This time of the year is known for the leaves changing color, the weather is becoming colder and football! College and professional football both start in August and end in January and February. Everyone I know loves football and can’t wait for the new season to begin each year.
In each family, town, and college tailgate along with many other people and places you will find different levels of fans. You have the ones who do not really care that they are there, but come to the games. You also have the fans that are excited to be there, but would rather be in a different place. Then you have the diehard fans that you are at every game, rain or shine and support their team no matter what they decide to do with the players, coaches, mascots, or stadium.
In the past few seasons of the National Football League, we have seen Brett Farve come out of retirement twice. Favre played for the Green Bay Packers for 17 seasons then retired stating “I know I can still play, but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired”. Then after being in retirement for less than a few months then came out of retirement to play for the New York Jets. Then after a season with the Jets, retired again only to come out of it and start a new career with the Minnesota Vikings.
This man, known as Brett Favre has retired twice from playing professional football and then decided to come back and play for a different team. Should we as fans of football support him? I have liked Green Bay and Brett Favre for as long as I can remember, but I do not think I can support him or any other athlete that has retired and decided to come back and play again.
I would have been fine with him coming back to play for the jets and then deciding that playing for them would be the last team and final year for him, but after he came out of retirement again, I lost all respect for him.
Many followers of the Green Bay Packers have suspected that Minnesota has been trying to find a way to allow Brett Favre to play for them and they finally have found the answer. If it is not bad enough, Green Bay and the Vikings are arch rivals and have been for many years.
I had not thought about this part of the team until recently when Michael Vick was reinstated into the National Football League. Michael Vick has been in jail the past two years for dog fighting and is now playing for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles have a 53 man roster and Michael Vick was number 54. Of course the team is not going to cut him, so they are going to cut another man, and in this case they cut Hank Baskett, who happens to be married to a former Playboy bunny Kendra Wilkinson who is expecting their first child this winter.
What would happen to the man that was cut for Brett Favre on both teams? Would he be able to find another team to play for, or would he have to quit what he was doing for another man that is considered a “Superstar” or in other words, someone is valued more than you are. There is always be people like that but it is still not fair to the person who is losing their job because they want some else. Luckily for Hank Baskett the Indianapolis Colts offered him a job, so he is now going to play for them. There are only so many positions in the National Football League, and letting Michael Vick come back is taking away from some else who has worked hard the past two years, while he was in jail.
Personally I do not think Michael Vick or Brett Favre should be playing this year. Michael Vick committed a crime and should be punished by not being allowed to play football. Even though he has already served his time in jail, there are still going to be kids that look up to him and then there are going to be kids that do not look up to him anymore as a role model. If he is going to be a role model for children, I think he should not be allowed to come back and play in the NFL. When he comes back it seems that the National Football League is saying it is okay for him to go and commit a crime, go to jail and serve his sentence, and then go back to making millions of dollars. In my opinion that is not what a role model is. ‘
Brett Favre is the same way. He is suppose to be a role model but he is retiring from teams the going and joining other teams. There is nothing wrong with retiring, but he burned a lot of fans by the way he went about the whole process of joining the Vikings. I was a fan of his, but he made me extremely angry when he came out of retirement because of what he said during the press conference when he announced his first retirement. No matter what professional athletes do we will not all agree with them, but if we are a true fan we will support them and the team that they play for. I may not like what Brett Favre and Michael Vick did, but I will still support their teams, but not the decisions they made. In the end, it comes back to money and if the athlete they want will bring in more money for them, then the organization will do everything they can to get them on their team roster. It is sad that our world has come to money but it is like that in every aspect of our lives.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3276034
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26013997/
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4406963
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20304801,00.html
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
College Football
Thursday September 17, 2009 was the Miami vs. Georgia Tech game which was played in Miami. The University of Miami football team uses the Miami Dolphins stadium which is located off campus and is close to the university. With not only sharing the field between the Dolphins and the Hurricanes, the stadium is also used by the Florida Marlins baseball team. I am not sure as to how they are converted between events, but from listening to the commentators at tonight’s game, it is not a very good field in certain parts.
If you looked at the field tonight when the camera panned over it you would see that there is dirt in the middle of it, in the shape of a baseball diamond. I wasn’t sure why it was like that, so I texted my brother who attended the University of Miami and he informed me that the stadium is not only used by the Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes, but it is also use by the Florida Marlins.
This had me intrigued for the rest of the night wondering how they would go from a baseball game to making the field ready for football. Since baseball is still going on they have to leave the dirt on the field because the Marlins are still playing.
Even with the stadium close to the University of Miami campus, it still leaves the question for underclassman of how are they going to get to the game. Students have cars, or they could take a taxi, but since the game is not located on campus I think the university should provide transportation to the game. Taxis are not cheap and if it was me that had to drive, I would not be a fan of driving to the game and then back after it. After looking online at Miami’s website I did not find where they offered transportation to the game. I know that the university wants to offer a better playing environment for the team and the school, but I am not sure that the Dolphins stadium is the best choice.
I do not think this is fair to the students for making them find a way to the game. Even with taxi’s and public bus systems, it will still be hard for certain students to find a way to the game. This is also very similar to the lottery system at Virginia Tech.
The lottery system in my opinion is not fair to the students and many students do agree with this. I was lucky for the second game this year by receiving a ticket during the first round of the lottery and I have found tickets for all of the other games, but they were not through the lottery.
I know many students that have not won a ticket in the lottery for any of the home games and there have already been three this year. If we are paying thousands of dollars to Virginia Tech shouldn’t the students be guaranteed football and basketball tickets for the home games?
I think we should have free admission to all of the athletic events that are played at home. I understand if we have to go into a lottery system for the ACC championship game and bowl games if Virginia Tech makes it that far, but the system is not fair to freshman and other students who do not have the opportunity to buy season student tickets.
Even if the tickets are for the “nose bleed” section or the highest seats in the stadium, most of the students who did not get tickets would gladly sit there, I know I would and in Lane Stadium there is not a bad seat in the stadium.
I think Virginia Tech should change the policy for tickets for football and basketball tickets to all you have to do, if you are a student is swipe your Hokie Passport and you can get into the game for free. I know many other universities that have similar policies, but in the end I know that Virginia Tech will not change the policy because they are not going to give seats to college students who will not pay anything to get in the game, and give up the money that people pay to get into the game. Season ticket holders and the ones who pay a lot for their tickets, and they are in good locations, and the university is not going to take their tickets away and turn down the money for the students.
Everything in today’s society comes back to money. It’s sad to say, but if you took a poll of what every college athletic program in concerned with, most would say they want the best for the program, but I would take a good guess that money was next on the list. With the economy they way it is now, money is a big concern with every program.
Every program and school wants the team to do well, but if they are not producing enough money that is a bad sign and could eventually cost the university to cut the team. It is crazy how much the athletic teams spend just for one game. I know that for every home game Virginia Tech drives to Roanoke and stays the night at Hotel Roanoke, which is one of the nicest hotels in the area. I know they do this to prevent players from doing something stupid the night before a game and to make sure their concentration is in the right part, but the school could find a hotel closer to the school and one that is cheaper to stay in for the team.
There is always a solution to problems like these, but the schools are not going to go the easy route to please the students. Every student on campus knows this and hopes are high that they will get a ticket to the football games. If we do not get a ticket we just have to look for one for sale before the game or just watch it on TV. It is not fair, but it is the way it will stay for now.
If you looked at the field tonight when the camera panned over it you would see that there is dirt in the middle of it, in the shape of a baseball diamond. I wasn’t sure why it was like that, so I texted my brother who attended the University of Miami and he informed me that the stadium is not only used by the Miami Dolphins and Hurricanes, but it is also use by the Florida Marlins.
This had me intrigued for the rest of the night wondering how they would go from a baseball game to making the field ready for football. Since baseball is still going on they have to leave the dirt on the field because the Marlins are still playing.
Even with the stadium close to the University of Miami campus, it still leaves the question for underclassman of how are they going to get to the game. Students have cars, or they could take a taxi, but since the game is not located on campus I think the university should provide transportation to the game. Taxis are not cheap and if it was me that had to drive, I would not be a fan of driving to the game and then back after it. After looking online at Miami’s website I did not find where they offered transportation to the game. I know that the university wants to offer a better playing environment for the team and the school, but I am not sure that the Dolphins stadium is the best choice.
I do not think this is fair to the students for making them find a way to the game. Even with taxi’s and public bus systems, it will still be hard for certain students to find a way to the game. This is also very similar to the lottery system at Virginia Tech.
The lottery system in my opinion is not fair to the students and many students do agree with this. I was lucky for the second game this year by receiving a ticket during the first round of the lottery and I have found tickets for all of the other games, but they were not through the lottery.
I know many students that have not won a ticket in the lottery for any of the home games and there have already been three this year. If we are paying thousands of dollars to Virginia Tech shouldn’t the students be guaranteed football and basketball tickets for the home games?
I think we should have free admission to all of the athletic events that are played at home. I understand if we have to go into a lottery system for the ACC championship game and bowl games if Virginia Tech makes it that far, but the system is not fair to freshman and other students who do not have the opportunity to buy season student tickets.
Even if the tickets are for the “nose bleed” section or the highest seats in the stadium, most of the students who did not get tickets would gladly sit there, I know I would and in Lane Stadium there is not a bad seat in the stadium.
I think Virginia Tech should change the policy for tickets for football and basketball tickets to all you have to do, if you are a student is swipe your Hokie Passport and you can get into the game for free. I know many other universities that have similar policies, but in the end I know that Virginia Tech will not change the policy because they are not going to give seats to college students who will not pay anything to get in the game, and give up the money that people pay to get into the game. Season ticket holders and the ones who pay a lot for their tickets, and they are in good locations, and the university is not going to take their tickets away and turn down the money for the students.
Everything in today’s society comes back to money. It’s sad to say, but if you took a poll of what every college athletic program in concerned with, most would say they want the best for the program, but I would take a good guess that money was next on the list. With the economy they way it is now, money is a big concern with every program.
Every program and school wants the team to do well, but if they are not producing enough money that is a bad sign and could eventually cost the university to cut the team. It is crazy how much the athletic teams spend just for one game. I know that for every home game Virginia Tech drives to Roanoke and stays the night at Hotel Roanoke, which is one of the nicest hotels in the area. I know they do this to prevent players from doing something stupid the night before a game and to make sure their concentration is in the right part, but the school could find a hotel closer to the school and one that is cheaper to stay in for the team.
There is always a solution to problems like these, but the schools are not going to go the easy route to please the students. Every student on campus knows this and hopes are high that they will get a ticket to the football games. If we do not get a ticket we just have to look for one for sale before the game or just watch it on TV. It is not fair, but it is the way it will stay for now.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Childrens Movies
Movies have become one of many things we enjoy for entertainment. If they are enjoyed by people of ages, then why do they need to have adult themes in children movies? I know that parents are going to be watching them too, but in my opinion, the adult themes can be cut back in children movies. When you watch some children movies, you sometimes have to wonder if this is okay for children to watch. I recently watched one that made me question if young children should watch it, even though it was made for them.
The past two summers I have worked at a daycare near my house. Each day we go on a field trip and one of the field trips is to the local movies theater to Summer Movie Magic Days. The movie theater selects two movies that you can chose to see, one is rate G for General audiences and the other is rated PG for parental Guidance. I know that it is the parent’s choice for what movie they let their children see, but some movies should have a higher rating than what is given.
At the daycare we let the children pick what movie they want to see and the day I was working one of the choices was Barnyard. This movie is rated PG, and I know that it will have some adult themes in it, but there were more than I expected. There is no need to put more influences into a child’s life than what there already is in the music that we listen to now and the TV shows that we watch.
One of the biggest examples on the movie I keep coming back to is when the cows decide to steal a human’s car and go joy riding in it. When the children see this, they will start to think that it is okay to take someone’s car and do whatever they want with it. After they decide to steal the car and go joy riding they are drinking milk and to me it seemed like the milk is suppose to be something that they are not suppose to have and it is illegal. This is just wrong to show the children of our world that it is okay to drink and drive when they are driving and what they are choosing to drink is illegal. Then after all of this the cows decide to speed and get into a wreck which then leads them to abandoning the car and racing back to the farm before anyone finds out about it. After seeing the latest part of the cows abandoning the car and running from the police, I was shocked at how they set up the movie.
The movie was good, but it was very shocking as to how the portrayed the cows and made everything seem okay. Most of the children were laughing when all of this was happening, as was I, but the more I think about and watched the children at the daycare play, I realized how they pick up on the little things.
When children are young their minds are like sponges, they absorb anything and everything. One of the girls in my high school graduating class, recently had a child before we graduated and was in the early learning stages when we were about to graduate. One thing that I remember her clearly saying was that she had to make sure the father of her child watched what he said around her because she was starting to pick up on what he was saying. He may not be the best dad in the world, or he could be the best one, I do not know, but all I know is if the little girl’s parents do not watch what they say around her, then when it comes time for her to go to school she will have a vocabulary full of many words that are not appropriate for her to say at her age and that are not appropriate for other children her age to hear.
It sad to see in today’s society how the children are growing up, compared to how their grandparents and parents grew up. Times were tough when my grandparents were being raised and they were tough when I was younger, and they only seem to be getting tougher for the next generation that is growing up now. Just because of the tough times does not mean we need to stoop to low levels and say that stealing cars, drinking and driving, and avoiding the police are okay, even if it is in a cartoon movie. Children look up to these characters are role models and they are not the ones that I want them to see. I know that I do not have any children now, but when I think about I will have children someday, it is scary thinking about what kind of movies, TV shows and the type of music they will be listening too.
This is not a good example for the children to see. Many parents may agree that it is okay and that it is only animals and their child would never pick up on any of the themes in the movies, but some children will because of the capability of their minds. With seeing movies like this we are only encouraging the children to behave like the characters. I know that we will not stop our kids from watching these movies, but it is scary thinking that these movies could eventually influence the future of the children.
With the influences on the children and even adults today it is even more important that we take time to spend with our families, especially children as they grow up. I think that no matter what the children see in any movie, TV show, or what kind of music they listen to, it will come back to how they are raised by their parent. Parents are the biggest influence in a child’s life and there is nobody who can replace the role of a parent.
The past two summers I have worked at a daycare near my house. Each day we go on a field trip and one of the field trips is to the local movies theater to Summer Movie Magic Days. The movie theater selects two movies that you can chose to see, one is rate G for General audiences and the other is rated PG for parental Guidance. I know that it is the parent’s choice for what movie they let their children see, but some movies should have a higher rating than what is given.
At the daycare we let the children pick what movie they want to see and the day I was working one of the choices was Barnyard. This movie is rated PG, and I know that it will have some adult themes in it, but there were more than I expected. There is no need to put more influences into a child’s life than what there already is in the music that we listen to now and the TV shows that we watch.
One of the biggest examples on the movie I keep coming back to is when the cows decide to steal a human’s car and go joy riding in it. When the children see this, they will start to think that it is okay to take someone’s car and do whatever they want with it. After they decide to steal the car and go joy riding they are drinking milk and to me it seemed like the milk is suppose to be something that they are not suppose to have and it is illegal. This is just wrong to show the children of our world that it is okay to drink and drive when they are driving and what they are choosing to drink is illegal. Then after all of this the cows decide to speed and get into a wreck which then leads them to abandoning the car and racing back to the farm before anyone finds out about it. After seeing the latest part of the cows abandoning the car and running from the police, I was shocked at how they set up the movie.
The movie was good, but it was very shocking as to how the portrayed the cows and made everything seem okay. Most of the children were laughing when all of this was happening, as was I, but the more I think about and watched the children at the daycare play, I realized how they pick up on the little things.
When children are young their minds are like sponges, they absorb anything and everything. One of the girls in my high school graduating class, recently had a child before we graduated and was in the early learning stages when we were about to graduate. One thing that I remember her clearly saying was that she had to make sure the father of her child watched what he said around her because she was starting to pick up on what he was saying. He may not be the best dad in the world, or he could be the best one, I do not know, but all I know is if the little girl’s parents do not watch what they say around her, then when it comes time for her to go to school she will have a vocabulary full of many words that are not appropriate for her to say at her age and that are not appropriate for other children her age to hear.
It sad to see in today’s society how the children are growing up, compared to how their grandparents and parents grew up. Times were tough when my grandparents were being raised and they were tough when I was younger, and they only seem to be getting tougher for the next generation that is growing up now. Just because of the tough times does not mean we need to stoop to low levels and say that stealing cars, drinking and driving, and avoiding the police are okay, even if it is in a cartoon movie. Children look up to these characters are role models and they are not the ones that I want them to see. I know that I do not have any children now, but when I think about I will have children someday, it is scary thinking about what kind of movies, TV shows and the type of music they will be listening too.
This is not a good example for the children to see. Many parents may agree that it is okay and that it is only animals and their child would never pick up on any of the themes in the movies, but some children will because of the capability of their minds. With seeing movies like this we are only encouraging the children to behave like the characters. I know that we will not stop our kids from watching these movies, but it is scary thinking that these movies could eventually influence the future of the children.
With the influences on the children and even adults today it is even more important that we take time to spend with our families, especially children as they grow up. I think that no matter what the children see in any movie, TV show, or what kind of music they listen to, it will come back to how they are raised by their parent. Parents are the biggest influence in a child’s life and there is nobody who can replace the role of a parent.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
It's Football Season!
I know many of us college and high school students are major procrastinators and wait until the last minute to do a homework assignment. Like today, I am starting my blog that is due tonight, which is no big deal because I do not have anything else to do today. As I started my other blog about getting mail, I realized that I was not going to be able to get a 1,000 words out of it, so I started thinking about things that I could possibly write about.
Last night, I would take a guess that almost every single television in Blacksburg, and the surrounding areas had the Virginia Tech vs. Alabama game on. I had it on and while watching it, I knew UVA was playing William and Mary. I have friends who go to both schools and almost everyone here hates UVA, which is normal to me, since I grew up so close to Tech and almost everyone loves the Hokies.
Out of curiosity I was wondering what the score of the UVA vs. William and Mary games was and decided to look online. Come to find out that William and Mary had beaten UVA!! I was very surprised by this as was almost everyone that I had talked to. As soon as I heard the score, I decided to call my parents and talk to them about it since we all like college football. While I was talking with them, we got on the subject of the coach, Al Groh. We were talking about if he would still be the head coach the rest of the season or if the University would fire him because of the past few years and how UVA keeps losing to just about everyone. I do not really have an opinion of what UVA should do about the coach, but many people that I know that are big UVA fans have different viewpoints which makes me think about the program as whole together.
Some fans would argue that Coach Groh has signed a contract and the university should not break it, but others say he has not done anything with the program and they need to find a new coach. I agree with both of these points, but the thing I think we all need to remember is that this is his job and I am sure he loves it, or he would not be coaching. If the school just fired him tomorrow, I do not know how I would feel because he has been doing this a long time (plus it means Virginia Tech will probably beat them J ). One reason I would say the University would keep him for this season, is if the team is responding to the changes he is making on and off the field. None of us will ever know what he is doing to try and improve the program, but in the end it will all come down to money. Money is the key for everything that happens. The school and athletic department want a team that is going to sell out the stadium for every home game, conference championship and bowl games, like Virginia Tech does just about every game. It’s sad to say that our world has come to this, but it is very true. I have friends that are season ticket holders at UVA, and they are dedicated fans, but even now they are talking about how much longer Groh is going to be coach. Every coach is going to have their ups and downs in a program, but sometimes it is just best to cut their losses, quit and move on. I know that most coaches would not want to do that, but sometimes it’s for the best of the program.
Now that I go to Virginia Tech, I really do not care what UVA does with their football team, I just think it is a sad situation for the coaches and players, because everybody is constantly putting pressure on them, it is not just at Virginia, but every single athletic program in the country. Most people want to criticize and fire people after one game, or one day on the job, but when you think about it we just need to relax, take time to stop and think what the other person is going through and how they are trying to fix their mistakes and improve on their job. In the end we all need to support each other and not jump off of a cliff after one day on the job or one loss in the season.
Last night, I would take a guess that almost every single television in Blacksburg, and the surrounding areas had the Virginia Tech vs. Alabama game on. I had it on and while watching it, I knew UVA was playing William and Mary. I have friends who go to both schools and almost everyone here hates UVA, which is normal to me, since I grew up so close to Tech and almost everyone loves the Hokies.
Out of curiosity I was wondering what the score of the UVA vs. William and Mary games was and decided to look online. Come to find out that William and Mary had beaten UVA!! I was very surprised by this as was almost everyone that I had talked to. As soon as I heard the score, I decided to call my parents and talk to them about it since we all like college football. While I was talking with them, we got on the subject of the coach, Al Groh. We were talking about if he would still be the head coach the rest of the season or if the University would fire him because of the past few years and how UVA keeps losing to just about everyone. I do not really have an opinion of what UVA should do about the coach, but many people that I know that are big UVA fans have different viewpoints which makes me think about the program as whole together.
Some fans would argue that Coach Groh has signed a contract and the university should not break it, but others say he has not done anything with the program and they need to find a new coach. I agree with both of these points, but the thing I think we all need to remember is that this is his job and I am sure he loves it, or he would not be coaching. If the school just fired him tomorrow, I do not know how I would feel because he has been doing this a long time (plus it means Virginia Tech will probably beat them J ). One reason I would say the University would keep him for this season, is if the team is responding to the changes he is making on and off the field. None of us will ever know what he is doing to try and improve the program, but in the end it will all come down to money. Money is the key for everything that happens. The school and athletic department want a team that is going to sell out the stadium for every home game, conference championship and bowl games, like Virginia Tech does just about every game. It’s sad to say that our world has come to this, but it is very true. I have friends that are season ticket holders at UVA, and they are dedicated fans, but even now they are talking about how much longer Groh is going to be coach. Every coach is going to have their ups and downs in a program, but sometimes it is just best to cut their losses, quit and move on. I know that most coaches would not want to do that, but sometimes it’s for the best of the program.
Now that I go to Virginia Tech, I really do not care what UVA does with their football team, I just think it is a sad situation for the coaches and players, because everybody is constantly putting pressure on them, it is not just at Virginia, but every single athletic program in the country. Most people want to criticize and fire people after one game, or one day on the job, but when you think about it we just need to relax, take time to stop and think what the other person is going through and how they are trying to fix their mistakes and improve on their job. In the end we all need to support each other and not jump off of a cliff after one day on the job or one loss in the season.
You've Got Mail
Do you ever get really excited about receiving something? I know I do and it is when it comes in the mail! I love getting mail and these past two weeks at Virginia Tech I have received something every day. This is a simple joy for me, knowing that somebody took time out of their day to write a note to me and send it in the mail. I love it when my parents send me mail, but it is even better when I get cards or notes from people that I don’t expect. Some may argue that getting mail is not a good thing because it could possibly make someone even more homesick, but I think that getting mail is a way to cure homesickness because you know that people truly care about you. I do not know why people would not want to get mail. In my opinion, mail is always a good thing, but one thing that is better, is getting packages in the mail that have goodies in them! I think that part of going to college is the experience of walking to the mail room and opening up your box and seeing that there is something waiting for you. It is a feeling of excitement and joy and also a feeling that someone really cares about you. Since being here I have received two packages and the packages mean so much to me. I’m not really sure why I love getting stuff in the mail, but it always seems to brighten up my day. I have even noticed that people I know that haven’t received anything wish they were getting stuff. Getting mail is not just about hoping to get money or gift cards from people, to me it is knowing that there are people who care about me and want to show it to me.
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