sports writers and "volunteer" armies...

sports writers are on my nerves these days because they are condemning the journeyman relief pitcher who snitched on other baseball players after being busted accepting human growth hormone. now, in my line of work one typically will not look too favorably on those that rat out other criminals, partially because it makes the job harder, partially because it violates an unwritten rule of society's underbelly, and partially because snitches get people hurt and killed...even innocent ones. i also have a problem when people condemn someone for not helping law enforcement in their investigation...as if that is not their constitutional right. so when sports writers were going on and on about the duke lacrosse rape scandal (which is beginning to look more and more like a dog for the prosecution) and how despicable it was that the team was not talking (and on a side note...let me tell you this folks...no matter how innocent you are, DO NOT TALK...in the end, 99f the time it will come back to bite you in the ass...lawyer up, and do it the second they start asking). fine...most people feel that way (because we live in a repressive vindictive society...yea, i said it...what?). but now that grimsley ratted on guys who are destroying a game they love they are all pissed at him and calling him a no-good cowardly piece of shit. this is one of the rare instances where i say fuck that...nobody is going to give a shit that he ratted on millionaire ball players but millionaire ball players...and owners...and bud selig. we want some to turn in their friends...and then get mad when someone turns in those that aren't their friends (and one's with enough money to make sure they get a decent deal). i am much more comfortable with those whose friends are looking at very long prison terms (as they themselves are) remaining quiet than i am with some rich schmuck who cheated to get into and stay in the bigs.

on a side note, it has been rumored that they wanted him to wear a wire in a sting on bonds...if i were barry, i would be very, very worried. the feds are pissed at you and extremely bent on taking you down...not a good position to be in.

a soldier from washington informed his superiors he would not be showing up for another tour in iraq...and a lot of folks are telling him "too fucking bad"...and to be honest, i sympathize with both sides here, the kid served his country and has legitimate reasons not to return to action, but at the same time, it is difficult to keep military order when soldiers can choose to not show up. but here is my problem with a lot of what i am hearing from the "too fucking bad" crowd...the "he signed a contract and he needs to live up to those obligations" line. right...a kid that is badgered by recruiters (who by the way, have one of the worst jobs on the planet) when he is barely old enough to enter into a legally binding contract, barely old enough to vote, and not old enough to take the edge off from war with a beer, and he has got to live up those contractual obligations. of course he is old enough to enter a contract calling for him to put his life in danger based on the whim of a country whipped into a war fever. not to mention, how many of those fucking people decided they didn't like a job they were contractually obligated to and just quit. contracts are not written in stone like that...and it is ridiculous to use that as an excuse. admit that your concern is discipline in our military forces and not some high and mighty contract law.

on a similary note...the last one that did this got something like 10 to 15 years in military prison. puts a whole new spin on "volunteer" army...

if you're free start running away...cuz we're coming for you...