DraFt DaY BluEs

It's that time again, ladies and gentlemen. 

The 2018 NFL Draft's coverage begins tonight at 7pm and continues until Saturday afternoon. 

I have to preface my posts for the new readers and subscribers by saying PLEASE never judge the content of the articles by the post title. There's always a greater point in play. So this article is for the sports AND non-sports fan as well. For the sake of this article, I'll venture to say this is a 70/30 split. 

Everyone who either rooted for last year's Super Bowl Champions or fell short are geared up for a hopeful run at a Championship. For many teams, they are hoping for their first. Many are hoping to be good and competitive enough to get back to the dance and fulfill the impossible. For every one of the 32 prospective teams, the future is indeed now. Every move and step taken could mean the rise or the eventual downfall of a chance to create a legacy and leave an indelible imprint in sports history. Fans, businesses, and economies rely on football among other sports to feed a growing financial and socio-economical need. Companies clamor to hock their product on banners, commercials during the Super Bowl, and countless online ads connected with fantasy football, football camps for children, and countless other opportunities to promote their products and brands. Clearly, it should be evident how big a business this is and how far its reach goes. Approximately $74.8B to be clear.

Last year was rife with protest, political debates, and controversy regarding major issues like domestic violence, racism, and drug abuse. All of that nestled in the greatest sport in our history: Football.

Just in the last few weeks alone, there have been multiple organizational meetings held to discuss the social issues of a specific player or two blackballed from playing in the league, what many consider collusion among NFL ownership. 

Add to that simmering undercurrent, a potential first round QB feeling the pressure to change positions because some NFL experts have deemed him "more suitable" in the league at a more physical position, like wide receiver. I can't even go to our lunch table at work and not hear about this one. It is clear when names like Michael Vick and Tim Tebow come up in the conversation, the tone becomes more serious and the scent of offense rises. 

Then add to that the rampant speculation of who will be picked and where, whether these young college players are worthy of a pick, and even deciding on what their future and "ceiling" is without them even taking an NFL snap. 

Message boards everywhere confirm what can happen when rabid football fans start talking about the sport, whether it be pre-season speculations, fantasy football, or this year's draft. Adding politics to this already volatile mix takes it to another level. There are people that hold the opinion that the only time the words "flag" and "football" should be together is when eight year old kids are the players. I'm not going to ask you (today) to choose a side. I won't be taking an opinion poll although my comments section is always available. I think you have access to enough information to make informed decisions. I just wanted you to get a glimpse of what this complex world looks like. 

So sports fans.......here are some questions for you:

If you have a team that you root for, what do you think they will do in the first round and why?

Is your team one of those that routinely get it wrong but you sense a turn for the better coming in this year's draft?

What is a "must" that your football team must do and  simply cannot afford to make a mistake in?

If your team needs a QB, is this crop of quarterbacks as good as advertised or are you unconvinced?

Has last year soured you on the NFL entirely?

What place do you think issues such as the flag, politics, and such have in the sport of football? 

If you understand the social issues involved, what would you suggest is the best way to make an impact on the problem?

Do you have a view that is different than these mentioned so far? Please share. Perspective is helpful in this moment. I think, if I can speak for myself, I learned a lot about myself during the height of these issues. Honestly, I am still learning more about myself as the intensity of the issues die down. I had certain leanings that stemmed from obligation rather than from viable information and experience. I think a lot of people are in the same boat, wouldn't you say?

Non sports fans.....here are some questions for you:

Do you believe you have the capacity to look at all sides of an issue and make a competent decision?

What place do you think issues such as the flag, politics, and such have in the sport of football? 

If you understand the social issues involved, what would you suggest is the best way to make an impact on the problem?

How well would you say (on a scale of 1 being worst to 10 being best) you understand the social issues of your fellow man?

Where do you derive your information when attempting to learn and understand such issues?

Do you view big business like the National Football League as socially conscious or morally corrupt?

If your child expressed a desire to play in the NFL, what would be your honest response and approach?

What is your view on sports in general?


That's just something to chew on. Thanks for reading and subscribing. 

ConGRatulATiOns tO MTWMY oN TheIr 100tH BloG pOSt

Congratulations to Mirror Time with Mista Yu on their 100th blog post. I had some adversity and challenge with putting out these blogs and I thought about quitting more times than I can count. But I didn't. Our faithful readers and subscribers have spoken and they're glad we stuck it out. 

Thank you to all the folks that have been so supportive and encouraging. Many of the comments and messages sent to me have been inspiring as well. This was made for you and we appreciate being a source of information and encouragement to you. Thank you again for everything!

HAPPY 100th!!!! 

As always, you may laugh. You might cry. But most of all, we hope you think. Keep reading, sharing, commenting, and subscribing. Let's make the ride to 200 a momentous one. Thank you all.

CoFfeE gRoUNdS

Personally, I can't stand coffee that tastes like dirt. I also can't stand paying nearly twice as much than other places for coffee that tastes like dirt, or in some cases, burnt dirt. Honestly what's the point of that? 

It's the only reason why I have largely avoided the franchise as much as possible. Some have done the same for different reasons. Everything from the target audience and a perceived elite class being aimed at to the overall price for a cup of java with all the perks (no pun intended). For me, it just boiled down to how the coffee tastes. I know plenty of folks that don't mind paying more for quality. Most of us have no problem doing that. However, when you reach into your wallet for that credit card or wad of cash, you are making an investment in the institution. 

If the abuse of chickens is an important concern for you, there are certain fried chicken purveyors that you may want to investigate a little further before making that investment. If you are not a supporter of certain hate groups, then there are certain well known household names you would do well to avoid. Now, if you don't like racism and racial profiling, you may need to look for another coffee grinder for your local non habit forming drug of choice: Your daily cup of coffee.

In a news story this past Thursday afternoon, "two black men were handcuffed and paraded out the door of a Philadelphia Starbucks for allegedly refusing to leave when asked by staffers and police in an incident captured in a video that went viral and prompted the chief executive officer of the coffee company to say that the "reprehensible outcome" should have never happened."

(courtesy of ABC News) The video posted by Melissa DePino can be found at this link: https://abcn.ws/2GXwMfp 

In an interview with ABC News, Melissa DePino, a 50 year old writer and mother of two, said a Starbucks barista shouted from behind the counter at the two men to make a purchase or leave. 

"They were sitting quietly minding their own business, and waiting for their friend to come," she said.

DePino said she was so appalled by the incident, she plans to not go anymore to Starbucks.

"Plenty of other local places to go," she said.

On Saturday evening, the mayor put out another statement saying he was "heartbroken" to witness what "appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018. For many, Starbucks is not just a place to buy a cup of coffee, but a place to meet up with friends or family members, or to get some work done," he said in the statement.   

If you have read any of my blogs, you know what I'm about. Just to be transparent, this is not how I wanted to cap off my 100th blog article (which is a milestone for me that I am proud of), however, I am not going to engage in a debate about if the two gentlemen were at fault, or if the police was, or if the barista and manager at Starbucks was, or if all parties contributed to this situation. You don't have to be a person of color to understand there are some problems in our world that require decisive action and definitive change. I'm assuming that you can make your own determinations on that without getting too high emotionally. 

What I would like to offer here is an opportunity for you to consider the line of thinking that I began earlier in this article. 

The situation you read about and watched the video regarding may not have happened to you personally but how does it make you feel? Does your heart burn when hearing this news? Are you indignant about investing your hard earned dollars in a franchise that directly or indirectly supports discriminatory practices? Is your cup of joe more important than this basic human principle? Companies don't tell you this directly but it is implied that they rely on your willingness to buy their product in order to be successful. If you don't buy what they sell consistently enough, they'll likely come to you faster than otherwise to find out why they don't have your business. You won't have to engage them. They'll engage you. Guaranteed. Who does it sound like has the power in this scenario? 

Now we have to realize that we indeed have influence in situations like these. There is not shortage of coffee shops in Philly, i.e. Grindcore, Greenstreet, and Elixr, just to name a few. That message speaks just as powerfully as the signs in the hand of a protestor. There are times in life where a stand has to be taken and, more often than not, our "voice" is best heard through retweets, You Tube videos, protests, but most notably,  the power of your money.

Kudos to Mrs. DePino who recorded this video that garnered more than 8 million hits and exposed a situation that could have remained isolated had it not been recorded. Kudos to the customers who stood up vocally for the two men in the face of law enforcement and the store's management. Kudos to the protestors who attempted to shine a light on this situation so that it does not go unnoticed or so quickly leaves the public's consciousness. Kudos to all of you who will share this article. Kudos to all of you that remember that what you choose to financially invest in is symbolic of your power and your heart. Use it wisely. 

Now that I give this further thought, this was the perfect article to commemorate my 100th blog post. I don't know who it's appropriate to thank. Hard to find a winner in this scenario. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences if you have ever gone through or witnessed anything similar. Or just share what you would do if you have. We're just honored to hear from you. Thank you for supporting MTWMY. 

BuLLetPrOoF

Breaking point.
Tipping point.
Choking point.
Fancy words for the same boundary or limitation, depending on how you view it.
Everybody has one. Unique and similar all at the same time.
You have yours and I have mines.

But how much are you willing to take?

Ever since we were little kids, we learned (directly or indirectly) words like "enough", "no more", and "fed up".

If we offered a friend some of our newly opened bag of potato chips, and the friend gets a bit heavy handed and takes too much, we shout "that's enough" because they have gone past the limit of what we thought they should. However, we never told them how much they can take. We just expected that they would consider the giver of the salty snack would like to have some as well.

If we have a hard day managing the children at home with all the teen angst, attitudes, and the drama that normally ensues on a weekly basis, we declare publicly that we are fed up and we look for an escape wherever we can find one. A local library, the nearest watering hole, or just behind a closed and locked door for a short respite.

We look at life, maybe with some entitlement, and openly declare how much we will take and how much we will stand. If someone pushes you past your daily tolerance and you haven't had your coffee, God help them all, right? A recent experience caused me to ask myself if I am the best person to determine these limitations and set these boundaries.

I'm a management professional, which essentially entails managing multiple employees and taking bullets for upper management. Recently, I had to issue corrective actions for an employee who was liberal with the attendance policy in a way that the company deemed excessive and irresponsible. I extended myself much to aid this employee and keep them informed every step of their learning curve with the company. But every good grace went out of the window when I had to have that conversation. Essentially, all I really did was act as the "messenger" for a directive that came from far above my station. Some could call me a tool or an errand boy but I was just a member of management following a directive and enforcing a company mandated rule. Well, in delivering that message that day, even though sprinkled with grace, I sustained heavy gunfire. I was slowed and endured a small amount of pain, largely because I had on my "bulletproof vest". That vest was my capacity to remain internally grounded, despite the external situation. My mind was racing and my emotions were rising but I kept the focus on the reason for the meeting, the intended message that needed to be sent, and the proposed direction going forward. I went into the discussion understanding my position but it was still difficult because all of the ire and rage was aimed at the messenger. The decisions were not mines but I did carry them out and I was placed on the line of fire. That's the job of a manager, I guess. What if I set the boundaries of what I would take and endure from an employee too rigidly? I probably would have lost my job right there in that room. What if I set the limitations with too much liberality? I could have been facing a two hour conversation and creating alibis and trying to keep the proverbial peace, resembling a toothless lion or a spineless jellyfish.

How much are you willing to take? We're not bulletproof. We are going to go through stuff in life and it will hurt us. It will slow us down on the path to destiny. It will make us rethink things and even perhaps make us want to chuck it all and run and hide. We would love to set the comfort levels to an acceptable range, wouldn't you? But can you guarantee you would grow to your necessary capacity? If we were in charge of our own growth, would we grow? Would we be effective? Would we learn anything about ourselves that would stimulate personal change? Did that very uncomfortable conversation make me stronger or did it further tear at an already frayed emotional fabric? I guess the bottom line for me is that we got to go through things. Emphasis on the phrase "go through". Speaking for myself personally, it was best for me that I learned how to endure no matter how long or how hard things might be. We're all faced with the possibility of being a "messenger". Keep your vest on at all times.

Breaking point.
Tipping point.
Choking point.
Everybody has one.
You have yours and I have mines.

ClaSS Is iN SeSsioN

I offer some thoughts to those of you, regardless of your spiritual or religious affiliation or if you hold no regard or association with any sort of organized religion. This could still be of some value to you and worthy of thought.

If I can ask you a question: Do you remember your first day of school?

I'm really asking about the nervousness and the anxiety and the wonder if you'll make a new friend or if anyone in your class will like you. I don't mean if you fear your teacher may be mean. Or if you could sit at your lunch table alone every day because you're not cool enough or pretty enough or rich enough or you just don't like yourself and figure why would anyone else. Those are real issues that affected all of us in some way, shape, or form. I'm just talking about preparation for your first day. How did you prepare? Why did you prepare? Why was this important?

A very likely scenario is that your parents took you to the store to buy school supplies in preparation for your first day. You probably also went school shopping for clothes, whether it was casual or a uniform mandated by the school. Either way, these were parts of your preparation for your education. Your parents likely had a truckload of paperwork to complete on your behalf that you never saw or noticed.

Preparation is a corner stone to any organization, hopefully successful plan, or movement. Benjamin Franklin said "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." This sentiment will be important a little later on in this article. But I really love a quote by Abraham Lincoln.

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first hour sharpening the axe."

This takes us to the reason I wrote this post. I have a pet peeve that I have shared publicly and privately and lamented about in my personal private time in prayer and meditation. It's likely a small matter to most (who probably are guilty of this) but something that, to me, indicates a larger, more pressing issue. How is it possible to sit under the tutelage of a teacher completely unprepared to learn? Putting aside how the teacher may or should feel, what does it say about the student's willingness to learn?

That is very common and I learned that in one setting recently. I was in one of our corporate monthly meetings several months ago. These are normally anywhere from 1-2.5 hours once a month. In a hurry to get to the meeting, I left my notepad and found myself overwhelmed with the information that was being given and totally incapable us retaining most of it. That became a detriment to me later on the following week when I needed to utilize some of that information. I don't normally forget such things and I try hard to be prepared for most situations but I forgot that day and it cost me a little embarrassment and slowed some of the operation's progress because I was unprepared. It wasn't that I was disinterested or unwilling to learn. I simply neglected to prepare adequately. Small example I suppose.

There is a growing trend where students are purposely neglecting to learn. This is often encouraged by fellow students and, in some cases, by the teachers themselves. I have seen this behavior for more than two decades in religious circles. We are engaged in a culture where listening to the preacher or teacher is our only requirement. Almost as if we are doing the teacher a favor by just being present. I often wondered how long we would continue to view the elephant in the room and never address it. I wondered when personal responsibility and accountability would show up. Sadly, there is no mandate from leadership to bring their proper materials to the meetings or be prepared to take notes in order to retain the important information that may be provided. There is no preparation. I don't really know why that annoys me so much. I think I am afraid for those that think their growth is not important, especially those who have children that watch everything they do and follow their examples. On your first day in school (and likely every day after that going into your college and post graduate years), not having notes or the ability to document what you hear could cause you to fail your tests and be unable to progress to the next grade. You will essentially fail the course and be "left behind".

This shouldn't be difficult for any current student to understand. So let me ask those of you that participate in religious services: Are you a student?  If so, wouldn't the Sunday and/or a midweek service night be your classroom? Isn't that where you are getting refilled and encouraged to face the week ahead? Isn't that where you get some correction and where you may find some answers to your struggles? The teacher or preacher is sharing words with you presumably from a manual that you do not currently possess or are not able to say you have memorized in full. How then can you verify that the words are valid and not contrived by the teacher him or herself? How can you authenticate that the location of the scripture passages are the correct one and not an error? Having the words on the screen is not clear evidence, merely a presentation of information.

How do you think your first exam would go if you were advised to study from an assigned text but instead you just took notes from the teacher only and avoided studying the text as advised? There's no question about it. You would fail and perhaps in epic fashion. The teacher on a Sunday morning is not responsible for making sure you study from your "textbook". It is advised or, at least, should be. It should be encouraged, hopefully, so at the very least, the student's focus will be on the Word and not on the specific vessel teaching on that occasion. Any good school administrator worth their salt will tell you that every student is responsible for their own education. In other words, they have to study for themselves. The teacher can't make them do that, only hold the student accountable to do so.

I'm afraid that we are in a culture that encourages less and less use of the Bible. Even if you don't ascribe to the Bible as the infallible Word of God, you should still be able to see that no matter if you're preparing for a certification like I am, or if you are studying to complete a college course, or if you are preparing to make a verbal presentation at an annual function, you still need to be prepared using the manual or guide your organization views as critical to your successful growth. In addition, if it's your intention to properly represent said organization, school, or community group, you must be fully acquainted with the organization's belief system, values, statutes, or protocols. This is one time where reading truly is fundamental.

When I look around and see my peers in the classroom without their textbooks or any means to document what they are or may hear, I question what they will do during a test. I fear that they will face the unannounced wholly unprepared. That is not the time to ask the teacher. They will not be able to answer you. When the test begins, the teacher remains silent. All the student has at his or her disposal is what they heard, learned, and retained. That makes a culture where this kind of preparation is directly or indirectly discouraged very scary to witness. Where are we headed as a people? Where does your spiritual growth rank in your priority list? From my vantage point, the main textbook is fading farther and farther into the background and the years have shown that less and less are holding onto it as a guide for life. Now it appears to be becoming an appendage that people put in fancy embroidered cases to show their religion proudly. Almost like a t-shirt or a fish magnet on their back of their cars. If the Bible is truly basic and necessary instructions for life, what does one's life look like without that instruction and the capacity to navigate through life's tests?

It's not too late to change the culture around you. If you can't envision doing that, at least, change the culture within you. At the end of the day, the only one responsible for what you know and how you apply it is you. Class is in session. Are you listening? Are you prepared? Will you pass the test? Just something to think about before your next "Pop Quiz".