Dear Mary June 22, 2009
Posted by Jay in professional sports, tennis.2 comments
Normally, it is an extraordinary day when Wimbledon, The Championships begins. A day I have marked on my calendar. It is the tournament every tennis enthusiast yearns for. It is the tournament where the environment is unmatched by any other Slam, much less tournament. It is the tournament with the most legacy, prestige, and gamesmanship. A true testament to the meaning of “The Championships”. However, this Grand Slam (along with the others) is now tainted to me. It started as a small pebble rolling down a snow covered mountain, but has accumulated into a catastrophic ball of filth, horse shit, and disrespect. Dear Mary, you have effectively ruined 4 of my happiest times of the year. Grand Slams.
As a blogger, I am freely open to state my opinion(s) on issues that I feel are relatively important enough to digitally codify. In this case, I will exercise my concern for the brutality of professional tennis as we know it. The commentating of Mary Carillo is hurting the tennis world. As a tennis enthusiast, I am absolutely repulsed at how she has continued to effectively chip away at my love for professional tennis. At first, I just started to mute the TV and continue watching the matches. Eventually, though, you realize it’s just not the same to not hear the crack of the ball, the sound of the crowd, and the grunts of the competitors. All of these are essential to the professional match experience! The emotions run high, and the tension can be shared by experiencing these typical sounds of a match. I’ll tell you what I can do without, though. Mary Carillo. The world would honestly be a better place without her on the air waves. Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, and the William’s Sisters agree. All of them refuse contact and interaction with Carillo.
Many of us are familiar with Mary’s style of commentating. When she’s not stirring up ridiculous theories on unrelated matters, she can be heard with her John Madden esque approach to the game. It’s often mind numbing. Knowing Carillo was a former professional herself, I used to figure she knew what she was saying and that as an amateur of sorts, I should listen and learn. Sweet sassy molassy, I don’t think I could have been further off. Have you heard this woman talk? I can’t decide if I’m watching an NTRP 2.0 grand prix finals match or a legitimate, professional match. Yes, Mary, if you are reading, you are THAT bad. In fact, it’s become relatively clear why you were never able to do anything noteworthy as a player in the sport, and as such, obviously feel compelled to leave your mark on the game as a bitter commentator. Apparently, you have forgotten what it’s like to be in the heat of a rally, game, set, match, and tournament. You wait for an error by one of the players to open the flood gates on the million things they could have done differently to “win” the point. Honestly Mary, it’s like when John Madden says the Cowboys should have went with the half-back sweep AFTER getting stuffed in the middle on 3rd and 1. Obvious, and stupid.
Yes, Mary, on top of your general stupidity, you are bitter, and it’s obvious to viewers. It’s sad that you had knee problems that essentially put an end to your run as a professional tennis player. Honestly, it is sad. Try and think about that moment when you cast your judgments on current professionals facing injuries, suggesting faking and the likes. Yes, the viewers are watching when Jankovic or Djokovic takes a break for a “cramp”, and whatever else. You don’t need to comment on how obvious it seems to you. You’re not the one playing in the 100+ degree heat against current professionals in the top 10. Bitch, please……You were never ranked higher than 33 in your three year career, and your highlight is winning a mixed doubles draw with JOHN MCENROE as your partner. You’re lucky you grew up with John, Mary, or you wouldn’t even have that claim to fame. Alona Bondarenko. Wait, what? Oh, that’s the current number 33 on the WTA. Enough said.
“I just wish players looked over the body of work, rather than one or two comments,” Carillo said. She continued with, “My job is to take the information I have and back it up with opinions. I say what I mean and I mean what I say. Criticism from players and coaches is just part of the business.” Well, she certainly had an opinion when Monica Seles was tragically stabbed in 1993, effectively ending her career as a professional tennis player for the next two years. Fact of the matter was, Monica was never the same on the court after this tragedy. The terror was too much for her, and after mustering up one last Grand Slam singles title, she retired. Carillo, though, had a different take on the situation. “Monica’s going to milk this sucker dry. Tennis is just a stepping-stone. Her real goal is being a star.” Apparently winning nine Grand Slam singles titles wasn’t enough for Monica to reach stardom, so she was forced to milk getting knifed in the back with a 10” blade for every piece of fame it was worth!
Let’s rewind to the US Open in 2007. In reference to Shahar Pe’er (Israel) winning her match, Mary Carillo was quoted saying, “The Jew won today.” Though she would correct herself later in the commentary, the damage had been done. When Don Imus called a bunch of Rutgers female hoopsters “nappy headed hos”, it didn’t matter how much he apologized. Why is Carillo still announcing for ESPN/NBC? My only train of logical thought is that tennis, obviously, doesn’t generate the viewing of other sports. It’s sad that many of you are probably unaware of these examples I’m pointing out. If Jeff Van Gundy(NBA analyst) had said anything like this, he would be gone with no questions asked. I would read/see it on the net, on PTI, and Sportscenter. Not just for a day, either, but for weeks upon weeks.
What exactly was the breaking point for me with you, Mary? Your disregard for manners and blatant display of disrespect to Roger Federer this morning was my melting point. Rather than focusing on how Roger could cement history with his 15th Grand Slam win at the same site he netted his first, you started right off with the crying at the end of last year’s finals, commonly referred to as the greatest match of all time by commentators who know a thing or two about the sport.
Some may claim that Mary simply makes such statements to stir the pot or get tennis talked about. This is essentially admitting Mary Carillo has sold her soul to make a dollar out of the sport who has made her who she is today. Fair trade, right? I think not, Mary. Quit making a mockery out of the sport who has given you the purse to pay your mortgage. Quit ripping on players who have accomplished things you can’t even dream about. Stop “stirring the pot” and trying to add persons to your already large hater list. You haven’t even won a TV commentator related award in like 20 years now. You’re pathetic, do the fans of tennis a favor and retire before you find a way to submerge below rock bottom. We got rid of Gimmelstob, and now it’s time to do away with you too.
Thoughts and Reflections on 2009 NBA Playoffs Thus Far May 11, 2009
Posted by Jay in professional sports.add a comment
First things first, I’m so tired of stupid commentators and/or announcers. It’s seriously getting to the point where I often find myself muting the games. This isn’t just with the 2009 NBA Playoffs, but all sports as of late, even/especially tennis too. At any rate, that’s the subject for another blog. Let’s talk basketball.
Western Conference: Biggest news this week is that Yao Ming is having troubles with his left foot again, and will miss the remainder of the post season. You’d think this would be a good thing for the Los Angeles Lakers, but after yesterday’s game, apparently not! Phil Jackson said he wasn’t embarrassed and that people should give the Rockets some credit for coming up with a way to win the game, and that Aaron Brooks was sensational. FALSE. Jesus man, just say something that the rest of us who have been watching the Lakers all season long have noticed. YOUR DEFENSE IS PATHETIC. YOU WON’T BEAT LEBRON AND THE CAVS UNLESS YOU COMMIT TO DEFENSE. I’m honestly scared. The Lakers are superior in talent to ANY team in the NBA. Yes, that’s correct. If you disagree, well, you’re wrong! They have more depth and talent than any other team in the league, even over a healthy ball club from Boston (aka pretending Garnett is 100%). It is not uncommon for the Lakers to put in their entire secondary squad and make up points in a game even when facing the oppositions first string. However, this season has reminded me of a Laker team of the past. It wasn’t too long ago we saw Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Lamar Odom all on the same team. It was the same team we saw the Detroit Pistons make a mockery out of in the NBA finals after the Lakers semi-struggled to get there. How did this happen? Defense……DEFENSE. It wasn’t until the last 8 minues of yesterday’s game the Lakers actually played something that closely resembles acceptable defense. That is, they would play defense all the way up until someone on the Rockets would pull up for a shot, but then forget about it. I’ve never seen so many guys retreat for cherry picking buckets and not crash the boards. Why? I have no idea. The Lakers DON’T need to run a fast paced game to win. They have the unparelleled triangle half-court offense which they can run out of three different guys and beat anyone. Instead, they push the ball, only to settle for some 18 footer that only Kobe should be taking, not guys like Luke Walton and Sasha Vujacic. Are the Lakers going to get to the finals? Yes. All these people harping the Rockets have a legitmate shot are living in a dream world, but reality is, this series should have been 4-0. The Lakers are that much better.
The Mavericks undoubtedly got screwed by the referees in game 3 of their set with the Nuggets. ESPN analysts are harping on how the foul should have been harder or more blatant, or that head coach Rick Carlisle should have told the refs he intends to use an intentional foul and to be on the look out for it. Ya, good idea…..Let’s have George Karl look at me walking over to have a discussion with the refs. Hmmmm….Whatever could he be talking about!? Not using their last team foul to give is it!? Unreal this is even suggested. Bottom line, the refs stole a HUGE game for the Mavs, and because of that, you can stick a fork in them, they’re done. The Nuggest have played exceptionally well all series long, I’m not trying to take anything from them, but this serious should be 2-1 and not 3-0. Dallas should have had a shot to even the series at home. It’s going to be really interesting to see how they react when game 4 rolls around.
Eastern Conference: Not much to discuss here. LeBron James, the man-child, is dominating. The Atlanta Hawks are proving last year was fluke, and that unless they can knock down 39%+ of their three point field goals, they are a joke of a team. I’m extremely disappointed in Superman Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. Can Van Gundy get fired please? (actually, let’s fire them both so I don’t have to listen to his annoying brother commentate) I’m sick and tired of this highly talented squad losing. Some nights they play better than any team in the league. They have all the tools of a championship caliber team. Solid D, inside and outside offense, and the ability to score a lot of points in a relatively small window of time. How is it then they keep letting some slouch named Big Baby keep dropping 20+ points on them a game? Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are good, but they’re not Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, or LeBron James. Stop double teaming these guys, and play them like you would play Bryant/Wade/James. Play smash mouth, in your face defense, and keep them away from the rim and foul line. Yes, they will knock down some ridiculous jumpers in your face and make you wonder why you just hustled your ass off only to look silly, but you won’t open up the lane for inferior players to get easy lay ins time and time again. You will also reduce the offensive boards from guys like Davis. Doesn’t really matter at this point, the Cleveland LeBrons are going to the finals, and have a legitimate shot to win it. Boston has one thing going for them this post season, the clutchness. How many buzzer beaters are we going to see these guys drop? If Garnett comes back, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Celtics can upset the LeBrons. Especially since we all know they’d be getting a little extra help from the zebras.
Social Networking; Benefits, Negatives, Annoyances May 11, 2009
Posted by Jay in Uncategorized.3 comments
a little piece of me dies everytime I see this logo
The digital revolution has brought about many, many changes within our world. First, it was the extinction of manuscript letter writing and forever changed the ways of communication. Phone calls are also undoubtedly less common this day and age. Even your bills/bank statements are being handled online, electronically (well, if you’re environmentally responsible and efficient they are!). It seems the last few years have begun the next biggest shift in modern communication. Email, which once eclipsed modern mail as we know it is beginning to take the back seat to social networking sites. Facebook and Myspace lead the pack in changing the way that people not only connect with current friends, but reconnect with friends of the old. Personally, I’m a Facebook type of guy. Simple enough, but has plenty of capability, and less spam/teeny boppers asking to be my friend. I can log on, check out what’s new with my friends, and share a couple funny links I have found throughout the day. I probably check my Facebook 10-15 times a day, and probably more than that if I’m at work and bored. My Blackberry makes sure to inform me anytime someone writes me on Facebook. I have a Myspace account too, but seldom use it. I pretty much only have it to keep in touch with my sister. My sister is a diehard Myspace addict and can’t deal with the hardships of not being able to customize a Facebook page with things like a Hello Kitty dressed up as a Stormtrooper. Ok, bad example, that’s actually pretty damn funny. However, most customizations of Myspace pages tend to down right annoy/piss me off! You’re not hardcore, you’re not a unique and individual little snowflake, and nobody cares that you are on your quest to “find yourself” or something else equally lame to being unemployed, uneducated, and socially worthless. To me, there is an obvious generation gap with these social networking sites. Myspace definitely seems the haven for 12-18 year olds,while Facebook seems to dominate 18+. Both can be great tools if used properly for social networking, but both can tend to drive one insane and give new insights to “friends”.
Enter Twitter. What are you doing? A catchy little motto that grabs the attention of self consumed mongoloids who honestly think the rest of the social networking world give a shit about what they’re doing every time they take a few seconds to type one line and enlighten us. Tweet Tweet!! Alison is trying the new Herbal Essence! OK, OK….. Perhaps I’m being a little too harsh at ones enthusiasm for taking a shower and using some new shampoo (this is also a hypothetical situation, but those of you who “tweet” know this is entirely realistic, sadly). Actually, NO, I’m NOT! What good comes from this? Do I get to see a quick synopsis of how the new Herbal Essence was in the shower? Lots of bubbles, hardly any bubbles? Smell good, smell bad? Invigorating and refreshing feeling all around after using? It’s better than $1 Suave Ocean Breeze because……? No, I DON’T!!!! Let’s pretend I was actually interested in Alison’s endeavour with the Herbal Essence. I anxiously await her next Tweet, only to find out that I won’t be receiving convincing evidence that this new Herbal Essence is actually worth Tweeting about, but rather that she is now eating Captain Crunch reading the Newspaper!
Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace is a breeding ground for a few different classifications of annoying people, whom if it were up to me, would be digitally purged one by one. Joined by the common belief that they are all incredibly interesting and that everyone on their friend list can’t wait to see their newest link, quote, or status update, they have unknowingly looked foolish and silly. Well, at least to me. Let’s take a look as to why.
Type A) The Narcissist: The vane absolutely love Twitter, or any social networking sites for that matter. They honestly believe their constant updates (likely exceeding 10 times a day) are not only interesting, but world changing. People better themselves if they are keeping up with the Narcissists tweets and status updates on social networking sites. This is undoubtedly silly, but the funniest part of this is it’s actually true. The Narcissist has some sort of learning disability that I think is currently unclassified. They struggle with relevant issues, and often have to make things up that sound good, but are completely bogus. This often works because the large consensus of people don’t know what’s going on with the world anyhow, and sheep syndrome sinks in. Some loud mouth with a social networking profile starts a fire of horse shit that quickly travels and somehow strengthens. Disagree with the narcissist and you face virtual expulsion. Actually, forget about disagreeing, simply THINK different from the narcissist, and you risk being called names such as “idiot”, “moron” or a myriad of other cool cut downs the narcissist probably had to Google to come up with. Narcissists often post quotes from songs (generally terrible ones at that) to express themselves, or something like that. Somehow, someway, these posts get responses. Don’t ask me how.
Type B) The Creeper: Anyone with any sort of social networking site has had an experience with The Creeper. My aunt, God bless her heart, recently joined the ranks of Facebook. Naturally, I add her, and we begin to joke back and forth much like I do with all of my other friends. One day she texts me about some dude that apparently tried to add her as a friend, but she has no idea who he is. She’s taken back and absolutely can’t believe this is happening!!! Who does that? Well, The Creeper does, and those of us that consider ourselves veterans of social networking aren’t the least bit surprised. This particular situation is an example of a hybrid of Type B) and Type C), which I’ll get to momentarily. The Creeper doesn’t have any REAL social skills, so it must rely on clever use of virtual stalking (or as one of my friends prefers to call it, “investigating”, sigh!) to catch certain perks of interest to start a conversation. The Creeper will randomly send private messages with off the wall, and often lude comments that they would NEVER say in a face to face conversation. That’s the sure fire way to know someone is The Creeper. Things said exclusively online but never in person are a great, exclusive trait of The Creeper. If only the narcissist would adopt that trait……… The Creeper can also be found leaving public messages that should generally be private. I’m talking serious stuff here. Break ups, deaths, and otherwise serious depressing stuff that should be left to private messages are generally exposed in an attempt to gather undying love and attention. I feel for these people, but enough to leave them a comment letting them know they’re my favorite person in the world and it will all be ok. If I did leave a comment, it would probably be overlooked. Why call your mother, spouse, or best friend when you can let the whole world know of your “misery” and receive countless amounts of seemingly worthless bouts of inspiration and comments from your friends and digital acquaintances. Advice from people you see in person three to four times a year somehow reigns supreme to The Creeper.
Type C) Everybody’s “Friend”: This guy boasts the largest friend list you have ever seen. Awed and perhaps jealous at first, you begin to think how many of his “friends” are actually friends. Call me silly and outdated, but I don’t throw the term friend around to every human being I have a class with or come across. Bottom line is, Facebook and Myspace don’t have an “acquaintance” tab, or at least not that I know of. This however confuses Type C), as it spends a good portion of the day adding (mostly by semi-random selection of people who live within a 30 mile radius) people to their ranks.
Type D) All of the Above: Need I say more!?
These people are destroying social networking. This incredible tool has so many positive uses, it’s depressing to see these types of people trying to exploit the true purpose behind social networking. Communication and, well, networking! Networking is such an invaluable tool to have at your fingertips. I can’t tell you how many times Facebook has saved my ass academically. Struck with the genetic (my mother is so forgetful/delusional it’s embarrassing at times) disorder of extreme forgetfulness, I have to write everything down that I need to do scholastically. Sometimes, on the rare day that I’m bored out of my mind in class, I get lazy like anyone else and just use acronyms or shortcuts to write down assignments. When it comes time to decipher this message and do the actual assignment, I’m dumbfounded and confused. A quick login to Facebook to message one of my classmates generally cures this.
Unemployed? Surf your good friends Facebook pages and check out what they have listed for their current employment. Ask a bro to hook it up. In fact, just be attentive to your friends’ status updates and you might just see a direct link to apply for one! Need a new car? Roommate? Xbox360? I could go on and on of the incredible benefits to social networking.
Haven’t started social networking yet? Don’t worry, it’s NOT TOO LATE. Don’t feel like you’re too old, or anything else similarly ridiculous. Truth is, I guarantee you’ll be surprised to find how many of your old friends you can reconnect with. Just be careful of the people listed above, they do exist, and sadly, in mass quantities! Share your thoughts with others, reflect on thoughts from others, and above all….Have fun! Social networking can be very fun and entertaining, and even make someone’s day. On the 8th day, Al Gore created the internetz. Go forth and network, but be safe and mindful!
**disclaimer – this post is entirely opinionated based on observations and thoughts from the author. if you are reading this and are offended, please don’t digitally, or vitally purge yourself as previously suggested. however, please go outside and get some sunshine, something tells me you need it.
BNP Paribas Open 2009 – the experience, what I learned, and why I can’t wait to return March 30, 2009
Posted by Jay in professional sports, tennis.2 comments
My last spring break as an undergraduate student couldn’t have been more exciting and memorable. My tennis family (mother, aunt) and I ventured to Indian Wells, CA to get up close and personal with the ATP and WTA’s finest. Oh, and yes, I say that knowing Serena and Venus reluctantly sat out yet again.
We began our adventure the first Thursday of the tournament. Hoarding the practice courts, armed with my aunt’s new camera purchased from NASA, we began our quest for seeking out our favorite players. Like anyone else at the facility, we had high hopes for seeing our favorite players utilizing the fan friendly practice courts where you can literally see the sweat dripping off your favorite superstar. Personally, I hoped to catch Marat Safin and Roger the man himself Federer. I would eventually get both wishes, but in completely different ways. (to be explained…..) Some great shots were taken at these practice courts, and most of my memorable moments from the trip resided at the practice courts. Here’s a great shot of the eventual tournament champion, Rafael Nadal of Espana. Should you ever venture to this tournament, I highly recommend investing in a high quality camera and some decent sun screen.
Rafa Nadal warming up his serve
Before I dive a little deeper into my favorite stalker (or investigating, as I prefer to call it) stories, let’s talk about the things I was looking for when watching the pros serenade the courts. Most people would comment on how hard the pros hit the ball and the sound it makes coming off their strings. I remember my trip to the Pacific Life Open way back in 2003 (I think Lleyton Hewett was the #1 seed, and rode his T-Rex to the facility……..) and hearing the shotgun esque sounds of big hitters like Marat Safin strike the ball. I was so amazed at that time at how hard the pros could really crush the ball and keep it in. This time, however, was different. I wasn’t impressed with how hard, or how much spin the pros put on every single ball they hit. I wasn’t impressed with the booming, precise serves. The thing that stuck with me this year was movement. It is absolutely phenomenal how well the pros move on the court. I couldn’t keep track of how many split steps took place during points. It’s no wonder why we saw so many pros playing soccer on a nearby grass field to relax and reinforce simultaneously.
Del Potro kicking the good ol' soccer ball around to relax and keep his feet active
Everyone hears from their local pro “don’t forget your split step” when you’re at the net volleying. The split step is often the focal point of such lessons, being it’s damn near impossible to hit decent volleys without being as balanced as humanly possible. However, lost in translation, this seems to be the lone focus of the split step. Gone are the days of footwork drills from the baseline, requiring a split step between each shadow stroke. Why is this? Is it too basic that we have forgotten? ”Basic” or not, sound footwork and a plethora of split steps helped Andy Murray scramble, and ultimately save a ridiculous amount of points in the matches of his that I watched. Going back to the basics and improving footwork has undoubtedly rejuvenated American slugger Andy Roddick’s career. Andy is exciting to watch again, and he doesn’t have to rely on hitting forehand winners to compete with the best players in the world anymore. Sure, his serve is always a helper, but let’s get honest here…….How does a guy go from getting consistently owned by a guy named Novak Djokovic to making him look silly as of late? Movement. Andy’s new focus on fitness and footwork doesn’t only allow him to get to balls he wasn’t previously able to get to, but allows him to better set up for offensive shots instead of defensive. It helps him dictate points and stay in control.
Back to more of a leisure focus of the trip, we did in fact catch the Safinator on a practice court (in this instance I am referring to Marat, not Dinara, who can now draw an equal comparison to a Terminator as well….) While i was shocked and ecstatic to be able to hear one of my favorite players of all time converse with his hitting partner, my mother and aunt were busy plotting how to best get closest to Marat when his practice court time was up. Though they guessed wrong on his exit plans, that didn’t stop them. What ensued next will forever stick with me….My middle aged mother trudging through the crowd of countless females to touch Marat Safin was priceless. The best part of this story is that she did in fact make contact with Marat, sweat and all. I couldn’t help but laugh and salute to a job well done. Stalking or investigating? You be the judge 
Either way the accomplished smile on my mother’s face was worth more than the $300 steak dinner that I’m about to discuss with you.
My aunt is no slouch when it comes to sharing her wealth. She works hard to play hard. I’m not sure a $300 dollar dinner for four is defined under playing hard, but for the sake of time and starting an entirely different blog topic, let’s all agree that it does! It was decided that on our last night at Indian Wells we would dine somewhere finer than Subway. Some lady sitting in front of us during one of the matches in the later afternoon eaves dropped (errr, I mean overheard) us discussing potential candidates for our special dinner. My aunt on her Iphone, me on my Blackberry, we began to utilize the phenomenon known as the internet for our search. Luckily for us, the previously mentioned over curious woman interjected with suggesting we dine at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Apparently the Food Network won’t be contacting me for commentary anytime soon, as I was the only one who hadn’t heard of this glorious meat house. Despite constant attempts for discourse, my aunt insisted, and so it was decided. Luckily, the steak house wasn’t too far from the courts, because we were all pretty hungry after watching Roger take longer than he should have to expel some guy I can’t even remember. 
Upon arrival to Ruth’s Chris, I had to decide which $50 plate of food I thought would best be worth the experience. I eventually decided on some form of stuffed chicken, which for the record, was quite glorious. I also enjoyed the best gin and tonic I’ve ever had in my life, and that was with the well gin. My mother ventured into a couple top shelf martinis, which always taste filthy to me, but were quite good to her. At any rate, none of this matters. The $300 tab doesn’t matter. The countless jokes and conversations between me, my mom, aunt, and step-dad doesn’t matter. Sitting adjacent to Roger Federer is what matters in this story, my good friends.
Now, I am only 24 years old and don’t claim to have been faced with an ungodly amount of stress or mental torture, but I swear on my life I formed at least 3 more gray hairs in the next five minutes. We began to discuss how to treat this situation. My aunt is basically in love with Roger. If she had any mace that evening, I am fairly certain Mirka would have got a squirt or two to the eye while my aunt confessed her undying love and support for the Swiss Genius. At any rate, the sports fan inside of me took over. I regret to inform all of you I tried my best to explain why we should let him be, and at most, wish him the best of luck on our way out. Fortunately or unfortunately (I still have nightmares about this 5 minutes), that is the route we took. Why didn’t I ask him for a fast picture or signature? Why didn’t we buy him a drink? Why didn’t we ask our waiter to check if it was ok to say, “hello”? These questions haunt me to this very day. My favorite tennis player of all time, my aunt’s perennial idol, and undeniably the greatest to ever play the game sat right next to me and I couldn’t muster the courage to ask for a simple photograph. I tried to put myself in Roger’s shoes. He just won a long match and was trying to enjoy dinner with his unborn child’s mother and immediate family. Did he really want to deal with what he had to all day long at Indian Wells? Would one more inquiry kill him? We said, “good luck, Roger!!” on our way out, and he acknowledged us with a forced smile and a nod. At first this saddened me, but I’m fairly certain he just wanted to keep his presence in the place low key. I really don’t think anyone else in the restaurant knew he was there. Hell, it took us the better part of an hour to realize he was sitting at the table next to us. He was well hidden at his table of ten or so. At any rate, I’ll never know whether or not he would have humored us for a quick picture.
The only bad thing about this vacation was knowing it was time to leave. To help cope, we began strategizing and discussing how we would do it the next year. Staying a few extra days was definitely at the top of the agenda, and closely behind was upgrading our seats in the stadium court. Though we got some terrific shots from the upper section, it would be nice to sit a bit closer. So the countdown for BNP Paribas Open 2010 begins……….As soon as the schedule of play is released, let me tell you who’s reserving a table at Ruth’s Chris about 40 mintues after Federer’s first round match
Tennis – The game, the legend, the life……. March 7, 2009
Posted by Jay in tennis.9 comments
This may come off a little bit harsh, but truth be told, I enjoy tennis much more than I do interacting with probably 70+% of the people who will read this. WHAT!? “JAY, YOU ASSHOLE!!” Yeah, yeah, yeah….At least I’m telling the truth! After reading this post, perhaps you can try to win back my love and favortism by taking on some of the qualities of a seemingly silly game called tennis Nevertheless, let’s be honest here. How many of you really think you can give me the same feeling that a down the line backhand winner on match point in a third set super tiebreak can!?
Nearly every Wednesday at around 9:30pm I hear the same variation of a ridiculously lame sentence. “Wow, you seriously come down here from Flagstaff every week just to play in this league?” – YES, I do….. That’s right, I put more milage on my car going to play tennis than I do visiting friends or family. I trade the opportunity to make money at work for losing money on gas, court fees, and the occasional dinner. I avidly await every Wednesday where I get to escape the harsh realm of independent college student reality. School, work, social frustration, and family distortions all take a back seat when Wednesday rolls around. In fact, class is the most enjoyable for me on that day. Nobody can ruin my day on Wednesday. I don’t care if you’re calling me to cancel plans that we made weeks in advance, I couldn’t care less. The thought of playing tennis in a meaningful setting (in this particular example, USTA league play) consumes me. I can’t wait to execute what I’ve been playing through my mind all week. I can’t wait to see the answers to the questions I’ve been asking myself all week. “How can we set our lineup to give us our best shot of winning this thing? If my primary strategy isn’t working, how many backup plans do I have ready? How will I pick my teammates up if one of them is losing confidence, or feeling down?” I can’t wait for the exhilaration of hitting solid shots point in and out and seeing practice and hard work pay off. Or, if the solid shots aren’t exactly rolling with consistency that particular night, tapping into my newly found mental toughness to make up for what my strokes are lacking. Is this worth dedicating one night a week to? You bet. Sad as it may or may not seem, I’d actually be making this trip twice a week if I didn’t have Tuesday and Thursday evening classes, as I’d participate in another league on Tuesday nights!
You see, tennis is more than a game. It’s more than enjoying the outdoors and getting exercise. It’s more than anything I can write in this blog. It’s a yearning. It’s a desire. It’s a passion.
Tennis has helped me create and maintain friendships with some of the most unbelievable people in my life. I have so many fond memories of growing up as a junior in small town Prescott, AZ and waiting for school to end so I could hit the courts with my buddies. Summers as a junior were unparalleled. Everyday consisted of us hitching a ride with our folks to the courts, somewhere between 8 and 9 am. Each day we would play tennis. Even if we weren’t playing tennis, we were still at Roughrider Tennis Center. We used to just sit around and hope good players would drop by and randomly want to play some doubles with us, or possibly rotating singles. Though this seldom happened, we found other things to fill the time of our youth. Though many of these were seemingly meaningless fillers of time, they did in fact strengthen and reinforce one of the most valuable assets in life. Friendship. True friendship at that. I’d even dare to say myself and my tennis comrades (primarily consisting of Nick Cristea, Lander Sims, and Dan Oliver) transcended friendship and have redefined it of sorts. I will forever be in debt to tennis for the friends it has given me. (it is important to note that Nick and I were good friends prior to tennis consuming my life) These friendships were fostered and housed by a tennis center.
Life lessons are easily conveyed through tennis. In fact, I can say with the utmost certainty that ANY lesson in life you deem to be valuable can be learned on a tennis court. Even those of the most intimate, private lessons! Considering trading your steady relationship for a one night stand? We all know what kind of results that would yield! This same lesson can be learned when demoing one of the new “top of the line” tennis frames. Immediately you will be mesmerized, hypnotized even. The new cosmetics are SO gorgeous…..So much more shiny and polished from your old faithfuls. Not a scratch to be found. Reluctant at first, you eventually get the courage to grab the new stick by the handle and give it a test drive. Cool, comfortable, exciting. The first three balls you strike feel unmatched. You are in love for a half hour hit session. The last thing on your mind are the countless trophies, titles, ranking points, and man cards your old faithfuls have won for you. You easily forget what they have done of your in the past and how they have always been there. You decide to pretend none of the positives ever happened and splurge on a couple of the new, dreamy racquets. Sure, at first, things are fantastic. You keep that awe struck mood with your new babies for the better part of a month, maybe two if you’re really good at believing your own lies. Eventually, you come to a big match. A familiar stage. A setting in which you live for, strive for. You love the pressure, and you always prevail. It is completely and entirely comfortable for you. Or is it? This particular afternoon, something is different. That lucky scrape on the throat of your racquet isn’t there to help comfort you while waiting to return a serve. You can’t glance down and say with confidence, “Look, we’ve been here done this. One more time, baby.” Even if just for a moment, you panic. In this moment, as a true tennis player knows, you have lost the battle. It doesn’t take long after shaking hands at the net to realize what a huge mistake you have made. Sometimes you have to lose something before you realize it’s truly gone.
There is nothing else in life I have ever done that can teach me so much about myself. Tennis holistically boasts the best and worst character traits of me. The ultra competitive, never give up athlete in me is completely exposed and utilized. My quick thinking and problem solving skills are better put to use in an intense tennis match than a tough mathematics problem. On the converse, the perfectionist and overanalytical side of me hurts me more often than not. Like in most real life situations, I need to learn how to trust my instincts and take more risks. I’m very protective and stubborn, both on the court and off. If I come into a match with a gameplan, I’ll be damned if I don’t execute it! It’s not uncommon for me to lose a whole set trying to make that strategy work, even though it should be fairly obvious I need a new gameplan. Similarly, I’m not exactly known among my friends to give up on an idea or opinion. Though I think I’ve come a long way with that, there is still plenty of work to be done on that front! Undoubtedly, I am a better person in part due to tennis.
I am lucky to have been exposed to some of the most incredible tennis programmers in the Southwest Section. Chris Howard (Roughrider Tennis Center/Prescott Racquet Club) and the Prudhomme family (Paseo Racquet Center) are the pinnacle of this. Though completely different in operation and even teaching styles, they both understand their responsibility to their customers, regulars, and community. Whatever it takes to help promote and grow tennis, it gets done. Whether it’s raising funds and resurfacing courts (and by resurfacing, I mean just that. I do NOT mean hiring some company to do it for you), revamping a D2 tennis program, or giving scholarships to talented and aspiring juniors who can’t afford the financial strain of being a tennis player, Howard and the Prudhommes have taught me it’s not all about business, but about accountibility and responsibility. Being personable, reachable, and desirable help make these two programmers very successful.
In closing, it is important to note that like life, tennis is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get on the other side of the net. Pusher, hacker, counter-puncher, baseline basher, serve and volleyer, etc.etc. You must learn to deal with each of these playing styles, much like you must learn to deal with the various personalities of peers and coworkers. You don’t get to choose your coworkers, and you most certainly don’t get to choose your opponents in competitive play! A little patience can go a long way with both of these issues. Stay calm, don’t overreact, and keep yourself together (or at least do a great job of pretending to do so!) and things will work out.
Go play tennis. Go live your life.
to the faithful few March 6, 2009
Posted by Jay in Uncategorized.add a comment
been super, super busy with school and work this semester. full time school and full time work (not including practicum hours) is draining me away. however, that is no excuse to not write, so you can count on that changing. my website will GNTEE be done and running come spring break. thank you jesus, for all of your glory.
News Bias – How it has shifted, and how it helped a man win the “most important” election of our time November 11, 2008
Posted by Jay in political issues.2 comments
Where We Were…
It was the election in November of the year 2000 when delegates George W. Bush and Al Gore squared off for their shot at political peak, the chance to reign as the President of the United States of America. A lot of commotion was stirred up during this election. In Arizona, many of us were steamed that Bush had used incredibly low and cheap tactics to oust Senator John McCain’s chances of winning the Republican primary. Though Bush had much stronger funding, McCain won the first state to vote on the primaries (New Hampshire if I recall correctly) and began to pick up more followers. McCain had transformed from a dark horse to a contender. However, sensing a strong upheaval from the McCain group, the Bush campaign decided to cheat. They relied on spreading a viral infection of misleading information to help Bush win the hearts of the hardcore conservatives. Lies were spread that McCain had unprotected sex with an African American and had a child outside of wedlock. Clearly, the conservative faithful (no pun intended!) could not vote for such a man. The truth of the matter was, McCain and his wife adopted the child.
After winning the GOP ticket, President-to-be-Bush began using the biased media to help him with his victory over challenger and current Vice President Al Gore. This time, unlike with McCain, Bush would need to rely on the right wing bias to help him. After all, Gore would complete the election with 500,000 more popular votes than the former Texas governor. After bogus reports, commercials, and a Supreme Court ruling, George W. Bush was inaugurated as the 43rd president of the United States.
I remember being formally instructed about bias in the media; how at this particular time, it was skewed to the right on the political spectrum. It’s not like the media bias wasn’t something on my mind before learning about it in class; however, I used to have a hard time believing that it had an actual impact. “How many people could possibly think that’s true?” Such statements seemed to come to my mind if I detected some evident bias, or flat out incorrect information after I would watch something on T.V. or read an article online Fact of the matter is, at this particular time in the year 2000, the right wing bias, along with an eventual decision from the Supreme Court, helped Bush begin his reign of terror (again, no pun intended!) for two terms. Don’t even get me started on the race against Kerry in 04!
Where We’re At…
Thankfully, dark eventually must turn to light. Thank goodness for the good ol’ 22nd amendment. In 2008 we had two candidates who didn’t have the last name “Bush” running for presidency. This time, the bias in the media would play a much different role to the one we were used to seeing in the previous two elections. Putting on the cloak of Socialism and provoking the laziness that supposedly lost the previous two elections, the liberal left launched an attack on McCain that he would not be able to recover from. Focusing on nearly anything BUT the real issues at hand, the liberals found a way to dissect the McCain campaign, and things definitely got worse once Sarah Palin was announced as the running mate. Whether it was discussing her pregnant daughter, or her hacked email account, the discussion revolving around Palin was hardly relevant. Those of you who thought Bill Clinton should have burned at the stake for lying about his personal sex life should probably stop reading now. I am not trying to “reach” to that mind set so to speak. I’m trying to appeal to those who feel such things are most certainly irrelevant.
“Change”
This was the motto used by the Obama campaign to help invigorate the hopeful voters. Change was undoubtedly needed, in a big way. More than ever before, voter registration went through the ceiling and people began to think positively in this country. Harsh times were clearly upon us, but light was finally being seen at the end of the tunnel. Obama used his superior education to dominate the debates to the average spectator. No need to even discuss or dissect the vice president debates. Palin, with all due respect, it’s time to invest some time and money into your debating skills However, Obama found a way to appeal to the youth of America like I believe no other candidate has been able to do. Change. He found a way to relate, and to bring out more young voters than ever before. He claimed to come from virtually nothing, and captured the heart of America because of this mass appeal. Typical visits to any of my favorite political websites would come up with at least 10+ stories of biased information leading towards the notion of you absolutely must vote for Obama unless you want another 4 years like those of President Bush. The liberals did a good job of linking the previous, disastrous eight years with what would come if McCain was to be elected. Much like the Ipod phenomenon, the trend of Change and Obamaness spread through colleges like wildfire. Many of the Obama faithful would go so far as to attack the intelligence and well being of the few McCain supporters.
Unfortunately, taking a closer look at the facts (which require more than a Google or Wikipedia search, mind you!), this assumed linking of McCain to Bush is simply as far from the truth as Obama being a Muslim terrorist. Funny thing is, the limited negatives that surfaced about Obama were all quickly buried by this virtual bias storm the liberals had created. Internet blogging and social media sites played a crucial role in this election, arguably more so than ever before. Information (and I use that term very loosely) was easy to access for anyone who had a computer and the Internet. Many people would link to favorite articles (which were more often than not founded on opinions, not fact) and through the phenomenon of Internet networking, stories of the smallest or greatest magnitude would spread like wildfire within minutes. Thousands of hits could be generated from a simple opinion within an hour, sometimes even less. The strangest and most ironic thing about this social stratification was the idea that such people were helping the cause, effecting the Change. In reality and most cases, they were unknowingly spreading false information and plagued opinions filled with malice.
Through all this plethora of easy to access information, people began to forget about the importance of checking sources and fact checking. However, that can be tough to do when your favorite sites are using subliminal messaging to reach you. Throughout this election, even sites such as factcheck showed clear signs of bias. The election of 2008 was steamrolling with Obama being the overwhelming favorite. When the Redskins lost on Monday night football, it was all but certain Obama would win (just kidding, kind of. Kudos to sports enthusiasts who know what I’m referring to!).
Change. From the same groups fueled by dedication to correct, RELEVANT, and concise information was an incredible amount of just the opposite. Incorrect, irrelevant, and cluttered strands of articles and interviews were spread out with the intention of destroying the McCain campaign. Even by the time the McCain campaign recognized what was happening and tried to counter with equally cheap tricks, the snowball of the Obama following was too large, and simply crushed any efforts of countering. Many will argue these are the typical events that are insured during a political election year; It has been accepted as the nature of politics. Why is this? Why can’t we CHANGE that? Who wants to hear about personal problems in a candidate’s private life? Who really cares about bogus conspiracies and generalizations? Obviously not the Obama faithful, or they may have taken a closer look at his connections to his politcal fame. They would have researched how he obtained funding for college (pretty tough for a single mom to pay for that sort of schooling, even with some affirmative action helping you!). They would have been perplexed that Barack Hussein Obama was running for president, and not Barry Obama. Obama made race an issue in this election, and he played the card very well. I’m ecstatic that the ghosts of America are finally being put to rest. We have a black president, but I wish he could have accomplished that without some of the crutches he called upon to do so.
Where We’re Going…
For me, this election was choosing the lesser of two evils. Neither candidate had been able to captivate me or really fire me up. In fact, I thought both to be fairly inferior choices to other democratic primary nominees. That being said, it is getting really old reading all the “Yes We Did!” articles and updates to social networking sites. What exactly did YOU do? This may shock some of you, but higher voting turn out does NOT equate to a higher democratic favor like the media portrayed. Though there are a few scholars who have tried to show there is a direct relationship between Democratic support and high voter turnouts, it’s simply not true. Typically, most of the data used and collected for this generalization is gathered from congressional districts. This means that studies relating to electoral districts are fairly non-existent.
What are the odds on cleaning up the media and news titans? For the great “change” coming with our newly elected president, I think many citizens are forgetting that simply going out and voting isn’t going to change a damn thing. It’s going to take work on the individual level. Stop harping about calling people in the battleground states, going door to door, and putting in volunteer time to help elect your favorite candidate. It doesn’t mean anything; it hasn’t contributed to the change that Obama represents. The real work begins now. Whether or not you voted for McCain or Obama, it is time to recognize there is a severe problem with news information and bias in our media. We can combat it on an individual level by dedicating ourselves to research and trying our best to let the topics be the topics, and letting everything else that’s not a topic not weigh in as much as it has. Obviously, opinions (and particularly political ones) are essential for positive growth and feedback. However, opinions need to be stated as such, and not skewed to look like factual information.
I for one am tired of letting the media decide who will run the country. Let’s take it back, and let’s do it now on the turn of a new page in America. Let us support our newly elected officials, and work together for a better America. Like Senator McCain said when he conceded, “above all else, I am an American”. Let’s make Change that really matters and improves the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for everyone.
**special thank you to Jennifer Wermes, Instructor of English for helping with some extreme editing so you can all read this without having your eyes bleed **
Selig, MLB delay World Series Game 5 – Did it Hurt or Help the Phillies? October 29, 2008
Posted by Jay in professional sports.add a comment
The Phillies of Philadelphia nearly had their storybook ending this last Monday. Boasting a 3-1 series lead over the AL Fairytale Tampa Bay Rays, the Phillies had the Rays exactly where they wanted them. At home, and with the best pitcher on either team starting in Cole Hamels. For those of you unfamiliar with MLB rules and regulations, if a game cannot be played due to weather and it is the 5th inning or later, the game ends with the current score. Suspicion was rising in game 5 of the World Series when Mother Nature did the inevitable and began to dump in Philly. Hamels was throwing a gem, and carried a 2-1 lead into the 6th inning when the Rays began their brief run. Upton scored from first after a blooping single from Carlos Pena. Once Hamels got out of the inning, the game was called due to the weather.
After the game, many Phillies fans became quite vocal on their opinions on making Hamels pitch through that last inning where the Rays were able to tie the game. Fact of the matter is the Phillies are still in very good shape. They get a day and a half break to quash all the momentum the Rays worked to build, and are actually in a semi-favorable position once the game resumes. Hamels will likely be stripped of his pitching duties, being due to bat once the game resumes. The Phillies will likely pinch hit, and turn the ball over to their bullpen that has been stellar all series long. Being they have a shot of closing the series out, and the fact Brad Lidge hasn’t pitched in what seems like a decade, they can count on him going 2 innings if needed. I have no idea how the reasoning behind the complaining that’s surfaced from some of the Philly fans is warranted. To me, the rain delay helped more than it hurt. There is no why you can hypothetically say that Hamels would not have given up the tying run in better weather, and that he shouldn’t have been subjected to that last inning.
I’d love to hear thoughts from both sides of the argument, and am looking forward to the conclusion of game 5 (and possibly the season) Wednesday evening.
Religion and Politics – Strikingly similar, or vastly different? October 10, 2008
Posted by Jay in political issues.8 comments
Essentially, from the beginning of codified time, the two largest influences on the general public have undoubtedly been politics and religion. In many cases, these two influences worked together hand and hand, dominating the laws and rules of the given territory. Both have brutal histories of war, tyranny, and unjustified means of unmet ends. Many people harp and protest for the consistent separation between church and state. While most people refer to the first amendment to the constitution in legal/policy making matters, I am going to suggest to you that these same people are subconsciously, and severely, joining the two. While it may not be obvious, to me, it is most certainly underlying. The mannerisms in which hardcore political enthusiasts make are essentially the same thing as the door to door evangelist trying to save you from your sins.
The United States of America was no doubt founded with the Holy Bible in mind. It’s pretty easy to see similarities in the constitution, modern law, and the Ten Commandments. No doubt about it, the fundamentals of the Bible are the framework for the legal structure of this country.
Recently, and due largely in part to the current election year, I can’t help but notice social similarities between religion and politics that make me wonder, “are these words essentially synonymous!?” Actually, similarities doesn’t quite do that statement justice. Concise replications, perhaps, does a better job. Likely due to eight years of terrible presidency, this election is receiving more buzz than any other that I can recall, which I realize isn’t saying too much being I’m all of 23 years old. Even prior to this election, I try to steer clear of discussing politics, especially in election years for fear of awakening a hidden beast in a person I had no idea existed. Some of the seemingly nice, quiet, shy people will put up their dukes if you’re slamming, or even jesting about the GOP or Dems, depending on said character.
I’m all for inquisitive inquiry; it’s the best way to learn! Social interactions on any facet are most certainly a necessity for a healthy mind. However, taking a look at the first sentence in this paragraph, a phrase stands out. “To learn” This phrase is the key to the problem that is agitating me. It seems that recently, there is less and less learning going on with all these discussions buzzing around. If you’re talking McCain verse Obama or Jesus verse Ghandi, it’s either right or wrong. The saddest part is, people start to cite “facts” for either argument, skewing them in a way with the prominent and sole intention of crushing the opposition. The only honest to God truth (no pun intended!) in religion and politics, is that there is relatively none! They are both founded on opinion, sometimes also dubbed as faith. The media is a strong proprietor for this social problem. Everywhere claims to be unbiased, factual, and rooted in legitimately funded business. The only solution I have found to this infectious media is tuning in to, or subscribing to multiple sources. Then, trying to find somewhere in the middle that seems most reasonable to derive my opinions on my own, after being exposed to as many possible outlooks. I go into each article, or TV segment realizing they’re biased, but I try to take at least one thing from each exposure. The same goes for religion. I have friends from different religious backgrounds and beliefs, and whenever the topic must be discussed, I try to take at least one thing from each exposure that I can apply to my life, or thoughts. I have read the whole Bible, and taken classes that have exposed me to other religions who don’t use the bible period. Mormons, Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, Seventh Day Adventists, it doesn’t matter to me! Each has their own specifics, but the general ideas typically have lines of correlation. I respect all religions and political views the same, mostly because I believe they are!
McCain versus Obama. Choice of the decade, right? The good news is, no matter who you vote for, things can’t get much worse from the last eight years! The bad news is, if you are completely torn on who to vote for, you’re going to have to put some serious time into doing some research. I feel bad for you! No longer can you just visit a few websites, or watch the debates to make an educated choice. If you REALLY want to get to know each of these gentlemen; grab some Monster and snacks, it’s going to be a while. Each source you visit trying to convince you of one candidate over the other will also nonchalantly infect your mind with malevolence for the opposition. Irrelevant stories(Palin’s daughter, Obama’s mysterious college/trip funding), probes, and even verbal remarks will reign supreme. I have observed plenty of fairly intelligent persons flat out call both candidates words like “retarded”, “stupid”, and “clueless”. I’d like to say that nobody would be up for election if they were anywhere remotely close to those words, but the previous eight years may prove that to be false. Just kidding…..Kind of. Anyhow, political debates amongst the youth, or even major news casters have turned into playground warfare. It’s upsetting and shocking how these people actually truly believe their OPINION is correct, and anyone else who thinks differently is a moron of sorts.
You there! Yes, you! You’re voting for Obama, huh? Cool! Glad you will be exercising your right as an American! However, I’d like to request that should you choose to talk to me about the current race, you refrain from trying to change my mind. *Knock Knock* Oh, you’re from the church down the street? Sure, I’ll take your pamphlet, maybe even throw down some money for whatever cause it is you’re seeking (ya right), but again, I’d like to request that should you choose to talk to me about why your god/religion is the only way, you refrain from bashing what I think, and possibly *gasp* listen back. I can’t believe how close friends, and even family are changed people when it comes to politics. That used to be religion’s job!
Some of these people are on a mission. They feel it is their true calling to do everything in their power to inform the world that unless you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you will forever burn and be tormented in the fiery pits of Hell. Likewise, should you vote for McCain, you are forever worsening the economy and solidifying your spot on the list of dumbest people to ever walk this planet. If things were so blatant one way or the other, would there really be such a large amount of buzz, debate, or discussion around these issues? Are you starting to see the web that holds hardcore evangelists and so called political enthusiasts so close together? Even if you disregard some of the current situations I’m hypothetically throwing out there, history shows some pretty clear-cut examples of politics and religion being essentially the same thing. Crusades, anyone? World War 2? The war on “terrorism”?
I hope tomorrow when I wake up and start surfing the net, I will see some positive discussion revolving around some of these topics. However, I’m fairly certain when I open some of my favorite pages such as digg.com and facebook.com, I will be bombarded with hateful topic headers, and ridiculous amounts of biased “but unbiased!” information. Currently, I’m one of those persons I referred to earlier that I feel sorry for. I am currently undecided on who to vote for. The more I research, the more depressed I get at my peers and “unbiased sources” of information. Living in Arizona, I’m fairly certain my vote won’t count for anything anyways, but I like to think it does, and perhaps it will depending on my choice that I settle on. So, until election day (jeez, it’s coming fast!), I’ll continue on with the daily ritual of flipping back and forth between FOX, MSNBC, and CNN, trying to mentally create a news segment from a non existent station that only I know, and listen to.
*disclaimer****** all religious or political names used in this opinionated blog were used for hypothetical situations, and were not intended to bash or promote one over the other. I have an incredible amount of respect for most religions, and the persons who keep up the faith so to speak. It may not be my thing, but kudos to you if it’s yours, honestly.
