Depression!

The year was 2006, and I had just returned to Dallas from a trip out west to bring my wife back home after she took a leave and went out to Los Angles to work for Kaiser as a sales rep. Thinking that it was going to improve our life, and make us more money!

In doing so, she left me here in Dallas, with her two children, (my step children) and to become a parent that was a tall order.

Some time, around January of 2006, I started to tail spin, meaning I felt the beginnings of depression, and in my case, I have been there before.

In 2000, I had a horrible bout of it when I was in Lufkin, Texas, and before that I was a teenager, and the bullying in school and such.

Somehow I survived those bouts, with some "mental" toughness of my own. Or at least I thought so!

So here we are in 2006, coming back from the West Coast, and getting my "wife" settled back home, and then all of a sudden, a day or so after coming back, I tried to commit suicide. Yep you saw the word, in plain black and white. I wanted to step off this world and make a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

There are so many reasons that I wanted to end my life. There was a year of depression that set in, and in doing so, this was not a snap decision to make. My work, my marriage, my surroundings, my finances, my health, everything was tail spinning around me.  It was like a Rubic's Cube that all the colors came up the same, and that's suppose to mean you one the game, but in my case, it meant that I could not juggle my life anymore, and it was crashing around my ears.

So after being admitted to the Mental Ward of a hospital for four days (thats what the law allows) I was sent home, only I had no home.

Somewhere along the line, my "wife" decided that it was time to file for divorce... so much for that "better and for worse" line in vows right?... So she packed her stuff up and moved in with her mom, I just packed up and moved.

Here we are six years later, I am a bit better-- I had a heart attack in 2008, and for a person who tried to end his life, I tried to save it on that night in January of '08... so there's an oxymoron for you!

This is Mental Health Awareness Week.  What does that mean?

It means that we must be aware of our friends and family members that might suffer from depression or have suicidal tendencies, or those who suffer from anxiety attacks. This is not something that goes away if you take medicine, this is an ongoing fight every day of our lives. We win the day to day battles, but the war rages all around us.

Look for signs of depression in those that you care about. You probably know them by now-- the one strong sign though is, when they start giving away things of value to them to others. Jewelry, mementos, heirlooms, and such. These are tell tale signs that there might be something going on inside their head, and you have to get to the bottom of it.

Every moment is precious, and a person who suffers from depression no longer appreciates the moment, all they know is that they want to end the pain, and the hurt deep inside their soul. They are aware of the people that might be hurt by it, but by the same token they believe that it is the best thing for them and others in their lives, if they were no longer around, no longer a burden to them and to others, and that the world would be a better place without them. That their life has very little purpose or meaning to others, and that they understand that in the morning, the sun will come up and it will set, whether they are here or not.

Life goes on with us or without us, thats a fact, but it sure does make it a lot less of a place to be in when someone leaves us like that.

I for one, wake up each day and am thankful for the day, but then again-- I fight the demons off every day as well!

If you suffer from depression or any other mental illness, seek help, and surround yourself with good friends and family, they are the best medicine for you!

YOU will WIN THE DAY!

Just a thought!

Good Bye My Trusted Companion and Friend!

There have been a few times, over the last year or so that I have sat here and typed an obituary, or some sort of honor to a fallen friend, or someone I admired.

However, this is a little more difficult. This is about, not just a friend, but a companion, and who is not human.  In fact, it was a canine.

My friend, my companion of 13 years, was a Siberian Husky.  Her name was Sasha, and for some of you, you’re aware of the closeness that this dog and myself, had for the last 13 years.

I found Sasha, in the spring of 2000, where she was at a pet adoption in front of a pet store in North Dallas.  She was in a crate, and all I saw through the bars were blue eyes, and a white face that was framed in black! The perfect “opera mask” as they call it on Huskies. She was beautiful! However, the name they gave her was “Sugar Bell”..,. to which, when called by that name, she would not respond… I whispered “Sasha” in her ear, and she sprang into my face and licked me like we were long lost friends.

Now the humor behind this, is that, I had put to rest another animal six month prior to this, and I had promised the woman I was dating and her children, that, when the time came I would purchase another dog and return to Dallas from deep East Texas (Lufkin). Well it took another year and half before that happened, but Sasha and I began our journey together. From the Deep East Texas area, to bringing her to Dallas, and through a marriage, and then a move from one house to another, to a mental break down that I had in 06, to moving again, to another home, to a divorce, a heart  attack in 08, to my 50^th, in 09 and now to losing her, because of an injury, that caused the both the Doctor and myself to choose to humanly to put her to sleep and let her suffer no futher!

The human in this story lost his friend, the one that knows all the secretes, the tears from fighting off the demons in his dreams, the hurt that they felt when they lost love, but Sasha was always there, by my side. Giving her unconditional love to me, day in and day out.

I am not the only person in the world to have put a pet to rest, however, for every time a person has to do that, it is always amazing to me, how many people come out and offer their condolences, and best wishes, and even for some to check up on me to make sure that I am ok!

I miss my friend.. I will miss her jumping on me to tell me that she missed me during the day or at night after a game, or to greet friends when they could come to the house! HER love, her sparkle in her eyes, and her kisses, those dog kisses will be missed!

I loved that big beautiful wolf! My 60lb fur coats with fangs! My Sasha!

Rest in peace my friend, my buddy—my puppy—my Sasha!

Mr. Magoo! You’ve Done It Again! NCAA!

What in the world is the NCAA thinking?

Penn State has been stripped of their victories dating back to 1998—they have now tarnished every STUDENT Athlete that put on the Nittany Lion Blue, and for what? Because the NCAA think that its best to penalize the entire program and not those who were or ARE involved!

They take away scholarships, they take away bowl appearances, they take away the wins, they take away Bowl victories, they take away the statue of the long standing coach—they take away all the things that we connect with Penn State!

BECAUSE LARRY SANDUSKY is a moron! Sandusky is a Pedophile! Not the kid who lined up on the gridiron against his opponent every week and played the game, he didn’t hold the children in the showers, he had nothing to do with the problem of ONE man—and one system that protected him.

The Administration, the Athletic Director, the Coach, the President of the University, they all should be thrown in jail, they all should be taken to the wood shed… and let the penalty be stiff!

BUT to make the kids that go to school, because of the education, and the tradition of what Penn State has been, and to throw all of that away, because of this one person’s psycho background these kids are going to suffer!

And for those others who have the rings from their bowl championships, or their trophies, that they won—they are now gone!

When SMU was given the death penalty—it sorta made a bit more sense, mainly because it was the program that was corrupt—THE PROGRAM—this is not the PROGRAM—this is one PERSON who is corrupted, and because of his mental problem of wanting to take showers with little boys—the entire program will suffer! NO! that’s not whats suppose to happen! NOT THE PROGRAM!

Attack the school! Go after those in charge, take those to task—but leave the kids alone!

No where in the NCAA BY-LAWS does it state, that the action of the administration should be taken out on the student athlete that had nothing to do with the crime! In short—when a recruiting violation takes place—the School must forfeit its scholarships and then have sanctions placed upon it, because the program as a whole failed. This is NOT the case—this is about a MAN who has a sickness, and illness, and it was with adolescents, who could not speak for themselves!

This will never be reversed, and for those athletes who played for, and are still at the school are now told what you did during your time there doesn’t matter! It was all for not! It just sickens the soul, and worse, it gives these former players and students a sense of LOSS that they can never get back! Your records mean nothing now!

SMU for the most part, hasn’t fully recovered from those days, and its been almost 25 years since that happened! How long is it going to take Penn State? No one knows!

Joe Paterno’s name has been removed as the coach with most wins in a career, his statue taken down, however the University says that his name will remain on the School Library…. Don’t know if that is a good consolation or not, but none the less, what does need to happen is for the School to police itself, and let the court system run its course.

The bottom line here is, the NCAA got this one wrong. The Penalty should not have taken ANYTHING away from the student athlete, it should have left the program in-tact, and let those involved been dealt with by the proper authorities.

Its just a thought! 

The Nelson!

Two words….. The NELSON! That’s all you have to say—and everyone in North Texas KNOWS exactly what it is that you are saying!

Short hand for one of the largest charity events in the country. The NELSON! Simple. Much like the man who its named after. A simple, soft spoken, Gentle Giant of a man. Byron Nelson!

The world lost “Lord” Byron in September of 2006… however, six years after his death, and we still have this great golf tournament in North Texas, and thousands come and visit the Four Seasons Resort in Las Colinas (Irving, Texas) to watch some of the world’s best players tackle this course.

The story lines are many for the 2012 tournament, you have one player who is a rookie, at the age of 40, making his first appearance at the Nelson, and you have another player who has had, NOT ONE, but TWO heart transplants, in his 32 years of life. AND HE IS ON THE TOUR!

There are other behind the scene stories, how this is Phil Mickelson’s return to the Nelson since he got word that his wife Amy was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2007.  Mickelson stated that he missed this course, and really loves playing it… but truthfully—I think he enjoys Six Flags and the Rangers Games more!

Keegan Bradley, last years champion, won his first tournament and was just worried about keeping his PGA Card, and after winning the tournament, was eligible for the Masters, truly a world wind tour for him!

Nancy Lopez, one of the greats from the LPGA, was honored before the start of the 2012 tournament, she was given the Byron Nelson Award, which is given to those who show philanthropy, as well as their past to the game of GOLF. T Boone Pickens Foundation helps with that award with a 100,000.00 cash award to the charity of the winner’s choice.

However it’s the golf that has the hold on the Las Colinas area, and it’s the championship that is named after one of the very best, 11 strait victories in a row, a man who won the Masters Twice, who was best friends with Ben Hogan, who walked away from the game but not the love of the game. Byron Nelson.

IF you every met him, he would leave upon you an image in your mind that is larger than life, and when he shook your hand, you felt the years of working on a ranch as well as swinging a golf club.

The Nelson! Two Words! Magnificent!


Just a thought!

Watch What YOU Tweet! It Might Cost You!

Social Media, a term that has been in our vernacular for only the last few years, has caused a furor the last few weeks!

Actor Rob Lowe reports the retirement of Indiana Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning-(bogus), Mark Walberg, stated that if he had been on American Flight 11 that crashed into the World Trade Center, he would have done things differently-- he was taken to task by some of the families of those that were lost in that horrible day-- and now a teenager in New Jersey, who is considered to be a major recruit for College Football, has been expelled for his high school, and has lost some offers from schools including his beloved Michigan, because of what he tweeted on his account, that some say was sexually graphic and racially charged.

Yuri Wright, a 17 year old senior at an all boys preparatory school, made comments on his Twitter Account and it got to the point where the school had to take action, and in doing so, they chose to expel Wright from school.  He now has to find a new school to graduate from, and his football career at a Division I School might be completely in jeopardy. 

Social Media has its positives, but it can be a detractor as well. Future Employers look at your Facebook page, your Linked-In page, your Myspace, your Google Plus, a website, if you have one, you get the idea.

There are stories that have been released over the last few years of people losing their jobs because of their Facebook "Status" updates, or photos, there was one professional sport cheerleader that lost her job because of photos that were posted on her Facebook page, there was a Police officer (female) that also lost her job because of the same issue of posting photos that were deemed "inappropriate", and not representing the department.

We have to be so careful these days with what we say, how we say it and more so, where we say it!

How many of us have discovered old friends, classmates, family members, because of social media outlets? Countless-- and continuing the old adage that the World Is Getting Smaller.

When you consider, a 17 year old's lack of common sense, has now seen what was a future, could be a bit troubling.

So what are we to do, how do we keep ourselves safe from ourselves? Self control, well that's a start, but the truth is, our involvement in using those outlets to communicate with others, and say things that might be considered risque, or inappropriate, can come back and bite you, remember even if you think you are talking to just YOUR friends, others might be able to see it... and this could include YOUR future with jobs or schools!

Just a thought!

SHAZAM! ALA-KAZAM! T.O. IS BACK! GET YOUR PPOPCORN

Ah yes, it has happened—a once “BIG” Named athlete has chosen a path that HE hopes will propel him back to the Big Stage, known as the NFL!

Terrell Owens, who once played for various teams in the NFL, including the San Francisco 49ers, The Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals, now the Pro Bowl wide receiver will bring his talents to the Indoor Football League, and the Allen Wranglers!

This has made national news, and has been highlighted on ESPN.

T.O. will showcase himself in a league that is not the ARENA LEAGUE, which used to have teams in Dallas, in fact there were a few, the Dallas Texans, the Dallas Desperados, and the Dallas Vigilantes , the Wranglers started a year ago, and won their season, but the fact is that this is a team that has had two owners, one left half way through the season—the other took it over and, obviously has deep pockets.

But what does T.O. bring to the table other than his name? Grant you he will put buts in the seats, that’s not an issue… the ability to bring his game to the smaller field is something different.

Its not that difficult, in this league, you’re playing only on 50 yards, the routes are shorter, the hitting is just as bad, and lets not forget, that T.O. just came off ACL surgery last season.

Terrell tried to get on with any NFL team that would have him, but that didn’t seem to work out, no one hired him, and there were a lot of teams that could have used a veteran wide-out in the league last season with injuries and such. However, with this game, this type of game that is, how will he hold up?

Now the story is , that he will play only HOME dates, and that his partnership is a cash influx into the team. The arena that they play in, the Allen Event Center has a low ceiling, and that end zones don’t have the traditional nets that we are used to seeing in the AFL (Arena League), so in part, this game does have some challenges to it.

The PLUSES! ALLEN WILL PROFIT from this move, that will have people coming to the games, and buying the merchandise and that in turn will have people milling around the shopping center that the arena is in, and that means that the shops and restaurants will benefit from it as well.

I’m just going to have to wait and see how this all works out for the Wranglers and for the fans—Will they keep coming back to see the team play, last year, if this is an indication, they didn’t sell the place out, they couldn’t even fill half the arena for their games.  With a capacity of 6000, they might have had less than a 1000 per game.  That’s not that great!

Once again, you put a premier name on the field like Owens, and that might all change, we will have to wait and see.

For the most part, its still a game of touchdowns and first downs, and we will see how the Wranglers product on the field will shake out once he comes on board….. Just wondering if Owens, being a part owner will also want to be the coach too…. Just thinking out loud there!

Well then again—ITS JUST A THOUGHT!

The National Championship!

Let me introduce you all to the biggest sham that has ever been presented in the history of the NCAA!

THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!  B C S  STYLE! Well we all know that there is one too many letters—really!

I have been watching College Football for as long as I can remember—the National Champion in Football was usually decided before the end of the year, and on New Years Day, we had four major bowls played in one day!

I miss the day when the Cotton Bowl started the New Year off with not only their parade but the game—then the Rose Bowl played… then the Orange Bowl took Center Stage—the Sugar Bowl was played on New Years Eve… we remember those days!

Now we have all these bowls strung out starting on the second weekend of December and played on almost every night of the week, then the you string out the bigger bowls and they aren’t even on “free TV” they have to be aired on ESPN—only three games were over the air…. The ROSE BOWL was even on ESPN! In the history, of that grand game—its been on all three big networks—CBS, NBC, and most recently ABC!... now its on its cable sister, ESPN! At least the Cotton Bowl has FOX Network to keep them over the air!

Now we move to the number one game, the game that will decide who is the National Champion in College Football, the BCS Championship Game from New Orleans this evening, the LSU Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide.  Some say, this is nothing more than a rematch of the game earlier played in Alabama when the Tide lost to the Tigers 9-6 in overtime.  Rematch, re-run, replay, whatever you wish to call it, some people are not happy about it!

They think that Oklahoma State should be playing for this title, and I have to admit, that would have been a better game, but none the less this is the time where they will either put up or shut up… meaning Alabama—they think that they were robbed in the first meeting, but the truth is, they played the same guys and they lost that game—you want to shut the “ney-sayers” up then beat LSU by more than three!

Though from my side of the fence—I don’t see that happening. I believe that the best team in College football is LSU. They proved it before and I think that they will prove it again in the Super Dome,… that will be more like a Home Field for them—and though Alabama will travel—the LSU side will a bit more louder!

I do think that this game will not be as defensive as the first game, and that the offensive schemes will be more wide open and not so conservative.

With that being said, here is the real crux of the matter…. There must be a playoff system for College Football, the Bowls must agree that they will be used to decide the National Championship tree, and they will be more than just the SUPER Conferences.

Our society has to understand that College football is as huge as the NFL, and that without a playoff system the arguments will continue! WHO is the BEST? Well we will never know unless they break it down, we do it for Basketball as well as Baseball! Why not for Football?

Lower conferences do it, why don’t Division I? I don’t have a clue! And if you do, then you are lot smarter than I.

WE have been told that the schools and the Bowls are against it because of finals and money, and those two things have always been the driving force of college athletics, and that school comes first (grades that is) and that corporate sponsors don’t wish to lose their NAME visibility with the attachment to the Bowl Games.

IN Dallas, the AT&T Cotton Bowl has been the presiding name in that bowl for over 15 years, there has not been another corporate sponsor that has been attached to a bowl for longer and with stronger ties that AT&T. I give them credit, before they came on board—it was the Mobile Cotton Bowl, and then SBC Cotton Bowl, we all know that SBC joined AT&T and that was a natural transition.

But the other Bowls have changed names faster than you and I change shirts. So why is it that one sponsor has stayed with the same bowl for all this time? Its simple, they are local, and the CBAA (Cotton Bowl Athletic Association) has been working with the community for the last 76 years. ‘Nuff Said!

So tonight—in Louisiana, sixty minutes will decide who will be crowned the number one team in College Football and as soon as that game is over—the critics will start their barrage of comments on how this was not the game that should have been played, that Alabama slid into that position without playing in a conference championship game, and that their position in the polls was a load of hogwash, that Oklahoma State should have played—and so on and so on!

Truth is… it’s the Crimson Tide and the Bayou Bengals are hooking up and may the best team win!

Just a thought