States represented:
-- 4 from Blue States -- Oregon (1), California (3)
-- 12 from Red States -- Indiana (2), Arizona (2), Texas (2), Florida (2), Utah (1), Missouri (2), Georgia (1)
Rating the Girls by Talent:
8. Amanda Overmyer -- flat out awful -- "there'll be peace when you are done" indeed!
7. Asia'h Epperson -- thinks she is Jennifer Hudson, sings like Kimberly Caldwell
6. Syesha Mercado -- name includes "Yes" signifying "yes, I should be eliminated"
5. Ramiele Malubay -- not awful, but when Jasmine Trias is your role model, well....
4. Kady Malloy -- doesn't seem able to demonstrate the talent within, but she clearly has some
3. Kristy Lee Cook -- could she be the next Shania Twain?
2. Brooke White -- badly needs some sun, but she has an appealing voice and presence
1. Carly Smithson -- best voice by far, but not sure I love the 40 acres of tattoos
Rating the Guys By Talent
8. Luke Menard -- to avoid complications, he never kept the same address (cuz he will be eliminated soon)
7. David Cook -- all the annoying tics of Dane Cook, minus any discernable talent
6. Chikezie Eze -- great name, mediocre performer
5. Danny Noriega -- Ok voice, and I really, really doubt he is gay.
4. Jason Castro -- corny schtick, but an OK voice
2B. Michael Johns -- how could he not have sung Sammy Johns' famous hit "Chevy Van"?? If you overlook that, he has charisma and a good strong voice.
2A. David Hernandez -- I think he could be a darkhorse.
1. David Archuleta -- resembles a troll doll and has a number of odd and off-putting mannerisms (and what 11 year old boy sings "You're Gonna Love Me" from Dream Girls???) But he is 10 steps above any male opponent in vocal ability.
If life were fair there would be 7 girls advancing and 5 guys, but infortunately that is not how the game is played. So one decent girl will go home while Chikezie or David undeservedly becomes a finalist.
HM -- (if Asia'h advances more, I may start going by HM'mh)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Zach Randolph -- Um, Offensive-Minded
Great description and great clip:
http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2008/02/zach-randolph-and-worst-possession-i.html
http://basketbawful.blogspot.com/2008/02/zach-randolph-and-worst-possession-i.html
We're Coming! We're Coming!
www.lowpost.net now has me at #58 on its 30-day blog rankings....The guy ranked at #58 in Efficiency in the NBA? Mike Dunleavy, Jr. I am #82 on the 90-day rankings, slipping down to Nick Collison territory...
To move up I will have to pass "Can Danny?" and "Spur of the Moment."
HM
To move up I will have to pass "Can Danny?" and "Spur of the Moment."
HM
Exxon Valdez -- 19 Years Later
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/supreme-court-to-hear-exxon-valdez-case/20080227072909990001
So, it is almost 19 years after the March 24, 1989 oil spill and the punitive damages issue STILL has not been decided!
In "Thank You For Smoking" (a movie rental that I highly recommend), the child of a tobacco lobbyist is asked to write an essay on why America has the best government. His dad's help? "Because of its endless appeal process."
Now, imagine that you are the Plaintiffs' lawyer in Minneapolis seeking this $2.5 billion in punitive damages. Per wikipedia (which, according to Michael Scott, must be accurate because anyone can write anything they want), the interest on this amount is $400,000,000 a year. But let's assume that interest in only $250,000,000 a year and let's say that it has been 15 years since the verdict. That is about $4 billion in interest.
So, assume that the Plaintiffs' lawyers get one-third of any recovery (I have no idea what they get). The Supreme Court's decision could mean that they either get $0 or they get $2.1 BILLION in attorneys' fees. Even dividing that money evenly by 500 lawyers (the lawyers, to my knowledge, are still a large Minneapolis firm) that is over $4,000,000 per lawyer.
As a Plaintiff's attorney myself, I cannot imagine the tension at the Supreme Court today.
So, it is almost 19 years after the March 24, 1989 oil spill and the punitive damages issue STILL has not been decided!
In "Thank You For Smoking" (a movie rental that I highly recommend), the child of a tobacco lobbyist is asked to write an essay on why America has the best government. His dad's help? "Because of its endless appeal process."
Now, imagine that you are the Plaintiffs' lawyer in Minneapolis seeking this $2.5 billion in punitive damages. Per wikipedia (which, according to Michael Scott, must be accurate because anyone can write anything they want), the interest on this amount is $400,000,000 a year. But let's assume that interest in only $250,000,000 a year and let's say that it has been 15 years since the verdict. That is about $4 billion in interest.
So, assume that the Plaintiffs' lawyers get one-third of any recovery (I have no idea what they get). The Supreme Court's decision could mean that they either get $0 or they get $2.1 BILLION in attorneys' fees. Even dividing that money evenly by 500 lawyers (the lawyers, to my knowledge, are still a large Minneapolis firm) that is over $4,000,000 per lawyer.
As a Plaintiff's attorney myself, I cannot imagine the tension at the Supreme Court today.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Yao Says "Yow!" -- Yao-ut For The Season
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3265631
Broken foot.
Now, riddle me this Batman, how does the guy in this story come out and say, "Well, I don't expect him to miss the August Olympics?" You are 7'5" and 300 pounds. Are you going to risk your NBA career for a chance to get........bronze? Who are you, Mitt Romney?
And that is only the second oddest comment in the article. We have a Rockets employee saying, "Well, we don't expect this will stall our playoff run." Yeah, I am sure that their backups can replace Yao's 22 and 11 on a nightly basis.....
Broken foot.
Now, riddle me this Batman, how does the guy in this story come out and say, "Well, I don't expect him to miss the August Olympics?" You are 7'5" and 300 pounds. Are you going to risk your NBA career for a chance to get........bronze? Who are you, Mitt Romney?
And that is only the second oddest comment in the article. We have a Rockets employee saying, "Well, we don't expect this will stall our playoff run." Yeah, I am sure that their backups can replace Yao's 22 and 11 on a nightly basis.....
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's Dream of Minnesota Becoming "North Mississippi" Takes a Step Backward
http://wcco.com/minnesotawire/22.0.html?type=local&state=MN&category=n&filename=MN--TransportationBil.xml
The legislature, including a handful of Republicans, finally told Pawlenty (a virtual sex slave to his "no taxes" pledge that got him his first GOP nomination for Governor) that when bridges are LITERALLY falling into the water that maybe you ought to spend some money and improve your state's transportation infrastructure.
Since Pawlenty's election as Governor, Minnesota has almost entirely abandoned its long history of promoting its quality of life and formerly-excellent amenities that draw young professionals to a northern city. These traditional Minnesota values have been pushed aside by a Governor whose "vision" for his state is that he serves 7 terms in office and in his 28th year he can announce that he has led the state so far that it now resembles desirable states like Mississippi or Lousiana instead of places like Illinois, Washington or Massachusetts.
All you need to know about Tim Pawlenty is this: his veto was overridden on the strength of support for more taxes by.....................THE MINNESOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE! And the vital override votes were cast by GOP legislators from places like the wealthy suburb of Edina.
In other words, Pawlenty has become SUCH a no-taxes whack-job that even business leaders and folks known as "Cake Eaters" think he is off his rocker.
A good first step back from the edge for a state that was really losing its way....
HM
The legislature, including a handful of Republicans, finally told Pawlenty (a virtual sex slave to his "no taxes" pledge that got him his first GOP nomination for Governor) that when bridges are LITERALLY falling into the water that maybe you ought to spend some money and improve your state's transportation infrastructure.
Since Pawlenty's election as Governor, Minnesota has almost entirely abandoned its long history of promoting its quality of life and formerly-excellent amenities that draw young professionals to a northern city. These traditional Minnesota values have been pushed aside by a Governor whose "vision" for his state is that he serves 7 terms in office and in his 28th year he can announce that he has led the state so far that it now resembles desirable states like Mississippi or Lousiana instead of places like Illinois, Washington or Massachusetts.
All you need to know about Tim Pawlenty is this: his veto was overridden on the strength of support for more taxes by.....................THE MINNESOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE! And the vital override votes were cast by GOP legislators from places like the wealthy suburb of Edina.
In other words, Pawlenty has become SUCH a no-taxes whack-job that even business leaders and folks known as "Cake Eaters" think he is off his rocker.
A good first step back from the edge for a state that was really losing its way....
HM
Monday, February 25, 2008
Obama -- Proudly Donning the Garb
"Explain to me again....is it step-step kick and do I throw the turban in the air first and THEN the cane?"
Friday, February 22, 2008
More on Cavs Trade
Bill Simmons and one other columnist also have stated that the Cavs are the huge winner in this deal, Simmons going so far as to say it makes the Cavs the favorites to win the East.
But look at what it does for the Cavs:
1) Jettisons Larry Hughes. I would have bet the $26.5MM that the Bulls pay Hughes the nex two years that NO ONE would ever pick up the contract of Larry Hughes (right now the 49th best Eastern Conference guard in Efficiency per 48, narrowly edging out Jason Williams).
Sure the Cavs have to pick up Ben Wallace, but Wallace's contract for the next two years is only $2MM more than Hughes's. Ben is having a terrible year, but his steals plus blocks number is 3.0 and he is getting 8.8 rebounds a game. There are 6 guys in the league who meet both numbers: Amare, Marion, Kaman, Camby, Dwight Howard and Ben Wallace. So for the combination of defense and rebounding, Ben Wallace is still a very good NBA player.
2) It Gives the Cavs Two Separate Shots With LeBron -- The Cavs have LeBron for this year and two more. They have done a great job of positioning themselves with expiring contracts after next year. Guys currently on their roster who have guaranteed deals after the end of next season:
LeBron (1 year)
Ben Wallace (1 year)
Z (player option for 1 year)
Pavlovic (1 year)
So, you trot out Wally and Joe Smith and Boobie Gibson and Anderson Verajao and Delonte West and see if they can win it with LeBron this year or next. If they can, great, you have a title. If not, then by 2010-11 you have all the decks clear and you try to convince LeBron that you can bring in new free agents to help him win.
3) It Gives their fan base hope -- Let me tell you as a Wolves fan for KG's long run here, there is nothing more depressing than watching your GM sit around and do nada while he has a top 5 NBA player. At least Danny Ferry is showing Cavs fans that he is trying to mix things up and that they don't have to watch Larry Hughes so 6 for 32 in his next two games while LeBron is going for 75/25/25 over the same stretch.
HM
But look at what it does for the Cavs:
1) Jettisons Larry Hughes. I would have bet the $26.5MM that the Bulls pay Hughes the nex two years that NO ONE would ever pick up the contract of Larry Hughes (right now the 49th best Eastern Conference guard in Efficiency per 48, narrowly edging out Jason Williams).
Sure the Cavs have to pick up Ben Wallace, but Wallace's contract for the next two years is only $2MM more than Hughes's. Ben is having a terrible year, but his steals plus blocks number is 3.0 and he is getting 8.8 rebounds a game. There are 6 guys in the league who meet both numbers: Amare, Marion, Kaman, Camby, Dwight Howard and Ben Wallace. So for the combination of defense and rebounding, Ben Wallace is still a very good NBA player.
2) It Gives the Cavs Two Separate Shots With LeBron -- The Cavs have LeBron for this year and two more. They have done a great job of positioning themselves with expiring contracts after next year. Guys currently on their roster who have guaranteed deals after the end of next season:
LeBron (1 year)
Ben Wallace (1 year)
Z (player option for 1 year)
Pavlovic (1 year)
So, you trot out Wally and Joe Smith and Boobie Gibson and Anderson Verajao and Delonte West and see if they can win it with LeBron this year or next. If they can, great, you have a title. If not, then by 2010-11 you have all the decks clear and you try to convince LeBron that you can bring in new free agents to help him win.
3) It Gives their fan base hope -- Let me tell you as a Wolves fan for KG's long run here, there is nothing more depressing than watching your GM sit around and do nada while he has a top 5 NBA player. At least Danny Ferry is showing Cavs fans that he is trying to mix things up and that they don't have to watch Larry Hughes so 6 for 32 in his next two games while LeBron is going for 75/25/25 over the same stretch.
HM
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Bulls/Cavs/Sonics Swing an 11-man trade
Perhaps Ben Wallace will find solace with yet another Central Division team – the Cleveland Cavaliers. That's where he'll be headed as part of a three-way trade involving Cleveland, Chicago and Seattle, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.
ESPN, February 21: In a three-way, 11-player trade with Chicago and Seattle that has been submitted for league approval, NBA front-office sources say that Cleveland will come away with four new teammates for James, headlined by Ben Wallace from the Bulls and sharpshooter Wally Szczerbiak from the Sonics.
Meanwhile, Cleveland will send Chicago Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons; Seattle gets Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble from the Cavs, and Adrian Griffin from Chicago.
Sorting It Out:
1. Cleveland
Drops: Hughes (how in the hell did they get ANYONE to take Hughes's contract!?!)
Donyell Marshall (worthless, sucks)
Shannon Brown (has been simply awful)
Cedric Simmons (see Shannon Brown)
Ira Newble (a decent role player) and
Drew Gooden (their second-best player many nights)
Acquires: Ben Wallace (not much of a player anymore, at best a backup to Z)
Wally Szczerbiak (one of the few available accurate shooters/scorers in the league -- great acquisition that I suggested weeks ago)
Delonte West (best guard that the Cavs now have, a better player than Larry Hughes) and
Joe Smith (washed up years ago -- cannot give you much other than hustle)
2. Chicago
Drops:
Ben Wallace (see above)
Joe Smith (see above) and
Adrian Griffin (didn't even know he was in the league)
Acquires:
Larry Hughes (one of the worst contracts in basketball, plays a position they don't need)
Drew Gooden (actually a decent player, not a star, but a good player who will help them)
Shannon Brown (um, young)
Cedric Simmons (um, bad)
3. Seattle
Drops:
Wally
Delonte
Acquires:
Donyell
Adrian Griffin
Ira Newble
So they trade a guy who gets about 20 points every 40 minutes (Wally) for three role players, two of whom are completely worthless. They also toss in a guy who will likely start for Cleveland (Delonte West).
Grades: Cavs: B plus -- got Wally and I'd rather have Delonte and Ben than Larry Hughes. Does Danny Ferry read my Blog? I have suggested dealing Gooden for a scorer/shooter before.
Bulls: C minus -- Well, they admit that they shouldn't have ever overpaid for Ben Wallace by going out and getting........................Larry Hughes??? Then they get Gooden who is actually pretty decent, but still. Exactly what do they plan to do with Larry Hughes?
Sonics -- D minus -- straight salary dump where they trade two decent players and get back no one of any value. Nice middle finger salute to their few remaining fans.
ESPN, February 21: In a three-way, 11-player trade with Chicago and Seattle that has been submitted for league approval, NBA front-office sources say that Cleveland will come away with four new teammates for James, headlined by Ben Wallace from the Bulls and sharpshooter Wally Szczerbiak from the Sonics.
Meanwhile, Cleveland will send Chicago Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons; Seattle gets Donyell Marshall and Ira Newble from the Cavs, and Adrian Griffin from Chicago.
Sorting It Out:
1. Cleveland
Drops: Hughes (how in the hell did they get ANYONE to take Hughes's contract!?!)
Donyell Marshall (worthless, sucks)
Shannon Brown (has been simply awful)
Cedric Simmons (see Shannon Brown)
Ira Newble (a decent role player) and
Drew Gooden (their second-best player many nights)
Acquires: Ben Wallace (not much of a player anymore, at best a backup to Z)
Wally Szczerbiak (one of the few available accurate shooters/scorers in the league -- great acquisition that I suggested weeks ago)
Delonte West (best guard that the Cavs now have, a better player than Larry Hughes) and
Joe Smith (washed up years ago -- cannot give you much other than hustle)
2. Chicago
Drops:
Ben Wallace (see above)
Joe Smith (see above) and
Adrian Griffin (didn't even know he was in the league)
Acquires:
Larry Hughes (one of the worst contracts in basketball, plays a position they don't need)
Drew Gooden (actually a decent player, not a star, but a good player who will help them)
Shannon Brown (um, young)
Cedric Simmons (um, bad)
3. Seattle
Drops:
Wally
Delonte
Acquires:
Donyell
Adrian Griffin
Ira Newble
So they trade a guy who gets about 20 points every 40 minutes (Wally) for three role players, two of whom are completely worthless. They also toss in a guy who will likely start for Cleveland (Delonte West).
Grades: Cavs: B plus -- got Wally and I'd rather have Delonte and Ben than Larry Hughes. Does Danny Ferry read my Blog? I have suggested dealing Gooden for a scorer/shooter before.
Bulls: C minus -- Well, they admit that they shouldn't have ever overpaid for Ben Wallace by going out and getting........................Larry Hughes??? Then they get Gooden who is actually pretty decent, but still. Exactly what do they plan to do with Larry Hughes?
Sonics -- D minus -- straight salary dump where they trade two decent players and get back no one of any value. Nice middle finger salute to their few remaining fans.
Bobby Jackson to Houston for Mike James and Bonzi Wells
There is a bunch of other stuff thrown in here and another team is involved, but it is basically Houston jettisoning the awful contract of Mike James and the assholishness of Bonzi Wells for the likeable Bobby Jackson (who knows Rick Adleman's ways and gets along with everyone).
New Orleans certainly should be helped by Wells, but I doubt James gets much run.
I never understood why a Rick Adelman team would want Bonzi Wells -- only thing he is good at is isolation and post-ups, Adelman runs no post ups and very few isolations.
What I hear when I read this trade is Rick Adelman going into the President's office and saying, "Dang-nang it! Get rid of Wells and James somehow. I just can't stand to have those two around here anymore."
Grades:
Houston -- B minus -- you'd like to get a little more for guys with this much talent, but they are hoping for addition by subtraction
New Orleans -- C -- I am not sure why you want Mike James around Chris Paul or Bonzi hanging around David West. They see this as a talent upgrade, and it is. But at what cost?
New Orleans certainly should be helped by Wells, but I doubt James gets much run.
I never understood why a Rick Adelman team would want Bonzi Wells -- only thing he is good at is isolation and post-ups, Adelman runs no post ups and very few isolations.
What I hear when I read this trade is Rick Adelman going into the President's office and saying, "Dang-nang it! Get rid of Wells and James somehow. I just can't stand to have those two around here anymore."
Grades:
Houston -- B minus -- you'd like to get a little more for guys with this much talent, but they are hoping for addition by subtraction
New Orleans -- C -- I am not sure why you want Mike James around Chris Paul or Bonzi hanging around David West. They see this as a talent upgrade, and it is. But at what cost?
And You Thought Mike James for Juwan Howard Was Worthless!
Gerald Green traded to Houston for Kirk Snyder and a #2 pick.
Um, OK. Minnesota never offered Green an extension, so it had no Bird rights (so Houston acquires no Bird rights). Both guys have contracts that expire this off season. Wolves get a low #2.
Yuck
Grade: Minnesota -- C (they get the #2 and give up a guy who wasn't going to re-sign here under any circumstances)
Houston -- D -- they aren't ever actually going to play Green this year (I mean, I can't see it happening) and they could have just waited to the off season and saved the #2.
Um, OK. Minnesota never offered Green an extension, so it had no Bird rights (so Houston acquires no Bird rights). Both guys have contracts that expire this off season. Wolves get a low #2.
Yuck
Grade: Minnesota -- C (they get the #2 and give up a guy who wasn't going to re-sign here under any circumstances)
Houston -- D -- they aren't ever actually going to play Green this year (I mean, I can't see it happening) and they could have just waited to the off season and saved the #2.
Florida Minister -- Have Sex Every Day!
http://coaches.aol.com/love-and-sex/feature/_a/thou-shalt-have-sex-every-day/20080220122409990001
God bless this man!
Note that the article mentions that divorce rates are highest in the South. These are the holier-than-thou folk that call themselves "The Moral Majority."
God bless this man!
Note that the article mentions that divorce rates are highest in the South. These are the holier-than-thou folk that call themselves "The Moral Majority."
Insight Into the Mind of a Bank Employee
So, I get a cold call from a "Personal Banker" at my bank. "Hello, I am Debbie ________ from your bank and I am a personal banker. I would like to tell you about our new personal banking services {goes on and on and on}."
No thanks.
"Well, it is a great service. We want to provide you with the personal services you need,"
OK, with that in mind, I have a CD that is maturing tomorrow, can you help me renew that at a good rate over the phone?
"No. You have to come in tomorrow."
Um, why would I have to come in tomorrow? You are my personal banker. You just said you want to give great service. Can't you take my call today. I will tell you what rate and term I want and you can just complete the transaction tomorrow?
"No."
Why not?
"Because I might forget or be sick or have a family emergency then you would be all upset with me and it wouldn't be pretty."
But you understand that every other service industry in the U.S. you can call up someone and say, "will you do this for me tomorrow?" and they will say "yes, sure"? Do you think I can tell my clients when they call today "If you have legal work for me to do tomorrow -- please physically come into my office tomorrow"?
"Well, if I said I would do it and didn't do it, you would be upset."
So would my clients. That is why I either do what I promise or get someone else to do it.
"I don't get your point. I already told you why I can't do it."
And I am saying that your excuse makes no sense when you are touting the "personal banking services" you offer.
"Well I don't understand your point. If I told you I would do it and then I didn't you would be upset."
Never mind, good-bye.
Summary: bankers will sell you "personal service" but that doesn't include even the most basic elements of "service" offered by most service industries.
No thanks.
"Well, it is a great service. We want to provide you with the personal services you need,"
OK, with that in mind, I have a CD that is maturing tomorrow, can you help me renew that at a good rate over the phone?
"No. You have to come in tomorrow."
Um, why would I have to come in tomorrow? You are my personal banker. You just said you want to give great service. Can't you take my call today. I will tell you what rate and term I want and you can just complete the transaction tomorrow?
"No."
Why not?
"Because I might forget or be sick or have a family emergency then you would be all upset with me and it wouldn't be pretty."
But you understand that every other service industry in the U.S. you can call up someone and say, "will you do this for me tomorrow?" and they will say "yes, sure"? Do you think I can tell my clients when they call today "If you have legal work for me to do tomorrow -- please physically come into my office tomorrow"?
"Well, if I said I would do it and didn't do it, you would be upset."
So would my clients. That is why I either do what I promise or get someone else to do it.
"I don't get your point. I already told you why I can't do it."
And I am saying that your excuse makes no sense when you are touting the "personal banking services" you offer.
"Well I don't understand your point. If I told you I would do it and then I didn't you would be upset."
Never mind, good-bye.
Summary: bankers will sell you "personal service" but that doesn't include even the most basic elements of "service" offered by most service industries.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Is It All Over For Hillary?
With even poor white voters now abandoning her in Wisconsin, can Hillary Clinton turn it around? And if it is possible -- should she?
I think that the clear answer to #1 is sure, she could. Ohio and Texas are her red-meat constituencies. If she can't win there, she can't win anywhere.
The answer to the next question is more important. To beat Obama she has to beat him up a little. She needs to point out his mistakes, ask why his wife hates America so much, ask voters if they really want to vote for someone who is all talk and no action. That is clearly what she needs to do. (Notice it took John McCain all of 8 hours to mention how he and HIS wife LOVE America -- that my friends is why the GOP wins and the Dems lose, they are not in the least bit concerned with looking "angry" or "mean" or "racist" or "sexist" -- the GOP just aims to win. Contrast the Clinton campaign's decision to concentrate on Obama stealing speech snippets -- oh god no! Not that!).
Is Obama sliming something that the party wants? Hillary Clinton hammering Obama for the things the GOP will hammer him for? I really, really doubt it. First of all, she won't be as good at it (a Democrat can't say all those mean things; that would be racist) and second, all she would do is lossen the peanut butter jar's lid -- she wouldn't get anything, but McCain could start in where she left off.
I think she muddles through Ohio and Texas, but if she is unwilling to go really, really dirty (by Dem standards) she can't win and she might as well give up today.
Lesson in all this? Some people are likeable to the general public (McCain/Obama) and some people (Romney/Hillary) are not. Some times that is just too big of a burden to overcome.
I think that the clear answer to #1 is sure, she could. Ohio and Texas are her red-meat constituencies. If she can't win there, she can't win anywhere.
The answer to the next question is more important. To beat Obama she has to beat him up a little. She needs to point out his mistakes, ask why his wife hates America so much, ask voters if they really want to vote for someone who is all talk and no action. That is clearly what she needs to do. (Notice it took John McCain all of 8 hours to mention how he and HIS wife LOVE America -- that my friends is why the GOP wins and the Dems lose, they are not in the least bit concerned with looking "angry" or "mean" or "racist" or "sexist" -- the GOP just aims to win. Contrast the Clinton campaign's decision to concentrate on Obama stealing speech snippets -- oh god no! Not that!).
Is Obama sliming something that the party wants? Hillary Clinton hammering Obama for the things the GOP will hammer him for? I really, really doubt it. First of all, she won't be as good at it (a Democrat can't say all those mean things; that would be racist) and second, all she would do is lossen the peanut butter jar's lid -- she wouldn't get anything, but McCain could start in where she left off.
I think she muddles through Ohio and Texas, but if she is unwilling to go really, really dirty (by Dem standards) she can't win and she might as well give up today.
Lesson in all this? Some people are likeable to the general public (McCain/Obama) and some people (Romney/Hillary) are not. Some times that is just too big of a burden to overcome.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
22 Worst Dunks Ever
This guy did all of this work, he deserves yet another link to his masterpiece: http://www.on205th.com/2008/02/22-worst-dunks-ever.html
Do NOT forget to go to his "honorable mention" links at the bottom and see Julian Wright's dunk attempt -- I feel Julian was shorted by not making the top 13.
HM
Do NOT forget to go to his "honorable mention" links at the bottom and see Julian Wright's dunk attempt -- I feel Julian was shorted by not making the top 13.
HM
Dunking
Those who are now saying that Dwight Howard is the greatest dunker of all-time have no idea what they are talking about. Sure, he had a great tip dunk in an all-star game competition (I wasn't all that impressed with the Superman dunk), but watch these 10 in-game dunks by Vince Carter and tell me if you think Dwight Howard is a better dunker.
Michelle Obama -- First Time Ever Proud of Her Country? Feb. 18, 2008...
http://www.breitbart.tv/html/49244.html
Well, I guess you can't always trot out the "pretty-in-a-WNBA-post-player-sort-of-way" Michelle and expect her not to screw up once in a big-time way.
Let me translate her comments for those of you who don't speak the language of "entitled personality." Here is what was going on inside her head:
"I know that I grew up in a African-American middle class family in Chicago and I got to attend Princeton and Harvard -- but I expect that minimal level of opportunity out of my country. Same thing with being hired by a huge Chicago law firm for big bucks -- any country provides at least that much opportunity to its middle-class minority children, right? Bill Clinton has an 8-year run as President where everyone had a job and people made a ton of money and could retire early. Not proud of my country then either -- I mean, look, I ALREADY HAD a big-bucks job! What do I care about these other people? But TODAY my HUSBAND is winning a campaign -- TODAY I am finally proud of my country because making me the First Lady finally shows that people recognize my true worth and brilliance as a person."
Great, Michelle.
Well, I guess you can't always trot out the "pretty-in-a-WNBA-post-player-sort-of-way" Michelle and expect her not to screw up once in a big-time way.
Let me translate her comments for those of you who don't speak the language of "entitled personality." Here is what was going on inside her head:
"I know that I grew up in a African-American middle class family in Chicago and I got to attend Princeton and Harvard -- but I expect that minimal level of opportunity out of my country. Same thing with being hired by a huge Chicago law firm for big bucks -- any country provides at least that much opportunity to its middle-class minority children, right? Bill Clinton has an 8-year run as President where everyone had a job and people made a ton of money and could retire early. Not proud of my country then either -- I mean, look, I ALREADY HAD a big-bucks job! What do I care about these other people? But TODAY my HUSBAND is winning a campaign -- TODAY I am finally proud of my country because making me the First Lady finally shows that people recognize my true worth and brilliance as a person."
Great, Michelle.
Fidel Castro -- Quitter
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/fidel-castro-resigns-cuban-presidency/20080219062309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001
First Bobby Knight and now Fidel Castro? And in January of 2009 meglomaniac dictator GWB will also be forced to step down (knock on wood). These are three AWFULLY large sets of shoes to fill.
First Bobby Knight and now Fidel Castro? And in January of 2009 meglomaniac dictator GWB will also be forced to step down (knock on wood). These are three AWFULLY large sets of shoes to fill.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Shuffle Off to Outstate
My 8th Grade B squad takes to the road today to play 4 tilts down in a hotbed of girls' basketball in outstate MN. Coach will be leaving work right now to pack and start the 100 mile drive.
My goal for the weekend is to win the first two games. Both opponents should be pretty good, but they are not the best teams in our 16-team bracket. If we end up 2-2 overall, I would be happy. Chances of a tourney championship? Not much. Oh well, at least I will be driving south, so I will get a 5 degree warm-up!!
Have a nice weekend and think good thoughts for my squad!
Coach HM
My goal for the weekend is to win the first two games. Both opponents should be pretty good, but they are not the best teams in our 16-team bracket. If we end up 2-2 overall, I would be happy. Chances of a tourney championship? Not much. Oh well, at least I will be driving south, so I will get a 5 degree warm-up!!
Have a nice weekend and think good thoughts for my squad!
Coach HM
Article on Broke Basketball Players
Thanks to the blog I Heart Celtics for its link to this article: http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/01/60-of-nba-players-broke-after-5-years.html
60% of NBA players broke after 5 years out of the league? Well. Several years back, I sat next to an NFL football player at a Timberwolves game. He told me that he received a $250,000 signing bonus out of school and bought an $80,000 car the next day. Do the math: $250,000 after taxes is about $125,000. So, one day after being paid $250,000 he had $45,000 plus a car that after a week of driving would be worth $50,000 and declining in value every day.
So, $250,000 paycheck, net worth after one week -- $95,000 and dropping.
Example #2 -- You make $5,000,000 a year, so you buy a house with a mortgage payment of $400,000 a year. No problem, right? Well..............if you only make $5,000,000 for 5 years and you never save a dime, in year 6 you have a $400,000 liability and no income to pay it. How do you keep your house? Answer -- you don't.
Now the football player I met was sitting next to his accountant (whom he hired after 3 years in the league). The accountant had him choose to get all sorts of deferred salary for years into the future (which is a brilliant decision from a tax standpoint) and they were discussing how tax-free bonds spun off a lot of tax-free cash every year for ten years and how they had built "income ladders" etc. So, yes, if you make $4,000,000 in your career and are smart about it and have a good accountant, you can be easily set for life. Sadly, at least 60% of the guys don't do this.
I also strongly recommend iheartceltics (see link on the right side of my Blog) for its hilarious take on the recent fight in a Portland restaurant allegedly involving Zach Randolph.
HM
60% of NBA players broke after 5 years out of the league? Well. Several years back, I sat next to an NFL football player at a Timberwolves game. He told me that he received a $250,000 signing bonus out of school and bought an $80,000 car the next day. Do the math: $250,000 after taxes is about $125,000. So, one day after being paid $250,000 he had $45,000 plus a car that after a week of driving would be worth $50,000 and declining in value every day.
So, $250,000 paycheck, net worth after one week -- $95,000 and dropping.
Example #2 -- You make $5,000,000 a year, so you buy a house with a mortgage payment of $400,000 a year. No problem, right? Well..............if you only make $5,000,000 for 5 years and you never save a dime, in year 6 you have a $400,000 liability and no income to pay it. How do you keep your house? Answer -- you don't.
Now the football player I met was sitting next to his accountant (whom he hired after 3 years in the league). The accountant had him choose to get all sorts of deferred salary for years into the future (which is a brilliant decision from a tax standpoint) and they were discussing how tax-free bonds spun off a lot of tax-free cash every year for ten years and how they had built "income ladders" etc. So, yes, if you make $4,000,000 in your career and are smart about it and have a good accountant, you can be easily set for life. Sadly, at least 60% of the guys don't do this.
I also strongly recommend iheartceltics (see link on the right side of my Blog) for its hilarious take on the recent fight in a Portland restaurant allegedly involving Zach Randolph.
HM
My Interview With Briana Evigan -- Star of "Step Up 2"
HM -- Hello, Britney.
BE -- It is Briana.
HM -- Really. I love that song, "Umbrella"! A-A-A-A.....How did you write that?
BE -- No, idiot. Not Rhianna. Briana -- Briana Evigan, star of Step Up 2!
HM -- Evigan? What is it like to have people try to be funny and ask you, like, if Greg Evigan is your dad?
BE -- Um, he is.
HM -- Greg Evigan is your dad!! Whoa. Now we have an interview! What was it like living in a semi-truck for all of those years?
BE -- That was a TV show.
HM -- I know, and what a show! And what about "The Bear"? Was he as cute in person as he was on TV? And how could Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo pursue your dad all of those years if your dad had a little kid like you around?
BE -- Again.........TV show.....wasn't even born yet.
HM -- (singing) "And best of all I don't pay......PROP-erty tax." I am really not getting your point here, but I will move on.
HM -- Which of the 7 Lady Truckers is your mom? I am guessing Judy Landers aka "Stacks"? Am I right?
BE -- No. My mom is an actress, but she wasn't on "B.J. and the Bear."
HM -- Guest star?
BE -- No. Again. I am not connected with "B.J. and the Bear."
HM -- Aren't you Greg Evigan's daughter?
BE -- Yes.
HM -- Then, hold on! OK. I get it now. Was Paul Reiser your other dad? Man! What was it like to be able to eat at Dick Butkus's cafe any time you felt like it?
BE -- This is ridiculous. That was Stacy Keanan, not me. And again, "My Two Dads" -- TV show.
HM -- Well, I can see you are all bitter about this stuff, I guess I would be too if Paul Reiser abandoned me. I thought that week when you tossed away that DNA test result....that took a lot of guts. But I can't thank you enough for all the time.
BE -- Don't you want to ask me about my role as a street-wise dancer in Step Up 2?
HM -- Well, do you have any visible tattoos or visible piercings?
BE -- Um, no.
HM -- Real street-wise. Well, here is another question -- Does Channing Tatum play your love interest?
BE -- No.
HM -- No Channing Tatum? Wow. ANY-way....................Can't thank you enough for the time. Say hello to Paul Reiser and Judy Landers for me. Tell Greg to try to stay away from that Special Crimes Action Team! And despite what you say today, Bear was, in fact, awesome -- I can't believe you have disowned him!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Why Devean George Refused to Go
Gist -- the Collective Bargaining Agreement gives him a de facto no-trade clause:
Although Kobe Bryant is the only player in the league with a specific no-trade clause in his contract, league rules dictate that players on a one-year contract -- but who spent the previous season with the same team and are thus eligible for Early Bird free-agent rights at the end of the contract -- cannot be traded without their consent. George, who earns $2.4 million this season, is one of 18 such players in the league at present, afforded the right to either approve or veto trades because those Bird rights are lost if they do get traded.
So, if George is traded before completing his second year in Dallas, he loses his "Early Bird" rights and New Jersey has no special salary cap exemption for re-signing him. If he retains his Early Bird rights, Dallas could re-sign him under the following exception:
Early Bird exception
This is the lesser form of the Larry Bird Exception. Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "early qualifying veteran free agents," and qualify after playing two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team can re-sign its own free agent for either 175% of his salary the previous season, or the NBA's average salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons, but can last no longer than five seasons.
So there ya go.
Although Kobe Bryant is the only player in the league with a specific no-trade clause in his contract, league rules dictate that players on a one-year contract -- but who spent the previous season with the same team and are thus eligible for Early Bird free-agent rights at the end of the contract -- cannot be traded without their consent. George, who earns $2.4 million this season, is one of 18 such players in the league at present, afforded the right to either approve or veto trades because those Bird rights are lost if they do get traded.
So, if George is traded before completing his second year in Dallas, he loses his "Early Bird" rights and New Jersey has no special salary cap exemption for re-signing him. If he retains his Early Bird rights, Dallas could re-sign him under the following exception:
Early Bird exception
This is the lesser form of the Larry Bird Exception. Free agents who qualify for this exception are called "early qualifying veteran free agents," and qualify after playing two seasons without being waived or changing teams as a free agent. Using this exception, a team can re-sign its own free agent for either 175% of his salary the previous season, or the NBA's average salary, whichever is greater. Early Bird contracts must be for at least two seasons, but can last no longer than five seasons.
So there ya go.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
More Fallout From The Gasol Trade? Kidd to Dallas for Half Their Squad?
From espn.com article:
Although sources say that the teams are still sorting out final details, this deal was described as "imminent" by multiple sources close to the process after negotiations moved to an advanced stage Tuesday night. The deal -- salvaged from talks on a three-way trade with Portland that developed and fizzled quickly two weeks ago -- has Dallas sending 24-year-old point guard Devin Harris, veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse, the expiring contracts of center DeSagana Diop and swingman Devean George and guard Maurice Ager to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.
Sources say Dallas will also add the league-maximum $3 million in cash and send its first-round draft pick this June as well as a first-rounder in 2010.
The Nets are expected to buy out Stackhouse's contract immediately, which could enable him to re-sign with Dallas if he waits 30 days, and ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that the Nets and the Mavs are likewise poised to complete a separate trade that will send swingman Antoine Wright to Dallas for a future second-round pick.
So basically the Nets get Devin Harris and a couple low #1s for Jason Kidd. Maybe the Nets keep "Lasagna" Diop? I would certainly hope so.
I really don't like the Stack buyout part of the deal. Why would you give back part of the value you got in a deal? Explain that to me. This is like trading someone a date with Jessica Biel for dates with Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Nicolette Sheridan and then saying -- oh, and I am not gonna date Sheridan, feel free to date her also. Um, WHAT!?!? Keep Stack around and trade him in a sign-and-trade deal in the off season. Why give BACK what you got in the trade? That makes absolutely no sense.
Grade if Deal Goes Through As Stated:
Dallas -- B+ -- Kidd will be 35 in March, but he obviously has gas left in the tank and Dallas has enough scorers that Kidd's abysmal .366 shooting percentage can be overlooked. Jason's historical mistreatment of women won't be much of an issue in Dallas, TX.
New Jersey -- C -- Devin Harris is a good young guard, but I don't know how he meshes with Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. Diop would be a good addition, but will they keep him? The two low #1s won't help much.
Chris Webber in Golden State, Kidd in Dallas, when does Seattle re-sign Gary Payton? Should Derrick Coleman start lacing them up in New Jersey again?
Although sources say that the teams are still sorting out final details, this deal was described as "imminent" by multiple sources close to the process after negotiations moved to an advanced stage Tuesday night. The deal -- salvaged from talks on a three-way trade with Portland that developed and fizzled quickly two weeks ago -- has Dallas sending 24-year-old point guard Devin Harris, veteran swingman Jerry Stackhouse, the expiring contracts of center DeSagana Diop and swingman Devean George and guard Maurice Ager to New Jersey for Kidd and forward Malik Allen.
Sources say Dallas will also add the league-maximum $3 million in cash and send its first-round draft pick this June as well as a first-rounder in 2010.
The Nets are expected to buy out Stackhouse's contract immediately, which could enable him to re-sign with Dallas if he waits 30 days, and ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard reports that the Nets and the Mavs are likewise poised to complete a separate trade that will send swingman Antoine Wright to Dallas for a future second-round pick.
So basically the Nets get Devin Harris and a couple low #1s for Jason Kidd. Maybe the Nets keep "Lasagna" Diop? I would certainly hope so.
I really don't like the Stack buyout part of the deal. Why would you give back part of the value you got in a deal? Explain that to me. This is like trading someone a date with Jessica Biel for dates with Teri Hatcher, Marcia Cross and Nicolette Sheridan and then saying -- oh, and I am not gonna date Sheridan, feel free to date her also. Um, WHAT!?!? Keep Stack around and trade him in a sign-and-trade deal in the off season. Why give BACK what you got in the trade? That makes absolutely no sense.
Grade if Deal Goes Through As Stated:
Dallas -- B+ -- Kidd will be 35 in March, but he obviously has gas left in the tank and Dallas has enough scorers that Kidd's abysmal .366 shooting percentage can be overlooked. Jason's historical mistreatment of women won't be much of an issue in Dallas, TX.
New Jersey -- C -- Devin Harris is a good young guard, but I don't know how he meshes with Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson. Diop would be a good addition, but will they keep him? The two low #1s won't help much.
Chris Webber in Golden State, Kidd in Dallas, when does Seattle re-sign Gary Payton? Should Derrick Coleman start lacing them up in New Jersey again?
Clemens
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3243636
The last part of the story may be where it all starts to unwind for Clemens. His wife submits an affidavit stating that she used HGH "once" and without Clemens' knowledge. If she is telling the truth (unlikely but possible) then WHY would Clemens tell Andy Petitte in 2005 that Petitte had mistaken Roger Clemens' HGH usage with Mrs. Clemens' HGH usage???
So, given Mrs. C's statement and Petitte's recollection, here are the possible results:
1) Mrs. C is a drug user and a liar. She took HGH and her husband knew full well that she took HGH and even told Petitte about it.
2) Mrs. C is a drug user, but not a liar........her husband is the liar. She took HGH once and Roger never knew about it. So when Roger told Petitte in 2005 that his wife was the one using HGH, he was just lying to cover his ass to Petitte.
3) Mrs. C is not a drug user, but is, alas, a liar when asked by hubby. I think this is unlikely. I am sure she was hooting up HGH. I have no reason to doubt her admission. But let's say she never used. Why would she say she did? To protect Roger and give him some "out" story.
Mrs. C is not a drug user and not a liar -- impossible. She says under oath she is a drug user, so she is either a drug user or a liar.
Oh what a tangled web we weave...............
And SURPRISE! The GOP members of the committee are said to have gone hard after the guy with no money and protected the guy who is a multi-millionairre and potential campaign donor. Real proud day for the GOP.
The last part of the story may be where it all starts to unwind for Clemens. His wife submits an affidavit stating that she used HGH "once" and without Clemens' knowledge. If she is telling the truth (unlikely but possible) then WHY would Clemens tell Andy Petitte in 2005 that Petitte had mistaken Roger Clemens' HGH usage with Mrs. Clemens' HGH usage???
So, given Mrs. C's statement and Petitte's recollection, here are the possible results:
1) Mrs. C is a drug user and a liar. She took HGH and her husband knew full well that she took HGH and even told Petitte about it.
2) Mrs. C is a drug user, but not a liar........her husband is the liar. She took HGH once and Roger never knew about it. So when Roger told Petitte in 2005 that his wife was the one using HGH, he was just lying to cover his ass to Petitte.
3) Mrs. C is not a drug user, but is, alas, a liar when asked by hubby. I think this is unlikely. I am sure she was hooting up HGH. I have no reason to doubt her admission. But let's say she never used. Why would she say she did? To protect Roger and give him some "out" story.
Mrs. C is not a drug user and not a liar -- impossible. She says under oath she is a drug user, so she is either a drug user or a liar.
Oh what a tangled web we weave...............
And SURPRISE! The GOP members of the committee are said to have gone hard after the guy with no money and protected the guy who is a multi-millionairre and potential campaign donor. Real proud day for the GOP.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Lowpost.Net Blog Rankings
www.lowpost.net
They have me at a 30-day ranking of #61!!!!!!!!!!! This is BY FAR the best that I have ever done in the rankings (I am generally between ##85 and 115), so I must have posted something worthwhile some time recently.
I just wish I knew what the heck it was. I'd post some more!.
HM (the #61 best NBA blogger in the U.S......for now)
They have me at a 30-day ranking of #61!!!!!!!!!!! This is BY FAR the best that I have ever done in the rankings (I am generally between ##85 and 115), so I must have posted something worthwhile some time recently.
I just wish I knew what the heck it was. I'd post some more!.
HM (the #61 best NBA blogger in the U.S......for now)
A Dying Breed? Who Are the 10 Best American-Born White Players?
The loss of black American-born players in baseball has been discussed a lot lately, and Torii Hunter even has inner-city programs to try to reverse this trend.
But what about white American-born players in the NBA? Where is the next Larry Bird? And even if there is no Larry Bird, why are all of the good white players from overseas? To my knowledge, the only four American-born White Players ("ABWPs") on the horizon are: 1) Kevin Love; 2) Tyler Hansbrough; 3) Chase Budinger; and 4) Kyle Singler.
I have seen Blake Griffin as a potential high NBA pick, but I do not believe that he is 100% white. If I am correct, he would fit into the category of "partially-white American-born players" like Deron Williams, Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby, Shane Battier, Anthony Parker, and Kris Humphries. This, it turns out, is a much better list than what is to follow.
From my quick as possible review today:
Finding #1 -- There aren't a lot of ABWPs Who Play a Lot
Of the guys eligible for the free throw title, there aren't 10 ABWPs. There are only 9. That is more than a little embarrassing. To find the top 10 ABWPs in points per game, you need to go down to #119 (Nick Collison).
Finding #2 -- ABWPs Aren't Very Good NBA Players
To find 10 ABWPs on the Efficiency list, you have to go all of the way down to #148 and Wally Szczerbiak (Eff 10.62, which ain't that great).
Finding #3 -- There Aren't a Lot of Guys Fighting Hard For That top 10 Spot.
Based upon this year's performances, the ten best ABWPs in EFFICIENCY rating are also 8 of the top 10 ABWPs in Efficiency per 48. They are also 9 of the top 10 in rebounding. They are also 8 of the top 10 in assists and 9 of the top 10 in points per game. They are also 8 of the 9 ABPWs to qualify with enough free throw attempts to qualify for the title.
Ratings categories:
Guys who got no real consideration -- to name many but not all -- Chris Quinn, Dan Dickau, Spencer Hawes, Jake Voskuhl, Brian Scalabrine, Casey Jacobsen, Mark Madsen, Travis Diener, Jason Williams, Jason Kapono, J.J. Redick, Luke Ridnour, Eric Piatkowski, Robert Swift, Austin Croshere, Darius Songaila. (Sadly, the best way to find these names is to search by "free throw percentage" and sort by "all" not "qualified").
Guys Who Got Miminal Consideration -- Brent Barry and Matt Bonner, Matt Harpring, Matt Carroll
Almost -- Luke Walton, Kyle Korver, Steve Blake, Joel Pryzbilla
Your Top 10 ABWPs, Based Upon Performance Thus Far In 2007-08
10. Jeff Foster
9. Wally Szczerbiak
8. Troy Murphy
7. Nick Collison
6. David Lee
5. Kirk Hinrich
4. Brad Miller
3. Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
2. Mike Miller
1. Chris Kaman
I tried to do this as quickly as possible, so anyone who screws up my analysis by saying "what about X, you idiot?" is really gonna piss me off. But go ahead, I want the list to be accurate.
HM
So
But what about white American-born players in the NBA? Where is the next Larry Bird? And even if there is no Larry Bird, why are all of the good white players from overseas? To my knowledge, the only four American-born White Players ("ABWPs") on the horizon are: 1) Kevin Love; 2) Tyler Hansbrough; 3) Chase Budinger; and 4) Kyle Singler.
I have seen Blake Griffin as a potential high NBA pick, but I do not believe that he is 100% white. If I am correct, he would fit into the category of "partially-white American-born players" like Deron Williams, Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby, Shane Battier, Anthony Parker, and Kris Humphries. This, it turns out, is a much better list than what is to follow.
From my quick as possible review today:
Finding #1 -- There aren't a lot of ABWPs Who Play a Lot
Of the guys eligible for the free throw title, there aren't 10 ABWPs. There are only 9. That is more than a little embarrassing. To find the top 10 ABWPs in points per game, you need to go down to #119 (Nick Collison).
Finding #2 -- ABWPs Aren't Very Good NBA Players
To find 10 ABWPs on the Efficiency list, you have to go all of the way down to #148 and Wally Szczerbiak (Eff 10.62, which ain't that great).
Finding #3 -- There Aren't a Lot of Guys Fighting Hard For That top 10 Spot.
Based upon this year's performances, the ten best ABWPs in EFFICIENCY rating are also 8 of the top 10 ABWPs in Efficiency per 48. They are also 9 of the top 10 in rebounding. They are also 8 of the top 10 in assists and 9 of the top 10 in points per game. They are also 8 of the 9 ABPWs to qualify with enough free throw attempts to qualify for the title.
Ratings categories:
Guys who got no real consideration -- to name many but not all -- Chris Quinn, Dan Dickau, Spencer Hawes, Jake Voskuhl, Brian Scalabrine, Casey Jacobsen, Mark Madsen, Travis Diener, Jason Williams, Jason Kapono, J.J. Redick, Luke Ridnour, Eric Piatkowski, Robert Swift, Austin Croshere, Darius Songaila. (Sadly, the best way to find these names is to search by "free throw percentage" and sort by "all" not "qualified").
Guys Who Got Miminal Consideration -- Brent Barry and Matt Bonner, Matt Harpring, Matt Carroll
Almost -- Luke Walton, Kyle Korver, Steve Blake, Joel Pryzbilla
Your Top 10 ABWPs, Based Upon Performance Thus Far In 2007-08
10. Jeff Foster
9. Wally Szczerbiak
8. Troy Murphy
7. Nick Collison
6. David Lee
5. Kirk Hinrich
4. Brad Miller
3. Mike Dunleavy, Jr.
2. Mike Miller
1. Chris Kaman
I tried to do this as quickly as possible, so anyone who screws up my analysis by saying "what about X, you idiot?" is really gonna piss me off. But go ahead, I want the list to be accurate.
HM
So
Monday, February 11, 2008
For More Chris Berman Videos
http://youtube.com/user/ampex2000
His attempt to seduce the woman by talking wine is, well, pathetic.
I thought Bill O'Reilly had inhabited Chris's body all of a sudden....
Roy Scheider -- RIP
In heaven they are going to need a bigger boat....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Scheider
Me So Sick
Me so sick-y, Me so sick-y, me so sick-y, need go home and sleep.
Every year my son goes up to Brainerd to play in a basketball tournament and every year I go with him and return sick as a dog.
I guess it probably doesn't help when the temperature is 25 BELOW ZERO real temperature. So, I sit and watch the kids swim and I sit and watch the kids play basketball and I sit in a car for 8 hours over the weekend. And I end up sick.
It really, really blows.
On the plus side, PM and the boys took first place and ripped through everyone they played, forcing "running time" in every game by leading by at least 20 with 7 minutes left.
HM
Every year my son goes up to Brainerd to play in a basketball tournament and every year I go with him and return sick as a dog.
I guess it probably doesn't help when the temperature is 25 BELOW ZERO real temperature. So, I sit and watch the kids swim and I sit and watch the kids play basketball and I sit in a car for 8 hours over the weekend. And I end up sick.
It really, really blows.
On the plus side, PM and the boys took first place and ripped through everyone they played, forcing "running time" in every game by leading by at least 20 with 7 minutes left.
HM
Friday, February 08, 2008
Britney Spears -- An American Tragedy
http://music.aol.com/news/story/_a/the-wild-and-secret-life-of-britney/20080206124109990001
Look, it is easy for everyone to rip Spears now, but let's be honest. There was a time when Britney Spears was regarded as one of the most beautiful and sexiest women in the world. Look at any list drafted from 1999 through 2004 of the "Most Beautiful" or "Hottest" or "Sexiest" women in the world and Spears was high up on it.
Now we learn in this article that her dad is a recovering addict. Maybe this would have been something the media should have looked into when she started her career and became a known party girl? Right? But no. She hits rock bottom and becomes an Anna Nicole Smith clone and THEN we read, "Well, yeah, of course, she had a drug addict for a dad!"
Look, it is easy for everyone to rip Spears now, but let's be honest. There was a time when Britney Spears was regarded as one of the most beautiful and sexiest women in the world. Look at any list drafted from 1999 through 2004 of the "Most Beautiful" or "Hottest" or "Sexiest" women in the world and Spears was high up on it.
Now we learn in this article that her dad is a recovering addict. Maybe this would have been something the media should have looked into when she started her career and became a known party girl? Right? But no. She hits rock bottom and becomes an Anna Nicole Smith clone and THEN we read, "Well, yeah, of course, she had a drug addict for a dad!"
Info On Upcoming Woody Allen Film
One of the stars is Kevin Dunn. This is important info: http://www.nypost.com/seven/02072008/gossip/pagesix/sapphic_steam_441536.htm
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Secret Transcript of Mitt Romney Pre-Resignation
Hard to believe that I could get this, but here it is.
(I am informed that the setting is a room full of Romney advisors and Mitt, the night before his CPAC speech. Only two advisors speak during this exchange).
Advisor1 -- "Mitt, we need to talk."
Mitt -- "Stock market is down again! Jeezo beezo! OK, pal, what is up? Is there a problem with my hair or what?"
A1 -- "Mitt, concentrate here. This is important."
Mitt -- "OK, OK, back to the message: More tax cuts for the rich! McCain is Stalin! I have always thought abortion is murder.......How is THAT?"
A1 -- "Mitt. It looks like you are going to lose."
Mitt -- "OK. So roll back the tax cuts. I am just like McCain. My mother fought hard for abortion rights!............(Am I winning now?)"
A1 -- "Please, be quiet just a sec. It seems that you will need to spend an extra $20 million from here on out and even then you have almost no chance to win."
Mitt -- "Um......Islamo-facists!! Execute Bin Laden!.....................Now can I win?"
A1 -- "Sorry, Governor. The math just doesn't add up. You are too far behind."
Mitt (audible sobbing) -- "Just tell me what to say and I will say it. COME ON!!! I don't know if you have noticed, but I will do anything to win. Do I have to favor gay married illegal immigrant boy scout leaders? Cuz I will. I may know some -- I can go ask those seven guys who worked on my lawn for $2.50 plus a box of Bombpops the other day!"
A1 -- "Seems like folks just don't much like you. Exit polls say you seem, well, insincere to the voters."
Advisor 2 -- "The bright side is that you can stay in the race and remain a shining beacon for the true conservative values held by guys like Bill Bennett and Rush Limbaugh."
Mitt -- "So, you are advising me to spend my money so I can help out a gambler and a recovering drug addict?"
A2 -- "It will be great. You will be a shining example for the rich, I mean "economically conservative" wing of the party and become an icon to them."
Mitt -- "You are advising me to spend my own money to not win?"
A2 -- "Well..."
Mitt -- "So that I can advance political positions that I don't actually believe in and that I only started espousing 2 years ago?"
A2 -- "Well...."
Mitt -- "Well, what do you think?"
A1 -- "I can see both sides of the argument."
Mitt -- "Don't give me that line. I invented that line. Do that again and I will dice you up and spit you out like a small family-owned takeover target."
A2 -- "You could be the new Ronald Reagan!"
Mitt -- "I already tried that. Didn't win. Then I became tough on Iraq. Didn't win. Became the Ross Perot "I had a real job" guy. Didn't win. I promised Michigan a gazillion dollars in job training for auto workers. I don't have a gazillion dollars for people I don't really give a hoot about, but at least I won there. Maybe that's it. Can I offer everyone about $20,000 per person if they vote for me?"
A1 -- "I am not sure that will work. You are an economic conservative, remember."
Mitt -- (laughs very loudly). "You always know how to make me laugh."
A1 -- "No. I was being.....I mean you......never mind."
Mitt -- "So, I spend another $20 million and I don't win? May the Mormon elders (whom I worship as messengers of God because Mormonism is the one true faith) forgive me, but screw that. I am out of this craphole. Write me some speech about Islamo-facists and I will quit. Smell ya later, dickweeds! Drive home in your Yugos or whatever you poor folk drive. Do you each need a buck for a gallon of gas or what? I only have 50s, but here is one -- all 10 of you split this and go buy yourselves each a tank of gas this week, but make sure to bring me back the change. I don't want a repeat of that whole "you can't get a gallon of milk for two bucks" incident."
A1 -- (sounds disgusted) "In your speech should I have you endorse McCain?"
Mitt -- "Let the Mayor of Munchkinland sit and stew. I hate that old bastard. He is so old he farts dust. And his flippin' MOM -- "Mormon" on THIS you old bitty!"
A1 -- "OK guys, let's get writing, we quit the race tomorrow."
So there you go!
HM
(I am informed that the setting is a room full of Romney advisors and Mitt, the night before his CPAC speech. Only two advisors speak during this exchange).
Advisor1 -- "Mitt, we need to talk."
Mitt -- "Stock market is down again! Jeezo beezo! OK, pal, what is up? Is there a problem with my hair or what?"
A1 -- "Mitt, concentrate here. This is important."
Mitt -- "OK, OK, back to the message: More tax cuts for the rich! McCain is Stalin! I have always thought abortion is murder.......How is THAT?"
A1 -- "Mitt. It looks like you are going to lose."
Mitt -- "OK. So roll back the tax cuts. I am just like McCain. My mother fought hard for abortion rights!............(Am I winning now?)"
A1 -- "Please, be quiet just a sec. It seems that you will need to spend an extra $20 million from here on out and even then you have almost no chance to win."
Mitt -- "Um......Islamo-facists!! Execute Bin Laden!.....................Now can I win?"
A1 -- "Sorry, Governor. The math just doesn't add up. You are too far behind."
Mitt (audible sobbing) -- "Just tell me what to say and I will say it. COME ON!!! I don't know if you have noticed, but I will do anything to win. Do I have to favor gay married illegal immigrant boy scout leaders? Cuz I will. I may know some -- I can go ask those seven guys who worked on my lawn for $2.50 plus a box of Bombpops the other day!"
A1 -- "Seems like folks just don't much like you. Exit polls say you seem, well, insincere to the voters."
Advisor 2 -- "The bright side is that you can stay in the race and remain a shining beacon for the true conservative values held by guys like Bill Bennett and Rush Limbaugh."
Mitt -- "So, you are advising me to spend my money so I can help out a gambler and a recovering drug addict?"
A2 -- "It will be great. You will be a shining example for the rich, I mean "economically conservative" wing of the party and become an icon to them."
Mitt -- "You are advising me to spend my own money to not win?"
A2 -- "Well..."
Mitt -- "So that I can advance political positions that I don't actually believe in and that I only started espousing 2 years ago?"
A2 -- "Well...."
Mitt -- "Well, what do you think?"
A1 -- "I can see both sides of the argument."
Mitt -- "Don't give me that line. I invented that line. Do that again and I will dice you up and spit you out like a small family-owned takeover target."
A2 -- "You could be the new Ronald Reagan!"
Mitt -- "I already tried that. Didn't win. Then I became tough on Iraq. Didn't win. Became the Ross Perot "I had a real job" guy. Didn't win. I promised Michigan a gazillion dollars in job training for auto workers. I don't have a gazillion dollars for people I don't really give a hoot about, but at least I won there. Maybe that's it. Can I offer everyone about $20,000 per person if they vote for me?"
A1 -- "I am not sure that will work. You are an economic conservative, remember."
Mitt -- (laughs very loudly). "You always know how to make me laugh."
A1 -- "No. I was being.....I mean you......never mind."
Mitt -- "So, I spend another $20 million and I don't win? May the Mormon elders (whom I worship as messengers of God because Mormonism is the one true faith) forgive me, but screw that. I am out of this craphole. Write me some speech about Islamo-facists and I will quit. Smell ya later, dickweeds! Drive home in your Yugos or whatever you poor folk drive. Do you each need a buck for a gallon of gas or what? I only have 50s, but here is one -- all 10 of you split this and go buy yourselves each a tank of gas this week, but make sure to bring me back the change. I don't want a repeat of that whole "you can't get a gallon of milk for two bucks" incident."
A1 -- (sounds disgusted) "In your speech should I have you endorse McCain?"
Mitt -- "Let the Mayor of Munchkinland sit and stew. I hate that old bastard. He is so old he farts dust. And his flippin' MOM -- "Mormon" on THIS you old bitty!"
A1 -- "OK guys, let's get writing, we quit the race tomorrow."
So there you go!
HM
Mitt Romney -- Quitter
Demonstarting the lack of backbone that make him, well, Mitt Romney, he quits the Presidential race today.
If I were in upstate NY I would call him a "puss," but I am not so I won't.
If I were in upstate NY I would call him a "puss," but I am not so I won't.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Personal Thoughts On The Campaign Thus Far
First, how in the world do we select our Presidential candidates in this manner? I mean, we have Romney winning Massachusetts and McCain winning Arizona -- but Arizona is "winner take all" and Massachusetts isn't. Similarly, Huckabee wins 5 states, all proportional, he loses Missouri by 8,000 votes -- winner take all for McCain. My lord.
Democrat side -- Hillary lost Alabama 56-42%, last I saw she got more delegates than Obama in that state.
Second -- very few people like Mitt Romney -- I mean, he wins in the following places: a) where his dad was governor; b) in his home state; c) where Mormons live; and d) where small states have caucuses instead of primaries. Great.
His "bronze medals" in the south led me to start this joke beginning: a preacher, McAmnesty and a Mormon walk into a southern bar.........Bonus points for a punchline.......
Third -- Does It Bother No One That 80% of African-American Vote for Obama and 90% of Mormons Vote for Romney? -- I mean, what does this tell us about our society? Bill Clinton was the most popular President among blacks in my lifetime. His wife draws 17% support from blacks? 80+% of black voters are positive that Obama will be better for them than Hillary Clinton? Wow. Similarly, in states with heavy Mormon populations McCain and Huckabee just surrender. What would be the media reaction if 90% of evangelicals voted for Huck and 80% of whites voted for Hillary?
Fourth -- I would be Very Happy If McCain Won The GOP Nomination -- it has been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG 7+ years for me. While I do think McCain is 1,000 years old and has a tendency to be kinda Romney-esque in his positions ("I am for building the border fence....first...of course") I at least view McCain as a competent person with some decent level of independent thinking. At some point, haven't we had enough of a President who has trouble saying "images" (State of the Union -- constantly said, "imagers") and who for 7 years has said "nu-ku-lar"? I can live with McCain. I can't live anymore with the idiot Bush son.
I will take far more solace from a McCain victory than from what is happening on the Dem side. I view Hillary as extremely unlikeable and I view Obama as a babe in the woods who is not prepared to get his first real taste of the GOP destruction machine (just today I saw a note "what are you going to do, vote for Osam.......I mean Obama?" It has begun.)
Fifth -- There are About 8 Political Groups In the US of A:
1) Rich Red Wine Republicans (Mitt Romney lovers -- favorite movie "Wall Street")
2) Wacko Evangelicals (Huckabee lovers -- favorite movie, they are proud of the kids in "Jesus Camp" but I guess I'd go with "The Passion of the Christ")
3) Regular Republicans Who Might Be Dems Except They Are Afraid of Foreigners and Getting Attacked (McCain lovers - favorite movie "The Sum of All Fears")
4) Rich White Wine Liberals (Obama lovers -- favorite movie -- "An Inconvenient Truth")
5) Poor White Democrats (Hillary lovers -- Favorite Movie "Places In the Heart")
6) Black Voters (Obama -- favorite movie "The Pursuit of Happyness")
7) Hispanic Voters (sometimes Hillary, sometimes McCain -- Favorite Movie "Fast Food Nation")
8) Other People Who Just Want Competent Government (depends upon their perception of the candidate -- favorite movie "Office Space").
OK. Enough of that.
HM
Democrat side -- Hillary lost Alabama 56-42%, last I saw she got more delegates than Obama in that state.
Second -- very few people like Mitt Romney -- I mean, he wins in the following places: a) where his dad was governor; b) in his home state; c) where Mormons live; and d) where small states have caucuses instead of primaries. Great.
His "bronze medals" in the south led me to start this joke beginning: a preacher, McAmnesty and a Mormon walk into a southern bar.........Bonus points for a punchline.......
Third -- Does It Bother No One That 80% of African-American Vote for Obama and 90% of Mormons Vote for Romney? -- I mean, what does this tell us about our society? Bill Clinton was the most popular President among blacks in my lifetime. His wife draws 17% support from blacks? 80+% of black voters are positive that Obama will be better for them than Hillary Clinton? Wow. Similarly, in states with heavy Mormon populations McCain and Huckabee just surrender. What would be the media reaction if 90% of evangelicals voted for Huck and 80% of whites voted for Hillary?
Fourth -- I would be Very Happy If McCain Won The GOP Nomination -- it has been a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG 7+ years for me. While I do think McCain is 1,000 years old and has a tendency to be kinda Romney-esque in his positions ("I am for building the border fence....first...of course") I at least view McCain as a competent person with some decent level of independent thinking. At some point, haven't we had enough of a President who has trouble saying "images" (State of the Union -- constantly said, "imagers") and who for 7 years has said "nu-ku-lar"? I can live with McCain. I can't live anymore with the idiot Bush son.
I will take far more solace from a McCain victory than from what is happening on the Dem side. I view Hillary as extremely unlikeable and I view Obama as a babe in the woods who is not prepared to get his first real taste of the GOP destruction machine (just today I saw a note "what are you going to do, vote for Osam.......I mean Obama?" It has begun.)
Fifth -- There are About 8 Political Groups In the US of A:
1) Rich Red Wine Republicans (Mitt Romney lovers -- favorite movie "Wall Street")
2) Wacko Evangelicals (Huckabee lovers -- favorite movie, they are proud of the kids in "Jesus Camp" but I guess I'd go with "The Passion of the Christ")
3) Regular Republicans Who Might Be Dems Except They Are Afraid of Foreigners and Getting Attacked (McCain lovers - favorite movie "The Sum of All Fears")
4) Rich White Wine Liberals (Obama lovers -- favorite movie -- "An Inconvenient Truth")
5) Poor White Democrats (Hillary lovers -- Favorite Movie "Places In the Heart")
6) Black Voters (Obama -- favorite movie "The Pursuit of Happyness")
7) Hispanic Voters (sometimes Hillary, sometimes McCain -- Favorite Movie "Fast Food Nation")
8) Other People Who Just Want Competent Government (depends upon their perception of the candidate -- favorite movie "Office Space").
OK. Enough of that.
HM
Shaq to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3232862
The dollars certainly match up very well. I am not sure why the Suns would even consider this deal. Marion is a far more productive player than Shaq. Shaq is in a terrible state of disrepair and his body breaks down more and more each day.
Of all NBA centers averaging more than 10 minutes a game, Shaq ranks 15th in Efficiency per 48 minutes, ##13-17 in order -- Brad Miller, Nazr Mohammed, Shaq, Troy Murphy, Brendan Haywood....
So why in the world would you do this? A) Marion is a free agent and you don't want to re-sign him so you need to get something for him; 2) The Lakers just acquired Gasol from Memphis for nothing -- which gives the Lakers a front line of Bynum, Gasol and Odom -- how in the world is Phoenix going to compete with that front line with the defensively-indifferent Amare Stoudamire anchoring the middle? 3) They do get rid of the ridiculous contract that they gave Marcus Banks.
If the deal goes through -- Miami -- B+ (would have been nice not to get Marcus Banks); Suns -- D+ (only hope is that Shaq can somehow regain enough form to at least vault him into the top 8 NBA centers (between Andris Biedrins and Chris Kaman).
HM
The dollars certainly match up very well. I am not sure why the Suns would even consider this deal. Marion is a far more productive player than Shaq. Shaq is in a terrible state of disrepair and his body breaks down more and more each day.
Of all NBA centers averaging more than 10 minutes a game, Shaq ranks 15th in Efficiency per 48 minutes, ##13-17 in order -- Brad Miller, Nazr Mohammed, Shaq, Troy Murphy, Brendan Haywood....
So why in the world would you do this? A) Marion is a free agent and you don't want to re-sign him so you need to get something for him; 2) The Lakers just acquired Gasol from Memphis for nothing -- which gives the Lakers a front line of Bynum, Gasol and Odom -- how in the world is Phoenix going to compete with that front line with the defensively-indifferent Amare Stoudamire anchoring the middle? 3) They do get rid of the ridiculous contract that they gave Marcus Banks.
If the deal goes through -- Miami -- B+ (would have been nice not to get Marcus Banks); Suns -- D+ (only hope is that Shaq can somehow regain enough form to at least vault him into the top 8 NBA centers (between Andris Biedrins and Chris Kaman).
HM
Secret Republican Footage From Super Tuesday
In the hoods are McCain and Huckabee. A young-looking Mitt Romney has the only other speaking role:
Howard Dean Letter
I got the "we must beat John McCain" e-mail from the Democratic National Committee in my inbox just now. Dr. Dean, let's settle down a sec' OK?
Here are suggested steps from a moderate Democrat: 1) Make sure McCain wins. He hasn't won yet and we all certainly would prefer him as President if we lose -- not Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee. 2) Get your own candidate. Probably ought to know who you are nominating before you start attacking the other side. 3) Make basic easy arguments -- for example, "John McCain is 1,000 years old and will die in office." Stuff like that.
HM
Here are suggested steps from a moderate Democrat: 1) Make sure McCain wins. He hasn't won yet and we all certainly would prefer him as President if we lose -- not Mitt Romney or Mike Huckabee. 2) Get your own candidate. Probably ought to know who you are nominating before you start attacking the other side. 3) Make basic easy arguments -- for example, "John McCain is 1,000 years old and will die in office." Stuff like that.
HM
Best Lines From Super Tuesday
1) Huckle-Buckle (when asked if Romney had a valid complaint about the Huck-McCain agreement to screw Oven Mitt out of West Virginia delegates): "Yesterday all Mitt Romney could say was "Hey, no whining!" Yesterday he was AGAINST whining and today he is FOR it."
2) Huckle-Buckle: "They said it is a two-man race...........Well it is and we are in it!"
3) McCain: "Governor Mike Huckabee.........I salute you.........................Mitt Romney and I have really been going at it over the past couple weeks..........he has great supporters and I salute THEM!"
4) Paul Begala -- "John McCain is now, what? 95? 97? (Bill Bennett groans) No. I like John. He went to high school with my great grandfather."
HM
2) Huckle-Buckle: "They said it is a two-man race...........Well it is and we are in it!"
3) McCain: "Governor Mike Huckabee.........I salute you.........................Mitt Romney and I have really been going at it over the past couple weeks..........he has great supporters and I salute THEM!"
4) Paul Begala -- "John McCain is now, what? 95? 97? (Bill Bennett groans) No. I like John. He went to high school with my great grandfather."
HM
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Romney Outmaneuvered in West Virginia -- Huckabee Gets 18 Delegates
http://time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/2008/02/the_w_va_convention.html
Those who despise the Huckabee/McCain alliance are absolutely livid right now!! Romney leads after the first vote of the 1,200 conventioneers and holds 41% of the vote, but you need 50+% to win. Paul gets dropped, it appears his folks started to go Romney, so McCain's folks immediately vote Huckle-Buckle, putting him over the top and leaving Romney holding 47% and........no delegates.
Ouch. Bad start to the day for the Oven Mitt.
Those who despise the Huckabee/McCain alliance are absolutely livid right now!! Romney leads after the first vote of the 1,200 conventioneers and holds 41% of the vote, but you need 50+% to win. Paul gets dropped, it appears his folks started to go Romney, so McCain's folks immediately vote Huckle-Buckle, putting him over the top and leaving Romney holding 47% and........no delegates.
Ouch. Bad start to the day for the Oven Mitt.
Could The Timberwolves Win The KG Trade?
Some time ago I listed the things that would have to happen for the Timberwolves to win the KG trade. http://hoopramblings.blogspot.com/2007/08/pro-timberwolves-take-on-garnett-trade.html
Let's go through and see how it is going.
Well, Garnett is hurt (not his back, but his abs), and Jefferson has picked up his play to the point where he is averaging 21 and 12. His 2.4 steals+blocks number isn't great, but it is far better than his career number. Al still struggled as a passer and his 1.3 assists to 2.0 turnovers a game is poor -- as a passer he is basically a slight upgrade on Drew Gooden (1.0 to 1.85).
Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith have been playing well of late.
Unfortunately for the Wolves, it appears that they will win 18-22 games. This probably isn't enough to cause Glen Taylor to fire Kevin McHale or Randy Wittman. Thus, the team will continue to suck in the foreseeable future.
The only hope for Wittman/McHale firings is the embarrassing attendance at Target Center. Stated attendance last night -- 10,019. Real? I would guess (from TV) 7,500. There were 11,000 people who went to St. Paul last night to see Matchbox 20 and Alanis Morisette sing songs from 10+ years ago.
The 2008 draft class looked great before the top picks actually had to take to the court and play college games. But now, except for perhaps Michael Beasley, there is no one in the draft who looks like an impact player for 2008-09.
But ultimately what will prevent the Wolves from becoming big winners in this trade is the Wolves' inability to evaluate personnel and make reasonable business decisions.
-- The Wolves have both Craig Smith and Ryan Gomes. Both are free agents. You don't need both on your team making $5-6MM each every year. So you have to decide whom to trade and get someone at the trading deadline who will help you in some manner, even if it is salary cap relief (maybe Memphis would give us Kwame Brown?). Who will the Wolves keep and who will they move? Best guess -- they keep neither and allow them to go for nothing. (You think Ryan Gomes doesn't have value? Compare his stats with Luke Walton's and Tayshaun Prince's ).
-- The Wolves will lose Gerald Green. Rather than paying $2MM to keep him for another year, he is gone at the end of the year. So, a guy with upside potential (has scored 33 points in an NBA game) is lost for nothing.
-- The Wolves are playing top 10 draft pick Corey Brewer less than they play Antoine Walker. Um, OK. That just about says it all about how well the team evaluates and develops talent.
So, in 4 years KG may be hurt and struggling and Al might be in his prime. But the way to bet is still not in favor of the Timberwolves. History teaches us, Big Al, that they will do nothing to put a decent team around you....
HM
Let's go through and see how it is going.
Well, Garnett is hurt (not his back, but his abs), and Jefferson has picked up his play to the point where he is averaging 21 and 12. His 2.4 steals+blocks number isn't great, but it is far better than his career number. Al still struggled as a passer and his 1.3 assists to 2.0 turnovers a game is poor -- as a passer he is basically a slight upgrade on Drew Gooden (1.0 to 1.85).
Ryan Gomes and Craig Smith have been playing well of late.
Unfortunately for the Wolves, it appears that they will win 18-22 games. This probably isn't enough to cause Glen Taylor to fire Kevin McHale or Randy Wittman. Thus, the team will continue to suck in the foreseeable future.
The only hope for Wittman/McHale firings is the embarrassing attendance at Target Center. Stated attendance last night -- 10,019. Real? I would guess (from TV) 7,500. There were 11,000 people who went to St. Paul last night to see Matchbox 20 and Alanis Morisette sing songs from 10+ years ago.
The 2008 draft class looked great before the top picks actually had to take to the court and play college games. But now, except for perhaps Michael Beasley, there is no one in the draft who looks like an impact player for 2008-09.
But ultimately what will prevent the Wolves from becoming big winners in this trade is the Wolves' inability to evaluate personnel and make reasonable business decisions.
-- The Wolves have both Craig Smith and Ryan Gomes. Both are free agents. You don't need both on your team making $5-6MM each every year. So you have to decide whom to trade and get someone at the trading deadline who will help you in some manner, even if it is salary cap relief (maybe Memphis would give us Kwame Brown?). Who will the Wolves keep and who will they move? Best guess -- they keep neither and allow them to go for nothing. (You think Ryan Gomes doesn't have value? Compare his stats with Luke Walton's and Tayshaun Prince's ).
-- The Wolves will lose Gerald Green. Rather than paying $2MM to keep him for another year, he is gone at the end of the year. So, a guy with upside potential (has scored 33 points in an NBA game) is lost for nothing.
-- The Wolves are playing top 10 draft pick Corey Brewer less than they play Antoine Walker. Um, OK. That just about says it all about how well the team evaluates and develops talent.
So, in 4 years KG may be hurt and struggling and Al might be in his prime. But the way to bet is still not in favor of the Timberwolves. History teaches us, Big Al, that they will do nothing to put a decent team around you....
HM
Rush Limbaugh on John McCain
Remember this quote when you witness Rush sucking..........up to......John McCain in 2 weeks:
On Monday’s broadcast, Limbaugh said in an audio clip posted at “The Page” on TIME.com: “He stabbed his own president in the back on legislation, a number of times. He doesn’t support his party or his president when the chips are down. He called people who want to protect the border racists, nativists, protectionists, and worse. And what kind of character is it that tries to slide all that through under cover of darkness, in a back room.”
That, my GOP friends, is your media describing your likely GOP nominee.....
On Monday’s broadcast, Limbaugh said in an audio clip posted at “The Page” on TIME.com: “He stabbed his own president in the back on legislation, a number of times. He doesn’t support his party or his president when the chips are down. He called people who want to protect the border racists, nativists, protectionists, and worse. And what kind of character is it that tries to slide all that through under cover of darkness, in a back room.”
That, my GOP friends, is your media describing your likely GOP nominee.....
Belated Commentary
1) Patriots? Losers. Ultimately we learned a bunch of stuff: 1) Randy Moss can come through in the clutch; 2) when pressured, Tom Brady is just an average NFL quarterback; 3) Rodney Harrison can't jump anymore.
Perhaps now Pats fans will know how I felt when the heavily-favored Bills were outworked and overpowered by the Giants in 1991?
2) Robbing Peter To Get Pau -- Now, I know he had fallen out of favor in Memphis, but Pau Gasol is a top 50 player in the NBA. How in the world do you give him to the Lakers for 2 low #1s, Kwame Brown and Jarvaris Crittendon (per Draft Express "best case Steve Francis, worst case John Gilchrist" Analogy -- best case: Yao Ming, worst case Paul Grant)?
Gasol gives the Lakers 4 potential all-star players: Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Bynum.
Grade -- Lakers: A; Grizzle: D minus.
3) Mary Matilin Accuses Mike Huckabee of Having a "Man Crush" On John McCain -- Well, Mary, when Huckle-Buckle is VP in 2009 and you are out begging for coins on the sidewalk, we will see who is ripping whom.
Any guy considering getting married should be terrified by Mary Matilin. When she was dating James Carville everyone said, "Egad. Carville is a troll and she is hot!" Now everyone says, "Seems that Carville found his appearance match after all." Yuck.
Now, you want to talk John McCain man crush, how about Michael Medved!!! http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/blog/g/2e932bab-9582-42bb-baf6-5e6f54aa62ad Michael! The old guy simply can't take all of that, um, attention from you!
4) Bad Sign For the Oven Mitt -- Norm Coleman (Senator from MN, GOP) endorses McCain. There is NO ONE in the world of politics who should be more in favor of Mitt Romney than Norm Coleman. They are basically the same person -- out-of-state carpet baggers who pulled into town as flaming liberals (in Coleman's case as a Democrat who supported Paul Wellstone) and eventually figured out that they could move up in the world if they pretended to be GWB conservatives!!
But Coleman's endorsement of McCain tells us all we need to know -- rats leave a sinking ship very quickly. You will never find a much bigger rat than Norm Coleman...............
HM
Perhaps now Pats fans will know how I felt when the heavily-favored Bills were outworked and overpowered by the Giants in 1991?
2) Robbing Peter To Get Pau -- Now, I know he had fallen out of favor in Memphis, but Pau Gasol is a top 50 player in the NBA. How in the world do you give him to the Lakers for 2 low #1s, Kwame Brown and Jarvaris Crittendon (per Draft Express "best case Steve Francis, worst case John Gilchrist" Analogy -- best case: Yao Ming, worst case Paul Grant)?
Gasol gives the Lakers 4 potential all-star players: Kobe, Odom, Gasol, Bynum.
Grade -- Lakers: A; Grizzle: D minus.
3) Mary Matilin Accuses Mike Huckabee of Having a "Man Crush" On John McCain -- Well, Mary, when Huckle-Buckle is VP in 2009 and you are out begging for coins on the sidewalk, we will see who is ripping whom.
Any guy considering getting married should be terrified by Mary Matilin. When she was dating James Carville everyone said, "Egad. Carville is a troll and she is hot!" Now everyone says, "Seems that Carville found his appearance match after all." Yuck.
Now, you want to talk John McCain man crush, how about Michael Medved!!! http://michaelmedved.townhall.com/blog/g/2e932bab-9582-42bb-baf6-5e6f54aa62ad Michael! The old guy simply can't take all of that, um, attention from you!
4) Bad Sign For the Oven Mitt -- Norm Coleman (Senator from MN, GOP) endorses McCain. There is NO ONE in the world of politics who should be more in favor of Mitt Romney than Norm Coleman. They are basically the same person -- out-of-state carpet baggers who pulled into town as flaming liberals (in Coleman's case as a Democrat who supported Paul Wellstone) and eventually figured out that they could move up in the world if they pretended to be GWB conservatives!!
But Coleman's endorsement of McCain tells us all we need to know -- rats leave a sinking ship very quickly. You will never find a much bigger rat than Norm Coleman...............
HM
Friday, February 01, 2008
Bizarro-World NBA All-Stars
Without spending a great deal of time on it, here are the guys in the Eastern and Western Conferences who would be on a "Vote for the Worst" all-star team based upon their performances in the first half of the year.
Criteria:
1) Guys on really, really good teams generally get snubbed (Bruce Bowen has a terrible Efficiency number, but he starts on a really good team, can't put him on; same with Tayshaun Prince).
2) Must average at least 24.0 minutes a game.
3) A guy on a bad team is preferred to a guy on a decent team, but if the decent-team guy is really awful, he can grab the spot.
4) Go straight off the Efficiency number. So, while there may be guys who suck SUBJECTIVELY as badly, these guys suck OBJECTIVELY (at least based upon one general stat).
5) Improvement is not taken into account -- Juan Carlos Navarro is the worst victim of this rule. He has improved a lot.
Here goes:
Eastern Conference
Starters:
F -- Alexander Pavlovic (#127st most Efficient player in the East on a per-game basis)
G -- Jeff McInnis (#114)
G -- Antoine Wright (#92)
F -- Quentin Richardson (#90)
C -- Eddy Curry (#65 -- Kendrick Perkins has worse number, but he plays for Boston)
Bench: Larry Hughes (#88), Desmond Mason (#85), Reggie Evans (#84), Antonio Daniels, Ricky Davis, Nocioni, Stephon (all below #58). Injury replacement -- Ben Wallace (#58)
Eastern conference squad features 3 Knicks and 2 Cavs.
Western Conference
Starters:
F -- Jeff Green (#105)
F -- Damien Wilkens (#103)
G -- Juan Carlos Navarro (#100)
G - Jarrett Jack (#97 -- despite a good team, I keep him on)
C -- Darko Milicic (#94)
Bench: Kyle Lowry (#82), Marko Jaric (#77), Mike Conley (#75), Earl Watson (#74), Sebastian Telfair (#73), Mikki Moore (#71), Rashad McCants (#70).
Western conference squad heavy with Sonics, Grizzle and Wolves.
Criteria:
1) Guys on really, really good teams generally get snubbed (Bruce Bowen has a terrible Efficiency number, but he starts on a really good team, can't put him on; same with Tayshaun Prince).
2) Must average at least 24.0 minutes a game.
3) A guy on a bad team is preferred to a guy on a decent team, but if the decent-team guy is really awful, he can grab the spot.
4) Go straight off the Efficiency number. So, while there may be guys who suck SUBJECTIVELY as badly, these guys suck OBJECTIVELY (at least based upon one general stat).
5) Improvement is not taken into account -- Juan Carlos Navarro is the worst victim of this rule. He has improved a lot.
Here goes:
Eastern Conference
Starters:
F -- Alexander Pavlovic (#127st most Efficient player in the East on a per-game basis)
G -- Jeff McInnis (#114)
G -- Antoine Wright (#92)
F -- Quentin Richardson (#90)
C -- Eddy Curry (#65 -- Kendrick Perkins has worse number, but he plays for Boston)
Bench: Larry Hughes (#88), Desmond Mason (#85), Reggie Evans (#84), Antonio Daniels, Ricky Davis, Nocioni, Stephon (all below #58). Injury replacement -- Ben Wallace (#58)
Eastern conference squad features 3 Knicks and 2 Cavs.
Western Conference
Starters:
F -- Jeff Green (#105)
F -- Damien Wilkens (#103)
G -- Juan Carlos Navarro (#100)
G - Jarrett Jack (#97 -- despite a good team, I keep him on)
C -- Darko Milicic (#94)
Bench: Kyle Lowry (#82), Marko Jaric (#77), Mike Conley (#75), Earl Watson (#74), Sebastian Telfair (#73), Mikki Moore (#71), Rashad McCants (#70).
Western conference squad heavy with Sonics, Grizzle and Wolves.
For Whom to Vote -- Democratic Minnesota Caucuses
I relish every day that the GOP goes after each other with a seemingly endless blood lust (heard Rick Santorum whine like a little baby this morning about how after Florida a McCain supporter pointed at him and said, "We beat you." Santorum, "what they were saying is that they beat all conservatives! That is outrageous!" No, Rick, they were saying that they beat........YOU, Rick Santorum, who has campaigned against McCain non-stop for months)
And I relish every day that the talk radio folks keep getting bent over and used by the old wrinkly body of the ancient John McCain. (I anxiously await the day 1 month from now when they all say, "You know, I actually enjoyed that. Thank you, John. I now love you and want you to be President.")
But I do not welcome my choice on February 5 at the Minnesota Democratic caucuses. I have to vote either Hillary or Obama. Both would be fine as President, but my fear is that each has an almost-insurmountable weakness that will prevent them from winning in November.
1) Clinton -- Personally, I can't stand her. I mean, she is shrill and whiny and she shouts and she is just SO in love with herself. AM and I discussed this morning that AM is going to vote for Hillary "because things were much, much better under Bill Clinton than they are now." Well Amen to that. But SO many people will never vote for Hillary Clinton........so many. I mean, when you have a negative rating of something like 48%, your election rides on everything going perfectly for you. Is this really the way to bet?
(By the way, but for the pesky constitutional problem, I would think that Bill wins both the nomination and the general election very easily).
2) Obama -- Here is where the difference between Democrats and Republicans REALLY hurts you in the general election. Obama -- middle name "Hussein," rumored to have had some sort of Muslim religious upbringing, black guy, liberal, cocaine user as a young man.
Whenever Hillary's camp so much as breathes toward any of these issues, the Dem orthodoxy says "Oh my God, that is SO dirty, you should be ashamed of yourself." So Barack strolls through the day unscathed.........he gets the nomination and..............Day 1, Bill Bennett show, "Do you really want a Muslim guy named Hussein as President? Think your kids will enjoy being taught that the proper religion is Islam?" Next talk show -- "We are playing Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" every time we say the Dem nominee's name."
I just worry that the guy will get absolutely torn into itty bitty pieces ala John Kerry.
Then you add in the fact that there are a number of people (some related to me by blood) who will never vote for a black guy. The corpse of John McCain or a black guy -- "Gotta go McCain's corpse here. What lesson would it send if I voted for a black guy?"
So, I got 4 days to figure it out, but I am not looking forward to it.
HM
And I relish every day that the talk radio folks keep getting bent over and used by the old wrinkly body of the ancient John McCain. (I anxiously await the day 1 month from now when they all say, "You know, I actually enjoyed that. Thank you, John. I now love you and want you to be President.")
But I do not welcome my choice on February 5 at the Minnesota Democratic caucuses. I have to vote either Hillary or Obama. Both would be fine as President, but my fear is that each has an almost-insurmountable weakness that will prevent them from winning in November.
1) Clinton -- Personally, I can't stand her. I mean, she is shrill and whiny and she shouts and she is just SO in love with herself. AM and I discussed this morning that AM is going to vote for Hillary "because things were much, much better under Bill Clinton than they are now." Well Amen to that. But SO many people will never vote for Hillary Clinton........so many. I mean, when you have a negative rating of something like 48%, your election rides on everything going perfectly for you. Is this really the way to bet?
(By the way, but for the pesky constitutional problem, I would think that Bill wins both the nomination and the general election very easily).
2) Obama -- Here is where the difference between Democrats and Republicans REALLY hurts you in the general election. Obama -- middle name "Hussein," rumored to have had some sort of Muslim religious upbringing, black guy, liberal, cocaine user as a young man.
Whenever Hillary's camp so much as breathes toward any of these issues, the Dem orthodoxy says "Oh my God, that is SO dirty, you should be ashamed of yourself." So Barack strolls through the day unscathed.........he gets the nomination and..............Day 1, Bill Bennett show, "Do you really want a Muslim guy named Hussein as President? Think your kids will enjoy being taught that the proper religion is Islam?" Next talk show -- "We are playing Eric Clapton's "Cocaine" every time we say the Dem nominee's name."
I just worry that the guy will get absolutely torn into itty bitty pieces ala John Kerry.
Then you add in the fact that there are a number of people (some related to me by blood) who will never vote for a black guy. The corpse of John McCain or a black guy -- "Gotta go McCain's corpse here. What lesson would it send if I voted for a black guy?"
So, I got 4 days to figure it out, but I am not looking forward to it.
HM
Nice Article on Ronald Reagan
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kinsley1feb01,0,1621249.story
Best info -- Reagan signing the illegal immigrant amnesty bill of 1986. Reagan cutting spending by.....1% of GDP during his 8 years in office while Bill Clinton cut spending by......3%.
Sounds like McAmnesty may, in fact, be the logical successor to Ronald Reagan.
Best info -- Reagan signing the illegal immigrant amnesty bill of 1986. Reagan cutting spending by.....1% of GDP during his 8 years in office while Bill Clinton cut spending by......3%.
Sounds like McAmnesty may, in fact, be the logical successor to Ronald Reagan.
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