2012: THE WORST YEAR EVER?

I was never more anxious to hop in the shower as I was this morning. It wasn't so
much that I wanted a fresh start to the day, as it was about scrubbing off and rinsing
away the slime and grime that had built up over the past year.

2012 was just plain filthy and nasty. It was like a Fondu feast where just about
everything on our country's plate was dipped not in cheese or chocolate, but rather
dunked and drowned in a cess pool of scandals.

In the world of sports, the child sex-abuse scandal at Penn State broke in November
of last year, but tore the seal off 2012 with sordid details and a cover-up that eventually
painted Joe Paterno and others university officials as leaders who were more concerned
about protecting their image than saving little children from a predator named Sandusky.

There were scandals everywhere in 2012. At Arkansas, Bobby Petrino was fired
after hiring his 26-year old mistress for a job in the football department. Three-time
Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton, who built her own girl-next door image, turned out
to be a girl who spent the last year working as an escort. The Chinese badminton team
intentionally tanked games in the Olympics, the NFL had it's bounty-gate, and Lance
Armstrong finally got outed as a drug cheat. Can I get another shower, please?

We learned that hate and racism is still very much alive in 2012. Carl Crawford, the
former Boston Red Sox who was on a minor-league rehab assignment in New Hampshire
last July, was screamed at by a man attending the game. Crawford was called a "Monday,"
a derogatory term for blacks because it's associated with being the most hated day of the
week. Incredibly, the man, who is white, turned out to be a police officer. He was
subsequently fired.

Ron Parker of ESPN got off much easier after calling Robert Griffin III, the Washington
Redskins quarterback a "cornball brother" on "First Take." Parker, who is black, questioned
whether or not RGIII was "one of us." ESPN tagged Parker with a 30-day suspension.

Hate and anger blew through Kansas City in November when Chiefs linebacker Javon
Belcher shot the mother of his 3-year old child before turning the gun on himself. Belcher
apparently went into a rage over the spending and late-night habits of his girlfriend,
Kassendra Perkins, and felt shooting her was the answer to fixing those problems.

Scandal and unimaginable acts didn't just permeate the sports world. General Petraeus,
a highly-decorated and respected leader of our military, had an extra-marital affair
with Paula Broadwell, ending his career and soiling his once sterling reputation, as well.

The country was angered and appalled by the Casey Anthony trial and subsequent
acquittal, leaving no one responsible for the death of Caylee Anthony, a beautiful 2-year
old girl. And the country is still clearly divided by the events surrounding the death of
Trayvon Martin.

We discovered that many miserable people value the lives of others, even less than
their own. In New York City, two men were pushed to their deaths off platforms in the
subway in separate incidents. The New York Post showed no respect or compassion
by plastering a picture of one of the men about to be run over by the train with the caption,
"THIS MAN IS ABOUT TO DIE." Selling papers was far more important to executives of the
New York Post than the feelings of a family who just had their entire world shattered.

If the moral compass of this nation wasn't already broken, the events of 2012 clearly
demonstrated that it's pointed due south. In Aurora, Colorado, a man walks into a
midnight screening of "Batman Returns" and unleashes his fury and hate with a semi-
automatic rifle, killing 28 people and injuring 58.

2012 was also the year where this country was stretched financially and deflated
emotionally. Hurricane Sandy devastated the Northeast, leaving a path of destruction
that was unprecedented. Not only homes were lost, but lives as well.

But the tragedy in Newtown, CT  may have been the unimaginable event that defined
2012 and made it one of the worst years in recent memory. 20 beautiful and innocent
children were killed on a sunny December morning. Six caring and selfless adults murdered
at the Sandy Hook Elementary School.

They were in the right place at the right time except that evil showed up and took away
their lives for no good reason. It was an unspeakable tragedy that devastated a town
forever and sucked the spirit out of the entire nation during the holiday season.

Just two weeks after one of the most violent and horrific school shootings in U.S.
history, Irving Pansky, a New Haven-based attorney filed a lawsuit on behalf of
the parents of one of the children who actually survived the shooting. Pansky is
claiming the child has been traumatized by the massacre in the school. Traumatized?
Ask the parents who lost a child about being traumatized.

The lawsuit against the state of Connecticut is asking for $100 million dollars. $100
million dollars? The dirt on 20 of the smallest graves in Newtown is still fresh and
greed rears its ugly head. Greedy, insensitive, and just plain disgusting.

It really is quite surprising that the world did not end in 2012. I think I need to take
another shower now.

REMEMBERING FRIENDS WHO PASSED AWAY IN 2012

FRED TRUMPLER  April 5
Fred Trumpler died way too young on April 5. He was just 47 when he suffered a

massive heart attack while holding one of his children in his arms. Trumpler 

died as he lived, caring for and loving others. That's the kind of person Fred Trumpler

was.

During his days at New Canaan High School, he wanted to be everybody's best

friend and would not only give you the shirt off his back, but his pants, shoes, and

coat, as well. Trumpler expected nothing in return. His friendship was unconditional. 

Trumpler loved football. Actually, lived for it. He wasn't blessed with extraordinary

talent, but he played with heart and a burning desire to win. Trumpler didn't care

about personal accolades as much as he did of being part of a great team. All he 

wanted in his football career was to say he was part of state championship team. 

Trumpler's dream came true in 1983 when New Canaan High School won it all.

I often wondered if he slept in the state championship letter jacket he received.

Trumpler wore it all the time, even as the calendar turned to late spring and the 

temperature hit the 80's. Trumpler was so proud of it and he always considered it

his greatest accomplishment in football.

Fred Trumpler was a true character in football and in life. He is missed by the 

many teammates and classmates he came across and touched in his own special

way.

ROBERT TROUP  November 12
Robert Troup was a fixture at just about every sporting event the New Canaan
Rams played. Sporting his long, camel-hair coat with a scarf draped around his
neck and often a resting place for his flowing white locks, he stood on the sidelines
and supported every team in town.

Nobody really knew what Troup did for a living and I never really cared. It added
to his character and intrigue. A World War II veteran, Troup appeared as if he
had seen it all, which he probably did. He was friends with movie stars, actors,
politicians, and just about everybody in New Canaan.

But there was nobody in that tony, little New England town quite like him. Nobody.
He was a true original. Our paths would often cross on Main street, at a game, in
church, or the coffee shop. It often started with, "Hey, devils, what's shaking?",
and  quickly progressed to frequent and hearty laughs.

I always left our meetings with a huge smile on my face and feeling better than the
moments before I had seen him. That was one of Troups many gifts: making people
feel better about themselves.

CARL BEANE  May 9
Carl Beane waited his nearly entire life to get his dream job. At the age of 50,
Beane won a competition to be just the fifth public address announcer in the
history of the Boston Red Sox. It's safe to say, there was nobody in the organization
who loved his job more than Beane.

In May, Beane had a heart attacked and died while driving just outside of
Boston. It seemed so wrong and so unfair.

Beane proudly wore his two World Championship rings and seemingly walked
on sunshine to his perch high atop Fenway Park. With great pride and respect
for his job, Beane would announce all the hitters before they strode to the plate.

Beane wasn't blessed physically, but God gave him a powerful voice that he
used to land one of the most coveted jobs in baseball. I'm sure he standing at
the gates of Heaven announcing the beautiful people like himself, when they
come walking through.

GENERAL SCHWARZKOPF COULD'VE BEEN A GREAT COACH

Norman Schwarzkopf was a general straight out of central casting. Big, sturdy,
and intimidating, he was what a leader of the military was supposed to look like.
Even his nickname, "Stormin' Norman" given to him by his aides and subordinates
for his fiery temper and in-your-face style, was perfect.

When he came out for his first press briefing on the Gulf War in 1991, I said to
myself, "With a general like that, this war is going to be over quickly. He was
part John Wayne, part George Patton.  I looked at the guy and said, "This guy means
business. He's going to kick ass and take no prisoners."

Schwarzkopf gave every American the confidence and feeling that Operation Desert
Storm would be well-planned and decisive. It was. The coalition forces drove Iraq
out of Kuwait in just 44 days.

Schwarzkopf was reportedly irate that President Bush ended the mission before
capturing Saddam Hussein and finishing the job. Americans agreed with the general,
and we loved him for it.

Norman Schwarzkopf died of on Thursday due to complications of pneumonia. He
was an American hero and a man who gave a good chunk of his life helping to protect
this country. There was nobody in the history of our military quite like him. He was
a true patriot and a tough, brilliant soldier who was a masterful strategist.

I often felt that Schwarzkopf would've made for a great coach in sports along the
lines of Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant, and Bobby Knight. He had a temper like
Mike Ditka and the ability to game plan like Bill Belichick. He would've commanded
respect in a sports world that had gone soft and filled with prima donna's and divas
like T.O., Ochocinco, and Randy Moss. Schwarzkopf would've put those guys in
their places quicker than he did the Iraqis.

Scharzkopf would have been a dream for NFL Films with their boom and wireless
microphones. You could imagine how entertaining"Stormin' Norman" would've been
on the sidelines:

"Prime Time, what the hell are you dancing for after making a tackle?"
Cut the crap and play like a man, not like your auditioning for a spot
with Danny Tarrio and the Solid Gold dancers. Good, grief, Deion."

"Hey, T.O., get your candy ass back on the field. If you don't agree
with the program, then get the hell out of here."

"I'm tired of all this 'Manny being Manny' nonsense. We pay the guy
to hit home runs, not to be a freak show in the circus."

If he was doing an interview with Stephen A. Smith, I could've envisioned the general
interrupting the mile-a-minute mouth of the ESPN criticizer and asking, "Now, what
exactly does the 'A' in Stephen A. Smith stand for? Does it stand for what I think it
stands for?"

Man, it would've been fun to see Schwarzkopf as a head coach. But it sure was
comforting to see him in the role of  commander of our military. He was big, brash,
and bold.  We felt safe and secure with General Norman Schawarzkopf out in front.
He protected  all of us and the entire country.

Thank you, General Schwarzkopf, we are very grateful for your service
to the United States.

REMEMBERING NEWTOWN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

There are few things more heartwarming than seeing a child rip open presents on
Christmas Day. The pure, unbridled joy that washes over their faces is enough
to put a smile on your face for an entire year.

There are very few smiles in Newtown, Connecticut on a morning that we
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The people in that small and quaint New
England town are still grieving heavily and mourning the loss of 20 beautiful
and innocent children who didn't make it to this wonderful and glorious day.

There are presents still wrapped and hidden in closets, the ones that were going to
make Jesse Lewis, Noah Posner, Daniel Barden, Dylan Hockley, and Chase
Kowalski flash their megawatt smiles and melt the hearts of their parents who had
planned so carefully for Christmas Day.

Boxes with bows and wrapped with love, containing dolls, pink dresses, and
stuffed animals won't be opened for Charlotte Bacon, Josephine Gay, Ana
Maruez-Greeene, Madeline Hsu, and Catherine Hubbard, all very special little
girls who were in the right place at the right time, except that evil showed up
and took their lives away for no good reason.

Like the others, Jack Pinto had his whole life ahead of him. He was a six-year
bundle of energy who excelled in wrestling and football. Pinto dreamed of
being the next Victor Cruz, the New York Giants receiver whom he honored
by wearing his number 80 jersey.

Today, as we celebrate Christmas, be sure to honor Pinto, Olivia Engel,
James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, and Emilie Parker. Remember to include
Caroline Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle Richma, Benjamin Wheeler, and
Jessica Rekos and Alison Wyatt in your thoughts and prayers.

Keep the parents of all these wonderful wonderful children close to your hearts.
Think of the six adults who taught, served, and tried to protect the children
from harm and sacrificed their lives trying to do so. A deranged gunman snuffed
their lives out and sucked the happiness out of a village, a town, and a good part
of our nation.

On Christmas Day, be happy, be thankful, and feel that you are blessed. But
remember there is little joy or happiness in Newtown and Sandy Hook today.
Presents won't be opened and a nightmare is far from closing.

Take five minutes to say a prayer or think about all the beautiful and innocent
children who are now angels in heaven, looking down on all of us as we smile,
laugh, and celebrate Christmas Day.

CHUCK PAGANO IS HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

The Christmas spirit seemed to be sucked out of the holiday season by the
tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. It's hard to think about celebrating the birth
of Jesus Christ when we are mourning the loss of 20 innocent children
and six caring adults.

But on the eve of Christmas, a little joy was pumped into a sports nation that
is still wiping away the tears from the pain caused by a senseless massacre
in a small New England town. Chuck Pagano returned to work for the Indianapolis
Colts, driving into the team's facility early Monday morning. The first-year head
coach spent the last three months battling leukemia, undergoing grueling rounds
of chemotherapy.

Pagano lost weight and his hair, but not his team, which provided the love and
support rarely seen in professional sports. Most them shaved their heads in a show
of solidarity for their head coach. Two cheerleaders did the same to raise money
for cancer research and show their love for a man who had worked and waited
nearly 30 years to get an opportunity to lead a team.

Chemotherapy treatments started for Pagano on September 26. In his absence,
the Colts played inspired football on their way to clinching a playoff berth, an
amazing accomplishment considering they not only lost their head coach, but
also because they had won just two games the season before. Bruce Arians
stepped in for Pagano and carried the torch  and team to the playoffs. On Monday,
the torch was passed back to Pagano, who has been cleared by doctors to
resume his coaching duties.

Understandably, Pagano was very emotional at Monday's press conference
announcing his return to the Colts. His eyes watered, his lips quivered, and
there were times when the lump in his throat kept him from talking. Pagano
thanked his wife, family, and the entire Colts organization for standing by
and giving him their love and support.

This wasn't about football, but real life. Cancer doesn't lose very often and if
it does, the scars, both physical and emotional, don't go away quickly. With
his comeback, Pagano is now an inspiration to other cancer patients around
the world. He is an inspiration to his team, giving them a lesson in perseverance
and iron will.

His appearance alone gave many the reason to smile again and help ease
the pain for millions who've been affected by the tragedy of Newtown. Pagano
smiled brightly at his press conference, knowing that he beat cancer, while
getting the chance to return to his second home and family, the Indianapolis
Colts.

TIM TEBOW GOES OFF HIS RIGHTEOUS RAILS

Few athletes are as poised and unflappable as Tim Tebow. In the face of criticism,
questions about his faith, and controversy, Tebow has always stood tall and
never flinched. He usually begins every response with a "Yes, sir" and finishes
it with a "Thank you," no matter how invasive or insulting a question is.

Teammates ripped him anonymously in the newspapers saying he was
"terrible" and can't play, but Tebow always took the high road and refused to
throw anybody under the bus even when he had plenty of opportunities
to do so. That wasn't his style or part of his Christian DNA.

Many of his answers include the phrase, "whatever is best for the team" and
the Jets quarterback has lived up to it wherever he's been from the University
of Florida, Denver Broncos, to the freak show in the New York Jets' circus.

He came to New York last year after being dumped by Denver, who found
a new Mile High Messiah who could launch missiles from his arm with pinpoint
accuracy. Tebow said all the right things on the way out of the Rockies because
after all, God had closed one door, only to open another one.

But behind the door that was painted green and white, Tebow found a
dsyfunctional team of epic proportions. Rex Ryan was the ringmaster with
big bravado and an even bigger boiler. The owner named Johnson had a Woody
for an icon like Tebow and dollar signs in his eyes when he the Jets acquired
the apostle named Tim. To Johnson, it was all about selling seats, jerseys,
and advertising for the stadium. They promised Tebow he'd be a big part of the
suped up version of the Wildcat.

Tebow was all in. But with two games left in the season, Tebow decided to go
all out. After being bypassed for the starting quarterback job in favor of the
immortal Greg McElroy, Tebow went off the rails. His attitude no longer carried
the whole, "whatever is good for the team" mantra.

According to reports, Tebow told Rex Ryan during preparations for San Diego,
he no longer wanted to be part of the brilliant Wildcat package and when the team
called for it against the Chargers, Tebow was on the sidelines looking at the chart
of plays on his wristband that was probably replaced by a note to himself that read,
"Get me the hell out of here."

If Tebow did in fact ask out of the Wildcast package, this reveals two things. One,
Tebow's words about doing "whatever is best for the team," was a bag of baloney.
And two, it underscores the softness of Ryan. Most coaches would tell Tebow to
either get out his checkbook and pay a hefty fine or just flat out suspend him
for "conduct detrimental to the team."

What do you think would happen if Wes Welker told Belichick he didn't want to
be part of a certain package? He would've been kicked off the field quicker than
you can say, "Spygate." It would never happen.

But in New York with Ryan, it does. He's more concerned about the players'
feelings that winning football games. It really is very revealing.

Did Tebow get lied to about the role he'd play with the Jets when trying to decide
between New York and Jacksonville? Probably, but that happens everywhere from
the NFL to Nabisco. Companies often say the right thing and make promises they
never keep just to get a prospective employee to sign on. Woody Johnson wanted
Tebow badly and the front-office offered Tebow a deal they couldn't keep. That's
life, that's too bad.

Did Tebow go off his sometimes righteous rails? Probably. Apparently, he had
all he could take and was miffed about a former 7th-round pick getting the nod
over him at starting quarterback. Perhaps, he finally realized he was nothing more
than a pawn in Woody's financial chess game.

Good for Tim Tebow. Good for him snubbing the ringmaster of the biggest
circus in sports. Being a good Christian doesn't mean you have to turn the other
cheek all the time.

ACTS OF KINDNESS AND GREAT ACTS

With the Newtown tragedy, there has been a push for random acts of kindness to
honor the 26 victims who lost their lives on December 14, 2012. In a way, it's
unfortunate that it takes an unspeakable event like the one that occurred at the Sandy
Hook Elementary School to promote acts of kindness. It's really something that
should be been ingrained in all of us.. Acts of kindness really should be part of our
daily routine like brushing our teeth and washing our hair.  It's that simple.

Here are some acts of kindness and great acts that were done by people in the sports
world in 2012

CHEERLEADERS SHAVE HEADS TO HONOR CHUCK PAGANO
To help raise money for cancer research and support Chuck Pagano, the head
coach of the Indianapolis Colts who was diagnosed with leukemia in September,
two cheerleaders of the team shaved their heads. Crystal B. and Megan M. (They
didn't want their last names revealed) sat down in a chair between the third and
fourth quarter of a game and had their long, flowing hair shaved off. Yep, just
like Demi Moore in, "G.I. Jane." The women raised $22,000 for cancer research
and showed Pagano that everybody is supporting him during his battle with the
disease.

TIM TEBOW MAKES HER DAY
A lot has been written about the play of Tim Tebow recently, but not much has
been said about his acts of kindness, which are part of his daily life. The Jets
quarterback often invites children afflicted by some terrible disease to football
games and meets with them and their entire family after to give them a smile and
words of inspiration. Last January, while he was with the Denver Broncos, Tebow
invited 16-year old Bailey Knaub, who has a rare disease that affects all her vital
organs,  to attend the playoff game against the Steelers with her entire family. Through
last  March, Knaub had endured 74 operations. 74. Think about that. Tebow certainly
has and is doing everything he can to support Knaub and make her life a little better.

JACK MCGRAW HITS PAYDIRT
Jack McGraw is a 13-year old boy with cerebral palsy. His life is spent in a wheelchair.
This past October, he was a member of the football team at the Haines Middle School
in Illinois. McGraw can't play, but showed up for every practice and every game to
cheer his friends on. In the final game of the season, with his team on the 7-yard line,
McGraw went onto the field with his motorized wheelchair. He was given the ball
and the opponents allowed him to score a touchdown.  Players from both teams mobbed
McGraw in the end zone, making for a moment he'll never forget.

VICTOR CRUZ HONORS JACK PINTO
Jack Pinto loved Giants receiver Victor Cruz. He wore number 80 like his idol
and pretended to be him during football games in the backyard. Pinto was killed
during the Newtown shootings last Friday. After hearing he was Pinto's favorite
player, Cruz honored him by writing his name on his shoes during a game against
the Atlanta Falcons last Sunday. But Cruz did more than that. On his off-day, he
went to Newtown, CT. to visit and pay respects to the entire Pinto family. Without
telling the media or posting pictures on Twitter, Cruz did a little something to
comfort a family that lost a child. Great move, Victor.

DEREK JETER MAKES A CALL
Derek Jeter has been a class act during his entire career with the New York Yankees,
but the captain made one call that elevated his stature with the people in Newtown.
Jeter took time out to call the mother of Victoria Soto, the 27-year old teacher who
was killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary. He offered his condolences to the entire
family and brightened an otherwise painful and gloomy day as they continue to
morn the death of Victoria. It was a small thing that touched their lives in a big way.

JIM JOYCE MAKES THE PERFECT CALL
Up until August 21, 2012, the career of Jim Joyce had been defined by the blown
call he made two years earlier. Joyce was at first base and incorrectly called a runner
safe, botching what would've been a perfect game for Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando
Galaragga. It haunted him. But in late August, Joyce made the best call of his life.
A longtime employee of the Arizona Diamondbacks had suffered a seizure under
the stadium before a game. Joyce calmly sprang into action. He gave the woman,
who had stopped breathing, CPR, and restarted her heart. She was saved from
dying. It was the greatest moment of Joyce's life and one that should be remembered
for rather than his blown call in Detroit. 

MY FRIENDS WHO DONATED TO CANCER RIDE
Last July, I rode 100 miles in the Connecticut Challenge which benefitted
cancer survivors and research. Through the generous donations of several friends,
I raised more than $1,100. Thank you all for your act of kindness.

Fredi Gonzalez
Dinn Mann
Noah Coslov
Tom Bova
Kara Devlin
Chad Yonker
Dee Jaykus
Kathy Mawn
Kerry Nagle
Michael Rohrlack
Laura McMaster Danforth
Dee Jaykus
Charlene Devlin
Tim Janosik
Laura Decarlo 
Kim McMahon