Controversial post time....if you're "triggered" by this, run to your "safe space" now, LOL.
If you follow pro wrestling, then you're aware that just a couple of months ago, Roman Reigns gave up the WWE Universal Championship. At that time, "The Big Dog" stated that he had been a leukemia patient (before coming to WWE), and that his doctors had advised him of the return of that cancer. Reigns explained that as a result, he was giving up the championship, as he was not fit enough to defend it.
Now, why is this important? It's because last night on WWE's "Monday Night Raw", Reigns announced that his cancer was in remission, and that he had been cleared to return to the ring. I know I'll probably get some "hate mail" for this, but I strongly suspect that this whole cancer incident was (as they say in the industry) a "work". For those who aren't aware, the definition of this term is "a scripted event that is designed to appear based in reality". This is done in order to elicit a positive or negative reaction from the audience, much like other dramatic shows such as "Law and Order".
The nature of professional wrestling is such that some performers have a tougher time getting "over" (that is, noticed and accepted by the fans). When this occurs, sometimes said performers are written out of the storyline for a while. By the way, if you still believe that all wrestlers are pure athletes, then much like WWE says to crummy mid-carders, I've "got nothing for you". From the looks of it, this may have happened in Reigns' case. Since he wasn't "getting over", the top brass may have chosen to give him a short break, and have him return to action later.
I know what you're thinking; "why would WWE ever do such a thing? And what makes you think that they did". Let's be clear about the circumstances of Reigns' absence. At the time of his being taken off of promotional cards, Reigns was being booed unmercifully by the "WWE Universe". Whether or not Reigns has cancer, one thing's for sure; nobody recovers from cancer in a matter of weeks, even if your name is Superman.
Also, WWE has an unfortunate history of using some rather unsavory tactics to advance their purposes. One incident that comes to mind is Vince and Shane McMahon mocking God, and the Christian faith of Shawn Michaels (who was a main adversary of theirs at the time). To borrow a quote from the elder McMahon, "in any event...", the question remains; would the company stoop this low? Would they suggest that a performer had cancer when he didn't, all in the pursuit of the almighty dollar? Unfortunately, I cannot put such an action past WWE's top brass.
It remains to be seen if the Roman Reigns situation is indeed a "work". Hopefully, the answer to this question will soon be known. In the interim, I have an attitude of "healthy skepticism" in this case. On a personal note to Vince McMahon, if this is a storyline kind of thing...well, don't you wonder why your company is losing fans in droves? It's not rocket science.
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
An Open Letter To the CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference)
(Author's note: This letter is addressed to Mr. Glenn Lungarini, CIAC Executive Director)
Mr. Lungarini,
As you no doubt are aware, the conference has been permitting transgender student-athletes to enter competitions based on "gender identity"; that is, according to the gender that they choose. In the most recent example, Bloomfield's Terry Miller chose to compete in the state track championships as a female.
Now, I have no quarrel with Miller's choice of identity. Nevertheless, I feel that Miller and others are gaining an unfair advantage over their fellow student-athletes. Let's be clear about one thing; Miller is a biological male, competing on a girls track team. Title IX concerns notwithstanding, I strongly believe that this amounts to cheating. Your organization seems to be sanctioning and allowing such actions.
If rules surrounding high school sports in this state are to be ignored, then tell me; would it be acceptable for me to try out for the Fairfield Warde football team next season? I never got to play football in high school, and "that's not fair"! Being a longtime school official, you should realize that these actions "game the system", and are unquestionably wrong. What is to stop a prospective student-athlete from competing on a girls' team for one season, but a boys' team the very next? Does that promote competition, or integrity in interscholastic sports? I would think not.
Mr. Lungarini, if it wasn't clear already, I will state that I am shocked and outraged by this turn of events. I enjoy high school sports, and have traditionally been very involved in them (as a booster of Fairfield Warde athletics). Specifically, I take a lot of pride, and joy, in watching student-athletes from Fairfield take the field or hardwood. It is safe to say that local high school sports is one of my life's passions.
Nonetheless, I find myself in a personal debate over whether to continue to attend CIAC events. I cannot and do not agree with the organization's recent public statements on this matter; you are making a laughingstock out of high school sports in this state. I will not stand by and watch as everything that once was right about this state goes down the drain. That includes matters regarding high school sports. As such, I am seriously considering a boycott of any and all upcoming athletic events (which I will urge friends of mine to take part in).
I strongly urge you (as well as other members of the CIAC Board of Directors) to denounce current transgender rules, and begin to draft new regulations regarding this issue.
If you desire to, you may reply to this letter at FairBol@gmail.com. I would welcome a healthy and civil debate on this matter.
Regards,
Mr. Matt Boland
Mr. Lungarini,
As you no doubt are aware, the conference has been permitting transgender student-athletes to enter competitions based on "gender identity"; that is, according to the gender that they choose. In the most recent example, Bloomfield's Terry Miller chose to compete in the state track championships as a female.
Now, I have no quarrel with Miller's choice of identity. Nevertheless, I feel that Miller and others are gaining an unfair advantage over their fellow student-athletes. Let's be clear about one thing; Miller is a biological male, competing on a girls track team. Title IX concerns notwithstanding, I strongly believe that this amounts to cheating. Your organization seems to be sanctioning and allowing such actions.
If rules surrounding high school sports in this state are to be ignored, then tell me; would it be acceptable for me to try out for the Fairfield Warde football team next season? I never got to play football in high school, and "that's not fair"! Being a longtime school official, you should realize that these actions "game the system", and are unquestionably wrong. What is to stop a prospective student-athlete from competing on a girls' team for one season, but a boys' team the very next? Does that promote competition, or integrity in interscholastic sports? I would think not.
Mr. Lungarini, if it wasn't clear already, I will state that I am shocked and outraged by this turn of events. I enjoy high school sports, and have traditionally been very involved in them (as a booster of Fairfield Warde athletics). Specifically, I take a lot of pride, and joy, in watching student-athletes from Fairfield take the field or hardwood. It is safe to say that local high school sports is one of my life's passions.
Nonetheless, I find myself in a personal debate over whether to continue to attend CIAC events. I cannot and do not agree with the organization's recent public statements on this matter; you are making a laughingstock out of high school sports in this state. I will not stand by and watch as everything that once was right about this state goes down the drain. That includes matters regarding high school sports. As such, I am seriously considering a boycott of any and all upcoming athletic events (which I will urge friends of mine to take part in).
I strongly urge you (as well as other members of the CIAC Board of Directors) to denounce current transgender rules, and begin to draft new regulations regarding this issue.
If you desire to, you may reply to this letter at FairBol@gmail.com. I would welcome a healthy and civil debate on this matter.
Regards,
Mr. Matt Boland
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Race Relations, Violence, & "Self-Inflicted Wounds".
I find myself needing to respond to an article that my friend Mike Merli has posted. The subject at issue is race relations, and violence.
Now, being that the original article is quite long, I have chosen not to post it here. The gist of Mr. Merli's argument is that if a black accuses someone of violence, they should always be believed. In his post, Merli mentions such names as Donny Hathaway, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Tawana Brawley, and Anita Hill. He says that America drove these men and women to their behaviors and bad choices, some of which have ended in death.
I think it's appropriate to, in this case, remind Mr. Merli about certain things. Yes, whites have done a good deal of wrong toward blacks. However, if my friend wishes to point his finger, he should know that in many cases, the finger can be pointed right back at blacks. Let's look at some of the incidents that Merli mentions.
As Mr. Merli points out, black singer Donny Hathaway jumped to his death on January 13th, 1979, believing that he was targeted for death by whites. In this case, nobody forced Mr. Hathaway to commit suicide. Rather, the singer killed himself because of massive paranoia, and apparent mental illness.
Now let's talk about Tawana Brawley. She did indeed allege that a group of white men raped her. However, Ms. Brawley could not name or otherwise describe her attackers, and forensic tests were unable to produce any evidence of a rape. A grand jury would later find, based on lack of evidence, that no rape occurred, and that Ms. Brawley MAY have made up the whole story. Could Brawley have been telling the truth? Yes; however, not everyone tells the truth. There are people in this world that, through a motive of getting themselves ahead, or otherwise, habitually lie. To say otherwise is, in my opinion, to be needlessly nieve.
Finally, let's mention Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday. Nobody forced Ms. Holiday to drink excessively; that was her own decision. In similar fashion, nobody forced Ms. Washington to begin taking pills; she made that choice of her own accord. These days, we seem to be preoccupied with the notion that every time somebody makes a bad choice, it's society's fault, not the fault of the person who made the bad decision.
When did we decide that a violent murder via a gun (for example) was not the fault of the person who pulled the trigger, but the fault of the person who gave the killer his weapon? And when did we start thinking that a personal failure isn't your own fault, but the fault of those around you? If you fail at something, most of the time, you have only yourself to blame for that failure.
Finally, let's talk about violence, and this idea that everyone must be believed. To answer one of Mr. Merli's questions, violence for the sake of violence is NEVER OK, no matter what side of the political divide you might sit on (yeah Maxine Waters, I'm talking to you). And speaking on accusations and believability, it's not "guilty until proven innocent", it's "innocent until proven guilty". Ask Justice Thomas, or Justice Kavanaugh, about that. Their accusers raised valid points, but there wasn't enough evidence to suggest wrongdoing, nor will there ever be. I believe it was Johnnie Cochran who said that "if the glove don't fit, you must acquit". In a similar fashion, and to coin a phrase, "if the evidence don't fit, you must acquit".
In the case of Jussie Smollett, there's not too much evidence to suggest that the alleged attack ever took place. However, there is ample evidence suggesting that, because he was upset with his pay on the TV show "Empire", Smollett paid two acquaintances of his to make it appear that he was attacked. In time, Mr. Smollett will have to answer to this evidence; that is as it should be. If the gentleman did in fact lie in this case, he could go to prison; I don't see that as being a "moot point". You get what you deserve in life; to quote Scripture, "whatsoever a man reaps, that he will also sow". If Smollett eventually is locked up for a while, it will be a "self-inflicted wound"; he did it to himself.
Just my rebuttal and random thoughts on the matter.
Now, being that the original article is quite long, I have chosen not to post it here. The gist of Mr. Merli's argument is that if a black accuses someone of violence, they should always be believed. In his post, Merli mentions such names as Donny Hathaway, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Tawana Brawley, and Anita Hill. He says that America drove these men and women to their behaviors and bad choices, some of which have ended in death.
I think it's appropriate to, in this case, remind Mr. Merli about certain things. Yes, whites have done a good deal of wrong toward blacks. However, if my friend wishes to point his finger, he should know that in many cases, the finger can be pointed right back at blacks. Let's look at some of the incidents that Merli mentions.
As Mr. Merli points out, black singer Donny Hathaway jumped to his death on January 13th, 1979, believing that he was targeted for death by whites. In this case, nobody forced Mr. Hathaway to commit suicide. Rather, the singer killed himself because of massive paranoia, and apparent mental illness.
Now let's talk about Tawana Brawley. She did indeed allege that a group of white men raped her. However, Ms. Brawley could not name or otherwise describe her attackers, and forensic tests were unable to produce any evidence of a rape. A grand jury would later find, based on lack of evidence, that no rape occurred, and that Ms. Brawley MAY have made up the whole story. Could Brawley have been telling the truth? Yes; however, not everyone tells the truth. There are people in this world that, through a motive of getting themselves ahead, or otherwise, habitually lie. To say otherwise is, in my opinion, to be needlessly nieve.
Finally, let's mention Dinah Washington and Billie Holiday. Nobody forced Ms. Holiday to drink excessively; that was her own decision. In similar fashion, nobody forced Ms. Washington to begin taking pills; she made that choice of her own accord. These days, we seem to be preoccupied with the notion that every time somebody makes a bad choice, it's society's fault, not the fault of the person who made the bad decision.
When did we decide that a violent murder via a gun (for example) was not the fault of the person who pulled the trigger, but the fault of the person who gave the killer his weapon? And when did we start thinking that a personal failure isn't your own fault, but the fault of those around you? If you fail at something, most of the time, you have only yourself to blame for that failure.
Finally, let's talk about violence, and this idea that everyone must be believed. To answer one of Mr. Merli's questions, violence for the sake of violence is NEVER OK, no matter what side of the political divide you might sit on (yeah Maxine Waters, I'm talking to you). And speaking on accusations and believability, it's not "guilty until proven innocent", it's "innocent until proven guilty". Ask Justice Thomas, or Justice Kavanaugh, about that. Their accusers raised valid points, but there wasn't enough evidence to suggest wrongdoing, nor will there ever be. I believe it was Johnnie Cochran who said that "if the glove don't fit, you must acquit". In a similar fashion, and to coin a phrase, "if the evidence don't fit, you must acquit".
In the case of Jussie Smollett, there's not too much evidence to suggest that the alleged attack ever took place. However, there is ample evidence suggesting that, because he was upset with his pay on the TV show "Empire", Smollett paid two acquaintances of his to make it appear that he was attacked. In time, Mr. Smollett will have to answer to this evidence; that is as it should be. If the gentleman did in fact lie in this case, he could go to prison; I don't see that as being a "moot point". You get what you deserve in life; to quote Scripture, "whatsoever a man reaps, that he will also sow". If Smollett eventually is locked up for a while, it will be a "self-inflicted wound"; he did it to himself.
Just my rebuttal and random thoughts on the matter.
Friday, February 22, 2019
Thoughts On The CIAC Basketball Tournament (And The Pursuit Of Success)
It's that time of year again; Connecticut high school basketball has reached its zenith, as we approach state tournament season. Over the next few weeks, the state's best boys and girls teams will compete in league tournaments. Then, it will be time for Connecticut's version of the "big dance"; the CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference) Basketball Championships.
Having been a member of two county championship teams (through assisting with the Fairfield High/Fairfield Warde girls' team), I can say that the post-season is the ultimate challenge for high school sports. The many student-athletes of the CIAC have pushed themselves all season long; now, they have to "go harder", so to speak. You see, it's not enough to have the desire to be a champion; you have to be willing to put in hard work, and give more of yourself than you ever have. To quote the legendary pro wrestler Ric Flair, you must "sweat, bleed, and pay the price" to be the best.
If you are one of those who are lucky and good enough to get to Mohegan Sun Arena, you will always remember the experience. This is a level of excellence that all teams strive for. Be they small schools like East Haven, or larger schools such as newly crowned FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) champion Norwalk, every team starts the season with the goal of being champions. And that should be the goal of every athlete; if you don't wish to be the best in whatever it is that you're doing, you should give it up, and do something else.
Victory is sweet; those who achieve it create legacies, and are memorialized forever. To quote the great Vince Lombardi, "I firmly believe that any (person's) finest hours...(the) greatest fulfillment of all that (they hold dear)...is that moment when (they have) worked (their) heart out in a good cause, and (lie) exhausted on the field of battle...victorious".
I celebrate and salute those who give their all in pursuit of victory, no matter what team they play on.
"It is not the critic who counts...the credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena" -- Paraphrased from Theodore Roosevelt
Having been a member of two county championship teams (through assisting with the Fairfield High/Fairfield Warde girls' team), I can say that the post-season is the ultimate challenge for high school sports. The many student-athletes of the CIAC have pushed themselves all season long; now, they have to "go harder", so to speak. You see, it's not enough to have the desire to be a champion; you have to be willing to put in hard work, and give more of yourself than you ever have. To quote the legendary pro wrestler Ric Flair, you must "sweat, bleed, and pay the price" to be the best.
If you are one of those who are lucky and good enough to get to Mohegan Sun Arena, you will always remember the experience. This is a level of excellence that all teams strive for. Be they small schools like East Haven, or larger schools such as newly crowned FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) champion Norwalk, every team starts the season with the goal of being champions. And that should be the goal of every athlete; if you don't wish to be the best in whatever it is that you're doing, you should give it up, and do something else.
Victory is sweet; those who achieve it create legacies, and are memorialized forever. To quote the great Vince Lombardi, "I firmly believe that any (person's) finest hours...(the) greatest fulfillment of all that (they hold dear)...is that moment when (they have) worked (their) heart out in a good cause, and (lie) exhausted on the field of battle...victorious".
I celebrate and salute those who give their all in pursuit of victory, no matter what team they play on.
"It is not the critic who counts...the credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena" -- Paraphrased from Theodore Roosevelt
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Mad World (aka "What Has Happened To Connecticut?")
"All around me are familiar faces....going nowhere, going nowhere" -- Tears For Fears, "Mad World" (made famous by Gary Jules)
Do any of you have recurring nightmares? It might be just me, but from time to time, I find myself stuck in a horrible vision; that of living in a state where I am a slave, and totally irrelevant. All my money goes to the state government, and all my decisions are made by the state government on my behalf. Freedom of speech is a bad joke; there is none, and even if there was, nothing that you say or do really matters.
The strange thing about this nightmare is that, seemingly, I haven't woken up from it. Look around you, fellow Nutmeggers. Connecticut is in dire straits, and sadly, quite the state of decay. State officials don't even have enough money to fix the roads, let alone pay the state's debts. Businesses that have long thrived in Connecticut have now moved, or are moving, out of state (ask General Electric about this). And parts of our largest cities, such as Bridgeport, resemble war zones in far-off lands. Yet, the majority party in Hartford (Democrats..."what else is new?") want to slap new taxes and new fees on every single resident of this state.
What kind of taxes do the Democrats propose? For starters, let's talk about the eighty-two tolling booths that they wish to put on state highways. Then, let's throw in a higher property tax, higher sales tax, and higher income tax. Oh, and before I forget, Democrats want to tax basic, everyday items like milk and bread. And they also want to force smaller school districts to regionalize; this would be a mandatory and state-wide thing. Forget school choice, they say; your child WILL go to school here, OR ELSE.
Connecticut used to be a great state; a place where families could live and thrive for multiple generations. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. When I tell people that I'm from Connecticut, I usually get a funny look from them, at the very least. That never used to happen to me; everyone I met used to say, "oh, I've been there, that's a nice area". These days, the comment is mostly in the vein of "really? That crummy state?"
I have to ask you, dear readers; is this kind of thing what's called "the American Dream?" That no matter what you do, you can never ever even hope to get past a certain point? Is it now simply accepted that unless the government approves of it, you cannot and will not succeed? And did the heroes who fought and died in places named (among others) Iwo Jima, Fallujah, and (frankly) New York City give their lives in vain? It is said that they made "the ultimate sacrifice", but for what, exactly? That those who came after them would be forced to live in a nightmare? I think not!
It's high time that the citizens of this state woke up from this terrible dream we're having. Let's allow this state to thrive and prosper once more; to coin a phrase, let's make things better, and "let Connecticut be Connecticut again".
Do any of you have recurring nightmares? It might be just me, but from time to time, I find myself stuck in a horrible vision; that of living in a state where I am a slave, and totally irrelevant. All my money goes to the state government, and all my decisions are made by the state government on my behalf. Freedom of speech is a bad joke; there is none, and even if there was, nothing that you say or do really matters.
The strange thing about this nightmare is that, seemingly, I haven't woken up from it. Look around you, fellow Nutmeggers. Connecticut is in dire straits, and sadly, quite the state of decay. State officials don't even have enough money to fix the roads, let alone pay the state's debts. Businesses that have long thrived in Connecticut have now moved, or are moving, out of state (ask General Electric about this). And parts of our largest cities, such as Bridgeport, resemble war zones in far-off lands. Yet, the majority party in Hartford (Democrats..."what else is new?") want to slap new taxes and new fees on every single resident of this state.
What kind of taxes do the Democrats propose? For starters, let's talk about the eighty-two tolling booths that they wish to put on state highways. Then, let's throw in a higher property tax, higher sales tax, and higher income tax. Oh, and before I forget, Democrats want to tax basic, everyday items like milk and bread. And they also want to force smaller school districts to regionalize; this would be a mandatory and state-wide thing. Forget school choice, they say; your child WILL go to school here, OR ELSE.
Connecticut used to be a great state; a place where families could live and thrive for multiple generations. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore. When I tell people that I'm from Connecticut, I usually get a funny look from them, at the very least. That never used to happen to me; everyone I met used to say, "oh, I've been there, that's a nice area". These days, the comment is mostly in the vein of "really? That crummy state?"
I have to ask you, dear readers; is this kind of thing what's called "the American Dream?" That no matter what you do, you can never ever even hope to get past a certain point? Is it now simply accepted that unless the government approves of it, you cannot and will not succeed? And did the heroes who fought and died in places named (among others) Iwo Jima, Fallujah, and (frankly) New York City give their lives in vain? It is said that they made "the ultimate sacrifice", but for what, exactly? That those who came after them would be forced to live in a nightmare? I think not!
It's high time that the citizens of this state woke up from this terrible dream we're having. Let's allow this state to thrive and prosper once more; to coin a phrase, let's make things better, and "let Connecticut be Connecticut again".
A Short Essay On Baseball (And My Love Of It)
My broadcasting friend Rob Adams has written a great blog post about baseball on his page, "Exit 55". Here are my thoughts on the game called "America's National Pasttime".
In a few weeks, pitchers and catchers will report to southern climes, and fields will echo with the glorious sounds of a bat hitting a ball. During spring, no matter how bad they were in the previous year, every team has a chance to win; indeed, "hope springs eternal" in the heart of every fan. The legendary names and moments of baseball echo, and live again. They are names like "Joltin" Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams, Nolan Ryan, Ernie Banks, Ken Griffey Jr., Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and (as much as I hate to admit it), Barry Bonds (just to name a few).
There have been no shortage of historic moments in the game. Where were you when Cal Ripken Jr. played in his record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game, or when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's hit mark? What were you thinking when the Red Sox "reversed the curse", or when the Cubs FINALLY, after one hundred and eight years of waiting, won the World Series (and proved "Back To The Future" to be a prophetic film)? Have you ever been to old Yankee Stadium, or made a pilgrimage to Wrigley Field? These are the stories, places, and moments behind a game that has a unique place in American history (and a game that, obviously, I am quite passionate about).
In a few weeks, pitchers and catchers will report to southern climes, and fields will echo with the glorious sounds of a bat hitting a ball. During spring, no matter how bad they were in the previous year, every team has a chance to win; indeed, "hope springs eternal" in the heart of every fan. The legendary names and moments of baseball echo, and live again. They are names like "Joltin" Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams, Nolan Ryan, Ernie Banks, Ken Griffey Jr., Babe Ruth, Mark McGwire, and (as much as I hate to admit it), Barry Bonds (just to name a few).
There have been no shortage of historic moments in the game. Where were you when Cal Ripken Jr. played in his record-breaking 2,131st consecutive game, or when Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's hit mark? What were you thinking when the Red Sox "reversed the curse", or when the Cubs FINALLY, after one hundred and eight years of waiting, won the World Series (and proved "Back To The Future" to be a prophetic film)? Have you ever been to old Yankee Stadium, or made a pilgrimage to Wrigley Field? These are the stories, places, and moments behind a game that has a unique place in American history (and a game that, obviously, I am quite passionate about).
Through the years, Americans have seen prosperity, war, and sometimes, tragedy. The one thing that has endured, it seems, is baseball. It is a game that has always been with us, in good times and bad. Baseball is a slice of Americana, taking each of us back to days of playing catch in the backyard, or enjoying a hot dog on a warm summer day. To some extent, I think baseball IS America. It celebrates strength, ability, and the coming together of a team in pursuit of excellence. To me, that's something to be appreciated, and cherished.
A cold and tough winter will soon come to an end; spring, and warmer weather, is approaching. It won't be too long before we hear the cry of "play ball" once again. Whichever team you happen to root for, have fun enjoying what's sure to be another great season, and be sure to save me a seat at "the old ballgame".
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