775.448.6070 SEPTEMBER 2018 PLAY THE GAME, DON’T THROW IT Should Sports Teams Purposefully Lose? WWW.JERRYCARTERLAW.COM
D o you ever intentionally give less than your best effort? Would it shock you to learn your favorite sports team either does that or seriously contemplates doing that? For the last decade, fans have seen various sports organizations encourage their teams (MLB, NBA, NFL, FIFA, and NHL) to tank their season or a particular game. “Tanking” is when a team intentionally loses, and it can happen for a variety of reasons, the most common being a team’s desire to get a favorable draft pick in the upcoming season. The theory is that forcing short-term losses now might equate to a more successful record in the future. Some might say that these teams are “losing the battle so they can win the war,” or maybe losing the current war so they can increase their chance of winning a subsequent war. But to me, the practice of tanking causes far more harm than it does good. Tanking isn’t just about foresight; it defies the competitive nature of the game, it perpetuates a severely problematic cultural mentality, and it sacrifices the integrity of the players, the team, and their fanbase. Some of the most intriguing tanking examples are fairly recent. England and Belgium rested most of their starters in their first World Cup match because they believed the loser of the game would go to a more favorable side of the tournament bracket. Some NBA teams do all they can to lose games in order to improve their odds in the draft lottery. Some Major League baseball teams send position players to the pitching mound when they are badly losing a game in order to rest their pitchers. Now, I understand that putting in second- or third-string players at the end of blowout games is commonplace, but at what point is it all too much?
inferior entertainment product on the fans, sometimes for seasons at a time. It is hard to take pride in rooting for that kind of an organization. The idea of tanking plays an interesting role in the business and legal world. As in sports, it always makes sense to be pragmatic in business and law. However, when it comes to a choice between attempting to game the system and remaining true to who you are, it is always more important to be who you are. Similarly, it is more worthwhile to focus on developing and tapping into your own unlimited resources than looking mainly to manipulate external factors. When you look for an “acceptable” level of failure or compromise of your values, especially from a business or legal point of view, you walk a dangerous line. “IF YOU’RE CONSTANTLY TOLD TO LOSE, THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT YOU’LL DO.”
I concede that gaming the system is part of basic human nature, but the biggest danger associated with tanking is the mindset and culture it perpetuates. Rather than looking inward to find the resources and motivation needed to win, teams focus on factors external to them, such as draft picks and trying to select their next playoff or tournament opponent. They focus on what they lack rather than what they have. Then what happens when they finally get the draft picks they want? After several seasons of purposefully losing, the players and other members of the losing organization may not be able to suddenly shift their mindset. The culture of losing permeates the team’s overall mentality and has the potential to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you’re constantly told to lose, that’s exactly what you’ll do. The growing trend of tanking as a franchise- building model also abuses sports fans. Many of these fans are already forced to pay extra taxes to finance their local team’s stadium. Now the team owners and management add insult to injury by purposefully forcing an
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TAILGATING AT ITS FINEST
5 Tailgates So GoodYou Might Miss the Game
2. University of Wisconsin Walleye, cheese curds, and brats are just the beginning at Camp Randall. Wisconsin has great tailgating at the stadium, but the local hotspots of the surrounding area are even better places to show your Badger pride. If you can’t get into the arena to jump around in the fourth quarter, you can still join the tradition anywhere in Madison where there’s red and white. 3. Louisiana State University Geaux Tigers! LSU’s tailgate is something to be revered across the country because of its food options. While the jambalaya and barbecue are utterly fantastic, Tiger fans whip up something else when the University of Florida comes to town: alligator. 4. University of Washington The Huskies have a different take on tailgating than almost any other university in the country. While most schools gather in parking lots, Washington fans are out in the water. That’s right — this “tailgate” is known for the boats that pull into Union Bay right outside the stadium.
There’s a slight buzz in the air as you walk through the parking lot. Your ears embrace the sounds of cheering and conversation. Smells of recipes that took years to perfect fill your nostrils as you navigate through a sea of tents and pickup trucks. Friends and family wait at your destination with a cold beverage. The crowds of people all sport the colors of the home team as you finally arrive for what you’ve waited for all week: game day. Tailgating is a college football tradition unlike any other. Schools across the country will claim to have the best, but few can back it up. Here are five universities that can talk the talk and walk the walk. 1. University of Michigan Go blue! The tailgate in Ann Arbor is truly something to behold. “The Big House” parking lot opens at 7 a.m., and from then on, it’s all party, all the time. With one of college football’s biggest stadiums, it’s only natural that the tailgate follows suit.
New and Rediscovered Passions in Later Life
A GUIDE TO PICKING A POST-CAREER HOBBY
Former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe opened a winery after retiring from football. While you probably don’t have the financial resources of a professional athlete, there’s nothing stopping you from pursuing a newfound passion at the same velocity as the footballs Bledsoe threw. Volunteer work can be incredibly fulfilling, especially when you have the time and energy to devote to it. Many older adults find that giving back to the community adds meaning and purpose to their lives. The best way to figure out how to donate your time is to think about a cause dear to your heart. From there, find a reputable organization that supports said cause, and see what you can do to help. Retirement is the perfect opportunity to throw yourself head-first into something you’re passionate about. So what are you waiting for? Is there a cause you want to support?
of their lives, these aren’t enough to fill up the bulk of your newly acquired free time. Cultivating a hobby is a great use of your time at any age, but especially during retirement. As Dick Van Dyke once said, “To me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing.” Here are three questions to help you discover a hobby that’s right for you. Work has a tendency to put our other interests on the back burner. Maybe you painted for pleasure during college but put the canvas away to focus on your career. Perhaps you were once a chess fanatic, and today you find your board gathering dust from lack of use. Now is the perfect time to rediscover those once-beloved activities. Do you have a dormant passion?
Aside from financial concerns, the No. 1 question that most impending and recent retirees struggle to answer is how they will fill up all their time. While spending time with family and relaxing are priorities for most folks entering the post-career chapter
What have you always wanted to do?
Discovering new hobbies is just as rewarding as rekindling old ones. Have you ever heard about a pastime and thought, “I’d love to do that, if only I had the time”?
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Today, Labor Day mostly means a day off and the closure of public pools. But when it was first created, it was a president’s desperate attempt to curb the tension after one of the most violent strike breakups in American history. In the late 19th century, the workers of the Pullman Company, which manufactured luxury train cars, all lived in a company-owned town. George Pullman, the owner, lived in a mansion overlooking houses, apartments, and crammed-together barracks, all of which were rented by the thousands of workers needed for the operation. For some time, the town operated without a hitch, providing decent wages for the workers while netting the higher-ups millions of dollars. But after the economic depression of the 1890s brought the country to its knees, everything changed. George Pullman slashed his workers’ wages by nearly 30 percent, but he neglected to adjust the rent on the company-owned buildings in turn. As a result, life became untenable in the town, with workers struggling tomaintain the barest standards of living for themselves and their families. In response, the workers began a strike on May 11, 1894. As the event ramped up, it gained the support of the powerful American Railway Union (ARU). But Pullman, stubborn as he was, barely acknowledged the strike was happening, and he refused tomeet with the organizers. The tension increased when Eugene Debs, the president of the American Railway Union, organized a boycott of all trains that included Pullman cars. The strike continued to escalate until workers and Pullman community members managed to stop the trains from running. Eventually, President Grover Cleveland sent in soldiers to break up the strike. Violence ensued, with soldiers making a great effort to quell the strike at its core. By the time the violence ended, 30 people had lost their lives and an estimated $80 million in damages had been caused throughout the town. A fewmonths later, President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a federal holiday. Many experts believe that this act was an effort to build rapport among his pro-labor constituents after handling the incident so poorly. This month, as you fire up the barbecue and enjoy your day off, take a moment to remember the workers who fought for labor rights in our country. THE PULLMAN STRIKE AND THE ORIGIN OF LABOR DAY How a Railroad Protest Laid the Foundation for a National Holiday
5. University of Mississippi On game day, the Grove at Ole Miss transforms from a serene 10-acre park with mature trees to a scene unlike any other. Tens of thousands of fans gather in their red, white, and blue to prepare for the Walk of Champions, where the entire team strolls through the tailgate on their way to the stadium. It’s 35 years of tradition that contributes something special to the scene.
BEANS AND GREENS RIGATONI
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
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12 ounces rigatoni pasta 1 bunch Tuscan kale, rinsed 1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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Juice of 1 lemon
Salt, for pasta water and to taste
2 ounces fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
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DIRECTIONS
1. In a large stock pot, boil 6 quarts of liberally salted water. On another burner, heat a large skillet to medium-low. 2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes less than the package recommends. 3. While pasta is cooking, add beans, red pepper, and 1 tablespoon of oil to skillet. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. 4. Add cooked pasta, kale, and 1 cup pasta water to skillet. Toss vigorously as kale cooks, about 4 minutes. 5. Transfer to bowls, top with a squeeze of lemon, sprinkle with cheese or salt, and serve.
Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine
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FROM JERRY’S OFFICE
Hello All, You may have heard a new voice when you call our office, so I wanted to introduce myself and give you a face to put with the name. My name is Lauren, and I am Jerry’s new legal assistant and billing clerk. I moved to Reno from San Diego, California, in 2014 to attend the University of Nevada, Reno. I graduated in December of 2016 with a double major in political science and international affairs with a specialization in the Middle East.
In my spare time, I like to cook and hang out with my fur baby, Trapper Nixon. He is a 1 ½-year-old dachshund-German shepherd mix. He has tons of energy and loves to be outside. I look forward to working with all of you!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Tanking Is the New Trend The 5 Best College Football Tailgates What Have You Always Wanted to Do? Beans and Greens Rigatoni Why Labor Day Is Indebted to the Pullman Strike
International Talk Like a Pirate Day
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YO HO HO, LANDLUBBERS! Celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day
Island.” Historically, English-speaking pirates probably sounded more like Johnny Depp’s Captain Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately, the pirates of the Golden Age didn’t leave behind any YouTube videos to confirm this. Learn the Lingo, Landlubber Participating in Talk Like a Pirate Day is easy — you just need to know a few key phrases. “Ahoy, matey” means “Hello, friend!”“Blimey, that son of a biscuit-eater hornswaggled me out of me doubloons” means “Darn it, that jerk cheated me out of my money!” “Shiver me timbers, that old salt is three sheets to the wind” means “Wow, that old sailor has had too much
racquetball, saying things to each other like, “That be a fine cannonade” (“Nice shot, dude”) and “Now watch as I fire a broadside straight into your yardarm” (“But watch this”). They decided Talk Like a Pirate Day needed to become official, so they chose Sept. 19, which was Summers’ wife’s birthday (and the only date he could remember besides Christmas and the Super Bowl). In 2002, they pitched the idea to humor columnist Dave Barry, who promoted it in his syndicated column, and the concept quickly spread internationally. Did Pirates Really Talk Like That? The “pirate-speak” popularized in movies and Disney attractions probably sounds nothing like real pirates did in centuries past. Today’s swashbuckling phrases delivered in a strong Southwest England accent can be traced back to Robert Newton’s 1950 portrayal of Long John Silver in the movie “Treasure
Ahoy, matey! Wednesday, Sept. 19, is International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Brush up on your pirate vocabulary, grab your eye patch, get your puffy shirt dry cleaned, and bring a little seafaring fun
to your office or classroom.
The History of These Swashbuckling Shenanigans The holiday began as an inside joke between pals John Baur and Mark Summers in 1995. For reasons not even understood by themselves, they began speaking like pirates while playing
beer.” And if a pirate (or your boss) says, “Swab the deck, ye bilge rat, or it’s Davy Jones’ locker for ye!” start mopping the floor immediately.
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