Donald Trump and the 2016 Election by @PandaPSU

President-Elect Donald Trump (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Like many of you, I never felt great about either major party candidate in this year's election. They both have checkered pasts. They both have major policy issues that I disagree with. That said, right or wrong, good or bad, these were our two choices. Yes, Gary Johnson and Jill Stein were technically on the ballot, but this wasn't a time to waste my vote. I'm not judging you for voting for either of those two (or anyone for that matter), I can certainly see why you would and why it would be easier to reconcile that at the end of day. Until our political system changes, however, I knew a third party vote of any sort would be a wasted one. That wasn't a chance I was willing to take in a historic election like this one.

To be honest, I never thought this day would come...I never thought it would even come close.

One of my first tweets on the subject from July 2015

Every time I thought America would see the light, he would clear another hurdle. He cleared the primary debates. He won the GOP nomination. He made it through a multitude of times where he said something racist or sexist. He made it through allegations his Trump University ripped off students. He sailed through the presidential debates without having to delve into policy very much, if at all. He even rose above sexual assault allegations a month before the election. Every road block that seemed like it would deliver the death blow, he rose above it. 

The one common thread that kept him at the top and always a viable threat, he played to America's fears (ISIS and terrorism), and he became the voice and the face of change so many Americans wanted. Hey, listen, I get it folks. Ask anyone about our government, and they will have a variety of things they would like to change. In a lot of ways, it makes sense to finally have someone rise up against the establishment, right? I get it and I agree. But, for me, that person was never going to be Donald Trump. Why? 

Donald Trump ran a campaign that quite frankly took every political science textbook and threw it into a fire. He knew America was tired. He knew America was angry. He knew it didn't really matter what he did or said, as long as he promised change. I often asked myself or my wife, "Can you believe he just said that?" I would look at the next poll and his numbers would go up! Even in the demographic he just slandered. He was bulletproof because people have had enough.

I could not get behind a man that was so outwardly sexist and racist toward so many. I have heard many defenses along the lines of, "He's just saying that stuff. He won't actually go through with it." All I can say is that I hope you are all correct, but even if he does none of the things he said, he still gave a voice to a lot of Americans that actually hold those beliefs. Now, like so many, I have to figure out a way to tell my daughter why we put the leader of the free world into Oval Office who has made despicable comments about women (weight, looks, pregnancy, sexual assault, etc.) Of course, he has made similar statements or declarations about a variety of groups.

This was such a weird election because I made my mind up as early as I ever have. I was never enamored with Hillary Clinton, and truth be told, any other election year, she would not have even been a blip on my radar. But, this was never about a normal presidential election. I never made it to actually eyeballing policies. I had to place my vote against the ideals of the man running, for everything he said he would stand for as President. 

My hope is that our country can and will come together. Now is not the time to attack one another for any reason. Folks are nervous. Folks are scared. They have every right to be. People are scared of the unknown, and as of right now, all we can go on is words. We just have to hope that Donald J. Trump is not a man of his word.

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Thanks for reading, and God Bless America.

-Jim

Caitlyn Jenner and Defining Courage by @PandaPSU

(Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair - Photo courtesy of usmagazine.com)

It's not often I find the need or even have the urge to right a serious column. I spend most of time online talking about sports. First, because it is a passion of mine. Second, because it is a fairly light topic. For the most part, we, as fans, get worked up about our favorite athletes losing a game or about management's constant mistakes handling a roster or staying within a salary cap. In terms of life, the topic of sports is a fairly meaningless one. Sometimes, however, sports crossover into some very important societal issues. Such was the case last night with Caitlyn Jenner at the ESPYs.

Watching the Jenner background story and the follow-up acceptance speech of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage was very touching. It provided a small glimpse into what she went through her whole life and how hard this is/was for her. In the speech she talked about situations where transgender people were bullied, and even spoke about how she knew negativity would be coming her way. That is the part I would like to focus on. Twitter, and the internet as a whole, can be a cruel place. In fact, it is very true to life in that respect. I am not going to screencap numerous tweets, but the overwhelming hot topic last night was whether Caitlyn Jenner deserved an award based on courage?

For many folks, courage is an easy thing to spot:

• Danielle Green, an Iraqi war veteran who lost part of her left arm from a rocket-propelled grenade attack, provided an inspirational speech and story accepting the Pat Tillman Award for service. Was this courageous? Of course it was, it's obvious.
• Lauren Hill, an 18-year-old who was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma (a rare, deadly brain cancer), was an inspiration to the entire nation as she stood up to her illness and realized her dream of playing in a collegiate women's basketball game for Mount St. Joseph's. As she scored the first and last basketball in her team's win, she went on later to say that, "I want everybody to know that I never gave up." Courageous? Almost unimaginably so...it's crystal clear.

Which brings us back to Caitlyn Jenner, does a person explaining their lifelong struggles about how they never felt comfortable in their own skin until now, when she is in her 60s, really stack up to stories like Danielle Green and Lauren Hill? That is not for me to say, but I can tell you that it is just as courageous... and I know that will be an unpopular opinion. When folks are not comfortable with something, they tend to deal with it in one of two ways -- or quite possibly both. They will make jokes about the situation, and/or they will attack it in multiple ways. It is easy to do this in the case of Caitlyn Jenner because it is a topic not a whole lot of people are comfortable with or know that much about -- myself included. It is also easy to say her story is not courageous because it is not as obvious as the two mentioned above.

What I will say is that courage takes on multiple faces. If a person is battling depression, getting out of bed each morning, finding ways to be happy, and finding ways to be productive, are all courageous acts. Would people view this as courage? No, because it is not something tangible, and because it comes easy to many people. If a person is battling anxiety, any situation they decide to still go through with -- no matter how hard it is or how much they would rather not -- is courageous. Is this easy to identify as courage? Absolutely not.

My point is that what Caitlyn Jenner did last night was absolutely courageous. It was just a form and face of courage that not many people are comfortable with seeing. They don't recognize it so it is easy to say "that is not courageous". Friends, it is 2015, all I am asking is that you try to grow as a person and think outside of each of your tiny bubbles, especially when it comes to something like courage. Because the truth is that courage can take on many shapes and forms, and you never truly know when courage is staring you right in the face.

The Day the Terrible Towel Changed by @PandaPSU

(Photo courtesy of Steelers.com)

The Terrible Towel is one of the most iconic fan tools in Pittsburgh, and quite possibly in sports. It is easily recognizable and symbolic of one of football's most storied franchises. It was created in 1975 by the legendary Myron Cope. What started out as a gimmick that season became a rallying tool for fans in the city and at games. The fans continued to use the towel on the way to the Steelers winning their second Super Bowl.

A Look From Inside Happy Valley by @PandaPSU

If you have never been to State College, the first thing that strikes you about campus is the scenery. After traveling through miles of farm country in any direction, visitors arrive to an oasis of sorts. Most of the buildings are beautiful stone or brick. The trees in the fall are truly something to behold. The Lion Shrine sits prominently along Curtin Road protecting campus. It is just a combination of architectural charm and Pennsylvania landscaping beauty.

The Pen's Big Three...

So, the Heat have Wade, James, and Bosh, and the Pens have Crosby, Malkin, and Staal.  I think there are certainly some similarities between the two sets of players.  Let's get the two big differences out of the way immediately.  Um, the Heat play basketball and get a lot more media attention, and the Pens play hockey and well don't get as much media attention (in this country anyway).  Also, the Pens "Big Three" have won a championship, and the Heat, well, I'm sure you have probably heard by now.

Speaking of championships, I think that is the biggest similarity between these two groups.  Both of the groups will be measured in terms of their championships that they have won.  If you look at hockey, whether you are a fan of the Penguins or not, they have the best 1-2-3 punch in hockey today, and maybe ever.  When you have that talent, the expectations are huge, especially when you have won before.  In 08', we made the Cup Finals only to lose to Detroit.  In 09', we avenged the prior year's defeat with a cup win.  In 10, we lost in 7 games in the second round to Montreal.  Last year we blew a 3-1 lead in the series to Tampa Bay, and had an early first round exit.  2010 could be blamed on fatigue, as the Pens played an extra half of a season of hockey from the playoffs.  That year was the olympics as well.  Last year, the Pens were stricken with injuries and were without the services of Crosby, Malkin, and Staal for much of the season.  This season brought about new hope with the three being reunited.

I think these three are comparable to the Heat's Big Three based on performances.  Malkin reminds me of Lebron - Flashy numbers, but not someone you think of in the clutch.  In big moments, Malkin often disappears and gets kind of lost in the moment.  Staal is like Bosh.  He is a big man and consistent performer.  He has shown clutch traits, and comes up with the occasional big game.  He is also sound in both areas of the ice.  Then there is Crosby.  By deduction, you will realize I will relate him to Wade.  The team will go as far as Crosby takes them.  He is one of the transcedent players of our generation, and he is the one you think of as clutch (see Golden Goal in 2010, youngest Stanley Cup winning captain). 

It is time for the big three to earn their paychecks.  If the Pens go on to win today, and then ultimately on Tuesday.  They would complete something only three other teams have done in the history of hockey.  It sounds like something that would fit in Crosby's legacy, no?  For a group of players measured on championships, a first-round exit does not sit well with anyone.  Especially when there are no excuses this year.  Think what would happen if the Heat lose to the Knicks in the first-round this year.  If the Pens do go on to win today and win the series, one thing is for sure, look for 87 to be near the top of the stat line....

Pen's Tee Times Delayed...

If you are like me, I thought the Pens were dead in this series.  All of the strengths from the regular season started failing the Pens at the same time in the postseason ('cept scoring).  A team that boasted the 3rd best PK in the NHL, and a goalie that won the 2nd most games, lost the first three games of the series in a variety of ways.  Most of the reasons ultimately came back to team defense, special teams, and goaltending.

It seemed as though the Pens thought, "We have Sidney Crosby back in the lineup....now we don't have to play defense, and we will surely outscore all of our opponents...."  As most of you know, it looked like this series was going to work that way.  The Pens came out to an early 3-0 lead, and looked like they were going to cruise into the 2nd round.  Unfortunately, they started playing like they were going to cruise into the 2nd round, and the Flyers have the horses, a nice mix of young talent and veteran leadership, to skate with these high-flying Pens.  The first three games are history, and you know the results.

Glimpses of the meltdowns that occurred in the first three games started to show toward the end of the year.  After the Pen's 11-game winning streak was snapped by none other than the Flyers on March 18, the Pens rebounded with an 8-4 win over the Winnipeg Jets.  Only to follow that a few games later with an 8-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators.  Sound familiar to anyone?  The first three games of this series were a dreaded combination of poor PK, poor team defense, a lack of discipline, and a goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury, losing confidence because of the three prior points.  At many other times in the regular season, our mediocre defense was bailed out by some sparkling saves from the now veteran netminder.  Those same saves were absent in the first three games of this series.

Which leads me to last night's game where much of the same figured to happen.  The first period featured 7 goals, with the Penguins clinging to a 4-3 lead.  (Much of the same)  The Flyer's three goals sounded familiar as well.  All three were PP goals setup by a lack of focus and discipline from the Pens.  Two of them should have been stopped by Fleury, and it looked as though we were in for deja vu all over again.  Any Penguin's fan that felt good about being up 4-3 probably did not watch any of the series, as it seemed like any lead would not be safe. 

However, let's give our guys a bit of credit.  They are a proud bunch that have gone through tremendous adversity over the past couple of seasons.  They came out in the second and third periods and played 'their' game.  They cycled the puck.  They got to the net.  They agitated and irritated the Flyers.  They got on the PP and scored 4 goals, and kept their own emotions in check.  Fleury gained confidence each save he made, and finished the game with two shutout periods (his only other being Game 1, Period 1).  They capitalized on shoddy defense and turnovers.  Sound familiar?  It should to most Pen's fans because it has been the Flyer's calling card for the first three games of the series.

If only for one game, the Pens looked like the Pens we all expected, and the Flyers looked like the Flyers we all expected.  So, the series continues as fans wonder if this was an anomaly, or the beginning to something magical.  The only two things for sure are that the team put their summer on hold for one more game, and with each goal, save, successful penalty-kill, and win, the team and their fanbase start believing in the ultimate goal that seemed so distant on Sunday afternoon....