My friend Killer recently posted his reflection on what is wrong with youth sports... Parents... while I agree, I think there is even more to it than unruly parents, passive parents can be just as bad.

I know I'm getting dangerously close to a rant here, but it is the media's fault too. Just like their own parents and coaches, kids emulate their heros. Remember how we all used to be Eddie Murray on the playground (positive), or put our siblings in a figure four leg lock because we had seen Ric (Wooo) Flair do the same thing Saturday (negative) morning between the Superfriends and the Kung Fu feature. Well, now in addition to the 25 hours a day of DunkCenter, er Sports Center, we have video games where even the tame 'E for everyone' sports games have showboating, and mid game fights... why, because WE can't get enough of it. The media should use some discretion, yes, but if the public wants something, some media outlet will gladly serve it up. Whether it be highlights of an NBA zero, er hero choking his coach or refusing a trade.... or MAN vs. Beast on FOX...etc.

Also, there is our ridiculous need (as a society) for instant gratification (fueled in large part by the media)... we don't want to work or study, we just want to rain 3's, slam dunk, hit 75 out of the park, do our little Homer Simpson endzone dance (without thanking the quarterback, linemen, blockers, coaches, etc.)... whatever to get our endorsement deal, so we can feed our kids like Patrick Ewing, or have 'the basic necessities of life'... pimped out rides on fly dubs, rolling with the booming system, or a crib that would be the envy of the MTV set.

We're all guilty... we're all rubberneckers straining to see the trainwreck... who of us hasn't looked up from the newspaper when there is a hockey fight? Who of us hasn't thrown the TV Guide or the remote across the room when the Caps squandered a 3 games to 1 lead in the playoffs? Or screamed at the players on TV to 'kill' their opponent? I'm ranting.

My point is this... my junior high (you kids call it 'middle' school now) principal had the best philosophy, I'll paraphrase...We all need to first GOVERN OURSELVES ACCORDINGLY.

So lets 'vote with the remote' if you will. Now that I have one child and another on the way, I have been working on controling my temper and my language... I am also trying to filter the content that comes into my home. We watch television as a family, although most of the time it is Disney DVDs, we still watch Bryan's favorite show, (although its not the same without J. Peterman). If a promo for a violent or creepy show or movie comes on and my son is in the room, I change the channel... or distract him if I can't grab the remote.

There I go again, try to give two cents and drop the whole piggy bank.

Peace out.