What? Huh?

Courtesy of: EOnline

Okay maybe it's just been a busy week, and I haven't had time to research a new blog.  Maybe I'm just feeling lazy, regardless this week's rant, I mean blog is going to be short and sweet.

How is it that a celebrity becomes an expert about parenting, marriage, education, politics, etc.? When did their opinion become more important that your own?  How on earth can they possibly give advice to anyone who lives a working class existence?  Don't get me wrong, it takes a lot of arrogance to post a weekly blog and think that other people really care.  However, major news outlets are not covering my stupidity.  So it begs the questions: Why are they covering their stupidity?

I'm sure that there is no coincidence between taking celebrity advice and the struggles Americans are having with parenting, marriage, education, politics, etc.  What? Huh? Did I just say that? My advice, stopping taking advice from people who do not have a personal stake in your life.  Be warned though: you may have to take responsibility for your own actions.

And The Winner Is...

Courtesy of NBCSports.com

When I was eight, all I wanted to be when I grew up was Lou Whitaker.  Never mind that I hit from the right side of the plate, I wasn't a Jehovah's Witness, or black, to me Lou Whitaker was the greatest player EVER!!  To listen to the Tiger Stadium crowd ring down in a singular baritone voice "LOOOOUUUU," was music to my young ears.

Of course as Tigers fans know, we had "two for the price of one."  Alan Trammell was not the immediate sensation that Sweet Lou was, but every year he just kept getting better.  By the mid-80's, there was no better all around shortstop in the game.  I was just to the right of the left field foul post, when Tram hit two homers practically to the same seat.  Both balls looked like a full moon coming right towards us.

Together, they became the most prolific Double Play Combination in the history of the game.  With 2819 career double plays together, I always assumed that they were both a lock for the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame.  When their nominations came and went, I asked myself if my personal bias tainted my view.  I am a Detroit Fan Though and Through.  With an equal love for the Spartans, my underdog status is complete.  However once I looked at the numbers and read the opinions of those who know the game best, I came to realize that this oversight is a travesty.  Then once Jack Morris's time had come and went, I realized that the Hall of Fame is not about what the Game's Greatests did on the field.  What's important is that you do it on the field, and then suck up to the all important Baseball Writer's Association.  If you played in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York, you are likely a shoein.  

So I'm torn!!  I love reaching out to the greatest fans in the world to right a wrong, but deep down I couldn't care less.  See I'm not a yes man.  I'll never be considered a trend setter, Yuppie, Hipster, Metrosexual, blah - bah.  I don't go along with the crowd, I speak my mind, and I'm not effected by naysayers or critics.  My attitude was bolstered when I read that George C. Scott said, "The whole thing is a goddam meat market.  I don't want any part of it." when he declined the 1971 Best Actor Award for the title role of Patton from the Motion Picture Academy.  Maybe it's because I was born in 1971, and naturally have an edge.  Maybe I'm just a stubborn ass, and refuse to listen to convention.  What I do know, is that I will not try to endear myself to the self serving Baseball Writer's even if I'm given the chance.  I will make my voice known about all the reasons that Lou Whitaker, and Alan Trammel should be enshrined with the other greats of the game.

I will do things my way, because I know in my heart it's right.  I will work hard for results, not for the accolades, but to make a difference.  I will not get caught up in the pat yourself on the back awards circuit even if I am nominated.  I'm not competing against anyone else.  I'm trying to be better than the person I was yesterday.  Tomorrow I will try to be better than I am today.  Personally, I think "the whole damn thing is a goddam meat market.  I don't want any part of it."  Plus I am comforted knowing that this is not only my way, IT'S THE DETROIT WAY!!

Here's an Inconvenient Truth: It's Freaking Cold!!

Boston 2015: Courtesy of BBC.com

I need to make a deviation from the normal humor laced with sarcasm that you've become familiar with At The Corner, because waking up to -8 degrees F makes me cranky.  So if I'm going to take a shot at someone, who better than Al Gore?  Now before you go on a Red State rant, hear me out.  I'm not going after Mr. Gore because he's a Democrat. I'm taking my shot because he is an entitled, self-righteous moron!! There are plenty in the Republican Party who fit this description as well.

In Bemidji, MN the wind chill is -50 degrees F.  Boston currently has more snow than all the tea in the British Empire of the 18th Century.  Kentucky and Tennessee are having a crash course lesson in driving on ice.  Even Florida is joining the sub-freezing club.  So Al, where is this "global warming" that you threatened us all with to line your already fat pockets, and to make more Hollywood friends? I'm cold and could really use some global warming.

So let's look at an Inconvenient Truth: there is no such thing as scientific fact!!  The only "FACTS" are numerals that you multiply in order to produce a product.  This is not a shot at science.  However, all we have is scientific theory.  Scientist observe the world, find patterns, eliminate outliers, and develop theories.  Some theories are so evident, and consistent that we call them laws.  These laws are normally tied to physics, such as laws of gravity, or laws of motion.  These laws are logical and consistent, unlike environmental laws. Here's another inconvenient truth, science paired with action is business, politics, or in the case of our dear old friend Al; BOTH!!

As I sit wearing s sweater, with the thermostat set at 68 degrees F, under the warm glow of an LED light, I want to give you an example of how unlike business, politics forces money out of our wallets. Because our carbon based fuel cars were warming the globe at such an alarming rate the U.S. Government set fuel economy standards that completely changed the industry, and emptied our pockets.  Now that most cars average 30 MPG, or more, our State and Federal Governments are finding they don't have enough revenues from fuel taxes.  So in order to maintain our roads, many states and several Representatives, and Senators are proposing gas tax hikes anywhere from $0.15 to $0.75 per gallon.  This of course will cause us to buy less fuel, because gas taxes directly effect all of the food and products we use every day.  You know, the laws of supply and demand.

The Dread Pirate Roberts told Princess Buttercup correctly, "Life is pain!  Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell something."  So with a keen ear, and an eye on your wallet, dismiss any "facts" that you are given unless you are in need of multiplying numerals.  And those are the f... Uh-hum, I'm mean; That's my humble opinion.  Now stay warm out there!!

I'm Not Afraid to Say the "Bad Boys" Were My Friends

In my last blog, I said that I am no longer able to take refuge in sports.  Yesterday, I watched ESPN's 30 for 30 movie about the Bad Boys of the Detroit Pistons.  It reminded me of two things.  First is that political correctness has taken such root in the United States, that making something from nothing may now only be a fairy tale from the past.  More importantly, I was reminded that sports taught me more about life, than any classroom could.  Let's take a look what the Bad Boys taught me.

Isaiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer taught me that no matter how far apart our worlds may be, a common goal can bring anybody together.

The 1986 Playoffs taught me that the will to succeed, is far more important than the ability to succeed.

The 1987 Playoffs taught me to never let the moment get too big.  One should never let the highs get too high, or the lows get too low.

The 1988 Playoffs taught me the even if you do everything it takes to succeed, one person in a position of power can take it all away.  Unfortunately, the lesson this year should have been the amazing human ability to overcome the greatest of adversity.

The 1989 Playoffs taught me that nothing will ever be given to you, you have to take it.

The off season taught me that if you don't follow the Good Ole' Boys Club's path, they will change the rules.

The 1990 Playoffs taught me that when you are on top, you must make even greater sacrifices to stay there,

The next off season showed me that there is no end to how much the Good Ole' Boys Club will change the rules to push "those who don't belong" out.

The 1991 Playoffs taught me that marketing is more important than character.  I also learned that everything is temporary.  Failure is temporary.  Success is temporary.  Life is temporary.  Make the most of every day.  You never know when it may end, but be assured it will end someday.

More than anything, the movie marked possibly the saddest lesson of all.  Making something from nothing, may forever be something left in the past.  I can only hope that politically correct marketing and entertainment is temporary.  It's been a long 25 years.

I told you what I learned, and the years I learned it.  I did not tell you how or why I learned it.  The truth is that if you don't already know, then the Bad Boys were never your friends.

Hello-Hello-Hello, I'm sorry I've been away so long. My name is Rick Smith. I'm very pleased to meet you.

My apologies to Eminem, but I haven't written on this blog for four and a half years.  That is a serious case of writer's block: #EmptyVoid.  So I stole from another artist to get things flowing: #Enema.  Plus, life in the 21st Century is busy.  There is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Living Social, Groupon, Amazon, TMZ and a bunch of other sites that today's youth hope that an old man like me will never figure out and ruin: #TechZombies.  Plus, I have to work, finish another degree, pay bills, do chores, spend time with my girlfriend, spend time with family, eat right, go to the gym, do charity, along with eating and sleeping: #NoTime.  In short, life has been busy!  Don't even get me started about the time that it takes to come up with creative hash tags: #Ridiculous!

Now it's Super Bowl Sunday, and the one thing that allowed me to escape life is gone.  Sports!  It looks like sports, sounds like sports, and if you walk into a locker room, I'm sure that is smells like sports.  Must be sports, right?  Not exactly.  Let's take a closer look at "The Road to the Super Bowl:" #StupidCliche.  We have domestic violence, concussions, Flag-Gate, through the process of the catch, deflate-gate, Legion of Boom, Beast Mode, NFL Awards Show, 16 hours of Pre-Game, a red carpet event to deal with all before a 4.5 hour game that should only last 3.25 hours.  You Mad Bro?!: #YES!!!  Plus I'm unsure now, is Tom Brady a quarterback, or a model?  Either way, is Tom Brady or is Katy Perry the quarterback of the Patriots?: #GenderConfusion.  Disney bought ESPN, ESPN moved to Hollywood, and the result is that sports are gone forever and are replaced by Hollywood gossip: #PourMeADrink.

Ultimately all of the things that were designed to help us relax, are causing more stress: #Crazy.  Not to mention the fact that the healthier that Americans eat, the fatter we get: #Glutenfree.  So in order to help restore some semblance of sanity into our insane lives, At The Corner will move beyond Detroit area sports and tackle all of life's issue: through my slightly disturbed mind.  Mainly because people need to relax, and because my hyper-tension medication is getting expensive.  Therefore instead of finding a new outlet (Sorry again Eminem), I am going back to an old outlet.  My first goal, is to avoid having to find time and money to go to a Mental Health Professional.  I also hope to help lighten your day and bring a smile to your face.  Surely, I can't be the only one who has these specific life frustrations. " No!  And don't call me Shirley."  Like Bugs Bunny said, "Don't take life too seriously.  You'll never make it out alive!" ~ Thank you Mel Blanc.

Relax, pour yourself a cup of coffee, tea, glass of wine, beer, whiskey (#Its5OclockSomewhere), and come to the corner for a little stress relief.  Consider it your virtual water cooler.  I will be here to make sense of this ridiculousness that we call modern life.  Notice that this first come back post really has no point.  Like most of what we find on the internet; THAT'S THE POINT!