Te'o Hoax Shows World's 'Out of Balance'

Missing pen pals in the digital world.

I don't know about you guys, but this whole Manti Te'o hoax story is yet another reminder of how truly out of balance our world really is. Look, I have no problems with the digital world and the social media. You kidding? This is how we communicate. And while I am still relatively new to texting, I have embraced that aspect of technology to the point that members of my family will actually reply back to me.

I guess sending a text is not as embarrassing as having dad call you. And I can see the hidden beauty of that. The last thing I would want to do is to embarrass my kids in front of their friends. But this story of Notre Dame's star linebacker Manti Te'o who had the whole world at his feet has me scratching my head.

I am going to admit something in public that I don't think I've ever said before. When I was in elementary school I had an imaginary friend. Wait did I just write that? Yes it's true. I conjured up this make believe friend who would stand outside
the window of our class, and wait for me to get out of school.

I know this period was short lived. Mostly because the man/woman teacher I had (Mrs Maskell) would slap me across the top of my head and scream "Stop your day dreaming Ralphie!" I believe Mrs Maskell scared my imaginary friend out of my head. Funny, I'm sure he had a name. I just can't think of it.

I'm also from a time period where we had "pen pals".

For you young readers, a pen pal is someone who you would write to that you never met. In short Manti had a pen pal with his online relationship. Though it seems now that she never existed in the first place. I know lots of you out there have ongoing internet communication with family, friends, and lovers.

And I think it's wonderful.

In this day and age to stay in touch by tapping away on our keyboards has been a God Send.

But somewhere along the digital highway, some people get lost. This digital maze can derail the best of us. And no one is safe.

And it seems that the more we learn of our sports heroes, the more we become disillusioned. I so badly want to sympathize with them, and try and imagine the pressure they are under. For most of us live a mundane and un-exciting lifestyle. It's hard for us to comprehend how they live. Life under the microscope.

But that's the life they all wanted. They fulfilled their dreams.

So why would they knowingly blow it? Who knows? I do know
that it's only a matter of time before the next sports hero, or celebrity, or politician makes their fall from grace. And like you when it happens, I will stop and listen and shake my head. I might even blog about it. But at the end of the day? It has no bearing of who I am, and what I do. Zero.

It's just fodder for the sensational news stories that seem to pop up every other day. As all of us viewers wait each day for the next "Big" story. You know we do.

Case in point. The Lance Armstrong Oprah interview. Ugh.

This is another head scratcher. I mean Lance come on. Are you kidding me? You were an inspiration to so many people out there. Both young and old. Why would you risk all of that? Those titles meant more to you than your own self respect, your reputation, your determination, and conviction in the face of such adversity?

Lance you let so many people down. But this is the right step in that long road to redemption. All eyes will be watching you.

Take another stand for something bigger than a silly title.

I am old enough to remember the days of Martin Luther King.

I can recall with vivid clarity, his famous "I Have a Dream" speech, and I can also recall with equal sadness, and shock, his assassination. But of all the words of wisdom that Dr King said, this simple line says it all for me.

It's as if John Lennon himself wrote this. Rest in peace Dr King.