Category Archives: Sports

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!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

President Trump’s NFL Comments; “Right On The Mark” …….by, Michael Hawke

25 Monday Sep 2017

Posted by in Political Science, Sports

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I was beginning to feel happy to be done with the NFL this season having let my thoughts on the issue be defined with my recent article, “I Quit the NFL”. I have quite a few other things I want to write about and was feeling good about putting this NFL “take a knee” chaos off my writing plate. I also am realizing, after three weeks of “not watching NFL Sunday football”, that I do not even miss it!

Then the President’s NFL owner comments came out this past week and I am once again dutifully compelled to respond, in the hope of bringing some logic and clarity to what has evolved into nothing less than a complete mess.

Football and politics can never be good together. The absolute bottom line here is that fans watch football to escape real life stresses and pressures. They do not want to watch player protests during our National Anthem at the beginning of the game. If it’s politics they want they tune into Fox News or CNN. The NFL has chosen not only to allow these protests, but to defend them as somehow the players rights, even suggesting the knee takers are social justice heroes….doing the NFL equivalent of the Rosa Parks bus protest.

As a retired Army veteran of 29 plus years, and the son of a WWII Navy War Veteran who served in the Pacific, I have wondered just how long the NFL player protests could continue before the average citizen fan starts getting as upset with these pseudo social warriors as I have been. Well, the dung hit the fan this week, no doubt about it. As for me, and my family, the National Anthem is not about America being “a perfect nation”, rather it is about it being a place where people can strive to make it “a more perfect union”.  The men and women, of all ethnic groups and races, who have fought and died to keep it free are the heroes who deserve our full respect and honor.

This is Roger Goodell’s response to President Trump’s remarks;

“divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our clubs and players represent in our communities”. USA Today

My response to Roger Goodell’s comment;

” divisive actions like players taking a knee during the National Anthem demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for our Nation, our great diversity, and all of our veterans who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms, and a failure to understand the overwhelming force for good our military soldiers, sailors, marines, and coast guard represent in our communities”.

Commissioner Goodell’s comments ring self serving. We are somehow to equate the players contributions with those sacrifices of our military men and women who have served defending our freedoms and the American way of life.

The NFL that Roger Goodell states deserves such great respect is a tax free, $10 billion dollar a year entity, that has “non profit” status. It also holds cities and communities hostage to build stadiums and provide venues in order to gain, or maintain an NFL franchise.

NFL owners and players make obscene profits. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s annual salary to mange this so called “non-profit” is reported to be over $35 million dollars a year. I wonder if any of these NFL players understand that most kids today never even get the opportunity to go to an NFL game simply due to the high ticket costs set by the NFL.

There is just so much hypocrisy here it makes you want to scream. Yet, in all of it, we are somehow supposed to be sympathetic to Roger Goodell’s indignity over President Trump’s “right on the mark” comments about the NFL, it’s mega rich players, and gutless owners. The liberal media feeds this farce….mostly driven by Trump hating, and fails to even ask one player the following questions;

  1. Please tell specifically the concerns that are driving you to disrespect our flag, our nation, and the many heroes who have given their all by taking a knee during the National Anthem
  2. Could you still express your protest toward these issues but do so in a different venue or time?

These rich NFL players can exercise their right to protest in so many other ways than during the National Anthem. They choose to ignore how their protest affects others and also refuse to find more appropriate venues for their concerns. These players also fail to think about how their actions affect young people who look to them as role models.

So, as I have previously declared, I Quit the NFL!

 

Michael Hawke

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I QUIT THE NFL” ….By, Michael Hawke

15 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in Character, Sports

≈ 2 Comments

Marshawn Lynch I say to your coaches, the owners, and the fellow players who are too cowardly to pull your spoiled butt off the bench during the playing of our National Anthem ….” I QUIT THE NFL ” … I watch college football.

I have had it with spoiled NFL players disrespecting America, and all those who have fought and died for their many freedoms, which include playing professional football for millions of dollars. When NFL players kneel, squat, or sit….it says to all the fans, kids and people around the world… “I believe our country is a racist place where minorities are kept down”.

America is not perfect, but it is a free country where people can work, live, travel, make a fortune, or just enjoy life. Marshawn Lynch when you sit during our National Anthem you are doing an advertisement to the world that says “America is bad, evil, no equality for all, a place where minorities are kept down, where life is unfair”. That is the lie you send out, not just to NFL football fans, but to all people around the world. Our enemies even use your protests to gain advantage and to build propaganda.

You know Marshawn Lynch America has treated you just fine. Your current net worth is over $30,000,000. dollars. Your current NFL salary is listed as $1,350,000.dollars per year. That is for a season that lasts less than six months. Your other income from commercials, advertising, and endorsements puts you even higher I am sure, probably pushes you up into the stratosphere of incomes.

You went to the University of California Berkeley, which is one of the top five academic schools in America, my alma mater also. We went to the same school Marshawn. I served in the United States Army for 29 years. I am not even going to list my net worth…it is not based on dollars either. You know I served with guys who paid the total price…Blacks, Whites, Asians, American Indians, Christians, Jews, Muslims…. men and women from all races, creeds, and backgrounds. They believed that while our country was not perfect it was free, and it was worth giving their all, even to die, so their loved ones and fellow Americans might stay free.

Your protest should shame you and the uppity football league called the NFL. The NFL stands for  “National Football League “.  Kind of funny to me…it should be called the “UFL ” for “Unfair Football League”. Nothing National about the NFL. It is all about the money, and the players lucky enough to get there should not be sitting on their asses during the playing of the National Anthem. You want to protest do so off the field. That anthem, before the game,….it means a lot to many Americans, Americans less fortunate than you, but who understand what freedom is, and what it is not.

You know what an E-6 Sergeant makes yearly Marshawn Lynch? Take a good look…. $40,896.00. When you add all the other percs, such as BAQ and medical, they may make $50,000.00, dollars a year. So think about this…you are protesting the unfairness of our country because we have a small number of racist fools while our military men and women are risking their lives training, preparing, moving from family on deployments, and serving in combat zones. They do this why? So you can pipe out a message to the world  “America sucks…it is unfair….it is racist” !

Marshawn Lynch have you ever asked yourself why 75% of the people on the planet would move to America in a “New York Minute”, given the chance? Did you ever wonder on that one? I bet it must be because the rest of the world is really fair, and really free, right?  No Marshawn, the rest of the world is not free, fair, or without racism and prejudice. You want to protest Marshawn go to Africa, India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia….there are some really bad places. There are many countries where minorities, gays, women, and children are abused, kept down, and murdered ….where life is cheap and freedom is non-existent.  Next vacation Marhsawn skip the Bahamas, tag along with our troops in Afghanistan and learn about the real world.

My advice to you is to start giving hope and positives to people, including the minority communities. Use your platform to build up not tear down, unite not divide, encourage not discourage. Marshawn when you sit on your fat, rich, ass during the playing of the National Anthem you do not give people hope…you give them despair…and the sad thing is you are telling them a lie.  You tell them the game is rigged, they cannot make it. You convey to them they should have doubt, fear, despair, and hate.

Marshawn because a group of white racists hold a march and create a riot does not make America a racist country. America is not a perfect nation. It never was, but we have always strived as a people to become better, to make our country a place of opportunity and freedom for all. Looks like it has worked for you?

As for the NFL….the league evidently thinks it cannot interfere with players rights to protest during the playing of the National Anthem but they have no problem keeping them from celebrating in the end zone after touch downs. I say they show some real cowardly behavior. Personally, if I were the owner of the Oakland Raiders, I would fire you and any player who protests during the National Anthem.

No player should be bigger than the team, or the league. No football fan watches the game to see players push politics. Fans want to enjoy sports and escape the grind of their lives. You guys just don’t get it.

I QUIT THE NFL … watch college games… join the protest.

Michael Hawke

 

The Daily Mix…..by, Michael Hawke

14 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by in Motivation, Sports

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Tim Tebow:   Tim Tebow was moved up to Single A ball in the Mets organization and is hitting 327. He has an 11 game hitting streak going and today hit his first professional “walk off” homer for the win. He will at AA level by the end of the season. Great job Tebow, I know you are having fun chasing your dream! Baseball is an awesome game.

San Diego Padres: All I hear is we have a great President, a great General Manager, an Awesome Coach…..we are in last place. I am not buying the ” youth movement….we just need a few more years of patience” stuff. Free agency pretty much kills that plan, or it has in the past. Still a fan…they are still my team, keep trying boys!

Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton:  I ran into Lee this morning at the library in San Diego. He is producing his own “Sports Page” and awaiting an opportunity to get back in the booth. He was great in the Chargers hey day. I used to listen to him every morning on my ride to work. They replaced him with a loud mouth ego and their ratings are now in the cellar, or below. Progress, eh? Hang in there Lee, you know your stuff and your voice is still golden.

President Trump: The POTUS and FLOTUS are in Paris for the celebration of Bastille Day. I watched the press conference and Trump owns a room when he is in it. The President of France kind of resembles portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte….eerie. They seem to be getting along and I believe our President is doing a great job and will be a two termer. He may even surpass Ronald Reagan as a down to earth, common sense leader. “Build Up That Wall, Mr. President” !

Hannity: Not sure who his producer is but in his TV, and Radio shows, he opens with what he calls “my monologue”. He runs on and on and on, making a significant number of points on several different issues. Sean Hannity is in love with himself. The personal pronoun “I” is his favorite word.  He has good ideas and some good shows, but he does not know how to let the show be the focus. He thinks he needs to be the focus…. and for the record Sean you just are not that interesting. Get out the way and let things work.

Endeavor: Taking Endeavor out on Sunday with friends. Nothing is more relaxing than sailing on San Diego Bay. I named her after Captain Cook’s first ship. My ultimate goal for Endeavor is to take her through the Canal to Cuba and after that who knows where the wind might blow us.

Louie Lamoure: One of the most prolific writers of modern time. His autobiography is called  “The Education of a Wandering Man”. If you have not read it you are missing out. He says what makes a great writer is being a great reader. He lists all the books he ever read and this alone is worth having the book. A must read on your summer reading list.

 

 

 

 

“My Dream” A Voyage of Courage, Vision, and Inspiration……by Michael Hawke

12 Wednesday Apr 2017

Posted by in Character, Motivation, Sports

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The Voyage of “My Dream” :  My friend Dan is on a solo sail to the Pacific Islands. He departed San Diego five days ago and is heading on a southwesterly course as we read this copy of his log, dated 4/10/2017.  Dan’s boat is named “My Dream” and sailing to the South Pacific has been his dream for most of his adult life. He is now following “His Dream”.  I will be keeping you up to date on Dan’s progress as his voyage evolves.

Tim Tebow was asked by a famous sports announcer how he could even think about trying to play major league baseball when his “best chance to succeed” was in football?  He replied ;  “Chances?…. it’s not about chances, it’s about following your dreams….”.   Thanks for following your dreams Dan.  You inspire us “big league”, and we are rooting for you brother!

Hi,

Boy did we have a ride last night. Winds blowing 20 kts. I had to put a second reef in the main before dark and was flying only the stay sail. Still we were doing 7-8 kts before I went to bed, and several hours after that.

When I started my day at 06:30 (local time) we were still doing 5-6 kts, so I left the sails as they were. The boat was more upright yet cruising along at a decent clip. I wanted to charge the batteries and make some water. After an hour and a half the AP the AP indicated it had reached it’s “current limit”. What did that mean? I had no idea, so I shut down the generator and water maker, ate a brunch, and took a nap.

After a nap I tore all the stuff out of the lazarette to find the shelf (which happens to be unsupported and was holding a half a bucket of chain) had fallen in the path of the tiller arm, which prevented the AP drive from moving the rudder as it was supposed to do. Moving the chain to supported shelf in the lazarette  should prevent that from happening again, but there is now a new project on my list of things to do when I get to some place where it an be done ( it would be VERY difficult to tab in a support while under way.

I shook out one reef and left the stay sail up at 1700 (local).

Current Location=lat/lon 17* 48.6′ N, 124*38.9′ W

This has been a 142 mile day!….Yippee! Now that’s what I’m talkin about.

Giant Ball….Killing the Game We Love………by Michael Hawke

22 Wednesday Feb 2017

Posted by in Sports

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Giant Ball: This is the name I have given to the sport that used to be called basketball. The current game should not be confused with the real thing.  Giant Ball is boring and eventually, when the players are all 7’0″ and taller, the game will die a natural death.

I grew up loving basketball and enjoyed playing and watching the game. I watched college, pros, listened to the games on radio, and went to see the Toledo Rockets as a kid. I played high school ball and then in the Army. That was in the late 1960s and early 1970s. By 1990 the game was done, changed forever. In dire need of resuscitation…call the paramedics!

The game changed and as President Trump might say….” it changed BIGLEY” ! For the younger people today this is the only game they know. Giant Ball is all about pushing, shoving, traveling, carrying the ball while dribbling, trotting to mid court in three long strides, intimidating referees, and dunking. I do not take away the good shooting but that has been the result of a smaller ball, hoop, and shrunken court. Too easy.

What can be done to save the game you ask? Well, I have a plan. I want to start a test league trying out different sized larger courts, taller hoops, a bigger ball, and an extra referee. This would help bring back defense, the use of the entire bench…as players will get gassed running instead of trotting…they will need need breaks. This all leads to greater strategy and finesse by teams and coaches. It will bring back the average size player to complement the big guys. It will be sport once more, and not showtime.

All I need is a former NBA star to help me save the game of basketball.  Bill Walton are you listening?

Micahel Hawke