As the Truth sees it…

With their victory tonight, Oklahoma has secured its third trip to the Women’s Final Four. And by bar, this will go down as Coach Sherri Coale’s best coaching job.
At the start of the season, the Sooners were thought to be in rebuilding mode. Then when Whitney Hand went down with a knee injury, all seemed lost.
But somehow Coale guided OU to another stellar season and another shot at a NCAA title.

The state of California is set to make a bold move in a few months. Fifteen years after becoming the first state to legalize medical marijuana, in November residents of the state will vote to make it legal for recreational use or not.
With so much going on with health care, this is a story that has gone under reported around the country. But it could have huge ramifications on a state that is bankrupt.
The measure would allow adults over 21 to buy up to an ounce and grow small amounts, though they wouldn’t be able to use it in public or near minors.
While initiatives have been around for a while, it wasn’t until the state realized it was broke that all ideas were taken serious. The Tax Cannabis Act would let local governments collect on every marijuana sale. Some proponents believe they would earn around $1.4 billion a year. Critics think this will encourage kids to delve into the drug world.
I’m split on the subject. While I am not a proponent of any type of drug use, the government has made money off of alcohol sales for years. And in this time of economic troubles, any idea needs to be considered.
But, my question would be, where does it end? If weed is legalized, who is to say meth, ecstasy or crack won’t be next the next time the economy takes a serious downturn. It seems impossible, but precedent will be set if The Tax Cannabis Act passes.
California voters have a lot riding on this vote. I have no clue how it will come out.
What do you think should happen?
Michael Kinney

Health Care for all has finally arrived. I wanted to blog about this the night it happened, but I was working late.
Here we are a day later and people are still upset. And I do not understand why. Please help me to understand. Because right now the only reason I can see why they are upset is because they lost.
I am obviously happy it has finally happened. We let other countries around the world take better care of their sick and poor for far too long. This is the first step to us reclaiming our title as the world’s best when it comes to health care. And it’s about time. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than what we have been working with.
It would be easy for me to lay out why I feel this is an important moment in history, but I wanted to give equal time to those who were for the bill and those who are against. Below are few a fraction of the comments from friends and strangers who have no problem expressing to me through various social networks their feeling on the health care debate. Please feel free to add your feelings also.

Health Care Comments.
“Dems blasted Bush for high deficits and a war, but when it’s your side with the high deficits and continued war, it’s okay…………little hypocritical, don’t ya think?”

“Those who don’t work still get what they want. Just think of it like this. If you own a business they want you to cover more. That just means more lay offs. I should know. I have family that owns and operates their own company. 2000 employees. Better health care with NO life policy at work now. Russia had a socialized program and look. No more Russia. Carl Marx was wrong. Most people do not understand the economics of health care.”

“Even doctors didn’t want this. Some are even going to change the way they will handle billing. Such as take cash for their services only. Then you will have to file your self. Here is the kicker! Doctor charges you one price and company will not pay total amount. All this could change if all able bodies just worked for their part instead of you mike. Your taxes.”

“The plan is not a government takeover of health care like in Canada or Britain. The government will not take over hospitals or other privately run health care businesses. Doctors will not become government employees, like in Britain. And the U.S. government intends to help people buy insurance from private insurance companies, not pay all the … See more bills like the single-payer system in Canada. The key parts of the current U.S. system — employer-provided insurance, Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor — would stay in place. The government would create health insurance exchanges for people who have to buy insurance on their own, so they could more easily compare plans and prices.”

“There is a poll going on where over 65% (yes, I am talking about 500,000..are angry and only 23% are happy this passed… unfortunately those we vote in congress are more concerned about Obama making history than understanding that doing things done at a state level Vs a federal level would work best.. This is INSANE and so sad for our whole health care system.”

“WE are finally catching up to the rest of the Industrialized Nations of the World, the first step in health care. I do not understand how the Republicans added over 200 amendments to the health care bill and they are still crying foul!”
Michael Kinney

No. 1 Kansas upset in second round. That ripping sounds is brackets around the country. Including mine.
But is it the biggest upset in NCAA history? It’s hard for me to think of a bigger one right now.

March Madness starts today. Instead of me telling you that I have Kentucky beating Kansas in the finale, I have posted my bracket for the Men’s NCAA Tournament along with this blog posting.
Please feel free to follow along and compare your picks to mine. If you do a better job of picking than me, let me know. I doubt it will happen, but anything is possible.
Good luck over the next four weeks and hopefully your team does well and you win your office pool. As long as it’s not Duke.
Michael Kinney

Michael Kinney's March Madness Bracket

April 8. That is the return date Tigers Woods has set for his return to professional golf.
By itself, that would be a huge day in sports. But combine the fact that Woods’ first tournament is the Masters, we are now looking at a whole new stratosphere of interest.
Many figured Woods would choose a minor tournament such as the Tavistock Cup or the Arnold Palmer Invitational to make his return. But for Woods, who long ago became bigger than the PGA, the Masters is the perfect stage for him to make his first public appearance with a club in his hand.
“The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect,” Woods said in a statement. “After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta. “The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been a while since I last played.”
Woods has not played in a PGA tour event since he wrecked his car Thanksgiving night in front of his house. The incident led to the revelation that he has been involved in multiple affairs throughout his married life.
Since that night, Woods’ life on and of the course has been under a constant microscope. Everything from whether he will get a divorce to if he will ever play golf again has been the center of a media firestorm.
Woods took steps to calm the storm down when he made public announcement last month where he admitted to cheating on his wife and that he would play golf again, someday. At the time he didn’t know when. At least that question has been answered.
In 1997 when Tiger won his first of 14 major titles at the Masters, it was the biggest moment to hit the sports world in the past 50 years. But his return to the Masters’ this time could be an even bigger event.
It will not mean more in terms of historical context and it will be forgotten by next year. However, the interest Woods’ scandal created around the globe could make the Master’s the most watched sporting event of the year. That includes the Super Bowl, NBA Finals and World Series.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated CBS News and Sports President Sean McManus saw this moment coming before Woods’ announcement.
“I think the first tournament Tiger Woods plays again, wherever it is, will be the biggest media event other than the Obama inauguration in the past 10 or 15 years,” McManus said. “It is hard to overestimate how much interest there will be. Tiger Woods is the most famous, most recognized, most accomplished athlete in the world, and his celebrity and prominence is even larger than it was. When you look at the fact that he gave a very simple press statement with no questions and every broadcast and cable news network in America carried it with great interest, I think that is an indication that whatever he does has enormous interest. And whatever he does on the golf course for the first time since Thanksgiving will be of interest to almost every man and women in this country.”
As it happens, the Masters will be televised on CBS.
I’m sure officials at the Masters will do their best to try and control the environment for Woods’ return. But there is no telling what type of response he will get from fans and the media.
Regardless of  whether he wins or loses, Woods is set to make his return as the biggest athlete in the world. Whether that happens or not it will be up to him, on and off the course.
“I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment,” Woods said. “Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.”
Michael Kinney

I can remember every play from the 2001 NBA championship and recite every line from the film “The Warriors.” However, for some reason I always forget how to set the dashboard clock in my vehicle.
Twice a year I sit and stair at it wondering what is the key to unlocking the mystery of setting the clock. And I always fail to remember how. The same thing happened Sunday. I was late to an appointment not because I forgot to change the clock, but because I tried for 30 minutes to change it, and I still didn’t get the job done.
What makes it worse is that the past four or five times, the only way I have been able get the correct time was someone else to do it. Usually it took place when I was on a date, and she would laugh at me as she was resetting the clock. That is not a good feeling.

It’s been 24 hours and I still can’t believe how bad Oklahoma played against Oklahoma State. Glad the season is over. Thank you.

Wednesday, Brittney Griner delivered a punch that was heard around the world. The problem is Griner isn’t a boxer. She is a freshman on the No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball team and her punch came during a game against Texas Tech.
The incident was captured on ESPN and showed repeatedly across the media spectrum. It was assumed by many that Griner would be suspended for the rest of the season, after connecting her fist to the face of the Red Raider’s Jordan Barncastle when the two players got tangled up during the Bears 69-60 victory.
Baylor, however, handed down its punishment and it wasn’t as severe as many thought it should be. The 19-year old Griner will have to sit out two games.
“I let my emotions get the best of me and I am deeply sorry for my actions,” Griner said in a statement. “I am committed to doing a better job of maintaining my composure in the future. I will grow from this and I am dedicated to setting an example to others of how to learn from personal mistakes.”
The conference agreed with the punishment.
“Due to the severity of the act, it is appropriate that Ms. Griner is suspended for an additional game,” Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said in a statement. “Therefore, I have accepted Baylor’s action and commend athletics director Ian McCaw and head coach Kim Mulkey for taking a strong stance to support good sportsmanship.”
At 6-foot-8, Griner first gained national recognition for her ability to dunk a basketball, which in the women’s game has become the Holy Grail. But her talents soon caught up to her notoriety as she averages 19 points, almost nine rebounds and 6 blocks a game.
Because she was ejected from the Tech game, NCAA rules automatically made her unable to play in the team’s next game Sunday. Mulkey added another game to make it a two-game suspension.
The Bears only will be without Griner’s services for their final regular season game and the first round of the Championship tournament, which starts next week.
To some, Griner’s punishment may look like a slap on the wrist. After all, she did break Barncastle’s nose. But I think it’s too severe. The one-game absence would have been good enough to teach Griner a lesson. The second game is just for show.
“I don’t believe this incident should define Brittney Griner – either as a person or as a player,” Mulkey said. “Anyone who has been around her knows that she’s a great kid. Her actions last night were very uncharacteristic of her. Unfortunately, she let her emotions get the best of her, and that can’t happen. Brittney is a special young lady, she is great for our game, and I believe she will learn from this mistake and will become a better person moving forward.”
Fights take place in college athletics all the time. Emotions run wild and tempers sometimes can flare. A punch or two are often exchanged and then order is restored.
What makes this incident news worthy is that it happened in the women’s game. And we are still not used to seeing women take on what are considered male tendencies, such as fighting over a basketball game.
If this had been two men on the Baylor and Texas Tech squad, this would not have received nearly this amount of attention. Sometimes a punch is just a punch, no matter who throws it.
Michael Kinney

After 14 years, it looks like Norman High boys basketball coach Wes Clark has stepped down.
Clark’s Tigers were 5-17 this year and lost in the first round of the regional tournament to Southmoore last week.