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| Force Fed a Tiger 7-7-04
By Ron Hamblin Now, I know this is going to sound strange, but this had nothing to do with food or a real Tiger. I am one of the many who like golf, but am sick to death of being force fed the greatness of Tiger Woods. Recently, I was watching ESPN Sportscenter, and saw where the "great" Tiger, was ranked #1 in the U.S. and had unexplicably slipped to #4 in the world rankings. My question, is how in the world is he even ranked in the top 10? What do I mean you may be asking? Well, let's start with wins. Tiger hasn't won a tournament since the February 25th WGC Match Play Championship, a span of 20 events. Wanna talk about his stats? Let's see, in scoring average he is 7th, in driving accuracy, he is ranked 160th. In longest drives he is ranked 133rd, hitting the greens he is ranked 90th, total birdies made, he ranks a poor 85. The one stat that I will never figure out is the so called record for consecutive cuts made which he owns at 125 tournaments. Not bad for a man that doesn't even play in half the events. I Wonder if Cal Ripken's iron man record of over 2,500 straight games, would be the same if he only played in half the games? This year alone, the "great" Tiger has only played in 13 tournaments out of 27. By contrast, out of the 15 top ranked golfers in the PGA point system, only 2 have played fewer tounaments than the "great" Tiger Woods. I wonder if Michael Jordan would be considered the greatest if only played 40% of his games, or would Emmett Smith be the all time leading rusher in football, if he only played 1/2 his games. What about Dimaggios 56 game hitting streak, in baseball, would it be impressive if it took him 120 actual games to get it? I doubt it. Enough of this force feeding, by the major sports media, trying to tell us this is one of the greatest athletes ever. After all isn't this the same guy who had his caddy go after fans taking a picture of him? Heaven help him if he has to putt when someone is talking out loud or taking a photo of him. Real athletes endure screaming fans, hundreds of flashbulbs and their opponents defending their every move. With golf, it is a defenseless sport with no cheering allowed. Your opponent is yourself. Not very fan friendly is it. Confused about your beliefs, many people are. 7-22-04 by Ron Hamblin Jackson, Ky. (The following is an opinion expressed by the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Breathitt Online News as a whole) I just wanted to share this email I got with you from a Rev. Shelly Strauss Rollison from Pennsylvania. The email wanted us to print her letter basically informing the general public of their "National Coming Out Day." I make it a policy to never share my personal beliefs on this site, but for this one I will make an exception. I am not writing this to offend anyone or to belittle anyone. I replied to Ms. Strauss Rollison informing her, we would not be running her letter as this was a topic that we did not want to be involved with. Below is her email and my response to it. Rev. Shelly Strauss Rollison email: (Note, this is just a portion of a longer email and another reply) October 11, 2004, is National Coming Out Day, sponsored every year by the Human Rights Campaign. "Coming out" is a stressful process, not only for gays but also for their family, friends and supporters. The months, weeks and days preceding it are often very frightening and overwhelming. Inspired by a speech given by Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard, Rev. Shelly Strauss Rollison is organizing the Purple Hat Project and hopes it will become an annual event world-wide. Rev. Strauss Rollison says, "The great thing about the Purple Hat Project is that even gays who still don't feel it's time to come out of the closet can participate, since no one will really know whether or not they are actually gay themselves or just supporting equal rights for those who are. By participating this year, maybe next year, they'll feel safe and/or strong enough to come out." Rev. Shelly Strauss Rollison New Alexandria, PA Response from Ron Hamblin: As most people in the majority, of this country believe, this is not normal, for God fearing people who believe in the Bible. We do not support nor do we degrade those who do believe in homosexuality. I explained this to Ms. Strauss Rollison. What I got as a reply to justify her beliefs really shocked me. Here is her reply: Response From Rev. Shelly Strauss Rollison I AM following God's word by promoting equality for gays. I AM following the message of Jesus who says that "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me." Being gay is NOT a sickness: it is the way God created us. He gave you your orientation and he gave me mine. They're different. Just like your hair color may be different from mine or your eye color may be different from mine. You, sir, are free to follow whatever interpretation of the Bible you choose to follow. I am not free to do the same because of certain laws in this nation founded on YOUR interpretation (or more accurately, on the interpretation of lawmakers who agree with you.) Such laws are unconstitutional and when the US Supreme Court declares them unconstitutional, it does not make the justices "activists". It means they're doing they're job. The US is NOT a democracy: majority rules in this country ONLY AS LONG AS it doesn't violate the civil rights of even one American. RON HAMBLIN: Now here is why I had to respond. I have heard alot of arguements for and against homosexuality, and have tried hard to understand why people end up the way they do. I have never in all my life heard anyone blame God in saying it is the same as having different colored eyes, or different colored hair, that he gave you. I don't get that. How is being gay the same as me having brown eyes and someone else having blue eyes. What bothers me even more, is that a person who claims to be a servant of God, is the one spreading these ideas. I am not saying I know the reason for homosexuality but to equate it with someone having blue or brown eyes, is in my opinion, out there. Your eye color and hair color as well as your sex, male or female, is all determined by genetics. I think that is how God set it up. God also made a man and a woman in the manner they are, so that a woman can procreate with the man. Thus the body structure of a man and a woman. What else truly needs to be said? Finally I have to comment on Ms. Rollisons remarks about the US not being a democracy. She is partly right. The majority of Americans do not share her views on homosexuality, or Gay rights, yet our government allows these groups to force their beliefs on society. If it were a true democracy, we would not be discussing this or other things such as Gay marriages, as the majority of people in this country, do not follow those beliefs. I encourage everyone that reads this to email us with your thoughts and opinions on Ms. Strauss Rollison's email and my response. We will print your response to this. Breathitt Online News Email READERS RESPONSES Mr. Hamblin, I thank God for your stance on this issue. These people, although in the minority, are bent upon forcing their skewed view of morality upon the rest of us. God does indeed condemn homosexuality, and to say that he doesn't opens the door to say he doesn't condemn adultery or any other immorality. I, like you, do not believe in attacking homosexuals, but on the Message Board and in other places I have been in defense of the truth regarding this subject, w/o making use of personal attacks. Whenever confronted with the "that's your interpretation" argument, please refer them to II Peter 1:20, which tells us that no prophecy in the scripture is of any private interpretation. Therefore, none us have a right to privately interpret the bible, but rather, to read it in context and harmony with the rest of the bible. Any time anyone can read into scripture that God would support homosexuality, they are clearly coming up with an interpretation that will not harmonize with the rest of the bible. Furthermore, I'm thankful that you stood against the lie that homosexuality is just a normal trait, and that you were true to your true belief that it is a behavior that is wrong. Even if these people were genetically more inclined toward homosexuality (which is not true, and I could go longer explaining why, but I'll stop), that does not make it justifiable. Brain wave readings of serial killers find certain abnormalities, but this still does not provide justification of their behavior. I could continue, but I've said a great deal in past weeks on the Board about this subject, and will continue to do so for defense of truth if I believe are still receptive. For this reason, I'd prefer that my name not be included in this reply if you were to print it, but I did feel it necessary to ensure that you heard positive feedback for your stand for right against wrong. This movement is based upon disputing and disregarding the beliefs of the majority, and they'll use any tactic available. Usually this means saying that we who oppose recognition of their immoral lifestyle as normal are narrow-minded, ignorant, and bigoted. Don't allow any such attack to cause you to think that your position in this matter is anything but the right one, and know that you have a supporter in this. J. Blanton |