I am Passionate About....

...Sports broadcasting. From the time I was a little kid, I wanted to be a sports broadcaster (ok, from the time I realized I did not have the skills or physical abilities to ever become a professional athlete). I wanted to be the guy calling the greatest moments in sports: the game-winning home run, the game-winning touchdown catch, the basket at the buzzer.



Sports broadcasting is like telling a story about something you really enjoy and in order to tell it as accurately and as passionately as possible, you have immerse yourself in it. Being the obsessive/compulsive person that I am, I wouldn't approach it any other way.

This past basketball season I had the opportunity to travel with the GSU men's basketball team to an away game (at Samford) and provide the color commentary opposite the Voice of the Eagles, Chris Blair. It was a thrill to say the least.

To travel with the team, attend film sessions, the morning shoot-around, then finally calling the game-- it was all a fantastic experience for me. I tried to use all of my time spent with the team, the scouting of their opponent and my own research and preparations to add to the broadcast. As the #2 broadcaster that evening, I tried hard to assist in telling the story.

The storyline that night was the Eagles getting their first road win of the season. I was able to ask the coach some questions after the game, provide insight on the victory to our listeners back home, and celebrate on the team bus during our return trip to Statesboro.

I knew on that ride back that I had found my calling. Now there is nothing ahead of me, but hard work and hopefully a break or two, to make sports broadcasting my profession.

The Whig Party

For a more complete history of the Whig Party, visit www.modernwhig.org.


The name “Whig” was first derived in Scotland in the 1600s. It was initially used to refer to the Scottish who fought against the British crown in a raid called the Whiggamore Raid during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms (1639-1651).

The Wars of the Three Kingdoms were a series of conflicts that took place in Scotland, Ireland, and England between 1639 and 1651 at a time when these countries had come under the Personal Rule of the same monarch. The wars were the outcome of tensions that existed between the king and his subjects over religious and civil issues. Whigs were a group of people from western Scotland who opposed King Charles I of England in 1648.

In the 1700s, another political reform movement began in Great Britain. Calling for republicanism, equal rights, economic freedom and freedom of the press, the supporters of these beliefs became known as the Radical Whigs. Some of these Radical Whigs included famous men like John Locke, Adam Smith, Adam Ferguson, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine and David Hume.

When the American Revolution started, the word Whig was first used to refer to an American Patriot that supported the war with England. At that time there was no formal Whig party in the United States, but some of these Patriot Whigs included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, Nathanael Greene, Nathan Hale, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.

In the early 1830s, the term Whig was revived by political opponents of the Democratic President Andrew Jackson. Many of these opponents were against Jackson’s policies, which sought to grow executive powers and administer the ‘spoils system' by which government officials were appointed solely on their loyalty to the party instead of their qualifications or merit. The name Whig was used as a Party name to echo the American Whigs of 1766, who fought for independence.

As a result, opposition to Jackson’s policies helped create the first fully organized party system, which consisted of Jackson’s loyalists, the Democrats, and his adversaries, the Whigs.

The Whig Party at the time practiced compromise as a political philosophy. Many of their members came across the political spectrum. Lead by Henry Clay, the party brought modernization and deepened the socio-economic system (such as banks, factories, and railroads) in America. The Whigs supported the supremacy of Congress over the executive branch and favored a program of modernization and economic protectionism.

Whigs promoted internal improvements, such as roads, canals, railroads, deepening of rivers, financial institutions, public schools, private colleges, charities, cultural institutions and anything else that would help America be internally strong.

The idea behind the Whig's mercantilist economic plan was to allow the nation to develop and flourish by providing a defense against the dumping of cheap goods by foreign suppliers. This plan consisted of three mutually reinforcing parts and they are as follows:

• A high tariff to protect and promote the American industry
  
• A national bank to encourage commerce and a national currency
  
• Federal subsidies for roads, canals, and other internal improvements to develop and connect the nation.

In the years leading to the Civil War, the issues of state rights and the role slavery would play in the Western territories destroyed the Whig Party, as it had begun to unravel the United States. Unlike the Democratic Party, which had heavy membership in the South, the Whig Party’s attempt to appeal to as many people as possible without maintaining a cohesive stance on major issues, in particular the role of slavery in new territories, eventually led to its demise, with Northern Whigs joining the newly formed Republican Party and Southern Whigs joining the Democrats.

Whig Presidents:

• William Henry Harrison 1841-1845, 9th President
  
• John Tyler 1845-1849, 10th President
  
• Zachery Taylor 1849-1850, 12th President
  
• Millard Fillmore 1850-1853, 13th President

Whigs Return

As noted at www.modernwhig.org, the Modern Whig Party was organized as a national party in late 2007 as a successor to the historical Whig Party. Among its founding members were military veterans who had served in Afghanistan and Iraq. Many of these veterans became dissatisfied with the deep ideological divide between the Republican and Democratic parties.

Modern Whigs represent the moderate voters from all walks of life who cherry-pick between traditional Republican or Democratic ideals in what has been called the Modern Whig Philosophy. This Washington DC-based national movement values common sense, rational solutions ahead of ideology and partisan bickering. This includes general principles of fiscal responsibility, strong national defense and educational/scientific advancement.

Less than a year into its creation, the Modern Whig Party attracted more than 25,000 members nationally.

Checks and Balances Form of Government in the U.S.

Our existing form of government operates under the Separation of Powers Doctrine, also known as the Checks and Balances System.

The U.S. Constitution calls for the powers of the federal government to be divided into three separate branches: the legislative, executive, and the judiciary. Under the separation of powers, each branch is has a separate function, but the three branches are interrelated. They cooperate with one another, but also prevent one another from attempting to assume too much power.

Each branch has a specific function:

• Legislative (Congress): makes the laws
  
• Executive (President): implements the laws
  
• Judiciary (Courts): interprets the laws

Under the system of checks and balances, each branch acts as a restraint on the powers of the other two.

• The president can either sign the legislation of Congress, making it law, or veto it.
  
• Congress can overturn a presidential veto if both houses approve the bill by a two-thirds majority.
  
• The courts, given the sole power to interpret the Constitution and the laws, can uphold or overturn acts of the legislature or rule on actions by the president.

Our system of government is largely credited to James Madison, who introduced his Virginia Plan at the Second Continental Congress. Madison was well-versed in the separation of powers doctrine, which is often attributed to French philosopher Baron Montesquieu. Montesquieu was a social commentator and political thinker who lived in the 18th century during the Age of Enlightenment.

For a more complete summary of the checks and balances system, visit http://legal-dictionary.com.

1970s Playlist (Punk Rock Revisited!)

The newly released 1970s Playlist takes the listener back in time to a day when punk rock ruled the airwaves with lightening fast, power chords and anti-establishment lyrics. This compilation CD includes the best from that time, with a mix of anthems, commercial tracks, and pure, unadulterated punk rock.

The music is simple and straightforward, but that is what made punk rock so appealing. Any group of buddies with a guitar, drums, bass (optional) and microphone could start a punk rock band-- and that's how most bands from that time got started.

From "Where Were You?" by The Mekons to "Personality Crisis" by the New York Dolls, 1970s Playlist delivers a knockout punch of hits from this underground, musical era. Artists included on this who's who of punk rockers and 1970s alternative artists includes The Ramones, The Undertones, The Cure, and The Damned.

Although the lyrics are frequently random and often incomprehensible, they share a consistent theme of teenage angst, confusion, and getting screwed over.

From The Buzzcocks' “What Do I Get?”

I just want a lover like any other.
I only want a friend who will love to the end.
What do I get?
I get no love.
What do I get?
No sleep at night.

To “Sonic Reducer” by the Dead Boys:

I don't need anyone.
Don't need no mom and dad.
Don't need no good advice.
Don't need no human race.

The lyrics from these 1970s alternative hits tell the story of rebellion against mainstream acceptance.

“Gloria” by Patti Smith and “Cherry Bomb” by The Runaways make it clear that punk rock and rebellion was not exclusive to the boys. “Gloria” has been covered by countless artists, but this rendition is an ode to Jim Morrison and The Doors, with a hot, lesbian overtone.

“Cherry Bomb” shows that girls can be punk rockers, too and have just as much if not more angst than the boys.

Can't stay at home, can't stay at school.
Old folks say, ya poor little fool.
Down the street I'm the girl next door.
I'm the fox you've been waiting for.
Hello daddy, hello mom.
I'm you're cherry bomb.
Hello world, I'm your girl.
I'm your ch-ch-cherry bomb!

If you love classic 1970s punk rock, “1970s Playlist” will not disappoint. 22 classic tracks from a time when music was fast, pure and rebellious, “1970s Playlist” quickly made its way onto my 2010 iPod.

Spring Break 2010

As my spring break comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on this past week-- the things I accomplished and the things I never got around to doing. Let's break it down.

Accomplishments:

• Thanks to my father-in-law, we now have laminate flooring in our home (a serious 5 day project where I excelled in my role as a helper/gopher)!
  
• Produced my first GSU baseball game for Eagle 102.9 (worked 2 games actually).
  
• Cleaned the bathroom.
  
• Took dog to get groomed.
  
• Watched O.C. And Stiggs (watched it three times actually, but only once all the way through).
  
• Called DirectTV to explain that recording one program while watching another is very important to my wife!

Failures:

• Car still needs water pump replaced.
  
• Car and truck still need oil changed.
  
• Taxes still need done.
  
• Weeds need pulled in back yard
  
• Wife took vacation time this week to help with laminate flooring, but expectation was that we would do at least one thing together (does her making dinner for me count?).

Ok, it sounds like there is still much to be done before this week is over. Tops on my list is doing a critical review of the 1970s CD Professor Carr assigned this week. I've really enjoyed listening to those 30-year-old tracks! As for some R & R, I guess that will have to wait for another time. I think I hear my wife calling me...

O.C. and Stiggs

This really bugs me. 1987 is my era and this movie should grab me, but it does not. I had some weird friends in my day, but these guys I really do not understand.

I graduated from high school in the late '80s, considered myself fairly hip back in the day, but the less than forgettable movie O.C. and Stiggs does everything, but make me laugh. And that's too bad.

It's got a great supporting cast: Paul Dooley, Jane Curtin, Martin Mull, and Dennis Hopper among others. But for some reason I feel like I was supposed to smoke a huge Cheech and Chong sized cigar joint before sitting down to watch this movie.

The plot loosely centers around the summer escapades of two Arizona teenagers named O.C. and Stiggs. The problem is, the attempted humor used throughout the movie flip-flops ineffectively between slapstick, subtle innuendo, and the bizarre and outrageous. It just doesn't work.

Not only did it fail to make me laugh, it failed miserable to hold my interest. If a school assignment did not require my viewing the whole movie, I would have ejected it after the first fifteen minutes. As it was, it still took three attempts for me to watch it all the way through.

I welcome anyone who enjoyed this move to please comment on my review. Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm too old now to appreciate its humor. Maybe I was too sober as well.

Education Budget Cuts

The Georgia State Legislature is proposing an additional $300 million in cuts to next year's higher education budget and Georgia Southern University students are not happy with the news. I can't say that I blame them.

Higher student-to-teacher ratios. Increased tuition costs. Fewer upper-level classes offered. Elimination of degree programs.

This is a horrible list of consequences we all could face should the additional cuts be approved. So, what do we do now?

Well, the key to this whole matter is that these budget cuts have only been proposed, not approved. That being said, there is plenty we can do!

• Contact your state legislature to voice your opinion about the proposed cuts.


• Join Georgia Southern Advocates.


• Support the SGA and get involved (elections are being held this month!).

In addition, it is time each and every one of us tightens up his or her own spending habits. Budgets never balance when spending exceeds the revenue generated. Increased tuition costs are going to happen. The time to act is now.

All in the Family

Television sitcoms are often a reflection of our culture and no other show depicted the social issues of its time any better than the 1970s comedy All in the Family. Created by Producer Norman Lear, All in the Family was ahead of its time. It touched on many social topics, some controversial, during a time when other television shows would not even consider such content.

The heart and soul of the show was the main character Archie Bunker, played by actor Carroll O’Connor. I cannot even imagine another actor playing him. Archie was not a prejudiced man—he hated everybody!

His wife Edith was a direct contrast to Archie. Sweet and kind to everyone, she was also devoted to her husband. However, she would often speak up when she disagreed with him to which he would always reply, “Stifle it Edith!”

The Bunkers’ daughter, Gloria and her husband, Michael (and their baby in later episodes) lived with them in their home. Some of the best moments from the show were when Archie and Michael (who he called Meathead) would get into confrontations over a particularly sensitive social issue. Archie was from the old school of thinking while Michael was part of the baby boomer generation who was more opened minded to things such as race equality, women’s rights and other issues. The confrontations would bring to light Archie’s short-sightedness and prejudiced ways of viewing things.

There was also a great supporting cast for this show. This included the Jeffersons, who were an African-American couple that moved in next door to the Bunkers. Mr. Jefferson was well aware of Archie’s bigotry, and those two would frequently go at it very much like Archie and Meathead would. The Jefferson’s son Lionel, however, was always very kind to Archie who couldn’t quite figure out how to take him.

In addition, there was Frank and Irene who were also neighbors to the Bunkers. They were more liberal in their ways of thinking which also created conflict with Archie’s old school ways. Frank was the cook among the couple which was a direct contrast to how things worked in Archie and Edith’s home.

Even Archie’s best friend Barney would sometimes have conflict with Archie over particular events or issues written in to the show. Even still, Archie was never going to change.

There has never been a show before or since that made me laugh like All in the Family. Watching old re-runs is like going back in time. I'm grateful for all of the laughs, and grateful that our society has advanced past some of the issues depicted so well by one of America's greatest sitcoms.