Tourny Time, Final 4, & How To Win It All

Copyrighted From, "The Thought Spigot"
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Conference and the NCAA Championship Tournaments are just around the corner. Teams like Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, and a handful of others are always guaranteed a spot at the table, usually in the final four. Few teams have the wear-with-all to constantly become players on the main stage (deep into the tourny, or the Final Four), but more and more there is a new breed of "Bubble Teams," in today's college basketball. The days of UCLA's dynasty of championships is over, in the era of "one and done" ball. Players are forced to go to school (unlike Lebron, Garnett, Kobe, etc..etc...), whether they like it, or not. This has caused a major change in the game, recruiting and definitely in the NCAA Tournament. Only six #1 ranked teams have ever won the "Big Dance," thru the rigors of "March Madness" and Senior laden teams (Pitt '07, George Mason '06, Illinois '05, St. Joe's '04) are going farther into the tourny every year. The once "underdogs" of the game, like Valparaiso, Gonzaga, Davidson, and Butler's, of the college basketball world, are no longer sneaking up on anyone and continue to look stronger, each year (Although, they are not stronger, it is just the talent pool is leaving colleges faster). However, the month of march is still filled with just as much madness, as ever. There are three things colleges need to make it to the tournament, advance deep, and possibly win the whole ball of wax.

The first thing is a brilliant coach (Coach K, Roy Williams, Bill Self, J. Boeheim, to name a few). A coach who is able to bring kids together who are seniors, freshmen, going to the NBA, and those who are not. Cohesion/"gelling" at the correct time is essential. A team not playing together, is not a team, at all. Great coaches take the concept to the next level, making a team playing like a team, play like one player (almost). Plays run effortlessly, defense is suffocating, and the players on the benches know their roles and embrace the bench, as if they were playing on the floor. Few coaches ever achieve this kind of team, much less, repeat the process year in and year out. They are priceless to the university, their players, to the game, and they usually head to the hall of fame.

Next, constant tournament teams and some of the greatest teams have a magnificent point guard/guard. Whether the teams are today, or are teams of the past, these floor generals score, pass, play huge amounts of minutes, and always play defense. They can take over a game, if need be, but they are the metronome of the whole game. In a five game tournament, they must keep the other players in line, calm, and expressly are an extension of the coach himself, but are on the floor. These great guards (Isaiah Thomas, David Rivers, Bobby Hurley, Ty Lawson, Sharon Collins, etc..etc..) had all of those/these qualities, making them unforgettable and indispensable, at the same time.

The last piece to the puzzle has to be one strong and dominate big man. His presence inside the paint, both offensively and defensively, are so imposing he owns both sections of paint. His footwork, on both ends, allows him to block/alter all shots around him, score anytime he has position (which is often) and is generally unstoppable in all fazes of the game. He is a leader and does not fluster, no matter how much pounding he takes. As with the guard, a tourny bound team/elite team must have, the centers/forwards from the past and future (Russell, Chamberlain, Walton, Manning, Duncan, Hansborough, Thabeet, etc...etc..), all had these features. They play, as if they are possessed, fearless, and/or have hammer their will on the opposition.

A coach, dominate big man, and a great floor general is the only way teams make it to the tournament. This year is a prime example, Notre Dame has a great team on paper (once ranked in the top 10), a "good coach," guard (McAlarney) and big man (Harringody), but they have not gelled, not playing as a team, and they are now faced with having to win the Big East Tournament, to have a chance to go the "Big Dance." However, other teams who are not/will not have any problems making the conference tourny, much less "The Big Dance," are pretty easy to see: Duke, Missouri, UCONN, Florida State, UNC, Kansas, Louisville, Gonzaga, even Butler already clinched a spot, as conference champs. However, look for these teams to be the ones to beat, come "March Madness Tourny" time and the two players (a big time guard and inside player): Oklahoma ((T. Griffin/Blake Griffin), UNC (Ty Lawson/Hansborough), UCONN (Miller/Thabeet), KU (Collins/Aldridge), Texas (Pittman/Abrams). This handful of teams has all three parts, and should be a dominate force, when everything counts and teams play in a one and done atmosphere. In a five game tournament, for the national title, several teams can enter and play, but very few can win consistently.

The Lent Season & Easter............

Copyright, From The Thought Spigot

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Lent is a season, starting today, and lasting the next forty days (until Easter Sunday). It is a representation of Jesus Christ's forty days worth of sacrifices, in the desert, where he fasted, prayed, and was tempted by Satan. Christian denominations usually make a choice to "give something up for Lent," almost like a "New Year's Resolution." Every year, people make "New Year's Resolutions," and every year almost all of those resolutions go by the way side. A man made holiday, with useless man made traditions, based on changing lives on a certain date and virtually everyone talks about it, tries to make changes, and they all drop "their promise/resolution" in days. Lent is not about a "forty day resolution," but a forty day "template for how to live a Christian life." During the Lent season, Christians strive to fast, pray, and use things to remind themselves of God's gift to us, Jesus Christ death by crucifixion (by the end of the Lent Season). The Easter Holiday starts out with "Ash Wednesday" (today), but Lent is about giving something up, which a person probably doesn't need in their lives anyway. It is a choice, by the person, to cleanse themselves, as Jesus did. Yet, people do not always realize Christians should be "as clean" (for lack of a better term), every second of every day. It does not just revolve around forty days, every year.

Unlike a "New Year's Resolution," God expressly states, in the Bible (John 3:16), "For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but will experience everlasting life." (Where a "resolution one day a year," is hardly a life changer.) The crux of the this verse is Christians have to "choose" to cleave and dedicate themselves for an intimate relationship, with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit. A laying down of "your choices" and making "choices God would have a person make." Once the choice is made, to walk and strive daily for God's Will to be the mainstay in life, a catch twenty two is made. A person cannot make the choice to live a truly Godly life and follow the mainstream. They are able to keep with the commitment they have made to Christ, or they can live away/aside from God. One of the hardest things in the world is the choice to truly allow Christ to walk side by side a person daily, trying to make Godly choices, and living for the utmost excellence thru God, Himself. A person can't do both, what men would have them do/choose AND do what God would have us do/choose (as a rule). Therefore, when the real choice is made to make God the priority in a person's life, every situation, word out of a person's mouth, and action is accountable by God (rather than living life on man's scale, or what others do). Example: "I am a good person, because I am not a murderer. I am better than him/her, because they do this/that and I do not.

The beauty of Lent and God's Love, a reminder/template for Christian's lives, everyone is always able to choose to become a Christian and/or welcomed back to the fold. However, this is a process, which doesn't happen and/or change a person, overnight, in a day, or even in a year (it is a life choice). In the season of Lent, one thing(s) is given up for the forty days. Hopefully, making a person closer to God and living a "Godly Life." However, when Lent/Easter is over and a person has chosen to be a true Christian, there are discouraging and rewarding times. Yet, with that one choice to live by Christ's rule (thru the Bible and Holy Spirit) day by day, month by month, and year by year the walk with Christ becomes a complete paradigm shift in life, but they know the ultimate blessing of everlasting life, with God himself (a Christian only situation, not available in Buddhism, Judaism, Taoism, or Islam). Obvious Godly choices can become muscle and thinking memory (over time) and the hard choices in life are evident, making a person take a step back, look and then choose what God would want, or what Jesus would've done. Nobody is perfect (in fact, we are born into sin, since "the fall"/Adam & Eve), so the "choice" is a constant, but there is not always results, people fall short, and repentance is required. Yet, there is nothing more rewarding in life, then knowing where you are going and why.

This Lent season, remember Lent/Easter is not just a forty day event (or a "New Year's Resolution"), but it can become a lives long change. A change, or choice, every person must make for themselves in earnest, in turn changing their lives forever. When you are at the grocery store, bank, or using any service (where another person is involved) greet them, talk to them while they are ringing up your purchase, and say thank you, or God Bless You. These things cost do not cost a thing, but they make all the difference in the world, for you and for others. Finally, observe this Lent season (whether you are Christian, or not) the "Golden Rule" and "Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you." Seems like such a small thing, but think about the world, if everyone followed this one simple rule?

Americans Are Just "Listening," Not "Hearing," Obama/Washington

Copyright, "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

President Barack Obama is one of the greatest orators of the last forty years, hands down. He has charisma and seems to be in control, in front of the camera, all of the time. Booming speeches, from the TelePrompTer, that inspire and make people feel comfortable. Even when President Obama spelled the doom and gloom over the last three weeks, to get his "stimulus package" thru the Congress and Senate, he has still showed a gravitais, worthy of a John F. Kennedy comparison. This is what got him elected, his natural and shining words of "hope and change."

However, almost four weeks into the Obama Presidency, he is not the man who ran for the highest office in the land and the majority of American people have no idea what is going on. It is like the American people can listen to Obama (being the opiate of the masses, almost like a cult leader), but many people do not "hear" what he is saying.

(Examples: 1. President Obama said (while on the campaign trail), "We will (in Washington) be the stewards of the earth, looking to contain as much green house gases and taking global warming, as serious as possible. Yet, he took Air Force I from D. C., to Chicago, to Colorado, to Arizona, back to Washington D. C.. Of course the President needs to be safe and should use Air Force I, whenever safety is an issue. However, the trip to Colorado and Arizona were not for safety, but was used as a back drop, for the President to sign (Colorado, at a solar panel company) and then push his "Stimulus Bill" (Colorado). The carbon footprint Obama splashed into the Ozone, just for this trip, was enough for a regular person's 30 year footprint.

2. This is what President Obama said to reporters, after meeting with the American Governors, "On the one hand, the majority has to be inclusive. On the other hand, the minority has to be constructive. So, to the extent of many of these issues, we are able to break out of the, sort of rigid, what are your ideas. The minority has to come up with ideas, and not just blow up the majority's ideas.") Yet, there were three other plans, for the "Stimulus Package," by Republicans, which never got a look. Also, when the bill was passed back to the Congress, for the bill's final details, the Democrats (literally) shut the door and locked all Republicans out.

3. President Obama said, "Before any laws and/or bills are passed, there will be full transparency, complete and thorough oversight, and the AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO VIEW THE BILL FOR 48 HOURS, before anything went forward. Yet, for the "Stimulus Bill" was finalized at 11 p.m., given to the other congressmen/women, around 7 a.m. and the 1100+ page bill was voted on around 6 p.m. (all EST). No oversight, no transparency, and most of all the congressmen did not have the chance to even read the "Stimulus Bill," before voting on it. It did not show up on the NET, "for Americans to read," until 2 days after Obama's signature. When you go to " http://recovery.gov/ " the bottom line reads $8 billion, on the bottom of the stimulus breakdown. Harry Reid (Democratic Senator from Nevada), behind closed doors, with a democrat only sign on the handle, put in a HAND WRITTEN amendment, for a "light rail, speed train, from Los Angeles to Las Vegas."

President Obama goes on television, for the first time, tonight. He is giving a speech on the economic breakdown and to address the American people. All Americans have an obligation to not just sit and "LISTEN" to what the President of the United States has to say, but to "HEAR" what is behind the words. In a time where partisanship is rampant, the majority on the hill just want to be re-elected (rather than represent the people, who put them in power), and the whole world is watching nothing is more important. People must take some time to research, read, and/or listen to constant points of view, what is actually going on in Washington (not just taking their word for it, or just taking care of yourself), and most of all hold all people, including President Obama, accountable. If Americans are not up to that simple task, then we will continue to spiral downward, Banks/Health Care/Energy and even the air waves/Net/television, will be regulated by the government. It is up to every person to learn, the truth on their own, because there are very few in Washington, who will give anyone a straight scoop.

"I never teach my pupils. I only attempt to provide the adequate situation to learn." --Albert Einstein

CLINTON/OBAMA MAKE MISTAKE, WITH CHINA

Copyright From, "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Hillary Clinton finished her "Asian Tour," in China today, speaking with President Ho. Supposedly, they discussed trade and China helping, with terrorism, of all things. The "People's Republic of Communist China," the country who own over $10 Trillion of U. S. debt, the country who makes it practice of hitting the F. B. I., the Pentagon, and countless other corporations, 200+ times a year.

China's corporate espionage and their treading into Pentagon files several times a year (last time, known, when they hit every email address, at the Pentagon, rendering it helpless for 10 minutes, in late 2008), is not only out of bounds, but it is criminal and a United States security threat. However, the Obama administration still insists on bringing in more "H1-B Visas" for Chinese, India and Pakistan (causing Americans to lose jobs outright in the U. S., or shipping the jobs overseas altogether). How can Secretary of State Clinton begin to trust a country who is in our business, using heavy espionage, and is one of the top five in civil/human rights violations?

Dealing and trusting President Ho and the other major players in China, behind the scenes, is a huge mistake for the Obama administration! Especially, with the American economy teetering on the brink of a possible "Great Depression," or best case scenario trying to build the economy back to a respectable level, for the American citizens. If the Chinese is brought straight into American business and talks, like North Korea, they will give us a little bit of a carrot (talk) and some small tidbits, and then when we look to get what was promised (I.E.- the North Korea proliferation papers, where they are at in creating fissile material, how their rocket technology looks, and also how much they have shared/SOLD to Iran, Syria, or other "enemies" of the U. S.).

Clinton is a major politician and she is more than capable to do the job, she has been assigned, but the real question is how much rope the Obama White House will give China, share with China and how much President Obama's "new hope and change attitude" (which he was elected with)? We need China more than they need the United States. With that on the fresh, what could happen if the U. S. does go this route, and China decides to "not hold their end of the bargain" and/or gets upset with the U. S.. The obvious answer is, the "BILL COMES DUE!" The Chinese have the technology and training to infiltrate the Net of our Government, have operatives embedded in the United States (i.e.--the three men on trial now, who have confessed, to being spies, and Chinese born Americans), and they could sink our economy if they want all of the cash they have lent the United States (if you think the economy is bad now, think about if that happened). The whole Obama administration needs to understand, if you lay down with dogs, expect to get flees nine times out of ten (i.e.--John Kerry and the Hamas letter/using him and Kerry in Syria now, on President Obama's order).

PRESIDENT OBAMA A TRANSPARENT CABINET/WHITE HOUSE?

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot"

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President Barack Obama has only three weeks in office. Upon taking the "highest office in the land," Obama began building his cabinet, talking about bi-partisan support (in both the Congress and Senate), immediately signing a handful of bills into law and working on the home economy. President Obama has said, "Every decision you make, as President, is big." There is not one inkling of hype, or that statement being one bit false. Whether it be foreign policy, the economic stimulus package, or a litany of other details (both classified and non-classified), the decisions made are viewed by the world, not just the United States. Whether to talk directly to Iran, pulling out of Iraq, closing GITMO, retooling the financial institutions; all of these macro-items are bigger and more complex than a sweep of the pen, cordial and non-cordial negotiations, and/or ideological decisions on what would work, for the American people.



However, President Obama's first three weeks have been filled with horrible and mismanaged micro-decisions, filled with failure. He has appointed seven people to his cabinet, who have either a checkered past (to put it mildly) and/or have failed to pay major dollars in taxes, employed illegal immigrants to work in homes/properties, are under grand jury investigation, or have just flat done things (broken the law), which would have landed regular Americans in trouble, huge financial debt, or jail. Of course, President Obama cannot know every skeleton in his appointments closets. However, a president should adequately vet and know his cabinet choices will have a lawful background and people who have not cheated the government, and/or are not making up for past mistakes to acquire a job.

Former President Bush was pulled thru a key hole, in the latter part of his Presidency, for saying he "could see the soul of Russia's Putin, and he was a good man." The same standards and overall outcries are not the same for President Obama, and he is not talking about a foreign leader, but he is choosing people to fix the American health care system, the economy, commerce secretary, chief performance officer, and Secretary of the State. Bill Richardson, Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle, Nancy Killerfer, and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. This list does not count the two lobbyists, Mr. Obama said he would not have, in his cabinet. There is no media outcry, except for the Rush Limbaughs and Sean Hannitys (etc...etc...) of the world, leaving people to do one of three things: (1) write their senators/congressmen (2) be disgruntled and do nothing (3) bury their heads in the sand and just assume President Obama and other politicians have it all under control.

Three of these people failed to pay their taxes, for years, and totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars (Daschle, Geithner, and Killerfer). Two of these people have resigned, Tom Daschle (Health Czar Designate) and Nancy Killerfer. Geithner was confirmed, as Treasury Secretary, though he just paid back the amount of taxes he cheated the American people out of, without any penalty, or interest. Bill Richardson is getting ready, sometime this year, for a grand jury testimony. The details are sketchy, but it was enough for Richardson to resign his post. Finally, Hillary Clinton is still in (Secretary of State), despite the "Clinton Library" donors (which are shady at best, some still are not public) and countless other "back issues" from her days at Wal-Mart, her becoming a New York Senator (though she was from Arkansas), all of the things she accused Obama of ("This is a man that has no experience, to become President."), and things yet to come to the fold.

Coming into his presidency, Barack Obama was to be the "non-partisan, squeaky clean, no lobbyists in his cabinet, and a man of complete transparency," but in the three weeks he has seven individuals who are criminals (by law, or are up for indictments). There is a HUGE double standard, in the Obama camp and in President Obama's cabinet, compared to "regular American people." Example: A regular person does not pay taxes, in the amount of $10,000, over three years, and the I. R. S. finds out, the principal goes from $10,000 to $21,000. The I. R. S. then begins to systematically dismantle that person's life (leans on homes, repossessing cars, boats and all "non-essentials" they deem "non-essential" and they are privileged to all bank accounts, so when any money is deposited, they come in and take that, too. Men and women become destitute, or worse during these times, causing divorce, homelessness, government dependent, or the kill theselves (sometimes). Tom Daschle owed over $100,000, over four years, which he did not claim. Yet, he paid the $100,000, no interest, no penalties and was offered a cabinet job in Washington? (He has since resigned, with Killerfer)

Where is the "change?" To date, President Obama has not filled major positions in his cabinet, because the people he wants for the job, to REPRESENT THE PEOPLE, have a lack of ethics and/or use loopholes, at the American people's expense. Transparency and complete vetting of all people, coming into the Obama Government has to start now. President Obama's selections may not be his fault, exclusively. However, when he let Timothy Geithner keep his nomination and become confirmed (by the Democratic controlled House and Senate), he showed a problem with his ethics and for the American people. Remember, Barack Obama (on the campaign trail) said we are all equal, whether on Main Street, or on Wall Street, there is only "One America."

President Obama is failing to show any difference, from the "old guard," with the exception he said, "I am embarrassed and it is partially my fault" (by the Daschle situation). Yet, it is not a problem to have lobbyists, Tim Geithner, Hillary Clinton, and it is hard to say who else (the way people keep coming out of the wood work, with unethical and illegal problems). Obama has stated he is losing sleep over the economy, but he should be losing sleep over the people around him, as perception will become he has no judgement, when it comes to the people he wishes to appoint and represent the American people.

Super Bowl Entertainment Sinks, Thanks To "The Boss"

From DMAN, At The Thought Spigot

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Bruce Springsteen has never been silent on his views, politics, and mostly he has lived on the American's view of him, as a working man's friend and one of the "Blue Collar" guys. However, nothing was more important, to "The Boss," than the "Born In The U.S.A." album. It made him a pop culture icon, but more importantly, it showed a "blue collar icon," for Americans and America, as a whole.

Of the album, Springsteen broke out, worldwide, with "Dancing in the Dark" (with a little help from a young Courtney Cox, in the video), which won him a Grammy and reached #2 on the Billboard Top 100. Yet, "Cover Me," "No Surrender," "My Hometown," and "I'm On Fire" were all released and on the charts, but "Born In The U. S. A." became a mantra for America. Presidents, politicians (John Kerry in his campaign), sports teams, radio stations and countless other people use "Born in the U. S. A." for a variety of situations, still today. "The Boss" was made into a huge mainstream star, becoming the "working class singer" (a modern day Bob Dylan, if you will).

Fast forward to Super Bowl Sunday, at halftime. An older Springsteen, with the whole E Street Band, was in front of millions. Opening with "Born to Run" (a 70's staple and one single putting him on the map), "Working on a Dream," and finishing with an extended of "Glory Days." No "Born In The U. S. A." on the agenda at all. The "Blue Collar," for the people, and working class hero decided on a stage where millions and millions of people are watching (looking forward, and expecting with two wars going on in Iraq/Afghanistan, plus countless Americans abroad) not to play a song for all Americans (not to mention, his "signature song"). Maybe, Bruce decided, or the NFL decided, the American people's voice wasn't that important, or it would offend someone?

ESPN had a game, where a certain amount of questions were asked (in a fantasy game format). Example, "Will there be a run for more than 40+ yards?" Another question was, "Will Bruce Springsteen open his set with "Born in the U. S. A.?" I suppose people do not know about "The Boss'" far liberal stance and on American policies, in his older age? Either way, on a night as great as Super Bowl Sunday, to be asked to play the whole half time festivities, one would think Mr. Springsteen would take some responsibility, using his clout and platform for America. It is just a song, but America needs all the help it can get now. Obviously, "The Boss" is more interested in "The Wrestler" (the movie coming out this weekend) and his Golden Globe award, then the American people's overall views and emotions, or maybe he is not the "working class icon" people have given him credit for (and his politics now play top fiddle, in his life, over Americans).