The World is Black. The World is White . . . Sometimes

Anyone who has ever been to a football match (that's soccer for the unenlightened) with me knows that I get quite passionate about my athletics. While most of my world is painted in shades of grey, sports are the one area where I am totally black and white. Let's just say that I have an overdeveloped sense of justice and fair play when it comes to sports, particularly at the high school level.

These activities have rules for a reason. Rules, first and foremost, protect the athletes. They guide the play of the game. They provide objective guidelines for those who officiate the games. Rules also teach sportsmanship and help the young athletes develop character.

Because of this last reason, it becomes incumbent upon the officials to do the best job possible. Before you even think it, I will concede that referees do not see everything that happens in the game. They must, however, officiate objectively, applying the rules without bias or arbitration. I am seeing less and less of this as the years go by and officials seek to inject themselves into the game.

I have seen soccer officials make calls in direct contradiction to the FIFA Laws of the Game. (And yes, I used to carry my own copy to the games.) Basketball referees have ignored the infractions of an aggressive team and charged the more passive team for touch fouls. I witnessed an assistant soccer referee turn his back on the field of play during the game to converse with the female players sitting on the bench. In what may be the worst dereliction of duty, a young man received a concussion after being thrown to the ground in violation of the rules and the official claimed the action was permissible in the game. Worse yet, the powers that be don't seem to care that this nonsense continues to happen.

I speak directly of the West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission (WVSSAC). That body, established to promote high school athletics and protect the student athlete, has lost sight of its true purpose and now focuses on what it can do for the adults affiliated with the organization.

After the incident of the referee who ignored the game, I reported him to WVSSAC. All they were concerned about was what he said to the girls on the bench. Wasn't it more important that he focus on the job for which he was being paid -- to officiate a game? Whatever he said to the girls (which I later discovered was inappropriate) was secondary to this. What if an incident had occurred during his flirtation that resulted in a player injury? My complaint was ignored because WVSSAC did not deem dereliction of duty by an official to be as important as the referee's feelings.

(I could provide details of the other incident, but the horse is dying. I'm not beating it anymore. I've gotten off and let it die.) And I'm not even going to start on the private school recruitment issue that WVSSAC refuses to address.

WVSSAC once was an auspicious body that set the standard for high school athletics in the state. Now it is a body that can't or won't make a decision that upsets its cushy little world. What leadership and character qualities are you teaching the student athletes by giving priority to your own importance?

And you wonder why my sports world is so black and white . . .

And you're working for no one but me!

(with apologies to The Beatles, once again)

Well we just sent our pound of flesh to the State of Ohio. Yes, we owed state taxes, and not just a few bucks either. More than 600 dollars, all to help bail our great state out of its economic cesspool. And part of it was our fault, because the West Virginia retirement fund can't withhold another state's taxes from my husband's pension. So we're always going to owe.

(That's one for you, nineteen for me.)

Now don't get me wrong. I believe in paying my fair share of taxes, just as I believe that my tax dollars should go to support programs that help Americans in need. The operative words here are "fair share" and "help Americans in need". I don't believe, however, that appointing your cronies to advisor and cabinet posts, then giving them a huge raise meets either of those criteria. I also find it difficult to believe that a retired school teacher and someone who is unemployed still owe the state MORE in tax money.

(Be thankful I don't take it all.)

So Governor Kasich, please enjoy our contribution to your staff compensation fund. The extra money you allocated to the members of this highly valuable think tank is more than most Ohioans make in a year. I expect we will see grand results from their efforts -- new industry throughout the state, new technology, unemployment reduced to zero, no one in need of utility assistance. People compensated that well must possess superb intellect, outstanding business acumen, and overarching concern for less fortunate Ohioans. We should benefit from their abilities and see outstanding results. I, for one, will be waiting . . .

(Yeah, I'm the taxman.)

Take Me Home, Country Roads

In this area, we are fortunate to have a lovely community magazine called Findlay NOW. Published monthly, it highlights people, places and things that make our little slice of northwest Ohio special. I commend the Miller family and the publication staff for this little gem.

But there's a caveat to even the most glowing reviews (isn't there always?). I found a recent article in praise of flat land to be highly disparaging to my former home, West Virginia. Perhaps Mr. Boroff wrote his missive with his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, or maybe he was serious. Whatever the true tenor of his writing, I still take exception to it.

First, he claims to have acquired native colloquialisms during his time spent in West Virginia. During the 50-plus years I lived in southeastern Ohio and West Virginia, I never once heard locals use the terms ole' Mississip and hornswoggled. Yes, we say "crick", drop our "G"s, and turn "I" into the longest vowel in the alphabet. But West Virginians do not use terms straight out of a Gabby Hayes western. We are NOT, Mr. Boroff, a entire state of Jessco Whites.

Next, he attacks our beautiful and ancient Appalachian Mountains. Breath-taking? Yes! Awe-inspiring? Yes! But, as a transplanted Mountaineer, I was just as awe-struck the first time I saw Lake Erie waves breaking on Marblehead. Every place has its merits -- scenery to take away your breath and make you say "Wow". Perhaps some people are simply more vocal about West Virginia's mountainous scenery than they are about the amber waves of grain in northwest Ohio. It's all still beautiful.

You mention the impracticalities of mountainous landscape. Driving poses no obstacle. Nor does building construction or a quick game of driveway basketball. You see, we adapt, making the most of what nature handed us. Don't believe me? Come ride with me on the curviest road we can find. I'll teach you how to straighten the curves while staying on the road.

Yes, we can expand our definition of scenic and scenery. I find the local fields of winter wheat at harvest time as beautiful as fall foliage in the Mid-Ohio Valley, a summer storm on Lake Erie akin to winter snows on Seneca Rocks, and the winds of northwest Ohio as forceful as those of Dolly Sods.

Yes, flat lands are remarkable and lovely in their own way. Except perhaps Kansas or the Bonneville Salt Flats. Having been across both in my childhood, I found them to be mind-numbingly dull and boring. At least the Salt Flats have land speed record trials to enhance their appeal. Kansas has . . . well let's just say, Dorothy can keep it.

In an effort to promote the positive values of northwest Ohio, please don't denegrate an area well-known for its beauty. Just be a better promoter of what we have here -- where I choose to live -- in northwest Ohio.