Good Mourning

On April 22nd, 2017, an actress passed away.  Erin Moran, AKA Joanie from "Happy Days" and the ill-fated spin-off "Joanie Loves Chachi" died from a short battle from cancer.  She had a history with addiction and it cost her dearly in life.

Upon her death, there was a lot of the typical condolences that one would typically expect from a death of a human being.  But then there was a lot of ones that made her out to be deserving of her death because of the drugs she used to do.

Now, ironically, upon finding out that she died of an especially aggressive cancer and that no drugs were in her system when she died, people retracted their statements.  People backtracked and tried offering their support even though just a few days before, they had attacked her for her drug use and talked of how she deserved her end.

Upon her death, the press hounded her widowed husband mercilessly.  The sheriff had to chase people away to even attempt to give him some time to grieve.  This was a man who was only really known as the husband of Erin Moran.  He wasn't a celebrity and he had some periods of homelessness.

He eventually released a statement to the press (pretty much was forced to, if you ask me) via Facebook where he talked about his final months with his wife.  He talked about it in detail (for any of those who cared to know).  He did this as a way to finally be left alone and to hopefully get a little  peace out of all of this.

But why did it come to this???  What happened to respect for the deceased??  Now, we live in a day and age where no one has compassion to the deceased any more.  Oh, this woman died, "Must have been the drugs."  "She got what she deserved."  "For me, you do drugs or drink, you're gonna die. I'm sorry if that's cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive and you gotta take care of yourself." 

After finding out about the cancer, these people were quick to retract, and rescind their comments, but the lack of respect is appalling.  I hope that when I die, people actually care at all, instead of finding some reason that I deserved to die.  It doesn't make the mourning any easier to justify someone's death because of problems they had in their lives.

To the family of Erin Moran, I hope you get some comfort out of this.  I hope she gets the respect she deserves, and RIP Erin Moran.  To the people who had no class but to bash her in death, have some respect.  You need some more compassion in your life.  

Stop Doping, Ya Dopehead!!! The Decline of Professional Sports

Over the last decade or so, there has been one recurring story sweeping the sports world.  Doping.  The taking of illegal, performance-enhancing substances, to give a person "the edge."  This is a problem that has (in my opinion) set forth the decline of the world of sports in the long run.

I just recently saw a news article about a whole Olympics Relay team that had their medals stripped due to doping.  Just recently before that Tom Brady got suspended for 5 games of the next NFL season (and fined) for the "deflategate" (as it is being dubbed).

Sports celebrities that people wanted to emulate and look up to, were testifying before a congressional hearing back in 2005.  The greats of baseball at the time, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Jose Conseco, Rafael Palmeiro, etc testified and denied use of steroids.  All 4 tested positive and/or admitted to using it.

Steroid use is now ingrained in essentially every sport.  People are just so determined to win, they will destroy themselves for that.  This as also spread into female sports as well.

What these people forgot is the fun.  Sports were always meant to be fun.  A bunch of athletes getting together and playing a sport for sport.  People didn't need to cheat, because it was about just having fun and having a good time.  Now, sports celebrities are overpaid and jaded.  Sports celebrities have completely forgotten the purpose of playing a sport.  It isn't the endorsements.  It isn't the big vehicles and the agents.  It isn't for the money, it isn't for the show.  Playing sports is supposed to be about having fun.

Now, we have people who would cheat to win.  Losing isn't an option.  Honestly, if people were just playing for fun, win or lose, they are still happy.  Maybe, slightly disappointed at the loss, but happy just to have gotten to play a sport they loved playing.

We as fans, used to watch athletes compete and have fun.  We enjoyed the sport because they enjoyed the sport.

Now, honestly, with the doping, etc, sports have not become about fun.  Sports are no longer about the sport.  Sports just aren't fun any more.  And when a sports start is caught doping, what happens?  They get suspended from playing the game, and fined.  Honestly, a drop in the hat.  It is a slap in the wrist.

And at the current trend, people will become disgusted by sports in general.  People will recognize that professional athletics is not a good thing.  People will recognize that something needs to be done.

Well, I have an idea.

Sports leagues should disband.  Professional sports should come to an end.

Just think about it.  Professional sports comes to an end.  People no longer will try to do anything and everything possible to win.  People will not cut corners to try to achieve fame in sports.  Those who do not enjoy the sport will be fished out.  They will quit the sport completely, phasing out those who are just in it for the money.  The people who play the sports for the money and the fame, they are the ones who are willing to cheat to get to the top.  The people who are truly passionate about the game and care about having fun along the way, are the ones who will rebuild professional sports in a new image.  Less people will dope just because there isn't the pressure to perform.  People will play for the fun of the game again.  That is what we need.  We need people who will play for the fun of the game, and not for the fame that comes with it.