But wait, the NFL bullying saga gets even more complicated as these news bulletins attest: Another relative newbie on the Dolphins team, quarterback Ryan Tannehill, is quoted as saying, “If you asked Jonathan Martin who his best friend is on this team two weeks ago, he’d say Richie Incognito.”This quote from the guy whom the two offensive linemen, Martin and Incognito, are paid to protect! QB Tannehill also said that Richie was the first guy to stand up for Jonathan when anything went … [Read more...]
First take on NFL “Bullying” Scandal.
Before revealing my thoughts on the Jonathan Martin-vs-Richie Incognito bullying flap, here is CBS Sports.com's report on the essentials of the situation by reporter Jason La Canfora. The basics of the alleged bullying. Last week's flare-up between Martin and his teammates, “was not an isolated incident -- not even close,” one source said. “It's been going on almost since they drafted him.” Other players on the team said it was fairly widely known within the team that the offensive linemen … [Read more...]
Second take on the Bullying Brawl in the NFL
So, what bullying info has emerged in the week since the relationship between two Miami Dolphins became public? Some snippets from recent mass media accounts: Evidence in the form of a tape surfaces that Richie Incognito’s text and other exchanges with Jonathan Martin crossed the line. “According to ESPN's Adam Schafer, the most egregious of these exchanges was a highly graphic voicemail Incognito left in April 2013, in which Incognito called Martin a "[mulatto} piece of s**t," … [Read more...]
Supervillains—McAfee’s Most Toxic Superheroes
My Firefox browser has seized up because a website selling Anti-Aging Cream grabbed hold and won't let go. Interestingly, McAfee’s Online Security Expert, Robert Siciliano, just shared which superheroes are kryptonite on the web and result in bad links. These superheroes flip to villainous creatures because their sites are laden with viruses, malware, and malicious software designed to steal passwords and personal information.McAfee, of course, knows about such things and researches these … [Read more...]
Some Cleft Lip kids still have a Scary Face after Halloween
By Terry Ryan A scary face is acceptable at Halloween time, in fact expected, and the scarier the better according to most children. But what happens to the child that still has a “scary” face after Halloween when they take their Frankenstein or Dracula masks off? I’m talking about children who suffer from cleft lips. They can never take off their facial deformities or scars from the many operations they have had to endure to correct their smiles. These children have to tolerate the stares … [Read more...]
Praise for Cleft Heart from Kirkus Reviews
Here's an excerpt from first my first Big League review: "[After Schonborn’s] first day of kindergarten, he complained that no one seemed to understand him when he spoke. His mother, wise beyond her years, reassured him by saying that the other children ‘needed to be better listeners.’ The author writes charmingly of his childhood, particularly when he describes the many ways his birth defect affected his young parents and siblings. For example, while Schonborn’s 2-year-old sister watched … [Read more...]
Official Back Cover Blurb for Cleft Heart: Chasing Normal
Karl Schonborn’s silver tongue is locked away for years by a birth defect that makes his speech unclear and his face asymmetrical. Bullies target him for this and even for being restricted from PE and sports. But with courage, humor, and his family’s love, he overcomes shame, handicaps, and personal losses that might have defeated others. Skilled doctors, speech therapists, and his own determination allow him a shot at his dream of becoming a debate star and attending an elite … [Read more...]