Diatribes by Joah

Childish Conservative Attacks Against Chicago's Olympic Bid

Listen, I’m probably one of the biggest supporters of the Olympics taking place in the U.S. as anyone, but I’ve long held the belief that IOC Chairman Jacque Rogge’s desire to spread the “Olympic movement” would likely lead to a victory for Rio de Janeiro’s bid. I mean look at this video!

The only real surprise I got from the vote's results last weekend, was that Chicago lost in the first round instead of the last. But an even bigger surprise was the immature backlash Obama got from conservative Republicans.

A lot of conservative Republicans are so bent on attacking the Democratic power in Washington that they rejoiced when the announcement was made that Rio had won. This is absolutely childish. I often wonder who is running the party these days…don’t you remember when Republicans were viewed as very disciplined and strategic in their opposition or support of something? Nowadays, it’s the exact opposite. I’m personally very embarrassed. Somehow applauding a U.S. defeat in its bid for the 2016 Games is seen as a loss for Democrats and President Obama?

At this point, I wouldn’t be all that surprised if hard-core conservatives start cheering when news breaks of a plane crash in Connecticut or California or one of “those liberal states with a woman governor.”

Before Chicago’s defeat was announced, Republican Chairman Michael Steele said, “I think while it’s a noble idea for the president to want to pitch his home city Chi-town for the Olympics, and of course America would be more than honored to host the Olympics in the future, I think that at a time of war, I think at a time of recession, at a time where Americans have expressed rather significantly their concerns and frustrations over the course of the spring and summer about health care, about the economy, about a host of domestic issues, even international issues, I think that this trip while nice is not necessary for the president.”

You mean to tell me that the Republican Party doesn’t want the Olympics in the United States? At this time of war, you’re knocking the U.S. bid to host the biggest event in the world aimed at promoting good will and peace? If anything, Republicans should have joined Obama in support of the Games and made a politically united statement before Olympic voters last week. But no, that wouldn’t help increase Obama’s negatives now would it?

Michael Steele used to be someone worth admiring and looking up to, but now he’s starting to sound like someone who’s buckled under the pressure of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity’s listeners. Someone who isn’t willing to take a risk as Obama did when he flew to Denmark to lobby Olympic voters. And if Republicans are choosing childish attacks over risk-taking (perhaps supporting the healthcare reform bill) to recapture our attention and votes, then Steele and fellow conservatives will be talking to deaf ears by 2016, Olympics or not.

Pics from Cincy

I'm in Cincinnati to watch my friend and Bengals RB (and Longhorn great) Cedric Benson and the rest of his Hard Knocks co-stars take on the Denver Broncos. It was a sunny, hot afternoon for a season opener and Cedric played like a man accustomed to heat, amassing 130 total yards on 25 touches and scoring the Bengals' lone touchdown.

Unfortunately, his touchdown came with 38 seconds remaining, which left enough time for the Broncos to win on a freak play in which a pass was deflected by the Bengals and caught by Denver receiver Brandon Stokely and run for an 87-yard touchdown with 11 seconds remaining. Bummer.

Yeah, that's OchoCinco showin' love to the fans. He's not too flashy. But remember, he is rich.   

Usain Bolt...greatest sprinter of all-time?

Move over Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson...this Jamaican has more than made his case after winning his second world title in Berlin (after winning three golds in Beijing), this time blazing through the 200 meter dash in a mind-blowing 19.19 ticks...just days after winning the 100m in 9.58 seconds. Who cares if this guy isn't from the US and if the sport's biggest events don't take place in the States...this guy's speed is CRAZY!

When What Happens in Vegas Doesn't Stay in Vegas

Precisely why athletes and entertainers should not be automatically considered role models.

Have you seen my baseball cards?

I lost them. Either that or they were stolen. Somewhere in between the Fedex/Kinko's on K Street in Washington, D.C., and my best friend Stephanie's apartment here in Austin where I had them shipped (this may have been the mistake of a lifetime) five months ago before I moved into my new place.

It's about $50,000 worth. If you can appraise 20 years of impatiently opening a pack of cards before you even made it five feet past the cash register to see "who you got".

This Honus Wagner card sold for $2.8 million in 2007 just to give you an idea of what these things can be worth over time.

I remember my good friend Doug and I spending hours upon hours in the card shop then back at his mom's house laying out cards out on his bed and comparing sets. And I still remember that Beta Club trip in eighth grade when I got the Barry Sanders rookie card that became the subject of fierce trade disputes and negotiations for several hours on the bus ride from Washington, D.C., back to Greenville, South Carolina.

I'm torn between missing the memories and missing the collateral. That $50,000 or so that could have been very handy someday if I ever went flat broke. Or started a business.

Like right now.

The last time I went through the arduous process of determining the value of my baseball, basketball and football card collection, consisting of at least 5,000 Hall of Fame players' cards, was 2006 when they were worth around $45,000. And the general rule of thumb is that the longer you hold on to them, the better the players, the more they're worth.

One of the cards I lost in the collection was a chrome-sealed version of this.

I had about 100 Michael Jordan cards, collected from 1988 to his retirement, that topped out at around $3,000. Rookie cards for Alex Rodriguez, Barry Sanders, Lebron James and autographed photos of John Stockton and Troy Aikman.

All that was lost. Or stolen.

It's not even like I'm that worried about the financial part. It's not really worth $50,000...
it's really worth a hell of a lot more, if I'd have been able to do what I wanted to do, which was give them to my sons and my sons' sons someday.

Fifty years from now when I'm trying to explain to my grandkids how close Kobe and Lebron came to being as good as Michael Jordan. Or how it really didn't matter that A-Rod got wrapped up in a steroid scandal on his way to 850 home runs.

Lost this one too. Worth $400.

But now I'll just have memories of those cards, which were going to be my ultimate proof points, for those sports stories told in recliners while sipping lemonade with Lord of the Rings remakes on DVD trying to captivate 11-year-old boys with flying bikes and teleportation machines with "grandpa's stories" that took place "way back in the '90s".

So...nearly 20 years of collecting thousands and thousands of packs of cards down the drain. Was it all for naught? Right now it feels like it was. Maybe I won't need them to help tell my kids and grandkids about the Dallas Cowboys' dynasty or how special it was to see Cal Ripken break Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played.

I never wanted to be one of those guys that "used to have a bunch of baseball cards."  But, thanks to some kind of shipping mishap (or criminal activity), I've become that guy.

I only have one smidgen of hope left of finding them. Have you seen my baseball cards?

Don't get it twisted...Kobe is still King of Clutch

2016 Olympics Becomes Battle Between Obama, Supermodels

Many of you know I’m an absolute Olympics junkee. In 1996, I lived two hours from Atlanta’s Olympic Stadium, which was then converted into Turner Field where I’ve seen the Braves (my favorite baseball team) play numerous times. In 2000, I remember watching Michael Johnson defend his 400-meter title to win Gold. In 2004, I remember watching Sanya Richards, a fellow Longhorn alum, win a Gold Medal in the 4x400 meter relay.  Four years later, Michael Phelps did his thing and I’m not talking about a bong.

That said, it should come as no surprise that I’ve been monitoring the 2016 bidding process with a watchful eye. I have long thought Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was the logical pick for the ’16 Games because the International Olympic Committee’s President (and Frenchman) Jacque Rogge has always stated his crowning achievement and goal will be bringing the Olympic spirit to as many people as possible. That helps to explain why China’s human rights violations were overlooked in order for Beijing to broadcast the event to 1.2 billion people.

And it explains why Rio seems more fitting than Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. Atlanta wasn’t that long ago. Barcelona wasn’t much further back. And after Games in Beijing and Sydney, the East should take a break on hosting. The Olympics have never been held in South America, a continent of nearly 400 million people. And since the Middle East and Africa don’t appear ready to host, South America presents Rogge with his best opportunity to finish off his tenure as president with a bang…or more like a cha-cha.

Could you imagine those soccer commentators that say, “BRAZILLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!” doing the commentary for the 100-meter dash or the 400-meter freestyle with Phelps in the pool. That would be absolutely unreal!

And check this out…Brazil is following the exact same international sporting event timeline that the U.S. had win it won the ’96 Games. The U.S. hosted the PanAm Games in 1987, then sevens years later hosted the World Cup and two years after we had Atlanta. Brazil hosted the PanAm Games in 2007 and will host the 2014 World Cup (which you can expect its team to be favored in regardless of what flare Freddy Adu brings to the U.S. team).

And two years after 2014 seems about right…

But that’s also ignoring the fact that the President of the United States is Barack Obama who just so happens to be from Chicago. Which also happens to be the city where a certain Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey are well known. And, last time I checked, Shakira wasn’t from Brazil so I don’t know what kind of star power Rio has to match that.

Those beautiful women down in Brazil may swing one or two or three votes, but this is a multi-round competition and when Madrid and Tokyo get knocked out, it’ll come down to Rio versus Chicago. The country that elected Obama versus the country that produces the models in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition.

Along with lots of politics, money and back-room dealing.

Advantage USA.

But until I check out both Rio and Chicago, in July and August, I’ll withhold sharing a prediction. The vote isn’t until October 2009 in Copenhagen.

Although I wouldn’t be surprised if Obama already sent his flight schedule to the IOC selection committee as a heads up. But, even with Jordan's backing, it’s no slam dunk for Chitown. But perhaps with Obama, it'll be more like a layup.

Hangin' out at the UT Spring Game

For those of you whom have yet to experience the awesomeness of Texas Football...in the spring.