Shoot!

I am a sports fanatic, I will admit it. Last night I went to a basketball game to cheer on my high school alma mater. It was a squeaker of a game, and my team pulled out the victory 50-47 over our hated rivals.

While I was pleased with the result, I have a recommendation for the governing body of high school sports: there needs to be a shot-clock imposed for high school basketball. The quarters are only 8 minutes in length, and one team can just pass the ball around the perimeter and use a lot of clock, slowing the game way down and truly changing the dynamic of the game.

The college shot clock, in my opinion, is too long. Over half a minute to get a shot off? With college hoops really as the testing grounds for the NBA, the college shot clock needs to be trimmed a little. Take the college shot clock, put that in high school to help speed the game up and efficiently use the 8 minute quarters, and trim the college shot clock to be closer to the NBA clock. I think something like 28 seconds for the college shot clock will help develop college players vying for a NBA roster spot.

Imposing a high school shot clock will help high school players develop for their future days in college hoops.

Working hard or hardly working?

I had an interesting conversation recently with a coworker. As seems to happen with colleagues, the conversation turned to "work." We began discussing the difference between hard work and smart work--which are two completely different things.

It seems all of our lives we are told to work hard or work harder, as if hard work makes up for all else. I would like to submit and ask why we are not told to work smart or work smarter instead? Smart work outdoes hard work any day of the week.

My coworker used a great analogy to prove this point. He related an experience where he went rock climbing. He had never before been and so he was doing what he believed to be the right way to climb--working hard to scale upwards. After a short period of time he said that he became tired, exhausted even, and his brother down below (who was belaying him) shouted, "hey, use your legs!" All this time he had been using his arms to pull himself up, instead of using his legs to lift himself. As be started using his legs to lift, and his arms only as guides, the task of climbing became easier.

Now, was he working any harder when he started to use his legs instead of his arms to climb? No. He was working smarter; and by working smarter he in actuality did not have to work as hard. Is hard work important? Absolutely. However, it really is no substitute for smart work.

Are you kidding me?!!?

In debate about the stimulus bill, the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee declares: the American people don't care about wasteful spending? Are you kidding me?!? The American people care very much how their tax dollars are spent, at least the Americans I know. This is without doubt one of the dumbest comments I have ever heard, and believe me, I have heard some pretty stupid sound bites before.

I honestly do not even know what to write or how to respond. I want and am all in favor of a stimulus package. A jolt needs to be sent through our economic system, jobs need to be created, and more tax dollars need to be kept in the tax payer's wallet in order to stimulate the economy. President Obama in his first prime time press conference explicitly said that no pork was in this bill, none whatsoever (and Sen. Schumer's comments came not a full day after). So, this begs two questions really: Did the President lie to the American people, or has Sen. Schumer not read the stimulus bill and is speaking out of turn? I guess there are three questions: does Sen. Schumer now how to read? I mean, legislation is pretty lengthy (especially with the amount of money the "Spendulus" bill is), and the legal terminology used can be quite confusing I'm sure.

If there ever was a time not to engage in the "politics as usual," that time is now! Americans are losing jobs and homes, but no, we don't care about the "porky amendments" and where our money is headed. We need to stimulate the economy, not spend it to death with over-excessive debt and wasteful spending. Democrats like to respond by blaming republicans and the former president for the dire situation we are in. Well, how long have the dems had control of congress? And how does over-spending now differ from over-spending during President Bush's administration. Sorry, but two wrongs don't make a right.

Senator Schumer, it is time to reconnect with the American people--and I don't mean those who contributed to your campaign. News flash: Americans care what you do with their money!

Drowning?

A man who is accustomed to being in the spotlight probably isn't too pleased for the most recent reason for the beam that is upon him. The recent photo of Michael Phelps apparently smoking a pot pipe has brought a reprimand and a 3 month suspension from competition by USA Swimming. Wasn't this the same organization that applauded his public apology?

So, winning eight gold medals in one Olympiad is a piece of cake, but deciding not to smoke pot and get photographed doing it is a much harder task. Now, Phelps is only 23 years of age and it seems we have come to expect this kind of behavior from those who are in this age category. I see those who are saying that Phelps should be left alone since he "owned up" to his mistake. To a certain extent, I agree. However, at the same time, I think he lost the opportunity to be "left alone" after he became the winning est Olympic champion and accepted millions of dollars in endorsements. The game changes when you begin to represent companies and take their millions of dollars to do so. Those that are pressing him the most are the companies whose money he has accepted. Kellogg apparently is not going to renew their contract with him, stating that his behavior does not coincide with their image.

Though, I don't hear a public outcry to strip him of his medals or ban him from future Olympics--and he shouldn't be. No anti-doping regulations have been broken. With USA Swimming suspending him for 3 months of competition, it is sending him a message and the rest of the swimming world a message. Michael is a role model to countless young swimmers, and as thus should act accordingly. He understands that and has issued his apology and commitment to not let this happen again.

Does this entire incident change his image? Perhaps in the short term. But, when it comes to great athletes, our memories seem to be short. Remember when Phelps had a DUI at age 19? Come the next Olympics, I bet we won't remember this as he Tsunami's the rest of the competition. I also don't doubt that he will still be a millionaire when all is said and done.

(Photo: Clary/Getty)

That Darn Economy

It's not a secret, the U.S. economy is floundering. This was a major talking point throughout the presidential campaign and President Obama has tried to act quickly in passing a stimulus bill. The only problem is: the bill that is being considered isn't a stimulus bill at all; it is a pork-barrel spending bill aimed at giving special interests more money and running up the debt our nation is already in. The American people want action and the economy stimulated, but we aren't stupid. Just because legislation is proposed doesn't mean that it is the correct legislation.

A recent Gallup poll showed that a majority of Americans reject or want significant changes to the proposed legislation. Click here to read more. Now, I do recognize that most of what is in the current bill are "good" items. However, money to help renovate the national mall doesn't stimulate the economy. Money for STD research and prevention doesn't stimulate the economy. Call me old fashioned, but I know the best STD research and prevention: abstinence.

Listen, I know we need to act quickly and, as an American, I want President Obama to be successful. But, acting quickly is no substitute for acting smart.

And what about the fact that the current bill won't even send a jolt through the system? $900+ billion is a very large sum of money. But the Congressional Budget Office is reporting that only about 16% of that money will be spent in two years. Please, slow down!

With the understanding that the bill the House passed isn't exactly what the American people had in mind, a compromise should be reached by both parties and, working in an intelligent manner, the American family and worker will once again gain confidence.