UniTEd wE sTAnd, DIVided We faLL

Good morning, America.

Your alarm went off this morning and you rose up from your warm pillow and you took a deep breath, yawned, and with outstretched arms, you got ready to embrace a brand new day of opportunity with dreams, goals, plans, and hopes for today and days to come.

We're inching towards Memorial Day Weekend where we are supposed to be giving honor to the fallen who have lost their lives in service to this country. It was not designed to be a platform for breaking out our new gas grills or to throw parties where we get drunk enough to debase and embarrass ourselves and our families. It is supposed to be a solemn respectful remembrance to those that made the most incredible of sacrifices to keep our country safe and to keep our liberties intact.

When you woke out of that bed, for those of you blessed enough to own one, you also may have given God thanks that you didn't wake up in a war zone (technically and hopefully), and you have healthy children, and you are not sick or in impoverished circumstances. There's so much to be thankful. Turning on the TV is probably part of your morning routine too and there you can find plenty of bad news but the one place where you used (emphasis) to go to avoid the normal bad news cycle is your national sports channel. Yesterday, you may have heard why this is no longer a safe space to just enjoy sports.

"The NFL will enact a national anthem policy for 2018 that requires players and league personnel on the sideline to stand but gives them the option to remain in the locker room if they don't want to stand, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday.

Under the change approved by team owners at the Spring League Meeting, individual clubs will have the power to set their own policies to ensure the anthem is being respected during any on-field action. If a player chooses to protest on the sideline, the NFL will fine the team. The player also could be fined by his team, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Judy Battista reported."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000933971/article/nfl-owners-approve-national-anthem-policy-for-2018 (Courtesy of NFL.com) If you find yourself fearful or uninterested in chiming in on this topic, I understand. Every response reveals something about us and should be taken with the utmost seriousness and consideration. Quite frankly, the hypocrisy is thick in this situation. Many say the flag and fallen soldiers have been disrespected by a player kneeling or sitting during the anthem. Maybe so, unintended or not. It's been highly publicized that the flag code should be respected and never be broken because of what it represents. Pictures are worth a thousand words. At least, that's what I heard.

I won't rehash the obvious details such as whether we are experiencing patriotism or a strong-arming by powerful men concerned with the financial bottom line.

I won't offer many opinions on whether lost in this entire debate is the lives of young people who don't always deserve to die or be physically abused by law enforcement.

I also don't think I need to highlight the clear access that bigotry, prejudice, and politics have been given into the sport that we love so much. What I would like to do is explore the relationship between the owner and the players.

In all the discussion during the owners meeting, you will notice that the players themselves as well as some team staff, though directly affected by this situation, were not consulted or considered in the decision that was handed down. No invite. No input. It is called the "owner's meetings" for a reason but it would have repaired a major breach if the owners extended an olive branch to the players who are directly affected by any decisions made as well as the every day reasons there were even protests in the first place. 

For many of these players, this is their life and has been their every day struggle outside of the football field, where they possess some semblance of power and value and worth. It's likely one of the few places, excluding their personal households, where they feel that they bring something of value to the equation. They feel wanted, valued, and important in most cases. 

During these meetings, a silent but loud message was sent to the players that they were not thought of as any of those things, barring perhaps one West Coast based NFL owner in particular. They were the ones that produce on the field. They are the ones that execute the plays. They are the ones that do the job that garners championships and acclaim for franchises. But in cases like these, they are just employees and hired help, paid handsomely, but still hired help. Nothing is more important than the bottom line and it really showed once these meetings concluded. All this talk about flag codes and respect but how long will we look at the blatant hypocrisy of it all and call it out where it lies? It's hard for me to see how the relationship between the owners and the players (generally speaking) is not frayed beyond repair. It wasn't like players didn't already wonder how much owners cared. It's not much different than you in your workplace. Upper management tells you they care about your opinion and you matter to the company and sometimes you see signs of that evidenced. And sometimes you don't. It's usually pretty ambiguous and cloudy. Company wide surveys. Pizza days. Prize giveaways. Achievement awards. The signs that really matter come in those times when things are not going so well and there is an outcry for justice and fairness. Nobody remembers the hot slices of hand tossed pizza. No one remembers the gift card from Starbucks. They just remember the lack of response from those that said they cared or the company line used in hopes of quelling the noise.

There has always been a strange relationship between the owners and the players. I doubt it is different in any sport but football has always been a bit more unique than the rest. I don't know if there's a correlation but if 68% of your league is African American, having an "owner" that doesn't regard your cultural situation or your need to be viewed equally as important enough to listen to and engage, it sends a deeply distressing message. To many this is an old argument but if there is no progress, it remains old and bitter.

In my humble example, this would be old and negative history and it would mean nothing in today's view had the owners possessed a heart of understanding rather than choosing to emphasize control. Easy for me to say I suppose. I am not brokering billion dollar deals and raking in cash at the level they are. I don't understand their pressures or their pains. All I know is my own. Deep down, I was hopeful that this would be a great opportunity for those that didn't understand to finally attempt to. Imagine yourself as an NFL player in this climate and take race, politics, and the anthem protests out of the equation. As involved as I was in sports growing up and the avid fan that I am now, I know I can never understand this plight fully but I can't fathom that a player can ever look at ownership the same again. The player's association is going to fight this tooth and nail and they should. In fact, it's what they literally do for a living. No surprises there.

Despite the overtures spoken in locker rooms and closed door meetings, the ownership will never put you before its bottom line. That's clearly the case today and perhaps into the future. The player will always be just an employee working for his company. Maybe that's how it should be from a business standpoint. It just feels cold and callous in this social climate. At least to me.

But in my own crazy mixed up world, I dream of a time and space where people who have authority can have heart too. I hope for a time when money doesn't rise in importance above all else but love sits in the number one spot every week and is never unseated by greed. Sincere attempts to understand just trump the need to control and dictate in the lopsided world I live in. The ownership of the NFL came together and in this meeting, on this day, after all they have seen and heard, were still unable to unanimously agree that there was a responsibility to be taken. It just boiled down to business as usual. Let's just get back to playing football, right, guys?

68% sounds like a majority to me. So I would suggest that you did well attempting to get the ownership, who allegedly had your back to back you. That was unsuccessful. Now it's time to use your own money, your own name, and your own influence to create opportunities for your voices (and the collective voices of those who are not being heard) to finally be heard. I am almost positive it will amount to more than 68%.

GenEraTioN nEXt

If you have listened to me for any amount of time, you know I am a firm believer in thinking generationally. To be clear, it essentially means to consider how our actions affect others BEFORE we do them and not wait until AFTER we are facing consequences that we consider this. Might be easier said than done but look no further than your local newspaper or your Internet homepage to see the devastation in our world and how it affects the generations to come. We need to, at least, ponder the thought.

So many bad calls. So many unfortunate decisions. So many words and actions that we can't take back once they're said and made. So many lives shattered, seemingly beyond repair. WHAT IF.....

America, America
God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea

I came across a picture this morning that stirred my angst about where we are as a nation. I won't post the picture for several reasons but the uppermost reason is because I just don't want to look at it every day. Every day that I log on to answer your questions or read your comments, I'd have to see that disturbing image and I would rather not subject myself or my readers to that. It is view-able online if you wish to see it but the gist is there are four "mature" women at a rally of some kind with white t-shirts and a word in red right in the center that together spells out "Make America White Again". A small child stands next to them with the word "Trump" on her shirt.

Now I am positive this isn't your first rodeo. You've seen these kinds of sentiments before. Perhaps you even ascribe to them and would rather not have anyone that is non-white in "your" country. There is a picture that is likely linked to this in a meme that has a Native American woman's picture above the words "America Wasn't White Before."

Again, I reiterate this is probably not your first time viewing a meme or picture relating to the Trump administration but the little girl in the Trump t-shirt is what caught my eye and drew my ire. Almost in the same way, the little boy or girl that would be standing with their parents while an African American man is being lynched as a main event of their Friday evening. This child can't possibly understand fully the ramifications of this. That's too much unfair weight onto the shoulders of a child with their whole future ahead of them. Even if one of the four ladies was her parent, she can't possibly fathom what the consequences are for such clear hate speech and vitriol. How could she?

She'd have to be able to see into the future and follow the lifespan and subsequent effect of every word that she speaks, every action that she takes, and see the manifestation of every thing spoken or done in her life by those with influence and proximity. Again, how could she? How could any of us really? We throw theoretical rocks (the words we speak) every day and never take any thought for where the stones land. And we do it with pride and consistency.

America, America
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!

I can only suggest that a small amount of consideration is enough to change the trajectory of a life, even if only for a moment. Bigotry, to me, is a stupid person's disease because it leaves out reason, compassion, and it blatantly refuses to consider what is clearly evident. It cripples the user and destroys its victims. It is cancerous, poisonous, and merciless. It lives and feeds off of the perception that anyone that doesn't look like the bigot is irrelevant, inconsequential, or just have no intrinsic value. It is nonsensical to thieves to forcibly break into another person's home, steal or destroy all their prized possessions, assault the household members, deem the entire household savages and unfit to live then murder the entire household, and then claim that the entire household is theirs by right, because they used trickery to gain access and simply overpowered the homeowners. That sounds like the definition of savage to me but I digress. There are consequences for everyone on both sides of that scenario. Think about it.

An old pastor of mines used to love to talk to us about the "24 hour rule", which I found intriguing at first. If you walk past the window of a department store and you see an outfit or piece of electronics that you think you just have to have, instead of making the common impulse buy, you wait. Wait for 24 hours and if you still feel the same about it and deem it a wise investment, you should go back and buy it.

How much different could the world we live in be if we waited 24 hours and consider as many ramifications as we could imagine before we decided to do that thing? Is it possible that we would spare a life, perhaps even our own? Might we make a workplace better or a family stronger? Would race relations be exponentially better? Would powerful government be forced to listen to its country's voices? Would the next generation be wiser and more compassionate? 

America, America
May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine!

The Bible offers multiple examples of generational consequences such as Exodus 34 where crimes committed by one generation had an effect on generations later, even touching the third and fourth generation. I doubt that Adam or Eve recognized eating of a piece of forbidden fruit would make your life a little more difficult and your road to prosperity a little longer. We have the inherent ability to pass on our bad habits, our flawed thinking, and much more to the generations to follow. In actuality, we have that much power. We just don't use it very wisely. Pick an affliction. Pick a moral shortcoming. Pick something from the underbelly of our country, or our world. There's so many to choose from. What we do today has the power to affect our tomorrow. Good or bad.

The words "we", "they", and "us" are often used interchangeably but honestly, we need to ask ourselves this one question:

What is MY personal responsibility to the next generation? What will I teach them? What will I give them? How can I help them? The world is watching.....and waiting......

"America The Beautiful" - Words by Katharine Lee Bates 

DeAr FaNTasY FooTbaLL

Dear Fantasy Football,

Where do I start? I can't lie. We have had some amazing times together. It has been twelve years that you and I have been joined at the hip. I know you can sense it too. Something definitely has changed recently. I had a lot to think about.

2018 has been a year that has been different than any of the twelve years prior. I used to rise up at 4 a.m. and grab my laptop to get a jump on my league opponents on the waiver wires and free agency. I would listen to sports radio all day and almost have my cell phone glued to my hand, waiting for the next update or piece of sports gossip that might give me an edge over everyone else. Then I would be up into the wee hours of the morning in a dark room, staring at my laptop, combing through depth charts, team pages, and articles by so called fantasy experts, hoping to find the next sleeper, who will take me to another championship run. I honestly barely paid my wife and kids any attention. I was lost in a sea of statistics. Strangely, I became satisfied with that.

My fantasy football leagues shot up from two to ten total in my second year and threatened to go even higher. I used to laugh and criticize my buddies who had twenty leagues. One guy I know still has twenty two leagues. I never understood how that could be managed and maintained. It can't be without a great deal of sacrifice. I laid many important things on that altar of sacrifice. I cut important phone calls short and blew off critical appointments just to stay locked in to a sport that had my whole life in a vise grip. I couldn't even go to the supermarket to get groceries because I was worried about setting my roster or checking the injury reports. Even to this day, my head is a sea of useless statistical information that doesn't amount to much more than making me sound knowledgeable. Other than that, it has no true intrinsic value.

I played this "game" with my entire self and in twelve years, I have won 5 championships, went to 2 title games and lost, and have been in the playoffs 9 of the 12 times in every kind of fantasy league from Two-Quarterback leagues, Auction leagues, Standard, PPR, All Defense league (or IDP), 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 team leagues, in practically any kind of format you can imagine. You name it and I have played it with a 75% success rate. All of the study, research, and invested time paid off but at what cost? An impassioned plea from my wife made me step back and look at myself a little closer. I was sitting in front of a 70" TV cheering for the Patriots, the Eagles, or even our dreaded rivals, the Cowboys. I leaped out of my seat for individual players that were scoring against my favorite team. It was clear to me that I have went off the rails. Football stopped being fun for me and the whole process got weird.


I never understood why so many of my friends got out of the game entirely and say they are totally enjoying the freedom from the pressure of fantasy football. They are just enjoying the sport they love more than any other. It was hard to fathom. I thought they were nuts. I went from 10 leagues in 2010 down to 5 in 2013 to 3 leagues in 2016. Last year, I played in 2 due to a self imposed maximum limit. This year, I don't have a fantasy football league in waiting. I am still get phone calls and text messages and IM's asking for fantasy advice and that's cool. It humbles me that people even ask after all these years. I can't help wonder if I'll even field a fantasy football team at all this year.

To be honest and transparent, I still think one day I could have one fantasy football league with longevity, full of friends that I actually know and that actually love football as much as I do. I believe that is the best kind of league. It transcends the sport and puts friendship back in proper perspective. There's a good chance I may never find that dream situation and that's fine. I miss what it is like to just enjoy my favorite sport with no strings attached. I write this letter not totally sure if I will ever play again. I know everybody opines about how great they are at this game but I was really good at it. I still am good at it. I had a knack for making the right moves, the right trades, the right waiver wire pickups, and even knowing when to fold and not make any deals. It's something I did well but it changed me somewhere along the way.

In my humble opinion, if you play more than two fantasy leagues, you not only stretch yourself too thin but I believe you begin to lose respect for the process and the point of the whole game. If you're playing it for financial reasons, you are doing it wrong. You're better off playing the lottery. How fun can it be to have ten leagues and lose a twenty dollar investment in each league? Think about it. That could be a problem.

I'm not sure what this football season will hold and if I will ever find that dream situation or accept it once I find it but I do know one thing: This is one obsession that no longer has control over me. 2017 was the first year that I just had fun. I had two leagues but it never took precedence over the important things. I had my priorities in order and it felt wonderful. I was free in my mind for the first time in years. I could stop playing fantasy football for good but I wouldn't trade the friendships I developed. That was the best part.

Fantasy football taught me a lot of hard lessons. Maybe now I'm liberated enough to teach someone else.

ThE WoRld fROm YouR WinDOw - 5/8/18

Good morning, friends and family. 

It's hard to not be a little introspective when you look at all that is happening in our world. I want to start a new feature that I will be doing periodically on "Mirror Time". What I am hoping I can get your help with is the interaction. I want to open up dialogue on the issues that plague, upset, or confuse us in our world. As usual, there are certain types of behavior that will not be tolerated under any circumstances but I am hoping for thoughtful discussion, self-reflection, and perhaps some solutions. I don't claim to have any answers or an avenue to get your answers to others but I believe within our sphere of influence, there is opportunity to change our world, one person, one issue at a time.

So with that being said, I would like to present to you "The World From Your Window", a compilation of prevalent news stories and world issues that I hope we will be bold enough to speak to after we read these. Please fully utilize the comments section with your thoughts and opinions. I'd love to hear how you view things in your world and in our world. Before we're done, hopefully, you will see that sometimes there is a difference between the two.

So how does the world look from your window?

WHEN ANIMALS ATTACK

A man who stopped by the side of the road to take a selfie with an injured bear was then mauled to death by the same bear. Researchers have found that between march 2014 and September 2016, there were 127 deaths related to selfies. 76 occurred in India.

(Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/05/07/bear-mauls-death-indian-man-who-tried-take-selfie/585843002)

This is another tragic incident where nature and humanity collide. I'm still puzzled by the infatuation of selfies. The dangers of this are clearly in front of us but the practice seems to be on the rise despite said dangers. I know this is how we commemorate special events but some of this behavior is excessive, narcissistic, and flat out dangerous. Case in point. What do you think about the selfie craze? Where do you see us heading as a society because of this? Is this, in your opinion, harmless fun, or something more troubling? Are you a proud member of the "selfie generation"? Let's talk about it.

THIRD TIME IS A PATTERN

(Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/05/07/george-zimmerman-charged-stalking-private-investigator-florida/588526002)

Admittedly, there will be certain stories in this feature that will get to me personally. I think this will be one of them. Like many of you, we watch as guilty people get off on a technicality or a very slanted jury pool or we just see the guilty go unpunished for their crimes. I don't know if this situation is any or neither but this story should rub everyone the wrong way. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the original Trayvon Martin case for context or just this story on its own merits. I'm disturbed that Mr. Zimmerman seems to still exhibit certain tendencies that suggest something is not quite okay in how he views the world around him. Please share your thoughts with us. We'd love to hear your honest opinions. 

TITANIC MEMORIES

(Source: HLN video on Morning Express With Robin Meade: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2018/05/07/cruise-ship-water-line-breaks-caribbean.hln)

Does this story scare you away from taking that family cruise every year? With the amount of money you pay for food and accommodations, what should you expect for your investment? I actually heard that the cruise officials had their house band playing the music from the scene in the movie Titanic as the waters billowed into the cruise ship. That's unsubstantiated at this time but that is a very unpleasant thought for a lot of reasons. Thoughts?

NOT MY CHURCH

(Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/05/07/609255051/southern-baptist-women-say-they-are-shocked-by-a-church-leader-s-comments)

This is one of those topics that I could opine on all day long because I have lived through some of this but the floor is yours. I caution you that no matter what side of the argument you find yourself on, this is not indicative of the church as intended. You will probably find the paragraph about the 2014 sermon detestable as well so I urge you to prepare yourself. I'll just leave you with a section to ponder but please read the entire article and comment here. 

"The uproar was prompted by the release about 10 days ago of the recording of an interview Patterson gave in 2000 in which he counseled women who have been physically abused by their husbands to pray for them. In that interview, Patterson recounted how he had given that advice to one woman who had been repeatedly assaulted by her husband. Returning some days later with two black eyes, the woman said, "I hope you're happy."

"I said, 'Yes, ma'am, I am happy,'" Patterson quoted himself as telling the woman. "What she didn't know when we sat in church that morning," he said, " was that her husband had come in and was standing in back, first time he ever came."


SILENT SCREAMS IN INDIA

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/08/asia/india-women-rape-intl/index.html)

Are women safe in India? Why is there a need for them to be protected? What is the government doing or what should they do? This story has so many layers that I feel uncomfortable trying to speak to it in a few sentences. I would never want to marginalize the plight of the women in this region. This article offers more than one view on the discussion that I urge you to read thoroughly. Honestly, I heard some things that I had not even thought about. It was a fresh perspective, albeit, disturbing but I want to spark the discussion with all of our readers. 

Whether you are a woman or not, whether you have never experienced this kind of pain and fear or not, even if your experience base on all things global only goes as far as your local newspaper or news channel, I caution to read this particular piece with care and consideration. Don't speed through it. Don't give it a passing glance. Read it and listen. Hear what the people are saying and what they are not saying. Very profound. This is about rape. This is about fear. This is also about privilege. And this is also about ignorance. Thanks for reading and commenting on this very tragic issue.

SUMMA CUM LOUD

(Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/07/us/university-of-florida-black-graduates-rushed-off-stage-trnd/index.html)

Sigh. I feel as though we are re-circling the same wagon with stuff like this. But it highlights where we are as a nation, more so than where we proclaim ourselves to be. By now, you likely have already heard the story. Some of you may have already declared that you have heard enough. Some of you may think you have heard too much. Hmm. Imagine how some people may feel. Just for a moment. 

Two babies in the same crib crying loudly. Both of them are hungry. A parent brings some food for one, which immediately stops crying but not for the other, who cries even louder. Tell me the optics on that scenario. How about two families in a burning fire with twelve men rushing over to help. One family has five members, three of which are children. The other family has two grown adults. All twelve men rush over to help the two adults but no one helps the family of five which all perish in the fire. Sound about right? 

How does a story like the above make you feel? What would you like to see happen if you could have your way? What was wrong? What was done properly? What's your experience with this issue if any? How would honestly you feel if your son or daughter was on the receiving end of this incident? Why does that response change because it is not your son or daughter? Think it out. Share it with us. That's the first step in dealing with this harsh reality.

This is the first of many installments of "The World From Your Window". Can't wait to hear your thoughts and comments. Thank you again for subscribing.

(Note to our new subscribers: You will only get an email for a new blog post. Other than that, I won't be flooding your inbox with stuff. Promise.)

PrE-RamBLe

I, owner and originator of Mirror Time with Mr. Yu, and natural born citizen of the United States, in order to offer a more interesting read and perhaps make someone think rather than react to headline grabbing posts and titles, vow to keep it real and be thoughtful and not reactionary, and focus on the content and not the incendiary headlines, with the goal of encouraging, inspiring, and, perhaps, connecting with my fellow Human brothers and sisters, and help solidify my refusal to confirm to what blogs often become and continue to promote self-reflection and self examination, stand up for what's just and speak up for those that perhaps cannot. I aim to hopefully provoke thought, inspired action, and maybe a push for a little more love to a world that sorely needs it. I aim to remind us and myself that we can do and be better but it starts with us and the "person in the mirror" first. God bless the United States of America. May His grace and mercy be evident now more than ever.

Maybe what comes next is not rambling but I got a lot on my mind. I'll let you be the judges. 

Does anybody ever wonder if we are really being controlled by the media? I'm starting to really have some questions about this. When the Kanye West situation hit, it was the first thing that my wife told me about when I got home. We are not fans of his music and not super engulfed in popular culture but it was a hot topic in our home, for at least, twenty minutes. How did this madness get into my household? How is it possible that a news story can make the internet go wild and cause the message boards to be inflamed with hate, frenzy, and all manners of vitriol? How is it possible that everyone races to their keyboards when the President of the United States says something off the charts? I'm old enough to remember when something happened in the news, I would pick up the phone and call a family member and a friend. Now we post public messages to people we barely know. Hmm. Does the media really have that much control over us? I'm asking you.

If you have been paying attention, you know how much I love football. I believe I have my priorities in order since my wife and kids and grand-kids are higher on the priority list. There are quite a few things higher than football tbh. But I do love this sport and to see it become increasingly intertwined by social issues and politics is a bit unsettling. Truthfully, it was bound to happen. Research the landmark decision in 2015 and you might get a view of how much our beloved sport changed for the worse.

Maybe you do but most of us don't have an underground bunker. We might scoff at some of the recent news stories but are we really prepared for a nation to fire a missile into United States airspace? Not a laughing matter if you think about it.

Four years later, how we doing, Flint, Michigan? Yep.

Ever since I can remember, there was always a rumor that there are already cures for every major disease worldwide. They are just being "withheld" to test the rapid effects of sicknesses and diseases. Or maybe somebody just has a "Thanos" complex. *shrugs*

It used to be a definite no-no to make fun of the mentally and physically handicapped. But this is 2018. All good. 😒

Going back to more media thoughts. Were you aware that 100 people as well as innumerable livestock died in India due to dust storms and lightning today? The families of the dead will get about $6,000 (or 400,000 rupees).

Think you'll be alive to see an image of Harriet Tubman on the twenty dollar bill? Would you call that cultural progress or a concession?

Only the Oakland Raiders would be irresponsible enough to draft a player (even though he's BLUE) that could literally die on the field from a heart condition they were well aware of. SMH. #MauriceHurst #LifeAndFamilyTrumpsFootball

I know this busts many bubbles but just because one stands up for the anthem and sings every word, it doesn't automatically make you patriotic or more so than the next guy. I venture to say that many of those that claim to be patriotic do, say, and believe some things that are un-American and far from patriotic. Who am I talking about? Heck, they're not hard to find. They're right on your TV most every day. 

Hummus milkshakes are coming. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Thanks for listening. Keep talking. Keep thinking. And definitely keep listening.

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".