Sittin' in the Principal's Office

When I was in elementary, it was common to see my classmates wearing the jerseys of Montana, Bradshaw, McMahon, and Elway. My favorite team has been the Packers, and while I didn't wear the jersey of any of my favorite in green and gold, I did support my team with a sweater with a Packer patch that matched my stocking hat with a gold ball at the top. Aside from the fact that my parents didn't want to buy me an expensive jersey, there weren't many "marketable" players playing for Green Bay. But that changed once I was graduated from college. Finally the Packers had someone worthy of my buying that jersey - Brett Favre.

I didn't wear the jersey often, but I had the one of my favorite player on my favorite team. He played the game with the enthusiasm I expect my favorite Packer to play with, and he was the same age as me. How could it get any better? I endured the pain killer experience and supported him, and I took his side early in the Ted Thompson saga. But the one player I idolized finally ended up letting me down.

At the end of his career his left Green Bay for New York, which was just a way to get to division-rival Minnesota. Once he left the countryside of Wisconsin, the bright lights of the big city began to bring different changes to the small-town quarterback. Stories are coming forth now of lewd texts and pictures being sent to female employees of the teams. Not the image I want of the player I idolized for nearly twenty years.

Charles Barkley did a commercial for Nike in the 90s claiming he isn't a role model, but parents should be the role model. There was a bit of controversy surrounding this ad. How could a famous athlete claim he isn't a role model, or more likely, how can an athlete not take on this responsibility? But as time passes, Barkley is so right. Parents shouldn't let their son or daughter idolize their favorite athlete, actor, or other famous person.

In the sports world, there are few athletes who will not eventually disappoint in their career. That isn't a knock against the person, but  honestly pointing out that few are able to handle the power and arrogance that is created by fame. There is a sense of invulnerability and it takes a special person to do deal with it.

My son hasn't chosen he favorite team in sport, nor has he picked an athlete that his favorite for what he or she does on the field. I did buy him a Favre jersey when he was still playing with Green Bay, but that jersey is deep in the closet now. I want him to be a fan of a team, where the players will come and go, but I don't want him to idolize a player, because he will eventually be disappointed.

Sittin in the Principal's Office

A few remaining items that needed to be addressed...Please see adjacent picture. This was taken downtown Chicago after Saturday's Cub - Cardinal game. There should be a rule that if you are legal to drink alcohol, it should be against the law to dress head to toe in authentic game gear....What hasn't been publicized from Tuesday night's All-Star game in St. Louis is the reaction of the crowd to a pre-game tribute video. According to eyewitnesses, the video featured every living President, in descending order (most recent first) praising volunteers who were being honored for their contributions to their local MLB city. The loudest applause went to George H.W. Bush....This stat found by my wife on twitter--Apollo 11 blasted into history 2day w/ an onboard computer that had 36k of memory. An iPhone has 932,000 x more memory). Wow....And this just released on twitter, ESPN College Football and Basketball announcer, Ron Franklin will retire following the 2010 NIT Basketball Championship. He had a voice which shouted college football, but I'll also remember his negative comments to sideline reporter, Holly Rowe at the Notre Dame - Purdue game a few years back....And one other item that needs to be addressed...

Sittin in the Principal's Office

The next ten days may very well tell Cub fans if the team is a legitimate contender for the NL Central title. Four games on the road against the worst team in baseball, the Nationals. Then onto Philadelphia where, until recently, have not played well at all then back home for a series against division rival Cincinnati....Baseball may benefit in the post-steroid era. This year's All Star Game was the shortest in over twenty years. No Home Runs with the game showcasing good defense and great pitching. While fans may dig the long ball, they'd prefer quicker games....At the recent Alliant 8K, citizens of Cedar Rapids lined the street to support the runners. That was good except it wasn't necessary for the 60+ year old ladies belly dancing in the last mile of the race....I'm looking for a free and easy way to transfer DVDs to my Blackberry Storm. Of course the folks at Verizon tell me how easy it is, but can give me directions on how to do it. All Blackberry owners I talk to don't have video on their phone as they can't figure it out either....Black Hearts Gold Pants----I'm a propogandist....Fox Sports, as well as the other major sports networks are missing out on a grand opportunity. Twitter and other social media networks can play a huge role into the broadcast of a sporting event. While checking twitter during the recent Cubs - Cardinal game shown on Fox, the MLB on Fox twitter site gave good insight into the game, yet could expand that with interraction on the twitter site from fans in attendance....The blog may be taking a few upcoming days off. We're nearing our one year anniversary and am looking for feedback.

Sittin in the Principal's Office

On the last day of March, I thought it was time to bring back one of our more popular posts, "Sittin' in the Principal's Office." For a background on the meaning of this, go to our first post with this title. Otherwise, off we go...

I am now one who uses Twitter (www.twitter.com/mengelbert). I signed up to have a better understanding of the popular social networks. I have yet to sign up for Facebook, and this blog is my only other attempt. Twitter does have a place in the social network world. It started out by asking people, "What are you doing?" Those who I have begun to follow have used it to promote ideas and projects they are working on as well as to keep fans informed on how they are living their lives. As much fun as I've had following the life of Al Roker, why should I care that he had 3 1/2 hours of sleep after returning from covering the floods of North Dakota. And Bob Costas telling me that he is disappointed in Alex Rodriguez' use of steroids isn't front page news. But what Twitter and many of these other on-line forms of communication--email included--does take the place of is interpersonal communication. The days of one on one, face to face interaction is being replaced by those who coward behind a keyboard. (Look for the NCAA to make rules regarding Twitter.)

Oklahoma women's basketball center Courtney Paris stated that if she doesn't win the national championship she will pay back her scholarship. The intention is nice, but as long as she earns her degree and represents her University well, she has done everything that should be asked for in returns for a college education. She's made the final four, so drop this story. Let her play basketball and compete hard every minute she is in the game. That is enough for me.

March came in like a Lamb and is going out like a Lion.

Sittin' in the Principal's Office

Alright, not the best shots, but you are looking at Kinnick Stadium on the Thursday prior to the #3 Penn State Nittany Lion's Saturday arrival. Musco Lighting was busy preparing its lights for the national television broadcast.
It doesn't seem long ago that Musco first lit up Kinnick Stadium, but it was over 23 years ago they were brought in for the Michigan - Iowa game. That day (October 19, 1985) the #1 Hawkeyes faced the #2 Wolverines. Today, a game of that magnitude would attract a national prime time audience with ESPN's GameDay. However that wasn't the case then. The game began at 2:30 with CBS showing the game to a split-national audience. Auburn and Georgia Tech was the other game. But one thing hasn't changed, Brent Musberger called that game as he still calls the most prolific games today. However Brad Nessler, Bob Griese, Paul McGuire and Stacey Dales will call the game for ABC Saturday.

Tim Tebow for Heisman
I'm not sure he deserves it this year. There are many other good candidates. Colt McCoy (Texas), Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Graham Harrell (Texas Tech) are on most voter's lists, and for good reason. Each have led their teams to remarkable seasons, but the returning Heisman winner has received little attention and may not win it again this year. However this article http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/sports/ncaafootball/31florida.html?_r=3&pagewanted=2&ref=sports&oref=slogin brings to light the life of a college quarterback. Being a video coordinator, there are few who realize how important video is to a football coaching staff and team members. Tebow here shows the commitment needed to excel at the highest level.

Thanks for Playing
Five openings have occurred in Division I (FBS) College Football. The latest is Ron Prince at Kansas State. I don't have first-hand knowledge of what led to his dismissal, but it is extremely difficult to understand how someone could lose thier position after 2 1/2 years on the job. A new coach's first year is to understand his personnel and recruit players to fit his system Typically the coach takes over with a late jump in the recruiting process. In the coach's second year, the system begins to take place, but often they are doing it with young inexperienced student-athletes. In year three, positive signs should take place, however the coach still doesn't have many experienced players that he recruited. Prince made a commitment to the players and their families to be there until they completed their time at Kansas State. However the athletic director decided it was time to move in a different direction.
I don't feel it is right for any coach to leave for a better job after the same amount of time on the job, but it is worse for the University to rid themselves of a coach after the same period of time. I don't know all the circumstances, but how long will this AD give the next coach to succeed?

Obama for Playoff?
On the eve of the '08 Election, Barack O'Bama explained to ESPN's Chris Berman that he would like to see a college football playoff in college football. The next day prominent coaches like Bob Stoops and Pete Carroll came out in support of a play-off system. Let's forget about John McCain's plea for eliminating substance performing drugs. We wouldn't want to talk about something that isn't good for the body, rather center our focus on a seemingly trivial play-off system.
What i propose is the following. Start the season a week earlier and ensure it is over the Saturday prior to T'Giving. Thanksgiving weekend is Conference Champion Saturday. Each conference will play their title game or determine the champion in their pre-determined way. After those games, seed the conference champions into a 8-team play-off to begin play the first Saturday of December. The following Saturday would be the semi-finals with the title game played the Saturday after January 1. Those teams that don't qualify for the play-offs would then be sent to their conference designated bowl game. This would allow fans and staffs to adequately prepare travel arrangements. If the season were to end today your playoff would look like the following:
#1 Alabama vs #8 Boise State
#4 USC vs #5 West Virginia
#3 Penn State vs #6 Georgia Tech
#2 Texas Tech vs #7 Utah
The conference season remains important. You must win your conference to advance to the field of 8. Many notable top ten teams are absent. Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, are among the list. However now it is important to win every conference game, no matter when it occurs.

Sittin' in the Principal's Office

What we need is another Ronald Reagan.

After listening to another Barack Obama speech on the radio tonight, I can't believe this race is a close as it is. I am not endorsing Obama, and wish the Republican Party could find a better challenger than John McCain. Barack continues to emphasize "Change." Americans aren't sure what this "Change" is, what they do know is that they want something different than the last eight. The economy is on the decline, and while the price of gas has been coming down, it did peak at over $4 a gallon earlier this summer. The Stock Market has experienced record lows over the last month and people want the conflict in Iraq to be over.

John McCain isn't as engaging as Obama and has a running mate that discouraged many in the Republican Party. Many in the Republican Party has swtiched their allegiances including former Iowa Representative, Jim Leach and former Bush 42 Cabinet Member Colin Powell. That is definitely unfair to John, but it is definitely a sign of the end of the Republican Party on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. is coming to an end.

Please GOP, find a young, energetic and well-spoken individual to run for office four years from now. Don't be surprised to find this year's results to be a blow-out.

Friends of the 21st Century

An overlooked CBS show is "How I Met Your Mother" seen Monday nights. It is at a bad time, opposite Monday Night Football and another favorite of mine, "Chuck." However my wife and I do find the time to watch this every week.

Watching it tonight brought me back to one of my original theories on the show. HIMYM follows the lives of five New York twenty-somethings. Their hangout is the local bar where much of the conversation takes place. Relationships are a major theme, especially those of Ted and Robin, who were engaged, but called off and remained friends. Barney also is interested in Robin, while Lily and Marshall are married.

There are many similarities between the two shows, but HIMYM lacks the following that Friends enjoyed during the 90s. CBS has stayed committed to the show, but the end is inevitable.

HIMYM is well-written and refreshing.

Sittin' in the Principal's Office

I'm trying to come up with a name to title my random thoughts and events that I report on. "Sittin' in the Principal's Office" best describes my time growing up in New Sharon. My dad, the High School Principal would have me wait there until his day was done and I'd go home with him. During this time I'd sit and do many numerous things, but nothing consistent. That would best describe the thoughts used under this title. Once again, if anyone has a better heading, please place it in the comment section.

1. I've had a nice run each day this week. On Monday, the video guy I am outran two Division I football players turned coaches on a jog through campus. I wasn't going to let either Phil Parker or Rick Kaczenski beat me. My age falls in between these two former players. While on my run Tuesday I ran past former Hawkeye great, Ronnie Harmon. It has been over twenty years since his playing days, and it showed. This generation of Hawkeye students had no idea who was walking among them. Finally on today's run I saw a Chicago Cub shirt I had not seen before. "Fukodome...That What She Said."



2. Is anyone else sick and tired of seeing the GEICO Cavemen? Your fifteen minutes of fame is over.



3. Thoughts on the Cubs post-season pitching rotation? I say start the five-game series with Ryan Dempster at home. His record in the friendly confines is as close to perfect as any other consistent Cub starter over the years. Pitch Harden in game two, Big Z in game three on the road. Either Big Z can get a critical road win or perhaps put an end to the series that night. Of course, Ted Lilly can pitch game four if necessary. I don't want to sound as I'm taking anything for granted, but this is a very good Cubs baseball team.



4. The City of Chicago wants to cut beer sales at neighborhood bars surrounding both the Cell and Wrigley Field following the seventh inning of play-off games, just as they do within each Stadium. We know where this is directed to. Mayor Daly, a ChiSox fan is not a fan of the Tribune Company and those under its umbrella, has shown instances in the past where he'll do anything to take a jab at the Cubs. (see falling cement chucks at Wrigley Field a few years ago). People will drink whether they get their beer from the organized local bars, or outside of them at the nearby 7-11 and drink in the streets since there is no business available to them.



5. The attached picture is of my son at the Williamsburg, Iowa Tot Trot on the 4th of July. This is the best picture I can find of the family running in local 5Ks or 10Ks. This ties into our earlier post ragarding my runs through a most-beautiful campus.



6. I've added an option on the right-hand pane to sign up as a follower of this blogsite. I encourage all to do so. I know many read this blog and numbers increase daily. Let your voice be heard by signing up as well as posting. But, please remember, keep it clean!

Later, ME