Joe Paterno....RIP

    Joe Paterno passed away at age 85 today. He coached football at Penn State for nearly 5 decades, longer than I have been alive. You know the stats (409 wins, most of all coaches in Division 1 or FBS or whatever its called today ever, 2 national titles, 5 undefeated seasons). He is one of the best coaches of all time, any sport, any era, period. This scandal with his former assistant coach is really bad. But I believe Paterno did what he had to do based on what he was told. The former assistant who witnessed the alleged sexual assault did Paterno a disservice by not telling him exactly what happened. Respect  for Paterno and Paterno's age (over 70) at the time notwithstanding, that guy needed to tell Paterno everything, then the Penn State administrators, then the police, back then! Paterno did report what he was told to his bosses. His only error was that he didn't follow up with them about it or call the police himself. Call it loyalty to a trusted former assistant or whatever. Paterno did NOT just sit on it, like some people think or like the former athletic director and others did. They deserve to go to hell.
     This Sandusky guy is a real dirtbag and deserves to go to hell for abusing these kids. Penn State did Paterno wrong by firing him at that time. He should have been allowed to finish the season, if he was physically able  (and perhaps, as we now know, he would not have been). If it had been Paterno himself doing these horrible things, fine, what Penn State did this past fall would have been fine. But Paterno did not know. Those who did know did things all wrong in handling it, trying to protect themselves and the school. Instead they screwed the school, Paterno, the current team that had to bear this mess in the media, and most importantly, the victims of these alleged assaults. They also all but trashed Paterno's legacy, and the school's reputation, especially in the football (and all sports) programs for years to come. The haters need to STFU and show some respect for the dead. Joe Paterno was always classy, even when classy was not cool.
    Paterno was brave in the face of all this, and put the school and its students and the football team before himself. Especially when he was fighting cancer of all things (which is double hell at his age) and may well have known that he had little time left. He still took the high road, asked students not to riot or rage against the school on his behalf and was strong despite all of the stones thrown at him and his family. That is a real man. We should all strive to be as close to a good person as Paterno was. We should all learn from his example. Here is a coach's coach. He leaves us as a great coach, and a even better person. Goodbye, Coach. Thank you for all you did for Penn State, college football and sports as a whole. You have had a wonderful life. Now enjoy the rest that you so greatly deserve. You will be missed.

NFL Officials need more help!

    Let's be clear. Pro sports officials have a tough job. They don't get every call right. NFL officials get more help than most sports ( 7 officials on the field, instant reply, automatic review of all scoring plays, new this year). NFL officials are very good, even without the help. With all that said, the calls they get wrong or they don't call are unbelievable. Starting with the Tuck rule game 10 years ago all the way to today, the calls that officials get wrong show that many a time, the fix is in.
    In today's AFC championship game, let's get it right. Cundiff blew the field goal. Baltimore should have called time out instead of rushing the kick or took the penalty and kicked from 5 yards further back, which would not have mattered (37 yards vs 32 in clear weather). But on the play before, a New England defensive back clearly held the Baltimore wide receiver's jersey before the pass came in. There was a official at the goal line who could have called it...maybe 2. No call. Should have been at least defensive holding or illegal contact, if not pass interference, and gave Baltimore a automatic first down. The play before that, the defensive back could have called for a face guard, but wasn't ( I wouldn't have called it). Still, he did cleanly knock the ball out on a pass the receiver should have caught..no question.
    The NFL, through their referees,  has been giving the Patriots questionable call after call, no call after no call and screwing over other deserving teams from advancing for 10 years (excluding the year when Brady was injured on Week 1, and that team STILL won 10 games and somehow didn't make the playoffs! Belichick should be a Hall of Fame coach for that season, even more than the 5 Super Bowl seasons, considering those circumstances), even after they were busted for spying on the other team's practice 4 years ago. Why? The Patriots are the ultimate patriotic team, especially with their jersey and helmet change and the events of 10 years ago. They love Brady and they love coach Bill Belichick, even if he does cheat and act like a donkey's rear (use your own term) most of the time. Now the Patriots are going to their 5th Super Bowl in 10 years, representing the AFC...instead of Oakland or Pittsburgh or Baltimore or anyone else. The fix is in and it worked, again. But as the NFC championship begins, you have to wonder...what will the Patriots do if the Giants win and get the Patriots again in the biggest game, on a neutral field, this time in a dome whether weather will mean nothing, and two full weeks to prepare? The Giants are clearly better and more dangerous now than they were 3 years ago when they stopped the undefeated Patriots in one of the biggest upsets EVER. Other than at tight end...the Patriots are no better than back then...just older. Hey, Pats, I guess you had better root for the 49ers, right?
 

Let's talk sports for a minute!

   Okay, here is my feelings on sports in a short summary. I am a fan of the Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Capitals, Los Angeles Dodgers, Washington Wizards and the Washington Nationals and the sports teams for the colleges in my home state of Virginia, especially Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Richmond, Virginia State University and the major colleges in Northern Virginia, including the Georgetown basketball team. I do also root for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Kings and underdogs everywhere. Why? Because I am different and these are the (home-area and otherwise) teams I became fond of since I was a teenager. I am not a sheep nor a fair-weather fan, nor a bandwagon jumper.
   I wear my team colors when they win, and I wear them when they lose, just like I wear my fraternity colors (Kappa Alpha Psi) with pride 24/7/366 (leap year in 2012!). I respect those who do the same for whatever teams and sports they passionately follow, even if they are Cowboys fans or worse..lol. I don't jump from team to team to support the current champ just so I can say I support winners. I support winners and I am a winner. Those who aren't down with that can kiss my rear (or add preferred profane version). I am kind of trying to keep it clean here.
   Sports is about competition, trying to be the best and all that. But it is about fun and entertainment and a positive escape from the harsh realities of life, and it is (usually, unless you are at the venue in person) a lot cheaper than drugs, alcohol, tobacco with far fewer negative side effects. So watch the sports you like and never ever apologize to anyone for such. Yes, bowling, NASCAR, MMA (not WWE) and golf are sports and those who make a living doing them are real athletes. They are doing stuff (at the highest levels) that 99 percent of us can't and/or won't do, period. So don't diss.

Who is the Ebony Hammer and why should you read his blog?

     Hello and welcome to my blog! This is my first time doing anything like this so bear with me. This is my attempt to put some of my thoughts, experiences, opinions and even rants and random musings in a format that others can read and perhaps get some insight or help or something positive from. I try to be a positive person and that is not easy in today's world unless you are a kid, naive and/or really dense. If anything you read here is helpful to you, please let me know. I also appreciate feedback and discussion as well.  I am very open-minded, a good listener and I try to be fair, mostly-balanced (unlike Fox News...ha!) and unbiased...most of the time.
    Who is the Ebony Hammer? He is a bi-racial American citizen who has had a interesting life that is getting more interesting by the minute. I am not the most exciting guy, or the best-looking, or even the most physically attractive. I do think my personality is what draws people closer to me, though I have been mostly a loner (partially by choice) in my life so far.
     Why should you read this blog, when there are so many others out there, some written by folk who have a gift for words (and blogs), some who have a following and maybe even makes money from their thoughts and some that just plain make you crazy in one form or another? Here are my reasons, and if such is enough for you, great! If not, thanks for checking it out. My reasons:
  
1.  I am not a professional writer or blogger (as of today, January 7, 2012) so I am not getting paid a dime for my words. So I am not benefiting from this other that the joy of writing that I am getting.
2. I have no special agenda that I am promoting. Hence, I write what I feel and those who don't like such know what they can do (I presume that I cannot use serious foul words here, so I will use clean substitutes).
3. I am doing this for me, not for anyone else or whatever. If this goes well, I will be pleased. If not, I will survive.
4. I am honest, I don't BS people, I am diplomatic, but I also don't mind if you don't like me and the feeling is mutual. It happens. If you want a piece of me, take a number. The line is kind of long. Sorry.
5. I think a blog from a "average" guy  who talks about his life, thoughts and opinions is a good thing and is worth reading. So why not make one myself instead of scrolling through a thousand others trying to find one I like? Saves time and energy.

So that is it. I will try to blog often, and try to keep it interesting and with some variety. Feedback would be nice. Have a Happy 2012 and see you soon!