Rantings of an angry Jack's Mannequin fan

One of the most amazing things a music lover can experience is the opportunity to attend a concert. The overall concert experience is elevated when the band is not just any band, but rather the overall favorite group of the music obsessee. I have now seen my favorite band 4 times, and it never gets old. However, this Saturday was the first time I had to put up with a less-than-exemplary fan base. In the past, Jack's Mannequin fans respected each other's space and appeared to have a genuine appreciation for the music.

This is why I was so disappointed with the fan base present at the Jack's Mannequin concert at Sokol Auditorium in Omaha on Saturday. We got there early, and were thrilled with our position, which was about 4 rows back from the stage. During the two opening bands we were left undisturbed, but by the time Jack's Mannequin took stage, fans began pushing forward, knocking people out of their way in order to get closer to the stage.

Now I payed the same amount for tickets as these rude fans did, and I got in line a good 45 minutes earlier to get these sports, so of course I was beyond upset when this began occuring. At the worst point, a guy who was much larger than me both in height and stature yelled "close knit group!" and pushed his way in front of me. For some reason this made me see red. Who the hell was he to cut in front of us? In fact, who has the right to cut in front of anyone under any circumstance? I would never dream of cutting people off to get a better spot, so it does not seem right that anyone else does it to me.

Though a few people had already cut in front of us, when this particular 'close knit group' guy shoved past me, I lost it. I mean, hardcore lost it. I grabbed him by the neck, momentarily forgetting that he was twice my size yelled at him "get back" (the PG version of my actual words) and when all else failed, dug my six-inch heels right into his shins.

After about 30 seconds attempting to beat up the cutter, my brother pulled me off. While I was flailing around in his grasp, Wes yelled "Back off, Kelly- what do you hope to accomplish?! Just enjoy the concert." I respond well to logic, so I immediately forfeited. Eventually, the jerk pushed his way straight to the front, but it was in a diagnol pattern, so he stopped blocking my view after a couple songs.

Despite inconsiderate fans, the show was sensationsal. Jack's Mannequin was passionate and lead singer Andrew McMahon put out an excellent vocal effort as always (I've seen them four times now). I'd also like to recomment Lowe vs. Diamond, the opening band. They were incredibly talented. "Heart Attack" is a great starter song for this band.

I want to tell all of you, don't cut in lines. Ever. It's incredibly inconsiderate and shows a major lack of character. When you cut in front of someone, it basically says "I think I'm more important than you are" and makes you look like a total jackass. My only consolation was that the guy who cut in front of me got my six-inch heels momentarily lodged in his shin to remind him that he's a jackass. Don't let this discourage you rom going to concerts, though- just make sure you wear heels.

Column 2- When Police Officers aren't the good guys....

Ryan Moats was not running from the cops. Though the Houston Texans failed to pull over immediately after being chased by a squad car for running a red light, Moats was not running from anyone. Instead, he and his family were speeding toward the Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, where Moat’s mother-in-law was dying. Moats made it to the Medical Center’s parking lot before pulling over and emerging with his hands held up, pleading with the officer to allow him to see his mother-in-law before it was too late.
(Police Video) http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4017382
Moats was threatened by Dallas police officer Robert Powell, 25. Powell used phrases such as “I can screw you over” and “Your attitude will dictate everything that happens.”
At one point, the same tape that caught Powell’s threatening remarks also caught his reaction when Moat’s wife, Tamishia got out of the SUV and proceeded to rush into the hospital. Ignoring Powell’s comments to stay inside the vehicle, Tamishia yelled “Excuse me, my mother is dying- do you understand?” Moats continued to plea with the officer, crying out “She has seconds man, then she’s gone!” At one point during the video from the squad car, a nurse even came out, verifying that Moat’s mother-in-law was dying, and a Plano officer also pleaded with Powell, requesting the release of Moats to visit the dying patient. To this, Powell responded “All right, I’m almost done.” Powell did not immediately release Moats, however, and by the time Powell issued Moats a ticket for running the red light, his mother-in-law had passed away. “I just held her hand,” Moats said to a reporter. “But she was already gone.” Moats never got to say goodbye to his dying mother-in-law. He never got to hold her hand in the final moments before she succumbed to breast cancer. Instead, Moats was threatened by a Dallas Police officer while an important family member lay dying.
After the incident, Moats said he had waited until there was no traffic to pass the red light, which is also shown clearly on the police tape. Moats also expressed that he would not have minded getting a ticket in the hospital, after he was allowed to say goodbye to his mother-in-law. “I don’t know what he was thinking,” Moats told KRLD-FM. “Basically, I was just very shocked… I even said I can’t believe this is happening.” Moats added, “He should lose his job”. Dallas police chief David Kunkle said upon reviewing the police tape that both Moats and his wife “exercised extraordinary patience, restraint in dealing with the behavior of our officer”. Kunkle also commented “At no time did Mr. Moats identify himself as an NFL football player or expect any kind of special consideration. He handled himself very, very well.” Powell resigned and Moats and his wife even accepted the apologies of him as well as the Dallas police department, but Moats lost a moment in his life which he says he can never get back.
When a situation such as this occurs, we have to seriously contemplate the shortcomings of our law enforcement. There should never be a situation in which an individual is unable to say goodbye to a dying family member due to hindrance from an entity which has promised to “protect and serve”. After hearing a story such as this, we have to wonder how many times officers abuse power or prevent those in dire need from getting where they need to be. It is unacceptable to be producing police officers who behave in the manner in which Powell behaved during the encounter with Moats. It is vital to support our law enforcement, but it is even more important for the system to ensure they are not producing corrupt officers. It may be time to re-evaluate certain aspects of police training, such as empathy training and protocol under special circumstances. That way, no one will ever miss out on a chance to say goodbye to a family member due to an officer again.

If you were looking for a nail biting, edge-of-your-seat, intense NCAA championship... you didn't get one this year. The North Carolina Tarheels blew past the Michigan State Spartans as easily as if they had been uncontested.

The Tarheels topped the Spartans by a margin of 89-72, though they led by a margin of over 20 the majority of the game. Next to the Heels, the Spartans looked slow and flat-footed.

REUTERS/Jeff Haynes (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

In the first half, North Carolina not obtained a drastic lead, but also set a NCAA tournament scoring record with 55 first half points. Ty Lawson also set a tournament record, with 7 steals by halftime. The Heels also broke a 42-year-old title-game record for biggest lead at the half. At the end of the half, North Carolina led Michigan State by a margin of 55-34.

The second half was no better for the Michigan State Spartans, either. The Tarheels kept their game up, with Hansbourgh contributing with 18 points and Ellington adding 19 points. It was a performance we expected from the unanimous No. 1 preseason pick. North Carolina proved to the nation that they are indeed the No. 1 team, and they did it in style, winning by over double digits in every NCAA tournament match. They topped it off with a record-setting championship performance which will not be fogotten by Hansbrough, Lawson, Green, coach Williams, the nation or the Michigan State Spartans.
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Because I have Tarheel pride (A love letter)

They've been in 18 Final Four appearances, won 43 ACC championships, been ranked #1 at the end of the season 11 times in various poles, been home to 8 National players of the year and won 5 national championships.

I am speaking, of course of the North Carolina Men's basketball team. Though many schools can be dubbed "power houses" of their respective sports, none has been more dominant in their field as the North Carolina Tarheels.

Throughout this year's NCAA tournament, several teams were heartbreakingly inferior to
their talent level. We saw teams which should have easily made the Sweet Sixteen fail to pass the first round. We witness teams which had been prophesized to take home the title fall in the Elite Eight and Final Four.

With all the upsets and letdowns, it is a comfort to know that North Carolina isn't letting anyone down or cracking under the pressure. Throughout the NCAA tourney, Hansbrough and Lawson put up impressive numbers, shining brighter than they had all year. Ellington and Fraser have stepped it up a notch, and Green has emmerged as Carolina's biggest three point shooter.

Tomorrow I look forward to watching these boys prove to the world that they are the best team in the nation. Though I don't believe they will pull a 33-point win over Michigan State again (they beat them by that margin earlier this year), I don't expect North Carolina to have a problem with the Spartans. So tune in, cheer for the NCAA and see just why North Carolina basketball is the only sport that has my heart.

*Image from Wikipedia

Spring Break and Simple Pleasures

Travis Robinson did not go to Cancun for spring break. He did not go skiing down the slopes, gamble in Vegas or see the sites of the great American cities, either. In fact, Travis Robinson did not even venture outside of Kearney, NE during the break. Robinson spent his spring break working, watching a variety of his beloved movies and hanging out with a few friends who also opted not to stray from central Nebraska over spring break.

While this may not sound like an ideal or even satisfying way to spend one of the few precious free weeks college students are granted, Robinson found a way to make it fun, entertaining and maybe even a little perfect. While his friends were sunbathing or getting windblown in the windy city, Robinson was constantly alternating between spending time within the walls of his workplace, Wal Mart, viewing movies and taking in the great metropolis that is Kearney, NE. Despite this, Robinson did not mind being confined to mid-Nebraska. With a little resourceful thinking, he and his friends were able to entertain themselves in the practically abandoned college town. It also helped that not all Robinson's friends jumped ship. "I still had plenty of people to hang out with in Kearney and it was nice to have more time to relax and hang out", Robinson said.

Although he had additional free time during break, Robinson refrained from picking up extra shifts at his workplace. "I kept the same amount of hours as per usual. I didn't want to work any more than I had to, especially on break," Robinson said. With an abundance of extra time, Robinson was able to focus on one of his greatest passions: movies. Always the zealous movie buff, Robinson eagerly looks forward to opportunities to explore new movies and pass the time persuing and critiquing his favorite past time. Almost as if by an act of fate, a movie which Robinson had anxiously waited four years for came out the very day break began. The anticipation coupled with Robinson's intense love for horror flicks allowed for endless entertainment for Robinson. Other films, as well as Robinson's favorite TV show aided in Robinson's entertainment as well. "I ended up watching a lot of 'Scrubs'," Robinson said. The contrast associated with the combination between the horror films and comic episodes allowed for the perfect array of excitement and endless entertainment for Robinson over the break.

Though he kept himself entertained during break with a few friends and his films, Robinson, like many, felt the absence of the college students who chose to spend break in more exotic places. "Work was definitely slower," Robinson stated. With the majority of college students spending their break anywhere but Kearney, even the walls of Wal Mart felt slightly empty.

While Robinson may not have done anything that can be considered glamorous for his spring break, he did learn a valuable assest: how to stay entertained in mid-Nebraska without sacrificing a lot of money or relying on extraordinary outside contributing factors. Robinson proved that you do not need to travel, spend a lot of money or even make elaborate plans to have a great spring break. Sometimes, all it takes for a person to experience an amazing and ideal spring break is a little free time, some relaxation, a few good friends, something you are passionate about and the ability to enjoy the simple pleasures.

An ode to those of us stuck in Kearney, NE for Spring Break...

I realize this is a little late, but I wanted to give a shout out to those of us still in Kearney, NE while our friends are out sunbathing, sightseeing, drinking and doing anything but, well, being stuck in central Nebraska during the most exciting time for a college students.

So our friends abandoned us, and the world may see us as a little lame, but there are a few upsides to being stuck in K-town over break. I figured I'd post a few to make everyone (including myself) who was stuck in Kearney and/or abandoned by friends feel a little better about their spring break. They may be few, but here they are- the upsides of being in Kearney, NE over spring break:

1. Earn extra cash from working extra hours- hey, it's always nice to earn money rather than spend money, right?
2. Feeling like you have the town to yourself since all the college kids are gone
3. An entire new crowd- I met more people over spring break than I did all year- the town turns into a combination of the left-over college students and those who came home to Kearney for break.
4. St. Patrick's day in Kearney- sure wherever everyone else was may have been more glamourous, but don't underestimate how much fun we have during St. Patrick's in Kearney. It was wonderful- Kearney definitely has an Irish side!
5. More sleep- with no agenda, you can put in the extra ZZZ's. And more sleep is always a good thing.
6. Renewed appreciation for 'free time'. I had all the time in the world this week, I cleaned, cooked and even spent some time outdoors. Being so busy made me forget how much I love being able to watch an episode of the Office or sleep past noon.

Maybe it's not Cancun, but don't feel bad if you were rockin' in Kearney, NE during break. You were not alone, and hopefully, you were able to see the bright spots of this city as well.

Boys who break my heart....

First off, Happy NCAA Tournament time! Yes, this is so special that I have created a holiday for it. One of my best guy friends calls this "the most wonderful time of the year", and I tend to agree.

On a sadder note, a few teams have been disappointments. The first major disappointment came when Wake Forest, a number 4 seed, fell in the first round to Cleveland St, a mere number 13 seed. Though the ACC powerhouse has struggled this season, no one expected them to have the inability to conquer the less-than-impressive number 13 squad. Though I cautioned anyone away from picking this team to go futher than the sweet sixteen, I expected them to at very least squeeze past a terrible team which barely made the NCAA tournament. Thanks, Wake, for messing up my bracket, terrible representation of the best conference in the nation (this is disputable, the Big East is great too, I'm just partial to ACC) and an unending display of disappointing mediocracy.

Another major disappointment came when Boston College fell to Southern Cal. While USC is a perennial football powerhouse, they are at best average when it comes to college basketball. While they've struggled in the past two seasons, Boston College has been an impressive ACC factor in the past, and with their 7 seed over USC's 10 slot, it seemed the Eagles should have been able to upset the Trojans. No dice though, like Wake Forest, the ACC disappointed again, and my poor bracket took a major hit as I had this squad going to the elite 8. Chalk it up to another ACC heartbreak.

West Virginia- what the hell?! With a 6 seed over Dayton, this one seemed like a no-brainer. And with Kansas being such a young, inexperienced squad, it seemed possible that they could squeeze past the Jayhawks as well. Much to my disappointed suprise, the Mountaineers could not even top Dayton, a less-than-mediocre club. I hoped for much more from this Big East team, who experienced an impressive key win over Pittsburg during the Big East conference tournament. The mountaineers also instilled faith in me after knocking out Duke second round in the NCAA tournament last year. In this year's NCAA tournament, they could not win when it mattered though, and West Virginia disappointment fans without being able to play even a second game in the big dance.

So, if you are agonizing about your bracket, you're not alone. With the upsets and teams who failed to show up, even the best can have a few missed picks. I know my bracket is getting progressively worse. No heartbreak I've experienced ever compares to the heart ache the NCAA tournament causes. Thanks for the heartbreak, boys.