What's Your Battle?

First of all, my apologies, it's been a while but I'm back! In my time away from the blog, I've been reading and I just finished former ESPN personality Stuart Scott's memoir, Every Day I Fight. It details his life and battle with cancer which he passed away from in January. Between this book and an incident that occurred on July 1, I've adopted Every Day I Fight as my new mantra. 

    I had a neighbor who's hired help had been parking on my property and I just wanted to man up and discuss it with him. Well he decided that calling me a "fat f@&$" about 23 times in a 5 minute conversation and that people like me were the problems in his life. Thankfully, I didn't stoop to his level and didn't cuss at him once. I credit my faith and strength from God himself for allowing me to stand strong and for realizing that some people are just going to be that way. 

    Anyway, while cancer isn't my battle, I have plenty in my life and I'm choosing to fight hard everyday. Whether it's my weight loss, my relationship with Jesus, my relationship with my wife, family, and friends, or to be the best teacher, every day I will fight to be that. 

There will be days I will struggle, but I will fight. To paraphrase Scott's ESPY award acceptance speech, you beat cancer(or whatever your battle is) by the way you live. And if I work hard to do my best in every aspect, then I will feel like a winner in my battles. If you want someone to pray with you through your battles, email me, ericjustinbates@gmail.com. 

But you know, these are really just my random thoughts.

Is there any sports journalism that isn't crap anymore?

Today, as sanctions came against Oklahoma State University's football team. A couple of years ago, Sports Illustrated's Thayer Evans released an article about "major violations" committed  by OSU's program. Today, SI commended Thayer Evans for his work, despite the fact that the penalty was nothing major as there no major infractions. 

The funny thing about this, money was supposedly given to players as reported by Evans, but did he talk to any of these players, no. This is horrid journalistic integrity by Evans and by SI allowing it. SI wouldn't even allow Evans to be interviewed, which to me says they really knew that it was pure crap. The worst part is, Evans was on record as being a Cowboy hater, how could SI allow someone with a grudge go after this? Yet today, they commend and celebrate a "victory." 

My point is, the "major" sports media outlets have mostly gone to crap. ESPN has come to the point they want to find the entertainment value and looking for the "story behind the story" in everything. Give me some highlights, stats, and maybe a key point to win and go on. Now, I do think ESPN does a good job with some of the 30 for 30 programs they've done. But in the big picture, it's became ridiculous. 

Granted these are my opinions and really just my random thoughts.

Griffin Communications' greed may just lead me to an answer I've been searching for.

So, if you read my blog any, you know I also throw some sports blog in there as well, after all this is "Really just my RANDOM thoughts." I will not get to see the AFC title game due to a dispute between Griffin Communications, owners of my local CBS affiliate, and Dish Network. 

The blame game is being played but after me doing some research, I'm hacked at Griffin Communications. They are asking for 4 times the amount that they had been getting from Dish, which Dish doesn't want to have to pay and pass off to customers. 

Dish however may have an answer to my quest of wanting to drop Satellite/Cable altogether. They have come out with a set up where you can stream a number of channels for $20 including ESPN 1 & 2  & Food Network. That's probably 40% or what we watch. Plus there's no contract attached from what I've found. So, internet, plus $20, plus I think it's like $7 a month for another streaming service and I'm set. Some networks show entire episodes online for free. Yeah, it might be a week after, but I don't usually get to watch stuff live anyway, I'm using the DVR. 

I wonder how many people could benefit from this? Again, really just my random thoughts.

RIP Stuart Scott

Today, as many of you may know, long time ESPN SportsCenter host, Stuart Scott passed away at the age of 49 after a batter with cancer. 

The following quote was from his acceptance speech after receiving the Jimmy V award last month:

"When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live," he said. "So live. Live. Fight like hell. And when you get too tired to fight, lay down and rest and let somebody else fight for you."

This has had the most profound impact on me today but I want to change it a little. Forget living that way just if you have cancer, live and fight that at for all of your life. I truly believe that we spend too much time daydreaming or being timid when we should live. 

RIP Stuart, there's nothing I could say any better that hasn't been said already. You gave it all you had I hope I can live my life the same way.