Whatsoever you do for the least of these...may get you arrested

Ever have something so shocking to say you couldn't think of any good way to lead up into it? Sometimes you just have to spit out the bad news? Well, here goes...

A 90 year old man in Fort Lauderdale, FL, is currently facing criminal charges for feeding the homeless in his community. 

Face of a ruthless criminal if I've ever seen one...

That's right, the community of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in an effort to remove the "undesirables" from their thriving tourist communities, has placed sharp restrictions regulating where, when and how private individuals and charities can provide food for the less fortunate. Its so bizarre. I would have assumed that, if I wanted to hand out my own food, I would just need myself, some food, and some hungry people, not an entire base camp including portable toilets. 

While the mayor of Fort Launderdale, Jack Seiler, claims to have no ulterior motives behind these new laws, the depressing fact remains that more and more American cities are making it illegal for private citizens and charities to provide food for the homeless. A recent report by the National Coalition for the Homeless has found that over 20 American cities have already passed legislation severely restricting feeding the homeless, with similar laws pending in more than 10 other cities. 

I won't regurgitate the whole report, which can be found here, but there are a few points in it that should be highlighted. 

* Its been estimated that 1 in 6 Americans go hungry on a daily basis

* Through a variety of measures, including placing restrictions on public property usage, implementing stringent food safety regulations, and the harassment of private communities against assistance programs, more and more American cities and communities are penalizing providing food for the homeless. 

* All of these measures are driven by fear and common misconceptions about the nature of homelessness. While I won't try to address them in great detail, I do want to briefly touch on a few myths about feeding the homeless.

Myth #1- Feeding the homeless enables them to remain homeless

Robert Marbut, a consultant who works with cities on ending the problem of homelessness, sums up our first myth quite well, "street feeding is one of the worst things to do, because it keeps people in homeless status. I think its very unproductive, very enabling, and it keeps people out of recovery programs."

This belief reflects a radical misunderstanding of what it truly means to live in poverty. People who use the "enabling" argument assume that food is just some other privilege, and that withholding it is no different than a parent taking away a child's Gameboy in order to encourage him to do his chores. The fact remains that food is not a luxury; it is one of our most basic biological needs. 

A basic principle everyone who's taken Psych 101 should know is Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. In short, this idea recognizes that people cannot meet higher level needs (ie. finding a new home, employment, rehab/ mental health treatment, etc.) until more basic needs are met (ie. food, water, shelter, clothing, basic health care/ hygiene, transportation, community support). Imagine that. Its almost like all those things you need to do well at your job each day, from an alarm clock, a shower, clean clothing, food, water, transportation, etc. are also needed by people living in poverty. Almost like we're all people or something....

Myth #2- By not publicly feeding the homeless, we discourage and minimize the problem

Do I really have to write a response to this one? Sure, you can try to sweep the homeless under the rug. Sure, you can try to herd them like cattle into the most undesirable parts of your cities. Sure, you can push and push and push until they are no longer tolerated next to our tourism sites or private businesses. But ignoring the problem only does two things. One, it makes us all feel less guilty for not helping because we don't have to directly witness the suffering of other people. And two, it increases the suffering of people living in poverty by removing yet another means of actually helping them. 

People are homeless for a variety of reasons, including physical disabilities, mental disabilities, economic hardship, addictions, etc., etc. This is a complex problem that is not going away anytime soon. However, by helping people meet their most basic needs, we alleviate some suffering and provide the safety and stability needed to change lives. 

So, assuming you agree with me that it is a horrific violation of people's rights and dignity to prohibit providing food for the poor, what can we do about it? As much as I would like to lead hundreds of people to Fort Lauderdale to host a large protest and publicly feed every homeless person we encounter, that is not a realistic option for most of us, myself included. 

But, just because we can't make grandiose gestures, just because we can't rewrite broken and cruel laws, doesn't mean we are powerless. If you don't like what the city of Fort Lauderdale is doing, then let them know about it. 

Thanks to the magic of Google, I found the address for the local government of Fort Lauderdale. I listed the information below. 

City Hall

100 North Andrews Avenue

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Perhaps if a collective campaign can be organized, one in which Mayor Jack Seiler is bombarded with wave after wave of mail protesting the city's cruelty, the local government may cave under public pressure and media scrutiny. In particular, I believe an effective campaign could be organized around sending post cards to the Fort Lauderdale City Hall. Buying a post card, listing a personal reason why we should be helping poor people, and mailing it takes 10 minutes at the most. Its an easy way to spread a viral message. At the very least, we can bring more attention to this cause. Sure, nothing may change, but that's never been a good excuse to be inactive. Its never been an excuse to be apathetic. Let's change that, starting today. 

The New American Dream

"Daddy works for Jesus

Sister leads the band

Bobby's out of rehab

And Lizzy's going in

Mother's medicated

Nothing's what it seems

Suddenly she finds out the American dream"

Readers, gather round. I stand (or sit uncomfortably to be more accurate) before you elated to live in such a wonderful country, a land now laden with unprecedented levels of freedom and opportunity.

Sure, one could look at things like rising income inequality or an ever increasing militaristic and brutal police force and come to depressing conclusions, but anyone who would be upset by such paltry issues is clearly missing the bigger picture. 

After all, when we throw around phrases like "land of opportunity" or "American dream," what do we really mean? Well, I can't speak for everyone (as much as I may try), but to me it means that someone, given the right set of innate characteristics, skills, and circumstances, can achieve levels of power, wealth, and fame not otherwise imaginable. And I rejoice with you all today, readers, because a few recent events clearly illustrate that, if all the right circumstances are met, you too, can rise to a level of unfathomable power, fame, and fortune.

You'll have to forgive me for always using sports-related metaphors and stories, but in this instance I think the story of Ray Rice is appropriate. For those of you who don't know, Rice is a star running back for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens who recently was involved in a significant domestic disturbance with his girlfriend. For the offense of publicly assaulting a woman, Rice was penalized with a 2 game suspension. Once again, for those who don't follow the NFL, a 2 game suspension is the same penalty the league gave Brandon Merriwether for hitting another man too hard...during a game. Nothing like a good old slap on the wrist...

How ironic is it that Rice has been an outspoken opponent of bullying?

So what is my point here exactly? My point is that too often, our perception of the American dream is terribly short-sighted. Sure, fame and fortune are great, but what greater freedom, what greater power is there than the ability to act as one pleases without having to fear any consequences? Even more so, what is better than the freedom to violate and assault women at will without having to face any legal or personal repercussions? After all, those women folk are so confusing, looking really pretty one moment and wanting to have rights and think for themselves the next. Its unacceptable. If only more men would be willing to suit up, to grab their fedoras and mommy issues, and put women in their place again.

So I know what you're thinking now. Sure, maybe an NFL athlete can treat a woman like an object and get away with it, but that doesn't really apply to the average person. So much for your American dream. 

But don't give up yet, misogynists. You don't have to be in the NFL to be able to assault women without fear of consequences. Just look at Florida State University star quarterback Jameis Winston, who was recently accused of sexual assault. Not only did the victim's cries fail to elicit any real police investigation, they also failed to deter voters from giving Winston the Heisman trophy. 

Good thing everyone in life gets exactly what they deserve...

And in case playing college football may be unrealistic given your athletic skill set, surely you can at least play football in high school, right? I feel like almost any guy willing to put in enough hours in the gym and on the practice field could play high school football. Well, here's the good news. Even if you don't make it into the NFL, even if you can't play in college, playing high school football alone may be enough to give you the freedom to brutalize women. 

Don't believe me? Allow me to direct your attention to the Steubenville, Ohio rape case. Multiple high school football players were found to have sexually assaulted and dragged a drunk unconscious girl around at a party. After considerable public whining and social media activism, two of the players involved were eventually found guilty of rape. While these boys were not as fortunate as Winston, one of them, Malik Richmond, served 9 months in a juvenile detention facility and is currently back to playing high school football with his old team. When asked about this, his coach, Reno Saccoccia, ardently defended his decision, "I feel like we're not giving him a second chance...I feel like he's earned a second chance."

Are you not celebrating yet? Take a moment to realize the ramifications of these recent events. A young man violates a drunk girl at a party, serves a brief stint in a juvenile detention facility, and is back in time to return to his old life of high school football, partying, and being a general delinquent. Apparently 9 months spent not raping anyone is all it takes to earn a second chance after previously raping someone. And of course, this is all made possible because Richmond, like Winston, Rice, Roethlisberger, etc., has a unique skill set and the ability to thrive in a game that our country worships. 

Through their innate talents and hard work, these men expanded on the American dream in ways we could never have even anticipated.  They've earned more than money and power, fame and respect, but also the right to toss around, to use and to abuse women like the objects they apparently are. So if you've been fortunate enough to realize this dream as well, feel free to dish out a few illegal hits, as long as they aren't on the football field. Don't worry about your temporary "lapse in judgment," as long as it doesn't involve your ability to read a defense. And hey, we all know *wink wink* that women have a tendency to fall down flights of stairs. Just don't fumble that football, the real "object" of value. 

What a time to be alive. "And suddenly she finds out...the American dream."

Why We Need to Stop Telling People "To Count Their Blessings"

Well, if I'm going to return to blogging, I may as well return on a controversial note, hmm?

We are all raised in different environments, with different family and home lives, and taught different values. At the same time, however, one value that seems to be nearly universal is the importance of gratitude.

As children, we are taught to clean our plates. We're taught to be thankful for the opportunity to be dragged to school and doctor's appointments. After all, having adequate food/ water/ shelter/ education/ healthcare makes one incredibly fortunate, and the average American (myself included) has a great great deal for which to be thankful.

I want to make this clear: I have been tremendously, overwhelming blessed, and I am grateful for the many good things in my life. And I wholeheartedly believe that we should teach children (and many adults too for that matter) to cherish and to appreciate the good things that they have.

All that being said, I hate, absolutely despise, the expression, "Count your blessings."

Before I'm accused of being radically inconsistent, allow me to clarify. I hate the phrase, "count your blessings," and the philosophy accompanying it because, at their core, they make certain assumptions not only about how people should live, but also about how they should feel.

Think for a moment. What inspires a person to instruct someone else to count their blessings? Odds are the person being chastised is unhappy about some aspect of his/ her life. Perhaps the individual dared to express their dissatisfaction with a colleague, friend, or family member. And rather than actually taking the time to understand the person and seeking to relieve the suffering, the friend fires off some trite, dismissive cliche.

In the modern world, I would really like to believe that we are enlightened enough about mental illness to realize that the worst thing you can tell a suffering person is "What do you have to be depressed about?" I would like to propose that the second worse thing that you can tell a person who is hurting is to "count their blessings."

At their core, both phrases are the same. Both phrases jump to conclusions about a person, both phrases believe that, once you know a few basic details about a person like their style of living, you can effectively evaluate to what extent someone has the "right" to be unhappy or to feel depressed. Maybe we should develop a "count your blessings" calculator. Punch a few buttons and answer a question or two about life style to gauge if you have the moral right to be unhappy.

The reality of the situation is that people are unhappy and depressed for a litany of reasons that no one person can fully comprehend. Oftentimes, as is the case with mental illness, the "sources" of one's unhappiness are not understood or appreciated by the judging party. And so, for fear of being judged or criticized for their "ungrateful" nature, these people suffer in silence.

I've been wanting to write about this topic for a while, but today I was reminded of this issue after a meeting with a client. This client expressed that she never let herself be unhappy because of her strong faith. I respect faith and believe that it can serve as a powerful resource in people's lives. Even wonderful things like faith and its teachings on gratitude, however, can be horrifically distorted if we teach people that they don't have a right to be angry, sad, or frustrated because their life circumstances are not difficult enough to warrant those emotions.

If anyone is still reading, I'm sure there may be a reader or two who is scoffing at my choice of topic. All this fluffy theoretical talk about feelings from the bleeding heart social worker; too bad it has no real relevance or significance in the real world. How could any of this talk about feelings and catchphrases possibly matter?

In a word, stigma. No matter how many years pass, no matter how much medical or the social sciences advance, there remains a huge stigma surrounding mental illness, surrounding those most innermost thoughts and feelings that pop up in our heads. Gratitude, when taught in the right context, can be a fine thing. However, teachings on the importance of gratitude often carry with them a sense of shame and guilt associated with negative emotions like anger, frustration and depression. After all, if you were truly counting your blessings, if you were truly following God and being thankful, you couldn't possibly feel anything negative, you could never be that depressed.

Its the religious aspect of this teaching that particularly offends me. Anyone who is actually familiar with the Christian faith will note that Jesus spent far more time listening to people's stories and bringing healing than he did criticizing them for their despair. If the church could do the same, if it could rise above its incredibly primitive understanding of mental health issues, it could promote serious change and healing in its own ranks and beyond.

                    "Oh, you're blind. Bummer, at least you're not deaf. Count your blessings dude."


I would like to end this post on a more positive note.

Prominent American evangelist Rick Warren tragically lost his son to suicide over a year ago. Rather than wondering how someone with a good life and upbringing could do something so drastic, Rick Warren understands that mental illness is a real and pervasive problem. And he's decided to do something about it. Rick Warren has and continues to work to promote mental health education among pastors, priests and other religious officials. Like many hard working individuals in human service fields, he's found a way to use his own pain, his own most personal and difficult trials, to help and inspire others. I can only hope more people, in all communities, secular and sacred, learn to follow that example. If so, maybe I will just have one more blessing to count.

Here, There and Back Again

I wasn't sure if I would ever return to blogging. I have no desire to fill this entry with a detailed story about the past 7-8 months of my life, but I do feel a need to briefly note the reasons for my absence. Like most of the things I write here, I suspect this is more for myself than anyone or anything else.

Although I don't really discuss it here, the past two years of my life, my two years in graduate school, have been laden with difficulties, unpredictable changes, and disappointments. In many ways, my goals- personal, career, vocational- have not gone as I anticipated. I've been frustrated. I've been angry. I've been broken. And I'm still here, learning more with each new day, each new breath. You would be absolutely amazed how much you can learn to live without, how freeing it can be to just let go. Letting go of those demands, that rigid need to control every aspect of your life, to hold your life to an absolute timeline, won't kill you. I had to learn that. I've let go, but I haven't forgotten.  I never will forget, and I still strive.

Anyway, I promised that I would keep this short. Amidst many many other challenges, one that I encountered late last year was an employer objecting to the content of this blog. Perhaps they did not appreciate my bitter sarcasm/ satire, perhaps a few of my personal accounts were a bit too personal, perhaps they were just looking for another reason to let me go (it was an exceedingly more complicated and difficult situation than this post reflects as I have no desire to add other details here). Regardless, having my words closely scrutinized and judged by multiple strangers who have control over my educational/ vocational goals was certainly never my intent when I was writing this. I never imagined it would be an issue.

So my voice went silent. Well, it went silent in terms of public writing. I've written around 100 pages over the past year or so in an effort to understand, an effort to cope with all the chaos, all the disappointment, all the jaw-dropping Murphy's Law experiences that have come to characterize my life recently. But, no matter what happens, whether I thrive in my field or kill my career and flip burgers, I will not stop writing. I have no desire to hide. I'm not that man anymore. So I'm back. There is a role for prudence, and I will certainly monitor my online presence far more closely than I have in the past. But ultimately, I cannot and will never please everyone, and if I want to write something, I refuse to be silenced.

I've renamed this blog. I feel like it now more accurately reflects me and my experiences.

The NCAA and the Death of the University

In the past, I've voiced my displeasure of the NCAA and the modern state of college athletics, noting that college sports are laden with scandals and destructive to the well-being of universities, professors, students, and even the athletes. But I barely scratched the surface of the problem. In light of some recent scandals and the continued failure of universities and the NCAA to regulate themselves, allow me to take things a step further. College athletics should not exist, at least not in their present form which emphasizes winning and dollars over education and ethics. 

What could I, a self proclaimed sports fanatic, possibly have against the fun, craziness, and passion associated with college sports? Let's start with the Oklahoma State scandal, shall we? For those who weren't aware, Oklahoma State was recently busted by the NCAA for a plethora of rules violations. As is detailed in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated (Sept. 16, 2013), Oklahoma State was found to have paid several of their college football players "bonuses" based on their performances on the field. Even worse, Oklahoma State also committed several academic violations and ignored their own drug policies in order to ensure that their athletes remained eligible and on the field at all costs. 

I'm going to take a moment to pause from my rant and offer my perspective. I consider any special treatment of college students because of their athletic status to be completely unacceptable, and I find it especially sickening that universities would bend their own academic standards to accommodate their athletic cash cows. The fundamental purpose of the university should always be the furtherance of knowledge, both through research and educational programs. If you disagree with me on this, and look at college as meaning many different things and offering different services for different people, then there's no point in you reading further. Our disconnect is far too great for you to gain anything from this blog entry. 

Okay, assuming you are still reading, allow me to address some of the common arguments that NCAA apologists make.

1. Sure, scandals like Oklahoma State happen, but they are the exception not the norm. The vast majority of college programs are NCAA compliant and don't compromise their values for their athletic programs. 

While I appreciate the sentiment that we shouldn't generalize, the idea that most college athletic programs are traditionally clean has no basis in reality. As of 2011, only 17 of the major 120 NCAA schools have not committed a rules violation. Since then, at least two of those clean 17 have committed a rules violation, one of which was the infamous Penn State scandal.   

2. Okay, fine, so most programs have committed an NCAA violation. But the NCAA has absurdly complex rules and most of the rule breakers have committed relatively minor offenses. 

I will certainly acknowledge that the NCAA is complicated and that not all rule violations are equal, but we should not use this as an excuse to minimize the pervasive unethical culture that is created by college athletics. I'm not going to go through every single violation (I don't have months to research this), but allow me to highlight some of the worst and let you decide for yourself if the offenses committed by many of our most prominent universities are so minor. 

New Mexico (2008)- Academic Fraud

Members of the coaching staff assisted 3 recruits in gaining unearned academic credits. 

Florida State (2009)- Academic Fraud

Miami (2011)- A Litany of Preferential Benefits were provided for Athletes, ranging from cash and expensive yacht trips to prostitutes and abortions 

Arkansas State (2011)- 31 Ineligible Athletes Allowed to Play

This one actually doesn't really bother me, but it does illustrate how college programs will do anything to gain an edge.

Ohio State (2011)- Preferential Treatment/ Benefits/ Cash for Prominent Athletes

Athletes were given preferential treatment, including providing "payment" for work not performed. 

Penn State (2011)- Discovery that Jerry Sandusky, an assistant coach, had sexually abused children for years and that the university had at least some knowledge of impropriety but failed to properly handle the situation

North Carolina (2012)- Academic Fraud and Preferential Benefits for Athletes

Because if you're given a choice between compromising the academics of your university and giving illegal benefits to athletes, why not choose both?

Mississippi State (2013)- Preferential Benefits, including one booster providing a prominent athlete with a car

Oregon (2013)- Major Recruiting Violations

Oklahoma State (2013)- Academic Fraud, Improper Benefits for Athletes including cash payments to athletes, using sex as a recruiting tool, and ignoring university drug policies for athletes

Seriously, read the SI piece (Sept. 16, 2013 and also discussed in Sept. 23, 2013 issue). Every disturbing NCAA and moral violation that you can imagine has happened at Oklahoma State.

Keep in mind that this is just a small sampling of the actual number of NCAA violations have occurred. If you're curious to see the violations of your own school, have at it.

3. Ok, fine. Most schools have committed violations and many of those violations were pretty bad. But none of this would happen if we just were allowed to pay student athletes. Its only fair that they be compensated for their work and the value they bring to their universities. 

This opinion is actually gaining significant traction, as evidenced by star NFL running back Arian Foster's recent admission that he took money and other improper benefits while attending Tennessee, and that he sees no problem with it.

So why shouldn't we pay college athletes? Well, I suppose one's personal answer to that question goes back to his personal view of the university and its purpose in the modern world. If the university can mean many different things and different opportunities to different people, then by all means, let's turn it into a system of minor league athletics and pay student athletes. But if the fundamental purpose of the university should be the advancement of knowledge through research and education, then athletics needs to have a small role with limited, if any, financial influence. 

While I realize that taking such a hard-line stance on this makes it appear that I have no sympathy for college athletes, many of whom come from disadvantaged and impoverished communities, I would argue that the opposite is true. Sure, an athletic scholarship and small paycheck would do a great deal in helping a poor and disadvantaged athlete through college, but it would do so at the expense of helping a poor and disadvantaged student through college. The system as it currently exists enables a future athletic star to have fun at college for a few years, promote his talents on the national level, and then leave to start a multi-million dollar career. All without graduating. That's right, to those naive enough to argue that student-athletes really exist (you're usually one or the other), I present to your consideration the depressingly low rates of college graduation among professional athletes. About half of NFL players have college degrees, despite the fact that most players drafted by the NFL attend college. Of course those numbers are fantastic compared to the NBA (where 21% of professional athletes have degrees) and MLB (around 4%). Part of the reason the NFL and NBA have higher graduation rates than MLB is that those leagues place certain restrictions on draft eligibility to strongly encourage their athletes to attend some college. But none of the major sports leagues mandate graduation as a condition for draft eligibility. 

4. So what can be really be done about it?

First, we need to stop pretending that academics remains the priority of our major universities. The first step is always admitting there's a problem. 

Second, we need to find a way to divorce mainstream athletics and the massive amount of money associated with it from our educational institutions. There are at least 15 college football stadiums that seat more than the largest NFL stadiums. This should never happen. Its impossible for universities to combine to create a sports league that rivals the NFL (the largest sports league in the country) and not be unduly influenced by it. 

How do we do this? One solution could be to remove restrictions prohibiting recent high school graduates from playing in the professional leagues. Its unfair to prospective students that Carmelo Anthony gets essentially a one year scholarship to Syracuse to showcase his athletic talents, but its also unfair to Carmelo to prohibit him for a year from using his talents in his desired field of employment. The only people who really benefit from this unfair system are the colleges, who use college athletes as rentals to rake in money. 

Another option, and one that is far less realistic, would be to abolish college sports as they currently exist in favor of minor league systems. I have nothing against the fact that teams like the Oregon Ducks or Texas Longhorns exist, but they shouldn't be affiliated with universities. Even better yet, what if we could significantly expand our minor league sports systems so that high school athletes can showcase their skills and make money on a smaller level in preparation for the major leagues?

That's what baseball allows, by the way. 

Will any of these things happen? Of course not, but that shouldn't stop us from talking about them. And it shouldn't stop each one of us, myself included, from taking an honest look in the mirror and considering what role we play in enabling the rampant corruption, academic fraud and immorality that have come to characterize the modern university. 

NY Sports: The Big Sour Apple?

"I want to thank the Good Lord for making me a Yankee."
-Joe DiMaggio


I'm back. See, I told you that I wouldn't forget you, readers. At worst, I'm only moderately neglectful, like a parent who leaves their kid at the mall for half a day but then feels incredibly guilty about it and gets the kid ice cream, making it all okay.

"That is your official policy, right?"

Anyway, I'm certainly not here to talk about parenting. Nor am I here to hit you with my weak attempts at satire or conversations of a deep philosophical or theological nature. Nope, today we're having fun. I'm back for a sports rant.

So ESPN the Magazine recently released its 2013 Franchise Issue, which ranks sports franchises across all major American sports. Apparently the rankings are supposed to consider a complex array of factors, including fan experience, cost of attending games, ownership, players, team success, etc.

To make a long (and terribly written) story short, ESPN the magazine really does not like New York sports teams. In fact, they ranked my beloved Jets as the 121st out of 122 considered franchises. Keep in mind this list extends beyond simply the NFL and at least included MLB, NBA and NHL teams.

To all my New York friends who found it amusing that the "baby brother" Jets once again got bashed by a major media outlet, take a moment to consider that the article also ranked the NY Giants 66th, the NY Knicks 102nd, the NY Rangers 76th, and THE NEW YORK YANKEES 87TH.

When I was contemplating how to write a response to this article, I initially felt overwhelmed, as literally every single claim/ ranking that ESPN the Magazine made about NY teams are so blatantly absurd that they can't even be intelligently defended. The writers of this article somehow found a way to be subjectively wrong. Their "opinions" ring as hollow and biased as Kim Jong-Un trying to convince the West that his people are wealthy and thriving, despite blatant and overwhelming evidence to the contrary. 

But now that I've somehow managed to compare sports journalists to dictators (whoops), I probably should at least offer some evidence for my viewpoints. Let's start with the easy example, the New York Yankees.

The New York Yankees (Rank 87/122)

Why It's Absurd: For this example, I really feel like the burden of proof should lie with the article authors, but I'll quickly point out a few reasons as to why the Yankees should have been ranked in the top 10 sports franchises.

The New York Yankees are the most storied franchise in the history of North American sports. And no, this isn't just a proud New Yorker talking, just a sports fan with a somewhat functional brain. The first World Series was played in 1903, meaning that MLB has had about 110 AL/NL Championship Series. The Yankees have played in 40 World Series, winning 27 of them. That's right, the 87th best American sports franchise has won almost a quarter of its league's championships. I think its also fair to point out that ESPN's number one franchise, the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, has never won a championship or even made it to a championship game. Also, they have about 80 years of less sports history, but who's counting?

I would assume at this point, the authors might defend their claim by noting the high prices of getting a ticket to a Yankees game. Fine, let's talk economics, shall we? The Yankees are the 4th wealthiest franchise in the world, and they have the 2nd highest payroll in baseball. Yankee detractors may be quick to note that all the Yankees' money and supposed success will not be getting them to the playoffs this year, but the very fact that people gloat about the Yankees failing is a testament to their astonishing run of sustained success. The last time the Yankees missed the playoffs was 2008; before that the last time was 1994. At least with the Yankees you're getting quality play with your money; Cubs tickets aren't cheap either and they haven't won a World Series in over a century.

J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! JETS! (Rank 121/122)

Why Its Absurd: And now things get a little more challenging. I understand that, between the bombastic coach, questionable front office moves, and the complete lack of anything remotely resembling offense, its easy to take pop shots at the Jets. I'm not arguing the Jets should be in the top 10 or even necessarily the top 50 sports franchises, but they deserve better than a bottom 2 finish. Here are a few reasons why.

Since I mentioned the Yankees' history, lets start there with the Jets. In terms of playoff success, you can't even begin to compare the Jets to the Yankees, or even to the more iconic NFL franchises like the Steelers, 49ers, Patriots, or Cowboys. But, unlike 14 current NFL franchises, the Jets have won a Super Bowl. That shouldn't mean everything, but it has to mean something.

But, even assuming you don't care about Super Bowl III and would rather discuss current success, I'd be happy to beat you at that game too. Under the Rex Ryan era, the Jets have played some of the best defense in football (finishing 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 8th in total defense from 2009-2012 respectively). They made it to the AFC Conference Championship in both 2009 and 2010, and barring a few plays and an awful quarterback, could have easily won a Super Bowl. In 2011, they were average (8-8) and in 2012 they were slightly below average (6-10). Yet none of this stopped those incompetent bastards from ESPN from ranking the Jets dead last in their NFL Power Rankings before the season began. I'll be the first to acknowledge the Jets have issues, but if you honestly try to argue to me that the Browns (who decided to trade their one franchise player to rebuild two weeks into the season),  or the Raiders, or the Panthers, or the Jaguars (who could only muster 3 field goals of offense against the freaking Raiders) are currently more successful franchises than the Jets you are insane.

Even though they frequently mock the Jets as being the little brother, I'll be a good sport and offer a brief defense for the NY Giants (ranked 66/122) too. The Giants have won 4 Super Bowls, including 2 in the last 6 years. They have an established quarterback, coach, defensive line, and fan base. They may not often be an elite franchise (they have a knack for sneaking into the playoffs), but they are certainly worthy of respect.

So why would I bother write this? Even assuming that I have you convinced at this point, why should anyone care enough about sports to write a lengthy critique of ESPN? Feel free to laugh, but regardless of one's occupation, I think there is something to be said for maintaining professional integrity. Everyone is entitled to their opinions; that's a huge part of what makes sports so much fun. But there's a certain point where personal biases and fan commitments overwhelm one's ability to professionally analyze sports. You'll note that I included a ton of sources and facts in this article, lest I be accused of being a "homer" who just can't handle his teams being criticized. You don't have to believe me, but if a New York based media outlet published a franchise list and placed the Patriots or Red Sox near the bottom, I would also be offended. If you're going to do something, whether its as important as curing AIDS or as frivolous as writing about grown men playing games, then do it right. ESPN writers owe it to their readers to hold themselves to a higher and more professional standard. All right, that's it for the soapbox. I have a crazy hunch that writing this article will prove to be superfluous anyway, as our NY sports teams will prove themselves to be more than adequate this year and for years to come.

A Humble Recommendation

Some recent events have led to believe that my advice may once again be needed. Regardless of whether or not it will be appreciated in its own time (or any time for that matter), I once again feel a need to provide it.

As I have most likely noted at some point, I am now a graduate student. And I am fortunate enough to now attend a truly diverse and rich campus, a campus that has risen above and largely evolved beyond the petty intolerance, bigotry, discrimination and hatred that would be seen in less "enlightened" places.

Although my university may not yet have achieved such a perfect status, I can respect the dedicated professors and other members of the campus community who are committed to silencing dissident voices and making the university a better safer place. And by doing so, they also ensure that the intolerance and hatred of inferior generations of mankind will not plague the sacred halls of this modern educational institution. After all, how can conflict or discord exist in a world where everyone is properly "motivated" to accept the same ideologies? But alas, I'm speaking in general and overly philosophical terms. Allow me to clarify with an example.

Recently, to my amazement, the university allowed a group of students who opposed abortion the opportunity to protest on campus. Naturally, as inevitably happens when individuals are allowed to think for themselves and keep their own consciences, this event resulted in significant conflict and disagreement among the student body and professors. Honestly, I simply can't fathom it. I am sure the university had the best intentions, but letting that protest occur on campus was both foolish and irresponsible. As if creating debates and discord was not bad enough, those monstrosities posed a significant safety risk to the entire campus. Am I the only one who observed the red eyes, the grey scales, the darkened wings? After all, nothing that was ever human could hold such abhorrent views.

In response to this protest, 6 professors wrote a letter to the school newspaper, challenging the wicked hate of the students and comparing anti-abortion protesters to the racists who supported the lynching of African-Americans.

To clarify, I completely support the efforts of these professors, but I am now certain that more needs to be done. To their credit, the professors not only sought to destroy the anti-abortion message but also to label and belittle any students who held it. They did, however, acknowledge that the students had a right to protest

This is unfortunate. I can sympathize with those who are still naive enough to believe that freedom of thought and conscience still have a place in our society, but unfortunately, they are relics of an older, less tolerant time. Humanity has shown again and again that differences only create conflict and instability. Not that I or anyone else can really blame us. After all, there's a litany of complex internal forces that severely limits each individual's ability to perceive and interpret reality. Not to mention our different upbringings, experiences and personalities. People are innately drawn to disagreement. And because we cherish our values, people also are intrinsically motivated to defeat any evil that would dare to rise up to confront them. After all, every man is a hero in his own mind, leaving only the role of villain to anyone who would dare to disagree with him.

So what is the solution? Well, I can determine at least one thing. Allowing individuals the privilege of disagreement has not worked for humanity, nor will it ever be successful. "Agreeing to disagree" will always be at best a fool's hope. In light of this, I can only conceive of one option. Brace yourselves and consider my words carefully, dear reader, and I suspect you will find my recommendation to be quite humble. I recommend that we end this madness, this flurry and fury of conflict, through the greatest conflict humanity has ever seen. Society will establish one absolute set of beliefs, and enforcers shall destroy anything or anyone that opposes them.

I only have one concern, dear reader. It is now obvious that the only way to achieve peace is through the strategic use of warfare to destroy anyone who is "wrong." But how can we ever determine what is right or wrong? This is not to say that I don't believe in absolute truths, but rather, I question the ability of any individual or even group of people to determine all the perfect answers. Darn, and we were so close to world peace...

I think I have it. Let's end disagreement through democracy. How ironic is that? I recommend that individuals be allowed to align themselves according to faith, political views, race, etc. for one final time. We shall arm the masses and allow only the "fittest" ideologies the opportunity to survive. Now I know what you're thinking, dear reader. There will almost certainly be inequalities in terms of manpower and resources depending on the group. But we can correct this. We will strip people of their guns (they will not be needing them soon anyway) and provide them with swords, knives, shields and the like. Guns not only provide unfair advantages; they also make conflict far too easy. No, in this perfect world, men will look each other in the eyes as they slit each other's throats, all the while realizing that such is the sacrifice for creating a perfect, dissent-free world. And since we clearly cannot live together peaceably, what other choices do we really have?

This post is becoming needlessly lengthy, so I'll conclude by addressing any potential concerns. Some optimists may consider my theories to be absurd; they may admit that extremists exist, but in their minds the majority of good, reasonable people will also stand to counter them. Perhaps you are right, but I have no doubts that the voices of well-tempered people seeking harmony can be easily silenced or perverted. The process is already happening, my friends. People may be capable of giving flowers, at times we may even desire it, but we have become far more skilled at throwing feces. And just when our supplies of waste begin to run out, when reason and compromise begin to be considered, politicians rush to our aid and spew enough hyperbolic shit to last us for decades.

Come to think of it, that is the key. If I can gain the politicians, my humble recommendation will surely become the newest bill in a long line of foolhardy, fear-driven legislation. After all, whether its abortion, gay marriage, immigration, foreign or economic policy, no force is more powerful in convincing the people to hate and fear the other side than those well-suited wolves. Yes, I shall gain their votes. And since they are never cheap, I should begin fundraising immediately.

I know there may still be doubters. Some of you may even be regretfully wondering how our circumstances could have become so dire. I suppose we all have our theories, but now we can only afford to think of solutions. And anyone who approaches my recommendation with an open mind (ha) will have to conclude that, despite its grim nature, it is the only real solution. After all, if we don't murder all dissenters, then we guarantee a bitter, conflicted world for the remainder of our history. Even a brutal war drawn out for decades will represent only a tiny drop in the bucket of tremendous conflict that humanity will inevitably experience if we continue to nurture freedoms of conscience and speech. Its not like individuals will suddenly begin to articulate their ideas in a respectful manner. And even if they could, their neighbors would surely be too driven by fear and anger to actually consider what is said. Finally, since disagreement is an inevitable force that cannot be completely mitigated even in light of rational discourse, people would also magically have to learn to coexist in peace and respect with those whom they disagreed. And if that does not seal my argument for the eradication of most of the species, then nothing ever will.



Author's Note: First, I realize this is quite long. I would like to extend my personal thanks to anyone who actually took the time to read it. Second, do not be afraid to ask me questions. Obviously, this post is intended to create honest dialogue and questioning. Third, Jonathan Swift.