GoodMidwestBoy's Blog

This seems like a scary issue to me.  For the record, I'm not a smoker, and I don't like it when somebody lites up next to me.  Both of my parents smoked in the house I grew up in, and I'd rather not be around it any more than I have to.  That being said, it makes me nervous when the government (at any level) restricts a right like this.  I do like to enjoy a beer while watching a football game.  How long before that right is removed?  To me, this is a mix between being a health issue and morality.  I can appreciate that our leaders want to protect our health and the well being of the environment or atmosphere of our city, but please don't decide for me.  Last time I checked, I'm an adult and can willingly remove myself from any establishment that I don't want to be a patron of.  That business owner could lose my money, and it is his prerogative to do so.  It might be in his best financial interest to lose my business in favor of 20 other people.  That's the basis of free-market capitalism.  I believe it is important for the government to stay out of this issue.  Again, I can understand why restaurants have to have designated smoke-free areas, that's a matter of health code, but to go to such extremes as to restrict smoking indoors at all establishments seems silly to me.  Don't our leaders have more pressing issues to tend to? 

I'm a long time Detroit Tigers fan, so by default I hate the Yankees.  As a kid I watched the Tigers battle the Yankees in the AL East.  This being said, I don't think the Evil Empire, or Joe Torre come out of this job negotiation looking bad.  Torre is the highest paid Manager on the team with the highest payroll.  When you pay that much, expectations are higher than the rest of the league.  If the Tigers made the playoffs two seasons in a row, then I'd be pleased (of course every fan wants their team to win it all, but we have to be realistic).  When the Yankees lost in the first round, two seasons in a row, the management and fans were justified expecting more from their team.  Torre made $7 million this year.  Would it be reasonable to reward to years in a row of disappointment with a long-term contract for the same amount?  I say that rewards a failure to meet expectations.  If you did that at your job, would you expect a long-term guaranteed contract for the same amount or more?  I don't think so.  Instead, the Yankees offered him reasonable $5 million with incentives for each round of the playoffs.  If he made it to the World Series, he would have made $8 million.  It seems reasonable to me that if he met the expectation, then he would make more than last year.  If not, then he would get paid according to the level they performed at.  Torre also walks away looking ok.  Now, if he goes somewhere else, he knows he can't expect to even ask for $5 for the season (even if he wins a World Series).  I think the Yankees made a good offer, and he made a personal choice not to stay with the organization.  To anybody who is saying the Yankees lack class, or that he looks weak, I challenge you to support that statement.  Even as a Yankee Hater, I have to say this was good business.  I don't like that such crazy numbers can unbalance the league, but that's the reality of baseball.  If you're disgruntled, what you should really be asking for is a salary cap similar to the NFL.  They have it right.  

I grew up in the midwest, so I'm a BigTen fan.  When the leaves change colors, the smell of football sweeps in across a cool breeze.  I miss that sensation, but I have to admit that I'm getting good football in Texas.  I will always be loyal to my teams back home, but their style of football tradition is alive and well here in Big 12 Country.  Any conference will have it's ups and downs.  Powerhouses are usually the same, but every once in a while a secondary team reaches beyond their humble expectations.  Its hard to watch one of those schools go to your conference's bowl game, but it's better than your rival going.  The Big 12 has more teams that spread the ball out with prolific passing schemes, but they do pound out the ground game like the Big Ten.  The linemen are like the schools themselves, big and grounded (just try to move me).  The best part about football in both regions is the way it penetrates local culture.  Fan is short for fanatic, and there are some crazy football fans in the Big Ten and Big 12.  I lived in Pac 10 country for four years and the fans just aren't the same.  Maybe they're just not blue collar enough for me.  I appreciate the people and the football down here.  Because I'm not from here, I don't have loyalty to any particular team in the BIg 12.  My interests tend to be personal.  When UT plays OU, I have friends on either side who I can comment on the game with.  When A&M plays Baylor, same thing.  I'd love to hear from more people in the Big 12 about why you're fanatic for your team.  Let's share stories about big games and traditions.  I just want to learn more about this conference.  It's also fun to share personal traditions, stories and even pictures.  Take me back to those days and make me smell the football in the air here.