Why?

What is it with fatherhood that makes one so much more self reflective? Is it the domesticated lifestyle? No more late bar nights, Taco Bell at 3AM, then home with a nightcap watching highlight reels on Sportscenter til 4? Number 1 priority is no longer yourself? Or "ourselves" in the case of DINKs?

I used to watch school and workplace massacres (and how sad is it to even have to say that sentence) as a curious "bystander". Typically, I've been somewhat (but honestly, not overwhelmingly) affected by these incidents. Until Jeremy came along.

I've watched the inexplicable Virginia Tech massacre with a completely new eye and a very sad heart. My first thought when I heard about this lunatic was to leave work, pick up Jeremy from Rainbow Montessori, give him a big hug and make sure he never leaves my sight again until he marries. And then I thought - what's going to happen at a place with "rainbow" in the title? And then I thought that's what dozens of Amish folks thought in a community that barely interacts with the modern world.

I held my breath when the shooter was identified as Asian. I breathed a sigh of relief when I found out he wasn't Filipino or Chinese. I thought again as to "why does it matter which Asian descent he was"? Apparently, I wasn't the only one with these thoughts. The leader of South Korea has pleaded with our nation to not stereotype this behavior. Is this easy to do? Answer should be quick and simple. Yes it's easy to do, idiot! It's obvious that all of South Korean's aren't mass murderers, stupid!

Been on a plane lately with a Muslim wearing a turbine? I have. The question above is not so easy to answer.

Life seemed so much easier when the only wories were how much trans fat a Chalupa has and did MSU rise in the pre-season poll and A-rod is incredible but why do I still hate him and....and....

Of course, in that life, I don't have a 2 year old boy waiting for me at the end of the day not knowing and not caring what happened this morning. Only caring that dad is here to go home to mom and a loving family all around him. I'll take this life.

The new world of self reflection.

As Monk says, it's a gift.

And a curse.

Good day in sports

Not a bad day's work today, eh? Tigers FINALLY pulled even to .500 - does anyone realize that this is the first time they've been at .500 or under since 2005? I'm hoping it only lasts 4 games.

The Wings, in typical fashion, have clinched the Western Conference - and damn they should have! An Original 6 team losing the conference to a hockey team based in Nashville should be embarrassed.

And although the Pistons have been struggling lately, they will win the Eastern Conference (again). You'll see. This season is very reminscent of the 2004 season when the Eastern Conference was supposed to be far inferior to the Western Conference. And guess who won that title?!?

But of course the big win today - Michigan State! Always nearest and dearest to my heart (until DeLaSalle wins a state football title that is). National Champs. So it's just hockey, but it still feels pretty cool. Especially when they were the "worst" team of the field. Yeah, choke on it Notre Dame, Maine and BC!! Much like the local San Jose Sharks - "there's always next year". Ha!

One other thing I saw and heard today I am in awe of. A-Rod, as you've seen if you've caught Sports Center for even only 6 seconds today, hit a walk off grand slam. I foung out today, that's the 3rd walk off grand slam of his career. Holy crap. He sure is an awesome regular season player!

National Championship game!

OK. So it's not basketball. And it's definitely not football. And a football title seems to be light years away (maybe basketball again soon? - especially since Florida just lost everyone to the NBA and I'm damn sure Greg Oden is going pro). I'll take what I can (hopefully) get. Like the use of my parenthetical phrases?

MSU is in the national championship hockey game vs. Boston College tomorrow! That's pretty cool regardless of what anybody says about college hockey (although I said the same thing about the women's basketball team when they were in the title game 2 years ago). Also said the same thing when MSU beat Emory for the debate national title years back. What do you expect? I'm a Spartan at heart. Go Green!