He counted on me to be passive…

I have to give credit where credit is due. It appears that I have struck a nerve with our friends over at I’m Just Sayin’…It is hard to argue with the events spelled out by Mr. I’m Just Sayin’… What he has failed to tell you thought is the rest of the story. After his little rant about the “truth” it went a little more like this:

Mr. I’m Just Sayin…: …Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to!

Sonny: Are you a Communist Yankee sympathizer?

Mr. I’m Just Sayin…: I pull for the team I …

Sonny: Are you a Communist Yankee Sympathizer?

Mr. I’m Just Sayin…: You’re G**D*** right I am!

Since he rested his case it is now in the hands of you, the jury. Mr. Foreman, have you reached a verdict?

He did erroneously point out that I said the darkest day in history was the death of Apollo Creed. I said it was one of the darkest days. That might just put enough reasonable doubt into his version of the truth.

This just in…

At 7 o'clock this evening eastern time technology forces of the Upstate of South Carolina launched a series of strikes against the headquarters, terrorist facilities, and technology assets that support Mr. I’m Just Sayin…’s…subversive activities. The attacks were concentrated and carefully targeted to minimize casualties among the world wide web of people with whom we have no quarrel. From initial reports, our forces have succeeded in their mission.

Several weeks ago in Lake Oconee, GA, I warned Mr. I’m Just Sayin…we would hold his regime accountable for any new terrorist attacks launched against American citizens.

Our evidence is direct; it is precise; it is irrefutable. We have solid evidence about other attacks Mr. I’m Just Sayin… has planned against the United States blogger installations and diplomats and even American NBA fans.

Mr. I’m Just Sayin…is not only an enemy of the Upstate of South Carolina. His record of subversion and aggression against the neighboring Bloggers is well documented and well known. He has ordered the slander of fellow Bloggers in countless counties. He has sanctioned acts of terror in Pure Joy, outbehindthewoodshed, and Our Life, as well as at Sonny’Side. Today we have done what we had to do. If necessary, we shall do it again. It gives me no pleasure to say that, and I wish it were otherwise. Before Mr. I’m Just Sayin… seized power in 2009, the people of Google had been friends of the United States. And I'm sure that today most Bloggers are ashamed and disgusted that this man has made their passion for prose a synonym for barbarism around the internet. The Blogging people are a decent people caught in the grip of a tyrant.

It must be the core of Southern policy that there be no sanctuary for terror. And to sustain such a policy, free men and free nations must unite and work together. Sometimes it is said that by imposing sanctions against Mr. I’m Just Sayin…or by striking at his terrorist installations we only magnify the man's importance, that the proper way to deal with him is to ignore him. I do not agree.

Long before I started this blog, Mr. I’m Just Sayin…had engaged in acts of international terror, acts that put him outside the company of civilized men. For years, however, he suffered no economic or political or military sanction; and the atrocities mounted in number, as did the innocent dead and wounded. And for us to ignore by inaction the slander of American civilians and American NBA fans, whether in person or online, is simply not in the Southern American tradition. When our citizens are abused or attacked anywhere in the world on the direct orders of a hostile regime, we will respond so long as I'm writing this blog. Self-defense is not only our right, it is our duty. It is the purpose behind the mission undertaken tonight, a mission fully consistent with Article 51 of the Blogger Nations Charter.

We believe that this preemptive action against his terrorist installations will not only diminish Mr. I’m Just Sayin…capacity to export terror, it will provide him with incentives and reasons to alter his criminal behavior. I have no illusion that tonight's action will ring down the curtain on Mr. I’m Just Sayin…’s reign of terror. But this mission, violent though it was, can bring closer a safer and more secure world for decent men and women. We will persevere. This afternoon we consulted with the readers of blogs everywhere regarding what we were about to do and why. Tonight I salute the skill and professionalism of the men and women of our Technology Forces who carried out this mission. It's an honor to be your Commander in Chief.

We Americans are slow to anger. We always seek peaceful avenues before resorting to the use of force -- and we did. We tried quiet diplomacy, public condemnation, economic sanctions, and demonstrations of literary force. None succeeded. Despite our repeated warnings, Mr. I’m Just Sayin…continued his reckless policy of intimidation, his relentless pursuit of terror. He counted on Sonny to be passive. He counted wrong. I warned that there should be no place on Earth where terrorists can rest and train and practice their deadly skills. I meant it. I said that we would act with others, if possible, and alone if necessary to ensure that terrorists have no sanctuary anywhere. Tonight, we have.

Thank you, and God bless you.

http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/41486g.htm

“If he dies, he dies.”

It appears that the writer who claims the Nets (3-7) will win the NBA championship is trying to get you to focus on a minor reason I was shocked to hear he chose them this year. Their location and owner are just a couple of the circumstances that have to be overcome to justify him pulling for the Nets. Like any good politician, however, Mr. I’m Just Sayin’…is drawing your attention away from his inability to satisfactorily respond to the opportunity to justify his pick. Instead he wants you to think I am the one acting irrationally. Let’s get a few things straight here. His argument that I am contradicting myself by pulling for individuals from places like Michigan, Indiana, and North Carolina is weak at best. Michigan and Indiana are Mid-west, not north. It doesn’t matter how far toward Canada you go, the mid-west is still the mid-west. Also, while I did appreciate their talent (Magic and Bird), I did not pull for their respective teams (Lakers and Celtics). I did pull for Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls which are, once again, mid-west. Also, at that time there was not a current President from that city so I can’t be held responsible for the events since then. As for what appears to be his only justification for pulling for them, the fact that Kevin Garnett is on the team, doesn’t quite hold up under more scrutiny.

Mr. I’m Just Sayin’…, I know where Kevin Garnett’s high school is. I coached against Kevin Garnett’s high school. I saw Kevin Garnett play in person. Mr. I’m Just Sayin’…, you are no friend of Kevin Garnett.

Also, I did not room with a guy from New Jersey my last couple of years in college…I roomed with THREE guys from New Jersey. I believe that gives me the credibility I need to make such statements about that part of the country. In fact, my influence over them was so great that had the Carolina Panthers been in existence during my time in college, I would have had no trouble converting them into Panthers fans from New York Giants fans.

Finally, no one from my generation will ever forget one of the darkest days in history…the death of Apollo Creed. The title of this post is from the Russian boxer who was indifferent to weather the greatest boxing champion of all time (until Rocky beat him) would survive after his “exhibition match.” To pull for a team that is owned by someone from a country who promotes that kind of violence is inexcusable. Communism or no communism. Berlin Wall or no Berlin Wall. The wounds are just too deep for me to overcome.

Mr. I’m Just Sayin’…, if your conscience is still clear then let’s focus on the question at hand.  Why are you really pulling for the Brooklyn Nets this year?

NBA

There has really been a lot to talk about when it comes to the sports represented by these three organizations: the NBA, the NFL, and MLB. I will begin with the National Basketball Association because I read on another blog about how the Brooklyn Nets would win the title this year. That will not happen. Before I tell you why let me begin by saying that over the last 3-4 years I have really become an NBA fan again. If you can look past the overwhelming number of tattoos on the players you can really see some amazing talent in the league right now. I grew up in the Magic, Bird, Jordan, etc. era and when they all began to retire I began to lose interest in the style of play in the NBA. I preferred the team effort that was so apparent in college basketball over what appeared to be a more one-on-one game in the pros. As I have watched more and more over the years I now have a greater appreciation for the value of the rest of the team along with the super-stars. Speaking of super-stars, the NBA is full of them again. There have always been several greats of the game during the time since Michael Jordan retired, but the amount of young talent right now is as high as I have seen it in a while. One such talent is LeBron James. I am guilty of watching the ESPN special of him announcing where he would sign a few years ago. I was really hoping he would stay in Cleveland but didn’t really care where he went. Of course he went to Miami which is why the Nets will not only miss the Championship Series, they won’t get out if the Eastern Conference. LeBron has become such a complete player that he not only can take the team on his back, but he has made those around him better. All the great championship teams have had more than one superstar because in the game of basketball, one guy can’t do it all every night. LeBron has matured to the point now that he realizes the mistake he made in broadcasting his desire to “take his talents to South Beach.” He has also matured on the court to the point that his team will, for the foreseeable future, be the team to beat. There is part of me that wants him to silence the critics and win seven titles (one more than Jordan). However, there is also a part of me that would like to see one of the other great super-stars of the game get one for themselves. Chris Paul is right now the best point guard in the game so he along with Blake Griffin could win with the LA Clippers. Kevin Durant, maybe the second best player in the NBA deserves one. I would love to see one of the “local” teams (Atlanta or Charlotte) win it all. The Hawks have a much better chance than the Bobcats, but the Michael Jordan owned Bobcats would be a refreshing upset. Indiana and Chicago probably have the best chance in the East to knock off the Heat. San Antonio, Golden State, Memphis, Oklahoma City and Houston are probably along with the Clippers, favorites out West. But to pull for a Russian owned, former New Jersey team that has been relocated to Brooklyn New York, team is mind-boggling. Perhaps the writer of that blog would care to expand on those great reasons to pull for the Nets so he doesn’t lose credibility with his South Carolina readers.