Official Website of Jason Pinter

You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

First the bad--but there's good following this...

Maurice Clarett's lawyers disgust me. Here's a guy who was arrested after being chased down, tasered, and maced by the police, who then found four loaded weapons in his car, along with a bottle of Grey Goose vodka, while he was wearing a bulletproof vest like he was going to a secret "Fans of Private Pyle" meeting (if you don't get that reference, watch "Full Metal Jacket"). It's been clear for years since his troubles at Ohio State that Clarett would rather star in "Grand Theft Auto" than at the Super Bowl. And now they're trying to turn the whole thing around and make it about poor Maurice.

Anyway, here is what Clarett's attorney, Nick Mango, said about the incident:

"He's been under a lot of pressure because of this case."
(What "case" is Mango referring to? Clarett's other arrest, for armed robbery, for which he was supposed to appear in court yesterday. Too busy Clarett was out seeing if he could get that sixth star and steal a tank.)

I'm going down to the jail to, "make sure he‘s OK emotionally and mentally."

And here are some statements his lawyers made after Clarett's first arrest, for armed robbery:

"This is a difficult time for Maurice."

"Mr. Clarett intends to fight this indictment with the same vigor and resolve he displayed in taking OSU to a national championship."
(Um, newsflash, Clarett was booted off the team for lying to the cops)

And by the way, this new round of charges will not, repeat not affect Clarett's status with his new team, the Mahoning Valley Hitmen of the Eastern Indoor Football League. Said head coach and owner Jim Terry, "We gave him a chance and now we'll wait to see what happens. I've seen far worse situations than this."

This poor kid with all this pressure who's been having a hard time emotionally and mentally. And after all, we've seen far worse situations than this. You know, maybe if his lawyers and owners stopped worrying about billable hours and ticket sales, they could actually get Clarett the help he needs without making him feel like a victim of society.

And now the good

Read this, courtesy of GalleyCat. Kinda made me smile. Remember the days when we used to write and receive actual letters? Anyway, check it out:

Can this carry over to the US, please please please?

Let's be honest here: in the age of email, IM, texting, mobile phones, Blackberries and whatnot, writing a letter seems like something from Neanderthal times. A pity, because they are fun to write and even more fun to get in the mail. Which is why Get On, a new government campaign in Britain backed by Jilly Cooper urges people to get back to that epistolary pleasures, bolstered by a survey showing that women would far rather receive a handwritten love letter rather than an amorous email or text. More to the point, 77% of women surveyed wanted to receive a handwritten love letter rather than a love text or email.

Cooper, whose bestselling novels include Rivals, Polo and Riders - said: "After my first date with my husband, Leo, nearly 45 years ago, he sent me a love letter saying he couldn't wait to see me again. I was totally bowled over that this cool, hunky, darkly handsome, incredibly witty rugby player could also express his feelings so enchantingly. I'm convinced women everywhere feel exactly the same way. So come, boys, get your pens out. All you need say to your sweet wife or partner is, 'You're the best in the world and I love you.'" Typical Jilly style, but she has a point...