Blog...Interrupted

Serious matters...

I got a call from one of my best friends in the world (no, not YOU Tilam). Her sister tried to take her own life today.

But what makes a person get to that point? Perhaps I'm sheltered in my nice job, my nice household income, and my nice family life. But life is truly the second best gift we've been given (next to Christ's sacrifice on the cross), and given freely by the lord, I really have no concept of how low a person must go to get to a point of actually ending it all. Not to mention that it's considered a sin in the Catholic faith. I cannot fathom looking in a mirror and deciding that I (as well as my family and friends, and frankly, the world in general) would be better off dead. Life is just too beautiful a gift to just throw away (or, if you are a buddhist, to "regift"), at least in my humble opinion. I cannot imagine leaving before my time (and by my own hand too!), never growing old with Mrs Thew (although this option might sound appealing to her) and never seeing my kids and grandkids. Never having suffered THAT much in my life, it's so alien a thought that simply have no concept of this urge.

The good news is that at the last minute she changed her mind and got herself to the hospital in time to be saved, and she is now resting comfortably in the bed. Alone with her thoughts and fears and demons, but soon to be buttressed by the love and support of he husband, kids, and family.

Okay, back to Thew's Tantrum...

So Phonak is disbanding in the wake of Floyd Landis' doping scandal. Is anyone surprised? Of COURSE there are no buyers for this team - Landis isn't the first one to be caught! Do people forget that Phonak's image had already been badly damaged by 10 other doping cases since the Swiss-based team was launched seven seasons ago. In face, the International Cycling Union refused to issue Phonak a racing license for 2005 because of the team's doping record after three Phonak riders - 2004 Olympic time trial champion Tyler Hamilton, Oscar Camenzind and Santi Perez - were all found guilty of doping violations in 2004 and fired. SHEESH!

So the Atlanta Falcons are scuffling all over the place at pre-season camp. Nice to see they are hitting something this early in the season...

So Matt Leinart finally signed a deal with the Cardinals. Butt, meeting bench pine; after losing most of camp is there any doubt that he's wasted too much time to just step in? Apparently he isn't that good at feeling the game around him, because if he had looked into his backfield, he'd see EDGERRIN JAMES! Hello, McFly *tap* *tap*... Oh, and his contract could pay him more if is plays more - hmm, wonder if he considered the fact that he's going to see limited action until he actually practices and understand the Cardinal's offense. Mind-boggling...

In the category of "nature or nurture", we have to point that so far, the Leo Mazzone Magic is still nowhere to be found in Baltimore: since the All-Star break, Orioles pitchers have posted an unsightly 5.84 ERA. Perhaps it's just that he had that GREAT pitching staff in Atlanta and didn't ruin a good thing...

On the NBA front...wait, no one gives a shit about the NBA...

Wayne Rooney is truly misunderstood...everyone thinks he's really a nice guy. BUT: The English Football Association rejected an appeal from Manchester United to overturn the three-match ban of Wayne Rooney who was sent off in a 3-1 preseason win over FC Porto in Amsterdam on Aug. 4 for violent conduct (Rooney picked up a red card). Million dollar talent, 5 cent head...