Monday, December 06, 2004
Fan Indictment
Here's the best case made yet for calling out the Detroit fans for their role in the Palace Brawl.
Bad Science
The media is guilty of a lot of things. One of the most egregious errors that keeps popping up is the simple misreporting of science. This site highlights the ten worst errors of 2004, and serves as a good reference point going forward.
More Bad Science can be found at Dr. Alistair Fraser's site. I was a student and eventually an assistant for Dr. Fraser at Penn State. You won't find a smarter man without looking very hard.
More Bad Science can be found at Dr. Alistair Fraser's site. I was a student and eventually an assistant for Dr. Fraser at Penn State. You won't find a smarter man without looking very hard.
Announcer Hell
Why is it that I ALWAYS get stuck with the CBS NFL telecast hosted by Dick Enberg and Dan Dierdorf? Listening to these two is like getting stuck on a scenic bus or train tour behind the two old farts who continually crack each other up while annoying the piss out of those around them?
Dierdorf made a Bruce Springsteen reference on Sunday and chided Enberg for not knowing who the Boss is. Enberg then fires back about two plays later that so and so is "Born to Run." Ugh.
Are NFL games broadcast in SAP?
Dierdorf made a Bruce Springsteen reference on Sunday and chided Enberg for not knowing who the Boss is. Enberg then fires back about two plays later that so and so is "Born to Run." Ugh.
Are NFL games broadcast in SAP?
Impeachment
I'm on board. There are lots of reasons to be in favor of this...here's my favorite.
Clinton was impeached. He was impeached because he lied to a grand jury. He lied to a grand jury about whether or not he got a steamer in the Oval Office. The victims? One blue dress, and the stature of the presidency in the eyes of the critics and the romanticists. I'm not going to come down on one side or the other on this. The facts is the facts. Lie to a grand jury about getting your unit licked...get impeached.
Bush has not (yet) been impeached. However, he lied to the American People (tm) about the reasons for going to war in Iraq. The victims? Over 1000 American soldiers dead. Thousands more wounded. Countless Iraqis...some complicit, others not.
Ask yourself the simple question...which lie is worse?
Clinton was impeached. He was impeached because he lied to a grand jury. He lied to a grand jury about whether or not he got a steamer in the Oval Office. The victims? One blue dress, and the stature of the presidency in the eyes of the critics and the romanticists. I'm not going to come down on one side or the other on this. The facts is the facts. Lie to a grand jury about getting your unit licked...get impeached.
Bush has not (yet) been impeached. However, he lied to the American People (tm) about the reasons for going to war in Iraq. The victims? Over 1000 American soldiers dead. Thousands more wounded. Countless Iraqis...some complicit, others not.
Ask yourself the simple question...which lie is worse?
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Range Finders
They're coming...to the Tight Lies Tour. Why not? If you can plow through classic courses, jack up the golf ball, jack up the club heads, and jack up the shafts, why not take a tiny bit of guesswork out of the game? I'm in favor.
Self Serving
On the night the great Tom Brokaw steps aside, how does Hardball pay tribute? Well, they run a nice lengthy interview of Brokaw by Matthews. Then they top it off by showing composer John Williams and his orchestra play the entire (and I mean entire) NBC News theme. Maybe they'll take us on a tour of their studios next.
Oh God, they cap it off with staged shots of Brokaw, followed by Brian Williams. Touching, as in the feeling I get when I touch my finger to the back of my throat.
Oh God, they cap it off with staged shots of Brokaw, followed by Brian Williams. Touching, as in the feeling I get when I touch my finger to the back of my throat.
The Best Reason to Watch the 2005 Mets...
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Low Bandwidth
Every now and then, I'll post a quick thought. Here's the first.
Rotisserie chicken was for dinner tonight. I have never been disappointed by rotisserie chicken, nor do I know anyone who has been.
Rotisserie chicken was for dinner tonight. I have never been disappointed by rotisserie chicken, nor do I know anyone who has been.
Just Another Day in Detroit
OK, I lived there for about five years. Not in the city, but within the TV and newspaper market, so I could see the news and read the papers. This is not unusual.
People actually try to defend the place. If the energy spent defending it was geared toward fixing it, the place could just turn around and become a good city again. Instead, you've got a bunch of finger pointing and fruitless mudslinging. Funny, in lots of ways. Sad in so many others.
People actually try to defend the place. If the energy spent defending it was geared toward fixing it, the place could just turn around and become a good city again. Instead, you've got a bunch of finger pointing and fruitless mudslinging. Funny, in lots of ways. Sad in so many others.
Bush Goes North
Nice of him to venture out every once in a while. Give me a break. He's spent hundreds of days at his stupid ranch. Dozens of days schmoozing with Tony Blair and the G7/G8. Has it been that difficult to visit a nation that's right next door, and a nation with whom you share thousands of miles of border????
Oh, and while I'm here, thanks for what you did 3.5 years ago that one Tuesday morning. It's appreciated. Really. We might even take your beef again soon.
Oh, and while I'm here, thanks for what you did 3.5 years ago that one Tuesday morning. It's appreciated. Really. We might even take your beef again soon.
Monday, November 29, 2004
How to Dismantle an NHL Season
John Buccigross goes into explicit detail comparing the new U2 album with the current NHL season or current NHL lockout, whichever you prefer.
You Too Can Get Into the Baseball Hall of Fame
Well, anyone can get in with the price of admission. I'll be going soon, myself. But it's not all that much harder to get on the ballot for nomination.
Otis Nixon?
Jeff Montgomery??
Jack McDowell???
Worse yet, these people will get some votes saying they should be in the Hall of Fame. Think about that. You can win 127 MLB games like McDowell and get on the ballot. You can get 1379 lifetime hits and have a career OBP of .343 and get on the ballot like Nixon. What a sham.
Now, who on the ballot should get in?
Bert Blyleven. 287 wins. 3700+ Ks. Shameful that he's not in already.
Rich Gossage. Longevity. Dominance. One of the first dominant closers...he did it longer, although not always better than the rest.
Dale Murphy. A superstar anywhere other than Atlanta, which was a dreadful team at the time.
Jim Rice. Supreme slugging numbers.
Lee Smith. See Gossage, Rich.
Otis Nixon?
Jeff Montgomery??
Jack McDowell???
Worse yet, these people will get some votes saying they should be in the Hall of Fame. Think about that. You can win 127 MLB games like McDowell and get on the ballot. You can get 1379 lifetime hits and have a career OBP of .343 and get on the ballot like Nixon. What a sham.
Now, who on the ballot should get in?
Bert Blyleven. 287 wins. 3700+ Ks. Shameful that he's not in already.
Rich Gossage. Longevity. Dominance. One of the first dominant closers...he did it longer, although not always better than the rest.
Dale Murphy. A superstar anywhere other than Atlanta, which was a dreadful team at the time.
Jim Rice. Supreme slugging numbers.
Lee Smith. See Gossage, Rich.
More Christmas Music Problems
To the previous post, it's shows like this that need to be stopped. Banning Nick & Jess at the sametime is worthwhile too.
Sunday, November 28, 2004
No More Christmas Songs
I hereby issue a moratorium banning the further publication of remade Christmas Songs. Popped on Music Choice on Friday while the tree was going up and strolled on over to "Sounds of the Seasons." When I want the "Sounds" of Christmas, I want Bing Crosby, I want "Let it Snow", and I want "Jingle Bells". I do NOT want Jessica Simpson, Spyro Gyra, or anything that is not already a classic.
No more recordings.
No songs recorded after 1980 can be played with two exceptions: "Do They Know It's Christmas" and Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." That's it. That's the list.
No more recordings.
No songs recorded after 1980 can be played with two exceptions: "Do They Know It's Christmas" and Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." That's it. That's the list.
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Pope Gets Lambskin
The Pope received an honorary degree from a university in Poland. Insert your own Polish joke here, I'm not touching it. Meanwhile, I'm hoping against all hope that he really means there's "dialogue" between science and faith. The church is out of touch with the world - witness the 1992 pardoning of Galileo. That is classic comedy.
Cup Throwing Jackass seeking 0:15
At a time where the scrutiny of the nation is right upon him (and Artest), Cup Throwing Jackass is trying to tap into his 15 minutes. The guy really needs to crawl back under the rock he came out from under (tm Curtis Strange.) Here's the background of this tool.
And Skip Bayless has an interesting viewpoint on the whole mess. Maybe it wasn't really that bad.
No way Artest belongs on the back side of the scorer's table. That's the single biggest mistake in the whole thing. But he didn't go into the crowd swinging wildly. He got punched first, by Cup Throwing Jackass, of course. And I support Artest leveling the fat bastard in the jersey 100% because that Rhodes Scholar came on the court, right up to Artest, with his fist cocked.
Stephen Jackson went to defend his teammate. He had to. That's not saying he's an angel here, but he's not 100% in the wrong for sure.
And Skip Bayless has an interesting viewpoint on the whole mess. Maybe it wasn't really that bad.
No way Artest belongs on the back side of the scorer's table. That's the single biggest mistake in the whole thing. But he didn't go into the crowd swinging wildly. He got punched first, by Cup Throwing Jackass, of course. And I support Artest leveling the fat bastard in the jersey 100% because that Rhodes Scholar came on the court, right up to Artest, with his fist cocked.
Stephen Jackson went to defend his teammate. He had to. That's not saying he's an angel here, but he's not 100% in the wrong for sure.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Motor City Throwdown: Day 5
This won't go away soon. The images are too compelling, and ESPN had about two dozen cameras in The Palace that night (or so it seems).
The alleged cup full o' beer perpetrator, some slapdick named John Green, showed up on Larry King tonight accompanied by his lawyer, Doogie Howser. This was bad for several reasons:
1) It bumped Bill Maher back 10 minutes
2) These guys did NOTHING to help Green's defense. Green came off as a cocky arrogant prick who thought that he...um, whoever threw that cup...wasn't in the wrong. He spewed forth canned lines such as (paraphrasing) "You can't punish everyone who threw things, etc." Doogie didn't do him any favors, saying that, as a citizen, he believes cup throwing is wrong, but as a lawyer, he can't say that. Kids, you too can be a public defender.
Remember, Artest had no business going into the crowd over a plastic cup. That doesn't excuse Green from ALLEGEDLY throwing it either.
Tony Kornheiser gets it right. Jason Whitlock doesn't. Surprise!!
Mr. Whitlock, just because a black person is involved in a controversial issue doesn't necessarily mean that race is involved.
The alleged cup full o' beer perpetrator, some slapdick named John Green, showed up on Larry King tonight accompanied by his lawyer, Doogie Howser. This was bad for several reasons:
1) It bumped Bill Maher back 10 minutes
2) These guys did NOTHING to help Green's defense. Green came off as a cocky arrogant prick who thought that he...um, whoever threw that cup...wasn't in the wrong. He spewed forth canned lines such as (paraphrasing) "You can't punish everyone who threw things, etc." Doogie didn't do him any favors, saying that, as a citizen, he believes cup throwing is wrong, but as a lawyer, he can't say that. Kids, you too can be a public defender.
Remember, Artest had no business going into the crowd over a plastic cup. That doesn't excuse Green from ALLEGEDLY throwing it either.
Tony Kornheiser gets it right. Jason Whitlock doesn't. Surprise!!
Mr. Whitlock, just because a black person is involved in a controversial issue doesn't necessarily mean that race is involved.
Monday, November 22, 2004
Fantasy Update
For those of you who care:
Fantasy Team "A" is losing one of those blah games. Nobody on either side has done anything great ... I'm pinning my hopes on Derrick Blaylock. Not a comforting place to be.
Fantasy Team "B" is getting slapped around. I traded away Brian Westbrook (22 points this week) for Jimmy Smith (2 points). After a 6-0 start, I continue to manage this team into the ground. 6-5 and sinking fast.
Fantasy Team "C" continues it's march toward a high 2005 draft pick. Keeper: Clinton Portis. Second keeper: Jamal Lewis. First pick: Travis Henry. Speaks volumes about that league this year.
Fantasy Team "A" is losing one of those blah games. Nobody on either side has done anything great ... I'm pinning my hopes on Derrick Blaylock. Not a comforting place to be.
Fantasy Team "B" is getting slapped around. I traded away Brian Westbrook (22 points this week) for Jimmy Smith (2 points). After a 6-0 start, I continue to manage this team into the ground. 6-5 and sinking fast.
Fantasy Team "C" continues it's march toward a high 2005 draft pick. Keeper: Clinton Portis. Second keeper: Jamal Lewis. First pick: Travis Henry. Speaks volumes about that league this year.
Suspensions
As one of the 269 million Americans who don't give a rat's ass about the NBA, I was somewhat pleased by the brawl Friday night, if for no other reason than it gives the league another black eye. But after watching it a few times, it was downright scary. How does anyone know (yet) whether or not Artest went after the right guy? How can that many people justify throwing cups, bottles, popcorn, clothing, and chairs in that situation? And how in the bloody hell can fans just end up on the court, and stroll right up to Artest with a fist cocked and ready to throw?
I can't fault Artest one bit for drilling that fat chump. But there's no excuse for going into the crowd. So my hat is off to David Stern. He stood up strong on this one and he needed to.
What caused all this? Respect. No, not a lack of it. A new definition of it. Mitch Albom explains.
I can't fault Artest one bit for drilling that fat chump. But there's no excuse for going into the crowd. So my hat is off to David Stern. He stood up strong on this one and he needed to.
What caused all this? Respect. No, not a lack of it. A new definition of it. Mitch Albom explains.
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