Last day of school edition ...

Somewhere inside the tangled synapses which misconnect my brain cells together, the end of the school year is a mixed bag of emotions. I've never been a teacher to rejoice at the end of a shared journey with 100 or so young minds. I feel like I've lost a little of my purpose when there is no one to guide along the path toward enlightenment. Sure summer basketball is there to offer some sense of accomplishment, but it's different than the daily grind in the classroom. I'll enjoy my summer romance with the pool, take advantage of the time to get in better shape, visit to my family's islands in Canada and cherish the time I spend with my sons and friends. I'll sleep until 8 AM. I may even dust off the golf clubs long enough to excavate pieces of finely manicured fairways (okay ... rough) and dispatch dimpled white spheres into woods and ponds all over Southwest Ohio. But I enjoy teaching and when there is no teaching to be done a part of me is deflated (or chewed off by a guy out of his mind on bath salts and LSD - either way it's gone). Maybe it's just today's weather which has put me in this funk ... It's summer freaking break man!!!!! Let's goooooooooooo!!!!!

Not to New York though ... I'm staying out of there. Billionaire Doctor Manny Mayor Michael Bloomberg is back at his social engineering best as he's tries to transform NYC into the world's fittest city. Not content with the thousands of aspiring anoxeric models, bulimic actresses and malnourished dancers who inhabit the city, Daddy Bloomberg is once again trying to eliminate an unhealthy habit. Having previously banned smoking and the use of trans-fat for cooking in the city, he has now turned his attention to those 48 ounces of chilly sugary syrup people slurp on for refreshment. Sodas or pop (depending on your regionality) larger than 16 ozs. will be banned in NYC if Dr. Bloomberg gets his way. That's right New Yorkers .... You want a 24 oz Mountain Dew in the morning? Go to New Jersey! Have you seen their governor?? He swigs entire 64 oz Big Gulps in between steps!! None of that in New York City I tell you!! Next on Bloomberg's agenda for Nanny York City: requiring all people venturing out of the climate controlled and UV ray protected comfort of their home to wear SPF 50 sunscreen or sport NYC approved burqas. Punishments begin with exile to Newark, NJ or death from obesity/skin cancer .. whichever comes first. Bloomberg has also floated the idea of a real life "Running Man" TV show for Nanny Yorkers who consume more than 2000 calories per day. No word yet on whether Simon Cowell and FOX will pick up the show. I've said it before and I'll say it again ... Protecting people from themselves is a fools errand. Laws should be designed to protect property and liberty, not behavior detrimental to one's own well-being. Give me my 36 oz. ICEE or give me death!! Poppa Bloomberg says, "death!"

I'm a Harry Potter fan and found this cool 17 minute video today of every spell ever cast in the eight HP movies. It's magic only you silly muggles!!  Enjoy!!

There is an enormous soccer tournament on tap in Europe beginning June 8th. Euro2012 will feature the best national sides from UEFA (the Union of European Football Associations - yes it's called football in Europe since your feet are the main body part used to control the ball!). This edition of the tournament (held every four years) is to be jointly hosted in Poland and Ukraine. If you thought the biggest worry was going to be how many Polocks it takes to screw in a lightbulb, boy are you wrong. The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation for my gutter minded readers) ran a special earlier in the week called "Stadiums of Hate" which chronicled the racism associated with soccer in Poland and the Ukraine. The documentary shows players of African descent being taunted with monkey chants and having bananas thrown unto the pitch. Jewish players hear "Death, death to the Jewish whore" belted out by cheering sections (not to be confused with Borat's "In My Country There is a Problem") or mass Nazi salutes from fans in Ukraine. The video is shocking to watch supposedly educated people behaving in such a manner. As a sports fan I can't believe anything similar would happen at a U.S. stadium, included the infamous Black Hole in Oakland. An LA Dodger parking lot .. yes ... inside Dodger stadium ... no. I've heard all sorts of personal taunts directed toward players and coaches, but never the widespread racial epithets from entire stadiums. Many players are fearful for their families safety, with several English players of African descent saying their families will not even attend the games due to these concerns. An Italian player of African descent (MarioDennis RodmanBalotelli) went so far as to say he would simply walk off the pitch if he hears or sees racist behavior. Hopefully the tournament will avoid any of these types of behavior. Me? I'm sticking to personal insults.

The Reds are in Houston tonight for the start of a three game series. Mike Leake is on the hill for the Redlegs opposing lefty J.A. Happ of the Lastros. The Reds could use a sweep, but I'll settle for a series win after forfeiting the third game against the Pirates Wednesday night.

The OKC Thunder rocked the SA Spurs last night for their first win the the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs have been my team since the days of Sean Elliot and the Admiral, but I don't think they can beat the Heat in a seven game series. The Spurs will suffer from the same problem the GeriatricsCeltics have against the Heat - scoring the basketball. A big difference between the Spurs and Celtics is the low post scoring threat of Tim Duncan which Boston has no equal. The Thunder are much younger and athletic, but will need Russell Westbrook to be more efficient offensively to come back against the Spurs and/or defeat the Heat. Kevin Durantula can score at will and James Harden gives the Thurnder a third scoring option. Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins should be able to contest shots in the paint. But with the official help given to the Heat, I don't think it will matter. When D-Wade and LeBron conga line to the FT line accompanied by Gloria Estefan and a guy in a black and white striped shirt, the opponent is really irrelevant. There's no conspiracy involved ... no favoritism. Ask David Stern. Or Tim Donaghy. Or just watch with your own eyes. Unless they've been poked out by D-Wade on a lay-up attempt in a tie game in OT and there was no foul called.

Packing my bags people .... I'll holler at you on Monday!! Enjoy the weekend!!

P.S. Good luck to all the Clark Cougars playing in the state AAU tournament this weekend!!