Prop 8 Scuffle Ruled A Draw

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a draw.

It's the worst decision I've ever had to announce inside the ring, which is usually met with a chorus of expletives and cat-calls.

In the 15 years I've been doing ring announcing, I've had to announce the "never" popular draw about two dozen times.

I can remember only one time where the fans, and even the fighters, were OK with the decision. It was an all-out melee with no clear cut winner in a six round fight.

People don't want a draw or a tie.

They want some finality, they want a winner and a loser.

The Ken Mettler vs. Rod Badewitz bout has been ruled a draw by the DA's office, after it was determined that charges couldn't be successfully prosecuted against either individual.

Personally, I would have called it a "no contest".

Scoring this as a sanctioned bout.
It was a ridiculous situation for both parties involved. I give a little leniency to Mettler for what he did, with the comments urging violence being hurled in his direction. But I also deducted a point for leaving his neutral corner without invitation by the referee and venturing into the Anti-8 corner.

Now, Badewitz is contemplating a civil suit against Mettler and I'm sure there will be plenty of legal types chomping at the bit for a shot at it.

After all, it's not the youngsters first square dance in the court system. For that matter, Mettler has been down that road as well.

Score: Tied

I agree with the DA's office not getting in the middle of it.

The altercation was a joke to begin with and continues to draw laughter.

Mettler wants to extend an olive branch, and Badewitz appears ready to knock it out of his hand.

Unfortunately, even legal intervention won't settle this dispute.

Once again, I urge Mettler and Badewitz to settle this in a cage match.

For that matter, let's bring in Pro and Anti 8 people and make this a battle royal.

It would end with both sides claiming victory, but at least provide everyone on both sides with the chance to land a few legitimate punches.

Practice What You Purchase

You bought a Prius, now act like it!!

I'm driving along Stockdale Highway, on the way to my house, when the road merges to one-lane just past the stoplight.

I'm at the front of the line, when a new Toyota Prius slides up next to me in the curb lane, that is suppose to merge.

I see the new paint, pristine shine and start to wonder what it would be like to get that kind of gas mileage.

I mothballed my Expedition (with the exception of using it to tow the horse trailer) and have resigned myself to driving my wife's old car. A 2001 Toyota Avalon. A far cry from the '71 Cutlass 442 or '69 Mustang from my youth. But it's a solid car with air bags and some pretty decent horsepower and MPG's.

The older gentlemen driving the Prius is staring straight ahead.

I've seen that look before. When I was 18. Someone pulling up next to the 442, burning a hole in the stoplight with their stare as they prepared to punch the gas pedal threw the floor board in an attempt to roar away from the intersection first.

But this is a Prius.

Built for distance, not speed.

His gaze never left the light for one second. I started to chuckle, wondering if perhaps I was just a little delirious from my early workday.

The light changed and with the exception of what I use to refer to as a "burnout", the Prius sped away from the intersection as I began to accelerate alongside him.

With each passing 10th of a mile, he continued his rapid acceleration until he suddenly eased off the gas and slid in behind me as the road came together.

What was that all about?!

We've done stories about Prius owners, called hyper milers, who go to extraordinary lengths to try and get the most MPG's possible by coasting down hills and up to lights, anything and everything possible to boost the miles they squeeze out of every gallon.

One guy actually claims he went 110 miles on one gallon!!

Once I turned off of Stockdale Highway, Mr. Prius roared (more like a whirring sound) past me.

Perhaps the new Prius should come with a special section in the owner's manual that spells out how the hybrid system works and how old driving habits will have to be altered if the owner expects to see any gas savings.

Or maybe we should pass a law that requires Hybrid owners to use the slow lane, relinquish the right of way and carry a 5 gallon container of gasoline, so they can provide a little roadside assistance for the rest of us.

Sweetie, Honey and Baby

I was standing in line, minding my own business, when the young female cashier uttered the first one.

"Is that all, Sweetie?!"

I did a double take. It's a phrase that's been uttered by my wife or other friends, but it's been a while since a total stranger hit me with it.

I was paying for the 16oz drink and shuffling through the change in my pocket when I asked her how much I owed her.

"That'll be $1.19, Honey."

A honey and a sweetie?!

I had a flashback to the ABC23 newsroom about 12 years ago, when we were informed in a memo, that this type of conversation was frowned upon, after a producer complained to the news director.

I wasn't the guilty party in this instance, but I had tossed out the occasional phrase without thinking to some of my friends of the opposite sex.

Since that time, the friendly talk, gestures and a kind touch were replaced by the cold, methodical proceedings of a company that was falling in line with rules regarding harassment.

Don't get me wrong. The culture of CEO's, managers and any one else in charge who abused their title to force women, or men, into compromising positions out of fear of losing their job, has completely decimated the emotional aspect of the working environment.

Perhaps it's partially responsible for the generation of hopscotch employment now, where people jump from job-to-job with little thought of making a career in one particular place.

It's mellowed in recent years, but a generation that grew up in a family like atmosphere at work has vanished. It's still there, but very antiseptic for the most part.

I smiled and handed the cashier $1.25, and dropped the change in the penny cup.

She smiled back and responded with a "Thanks, baby, we'll see you next time."

Yes you will.

"Sign" of the Times, Part 3

Should we leave the signs up??

Absentee and provisional ballots aside, it appears Prop 8 has passed, thus striking down same sex marriage in California.

At least for the moment.

Opponents have already filed one legal challenge at the time of this blog and were preparing another.

So, here we are, just a few months after the state Supreme Court overturned the constitutional amendment outlawing gay marriage, and we're right back where we started.

In the months leading up to Nov. 4th, activists cited public opinion polls that they claimed would keep Prop 8 from passing.

But that didn't happen.

And, based on trends and locations of the absentee and provisional votes that are still outstanding, the margin of support appears secure.

The "No on 8" campaign says it won't concede.

No surprise.

What about the 18,000 gay and lesbian couples that tied the knot?!

Experts believe the legality of their unions will probably be decided in court.

Neither side seems willing to compromise in this ongoing dispute.

Same sex couples want the right to marry and conservatives want to protect traditional marriage.

So how about this.

Let's get rid of the word "marriage" in all government forms, applications, etc...

Replace it with "legally bound".

When you fill out a form, it will now read Status: Single, Legally Bound, Divorced

Let's face it, no matter what the constitution reads or a judge orders, same sex marriages will never be recognized by some religions and various other groups.

And, gay couples could probably care less, as long as they're able to refer to their relationship as a marriage.

So, stop forcing either side to re-define their definition, and change the way a city, state or the country refers to relationships.

"Legally Bound".

Most people would probably be OK with that.

While I don't agree with same sex marriage, I'm not willing to rewrite my personal definition for anyone.

But I'll more than gladly use the phrase "Legally Bound".

After all, most married people I know file their taxes under "Single" any way.