Pages

Monday, February 28, 2011

when change is good.

I have been watching the JAZZ my whole life. Ever since I used to sneak the only TV we had (B& W and TINY!) out of my parents room and into my basement bedroom -- I have been a fan. So the past few weeks have been interesting. First Coach Sloan leaving, and now our star player D-Will is gone. I resist change. Unless we are talking about new clothes or shoes of course. With relationships though, I like them to stay the same. I am not a big fan of relationships changing the course of how I think they should behave. Coaches should always coach. Star players should always be loyal. Change is tough. However, once I stop resisting and start seeing the good, change makes sense. Coaches should be able to retire, and players should be able to leave when they don't want to stay. In the case of the JAZZ, change is going to take some getting used to. But for now, we have a Coach who wants to coach...and players who want to play. And that kind of change, is always good.

Monday, February 7, 2011

and the home of the brave.

Sunday night Christina Aguilera messed up the National Anthem. In front of, you know, pretty much the whole nation. She sang "What so proudly we watched at the twilight's last gleaming," instead of "O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming." To her credit, I am sure that she often improvises the words to her songs, and makes them her own, adding extra words, new words, and a whole train of tralllalalal's and oohhhs. However, I am having a hard time getting past this 'flub'. For one reason. It is not her song.

It is our song.

I remember in 7th grade our music teacher, Mr. Taylor, made us memorize by heart all of the verses to the "The Star-Spangled Banner". He failed us on the test if even one word was wrong. At the time I thought he was a little harsh. He said it was not a song that ever should be sung wrong, and that each of us had a responsibility to learn it -- and learn it right. I failed my test in 7th grade over three tiny mistakes. A test that taught me a lesson I have never forgotten.

I am sure Christina knows the words. She likely put in quality time getting her version ready. Oprah or Ellen will probably have her on this week, singing the REAL version, just so she can redeem herself. However, even with her platinum hair and ruby lips, Miss Christina failed the test , and that is that.