Rhubarb Report: Episode 40

It is amazing how time flies by so quickly and how easy it is to lose track of what is going on in the news. Over the past few weeks, I have been preparing a two day course, with the final product being presented in Reno this past weekend. Even with the barrage of digital data that pervades our existence these days, it is still pretty easy to lose sight of what is happening in the world when you are on the road.

During my travels I was able to explore Desolation Wilderness, just outside of South Lake Tahoe, and revisit that thing called peace and quiet – otherwise known as solitude. It is still possible to remove the digital leash in order to be one with the analog world.

And then, I came back to the real world – where rhubarb is plentiful once again. Here is Episode 40 of the Rhubarb Report – a smattering of rhubarb from the worlds of sport and politics.

1. It was a sad day when I heard that San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau had passed away. Seau was, without question, a pro football legend. His passionate playing style made him bigger than life when he was on the field.

Seau was also dealing with life after professional football. As an athlete, you grow accustomed to the daily routine, the fan adulation, the roar of the crowd. Suddenly, you are left with your own thoughts and your own internal solitude. How do you handle life when your playing days are over? For many, it is the first time in their lives that they have been without football, the one thing that has provided stability for them over such a large part of their lives.

Sadly, this happens far too often in professional sport. The player’s unions, regardless of the sport, should actively promote counseling after retirement. It should almost be mandatory. Along with this, some form of community re-integration program would be beneficial. When you have experienced the pro sport version of post-traumatic stress disorder, doesn’t it seem appropriate to have the proper counseling to go with it?

2. It doesn’t happen often, but the Philadelphia 76ers, a number 8 seed, knocked off the number one seed, the Chicago Bulls, in the first round of the NBA playoffs. The Bulls looked like a solid bet for the Eastern final, if not to advance to the NBA Championships. This is another example of what happens to team dynamics when injury strikes. When your best player, Derrick Rose, goes down with an ACL tear, you get to witness how a team handles adversity. The Bulls didn’t handle it well at all. Exit, stage left.

3. The United States is becoming a more and more divided nation. Add another contentious issue – that of gay marriage – to the ever-growing list of issues to polarize this nation. The media and the political parties are doing a fine job of “divide and conquer” with propaganda and emotion. People are getting fired up and taking a stand emotionally, yet really don’t understand the issues at hand.

President Obama has taken a stand, supporting gay marriage. What say you, the voter? Should the government even be involved in personal choices made by individual citizens?

It would appear that this is a constitutional hot potato. When you use the word “equality” in this country these days, exactly what does it mean anymore? Does it really matter if you like it or not – or if it aligns with your perception, religion, and personal beliefs – if it is an issue of constitutionality? And what about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” – isn’t that a basic right for all in this country?

Tune in to the upcoming presidential debates. Sadly, they will probably serve as a microcosm of all things polarized in this country. As Rodney King once stated, “why can’t we all just get along?”.

Photo credits: Wikipedia