Yes, high school grads, scores DO matter (new version)

Oy, we had one of those grad speakers at the largest school in my newspaper coverage area.

This tea-sipper (not an alum, but in the AD's department now) trotted out that hoary chestnut, complete with Ol Ball Coach types asking their players in the locker room at halftime what the score is, and they're "supposed to" say "0-0."

Look, Christian New Agey motivationalist, even Bill Belichick doesn't believe that bullshit. He says that a new season starts from 0-0; forget if you won last year's Super Bowl. But, AFAIK, he doesn't utter Christian-filtered or any sort of New Agey bullshit like this.

In an actual game, especially later in the game, the score matters indeed.

If the Hatriots are down two TDs with 5 minutes left, they're chucking longer passes. They're going for it on fourth down. That's whether Tom Brady of the past, Jimmy Garoppolo of trade dispute, Cam Newton of last year or whomever is taking snaps. Etc., etc. (Now, if it's the Pack and Matt LeFleur ignoring the existence of Aaron Rodgers, it's different.)

Ditto in the NBA.

If the Warriors or Lakers are down 20 with 3 minutes left, Steph or LeBron are chucking 3-balls then the scrubbeenies are fouling as needed on D. Ditto for KD or Kyrie if the Nets fall behind the Celtics in the playoffs ahead.

The score matters indeed.

And, it does in the game of life, too.

If you've got a marketing project due in 24 hours and you're behind schedule, telling your boss "the score is 0-0" will get you a good write-in, and if it happens again, a good shit-canning.

If you tell your spouse "the score is 0-0" when they say they want you to go to couples counseling, you'll get your ass divorced.

Reposted because, for whatever reason, although I'm sure I put in all the HTML info off Sports-Reference's linker tool for the two sports, the original only had KD and Kyrie linked.

The real advice for kids at graduation? Don't listen to the graduation speaker's bullshit.

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Update, May 30, from two graduations this weekend.

First, kids? If you're the val, don't give a 10-minute speech, especially if you're speaking to a tiny private school where everybody already knows every anecdote. Especially don't do so when your mom is semi-top administrative staff and it looks like you're abusing the old "rank has its privileges."

Second, graduation is not only not a finish line, but school is not a career, from the second school I went to.

Obama - file this under ‘straw man’ column

President Barack Obama’s new Washington Post column says fairly little while trying to give the impression of saying a lot. And, per previous criticisms, he frequently plays the “straw man” card:

There are some who say we must wait to meet our greatest challenges. They favor an incremental approach or believe that doing nothing is somehow an answer. But that is exactly the thinking that led us to this predicament.

Who are the “some”? If they’re allegedly House and Senate Republicans, stop singing Kumbaya and name them. Otherwise, is the “incremental approach” comment a signal for a second stimulus, since the column is about the country’s financial condition?

Next, put on your “irony alert” glasses:

Ignoring big challenges and deferring tough decisions is what Washington has done for decades, and it's exactly what I sought to change by running for president.

Let’s see… first stimulus bill arguably too small, and with no White House leadership; not much WH leadership on national healthcare; not much, in terms of legislative involvement on Waxman-Markey; stalling the clock out on “don’t ask, don’t tell,” and otherwise doing little on gay rights; reverting to, or even expanding, BushCo policies on indefinite detention, state secrets, etc.

Yep, that’s just the opposite of “ignoring big challenges and deferring tough decisions”!

Meanwhile, here’s another biggie!

We believe it's time to reform our community colleges…

Instead of doing that, why not learn from every other advanced nation, and get our K-12 schools to have a school year of at least 200 days, if not longer? THAT would be educational leadership of boldness.

And, given that Congressional Republicans are now formally on record as opposing a second stimulus, what bold leadership will Obama show here?

As with many other things, I’m not holding my breath.

(For some suggestions for real change, go here.)

We are the straw men. We are the straw men.