To Tweet or Not to Tweet

ZBU: To tweet or not to tweet is a thought that has become as prevalent as the famous Shakespeare quote once was. Thanks to social media, spur of the moment thoughts and instant reactions can be broadcast to the world. For an average guy like you or me, usually about 40 people in the world actually read what we have to say. For pro athletes, however, no matter how popular they are, thousands of people read every little thing they tweet and the more controversial the statement, the more publicity it gets. This of course is not rocket science and comes with the territory of being famous.

 It was no surprise then when Miami Dolphins safety Don Jones got destroyed by fans and media this week after tweeting "horrible" and "OMG" upon seeing Michael Sam, the NFL's first openly gay player, kiss his boyfriend after being drafted.

Now, to tweet or not to tweet is definitely a thought Jones should have had but clearly didn't. Nothing positive could have come from making such a discriminatory statement this day and age. I do, however, wonder if I agree with the Miami Dolphins then fining Jones, making him apologize and take educational classes. I understand that he represents the Dolphins brand and if we broadcast the companies we work for on social media and made comments like his, our companies would probably take action as well. But I guess what I'm getting at is if we are going to allow social media to exist and provide us with others' instant emotions and reactions, how can we regulate and verbally crucify people for what they have to say? Jones reacted to something not natural in his mind and (granted in a very juvenile way) he reacted. Should he have thought twice and kept those thoughts to himself? Probably. But should he have to? I don't know. There was a time when Michael Sam would have been forced to keep such a picture private. Who gets to play dictator and decide what thoughts and pictures should and shouldn't be revealed to the world? Just because someone has an unfavorable and even ignorant opinion that most won't agree with, does that mean he should not be entitled to one at all? An even better question is if social media didn't provide an outlet for virtual mobs to attack someone's opinion would the Dolphins even have taken such swift face-saving actions?  There are only opinions to serve as answers to these questions but when Hamlet asked whether or not he should be, I don't think he was worried about what everyone else thought he should do. So I guess in my opinion, to tweet or not to tweet is to be or not to be and that my friend is the question.

PAV: Love the Shakespearean analogy. What this issue comes down to is the Dolphins saving face, as you said. They can't continue successfully as a brand while allowing one of their employees to be outwardly homophobic. If they allow the tweet to go unpunished, then they are enablers of ignorance and society doesn't like institutions like that. What they did was best for their brand, even though they are essentially impeaching on said player's constitutional and sovereign rights. I don't think anyone's opinion should be regulated and at the same time I don't think opinions like Don Jones or Don Sterling's should be taken seriously. There are obviously people in the world who feel a certain way about things they are either ignorant to or afraid of, i.e. black people and gays.

The official statement from the Miami Dolphins and LA Clippers should be "Who cares what these two-bit scum bags think of black men and gay men. They don't speak for our organization as a whole and never will." I realize Donald Sterling, as an owner, essentially speaks directly for his organization, but his opinion is his opinion and he has no power to turn anyone away from the gates at the Staples Center.

To answer your question: Tweet. Tweet away until you are only followed by the ignorant few who share your idiotic ideals. The rest of us will continue to adapt to a changing and improving world. You can stay dumb.

Perspective for Once

PAV: So this really small thing got me kind of revved up about a topic I don't think gets mentioned enough. I was checking the postgame stats for the Miami Heat's thrashing of Charlotte on Sat., April 29. The recaps on the Yahoo! Sports app have user created video loops. Not only are these mini-highlights created by users, they are also commented on. One intelligent young lass, referring to herself as "Elsie" took this opportunity to make a very bold character distinction between Michael Jordan and King James, saying, "LeBron is an all around better player and better human being than MJ will ever be."

"People" like "Elsie" demonstrate the ignorance created by extreme fandom and the anonymous nature of social media. The extreme fandom creates a false intimacy between fans and athletes. This woman has never met Michael Jordan or LeBron James, yet she feels the need to make sure everyone reading her comment knows that MJ is not a good person. She feels protected by the internet and can pass any sort of character evaluation she chooses because of that protection. This hits me on a deeper level...

Disclaimer: this next paragraph is going to seem unrelated until very late in the process. Stick with me.

I watch a series called "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" on crackle.com. Its basically Jerry Seinfeld picking up his comedian friends in a beautiful vintage car and taking them to breakfast. The interactions are nothing but organic and the laughs are certainly genuine, which is why I'm drawn to the show. I recommend it even if you aren't a Seinfeld fan. In an episode last season, Jerry picks up Michael Richards (Kramer from Seinfeld for those of you born after 2001). During their conversation Richards reveals that he has struggled mightily after a racist tirade directed toward an audience member during a stand-up show in 2006 (if you watch this video just know its obscene and offensive, but you should gain some perspective from it). Seinfeld and Richards talk about the importance of coming from a place of selflessness. Seinfeld says "you have to free yourself...we are just raindrops on a windshield." His message is that we need to stop focusing on the judgement and gain awareness. If "Elsie" would just appreciate the entertainment and athleticism provided by both MJ and LeBron, she wouldn't be angry at the former for letting her down at some point to the degree that she feels the need to call him a "bad person." Take things at face value. Appreciate whatever happens to be in front of you right now. If you ever stop doing that, step back and check your perspective.

ZBU: A lack of perspective and a false sense of intimacy are definitely two of the biggest negative by-products brought to us by technology and social media.  There are "Elsies" with opinions all over the internet who sadly truly believe some of the crap they are saying. I would love to see how they would react if their every move was dissected and mocked. "Nice presentation Elsie...too bad you're overpaid and will never have as much talent as Bill up in accounting. His presentations are Hall of Fame caliber."   Maybe that is the only way they would actually gain some perspective... and I may have just come up with the next big reality show. Gain some Perspective.

Anyways, a point I want to make that I believe is often overlooked is that athletes and celebrities endure a lot of anger and stress due to social media. Sure we hear about the catastrophic blow ups like Michael Richards and I know they get paid millions of dollars but I think there needs to be more praise for those who do have perspective and don't let "Elsies" get them down. Last week, Dan Patrick interviewed the Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday and they discussed some of the negative tweets he's been getting by people who own him on their fantasy baseball teams. Holliday laughed and said he understands it because he's a big fantasy football player who of course hates when his team loses. He went on to say that he's trying really hard and can hopefully get some points for owners soon. His playful mocking tone was a great example of a nonchalant way to deal with the fanatics who feel they are entitled to say what they want. Holliday is a guy who has perspective and refuses to let random people online ruin his day. There will probably always be "Elsies" trolling online, but maybe approaches like Holliday's will eventually allow them to see just how ridiculous they are being.

Cheaters and Racists and Liars OH MY!

ZBU: Sorry for the lapse in recent activity with the blog. There is no excuse for not practicing your craft and for that we apologize.

 A lot has happened since we posted a month ago but there is no better way to come back then to discuss a couple of  good old fashioned cheaters and racists. It all started about a week ago when Yankee's pitcher Michael Pineda was ejected from their game against the Red Sox for having pine tar on his neck. It is one of those "everybody does it" type of scenarios, but when you do it so blatantly and against the team that has already called you out on it this year, you my friend are an idiot. There was literally a blob of tar on this guy's neck. I mean at least get creative and hide it under your hat or something.

And speaking of keeping it under the hat, this leads me to our racist of the week... Clippers owner Donald Sterling. By now, most mainstream media outlets have already beat this story to death and they will undoubtedly continue to do so for weeks ahead. In case you somehow haven't heard however, Mr. Sterling was caught on tape making racist remarks to his girlfriend who ironically is of mixed descent herself, and basically told her to stop taking pictures with "black people."  Mr. Sterling is obviously a bigot and his track record of past law suits backs this fact up. The things he said in the tape are absolutely ridiculous and he should probably step down as owner of the Clippers. But what I don't think is being talked about enough is how this guy has been known to be this way for years and it is just now being addressed. It has been one of those "everybody knows it" scenarios and it took a Pineda type of blatant ignorance to finally expose the man for who he is. In short, Sterling at last blobbed his racism all over his neck and forced the league to react. The hard truth is that there are cheaters and racists all over this planet but we can't turn a naked eye to this fact most of the time and then act surprised when these boneheads finally push the limit. They need to be dealt with swiftly and then swept under rug. Let's not give their stupidity the coverage it doesn't deserve.

PAV: I have to point out the amazing alliteration you produced in the third sentence in the second paragraph.
OK, so I don't think the Michael Pineda saga (I just like the word "saga") is even news. Pine tar is a funny substance to begin with. I understand its purpose, but you would figure there would have been some technological advances in bat grips by now. The word idiot is totally appropriate. Funny is another good word.
As far as Sterling is concerned, he just got fined $2.5 million and is banned for life from the NBA. The NBA board of governors will force the sale of the team for political reasons (backlash of a "no" vote) and we will never hear from him in sports again. The problem with Sterling and men like him is that their bigotry is overlooked when their wallets are out. The great news is people like him are slowly dying out. I realize men like this create offspring, but people are becoming more open to race, ethnicity, and sexual identity than ever despite what you may think. By the time my kids are my age racism will be much less blatant and Donald Sterling's brethren will be dead and gone, gladly.

When the Game's Over

ZBu: It was late at night on a Saturday my senior year of high school. Huddled up in a circle on the outfield grass, down on one knee were nine eighteen year olds looking around an empty field under the bright lights. Some stared aimlessly. Some had anger in their eyes. Others tried to no avail to fight back tears. These were nine eighteen year olds realizing the past four years were over, life was about to change forever and they had fallen short of a goal they had been working so hard towards... a state championship. Some knew they would move on and play again in college but others realized their time on the field was done. Such is the life of an athlete. Such is life in general. Everything you have come to know can be taken from you and over in an instant. But to this day, now ten years later, I remember looking around at my teammates and feeling so proud to have been a part of such a great team filled with many different personalities who cared for each other nonetheless.

I was reminded of this moment in my life while watching North Dakota State's post game press conference last night after being ousted from the NCAA tournament by San Diego State. I really hadn't thought about it in a long time though its one of those life moments that never leaves you and that's probably because I was one of the guys fighting back tears knowing I'd never play again. Something I really love, however, is that even though it has now been a decade since I played on the Wando baseball team, if I ever see any of my teammates out and about, now matter how long its been, we can pick right up and have a conversation as if we were hitting balls off a tee hours before. These are guys I'm forever connected to because we once shared the same hopes and dreams while growing into men together. The North Dakota State's men's basketball team will undoubtedly feel the same way towards each other and if nothing else can always have a drink and discuss the time they knocked off a higher-seeded Oklahoma in their final season.

Our last blog was about kids getting out and being more active. I stand by everything we said in that piece and kids should be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want to play sports. But its nostalgic moments like the one described above that really makes me hope my son or daughter invests in athletics. Not simply for a healthy body but for a healthy soul that has felt heartache and bliss all at once. The rest of life is too serious not to lose yourself in a game that can hurt badly at times but only makes you stronger in the long run. Win or lose, the memories and experiences are yours forever.

PAV: I got chills when I thought about that moment after our 4th loss of the season to Stratford. We were nationally ranked and we had really no business being so. We had no top prospects to name (no offense to Mike). We lost to a team that had two current MLB stars. We could've won! That's what I keep telling myself. I'm sure the North Dakota State team is saying the same thing: "If we could've stopped Xavier Thames, we had that game." The comaraderie those guys will feel after a great season by all measures will be everlasting.
The overwhelming feeling I'll always have about our amazing 2004 season will be that we were nationally ranked and outs away from a State Championship DESPITE our coach. Ask any of the 15 guys on our roster that year and all but one of them will tell you that. It was a moment in my life when I learned I could lead and when I learned that just because someone may be older and more experienced than you doesn't mean they are greater than you by any means. We won that year because we had faith in one another at all times. Can't learn that from Call of Duty.

Go Outside!

Pav: Recently, my wife and I were talking about how important we thought sports were in helping us become who we are today. Playing sports, especially team sports, helps you overcome lots of things. Social anxiety, self-esteem, leadership, coordination and just knowing that you can challenge yourself are only a handful of things sports can hep you either hone or overcome. I wish I were more active now and I think all the time how sports would always be a way for me to escape frustrating or otherwise negative situations. Just being outside and getting a little bit dirty can get you over the hump.
What I've noticed recently, though, is a lot of kids aren't active. I know its no secret that tons of kids play video games for hours on end, but having first person experience with two, albeit young, kids of my own and a nephew whom I'm with every day I've noticed a lot of kids could really care less whether they get outside or not. I'm going to digress...
I just watched a video of my dad and his brothers and their friends in 1962! It shows a bunch of kids, ages ranging from probably two to teenagers. They are running outside, trying to mount horses bareback, riding tractors and letting it rip in that primal way you know only exists in those moments when you have the freedom of childhood ahead of you. If you were to interview one of those kids today, not one of them would tell you they'd rather be inside playing board games (my weak attempt at a contemporary alternative to video games). My point is, you discover what you're made of when you're out in nature; getting bloody and bruised and sweating is well worth the effort.
I'm not against video games at all. I think they tap into different parts of us and can help with problem solving, spatial skills and imagination (article).  The real difference, to me, is that you're exposed when you're being physical with other people. Your body is vulnerable to injury. Your ego is vulnerable to embarrassment. If you get hurt in a video game, you start over. If you get beat by another player, you don't have to listen to their taunts. You are insulated in a very comfortable world while at your game console. Sports make you uncomfortable and I think everyone should have to go through that to learn what they are capable of. This article backs me up --> get active!

ZBu: We obviously have a lot of things in common (see Class inseparables yearbook picture) and in this case I definitely agree. My absolute favorite thing to do growing up in Baltimore was to go down to the corner store, buy a rubber ball, and throw it off my row home's wall imitating Cal Ripen with my baseball glove. The next big step was waiting for the older guys on the block to invite you to play street hockey or basketball against the other kids in the neighborhood. I know its cliché but I really stayed outside until the street lights started to come on and my mom called me in.
With that being said, I'm going to play devil's advocate here. Is it really that kids aren't active or are they a by-product of unbelievable technological advances and a complete shift in parenting styles? Imagine if your dad and his brothers had the new Xbox complete with 5 to 10 games and multiple controllers. Is it possible they would be more tempted to stay inside playing these games with incredible graphics while still messing with each other and learning some humility? Is it also possible that your dad and his brothers could play Xbox all day long because their parents allowed this to happen, don't have horses, and feel their kids are safer inside then out? I think so.
As you pointed out, video games definitely serve a purpose with kids and can help them grow in many different ways. There is also absolutely something to be said about getting outside, playing sports and discovering yourself like kids have been doing for centuries. Ultimately, I think it comes down to the impossible task of parenting in an age more advanced than any other. Even if you limit your own child's video game playing, he or she can still go over to friend's house and spend more time inside. I think we just have to continue to show them the benefits of both and understand kids are inherently active. If we show them the benefits of sports and are enthusiastic about them, they'll come around.

PAV: I think you really hit home with the "impossible task of parenting..." in the times we are in. My wife and I second guess all the time if we are making the right decisions about what our 5 year-old does and is exposed to. I know I can be overbearing with my expectations and I actively curb that when I can. I think the goal should be to figure out what your kid responds to naturally. My son plays tee ball 2-3 times a week, has Tae Kwon Do lessons twice a week, and LEGO class once a week. He is allowed to play video games (tablet only) on weekends. That's a lot of stimulation for a little kid, but I know he responds positively to all of it. He gets tired during the week, but I enjoy the fact that his busy little brain and uncoordinated little body get a good workout.  You'll soon learn about this, future dad...

Keeping it Real

ZBU: I had originally intended to throw this topic up at the end of our Court Storming post but later decided the subject deserved its own spot. So who is keeping it real? Well in my opinion, its Ian Kinsler, the infielder who is now a member of the Detroit Tigers. Ian made some news worthy statements recently when being interviewed by ESPN the magazine. He is quoted calling the Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels "a sleazeball" and saying he hopes his former team goes "0-162" this season.  Kinsler felt slighted by his former team's G.M. because he found out about being traded for Prince Fielder well before actually being told in person and he apparently had various other issues with the team's front office. Kinsler is of course being ripped by various media outlets for his comments now but let me be one of the few to say I LOVE IT! I'm so sick of the politically correct, garbage statements that most athletes make. I am especially sick of the "buddy-buddy" attitude many athletes have toward each other. This is why I loved when Kevin Garnett shunned Ray Allen in their first game against each other after being teammates for 5 years in Boston. Ray went to go shake his hand and make small talk before the tip and KG just looked the other way. You are now the enemy. This is competition and your career not some Sunday over 40 church league. Bird and Magic would never have played grab ass before a game started. Pete Rose ran over the catcher in an All-Star game that meant nothing!  I say good for Ian Kinsler. You're not a Ranger anymore. They traded you because they believed they could upgrade. Instead of saying thank you for the time spent in Texas, why not say screw it I hope they lose every game this year because they are now the enemy. If your boss swapped you with another employee at another company would you put on a smile and thank him for having you at the company or would you say the hell with them and use it as motivation? I know what I would do...I'd keep it real.

Pav: This sort of reaches a larger subject for me. People are more and more guarded about what they say in general. I think people should say exactly what they think or keep their mouths shut. I'm obviously not condoning anyone walking out into the world and shaming everyone they know because they are in a bad mood. What I mean is, when someone asks you a question or your opinion about something, just say what you really feel. I would much rather interact with someone who is up front and completely hates me than someone I can't figure out. It's not fun to guess at peoples emotions and motivations. It's a waste of time and energy I'm not willing to engage in.

I think Ian Kinsler is going to catch some more shit because of this silly incident, but he is totally entitled to say what he said. He felt slighted and acted accordingly. He should be respected for that. He was treated like a commodity like athletes often are and he should be mad. I hope it motivates him. 

Court Storming

ZBU: We got a double topic post today as a new issue arose within the last day that I wanted to touch on at the end. First things first. By now everyone has heard about the fight that broke out between fans and players after Utah Valley's 66-61 overtime victory over New Mexico State. If you haven't, have a look https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2al0WUXpCXg. It was a pretty wild scene and to be fair it could have been avoided if New Mexico State guard K.C. Ross-Miller wouldn't have lost his cool and launched the ball at Utah Valley's Holton Hunsaker just before the buzzer. This act was definitely the spark that ignited the chaos. But let's be honest...it's really a surprise this doesn't happen more often in what has become a cliché ritual after wins.

Now I have to point out I have never had the pleasure of storming a court but I know people who have and they all say its a memorable experience. I absolutely think everyone should get to experience it once but when you have fans doing it on a weekly basis, it has to lose its meaning. Not to get all psychological here but I think this can be related back to how kids are raised these days. In the era of "every player gets a trophy," this generation's college students can't be left out of anything, so they have to storm courts like they used to see on tv after big games. Their fatal flaw, however, is they put no meaning behind their celebratory acts. They just do it so they can say they did. But as I said, when every kid gets a trophy and everyone has stormed a court, the passion and meaning are long gone. Do I think a court should be stormed every once and a while? Absolutely. Should you see it happen every week on ESPN and has it become redundant? Without a doubt.

Pav: I think the Indiana Pacer's incident with Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest is a huge reason fans' interaction should be severely limited. The problem is that everyone wants to be as close as possible to the action. People want to be seen next to these athletes so they can be a more intimate part of the experience. The problem is, spectators CAN'T be a part of the action. The sanctity of sports is gone, then.  It only ever hides in the nooks and crannies between social media and fan interaction. Those spaces are disintegrating. I think the Pacer's incident proves that people can't handle being so close to the action a lot of the time. I realize there are two sides to the aggression in the example I'm using, but its hard to protect an already vulnerable athlete from any one of thousands of possibly drunk, likely angry fans. Athletes should be left to celebrate or fight or cry without your drunk asshole friend shoving his face in the camera doing the "suck it" gesture. I do, though, think there is certainly a place for mass celebration...

If you're South Carolina (not picking on the Gamecocks) and you beat No. 25 Kentucky for your fourth conference win of the year, you aren't special and you've won nothing. You are celebrating something less than mediocrity. You are celebrating the fact that you are inferior. This happens almost once a week in whichever conference happens to be televised. Where do you go from there?

Mike Krzyzewski says that Duke fans only storm the court for Championships. Expect greatness from your school or team. Don't celebrate getting lucky or the fact that you beat a perennially great team on a bad night. I went to The U as a freshman in 2004 thinking I would for sure see a championship football game of some kind. It never happened. In fact we were pretty average for the four years I was in Coral Gables. We never celebrated victories as though it would be the only one we'd ever have. I can guarantee we would've found a way around the security wall if we'd won a National Championship, though. We need to give our athletes (professional and, um, otherwise) the respect that we expect them to be better than the game before. Respect them enough to hold them to higher standards than the mediocre.