The "New" NFL.

It's been sometime since I've posted anything on my blog, sorry, been busy.  Yet, today I wanted to make what I believe is a reasonable expectation to why James Harrison #92, one of my favorite players, should have not been penalized or should he be fined for his "Big Boy" hit on the Brownies Colt McCoy during the football game @ Heinz Field yesterday. Video provided.

First , I want to state that, it is my position the NFL should and has the right to protect players from some of the inevitable dangers of being a professional football player...for instance players are required to be @ least 21 for all practical purposes..The restriction to enter says that a player must be at least three years removed from the end of high school, or that he must have completed at least three years of college..players are required to wear official NFL equipment that the league and teams provide...thus everyone has access to the necessary equipment to do their job, players are required to be deemed physically able to participate in the game by their team's physician etc and so forth and which are reasonable expectations...hey the NFL has  evolved over the years.

Yet, given all the necessary and reasonable steps that the NFL has taken to protect the players football is still the ultimate team contact sport, or at least it is for now, and contact means just that contact. When an offensive player is in the act of making a play and said player is advancing the football by definition it is the defensive player job to immediately cease their advancement, and if at all possible obtain possession of the football. James Harrison made every reasonable effort to do just that. Harrison's intent was not to injure Colt which he could more than likely done by going low at his legs or knees instead he made an effort to cease Colt's progress by targeting the center of his chest- which is a text book tackle- and an area of the body where it is reasonable to expect contact.

What more can you ask or want from a defensive, not defense less, player? If the offensive players moves or lowers their head to protect a part of their body during the nano second that the defensive player has to make a decision to do their "Job" who is at fault? The officials are so quick to throw the flag when a defensive player makes contact and that is physical contact, with an offensive players-especially the QB- the discrepancy is starting to become fictional.

It should be a reasonable expectation that when a defensive player makes a text book, and, yes, even a text book "Big Boy" play on an offensive player, including the QB, that the play will not result in a penalty or subsequent fine. Inevitably, players are going to have helmet to helmet contact and if the NFL wants to get this right they need consider that instance and that play and not the simple fact that there was helmet to helmet contact, or find some other form of contact or method that the defensive player can use that will result in the offensive player progress being stopped.

Then again, if all else fails the NFL can implement a new rule which can designate two hand touch only for certain players!! I wonder if this would be considered a reasonable expectation.


Bobby..

Has Social Media Forced Parents to be Overprotective.

I read an article today that seemed to be thoughtfully written by the author whom credentials are without question.  Yet I wonder if the position that the author takes is in fact correct. You can read the article here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/why-parents-should-leave-their-kids-alone-at-college/2011/08/21/gIQAmxHLVJ_blog.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost

Quite simply, this article suggest that parents are hindering their sons and daughters by holding on to them and not letting go as they go off to college.  As a parent that recently "let go" and has a child that is a first-year student in college I was very interested in this article yet disagree with the authors take that "This generation of parents has readily accepted that they have earned the Helicopter Parent label."

First, the "Helicopter Parent" has been around in some form or another for decades and is not a recent phenomena. For years many parents have maintained far too much control over their children and have effectively directed their children lives....there are many American Families that have regional and National Influence!  Yet why  does this generation of parents receive the label of "Helicopter Parent."  As a college graduate and an individual that earned his way through college I witnessed first and how important it is to have you parents involved in the decision making process and how many students were "lost" and made decisions that were simply wrong because their parents were not involved or "hovering around." I wonder how many of these students relied on the experts and not their parents to assist them in the decision making process.

In fact, the author states that "However, sometimes, the best way to help your college student grow and succeed is to get out of the way and let them and the experts do their jobs together."  This position is highly contradictory to the information that parents and children are given in grades K - 12 which there is enormous evidence that students in general perform better and have gratifying adolescent experiences when their parents are involved in their academic and social lives.  Given that social media for example Facebook, and Twitter allow children to interact with their "Friends" @ an instant and in most cases when they are the most vulnerable I argue parents have been forced into being "Helicopter Parent."

I agree with the author that "Often, if parents are calling offices for information, it is likely an indication that there is a communication breakdown between the parent and student,"  and it is highly critical that parents maintain an open channel of communication.  Still, the notion that  "Parents should advise their student about whom to call on as a way of providing more guidance and less hands-on intervention" is in my opinion a break in the relationship of the child and parent.  Prior to pushing your child in the direction of an "expert" a parent should try to fully understand the particular situation that the young adult is experiencing and together try to determine the best approach that will permit the outcome that is optimal for that individual situation.  As such, this reasonable expectation working together to seek a result is best for the young adult... not getting out of the way and letting them and the experts do their jobs. 

That is if you believe "experts" can be and are imperfect as well or is this an unreasonable expectation!

Bobby

What is Reasonable Expectation?

For sometime many people..mainly family and friends.. have wanted me to create a blog.  Ok!  You asked for it.  First, let's start by answering the basic of all questions Why name the blog Reasonable Expectations?

For those that really know me the answer shld be quite clear yet let's start by defining some terms..you can thank CDS's, ABS's, and CDO's for this:)

1. Reasonable as defined by dictionary.com.. agreeable to reason or sound judgment; logical..  not exceeding the limit prescribed by reason; not excessive.. reasonable terms. moderate, especially in price.
2. Expectation as defined by dictionary.com..the act or the state of expecting.. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating...an expectant mental attitude: a high pitch of expectation.

In the coming days, weeks, months, and hopefully years the goal of this blog will be to address any particular topic within the parameters of "Reasonable Expectation".  Yet, I will admit here, the subjective nature of the aforementioned terms are significant and given that our society struggles daily trying to understand what is "reasonable" I'm sure my comprehension of the term expectation will no doubt be in flux, as well.  Still, no turning back now, let's see where these parameters take us.

Bobby...