Thoughts of a Common Man

So, who's going to watch the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight? I have not been excited for a boxing match since the times when George Foreman was fighting...or Mike Tyson, right? I really want to see this fight for one reason: I want to see Floyd Mayweather on the deck. He just doesn't fit in with my sensibilities. Last week he said that he's the greatest of all-time...and it wasn't cute like when Ali said it. He was an arrogant jerk about it...which is what he usually is... ...about everything. We all know the Mayweather stories. He went to jail for battery. Of a woman. In fact Pac-Man recently said that he's going to beat up Mayweather for all the women who Mayweather beat up. How can I not root for Manny? And we decided to bite the bullet and pay for the fight. We're gonna' have a pretty full house for the event so the social side of it will make it all interesting. My older brother, John has studied boxing for years and years and he ...

I spent the best summer of my life in Baltimore. I really have a soft spot for the city as my wonderful cousins live there. My sister lives there and my college friends settled there after we left Gannon. So it is truly disheartening to see what's going on there. Yet it is not a reflection on just Baltimore. Things are going on all across this great country. Who ever thought we'd see such scenes played out in the United States...more than a few times a year? Not me. Yet people are becoming disconnected, disenchanted, discouraged and disoriented. And that's disheartening. As it all played out I sorta sat back and just read the reactions. I'm afraid to say anything at all because I'm not a man who is harassed by the police. I'm not a man who has a reason to be, either. Yet the reactions to all of it may be even worse than the tragic issue that is becoming the absolutely strained relationship between those who are supposed to keep the peace and...

Reading a book written by an astronaut, Chris Hadfield. I actually first heard Hadfield speak on the Opie & Jim Norton Show and I found him to be unbelievably interesting...and intelligent, of course. He's been in orbit a whole bunch of times and he spoke clearly about what some of those trips around the universe were like. Hadfield reminded all of us, who are down here worrying about parking spots, what Bruce Jenner is doing, and endless work days, that there is so much more out there to consider. One of the more interesting questions posed had to do with the subject of God. Does Hadfield find spirituality when he makes his trips among the stars? The astronaut was fairly non-committal. He didn't come right out and say that he saw the face of God on one of the adjoining planets, but he did say that what folks feel here on Earth can certainly be enlightened up there. Which I took it to mean that there was more there...or that Hadfield believed as much. Yet, ...

Jeffy rolled a 35-foot putt to the lip of the cup...just missing the par. "Ahh, that's a shame," came from three different mouths. We were all tipping our caps to my bro with one of his best lines. And that's how the early part of the first golf outing of the year went. The scores weren't close. One guy shot a 73...the rest were all right around the century mark. (Yeah, stupid Miller had to show off with an eagle, some birdies and a lot of pars). Me, you ask? I can roll out of bed and hit my drive right down the middle and that's what I did all day. Erratic with the chipping and putting...consistent everywhere else. The thing that about my round is that I might have set the course record for saying: "This is perfect." I love the game. I love wondering what we should do on the next hole, and talking about nothing other than, 'nice shot' and 'which way does it break?' Of course, there was something that I kn...

Was recently reading an article that spoke of a guy named Peter Thiel. He's a billionaire. He is the creator of PayPal...worth $2.2 billion. Good work if you can get it. Thiel was in the news because he's intent on changing the way we live. To be more specific...how and when we die. Thiel said that he was gonna' try and work out a few solutions that would allow for humans to live to the age of...oh...150 or so. Can you imagine? "How old are you?" "I'm only 112. You?" Of course, throwing a billion dollars at it may get us closer to such a goal, but after I finished the article I turned to my beautiful wife. "Can you imagine what sort of shape I'd be in at 120 years old?" She laughed. Not a pretty picture. Yet I do hope that Thiel is onto something. Doubling the life span would allow for a whole lot of changes, right? Imagine these types of Facebook posts: "We're celebrating our 100-year wedding annive...

I miss listening to Paul Harvey do the news. What happened in your week that was? Well...it snowed again. Even as I write this on Saturday morning, I'm cold. Had a great idea last week to set a golf tee-time, thinking that it was time to move around a little. Mid-way through the week one of the Grape Apes sent me a photo of a snow event: "Still golfing on Sunday?" It blows! So, MeDreamy is dead, huh? In all the years I've watched about 6 minutes total of Gray's Anatomy . I was out of town when this week's episode aired, but rumor has it that my beautiful wife was crying in her bed as the episode wound down. The boys thought it was pretty funny. Did you catch the Bruce Jenner interview? I missed it, of course, because much to the aggravation of all I strictly watch baseball from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on most every night. Yet there is no getting away from it. The thing that amazes me about the story is that Jenner was the man . He was the Oly...

There's a horrible story making the rounds in the Buffalo area this week. A local woman allegedly smashed her long-time husband over the head with a blunt instrument, loaded him onto a skid steer, took him to a corner of the farm and buried him in three feet of manure! Then she joined in the search for the poor guy, but apparently 'fessed up when the cops put the heat on. Why did the story horrify me so? Certainly not because I can see my beautiful wife getting rid of me in such fashion. (We don't own a skid steer or a manure pile). But. Man! You live your whole life, work hard, help raise the kids, get up each day and go to work, battle injuries, illnesses, the sadness that living brings... ...and you end up buried under a pile of manure on your own freaking property! What a horrible end to a marriage. And unfortunately we watch a whole lot of true crime drama around our house. Let me tell you the plot of all these shows: 1). Husband or Wife is on...

A fairly easy choice this week. McHenry made it a no-brainer, of sorts, and my dear friend, Diane, made the request. So. Here goes: The tape was edited. The towing company may be out to 'screw' folks who have to pay heavy fees to get their cars back. That's all McHenry has going for her and I bring that up because there are people out there who are trying to defend her actions and words!!! There are folks who say that her privacy was violated and that we are all prone to such huge shows of emotion!!! Some folks believe that she shouldn't be suspended by ESPN!!! And she's sooo sorry. But none of that takes away the coveted D.B. of the Week Award from her. Because we've all known folks like her. And they suck. McHenry's tirade included a reference to the trailer that the service worker lives in. It touted her own entitled life and then paid special notice to the fact that she was pretty and the girl was not. "Lose some weight, h...

I have always enjoyed the music of Tracy Chapman. Which brings me a lot of strange looks from some of my friends. Yet my sister Carrie Lynn loves her as well...so that should tell you that we're right and you're wrong! It also almost got me thrown out of Connecticut bar in the late 80's because I had played her entire record on the CD player. The bartender had left his post, came around the bar, and unplugged the machine, glaring at me as he did so. "Listen to the words!" I called out. He wasn't interested in doing that. "Play that sh*t again and you're leaving," he said. He was wrong. Tracy is awesome. The lyrics I chose for today's entry mean a whole lot to me. I listen to the record a lot when I'm writing... ...because I'm just Telling Stories . Telling Stories by Tracy Chapman There is fiction in the space between The lines on your page of memories Write it down but it doesn't mean You're not just...

I wasn't much of a Nirvana fan. I actually thought Kurt Cobain was a bit weird. He seemed to be always drugged up and his voice grated on me a little. Add that to the fact that grunge music was sort of taking over for rock and roll...and I didn't much want any part of any of it. Since those days though, I've kind of adapted and I must say that the records were good...if not great. I appreciated Cobain way more after he killed himself. Which is a danger, I suppose. Cobain's daughter, Francis Bean, is now 22 years old. She reminds all that her father wasn't a victim. He made the choices that led him into a drug-filled suicide at the age of 27. Yet there's still a lot of sympathy that goes into thinking about a life that was left mostly not lived. The documentary about Cobain's life was made with home movies...and interviews that go deeper into his life than what folks might see on a concert stage. There were a number of interesting things abo...

We've had a lot of other people's kids at our house lately. Which is exactly how we want it, actually. In the middle of last week my wife heard the shower running and knowing that I wasn't home and that one of her sons was at college and the other two were sitting next to her, asked: "Who's' in the shower?" "Quinn," Jake said. Quinn, you see, is always over. He's a funny kid who can really eat. He actually helps out a lot by driving Sam home from school, and shooting hoops with them in the driveway. When I would put pressure on Matt as he grew he'd remind me that he had time to grow. "I'm enjoying my childhood," he would say. The other boys have taken up the mantra. They are enjoying it, too. I can assure you of that. Yet there is a bit of angst at this time of year because Jake will be graduating in mere months, and his college choice is being discussed. He's also just weeks away from his prom. Yeah...

Went to a great Italian Steakhouse in Syracuse at the tale end of the week. First off, Sinatra was playing in the background. My appetizer was longboat peppers...olive oil and garlic and bread that was dipped in another bowl of olive oil with spices. Perfect. The waitress headed over and introduced herself. It was easy to pick up on the fact that she was of Italian heritage. She was also very young. She spoke of her Mom and Dad and her brothers and sisters. We started talking about the menu and I explained that there wasn't a single thing on the menu that I didn't want to eat! She mentioned that pasta was on the menu at her house, as she grew up, every Sunday and Wednesday. I knew the feeling. "When were you born?" I asked. "1996," she responded. "Wow." The girl spoke of her plans. My dinner companion was from Texas and the girl was planning a trip to his neck of the woods for a music and arts festival. Her eyes were wild with ...

None of us, hopefully , can understand the mind of a psychopath. Aaron Hernandez was found guilty of first-degree murder. Another football guy just doing his thing, I guess, but this is way more than just football. Aaron Hernandez is a poster boy for how to completely destroy your God-Given talents. He was a good football player. He could've been a great one. He had $40 million in his immediate future. He decided to play Scarface instead. Hernandez is also the prime suspect in a couple of other murders. He supposedly shot another guy in the face. Thank God he had the right to bear arms, huh? And that's the problem. Looks are certainly deceiving. Hernandez is a clearly mentally sick human being. He had no value for someone else's life. He had no regard for his own life. God gives us all talents. I really believe that. The talent that God gives us is His gift to us. What we do with our talent is our gift to Him. Aaron Hernandez was given a gift...

It's funny but one of the real benefits to having children is that you are allowed to order them around a little. I can still hear my Dad calling out for one of us to help him with something. Of course, now I'm the one doing the calling: "Sam!" Sam is our go-to-guy. His legs are young. He grabs water for me. The remote for my beautiful wife. He fills the water dish for the dogs. He locks the doors at night and empties the dishwasher. He's a little worker bee. The best of the three! Matt was actually pretty handy as well and would go out of his way to retrieve our stuff. Jake? Not so much. But Sam has rules. We have to ask him nicely. Here's one of our exchanges from just a couple of days ago. Me: Sam! Sam: Yeah? Me: Can you grab me a water? Sam: I can. Can you ask correctly? Me: May you please? Sam: May I please what? Me: Grab me a water. Sam: Put it all together. Me: Sam, may you please grab me a water? Sam: I...

How did you feel when you looked at that photo? Disgusted? I did. And I am not a hunter. The reason that I am not a hunter is because when I was about five years old I opened the door to the garage where I came across a deer that was hanging upside down from the rafters. My Dad and Grandpa had been out hunting and Dad had shot the deer. I stared in those dead deer eyes for a long time. I vowed to never kill anything. I get it. I don't believe that hunting is a bad thing. We'd be overrun with deer if there weren't people who hunted each year. I just can't do it. Call me sensitive. Call me a *&ssy...I don't care. I once struck a groundhog with my car and I thought I'd have to pull over and weep.I shoo flies out the door. I don't ever want to have to set a mouse trap. But that's just me. OK. Maybe I am a *&ssy. Anywhoha... ...The woman in the photo is named Rebecca Francis . She's an avid hunter from Utah. She went on a ...

Jordan Spieth was born on July 27, 1993. He won the Masters on Sunday. You know, I did okay as I grew to adulthood. I graduated college by the time I was 21 years old. I published my first book just a couple of years after that, but man, how the hell does that kid win the Masters at 21? There was a lot of publicity given to the fact that he had mentioned, back the the age of 14, that it was a goal of his to actually do what he did on Sunday. But he only set his big goal seven years ago! What do you say to your 14-year-old who tells you that he wants to win the Masters? This is what I'd probably say: "All right. Clean your room." Of course, the kid was probably absolutely driven with such a goal. I love reading about sports stars who know that their fate is set out for them at a young age. I've heard it said that Wayne Gretzky could skate before he could actually walk. The Dad in the equation usually whips the kid into shape... ...practice, pract...

I saw a funny photo of Keith Richards a couple of weeks ago. It was tied to an impassioned plea that said: "We need to take care of our planet for Keith Richards' future." A lot of folks believe that Keith and cockroaches are all that will remain after the big bomb hits. Well...he has had a colorful life. And he really should have gone the way of a lot of rock stars who didn't exactly pay attention to their blood pressure levels or cholesterol counts. Yet, Keith is still kicking. And he's coming to Buffalo in July...and it's confirmed! I'm going to see him play those great riffs. (If he hangs on until then!) I remember when Richards was arrested back in the late 70's as he tried to enter the country. He was busted with carrying pot. There was a real concern that he might never be allowed back in. There were rumors that he has his blood changed out on a regular schedule. (Not true). There were rumors that he snorted his father...

They're talking 70 degrees in Buffalo today, and it's funny, but the mood will be great. Folks will be smiling. Everyone will forget... ...that we haven't had back-to-back nice days in 8 months! I'm not ready to forgive and forget yet. Baseball season started and I've taken what people call it as a rash of shit, because the 27-time World Champion Greatest Franchise in the History of Organized American Sports has started sluggishly. Whatevs ...as the kids say. They have been a really good team for 20 years! The great players they had got old! What the hell are they supposed to do? Everyone cycles through it, but the Yankees have the responsibility of always being great. Hard to do. And who is giving me shit? Red Sux fans...they have finished dead last in 2 of the last 3 years. Dead last! Bills fans... ...they haven't won a playoff game in 20 years! Haven't played in one in 16! But lots of soothsayers out there who say they are on t...

Was listening to a radio show this week and the conversation swung around to the great unknown that is out there. The group was talking to a scientist type who had some insight into black holes, life on other planets and the such. I don't know about you, but when I start thinking along those lines I'm sort of lost in the enormity of it all. The smart guy mentioned that there was a radio burst of sorts that seemed to speak to the fact that there are other life forms out there...maybe ones that are even more sophisticated than what we have here on Earth. Weird, right? The conversation gathered steam and it sounded like the discovery of such another group would most definitely happen in the next 20 years or so. Stands to reason, in this vast universe that perhaps we are not alone. But it's all so strange to me. Who are we and why are we here? Was there a creator of all of this? L. Ron Hubbard? Joe Smith? Jesus, Mary and Joseph? And in those moments of r...

I watched Jack Nicklaus hit a hole in one at the par 3 during the Master's festivities on Wednesday. He's 75 years old! I know a great lady who's hit a hole-in-one at a par 3 course out in Syracuse. A buddy of mine has one - so he says...let's see the ball, Millie. Well...I have a story. Let me set the scene. I was invited to play in a company tournament in Syracuse. I was scheduled to tee-off at 10 a.m. 10 a.m. is not a problem - even with a 2.5 hour drive in - normally - but this was a different Saturday. I spent Friday night at my 25-year high school reunion. I didn't get home until after 3 a.m. - (This was year's ago! I'm not up at 3 a.m. these days - unless I have to pee). Anywhoha... I drove into the parking lot at 5 minutes to ten. The other members of my foursome were at the tee yelling at me to hurry up. I set the tee in the ground and chose a low iron for the 185 par three...years ago...I don't even swing low irons any...

Just have to share this beautiful story - written by Jason Sobel, Senior Golf Writer: I really hope that Kevin Streelman wins the Tournament! AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jennifer Couch first noticed some irregular behavior in her 11-year-old son, Ethan, two years ago. His hands trembled. His feet were sore. His balance was so poor that he struggled to put on his pants and tie his shoes. She took him to see their pediatrician on a Friday. Her voice quivering, she explained her concerns. By the time she offered her own diagnosis, tears were rolling down her cheeks. Between sobs, Jennifer told the doctor, "I think he's going to need brain surgery." Tests confirmed their deepest fears. Ethan had a tectal glioma. A brain tumor was blocking his body's ability to circulate spinal cord fluid, causing hydrocephalus and all of the other symptoms in his behavior. Streelman wins Par 3 Contest Maybe it was karma. Maybe it was a message from the golf gods. Or maybe Kevin Streelm...

What a great story it was going to be - the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats. The shirts were ordered...they were ordained....hell, they were talking about being anointed as the greatest college team ever! One basketball mind, Larry Brown, said that they could contend for a spot in the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs! Well, another basketball mind, Sam, my son, didn't buy into it: "They aren't going to win it," he said. "They're overrated." I thought it might be a nice story. Their coach, John Calipari had taken a group of All-Americans, molded them into a team, taught them to be unselfish. Work together and you can do it! Go undefeated! Except I hadn't watched them play much at all. In one of the early tournament games Kentucky was winning by 5 at halftime. The reporter cornered Calipari as he headed to the locker room. "We're winning," the coach snapped. "Aren't we up by 5?" "That was a little cock...

Sarah Thomas is set to become a full-time NFL referee. Yeah...a woman in a man's game. Sports Illustrated posted the story on their Facebook page and the very first comment was by a man who asked if Sarah would be making sandwiches for the regular refs, or if she would be tasked with ironing their clothes. Couple of things there: Where does the comment-maker get off in assuming that because she's a woman that she'd be making sandwiches? I've been with my beautiful wife for over 20 years now...she's never made me a sandwich. Secondly, my wife doesn't iron my clothes either...there's actually no reason to iron Yankee shirts. Yet, I spent quite awhile reading through that comment section mostly because Sports Illustrated responded to the first ignorant comment. Sports Illustrated went on the defensive, taking up the call to defend women. Uh, yeah...the same magazine that touts the swimsuit issue with predominantly naked women being responsi...

The boys had some friends over for the NCAA Final Four Games. Melky was a little agitated that they wanted her seat on the couch. Melky eventually won that fight. Yet, a whole bunch of things kept bouncing around in my head as we watched the games together. My Dad used to love when we stayed home with him for a big event. Of course, he was excited to be able to make us food and I had that instinct going early on. "We have to get some pizza's for the game," I said, as we were eating dinner. "We're eating now," my beautiful wife reminded me, but I was thinking of Dad...and how he wanted to make sure that everyone was having a good time during the night's events. The first game was calm enough. Duke just crushed Michigan State and by the middle of the second half the boys were already looking for the pizza and they had switched it to the Justin Bieber roast. We all laughed at it again. And then they started getting a little goofy. They...

It's opening day! You wouldn't know it with the freaking snow on the freaking ground, but the best day of the year has arrived! Say it with me!!! Let's Go Yankees!!! So far this spring I'm a little agitated with the down expectations for the 27-Time Greatest Franchise in the History of Organized American Sports . To hear the sportswriters say it, they have no chance. Well...I'm here to tell you that they do. I'm not a pie-in-the-sky guy though so I must say that there's also a chance that they don't win it all. Too many "I hope he stays healthy" guys on the roster. Yet...if it all breaks right... they can win. Their pitching will be good. Maybe great. They have a whole bunch of power arms. So...here we go. A-Rod's 20 homers aside...the: 2015 Predictions . (And I must tell you...my boys go back to these blogs as my predictions fall apart...they beat me over the head with it...telling me how stupid I am). Fair enough...

An Easter story A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, "Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like." The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the Holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot Of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man's mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, "You have seen Hell." They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There ...

A Touch of Rain - Anonymous A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout.. We all stood there, under the awning, just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing carefree as a child, came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day. Her little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in, 'Mom let's run through the rain,' She said. 'What?' Mom asked. 'Let's run through the rain!' She repeated. ...

So Hillary is in some trouble again, huh? Seems the old e-mail server had been wiped clean. This isn't the first time that a politician has been called on the carpet to answer for something only to have the memory slip. Well, let me tell you, I'd be in a little bit of trouble if someone asked me to produce something from even the most immediate past, and that's because I'm a tad mental when it comes to things. I do not currently have a single e-mail in my mailbox. Not one. The way that I figure it is that if I don't tend to it quickly...I may forget about it. Also, knowing that there's something to do...and not doing it just doesn't sit well with my mental condition. At the end of last week I returned from a trip and there were still three reports to write. This is what I told my beautiful wife: "I don't have to write the reports tonight because there won't be anyone in their office to read them until Monday morning. I'm ju...

What the hell is wrong with people? This woman is taking a smiling selfie at a gas explosion site in NYC. People died. Folks lost their homes. It's a horrible tragedy. Of course, giving out the D.B. of the Week award to such D.B's is probably an honor for them. We are a strange society now, aren't we? Folks have cameras and turn them on at every possible opportunity. You know how many selfie's I've taken? Yeah. Zero. First off, I can't figure out the phone. I tried one with a buddy after we finished a round of golf, but he had to take the selfie and send it to me because I had the phone backwards or upside down or something. I ended up with a shot of the parking lot. Yet I really can't fathom some of the folks...and the girl in the NY Post photo...was really sorry after her face hit the news...but there were plenty of others. Don't you know the story? Do you even care? A lot of people go to Ground Zero and check it out as...

I am really confused by the laws that were passed in Indiana and Arkansas. I shouldn't be, but I am. In fact, every time I think that folks can't sink any lower in the way they treat one another, they do. I have a colorful religious background. I joke with one of my best friends in the world about the guilt that I still feel from the mental beat-down the nuns put on me during my formative years. We were scared to death of life because we were afraid that we were going to be trapped in eternal damnation that would result in constant suffering. Yet. I did learn one thing about my faith. That it was love-based. And that only love could teach me joy. Hate can't do that. Yet...that was what I learned . That was what I decided to hold onto. Judging my fellow man, and casting stones in their direction was strongly discouraged by my Christian faith. Evidently, I missed the memo where that was repealed. Stones are flying all over the place, striking th...