Monthly Archives: October 2017

NFL Mexico City Game-Big Dilemma For Knee Takers….. by, Michael Hawke

31 Tuesday Oct 2017

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The NFL scheduled three regular season games outside of the United States this season. Two of the three games are in the books, both having been played in London, the third is coming November 19, in Mexico City. The NFL owners and Commissioner Roger Goodell see these international, regular season, games as a way to promote and grow international fans and increase revenues.

Ironically the NFL is seeing their US fan base decrease in larger percentages each week due to the many NFL players taking a knee during our National Anthem. The players claim they are protesting against social and racial injustice toward minorities by police and others.

Many NFL fans are patriotic and watch NFL football to get away from the stresses of real life and the weekly grind of work. Fans watch to relax, enjoy, be entertained, and to feel the competition of the game while rooting for their team to win.  No fan wants to sit down on Sunday watching their team play knowing half or more of the players on the field started the game by disrespecting the National Anthem.

This creates “serious angst” for many fans and is causing them do something else….as shown by the growing numbers just tuning out the NFL. For the average fan it is hard to keep watching million dollar athletes disrespect the flag every week when they are grindiing it out paycheck to paycheck, knowing, in their work place, there is no knee taking allowed…. none, nada, zip!

So….”the NFL is not the only game in town”.

The obvious question is why these knee takers feel their protests must happen during the National Anthem. These are million dollar athletes! They can have a platform with microphones, cameras, and the media hanging on their every word, any time or place they choose. They could be making  a “positive impact” on these social issues.

Instead, they choose to disrespect our nation, our military men and women, our veterans, our anthem, our flag, and all those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms by kneeling during our National Anthem.  Not only do they disrespect….. they send a very wrong message to youth, to fans, and to other nations, that America is so bad, so unjust, and so racist that they must protest during their own National Anthem.

Rocky Bleir, former Vietnam wounded war hero, seven season Pittsburg Steeler half back, four time Super Bowl champion, put it best; this is a mess created by Roger Goodell and the owners. It is not about free speech in the work place. The players are harming the profitability of their company, the NFL.  No worker could do the same thing at their place of work and not lose his or her job.

The London, England Games:

  • Wembley Stadium, London England; September 23, 2017
  • Jacksonville Jaguars 44 – Baltimore Ravens 7
  • Knee Takers: National Anthem- 2 dozen / British Anthem “God Save the Queen” – 0
  • Wembley Stadium, London England; October 1, 2017
  • New Orleans Saints 20 – Miami Dolphins 0
  • Knee Takers: During our Anthem aprox. 5 / British Anthem “God Save the Queen”- 0 note: the entire Saints team stood and locked arms for unity prior to our anthem.

The Mexico City Game-The Perfect Storm: The Mexico City NFL game in Azteca Stadium between the Raiders and the Patriots should pose a problem for the players who claim to be taking a knee to promote social and racial justice in America where, by their view, things are pretty bad.

There could be no two teams more suited for the “perfect knee taking storm” than the Raiders and the Patriots. There is no doubt the knee takers will see it as an opportunity to “put it in the faces” of the anthem supporters, President Trump, patriotic Americans, by taking a knee of disrespect during our National Anthem…..and then…. standing during the “Himno Nacional Mexicano” (the Mexican National Anthem), as a show of their respect for Mexico and the Mexican people.

Their Big Dilema: There is no better place to show protest toward political corruption, social prejudice, racism, and police abuse than in Mexico City.  Mexico is a two tiered society made up of the rich and poor. There is however a hidden third class, the indigenous peoples, who have suffered open prejudice, abuse, and political exclusion since Mexico’s independence from Spain. Today the indigenous peoples of Mexico live in abject poverty.  State racism condemns the indigenous people of Mexico to prison and poverty.

“Discrimination and racism permeate the state, institutions, and society when native peoples are perceived as needy, lazy, lacking, and impotent. Stereotypes continue to exclude indigenous people from developing policy to address their rights”. Laticia Aparacio Sorrono, Octobre 27, 2015

To NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the owners, and the knee takers: Here is your veracity test. Are you really all about “free speech” and the courage to say and do what is needed to bring attention to social and political wrongs?

Compared to the problems in our country these things are a thousand times worse in Mexico. Do you believe knee taking during a National Anthem is the best way to draw attention to these social evils?  If so, I challenge you to take a knee during the playing of “Himno Nacional Mexicano.  Show the same disrespect toward the national pride of the people of Mexico as you do toward that of your own fellow citizens and fans back home.

Michael Hawke

 

 

 

The Daily Mix……by, Michael Hawke

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by in Political Science, Spiritual, Sports, Uncategorized

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Tom Steyer: Most people have never heard of him….. He is running “Impeach Trump” adds on TV. The adds cost in the 7 figure a minute range. He claims they are not funded by Nextgen, but rather being paid from personal funds. By his own claims he is spending $10million dollars to promote the impeachment of the President. His bio claims he is an environmentalist, progressive activist, hedge fund manager, and fundraiser….oh, also a philanthropist. Seems like that $10,000,000 could have done a lot for the homeless problem here in California…doubt it will do much to impeach President Trump.

Rocky Belier: Most people have never heard of him….. He is an American hero having volunteered for the Vietnam war. He was an high NFL prospect and went to serve, foregoing the NFL. In Vietnam he had his foot nearly blown off and it was doubtful he would ever play football and maybe even walk again. He is a gritty blue collar guy form the Midwest. He went on not to just walk, but to play halfback seven season for the Pittsburg Steelers.

His recent take on the NFL knee takers crisis: He said it should have been nipped in the bud by Roger Goodell. It is not about free speech. Nothing any of us do at work gives us the right to upset the company rules for our own personal issues. If he were NFL Commissioner it would be stopped. These guys are being paid to play football, it is a business, they are employees. If their actions damage our product they do not stay with the company. He also pointed out the obvious, like these guys cannot make their point in a thousand other ways and places and not like none of these NFL knee takers are irreplaceable. I hope he replaces Roger Goodell.

Ken Burns: Many people have heard of him…. He is an American documentary film maker, the creator of the recent Vietnam War history that ran on TV a few weeks back. It was a docu-series about the history, “according to Burns”, of the Vietnam War.

If you are a left leaning person or a college student you ate it up. Many scenes, quotes, and interviews were either incomplete or lacking truth altogether. It made for good TV though, and also good political brain washing. Too bad Rocky Bleier was not interviewed, or many of the thousands who actually fought in the war. I keep waiting for….”The Real Historical Documentary of the Vietnam War”. I know it is coming.

Dominus Vobiscum: Latin invocation to St. Michael the Archangel for protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. We sure do need this prayer in our personal lives as well as for our nation.

The Daily Mix…….by, Michael Hawke

12 Thursday Oct 2017

Posted by in Motivation, Sports

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NFL Players Union: The NFL Players Union has announced that Jerry Jones threat to bench players for not standing for the Anthem is against their union agreement. I suggest the NFL Players Union take a knee on this effort. They must be aware ratings are slumping….. and will fall fast and far if this continues.

Economics 101: Just want to state what is obvious to me….the NFL players need the fans more than the fans need the NFL players.  I quit the NFL a few weeks back and now I get my football fix watching college football games on Saturday. My Sundays are now free and I do other things. So much better not getting aggravated watching these rich, privileged, players bringing their politics into my living room when all I want to do is relax and watch football.

Jerry Brown’s ” Sanctuary State “: Governor Brown decided he would make the entire state of California a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants. He has removed ICE  (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) out of all prisons, jails, and other police sites where they have traditionally been located in order to facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants who have broken the law. Governor Brown says the Federal Government has no authority to manage and enforce the immigration laws of our nation in the state of California. To me he is coming pretty close to declaring independence from the Union.

Governor On Notice: ICE has put California, and the good Governor, on notice that it’s officers will continue their mission of enforcing immigration law and arresting and deporting illegal immigrants. ICE stated since they are not getting cooperation from the state law enforcement agencies they will now be seeking illegal immigrants in their neighborhoods, work places, and homes. ICE officers will send all arrested illegal immigrants out of the state in order to secure them during the deportation process.

Governor Brown has now caused ICE to broaden it’s footprint in the state and when illegal immigrants are detained they will be removed from their families and sent to another state. This is called the law of unintended consequences. Good job Governor Brown, so very compassionate of you.

Race Horses: I recently read about a stallion that was shot while running across a pasture. The shooter was aiming for the rider and hit the horse instead. The horse leapt over a fence clipping it with his back legs as his muscles gave out in mid air. The rider fell off as the horse hit the ground. The horse never quit and in his dying moments lay there on his side moving his legs as if running. This is how we should live our lives…keep on running, keep on doing good, keep on being good.

Tim Tebow: He finished his first professional baseball season with a .226 batting average. He had over 60 RBIs and over ten home runs. Not bad for a guy who has not played baseball in several years. He was moved up two levels in the minor league system and says he will return next year to play in the Mets organization.

Tebow A Distraction: Remember when Tim Tebow was taking a knee after touchdowns and the NFL got upset. He was giving thanks to God. The sports talk shows kept bashing him saying the reason he was not picked up was not just his poor throwing skills but that he was too much of a distraction on the field and in the locker room. I have to laugh at this when I see what a mess they have on their hands now. I bet the NFL  wishes they had Tebow on a team now. It is hard for me to listen to these same sport talk guys echoing the NFL line that the players have free speech rights to take a knee during the National Anthem. Good thing these NFL knee takers are not a distraction…. such utter hypocrisy. To the NFL I can only say karma is a real hurt!

 

 

TheDaily Mix…….by, Michael Hawke

11 Wednesday Oct 2017

Posted by in Political Science, Spiritual, Sports

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Jerry Jones: The Dallas Cowboys owner put some clarity on the NFL players taking a knee. He said the Dallas Cowboy players will stand for the National Anthem or they will sit the bench and not play. This is smart and it should have been done earlier. So many players were torn and pressured. Now an adult has stepped up and made it easy for them. No stand no play. No play no pay…and there you have it. Thank you Mr. Jones for respecting your fans, your country, and our veterans, past and present….even if the pocket book was your motivation.

Senator Bob Corker, R-Tennessee: Senator Corker was re-elected by telling his constituents he would vote to replace Obama Care. Well as we all know he had the chance and he did not come though. This week he has announced he will not run for re-election in 2018 for his Senate seat. He also has gone on the attack against President Trump. It does not take a “high IQ” to understand that  Mr. Corker has begun his Presidential election campaign for 2020. To Bob Corker, and all the other Republican Representatives in Washington, I say do your job…..just do your job. Additionally, to Mr. Corker I suggest you resign and let someone take over who will do the will of the people of Tennessee.

San Diego Homeless Numbers: Official tallies have the homeless numbers in San Diego at 12,000. Unofficial tallies state it is closer to 30,000. With the recent Hepatitis A break out, business and community outrage over the chaos, and the virtual take over of the new downtown library as the homeless community day center…. maybe our Mayor and city leaders are finally waking up? Lets hope and pray they do their jobs…just do their jobs. One more thing on this….if you or I were homeless and had to live on the streets San Diego would be our number one destination. A few years back some cities were caught providing one way tickets to Hawaii for some of their homeless people. I would not doubt they are now bussing their problems our way.

Ensenada Mexico Trip: I spent last weekend in Ensenada, Mexico. Ensenada is about 50 miles South of Tijuana. The toll road is a 10 on a 10 point scale. It is very clean, fast, and safe with views of the Pacific Ocean along the coast that are awe inspiring. I was in Baja doing research for my new book. We stayed at the Coral Hotel and enjoyed a first class experience. Sunday we dined on fresh goat, lamb, and fish at their buffet. A visit to Ensenada is not complete unless you visit Housongs, a famous cantina that offers drinks and a first class mariachi. On the way back we stopped in Puerto Nuevo for lobster dinner, the best on the West coast.

Las Vegas Shooting: Our prayers and thoughts go out to the victims, their families, and loved ones. I know there will be more to this story so I will leave it with the thought that automatic weapons, no matter how they are made to be automatic, should not be legal. The second amendment does not give me the right to buy a shoulder firing heat seeking missile launcher. These auto and semi auto rifles should be classified military weapon types and made illegal. I legally own hand guns, rifles, and shot guns. I use them for sport, recreational hunting, and target shooting. I stay proficient for my personal and family’s security. I do not need to fire a hundred rounds to stay safe and if I do I am certain there will be police and or military help on the way.

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees: Their playoff series is tied 2-2. I am rooting for the Indians. They had an awesome season and deserve to go to the World Series. I sure hope they do not over think it tomorrow. Go Cleveland! Just do your job boys….just do your job!

Phil Michelson’s Putter: Phil finished 3rd this past weekend!  He is an awesome player and can easily win many more tournaments, and I believe a few more Majors. If I could give him some advice I would tell him his biggest problem is his putter, it should be longer. He is tall, has arthritis issues, and should not be bending over so far to putt. He uses a very short putter which I think takes a toll on him after three rounds so by Sunday he is not able to focus on his putting due to the strain. It is all subconscious mind you, but golf is that way. Phil you need a longer shafted putter! You can thank me after you put on the Green Jacket again next year!