Monday, July 30, 2012

Down and out????




Well, unless they make a never before seen run, it looks as if for the first time since 2006, the Phillies will not make the postseason. Being a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan I've seen this happen before. These "new" Phillies fans that can't name a player from the last Phillies team to not make the postseason are spoiled. It's one thing to expect greatness from your sports teams, like we all do, but it's another to understand the total package of the sport. This includes the business aspect as well. Ultimately that's what all professional sports are, a business first. From the owners all the way down to the players, there is a business first mentality. With contracts being what they are in today's sports world, it becomes a "what have you done for me lately" scenario. 



As a Philadelphia sports fan, I have learned to check my emotions at the door and not get attached to the players because they could be gone the next season, ala Reggie White, Charles Barkley and Brian Dawkins. The Phillies have tried to do the right thing by keeping their homegrown nucleus of Hamels, Rollins, Utley, Howard, and Chooch together for a long time but at what cost?? Knowing that they have a great amount of money tied up in just a handful of players does not give them many options to make this team better moving forward. The Phils are faced with that always hard but inevitable position of who to keep and who to trade in order to be a contender next season. Going through the times of what seemed like all 10,000+ losses this organization has growing up, this team is nothing like those teams. I know this team has the talent, ability, mentality, and yes, heart to be the team we have been used to the past 5 years, but they have to make business decisions in order to improve. The only thing that could make this worse is if Cole Hamels came out and publically stated he is against gay marriage and is the new co-owner of Chick-Fil-A!!! 


The point I am making is simple. True fans understand that seasons like this occur and you have to go through times like this to become better. When the trade deadline comes and goes there will more than likely be a few new faces as we as fans say goodbye to some of our favorites, but such is life. Remember one thing, a true fan is a fan of the name on the front of the jersey, not the back of it. Im sure there will be a number of fans who will no longer like the Phils because of the trades they make in the upcoming days and that just proves my point about those so called "fans". So when you fair weather fans and bandwagon jumpers want to jump back on board with the Phillies when they're doing good again go ahead but just remember that you will not be considered a true fan.

I'm Kyle Montgomery and this has been my two cents. 


Chick Fil Gay





As I’m following the whole Chick-Fil-A situation I’m trying to figure out what the big issue is.  Now before anyone starts in on me, I fully support gay rights and gay marriage and I have stated so on this blog.  The issue I’m trying to wrap my head around is why everyone has their panties in a bunch.
First of all what Dan Cathy said was his opinion.  He said he personally doesn’t support gay marriage and he uses the religious argument.  I’ve said before (if you click on the previous link you can see the full post) that I think that argument is weak at best.  However, when I see people lambasting Cathy and Chick-Fil-A I have to say hold up.  Is freedom of speech not guaranteed by the first amendment of our constitution?  Just to refresh your memory:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances



What Cathy said is protected by that text.  In fact he bases his argument on the bible which also is protected by the first amendment.  No matter how stupid, idiot or archaic the thinking, it is protected.  I disagree with his position but if someone wants to base their way of thinking on a 3000 year old book, I say more power to him.



I challenge anyone to show me an example of where Chick-Fil-A discriminated in hiring or serving anyone who is gay.  Everyone in this country is entitled to think and say what they want no matter how much you may or may not agree.

The second thing that bothers me is the “protests” that are going on.  The mayors of Chicago and Boston have openly said they don’t want Chick-Fil-A in their cities.  Huh?  Everybody is up in arms about Cathy’s opinion and again there is no proof that Chick-Fil-A discriminates in hiring or serving gay people.  These two have the balls to say Chick-Fil-A doesn’t belong?  Can somebody please tell me how this is not discrimination?  Not allowing a business based on its CEO’s beliefs?  They are worse than Cathy in my opinion.  Do they not believe in the constitution?  Doesn’t appear so. 


Then there are the people who say we need to boycott Chick-Fil-A.  Again, I support your right to do that but what good would that do?  Sure you may hurt the business a little but will there be a full boycott?  Doubtful.  There are plenty of people who support Cathy’s beliefs that will still go to Chick-Fil-A.  Besides, if I go to Chick-Fil-A does that mean I’m anti-gay?  No, it means I like chicken sandwiches with pickles.  I don’t agree with Cathy’s opinion but why would I deprive myself of something I like simply because I don’t agree?  I have one question for all of those holier-than-thou people who like to stand on their high horse.  A lot of the goods we buy and use everyday are made overseas, if you use them does that mean you are anti-American?  Where’s the outrage there?  Oh that’s right, wouldn’t want you not wear your Polo Shirts and Nike sneakers.  Cathy came out and gave his opinion but do you check the opinions of every business you frequent? Seriously, I’d love to know.  It’s ridiculous. 


Finally, the fact that someone’s sexual orientation is even an issue today is insane.  However as long as people use their religion to justify what they think it will always be an issue.  There are many more other pressing issues in our country.  I’d like to see these holier-than-thou high horse people actually pick an issue that will do some good in this country to support.  Instead of trying to get people to boycott Chick-Fil-A because they don’t agree with the CEO’s opinion, why not stand up and try to fix our education system?  (Shameless teacher plug)



So in conclusion our priorities in this country are screwed up.  Dan Cathy didn’t do anything wrong.  He has an opinion and he stated it.  We can argue whether it’s a misguided opinion or a smart business move to even come public with it in the first place but there is no argument that he has the right to be misguided and not a smart businessman.  What if he came out and said he supports gay marriage?  There are plenty of people in this country who don’t agree with that.  These same people would probably be lambasting his detractors.  Until next time this is Jimbo saying come on America, get your priorities straight.