52. Looting, racism both wrong

By definition, the term ‘looting' differs from ‘stealing' only in the undertone that looting is done by force. For example, raiding a village and robbing it of its valuables would be considered looting. Christopher Columbus was especially adept in the looting of the Arawak Indians in his "discovery" of America. Conversely, I would argue, taking things from an abandoned retail store would be considered stealing. There are two differences. While both acts are deplorable, obviously harming someone and stealing from someone is more criminal than just stealing from them. Secondly, the term ‘looting' has been adopted as a discriminatory reference specific to African-American stealing. Apart from the violent undertone, looting is also synonymous with uncivilized and barbaric, and usually attributed to angry or poor African-Americans.

The circumstances in New Orleans for most of us were unimaginable. Also unimaginable were the conditions that many of these people lived in prior to Hurricane Katrina. According to The Progress Report, the area that suffered the worst flooding was 98 percent African-American and one quarter of them earned less than $10,000 per year. Not only did many of the families have nowhere to go, they had no way to get there. They lived in such poverty that Barbara Bush, after touring the people living in the Houston Astrodome arrogantly commented, "So many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."

Any community that would undergo a period of lawlessness would experience criminal activity as a natural extension of a small percentage of its population. It is not unreasonable to expect this number to increase under the conditions experienced both prior to and following the hurricane. That is not to say that criminal activity is acceptable, or that it should not be held accountable, but there is something to be said for desperation. Everyone has probably considered one time or another at what point his or her ethical standards would break down in the face of extreme adversity.

Unethical behavior and stealing is a problem across a spectrum of demographics. Surprising to some, the leading demographic class for theft, in terms of the amount stolen, is white, educated, males. Moreover, in a recent survey, only 13 percent of top executives at big companies identified ethical values as the most important leadership trait for CEOs. Ethical values seem to be up to debate, often chosen as a measure of convenience or to justify a certain action. For example, filing anything but a truthful tax return is stealing, regardless of how many other people one might believe are doing it.

Wavering ethical behavior can have exponential consequences in the face of lawlessness. If the IRS no longer audited income taxes, and there was a sense of lawlessness among tax returns, how many would receive returns in excess of what they are owed by filing dishonest tax returns? And what would it be called? Would it be ‘looting' or ‘stealing' from the Federal Government? An even simpler example is our roadways. Most people already break the law daily by exceeding posted speed limits. Imagine again if our roadways were no longer monitored by law enforcement. How uncivilized might our roadways become? Would not a certain percentage of our population engage excessively in criminal behavior by driving dangerously or driving while intoxicated?

My arguments should not, in any way, be misconstrued as support for the criminal activity that has occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Rather my point is to note the portrayal and opinion of such acts compared to other acts that are carried out, or would be carried out, by other demographic classes. There is a measure of both hypocrisy and racism in the attitude of those that form an opinion without considering their own fallibility as well as the situation itself.

51. 'Collapse' sums up Tribe

Maybe the day off before the last homestand gave them too much time to think about it.

Had they really won 92 games, and were they really just a couple of wins away from their first playoff appearance since 2001?

Whatever happened, or whatever they thought about, the Cleveland Indians proceeded to go out and lose 5 out of 6 home games (6 out of 7 overall) and eliminated themselves from the playoffs.

It was as though they looked to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, their competitors for the last playoff spot, and said, “No, please, by all means, here is the invitation to the playoffs, take it.”  Perhaps the Indians felt guilty, after all, the Yankees and Red Sox invest millions more than they in hopes of reaching the playoffs.  If that is not enough, their fans are serious, they want to win championships…period, end of story, no kidding around.  And Major League Baseball loves these teams too, because when they play, a lot of people are interested, and when a lot of people are interested- Major League Baseball makes a lot of money.  In this sense, maybe it was the polite thing for the Indians to do- step aside, and do what is best for the game.

Possibly the Indians were jealous of the other Cleveland teams that have that notorious “one-word” to describe heartbreak.  Not that the Indians have not tried before, there was the 1997 World Series after all.  But the Browns have “The Drive,” and  “The Fumble,” and, of course, the Cavaliers have, “The Shot.”  Apparently, the Indians thought this might get them “The Collapse.”  It was an unoriginal attempt however, because last season they moved within a couple games of the first place and then lost nine in a row.  But that was in August, and not enough people noticed.  Perhaps they thought this would be a bit more dramatic.  Give them credit, this was big, the whole country witnessed their display in futility.  It was on all the sports channels, in the newspapers and on the Internet- seems nobody could explain it.  I mean really, if it means that much to them, they have my vote.

In the world of collapses, it is as though the Indians and Cavaliers were in some type of disturbing competition to see who can disappointment their fans the most.  The Cavaliers, with similar type collapses, have narrowly missed the playoffs the last two seasons.  The competition, however, is over- the Indians have won this thing hands-down.  The title, “The Collapse,” with all assumed rights and privileges, now belongs to them.

Interestingly though, the Indians, not unlike a modern political organization, immediately began damage control.  I may have even caught a glimpse of Karl Rove leaving Indians headquarters Saturday afternoon. The organization, from its announcers to its manager, quickly began trying to spin the negative into a positive.  I may have even heard manager Eric Wedge emulate the popular 2000 presidential debate rhetoric of “it’s hard work.”

The Indians lost two out of three games to Tampa Bay, who has a record of 67-94 (27-54 on the road) and then was swept by a Chicago team that lacked incentive and whose lineup included many second string players- including seven on Friday night.  The Indians pitching staff had a string of 33 innings during the homestand in which they allowed only two runs.  Think about that, 2 runs in 33 innings- and they lost 5 out of 6 games.  During the homestand, the offense was 6 for 50 with runners in scoring position.  The offense, despite the credit given to the opposing pitching, showed its inexperience, and was clearly rattled by the pressure.  They were anxious, swinging at bad pitches and failing to move runners along.  Wedge was also rattled by the pressure and managed the games like ordinary regular season games, rather than ones that controlled the team’s postseason fate.  Despite having the best bullpen in baseball, he left pitchers in too long, and he refused to “make something happen” to help his flustered offense.

The organization dealt with “The Collapse,” by talking about the “signs of progression,” and that they were, “one hit short.”  Wedge said that it was “more about the opposition,” and that they will “do better next time around.”  Broadcasters resorted to clichés such as “one step at a time,” and “that’s baseball.”  The only spin missing was that Tampa Bay and Chicago had weapons of mass destruction and that they were harboring terrorists.

Really, “more about the opposition,” and “do better next time around?”  Are you kidding me?  What opposition?  Tampa Bay, Chicago’s triple A team?  Six home games, in front of a packed Jacobs Field?  And you have the best pitching staff in the American League.  How much better does Wedge and the Indians think it gets?  Maybe three games each against Midview and Amherst would be more to their liking?  And “do better next time around?”  Regardless of the success that may come in the future, I do not get the point in just throwing away opportunities.  This year was a special year and one never knows how many opportunities are out there.  For example, the Indians started the same five pitchers all year.  No one faltered; no one was injured.  That is very rare these days in baseball; it cannot be an expectation going into next season.

I do not know how the Indians would have done in the playoffs.  But, that is the experience they needed, not the experience of handing away a great opportunity.  Two years in a row, the Indians’ organization complained that the fans were not supporting them.  However, times when the fans began to support them, last August and this September/October, they not only failed, they failed miserably.  And as harsh as it might be, the fans that packed the stadium this week left extremely disappointed, if not angry, and it will be that much more difficult to get them back next year.  And I can also assure you that most of them do not want to hear about “signs of progression,’ and that it was “more about the opposition.”  They want to hear the truth and the truth is that this team blew a “golden” opportunity to make the playoffs, this year.  Those excuses and that line of reasoning would not work with the fans in Boston and New York, so why should we accept it?  We are baseball fans just like them, and we want to win… period, end of story, no kidding around.  

50. Texas Holdem' is no sport

I found the creation of ESPN to be a glorious event. What better for sport fans than a cable channel dedicated completely to sports? The network also brought with it SportsCenter, a sports news show that contained highlights from a variety of sports all across the country. For sports loyalists, this meant no more waiting up until after the weather on the local news to get the latest scores and highlights.

For several years, I played competitive racquetball- traveling all over the state and throughout the country. Dedicated to the sport, I was fortunate enough to play at Baldwin-Wallace College, which a couple years ago won the NCAA National Championship. I also had the privilege to play against the best players in the country, amateur and professional, many of which were from right here in Ohio.

Competitive and professional racquetball is much different than the sport most people think of when one mentions it. Though I am a bit partial on the matter, I would argue that their athletes are among the best in the world. The game is tough as nails, both powerful and lightening quick. The ball often travels, within its confined space, between 150-170 miles per hour. However, what is more amazing are the diving efforts put on by the game's top players. I have often commented in comparison to a baseball player that makes a diving catch, which sends the crowd into frenzy, that the top racquetball players make that play sometimes several times per rally- at much higher speeds and while getting out of the way of his or her opponent.

The hope for many involved in the sport is that it would make it onto ESPN, where not only would others be exposed to this great sport; it would also showcase the athletes that played it. To be fair, there is one big problem with racquetball and that is that it is not a great spectator sport- for two reasons. First, the television coverage does not do the sport justice; it is much faster than it appears on television. Secondly, it is a challenge to build and present a glass court that allows cameras to record the relevant action. That being said, it has been televised and ESPN has done a nice job in the past with its production. The problem, however, is that it is rarely on and when it is, it is usually on at two o'clock in the morning.

My complaint with ESPN has been when a lesser sport, again by my bias standards, was shown repeatedly and often in prime time (or at least not 2:00 am). While in recent years I have come to accept racquetball's fate on ESPN, the issue has resurfaced in my mind of late due to recent ESPN programming decisions. Three shows (though if I researched their programming schedule I am sure there would be many more) immediately come to mind- Texas Hold'em Poker, National Eating Competitions and a show on celebrity sneaker collections.

I am mindful of the fact that "sports programming" can be twisted to fit a number of definitions, but I would define "sport" as a competitive individual or team endeavor utilizing mind and body. However, by my definition, if it could not be included in physical education classes, it is not a sport. I could add some other criteria, like one must perspire while participating and the working out must actually benefit performance- but maybe I am being too narrow-minded.

Texas Hold'em Poker is certainly not a physical challenge and, in fact, it is gambling. I have nothing against the game itself or its popularity, or even against gambling, I just do not consider it a sport. It does contain skill and luck, but I do not anticipate the physical education teacher taking time to teach it along with Black Jack and Roulette in gym class.

The eating competition was a learning experience, as the "athletes" were very popular with their followers- signing autographs, trash talking and making dramatic entrances. While it does involve, to a very modest degree, physical and mental talents, it is more like "lunch" than physical education. Perhaps in the future, if the sport catches on, students will be asked to bring a few dozen hot dogs with them to school for gym class!

As for the "sports programming" that includes the display of celebrity sneaker collections, I am at a loss for words. I guess the "tie in" is that individuals that participated in sports once wore these sneakers.

Although the mission statement of ESPN reads, "to serve sports fans," I have no intention of campaigning ESPN to show "real" sports programming like racquetball and the many other sports that have thousands of immensely committed athletes- those athletes that train and compete for the love of the sport, not the love of money. In the same respect, I would probably not get too far anyway; for the "E" in ESPN did originally stand for "entertainment" (the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network). Apparently, there are those out there that find celebrity sneaker collections entertaining.

49. No fairy godmother for jobless

The movie, Cinderella Man, engages in the romance of a boxing comeback, as a one-time contender cashes in on the chance of a lifetime to become an unlikely heavyweight champion. More than that, the movie takes place during the Depression, and details the difficulties faced by those that lost their jobs, those whose lives spiraled through unthinkable challenges to just survive. It is about reaching a point of desperation in which pride and dignity are no longer a factor in the face of opportunity.

What should have been a very special day for me, not only turned out to be quite the opposite- it also taught me a very valuable lesson in the nature of business. For, on this particular day, I was to sign for my first house. I was working a construction job while attending school- very uninterestingly, like many young adults. Suddenly, things changed. I remember the moment almost in slow motion as my boss called me to his office. I barely got in the door, and without asking me to sit down and void of any compassion, he said, "Friday will be your last day." I could hardly believe my ears, and, of course, asked, "Why, what did I do?" My boss simply answered, "Nothing, the development is nearly finished and we don't need you anymore." And that was that.

Not so coincidentally I found out, two weeks prior, one of his contractors offered me a job that included a significant pay raise. I wanted to prove my loyalty to the company I was working for- so I declined. In my naivety, I did not see it coming and, in actuality, the contractor that offered me a job did so, not only because he liked my work, but also because he knew I would lose my job. When I called him, after receiving the news, it was too late.

The business world is different today in that many people have multiple careers and end up working for several companies throughout their lives. Though the experience of losing a job, on a societal level, is not comparable to the Depression, it is obviously quite significant to the person who no longer has a means of income. And the business world of today, for many reasons such as free trade agreements, globalization and the mere nature of capitalism, lends itself to downsizing, mergers and plant closings- all which put significant number of people out of work. Nothing hits me harder than hearing of someone who has lost his or her job.

Regardless of how one loses his or her job, whether it is because of downsizing, outsourcing, or plant closings- the consequences negatively influence financial stability, family unity, and self-esteem. In short, the loss of a job can ruin a person's life- as well as that of his or her family. The stress placed on that individual can test the resolve of even the best of men (and women).

The fortunate ones may begin to market themselves immediately, though they are likely to find the competition arduous. If the industry itself has collapsed or if the person losing the job no longer has a marketable skill, then often retraining is the challenge brought upon them. In fact, I did interview a few applicants who had lost their jobs after a number of years in a factory, and had gone on to become a nurse or nurse aid.

For most, reentry into the job market means a lot of time, effort, and disappointment. One must become immune, and not take personally, the number of doors that will be slammed in his or her face. Unfortunately, many who have jobs and who are involved in the employment process, either human resource managers or hiring administrators, seem to have forgotten or have never experienced what it is like to be looking for work. They often have the power to change a person's life, yet some exercise arrogance and dismay at the process in general- and the applicants in particular.

If that is not depressing enough, applicants must then fight through the nepotism, favoritism and discrimination that inevitably factors into many open positions. While most only want a "fair chance" at a job opening, the score is often settled based on personal connections and relationships. Through a number of methods, and because it is so difficult to prove otherwise, the most capable candidate may not always get the open position. Through the interview process, and underhanded tactics such as rewriting job descriptions or revising professional qualifications to suit certain candidates, the employer is generally free to hire whomever it desires- except in the most blatant cases of protected discrimination (age, race, etc.). However, just as in the example of losing a job, the employer seems to forget that they are playing with these people's lives. Ethics should dictate equal opportunity, an American meritocracy; however, reality and American aristocracy often prevail.

Nowhere is the importance of opportunity better documented than in the movie, Cinderella Man. Like those that suffered through the Depression, many people work very hard and endure through numerous hardships waiting for that one chance, that one opportunity. However, in a society in which caste increasingly decides who gets the opportunities, even at the microcosmic level, one cannot help to think how many stories like the Cinderella Man will never be told.