Like most of you, I saw the debacle that occurred in Detroit at the Pistons-Pacers game. It was replaying over and over on ESPN like it was the President getting shot or something. By the looks of it, it looks likelots of people are going to be off the court for a long time. Since then, I’ve heard a lot of people blaming the players for going up in the stands. I’ve heard people blaming the fans for throwing things at the players. Sure, there is a lot of bad blood and all to sling around.

Ben Wallace shoved Ron Artest after the referee correctly called the foul against Arest. The bench clears. After everything calms down, some fan throws something at Arest. Artest goes up and attacked whom he though did it. Chaos ensues. One can argue that if Ben Wallace didn’t start shoving, no one this would have happen. As far as attacking the fan, I only fault Artest for attacking the wrong guy. I’m tired of people saying that they’re athletes and that they should take the high road and that there’s no reason to go into the stands. Bullshit. If a fan was talking trash, that’s one thing. Throwing shit is different. Technically speaking, that is assault. Just because you get pay a large sum of money does not give people a free pass to throw things out you. Sorry, I blame the fan that threw the cup. Do you want to argue that Arest overreacted? Fine. However, the fan caused the action that initiated the fight in the crowd. Any reasonable person should have expected some reaction or retaliation from throwing something. That is why you don’t screw with people.

Let’s stop living in Candyland, folks. I don’t deal with what things as the way they “ought to be”. I deal with them as they are. The fact is that if you initiate some sort of physical violence or assault on someone, there is a good chance you will get your ass whipped. There is a good chance that the retaliation for your action is something that you may not be able to handle. You would have no one to blame if that happens. Yeah, Artest went after the wrong guy, but you get my point. Don’t get it twisted, Arest is no freaking Boy Scout. He got suspended twice last season that I know of. He has an anger management issue. However, if you’re going to beat the shit out of someone, at least beat the shit out of the right guy.

As far as the suspensions go, I think that Artest’s suspension is more than appropriate given his past history. I think Wallace’s suspension is unfair as is Reggie Miller’s and the other guys that were suspended for a game. What was up with that? They didn’t do anything that I could see. I guess you have to make a statement. If I were in David Stern’s shoes, I’d do the same thing. You have to let people know that you won’t tolerate tossing haymakers. It will be interesting since the Pacers and the Piston have three more games this season to play. In total, nine people were suspended. Amazing. I’m sure that we won’t be able to go to a NBA game without being frisked anymore. Then again, it’s not like the Hawks are kicking butt anyway.

Oh yeah, I finally saw the so-called controversial Monday Night Football opening with Terrell Owens. I saw nothing offensive or more obscene that what you would normally see on television. There was nothing wrong with that segment. Nothing. The fact that this is even a topic of discussion at all just shows how pathetic this country is. This hypersensitive restriction on television and radio makes me sick. These people who were offended by this skit should get a fucking life. Seriously. I’m sick and tired of a vocal minority telling me what is appropriate for me to watch on television. I’m sick of the government telling broadcasters what they can and cannot say or air, which pisses on the free speech provisions of the First Amendment of the Constitution. I am especially sick and tired of people who want to censor material in the name of the children. These people get my special ire and will hopefully be in a lower chamber of hell that I will. To me, if I hear someone argue for or against an issue and the only thing that they use to support their position is God, the Bible, or children, I know that I am talking to a fucking idiot. If you don’t want your children exposed to something, take some damn responsibility as a parent and turn off the television. Oh yeah, shut your fucking mouth. I hate the self-centeredness of some parents as if having children gives them a right to piss on other people. They think that the world revolves around their children. It doesn’t. I shouldn’t have to be deprived of television or radio programming because you forgot to use a condom. I’m sorry, but I truly believe that the right or ability for television and radio stations to air any content they choose supercedes your concerns about “offensive” material that you or your children might see or hear. I truly believe that the unrestricted application of the First Amendment is more important than not offending Grandma and little Bobby and Susie. Damn right, I said. Damn right. Shake your money makers, Nicole! Woo hoo!

I don’t see what the big deal is regarding this Marine shooting of an insurgent. These insurgents are the people that pretend to be civilians in order to attack our troops, rigged the bodies of their fallen with explosives, and cut the heads of civilians to be broadcast on the Internet. Screw them. Yeah, I’m not down with this war. Not one bit. However, if you are out there, you need to play to win or you’re dead. Wasn’t our purpose in going overseas to kill the terrorists? If that’s the case, what are you crying about? I also fail to understand the purpose of the Geneva Convention. Why would you use your resources to care for an enemy combatant? War is supposed to be brutal and cruel, is it not? If you’re going to fight, it should be no holds barred. Otherwise, what’s the freaking point? If this Marine gets reprimanded for this, we might as well pack it up and go home. Soldiers will be too busy worrying about some insurgent’s rights and not getting in trouble while getting their heads blown off in the process. What is wrong with you people?

I also can’t shed a tear over this 12 year old girl that got stunned by the police officer in Miami. As much as I hate siding with the police, the girl was playing hooky and was resisting the cop. She was running from the cop and out into lanes of traffic. Would you rather have the kid stunned or dead? This wouldn’t have happened if she were in school like she should have been. I also support the cop in the stunning of the six year old, too. If the kid is trying to hold people back with shards of broken glass, he is obviously a little terrorist in the making. Plus he was threatening to cut his own leg. It doesn’t take Dr. Freud to know that this kid had a screw loose and needed to be neutralized quickly. You let these kids go unchecked and you’ll have another Columbine or worse. Don’t give me this stuff about them being just kids. Seems like with every generation, kids need to grow up faster. It’s stuff like this that pushes things along.

I was surprised that Scott Peterson was found guilty. I wasn’t in the court, but I don’t see how they could have convicted him with almost no physical evidence. I say if you’re going to deny someone of their liberty or life on a murder rap, you need to scrap this circumstantial evidence bullshit. Just because someone is a cheating prick does not necessarily make him a murder. I guess in this case, the people thought so. Now he’ll either get life in prison or the death penalty. Wow.

Speaking of dead people, I heard that Old Dirty Bastard from the WuTang Clan died over the weekend. You’ve got to admit the guy was funny and had some good raps. My favorite ODB was when he was being interviewed on MTV right after Wutang made it big. MTV was following him to pick up food stamps! We can’t forget ODB interrupting Shawn Colvin at that award show. "Wutang is for the children!" He’ll be missed, no doubt.

Excuse me for the long time between entries, gang. I’m dealing with trying to find another Internet provider. Don’t ask. Sigh.

Now, that we’ve cleared up all the drama regarding this Election Day, it’s time for me to chime in with a few thoughts.

As I always, I preface my remarks by stating that I do not consider myself Democrat or Republican, nor liberal or conservative. The political philosophy I lean toward is libertarianism. I truly believe that the only laws that should be made are ones that prevent threats to life, liberty, and property through force or fraud. I do not believe that the government should be used as an instrument to compel other people to live life by someone else’s "moral" code. Despite what others think in my home state of Georgia, there are people who don’t believe in God in this world that are also moral, decent people.


Having said that, I fear the worst for this country now that President Dubya gets four more years. I believe that this man is mentally inept. I believe that the war in Iraq will not make us safer, but more despised. I do not see any evidence that Iraq was an imminent threat to the safety of our country. I see that Osama is still on the loose. More than 1000 U.S. soldiers are dead Unlike the current occupant of the White House, I believe in stem cell research. It may not be up and running for the Pook, but the stepkids may not have to deal with diabetes. However, 51% of the voting public believe that this guy is doing a good job. Are they just totally stupid?


In any case, I think that the country can survive poor leadership. The country cannot survive an ill informed public. I fail to see how anyone can objectively look at the President and see that he is doing a good job. Again, I’m not singing Kerry’s praises either, but c’mon here! I guess the evil you know is better than the evil you don’t, huh? People say that morality came back to the election. I say people who want the government to compel others to live life by THEIR morality came to this election.


Also, because of being the Bible Belt, the amendment banning homosexual marriage past here in Georgia and ten more states. Way to love, or not to love, your fellow neighbor. I love my home state of Georgia and this country, but the re-election of President Dubya and the passing of the amendment banning homosexual marriage are embarrassing. If rejecting the philosophy of conservatives and Republicans in this country makes me wrong, then I don’t want to be right.