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"Athleticism trumps character flaws" is Nike's defense as the sporting goods company starts a new ad campaign featuring Kobe Bryant. It's Nike's first ad since Bryant's arrest in 2003.
Bryant, of course, was never convicted, but he did admit some responsibility in his apology after the case would not be tried in criminal court.
Is this really the road we are heading down as a people? Is there no regard to a person's character as long as that person can play the game? Someone could be a rapist, serial killer, extortionist, but, hey, he can make 25 throws in a row. I truly see it to be a sad day when companies as large and nationally exposed as Nike no longer have any regard for a person's character and focus only on the almighty dollar when signing ad contracts. There is always a silver lining, however, because McDonalds and Nutella cut ties with Bryant as one of their endorsers. Any person, amazing athlete or not, who involves himself or herself with criminal activity shouldn't be the front name for any sporting goods company.
These corporations can inspire young athletes, so it seems more fitting that athletes who are not only well accomplished in their sport, but are also widely known for their ethical behavior should be used by these corporations. In Bryant's released statement he said, "Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."
Whether it was consensual or not, Bryant is a married man. Doesn't marriage count for anything in America anymore? It seems no thought or concern goes to the spouse(s) of people in these cases, criminal or civil. On second thought, perhaps in light of Kobe's recent troubles, he would be the ideal front man for Nike's motto, "Just Do It."
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Are you tired of paying high gas prices? I know that I am. But what are we suppose to do?
We are college students are just trying to make ends meet, yet gas prices keep on reducing our meager income away, with no end in sight. It is really frustrating to me, when about 20 percent of my weekly income goes toward gas not to mention the price of insurance and registration. It is definitely hard to maintain any source of spending money after you subtract all of those costs. Yet there are a few things that we can do.
Some people have turned to alternate routes of transportation. Such as: Biking, walking, taking buses or even buying scooters. But some of those options aren't for everyone. For those of us that can't get away with the above alternatives there is still a solution for you.
After doing some research I found some tips that will help you keep the gas that you buy just a little longer. For instance: not taking off from a stop position quickly will help conserve gas, also by maintaining a constant speed and using the cruise control will help you conserve your gas. Just taking these little steps will help you gas go a little further.
So, while you are waiting for the gas prices to lower, try practicing a few good driving habits. I know that I will try.
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The College Opportunity Fund is a stipend for undergraduate education. I am not too happy about the whole thing now that I know more about it. The first time I ever heard of it I signed up. I saw it on the PPCC website and thought it was so cool that college students like me can save money on college tuition.
What I didn't know was that I wouldn't be saving anymore money on school than I did last semester. What we used to just receive from the state for tuition, we now have to apply for. I guess this is so you can appreciate the money the state gives to in-state students. I think the State of Colorado wants to look better to college undergraduates. They want us to think we can't do it without their help.
I don't understand why we have to apply for something like this. It is a complete waste of time and energy for the students. Half of us don't even know what it means, just that we better sign up for it.
Those kids who do not apply for the College Opportunity Fund will be sorry! I don't agree with the whole thing, but I still applied for it. They will be liable for higher tuition rates. So they may as well be an out of state student. They could move to another state and pay about the same as they do now being a resident of Colorado.
I don't think this whole process is going to last very long. It will maybe go for another couple semesters and then more people will realize it was better when the money was just given to students. We have enough to worry about as it is. We apply for financial aid. That by itself is a pain in the neck! When more people get informed on what's happening, I'm sure this will all be history.
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America--land of the beautiful, home of the free, and snake pit politically correct. Can Americans use any type of nicknames for anything anymore without being reprimanded? Recently the NCAA has issued a statement stating that starting in 2008 no sports teams using Indian mascots will be allowed to participate in NCAA sponsored postseason events. To the NCAA the term Seminoles or Utes is hostile and abusive to the Indian nations. This time I think the powers that be have gone too far. The NCAA needs to do some research as to how these tribes feel about their respective name being used.
I don't know where the NCAA deemed that the schools using these mascots are hostile and abusive. Is a Seminole, Ute, or Aztec any different than a Spartan, Trojan, or Rebel? Florida State University uses the Seminole as their mascot, on every sale of merchandise for the school, the Seminole tribe of Florida receives a percentage of the money the school receives. The Utah and Florida tribes both respect the decision of the universities to use their name and have given complete consent to the schools. So why then is the NCAA taking action against them? Who are they to decide the fate of the universities without asking the same people they are trying to protect? The NCAA is dead wrong.
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The issue that I would like to address is the recent disaster with hurricane Katrina.
Why is it that we as Americans help so many countries out with problems that they have and they do not help us in return. For instance, the tsunami in Thailand after that tragedy we went to their aid without question, spent billions of dollars, sent thousands of troops, and now that we are in trouble and our people are in dire need of food, shelter, and clean water, where are our allies.
I understand that the other countries have troubles of their own, but why is it that we can help everyone else even while we are fighting a war, that should have been over a long time ago, we find the time and the loyalty to help them out.
Another issue that I would like to bring up that is bothering me is how President Bush is spending so much money on this "so called" war against terrorism and now he has to take money from emergency funds to help his own country with its own hardships.
I support President Bush with the decisions he has made, but he should worry about his own countries problems rather than a country that has never helped us in the past.
I would like to thank all of the people that have made an effort to help the people that have recently had their livelihood taken from them, and helped them through the hardships they are going through. Hopefully in the future we will get the same amount of help and loyalty that we give in return.
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On the eighth day, God created the idiot. This may not sound like something out of the Good Book, but this is what happened. During a recent episode of the 700 Club, Pat Robertson made a mistake that would surely cost him his credibility. For those unfamiliar with this situation, Robertson called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, calling him a "terrific danger bent on exporting Communism and Islamic extremism across the Americas."
In reaction to the statements made by Robertson, the U.S. dismissed Robertson's statements. Robertson apologized, and our own Ted Haggard decided to fly to Venezuela to try to make good terms with Chavez. The fact that Robertson had to apologize for his statements obviously means that he wasn't thinking about the repercussions of what he said. Having put more thought into his "speech," he probably would have changed his phrasing as to not offend or changed his whole point of view altogether.
Ted Haggard, who is also president of the National Association of Evangelicals, booked a last-minute flight to Venezuela. I think the money placed in those collection plates is going somewhere, and it's not to help the poor. But that's beside the point.
Haggard is not the only one to step up and try to cover Robertson's mistake. You've also got the Rev. Jesse Jackson who offered his support for Chavez, calling Robertson's statements "a criminal act" and that the U.S. and Venezuela should "work out their differences through diplomacy."
This all comes down to a matter of opinion. Asked about the broadcaster's call for his assassination, Chavez said, "It doesn't matter to me. I don't know who that person is. As far as his opinion of me goes, I couldn't care less." There you have it! According to the man who was in the crosshairs of the fierce comments of a religious leader, he doesn't care.
Truly, The Rev. Barry Lynn, of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said it best: "It's absolutely chilling to hear a religious leader call for the murder of any political leader."
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Carrie Riffee
President, Student Government
In response to the article about Kobe Bryant, I feel that it is hypocritical of anyone to say that Nike is in poor taste. Most Americans support President Clinton, even after he cheated, and lied to his wife and the American people. What about marriage? Obviously it is not just Koby who got off. |
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