I get a kick out of Bob and Dan -noonday hosts on Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket- referring to Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo as a “Jedi.” They’re obviously comparing Romo to characters in Star Wars mythology with extraordinary powers, super abilities, and keen senses. There’s no doubt that Romo has shown those traits dropping back in the Cowboys’ pocket a alluding rushers -not so much against the Giants.

But as Bob and Dan have further built on their Jedi analogy, it has never really set well with me. I mean before Sunday night’s 20-8 victory over the Giants, Romo was 4-6 in December (granted he only played like a quarter last December against Washington) and 0-2 in the playoffs.

He also had more interceptions than touchdowns, the only month where his touchdown/interception ratio is out of whack. Jedi sounded like pretty high praise for a guy with those stats.

Bob is a Star Wars geek like myself, and he must be relying on Old Trilogy/Luke Skywalker jedi definitions rather than the new prequel version of the fabled order. Many of us remember when Luke Skywalker went to Dagobah (serious jedi nerd cred if you know what Dagobah is) to visit Master Yoda to be trained as a jedi.

Luke came out balancing on one hand, lifting R2-D2 off the ground, and doing all sorts of aerial acrobatics. He became a jedi of sorts, but still got his butt kicked and hand chopped off by his old man.

In the new movies we found out that there are different levels of jedi. There are younglings, padawans, jedi nights, jedi masters and jedi council members. Padawan learners had to hang with their teacher -a jedi knight or master- until they completed the trials and were ready to go out on their own. Padawan Romo has done a lot of great things, but he’s not a jedi master, or even a knight, yet.

So in the spirit of fellowship with Bob and Dan, I’ll share with them why their homie Romo is a jedi, but far from completing his training.

Youngling

These are young, green quarterback who have shown some promise on the football field. The force is strong with them but they haven’t done much outside of win a few games and throw a few touchdowns. They have to lead their team to the playoffs to become a padawan.

Example: Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan

Padawan

Padawans have mastered the skill of winning, especially against lesser teams. They have learned to come from behind in the fourth quarter and aspire to win a playoff game. They cannot become a Jedi Night unless they “go through the trials” which only occur in December and January.

Example: Tony Romo

Jedi Knight

Jedi Knights have mastered the regular season, and only their playoff performance really counts. They are able to win a playoff game, at home or on the road, and may even get their team to the Super Bowl. But what separates a Jedi Knight from a Jedi Master is the ability to carry his team to a Super Bowl victory.

Example: Donovan McNabb, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia

Jedi Master

A Jedi Master has…well…mastered the regular season and the playoffs and has been able to attain that most illusive of prizes: The Lombardi Trophy. You no longer ask whether or not a Jedi Master can “win the big one” because he has a Super Bowl ring to prove that he can.

Example: Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Brett Favre, Ben Roethlisberger, Doug Williams

Jedi Council Member

The Jedi Council is reserved for only the most accomplished of quarterback, those who have won multiple Super Bowls. Their ticket to Canton and the NFL Hall of Fame is punched. Their greatness is not debatable.

Example: Troy Aikman, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway

So after this exercise, I no longer have to bristle when Bob and Dan refer to Tony Romo as a jedi. He is. He just hasn’t completed his training. So great win on Sunday night Padawan Romo. As December and January roll along, may the force be with you.

Here’s an article that I wrote for the Paris News -my hometown paper- that appeared in last Friday’s paper.  Thanks to Mary Madewell for the opportunity. 

The 2008 Presidential Election has forced Americans to examine race in a way that we haven’t in years. But in my estimation, the uncomfortable analysis of the subject — especially between Black and White America — began last year.

Early in 2007 the nation focused its attention on Paris, Texas, and the case of a former Paris High School student that citizens are all too familiar with. The racial spotlight then moved from the Red River Valley to Don Imus and degrading comments that he made about the Rutgers University Women’s basketball team. Eventually the light was directed towards Jena, Louisiana and the plight of six black males involved in a melee at school. That fracas was reportedly set off by unwarranted images conjured up by the hanging of three nooses in the Jena High courtyard.

But after the light dimmed, and as the media and big city experts rolled away, the citizens of a town like Paris are left to pick up the pieces. As a former resident following the proceedings from afar, I felt the media portrayal of Paris as a bastion of racism was short sighted and unfair. But the racial harmony that was expressed by others was naïve and narrow in scope. Now the death of Brandon McClelland has brought back conversations that Parisians may have thought were long gone.

The case has been recently made that Paris is suffering a collective fate that has been undeservedly wrought by the action of individuals. But when does the exception become the rule? I once had the opportunity to interview Barbara Trepagnier who is a professor of sociology at Texas State University and author of the book Silent Racism. In her book, Barbara often uses the term well meaning white people and I asked her to expand on the concept. “Well-meaning white people care about racism, and would not do anything intentionally racist.” Ms. Trepagnier said. “However, they (we) often don’t know very much about race matters, and occasionally we say something that is patronizing or downright insulting without even knowing it.” She goes on to mention how racist jokes are often told and folks sit quietly rather than address the person who tells them.

When does the community begin to take responsibility? Elected officials in Paris have some soul searching to do. So do the voters. There needs to be an examination into how juries are selected in Lamar County. It’s easy to blame individuals and their egregious decisions for the problems of a community, but at some point the group will have to share in the blame.

Each year, America becomes more segregated and we are getting back to the days when Blacks, Whites, and Latinos will only come together on the athletic field. The lack of day to day interaction is leading to the need to task forces and action coalitions that deal with issues of race. It’s a necessary evil due to the fact that we don’t live work and play together in any meaningful way.

In Paris, citizens would do well to over communicate with one another and go above and beyond in their efforts to seek out diverse opinions. Folks can’t be expected to agree on everything, but some effort must be made before true consensus can be built.

The most difficult part of finding common ground on issues of race is the fact that emotions are involved to such a great extent. When tempers and tensions rise, accusations start to fly and so do the insults. One side shouts “racist” while the other cries out against “radicals.” Name calling and finger pointing don’t get anything accomplished.

If folks are interested in how things have gotten to this point then a slew of questions need to be asked:

How well does Paris Independent School District acknowledge the history of segregated i.e. Colored Schools?

How many African-Americans in the county trace their roots to the same Slate Shoals plantation?

Does the Lamar County criminal justice system sentence Black criminals the same as Whites ones?

What percentage of African-American parents are involved in the PTA?

There is more on the line than just the moral aspect. For many years Paris has been viewed as a great place to do business. If companies begin to perceive Paris as a city that fosters racism, that reputation could take a hit and so could tax revenues. Future opportunities for economic development could go elsewhere if these issues are not addressed.

I pray that residents will survey the current climate in Paris and not ignore its declining perception outside of the city. Hopefully citizens will make the investments and evaluations needed to repair Paris’ municipal standing and make the city great for the generations that are to follow.