I watched time stand still...

OK, time for a sports rant today. Last night I watched the Tennessee/Rutgers game and was appalled by the officials. For those of you who aren’t aware, Rutgers was ahead, the clock was winding down…and suddenly as if by magic it stops with .2 seconds left on it. Play continues and yet the clock never ticked down. Well, after an eternity went by Rutgers fouls Tennessee sending them to the free throw line where they sink two baskets to win the game. Rutgers gets the ball back but can’t do anything with it (of course its .2 seconds).

Now please don’t think that this post is a rant because I am a Rutgers fan. Whether you wear scarlet or that awful orange it isn’t a matter of opinion but one of counting. When a clock pauses it becomes obvious, when a clock measuring seconds or portions thereof it is really obvious. In fact this was such an obvious blunder that the refs refused to speak to the media about it after the game.

Once again in college sports (or even sports in general) there is no accountability. Think about it…if you or I made a horrible blunder at work we get reprimanded or even fired. What happens in sports when the refs make a blunder?? Nothing. If the NCAA had a shred of integrity about them they would institute some sort of accountability system so that horrible refs (like the ones who worked last night) would be accountable for their mistakes. After all we are.

Shoot the Message not the Messenger

Why is it when it comes to the message of Salvation we are quick to blame the Message for the actions of the messenger. For example, if a Bible-thumper were to show up at your door presenting the message of salvation in an unloving, uncaring, obnoxious way, the typical response is "God doesn't exist see how that person is acting". But if that same thumper were to present the message "Your house is on fire" in the same unloving...obnoxious manner you wouldn't respond "fire doesn't exist see how that person is acting". Most likely you would say something like, "I don't appreciate the way you presented the message" followed by "where is my hose?"

Now this may seem like a silly metaphor to you but think about it. When we see a Christian acting in an un-Christian manner instead of asking what it is that the Christian is struggling with to make him act that way, we discredit Christianity as a whole. Furthermore, we look at the actions of the radical few instead of the moderate majority. One cannot blame an entire belief system (or nation or political party for that matter) based on the actions of the extremist few. That is like being bitten by a kitten and declaring that all kittens are evil.

The truth of the matter is that people are errant fallable beings and their actions are no reason to condemn an entire belief system. The rational thinking individual examines that belief system to see if it makes a difference in their life. In other words, look at God and see what He does for you, don't judge Him based on the actions of others.

Peace out...

I'm shopping (part 2), please lie to me...

There I was Monday night continuing my futile search for an MTSU hoodie. I was with my darlin' at Hamilton Place and decided to check out the store "College Station". Now, with a name like "College Station" I thought for sure they would have an MTSU hoddie. The store is in Tennessee after all (albeit Chattanooga). Unfortunately, I searched to no avail. Evidently a more fitting name for this particular establishment would be "University of Tennessee / University of Georgia Station". Perhaps the proprietors of this establishment think that there are only two colleges that are worthy of having their products carried. I don't know.

Feeling somewhat frustrated and thinking I was perhaps blind I asked the kid (and I do mean kid) behind the counter about an MTSU hoodie. The kid told me that all the MTSU merchandise goes to their Murfreesboro store (at least he know where MTSU is). Now here is the kicker...according to their website "College Station" doesn't have a store in Murfreesboro. Pretty inventive huh?

Now I know there are those of you worried that I didn't get my MTSU hoodie. We'll I will. There is a wonderful place in cyberspace called "Fansedge" and THEY had an MTSU hoodie for me. Ah, the power of the internet.

Until next time...

Use your "inside voice"

Parents...when in a hotel please tell your kids to use their "inside voice" and for that matter use it yourself as well. This morning I woke up to a mother and her children yelling in our hallway. While I didn't go and investigate it sounded as if they were staying on either end of the hallway and decided to communicate by screaming down it to each other. Evidently this "lady" didn't care about the people staying in the 10 or so rooms between her and her children. Either that or she thought that we all wanted to hear her and her children. I never thought I'd see the day when I welcomed the noise of the heater because it drowned out the yahoo's in the hallway. Granted, I'm staying at a Days Inn and not the Waldorf Astoria, but gimmie a break I deserve some quiet too. So folks be kind to each other and remember you are in a hotel hallway, not the stands at the Daytona 500.

Later...

I'm shopping, please interrupt me

What is it these days with pushy sales people in the mall? Today I was at Oprey Mills and was stopped no less than four times by an overzealous salesperson trying to get me to sign up for this, take a flyer for that, etc... What happened to the day when the sales person lurked in the shadows and waited paitently for the customer to approach them? Of course, when I actually do need some help it seems that there is a worldwide coffee break for salespeople and one cannot be found anywhere in the store. Truth of the matter is that cusrtomer service is as dead as Julius Caesar. Most of the time the customer is treated as if the store is doing them the favor. Retailers listen up, stop badgering me to buy your product. Quit beating me over the head with empty promises and weak sales pitches. Provide me with a quality product at a reasonable price and I will come runing to your store like Dracula to the blood bank. Put the energy invested in harassing me as I walk about the mall to creating a quality product, drop the gimmics, and I'll be shopping in your store.

Later....