http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/stats?team=lal&year=2007
Bynum, (if Kobe is to be believed) is the guy whom the Lakers refused to deal to get Jason Kidd. OK, fine. He looks like he has quite an upside, so let's see what he can do.
Game 1 against a team playing Yao Ming and Mutombo -- 19 minutes. Kwame Brown? 28 minutes? Ronny Turiaf? 24 minutes.
Don't we basically know the ceiling on Kwame Brown and Ronny Turiaf? I mean, the best they could possibly be are (in order) Udonis Haslem and Drew Gooden. So you play these guys instead of a 20 year old 7 footer? Management and Phil need to start talking here. If Bynum CAN play, play him. If not, don't be nixing trades in which he is a key cog....
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Note to Single Guys -- How to Break Up With Someone
It is Halloween, which has basically turned into a lingerie festival for females 17-33. So, if you single guys are lucky tonight, maybe you get a chance for success outside of your existing failing relationship. But how to end it thereafter? AOL offers these tips:
http://personals.aol.com/love-dating/_a/the-latest-in-love-and-dating-newsis-it/20071016162609990001
But allow me, as an alternative, to provide you with HM's guide for breaking up with someone:
1) If you have had less than 3 dates, simply ignore them and do not answer their phone calls. I used this effectively to dump someone in late 1989. I am sure that if the woman ever found me again she would kill me. But hey, time heals all wounds -- just ask Steve Buschemi's character in "Billy Madison."
2) Have your father explain to them that you have a new girlfriend and she will be at the house later that night. My dad's finest moment -- at my high school play, April 1982.....
3) Tell her, "I can't ask you to the prom, I asked out a girl from another town several months ago." This not only worked in April 1982 but I continued to date BOTH! I was, no doubt, helped by not adding the truthful line, "She is my real girlfriend and I would have asked her over you anyway."
4) Tell them that since you are moving to separate towns after school that you really each have to move on and get on with your SEPARATE lives. This can take two forms: a) a bullshit line you utter hoping that you can still have sex with them for the short term and that things may even work out in the long-term (April 1986 version); or b) a line you wish you had uttered 6 months into the 2-year relationship and you thank God that the job market for your s.o. is so limited in the town you have chosen! (mid-1989 version).
5) Explain to them that their decision to call you and talk for 45 minutes every third day is inappropriate. This is particularly so when you you have told them 10 times that you have moved on and are dating someone else.........and she is 2 feet from the phone right now eyeing a butcher knife. (Mid-1990 usage).
6) Say, in words or in substance, "Dump Me!?! Well screw YOU! In my heart (or mind or soul depending upon your level of indignation) I dumped you a Looooooooooong time ago honey. Good luck with which ever poorly-endowed closeted male you have been banging behind my back." While not exactly regaining the high ground, it makes you feel better in the 2 minutes it takes to shuffle away to cry. (Utilized over the telephone in October 1983 and in person in early 1990).
Happy Halloween..........and Good Luck!
http://personals.aol.com/love-dating/_a/the-latest-in-love-and-dating-newsis-it/20071016162609990001
But allow me, as an alternative, to provide you with HM's guide for breaking up with someone:
1) If you have had less than 3 dates, simply ignore them and do not answer their phone calls. I used this effectively to dump someone in late 1989. I am sure that if the woman ever found me again she would kill me. But hey, time heals all wounds -- just ask Steve Buschemi's character in "Billy Madison."
2) Have your father explain to them that you have a new girlfriend and she will be at the house later that night. My dad's finest moment -- at my high school play, April 1982.....
3) Tell her, "I can't ask you to the prom, I asked out a girl from another town several months ago." This not only worked in April 1982 but I continued to date BOTH! I was, no doubt, helped by not adding the truthful line, "She is my real girlfriend and I would have asked her over you anyway."
4) Tell them that since you are moving to separate towns after school that you really each have to move on and get on with your SEPARATE lives. This can take two forms: a) a bullshit line you utter hoping that you can still have sex with them for the short term and that things may even work out in the long-term (April 1986 version); or b) a line you wish you had uttered 6 months into the 2-year relationship and you thank God that the job market for your s.o. is so limited in the town you have chosen! (mid-1989 version).
5) Explain to them that their decision to call you and talk for 45 minutes every third day is inappropriate. This is particularly so when you you have told them 10 times that you have moved on and are dating someone else.........and she is 2 feet from the phone right now eyeing a butcher knife. (Mid-1990 usage).
6) Say, in words or in substance, "Dump Me!?! Well screw YOU! In my heart (or mind or soul depending upon your level of indignation) I dumped you a Looooooooooong time ago honey. Good luck with which ever poorly-endowed closeted male you have been banging behind my back." While not exactly regaining the high ground, it makes you feel better in the 2 minutes it takes to shuffle away to cry. (Utilized over the telephone in October 1983 and in person in early 1990).
Happy Halloween..........and Good Luck!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
State Maps
The bottom map shows the UMKC 1999 State Enlightenment Ranking, ranking states by 12 criteria. Red is best, then yellow, then green then blue. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/states/usMAIN.html
The top map shows the 2004 Presidential Electoral College results.
The correlation is less than I would have thought. While the very least enlightened states in the union did uniformly go for GWB, 11 of the 19 most enlightened also went for GWB! Except for Oklahoma, Indiana and Alaska, the more mediocre green states either went to Kerry or were at least close for the Dems.
Food for thought.
Randy Foye Out Indefinitely -- Let the Sebastian Telfair Era Begin
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3086803
"Coach" Wittman didn't think Foye could play anyway; this just gives him more time to look at Telfair. Since Marko Jaric is owed $27MM through April of 2011, maybe it is time for him to start earning his keep at the point anyway.............
"Coach" Wittman didn't think Foye could play anyway; this just gives him more time to look at Telfair. Since Marko Jaric is owed $27MM through April of 2011, maybe it is time for him to start earning his keep at the point anyway.............
Minnesota Timberwolves -- Evaluating The Upside
I saw the Wolves actually beat the Bucks (by the way, Yi Jianlian?? Good thing he was scoring on that chair in his video, b/c I don't think he could defend a chair). Based upon that sampling of Wolves play, here is what I would do as Coach/GM:
1) Start Foye/McCants/Ratliff/Jefferson/Walker. Gomes would be the first guy off the bench and Chris Richard (may weigh 280 pounds, pure muscle) would serve as backup at the 4 and 5 spots.
2) Watch old game films of Musselman's Wolves and the old Terrell Brandon Cavs. Walk the ball up, start your offense at about 9 on the shot clock, post Al and anyone else with a mismatch, crash the boards. If you get a rebound, hold for the entire shot clock again. Run the same play 14 times in a row. Spot McCants up as a 3 point shooter and advise him that he is NEVER to dribble the ball. Same with Toine.
3) Identify your top 10 guys. I would say take the 7 above and add Cory Brewer (thinnest non-Sudanese player ever in the NBA), Greg Buckner and Telfair. Then start trying to deal anyone else for the worst big contract you can find. Stephon? Larry Hughes? Baron Davis? Mike Bibby? Brad Miller? You don't need 15 guys on your roster and things look awful bleak anyway. Hey, Brad Miller/Hughes/Bibby might not be worth $12MM, but you know what? Neither is the crap you have at the end of your roster (Walker, Marko, Madsen).
4) Fire Your Coach -- Look, he is a proven failure and the disloyalty exhibited in the Glen Taylor interview just sickens me. Let some low-level assistant be the coach.
These things get you to maybe.........30 wins?? You still suck; you still get a top 10 draft pick. You probably get a center in the draft. You sell ugly close games and hope.
1) Start Foye/McCants/Ratliff/Jefferson/Walker. Gomes would be the first guy off the bench and Chris Richard (may weigh 280 pounds, pure muscle) would serve as backup at the 4 and 5 spots.
2) Watch old game films of Musselman's Wolves and the old Terrell Brandon Cavs. Walk the ball up, start your offense at about 9 on the shot clock, post Al and anyone else with a mismatch, crash the boards. If you get a rebound, hold for the entire shot clock again. Run the same play 14 times in a row. Spot McCants up as a 3 point shooter and advise him that he is NEVER to dribble the ball. Same with Toine.
3) Identify your top 10 guys. I would say take the 7 above and add Cory Brewer (thinnest non-Sudanese player ever in the NBA), Greg Buckner and Telfair. Then start trying to deal anyone else for the worst big contract you can find. Stephon? Larry Hughes? Baron Davis? Mike Bibby? Brad Miller? You don't need 15 guys on your roster and things look awful bleak anyway. Hey, Brad Miller/Hughes/Bibby might not be worth $12MM, but you know what? Neither is the crap you have at the end of your roster (Walker, Marko, Madsen).
4) Fire Your Coach -- Look, he is a proven failure and the disloyalty exhibited in the Glen Taylor interview just sickens me. Let some low-level assistant be the coach.
These things get you to maybe.........30 wins?? You still suck; you still get a top 10 draft pick. You probably get a center in the draft. You sell ugly close games and hope.
Minnesota Timberwolves -- Simply Bizarre (Part III)
7) The Signing Decisions of the Players Involved in The Miami Trade -- As I stated here on the Blog, Antoine Walker should have been immediately bought out, as should Doleac, as should Wayne Simien.
The Wolves (who were buying out Juwan Howard -- a guy with some mileage left who could help their young big guys) choose to cut the young Simien and retain oldsters Walker and Doleac! Again, why?
Explain to me any logical reason for keeping a guy in Walker who is 20 pounds over his playing weight and who is one of the most overpaid players in the league based upon production per game and production per minute. Go ahead, I will wait. Nothing?
Doleac is past his prime, if he ever had one. He MAY have some value later in the year when a team headed for the playoffs may want an emergency center, but really, what is the upside trade value? A very low first rounder? A second?
I had no interest in Wayne Simien, but hey, if you are going to keep one guy out of this bunch, at least keep the young guy.
8) The Gathering Gloom -- Let's be frank. The Wolves' roster is a disaster. What they had hoped to gain from the Garnett trade (salary cap room) will be a figment of their imagination very shortly. Why? Let's examine.
Dead Salary Cap Money Through 2009 -- Approximately $31,500,000 (Walker, Howard, Marko, Troy, Madsen)
Dead Salary Cap Money in 2010 -- Approximately $17,000,000 (Marko, Troy, Madsen)
They hope to save money through expiring contracts of Ratliff and Doleac ($15MM) but is the plan to go with NO center in 2008-09? I will be absolutely astounded if the Wolves are not a bottom 3 team in the NBA this year. So, that means they will pick top 6 in the draft, a draft heavy with smaller players -- http://nbadraft.net/ Unless they plan on going with a 6'8" center, they will need to spend some free agent money to upgrade the position.
So, let's say the Wolves spend $5MM there. They still saved $10MM, right? Well.....................
Guys Coming Up For Renewal -- The good thing about having good young players is they are cheap. The bad news is that if they are good, you eventually have to pay them.
The Wolves have Craig Smith, Ryan Gomes, Randy Foye, Rashad McCants, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson under contract for a total of about $10,000,000. Six guys you think are good -- paying them about $10MM. With Jefferson you are looking at an extension starting at about $9-10MM a year. You have to sign him. You have no choice. You traded a HOF power forward for him.
So, the increased Big Al salary equals about $7-8MM. There goes most of your savings from dropping Ratliff and Doleac. I would trade Craig Smith. But I would keep Gomes, who is at least as good as Luke Walton, so you are looking at a $5MM increase there. You MUST trade either Green or McCants. But the other one is going to want at least Trenton Hassell money ($4MM a year) to stay. So, another $2.5MM gone. Foye has been identified by your head coach of choice as a guy who basically can't play the only position that makes him a valuable asset (PG), so he has to be gone.
But if you drop Foye, you need to spend his money on either a veteran or on (egad) Sebastian Telfair. So you see no savings there, and you are paying your point guard at least $5MM a year.
So, in 2009, you have $31MM in dead money; $5MM for a veteran center(s); $10MM on Al Jefferson; $6MM on Gomes; $4MM on your starting off guard and $5MM on your starting point guard. That is $61,000,000 in committed salary, plus the salary for probably 3 or 4 draft choices, so about $70,000,000 in total.
Salary cap savings from dealing the suddenly-cancerous Kevin Garnett? That would be zero.
HM
The Wolves (who were buying out Juwan Howard -- a guy with some mileage left who could help their young big guys) choose to cut the young Simien and retain oldsters Walker and Doleac! Again, why?
Explain to me any logical reason for keeping a guy in Walker who is 20 pounds over his playing weight and who is one of the most overpaid players in the league based upon production per game and production per minute. Go ahead, I will wait. Nothing?
Doleac is past his prime, if he ever had one. He MAY have some value later in the year when a team headed for the playoffs may want an emergency center, but really, what is the upside trade value? A very low first rounder? A second?
I had no interest in Wayne Simien, but hey, if you are going to keep one guy out of this bunch, at least keep the young guy.
8) The Gathering Gloom -- Let's be frank. The Wolves' roster is a disaster. What they had hoped to gain from the Garnett trade (salary cap room) will be a figment of their imagination very shortly. Why? Let's examine.
Dead Salary Cap Money Through 2009 -- Approximately $31,500,000 (Walker, Howard, Marko, Troy, Madsen)
Dead Salary Cap Money in 2010 -- Approximately $17,000,000 (Marko, Troy, Madsen)
They hope to save money through expiring contracts of Ratliff and Doleac ($15MM) but is the plan to go with NO center in 2008-09? I will be absolutely astounded if the Wolves are not a bottom 3 team in the NBA this year. So, that means they will pick top 6 in the draft, a draft heavy with smaller players -- http://nbadraft.net/ Unless they plan on going with a 6'8" center, they will need to spend some free agent money to upgrade the position.
So, let's say the Wolves spend $5MM there. They still saved $10MM, right? Well.....................
Guys Coming Up For Renewal -- The good thing about having good young players is they are cheap. The bad news is that if they are good, you eventually have to pay them.
The Wolves have Craig Smith, Ryan Gomes, Randy Foye, Rashad McCants, Gerald Green and Al Jefferson under contract for a total of about $10,000,000. Six guys you think are good -- paying them about $10MM. With Jefferson you are looking at an extension starting at about $9-10MM a year. You have to sign him. You have no choice. You traded a HOF power forward for him.
So, the increased Big Al salary equals about $7-8MM. There goes most of your savings from dropping Ratliff and Doleac. I would trade Craig Smith. But I would keep Gomes, who is at least as good as Luke Walton, so you are looking at a $5MM increase there. You MUST trade either Green or McCants. But the other one is going to want at least Trenton Hassell money ($4MM a year) to stay. So, another $2.5MM gone. Foye has been identified by your head coach of choice as a guy who basically can't play the only position that makes him a valuable asset (PG), so he has to be gone.
But if you drop Foye, you need to spend his money on either a veteran or on (egad) Sebastian Telfair. So you see no savings there, and you are paying your point guard at least $5MM a year.
So, in 2009, you have $31MM in dead money; $5MM for a veteran center(s); $10MM on Al Jefferson; $6MM on Gomes; $4MM on your starting off guard and $5MM on your starting point guard. That is $61,000,000 in committed salary, plus the salary for probably 3 or 4 draft choices, so about $70,000,000 in total.
Salary cap savings from dealing the suddenly-cancerous Kevin Garnett? That would be zero.
HM
Minnesota Timberwolves -- Simply Bizarre (Part II)
5) Hiring Randy Wittman -- Minnesota went 20-20 with Dwane Casey, 12-30 with Randy Wittman. So, at the end of the season, the Wolves (who had fired Casey) signed Wittman to a long-term deal.
Glen Taylor ("GT") in the Pioneer Press ("PP) on why he went with Wittman:
PP: You didn't see enough effort when Wittman was the coach or when Casey was in charge, before he was fired in January?
GT: I didn't see it in either one. I thought I was going to see it when Randy took over. I don't think I saw it like what I expected to see. There was some improvement, but I don't think he ever got it.
PP: So why did you re-sign Wittman to be the permanent coach?
GT: I don't know if we could have made those changes with K.G. here. I don't know that Randy would have made any difference if K.G. was here. I think without K.G., with new guys, it might work with Randy.
It has more to do with K.G., and K.G. not liking Mike James, and Marko (Jaric), and he didn't like Mark Blount. Heavens, half the starting team. And Ricky (Davis) didn't listen to (Wittman). So it was kind of like, holy gripes. But I don't know who I could have brought in. I know I would have had to bring in a really experienced guy. There weren't too many guys available.
Maybe the Houston coach (former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy). I probably would have gone after him, because he could have come up here and maybe set the tone. You would have had to have had a guy like that. But once I made up my mind, which I did pretty early after the season ... that K.G. was gone, by that time, it was like, well then I think if I do that, then I think Randy can work.
PP: Was Garnett's personality, or something else about him, pushing you to trade him?
GT: I think there was a lot of stuff going on that we just couldn't talk about publicly. K.G. wanted Trenton (Hassell, forward) around. K.G. wanted Troy (Hudson, guard) around. And those guys took advantage of the situation, and it drove me nuts. I thought both of those guys could have been better players. But somehow because K.G. stuck up for them, they probably would have both been better players this year without K.G. But they had gone down the rope so far.
There was just a lot of little things going on. Ricky did some things, said some things that were wrong. K.G. should have confronted him. And he didn't do it. Then Dwane didn't do it, either. I asked K.G. about it, and his answer kind of was, 'I just don't want to baby-sit him.' I know those are kind of harsh words, but that's what leadership is about. None of us like to call it baby-sitting.
But leadership is taking on things at times when you might think it's beneath you. But it's not beneath you because you cut them off when they're little things. That's the time to cut them off, before they become major things. K.G. could have said it in a way that they would have done it.
PP: In what ways did Hassell and Hudson take advantage of their relationship with Garnett?
GT: They just didn't put the effort into it like they should have. Somehow, Trenton thought he had earned the starting role, and K.G. would keep him on the starting role. Neither guy would help certain teammates out on the floor. It wasn't as apparent to me until Wittman said, "here's what they're doing, watch them". They would run a play, and Trenton was supposed to cover for the other guy, and he wouldn't cover for the other guy. The fans didn't know that. So the other guy looked pretty stupid.
It was little stuff that ticked their teammates off. They did it to Mike James. They did it to Ricky sometimes. Of course, Ricky did it to them sometimes. Ricky was smart enough to figure things out. You don't cover my guy, I don't cover your guy. It was that type of little crap. What I'm kind of saying is, if they do it this year, pull them out of the gosh-darn game. Sit them down right there. So now you know, I'm pulling you out. I'll put you back in, but you're not doing what you just did. I saw what you did. And he can have Jerry (Sichting, assistant coach) tell them that. Or he can have Bob (Ociepka, assistant coach) tell them that. But don't make it like, well, the coach is going to jump on that guy in public.
OK, so now you have an owner going on the record as saying that he basically had to trade Kevin Garnett because Garnett (generally known as a great teammate and beloved throughout the league) did not like guys like Mike James, Mark Blount, and Marko Jaric and because KG would not act to discipline Ricky Davis for his mis-deeds.
You also have an owner saying he fired a head coach because players like T-Hud (who never played) and Trenton Hassell (who played half the game, at most) were sabotaging their teammates in games under Dwane Casey. And that Taylor knows this fact because he was told by..........Randy Wittman!!!!!!!!! So, your Assistant Regional Manager Dwight Schrute goes up to the company president and says, "Hey, Michael Scott's guys aren't working very hard for him, make me the Regional Manager!" And do you fire Dwight for being a disloyal piece of crap? Nope. You fire Michael........whose guys immediately start working WORSE for Dwight! Again, why?
Um, OK, so if that is the case and KG was such a frigging cancer, you're going to KEEP all of these otherwise-wonderful guys who he and his bob-bos just was alienating, right? I mean, James, Blount, Davis, you gotta keep them, right?
6) The Miami Trade -- Davis and Blount to Miami for Antoine Walker, Doleac and Simien
Well, thank goodness that cancer KG is gone! Now the guys he and Trenton Hassell have kept down for so long can flourish!! Ricky, Blount, welcome to stardom!!!
Oh, wait, seems Ricky and Blount also don't like the COACH (so, if KG and Hassell are gone for undermining Ricky and Blount, then Wittman must also be gone for.........oh wait, when Wittman doesn't like a guy then that is justified and the guy needs to be gone).
Summary -- When your top 25 all-time NBA player doesn't like teammates, he must be traded. When your bottom 25 all-time head coach doesn't like the same exact guys...........THEY must be traded......Wow.
More to come.
Glen Taylor ("GT") in the Pioneer Press ("PP) on why he went with Wittman:
PP: You didn't see enough effort when Wittman was the coach or when Casey was in charge, before he was fired in January?
GT: I didn't see it in either one. I thought I was going to see it when Randy took over. I don't think I saw it like what I expected to see. There was some improvement, but I don't think he ever got it.
PP: So why did you re-sign Wittman to be the permanent coach?
GT: I don't know if we could have made those changes with K.G. here. I don't know that Randy would have made any difference if K.G. was here. I think without K.G., with new guys, it might work with Randy.
It has more to do with K.G., and K.G. not liking Mike James, and Marko (Jaric), and he didn't like Mark Blount. Heavens, half the starting team. And Ricky (Davis) didn't listen to (Wittman). So it was kind of like, holy gripes. But I don't know who I could have brought in. I know I would have had to bring in a really experienced guy. There weren't too many guys available.
Maybe the Houston coach (former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy). I probably would have gone after him, because he could have come up here and maybe set the tone. You would have had to have had a guy like that. But once I made up my mind, which I did pretty early after the season ... that K.G. was gone, by that time, it was like, well then I think if I do that, then I think Randy can work.
PP: Was Garnett's personality, or something else about him, pushing you to trade him?
GT: I think there was a lot of stuff going on that we just couldn't talk about publicly. K.G. wanted Trenton (Hassell, forward) around. K.G. wanted Troy (Hudson, guard) around. And those guys took advantage of the situation, and it drove me nuts. I thought both of those guys could have been better players. But somehow because K.G. stuck up for them, they probably would have both been better players this year without K.G. But they had gone down the rope so far.
There was just a lot of little things going on. Ricky did some things, said some things that were wrong. K.G. should have confronted him. And he didn't do it. Then Dwane didn't do it, either. I asked K.G. about it, and his answer kind of was, 'I just don't want to baby-sit him.' I know those are kind of harsh words, but that's what leadership is about. None of us like to call it baby-sitting.
But leadership is taking on things at times when you might think it's beneath you. But it's not beneath you because you cut them off when they're little things. That's the time to cut them off, before they become major things. K.G. could have said it in a way that they would have done it.
PP: In what ways did Hassell and Hudson take advantage of their relationship with Garnett?
GT: They just didn't put the effort into it like they should have. Somehow, Trenton thought he had earned the starting role, and K.G. would keep him on the starting role. Neither guy would help certain teammates out on the floor. It wasn't as apparent to me until Wittman said, "here's what they're doing, watch them". They would run a play, and Trenton was supposed to cover for the other guy, and he wouldn't cover for the other guy. The fans didn't know that. So the other guy looked pretty stupid.
It was little stuff that ticked their teammates off. They did it to Mike James. They did it to Ricky sometimes. Of course, Ricky did it to them sometimes. Ricky was smart enough to figure things out. You don't cover my guy, I don't cover your guy. It was that type of little crap. What I'm kind of saying is, if they do it this year, pull them out of the gosh-darn game. Sit them down right there. So now you know, I'm pulling you out. I'll put you back in, but you're not doing what you just did. I saw what you did. And he can have Jerry (Sichting, assistant coach) tell them that. Or he can have Bob (Ociepka, assistant coach) tell them that. But don't make it like, well, the coach is going to jump on that guy in public.
OK, so now you have an owner going on the record as saying that he basically had to trade Kevin Garnett because Garnett (generally known as a great teammate and beloved throughout the league) did not like guys like Mike James, Mark Blount, and Marko Jaric and because KG would not act to discipline Ricky Davis for his mis-deeds.
You also have an owner saying he fired a head coach because players like T-Hud (who never played) and Trenton Hassell (who played half the game, at most) were sabotaging their teammates in games under Dwane Casey. And that Taylor knows this fact because he was told by..........Randy Wittman!!!!!!!!! So, your Assistant Regional Manager Dwight Schrute goes up to the company president and says, "Hey, Michael Scott's guys aren't working very hard for him, make me the Regional Manager!" And do you fire Dwight for being a disloyal piece of crap? Nope. You fire Michael........whose guys immediately start working WORSE for Dwight! Again, why?
Um, OK, so if that is the case and KG was such a frigging cancer, you're going to KEEP all of these otherwise-wonderful guys who he and his bob-bos just was alienating, right? I mean, James, Blount, Davis, you gotta keep them, right?
6) The Miami Trade -- Davis and Blount to Miami for Antoine Walker, Doleac and Simien
Well, thank goodness that cancer KG is gone! Now the guys he and Trenton Hassell have kept down for so long can flourish!! Ricky, Blount, welcome to stardom!!!
Oh, wait, seems Ricky and Blount also don't like the COACH (so, if KG and Hassell are gone for undermining Ricky and Blount, then Wittman must also be gone for.........oh wait, when Wittman doesn't like a guy then that is justified and the guy needs to be gone).
Summary -- When your top 25 all-time NBA player doesn't like teammates, he must be traded. When your bottom 25 all-time head coach doesn't like the same exact guys...........THEY must be traded......Wow.
More to come.
Minnesota Timberwolves -- Simply Bizarre (Part I)
OK. Over this off season the Timberwolves have completed some extremely bizarre transactions that leave even a veteran NBA fan such as myself scratching my head. Let's start and see how far we can get:
1) Retaining Kevin McHale rather than Kevin Garnett -- Recently Wolves owner Glen Taylor stated to the local paper that Garnett wanted his buddies around him (Troy Hudson, Trenton Hassell) and that hurt the team and didn't allow the coaches to properly discipline Garnett or his buddies. First, what proof do we have of that? When McHale was COACH he played Hassell all of the time and ran plays for him. Was KG requiring that? Second, did KG say, "Give T-Hud a ridiculous contract." I doubt it.
The problem for the Wolves for years has been McHale's inability to surround Garnett with talent. Taylor's recent interview states that McHale is bad with "details" like knowing "who the good European players are." Um, wow. This is like saying that as a lawyer I am bad with details like knowing what law giverns the case. Maybe something I should know???
McHale -- kept. KG -- gone.
2) Troy Hudson Deal -- The Wolves buy out the remaining two years on T-Hud's contract. Um, why? Is the guy such a cancer that you can't even stand to have him on the roster? So, you end up paying him anyway, he signs with Golden State for nothing and then you spend all pre-season bitching that you have no healthy PGs in camp. Arg.
3) Juwan Howard Deal -- OK, you get Juwan Howard from Houston for Mike James - YOUR STARTING POINT GUARD!!!!! Ok, fine, whatever, pick up size you badly needed and drop a little salary....Then Howard sees KG is traded and asks, very politely, to be traded if possible. The Wolves have so badly bloated their roster that they have more than 15 guys on it, so they decide...........to cut Juwan Howard!!!!!!!!
Hiward accepts a $10MM buyout. This effectively means that the Point Guard Poor Wolves have traded their starting point guard for..............no one. Yep. Took an NBA-level top 20 or top 25 point guard and received for him.......................nothing.
What makes this deal even ODDER is that the Wolves could have simply cut Mark Madsen (who has $6MM left on his deal, only $2MM of which I believ is guaranteed). This would have allowed them to keep Howard, play him some, try to find other trade offers this year and next. I have no problem with making Mark Madsen an assistant coach or a VP of Public Relations. But he never HAS been a decent NBA player and he never WILL be a decent NBA player. AND HE IS HURT!!! (Bad shoulder, out through mid-November).
So, you take a guy who has value in the league (Howard) and drop him for nothing. He probably ends up in Chicago or Boston.
4) Beno Udrih Deal -- Randy Foye is basically playing on one leg (bad knee), so that leaves a PG combo of Telfair, Jaric and Buckner. Yikes!!! So I hear that the Wolves have acquired Beno Udrih from the Spurs. OK, no NBA title on the horizon in MN, but maybe worth a shot.
But NO!! The paper says the Wolves are doing this deal simply as a favor to the Spurs to get the Spurs under the luxury tax!!! What? Why? You are HELPING the Spurs? And for...........cash? That is truly sad. Glen Taylor is worth $2B. $2,000,000,000. He needs to do deals for cash consideration that help his Western Conference rivals? WTF?
Plus, how does the league allow this sham of a deal to be processed? The Spurs want Udrih off their payroll. They trade him to MN and give MN the money to pay his salary (and probably more)!!!! Then the Wolves "trade" the Spurs a second round pick that is only good if MN finishes in the top 4 teams in the league!! And if not...........the pick expires in a year!!
If the Wolves finish in the top 4 in the league this year, I will walk to their first road playoff game wearing a strapless prom dress of PAR's choosing.
Amazing. More to come.
1) Retaining Kevin McHale rather than Kevin Garnett -- Recently Wolves owner Glen Taylor stated to the local paper that Garnett wanted his buddies around him (Troy Hudson, Trenton Hassell) and that hurt the team and didn't allow the coaches to properly discipline Garnett or his buddies. First, what proof do we have of that? When McHale was COACH he played Hassell all of the time and ran plays for him. Was KG requiring that? Second, did KG say, "Give T-Hud a ridiculous contract." I doubt it.
The problem for the Wolves for years has been McHale's inability to surround Garnett with talent. Taylor's recent interview states that McHale is bad with "details" like knowing "who the good European players are." Um, wow. This is like saying that as a lawyer I am bad with details like knowing what law giverns the case. Maybe something I should know???
McHale -- kept. KG -- gone.
2) Troy Hudson Deal -- The Wolves buy out the remaining two years on T-Hud's contract. Um, why? Is the guy such a cancer that you can't even stand to have him on the roster? So, you end up paying him anyway, he signs with Golden State for nothing and then you spend all pre-season bitching that you have no healthy PGs in camp. Arg.
3) Juwan Howard Deal -- OK, you get Juwan Howard from Houston for Mike James - YOUR STARTING POINT GUARD!!!!! Ok, fine, whatever, pick up size you badly needed and drop a little salary....Then Howard sees KG is traded and asks, very politely, to be traded if possible. The Wolves have so badly bloated their roster that they have more than 15 guys on it, so they decide...........to cut Juwan Howard!!!!!!!!
Hiward accepts a $10MM buyout. This effectively means that the Point Guard Poor Wolves have traded their starting point guard for..............no one. Yep. Took an NBA-level top 20 or top 25 point guard and received for him.......................nothing.
What makes this deal even ODDER is that the Wolves could have simply cut Mark Madsen (who has $6MM left on his deal, only $2MM of which I believ is guaranteed). This would have allowed them to keep Howard, play him some, try to find other trade offers this year and next. I have no problem with making Mark Madsen an assistant coach or a VP of Public Relations. But he never HAS been a decent NBA player and he never WILL be a decent NBA player. AND HE IS HURT!!! (Bad shoulder, out through mid-November).
So, you take a guy who has value in the league (Howard) and drop him for nothing. He probably ends up in Chicago or Boston.
4) Beno Udrih Deal -- Randy Foye is basically playing on one leg (bad knee), so that leaves a PG combo of Telfair, Jaric and Buckner. Yikes!!! So I hear that the Wolves have acquired Beno Udrih from the Spurs. OK, no NBA title on the horizon in MN, but maybe worth a shot.
But NO!! The paper says the Wolves are doing this deal simply as a favor to the Spurs to get the Spurs under the luxury tax!!! What? Why? You are HELPING the Spurs? And for...........cash? That is truly sad. Glen Taylor is worth $2B. $2,000,000,000. He needs to do deals for cash consideration that help his Western Conference rivals? WTF?
Plus, how does the league allow this sham of a deal to be processed? The Spurs want Udrih off their payroll. They trade him to MN and give MN the money to pay his salary (and probably more)!!!! Then the Wolves "trade" the Spurs a second round pick that is only good if MN finishes in the top 4 teams in the league!! And if not...........the pick expires in a year!!
If the Wolves finish in the top 4 in the league this year, I will walk to their first road playoff game wearing a strapless prom dress of PAR's choosing.
Amazing. More to come.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Caption Contest
When looking for pics this AM, I ran across this pic'. It is someone semi-famous, I think (I couldn't be bothered to find her name in the set of Blog items).
Captions? I will put mine first in the comments section.
Father -- Son Defrauded Out of $53,000 at Strip Club
http://www.local10.com/news/14445406/detail.html
My initial thought was that the son must have at least gotten his money's worth at the Fort Walton Beach strip club for $53,000. Sadly, it appears that most of the bill resulted from purchases of champagne (19 bottles, $150 to $2,000 a bottle). Son, if you have $10-20K or more to blow on champagne, get a limo, find a club VIP room, and just hire some working girls. My lord, for $53,000 at least get a sure thing....
My initial thought was that the son must have at least gotten his money's worth at the Fort Walton Beach strip club for $53,000. Sadly, it appears that most of the bill resulted from purchases of champagne (19 bottles, $150 to $2,000 a bottle). Son, if you have $10-20K or more to blow on champagne, get a limo, find a club VIP room, and just hire some working girls. My lord, for $53,000 at least get a sure thing....
Porter Wagoner -- Dead at 80
http://music.aol.com/news/story/_a/country-star-porter-wagoner-80-dies/n20071029011909990003?cid=525
When I was around 7 or 8, I used to listen to the Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner 8-track tapes that my parents owned. One of my favorite tunes was "Run That By Me One More Time."
In honor of the late Mr. Wagoner, I offer up the lyrics -- featuring overspending, alcoholism and threats of violence -- today. RIP.
[Beginning chorus]
Run that by me one more time to make sure that I heard you right
I hope you don't expect me to believe that line
I might be crazy but I ain't dumb and I know a lie when I hear one
Would you run that by me one more time
Well you're late again I see what's your excuse this time
Don't try to kiss and make up when you smell so strong from wine
Well I'm not late the clock is wrong you need to wind Big Ben
Honey that's not wine you smell that's aftershave for men
Would you run that by me one more time
[chorus repeat]
What happened to the money I gave you to pay the rent
The rent is overdue and we ain't got one red cent
Well I put it in the cookie jar that day you brought it home
One day when I come back from town
I'll be dogged if that money wasn't gone
Ha ha would you run that by me one more time
[chorus repeat]
[talking part]
You keep drinkin' that aftershave it's gonna kill you.....if I'm lucky
You spent that money didn't you?
I didn't spend it
I oughta box your jaws
Oh you'd hit your mom before you hit me
Would you run that by me one more time
I don't want to run that by you one more time
Shut your mouth!
I don't have to you ain't my pa
Lorrie Morgan to Divorce Sammy Kershaw
And just when I thought that it was cool to start wearing these sort of T-shirts again!!!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Bill Simmons on the Vikings' Offensive Production
VIKINGS (+1) over Eagles -- I'm riding Adrian Peterson and Tarvaris Jackson's sub-50 QB rating when they're home for the rest of the season. By the way, have you seen Minny's passing stats? In six games, the Vikings have completed 83 passes total for 990 yards. Their leading WR is Bobby Wade ... yes, the Bobby Wade with 19 catches, 219 yards, 0 TDs. The next best guy is a running back (Peterson) with 11 catches for 187 yards and a TD. Their fifth-best receiver is some guy named "Shiancoe." How deep would your fantasy league have to be for somebody to pick up a Vikings receiver? Twenty-five spots per team? Thirty? Forty?
Illinois Goes to A "Moment of Silence"
Minnesota, once a Democrat hotbed, now is shading more toward Red/Purple, much to my chagrin.
I always imagined, if people kept voting for Tim Pawlenty as Governor for 20 more years and he achieved his dream of making Minnesota into Alabama, that I could always move to Chicago and the safely-Democrat State of Illinois. Then I get forwarded this wonderful e-mail from a friend of mine in a Chicago suburb:
Dear Staff and District [ ]Parents,
As you may have seen in the news, the State of Illinois recently approved a new law mandating a daily moment of silence in schools. In order to be in compliance, starting on Monday, October 29th, teacher's will be asking students to have a moment of silence before the pledge each day. Students will be asked to use this time to get ready for their day and to reflect on whatever they choose. If students ask about "what" they should be thinking during this time, teachers will tell them that they can think about whatever they would like. If students need more assistance with what to think about, teacher will encourage students to discuss this matter with their parents.
So, Illinois has joined 30+ states in returning school prayer to our public schools through a contrived idea of a "moment of silence." Wow. Just awesome. I will start lining up distributors for the 10 Commandments tablets that are almost certain to follow shortly.
I always imagined, if people kept voting for Tim Pawlenty as Governor for 20 more years and he achieved his dream of making Minnesota into Alabama, that I could always move to Chicago and the safely-Democrat State of Illinois. Then I get forwarded this wonderful e-mail from a friend of mine in a Chicago suburb:
Dear Staff and District [ ]Parents,
As you may have seen in the news, the State of Illinois recently approved a new law mandating a daily moment of silence in schools. In order to be in compliance, starting on Monday, October 29th, teacher's will be asking students to have a moment of silence before the pledge each day. Students will be asked to use this time to get ready for their day and to reflect on whatever they choose. If students ask about "what" they should be thinking during this time, teachers will tell them that they can think about whatever they would like. If students need more assistance with what to think about, teacher will encourage students to discuss this matter with their parents.
So, Illinois has joined 30+ states in returning school prayer to our public schools through a contrived idea of a "moment of silence." Wow. Just awesome. I will start lining up distributors for the 10 Commandments tablets that are almost certain to follow shortly.
"Please pause to think about your day and whatever else you choose to think about. And if you don't know what to think about -- you damned well better be praying!!! And to the proper God by the way!"
I await the first kid who asks, "Teacher, what should we be thinking about?" I would instruct my child to stand up and state, "I will be thinking about how we should all hate going to church!" Fittingly, the moment of prayer in Illinois follows the Pledge of Allegiance, which 65 years ago the Supreme Court found children could not be forced to say.
Perhaps a better outburst for a child would be, "I am praying to Allah. I am a Muslim, the one true religion...." My kids are Catholic. I guess I could send them with portable kneelers and crosses and statues of Jesus. They could get down on their knees and cross themselves and pray to the crucifix. Maybe they can highlight some anti-Jewish passages of the New Testament and tape them to their desks to assist themselves http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%2026:57-26:67&version=31 in quiet reflection.
I guess I better start looking harder at Massachusetts (Sox/Patriots/BC/KG)!
As the dissenting judge stated in this opinion: http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinion.pdf/002132.P.pdf, the result of these laws is that kids come to public school every day, are required to sit in class while others pray, and are encouraged by the State to "pray" every day of their lives.
HM
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
It's Official -- Winner of Wally Szczerbiak Trade? No One.
Per Wikipedia: On January 26, 2006, Szczerbiak, along with Michael Olowokandi, Dwayne Jones and a conditional first-round draft pick, was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ricky Davis, Mark Blount, Marcus Banks, Justin Reed, and two second-round draft picks.
Now that Banks, Davis, Blount and Reed have all left Minny, we examine..........Losers in the Wally trade:
1) Female fans in Minny -- they adored Wally's good looks; one such drunken fan wandered onto the court during play one night (beer in hand) trying to get a hug from Wally.
2) Male fans who sat in the lower deck in Minny -- they adored the fact that Wally's wife always wore a revealing scoop-neck top that emphasized the fact that Wally was the second most well-built individual in his household.
3) Minnesota Timberwolves -- acquired Banks, Reed, Davis and Blount, all of whom sucked as Wolves and all of whom were allowed to leave for little or nothing. The Wolves also gave away a #1 (which they only got back when they traded Garnett to Boston, thus costing themselves a #1 in the Garnett deal).
4) Boston Celtics -- Wally was always hurt in Boston, and they sure as hell didn't want Kandi or Dwayne Jones (great Dwayne Jones story -- the Wolves give him a guaranteed deal as an undrafted free agent b/c McHale has heard what a great shot-blocker he is. I go to a summer league game -- Dwayne Jones is about 6'9" and doesn't really jump well at all; he can't block shots in a summer league game -- all you need to know about how MN is run right there).
You could argue that Wally was involved in the Ray Allen deal, but the jury is still out on that deal, plus I think what Seattle wanted was the #5 pick and ANY salary Boston could offer -- Ricky and Blount would have sufficed if still Celtics.
5) Phoenix Suns -- The Wolves should have taken Marcus Banks and buried him on the end of their bench. Instead, they foolishly played him and jacked up his free agent value (McHale traded for Banks without knowing he didn't have Banks' Bird rights, so Minnesota effectively priced themselves out of the Banks bidding by playing him in games).
The Suns "won" the bidding war for Banks, who has been horrendous as a Sun and was named LVP of the league by Bill Simmons.
6) Seattle Supersonics -- They get Wally and the mediocre Jeff Green and have to give up an all-star and the face of their franchise -- Ray Allen.
January 2006 Wally trade -- many, many losers.
Now that Banks, Davis, Blount and Reed have all left Minny, we examine..........Losers in the Wally trade:
1) Female fans in Minny -- they adored Wally's good looks; one such drunken fan wandered onto the court during play one night (beer in hand) trying to get a hug from Wally.
2) Male fans who sat in the lower deck in Minny -- they adored the fact that Wally's wife always wore a revealing scoop-neck top that emphasized the fact that Wally was the second most well-built individual in his household.
3) Minnesota Timberwolves -- acquired Banks, Reed, Davis and Blount, all of whom sucked as Wolves and all of whom were allowed to leave for little or nothing. The Wolves also gave away a #1 (which they only got back when they traded Garnett to Boston, thus costing themselves a #1 in the Garnett deal).
4) Boston Celtics -- Wally was always hurt in Boston, and they sure as hell didn't want Kandi or Dwayne Jones (great Dwayne Jones story -- the Wolves give him a guaranteed deal as an undrafted free agent b/c McHale has heard what a great shot-blocker he is. I go to a summer league game -- Dwayne Jones is about 6'9" and doesn't really jump well at all; he can't block shots in a summer league game -- all you need to know about how MN is run right there).
You could argue that Wally was involved in the Ray Allen deal, but the jury is still out on that deal, plus I think what Seattle wanted was the #5 pick and ANY salary Boston could offer -- Ricky and Blount would have sufficed if still Celtics.
5) Phoenix Suns -- The Wolves should have taken Marcus Banks and buried him on the end of their bench. Instead, they foolishly played him and jacked up his free agent value (McHale traded for Banks without knowing he didn't have Banks' Bird rights, so Minnesota effectively priced themselves out of the Banks bidding by playing him in games).
The Suns "won" the bidding war for Banks, who has been horrendous as a Sun and was named LVP of the league by Bill Simmons.
6) Seattle Supersonics -- They get Wally and the mediocre Jeff Green and have to give up an all-star and the face of their franchise -- Ray Allen.
January 2006 Wally trade -- many, many losers.
Grading the Wolves/Heat Trade
The Timberwolves traded guard Ricky Davis and center Mark Blount to Miami for three players and a first-round pick, the team announced early this afternoon.
The Heat are sending veterans Antoine Walker and Michael Doleac, along with 24-year-old Wayne Simien, to Minnesota. The Wolves also acquired a No. 1 pick, but details of that selection were unclear early this afternoon.
It would not surprise me if the Wolves cut or buy out every single player that they acquired in this trade. Certainly Doleac is gone (probably to return to Miami). Simien? Do we need a 7th power forward with limited defensive skills? If so, "Mission Accomplished."
Antoine Walker? Well, if he can't make his weight clause, maybe the local 5 doesn't have to pay him at all anyway!
Grades:
Miami -- C --- They give up no one that they want or need (Doleac is a nice guy, but not much to provide by way of actual play; Simien? Um, religious; Walker? When you constantly are on a guy about his weight, you are trying to run him off). They do give up what is likely a low #1. They get a significant talent upgrade, and a guy in Davis who is playing for a new contract.
They do have to take two cancers and Blount's contract.
Minnesota -- D -- I never thought I would be upset at the departure of the cancerous Mark Blount and Ricky Davis. And I really am not very upset. Good riddance. But what the Wolves have done is basically trade two guys who are good bench players if on a good NBA team for..........a low #1, currently projected to be something called "Ante Tomic." http://nbadraft.net/ Is this the best trade you could make? Two decent NBA players for a low #1?
The Wolves get even worse.........if that is even possible. They trade their #1 and #4 scoring options for Doleac, Simien, and a guy in Walker who was the 335th best per-minute player in the league last year -- the 233rd best player on a per game basis.
If Al Jefferson gets hurt (which he seemingly does every year), that would provide the Wolves with the rare opportunity of playing a starting lineup of Antoine Walker (233rd most productive per game), Marko Jaric (240th), Randy Foye (180th), Craig Smith (182nd) and, er, Mark Madsen (403rd)?
Assuming 30 teams and 5 guys starting per team, you would assume that it is a near statistical certainty that you have a guy starting for you who, last year, managed to be a top 150 player in Efficiency. The Wolves have a good chance at some point in the year of having no starter ranked better than 180!! Gerald Green -- 230th. As a public service to the Wolves, I will note that Ryan Gomes was a top 120 guy last year. So when Al goes down with a sore foot or aching hammy, turn to Gomes and you will have at least one NBA-level productive starter........
Off the bench, the Wolves can offer up Simien (427th best per-minute player in the league) and Rashad McCants (424th)!!
Trade Summary: "Hey, my girlfriend is a cruel, uncaring whiny little harpy who spends $15,000,00 a year -- you want her?" "Well, sure, but only if I can dump my old, fat worthless one on you who spends $13,000,000 a year." OK, deal!
The Heat are sending veterans Antoine Walker and Michael Doleac, along with 24-year-old Wayne Simien, to Minnesota. The Wolves also acquired a No. 1 pick, but details of that selection were unclear early this afternoon.
It would not surprise me if the Wolves cut or buy out every single player that they acquired in this trade. Certainly Doleac is gone (probably to return to Miami). Simien? Do we need a 7th power forward with limited defensive skills? If so, "Mission Accomplished."
Antoine Walker? Well, if he can't make his weight clause, maybe the local 5 doesn't have to pay him at all anyway!
Grades:
Miami -- C --- They give up no one that they want or need (Doleac is a nice guy, but not much to provide by way of actual play; Simien? Um, religious; Walker? When you constantly are on a guy about his weight, you are trying to run him off). They do give up what is likely a low #1. They get a significant talent upgrade, and a guy in Davis who is playing for a new contract.
They do have to take two cancers and Blount's contract.
Minnesota -- D -- I never thought I would be upset at the departure of the cancerous Mark Blount and Ricky Davis. And I really am not very upset. Good riddance. But what the Wolves have done is basically trade two guys who are good bench players if on a good NBA team for..........a low #1, currently projected to be something called "Ante Tomic." http://nbadraft.net/ Is this the best trade you could make? Two decent NBA players for a low #1?
The Wolves get even worse.........if that is even possible. They trade their #1 and #4 scoring options for Doleac, Simien, and a guy in Walker who was the 335th best per-minute player in the league last year -- the 233rd best player on a per game basis.
If Al Jefferson gets hurt (which he seemingly does every year), that would provide the Wolves with the rare opportunity of playing a starting lineup of Antoine Walker (233rd most productive per game), Marko Jaric (240th), Randy Foye (180th), Craig Smith (182nd) and, er, Mark Madsen (403rd)?
Assuming 30 teams and 5 guys starting per team, you would assume that it is a near statistical certainty that you have a guy starting for you who, last year, managed to be a top 150 player in Efficiency. The Wolves have a good chance at some point in the year of having no starter ranked better than 180!! Gerald Green -- 230th. As a public service to the Wolves, I will note that Ryan Gomes was a top 120 guy last year. So when Al goes down with a sore foot or aching hammy, turn to Gomes and you will have at least one NBA-level productive starter........
Off the bench, the Wolves can offer up Simien (427th best per-minute player in the league) and Rashad McCants (424th)!!
Trade Summary: "Hey, my girlfriend is a cruel, uncaring whiny little harpy who spends $15,000,00 a year -- you want her?" "Well, sure, but only if I can dump my old, fat worthless one on you who spends $13,000,000 a year." OK, deal!
Junk Mail Received Today
This is enough to give a guy a complex!!
Here is the exact text (e-mail address removed):
hello babe [e-mail address]
you better make it bigger! weren't those her last words?
http://www.rpmcvo.com/
Hayk Imbeault
Her LAST words were "you better make it bigger"? That's kinda mean, don't ya think?
Here is the exact text (e-mail address removed):
hello babe [e-mail address]
you better make it bigger! weren't those her last words?
http://www.rpmcvo.com/
Hayk Imbeault
Her LAST words were "you better make it bigger"? That's kinda mean, don't ya think?
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Kid Rock Arrested in Waffle House Brawl
Let me say this and let me make it perfectly clear: fighting a guy outside a Waffle House in or near Atlanta is not a crime. It just isn't. You are in what Andy at The Putdown calls the "Dirty South." You pick up some local girl and have sex with her on your tour bus, then you go to Waffle House (for you northerners, take the worst Perkins or IHOP you have ever been to, shrink it by 50%, and dump four large barrels of grease over everything). Some guy comes along and calls her a "bitch, slut, whore, etc." You say, "Wanna take this outside?" He says "Yes." You kick his ass and he commits vandalism.
Not a crime. I don't care what is on the books. I don't care whether there is a Georgia state statute called "fighting outside a Waffle House after being challenged" -- this is not a crime and no self-respecting jury in the South would ever convict you of anything at all.
Free Kid Rock! (Oh wait, he is already free, never mind....)
HM
"Nepotism"
Nepotism -- noun; the practice of appointing relatives and friends in one's organization to positions for which outsiders might be better qualified. See: Cody Hawkins -- QB, Colorado
My lord, every time I watch Colorado play I am astounded that Coach Dan Hawkins plays his son Cody at QB. My scouting report for Cody Hawkins: Short (listed at 5'11") and chunky (190). Almost completely no threat to run (season high long run -- 7 yards). Arm strength: 33 out of 100 (think of a pop gun). Struggles to get away from pressure or see over it. Throwing more INTs than TDs (14 to 13). Overmatched as an athlete, particularly against athletic teams (35 for 84 against ASU and KSU combined).
With this scouting report in mind, one has to ask: Can starting a slow and short QB with Division III arm strength really be the best available option for Colorado? The answer is a no-win for Buffs fans -- if the true answer is "no" then we have nepotism run amok; if the true answer is "yes," then this is a program in for 4 loooooong years.......C-Hawk is a redshirt freshman.
HM
BCS Standings
http://msn.foxsports.com/id/7359592_37_1.pdf
We have reached the point where there are 12 teams who can make the BCS title game. They are:
Ohio State -- must win out due to piss-poor schedule. One loss and they are out of title game.
BC -- see above
LSU -- may have to play Florida again, definitely have Alabama, 2 losses? If so, not in.
Arizona State -- All laid out for them, just beat USC, Cal, Oregon, you are in.
Oregon -- see above
Oklahoma -- Big 12 really sucks. I would guess they struggle to get in no matter what. Lost to Colorado (now 4-4). I still don't see how the human voters rank them higher than Kansas (undefeated, BEAT Colorado).
West Virginia -- Can't see it unless a ton of other teams all lose.
Virginia Tech -- will lose one of last 3 anyway.
Kansas -- now, if they do win out, they will have 0 losses and only OSU, ASU and LSU could argue that they should go instead if those three win out........
USF -- unlike Springsteen and Bon Jovi, their dreams died in New Jersey.
Florida -- they could win out and avenge LSU loss, but I just think that they got their miracle vote LAST year for the title game, will suffer backlash.
USC -- if you beat Oregon, Cal and ASU, you can argue that your loss was a one-point loss (and pray to God that the voters forget it was to Stanford).
We have reached the point where there are 12 teams who can make the BCS title game. They are:
Ohio State -- must win out due to piss-poor schedule. One loss and they are out of title game.
BC -- see above
LSU -- may have to play Florida again, definitely have Alabama, 2 losses? If so, not in.
Arizona State -- All laid out for them, just beat USC, Cal, Oregon, you are in.
Oregon -- see above
Oklahoma -- Big 12 really sucks. I would guess they struggle to get in no matter what. Lost to Colorado (now 4-4). I still don't see how the human voters rank them higher than Kansas (undefeated, BEAT Colorado).
West Virginia -- Can't see it unless a ton of other teams all lose.
Virginia Tech -- will lose one of last 3 anyway.
Kansas -- now, if they do win out, they will have 0 losses and only OSU, ASU and LSU could argue that they should go instead if those three win out........
USF -- unlike Springsteen and Bon Jovi, their dreams died in New Jersey.
Florida -- they could win out and avenge LSU loss, but I just think that they got their miracle vote LAST year for the title game, will suffer backlash.
USC -- if you beat Oregon, Cal and ASU, you can argue that your loss was a one-point loss (and pray to God that the voters forget it was to Stanford).
Brad Childress -- Offensive Genius? How About Offensive Fraud?
Now, no one needs to be told how awful the Minnesota Vikings have been and currently are on offense. But for those of you who need numbers, the Vikes were #21 in the league in offensive yards gained last year (17th in passing) and they have slipped down to 27th in the league (30th in passing) this year (it may be worse, I am not sure pro-football-reference.com is updated through this past game).
Well wait a minute! Didn't we hire offensive "genius" Brad Childress from Philly to give a big boost to our offensive production? Well, when Childress was in Philly (1999-2005) he was first quarterbacks coach and then offensive co-ordinator (though I am unsure what he co-ordinated, Andy Reid called the plays on game day).
1999 Eagles -- 31st in passing, 30th overall
2000 Eagles -- 20th in passing, 17th overall
2001 Eagles -- 19th in passing, 18th overall
2002 Eagles -- 18th in passing, 10th overall
(Childress gets promoted here)
2003 Eagles -- 18th in passing, 17th overall
Terrell Owens signed in off-season
2004 Eagles -- 6th in passing, 8th overall
2005 Eagles (Owens suspended mid-year, leads team in yardage and receiving TDs anyway and is one catch short of tying for team lead in receptions)-- 8th in passing, 15th overall
So, what does Brad Childress's coaching resume tell you? Either 1) he has NEVER done anything well (Minnesota is a complete failure, Philly's limited success was with Andy Reid calling the plays) or 2) his only success as an NFL coach has come when he has had Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb healthy and playing together.
So, since the Vikes can provide only T-Jack City and T-Will to play the roles of McNabb and Owens, the BEST that a B. Chilliwack offense can hope for is 15th-17th-18th, somewhere around there.
And we hired this guy because....................................???????
Randy Moss and Terrell Owens -- Their spots In History?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Moss
Prior to his trade to New England (an outright steal even if Moss never plays another game for New England), there were those here locally who questioned Randy Moss's qualifications for the NFL Hall of Fame.
One could easily dismiss such lunacy as the "sour grapes" of NFL fans who, at heart, miss Moss and wish he were never traded for Troy Williamson and Napoleon Harris.
The guys at ESPN named Moss as only the 31st best player (or most Hall of Fame worthy player) currently playing in the NFL!! Two spots above Reggie Bush and behind both Torry Holt and Troy Polamalu. http://www.nflgridirongab.com/2007/09/06/espns-future-candidates-for-the-nfl-hall-of-fame-21-40/ Torry Holt, by the by, 40+ fewer receiving TDs than Moss.
Perhaps the only thing more galling about the ranking was the fact that Terrell Owens was actually 34th!! By the end of the year, Owens will be in the top 10 in NFL history in: receptions, receiving TDs, receiving yardage, and total TDs (this will probably be the year he passes Jim Brown and Walter Payton in career TDs.
Moss, even if he cannot sustain his current torrid pace, will be in the top 20 in receptions, top 15 in yardage, top 10 in total TDs and top 5 in receiving TDs. His stats already dwarf players like James Lofton and Michael Irvin -- guys who are in the Hall.
Owens' stats are even BETTER! There could be an argument that, for a career basis, Owens is one of the top 10 offensive players of all time! Owens took a very mediocre Philly offense and brought it into the top 8 in the league and almost beat NE in the Super Bowl!
Both men are great players. They should be first ballot HOF players.
Is Tarvaris Jackson Any Better Than Spurgeon Wynn?
I think he is marginally better than Wynn. Hopefully T Jack is better at reacting to the rush:
And hopefully (if he ever scores again) T Jack will be better at spiking the ball than Kerwin Bell:
And hopefully (if he ever scores again) T Jack will be better at spiking the ball than Kerwin Bell:
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Joel Osteen -- Man of God.....And Lingerie
There have been a number of times in my life when I have railed against televangelists on the basis that they were frauds and hypocrites and that they really had no true connection to God.
Based upon this Larry King interview, I can safely say that God's one true messenger on earth (certainly at least for men with wives ages 18-50) is Joel Osteen. I would say, "God Bless You, Joel Osteen" but I think this is just carrying coals to Newcastle. Now if only Joel's message can spread to the Catholic church that I attend and be repeated on a regular basis, I would attend far more often....and baptism would not be far away.
Bitter Memories
I saw a town featured on TV this morning that I hate (because the town's name brings up bad memories from my dating youth). Still, 25 years later, still hate the town. Still.
So I am driving to work and hear Avril Lavigne's "My Happy Ending." She offers up the following lyrics in the song's extremely sarcastic bridge:
It's nice to know that you were there,
Thanks for acting like you cared
And making me feel like I was the only one
It's nice to know we had it all
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done
So screw off -- town that I still hate. OK. Now I am all better.........
So I am driving to work and hear Avril Lavigne's "My Happy Ending." She offers up the following lyrics in the song's extremely sarcastic bridge:
It's nice to know that you were there,
Thanks for acting like you cared
And making me feel like I was the only one
It's nice to know we had it all
Thanks for watching as I fall
And letting me know we were done
So screw off -- town that I still hate. OK. Now I am all better.........
L.A. to Make A Deal With the Devil?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&page=KobeTradestein&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab5pos1
Dallas is said to be the primary party involved.
I don't see how this type of trade is possible. Dallas isn't going to want to lose Dirk, so their other trade possibilities are pretty limited
Would Jerry Buss trade the Devil to Dallas for Erick Dampier, Josh Howard, Devin Harris and a couple low #1s? (The Lakers could toss in Sasha Vujacic and Maurice Evans to make the numbers work (Harris has a poison pill provision that significantly increases his salary if he is traded)).
IF the Lakers tossed in Javaris Crittenden they could also take back lasagna Diop.
So,
Dallas gets: Devil, Vujacic, Evans and Crittenden;
Lakers get: Dampier, Howard, Harris, Diop, 2 low #1s.
Cutting away all of the crap, are Josh Howard and Devin Harris worth Kobe? If not, then this trade never gets made.
Dallas is said to be the primary party involved.
I don't see how this type of trade is possible. Dallas isn't going to want to lose Dirk, so their other trade possibilities are pretty limited
Would Jerry Buss trade the Devil to Dallas for Erick Dampier, Josh Howard, Devin Harris and a couple low #1s? (The Lakers could toss in Sasha Vujacic and Maurice Evans to make the numbers work (Harris has a poison pill provision that significantly increases his salary if he is traded)).
IF the Lakers tossed in Javaris Crittenden they could also take back lasagna Diop.
So,
Dallas gets: Devil, Vujacic, Evans and Crittenden;
Lakers get: Dampier, Howard, Harris, Diop, 2 low #1s.
Cutting away all of the crap, are Josh Howard and Devin Harris worth Kobe? If not, then this trade never gets made.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Outside the Top 30 Salaries -- High Pay, Little Production
Ignoring the guys in the top 30 salaries, I took a look at the rest of the league by using these very rough rules:
-- Guy in 2007-08 must make at least $8MM a year (so guys like Rasho and Mark Blount barely squeak under)
-- When I see that the guy makes over $8,000,000 a year, I have to say, "Oh good God." (Al Harrington and JRich get free passes here, an argument could be made for excluding Diaw, but heck, why not rip him when I get a chance?)
-- Eliminate the guys who played less than 30 games last year due to injury (LaFrentz, KMart, Peja, Miles all get a big break)
-- Look at their pure Efficiency Per Game number and see if it is top 120. If not, then look at the Efficiency per 48 minutes number to ask, "Are they just not seeing enough clock."
-- Pick the worst/most overpaid based upon last year.
So, here are the guys who make over $8MM and less than a top 30 guy (about $13.3MM), separted into my categories.
Ranked Between 62nd and 90th in Efficiency (positive surprises in my book):
Dalembert -- $8.6MM, 62nd in Efficiency
Eddy Curry -- $8.9, 70th
Nene -- $8.8, 75th
Ilgauskas -- $10.1, 76th
Quentin Richardson -- $8.1, 86th
Ranked Between 90th and 119th (sucky and overpaid, but not sucky and overpaid enough)
Dunleavy -- $8.2MM, 92nd
Brad Miller -- $10.5, 96th
Boris Diaw -- $9.0, 98th (worse than Dunleavy!)
Chris Kaman -- $8.6, 99th
Troy Murphy -- $9.2, 106th
Cuttino Mobley -- $8.4, 114th
Erick Dampier -- $8.6, 119th
The Dregs -- 120 and Below
Kwame Brown -- $9.1 and 126th
Larry Hughes -- $12 and 127th
Jason Williams -- $8.9 and 129th
Kurt Thomas -- $8.1 and 204th
Antoine Walker -- $8.5 and 232nd
Adonal Foyle -- $8.9 and 306th
So, based upon value per game (which is supposed to be measured by the Efficiency Per Game stat) we see why Adonal Foyle was bought out of his deal! Now, we ask ourselves, well, did these 5 guys not produce much PER GAME because the coach didn't play them?? So, we look at Efficiency per 48 Minutes:
Brown -- 152nd
Hughes -- 325th
White Chocolate -- 227th
Thomas -- 107th
Walker -- 335th
Foyle -- 84th (remarkably, when Foyle actually was on the floor, he contributed positive stats! Now, being so poor offensively that your coach can't/won't play you is bad, but it is amazing that he goes up 222 spots on a per 48 basis!)
So, the absolute dregs (don't contribute much per game or per minute): Hughes, Williams, Walker.
So, in the $8MM to $13MM range, Miami has 2 of the 3 most overpaid players in the entire league.
HM's Final Ranking:
3rd Most Overpaid -- Jason Williams -- He sucks, but he is the gold standard compared to Walker and Hughes
2nd Most Overpaid -- Antoine Walker -- He has by far the worst stats (27% from 3, 44% from the line, 3 turnovers per every steal (I originally said assist, that was wrong), but he makes "only" $8.5MM, so I am going with.......
Most Overpaid -- Larry Hughes -- Makes $12MM this year. Despite playing 37 minutes a game for Cleveland, he still manages the 127th best PER GAME Efficiency in the league. Hakim Warrick, playing roughly 25 minutes a night, had a better contribution. Same with Erick Dampier. Hughes does so little on the court that his per-48 efficiency number is surpassed by guys like J.J. Redick, Jacque Vaughn, Sasha Vujacic, and Bracey Wright.
So, while you could argue that Foyle is worse or that Walker is worse, no one in this price range gives you less for your dollar than Larry Hughes.
Oh! and Cleveland fans -- no reason to be very optimistic, Hughes's shooting percentage thus far in pre-season? 34%, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range............
HM
-- Guy in 2007-08 must make at least $8MM a year (so guys like Rasho and Mark Blount barely squeak under)
-- When I see that the guy makes over $8,000,000 a year, I have to say, "Oh good God." (Al Harrington and JRich get free passes here, an argument could be made for excluding Diaw, but heck, why not rip him when I get a chance?)
-- Eliminate the guys who played less than 30 games last year due to injury (LaFrentz, KMart, Peja, Miles all get a big break)
-- Look at their pure Efficiency Per Game number and see if it is top 120. If not, then look at the Efficiency per 48 minutes number to ask, "Are they just not seeing enough clock."
-- Pick the worst/most overpaid based upon last year.
So, here are the guys who make over $8MM and less than a top 30 guy (about $13.3MM), separted into my categories.
Ranked Between 62nd and 90th in Efficiency (positive surprises in my book):
Dalembert -- $8.6MM, 62nd in Efficiency
Eddy Curry -- $8.9, 70th
Nene -- $8.8, 75th
Ilgauskas -- $10.1, 76th
Quentin Richardson -- $8.1, 86th
Ranked Between 90th and 119th (sucky and overpaid, but not sucky and overpaid enough)
Dunleavy -- $8.2MM, 92nd
Brad Miller -- $10.5, 96th
Boris Diaw -- $9.0, 98th (worse than Dunleavy!)
Chris Kaman -- $8.6, 99th
Troy Murphy -- $9.2, 106th
Cuttino Mobley -- $8.4, 114th
Erick Dampier -- $8.6, 119th
The Dregs -- 120 and Below
Kwame Brown -- $9.1 and 126th
Larry Hughes -- $12 and 127th
Jason Williams -- $8.9 and 129th
Kurt Thomas -- $8.1 and 204th
Antoine Walker -- $8.5 and 232nd
Adonal Foyle -- $8.9 and 306th
So, based upon value per game (which is supposed to be measured by the Efficiency Per Game stat) we see why Adonal Foyle was bought out of his deal! Now, we ask ourselves, well, did these 5 guys not produce much PER GAME because the coach didn't play them?? So, we look at Efficiency per 48 Minutes:
Brown -- 152nd
Hughes -- 325th
White Chocolate -- 227th
Thomas -- 107th
Walker -- 335th
Foyle -- 84th (remarkably, when Foyle actually was on the floor, he contributed positive stats! Now, being so poor offensively that your coach can't/won't play you is bad, but it is amazing that he goes up 222 spots on a per 48 basis!)
So, the absolute dregs (don't contribute much per game or per minute): Hughes, Williams, Walker.
So, in the $8MM to $13MM range, Miami has 2 of the 3 most overpaid players in the entire league.
HM's Final Ranking:
3rd Most Overpaid -- Jason Williams -- He sucks, but he is the gold standard compared to Walker and Hughes
2nd Most Overpaid -- Antoine Walker -- He has by far the worst stats (27% from 3, 44% from the line, 3 turnovers per every steal (I originally said assist, that was wrong), but he makes "only" $8.5MM, so I am going with.......
Most Overpaid -- Larry Hughes -- Makes $12MM this year. Despite playing 37 minutes a game for Cleveland, he still manages the 127th best PER GAME Efficiency in the league. Hakim Warrick, playing roughly 25 minutes a night, had a better contribution. Same with Erick Dampier. Hughes does so little on the court that his per-48 efficiency number is surpassed by guys like J.J. Redick, Jacque Vaughn, Sasha Vujacic, and Bracey Wright.
So, while you could argue that Foyle is worse or that Walker is worse, no one in this price range gives you less for your dollar than Larry Hughes.
Oh! and Cleveland fans -- no reason to be very optimistic, Hughes's shooting percentage thus far in pre-season? 34%, including 0 for 4 from 3-point range............
HM
NBA Top 30 Salaries
Using the list provided at www.hoopshype.com (in my experience, a site generally about 95% accurate on NBA salaries), I separate the top 30 by category.
A+ UNDERPAID THIS YEAR
Tim Duncan (19.01MM) -- best player in the league, but makes less than Jermaine O'Neal.
Shawn Marion (16.44MM) -- I am unclear as to why the Suns want to trade this guy. They will not get 11 boards a game out of any small forward they acquire, and they sure as hell aren't getting 11 a game out of Amare.
Dirk, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen (all around 16MM) -- perennial all-star caliber players; all make less than Baron Davis.
B -- PAID WHAT THEY ARE WORTH
Elton Brand (15.34) -- Would be listed above if he hadn't blown out his Achilles. But that year off just means the Clippers will, on the whole, end up paying him more fairly for all he has done and will do for them. Makes $200K less than Rashard Lewis.
KG (23.75) -- #1 in salary, almost always #1 or #2 in overall production
Shaq (20) -- worth the risk, because when he is playing well he still gives you more than any other center
Iverson (20) -- this year will establish whether he drops to the next tier.
Kidd (19.73) -- still leads his team and finds a way to win
Kobe/Devil (19.5) -- say what you will, he is a top 8 player and the #8 salary
T Mac (19.01) -- will give you 30 a night when he is well
Michael Redd (14.52); Yao Ming (13.76); Amare (13.76); Gasol (13.71); Odom (13.52); Joe Johnson (13.5); Zach Randolph (13.5)
All very good players with very high salaries.
D+ -- Overpaid
Jermaine O'Neal (19.7) -- Just doesn't quite match up with truly star players, yet he makes more than Kobe and Duncan
Baron Davis (16.44) -- today's bad attempt at an analogy: you hear a girl is great in bed; you date her for a month hoping you will get what everyone is talking about. After 5 dates and two kisses on the cheek you just say, "Forget it." Then she dates your friend and he tells you how great she was in bed......before she was hospitalized for 3 months and couldn't see him. Just not worth the pain.
Antawn Jamison (16.36) -- just not a star player, but he sometimes plays one on TV....on the offensive end only....It is frightening how many times that the name "Harvey Grant" comes up on his www.basketball-reference.com similarity scores. Harvey Grant -- 16MM ($80,000 less than Shawn Marion).
Rashard Lewis (15.6MM) -- Tom Gugliotta, black version...
Ben Wallace (15.5MM) -- The Bulls hurt the Pistons by signing Ben Wallace. Ben Wallace hurt the Bulls by signing for what he got.
Andre Kirilenko (13.71MM) -- when you have great athletic talent, there is no excuse for playing like a dog and whining about your playing time.
Mike Bibby (13.5MM) -- If Steve Nash were 40% worse on offense, he would be Mike Bibby
F -- Ridiculously Overpaid
Stephon Marbury (20MM) -- Is there anyone out there who would want Stephon for $20MM if he had a GOOD attitude and wasn't hosing down his cousin's intern gf in the back seat of his truck? I doubt it. You could get Lamar Odom and Joe Johnson for the salaries of Steph and Jerome James.
Chris Webber ($19MM plus) -- Still drawing the big bucks on an old deal, he will make $20MM this year if he chooses to play and get his 11 points and 7 boards a game.
Most similar players to Chris right now? Mike Bantom, Armon Gilliam and Donyell Marshall. Somewhere Danny Ferry is saying, "See, Donyell came cheap, baby!"
Steve Francis ($16.44MM plus) -- Portland took his contract and then just cut him. This is a team with Jarrett Jack at the helm. Just cut him. The thing about Stevie is that he is STILL a productive player (15/5/5 prorated over 40 minutes last year). Yet he is such a cancer that he was cut by lowly Portland. "We could handle Zach Randolph, but you?? Um, so long."
Michael Finley ($21.7MM) -- While he is worth what the Spurs are paying him, I don't think you can justify making the second most money in the league while playing 22 minutes a game and putting up similarity scores like Sam Mack, Rafael Addison and Jarvis Hayes.
HM
A+ UNDERPAID THIS YEAR
Tim Duncan (19.01MM) -- best player in the league, but makes less than Jermaine O'Neal.
Shawn Marion (16.44MM) -- I am unclear as to why the Suns want to trade this guy. They will not get 11 boards a game out of any small forward they acquire, and they sure as hell aren't getting 11 a game out of Amare.
Dirk, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen (all around 16MM) -- perennial all-star caliber players; all make less than Baron Davis.
B -- PAID WHAT THEY ARE WORTH
Elton Brand (15.34) -- Would be listed above if he hadn't blown out his Achilles. But that year off just means the Clippers will, on the whole, end up paying him more fairly for all he has done and will do for them. Makes $200K less than Rashard Lewis.
KG (23.75) -- #1 in salary, almost always #1 or #2 in overall production
Shaq (20) -- worth the risk, because when he is playing well he still gives you more than any other center
Iverson (20) -- this year will establish whether he drops to the next tier.
Kidd (19.73) -- still leads his team and finds a way to win
Kobe/Devil (19.5) -- say what you will, he is a top 8 player and the #8 salary
T Mac (19.01) -- will give you 30 a night when he is well
Michael Redd (14.52); Yao Ming (13.76); Amare (13.76); Gasol (13.71); Odom (13.52); Joe Johnson (13.5); Zach Randolph (13.5)
All very good players with very high salaries.
D+ -- Overpaid
Jermaine O'Neal (19.7) -- Just doesn't quite match up with truly star players, yet he makes more than Kobe and Duncan
Baron Davis (16.44) -- today's bad attempt at an analogy: you hear a girl is great in bed; you date her for a month hoping you will get what everyone is talking about. After 5 dates and two kisses on the cheek you just say, "Forget it." Then she dates your friend and he tells you how great she was in bed......before she was hospitalized for 3 months and couldn't see him. Just not worth the pain.
Antawn Jamison (16.36) -- just not a star player, but he sometimes plays one on TV....on the offensive end only....It is frightening how many times that the name "Harvey Grant" comes up on his www.basketball-reference.com similarity scores. Harvey Grant -- 16MM ($80,000 less than Shawn Marion).
Rashard Lewis (15.6MM) -- Tom Gugliotta, black version...
Ben Wallace (15.5MM) -- The Bulls hurt the Pistons by signing Ben Wallace. Ben Wallace hurt the Bulls by signing for what he got.
Andre Kirilenko (13.71MM) -- when you have great athletic talent, there is no excuse for playing like a dog and whining about your playing time.
Mike Bibby (13.5MM) -- If Steve Nash were 40% worse on offense, he would be Mike Bibby
F -- Ridiculously Overpaid
Stephon Marbury (20MM) -- Is there anyone out there who would want Stephon for $20MM if he had a GOOD attitude and wasn't hosing down his cousin's intern gf in the back seat of his truck? I doubt it. You could get Lamar Odom and Joe Johnson for the salaries of Steph and Jerome James.
Chris Webber ($19MM plus) -- Still drawing the big bucks on an old deal, he will make $20MM this year if he chooses to play and get his 11 points and 7 boards a game.
Most similar players to Chris right now? Mike Bantom, Armon Gilliam and Donyell Marshall. Somewhere Danny Ferry is saying, "See, Donyell came cheap, baby!"
Steve Francis ($16.44MM plus) -- Portland took his contract and then just cut him. This is a team with Jarrett Jack at the helm. Just cut him. The thing about Stevie is that he is STILL a productive player (15/5/5 prorated over 40 minutes last year). Yet he is such a cancer that he was cut by lowly Portland. "We could handle Zach Randolph, but you?? Um, so long."
Michael Finley ($21.7MM) -- While he is worth what the Spurs are paying him, I don't think you can justify making the second most money in the league while playing 22 minutes a game and putting up similarity scores like Sam Mack, Rafael Addison and Jarvis Hayes.
HM
Monday, October 15, 2007
BCS Poll -- What Do We Know? What Do We Think?
With the computer polls now playing a part in the BCS Poll, we start to see some disparity between the human polls and the Computer rankings.
BCS Top 10:
Ohio State ( #1 in human polls, #5 in computer polls)
South Florida (#3 in human, #1 with computers)
BC (#2 human, only #7 with computers)
LSU (#5 in human polls, #2 still with computers)
Oklahoma (#4 human, #11 computer)
South Carolina (#6 human, #3 computer)
Kentucky (#11 human, #4 computer)
Arizona State (#12 human, t-5 computer)
West Vir. (#8 human, #10 computer)
Oregon (#7 and #13)
The computer polls seem to make a great deal more sense. I mean, OSU has defeated.........Akron? I would go so far as to say that if OSU wins out they STILL may not reach #1 in the computer poll. Their opponents are, simply put, horseshit.
Look instead at Arizona State. They have beaten Colorado by 19. Oklahoma lost to Colorado. How can Oklahoma be 7 spots above ASU? Computers say OU can't be -- OU is 6 spots BEHIND ASU with the computers. Makes sense to me.
The LSU and South Carolina computer rankings make sense. I mean, LSU lost a game on the road to a top 10 squad in triple OT, and LSU has beaten both Florida and South Carolina. Don't they deserve to be ranked higher than BC, whose best win is against............4-3 Georgia Tech?
You would think that the human polls would do a better job of making basic football analyses of seasons to date. For example, Arizona State no losses, killed Stanford; USC one loss - to Stanford. Nope. How about Arizona State spanks Colorado, OU loses to Colorado. Again. Nope.
Kentucky beats LSU and has only one loss -- to S. Carolina -- nope, sorry, stand in line behind USC (with NO quality wins -- best win??? Nebraska? Who lost to OSU by a million???)
The human polls are particularly embarassing when it comes to USC. USC is ranked #9, above Kentucky, Arizona State and Virginia Tech. Absolutely no basis for this. In fact, USC's victory over Arizona was so unimpressive USC dropped two spots in one HUMAN poll (a skeptic might say that the voters were tipped off that the computer polls had USC way down at #23 and some voters took cover as best they could).
End result -- BCS system is screwed up, even internally. Good luck picking a national championship game here.
BCS Top 10:
Ohio State ( #1 in human polls, #5 in computer polls)
South Florida (#3 in human, #1 with computers)
BC (#2 human, only #7 with computers)
LSU (#5 in human polls, #2 still with computers)
Oklahoma (#4 human, #11 computer)
South Carolina (#6 human, #3 computer)
Kentucky (#11 human, #4 computer)
Arizona State (#12 human, t-5 computer)
West Vir. (#8 human, #10 computer)
Oregon (#7 and #13)
The computer polls seem to make a great deal more sense. I mean, OSU has defeated.........Akron? I would go so far as to say that if OSU wins out they STILL may not reach #1 in the computer poll. Their opponents are, simply put, horseshit.
Look instead at Arizona State. They have beaten Colorado by 19. Oklahoma lost to Colorado. How can Oklahoma be 7 spots above ASU? Computers say OU can't be -- OU is 6 spots BEHIND ASU with the computers. Makes sense to me.
The LSU and South Carolina computer rankings make sense. I mean, LSU lost a game on the road to a top 10 squad in triple OT, and LSU has beaten both Florida and South Carolina. Don't they deserve to be ranked higher than BC, whose best win is against............4-3 Georgia Tech?
You would think that the human polls would do a better job of making basic football analyses of seasons to date. For example, Arizona State no losses, killed Stanford; USC one loss - to Stanford. Nope. How about Arizona State spanks Colorado, OU loses to Colorado. Again. Nope.
Kentucky beats LSU and has only one loss -- to S. Carolina -- nope, sorry, stand in line behind USC (with NO quality wins -- best win??? Nebraska? Who lost to OSU by a million???)
The human polls are particularly embarassing when it comes to USC. USC is ranked #9, above Kentucky, Arizona State and Virginia Tech. Absolutely no basis for this. In fact, USC's victory over Arizona was so unimpressive USC dropped two spots in one HUMAN poll (a skeptic might say that the voters were tipped off that the computer polls had USC way down at #23 and some voters took cover as best they could).
End result -- BCS system is screwed up, even internally. Good luck picking a national championship game here.
Phoenix Observations
1) Hot and dry, but the locals were all commenting on how nice and comfortable it was out -- 95 one day, 92 the next.
2) Chase Field f/k/a Bank One Ballpark -- I would rank it below Milwaukee and below Philly as far as newer parks. It resembles an office building outside and is too sterile inside. But I guess that when you want to play ball at 115 degrees you really need an enclosed facility that holds the A/C in.
3) Women -- If you want to see 40 year old women with brand new chests, I would say: a) Orange County, CA; b) Houston; c) Phoenix.
4) Young Women -- babes, babes, babes. I guess that being in a swimsuit 10 months out of the year makes you want to look nice.
HM
2) Chase Field f/k/a Bank One Ballpark -- I would rank it below Milwaukee and below Philly as far as newer parks. It resembles an office building outside and is too sterile inside. But I guess that when you want to play ball at 115 degrees you really need an enclosed facility that holds the A/C in.
3) Women -- If you want to see 40 year old women with brand new chests, I would say: a) Orange County, CA; b) Houston; c) Phoenix.
4) Young Women -- babes, babes, babes. I guess that being in a swimsuit 10 months out of the year makes you want to look nice.
HM
More Reason Not to Play Pickup Basketball
http://sports.aol.com/story/ar/_a/former-bulldogs-star-kessler-dies-at-40/20071014160209990001
I really thought Alec Kessler would be a great pro (I later made a similar mistake with Tod Fuller). It looks like he made a great deal out of his life, short as it was.
RIP, Alec Kessler.
I really thought Alec Kessler would be a great pro (I later made a similar mistake with Tod Fuller). It looks like he made a great deal out of his life, short as it was.
RIP, Alec Kessler.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Final Pre-Trip Note (Probably)
At the height of her powers (here pictured in 2001) there weren't 6 women in the world with a better body than Krista Allen. Plain and simple truth my friends............
Obligatory Basketball Item
Per KFAN.com's "Rube Chat":
Just took part in a conf. call with Wittman...
Craig Smith (ankle) did everything in practice today...could even play tomorrow
McCants is fine
Jefferson, Telfair, and Green all dealing with ankle injuries...he will have to see how they feel tomorrow before knowing if they will play vs. Bos.
Foye will play plenty of the "2"...he doesn't want Foye playing 35 min. at the PG pos.
also, have been told from someone I trust that Telfair has been a pleasant surprise...remember, they didn't even want him, but now they're glad they have him.
I still am astounded that the Wolves allow Randy Wittman to discard Randy Foye onto the pile labeled "undersized scoring guard who can't play the point." If you draft a guy #6 (or #7) who is 6'2", you damn well better find a spot for him at the point or at least force feed him 3 years at the point. You can find a ton of 6'2" scoring guards in spots 15-40 in the draft. Great 6'2" and under off guards since 1980??????? Um, Iverson. And, uh, Vinnie Johnson? And............well.........then I think you start heading back to the days of Earl Monroe and Dave Bing, don't you?
They are happy with Telfair? So you think Foye is a WORSE option at point than the gun-toting, hit-inducing Telfair? And I own season tickets for this club???
Just took part in a conf. call with Wittman...
Craig Smith (ankle) did everything in practice today...could even play tomorrow
McCants is fine
Jefferson, Telfair, and Green all dealing with ankle injuries...he will have to see how they feel tomorrow before knowing if they will play vs. Bos.
Foye will play plenty of the "2"...he doesn't want Foye playing 35 min. at the PG pos.
also, have been told from someone I trust that Telfair has been a pleasant surprise...remember, they didn't even want him, but now they're glad they have him.
I still am astounded that the Wolves allow Randy Wittman to discard Randy Foye onto the pile labeled "undersized scoring guard who can't play the point." If you draft a guy #6 (or #7) who is 6'2", you damn well better find a spot for him at the point or at least force feed him 3 years at the point. You can find a ton of 6'2" scoring guards in spots 15-40 in the draft. Great 6'2" and under off guards since 1980??????? Um, Iverson. And, uh, Vinnie Johnson? And............well.........then I think you start heading back to the days of Earl Monroe and Dave Bing, don't you?
They are happy with Telfair? So you think Foye is a WORSE option at point than the gun-toting, hit-inducing Telfair? And I own season tickets for this club???
Full and Ample Hispanic Population In Arizona
I am now re-thinking my illegal immigrant political position. Oh hell, I am not thinking about anything much right now.
95 degrees in AZ
Probably too hot for a chain mail bikini top, so you guys enjoy in-stead. Victoria Silvstedt:
I'm Off to A Red State
So let's focus on a true GOP girl, former Miss USA Shandi Finnessey. Whoa. I am going 93 here. 99 is she were a Dem. American Pie.......indeed.
Off to Arizona
While it is my fervent hope that I will find the stars of this all-time great movie, the primary reason I am off to the land of 95 degree heat (still) is that I am attending a legal symposium to become better at my job.I won't have a computer, and I don't know if my Blackberry can Blog (I guess we'll find out!), so I will try to offer up a few items or pics before I go.....
Monday, October 08, 2007
University of Florida vs. University of Minnesota
For those of you who missed LSU/Florida -- here is the Florida "Offensive Decision Maker" they displayed during the game.
But that is not my point. Here is my point: The University of Florida has very successful college football and basketball programs. The University of Minnesota, generally stated, not so much. So why do you think that is?
I would go out on a limb and state that one big reason is that sports aren't quite as protected at Minnesota as at Florida. Recall some years back, Minnesota turned itself into the NCAA because it found that basketball players weren't writing their own term paper??? End of the world. Gophers basically demanded they be stripped of their Final 4 banner and put on probation, lose scholarships, etc.
Now, Florida starting defender Tony Joiner goes and gets his girl's car out of impound and somehow forgets to pay for it??????? Here is the Florida reaction:
But that is not my point. Here is my point: The University of Florida has very successful college football and basketball programs. The University of Minnesota, generally stated, not so much. So why do you think that is?I would go out on a limb and state that one big reason is that sports aren't quite as protected at Minnesota as at Florida. Recall some years back, Minnesota turned itself into the NCAA because it found that basketball players weren't writing their own term paper??? End of the world. Gophers basically demanded they be stripped of their Final 4 banner and put on probation, lose scholarships, etc.
Now, Florida starting defender Tony Joiner goes and gets his girl's car out of impound and somehow forgets to pay for it??????? Here is the Florida reaction:
The owner of the towing company involved in Florida safety Tony Joiner’s burglary case said Saturday he received more than 200 threatening phone calls. More than a dozen of the calls were death threats and others were bomb threats, Stan Forron told Florida Today. Several callers even offered to pay the $76 towing bill if Forron would drop the charge. ‘‘I’m just glad it wasn’t Tim Tebow, that’s all I can say,’’ Forron told the newspaper. ‘‘I think I would be covered in 10 feet of concrete right now if it had been Tebow.’’
Ultimate result? Stan says it was all a misunderstanding. Local prosecutor makes sure all charges are dropped before the LSU game. Urban Meyer before the game says, basically, "Oh heck yeah, Joiner will play" and seems genuinely annoyed that anyone would suggest otherwise.
At Minnesota, Joiner would be on indefinite suspension, the towing guy would be suing him for punitive damages and the local prosecutor would have him up on grand theft auto......
HM
Oh -- Another College Football Note
If USC can lose to Stanford and stay in the top 10, then why is Michigan at #30 and #34 in the polls? The Appalachian State loss (first game of the year, 38 point favorite) is not appreciably worse than losing at home to Stanford (mid-season, 41 point favorite). And Michigan's other loss (to #8 or #9 Oregon) certainly doesn't look that bad when you consider that Oregon's only loss is to Cal by about 1 yard. (Oregon, by the by, edged Stanford 55-31).
So, if USC loses on October 27 to Oregon, will they be dropped to #34 in the polls? Call me a skeptic, but I think not.
So, if USC loses on October 27 to Oregon, will they be dropped to #34 in the polls? Call me a skeptic, but I think not.
College Football Top 25 -- Again, Nonsensical
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex
USC loses a home game in which they were favored by 41 points. I don't know if anyone has done the research, but I don't recall in my lifetime any college football team losing a game where they were 41 point favorites.
So, you would think that USC (who edged a mediocre Washington club and then suffered one of the most horrendous losses of all-time) would be way down in the polls. Well..........they are #10 in one poll and NUMBER SEVEN!!! in another. Number 7. Ahead of 5 teams with no losses.
USC is ranked ahead of Arizona State. Um, why? It sure as hell isn't based upon on-field play. Arizona State beat Stanford 41-3. Arizona State is undefeated. They are 4 and 6 spots behind USC in the polls. WTF?
And let's examine the ranking of Oklahoma. #5 in one poll, #6 in another. Oklahoma lost to Colorado. Arizona State beat Colorado 33-14. I watched the ASU/Colorado game. It was a whipping. Arizona State, undefeated..........8 spots behind Oklahoma! Because.............Oklahoma...........er....beat Texas???? You mean the Texas team that got whipped by Kansas State (KSU -- who turned around and immediately lost to Kansas)???
Finally -- hey, I am no Badger fan, but they were #5 in the nation and they lost on the road to Illinois by 5. Illinois' only loss is a 6 point loss to undefeated Missouri. So, with USC dropping 6 to 8 spots, Wisconsin drops..............10 to 14 spots!!!!!!!!! Lesson? A home loss to Stanford isn't nearly as bad as a road loss to Illinois.
Florida now has 2 losses. That doesn't keep them from staying in the top 15 and in one poll ranking ahead of ASU, Cincy, Hawaii and Kansas (all undefeated). So I guess my query regarding whether a 2-loss team could get in the national title game over a 0-loss team has been answered. Yep.
And, the Old Ball Coach continues to draw strong opinions from his fellow coaches. Steve Spurrier's South Carolina club is #7 in the AP poll, but his fellow coaches have him at #12. Ouch. I guess that road loss to LSU hurts the Ball Coach a lot more than it does Urban Meyer (whose squad has a road loss to LSU AND a loss to Auburn yet the Gators are still at #14 in the coaches poll).............
USC loses a home game in which they were favored by 41 points. I don't know if anyone has done the research, but I don't recall in my lifetime any college football team losing a game where they were 41 point favorites.
So, you would think that USC (who edged a mediocre Washington club and then suffered one of the most horrendous losses of all-time) would be way down in the polls. Well..........they are #10 in one poll and NUMBER SEVEN!!! in another. Number 7. Ahead of 5 teams with no losses.
USC is ranked ahead of Arizona State. Um, why? It sure as hell isn't based upon on-field play. Arizona State beat Stanford 41-3. Arizona State is undefeated. They are 4 and 6 spots behind USC in the polls. WTF?
And let's examine the ranking of Oklahoma. #5 in one poll, #6 in another. Oklahoma lost to Colorado. Arizona State beat Colorado 33-14. I watched the ASU/Colorado game. It was a whipping. Arizona State, undefeated..........8 spots behind Oklahoma! Because.............Oklahoma...........er....beat Texas???? You mean the Texas team that got whipped by Kansas State (KSU -- who turned around and immediately lost to Kansas)???
Finally -- hey, I am no Badger fan, but they were #5 in the nation and they lost on the road to Illinois by 5. Illinois' only loss is a 6 point loss to undefeated Missouri. So, with USC dropping 6 to 8 spots, Wisconsin drops..............10 to 14 spots!!!!!!!!! Lesson? A home loss to Stanford isn't nearly as bad as a road loss to Illinois.
Florida now has 2 losses. That doesn't keep them from staying in the top 15 and in one poll ranking ahead of ASU, Cincy, Hawaii and Kansas (all undefeated). So I guess my query regarding whether a 2-loss team could get in the national title game over a 0-loss team has been answered. Yep.
And, the Old Ball Coach continues to draw strong opinions from his fellow coaches. Steve Spurrier's South Carolina club is #7 in the AP poll, but his fellow coaches have him at #12. Ouch. I guess that road loss to LSU hurts the Ball Coach a lot more than it does Urban Meyer (whose squad has a road loss to LSU AND a loss to Auburn yet the Gators are still at #14 in the coaches poll).............
Friday, October 05, 2007
Larry Craig -- Staying
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/washington/05senate.html?_r=1&ex=1349323200&en=c96eacb69578a2fa&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&oref=slogin
I liked Arlen Specter's comment that "disorderly conduct isn't moral turpitude." I would certainly say not, given that the GOP leadership has taken NO action whatsoever against whore-soliciting David Vitter. So, "soliciting hookers isn't moral turpitude." We know that, in fact, the only crime for which removal from office IS warranted (per GOP precedent) is staining the blue dress of a fat chick and then lying about it during a completely unrelated matter brought by an ugly thin chick. THAT, my friends, is worse than moral turpitude, it is also a "high crime and/or misdemeanor" against the country!
Perhaps Mitt Romney will now take Larry back as his head cheerleader for Mitt's moral values???
I liked Arlen Specter's comment that "disorderly conduct isn't moral turpitude." I would certainly say not, given that the GOP leadership has taken NO action whatsoever against whore-soliciting David Vitter. So, "soliciting hookers isn't moral turpitude." We know that, in fact, the only crime for which removal from office IS warranted (per GOP precedent) is staining the blue dress of a fat chick and then lying about it during a completely unrelated matter brought by an ugly thin chick. THAT, my friends, is worse than moral turpitude, it is also a "high crime and/or misdemeanor" against the country!
Perhaps Mitt Romney will now take Larry back as his head cheerleader for Mitt's moral values???
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Charlie Sheen -- Um, Not a Nice Guy
The Actions of Charlie Sheen, per evidence submitted by Denise Richards to the Court:
1) Richards' mom was bald from chemotherapy -- "GO cry to your bald mom, you [bleeping] loser," Charlie Sheen wrote to Denise Richards in an e-mail
2) Another E-mail -- "You are a pig. A sad, jobless pig who is sad and talentless and sad and jobless and evil and a bad mom, so go [bleep] yourself sad jobless pig."
3) Pictures of Sheen's "erect penis" that Richards says he used for his profile on sex sites are also included, which Richards claims he e-mailed to "approximately 30 women."
"I'd love to give it to you any time," Sheen wrote to one woman under the screen name "mrjonze55."
(This continues a disturbing trend of celebs stating that their hubby e-mails penile pics. http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1543134/10132006/evans_sara.jhtml Um, exactly what is that!?!? By the way, wouldn't you use a name like "mrjonze12inch" or "mrjonze69"? Are you trying to attract women by referencing the speed limit?)
4) Richards says Sheen even visited gay pornography sites - "which I found even more disturbing because I felt that the boys looked underage," the documents state.
5) Richards accuses Sheen of punching the headboard of their bed once in a rage, and telling her that by no longer breast-feeding, she was causing their daughter, Sam, to "become retarded."
(Cuz she has a brilliant dad, she should be SMART!!)
Sheen said through his spokesman, "I will not dignify the majority of these allegations with any measure of response. On its best day it remains laughable and inane."
Some rather bizarre wording there. First, none of the allegations are 'inane." "Inane" means unimportant/insubstantial. For example, if she said he did a bad job cutting the grass -- that would be an "inane" allegation. If Sheen believes that making fun of people with cancer, engaging in Internet porn with 30 different women (while married) and trolling the Internet for gay porn Web sites featuring models designed to look underage are unimportant allegations, he really is a sick dude.
Second, he will not dignify a "majority" of the allegations with a response. So, will he respond to SOME? The one where he e-mails his junk to 30 women? The one where he insults an older woman dying of cancer?
1) Richards' mom was bald from chemotherapy -- "GO cry to your bald mom, you [bleeping] loser," Charlie Sheen wrote to Denise Richards in an e-mail
2) Another E-mail -- "You are a pig. A sad, jobless pig who is sad and talentless and sad and jobless and evil and a bad mom, so go [bleep] yourself sad jobless pig."
3) Pictures of Sheen's "erect penis" that Richards says he used for his profile on sex sites are also included, which Richards claims he e-mailed to "approximately 30 women."
"I'd love to give it to you any time," Sheen wrote to one woman under the screen name "mrjonze55."
(This continues a disturbing trend of celebs stating that their hubby e-mails penile pics. http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1543134/10132006/evans_sara.jhtml Um, exactly what is that!?!? By the way, wouldn't you use a name like "mrjonze12inch" or "mrjonze69"? Are you trying to attract women by referencing the speed limit?)
4) Richards says Sheen even visited gay pornography sites - "which I found even more disturbing because I felt that the boys looked underage," the documents state.
5) Richards accuses Sheen of punching the headboard of their bed once in a rage, and telling her that by no longer breast-feeding, she was causing their daughter, Sam, to "become retarded."
(Cuz she has a brilliant dad, she should be SMART!!)
Sheen said through his spokesman, "I will not dignify the majority of these allegations with any measure of response. On its best day it remains laughable and inane."
Some rather bizarre wording there. First, none of the allegations are 'inane." "Inane" means unimportant/insubstantial. For example, if she said he did a bad job cutting the grass -- that would be an "inane" allegation. If Sheen believes that making fun of people with cancer, engaging in Internet porn with 30 different women (while married) and trolling the Internet for gay porn Web sites featuring models designed to look underage are unimportant allegations, he really is a sick dude.
Second, he will not dignify a "majority" of the allegations with a response. So, will he respond to SOME? The one where he e-mails his junk to 30 women? The one where he insults an older woman dying of cancer?
Badger Fans Arrested Ala Larry Craig
Hetero sex this time: http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/247480
Make SURE you read the last line of the story. The guy deserves to have his record cleared just for uttering that line!
Make SURE you read the last line of the story. The guy deserves to have his record cleared just for uttering that line!
Larry Craig? Still Guilty
If it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all.....Larry Craig draws Judge Charles Porter, whom I would elect as "Least likely judge on the entire Hennepin County bench to allow someone to withdraw a guilty plea in a high profile case"....I don't know if Craig's lawyer had the right to one judge removal, but if he did and kept Porter, he had no idea what he was doing.
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/10/04/minnesota.v.larry.craig.pdf
Case of note cited in the opinion -- if you are using a urinal that has a divider between you and the next guy.............Minnesota says he has no right to look over and ogle your goods.
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/10/04/minnesota.v.larry.craig.pdf
Case of note cited in the opinion -- if you are using a urinal that has a divider between you and the next guy.............Minnesota says he has no right to look over and ogle your goods.
Mariotti -- Why Can't Chicago Fans All Just Get Along?
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariottiweb/587380,mariottiweba100407.article
I, for one, am disappointed that all White Sox fans have such a short-sighted and petty view of the North Siders. Shame, shame, shame.................shame on you.
I, for one, am disappointed that all White Sox fans have such a short-sighted and petty view of the North Siders. Shame, shame, shame.................shame on you.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Comparing Don Imus and Isiah Thomas
1) One crotchey old white guy, paid to be controversial on a talk radio show, makes an off-hand comment that certain female basketball players he has seen on TV and never met look really rough -- a bunch of "nappy-headed hos there."
The outcry from the black community is such that he is let go, even though under his contract he probably not only had the right to say what he did, but was, in fact, almost required to be controversial.
2) One middle-aged pompous African-American guy, paid to run an NBA franchise's basketball operations, is found liable by a jury for sexually harassing a black woman he dealt with daily. The jury apparently believed her story that he called her a "bitch" used the word "ho" and stated repeatedly that he did "not give a fuck" about "white people" even white season ticket holders (i.e., the people who are the best customers of his employer).
Calls by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for his ouster???????? That would be none.
Perhaps Isiah was correct in video deposition when he stated that it was OK for black men to call a black woman a "bitch" while it would not be OK for a white man to do so???????
3) Hey, while we are at it -- it amazes me that Isiah's "Get Out Of Jail Free" card is so strong that rich white guy James Dolan falls under it. Here is a guy who was found by a jury to have encouraged a sexually hostile environment and retaliated against a black woman who complained about it.
Calls for his ouster by Al and Jesse??????? That would, again, be none.
Side Note) David Stern? Calling him "Caspar Milquetoast" would be kind. What do we KNOW about Isiah? Testified under oath that it was OK for him to call a black woman subordinate a bitch. Put that on an "NBA It's FAN-tastic" commercial for the kids! Admits that he tried to kiss and hug a female subordinate against her will. Demonstrates no regard whatsoever for the season ticket holders of the NYC franchise of the NBA, stating that he does not give a fuck about them, particularly if they are white. The jury believed all of these facts.
Exactly what does David Stern need to see before he disciplines Isiah? Does God have to come down from Heaven and say, "Yes, all of the allegations against Isiah are 100% true!" We have sworn testimony. We have a jury verdict. We have admissions by Isiah under oath. No matter what happens on appeal, nothing will change the fact that the jury firmly believed that Isiah Thomas engaged in the conduct complained of -- whether that legally is "sexual harassment" does not really matter for the purposes of the NBA. It is conduct detrimental to the league.
Roger Goodell would have suspended Isiah for 5 years when the original Complaint was filed and for another 10 when the case survived a summary judgment motion.
The outcry from the black community is such that he is let go, even though under his contract he probably not only had the right to say what he did, but was, in fact, almost required to be controversial.
2) One middle-aged pompous African-American guy, paid to run an NBA franchise's basketball operations, is found liable by a jury for sexually harassing a black woman he dealt with daily. The jury apparently believed her story that he called her a "bitch" used the word "ho" and stated repeatedly that he did "not give a fuck" about "white people" even white season ticket holders (i.e., the people who are the best customers of his employer).
Calls by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson for his ouster???????? That would be none.
Perhaps Isiah was correct in video deposition when he stated that it was OK for black men to call a black woman a "bitch" while it would not be OK for a white man to do so???????
3) Hey, while we are at it -- it amazes me that Isiah's "Get Out Of Jail Free" card is so strong that rich white guy James Dolan falls under it. Here is a guy who was found by a jury to have encouraged a sexually hostile environment and retaliated against a black woman who complained about it.
Calls for his ouster by Al and Jesse??????? That would, again, be none.
Side Note) David Stern? Calling him "Caspar Milquetoast" would be kind. What do we KNOW about Isiah? Testified under oath that it was OK for him to call a black woman subordinate a bitch. Put that on an "NBA It's FAN-tastic" commercial for the kids! Admits that he tried to kiss and hug a female subordinate against her will. Demonstrates no regard whatsoever for the season ticket holders of the NYC franchise of the NBA, stating that he does not give a fuck about them, particularly if they are white. The jury believed all of these facts.
Exactly what does David Stern need to see before he disciplines Isiah? Does God have to come down from Heaven and say, "Yes, all of the allegations against Isiah are 100% true!" We have sworn testimony. We have a jury verdict. We have admissions by Isiah under oath. No matter what happens on appeal, nothing will change the fact that the jury firmly believed that Isiah Thomas engaged in the conduct complained of -- whether that legally is "sexual harassment" does not really matter for the purposes of the NBA. It is conduct detrimental to the league.
Roger Goodell would have suspended Isiah for 5 years when the original Complaint was filed and for another 10 when the case survived a summary judgment motion.
Personal Examples In Politics
I just got an e-mail from the DNC bemoaning George Bush's veto of health care for poor kids. Now, I support health care for poor kids and I detest GWB, but the e-mail contained a personal example of a 12 year old kid whose government health care kept him alive ("and X is alive today because...").
This sort of tale is a very unfortunate remnant of the Reagan Administration. Ron was always great at spinning a tale (and, as most good story tellers, he was unafraid to let facts get in the way of a good story).
Reagan-esque Example Using Made Up Quote:
"I don't know how many of you out there know someone struggling for their very life tonight and living in extreme poverty, but I have met [Raul Javier Evangelista-Sanchez] personally and I am not going to let the Contras in Nicauragua lose their fight to overthrow the democratically elected government while [RJE-S] struggles for his very life tonight in a hospital bed on the outskirts of Jinotepe...."
In summary, this sort of crap appeals to the lowest common denominator and annoys me to no end. That is all.
This sort of tale is a very unfortunate remnant of the Reagan Administration. Ron was always great at spinning a tale (and, as most good story tellers, he was unafraid to let facts get in the way of a good story).
Reagan-esque Example Using Made Up Quote:
"I don't know how many of you out there know someone struggling for their very life tonight and living in extreme poverty, but I have met [Raul Javier Evangelista-Sanchez] personally and I am not going to let the Contras in Nicauragua lose their fight to overthrow the democratically elected government while [RJE-S] struggles for his very life tonight in a hospital bed on the outskirts of Jinotepe...."
In summary, this sort of crap appeals to the lowest common denominator and annoys me to no end. That is all.
Isiah To Pay Zero, Knicks, MSG and Dolan Get Burned
Oh well, certainly a better investment than the $58MM that they are still required to pay Jerome James, Malik Rose and Quentin Richardson.
In an end to a salacious three-week trial, a jury ordered the owners of the New York Knicks to pay $11.6 million to a former team executive who endured crude insults and unwanted advances from coach Isiah Thomas.
...........................................................................................................................
In a lawsuit filed last January, the 44-year-old Browne Sanders sought $10 million in punitive damages, but the jury was free to deviate from that figure.
..........................................................................................................................
The verdict also means the judge will determine and award compensatory damages in the coming weeks.
The harassment verdict was expected after the jury sent a note to the judge Monday indicating it believed Thomas, the Garden and Dolan sexually harassed Browne Sanders, a married mother of three and former vice president for marketing.
Browne Sanders is currently an associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at the University of Buffalo.
In an end to a salacious three-week trial, a jury ordered the owners of the New York Knicks to pay $11.6 million to a former team executive who endured crude insults and unwanted advances from coach Isiah Thomas.
...........................................................................................................................
In a lawsuit filed last January, the 44-year-old Browne Sanders sought $10 million in punitive damages, but the jury was free to deviate from that figure.
..........................................................................................................................
The verdict also means the judge will determine and award compensatory damages in the coming weeks.
The harassment verdict was expected after the jury sent a note to the judge Monday indicating it believed Thomas, the Garden and Dolan sexually harassed Browne Sanders, a married mother of three and former vice president for marketing.
Browne Sanders is currently an associate athletic director and senior woman administrator at the University of Buffalo.
Redheads Have More Fun
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Isiah Thomas Liable For Sexual Harassment
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10022007/news/regionalnews/isiah_thomas_found_guilty_of_s.htm
I have looked on espn.com, cnn.com and nypost.com. All three just use the basic wire service story. How about a little analysis here???
1) No report is made of what the woman's "compensatory damages" were set at by the jury. Wouldn't you think this is a pretty crucial piece of the story to report? She made $260,000 a year. If she has lost 2 years of income, her wage loss is $520,000. What did the jury award? If it didn't make an award, when will that award be made?
2) How about pain and suffering damages? No mention of these. Pain and suffering damages are compensatory in nature. They are not punitive damages. How much was awarded here? No info.
3) Zeke and Madison Square Garden ("MSG") corp. are both found liable for sexual harassment, but only MSG may be liable for punitive damages.
How about reporting the practical impact of this verdict for Zeke? Nope.
The practical impact of this verdict is that the plaintiff is almost certainly never going to seek a dime out of Isiah's actual pocket. She now knows she will get her judgment paid (if she wins on appeal) by MSG. Had she won punitives against Isiah, she probably had the right to bankrupt him by pursuing the punitive damages he would be liable for.
Now, Zeke basically walks away and lets MSG pick up the tab for his screw ups. Classic Isiah. Ask fans of Toronto, Indiana and the CBA what that feels like.
Terrible reporting.
4) I guess that now the "She is too tall to be harassed" defense will not become a staple of sexual harassment defense in years to come....
HM
I have looked on espn.com, cnn.com and nypost.com. All three just use the basic wire service story. How about a little analysis here???
1) No report is made of what the woman's "compensatory damages" were set at by the jury. Wouldn't you think this is a pretty crucial piece of the story to report? She made $260,000 a year. If she has lost 2 years of income, her wage loss is $520,000. What did the jury award? If it didn't make an award, when will that award be made?
2) How about pain and suffering damages? No mention of these. Pain and suffering damages are compensatory in nature. They are not punitive damages. How much was awarded here? No info.
3) Zeke and Madison Square Garden ("MSG") corp. are both found liable for sexual harassment, but only MSG may be liable for punitive damages.
How about reporting the practical impact of this verdict for Zeke? Nope.
The practical impact of this verdict is that the plaintiff is almost certainly never going to seek a dime out of Isiah's actual pocket. She now knows she will get her judgment paid (if she wins on appeal) by MSG. Had she won punitives against Isiah, she probably had the right to bankrupt him by pursuing the punitive damages he would be liable for.
Now, Zeke basically walks away and lets MSG pick up the tab for his screw ups. Classic Isiah. Ask fans of Toronto, Indiana and the CBA what that feels like.
Terrible reporting.
4) I guess that now the "She is too tall to be harassed" defense will not become a staple of sexual harassment defense in years to come....
HM
Monday, October 01, 2007
Poison-ed -- Heather Pissed As She Loses "Rock of Love" to Jes
If the link doesn't come up, go to vh1.com and find "Rock of Love" final episode extras.
Background: Heather (blonde stripper chick with 80s stripper hair) finishes second to Jes (Chicago hairdresser with red streaks of hair) in a dating show. Heather has announced during the final episode that she "loves" Bret Michaels and wants a serious relationship with him. Heather got "BRET" tattooed on the back of her neck a few episodes back.
Heather was not happy with the second place ribbon:
http://www.vh1.com/vspot/player.jhtml?id=1570579&launchedFrom=/shows/dyn/rock_of_love/125424/episode.jhtml
Background: Heather (blonde stripper chick with 80s stripper hair) finishes second to Jes (Chicago hairdresser with red streaks of hair) in a dating show. Heather has announced during the final episode that she "loves" Bret Michaels and wants a serious relationship with him. Heather got "BRET" tattooed on the back of her neck a few episodes back.
Heather was not happy with the second place ribbon:
http://www.vh1.com/vspot/player.jhtml?id=1570579&launchedFrom=/shows/dyn/rock_of_love/125424/episode.jhtml
Oh Trevor Hoffman, How Clutch You Are---n't
The clutch opportunities for Trevor Hoffman in his career?
How about Game 3, 1998 Series -- made Scott Brosius a hero: http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN199810200.shtml
How about the time that he came in to save the NL's first All-Star game win in forever.............well, Paul Konerko, Troy Glaus and Michael Young said, "Save? What save?" http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS200607110.shtml
Well, come on. Given a 2-run lead in a playoff game TODAY surely Trevor Hoffman could hold it, right? Um, no -- http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=271001127
THIS is a HOF reliever? I guess chalking up meaningless regular season 3-run 1-inning saves against the Reds is good enough to get you to Cooperstown.
College Football Top 25
As I feared, the results do not reflect on-field reality. Florida, loser at home to mediocre Auburn, still leads West Virginia (lost on the road to top 20 South Florida). In fact, Florida (lost to Auburn, edged Mississippi) is ahead of USF in one poll (undefeated, beat the #5 team).
Sigh....
Sigh....
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