Bobby Hull & Brett Hull

The “Golden Jet” and the “Golden Brett” are ahead of the pack when it comes to great father-son duos. Bobby and Brett both have over 600 goals, have won an MVP award, and have both won a Stanley Cup. Eventually, they will both be in the Hall of Fame too. When you combine Bobby’s statistics with son Brett’s statistics, you get the best father and son duo in sports.

Bobby Bonds & Barry Bonds

Bobby, played for the Giants from 1968 until 1974, set standards of performance for his eldest son Barry. In 1990, Barry joined his father in the 30 home runs-30 stolen bases club. Barry’s accomplishments took off from there. In addition to winning numerous Gold Glove Awards and MVP honors, Barry currently holds baseball’s home run single-season record.

Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The Earnhardts, Ralph, Dale and Dale Jr., are the first family of NASCAR. Ralph Earnhardt was a NASCAR pioneer and considered a master car builder by racing historians. His son, Dale Earnhardt (“The Intimidator”), was one the most beloved and successful drivers in NASCAR history. While Dale Jr. won the 2004 Daytona 500.

Archie Manning, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning

This is the family that proves that athletic ability can be passed from one generation to the next. All three were finalists for the Heisman Trophy, and were first round draft picks.  Archie was picked No. 2 overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1971. He played for 14 years in the NFL and was the NFC MVP in 1978. Peyton was selected first overall by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1998 draft. In 2004, he passed for an astounding 4,557 yards and a record 49 touchdowns. In 2007 he was named Super Bowl XLI MVP. Peyton’s younger brother Eli was drafted first overall by the San Diego Chargers, who traded him to the New York Giants in a draft-day trade. In 2008 he was named Super Bowl XLII MVP.

It makes it even more difficult when the team that the player works for expects the team to come above the family. The media does not help in this matter either. New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady, who one day after his wife gave birth to their son, was at practice.  A story in the Boston Herald story said Brady “showed his commitment’’ to the team by showing up for practice. I am sure that Brady has dedication to his family, but couldn’t he have missed a day of practice to be with his wife and their new baby?

I remember one time when one of my sons, who was six months old, almost died, and was  placed in intensive care while we were out of town. His father, my husband, jumped on the next flight to be with us, but was fined $1500 from his team for not getting approval beforehand. I couldn’t believe it! Another time, I was having surgery and the team called the hospital to “check” if I was really admitted for surgery before releasing him from training camp for two days. Unbelievable! Nevertheless, it set a bad tone for our time with that particular organization.

Family life is extremely important in a person’s life, especially in a pro-athletes life. That time is far and few between, with practices, games, along with promotional appearances such as news conferences and filming commercials. It is also difficult because professional sports leagues have no qualms about scheduling games on some of the biggest family holidays such as Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving. We spent a couple of holidays in a stadium, but it wasn’t bad compared to those who have loved ones serving in the military.

When there is planned family time such as a vacation, a family must share their father or husband with the public. People want autographs, pictures, or small talk. A player doesn’t want to seem rude but, at times they have to say, “I’m sorry I’m with my family right now.” There are some fans that understand and those that don’t. Many feel as if they aren’t asking too much for a quick picture or autograph but they don’t understand one person leads to 5 more and so on.

Many athletes put their families first but they still have to contend with the fact that they are being paid a lot of money and their time is really regulated by the terms of their contract. They also have the underlying pressure of always competing for their position with the next person in line. They must show their commitment to the team.

It is a hard balancing act, but an athlete who has a supportive family, who is willing to sacrifice at times, will be able to compete and also make time for them in the long run.

Chris and Stefanie Spielman were high school sweethearts. They dated while students at Ohio State University. Stefanie pursued a degree in journalism and Chris went on to play in the National Football League. In 1989, they married and began to raise their family. In 1998, while three months pregnant, Stefanie discovered a lump in her breast while doing a self- exam.

Chris decided to take a year off from football to assist his wife throughout her medical ordeal. He also shaved his head, in support of Stefanie, when Stefanie lost her hair due to her chemotherapy treatments. How many pro athletes do you know would take a year off of their illustrious careers to stay home and take care of their wife? I haven’t heard of many.

Chris and Stefanie formed a cancer research fund that raised over six million dollars for breast cancer and it also aided low income breast cancer patients. Stefanie was a pillar of strength for her family and the cancer community. She attended numerous functions while raising their children and being a wife to Chris, who is now an ESPN commentator and sports talk radio host in Columbus, Ohio.

Over a twelve year period Stefanie continued fight cancer. It reoccurred over five times. The last and final time was in March of 2009. Stefanie succumbed to her illness on November 19, 2009.

I had the opportunity to see Chris, Stefanie and their four children, at one of her final public appearances, an Ohio State football game. Chris was honored for being elected into The College Hall of Fame. Apparent was the strong bond and love that they had for one another. She had the biggest smile on her face and was so proud of her husband. He on the other hand, seemed to be more concerned with her well being and her comfort, versus receiving another one of his many awards. I saw a demonstration of true love.

Stefanie Spielman felt as if God had given her breast cancer for a cause. “I know there’s a reason God gave me breast cancer, and I’m supposed to do something with it,” she said. She also wanted Chris to use his celebrity status to raise awareness in the cancer community. “Tell them I have breast cancer,”  she recalled telling her husband. “It may make one guy go home and say: ‘Honey, my favorite football player’s wife has breast cancer. You got to remember to make that mammogram appointment.’”

We need more stories on love, commitment, and strength within the pro athlete world. I, for one, am committed to telling them.

According to adults surveyed, not all celebrities would make good neighbors. Seventeen percent of adults named Nayda Suleman (i.e., Octomom) the worst neighbor of 2009, followed closely by Jon and Kate Gosselin (16 percent).

In light of recent news, adults appear to be indecisive about whether or not professional golfer Tiger Woods would make a good neighbor. Three percent of adults found him to be a desirable neighbor for 2010, while only slightly more (4 percent) thought he was the worst neighbor of 2009.

My desirable neighbor for 2010 would be, unquestionably, the Obamas.  Barack and Michelle look as if they would be the coolest neighbors of all time.  Who would be your most desirable neighbor in 2010?

Larimer County Judge Stephen Schapanski sentenced Richard Heene to 90 days in jail, including 60 days of work release, so he can continue his job as a construction contractor while serving his time. His wife, Mayumi, was sentenced to 20 days in jail.

Mayumi Heene won’t begin her sentence until her husband finishes his jail time, so someone can be home with their children. She also was given four years of supervised probation and must do 120 hours of public service.

Both parents deserve their sentence.  I remember like it was yesterday, I was holding my chest when I thought the little boy was in the balloon. Many mother’s imagined their child in the balloon and panic set in across America. It was a horrifying experience to watch.

The best part of the sentence was the Heene’s not being able to profit from this spectacle for four years.  The judge should forbid them from earning of any money EVER!

The prosecutor is pushing for Richard Heene and his wife, Mayumi, to pay $47,000 in restitution to the various agencies that participated in the search for their young son.

This set a great example for other reality crazy people that want to stage a crazy stunt for their own reality show.

And the Oscar goes to……………

Watch the video: “Was the ‘balloon boy’ sentence fair?” below

I guess we will see, but I know this film needs to really bring it to compare with the  initial “Sex and the City”: The Movie. It grossed more than $400 million at the box office.

Side note: If you are in the concrete Jungle of NYC, enjoy the “Sex and The City NYC Tour Experience”  with the On Location Tour.

According to Secretista, she was surprised at how much fun she  had on this tour:

“Our spunky tour guide showed us so many great places to dine, have fun and most importantly, shop! One of the last stops on the tour was to the infamous Magnolia’s Bakery on Bleecker Street.”

Sounds like an exciting time!

Check out the newly release trailer below:

Lamya Cammon, a 7-years old, student of The Congress Elementary went home and told her mom that her teacher chop off one of her braids. When Cammon’s mom confronted the teacher, the teacher response was “Well, I apologize; I was frustrated with her playing with her hair.” The teacher was fined $175 for disorderly conduct. Let me clarify this, not fired, just charged a fine. In the meantime, Cammon has moved to a different classroom.

Watch the video below:

Let us know how you feel about this incident. What if this was your child?

Teacher accused of putting a hit on student.

Mundy’s Hill school substitute teacher, Randolph Forde, 10th-grade student, was recently accused of trying to persuade another student to kill a 16- year-old boy.

This began when Hill asked the student if he was gay. Afterward, the two had a verbal altercation. A couple of weeks later, Forde got another student off a school bus and told him he had a hit on someone and needed him to take care of it. The student asked who was it and the teacher held a piece of paper up with the victim’s name on it.

The teacher claims it was taken out of “proportion.” How was this taken out or proportion? Who plays like this?

He is now on paid administrative leave. Let’s see how he can explain what exactly he meant since it was taken out of “proportion.”

Teachers having inappropriate relationships with students

Countless teachers are having sex with young students and it is absolutely disgusting.

Look at the list: Most comprehensive account on Internet of women predators on campus.

There are particular situations we have no control over, but I do believe we need to focus on our children and become more involved in their lives.

We have to stay in contact with our children’s teachers by e-mail, phone and conferences. We ought to volunteer and partake in activities at school. Teachers will recognize that parents have a presence in school and not only when there is a problem.

Perhaps he hasn’t reduced the unemployment rate,  just yet; but he is working on assisting people by:

• increasing food stamp benefits by 13.6%,
• extending unemployment benefits from December 31, 2009 until March 31, 2011
• Creating a new program called Temporary Child Care Assistance (TCCA). The program, which ends in September 2010, will provide time-limited assistance with child care costs for families that qualify.

American’s who are struggling see the difference President Barack is making. It’s the people who have jobs and who are not worried who have the most judgment on what he is or is not doing.

This is one of my goals in 2010, to teach my children the importance of working for themselves and having their money working for them.

Watch this clip below:

The entire audience gave it a standing ovation at the end of the film because it’s the most genuine Disney film to date made with so much love and such great detail. A range of mixed emotions were experienced by everyone watching the film. There were touching moments of happiness and laughter, tears of sadness, and tears of joy shared by the movie goers. The film highlighted the heritage of the bayou of Louisiana and tales of scary witch doctors and great jazz and blues music that made you want to dance in your seat.

Anika Rose, the voice of Princess Tiana, is a diamond in the rough, actress and songstress and does this role great justice. Terrance Howard, the voice of Princess’s Tiana father and Oprah, the voice of Princess Tiana Mother did a superb job of making the film a cozy family experience. The movie’s soundtrack features Anika Rose, Ne-Yo and Academy Award® winning composer Randy Newman is full of soulful music that gives you a tingly feeling all over. This will be a great gift to give to your princess this Christmas. Leaving the movies make you want to make a big pot of gumbo or crawfish ettouffe, invite all your love ones and have a great time.

Watch below as Neyo sings his soulful ballad “Never Knew I Needed You “featured on Princess and the Frog Soundtrack.