2008-07-05T11:10:36Z http://bruceeberle.com/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blog tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-06-02:1089361 Bob Eberle 2008-06-02T00:53:38Z 2008-06-02T00:53:38Z tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-05-31:1086821 Mike Mitchem 2008-05-31T21:24:45Z 2008-05-31T21:24:45Z tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-04-24:998216 Mike Mitchem 2008-04-24T19:45:05Z 2008-04-24T19:45:05Z tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-04-22:991713 Rob 2008-04-22T16:09:56Z 2008-04-22T16:09:56Z
My wife works for a non-profit educational foundation that is trying to GIVE things to teachers for FREE, but there are few takers, because taking might require extra effort or extra time. Our federal and state governments, as well as industry associations are trying to GIVE things to teachers, but once again, there are few takers. These days, most teachers insist that everything they do be done "on the clock" within a 7-hour workday and 9-month work-year.

While most teachers have union mentality, there are a few shining examples of PASSIONATE teachers. One such gifted, passionate teacher teaches 5th Grade in a Los Angeles slum. He's so GOOD, PBS cameras followed him around for a year to document what he does RIGHT. He is so motivational that many of his former students (often first generation Americans) attend Ivy League colleges. I have one of his books on my desk: "Teach Like Your Hair's On Fire." For more information on this PASSIONATE teacher, Google his unusual first name, "Rafe," and the word "teacher."]]> tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-04-04:945056 Micheal Harman 2008-04-07T10:19:44Z 2008-04-04T17:24:13Z
It doesn't matter if you agree with the war or not but lets ask this simply question. Can one man really put the United States into a War? No. We have a government set up with Checks and Balances to insure that no one man/person has too much power. The president can declare war but only with the approval of Congress.

"After intensive lobbying by the Bush administration, in early October 2002, the U.S. House of Representatives and then the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to give President Bush broad authority to use force against Iraq. Then on November 8, 2002, the Bush administration won a unanimous vote by the UN Security Council requiring Iraq to demonstrate that it is disarming its weapons of mass destruction or face "serious consequences." The UN then sent a team of weapons inspectors to Iraq to verify Iraqi compliance with this resolution, known as UN Resolution 1441."

Everybody is quick to blame just the president for this war but the truth of the matter it was our entire government that OVERWHELMINGLY approved the use of force. But, put aside the war and whether you like the man or not. He is still our ELECTED leader. The ELECTED leader of the free world. If you don't like it then go out and exercise your right to choose your next leader by voting. But if you agree in the system of voting for a leader then you must accept whomever wins the race in the end.

As Americans we are all supposed to be "united". No matter what. Much like a family should always be united. Now, I didn't always agree with my parents while growing up and we would have problems because of these differences but you are supposed to keep your problems in the family. Don't air your dirty laundry for other to see. This is the same thing. Lets not let others tear us apart and show them that they are dividing our Country.

Respect the man who's job it is to protect our freedoms. If you don't like it then keep it in house by voting somebody else into his office when the time is right. Also, let me set the record straight, I am not a Bush supporter. I just don't like what I saw on Sunday, March 31st at Nationals Stadium.]]> tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-04-03:941417 Craig 2008-04-03T10:06:24Z 2008-04-03T10:06:24Z
For my first comment on your blog,I decided to comment on a message I totally agree with.

I'll weigh in on the great
baseball vs. football debate after I've had a little more time to study your 85-mile an hour curve ball.]]> tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-03-31:934520 James Newberry 2008-04-01T09:28:09Z 2008-03-31T19:12:06Z
You remind me of one of those judges at a Don King fight, if you know what I mean. Let me set you straight.

How about high school sports? Baseball is not even the third sport at many schools. Football & basketball are almost always bigger and soccer and lacrosse often attract larger crowds.

How about wagering? Regardless of your views on gambling, it is a sure indication of interest. Major League Basebal is a distant fifth ... well behind football and basketball at the pro and college levels.

Harman is mostly on target for a change, but I question if baseball is even a good "filler." Americans are a people that want action. We don't want to be put to sleep. As a youth game, baseball is just awful. (Think of all the poor kids stuck in the outfield yawning and not getting any exercise.)

How about TV ratings? MLB is behind football and basketball again. Several years ago when poker was new to TV, I heard from an ESPN employee that poker was outdrawing baseball. This does not suprise me because poker has at least some drama.

The question for debate is whether basketball or baseball is our #2 sport. I believe basketball is the bigger sport, but at least it is a reasonable debate sane people can have.

I will admit more kids play youth baseball than football but this is because of the number of moms who don't want their boys to get hurt. If youth participation is the standard, soccer or basketball might be the top sport. Unlike baseball, you at least work up a sweat in soccer and basketball.]]> tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-03-31:934341 Micheal Harman 2008-03-31T17:48:22Z 2008-03-31T17:42:39Z
Mike Hiban's follow-up comment with HIS "points system" is severely flawed. First of all, I know many kids that play pee-wee football and college football/CFL/Arena Football and NFL Europe can be considered the minor leagues for football...granted baseball's minor leagues are better developed it can't be score 10-8 in favor of baseball. Plus you separate Minor Leagues and Little League and give them both a 10-8 rating. Is this Florida? Are you counting votes twice?

Then you only score Television 10-9 in favor of football? As Ross Perot would say that is just Crazy Math!

Baseball doesn't hold a candle in viewer ship to football. The Super Bowl this year was the 2nd most watched show in the HISTORY of TV with over 97,500,000 viewers. The highest rated game for a World Series is 39,000,000. Not even half of the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl is almost a National Holiday in America. The commercials are almost as big as an event as the game itself. The halftime show alone is hyped up and wanted by many performers. Parties are planned, schedules are changed and tv programs are altered for the Super Bowl. The World Series has been beaten by an episode of Desperate Housewives.

You can't even compare baseball and football when it comes to Television yet you give it a 10-9? That is as bad as some Las Vegas judges during a championship fight.

Attendance....I'll come back to that one.

Next is fantasy sports. This should be 10-8 in favor of football as well. I would say the vast maj. of the 50 mil you said played would be fantasy football. Not to mention the many shows are devoted to it as well as all the leagues and special events and websites. It is a landslide victory in favor of football.

I have one thing to say about pre-season for any sport.....Who Cares?

Culture/History - Ok, Baseball does have a lot of history but a 10-8 history win? I'll give it to you but don't agree 100%

Back to attendance. Here is what I sent Bruce a few months ago. I think it best sums the argument up.

The average attendance PER GAME is much higher (over DOUBLE) for the NFL then it is for MLB.

Average per game -
NFL - 68,773
MLB - 32,781
Triple A - 6,783

Of course baseball has a higher attendance b/c they play nearly 10 times as many games (2,425 to 256) as they do in the NFL. But, I would take quality over quantity any day of the week.

You failed to mention the cheating factor as well as the Financial factor which again Football KILLS baseball!

I have so much more to say but I am running out of space. So lets end this once in for all. Football wins! Baseball is a good "filler" sport (as Bruce would say). But, like I said at the beginning, I now better understand his point of view]]> tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-03-27:923981 Deck Bransfield 2008-03-27T17:01:59Z 2008-03-27T17:01:59Z tag:bruceeberle.com,2008-03-27:923733 Michael Hiban 2008-03-27T15:40:11Z 2008-03-27T15:40:11Z
Round #1 Minor Leagues: Baseball wins 10-8. Football has no minor leagues.

Round #2 Television: When baseball and football go head to head, football wins every time. A few years ago the Yankees played the A's in a deciding playoff game on Monday night and more people tuned in to watch the winless Cowboys and Redskins square off. 10-9 football.

Round # 3 Draft: I've been to the NFL draft several times in New York. Fans come from all over the country to see who their team picks. They fill up Madison Square Garden. Nobody watches the MLB draft. Challenge any baseball fanatic to name who his team took in the first round last year.
10-8 football.

Round #4 Little League: A majority of American youngsters play little league baseball. Nobody plays Pee Wee football. The Little League World Series is one of the great events of the summer. If there is a national Pee Wee Football championship I am not aware of it. 10-8 baseball

Round #5 College: College football is almost a religion in many parts of America. College baseball is played in front of mostly friends and family of the players. When was the last time a booster got in trouble for buying a car for a college baseball player. 10-8 football

Round #6 Major Leagues Attendance: Baseball has more games and wins hands down. 10-8 baseball.

Round #7 Fantasy Sports: That's right! I included it. Over 50 million Americans play fantasy sports. Baseball was first but football is more popular. 10-9 football.

Round #8 Preseason: I know people who take their vacations to Florida and Arizona to watch Grapefruit league games. On the football side teams can't give away tickets to games where 2nd and 3rd string players battle it out in preseason. 10-8 baseball.

Round #9 Culture/History: Baseball players from the past are American icons. Everybody knows that Barry Bonds beat Hank Aaron's record who had beaten Babe Ruth's record. They wrote songs about Joe Dimaggio and Willie Mays that are still played on oldies stations today. Quick name the top three touchdown scorers in NFL History. What about the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown? Quick, where is the NFL Hall of Fame? Baseball 10-8.

Final Score is 84-80 for the still undefeated Heavyweight Champion baseball.]]>