Jeff: Maybe It's Just Me

I'm starting to feel old, and completely out of touch with the world around me. I didn't think this was supposed to happen until I was 70, but it's happening before I even turn 30. Rock music today? Forget it! Or at least the stuff that makes in onto the radio. All the 93X death metal sounds like a bunch of yelling and screeching. I mean really, what do these guys have to be so upset about? They all came from middle class suburbia. What the hell do they have so much "angst" about? They didn't get a brand new Blazer for their 16th birthday and they've never forgiven their parents? Or they couldn't get a picture with Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld and now they hate corporate America? Please. Shut up already! And pop music? I'm amazed at what makes a top 40 hit these days. Or appalled. One of the two. Seriously bands like Led Zeppelin or Hendrix would have trouble getting on the radio if they were around today because they don't sound like complete crap!

The other reason I'm starting to feel old is that in my day, you know like 10 years ago, nobody complained about creating more playoff spots and opportunity. People back then had this crazy notion that if you didn't make the playoffs (be it high school, college, or the pros) then you weren't good enough and you'd try again next year. Now? If you won two games in a row at some point in your season apparently that's merit for a postseason berth. Parents of high school kids barely have enough time to complain about their kid's teachers (remember it's ALWAYS the teacher's fault. Never the neglecting parent who's never around or has not learned that "NO" is a word kids should hear more than "yes") because they're filing lawsuits because it's unfair that either a) their kid didn't make the team or b) their kids' team doesn't have a chance to make the playoffs.

Honestly, in 50 years we'll be at a point where any kid that enrolls in high school will not only be automatically put on whichever team they choose, but they'll also be state champs just by showing up. Show up for the first day of practice and we'll just hand out trophies to every single damn kid that walks in the door. God forbid they'd have to earn it, or maybe learn a lesson from losing. Nope, everybody's ENTITLED to it now! There's already like 17 classes of high school football in Minnesota, and I'm sure we'll have twice that many in another few years for those poor schools that just can't compete in their region. Am I the only one who looks at what the state of Indiana used to do for high school basketball- having ONE class for the entire state- and think that's a good idea?

And it's not just high schools. This year college basketball coaches were banging the drum about having more berths in the NCAA tournament because 65 just aren't enough. Really? Let me ask you, which are there fewer of right now: quality bands or quality college basketball teams? Although this year's March Madness was exciting, the Final 4 showed just how poor the level of play is today. And coaches want MORE of this? You want to reward mediocrity (and that's being kind in some cases) with more opportunities? This would be lowering the bar and rewarding the average instead of raising it and encouraging people to accel to a higher level. Major conference schools were complaining because Cincinnati, Michigan and Florida State were "robbed" of tournament berths! Really?
* Cincy lost 10 of their last 16 games (and defeated a grand total of ONE top 25 team!!)
* Michigan lost 7 of their last 9
* Florida State (19-9) lost in the 1st rd of the ACC tournament to hapless Wake Forest, and beat ONE top 25 team, #1 Duke at the end of the year.

These are teams deserving to get in? Hey maybe if you'd close out the season strong and beat a few quality teams, maybe you'd get more consideration!!

Finally even the NFL isn't immune to this whining. Yes Kansas City won 10 games and didn't get in, leaving a very good team out of the playoffs. And you know what? It's probably going to happen this year too! and the next! But wouldn't it be better to have a deserving team or two sitting home rather letting in 2 or 3 who don't deserve to be there? Yes the AFC will be another mad scramble this year to see who gets in while the NFC might as well draw straws to fill out their side of the bracket.

Am I the only one who likes to see competition and intrigue and drama in the regular season? Am I the only one who wants to see teams COMPETE and EARN their way into the playoffs? Maybe. Maybe I am. And maybe I'm the only one whose parents told me way back when something that so many people today seem to have forgotten: "life's not fair. Deal with it."

Maybe that's what all the death metal guys are so upset about.