So Much to Talk About

Plaxico Burress (not to be confused with Albert Einstein) carries a loaded handgun into a nightclub -- in his pants! Joba Chamberlain gets arrested for driving while intoxicated in his Kansas hometown -- and the Police Athletic League names him their man of the year! Stephon Marbury refuses to play for the Knicks -- despite the fact they're paying him something like $20 million!
Strange days, indeed, in the world of professional athletics.
But it's not only the pros who seem to find trouble. Olympians are having medals stripped for using performance-enhancing drugs. College student/athletes (and I use the term loosely) are getting arrested, suspended and having their "scholarships" revoked. And STILL finding programs that will give them "one more chance" to play! High school students -- bombarded with all this by non-stop talking sports radio heads (no offense, Larry Hardesty!), 24x7 ESPN highlights, and newspapers that can't ever seem to let a story go -- can't help but emulate their "heroes" with teammate hazing, the loss of sportsmanship and a me-first attitude toward athletics and life. And don't even get me started on their parents!!
Just when it seems like the world of athletics is going to hell in a handbasket, we get tear-at-your-heartstrings stories of youngsters overcoming tremendous physical or emotional disadvantages to excel. We get pro players creating charitable foundations to help needy kids get involved in athletics and away from other, more dangerous paths. We get stories of athletes walking away at the top of their game, with their bodies and minds intact, before they see their performance erode. Courageous all.
This is what The AHA Blog is about. We'll talk about the things that we think are wrong (or so very right), or that we think are oddly comical, and we'll do it in an honest way.
I'm looking forward to bringing my thoughts and opinions to this blog.. and I can't wait to hear what you have to say as well!
As the Great One, Jackie Gleason, used to say: "And awa-y-y-y we go!!" (For you youngsters, he's the heavy bus driver from "The Honeymooners" reruns!)