Cycling...

I've spent fun times at the finish line in Downtown San Luis Obispo, watching and covering the Tour of California. I interviewed the top riders and enjoyed the experience of professional cycling. I had never been so close to the action, and it was a thrill, each time! Before the Tour my only history with cycling was following Lance Armstrong for years. I read both of his books. I cheered for him through his battle with cancer. I used his story and life as inspiration for my own physical challenges, my first marathon in 1997 and a 10-mile uphill trail challenge, that same year. I looked up to him. Whether you agree with it or not, he was a hero to me. He has helped the world in many ways with his commitment to fighting cancer and researching the best medicines, cures, etc. Ok, that's the good part, now the sad news. It has changed for me. I don't follow cycling like I used to; the drugs in the sport and Armstrong turned me off. You can argue, everybody cheats, all sports deal with performance enhancers...yada, yada, yada. That doesn't matter to me. I get to be the type of fan I want to be, for any or all sports. It's affecting me this week because the Tour is in town this afternoon. I want to go, I don't want to go. I would like to find a new rider to cheer, an honest & clean team that does it right. But, I don't know when and if we'll get that in this sport. The amount of mileage and stress on the body to ride the way these people do, is incredible. I guess, I sort of understand why a lot of them feel they need medical/chemical assistance to do it and do it well. No matter, my heart isn't beating for the sport as it has in the past. And everybody appreciates a good heartbeat, right?

Looking for something positive...

Waking up this morning after a long three weeks in my own life, but an even longer seven days for our world. Feeling relieved in my own space, but heart felt pain for so many others. Those in Boston, those who love someone in Boston, what can we do from this far away? How can we help, support and honor those on the east coast? We send thoughts, prayers and healing light. But, it doesn't feel like enough. I walk around now with you in my heart!!! I remember when I was live on the air during 9/11, I remember when Katrina hit the gulf coast, I remember Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, this is just as horrible. I hate this feeling. It's helpless, and at times hopeless. I know I can find something positive, but not right now. I'm always searching for that, even in the worst of times when the worst of things happen. I'm looking forward to a better week for us all. I plan to enjoy life more now, love stronger, give more often and make each moment mean something. I will be cherishing my friendships, my family and myself so much more now. I vow to work more towards my goals and dreams. I promise to be the best sister, daughter, aunt and friend I am capable of being!

Jackie, Let's Celebrate, Honor and Remember #42!!!!

Wow, each year at this time I get giddy, excited and a bit melancholy. I want to spend the days leading up to April 15th, Jackie Robinson Day in MLB cheering and remembering! This year it's a little extra special. A Biopic of Jackie's life opens in theaters tomorrow nationwide. I haven't anticipated a movie this much, EVER in my life. Part of me wants to go to a local theater and camp out, awaiting the very first show at 12:40pm tomorrow! I know I'd be the only person there, but maybe it would get some media attention, anything to keep his legacy alive. Anything to teach the kids about a guy that truly CHANGED the world through sports. "42" opens tomorrow, I'll be at that first show, with a group of people, smiling, laughing, crying, cheering and remembering Jackie Robinson. A man who integrated not only baseball; he started something and he stuck it out, even when it was almost too painful to handle. He broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He tolerated years of verbal and physical abuse. His family tolerated years of verbal abuse as well. Every single child in this country needs to know what he did for people of color in this nation. He broke into baseball years before even schools were desegregated. The military was even just integrating soldiers into regimes around our country. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, Jackie Robinson did more for this country and the civil rights movement than any of us. That came from MLK!!! He has a national holiday in his honor every January. I vote for a national holiday for JR42, and I will spend the rest of my life working to get Jackie Robinson a holiday, to get Jackie Robinson on a postage stamp and and to keep his memory alive. I ask you, I challenge you to share his legacy with young people. Please, let's all continue to tell his story and help keep the conversation going, it will make us all better people. He's left me that gift and I'd like to offer it to you. Jackie Robinson died waaaaay to young at the age of 53, but his memory and story will remain alive forever! Hip Hip Hooray for JR42!!!

Lakers are #8 right now...

So sad to see such a talented group of NBA players, the Lakers, who can't seem to find a way to work together as a team. Shouldn't the game itself be the most important? Shouldn't winning at all cost be the motto? Since when is the money, the ego and the reputation more important than winning as a team? Basketball is a team sport. These are grown-ups who just don't have the cohones to make it happen. They just can't seem to put their own boyish attitudes on the side to play like a real team and win some basketball games. I guess when you bring in the negative energy of Ron Artest and try to pretend he's changed, you're already asking for trouble. He's a sham. There is such a thing as non verbal communication. He brought his history and his bad attitude to the Lakers. Yes, he's a talented player, but he's not healed and he's not true in his recovery. Just watch him. And, as much as I'm not a fan of Kobe the man, I am a fan of Kobe the player. Even he sees through the Artest facade. Then the Dwight Howard situation just escalates this to another level. Where's Derek Fisher when you need a solid adult attitude around to keep the kids in line. I may sound naive, but I don't remember the NBA players of the 80's and 90's being such jerks to fans, media or each other. Stop blaming the coach and bring back the old skool attitude and work ethic!

Kobe....Michael...oh so different!!!

It's so easy for people to blurt out how much they'd rather have Kobe than Michael leading their perfect NBA team. Some would say Kobe is the best to ever play the game. You are wrong. Let's not forget what MJ did for the game, for the city of Chicago and for the players around him. He was amazing and at times unstoppable! The most important part of his game, to me, was his ability to be unselfish and PASS the ball. We don't see that type of passing much in the NBA as it is today. He wasn't the nicest guy, he was tough on his teammates at practice and in games. He never gave up and tried to instill his work ethic into others. He was a bully sometimes too. If he thought his teammates weren't giving 100% he let them know it. But, in his mind, all along, was his will to win and his ability to give up the ball at times, if it meant winning. He learned so much of his talents and skills from a guy named Dean Smith. Jordan went to college @ North Carolina after high school. There he played for one of the best coaches in the history of the game. This is the monumental difference, Kobe never had that. You can say a lot of the same things about Bryant that I just did about MJ. But, and this is a big BUT, he went straight into the NBA from high school. He missed the whole 'Dean Smith' step in his life. The argument will continue for years, but the facts will remain the same. Kobe missed the part of his life where he would have learned character, dignity, integrity and values. Yes, our parents are responsible for this qualities. But, in sports the rules are a little different. Coaches and Athletic Administrators do have a part in the building of these young athletes, just as teachers do. We can't blame bad behavior on parents, teachers or coaches. But, we can give them credit when an athlete or kid finds the right path to travel. When we look back at Jordan's career and Kobe's career, we will see a bunch of similarities. But, Kobe missed a significant part of life by jumping straight to the NBA. Whatever side you're on, it sure is a great discussion.

Why so much drama???

I sit around lately, ok, no I'm not usually sitting. Truthfully, I'm hiking, running, skating, or walking when I think most of the time. Why don't athletes spend more time being people of high morals or character? Why isn't there more focus put into their training regime at all levels, high school, college, and professional; on integrity, honesty, health and reputation? Is winning and making huge money more important than the kind of person we become? More important than the image we portray? More important than our CHARACTER? Marion Jones, Lance Armstrong, Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, Tonya Harding, A-Rod, Manti Te'o, Chinese gymnasts, Bill Belichick, Tim Donaghy, Ben Johnson, John Calipari, Rosie Ruiz, Danny Almonte, Donald Crowhurst... These are the first that come to mind. But, it's not about those folks specifically, it's about what we're teaching our young people. I'm not a parent nor an educator. But, I give a crap about what our children become and how our world will look to them later. If we gave less attention to unintelligent people who'll do ANYTHING to get ahead and more on the ones that teach our children life's lesson about truth, honesty, character and respect, wouldn't our world be that much better? Maybe it sounds Pollyanna, or too idealistic, maybe even like a dreamer. But, but, but, I'd rather live this way, without desperation for success. Cheating, lying, or hurting others should NEVER have a reward or payoff. I'm afraid for our world when we give so much attention to the negative, the crime, the dark. Where did we go wrong when we started worshipping the winners only or the richest only or the "best" only, the Hilton's, Lohan's, Kar-somethings? Reality TV is poisoning our youth. The reality of our sports stars is poisoning our youth. Irresponsible TV and movies are poisoning our youth! When oh when will we stop the MADNESS??? I'll answer my own question...when our heroes become our parents, uncles, aunts, neighbors, teachers...REAL people. Here's to my true hero...my mom, Renee!!! And some props to my sports hero, Jackie Robinson who would have turned 94 years old on January31st!!!

Ah a new year...

Seems like I wasn't in touch for a bit. I wasn't. Planning our new show time slot...Wednesday nights at 7pm on ESPN Radio 1280am. Yeah! New time, new day, same big name guests, same crazy fun, same local angles and even more listeners!!! Life has taken some turns the past few weeks and it's been good, sometimes bad. I honor the challenges and struggles, knowing it makes me fuller and stronger...even a bit more interesting, at least to a few. I'm excited about what 2013 brings, in work and in life. The CJ Silas Show is growing and working towards syndication this year. I couldn't do it without my loyal and supportive partners: Community VW of Santa Maria, Dr Brad Kurgis Dermatology, Lido Restaurant @ The Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Brian Wampler & the staff @ Star Automotive, Dentists Daniel Lapidus & Larry Ackerman, Tim Holt at Preservation Capital, G Brothers Smokehouse, El Rancho Marketplace, Chiropractor William Baird, Mike Brabanac and Billy Gibbs of Golf Talk Radio on ESPN Radio 1280am. You are all awesome and have been with me through the first nine months of The CJ Silas Show. We will continue on this journey together, beginning this Wednesday January 9th at our new time, 7pm!!! Please, follow me on Twitter @cjsilas and find me on FB, C.j. Silas. Cheers!