Sorry. There is no Monty Python in this entry. I have just elected to do something different and use focal point of this post to focus on something unrelated to sports.
In April of 2010 we received word confirming what my wife had feared for the last couple of years: our son Aidan was autistic. Many of the signs were there but most people who worked with Aidan had simply chalked it up to "cognitive delays" meaning his mind was just coming along at a slower pace than most. My wife vehemently insisted that it was more than a delay. I finally relented and we had him tested. About a month was spent on analyzing the results of the data collected. His speech was behind so we were already able to get him into special education classes. Still, when it was made official, there was a day or two when we didn't really know how to approach it.
Since then, we have been able to enroll Aidan into Applied Behavior Analysis therapy (or ABA therapy) as well as equine assistance therapy at Tarleton State. We understood Aidan needed help. We needed to understand where he was coming from so we could accommodate him. However, we refused to let autism be an excuse. It would simply be an obstacle we all would have to work to overcome.
Last school year, Aidan was sent home for disruptive behavior. In most cases I would agree that one child should not disrupt the learning of many. However, I was completely unsatisfied with the steps taken to try to refocus a child they knew had special needs. After a meeting with the school staff (and a significant upgrade in the principal position) we were able to develop a plan to refocus Aidan on the task at hand. This year, the principal has already commented on how much Aidan has improved in school.
Unfortunately, there are many more children with more severe cases of autism. Some of these children may be limited in some areas of development. As a father, not a celebrity, I implore you to do the following:
1. See numerous professionals who are specifically trained in the field of autism. One professional may miss it. Many are less likely.
2. Get a consensus. If professionals are split in whether or not that your child falls into the spectrum, see more specialists or request further testing.
3. Do the research. Autism is controversial in cause and treatment. Unfortunately, there is no consensus on either. However, seeking trusted advice from experts in the field should help you plan the best course of action.
4. Take action. If there are concerns, do not hesitate to seek testing. Also if the child is diagnosed with autism, take action to help your child. Inactivity is the absolute last thing a child with autism needs. The sooner the diagnosis, the more help your child can get. The more help they get, the better the chance they have at overcoming the obstacles that people with autism face.
Remember, your child is not autism. Autism is merely something the child must face and fight. Your child is your child.
Side Thoughts
-Tell me the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) is not interesting. The season hasn't even started and yet two contenders have all but fallen. LSU was forced to suspend four players indefinitely for allegations that they were involved in a bar fight. Ohio State lost its coach and quarterback while school was out. The race for the BCS title has started before the season has. Again, tell me the BCS (even though wrong in nature) is not at the very least interesting.
-Malcolm Gladwell recently wrote an article for Grantland in which he depicts why owning and NBA franchise does not make business sense; nor should it. It is a great read for any die-hard NBA fan who is lamenting the possible loss of games (if not the entire season) for the upcoming year.
-Add the Miami Hurricanes to the list of schools that are pretty much dead before even entering the starting blocks. They have suspended up to 13 players that have been suspended pending the NCAA's findings. One of those players includes Jacory Harris.
-ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge recently spoke Colin Cowherd's radio show about Kyle Orton. Hoge recently took a lot of criticism for his critique on Tim Tebow. Now he is endorsing Kyle Orton. The funny thing is Orton won games in Chicago where they had not a clue on what to do with a quarterback. He has played well in Denver. Tebow gets bumped back farther and farther. I have already stated that Tebow's best chance at success was fired. Hoge is someone the NFL fans would be wise to listen to. He is blunt. He is honest. He is smart.
-There are a lot of celebrities out there who are perceived as hot. Yet, I never hear about Ivanka Trump. Take away the last name and many people do not know who you are talking about. Beautiful, smart, and able to do something productive. I guess that is not hot in pop-culture but getting drunk and painting yourself orange is.
-"The last thing I would do if I was a professional athlete is have a Twitter account." -Derek May
Another athlete is dismissed from a college program for their use of a social networking site. It is sad that these kids are derailing their chances at ever becoming professional simply because of their misuse of the social web-site. Many companies understand that social networking is a phenomenon that engulfs more Americans every day. They outline policies on what is acceptable and what is not. Some coaches are smart and set guidelines. Some ban it completely. Either way, athletes (and people in general) need to be more cognizant of how they use these windows into their lives.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
Graceless God vs. Thankful Pariah
Last Friday, Dennis Rodman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He made a couple of unsuccessful attempts to start his speech with former coach Phil Jackson nearby. Rodman, who was considered flamboyant and is more than colorful, was colorful only in appearance. Rodman struggled to maintain control over his voice and emotions. His speech talked about how he struggled to get out of the projects. While he did mention his dad with contempt and his mother with a sense of disappointment, he spent most of his speech thanking the people that made him into the Hall of Famer. Throughout Rodman's address, he looked like he felt undeserving and overwhelmed. He admitted that he should have been a better father, husband and son. Rodman even went as far as to vent that he hopes to one day be a better son for the mother he sounded disappointed in.
Two years earlier, Rodman's former teammate Michael Jordan received the same honor. While Jordan was as emotionally honest as Rodman, maybe these were emotions that would have been better reserved for a book or an in-depth interview. Unlike Dennis, Jordan came across as incredibly arrogant. He spent the better part of 20+ minutes talking about how people constantly set hurdles in front of him and how he overcame them. Jordan had his thank yous but also had his moments of "I succeeded in spite of you." While those words never left Jordan's mouth, (and personally I am not sure that this is the way he wanted to come across) that was the impression most people left with.
In the 1990's Jordan was a god. He was literally worshipped by fans across the nation. I was guilty. If it had Jordan's name on it, people had to have it. I just couldn't afford it. Gatorade even ran the ad campaign "Be Like Mike" in associating itself the the pinnacle of the sport. The nation mourned for him at the revelation that his father had been murdered. Yet, when the moment to honor Jordan came, he took one last chance to honor himself.
It is interesting how we as fans cannot separate the person from the athlete. Jordan's speech by itself was not an indication of who Jordan was. However, it was the reports that popped up in the following days stating that the speech should come of no surprise to those who followed Jordan behind the scenes. To us who treated Jordan as a god and excused whatever "minor" transgressions he had committed, it was stunning.
Jordan pointed out his high school basketball coach as one of many who added "wood to the fire." Rodman started by thanking his assistant basketball coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State Lonn Reisman. (Shameless plug of Alma mater: Lonn Reisman is now the basketball coach at Tarleton State University.) Who thanks the assistant coach at a no name college? Jordan spoke on why he was great. Rodman thanked those who made him great and apologized to those he failed. Jordan's speech can be found in three parts totaling 23 minutes and 20 seconds. Rodman's can be seen in one clip and falls just short of 13 minutes. Jordan was proud. Rodman was humbled.
I do not know either man personally. I do know they were great on the court. Honestly, I felt Jordan might have come across in a way he didn't intend. Or at least I hope that is the case. Otherwise his ego will never allow him to see the contributions others have made toward his success.
Side Thoughts
-Texas A&M threatened to join the SEC last year but they didn't when Texas declined to join the PAC-10. This year they threatened again. Unfortunately, the SEC was unaware that they had even extended the invitation. That is because they hadn't. Longhorn coach Mack Brown stated that the Big "12" would be fine. So A&M is left looking unimportant in two conferences.
-While on the subject of A&M, I would like to direct my attention to one of their esteemed alum. Governor Rick Perry invited several thousand people to get together for a day of prayer and fasting. For the record, I am completely for believers getting together and praying. However, this did not seem like a meeting for spiritual purposes. It felt more like a "rally-the-conservative-Christians-together-because-I-am-about-to-run-for-president" rally. Two scriptures came to mind as I read about this event: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:5) and "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
-Carlos Zambrano "retired" after being ejected from a game. I sincerely hope, he pulls everything together and returns to the pitcher he once was. Otherwise, what a waste.
-There is a quarterback controversy in Denver. Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton. I was really hopeful for Tebow. I thought he had a chance with Josh McDaniels as his coach. McDaniels has done some great work with quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Denver fired Tebow's best shot at being a success. I hope he succeeds. I just don't believe he will.
-Oklahoma Sooners' toughest games: at Florida State, vs. Texas in Dallas, and at Oklahoma State. There is no reason they should not be playing in the national title game. However, one slip-up, and they won't be.
-Lastly, I will allow my nerdiness to shine through on this one (as if I don't already). WWE's SummerSlam looked like it had a good ending. CM Punk defeats John Cena while his foot is on the rope. This would allow for the story to continue. Instead, WWE decided to trot out Kevin Nash to jackknife CM Punk. Okay. Unexpected but that is a good thing. Then... Albert the River (or as Vince McMahon wants me to refer to him as Alberto Del Rio). Walks out, takes advantage of rules I won't get into and wins the WWE championship. Royal Rumble winner, Money In the Bank winner, WWE Champion and no one still has a clue as to who this guy is. That doesn't speak well of Mr. the River.
Two years earlier, Rodman's former teammate Michael Jordan received the same honor. While Jordan was as emotionally honest as Rodman, maybe these were emotions that would have been better reserved for a book or an in-depth interview. Unlike Dennis, Jordan came across as incredibly arrogant. He spent the better part of 20+ minutes talking about how people constantly set hurdles in front of him and how he overcame them. Jordan had his thank yous but also had his moments of "I succeeded in spite of you." While those words never left Jordan's mouth, (and personally I am not sure that this is the way he wanted to come across) that was the impression most people left with.
In the 1990's Jordan was a god. He was literally worshipped by fans across the nation. I was guilty. If it had Jordan's name on it, people had to have it. I just couldn't afford it. Gatorade even ran the ad campaign "Be Like Mike" in associating itself the the pinnacle of the sport. The nation mourned for him at the revelation that his father had been murdered. Yet, when the moment to honor Jordan came, he took one last chance to honor himself.
It is interesting how we as fans cannot separate the person from the athlete. Jordan's speech by itself was not an indication of who Jordan was. However, it was the reports that popped up in the following days stating that the speech should come of no surprise to those who followed Jordan behind the scenes. To us who treated Jordan as a god and excused whatever "minor" transgressions he had committed, it was stunning.
Jordan pointed out his high school basketball coach as one of many who added "wood to the fire." Rodman started by thanking his assistant basketball coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State Lonn Reisman. (Shameless plug of Alma mater: Lonn Reisman is now the basketball coach at Tarleton State University.) Who thanks the assistant coach at a no name college? Jordan spoke on why he was great. Rodman thanked those who made him great and apologized to those he failed. Jordan's speech can be found in three parts totaling 23 minutes and 20 seconds. Rodman's can be seen in one clip and falls just short of 13 minutes. Jordan was proud. Rodman was humbled.
I do not know either man personally. I do know they were great on the court. Honestly, I felt Jordan might have come across in a way he didn't intend. Or at least I hope that is the case. Otherwise his ego will never allow him to see the contributions others have made toward his success.
Side Thoughts
-Texas A&M threatened to join the SEC last year but they didn't when Texas declined to join the PAC-10. This year they threatened again. Unfortunately, the SEC was unaware that they had even extended the invitation. That is because they hadn't. Longhorn coach Mack Brown stated that the Big "12" would be fine. So A&M is left looking unimportant in two conferences.
-While on the subject of A&M, I would like to direct my attention to one of their esteemed alum. Governor Rick Perry invited several thousand people to get together for a day of prayer and fasting. For the record, I am completely for believers getting together and praying. However, this did not seem like a meeting for spiritual purposes. It felt more like a "rally-the-conservative-Christians-together-because-I-am-about-to-run-for-president" rally. Two scriptures came to mind as I read about this event: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:5) and "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
-Carlos Zambrano "retired" after being ejected from a game. I sincerely hope, he pulls everything together and returns to the pitcher he once was. Otherwise, what a waste.
-There is a quarterback controversy in Denver. Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton. I was really hopeful for Tebow. I thought he had a chance with Josh McDaniels as his coach. McDaniels has done some great work with quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Denver fired Tebow's best shot at being a success. I hope he succeeds. I just don't believe he will.
-Oklahoma Sooners' toughest games: at Florida State, vs. Texas in Dallas, and at Oklahoma State. There is no reason they should not be playing in the national title game. However, one slip-up, and they won't be.
-Lastly, I will allow my nerdiness to shine through on this one (as if I don't already). WWE's SummerSlam looked like it had a good ending. CM Punk defeats John Cena while his foot is on the rope. This would allow for the story to continue. Instead, WWE decided to trot out Kevin Nash to jackknife CM Punk. Okay. Unexpected but that is a good thing. Then... Albert the River (or as Vince McMahon wants me to refer to him as Alberto Del Rio). Walks out, takes advantage of rules I won't get into and wins the WWE championship. Royal Rumble winner, Money In the Bank winner, WWE Champion and no one still has a clue as to who this guy is. That doesn't speak well of Mr. the River.
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