Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling

65 days from now we are either going to have our first black President, or first female Vice President. History is in the making no matter which side of the equation you are on. We're making progress. Or are we?

According to ESPN, 93% of the nations 30,000,000 fantasy sports participants are white men. If you are a black man you have a greater chance of coaching in the NFL (18%) than you do leading a team in a Yahoo! Fantasy Football league. But given we are talking about fantasy sports, how do they know some of those white guys are not really black guys pretending to be white guys?

The ESPN author has his theories on the disparity which hopefully got him fired. One was that sitting in front of a computer to manage a fantasy team is too much work for 'black folks'.

A second theory was black people prefer more direct interaction for leisure activities including a barbecue. No doubt so they can sit around eating chicken & ribs and spit out watermelon seeds.

De Camptown ladies sing dis song, Doo-dah! doo-dah!

Old stereotypes die hard.

Well, the Mullen Clan is doing our part to break down the barriers and make fantasy football as inclusive as the Democratic party. All males, mid-30s, college-educated, income of $75,000? Nah!

30% of the MCFL managers wear pigtails including 2 who guided teams to the playoffs last year. We have every tax bracket from 10% to 35% covered with those on the high end paying a hefty price for membership. Catholics, Baptists, Protestants, agnostics - all are welcome. We even added a gay franchise in 2008, and if we can get Sparkie Markie to elevate his wife to offensive coordinator, we'll have the black angle covered as well. Alex, are you dating a Puerto Rican?

Seriously, doesn't ESPN have a real game they can cover?

North to Alaska

In our fantasy football league one of the keys to winning is scouring the waiver wire. Always on the lookout for a sleeper player others have overlooked, if you find an up-and-comer you've hit pay dirt.

I think John McCain is a fantasy football veteran. Today he picked through the Republican free agents and selected Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as his Vice Presidential running mate.

I love it. A woman on the ticket just after it looked like women would be taking a back seat once again with the defeat of Hillary Clinton. Equal pay for equal play? You need to get in the game first. Hats off to John McCain for a bold move.

Sarah Palin is a bold woman. No Ivy League pedigree, she worked her way up the ladder one step at a time - coaching local sports, serving in the PTA, becoming a council member, city mayor and finally governor of Alaska. She is a doer and not a talker. Along the way she and her husband of 20 years had 5 children, including a son with Downs syndrome. A mom, a beauty queen, a basketball player, a fisherman, a moose hunter, and a union member, this lady is a dynamo. You go, girl!

Here's the clincher for me, when she chose to give birth to a Downs baby she said, "I'm looking at him right now, and I see perfection. Yeah, he has an extra chromosome. I keep thinking, in our world, what is normal and what is perfect?" Amen to that.

Over the next 3 months people are going to try to chew her up and spit her out. I think they'll all be in for the fight of their life. One day after Obama's sentinel speech, the airwaves are all about Palin.

As for Barack Obama's assertion "John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell -- but he won't even go to the cave where he lives," he doesn't need to. Sarah will chase him down with her Springfield .30-06.

Hoping for Change

Wow, after listening to the speakers at the Democratic National Convention for the last 4 nights, I am so happy George Bush is leaving office. He is responsible for every miserable thing that has happened to me in the last 8 years, or so they say.

Rising gas prices, credit card debt, too many cars in the driveway, house too big to heat, over eating, sleep apnea, student loans, tooth abscess, heat waves, cold streaks, hurricanes, floods, Hanah Montana, the Patriots loss in the Super Bowl, it's all his fault. And that is just the impact he had on me.

You've got your own problems, but don't despair because they aren't your fault. Nothing you do on your own counts towards how your life plays out. Someone, them, they, those people are responsible.

Funny how folks find it hard to believe in a God they can't see, but readily accept the notion the President of the United States defines their existence. Vote for change if you need to, but if you are looking for a savior you won't ever find him (sorry Hillary) at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

While it might be good for the ego of Clinton, Bush, Obama or McCain, don't let them fool you into thinking you need any of them. My life is what it is regardless of JFK, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan or any other politician, and so is yours.

It's time we create our own change, whatever the hell that means. In the words of Stuart Smalley, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me."

Whosamacallit

I read an article today in the SportingNews by John Feinstein titled Great Athletes Die Twice. It was a wrap up of the Brett Favre retirement debacle and an observation that superstar athletes just can’t walk away from the limelight.

He quotes Nolan Ryan on retirement as saying, “If you’ve ever been on the disabled list, you have an idea of what it is going to be like. You walk into the clubhouse and it’s as if you are invisible. You can’t at that point help the team. You aren’t relevant. It isn’t as if the guys don’t talk to your or aren’t friendly, it just that you don’t really matter. Retire and you’re really invisible because you aren’t ever going to matter again.”

I can’t stop the tears from rolling down my face. Are you kidding me? Most of us are on life’s permanent disabled list! We are invisible all the time. We’ve never mattered - no 50,000 cheering fans, no ESPN, no Hall of Fame, no million dollar paycheck, and no faded glory.

Yesterday I was on a sales call with an associate of mine. We flew cross-country to meet with a company in Scottsdale, AZ. Selected as part of a request for proposal process, our presentation was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. At 8:30 a.m. I got a call from the prospect saying they were trying to contact our sales rep as they had us penciled in for a morning meeting. After a bit of panic, we did confirm our meeting was properly set for the afternoon.

They called my phone number because when they dialed Home Office looking for the sales rep, the receptionist didn’t know who he was. Three years into the job and a couple of million dollars in sales, and he’s a mystery man. That’s the vote of confidence the common man gets as part of the deal.

And to think, my guy isn’t even retired! Is there a therapist in the house?

Backing Up Obama

Did you see Hillary Clinton whip up the crowd at the Democratic National Convention? In a speech intended to lend support for Obama she took off the gloves to go after John McCain, her "good friend". The Clintons know how to duke it out with anybody. I doubt Barack Obama even wants to fight. He's too nice of a guy.

Why the Dems bypassed Hillary in favor of Joe Biden is on the mind of a lot of people. Can you imagine if Obama doesn't beat McCain in November? About 18 million Hillary fans will let you know how they feel. You can bet on that.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

The Olympic torch is about to be doused and just in time. Sunday night at 6:00 EST, the Mullen Clan Football League (MCFL) is back in action for our second fanciful season. 16 family members will try to draft a squad worthy of playing in the Avatar Bowl (it's a Yahoo! league). I can't wait to put on the virtual pads!

I've got the 2nd pick in the draft. LT, Adrian Peterson, or dare I pick Tom Brady? Anyone of them will lead me to the promised land. My ego needs a boost.

I'm dedicating the season to Luke Forte. He was a fictional player on a team I used to pretend to play against in my backyard as a kid. A tremendous two-way player, he had the elusiveness of Gayle Sayers and the toughness of Dick Butkus. I respected him more than any other guy I ever made up.

Sadly, he was diagnosed with both lung cancer and hepatitis B last year. Given only 6 months to live, he was hit by a car one week later and died. It was his birthday.

I'll miss you Luke. You shouldn't have smoked.

Re-Made in China

Back when I was emulating Pistol Pete Maravich, complete with shaggy hair and floppy socks, the United States was sending college All-Americans to the Olympics to whip the world in basketball. In 1972, after 63 consecutive victories and 7 gold medals, the Soviet Union finally ended the Red, White & Blue winning streak. It was the most controversial basketball game ever played. Reminiscent of the last second shot you practice in your driveway, the Russkis got not one, not two, but three last second opportunities.

"Белов выигрывает игру! Belov wins the game! " In protest, the U.S. refused the silver medal.

The quasi-professional Soviets beat another team of U.S. campus brats in 1988. So when the rules changed allowing professionals to participate in the Olympics, the U.S. assembled the Dream Team for the 1992 Olympics. Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Chris Mullins, Michael Jordon and Patrick Ewing reminded the world that basketball was born and raised in America. On the way to the gold, the Dream Team won by an average of 44 points per game and never called a timeout.

The start of another 63 game winning streak? Not quite. After winning back-to-back-to back gold, Argentina knocked off Allen Iverson and the Hip Hop Five in 2004. Thomas Friedman missed this one in his thesis on the world is flat, but clearly our dominance is in the past.

Or is it? Super patriots Kobe and Lebron are making a run for the gold in Beijing and restoration of hoops pride in America. With a 2nd win over Spain on Sunday it'll be mission accomplished. Ooh-rah!

On another Olympic note, does the NBC Olympic logo remind anyone else of a pack of Marlboros or Campbell Soup label? I'm sure they spent a lot of time and money on the design, but I never think NBC when I see it.

Impaired Vision

There's movement afoot across America to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18. The American Civil Liberties Union sticking up for the rights of an 18 year old soldier in Iraq? Hardly.

The raucous cry is coming from a group of college presidents representing the nation's finest universities. More than 100 sober educators from iconic institutes such as Dartmouth and Duke have signed on with the Amethyst Initiative to push legislators into a debate on the proper age for beer pong.

There are some who are on the side of the individual like the 18 year old Marine - old enough to die, old enough to drink. Tough to argue with that logic so I'd be okay with a special permit for the military guys, so long as they leave the M-16 in the barracks. Hey, maybe it's a way to increase the recruits. The kids don't seem to be falling for the GI Bill pitch.

Personally, I'd be against lowering the drinking age. 21 year old college boozers means 18 year old college boozers; no one is really fooled by the fake IDs. But lower the legal age by 3 years and you have the high school senior buying Boone's Farm for his 13 year old brother. No thanks.

Some of the college presidents say the students today don't know how to handle booze and hence the problem with binge drinking. They leave home without having been exposed to liquor and when they arrive on campus they are ill equipped for keg beer and Jagermeister. The universities are ill equipped to handle the drunken fall out, or don't want to.

So one possible solution is to lower the bar and give the kids a running start on alcoholism. The idea being to get that first vomit and pass out experience behind you before moving into a co-ed dorm. Another part of the idea being that some of the responsibility for drinker training will fall back on the parents if we lower the age. Oh, I see, it takes a village to raise a child until they start downing shots.

I think colleges could help rid themselves of rampant drinking if a few of the adults stayed on campus for the weekend. Go up to your local university on a Saturday and see if you can find anyone over the age of 21 besides the campus cops. It's a free for all.

Nope, I think the profs need to gather again and stir the Highball a couple of more times to come up with a better idea. Maybe something to do with education. Giving in to the peer pressure is what I've tried to teach my kids not to do.

Conditioned Response

Like Pavlov's dog salivating at the sound of the dinner bell, staring out at the Summer sky makes me want to read a comic book. Sitting in a tree fort at age 12, I couldn't figure out why Archie & Reggie wanted to ditch good friend Jughead for Betty & Veronica.

Boyhood pals, a bike and a baseball glove - life couldn't have been simpler. Laying on the ground to watch clouds roll by was a normal part of a day. In my adult life, there are days when I don't even look up at the sky. On the other days I'm looking for the rain clouds. What the hell happened?

Does anybody know if there is such a thing as a comic book reading camp? I know you can go to a NASCAR, Tiger Woods or Boston Red Sox fantasy camp, but I want to be a kid again. If not, maybe I'll build a tree fort.

Simple Joy

I'm not sure what the attraction is to balloons, but through the years Julie has found a 1,000 reasons to have them floating around the house. Waking up is a reason for a celebration.

This week the website Very Short List highlighted a YouTube video honoring Hollywood's use of the balloon in the greatest movies of all-time. Very, very entertaining and creative. For all the junk that floats around the internet, "Helium and Celluloid" will help lighten your day. Have a watch!

Out of Shape

Six days into the Olympics and I am exhausted! I've been watching The Games from 8:00 p.m. until 1:00 a.m. every evening since they started. Regrettably, I didn't follow a late night routine leading up to the Olympics. My lack of training will likely cost me the Marathon Viewing gold medal.

Michael Phelps has swum (swam? swimmed?) a dozen races and won enough bling to get an audition with Grand Master Flash & the Furious Five. I like the guy and all, but c'mon - how many ways can they think of for one guy to win a race? He swims 100 meters and he wins a medal. Now let's try it at 200 meters. Hey, I have an idea, why don't we all get on our backs and do the 100 meter thing all over again. Okay, this time I am going to swim sideways and you guys see if you can catch me.

Okay, so maybe he is the greatest athlete to ever walk....no wait...he DOESN'T walk the face of the earth, he swims it. He can't be the greatest athlete! Anyhow, before they do proclaim him the all time Olympian, I think it would only be fair to give Carl Lewis a chance at a few more medals by adding the 100 Meter Backward Dash and the 100 Meter Crossovers Race. They'll have to come up with some new starting blocks for the Backward Dash, but someone will figure it out.

Hidden Splendor

Sometimes when walking through the forest it is hard to see anything but the trees. But beneath the canopy of leaves, and between the twisted roots and rock strewn soil, colors of life reach for the light.

The flower shown was found 20 feet off trail. I think it bloomed only for me as there was no footpath where it grew.

I am in awe of such a gift.

Saturation Point

I read an article in NWA World Traveler magazine about the upcoming Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. Can you believe we've had all this talk about the next President and neither party has yet to have their convention?

Only 86 days left until Election Day. I wonder if anyone has published a countdown calendar? You know something like an Advent Calendar you'd use at Christmas. It could be a pop-up version of The White House and when you open the window of the day you'd get a factoid about one of the 43 Presidents or a near miss like Thomas Dewey, Adlai Stevenson, or Al Gore. Ouch, that last little slam has got to hurt!

Anyhow, the thing of interest to me in the article about the RNC's upcoming event in the Twin Cities is the projected number of accredited media compared to the number of participants. Get this - 45,000 participants and 15,000 media. That is 1 media person for every 3 attendees!

If you haven't had your 15 minutes of fame yet, see if you can get a ticket to the Republican National Convention. The odds are in your favor.

Lights Out

For the 3rd time in 2 weeks we lost power after a doozy (is that a real word?) of a thunderstorm. While it is exciting to watch the clouds roll in and listen to the cracking bolts of lightning, the novelty of candlelight evenings is wearing off.

In the 10 years we lived in Manchester, only Hurricane Gloria knocked out the lights. In Vernon, the lights go out 10 times a year. There's got to be a frayed wire somewhere in the neighborhood!

Following the Wrong Footsteps

In the newest version of the Jets v. the Sharks, two Southern California biker gangs have elevated the rift to pit Jesus against Satan. Never mind fighting over a girl.

Set Free Soldiers, "a bunch of guys who love Jesus and love to ride hard", sought out and attacked rival Hells Angels' members. Seven of the disciples were arrested for attempted murder. If convicted, the Set Free Soldiers could face up to 9 years imprisonment and be forced to stencil The 10 Commandments on their saddlebags!

These guys sound more like Old Testament bikers to me. Either that or they missed the Sunday School lesson from Matthew 5:43-44: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Although some have painted Jesus a rebel, I just can't imagine him leading a pack down the Santa Monica Freeway on a chopper.

"Apostles.....RIDE!"

Truffle Goes Hollywood

We brought the dog for a swim this weekend. When Truffle came out of the water Jessica wrapped her in a towel and slid on a pair of shades. The dog wore them both all the way home. At 11 years old, she couldn't be bothered about playing the fool. Great dog!

Courage

I am a fortunate man. I get to live a relatively quiet life in a peaceful environment with absolute freedom. Other than moral dilemmas of my own choosing, nothing comes along to challenge my mettle. Sunday I listened to Bishop Emmanuel Obbo talk about a different existence in Uganda.

Following the Gospel reading of the fishes and the loaves, Bishop Obbo spoke of a parallel experience in his life. He relayed a story of 100's of destitute villagers who came to the door of his mission looking for safe haven from marauding gunmen. Hungry and tired, they bedded down on the outskirts of the missionary for the evening. Then Father Obbo instructed his staff to gather all the corn from the barn and feed as many people as possible - everyone ate. Later in the evening, gunfire was heard in the fields. At daybreak, the missionaries tended to the wounded and buried the dead.

I wrote a modest check to the Apostles of Jesus to help replenish the corn. In the narthex of a Connecticut church I was filled with resolve. But it takes real courage to live the Word of God. I hope in my life I can serve God with the same valor as Bishop Obbo.

Disconnected

A local bagel shop added a wi-fi hot spot to their establishment this week. I was disappointed.

Not that I don't like the Internet, I do. In fact, in the absence of the Internet, I'd need to hand write all my silly thoughts, print a lot of photos, and spend $525 a year on postage to reach the 5 patrons who read Letters from the Moon.

I just don't think we need to be connected wherever we go. In a weird science-fiction kind of way, the laptop is becoming a life-support system. We are addicted to the chitter chatter of changing stock prices, weather by the hour, and news from afar.

Family of Four Found Dead in Sri Lanka Village; Canned Peas to Blame.

"Gosh, that's too bad. You know, one time I had a hit on my blog from Sri Lanka. Maybe these people were part of my fan base. Wow, that would be a bummer."

11 AM Weather Forecast - Chance of Thunderstorms, 80% Chance of Rain Showers.

"Honey, can you look out the window and tell me if is raining? You can't believe everything you read on the Internet, you know. Pause. It is? Damn, these guys are good."

Do Dunkin Donuts and Tim Horton have wi-fi? I hope not. I always had this dream about being an old man and meeting my friends every morning down at the donut hole for a cup of coffee and a conversation. Somehow, I just can't see it being much fun if everyone is wired to the Internet. I'd just like to talk.