Condi Rice Admits "Thousands" of Errors

"Yes, I know we have made tactical errors, thousands of them," she said in answer to a question over whether lessons had been learned since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
"I believe strongly that it was the right strategic decision, that Saddam had been a threat to the international community long enough," she added.
Earlier, about 250 protesters gathered outside a school which Rice visited, waving placards urging her to go home and shouting as her motorcade arrived. Question 1 -- who was repsonsible for the "thousands" of tactical errors? Question 2 -- have they been fired or asked to resign?

Anna Benson -- Quitter

http://articles.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20060330191809990005&cid=561. Marriage is "irretrievably broken." Does that mean she gets to sleep with all teammates of Kris from Pirates, Mets and Orioles? If so, there are happy faces in the clubhouses today...Benson (dark haired) pictured with the person (blonde) whom I think I would choose to be her lawyer...

And the NCAA Men's Player of the Year Is..............

http://articles.news.aol.com/special1/article.adp?id=20060331092609990009. J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison were named as co-winners in a different award I saw running across the scrawl on ESPN2 last night.

Commissioner to Investigate Bonds Steroid Use

http://articles.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20060329192209990005. I also call upon the Commissioner to investigate whether Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry threw a spitball and whether Ty Cobb was a racist and, if so, revoke both HOF credentials. Similarly, I would like an investigation into whether George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were slave owners and, if so, I want their faces removed from Mount Rushmore. Come on, folks. OK, I get it, you hate Barry Bonds. But what is his crime? He decided that he was going to take an illegal substance that baseball did not ban or test for? Well, better start taking back those HOF plaques from Eckersley and Molitor (cocaine) and basically any 1950s-60s Yankee (uppers and horse drugs per Jim Bouton -- http://espn.go.com/page2/s/questions/bouton.html). Let's not just go after guys we hate. Anyone care to ask around to see if Mickey Mantle overcame hangovers with greenies? If so, I suggest that he be removed from the Hall as well...

Interesting Site

http://www.dialidol.com/asp/predictions/Predictions.asp. On the basis of % of busy signals, it predicts who will be voted off. Note that Mandisa, Paris and McPhee all had a low number of busy signals. Could they all be in the bottom three while Bucky moves on?

Amare Stoudamire -- Out for Season? Out for Career?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2387640. There is always a risk in drafting a player under 6'11" who relies upon leaping ability. When the back (Larry Johnson) or the knee (Chris Webber) goes, or both (Antonio McDyess) you end up with a guy who is 6'9" or less and who really has never had to learn to play basketball. You go from a superstar level player to an above averge player (Webber) a good player (LJ) or a role player (McDyess). When I saw Amare Stoudamire return from his knee surgery, I would have thought that he could at least dunk (I mean, geez, Loy Vaught could dunk). But the Amare that I saw was Shawn Kemp after the bottle and the last big contract. He could barely move. Kurt Thomas was more explosive finishing. The Suns had better hope that Amare can regain some of his explosiveness, or they have spent $71,000,000 over the next 5 years for a decent big forward who can hit the open 15 footer but who can't defend, block shots or rebound. The plus side is that they could probably STILL move him for guys drafted ahead of him like Mike Dunleavy or Nene.................HM

Review of American Idol -- March 28 Show

General thoughts -- Simon was more honest last night (except one clear problem as noted below). Paula appeared far more coherent than last week. I have determined that Randy Jackson's primary skill is that he can judge songs that he knows well. For example, he was dead on when grimacing about Lisa Tucker's "Because of You" but inexplicable praised Bucky's awful rendition of a Tim McGraw song. Randy just doesn't listen to a lot of different songs, so he is guessing most of the time............................. Overall, probably the worst night of "Idol" that I have ever watched. So bad that 7 of the 10 contestants would have received an F, so I am forced to grade them on a 1 to 100 scale.................................... Simon must be sitting home crying today thinking that one of these people has to win. Can we bring back Ayla Brown??? Simon shamelessly is pushing the very pretty but very mediocre Katherine McPhee as a contender, but what else does he really have? Slim, pickin's (except for the non-slim Mandisa!). Here ya go:
1. Paris Bennett -- Beyoncé's "Work It Out" -- If you took a piece of used plastic and synthesized it further with some other man-made product and then could somehow mix it with the personalities of Scottie Pippen, Steve Garvey and Kobe Bryant, you would have a more honest and natural product than Paris Bennett. That said, she had the only low B level performance of the night, so give the devil her due. Overall Grade -- 80.
2. Mandisa! -- Mary Mary's ''Shackles (Praise You)" -- Somewhere a cotton farmer has just sent his entire family to college based upon his sales to a blue jeans company. My lord. That aside, the big girl has a big voice, but her performance was canned and lackluster. On this night that still nets her second place. Overall Grade -- 70.
3. Elliott Yasmin -- Gavin DeGraw's "I Don't Want to Be" -- Look, the kid is a nice kid and he has Type 1 diabetes, so it would be nice for my youngest daughter to see him advance. But you saw Bo Bice basically rip down the stage last year with his 95-98 level version. You really want to do an Al Jarreau version and dance so poorly that I thought Elliott might have been suffering from low blood sugar? Not great, not terrible. Overall Grade 65 (+5 for the diabetes role model vote).
4. Taylor Hicks -- Ray LaMontagne's ''Trouble" -- Um, well, he was OK. This is a very scary thing to be, Mr. Hicks. People will defend awful performances if they like your personality. If you keep showing up and doing "bland and OK" you fall into the LaToya London camp -- just you are not as good. Overall Grade -- 50.
5. Chris Daughtry -- Creed's "What If?" -- Scott Stapp has that wonderful thick, full tone that made him a star. Chris's tinny tone made Bo Bice at his worst sound like Barry White. Tune in next week to see Chris do some early Motorhead. Nothing says "American Idol" like speed metal. Overall Grade -- 45.
6. Katherine McPhee -- Christina Aguilera's ''The Voice Within'' -- She wore a strange outfit, but it did make her look like she lost 70 pounds from last week. Look, Aguilera is a raunchy little skank from Pittsburgh, but she has a big voice that is generally in tune. McPhee displayed NONE of those qualities last night. I have some brand new Miracle Blade filet knives at home that aren't as consistently sharp as her performance. Awful. Overall Grade -- 32.

7. Lisa Tucker -- Kelly Clarkson's "Because of You" -- singing anything off Kelly's latest album is just asking for trouble. No one in popular music today features a more drastic vocal range or deeper emotional content than Kelly Clarkson. This song is about a girl who hates her mother for not standing up for mother or daughter, thus, ruining both lives ("I was so young, you should have known better than to lean on me...and so I cry in the middle of the night for the same...damn...thing..'). Perhaps one of my favorite current songs. Lisa had no idea what she was singing and her low range was non-existent. But she got 8 notes right, so I have her advancing. That was how bad the night was. Overall Grade -- 30.
8. Ace Young -- Train's ''Drops of Jupiter'' -- In my opinion, this song is one of the best songs written in the past 10 years. Young delivered it with a three-note range and lack of emotion that was embarrassing. I may never be able to listen to the song again. He revealed his "permanent scar" and then noted that he got it --- playing basketball and falling down. Wow. Life ain't easy in the 'hood, Ace. Overall Grade -- 25.
9. Kellie Pickler -- Sarah Evans' ''Suds in the Bucket," -- Did she just get up from a nap? If you are going to sing a Sarah Evans song, it is all about energy and personality. Pickler had none of either. Overall Grade 20.
10. Bucky -- Tim McGraw's ''Real Good Man" -- This is a Tim McGraw classic that requires the most minimal of vocal range. Bucky? Couldn't sing it. The song is basically about McGraw being a hard ass rebel that all the chicks dig. McGraw's video features him sleeveless and making his female fans nearly faint. Bucky dressed as if he were headed out for a winter huntin' trip with Dick Cheney. I don't think I could imagine a worse effort. Overall Grade -- 10 (he did show up on the stage, complete the song, and had one decent dance move).

Randy was randy, now must pay the price

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,189380,00.html. Had sex with Randy Johnson? Deserves every penny she gets....Yeeeee.

Spreeeeeee.

Excerpted from espn.com........................................RIVER HILLS, Wis. -- Latrell Sprewell answered his front door with his face contorted into his unmistakable scowl, his anger barely under control as he made it clear he was not accepting visitors and was in no mood to talk.
"Get off my property right now or I'll send someone out there to take your head off!"................................
Inside the sprawling yellow brick home with the massive wooden jungle gym in the backyard resides the best basketball player in the world without a job, an athlete who could help some team win an NBA championship three months from now if it could just get a reading on whether he's willing and/or able to set aside his shame and lace 'em up for the first time since the Minnesota Timberwolves played their final game last season.
Seeking some answers, ESPN.com reached out to Sprewell through his agent and his publicist, as well as through voice mails on his cell phone, before resorting to the oldest reporting technique in the book -- showing up on his doorstep in the hopes that the sight of a familiar face from his days in New York might coax him into providing some sort of insight into whether he's considering a return to the NBA before this season ends.
Under collective bargaining rules, Sprewell can sign with any playoff-bound team up until the last day of the season and still be eligible for the postseason. "I have no idea what's driving Latrell. I can't figure it out, and he doesn't articulate what he's thinking," said Robert Gist, Sprewell's longtime agent.
The Mavericks called about two weeks ago when they were dealing with a flurry of injuries.
"He said he would call back the next day. He never did. So we dropped the idea," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said via e-mail.
The Spurs also put in a call to Gist's office about a month ago, though nothing came of it.
After turning down a three-year $21-million extension from the Timberwolves, explaining he had "a family to feed," Sprewell went unsigned last summer as an unrestricted free agent.
According to Gist, Sprewell made the mistake of waiting on the Los Angeles Lakers at a time when the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers all were expressing interest in signing him. But the Timberwolves and Lakers were unable to agree on a sign-and-trade deal that would satisfy both teams, and then other teams turned to other free agents. So by the time training camps started, Sprewell's only choice was to play for the veteran's minimum, which he feels is beneath him..............

Place Holder

While I try to do a little work today, I will leave you with this placeholder of FHM's #3 hottest woman, Jessica Alba. Note to Ms. Alba's lawyers -- I am not trying to imply that I know your client or that she ever posed in a nude or non-nude manner for me. Enjoy.

Summer's Here, and the Time is Right...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/football/nfl/03/27/bc.fbn.eagles.jones.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

The Devil versus King James -- March Update

March finds The Devil (aka Kobe) playing better and actually closing the gap against LeBron in a number of categories. Could it be that Phil Jackson has actually found a way to get some control over The Devil? Or has The Mamba (as he prefers) just benefitted by playing at home recently? LBJ still ahead in 8 of the 11 most important categories:

Team Record -- LeBron (41-29 to 38-34)

Points -- Devil (34.8 to 31.0)

FG% -- LeBron (47.2 to 44.4)

3Pt% -- Devil (34.4 to 33.1)

Efficiency -- LeBron (29.10 to 27.27)

Rebounds -- LeBron (7.2 to 5.3)

Assists -- LeBron (6.7 to 4.6)

Steals+Blocks -- LeBron (2.44 to 2.21)

FT% -- Devil (85% to 73.6%)

Assist to Turnover Ratio (2.04 to 1 versus 1.48 to 1)

Fouls -- LeBron fouls less (2.2 to 2.9)

Bracket Info

Now I don't feel quite so bad.............http://sports.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/story?id=2385599. I am amazed at how many entries (1 out of every 10,563 entries) had George Mason winning it all!

Last Entry on Immigration

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060326150609990006&_ccc=3&cid=842. Ok, this is it. I will let it go after this. 1) Who would protest because we are planning to build a fence across our border? That would be primarily people who feel we should allow people to enter the country illegally. 2) Many people believe that prostitution serves a function in society. I recognize that we have anti-prostitution laws, and I want a civil debate on enforcing them. That said, anyone here who has been a prostitute for the past six months? You get a free pass for the next 6 years. After that you have to stop for a little while, but you can reapply at the end of the 6 years. 3) Hey, child labor is wrong. Big deal. We could really use 8-15 year olds to bolster our declining work force. They will do a lot of jobs older Americans won't. Plus, once I hire my new 13 year old file clerk off the boooks for $2 an hour, I will save a lot more money. 4) When you see the GOP neo-cons and the far Dem. left aligned on ANY issue...be VERY afraid. What they are doing is almost certainly no good for the country. No justice no peace (I am holding up a Mexican and a Guatamalan flag as I write this).

Gerald Wallace -- WAY Under the Radar

I pride myself on my ability to mine NBA data and come up with kudos for guys who are unknown. So imagine my surprise when I was reading the paper on Sunday and saw an item on how Gerald Wallace of the Charlotte Bobcats (whom I have never mentioned all year) is going to become the first player since Hakeem and David Robinson to average 2+ steals and 2+ blocks in a season. He is 6'7" tall!!! Even the great defender Andre Kirilenko has never averaged 2+ in both categories. David Robinson did it exactly....once. Wallace will have to go some to catch Hakeem (5 times) but, to quote Charles Barkley, "You are witnessing a miracle." The physical toll that it takes on a 6'7" body to block two shots and get 2 steals a night in the NBA is just ridiculous. So, belated kudos to Gerald Wallace....

George Mason

UConn coach Jim Calhoun waives good bye and George Mason himself gives the hint of a smile as the Patriots proved too much for the most talented team in the nation. Calhoun allowed the Patriots to walk the ball up and slow the game down through the last 13 minutes of regulation and overtime even though GM was only playing 5 guys that entire time. His excuse? UConn's numerous McDonald's All-Americans couldn't stop penetration one on one. Were any man to man defensive principles taught at UConn practices this year? Or was "how to avoid laptop theft claims" the more pressing matter? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10589616/

S-U-C-K

I was trying to offer up something from the favorite Duke-hating site http://www.truthaboutduke.com/. But I go there this morning and the guy has been suspended for exceeding his bandwidth limit. Oh well.
Here is a shot of J.J. Redick being stuffed by Carolina, an image I thought was about as low as it could go, until I saw Big Baby get his own foul-shot rebound last night as four Duke players looked on. Note to Coach K -- having no athletic player between 6'5" and 6'9" really kinda handicaps your club. You are Duke, maybe you could find one such guy somewhere in the entire nation?????? Note to Luol Deng -- thanks a friggin' lot, deserter...

Bob Huggins

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/national/1785.html. A good piece on the exchange of letters with UC that led to Huggy's departure. And throwing up on the inside of his Lexus during a traffic stop probably didn't help his cause either.....

Softball Ringer

It is ILLEGAL to be a softball ringer???? http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles?id=n20060323095509990013&cid=936. Illegal? The guy was actually prosecuted!?!?! Hey, Joe Bob, want to play on my company softball team? We'll say you are an employee. Nope, sorry, Darryl, it would be a parole violation...........What next? Some redneck southern state (say Texas) prosecuting people for being drunk in bars? Oh, wait..............http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles?id=n20060323095809990004&cid=936

Vince Young Runs a 4.58 in the 40

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft06/news/story?id=2380236. Now, first of all, if the guy does run a 4.58, he is 6'5" and 228 pounds. So he is a huge extremely fast QB by anyone's standards. But I will tell you this -- Vince Young does not run a 4.58. Against what many believe is the country's fastest defense (USC), Young was routinely blowing by guys with an angle on him and scoring untouched. Once Young had a step on a USC defender, any defender, he was gone. Now if you are easily outrunning guys who have been clocked in the 4.4-4.6 range, I doubt you run a 4.58. That said, Young has a strange throwing motion and he is not a genius, so he has some downside risk. But I think it is safe to say that inability to outrun defenders is not one such risk.

Frist v. Bush on Immigration

"Our government must enforce our borders," Bush said. "We've got plans in place to do so. But part of enforcing our borders is to have a guest worker program that encourages people to register their presence so that we know who they are and says to them, `If you are doing a job that Americans won't do, you're welcome here for a period of time to do that job.' "
The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a bill with a guest worker program. If that measure does not move forward, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist planned to push debate on his bill. Frist's bill sidesteps the question of temporary work permits and would tighten borders, punish employers who hire illegal immigrants and provide more visas. So, we have to enforce our borders, but if you can get in illegally, you can stay for six years (or more, it is like tax cuts, they are short term, renewable forever). Before we had 11 million illegal immigrants, were there no maids or fast food workers? Did people not have gardeners? Nannies? I support Howdie Doody, I mean, Frist on this one.

Bob Huggins and Dan Monson

http://articles.news.aol.com/special1/article.adp?id=20060323090509990003. Huggins moves to the Kansas prairie where he can recruit basically anyone who can stay one step ahead of the law. Meanwhile, Minnesota, a once-proud basketball school (think McHale, Winfield, Mychal Thompson, Trent Tucker, 1990 Elite 8 with Willie Burton, 1997 Final Four with Bobby Jackson) has NOT fired their basketball coach despite a 7 year record of failure and a 10th place finish this year in the Big Ten and recruiting so poor that a 7 foot kid from a close suburb stars at Bradley. Athletic Director Joel Maturi has basically given up on winning at Minnesota:...............................................................................................................
Maturi said that if this decision was strictly about wins and losses, the outcome might have been different.
"I've told this to Dan, 'If this were the Timberwolves and I were the GM, maybe he wouldn't be coaching next year,'" Maturi said. "But I don't want to be the Timberwolves and I'm not the GM. I'm the athletic director at an academic institution that has some values, has some integrity and we're going to live that and walk the talk." Welcome to Division II Gophers fans!

Shooting Dice and Holding My Belongings

http://articles.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20060322122809990009&cid=. Culpepper's defense of "I was shooting dice with 20 guys" is an acceptable defense, and I am glad that he can admit his homosexuality in such an honest and forthright manner ("No, sorry, miss. Free lap dance? I'd rather stand in a circle with 20 guys and, um, shoot dice...."). I am a big Democrat and in favor of the right to gay marriage, so kudos Daunte! Whatever makes you happy! I encourage all secretly gay men to come out of the closet and enjoy their true life more. Moe Williams' defense of "I had a drink in one hand and my.............belongings.......in the other" sounds like a line from a dirty joke. "Excuse me honey, could you stop moving so much? My drink may spill!" Pictured -- instructional footage now mandatory for all Vikings on hand placement during lap dances.

American Idol -- March 21

First, let me note that Simon was in his "promotional" mode last night. He has decided which contestants he likes and wants to promote to the public. So, instead of ripping someone for a boring overwrought performance (Katherine, Elliott) he simply tells them they were great and hopes the audience will blindly listen to him. This makes for the worst sort of Idol show because you have no one giving any impartial criticism of the contestants.

Oh, and Paula was either drunk or stoned again because she simply could not keep her eyes open and struggled to form sentences.

But fear not, here is some impartial analysis.

Ranking the American Idol performances:

THE A's
1. Mandisa A+ -- The big fat girl ripped through Dinah Shore's - "I Don't Hurt Anymore." She is able to provide a quality and enjoyable version of almost any song.

2. Kellie Pickler A+ -- Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" can easily turn into a horrible dirge, but Pickler's was energetic and snappy. As close to perfect as you could get with Kellie's voice.

The B's
3. Ace Young -- B+ Doing a jazz version of The Five Satins' "In the Still of the Night" was an odd choice, but Young managed to do an above-average job and was enjoyable to watch and listen to. On this night that was sufficient for third place.

4. Elliott Yamin -- B -- He has a nice voice and he tried awfully hard on Al Jarreau's version of "Teach Me Tonight" but when you have a song with that many sharps and flats you sound really bad singing it, particularly live.

5. Paris Bennett -- B minus -- I really do not like Paris. She is so pretentious and over-rehearsed. That said, her version of Peggy Lee's "Fever" wasn't awful.

The C's
6. Katharine McPhee -- C -- Singing Ella Fitzgerald's "Come Rain or Come Shine" was a terrible decision. This is a song you listen to when it has been raining for four days and you want to kill yourself. McPhee has basically no on-stage appeal and was wearing a dress that was tight around her hips and butt, making her look about 200 pounds. There were three redeeming qualities. One was her good vocal range, the other two were bouncing around despite ample double-sided tape.

7. Taylor Hicks -- C minus -- Buddy Holly - "Not Fade Away" -- Taylor tried his best to liven up the rather lifeless 2 minute song..........and failed

8. Kevin Covais -- C minus -- The Chicken Little lookalike rendered a tepid but likeable version of Nat King Cole's "When I Fall in Love". Covais cannot sing a lick, but he did his best and he has a strange appeal that mixes John Stevens with Scott Savol. I was waiting for Covais to toss his glasses halfway through. He advances.

The Ds
9. Chris Daughtry -- D -- I don't mind people changing the tempo or arrangement of songs. I enjoy the different takes that someone can have (for example, Mandisa's angry "Cry" differentiated the song from Faith Hill's more pleading version). But when you are doing a classic like Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line" don't you at least have to leave the tune roughly in place instead of singing the 6 notes you actually do know? I mean, why have theme nights at all if you can just take the words and make an entirely different song? Can we have rap contestants next year? Daughtry also decided (albeit accidentally) that a song that for 51 years had started with "I keep a close watch on this heart of mind" should start, instead, with line 2, "I keep my eyes wide open all the time." Awful.

The Fs
10. Bucky Covington F+ -- Buddy Holly - 'Oh Boy' -- I do know what Bucky's been missing -- any sort of vocal ability or sense of rhythm.

11. Lisa Tucker -- F -- Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - 'Why Do Fools Fall in Love' -- Why do birds sing so gay? Because they know that Lisa has no fans and will be voted off so we don't have to see such a moribund out-of-tune version of even songs that fall right inside her limited vocal range....Yuck.

Get Offa My Lawn!

When I first moved to the suburbs, I was amazed at the number of kids who walked/ran across my lawn. In the country (at least where I grew up), you do NOT go on other people's property except under cover of darkness and with the hope that you do not get shot. I guess this guy: http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060320205409990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001 felt that country rules should apply. Wow.

Blog Counter Clears 5,000

It took six months to hit 2,000. Then two months to hit 3,000. Then two months to go to 5,000. It is nice to see the traffic pick up. Blog is now seeing 33 hits a day on average. I was particularly happy to see 50+ hits while I wasn't posting anything the past few days. As always, thanks for reading. HM

Tony Parker -- Student

http://articles.news.aol.com/special4/article.adp?id=20060317142309990002&cid=461. Pictured -- a similar relationship to Eva/Tony...

Thanks a Lot, Brother

http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_entertainment/bvbuzzcanvas?id=20060320130309990001. Is there anything that the Jackson family will not do for money? I suggest that Jermaine explore the lyrics to Bruce Springsteen's "Highway Patrolman" for how to act toward one's brother: http://www.lyricsdepot.com/bruce-springsteen/highway-patrolman.html.

Comments on Sweet 16 Games

Duke Over LSU -- to quote Shania Twain, LSU "don't impress me much." Duke is no world beater, but LSU struggled mightily to beat Texas A&M. (Side note -- could GW have quit any more in the Round 2 game? It was sickening.)

West Virginia over Texas -- Texas has talent, but I like WVU's ability to shoot and their coach. (Confession -- I also hate Rick Barnes.)

Memphis over Bradley -- Possible upset, but I don't think Memphis has come this far to lose to Bradley, no matter how good Bradley is.

UCLA over Gonzaga -- I just don't think the Zags have the horses and the crowd will be predominantly UCLA fans.

UConn over Washington -- I would guess UConn by 20+. Washington's interior defense is practically non-existent.

Wichita State over George Mason -- Haven't seen either team play, will go with the higher seed.

Boston College Over Nova -- I liked Nova early on, but AZ played with them and AZ ain't that hot.

Florida over Georgetown -- the good things for me is that one of these two extremely unlikable teams has to lose. Cheating Billy Donovan and his mercenaries will cheat his way to victory over the obnoxious Georgetown fans. No one should be happy that either of these teams advances to the Elite 8.

HM

NCAA Ticket Thoughts

1. First, the NCAA should not schedule games at the 12,000 seat Cox Arena in San Diego and then put UCLA out there. Scalpers were getting $200-$500 per seat for $55 seats on Saturday. I ended up watching the Saturday games at the Mission Bay Hooters for the price of $25 in beer and wings and fried pickles (do not order the fried pickles). 2. If you want a ticket for basically nothing, go to Minneapolis this weekend. You have a 50,000 seat arena with about 5,000 good seats. You have 4 clubs from the far east coast (nice scheduling by the NCAA -- relying entirely upon Ohio State and Illinois to advance). I predict that you will be able to walk on on Friday night and get tickets for below face. 3. Atlanta, on the other hand, will be a VERY tough ticket -- Duke, LSU, Texas, West Virginia -- all within possible driving distance and (except for Duke) very large schools).

Reason to Support Duke

Owen Wilson's 20 year old girlfriend (pictured) goes to Duke: http://lawrenkmills.mu.nu/archives/105309.php. So, how about a little pro-Duke sentiment from all you "Wedding Crashers" fans?

San Diego Trip -- Possible Blog Slowdown

I am leaving to go watch the NCAA Tourney in San Diego with K and TEG (who never comments here, but who claims to read the Blog). I have been promised that when I arrive at my hotel pool that the average girl poolside will resemble this picture...
The best time of the entire year, my friends...

Daunte & Brees

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2368259. I will never understand NFL trades -- Terrell Owens for a #2. Daunte Culpepper for a #2. Marshall Faulk for a #2 and a #5. Last year Seattle could not get a #3 for Shawn Alexander and this year they sign him to a 50 year $1 billion contract. My (very limited) review of the NFL draft tells me that once you pass about #17 in the first round you are searching for anyone of NFL starter quality and your chances of finding a star player goes down to about 8% for round 2 and 2% for round 3. I welcome any better-informed view, but my general thought on NFL GMs is that they trade so little that they don't know what the fuck they are doing. Drew Brees -- Bobby Hebert without the colorful Cajun background. Hopefully for their $60MM the Saints can get some early playoff exits ala Hebert I (I will now refer to Brees as Hebert II). Brees wisely stayed away from bad weather cities. When you cannot throw the ball on a line for farther than 11 yards, a dome is your best friend. LT and Antonio Gates play for the Saints now, right???? NO? OOooops. I guess Saints fans will learn that quickly...

Stupidest Article Of All Time

http://articles.news.aol.com/special1/article.adp?id=20060314073709990023. Note to Steve Wieberg -- your career has just hit rock bottom. You are writing an article about the unfairness of the play-in game. At this point, it is time to quit your job. This might be a clue that your boss does not think real highly of you. "Hmmmm, there are 65 teams with 13+ possible stories on each team. Which of these 845 should I give to Wieberg? Oh, screw it, make him write a general column asking about whether the play-in game is unfair." Good lord. Note to the teams who want to bitch about the play-in game -- you should NOT BE IN THE TOURNEY AT ALL!!! Shut your collective mouths and enjoy Dayton.

Promised Volleyball Pics

I could not find one with Claude Allen actually in the shot, but here I am -- I was younger back then...

Victoria Renee Thomas Cops a Feel, Er, I Mean, Plea

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0313062cheers1.html. While we all enjoyed her wonderful escapades, it seems old Renee (as she prefers) learned a difficult lesson, to-wit: don't get so drunk that your 25 year old friend can convince you to go down on her as she stands astride a public toilet in the ladies room of a nightclub. Certainly a life lesson we all must learn by experience...I am more than a little uncertain as to why she was ordered to pay $400 in restitution? The white trash woman she punch was so non-plussed that she immediately threw Renee up against the wall (redneck mother -- mother who has raised her son so well -- http://www.lyrics007.com/Walker%20Jerry%20Jeff%20Lyrics/Up%20Against%20The%20Wall%20Redneck%20Mother%20Lyrics.html). Can foundation makeup the alleged victim bought by the gallon at Walgreen's really cost $400? Did Renee burn down the woman's house/double-wide? (Sorry, it is late, couldn't resist the anti-south rant there...) Good night -- HM.

Claude Allen -- Possible Criminal, Great Volleyball Player

When I was in law school, I played volleyball with Bush aide and alleged shoplifter Claude Allen. Claude was always very pleasant to me, and I did not even know he was a ridiculous flaming right-wing conservative. Volleyball scouting report on Claude -- very quick, great leaper, extremely strong hitter. Here is a funny take on the alleged legal problems of my former teammate: http://www.tpmcafe.com/node/27771. When I get to my high-speed connection, I will post a picture of me setting the ball for Claude during the 1988-89 intramural season.

Celebrity Death

http://articles.news.aol.com/tv/article.adp?id=20060313200309990004. Look, I am sure that the guy was a fine human being (he had a wife who was 22 years younger after all), but his game show "Press Your Luck" was the worst of all time. It made "Deal or No Deal" look like "Jeopardy!"

NCAA Tourney Notes

1) If Duke cannot come out of their bracket, they are a bad, bad team. They were given no athletic slashing teams (i.e. teams that give them fits). They beat #2 seed Texas on a neutral court by 1,000 early in the year. 2) The NCAA's decision to let in Air Force and Utah State is indefensible. Does Air Force win a GAME in the ACC or Big East? I doubt it. The Committe has basically conceded that they gave away spots at the end on the basis that the Rocky Mountain states needed representation. Wow. 3) Wisconsin/Arizona is a great early round game. Great. Otherwise, who really wants to watch (as I will be) Marquette/Alabama? Cal/NC State? Kentucky/UAB? Has the Committe lost its sense of clever matchups/sense of humor? 4) Great to have the tourney starting again. I don't see how UCONN loses with the horses it has.

Billionaires

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/09/news/newsmakers/billionaires_forbes/index.htm?cnn=yes. My hope is that when I turn 50 in 2014 that my net worth will exceed $1 million. If I could just get 13,500 similarly-situated people to pool our money, we could then place in the top 25 on the 2006 list. I guess I better get back to work!

D-U-K-E

http://articles.news.aol.com/music/article.adp?id=20060310142009990009&_mpc=music%2e10%2e6&cid=942. Too much.

Political Poll

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060310055109990003. What amazes me is that his job approval rating is as high as 37%. Who are these people who feel GWB is doing a good job? Iraq -- um, no. Building our country's infrastructure -- well, uh, no. Having bold ideas to make the country better -- nope. Presiding over a good stock market? Since his inauguration, the three major indices are all flat or negative -- 5+ years, no return or negative return even with inflation. Being a "united not a divider"? OK, fraudulent catch phrases probably should not count, but still "no" on this one. Why was he re-elected? Because he said that he was keeping us secure here by fighting "them" (i.e., people who had nothing to do with 9-11) over there. Well, spending $300 billion and sacrificing 2,300 soldiers is seen by 63% of the country as insufficient. Sadly, I do not see this as enough to get Democrats elected. The GOP has 37% of the country locked up -- these people feel that GWB is doing a good job! Obviously they will never vote Dem. You only need to scare up another 14% to win (or sometimes 12%). This can generally be accomplished by convincing a woman cheating on her 3rd husband in rural Ohio or Iowa that gay terrorists will be landing in Akron soon to spread anthrax to her and her 7 kids unless she votes GOP.

Jennifer Love Hewitt

http://www.thesuperficial.com/archives/2006/01/25/jennifer_love_hewitt_may_pose.html. God, I haven't ever asked that much from you. I know that it is asking a lot, but.....please? Oh, and when you are talking to her, remember to remind Nikki Cox as well.

Key Settlements

First the NFLPA and the owners agree, now this guy settles...http://articles.news.aol.com/business/article.adp?id=20060308151609990011. Can't we all just NOT get along!?!

Eddy Curry

I have been searching the recesses of my mind to find a player that Eddy Curry reminds me of. Bingo, Steve Johnson. http://www.basketball-reference.com/labs/comp.cgi?I=curryed01%3AEddy+Curry&y1=&C=johnsst03%3ASteve+Johnson&y2=&s=r&t=m&submit=Compare. Both guys have a history of being very good offensive shooters, can't jump, can't rebound, play terrible defense, and would foul out every game if you tried to play them over 30 minutes a night. Curry's assist-to-turnover ratio this year? Almost 10 TOs for every assist. 14 assist, 137 TOs. So, having played against Steve Johnson, one would think that Isiah would have maybe remembered that it isn't worth 2 #1s to trade for a Steve Johnson with a heart problem. I guess not....

Joe Johnson

Joe went for 42, 9 and 6 the other night in a Hawks victory. But the point I wanted to write on was that Joe played all 48 minutes. He had another recent OT game where he played 53 minutes. Note to Mike Woodson -- no matter how much you play Joe Johnson, you are going to be fired. The best the Hawks can hope for this year is 30 wins. 30-52 won't save your job, Mike. Joe always played 40 minutes a game in Phoenix, but he wasn't playing out of position as point guard for all 48-53. This is more than a little ridiculous.

Barry Bonds

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20060308073209990012. An interesting take on Bonds and why he should retire. Look, the new book on Bonds states that he took everything ever invented to pump up, starting in 1998 and that he did so because he was pissed that McGwire and Sosa (obviously inferior players) were getting more attention than he was. If true (which it almost certainly is), can you really blame him? He was being surpassed by blatant cheaters. Baseball wasn't doing anything about steroids and the players union was opposing steroid testing as vehemently as possible. Bonds was being seen as a declining great player while Sosa and McGwire were closing in on Aaron and Ruth. Could Bonds have continued to stay clean? Certainly. But you have to understand the situation -- through 1998, Bonds was a great player, but hardly top 20 all-time. While his stats through age 34 matched up with some all-time greats, guys who were certainly not as good as he was were on pace to put up similar huge numbers (Sosa, Belle, Juan Gonzales, Thome, Bagwell): http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/scomp.cgi?I=bondsba01:Barry+Bonds&st=int&compage=34&age=34. What should Barry have done? I guess the answer is that he should have stayed clean and thin, hit his 30-40 HRs a year and won a couple more Gold Gloves (he has 8, 7 pre-steroids per the book) and a couple more Silver Sluggers (he had 7 pre-roids, 5 more thereafter). He could have then relied upon the HOF to put him in and he would have been known as a top 50-80 ballplayer........................................... Now, Bonds is a moody and difficult man whom people do not gravitate toward. He is, simply put, a very selfish man, and he sees that people like Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa are starting to cut in line in front of him on the list of all-time greats. Bonds chose to hit the roids hard, beat the other juicers at their own game and become something akin to a superhero. His 2000-2004 numbers are outright frightening. Frightening. A .600 on base percentage? A .863 slugging percentage? He became almost superhuman. Bonds now stands as one of the 10 greatest players in the history of the game. Mays, Aaron, Mantle, Ruth, Ted Williams, Musial. Except for Mays and Ruth, Bonds was arguably better than anyone else (faster and better fielder than Williams, Musial and Aaron, better longevity than Mantle). Bonds achieved those results by using the same sort of drugs that were available to and being used by others. So, before we pass judgment on Barry Bonds, perhaps we need to stop and ask ourselves whether we would have done the exact same thing.

Madonna Passing Her Energy to Britney

http://articles.news.aol.com/music/article.adp?id=20060306233709990001. Now, I really don't care why it happened, it...was.............AWESOME! For you very young folk (which is hopefully no one reading my Blog), there was a time when Britney Spears was unbelievably hot and thin and didn't wear trucker caps and sleep with a no talent white trash wannabe. The accompanying pictures are more proof.

Trip to New Orleans -- Part IV

So, I do my work and catch a cab back to the airport. Young black cabbie. Nice guy. He tells unbelievably vivid stories of how he was renting a house and when he returned to salvage his stuff there were mushrooms actually growing in his bedroom furniture. His mother had a coat that was actually eaten away by the mold. Mold he saw actually appeared to pulse like sea life. Friggin' gross stuff! I asked why he was still in NO. Well, he has a cab and he does good business and he doesn't want to get a cab license in Dallas or Atlanta. But he will be out of NO by hurricane season. He opines that the people who build the levees should be forced to live next to them, "Then you would see some well-built levees." Get to the airport, go home through Dallas. Have a few general life observations that troubled me during my travels: 1) when did everyone get so old? I am sitting in a room and everyone has as much or more gray hair than I do. Yuck. 2) I may have to retain my NBA season tickets because the crowd at the games features young attractive women (8s and above on a 10 point scale). I traveled for HOURS on this trip and saw maybe 4 hot women under age 30. That sucks. I mean, as some of my readers know, I married an attractive athletic woman who is in great shape. I will be 42 soon, she will be 40. I think it has reached the point where 90% of the women I see are not even marginally close to as good looking as my wife. Where is the guilty pleasure in THAT!?!? How can I live in a world where everyone has gray hair and the women are mostly fat and/or unattractive? I can't. So back to NBA games I shall go for a more enjoyable and unrealistic look at the world! 3) I really miss the smoking area at Dallas airport. It looks like they took it out. The most bizarre thing I have ever seen in a world where we know smoking causes lung cancer (by the way, RIP Mrs. Reeve, thank you for opposing George Bush while you were alive) is this little smoke-filled glass box where all of the smokers went into. A cloud literally formed and you could barely see into the area. 4) Note to the 10 women I saw on the trip in this garb and also to all other women -- do NOT, repeat NOT, ever wear 3/4 length rayon sweat pants. Who looks good in these? No one. If anyone out there can find and e-mail me a picture of a woman with a short sleeved shirt on (i.e., not topless, not in a bikini, halter, tube top, etc.) who looks good wearing rayon 3/4 length sweat pants, I will let you do a 500-word guest column on the Blog. It is impossible. It is now almost midnight -- God bless you dear readers! That is my input for the day ---------------- HM

Trip to New Orleans -- Part III

So, I finish up working about 8PM. We drive around trying to get a meal. End up at a NO diner. EVERY SINGLE seafood item is listed as "deep fried." Great. So I see something called a "muffaleta" -- menu says ham, turkey, cheese on a roll. Hey, healthy enough. Comes to the table -- fried. Who fries a ham and turkey sandwich? Waitress say, "You want mayonaisse?" Sure, WTF, in for a bypass, in for a double bypass. Also order two beers (the $1 beer special was Pabst Blue Ribbon on tap -- who the hell has PBR on tap?). Total dinner bill for three guys -- $24. So, client puts me up in the Hilton right on the river. I have a river view. We are checking in and this REALLY good looking young woman with almost nothing on walks by us and says, "Oh, hi!" Client, "Hooker." HM, "Couldn't you have just let me pretend that she really was just saying hi?" Oh well.... Smoking room, but a beautiful view. $119 a night special rate. Guy on the plane had told me that his Comfort Inn was charging $209. Oddly, NO traffic is still very substantial. The French Quarter is running at about 15% of capacity. The first 3 or 4 billboards that you see from the airport toward downtown are all for strip clubs proclaiming that they are back up and running. I resist the urge to "wash your favorite girl" and go get some sleep (as Loyola Marymount guy airballs a layup to cost his team a tourney bid).

Trip to New Orleans -- Part II

Flying in to NO, I can't see anything out of the ordinary (I had been 3 times pre-Katrina). Walking on the concourse where the medical facility had been set up after Katrina, I actually thought it smelled a little BETTER than it had pre-Katrina (perhaps the feds popped for a little mold remediation and/or new carpeting?). So I get in the car and my client asks if I want to see a little bit of the problem areas. Sure, why not. 17th Street Canal. We are a good 10 miles outside of downtown NO. My understanding from the national media coverage was that it was the poor part of downtown that was decimated by the flood. Au contraire, upwards of 1,000 square miles or more was flooded. And when I say flooded, I mean that water came up and sat 10 feet high on everything. 10 feet high. Beautiful brick homes, ruined. $500,000 house, ruined. Miles after mile after mile of $100,000 to 200,000 houses, completely unliveable. FEMA trailers. Huge piles of sheet rock. Abandoned cars. Imagine Chicago flooded from the Sears Tower down to Midway Airport and out to O'Hare. The sheer number of unlievable houses is hard to even fathom. The Superdome has a pretty white roof! (Anyone who has evert driven into NO from the airport will be amazed to see the bright shiny new roof, it always looked so crappy. Sign out front, "Re-opening 9-23-06." Go to work. During the late afternoon one guy in the room is on the Internet. First piece of news -- Puckett dead at 45. I state audibly, "Oh my lord..."

Trip to New Orleans -- Part I

A summary: I get called on Friday to go out of town on a business matter. I am put in charge of getting a plane ticket to New Orleans with no Saturday stay and 2 days notice. I can't leave until 5 PM on Sunday cuz I am coaching basketball all day (team went 1-2 by the by). So my best ticket price is $1,523 for a non-refundable fare and $1,559 for a refundable fare. I book the refundable and call the client. Client says he will get me a better deal. He does for 45,000 frequent flyer miles on American. The hitch? Gotta go through Chicago and leave here at 6:54 a.m. Client calls Sunday AM and reminds me to bring something I left at the office. Wake up time on Monday just moved to 4AM from 5AM. I somehow make it to the airport and get on the plane. To quote Elizabeth-Vargas-doing-gunshot-shaking-offing Marc Cohn: "Man, I got a first class ticket, but I'm as blue as a boy can be." Get to Chicago, one hour flight delay. Why? They got about 9 flights scheduled to go out of three gates in the sapce of 10 minutes. Good planning. Finally get on, get to NO at 12:30, only 45 minutes late. (And to continue the Marc Cohn theme, we flew over Memphis.)

Kirby Puckett Suffers Stroke

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2355333. Whereas Jack Wild was a cautionary tale for smokers, Puckett is a cautionary tale for me (an ex-center fielder who is short and squat). Puckett came into the major leagues at 5'8" and 185 pounds. By the time his playing days were over, Puck was going 225. I saw him in person at his criminal trial three years ago. First, he probably isn't 5'8" cuz I am clearly taller. Second, he was wearing a size 54 suit. 54. At 5'7 1/2". I estimate his weight at the time at 300 pounds. I saw him at a basketball game and he was probably pushing 325. He was as close to round as a person can get. ................... Lesson to me: it isn't easy passing up food or trying to make yourself exercise. But your short, squat body cannot handle all of that weight, it just can't. Get well, Puck. By the way, there are those who disagreed with Puckett's HOF election. To those people, I have to say that the facts do not back you up. From 1986 to 1994 Kirby Puckett placed in the top 7 of the AL MVP balloting six time. His hits rankings: 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st, 10+, 7th, 1st, 6th, 7th. Doubles ranking -- 7, 2, 2, 6, 10+, 6, 5, 5, 3. Gold gloves -- 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92. Batting Average -- 3, 4, 2, 1, 10, 8, 2, 10+, 10+, 10+. Puckett had 6 Gold Gloves (top 3 fielding outfielders in the league) and 6 silver sluggers (top 3 batting averages of any outfielder in his league). Who has more Silver Sluggers than Puckett? Barry Bonds (12), Ken Griffey Jr. (7), Tony Gwynn (7), Manny Ramirez (7). Juan Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa each have 6. Of those 6 guys, the last 3 can't field AT ALL. Gwynn (5 Gold Gloves) was nowhere near the outfielder that Puckett was. So, in his generation, as a combined hitter and fielder, Puckett was surpassed only by Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, Jr. I think we have a pretty easy first ballot HOF winner.

Racial Profiling In Minneapolis

http://articles.news.aol.com/sports/article.adp?id=20060303144009990026&cid=562 and http://www.startribune.com/510/story/272491.html. and
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2351443. Isn't it clear what is going on here? Minnesota authorities are targeting bald black male athletes (Carter, Eller, Daunte) who are of absolutely no use to their team on the offensive side of the ball. This shocks and disgusts me.

Why Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

http://articles.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20060303094409990001&ncid=NWS00010000000001. Seems a pretty obvious conclusion to me, although it doesn't explain, oh, never mind, I don't want the PC police after me... HM

Knicks Owner -- We Are Staying The Course

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2351222. With his ability to stick to a disastrous strategy, back up even the most incompetent of subordinates, run an organization into the ground and ignore women's rights in the process, Dolan seems a lock for the GOP Presidential nomination somewhere down the road. Isiah (on the job for 2.5 years) has apparently convinced Dolan that this is the first year of Isiah's "3 or 4 year plan." Imagine going into your boss's office 3 years into your job and having this conversation: Boss, "HM, you suck. You have spent $125,000,000 of this company's money and bought assets worth virtually nothing." HM, "Hey. I am on Year 1 of my master plan. I plan to take these worthless assets and turn them all into gold." Boss: "How long will that take?" HM, "2 more years." Boss, "OK, you have two more years." HM, "I meant three." Boss, "OK, three more years. But no more after that!" Good lord. And I thought Matt Millen had it easy!

My New AI favorite -- Ayla Brown

At the risk of continuing my curse on female Idol contestants, I now switch my allegiance to the lovely Ayla Brown of Wrentham, MA. The 6' tall Brown scored over 2,000 points in her high school career and will be attending Boston College on a basketball scholarship next year.
Based upon what I have seen in past editions of BC women's hoops, from a looks standpoint, adding Ayla to that lineup would be the equivalent of adding George Clooney to a starting lineup of Sam Casell, Scottie Pippen, Paul Mokeski, and Billy Paultz.

Child Star Jack Wild, Dead

http://www.theputdown.com/the_putdown/2006/03/jack_wild_19532.html. Netflix offers up "H.R. Pufnstuf" episodes. My kids love them, but not as much as I do. A cautionary tale to any of my readers who smoke. No word on whether Cling and Clang will be pall bearers.............RIP, "Jimmy."

Video of Top 10 Dunks of All-Time

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/72503/top_ten_dunks/. Includes Dawkins and Shaq taking down the backboard, KJ on Ewing and Hakeem, Chambers' famous "shot out of a cannon" jam on Mark Jackson; Shawn Kemp on Alton Lister; Dr.J. on Cooper, Starks on Pippen (and belatedly Jordan), Jordan's famous baseline spin on Ewing and many, many more!!!!!!!!!! (OK, a couple more). Commentary by Kenny Smith.

Jimmy Jackson Cut By Suns

I saw Jimmy play at the 1991 Olympic Festival. There was NO ONE there. So from about 5 rows up, center court, I got to see Shaq, Penny, Jimmy Jackson and Travis Ford play. Anyway, it struck me as extremely odd that Jimmy just did not play hard at all. He was no Penny or Shaq, but he was the third best guy in the Festival. He just didn't seem to give a damn. Well, that pretty much continued throughout his career. Jimmy's per game stats are similar, and at times worse, than Kelly Tripucka's. http://www.basketball-reference.com/labs/comp.cgi?I=jacksji01%3AJim+Jackson&y1=&C=tripuke01%3AKelly+Tripucka&y2=&s=r&t=g&submit=Compare. Tripucka's S+B figure is actually HIGHER!!!! When you go from being a multiple-time All-American and the 4th pick in the 1992 draft (behind Shaq, Zo and Laettner) to being the black Kelly Tripucka, maybe you have to look back and question your work ethic.....just maybe.

Mining the NBA Stats -- Part II

Just a note to start -- Jason Kidd is #53 in the league in scoring. I have reviewed Jason Kidd's career stats and I have determined that, much as I have never liked the guy, if he could have learned to shoot even a little he would have been one of the 10 best players in the history of the game (so I guess I should have put him in the "GUYS YOU WANT" list).

GUYS YOU DON'T WANT FROM 51-100 ON THE SCORING LIST:

Charlie Villanueva (65) -- soft as Charmin inside and shoots a mighty 1.8 FT a game

Antoine Walker (74) -- 60% from the line, but that is OK since he shoots 0.6 FT a game. I think the Heat's experiment has officially blown up in their face.

Juwan Howard (85) -- paltry 11.3PPG, and if he isn't scoring, he gives you next to nothing -- 6'9", 240 lbs., career average of 7 RPG, .9 steals and .3 blocks. 9 times as likely to foul as to block a shot.

Mike Dunleavy, Jr. (93) -- a guy who did not shoot a good percentage as the 3rd or 4th option AT DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (at Duke he was 70% from the line, 37% on largely wide open 3s). This year -- 39.2% from the floor, 23% from 3.

Jamal Magloire (97) -- now here is a guy I DO like, but I guess I am wrong -- he is only getting 10.0 a game and he is ripping the cords at a rate of 54%................from the line...

Donyell Marshall (98) -- 9.9PPG shooting wide open 3s on passes from LeBron James or getting unguarded tip-in opportunities. I fail to see any value here at all.

HM

Mining the NBA Stats

As a public service to my readers, I like to mine the NBA stats for stuff that may not appear obvious. Today we look at scorers ranked 51-100 in the league and I opine on guys you want. Next up -- guys who are disappointing at 51-100........................................................................Guys You Should Want

Lamar Odom (55) -- that he can be this high in scoring with The Devil jacking up umpteen shots a quarter is nothing short of amazing.

Luol Deng (61) -- horribly underrated, just think if he got to play with Steve Nash.

Nenad Krstic (65) -- plays with Vince, still gets and makes a few shots

Boris Diaw (69) and Zaza Pachulia (83) -- I pride myself on finding and promoting these guys LAST year.

Kevin Martin (89) -- super skinny King somehow gets it done and can go for big numbers

Shane Battier (90) -- gives you a lot of things that lead to winning.

Josh Childress (99) -- I don't like him or his hair, but if you shoot 56%, what can I say?

Freddie Jones (91) -- I think he would get 22 a game for the Bobcats

Raymond Felton (100) -- I still think he will be a better guard eventually than is Chris Paul

American Idol

Some thoughts on the remaining 10 women: 10) Brenna Gethers -- can't sing a Donna Summer tune? Please leave quietly.

9) Kinnik Sky -- mediocrity thy name is Kinnik

8) Heather Cox -- not much a singer, but makes Nikki Cox look like she has an average build.

7) Katherine McPhee -- Uneven from week to week. Has an upside.

6) Melissa McGhee -- not much to offer vocally, but she certainly challenges the elasticity/capacity of her clothes.

5) Ayla Brown -- I want my son to marry a girl like her, but the PM has a far better vocal range (and he is 10).

4) Lisa Tucker -- above average, faint praise I know, but that gets you to #4.

3) Mandisa -- Unlike the judges, I REALLY enjoyed her take on Faith Hill's "Cry." She turned it into an angry "I Will Survive" sort of song.

2) Paris Bennett -- a young Jennifer Hudson

1) Kellie Pickler -- sings easily and has a big voice; well put together, and she is such a sweet corn-pone girl that she makes Carrie Underwood look as worldly as Ivanka Trump.

Bush -- Confident Bin Laden will be caught

This is one of those bizarre things where someone asks you, "Will anyone ever average over 40 points a game in the NBA again?" and you say, "Sure, I am confident it will happen." SO WHAT?!? Is someone going to remember this indefinite but "confident" comment in 2007 (let alone 2020)? Um, no. I am confident that, before I die, some younger woman will tell me that I look very nice. It may not happen any time soon, but that does not detract from my confidence.