For Coach Isome(Poem)

Coach Isome I didn't get to spend much time with you at all. We meet on the gridiron as nighthawaks, last summer and fall. The gridiron, a fun, cool, wonderful place for people like you and me. I wish I could have express, the major effect, that short time we spent together, had on me. You had an effect on me that I'm sure you never knew. Coming to a team as the new guy like I did, there wasn't always someone to turn too. On a team where favoritism ran so high. Coach Ice I can whole heartedly say, you had no favorite guy. Even When I stormed off that field, mad, helmet went flying. You was there to lend a helping hand to someone you may have only known as the new guy. In simplest terms, Coach Isome I respected you so much because you was real. Even though you in a better place, I speak for all of nighthawk nation when I say, we much rather have you on that field. God called you home, now your with the best. April 30th, 2012 is it, we must lay you to rest. You always told us, do your one-eleven. When I Play I never forget it. So keep an eye on me coach Isome, I expect you to let me know how I did once I see you again in heaven! John G. Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com

My First Flight

As a kid coming up, Nothing amazed me more than knowing that you could go thousands of feet in the air and fly anywhere you wanted to fly in the world. At the same time it amazed me, I also learned the dangers of flying in an airplane, which scared me so much I vowed that I would never fly. Having the childhood dream of becoming a firefighter, the events of 9/11 didn't help, neither did the infamous opening scene of final destination ha ha. When that took place, 9/11, I was a 13 year old 7th grader, and knowing that people hi-jacked aircraft to intentionally crash them really scared me. I was way too young to know about terrorism and politics, all I knew was that human beings took these planes with one intention, which was to crash them. For years following the tragic events of 9/11, the sound of an airplane over head put a sense of fear in my heart like nothing else. When you really think about it, you never hear much about airplanes, and flights at all. It just when you do, the news is usually bad and not good. The though of spending your last living moment on a airplane that's crashing has to be one the most horrible and tourterious to go out, all these thing is the reason I said I would never fly on an airplane. They say, never say never, and maybe I should've because I did take a round trip to Las Vegas, Nevada this past weekend. I would be lying to you if I say it wasn't the scariest, most nervous thing I've done, probably since 2009 when I stepped into my first burning building. The plane I caught from Cincy to North Carolina was a smaller jet. I stepped on the plane and my head nearly rubbed up against the ceiling, that made my heart beat even faster from when I step up to board the flight and proceed down the tunnel, gripping the railing with my sweaty palm not realizing that I wasn't on a roller coaster, hell I wasn't even on the plane yet. I boarded my plane and it seemed as if it took forever for us to take off, the anticipation build, and build. I couldn't help but to think about all the thing that could go wrong. The though of my family, parents, brothers, my son who was only 4 months at the time, and all my close friends I was a mental wreck. I got off at 230 that morning and set up all night before the afternoon flight, with the though of sleeping through the flight but I could see at this moment of boarding, sleep was not happening no time soon. So as we finally had the plane cranked up, it seem as if we was just casually driving around the run way for another 15 min, then we came to a complete stop, went from 0 to what seem like a million miles per hour in 3 to 4 second, Now it starting to remind me of a roller coaster, in which I never ride. The next part, the actual lift off is something I would never forget, it actually is what made the experience of flying worth wild. Looking out the window we was moving at speeds where I had a hard time recognizing anything going by, lifting off we got higher, and higher off the ground, it was neat to lift off near I-275 and see the traffic, too see all of the land that now laid below us. Everything got smaller, and smaller as we got up into the clouds. As we leveled on out and stop rising we was basically sitting up on top of the clouds and I started to understand why they say fling is one the safest ways of transportation because it was just us. For some reason I will never know why, the view and feeling of floating on top of them clouds relax my heart, soul, and mind. Above the clouds was so clear and a sight even to this day, I close my eyes and try to bring back when times get rough and life move a lil too fast. Before I knew it we was setting to land in North Carolina, it was that fast, a 50 minute flight. I had successfully complete a milestone in my life, and faced a fear I once said I never would. That flight was a good simple for the 5 hour flight I had to board from North Carolina to Vegas, and I had found a new liking for fling. For anybody who's out there that was like me and may have the same fears I had when it came to fling this post is for you. Fling was something that I'm glad I did at least once and I encourage and recommend you go ahead and take that chance too. Life is a journey, we face all kinds of dangers, and face many moment in which we never forget for the duration of our life. In life there are many things which we would like to do, or experience before we die. If we all made our bucket list most thing on it would be things that's unrealistic like being rich for a day, or playing the staring role in a movie, climbing Mt. Everest, traveling around the world, etc. In life, Your time to leave this earth, is your time to leave this earth, no second is promised to us so don't let the fear of death stop you from experiencing something so small, but neat at the same time. You never know you may, like me, grow a liking for it. John G. Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com

Bengals @ Texans Preview.

Well here we are, he Cincinnati Bengals are in the playoffs and will visit the Houston Texans today. First thing first, I mean how about them Bengals?!? This was a team who was considered by most media figure one the worst teams going into 2011 season. I can still remember people saying we would be fighting for that #1 overall pick, and all we did was compete all year long and earned a spot into the tournament. That is oh so bitter sweet when your one of the few fans that this team would have a .500 season or better, I be lying if I said I or anyone though they would be in playoffs, but we are here and facing a very good Texans football team. Keys to victory for the Cincinnati Bengals....... Cincinnati must establish Ced Benson and the running game, this Houston D is very good, and don't allow a lot at all. The Bengals must run the ball, and run it effectively in order to wear the Houston D down, keep theirs rested and control this football game. I know everybody want to see Dalton to Green, but if the Bengals try to get their offense going through Dalton it will be tough on him and the team. Defensively they MUST stop the Two headed monster in Foster and Tate. After the performance Ray Rice had last week, you best believe the Texans will do what I just said the Bengals need to do, especially with a banged up 3rd string QB. Expect to see Houston with a lot of Zone running, Rice had both his biggest runs on HB zone plays last week. If I'm the Bengals I'm playing man D with bracket coverages on Andre Johnson, and everybody else loading the box. Force Yates to beat you. When I do these articles, or post I have to be a realist before I'm a fan. With that said unfortunately I have the Cincinnati Bengals losing this football game. Yeah booo me, curse me, exit the page, do all that but I have to be real. The fan in me will be cheering them on, and I'll be screaming the loudest when good thing happen, AND I HOPE IM WRONG AND THEY WIN! Why do I think they will lose this game??? Well in recollections of the Keys to victory, I don't see Benson doing well. His productivity has been on a downwards fall all year and I don't see that changing today, I also think he'll fumble once or twice. Defensively I think the Bengals will be competitive all game, and make it a good game, but a double dip of Foster and Tate will wear that D down and the weakness of our safeties will hurt us on the run D as well just like last week. I also don't think it possible to keep Andre Johnson quiet. All those plus the inability of the Bengals to turn redzone possessions into TD's instead of FG's, in which they struggle to do ALL season, will result in a 21-16 lost for the Bengals! Ya'll know I can't ended it with that though. Cincinnati Bengals Fans should be damn proud of this football team, and organization for making it thus far! Also fans, get ready to see this team as a regular in the playoffs, no more of that every 2 or 3 years stuff, I'm telling get used to days such as this. ONCE AGAIN I HOPE MY PROJECTION IS WRONG, it just the realist in me, that did the research and logical thinking to come up with it. WHO DEY!!!!!

John G. Dunn II
Jgdunn.blogspot.com

A Era Ended in Utah, That Never Reached Highest Highs.

Andrei Kirilenko never got into a great rhythm after that one All-Star season with the Jazz. But a lack of rhythm wasn't his problem. Actually, it was his strength.

He was all about disrupting the ebb and flow, short circuiting the system.

But he was also a nice guy in a hard business, which may have kept him from being great.

Reports on Tuesday said Kirilenko was nearing terms with the New Jersey Nets. If true, it is as surprising as a snow day in Omsk. Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov has openly coveted his countryman's skills. It has been a foregone conclusion since last spring that his days in Utah were over. Becoming a free agent cleared the Jazz of a $17.8 million salary.

So off he goes into the sunset. No more Cold War headlines and references to assault rifles. The main thing Kirilenko assaulted was the Jazz's pocketbook.

During that one joyful year of 2003-04, he was the team's most popular and valuable player. It was the first season of the post-Stockton and Malone era. Some experts predicted the Jazz would be the worst team in the NBA. Instead, he averaged career highs in points, rebounds, steals and blocks, as the Jazz posted a shockingly respectable 42 wins.

He liked his role and, just as important, he liked his place. He said he appreciated raising his family in Utah. For most players in his salary range, playing for the Jazz is like playing in, well, Siberia.

Eventually he became a symbol of an era of overspending. Average players got obscenely high salaries, good ones got astronomical paychecks. But he was only a product of the system. He never huffed about the need to maintain a big lifestyle, never talked down to his public. He claims to have once offered to void his contract with the Jazz if the team thought he wasn't giving them a fair return.

In an era in which Greg Ostertag could make $8 million in a single season, Kirilenko could far better justify his salary.

Nevertheless, A.K. had trouble with injuries, missing 10 games or more in every season except his first three. In 2004-05, the year after he was named an All-Star, he lost 26 games with a sprained knee, 14 more with a broken wrist. But his biggest problem was inside his head. He never completely adjusted to Jerry Sloan's rants. And he wasn't mean on the court. Early in his career he would help fallen opponents up, something Sloan didn't condone.

In his 10 years in Utah, Kirilenko never did learn to speak perfect English. Even his wife agreed, when she hypothesized that his problems with Sloan stemmed from a communication drawback. On the court, he would regularly whirl into the middle but have trouble getting the ball up in heavy traffic. Yet his quick flashes to the rim for a pass-and-score from Deron Williams were also among his assets.

With the arrival of Carlos Boozer and Williams to do the scoring, as well as other small forwards such as Matt Harpring, C.J. Miles and recently Josh Howard, his role diminished. Yet he talked about being a good teammate and vowed to do whatever it took to win, reserve or starter. And he still turned in box scores that looked like an international phone number, with double digits in points, rebounds, blocks, assists or steals —often in several categories at once.

Always, he was there to throw the other team off balance. His game was never about grooving to the beat. On his good days it was like watching kids on Christmas morning, enjoying the chaos.

While Kirilenko never justified his ending salary, he was a nice guy and a unique player, who did many good things —just not maximum salary things. He was polite to fans and media. Even when he found himself falling deeper into Jerry Sloan's doghouse during the 2007 playoffs, he came off as maybe too tender, getting teary as he discussed his lack of playing time.

Sloan complained he wasn't equipped to deal with that sort of emotion.

"What I can do?" Kirilenko would say in his broken English, rather than "What can I do?" about the situation.

What he could do was fill up a box score.

What he couldn't do was be a superstar in a world much harsher than his.

John G. Dunn II
jgdunn.blogspot.com

Examine The Reds Deal To Acquire Mat Latos.

The Cincinnati Reds shook the baseball landscape over the weekend when they traded three prospects and pitcher Edinson Volquez to the San Diego Padres for Mat Latos. The deal was a bold stroke for Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty who dealt from a position of strength to acquire one of the best starting pitchers available on the trade market. Jocketty had been criticized recently as the Reds failed to complete any major deals during baseball's winter meetings. Cincinnati failed to make the playoffs last season despite having one of the best lineups in the National League Central. The acquisition of Latos gives Reds manager Dusty Baker a legitimate number one starter to front his rotation. Latos, who is under team control through the 2015 season, is just 24 years old. He has logged over 180 innings in each of the past two seasons. Latos and Johnny Cueto give Cincinnati a young and talented top two starters in a division suddenly weakened by the defection of Albert Pujols and Ryan Braun's looming suspension. Cincinnati paid a hefty price for Latos. Edinson Volquez has battled injuries over the past three seasons and will likely be a traded chip for the Padres. First baseman Yonder Alonso was one of the Reds top prospects and could start at first for San Diego in 2012. Alonso, a former first round draft choice, played 47 games for Cincinnati last season and posted an impressive .943 OPS in 88 at bats. The small sample size should be cause for concern to San Diego. Alonso has logged 192 games at AAA over the past two seasons and compiled just a .842 OPS. Despite the hot start to his big league career Alonso should not be confused with a can't-miss slugger. Alonso was expendable due to being blocked from playing first base in Cincinnati by All Star Joey Votto. San Diego also received catching prospect Yasmani Grandal and reliever Brad Boxberger. Grandal had an impressive 2011 season advancing from the California League to the International League but ranked behind Devin Mesoraco on the organizational depth chart. Boxberger struck out 93 batters in 62 innings between AA and AAA. He could find his way into the San Diego bullpen this season. The Reds look like the early winners of the Latos deal. Cincinnati undoubtedly acquired the best player in the trade and he will instantly improve the team's chances to contend in 2012 and beyond. The young players that the Reds surrendered don't appear to be difference makers and both Grandal and Alonso were blocked in Cincinnati by better young players Joey Votto and Devin Mesoraco respectively.

So Women Can Be Realistic Thinkers Sometimes.

Women may dream of finding Prince Charming, but a new study shows that they're far more realistic in choosing real-life spouses. A survey of 2,000 women commissioned by Remington determined that only 25% of women believe the perfect man exists and the remaining 75% don’t aim to find Mr. Right -- Mr. Good Enough will do. Women found their partners to be about 69% perfect. So, what’s holding the men back? A few of the male faults included leaving the bathroom door open, watching too much sports and inadequate personal grooming. Snoring, ripping on your girlfriend’s driving and not vibing with her family can also drop your score. Also, one in five women believe their man doesn’t listen to them. On the bright side, 35% of women said that personality is the most important male quality, so don’t fret. If you can make her laugh, she’s willing to overlook a few of the flaws. Now the question remains: Do men actually believe that the perfect woman exists? John G. Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com

Morning Rituals That Upgrade Life Satisfaction

How we feel on a day-to-day basis changes constantly. We might feel on top of the world one day, but then like death the next. While our day-to-day moods may fluctuate, how satisfied we feel with our life should not. Life satisfaction relates to the big picture, and how a person feels about their life as a whole, over the long-term. It’s typically answered by a simple question: “How satisfied are you with your life, right now?” If the answer is negative, be sure to read on as I explores the top morning rituals that will upgrade your overall life satisfaction. Groom- While it feels almost silly to say, it’s the cold hard truth: When you look your best, you feel your best. But when you’ve overslept and are suddenly running late for a big breakfast date, work, or etc, do you really have the time you need to groom properly? Probably not. Now you’ll show up looking like a mess and will probably blow the one chance you have to impress a new date, or that co worker you sweet on. The point is that looks go beyond mere self-esteem. How we look has an impact on everything from personal relationships to business relationships. So get grooming to get satisfied. Take stock of what you're grateful for- The mind is an incredible thing. As science continues to provide windows into how it functions, it’s becoming clear just how powerful positive thinking can be, particularly with respect to life satisfaction. In the hustle and bustle of busy life, we often forget to simply stop and take stock of what we’re grateful for. So why not do that each and every morning? Find a few minutes each day to congratulate yourself on long-term and short-term goals that you’ve accomplished. Don’t focus on what you have yet to do, but what you’ve already done. Turn off the TV- Who doesn’t love early morning talk TV? There’s something so comforting about it, knowing that the world is waking up alongside you. Well, perhaps it’s time to re-evaluate. Not only can TV in the morning be a huge distraction, keeping us from focusing on the day’s goals, but too much TV has actually been shown to decrease life satisfaction. Do yourself a favor and tune out. Wake naturally- Human sleep is largely controlled by circadian rhythm, often referred to as the body’s clock. This clock is driven largely by the light-dark cycle of the sun. When light begins to fade, the body produces melatonin to put you to sleep. As morning approaches, melatonin production stops. The problem is that many of us sleep in dark rooms with little-to-no entryway for natural light. The lack of natural light prevents our body’s clock from properly resetting, resulting in low quality sleep. Get a satisfying night’s rest by leaving the curtains open at night or by purchasing a natural-light alarm clock that mimics the rising sun. Eat a balanced breakfast- Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard the expression that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well, it’s true. Over the years a number of studies have examined the subject, and most have reached the same conclusion: Starting the day without a solid meal has a slight but detectable negative effect on mood, memory and energy level. But it gets worse. If you’re starting off on the wrong note, that negativity is likely to snowball, throwing your whole day out of whack. Stay satisfied by eating a balanced breakfast of complex carbs, protein and fat. Hit the gym- My favorite one. I don’t need to tell you that increased exercise leads to greater life satisfaction -- OK, I just did -- but did you know that when you exercise is also important? Studies are increasingly finding that morning exercise improves our quality of sleep compared to evening exercise. And poor quality of sleep is linked to a variety of health conditions that will leave you feeling less than satisfied. But you don’t have to actually hit the gym to be active. Any form of exercise will do, like biking to work or walking the dog. See people- Hollywood loves to depict the hermit-type as an angry, foul person. Although it’s becoming a touch cliché, it’s probably grounded in truth. After all, research shows that social interaction and personal relationships tend to be strongly associated with greater life satisfaction and a positive mood. With that in mind, try to add a social component to your morning ritual. It can be something as simple as sharing 10 minutes of chat time with your partner over coffee or joining an early morning running club. Get out and be social. Get some- One most of you may like. Just to be frank, I'm not talking about getting some breakfast, or friends, or anything else for that matter. No, I'm talking about sex. I already told you about the importance of physical activity and social interaction in terms of improving life satisfaction, so why not combine the two? Now, don't get it twisted I'm not telling you to start every day off with a bang, just find a way to once in a while incorporate physical contact into your morning routine. The result should leave you smiling. I know we all do have access to that luxury, but this is for the people who do. Set goals each day and achieve them- What better time than the morning to set the day’s goals? This isn’t exactly rocket science. If you set your goals early, you’ll have the whole rest of the day to achieve them. Easy, right? Just make sure to set realistic goals that you can actually achieve. But why is setting goals important? Research shows that setting goals and achieving them improves our life satisfaction. The process builds self-esteem and confidence, and ultimately feeds into the whole mentality of positive thinking. Find a morning hobby- Hobbies are the secret to improving life satisfaction. They’re outside of family, outside of work and generally outside of the many stresses of everyday life. And yet, finding a hobby that you enjoy and are good at can be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Heck, it could even land you a new and exciting career. But because finding time for a hobby can be challenging, if you manage to incorporate one into your morning routine, you’ll not only be making time for yourself but you’ll leave the rest of the day for the rest of life’s problems. Problem solved. John G. Dunn II jgdunn.blogspot.com