Maybe He Should Shut Up and Play

New York Giants safety Antrel Rolle steps in it big time with his comments this week. On his WFAN spot this week, he claimed that booing NFL players on the field is so wrong that it is comparable to booing soldiers coming home from Iraq.

Rolle's comments and comparison is disgusting and it denigrates the sacrifices our servicemen and women make while they are over there in the sandbox away from their families. Remember, Rolle is making $37 million over 5 years while members of the military are being paid significantly less. Rolle can see his family any time he wants and drive over there in his Land Rover, Cadillac or whatever he drives, while members of our military are away from their families for very long periods of time, and every day they wake up, they risk a chance that they may never see them again. In New York, the sportswriters and fans aren't shooting at Rolle or booby trapping his path with IEDs, while our troops have to deal with those chances every day they are in the sandbox.

It's comments like these that make it not surprising that athletes aren't respected as they were a few years ago. It's difficult to pin an exact date on this waining level of respect, but a great solution to stop the booing would be to shut up and play to their potential. And Rolle as a Giant has made some great plays, but he needs to be more consistent and earn his money. Rolle and the defense apparently did not do this in the two consecutive weeks they lost to the Cowboys and the Eagles. The controversy is not new to Rolle, as he previously flapped his mouth about the Giants' organization earlier this season. It is good to see that his teammates on the Giants defense did not join in agreement with his thoughts on fan booing.

If I know Tom Coughlin, Antrel Rolle will be in his office ASAP to discuss his mouth flapping and how it is detrimental to a team that needs a strong December performance. It is my hope that Coughlin fines him for his insensitive and egotistical remark and donates the fine to the Freedom Alliance or Wounded Warriors to remind him of the clear sacrifices members of our military make. In the end, I hope Antrel Rolle realizes that the job he does every Sunday is insignificant to what the American military does, and it's because of what the American military does that allows Antrel Rolle to play football on any given Sunday.

UPDATE 12/2/10: Rolle apologized, but I still think Coughlin should fine him, even though that will not be a likelihood now.

Hillary, WikiLeaks and its Ramifications

For the most part, I stayed away from news coverage over the long Thanksgiving Day weekend (and apparently, so did Rush, as he told us on Monday). By now, as we've all returned, we've heard about the WikiLeaks document and cable dump, the classified information it released, the behavior of the State Department and the outrage of many in this country. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton commented on the outing of these communications:



Rightly so, Hillary Clinton slams the actions of Assange (who really looks like Bill Maher) and WikiLeaks, and there have been Conservatives like Christine O'Donnell have applauded her comments, likely as an instigation to challenge Obama in 2012, the first time since 1980 where a sitting president has faced a significant primary challenge. This is something I'd love to see, as I wrote earlier, she would, to quote Governor Christie, "leave nothing left unsaid."

That being said, after looking at the leaked cables, one must bring into question the behavior she allowed in the Department of State. Dick Morris recently wrote a column about Hillary as Secretary of State which brings to light how the spying and fishing expeditions at Foggy Bottom are not new as she was the one to lead these during her husband's administration.

No surprise, Assange is calling for her resignation, but the White House is sticking by her. In the end, the mantra "never count out the Clintons" prevails as Hillary Clinton survives any blowback that may come from WikiLeaks, resigns on her own, but if she does challenge Obama, there is the chance he tries to use this against her. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but in the end, it would be a good idea to have your popcorn ready as again, it is wise to never count out the Clintons.

I Don't Think About Her...Yeah Right

President Obama was recently interviewed by Barbara Walters and she asked him to respond to Sarah Palin's comments that she believes she can beat the president if she runs in 2012.



"The 'Right' Solutions" has been watching the president closely and by examining the consistency of his comments, it is clear that Sarah Palin is clearly in his head. We can track this all the way back to the election with the fact that his campaign sent opposition researchers into Alaska on a fishing expedition, as well as his speech where he called her a pig.

Obama continues to obsess over Palin in his presidency, most notably, in January 2010, responding to her comments on "Death Panels" in the health care reform act, by calling her out in the State of the Union. He didn't call her out by name, but Americans knew Obama was referring to her.

He did it again in April, 2010, responding to Sarah Palin's criticisms about Obama's soft stance on nuclear weapons, he stated in an interview, "Sarah Palin is not a nuclear expert," again, singling her out, this time, by name.

So when the president claims he doesn't think of Sarah Palin, I think otherwise. And I do not accept the premise that she will lose to the president in a hypothetical 2012 election. When Americans have a choice of four more years of a weak economy, high taxes, high unemployment and an at risk foreign policy and national security, or small government policies that encourage tax cuts, job creation, a clearer protection of the homeland and peace through strength, the choice is clear in the direction which they will go.

It remains to be seen whether or not Sarah Palin runs, but if she is the chosen one by Republican voters, I would sarcastically say to them, as well as Democrats and Independent voters who have also suffered through these past four years, just as Rush Limbaugh has, "give me four more years of Obama any day!" The choice as clear as day.

Thanks for the Laughs

News broke last night that Leslie Nielsen passed away last night from complications of pneumonia at the age of 84. He was one of Gen-X's "funny men," making not only Gen-Xers, but other Americans laugh until they cried. Many younger than me are surprised to know that he was actually a dramatic actor before his deadpan delivery made him Gen X's funny man in Airplane. He later built on that success, starring as Lt. Frank Drebin in Police Squad, which spawned three Naked Gun films. The opening scene of the first (and best) Naked Gun is below.



After the successes of the Naked Gun, he continued to work with the Zuckers (creators of Airplane and Naked Gun) on other spoof films before semi-retiring. On behalf of my fellow Gen-Xers and Americans who laughed because of his films, thanks for the memories, Leslie, and may you Rest in Peace.

A True Italian-American Role Model

When we look at Italians and Italian-Americans who are important or significant in our society, older Americans may say Marconi (radio telegraph), Enrico Fermi (the 1st nuclear reactor), Antonio Meucci (precursor to the telephone) and Fiorello LaGuardia (2nd most significant mayor of New York City). Younger Americans (millennials) may say Snooki, The Situation and Tony Soprano. As Americans, it is time we start to get our priorities straightened out and realize these Italian-Americans are either fictional characters who exhibit a negative stereotype of Italian-Americans or media characters (or just characters) who exhibit those same negative stereotypes and haven't really done anything significant for society except to financially and psychologically benefit from adulation of the millennials.

Instead, these young Americans should be admiring another Italian-American in the news, that person being Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta, the first living American since the Vietnam War to earn the Medal of Honor. Back in 2007, during his service in Afghanistan, Giunta's platoon was ambushed by Taliban fighters. After taking a bullet which was stopped by his protective gear, Giunta went about saving the lives of his fellow platoon members and disrupted them taking a wounded Sergeant John Brennan as a prisoner of war. Brennan died the next day in surgery, but Giunta's actions clearly saved lives and as a result, his commanding officer nominated him for the Medal of Honor.

When defining the word hero, the following quote by Oliver North, as stated through one of the main characters in his novel, The Assassins, hits the nail on the head, so to say.

"Heroes are people who do things for others at great personal risk-and expect nothing in return. Real heroes...are selfless...(they) put themselves in danger to help others-not themselves...and whether they succeed or fail, real heroes inspire others to do better by their example...to do right...to try harder."

Giunta's actions are commendable, as through his actions, he not only saved lives, but eliminated one high valued target in Mohammad Tali. His character shines when he speaks of his reaction to earning the Medal of Honor:

"I'm not at peace with that at all," Giunta said. "In this job, I am only mediocre. I’m average....And coming and talking about it and people wanting to shake my hand because of it, it hurts me, because it's not what I want. And to be with so many people doing so much stuff and then to be singled out—and put forward. I mean, everyone did something."

Staff Sergeant Giunta may disagree with my assessment, but he is an Italian-American that America's youth should be emulating and while he may continue to dispute it, Salvatore Giunta is a true American hero!

Thanksgiving 2010

There are so many things to be thankful for in life: family, friends, good health, being an American, and Americans who step up to protect our freedoms as members of our military; just to name a few. On this day of thanks, Thanksgiving Day 2010, known to many as the kickoff to the American holiday season, "The 'Right' Solutions" wishes its readers a joyous and Happy Thanksgiving! Whether pigging out on turkey and all the trimmings, watching football, spending time with family, attending parades or preparing for Black Friday, enjoy the day, remember its beginnings and also thank a veteran and/or active member of our military as many of them are away from their families, keeping the United States safe from those who wish to do us harm.

Get Away Day

The day before Thanksgiving has gained notoriety as being the day to get away and on this day, citizens called for a National Opt Out Day. Apparently, things at the major airports have been running smoothly as a result of fewer opt-outs of the body scanners, as well as more TSA agents on duty. I've even been receiving reports from various sources that the scanners were not in full use last night and today.

As Americans, we still must be concerned with the searches being done, the health risks and ineffectiveness of the body scanners and the invasive nature of the pat downs. Fortunately, some in our government are beginning to appropriately respond. I still believe America would best benefit by implementing the system used in Israel as an alternative, as it has a better track record to stop terrorists in their path. Unfortunately, the government does not want to lead on this very important issue and instead, wishes to act in a politically correct manner they view as the most expedient, even though it may not provide the most protection.

"The 'Right' Solutions" wishes its readers a safe traveling and hassle-free experience as they take the roads, skies and rails to get to their destinations!