So a bit of explanation probably needs to go with. To me V-day one can only loose. See it comes down to two things: 1) having someone to um, “celebrate” this day and 2) being able to afford to celebrate this day. So lets start with #2.

Affording the Day

Now your significant other will say “oh it doesn’t matter, your love is all we need”. What a pile of crap that is. It becomes a showoff contest on what your friends boy friend got them. Necklaces, diamonds, rings flowers (talk about a racket on this day), clothes, dinners, trips.. ok ok..let’s face it if you are a poor shmoo and can’t afford anything nice you feel like a loser. You can’t even muster a simple nice night out in a nice place this one time a year? Loser! And I don’t buy the “its ok, we have each other”. Not when the next day all your friends you find out went to lavish places, had the steak and lobster and drank it up to a $200+ meal event. And all of you reading this saying “well that’s not my case, fine..take her/him down to McDonalds for an ice cream and that’s it ..see what the reaction is”.

Not having anyone

For single people, or those that just broke up or ok… single people this is perhaps more torture than any other holiday. It means again, that you are a loser that can’t find someone to hang with. Maybe I need to split this off a bit. See its not like a Xmas dinner or maybe Easter (typical other ‘be with someone day’) you can’t just go to a friend and say “hey, lets grab dinner or maybe just lunch”. See this is not a “date night” this is a “couples thing” and so even if you think…”hey they don’t have anyone, so why not let’s just go have fun”.. oh no, there are implications of fondness and if that is shown somehow there must be other obvious implications or consequences from this one meal on this “magic” day. And never mind giving one of those flower things to someone cause maybe you care, and you know they are not getting one from anyone else. That has severe implications other than ..”hey thought I’d be nice”. Damn I hate this day.

Why today?

So what if you can’t make it, or what if you simply forget (kinda hard with all the red all over) or if you procrastinate and don’t make the reservation and are stuck at the Denny’s (some place had to be to picked). Again, why is the day we have to show all this adoration…and put it on public display “awww don’t they look sweet together?” Please, I really would like to eat again at some point.

Bottom Line

Bottom line: if you don’t have someone ..IT SUCKS, if you can’t afford to do it right ..IT SUCKS, and if you have to be told to do it ..YOU SUCK. This holiday is all about one thing SELLING LOTS OF RED CRAP AT INFLATED PRICES to lots and lots of people. Remember in grade school when we all bought the one BIG box of little cards and we all gave a card to everyone in class (wow boys even gave cards to boys : maybe I am going back to far) and that was about it.. and yeah, there were a few occasions when not everyone got one from everyone. Well, in this case we’re all grown up a bit more and while disappointments are all over… this day to me is just a BIG SETUP for one for many people. You can only loose this day.. so wish Arizona a Happy Birthday instead.

PS.Buy Jenn a pony (inserted for a friend who tweeted “write the blog, then buy me a pony”.

But the real question is how does all this effect you or me. Probably not much. I recall when the Diamondbacks won their World Series. I was there for Game Seven and recall how we were all on the edge of our seats, especially in that bottom of the ninth as the Dbacks kept putting runners on base and no outs were being caused by the Yankees. But in the end what did it mean for me.

I have to say I was a happy Dback fan, just as I was a happy Braves fan when they won their World Series. But as far as any personal wealth, or more than a week or so of euphoria I can’t say there was or is much more. I think we all tend to put way too much stock into all the Championships and trophies and all. Sure its a great feeling when “our guy, gal, team beat the other guy, gal or team”. But the next day while they are going on Letterman or Leno, while they are celebrating their winnings (in some cases a check with a couple of commas in it) we are going to work, or in many cases today looking for work. In the meantime the owners are looking at new maketing campaigns and how do we sell more tickets and sell all the new merchandise with the new banner “Champions” above or logo.

Wouldn’t it be great if some of these entities said, hey as a reward next season we will not raise prices, in fact we will lower them. Wouldn’t it be great if all the “players” of the winners just said. “ok, see you next year at practice. No I don’t need a raise from my x-million dollar salary”? The bottom line is that all these big wins end up costing many of those that can’t afford it the most.

I’m happy for the Saints, even though they did knock out our Cardinals. And I am sure that the people of New Orleans deserve a bit more happiness since many are still under recovery from Karina. But in the end, all but a relative few have been at work now for two days trying to figure out where the money will come from to pay this week’s rent, electric bill, health bill…..yeah the rest of us are back at it fighting the good fight.

The other parts of this puzzle lie in the catching of the ball part. Fitzgerald looks like he can catch anything that thrown to him within yards and the others are cable of reeling in passes. The question is does the QB know where to throw it. Boldin seems again to be unhappy. I am not sure why, as he spent the two playoff games on the sidelines in street clothes. I understand injury and all that, but don’t bitch you didn’t catch anything because its hard to throw to someone who is not in uniform.

Every team has its years and magic group of guys. Last year when the Cardinals were in the Super Bowl was one of those years. They all knew where the other guy was and made it work. This year we improved to actually winning on the road and feeling like we were in most of the games.

I want Kurt back, I am not a Leinert fan and it will make for a long season without Warner. The defense needs an overhaul that is for sure. What I saw the last two games in the playoffs and throughout the season was not exactly NFL material. The comments in the papers about how “we need to this” or “compared to last year”…. come on guys, you just need to make it your mission. Ok, that’s for next season’s opening rant. For now, Kurt… thanks for another great season of NFL football for Arizona. No one can say you didn’t give it your all, hope there is some left and that we’ll see #13 back on the field.

Now Pete I have to say, I have always had some respect for. He seemed to have some integrity and from a few news reports has a heart for those that need some help. That said, it now also appears that the football program of USC will go the same way as their basketball program: probation. I think its about time to start punishing the people that are the cause of this and not let them off the hook. The scenarios get played out yearly with schools going on probation. The head coach usually leaves, or gets a better job and somebody else gets to inherit the mess and the lack of scholarships, bowl games and whatever else goes with a winning or successful season. But see the guys who cause all the bad things never feel the effect of those punishments.

I think its time to do a number of things, they are as follows. Not that anyone will listen as its ALL A BIG GAME OF BIG BUSINESS, but here goes:

a) Any coach caught taking money, extra money, cheating on recruiting, taking bribes..you get the picture is fired on the spot. He loses any ANY bonus monies, early termination, contracts outside of the school (yes the sponsors and all need to play a part) and they are INELIGIBLE to coach in the Pros or SemiPros. In other words, there is no reward for cheating. AND if the violations are found AFTER the coach leaves, the coach loses their job where they are at. Come on the “I wasn’t aware of that going on does not fly”. If the school has to suffer so does the coach. And NO he also shouldn’t be hired by some TV network to talk about the great success of his cheating ways program.

b) Any player who is caught with (new cars, boats, houses, lofts, abundance of sneakers, etc) is also immediately removed from the team. They ALSO cannot be drafted by the pros for some period of time. This mean NO WORKING IN THE PROS. Simple. Again cheating is not rewarded. By doing this you get the pro clubs to also stop messing with the colleges.

c) There are certainly a few athletes out there that can play with the pros, a few, very few. I think that ALL players need to go to college, and play at least two years. There are a few sports where the transition from college to pros is immediate but others the colleges are the “minor leagues” and if they were run correctly, then there would be more than sports taught in those programs. And someone in college needs to hold a Finance of Life class for these dummies. All colleges have business profs and others who can teach some basics of economics and not leave it up to some “Agent” or “Money Manager” who really only want the “15%” or the big take, part of the party, hang out with all the babes the players attract. (Disclaimer #2: Yes I know there are honest folks out there that look after some of the players, alas there seems to not be enough as news stories are all over about players losing all their money to bad money management.)

d) Athletic Directors and others in Administration should also not be off the hook. Yes this is a tougher one because you do lay down the law to the coaches. But at some point you have to know that things are just a little too good. Again if an AD is found guilty that need to have suspensions by the NCAA possible even life suspensions. We have seen far too many ADs or Assistant ADs leave, get great jobs then their old programs are put on probation because of things they did . Too late, and the wrong person is punished.

The reality is that what the probation of a program does is punish a lot of innocent bystanders, who really do have little to do with the mess. Most fans, the majority who go to the games, pay good money to see their team hopefully kick the other team’s ass. Come on admit it, we go see and hope that the linebacker takes some QB’s head off or some DE runs that intercepted pass back for a touchdown. We don’t ever really root for anyone to get seriously hurt, but a 3-4 hour dazed opposing QB is not that bad a thing. Still we root and probably paid good money. Some paid for a season ticket and to then be told that for the next season and maybe a few more after, there will be no Bowl Games? Come on, punish the, toss the offenders, but don’t deprive the rest of the kids. Besides some of them are playing by the rules and hope to land that draft pick.

So in short, its time to truly punish the true offenders. It needs to cost them jobs, and it needs to hit them hard in the pocket book. Because at the moment, signing a $30 million dollar deal with an NFL team, with probably a buyout clause, or fired clause does not make the Spoiled Kids fans who will be on probation feel any better. And the kids left on that team who simply wanted to be a Trojan will make for a long three years. Not to mention all those who may have signed letters of intent for next season.

FINAL NOTE: I will talk about the “paying the students athlete at some point”.

1) Build more homes with Habitat for Humanity (built 3 already)
2) Bring in a truck load of food for a homeless shelter
3) Visit every state in the union (yes everyone has this on the list. I have like 20 to go or so I think)
4) Join an improv group
5) Run for office and win
6) Finish my Saguaro Photo Book
7) Buy enough cat/dog food for a pet shelter
Give a piano to a domestic violence place. (amazing what music can do)
9) Payoff all family debt
10) Fly my parents and family in CZ to Australia
11) Raft the Grand Canyon
12) Start a Foundation or two (this can be multiples, lots of things that need help)
13) Buy a meal every day from some point for someone who needs it.
15) Walk into a grocery store and pay for all the customers food anonymously
16) Visit the Statue of Liberty (I didn’t get to go when we immigrated here)
17) Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
18) Sing Karaoke (poor people in the audience)
19) Do a photo shoot with a Super Model (gotta have some fun)
20) Learn to Scuba Dive
21) Act in a play (did this in HS, had fun)
22) Make a movie
23) Create my TV series that’s been in my mind for a while
24) Go to a game in all baseball stadiums (sadly many great ones are gone now, weren’t five years ago)
25) Throw out a first pitch in a pro ballpark (maybe after I win that election)
26) Own a big tall building that can be used for many good things, not really business related
27) Help find a cure for a number of things that are afflicting several friends at the moment (autism, miningitis, neurofibroma)
28) Get the word out on my Grandfather and all that he did during the early days of Prague. War times and all.(I & II)
29) Get my dad the recognition he deserves (Google him Miroslav Valach)
30) Learn to ride a bike (not sure with my left ankle)
31) Start that video blog I been talking about for a while (several of these)
32) Play 18 at several courses (Pebble, Shinocock, others) not sure these should be individual. Ought to have its own list.
33) Be in a movie with some of my favorite stars.
34) Write a $10,000,000 check to a worthy cause
35) Create something new every week for a year
36) Learn about the taste of wine
37) Visit Rome
38) Visit the Pacific Rim
39) Swim with the dolphins
40) Go on a safari to Africa with top notch photo equipment
41) Go on speakers tour
42) Meet the President at a White House event
43) Go to a Stanley Cup Game (been to Game 7 World Series as well as other playoffs)
44) Go to Super Bowl
45) Go see and hear Jimmy Buffett (there are other, again a seperate list..and it has to be with someone)
46) Own a little Pub of sorts
47) Invent the “new thing”.
48) Ride a camel and horse
49) Learn to tie a bow tie (thank Tyler)
50) Find someone who understands why I want to do the 49 things above and the 50 things below
51) Speak at TED
52) Meet and do business with Donald Trump
53) Be invited to have lunch with Warren Buffet
54) Play golf with Phil Mickelson. (Not a ProAM)
55) Shoot a real bow and arrow
56) Play in a ProAm
57) Fly a plane or helicopter
56) Play at a Final Table WSOP (been playin a bit lately)
57) Hit a hole in one ( came with in 5 feet or so once)
58) Update my blog for one year on regular basis.( I figure that would then set the rest off)
59) See Washington DC, NYC and Boston in the Winter (all in the same area)
60) Visit the Five (arbitrary number) tallest building in the world
61) Visit the glass bottom floor building in Chicago(need to get the name)
62) Hire Tyler Hurst as my Press Secretary (gotta win that election)
63) Donate enough to house cool animals at the Phoenix Zoo
64) Serve meals over Thanksgiving and Xmas at a homeless shelter (no excuse I haven’t done this already)
65) Give a $100 tip for ordering a cup of coffee at a small diner
66) Go down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
67) Go back up from the bottom of the Grand Canyon
68) See Mount Rushmore (guess thats part of the 50 state thing)
69) Drive a NASCAR around the track
70) Drive an Indy Car at Indy (ok PIR will be ok too)
71) Go to all three big horse races same year (hope for that Triple)
72) Own a pro team ( already tried for the Padrees, USA Today wrote about it)
73) Say “No Thanks” to a multi million dollar deal
74) Hand 10 people $100,000 and tell them who ever generates the most in 30 days get $1,000,000.
75) Homes in several states across counrty (HI, WA, GA, MA)
76) Drive a stage coach
77) Drive a dog sled
78) Learn to ride a motorcycle (keep in mind I never learned to ride a bike)
79) Drive at above 100mph on a freeway for at least 25 miles (been close to a 100 but not the miles)
80) Host on a major TV program (did the cable thing already)
81) Interview all the living Presidents (never have interviewed a President, all the rest yes)
82) Drive a Ferrari, Porsche and Lamborghini
83) Visit every continent for a week
84) Ride in a hot air balloon
85) Go to the New Mexico Hot Air Balloon Show
86) Attend several “veggie” Festivals (been to Garlic Festicval in Gilroy)
87) Attend a Notre Dame Football gamein South Bend
88) Kiss the Blarney Stone
89) Visit the Pyramids (part of the content thing, or maybe the 9 Wonders of the World)
90) Write an iPhone App that people will like
91) Own a few more animals that nee a home
92) Run the table in 9 Ball, or straight pool
93) Get a Royal Flush in Poker (hopefully with a big pot)
94) Pick all the game in ONE week of an NFL season
95) Get hired by one of following (Disney, Apple, Pixar, NFL, MLB)
96) Find a few folks I haven’t seen in a while
97) Get back to a weight that fits my height. Lose 30+ pounds, keep it off
98) Have a jet at disposal to go where I need to or want to get
99) Gather enough sense that once the above 98 happen that I am still me, and it can all go away in a second. Not to flaunt it, but enjoy it and remember to do #2, #13 and #15 much more often.
100) Have enough resources to take my friends on a fantastic trip on any given weekend. All they need to do is show up and be ready to fly.

OK that’s the 100. Yes there are multiples in some of them. The list of dones will happen another time. Right now as I type its late and what I should of added to the list was the two courses or three that I am suppose to be working on. They are to be completed in a few weeks. OK comment away, alert to typos….and if there is any adventure that you want to go on..or can provide …let her rip!!

The main thing to focus on is that while we all tend to look at 2009 ending, there are things that will move into 2010. The door does not shut and there is not a magic pot of gold awaiting all of us tomorrow. (Damn PowerBall!). But what we can do is to set new directions and take new opportunities as they arise. Clear the way to new adventures and learn from this past year, and realize that maybe some of it as setup way before and look to not make the same setups for future years.

With that, I am off to the Insight Bowl and then a party somewhere. Then the 2010 Games begin! Happy New Year to all, thanks for reading.