WHAT A JOKE

Boy oh boy is David Stern finally getting what he deserves. The self proclaimed crowned king of major sports commissioners has a serious problem on his hands and here's a bet he does nothing about it, as usual when an NBA star is talking his talk. Carmelo Anthony, who is under contract with the Denver Nuggets is saying publicly, he will only sign an extension, which Denver has had on the table for months, with the New York Knicks or New Jersey Nets. What a great guy. I'm taking my ball and going home and I'll only play where I want. The trouble is, the owner in Denver is already paying a boatload of cash for him to play at a "superstar" level for his team. The league should take Carmelo's comments serious and hit him exactly where it hurts the most. Fine his "backside", fine the Knicks and Nets for tampering and remove them as destinations sites for his upcoming free agency.

Stern, for years has tended to side with players over ownership. The NBA could quickly in the future be looking at a league concentrated in the larger media type cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami etc. And if you're an owner in places like Sacramento, Minneapolis, Cleveland and Charlotte you're out of luck but please keep writing those checks.

Bottom line...Carmelo is a spoiled brat bum of a player that shows no willingness to ascend to greatness on his own. And just like his compatriot, LeBron James, will hopefully never earn a ring to legitimize his self importance.

NFL Quick Hits

1. In an attempt to hopefully avoid further violent "helmet to helmet" type hits, the NFL announced today they will immediately suspend any player who uses their helmet as a weapon. It's about time. Where has Roger Goodall and the rest of the NFL been the last years seeing their assets being wheeled repeatedly off the field, week after week. Concussions are now "THE" injury du jour.

A few thoughts how to solve this mess.

First, take away all the pads these guys wear, starting with face masks. Unless he's already ugly, what man alive would be willing to lead with his face.

Second, instruct game officials to throw players out. Fine them and suspend them until the player they injured returns to action. No silly 15 yard penalty flags.

Third, repeat offenders play without a helmet. That should cure the "human missile" type tackle.

Enough for now, but I reserve the right to add a few more ingenious ideas if these fail to control an out of control league. And these guys want to play an 18 game schedule?

Strike Two

You officially have to feel a little snake bit if you're a fan of the NBA Portland Trailblazers.

Strike One - Back in 1984, the Trailblazers bypassed a certain North Carolina Tar Heel hoopster named Michael Jordan to draft 7'1 Sam Bowie out of Kentucky. Bowie had serious leg issues and never had much of an NBA career. Micheal Jordan had a legendary career, winning 6 NBA titles and is regarded as the greatest player of all time.

Strike Two - The 2007 NBA Draft came down to either Greg Oden or Kevin Durant as the #1 pick held by the Trailblazers. They chose Oden and he's been sidelined most of his NBA career with, leg issues. Sound familiar? Kevin Durant just led the USA to its first World Championship since 1994 and appears ready to take his place among the greats of the game.

Better luck next time Portland. Only one strike left.

What a Joke

Roger Clemens has arrived in the nation's capital to face charges of allegedly lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone.

LYING BEFORE CONGRESS!!! Are you kidding me. You look up the definition of "Lying" in the dictionary and there is a picture of Congress. They damn well invented the word. They do it daily and even in their sleep.

I don't care a bit about Roger Clemens and if he's guilty or not. What a waste of time and money for our elected representatives to inquire if an ex-baseball player used a PED. How about fixing the country first? That's why we send you to Washington.

You have to be freaking kidding me...the President of the United States of America is going to be on "The View"!!!

Will someone take this guy out to the woodshed and beat some sense into him. Will someone remind him that by taking the oath of office to lead the most powerful country in the free world eliminates him from this type of specter. He has to have better things to do, like work maybe. Our country is facing unparalleled crisis's. There's an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that needs his daily attention. The national debt is out of control. And we have a war raging in Afghanistan. How does he find the time. Ever since he's taken the controls, Barrack Hussein Obama has shown a disdain in putting in a full day at the office. Air Force One seems to be going somewhere daily so our President can give his teleprompter a workout. This man hates work. And now he's willing to sit around and waste our nations time with these mostly left wing wacko Hollywood types. So let me count the days until our latest presidential failure is sent packing back to his beloved South Side of Chicago. I only wish it could be sooner.

NBA Free Agency - Winners and Losers

I am so tired of the NBA. Not sure if I'll put any time or effort into watching next season. This whole free agency farce has taken any love I've had for the game and flushed it. At least my wife will be happy not to hear me scream at the TV.

Losers

1. LeBron James - that's right, LeBum is at the top of my list. He sold out pure and simple. Gave up. Quit. Admitted he isn't the anointed one. Needs his hand held to be successful. Talent he has, grits and guts are lacking. I can't for a moment think that the likes of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird pulling this move. It's about competing, beating the other guy that drove these true legends of the game. Rings happened because they were great. Surely, LeBum will be bowed down to by all media sorts but his troubles have just begun and he hasn't a hint about it.
2. New York Knicks - How would you like to be a Knick season ticket holder right now. For two years you have been told that the gutting of the roster and the pitiful excuse of a basketball team was all about signing LeBum in his free agency year. Well, you lose again because LeBum is not coming and now your team is likely worse than ever and you'll be still be paying through the teeth for the right to boo your bums. Carmelo is only another 360 or so days away from his free agency. Good luck with Amar'e as your centerpiece.
   
3. ESPN - A used to think ESPN was the Messiah of sport networks. They did things better than the major networks. Not anymore. That masquerade of a show last night flashed their true colors. Do anything to STAGE an event. Nothing is real anymore. Innovation is a thing of the past.
4. David Stern - Nice league!! The inmates are running the show. But then again you have repeatedly promoted individuals over your teams. Owners get no bang for their buck with you in control. You only have to look what teams have dominated winning championships to realize the fix is in.
5. Miami Heat - I'll make this bet right now. They will never win a NBA Championship with James, Wade and Bosh. The Lakers of the late 60's with West, Baylor and Chamberlain tried and they failed. You need a 8-10 man rotation and you're out of cap space. Besides, how long will it take before one of those primadonnas gets their feeling hurt. It's my team.
   

Winners

1. Dan Gilbert - No longer held hostage by LeBron. Nice to hear honest true emotions of an owner not having to kiss the ass of his should be superstar. Plenty of cap room. Can now build a Team.
   

New York Post Headline Captures Nation's Grief

... although we may be taking it a bit better than the English...

France Faces World Cup Dilemma: Are We Cheaters or Are We Quitters

The French have taken decisive action. The labor unions have called for a nationwide strike while the four people who still work for private industry have gone on a summer-long break.

In other news, the French sports federation has accused Lance Armstrong of doping.

Soccer Primer

If you need a primer on soccer- and you just know that you do -  it doesn't get any better than going to the world wide leader, the Onion Sports Network.

World Cup Fever: US Routs England, 1-1

I know how much you love soccer, American Sports Fan. So, Bud, this goal's for you.

Roy Hobbs Lives: Daniel Nava Stars as the Natural

There aren't so many parallels between Roy Hobbs and Daniel Nava. Nava was cut from his university baseball team and Hobbs was cut down by a psychpath's bullet. Hobbs is fictional and Nava is real. But there are a few broad parallels. And that's where it gets interesting.

In this age of cradle-to-athletic-grave data driven analysis, it is highly unusual for an athlete who has been reviewed, labeled and rejected to later emerge in the major leagues. Daniel Nava did just that. Like Hobbs, his appearance created a "who's that and where did he come from?" reaction.

Nava recovered from being cut and staying on to be the manager of the University of Santa Clara baseball team. From there, he got a short-lived minor league tryout (after having been passed over in the baseball draft) before eventually making a name for himself in the Independent League.

From there, the King of Baseball Database Analysis - Theo Epstein - found him and took a flyer. A $1 flyer. That's all it took to purchase Nava's rights. On Saturday, Nava completed his ascent through the minors and joined the Red Sox to help fill the gaps that Andre Beltre has created in their outfield.

Nava stepped to the plate with the bases loaded against the Phillies who have been to the previous two World Series. The first pitch to Nava resulted in a grand slam, only the fourth such occurrence in baseball history. He's had 4 hits in his first 8 at bats, with 5 RBIs. 

Of course it will be interesting to see where this all goes, For the moment, it's a great feel-good story that even Bernard Malamud - were he still with us - might consider writing. Let's hope there are a lot more major league hits left in Wonderboy redux.

Lookout "W" - "O" Wants (needs) to Kick Ass

Barrack Hussein Obama went on the Today Show the other day and in an amazing interview with Matt Lauer said he was looking for some "ass" to kick over the oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico. I guess that's what you get with a Harvard education...a potty mouth. Coming out of the mouth of the most powerful man on the planet it surely would scare the heck out of someone like maybe the CEO of British Petroleum. But then again, the Messiah hasn't placed that call. He's way too busy with vacation plans or his pickup b-ball games.
So lookout George.

Hartford Dodges a Bullet: Bring Back the Whalers

For years, the ever-so-ahead-of-the-game civic leaders in Hartford have coveted ESPN Zone. If only an ESPN Zone opened in Hartford, the thinking went, the city would come to life. Alas, the dream is dead.

To Hartford's leaders, bringing ESPN into downtown Hartford made all the sense in the world. After all, the WWL's headquarters is just around the corner in stylish Bristol. And Charlie Steiner once worked in radio in the Insurance City.

So if ESPN would just, please, maybe open one of their health-food outlets greasy spoons downtown, the whole world would see what a wonderful place Hartford really is. And if the crowds of people going the restaurant managed to find parking and avoid being mugged, all the better.

But now that Disney has pulled the plug on the ESPN Zones, Hartford can turn its attention to a more realistic goal - bringing back the Whalers.

A Man for All Seasons

John Wooden was one on my quiet heroes ever since I started watching UCLA basketball beginning in 1964-1965. I shed a few tears over his passing last week.

My first impressions of Coach Wooden were all basketball related. What a coach. They won championships on a yearly basis. He started his run with a line-up of no player over 6'5 and then coached what may be the two best college centers of all time in Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton. But the winning continued even after they left. He was the "Wizard of Westwood". 1975 was his last championship year. He retired, walked away from what no man could ever think to duplicate. The daily grind proved too much. He wanted time to spend with his family, his wife Nell, the love of his life.

So when books started to be written about who John Wooden really was, I was intrigued. I learned about his simple Midwestern roots, deeply influenced by his parents who instilled in him a sense of true character. Honesty, integrity along with deep religious beliefs helped carve the man he would become.

I loved his passion for success and how he would attain it first as an All American player at Purdue and later when his coaching legacy began. He always viewed himself as a teacher first and foremost. He merely used the hardcourt as his chalkboard to bring his philosophy for a lifetime to those he cared most for. And it didn't matter if you were the star player or the last man on the bench. He was all about his team.

In all my readings of people who have either played for or come into contact with John Wooden in some way, I have yet to hear of one you hasn't walked away truly marveling at the man that he was. He was loved by so many. I only wish at some point in my life I could have at the very least have shaken this mans hand. There are long lists of great Americans and I would offer that John Wooden for his complete body of work over his lifetime be considered as one our greatest.

In closing, I've included a poem that he wrote about himself. He wrote poetry in his spare time.

The years have left their imprint on my hands and on my face

Erect no longer is my walk and slower is my pace

But there is no fear within my heart because I'm growing old

I only wish I had more time to better serve my Lord

But I've gone to human prayer, he has brought me inner peace

And soon my cares and problems and other worries cease

He's helped me in so many ways, he's never let me down

Why should I fear the future when soon I could be near his crown?

Though I know down here my time is short, there's endless time up there

That he will forgive and keep me in his ever loving care

British Petroleum Should Close and MMS Heads Should Roll

If a nation or group of terrorists had perpetrated a similar crime, the full weight of the US government would justifiably be focused on revenge.

The spill in the Gulf may be the worst of all time before it's over. The public relations spin machines are in over-drive. BP Chairman Tony Hayward has lurched from minimizing the spill, to making it all about him ('I want my life back') to coming up with cute headlines to describe BPs succession of failed attempts to cap the gaping hole gushing oil.

Now there are ads in which Hayward looks soulfully into a camera to express his sorrow about the spill. All that's missing is a voiceover with Tiger Woods' father. It would all be semi-comical except it's not. It's absolutely real, with real consequences.

Eleven people are already dead. Tens of thousands will have their lives altered permanently.  Untold numbers of people will get sick. An ecological dead zone expanding in the Gulf. And no real end is in sight. 

This should be the end for British Petroleum and for the bureacrats who were supposed to oversee them. The measured response of President Obama is in stark contrast to the consequences that millions of innocent Americans are feeling. It's way too nuanced and rational.  It's time to tell BP to close up shop in the US, never to return.  It's time to clean house at MMS. Tony Hayward and his senior team should be facing criminal charges for their depraved indifference to safety.

If this doesn't reinforce the idea that government oversight has to be at arm's length from the industry it's supposed to be monitoring, nothing will.

Missed Call: Aren't Baseball Games on TV Boring Enough?

Armando Galarraga threw a perfect game. And then he didn't. It's a shame that Galarraga won't get official credit for what he did.

But the calls for instant replay are off base. Jim Joyce missed the call that cost the pitcher his place in history. And yes, having instant replay would have resulted in the 'right' call. But really, does baseball need another reason to slow down? As it is, it's almost as ponderous as football. And it's closing in on cricket. Last night's game lasted 1:44, the shortest game in 5 years. We need more of those.

There is nothing 'instant' about instant replay. Look at the experience of pro football. It takes minutes to resolve the most meaningless situations and drains any athletic drama from the event. Any momentum mustered by either team to that point is lost while officials review, confer and generally look silly in the process.

Instant replay is not the solution. Baseball is moving towards a situation - already faced and unresolved by basketball -  in which the arbiters want 'face time'. As a result, too many calls are becoming situational (such as the "neighborhood" tag at second), personal (the moving strike zone) and arbitrary (balk calls). All ways for umpires to generate controversy and become central to the outcome of the game.

Baseball needs to reinforce the idea that the best umps are the ones no one notices.  Adding instant replay only reinforces the rising visibility of umpires, at the expense of the game.

Bud...Time to Do the Right Thing

First, I consider myself a baseball purist. I don't like messing with the game. I don't particularly like the DH. Pitchers should have to stand in the batters box. If a team wishes to employ a big fat old hitter, then he has to play in the field.

I'm not fond of inter-league play. I hate how MLB has destroyed the All-Star Game for the purpose of home field advantage in the World Series. Best record always wins.

Last night a Detroit Tiger pitcher, Armando Gallarraga, incredibly pitched the third Perfect Game of the year. But on the last out of the game, the first base umpire missed the call. It wasn't close. He blew it and after seeing the replay after the game confirmed as much. He felt horrible and for good reason. A Perfect Game, at least up to this year is a very rare event. Maybe one every 5 or 10 years. It's baseball immortality.

So this is what I want you to do. I want you to evoke the "best interest in Baseball" clause that you alone have power over and reverse the last out and restore this man's accomplishment. All of America has seen and agrees he was robbed. Think of all the good will you can finally gain. But lastly, it's the right thing to do.

Roger Federer: The Streak is Over, Long Live the Streak

The Streak has ended at 23.  Roger Federer lost to Robin Soderling in the quarterfinals of the French Open, snapping his beyond-imagination streak of playing in 23 straight Grand Slam semifinals.  Only Chris Evert, who played in - get this - 34 consecutive semi-finals, has ever had such a long streak of sustained excellence.

It is without question the second most remarkable achievement in the career of the greatest tennis player of all time. The most remarkable? He's played in 20 of the previous 23 major FINALS and 18 of the last 19. He has 16 majors, all since 2003.  Think about it. His first victory was just 7 years ago.

The last time Federer failed to make it to the semifinal at a Slam was six years ago at the French Open. Since then, Federer advanced to every semifinals, a run of almost six years. The Streak led to 139 Grand Slam victories and 14 Grand Slam titles.

Calhoun and UConn: Failing to Promote an Atmosphere of Compliance

The University of Connecticut announced that it had received notice from the N.C.A.A. that its men’s basketball program committed eight major rules violations.

Most of the charges involved Nate Miles in 2006, a recruit who never played for the Huskies.  The charges identified former student manager Josh Nochimson as an agent of the university which was first reported by Yahoo Sports last year. The impending charges led to the resignations of two UConn assistants in the week leading up to Friday's news conference.

Calhoun specifically was cited for “failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance.” This charge is just one step removed from the dreaded (and death-penalty eligible) charge of "lack of institutional control."

The money quote from Jim Calhoun,

“I’m going to be educated by certain matters if indeed we did make mistakes, and we’ll finalize that over the next 90 days and we’ll move forward. No one wants this to happen. Did I see it happening? No. But we’re going to handle it like we always handle things, up front, transparently, and do it the best way we can.” 

As evidenced by his quote, Calhoun is still testing the waters to see if denial will work. It's too late for that. Something did happen. Rules violations occurred. It amounts to cheating. Moreover, I think there may be additional relevant data points, places where the story could take unexpected turns:

• The sudden resignation of the University President who is now President of the University of Illinois (itself a paragon of college sports' virtue).
• The ticket scalping scheme at Kansas, whose AD - Lew Perkins - originally hired Calhoun and the current AD Jeff Hathaway. It's possible that the 'atmosphere' of selective compliance was baked into the organization.
• The cars-for-tickets scheme run by Hathaway a few years ago at UConn.
• Lack of audits for the tickets Calhoun controls and the basketball camp he runs.
• The new contract Calhoun signed just prior to the NCAA charges being made public, a contract that could never have been signed after the charges were revealed.
• The looming shake up in conference affiliations.

There is no doubt that men's basketball encourages cutting corners. Its genesis at UConn is unclear. But it extends far beyond the scope of the NCAA's charges and possibly far beyond current - and recently current - employees. The demands of big-time athletics force many people to make highly nuanced ethical decisions. It's unlikely, though, that anyone at UCONN or at the NCAA cares enough or has the willingness to connect all the dots.

Peggy Noonan: Government ... will handle nothing well.

Peggy Noonan slams President Obama's handling of the Gulf (of Mexico) crisis in today's Wall Street Journal. She describes him as aloof and out of touch, which is not the first time he has been labeled as such.

Noonan says that there have been three major catastrophes in Obama's first 18 months in office: the process of passing health care reform; the indifference to the massive problem of illegal immigration and unsecured borders (see the video linked on this site), and; the Gulf spill. He has, she says, fumbled all three crises.

In the end, without making a direct link, she points out what the Tea Party has been saying all along:

But Republicans should beware, and even mute their mischief. We're in the middle of an actual disaster. When they win back the presidency, they'll probably get the big California earthquake. And they'll probably blow it. Because, ironically enough, of a hard core of truth within their own philosophy: when you ask a government far away in Washington to handle everything, it will handle nothing well.

Read Noonan's entire article.

Joe West: Changing Baseball One Game at a Time

Joe West doesn't like the way the Red Sox and Yankees play baseball. He doesn't like the way Mark Buehrle makes his move to first. He had no problem tossing Buehrle's manager Ozzie Gillen from a recent game. West soon afterwards gave Buehrle the heave-ho. Headlines all around.

The winner in all this? Apparently, Joe West. How did someone like Joe West generate so many headlines? Or better question, why?

It turns out that West has his own publicist. In the spirit of "love me hate but don't ignore me" any publicity is good publicity.  Especially when you have a CD or two to promote.

So then there's today's big announcement that the ubiquitous Joe West will be umpiring this weekend's series in Boston (not with the Yankees).  Writes ESPN Boston's Gordon Edes:

The announcement that West and his crew will be working the Red Sox-Royals series did not come from Major League Baseball, but from a Tennessee-based publicist who lists West as one of his clients and said that West is "available for media interviews and guest appearances." West is believed to be the only big-league umpire with his own publicist.

There you go. Brand West.

UMass Boston: Throw Backs

UMass Boston is a commuter school sitting right on Dorchester Bay. It shares a small peninsula with the Kennedy Library and the perimeter of its campus is part of the bikeway south of the city.

Many of its students are older and are looking for a second start in life. Which is why this story in the Boston Globe of their baseball team's journey to the NCAA DIII tournament is so compelling. The Beacons have won eight straight post-season games and are now off to Wisconsin for the national finals. I love the part where they have to cut through a row of bushes to practice at BC High next door.

Makes you feel good just reading about them.

Red Sox Nation Invades Philly

Red Sox Nation invaded Philly last weekend. It's not like it was just a couple of years ago when half the park (or more) was Red Sox fans.

Recent Phillies' success, a newer stadium and the prospect of a fan being tasered brought out a big crowd, most of whom were rooting for the home team.

But some things don't change. The Red Sox have dominated the Phillies in interleague play, and it continued this past weekend. Dice-K pitched a no-no until 2 outs in the eighth (check the scoreboard, left).  He was assisted along the way by great defense, including his own stab of a Jason Werth laser.  By the way, with that quick glove, where was Dice-K when when the Bruins needed him?

Jacoby Ellsbury returned to the Sox lineup, so the Nation could breathe a sigh of relief (picture left). And David Ortiz had a couple of hits and a couple of solid plays in the field. On Sunday, Tim Wakefield dazzled the Phillies again. So it may be that this is the stretch that re-ignites the fanatics in Beantown.

It was my first visit to Citizen's Bank Park, which opened in 2004 although it seems much more recent. It's a very good place to see a game. The seats were much roomier than what I remembered from Yankee Stadium, although the slope of the seating area was not as sharp, meaning that you felt a little further away from the action than you really were. Lots of balcony seats.  The scoreboard was placed in a somewhat awkward position in left field, making fans on the third base side turn to see it. Great way to meet your rowmates, though.

Afterwards, a visit to Gino's (or Pat's, I can't remember and don't know the difference). All in all a great trip to Philly.

Lost

It's over. After six years and 120+ hours of episodes, Lost finally reached the end of its storyline.

Everyone is dead - with the big reveal being that they may have been dead all along. They probably died in the initial crash or shortly thereafter. They needed each other to reach closure about the meaning of their lives that were ended so abruptly.

It was an incredibly good great ending that provided answers to all the big questions. And like many works of art - granted it's contemporary / contextual art that may or may not stand up over time - it allowed viewers to form our personal interpretations. The writers created a masterpiece.


Despite ABC's best efforts to kill the golden goose with incessant ads and poorly timed graphic promos for other shows ("V" anyone?) Lost was one of the most satisfying shows on television in a long, long time. Some of the characters were outstanding (Ben, Locke, even Jack), some killed off too soon (Charlie, Boone) and some we wanted to see more of (Sayid, Desmond, Hurley, Juliet). Jack was always going to be the chosen one. And Hurley was always going to be the glue that held the group together. And Kate - well, let's just say she needed a better writer.  I sometimes wondered which character I most closely identified with, but I never did settle on just one.

Jacob and the smoke monster were probably not good and evil, although it would be easy conceive of them that way. Each had defensible and at times, indefensible positions, although the Man in Black was a lot nastier after he took over Locke's body.

There are, of course, lots of unanswered questions. But those are details. The step-back view is a single reaction: breathtaking.

Blumenthal Mis-Speak, Lie or Truthiness?

Connecticut has spawed another self-serving public official.  Current CT Attorney General Blumenthal speaks deliberately and chooses his words carefully. He has filed lawsuits on behalf of the state to clarify the meaning of an organization's choice of particular words in their marketing materials or agreements. So it seems like a stretch to think that someone this anal truly mis-spoke when he described his time in the military as in Vietnam, as opposed to during the Vietnam era.

Connecticut has a growing list of politicians who have put their own selfish interests first. There are mayors and a former governor who have served time in jail for corruption, and they are joined by at least one state senator. A host of local politicians have been caught with their hand in the till. Right now, the mayor of Hartford is standing trial for corruption. Add to that Senators Dodd and Lieberman who have made it clear that they would be willing to do or say just about anything to remain part of the clubby atmosphere in Washington. So the political climate in Connecticut is rift with: grab what you can, if you can.

The exposure of Blumenthal's lies at a time when the public has become completely disgusted with self-serving public officials makes his lies even more glaring and his apology - such as it was - feeble.

Blumenthal has compiled an commendable public record. He did serve in the Marine Reserves and he has been a visible and by all accounts effective Attorney General. His recently disclosed mis-statements about military service, however, may provide a rare inside glimpse at the heart of his otherwise carefully crafted public persona.  He may have just revealed his true motivation and if so, it's not public service. It's personal aggrandizement. His moment of "Truthiness", to use Steven Colbert's word, is what we should pay attention to.

This is a challenging time, and I don't envy the decisions that will have to be made by politicians in the next few years. What we don't need in Washington is another Senator whose personal ambitions may influence his decision-making.

If we're always wondering in the back of our minds what a Senator's true motivations might be, it's going to increase public skepticism and risk further gridlock.

Another President Who Doesn't Get It?

We just endured a full term of "Heckuva job, Brownie" and "Mission Accomplished". Do we have another tone-deaf, inside-the-beltway president?



This is what triggered the Tea Party movement: the sense that Washington - the President of Hope and Change, no less - just doesn't have a feel for what's going on across the country.

Crowd Control

Let's see. The fan is in a confined space with no place to go. The are scores of cops. Thousands of fans would be more than willing to detain this guy if he re-entered the stands. And there are at least five other people within three yards of the runner.

But there's a catch: the cop is a Tough Guy. So there's only one solution. That's right, pull out the Taser and stop the chase.

Welcome to Phan-Phriendly Phun times in Philly. Bring on Santa Claus.

Senate Begins Financial Reform Debate

The Senate is about to start debate over a Financial Reform bill. With Friday's SEC revelation they intend to charge Goldman Sachs with fraud, the political climate is ripe to insure the American public will be better protected against another financial meltdown.

But the real question I have for financial reform is this, who is going to reform Washington. Simply adding additional regulations only serve to limit economic growth. Besides, Congressional spending is certainly more a threat to both our financial and national security. Senator Dodd and the rest of the Democratic and Republican cronies have no real solutions except to find some scapegoat for their financial incompetence.

Joe West Wants Shorter Games. He Has Better Places to Be

I Want Shorter Games and Longer Buffet Tables says "Jobba the Ump".

West Virginia Coal Mining Tragedy

News of any coal mining accident always seems to strike me hard. My fraternal grandfather was killed in a coal mining accident in Scranton, Pa. when my father was a young boy. He never had the opportunity to know his dad and when my grandmother remarried all reminders of my grandfather were removed from his memory. I was named after my grandfather and a couple of years ago I was given his work pocket watch, the very watch he had on him when he was crushed in the mining accident. It's still a sort of eerie feeling I get every time I hold that watch to see its indentations from the accident.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families for the loss of their loved ones.

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS

Tim Floyd and Steve Lavin !!!!!!!!!!

Let's see, the last time we saw Tim Floyd at the collegiate ranks, he was resigning his job at the University of Southern California because of allegations he paid an agent for OJ Mayo to have him sign with the school. So instead of taking the heat of a NCAA investigation, he quit. And now the University of Texas/El Paso in what can only be seen as one of the dumbest moves ever, has hired him. Talk about inviting the NCAA into your program 24/7. But the real blame is clearly on the president of the university. He's put shady at best athletics over academics.

As for Steve Lavin, he's been out of coaching for seven years, broadcasting for ESPN. And now he's back, being tossed straight into the fire of the Big East. A west coast guy having to break into the traditions of NYC basketball. What could the Johnnies be thinking. He got a bit of the proverbial shaft at UCLA and he seems to be a genuinely nice guy, so here's hoping he can get the job done and return St. John's to prominence.

Holy Hoosiers!! It's Butler Baby!

"Five players on the floor functioning as one single unit: team, team, team - no one more important that the other."

"And David put his hand in the bag and took out a stone and slung it. And it struck the Philistine on the head and he fell to the ground. Amen."

"I'll make it"..."I love you guys."

So now you know, I'm putting my money on Butler to cut down the nets Monday night before the home folks in Indy for a "Hoosiers" sequel.

THE POWER OF X

A game for the ages. Sure to show up on ESPN Classic as soon as today. That was last nights double overtime slugfest between Xavier and Kansas St. March Madness was invented for moments like last night.

A small Jesuit school taking on a large conference foe. David versus Goliath. Let's face it, the tag Mid Major fits any school not associated with a football related BCS conference. But it is totally these so called mid majors that have provided and will continue to provide all the drama years after years that give March Madness its ultimate madness.

We didn't come out on top last night and those morons at ESPN, Dukie V, Digger and Bilas will always look at us as that nice little basketball school in Cincinnati but we know we are so much more than what they will ever give us credit for. And that is alright by me. I know the real score. Go X.

Thank You Twins

The signing of Joe Mauer to the fourth largest contract in baseball, right behind three Yankees, spoke volumes across the sport the last several days. It sets a potential blueprint how other small market type teams can not only build their clubs but also retain their stars.

And to think, the Twins were up to be retracted only a few years ago. It makes for competitive balance and healthy bottom lines and in a time where the entertainment dollar is in short supply, baseball can still flourish as a sport and our National Pastime.

So thanks again Minnesota for showing up and doing business the right way and in turn providing your fans the opportunity to root on a winning team for many summers.

The Health Care Debate Goes On

There are a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong with this bill. But let's hear from the arch-Conservative.


From John:

"This doesn't come anywhere near reform. It's nothing more than Chicago politics and a massive power grab by the party in control of Congress. It's great to have compassion for the 30 million of questionable Americans without health coverage but which is more compassionate: to provide health-care for 30 million uninsured or to ease the economic suffering of 300 million Americans?"

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/capitalhill.htm

I'm as concerned as anyone about government overreaching. But in this instance, we may need it.  it's clear that healthcare and personal economics go hand in glove and for better or for worse, the government is the only one in a position to make a decision.

It's a rock-solid truth that having or not having access to health care/insurance drives work decisions, family life and personal health. Right now, the way we dole out health care is by ability to pay. But that ability to pay (i.e. access to health insurance) is determined either overtly (exclusions for certain groups or pre-existing conditions) or covertly (premiums) by the existing marketplace.

I've had direct experience with both situations. It turns out to carry too much weight when making life decisions. We're better off realizing that everyone should have access to health insurance.

This bill should have turned out better and it will take a while to straighten out. But it's a start.

Stumps?

After reading these paragraphs, taken from an online news source, can you name the sport and what the terminology means*?

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan thinks England would be facing defeat in the second Test if the television referral system was in place in Mirpur.

Ian Bell, Matt Prior and Tim Bresnan survived close calls as England took a 21-run lead at stumps on day three.

"You have seen the TV. You have seen what the decisions were and what the decisions should have been," said the 22-year-old Tigers skipper.
"It is really bad for us that we did not use the referral system."

I'm sure our discussions of baseball and basketball can sound just as esoteric.

* Me neither. Stumps?

We're Number 10706!!!!

Bracket analysis: I did well in the west and not horribly in the midwest. I got killed in the south. Only the Dukies got through. (click on the bracket for a larger image).

Health Reform, Finally

It was an ugly, ugly process. But we need health care reform. And now we have it. There are plenty of provisions for everyone. And plenty for everyone to criticize. But really, it's time to move on from politics to performance.

The Gaels Go Marching In

St Mary's over Villanova is just another upset in a great tournament. If Northern Iowa can hold on against Kansas, this will be one of the least watched Sweet 16s of all time.  Except it will also be one of the best.

We're still on track for a Xavier v St Mary's final. Jesuits v LaSallians.  Bring it on.

Brackets - Day 2

It looks as if Cornell will defeat hammer Temple. West Virginia rolls after a really slow start. Xavier might hang on. Whew. Who else is playing? Lucky I don't bet.

Cornell can shoot. Their big guy is much better than you'd expect from the IVY league. And Whitman is an amazing shooter. Makes you wonder if Harvard should have been invited. Certainly the tournament could have justified another IVY instead of the 2/3 of dozen they invited for a one-and-done visit from the Big East.

Brackets - Day 1

Notre Dame busted the bracket early. First game of the first round. Unfortunately, it seems that the longer players stay at ND, the worse they get. I applaud their graduation rate, but some of the guys they've had recently have gone sideways or even regressed. If they're really pro prospects, they should consider leaving early. Oh well, I digress ...

Let's see if BYU and 'Nova can hang on.

What's in YOUR Bracket

Every year I get a bunch of calls - mostly from family members - who ask me to help them with their brackets. They know I love college basketball and will be glad to share my picks.

Of course my picks usually begin and end with "pick the UConn women". Choosing on the men's side is much harder. Or even impossible. But I try.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Happy Saint Patrick's Day. Here's a little bit of Riverdance.

CYO Final Four

How's this for a  Final Four?

Three from the Big East. And a mid-major! Looks like a CYO pickup game.  

Click on the brackets to see a larger image.

Graduation Rates Are Awesome

Derrick Z. Jackson of the Boston Globe is not happy about the graduation rates of some of the universities in the NCAA tournament.

The NCAA publishes an annual list of graduation rates and it provides serious tsk-tsk material for sports writers who otherwise act as homers for their local college basketball favorites. The list comes out in November, but it's scrutinized at the time of national collegiate championships, particularly football and basketball.

What Happened to the Constitution

When I was student way back when, I sort of remember being taught that in order to become law a bill had to pass both the House of Representatives and Senate.

March Madness is Here

1. I don't want to hear any bitching from any #1 seeds that they have a tough road to the Final Four in Indy. You have a #1 seed for a reason...you're supposed to be better than everyone else in the field. Play up to your seed or go home.
   
2. Duke, Duke Duke... There is no way they deserve to once again get the benefit of the draw. First, their body of work within a weaker than usual ACC doesn't compare to take your pick, Syracuse or West Virginia of the Big East. Second, they are slotted to play in the South Regional, closer to home than Syracuse, sent to Salt Lake City. Lastly, they draw the weakest possible ever #4 seed in Purdue. A team who lost their best post player and now a top guard.
   

What Could Have Been

You have to believe when UConn set the all time record for consecutive wins, two women contemplated decisions they made that coincided with the start of the streak. As the UConn women's basketball team marches (again) into the history books, Pat Summit and Elena Delle Donne must be at least thinking about what could have been.

Two years ago, Delle Donne was the most heavily recruited high school senior in the country. Even with the incredible Maya Moore (pictured) finishing just her freshman year at UConn, Della Donne seemed to be the next cover girl for the program, poised to be the next Diana Taurausi.

NOMAH!

He was one of the greatest Red Sox players of all time, even if his career was cut short by injuries. The Red Sox are signing Nomar Garciaparra to a one-day contract today so he can retire as a Red Sox. 

It's a classy - if somewhat puzzling - move by the Red Sox who have reconciled with several players who ended their careers elsewhere including Dewey Evans, Carlton Fisk and Fred Lynn. Evans, Fisk and Lynn did not leave as a result of contract negotiations with the current management team, nor was their departure as bitter.

Health Care Reform v Political Reform

We need health care reform. In the eighties and nineties as an independent contractor, I paid $10-20K out of pocket every year for my family's health care.

At one point - even though I had insurance - I owed more than $500,000 for health care costs. Each and every year I had to find health insurance, because after one year of coverage, rates would skyrocket. I commiserate with the millions of Americans who cannot get insurance or who are underinsured.

Oh, Canada!

Great Olympics, Canada. In your honor:

The Best of the Best

When played at the highest level, there is no better sport than hockey. End to end rushes. Crunching checks. Hockey matches and surpasses all other sports at combining artistry and finesse with brutal physicality.

Yesterday's USA - Canada match-up was a game for the ages and a showcase for how sports can be played.

WHERE WAS THE USA-CANADA HOCKEY GAME LAST NIGHT?

Dear NBC Sports (Network of the Olympics),

Boy are you doing a excellent job. But please, I would love to see more coverage of Figure Skating. Ice Dancing is my favorite. It's a thrill a minute. Nothing beats a sexy Tango on skates. Did I also mention how your endless Curling coverage makes me jump out of my chair, scream and praise the lord each time they hit those large shiny granite stones. I love how those gals sweep that ice so clean. Can you send them over to my house? And that Cross Country Skiing...Wow. I would be sawing logs for sure except for that nice little 15K hike through the forest. It goes by so fast doesn't it?

The only thing missing from these Olympics is Ice Fishing. Bassmasters is one hell of a spectator sport.
And one more thing.

WHERE IN THE HELL WAS THE USA-CANADA HOCKEY GAME LAST NIGHT?

Central Falls High School To Fire Every Single Teacher

The Superintendent of Central Falls, Rhode Island high school has fired every single teacher in large part because students are failing and the teacher's union is unwilling to do the extra work needed to turn performance around.

The Saints Will Win When Hell Freezes Over ...

Well look at that, it did!

Global Warming Hits Washington!!

Hey Al Gore, explain this one to me.

I know, that damn Bush did again it, right?

State of the Union Visually

 The top 500 words from the 2010 state of the union address. This wordle excludes the word "Applause" which appears over 120 times on the official version of the speech.

Click to see larger version. Created using wordle