Integrity of Football

Anyone who watches The NFL on a regular basis can see the writing on the wall. Its not even just the NFL, its NCAA Football as well. People looking the other way  for bad apples or good players can skirt the rules. 

What am I talking about you ask? How about the constant barrage of investigations by the NCAA against schools or players getting paid to play, or teachers letting players not show and passing them so they can play. Schools constantly break the rules so they can win and make money for the school. It's almost like the schools dont care as long as you win. Granted I can't blame the players for wanting to get paid, the school are making millions off of them. On the other hand, they're getting a free education! HELLO! But Players getting babied all throughout their lives who make it into the NFL think they can still get away with the same things.

Professional Football. Most kids dreams are to one day play sports professionally. What kind of example are they setting for the younger generation if they see NFL players constantly stomping on players, throwing punches, breaking the rules and nothing happens to them? This to me says its okay and I can be there too if I am decent and break the rules as well. There are teams who get rid of players for marijuana use, but keep others who are better for far worse infractions? 

At what point does an owner stand up and say, " I wont put winning over the integrity of the game."? There are currently players that have to have 24/7 bodyguards around to protect the players from themselves. There are players that abuse not only other teams on the field, but their own team mates on the practice field? I, for one would not have these players on my team, as Im sure there are others and parents and players that would feel the same. 

Whoever you favorite team is, can you say this is true?

Welcome Back To Reality

Everyone has experienced it. Some do on a daily basis. Those that think they have a better job, or more money, better life think they are better than everyone else. Someone somewhere fills their head with these ideas that what happens at work or what you do for a living defines who you are. When you meet someone new they ask what you do for a living, just so they can compare themselves to you. If you come back with I work for McDonalds then you are automatically a bum, lazy or stupid. 

In my mind when I come across this brainwashing, I imagine if that person were to lose their job or money, then hey you're not so high and mighty anymore are you? I try to remind people that we are all the same. What we do for money does impact the standard of living we have, but it does not makes us any better or worse than anyone else. 

If the economy were to collapse tomorrow, where would these people be? Thats right, they'd be scrounging around just like the rest of us. I believe everyone needs to keep such things in the proper perspective, and stay as grounded as possible. Just because someone earns more money does not make them a better person, after all what do we really need in life? Fancy cars, big house, cool toys sure why not. If thats what makes you happy then by all means go for it. I believe in the saying the things you own end up owning you. I have met few people that this was not true. 

When you buy a home, what is generally the first thing you do? You run out and buy lots of furniture, kitchen necessities, tv etc. What the result is you have lots of new stuff and either lots of credit card debt or a smaller wallet. These new things keep you satisfied for a little while until one day you're looking to replace it or upgrade. This is what I like to call the endless cycle. People will spend the rest of their lives not realizing they dont need a 5000 title movie collection, or the $3000 tv that you can live with the $500 tv and not bat an eye at it. Oh look! Im not broke! Wow! 

Moral here is unless you're the person who never looks down on anyone, or surround yourself with the unnecessary, and believe me theres a lot more then we all need to stop and think about how we treat people or what we do in our free time. 

In my younger days, I thought of nothing but what I could buy next. The result of that was $10000 of credit card debt and bad credit. Everyday I continued to make bad decisions that seemed okay at the moment but in the end I ended paying for dearly. My vision of hell or reincarnation is being born again into the same bad situation again and again, and not learning from your mistakes. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result? Then I believe most of us are legally insane.

Cigars for everyday smoking

For those of us who like to enjoy a fine smoke daily, here are some cigars that won't break the bank. Really the only way to be able to do this without spending buku bucks is to buy them bulk, and no I don't mean Swisher Sweets. I'm referring to the deals you can get at most fine cigar shops usually tucked back in the corner of the humidor. That's right, the bundles, mazos, buttload or whatever you wish to refer to them as.

Now buying them retail you still pay a ittle bit more and you dont get the selection but you save literally  ton (yes 2,500 lbs). You get around 20 or 40 for around $50. Again, these are usually less quality than the others, but thats why they're cheaper.

Now another option is to go to an online retailer such as Cigars International, Thompson Cigars, cigar.com, or a host of a dozen others. I have shopped around and I have found the best place to go for price and selection to be Cigars International (no as I write this I am not getting paid by them. Yet. Here's to hoping). They have the best selection I have seen to date.

Lets talk some brands shall we? There's the 1876 I believe I bought 40 for $50? Yes! For the price you can't get much better. These are more on the medium side, but taste great less filling.
My favorite thus far is the Matacan. They are a little smaller, but very light with a bit of sweetness. I will definitely be purchasing these again.

I have ordered the Dark Shark 20 for $25, and the Fighting Cock for 20 for $29. I will update on how these taste, but thats just the start of the fun! There are many many more to try! So I will be full to the brim with Cigars for at least 60 days (yes I smoke a lot)!

Best part is most cigar bars that actually serve alcohol will let you bring your own in as long as you're buying booze. So what's for you to lose?

Better Late Than Never: Wreaththu Book Review

Having never heard to this series when I picked it up, I didn't know what I was in for. I'll have to admit that it was the cover that got me. I saw it, and couldn't resist buying it. Usually books under 1000 pages dont take me long to read. I believe this book took me around a year, mostly because once I reached the middle point of the book I momentarily lost interest. Once I picked it up again, I couldn't put it back down as it finally took off.

Lets start at the beginning. Wreaththu is a trilogy written by Storm Constantine. Its a fantasy series that takes place in the post apocalyptic world, and the battle between humans and Wreaththu has begun. Whiile its a decently written book, the subject matter will probably turn most people away. Wreaththu is a race of hermaphrodites who have no women in their race. SO needless to say all the sex that takes place in the series gets annoying at times. I also could have done without some of the details. While I understand Storms attempts at showing the balance of male and female, i believe she let it take over a little more than she should have. 

Back to the point and besides the hermaphrodites, the tale does take you on a great journey and is different from most books you'll read. Storm did a great job in developing the characters and weaving them in and out of each tale. It just went on a little longer than I feel it needed to. She could've cut some of the pages down and had exactly the same effect.

In truth, I often wondered while reading the book is the author dislikes women on a certain level, making a race with no women. I thought this until the end. I dont want to give away the story, but by then end the opposite is obvious.

When it comes to books i only keep the books I deem worthy. The books that Ill read again. This includes Shakespeare, Homer, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King's Gunslinger series, Eragon Series to name a few. Despite the few shortcomings the series may have, I plan on keeping this book in my collection.  All in all, I give this story 3 out of 5. It is original, and thats where I tend to head. Too many authors borrow from movies, legends and their books are never entirely original.This one is.

Tatuaje Cigar...Finally a Taste

Continuing the Reviews for the inexperienced everyday non snob cigar smoker, here is the Tatuaje Line.

Ever heard of this little gem? Ill admit ever since I read about this brand of cigars in Cigar Aficionado Ive been trying to find it here in Phoenix. Needless to say its not the easiest thing to do. Well finally found it at Fox Cigar Bar, my favorite place to smoke. Granted it was a very limited in choices for this brand something is better than nothing.

I will tell you for the time it took me to find this, it was worth the wait. Granted it is a medium to full body that Im a little picky about, but the great aftertaste made up for any shortcomings this little baby has. For the price this is definitely worth a try.

As with all cigars try to keep them at about 70% humidity. Too dry and they be hard and crack, to much is really just as bad. I dont think anyone wants to smoke mold (well most people anyway).

Drew Estate Line of Cigars

I felt it appropriate to talk about the cigars that got me into smoking. A friend handed me an Acid Blondie in a bar and on that first puff it was love. Of course this was before they became huge and expensive. I think Ive been in love with every one of the Acid line except for the Acid One cigar. This was the one I actually had to chase down to try and imagine my disappointment.

So at first, all I smoked was the Acid line of cigars. Eventually I started to branch out a little into the Natural, Java, My Uzi Weighs A Ton, Tabak, Isla Del Sol to name a few. I loved everything except some of the Tabak line and My Uzi Weighs a Ton. Not so much of a fan. My favorites have to be the Natural and the Isla Del Sol.

For the price the Isla Del Sol becomes the steal of the century. This definitely helps to make up for the price hike in the Acid line. Makes me wish that they'd make an Acid line that was affordable for the guy with a family. Granted the Isla Del Sol are still too pricey to smoke everyday, they definitely have the taste to make me want to do so.

The Tabak line is coffee flavored. Not bad, just not the best out there. Drew Estate has another line called Java which is still pricey but much better. Ive actually had random people come sit with me in public because they like the smell of the Java I was smoking. Actually turned out to be a great conversation starter and I have many more friends at work due to my great smelling cigar.

Leather Cigar Case (Google Affiliate Ad)

If you love mild cigars and coffee flavored smokes, then the Drew Estate Line is for you. The Acid One and Mu Uzi Weighs a Ton are more of  full body smoke , so if thats what you like then try it. 

Full Of Luck, Andrew for MVP

Andrew Luck: Drafted number One. RGIII drafted number two. Never have I heard more praise being given to the second pick after who is supposed to be the second coming of Peyton Manning. Who is Peyton? Only arguably one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game.

When drafting for the NFL, coaches seem to want someone who is a pocket passer. Why? Because they win, but everyone seems to get excited about the ones who can run. My question is, do they win championships? Why then does everyone get so high on these guys? Yes they can break they big play and can instantly get your team to the playoffs. But as Mike Vick has shown us they dont win Championships and are usually injury prone. We have even seen this with RGIII this season. Running Washington's offense has nearly gotten this young player killed. Yes I just compared RGIII to Vick. Both can be very exciting players, and maybe RGIII will be one of the greatest. Right now though, you cant help but notice to similarities between the two. Vick also started the same way, but is now injury prone from all the hits he takes. He has only had one full season in his career, and so far RGIII is following in his footsteps. RGIII, if you read this, please become a pocket passer-for your own sake.

Luck on the other hand is the pocket passer anyone would want, with the arm strength to match. On a team full of rookies took his team to the playoffs. RGIII also went, but his was a playoff team already. The Colts were in a rebuilding phase, and weren't supposed to do anything this year. Without Luck, this team goes nowhere as we saw last year without Peyton. Oh yeah, he also can run and throw blocks down the field just like anyone else! Maybe better.

Im sorry Peyton you don't deserve MVP. Your team went to the playoffs last year with a QB that was nowhere near his caliber. Brady, sure he deserves to be in the conversation as he is also one of the greatest to ever play. But compared to the seasons of Andrew Luck and Peterson, sorry he still doesnt get it.

Now I know the Heisman is a popularity contest, as Im sure MVP might be. To me, MVP means Most Valuable Player. The only two people that really should be associated with this award this year is Andrew Luck and Adrian Peterson. You can send Comeback Player of the Year to Adrian as well. Rookie of the year should go to Luck, but will probably follow either RGIII or Wilson as they are the popular choice.