They're ready...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-02-27-iraqtimetable_N.htm

According to this article, Americans aren't the only ones ready to have their soldiers back home. The Iraqis are ready and prepared for the military pull out as well. Using quotes from officials and deployed soldiers alike, everyone in this article supports Obama's plan to have the soliders out by August.

I'm interested in knowing if any of you found similar stories that approached the issue differently. Were your medias in agreement? Its interesting because different sources could prove a completely different point on how "ready" Iraq is to have us out...In my mind its a pretty ambiguous "truth" and is left pretty much up to perspective because there are no facts on whether or not the country is going to be able to stand on its own without military support. I suppose only time wil tell...

One Man Bail Out??

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/pga/2009-02-25-woods-return_N.htm

Tiger Woods has become a household name in the past decade. He is considered one of the world's best athletes. For those of you who follow golf, and maybe even those of you who don't but know the greatness that is Tiger...You know he has been out of golf for the past 8 months having reconstructive knee surgery. This article, in USAToday, seems to suggest the Tiger can single handedly pull the golf industry, the PGA Tour, and network ratings out of its slump. The article gives hard statistics that insinuate since Tiger has been out, everything from attendance at tournaments to advertisements for tour stops has gone down. It is crazy to me that one man's absence can have such an adverse affect on an entire sport.

Talk about a testament to the power of fandom! Have we ever seen any other sport that has had one athlete with such a significant impact on the fans and their following? When I think about it though, I love watching golf but I haven't tuned in since Tiger last played at Augusta, over half a year ago.... So maybe the article has a point. I guess I'm just graveling at what it is about Tiger Woods that makes him so powerful for the entire golf industry. And maybe it is just the obvious, that he truly is one of the world's greatest athletes.