The Beginning Of The End. A Chance To Get Better.

You can't ask for a better trap to be set. 

Coming off of a poison pill of a loss, where every single aspect of the loss eventually just boiled down to the injury to the starting quarterback and how the entire team reacted to that loss.  If that injury doesn't occur, you would have a hard time convincing anyone that the result isn't going be flipped.

Thankfully, the injury doesn't appear to be season threatening and the potential is there that the starter might be back even as soon as the Ohio State game at the end of the month.

Now coming in for Homecoming is an Illinois team that has won just 2 games to start the year and is coming off a 24-0 loss to Wisconsin.  The only thing left to play for are the upsets in mostly filled away stadiums.  To try and spoil someone else's homecoming.

Yet expectations seem to abound that Penn State will simply roll over this Illinois team by simply showing up.  The buzz that was in the air throughout State College has been replaced with a sense of apathy.  A sense that this Penn State team might have already peaked and that this Illinois team is an unmotivated sorry program that just had their head coach question whether he has a single player with any talent.

That can't be allowed to be the case.

The culture of Penn State needs to be present and involved in this moment.

This is the beginning of the end.  Six games left and the potential to play for the Big Ten championship and get and even the National Championship.  Every game matters.  Every play.  Including this week at noon.

Penn State needs to use this week to get better.  They need to use this week to focus on Illinois and doing the every little thing right.  Not because they seriously believe that Illinois is as formidable as Auburn or Iowa, but that this process is how they are going to win the next week and the week after that.

That is the crux of the 1-0 mentality.  It places all of our energy not on future problems that we can't control, but on the immediate processes that we can.  Each workout, each study hall, each film session, every class, it's all in service to our greater goals.

It is the process of preparing with the set goals of improving and getting better than you were the day before.  It isn't enough to maintain in the middle of the season.  Instead it's the perfect time to get better.

While other team's hit their metaphorical wall's, we need to attempt to separate from our prior standards and improve on them.  Improving through out the season and aware of the curse of complacency.

So when the ball is kicked off this Saturday, I expect Penn State as an entire community to be excited, to be tuned in and ready to celebrate this homecoming.

A Mid-Fall Classic

We are in the thick of it now aren't we? 

Two teams, both still undefeated and thought of as potential champions of the Big Ten, square off today in what I can only describe as a far more anticipated game than when the schedule first came out.  It is a game that some are calling the epitome of College football, and well, it's hard to argue they aren't having a great time at the bars at the very least.

The buzz is starting to get everyone's attention in town, and the level of hype is starting to spill over into the national scene.  Sadly, Philadelphia icon Chris Long, who helped win a Super Bowl for the cherished Birds picked Iowa as his lock of the week in his podcast (It's at 48:44).

This Iowa team is good.  Rumor has it they're the best team Kirk Ferentz has ever really had and legitimately has a path to the College Football Playoff.

This year's Penn State team on the other hand is looking much better than the debacle of last year and seems to be plugged into this season like few others before it.

I suspect that come Saturday we will see a whale of a game.  An epic show that comes down to execution through the entirety of the game.  That comes down to the grit and effort by those involved.  That comes down to all that, and probably a little luck too.

In order to get ready for a game like that, to perform in an environment like that, it takes a lot of trust.  Trust in one's self, trust in teammates, trust in coaches both in the moment as well as in the preparation.  

As fans, we should drink it all in and enjoy this moment.  Because for better or worse, we can't control it.

For one team, after what is sure to be one of the hardest fought games this year, it means the end of their perfect season and they will go 0-1 for the the first time this year.  It will feel devastating and horrible.  The players and coaches will feel sick to their stomachs and so will their fan base.

For the other, a moment of sheer jubilation as they are once again victorious in one of the best settings in College Football.  A moment to pause and then party on.

That is the reality.

The magic of the collegiate game rests in its regular season.  Flocks of alumni coming back to their college haunts for a connection to their youth.  Undergrads and graduate students inviting friends over to partake in the festivities.  Local bars and restaurants filled with patrons and live music.  It brings a sense of life to a season that is fading to the colds of winter. 

Penn State's last loss was against Iowa.  Both teams know it.  Both fan bases know it. 

But I think, maybe, what the National fan base hasn't recognized yet is that Iowa went 0-2 last year, then won out, smashing more than a few Big Ten mid to upper tier teams in the process.  Ferentz called it one of his favorite teams he's ever coached.  They were denied a bowl game due to Covid-19. 

I think people and teams might still be underestimating how hungry Iowa is for this season and this game.

I doubt Penn State, however, will be one of them. 

Fans can be quick to forget aspects of last year's game, especially depending on whose broadcast you were listening to.

I happened to be listening to the Fox broadcast with former Penn State Defensive Tackle Matt Millen on the call.  One of the things I appreciate about Matt during his football broadcasts is his ability to identify aspects of line play and his earnestness about what is going on.

And what was going on was that Penn State got absolutely worked on the line of scrimmage.  He replayed play after play of Penn State defenders down, offensive lineman unable to sustain blocks and at the end of the game the stat sheet said everything. 

Iowa's top two backs combined for 35 carries and 175 yards.  Penn State finished as a team for 35 carries and 62 yards.

I do not think a complete reversal is going to happen in just one year, but I suspect that battle in the trenches will be one for the ages.

If Penn State can find the grit and determination to grind with what might be the most mentally and physically tough team in the Conference, then I like their chances to leave Kinnick with a celebration.

Game 1. The Intangibles

Photo Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

I've turned up my Penn State fandom recently. I've been checking for updates on the local podcasts and have even taken to listening to opposing teams' podcasts just for more content.

Most every preview I'm hearing has centered on the theme of Penn State's defensive line play against Wisconsin's offensive line; and on the flip side, will Sean Clifford and the PSU offense be able to explode for big plays without turning the ball over?

Those are the keys to the game from most prognosticators.  And they are right.

But that isn't what I'll be looking for.

I will be looking for leadership, discipline, and character.

By any measure, Wisconsin will be a difficult opponent for Penn State.  They have the physical talent and experience that is comparable in every way to Penn State and they will be playing at home.

Penn State will need to rely on its captains and best players to not only steady the team when adversity inevitably strikes, but also to focus the group after emotionally charged positive plays.

If either the team goes ahead to start, or falls behind, the subsequent reaction is a big indicator of the character this team will have and what we might expect for the season going forward.

Avoiding penalties for unsportsmanlike behavior, offsides and false starts will be essential.  The free yards from simply not being disciplined enough can often be the difference between a 3 and out or extending drives.

There will be chances to make big plays.  Obviously you would want the team to capitalize on every single opportunity.  No dropped passes.  No missed tackles.  Perfect snaps and holds in the kicking game.

But college football is rarely played at that high a level, and when it is, it isn't sustainable.  The team will need to lift each other up, continue to bond and become the best team it can possibly be.

The character of this team, if things go right or if they don't, will be on full display.  Will they bring full effort for the full game?  How will they respond to breakdowns and unexpected events such as injuries?

As we get set to watch these young people play a game against other young people, will they display the sportsmanship and respect for an opponent that we have come to value?

If Penn State is going to win a National Title in the near future, then it will begin with this "Show Me" game, where it will be the little things that take center stage.

A War Ends. There Were No Winners. But Shame The Losers.

When September 11th, 2001 occurred, I had just entered my senior year of high school.  

The decisions we all were about to make felt important.  I was in the angst of deciding between a few different personal pulls.

1) The urge to defend what I felt were the righteous values of America that I had come to believe in.  Innocent lives need to be protected.  Acts of horrific violence should not be excused and should be dealt with in specific investigations and specific corrections.  That the attacks were of such a horrific nature that it deserved the incredible damnation the world over.  It deserved a righteous response.

2) The Government, and particularly the military industrial complex, as well as politicians, would have say over what I did.  When you sign up for the military, you sign up in my view to essentially trust that the politicians and generals will do what is in the best interest of both the men below them, as well as for the ideals they truly believe in. 

You sign up to serve.

After learning the history of Vietnam, the history of Japanese Internment camps, the history of slavery, I didn't truly trust that I myself would not be asked to perform horrors in "service" to my country.

3)  The chance to go to a major university and shed the shackles of high school.  Finally, I thought I would get the opportunity to truly interact with a brand new peer group, find what I truly excel at and love and chase those dreams down.

I felt I had a chance to now truly focus on football at one of the highest levels possible.  Not to mention explore my burgeoning obsession with media, journalism, and politics. 

I would be among the first to decide how they might be able to help their country respond to the terrorist attack.

I chose college.  A choice I made based not only on my desire for classes that I would find stimulating and the pursuit of playing major college football, but it was also based on a lack of confidence in our military and politicians to do the right thing.

Now this twenty year war is over, and with it, one of America's greatest tragedies.

Much will be written about what went wrong, but it must be said that the lion's share of the blame begins with President George W. Bush and the military industrial complex as it existed in the year 2000.

The mantra of "Never Forget" and the fear instilled into Americans in the aftermath was intense.

If terrorists could perform 9/11...what else could they do?  What would they do?

In the end I came to the conclusion that any kind of substantial attack would have to be more through infrastructure and attempting to divide.

I thought given that America possessed the most powerful and sophisticated military technology, the "War" would be over over in a relatively short amount of time.  And in fact, the majority of fighting and major operations seemed to be over before I graduated in the Spring of 2002. 

Now the the rhetoric coming out of the White House was that Iraq was also a harbinger of terror and that country needed to be invaded in the interest of our own security.

At this point, I was beginning to feel skeptical that the reaction and resources were being used to fuel fear.  Of course extremists were bad, but the Islamophobia and racism that also erupted out of 9/11 became the lifeblood of media outlets and culture grifters.  It was gross and disgusting to me from the start.  

The response I was looking for in the wake of 9/11 should have been precise and guided.  Humane and noble.  

 Get Bin-Laden.  

Get the terrorists.  

Get out, and assist with building relationships and infrastructure in the area.

Instead, before I finished my Freshman year at Penn State, we were invading Iraq on what appeared to me, an outspoken young person, to be on an extremely flawed premise.  Allegedly the situation was so dire due to the "Weapons of Mass Destructions" that Saddam Hussein supposedly possessed.  He was going to target the United States and this was all quite imminent.

I had my doubts.

I knew Iraq had been a bad State actor, but I didn't perceive them to be a serious organized threat.  After all, after Desert Storm, it was made more than obvious that whatever military might Iraq had, it would pail in comparison to the might of the United States.

The question was no longer "Do you believe in a war against the terrorists who committed 9/11 and a commitment to helping Afghanistan become become more secure and sustainable?", it became, "Do you believe in a simultaneous war in Iraq and Afghanistan under the guise of a "War on Terror?".

I did not.

But for all that I railed against the War, for every time I spoke up against it, there was little I could do in the face of authority, and indeed, plenty of authority that wanted and believed in the War.

George Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and those that orchestrated the War from the beginning were icons for some on the right, and certainly they were popularized further thanks, in no small part, to their relationship with Fox News.

As loud as I might talk about Foucault's boomerang, or that the propaganda being spun out of Fox News was dangerous, I lacked any authority as a 19 year old sophomore in college.  I was not going to substantially affect the war in any significant way.  Further still, I wasn't even sure I was right yet. 

The scientist and philosopher mentality in me assumes that often when I speculate, I can be wrong.  While I certainly thought it seemed like Fox News was essentially a propaganda wing for the Republican party; I was reflecting how, likewise, CNN seemed to occupy the same space for the Democratic party.  Maybe I should do more listening than talking until I was older and wiser.

By the end of college in 2006 , I was a bit jaded to this point.  America could easily take out a government, wipe out buildings and use our advanced military to go just about wherever we wanted.  It had felt obvious to me that now that the mission was to occupy both Iraq and Afghanistan indefinitely.  With Bush winning his re-election effort on the strength of the fear of another 9/11, making a contrast to Kerry who he had portrayed as weak on terrorism. 

Yet we still hadn't gotten Bin-Laden, we still seemed to be extremely nervous about terror plots and the ideas of religious zealots and extremists carrying out strikes at home, and there were constant problems with the war efforts.  Botched raids, bad intelligence, horrible waste, and of course, the constant violence that cost thousands of U.S. military lives, hundreds of thousands of fighters from the Taliban, Afghani security forces, and various other militias that would be counted as allies or enemies depending.  

Also the hundreds of thousands of civilian lives that would be impacted as collateral damage both in Afghanistan, and here at home.

At 22, I understood that currently there was a mass failing by the political leadership who seemed to be far more concerned about money and power than they were about the lives of the Americans they sent overseas.  There also was a failure by the military to recognize and control different aspects of their own units that at times resembled undisciplined mercenaries rather than the supposed greatest fighting units on earth.

There was also a failure by our journalistic and media institutions to properly hold to account those in political power.  As I remember watching the cable news around this time, I started to realize how much I struggled with what I felt were, at times, extremely inept responses to pressing questions of the day.  I had long struggled with the presentation of the news on cable networks.  It often felt fake.  Just relatively attractive people reading scripts and sounding vaguely authoritative while doing so.

Then along came Obama.

Obama wasn't supposed to win mind you.  It was supposed to be Clinton.  

His rise through the ranks in the Democratic primary was something to behold, where everyone seemed to be taking note of the potential for change with Obama.

I say with no regret that I voted for Obama, and that he was easily the best president I've seen so far.

However it seems that his decisions to continue the war efforts in Afghanistan rather than finding a safe withdrawal solution will also be part of his legacy.  

He had two terms to do the right thing.  He didn't do it.

He got Bin-Laden in 2011, the mission and occupation should have begun to end then.

Trump inherited a 16 year fiasco,  and at least recognized it and attempted to pull out of a mess that most Americans remain in favor of despite how terribly it's gone so far.
 
I think Trump's deal with the Taliban will be looked at as a way out as quickly as possible.  That he was willing to get a Taliban leader out of prison to strike the deal was telling that he had no interest in doing things through legitimate channels.

However, while the deal was made by Trump, it was ultimately honored to some degree by Biden.

Biden and the military advisors again botched this ending.  Perhaps there was no good ending to ever be had.  But the horrific images of people falling from aircrafts to their deaths due to the sheer panic as the Taliban moves back into the cities is heartbreaking.

So hold them all to account.  Bush.  Obama.  Trump.  Biden.

The world so badly needs the cycle of violence to end.  The eye for an eye mentality has nearly come to full fruition as the whole world is burning and we can only see things through our own myopic lens. 

Instead of focusing on the tragedy of Afghanistan and the brutal fact that so many service men and woman have been constantly lied to for the past twenty years, let us focus on the positive.

America needs help.  It needs the best people in America to once again serve in so many different ways that do not include violence or killing.

Right now, as I type this, the worst disease in over 100 years has come to our shores and killed over 600,000 Americans, more than the combined number of soldiers lost in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam combined.  

Summers in America are experiencing extreme heats, extreme drought, and extreme flooding.  Winters have been bringing pockets of extreme cold as well as increased precipitation.  It has led to deaths all over the country.

The war on terror needs to end, while the war to survive climate change and disease, and finding the ability to live with each other in peace begins.

 

Giant Lessons. A Book Review

I didn't see the younger camper before I swung.  It was purely accidental that I hit him.  A moment of sheer jubilation turning into abject terror.

I had just scored the winning basket in the championship round on a baseline jump shot in the older kids bracket.  My momentum after I had released the shot had carried me closer to the audience of fellow campers, who made up a human wall surrounding the court.

And while I and the older kids made up some of the camp, there were kids quite a few grades behind attending as well.  One of the younger attendees happened to be standing right where my unintentionally jubilant fist would land.

The blow landed not squarely, and not with the full force of say a true punch, but with enough force that it startled me and I didn't know how to react.

My moment of celebration was drowned out the waves of fear that were now crashing around my heart.  

"I'm so sorry!  Are you okay?  I didn't mean to hit you.  I'm so sorry!"

But the damage was still done, and as I saw behind the kids now crumpled glasses, I could see the tears welling up, and the red mark on the side of his face.  All I could feel was remorse and shame.

Of course the camp staff had attended to the younger camper, who ended up being okay, just extremely shaken up and sore.  But the attendees also came over to me to make sure I was okay, as I was still shaken up as I had clearly been the source of the head trauma.

I understood it was an accident.  A moment where I got carried away with the winning of the game. I went to express my joy, and unintentionally hit a younger spectator.  Yet, the fact that I caused that damage sticks with me to this day.  It was a moment where I began to think of myself as a "Giant".

One of the camp staff was a former local college standout named John Amaechi.  To this point, he is still battling to reach his goal of playing in the NBA, but I know he is easily the most accomplished basketball player I have ever met in my young and slightly sheltered life.

"You're doing great here," he said to me as he took me aside.  "You might be the best player in the whole camp this year.  But you're also bigger than most of these kids and a bit more physically advanced.  You're going to need to be a bit more careful going forward, and if you really want to go to the places that I think you want to get to, you are going to need to keep working as hard as you can towards those goals.  You may feel ahead now, but people will catch up, and it will be the people who are disciplined and willing to sacrifice who will succeed."

Since then a lot has happened, but it doesn't make his words and wisdom any less true or less valuable.  In fact, his latest book might be the medicine that society needs to take.

In Psychologist John Amaechi's book, "The Promises of Giants," Amaechi tells his own similar story of being out on the dance floor, letting loose and having some less than glamorous results.

The Promises of Giants gives us a glimpse into the thinking that has helped move Amaechi from a pudgy, comic nerd in his adolescence, to a professional basketball player in his 20's and 30's, to becoming a psychologist, professional consultant, and now, a best selling author.

His story is his own, and he brilliantly tells a tale of accountability, commitment, vulnerability, mental and physical health, and leadership.

After the first listen, I found myself personally reflective and felt a need to to listen to the book again.  I wanted a way to keep reminding myself of the specifics of the promises and to keep holding myself to account.

One of the things I found myself thinking over and over is despite our vast differences, there was still an overlap in how my mind and his seem to work; which is of course, the point.

If you're looking for some inspiration about leadership, or looking for tools that may help guide you on your specific quest to success, The Promises of Giants offers a persuasive argument towards personal accountability and the taking care of one's mental and physical health.

We all can be looked at as Giants.  From our kids, to our parents, to friends and family, each and every one of us plays an incredibly spectacular role to someone else.  Amaechi's book is a positive guide on what we should do about it.

Penn State's X-Men

This story won't be for the jaded.  It's not for the pessimistic doubters or downtrodden skeptics. 

It is not going to be for those that have lost the ability to truly dream.

This is for those that believe that the world is flawed, but there is hope.

It is for the young, and young at heart, who want to build rather than tear down.  It is for those that want a feel good story in an ocean of the everyday cynicism that exists the world over.

This metaphor is going to need to take a little imagination on your part, and a good and thorough job of explaining on mine.  I don't suspect that this will be that easy for everyone who isn't fascinated by the world of comic books and the future of major college athletics in America.  So in the end, don't take this one too seriously.  I just wanted to have some fun with comics and football.

Metaphorical Super Hero

But I do believe the essence of this following argument.

Penn State football is the current equivalent of Marvel Comic's "The X-Men" and is in the process of growing and getting much, MUCH better.

Penn State's football program has just gone on a major terror on the recruiting trail.  Finding and identifying some of the best football talent in all of America and convincing them to come to this island of excellence in the middle of Pennsylvania.

It is to the point now that they hold, by any measure, one of the top classes in America.

While I doubt that James Franklin has time to read many comic books these days, I am fascinated by

Fictional Super Heroes

the parallels I see occurring with his football team this particular season, as well as the relaunch of one of the most popular comic book series of all time, the Marvel comics' The X-Men.

The X-Men, yes those Marvel super heroes that were launched in the 60's, made
a comeback in the 90's and early '00's and had been relatively dormant in recent years, have recently been relaunched in the comic universe with "Dawn of X", this time with some ingenious storytelling that allows fans young and old an avenue back into the story.

For many who aren't fans, a large part of the appeal of the X-Men comes from their origin of power being genetic.  Aspects of your being that was the result of random mutation that you never had any control over.  A universally identifiable sense of being different, and being celebrated for those differences. 

The mutants are all offered refuge primarily by professor Charles Xavier, a mutant who has the ability to read and alter thoughts, from a world that mostly misunderstands and fears them, a place where they might pursue who they are, and their respective dreams to the best of their ability.

The X-Men and the idea of outward differences leading to issues of class and mistreatment were inspired by the civil rights movement in the 1960's. They were a reflection of race and LGBTQ+ issues; they were a reflection of America.

In the comics, the original "home" for the mutants is at a school run by Xavier, whose morality and intelligence are often beyond reproach, and a mutant himself (remember he is modeled after MLK Jr to a degree).  However, Xavier often has a perceived Achilles heel in the form of his own ego and naivete towards the nature of some individuals.

Here in reality, Penn State football is led by James Franklin, a coach who is complimented for his professionalism, his ability to be authentic and engaging, and most of all, his ability to win.  However the ride hasn't been perfect, and critics will point to last year as a clear low point.  That for all the positives of the Franklin regime, perhaps there were blind spots hidden behind some of the success.

I find these similarities important.  What are Penn State's current and prospective students other than  gifted youngsters?  No, the students can't shoot lasers, pop claws, or move objects with their minds.  But each student does come with their own unique gifts and attempting to harness the full extent of their capabilities is the expressed goals of both the student and the school.

For Penn State football to become the super power it wants to be, it must attract the best players/students/mutants at a historic rate.

So what exactly does Franklin and his assistants sell to prospective players?

I would imagine he's selling the same thing as the fictional professor.

A place where, finally, they can all be themselves, and that this new place will learn to adapt with them.  That they have a place at the forefront of that change.

I believe Penn State, and the community around Penn State are at a genesis point, where the people that make up State College and the surrounding area is once again ready to showcase its growth and its commitment to excellence and ethics.

While I must confess I have been disappointed in decisions made in some respects, I truly believe in the mission of Penn State and James Franklin in earnest.  

A place where you can come from anywhere, whether it be England, Orlando, Hawaii, California, Ohio, Canada, and you can be welcomed here.

A place that wants its best in-state prospects to stay home and help guide the way for their own peers and be leaders.  To be metaphorical Giants.

In the recent comics, Professor Xavier comes to the conclusion that he must expand beyond the ideas that he previously had about what success means and the best way to get there. 

In an effort to consolidate power for a noble goal, the X-Men begin reaching across aisles that have never been crossed before.  Making for what are at first uneasy, but necessary, alliances.  

It seems to me that Franklin and his staff have reached a similar answer, and so far, have been able to successfully recruit players on the promise that what they are building is more ambitious and has more potential than anywhere else.

That their goals are bigger than just winning championships but also becoming absolute leaders in developing a culture of excellence that will resonate throughout each's own communities. 

Perhaps this analogy is a bit of a reach, perhaps you find it all a bit silly.  But I would not dismiss the appeals Franklin and his staff brings to people from communities looking to build and create the next generation of excellence right here in State College.

The Unintended Consequences Of The NIL Ruling

College Football is an incredible spectacle of a sport.

Players age 18 to 22, at the very near physical peak of their athletic capabilities, use their size and speed to perform in what can only be described as the most violent game of acceptable strategic ballet we have ever invented.

While other sports have a level of athletic skill, or physical grit, or power, the idea of putting it all together in a gladiator like spectacle, down to the wearing of painted armor and where the play isn't over until the ball is put out of play, or the carrier of the ball is violently put to the ground, is unique to Football.

There are so many intricacies to the game we could get into, we could go on about multiple books on the subject, but the rating and money doesn't lie.

America loves College Football.

The final championship and premiere games drive enormous sums of money into the pockets of administrators, coaches, television executives, and the economic tendrils of the game extend to even the local hospitality industries such as restaurants and hotels.

But for years, the only people limited in terms of money they could make from the sport were those playing the games 

That is not to say student-athletes aren't compensated to various degrees, they are.

The problem lies in the equity of the compensation.

I would love it if more money was spread out to the student athlete's, whose public performance is used by the schools to further generate revenue and attract potential new students and donors.

I believe players should be able to make some extra money to capitalize on their talents and that the current system is FAR too restrictive in that regard.

So when I say I'm currently worried about the current climate of College Football rhetoric surrounding NIL, and the lack of a follow up plan in terms of regulation of specific industries, it's not because I'm looking to be a pessimist, or that I begrudge the players making a cut of the money they generate.  

It's because I want to see the sport succeed and at the moment, there seems to be almost no rules in terms of money towards pay for play, and the potential for the gap between the haves and have nots will only widen.

It wasn't until I listened to The Obligatory Penn State podcast and having an open mind that I have come to this conclusion, where one of the hosts, Kevin Horn layered out a fantastic argument against the NIL based in logical consistency and still being for worker and student-athlete rights.

Kevin predicted, and I am now inclined to agree, that as currently constructed, without ANY limits on endorsements (or fake endorsements) the teams with the most resources and fervent fan bases will not only continue to get the most talent, they will likely get more of it and keep the athletes on their campuses for longer.

Most already admit that there is cheating going on that emulates this.

Rumors, as well as testimonial evidence suggests bag men at big schools have been going on for years and there is plenty of evidence that problem has led to the lack of equity in athletics already. 

Now, the money can be out in the open, and there can be more of it.

Recently, a mid tier Miami gym owner, of zero national repute, all of a sudden became a trailblazer, offering the entire football team the opportunity to earn 500 a month to simply endorse his martial arts. 

It isn't hard to imagine super wealthy, super bored, super egotistical billionaires continuing to look for new toys and opportunities to put their brand and id into the world and finding that funding a college athletics department at either an alma mater, or simply because they are a fan of the school for, will disproportionately affect the entire college football landscape.

Not only would the teams with the wealthiest and most willing donors attract the most highly regarded players; but they could likely keep them longer, as the allure of an NFL contract no longer holds quite the same weight.

If Robert Kraft wants to help fund an entire pipeline to the NFL and donate 10 million dollars from his personal bank account to Alabama (and his friend, Nick Saban), it would be just .5% of his wealth and the equivalent of someone worth 100,000 dollars donating roughly 600 dollars to impose incredible outsized influence over the sport.  Instead of the gym owner, one NFL owner could make a tiny drop in his bucket and pay 111k to each player on the team.

The prestige of higher education and the nobility of helping athletes after years of exploitation would give just enough cover to justify endorsement contracts already approaching into the millions of dollars.  And without any guard rails, I suspect the difference between the have and have nots will only expand, and winners in various athletic teams will routinely be the schools who are able to convince their donors who have vast sums of wealth, to invest that wealth directly back to their athletes.

Penn State has a good amount of wealth.  According to some publications, they produce more CEO's than just about any other school in the country.  However, it has not been easy for Penn State to recently to get the reinvestment into its athletic department like it has been for Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State.  In part, that is due, I believe, to a relatively split fan base, one that opposes "overpaying" for athletics and finds the very idea of the current mix of money, education and athletics appalling; while  another group of the same fan base wants their team to win National Championships, and if we can finally start paying the players, just do it.

I find myself absolutely rooting for the players, but I'm also rooting for a fair system.  A system that creates benefits for all, and the benefits are spread equitably.  It is still early, and adjustments are happening in real time as the impact of the decision continues to reverberate.  Perhaps just like the other professional leagues, the college system will develop its own cap to prevent boosters and powerful alumni from being too aggressive in terms of buying the next generation of athletes.

It will be up to the leadership at the universities themselves whether or not they can actually take back control of their athletic departments for the greater good of their mission and their communities at large.

Embrace The Summer

The first step outside of the air conditioned bedroom is usually the biggest sign.

It's 5AM, early enough that sun has yet to come back and infuse the earth with its radioactive rays, yet just a foot outside the door makes me feel as though I'm stepping from a commercial walk-in fridge to a newly found jungle.

Instead of a hot coffee, I'm reaching for the refrigerated cold-brew.

Summer is here, and despite the heat, life is good in State College. 

Bright, blossoming flowers of orange, pink and yellow. The smell of freshly maintained lawns and tilled gardens.  The trees full and lush, offering refuge and food for the birds and squirrels, which are plentiful in their own right.

The parks are filled again with youth and adult sports alike.  As the the kids of the area try their hands at softball, joggers and families are out enjoying the outdoors.

Thunderstorms appear seemingly out of nowhere, with swirling winds and devastating flashes of light; bringing down trees or power lines only to be out of the area within an hour.  A reminder of the fierce, near omnipotent power that is nature.

The gatherings with friends and families over grilled kabobs, burgers, vegetables and whatever else people are grilling these days .  The yard games where the score becomes secondary to camaraderie and the ability to play with a drink in your hand.

This is the State College that so many romanticize.

So let's make the most of it.

It can be easy to take to the comfort of our air conditioned homes, connected to the internet and an infinite stream of content.

Some days, I think that's fine.

But for the most part, I hope to see people out as much as possible.  (Obviously, responsibly. Get vaccinated!)

Fantastic outdoor dining options are available all around the town, offering fresh ingredients from local farms.

There are hundreds of trails to bike or hike.  Parks available for soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball.  There are lakes, rivers, ponds, creeks (cricks) for fishing, boating, and just jumping in to cool off.

For those that enjoy it, there might not be a more picturesque time to go golfing. 

But above all, take the time to enjoy and indulge in the experience of this enchanting season.

Penn State, Race, and John Amaechi for President

I used to think Penn State and State College were a reflection for America at large.  It certainly "looked" like a reflection of what I was seeing on television.

And let's get straight to the point.  It looked mostly White, with a few select minorities thrown in.  It looked like television, which I thought was (and was generally sold as) a representation of America.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, television was projecting a mostly White society that contrasted with the reality of the world.

While Penn State might look diverse next the surrounding rural areas that are over 95% White, it is far, FAR more removed from the diverse and densely populated cities and larger townships that drive much of the state economy.

Recent graduates of all types are most likely to relocate to larger population centers (re:cities) next in search of employment.  If that is true, then the most likely place Penn State graduates will look and find work will be in area's far more diverse than State College or the surrounding area.

Cities such as Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, where the white population ranges from roughly 22% In Harrisburg, to 65% in Pittsburgh are the most likely

Philadelphia, the biggest population center in the entire state by an enormous margin has a White population of roughly 35%.  There are more Black people in Philadelphia than 15 times the entire population of State College.

Penn State, and State College are not diverse by any stretch of the imagination and it is costing the University as well as the community.  It has resulted in widespread misconceptions about race and equality, and hindered people's ability to confront the ongoing issues pertinent to today.

In a recent article in the Washington Post, Black faculty publicly showcased some of the specific issues that they have been facing.

In January a Black Caucus zoom call was ambushed by White Supremacists.

In June of 2020, a student and his father, were filmed attempting to intimidate peaceful protestors and shouting ethnic slurs.

A downtown Martin Luther King mural was defaced by White Supremacists

These are just the recent incidents and the ones that have bubbled to the surface.

Things need to change.


Penn State, like much of America, is at a crossroads.  It needs leadership, it needs direction, and it needs it now.  The current President, Dr. Eric Barron is planning to retire at the end of June.  The very first priority needs to be the further integration of minorities into Penn State and a dedication to ensuring their safety and well-being.

As part of that mission, in order to educate a population that has not, and in its current condition, cannot, see the inequalities in America, it should be required that to attain a Penn State degree, you would need to pass a course relevant to hate and racism in America.  A civics lesson on the history of the KKK, Jim Crow, the rise of White Supremacists within the American military and police ranks and the spread of racial hate in the age of the internet. 

Penn State graduates are all asked to have passing scores in reference to English, Math, and a Foreign Language to ensure that the students have been properly prepared for the world that they are about to go into.  That they will essentially have a core and common background to start with that will enable them to communicate to whoever they might contact in the professional world.

Race relations needs and the examination of White Supremacy and Nationalism that manifests itself in both subtle and overt ways must be addressed going forward, and if Penn State can be one of the first institutions to address a problem that has plagued not only its local community, but the world over, it would make itself the first, and therefore markedly ahead of its competitors who might still be resistant to the necessary overhaul that must happen across the country.


I believe people are looking for something to get behind.  They've been waiting for a while.  Penn State can be that positive change, that positive story everyone gets behind. 

Imagine if you will, a new Penn State, where there is an admission that so many of the old ways need to be reformed and changes need to start at the top. That there will be an unwavering commitment to hiring a far more diverse group of individuals to run this University into the future, which surely will become MORE diverse, not less so.

Penn State's brand and slogan is synonymous with inclusion.  We Are is a brand that says "no matter what background you may have, you can be a Penn Stater".  You can espouse and live the values of the University such as respect, integrity, or discovery and be part of this community.

Luckily for Penn State, they potentially have such a messenger, should he choose to accept it.  A man who might be the best voice in all of America on the subjects of education, race and well being.

John Amaechi is a modern day Renaissance man.  An alumnus of Penn State, where he also gained incredible fame playing basketball, Amaechi went on to do much more than athletics, attaining a PhD in psychology, and using his education and gifts for speaking in a multitude of philanthropic and educational pursuits.

If John Amaechi, an openly Gay, Black Man were to become President at one of the most prestigious and glamorized schools in America, it would put Penn State further towards two very obvious goals.

To diversify, and further show a commitment to diversifying its staff, trusting in the leadership of a brilliant and qualified person who is familiar with the layout of the town and the cultural issues of today in a profound way.

It will also separate Penn State as being further along than other schools in their commitments.  A willingness to embrace the moment and take on perhaps the greatest issue of all.  Can education fix race relations in the world, and if so, who will be first to figure it out?  If Penn State becomes the school that leads the way, that puts Penn State ahead of its competitors.

I do not know if John Amaechi would be interested in the position, and what would surely be a tidal wave of pressure to become nearly instantaneously more successful by some, and attacked maliciously by others. 

But I believe that his voice is the one that best represents the values of Penn State.  That his way of thinking, his level of empathy, and his commitment to education make him in my mind the perfect fit for President.

Polio, My Grandfather, and The Vaccine. How Science Can Save.

It sounded as though the crutches carried the weight of jumbo jet.  Each impact signaling the coming of this person of importance seemingly to everyone around me.

The first thing I remember about my grandfather is the sound of his crutches.  Not the most important thing about him, not even the rarest thing about him, but the first thing that I remember about meeting my grandfather was hearing him before I saw him. 

Being so young, the sound so foreign, and the fact that this trip up was specifically to see and meet this person seemed so grand, I didn't know what to think and was a bit apprehensive and intimidated of my grandfather at first.  

My grandfather had contracted polio, prior to the advancement of science and the vaccine, and the disease left him without the use of his legs, effectively paralyzing him from the age of 12.

The trips up to see my grandfather were treated as both miniature vacations, as well as opportunities to try and get to know my somewhat isolated grandfather who lived in a small area just outside of Ann Arbor called Whitmore Lake.   His name was James Smith. He was my mother's father and was one of my two living grandparents.  A link to a past that I could never fully know.  

I understood part of the reason we had to travel so far (PA ---> MI) to see him and not vice versa was due to his condition involving polio.  I had as rudimentary an understanding as one could have as a child, but it wasn't until I got out of the minivan and into the house where I could only hear the sound not of footsteps, but of crutches, that it made me acutely aware of how very different the world could be and how fortunate I was.

Polio had taken away the use of my grandfathers legs roughly around the age of 12, leaving him to adapt to a world that was certainly not built for people with his condition.  While there is no doubt my grandfather exceeded any and all expectations of any particular individual, the fact that he did so while essentially being paralyzed made his career all the more exceptional.

I had to adapt my habits around my grandfather specifically to his handicap.  Leaving out toy trucks and micro machine racecars could be a death sentence.

And while I could tell a million other stories, I really want to talk about what it meant to me to understand that science kept his fate from happening to me or anyone else.

When your grandfather had a disease that no longer exists, it helped shape my experience to wonder about things like genetics, biology and science as a whole.  It made me far more likely to trust the science when I can see and feel the resulting impact.

I would never have to worry about the reality my grandfather experienced.  The feelings and sensations of losing such an essential ability.  To understand that in someway, he would be treated differently than everyone else. That people would react to his condition differently than if he didn't have polio.  That abilities he used to have had been abruptly taken away through an invisible pathogen.

I didn't have to worry because the advancements in science and medicine had effectively eradicated the disease by the time I was born.  

It filled me with a sense of ease and maybe even pride that mankind had continued to advance towards a better world, one where science and evidence would become more and more trusted to help solve the problems of the world.

Of course science was still going to be limited to the constraints of time and ability, and while miraculous achievements occurred, some have not.  There is no cure for cancer.  There is no way to prevent autism or down syndrome.  We haven't even eliminated the common cold.

As this Covid-19 plague is occurring the world over, science seemingly has offered us a salvation in the form of a vaccine, and yet the thing preventing its implementation has been the erosion of trust.

This is bewildering to me, as we've reached a point of paranoia and skepticism towards science and government unlike anything I experienced while growing up.

It as though the last 100 years in medical advancement had all been for naught as people still cannot fathom the impact of a pandemic and disease.  They haven't experienced how science can save.

The hope is, that maybe, if people hear the story and experience of someone who has seen and the drastic difference between a world without vaccines, and ones with them, they might begin to trust once again.

A Puddle In Time

I'm still trying to process this fast moving puddle of time in the Pandemic.

In the beginning, which seems like yesterday and yet a lifetime ago, there was a sudden mix of fear and adrenaline.  Things changed seemingly overnight.  My job would become one of millions lost to the Pandemic.

For the next year I would be unemployed.

For the past year, my life has been a myriad of feelings that always come back to the same theme of being simultaneously free and trapped at the same time.  A sense of overwhelming possibilities with the dread of feeling each consecutive day would end up being mostly the same.

In my particular case I would be shuttered to my home, with just enough financial boosts by the government to get by until my job returned once the pandemic was under control again.

Free to do whatever I wanted at any given time.  My basic needs were small, and were going to be met thanks to the actions of the government to assist with unemployment benefits.

Trapped in the sense that no matter what I did, I would still be living in a world with a disease that had brought human movement and interaction to a near standstill.

It feels like everything and nothing.

On one hand, I can wear sweats everyday.  Play videogames for 1 week, binge movies on another.  I had enough time to get in great shape and work out all the time, and time to smash Oreos ad nauseam.  

I could essentially have a "stay-cation" so long as I didn't pick up another paying job.  A prospect that definitely appealed to me, a person who felt in-flux about their career anyway and wanted to explore different aspects of society and culture.

I would be answering to nobody.

I could write and research what I wanted.  Pursue projects that seemed interesting, and maybe even find a different job and begin a different path.

I could become more active and engaged in local government, volunteering time to make phone calls and write opinion pieces.

Yet still, there was just as much a sense of feeling trapped by the disease.

No longer would I be able to casually see friends and distancing from older family members became paramount.

Restaurants, movie theatres, gyms and barber shops adapted with fewer hours, reduced occupancy and some would be forced to shudder their business all together.  The public space was being shrunk to almost nothing.

My days seem exhaustingly limited to screens of my cellphone and internet ready devices as well as the short walks and jogs I make myself go on.

While I've taken advantage of the time in some respects, I feel slightly haunted by the time that I haven't.

I haven't written as much as I feel I should have.

It feels like at this point, something more should have changed.  

But then, like a defense mechanism, my brain starts to recognize this spiral, these negative and pessimistic thoughts, and starts to act and do the behavior I find positive again.

Back to the computer to write, even if it's just for 15 minutes again until you can find that strike and that stride.  Back to a work-out.  Back to a phone-call or meeting-up with family.  Back to meal prepping, or volunteering. 

This has been the cycle for roughly a year.

That is all about to change.

I am now two weeks out from my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.  My family is also vaccinated.  My old job will be coming back in May.  The world seems to be moving back towards what it was.

Structured.  Balanced.  With time seemingly flowing forward again with the intention of a destination.

I used to think that I abhorred that structure.  That I preferred the ability to do whatever I liked, whenever I liked. 

Time is often compared to a river in metaphors.  Over the past year, it felt like the river emptied out into a Covid-19 basin.  

Now it is time to pick up the oars and paddle down another river.

My Mom Retires

I can only tell this story from my point of view, so you'll have to forgive me in that I can't exactly tell you how everyone else feels about Lori Baney, the now former Director of Donor services at Penn State.

I can tell you what it was like for me to watch my mom work at the University for my entire life, and how proud I am of her.

It's a simple, personal story, but one I'd like to share all the same.

One of my earliest memories in my life, one that I can now barely piece together at 37 years of age, was of me trying to keep up with my mom as she walked me across campus to Old Main.

My mom walked fast, and I remember struggling to keep up.

She had a specific agenda for work, and to get where she needed to go on time, she needed to hustle.  I was whiny and wanted her to slow down.

She insisted that I keep up.

I didn't know it or understand it then circa 1987, but later came to realize just how much the attitude she had then was a reflection of her father, James Smith, an economist who had polio, and taught her to understand the value and importance of independence.  

A reflection of her mother, Mary Smith, a valedictorian and activist who taught her daughters the importance of loving people different than yourselves.

This is who my mom was: walking quickly, authoritatively, and with determination since literally the day I was born. 

Someone whose entire culture and being was grounded in work.

That is how I see her as she walks away now.

But that's not exactly the only thing I've seen, and this why I'm excited to celebrate her retirement.

Work is to be valued.  Whether we hear it from politicians, religious figures, wealthy businesses, entrepreneurs, sports figures or rockstars, the conversation inevitably includes some circling clichés that lead back to work, hard work, time spent etc.  

From my perspective, work also created a rift between my grandparents and my mom and her two sisters.

Work, it seemed, could also create horrible divisions and keep a family unit from being all that it could.

For as much effort that my mom put into her job, for as much as she put into her career, she put just as much into loving her family.

I always felt loved like no other as she raised me, whether it be in the way she helped coach me in little league or by taking care of horses to help with my sisters horseback riding lessons.  The constant driving of both my sister and me to our friends' houses that were never within walking or biking distance.

All the while, she was rising through her ranks and divisions not out of pursuit, but because she was asked.

Time and time again, my father, sister and myself would wonder if maybe she'd like to stop, settle down and retire, yet every time it seemed that Penn State was looking to move her up.

She was happy at her job, and as her son, it filled me with immense pride to see her achieve so much professionally.  

She won.  She had successfully raised a family while satisfying personal goals not directly tied to the family.  

For 38 years, my mom has given everything she has to Penn State and her family.  

She didn't do it out of sacrifice or obligation to either, she did it out of love for both.

So as her son, the one that she was pregnant with on the day she took the job, I just want her know it was all worth it, and I couldn't imagine anyone else doing or accomplishing the things she has.

There isn't another Lori Baney out there.

Love, Ben.

Tom Brady is the NFL's Lance Armstrong. Why Won't The National Media Call It Out?

Some in the media act confused as to where the anger for Tom Brady is coming from. 

I can tell you where it comes from.

Tom Brady is a known cheater. 

Just like A-Rod, the Astros, and Lance Armstrong. 

We know Tom to be a cheat.  

We know that Tom Brady faithfully executed plans from 2001-2007 where the New England Patriots would illegally tape opponents to prepare specifically for the game plan that would be implemented against them.

The result looked like masterful play calling and execution, when in reality, New England simply cheated.

This resulted in at least 3 fraudulent Super Bowl wins that help cement the idea that Tom Brady and Bill Bellichick were simply smarter than everyone else.   The amount of praise for this team seems to exemplify teamwork and sacrifice as more important than physical talent.

When you look at those first three championships, the common denominator was not overwhelming talent or skill at any position, but simply executing a winning play versus a losing play.

The cheating led directly to winning.

Then of course there was the deflating of footballs to make it easier to throw and catch and the subsequent lying and denials of it.

He has a notorious history of being less than forthcoming with any honest answers and leverages his accessibility towards only the friendliest of voices.

And now, of course, his trainer is associated with PED's.

But none of this is EVER brought up in the national conversation anymore.  It seems the national media has decided that Tom Brady and his long history of cheating will not be further examined, and instead will be celebrated as the best to have ever played.

Why?

Well for one, the NFL is one of the biggest money making machines in the world, and Tom Brady is arguably it's biggest star.  Calling him a cheat and the NFL a fraudulent league is not going to endear you to making money with the NFL. 

So ESPN/ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC are effectively tied directly to the selling of this game to a consumer base eager to eat it up.  It does not serve their interests to bring up news that might dissuade you from caring or watching the games.

But maybe it's because we really wanted to believe that the 6th round pick from Michigan really beat the odds.  That his story was such a relatable story for so many unathletic white guys.  That you could be the best quarterback in the world while having almost zero athletic talent.

That is what the NFL wants to sell you.  That is what Tom wants to sell you.  That Tom's career was the result of hard work, and that his personal dedication and brilliant mind was what set him apart and not the cheating.

Tom Brady's statistics defy the odds and reality because the game was never fair.  Brady's benefitted from a rigged system that allowed him to succeed where otherwise he would have failed.

Tom can certainly throw some accurate passes.  He also certainly never seems rattled or confused.  However, when you take into account that he was likely being fed exact defensive calls, it's a lot easier to play the position of quarterback.

The best comparison for Tom Brady is Lance Armstrong.  

Both championed by the media and the public.  Sure they have some personal defects, but the public story would always be that it leads to great intense training.  It led them to be champions.

Obviously Lance lied.  He also steadfastly denied all wrongdoing and went after accusers.

He has a notorious history of being less than forthcoming with any honest answers and leverages his accessibility towards only the friendliest of voices.

Tom has been lying and less than honest his entire career.  It's why he destroyed his phone.  It's why he leverages his access against the cheating.  It's why he bought a boat with PPP loans.  It's why he's friends with Donald Trump and thinks he's great.  Because Tom is a cheat and has gotten away with it.  

He likes others willing to do the same.

Unlike Lance, the Patriots and Brady never were stripped of their titles.  Never really held accountable.  The NFL put pressure on teams to say that the biggest cheaters didn't really cheat and to try to make it all go away.  Sure, they were fined and stripped of picks, but in the end, they let the cheaters remain and let them cheat some more.

No one talks about this anymore, and the NFL couldn't be happier.  

But it should be brought up.  Because Tom Brady doesn't deserve praise for being a willing liar and cheat.

If you want to praise him like a Barry Bonds, a Roger Clemens, A-Rod or a Lance Armstrong be my guest.  He clearly understands the game and is a great player.

But he is a willing cheat.

When you are allowed to cheat the game and the system, especially the way he and his teammates did, it should never leave your legacy.

I know the sports' personalities will defend the cheating.  Saying, "It wasn't that bad," "All teams are doing SOMETHING," "It's just some air."

That is the exact same defense of Lance Armstrong.

They need the story to hold that Tom is one of the greatest of All-Time because it's what a lot of Brady fans want to hear, and it's been the story the NFL, the Patriots and the media have been selling for years.  

I write this because Tom Brady is a great player.  I have no doubt about it.  But he is also CLEARLY a cheater.  Both things are true.  

But only ONE is being brought up in the national conversation, and that is wrong.

To ignore this part is to lie to an audience, to purposefully hide the truth because a lie will sell better.

It is wrong, and it should be noted.

I know, I know.

Hater's gotta hate.

But a cheat is still a cheat.

Sources.

Pennlive.

GQ

ESPN

For My Birthday, All I Want Is The Truth

The countdown to my birthday has been intense.

I happened to be born on Jan 20th, 1984, so I'll be turning 37 next Wednesday. 

I've been thinking on it a lot since, you know, the other things in the world are happening. 

I was thinking on what to wish for.  Something impossible maybe, but something that I really wanted. 

For me, all I really want is honesty from our leaders. 

The U.S. democracy is nearly in complete tatters as a violent overthrow of the government was just attempted.

The assault directly led to the death of 5 people, including a Capitol Officer, potentially two suicides, and the stress, anxiety and tension the bulk of the country who voted to end the Trump reign via peaceful transition of power, now feel.  

It was the final step, an illegal one, where the President clearly invited to the Capitol those that believed in the lie that he created; one where he had won the vote instead of lost and the election was stolen from him. 

Despite being told repeatedly that he had lost the election (because all evidence suggests that he did), Trump made up a fictional reality (a lie) in his very faulty mind, where he  had won the election and that the other side had cheated him.  

He got others with a prominent public platform to peddle this lie to those that would be the most susceptible audience to believe it, those that already loved him.

This moment, this flashing point, is where people begin to believe what is called by scholars of Facism and political movements as a "Big Lie."  It is a moment where we can either continue the fostering of the Lie and likely increase the chances for violence and radicalization, or we can tell the truth.

The truth by all those that were involved in the counting and processing of the votes, that were there for every legal challenge to the voting system both before and after, was that the process was legal, free and fair, and the outcome was that Joe Biden was elected President.

I understand, the feeling that things didn't go your way because of this reason or that reason.  My God do I know that feeling. 

There were reasons, obviously, that Trump won the election in 2016, that many found objectionable, including the participation of Russian contacts and criminals working within the Trump administration to get him elected to, at the very least, sew as much unrest within America as possible.

Still, after the 2016 election, Trump and his family were invited to the White House by the still sitting President to offer a peaceful transition of power.  Those stunned Clinton supporters, or simply progressives that couldn't yet fathom an openly racist and misogynistic fraud would be elected, did NOT storm the capitol to protest with weapons and handcuffs. 

Instead, the day after Trump was inaugurated, millions of people the WORLD over went to the streets in the Women's March, a protest that would end up being the largest in American history to reject the misogynists and bigots of the world and the importance of women's rights that they felt would be endangered by a man who proudly admits to his sexual assaults privately, while lying about it publicly.

Since then, there has been a rapid decline in trust and a rise in animosity, a clear recipe for disaster in the public square.

It has to stop.

I want to write the thing here that makes everyone calm, that makes us look back and say, "This is what happened, and this was why"

It starts with telling the truth.

The truth is Joe Biden beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

The truth is while Trump has a near zealotry following among some, the overwhelming majority of the Nation want him gone.

If this truth can overcome the loudest Big Lie since Hitler's Germany, then we may yet stand a chance to quickly reclaim our democracy and begin to govern ourselves in far better terms. 

But we must stay engaged to do it.

So if you took the time to read this little essay, I would ask one more small thing of you as a birthday present to me.  

Please keep telling the truth about the election.  Tell the story of how Joe Biden, flawed as he is, was still FAR, FAR more preferable to most people than another 4 years of Trump.

It would be the best present of all; the presence of truth.