Thursday, July 31, 2008

Greed Reversed: A Tale of Sports Redemption

How do you take a hated name in a big-city sports environment and turn it completely around -- making it a byword for success and drive -- all in under 12 months?

Make his first name Rocky.

I know, I know.. I'm supposed to be on vacation. But I couldn't help quickly commenting on this one.

The name of William Wirtz was a byword for hate in Chicago, with the vitriol against the Wirtz name growing deeper and harsher with each passing season. This went well beyond a bumbling franchise (the Cubs have been bumblers for the better part of a century): this was a reaction of common fans against a man who would give everything away -- including his own good name -- offering it all at the altar of greed.

It even led a former lawyer to write a book titled "Career Misconduct" - in which he cites and supports numerous arrogant and sometimes downright illegal activities by the Wirtz family. Talk about negative press...

With WWW's passing, his youngest son Rocky was tapped to take over the operations of the Blackhawks.

Rocky's story is worth mentioning whether or not you concern yourself with sports, because his business-savvy and personal approach are a model for any person.

At the end of last season, despite narrowly missing the playoffs yet AGAIN, Rocky Wirtz was likely surprised to receive the thunderous cheer of "Rocky, Rocky!" from Blackhawks fans.

The reasons for his success are rather simple, and they merit imitation in any field.

First, Rocky delegated. He brought in -- and continues to bring in with today's signing of Scotty Bowman -- the best people to do the job.

Second, Rocky reached out to his constituents. He took the pulse of what fans were left, balanced it against sound market research, and went to work accordingly.

Third, Rocky seems to understand that gains cannot be made without initial patience, sacrifice, and investment. For three decades, Hawks fans were only given patience. Now with sacrifice and investment added in, a real buzz is brewing.

Fourth, Rocky cleaned house. From top management down to bench-warmers, all the dead skin has been cut away. Sometimes you have to bleed a bit before the healing can begin.

Lastly, Rocky is simply positioning himself as the quiet head of a dynamic and forward-looking organization. He's provided a vision, all while providing the means to achieve this vision.

One almost wishes he would run for public office.

We can all stand to learn a thing or two from Rocky Wirtz, regardless of our position in life. Let's hope that his initial success blossoms into a real and well-deserved hockey dynasty for Chicago.

Friday, July 25, 2008

Professor Myers: Professional Bigot?

Professor Myers, I hope you're reading this.

For the other folks who read my blog: have you heard of Professor Myers?

I'm speaking of the "educator" at the U of Minnesota who has sought to entertain his readers on the seeming nonsense of religion.

In his blog posting "It's just a Frackin Cracker," Myers writes:

There are days when it is agony to read the news, because people are so goddamned stupid. Petty and stupid. Hateful and stupid. Just plain stupid. And nothing makes them stupider than religion.

That's funny, Professor, because those were my exact thoughts as I read your blog.

I won't post a link: I don't want anything of mine linking to this guy's blog. Google it if you wish.

I will spare you the rest of his jagged and awkward prose, his obscenities, and in general his complete demonstration of intolerance and ignorance. To summarize, he ridicules first Catholicism and then religious belief in general, attacking anyone who would even remotely defend "the frackin' cracker."

Seeking to prove a point, Myers asked for and received a consecrated host from a Catholic Mass.

Being an equal-opportunity bigot, Myers ended up desecrating the Eucharist by putting a rusty nail through it, also putting a nail through a page of the Koran. He threw the items into his trash, covering them with his coffee grounds and a rotten banana peel.

Classy, Professor Myers, classy. Not only are you a sad, unfortunate, and hateful person, you are also historically ignorant and religiously bigoted. To rephrase your very own words: you are stupid. Hateful and stupid. Just plain stupid.
It was also quite anti-climactic: after days of promising some sort of grant desecration, you managed only this? The great heretics of old are rolling in their graves and ash-pits.

Does it bother you, Myers, that you're being forgiven? That thousands -- perhaps even millions -- of believers worldwide are now praying for you? Does it bother you that we worry about the state of your soul? That people are fasting for you even now?

Does it bother you that we have answered your hate with love?

***

People can be forgiven. Institutions, however, are another story. Proceeding right along then, we'll take a few well-deserved swipes at the University of Minnesota.

In a press release today, University President Jacqueline Johnson repudiated Myers' actions, admitting that he was in violation of the University's conduct policy for Professors. Despite this, she will decline to punish him, chiefly because she feels his actions fall under the umbrella of "academic freedom."

Excuse me, Ms. Johnson, but is Myers a professor of Religion? Or perhaps Philosophy? Considering that he is a scientist, what experiment, class, or academically-related activity did his actions fall under? How is it, exactly, that he is protected by academic freedom in this case?

Not to mention the deep irony that academic freedom is a CATHOLIC concept. In resurrecting the ancient model of the University during medieval times, it was the Catholic Church which protected Universities from the outside interference of politics and royalty. (We must note that significant dissidence has historically been tolerated amongst Church intellectuals and hierarchy. This is why Myers is small-fry in comparison.)

We can deepen the irony in suggesting that institutionalized science is also a Catholic legacy (not without its faults), and the Vatican remains a large public supporter of the sciences, even inviting known atheists such as Stephen Hawking to come share their views AT THE VATICAN itself.

Many questions, both spiritual and temporal, arise from this incident. First of all, why is Myers -- typical of so many atheists I have known -- so virulent in his hate of religion? In a largely secularized United States, are there not bigger fish to fry? Are there not more appropriate targets for his energies? What about those who steal from the homeless? Or the guys who raise taxes on oil?

Or what about the guys who call you in the middle of dinner, trying to sell you swampland in Florida? Man, THOSE guys REALLY boil my blood. If you want to desecrate a cold-call list, Myers, I'll do it with you.

What mysterious energy animates the hate that so-called atheists often manifest towards religion and religious thinkers?

If Myers really, truly believes that it's "just a frackin' cracker," then it wouldn't have him so worked up. I believe that something deeper is happening here.

If you really want a reaction, Myers, go into an African American neighborhood, and repeat the same stunt near a Mosque. The words "just a frackin' cracker" will take on an entirely new meaning to you.

Most of Myers' public supporters, commenting on his antics, revel gleefully in his actions. One can't help but be reminded of ancient pictures of witches and devils spinning gleefully around a fire, ecstatic in their sacrilege.

Ultimately, Myers and his kind will be fortunate to even become a footnote in the great history of the Catholic Church. Myers is small-fry compared to the terrible international tyrants who have raged against the Church with fire and sword.

A wonderful Priest I once knew described us as sheep, meandering around, not entirely cognizant of our shortcomings, mewing pathetically as we pass through life.

And so it is, Myers. Stupid, mewing sheep. Baaaaaa. And no amount of desecration will change that. Thankfully, some sheep are smarter than others.

I know, I know: I contradict myself by wasting so many words on you. I'm only human, however, and prone to my own flashes of temper. That, and you make an easy target for satire.

As to all the Muslims you've no doubt pissed off -- well, buddy, you're on your own with that one.

Iraq Booted From Olympics: What a Shame.

The following story on CNN.COM simply breaks my heart:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/24/iraq.olympics/index.html

To anyone who has given their all only to be thwarted by an inept bureaucratic decision, you know how painful this is.

These athletes should not be punished for the ineptitude of their leaders, and certainly some sort of valid compromise should have been found considering the great implications even a decent showing in the Olympics would have on the poor nation of Iraq.

Leave it to an administration to fawn over rules and regulations, and lose the spirit of the whole thing. Consider that there are few countries in the world who could stand to gain more from an Olympic appearance now.

Let's hope both sides get their acts together, and keep technicalities and corruption from preventing something great from happening.

Hopefully, come August, the whole world will be cheering for Iraqi athletes.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

John Adams

The most recent film to come up in my Netflix Queue was the opening installment of the HBO miniseries "John Adams." To say that I'm surprised by this film is an understatement.

To say that it should be required viewing during this election season is also an understatement.

I couldn't help but wonder at HBO -- hardly a conservative network -- selling a more well-thought out and non-liberal version of American history.

All Hollywood-ization aside, the most fascinating aspects of the series so far are the orations and debates in the original continental Congress. Despite being men of varying beliefs and persuasions (hardly less religiously and philosophically diverse than our modern congress) -- despite being liberals, conservatives, AND proud moderates (Ben Franklin) -- they discussed the issues before them with an intellectual rigor and clarity which should shame our modern politicians.

Would the various political, economic, and moral issues of our time -- not to mention certain social "reforms" -- stand the intellectual rigor of our founding fathers?

Who among the political candidates running for office could stand a cross-examination by the minds which founded our country?

And since I've gone "there" -- has there been a single Presidential candidate in the past two decades who was worthy of the title, let alone the office?

Oh, there were worthy leaders in our midst, but we've passed too many of them by. A culture fed by pop-philosophy and blinded by the light of the idiot-tube is hardly in any state to sustain a democracy, and we're starting to prove this with terrifying consistency.

This film has inspired me to dig deeper into the words and deeds of the first Americans. Despite their failings, I wonder if we couldn't find the guidance there to once again right this aimless ship of a country.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Heartwarming: Another View on Women

I know that many of you will scoff at the notion of purity, but I ask you for a moment to step aside from our contemporary attitudes and consider the following article. In a culture filled to the brim with wounded femininity, are the following words not in the least bit meaningful?

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1823930,00.html?cnn=yes

I wonder how many women, given the choice, would exchange their modern so-called personal "freedoms" to live in a culture where they were pursued, protected, and cherished?

A Priest once told me that it is the duty of Fathers and Brothers to protect the dignity of the young women in their family until they are married. At the time, I found it to be an antiquated ideal, a relic of a bygone era.

Yet as I grow a bit older and learn the stories of more and more women, I can't help but be swayed back to such "antiquated" views.

"By their fruits you shall judge them."

Judging by the fruits of their labors, certainly our elders had more than a few things right?

Monday, July 7, 2008

What We Believe

Do you know The Secret?

Have you ate, prayed, and loved enough?

What do we say about a nation which is more likely to accept spiritual advice from Ellen Degeneres than the Pope?

At the 1952 Emmy awards, the award for most outstanding television personality went to an Archbishop in traditional garb, beating out the likes of Lucille Ball and Edward Murrow.

Keep in mind that in the 1950's, American was even less favorably disposed to "Papists" then it is today, nor was it the over-religious backwater some liberals have made it out to be.

The Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's top-rated television showed, "Life is Worth Living," was a commercial free half-hour of lecture, leading from general topics into the deeper realms of philosophy and theology. The subject matter was often thick and complex, but never anything but intellectually demanding and honest. It was a learned effort, and a far-cry from the neo-spiritual filth so common on program such as Oprah in our times. How far we have fallen, indeed.

Leftists will often hold up the 1950's as a time representative of sexual oppression. They conveniently ignore the fact that it was also an era where common Americans still cared to think deeply about the issues that mattered in life. The fact is, for every fault of the 1950's, there was at least one equal and parallel virtue. I'm not sure that the 1960's could claim as much.

Watching Sheen's show with a modern perspective, one can't help but be struck about how many of our current social ills were predicted by Sheen in the early 1950's. Watching today, one cannot help but be struck by the continued contemporary relevance and power of his words.

Sheen was interested in truth: and truth does not change, regardless of popular notions.

Considering their prophetic nature, Sheen's words may be even more relevant today than in his own time. In a society eager to discuss Nostradamus and various other so-called visionaries and prophets, we should be eager to watch the taped statements of a man who truly was a teller of the future.

In the Chicago Sun-Times today, an excerpt was published from columnist Richard Roeper's new book, "Debunked." This particular excerpt brilliantly demolishes the key tenets of "The Secret," a spiritual sham if ever there was one.

While it's not often I find something to cheer about in the major daily papers, Roepers excerpt is to be praised, as is his scorn of major public figures such as Larry King and Oprah, who shamelessly promote the book. Such charlatans are inflating their financial portfolios at the personal expense of millions.

The popularity of such books as 'The Secret' and 'Eat, Pray, Love' are only indicators that Americans who have cast-off traditional belief systems remain deeply hungry for spiritual sustenance and guidance. One of the reasons that Atheism will never become a truly popular front is that human beings are wired for spirituality: we NEED such things in our lives.

Still, it says something when otherwise educated people are more likely to listen to Oprah than the Pope. It says something when we are both ignorant and self-centered enough to fall for every new spiritual sham.

Not that Christians aren't partly to blame: the plastic edifice of much Evangelical Christianity coupled with the neon-glow of televangelists such as Joel Olsteen have cheapened religion while cheapening the name and message of Christ. For their part, Catholic and Orthodox leaders -- the inheritors of the unbroken line of tradition back to Christ himself -- have made numerous blunders while often refusing to publicly defend and promote the faith. Nor have I heard a single homily denouncing the social ills which Richard Roeper is tackling: so much for educating the faithful. Then there are politicians on both sides of the aisle, hijacking religion to gain even a sliver of additional votes in their next campaigns.

I repeat: truth remains truth, no matter Oprah may tell you. Truth remains truth, even when pro-life Republicans hijack it and pro-choice Obama contradicts his own belief in it. Truth remains truth even when evangelists cheapen it, Bishops fear it, and people misunderstand it.

The Pagan societies of antiquity sought truth, and sought it fiercely. For all of our historical arrogance, it is humbling to know that their Godless Pagan philosophies were more logical and developed than the sham pop-philosophies of the 21st century. The ancient Greeks certainly had sham pop-philosophies to combat the wisdom of their great teachers, but they didn't have MTV, Borders books, and the Oprah show to help them propagate such idiocy.

We have reached the end of an age of deconstruction: eager to cast off the evils of past generations, we have simultaneously discarded their wisdom as well. Here we are, at the dawn of the most educated and technologically advanced society in human history, beginning our philosophical and metaphysical quest anew. Despite having the easiest access to information in human history, we choose to remain ignorant, raising questions that were answered correctly several millenia ago, instead trying to fit new and ever more-inventive answers into the gaps left by our destructive irreverence for our heritage of wisdom.

Freshman philosophy majors would cringe at the propositions and self-contradictions contained in books like The Secret, yet most of us remain all too eager to be led astray.

The ever-growing self-help and metaphysics sections in our local bookstore are clear indicators that people are yearning for spiritual food and guidance. For both good and evil men, this is an opportunity to reap an incredible reward.

We can only work hard, and hope that the truth wins out.

Thursday, July 3, 2008

What's Wrong with America, Fireworks Style.

It took fireworks and the fourth of July to remind me what is wrong with America.

I believe firmly that the problems in any society reveal themselves gradually, rearing their ugly heads in unexpected places.

Every year I look forward to watching the Independence Day fireworks in Chicago, whether in person or on television. Accompanied by the Grant Park Orchestra, the fireworks are a well-coordinated multimedia work of art, not to mention a great statement of Patriotism.

Despite our many problems, concerns, and divisions, America is still something to celebrate.

Why then, instead of the Grant Park Orchestra playing patriotic music, were television viewers instead treated to snippets of shallow top-40 fare?

Instead of America the Beautiful, I heard Gwen Stefani. Instead of the triumphant strains of the 1812 overture (patriotic even if it WAS written by a Russian composer), I heard Kanye West. Instead of the traditional fireworks closer of the Stars and Stripes Forever, poor Mr. Sousa was replaced with Matchbox 20. Not only that, but the Matchbox 20 song was quite literally about the collapse of the world.

Yup. Nothing like some apocalyptic Emo music to ring in the fourth of July festivities.

If you're not bothered, you're not listening. Do we do away with tradition -- as well as the meaning of our greatest national holiday -- to raise ratings?

If Kanye West raises ratings INSTEAD of Sousa on the fourth of July, then what is wrong with America? Have we really become so shallow and stupid? (I will not even address what such thinking says about our national musical intelligence.)

In the end, the Matchbox 20 lyrics were right. "How far have we come?" Do we really care enough about America to actually clap along to the Stars and Stripes, let alone to work to fix her problems in such crucial times?

Let's hope this is the first and last time such a thing occurs. Tomorrow, I'm writing letters to all of the local newspapers. If you want to play pop music, at least play patriotic pop music. Save the party tunes for New Years Eve.