If the Saints win out and the Falcons win out (besides Saints game). 1.) Teams will have split head to head, 2.) Both teams would end with 1 division loss against each other.
The 3rd tiebreaker is where the Saints would lose home field advatage to Atlanta. Outside of divisional games, Falcons would be 7-1 in common games only losing to Pittsburgh - who the Saints beat on Halloween). Saints would be 6-2 (losing to Arizona & Cleveland - both teams that Atlanta beat)
Bad losses could come back and haunt the Saints. We need Atlanta to lose and to beat them
http://www.nfl.com/standings/tiebreakingprocedures
TO BREAK A TIE WITHIN A DIVISION
If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs in the same division finish with identical won-lost-tied percentages, the following steps will be taken until a champion is determined.
Two Clubs
1.) Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs).
2.) Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the division.
3.) Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games.
4.) Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference.
5.) Strength of victory.
6.) Strength of schedule.
7.) Best combined ranking among conference teams in points scored and points allowed.
8.) Best combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed.
9.)Best net points in common games.
10.) Best net points in all games.
11.) Best net touchdowns in all games.
12.) Coin toss
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Different is Refreshing
One of the reasons that hip hop music is so refreshing is because it's an alternative to the matrix that we live in today. You have an understanding of what I mean when I say matrix if you have ever seen The Matrix (the first movie because they others were more about graphics than a story line). There is the world that we live in, in its own purity and the constructed ideology is the matrix.
Many of these ideologies are bred from our own arrogance about ourselves. Most Italian Americans I know love the Rocky movies and it's because they can relate to the culture. Similarly, black women love Tyler Perry movies because he always have a story that relates to them (other than Daddy's Little Girls).
Think of how many things are just made up. For instance, Classes - somehow if you drive a Mercedes, it makes you better than me because I drive a Honda? -OR- The point of eating food for most people is survival but for those of the upper class there is a particular way to do it, a certain spoon you use for your gumbo, another one for your dish, a certain fork for this. Realistically, that has no bearing on if you can get the food into your mouth but at some point these things were created and a certain class holds true to them as if they are gold.
We are taught to think that way though. There are also certain symbols that we respond to. Dave Chapelle mentions how a lot of women that leave nothing to the imagination when it comes to attire get upset if you refer to them in a derogatory manner. He said that they should get upset, but at the same time these women are confusing us. He said it would be similar to him (Comedian Dave Chapelle) walking up in a police uniform. Somebody might run up to him asking for help. He can't really get upset because we respond to those symbols. Being a professional, I understand that as comfortable as a t-shirt and sweats are, I can't wear them to a business meeting because that ruins my credibility.
Remember that we are all big kids. Our normal desires are embedded at childhood, even negative things. THINK OF A CHILD: If you a child sees something he or she likes and starts to play for it, trying to take it away will evoke a "Mine!" scream from the child. If your child see yous holding another child, they most often try to get to your lap. Some kids want a toy only because their sibling is playing with it...POSSESSIVENESS, JEALOUSY, ENVY. People like to look at kids as little innocent creatures but I on the other hand think that we are born corrupt. Usually kids that are properly disciplined and taught structure wind up being better functioning adults within the guidelines and rules of that society. Whether it be religion or other forms of structure, they have to learn to submerge things that come natural.
What comes with structure is telling someone to discipline themselves to the point that they can do something that does not come natural. I think with changes in media, entertainment, etc., it becomes more difficult to do.
One thing that used to be done in our society was they used to limit what was out there. You had maybe 3 channels and not every household had a television. Whenever role models (sports, actors, political figures) would do shameful things, TMZ/Fox News wasn't there to report it. We kept a wholesome image of the role models, there were constraints put on what could be said/done on television & radio. Without that control people have run amok.
With the exposure to people who are not only successful without marriage, but also happy, people see the institution of marriage as something that limits you. CNBC asked the question: Is marriage becoming extinct? If so, I think that this is the reason. Most people don't feel like you HAVE TO do this. It's a very good article, check it out:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1653735257&play=1
One of the things that I mentioned earlier was the Hip Hop influence. Most of the Hip Hop artist come from an environment that lacks the structure so those norms set by society so it's easy to embrace because it feeds into our natural desires.
One example, I have seen people take a lot of bull out of fear (don't want to lose the security of their marriage, don't want to get fired). So the alternative is to listen to someone else have that aggression for you. Waka Flock Flame is by no means a talented lyricist but I love to listen to him because he simply doesn't care. He lives life without a care in the world. Since I do have cares, I can live vicariously through him. When I lack self confidence I can listen to Kanye or Lil Wayne and they rap the lyrics vicariously. It's a very interesting dynamic. What alternatively happens is that those behaviors that are condemned by strucure become normalized.
So where do we go from here? Is it better for society to dictate our thoughts. People had less fear then because much was under control. But now people are thinking independently, more than ever before. There is of course fear because things aren't so black & white (like my previous blog). But you also have piece of mind. You can see through fake people when you get out and experience things. Hmmm. JUST A THOUGHT.
Many of these ideologies are bred from our own arrogance about ourselves. Most Italian Americans I know love the Rocky movies and it's because they can relate to the culture. Similarly, black women love Tyler Perry movies because he always have a story that relates to them (other than Daddy's Little Girls).
Think of how many things are just made up. For instance, Classes - somehow if you drive a Mercedes, it makes you better than me because I drive a Honda? -OR- The point of eating food for most people is survival but for those of the upper class there is a particular way to do it, a certain spoon you use for your gumbo, another one for your dish, a certain fork for this. Realistically, that has no bearing on if you can get the food into your mouth but at some point these things were created and a certain class holds true to them as if they are gold.
We are taught to think that way though. There are also certain symbols that we respond to. Dave Chapelle mentions how a lot of women that leave nothing to the imagination when it comes to attire get upset if you refer to them in a derogatory manner. He said that they should get upset, but at the same time these women are confusing us. He said it would be similar to him (Comedian Dave Chapelle) walking up in a police uniform. Somebody might run up to him asking for help. He can't really get upset because we respond to those symbols. Being a professional, I understand that as comfortable as a t-shirt and sweats are, I can't wear them to a business meeting because that ruins my credibility.
Remember that we are all big kids. Our normal desires are embedded at childhood, even negative things. THINK OF A CHILD: If you a child sees something he or she likes and starts to play for it, trying to take it away will evoke a "Mine!" scream from the child. If your child see yous holding another child, they most often try to get to your lap. Some kids want a toy only because their sibling is playing with it...POSSESSIVENESS, JEALOUSY, ENVY. People like to look at kids as little innocent creatures but I on the other hand think that we are born corrupt. Usually kids that are properly disciplined and taught structure wind up being better functioning adults within the guidelines and rules of that society. Whether it be religion or other forms of structure, they have to learn to submerge things that come natural.
What comes with structure is telling someone to discipline themselves to the point that they can do something that does not come natural. I think with changes in media, entertainment, etc., it becomes more difficult to do.
One thing that used to be done in our society was they used to limit what was out there. You had maybe 3 channels and not every household had a television. Whenever role models (sports, actors, political figures) would do shameful things, TMZ/Fox News wasn't there to report it. We kept a wholesome image of the role models, there were constraints put on what could be said/done on television & radio. Without that control people have run amok.
With the exposure to people who are not only successful without marriage, but also happy, people see the institution of marriage as something that limits you. CNBC asked the question: Is marriage becoming extinct? If so, I think that this is the reason. Most people don't feel like you HAVE TO do this. It's a very good article, check it out:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1653735257&play=1
One of the things that I mentioned earlier was the Hip Hop influence. Most of the Hip Hop artist come from an environment that lacks the structure so those norms set by society so it's easy to embrace because it feeds into our natural desires.
One example, I have seen people take a lot of bull out of fear (don't want to lose the security of their marriage, don't want to get fired). So the alternative is to listen to someone else have that aggression for you. Waka Flock Flame is by no means a talented lyricist but I love to listen to him because he simply doesn't care. He lives life without a care in the world. Since I do have cares, I can live vicariously through him. When I lack self confidence I can listen to Kanye or Lil Wayne and they rap the lyrics vicariously. It's a very interesting dynamic. What alternatively happens is that those behaviors that are condemned by strucure become normalized.
So where do we go from here? Is it better for society to dictate our thoughts. People had less fear then because much was under control. But now people are thinking independently, more than ever before. There is of course fear because things aren't so black & white (like my previous blog). But you also have piece of mind. You can see through fake people when you get out and experience things. Hmmm. JUST A THOUGHT.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Relationships (Marriage)
I am basing this blog on marriage but like I say all the time, people are consistent. I of course believe in 'Tabula Rasa' and feel that's why their are so many cycles, situations where the grandmother, mother, and grand daughter are now in the same boat because they lived what they learned.
A mother is a son's first girlfriend. Depending on that relationship that he has with his mother that will most likely be that lasting image of what he feels his wife will be (in terms of qualities). I've seen a lot of girls that feel the same way about their fathers. There are some females that I know, if they pull up to a gas station and you don't get out of the passenger seat to pump their gas, then they have written you off. Why? It's because their dad always did it for their mom and their dad is the model for the guy they should be with.
Relationships have changed so much. I once heard a comedian say, "Only 25% of marriages are successful. Think about it, the divorce rate is 50% and half of the married people stay together becuase of kids or the finances." I thought about it. What's the problem. (Remember that you both: traditionally have the religious side and have the contractual obligation by law)
1.) The value of the institution of marriage has changed. People used to say "I Do" in front of God and really took that as a promise to him. Now, I think that society is more about the show. You have a lot of people who no longer do it in the church. Without valueing the covenant with the higher power I believe people don't challenge themselves as much to get through the tough times.
2.) People get married at older ages now. It does work many times. I think the problem with that is that the older you get, the more stuck in your ways you become. I know of some Baby Boomers that got married at 17 or 18 and at that point in life, you don't know what you like and you're still being molded. You are still growing as a person and you grow into the marriage. On the other hand, if you get married in your 30's, you may live on your own and know what kind of car you like, how you want your household to be run, you may be too independent, etc. I'm sure you're saying how can you be too independent but I've seen too often independent people not know how to make their counterpart feel necessary. That's why we have insurance. The insurance industry is based on peoples needs to feel secure and safe in case the unexpected happens. People want to get in a relationship and feel that also. If I don't feel that security then I'm always going to be paranoid thinking I'm not good enough because I'll always feel "She can leave me at any time" if it's not there.
3.) In general, I feel that young people (my generation) has issues with sticking with things. You see some older guys, if they were a Pittsburgh Steelers fan when they were younger, they are the same as an adult. If Pitt has a 6-10 year, they are still Pittsburgh fans. You see a lot of young guys bandwagon jumping. They want to be a fan of whoever is good at that time. Sports is one place that I see it alot. But you also see it in other aspects of life.
One thing that I think we can't get into is idolizing older people too much. A lot of young people have issues with is how older generations always sound like their are downing us. It creates a gap. I can say this from being in the choir, working with youth ministry, and teaching Catechism. You have to make sure you relate to millenials and not say, "Something is wrong with kids today."
One thing that I'm beginning to see is that the older generations had just as many problems. Many of them got married at young ages or when the girl got pregnant becuase IT WAS THE THING TO DO. It was not as much of a thought out decision. What happened was, people got married to people they were not compatible with and sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not.
That is the big question, what is the correct formula to making a successful marriage. One of the toughest things is that PEOPLE ARE CONSISTENT and marriage goes against that. There are a lot of guys that aren't faithful because they like variety. They don't want to wear the same outfit everyday and eat the same meal. It gets tired and boring. Then comes the value issue. If you enter a marriage and are not getting what you feel your value is worth, do you stay? Darrell Revis has entered a contract that pays him bottom feed but he is the best cornerback in football. Should he just accept that agreement? There is a lot to think about when making decisions. JUST A THOUGHT
A mother is a son's first girlfriend. Depending on that relationship that he has with his mother that will most likely be that lasting image of what he feels his wife will be (in terms of qualities). I've seen a lot of girls that feel the same way about their fathers. There are some females that I know, if they pull up to a gas station and you don't get out of the passenger seat to pump their gas, then they have written you off. Why? It's because their dad always did it for their mom and their dad is the model for the guy they should be with.
Relationships have changed so much. I once heard a comedian say, "Only 25% of marriages are successful. Think about it, the divorce rate is 50% and half of the married people stay together becuase of kids or the finances." I thought about it. What's the problem. (Remember that you both: traditionally have the religious side and have the contractual obligation by law)
1.) The value of the institution of marriage has changed. People used to say "I Do" in front of God and really took that as a promise to him. Now, I think that society is more about the show. You have a lot of people who no longer do it in the church. Without valueing the covenant with the higher power I believe people don't challenge themselves as much to get through the tough times.
2.) People get married at older ages now. It does work many times. I think the problem with that is that the older you get, the more stuck in your ways you become. I know of some Baby Boomers that got married at 17 or 18 and at that point in life, you don't know what you like and you're still being molded. You are still growing as a person and you grow into the marriage. On the other hand, if you get married in your 30's, you may live on your own and know what kind of car you like, how you want your household to be run, you may be too independent, etc. I'm sure you're saying how can you be too independent but I've seen too often independent people not know how to make their counterpart feel necessary. That's why we have insurance. The insurance industry is based on peoples needs to feel secure and safe in case the unexpected happens. People want to get in a relationship and feel that also. If I don't feel that security then I'm always going to be paranoid thinking I'm not good enough because I'll always feel "She can leave me at any time" if it's not there.
3.) In general, I feel that young people (my generation) has issues with sticking with things. You see some older guys, if they were a Pittsburgh Steelers fan when they were younger, they are the same as an adult. If Pitt has a 6-10 year, they are still Pittsburgh fans. You see a lot of young guys bandwagon jumping. They want to be a fan of whoever is good at that time. Sports is one place that I see it alot. But you also see it in other aspects of life.
One thing that I think we can't get into is idolizing older people too much. A lot of young people have issues with is how older generations always sound like their are downing us. It creates a gap. I can say this from being in the choir, working with youth ministry, and teaching Catechism. You have to make sure you relate to millenials and not say, "Something is wrong with kids today."
One thing that I'm beginning to see is that the older generations had just as many problems. Many of them got married at young ages or when the girl got pregnant becuase IT WAS THE THING TO DO. It was not as much of a thought out decision. What happened was, people got married to people they were not compatible with and sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not.
That is the big question, what is the correct formula to making a successful marriage. One of the toughest things is that PEOPLE ARE CONSISTENT and marriage goes against that. There are a lot of guys that aren't faithful because they like variety. They don't want to wear the same outfit everyday and eat the same meal. It gets tired and boring. Then comes the value issue. If you enter a marriage and are not getting what you feel your value is worth, do you stay? Darrell Revis has entered a contract that pays him bottom feed but he is the best cornerback in football. Should he just accept that agreement? There is a lot to think about when making decisions. JUST A THOUGHT
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Is anything really black or white?
I am one of those people who see life as a slippery slope of grey. Why is that? I think much of it comes from the variety of people I have been around from a youth until now. I also think that I am a product of my generation.
If you look at Baby Boomers for instance, most of them had limited influences growing up. They may have lived in a segregated community so they were limited in the amount of culture they were exposed to in that sense. They probably had one television in the house. If you did have one it was a luxury and there were not that many channels. You had to most likely share that one TV with a lot of people. And many of them grew up in a household where one parent worked and the other was the bread winner. The parents had stronger credibility as they were the major influence.
Fast forward. Next was Gereration X (if I'm correct), then came Generation Y (also know as The Net Generation or Millenials). We grew up with digital cable/satellite (a multitude of media outlets via the televisions) and the internet (information at our fingertips). Schools were intergrated by the time I went. Many of the things that were taboo in society are normalized now. The difference between right and wrong is not that simple for me.
Because of that exposure to so much information, I understand motivation now. It's not that prostitution is wrong...it's that it's not a taxable institution. Make it an "escort" service, now it's legal. Gambling was wrong as long as people were running numbers...give them a "gaming" license, make it a taxable institution and now it's all good. Who remembers prohibition? Alcohol was illegal when people were making moon shine, that's a lost art and now alcohol is again legal. The more you know, things that once were clear is not as clear anymore.
I'm sure that hip hop was also a major influence on my thinking. A simple song like "I'll Pay Fa It" by Soulja Slim is not as bad as it may seem anymore. Yes the song is about paying for sex. We know from Ted Haggard and John Edwards that people do it. I'm from the westbank and I can tell you that if you are on the wrong part of 4th St. late at night, you might see some of that going on. A co-worker that traveled to Europe told me about the ports. They used to have rooms that the sea men could pay to have sex with women at the parts. If we go back to the Bible, Mary Magdalene was a prostitute and there is talk of concubines. So whereas people try to say hip hop has created a terrible society, these things were already there. Hip hop sometimes normalizes the behavior (and people in turn don't feel bad about engaging in it).
Similarly, people ask me, "As a black man do you get upset when you see another black man with gold fronts, listening to loud music, and wearing sagging pants?" I don't. Just like the African man in the dashiki, the Scottish guy wearing the plaid skirt, that is his culture. And who am I to judge him because I grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood and went to Catholic school my whole life. He is culturally different from me and I have no room to judge him.
With that said, I have become a total grey thinker. Am I wrong because my moral boundaries are not clearly defined or because I feel like much of the landscape of what we live in is TOTALLY made up. Think about it. Is there really anything that you can say is a clear yes or no, a clear black or white? JUST A THOUGHT
If you look at Baby Boomers for instance, most of them had limited influences growing up. They may have lived in a segregated community so they were limited in the amount of culture they were exposed to in that sense. They probably had one television in the house. If you did have one it was a luxury and there were not that many channels. You had to most likely share that one TV with a lot of people. And many of them grew up in a household where one parent worked and the other was the bread winner. The parents had stronger credibility as they were the major influence.
Fast forward. Next was Gereration X (if I'm correct), then came Generation Y (also know as The Net Generation or Millenials). We grew up with digital cable/satellite (a multitude of media outlets via the televisions) and the internet (information at our fingertips). Schools were intergrated by the time I went. Many of the things that were taboo in society are normalized now. The difference between right and wrong is not that simple for me.
Because of that exposure to so much information, I understand motivation now. It's not that prostitution is wrong...it's that it's not a taxable institution. Make it an "escort" service, now it's legal. Gambling was wrong as long as people were running numbers...give them a "gaming" license, make it a taxable institution and now it's all good. Who remembers prohibition? Alcohol was illegal when people were making moon shine, that's a lost art and now alcohol is again legal. The more you know, things that once were clear is not as clear anymore.
I'm sure that hip hop was also a major influence on my thinking. A simple song like "I'll Pay Fa It" by Soulja Slim is not as bad as it may seem anymore. Yes the song is about paying for sex. We know from Ted Haggard and John Edwards that people do it. I'm from the westbank and I can tell you that if you are on the wrong part of 4th St. late at night, you might see some of that going on. A co-worker that traveled to Europe told me about the ports. They used to have rooms that the sea men could pay to have sex with women at the parts. If we go back to the Bible, Mary Magdalene was a prostitute and there is talk of concubines. So whereas people try to say hip hop has created a terrible society, these things were already there. Hip hop sometimes normalizes the behavior (and people in turn don't feel bad about engaging in it).
Similarly, people ask me, "As a black man do you get upset when you see another black man with gold fronts, listening to loud music, and wearing sagging pants?" I don't. Just like the African man in the dashiki, the Scottish guy wearing the plaid skirt, that is his culture. And who am I to judge him because I grew up in an upper middle class neighborhood and went to Catholic school my whole life. He is culturally different from me and I have no room to judge him.
With that said, I have become a total grey thinker. Am I wrong because my moral boundaries are not clearly defined or because I feel like much of the landscape of what we live in is TOTALLY made up. Think about it. Is there really anything that you can say is a clear yes or no, a clear black or white? JUST A THOUGHT
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