First things first...



Let's hear the call from the greatest baseball announcer on the planet, Harry Kalas...
- posted by Brian @ 7:40 PM

 
An absolute clinic from one of the unheralded heroes of the electric guitar...

John, you are gonna LOVE this guy.

His name is Johnny Hiland, and he is a MONSTER. He can tear it up in any genre and has some of the best tone I've ever heard.

Here he is doing a tune called "Mercury Blues" this past weekend at the PRS Experience up in Maryland...



P.S. My Phillies post is forthcoming...Be patient!!!
- posted by Brian @ 7:33 PM

 
Domo Arigato,

Tony Romo.

- posted by john @ 5:33 PM

 
Pissed-Off, Passed-Over Bully-Boys

"Testosterone-fueled excess", indeed. NBC's Richard Engel has it spot-on. I will be interested to know how the State Dept., who has stalled a House demand for documents , will spin these incidents. The last incident forced Condi off the dime and she has now sent a team to Iraq to investigate. The Iraqi's are investigating, too, but currently Blackwater and other security firms operate above the law in Iraq. Great commercial for American values such as justice and freedom, eh? Hearts and minds anyone? Watch and see if State does anything more than absolve Blackwater to cover their own asses. SecDef Gates is worried about these guys, too. Given the military nature of their mission and the harm they can do it is unconscionable that they are not subject to Iraqi law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice. I hope that will change soon. These types do far more harm for our interests than good. It's the excess that hurts, not the fact that they shoot. That is sometimes necessary - it's the indiscriminate shooting that is as damaging as it is unforgiveable. The sense of entitlement and haughty, holier-than-thou image the project is also no help. At least their well-deserved infamy has put their expansion plans on hold. Check out an interesting perspective that Gumby provided.

- posted by john @ 5:47 PM

 
Hypocritical Whine

Bush is right, of course, that the Democrats did not deliver a lean budget proposal. Neither did he or his party in the 6 years they reigned. The doofus in chief would not wield his veto pen on the budget but whines loudly when Dems don't follow his proposal. Your problem, Mr. President, is that you lack any credibility on fiscal responsibility. When there was a projected surplus you and your henchmen pushed for a big tax cut primarily for the richest Americans. You shit of man and cheap excuse for a leader, stop whining. The Republican Congress was no better. When Democrats came into power after last November's elections, they had to clean up last years budget mess left behind by Republicans who could not even finish the most basic work they were elected to do. Sad shit, Mr Bush. So please., Dems - grow a backbone and cut farm subsidies for corn and other crops that are seeing booming prices. What hap pend to the commitment to
PAYGO? Stop it with the silly pork. Hold your potential Democratic nominees to fiscal responsibility. For so long, Repugnicans had a corner on the fiscal responsibility market. Now they have as little credibility as you do. Stop playing into their hands. You risk looking as bad as Bush.,

- posted by john @ 5:24 PM

 
No Newt For You! (Anthony)

It was always a pipe dream to think Newt could realistically enter and win. Too often fanciful notions like that are based on the (unconscious) assumption that it is all a popular contest. Primaries exhibit O'Neill's "all politics is local" principle far more than national elections. Newt was too late. Either he was using the Prez idea to gain support and funding for his "Solutions" project (cynically knowing he couldn't legally run for Prez) OR he was too egotistical? stupid? lazy? to look up the regulations. Neither the stupid nor the lazy label seems to fit Newt. And while he has a healthy ego, I think he knew all along he could not legally run and keep his current soap box. He (probably) lied about his true intentions to increase his credibility with fundraisers and ideologues. I applaud his efforts to stimulate debate on important issues, regardless of his stance on any issue. But I count America lucky that Newt will not be given direct access to the reigns of power. He is as bombastic as he is smart. And he is smart. Bombastic is not good in a Prez. Better as fodder for talk shows.
- posted by john @ 4:37 PM

 
Did You Hear?

Pfizer is going to begin selling a liquid form of Viagra. They won't call it a soft drink....but you can pour yourself a stiff one. Or a highball or cocktail maybe. Anyway, they plan to call in Mount and Do. Watch for it!

- posted by john @ 8:20 PM

 
The Mediocre Judge Speaks

About his former "mediocre" employee. I cannot/will not challenge his characterization of Anita Hill. I have nothing to go on there, so I will remain agnostic. But as to his tenure as a Supreme, he should be known as Judge "What Scalia Said". Mediocrity might be a compliment for his tenure on the SCOTUS.
- posted by john @ 7:14 PM

 
Remember the Appointment of the "War Czar"?

Don't feel bad, nobody else does either. When no four-star general would take it, Bush dipped into the next level to find a sycophant. He found General Lute, who told Bush he would lean on civilian agencies to help more in Iraq. Maybe he has. But to little or no avail.

Since his appointment, General Lute's business has been exceeded only by his irrelevance. He was supposed to cut through military red tape to get things done, but no three-star is going to have the gravitas to do that. Especially as W has not mentioned him since appointing him. That shows the symbolic nature of creating the position pretty clearly.
- posted by john @ 6:12 PM

 
The greatest sporting event you've ever attended?

Chris got me thinking about this when he asked about our favorite sporting events.

I'll take it a step further and ask about the greatest game you've ever seen in person.

Don't limit yourselves. If it was a high school game or event, go with that!

I'll say mine was Game 7 of the 2006 NHL Eastern Conference Finals here in Raleigh.

The Hurricanes beat the Sabres by a score of 4-2 amid an atmosphere that can only be described as intensely psychotic. I think my hearing just got back to 100% about 3 weeks ago.

Just an amazing experience...

P.S. Be sure to get your picks in for the Donnybrook NFL Pick'em Challenge.

I noticed that a few of you slacked off last week!
- posted by Brian @ 2:37 PM

 
Raise Your Glass This Sunday

To toast the life and work of Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter. He did more than any individual to bring on the beer renaissance we have been enjoying (except for Chris) for the last two decades.
- posted by john @ 9:13 AM

 
Candidate Calculator

"Answer the questions below to find the 2008 presidential candidate that best aligns with your beliefs. More than 350,000 people have already filled it out."

Pretty interesting and does not take long. I like it that you get to rate the relative importance of issues to you as well as your position on the issue. According to my results, I will be voting for Clinton for Pres. for the third time. She was not my top candidate, but the tops of any who have realistic shot of being nominated.
- posted by john @ 8:33 AM

 
More Favorites!

John's cool topic the other day got me to thinking about more favorites. Maybe we can get more of a feel for what makes the people that post on here tick...Away we go!

Favorite Football player of all-time: Joe Montana
Favorite Baseball player of all-time: Eddie Murray
Favorite non-NFL uniform: Baltimore Orioles home unis
Favorite team of all-time (specific year): 1989 49ERS
Favorite sporting event you ever watched: The 49ERS beating the Cowboys 38-28 in the 1994 NFC championship. That was two years of frustration being released in what great gigantic swoop and I never recall being more euphoric during a game than when I was in the first seven and a half minutes when the Niners hung 21 straight points on our archrivals. Funny side note. I was still glowing from the victory hours after it ended when I was out with my girlfriend that night. We were making out in her car and the thought that was running through my mind was..."They did it! The Niners are going back to the super bowl! Woo hoo!"
Favorite song: In my Life by the Beatles...I've requested that this song be played at my funeral because I want my family and friends and the people who have enriched my life to know how I feel about them.
Favorite Movie: Rocky
Favorite quote: "Where else would you rather be than right here, right now?!"--Marv Levy, Buffalo Bills
Favorite President: Teddy Roosevelt
Favorite college subject: The history of Rock and Roll
Favorite high school subject: American history
Favorite Sound: My daughter laughing
Favorite non-alcoholic beverage: Coke
Favorite food: quarter pounder from McDonalds and mashed potatoes
Favorite TV show past or present: Tie between Seinfeld and The Wonder Years
Favorite football movie: All the Right Moves (captures the emotions of high school football for the players and commuity perfectly)
Favorite Movie quote: "Hey, Dad...you wanna have a catch?" Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams....gets me every time
- posted by Chris @ 9:27 PM

 
Rush Limbaugh talks about "Phony soldiers"...

That's right! The right-wing blowhard who got out of serving in Vietnam because of a cyst on his ass is now referring to veterans that oppose the war in Iraq as "phony soldiers".

I wonder if the Republicans in Congress will get as bent out of shape about this as they did about that MoveOn.org ad...
- posted by Brian @ 4:00 PM

 
In case you didn't know...

In a somewhat unprecedented move, all 30 NHL teams have redesigned their uniforms this season, now that Reebok has taken over as their official uniform supplier.

To get you up to speed, I'll walk you through the good, the bad, and the ugly among the new designs.

THE GOOD

- posted by Brian @ 1:23 PM

 
Name Your Favorites - Top 3 Each Category

Popular Songwriters: Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Bob Marley (apologies to John Prine, among many others)

Wheat Beers: Ayinger Brau-Weisse, Konig-Ludwig, Erdinger Hefe

AFC Teams: Dolphins, Steelers, Colts

Acoustic Performance: Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck, John Randall

More seemingly random polls to come. (Where the hell is my umlaut key? Need it for those German beer titles...)
- posted by john @ 12:33 AM

 
Pretty Potatoe-esque of you, George

• As a candidate, George W. Bush once asked, "Is our children learning?" On Wednesday, he had an answer. "Childrens do learn," he said.

When the doofus-in-chief speaks, people laugh. But not with him.

1.21.2009 - why are you so far away?
- posted by john @ 6:17 PM

 
Enjoy the harvest moon tonight...



It should be a beautiful one, especially since I see about three clouds outside my window right now.

Oh, and enjoy this "Harvest Moon", while you're at it...


- posted by Brian @ 3:00 PM

 
United Auto Workers wins a victory for the American middle class...

Very good news out of Detroit...

The United Auto Workers and General Motors Corp. agreed Wednesday to a tentative contract that ends a two-day national strike — the first against the automaker in 37 years — and puts responsibility for retirees' health care into the union's hands.

GM and the UAW confirmed that the deal creates a GM-funded, UAW-run trust to administer retiree health care. The two sides gave no other details, but a person briefed on the contract told The Associated Press that it also would give workers bonuses and lump-sum payments and would pay newly hired workers at lower rates. The person requested anonymity because the contract talks are private.

Even after 30+ years of erosion at the hands of corporate interests and conservative politicians, organized labor is still a vital tool for preserving and protecting the interests of the American middle class.

Good for UAW...
- posted by Brian @ 9:04 AM

 
Furry Happy People

It's important to see what kids can see. Not all that is silly is bad. Don't lose the kid in you. It matters.
- posted by john @ 9:32 PM

 
Virginia is officially in play...

Wow. Look at these numbers from SurveyUSA:

Clinton (D) 50% Giuliani (R) 44%
Clinton (D) 50% Thompson (R) 43%
Clinton (D) 53% Romney (R) 38%
Obama (D) 46% Giuliani (R) 45%
Thompson (R) 47% Obama (D) 45%
Obama (D) 50% Romney (R) 38%
Edwards (D) 48% Giuliani (R) 43%
Edwards (D) 49% Thompson (R) 39%
Edwards (D) 52% Romney (R) 33%

Add into this the fact that Democrats will be turning out in droves to elect Mark Warner as their new Senator, and you can only reach one conclusion:

The GOP is in deep shit...

UPDATE: Did anyone else notice who is the only Democratic candidate who breaks 50% against all 3 Republicans?

That's right! The supposedly "unelectable" Hillary Clinton.
- posted by Brian @ 3:06 PM

 
More classy behavior from the Giuliani camp...

Today, they've resorted to a local radio-esque appeal for money built solely on the platform of 9/11...

A supporter of Rudy Giuliani's is throwing a party that aims to raise $9.11 per person for the Republican's presidential campaign.

Abraham Sofaer is having a fundraiser at his Palo Alto, Calif., home on Wednesday, when Giuliani backers across the country are participating in the campaign's national house party night.

But Sofaer said he had nothing to do with the "$9.11 for Rudy" theme.

"There are some young people who came up with it," Sofaer said when reached by telephone Monday evening. He referred other questions to Giuliani's campaign.

Don't forget that Rudy still claims he's "not running on what I did on Sept. 11."
- posted by Brian @ 9:09 AM

 
Send In Your Nominations for This Week's Sports Idiots

I am nominating DeAngelo Hall in football and Milton Bradley in baseball. Hall showed that he is a temperamental crybaby who cannot control himself. DeAngelo, Tech has had enough embarrassment from it's former players. Get a grip and just play ball. Idiot.

I don't care if Bradley was baited by the ump -with all the shit umps take from players it ought to be o.k. to tell them they are full of shit. But no matter....if the ump baited him the way to get him is to keep your cool and call the commissioners office after the game. Apparently Milton has never kept his cool. His flip out and subsequent injury at the hands of his manager (you cannot make this stuff up any funnier than it happens) is entirely his fault. He brought it on himself with his temper. I wish his manager had the balls to say that instead of attacking the ump. I hope this means we see less Milton in the future, I don't care how well he hits.
- posted by john @ 5:56 PM

 
Iran's President provides the comic relief...

Oh, this guy is such a right-wing douche...



He sounds a little like Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK):

I’m really proud to say that in the recorded history of our family, we’ve never had a divorce or any kind of homosexual relationship.

- posted by Brian @ 3:52 PM

 
Thankfully, I'll never be held liable for Anthony's brain droppings...

This is a relief.

Bloggers cannot be hit with libel suits on the basis of anonymous postings on their Web sites because federal law grants them immunity by explicitly stating that they cannot be treated as the "publisher" of such comments, a federal judge has ruled.

Thank God...
- posted by Brian @ 2:49 PM

 
Isn't it weird how a song can spark so many memories?

And isn't it bizarre when that song is the intro to the local news station your family watched when you were a kid?



TRIVIA: Big bonus points if you can name the Phillies player sliding into 2nd base about 5 seconds into this clip...
- posted by Brian @ 10:32 AM

 
The Eagles' throwbacks hold the magic!



I'll probably catch hell for saying this, but I think the Iggles' throwbacks looked great yesterday. Even though the shiny fabric that the numbers were made of made it hard to see the jersey numbers on TV, I think the overall look was pretty solid.

Then again, if the Eagles put up 56 points wearing pigtails and trashbags, I'd probably be saying the same thing...

P.S. Credit where credit is due: The Redskins' throwback unis looked awesome as well...
- posted by Brian @ 8:56 AM

 
Bill O'Reilly: The black folks in Harlem are surprisingly well-behaved!

I'm only taking a hint of artistic license with that title.

See for yourself...
- posted by Brian @ 3:44 PM

 
Rudy: Pay for tax cuts with more tax cuts...

Pearls of wisdom from one of the finest economic minds of our time...

UPDATE: Rudy is on a serious roll today. During his speech at the NRA, he got a "surprise" cell phone call from his wife. I say "surprise" because this isn't the first time she's "suddenly" called during one of his speeches.

Details here...
- posted by Brian @ 2:01 PM

 
How the hell did he keep that moustache so tight?

I spend twenty minutes every morning working on my goatee and still look like somebody's evil twin, while this guy's moustache literally looks like it was drawn in with a Sharpie.

That's frustrating...

"Turn Your Love Around" by George Benson


- posted by Brian @ 12:27 PM

 
If you can find this beer, please drink it...

Kasteel Rouge is quite simply a little taste of dark cherry-flavored heaven right here on Earth.

Locally, you can get it at the Flying Saucer and Tyler's Taproom...


- posted by Brian @ 9:02 AM

 
My favorite color finally gets its due...

Check out the snazzy new $5 bill, complete with purple touches...



P.S. If we're all really lucky this $5 bill will actually be worth the high-tech paper it's printed on. Right now, it's not looking good...
- posted by Brian @ 8:42 AM

 
The Republican mayor of San Diego is a hero today...

Mayor Jerry Sanders has shown some real guts in supporting his city's acceptance of marriage equality for gay and lesbian citizens...

A tearful Mayor Jerry Sanders made a dramatic shift yesterday, explaining that he can no longer oppose same-sex marriages because he does not want to deny justice to people like his daughter, who is a lesbian.

Joined at a late afternoon news conference by his wife, Rana Sampson, the San Diego mayor announced he will back a City Council decision to support same-sex marriage before the state Supreme Court, where California's ban on it awaits review.

"I decided to lead with my heart, which is probably obvious at the moment," said Sanders, moments before he revealed his daughter's sexual orientation.

To see what a politician with a good heart looks like, click here...
- posted by Brian @ 2:24 PM

 
Rudy once called NRA "extremists", now resorts to kissing their asses...

Clearly, the guy never had principles in the first place if he's willing to jettison so many of them for the appeasement of Republican primary mouthbreathers...
- posted by Brian @ 12:44 PM

 
Obstructionist Senate Republicans score the hat trick...

Three days, three important pieces of legislation blocked against the will of the American people.

Today, the GOP'ers filibustered an amendment by Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) that would've mandated that soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan spend as much time at home as they do in the field of battle: An honorable way to provide some relief to troops that have been stretched to the limit.

Honorable to everyone except the 44 Republican shitheads who filibustered it, including Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida, who made what could be the most callous and misguided comment I've ever heard this side of "Bring 'em on!"...

"I think we would demean their service if we were to say to them that there had to be a parity between the time in service out of the country and the time at home."

See that!?! Providing troops with adequate time to rest, heal, and spend time with their families is "demeaning".

The Republican psyche is truly a disturbing and vile thing to comprehend...

P.S. For you elephants who reflexively said "The Democrats are just as bad!" upon reading this, I direct your attention here...

P.P.S. Maybe I shouldn't expect more from a party whose ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee thinks "We have too many mosques in this country"...
- posted by Brian @ 9:16 AM

 
2nd GOP filibuster in as many days...

This time, the Pubbies are rejecting the concept of habeas corpus.

It was probably overrated, anyway...
- posted by Brian @ 12:26 PM

 
A reminder that Saturday Night Live doesn't always suck...


- posted by Brian @ 12:14 PM

 
Senate Republicans deny Congressional representation for District of Columbia...

Senate GOP'ers are officially addicted to the filibuster. This time, they've used it to disenfranchise voters in our nation's capital.

This story pissed me off even before I read this bit of information about D.C.'s lack of a voice in Congress:

The city has been denied voting rights in Congress since 1801, making it the only major capital city in the world where citizens are denied a vote in the nation's representative body of government.

Stunning.

Makes you wonder if the residents of Baghdad have representation in the Iraqi Parliament...
- posted by Brian @ 3:46 PM

 
You be the judge...

There are a bunch of clips of Van Halen rehearsing for their upcoming tour on YouTube.

I must say that they sound a little better than I had expected, with the exception of David Lee Roth. He sounds exactly like I thought he would...


- posted by Brian @ 1:50 PM

 
After last night's monstronsity, I could use some of this...

...on more than one level, really.

"Black Coffee in Bed" by Squeeze


- posted by Brian @ 11:13 AM

 
Look elsewhere for hope, Anthony...


- posted by Brian @ 4:01 PM

 
Phillies > Mets



The Phillies may not make the playoffs (although they still have a good chance), but you can't argue with the fact that over the last 2 months of the season, they have OWNED the New York Mets...
- posted by Brian @ 2:13 PM

 
Were Duke's fans being sarcastic?


- posted by Brian @ 9:51 AM

 
British Diets of Old

Stinging Nettles and such.

• Stinging nettles, which remain in plentiful supply today, are still used in puddings, soup, tea, porridge and beer.

- posted by john @ 11:14 PM

 
Ah, That Political Progress In Iraq

Let Bush claim political progress in Iraq. So long as he uses it to begin the draw down. The Shiites need to fight it out among themselves before they impose their will in some form on the Sunni's and Kurds as it relates to oil revenues. The Kurds want a loose federation, the Sunni's want protection and the Shiites are pissed and each other and everybody else. Not fertile ground for cooperation and democracy.

- posted by john @ 7:30 PM

 
Get your picks in ASAP!!!


- posted by Brian @ 4:23 PM

 
A fantastic profile of my man, Bill Richardson...

Do me a big favor this weekend.

Set aside a little time to read this article and learn more about the guy who should be the next President of the United States...
- posted by Brian @ 1:50 PM

 
Pick the weekly NFL winners....

Let's see if we can make this a regular thing. I'll put the weekly NFL schedule up here each week and then I'll make my picks and others can follow suit. I'll add up the results for each participant and we'll have a weekly winner and a yearly winner at the end. The weekly tiebreaker will be points scored in the Monday night game. The one closest to the combined point total without going over will win the tiebreaker.

The deadline for getting your picks in is 9 a.m. Eastern time. As Jerry Maguire said...."Who's Coming With Me?"

Here's this week's games....I'll put my picks in parentheses. Let's get it on!

Sunday
Texans at Panthers (Panthers)
Bengals at Browns (Bengals)
Raiders at Broncos (Broncos)
Bills at Steelers (Steelers)
Jets at Ravens (Ravens)
Saints at Buccaneers (Saints)
Vikings at Lions (Lions)
49ERS at Rams (Rams...I hope I'm wrong)
Colts at Titans (Colts)
Chiefs at Bears (Bears)
Packers at Giants (Packers)
Cowboys at Dolphins (Cowboys)
Seahawks at Cardinals (Cardinals)
Falcons at Jaguars (Jaguars)
Chargers at Patriots (Chargers)

Monday
Redskins at Eagles (Eagles)

Tiebreaker: Eagles 24, Redskins 10 (34)

UPDATE: This is a great idea, Chris. To give this thing a little more structure, I've started an ESPN pick group for any interested Donnybrookers that want to do a weekly pick sheet.

Click here to join the shenanigans!
- posted by Chris @ 12:18 PM

 
Which 36 countries are those, Mr. President?

Last night, President Bush said this:

"To the international community: The success of a free Iraq matters to every civilized nation. We thank the 36 nations who have troops on the ground in Iraq and the many others who are helping that young democracy."

Josh Marshall has come up with the United States, United Kingdom, Albania, and Bulgaria.

Where are the other 32?

According to Iraq Coalition Casualties, in 2007 alone, 783 U.S. troops have died in Iraq, 42 British troops have died, and FIVE troops from "other" nations have died.

Where were they from?
- posted by Brian @ 8:58 AM

 
Your next Senator from the state of Virginia...

It kills me that a mere one state away, they'll have two fantastic Democratic Senators in 2009.



Truth be told, this seat is such a lay-up for Mark Warner, the only entertaining thing about the race will be watching ideologue/blockhead Jim Gilmore and "moderate" Tom Davis kill each other in the Republican primary...

UPDATE: Just how bummed are the Republicans that Warner is running? Look at this poor excuse for a reaction:

Republicans reacted coolly to the anticipated announcement. "We're glad to see Mark Warner finally made a choice on which office to run for — I guess he got tired of waiting by the phone for a presidential campaign to call," said Rebecca Fisher, spokeswoman for the GOP campaign committee.

Wow. She certainly brought out the sharp knives for that one...
- posted by Brian @ 11:01 AM

 
Greatest Halftime Performance Ever...

Kudos to the NFL Network yesterday for reairing the 2002 Super Bowl halftime show in honor of 9/11. U2 was unbelievable that day (they are amazing most of the time but this was one of the all-time great clutch performances). I was as moved watching them sing "Where the Streets have no name" today as I was when they sang it during the super bowl with the names of the 9/11 victims scrolled behind them. It was such a horrible tragedy and they found a way to bring some comfort and take people's minds off it during that show. Bono was on fire and seemed to be singing for all of America. And him lifting his jacket and revealing the American flag lining was really touching and moving. Every show I have seen since then or will see in the future will be a letdown because there is no way you can top what U2 did that day. Just an awesome performance from one of the greatest bands ever.
- posted by Chris @ 9:47 PM

 
Lessons?

The alliance with former enemies, Iraqi Sunni fighters in al-Anbar province, may end up being the template for how to deal with Iran over time. The reason's were far more complicated and not the result of the surge, which Patraeus and Bush are taking their time, 6 months or so, to bail on. The Sunni fighters turned on al-Qaida not because of US military or diplomatic success, but because of al-Qaida's blunder in insisting on marriages to locals to solidify their stance in the region. There will only be sabre rattling from W while he remains in office so 2009 is the very earliest the US can start to ratchet down the tensions. (I bet Thomas Barnett would agree, though with insightful caveats.) It may even hold some lessons for law enforcement at home at is relates to gangs. The broader pattern here is that engagement beats confrontation from a return standpoint in all but the most extreme cases. Politicians and others make their living exploiting fear. Not that the fear is needless - the threats are real - but it is easy to slip into false notions of cause and effect. The results in Anbar, coupled with the lack of results from confrontational tactics with Iran and gangs, makes for some interesting and convention-challenging thought. If you are so inclined. Of course, angry hell-with-them thoughts and politics are always easier. It's just that they don't do any good - and are the policy equivalent of a temper tantrum.
- posted by john @ 5:23 PM

 
Which teams "define" their sports?

If you were talking to someone who knew nothing about the sport, which ONE team you would mention to teach him/her about said sport?

Keep in mind, it's not just about championships and it's not just about ticket sales...

MLB

New York Yankees: The logo, the uniform, the tradition. That's what baseball is all about.

NFL

Green Bay Packers: They are the classic sports franchise. Their fans are insanely loyal, and their history is essentially an encyclopedia of the game.

NBA

Los Angeles Lakers: I take them over the Celtics only because they've had just as much success and did it with a lot more pizazz in a league that has always been about just that.

NHL

Montreal Canadiens. They are hockey. Period.

College Football

Sadly, I must go with Notre Dame, even though they're a joke now.

College Basketball

UCLA: John Wooden made sure they'll always be the gold (and blue) standard of the game. East coast bias be damned...
- posted by Brian @ 2:38 PM

 
Back with a vengeance...

Much to the blogosphere's detriment, DrFrankLives has taken some time away from blogging.

Now, thankfully, he's back in the saddle and firing out the kind of linguistic torpedoes that remind me of how uninteresting my own opinions can occasionally sound.

Check out Stinging Nettle for the good stuff...
- posted by Brian @ 8:46 AM

 
I'd forgotten how good these unis look...




- posted by Brian @ 3:44 PM

 
Mike has a problem with his Ditka...


- posted by Brian @ 3:37 PM

 
Fighting the real enemy: Kathy Griffin

Bill Donohue is such an attention-seeking whore, he's going after Kathy Griffin for, well, being Kathy Griffin...

Here's what she said after accepting an Emmy award, presumably for Most Plastic Surgeries Without A Discernable Increase In Attractiveness:

"I guess hell froze over," Griffin told a receptive audience as she accepted her Emmy statuette. "A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this. He had nothing to do with this...suck it Jesus, this award is my God now."

Oh dear Lord, who will stand up and defend us from such a heinous attack from this vicious stitch-faced D-lister???

You guessed it...Bill Donohue...

Donohue described Griffin's remarks as a "kind of vulgar in-your-face brand of hate speech" coming from a self-described "complete militant atheist," and pleaded with The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences' chairman and CEO Dick Askin to help in condemning what she said.

The honorable Mr. Donohue is also asking for an apology from Ms. Griffin on behalf of the entire Christian population of the U.S.

Apparently, he's under the impression he's Jesus' personal representative here on Earth and speaks for all of us.

Fuck off, Bill. You don't speak for me...
- posted by Brian @ 1:26 PM

 
Um, Rudy...That's ALL you're running on...

Ladies and gentleman, "America's Mayor"...

During a Republican presidential debate on Wednesday, Rudolph W. Giuliani asserted, "The reality is that I’m not running on what I did on Sept. 11."

Two days later, a crowd of nearly 1,000 filed into a ballroom here for a 9/11 Remembrance Luncheon. Graphic images of the exploding towers, dust-covered survivors and even a series of photos that showed someone leaping from a tower were flashed on two giant screens flanking the stage where Mr. Giuliani was about to speak.

"America must never forget the lessons of Sept. 11," Mr. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, later told the crowd.

Oh, and don't forget that Rudy's taken to telling people that he's actually one of the workers at Ground Zero...
- posted by Brian @ 12:21 PM

 
How cool is this photo???


- posted by Brian @ 9:34 AM

 
Commemorate 9/11 however you see fit...

Personally, I still feel the same as I did last year...
- posted by Brian @ 9:15 AM

 
53% of Americans don't trust Petraeus to tell the truth...

I had no idea how many Americans were so virulently "anti-military"...

Joaquin, comment?
- posted by Brian @ 9:05 AM

 
In praise of the greatest snack cake in history...


- posted by Brian @ 1:33 PM

 
Another high-profile GOP Senator wisely heads for the turnstiles...

A week after Sen. John Warner (R-VA) called it quits, Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE) has read the writing on the wall and is announcing his retirement.

These two retirements have opened up sterling opportunities for Democrats to pick up two more Republican-held seats in the Senate next year, in addition to several other seats that look like almost-certain Democratic pickups.

Here's a quick breakdown of the Senate seats most likely to change hands in 2008:

Nebraska

If former Democratic Sen. Bob Kerrey jumps in, he automatically becomes the favorite to replace Hagel. Otherwise, the seat will probably stay Republican...

Virginia

Mark Warner, the state's popular former Democratic governor, will be announcing his intentions this week. If he runs, he'll beat the snot out of any candidate that survives what is certain to be a nasty GOP primary...

Colorado

Wayne Allard was the first Republican Senator to announce his retirement this year. This open seat is favored to go to Rep. Mark Udall (D), a progressive member of Congress who has high name recognition in a state that has been trending Democratic over the last two election cycles...

New Hampshire

Sen. John Sununu acts like a moderate, but he's not. If former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen enters the race, his days in the Senate are numbered...

Maine

Like Sununu, Sen. Susan Collins pretends to be a moderate, but clearly is not. Rep. Tom Allen (D) will be charged with ending her Senate career. I'd call it a 50-50 chance at this point.

Minnesota

Sen. Norm Coleman (another phony moderate) is a douchebag. So much so, that a comedian (Al Franken) who's never served in elected office is well-positioned to beat him...

Oregon

Gordon Smith rounds out the list of allegedly-moderate GOP'ers who will be swirling the drain 14 months from now. His opponent is Democratic Speaker of the Oregon House, Jeff Merkley...

Louisiana

This is the only Democratic-held seat that is in serious danger of turning red. I'm guessing incumbent Sen. Mary Landrieu loses a squeaker thanks to Louisiana's Katrina-induced demographic shift...

All in all, I see the Democrats picking up five seats next year while losing one, leading to a Senate that looks like this:

53 Democrats
2 Independents (caucusing with the Democrats)
45 Republicans
- posted by Brian @ 10:53 AM

 
After tough questioning from Congress, Petraeus & Crocker will head to friendlier confines...

Namely, Fox News, where the toughest question they can expect will be something along the lines of "Can Democrats really cause cancer?"...
- posted by Brian @ 9:32 AM

 
What a new bin Laden tape would mean...

That a full six years since killing 3000 Americans on 9/11, this fucker still lives and breathes.

Good job, Mr. President...
- posted by Brian @ 10:36 AM

 
I expected better from Southwest Airlines...

For an airline that presents itself as cool and hip, this is a decidedly uncool and douchy thing to do...


- posted by Brian @ 9:45 AM

 
A one-hit wonder of a slightly higher order...

This is a great song from the early 90's (hence the hokey video), but sadly, the performer was never heard from again.

Too bad, she's got a great voice.

"Sleeping Satellite" by Tasmin Archer


- posted by Brian @ 9:39 AM

 
For Whatever Reason You Want to Cite...

Troop levels in Iraq will begin to fall by next spring/early summer. Why? Despite attempts to claim "success" and "progress" or that troops are making us seem like an occupier (we are, however noble our intentions, an occupying force), the real reason is that we cannot sustain the surge troop levels. This President's stubborn insistence on using military force is hollowing out the ground forces. Does he really believe we are "kicking ass" in Iraq? The ducking fumbass probably does. The Army has lowered it's standards for admission, raised the age limit a couple of times, reduced the remedial training individuals used to get before being sent to more advanced group training, dramatically increased bonuses for signing on or reenlisting, and repeatedly lowered it's recruiting numbers goals (to avoid the appearance of problems). Of course troop level will come down. It simply has nothing to do with "conditions on the ground" in Iraq.
- posted by john @ 6:46 PM

 
Tonight, the long and painful wait ends...

...and the NFL season starts with a bang.

Now seems like a great time to step back from my fantasy picks and see what you guys think.

First, my B-league team, drafted last night/early this morning. I like this team, but I don't love it:

QB Vince Young
RB Laurence Maroney
RB Maurice Jones-Drew
WR Lee Evans
WR Calvin Johnson
WR Mark Clayton
TE Todd Heap
K Shayne Graham
D/ST Philadelphia Eagles

Now, the team from my A-league. The team I'm really excited about...The newly-minted Philadelphia Stars...

QB Donovan McNabb
RB Frank Gore
RB Ronnie Brown
WR Andre Johnson
WR Santana Moss
TE Todd Heap
K Shayne Graham
D/ST San Diego Chargers

Let's play ball!!!
- posted by Brian @ 1:42 PM

 
Wanna see a drop in the level of violence in Iraq?

Do what George Bush and Gen. David Petraeus are doing, change your definition of violence!
- posted by Brian @ 9:37 AM

 
Who are the NFL team's best players ever?

Bored again and dreaming about the first Sunday of NFL games that count as I do, so I thought I'd go through history and give who I think are the best players ever from each team in the NFL. I had fun doing this the last couple of days. Just my opinion on these and I'm sure others will have different ones that are cool too. I just love the NFL so I thought this might be something fun to do. Away we go...

Baltimore Ravens, Ray Lewis: Team has existed since 1996 which also is Ray Lewis's rookie year. Lewis has been the face of this franchise and love him or hate him he is a dominant football player and one of the best linebackers ever.

Buffalo Bills, O.J. Simpson: I'm not happy about picking this guy but he was a phenomenal football player. Only player to ever rush for 2,000 yards in a 14-game season and he almost always got his yards during his career playing for sometimes bad and almost always one-dimensional teams whose opponents loaded up the line against him.

Cincinnati Bengals, Anthony Munoz: One of the greatest offensive linemen ever, Munoz made the pro bowl every year except his first and last ones. He was a huge part of some great offensive teams and set a great standard of consistently outstanding play.

Cleveland Browns, Jim Brown: Almost went with Tim Couch here. Just kidding. Brown in my opinion is the best running back ever and also might be the best player ever (He's second in my book). Bottom line, this guy was unreal. Nine years in the league, eight rushing titles nine pro bowls. He ran over people and around them and averaged 5.2 yards per carry. 5.2! Like Sanders, he retired in his prime after recording seven 1,000-yard seasons when the league had 12 and then 14-game schedules.

Denver Broncos, John Elway: A great blend of awesome physical talent and a burning desire to win, Elway is one of the best quarterbacks to ever play. The big one eluded him for a long time but that he got his teams to three in the 80s was impressive on its own since they didn't have tremendous receivers or running backs (although Bobby Humphrey was good in 89). Also got to love the fourth-quarter comebacks this guy always seemed to be able to mount.
Houston Texans, Andre Johnson: Not much to choose from in this team's horrible 5-year history. Good receiver who has played well despite quarterbacking struggles.

Indianapolis/Baltimore Colts, Johnny Unitas: Manning is closing in, but Johnny U still is tops in this franchise for now. Unitas set most of the passing records back in an era where the forward pass was kind of frowned on and when the pass coverage rules were much much tighter than they are now. Threw a TD pass in 47 straight games, called all the Colts plays, tough as nails and won three championships.

Jacksonville Jaguars, Jimmy Smith: Always underrated but always steady, Smith had nine 1,000-yard seasons with the Jags and helped Jacksonville reach the playoffs four straight years in the 90s.
Kansas City Chiefs, Buck Buchanan: Len Dawson was a great quarterback but I like what Buchanan brought to the Chiefs during their glory days. Buchanan was a beast on the defensive line and made eight straight pro bowls from 1964-71.

Miami Dolphins, Dan Marino: If only the Dolphins could have given Marino a better running game. Marino was greatest passer in NFL history and one of its greatest quarterbacks. Dolphins never seemed to learn, though, that football is a team game and they needed more to help Marino get his ring.

New England Patriots, Tom Brady: I was tempted to pick John Hannah, but Brady is second in NFL history in winning percentage, has three super bowl rings and has been a rock of consistency since becoming the starter in 2001. His 12-2 playoff record doesn't hurt either, nor does the fact that he's never thrown more than 14 interceptions in a season..nor does the fact that he doesn't have a legend like Johnny Unitas that also played for his franchise.

New York Jets, Curtis Martin: Some people might say Joe Namath, but Martin was the epitome of consistency. One of the game's quiet stars he retired as one of the league’s fourth all-time leading rusher and gained more than 1,000 yards each season with the Jets except his last one that was cut short by injuries.

Oakland Raiders, Marcus Allen: Why Al Davis didn’t like this guy is beyond me. One of the most versatile running backs to ever play, Allen could do it all. He’s 10th all-time in rushes and 50th in receptions and also was a tremendous touchdown score, racking up 144, good for third most in NFL history. Helped lead the Raiders to the 83 super bowl and had one of that game’s all-time performances, rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He also topped 100 yards in five Raider playoff games.

Pittsburgh Steelers, Mean Joe Greene: This is a tough one since there are so many to choose from, but I’m going with Mean Joe because it all started with him. Greene was Chuck Noll’s first draft pick and the guy they built everything else around. He was a ferocious pass rusher and was great against the run. The Steel Curtain started up front and one of the reasons great linebackers like Lambert and Ham were able to do so much damage is because guys like Greene dominated so much up front and offensive lines had to deal with them first, leaving Lambert and Ham to roam and wreak havoc. A 10-time pro bowler, Green was all-pro the first eight years of his career.

San Diego Chargers, Ladainian Tomlinson: This guy is freakishly good and if he continues to play at the level he has his first six years he will be talked about as one of the greatest running backs ever. One of the most complete backs we will ever see, LT does everything a running back can. He’s a great runner with power and elusiveness and also is a great pass catcher. He’s never rushed for less than 1200 yards or had fewer than 50 catches in a season or had fewer than 10 touchdowns. He’s already sixth in career touchdowns with 111, he’s already 24th in career rushing yards and he’s averaged a whopping 4.5 yards per carry for his career while helping the Chargers go from a laughingstock to a super bowl contender. Dan Fouts gets a shout out, but LT is the best on this team.

Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers, Bruce Matthews: Most will probably pick Earl Campbell and it’s tough to argue with him because he was so dominant. I went with Matthews, though, because Campbell wore down after six amazing seasons while Matthews was one of game’s best linemen for 19 years. Matthews, a hall of famer, reached the pro bowl his last 14 years in the league and helped the Oilers/Titans have some great offensive teams during his long career.

Arizona Cardinals, Aeneas Williams: One of the game’s best cornerbacks for a long time, Williams was one of the few bright spots on some bad Cardinals teams. He was an eight-time pro bowler and missed just one from 1994-2002. He later was a good corner for the Rams and helped them reach the 2001 super bowl.

Atlanta Falcons, Deion Sanders: Not a lot of real standouts here and although Deion only played five seasons with the Falcons he was great during that tenure, making the pro bowl his last three years while developing into the league’s top cover corner. Deion was so good that teams basically started giving up even throwing to his side. Prime Time also returned punts sometimes and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball.

Carolina Panthers, Steve Smith: This might not be a popular choice but with the Panthers only being in existence since 1995 it was hard finding players that have been standouts for extended periods. They’ve had guys that have been great for a few years and I almost with Muhsin Muhammad but Smith already had more 1,000 yard seasons then he did. And Smith has arguably been the best receiver in the game the last few years and also was a great special teamer early in his career. He’s also a money player who has topped 100 yards in four of seven playoff games while scoring a touchdown in six of those seven contests.

Chicago Bears, Walter Payton: If not for Jim Brown, Sweetness would get my vote as the greatest running back ever. Payton was incredible and for not being very big was one of the hardest running running backs we’ll ever see. If not for the strike in 1982 he would have recorded 12 straight seasons of more than 1,000 yards. Scored 125 touchdowns, almost single-handedly carried the Bears until the mid 80s and also caught 492 passes.

Dallas Cowboys, Emmitt Smith: The guy who broke Payton’s record, Smith was a dynamo and was at the center of the team’s turnaround from 1-15 in 1989 the year before his arrival to world champions in 1992 and 93. Had 11 straight 1,000 yard seasons and in a full season never rushed for fewer than 900 yards. Also second in career touchdowns with 175 and had seven 100-yard rushing games in the playoffs.

Detroit Lions, Barry Sanders: The great running backs keep on coming. If he didn’t retire while still going strong, Sanders would have shattered the NFL rushing record. Never rushed for fewer than 1,300 yards in his 10 seasons, scored 109 touchdowns and averaged 5 yards per carry. And he did all this behind a terrible offensive line and while playing in the run and shoot offense for much of his career without the benefit of having a fullback in front of him. He was a human highlight reel.

Green Bay Packers, Don Hutson: A lot of people forget about this guy because he played so long ago but what he did was truly amazing. He caught 100 touchdown passes in a day and age where teams were lucky if they threw 10 times a game. He was a man amongst boys at receiver and dominated his position like nobody did until Jerry Rice came along. Tough to leave off Favre and some of the great players from Lombardi’s teams but Hutson was unreal in his era.

Minnesota Vikings, Fran Tarkenton: Fran the Man was the game’s all-time leader in yards and touchdown passes when he retired, throwing for 47,003 and 342 back in a run-first era. Had he won one of the three super bowls he led the Vikings to he probably would get more recognition and be talked about more as one of the game’s best quarterbacks ever. Also a gifted runner, Tarkenton is one of the game’s most mobile quarterbacks ever.

New Orleans Saints, Willie Roaf: A sure-fire Hall of Famer, Roaf was one of the best offensive linemen to play the game during his career and was a seven-time Pro Bowler during his Saints career.

New York Giants, Lawrence Taylor: One of the greatest if not the greatest linebackers to ever play, LT changed everything for the Giants, helping them go from perennial also-ran to two-time world champion and perennial super bowl contender. A monster of a man with amazing speed and toughness, LT was a great pass rusher, could play the run well and could drop back and make interceptions. Had the ability to take games over with his play and made offensive coordinators have to game plan around him most of the time.

Philadelphia Eagles, Reggie White: Man, this was really tough deciding between the Minister or Concrete Charlie, Chuck Bednarik. Both are two of my favorite players of all time but I went with Reggie because he was just so dominant on the d-line and might be the greatest pass rusher of all-time. Reggie was just a beast and at times was just not blockable. In 1987 he nearly broke the sack record, recording 21, I believe, in just 12 games due to the strike. He made his fellow d-linemen strong too, especially a guy like Clyde Simmons who consistently had double-digit sack totals because opponents were doubling and triple teaming Reggie and freeing them up for more sacks. Reggie was at the center of the Eagles revival in the late 80s and early 90s and that Norman Braman let him leave after 92 is one of the dumbest decisions in the history of sports.

San Francisco 49ERS, Jerry Rice: This is hard for me because Joe Montana is my favorite player of all-time and I believe the greatest quarterback ever. However, Rice (my second favorite player ever), in my opinion, is the greatest football player ever. He holds every major receiving record in the regular season, post season, super bowl..you name it he has it. Just an unbelievable player who had 14 1,000-yard seasons, caught a pass in every game he played from 1985 through early 2004. The amazing thing about Rice is that he scored 207 touchdowns, 32 more than the next closest competitor. That’s just mind boggling for a receiver to do that because he is touching the ball 5-10 times a game or so and does not have the luxury of carrying the ball in for 1-yard touchdowns and things like that. He was just unstoppable for much of his career. There are two things I like most about Rice: 1, he was the ultimate big-game player. In three super bowls with the Niners his WORST game was 7 catches, 148 yards and three touchdowns. In the other two he had 11-215 and a TD and 10-149 and three Tds. He had eight 100-yard games in the playoffs and scored 22 touchdowns. 2, I love that he was a complete player. He’d go anywhere on the field to catch a pass, had great hands and great speed...but above all, I love that he was a terrific blocker. If you watch some of the great runs in Niners history, Steve Young’s 49-yard game-winning TD against the Vikings in 1988, Roger Craig’s bull-dozing 46-yard touchdown run that same year or John Taylor’s 92 and 96-yard Tds against the Rams on Monday night in 1989 what you see is Rice throwing key blocks not only near the line of where the ball is caught but also way down field as he hustles down and blocks guys before they could make the tackle. Just an amazing player with one of the greatest work ethics I’ve ever seen.

Seattle Seahawks, Steve Largent: If Shaun Alexander continues having big seasons he will replace Largent, but a lot of people forget that many of the records Rice broke once belonged to Steve Largent. He scored 100 touchdowns and had eight 1,000-yard seasons. Had it not been for strikes in 1982 and 87 he probably would have had 10 straight 1000-yard seasons. He was a complete receiver too and one of my favorite memories is him laying out the Broncos Mike Harden after he intercepted Dave Kreig in a Sunday night game late in the 1988 season. It was sweet because Harden had drilled him in the season opener and basically taunted him as he was down. Largent exacted revenge in a big way as Harden fumbled since Largent hit him so hard.

St. Louis Rams/Los Angeles Rams, Marshall Faulk: This was a really tough choice because this franchise has a lot of great players like Crazy Legs Hirsch, Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Norm Van Brocklin and Eric Dickerson (although he only played four years for the Rams) to name a few. I went with Faulk, though, because he was such a complete back for the Rams and because his arrival was instrumental in helping the Rams go from 4-12 before his arrival to world champions his first year there and becoming one of the league’s all-time best offenses. He was a freak of a back who topped 1,300 yards rushing, 700 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns his first three years with the team. He became the second running back to ever rush for 1,000 yards and have 1,000 receiving yards in the same year in 1999 and he caught 80 passes or more his first three years with the Rams while leading them to three super bowls. He won the MVP in 2000 when he broke the NFL record for Tds (since broken three times) and in my opinion he should have won it from 1999-2001 because as good as Kurt Warner was in 99 and 2001, Faulk was the engine that drove that machine and opened everything up. He also averaged more than five yards per carry during the Rams best years and helped lead them to three division titles in five years.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Derrick Brooks: If I was starting a football team, this is one of the first players I would want because I think he’s one of the best linebackers ever. He can do just about anything on the football field as he showed in 2002 when he not only spearheaded a world champion defense and won Defensive Player of the Year but also returned four interceptions or fumbles for touchdowns...and then added a fifth in the super bowl. He’s made the pro bowl nine straight years and his arrival was instrumental in helping the Bucs go from perennial laughingstock to perennial super bowl contender in the late 90s and early this decade.

Washington Redskins, Sammy Baugh: When a lot of people talk about the greatest quarterbacks ever Baugh’s name isn’t mentioned nearly as much as it should be. This guy was the game’s best quarterback for a long time and shined in an era where teams ran the ball almost exclusively. Still, he held the single-season completion record for 37 years. He led the league in passing six times. He led the Redskins to the championship as a rookie, throwing for over 300 yards in the title win and also led them to another championship in 1942, ruining the Bears perfect season. With Baugh at quarterback, Washington played in five championships. What’s amazing about Baugh is that he also was a terrific punter (one of the best ever) and a great defensive back. His 45.2 career punting average is second-best ever and he had a 51.4 average in 1940, a record that still stands. He also intercepted four passes in a game, a record that has been tied but not broken, and held almost every passing record when he retired.
- posted by Chris @ 2:34 PM

 
I've never cared too much for ska...

...but this little ditty is infectious. Also, it was used in one of my favorite movies, Grosse Pointe Blank.

"Mirror in the Bathroom" by The English Beat


- posted by Brian @ 11:19 AM

 
Oh, NO!

Bullshit. Will not accept the cultural relativism argument, Whoopi.

• "It's like cockfighting in Puerto Rico," she said. "There are certain things that are indicative to certain parts of the country."

Though you are one of my favorite performers ever, I have to call you on this one. Would you defend the racist who's culture condoned lynching? The polygamist who's culture condoned multiple wives? If so, you have my sincere apology and sympathy. If not, I want an apology to all who think there are some standards you cannot violate. You are not far off from Imus on this one, Whoopi.

- posted by john @ 7:13 PM

 
Can the National Parties REALLY Enforce Discipline?

When it comes to actually penalizing states for moving primaries too early, I doubt it.

• But in both parties, there's a belief that whatever penalties are meted out will be voided when the conventions gather next summer. The hope is that party leaders will want unity, not division, going into the general election.

Expect primaries before Thanksgiving in 2012.

- posted by john @ 6:22 PM

 
Only Where There is the Rule of Law

Israel's high court has ruled that the (necessary) wall Israel is building must be re-routed. Had this been almost any other middle-eastern nation, the case would never have seen a judge - or the judge would have been killed had he ruled this way. And the judge most certainly would have been a "he". I support Israel without apology to fellow liberals (some) who reflexively celebrate all things "Palestinian". Celebrate at your peril. No Arab judge would survive making a ruling like the court in Israel did today.

- posted by john @ 6:11 PM

 
In Other Words, Tom, You Suck!

You not only screwed up a talented team, you helped get rid of it's best offensive player by being such a prick. As a fan of a different NFC East team, I owe you great thanks. And greater thanks to the owner who failed to fire you.
- posted by john @ 6:06 PM

 
The joy of watching college football's mightiest fall...




- posted by Brian @ 11:02 AM

 
Classic movie trailers...

It's hilarious to go back and see how classic flicks were presented to the masses before they became cultural linchpins.

Here's the trailer for "Real Genius", probably my favorite 80's flick...


- posted by Brian @ 10:47 AM

 
Sure...and the Easter Bunny and Santa Will Be There, Too

Believing Kim Jung-Il is like believing anything that requires a LOT of faith. Let's remain agnostic on this one.
- posted by john @ 7:49 PM

 
Sir Mike Has it Right

• In the latest sign of growing tensions between London and Washington over Iraq, the top British officer involved in planning post-war Iraq, said he raised serious concerns with then US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld about the possibility of the country descending into chaos. But Rumsfeld "ignored" or "dismissed" his warnings, retired Major General Tim Cross, 56, told the Sunday Mirror newspaper.

The administration has been slamming the Brits lately for the deteriorating conditions in southern Iraq, while bristling at any suggestion that the surge is anything less than a success. The security situation in the south HAS been deteriorating. That's because of increased tension among Shi'ites, not a lack of British efforts. (Bush "surged" more troops to Baghdad than Britain has in Iraq overall.) It is all part of the consequences of taking over a nation with no realistic plan for what to do after the initial kinetic fights are over. Our plan seems to have been, "Let's just hope it all works out......." Hope is not a plan. "Superb job, Don." (That last line was uttered by the idiot in the White House who cannot remember why "his plan" of keeping the Iraqi Army in tact was not followed.)

UPDATE: Sir Mike is not alone.

• "He didn't want to hear that message. The U.S. had already convinced themselves that Iraq would emerge reasonably quickly as a stable democracy," Cross told the Sunday Mirror. "Anybody who tried to tell them anything that challenged that idea -- they simply shut it out," Cross, the most senior British officer involved in planning post-war Iraq, added.

- posted by john @ 5:55 PM

 
I am The Way, The Truth, and The Harley

What better way to discover religion than to win a Harley? Those S. Baptists are so innovative. So - how do you keep a S. Baptists from drinking all your booze when they come over for dinner? ... Invite two of them.
- posted by john @ 4:53 PM

 
College Football

• Kudos to Skip Holtz, Terry Holland, a really talented defense, and all of ECU for not being overcome by the emotions today and reminding VA Tech and the world that they are for real on the football field as well as class acts off of it. They were without their starting QB and used 2-3 guys and pulled of an unexpectedly good performance. ECU was shrewd to get Holland as AD, and Holland was smart to get Holtz. Watch this team in coming years, they are going to make some noise.
  
• Appalachian State 34, Michigan 32. Yeee-hah! I just don't like teams from the mid-west. So shoot me. I love it when the supposed pin-cushion team upsets the big club on opening day. Regarding the first bullet in this post, I like it when they ALMOST upset the favorite.

- posted by john @ 4:13 PM