Finneran: American Follies

Tom Finneran, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™

Finneran: American Follies

Here’s a quick sampling of American follies observed over the past few days:

THE BACHELOR: 

This abomination has to hold the all-time prize for an idiotic show with an idiotic cast. I might have thought that in a nation of more than three hundred million sentient human beings that there would only be one or two morons willing to abase themselves and embarrass their families in such flagrant fashion. It now appears that there are many more young Americans with absolutely no standards of taste, decency, or self-respect than I thought. If this means that I am out of touch with “the culture”, that makes me very happy. 

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THE STORM OF THE CENTURY:

Admittedly, weather forecasting is not an exact science. But can we do away with the breathless hype of a snowstorm in March in New England? It snows frequently in New England, anytime from October into May. That’s eight months of potential snowstorms, all of them now treated by television and cable stations as an apocalyptic event. Apparently, we simply must have bread, milk, eggs, cheese, cash, water, gas, batteries and of course ammunition for when the hordes of invaders or hungry bears start marauding our neighborhoods. One would have thought that Rommel’s Panzer Corps had landed on the coast and was heading our way. Once again, television takes the low road.

CIALIS ADS:

Who writes these ads? Have you ever seen anything quite so silly? A middle age couple is depicted ever so discreetly as re-enacting their most libidinous years. Sans clothes, they are touching fingers and staring into each other’s eyes. They are however seated in separate bathtubs. I break out laughing every time I see this ad as I think that one of them has to get up and get out if he or she really wants to get down. That means goosebumps as he exits the warm water. That also means trying to make room in the already cramped tub of his partner. Oops be careful---those tubs can be so slippery. The most likely outcome of these special middle-age moments is not sexual nirvana. Rather, the outcome likely involves a bad back, various sprains, and terminal embarrassment as Romeo slips and falls in the dirt. Hopefully the neighbors catch all the details on film and then distribute it via Facebook. Such are the glories of Cialis.

THE NFL:

The Globe reports that the city of Las Vegas has promised to put up $ 750 million dollars in public funds---i.e.-- taxpayers money---in order to build a stadium for the billionaires who own the team. The promised stadium is meant to entice said team to move from its present location in Oakland. The Globe has also reported that the billionaire owners of the San Diego Chargers have chided the citizens of San Diego for failing to tax themselves to the owners’ personal satisfaction. It appears that those extremely selfish citizens prefer to spend their tax dollars on themselves. How self-centered they are---how dare they prefer the education of their children, the safety of their streets, and the quality of their lives to the further enrichment of the team owners? Do they not appreciate the qualities of these noble sportsmen whose every waking hour is dedicated to marking up the prices of tickets, crappy beer, and stale popcorn?

There are of course a few very simple and legitimate responses to these taxpayer shakedowns—

Response # 1: “Drop dead”.

Response # 2: “We’ll help with infrastructure—i.e.—connecting roads, water and utility upgrades, etc. Other than that, you’re on your own---just like every other business in America”.

Response # 3: “How much equity in the team and its prodigious revenue streams do the taxpayers get in return for their “investment”. And of course, we’ll require an annual audit of your books in order to protect the taxpayers’ interests”.

It’s usually response # 3 that ends the charade of these so-called public-private partnerships.

Welcome to twenty-first century America---the land of milk, honey, and oh so many follies.. 

 

Tom Finneran is the former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, served as the head the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and was a longstanding radio voice in Boston radio.

The 20 Worst Player Punishments in NFL History

#20

Player: Weslye Saunders

Team: Indianpolis Colts 

Year: 2013

Suspension: 8 Game Suspension

Reason: 2nd Violation of NFL's Substance Abuse Policy (Adderall - 1st offense, unknown - 2nd offense)

Photo Credit: "Weslye Saunders" by Jeffrey Beall - Own work. 

#19

Player: Chris Henry

Team: Cincinatti Bengals

Year: 2007

Suspension: 8 Games

Reason: Violation of Personal Conduct Policy

"Chrishenry". Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia

#18

Player: Tank Johnson

Team: Chicago Bears/Dallas Cowboys

Year: 2007

Suspension: 8 Game Suspension

Reason: Following an arrest for gun-related charges while with the Bears, Johnson was suspended for 8 games. Following a second run in with the law, Johnson was released by the Bears and signed with the Cowboys. He served his 8 games with the Cowboys.

Photo Credit: "Tank Johnson at 2010 training camp" by Navin Rajagopalan

#17

Player: Jonathan Vilma

Team: New Orleans Saints

Year: 2012

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: Bountygate - Besides the head coach and GM, Vilma took the brunt of the suspension for Bountygate following accusations that he offered to pay $10,000 for any teammate that injured Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC Championship Game.

#16

Player: Josh Brent

Team: Dallas Cowboys

Year: 2014

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: In a sad story, Brent was driving under the influence with teammate Jerry Brown when he crashed his car - killing Brown. Brent was charged with murder. Upon returning to the league after serving time in prison, he was suspended 10 games. He would later leave the league to focus on his personal health.

#15

Player: Frank Alexander

Team: Carolina Panthers

Year: 2014

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: 2nd Violation in 1 year of League's Performance Enhancing Drugs Policy

#14

Player: LaRon Landry

Team: Indianapolis Colts

Year: 2015

Suspension: 10 Games

Reason: Violation of League's Performance Enhancing Drugs Policy

#13

Player: Greg Hardy

Team: Carolina Panthers

Year: 2014, 2015

Suspension: 15 games (2014), 10 Games (2015)

Reason: Violation of Personal Conduct Policy - Accused of domestic assault 

#12

Player: Koren Robinson 

Team: Green Bay Packers

Year: 2006

Suspension: 1 Year Suspension

Reason: 3rd Violation of League's Substance Abuse Policy - High Speed Car Chase that led to arrest

#11

Player: Daryl Washington

Team: Arizona Cardinals 

Year: 2014

Suspension: 1 Year Suspension

Reason: 2nd Violation of NFL's Substance Policy

Photo Credit: "Daryl Washington" by Broderick Delaney - Flickr

#10

Player: Dion Jordan

Team: Miami Dolphins

Year: 2015

Suspension: 1 Year Suspension

Reason: 3rd Violation of NFL's Performance Enhancing Substance Policy

#9

Player: Donte Stallworth

Team: Cleveland Browns

Year: 2009

Suspension: Suspended for 1 Season

Reason: Plead Guilty to DUI Manslaughter

#8

Player: Adam Jones

Team: Tennessee Titans

Year: 2007

Suspension: One Year Suspension

Reason: Violation of NFL Player Conduct Policy (First player in 44 years to be suspended for a reason other than substance abuse.)

Photo Credit: "Adam Pacman Jones" by emeybee - Own work. 

#7

Player: Ricky Williams

Team: Miami Dolphins

Year: 2006

Suspension: Suspended for one season (2006)

Reason: 4th Violation of NFL Drug Policy

Photo Credit: Chris J. Nelson

#6

Player: Josh Gordon

Team: Cleveland Browns

Year: 2015, 2014

Suspension: One Year (2015), 10 Games (2014)

Reason: Arrested for DWI in 2014, Tested Positive for Alcohol Use (2015) -3 Violations of League's Substance Abuse Policy

Image: "Josh Gordon 2014 Browns Training Camp" by Erik Daniel Drost - Flickr. 

#5

Player: Fred Davis

Team: Washington Redskins

Year: 2014

Suspension: Indefinite Suspension (Reinstated for 2015 Season - Signed with New England Patriots)

Reason: Failed Drug Tests in 2011, Failed Drug Tests in 2013

Photo:"Fred davis 2010" by Keith Allison on Flickr

#4

Player: Michael Vick

Team: Atlanta Falcons

Year: 2007, 2008

Suspension: 2 year suspension

Reason: Violation of Player Conduct Policy - Involvement in Bad Newz Kennel Dog fighting investigation

#3

Player: Justin Blackmon

Team: Jacksonville Jaguars

Year: 2013

Suspension: Suspended Indefinetly

Reason: Violated League's Substance Abuse and Drug Policy twice in 2013, arrested for marijuana possession in 2014.

#2

Player: Tanard Jackson

Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins

Year: 2010, 2014

Suspension: Suspended Indefinetly

Reason: Violations of NFL Drug Policy

#1

Player: Odell Thurman

Team: Cincinatti Bengals

Year: 2006, 2007, 2008

Suspension: Suspended for 2006 and 2007 season, Indefinetly suspended in 2008

Reason: Failed two drug tests in three seasons, arrested for DUI, arrested for assault (broke a man's jaw).

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