As the Truth sees it…

While watching Thursday “momentous” Health Care Summit, a little known movie came to mind. Starring comic genius Eddie Murphy, “The Distinguished Gentleman” was not one of Murphy’s biggest hits. In fact, the 1992 flick could be considered a flop compared to other films on his resume.
The plot centered around a con man who schemes his way into getting elected to Congress because that is where the real money is and everyone is on the take from lobbyists.
While the plot could be seen as absurd to some, the film does highlight one of the many problems in our government. Politicians are so worried about lining the pockets with donations or kick-backs and getting re-elected, that they forget about the people they are supposed to be representing.
In one scene, and elder statesmen of the House of Representatives has just explained to Murphy’s character how to legally make money off lobbyist. Murphy ask how does anything get done. The older Congressman responds “that’s the beauty of it. Nothing gets done,” which guarantees they will continue to make more money.
That is what I kept thinking about as I watched the Summit and Republicans, one after the other, kept telling President Obama that they should scrap the health care plan and either start over or concentrate on other areas. To which he thankfully said that is not an option.
As long as insurance companies, corporations and the wealthy are allowed to ‘buy’ politicians votes, nothing will ever get done.
Michael Kinney

Feb. 22 was the 30th anniversary of the most overblown, overhyped event in sports history. For those who do not know that I’m referring to the “Miracle on Ice,” that helps prove my point.
To listen to sportscasters and sports historians talk, you would think the United States hockey team beating the Soviet Union in the medal round of the 1980 Olympics was the most uplifting and inspiring thing to happen in athletics since Joe Louis knocked out Max Smelling. The U.S. team, made up of amateur and collegiate players, defeated the USSR squad, which was considered the best hockey team in the world. It spawned a movie starring Kurt Russell and made icons out of Jim Craig and Mike Eruzione. But the most insufferable thing is that it continually tops almost every ranking of greatest sports moment in history.
But here is the truth about the so-called Miracle On Ice — the majority of the population could care less. It involves a sport that gets less attention than poker.
I was a young kid at the time and had no clue it even took place. The people who lament on how special this moment was are still living in some Cold War when Ronald Reagan had us scared of the Soviet Union and to beat them was the only thing that mattered.
Just like Valentines Day and SARS, the Miracle on Ice was manufactured by the government to build patriotism. The true miracle is that we bought into it.
Michael Kinney

Some of the most popular current television shows are shows such as “Caught on Camera.” They often show hidden cameras or security video of people doing outlandish things not knowing they are being watched on camera. But it also often shows crimes being perpetrated by people who could care less that the camera is running.
When I’m on my couch watching the videos of crimes that may have happened a thousand miles away, it’s entertaining. But when you see events that took place close to your home, it brings about a different emotion.
As was the case when I saw the security video (On the look out) of a local grocery store being robbed by two men using a rifle in Norman a week ago. It was disturbing to say the least. Not to mention the fact that it was about three blocks from my home.
While I have seen many violent crimes on TV and in person, it’s still a shock to see a loaded gun pointed at a person’s face with the intent to do harm.
Hopefully, the people who committed this crime are soon caught. Until then, we have to be prepared for anything. Even here in Norman.
On the look out

The University of Oklahoma has never beaten Connecticut. In seven previous meetings, the Sooners have walked away the losers every time.
While everyone will be talking about the 64-game win streak the Huskies brings with them tonight to Lloyd Noble Center, when No. 1 UConn and No. 12 OU face-off, it’s the Sooners inability to beat the top teams that will stand out.
The game, which starts at 8 p.m., will be shown on ESPN2. So the Sooners have a chance to shock the world literally, in front of a national audience. No one is expecting the Oklahoma to take down the Huskies. A win would be the biggest regular season victory in coach Sherri Coale’s 14 seasons.
However, the game is also an opportunity for OU to perform like it did last season when the two team’s squared off and UConn won 106-78 in Storrs, CT. We will see which Sooner squad shows up.
But even more important than the game is “Pack The Place Pink Night.” Oklahoma is celebrating the WBCA’s PinkZone initiative. They will wear pink uniforms and several other items will be auctioned with proceeds going to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund.
Michael Kinney

Looking forward to watching Kevin Durant in the All-Star game. I am thinking he will get MVP. He is already second best player in NBA behind Kobe.

James Buster Douglas looks down on Mike Tyson after knocking him down Feb. 11, 1990.

Twenty years ago this week, the impossible happened. The world of sports changed forever and I have never been able to look at them the same since.
On Feb. 11, 1990, journeyman James “Buster” Douglas knocked out the undefeated “Iron” Mike Tyson in Tokyo. To this day it still ranks as the greatest upset in sports history. It’s second in American history only to the Colonies beating back the British and just ahead of Barack Obama winning the Democratic Nomination. That is how huge it was at the time.
People see Tyson today and they forget how great of a boxer he was. Up to that point he had knocked out almost every fighter he had gone against. Many in the first round. Tyson  was considered the most intimidating person on the face of the earth.
Then came Douglas, who was considered an after thought. Just another fighter in the bum of the month club. He was supposed to just be target practice for Tyson in-between his late nights out on the town in Tokyo.
But the unthinkable happened. In the 10th round of a fight that was not supposed to last two, Douglas put Tyson on the canvas and he was counted out.
From that point on, sports was different. No longer was anything guaranteed. Despite the odds, an athlete or team could point out that if the Tyson results as proof anything is possible.
Douglas’ victory was the first in a long line of sports upset— Patriots over Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, Giants over Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, Red Sox comeback from 3-0 to beat Yankees, Appalachian State defeats Michigan in football in 2007. Even historical sporting events such as the Miracle on Ice and Joe Namath’s Super Bowl guarantee have nothing on Tyson losing.
Since losing to Douglas, Tyson has turned into a tragic figure. A stint in prison, bankruptcy, bizarre behavior, degrading of talent and the accidental death of his daughter have highlighted his life since the fight. And also started with the 10-count on that night in Tokyo.
The truly amazing part is that the fight took place on the same day Nelson Mandela was released from prison after serving 26 years for fighting apartheid in South Africa. But while I remember Mandela, for some reason, the Tyson knockout stands out in my mind more.
Who knows where he would be have the fight turned out differently. But I know the sports world would not be the same.
Michael Kinney

Today’s Super Bowl may feature two boring teams and two very dry quarterbacks. For two weeks I have tried to catch Super Bowl fever. But it just has not come.
Where have the days gone when teams featured personalities and characters such as the “Playmaker” Michael Irvin, Lawrence Taylor, John Riggins, Icky Woods doing the Icky Shuffle, Joe Namath, Primetime Deion Sanders, etc…? Commissioner Roger Goodell and the NFL have done their best to weed out any player who has personality or a tendency to rebel against the establishment.
Instead, what we have left are the likes of Dallas Clark, Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and Peyton Manning. They are about as exciting John McCain reading “War & Peace” to a class of fourth-graders.
I have little to no interest in the outcome of the game, except that I can’t stand Peyton Manning. So seeing him lose is all I have to root for today. But sense it’s the Super Bowl, tradition forces me to watch it and make a prediction.
Saints 38, Colts 31.
Michael Kinney

Lindsey Vonn prepares for Winter Olympics.

If you look hard enough, anyone can find controversy. The latest example is the Feb. 8 issue of Sports Illustrated. On the cover, American downhill skier Lindsey Vonn is shown in what some are calling a extremely provocative pose in a skin tight skiing outfit.
Detractors of the cover feel that Sports Illustrated is using Vonn’s attractiveness just to sell copies of their magazine.
According to womantalksports.com, “When females are featured on the cover of SI, they are more likely than not to be in sexualized poses and not in action-and the most recent Vonn cover is no exception.”
I agree with them. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. Putting a beautiful woman on the front of almost any magazine will sell more. It’s advertising 101.
The fact is Vonn is not the first athlete to use sexuality to sell magazines. Gabrielle Reece, the 2002 Brazilian “women’s soccer team, figure skater Katarina Witt all posed for Playboy. Even Jim Brown posed fully nude for Play Girl in 1974.
When Brandi Chastain ripped off her shirt during the women’s world cup and celebrated in her sports bra, the photo was shown across the country. And for a brief moment in time, Americans actually cared about professional women’s soccer. The players who came before Chastain may have hated the spectacle she made, but they could not argue with the attention that was drawn to their sport.
Vonn is trying to do the same thing for not only downhill skiing, but for the entire Winter Olympics. As of now, the Olympics is genarating as much buzz as a wine cooler. Not only will Vonn’s Sport’s Illustrated cover shot bring added attention, so will the controversy surrounding it. It’s marketing genius.
Michael Kinney

What people will do under extreme circumstances never ceases to amaze me. Over the weekend there were hundreds of people around the state doing their best to help their fellow man get through the difficult weather conditions. Many took in neighbors who were without power, donated clothes and food to shelters or just gave money to charities.
However, there are those select few who decided to go a different direction. With power outages and extreme cold spread throughout the state, there have been cases of business hiking up prices during the state of emergency. That included a few places selling generators that normally cost $700 for $1,900.
I am all for taking advantage of supply and demand. If you’ve got it and someone needs it, it’s your right to sell your goods or services for whatever price you want. But that has to take a backseat when others are suffering. Some people have been forced to sleep in their cars because it’s too cold to go in their house.
If you see a business that has hiked its prices, do not be afraid to call them out on it and spread the word. The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office also wants to know about price gouging. They have a special unit that investigates such practices.
These places will not learn their lesson until people stop giving them their money.
Michael Kinney