TheWiseOldFart

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart In 1959 I went to my first Major League Baseball Game. The Brooklyn Dodgers had moved to Los Angeles from Brooklyn in 1958. I was 13 years old, and my brother was 11. This was one of the greatest days in my life. The tickets were a gift, and cost $1.50 each. The game was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; Dodger Stadium was under construction. Born in 1946, I believe that I was a typical American boy. Everything of importance to me involved patriotism, and what were considered American values in the 1950’s. I was a huge baseball fan, and when the Minneapolis Lakers moved to L A in 1960, I became fascinated with what became my “sport of choice.” Somewhere around 1956, when television coverage of the NFL grew, I began to learn about football played at the professional level. WHN IT ALL CHANGED, MY INTEREST BEGAN TO WANE In my 30’s MLB and the NBA became less interesting. Their seasons were far too long: 162, and 82 regular season games and endless playof...

Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart Every attendee at the former Republican Party’s convention in Milwaukee shares one fact. They are all Neo-Nazis, supportive of a fascist regime to replace democracy, while declaring their fealty to Trump. I was confused at times. The effusive and embarrassing praise for the convicted felon was so repetitive, I wasn’t sure if this was taking place in America, 1930’s Germany, North Korea, or Moscow. The similarity was uncanny. They are a united party, at least in public. HYPOCRITES ONE AND ALL At least 90 percent of the men and women at the convention were previously vehement critics of the worst illegitimate president in history. A large number of this 90 percent were members of the “anyone but Trump club” in 2016. All of them called him “dangerous,” “immoral,” “unhinged,” “unfit,” and numerous other negative adjectives. However out of this 90 percent, 100 percent became hypocrites. They scream and yell for Trump while inside they are calling him names and likely...

  Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart   I’m not sure about what I watched this weekend. The 2023 NFL season began last Thursday, and the 2022 champion Kansas City Chiefs appeared uninterested. Sunday, multiple teams appeared to have forgotten how to play the game, as upsets became normal. I know much of this is the result of free agency in the off season, but the label “professional” should mean something. I’ll begin by telling you that I turned off three games today, including the Sunday night game between the New York Giants and the overrated Dallas Cowboys. This was less interesting than a knitting contest. The other games were between the hapless Pittsburgh Steelers who were hosting the San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers were so courteous to their guests they surrendered any hope for a real game in the first quarter. The other “contest” involved the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns. I think the Bengals forgot that they were scheduled to play a game on Sunday. It was ob...