Today I will be starting a weekly series which I call Applied to Blogging. Each week, I will be profiling a superstar and how their work ethic and skills can be translated to blogging and generating profit off of your blog. Today I will be focusing on one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, Michael Jordan, and how he overcame adversity to become the one of the most famous and decorated athletes.

Everyone comes from a meager background.

Michael Jordan grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina and by no means was a standout. He was basically just another kid. His family wasn’t poor but of a modest background, and Michael was a middle child. No one could have predicated such greatness. Every professional blogger comes from a similar background. The stories might be different, but no one is born a professional blogger. Don’t be discouraged if your blog doesn’t attract traffic right off the bat. Every single blog and blogger has been in that position.

You still need the natural talent and tools to succeed.

There is a famous story that has been told countless times about Michael. As a sophomore in high school, he was cut from the basketball team during tryouts. He then worked twice as hard during the summer to enhance his skill and made the team the following year. Television networks always tried to make this story about Michael’s hard work and sheer will to make it. They said it predicted his future greatness. While part of that is true, they usually omit the main reason he was cut from the team. Michael was a 5 foot 11 inch sophomore. He wasn’t tall enough to make an impact at the varsity level. Over the next 12 months, Michael shot up an additional 4 inches and was now tall enough to compete. If you are attempting to complete in the blogging world, you must have the natural talent to succeed. Everyone can improve, but if you do not have natural talent for writing and promoting yourself, you might want to look for another way express yourself.

Ask for help when needed.

When Michael came out of college as the number 3 pick in the NBA draft, they expected him to be good. They didn’t know he would be great right off the bat. But he was shunned as a rookie all-star by those who felt he was being praised too heavily. He continued to put up gaudy stats but his teams toiled in mediocrity. It wasn’t until he received help that he was able to raise his team to a championship level. There is no harm in asking for help. If you need assistance with a post, or an idea, ask you fellow bloggers for help. They will be more than happy to oblige!

Don’t stop at one goal and be determined.

When the Bulls won their first title in 1991, they said it redeemed Michael’s career and placed him among the best ever. So what does Michael set out to do? He wins 5 more. He cemented his place in history by staying fiercely determined. Even if you reach your first goal, make new ones and strive to make your own place in history!

Of course, the Gretawire is blowing up because Ric was on the show tonight and had a conversation with Fox News about things that went down today.

Ric doesn’t speak for me. I don’t speak for Ric. I am not a part of any of this. Period.

Welcome to MY blog. This is MY stinking blog. This is MY time now.

I am trying as hard as I can to not be upset about the way I have been treated in general today. But it is very hard given what has happened. I feel let down by police, by my work, by basically everyone. Especially those who don’t know anything about me and have already rushed to judge me hidden behind a first name on a blog.

I design websites. I get paid to do websites. Sometimes, I’ll even do them for free as a family favor. In addition I have a DAY JOB which PAYS MY RENT AND FEEDS MY FAMILY (Which now appears in jeopardy due to today’s events)

I have never had to deal with what I have tonight. I don’t know Drew Peterson. I don’t wanna know Drew Peterson. I don’t even really know Ric. He is a family member of one of my best friends. When someone like that approaches you to do a website, you say sure. I didn’t know anything really about the case except what was on the news. I have known Ric in passing for years and thought it would be a nice website I could add to my SMALL resume in order to attract NEW CLIENTS to help support myself. I knew the site would get hits based on its content and author. I know the case is popular. Isn’t that what shows like Nancy Grace thrive on? Popular news cases? Why am I different because I created a site for someone who had something interesting to say. (whether you agree with him or not)

I posted this on Greta’s blog.

I would like to clarify a few things. One, I was just a webmaster for Ric Mims. I know him through a family friend. He never told me anything except how to design the website. I don’t have any knowledge of anything that he has knowledge of. I just worked and designed this website for him.

I don’t know anything about Drew Peterson except what you all know from the news.

I am transferring the domain to Ric Mims tomorrow because I just created the website for him under my name. Stupid, maybe? But that is just how it played out. He asked me to do a website for him so he could speak his mind. It’s called a BLOG. That’s what it was, a BLOG. I even had a disclaimer to take me out of it completely. In addition the only posts I ever made were the first two indicating that Ric will be along shortly.

The post in-question was not and could not be traced back to me. If it was, do you think I would be speaking to you right now? And secondly, why on earth would I want to jeopardize my job and my well being? I have a family, I have tons of bills, and I have goals I want to accomplish in life. I make very little money from websites. I was at work when all of this went down. And I responded to the detectives throughly.

I was in jail but it had NOTHING to do with this case. They questioned me for a while about the blog and what I do, questioned me pretty intensely about things I had no clue about nor WANT to know about and then I was brought in on an unrelated traffic warrant from missing court a year or so back.

It was an emotional roller coaster today. But I stand by my work. I created a website. That’s what I did. I didn’t talk. I didn’t share opinion.

I share my opinions on my other blogs because they are mine.

God bless
scott

That is my formal statement right now. But inside my soul is on fire. I am so angry at a whole lot of people, I don’t even know where to begin.  So I won’t.

Just know one thing. This is my life we’re talking about. This isn’t a dream. This isn’t a news report. This isn’t a whim followed by Illinois State Police. This is MY life, turned upside down because of a blog I didn’t even write on.

My feelings will be known.

PS. Next post will be back on niche. Sorry about the ranting.

Devin Hester, will you go to prom with me?

It is amazing that this humble, soft-spoken, and polite athlete has the world at his disposal.

This man single handedly saved the Bears season, my appetite, and probably saved some poor kid from a burning building. All while running backwards. I think. I wasn’t entirely sure. I was busy jumping up and down and high-fiving the air.

Motivation?

We can all thank Todd Sauerbrun, the idiot kicker. It’s always the idiot kicker.

Earlier this week, Idiot Kicker proclaimed that the Broncos were going to stop Hester.

‘We aren’t going to play chicken-(poop) football. We have guys who are paid a lot of money to make tackles’ said I.K.

Right.

Lets give this kid more motivation. With 12 touchdowns in only 30 games, he is one off the NFL record. Already. In TWO measly seasons. He has recorded a touchdowns in almost every way imaginable.

Reception? Check!

Missed field goal? Done!

Punt return? Oh yeah. 7.

Kick returns? Well, why not. And lets just go ahead and do it in the Super Bowl.

In the immortal words of Bears play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak, ‘Devin Hester, you are ridiculous!’

Goodbye John Drury:

Chicago lost a legend this weekend. Anchorman John Drury passed away at the age of 80. He was an icon while I was growing up, and he will be missed.

He would never hurt anyone.

These are the words spoken by a true mother.

The whole Stacy Peterson disappearance hits pretty close to home for me. It happened in my beloved town. She is not much younger than me, so I have friends who know her or know of her. In addition, one of my close personal friends uncle is the ‘close friend’ to Drew Peterson that has been on all the news reports. Sometimes I want to believe that Drew Peterson didn’t do anything wrong.

But to think that Drew Peterson had nothing to do with her disappearance seems far-fetched, even for a mother to think.

People don’t just disappear.

They die.

People don’t just leave their kids and contact no one.

They end up rolled-up in carpet somewhere.

Innocent men don’t have countless women jumping at the chance to say they were beaten, assaulted, threatened, and emotionally abused by them.

Innocent men don’t have ’suspicious’ death clouds hanging over their head.

I know, in America, you are innocent until proven guilty.

And Barry Bonds didn’t take steroids.

I just hope it will all end soon and the family’s of everyone can go back to some sense of normalcy. Until then, the circus will continue.

And remember, suicide is not an option.

I am embarrassed to be a Chicago sports fan right now.

Hate all you want, but these teams should be much better than they currently are. I still love Rex Grossman no matter how everyone else in the city has turned on him. And I think the Bears still have plenty of talent.

Same with the Bulls. I love Ben Gordon. I’d love Kobe more, but you get the idea.

They should not be polluting our airways with such horrible displays of defense, offense and god know what other facets of their respective games.

I propose a Chicago sports detox program. Who is with me? I pledge to not watch another game by EITHER team until they can win two in a row. That should be doable? Right?

139 days until Cubs opening day. Huzzah!

STATUS REPORT: Last week, the first official week, with only one ad and a limited layout, I made $9.18 cents. That is not bad in my opinion. I didn’t promote the blog but still managed to pull over 400 page views. This confirms my opinion that with proper promotion, a well thought out and entertaining blog will be profitable. Even if there are already 10 million other people doing the same thing.

Random Thoughts While Living Another Day in Anonymity:

Do you think we could expand the ‘no talking on the cell phone while driving’ law to include a clause that states ‘no talking on the cell phone while doing anything’? As I was driving home, I observed an Illinois state construction employee talking on his cell phone while operating a 140 pound jackhammer. Does this seem to be wise? Is this what our state taxes are paying for? I’m just saying..

The Clock is Ticking:

According to news reports, the creator of the hit TV show ‘24′ doesn’t believe Hilary Clinton will make a good president. Joel Surnow asked reporters over the weekend, according to a published Washington Post article, if they are ‘nuts thinking that Hilary Clinton could be president of this country.’

He said this while balancing upside down on a wire, defusing a bomb, and shooting terrorists with his left hand. All of which is completely believable and definitely not nuts.

Global Warming is a Myth:

Today the temperature hit a balmy 62 degrees in the city of Chicago. I am sure glad that global warming thing has gone away!

Match Made In Heaven:

In another case of ‘what?’, a new Hollywood power couple appears to be emerging. Ashely Olsen (of Full House fame) and Lance Armstrong. Lets compare their contributions to society:

Ashley starred on “Full House,” performed in 12 straight to video movies with her sister Mary Kate, had a roles in several feature files, and took control of the production company Dualstar with her sister when they both turned 18. Since turning 18 she has does absolutely nothing productive with her time. She has also been linked to a drug scandal and was criticized for dating Scott Sartiano because of the 9-year age difference.

Lance won the Tour de France seven consecutive times, battled brain, lung and testicular cancer, and founded one of the most storied philanthropic organizations, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which is famous for its Livestrong bracelets. The foundation has raised more than $60 million for cancer research.

A match made in heaven.

Don’t Tase Me Bro!:

Headline: ‘Wisconsin Cop Shocked by Own Taser‘

The police officer was reprimanded for - shocking himself.

Happy Birthday: Whoopi Goldberg

After spending the last two decades being extremely opinionated and argumentive, I decided to start a newspaper-style column. I will be posting new columns every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Thank you for taking time to check out Man Vs Blog!

Random Thoughts While Living Another Day in Anonymity:

Apparently, The city of Chicago has decided it will not have a winter this year. That is by far the best news I have heard in a long time. Although now I fear I am probably overreacting to this wonderfully pleasant November weather instead of preparing for the inevitable mid-November snowstorm. And if you ask The Farmers Almanac, this will be an above average precipitation winter. Start spreading the news!

I just cannot wait to drive on the Eisenhower again through the teeth of a snowstorm. It is my favorite thing to do in the world!

Britney vs The Eagles: And Suicide is Not an Option

The music industry as a whole may be suffering, but apparently old washed-up rockers and mothers who cannot sing still sell Cd’s in mass quantity. The problem is I haven’t decided which bothers me more; The Eagles selling 700k records of recycled music or Britney selling 300k discs that make me physically ill. Suffice to say, maybe it would have been more int resting if Britney sang recycled Eagles music. That I would pay to hear.

And On the 7th Day…
The NFL football season has surpassed the midway point and I must be the only person who does not care. I am a lifelong Bears fan but for some reason, world events have kept me from getting overly excited about a sports game. I am sypathetic to those who use sports as a respite from their daily life, but with so much heartache in the world, it is hard to get excited about which team wins and which team loses..

..WAIT! Rex Grossman has just thrown a 59 yard strike to Bernard Berrian! The Bears have won!

As I was saying before, there is nothing quite as exciting as Sunday in America when football is being played. The savage ballet goes on.

The Full Court Press

As the disappearance of Stacy Peterson has thrust my little hometown of Bolingbrook, Illinois into the spotlight, I sit and ponder the relevance of today’s media and what they are truly accomplishing. Stacy Peterson’s family could argue that the press is helping keep the search in the forefront and, in turn, is keeping pressure on the police to follow every possible lead. Which I agree with. Drew Peterson, on the other hand, has not been charged with a single crime in this missing person case. His life, the lives of his family, and the lives of his friends and neighbors have been turned upside down. From statements he has made, he would like the press to back off and let them lead private lives. Which I think I agree with as well. Where is the line drawn?

And Finally..

Headline: “Tornado strikes Amish community, hundreds without power.”

Happy Birthday to: Sammy Sosa, Neil Young, Ryan Gosling, Anne Hathaway

I have decided to start a blog. The motive is two fold:

First off, I love writing and I have since I can remember. Even as a child, I would attempt to write my own columns. Sometimes for others amusement, sometimes for my own.

Now days, you can easily post a column on-line. It doesn’t make it interesting, that takes talent. But at least the tools are there. Last week I decided I would much rather write for a living than sit behind a desk picking up phones calls. So I came up with this concept based off of my favorite television show, Man vs Wild.

I will be posting columns 4 times a week. Hopefully they will entertain you. In addition to that content, I will be posting basically anything I feel like. Maybe a news story will tickle my fancy. Maybe a review of the newest Ipod. Maybe a rant about how awful I think the Chicago Bulls are this year.

Secondly, I am going to try to use this avenue to generate revenue to pay my bills! But instead of recycling content from other blogs, I intend on using my wit, writing ability, and business sense to turn this blog into a nice little business. So if you enjoy any of the content please visit a sponsor link. They help keep the blogosphere running.

Cheers!