passes in a season. Marshall did that three years in a row from 2007 to 2009 — an accomplishment matched by only four other players in NFL history.

But since the Broncos drafted him in the fourth round in 2006, Marshall has become known for more than his stats: Arrests for domestic violence and drunken driving. Arguments with coaches. Acknowledging he suffers from a mental illness.

So how does extreme (but hip) Jesus freak, PolitiJim dare to put Bad Boy Brandon in the saintly Tebow sphere of fan worship?  The same reason that the Apostles Peter and Paul means more to me than the Apostle John who was the “good son.”  Like the vast majority of Americans, I am only too aware of my shortcomings.  I have no illusion that after I made 5 years old, I have never been on the Catholic Church’s short list of priestly prospects.  The “perfect people” who never make mistakes are not only annoying to me, they keep reminding of me what I can never be.  When I “backslid” as a young Christian, many in the church pretty much said, “Well, God will forgive you but He can no longer use you the way he could have.”  It was clear.  I could NEVER be Tim Tebow.

Nor could the Marshall-man.  At 3 years old, Brandon Marshall saw his Dad coldcock his mom in the front seat of their car, stop, go around to the other side and do it again.  He saw hate, violence and who knows what other form of trauma and abuse before he was five years old.  He ended up repeating what he saw and was taught.  Slum survival, hood hustling or street smarts, he did what would not get him killed and bring him even a momentary shred of happiness.  And yet despite excelling physically and professionally into the NFL – he wasn’t happy, fulfilled or even enjoying his amazing accomplishments.

But he also met Jesus.  And for the first time in his life, even while he struggles with his “flesh” (as they say in religious circles), he is showing his family how to receive the grace of God and enjoy life.  I can relate to this guy much more than Tim Tebow, despite being a white, Christian conservative who lives in the former Rebel territories.

As I’ve gotten older and actually READ the Good Book for myself, I found out that the “sin once and you’re done” theology was that not true.  Former Christian murderer Paul and the lying, God-denier Peter, prove that those Christians still trying to make people be “Perfect” are theologically ignorant and unhelpful to REAL life.  Don’t believe me?  Then let’s do a little test.

Name a brand of Christianity (Methodist, etc) that is dead set against drinking.  Go on, I’ll give you a second….  Most of you likely said “Southern Baptists” and you’d be correct.  Yet, Southern Baptists have the highest reported incident of alcoholism among all denominations.  Why?  The prodigals like me can tell you – the more you tell someone what they can and can’t do, the more likely they are to fail. 

I’ll never forget going to TGIFridays after a church softball game with a Dallas Baptist church I had just joined and ordering a pitcher of Miller for the table.  (I was politely asked not only to do that again, but uninvited me from leading the bible study the next week.)   Their reaction did nothing to make me like them, much less want to be a judgmental teetoatling Baptist.  I personally never had a problem with drinking (I did it quite well thank you), but I was a male slut and a terrible liar. 

For a long time even AFTER I was a Christian, I had to admit, I didn’t even want to be a Timmy Tebow type because it seemed like you were giving up all the fun of life to go sit in a church with old ladies and drink bad Hi-C all Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.  When God began to do miracles in my life, I suddenly found out three things:

  1. There weren’t nearly as many killjoy rules as I thought, (drinking itself wasn’t a sin),
  2. The “rules,” like not being a drunkard were actually beneficial physically, emotionally and relationally, and,
  3. Because of all the cool stuff God was doing with, through and in me, I ended up WANTING to do good things for Him.

I wonder if I can sue the Christian church that got me saved for false advertising or malpractice?   I guess I could, but Lord knows I too have passed on bad advice to too many others to face that Karma.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love Tim Tebow and wish I had matured enough when I was younger to never get messed up with all the bad stuff I did.  But once you screw up – Tebow offers me very little hope except a reminder of what I fell short of.

Tell me, which is more heroic to you?  An athletically gifted runner who wins every race by a mile, or the scrapper who has one last chance, falls behind and miraculously comes from behind to win the only Olympic gold he or she ever will see?  Give me the 1980 Olympic Hockey team over the perennial Championship Russian National team any day.  Give me 5’ 6” Rudy Ruettiger (RUDY) over Albert Haynesworth; and Seabiscuit over Secretariat every time.

We certainly want our kids to idolize Tim Tebow over  O.J. Simpson.  But for those of us for whom it is too late to qualify for the Mother Theresa Lifetime Acheivement award, Josh Hamilton and Brandon Marshall show us that our future can succeed no matter how bad our past.

Brandon Marshall and his wife (the same one who was charged with attempted murder on him following his stabbing over a year ago) now go to church and even couples counseling.

"Me and my wife, we were doomed from the beginning because of the relationship I got out of," he says, a reference to Watley. "I wasn't vulnerable to her."
During my visit, the couple's time together is tranquil. They lounge in his theater room, watching television. They stroll along the docks after dinner, arms interlocked.

The (stabbing) incident in 2011 came two months after they devoted their lives to Christianity at an elaborate retreat for pro athletes. Two photos in the kitchen chronicle the process. Now Marshall says grace before meals, listens to gospel music.

"I didn't read my Bible every day like I do now; pray every night, every morning, throughout the day; go to church every day — because I was in the world, just like a ton of people out in the world, chasing worldly things instead of godly things," he says one day while driving.
"You get caught up in all of this" — he waves out to the cars on the highway from his Mercedes — "which is nothing. That's what consumes you. That's your god. Money becomes your god. Girls become your god. Cars become your god. Houses become your god. Clothes become your god. You start caring about what other people say about you.

"It doesn't matter. There's only one person who can judge you. There's only one person that you have to answer to, and that's God. None of these people — not you, no media, not ESPN, no coaches, no Roger Goodell. I don't have to answer to them."

He says he never thought about why his parents weren't churchgoers in Pittsburgh. He pauses. "You go into some of these areas, man, at-risk areas, poverty-stricken areas, and there's not a lot of God there," he said. "On Sunday people are watching football instead of being in church."

And this is where I have a minor issue with the writer Mr. Hopkins.  He closes his Pulitzer worthy piece this way:

At times he has created order in his life, keeping his family and his past — the chaos that produced him — behind a boundary. He wants to be seen as living in the moment — a family man, a follower of Christ, someone who gives back to the community, a man in transition.
But he cannot seem to escape trouble.

He goes on to cite an allegation by a 24 year old woman that Marshall slugged her in the face.  Scribe Hopkins then makes an observation that Brandon’s famous BEAST moniker was on his dress shirt cuffs in church and Marshall commented that “we are trying to phase that out.”

The reader can reach no other impression that Marshall is STILL grappling with his demons and could blow at any time.  It makes for a very dramatic and foreboding effect – surely aimed to excite his literary agent.

But it’s not the truth.

He wasn’t alone hanging out with thugs as the whole “nightclub” story would seem.  He wasn’t trying to pick up chicks.  Marshall’s own wife was hit with a bottle as they were leaving the New York Nightclub.  Hopkins conveniently left that part out.  In fact, if you read Marshall’s estimation you get an entirely different vibe:

Prior to the incident, Marshall said he often rationalized his attendance at nightclubs as "what you're supposed to do to enjoy life."

"Before this situation, I thought, hey, I'm still young. I want to enjoy life," Marshall said. "We have no kids yet. So let's enjoy each other. This is my wife's and my conversation prior to this incident.

It's, 'Hey, let's enjoy each other before we have children. We're finally on the right page. So before we bring children into this world, let's enjoy each other. So when the children come, we can focus on them.' "

"After this, I turned to my wife, and this is spiritually. I even talked to God, and I'm saying, 'What are you trying to tell me here?' " Marshall said. "In every situation, we learn something. We contribute to every situation. But we also learn from every situation. And in that, my wife turned to me and said, 'Maybe it's time for us to stop walking in slippery places.' "

Traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Bears in March, Marshall also described what he considers somewhat of a "tug of war" between professional athletes and their desire "to enjoy life."

"What I would say in a worldly answer is there will be a tug of war between, you know what, there's fame, there's money. This is what you're supposed to do to enjoy life, you know?" Marshall said. "That's kind of the environment, so to speak, that NFL athletes or professional athletes we put ourselves in. That's supposed to be the lifestyle."

Marshall said he and his wife weren't actually partaking in some of the elements of "the lifestyle" when the incident occurred at the nightclub.

"In this incident, it wasn't a party," Marshall said. "It wasn't something that was we're out clubbing or drinking or things like that."

And despite the very prejudicial disclaimer the reporter added, that:

Charges are not expected; no charge of violence against Marshall has ever stuck in court.

He doesn’t come right out and admit that an investigation WAS PERFORMED by the NYPD and that they announced they would not press charges.  Nor have any witnesses come forward to corroborate the story of the 24 year old chick who waited over a day to report the incident.  I guess that gold is not just dug in Denver, huh?

And I get it.  Christians are easy targets of hypocrisy.  How can you preach goodness, peace and love and 2 months later attempt to kill your husband with a knife.  Or be involved in a nightclub incident?

It’s not like we haven’t had examples from Swaggert to Haggard to prove that those that preach holiness don’t always practice it. And there certainly are many people who intentionally use the “Christian” label for PR.

But is the implication then, that since no one can tell truth all the time, we shouldn’t teach it?  Would you rather someone give up on TRYING to do good because they weren’t perfect at it yet?

This type of coverage comes from ignorance of the “born again” experience.  Was King David any less of true God-lover because he slept with a married woman and murdered her husband?  Of course not.  When you accept God as not just the One who will save you from troubles but also as the Boss of your life, only your SPIRIT becomes perfect with Jesus.  Your mind, will and emotions have to be trained and disciplined.  And God is ALWAYS willing to forgive, whether you still have to take care of the mess you made here on planet Earth.

I know this because I accepted Jesus in my teens to bail me out of all kinds of problems I was in.  When, in 24 hours, all my problems were still there, I went off and stole a car to take matters into my own hands.  I was so used to relying on my street wits – that when God didn’t show up when I wanted Him too, my fear doing nothing overcome my very new and tender belief that God really was WITH me and would direct me.

Brandon Marshall and his wife’s attempt to LEARN from mistakes of their past, and to let God change them, is FAR more inspiring to me than a Pastor’s kid who was brainwashed from birth to live by the Good Book.

I don’t mean to disparage Tim Tebow, or to diminish his temptations and trials about which we don’t know.  The truth is that Tim Tebow himself admits he’s had advantages AND that he’s not perfect.  The truth is that it is easy to sit back and judge people like Brandon Marshall because their sin is either more visible or more graphic than ours.  The truth is that Jared S. Hopkins himself, if all he did was pad his expense account or cheat on his taxes, is no less guilty of Marshall’s “sin” in God’s eyes or the other taxpayers he screwed over.  Just as it is with every person on the planet.  In fact, if you THINK you are perfect – and have done no wrong – that is a lie and a sin too.  It’s called Pride. (The bad kind.)

It’s not that there are “troubled” people and “good” people.  The Bible couldn’t be more clear that EVEN BILLY GRAHAM’S BEST work, was like old, soiled Maxi-pads.  (That is LITERALLY what the original Hebrew scripture translates into.) 

Those of us that know God (it ain’t exclusive – you can too), know that the only righteousness that exists is a FREE GIFT that comes by trusting, leaning on and believing in the Messiah.  Once you come under His authority – God sees you as if you are as perfect as Jesus – no matter what you do.  And you find yourself no longer alone, and no longer guilty.  You start to stop doing destructive things not because you HAVE to – but because you WANT to.

For the other 99% of humans that are trying to overcome the temptations of everyday life – Brandon Marshall is a stud.  He is the guy I am rooting for.  He might not just may resurrect my beloved Bears, but has already resurrected his own life. 

This is the guy I long to see miracles from  - not just on the field, but off.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Out With The Bull, In With the Jew

OutWithTheBullInWithThe

I find political meaning in everything, including the annual ritual of the changing of the Chicago Sports fan’s season, where we exchange bitter disappointment of basketball for the bogus hope for the boys of summer.  PolitiJim has changed from his Bull hat to Cubs, but perhaps this year it is prophetic for our political hopes as Tea Party conservatives as well.  Allow me to explain.

The team that miraculously tied for the best record in the NBA’s shortened seasoned (see PolitiJim cap in title picture) was eliminated by the Philadelphia 76ers last night in a series that ended up 4-2.  At the True the Vote National Summit I sat with a fellow patriot from Philly who owes me a plate of crow.  I suppose I’ll need to bring my own Bullsauce with which to wash it down.

The Bulls were astounded at losing game 3, especially with a 14 point lead in the 4th quarter of that game.   No one said it, but even without Derrick Rose, the meltdown took on supernatural tones.  All Star Luo Deng couldn’t grasp it saying:

“It just felt like that everything that wasn’t supposed to happen, happened,” Luol Deng said. “It just felt like that everything that wasn’t supposed to happen, happened.

True, I predicted here, that the Bulls would not win the Championship due to the “Obama Curse.” But I thought that even without last year’s MVP Derrick Rose lost to a season ending ACL injury in game 1, they could beat the worst team in the playoffs.  Afterall, the Bulls had gone 18-9 against other teams (including Miami and Dallas) without their hard working floor leader.  Apparently the Barack Jinx is becoming more potent, or PolitiJim failed to factor in the increased effect resulting from Rose publicly endorsing Obama for re-election.  Kind of a double damn, I suppose.  It appears unless you are directly apart of satan’s secret circle, endorsing Obama may be as hazardous to your success as having him endorse you.  Just ask Oprah who looks like her old “magic” tumbled when she endorsed Obama and is on the verge of loosing $300 Million and total failure in her new network.

THE POWER OF EPSTEIN

Is it coincidence that the Cubs, after starting out 3-11, are the hottest team in baseball while the Red Sox, who started out 1-5 are one of the worst?  Last year the Red Sox also started out 2-10 and went on to have the best record in baseball – a 81-42 record.  Yes, the managers have changed at both clubs, but the common denominator is the Waveland Wonder, Theo Epstein.  NO ONE, including PolitiJim, expects to be searching scalpers for World Series tickets this year.  But just as Phil Jackson took wannabe contenders to winners with Jordan and the Lake Show, there is SOMETHING beyond better decision making, better “X’s and O’s” to success, and the Cubs LOOK like a different team as the former Boston Red Sox GM promised.

Yes, creating a different “attitude” does help success.  But even the famed, philosophical optimist, Jimmy V only won one National Basketball Championship.  In the bible it’s called “an anointing.”  It is the opposite of a curse.

Of course, despite the natural inclinations of Wrigley worshipping devotees, it is too early to indicate long term success.  Don’t think every Cub fan wouldn’t like to declare the season over right now and take our winning record when we can get it.

But by all accounts there IS a different winning “atmosphere” despite injuries to Kerry Wood, and melt downs by crazy closer Carlos Marmol.  (For non-Cub, non-baseball fans – Kerry Wood held the record for most strikeouts in a game until last year and Carolos Marmol is the most unhittable pitcher in the majors.  Unless he’s not, which has been the story most of the past year.)

Tea Partiers felt that in 2010 only to wonder if “conservative” is the new “Cub.”  Afterall, conservatives REALLY truly haven’t been empowered since Contract With America, and Bush turned out to be bush league as far as Regan Republicanism goes.

Many felt that last year the basketball Bulls were overachievers.  They were far more successful with Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau despite utilizing the same core players that Vinny Del Negro and Scott Skiles couldn’t get into the playoffs or past the first round of playoffs.  The amazing accomplishment this year of EXCEEDING their winning percentage of last year (despite only having their starting 5 healthy for 15 games) proved that the Bulls were “for real.”  The players could INDIVIDUALLY play and improve all they wanted, but the right coach can set a goal, group expectation and integration of talents in a way average coaches can’t.  It’s why we marvel at John Wooden who won 10 NCAA titles.

The same is true with politics.  It isn’t JUST “policies” that dictate success.  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal have presided over enormous gains for each of their states utilizing limited government, free market principles.  Chris Christie, despite the “conservative” love from Coulter and Romney, hasn’t fare as well.

Rankings of Best States for Economic Growth and Business
2012 2011 2010 2008 2 Yr Chg 4 Yr Chg

LA - Jindal

13 27 40 45 +27 +28

WI - Walker

20 24 41 43 +21 N/A

NJ - Christie

45 47 47 47 +2 N/A

I don’t care how many great of a speeches the New Jersey Jiggle gives in front of Nancy at the Ronald Reagan Library. 

RHETORIC is NOT RESULTS

And “Leadership” is not equal, but necessary to all initiatives.

I envision leadership as a recipe with ingredients including:

  • Bold Visions and Intelligent Strategy
  • Shrewd Judgment
  • Motivating Communication
  • Measured Tenacity and Immoveable Core Principles
  • Humility

You can have 90% of the above qualities but base them on false Keynesian theory (or if you are an NBA coach the “Four Corner” offense), and you’ll still fall short in your effort to implement and sustain change.  INTELLIGENT means based on Objective Truth.  Alternatively, you can have the knowledge of prosperous conservative principles, but waiver when they are put to the test and end up ruining the “brand” or “franchise” as Bush 41 did to Reagan or Jeffery Immelt did to Jack Welch at General Electric.

Clearly, on every measure, Obama has shown he took America into an even deeper ditch than into the one he declared McCain would take us.  I’m not a George Bush worshiper, but clearly the tax cuts following 9-11 saved this country experiencing what might have been a severe recession with or without the mortgage bubble.  Obama had choices and chose the wrong one every time. Similar comparisons of the Regan and Obama recoveries show what leadership versus Leninism does.  Obama has set many records, but they’ve all been blasphemies of sound policy.  Unemployment is at 22% (not 8%) and welfare is at an all time high.

Here’s the good news and bad news.  The good news is that Romney will be better than Obama.  But so would a 9 day old unpeeled Easter egg.  The bad news is that with ALL of this terrible, horrible economic news - and documented evidence that he is not legitimately qualified to be President – he is STILL neck and neck with Romney in the polls.  In a sane world, Obama would have already resigned in disgrace.  If you factor in rampant voter fraud, Romney would have to win by 6% to 10% in the key battle ground states like Virginia just to tie.  And if that particular Secretary of State is owned by Soros, they will “Al Franken” a way to win.

It is true that a large number of people don’t “tune in” into last few weeks of the race.  It is also true that Obama has multiple OTHER devices ready to steal, kill and destroy our elections and that Obama doesn’t have to win the national popular vote to stay in office and inflict more desecration upon our Republic.

I suspect as this person, this article, and this person does, that the next few months will not only be the most UNconventional election in history, but will likely be the most seductive and chaotic attempt to usurp our government.  Ever.  And most likely the GOP (and most of us if we are honest) will still be playing the equivalent of baseball in the middle of a no-holds bar ultimate fighting cage match.

I’ve had many close Twitter/Blogger friends tell me they have a bad feeling in their gut about the upcoming Presidential election.  Someone either tweeted, emailed or texted me the following thought this week, after the successful upset of RINdianaO Dick Lugar by Tea Party candidate Richard Murdock:

Where the hell was THIS Tea Party on the national level the past months of the primary?

I have many friends who argue with me that Tea Party is still alive and strong.  My answer:  If it were, Romney would not be the presumptive nominee.  It’s the same idiocy with fellow Bulls fans (like Scottie Pippen) claiming the Bulls were still the best team in the NBA even without MVP Derrick Rose because they went 18-9 without him.  Sorry, facts matter.  The Bulls only went 7-7 against quality teams without Rose.  It’s about damn time we start getting DETAILED and SMARTER about what is really going on underneath the surface of our assumptions.  We have got to quit kidding ourselves that we aren’t in deep delegate doo doo.

I can’t believe I saw a headline at Breitbart.com (no less) that Tea Party was strong since the Tea Party Patriots raised twelve million dollars in 2012.  $12 Million to organize, communicate and support Presidential, US Congressional, Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer and a myraid of other races across the country.  Remember Gingrich’s SuperPac raised over $23 Million for a single candidate in a single race focusing on less than a handful of states.  $12 Million is $1 million LESS than what the GOP and DNC spent on the single Governor’s race in Colorado in 2010.  An additional $18 Million was spent by outside groups.  JUST in Colorado.  JUST for one race.  Why can’t conservative media report honestly?  Where is the mention that the co-founder of TPP talked about the organization selling out to the GOP establishment and other problems.  This from a once ballsy outfit that now denies a six month law enforcement investigation which proves forged government documents (felonies) by the White House.  Why should we listen to them anymore?  Or pretend that they really have the same values we do?

As I’ve said before.  It’s not just Andrew that has died, but his namesake and most major conservative media.

After 2 years of Tea Party activism we still have yet to obtain a single seat on the 168 member GOP governing committee.  And may I remind you that Human Events Top Ten RINO for 2006 is our nominee?  You know, that guy that passed gay marriage by executive order, and implemented the most liberal socialized medicine and cap and trade programs of ANY state just 7 years ago?  And you want to tell me the Tea Party is alive and well?

(I’m not trying to depress you, honest.) But we have to quit deluding ourselves that Romney is going to wipe up White House with Obama, or that we in the “Tea Party” are as strong as we think. 

I’m not here to discourage you honest.  There is hope in the end.  I believe in the Tea Party and what we WANT it to be.  But we are setting ourselves up for a worse disaster than Hurricane Cain in a Florida straw poll if we delude ourselves into false security.  I’ll explain why in a moment, but first…

It’s Time to Tell the Truth About Tea Party

The Tea Party was ALWAYS an amalgamation of social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, Libertarians and angry independents who resonated with the idea of blaming someone.  “I’m not gonna take it anymore” wasn’t just a line from a 70’s movie.  My friend Richichi thinks this group breaks out something like this:

42% Social
28% Fiscal
17% Libertarians
13% Constitutional

If you combine “fiscal” and “Libertarian” (both who are primarily motivated by economic issues rather than social), that sounds about right to me.  BUT HERE IS THE PROBLEM.

At it’s height of popularity in 2010, Tea Party “supporters”
themselves have never polled more than 30% of all Americans.

2010TeaPartyBreakdownChart

The TOTAL of all Tea Party Supporters among ALL political persuasions is only SLIGHTLY higher than the number of people who call themselves “conservative Republicans.”  If you add in “conservative Democrats” (Sorry Rush, there are some in the South that still think they are), you still only come up with the 40% “conservative” number we all have heard about. 

BUT THAT IS SELF IDENTIFIED “Conservatives” and NOT Tea Partiers.  Meaning only about 2/3rds of all “conservatives” support (or supported) the Tea Party.  Only 60% of the Republicans ever did.

And it’s gotten worse since 2010.  Now that the media has had time to try and “define” the Tea Party for those that only get their news from ABCMSNBC and Comedy Central.  Disapproval of the Tea Party has doubled, and is now rivaling that of the Forger-in-Chief.  Conservative South Carolina self identified Tea Partiers dropped from 28% to 11%.  Those “supporting” the Tea Party nationally have dropped from 31% to only 27%

“Occupy” support is only 3 points away at 24%.

And let me preempt those of you who will argue that it’s a “liberal” poll or that “you don’t believe in polls.”  Don’t be a fool.  It is very rare for a poll to not only be off from it’s margin of error, and it is NEVER off by double the margin of error unless there are rapid events occurring or anomalies in communication.  In other words, polls including samples from the day before Gingrich’s South Carolina debate likely didn’t include the ABC (fake) bombshell, the Perry endorsement, or the Gingrich debate performance itself.  But even then it DOES give an accurate view of what the general population is thinking AT THE MOMENT they are asked.  Rick Perry didn’t secretly have 5 times the number of support than his polls said, and indeed, he lost badly in New Hampshire.  So don’t kid yourself that SECRETLY 50% of America loves the Tea Party or that the 75% that would NOT vote for Romney throughout 2011 were all Tea Party motivated.  It just isn’t so.

I’m shocked at the people that get paid to do “this” (reporting and analyzing news) who want to declare the Tea Party back on it’s feet because Dick Lugar lost to a Tea Party candidate.  That’s like saying the Cubs won the World Series in 2001 and 2008 because the Diamondbacks and Phillies each had a few ex-Cubbies on the roster.  Just because the Tea Party candidate got Just because the Tea Party candidate got 60% of the vote doesn’t mean that 60% of the vote are Tea Partiers.  Just because JFK was elected President in 1960 didn’t mean that everyone converted to Catholicism.  Good candidates who can articulate a BETTER more compelling message than their opponent get not just people who believe EXACTLY as they do, but those that also don’t want to vote for the other guy.  

Rush used to say that conservatism wins everywhere it’s tried.  That’s just hogwash.  It usually does, but as Sharon Angle and Christine O’Donnell learned, how you are defined through the media makes “perception” the overriding factor.  It certainly hasn’t worked in the GOP primaries.  There are scientific models on how conservative one can be in a liberal state or vice versa, but it doesn’t account for differences in communication style and charisma.  Reagan won a LOT of blue states AFTER demonstrating supply side economics work.  Even states that HATED his social views.

So why am I giving you bitter TEA?

If you’ve ever gotten into a street fight underestimating your opponent, or OVERestimating your advantage, you’ll understand WHY we can’t get all punch drunk over what we WANT the Tea Party to be, versus what it is.  If you know you are up against a Ultimate Fighting Champion and you’re a 12 year old girl, it doesn’t help at all to pretend you are Xena Princess Warrior.  What DOES help is to run like hell and get a cop (or a gun) when ARE equipped for the challenge.

We Tea Partiers need a 12 step program

PolitiJim:  “Hi.  My name is PolitiJim.  I’m an ex-‘Tea Party will take back our government in 2012’ believer.”

Support Group: “Hello PolitiJim.”

PolitiJim: “It’s been 2 since I blindly accepted what Rush, Drudge, Gary Bauer or my favorite Twitter follower told me.”

Support Group Facilitator: “How did it go this week?”

PolitiJim: “I quit worrying about missing my Twitter timeline and found 2 neighbors who had no idea the unemployment numbers were faked.  I got them registered to vote and asked them to do the research on a local City Councilman running which they will report back to at our local neighborhood Tea Party meeting in 2 weeks.”

The first step is admitting you have a problem.  T.E.A. FACTS:

  • We keep trusting the same GOP establishment types based on what they SAY rather than what they do or have done.
  • We’ve never had control of the power mechanisms of the GOP party, although our message and motives are sound.
  • We’ve ALWAYS been a minority EVEN within the GOP (46.7%) and threaten those that see it as a “club.”
  • We have (temporarily) lost the media war of persuading the rest of Americans to join us, or getting our message out.
  • This will take more work than reading blogs, Twitter, listening to talk radio or showing up once a year at a Tea Party rally.
  • The GOP establishment is terribly corrupt and will use ANY means to stay in power.  They are NOT principled or conservative.  Just slightly more principled and more conservative than the Democrats.
  • We can not win by forcing or threatening those who are intimidated by our social conservative values to accept flaming religiosity.
  • We can not win by demanding 100% conservative purity when there is no candidate.

I reiterate.  Not only do we “Tea Partiers” not have the power we thought we did in 2010 among the United States voters – we clearly don’t have the influence we thought we did in the GOP.  And we now know that “conservative” most likely does not mean what we think it means to over HALF of the GOP.

You’re happy we beat RINO Lugar in Indiana?  Me too.  But this was a GOP Primary (not facing a union funded Democrat) against an 80 year old, bailout endorsing, out of state transient, whom Obama called his “favorite” Republican.  That is your sign the Tea Party is healthy?  Really?  Santorum lost by basically the same margin TO A DEMOCRAT and many of you thought it superfluous.  If you think this “reignites the Tea Party” or assures a GOP Senate, much less a conservative one, you’re either drinking Chamomile or Long Island tea, I’m not sure which.  DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY TEA PARTY CANDIDATES HAVE ALREADY LOST IN EARLIER PRIMARIES?  Do you realize that Romney STILL got 65% of the vote in Indiana when Paul/Santorum/Gingrich voters could have made a “protest” vote, but failed? (16% / 13% / 6% respectively if you were wondering.)

Now I have to be honest.  I’ve always hated the “12 Steps” philosophy since their REAL first step is declaring you are “powerless” over your addiction.  That’s worse than Chicago BULLcrap with a sprained ACL and a dislocated finger on your shooting hand.   We are NOT powerless and we need to start seeing ourselves as well informed, nonplussed, leaders who are like tanks against charging RINOs.  Maybe a better analogy is that you can reach your destination quicker if you first know exactly where you are, and how far you are from it.  (Fill in your own damn cliché’ if you don’t like mine.)

But now that you’re Rose colored glasses are broken, here’s the hope, the rub and the reality.

The Good Tea Party News

The good news is that after all the effort to separate religious conservatives, from conservative purists that won’t vote for anyone who wants to dismantle the Federal Reserve on the first day of office – and worse - we ONLY lost 4% of our support.  That’s pretty frickin’ amazing if you ask me. 

The second piece of good news IS that the win in Indiana by Tea Party Mourdock proves a NUMBER of things including:

  • The Tea Party message itself is sound and will attract independents and non-Tea Partiers.
  • When conservative media unites around a candidate (rather than using Alinsky tactics against each other) they have an amplified impact that raises cash and awareness.
  • When there is a CLEAR enemy, and a CLEAR leader expressing reasonable, mature views – there is no contest WITHIN the GOP.
  • RINO inconsistencies and duplicities will not hold up if conservatives maintain a methodic drone and don’t quit when no one is listening.  (It took MONTHS for the pro-Mourdock / anti-Lugar message to finally sink into the media.)
  • The “establishment” can not buy an election with clear cut differences between the candidates given ALL of the above.

The other good news?  The American Revolution was fought with only 30% support of the colonial population against a well funded, well organized, well trained enemy while having to fight off loyalists on “their side” as well.  (If that doesn’t describe our predicament I don’t know what does.)

Most revolutions from Cuba to Russia and even Poland were led and sustained by a minority that perceived through action until the lazy people gave way.  But Cuba had Fidel.  Russia had Lenin.  Poland had Walesa and Britain had Disraeli.

And so we get back to the “leadership” thing.

Breitbart’s Nolte smugly says that a leaderless Tea Party is a great thing because they raised about the same amount of money Romney will spend on robo calls in the primary.  Thank God he’s not in charge of running anything.  Here in Harris County (Houston), Texas we’ve written about a Malcom X teaching Democrat who “bought” a Republican leadership title through the local GOP precisely because there wasn’t strong funding, organization and leadership.

A friend (who is much smarter about politics than I) made an argument that the original revolution started with unorganized small individual militias and no central leadership.  “We don’t need a leader,” he says.  But this was before there was any expectation that Virginia or Georgia or Massachusetts OWED it to each other to fight together.  They were as skeptical of each other as they were of the British.  And they DID have their own militias that were organized against Indians and natural threats in each “state.”  Even if you take Massachusetts within itself, Samuel Adams and John Hancock formed the heart of the movement by identifying and implementing strategies and it was the Boston patriots providing ideas, direction and initiative to the rest.  Places like Georgia hardly had ANY British to contend with save the tax collectors and limited troops protecting the governors.  And we did not win the war without a clearly identified General who was fastidious on authority, discipline and chain of command.

I would suggest we are not only past Lexington and Concord, but are already past the Declaration and well into organizing troops for the war.  And the very ABSENCE of leadership, is why we are ineffective nationally.  Mourdock HIMSELF was the leader to whom not only Tea Partiers, but the rest of the GOP rallied.  His victory wasn’t a spontaneous endorsement of “ideas” but a man.  A man with a plan.

In 1775, the leaders were identified and were working toward a common goal of determining precisely what it would take to RUN a government.  While they disagreed, the ACT of declaring independence was NOT the central focus.  The Continental Congress was an organization unto itself to IDENTIFY key issues of tyranny and to UNIFY around a solution, independence being just one and the last resort.  Despite severe splits in HOW to handle the issue (appeals to the King versus war), they were already acting as a single unit because they knew they needed each other.  THEY ELECTED LEADERS and RULES OF PROCEDURE.  They were not separate mobs that said, “Hey Thomas, you want to kill you some redcoats sometime?”  Furthermore they engaged the enemy as a UNIFIED front with a UNIFIED plan.  Even John Adams who saw all along the diplomacy and threats were going no where, didn’t break off and decide to try get Massachusetts to start the war on it’s own.

We HAVE a plan for conservative insurrection in the Disraeli, Goldwater/Reagan and Gingrich movements.  Don’t forget, the GOP wrote off Gingrich’s Contract (much less thinking it had any chance to succeed in retaking the House) UP UNTIL THE NIGHT BEFORE the election.  Newt didn’t have a majority of Republicans, much less US voters, during the entire 14 year planning of creating mechanisms for the recruitment of conservatives, their education, their funding and their unity of expressing conservative ideals.  And he really didn’t need the GOP establishment bandwagon because he spent years putting the candidates in place to challenge those races by using his the future Speaker’s songbook note for note.  The GOP takeover in the House and Senate happened BECAUSE OF UNIFIED STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP not because of a lack of it.

It is why I pleaded for Palin or Gingrich to strip off conventional politics and risk breaking apart the GOP and to start going after Obama on his corruption and fraud, and also after Romney and the party.  For some reason, Newt didn’t was blindsided by Bachmann and Santorum’s willingness to playing lying politics and didn’t understand the fragile nature of the conservative media as Drudge, Will, Coulter, and FOX News itself was clearly in the pocket of Romney and the rest were willing to let the GOP forces separate us.  He certainly underestimated the level and dishonesty of attack by the establishment in money and malice.

But let’s be clear.  At a local level and state level, there IS enough Tea Party power to compete WITHOUT a national leader if we:

  • Get an articulate candidate without major flaws.
  • Focus on the REAL enemy instead of false issues.
  • Ensure the integrity of the vote.
  • Use what media we have available to hammer the message.
  • Take over the GOP machinery precinct by precinct, and,
  • Work our arses off.

And pray.

What this has to do with the Cubs and Bulls

The same basic Bulls team was only a .500 team the two years BEFORE Tom Thibodeau arrived from Boston.  During those two years they STILL almost beat the reigning Championship Celtics and the Lebron led Cavaliers with Vinny Del Negro as head coach.  The Bulls had actually ASKED to speak to Thibs BEFORE hiring Vinny.  The Boston brass refused.  Then someone came and led.

The Bulls were the best team in the regular season of the NBA the last two years and made it to the Finals of the Eastern Conference last year because of a tenacious coach that SET an expectation, that taught them to NEVER give up, that coached them to remember WHICH fundamentals work if you stay disciplined, and challenged them to not accept anything less of yourself than playing EVERY minute of EVERY game.

It’s what Ronald Regan did WITHOUT the benefit of a Tea Party.

Like this year’s Bulls, we can’t help injuries to our key leaders.  Palin not running, Gingrich being slaughtered by $40 million in false, lying ads (compounded by conservative media complicit in spreading those lies instead of diligently checking them themselves) are facts of life even without “curses.”  The goal hasn’t changed.

The fact is that we don’t have enough people to overtake the party without coordinated leadership amplifying and articulating our views together, much less coordinating our strategies and setting the goal.  But you probably can get enough people to take over your district or county.

Baring Romney having a political Damascus experience we are still in search of our Thibodeau, Epstein, Phil Jackson or Ronald Reagan.  We might have to play the next couple of seasons knowing that we can only give our personal best, but that our fellow conservatives NEED coordinated leadership to get motivated.  We need to prepare the way for when they are ready.

Obama could implement martial law before the election… or simply be elected and expand his desecration of the constitution… and then finally someone like a DeMint, Gingrich, Palin or Scott Walker, will make it “acceptable” for other media to take the gloves off and fight.  Maybe it will be an unknown “Joe the Plumber” type who will understand how to step into that role when the spotlight hits.  But:

There will be a clearly defined enemy.

There will be a clearly defined objective.

And like a Lugar learned near the Land of Lincoln, T.E.A. will spill when we are unified.  Enough of the remaining 70% of Americans will be motivated to join us out of fear for their pain, simply because they are following whoever is winning that season.  Stadiums begin filling with fans with a few back to back victories.

And suddenly, a team that everyone writes off, may start 3-11, but finds they can compete with the Big Boys as the Cubs did this past weekend going 4-2 against the two best teams in baseball.  Any poll of “pre-season” selections for the Pennant or even Division Champions show that no one really knows until the game is played.

We all know (myself included) we’ve fallen into this lethargy because we seem outnumbered.  We have to remember that RIGHT and TRUTH do prevail.  That we ARE empowered to get control of our local precinct, or fight for the county or state GOP chairmanship.  Let God determine the results, but as for me and my house, we will give every effort to finding just ONE thing that will move the momentum in the right direction.  It might be volunteering as a poll watcher or precinct captain.  It might be holding neighborhood discussions or “block walking” simply to educate 20 people on where the local, state and national candidates stand.  It might be buying 100 copies of Little Patriots for the private school or daycare down the street, and then volunteering to read it at the local library.

But we will trust God with the results.  And believe.  And pray.

It was the Great Awakening that inspired and educated colonists to get their hearts and minds around righteous rebellion that made the American Revolution possible.  Today our country is too easily diverted by entertainment, too easily swept up in sleight-of-hand scandals, too self-righteous, prideful or ignorant to do what’s “right” rather than what’s necessary, but our founders left us an inheritance which they believed was from God.

And if G_d Almighty wouldn’t let His own people perish without a homeland or a nation to call their own, I don’t believe He would ignore the prayers and faith of those of us who want to restore America to a place even greater than something which our forefather’s envisioned.

So out with the BS of both conservative and main stream media, as well as impotence, lethargy and fear.  Screw it all.

And in with the new season of doing just one thing to get this Tea Party revolution back on track, whether we die trying or not.

Who knows what God will do, if we just take the NEXT step in faith.

Go Cubs Go.


The following excerpt from the 2012 Shepherd's Rod will speak for itself.

The President's Hat Blows Away

President's Hat

The wind of the Holy Spirit will cause the hat of the President to blow away. The cover of the President and his administration will be blown. Then all things done in secret will be cast down and will not stand.

For they sow the wind and they shall reap the whirlwind. Hosea 8:7a

The truth is coming forth by the Spirit of God. It is the only thing that will have answers for this nation. It will come forth when we repent like Daniel did for the sins of his nation. The sins of our government will be revealed so repentance can be made and the Lord can release mercy to this nation. America is a great nation and God desires for her to survive. She can only survive when the truth is revealed to the people. This is the year the people will know the truth. If they seek the truth they will find it and the truth will set this nation free.

Nothing is [so closely] covered up that it will not be revealed, or hidden that it will not be known. Luke 12:2

The canopy of God is love and this nation must return to its first love. America must repent and return to her first love. When she does God will release His canopy of love to her.

End of excerpt.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Historic Season for the Chicago Bulls Now Doomed by Obama

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SAD UPDATE: Many already know that in the final moments of their win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, the Bulls lost Derrick Rose not only for the rest of the playoffs, but likely well into the season for NEXT year.  Sam Smith has a GREAT account of what this means for the BULLS and the history of ACL injury comebacks here.  Please pray for Derrick’s healing (even if you aren’t a Bulls fan).

Forgive me if I’ve told this one before.

I sold more Christmas wreaths than any other Cub Scout growing up in my suburban Chicago troop.  My reward was tickets for my dad and I to see the Artis Gilmore, Tom Borwinkle and the rest of the Chicago Bulls on a wintery evening at the old Madhouse on Madison Chicago Stadium.  As I remember it, the Bulls were down by 8 with only 10 seconds to go.  And they came back an won, making me a lifetime Bulls believer and in overcoming impossible challenges.

Many felt it was an overachievement for MVP Derrick Rose  to lead the Bulls to the NBA’s best record to play in the Eastern Conference finals since they wilted in the presence of the Heat.  Sure Tom Thibodeau won Coach of the Year and with such a young team the ghost of Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson’s multiple back to back championships seemed slightly less daunting.  But I don’t think anyone expected this.  Especially after getting a sense that the NBA would simply move Bulls press conferences directly to Chicago Memorial Hospital.

Instead while many of the teams brought out crying towels for the wear and tear the shortened 66 game season wrought on their star players, the Bulls and Thibs:

  • Won a HIGHER percentage of games than last year
  • Had an Eastern Conference best 50-16 record.
  • Tied for the best record with San Antonio but secured home court advantage for their entire playoff duration by virtue of holding the head to head regular season tie-breaker.

The verbose but amazing Sam Smith recapped it this way:

…in the six championship seasons combined, Jordan missed a total of six games. Scottie Pippen missed just one game in the first three championship seasons combined and then five combined in 1996 and 1997 before missing the first part of the final championship season after surgery.

So the Bulls lose the league MVP for almost half the season. The second best player and only other All Star, Deng, misses a dozen games, which was more than Jordan and Pippen combined in the first three championship seasons together. The Bulls let go their starting shooting guard who played all 82 games last season, Keith Bogans, for Hamilton. But with groin and shoulder injuries, Hamilton missed 58 percent of the games. Rose’s backup Watson missed 18 games with a variety of ankle problems.

Yet, even deep reserves guys like Lucas, whom many didn’t believe should be in the NBA and played just 10 minutes all of last season, step in and have big roles in even big games like against the Heat. Watson and Brewer started 68 games combined. The Bulls had 10 different players start games. The regular starting lineup played just 15 games together.

Yet, the Bulls led the league in fewest points allowed, biggest winning margin, rebounding and second chance points. They set a franchise record for opponent scoring. The Bulls also were in the top five in opponent field goal percentage, blocks, opponents’ three point shooting and assists.

How can Thibs not be the first Chicago coach (yes even over Phil Jackson) to not win back to back COY honors? 

And let’s hope he does because except the possibility of winning the Eastern Conference championship or a sudden willingness of the Supreme Court to look at that birth certificate, it’s all the Bulls will do this season.

Why?  The Obama’s Sports curse.  Among the many picks he has made since being office declared to be slam dunks, are these losers:

  • 2016 Olympic bid
  • LeBron to Chicago
  • Bears/Green Bay 2011 NFC title game
  • Bulls 2011 Eastern Conference Championship
  • Blackhawks 2011 playoffs
  • Every single Final Four pick since he’s been in office.

And don’t forget Obama’s “guarantee” that USA’s women soccer team would win.  Seems a pretty safe bet since USA was ranked #1 in the world and the final game was against a team that had not beat the USA in 25 tries, right?  Wrong.  Lowly Japan won causing some to say USA choked.  Believe me.  It was beyond their control since the Obama Jinx was set in motion.

I can’t find Vegas odds but I bet we could retire the national debt by betting against any team the former Chicago Senator predicts to win.  So the Bulls are doomed.  He has ALREADY declared the Bulls to be National Champions.

But unlike the Nobel Peace Prize, this honor actually has to be EARNED.

So, perhaps if any team COULD break the curse it would be this heroic team of youngsters that exemplify almost everything Barack Obama does not.  Hard work (no vacations), team unity (not dividing by party, classes or race) and meritocracy instead of Marxism.

The Bulls start their futility at noon Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

What the hell.  As a CUB fan I’m used to rooting for hopeless causes.

Maybe Sports Illustrated will put Obama on it’s cover prior to the election.  And he’ll stay a Chicago White Sox fan.

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