Blog entries for mz80

Falling Short, but Pressing On

mz80 — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:58:36 GMT

After winning his legal battle to be allowed to compete against able-bodied athletes, double amptuee sprinter Oscar Pistorius was unable to qualify for the upcoming Olympics in individual races. It was also announced today that the South African was not chosen as an alternate on his country's relay team, as four other runners posted faster times. While this is a setback to Pistorius's dream, it is most likely a temporary one. The 21-year-old will still compete in the Paralympic Games in September, where he holds the world record in the 400 meters. (See the link to the AP story on today's ruling below.)

While it would have been a great story and a huge development for athletes with disabilities to have Pistorius compete against able-bodied sprinters, the decision to leave him off the team was the right one. He was given the opportunity, which was all he asked for in court. He knew he had to outperform his opponents, and many were better, fair and square (barring failed drug tests, never a shock in 2008). Having followed the coverage I have no doubt that the disappointing results will motivate Pistorius to train even harder to make the 2012 Games. The last thing the disability rights movement needs is controversy over making a disabled athlete an Olympian when others' times were better and the bypassed alleging preferential treatment. Pistorius wouldn't want that kind of sympathy selection, either. This gives us four more years (at least) to follow his inspirational story.

Truth or Consequences

mz80 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:37:05 GMT

(The following appeared in the July 13th edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)

Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn is off to a good start curbing gun violence with his neighborhood patrol task force, but after July 4th carnage, he needs more citizen cooperation, with or without financial reward. Even if silence is motivated by fear, the code of the street cannot trump the law of the land. Law enforcement, politicians and community activists should join forces to remind everyone that collective inaction will produce nothing but more premature funerals.

A Taxing Situation

mz80 — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:49:15 GMT

Brewers’ star Prince Fielder reportedly owes more than $400,000 in federal income taxes, and now we have the familiar issue of whether an athlete’s private life should be public knowledge. If Fielder can’t be bothered to spend some of his six figures on an accountant, that’s news. Tax information is public record, and scrutiny is the price of fame. There’s a simple way to avoid this story, Prince: Pay on time, just like the fans who pay your salary.

A Supreme Mistake

mz80 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 17:51:31 GMT

(The following appears in the Crossroads section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Sunday, June 22.)

The recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing Guantanamo detainees to challenge their imprisonment in civilian court should make Americans nervous. The 5-4 decision demonstrated that the court was hardly confident it was doing the right thing, and the consequences could be dire. Maybe I missed the memo, but I haven’t heard any terrorists alleging innocence. These are mass murderers proud to wage holy war, and we’re giving them more rights? Isn’t justice supposed to be swift?

What it means to be a man

mz80 — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:23:46 GMT

(The following appeared in the June 8th edition of the Crossroads section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)

A rule for men to live by: take responsibility for your actions. Beginning a sexual relationship is a serious decision, and when teen pregnancy occurs, men must not run. Becoming a parent is a crash course in responsibility, and failure is not an option. A father is obligated to give his child the best possible quality of life, even if that means giving the child up. Sometimes, the manliest option is admitting another can do better.

Abbott an Inspiration to All

mz80 — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:38:01 GMT

“Daddy, do you like your little hand?”

With that question from his then 4-year old daughter, former Major League pitcher Jim Abbott was suddenly facing what he now says was the toughest speaking engagement of his life. Having entered that preschool class room as a triumphant success story on Career Day, he was now experiencing some raw, unexpected emotion precipitated by this one perfectly innocent question posed by one of the most important people in his life. The man who had won nearly 200 games at baseball’s highest level against gigantic odds because he ignored his physical differences was being forced to address them with an impromptu answer.

“Yes honey,” Abbott said. “I like my little hand.”

It’s funny how kids teach us life lessons sometimes, what with their beautifully simplistic ways of self-expression. When Abbott addressed the audience of volunteers, corporate types and people with disabilities at Independence First’s annual Power Lunch fundraiser at the Midwest Airlines Center on May 9th, his speech wasn’t about being different so much as it was about adaptability, accountability, and trusting yourself. But Abbott told the masses that the question from his daughter taught him something. He realized that the class of preschoolers didn’t care that he had thrown a rare no-hitter playing professional baseball, but they sure did notice that he was different from all of them, possessing only one “normal” hand. The irony is, his “little hand” helped author the most famous act of his life (the no-hitter) and made him the ideal keynote speaker for this assembly meant to celebrate the achievements of people with disabilities. The able-bodied world occasionally needs a reminder that disability doesn’t equal misery, and everyone can benefit from hearing these core principles espoused in his speech:

Adaptability: Instead of wallowing in self-pity over things you may not be able to do, focus on what you can, all while figuring out solutions to your physical challenges. Do your best in everything you do. Make the most of every opportunity you’re given.

Accountability: Take responsibility for your actions, and don’t use physical shortcomings or blame other people as excuses for failure. Good things happen to those who work hard and stay committed.

Trust: Believing in yourself is the first step toward successful achievement of a goal. In a sport where individual failure is more common than success, Abbott had to trust he could defy the odds and get to the highest level. He never would have been in front of the Midwest Airlines Center that day without trust in himself.

As Abbott regaled the people with a detailed account of the day he tossed a no-hitter in Yankee Stadium and awed them with a demonstration of how he put on his glove, this observer had a question: Did Abbott’s daughter ask about his little hand because she was showing it off like a toy for show-and-tell? I think so. I think his daughter was proud to show her class what a unique man her father was. I think perhaps The Little Hand That Could makes this little girl proud, and she loves him dearly even though he’s different. Her dad’s disability won’t matter to her as much someday soon, but she’ll grow up to learn to love him for who he is and respect him as an example of perseverance.

Nothing could be more inspirational than that.

A victory for common sense

mz80 — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:45:14 GMT

South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius has won his appeal to compete in the Beijing Olympics this summer, after it was decided that track and field's governing body didn't sufficiently demonstrate that his carbon-fiber prosthetics give him a competitive advantage over able-bodied sprinters. Pistorius still must qualify for the Games individually and as a member of the South African relay team.

As I opined in a previous post, Pististorius had the stronger argument. and this week's ruling is a victory for disabled athlethes, as well as a triumph of common sense and the human spirit. A link to the ESPN.com story on the Pistorius case is below, as well as a link to an ESPN the Magazine article about the possible next wave in scientific and technological advancements that could benefit athletes with disabilities. Enjoy.

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/news/story?id=3398915

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3357051

Innocence Lost

mz80 — Sat, 10 May 2008 00:58:38 GMT

The following appears in the Crossroads Section of the May 11th Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Governor Doyle’s call for tougher drunk driving laws
was justified, but one wonders if three chances means
one too many. If lawmakers and today’s younger
generation heed grieving father Mike Farney’s stirring
call to action, then real change can happen, albeit
far too late. Mark Benson once operated on a friend of
mine, but he could have easily been replaced by
another doctor. No one can ever replace the three
innocent victims Mark Benson, menace to society, took
from us.

Reflections on winter

mz80 — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:14:19 GMT

(The following will appear in the Crossroads Section of the May 4th edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)

Knock on wood, but it appears Milwaukee’s third snowiest winter is finally over. It’s certainly a relief to not have to worry about more snow-related traffic deaths, drunken snowmobile crashes or getting my wheelchair stuck in slush any longer. I did learn this season that if one complains to the right people about snow removal, it can produce results. But since this is America, we must find something to blame the endless barrage of harsh weather on. My culprit? Global warming.

Running Down a Dream

mz80 — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 19:39:38 GMT

I recently got selected to serve on the Youth Steering Committee for persons with disabilities in Wisconsin, created through an agency known as Wisconsin Facets. It’s an intriguing, developing project, but I have to admit I’m not exactly certain what it entails. We’ll find out at the first of two all-day meetings this year on May 31, and details will be shared in this space. Committee members are required to serve a one-year term, which can be extended to a three-year stint.

The general thrust of the project figures to be creating advancement opportunities for people with disabilities and their vital interests. This brings to mind the case of South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius. The record-setting sprinter is suing for inclusion is this summer’s Beijing Olympics, as track’s international governing body has banned the leg amputee from competing. Why? Pistorius must use prosthetic legs with carbon-fiber blades, known as Cheetahs. The name might be dubious, because the “legs” make Pistorious a habitually slow starter because he cannot crouch in the starting block. He also trouble negotiating turns and curves. But track officials say (stop me if you’ve heard this before) that the blades provide Pistorius an unfair competitive advantage because lengthen his stride, thus requiring less energy expenditure to build speed. Moreover, given his pattern of getting faster later in races, some might say that blades help increase Pistorius’s endurance.

Oscar’s trainers and coaches say he trains like a madman and that his singular focus has always been on being a champion. He’s fighting this battle because he resents being told he can only compete in the subsequent Paralympics this fall. He wonders aloud if those against him are truly trying to protect the integrity of sport and competition or if they’re really afraid of what might happen if he were to win. What would it do to alter society’s image of the athletic body?

Pistorius’s has gained national attention in outlets such as The New York Times and ESPN, and after hearing both sides of the argument, the facts seem to be on Oscar’s side. Scientific evidence regarding the “advantages” of prosthetic legs is limited and inconclusive at best, as a prominent physical therapist told the Times that a prosthetic leg returns 80 percent of the energy absorbed in each stride, whereas a natural leg can return up to 240 percent. This suggests Pistorius is at a disadvantage when racing, and even an “expert” employed by track’s governing body admitted to ESPN that Oscar himself must do the work that would enable him to outrun other able-bodied athletes.

A final ruling is expected in August. No doubt Pistorius is already set to run toward his golden dream. He should be allowed to.

Safety is the only option

mz80 — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:21:34 GMT

A recent United Way study shows a compelling link
between rising teen pregnancy rates and sexual
victimization. That’s troubling because it means many
young mothers’ lives were changed forever by a
criminal act. Most sexual assault victims know their
assailants, so the victims fear for their safety. Many
incidents more go unreported. Advocacy groups and law
enforcement should launch a cooperative PR campaign to
encourage victims to overcome their fear. Safety
should be a right, not a privilege.

Vote Responsibly

mz80 — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:13:32 GMT

It’s election time, which means we get to hear the word “disenfranchised” again. I recently heard voters with disabilities described that way, and that was news to me. The argument goes that voter ID legislation would deny these people their right to vote because many don’t have drivers’ licenses. However, most of them have proper identification anyway and won’t be turned away at the polls. Wisconsin’s same-day registration makes voting easy for people who follow rules. Unfortunately, those who don’t would rather blame the system than change their ways.

School Daze

mz80 — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:48:17 GMT

From the March 9th Edition of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Politicians are forever telling us that our children are our future. Is Milwaukee Public Schools listening? By not abandoning its residency requirement, MPS is losing the chance to hire qualified teachers who live outside the city. Throw in bloated travel budgets and exorbitant payments in consulting fees, and the school system is run more like a business than a training ground for tomorrow’s leaders. While administrators are consumed with expense reports, the kids pay the biggest price. MPS can’t solve that problem with more money.

Pregnant Pause

mz80 — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 22:24:33 GMT

The following appears in the Sun., Feb. 24 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Teen pregnancy is a growing problem best solved the
old-fashioned way: by teaching abstinence.
Contraceptives aren’t foolproof, and the magnitude of
the crisis suggests they often aren’t used at all.
There is no compelling reason why society should
accept the notion that kids are going to have sex
anyway. No matter what they might think, teens aren’t
ready to have sex. Their loved ones and schools need
to explain why.

The issue is...

mz80 — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 01:36:44 GMT

The following is the unedited version of my advisory hit in last Sunday's crossroads section:

Like James Carville once said, “It’s the economy, stupid.” We’re not in a recession yet, but sharp, sudden cuts in interest rates are never signs of a flourishing marketplace. Presidential candidates from both parties need to tell Wisconsin voters what they’ll do to reverse the downturn, preferably without enacting billions in new spending initiatives. Hard-working Wisconsinites should have assurances of a good quality of life for their families. The people are capable; they just need Washington to not mess things up.

Matthew Zellmer can be reached at mz80@yahoo.com

Election Year Advice

mz80 — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 04:48:48 GMT

(The following will appear in the Sunday January 27th Crossroads section of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.)

Some election year advice: Don’t pay much attention to anything the national media call a “trend.” Hillary Clinton went from surefire nominee to dead after one caucus defeat, now she’s suddenly rejuvenated. Barack Obama was the hot guy, but his expected post-Iowa bounce hasn’t translated into more victories. Rudy Guliani was a GOP lock until almost no one actually voted for him. Nobody knows what’s going to happen, but that’s a good thing. Wisconsin’s primary might actually matter this time. It’s up to the voters to make informed decisions.

Extending King's Dream to Disability

mz80 — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:51:45 GMT

With the day off on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (thanks, NBA, for the respite) I got to thinking. The good Reverend once said, “I have a dream that one day people will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” This was a man of vision, someone willing to be thrown in jail (and sadly, give his life) to see justice served and social change enacted. This was a man who emerged and is remembered today as unquestionably the most influential leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Forty years after his assassination, we of course focus on the progress he achieved toward racial equality.

But as someone with a physical disability, I see another application of Dr. King’s vision. I believe that if he had gotten the chance, he would have been at the forefront of the disability rights movement as well. One could just as easily replace “color of their skin” with “functioning of their limbs” or “effectiveness of their eyes and ears.” From my observation, MLK had such a desire to implement positive, revolutionary reforms that there’s no reason to believe he would have stopped fighting after conquering the barriers of segregation. And since his methods of choice were nonviolence, oratory and civil disobedience, there’s no reason to believe his message wouldn’t have resonated with the masses in any era. But unfortunately he left us too soon, leaving everyone to wonder how much more he could have achieved.

That’s not to say people with disabilities can’t use him an example of how to advocate. We do need to be careful not to distort his message by excessively whining, complaining, or becoming overly reliant on the government in an attempt to advance ourselves. I don’t believe he’d want that anymore than he’d want kids to skip school in order to attend ceremonies honoring him. (You may scoff, but I witnessed this happen.) What I believe MLK would want is for people with disabilities to battle for change using faith, intellect and determination, just as he did. Can’t you picture him sitting on the steps of a government building in the 1980s, refusing to go in as a peaceful protest of the lack of a wheelchair ramp? I sure can.

So as we commemorate this solemn occasion today, let’s thank him for helping open the door to opportunity for so many previously oppressed minorities. Let us also remember that we need to try to walk (or push) through the door ourselves, rather than wait for someone to help us.

Matthew Zellmer can be reached at mz80@yahoo.com

The rest of the story

mz80 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 22:36:47 GMT

My “Top Ten List” (see post from 10/7) did engender a reaction from at least one person. Since I did receive any comments regarding this reader’s thoughts, here is my two cents.

The first question posed was whether people with disabilities should be entitled to four-year college educations, simply by virtue of their disability. To this I emphatically say no. For those who don’t know, the Wisconsin Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) often pays for tuition and books for its college-bound clients. What DVR does not do, nor should it, is boost students through admissions offices. The students must go through the standard procedure in which their grades, test scores and other activities are scrutinized, and they are given no favorable treatment on the basis of disability.

The second question posed by the reader was based on personal experience that some students with disabilities appeared to just be going through the motions on campus, perhaps because DVR was giving them a free ride. The reader wonders if internships and/or vocational tracks would be a better path, since the student would be paying for his or her own education and would then learn a trade that would enable them to hold down a job.

The answer here is trickier, since the reader’s observation about some students with disabilities coasting through college (or at least not earnestly seeking a job when they graduate, if they do) has some validity to it. The problem with internships is that they are often unpaid, depending on the field, so what’s a person supposed to live on? Internships are best when completed simultaneously with college credit, not instead of. Plus, even if one learns a trade, most jobs these days require a college degree for consideration anyway. Vocational/technical schools are better than internships alone, and often make good stepping stones to four-year colleges. But some people I’ve known have been disappointed that their technical school degrees didn’t prove valuable on the job market.

So what’s my advice? If you get accepted to a four-year institution out of high school, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot. If it doesn’t work out, then try a two-year school and attempt to work your way to a four-year after that. But whatever you do in school and life, always apply yourself. If you do, no one can ever accuse you of coasting.

Matthew Zellmer can be reached at mz80@yahoo.com

At Your Service

mz80 — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:34:48 GMT

Greetings amidst time away from work during the holidays. I received word that I’ve been accepted to the 2008 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel advisory committee, meaning as many as 12 people (including myself) will be advising the paper’s editorial board on what positions to take on news stories. We don’t have all the details of what the position entails yet, but we’ll apparently be working from a list of something called “advisory hits” and getting an opportunity to pen occasional snippets of commentary that will appear on the editorial page, ideal for an aspiring journalist like me.

I’m excited to be the first person with a significant disability to serve on the committee, and even more pumped that this role could lead to a community columnist job at the end of the one-year term. I’ll do my best to post goings on from our monthly meetings in this space, unless a “What’s Said Here Stays Here” edict is imposed. Please feel free to email me thoughts on what’s important to you in terms of news coverage. Happy New Year.

Matthew Zellmer can be reached at mz80@yahoo.com

Dreams Do Come True

mz80 — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 22:32:51 GMT

From day one of this blog, I've told readers that my dream job is to be a sportscaster, calling live games on radio or television. When I've had the opportunity to do so, I've never considered it work since I love sports so much, although calling the action involves more work than the average fan realizes. Admittedly I've wondered if my ultimate goals were achievable at times, what with the difficulty anyone has breaking into the field, let alone someone who would constantly have to be concerned with access and transportation issues while on the job. And the truth is, many people in the world, with disabilities and without, never get the chance to pursue their true passion as a career. Often times, we simply settle on a job just to pay bills and support our families.

But once in awhile an uplifting story comes along that reminds us not to give up on our dreams, that anything is possible if we just put our minds to it. Even though it comes in the form of an obituary, I think this account of a Pennsylvania sportscaster (obtained from the sportscastingjobs.com newsletter) qualifies as such a tale during this, The Season of Miracles and Perpetual Hope. Enjoy.

Sean Doherty made a tackle at age 15 that paralyzed him and ended his career as an athlete. But the play nudged him into a notable career as a sports broadcaster.

"He was never bitter about his injury," said Kevin Gavin, his friend and the news director at WDUQ-FM. "Because he loved sports, he found another way to be involved in sports by being a sports journalist."

Sean Doherty of Mt. Lebanon died Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, at Mercy Hospital, Uptown, after a lengthy illness. He was 47.

He was born July 14, 1960, to Walter J. and Anne Marie Doherty and grew up in Mt. Lebanon. He attended high school at Shady Side Academy in Fox Chapel, where he played football. He was a sophomore when he tackled a 6-foot-2 tight end during a game in Cleveland and broke his neck.

"I've never known my brother in 32 years to be depressed or give up," said sister Maggie Lynch of Haddonfield, N.J. "This sort of changed the course of his life, but it became a challenge for him to find ways to do the things he loved."

After rehabilitation for his injury, Mr. Doherty completed high school and received a bachelor's degree from Duquesne University. Doctors told him he probably wouldn't live to see his 21st birthday, Gavin recalled.

"He used to tell me on the anniversary of his accident, 'Fooled them out of another year,' " said Gavin, of Hampton.

Mr. Doherty entered broadcasting in 1984 when he gave afternoon sports reports on WDUQ. In 1987, the station hired him as a sports reporter and three years later promoted him to sports director. He covered the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, Duquesne Dukes and other local teams.

He also spent three years as the color commentator on road games for the Dukes.

"He didn't like a lot of hyperbole," Gavin said. "When a play was great, he gave them his due. He thought some of the sports reporting was a little over the top."

Mr. Doherty covered football and basketball games for eight schools on Adelphia Cable Channel 20. He also hosted three sports shows, "In the Bleachers," "High School Spotlight" and "Portrait in Sports."

"His real passion was high school sports because of the true nature of the competition," Gavin said. "The business (aspect) hadn't kicked in."

In addition to sports, Mr. Doherty loved music, especially the blues, and he was involved with the Spinal Cord Society's efforts to fund research projects.

Mr. Doherty is survived by Lynch and three other sisters, Barbara Lillard of Vienna, Va., Christine Fisher of Rosemont, Montgomery County, and Denise Simonik of Solon, Ohio; a brother, Michael, of Bethel Park; and 12 nieces and nephews.