Listen Up Lebron

No offense Lebron, I know you are a great basketball player but I am calling you out, right here, right now. Down to Clown supports most sports, and the all-stars of those sports. Without these stars who would watch? But I have one problem, one little tiff with Lebron James.

Clearly, James is no Greg Oden type, he doesn’t send inappropriate pictures to current love interests, and he doesn’t bring unlicensed weapons into the locker room. I know that for the most part he is a good role model but there is one thing that needs to stop. (Listen up Tiger Woods)

When he gets called for a small tick-tack foul, he needs to act like a professional. I watch the games when I can, I see the plays he makes and I see him run down the court whining when he gets called for a foul. Then I go to my nephew’s basketball game. This is the same game being played out there but on a completely different level. Instead of 6’7’’ 25-year-olds you have 5 foot tall 12-year-olds.

Most of these kids will not play sports past grade school, so as you could imagine the skill set is not always there. But without fail every single game there is a kid that has some skill. Maybe they have an older brother that has taught them to play, maybe they just have good genes. These are the kids that you see copying every move James makes.

They have the shoes, the wrist bands, the arm bands, the tech fit shirts, all of it, because in case you haven’t heard these things will make them better ball players.

I blame athletes like James for the way these youngsters react to called fouls. I was at a game recently and after throwing a fit, much like James did the other night against Miami, a young opponent from the other team was forced to sit on the bench and calm down because of his actions. Little did he know at the time that this was just a regular season game being played by seventh graders and not the NBA. But honestly, where do you think he learned to react like that?

These athletes are being paid millions of dollars to play a sport, they need to grow up. Showing your displeasure with fouls is one thing, but kicking a water bottle? Is that really what we want are kids watching? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Ty8gRjXoU – The kick occurs at the end of the video) What is this saying to the youth of today? “Hey thanks for coming to see me play, especially those of you sitting behind the bench, here, here’s some water.” $25,000 is hardly enough of a fine, how about apologizing for acting like a child.

Play the sport the way it’s intended to be played and remember how many kids you have watching you. This goes for you too Gilbert Arenas, contesting a foul is one thing but bringing a gun into a locker room and pulling it on a teammate over a gambling debt? Is that really who we want our children looking up to? This isn’t the streets of Compton, you are being paid to be an entertainer. Lines need to be drawn and people need to be made examples of so this type of thug behavior stops.

Fining James $25,000 and suspending Arenas indefinitely is a start but more needs to be done. We don’t need our youth acting like this.

You Can't Say It Doesn't Cross Your Mind

All sports fans go through this, especially ones like me. These are fans that don’t come from winning backgrounds. This may be because they are not from a “sports town”. Meaning a town that has a lot of history and has been allowed enough time to go through winning periods while enduring the losing times. Or this may simply be because they root for the underdog. Either way we have all been in this situation.

A team can only get better if change is brought upon its makeup. A lineup of players is not going to go from the worst in the league to the best in the league simply because it’s another year, a brand new season. They all need change, and the governing boards for each sport have tried to accommodate these losing teams. It only makes sense that a losing team gets the privilege of eyeing talent and recruiting new players to play for their team by way of each organizations annual entry draft.

For example take the Pittsburgh Penguins, a team that has a strong tradition and is considered to be one of these storied sports towns. They obviously have had their winning ways capturing the Stanley Cup in 1991, 1992, and most recently in 2009 but they have also gone through their low periods. With three losing seasons and a league wide lockout under their belt the Penguins were able to come about the number one draft pick of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (also popularly known as “the Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes”). These drafts are where teams begin to rebuild their lineups.

Sidney Crosby is arguably the best player in the National Hockey League, but if you look at the drafting history of the Penguins, he was simply the climax of a span of 5 years of drafting within the top 5 overall picks (2002 Ryan Whitney, 2003 Marc-Andre Fleury, 2004 Evgeni Malkin, 2005 Sidney Crosby, 2006 Jordan Staal). This is one side of the NHL that is hardly seen. These drafts will be the deciding factor in whether these losing teams get better or continue to waddle in mediocrity.

But in every losing season comes a question that is never mentioned aloud. (Foreshadowing: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09351/1021485-125.stm) What is it worth to a team to finish out a season at full steam? Does there come a point in a GM’s mind where he says, “Well we can’t win a game this year but at least we know there are a few NHL ready stars to be drafted at this June’s draft.” Obviously GM’s would never admit to having this thought but as a fan I know it has crossed my mind.

I know that my team is currently sitting in 25th in the entire league, with more games played than every team. I’ve heard the talking heads gossip about teams that have a chance to make a run and my team is never mentioned. Amongst the fans on internet message boards we have sayings such as “Fall for Hall” and “Bust for Burmistrov” but what brings these thoughts about and is it proper to wish this upon your supposed favorite team?

I would never switch alliances or fully support any other team than my current favorite team, I consider myself a true fan. I live out of market and still go out of my way to watch every single game no matter if they have lost 5 in a row or even won 3. But with 19 games left in the season I am almost giddy with excitement, even though it is a sick and twisted excitement as a sports fan.
In my mind good times are ahead, first, the trade deadline. This deadline is our chance to get rid of deadweight that other teams see as gold or rentals for a push to the Cup. Hopefully after collecting our rewards for giving away these talents we will be able to end the season and move on in a new direction.

So does it really matter how we play in our last 19 games? Whether we win them or not? If we lose them we have a chance of getting our own Sidney Crosby (meaning a number one, NHL ready, draft pick, clearly Crosby does not come along every draft). Although the pessimist in me says I bet we go .500 the rest of the year and end up with a draft pick anywhere above the 4th and below 10th. These are the players that organizations take a chance on (look at Alexandre Picard as an example), and they don’t always work out. Just ask any fan of my favorite team.

The choice isn’t up to the GM obviously but sometimes you have to wonder if the thought doesn’t cross their mind.

Enjoy the rest of the NHL season, to the good teams best of luck and to the fans that are hoping for a top 3 draft pick may Fredrik Modin be with you.

Starting all over again

O.A.R. is coming to mind as I write this ("It's been a long long time" never mind that "since I lost myself" part) A lot has changed, no longer a college student, no longer living in Ohio.

Incase you haven't guessed by the new title of the blog I have moved down to Big D (Woohoo Dallas). I've begun a new stage of my life and here is where you get to hear all about it.

Some roommates and I use to run a Web site (http://www.downtoclown.com/) but have since become swept up in a new world. One on his way to becoming a great scholar the other a student of law. Meanwhile, I'm hanging out, goofin', if you will.

After four years and a little action on the side I graduated from the University of Dayton with a degree in electronic media along with a minor in business administration. But since I may only be in Dallas temporarily I am not in a big rush to find a real-world, move up the corporate ladder type job (Although I find myself daily thinking about and considering seeking out one of these types of positions).

I am always looking to meet new people and make new connections so if you happen to be in the Dallas area don't hesistate to drop me a line and if you have some time to kill be sure to stop back by, I'll be updating weekly.

UPDATE RE: "You Did What!"

Okay folks, this is what it is. I was recently reading Rolling Stone's "Singles of the Year" for 2008 and guess what happened to crack the top 20? You guessed it, Lil Wayne's single "Lollipop" came in at number 5 while Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" landed in the number 20 spot.

Once again, for a brief minute, I am speechless (really?! just kidding..)

I have given up on music of today. Hey maybe I'll go buy a synthesizer and a computer and I can be the next Akon or T-Pain. I think Saturday Night Live had it right - check out this link, I could be the next Blizz - http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/blizzard-man/848723/

The Blizz is the real deal.

Stay tuned for a new blog about old bands going on tours and showcasing "new music"

Thursday Night's David vs. Goliath: The Office

In this age of reality television shows and one-season bombs, programs such as “The Office” continue to thrive. What keeps these programs going is simplicity. The writers and producers know what the public want and they deliver it.

If you are not familiar with the program, “The Office” is a comedic sitcom that was originally developed in the U.K. by creators Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The American version of “The Office”, which was adapted in 2005, takes place in Scranton, Pa. at the paper supply company Dunder Mifflin.

The cast revolves around characters that would be found in the everyday office: the overzealous boss, the nerdy suck-up, the average-guy salesman and the down-to-earth receptionist, among others.

Even though the American version of “The Office” was adapted from the U.K. version, the two have little in common.

“While the first episode of the American version mimicked the original’s first episode, after that the American series went its own way,” said Dr. Jeffery Griffin, professor of global communication and the fundamentals of broadcasting at the University of Dayton. “What the two have in common is the basic template, i.e., the basic concept of the show.”

Although the original version only ran for two seasons in the U.K., the American version has continued to thrive under challenging circumstances.

“The Office” airs on Thursdays at 9 p.m. EST on NBC. This time slot is one of the most competitive spots throughout the week with shows such as ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy” and CBS’s “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.”

“I really like watching “The Office” but I have watched “Grey’s” from the beginning and I know the storyline,” said Stephanie Johnson, a fan of both “The Office” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” “Since I don’t always watch “The Office” and even though there is a storyline in “The Office” you don’t really have to watch every episode to know it’s funny but in “Grey’s” you have to watch all of them.”

For the week of Nov. 20, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” brought in 18.43 million viewers, “Grey’s Anatomy” brought in 15.74 million and “The Office” finished in third out of the three major networks with an audience of 8.40 million viewers according to the overnight Nielsen ratings.

While “The Office” might not stack up against the competition numbers-wise, the fans are dedicated to their show.

“It’s funny and easy to follow. It’s not over the top dramatic like some of the other shows on TV have become,” said “Office” fan Jenni Beasley.

What the fans really love about “The Office” is the interaction between characters.

“I am a huge fan of the running story lines,” said Jason Lyon. “Too many comedies just have shows that are disconnected and don’t follow each other. Jim and Dwight have some of the best interactions of any characters ever.”

What make these interactions so enjoyable and realistic are the actual characters themselves.

“I think while there are oddballs among the characters, the thing that shines through is the humanity of the characters,” said Griffin. “They are, for the most part, fairly believable. While some may be exaggerations, they are still based on types of real people that most viewers can relate to.”

As “The Office” continues its fifth season on American television, other countries are continuing to further “The Office” legacy with their own versions. Countries such as France (Le Bureau), Germany (Stromberg), and Brazil (Os Aspones) have already created specialized versions of the program for their viewers to enjoy.

“The Office” offers a viewer something they can’t find on other programs such as the competition on Thursday nights.

“So many people work in an office setting and can relate to the archetypal characters on the show such that it has natural appeal,” said Griffin.

Due to the level of creativity presented in the writing and production of “The Office,” the show has been nominated for and won several awards, including Emmy Awards for outstanding writing for a comedy series and outstanding comedy series, Television Critics Association Awards for outstanding and individual achievement in comedy and a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series.

Clearly “The Office” is a show that has proven that even in a tough time spot, quality television shows can survive.

Wrestling Team Pins Tournament Title

In a tournament that is to become an annual event, the Flyer Club Wrestling team took first place on Saturday in the first-ever Flyer Invitational Tournament followed by runners-up Bowling Green State University and the Ohio State University.

"It was a good team effort. Being our first home tournament we just wanted everything to go well and put up a fight, but coming away as team champions made it even better," senior club founder Scott Kelly said.

In a tournament that included nine schools from Ohio, Minnesota, Virginia, Michigan and Indiana, there was plenty of talent to be seen. Craig Blike (141 lbs.), Jason Lousin (184 lbs.), Frederick "Fritz" Schoolfield (235 lbs.) and Frank Chiodo (heavyweight) all took first place for Dayton in their individual weight classes.

"I'm just happy that we could put on a tournament at home that went really well, and that we could pull out a win against league powerhouses like Bowling Green and Southern Virginia," Blike said.

The Dayton Club Wrestling Team was established in 2005 when Kelly circulated a petition and was able to produce enough signatures in support of a club team. "I was surprised to learn UD didn't already have a club team, so when I got here starting it was something that I wanted to do," Kelly said.

On June 23, 1972 the United States passed the Title IX law stating that “No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” This action forced universities and high schools to terminate programs in accordance with the new law. One such program being the UD men’s wrestling team, which was a varsity sport until the mid-1980s.

With the opening of the RecPlex in early 2006, UD agreed to purchase a wrestling mat and allow for the formation of the club.

With the addition of coach Eric Blosser in 2007, the team began to emphasize conditioning and the molding of a winning attitude, while attempting to become one of the top teams in the North Central Conference.

"He's one of the most dedicated coaches out there with the amount of energy and enthusiasm he shows," Kelly said, "and you got to love his signature three-piece suits."

Coming off their first home victory, the Flyers have great plans for the future, returning all the wrestlers from the previous year.

"This is the first year we have had a full lineup and we have a lot of talent with three returning national qualifiers, so this year we are looking to be a North Central top competitor," Kelly said.

Note: This story was published in the November 18 issue of Flyer News

When I Paint My Masterpiece

Ever wonder when it's finally going to happen - your masterpiece, your greatest achievement. First the idea will hit you (right?). Will you be smart enough to listen to your inner-voice and follow through with it? Will it be difficult? You bet your ass it will be, but it'll be worth it.. won't it?

What exactly is it going to be? Well, I suppose that depends on who you are and what you are about. It could be a piece of music, it could be an illustration, whatever it is, when and more importantly how is it going to happen?

How can a person take their profession or supposed love to the next level to create their masterpiece? Is there a three-step program or a diagram of those that have gone before, or is it nothing but a blank piece of paper.

And sadly, whose to say it ever happens? What if you go your whole life and never reach your masterpiece? What does that say about you as a person, does that mean you failed? No, it doesn't mean that, but is it like your mother once told you? "I just wished you would of tried a little harder..." Is it that simple really?

Whose to say. How can one tell when they have poured all they can into a piece of work? Who is to define success and label the work a masterpiece? My dad use to say that until I dedicated myself 150 percent towards a project I wouldn't know what it meant to actually do work. At 21, I still don't believe I have, what does that say about me? Let's not worry about that for now - how about you? do you know what it means to work - have you achieved your masterpiece?