Does that mean your a skeptic about blogging's impact? Just this morning my wife read me a quick note about the recent rain in Death Valley in the New York Times. The article said that the rain will likely lead to a spectacular display of wildflowers. Then it said, "flower bloggers are already speculating..." Flower bloggers. A whole group devoted to writing about flowers, with thousands reading what they write. That is, indeed, a big social trend, in my book. Thanks.
Hahaha, that's funny.. It surprises me how popular sports figures today can have ANY kind of a normal life at all, and it doesn't seem like a whole lot of them DO.. what with media-gone-wild just for beginners.. It ALL seems sO out of whack! Can we EVer get what seeeemed norrrmal, once-upon-a-time, BACK again??! :-[
Now ya see, Tom, there's thee ONE problem with being an eternal optimist! .. Sometimes, as hard as we may wish for it, and work for it.. sometimes, some things just can't get better, or go back to the way they were.. better! ... Wasn't it great when they just gave us the scores, and let us enJOY the simplicity of the GAME!
I used to watch sports all the time b4 all these problems happened and they disapoint me considering how much money these people make and they still do these things.
I know. That was the root of my blogging about sports, that, after all's said and done, no amount of money changes the fact that the people playing the sports are still people (flawed, like us all) underneath the uniforms. Thanks.
I must admit to being a boxing fan. It's barbaric and destroys the lives of the participants. And yet, I love to watch a competitively matched fight. Some of the most exciting moments of my life have been watching fights like Ali-Frazier or Hagler-Hearns or Leonard-Hagler. If it were outlawed I wouldn't complain, but I'd sure wax nostalgic.
Thanks, marie. I think the patterns that are showing up in sports are certainly evident in all kinds of other domains as well. But not, of course, in the fashion world!
Well, Gary Player said in the last week or so that he knows "several" golfers who use steroids. Only thing I've heard about any of those sports. Interesting question; got a theory?
I agree commercialism & celebrity culture has taken the purity out of sports. It stops being a game when one strives to succeed at the expense of their conscience. One example, Michael Schumacher has on 3 occasions 'cheated' in F1; the Controversial championship deciding collisions with Damon Hill and Jacques Villenueve in 94 & 97 & parking it in Monaco qualifying '06. Just some examples of top athletes' will to win becoming stronger than the desire to play the game. Good topic Tom, as always.
There's many people out there that are sick scum, and anyone who kills something for their own plesure is the worse kind of scum. Michael deserves whatever trouble he's in now and then some.
Boy, it's hard to argue against your point of view. These dogs were so badly mistreated that it turns everyone's stomach (except Deion Sanders, who said that Vick just had a different relationship with dogs than other people).
Excellent commentary Tom. I just love the wonderful world of sports. The only two teams above all of this stuff are the Patriots and the Red Sox of course... :)
Hi Russ. I do, too, and hope (for the sake of my Boston-residing son-in-law, JAKULL22, commenting above) that you're right about those NE teams...I'm not sure those folks couldn't deal with a real scandal nowadays. They're as serious as a heart attack up there!
We can still hide at the movies :) You're right of course, sports used to have a sense of unspoiled purpose, which was to be the best, not simply to appear to be the best and make the most money.
It's hard not to want to win all the time, to be the best. There seems to be something in us that really desires to win and to be number 1, males are especially guilty of this trait.
Yes, Khaya, and we shouldn't try to extinguish that part of ourselves, imo. What we need to learn to do is to <b><i>balance</b</i>> that part with an ethical framework that maintains perspective. That's what seems to have disappeared now.
Great video Tom. Being a sports fan myself it is troubling how much attention is being focused on these people who do wrong rather than the games themselves. I won't be so naive as to say I didn't believe half this stuff was going on behind closed doors, however, sports fans can't seem to escape these headlines anymore.
You're right, it's been there before but now all this cheating threatens the integrity of every institution. Sports reflect life and we're into a very rough period right now.
Its not just in sports, your find scandal in hollywood politics and everywhere, This is the very reason why most conservitives say their is moral break down in our culture. Unfortchantly they goe out and sleep with their secretary and invade countries and stuff like that. Whats a boy to do?
Institutions throughout our culture are undergoing tremendous changes...old rules? what rules?? It's very destabilizing, both individually and collectively. Thanks.
For me it's not either/or, Steve, it's both/and. The whole culture's ramped up the "star-making machinery," as Joni Mitchell once called it, to a fever pitch. And then the players are caught in that bright light and all the deep human foibles are revealed. Thanks.
Ha ha...6:44 for this topic is nothing. Tom could talk about the Michael Vick issue alone for hours, and you wouldn't be bored. Tom, don't forget Vick also sent thugs out in the neighborhood to get "bait dogs". Ya know, steal little Billy's golden retriever so his pit bulls could keep their edge!
That's the point. It didn't get boring :) I bet that's some psycho-trick he's using on us ... I also feel like I need to see a movie right now. Disney. Yeah, I need to see a Disney flick right now.
Ah, yes, JAKULL22 has heard me blather on for hours about much less interesting stuff than Mr. Vick's pooches (right, Kull?). You are correct in pointing out that Vick's "recruitment" activities were, themselves, despicable. If this guy plays again in the NFL fans will be (appropriately) merciless (imagine the Cleveland "Dogpound"!). Thanks, Jer.
grrr I've been off sports for years- since the first major league baseball strike years ago. I'm not sure if the 'stress' and striving for being the 'best' in any sport is anything other than lust for fame, money and power. It certainly ain't about the game anymore.
Yes, Les, the stakes are so high that the lust is an all-consuming temptation. That's why I find it so fascinating: how do normal people (many of whom come from nothing...look at the NBA) cope with such incredible wealth without losing all sense of reality?
Yeah, I thought the title worked for the blogs so I wanted to use it here.
I think the level of wealth of sports stars (as well as hollywood riff raff and snotty nosed pop stars) in itself is appalling. Most people have no idea how to balance a checkbook with their monthly wage and electric bills, so give someone with a let's say 'educationally challeneged' background millions of dollars to play with and carte blanche to behave like a**h****s, that's some false sense of power - and short lived for those who abuse it.
Market systems always create bizarre imbalances, and athletes and entertainers are now on the top of the heap. Supply and demand...my dear...supply and demand.
If we as a society pay adults fabulous sums of money for playing children's games well, should we be all that surprised when they behave like spoiled children? Aloha :)
No doubt about it Ray. And who among us wouldn't encourage a child of ours who had the talent to do the same thing? That's the huge challenge today's athlete faces.
Sure, Doc, sports has always had normal kinds of individual behavior problems, but the stuff today threatens he existence of the sports. Tour de France continual blood doping? Forget it. Basketball refs betting on games? Call off the sponsors. Dog fighting and gang banging NFL stars? Turn out the lights.
Only good, old-fashioned rowdyism...none of this stuff that brings the entire sport down. I go back to the six team NHL and watching Gump Worsley kick 'em out for the Rangers.
Ah. Blogging. Social trend #95141.
akronflakesout 4 years ago
Does that mean your a skeptic about blogging's impact? Just this morning my wife read me a quick note about the recent rain in Death Valley in the New York Times. The article said that the rain will likely lead to a spectacular display of wildflowers. Then it said, "flower bloggers are already speculating..." Flower bloggers. A whole group devoted to writing about flowers, with thousands reading what they write. That is, indeed, a big social trend, in my book. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
Hahaha, that's funny.. It surprises me how popular sports figures today can have ANY kind of a normal life at all, and it doesn't seem like a whole lot of them DO.. what with media-gone-wild just for beginners.. It ALL seems sO out of whack! Can we EVer get what seeeemed norrrmal, once-upon-a-time, BACK again??! :-[
tubeeorrnottubee 4 years ago
Nope. Gone. Forever.
tlg847 4 years ago
Now ya see, Tom, there's thee ONE problem with being an eternal optimist! .. Sometimes, as hard as we may wish for it, and work for it.. sometimes, some things just can't get better, or go back to the way they were.. better! ... Wasn't it great when they just gave us the scores, and let us enJOY the simplicity of the GAME!
tubeeorrnottubee 4 years ago
I used to watch sports all the time b4 all these problems happened and they disapoint me considering how much money these people make and they still do these things.
CallOfDutyLoser 4 years ago
I know. That was the root of my blogging about sports, that, after all's said and done, no amount of money changes the fact that the people playing the sports are still people (flawed, like us all) underneath the uniforms. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
Hey Tom...what do you think about boxing as a sport? Should it be outlawed? Curious to know your thoughts.
blazeindt 4 years ago
I must admit to being a boxing fan. It's barbaric and destroys the lives of the participants. And yet, I love to watch a competitively matched fight. Some of the most exciting moments of my life have been watching fights like Ali-Frazier or Hagler-Hearns or Leonard-Hagler. If it were outlawed I wouldn't complain, but I'd sure wax nostalgic.
tlg847 4 years ago
lol at the oooold Barry Bonds card
I think Michael Vick probably would've been dogfighting even if he wasn't a pro athlete
ISmellLikeASexyGuy 4 years ago
That's the way I remember him coming up in Pittsburgh when I lived there.
As for Vick, I'm sure you're 100% correct. Makes you wonder what else he would have been doing...
tlg847 4 years ago
Is that a green screen in the background?
nyctour07 4 years ago
Yup.
tlg847 4 years ago
tom,
I don't even like sports, but your video sure resonated with me.
marieRao57 4 years ago
Thanks, marie. I think the patterns that are showing up in sports are certainly evident in all kinds of other domains as well. But not, of course, in the fashion world!
tlg847 4 years ago
Hey Tom is there any of this type of disappointing drama associated to water sports, golf, professional bowling or tennis? Just curious.
2of6Solutions 4 years ago
Well, Gary Player said in the last week or so that he knows "several" golfers who use steroids. Only thing I've heard about any of those sports. Interesting question; got a theory?
tlg847 4 years ago
Non that I would ever admit to publicly.... I mean uh no Tom I was just curious... B-)
2of6Solutions 4 years ago
Yeah, I hear you...
tlg847 4 years ago
I agree commercialism & celebrity culture has taken the purity out of sports. It stops being a game when one strives to succeed at the expense of their conscience. One example, Michael Schumacher has on 3 occasions 'cheated' in F1; the Controversial championship deciding collisions with Damon Hill and Jacques Villenueve in 94 & 97 & parking it in Monaco qualifying '06. Just some examples of top athletes' will to win becoming stronger than the desire to play the game. Good topic Tom, as always.
LACK78 4 years ago
Auto racing and cheating seem to go hand in hand. Nascar crews cheat constantly. I think it kinda goes with the "outlaw" heritage of the sport.
tlg847 4 years ago
The Vick story is big news here in VA - max sentence is only 6 years - not enough for such cruel and evil people.
KittyWhisperer 4 years ago
Correction: max is 5 yrs, $250k + restitution: still not enough.
KittyWhisperer 4 years ago
Nope. Not enough. But I'd bet the Feds find other stuff if they start turning over enough rocks. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
There's many people out there that are sick scum, and anyone who kills something for their own plesure is the worse kind of scum. Michael deserves whatever trouble he's in now and then some.
KGSGoFreak 4 years ago
Boy, it's hard to argue against your point of view. These dogs were so badly mistreated that it turns everyone's stomach (except Deion Sanders, who said that Vick just had a different relationship with dogs than other people).
tlg847 4 years ago
-_- yeah very different... Makes me wonder what kind of morals they Grew up with...
KGSGoFreak 4 years ago
There are so many distorted cultural values in various parts of the world that it's impossible to imagine them all. Scary, actually. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
Excellent commentary Tom. I just love the wonderful world of sports. The only two teams above all of this stuff are the Patriots and the Red Sox of course... :)
Frequency100 4 years ago
Hi Russ. I do, too, and hope (for the sake of my Boston-residing son-in-law, JAKULL22, commenting above) that you're right about those NE teams...I'm not sure those folks couldn't deal with a real scandal nowadays. They're as serious as a heart attack up there!
tlg847 4 years ago
Hey Tom, thanks for another great video! I liked the old green/blue screen effect as well. What type of software were you using? Cheers, Ben
longwayrounder 4 years ago
Using iMovie with a Stupendous Software green screen plug-in, Ben. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
We can still hide at the movies :) You're right of course, sports used to have a sense of unspoiled purpose, which was to be the best, not simply to appear to be the best and make the most money.
poopsIingingmonkey 4 years ago
Thank goodness for the movies! Everything's about money.
Seeking money without morality = crime.
tlg847 4 years ago
It's hard not to want to win all the time, to be the best. There seems to be something in us that really desires to win and to be number 1, males are especially guilty of this trait.
khayav 4 years ago
Yes, Khaya, and we shouldn't try to extinguish that part of ourselves, imo. What we need to learn to do is to <b><i>balance</b</i>> that part with an ethical framework that maintains perspective. That's what seems to have disappeared now.
tlg847 4 years ago
Great video Tom. Being a sports fan myself it is troubling how much attention is being focused on these people who do wrong rather than the games themselves. I won't be so naive as to say I didn't believe half this stuff was going on behind closed doors, however, sports fans can't seem to escape these headlines anymore.
BMac199 4 years ago
You're right, it's been there before but now all this cheating threatens the integrity of every institution. Sports reflect life and we're into a very rough period right now.
tlg847 4 years ago
You gotta dance with them that brung ya, and you gotta play with yourself once you get there. The story of my life.
kenrg 4 years ago
C'mon, admit it: you got that from a country song!
tlg847 4 years ago
I think it would be a news story if there WASNT a drug scandal at the tour!
orju 4 years ago
That's for sure!
tlg847 4 years ago
I hope Youtube stays drug-free.
essdeeoh 4 years ago
Drug-free? You seen Ian Crossland?
tlg847 4 years ago
Very good.
Your final statement applies to us all.
jay1p 4 years ago
Thanks. Yup...no matter where you go, there YOU are.
tlg847 4 years ago
Well said. And you have a magic chair!
dscefonas 4 years ago
Like that chair, huh? Next time I'll sit on a magic carpet!
tlg847 4 years ago
Its not just in sports, your find scandal in hollywood politics and everywhere, This is the very reason why most conservitives say their is moral break down in our culture. Unfortchantly they goe out and sleep with their secretary and invade countries and stuff like that. Whats a boy to do?
vmanvand 4 years ago
Institutions throughout our culture are undergoing tremendous changes...old rules? what rules?? It's very destabilizing, both individually and collectively. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
Hmmm... pretty .. "catchy" title. Cute Mickey Mouse shirt.Funny how I can wear a Spiderman shirt, but not a Mickey. Too cute. What a dope I am.
Hmm...interesting video.
(BTW I see you are also a big HelloRodney viewer. And vice versa.)
Gimmeabreakman 4 years ago
Thanks. Yes, I dig deep into my wardrobe for these videos (i.e., whatever I happen to have on at the moment.)
Rodney's great!
tlg847 4 years ago
For me it's not either/or, Steve, it's both/and. The whole culture's ramped up the "star-making machinery," as Joni Mitchell once called it, to a fever pitch. And then the players are caught in that bright light and all the deep human foibles are revealed. Thanks.
tlg847 4 years ago
Yo, mik.
tlg847 4 years ago
You said it as well as I have heard anyone say it. This is an excellent video.
Mikerochip1 4 years ago
Thanks, Mike.
tlg847 4 years ago
Whew, took you 06:44 to come across with that info. Hope you aren't giving lectures :)
MisterMillerEXP 4 years ago
Are you calling me a wind bag? (Hey...if the shoe fits...!)
tlg847 4 years ago
Ha ha...6:44 for this topic is nothing. Tom could talk about the Michael Vick issue alone for hours, and you wouldn't be bored. Tom, don't forget Vick also sent thugs out in the neighborhood to get "bait dogs". Ya know, steal little Billy's golden retriever so his pit bulls could keep their edge!
JAKULL22 4 years ago
That's the point. It didn't get boring :) I bet that's some psycho-trick he's using on us ... I also feel like I need to see a movie right now. Disney. Yeah, I need to see a Disney flick right now.
MisterMillerEXP 4 years ago
See, I told them they should make me a Partner! I got you to want to go see a Disney flick just by my subtle subliminal messaging. What power!
(T-shirt? What t-shirt? Ohh...I didn't realize it would have that effect...)
tlg847 4 years ago
Ah, yes, JAKULL22 has heard me blather on for hours about much less interesting stuff than Mr. Vick's pooches (right, Kull?). You are correct in pointing out that Vick's "recruitment" activities were, themselves, despicable. If this guy plays again in the NFL fans will be (appropriately) merciless (imagine the Cleveland "Dogpound"!). Thanks, Jer.
tlg847 4 years ago
In the preview thumb to this video it looks like Michael Vick is holding you like a doll
biglu323 4 years ago
And, even given my considerable girth, I bet he could, too!
tlg847 4 years ago
grrr I've been off sports for years- since the first major league baseball strike years ago. I'm not sure if the 'stress' and striving for being the 'best' in any sport is anything other than lust for fame, money and power. It certainly ain't about the game anymore.
Titillating Title!
LeSaMilano 4 years ago
Yes, Les, the stakes are so high that the lust is an all-consuming temptation. That's why I find it so fascinating: how do normal people (many of whom come from nothing...look at the NBA) cope with such incredible wealth without losing all sense of reality?
Yeah, I thought the title worked for the blogs so I wanted to use it here.
tlg847 4 years ago
I think the level of wealth of sports stars (as well as hollywood riff raff and snotty nosed pop stars) in itself is appalling. Most people have no idea how to balance a checkbook with their monthly wage and electric bills, so give someone with a let's say 'educationally challeneged' background millions of dollars to play with and carte blanche to behave like a**h****s, that's some false sense of power - and short lived for those who abuse it.
LeSaMilano 4 years ago
Market systems always create bizarre imbalances, and athletes and entertainers are now on the top of the heap. Supply and demand...my dear...supply and demand.
tlg847 4 years ago
Really neat video Tom. I love the new setup you have, I always liked your videos but I think the varying backgrounds only adds to the high quality:)
DTOlness2860 4 years ago
Many thanks. I won't do this all the time but it is a nice change of pace.
tlg847 4 years ago
If we as a society pay adults fabulous sums of money for playing children's games well, should we be all that surprised when they behave like spoiled children? Aloha :)
MrRay47 4 years ago
No doubt about it Ray. And who among us wouldn't encourage a child of ours who had the talent to do the same thing? That's the huge challenge today's athlete faces.
tlg847 4 years ago
so drugs busts , fist fights , and such is not as bad as gambling? I'm confused.
DoctorMetropolis 4 years ago
Sure, Doc, sports has always had normal kinds of individual behavior problems, but the stuff today threatens he existence of the sports. Tour de France continual blood doping? Forget it. Basketball refs betting on games? Call off the sponsors. Dog fighting and gang banging NFL stars? Turn out the lights.
tlg847 4 years ago
...so was Sam :)
samelf 4 years ago
Yo, Sam.
tlg847 4 years ago
Nice format with the pictures in the background. Great idea!
mambachaser 4 years ago
Kinda havin' fun with this...just yackin' all the time gets boring!
tlg847 4 years ago
I LOVE THE MICKEY SHIRT ! : )
ASECONDCHANCEAROUND 4 years ago
Thanks, SCA! (But what about my shoes??)
tlg847 4 years ago
You never hear any hockey players getting into trouble. Hockey rules.
Capslock17 4 years ago
Only good, old-fashioned rowdyism...none of this stuff that brings the entire sport down. I go back to the six team NHL and watching Gump Worsley kick 'em out for the Rangers.
tlg847 4 years ago
Do i need to bring up the coyote's and the gambling ring that was busted last year...
SrJohnBosco 4 years ago
You can always go to church Tom...oh wait let me rethink that..I know I know we can be politicians...no no that is no good..hmmm :(
2of6Solutions 4 years ago
Like I said 2/6, no respite anywhere...thnx.
tlg847 4 years ago