Jason Haskins's Blog, page 44

Good Day, Sir

The world lost a good man in Gene Wilder today. Wilder, the star of such films as Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein, and The Producers, passed away today at the age of 83.

Wilder was someone I looked up to not only as an artist (actor and writer), but as a person. I only knew how he was perceived in public--not personally--but that image he portrayed in public was a man to aspire to (behind only my father, grandfather, and a few others in my life).

The effects of Alzheimer's had Wilder leading a largely private life for the last fifteen years or so, but he was always spoken and thought of with fond esteem.

Some of the earliest movies I remember watching have Wilder in them. Movies that I have enjoyed multiple of viewings over the years: Stir Crazy, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and, of course, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, the movie with perhaps the greatest entrance of all time.

These movies have always had a special place in my heart and they always will. It was only in the last ten years, though, that I've come to appreciate Wilder's performances for what they truly were. And it is without fail that I also refer to his book Kiss Me Like a Stranger on a yearly basis.

Rest in Peace, Mr. Wilder. You will be missed, but hardly forgotten.

Las Vegas: Take My Money, Please.

I went to Las Vegas and I didn't even get a lousy t-shirt.

That could be the theme of every trip I've taken to Vegas since I turned 21. That's an astounding two times I didn't geta lousy t-shirt.

When I was younger, before Las Vegas turned into the "family friendly" mecca people seem to think it is, before the Strip was littered with families from near and far, parents would return from their Vegas excursions with the all-too-classic t-shirt "My parents went to Las Vegas and all I got was this lousy t-shirt". It was as if to say, "Hey kids. We just had a fantastic time reliving our youth while you were stuck here with a babysitter. We hardly thought about you for the past few days, but hey, we bought you a funny t-shirt."

I reiterate: I went to Las Vegas and didn't even get a lousy t-shirt.

At this point, I think receiving a t-shirt should just be complimentary to all gamblers Can you buy t-shirts at a price of 4 for $9.99 in Vegas? Yes, in some places, but that's not the point. If you lose a minimum of $300, whether it be on the tables or at the slots, I think a t-shirt should be thrown in. "Sir, we're sorry you wasted so much money on the Game King. As our condolences, please accept this t-shirt and a coupon for a dollar off a round of mini-golf."

Believe it or not, at the Circus Circus, said coupon is already included in their guest welcoming kit. The coupons, I believe, are to help offset the resort fee instituted at many hotels in Vegas, including Circus Circus. Coupons such as the aforementioned or one free side bet were just a couple of coupons included in this booklet.

Now, that's not to say I did not take advantage. One coupon, a gem among the rest, proved to come in handy one night for dinner. This coupon included two 8-oz steaks and a bottle of wine, all for the low price of $29.

Where was this deal, you might ask? None other than at Vince Neil's Tatuado Restaurant inside Circus Circus.

Yep. This guy has a restaurant.
photo credit: commons.wikimedia.org
I like to imagine that Neil attempted to get a restaurant placed at ten different swankier locations in the heart of the Strip. After all the rejections, it was Circus Circus that jumped at the chance to get this celebrity restaurant inside their casino.
As it was, my friend Danny and I settled in for dinner just as the place was getting ready to start karaoke. And yes, despite being offered a drink apiece instead of the wine, we took the bottle of wine. At a $21 value, even the cheapest of red wines was still a better choice.
Part of me wished that Neil was obligated to start off karaoke every night. As part of his contract, he would be required to welcome everyone to his restaurant, talk about karaoke, and start things off with a Motley Crue song. Then, he could slip back into the shadows of Las Vegas and hang with Nicholas Cage somewhere.
Alas, that was not the case. In the end, the steak was decent, the singing was better than okay, and the red wine was--well, it was red wine.
All and all, Vegas was its usual dark mistress. Good times were aplenty, ones that might have been better if Bill's Gambling Hall was still around and O'Sheas wasn't simply a swankier version of its former self.
I lost money. I visited a Chicago Style Food location in the Stratosphere that was definitely not worth the price. I saw a man get in an argument with three cops inside the Slots O'Fun portion of Circus Circus. I did not get VD. I went to Freemont Street, where my buddy Trevor treated us to $10.95 prime rib. And I walked by what I believe to be the real Caesar's Palace.
I did not, though, get a lousy t-shirt. And that hurts most of all.
But hey, at least I got a pen from Circus Circus so life can't be that bad. Right?

Thrills, Spills and Agony in Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics in Rio aren't even a quarter of the way over, but already we've seen exhilarating highs, heartbreaking lows, and agonizing defeats.
The first three days of the Olympics have reaffirmed this: for 17 days every four years, the spirit of unified nations, athletes and fans alike, is alive and well in the world.
Gone from my Facebook feed are the scathing, unrelenting political posts that have dominated social media over the past six months. They appear sporadically but have fallen to the wayside for the most part.
These stories have been replaced with stories like Katie Ledecky, the United States swimmer who shattered the world record in the women's 400-meter freestyle. Ledecky is also expected to come home with a Michael Phelpsian haul of medals.
Speaking of Mr. Phelps, the most-decorated of American swimmers added to his loot on Sunday night. He swam the second leg of the U.S. men's gold medal winning 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. 
Phelps now has 19 career-gold medals in the Olympics and 23 total Olympic medals to his name, a number that should be added to by these Olympics' end.
The stories don't stop in the pool. In the individual foil, Alexander Massialas came back from a 14-8 deficit in the quarterfinals, reeling off seven straight points for the victory. His run would end in the finals, but silver was his, narrowly missing out on winning the first gold for American men in the sport since 1904.
The United States basketball teams are dominating, as is the gymnastics team (at least on the women's side). In the qualifying round, the women were so good that the Americans had the three highest individual all-around scores, but alas only the top-2 move through to the finals.
Speaking of gymnasts, there is the 41-year old Oksana Chusovitina, who is competing in her seventh Olympic games. She has Olympic medals older than many of her competitors and will be looking for another when she competes in the vault finals later this week.
This is the beauty and sorrow of the Olympic games. These athletes do it not only for prestige but for the love of their country. Their talent, their passion for their respective sport(s) are the same reasons fans cheer when the athlete/team wins, deflated when they lose, and gasp at misfortune, holding their breath--like the world class swimmers reaching for the wall--for seconds on end.
It is Gabby Douglas, the defending Olympic champion, that was left on the outside looking in for the women's all-around final. She has most likely a gold medal in her future in the team competition (fingers crossed) and a shot and individual medal in the uneven bars.
For all of the elation, it can be the heartbreak of an athlete that really draws us in. It is the fourth-place finish, the unexpected injury, the inevitable run of an underdog simply to fall short in the final.
There is the male gymnast from France, Samir Ait Said, that shattered his leg in a horrific fall that was could be heard around the arena and living rooms around the world.
Or in the women's cycling road race, in which two women suffered the agony of defeat in two completely different ways.
The first was a scary crash down the final descent of the race. A crash in which Annemiek van Vlueten of Netherlands rounded a corner and lost control of her bike. She flipped onto the high curb on the side of the road and landed directly on her back, leaving viewers silenced, hands cupped over mouths at the intensity of the wreck. 
Even as American Mara Abbott took over first-place, the injured biker was still on many people's minds, most likely including Abbott. After making quite the move during the climb, Abbot's descent was somewhat conservative--rightfully so--a move that may have cost her a spot on the medal stand. To see a lead slip away with the finish line in sight, to see Abbott give her all only to be completely drained, brought rise to the conflicting emotions that are so prevalent in Olympic games.
And this has only been a taste. A little under two weeks remain in these games, leaving athletes and fans alike to run a gamut of emotions. We will see stars rise, heroes fall and human stories--like the team of refugees-that transcend the competition itself, bringing sobering moments to those near and far.
And for fans of the Olympics, myself included, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Taking a Dip into the Water Polo Pool

photo credit: en.wikipedia.org
Every four years, the best of the best in sporting events like swimming, gymnastics and track & field, to name a few, are brought together to determine who is the top athlete/team in their respective fields.

These sports, along with basketball, soccer, and volleyball--both of the beach and indoor variety--are among the more popular viewing spectacles when it comes to the Olympics.

To the surprise of many, there are other events out there. Events that many people only remember exist when the Olympic games roll around. Events like diving, rowing, and, most important of all: water polo.

The U.S. Men's water polo team opened play today, faltering late and losing 7-5 to defending gold-medal champion Croatia.

The U.S. Women's team, ranked number one in the world and the defending Olympic champions, open up play on Tuesday in group play again Spain.

Water soccer-wrestling, as I like to call it, is one of those sports many might not think about except when the Summer Olympics roll around. Much like the Winter Olympic game of curling, water polo is talked about for two weeks and then generally forgotten about by the casual fan.

Unlike curling, water polo, to the naked eye, requires a lot more stamina, strength, and physical prowess. The games are generally quick, lasting around 45 to 60 minutes, but when the participants are continuously swimming the back and forth the length of a pool every 30 seconds, quite the physical toll effects the players.

I will admit I am a casual fan. Every four years, I tune in for the "popular" events, but I also try to watch as many of the matches as possible, men's and women's. I don't even care what countries are participating (though admittedly have more passion for matches the United States teams are playing in.)

Surprisingly, I knew the name of one of the players on the United States. Tony Azevedo is considered one of the greatest water polo players in the recent history for the United States. Of course, when a player scores five goals in the the opening match of the 2008 games, that name is going to stick with you. (Azevedo led the Americans that summer to a silver-medal finish).

Contrary to what you may believe, players from the water polo world do not just idly practice in dark, seedy rec centers in the four years between Olympic events. They do not sit around in the interim, losing their peak form and turning into Ben Stiller's character from the end of the movie Dodgeball.  They do not just look at their calendar and say, "Hey. Don't we have the Olympics in Rio in a couple of months? We should probably get to training."

Turns out, there is a professional league, the Fina Water Polo League, that many of these players have played in since the league formed in 2002.

Wait. You're telling me these world class athletes do more to hone their craft in the four-year interval between the Summer Olympics? And here I thought I could easily go join up because I like to swim and like to watch soccer.

The loss by the men's team should't be all that shocking. The Americans have a young team, with players on the team that haven't even started college yet. And Croatia is notoriously strong in water polo.

The Americans took the lead early and were tied through the first three quarters before a fourth period in which the inexperience of the Americans caught up with them.

Despite the loss, the Americans will hopefully advance to the quarterfinals. There are two groups of six, with each group sending through the top four teams into the quarterfinals.

Expectations run high for the women's side, as they are expected to once again win the gold. Maggie Steffens is a player to keep an eye on for the women's team.

That is but a brief journey into the world of water polo. I could go into rules and such, helping you the reader understand more about this beautiful game. Truth be told, the rules are pretty simple. Try to score more goals than the other team. Sure, sometimes there are penalties, but I don't understand what constitutes them. Let's just say if you are shoving someone too much, you might get a foul called.
The fact remains, though: Score more goals than your opponent.

This has been your Olympic update for today. Check back in with me periodically over the next few weeks, either on my blog or via Twitter: @jasonrh_78 as I bring you delayed reporting live from not Rio, but my living room.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go track down highlights of today's games in handball. Or as I like to call it, water polo on land.

Boise's Burgeoning Film Community

photo courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Hollywood, for right around 100 years now, has been known as the epicenter of the film industry. Each year, thousands of people with dreams to be actors, actresses, writers, directors, producers and hangers-on flock to Los Angeles to hopefully achieve their dreams of stardom. (Or a career. Take your pick.)
Over the years, thanks to advances in technology and rising production costs in the City of Angels--not to mention tax breaks in others states, cities, and territories--the making of television shows and movies has increased tremendously outside the city of Los Angeles.
Take the state of Georgia, for example. Thanks to the success of The Walking Dead and generous tax credits, there has been a boom in the film industry in the state of Georgia. It's a dream that people in many states have in hopes that major productions stop by their beautiful state.
Boise, Idaho hasn't quite reached that level yet, but at the rate things are going, it's entirely possible Boise sees a boom of its own in the coming years.
Nearly 18 years ago, I first moved to this city with "being in the moving pictures" on the mind. It was only six months prior that I had decided to pursue writing as my career. I was going to write movies, just like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and one day be the talk of Tinseltown. And I was going to do it by joining the theater department at Boise State University.
I knew very little about film making at the time and I knew even less about theater. Talk about jumping in head first into something.
During my first semester, I auditioned for a student film. Luckily, I was cast as the pizza boy in a movie called White Out. It was nearly five seconds of fame that can still be seen on the VHS copy that I own if you play your cards right.
Aside from the shooting of a few skits for a sketch comedy show, it would be another five years before I appeared in front of a camera.
After graduation, with a degree in dramatic writing, I decided it was time to go try my hand in Los Angeles. The Boise film industry in 2002 was still small, with an occasional feature film being made and local commercials relegated to the same four actors. Every once in awhile a production would roll through town (or even a premiere for a major film, like A Midsummer Night's Dream)., but for the most part, film opportunities were few and far between.
Skipping past the formative L.A. years, we'll fast forward to my return to Boise in 2006, part of which was due to the desire to return to a city that was growing. Plus, it was thought the arts scene was about to blossom.
Even then, ten years ago, one could see that the film community was growing in Boise. Major studio productions weren't flocking to the state (thanks to little to no tax incentives), but the people who lived here and worked here were making more films, shooting more commercials, and in general were prone to desires to simply create.
And now? Well, the industry continues to grow. Each day I see feature length films being produced, written, directed and acted in with local talent. This is in addition to the numerous short films I see casting notices for weekly.
The burgeoning film community, thanks to the work of countless of people, is slowly centralizing itself and beginning to use the plethora of talent that is willing and wanting to work in this city. Is it self-sustaining, in which a person can quit a job to consistently get paid for acting? Not quite, but paid opportunities are growing with each passing day.
The ability to film on digital has certainly helped with this growth, providing more opportunity for people to go and shoot without worrying about the cost of film or converting film to a computer to edit. Not this always produces the best of results, but it's giving people the chance to at least go out and experiment and perfect their craft.
Film festivals like the Boise Film Festival, i48 film festival, and many others have become mainstays in Boise.
Filmmakers like Travis Swartz (of Hank Patterson fame) and Will Von Tagen (Almosting It) are making feature length films regularly. And these are just two names among many talented people constantly making short films, creating web series', or organizing table reads for films yearning to be made.
There are even others from the area, like Trevor Campbell (Spray Paint Atlas), who return to their roots here in Idaho to film their projects. And he is one among many in L.A., Chicago and New York that are representing the Boise area.
As Boise continues to grow, so does the film industry. The opening of the JUMP building will hopefully provide even more growth, with chances for people to continue to hone their craft with classes in acting, writing, directing, and editing, to name a few.
Within five years, one can hope that major studios will be finding their way into Boise. If not, though, the future is certainly in good hands. And who knows, perhaps one day we'll have our very own television show being filmed right here in Boise, with the cast and crew made up entirely of local talent. 
Hey, one can dream, right?

Of Irrational Fear

photo credit: vi.wikipedia.org
"From early reports, the results clearly show that the people voted in incumbent Mark Townsell, but to the astonishment of many, the electoral college selected James Hatcher as President. Many state's representatives voted for Hatcher, often against what the people wanted." 
Back in the year 1998, about a year out of high school and very early in my writing career, I started a screenplay called Rebellion. I had forgotten about it over the years, but last night's acceptance speech by Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for president had me digging through a box of my old writings to locate this script.
Upon finding it, I discovered I'd handwritten 72 pages--much more than I thought--of bad dialogue and choppy scenes. Pretty much what you'd expect from a 19-year old taking his first real crack at screenwriting.
The story is about a rich man that basically buys the presidency. He want to insure that the country will be great again, but he wants to do it in ways that play off of the fear of the people.
What ensues is him buying the votes needed for the electoral college.  Soon, he is imposing martial law, reinstating the Sedition Act, using the military for his own personal gain and leaving people with the feeling they are trapped in their own country.
I read the script, immediately thinking of how it applies to today's world. Things have changed in the last 17 years, both good and bad, but I began re-writing this script last night. (There goes my writing A.D.D. again.)
Trump's speech last night soon had me imagining a country in which he was elected president. One in which the very things of fiction I wrote in my screenplay were suddenly coming true.
It is a future in which by no means will "Make America Great Again."
One can already spot the inklings of a man that will implement these types of occurrences from my screenplay. He's already started by revoking the press credentials of the Washington Post. Couldn't you envision him shutting down websites and newspapers that portray him and his policies in a negative light?
Trump has already made promises of a border wall and tightening our borders. Does one not think their would be repercussions for this? Would Americans still be able to travel to Mexico? Or vice versa? Where does Trump stand on this? 
If we stop welcoming refugees to our countries or foreigners simply seeking a better life, in turn wouldn't governments of certain countries not allow the same for Americans? Even for the simple sake of travel?
Trump delivered a speech that took the worst of what happens in this world and preyed upon that fear. 
He spoke of the Democratic Party taking cash from corporate lobbyists. I wonder what the scores of Republican representatives taking money from the NRA think about that.
Trump is the law and order president. So he repeated over and over again in last night's speech. He's going to wipe out the terrorists with one fell swoop. Because, you know, we know who all the terrorists are and where they are hiding.
He said Americans felt helpless and scared. He's right. I am scared. I'm scared of what a country will look like if this man becomes president. He will send the military to fight people in a battle that may never be won. (How long have we spent in Iraq and Afghanistan?)
Trump--and his many supporters--blame President Obama for the divisiveness in this country when instead he should be looking at his "party". Many are the ones that refuse to accept minorities in this country as equals. They hold true to a belief that all minorities fit a stereotype. They fail to be accepting of people that have different lifestyles and different beliefs.
Yes, some of these people have the same "it's my belief or nothing" attitude towards the Republican Party. It's a whole other subject, but the nastiness that resides on the internet is part of the problem. It's not Republicans, it's not Democrats. It's the comments and hate that used to only talked about among your close circle of friends and family is not put on display for the world to see.
Fear. Anger. Hate. The fire gets stoked every day. And there is one orange colored man that is helping to drive it even more.
"Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."- Yoda
Maybe it's a political problem we're seeing and the big money involved on both sides. I'm by no means here stumping for his rival across the political platform. America is a shady place right, in terms of politics. More so than I've seen in the nearly twenty years I've been allowed to vote.
We need a change. That change is not Trump. He is a man of all talk, with no real plans behind his talk. He reminds me of a kid that runs for class president, promising pizza every day and no homework.
All talk and no substance.
We are not helpless. We don't need to be rescued.
We need to be united. We need to have big hearts.
We don't need Trump's hate, his bigotry.  
We need open dialogue. We need compassion. We need a world in which people aren't judged by the color of their skin, the religious belief, or their paycheck.
Above all else, we need love.

July is Burning

Two years.
It was a little over two years ago I decided to quit my full-time, comfortable job within the banking industry. I had saved up enough money, was pretty miserable, and decided it was time to pursue writing with full on gusto.
I lasted 15 months before I was back in the work field.
Nine months later, here in the present day, I once again I have a full-time day job, but my pursuit of  a life as a writer continues.
I did not go back to the banking industry. Despite the friends I made during my seven years with the bank, I do not miss the day-to-day grind. As the years wore on there, I felt my drive to be a writer waning and needed to get out.
Though I am back in day job world, I am still finding time to write. Much of that occurs after ten hour days at work and coming in to put in another 2-3 of writing. Days off are spent writing, fine tuning pitches, polishing up websites, and sending in submissions. It is a grind, yes, and certain sacrifices have been made in regards to a personal and social life in the process.
It hasn't translated into a career (yet), but the long hours of writing and living a life of solitude have been worth what I've learned and accomplished over this time.
Two years.
Two years ago I self-published my first novel, The Dragon Princess. Releasing this book out into the world was a tough choice. I am a pretty staunch supporter of physical books and physical bookstores, but I felt the novel was at a place in which publication was needed.
I am still working on getting an agent or a publisher or even finding the money to publish physical copies myself. That is still the dream because there would be nothing more thrilling than holding a physical copy of this book in my hands.
During this time, I have also had my first play published. I have joined an acting group and writing group that are both on the cusp of doing some big things here in Boise.
I have continued to work for Alley Repertory Theater, even becoming their resident playwright in the process.
I have directed my first film and co-written others that have been filmed here in Boise.
Sports have always been integral in my life and two opportunities to write about them are going strong as I continue to contribute articles to both Bronco Nation News and Chowder and Champions.
There are countless other small victories that I sometimes overlook in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes the rejection letters and emails overshadow those small victories. I dwell on the negative when instead I should be using both the victories and the defeats as building blocks for a future.
It's certainly been a ride. I'm thankful for every moment of it.
Enough of the two year updates. It's time for a "since the start of June" update.
I was lucky enough to participate in HomeGrown Theatre's Second Annual Ten-Minute play festival. Playwrights are given a month to write a ten-minute play, given only a prompt and the theme of "The Dog Days of Summer". Like last summer, there were good plays by good playwrights and I hope to use mine to submit to other ten-minute readings/contests around the country.
I hope to begin shooting a film here shortly, one that I'll be in. Time to dust off the ol' acting shoes.
As I've said before, I sometimes have writing A.D.D. and that's been pretty prevalent over the last month. I finished a rewrite of  my television pilot, The Path(s) of Andy Wilson. I'm 3/4 of the way through a rewrite of my third full-length play, The Latitude of Life. I've worked on the follow up to The Dragon Princess. The Blue Gem is coming along nicely, though my initial goal of finishing the first draft by the end of July will not happen. My goal is now for the end of the year. (I've been reading a lot of Joseph Campbell lately, partially leading to me taking my time a bit more with the fantasy world in which these stories live).
I've also been working on Palm Trees and Paradise, a novel I started years ago. Early versions of the first chapters can be read here.
I've also squeezed in the beginnings of a new play and the edit of another novel. See what I mean about writing A.D.D.?
And I'm happy with the progress. Not simply content, mind you. I'm always striving to get these projects published, produced, and read. But I love to write.
I'm happy with life. The aforementioned personal life has taken a hit, but I'm getting out there a bit again. Because as a writer, you need definitely need your solitude, but you also need to get out from time to time. 
If you want to write about life, it's a good idea to take part in it from time to time.

Enough Now. Enough.

No sports post this week. No pop culture.

The corroding of a falling nation is on the mind.

The vitriol spewed online on a daily basis is spilling over into the day-to-day actions of real life. Opinions are fine. It is disregard for fellow man that leaves common sense at a loss.

Dallas.

The divisiveness of this country is ripping her great skirt at the seams. We are turning into an angry nation, slowly turning into one living every day in fear (for many, more so than they already had by being judged for the color of their skin or their religion).

Baton Rouge. St. Paul.

The progress of so many is being being delayed by the stubbornness of so few. It's sad.

Two black men this week had their lives ripped from them by cops simply because of their race. It's an all too familiar occurrence. And it's wrong.

Orlando. Charleston. Ferguson.

There are people dead because of race, religion and sexual orientation. And it's wrong.

And it's wrong that five police officers had to lose their lives last night in Dallas. Officers that were sworn to protect and serve; officers that were serving at a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest and taking pictures with protesters only hours before.

New York City. Baltimore. Cleveland. San Bernardino.

This country will implode on itself if we don't make changes. It's time to let go of the hate. It's time to amend laws that were written 240 years ago. Laws that were written to help citizens arm themselves to protect their homes from the British, not to walk around the streets with guns on their hips or strapped over their shoulder.

Bad things happen because of it, whether it be death or being wrongfully named a suspect in something you had no part in.

Time to work together on finding solutions to keep us a safe people, a happy people.

And that doesn't start without change.

One Nation. One People.

It's time to stop thinking with a one tract mind.

Because a few black people are dangerous DOES NOT make all black people are dangerous.

If a few Christians are racist and bigots, this DOES NOT make all Christians racist and bigots.

A few cops shooting innocent men DOES NOT make all cops bad.

All Muslims ARE NOT terrorists.

Alton Sterling. Philando Castile. Freddie Gray. Eric Garner. Michael Brown. Brent Thompson. Michael Krol. Three Dallas police officers still not publicly named. 49 souls in Orlando. 36 casualties (14 dead) in San Bernardino. Nine deceased in Charleston. The list goes on and on.

This doesn't even take into account the attacks outside of America. Istanbul. Baghad. Paris.

Humanity is still here, but the voices are beginning to fade.

Grow strong. Be smart. Stay safe.

Good morning.
Eyes up.
Hearts up.
Minds sharp.
Compassion on full blast.
(Sips coffee)
Okay let's go.— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) July 8, 2016

A 2016 Peek into the United States Men's National Team

photo courtesy of wikipedia
In 1916, despite playing organized soccer for just over 30 years, the men's national team played it's first international match under the guidance of the United States soccer organization.
Fourteen years later, the USMNT had its best World Cup finish, placing third. The future looked bright for the upstart men's soccer team. A future that the organization firmly believed would bring in a World Cup title in no time at all.
86 years later, fans of the men's national team fans are still waiting for a finish as high as that glorious year, let alone even sniffing that elusive title. (Fans of the USWNT don't have to say the same. They have numerous titles.) 
The summer of 2016 has had a World Cup feel to it for soccer fans. Euro 2016 is tantalizingly close to securing its final four (Portugal is already through. Wales--led by the mighty Gareth Bale--joined them with an upset win over Belgium today.)
Meanwhile, Copa America ended about a week ago. The final saw the great one Lionel Messi lose yet another championship game, as Argentina fell to Chile 4-2 on penalty kicks after regulation saw the two teams tied 0-0.
The USMNT is fresh off a fourth-place finish at Copa America, their best finish since also placing fourth in 1995.
The Jekyl and Hyde performance the men's soccer team has been prone to displaying over the past few years reared its head in the semifinals. We witnessed a team that lost 4-0 to Argentina in the semis, a game in which it looked like Argentina barely broke a sweat in mauling the Americans.
Then, a third-place game in which, despite the resulting 1-0 loss to Colombia, saw a United States team play full of energy, vigor and pride. This match once again reeled in the fans' hopes that one day the USMNT will consistently play well on the game's grandest stages.
Rest assured, men's soccer fans. Though the frustration continues, there are young players on this team--some of which were on display in the 2016 Copa--that will hopefully carry the USMNT on a strong run come World Cup time in 2018.

Frustration with the men's soccer team might be an understatement. After escaping a 'Group of Death' in the 2014 World Cup and narrowly losing to Belgium in extra time, hopes were high for this men's team moving forward. Coach Jurgen Klinsmann had finally blended together the old and new guard of talent and the team was poised to make more noise on the world stage than ever before.

Then, needing only one win to advance to the 2017 Confederation Cup--held in Russia and a great tune-up for the World Cup--the USMNT could not get it done, eventually losing to Mexico 3-2 in extra time. All the momentum from the previous year's World Cup had seemed to disappear from this team.

These matches were also sandwiched around the USMNT placing fourth in the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, only two years after Klinsmann led the Americans to their fifth Gold Cup.

Up. Down. Down. Up. Every time it seems the Americans take a step forward, two steps backward occur. This has been the story of Klinsmann's time at the helm of the USMNT.

For a man seen as a savior for the men's soccer program, Klinsmann has often time struggled to keep the Americans playing at a consistent level. Fans have attacked his personnel decisions and tactics, especially when the Americans are playing at their worst.

Truth is Klinsmann, celebrating his fifth anniversary as coach in July, is good for this soccer program. He may be a bit unorthodox, but sometimes that's what is needed when taking a team to the next level. His love of German-American born players, criticism aside, has helped grow the United States men's program. Players like Fabian Johnson and Jermaine Jones have helped the USMNT win matches the team had no business even being in.

Across the pond, there are former English players and soccer aficionados clamoring for Klinsmann to become England's national team's new coach. (The Three Lions are without coach after their coach resigned following England's quarterfinal loss to Iceland.)

Losing Klinsmann would be a blow to the USMNT program. He is currently signed through the year 2018 so England signing him away might require a queen's ransom. Would England do it? Probably, considering their dismal finishes in recent years in big events. Would Klinsmann go? Who knows. If he feels he's not moving this program forward or garnering respect he deserves, there is a chance he would jump ship.

The USMNT, as it stands now, is better with Klinsmann at the helm. As maddening as he can be, Klinsmann is the man needed for the now. He should be in charge for the 2018 World Cup. This is a coach that has led our national team to wins over Germany (twice) and the Netherlands. The team also now owns a win over the Czech Republic (a good win, too, that counts towards World Cup qualifying).

The collection of young talent will only continue to grow as they earn more caps. Players like Deandre Yedlin, John Brooks, and Johnson have already earned a lot of experience. Others, like Bobby Wood and Gyasi Zardes have taken hold on roster spots over the past year. Even better? Young stars-in-making like Christian Pulisic and Darlington Nagbe could very well play integral parts in the next World Cup.

Klinsmann, much like he did with Landon Donovan in 2014, might have some pretty big decisions to make for the 2018 team. Jones will be 36, but is still a fantastic leader on the field. Goalkeeper Tim Howard will be 39 and has played less as of late, with Brad Guzan getting the nod to man the net during the recent tourney. (Though Howard played pretty well in the third-place game. Should be interesting in a couple of years).

Even Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey should have spots on the 2018 roster, though Bradley's play can be as frustrating as the team's. He can be brilliant one match and then abysmal the next, consistently losing balls in the midfield. Even Jozy Altidore, who has battled injuries the past few years, may not have a starting spot thanks to the play of Wood.

And who knows, perhaps many of these names might not be around. We are, after all, still two years away from the World Cup. Injuries can occur, new names can make their mark and coaches may leave. I, for one, hope that Klinsmann is around to lead the USMNT. He has given us some fine play over the years. Yes, watching the U.S. play against teams like Argentina only re-affirms the fact the team is miles away in terms of precision and speed, but it's getting closer.

Five years in, Klinsmann's style and tactics have spread down through the various national programs. Not qualifying for the Olympics aside, the national program is on the rise.

Klinsmann should stick around for his contract. Being a fan of the soccer since my early days, I'm glad that he has taken the men's team to new levels. It has made me a fan of the national team on a monthly basis, not just a "every four year" fan.

If anything, Klinsmann should be applauded for that alone.

We'll see you in 2018, coach.

The Apocalypse, Brexit, Sit-ins and More

Photo Credit: Jason Haskins
The first sign of the apocalypse happened late last Sunday night. It didn't involve armies rising from the East or the earth opening up with fire and brimstone.
It happened in Northern California when, for the first time in franchise history the Cleveland Cavaliers won the NBA Championship. Not only that, it was the first time since 1964 that the city of Cleveland hoisted a championship trophy. LeBron James turned out to be the Ohio savior that was promised to Cleveland sports fans. And no, the refs did not win him and the city the title.
In Chicago, the Cubs are enjoying one of their best seasons in years. Many are starting to wonder if the Cubs are due to end their long drought of not winning a World Series come October. If that happens, sign of apocalypse number two will be upon us.
Makes you think that if that happens, a Donald Trump presidency might not be far behind, thus securing three signs that will lead to the end of mankind as we know it.
With that, welcome to this week's blog. 
Initially, this was going to be a week in review. One that covered the sit-in by Democratic Representatives in the House. For 24 hours, these politicians called for the Republicans to at least consider the gun bills presented before them. Per usual, rather than taking a stand and thinking for themselves, these Republican representatives let their lined pockets do the talking for them. In the end, the Republicans called for and voted on to break until after the July 4th holiday. Our finest elected representatives at work, folks.
Okay. Enough politics. I tend to shy away from them in this format because nothing gets solved. Opinions are opinions. Hateful arguments are had, very rarely accomplishing anything. The internet is a vile world that too many of us reside in. I have seen too many links shared and posted from non-credible news sources (those of real and satire) that I've begun to doubt everything within the realm of the internet. A word of advice: Do a little research before hitting the share button especially if you've never heard of the website posting the "information".
A little research might have gone a long way in voting to keep Britain in the European Union. Instead, the 'Leaves' have it, leaving a world market stumbling to recover and uncertain future for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
As an outsider, I can honestly say I don't know all of the details involved. I do know part of it has to due with closing off immigration to the United Kingdom and tightening up the borders, an issue that is very close to what is going on here in America. Because I've already let a bit of politics seep into this post, I will just say this: Please go vote. In November, for sure, but vote whenever the opportunity arises. There is so much at stake. Please remember that yes, your vote does count.
Off of my soap box now. I spent a fair amount of time Wednesday and Thursday nights following coverage of the aforementioned events. I use a variety of sources, to compare and contrast, to see everything that's being reported. And yes, I learn from all sources of the political spectrum--makes it easier to decipher the bs--giving me a wide array of opinions. Do I become to enamored with coverage of these world events? Perhaps, but it's all part of staying educated.
Staying educated. Easier said than done. It should be the complete opposite, in this internet age. Too many people don't take advantage of the endless resources we have both on and off line. Too many websites create news that isn't news--not in a satirical way--leading to streams of endless garbage. 
Do we need to know that James watched The Godfather six times during the NBA playoffs? Yes, it's a nice nugget of information that could be tweeted out or included in a longer article about the Cavs winning the NBA Finals. What we don't need is ten articles just about the fact he watched the movie, basically saying the same thing over and over again to fit a 300-500 word quota.
That's just one example. Between articles on Britney Spears and her new Instagram photo and articles about the people at Good Morning America making a mistake in a tweet--because people are perfect, right--I was given an overload of information I don't need. It's like the internet is starting to become one giant issue of The National Enquirer.
I don't know, maybe this post is contributing to the same thing I'm railing against. It's hard to say. I know I've at least got better at avoiding click bait headlines. Or the aforementioned examples might have included a much longer list.
Old man rant complete. This turned into more of a week in review than I thought it would. I will be back later this week with some posts on soccer and baseball, two of America's favorite sports. Until then, keep those cameras safely rolling...Wait, I can't use that. That's Bob Saget's line.
Let's try this again. Until then, be kind to each other. Sometimes it's all we have in this crazy world.