Friends until the End

Whether it was the happiest of times or the darkest of times they were always together (well not always together). Daklin Gates and Daniel Peters were best friends since preschool so literally before they could remember.
They learned and rode their bikes to school every morning for four years. Took all the same classes, played on the same sports teams. They did everything together (well not everything). They passed every milestone side by side (well not every milestone).
When news came down from President Nixon that additional troops, most likely from the drafting pool, would be needed to fight off the communists.
Fearful that one or both of them may be drafted to Vietnam, Daklin and Daniel went to an Army office to inquiry about the likelihood of them being drafted.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat any information, you two will be drafted. You both have brothers, single, not too educated. It’s not a matter of if but when,” said general Bishop.
Daniel and Daklin looked at each other and nodded assuming that each of them was thinking the exact same thought.
“All right, what if we enlist right now? Could you guarantee that we would be in same infantry, squad, platoon, etc?” said Daklin.
“I’ll have to ask my superior, please give me a second.”
No sooner than when the general closed the door, Daniel slapped Daklin with a back hand across the chest.
“What was that for?” demanded Daklin.
“You should be lucky I didn’t aim for your face, why did you enlist us?” answered Daniel.
“I looked at you and nodded,” replied Daklin.
“I thought you were thinking about a road trip to Canada.”
“I should’ve known that’s what you were thinking.”
The general re-enters his office and congratulates the boys on joining the 6th rank ground unit.
The first days of live action was just that—live action.
Daklin and Daniel’s squad crossed enemy lines and were met with mine fields and heavy fire from the opposing side. Commander Roberts screamed at the top of lungs for all of his men to return and wait for aid and recovery to arrive.
The one thousand man group only had a quarter of the men remaining when they returned to safety and wait for reinforcements.
“To think, that were going to die because of a misinterpretation of facial expressions,” said Daniel.
“What?” answered fellow Cadet Roger Murphy/
It was at this moment that Daniel realized that Daklin must have been shot and wounded or worse died out on the field and dropped his equipment to try to save him.
Before he took one step on his own rescue mission commander Roberts grabbed his him and said, “Not so fast private Peters, we gotta wait until General Sheppard relieves us.”
“With all do respect sir I believe my best friend, Daklin Gates is out there and I have to try to save him.”
“LISTEN TO ME! THAT”S EVERYONE’S BEST FRIEND, BROTHER, FATHER, HUSBAND, if he’s alive he will hold on for seven more minutes.”
Despite the commander’s warning Daniel shrugged him off and recrossed enemy lines after turning over dozens of bodies he found Daklin but too late. As he painfully walked back to camp, Daniel was shot three times; twice in the leg and once in the back.
“ALWAYS LISTEN TO ORDERS. SEE, YOUR FRIEND WAS ALREADY DEAD AND NOW YOUR WOUNDED, what a bone-headed move and for what? For nothing,” said commander Roberts.
It wasn’t for nothing, when I turned his body over he said, “I knew you would come.”

ESPN’s First Take “Cover Two” segment should be called “Covering Two Teams”

Now, I like most people in America are huge NFL fans. I can’t wait to see the touchdowns, scream at referrers for making the right call. In short, I can’t wait for the NFL season to start.

In fact it’s only 108 days away until the eagles began their chance at winning the Lombardi Trophy for the first time ever.

That’s why I applaud First Take for having a daily segment called Cover Two (Yes named after the Defense)

However it’s fairly predictable based off which sports reporter is on that day.

For example if Chareen Williams is on then the issues they talk about will be the Dallas Cowboys.

Jim trotter’s = San Diego Chargers are whatever Phillip Rivers ate for breakfast.

Steve Whcye is a lock to discuss how the Atlanta falcons are coping without Mike Vick.

And when Rick Stroud is on he’s going to talk about the Tampa bay buccaneers and their quarterback situation.

The only time you actually do get real NFL news from AROUND the league as they say they do is if Bob Glaubber or Dan Pompei come on which once a month!

Although First Take is slowly turning Glaubber into a JETS beat writer with his segments.

So, I ask, if not beg you First Take the only use proper NFL insiders for the cover two segment because the real NFL fans want know what’s going on around the league not what’s going on in Oakland, Tamps, Atlanta and Dallas or else the NFL Network will.

Journalism Ethics

Journalism ethics 101

Aside from Larry King or Hardball with Chris Matthews journalists do not pay for sources at least the ethical ones.

However, suppose you’re doing a story with an end game where you’ll get a scholarship or win an award for $20,000.00.

The topic of choice is homelessness say you need to write a biography or a critique of homelessness in America so course you go and find a homeless person to interview.

So you do your due diligence and find a homeless person to interview and for the sake of argument let’s call him Ralph and Ralph says I agree to be interviewed and since you’re going for the cash prize of $20,000.00 in this contest I ask that you buy me lunch for all that days I am interviewed.

Is that fair?

Some would argue it is fair you’re trying to get something from Ralph why shouldn’t get something from you something small. Ralph is not asking for you to buy him a house and car it is food—a hungry man wants some food.

Others maintain it is jeopardizing the integrity of the story suppose. If Ralph is being paid no matter how small then he may make up information to continue being interviewed to continue receiving compensation.

What to do then?

What I can’t tell anybody what to do about that because everybody is different.

But for me, it’s simple. You cannot pay cannot compromise integrity of journalism simply to win a contest. There are others ways to get the information even if it means having to find someone else to interview. Paying for information will only open Pandora’s Box and it just isn’t worth it.

NFL prediction in May

For some people the NFL has no off-season and right now in May there is nothing new to talk about the NFL since the draft is over right?--Wrong!

Now is the perfect time for NFL Predictions.

(Drum Roll Please).......

The Superbowl champions will be The Philadelphia Eagles!

Everyone knows that it takes two years to come back from the ACL surgery and what year is Mcnabb in...? Oh, Brian Westbrook enough said.

Let's move onto the offensive line featuring the best RG in the game with Shawn Andrews, experienced vets like Thomas and Runyan, and mammoth size beasts in Max Jean Gilles and Jamaal Jackson.

The Wide Reciever Corp does need some work but the West Coast is built on the notion of several key guys stepping up-- but one area of weakness.

Moving on to the defense and we all know defenses win championships, the Eagles deefnse in stacked.

Starting with the D-Line boasting Chris Clemons with 10+ sacks, Patterson, Bunkley, and Trent Cole this D-Line is one of the top front four in the league. Not to mention bringing in Thomas, Howard, Abrimi, Smith, and McDougal into the rotation.

Completing the front seven are the linebackers.

Yes, there are young but man are they athletic and talented.

Stewart Bradley looks comfrontable starting in MLB and Gaither and Gocong are speed LB's to hang with any TE's.

But all other areas on this team are overshadowed by the Secondary.

Asante, Lito, and Sheldon (no last name needed) is the best group of corners in the league bar none and Dawkins and Mikkell playing saftey this team will be ball hawking to say the least.

So of course it is only May but right now on paper the Eagles are the team to beat.