Going slightly off the board, but I really like Candice Michelle. 28 years old.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Representing 1976-1980
Going slightly off the board, but I really like Candice Michelle. 28 years old.
Is Jeff Bagwell a Hall of Famer?
The Astros finally dumped Jeff Bagwell today. Here are his career stats....... http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/scomp.cgi?I=bagweje01:Jeff+Bagwell&st=career. Look at some of the players to whom he compares: Ken Griffey, Jr., Mickey Mantle. OK, now no one would ever question the HOF credentials of those players. But then look at some others -- Fred McGriff, Gary Sheffield, Andres Gallaraga -- guys who probably don't make it. So suppose Bagwell never plays again. He certainly had a better statistical career than Willie Stargell or Orlando Cepeda. But Bagwell was only an all-star 4 times (compared to 7 each for Stargell and Cepeda). Based upon his clear statistical superiority to Stargell and Cepeda and Tony Perez, I think Bagwell gets in, but expect a lot of old crusty HOF ballot-holders to ask how we keep McGriff or Gallaraga out if we put Bagwell in....
Representing 1971-75
Carmen Electra. HM, how much would YOU pay for a framed Carmen Electra photo???? One million dollars......http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.imaginarymaps.com/c-pics/jpeg/samples/carmen%2520electra%2520(6).jpg&imgrefurl=http://cgi.ebay.com/CARMEN-ELECTRA-ELEKTRA-Steamy-Sexy-Photos-CD-RARE_W0QQitemZ130016359208QQihZ003QQcategoryZ60329QQcmdZViewItem
&h=349&w=248&sz=30&hl=en&start=58&tbnid=WNraScIjW6gYGM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCarmen%2BElectra%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DISO-8859-1%26sa%3DN
&h=349&w=248&sz=30&hl=en&start=58&tbnid=WNraScIjW6gYGM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCarmen%2BElectra%26start%3D40%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DISO-8859-1%26sa%3DN
Jalen Rose -- Took $13.9MM
Per the New York Post, the Knicks saved $3MM by buying out Jalen Rose's $16.9MM contract. http://www.nypost.com/seven/10312006/sports/knicks/knicks_losers_in_jalen_buyout_knicks_marc_berman.htm If true, one wonders how the parties came to that figure. Some factors at play: 1) Rose stands to receive $1,178,348 this year if signed by anyone at all since he is a 10+ year veteran. (Note -- I stumbled over a Web site that tells you a million things about the NBA salary cap. It is AWESOME!!!!!!!! http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#11). That gets him to $15MM. Assume that Rose was to have had his salary paid over the course of 6 months. Assuming he can get an annual return of 12% on his money, the time value of his $13.9MM is $14.317MM. Now you are up to $15.5MM. I guess the remaining $1.4MM is to be actually playing and rid of Isiah...
Red Auerbach
Arnold "Red" Auerbach died yesterday. For some reason, I was unable to post either of my 2 attempts at honoring him. So, let me just say this about Red:
1) One of the pioneers of the early NBA. While it was the owners who put up their cash and the players who put up their sweat, Auerbach was amongst the few guys who were willing to leave the college ranks to coach in the pros.
2) When I was a kid, I always watched at halftime of NBA games for "Red on Roundball" where NBA players (usually stars) would do drills and demonstrate fundamentals for the kids who were watching.
So much has changed: Stars wouldn't do these spots anymore. The NBA long ago abandoned any idea that kids watching games would want to learn fundamentals. And you wonder if some NBA players have ever done any of the basic drills that Dr. J. and Rick Barry used to help Red demonstrate.
3) Just a few of Red's greatest moves: #5 -- Drafted Danny Ainge even though he was committed to playing baseball in the Toronto system. #4 -- Drafted Sam Jones sight unseen after Sam was recommended over the telephone by Bones McKinney. #3 -- Obtained Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish by trading the #1 overall pick to Golden State (which became Joe Barry Carroll). #2 -- Drafted Larry Bird even though Bird intended to (and did) play one more year at Indiana State . #1 -- Traded all of the way up to #2 in an effort to get Bill Russell. Rochester had the #1 pick. Red convinced Rochester not to pick Bill Russell in return for Red's owner giving Rochester more "Ice Capades" events.
4) In what could have been a top 5 move, in 1984 Red traded Gerald Henderson to Seattle for Seattle's #1 pick in 1986. That pick became Len Bias. Bias almost immediately went on a cocaine bender and ended up dead. Not only did this event (plus Bill Walton regressing back to his always-injured status) spell the beginning of the end for the Celtics' dynasty, it also resulted in Celtics fans flooding the telephone lines dialing up Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. O'Neill had never been a fan of the "war on drugs" mentality, but he was now faced with a horde of angry white citizens demanding that he keep their basketball players from dying. The House of Representatives quickly passed the anti-drug crime legislation and in the intervening 20 years drug crimes have been prosecuted far more harshly.
Had Auerbach not finagled his way up to #2, and had Bias died as a pick for the mediocre Sonics, our justice system would be substantially different today.
5) The Final Chance for Red to see the Celtics dynasty reborn was in 1997 when the Celts had the best chance of getting Tim Duncan in the draft lottery. The Celts ended up at #3 and #6. Rick Pitino (whom Red despised) couldn't get the Spurs to trade down and ended up taking Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. Pitino panicked with Billups, unloading him for....................................Kenny Anderson.
6) For a great character study of Red in his final years, read John Feinstein's "Let Me Tell You A Story."
RIP, Arnold, and Thank You.
1) One of the pioneers of the early NBA. While it was the owners who put up their cash and the players who put up their sweat, Auerbach was amongst the few guys who were willing to leave the college ranks to coach in the pros.
2) When I was a kid, I always watched at halftime of NBA games for "Red on Roundball" where NBA players (usually stars) would do drills and demonstrate fundamentals for the kids who were watching.
So much has changed: Stars wouldn't do these spots anymore. The NBA long ago abandoned any idea that kids watching games would want to learn fundamentals. And you wonder if some NBA players have ever done any of the basic drills that Dr. J. and Rick Barry used to help Red demonstrate.
3) Just a few of Red's greatest moves: #5 -- Drafted Danny Ainge even though he was committed to playing baseball in the Toronto system. #4 -- Drafted Sam Jones sight unseen after Sam was recommended over the telephone by Bones McKinney. #3 -- Obtained Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish by trading the #1 overall pick to Golden State (which became Joe Barry Carroll). #2 -- Drafted Larry Bird even though Bird intended to (and did) play one more year at Indiana State . #1 -- Traded all of the way up to #2 in an effort to get Bill Russell. Rochester had the #1 pick. Red convinced Rochester not to pick Bill Russell in return for Red's owner giving Rochester more "Ice Capades" events.
4) In what could have been a top 5 move, in 1984 Red traded Gerald Henderson to Seattle for Seattle's #1 pick in 1986. That pick became Len Bias. Bias almost immediately went on a cocaine bender and ended up dead. Not only did this event (plus Bill Walton regressing back to his always-injured status) spell the beginning of the end for the Celtics' dynasty, it also resulted in Celtics fans flooding the telephone lines dialing up Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill. O'Neill had never been a fan of the "war on drugs" mentality, but he was now faced with a horde of angry white citizens demanding that he keep their basketball players from dying. The House of Representatives quickly passed the anti-drug crime legislation and in the intervening 20 years drug crimes have been prosecuted far more harshly.
Had Auerbach not finagled his way up to #2, and had Bias died as a pick for the mediocre Sonics, our justice system would be substantially different today.
5) The Final Chance for Red to see the Celtics dynasty reborn was in 1997 when the Celts had the best chance of getting Tim Duncan in the draft lottery. The Celts ended up at #3 and #6. Rick Pitino (whom Red despised) couldn't get the Spurs to trade down and ended up taking Chauncey Billups and Ron Mercer. Pitino panicked with Billups, unloading him for....................................Kenny Anderson.
6) For a great character study of Red in his final years, read John Feinstein's "Let Me Tell You A Story."
RIP, Arnold, and Thank You.
Jalen Rose -- Bought Out By Knicks
Rose thinks he has 2 or 3 good years left and that benching for the Knicks is holding him back, so he accepts an undisclosed buy-out. Question -- what % is that buyout? If it is anything less than 95% of the $16.9MM that he is owed, I don't see why he'd take it. What was Isiah Thomas's option? 1) Bench Jalen and pay him all the dough; 2) Keep him and trade him at the trading deadline (a good idea for most clubs but not for the $1 billion payroll of the Knicks); or 3) cut him and pay him every cent he is owed. Jalen isn't ancient (he'll be 34 in January) and he may well play until he is 36 or 37, but I do not see any bargaining power in this deal for the Knicks whatsoever. I hope he got at least $16,000,000.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Robert Swift -- Blown ACL, Out for the Year
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2640347. I saw Swift play from near courtside at the end of last year and he certainly had as much upside as, for example, Chris Kaman. So the resulting loss of mobility from the blown ACL will be a huge negative for Seattle. Ironically, the Sonics' bizarre draft strategy of always selecting a 7' prospect in every draft after Swift's (drafted Johan Petro and Saer Sene in 2005 and 2006) gives them at least some backup for Swift.
Reader Poll -- Need a "Hottest Woman" Representative for 1971-75
Any male reader born in 1972 can rejoice at the choices just that year alone offers up in females. I cannot make a decision (though I tossed away Gwenyth Paltrow -- just too pale and washed out for my liking, plus isn't she really 400 pounds???)...................................................................Here are your choices, you can place two total votes (even for the same person) and voting closes Monday AM: Carmen Electra, Alyssa Milano, Cameron Diaz, Bridget Moynahan (all from 1972) and Shannon Elizabeth (from 1973).
Demi Moore -- New Pic
Hey, if Al. S. is willing to read the blog AND take time out to comment, he has to get some special treatment. Per your request, Al, Demi Moore on Letterman -- Demi then, age 34....(so, cheating some)....
Omar Vizquel -- Hall of Famer?
http://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/scomp.cgi?I=vizquom01:Omar+Vizquel&st=career. Proving that it is very difficult to figure out which infielders will make the Hall of Fame, look at Vizquel. His stats are similar to Dave Concepcion (not in the hall) and Willie Randolph (ditto) but a good argument can be made that his overall offensive stats are better than those of Ozzie Smith (1st ballot). 4 of the 10 guys he is most similar to are not in the Hall, but 6 are. My conclusion -- Vizquel's Gold Gloves probably get him in, but not on the first ballot...............
Representing 1966-1970
I can't say that I even really considered anyone else when I stumbled upon that fact that the world's loveliest 40 year old is...............Halle Berry............
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Marvin Williams -- Broken Hand, Out 8 Weeks
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2639645. Will the Hawks' curse ever end? Short answer -- not as long as they continue to employ Mike Woodson as their "coach."
Muslim Cleric in Australia Defends Rapists, Blames Women
A short snippet on the speech: ------------------------------------------------------------The leader of the 2000 rapes in Sydney's southwest, Bilal Skaf, a Muslim, was initially sentenced to 55 years' jail, but later had the sentence reduced on appeal.
In the religious address on adultery to about 500 worshippers in Sydney last month, Sheik Hilali said: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?
"The uncovered meat is the problem."
The sheik then said: "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred."
He said women were "weapons" used by "Satan" to control men.
"It is said in the state of zina (adultery), the responsibility falls 90 per cent of the time on the woman. Why? Because she possesses the weapon of enticement (igraa)."
In the religious address on adultery to about 500 worshippers in Sydney last month, Sheik Hilali said: "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside on the street, or in the garden or in the park, or in the backyard without a cover, and the cats come and eat it ... whose fault is it, the cats or the uncovered meat?
"The uncovered meat is the problem."
The sheik then said: "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred."
He said women were "weapons" used by "Satan" to control men.
"It is said in the state of zina (adultery), the responsibility falls 90 per cent of the time on the woman. Why? Because she possesses the weapon of enticement (igraa)."
David Hasselhoff Phone Call
http://cdn.digitalcity.com/tmz_documents/102506_hasselhoff_lab_report.pdf. Um, his ex-wife is clearly crazy, but there are a few 'Hoff nuggets tossed in -- "This is Hasselhoff, signing off." ???? And her references to urine and "pee pornos" -- sort of opens the door to further inquiry..........if you have a strong stomach...
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Huge Edge Goes to the GOP
All realistic thoughts of a Democrat Congress in 2007 were squashed today by the New Jersey Supreme Court which held that gay couples have to be given the same rights as heterosexual married couples (but the legislature does not have to call it "marriage"). http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/opinions/supreme/A-68-05%20Lewis%20v.%20Harris.pdf. As Janice would say on "Friends" -- oh.......my........gawd! If you truly supported the cause of gay rights, I think that there could be no worse time to advance it than 14 days before a contested general election that appeared to be headed toward electing a bunch of people who would help the gay cause. But no. Now the GOP has a huge hammer for attack ads and issue ads to draw out its core constituency. Tester (MT), Ford (TN) and Webb (VA) now seem destined to lose, you can add in McCaskill (MO) who was probably going to lose anyway. This decision is a 7-10% swing for Burns, Corker, Allen and probably 5 for Talent. Heck even heretofore hapless Mark Kennedy and Rick Santorum may gain a few points in MN and PA (states that barely went Kerry in 2004). Short of the Democrats coming out in favor of a forced military draft only on disadvantaged minorities, it is hard to imagine a worse day for the party.............
Florida Politics
OK -- Mark Foley, closeted gay, likes young boys; Charlie Crist, accused of being a closeted gay who likes young(er) men: http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/Issues/2006-10-19/news/norman_print.html. Add in people like Bob Graham (kept a diary of virtually every thought he ever had) and Janet Reno (Will Farrell's SNL impersonation was less masculine) and you have to ask -- where does the sickness in FL politics EVER end? At Jeb Bush? With Katherine Harris? I mean, I think it would be a terrible thing if Kathy was caught, for example, in a tryst with a 23 year old bikini model named Shauna in which inhibitions were lost and drinks were spilled and clothes were discarded during a..............hot.........sweaty Florida campaign stop................My point? Um, nothing, gotta go.
Representing 1961-65
Say what you will about her acting or her family life, ya gotta give a big shout out to the lovely 44 year old Demi Moore (pictured at age 43)...........
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Penguins/Sabres Both In First Place
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?service=page&page=Recap&gnum=125&seas=20062007>ype=2. Good news for a region of the country that badly needs it. (And my obligatory one regular-season NHL comment -- whew, got that out of the way!!) What next? A revival of the United States steel industry?
Recommended Blog
Over-caffeinated, I am up late net surfing and find: http://iheartceltics.blogspot.com/. Look, we all know the Celts still suck, but the guy has some great stuff and his list of non-Telfair suspects in the Telfair incident is worth a read. I also like his reference to Kandi's off-season training program..........Slight criticism -- how can you list great hoops sites and not have www.hoopshype.com or www.insidehoops.com?
PM Finally Done With Football
Being 10 years old and playing football 4 days a week has definitely worn on the Maven household. Egad. The Playstation Maven rolled into the local pro stadium last night and sucked awful for a half as his team fell behind 13-0 in the 3rd place game. With his squad facing 2nd and 19 on the second play of the 3rd quarter, PM caught an 8 yard pass and took it for 65 more yards and a TD. While he basically went back to stinking thereafter, his team's spirit returned and they won 14-13 on a TD and extra point (you get one point for a running PAT in his league, 2 for a pass PAT) with 54 ticks remaining. Football at this age can be tough to watch. There is a reason I do not go by "Football Maven." Now he has 4 practices until his first basketball tourney.....
Lakers Hobbling Toward Opener
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2637616. Kwame and Mihm look to be out and The Devil and Phil look to be improving but not quite "there" yet. But any team coached by Phil Jackson (cane or no cane) will always be a playoff contender, no matter their talent level. Note that Kobe played in practice yet Phil still considers him injured. Hmmm, how can that be?
1946-50
Loni Anderson (born in St. Paul, 1946). Now 60.
Pictured at age 54 (after two breast reduction surgeries). Tomorrow we tackle 1951-1959.
Ladies of the Decades
Due to the demands of RKG and K -- I will post a pic of a woman born during a time span of 1940-1989, using 5-year increments. Starting Out -- representing the 1940-45 time period, Dian Parkinson (TPIR model and 5th place in Miss USA in 1965). This pic was taken at age 57!!! She is now 62. Um, yeah!
RNC Ad Attacking Harold Ford
It was only a matter of time before the GOP pulled out the big guns in Tennessee against a black candidate. If Ford continues to stay close, don't be surprised if the phrase "where the white women at?" appears in the next ad.
It was only a matter of time before the GOP pulled out the big guns in Tennessee against a black candidate. If Ford continues to stay close, don't be surprised if the phrase "where the white women at?" appears in the next ad.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Sudden Attacks of Honesty
First Nick Saban calls his squad a bunch of screw-ups, and now a Senate candidate says that old pics of Hillary Clinton are "hideous". http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/464422p-390714c.html Both unusual strategies, but hey, the theory appears to be that when you have no chance of actually doing your job well (i.e. winning at football, winning a Senate race) why not give blunt honesty a shot?
Michael J. Fox
Hard to watch, I think intentionally so. General reaction in "Ma-zur-uh" will probably be negative.
Hard to watch, I think intentionally so. General reaction in "Ma-zur-uh" will probably be negative.
Movie Review -- "Closer"
If you love Natalie Portman and want to see her as a stripper, this is the movie for you. Since I am not obsessed with NP, I am able to review the movie more objectively. It is definitely well thought out and you can see that the director put a lot of effort into taking us through 4 years of time painlessly. The acting is excellent. But I am not really sure what the point of the whole thing is. Billed as an effort at analyzing male-female relationships, "Closer" focuses primarily on how people mess up their relationships by thinking too much, annoying themselves and their partner, and eventually forcing the other person out of their life. One character describes himself as "addicted to the truth" which the movie clearly sees as a bad thing. The movie ends with a twist, but a twist that really means nothing. Hard movie to score. But I will try: Clive Owen character +8; Jude Law character -- minus 2; Natalie Portman as a stripper -- +8; Julia Roberts' character -- 0; scene where actresses discuss infidelity in detail -- +3; watching 2 guys IM each other in a sex chat room -- minus 10. 7 out of 10 stars.
Weekend Comments
1) Big Ben, Hasselbeck and Peyton Manning all banged up in one weekend? Look for the competition committee to go to 2-hand touch rules on the QB for next year. Replays will be imperative for the claims of "it was just one hand!" that are sure to be heard....When asked how bad he felt, the unsubstantiated rumor is that Hasselback murmured under his breath, "at least unlike my brother I am not married to that whacked out chick on The View."
2) It is official -- Dennis Green is the worst African-American head coach in the league. Loses to Lovie Smith last week (I still believe that is why he was so upset post-game) and then loses to..................ART SHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this week. Wow. Dungy and Herm Edwards are salivating at potential matchups with Denny.
3) Sebastian Telfair -- giving new meaning to the term "selfish gunner." Note to Stephen Jackson -- see, you CALL SOMEONE ELSE when people assault you and that person, well, (hint, hint).
4) Eric Musselman -- As Brian Johnson once recited, "Forget about the check, we'll get hell to pay. Have a drink on me (get stoned)." Here is a guy who has had no success at the NBA level (abject failure with the Warriors). The Kings fire Rick Adelman (top 12 NBA coach -- one of the best offensive coaches I have ever seen). Then they hire "Mini Muss" because he came to the interview with a 500-page book he had prepared with his plays, practice schedules, etc. Um, OK. I guess page 501 should have contained ideas on "how to beat a breathalyzer test."
5) Jay Williams -- cut -- Nets preferred fat and injured computer stealer Marcus Williams. Jay, either quit or go pay your dues in a minor league or Europe! Duke fans already have the cross of Mike Dunleavy to bear.
6) Jake Plummer -- can he play any worse and have his team still win? Was I not looking when the Broncos acquired Kyle Orton and gave him Plummer's number? What is the absolute lowest level of QB play you can have and still win a game? Nick Saban still hasn't found out.
7) Nick Saban -- "Hey, it isn't my fault, I don't know how to coach a bunch of screw-ups." (paraphrasing) OK, now, is there EVER a situation in which a head coach should utter that sentiment with more than just his own family present? Good lord!
8) Notre Dame -- and unbelievably lucky comeback over UCLA results in the Irish...........dropping spots in each poll. So much for the supposed bias in favor of Notre Dame. At this pace they better beat USC or they'll end up facing Indiana in the Music City Bowl.
2) It is official -- Dennis Green is the worst African-American head coach in the league. Loses to Lovie Smith last week (I still believe that is why he was so upset post-game) and then loses to..................ART SHELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this week. Wow. Dungy and Herm Edwards are salivating at potential matchups with Denny.
3) Sebastian Telfair -- giving new meaning to the term "selfish gunner." Note to Stephen Jackson -- see, you CALL SOMEONE ELSE when people assault you and that person, well, (hint, hint).
4) Eric Musselman -- As Brian Johnson once recited, "Forget about the check, we'll get hell to pay. Have a drink on me (get stoned)." Here is a guy who has had no success at the NBA level (abject failure with the Warriors). The Kings fire Rick Adelman (top 12 NBA coach -- one of the best offensive coaches I have ever seen). Then they hire "Mini Muss" because he came to the interview with a 500-page book he had prepared with his plays, practice schedules, etc. Um, OK. I guess page 501 should have contained ideas on "how to beat a breathalyzer test."
5) Jay Williams -- cut -- Nets preferred fat and injured computer stealer Marcus Williams. Jay, either quit or go pay your dues in a minor league or Europe! Duke fans already have the cross of Mike Dunleavy to bear.
6) Jake Plummer -- can he play any worse and have his team still win? Was I not looking when the Broncos acquired Kyle Orton and gave him Plummer's number? What is the absolute lowest level of QB play you can have and still win a game? Nick Saban still hasn't found out.
7) Nick Saban -- "Hey, it isn't my fault, I don't know how to coach a bunch of screw-ups." (paraphrasing) OK, now, is there EVER a situation in which a head coach should utter that sentiment with more than just his own family present? Good lord!
8) Notre Dame -- and unbelievably lucky comeback over UCLA results in the Irish...........dropping spots in each poll. So much for the supposed bias in favor of Notre Dame. At this pace they better beat USC or they'll end up facing Indiana in the Music City Bowl.
Jessica -- Nick a Heartless Bastard
http://celebrity.aol.com/people/ataol/articles/0,26618,1549205,00.html. Basically she had to leave Nick because he proved that he didn't give a damn about helpless African children. Maybe if she had gone to Cincinnati to visit Bob Huggins he would have been happier???
Friday, October 20, 2006
Traditional Marriage -- Um, Not For Everyone...
[In NY] Jeanine Pirro faces former federal Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo in the November election. A Quinnipiac University poll last week found Cuomo leading Pirro by 50 percent to 31 percent among registered voters. In an August poll, he led by 52 percent to 29 percent. Albert Pirro told the magazine that while he did not have an affair in 2005, he sought female companionship as a way of satisfying emotional needs."You need to have someone tell you that you're smart or you're good-looking or you made a good business decision," he said. "Do I think that I would like to have more attention at home? Yeah, and, you know, if you're not going to get attention at home, I think you really need to make some decisions about your future." [ Editor's Note by HM -- Does this guy know anything about marriage? Side note -- he has fathered an illegitimate child out of wedlock during the marriage...] Jeanine Pirro, who once made People magazine's Most Beautiful People list and who has been a frequent national television commentator, said she has no plans to seek a divorce. She has said she stayed in the marriage because of her children, ages 21 and 17."Of course I love my husband," she told the magazine. "From the day that I met him."
Suns Doling out the Big Cash
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2632613. Diaw now under contract for $45MM over 5 years; Barbosa for $33MM over 5 years. Seems that the going rate for a good starting NBA players is coming dangerously close to $10MM a year (Josh Howard just signed for 10X4 years in Dallas). Therefore, it has become more and more important for NBA clubs to have good scouting so that 1) they can acquire good draft picks for 3 years under the unfavorable rookie deals; and 2) they can find good young players with marginal success elsewhere and sign them to 3-4 year deals betting on the come (Zaza Pachulia comes to mind -- anyone could have done the same thing with Mike James when Milwaukee was giving him away for 2 #2s).
Movie Reviews
1) Soul Plane -- Goes right up there in the pantheon of awful movies with "Cat Woman" and "Elektra." And yes, it is really that bad. Tom Arnold anyone? Karl Malone should be banned from the basketball Hall of Fame based solely on his insipid cameo. Only the unbelievably steamy presence of Arielle Kebbel (who was, in fact, 18 at the time the movie was shot) brings the movie up to a lofty 2 out of 10 stars.............................2) A History of Violence -- I am not really sure that I needed to see all of the gore (or for that matter Viggo Mortensen's butt) but for some reason the movie played out very well for me. Probably the truest and grittiest depiction of killing that you are going to see on film. On the less-disturbing side, if you have liked Maria Bello since she used to sleep with Noah Wylie on "er" this is definitely a movie you want to see. 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Photo Shows that Buckner Was Wearing a Cubs Batting Glove In 1986
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/061018&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1. Double-cursed Buckner never stood a chance of fielding that ball in Game 6...............
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Another One Bites the....um, Dust?
http://www.blogactive.com/2006/10/hey-larry.html. This sort of "outing" is probably in very poor taste. However, it probably will now be picked up by the mainstream media, so I might as well be ahead of the curve.
Isiah Thomas -- Not Lovin' Greg Anthony
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ak6mptC377XR5vUviPHn9KY5nYcB?slug=cnnsi-isiahtakesespna&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns. I guess that when you do 100 things wrong and 1 sorta right, you feel the need to really abuse those who questioned you on that 1 thing. My lord, if Greg Anthony were a woman, I would fear that Isiah was stalking him (sorry, Isiah doesn't stalk, he is only accused of harassment.......)
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Denny Green
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15297338/. (Follow the link for a link to the footage of Denny melting down). Note the one constant of every Dennis Green team -- it is never Denny's fault. Never. His teams lose? Fire someone else. It would be interesting to see Matt Millen and Denny Green team up -- every assistant coach and locker room attendant would lose their jobs by mid-season while Denny and Matt stated "well, not our faults."
Hollinger Rates the NBA's Best Players
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/rankings?pos=null&start=0&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fhollinger%2frankings%3fpos%3dnull%26start%3d0. And no, Kobe is not #1.... In case the Knicks' sole remaining fan is checking back in, I should note -- Jared Jeffries, out 3 to 8 weeks with a broken bone in his left wrist.
Wesley Snipes -- Um, Hard to Find
http://news.aol.com/entertainment/movies/articles/_a/snipes-charged-with-federal-tax-fraud/20061017113909990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001. I guess he will be making himself available to do "Major League 4" and "Demolition Man II" after all.................unless he is doing "Shawshank Redemption 2" in real life.
Prediction Market
http://news.us.newsfutures.com/market/market.html?symbol=HOUSREPU. I am not sure if this is legit, but if it is, I may have to invest in some GOP contracts at $30 to win $100. After all, you are getting big odds by betting AGAINST Democrats who are known to screw up even the easiest electoral victories. This is similar to getting $100 for betting $30 that the AZ Cardinals will lose to the Lions. And suppose that I buy 5 contracts ($150) and lose. It will be $150 I will be glad not to have anymore... Price to win $100 on Dems is $70.
Sara Evans Divorce Papers -- Your Perfect GOP Couple
http://www.accesshollywood.com/pdf/sara_evans.pdf. Dad Craig Schelske (on the right) downs a couple bottles of wine and smokes a couple heaters, then he refuses to let a gay "sodomite" into the house with a dance costume for his wife's (Sara Evans') national TV appearance. He then heads over to the computer and calls up some of the 100 photos of him with an erect, um, member (in his defense, only some of which picture him having sex with other women). His stress thus relieved, he is able to continue his job as a major Republican fundraiser for organizations dedicated to bringing religion back into politics...http://www.craigpac.com/index.shtml .......At least his Congressional run failed -- http://www.schelskeforcongress.com/bio.htm. In a COMPLETELY unrelated matter, I just finished Elmer Gantry. I refuse to believe that anyone could actually be as hypocritical as Gantry. Just couldn't happen........
Dodgers Require Lyons to Get Sensitivity Training
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2006/news/story?id=2629160. So, the Fox network (home of "The Simpsons," "Family Guy" and "American Dad") holds itself out as more Touchy-Feely-Politically-Correct than do the Southern California-based Los Angeles Dodgers? Um, OK.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Steve Lyons -- Fired
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Lyons_(baseball)#Insensitive_remarks_while_broadcasting. Now, let's recount what Lyons did to get fired: 1) In 2002, he questioned how observant a Jew player Shawn Green really was. If any of Lyons' comments were true (i.e. Green was never bar mitzvahed, did not marry a Jew, did not go to temple) isn't that a valid basis for criticizing Green's decision to suddenly abandon his team? 2) He implied that an Italian player located in NYC might know someone who knows someone in the Mafia. Let's assume that this was not a joke and Lyons said it straight-faced. Do we really know that the player did not have such a distant connection? I am German-Polish and I know a woman who definitely knows someone in the Mafia (this I learned when she threatened to have me killed). I mean, come on... 3) He did not recognize and made fun of an odd-looking pair of glasses worn by an almost-blind guy. Easy mistake. 4) Lyons implied that Lou Pinella's speaking of Spanish and reference to finding wallets made Lyons uncomfortable. OK, #4 is the worst of the bunch, since I guess it arguably implies that all Spanish speakers are thieves. But what ever happened to some level of proportionality here? I mean, he is fired, permanently, from one of only two national baseball outlets. In the space of 4 years he has made 1 non-PC inquiry, one likely-true observation, one joke made without an understanding of the facts, and a bad joke directed at a co-worker he thought was a friend........................... Fired..............Enjoy the bland utterances of Fox announcers going forward during the next 4 hour playoff game -- "Nice play by Reyes." "Yep, Reyes is a heckuva player." "Sure is." "Yep." "There is strike one to Jim Edmunds...."
Evangelicals Called "Crazy"?
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/ex-aide-says-evangelicals-mocked-in/20061016095809990001. Bush Administration finally gets something correct and they are criticized for it!!! Hardly fair. Who out there actually thinks Pat Robertson is not at least a tad crazy? By the by, I am 85% of the way through "Elmer Gantry" recommended by George Will's recent column. Sinclair Lewis is more than a little self-indulgent and self-serving, but the book is a worthwhile read just to learn about the longstanding link between big business and fundamentalist religion in the U.S. Reverend Gantry himself? Well, if consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, Gantry has a very expansive mind....
Some Thoughts On Boston
Rating Boston ----------- 1) I am a huge history buff, so the historic nature of the city and surrounding area was a big plus -- +10; 2) Current fashion statement of most young Boston women -- extremely new and tight jeans -- +7 points. 3) Harvard -- crammed into Cambridge, sort of a smaller Columbia, not very impressive -- minus 2. (side note -- most endangered species at Harvard? white males -- I would say that about 5 of every 12 students I walked past were Asian-Americans, 2 of 12 were black or Hispanic and 4 of 12 were white females, so, maybe 8% of the students I saw were white males). 4) Cabbies -- crooks and/or incompetent, airport cab system was like something from the 1960s; one cabbie I had was actually stopped and ticketed while I was in the car (he cut of an unmarked police officer) -- minus 6; 5) MIT -- very impressive-looking from my car -- plus 1. 6) The subway -- the "T" goes a lot of places, but how come Ted Kennedy in 1,000 years in the Senate has been unable to get ANY money to modernize what is easily the dingiest train system I have ever seen??? Minus 2. Overall Grade for Boston as a City -- 8 out of 10 stars.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Reggie Miller Re: Stephen Jackson
The Pacers have rallied around Jackson, and Miller disagreed with that on Patrick's show.
"You shouldn't stand behind a player that is someone slapping you guys in the face during the middle of training camp being out at a strip club at 3 o'clock in the morning shooting it up like it's the Wild, Wild West," he said. Informed of this comment, 1980s pop group The Escape Club denied any connection to shootouts at Indy strip clubs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Escape_Club but they did promise that they are coming "to rock you tonight."
"You shouldn't stand behind a player that is someone slapping you guys in the face during the middle of training camp being out at a strip club at 3 o'clock in the morning shooting it up like it's the Wild, Wild West," he said. Informed of this comment, 1980s pop group The Escape Club denied any connection to shootouts at Indy strip clubs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Escape_Club but they did promise that they are coming "to rock you tonight."
Monday, October 09, 2006
Please Come to Boston for (almost a week)
"I'm livin' here with some friends and they got lots of room".......................Old HM is jetting off to Boston tomorrow to attend a conference and give a speech to a bunch of fellow lawyers. Not back until October 16. As you might expect, not much $$$ coming IN while I venture OUT to The Land of John Kerry and Mike Dukakis. Hopefully lack of funds will be my greatest hardship. I hope not to be murdered by a felon out on early release as I try to take in the Revolutionary War sites during my off-day on Saturday. Since I have only been to Boston twice (once for 15 hours and once for 6 hours), any advice on things to do/see would be greatly appreciated. Should I visit the Mike Olowakandi wing of Fleet Center? Venture out to Hah-vahd? I'd like to see Bunker (Breed's) Hill and Lexington and Concord...........................HM.
Missy Peregrym
My daughter bought the DVD of "Stick It!" this weekend. Would have been a good movie but for the ridiculous nature of the last 20 minutes. Overall -- 4 out of 10 stars, but wait! Add two http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=121931&c=1038 back in for the 98% perfect athletic body of Canadian starlet Missy Peregrym! Whoa. So 6 out of 10.
David Stern -- New Ball is Subject to Testing
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2617527. Stern is basically trying to give himself an out on this new ball issue. Analogy: "Buy these shoes. Now when you first use them the soles will be incredibly sticky, but after half a day the soles will wear down and no longer be sticky; but if you ever get them wet, you will probably fall down immediately." NBA leadership -- "SOLD! Where can we get a pair?" (Salesman continues) "Oh, and by the way, since you probably won't want to walk around with shoes that are sometimes sticky, sometimes not, we suggest buying 2 pair and changing the shoes around lunch time every day."............................................. It is hard to believe that a professional league paying players $5MM a year on the average would go out and buy an indoor-outdoor rubber ball like the awful Mikasa balls that I used to play with in outdoor basketball camp in 1976-80. I mean, my lord. Stern's reason for the change? "We are the last sport that still uses a leather ball." Oh really? Official NFL Football -- leather --http://www.nflshop.com/product/index.jsp?productId=9922 MLB baseball -- leather: MLB Rule 1.09: The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two stripes of white horsehide or cowhide, tightly stitched together. Surely, Mr. Stern, you did not intend to LIE to the public to justify your sell-out to a manufacturer? Surely what you MEANT to say is that you are the only BASKETBALL league to use a leather ball, but of course you did not say that because the reply would have been "so what"? Just give the players back the good ball and eat your financial losses.
Keith Olbermann -- Um, Not Good...
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10092006/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm. Unfortunately the woman's Blog is not accessible to the general public. WTF? I mean, you are trying to demean the guy, why limit the scope of the abuse? A review of Internet commentary indicates that the Blog started months ago and that this is just now hitting the traditional media. BTW, Olbermann's blog is http://www.bloggermann.com/
Rating the Worst NFL Teams
From "best" to worst:
25. Arizona -- no doubt that they are bad at 1-4, but they have decent players at every offensive position and Denny Green (while literally and figuratively a huge ass) is an OK coach. But 1-4 with a home loss to Damon Huard is still, well, you know...
26. Houston -- 1 and 3 and their only win is over Miami. There just doesn't ever seem to be much progress from the expansion team status.
27. Miami -- Nick Saban has to wonder whether he was actually better off with Frerotte at the helm. Daunte and Joey Harrington putting up a mighty 61 points so far through a 1-4 start. What D-1 club needs a good college head coach? Start dialing up Nick's cell...
28. Cleveland -- I see some faint glimmer of hope here, why, I am not real sure. Is Charlie Frye a good Qb buried on a crappy team, or is Charlie Frye a bad QB burying a crappy team? (1-4)
29. Tampa Bay -- 0-4, but 3 of those losses were with Chris Simms at the helm, so they shouldn't count. I think the new QB (6th rounder, rookie) will be a minor upgrade on Simms, meaning the Bucs should chug to 4-12 by year end.
30. Tennessee -- 0-5, but they do get Houston twice, so maybe there is some remote chance for 2 or 3 wins. Vince Young is struggling as a passer, but did have a nice 20-yard TD run.
31. Detroit -- 0-5 including a loss to Green Bay and a complete collapse against the punchless Vikings. Let me tell you what I see with the Lions: a team that is playing full-out and trying extremely hard for a fired-up and likeable head coach. Yet they are still 0-5 against a pretty easy schedule. Fast forward 4-5 weeks when Kitna is hurt and the guys turn to Rod Marinelli for actual coaching guidance about formations and schemes and he says "Well, fire up fellas! Fire effing up!!! Play with fire in your belly!" Lions could easily be staring at 0-11 and looking for Mike Martz to take over as head coach. We know that he could not win with the talented Rams, imagine what he will do with the Lions. Matt Millen will continue on the GM tenure program put in place by Detroit ownership.
32. Oakland -- Well, the 49ers are, um, well, they have Frank Gore who is pretty good......uh, Arnaz Battle was a decent player at Notre Dame, and..........OK, OK, you drop a game to the Niners where Alex Smith awakens the echoes of Montana and Young in the 2nd half, you suck. Sorry. Art Shell is their coach! Art Shell!! This is a worse coaching hire than the NBA hires of Bob Weiss and Jerry Tarkanian. I mean, wow. Good chance at 0-16.
25. Arizona -- no doubt that they are bad at 1-4, but they have decent players at every offensive position and Denny Green (while literally and figuratively a huge ass) is an OK coach. But 1-4 with a home loss to Damon Huard is still, well, you know...
26. Houston -- 1 and 3 and their only win is over Miami. There just doesn't ever seem to be much progress from the expansion team status.
27. Miami -- Nick Saban has to wonder whether he was actually better off with Frerotte at the helm. Daunte and Joey Harrington putting up a mighty 61 points so far through a 1-4 start. What D-1 club needs a good college head coach? Start dialing up Nick's cell...
28. Cleveland -- I see some faint glimmer of hope here, why, I am not real sure. Is Charlie Frye a good Qb buried on a crappy team, or is Charlie Frye a bad QB burying a crappy team? (1-4)
29. Tampa Bay -- 0-4, but 3 of those losses were with Chris Simms at the helm, so they shouldn't count. I think the new QB (6th rounder, rookie) will be a minor upgrade on Simms, meaning the Bucs should chug to 4-12 by year end.
30. Tennessee -- 0-5, but they do get Houston twice, so maybe there is some remote chance for 2 or 3 wins. Vince Young is struggling as a passer, but did have a nice 20-yard TD run.
31. Detroit -- 0-5 including a loss to Green Bay and a complete collapse against the punchless Vikings. Let me tell you what I see with the Lions: a team that is playing full-out and trying extremely hard for a fired-up and likeable head coach. Yet they are still 0-5 against a pretty easy schedule. Fast forward 4-5 weeks when Kitna is hurt and the guys turn to Rod Marinelli for actual coaching guidance about formations and schemes and he says "Well, fire up fellas! Fire effing up!!! Play with fire in your belly!" Lions could easily be staring at 0-11 and looking for Mike Martz to take over as head coach. We know that he could not win with the talented Rams, imagine what he will do with the Lions. Matt Millen will continue on the GM tenure program put in place by Detroit ownership.
32. Oakland -- Well, the 49ers are, um, well, they have Frank Gore who is pretty good......uh, Arnaz Battle was a decent player at Notre Dame, and..........OK, OK, you drop a game to the Niners where Alex Smith awakens the echoes of Montana and Young in the 2nd half, you suck. Sorry. Art Shell is their coach! Art Shell!! This is a worse coaching hire than the NBA hires of Bob Weiss and Jerry Tarkanian. I mean, wow. Good chance at 0-16.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Rate a Celeb
Kate Middleton, the future Queen of England. Have a nice weekend. Have to go watch the Twins get swept. Thus far: Twins greatness 0; Guillen incompetence -- 2.
More George Will
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/04/AR2006100401539.html The uneasy partnership between what Will calls "Western" and "Southern" Republicans might be explained better by calling them "rich" Republicans (my elder sister) and "poor" Republicans (certain of my cousins). Rich Republicans are generally not evangelicals. Most rich Republicans are people who live a very high-end lifestyle and do not care whether the 10 Commandments are posted next to every school blackboard. They vote GOP to protect their money. Their general concern about government is "let me keep my millions." I am friends with many of these people because they act in their own self-interest and at least think over what they are doing politically. Poor Republicans -- not so much. They vote against their own economic self-interest. They constantly vote with the rich GOP side. The rich GOP side gets elected, takes another tax cut and gives the poor GOP voters, well, nothing. I mean, my lord, when you are sitting at your $43,000 house in western NY, porch floor is rotting out, 3rd wife is yelling something at you while you try to talk on your pre-paid cell phone to your mistress working two towns over at the Pamida, do you really thank God that Rep. Tom Reynolds is protecting your son and his step-brothers and half-brothers from gays and flag burners? It is hard to fathom, but voting records show that these thoughts exist in our soon-to-be-porchless guy's mind.........But what about George Will's query -- what if that guy in Wyoming County runs out of air time on his phone, watches some cable TV and decides "Tom Reynolds ain't protecting me and my boys from shit"? Is that the end of Tom Reynolds or whoever else wants to be Tom Reynolds? We shall see.
Stephen Jackson Wailed On At "Club Rio"
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061006/SPORTS04/61006001/1088. I hate to criticize anyone for being beat up and then run over by a car, but still................look at the description of the three guys that may have punched the 6'5" Jackson -- a short stocky guy (so basically a younger version of me); a diabled guy with only 6 total fingers; and a young bald fat guy. So basically Jackson was beat down by the Indy version of me circa 1993, my brother and our disabled friend. Wow. Here is a review of Club Rio: http://cityguide.aol.com/indianapolis/bars/club-rio/v-104456606. If Jackson and Tinsley could return on October 26, there is going to be a special event at the club http://clubrioindy.com/calendar.html. The cops say they couldn't make a marijuana arrest since they didn't know who was "driving" -- well, we know it wasn't Tinsley or there would have been a resulting turnover and a basket the other way.
Tight Shirt
I have a lot of too-tight shirts, but I don't look anywhere near this good in any of them.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
NBA Players Not Loving the New NBA Ball
Shaq has stated that turnovers will be way up while shooting percentages will be way down. Shaq also opined that whoever decided to use the new ball should be fired. Other input is 90% negative as well...................................................................................................................................: "Count Gilbert Arenas among the players who don't like the new ball the NBA will use this season. "I don't know why they changed it," Arenas, looking disgusted, said while holding a basketball following practice. "It gets slick after you go up and down the court a few times. There are going to be more turnovers than there used to be." One day earlier Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal criticized the new ball as well." Washington Times "They stink," guard Jason Terry said of the new ball. "I've worked out with it all summer long, and I've grown accustomed to losing the ball out of bounds a couple times. It's going to happen." The ball has the look and feel of an indoor-outdoor ball, Terry said. And he's not the only one who has had trouble holding onto it." Dallas Morning News "(Dirk) Nowitzki, one of the NBA's biggest stars, gave a succinct impression of the new ball: a thumb's-down signal. The Mavericks are falling in line with just about every other player in the league. Shaquille O'Neal blasted the ball even before he'd played with it, although it's the same game ball used in the last two All-Star Games, league officials said." Dallas Morning News "It's like a volleyball," coach Avery Johnson said. "It feels smaller than the other ball. But I personally don't complain about that stuff. It's just different. We been using another ball for 100 years, and it's change. And you got to adjust to change." Dallas Morning News "Once the ball gets wet, it's going to go everywhere," guard Devin Harris said. "People going up for layups are having the ball slip out. I think there's going to be more turnovers and lower shooting percentages." Dallas Morning News "I got no problem with it," Josh Howard said. "A ball's a ball. Once you get in the groove, it still goes in. And I got smaller hands, and this one is easier for me to palm." Dallas Morning News "Well, it is a little tougher to shoot," (Ray Allen) said. "As big as our hands are, the ball is a lot softer and we can all palm it pretty easily. The discrepancy from one ball to the next is not that different, so each ball pretty much maintains the same feel and integrity. "But when it gets wet, it's probably a little more slippery." Seattle Times "I don't make it an issue because it doesn't matter to me," Allen said. "I'm still getting used to it. When you're shooting free throws, everything catches on the rim, so you have to shoot it more. You have a tendency to send it short." Seattle Times "The Sonics began using the ball in the summer during pick-up games. Of the seven players who were asked about the new ball, five gave it a favorable review and two were non-committal." Seattle Times "I've been using it all summer," the Sixers' Andre Iguodala said. "It just wears down after about 2 to 3 weeks. The ball used in the summer got old. Now, I'm back to the newer new ball and I haven't had a good experience with it so far. "I guess the only thing you can do is, the more you touch it, the better you are. I have one in my room [at the team's hotel]. I play with it every night for about an hour." Philadelphia Daily News "We're going to have to do it like baseball, change, like, every five plays," Chris Webber said. Once it gets wet, it's terrible; it's tough, put it that way." Philadelphia Daily News "I'm not a big fan of the new ball," Willie Green said. "But it's what we've got to use. We might as well mentally prepare ourselves that this is the ball we're going to use for the season and deal with it. It's a little spongy. I'm used to the regular NBA ball. As scorer and shooter, I just like the other ball better. It went through the net better." Philadelphia Daily News "Everyone that handles the ball loves the grip and the feel of the ball," was the predictable evaluation from Stu Jackson, league executive vice president of basketball operations." Philadelphia Daily News "I certainly won't have to lick my fingers," Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash said. "The ball sticks to your hand. It's a big transition. It's extremely sticky. Right now, I would say that the basketball sticks to the floor, it sticks to the backboard." Philadelphia Daily News
"I'm right with [Shaq]," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I think it's horrible... It really does feel like an indoor-outdoor ball. We'll see how it works. Maybe they'll learn to love it, I don't know." Philadelphia Daily News ''It's hard to catch, hard to shoot and hard to get some type of grip on it,'' (Chris) Duhon said. ''I don't think they tested it to when it was late in the game, everybody's sweaty and [it] puts a huge damp on the ball. That's something we've got to get used to, and you can't change it now. So that's something we have to work through.'' Chicago Sun-Times ''I don't like it,'' (Scott) Skiles said. ''I'm not sure if it's a situation where it's just going to take time to get used to it, or it's a bad ball. I'm a little mixed on that. As much as I've handled it, I don't seem to be getting used to it, but I played with the same ball my whole career." Chicago Sun-Times ''People I've talked to, nobody's real fond of it,'' Skiles said. ''Just because I say right now, 'I don't like it,' it's not an open-and-shut case. I think it was my sophomore year in college, the Big Ten -- or maybe it was the whole NCAA -- changed balls." Chicago Sun-Times "I don't like it," (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas said of the new basketball that will be used this season. "I'm not big on change, and I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old ball." Cleveland Plain Dealer "Many Cavaliers share the same sentiment as Miami's Shaquille O'Neal, who despises the new ball. O'Neal told reporters in Miami on Monday that whoever was responsible for the change "needs his college degree revoked." Cleveland Plain Dealer "The NBA is the only league that used the leather ball. FIBA, the NCAA, NBDL and AAU all used some form of a composite basketball." Cleveland Plain Dealer "Terrible," Rasheed Wallace said. "I don't know why they did it. The thing that (upsets) me about it is, that's a major part of playing, and you can't just change it without getting the players' opinions on the ball before you change it." Detroit News "They say this micro-fiber thing is better? Nah, give me that old-fashioned cowhide," Wallace said. Wallace, on a Nike commercial shoot in Los Angeles last week, said Steve Nash , Paul Pierce , Amare Stoudemire , Jermaine O'Neal , Shawn Marion and Kobe Bryant agreed. "We just don't see how they could change it without the players agreeing with it," Wallace said." Detroit News "Not every player hates it. Chauncey Billups said he has gotten used to it. Flip Murray said he actually likes it." Detroit News "Not really," Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said when asked Wednesday at training camp at Fort Lewis College if he likes the league's new ball. "It feels like an outside ball I used to play with back in the day on the outside court. But we have no choice but to get used to it." Rocky Mountain News "I kind of agree with everything Shaq says," Nuggets forward Joe Smith said. "Once it gets wet, it gets slick. It's a totally different feel that's going to take some getting used to. I think the more and more we get into the season, there are going to be more complaints." Rocky Mountain News "You can grip (the new ball) a lot better than the old ball," Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera said. "I think it's better overall. It's not as hard as the other one was." Rocky Mountain News "When it's going in and I'm shooting well, I like it," Nuggets guard Earl Boykins said. "When I'm not shooting well, I don't like it." Rocky Mountain News "It's very difficult for us," (Steve) Nash said. "It's almost like you have to relearn how to make your plays because this ball sticks to your hand whereas the old ball slid in your hand nicely and it had a nice little touch off the floor and the backboard. This ball just grips the floor and grips the backboard so you have to change your game." Arizona Republic "It sucks," Suns guard Raja Bell said. "This ball isn't even a cousin of the one we played with. In every way, the ball is totally different. It is round and we've got to put it out of our minds. It's proven to be a streaky ball." Arizona Republic "Everybody hates that ball," Shawn Marion said. "It seems like it's more for an outdoor ball than indoor. It doesn't even feel like a NBA ball." Arizona Republic "Boris Diaw and Eric Piatkowski are the only ones who like the new ball. So how often do the rest complain about it? "Just every time they touch it," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said." Arizona Republic "(Gilbert) Arenas and several other Wizards are among the NBA players who do not like the league's new synthetic basketballs. Manufactured by Spalding, they are made of a microfiber composite rather than leather and are supposed to provide a better grip." Washington Post "The only thing good about it is that it's grippy when you first touch it," Arenas said." Washington Post "I love it -- love it," point guard Jarrett Jack said (about the new ball). "A lot of guys who've been in the league for a while, they're used to a real leather ball. This is almost like a college ball to me. I'm more used to it." Oregonian "Added Joel Przybilla, like O'Neal a veteran center: "I like it because I can palm it. I've got small hands, and I could barely palm the old ball, and this one is a little more sticky." Oregonian
"I'm right with [Shaq]," Heat coach Pat Riley said. "I think it's horrible... It really does feel like an indoor-outdoor ball. We'll see how it works. Maybe they'll learn to love it, I don't know." Philadelphia Daily News ''It's hard to catch, hard to shoot and hard to get some type of grip on it,'' (Chris) Duhon said. ''I don't think they tested it to when it was late in the game, everybody's sweaty and [it] puts a huge damp on the ball. That's something we've got to get used to, and you can't change it now. So that's something we have to work through.'' Chicago Sun-Times ''I don't like it,'' (Scott) Skiles said. ''I'm not sure if it's a situation where it's just going to take time to get used to it, or it's a bad ball. I'm a little mixed on that. As much as I've handled it, I don't seem to be getting used to it, but I played with the same ball my whole career." Chicago Sun-Times ''People I've talked to, nobody's real fond of it,'' Skiles said. ''Just because I say right now, 'I don't like it,' it's not an open-and-shut case. I think it was my sophomore year in college, the Big Ten -- or maybe it was the whole NCAA -- changed balls." Chicago Sun-Times "I don't like it," (Zydrunas) Ilgauskas said of the new basketball that will be used this season. "I'm not big on change, and I didn't think there was anything wrong with the old ball." Cleveland Plain Dealer "Many Cavaliers share the same sentiment as Miami's Shaquille O'Neal, who despises the new ball. O'Neal told reporters in Miami on Monday that whoever was responsible for the change "needs his college degree revoked." Cleveland Plain Dealer "The NBA is the only league that used the leather ball. FIBA, the NCAA, NBDL and AAU all used some form of a composite basketball." Cleveland Plain Dealer "Terrible," Rasheed Wallace said. "I don't know why they did it. The thing that (upsets) me about it is, that's a major part of playing, and you can't just change it without getting the players' opinions on the ball before you change it." Detroit News "They say this micro-fiber thing is better? Nah, give me that old-fashioned cowhide," Wallace said. Wallace, on a Nike commercial shoot in Los Angeles last week, said Steve Nash , Paul Pierce , Amare Stoudemire , Jermaine O'Neal , Shawn Marion and Kobe Bryant agreed. "We just don't see how they could change it without the players agreeing with it," Wallace said." Detroit News "Not every player hates it. Chauncey Billups said he has gotten used to it. Flip Murray said he actually likes it." Detroit News "Not really," Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony said when asked Wednesday at training camp at Fort Lewis College if he likes the league's new ball. "It feels like an outside ball I used to play with back in the day on the outside court. But we have no choice but to get used to it." Rocky Mountain News "I kind of agree with everything Shaq says," Nuggets forward Joe Smith said. "Once it gets wet, it gets slick. It's a totally different feel that's going to take some getting used to. I think the more and more we get into the season, there are going to be more complaints." Rocky Mountain News "You can grip (the new ball) a lot better than the old ball," Nuggets forward Eduardo Najera said. "I think it's better overall. It's not as hard as the other one was." Rocky Mountain News "When it's going in and I'm shooting well, I like it," Nuggets guard Earl Boykins said. "When I'm not shooting well, I don't like it." Rocky Mountain News "It's very difficult for us," (Steve) Nash said. "It's almost like you have to relearn how to make your plays because this ball sticks to your hand whereas the old ball slid in your hand nicely and it had a nice little touch off the floor and the backboard. This ball just grips the floor and grips the backboard so you have to change your game." Arizona Republic "It sucks," Suns guard Raja Bell said. "This ball isn't even a cousin of the one we played with. In every way, the ball is totally different. It is round and we've got to put it out of our minds. It's proven to be a streaky ball." Arizona Republic "Everybody hates that ball," Shawn Marion said. "It seems like it's more for an outdoor ball than indoor. It doesn't even feel like a NBA ball." Arizona Republic "Boris Diaw and Eric Piatkowski are the only ones who like the new ball. So how often do the rest complain about it? "Just every time they touch it," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said." Arizona Republic "(Gilbert) Arenas and several other Wizards are among the NBA players who do not like the league's new synthetic basketballs. Manufactured by Spalding, they are made of a microfiber composite rather than leather and are supposed to provide a better grip." Washington Post "The only thing good about it is that it's grippy when you first touch it," Arenas said." Washington Post "I love it -- love it," point guard Jarrett Jack said (about the new ball). "A lot of guys who've been in the league for a while, they're used to a real leather ball. This is almost like a college ball to me. I'm more used to it." Oregonian "Added Joel Przybilla, like O'Neal a veteran center: "I like it because I can palm it. I've got small hands, and I could barely palm the old ball, and this one is a little more sticky." Oregonian
Amy Klobuchar's Hostile Work Environment
I am growing concerned that if I elect her that she may actually come to my house, berate me, steal my ideas and take credit for them! Damn her!!!!
I am growing concerned that if I elect her that she may actually come to my house, berate me, steal my ideas and take credit for them! Damn her!!!!
I Keed, I Keed
Lest someone or some group take my rips too seriously, I note that (ala Triumph) "I kid, I kid..."
Lest someone or some group take my rips too seriously, I note that (ala Triumph) "I kid, I kid..."
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Top 50 Heavyweight Boxers
Why this guy continues to run and update his site I will never know, but as one of his 4 readers I might as well pass along the info -- http://boxing.about.com/cs/rankingschampions/a/bl_heavy.htm. I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s when heavyweight boxing actually had folks like Frazier and Ali and Foreman and Ken Norton and Larry Holmes. The end of Holmes' reign saw a dizzying array of suckmen as champ -- Mike Weaver, Michael Dokes, Tony Tubbs, Bonecrusher Smith. Then we got the 180 pound Michael Spinks (a good boxer, but never a true heavyweight). Then came Tyson and everyone rejoiced at the new golden age to come............not so...........but at least we had Holyfield and a Geroge Foreman return. Lennox Lewis was good at boxing but never liked it all that much. So who do we have now? Tyson still in the top 50! Kevin McBride? Holyfield is moving toward the top 20 (he is 3-5-1 since late 1999). At least it looks like the top 12 guys are actually starting to fight one another. That is a start.
"Fair & Balanced"?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eat-the-press/2006/10/04/oreilly-factor-labels-_e_30927.html. No further comment required.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Stop the Presses -- PM Makes "A" Traveling Basketball
Blessed with the height of his mom (Accounting Maven -- AM) , the PM (pictured here during tryouts) made his way into the "A" traveling basketball team for our massive suburb. Prior to tonight's final tryout, I informed the PM that he was the 3rd tallest kid trying out and that he ought to take advantage of that fact by actually playing inside and letting the numerous tiny guards shoot while he played defense and rebounded. To my amazement the PM ACTUALLY REMEMBERED AND TOOK MY ADVICE! About 80% of the way through the tryout the "A" coach noted to me that "Well, it looks like you aren't going to be the "B" coach...." The "B" team will actually be very good also, so I am a little disappointed that PM and I won't be mopping the floor with crappy B squads throughout the state, but more free time and a happy AM is an awfully good combo..........Said the proud poppa...
Wolves Ensure Home Court in Playoffs, Sign Vin Baker
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2610708. Once it was clear that Christian Laettner was unavailable to return to Target Center, the Wolves found the next best 1992 grad available. It is hoped that Vin Baker can be the role model that Eddie Griffin has been searching for.............or vice versa.................
Christian Laettner to Buy An NBA Job
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2610380. Brian Davis and Christian are putting up $40MM of their own money to buy the Memphis Grizzlies? Is this really a sound investment? Where are they planning to move the team? Laettner is thinking about "asking" the Grizz for a playing position? Maybe he can sign himself to a $40MM deal and recoup his investment that way! Wow.
Minnesota Twins
AL Cy Young -- Johan Santana (should have been his third straight); AL MVP -- Justin Morneau; AL & MLB batting champion -- Joe Mauer. Is it possible that the Twins are the greatest regular season team of all-time? Or is their success just fool's gold brought on by the inability of Ozzie Guillen to manage his way out of a paper bag with a far superior squad? We will start to see the answer tomorrow at noon. Alternatives -- 1) Twins historically great or 2) Guillen historically sucky?
NBA Free Agent Trash Heap
http://www.insidehoops.com/free-agent-rankings.shtml. The only word that comes to mind right away is "dismal." Gee, I need a center, better get on the phone with Mike Olawakandi. His phone has been disconnected? Well get me Kelvin Cato then! Yeesh. Well, I will move on to the point guard position -- Reece Gaines or Eddie Gill? Tough choice. Qyntel Woods might be good "if he gets his head on straight"? That is like saying that if Jay Williams were 7'1" he'd already have a guaranteed deal. Matt Barnes? When Keith Van Horn was a freshman at Utah I watched him play in a late night game from a hotel room somewhere. I said that night that he was the best freshman player I had ever seen in the NCAA. Well, as you might expect, I am just a tad embarrassed with that analysis right about now. But with Bonzi Wells now signed KVH moves to the top of the trash heap!! The Timberwolves apparently prefer giving Paul Shirley a chance....
Tony Snow "Just Naughty E-mails"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/10/02/wh-on-page-scandal-simp_n_30731.html. So when PM turns 16, I guess I should be HAPPY if he is "only" receiving IMs of this sort from 52 year old men................
Mark Foley -- I am an Alcoholic
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/fbi-examines-foleys-e-mails-to-teen/20060929145509990001?cid=2194. Um, OK. I forgive you then. I mean, when he gets drunk what 52 year old guy doesn't immediately go over to the computer and ask a 16 year old guy what he is wearing, how long he is, and how he pleasures himself? So, yeah, Foley deserves a complete pass on this one. Here is a sentence that just floors me: Rep. Thomas Reynolds of New York, head of the House Republican election effort, said he told Hastert months ago about the allegations involving a 16-year-old boy from Louisiana. I have no doubt that he did, but why would Reynolds EVER state this to the press!?!? I mean, OK, you did your job, the boss looked the other way, the perv got caught, you are going to come out looking good in the subsequent investigation. You are the guy in charge of getting GOP folk elected! Why make sure that everyone KNOWS that Hastert looked the other way? Very odd....
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