ONLY WORDS

****** THEY'RE ONLY WORDS ,BUT WORDS ARE ALL I HAVE TO TAKE YOUR HEART AWAY  . THAT IS WHAT THE BEE-GEES SANG .

THE SEC FOOTBALL COACHES ARE SINGING THAT REFRAIN TODAY AS LOUD AS THEY CAN .

THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN THE COACHES TOSS AS MUCH VERBAL MANURE AS POSSIBLE ON THEIR LOYAL FANS .

EVERY YEAR WE HEAR THE SAME SONG ,SOMETIMES FROM A NEW VOICE . DON'T GET EXCITED IT'S ONLY WORDS .

WORDS YOU HEAR OVER AND OVER , SUCH AS  :

1. WE ARE GOING IN A NEW DIRECTION .

COACHES KEEP SAYING THAT BUT IT IS THE SAME - O - SAME - O  YEAR AFTER YEAR . NOTHING CHANGES BUT THE COACHES .

2. WE HAVE A GREAT RECRUITING CLASS

NEVER ONCE HAVE I HEARD A COACH SAY WE DIDN'T GET A SINGLE PLAYER WE WANTED . WE JUST TOOK THE LEFT - OVERS . GUYS NOBODY ELSE WANTED .

3. WE HAVE A NEW OFFENSE

WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT MOST EVERY TEAM IN THE NATION IS DOING . THE FANS CAN'T BE TOO CRITICAL AS LONG AS WE FOLLOW THE CROWD .
WE VISITED THE NATIONAL CHAMPS AND COPIED THEIR OFFENSE PLAY BY PLAY .

MAYBE ,WE SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP A FEW OF THEIR PLAYERS . THESE PLAYS SEEM TO WORK BETTER WITH THEIR PLAYERS .

4. WE ARE GOING TO CONTROL TEMPO .

YES, WE ARE GOING TO PLAY FAST .  WE WILL RUN THE OTHER TEAM RAGGED .

ON THE OTHER HAND IF WE PLAY FAST THAT SORRY OFFENSE WON'T BE OUT THERE LONG BEFORE THEY CAN HIDE ON THE BENCH AND RECOVER FROM THOSE CONCUSSIONS .

5. WE ARE GOING TO PLAY WITH PRIDE AND ENTHUSIASM .

THIS RAGGEDY  BUNCH WILL HAVE TROUBLE MAKING IT OUT OF THE TUNNEL WITHOUT FALLING DOWN . THEY ARE ABOUT AS ENTHUSIASTIC AS A GUY WAITING ON A PROCTOLOGY  EXAM .

6. OUR FAMILY IS VERY HAPPY HERE .

MY WIFE MAVIS JEAN IS ALREADY WORKING WITH A REALTOR AND THE KIDS ARE ASKING IF THEY CAN GO LIVE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS .

I DIDN'T KNOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVED LIKE THIS . THE NEXT STOP HAS TO BE BETTER .

7. WE ARE MUCH IMPROVED

MY LORD , WE COULD NOT BE ANY WORSE .  I GUESS WE COULD BEAT MOST ALL HIGH SCHOOLS BUT THERE IS NOT MANY OF THOSE ON AN SEC SCHEDULE.  

SEE IT IS ONLY WORDS . WORDS ARE ARE MEANINGLESS .

YOU WANT TO BE BETTER ,GET BETTER PLAYERS .

IT'S NOT YOUR OFFENSE OR DEFENSE , IT'S YOUR PLAYERS .

HUGH FREEZE HAS IMPROVED OLE MISS BECAUSE HE IS GETTING BETTER PLAYERS . HOW HE GETS THEM I DON'T KNOW . BUT HE IS .

EVERY YEAR COACHES GO TO CLINICS AND GET NEW PLAYS . MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE A PLACE TO GO GET PLAYERS .


LET'S PUT AWAY THE WORDS AND START PLAYING !!!!!!!!

TIME TO PULL THE PLUG

***** IT IS TIME TO PULL THE PLUG ON ALL - STAR GAMES . THE MLB ALL - STAR GAME WOULD BE THE START .

HOW CAN I SAY SUCH A THING ? WELL, I HAVE A LOT OF REASONS .

1. THE PLAYERS DON'T WANT TO PLAY .

THE PLAYERS WOULD RATHER HAVE A THREE DAY BREAK THAN TRAVEL TO A MEANINGLESS GAME . A 162 GAME SEASON DOES NOT NEED TO BE EXTENDED .

PLAYERS MAKE SO MUCH MONEY NOW THAT THE ALL- STAR BONUS IS LESS THAN TIP MONEY FOR THESE GUYS .

AND THERE IS ALWAYS THE RISK OF INJURY . SOME PLAYERS HAVE HAD CAREERS ENDED AT THE ALL - STAR GAME. REMEMBER RAY FOSSE .


THE ONLY THING PLAYERS GET FROM THE ALL-STAR THING IS THE EGO BOOST . LIKE THEY REALLY NEED ONE .

2. THE OWNERS DON'T WANT THE PLAYERS TO PLAY  . 

THE RISK OF INJURY TO PLAYERS IS THE OWNER'S GREATEST FEAR . YOU HATE TO LOSE A MULTI- MILLION DOLLAR PLAYER IN A MEANINGLESS GAME .

ALSO THE GAME CAN PLAY HAVOC WITH YOUR PITCHING ROTATION . THE DAMAGE TO YOUR PITCHING ROTATION CAN PERSIST LONG AFTER THE GAME . 

3. THE FANS ARE REALLY SHORTCHANGED .

THE FANS`ONLY SEE THE PLAYER BAT ONCE OR PITCH ONE INNING . 

AND ARE THE BEST PLAYERS REALLY THERE ?  FANS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO STUFF THE BALLOT BOX . 

SOME PLAYERS ARE AUTOMATIC SELECTIONS  NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF YEAR THEY ARE HAVING 

4. THE GAME IS MEANINGLESS 

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE IN THE WORLD SERIES IS AT STAKE . I HATE TO BURST YOUR BUBBLE BUT ONLY THE PLAYERS FROM CONTENDING  TEAMS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS . 
 
A PLAYER IS NOT GOING TO BUST HIS TAIL IF THERE IS NO BENEFIT FOR HIM . THAT IS JUST THE WAY THE COMMODE FLUSHES . 

ALSO INTER - LEAGUE PLAY HAS KNOCKED THE SHINE OFF OF THE ALL - STAR GAME . 

THERE YOU HAVE MY CASE TO PULL THE PLUG ON ALL -STAR GAMES . I THINK YOUR STRONGEST ARGUMENTS FOR MLB . FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL ALL-STAR  GAMES ARE IRRELEVANT & RIDICULOUS !

***** A SHOUT - OUT TO PHIL MICKELSON FOR WINNING THE BRITISH OPEN . PHIL IS 43 , YOU DON'T WIN MANY MAJORS PAST 40 .

OL' TIGER IS JUST NOT THE SAME . HE DOESN'T REALLY LOOK LIKE HE WANTS TO BE THERE . 

***** A BIG HI HO TO GREAT MEDINA CLOSER  PITCHER SQUEEZE JOHNSON .  HE WAS UN-HITABLE DOWN THE STRETCH  . I CAN SEE HIM NOW SITTING IN THE DUGOUT  SMOKING A COUPLE OF VICE - ROYS  WHILE WAITING TO PITCH . 

TELL YOUR MOMMA & THEM HI !!!!!!!    
   

JUST THINKING JUDGEMENTS

***** DIVISION OF LABOR WAS A GREAT IDEAL IN THE INDUSTRIAL WORLD . A WORKER DOES NOT MAKE THE WHOLE PRODUCT ,JUST A CERTAIN PART .

THE WORKER BECOMES VERY SKILLED AT HIS JOB . MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT . IT CAN BE BIG TROUBLE WHEN YOU TRY TO DO SOMEONE ELSE'S JOB .

WHAT WORKS IN THE WORLD OF INDUSTRY ALSO WORKS IN THE SPIRITUAL WORLD. WE HAVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS TO ENABLE US TO DO CERTAIN JOBS . WE GET IN TROUBLE WHEN WE TRY TO DO SOMEONE ELSE'S JOB

I WAS READING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT 'S JOB WAS TO CONVICT , THE LORD'S JOB WAS TO JUDGE , AND OUR JOB WAS TO LOVE .

THINGS WILL WORK GREAT WHEN WE DO OUR JOB AND LET THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE LORD DO THEIR JOB .

IT IS TROUBLE WHEN WE PUT OUR PREACHING ROBES TRYING TO BRING OTHERS TO CONVICTION . WE CAN'T BRING ONE TO CONVICTION ,THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES THAT .

THEN WE SLIP ON OUR JUDICIAL ROBES AND START PROCLAIMING JUDGMENTS . WE ARE REALLY OUT OF LINE NOW .

WE ARE TOLD  THERE IS ONE LAWGIVER AND ONE JUDGE . AND IT IS NOT US . LIKE CHICO USED TO SAY ITS NOT MY JOB MAN .

OUR JOB IS TO LOVE . THE BIBLE SAYS THE WORLD WILL KNOW CHRISTIANS BY THEIR LOVE FOR OTHERS .

THIS IS A HARD  JOB . IT IS HARD TO LOVE THE UNLOVEABLE .  ONLY THROUGH JESUS CAN WE DO THIS .

I HAVE HEARD IT SAID THAT YOU ONLY LOVE JESUS AS MUCH AS THE PERSON YOU LOVE THE LEAST . STRONG STATEMENT HUH!

SO LET US ALL COMMIT TO DO OUR JOB AND ONLY OUR JOB THE BEST WE CAN .

***** I DON'T THINK THE RACIAL DIVIDE IN THIS COUNTRY WILL EVER BE BRIDGED .

BLACKS AND WHITES SEE THINGS FROM DIFFERENT VANTAGE POINTS .AS LONG AS PERCEPTIONS ARE DIFFERENT JUDGMENTS WILL BE ALSO .

YOU MAKE JUDGMENTS FROM YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCE . A PERSON WITH A DIFFERENT LIFE EXPERIENCE FROM YOURS IS PROBABLY GOING TO ARRIVE AT A DIFFERENT  DECISION THAN YOU .

I THINK WE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE EXPERIENCES WE HAVE IN COMMON .

I KNOW IN THE CHEMO ROOM DIFFERENCES SEEM TO FADE AWAY . WHEN YOU FACE THE SAME OPPONENT YOU TEND TO SHARE PERCEPTIONS

MORE SO WHEN THE FOE  IS RELENTLESS  AND RARELY BEATEN .    

***** SEC FOOTBALL COMING UP SOON

THANKS FOR READING !!!!!!!!!!!!

WHAT IS HE THINKING ?

**** BRAD STEVENS IS LEAVING AN ELITE COLLEGE COACHING JOB FOR A REBUILDING NBA TEAM . 

STEVENS IS LEAVING BUTLER FOR THE BOSTON CELTICS. BRAD IS WELL ESTABLISHED AT BUTLER . HE HAS BEEN TO TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES & IS AMERICA'S BEST LOVED UNDERDOG . 

STEVENS WILL ALWAYS BE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN AT BUTLER & THE NATION'S CINDERELLA TEAM ALMOST EVERY YEAR . 

BRAD IS THE BIG DAWG IN INDY SINCE PEYTON BOOKED FOR THE MOUNTAINS . 

OH, BY THE WAY STEVENS MAKES 1.2 MILLION A YEAR AT BUTLER . 

WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE A GIG LIKE THAT ? TO GO TO BOSTON WHERE THE CELTICS ARE PRETTY MUCH STARTING OVER . 

STEVENS MUST KNOW THAT COACHING IN THE NBA IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN COLLEGE . 

YOU PLAY MORE THAN TWICE THE GAMES , HAVE A 24 SECOND CLOCK RATHER THAN 35 . 

BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCE IS POWER . AT BUTLER STEVENS HAS THE POWER . BRAD IS THE BOSS . AT BOSTON THE PLAYERS HAVE THE POWER . 

SEVERAL PLAYERS WILL MAKE MORE THAN BRAD WHO WILL KNOCK DOWN 3.7 MILLION A YEAR . IT IS TOUGH TO BE THE BOSS OF SOMEONE WHO IS PAID MORE THAN YOU . 

IN THE NBA COACHES MAKE SUGGESTIONS NOT DECISIONS . THE STARS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT THEY PLEASE . 

THE COACH VERY SELDOM WINS A POWER STRUGGLE WITH STAR PLAYERS . THAT INCLUDES PHIL JACKSON AND HIS ELEVEN RINGS . THE LAKERS DID NOT GIVE PHIL A THIRD RIDE BECAUSE KOBE WAS SICK OF PHIL . 

IF THERE IS CONFLICT IN MIAMI BETWEEN LITTLE ERIC AND LBJ  WHO HITS THE HIGHWAY ?
IT IS NOT LBJ .     

WHY WOULD ANYONE PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS POSITION ? EGO ? YOU ARE THE COACH OF ONE OF THE MOST RENOWNED BASKETBALL TEAMS . MONEY ? 3.7 MILLION IS THREE TIMES WHAT STEVENS MADE AT BUTLER .

STILL ,YOU ARE IN A POSITION WHERE YOU HAVE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY AND VERY LITTLE AUTHORITY . 

NOW , STEVENS IS NOT WORKING WITHOUT A NET HERE . BRAD KNOWS THAT IF THINGS GO IN THE TOILET AT BOSTON ,THERE WILL BE MANY COLLEGE PROGRAMS PLEADING FOR STEVENS . 

MAYBE , BRAD FIGURES IT IS A NO LOSE DEAL .NOT REALLY ANY RISK AT ALL . 

I SURE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HIS THINKING . 

THANKS FOR READING !!!!!     

CROSSING THE LINE

**** IS IT HARDER TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS RACIAL LINES OR ECONOMIC LINES?  HARD QUESTION .

I GREW UP IN A RURAL AREA WITH A CASTE SYSTEM THE HINDU WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF . YOUR SOCIAL CLASS OR STANDING DETERMINED SO MANY THINGS .

WHO YOU RAN AROUND WITH , WHO YOU DATED , AND CERTAIN CHURCHES CATERED TO DIFFERENT SOCIAL GROUPS .

EVEN THE EXPECTATIONS  OF YOUR PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL WAS BASED ON YOUR SOCIAL CLASS . THE ELITES  SEEMED TO GET THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT IN  AWARDS AND THE SELECTION OF TEAMS AND GROUPS .

SPORTS WAS AN AREA WHERE ONE COULD JUMP THE CLASS BOUNDARY. ONE COULD GAIN SPECIAL TREATMENT IF HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING PLAYER . ACCEPTANCE IN GROUPS THAT OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ATTAINABLE WAS COMMON .

THESE CLASS LINES WERE FIRM, RIGID, AND WELL DEFINED . EVERYONE KNEW WHERE HE STOOD .

HE KNOWS HIS PLACE WAS SAID IN PRAISE OF THOSE WHO DIDN'T ROCK THE BOAT OR CAUSE   TROUBLE . TO COLOR OUTSIDE THE LINES OR MOVE ACROSS CLASS LINES WAS FROWNED UPON .

VIOLATION OF THE SOCIAL ORDER WAS A SERIOUS SIN . YOU MIGHT THINK I AM OVERSTATING THIS . BUT IN SPEAKING WITH FOUR CLASSMATES ABOUT AN UPCOMING REUNION THIS SUBJECT SURFACED .ALL DECIDED TO SKIP THE REUNION .

THINK ABOUT IT . HOW MANY LAWYERS DO YOU KNOW HANG OUT WITH THE GUYS THAT WORK ON THE GARBAGE TRUCK .

DO YOU KNOW ANY DOCTORS WHO SOCIALIZE WITH THE GUYS WHO ROTATE THE TIRES OR CHANGE OIL DOWN AT WAL-MART ?

IT IS HARD TO CROSS THOSE SOCIAL LINES . JUST LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD . YOU CAN DRIVE DOWN POPLAR FROM COLLIERVILLE TO THE RIVER AND SEE EVERY SOCIAL CLASS THAT EXISTS .

STATS SAY MEN MARRY EQUAL TO OR SLIGHTLY DOWN IN SOCIAL CLASS . WOMEN MARRY EQUAL TO OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE IN SOCIAL CLASS .

MARRIAGES ACROSS SEVERAL SOCIAL CLASSES HAVE A HIGH FAILURE RATE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR TRAGIC RESULTS .

CHECK OUT TEXAS EXAMPLES PRICE & VICKIE DANIEL OR CULLEN & PRISCILLA DAVIS TO SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN .

NO , WE DON'T LIKE TO DISCUSS SOCIAL CLASS BUT BE HONEST . LOOK AT YOUR FRIENDS , YOUR ACTIVITIES , &YOUR LIFE  TO SEE HOW DEFINED BY CLASS .

HAVE YOU FELT OUT OF PLACE , LIKE YOU DIDN'T BELONG ?  I DON'T HAVE ANY BUSINESS GOING TO OAK HALL TO SHOP . THAT IS NOT FOR ME . SOME THINGS ARE NOT A GOOD FIT .

I THINK SOCIAL LINES ARE HARDER THAN RACIAL LINES TO CROSS . BOTH LINES ARE PRETTY DARN HIGH .

BOTTOM LINE - ALL THESE YEARS AND I STILL DON'T KNOW MY PLACE .
I DO KNOW I PREFER PEPSI TO PINOT  AND A MOON PIE TO CAVIAR .

UNTIL NEXT TIME I'M LOOKING FOR MY PLACE!!!!!!!!!