As the Truth sees it…

I have seen and read about many terrible acts in my lifetime. Things that make me cringe every time I think about them. But after reading about the incident that took place in Richmond, CA. last week, I was disgusted with my fellow man.
A 15-year old high school student, who was attending her homecoming dance, was brutally beaten and gang-raped outside her school while a crowd of more than 20 on-lookers laughed, took pictures and did nothing to help her. One of them even posted a video to Youtube. (See story below.)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/27/california.gang.rape.investigation/index.html
It is such a foreign thought to me that people could act in such a cowardly and pathetic way, that I am unable to put it all into context. As angry as I am by the young girls’ attackers, I am even more ashamed by the crowd. Some people are just evil and do evil things. But to watch it being done and not help is despicable. Whatever happens to the attackers, the same punishment should go for the crowd.
How do we reverse the course we are on and get back to the days we cared for our neighbors and their children?
Edmund Burke once said “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Unfortunately, it’s getting tougher and tougher to figure out who the good men are.
Michael Kinney

I am not one that usually fall into conspiracies. But a reader called me up today to try and clue me in on the latest conspiracy to float around. It involves the Southeastern Conference and two of the biggest networks on television.
For the past few years, ESPN and CBS has continually made a huge deal about how great of a conference the SEC is and that every other conference paled in comparisons. In most circumstances that would not be a problem. Writers, analyst and broadcasters have their own opinions. But what makes ESPN and CBS’ steadfast resolve in the greatness of the SEC took place last summer. ESPN signed a contract with the SEC which will pay the conference $2.25 billion over a 15-year span. That coincides with the 15-year deal CBS has with the SEC at $55 million annually.
Combined the two networks will pay the conference an average of $205 million per year in media rights. I can’t think of a better reason to promote the SEC than that.
However, because of their promoting can have an effect on who plays for the national championship. The USA Today Coaches poll is a component of the BCS Championship series. And most coaches who vote in the poll do not watch every single game. All they can watch are the highlights. Those highlights come mainly from ESPN. So if the broadcasters are constantly talking about and showing the SEC, does any doubt that wouldn’t leave an impression on coaches who are filling out their rankings.
Last week Florida and Alabama both had tight wins over unranked squads and increased their lead over Texas, who blew out Missouri. Hardly any highlights of the Texas game was shown, while you couldn’t turn on ESPN without seeing Tim Tebow or Nick Saban.
It’s just a thought. Something to think about when you watch the parade of ESPN and CBS reporters tell you how powerful the SEC.
Michael Kinney

One morning as I was walking into a break room I said Goodmorning to a person pouring coffee and waited to hear the customary Goodmorning to you. However, after five seconds and no response was given, I just stared wondering what the problem was. I know I said it loud enough to hear, so I assumed that it was just too early for them to speak. It wasn’t anything major, but it got me thinking about the type of manners that are taught in society today. In my mind that is just plain rude. Am I right or is that just the way we are today

This afternoon Sam Bradford will announce whether he will play again this season, shut it down and come back next year or shut it down and get ready for the NFL draft. My money is on option three. What do you think he will do?
Michael Kinney

I returned from Dallas this morning after covering the OU-Texas game. After I got over the loss, which was difficult, the main thought that stayed in my head was the amount of people who came to the game. More than 96,000 OU and Texas fans showed up to the Cotton Bowl. But what was even more impressive was the amount of money that had to have been spent over the weekend in the state of Texas and at the State Fair. It’s mindboggling.
Every person I talked to about the rivalry told me how much it means for it to be played at the Cotton Bowl during the Texas State Fair. They said that is what set it apart from the other rivalries.
However, a part of me recognizes how unfair it is to the state of Oklahoma and its merchants and residents that they are unable to take advantage of the yearly pay day that the Red River Rivalry brings about. Can you imagine how much money the state would make if the OU-Texas game was played during the Oklahoma State Fair. The taxes, the hotels, restaurants, food, gas, etc… I can’t imagine the amount of money the state is missing out on.
In a few years, the contract to hold the game at Cottonbowl runs out. Jerry Jones has made it known he wants to play the game at his new billion dollar Cowboy Stadium. But no one seems to be talking about making it a home-and-home series or just moving it to Oklahoma for a few years, just to be fair. Why not?
Should we bypass tradition in order to bring some much needed funds into the state? Should that even be a concern for OU or should they just do what is best for their program and school?
It’s a hard question that will only get harder the closer we get to the current contract being up. What do you think should be done?
Michael Kinney

I’m at the stadium and getting ready for the OU-Texas game. It still amazes me that 90,000 people can cram into the Cotton Bowl every year and the amount of actual fights that take place is minimal. We will see if that holds true this year.

The annual OU-Texas confrontation is Saturday. As a writer and a fan, I am looking forward to the game. Despite the Sooner going in with a 2-2 record, it should be exciting. But regardless of what their record would have been, I am always drawn into the Red River Rivalry.
My favorite moment in the series was an easy choice. It’s Roy Williams in 2001 acting like Superman as he took down Chris Simms in the endzone, which led to an interception returned for a touchdown. I almost broke my ankle running around my house in Washington State after the play. My Seattle friends, who had never experienced the game, couldn’t figure out why I was going crazy. Yet, I didn’t care.
But I want to know what your favorite moment is from the OU-Texas game. I am sure I am missing something from before I was born or even recent history that I can’t remember. Fill me in on your top moments.
Michael Kinney

Friday morning it was announced that President Barack Obama won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. He became only the third sitting American president to win the prestigious award. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee that picks the winners, it was Obama’s “extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples,” that won him the award.
Yet, within minutes of the announcement, which took place while most Americans slept, critics made their displeasure heard.
“The real question Americans are asking is, ‘What has President Obama actually accomplished?’ It is unfortunate that the president’s star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights,” Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele stated. “One thing is certain – President Obama won’t be receiving any awards from Americans for job creation, fiscal responsibility, or backing up rhetoric with concrete action.”
Instead of basking in the glow that we have an American President that the world sees great possibilities in and trust with the future of the free world, there are those out there who can do nothing but sling mud and try to tarnish the award.
If this had been either Bush or Ronald Reagan, Republicans would be up in arms if one word of disagreement had been uttered about them winning the award. But since its Obama, they race to put out statements and twitters about how horrific it is for him to win.
I do agree that it puts even more pressure on Obama to live up to the ideals and vision he set forth during his campaign and in his inspirational speeches. But unlike his critics, I am giving him the chance to prove he is worthy of the accolades and awards instead of just hoping he fails.
“Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world’s attention and given its people hope for a better future,” the committee stated. “His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world’s population.”

Michael Kinney

One of my favorite TV shows of all-time was “Seinfeld.” I watched it throughout my entire college years and beyond. And now, if I flip past a rerun of an episode, I have to stop and watch for at least five minutes. No matter how many times I have seen the episode before.
So, I was extremely excited to hear the the “Seinfeld” cast (Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards) were going to reunite on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Since I was gone the entire weekend, I missed the first episode in which the cast has appeared this season. But I caught the rerun Wednesday night. And it was exactly what I expected. Straight comedy. Great show.
While the premise is not really a reunion show, it is still great to see the entire cast together. But not all reunions are as entertaining. Examples include “What’s Happening Now,” “The New Leave it to Beaver,” “The Brady Bunch 35th Anniversary Reunion Special: Still Brady after All These Years,” “Happy Days: 30th Anniversary Reunion,” “The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion!,” “The Andy Griffith Show Reunion: Back to Mayberry,” “”The Love Boat: The Next Wave,” “Rescue from Gilligan’s Island” and “Return To Green Acres.” I could offer more, but why put us all in a bad mood.
Besides what I have seen of “Seinfeld,” I can’t think of one good reunion show. Ever. If you can think of one, please let me know.

I will be traveling to Miami Saturday for the OU-Miami game. I will be Twittering and blogging through out the trip. If you want to follow, sign up to the Norman Transcript’s twitter account and I will provide insight to what Oklahomans are doing on South Beach and points of interest surrounding the game. Also, I want to answer your questions about anything going on in Miami. So send any question you want answered to this blog and I will do my best to provide answers that will not only inform, but entertain.

Michael Kinney