Football - Can the NFL Remain Clueless?

As the top  money-making sports enterprise in the world, and one who promotes a sport that is now shown to cause significant brain damage to its (wealthy) participants, will NFL power and money trump how women and children and other men are treated by its players?

After all, football is a male-only violent sport. According to ESPN's Hannah Storm, "Are we supposed to simply separate a violent game on the field from violent acts off the field?"

With a public who is mesmerized by the hype and money that football has become in the United States, which is more important, keeping players and team owners as demigods who are beyond the law, or looking seriously at a sport that may not be healthy for participants or observers?

“Are you a decent person? Do you regard yourself as having a moral compass? Do you try to lead your everyday life in accordance with some basic ethical precepts, such as not countenancing brutality, greed and deception?” If so, Michael Tracey at Vice says, “then please, for God’s sake, don’t watch the NFL.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/14/hannah-storm-nfl_n_5818382.html

http://www.vice.com/read/its-officially-time-to-start-boycotting-the-nfl-912

St. Andrews - Will Another Male Bastion Fall?

 In addition to the independence vote in Scotland this week, we will all soon find out if the Royal and Ancient Gold Club in St. Andrews will break its tradition since 1783 of not allowing women to be members. Yawn........

Hopefully the reason for the change, if it occurs, which is likely, will be because stogy old men have come to their senses. However, we can't rule out the fact that golf participation is declining in the UK and the US and needs more players. Since Augusta National changed, St. Andrews can't claim that discrimination is the right of courses who consider themselves elite.

 http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/sep/13/golf-royal-and-ancient-st-andrews-women-members-vote-scotland

Holly Bobo - Same Song, How Many Verses?

The remains of Holly Bobo have been found, the Tennessee nursing student who disappeared in 2011, following the abduction by a man as described by her brother. Two male suspects are in custody.

Apparently, another woman or girl killed by a man.

Until we stop refusing to focus on the underlying causes of men's violence against women and girls, we won't come close to solving the problem. Why do men attack women? Why do men think it is advantageous to them to attack women? Why do men even consider the possibility? What about our male culture encourages, even rewards, these attitudes and behaviors toward women and girls? Why is the behavior that teaches men to attack women and girls seen as entertaining in movies and video games? Why do men refuse to examine and change their culture?

It is way past time to hold the top of our hierarchies accountable for their cultures that damage and kill those below. Yes, we may still need to come to the aid of victims, but our main focus in assault of women and girls must turn toward men.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/holly-bobo-case-search-continues-remains-slain-student-n199266

The Untimate Family Man

If anyone tells you the stereotype that African American men can't step up to the plate when it comes to providing for and being committed to their families, mention Thurmond Alford.

Thurmond Alford commutes on land 7 hours, 220 miles each way to his dream job in Washington, D.C. so that his family can keep their roots in Richmond, Virginia. He passes through three major cities, forges three large rivers and crosses nine different counties.

What does Mr. Alford have to say about his commute? "It's all about family. If you don't have family what are you going to do?"

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/virginia-man-commutes-220-miles-a-day/

Football Yields it's Place on Top to Archaeology

Football, on top of the sports hierarchy, receives a vast amount of resources and benefits only a select group of people, men. But as in anything on top of a hierarchy, we expect that football represents everyone, and that everyone wants to support and participate in the hierarchy that benefits only a few.

The author of the article "How Football Sounds to People That Don't Care. This Guy Nails It,"
uses a roll reversal technique to demonstrate the expected participation of all of us in the top-of-the-hierarchy game of football:
"Firstly, imagine every time within a day that football is mentioned by someone else. Secondly, replace it with something that you don't want to hear about every day. Say... Archaeology. Then, think carefully about how an average day would pan out."

 http://www.tickld.com/x/how-football-sounds-to-people-that-just-dont-care-T

G.O.P. Stuck in the Past

According to a new research indicates that female voters view the Republicans as “intolerant,” “lacking in compassion” and “stuck in the past.”

As a away to block African-American voters from voting, since they tend not to vote Republican, the G.O.P. has tried hard to put in voting restrictions into every state it can. Hispanic voters have voted against Republicans more and more as time passes. People who are in other racial minorities also understand that the Republican agenda tends to support hierarchies more than the Green Party or Democrats.

So who do we have left who are the major supporters of the G.O.P.? Just look at the picture in this article and it answers that question.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/08/gop-poll-of-women-party-stuck-in-past-110398.html?google_editors_picks=true

Mo'ne, Don't Listen to Him

 Will white males ever get it? Look at this video to see how clueless one can be.

Little League World Series star Mo'ne Davis, with her 70 mph fastball, featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, has to put up with comments that we hoped would have left major media years ago. This white male asked her why she doesn't play something more female friendly than baseball.

And when she is done with the LLWS, maybe she should go back into the kitchen and just learn to cook.

http://www.upworthy.com/black-girl-makes-history-white-man-asks-her-why-she-doesnt-do-something-more-female-friendly?c=ufb1