High School Survival Guide

"And now for something completely different"; namely, a post from Yours Truly that doesn't have to do with politics or wrestling! (1) 

Cue Joey Styles (2):

With the end of summer comes the renewal of a time-honored tradition; the resumption of classes at Fairfield Warde High School.  

The Warde campus can be a confusing place for newcomers. I know this first-hand, as I was a student there from 1997 to 2000 (at the time, the building was called Fairfield High School).  

As such, and for the benefit of the latest herd of Mustangs, I'd like to share a few tips from my experiences at the school. If you will, you may call this a "survival guide" of sorts.  

First, know the lay of the land, and where things are in the building.  

Trust me when I tell you that nobody likes it when someone shows up late for class, students included. You can avoid this "pain in the neck" scenario by knowing where key classrooms are, as well as the library and lecture hall.  

Also, seeing that the campus is quite large, allow yourself time to get from one side of it to the other.

Second, know what is and is not considered acceptable, clothing-wise. 

For example, wearing a shirt that depicts the usage of drugs or alcohol will meet with a stern reprimand (and likely, an order to "turn it inside out"). This also goes for product endorsements of the like, such as apparel which features the Budweiser logo.  

Third, be on time for class. 

As I previously mentioned, teachers hate it when you show up after the bell rings. If there was ever a good way to earn a trip to the house office and/or detention, this is it!

Next, don't wander around in the halls, even if you don't have a class at the present time. When I was a student, juniors and seniors could leave campus after their last class. I am uncertain whether this privilege is still granted. 

In any case, during the school day, you need to be somewhere and doing something at all times. Not doing so will get you asked "where are you supposed to be?", along with a decent tongue-lashing.

Fourth, know about the "five-minute rule". 

 

This is an unwritten rule that stipulates the following; in the event that a teacher is at least five minutes late for class, and there is no substitute teacher available, students in such class may take the period off.

 

Note that again, I refer to my own high school experience; this guideline may no longer apply.  

Now, some advice for incoming freshmen; watch your back, especially on Fridays!

Often, you'll run into people who do things like intentionally cause you to drop your books, or try to bully you in various ways. That's not to say that all students are like this; some of them can be very kind and helpful. 

Nevertheless, until you get your footing, you'll find that somebody always wants to start something. The trick is to stand up for yourself; that way, you'll find it less likely that others will mess with you.

As for Fridays, "if you know, you know"!  

Finally, enjoy this time to the fullest. 

They say that time waits for no one; indeed, all good things must someday come to an end. So it is with youth; before you know it, you'll be forty-something, and wondering where all that time went.  

Accordingly, take in the entire experience; the football games, the pep rallies, the homecoming dances, everything. Soon enough, it will be nothing but a memory.

And in a closing note, remember these words:

"And this above all, to thine own self be true" (3).

A Familiar Pattern (Or, "Method To The Madness")

For those that haven't kept up with recent sports events, allow me to explain the latest news out of Major League Baseball. 

On June 21, the Oakland Athletics officially announced their intent to move to Las Vegas, and begin play at a new stadium no sooner than 2025. If the club's application for relocation is approved, this will end a rich history of baseball in Oakland, one that dates back to at least 1968 (1).

Frankly speaking, this franchise relocation game has been played before. We saw it happen in 2004, as the Montreal Expos became the Washington Nationals. The original Cleveland Browns of the NFL high-tailed it to Baltimore in 1996. And in the NHL, the Hartford Whalers moved to North Carolina just a year after Art Modell left Cleveland without a pro football team (2, 3, 4). 

That being said, there seems to be somewhat of a method to the madness, so to speak. What we're seeing with the A's follows the same pattern as the other three cited cases. 

First, the franchise is totally gutted of star players and assets. The Expos, for example, traded players such as John Wetteland and Marquis Grissom for practically nothing in return. In Oakland's case, key talents like Starling Marte and Mike Fiers have been allowed to depart via free agency or trades. 

Second, the owner of the team talks negatively about the club, saying that it cannot operate under present circumstances. The narrative usually goes something like this: "a new stadium is necessary for us to be able to compete on a championship level". For the A's, the line delivered by owner John Fisher has been "future success...depends on a new ballpark" (5).   

The third step in the process is to reject all reasonable offers for a new stadium in the current market, and subsequently announce that negotiations have failed. 

In the case of the Whalers, owner Peter Karmanos was offered a brand new arena (to the tune of one hundred forty-seven point five million dollars) by the State of Connecticut. This proposal was turned down, with Karmanos demanding an additional forty-five million dollars "to cover losses". We have seen the same thing happen in Oakland; multiple different stadium options have been offered to the A's, ownership rejecting each one. 

Step four involves the formal announcement of the team's departure. The front office will profess to have done everything possible to remain in the current market; in reality, nothing is further from the truth. 

For Cleveland, this took the form of Art Modell ruling out any reconsideration of a move. Modell publicly stated that there was no way to keep the Browns from relocating;

"The bridge is down, burned, disappeared; there's not even a canoe there". 

Fifth, parties not involved in direct ownership of the franchise look for relief. They ask the sports league in question to block relocation efforts, but their pleas fall on deaf ears, as they did with the Expos. 

In the A's case, fans have been chanting "sell the team" for months on end. This chorus has moved beyond Oakland, and is now beginning to surface in other MLB cities. Yet to this point, the Fisher-Dave Kaval partnership that runs the team has maintained radio silence in response. 

Now we arrive at the endgame; the ninth inning; the final step in the relocation saga. All efforts to save the franchise having failed, the team opens its new (and frequently taxpayer funded) stadium to much fanfare and hoopla. 

The Nationals win the World Series; the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup, and the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl. Yet in the wake of success, communities are abandoned, dreams destroyed, and legacies made to be nothing but memories. This is the road that the Athletics are traveling. 

There are those that say the A's move to Vegas is inevitable, and simply should be accepted by Oakland's fans. These critics likely have never had to experience actually losing a major professional team. I have first-hand knowledge of the feelings involved; the end of the Whalers saddened me, as Peter Karmanos broke my heart. Try as I might, I can never forgive him for that.

And now, talk of relocation is spreading, as the Milwaukee Brewers are rumored to be exploring options for a move. There should be no doubt; if this can happen in Oakland and Milwaukee, it can happen in any other MLB market as well. 

Your team may be next; that's as good of a reason as any to say...

...SELL THE TEAM!!!

Travelogue: Lake George, Part 3

Waking up this morning in Lake George was a bit of an adventure.  Apparently, I had a nightmare during my sleep.  That'll teach me not to eat pizza as a midnight snack before bed!

After freshening up a bit, my brother and I headed down Canada Street to find some breakfast.  We pulled into an interesting looking place called "Biscotti Brothers"; a coffeehouse that also served traditional morning fare.  I couldn't get enough of their blueberry pancakes, which I washed down with two glasses of orange juice.  For his part, my brother quickly disassembled a cheese omelet.  

The weather in the area this week has been rather warm, but perfect for a dip into Lake George proper.  So of course, myself and my brother had to hit the beach.  It wasn't long before both of us were in the water.  

Speaking of the waters of Lake George, they are the cleanest, purest, and most crystal clear waters that I have ever been in.  I found myself saying a silent prayer of thanksgiving; "may these waters be clean and pure for generations to come".  

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.  So too must this vacation; tonight is my final night in Lake George.  The trip did not disappoint in any way; I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed myself.  

They are wondrous and beautiful things to behold, these shores.  As expected, the Adirondacks have been a little bit of heaven on earth.  The mountain air and the cool temperature of the lake refreshed not only my body, but my mind and spirit.  

And that's really what making this trip was all about. 

Travelogue: Lake George, Part 2

A little before three this afternoon, my brother and I pulled up to a small motel called "The Heritage".  It is here that we will be staying for the next two days.  The establishment is right on the main strip, a long road named Canada Street.  

As we got situated and settled, I promptly tried out the bed in my section of our cabin.  I found it to be comfortable; not too soft, but not too firm either.  A bed such as this is more than suitable for reading, listening to music, or simply "crashing".  

It's been a hot day in Lake George; a quick glance at area weather shows that the temperature reached upwards of ninety degrees Fahrenheit (nearby Canada uses the Celsius scale and metric system; we don't).  

Nevertheless, the street outside of the motel beckoned me.  I had to go see what it could offer.  

For the hungry adventurer, there are many places on Canada Street where they may satisfy their appetite.  One of these happens to be a restaurant called "Giuseppe's".  Knowing from past experiences that it is a go-to spot for Italian cuisine, my brother and myself decided to have an early dinner there.  

The indoor patio of Giuseppe's proved a welcome respite from the summer heat.  Years ago, the restaurant had a second deck upstairs, overlooking the lake.  Apparently, this is no longer the case, likely due in part to the presence of a large hotel that had been built next door. 

As for the food, it was delicious; just as I had remembered it.  My brother dined on a Southwestern Burger, along with - broccoli?! - on the side.  I chose to order - well, what else? - a Sicilian pizza, which I happily munched on forthwith.  

After paying the tab at Giuseppe's, we walked a short distance to another of my favorite attractions; Playland Arcade. The place is packed with fun and games, including a photo booth, various ticket-based machines, and a shooting gallery (you heard that right; actual guns, or at least reasonable imitations).  

I must've been doing something right, because I managed to win over seven hundred tickets through numerous games.  Even so, that wasn't quite enough to land me one of the big prizes exhibited behind the redemption counter.  I'll save my tickets, and head back to the arcade tomorrow.  

Exiting the arcade, my brother and I chose to make our last stop at a place aptly named "Scoop's Ice Cream Parlor".  

(I say "aptly named" because my brother frequently answers to the nickname of "Scoop") 

The eatery has a long history in Lake George.  It began as a soda fountain in the early 1970s, under a different name (at the moment, I cannot recall what that name was).  The last time that I was in the area, the shop featured its own candy for sale, which you could watch being made by hand before your eyes.  It no longer appears that this part of the parlor exists, but you can still sit at the counter, and enjoy an ice cream or refreshing milkshake.  

So far, my brother and I have enjoyed this welcome trip.  Our first day in Lake George featured great food, fun games, and even a short jaunt to a most memorable ice cream parlor.  Not too bad for the first time in twenty years, I'd say.  

Tomorrow, we will venture off to the lake proper, as well as get in a game or two of mini-golf.  

But first, sleep.  

Travelogue: Lake George, Part 1

From southern Connecticut, there are two main routes up to the Adirondacks region.  One is to take the Taconic State Parkway starting in White Plains, and follow it to the Interstate 87 Northway.  The other method is to use Connecticut's Route 8, eventually merging onto the interstate around Albany.  

Earlier today, my brother and I took the latter route to the Lake George NY area, passing through various towns in northwestern Connecticut and western Massachusetts as we did.  I must tell you that the journey north was smooth, and quite uneventful for the majority of the drive.  There is something about traversing secondary roads that gives you a quaint, down-home feeling.  

Presently, our car approached the Albany area, which forced us to get off the back roads and onto interstate highways.  We came upon towns with names such as Watervilet, Cohoes, Malta, and Gansevoort.  A little further up the road, a sign notified us that the Village of Lake George was just three miles away.  

Then, I saw it; a sight that I had been waiting twenty years to see, ever since my last trip to the region.  This, of course, was the beautiful body of water known as Lake George; the "Queen of American Lakes".  

Seldom have I felt as fulfilled as I did at the moment that I entered Lake George Village.  The community has a special meaning with me, for it is a place where I spent many summers with my late father.  It is like a flashback to childhood, and to simpler times far from the worries of the world.  

I feel as if the Adirondacks are welcoming me back to a place I have always loved, and where my soul feels the most free.  

Thank you for that, Lake George.  It's been too long.

The Problem with AEW

Let's turn back the clock a bit, and examine last year's version of All Elite Wrestling's "All Out".  

  

The post-event "Press Conference From Hell" clearly proved that the show had been well named, as wrestler CM Punk made various off-color remarks concerning the creative direction of the promotion.  These comments resulted in a backstage fight, the fallout from which threatened the long-term stability of AEW (1).  

For instigating this melee, Punk was taken off all company programming for almost eight months.  He also found himself stripped of the AEW World Championship, a title that he had claimed in the main event of the "All Out" show.  

Not long ago, the wrestler came back to AEW television, making his return appearance on the June seventeenth debut edition of "AEW Collision".  

However, it has become obvious that since Punk's return, devoted fans of the promotion haven't been too happy with the AEW product.  Although the scheduled "All In" event in London has been selling like hot cakes, US-based sales have been sagging as of late.  I point to CM Punk's personality and attitude as the primary reason for this (2).

A recent AEW-ROH show in Las Vegas (3).

Yes, the embattled Punk was once a revolutionary figure, and a man who changed "the game" in more ways than one.  Nevertheless, somewhere along the line, the wrestler developed an ego.  He started to not only hype himself up, but believe his own hype.  

We have seen what happens when someone begins to think that they are bigger than the company which they work for.  We have seen this in the fall of WCW (World Championship Wrestling), and the irrelevancy of Impact Wrestling.  

In both cases, one or more wrestlers saw themselves as God's gift to the entire industry.  That frame of mind is great for promos, but not so much in the public eye; fans don't necessarily appreciate it. 

Yet this seems to be the attitude that Punk now espouses (see definition).   

  

Speaking frankly, I have recently realized the meaning behind previous comments made about CM Punk by Kevin Nash and Eddie Kingston.  

During an in-ring speech made in 2011, Nash referred to Punk as a "cancer".  And as part of the run-up to 2021's "Full Gear", Kingston said this to his adversary (4, 5, 6):

"Nobody wants you here...do me a favor, quit again and leave for seven years, and don't come back".

Both comments were on the money.  It's readily apparent to this observer that Punk has become a problem.  His actions jeopardized not only the jobs and careers of other wrestlers, but the very existence of All Elite Wrestling.  The fans obviously don't like this, but for a company that claims to listen to its fans, AEW has been quite tone-deaf.    

That said, I think that CM Punk needs to put his ego aside for just a moment.  He must look into the camera, and offer an in-ring public apology for his careless actions.     

If the wrestler will not do this, then he clearly is a liability to the promotion.  Accordingly, it would be wise for AEW management to fire Punk, telling him never to return.  

On a final note to the staff of All Elite Wrestling, I say this; you have provided the best and most welcome competition to WWE in some time.  Don't throw it away, or screw it up!

"Fish, Or Cut Bait"

It seems to me that a lot of my fellow Nutmeggers have lost the will to work against the "machine", so to speak.  

You hear them talk all the time about the principles of liberty and freedom.  Yet when "it hits the fan", they run away, preferring to remain silent.  In my neck of the woods, we have a name for these sort of people; cowards.  

For a moment, I will quote Jay-Z: "you know the type; loud as a motorbike, but wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight" (1).  

Regarding the other side of this argument, some say that "we need to pick and choose our battles", thus implying that protesting makes no difference.  Let me address this for a second.  

Personally, I've always believed that in any confrontation, you should fight until one of two things happen; either you win the battle, or you are no longer capable of fighting.     

Also, in every life, there will come a point where someone must "fish, or cut bait".  That is, one must stand up for what they believe in, or abandon it altogether.  

That time is unquestionably now.  Indeed, "the line must be drawn here! This far and no further!" 

Begging your pardon of my Star Trek fandom (2):

We can't just silently watch as our rights are continually usurped, and everything is taken away from us.  We have to be willing to stand, draw a line, and defend it at all costs.  

If we're not, then we might as well pack up, and move south.  

(Sooner or later, "they" will get there, too)