Relay For Life of Central Blair

Hundreds of volunteers came together to participate in the Relay For Life of Central Blair at Mansion Field in Altoona from June 6-7.

I decided to take some pictures while I was walking for the Altoona Mirror / EZ to Use team at 2 a.m. Saturday. They're images of the Luminaria bags that form the word "Imagine" on the bleachers. Each Luminaria represents a person who has been affected by cancer or someone who is participating in the Relay For Life. You can click on any of the pictures to enlarge them.

Below these pictures is also a story I wrote for the Mirror about 8-year-old Ryder McDermitt, a five-year leukemia survivor. If you have the time, take a few minutes to read it. It's one of the more heartwarming stories I've gotten to write.

Boy knocks cancer out of the park

By Brian Yermal Jr.

byermal@altoonamirror.com

Ryder McDermitt, 8, of Duncansville prepares to throw a baseball
to his mother. Ryder has been cancer-free for five years after
he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia at
18 months old.

DUNCANSVILLE – The biggest concerns in 8-year-old Ryder McDermitt’s life right now are doing homework and winning baseball games.

Those tasks, however, are not as daunting as the challenge he was up against when he was just an infant – surviving pediatric cancer.

Ryder was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia – a cancer that affects the health of blood cells – at 18 months old in June 2007. He said he was too young to remember having cancer or the treatments he underwent, but Ryder’s mother, Karrie, easily recalls her concerns.

“The survival, if it was curable at that point, that was our basic concern, and how long he had,” she said. “After everything was done, we were worried about the side effects.”

Ryder has now lived cancer-free for five years, but that didn’t come without intensive treatment.

Ryder was fortunate because he went through most of it with relative ease, Karrie said. He went through six rounds of chemotherapy at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

Ryder did well and was actually smiling through the first five rounds, though he did struggle with energy, Karrie said.

His leukemia went into remission for a few months but then relapsed shortly after. The sixth round of chemo hit him harder, Karrie said. He was sick more often and was heavily sedated on morphine, she said.

Doctors had to take Ryder’s treatment further and give him radiation for his entire body with the exception of his head for five days. The chemo and radiation helped, but it wasn’t stopping the leukemia.

Ryder’s last step was to receive a cord blood transplant, a procedure which involves using cord blood – found in umbilical cords or placentas of newborn babies – that contains hematopoietic cells that can produce healthy blood cells, according to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Finding a match for the procedure is difficult, Karrie said, but doctors were able to find a perfect match for Ryder from an anonymous donor.

The cord blood transplant was a success, and Ryder has been cancer-free since Oct. 17, 2008.

There is a chance Ryder’s leukemia can relapse, but Karrie said after five years of being cancer-free, that percentage has dropped to about 20 percent. Ryder gets checkups by an oncologist every six months, and at the most recent visit, the doctors didn’t find any troubling signs.

“No news was good news,” Karrie said.

Ryder had some side effects from his treatments. At first, his bones were brittle, which required him to take calcium. He has cataracts in both eyes, but those are treatable in the future with surgery, Karrie said. His muscles tend to get sore, which is why Ryder stays involved with sports to keep his muscles stretched, she said.

Seeing Ryder now, he doesn’t look like a child who dealt with cancer, chemo and radiation. He is active and can’t sit still for more than a few seconds without finding a way to preoccupy himself. During an interview with his mother, Ryder dribbled and kicked a soccer ball around. Afterward, he played catch with Karrie in the backyard to practice before a baseball game that evening.

Baseball is one of Ryder’s favorite sports. When he gets older, Ryder said he would like to be one of two things: a “baseball guy” or a U.S. Navy Seal.

“I like the Navy Seals because I’m a good diver, and those guys are mainly the ones that hide in the bushes and that … and I like doing that,” he said.

He also looks forward to participating in this year’s Relay For Life of Central Blair, along with his team, Ryder The Fighter. The name comes from Ryder’s fight with cancer, his grandmother said, in addition to his aggressiveness in sports, according to Ryder.

Ryder’s favorite activities at the relay are water balloon fights and dodgeball.

“I like to play dodgeball, oh my gosh!” he added.

Karrie is more than pleased with Ryder’s progress in the past five years. She said that, looking back when he was first diagnosed, she never imagined Ryder would be as healthy as he is today. Ryder’s example of survival has given Karrie the confidence to tell other families facing a similar situation that there is hope for them.

“Although it’s very scary right now, there’s so many more things that [families] can come across that [doctors] can help cure for these types of cancer,” she said. “The rates have went up with success.”

New look, same great blog taste!

Good news, everyone!

My blogging life recently has been like my aspirations to be a professional athlete -- nonexistent.

But that's going to change -- the blog part, anyway.

Over the past few days, I've been rethinking my approach to what I blog and how it's posted. Last year, I was proud to roll out a "miniseries" on "Welcome to Yermoslavia" called "Manifest Destiny (Pa.)" that chronicled my trips around central and western Pennsylvania. While I really enjoyed the concept, it didn't seem to fit on a blog where I also wrote about first-world problems such as living without Internet for a weekend or whether or not to attend Mass.

After consideration, I decided to separate the two. The original "Welcome to Yermoslavia" blog has been transformed into the newly minted "Manifest Destiny (PA)." This blog will feature only posts related to the Manifest Destiny series.

In addition, I decided to expand the blog's reach from border to border. I will be working on posts for places of interest in the eastern part of the state now, too, which will truly encompass the glory that is Pennsylvania. I also revamped the design a bit to accommodate the makeover. You should check it out here: manifestdestinypa.blogspot.com.

The new blog is actually the old blog, which doesn't sound confusing at all. Because the Manifest Destiny posts were loaded with pictures, it was easier to copy and paste the other posts (mostly text) into a different blog. So the new blog is the old "Welcome to Yermoslavia." I'll give you three lines of empty space to digest that.



Are you good? If not, oh well. I'm a busy man now, so I don't have the time to wait and explain stuff thoroughly like a good writer should.

I'm also considering a third blog that will contain all my best clips from The Daily Collegian, The Daily Times and the Altoona Mirror, though I've got enough going on for the time being.

I had a hard enough time maintaining one blog, so two or three should be enough to send me over the edge. With the new formatting, however, I believe I can provide something even better. My blogs have more purpose than ever before. Granted, "Welcome to Yermoslavia" still contains crappy NHL playoff predictions and crappy advice to college graduates, but I feel as though I'm providing entertainment to somebody, somewhere (Here's to you, Aunt Elaine).

Why must temptation be so tempting?

     Every year, I give up something for Lent.  It's not because I'm ultra religious and feel I'll rot in Hell for not doing so.  I also don't remember anywhere in the Bible where it said how Jesus cast that one dude's soul to the fiery underworld for taking bliss in a double Whopper on a Friday.  Anyway, I decide to sacrifice one thing I enjoy for almost five weeks because -- why not?

     I see the period of Lent as a psychological challenge, which is one portion of its purpose.  We, as Catholics, are supposed to re-enact Jesus's suffering in the desert when he was tempted by Satan after the former was deprived of food and water for days on end.  It's slightly difficult for me to pull off that same feat since it's 30 degrees outside right now, and I don't have the money for airfare to travel to the Sahara at the moment.  I guess a McDonald's filet o'fish once a week will have to make due for now, but in past years, I raised the ante a tad when it came to Lent.

     While working at Grotto Pizza one year, I gave up pizza for Lent.  I was baking pizza four times a week and wasn't allowed to eat meat on the fifth.  In short:  It sucked.  I made it, however, and felt a great pride within myself that usually happens only when I pull off drinking a Sprite in under a minute without getting hiccups.

     Another year, I worked in the Carone's deli, where I had access to some of the best lunch meat around.  So what did I do?  Why not give up lunch meat that year.  Once again, I made it the five weeks.  Coincidentally, Carone's also saved $2,645.87 in deli costs that month.

     One of the toughest by far was last year, however.  Instead of giving up meat only on Fridays, I decided to become a vegetarian for five weeks.  I still ate seafood and fish, which somehow doesn't count as meat according to the Pope and Red Lobster.

     I was never more miserable during Lent.  I love eating meat as much as Taylor Swift enjoys writing songs about how crappy it is to have every man on the planet at her disposal and still never manage to make a relationship work.  To this day, I don't understand how people can live off lettuce and carrots alone without having a cyanide pill nearby for comfort.

     When Easter day arrived, and I could consume half the animal kingdom in one meal, I never felt happier about myself.  Being able to gorge myself in trans fat and grease once more was part of my satisfaction, but it was the sense of pride I gained from making it to that point that put a smile on my soon-to-be acne-ridden face.  I knew I wasn't getting a free pass to Heaven or absolving that sin of stealing a piece of candy in the fourth grade, but I proved to myself that I could beat temptation down until it was a bloody pulp.

     This year, I wasn't sure what to give up.  It wasn't until 11:45 p.m. before Ash Wednesday that I was holding a glass of Jagermeister and Monster and thinking, "Why am I drinking on a Tuesday anyway?"  There was the answer in my hand.  Fifteen minutes later, I agreed on no liquor for five weeks.  I like the occasional drink, and I figured it wouldn't be too hard to surrender.  I had this.

     It's Thursday night, and I could do many unmentionable things for a Yuengling right about now.  While watching Law & Order: SVU with Cassidy on Valentine's Day, I had the urge to pour two glasses of wine to celebrate almost six months of partnership.  Whoops, can't do that.  During one episode, three of the detectives stopped by a bar and drank some cold ones with talk of murder.  My lips puckered at the sight of beer, minus the murder.

     I had speculations during my last semester in State College when I would drink every night and think: "Jeez, maybe I have a problem.  Meh, this beer will take care of that."  These past two days are making me consider a checkup on my liver at the next doctor's appointment.  I'm going to stick by my creed, and all the alcohol jokes aside, I look forward to claiming another victory over temptation.

     I've still got a long journey ahead of me that will involve great will power and many boxes of Kleenex to wipe the tears away every time I see that Budweiser ad with the Clydesdale and think, "That's so sad ... the poor horse can't drink, too."

     Over many years of Lent, I've discovered many things about myself.  I am able to beat temptation, which is what Lent is supposed to be all about.  I feel great when I do make it the entire Lenten season because of self-satisfaction.  Finally, if all else fails, and I turn out to be a terrible person in life, doing this Lent deal might look good on my resume for Heaven.  I'll drink to any of these points -- but that'll have to wait till April.  And yes, Most Interesting Man In The World, I will stay thirsty, my friend.

To THONers: Be proud, but don't be obnoxious

     Another 46 hours.  Another THON.  Another $12,374,034.46 raised by Penn State students for pediatric cancer care and research.  And additionally, another set of social media updates involving people going about the meaning of charity in the wrong way.

     Before I get a wave of anger directed at me for being a THON troll, I want to say congratulations to Penn State for raising the money it did.  The Four Diamonds Fund, where the money raised for THON goes to help children sick with pediatric cancer, is a wonderful entity.

     Knowing the money goes to the Hershey Medical Center is a comforting thought to me.  I had to attend the medical center from ages 5 to 10 for bee allergy shots, and I can say the staff in Hershey is one of the kindest and professional groups of nurses and doctors I ever met.

     What I can't -- can't, can't, can't (major emphasis on can't) tolerate are the individuals who, after the total is revealed, go straight to social media to state how awesome and better they are for raising a ton of money for THON.

     Let's go straight to the examples.  I saw this one a few times in a similar context:

     "I nominate @penn_state @THON's $12.3 million for pediatric cancer as a @SportsCenter top ten play. #SCtop10"

     What this refers to is Sports Center's coverage of Penn State during the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case.  Many Penn State students and alumni were upset with how the sports network -- in addition to many other news media outlets -- handled coverage of the case.

     I'm not going to argue with how the media reported the case, but I will say Penn State's reputation and integrity were dealt a major blow from the former assistant football coach's actions with young boys over multiple years.

     Naturally, Penn Staters want to find ways to redeem their school's image after this, and I don't see anything wrong with that.  THON, however, has its motto emblazoned on banners everywhere:  FOR THE KIDS.  It should be kept at that.  How is Sports Center including THON in its Top Ten Plays benefiting children?  It could, in a sense, raise awareness to THON to a larger crowd, but that's about it.  I don't see Sports Center coming out and saying, "Penn State's THON completely erases anything we said regarding the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case, and everything Penn State is officially awesome from here on out."

     The only reason some people want Sports Center to cover this is for publicity -- to make our school look better in the light of everything that happened concerning Sandusky, but exploiting the money raised for the Four Diamonds Fund and for cancer patients as a way to make Penn State look better is malicious.  Also, why would Sports Center cover this?  THON has nothing to do with sports other than some of the athletes who make guest appearances.  If Sports Center covers pediatric cancer, then I would also suggest it gets this story covered.

     The only way I can see THON being considered for Sports Center is if the event is a contest.  THON isn't supposed to be a contest, but over the years I've seen people who almost treat it that way, like this post here:

     "My school just raised $12,374,034.46 for pediatric cancer.  Try to brag about your school and I'll laugh #FTK"

     Okay, so Penn State University is pretty cool for raising a ton of money.  I respect that.  Every other school is now inferior because they didn't do the same?  PSU's Alma Mater includes the words, "May no act of ours bring us shame."  This tweet makes me feel ashamed to the point that I feel someone should hit me for this person's cockiness just because I went to school at State.

     Let's break this down.  First, he states how much money Penn State raised for a cause. Kudos to Penn State.  Then, he goes out and says he will make a student from another school feel like shit because they didn't raise $12.3 million.  Finally, the guy has the nads to slap a "For The Kids" hashtag at the end.  How is laughing at another educational institution going to help kids with pediatric cancer?  How is boasting about how much money was raised going to make that kid who is deathly ill feel better?

     I see a post like this from several people every THON weekend.  All I can say is: "Congrats, pat yourself on the back.  Oh, by the way, you have some crap hanging out of that butt hole you call your mouth."  How often do you see someone from the United Way post: "Just raised x-amount of dollars for a local community.  Suck it, everyone else!"  Chances are, you don't.  Apparently raising a large amount of money permits you to have a huge ego and demean others, though.

     Charity is a "benevolent" act, not a contest of how much bigger your penis is than the guy's next to you.  Posts like these also seem to suggest that Penn State is the only school who does charity like THON.  One reporter from The Daily Collegian did a story a short time back about how other schools have started their own THONs.  These schools don't raise as much money, but they're still doing it for a good cause.

     Penn State shouldn't go bragging about how superior its THON is compared to others since the former has a few advantages.  First, Penn State has had since 1977 to perfect the THON organization.  Most other schools have held their fundraisers for no longer than two to three years.

     Second, Penn State has a student population of almost 100,000 students.  The community college down the road from me doesn't exactly have the man power to raise $12.3 million right away.  Penn State also has the largest alumni association in the world with about 550,000 living members.  If every one of those people combined were to donate one $20 bill a piece today, they would raise $13 million total for THON right now.  No other school could even come close to matching that in its first two years if it tried.

     Does this give Penn Staters the right to belittle other schools for their incompetence?  Absolutely not.  As for you, random THON boaster, did you happen to forget what happened over the past 15 years in Penn State locker rooms and showers?  Because I bet you weren't laughing when you and the rest of the world found that little detail out.  Try to brag about your school in that light, and I will laugh.

     To finish this up:

     A summary of several tweets:  "How about that for [Penn State] culture?"

     What people were trying to get at here was similar to the last argument -- THON is what Penn State's culture is truly about, and all the other stuff about child abuse or football culture doesn't.

     Um, yeah, it kind of still does.

     One good thing doesn't fix a multitude of wrongs.  Jerry Sandusky's assistance to wayward children and the creation of the Second Mile foundation didn't deter from the fact he sexually abused a handful of defenseless children.  Joe Paterno's 409 wins and his contributions to Penn State do not overshadow the fact he may have had a hand in covering up Sandusky's wrongdoings alongside other high-level members of the sports faculty.

     Raising $12.3 million for pediatric cancer does not delete all the wrongdoing that happened behind closed doors over the past 15 years, the students who made the whole student body look like a joke by running a muck in the streets, or the more than 200 alcohol arrests made every year for State Patty's Day just one weekend after THON wraps up.

     Penn State should be proud of THON, but once more, we have people treating it as a publicity stunt over a philanthropy.  Maybe I'm being a little too harsh on these people.  Many of them are dancers who busted their physical limitations, stood out in the cold to raise money and dedicated several hours of free time to help THON.  As for me, I sat in my home all this weekend and didn't do squat.  More power to these people.

     At the same time, philanthropy isn't a Penn State football game.  When we score big in THON, we're not supposed to berate the opposing team as we do after a touchdown.  We're not supposed to laugh at the haters after the game.  We aren't meant to tout how great our season record is.

     Instead, we should be thinking about all the children who will benefit from this money raised.  We should take comfort in knowing another child will have the chance to live a full life when, years ago, their chance was nothing more than a small percentage on a medical record.

     I'm not telling THONers to be silent about their accomplishments this past year.  Be proud of what you did, for how much money you raised and all the lives you have impacted, but don't be obnoxious about it.

     Don't chalk it up as another win for Penn State.  Don't think of it as a permanent marker that will smudge out all the bad of the past one-and-a-half decades.  Don't forget what "For The Kids" means.  Don't substitute anything else in replacement of "kids."

     Finally, remember one thing:  You HELPED to raise $12.3 million.  Have you forgotten about all those people who dropped spare change and bills into your cans outside of the local Walmart?  Have you forgotten the thousands of donors who anonymously donated money?  Also, do you see these donors bragging on Twitter:  "Donated 50 cents to THON this year.  What did you do today, everyone else who didn't?"  They did it for charity -- not for redemption or publicity.

     Remember everything you did to reach this moment, cherish it and take pride in it.  Everyone will know how much money you raised tomorrow.  There's no need for you to beat that fact into everyone until they end up in the ER.  I will end this post with the words of friends of mine:  Stay classy, Penn State.

An ode to future graduates about the future

     It's astonishing how fast time flies when you're no longer in school.  I can remember how my biggest wish in the world was to graduate.  Almost five years later, I got my degree and was able to sigh with relief.  The hard part was over, I thought.  Now life came down to finding a job in my field.  My last year in school, I didn't think much into that second part.  It wasn't a cause for alarm in my book.

     Spring graduation for several colleges is approaching, and I have many friends getting closer to sitting in the same seat and walking the same stage I did almost four months ago.  I don't know how many of these same friends know what to expect, or if they know what life is like after four years living in a fantasy world where the outside had little impact.

     For those who have their schematics already laid out in front of them, kudos.  You don't need to read any further.  This is for those who still have a journey ahead of them -- no job lined up, little feedback from possible employers.  This is for those who may be a little naive as I was.

How hard is it to find a job?

     This is a hard one to answer.  Everyone seems to have different luck when it comes to getting jobs post-graduation.  From what I've seen, getting a job is dependent on two factors:  How much experience you had "outside" of school, and how many connections you gained during that time.

     During my early years in college, I had no idea how much internships had an impact on how prospective employers look at us.  When it boils down to it, employers really have little interest in how good your grades were or that awesome project you did for your one class.  Internships are the key.  Had I not switched my major so late in school, I would've done so many more internships.  I have two semesters at The Daily Collegian under my belt and a fantastic summer at The Daily Times in Salisbury, Md.

     Despite these three semesters of work, I still feel as though I don't have enough experience to impress.  When I look at ads for job openings in my field, most employers expect at least three years of experience in the field.  There's one problem: I've been out of school for four months.  How do I get experience when no one will hire me to start?  It's quite the conundrum.

     Tying this into the second factor I mentioned before, if it were not for the connections I made during my internships, I probably would be out of luck all together right now.  Even if you don't do a lot of work in your internship, the best advantage about interning is the networking you get.  I have two very good friends from The Daily Times who are helping me tremendously at the moment.  I can't thank them enough.  To those reading this, if you take anything from this portion of the post, it's make friends (and keep them close).

Will people look down on me for not having a job in my field?

     It depends on how nice your friends and family are.  My family has been greatly supportive since graduation.  My parents, who I owe more debt to than any loan I ever took out, have encouraged me to take any opportunity because it is a stepping stone in the path to success.  They also support me to go wherever there's work, even if it means they have to chip in a bit to help me out.  I can't ask for any better guidance in my life right now.

     For the most part, my close friends have been a huge help, too.  They reassure me that they have my back no matter what, and they remind me that it is always darkest just before the dawn (I'm really good friends with Harvey Dent.)

     As for other people, I can't say so much.  When you talk to random strangers, the dreaded question comes up -- "What did you major in?"  followed by the even-more degrading question:  "What can you do with that degree?"  Not everyone graduating will have this problem.  If you're an engineer or a doctor, most people will stop at the first question.  Unfortunately, for my fellow comrades in communications or another liberal arts field, you're going to get many disappointed-looking faces when you say your field.

     It happens.  It's discouraging as hell.  There will be nights when you will wonder if you might have had it in you to take something with math or science instead.  All I can say to this is be strong.  Getting a job in your field is not so much a question of "how" as it is "when."  Job hunting is a waiting game, just like actual hunting.  Any deer hunter will say he or she can go an entire season without seeing any game.  That same hunter, however, will likely try again next year, and that's the way we need to look at job hunting, as well.

     It's a frustrating battle.  You will lose at times.  You'll get knocked on your back and have dirt kicked in your face.  If any "Rocky" movie or "Full House" episode has taught us, you must always keep going, and you will persevere.

What if I don't get a job in my major right away?

     The fact is many people who have a college degree don't always get a job in their field right away -- sometimes they never do.  I've been looking into doing broadcast or videography even though I majored in print journalism.  I know an English graduate who works at a hospital.  There's another guy who has a degree in engineering and drives trucks instead.

     The advantage of having a college degree is that you are one step higher than the person who does not have a college degree.  For some employers, the fact you went to college is enough for them to be impressed with you.  Having a college degree is more cherished now than it has ever been.  Remember how your guidance counselors from high school heavily advised you to attend college?  That's because they knew that the job market is looking for college grads and not the people who worked at McDonald's or hung out at the mall every Friday instead.

     As far as not getting that dream job you wanted -- money is money.  You have loans coming in six months after graduation.  You can still search for your dream job while working somewhere else for extra coin.  Being unemployed won't pay your college loans.  Besides, having a job is a confidence booster.  Sitting around at home and moping at your empty email inbox all day won't do you too many favors.

What is the best way to cope with post-graduation stress?

     Everyone deals with stress differently, but long-term stress in the job hunt can linger for days or weeks at a time.  The best solution I have found is to surround yourself with positive people.  They are the ones who sympathize with your condition, and they will always find a way to make you feel better.

     Another surprising solution is to also surround yourself with people who are in the same situation.  I have friends who are having trouble finding jobs after college.  Although it seems like talking about unemployment with one another would be depressing, it's surprisingly therapeutic.  They understand your situation the most, and being able to talk things out to someone who knows what you're going through first-hand always soothes the soul.  Plus, that other person probably feels the same way you do, so you are also doing he or she a favor.

     Remember that tip I gave about connections before?  Always hold your best friends close.  They will be the ones who still have faith in you when you've lost most of it.  Side activities like exercise also help take your mind off the job hunt.  Yoga, walking or weight-lifting are all great examples.

     I would add drinking to this list, but I would never endorse alcohol to solve major problems.  It is a relaxant, but the effect is very (and I mean very) temporary.  If all else fails, take a drive somewhere for no reason.  Take a day trip somewhere.  Think of whatever gives you joy in life and use that to your advantage.  Some happiness is better than no happiness.


     The future is a haunting place at times.  Going into the unknown is no easy journey, and it's one many of us would rather ignore.  The fact is, however, it's necessary for us to move forward.  You've all seen the crappy Comedy Central movies about people who are in college way past their youth and look like douchebags.

     Everyone needs to grow up at some point.  It does seem like six months post-graduation is too short a time to become an adult, but that's how the real world works -- time doesn't stand still.  It doesn't mean you can't use that time to your advantage, though.  We have a whole lifetime to perfect ourselves, after all.  Besides, we will always carry the memories we had of college far into the future.  One day, you'll be sharing those same memories with your coworkers around the water cooler.  Just give it time.

Brian's 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions (Western Conference)

Hey all,

     For the past three years, I have had the blast of predicting the Stanley Cup playoffs.  What started as a boredom fighter in college turned out to be a tradition after I successfully predicted the Stanley Cup winners in 2010 (Chicago) and in 2011 (Boston).  Last year was the first time my bracket got completely slaughtered, and I wasn't even close to predicting the winner due to an unbelievable Los Angeles Kings team.  This year, I look to redeem myself and have fun applauding/screaming at my television when one of my round picks advances.

     Since there is still one game to be decided in the Eastern Conference today, I'm going to start with the Western Conference, write about the Eastern Conference sometime tomorrow, and consolidate the two with my Stanley Cup winner on Tuesday or Wednesday.  The playoffs start on Tuesday, so everyone wash your jerseys, stock up your beer cooler and say your goodbyes to your loved ones for the next month.  Why?

     Because it's the Cup.


2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS (QUARTER-FINALS)

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 8 Minnesota Wild
Predicted Winner:  Blackhawks
Reasoning:  The Chicago Blackhawks have had a season for the record books.  Granted, they had the advantage of a shortened season due to the NHL lockout, but the Blackhawks have been on top all year and haven't shown signs of budging.  They finished with the NHL's best record (36-7-5), had the highest goals for/goals against ratio (+53) and dominated with points leaders.  Patrick Kane was fifth in the NHL in points (55) and fifth in goals (23).  The team's goaltenders, Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, ranked third and fourth for goals against average respectively, sharing a 1.94 GAA.  Jonathan Toews had the league's third-highest plus-minus rating at 28.  To sum things up for the Wild, they had no league leaders this season and boasted a mediocre record of 26-19-3.  The Wild is also the only team in the Western playoffs with a negative goals for/goals against ratio (-5).  This series will go five games at best (if the Wild are that lucky).  Otherwise, don't expect Chicago to break a sweat.

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 7 Detroit Red Wings
Predicted Winner:  Ducks
Reasoning:  Any other year in playoff, I would always put my money on the Red Wings to go through the first round with little competition.  They have been my favorite team in the West for a while, but this is the first time I'm going to give them a thumbs down.  Other than the fact Detroit is seventh seed right now, the Red Wings and the Ducks look quite equal on paper.  Anaheim had a successful season with a 30-12-6 record.  The Red Wings had a little bit of trouble with a 24-16-8 record to finish out the season (10 points behind the Ducks).  What is going to kill Detroit is their lackluster away record (11-9-4), especially with the Duck's home-ice advantage.  The Red Wings goals for/goals against average wasn't anything to applaud at just +9 compared to the Duck's +22.  The two things that would save the Red Wings at this point would be their goaltending and momentum from a season-ending four-game win streak.  This is all wishful thinking on my behalf, however.  I think the Red Wings will still put up a fight.  I see this series going at least six games.

No. 3 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 6 San Jose Sharks
Predicted Winner:  Sharks
Reasoning:    Vancouver and San Jose are veterans of the playoff scene in the West.  Vancouver even had a shot at the Stanley Cup in 2011 but were cut short by the Boston Bruins, despite the former being the No. 1 seed in the West.  Last year, the Canucks were also the No.1 seed and lost in the first round to the eighth-seeded L.A. Kings.  It's this choking mentality that puts the Sharks in favor in the first round.  The Canucks are a shadow of their former glory.  Their goaltender, Roberto Luongo, hasn't been able to stay consistent after repeated disappointing playoff runs.  The Sedin twins, who led the league in assists and points without competition, haven't made their usual impact.  San Jose has had better luck with goalie Antti Niemi, who shared a three-way tie for most wins this season (24).  The biggest threat to San Jose is their away record (8-14-2) since Vancouver has home-ice advantage, but the Sharks took Vancouver to the cleaner all three times they faced off this season.  This series will go about six or seven games with both teams fighting hard.

No. 4 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings
Predicted Winner: Kings
Reasoning:  The Kings are suffering the Stanley Cup curse experienced by most teams who try to repeat their previous success.  The Blackhawks had similar bad luck when they won the cup in 2010 and barely made playoffs the following season.  Fifth place in the West isn't bad, and it's actually better than where the Kings were last year (eighth).  The Blues are also in a good spot, but they haven't had a good season against the Kings (St. Louis lost all three meets against the Kings).  The numbers between the two teams are almost identical with the Kings having a slight advantage.  The biggest challenge to the Kings is the Blues' home-ice advantage (The Kings were 8-12-4 away.)  The Blues also have to worry about the Kings' offense (Kings' forward Jeff Carter had 26 goals this season, the fourth highest in the league.)  I don't envision the Blues going down easy, so this meet can go six, seven games easily.


WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS (SEMI-FINALS)

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Kings
Predicted Winner:  Blackhawks
Reasoning:  The Kings made their case last year when they knocked the No. 1 Vancouver Canucks on their back ends.  Depending on how the Kings perform in the first round, they have a chance at making a repeat.  The difference between last year's Canucks and this year's Blackhawks, however, is the Blackhawks don't typically choke.  The Blackhawks dominated the year they beat the Philadelphia Flyers (who had a similar Cinderella story to the Kings).  The Kings and Blackhawks didn't face off in the playoffs when both teams played last year, so who knows if the outcome would have been different.  Regardless, the Blackhawks have the better offense, better defense, better goaltending and better records all around.  The crutch for the Kings is their previously mentioned away record, and this will kill them in Chicago, where the Blackhawks had only three regular-season loses all season.  If the Kings have similar momentum to last year, they may win a game or two, but I don't see this series going past six games at most.

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. No. 3 San Jose
Predicted Winner:  Ducks
Reasoning:  This should be a pretty awesome series.  The biggest factor will be goaltending, with both teams having stellar goalies.  The Ducks have Jonas Hiller, who has seen playoff action and performed well.  The Sharks have Antti Niemi, who is also no stranger to playoffs.  This will be a low-scoring series, but that doesn't mean both teams don't have firepower.  Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan are two of my favorite forwards on the Ducks roster.  They're both young and have skilled shooting.  Meanwhile, the Sharks boast a veteran squad with forwards Scott Gomez, Martin Havlat, Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton.  No team in the West has a stronger group of vets beside the Detroit Red Wings.  The biggest flaw for San Jose is their away record, but anything goes in the playoffs.  This will also be a long series -- easily going into six or seven games.


WESTERN CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS (WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS)

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 2 Anaheim Ducks
Predicted Winner:  Blackhawks
Reasoning:  These have been the two best teams in the West all season.  It's not too surprising that I would choose these two going into the Western Conference finals.  Both teams had impressive home and away records, so I don't think home-ice advantage will have the same effect as it has the other games.  Both had high scoring and great goaltending.  Out of these two factors, I think scoring will be the most important in this series.  This is where the Blackhawks dominate.  Chicago was second in goal scoring this season (behind the Pittsburgh Penguins).  They have more than enough players who know how to do it, including Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews (all who won the cup in 2010).  Corey Crawford has done an impressive job in net this season and should hold his own to advance the Blackhawks to the finals.  This will be a tough series, will go six or seven games and will be one hell of a match-up.

Brian's 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions (Eastern Conference)

     With only one day until the NHL playoffs, I have the Western Conference all set.  Now it's time for the East.  Here's what I'm expecting:


EASTERN CONFERENCE (QUARTER-FINALS)

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 8 New York Islanders
Predicted Winner:  Penguins
Reasoning:  It's actually nice to see the Islanders in playoffs this year.  They have had consecutive rough seasons of sitting at the bottom of the NHL.  It's just a shame they have to compete against the top team in the East for their first appearance in such a long time  The Islanders created a scare early in the season when they beat the Pens in the two teams' first matchup.  It didn't give Pens fans much high hopes.  Unfortunately for the Islanders, they couldn't carry through with their threat.  They went on to lose four consecutive meets against the Pens and haven't showed much intimidation since.  It looks as though the Islanders may face a similar fate this week.  The Pens have all the numbers on their side -- 165 goals, 36 wins and only 12 loses during the regular season.  The Pens scored more than any other team in the NHL, and they just recently added firepower with former Carolina Hurricanes forward Jussi Jokinen and former Calgary Flames forward Jarome Iginla.  Pens goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was tied for second for wins at 23.  I can go on about Pens stats, but there is more to write.  I'm going to say the Pens win it in five games.

No. 2 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 7 Ottawa Senators
Predicted Winner:  Canadiens
Reasoning:  This is going to be a lackluster matchup.  Both teams had decent records but nothing that really stuck out.  Neither team has outstanding scorers, though the Canadiens have more firepower on their side (149 goals to Ottawa's 116).  Ottawa has the better goaltending, if not the best goaltending (on paper).  Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson had the best goals against average (1.69) and the best save percentage (.941) in the league.  The problem is Anderson didn't even break the top five in wins.  The other problem is Anderson can make all the saves he wants, but he has no power in front of him.  Ottawa's low scoring will be their biggest issue because a team needs to score goals to win games, and they are the worst team in the playoffs in that respect (ranked 16 out of 16).  Montreal will need to step up its goaltending efforts, but they're scoring should be enough to rip apart the Senators.  Due to the inequality on both sides, this series will likely go six or seven games.

No. 3 Washington Capitals vs. No. 6 New York Rangers
Predicted Winner:  Capitals
Reasoning:  The Capitals were the biggest joke in the NHL at the beginning of the regular season.  Alex Ovechkin couldn't shoot a puck into a soccer net.  The team's goaltending was sloppy.  The defense was non-existent.  Then, for whatever reason, everybody in Washington woke up and decided they had enough of being ridiculed.  The Capitals pulled off one of the biggest turnarounds all season.  They clinched their division and are now sitting third in the East.  Ovechkin finished off the season scoring more goals than any other player at 32.  He also tied for third in points at 56.  On the other hand, the Rangers had consistency throughout the season, but it was average.  They would win a game, lose a game, and the pattern repeated.  Playoffs are all about who has momentum at the end of the season, and the Caps are surging right now.  They went 8-1-1 in their last 10 games.  Their home-ice advantage will play a huge role, since the Rangers suffered in this respect (10-12-2), and the Caps have one of the fiercest crowds in the league.  I feel as though the Caps can really deliver a kicking and win this series in five games.

No. 4 Boston Bruins vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs
Predicted Winner:  Bruins
Reasoning:  There was some doubt concerning the success of the Bruins after former goalie Tim Thomas took a season hiatus for personal reasons.  Boston has always been about defense, and Thomas played a huge role in that.  Despite Thomas' leave, the Bruins have held on to their defensive prowess.  They allowed only 109 goals this season.  Thomas' former backup, Tuukka Rask, successfully picked up the slack and finished the season with the third-highest save percentage (.929) and five shutouts.  Boston and Toronto are about equal with away records, but the Bruins have a slight advantage playing at home, in addition to home-ice advantage in the first round.  Toronto was better at scoring goals this season (145 to Boston's 131), but the Bruins are known for knocking players flat and having some of the best spectacles in goaltending.  The Bruins should be able to hold their own in about six games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (SEMI-FINALS)

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 4 Boston Bruins 
Predicted Winner:  Penguins
Reasoning:  Boston has the better goaltending in this matchup, but Tuukka Rask is only one man.  The Pens had little trouble beating Boston during the regular season, and this will likely be the case in the semi-finals.  The Pens have enough talent in offense to punch holes through the Bruins' defense.  The Bruins will also be facing a packed Console Energy Center where a 12-9-3 away record won't mean much to Pens fans.  Pittsburgh has been great at home (18-6) and away (also 18-6).  They also went 8-2 in their last 10 games compared to Boston's meager 3-5-2.  Unlike previous years where the Pens were beaten up by the Philadelphia Flyers, the Islanders won't provide much physical threat to the Pens, which means the team should be much healthier when they play a very physical Bruins.  Boston might be more fatigued trying to fight their way in the first round, however.  A more energized Pens squad should take this series in about five games.

No. 2 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 3 Washington Capitals
Predicted Winner:  Capitals
Reasoning:  Both teams are almost identical in stats.  They have the same amount of goals (149), and only four goals against separate the two.  Both teams are impressive at home, but the Capitals aren't as good playing away compared to the Canadiens.  What will set the two teams apart is Washington's momentum.  Montreal has been sluggish as of late (4-6 in their past 10 games).  The Canadiens will also play a dragged-out series against the Senators, while the Caps should be more energized going into the second round.  Even though the two offenses are close, Ovechkin might be the difference maker since he improved so much in such a short amount of time.  Overall, this will be one of the longer series in the East, going at least six or seven games to decide the winner.

EASTERN CONFERENCE (EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS)

No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 3 Washington Capitals
Predicted Winner:  Penguins
Reasoning:  This would be a phenomenal matchup to see in the Eastern Conference finals.  A few seasons ago, these two teams really hated each other.  The scoring always went back and forth, and the infamous Crosby/Ovechkin rivalry separated fans across the NHL.  The Pens handled the Caps well during the regular season, but a surging Washington team might change that.  If Ovechkin can stay on his game, and the Caps can put a confident goalie between the pipes, they might tire out the Pens for the first time in the playoffs.  This is going to be the classic "most goals wins" series.  Goaltending will mean very little.  Egos will be high.  Fans will be pumped.  What will likely give the Pens the advantage is its toughened defense of former San Jose Sharks defender Doug Murray, Stanley Cup-winning Brooks Orpik, and the return of Paul Martin off the injured list.  In the goal-scoring department, the Pens have a few more stars than the Caps, especially with Jussi Jokinen being a former division rival in Carolina.  This would be the most exciting matchup in the playoffs, and it should be a long one at six or seven games.

  
     I realize I played it safe in the East, but each team deserves to be in their respected ranks.  The East had a much better season than the West (other than Chicago), and it has been a season of ups-and-downs for many of these teams.  I have confidence in the predictions I made for the Eastern Conference, but anything can go down.  Last year was filled with upsets.  It's going to be great to see what's to come in the next few weeks.

Brian's 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Predictions (Stanley Cup Championship)

     I should note before I provide any comment that, yes, I chose the two No. 1 teams in the East and the West as the Stanley Cup finalists.  It looks lazy on my part, but in the three years I've been doing this, I never favored both No. 1 teams as finalists.  This season, however, I truly believe both of these teams deserve to be here.  Here are my reasons why and who will come on top.

STANLEY CUP FINALS

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins

Comments:  It's amazing the season even got to this point.  The NHL was close to not having a season in the first place after a lockout crushed the first half, eliminated the all-star game and shut down the Winter Classic in Michigan.  Despite the shortened season, we saw spectacular play all around the league, especially from these two teams.

     The Blackhawks had the longest points streak out of any other team this season.  Meanwhile, the Penguins were one game shy of breaking the record for most consecutive wins in NHL history.  The Blackhawks had only seven regular season loses in 48 games.  The Pens scored more goals than any other team, despite Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin missing games at a time.

     If these two meet, it would be one of the most intense Stanley Cup playoffs in years.  The Blackhawks are just as big of a threat to the Pens as the Detroit Red Wings were back in '08 and '09.  Both teams have some of the best talent in the league.  You have Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews on one side and Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jussi Jokinen, James Neal and Jarome Iginla on the other.  Both teams have solid goaltenders between the pipes.  The defenses on both teams are back-breaking.  Each building has fans that have seen their fair share of triumph and misery and will be vocal when necessary.

     Statistically, it's almost too close to call.  The Pens scored the most goals at 165.  The Blackhawks were scored on the least with just 102 goals against.  Both teams are equally impressive away and home, and neither showed signs of letting up at the end of the season.

     The only significant difference between the two is overtime.  The Pens didn't lose a single game in overtime, including three shootouts.  The Blackhawks had 11 shootouts and won six of them.  If these teams have to go extra innings, it looks as though the Pens won't waste more time than needed.

     Each team has won a Stanley Cup in the past five years.  This is one of the hardest predictions I've had to make in the past four years, especially since the two didn't meet once this season to provide some insight, but here it is:

Predicted Winner:  Penguins

Reasoning:  The West was the weaker conference, and the two conferences hardly crossed paths due to the lockout.  I would've liked to see the records of these two teams had they played outside the conference more often.  I feel the Pens are the better team when playing outside the conference, however.

     I also think Blackhawks goaltender Corey Crawford is great in net, but he has way too much talent opposing him this time around.  The Pens have Marc-Andre Fleury and Tomas Vokoun, both who have played well in tandem this season.  I don't think Ray Emery has enough in him to hold Chicago's goaltending together if Crawford blows a tire (We saw how Emery did in Philadelphia a few seasons back.)

     Even though I'm an avid Pens fan, I normally bet my money against them.  This year, the organization made the effort to stack the team.  They brought in great players who have been close to winning a Cup but weren't surrounded with just enough talent.  The Pens have had great consistency compared to other years.  This is the year.

    When the finals roll up, it will be, as it says in the Pens' locker room, "...A Great Day For Hockey."

Snowden should have left whistleblowing to the trains

     When WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sought asylum in Ecuador after publishing U.S. military documents and getting in a load of trouble for it, I can't say I was too surprised.  The man was in charge of an organization hellbent on declassifying the world.  This new case involving former government contractor Edward Snowden, however, is becoming more intriguing and unusual than Assange's legacy in just a matter of days.

     Snowden, a 29 year old who worked for the National Security Agency and the CIA, is on the run after releasing classified documents stating how the NSA is secretly hacking computers and phone records on a global scale.  Not long after Snowden's identity surfaced, the U.S. government filed charges of espionage against him.

     The man hunt has caused a sensation in Hong Kong, where Snowden said he defected to after granting the U.K. paper The Guardian possession of the stolen documents.  The most recent stir happened in Moscow, where many thought Snowden went to after the United States made pleas to China to turn him over to the authorities.  So far there's no Snowden, and the media reports he is seeking asylum in Ecuador with the aid of Assange and WikiLeaks.

     Some people are calling Snowden a hero for his courage in releasing these documents.  Others are labeling him as a traitor to the United States.  Snowden considers himself a spy for what he has done with the hope of making the American population aware of the U.S. government's wrongdoing.

     Looking at his current situation and shady background, not only do I think Snowden should turn himself in, but I believe his cause was worthless in so many cases.

     Stories all over the internet quote Snowden saying how he released classified documents for the greater cause of informing the American public.  This, in his eyes, makes him a hero.  Okay, let's consider his "heroism" for a second.

     Snowden worked under the employment of the NSA and the CIA -- both organizations involved with protecting the United States at almost any cost, which includes classifying certain information that could cause potential harm.  At the NSA, he worked as a security guard and then worked in computer security at the CIA.

     Not only did Snowden work for two organizations involved with national security, he worked jobs "securing" two organizations involved with national security.  Yet, he betrayed the trust of the NSA and CIA by leaking documents.  The government spying on everyone is a frightening thought, but think of who they are spying on.

     Chances are, the government isn't interested in the poop jokes and hockey updates I provide to my dad, or me asking my mom what's for dinner.  Instead, the government uses these records to look for people possibly involved with terrorist activity, such as the two brothers responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing.

     Snowden violated trust on at least two or three levels.  To think how we got pissed off about former General David Petraeus having a sexual affair (which was more of a threat to his marriage than national security), but Snowden is considered a hero for failing to uphold his agreement to secure the most precious information on the planet?  How he got these jobs in the first place should be a high concern, considering he never completed high school and had a basic community college education.  After this Snowden issue is resolved, the next case should be the ass who thought hiring this guy was a great idea.

     While on the note of Snowden's hypocrisy, it's worth mentioning how a man so dedicated to his cause fled at the first sign of danger.  Let's backtrack a bit.

     Snowden lived in Hawaii with a unnamed girlfriend while working as a government contractor with Booz Allen Hamilton.  Before Snowden's name ever reached the press, he said he left Hawaii for Hong Kong without telling his girlfriend or family of his real intentions.  He also told the NSA he was going on leave due to his battle with epilepsy.  Now the man, who is supposed to be uncovering "the truth," has lied to his loved ones and betrayed two government agencies.

     The greater irony is where Snowden is traveling to seek "freedom."  He defected to China -- a country with government and press censorship about 100 times worse than the United States.  His next possible stop is in Ecuador, which isn't much better with free speech, according to free speech organization Freedom House.  Snowden said he fears an oppressive American government, but, in turn, sought safety in two countries liable to jail a person for making "your momma" jokes.

     Snowden feared his actions so much that he released the documents to a paper outside of the United States.  His paranoia before this case was off the scales, saying in one story how he would wear a red hood over his head and laptop while typing in his passwords in fear he was being watched.

     To wrap this all into perspective, Snowden isn't exactly the Man of Steel, the Dark Knight or a firefighter in regards to being a hero.  As the U.S. Marine Corps commercial states, true heroes are the ones who run "toward" the first signs of danger.

     What really makes Snowden's mission pointless is the fact that the information he revealed was basically assumed by almost everyone already.  I'm guessing Snowden didn't get much time to watch movies or play video games while stealing top secret documents, but the rest of us who do know how just about every method of spying and intelligence-gathering is portrayed in cinema.

     Just take the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare games or Battlefield, for examples.  Gamers have the ability to pilot unmanned drones, designate missile strikes and watch cut scenes where satellites can zoom in on a terrorist taking a leak in the woods.  War movies and thrillers have shown the same.  Watch an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and see how the NYPD can trace phones and the caller's location using recordings and triangulation from cell phone towers.  The only differences between these instances and the NSA are the fictional aspect and the larger scale of intelligence-gathering.

     The United States is by far the most technologically advanced country in the world.  To think the NSA hasn't been hacking computers or cell phones for a while now would be ignorant.  If the same thing was happening in Ethiopia or Antarctica, maybe there would be a cause for alarm.

     At this point, Snowden has little place to run, and what makes his situation worse is how involved the media is.  Just the rumor of him landing in Moscow had almost every reporter in the Northern Hemisphere awaiting his arrival to take pictures and video.  If the media could find him, who is saying the CIA or FBI can't?

     Snowden does have the chance to seek asylum in Ecuador, but two problems exist: He needs to somehow sneak by everyone first, and Ecuador still has to lay down the welcome mat.  Both of these circumstances remain a work in progress.  It is possible, however.  Julian Assange was lucky.  Snowden has the misfortune, however, of being the "second" person to attempt this.  By now, the U.S. government likely wised up and filled in some of the loopholes that led to Assange's escape.

     I'm not certain if Snowden will make it out or not.  I'd like to see his capture just to see if he is as cocky in custody as he is while running under the safety of other countries.  If he is a hero, he would stand up and take responsibility for his action, but Snowden doesn't seem to be in a rush to do that.  This case gets more bizarre with every development, and I'm sure we will here about Snowden for weeks to come.  If he does get caught, it may give him some reading time.  I suggest 1984.

 

My attempt to justify not going to Mass ... again

I think it should be me praying at this rock, not Jesus. It's safe to assume his soul is in good shape.

    I managed to wake up before 10 this morning. That never happens on a Sunday since I started my new job, which requires me to work anywhere between 12 to 2 in the morning. This wasn't the most astonishing part of my morning, however. The first thing that came to mind after waking up was, "Should I go to church this morning?"

     This sounds stupid, but please don't turn away from reading this post because:
1) It won't be stupid (entirely)
2) I'm not going to get spiritual on everybody's case.

     What this is about is how much of a mental conflict this one question posed to the point where I felt compelled to write about it.

     To give you background, I haven't been to church in about two or three years (I lost count). I don't even do the cheap Catholic method of going to Mass on Christmas and Easter. I can write a whole post about how that concept pisses me off to oblivion, but to be brief, if you're one of those people: You can go to Hell. Your all-knowing God knows you're cheating him, and two visits to church a year (one that is essentially his son's birthday party and the other a funeral) isn't going to spare you eternal damnation.

     Anyway, the thought of going to church for the first time in a while confused me. I do enjoy the occasional Mass, and since I was awake before 3 o'clock kick-off, I figured this would be my first chance in a while.

     Yet, as I lied there in my cozy bed, I now found myself juggling the situation. I knew I had an early press run today that required me to have my section complete by 7 p.m. That mean I had to go into work by at least 3 p.m. to get a jump on it. Granted, the last mass is at 11:30 a.m., so I could easily make it, especially since the church is within walking distance.

     Then I thought about all the other stuff I had do such as clean the apartment and prepare for tonight's dinner. Reading this back to myself, I feel like a dick because I'm making excuses not to go to church -- and my reasoning sucks. I threw all those excuses out and decided I should go. That's when another thought set in.

     I've been living in Hollidaysburg for about three months now. I've never been to a church in the area. I'm not too familiar with the people in the community. None of the people I work with go to church from what I know of. It would be a very lonely scene. I was always used to going with my family or at least a girlfriend. Being in a church with no one you know is really daunting. I have an easier time being in the church by myself and just kneeling in a pew to pray.

     It also bugged me that this wasn't "my" church. I was baptized, reconciled and confirmed in the former Sacred Heart-Saint John's Parish Community in Wilkes-Barre.

     Every Sunday, we went to Sacred Heart, which is one of the most beautiful Catholic churches I've seen around. It was basically a cathedral among apartments and row houses. The building wasn't perfect. It had no air conditioning, so the place baked in the summer. The ceiling had cracks in it, and the dilapidated roof would be an issue for years to come. There was no great sound system, so anyone caught sitting in the back had a hard time hearing the Mass. There were two large marble pillars near the front of the church that blocked out the view of the altar to a few sections of people. Despite all this, it was a warm, beautiful place. I loved coming here.

     What made it all the more welcoming were the priests presiding over the Mass. Not all of them were great, but there were two that made church worth the 45 minutes. The first was Father Gilbert, a young, dark-haired energetic man who was great with the children of the church. He always read stories during the special masses and had a smile on his face doing it. He eventually moved to another church in the state. The real shock hit when we found out he had a heart attack during the preparation for a play he was setting up with the church. Father Gilbert, a man of faith, died in his early 50s. The Sacred Heart Community had a wake-up call that day: No matter how big your faith, it didn't guarantee a longer life.

     Then, there was Monsignor Sempa. I haven't met a priest I enjoyed more than this man. What set him apart from the rest of the priests was his sense of humor. He always started eulogies with a joke and usually followed it up with a funny story that had a deep moral at the end. His stories were always compelling because they were anecdotes about normal, everyday people who went through some hardship and later found happiness. They were messages anyone could relate to.

     Outside of church, he was a normal guy. He could relate to anyone and had a parent-like attitude. When my grandmother once told him of a bladder infection she had, his response was, "Well that's a real pisser." On another occasion, he asked me how life was going, including if I had a girlfriend. I didn't, and he came back with, "Well if you never find a girl, the church can always use another priest." It's funny how these one-liners could make my entire day, but that's how this church was. Everyone in Wilkes-Barre felt happy to be there, and no matter how much you disliked the Mass itself, all eyes were on Monsignor Sempa for at least 10 minutes.

     Happiness isn't enough to pay the rent, however. St. John's was the first to go. It was sold and renovated into a nursing home when I was in my teens. A few years after that, the closure of Sacred Heart was imminent. We all knew the financial strain and the renovations that were needed. Finally, the Diocese of Scranton closed the doors for the final time a few summers ago. A local organization fought to keep the church open, but they wouldn't succeed.

     What finally turned me away from the local church scene was Monsignor Sempa's transfer to a Pittston church, which was far too out of my reach, even for a guy I admired. All the fond memories I had of church in my childhood were closed down and locked away. I haven't been able to enter a church with the same energy and passion since. That left with Sacred Heart, Father Gilbert and Monsignor Sempa.

     It's understandable to not feel welcome at a new church when all the faces are strange. There's more to it than that in my case. I haven't felt welcome in the Church (the organization) for some time now. As I've grown older, my faith has diminished bit by bit. I'm still Catholic, and I still believe, but I have many grievances with the Church.

     I hate the amount of molestation occurring between priests and boys. I think the people responsible for covering up molestation and then transferring the pedophile priest to another church should be excommunicated from the Church with no promise of redemption. Society would be willing to hang any average schmo by the neck if he touched a child the wrong way. If it's a priest, however, people complain about it over a cup of coffee and leave it at that. When's the last time you saw a massive protest outside of a church or the Vatican against pedophile priests?

     I also don't agree with the Church's stance on same-sex marriage. If everyone is created in God's image, and God loves everybody, then why would he hate gay people? Why would he create something he despises so much that, at birth, it is condemned to Hell with no chance at redemption like every other sinner? It makes no sense, and I don't believe the "it's a choice" stance for a second. I'm guessing it was my choice to be a middle-class, white male too, right? I'm guessing the little boy in Africa chose to be born into poverty with malnutrition and AIDS, too. There are things we choose in life, but there isn't enough evidence to support that. The Bible doesn't count, either. It's a 2,000-year-old text that tells us we can kill two people guilty of adultery or how we shouldn't shave sideburns.

     I'm also pro-choice, and we can argue this a thousand ways. My problem has nothing to do with the rights of the fetus. What pisses me off is the Christian politicians and the churches trying to outlaw abortion. For the former, we have something called separation of church and state, which is meant to keep politics away from religion (because I will not have President Obama tell me that I can't shave my sideburns, God dammit!). Last time I checked, not everyone in America is Christian, too. How can we apply Christian rules to a Jew or an atheist? We can't, and we shouldn't. If you believe in Christianity, then let God handle abortion clinics (His progress seems a bit slow). Leave your Bible-thumping in church and not on Capital Hill.

     For the latter, when churches start paying taxes like the rest of society, then maybe they can have a say in politics. Church is also supposed to be a place devoid of politics. It's a spiritual place. If I wanted to talk politics, I'd go to Reddit. Politics only insight conflict. I go to church to avoid the burden and qualms of the outside world for 45 minutes.

     I can go on, but the point is the Church doesn't appeal to me like it used to. In terms of Catholicism, I have the sensations of loneliness and separation. The only thing that's given me comfort with the Church as of recent is Pope Francis. The man has made it publicly known a couple times that the Church is too obsessed with abortion and gay marriage when those aren't the biggest issues at hand. We should be more concerned with the molestation issue, keeping churches open and the declining numbers of Catholic followers first. He realizes the Church isn't evolving with the times, and that's going to be its downfall in the end.

    You can mention all of Pope John Paul's good work, but the man didn't get the real picture. He couldn't see outside of the Bible, which is what the Church needs to do if it wishes to survive. Pope Benedict didn't do a much better job since he was a John Paul wannabe. Francis is relating to more people (especially the youth) than ever. That's the important thing. Sure, you want to appeal to the elderly devote Catholics. The problem is these diehards are eventually going to die themselves, and then who is going to carry the faith? If the Church wants to preserve its hold in this day and age, then it needs to embrace the changing times and to show the younger Catholics that they can live in a world with faith and reason.

     This post was way too much work in order to avoid church. It might've been easier to just go to Mass. Oddly enough, I feel much more liberated having confessed here than in a crowded building with hundreds of strangers. That's what it's all about. Weekly Mass isn't everybody's answer to life's problems. Everyone has their way of finding peace with the world. You just read mine.

Billeaving: How should we feel about O'Brien's departure?

More than one ball dropped on New Year's Eve.

News came to many in the form of a simple text update or tweet that Penn State head football coach Bill O'Brien finally signed a deal with the NFL’s Houston Texans – a rumor that’s been swirling around for about a week now.

I took the news a little hard as a Penn State alumnus and football fan myself.

At the same time, I heard all the speculation for days since I work in a newsroom, so when the confirmation arrived, it wasn’t a huge blow.

Not everyone handled the news as calmly as I did.

From what I’ve seen and heard recently, there are two views to the O’Brien departure. There’s the one side that is happy for him because he is achieving the rank of an NFL head coach, which O’Brien said in past interviews was the ultimate goal in his career. Then there are the people who never want to hear the name O'Brien again and hope he ends up jobless and penniless.

Much hate had already surfaced when the O’Brien/Texans deal was only rumor. Fans felt betrayed that O’Brien coached at Penn State for only two seasons before considering another coaching offer. Many felt he would be the next Joe Paterno and have a long-lasting legacy at Penn State.

What infuritated some people even more were the interviews with players and prospects who told reporters that O’Brien promised them he would remain head coach at Penn State.

Finally, there’s the fact O’Brien felt so compelled to leave Penn State that he bought out his contract not long after it was amended by the university to a lower rate.

It’s really easy to show hate for O’Brien’s decision under the previous circumstances. What’s harder for some people to digest is the fact that O’Brien’s intentions are multifaceted, and if many of us were given the same opportunity, we would jump on it without hesitation.

As mentioned before, O’Brien’s highest ambition is to be an NFL coach. He was an offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots from 2007-2011. Had he stayed with the Patriots, O’Brien’s chances of coaching the team were slim. Bill Belichick has had so much success in his 14 seasons as head coach – including three Super Bowl wins in four years – that the Patriots would be insane to throw him to the curb anytime soon. O’Brien’s chances of advancement in the organization were as nonexistent as Belichick’s smile.
That’s when Penn State came into the light. The school, rocked by a sex abuse scandal and the death of longtime coach Joe Paterno, now had to make a coaching change for the first time in decades.

If O’Brien could bring anything to the table, it was offense. Paterno was known for defense and “Linebacker U,” but in his last few years, his ability to make scoring happen was lacking. Having one of the people in charge of Tom Brady and one of the most productive offenses in the NFL as head coach had to be be too tempting for the university.

The offer probably meant more for O’Brien than it did Penn State. Coaching a college football team is one step away from the big time. His chances of coaching the NFL were greater than most other college coaches to start – since he would be in charge of a Big 10 Conference team.

O’Brien had one of the biggest challenges in college football history ahead of him, however. The university was dealt severe sanctions that included bowl bans and reduced player scholarships for most of his contract. Attempting to recruit players, in addition to keeping current players, would prove to be a great challenge.

O’Brien stepped up to the challenge. Some key players left, but others, like freshman quarterback Christian Hackenberg, weren’t deterred by bowl bans and wanted to play for Penn State because of its football legacy and O’Brien’s willingness to coach against such odds.

O’Brien made an even bigger name for himself by posting two winning seasons (8-4,7-5). His ability to advance the football program amazed fans and sports analysts alike.

Despite O’Brien’s charisma, the doubt among fans concerning his loyalty to the university started just one season into the coach’s career. Rumors began long before this week that O’Brien would eventually take an NFL job. Several news outlets reported last year around this time that O’Brien sought interest in coaching the Cleveland Browns or the Philadelphia Eagles.

Penn State fans thought it unfathomable. He coached for one season, which was microscopic in comparison to Paterno’s career. His love for the school and the “bunch of f*#@kers” he was coaching made it seem as though he had no ambition to go back to the league he left for the NCAA.

Ultimately, nothing happened. The rumors stopped, and Penn State fans finally exhaled. O’Brien was at Penn State for good – for the time being.

Then it all happened again. It was a nightmare relived for many Penn Staters. The possibility of O’Brien leaving for an NFL coaching job not only scared fans again but caused outrage.
This was now the second time in two seasons that O’Brien was rumored to be working on a deal. What games was he trying to play with our heads? Why wouldn’t he come out and confirm/deny the rumors? Why would he leave Penn State after just two successful seasons?

O'Brien hasn't provided a public explanation yet for his choice. What he has to say about the deal and leaving Penn State will be interesting. I’m expecting it to be something along the lines of “Penn State is a great program, and I’m really proud of my players and what they have done. It is sad to leave Penn State, but I’m happy about my future with the Texans.” In other words, something to the point, generic and safe.

That’s about all he can do. No matter what he says, the people offended by his deal will likely remain offended. The longtime Paterno fans will be bitter until they find someone willing to coach at Penn State and not for promotions or cash. The “Billievers” will say they’re a bit disappointed, but they support O’Brien having continued success no matter the location.

The people criticizing O’Brien for taking a better, prominent job are likely hypocrites, however. I don’t know anyone, including myself, who would say no to a job of higher prestige, especially if it pays more.

O’Brien ambition to make more money and to have a well-respected position may same conceited, but there aren't many us who have been placed in a similar situation to judge. Not only that, but including the exposure O’Brien got coaching at Penn State, he is likely to receive twice as much attention now that the NFL, ESPN and every other major news outlet is watching him take the stage and just waiting for him to steal the show or burn out.

There are many ways to look at O’Brien’s decision, which is why I’m conflicted on how I feel about it.

I was excited when O’Brien came onboard to Penn State. I remember the banners around State College saying, “Welcome to Happy Valley, Bill O’Brien,” along with other messages of positivity and hope that he could revive the greatness that had been our football program before the scandal.

I also recall thinking how it was great for me to witness a new coach and a new era. I respected Paterno and his work, but he was coach long before I was even born. By the time I came to appreciate college football, many of his best years had already passed.
O’Brien, to me, was the Penn State coach of my generation – a coach who I, along with those I graduated with, could one day tell stories about, just like so many alumni continue to carry Paterno’s legacy on even after his death.

I can definitely say I’m disappointed that O’Brien wasn’t around long enough for me to remember what he could have been. Then again, this tends to be the norm for coaching these days.

The reality is we're not going to see another "Joe Paterno" who is willing to stay in one place for 46 seasons. Most coaches are lucky to stay with a team for more than two seasons, let alone two-thirds of their life.

O'Brien's story, though brief, is still worth telling, but a large portion of that story also depends on his future performance in the NFL.

As I see it, I will end up referring to O’Brien in one of two ways: It will either be, “I remember Bill O’Brien as the coach who brought Penn State football out of despair and went on to become a great NFL coach,” or, “I remember Bill O’Brien as starting a successful career at Penn State, only to throw that away and take an NFL job where he flopped and could never make a name for himself again.”

O’Brien’s legacy from here on out is going to be interesting. Even though I resent him leaving, I will definitely be following him as he moves on in the NFL, just to see whether he made the right choice or not. Only time can tell, and O’Brien still has a lot of time to make it or break it.