February 13, 2014
THE CENTRAL SHOW
The Central Sports & Business Report airs tonight, 5:30pm—6:30pm, broadcasting live from Me Pa’s Diner in Central, on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and on the Internet at JonFineProductions.com. Host Steve Johnson will be joined by CHS Basketball coach Ron Lewis and CHS Softball coach Michelle Efferson. Each will have 2 players with them who will be on the program
The Sponsor of The Week is Doug Davis, Davis & Sons Collision and Towing
ALL ALERT: If anyone should be in contact with St. John HS/Plaquemine HS play-by-play announcer J. B. Barker, please have him get in touch with me. Thanks
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, February 13: 5:30pm—6:30pm… with Steve Johnson … broadcasting live from Me’ Pa’s Diner in Central
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
SportsRadio 1310 Radio, Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com:
Saturday, February 15: 9AM—10AM: All Things Football with Scott Holtzman
Monday, February 17: 8AM—10AM: The Locker Room with John Goodman and Jim Gazzolo
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach and Head Swimming Coach at Central High
The big news in sports this week comes courtesy of Michael Sam and Marcus Smart. In both cases, the notoriety surrounding each person is not really about them, but more about our society.
In the case of Marcus Smart, the situation is simple when addressing what he did personally. Basketball coaches, players, and officials are in difficult situations. They are involved in a fast moving, high intensity competition with people feet, and in some cases inches away. At times, the game and the spectators overlap.
The environment is close and intense by design and that is the expectation is that all that choose to participate in the sport. It is the responsibility of the coaches, players, and officials to keep their actions restricted to the court. It is the responsibility of game management to keep the actions of fans restricted to off the court. When the two inevitably overlap for a few seconds, it is the responsibility of each individual to separate themselves quickly from the situation without incident.
Marcus Smart did not do that and is suspended as a result. Furthermore, he put his draft stock at risk because he demonstrated poor judgment in a situation milder than he will be in hundreds of times if he is fortunate enough to play in the NBA.
As for the fan, he was trying to do what has been praised repeatedly in our society. He was trying to get in the head of the opponent in order to support his team. Maybe you have heard of the idea recently, “The 12th Man?” In basketball, the “Cameron Crazies” are the most famous group that tries to do disrupt their opponent by strategies beyond just making noise.
In the “mob setting” it is easy for individuals to lose perspective. My guess is that is what happened to this fan and faced with a similar situation, I hope he would make a different choice. The point is that fans must always keep perspective that supporting their team does not excuse them from treating people with respect.
As for Michael Sam, I can say with strong confidence that in a year from today his name will only be significant if something really great or really bad happens. For instance, if he is named Rookie of the Year, then I am sure it will be mentioned that he is also homosexual. If he has a rookie season typical of any mid round draft pick, I think it will become a non issue for his team way before people not involved stop talking about it.
The members of the team will only care about his sexuality if Michael Sam stinks and stays on the team. If he can play and help the team, then 95% of the team will not care. The proof is in Missouri where they had the best season in school history after finding out his sexual preference.
The organization that picks him will know the leaders on the team. Once Michael Sam and that organization leads by example, there will be nothing to talk about. People outside the league, unfortunately will ask and give their opinion as if their opinion matters.
I am going to close this article, with an opinion that nobody cares about… mine. It is actually the same opinion I gave last year at this time. The reason I am going to repeat it is because the person involved keeps making the same choice at this time of year.
LeBron James once again chooses to abstain from the dunk competition which is his right. Despite the fact his participation would be considerate to fans, media, the league, and the corporations that sponsor the league, his participation is his choice. If he does not want to be considerate, fine. BUT putting on private displays at this time of year shows a particular aspect of his character that is either oblivious to perception or unappreciative of the blessings he has received.
HEY REF
The sporting world’s list of “FIRST”, those individuals coming out and declaring their sexuality, has increased yet again. The reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year former Missouri All-American and NFL hopeful Michael Sam this week boldly professed “I’m an openly gay man”. He told ESPN “It’s a big deal. No one has done this before. And it’s kind of a nervous process but I know what I want to be”.
He follows former NFL players Kwame Harris and Dave Kopay along with the NBA’s Jason Collins, MLS and U. S. National Team player Robbie Rogers that have previously claimed they were homosexuals. Being inspired by their courage I feel that I must also “come out” and declare my sexuality.
To insure equal rights and fair treatment for those that are like me, I must confess; “I’m a 58 year old white male sports columnist. And I’m a heterosexual”! In the entire history of sports columnists NO OTHER writer has come out and declared he’s a heterosexual. So, I believe just as those athletes mentioned before that I also be placed on the list of “FIRSTS”.
Since I’m getting this off my chest and clearing the air I must also tell each and every one of you that I LOVE WOMEN! Yes, it’s true; I love to sleep with a woman! So that no one has to guess anymore about my sexuality, I love to do just about everything with a woman. There are of course two exceptions to that list when I’d rather have a male partner; fishing and officiating football.
Don’t hate me for loving women! I wasn’t born any other way, this wasn’t a decision I made. Rather; I believe God ordained me to be a heterosexual and I intend to do His bidding. I never knew “coming out of the closet” would feel so refreshing; never again will any person I meet have to wonder if I’m a real, true blue, 100 percent heterosexual.
Now that I’ve come out as the first openly heterosexual sports columnist I can’t wait for all the attention from every national newspaper such as USA Today. Just think of it, here in Louisiana, not only will ESPN but all of the major T. V. networks will be converging and jockeying to be the first to do an “up close & personal” story about me “coming out” and leading the way for more heterosexual, male, sports columnists.
Think how important this is to even those heterosexual female sports columnists as they too will now find it easier to “come out” and profess their heterosexuality! It’s truly a new day for all those “closet” heterosexuals out there that feared the discrimination we face constantly from every corner of today’s openly homosexual world. How long will it be before the cable networks start a war to be the first to produce my new Reality Show; “Openly Heterosexual”?
I feel a huge weight has been lifted off my chest, I feel as though a new day is dawning in America and we can now accept someone for confessing to be a heterosexual. No more having to fear being discriminated against because I am a heterosexual. To be able to walk out in today’s America where being a heterosexual is frowned upon can only lead to thousands more like me in that I believe I’m a true pioneer of equal justice for all of America’s citizens.
I only want that as an openly, straight, heterosexual, male sports columnist that I should be given the very same attention given to those homosexual sports columnists, basketball, football and tennis players, etc. I’m tired of being discriminated against because I’m a heterosexual.
Equal rights for all heterosexuals should be the new law of our land. With those rights we’ll finally see heterosexuals being treated as equals to homosexuals. We shouldn’t face hatred because of our sexual orientation. It’s time to stop those needing jobs and/or advancement in those jobs from being put down because we are heterosexuals.
This all sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But think about where our country is headed and ask yourself this question “Has our society flipped in such a way that we are facing a future that’ll require fighting a nation full of HETEROPHOBES”? Well, what do you say America?
Till next week…
Ivy, Where’s The Bull?
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES, IN ESTABLSHING THE “DOLLAR A HOLLER” MARKETING PROGRAM AND HELPING SELL SULPHUR HS FOOTBALL BROADCASTS AND BARBE HS BASEBALL PLAYOFF BROADCASTS.