Merry Lamley - Sports Commentary
Raleigh NC
After the huge shock (I am being sarcastic) of a John Calipari coached Memphis Tigers team being under the thumb of the NCAA regulators, what else can be said? Gary Parrish of CBS says Duke should lose their 1999 record as well. What is the difference? I guess, beyond calling Parrish a tool, the fact Derrick Rose cheated his way into his school while Corey Maggette took money (unbeknownst to anyone at Duke) before he ever attended.
The fact is that there was a concerted effort to get Rose into Memphis even though he was not up to par, education-wise. As for Meggette, he and his agent could sort things out. As far as Duke is concerned, there was no proven violations perpetrated while he was at the school. As a UNC fan, I don't want the Devils to have any more of an advantage than they can get. But fair is fair. Duke University did nothing wrong. On the same note, the Memphis Tigers do not deserve their punishment either. It is simpy not befitting. None of the hands involved are with the school anymore.
Here is my solution (not created by me completely, but revised). The coaches should be held responsible. If a coach feels comfortable enough to make his team out of cheats, then he should carry the resposibility. I say the NCAA bring down the axe on coaches, like Calipari, who bring in their latest thug to play a year and leave for the pros. Fine them. Take away their wins. Soon, such coaches will have a hard time finding a job, instead of being the highest paid of their era. The threat of losing any credibility and their money will surely clean things up a bit. The only problem, then, is dealing with schools the NCAA ignores for violations.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Healthcare Debate: Eric vs. Lenn
To much popular demand, here is the recent argument... I mean debate... between Eric and Lenny. You may need a drink afterwards. I sense a future brawl in the street.
Eric – This whole thing is insane. There is nothing good about this bill.
Lenn - Whatever, you only say that because you don’t agree with the government. There is a definite need for healthcare reform. Millions of dollars go to insurance companies that could be saved if they weren’t monopolizing everything.
Eric – That’s not the true issue. The bill is wrong because it addresses the wrong points. We don’t need “big government” taking over healthcare. Healthcare reform doesn’t mean giving power to the politicians. It means fixing a broken system.
Lenn – Do you think the insurance industry is going to fix that by themselves?
Eric – No. I don’t want the presently proposed bill to fix it either. There are numerous flaws and I simply don’t agree with it.
Lenn – So what is wrong with it? It provides insurance to those who can’t afford insurance.
Eric – Have you even read the proposed bill? Basically they want to require you to have the government healthcare. Otherwise you will be taxed… on top of the amount they will tax you to pay for the others getting covered.
Lenn – So what. The wealthy will pay for others’ well being. I see nothing wrong with that. They duck taxes and get to enjoy life to the maximum.
Eric – You really believe that? There are several problems with that statement. 1) People who don’t pay taxes won’t be paying for the taxes for this new system. 2) The wealthy can’t carry the healthcare system. Everyone needs healthcare. Insurance companies would crumble if they taxed for private insurance. Then you would have three options. The government could take over the private companies in a bailout. That means total control by the government over all Americans. The insurance companies are allowed to implode and all that is allowed is government controlled healthcare. That means you have no option. Finally, the insurance companies miraculously find a way to survive with only wealthy clients. Who do you think will get primary and premium care? Government insured people, audited by the same people who said “Cash for Clunkers” would last 10 months (when it actually lasted 4 weeks)? I think it’d be the privately insured rich people that can get full care without having to worry if their angioplasty was approved or if the auditors felt it wasn’t worthwhile.
Lenn – Jeeze! You are straight up brainwashed by the insurance industry. Why don’t you just read a straight line off the FOX News blogosphere? This is a load of special interest crap that has been fed to your types for so long it’s become retarded.
Eric – Whoa there, Lenny boy. I don’t totally side with FOX News. I watch CNN and BBC. I get my thoughts by actually reading and analyzing the material at hand. Also, “your types” have been trying to push the blame for public decent on this issue for a month or two. First it’s the Republicans and Libertarians. Then it’s the radio media. Next, why not blame FOX News. Now it’s the insurance industry’s fault. Try blaming the guys trying to push a crooked bill. Also, most liberal types don’t like the word retarded. Try saving that comment for your inner circle.
Lenn – Oh, so who backed all these big protests at the town hall meetings? Things got very violent. It seems to me that there are plenty of special interest groups pushing for these fights.
Eric – Is it beyond your comprehension to think, maybe, the public is really angry?
Lenn – Angry about what? They may need to pay a bit more to help those in need?
Eric – Uhhhh …. Listen, Lenny. Here’s some news for you. The majority of the public doesn’t want to pay out of their rear ends for something that isn’t solid. Most of us normal people have been fairly quiet about our distrust of politicians jacking up the National Debt. This could be seen as the final straw.
Lenn – Hey, I don’t want to pay unwanted tax dollars. But this going to a worthy cause. We are going to help those who can’t help themselves. However, the greedy people that Americans are, they fly up in outrage when they may have to give up a few dollars to someone else.
Eric – The outrage doesn’t come from having to pay taxes. It’s the dishonest politicians that sit in office. Have you seen these town hall meets? The politicians duck and dive all the honest questions. That’s what happened in Pennsylvania. Then they shut out the people who might not agree with them. That is what happened in Florida.
Lenn – Whatever. It’s the GOP up to their old games. They worked the same magic to rig the elections when Al Gore ran for office. Everyone makes a scene, and the government bows to them. It’s an old routine. Anyone with half a brain could see through it. However, you dolt-head Republi-Cons get brainwashed every time. “Oooooo. We’ll just yell until no one can hear anything but us.” It’s the FOX News way.
Eric – I now understand how infinitely stupid you are. Dissent isn’t a GOP tactic. Common sense is. FOX didn’t invent yelling at someone over politics. Heck, our founding fathers fought constantly. They fought with fist and guns over our Constitution. I don’t just mean the Revolutionary war. I also mean the writing of our sacred parchment. They even insulted each other’s families and wives. Some shouting is small compared to the American past.
Lenn – How sad. I would think we had evolved beyond our primitive forefathers. All they knew was the way of the gun. It was a macho-centric society then. I would love to think we have developed a more diplomatic state of mind over 300 years. Even today one of North Carolina’s own representatives was given a death threat over this issue of healthcare.
Eric – What a load of BS. You really have no clue of what is right and wrong. It’s all agenda. I’ve read Howard Zinn and know when I’m being dealt some liberal crap. As for your reference to Brad Miller, he didn’t receive a death threat. A comment was made to one of his aides that he was too chicken to hold a town hall meeting because he was afraid for his life. It was a snide remark, not a death threat. I for one agree. He and most politicians are afraid for their lives. They should be.
Lenn – So you want to kill a politician? You are a typical terrorist minded conservative.
Eric – No. I just feel that politicians have become elitists. They feel they can vote however they feel and we’ll innately trust that it’s in our best interest. When there’s a complaint they just say, “Oh it will pass when the next big issue comes along.” There’s been too many big issues passed along and everyone has become fed up. Now their anger is becoming public and our representatives are thinking, “Holy crap! We’ve got to get control of the situation.” They aren’t used to public anger directed toward them. The politicians are running for cover, hiding from their own constituents. I’m glad to see Americans sanding up for themselves; voicing and shouting their outrage.
Lenn – The “constituents” voted their representatives into office. They should respect those they wanted to represent them. You can’t fight the government when it is what the people want.
Eric – Then why are people fighting? You Liberals are pissed off because you think public protest is your own domain. If the Abbie Hoffman yippie, pot smoking, college guys were doing this (just so they could prove to their professors and girlfriends that they were politically minded) no one would care. In fact they’d be touted as heroes. However, it is middle class Americans, who are stepping out of their socially accepted place, who are protesting and shouting. That has politicians scared, because they don’t have a plan for the middle class doing this. What will they do? Shoot tear gas into a mob of baby boomers? How would that look to the majority of Americans? Keep in mind that America is made up of mostly working middle class. Don’t portray this as a Republican deal either. Plenty of voting Democrats are ticked off as well. The majority of America is mad and politicians better wizen up.
Lenn – I am so tired of this. Don’t label me as a liberal. I don’t have to argue over this issue because I know it’s right. If you want to be a slave to corporate America, then fine. The rest of America will move on without you. The People spoke when they elected their officials and it’s too late to turn back now. America is moving forward to better things.
Eric – This whole thing is insane. There is nothing good about this bill.
Lenn - Whatever, you only say that because you don’t agree with the government. There is a definite need for healthcare reform. Millions of dollars go to insurance companies that could be saved if they weren’t monopolizing everything.
Eric – That’s not the true issue. The bill is wrong because it addresses the wrong points. We don’t need “big government” taking over healthcare. Healthcare reform doesn’t mean giving power to the politicians. It means fixing a broken system.
Lenn – Do you think the insurance industry is going to fix that by themselves?
Eric – No. I don’t want the presently proposed bill to fix it either. There are numerous flaws and I simply don’t agree with it.
Lenn – So what is wrong with it? It provides insurance to those who can’t afford insurance.
Eric – Have you even read the proposed bill? Basically they want to require you to have the government healthcare. Otherwise you will be taxed… on top of the amount they will tax you to pay for the others getting covered.
Lenn – So what. The wealthy will pay for others’ well being. I see nothing wrong with that. They duck taxes and get to enjoy life to the maximum.
Eric – You really believe that? There are several problems with that statement. 1) People who don’t pay taxes won’t be paying for the taxes for this new system. 2) The wealthy can’t carry the healthcare system. Everyone needs healthcare. Insurance companies would crumble if they taxed for private insurance. Then you would have three options. The government could take over the private companies in a bailout. That means total control by the government over all Americans. The insurance companies are allowed to implode and all that is allowed is government controlled healthcare. That means you have no option. Finally, the insurance companies miraculously find a way to survive with only wealthy clients. Who do you think will get primary and premium care? Government insured people, audited by the same people who said “Cash for Clunkers” would last 10 months (when it actually lasted 4 weeks)? I think it’d be the privately insured rich people that can get full care without having to worry if their angioplasty was approved or if the auditors felt it wasn’t worthwhile.
Lenn – Jeeze! You are straight up brainwashed by the insurance industry. Why don’t you just read a straight line off the FOX News blogosphere? This is a load of special interest crap that has been fed to your types for so long it’s become retarded.
Eric – Whoa there, Lenny boy. I don’t totally side with FOX News. I watch CNN and BBC. I get my thoughts by actually reading and analyzing the material at hand. Also, “your types” have been trying to push the blame for public decent on this issue for a month or two. First it’s the Republicans and Libertarians. Then it’s the radio media. Next, why not blame FOX News. Now it’s the insurance industry’s fault. Try blaming the guys trying to push a crooked bill. Also, most liberal types don’t like the word retarded. Try saving that comment for your inner circle.
Lenn – Oh, so who backed all these big protests at the town hall meetings? Things got very violent. It seems to me that there are plenty of special interest groups pushing for these fights.
Eric – Is it beyond your comprehension to think, maybe, the public is really angry?
Lenn – Angry about what? They may need to pay a bit more to help those in need?
Eric – Uhhhh …. Listen, Lenny. Here’s some news for you. The majority of the public doesn’t want to pay out of their rear ends for something that isn’t solid. Most of us normal people have been fairly quiet about our distrust of politicians jacking up the National Debt. This could be seen as the final straw.
Lenn – Hey, I don’t want to pay unwanted tax dollars. But this going to a worthy cause. We are going to help those who can’t help themselves. However, the greedy people that Americans are, they fly up in outrage when they may have to give up a few dollars to someone else.
Eric – The outrage doesn’t come from having to pay taxes. It’s the dishonest politicians that sit in office. Have you seen these town hall meets? The politicians duck and dive all the honest questions. That’s what happened in Pennsylvania. Then they shut out the people who might not agree with them. That is what happened in Florida.
Lenn – Whatever. It’s the GOP up to their old games. They worked the same magic to rig the elections when Al Gore ran for office. Everyone makes a scene, and the government bows to them. It’s an old routine. Anyone with half a brain could see through it. However, you dolt-head Republi-Cons get brainwashed every time. “Oooooo. We’ll just yell until no one can hear anything but us.” It’s the FOX News way.
Eric – I now understand how infinitely stupid you are. Dissent isn’t a GOP tactic. Common sense is. FOX didn’t invent yelling at someone over politics. Heck, our founding fathers fought constantly. They fought with fist and guns over our Constitution. I don’t just mean the Revolutionary war. I also mean the writing of our sacred parchment. They even insulted each other’s families and wives. Some shouting is small compared to the American past.
Lenn – How sad. I would think we had evolved beyond our primitive forefathers. All they knew was the way of the gun. It was a macho-centric society then. I would love to think we have developed a more diplomatic state of mind over 300 years. Even today one of North Carolina’s own representatives was given a death threat over this issue of healthcare.
Eric – What a load of BS. You really have no clue of what is right and wrong. It’s all agenda. I’ve read Howard Zinn and know when I’m being dealt some liberal crap. As for your reference to Brad Miller, he didn’t receive a death threat. A comment was made to one of his aides that he was too chicken to hold a town hall meeting because he was afraid for his life. It was a snide remark, not a death threat. I for one agree. He and most politicians are afraid for their lives. They should be.
Lenn – So you want to kill a politician? You are a typical terrorist minded conservative.
Eric – No. I just feel that politicians have become elitists. They feel they can vote however they feel and we’ll innately trust that it’s in our best interest. When there’s a complaint they just say, “Oh it will pass when the next big issue comes along.” There’s been too many big issues passed along and everyone has become fed up. Now their anger is becoming public and our representatives are thinking, “Holy crap! We’ve got to get control of the situation.” They aren’t used to public anger directed toward them. The politicians are running for cover, hiding from their own constituents. I’m glad to see Americans sanding up for themselves; voicing and shouting their outrage.
Lenn – The “constituents” voted their representatives into office. They should respect those they wanted to represent them. You can’t fight the government when it is what the people want.
Eric – Then why are people fighting? You Liberals are pissed off because you think public protest is your own domain. If the Abbie Hoffman yippie, pot smoking, college guys were doing this (just so they could prove to their professors and girlfriends that they were politically minded) no one would care. In fact they’d be touted as heroes. However, it is middle class Americans, who are stepping out of their socially accepted place, who are protesting and shouting. That has politicians scared, because they don’t have a plan for the middle class doing this. What will they do? Shoot tear gas into a mob of baby boomers? How would that look to the majority of Americans? Keep in mind that America is made up of mostly working middle class. Don’t portray this as a Republican deal either. Plenty of voting Democrats are ticked off as well. The majority of America is mad and politicians better wizen up.
Lenn – I am so tired of this. Don’t label me as a liberal. I don’t have to argue over this issue because I know it’s right. If you want to be a slave to corporate America, then fine. The rest of America will move on without you. The People spoke when they elected their officials and it’s too late to turn back now. America is moving forward to better things.
Editor's apology
Okay,
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I could feed you excuses but the truth is as follows: I have my posters submit their posts before hand so I can see what is going on. I am an editor. I do not descriminate posts... but I do want my submissions to be well thought out. Also I have been busy, so my editing duties have fallen behind. I have a long line of submissions I really want to post.
Consider this the post script to a very important topic. My friends Eric and Lenn posted an online debate they just had about the healthcare bill. It is a present day issue so I choose to put it first enjoy.
Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I could feed you excuses but the truth is as follows: I have my posters submit their posts before hand so I can see what is going on. I am an editor. I do not descriminate posts... but I do want my submissions to be well thought out. Also I have been busy, so my editing duties have fallen behind. I have a long line of submissions I really want to post.
Consider this the post script to a very important topic. My friends Eric and Lenn posted an online debate they just had about the healthcare bill. It is a present day issue so I choose to put it first enjoy.
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