I love this time of year. I'm a college basketball fan. I'm a Tarheel, so it makes perfect sense to be a college basketball fan.
But this time of year also drives me crazy. Why? Because I along with millions of other fans around the country and the world pin our hopes on a bunch of 19, 20 and 21 year old kids. Oftentimes forgetting that they are just that, kids. Talented and gifted, but just kids. Their life experiences haven't steeled them from having the highs and lows a 40 minute game exposes them too. Their decisions aren't life and death decisions, they just seem like they are, and in the moment we may feel that too.
Compare that to the decisions we ask another group of young men to make. A bunch of 18, 19, 20 and 21 year old kids. Kids with whom we have put the burden of carrying out the policies that our national leaders decided. And by extension, policies we have decided.
So as we watch March Madness of the next four weeks, lets keep things in perspective. It's a game. It's entertainment. It's not life and death, neither for the players and coaches or for the alumni and fans.
Kendall Marshall is the outstanding point guard on the University of North Carolina's basketball team He's not a 20 year old Sgt leading a patrol in Afghanistan. His mistakes may not get one of his buddies wounded or killed, unlike that 20 year old Sgt leading a patrol. You want pressure, exchange places with the 20 year old Sgt., not Kendall Marshall.
On with the games!!
Mojo Friday Guidelines
1) If you comment you have to recommend all comments. (in order to receive mojo you have to give mojo. It's only good mojo manners.)
2) Everything you say may be taken as a joke (so if you ask a question, expect a silly answer)
3) You must recommend the diary (and pimp it unapologetically)
4) You don't have to comment to recommend.
5) You can't steal my idea (right, like that ain't goin' to happen)
6) Please, no pictures or YouTubes until after 300 comments. Now, after 300, use a little common courtesy and be responsible in the number.
7) Mojo mojo mojo mojo, mojo mojo mojo.
8) TexDem (that's me) is not bound by the guidelines. Heh
Mojo Friday Goals
A. At least 300 different commenters and 1000 comments by 1:30 PM EST and 1500 by 5:00 PM EST Friday Night that it's posted.
B. 100 recommends for each comment, at least.
C. Stay on Recommend List at least five hours (this requires some strategic planning by you guys, refer to guideline #3)
D. At least 200 diary recommends. 300 would be better, spread the word.
E. And always, fun fun fun.
F. Have at least 75% average participation rate as seen here in the Mojo Friday Postgame Show by Woodtick.
G. (New) Have at least 30 kossacks over 90% participation (see here for some tips).
H. Overload the servers with recommends, not to mention dominate Top Comments Mojo list. (we do tend to mess with the site with all of our recommends at one time)(also, to dominate the Top Comments Top Mojo we need at least 50 comments with over 200 recommends, see guideline B)
I. That's enough for now. (Have a suggestion? Post it.)
MKinTN posted a diary to help everyone achieve greater success called How to Succeed at Mojo Friday Without Really Trying.
For those of you new to MF (Mojo Friday) we have our own lingo about a few things. Thank's to MF'er Jez (the link will explain) go to this diary for a little more fun and explanation. Official Mojo Friday Snecktionary.