Back to What MJS is All About

[Nolan Dalla]

Welcome back, everyone.

Last week, I initiated a political discussion about the Middle East conflict which, unfortunately, deteriorated into several arguments and inflammed the passions of a great many people at this site.

I have carefully contemplated my decision since then, and come to the realization that MadJackSports was, and is, NOT the place to engage in such a discussion.

I have absolutely no regrets about my personal opinions and attitudes, nor do I regret trying to engage in a healthy dialogue to try and resolve some of the complex questions that put us as a nation in such peril. I have no reason to apologize for anything that was said, and by the same token -- nor I do not expect anyone else to apologize for their views. By our own free will, we chose to engage in a political discussion. We should leave it at that.

The mistake that was made, in my estimation, is that we chose THE WRONG FORUM for it. We should have taken our views elsewhere, perhaps to political newsgroups and discussion groups that are more clearly dedicated to these issues. Since I started the thread in question, I certainly bear responsibility for fanning the flames of division.

In this regard, I have learned a very valuable lessen from this experience. That there are limitations to this message forum as to what subjects are appropriate for discussion and what we can accomplish. We CAN determine if the Packers might cover against the Rams, but trying to predict the odds of an invasion of Afghanistan is slightly more difficult. I would never advocate censorship of any kind. Everyone should be free to speak their mind. But I vow to be more sensative and respectful of readers out there, who came here for one reason only -- to win money by handicapping sports.

I'm ready to get back to work. How about you?

Monday's report will be out tomorrow morning.

Thanks to everyone -- those who agreed with me, and those who were violently opposed to my views. Thank you for your passions. I hope we can now channel all that energy to making a lot of money during the NFL season.

Respectfully Yours,


NOLAN DALLA

 

[TIME TO MAKE $$$]

Nolan,

As always eloquantly said. Everyone has a right to their opinion, no matter what their viewpoint is.

Welcome back and lets kick some a$$

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We are in this together

 

[Cartman88]

Well said Nolan.

 

[bohawk]

Let the games begin & we`ll get them in the end.

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"Quick Watson,the Game`s afoot!" bohawk

 

[phoenix566]

Amen!

Welcome back fellow Jackers!

 

[yyz]

Well, I may stir some trouble here, but I don't think you were wrong in posting, Nolan.

The people here are just that....people. We are not only interested in sports.

This is the biggest thing that has happened in the lives of us, as a Nation, since the end of WWII. Thus, unless you're 60+ years old, it's the biggest event ever.

So, everyone here has a voice on what went on, and what should result. We all have hopes and fears about the future.

Did you talk about this at work? At your local watering hole? Of course you did!

MadJacks is a gathering spot for us. Most of us have never met, and most of us probably won't, but we are a "family" none the less. This is our "corner bar", if you will. We come here to talk sports, true enough.....but we also come here to celebrate our lives, and share our sorrows. Moving, new job, baby being born......family tragidy, personal tragidy, daily strife. Some of us share it all, and some remain careful and closed. We are a society in here, and as such, we argue and agree, like family and friends often do.

I don't think that you were wrong in starting the thread that you did, Nolan, and I hope we are allowed to have such threads in the future. We all have minds that operate beyond the Astros ability to win a game.

We need to exercise these thoughts, and we need to do it with all of our "friends"... real, and cyber.

Please don't take this from us.

 

[The Mover]

Nolan looking forward to starting up again even though the excitement i had about the games has kind of left me , i'm sure everyone is feeling emotionally drained thanks for directing this site back to what it's suppose to be. welcome back everyone GL

 

[shats]

Thanks Nolan, for your first hand account of the Pentagon explosion, it must have been terrifying being so close by. Many people have lost their friends and family in this horrible tragedy. While we mourn we also move on and show these terrorists they can't change our way of life. With that said Nolan, I anxiously await your thoughts this week and once again thank you for all your efforts on our behalf. God Bless America and lets beat the man!

 

[dc]

Nolan:

I too would like to see Jack's place return to it's primary mission of helping one another handicap different sporting events. I was relieved to see Jack "pull the plug" for a few days to give all of us time to grieve, pray, and to cool off a bit. Given the escalating nature of the rehtoric, I feel he made a good decision to do so.

However, bringing up the web site today I was very disappointed to find both your's and Nick's comments that seemed to want to take just one more "shot".

Yours:

I have absolutely no regrets about my personal opinions and attitudes, nor do I regret trying to engage in a healthy dialogue to try and resolve some of the complex questions that put us as a nation in such peril. I have no reason to apologize for anything that was said

and Nick's comments were similar. I went to go to his page to cut and past his comments here except now I see that his page has been changed (by Jack?) to discuss only handicapping issues...as well it should.

Considering that both of you are "staff", so to speak, and considering it was both of your comments that seemed to draw most of the ire, and considering Jack's call to get us back talking about handicapping, I would have thought you two would have set a better example. Shame on both of you.

I guess as much as most of wish that Jack's place could return to what it once was, it may not. Given the veracity of some of the comments in the last several days and the unwillingness of two staffers to let it go, that may not be possible.

The news reports say that our lives will probably never be the same again after this attack. It's sad, but it appears that unless something radically changes, that it could apply to MadJack's as well.

-dc

 

[djv]

DC im going to try and avoid starting fires.
But your statement things have changed. Oh how they have and will even more. The big thing is fear. We must not let them win because of Fear. We must be as normal as possiable. Yes that will not be easy some days. And yes we have much healing to do. But we have just started. This journey may take some time. But the journey will be on our terms. God Bless Us All. GBA. GL

[This message has been edited by djv (edited 09-16-2001).]

 

[kosar]

DC,

Very well put.

 

[pepin46]

nolan

agreed. this is a sports forum, and it should be kept as such. so many emotions prompted many of us to "explode" with our sentiments, and you were no exception. i applaud your honesty, as you have opened up your whole life, with no excuses, no regrets, no reservations. it takes the kind of b...s that most of us don't have.

i have no doubt whatsover that you are a true american, without a TUNNEL VISION, which is precisely what our leaders are debating at this moment, that we need a completely different (long-term) focus on many issues, which include the causes and prevention of terrorism.

GOD BLESS AMERICA and the free world, and may GOD grant us the wisdom to make the right decisions, and keep our ideals and way of life in as free a world as possible.

pep

 

[parlayinn]

i dont' think this was necessarily the WRONG forum...because the understanding in the "general discussion" forum is that anything goes...not just sports or gambling related...if you wanted to engage in the type of discussion where people who focus more on those types of issues reside, then that's a different story...so its not necessarily wrong, but you just have to recognize and accept the kinds of responses you get from people with our backgrounds...if you do not want to hear these kinds of opinions, then yes, another forum would be better...but this forum is for anything...its for people to speak regardless if they have the expertise or knowledge about a given topic or not

 

[bear]

Nolan,
I agree with yyz and believe that we are big boys.....capable of digesting an opposing viewpoint,accepting certain tenets while rejecting others...in a non-sport related discussion. After all, we do not exist in a pigskin vacuum, although some might like to, but share the daily trials and try to make sense of things with friends and compatriots.
I would be disappointed if that changed and would also be disappointed if polotical idealogy were to interfere with the daily attempts to "slam the man"....a mission that this group accomplishes better than any other.
Sooooo, as every story has 2 sides, so too does every football game and ya just GOTTA LUV that Raven D.( 66 points in the last 10 games)8 of them in single digits....Lets get em guys.
bear

 

[Roger]