Paul Mero

It never dawned on me that there could be a liberal sports writer. Sports are pretty cut and dried. I never would have thought that liberalism could invade an arena where politics is meaningless and where human effort alone is the test of what is good.

Sports are about effort, discipline, teamwork, and, of course, winners and losers. But, evidently, according to Amy Donaldson of the Deseret News, sports really aren’t about winning. Outside of randomly quoting Vince Lombardi and John Wooden, she doesn’t really say why sports aren’t about winning. She just knows she hates the whole idea – and she hates it most today in the form of Lebron James. read more

This week I want to talk about the bounds of propriety. In some respects what I’m about to share is old news. Last week, during the entertainment portion of KVNU’s For The People, a controversy was stirred. It was primary election day last Tuesday and I had the pleasure of being in studio with Tyler, Jonathan and Jason. We had done the regular show between 4 and 6 and then moved into a half-hour discussion of entertainment news.

Tyler started the news with a story about a young teen idol, Miley Cyrus, or Hannah Montana, or something. Evidently she’s a singer in addition to being an accomplished thespian and named-brand clothing designer for Wal-Mart. Well, during one of her recent rock concerts, Miss Cyrus had a wardrobe malfunction and her “privates” were a bit exposed. The news agency, Reuters, snapped a pic at an inopportune moment and the young lady’s privacy immediately vanished. read more

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing both of Utah’s Republican Senate candidates: Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater. Both men are smart and appear to be capable candidates. Both men also claim to be philosophical conservatives. But in this day and age, thinking like a conservative sometimes gets mixed up with acting like a libertarian – and any discussion about the war on drugs seems to bring out this point.

Early in our interview, I told each candidate that I would now try to separate their inner conservative from their inner libertarian and asked both of them if they would push to end the war on drugs. Both candidates said they would not. Both men said they would not push to make illicit drugs legal. read more

This week I want to talk about the congressional move to repeal the ban on homosexuality in the military. In the old days, homosexuality was considered pathological behavior frowned upon by the military. It felt as if such behavior compromised critical and confidential efforts. It was also viewed as just plain weird within gender-segregated living conditions.

But attitudes have changed. For many people today, a public admission of homosexuality is no big deal – much like someone saying they’re a heterosexual (if they felt compelled to even say that). People just look at you and wonder why you felt to share that tid-bit. read more

Every now and then, Sutherland hosts prominent groups of Utahns to help provide us with input and feedback about our work. On one occasion we asked one group what they felt was right with Utah – or what they liked about Utah.

One gentleman, without hesitation, chimed in that he liked Utahns’ strong sense of purpose in terms of seeing themselves as contributors to the world. Another member of the group, in this case an actual outsider from Illinois, said he liked the fact that Utah is a child-rich state. Another person cited our open space and rural communities. One woman added that she appreciates our values-driven approach to life. Still another mentioned our strong work ethic and our commitment to higher education (meaning that parents take a college education seriously). read more

This week I want to offer some personal wishes for the New Year. I have so many hopes for Utah in 2010.

First, I hope the vast majority of Utahns go to the polls this year and vote. The 2010 elections will include the vote for governor along with the entire State House of Representatives and many State Senators – and it’s pathetic that voter turnout is now lower than Obama’s disappearing approval ratings.

Second, before Utahns go the polls and elect their representatives, I hope they actually take a hard look at who they’re voting for. We should study the candidates. We should study the issues and talk about them thoroughly with friends and family. And then maybe we won’t just vote the party line. read more

With December being a month of religious holidays for so many different people of faith, and with Christmas hitting us at the end of the week, I would hope that the concept of religious freedom crosses the minds of all Utahns.

It just so happens that my political career has coincided with the steep secularization of the United States. It’s really easy to see. There’s a lot more debate about America being a “Christian nation,” which will always be the high-sign that secularization and religiosity are colliding. And, in Utah, this same debate sounds a lot like Utah being described as a “Mormon state.” read more

A couple of years ago, the State Legislature removed the state-portion of the sales tax on most food items. Effectively, that meant instead of paying a full 4.75 percent on tax at the grocery store, we would spend only 1.75 percent on taxes.

Sutherland was a big supporter of the repeal when it passed during the 2006 legislative session. In the summer of 2005, in an Interim Committee meeting, we testified that,

The sales tax is the best tax, if there is such a thing. It is fair – it taxes consumption. It is simple – a uniform statewide sales tax is easy to understand and apply. Wealthier people will pay more, poorer people will pay less. It captures more of the dollars of out-of-state consumers…For these reasons, the sales tax ought to be used more aggressively in tax policy. read more

Basketball season starts today for our youngest son. I’ve spent the past 15 years teaching, coaching, and encouraging my four sons in hundreds of games. I’ve screamed and yelled and complained in nearly every game. I’ve been thrown out of dozens of them. I’ve been angry. Real angry. I have used foul language in front of grandmas and little children. Curiously, I’ve never been in a fist fight at a game. I’ve come close, but no punches thrown.

After each game, after I cool down, I hit my knees and pray to God that I can be forgiven for being such a jerk. Now, I’m pretty sure that real forgiveness is predicated on real repentance and it’s hard to say that I’ve really repented when I’m such a serial offender. One day, I tell myself, I’ll get over it. After all, it’s just a game. read more