CHARGES OF RACISM IN LITTLE LEAGUE DECISION

You've got to be kidding, right?  Racism.  And guess who's right at the head of the line, leading the charge?  The Reverend Jesse Jackson.

The one word I'm talking about concerns the shed-to-light story this past week involving the Chicago-based Little League team, Jackie Robinson West and the Little League International decision to strip them from their U.S. title from the 2014 Little League World Series. 



Racism....a word Robinson knew far better than anyone today

Here is what tipped the iceberg.  "According to a Chicago Tribune story, at an afternoon press conference Thursday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson questioned the motives behind the decision.

"This decision's untimely and inappropriate at this time. It should not take six months after a team has played a championship game to determine eligibility to play the game in the first place," Jackson said.

Jackie Robinson West had its title taken away when it was discovered that players in its lineup lived outside the team's geographic boundaries. The decision came after teams the Chicago squad defeated in the Little League World Series complained.

"When you're going over to voter registration and going to birth certificates and doing all this time of hunting and a witch hunt that's been going on for the last number of months," The Rev. Michael Pfleger, a Chicago pastor, said.

"I can't help but wonder the question if the same thing would have been done with another team from another place, another race," Pfleger told CBS News.

The Chicago-based rapper Twista also raised claims of racism, telling TMZ.  "I'm outraged. You don't see this extensive of an investigation happen unless it happens to black people."

Really?  Alright, let me ask a question then.  The managers, League President and most of the players from Jackie Robinson West knew what they were doing was illegal.  How could you not?.  And even more so, how could you have played the entire league year with players who were ineligible and not had an ounce of conscience.  Your decisions are your consequences.  Most players know the boundaries.....all managers most certainly do and there is no excuse for a League President not verifying eligibility.  The state, regional and national committee's also did a poor job of checking eligibility requirements  

I've been a part of Little Leagues before as a coach and board member, both in around the Des Moines, Iowa suburbs.  I know what's done to assure each all-star meets the requirements that Little League International sets. If we had a player that lived outside the boundaries, they could participate in league play, but were ineligible for all-star competition.  There should be no argument from Jackie Robinson West.  Sadly, they got caught.  And because of the actions of some adults (and I use that word loosely) the Jackie Robinson West players will be associated with tarnished images for the rest of their lives.  All for what?  All for what........Let's see what words fly when the league is asked to return the nearly $200,000 in contributions.
        
"When you make a donation to a charity, that's a completed gift. You don't have any rights to manage the charity or do anything else," said Jack Siegel, a Chicago lawyer who monitors charities and sits on the BBB Wise Giving Alliance board. "You're probably not going to get your money back, but never say 'never.'"

Another Chicago source felt the League might receive additional financial support because of the media attention.  Perhaps those dollars can help rid the league of the unsavory people being replaced (managers and directors).

Through this past week, there have been several times I've thought...."what about Jackie Robinson, the name they're associated with".  What about him? 

Jackie Robinson made so many things possible for athletes – and  - especially the dreams of African American athletes – but he also was a giant figure for those of us who wanted to research, teach and frame the steps to equality in America. 

Perhaps Jackie Robinson West forgot who they were representing.  Because from where I sit.  Racism is one of the last words I reach for.  I was thinking.  Stupid.  Yeah, Stupid.  S-T-U-P-I-D.

Thanks for reading,

A SUPER BOWL FIRST.......AN EJECTION

Everybody is talking about the "call" after the stunning conclusion to the 2015 Super Bowl.  And well they should because no matter how you spin it, it was stupid, stupid, stupid.  I'm not sure how Seattle Seahawks head coach, Pete Carroll, can expect us to believe his postgame "stand-up" interview......"we had the right play called and it was my decision".  The New England Patriots will go down as the victor in the 49th Super Bowl 28-24.  And Seattle will be the loser.

One of the most embarrassing Super Bowl moments....EVER

But they could go down as the loser in another way. Not only will the Seahawks go down as having lost the game, they can claim a title that no one has worn before, the Super Bowl's first ever ejection.  With 18 seconds left to play and the Patriots running out the clock, post-play pushing and shoving boiled over into a brief fight between the two teams. Several players were involved by the time it ended, but the officials identified Seahawks linebacker  Bruce Irvin as the instigator and ejected him from the game.

"I was protecting a teammate, emotions flew," Irvin said Sunday night. "I saw somebody hit Mike Bennett, so I went and backed up my brother. I went about it wrong. Emotions were flying high, and I apologize.

"But if it happened again, I would go protect my teammate. That's just how it is."
Patriots guard Ryan Wendell and Irvin were shoving back and forth in the back of the end zone. With the officials focused on the pile of players in the middle of the field, Irvin and Patriots tight end Michael Hoomanawanui were locked up.  Irvin threw Hoomanawanui to the ground as players were separated.

Three times Irvin went to Twitter to express his feelings and offer some sort of apology.  His last remark went like this.  "Still not an excuse and I'm truly sorry to all the 12's and my Wvu family for my actions".  The Wvu stands for West Virginia University.  And they, of course, had seen Irvin in action before.  He has been less than a model citizen and now you can put less than a model professional football player in that same sentence.

Here's a look back....

May 23, 2007

The day Irvin and two others broke into a drug dealer's house in suburban Atlanta. After dropping out of high school, he fell in with people who were tumbling like himself – the kind of people his mother warned him would "laugh at you when you are down and out."

All rational thought was gone, though. He didn't much consider the consequences when he entered the home. Nothing mattered besides the money. He and two others robbed the house and escaped, not realizing that the person next door saw them and called the police.

It didn't take long for Irvin to be arrested and hauled to the police station where he was charged with burglary and carrying a concealed weapon. Then he was thrown into jail where he sat for two-plus weeks.  "I thought I was done," he says.

March 18, 2012

The day he got arrested, again. A silly thing perhaps: misdemeanor charges of destruction of property and disorderly conduct. According to the police report, Irvin knocked a magnetic Pita Pit sandwich shop sign off the top of a delivery car. He was arrested when the driver said the sign was damaged.

Irvin will not discuss the incident publicly, even to correct an erroneous report that he had shattered a sign inside a Jimmy John's shop. The most he has said came two days after his arrest when he posted on his Twitter account: "If u honestly believe I would blow my chances destroying jimmy johns after all the hard work I put in to get in my situation ur crazy!"

It would seem to me, that I'm crazy. Because he hasn't learned.  After the opportunities that Irvin has had.....he has been a continual abuser in the system.  The Seahawks took the linebacker/defensive end in the 1st round of the 2012 draft, the 15th player chosen overall.  He was, by all accounts, expected to be a fixture with the the Seahawks.  Now, I'm not so sure.  If......and that's a big "if", the National Football League wants to change its image and hold players accountable for their actions on and off the field, they need to step up and use Irvin's knucklehead actions as an example.  When you consider the number of young people watching the Super Bowl, the end of the game brawl was a black eye on the sport, to say the least. 

Yes, Bruce Irvin has a lot of growing up to do.  But so does a number of his teammates, namely Richard Sherman, Marshawn Lynch and Doug Baldwin.  Their attitude on the game leaves a lot to be desired.  But perhaps they have acceptance from someone who looks the other way.....in the name of winning.  Pete Carroll has a history of running a shadowy program.  Can you say USC?  And as Pete likes to say "any notoriety is good, I guess". 

If that's the way you want to be remembered Pete, so be it.  Hopefully, the NFL has other thoughts and the dark side of the game becomes a thing of the the past.  The Super Bowl had so many good things to offer.....the brawl did not.    

Thanks for reading,

John       

THE BATTLE IN CHICAGO.....FOR FANS THAT IS

It;s a battle that's been raging for years.   Northside vs Southside.  National League against the American League.  Cubs versus Sox.  Need I say more.

 "The rivalry between the two teams and their fans dates back to the founding of the American League. In 1900, Charles Comiskey moved his Saint Paul Saints minor league franchise to Chicago. It is believed that the Cubs owner at the time was not happy, and filed a suit against Comiskey. After talks, it was decided that Comiskey could move his team to Chicago, pending that Chicago was not used in the title of the team name, and that the team play south of 35th Street.  In response, the team was renamed the "White Stockings," which had been the original name of the Cubs from 1876 to 1889. The establishment of a new team in the city was a direct challenge to the National League franchise, which had been the idea behind the formation of the American League. 

In recent months the bar has been raised....first by the Sox (signing relief pitcher Zach Duke and first baseman/DH Adam LaRoche),,,,.then the Cubs grabbing former Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon......then back to the Sox in trading for righthanded starter Jeff Samardzija,,,,and then the Cubs by inking lefty pitcher Jon Lester.  Back and forth....back and forth.  Cubs adding catchers Miguel Montero and David Ross and then centerfielder Dexter Fowler.  And the White Sox firing back with closer David Robertson and left fielder Melky Cabrera.  Bragging rights became an every day dilemma.  Who made a move today and how'd that change things?    It's been an off-season of flury.  Deals, deals and more deals.  And then this......  

 "Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts fired off a hefty volley -- and got the biggest laugh -- in what should be renewed intensity to the Cubs/White Sox rivalry.

During Saturday morning's Ricketts Family Forum at his team's annual fan convention, he was told by a fan that people say that kids “have more fun at U.S. Cellular Field” than at Wrigley Field. After a pause, Ricketts responded:

“Can’t be that many kids having fun at U.S. Cellular,” he said with a smile.

Well...those could be intrepreted as some big fighting words for the Sox.  It's not like they don't know some things need to change attendance-wise.

Brooks Boyer, Sox Senior VP of Sales and Marketing said they have a new motto in the White Sox ticket department.  "Strategically, the big thing we're saying internally is, 'One more game,' " said Boyer. at SoxFest over the weekend. "How do we get people to attend one more game?"

A HOUSE DIVIDED????? Maybe Much More Than That......

Yesterday, I fired off an email to Mr. Boyer thinking I'd throw out a couple ideas and see if he'd respond.  Mainly I touched on Little Leagues and how they could play a big factor in increasing the fan base. Within three hours he replied.

"A few years ago we started "sponsoring" Little Leagues in the Chicagoland area. We went in and made EVERY team, from t-ball to their oldest divisions, White Sox teams. They were differentiated by colors for the younger guys and historical White Sox jerseys for the older guys. We also bought all of their caps. This way, the leagues can spend the money saved to buy field equipment or playing equipment to create a better experience for the kids. One league put lights on their main complex. We send out training tip videos from our coaching staff and players. Most importantly, we make special offers to the leagues to come to games. 

I whole heartedly agree with your philosophy as I think you always root for the team you wore when you played Little League. Heck, I still like the Montreal Expos! We may have lost some generations of fans because of TV or generational fandom, but we are NOT going to lose the next generation of baseball fans in the Chicago area.

Thanks for the email,
Brooks

I must say, I was very impressed by Brooks quick reply.  There is a plan in place for the Sox.  The product will be much improved.  Now, the hard work begins.  Getting people there for a first time and then for "one more game".

The Cubs have a mind of their own with putting fannies back in the stands.  Remodel, Rebuild and let Sports Illustrated do your marketing for you and THEY WILL COME.   On January 9th, Sports Illustrated picked the Cubbies to win the 2015 World Series.  Now, I'm not sure where they came up with the factors to reach that decision.....but they did.  Call it a jinx or a help....2015 could be special.  Could Be.

Ultimately, there will always be differences between the two fans bases.  For example:

Bleacher etiquette of the Cubs fan:  Always boo when the opposing team hits a homerun. If you are near where the ball was hit, grab it and toss it back onto the field.

Bleacher etiquette of the Sox fan: Never throw anything on the field. This is important, and includes homerun balls hit by the opposing team. Keep the field clean, and respect it.

A City Divided?  For sure.  But that division also lives in some homes and families.  My mother is a die-hard Cubs fan.  And I, of course, am NOT.  Which leads to some pretty interesting feuds.

If you find yourself in that same situation, just remember.  The White Sox lead the series 49-44.  That should help your argument.  Booooooooo-yaaaaaaaaa.

Thanks for reading,

John

 

A JIM ZABEL YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

I never wanted to be an obit writer.  By all accounts it simply  has to be one of the toughest jobs there is in the writing profession.  How can you put in a mere cascade of words the relevance of a person's life?  How does that do them justice......isn't there more to it than that?

In recent months, I've been put to the "test" in remembering the lives of an aunt and uncle, a college roommate, a good friend and fellow sports guy, Mike Newell and now Jim.

In life and in a caricature...Jim Zabel was special

The Jim I'm speaking of, is Jim Zabel, legendary sportscaster who called University of Iowa Hawkeye broadcasts since 1948.  Zabel passed away last week at the age of 91 in Arizona as he was preparing for his weekly radio show, "Two Guys Named Jim". That in itself is a testament.....working away at a true love right up until your last breath is taken. If only we could all be so fortunate.

I have purposefully held off writing anything about Jim's passing since it was reported on May 23rd simply because I wanted to soak in the meaning of his life....and his death.  Jim was without question....UNIQUE.  He had a style unto his own.  He thought highly of himself and his past experiences as an athlete growing up in Davenport, Iowa.  Some might have thought he was a braggart, but the longer I knew him, I became convinced it depicted his rub with the greats in their profession.  He forever spoke of his race with Olympian trackman Jesse Owens.  Not that he beat him...but that he saw Owens backside in such quick fashion.  He also took great pride in mentioning he succeeded Ronald Reagan at the famed WHO microphone in 1944.  In an interview with Reagan, ......came the line Jim would recite thousands of times, "Reagan said if I stay out of Hollywood, he'll stay out of Des Moines".  Of course those words had greater significance when the Hollywood star became the 40th President of the United States.

I've often likened Jim to Chicago White Sox broadcaster, Ken "Hawk" Harrelson.  Either you think they "talk" one of the worst games in town......or you simply love him.  There's no in between.  During one of Zabel's broadcasts some time in the  mid-1990's, came the line, "I love it, I love it, I love it" in describing a big Hawkeye victory.  It quickly became something Iowa fans seized.  Jim's line became their line.

A Hawkeye fan that shows the marriage between Jim and University of Iowa sports

I knew Jim a little differently than others.  I served as his producer for three years at WHO Radio.  Served might not actually be the right word, because it was am absolute blessing.  They were three years full of memories and travel and fun.  Right from the start I knew my job was to make Jim's job easier.  From show prep to broadcast time my role was to provide information, guests and show direction.  His job was to talk....and that he did.  And talk and talk.......

In many respects, he got what he wanted with air time and I received my rewards in other ways.  In the mid-80's, the two of us traveled to Chicago for the Big Ten Football  Meetings.  During the day we'd connect with players and coaches and then in the evening we'd head to a local studio to broadcast the "Jim Zabel Show".  But it wasn't just any old studio.  It was the work/home of Paul Harvey, famed radio man of the 20th century.  I recall being ushered into Harvey's office to meet the man who coined, "the rest of the story".  If ever I've felt command respect  for person it was then.....and so did Jim.  I don't recall any other time where he was smitten with the greatness in front of us.  At least for that time, I could say, Jim was speechless.

Not only was Jim without words, he did something unless that day he did very little of.  That's the only way I can explain what he did.  All I remember is, later that night we had a bite to eat at a Chicago eatery and he picked up the check.  Not only did he pick up the check, he paid for the meal.  And if you've ever heard anything about Jim, it was he was known for being "tight".   That evening our relationship became a little tighter, for sure.    

There came another time Jim was without words for a much different reason.  In 1997, the University of Iowa merged its radio broadcasts into one feed....one lead announcer.   And that man was NOT Jim Zabel.  Prior to the 1997 season, Iowa had several radio hosts feeding stations across the Midwest.  One flagship group was headed by Bob Brooks, one Ron Gonder and then Jim.  All that changed with the naming of Dubuque, Iowa native Gary Dolphin to the post.  It was a crushing decision for Z.  One I don't believe he ever fully recovered from.  He was bitter at the University and Dolphin and not exactly in that order.  If anything, it was probably hard on Jim who to blame the most.

Iowa tried to maintain relationships with all three men they bypassed for the head job.  All were offered some part of the game broadcast....but it wasn't the same.  There were some awkward moments for sure during these times.....but I will say one thing, Dolphin handled the entire affair with class.  He let Jim have his time and say and of course longer than usual microphone time.  Over the years, there came some lessening of the disappointment of the 1997 decision.  Some.

During his 48 years broadcasting Hawkeye games, Jim will forever be known for the game he called and the one that actually took place.  He had a vivid imagination.  I distinctly recall sliding into my stadium seat as a game was about to take place.  Over my headset came Jim's call about the captains meeting at midfield for the coin toss.  I looked once, then a second time.....straining to see where the heck they where.  They had of course been on the field earlier.  Several minutes earlier to be exact.  But that was Jim's way of setting the scene. And all I could do was shake my head and say to myself,  "Jim, Jim, Jim".

Zabel had an unusual way of announcing foreign players names in the sports world.  For instance, there was famed golfer, Chi Chi Rodriquez....who became Cha Cha Rod-ga-whez and Ilie Nastsse who was tagged with Il-lille Nah, tasse.  Yes...Zabel could make his sports broadcasts interesting.  In addition to his radio duties, Jim also worked for WHO-TV serving as the "sports guy" and also hosting several other shows.  Most notably were "Let's Go Bowling", which lasted for 30 years and "Beat the Bear".  Some of Jim's most fun times were the ad-libs he and numerous characters played during BTB.  Zabel often talked fondly of his special relationship with Duane Ellet, from Floppy fame in Central Iowa.  Their antics were on the edge and their ratings were off the wall.    

In a selfish manner, I will always remember Jim coming to our wedding reception.  Most of my side of the family knew I worked with Zabel.  But not my wife's relatives and friends.  People were like...."what's Jim Zabel doing here?"  Jim's presence was something to behold.  I'd like to think it wasn't because of a free drink that night.....because we only served wine at the reception!  And of course, that was not Jim's favorite beverage.

This week, I was talking to a gentleman about my previous work and background.  He asked if I knew Jim Zabel.  When I nodded the affirmative he went ahead with this story.  "Many, many years ago, my wife and I were coming out of Cristopher's in Beaverdale after a nice evening meal.  As we did, I saw some 50 feet in front of us a person who I knew was in the TV business.  I said to my wife.  Look honey, there's a guy who works for KCCI.  Jim overheard me still some thirty feet away said....no, WHO.  Then I said to my wife again just as we cross paths,  I think he's the weather guy.  And Jim says....no, sports.  As we continue walking, I say again to my wife, I think it's Ron Stoll.  To which Jim, as he's about to enter the restaurant shouts......no....JIM ZABEL.

That story alone was worth waiting the extra week for before writing some words about Jim.  Where he might not have always been known to everyone by name......people knew he was somebody by the way he carried himself.  Much like the way he wooooooed his second wife Jill.

When she first met Jim, Jill didn't much care for sports and she wasn't enamored with his past.  She simply fell in love with the guy.  Just for who he was.  Much like many of us did.

After a big Hawkeye victory, Jim would often encourage his listeners to "hug their radios" for the sure love of what they'd just witnessed.  So for this one last time, I'm going to ask you to do the same thing......"hug yours for old Z".

Thanks for many, many memories my friend.          

Thanks for reading,

John

***A Celebration of Jim's Life will take place on Friday, June 21st at the Lutheran Church of Hope in West Des Moines at 4 p.m.  A visitation will take place preceding at 2 p.m. at the same location.


        


                  

NO SEX ON AIR FOR COMCAST'S COLLINS

The headline I chose for this story is probably a little over the top.  Just the same, so is the dismissal of Comcast Chicago's Susannah Collins from her duties as a reporter/anchor for the sports network.  Collins was filing a pre-game report outside the Chicago Blackhawks dressing room before their Stanley Cup Playoff opener versus the Minnesota Wild.  And she made a monumental mistake.

During Happier Days Interviewing Mr. T

The Comcast website had this to say about Collins in her bio.  "Prior to coming on board at CSN, Collins gained national attention for her on-air work at Showtime Sports, where she appeared as a special correspondent for the networks weekly studio shows "Inside the NFL" and "Inside NASCAR".  Collins reported from two Super Bowls (XLV, XLVI) interviewing numerous athletes and celebrities.  Collins also covered MMA and boxing events for Showtime as a live event reporter and web-feature contributor.  Collins also served as a correspondent/reporter for the NFL Network, NBC and CBS.  In 2011, she anchored the weekend sports broadcasts at WCBS-TV in New York and hosted numerous Fan Fest events for MLB.com at the 2012 All-Star Game in Kansas City".  So, it would appear she was well thought of.

Here's what led to the farting of the ways.....errrrr parting of the ways.  Rather than trying to explain the situation, the tone in which she delivered her faux paus and whether it was an accidental slip, you be the judge.

Clearly, many TV executives had either neglected to do their homework.....or simply didn't care about Collins past that by Comcast's accounts, finally caught up with her. The "mistake" Tuesday night put a spotlight on Collins, and that quickly refocused attention on a series of raunchy You Tube videos uploaded between 2009 and 2010.  As co-host of Sports Nutz, Collins pushed the boundaries of sports journalism--and good taste-with sexually explicit reports and potentially offensive racial stereotypes.

I decided to take a check on the 16-video series produced by Middlebrow Media featuring Collins and her co-host, Sam Raddock.  I'll have to admit, they were lacking in taste and journalistic integrity.....that is, if that even exists anymore.  Still, what must have these two young ladies been thinking when they offered their talent to such a project?  For sure, neither woman displayed much concern of acceptance of their words....just the same...we've all done something we should have thought more about......especially when you know it's going to hit the internet.  Neither Collins or Raddock could say they were caught off guard in that respect.

Yet, I believe the dismissal of Collins was unwarranted.  A suspension?  Probably.  As you might have seen in the video, Collins quickly corrected herself.  Point One.  Point Two.  The network said the dismissal was more so from her reporting.  I'm not so sure.  And point three.  Collins, from all on-air perspectives, had made terrific improvement in her reporting since first coming on the air in September of 2012.

I have to wonder whether this is a dead issue or not.  Could her press brethren in Chicago come to her aid?  Could they say, hey, come on.....that's a might harsh.  Or do they stick their necks in their turtle shells and bury any comment on the subject?

I liked the work Collins did.  I think she should be given a second chance, which I'm sure she will.  Just not in Chicago and not with Comcast.  Here's hoping she gets that chance sometime soon.  She's talented, she's young and she's not perfect.  Something we all know a little bit about..

And by the way....Ms. Raddock, the co-host of the Sports Nutz show, by all accounts from the internet, is a key account manager at Southern Wine and Spirits in the Greater New York area.  I'm curious if her bosses feel the same way about their employee as Comcast did.

All I can think of, is, what an age we live in....stay tuned.

Thanks for reading,

John      


     




 

"UNSTOPPABLE" ROBLES OFFERS A DIRECTION

"When opportunities don't present themselves, you have to look for other doors to walk through", said a confident and smiling Anthony Robles Monday night.  My gosh, if that didn't resonate with me.  And it sure made me inquisitive of what else he might be passing along our way.

The night, was 2013 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Banquet for Central Iowa.  It's a night I've attended many times, but none with the effect I was left with on this particular evening.  If you don't know of Anthony Robles, you're probably not alone.  He's not what you'd call a household name.  At least not yet.  He's a former NCAA wrestler who in his final season won the 125-pound weight class while wrestling for the Arizona State Sun Devils.  That fact alone is not so unusual, but given that he only had one leg is.  In truth, that's his story....the past, present and future of what he encounters each and every day.

If ever a mother (Judy Robles) could have said, "I told you so"

Robles was born with one leg, just his left.  And his mother was young, just sixteen.  So given those odds, wouldn't it be easy to see failure written across much of these two lives?  That was not the case.  His mother, Judy, always reasoned things out by saying, "God made you this way for a reason", over and over and over again, until he believed it.  For sure, it was her unwavering push that enabled him to be where he is today.  Was it a cakewalk to fame?  Far from it, as Robles would say......

He's never met his real father.  In fact, he didn't know much about him at all until he needed to add that portion of his life to the book he's written, "Unstoppable-from Underdog to Undefeated".  His step-father,who had served as a father figure since he was four, left the family.....walked away from Anthony's mother and three other siblings because he could no longer handle the financial pressures.  Strange considering his step-father was a pastor at a local church in Mesa, Arizona.  Nonetheless, the remainder of Robles family leaned on their faith.  Somehow, Judy reasoned...."you stay in school and we'll be alright".

It was around this time, the sophomore year of Anthony's career, that there were also changes in his mind-set.  He became more focused......his prayer life became deeper and he depended on his God for strength......and he also kept thinking about his mother's message...."God made you this way for a reason".   Weeks later, Robles placed fourth in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament.  The next season, he enjoyed a 32-4 campaign, but finished seventh at the NCAA's.  There was but one year left.

In the 2010-11 season Robles enjoyed his achievements, going undefeated through the regular season and right up to the final match against Iowa's Matt McDonough, the defending champion at 125 pounds.  Scared....but determined.....and relieved to see his family in the arena....Robles wrestled "the match of his life", winning 7-1.  He had, in many respects, gotten his glory.  Hours later when the meet was wrapping up, he grabbed further accolades by being named "Outstanding Wrestler".   Later would come other forms of recognition through the NFL Hispanic Leadership Award and the Jimmy V Perseverance Award.

Today, Robles is working on a movie deal, serves as an analyst on ESPN wrestling coverage and.....is on the motivational speakers circuit.

To me, what a crowd of some 400 saw Monday night had much to do with humbleness.  Truth is, it could have been an evening where disabilities took center stage.  But they didn't.....and after the initial walk to the podium, the two crutches that were positioned under Robles' armpits seemed as natural as a stool.  That's how much he held the interest of the crowd.

Yes, Judy Robles, God did make your little Anthony for a reason.  Just like he has for each and every one of us.  It's our path......much like the one Anthony painted of his Monday night, that we need to find.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance"-James 1:2

Thanks for reading,

John                

****The evening ended with a poem Anthony read after receiving the Jimmy V Perseverance Honor which he shared so graciously...it goes like this:

Every soul who comes to earth with a
leg or two at birth must wrestle his
opponents knowing its not what is, but
what can be,  that measures worth.  Make it
hard, just make it possible and through pain,
I won't complain.  My Spirit is unconquerable.
Fearless I will face each foe for I know I am capable.
I don't care what's probable, through blood, sweat
and tears, I am unstoppable"---Anthony Robles.

THE ROAD GOES THROUGH ATLANTA

Last week I flew down to Port St. Lucie, Florida to move my brother-in-law back to the Midwest.  We left for the Northlands on Thursday afternoon and after spending five hours on the road through a continual drizzle....we decided enough was enough for one day.  Packing, cleaning, loading and driving that is.

We pulled over in Lake Park, Georgia to wind down and I figured it would be a good place to watch the Finals of the NIT Men's Basketball Championship direct from Madison Square Garden in New York.  The Iowa Hawkeyes were taking on the athletic Baylor Bears.  That should say enough, athletic I mean.  My Hawks looked pretty pathetic, I must say.  They didn't have a good shooting night and the long Bears frontline made life very uncomfortable for any short range shot.  It was a complete Baylor blowout.....74-54.

The next morning we hit the road bright and early....in the rain of course.  Still comin down. And traffic was the same as it had been the day before. Everywhere.  I was driving the U-Haul truck and my brother-in-law was in his pickup.  Cars and trucks were in front of us, beside us, behind us.  Everybody going lickity-split.
For four more hours we faced this test.  Then came Atlanta.

A city with a whole lot going on....especially in the Sportsworld.

 

Ever since we left Florida, I'd been envisioning our path through "the city in a forest", for its abundance of trees.  National Geographic named it "A Place of a Lifetime".  The reason for my concern and excitement had to do with Atlanta being at the center of the Sportsworld the next few days.  We rolled in around 11 a.m.  I figured it would be gridlock to the utmost.  Why?  Over 5 million people live in the Atlanta and surrounding area.  That's one thing.....and.....

The Chicago Cubs had arrived in town late Thursday night to play the Atlanta Braves a weekend series.   Cub fans will show up just about anywhere and the Braves were receiving notice as one of the favorites in the National League.  Over 33,000 fans went through the turnstiles in seeing Atlanta knock off Chicago 4-1.  Saturday night, another 38,000 fans attended a 6-5 Braves win.  On Sunday, almost 46,000 were on hand for another Atlanta victory 5-1.

In another part of town Friday evening, the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA were hosting the Philadelphia 76ers.  Over 17,000 fans were on hand to see Philadelphia ride off with a 101-90 victory...and then of course there was the NCAA Final Four crowd.  Louisville, Michigan, Wichita State and Syracuse fans had invaded the south to see their teams fight for the 2013 Championship.  And if that wasn't enough.....the Masters Golf Tournament was due to tee off on Tuesday with two days of fun leading up to the Thursday beginning.

Let's see....33,000...38,000 and 46,000 for baseball, 17,000 for pro basketball....75,000 for the Saturday games of the Final Four....74,300 for the Finals Game on Monday night...and the Masters.  The prestigious Masters has never announced their attendance figures, but estimates are figured at 35,000 a day.  Was this the place to be if you loved sports?  Ahhhh, ya.

A friend of mine told me this past week of some insurance buddies of his that made it to two Cubs games,  the Final Four semi's and the Finals and the first day of the Masters on Tuesday. What a couple of days for them, huh?

So, you can see I had some apprehension about traveling through the city.....but no worries.  Traffic was heavy, but manageable, at least for us at the time I mentioned.   Did it get crazier later on in the day and into the weekend?  I'm sure it did.  But from my vantage point.  Atlanta-well done.  You are without a doubt one of the meccas of the sports world.

Oh, by the way, we got home that next morning about 2:30.  Drove 19 straight hours.  Thirteen of those 19, we fought traffic, tooth and nail.  It wasn't until we hit Clarksville, Kentucky that things began to slow down and the white knuckle driving ended.  It was a trip worth remembering....

Thanks for reading,

John

****Who will be triumphant in Atlanta this weekend at the Masters?  Tiger Woods was in a pretty good position until Saturday morning when he was assessed a 2-stroke penalty for a ball drop.  As of this writing, Woods is -1 through the tourney, trailing the leader, Jason Day, by five shots.  I'll go out on a limb and pick Angel Cabrera to win it all.  He's been very consistent thus far.  But Tiger lurks and who knows how mad the penalty made him.  We'll see...

And lastly, I couldn't let this day go by without  passing along a quote from SS Jose Reyes from the Toronto Blue Jays,  who severely sprained (or fractured) his ankle Friday night.  When asked for his feelings, he said, "Sunny days wouldn't be special if it wasn't for rain", he tweeted.  "Thank you guys for all the love and prayers.  I put everything in God's hands for he is the one that got me here".

I know what you mean about the rain.....and with sunny skies today....Amen!!!