Everything Happens For a Reason

Jason Lowbridge

Professor McKeever

English 1020

18 July 2013

Word Count: 1595

Everything Happens For a Reason

            He certainly wasn’t the worst kid growing up in the very small town of Crawford, Mississippi. It was almost impossible to be bad in a town with less than 500 people. Everybody knew each other’s business, and you could get away with very little. Typically he obeyed the rules, but he was known to cut a class, or two, at Moor High School. On one of those days he chose to skip a class, he went to that perfect hiding spot behind the high school building. Unfortunately for him, it was also the day the principal decided to case the school grounds. Instead of acknowledging that he had been caught, the 10^th grader took off running. Too bad for him, the principal knew who he was dealing with. That red blazer that he always wore surely gave it away. When he returned to school the next day, he was immediately summoned to the principal’s office. It was there that he was presented with two options, be whipped by the principal’s belt, or join the high school football team. Who knew that this one event in this young kid’s life would prove to be so life changing? The old saying that everything happens for a reason, would indeed be the case. Had he never been presented with the option to join the high school football team, the course of this child’s life might be dramatically different and the impact he would go on to make in football might have been missed. The child accepted his punishment, developed his skills and went on to becoming the greatest player ever to play in the NFL.

Despite the options presented to him, really the 10^th grader did not have much of a choice. Principal Wickes had already told the football coach just how fast the student was (Rice).  Although he loved watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys on television, he had never played anything more than pick up football games with his brothers and friends. He really had no interest in playing at school, and his mother definitely did not want him playing. He had great energy and was always running and working out, but she worried about him being injured. After all, he was very skinny. But, the young 10^th grader decided to accept his punishment and play for the Moor High School football team. “The football team, which played at a stadium that seated only 100 people and had light poles on just one side of the field, served as a forum to display his tremendous work habits. As much of his childhood was filled with play, he always had a keen sense of the value of hard work” (Rice 23). Not only did he accept his punishment, but he went on to excel in football. He played receiver, defensive back, and even quarterback.  Basically, he played wherever the coach needed him. By the end of his high school career, he was honored as an All-State end and defensive back (Rice).

            The young man and his brother often dreamed of becoming professional athletes so they could but their parents a brand new house. Getting there would prove difficult. His brother’s career fizzled out right after college when he was unable to make it in the NFL. Although the high school senior had interest from about 40 colleges, “nobody was really pounding on his door” (Rice 27). Archie Cooley, head coach at Mississippi Valley State was one of the few coaches that showed any real interest in him. “Coach Cooley had heard about him through an extensive network of black high school coaches, and when he showed up to scout the lanky teenager, the kid was so impressed that he immediately accepted a scholarship to the little known Division 1-AA school” (Rice 27). An added benefit was that the kid was very interested in the pass-heavy offense that Coach Cooley ran.

            Within the first week of his college football practice, the young man made an immediate impact on his coaches. Coach Cooley is quoted as saying “I knew he was a special athlete because his work ethic was so great” (Rice 27). The young player attributes his work ethic and pass catching skills to his father, His father was a brick layer who often took his young soon to work with him. His father was determined to teach him the value of hard work. The added benefit was catching the bricks his father would throw up to him strengthened his hands, which made him a much better receiver and taught him hand/eye coordination. Ironically, during his freshman year of college, his teammates nicknamed him “world” because “they reasoned that he could catch anything in the world” (Rice 29).

            “Coach Cooley ran a no-huddle, four receiver set offense and threw the ball almost 90% of the time” (Rice 27).  During his freshman season, the young receiver made an immediate connection with his quarterback, Willie Totter. “The two developed a connection that was downright scary” (Rice 29). By his sophomore season he caught 66 passes for 1,133 yards and seven touchdowns (Rice). Hardly pro-prospect numbers though. With those numbers it was more likely that he would find a career within his chosen major of electronics, not the NFL. His junior season was really a breakout year for him. By the time he finished his senior year, and college career, he would set 18 Division 1-AA records with a total of 4,693 receiving yards (Rice). In addition, he was named the MVP after playing in the Blue-Gray game. Now his NFL prospects seemed a little more likely. During his senior season, a number of NFL scouts came to watch him play and practice. While they were impressed with his pass catching abilities, they timed his speed at a relatively slow and unimpressive 4.6. Lucky for him, the head coach of the world champion San Francisco 49ers saw things differently.

            Head coach Bill Walsh was obsessed with the kid, but knew there was no chance they would be able to draft him. After all, the 49ers were coming off of a Super Bowl win and were picking 28^th in the NFL draft. “But come draft time, Bill Walsh was known to engage in more high-stakes trading than Wall Street, and 1985 would be no exception” (Rice 36). Two days before the draft the San Francisco 49ers had a tentative deal in place to trade with the New England Patriots. This would give the 49ers the 16^th pick in the first round. When the Buffalo Bills selected a cornerback with the 14^th pick, the 49ers finalized the deal. Shocking almost everybody who is involved with, or follows the NFL, Bill Walsh got the kid he was fixated on.

            The person I am referring to was born October 13, 1962 and is a retired wide receiver that played twenty seasons in the National Football League.  Many consider him to be the greatest wide receiver ever in the National Football League and some even consider him to be the greatest player, of all time, at any position. In fact, he was chosen by the NFL Network as the greatest player in NFL history. He was a member of the all decade teams of the 80’s and 90’s. He is the all-time NFL leader in receptions, touchdown receptions, and yards. He retired with 38 NFL records to his name. He was selected to the Pro Bowl 13 times and named an All-Pro 12 times. He won three Super Bowls playing for the San Francisco 49ers and was once voted Super Bowl MVP. In addition to the San Francisco 49ers, he also played for the Oakland Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks. At the  of the 2004 season, his 20th in the NFL, he joined the Denver Broncos, signing a one year contract, but ultimately decided to retire. On August 19, 2006, the San Francisco 49ers announced that he had signed a one day contract with them, allowing him to retire as a member of the team where his career began. On August 24, he officially retired as a San Francisco 49er, signing a one day contract for $1,985,806.49.  The number was merely symbolic and was never actually paid. It represented the year he was drafted (1985), his number (80), the year he retired (2006), and the 49ers (49). (Rice) Over the course of his career, he played in 303 games overall. Honoring his storied career, he was selected for induction in the Pro Football class of 2010 in his first year of eligibility. He was inducted in Canton, Ohio on August 7, 2010 along with Emmitt Smith, Floyd Little, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dick LeBeau, and John Randle. Two months later, on September 20, 2010, during halftime at the 49ers-Saints game, his #80 jersey number was retired.

He really had nothing short of a pretty amazing career. And in this case, everything really did happen for a reason. Had he never been caught skipping classes by his high school principal and forced to join the high school football team, had he never worked hard and made a name for himself on a virtually unknown, small college football team and had he not caught the eye of the head coach of the world champion San Francisco 49ers, football fans everywhere might have never enjoyed the pure talent and grace that was Jerry Lee Rice on the football field.

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Rice, Jerry and Silver, Michael. Rice. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1996.

 

 

Eddie DeBartolo and the Making of the San Francisco 49er Dynasty

Jason Lowbridge                                                                                            

Professor McKeever

English 1020

3 July 2013

Word Count: 1808

Eddie DeBartolo and the Making of the San Francisco 49er Dynasty

            It was Super Bowl XXIII and Bill Walsh was hoisting the Lombardi trophy in the air. It was the third Super Bowl trophy for the San Francisco 49ers in the last eight years. Outside of the New York Yankees, such dynasties in professional sports are almost unheard of. It was a proud moment for Eddie DeBartolo too. As owner of the San Francisco 49ers, he was the critical component in their success. Eddie DeBartolo was the most important factor in making the San Francisco 49ers one of the rare dynasties in professional sports because he knew how to treat those that worked for him, took a chance on a man named Bill Walsh, and was willing to spend top dollar to have hall of fame talent on his team.

            The San Francisco 49ers are a professional football team based in San Francisco, California. The team was formed in 1946 and played in the All-American Football league and later joined the National Football League (NFL) in 1949. For the first thirty years of their existence, they celebrated only mild success. “As members of the All-American Football Conference from 1946-1949, they were in fact considered the second best team, right behind the Cleveland Browns” (Barber 17). At the time the San Francisco 49ers were owned by the Morabito family, Anthony and his brother, junior partner Vic. Tony Morabito died of a heart attack at age 47, during halftime of a 49ers game against the Chicago Bears in 1957. In 1964, eight years after Tony Morabito's death, Victor Morabito also died of a heart attack, at 47. Josephine Morabito, Anthony’s widow, joined her 30 percent share of the team's franchise with a 25 percent share held by Jane Morabito, the widow of Victor. The sisters held the distinction of being the first female owners of a professional sports team at the time. The women were considered to be more knowledgeable about football than many men, but they considered the game to belong to a man's world. Because of this, the sisters-in-law chose to remain in the background of the team's operations and left the day- to-day management to Lou Spadia, who was then president of the club. While the relationship between Spadia and the Morabito widows was not always great, they deferred to him. Unfortunately, for thirty-one straight seasons, the San Francisco 49ers never won a championship. In spite of this, fans loved the Morabito family. But things were about to change when then family sold the team.

On March 31, 1977 Edward DeBartolo Sr., who had made his fortune in construction, specifically malls and strip malls, purchased the franchise for his son Edward DeBartolo Jr, and the making of a dynasty was born. Edward (Eddie) DeBartolo Jr., born in Youngstown, Ohio, was 31 years old when he took over ownership of the San Francisco 49ers. He was as old as the 49ers franchise and now was the youngest owner in the NFL. At the time he acquired the team, the team was terrible. Tight end Brent Jones tells a story about how his younger brother cried when he gave him a 49ers jacket for Christmas. Funny thing was, his brother was no small child. He was only three years younger than Brent. The 49ers were so bad that literally, it made a grown man cry. Eddie was in a hurry to produce a winning team, but “perhaps it was his youth that made him impatient” (Barber 17).

Despite his eagerness and desires, early impressions of Eddie DeBartolo were not necessarily positive with the team and their fan base. In one of his first press conferences, he announced that the team would be run like a business and they were going to do their best to make money (Barber). Not what the players or fans, who were tired of the recent losing ways, really wanted to hear. In addition, early staffing decisions were not successful. One of Eddie’s first hires was a man named Joe Thomas. He was named General Manager. Randy Cross described Joe Thomas as, “he was to an NFL franchise what scorched earth is to landscape” (Barber 18). Immediately, Joe Thomas wanted to eliminate the rich tradition of the 49ers and start fresh. At one point he removed all 49ers memorabilia and was going to take it to the city dump. Joe Thomas was quoted as saying, “history begins today” (Barber 18).  The new owner went through multiple coaches and general managers. They actually went through five coaches in a two year span. Despite his family’s success in business, Eddie was the first DeBartolo to test the waters owning a sports franchise. There was no point of reference for him and he was learning solely by trial and error. However, what he did learn from the family business was the right way to treat his employees. Eddie credits his father for teaching him this. All 600 employees in Youngstown, each and every one of them, were considered a member of their family. It was something he wanted to carry over to the San Francisco 49er organization. Any member of the franchise, no matter what position they held, whether they were sick or had a problem, could go to Mr. D, as he was affectionately known. He worked hard to be close to his employees and build a family atmosphere. He spared no expense either. Everything he did was first-rate. Players had their own hotel rooms. They travelled on private jets, rather than commercial. Births and graduations were always remembered and recognized. Elaborate parties where thrown. He knew the name of every person that was a member of the franchise and knew their family members names as well. From the starting quarterback to the equipment manager, Eddie made them feel special, wanted and important to the cause. “When it came to running the 49ers DeBartolo violated one of the cardinal rules of the sports business. Ownership and talent cannot be pals. But somehow it worked in San Francisco.” (Barber 27). The 49er franchise was starting to establish an identity. Truly, the way he ran his business and treated people was instrumental in establishing a solid franchise.  Clearly, this laid the foundation for the dynasty. People wanted to play and work for Mr. D. But, it really wasn’t until the hiring of head coach Bill Walsh in 1979 that the 49ers would emerge as a perennial contender in the NFL and write the 49ers legacy.  

            Bill Walsh was a local guy, head football coach at Stanford University. A local radio talk show host suggested that Eddie DeBartolo meet with him about the 49ers head coaching job. No members of the 49ers front office were sold on him, but Eddie DeBartolo knew he was the man for the job the instant that they met. Their initial meeting, when he was hired, lasted less than an hour. Eddie was impressed with his talk of family, how to run an organization, and most importantly, his vision for the San Francisco 49ers. Bill Walsh would remain head coach of the 49ers from 1979-1988. He was the winner of six NFC West titles and Super Bowls XVI, XIX and XXIII. His career record was 102-63-1 when he retired. In 1999 he returned to the team as General Manager and later served as a consultant. He had an amazing and hugely successful career. Rightfully so, Bill Walsh will be remembered as one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time. He is affectionately known as “the genius.” Other football coaches study his body of work, hoping to replicate the blueprints that have made the 49ers so successful. Walsh’s philosophical changes to the game caused smash-mouth football, with deep and inaccurate passes to change to short and accurate passes. It was a well-choreographed dance, or a beautiful sonnet. Receivers glided in unison with their quarterbacks. Offensive lineman set their splits accordingly. The NFL would not be the same. “Rough Magic” was born and it would be several decades before defensive coordinators could even hope to contain it. 

            All the great coaches were a lot like old war heroes. Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi and George Halas to name a few. Much like Patton, they would out muscle their enemy and overpower their opponent into submission. Torrential warfare was executed over and over again on the gridiron. However, Bill Walsh was different. He did not subscribe to Woody Hayes theory of three yards and a cloud of dust. He looked and acted very much like a conductor. He was Ludwig Van Beethoven and his team was a finely tuned orchestra. Each department complimented the other, blending together to maximize impact and production. When done right, it was just like a fine symphony. Eddie DeBartolo took a huge leap of faith in hiring Bill Walsh. Rumor had it that coach Bill Walsh was blacklisted by head coach and NFL icon, Paul Brown. It was a hiring that Eddie DeBartolo had the courage and gut instinct to make. It was one that he and the San Francisco 49er organization would not live to regret.

            Finally, I would be remiss to not mention the players who helped Eddie DeBartolo make the 49ers into an NFL dynasty. Eddie DeBartolo spared no expense in acquiring and keeping top talent. A number of Hall of Fame players were members of the team during the dynasty years. Hall of Famers like Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Steve Young, Randy Cross, Fred Dean and Roger Craig all played for him. It was because of this lavish spending, the Salary Cap was put into place in the NFL. The Salary Cap essentially limits player’s salary and puts a global cap on the total team salary. Despite the salary setbacks, the successful blueprint that the 49ers had in place would allow the team to continue their winning ways.

            In 1997 Eddie DeBartolo was suspended by the NFL for his role in illegal casino licenses in Louisiana. In 2000 Eddie DeBartolo was convicted of failing to report extortion in Louisiana Federal Court. He was forced to sell the team to his sister Denise DeBartolo York. As a side note, the law firm I was employed at worked on the deal that transitioned the team to Denise. His nephew Jed York is now the team’s CEO. Jed York credits his uncle as an inspiration and acknowledges Eddie’s help and guidance in recent years. Jed York even hired head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was Bill Walsh’s last hire at Stanford, and subscribes to Bill Walsh’s philosophies. And, by the looks of things the last couple of years, the 49ers may soon have another dynasty on their hands. 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Barber, Phil. We Were Champions. Chicago: Triumph, 2002. Print.

An Annotated Bibliography

Jason Lowbridge

Professor McKeever

English 1020

21 June 2013

The San Francisco 49ers: The Eddie DeBartolo/Bill Walsh Making Of A Dynasty

An Annotated Bibliography

Barber, Phil. We Were Champions. Chicago: Triumph Books, 2002. Print.

                        This book starts out discussing owner Eddie DeBartolo’s purchase of the San        Francisco 49ers and team morale during the early losing season. It highlights Mr.        DeBartolo’s hiring of future legendary coach, Bill Walsh. It discusses the highs and lows            that came with building a dynasty. This will be used as one of my primary resources.

Cohn, Lowell. Rough Magic. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

                        This book discusses Bill Walsh’s return to coaching college football. When he left the San Francisco 49ers, he returned to Stanford University. This is where he was   coaching when the 49ers came calling. What excited him about returning was he knew        his team was not athletically superior to other teams, but he knew that most of them were   smarter, and he loved the challenge of coaching that game.  He truly appreciated the high       academic standards at Stanford.  I will probably use this book more for the profile paper.

Dickey, Glenn. The San Francisco 49ers First Fifty Years. Atlanta: Turner Publishing, Inc.,           1995. Print.

                        The title of this book describes exactly what the book is about, the San Francisco   49ers franchise from 1944 – 1994. The book discusses the highlights from those years     and also highlights players. Profiles range from the Million Dollar Backfield to Joe         Montana and Jerry Rice. Glenn Dickey is considered a premier authority on the San     Francisco 49ers, having written a number articles and books. This will be used as one of my primary resources. 

Myers, Gary. The Catch. New York: Crown Publishers, 2009. Print.

                        This book discusses one of the most memorable plays in NFL history, which          occurred between two NFL dynasties: The San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys.     The book covers reactions from many of the players and coaches that participated that             game. While the book is highly entertaining, it is not necessarily a good resource for me.

Rice, Jerry and Silver, Michael. Rice. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 1996. Print.

                        This book gives Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice’s perspective on the first     eleven years of his career. He discusses what motivates him, lessons he has learned and how he teaches young players. Jerry Rice is considered the greatest wide receiver of all       time, if not the greatest NFL player of all time. An interesting perspective from a player.

Walsh, Bill,  Billick, Brian and Peterson, James. Finding the Winning Edge. Champaign:    Sports Publishing, Inc., 1998. Print.

                        This book discusses the organizational, structural and philosophical preferences of San Francisco 49er head coach, Bill Walsh. It shares his insights into the game of football        and provides a blueprint for winning. The book is more about strategies and geared more   towards team personnel, rather than your average NFL fan.

Walsh, Bill and Dickey, Glenn. Building a Champion. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990. Print.

                        This book discusses how to build a winning team, and not just on the field. It        covers everything from player acquisition to contract negotiations to personality issues      within an organization. It is a book that is geared towards business professionals looking            for suggestions on how to build a successful organization.

Reflection Letter

 

December 6, 2012

 Professor Jerome McKeever

Corporate College West

25425 Center Ridge Road

Room 301 D

Westlake, Ohio 44145

Word Count: 912

Dear Professor McKeever:

 

As I reflect on the last twelve weeks of this course, I remember my initial fear and the reservations I had about taking an English composition course. It had been a long time since I had to write a paper for school. I was not really sure that I wanted to do this. I have never considered myself to be a strong essayist. The thoughts, feelings and ideas come easily to me, but I struggle when I actually have to put them down on paper. But, as most students know, English is a requirement and I had to complete this course before I could really go any further with my education. Once I reviewed the syllabus, the schedule of assignments, the MLA format, and only managed an 8 out of 10 on the MLA format quiz, that was it, I can remember thinking “Houston we have a problem.”

However, from the beginning of this semester, until now, I have grown much more confident and at ease with my writing skills. I am able to comfortably put those thoughts and ideas down on paper. I am even more at ease with the MLA format, my grammar and punctuation. I found Smarthinking.com to be an extremely helpful tool. The feedback was a huge help for me.  

I really enjoyed the discussion boards. It was nice to put my thoughts down in a not-so-formal setting. I also really enjoyed being able to see what the other students were thinking about a particular topic. I enjoyed reading my fellow students thoughts and seeing their different styles of writing. Plus, it was gratifying when a fellow student had a positive comment about my discussion board post.

The essays you provided us were actually quite good. I found every one of them to be interesting to read. Without a doubt, my favorite was “Love is a Fallacy” under lesson 4, evaluating an argument. I found it to be funny and very witty. Not to mention, it helped to really understand the different propaganda techniques that are used today.

The assigned text book was a world of help. It really provided me with a solid foundation to start my papers. It was easy to read and filled with excellent tips and ideas. It laid out exactly how my paper should be formatted. I found it to be an invaluable tool for me. It is something I will definitely keep and refer back to, as I continue my education.

I have included all of my essays on my digital portfolio. Given my reservations about taking this course, I am quite proud of all of the pieces I wrote. I would have to say the writing I found the most pleasurable/interesting was my restaurant review. It was a restaurant that I fondly remembered from my high school days and I was anxious to try it again. It was a good, if not better than I remembered. Regardless if the review was positive, or negative, I found this essay to be the enjoyable to write. I never really struggled with what I wanted to say, or how I wanted to say it.

The assignment I struggled with the most was my evaluation of the Tiger Mom. It was really difficult for me to decide if this woman was a really great mother, who would raise very successful children or an overbearing, pain, whose children would one day resent her. I usually don’t struggle with picking a side in an argument, but in this case, I had a rough time.

As this class concludes, I am grateful I took this course. I have learned far more than I ever expected to. This course will definitely help me as I continue my education. Everything that I learned in this class will somehow be applied in future courses.

In addition, I really enjoyed having you as my professor for this course. I am so thankful for your guidance this semester. I truly appreciated your thoughts, feedback and insight into my work. An added bonus was that you are a football fan. I really enjoyed our football conversations. Should you ever decide to leave teaching, I see professional scouting in your future! My decision to return to school was a tough one. I have a family and a fulltime job. I wasn’t sure it was something I really wanted to do, or had the time to do. However, I knew something inside of me was not complete and I was looking for new challenges and adventures. Having you as my professor has made me want to continue and really succeed with my classwork. If I could finish this course, and do it well, I feel confident that I can be just as successful with my other courses. I consider myself blessed to have met a professor who enjoys teaching and has taken more than just a passing interest in his students. The way you planned the lessons and your above mentioned feedback made this class very enjoyable. My only hope is that other students, or returning students, from the work place have a professor that can inspire, motivate and educate with such a novel approach.

Thank you very much for everything you have done to help me this semester. I wish you nothing but the best. GO IRISH!

 

Sincerely,

 

Jason Lowbridge

 

 

Individuals Who Need Government Assistance Should

Jason Lowbridge

Professor Jerome M. McKeever

English 1010

9 November 20112

Word Count 941

Some lawmakers around the country are beginning to demand that welfare recipients submit to random drug testing as a condition of their benefits. Wyoming Republican House Speaker, Ed Buchanan, stated that “Joe Taxpayer  doesn’t mind helping you out, but you need to show that you are looking for work, or better yet, that you’re employed, and that you’re are drug and alcohol free.” (Neary et al. 2012) Georgia State Senator John Albers strongly believes that “tax dollars should never be spent on enabling illegal activity.” (Quinn et al. 2012)  “With more Americans turning to the government for assistance in this struggling economy, over three dozen states have proposed drug testing for people receiving benefits like welfare, unemployment assistance, job training, food stamps and public housing.” (Sulzberger 2011) The 1996 Welfare Reform Act authorized that states can impose mandatory drug testing as a prerequisite to receiving welfare assistance. Although the act did not make drug testing a requirement, all signs point to people who require any form of government assistance will be required to submit to those random drug tests. Despite some opposition to implementing plans to drug test government assistance recipients, the good parts of the plan may outweigh the bad.

The most obvious reason for drug testing those who require government assistance is it will keep people off of drugs, therefore, making society a safer place and cracking down on the sale of illegal drugs. Those in favor of drug testing believe that it may also be a way to help people that are already addicted to drugs. Those that need the assistance for themselves and family may be forced to get the help that they need and give up their drug habits in an effort to survive.

However, those opposed to drug testing welfare recipients are appalled by the assumption that because one is having financial problems and require assistance, that it makes them a drug addict.  They feel that the stigma attached to being a welfare recipient is bad enough, let alone being required to submit to drug testing. Additionally, opponents feel children may actually be the ones that suffer. Parents that are banned from receiving assistance because of a failed drug test, will not receive the assistance that is necessary to support their children.

Those in favor of the mandatory drug testing bill feel it is o.k. to drug test those who require government assistance because government assistance is supposed to be temporary and, going forward, most employers will drug test in the workforce, either before hiring an employee, or randomly during their employment. Drug testing will require recipients to stay drug free and hopefully make them employable.  By staying sober, people can look for a job or go to school, anything that will reduce the need to stay on welfare.

On the other hand, opponents say that most employees sign a consent form allowing their employer to drug test. Welfare recipients may actually be having their fourth amendment right, of illegal search and seizure, violated. In 2003 A U.S. District Court judge in Michigan struck down an attempt to impose drug testing on welfare recipients. The ACLU argued, and the judge agreed, that drug testing violated the fourth amendment protection against unreasonable searches.

Finally, mandatory drug testing of people that require government assistance will cut down on cases of welfare fraud. Welfare fraud is an ongoing problem in the country and it is simply not fair to ask tax payers to pay for the people on welfare who suffer from drug addictions. No state wants to waste valuable tax dollars.

Opponents will argue that drug testing is expensive. So even if they are kicking people out of the government assistance programs because of drug abuse, the government is still not really saving tax payer money. On average, administering a drug test costs $42.00 per person. The Center for Law and Social Policy states that “since few substance abusers are identified in tests, but many are tested, the cost of catching a drug abuser may run between $20,000 and $77,000 per person.” (Montaldo 2012)

There are a number of pros and cons to drug testing those who need government assistance, but ultimately states are doing whatever is necessary to save money in these economic times, and drug testing is an available option. States will work through the 4^th amendment legal issues and find a way to drug test assistance recipients. In an effort to save costs associated with the drug testing, many states may follow Florida’s example and actually require the recipient to pay the costs of the drug tests. Litigation is pending in the Florida court system, but as it stands now, those that refuse or fail, lose their assistance. The latest call for drug testing government assistance recipients will happen sooner rather than later.

Works Cited

ACLU. “Drug Testing Of Public Assistance Recipients As A Condition Of Eligibility” ACLU.com. 8 April 2008. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

House, Michael. “Drug Testing For Welfare Recipients: Pros And Cons.” Myaddiction.com. 8 July 2011. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Montaldo, Charles. “Drug Testing Welfare.” About.com. 13 February 2012. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Neary, Ben and Ivan Moreno. “Conservatives’ Plans To Drug Test Welfare Recipients Get Momentum, Earn Support Of GOP Candidates.” Huffington Post. 25 Feb. 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

Quinn, Christopher and Christine Torres. “Drug Test Bill Draws Legal Heat.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution. 9 April 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2012.

Sulzberger, A.G. “States Adding Drug Test As Hurdle For Welfare.” NYtimes.com.10 October 2011. Web.12 Nov. 2012.

Restaurant Review of Danny Boy’s

Jason Lowbridge

Professor Jerome M. McKeever

English 1010

25 November 2012

Word Count:  677

            Danny Boy’s restaurant held fond memories for me when I attended St. Edward’s High School in Lakewood, Ohio. After every football game, we would walk across the street and grab their famous Woogie Bear pizza rolls. If you have never been to Danny Boy’s, you are in for a big treat. Although they are considered a chain restaurant, the atmosphere at Danny Boy’s is that of a cozy, little, neighborhood eatery that has amazing service and unforgettable food.

            Danny Boy’s has since relocated from Lakewood to Detroit Avenue in Rocky River. In addition, there are now locations in Broadview Heights, Youngstown, Canton, Chesterland, and Sandusky. 

Upon entering the Rocky River restaurant, the nostalgic atmosphere embraced me. Although the space is almost too small to handle the bustling dinner crowds, it is still cozy and inviting. The memorabilia that adorns the walls and the subtle background music is a tribute to the Rat Pack and the era in which they performed. Old vinyl record covers, concert programs, and photos of Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and even the Chairman of the Board, Frank Sinatra paint the walls. The classic oldies pipe through the restaurant. New York, New York, That’s Amore, The Candy Man can all be heard throughout meal service. Even artists that influenced the Rat Pack like Nat King Cole and the Andrew Sisters are on the playlist. The nostalgic and charming atmosphere is perfect for both families and date night.

            The service is nothing short of amazing. Our server was attentative, yet not overbearing. It almost felt as if the servers were part of the ambiance that Danny Boy’s wants to create. From the minute I walked in the door, I felt like I was walking into the home of an old family friend. It felt like I had been dining there for years and everybody knew who I was. There is that sense of familiarity.

            Danny Boy’s is known for their award winning pizza. They have won numerous local and national pizza contests. Even with all their accolades, the selections at Danny Boy’s will not cost you a lot of dough.  The menu is so vast that it was difficult to decide what to order. The menu, like the Rat Pack, is star-studded and diverse. Appetizers ranged from Killian’s red chili to Italian pigs in a blanket. We chose the homemade bread sticks, which were shaped like a classic bowtie. They were fresh and warm and sprinkled with garlic and cheese.  Of course, I could not forget about the Woggie Bear pizza rolls that I so fondly remembered. The pizza roll is a calzone, stuffed with Ricotta cheese, sauce, and pepperoni.  They were as amazing as I remembered them to be. Although the menu offers a number of delicious sounding entries like sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes, we chose to have one of their “main event pies.” We chose the Cleveland Pie which is described as “a little upside down, built a little backwards and kinda right in the middle of Chicago and New York.” It uses a New York style crust with cheese and pepperoni and topped off Chicago style with sauce and cheese. It was delightful and delicious. The only disappointing part of the menu was there was no dessert menu.  Despite that, the food was cooked to perfection, had amazing flavor, and was presented beautifully. That’s amore!!

            To quote Dean Martin, “How lucky can one guy be?” My visit to Danny Boy’s restaurant left me wondering when I can return for more and what I will order next time. I may just have to try that pierogi pizza I saw on the menu. I loved Danny Boy’s. Although I did not grow up in that era, I am a fan of that generation. Danny Boy’s is a tribute to the greatest generation. The nostalgia, service, and food deserve a standing ovation and my taste buds would love an encore.

Evaluation of Amy Chua’s Essay

Jason Lowbridge                                                  

Professor Jerome M. McKeever

English 1010

30 October 2012

Word Count 939

            Amy Chua is a Yale Law professor, wife, mother and the author of the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom.  In the Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom, Amy Chua discusses how she has raised her two daughters the “Chinese way.” Ms. Chua’s goes on to discuss the ways of traditional Chinese parenting children and the superiority of traditional Chinese parenting over the western way of parenting.  However, despite being raised by two Chinese parents, having two daughters of her own and authoring this essay, there is nothing that makes Amy Chua an actual authority on parenting. But, in fairness to Amy Chua, “this is a personal memoir, not a parenting manual.” (Paul) She does not claim to be an expert, she merely lays out her case for parenting the way she does.

Amy Chua has two daughters (Sophia and Louisa). By all accounts, they have grown up to be very happy and successful. She does state that no matter what anybody thinks, her actions are based on love of her children and wanting the very best future for them. I do believe that is true. While I do not dispute the success or results of her parenting style, I do disagree with her measure of success.

The reason I disagree with her is that she defines the success of her children by accomplishments. She is of the belief that her children must spend their lives making her proud and obeying her. I define parental success by happiness, not accomplishments. I am not completely comfortable saying that achievements or accomplishments are a true measure of success. If my children end up doing something they truly love and they are happy doing it, I will consider myself successful. I don’t want to force them to do things that they are not passionate about. If they lack the passion and desire, chances are good that they will not be happy or successful. I’m certain that Ms. Chua would argue that I am merely settling for mediocrity, but I respectfully disagree.

            The Chinese method of parenting appears to be far tougher on children. Parents are guiding children through life the way they feel is best for the child and their futures. Little input is allowed from the child. However, I do hope that Amy Chua’s essay is slightly embellished. For example, it is great that Amy Chua spends a considerable amount of time teaching her child to play piano. When parents spend time with their children and are involved in their activities, it is almost always a good thing. But, hours upon hours of practice, with no water or bathroom breaks, borders on child abuse. I’m hoping that Ms. Chua exaggerated this claim in an effort to truly make her argument.

One could easily argue that Ms. Chua uses a number of propaganda techniques while stating her case that the Chinese mother method of parenting is superior. To begin with, Amy Chua uses the testimonial technique. In doing so, she uses herself as the respected, experienced person to endorse the Chinese mother style of parenting. She is hoping that other parents will see how successful, by her standards, that she was in raising her children are and may want to follow her methods.  While the Chinese mom method is not a huge movement at this time, there is an attempt by Amy Chua to persuade the readers that if they follow her methods, they too will produce superior children. By not following her methods, parents will simply have to settle for mediocre children. This is her use of the bandwagon technique. She uses the name calling technique when she uses the term “western parents.” (Chua) While not coming out and directly calling western parent’s a nasty name, she uses the term with almost a negative tone, like western parents are lesser people and certainly not as qualified as parents. Finally, Ms. Chua uses glittering generalities when she states that Chinese mothers and their parenting methods are superior. This is a very general statement incorporating all Chinese mothers into that comment. The one technique that I don’t believe she uses is the card stacking technique. By Ms. Chua pointing out some of her children’s rebellious ways, she does not attempt to stack the cards against the truth. The author is being extremely truthful in her essay and provides both the good and the bad for the reader to form their own opinion.

            In addition to using propaganda techniques, Amy Chua also uses a number of logical fallacies in her essay. Ms. Chua uses the Dito Simpliciter fallacy when she implies that Chinese moms are superior and western parents are soft on their children, thereby producing mediocre children. This is a very general statement and not entirely accurate. She also uses the hasty generalization fallacy in her writing when she writes about western mothers caring too much about their child’s emotions. Sad, but not always the case. Although she provides statistics,  it was still too  general of a statement that the writer made too hastily. Ms. Chua also uses the Post Hoc fallacy in her writing. She is essentially saying that because she is Chinese, was raised by Chinese parents and is now a Chinese mother, she will have superior children. Being a Chinese mother does not always equate to superior children. Finally, Ms. Chua attempts to poison the well with her negative tones and comments regarding western parenting.

Works Cited

Chua, Amy. Tiger Moms. 2011.Print

Paul, Annie Murphy. Tiger Moms: Is Tough Parenting Really The Answer? 2011.Print.