1 Stadium. 2 Teams. 2 Very Different Outcomes.

Ask a Bearcat fan how their weekend was today and you're likely to hear the normal blah, blah, blah, BUT the Bearcats lost which sucked.

Ask an FC Cincinnati fan how their weekend was and you're likely to hear the normal blah, blah, blah, BUT I went to the FC Cincinnati game on Sunday. They lost a close match on two freak goals but it was a lot of fun and I can't wait for next year!

OK, so maybe they don't respond just like that (although, the die-hard Bearcat fan is likely to tell you that Saturday night ruined their weekend).

I attended every moment of both games and the differences were striking:

Now, if you're saying to yourself, "but Joe, they both lost, why does it matter?," I'll tell you why.

You don't have to look any further than the fan bases of these two programs to see the the polarizing difference.

One one hand, you have FC Cincinnati. 30,187 fans last night proved that a team with strong leadership, a chip on their shoulder, and a desire to do something they love (well). In their first year FCC set single game attendance records, season attendance records, had the USL's leading scorer, attracted attention from the MLS, and captivated a city and a fan-base in a fun engaging way. In one season, FCC was able to take professional soccer and integrate it into the water-cooler conversation of Cincinnatians that couldn't tell you the number of MLS teams playing today (20, for those of you reading this that don't know).

On the other hand, you have UC Football. 33,108 fans bought tickets to attend the game on Saturday night. I'm guessing that actual attendance was 5,000 less than that, with MAYBE 10,000 people left at the start of the fourth quarter. The sense of apathy within the fan base, in and outside of Nippert Stadium, is telling. I don't think anyone believes that the Bearcats are better today than we were 4 years ago.

I believe that FC Cincinnati has uniquely positioned itself in the Cincinnati community and is poised to build on their first season successes with an ever better second season. I went to 5 home games this year. Next year I'll probably buy season tickets (and more than one branded shirt). I didn't hear a single thing about the program, the players, the coaches, or the venue the entire year. The FC Cincinnati team did a phenomenal job putting together an impossibly perfect inaugural season. Here's to many more!

UC Football has a ways to go at this point, but in an effort to focus on the good that FC Cincinnati has done, I'll share those thoughts separately.

This Article Represents (Almost) Everything Wrong with Politics

When it comes to politics, one of my favorite quotes comes from our first President. In his farewell speech, George Washington warned of the dangers of political parties, saying "the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it." A quick look at our two party system today leads me to believe that he was absolutely right.



But Washington didn't stop there. He went on to say that the spirit of party
   
     "serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, forments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another."

If this doesn't remind you of today's political mess in the United States, you must literally be living in a different country. Take, for example, this article that asked Republican party members whether or not they would support Trump if he was the GOP Presidential Nominee. I won't go through what each and every politician said, but here are a couple of the quotes that highlight our country's fall into the "spirit of party."

 - "Anybody is better than Hillary Clinton. If Donald Trump is our nominee, I will fall in line and support him. It's the right thing to do." - Alex Triantafilou, Hamilton County GOP Chairman

 - "I will support whoever the nominee is because I am the party chair and my job is to get Republicans elected." - Diane Carnes, chairwoman of the Ross County Republican Party

 - "It is expected that you support whoever the nominee is." - Carolyn Adams, chairwoman of the Ottawa County Republican Party

Now, to be fair, I went through and pulled the three quotes from the article that I thought were the total opposite of what George Washington told the country to do. There were a number of Republicans in the article that either expressed that they did not have confidence that Trump would be the party's nominee, or said that they would not commit to supporting Trump.

What I am hoping to showcase with these quotes is how close-minded our political officials can be. Remember, Washington said that the spirit of the party "serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration." Everything that we see in the news today, quotes, rumors, and half-truths, serve to distract the public and enfeeble those that are serving on their behalf. Rather than focus on solutions and the things that will be beneficial to our society in the long run, the media, our politicians, and, unfortunately, our citizens choose to focus on the wrong ideas.

What if we lived in a country where, instead of focusing on the negative and how bad it is, we focused on how we could fix the situation and ensure that our kids didn't have to endure the same? What if we lived in a country where your political affiliation didn't matter, but the work that you did on behalf of your constituents did? What if we lived in a country where people from all walks of life came together with the common goal of making the place that we lived the best it could be?

All of these things have been true at some point in our history. And today, they may be true in pockets. But those pockets are too hard to find.

What we need is a country where your political affiliation doesn't cause your fellow citizen to instantaneously disagree with you. Where we elect our public officials because we believe that they have the ability to do what is best for their constituents through compromise without fear of rejection from their political party. With only two parties, I think it will be tough for us to get there. In order for us to get back to the days of true compromise intended on making America the best country in the world, we need to take a few lessons from our founding fathers and forget about the cosmetic aspects of politics and focus on what is best for the United States of America.

QUICK THOUGHTS:

It looks like even the Supreme Court can't come up with a solution as to how we should draw our election districts. This isn't something that I have put a ton of thought into, but I'm going to try and give it some and give you my thoughts next week.

Looks like craft beers are taking over the world! (or at least gaining on the mass beer producers in terms of market share). Thanks, Rhinegeist, Mad Tree, Deschutes, and Goose Island for making some great tasting beers!

Donald Trump
More and more I think that Donald Trump is running for President, not because he wants to be President, but because he has a longer-term personal agenda that he is gunning to accomplish. Yesterday he said that there should be "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." He has said a lot of outrageous things so far in his campaign, but at first thought, this one takes the cake. Blatant discrimination against an entire religion has no place in politics anywhere and the fact that Trump believes that this is good policy and the way our country operates clearly indicates that he is not fit to be our next President.

Oh, and Trump could learn a thing or two from UC students.

LeBron James
Crazy to believe that yesterday Nike and LeBron agreed on a lifetime deal. Given that the Jordan brand brings in $2.2 billion in sales each year, I'm sure that whatever Nike has agree to pay LeBron, they'll bring plenty of value to their shareholders. Given that LeBron has always said that he wants to be the first billionaire athlete, I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.

Bengals are 10 - 2 and the #1 seed in the AFC right now. Games against Pittsburgh and at Denver will be huge.

The Crosstown Shootout is back this Saturday and both UC and Xavier are ranked. Should be a great game!

Public Fights with Private Demons

Patrick Kennedy and CC Sabathia: Public Fights with Private Demons
Last week, two high profile Americans went public with their fights against personal demons. I don't know a ton about either Patrick Kennedy or CC Sabathia, but I do know that I respect their decisions to focus their efforts on the things that ail them. But more than that, I respect their decisions to face these demons publicly. All too often people choose to fight these demons alone. But when each of these two men chose to fight their fight out in the open, they chose to engage millions of people in their efforts. Admitting that one has a problem is not an easy thing. Not when it comes to school, work, relationships, or substance abuse. It often takes years and years for some to admit it. In the case of Patrick Kennedy, he chose to admit it when those around him, his loved ones and family, would have preferred that he not share his ailments.

As a member of one of the more memorable families in recent years (recent being 60), Patrick was under a lot of pressure not to share the things that stopped him from being his best. Drinking vodka out of water bottles and taking drugs while serving as a member of Congress are actions that most, if not all, would consider unacceptable. Yet this is exactly how Kennedy functioned for years. But finally, he decided to come clean about the demons that he has been fighting and come clean to the public. I believe that this admission will be one that aids many other addicts and substance abusers to come forward seek out the help that they deserve.

Another man in the news for facing his substance abuse is CC Sabathia. Sabathia, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, checked himself into rehab last week for his abuse of alcohol. Nevermind the fact that the Yankees were about to enter the playoffs; Sabathia chose to make the decision to seek out the help that he needed. Much like Patrick Kennedy, a big chunk of Sabathia's substance abuse occurred at his place of employment. Some reports said that he was drinking 6 nights a week; only taking a night off when it was his turn to pitch in the rotation. But CC chose to try to be better than the disease that affected him and fight his personal battle. As a professional athlete, it's tough for him to fight any battle outside of the media spotlight, but this is one that I am glad he chose to fight publicly.

Too many people suffer each year from substance abuse because they choose to fight their demons on their own. Not everyone facing these problems will admit them to the world in the way that these two have chose to, but everyone has the opportunity to share their problem with someone that can help. So if someone comes to you with an issue or a demon they are fighting just remember that not everyone is like Patrick Kennedy and CC Sabathia; not everyone has the world to support them in their battles. Many may just have you.


Quick Thoughts:

Miami University Secretly Searches for a President:
I find it strange that a public university is conducting a search for the next president of the institution in secret. A university president relies heavily on the input from all of her/his constituents. Is a search that hides the candidates from the public one that those associated with the university can have confidence in?

Spots Betting: Does it have a place in society today?
This article compares sports betting to to Prohibition. With Fan Duel and Draft Kings becoming a big part of the fantasy football landscape, the conversation is begging to shift towards the topic of betting on sports and whether it has a place in society. Is the comparison between betting on sports and Prohibition valid? I'm not sure. But I do know that I don't agree with the fact that Congress passed a law in 1992 that banned betting on sports in all states but the four that already had some form of sports betting in place. Is this an issue that each state should decide?

Obama's Comment on the Republican Party:
Tonight on 60 minutes Obama said "that the Republican Party knows what it is against, but not what it is for." I think that this is an interesting statement and one that could define a number of the issues that the GOP faces today. As the Republican candidates for the Presidency continue to shrink, I think the country will see a greater focus on policy suggestions and ideas instead of the current banter and bashing of others.

First Democratic Debate:
The first Democratic debate is this Tuesday. I am interested in hearing what the candidates have to say and how the demeanor of the debate compares to that of the previous two Republican debates.

No More Columbus Day?
There was a lot of talk today about the name of Columbus Day and whether that should even remain the name. I, for one, am in favor of leaving the name. I believe that Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas and is the reason that our great country is here today. Many things have happened since Mr. Columbus discovered what we now know as the USA, but without the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, who knows where we would be today.

Who Dey!?!
The Bengals proved that they belong among the League's elite teams with their win over the Seahawks yesterday at home. Can't wait to see what next week brings!

Is the American flag a Holiday Decoration?

The American Flag
I was perusing the TNN (Twitter News Network aka Twitter) earlier today when I ran across this story about a Home Owners Association (HOA) in Utah. Apparently this HOA has told the residents of Chestnut Place that they must remove their American flags flying on their properties 10 days after a holiday.

I don't know about you, but I take issue with this requirement. Generally, I think HOAs can play a good role in neighborhoods and can help ensure that member residents are maintaining their property appropriately and not making changes that will detract from the value of other member residents' homes. However, I see a HUGE distinction between holiday decorations and the American flag.

The American flag has always been a symbol of pride and support for this country and if a homeowner wants to fly the flag every day of the year (assuming that they light it properly and follow all provisions outlined in the US Flag Code). Growing up a Boy Scout, I was always taught how to care for, respect, and properly fly the American flag. In fact, in re-reading the US Flag Code, I came across an Executive Order from President George W Bush that is titled "Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005." The key excerpt of this Executive Order is below:

Without knowing all of the details, it seems to me that the HOA in question is in violation of the Executive Order signed back in 2005. What frustrates me the most about the HOA's interpretation of holiday decorations is that the American flag is a powerful symbol that represents many things, among them freedom, sacrifice, strength, unit, and patriotism. Telling a group of residents that they cannot fly the American flag except within a 10 day period surrounding a holiday is beyond me and is a situation that I hope is fixed swiftly.

Issue 3
I don't always agree with the Enquirer editorial board's viewpoints on issues, but I think I agree with them more often than not. This week is one of those times. The board released this article. The Enquirer said it right when they said that Issue 3's greatest flaw is that "It doesn't put the public first." Specifically, the Marijuana Growth, Cultivation, and Extraction (MGCE) facilities are quite concerning as the language of the issue would allow for the 10 MGCE facilities to own exclusive rights to the commercialization of the drug in Ohio. If marijuana is going to be legalized, it should be in a way that does not create a monopoly for a few individuals that put in $2 million to support specific language that will benefit them personally.

I have never personally used marijuana, so I can't comment as to the effects of consumption, but I believe that the conversation around the legalization of the drug is one that will (and should) continue throughout the country over the next 5 years. I haven't seen all of the statistics, but it does appear that marijuana laws in Ohio have not been deployed in a manner that is applied consistently across all demographics.

More so than anything else when it comes to this issue, and all issues to be decided by the citizens of Ohio, I recommend reading the actual language contained in the wording that will appear on the ballot and ask questions if you have them. Reading the language and understanding the impact is necessary to responsibly participate in the democratic process.


Quick Thoughts:

Kim Davis: 
I found it interesting that Kim Davis announced recently that she was switching party affiliations (from Democrat to Republican) because "the party left me." Should a view on one issue determine an individual's party affiliation? Should I even care?

The Pope's Audiences: 
I can't think of another person whose audiences are so closely scrubbed for inferences than the Pope. His meetings with a same-sex couple and Kim Davis during his visit to the US because public last week and much scrutiny has followed.

The Bengals: 
4 - 0 and on a roll. The Seahawks will definitely prove a tough test next week, but if the offense can continue to put up points as they have lately, we could see a 5 - 0 Bengals team.

The Bearcats: 
The win against Miami was exactly what this program needed. Both the defense and the offense played well and the crowd was unbelievable. That was definitely the best atmosphere I have seen at a UC home football game.

Beer of the Week:
Stone Enjoy by 10.31.15. I picked this up at Party Source over the weekend mostly out of curiosity as I enjoy Stone's other beers. It definitely did not disappoint. If you like IPAs and/or Stone's beers, check this out. I'm now looking forward to their Enjoy by 11.27.15.

I'm Jumping into the Race, too!

I may not be old enough to run for President, but sometimes it's fun to act like it. I am going to try to start a weekly-ish blog (I'm going to try my best to write a new post every Sunday) about all that is going on in the world. Sometimes, it will focus exclusively on politics and current affairs, but other times sports, personal events, or experiences.

I've been wanting to start something like this for awhile now. Not because I want to push my views and beliefs on others, but because I love to stimulate conversation and debate. I will freely admit that there are a lot of things that I don't know well and nothing that I know everything about. I'm always seeing, hearing, doing, and learning new things. These experiences shape my thought processes and mold my future decisions and opinions. As such, my viewpoints are constantly evolving and changing. And yes, sometimes I will change my mind on certain issues (some may call that flip-flopping) but I don't mind because I recognize that my views and beliefs are constantly evolving. I don't see a changing mind as naive or incompetent. Rather, I see it as responsible, open, and participatory.

A couple of things about me and my beliefs:
- I have always held a keen interest in politics and the day-to-day events that shape the future of our community, state, country and world
- I believe that I was put on this Earth to have a positive impact on as many people as possible
- I don't believe in political parties as they currently exist and operate
- Social media is fueling engagement of citizens in public affairs and current events more so than anytime in the world's history. I think this is a great thing
- I think the voting age for President should be lowered to either 14 or 16
- I love Cincinnati and will be sure to use this space to talk about all that is going on in our great city

Moving forward, I hope to use this space to share my views, ask questions, and receive feedback...not necessarily in that order. I want to talk about things that I know well and those that I don't know so well. I hope to be more regular in my posts on this blog. I haven't been in the recent past, but would love to get into the habit of having regular, thought provoking conversations and personal reflections.

My Quick Thoughts:

Trump's Tax Plan: 
"We need fair trade, not free trade. It's got to be fair."
I am interested to see Trump's tax plan. I haven't taken him seriously as a Presidential candidate up to this point and this could be the make or break moment. Can he finally put his business background to good use?

John Boehner:
I don't know the ins and outs of his leadership in the House, but the fact that there are varied reactions on his resignation (good and bad) from both parties tells me that he probably did a pretty good job at pushing people and working towards compromise. He wasn't afraid to criticize his own party and I respect that.

Joe Biden:
I'd love to see him jump in the race. I believe that more candidates on both side will make for a better end result.

The Pope's Visit:
The buzz that the Pope created during his time in the United States was good to see. I haven't had the chance to look through all of his comments while here yet, but can't wait to do so.

The Bengals:
3-0 with a BIG win today in Baltimore. Should be a great game against the Chief's next week.

The Bearcats:
Hayden Moore played a great game. I don't think the refs got it right on the fumble reversal at the end of the game. Looking forward to taking on Miami, FL this Thursday in Nippert!

I Will Always Proudly Stand First and Last for Old UC

There's something about college sports, especially college football, that brings out passion and emotion in people all across the globe. Personally, I am a University of Cincinnati fan. And I have been ever since I decided to attend UC.

For those of you that knew me in high school, you'll know that I grew up an Ohio State fan. But that quickly changed. 

I still remember driving down to campus for the first home game of my collegiate career (we were still on quarters at that point and classes hadn't started yet). Over the course of that first year, I developed a passion for everything UC: sports, student government, and the student community. 

Last night's UC vs. Ohio State game helped me realize why I stopped rooting for the Buckeyes. I stopped rooting for the Buckeyes because the connection I had to OSU was nothing compared to the connection that I developed with UC. The connection that I had with OSU was superficial. It was never based on anything except for the fact that everyone around me also rooted for OSU. 

Attending UC allowed me the opportunity to develop a bond with a university. A bond with my classmates and professors. A bond with the city and community. A bond that was rooted in my experience at UC. 

Last night, I tweeted that "UC fans went to UC. Ohio State fans wish they went to Ohio State. The difference is dedicated passion." Not everyone on Twitter agreed with that statement (mainly OSU fans), but hey, I will never make a statement that is universally agreed with. 

In my experience, UC fans root for the Bearcats because of their vested interest in the school. UC doesn't have the same national reputation that Ohio State has, and as such, most of UC's fans are homegrown. UC fans went to UC, work for UC, or have kids that go to UC. Sure, just like any school, UC has fans that are fans because they live in Cincinnati and enjoy collegiate sports, but in my experience the vast majority of Bearcats' fans have a deeper connection to the team. 

This is where the dedicated passion comes in. 

I will always be a dedicated and passionate Bearcats fan because of the relationship that I was able to create with my Alma Mater. I would not be who I am today if it were not for the University of Cincinnati. My beliefs were challenged and my boundaries were stretched. I met my best friends and developed relationships that will last for the rest of my life. 

I don't just root for UC because of its Athletic Department's reputation. I cheer for UC because of everything the university has given me. My passion is rooted in just more than sports. It's rooted in the people I have met, the knowledge that I have gained, and the memories that I have made.

I will always proudly "Stand First and Last for Old UC."

Sports Heroes? Role Models? Or both?

Heroism in Sports: Are they really heroes? Should society place athletes at such high esteem to call them “heroes”? What does the pressure to perform and to maintain the hero status do to athletes? Should athletes strive to be “role models”? Are athletes role models even when they do not want to be?  How do sports heroes gone bad affect the children who admire them? 

In order to appropriately address these questions, I think it is important to consider the definition of a hero. Merriam-Webster defines a hero as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Consider a baseball player that hits a walk-off grand slam, a golfer that shoots a hole-in-one, or a basketball player that hits a game-winning shot. Do these individuals fit the definition of a hero? Are they admired? Yes. And did they commit great or brave acts? They did.

According to that definition, these athletes are heroes. And in the minds of many fans, young and old, across the world, they are! But heroic sports acts aren’t just limited to professional athletes. Take, for example, Jason McElwain, an autistic high school basketball manager that was given a chance to play during the last home game of his senior year.

Jason is the textbook example of a sports hero and he only ever played one high school contest.

The difference between Jason and many other sports heroes: Jason is also a role model.

Jason is someone that anyone can look up to. He plays for the love of the game and without asking anything in return. He is genuine and inspires those around him. Jason represents all that is good in sports and sets a prime example for student athletes world-wide.

Consider now, Tiger Woods and Barry Bonds. All three are arguably sports heroes. They have won tournaments in improbable ways or hit game-winning home runs. Nothing that they have accomplished on the field is questioned. It’s their off-the-field actions that draw ire. Is Tiger Woods, an admitted sex addict, someone that parents want their children to look up to? Is Tiger Woods, the number one golfer in the world, serving as an athletic hero to many children and sports fans world-wide? Is Barry Bonds, a man that has hit more home runs than any other baseball player, a role model? I would argue no. He has allegedly used substances that are banned in the MLB and has allegedly lied about his use. But did sports fans, children and adult, all across the country watch his every swing as he sat at 755 home runs?

How about all of the people in the world that are not professional athletes, or even amateur athletes for that matter; is every person out there a role model for current and future generations? Do you know someone that is close to you and your family, but is an individual that you would never want your children to look up to based on their actions or attitude? I would venture to guess that you do.

As much as we don’t consider every “ordinary” member of society a role model, we can’t consider every athlete a role model; it would just be unrealistic. And while we can’t consider every athlete a role model, inherently, almost all professional athletes are individuals that are looked upon more critically when/if they make mistakes because every move they make is followed by the media. Are professional athletes the individuals that should be serving as role models for our nation’s children, or is that role one better served by community leaders, friends, and family? Do athletes have a large sense of entitlement that inhibits them from serving as effective role models in the community? Do community leaders, friends, and family?

While there are many professional athletes out there that would be fantastic role models, if we want our nation’s children to have effective, honest, and reputable role models we need to help them identify the people that they should look up to; regardless of their athletic accomplishments.