I was watching a little bit of the Oklahoma-Missouri football game (that's "American Football" to all you outside our borders, sorry), and I took issue with something that happened during halftime.
Dr. Pepper hosted a football throwing contest (the video is from an old contest for a bit more money). Two guys were pitted against each other in a not-so-to-the-death competition to lob footballs through a hole in the side of a giant Dr. Pepper can. The kid who got the most in the hole (heh heh) won the contest.
Fun? Sure. It would be cool to do this and have it aired on television. Then to have a bunch of college cheerleaders flank you when you won? Why the heck not.
However, Dr. Pepper took it more than just a bit further. The winner was granted a $100,000 college scholarship.
For throwing a football. Well, five of them to be exact in this particular contest, but still and all the same.
Katie and I have been taking out student loans to pay for grad school for her like so many other people in this world. With the ridiculously overinflated cost of college in this day and age, there are few that don't need help. And with the increasing numbers of people needing help to pay for college and the instability of modern U.S. financial institutions, there is less and less money available.
So it just angers the hell out of me that some kid won a drawing, threw five footballs through a hole, and walks away with $100,000 when so many others are trying through legitimate methods to get much-needed money. Not to say these kids don't necessarily need the assistance as well, but why can't Dr. Pepper create a real scholarship fund with the money and make it available to everyone through proper application processes? Heck, that amount could even be split into two or three or more scholarships to help an even greater number of people. Sure it would fund less of the overall experience, but they'd be helping more people.
Right now, I look at this Dr. Pepper contest the same way I do Oprah giving cars to everyone in her audience or taking dozens of camera crews with her as she opens her school for girls in Africa... charity in exchange for popularity, ratings, exposure, etc. Not charity for the sake of charity. It's disgusting to me in so many ways.
Sorry, I should try to be a bit happier. We are in the holiday season overall. But I do feel good knowing I'm not the only one bothered by it.
So, in trying to keep the holiday spirit going (questionable if it's even truly started yet), I present you with a meme in the extended post.
I stole this from the loveliness that is BlondeBlogger. Hope she doesn't curse my existence for it.
A Christmas Meme
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Both. All depends on what we have available and what fits better in where (that sounds bad).
2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial. Although I've questioned this policy for the sake of being able to just throw the damn thing away instead of trying to get it back in the attic.
3. When do you put up the tree?
Day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down?
Sometime around New Year's Day.
5. Do you like eggnog?
Oh you betcha.
6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Castle Greyskull.
7. Hardest person to buy for?
Always Katie because I always worry whether or not she'll like it.
8. Easiest person to buy for?
Changes from year to year.
9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yep.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I wish we could e-mail them.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Heh heh, I'd say it, but I fear the giver might read this anonymously.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story, no question about it.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Not early enough.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Probably. But I cannot think of one offhand.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Cookies.
16. Lights on the tree?
Yep.
17. Favorite Christmas song?
The world's gonna hate me for this, but Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" (iTunes link).
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I wish we could stay home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer?
Damn right. I was on TV in Kentucky naming them as part of a contest. I won. Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, and Blitzen. No, whall, Olive is not one. I don't care how much you protest.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
We have a star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
As a kid, I always traditionally opened one or a few presents on Christmas Eve and the rest the next morning. Now, it's whenever Katie and I have time.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
The bills when all is said and done.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Katie and I have begun collecting this series of Puppy Love ornaments from Hallmark. They're pretty damn cute. And I also have an ornament of Abu the monkey from Disney's Aladdin. I've had him for years and he's gone everywhere with me since I got him.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
Don't really have any faves for this.
25. What do you want for Christmas?
I already got my camera, so not much else. Except my parents might be getting me a Time Capsule for our home network.
Steal at will... and give thanks if you do. Heh.
