On the move ... again

Ah, Spring ... time to look for a new job.

Luckily, this hasn't been as difficult a chore as in past years. On Thursday, I was offered and accepted a position with a business wire service in downtown Washington DC, and will be moving from eastern Connecticut sometime in the next three weeks.

My path into journalism has been kind of an odd one. I got into this almost 10 years ago when I turned 30 years old. Prior to that, I was in sales, selling business books to corporations, and I was pretty good it at, but I was also pretty miserable. When I got my first job in journalism, working for a division of ESPN in New Jersey, all I wanted to do, in my mind anyway, was be a sportswriter.

That was in 1995. Since then, I have been a sports editor, news writer, news editor and newsman with The Associated Press. I have lived in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Missouri. I have gone where I was needed and am ready to do it ... again. Now, I am getting ready to start another chapter in this new career. Wish me luck.

Now, would someone please help me up on my soapbox.

As I sit here wondering what to write about, nothing is really coming to mind. Finger in Wendy's chili? Nah. President Bush as a lying freak? No. Steriods in baseball and -- heaven, forbid! -- football? No, thats OK.

In Norwich, Conn., there was a recent incident where a student at a middle school, in repsonse to teasing by bullies, made an inappropriate comment by claiming he was going to shoot them. Not the best plan of action from a country that has seen shooting rampages in Colorado, Arkansas and Minnesota over the last six years.

The child who uttered the threat was suspended. I don't think this teen had any intention of shooting up his middle school. It sounds like, to me anyway, that he was being unmercifully teased by these bullies for whatever reason. My point is this ... its one thing to suspend the kid who makes a stupid statement, perhaps in the heat of the moment just to take some of the pressure off of him. It's another thing to do nothing to the kids who precipitated the teasing in the first place.

The junior high school and middle school years can be the worst for any kid growing up. Between trying to fit in and dealing with physical and emotional changes, it's hard to survive sometimes. If a child is perceived as different -- not fitting in because he or she looks different, acts different, things like that -- it can be devastating to a child's psyche and self-esteem.

I know. I lived it. For the most part, I'm OK ... there are still some things that I have issues with that I am working through, but things for the most part are good.

I guess what I am trying to get across is this ... if we're going to watch the actions of one school child, perhaps it is time to look at the ones around him or her as well. Things may not be as cut-and-dried as they seem.

Anyway, what do you think? ... I'd like to know.

Of eggs, Arnold and a papal pit bull

Well, that was quick.

In just 15 days after the death of Pope John Paul II, the Roman Catholic world has a new spiritual leader. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany Tuesday was elected the 265th pontiff in history.

Not being a Roman Catholic, I may not be the best person to weigh in on this, but here goes nothing ... I spoke with a friend today and said I thought Ratzinger -- now Benedict XVI -- was what I called a transitional pope. This is not a slight by any means. John Paul II was 58 years old when elected by the College of Cardinals. Ratzinger just celebrated his 78th birthday earlier this week.

John Paul II was the leader of 1.1 billion Roman Catholics for 26 years -- the third-longest tenure in papal history. Benedict XVI would be 104 years old to match that ... not likely.

Not everyone though was happy about the selection. According to a published report by Victor L. Simpson of The Associated Press, not everyone, including at least one of Ratzinger's own compatriots was less than enamored with the decision.

"Niels Hendrich, 40, of Hamburg, Germany, jumped up and down at the prospect of a new pope — but then gave only three halfhearted claps when he learned who it was," the report stated. "'I am not happy about this at all,' Hendrich said. 'Ratzinger will put the brakes on all the progressive movements in the church that I support.'"

John Paul II may not have been loved by all, but he was most definitely admired by many from a wide spectrum of faiths and cultures. Benedict XVI will have a hard time living up to that: A radio reporter for WCBS-AM in New York City referred to the German Cardinal as John Paul II's "papal enforcer."

Anyone who was looking for a more liberal clergy is not going to find it was Benedict XVI. I won't go so far as to say the opposite will happen, but I believe things will be tightened up.

One more thing about all this coverage. For those who can remember when John Paul I died suddenly -- at 33 days, you could say he was the William Henry Harrison of popes (and for those who don't know who W.H.H. was, check your American history books), Anyway, when the conclave last gathered in 1978, there was no Internet like there is today and 24-hour news channels weren't in existence.

Given the way the media -- thanks, my brothers -- has been carrying on through all this, you would almost have expected to hear sports announcer Brent Musberger bellow "You're looking LIVE at the Sistine Chapel ... "

Anyway, what do you think? ... I'd like to know.

What NHL season?

I suppose I should let the world know I am -- or was -- a huge hockey fan. When I was younger, I would watch SportsCenter just to get the late Vancouver-Winnipeg highlights.

Wednesday night was to be the first night of the postseason, a six-week sprint where any Tom, Dick or Jean-Sebastien could become the hot player that leads his team to the Stanley Cup.

A side note about Jean-Sebastien Giguere ... I once covered a game between the New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers (yes, there once was a team in Connecticut!) for ESPN SportsTicker. The Whalers announced in game notes that they recalled a goaltender from juniors. This big, skinny goof steps out on the ice dressed in Whalers dark blue and wearing No. 47. His pads were still the red and grey of whatever his junior team was. He didn't get into the game that night, but after unremarkable stops in Carolina and Calgary, J-S Giguere helped lead the Mighty Ducks to a Stanley Cup loss to the New Jersey Devils two years ago, emerging as a top-notch goaltender.

But I digress ... this season, there has been no NHL to speak of. All it has been is sporadic negotiating and a lot of backbiting. I thought I would miss it a lot more. Nope. If anything, I have been turned off by it all, frankly, I am not the type of fan the NHL can afford to lose.

I will be 40 later this year. I have been going to game since I was 6 -- my first game was the Rangers and the California Golden Seals in 1971. Since then, I have been to more games that I can count, and not just in the New York metropolitan area. I have been to outposts like Calgary and Vancouver as well as arenas nationwide in the states. It was nothing for me to decide, "Hey, I think I'll go to Denver this weekend to see the Avs."

No more. The NHL took away something from me because two boys couldn't decide how to play nice and so they decided to stand there, back to back, with their arms crossed. I understand the league wants to cultivate a new generation of fans. They need not do so at the expense of those like me.

Please let me know what you think ... I'd like to know.