That's Enough, Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps is an American icon. The winner of 14 gold medals over two Olympic games won many hearts and fans in Beijing with his dazzling swimming display. He deserves every accolade thrown his way for his hard work, dedication to his sport, and perseverance. I deserve for him to go away.

Since Beijing, Phelps has been everywhere. Commercials, talk shows, and worst of all, Saturday Night Live. His stiff performance as host on SNL garnered poor reviews, yet many forgave him, because after all, he is a swimmer, not an actor. Fair enough. Unfortunatelty, Phelps didn't take a hint, and continued his nationwide appearance frenzy. Wall Street, sports talk radio, Good Morning America-Phelps Mania was not slowing down, even 6 months after he took China by storm. Most upsetting to me, however, has been his desire to attend every single primetime football game of the season. "Hey, look at you hanging out in the owner's box! Wow-it's Michael Phelps, again. He's the swimming guy who saved America. I'm so happy to see him at this Bears-Saints game". Now, I can sort of forgive him for being at every Ravens game, since he is from Baltimore and all, but does he need to be at every nationally televised Browns game? No.

And last night, he attended the Celtics-Jazz game. Why? And why does ESPN feel the need to tell us this? Why interview him? What's left for him to say-"hey-I'll be at next weekend's Islanders-Red Wings game. You can shower me with more attention there".

Stop it. That's enough. We get it-you are a world famous athlete. Please stop drawing attention to yourself by attending every highly visible event across America. I don't want to see you anymore. Don't make me root against you at the London games in 2012. America needs a Phelps breather. Let us breathe, Michael. I need some air.

Recycled Garbage

It has become a regular occurrence in professional sports-the recycled coach. The Carolina Hurricanes took it up a notch recently when they fired Peter Laviolette to re-hire Paul Maurice.

I have never been more stunned in my life. It's not as if the Hurricanes hired Scotty Bowman, or another well regarded Stanley Cup-winning coach, they hired Paul Maurice. A total bore and a failure. After getting run out of Raleigh in 2003, he shockingly got another job as the head coach in Toronto and again failed. Not only does he have a proven track record of ineptitude, his style bores the fans to tears, so it's not as if an exciting fast-paced brand of hockey is going to arouse interest among casual fans. It arouses tears, frustration and sleep.

Why did the Hurricanes hire him, you ask? Because he is a good friend of the GM, Jim Rutherford. That's a cute story. Unfortunately, you have a business and franchise to run. This isn't your grandson's recreational soccer team. This is a professional franchise. I find this move wholly unforgivable. After digesting this move for over a week, the only reasonable conclusion I can draw is that the Hurricanes want to move. Attendance has been lagging due to the economy, and this move will guarantee even more people will stay home. The losing will continue, and the style of play has become more unwatchable. There is no reason to go to the RBC Center anymore to support a franchise who values a personal friendship between the owner and GM with a man who has tried and failed at coaching much more than it's relationships with the city and fans, and it's duty to put an honorable product on the ice.

Jim Rutherford has made many moves which have benefited the Hurricanes greatly over the years, but this weird move trumps them all. It's time for you to be fired, Jim, your friendship with Raleigh is over. Unfortunately, Jim's friendship with the owner, Peter Karmanos is just as strong, so this is not going to happen. Go ahead and move the Hurricanes to Winnipeg. The strong friendship bond between the owner-GM-coach has superseded common sense, and has survived the loss of millions of dollars over the years. Canadian winters are no match for that.

90210-Episode 10 Summary

Brothers in Arms

One good tactic of 90210 is that they seem to immediately pick up where they left off last week with no time elapsing. Unlike me, who took over 3 weeks to finish this summary. The mysterious lost son of Principal Dad is introduced after meeting Annie and Naomi last week. Dixon seems to be troubled by this.

Unfortunately for him, I don't care, so let's move on.

Congratulations, Naomi-I now love you more than Adrianna. You have Navid to thank for that.

Also, since when do high school guidance counselors feel like it's their job to intervene in normal friendships? I guess now, because Kelly Taylor seems to think her job entails forcing Annie and Naomi to be friends. Not likely.

Annie can now add stale jokes to her repertoire in addition to terrible acting. She spends her time putting down Naomi with awful jokes and uninteresting drama.

Principal Dad is obsessed with his new found son, and is ignoring Dixon. This spells trouble, as Dad somehow took every job the unlikeable Mr. Mathews had, and is now the lacrosse coach.

How does this happen?

Kelly Taylor attempts to rekindle her friendship with Brenda Walsh for some reason, which ends with an awesome rejection. She deserved that. Later, after being hospitalized, they reconcile. Kill me.

Back to the good stuff-Principal Dad, now the lacrosse coach, terribly, TERRIBLY, pumps up the team for the big SoCal Regional Final against Bel Air. The team is hyped and starts the "Beat Bel Air" chant. I hope they lose 18-0. The game begins, but Dixon seems off. He is instructed to hit Bel Air at "the top of the triangle", because their middies did stuff to them last time inside this shape or something. However, Dixon is preoccupied due to Principal Dad being head over heels in love with his new found son. Dixon ain't having that, and shows this by pouting and lack of effort. Well played. The game plays out with a hard-rockin' soundtrack, and with Dixon refusing to pass he ball. West Bev trails 6-4 when Principal Dad demands the team not panic. Good coaching. He takes Dixon out after another few minutes of lackluster effort, to which Dixon responds "screw you". How about screw you, Dixon? You are costing your team the chance to advance further in this vague state tournament. The game ends, with no winner declared, and Dad heads into the locker room to yell at Dixon. He acts like a baby, but when Dad apologizes for giving Real Son all the attention, they make up.

Oh, wait-the game isn't over. I guess that was halftime. A 45 minute long halftime, where no one was allowed in the locker room except the coach and his adopted son. The score is knotted at 12! Huge drama! 10 seconds left, and Ethan slowly does a 180 spin move and scores at the buzzer to win it. Good for them-on to the next round! Dixon and Real Son make up and make plans to hang out together. Awwww.

The family then invites Real Son to live with them for awhile, but he makes a private phone call, and it appears everything is not as it seems. Looks like we have a fraud on our hands.

How will this play out? We'll have to wait until January 6th when the series returns. Until then...

All Apologies

Dear Russell Wilson-

I sincerely apologize for my earlier blog about your lack of talent, and for all of my inner hatred that was directed towards you from September through October. I was wrong. You have blossomed into a great quarterback and a valiant leader. I believe I ranked you # 328 out of 330 FBS QB's back in September, but you have proven to be more like #24. But you're #1 in my heart. The entire football program is headed towards a very good place in the near future, and I will look forward to seeing you help lead them to that place. The pride I have in NC State football has rarely been stronger, and the light at the end of the tunnel looks bright. Congratulations on being named quarterback on the All-ACC 1st team, and please accept my humble apology.

Best of luck in the upcoming bowl game, 2009, and beyond.