Star Wars...They are no longer exciting to me and I no longer look for the new release with bated breath, as Tilam says. But I will see the last movie since I've seen the first 5, if only to bring closure to it all. Hopefully.
Here is a symptom I see - and I saw this with "The Matrix" trilogy - when you have a movie that spawns a slew of books, that's the problem. When you have a book or books that spawn a movie, it's better. Look at the Lord of the Rings. I read that trilogy in 8th grade, and was completely fascinated (I have since read it twice more cover to cover) with that story and genre. Then the movie(s), which frankly, I consider to be the greatest film trilogy of all time, bar none. But Star Wars came from GL's mind before it was a novel, and so many people jumped on the bandwagon with novellas, novels, and speculation, and GL got caught up in that maelstrom, trying to explain the story and please all his fans. I thought The Empire Strikes Back sucked donkey balls, but the Return of the Jedi was better. Episode 1 sucked goat balls, while episide 2 was better. So I hope this last episode bucks my trend and is good - I have to admit, the trailer looks pretty spiffy. Same with the Matrix - I STILL cannot understand wtf was at the end of the second movie, the dickhead in the chair - I thought I had it down good after that scene though, then the last one just was a lotta action wrapped around a sketchy plot. Here's the deal guys - if you want to wrap a storyline into it, make it cohesive, flowing, and tie all the loose ends. If not, just blow up shit, show gratuitous sex, naked bodies, lotta cusswords, then "the end".
Comments on Tilam's rant on Star Wars? He makes too many good points. I f**kin HATE Ewoks. And yes, the "immaculate conception" of Anakin Starwalker is assinine. Mitochloridians (or whatever the hell they are), I have to agree with Tilam again - just a buncha virus cells that speak to us? Kinda like the clap? "Hey baby, I got VD, but it's telling me that I'm a superhero!" A pathetic explanation, and RIGHT ABOUT THERE is where I first started thinking "okay, the Star Wars line sux".
Let me talk about the dying part...
Again, Tilam and I are on the same page here - quick and dirty, or peacefully in my sleep after a nice hummer from an 18 year old cheerleader. My own addition/edit is based on the premise - okay, if I have to die, I don't want to KNOW that I'm going to die. Much like drowning, falling off a building/cliff, and my ultimate slow death, a plane crash, I'd much rather get done in quickly rather than have, say, 1 minute to ponder that I'm actually doing to die while plummetting helplessly from 30,000 feet with 200 other people screaming in my ears. Talk about stress! (this is why those people on the hijacked flight that crashed in PA are ULTIMATE heroes to me, none of them wanted to die, but they KNEW they had to do something, and if they were gonna die they were gonna take those terrorist cocksuckers down with 'em). Oh, and in deference to my claustraphobia, being buried alive would suck big time. I can't even think about that without getting quesy.
Almost 2 weeks without food/water for Terry Shiavo. I'm sure she's registering the pain/discomfort on a subconscious level, but her vegetative state and lack of consciousness really make this a slow painless process for here. Or I believe painless, at least on cognizant level. Honestly, I wish would just pass quietly and let everyone make their peace. Too many people are suffering here, and all these motions, arguments, and legal briefs are just extending the pain of those around the case, not her.
Oh, and one comment on Tilam's frustration with our own private Player's Championship...15 years without a win will become 16 shortly. And remember, my FAVORITE beer is the ice cold beverage I win from my pal Tilam. :)
3.30.2005
The Force is Strong in This One
In retrospect, George Lucas should have done all six movies at once. But he did not.
If A New Hope (1977) was a flop, there would not have been the Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). But it was not. And there is where things went off the rails.
GL originally shilled his beloved Star Wars to nearly all comers. Before the mighty merchandising machine, the was a Wookie Christmas special (November 1978 famous for the first appearance of Boba Fett), Marvel comics and novels. All of this (the good and bad) comprises what we fans call the "Extended Universe." It also became a real nightmare for the making of the first trilogy.
You see, ultra passionate fans are hard to please. Through various novels, the Star Wars saga was heavily fleshed out. Han and Leia get married, have three kids (twins and a boy named Anakin). Luke takes the assassin Mara Jade as an apprentice, then as his wife. A good summary is at Wikipedia. In summary, the EU created a storyline that Lucas had approved, but is now not necessarily consistent with the movies. And also created expectation in fans about what they were going to see.
But we are not impossible to please though. But George has never "liked" Star Wars fans. We stole his baby and made it our own. Papa George could not let that stand. But the problem is that Pandora's box was open, the fan base had created a myths, legends and rumors that made sense and reinforced the fans' view of the Star Wars universe.
Then. Finally. Episode One.
In Episode I, Lucas thumbed his nose at the fan base repeatedly. In particular, speculation is THE favorite pastime of Star Wars fans and GL's job (IMAO) was to give us a little of want we wanted, but leave us wanting more. But he didn't. To wit:
The Virgin Birth of Anakin? That is the implication of Anakin having no father. Come on. What pseudo-religious drivel. Anakin/Vader as Christ? This is particularly galling because speculation on who or what is Anakin's father would have been great. And easy to do. Not knowing Papa Skywalker was also quite easy to leave in the script.
Nope. Instead, we get virgin birth.
Mitaclorians? This is a TOTAL BETRAYAL! The Force was always something Zen-like to be learned and practiced over years. Mastery of your base instincts and emotions was difficult, but attainable.
Nah, the Force is just a bunch of bugs in your blood stream. You are either born with it or not. Like money, good looks or the ability to hit a curve. All you losers with a low mitaclorian count are out of luck.
I will see Episode III as soon as it is out. I am hoping George "redeems" himself with a compelling story and a plausible connection to Episode IV. (For example, Darth Vader CLEARLY did not know he was a father. How will that be explained?) But I am not invested in this anymore.
The ride is ending and I am not as thrilled as when it started.
If A New Hope (1977) was a flop, there would not have been the Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). But it was not. And there is where things went off the rails.
GL originally shilled his beloved Star Wars to nearly all comers. Before the mighty merchandising machine, the was a Wookie Christmas special (November 1978 famous for the first appearance of Boba Fett), Marvel comics and novels. All of this (the good and bad) comprises what we fans call the "Extended Universe." It also became a real nightmare for the making of the first trilogy.
You see, ultra passionate fans are hard to please. Through various novels, the Star Wars saga was heavily fleshed out. Han and Leia get married, have three kids (twins and a boy named Anakin). Luke takes the assassin Mara Jade as an apprentice, then as his wife. A good summary is at Wikipedia. In summary, the EU created a storyline that Lucas had approved, but is now not necessarily consistent with the movies. And also created expectation in fans about what they were going to see.
But we are not impossible to please though. But George has never "liked" Star Wars fans. We stole his baby and made it our own. Papa George could not let that stand. But the problem is that Pandora's box was open, the fan base had created a myths, legends and rumors that made sense and reinforced the fans' view of the Star Wars universe.
Then. Finally. Episode One.
In Episode I, Lucas thumbed his nose at the fan base repeatedly. In particular, speculation is THE favorite pastime of Star Wars fans and GL's job (IMAO) was to give us a little of want we wanted, but leave us wanting more. But he didn't. To wit:
The Virgin Birth of Anakin? That is the implication of Anakin having no father. Come on. What pseudo-religious drivel. Anakin/Vader as Christ? This is particularly galling because speculation on who or what is Anakin's father would have been great. And easy to do. Not knowing Papa Skywalker was also quite easy to leave in the script.
Nope. Instead, we get virgin birth.
Mitaclorians? This is a TOTAL BETRAYAL! The Force was always something Zen-like to be learned and practiced over years. Mastery of your base instincts and emotions was difficult, but attainable.
Nah, the Force is just a bunch of bugs in your blood stream. You are either born with it or not. Like money, good looks or the ability to hit a curve. All you losers with a low mitaclorian count are out of luck.
I will see Episode III as soon as it is out. I am hoping George "redeems" himself with a compelling story and a plausible connection to Episode IV. (For example, Darth Vader CLEARLY did not know he was a father. How will that be explained?) But I am not invested in this anymore.
The ride is ending and I am not as thrilled as when it started.
Wake Up, Time to Die
I have been “pleased” (I am not sure that is the right word, strike that, I am sure it is not the right word) to see a number of bloggers on my most respected list (Reynolds, Sensing, Althouse, to add a few to the list below) discussing the necessary “triumph” of the rule of law in the Schiavo case. Even the Captain himself has realized enough is enough.
4. Terrorist Beheading (Film at 11). A public death for the kids to watch on the web. I'’ll pass.
3. Falling Off a Building/Cliff. Final thought: “"This is gonna hurt." Then” *splat*. The scenes from the WTC were absolutely gut wrenching to me.
2. Slow Roast. The burning, the smell, the pain. I almost pity the rotisserie chicken.
And the Number 1 Way I Would Not Want to Die,
1. Eaten By a Shark. Adding to the pain of the bites themselves (I'’d say I'’d need at least three to kill me). There is the ultimate humiliation of ending your mortal stay as some fish'’s turd.
3.29.2005
A Long Time Ago...
Coincident with the Tilam-Thew Players Championship (which I have not won in 15 or so years) is the premiere of Episode III, Revenge of the Sith. Thew asked me the other day why hadn't I blogged on Star Wars yet.
Star Wars is an interesting subject for me. I was 14 in 1977 when A New Hope was released and was a big fan from the start. In particular, when I found out that Lucas was set to do two more (with the obvious opportunity for a prequel trilogy), like many a young man, I was hooked.
Alas, 28 years later, I fear Star Wars has outgrown me.
I know the minute it out grew me, though I did not recognize it at the time: when Darth Vader became a good guy, throwing the Emperor into the abyss. I could go on as to why - DV was too evil to become good, Daddy bailing out the kids, it made Luke look like a pussy - but that is beside the point. Further, the prequels have reinforced my disappointment. Anakin goes over to the dark side watching his mother die and comes back watching his son? Pleeeeeease. Too much pseudo psycho psyhit for me.
Star Wars should have been the ultimate 'B' movie; good guy is very good, bad guy is very, very bad, good guy beats bad guy. Simple. Straight forward. Great lessons.
But Star Wars became too cute and complicated. Love triangles, incest, teddy bears, bar bands. So, what I was left with was the good guy always needed to be bailed out, the bad guy turns good and the most interesting characters (Obi-wan, Yoda, Han) where secondary. So when I wanted a "High Noon" what I got was "Peyton Space." (And ultimately, I always thought Han Solo could kick Luke's ass force or not.)
But at least the special effects were super...
While Episode VI was a bit of a letdown (especially with the Ewoks), it was still Jeopardy-esque (or the Hitchhiker's Guide-esque): now we have the answer, but what is the question. Nothing prepared me for Episode I.
Next post, I will talk about where Lucas went off the rails and why.
Star Wars is an interesting subject for me. I was 14 in 1977 when A New Hope was released and was a big fan from the start. In particular, when I found out that Lucas was set to do two more (with the obvious opportunity for a prequel trilogy), like many a young man, I was hooked.
Alas, 28 years later, I fear Star Wars has outgrown me.
I know the minute it out grew me, though I did not recognize it at the time: when Darth Vader became a good guy, throwing the Emperor into the abyss. I could go on as to why - DV was too evil to become good, Daddy bailing out the kids, it made Luke look like a pussy - but that is beside the point. Further, the prequels have reinforced my disappointment. Anakin goes over to the dark side watching his mother die and comes back watching his son? Pleeeeeease. Too much pseudo psycho psyhit for me.
Star Wars should have been the ultimate 'B' movie; good guy is very good, bad guy is very, very bad, good guy beats bad guy. Simple. Straight forward. Great lessons.
But Star Wars became too cute and complicated. Love triangles, incest, teddy bears, bar bands. So, what I was left with was the good guy always needed to be bailed out, the bad guy turns good and the most interesting characters (Obi-wan, Yoda, Han) where secondary. So when I wanted a "High Noon" what I got was "Peyton Space." (And ultimately, I always thought Han Solo could kick Luke's ass force or not.)
But at least the special effects were super...
While Episode VI was a bit of a letdown (especially with the Ewoks), it was still Jeopardy-esque (or the Hitchhiker's Guide-esque): now we have the answer, but what is the question. Nothing prepared me for Episode I.
Next post, I will talk about where Lucas went off the rails and why.
A brief interlude back to hockey
What Eric Clapton was to Cream, John Buccigross is to ESPN Hockey Night. I like Bucc. MY EPSN dream job would be to hang with him, Barry Melrose, and chicken parm Ferraro in the Hockey Night studios. He's written an interesting article on how to win back the fans and improve the game (and the product) of hockey...
I cannot subscribe to bigger nets. How can we compare Jarome Iginla's scoring totals in the future to Wayne Gretzky's total when Wayne had to shoot into a 4x6 net, while Jarome shoots into the cavernous 5x7 net (or whatever it will be)? I don't believe we make the nets absolutely bigger, we make them RELATIVELY bigger by reducing the size of the goal equipment. Shaving off inches from the treetrunk legpads that goalies wear today is a better step, not enlarging the net opening.
No skater interference - get a life! Every year we hear they are going to crack down on clutching and grabbing. Nice idea, the implementation of which has SUCKED every year they've yapped about it.
Penalty deterrents - making a minor last the full 2 mins is a GREAT idea. Tossing a guy out of the game after a set number of penatlies is a nice idea, but I'm not sure the practical application will be all that great. You might be ejecting "the dirty player", but it's a rarity when a player has 4 or more minors in a game; unless he's having a REALLY bad night.
Adopt the AHL changes. Limit goalie wandering isn't a good idea because you need to showcase some talents of the goalies, and if puckhandling is one of them, let 'em play. Moving the nets back, yeah, fine. Making the lines bigger is okay too. The best of which is a shoot out after 1 overtime during the regular season. EXCITEMENT! Also, I think the tie is an assinine way to end a game, what other sport allows ties? Okay, soccer, but you can see how popular THAT sport is in the US. :)
Paint the helmets - marketing ploy, but every other major sport with helmets have designs, why not hockey?
Mandatory player/referee microphones? Hmmm, I don't agree with player mics, but referee's are fine with me. Yes, you'd like to hear the sounds and voices of the game, but you could also catch Kevin Stevens of the Penguins yelling at Brian Bellows of the North Stars (an old clip I have), calling a f**king c**ks****r and a p***y, among other niceties. Not a good idea.
No more music...hmmm, I'm an audiophile too, and while I that there is too much music, some is good. Get's the blood pumping... Better to be selective as to when you play it...
Eliminate the RED LINE - no f**kin' s**t! Let 'em play dammit.
Play-in games. Nah, stupid idea. Why? Well, what became of the NCAA hoops play-in game loser this year? They went home. Nope, didn't get into the NIT, they just went home. I think that's a stupid idea for ALL sports. Top 64 get bids, top 8 into the playoffs. 'Nuff said.
Congressional hearings...OMG, please don't bring in the asshole politicians to fix our sport. Why? Because the idiots who run hockey will NEVER learn if they get a directive from congress on "how to fix it". They need to be able to learn to work together and fix problems as a team, not as William Wallace and Longshanks. If you TELL your children to get along, what's the likelihood they will "get along"? Bad idea, let hockey rule itself.
My 2 cents - market players, not teams. Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Eric Staal and others are the future stars of the league, make 'em known to the US public. Change the schedule to highlight more regional rivalries - NYR v NYI, Florida v Tampa Bay, LA v San Jose v Anaheim, Calgary v Edmonton - don't hype 'em as boxing matches, play them up as rivalries. MARKETING THE PRODUCT - three words that might mean a future for hockey. Oh, wait, GET THE PRODUCT BACK ON THE ICE first. :)
Back to the general grind...
Charlie Villanueva is contemplating declaring for the NBA draft? WTF is this guy smoking - 75% dog, 25% racehorse. When he becomes 99% racehorse, then he'll be a top 10 pick. But only then, since his attitude, work ethic, and ability to play a full game at 100% has been questioned by pretty much every NBA GM in the league. A guy with his supposed talent and size does NOT let his team get owned in the second round of the tournament - see Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, and Rip Hamilton - Husky leaders show up to lead and play, the whole game, not just when it looks good for the highlight reel. That aside, if he ever puts it all together, wow is he gonna be good. Another case of a million dollar athelete with a five cent head. I'd still pick Josh Boone over him because of Boone's effort and ethic. I hope that Charlie returns to UCONN and works at his game and attitude. It'd be a wonderful thing to see this guy fulfill his potential. Here's to hoping he acquires Ed Nelson's attitude and fire. :)
The UCONN women lost, finally, in the NCAA. 20 straight games. 3 straight national championships. All good things come to an end. Geno was gracious at best in losing to Stanford, complimenting the Cardinal as he should, since they put a stomping on the Lady Huskies. But I'd sure hate to be in that locker room listening to his analysis of the second half. Blarg...
Well, it had to happen eventually, althought I'd thought it would be someone else. Jesse Jackson has entered the Schiavo case, crying that her situation and impending passing is "an injustice". Interesting, I for sure was wondering when Al Sharpton would show up...
Ah well, back to the rat race...
I cannot subscribe to bigger nets. How can we compare Jarome Iginla's scoring totals in the future to Wayne Gretzky's total when Wayne had to shoot into a 4x6 net, while Jarome shoots into the cavernous 5x7 net (or whatever it will be)? I don't believe we make the nets absolutely bigger, we make them RELATIVELY bigger by reducing the size of the goal equipment. Shaving off inches from the treetrunk legpads that goalies wear today is a better step, not enlarging the net opening.
No skater interference - get a life! Every year we hear they are going to crack down on clutching and grabbing. Nice idea, the implementation of which has SUCKED every year they've yapped about it.
Penalty deterrents - making a minor last the full 2 mins is a GREAT idea. Tossing a guy out of the game after a set number of penatlies is a nice idea, but I'm not sure the practical application will be all that great. You might be ejecting "the dirty player", but it's a rarity when a player has 4 or more minors in a game; unless he's having a REALLY bad night.
Adopt the AHL changes. Limit goalie wandering isn't a good idea because you need to showcase some talents of the goalies, and if puckhandling is one of them, let 'em play. Moving the nets back, yeah, fine. Making the lines bigger is okay too. The best of which is a shoot out after 1 overtime during the regular season. EXCITEMENT! Also, I think the tie is an assinine way to end a game, what other sport allows ties? Okay, soccer, but you can see how popular THAT sport is in the US. :)
Paint the helmets - marketing ploy, but every other major sport with helmets have designs, why not hockey?
Mandatory player/referee microphones? Hmmm, I don't agree with player mics, but referee's are fine with me. Yes, you'd like to hear the sounds and voices of the game, but you could also catch Kevin Stevens of the Penguins yelling at Brian Bellows of the North Stars (an old clip I have), calling a f**king c**ks****r and a p***y, among other niceties. Not a good idea.
No more music...hmmm, I'm an audiophile too, and while I that there is too much music, some is good. Get's the blood pumping... Better to be selective as to when you play it...
Eliminate the RED LINE - no f**kin' s**t! Let 'em play dammit.
Play-in games. Nah, stupid idea. Why? Well, what became of the NCAA hoops play-in game loser this year? They went home. Nope, didn't get into the NIT, they just went home. I think that's a stupid idea for ALL sports. Top 64 get bids, top 8 into the playoffs. 'Nuff said.
Congressional hearings...OMG, please don't bring in the asshole politicians to fix our sport. Why? Because the idiots who run hockey will NEVER learn if they get a directive from congress on "how to fix it". They need to be able to learn to work together and fix problems as a team, not as William Wallace and Longshanks. If you TELL your children to get along, what's the likelihood they will "get along"? Bad idea, let hockey rule itself.
My 2 cents - market players, not teams. Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, Eric Staal and others are the future stars of the league, make 'em known to the US public. Change the schedule to highlight more regional rivalries - NYR v NYI, Florida v Tampa Bay, LA v San Jose v Anaheim, Calgary v Edmonton - don't hype 'em as boxing matches, play them up as rivalries. MARKETING THE PRODUCT - three words that might mean a future for hockey. Oh, wait, GET THE PRODUCT BACK ON THE ICE first. :)
Back to the general grind...
Charlie Villanueva is contemplating declaring for the NBA draft? WTF is this guy smoking - 75% dog, 25% racehorse. When he becomes 99% racehorse, then he'll be a top 10 pick. But only then, since his attitude, work ethic, and ability to play a full game at 100% has been questioned by pretty much every NBA GM in the league. A guy with his supposed talent and size does NOT let his team get owned in the second round of the tournament - see Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, and Rip Hamilton - Husky leaders show up to lead and play, the whole game, not just when it looks good for the highlight reel. That aside, if he ever puts it all together, wow is he gonna be good. Another case of a million dollar athelete with a five cent head. I'd still pick Josh Boone over him because of Boone's effort and ethic. I hope that Charlie returns to UCONN and works at his game and attitude. It'd be a wonderful thing to see this guy fulfill his potential. Here's to hoping he acquires Ed Nelson's attitude and fire. :)
The UCONN women lost, finally, in the NCAA. 20 straight games. 3 straight national championships. All good things come to an end. Geno was gracious at best in losing to Stanford, complimenting the Cardinal as he should, since they put a stomping on the Lady Huskies. But I'd sure hate to be in that locker room listening to his analysis of the second half. Blarg...
Well, it had to happen eventually, althought I'd thought it would be someone else. Jesse Jackson has entered the Schiavo case, crying that her situation and impending passing is "an injustice". Interesting, I for sure was wondering when Al Sharpton would show up...
Ah well, back to the rat race...
3.28.2005
I'd Be Right, If I Weren't So Wrong
I owe a big heaping apologies to the Big 10. "Not their year?" Shows you how much I know.
Just phenomenal games this past weekend. I actually was watching the Illinois game periodically at a restaurant (with the others at the party wondering why I was using the restroom so often) and gave up on the Illini.
Some thoughts:
1. There is a clean slate come Tourney time. Who cares about MSU's regular season? Who cares about Kansas'? It is about putting it together for six games.
2. Coaches and players. Jim Calhoun, Coach K, Tubby Smith can only take the team so far. I was watching UConn-Stanford last night and there was a remark Geno Auriemma made about the regionals, how they were the toughest on him. I will go further, the regionals are about the kids, they show up or not. In the Final Four, the coaches can influence the game more. (Of course, Izzo, Pitino and Williams are three of the best.)
3. Parity, parity, parity. The difference between number 1 and number 32 is just not as big as it once was. Early exits, more TV time for smaller programs, all add up to more exciting games.
***
One last thing: good to see Rick Pitino back at center stage. The Big East should be frightfully good next year.
Just phenomenal games this past weekend. I actually was watching the Illinois game periodically at a restaurant (with the others at the party wondering why I was using the restroom so often) and gave up on the Illini.
Some thoughts:
1. There is a clean slate come Tourney time. Who cares about MSU's regular season? Who cares about Kansas'? It is about putting it together for six games.
2. Coaches and players. Jim Calhoun, Coach K, Tubby Smith can only take the team so far. I was watching UConn-Stanford last night and there was a remark Geno Auriemma made about the regionals, how they were the toughest on him. I will go further, the regionals are about the kids, they show up or not. In the Final Four, the coaches can influence the game more. (Of course, Izzo, Pitino and Williams are three of the best.)
3. Parity, parity, parity. The difference between number 1 and number 32 is just not as big as it once was. Early exits, more TV time for smaller programs, all add up to more exciting games.
***
One last thing: good to see Rick Pitino back at center stage. The Big East should be frightfully good next year.
3.27.2005
Flabbergasted on multiple levels...
Oh, this is rich...
I've watched ESPN's "Around the Horn" before, and have seen Bill Plaschke wax and wane with assinine comments and ideas, but this time he truly takes the cake. In a column on ESPN.com, Plaschke says that he will NOT vote for Mark McGwire when his turn to enter the MLB HoF comes up "It's obvious from his own statements he used some form of performance-enhancing drugs and it's obvious from his statistics he did not become a Hall of Fame-type player until he did so." HUH? Did he forget that McGwire hit 49 home runs in 1988? That McGwire was a power hitter all of his career? I don't care what you say, Andro is NOT steroids, and it shouldn't be held against Mac. I'd like to see this jerkoff talk about Barry Bonds.
Quote from an intelligent sportswriter...Henry Schulman, who covers the Giants for the San Francisco Chronicle, plans to vote for both. "The Hall of Fame is not a museum for saints. It's filled with racists, philanderers, players who used cork bats and spitters and everything at their disposal to their advantage," he said. "It's hard for me to single McGwire out. Unless he commits a crime, he's on my ballot."
Plaschke also forgets one thing - that hitting a 95 mph ball is still one of the toughest things to do in professional sports. That Mac worked out with supplements and got bigger is NOT to be held against him - and if he DID do steroids, well, what then? What about the greenies and red pills taken by major league baseball players throughout the years and even still today, as outlined in "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton? Remember, getting big and strong isn't enough, you have to still be able to put the bat on the ball - see Jose Canseco, who's lifetime batting average isn't all that hot, no matter HOW big he got. Titantic homeruns don't make for a .350 hitter. Having the muscle does not mean you have the ability...
NCAA Tournament...What can I say? Louisville, down 10 with 6 mins to go, wins in OT. Illinois, down FIFTEEN with 4 mins to play, wins by a single point over 'Zona. Kudos to the Badgers for giving UNC all they can handle. As I sit here watching OT in the Kentucky-MSU game, I marvel at how truly exciting March Madness is...Patrick Sparks sinks a 3 pointer with a second left?! Man, I'm on pins and needles here, but I love this time of year. :)
The Tiger Woods of 2000 is BACK - the only problem is that his name is now Annika. :)
Well, you know the US soccer team is viewed as a legitimate threat to Mexico in CONCACAF region of World Cup qualifying, but you can also see the depths that the mexicans will stoop to taunt the Americans after yet another loss for the Yanks in Mexico. The crowd booed the U.S. national anthem and a spattering of fans chanted "Osama! Osama!" before play started, and shortly after Lewis' goal. Granted, we played like sh*t and they took the game to us and deserved to win, but I would hope that they would have shown more class - after all, how many of them do we employ?! Guess I can start feeling ok about calling them "spics" again.
My wife made a HELLUVA Easter Ham today...time for seconds...l8r.
I've watched ESPN's "Around the Horn" before, and have seen Bill Plaschke wax and wane with assinine comments and ideas, but this time he truly takes the cake. In a column on ESPN.com, Plaschke says that he will NOT vote for Mark McGwire when his turn to enter the MLB HoF comes up "It's obvious from his own statements he used some form of performance-enhancing drugs and it's obvious from his statistics he did not become a Hall of Fame-type player until he did so." HUH? Did he forget that McGwire hit 49 home runs in 1988? That McGwire was a power hitter all of his career? I don't care what you say, Andro is NOT steroids, and it shouldn't be held against Mac. I'd like to see this jerkoff talk about Barry Bonds.
Quote from an intelligent sportswriter...Henry Schulman, who covers the Giants for the San Francisco Chronicle, plans to vote for both. "The Hall of Fame is not a museum for saints. It's filled with racists, philanderers, players who used cork bats and spitters and everything at their disposal to their advantage," he said. "It's hard for me to single McGwire out. Unless he commits a crime, he's on my ballot."
Plaschke also forgets one thing - that hitting a 95 mph ball is still one of the toughest things to do in professional sports. That Mac worked out with supplements and got bigger is NOT to be held against him - and if he DID do steroids, well, what then? What about the greenies and red pills taken by major league baseball players throughout the years and even still today, as outlined in "Ball Four" by Jim Bouton? Remember, getting big and strong isn't enough, you have to still be able to put the bat on the ball - see Jose Canseco, who's lifetime batting average isn't all that hot, no matter HOW big he got. Titantic homeruns don't make for a .350 hitter. Having the muscle does not mean you have the ability...
NCAA Tournament...What can I say? Louisville, down 10 with 6 mins to go, wins in OT. Illinois, down FIFTEEN with 4 mins to play, wins by a single point over 'Zona. Kudos to the Badgers for giving UNC all they can handle. As I sit here watching OT in the Kentucky-MSU game, I marvel at how truly exciting March Madness is...Patrick Sparks sinks a 3 pointer with a second left?! Man, I'm on pins and needles here, but I love this time of year. :)
The Tiger Woods of 2000 is BACK - the only problem is that his name is now Annika. :)
Well, you know the US soccer team is viewed as a legitimate threat to Mexico in CONCACAF region of World Cup qualifying, but you can also see the depths that the mexicans will stoop to taunt the Americans after yet another loss for the Yanks in Mexico. The crowd booed the U.S. national anthem and a spattering of fans chanted "Osama! Osama!" before play started, and shortly after Lewis' goal. Granted, we played like sh*t and they took the game to us and deserved to win, but I would hope that they would have shown more class - after all, how many of them do we employ?! Guess I can start feeling ok about calling them "spics" again.
My wife made a HELLUVA Easter Ham today...time for seconds...l8r.
3.24.2005
Back from Sin City
Let me recount a story that makes my milk curdle...
Many years ago (I forget when and where, only the storyline), a husband was faced with an alarmingly tragic decision. After a horrible automobile accident, he was forced to choose between ending the life of his 8 month child or his pregnant wife. The doctors explained that given the circumstances, only one of them was going to survive this medical process. Now, given those circumstances, I would have chosen my wife - because to me, a partner (with the possibility of adopting later on and having that family) would be the happier of the two roads to take. Apparently, the husband agreed with me, and chose to abort this unborn child and save his wife.
Enter the politicians, public opinion, and that demon of legal process, the ACLU. Those people took a GUTWRENCHING decision and made it a legal nightmare, suing for the right of the unborn child and stalling the process that the husband had so laboriously pondered. Dropping and rubbing salt in a wound that no person should have to suffer.
Case in point, Terry Shiavo. The legal process has been thoroughly examined, processed, and decided upon. To assert that the right of the parents supercedes the right of the spouse would open a legal can of worms that would develop into a flood. I feel for her parents, no mother and father should have to see their child in this manner and go through what they have to go through - but again, this is not a new development, this case has been ongoing for a while now, and we must close it and move on with our lives. You can question the decision of Michael to become involved with another woman while his wife is still alive - that's a stone that we CAN throw, but to assert that his contention that "Terry told me should would not want to live like this" is not true (with no empirical evidence to the contrary) and rescind his decision as her spouse violates the instituion of marriage, personally and legally. In my humble opinion, that is...
NOTE: Thew is an IT geek, golfer, and internet gamer. His knowledge of legal precedents and the law is minimal at best - providing she's over 18, he doesn't pay attention to any of that other stuff. So take his opinions with a grain of salt.
Which CAN, and briefly will, bring me to my next point...keep the f**kin government out of our individual lives! From this case to that asswipe in Singaport who pleaded to President Clinton to save his lilly livered ass from a caning that he DESERVED for breaking the laws of that country to the idiot politicians who are posturing on the steroid scandal, there are times when it's all a public opinion game for votes. Stop being sheep and relying on others to do your dirty work. Making laws for the betterment of society as a whole is admirable and their task, but there are too many instances of people appealing to the government to intercede in their personal lives, too many instances of officials making legislation preventing the STUPID people from suffering the consequences of their own idiocy - I just don't see the benefit here, and it sets a dangerous precedent of taking personal empowerment out of peoples' lives in favor of the government telling them what to do and how to do it. Just my 2 cents, worth about $1.19 Canadian.
To quote the WOPR computer "the only way to win is not to play". I am PERFECT on my NCAA pool picks! Why? Because I'm not playing, and good reason. I have to laugh at Tilam for his constant prognostication in blogs past, while I always said "man, it's just SO tough to predict anything, I'm going to refrain from posting about something so fluid and unpredicable". Of course, if I HAD bet, I would be sucking LOSER SOUP! Wake and UCONN would have killed me, of course. I also predicted that Washington would be the first #1 seed to fall, and they have happily proven me completely wrong so far. But Tilam's right, what an exciting time. You are glued to every game, every possession. Like sex with the Mrs, I'm just happy to be there.
Tilam, VIJAY CHOKED AGAIN! Faced with a 160 yard shot into the green and tied with Kenny Perry, he dropped it in the drink! WOO WOO! I hate that bastard. Boy, I was cheering again. Now, finishing second is nice, but yipping a 3 footer and swimming with the fishes on the 72nd hole is a trend! But of course, he's the #1 ranked golfer in the world again. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Bobby Fischer...dickhead. Yet another case of an athlete (wait, are chessplayers athletes?!) with an inflated self-image. And Fischer has alway been eccentric. He claims that the US revoked his passport and that Japan had to deport him back to the US so that he can face charges of violation of US sanctions against Yugoslavia when he played Boris Spassky in 1992. Now, okay, maybe we DID have a bit of a hand in this goof-up, just to harass him a bit (I believe that), but his expressions are classless and show him to be the arrogant self-centered jerk we always believe him to be. He called this "a kidnapping by Japan, cooked up by President Bush and Japanese PM Koizumi", and as he walked toward the airport entrance, he turned, unzipped his pants and acted like he was going to urinate on the wall. He called Japan's ruling party "gangsters," and said he was being hounded by the United States because it is "Jew-controlled." Sorry - RACIST dickhead.
In NBA news, David Stern has basically completely ruled out a return this season of Ron Artest. Way to stick to your guns, David. Sure hope Artest is a good rapper...
In MLB news, I am apparently not the only person who welcomes Tino Martinez back to the Bronx...I think Mrs Thew has a thing for Tino the Bum. So a bunch of kids want the Yankees/Red Sox to "shakes hands and make up" before their first meeting...why the hell would they want to do that? Sure, all the players know the other team is talented and respect them, but OMG, keep some of what is the BEST rivalry in sports. What, are they going to be huddling around a campfire, holding hands, and singing "Kumbaya" soon?
PGA Golf comments...Look at the Player's Championship leaderboard - yes, that is the Bulldog, Corey Pavin, sitting at -3. GO COREY. I've always loved that guy. Oh, and I can be rest assured that I hit the ball as far as a pro - Grace Park, that is, only she's a helluva lot better looking than me.
Huh? Oh shit, that's the boss...gotta jet.
Many years ago (I forget when and where, only the storyline), a husband was faced with an alarmingly tragic decision. After a horrible automobile accident, he was forced to choose between ending the life of his 8 month child or his pregnant wife. The doctors explained that given the circumstances, only one of them was going to survive this medical process. Now, given those circumstances, I would have chosen my wife - because to me, a partner (with the possibility of adopting later on and having that family) would be the happier of the two roads to take. Apparently, the husband agreed with me, and chose to abort this unborn child and save his wife.
Enter the politicians, public opinion, and that demon of legal process, the ACLU. Those people took a GUTWRENCHING decision and made it a legal nightmare, suing for the right of the unborn child and stalling the process that the husband had so laboriously pondered. Dropping and rubbing salt in a wound that no person should have to suffer.
Case in point, Terry Shiavo. The legal process has been thoroughly examined, processed, and decided upon. To assert that the right of the parents supercedes the right of the spouse would open a legal can of worms that would develop into a flood. I feel for her parents, no mother and father should have to see their child in this manner and go through what they have to go through - but again, this is not a new development, this case has been ongoing for a while now, and we must close it and move on with our lives. You can question the decision of Michael to become involved with another woman while his wife is still alive - that's a stone that we CAN throw, but to assert that his contention that "Terry told me should would not want to live like this" is not true (with no empirical evidence to the contrary) and rescind his decision as her spouse violates the instituion of marriage, personally and legally. In my humble opinion, that is...
NOTE: Thew is an IT geek, golfer, and internet gamer. His knowledge of legal precedents and the law is minimal at best - providing she's over 18, he doesn't pay attention to any of that other stuff. So take his opinions with a grain of salt.
Which CAN, and briefly will, bring me to my next point...keep the f**kin government out of our individual lives! From this case to that asswipe in Singaport who pleaded to President Clinton to save his lilly livered ass from a caning that he DESERVED for breaking the laws of that country to the idiot politicians who are posturing on the steroid scandal, there are times when it's all a public opinion game for votes. Stop being sheep and relying on others to do your dirty work. Making laws for the betterment of society as a whole is admirable and their task, but there are too many instances of people appealing to the government to intercede in their personal lives, too many instances of officials making legislation preventing the STUPID people from suffering the consequences of their own idiocy - I just don't see the benefit here, and it sets a dangerous precedent of taking personal empowerment out of peoples' lives in favor of the government telling them what to do and how to do it. Just my 2 cents, worth about $1.19 Canadian.
To quote the WOPR computer "the only way to win is not to play". I am PERFECT on my NCAA pool picks! Why? Because I'm not playing, and good reason. I have to laugh at Tilam for his constant prognostication in blogs past, while I always said "man, it's just SO tough to predict anything, I'm going to refrain from posting about something so fluid and unpredicable". Of course, if I HAD bet, I would be sucking LOSER SOUP! Wake and UCONN would have killed me, of course. I also predicted that Washington would be the first #1 seed to fall, and they have happily proven me completely wrong so far. But Tilam's right, what an exciting time. You are glued to every game, every possession. Like sex with the Mrs, I'm just happy to be there.
Tilam, VIJAY CHOKED AGAIN! Faced with a 160 yard shot into the green and tied with Kenny Perry, he dropped it in the drink! WOO WOO! I hate that bastard. Boy, I was cheering again. Now, finishing second is nice, but yipping a 3 footer and swimming with the fishes on the 72nd hole is a trend! But of course, he's the #1 ranked golfer in the world again. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Bobby Fischer...dickhead. Yet another case of an athlete (wait, are chessplayers athletes?!) with an inflated self-image. And Fischer has alway been eccentric. He claims that the US revoked his passport and that Japan had to deport him back to the US so that he can face charges of violation of US sanctions against Yugoslavia when he played Boris Spassky in 1992. Now, okay, maybe we DID have a bit of a hand in this goof-up, just to harass him a bit (I believe that), but his expressions are classless and show him to be the arrogant self-centered jerk we always believe him to be. He called this "a kidnapping by Japan, cooked up by President Bush and Japanese PM Koizumi", and as he walked toward the airport entrance, he turned, unzipped his pants and acted like he was going to urinate on the wall. He called Japan's ruling party "gangsters," and said he was being hounded by the United States because it is "Jew-controlled." Sorry - RACIST dickhead.
In NBA news, David Stern has basically completely ruled out a return this season of Ron Artest. Way to stick to your guns, David. Sure hope Artest is a good rapper...
In MLB news, I am apparently not the only person who welcomes Tino Martinez back to the Bronx...I think Mrs Thew has a thing for Tino the Bum. So a bunch of kids want the Yankees/Red Sox to "shakes hands and make up" before their first meeting...why the hell would they want to do that? Sure, all the players know the other team is talented and respect them, but OMG, keep some of what is the BEST rivalry in sports. What, are they going to be huddling around a campfire, holding hands, and singing "Kumbaya" soon?
PGA Golf comments...Look at the Player's Championship leaderboard - yes, that is the Bulldog, Corey Pavin, sitting at -3. GO COREY. I've always loved that guy. Oh, and I can be rest assured that I hit the ball as far as a pro - Grace Park, that is, only she's a helluva lot better looking than me.
Huh? Oh shit, that's the boss...gotta jet.
More TS
Peggy Noonan's column in today's WSJ. My response to her:
Ms. Noonan,
Respectfully,
Tilam
Ms. Noonan,
Respectfully,
Tilam
3.23.2005
Awakening from the Haze
Like most of America, as I look at my NCAA picks, I can't help but feel like a dork. When I checked out the top of the ESPN Tournament Challenge all I could find were a bunch of Bucknell grads. (Sigh.)
First a vent. How did the refs not call a trip on N.C. State on that Hodge's drive to the basket? The press accounts stated the Rudy Gay "hit the deck," but the replay shows he was helped. And no foul on the three point attempt by Williams? C'mon. All that bitching aside, UConn deserved to lose. Williams was making bad decisions and the team just would not step up. I have been worried about leadership issues since the beginning and the lack of leadership was evident in that game.
On a "too bad" note, the way Syracuse lost the game against Vermont - by having the ball dribbled off a heel of a Syracuse player then roll into the back court for a violation, was a damn shame. Not to take away from UVM, I was lucky enough to be at the game and they were extraordinarily disciplined in their approach. Like UConn, Syracuse could not buy a basket and McNamara had a particularly awful game.
On a "great for the fans note," what a Tourney! The games have been generally very close and really exciting. Not only are only 3 of last years Sweet 16 in this year's Sweet 16, but there were plenty of exciting games in Round 1.
Here's to the fans.
First a vent. How did the refs not call a trip on N.C. State on that Hodge's drive to the basket? The press accounts stated the Rudy Gay "hit the deck," but the replay shows he was helped. And no foul on the three point attempt by Williams? C'mon. All that bitching aside, UConn deserved to lose. Williams was making bad decisions and the team just would not step up. I have been worried about leadership issues since the beginning and the lack of leadership was evident in that game.
On a "too bad" note, the way Syracuse lost the game against Vermont - by having the ball dribbled off a heel of a Syracuse player then roll into the back court for a violation, was a damn shame. Not to take away from UVM, I was lucky enough to be at the game and they were extraordinarily disciplined in their approach. Like UConn, Syracuse could not buy a basket and McNamara had a particularly awful game.
On a "great for the fans note," what a Tourney! The games have been generally very close and really exciting. Not only are only 3 of last years Sweet 16 in this year's Sweet 16, but there were plenty of exciting games in Round 1.
Here's to the fans.
3.22.2005
Schiavo Summary
As I reread the post below, I thought I would make clear my position in this matter.
1. With no other considerations, I do not favor removing the feeding tube from Terry Schiavo.
2. I believe Michael Schiavo. This is the main point. I believe him - that Terry said she did not want to live like this - and believed that he loved her and desires to carry out her wishes. With that, I am in favor of carrying out his wishes.
3. I believe the spouse has primacy in these decisions. If you value the institute of marriage, this is a no brainer. If you care about marriage only to prevent gays from marrying, you easily side with the parents.
4. I believe that 19 Florida judges (and now one appellate judge) deserve the benefit of the doubt. Judge Greer (the original judge and the lightning rod for procedural criticism) has withstood substantial review and I am convinced, if he were out of bounds, the other 18 judges and multiple guardian ad litems would have caught it by now.
5. Congress and the President should stay out. Conservatives abrogating the notion of federalism because it is inconvenient in this case is an outrage.
6. This case is a complete and total cluster f***. FUBAR. The plaintiffs, the Schindlers, face the ultimate loss if they lose, they have NO interest in playing by the rules - no interest in accepting a reasonable defeat. They were fine with Michael for three years trying to find hope, a cure, a sign. After Michael gave up, he was the enemy and nothing will stop them from saving their daughter. These are not circumstances that lead to a result the rest of the country can live with.
I am in total sympathy with Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers. Each, I believe in my heart, is doing what they think is best for Terry. I find myself in the unnatural position of completely agreeing with each in their role and, truth be told, I am not sure I would act any differently.
But I have no dog in this fight. I can only look to principles and law that will remain after Terry (and all the other actors) have left this realm. And these seem to be readily compromised for one person.
That is wrong.
My prayers are with Michael, the Schindlers and, above everyone, Terry.
[UPDATE 1. See Football Fans for Truth's summary of the facts. As he says, I am on the side of the law. If things go as expected, Terry Schiavo will die for a princple: the rule of law. This is an important principle that has been lost is the shuffle. But it is also one that Americans have died for for over 200 years.]
[UPDATE 2. Michael Schiavo certainly does not need what ever is left in the trust fund - he will have more than enough money from the defamations suits. When Patricia Heaton goes on Entertainment Tonight and slanders Michael Schiavo, that has got to be worth a cool $1 million.]
1. With no other considerations, I do not favor removing the feeding tube from Terry Schiavo.
2. I believe Michael Schiavo. This is the main point. I believe him - that Terry said she did not want to live like this - and believed that he loved her and desires to carry out her wishes. With that, I am in favor of carrying out his wishes.
3. I believe the spouse has primacy in these decisions. If you value the institute of marriage, this is a no brainer. If you care about marriage only to prevent gays from marrying, you easily side with the parents.
4. I believe that 19 Florida judges (and now one appellate judge) deserve the benefit of the doubt. Judge Greer (the original judge and the lightning rod for procedural criticism) has withstood substantial review and I am convinced, if he were out of bounds, the other 18 judges and multiple guardian ad litems would have caught it by now.
5. Congress and the President should stay out. Conservatives abrogating the notion of federalism because it is inconvenient in this case is an outrage.
6. This case is a complete and total cluster f***. FUBAR. The plaintiffs, the Schindlers, face the ultimate loss if they lose, they have NO interest in playing by the rules - no interest in accepting a reasonable defeat. They were fine with Michael for three years trying to find hope, a cure, a sign. After Michael gave up, he was the enemy and nothing will stop them from saving their daughter. These are not circumstances that lead to a result the rest of the country can live with.
I am in total sympathy with Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers. Each, I believe in my heart, is doing what they think is best for Terry. I find myself in the unnatural position of completely agreeing with each in their role and, truth be told, I am not sure I would act any differently.
But I have no dog in this fight. I can only look to principles and law that will remain after Terry (and all the other actors) have left this realm. And these seem to be readily compromised for one person.
That is wrong.
My prayers are with Michael, the Schindlers and, above everyone, Terry.
[UPDATE 1. See Football Fans for Truth's summary of the facts. As he says, I am on the side of the law. If things go as expected, Terry Schiavo will die for a princple: the rule of law. This is an important principle that has been lost is the shuffle. But it is also one that Americans have died for for over 200 years.]
[UPDATE 2. Michael Schiavo certainly does not need what ever is left in the trust fund - he will have more than enough money from the defamations suits. When Patricia Heaton goes on Entertainment Tonight and slanders Michael Schiavo, that has got to be worth a cool $1 million.]
3.21.2005
Schiavo v. Schindler
I promise to get back to the NCAAs in a minute.
The Terry Schiavo case is an extraordinarily sad and complicated story. It also seems to be a case where my favorite commentators on the right are headed into the dreaded “fever swamps.”
First off, this strikes me as an enormously difficult set of facts to argue for a neat solution. Should a few extra tests be done? It seems reasonable. If the tests were to confirm the diagnosis, would supporters of Terry’s parents’ efforts give up? I doubt it.
But at a high level, there are a few things that bother me from conservative commentators:
1. The Abandonment of a Spouses’ Rights. This is NOT a battle between Michael and Terry. This is a battle between Michael and Terry’s parents. If we knew Terry’s wishes beyond a doubt, there would be no case. But we don’t. Why does the right – which seems to be staunch defenders of the institution of marriage – want to abandon spousal rights now?
Marriage has no meaning if these sorts of decisions can’t be made by a spouse. These are gut wrenching, tragic choices. And to allow parents to step in – to reassert guardianship – is a dangerous precedent. But it gets worse. Congress steps in asserting some “interest.” Cough*political opportunists*cough. It is a shame that the President, who purports to be a strong defender of marriage, chooses to overrule a spouses decision.
Further, I find the smearing of Michael Schiavo really disturbing. James Taranto from OpinionJournal.com is typical: “According to news reports, Mr. Schiavo lives with a woman named Jodi Centonze, and they have two children together. Surely any court would consider this prima facie evidence of adultery. And this is no mere fling; a sympathetic 2003 profile in the Orlando Sentinel described Centonze as Mr. Schiavo's "fiancée." Mr. Schiavo, in other words, has virtually remarried. Short of outright bigamy, his relationship with Centonze is as thoroughgoing a violation of his marriage vows as it is possible to imagine.
The point here is not to castigate Mr. Schiavo for behaving badly. It would require a heroic degree of self-sacrifice for a man to forgo love and sex in order to remain faithful to an incapacitated wife, and it would be unreasonable to hold an ordinary man to a heroic standard.
But it is equally unreasonable to let Mr. Schiavo have it both ways. If he wishes to assert his marital authority to do his wife in, the least society can expect in return is that he refrain from making a mockery of his marital obligations. The grimmest irony in this tragic case is that those who want Terri Schiavo dead are resting their argument on the fiction that her marriage is still alive.”
The trick here is to act as if this is some recent desire of Michaels. But this case has been going on for years. According to the WSJ, “[i]n Florida so far, at least 19 judges in six courts have weighed in on Mrs. Schiavo's case since 1990, when she suffered the heart attack that left her severely brain damaged.” The fact that this been in the courts so long is NOT Michael’s fault – don’t act like it is. [UPDATE. According to a CNN timeline, Michael Schiavo and the Schindlers have been at odds since 1993.]
2. The Schindler’s are Unbiased. The conservative commentators are universal in describing Michael Schiavo as “conflicted” while Terry’s parents, the Schindlers, do not get the same scrutiny. I’m a parent, I agree whole heartedly with the Schindlers in that I would do anything to preserve my child’s life. But I am most certainly biased in this. To imply that Terry’s parents – who are undoubtedly (and rightfully) the MOST biased in this case – are some objective representative is completely dishonest.
3. Just One More Test. This is the most transparent of the claims – that all they want is one more test. Bull. This is a bigger struggle – a “right to life” struggle. Unlike Roe v. Wade, this is a right to life case that can be won because the outcome has not been set by the courts. Kathryn Lopez, bless her heart, at least is honest about the right to life principle.
For once I am with John Derbyshire at NRO: “I don't feel at all easy about commenting on the Schiavo case. It is a horrible moral conundrum -- a whole concatenation of such, in fact. Parents vs. spouse, judges playing God, federalism, right to life, cruel and unusual.. Oh, Lord.
The Derb sums up my feelings: “Hyperventilating about the inalienable right to life of everybody under all circumstances strikes me as silly. Anyone who has mixed much with medical professionals knows that "soft" euthanasia -- letting hopeless cases die, often with a gentle push to help them on their way -- was everyday practice, at least until the tort bar became the nation's Fifth Estate.”
I enjoy and respect Taranto, NRO, Captain's Quarters and the rest, but I am unconvinced.
Back to the banal...
[UPDATE 2: James Lileks weighs in. "In short: err on the side of life is not a bad motto to keep in mind. This seems simple enough. I respect those who nod, count to three, and offer a soft “however” so that we may refine the particulars. But I don’t have much time for those who hear “err on the side of life” and automatically bristle, because they hear the voice of someone who, damn their black and God-addled brain, once sent $10 to a politician who opposed parental notification law that did not have a judicial review.
You may not always agree with that sort of person. You may have no need for them. But you never think you have need of any chocks until you're in the truck, and you realize it's rolling down the hill. Backwards." Well said.]
[UPDATE 3: A link to the Guardian ad Litem report to Gov. Bush. The history articulated there paints a much different view than James Taranto.]
[UPDATE 4: Ryan Sager weighs in. Here, here. In summary, this is none of our business and certainly none of the governments' business. Jonathan Alter at BRO also. Finally, the Derb again. One quick thought: how come everyone's response seems to be "I would not want to live like that?" Yet, when it comes to Terry Schiavo those same people do not have a problem with HER living like that. Come on, K-Lo admit it -do you want to have every last breath, ounce of food, anything admitted to you to prolong those last few seconds, hours, days, months, years? Three years of diagnoses all over the country say you have no chance, do you want to live like that? If not (I don't), why is such an existence okay for Terry?]
3.16.2005
UN Becoming
Matthew Yglesias responds to some criticism of his views by Justin Logan in his blog. Matt's original position was staked out in an American Prospect article, but basically Matt's states that John Bolton's nomination as Ambassador to the UN is awful because Bolton's "history suggests his only interest is in delegitimize the very concept of international institutions, not making them work better." Logan's response is that rather than international institutions (in Matt's world NATO and the EU) keeping the Western peace for the last half of the 20th century, "it was always the presence of a bifurcated world dominated by two superpower blocs that precluded wars between western European powers. "
Matt and Justin are both wrong - and right. Matt use of NATO and the EU as examples in comparison to the UN is flat out wrong. Justin's position that 7,000 nukes kept the peace is also wrong - trade guns for butter and the outcome (essentially a Mexican stand off) would have been the same.
The problem with the UN is not that it is an international institution, but the way it is comprised. Less then 1/2 of the UN countries are free (and democratic). Thus, these country's positions are not shaped by what benefits that country, but what benefits that particular dictator/strongman/thug. NATO and the EU worked because like minded countries engaged in a common endeavor with a common goal. (I appreciate even that rewrites the occasionally very rocky NATO history. And remember, no France.)
The UN would run the world like an Old West poker game - every one knows the rules, but cheating is rampant. The question before the US seems to always be: do I draw my gun and shoot the cheater even though I am out of this hand? Further, since the UN is one country one vote, the ONLY power these nations wield is the power to obstruct. Does Matt really think the UN Commission on human rights - with Libya and Sudan - has ANY interest in the "good of the world"? I don't think so.
Bolton's position on international law and institutions is a realist's position: the structure of the UN is such that very few constructive outcomes are possible. In the world of 2005, the US is the only "superpower" able to project sufficient power to stop a dictator or humanitarian disaster. No one else can. Period. In fact, excepting Russia, Great Britain, Israel and China, no nation has the ability to battle a large, well armed local militia. That, unfortunately, is real. (I would note that even Russia has had a huge amount of trouble within its borders with local "militia.") Does Bolton think reform is possible? I doubt it, but I also do not believe that his positions are uniformly adverse to international institutions. To quote from Matt: Bolton believes that "it is a big mistake for us to grant any validity to international law even when it may seem in our short-term interest to do so because, over the long term, the goal of those who think that international law really means anything are those who want to constrict the United States." That sound to me like a structural criticism, not a philosophical one.
As for Justin pooh-poohing NATO as a deterrent, he must be in his 20s. The common front presented to the Soviet-bloc by the Western Europe allies to fight a war was huge. Let's not forget how Eastern Europe came to be satellite states: a war weary West did not have the stomach to intervene when countries were usurped by the USSR. They certainly had the guns, but the guns were useless without the common purpose that developed - and led to NATO. NATO probably seems like a quaint, old-school organization, but in the late-50's, my father operated an anti-tank gun looking over the Fulda Gap. I assure you, NATO was in a serious business.
On a bit of a side note, I would also draw some parallels between the Lebanese demonstrators and the Hungarians of 1956. The key difference: the other side believes that the West (US and France) will step in if things get out of hand. Without a derringer, the card player is standing up to the cheat, because he knows that there is another at the table with a really big gun who wants the rules followed.
Matt and Justin are both wrong - and right. Matt use of NATO and the EU as examples in comparison to the UN is flat out wrong. Justin's position that 7,000 nukes kept the peace is also wrong - trade guns for butter and the outcome (essentially a Mexican stand off) would have been the same.
The problem with the UN is not that it is an international institution, but the way it is comprised. Less then 1/2 of the UN countries are free (and democratic). Thus, these country's positions are not shaped by what benefits that country, but what benefits that particular dictator/strongman/thug. NATO and the EU worked because like minded countries engaged in a common endeavor with a common goal. (I appreciate even that rewrites the occasionally very rocky NATO history. And remember, no France.)
The UN would run the world like an Old West poker game - every one knows the rules, but cheating is rampant. The question before the US seems to always be: do I draw my gun and shoot the cheater even though I am out of this hand? Further, since the UN is one country one vote, the ONLY power these nations wield is the power to obstruct. Does Matt really think the UN Commission on human rights - with Libya and Sudan - has ANY interest in the "good of the world"? I don't think so.
Bolton's position on international law and institutions is a realist's position: the structure of the UN is such that very few constructive outcomes are possible. In the world of 2005, the US is the only "superpower" able to project sufficient power to stop a dictator or humanitarian disaster. No one else can. Period. In fact, excepting Russia, Great Britain, Israel and China, no nation has the ability to battle a large, well armed local militia. That, unfortunately, is real. (I would note that even Russia has had a huge amount of trouble within its borders with local "militia.") Does Bolton think reform is possible? I doubt it, but I also do not believe that his positions are uniformly adverse to international institutions. To quote from Matt: Bolton believes that "it is a big mistake for us to grant any validity to international law even when it may seem in our short-term interest to do so because, over the long term, the goal of those who think that international law really means anything are those who want to constrict the United States." That sound to me like a structural criticism, not a philosophical one.
As for Justin pooh-poohing NATO as a deterrent, he must be in his 20s. The common front presented to the Soviet-bloc by the Western Europe allies to fight a war was huge. Let's not forget how Eastern Europe came to be satellite states: a war weary West did not have the stomach to intervene when countries were usurped by the USSR. They certainly had the guns, but the guns were useless without the common purpose that developed - and led to NATO. NATO probably seems like a quaint, old-school organization, but in the late-50's, my father operated an anti-tank gun looking over the Fulda Gap. I assure you, NATO was in a serious business.
On a bit of a side note, I would also draw some parallels between the Lebanese demonstrators and the Hungarians of 1956. The key difference: the other side believes that the West (US and France) will step in if things get out of hand. Without a derringer, the card player is standing up to the cheat, because he knows that there is another at the table with a really big gun who wants the rules followed.
Quick Look In
Well, here we go again, on several different fronts...
March Madness...woo woo! The Red Sox/Yankees rivalry in the fall, NCAA tournament in the spring, summer spent toiling on the golf course, any year is a good year for Thew. I honestly have NO close touch with the tournament this year, it's so wide open, so many things to point out and debate (see TILAM's posts), I'm just gonna sit back and revel in the excitement.
On another note, anyone who noticed has to put up with yet another group suing an institution over their mascot. Now, it's the Illinois Native American Bar Assoc who is suing the University of Illinois over their use of an indian mascott, Chief Illiniwek. WTF!?! It's a MASCOT people, get some damm tolerance in your lives. It's a celebration of the indian as a warrior for Illinois, it's been going on for 78 years - he represents the fighting spirit, the pride, the strength of the illini, why the hell does a group have to piss and moan about it. The Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, and god knows how many others, this is such an assinine issue. I see NO reason to think this is discriminatory, yet another waste of time.
John Chaney. Denied his 500th victory on his return from his 3 week suspension for behaving like a gang thug. Poetic justic. 1 and done for Temple, have a nice summer.
Andy Katz says that Wake Forest will win it all. Sorry, I'm going with battle-tested UNC. The Illini just haven't played the strength of schedule, so I'm a doubting thomas. My sleeper pick? If they put it all together, my old UCONN Huskies. :)
I am out for a week, Vegas baby. See you all on the flip side of the weekend...
March Madness...woo woo! The Red Sox/Yankees rivalry in the fall, NCAA tournament in the spring, summer spent toiling on the golf course, any year is a good year for Thew. I honestly have NO close touch with the tournament this year, it's so wide open, so many things to point out and debate (see TILAM's posts), I'm just gonna sit back and revel in the excitement.
On another note, anyone who noticed has to put up with yet another group suing an institution over their mascot. Now, it's the Illinois Native American Bar Assoc who is suing the University of Illinois over their use of an indian mascott, Chief Illiniwek. WTF!?! It's a MASCOT people, get some damm tolerance in your lives. It's a celebration of the indian as a warrior for Illinois, it's been going on for 78 years - he represents the fighting spirit, the pride, the strength of the illini, why the hell does a group have to piss and moan about it. The Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians, and god knows how many others, this is such an assinine issue. I see NO reason to think this is discriminatory, yet another waste of time.
John Chaney. Denied his 500th victory on his return from his 3 week suspension for behaving like a gang thug. Poetic justic. 1 and done for Temple, have a nice summer.
Andy Katz says that Wake Forest will win it all. Sorry, I'm going with battle-tested UNC. The Illini just haven't played the strength of schedule, so I'm a doubting thomas. My sleeper pick? If they put it all together, my old UCONN Huskies. :)
I am out for a week, Vegas baby. See you all on the flip side of the weekend...
3.15.2005
Son of Bracket Musings
The more I look at the Tournament S-curve, the AP poll and the RPI list, the stranger it becomes. But I am not sure what is strange exactly. Given the "new" RPI gives alot of weight to road wins and kills you for home losses, what does this say?
1. Kansas got the shaft. I was wondering how UConn got to be a 2 seed and why - despite being ranked 13/14 in the AP/Coaches' Polls - most of the Expert Brackets I have seen (mine included) had UConn over Kansas. Four of KU's non-tournament losses came on the road and they played in a much deeper conference then Illinois or UNC. And their loss in the Big 12 was to OSU, another underranked team according to the RPI.
2. Washington is in way over their head. With only 2 teams in the AP Poll, how does the PAC 10 get a 1 seed? To my point above, the Big 12 deserved a #1 seed - to either Kansas or OSU.
3. Louisville got no respect. Blame it on the weak non-conference schedule and the (even) weaker CUSA. The Big East will lend more credibility to Louisville next year.
Finally, one last list. Jeff Saragin's Pure Points Predictor:
1. UNC
2. Duke
3. Illinois
4. OSU
5. Louisville
6. Wake
7. Florida
8. Washington
9. Oklahoma
10. Kentucky
11. Michigan State
12. Kansas
13. UConn
14. GT
15. Alabama
16. Villanova
(BTW, Gonzaga is ranked 35 in Saragin's Pure Points.) I would note that the difference between numbers 1 and 16 in Saragin's PP is 11.12 points, with the difference betwen 1 and 2 being 4.34! In other words, it's UNC's title to lose.
The polls and Saragin's PP each take into account the whole year. The Tournament Committee seem to really look at the last 10 games.
As always, it will be fun to watch.
1. Kansas got the shaft. I was wondering how UConn got to be a 2 seed and why - despite being ranked 13/14 in the AP/Coaches' Polls - most of the Expert Brackets I have seen (mine included) had UConn over Kansas. Four of KU's non-tournament losses came on the road and they played in a much deeper conference then Illinois or UNC. And their loss in the Big 12 was to OSU, another underranked team according to the RPI.
2. Washington is in way over their head. With only 2 teams in the AP Poll, how does the PAC 10 get a 1 seed? To my point above, the Big 12 deserved a #1 seed - to either Kansas or OSU.
3. Louisville got no respect. Blame it on the weak non-conference schedule and the (even) weaker CUSA. The Big East will lend more credibility to Louisville next year.
Finally, one last list. Jeff Saragin's Pure Points Predictor:
1. UNC
2. Duke
3. Illinois
4. OSU
5. Louisville
6. Wake
7. Florida
8. Washington
9. Oklahoma
10. Kentucky
11. Michigan State
12. Kansas
13. UConn
14. GT
15. Alabama
16. Villanova
(BTW, Gonzaga is ranked 35 in Saragin's Pure Points.) I would note that the difference between numbers 1 and 16 in Saragin's PP is 11.12 points, with the difference betwen 1 and 2 being 4.34! In other words, it's UNC's title to lose.
The polls and Saragin's PP each take into account the whole year. The Tournament Committee seem to really look at the last 10 games.
As always, it will be fun to watch.
3.14.2005
More Bracket Musings
Using the S-curve ranking, here are the top 16 teams in order:
1. Illinois
2. UNC
3. Duke
4. Washington
5. Wake
6. Kentucky
7. UConn
8. OSU
9. Arizona
10. Kansas
11. Oklahoma
12. Gonzaga
13. Louisville
14. Syracuse
15. Florida
16. Boston College
There might have been some flipping with Syracuse and Florida because of the bracket location, but compare that to the final AP poll.
1. Illinois
2. UNC
3. Duke
4. Louisville
5. Wake
6. OSU
7. Kentucky
8. Washington
9. Arizona
10. Gonzaga
11. Syracuse
12. Kansas
13. UConn
14. BC
15. Michigan State
16. Florida
The thing that jumps out at you is that the conference tournaments made a difference in the major conferences. Dick Vitale has said that the two snubs are Miami-Ohio and Notre Dame. I think his reasoning is sound, but look at the tournament performance of Notre Dame and Miami-Ohio and you get an understanding of the Committee.
Second, is that the Committee seems to weight the second half much more. "What have you done for me lately?" The polls are more forgiving in that regard I think. Witness BC and UConn. The Committee seemed to forget the UConn-UMass game in December. (As has all of the Husky Faithful.)
Finally, the RPI? (I used Sportline RPI.)
1. Kansas
2. Illinois
3. Duke
4. OSU
5. UNC
6. Wake
7. Washington
8. BC
9. Arizona
10. Kentucky
11. Louisville
12. UConn
13. Gonzaga
14. Villanova
15. Oklahoma
16. Wisconsin
She no matter that much. If it did, OSU would be a much higher seed. We will see how the RPI stands as a predictor. What it does say is that BC is a sleeper and UConn and UNC will have their hands full with Kansas.
More observations to come.
1. Illinois
2. UNC
3. Duke
4. Washington
5. Wake
6. Kentucky
7. UConn
8. OSU
9. Arizona
10. Kansas
11. Oklahoma
12. Gonzaga
13. Louisville
14. Syracuse
15. Florida
16. Boston College
There might have been some flipping with Syracuse and Florida because of the bracket location, but compare that to the final AP poll.
1. Illinois
2. UNC
3. Duke
4. Louisville
5. Wake
6. OSU
7. Kentucky
8. Washington
9. Arizona
10. Gonzaga
11. Syracuse
12. Kansas
13. UConn
14. BC
15. Michigan State
16. Florida
The thing that jumps out at you is that the conference tournaments made a difference in the major conferences. Dick Vitale has said that the two snubs are Miami-Ohio and Notre Dame. I think his reasoning is sound, but look at the tournament performance of Notre Dame and Miami-Ohio and you get an understanding of the Committee.
Second, is that the Committee seems to weight the second half much more. "What have you done for me lately?" The polls are more forgiving in that regard I think. Witness BC and UConn. The Committee seemed to forget the UConn-UMass game in December. (As has all of the Husky Faithful.)
Finally, the RPI? (I used Sportline RPI.)
1. Kansas
2. Illinois
3. Duke
4. OSU
5. UNC
6. Wake
7. Washington
8. BC
9. Arizona
10. Kentucky
11. Louisville
12. UConn
13. Gonzaga
14. Villanova
15. Oklahoma
16. Wisconsin
She no matter that much. If it did, OSU would be a much higher seed. We will see how the RPI stands as a predictor. What it does say is that BC is a sleeper and UConn and UNC will have their hands full with Kansas.
More observations to come.
Bracketology
Okay, Phil's 4 (or 5 depending on whose account you read) foot par miss was on 16. Shit happens. Vijay's was a choke, but Phil's was a missed put. Time will tell though. One tournament does not tell the who story.
My quick take on the brackets:
The toughest bracket is Syracuse. My thought is you match seeds until you get to "one of these things is not like the others." At the 3 seed, you have Kansas (Syracuse), Oklahoma (Austin), Arizona (Chicago) and Gonzaga (Albuquerque). Kansas is head and shoulders above the rest.
The easiest? I am not sure, the rule of thumb is that Duke ALWAYS gets the easiest bracket, but with Kentucky, Oklahoma and Syracuse as the 2, 3 and 4 seed, I am not sure. I would still say that Austin is easier than Albuquerque because of Georgia Tech as a tough 5 seed.
First #1 to fall? Washington. The Huskies look to face GT to get to the Elite 8. Ouch.
My Elite 8? Illinois, Oklahoma State, GT, Wake, UNC, UConn, Duke and Kentucky. My Final Four are Illinois, Wake, UConn and Kentucky. I still see Illinois winning it all.
Cinderellas? I would say St. Mary's, but they will have a very touch time getting past OSU. West Virginia is hot, but needs to get through Wake. NC State can go deep, especially if UConn plays like it did against Syracuse. But I would look toward a New Mexico or UCLA. New Mexico has Villanova and Florida and UCLA has Texas Tech and Gonzaga, but I do not think this is a year of Cinderellas.
Of course, they all still have to play the game...
My quick take on the brackets:
The toughest bracket is Syracuse. My thought is you match seeds until you get to "one of these things is not like the others." At the 3 seed, you have Kansas (Syracuse), Oklahoma (Austin), Arizona (Chicago) and Gonzaga (Albuquerque). Kansas is head and shoulders above the rest.
The easiest? I am not sure, the rule of thumb is that Duke ALWAYS gets the easiest bracket, but with Kentucky, Oklahoma and Syracuse as the 2, 3 and 4 seed, I am not sure. I would still say that Austin is easier than Albuquerque because of Georgia Tech as a tough 5 seed.
First #1 to fall? Washington. The Huskies look to face GT to get to the Elite 8. Ouch.
My Elite 8? Illinois, Oklahoma State, GT, Wake, UNC, UConn, Duke and Kentucky. My Final Four are Illinois, Wake, UConn and Kentucky. I still see Illinois winning it all.
Cinderellas? I would say St. Mary's, but they will have a very touch time getting past OSU. West Virginia is hot, but needs to get through Wake. NC State can go deep, especially if UConn plays like it did against Syracuse. But I would look toward a New Mexico or UCLA. New Mexico has Villanova and Florida and UCLA has Texas Tech and Gonzaga, but I do not think this is a year of Cinderellas.
Of course, they all still have to play the game...
Phil, Criminals, Bracketology, and the 2-putt rule
4 footer for par and retain the lead. Stand over it. Eye the line. Smooth takeaway, smooth stroke. YIPE! Missed it.
3 footer for par and extend the playoff. Stand over it. Eye the line. Smooth takeaway, smooth stroke. YIPE! Missed it.
What is Phil and vijay. They had their putts to win or extend tournaments. They missed them. Now, I LOVE to see vijay lose, I hate that chauvanistic bastard. I root against him all the time. Time to jump on the Paddy wagon. However, Phil did choke. He had that putt for the lead. And he yipped it out. You can call it "choking", you can call it "the yips", you can call it whatever. But that yipped putt ranks right up there with his US Open debacle last year. Okay, maybe I jumped the gun, but how that Tiger seems to be back, will we see the old or new Phil? At the Ford, it was the old Phil. Time will tell. And MAJOR sympathy goes out to Geoff (or is it Joe) Ogilvie, whose drive on 18 landed in a divot, thus essentially ending his bid for a birdie on 18 to tie for the lead. I've got to believe that we need to change that to be a free drop. It's SO tough for even the pros to hit from a lie like that, they should get a drop.
Ryan Moore's accomplishments are incredible, and should not be trivialized in any way, but the road to the PGA is littered with dominant amateurs, guys who romped through the field time and time again, only to collapse under the pressure of the big time. As with Phil's 2005 mental makeup, the verdict is still out, stay tuned bat fans.
Score one for the Atlanta PD and FBI. After leaving a lone female deputy to escort a 6'1" 200lb criminal to court (you can guess the rest: stolen gun, shot deputy, slain judge/stenographer/customs agent), they tracked him down to an apt where he had an apparent hostage and brought him to justice. Surrendered without a fight. Now the hostage is telling a detailed account of how she saved the man - I cannot go into this in too much detail, as I have not read the entire account, and my cynical nature lingers on the fact that she might be an acquaintance who was just harboring him until he could get out, but now they are conspiring to make her look like the "angel" and have her time in the limelight and make money. Not sure. Just skeptical I guess. I find it odd that a rapist, murderer, and escaped convict would go into an apt and take a shower, wash up. She claimed that they "bonded" so much that she offered to help him get a new escape vehicle, and offered him money to help him out. Things that make you go "hmmmmm"... Personally, I hope he fries.
No comment on Mike Tice. Now, of course, the issue of why the Vikings have issues becomes a tad bit clearer...
Bracketology...UCONN (my alma mater) a #2 seed. Deserved, IMHO. Washington a #1 seed? I'm not convinced, but Wake Forest can rectify that possible error with a beat down in Albuquerque if the #'s 1 and 2 meet in that region. Georgia Tech a #5 seed with a record of 19-11?! First #1 to go down? I believe it will be Illinois. Not sure why, but they will be the first to exit. If things hold true to form, they will have to come up against (well, not QUITE to form) Nevada then BC, I don't see the challengers to Washington to be stronger than those in the Chicago regional. However, I'm guessing here. HOWEVER, Duke better watch out for Syracuse, and UNC better watch out for Florida. Lowest seed to advance out of the first round - ie UPSET special? ODU will upset Michigan State or New Mexico will upset 'Nova. That's what the heart says. What the money says in the office pool might be different. Let TILAM fan the flames of debate!
Every year, around this time, many of the nicer golf courses aerate and sand the greens. This makes putting roughly equivalent to putting on bumpy gravel. I hate it. They don't break true, they don't roll smooth, they don't hold, you name it. So golfers invoke the "2 putt rule". This says that from anyplace on the green, due to the condition of the course, you only count 2 putts, nothing more. Well, on hole #4 yesterday it saved my bacon. About an 80 foot putt for birder turned into a tap in for par even though the green was in horrible condition and the putt ended up 12 feet from the hole! HeHeHe. However, on #12, I got the shaft, when a perfectly struck 12 foot birdie putt got hung up in the sand and stopped 3 inches short of the hole. In normal green conditions, the putt on 4 rolled an addition 9-10 feet, and the birdie putt goes in. But it evens out, and the golf gods are sated. Final verdict - 2 over par 74, including a titantic 325 yard blast on the 18th hole. 2 other 300 yard howitzer blasts as well. Looks like Thew is finding his rhythm with the big dog. Thank you Titleist. Thew patiently awaits Tilam's golf excursion to his hometown for the first annual Tilam whoopin...
3 footer for par and extend the playoff. Stand over it. Eye the line. Smooth takeaway, smooth stroke. YIPE! Missed it.
What is Phil and vijay. They had their putts to win or extend tournaments. They missed them. Now, I LOVE to see vijay lose, I hate that chauvanistic bastard. I root against him all the time. Time to jump on the Paddy wagon. However, Phil did choke. He had that putt for the lead. And he yipped it out. You can call it "choking", you can call it "the yips", you can call it whatever. But that yipped putt ranks right up there with his US Open debacle last year. Okay, maybe I jumped the gun, but how that Tiger seems to be back, will we see the old or new Phil? At the Ford, it was the old Phil. Time will tell. And MAJOR sympathy goes out to Geoff (or is it Joe) Ogilvie, whose drive on 18 landed in a divot, thus essentially ending his bid for a birdie on 18 to tie for the lead. I've got to believe that we need to change that to be a free drop. It's SO tough for even the pros to hit from a lie like that, they should get a drop.
Ryan Moore's accomplishments are incredible, and should not be trivialized in any way, but the road to the PGA is littered with dominant amateurs, guys who romped through the field time and time again, only to collapse under the pressure of the big time. As with Phil's 2005 mental makeup, the verdict is still out, stay tuned bat fans.
Score one for the Atlanta PD and FBI. After leaving a lone female deputy to escort a 6'1" 200lb criminal to court (you can guess the rest: stolen gun, shot deputy, slain judge/stenographer/customs agent), they tracked him down to an apt where he had an apparent hostage and brought him to justice. Surrendered without a fight. Now the hostage is telling a detailed account of how she saved the man - I cannot go into this in too much detail, as I have not read the entire account, and my cynical nature lingers on the fact that she might be an acquaintance who was just harboring him until he could get out, but now they are conspiring to make her look like the "angel" and have her time in the limelight and make money. Not sure. Just skeptical I guess. I find it odd that a rapist, murderer, and escaped convict would go into an apt and take a shower, wash up. She claimed that they "bonded" so much that she offered to help him get a new escape vehicle, and offered him money to help him out. Things that make you go "hmmmmm"... Personally, I hope he fries.
No comment on Mike Tice. Now, of course, the issue of why the Vikings have issues becomes a tad bit clearer...
Bracketology...UCONN (my alma mater) a #2 seed. Deserved, IMHO. Washington a #1 seed? I'm not convinced, but Wake Forest can rectify that possible error with a beat down in Albuquerque if the #'s 1 and 2 meet in that region. Georgia Tech a #5 seed with a record of 19-11?! First #1 to go down? I believe it will be Illinois. Not sure why, but they will be the first to exit. If things hold true to form, they will have to come up against (well, not QUITE to form) Nevada then BC, I don't see the challengers to Washington to be stronger than those in the Chicago regional. However, I'm guessing here. HOWEVER, Duke better watch out for Syracuse, and UNC better watch out for Florida. Lowest seed to advance out of the first round - ie UPSET special? ODU will upset Michigan State or New Mexico will upset 'Nova. That's what the heart says. What the money says in the office pool might be different. Let TILAM fan the flames of debate!
Every year, around this time, many of the nicer golf courses aerate and sand the greens. This makes putting roughly equivalent to putting on bumpy gravel. I hate it. They don't break true, they don't roll smooth, they don't hold, you name it. So golfers invoke the "2 putt rule". This says that from anyplace on the green, due to the condition of the course, you only count 2 putts, nothing more. Well, on hole #4 yesterday it saved my bacon. About an 80 foot putt for birder turned into a tap in for par even though the green was in horrible condition and the putt ended up 12 feet from the hole! HeHeHe. However, on #12, I got the shaft, when a perfectly struck 12 foot birdie putt got hung up in the sand and stopped 3 inches short of the hole. In normal green conditions, the putt on 4 rolled an addition 9-10 feet, and the birdie putt goes in. But it evens out, and the golf gods are sated. Final verdict - 2 over par 74, including a titantic 325 yard blast on the 18th hole. 2 other 300 yard howitzer blasts as well. Looks like Thew is finding his rhythm with the big dog. Thank you Titleist. Thew patiently awaits Tilam's golf excursion to his hometown for the first annual Tilam whoopin...
3.11.2005
Tiger, Ryan, the ACC & Steriods - All at Once
GOLF:
Tiger makes an excellent run and you are already to say Phil choked? Not so fast. Granted it looked like the days of old, but I don’t see Phil just fading to the “Best Player Only to Win One Major” status anytime soon.
Tiger makes an excellent run and you are already to say Phil choked? Not so fast. Granted it looked like the days of old, but I don’t see Phil just fading to the “Best Player Only to Win One Major” status anytime soon.
NCAA HOOPS:
Since I am quick to point out my great predictions, allow me to say that I was wrong about the ACC this year. I was sucked in by ESPN in thinking that this was the year the league showed its strength. In my defense, In addition to UNC, Wake and Duke, GT was a Final Four lock in my mind with
Overall, I am not that enamored at the major conferences this year (though I do not weep when the mid-majors do not get bids.) The Big East should get 6 bids (
Ouch, that was cold.
The Big 12 also looks for 6 bids, but
A TOTH (Tip of the Hat)
I saw Willie Randolph on the Hot Seat the other day. What a class act. Guys like
NFL:
A head coach scalping tickets. What can you say?
MLB & STEROIDS:
A politician using the headlines to score points and grandstand! UNHEARD OF! Of course, it is a witch hunt. Of course, nothing good can come from it. If it REALLY mattered, you would see Olympic athletes, football players, Ahnold and some bodybuilder friends.
But the only thing that really matters is that the cameras are running.
3.09.2005
Just a little crowing...
Just a little crowing here...TIGER looked nearly like the Tiger of old last weekend in staring down Phil. Solid shots, he looked "in the Tiger zone". And that birdie in 17 was center cut! Once again, as much as I hate to say it, Phil blinked in the face of pressure and adversity - by missing a 4 footer (but making the 3 foot combacker) in the heat of battle, he once again looked like the Phil of old, making that one bad shot that took him out of the lead/contention. And he actually declined an interview on the way to the scorer's tent, which is very unlike Phil, but he was pretty miffed. It'll be interesting to see how he reacts after this - now that Tiger is on his way back (predicted HERE by Thew), will Phil return to HIS old form as well? Or will he continue to be the golfer he's been of late. Can he weather the competition now that Eldrick seems to have returned (mostly, it's a long road remember) to his old form? When Tiger was down, Phil was up...when Tiger is back up, whither Phil?
The UCONN women made a strong statement yesterday against Rutgers in the Big East championship game. Solid offense, solid defense, a lunatic named Auriemma stalking the sidelines, they might be poised to make a run deep into March. Perhaps they are getting their mojo back, unlike the UCONN men, who are arguably the hottest team in college hoops and have had their train on the tracks for several weeks now. Credit Marcus Williams for his floor leadership at the point, perhaps Charlie Villenueva for actually realizing that he can be a force at both ends of the court. Now that Rashad Anderson is cleared to play again, can they get even better? I predict at least a Sweet 16 for the Huskies, something I would NOT have predicted 4 weeks ago. And I'm a UCONN graduate. Regardless of how the UCONN men do this year, next year they are going to be SCARY good. Boone, Williams, Gay - big man, point guard, scorer...
In yet another incident of Congress solving the issue of the moment, they are issuing subpoenas to Canseco, McGwire, Giambi, and others to come testify about steroids in baseball. How else to gain good faction with the American public than to fix the national pasttime. Who gives a crap about our deficit, high taxes, government corruption - "if we fix baseball, they'll forget about the rest of it". They should stick to making our country safer and more fiscally responsible and let baseball take care of baseball. Don't they have anything better to do with their time?!
Cinderella congratulations: OAKLAND, who got a 3 pointer with less than 2 seconds on the clock to upset Oral Roberts.
The UCONN women made a strong statement yesterday against Rutgers in the Big East championship game. Solid offense, solid defense, a lunatic named Auriemma stalking the sidelines, they might be poised to make a run deep into March. Perhaps they are getting their mojo back, unlike the UCONN men, who are arguably the hottest team in college hoops and have had their train on the tracks for several weeks now. Credit Marcus Williams for his floor leadership at the point, perhaps Charlie Villenueva for actually realizing that he can be a force at both ends of the court. Now that Rashad Anderson is cleared to play again, can they get even better? I predict at least a Sweet 16 for the Huskies, something I would NOT have predicted 4 weeks ago. And I'm a UCONN graduate. Regardless of how the UCONN men do this year, next year they are going to be SCARY good. Boone, Williams, Gay - big man, point guard, scorer...
In yet another incident of Congress solving the issue of the moment, they are issuing subpoenas to Canseco, McGwire, Giambi, and others to come testify about steroids in baseball. How else to gain good faction with the American public than to fix the national pasttime. Who gives a crap about our deficit, high taxes, government corruption - "if we fix baseball, they'll forget about the rest of it". They should stick to making our country safer and more fiscally responsible and let baseball take care of baseball. Don't they have anything better to do with their time?!
Cinderella congratulations: OAKLAND, who got a 3 pointer with less than 2 seconds on the clock to upset Oral Roberts.
3.02.2005
Thew gets busy too
Work. Kids. Life changes. Home Improvements. With a "honey-do" list as long as my rap sheet, it'll never end. Siiiiigh...
Lessee, what's been happening. Oh yeah, Clarett. Asswipe. Ooooo, STUPID asswipe. I have rarely in my life hoped for someone to fail miserably, but he made the list. And it's happening. Justice is done. Cripes, as long as you have a slim jim at the 40 yard line, even Tilam would beat a 4.72! That's good for 3rd place in a race with a pregnant woman. Tom Friend from ESPN the Magazine wrote a sympathetic article...another asswipe who is coddling the first one. I got it, let's enable excuses for Clarett so that he can get drafted ahead of some other good quality guy. PUHLEEZE... Yes, Clarett is a wasted talent, but he wasted it himself, no one else wasted it for him. No sympathy here.
John Chaney, you can take the man out of the ghetto... And you know what, this will be his legacy, NOT his coaching record. What a shame. What an idiot. Is this what we've come down to in sports society today? Is this what it means to "take matters into our own hands"? How can a man like Chaney, which a history of class, dignity, and discipline, order a "hit" on an opposing player? Take my word, we are going to see more fights in other sports as players solve differences using their fists instead of their talent - punching a guy in the face is far better than scoring 50 on him. Who needs hockey fights, just turn on your local sporting event.
Kobe is gonna pay off the chick who accused him of sexual assault. Wow, looks like he IS like Shaq, only Shaq has the brains to handle his business on the low-low. Shaq has the brains...never thought I'd say that.
Vivian Stringer and Rutgers - you are the class of the Big East. The UCONN women are beatable, but never underestimate them. But a hearty congratulations to the Scarlet Knights on their Big East title.
Vikings traded Randy Moss to GUESS WHO, the Raiders. That's a place where Randy can be Randy and stink it up on the field and be immature and leave early and dog it on off plays and act like an idiot and...well, you get the drift.
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Andersen Match Play golf tournament. Toms was incredible, plunking his approach shots an average of 5'5" from the stick on the back nine on Sunday. Poor DiMarco never had a chance, and even though he didn't play THAT great, Toms was da man. What a tournament, what a format, what a bonanza for golfers and golf fans. And speaking of golfers, Thew posted a 1 over par 73 last Saturday. No, no mulligans. Yes, for 18 holes at a regulation course. Missed an 8 footer for par out of the sand trap on the 17th hole. ARGH!
College Football scandal time! WOO! University of Colorado football players sexually assaulted female trainers, thousands of dollars from coach Gary Barnett's camp were funneled into a slush fund, typical Colorado day. Kudo's to Steve Spurrier at USC for dismissing one of his thugs, the leading rusher no less; for a violation of team rules. WAY TO GO STEVE!
MLB is back in town. WOO WOO! March madness arrives soon after championship week. WOO WOO WOO! Spring comes, hope dawns eternal. Yankees-Boston again. Will Beltran prove he's worth the money? Pedro too? Steroid testing going to have any teeth? Will Jason Giambi be a player worth even 100K a year, since he sucked so bad last year even when he played? Ken Giffey Jr hurt, say it isn't so! Oh wait, the guy with the gimpiest legs in baseball is "recovering" from yet another leg injury (torn hammy). Talk about talent unfulfilled. How will the Big Unit do in the Bronx? Hey, did you notice that the SF Giants trainer is named Conte? How ironic! The Red Sox are insulting A-Rod, saying he's "not a Yankee". Before a pitch is even thrown! I do think that A-Rod needs a little lesson in "being a Yankee", but he'll learn.
Oh, and THIS one is rich! New York attorney Kerry Konrad won the right in an eBay auction to name Boston's FleetCenter for a day. For his $2,325, Konrad wanted to honor the New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. But, on Friday, FleetCenter officials rejected the name, which Konrad hoped would add to the 25-year rivalry he has had with his former college classmates who are Boston Red Sox fans. "We decided that all the names had to be rated G, and this name was determined to be obscene and vulgar," said Richard A. Krezwick, president and chief executive of the FleetCenter. I tell ya, there is NO BETTER RIVALRY in sports than Yankees-Red Sox.
Countdown to May 19th for TILAM. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith is out. Watch for him to twitch more as the date approaches. :)
Lessee, what's been happening. Oh yeah, Clarett. Asswipe. Ooooo, STUPID asswipe. I have rarely in my life hoped for someone to fail miserably, but he made the list. And it's happening. Justice is done. Cripes, as long as you have a slim jim at the 40 yard line, even Tilam would beat a 4.72! That's good for 3rd place in a race with a pregnant woman. Tom Friend from ESPN the Magazine wrote a sympathetic article...another asswipe who is coddling the first one. I got it, let's enable excuses for Clarett so that he can get drafted ahead of some other good quality guy. PUHLEEZE... Yes, Clarett is a wasted talent, but he wasted it himself, no one else wasted it for him. No sympathy here.
John Chaney, you can take the man out of the ghetto... And you know what, this will be his legacy, NOT his coaching record. What a shame. What an idiot. Is this what we've come down to in sports society today? Is this what it means to "take matters into our own hands"? How can a man like Chaney, which a history of class, dignity, and discipline, order a "hit" on an opposing player? Take my word, we are going to see more fights in other sports as players solve differences using their fists instead of their talent - punching a guy in the face is far better than scoring 50 on him. Who needs hockey fights, just turn on your local sporting event.
Kobe is gonna pay off the chick who accused him of sexual assault. Wow, looks like he IS like Shaq, only Shaq has the brains to handle his business on the low-low. Shaq has the brains...never thought I'd say that.
Vivian Stringer and Rutgers - you are the class of the Big East. The UCONN women are beatable, but never underestimate them. But a hearty congratulations to the Scarlet Knights on their Big East title.
Vikings traded Randy Moss to GUESS WHO, the Raiders. That's a place where Randy can be Randy and stink it up on the field and be immature and leave early and dog it on off plays and act like an idiot and...well, you get the drift.
I THOROUGHLY enjoyed the Andersen Match Play golf tournament. Toms was incredible, plunking his approach shots an average of 5'5" from the stick on the back nine on Sunday. Poor DiMarco never had a chance, and even though he didn't play THAT great, Toms was da man. What a tournament, what a format, what a bonanza for golfers and golf fans. And speaking of golfers, Thew posted a 1 over par 73 last Saturday. No, no mulligans. Yes, for 18 holes at a regulation course. Missed an 8 footer for par out of the sand trap on the 17th hole. ARGH!
College Football scandal time! WOO! University of Colorado football players sexually assaulted female trainers, thousands of dollars from coach Gary Barnett's camp were funneled into a slush fund, typical Colorado day. Kudo's to Steve Spurrier at USC for dismissing one of his thugs, the leading rusher no less; for a violation of team rules. WAY TO GO STEVE!
MLB is back in town. WOO WOO! March madness arrives soon after championship week. WOO WOO WOO! Spring comes, hope dawns eternal. Yankees-Boston again. Will Beltran prove he's worth the money? Pedro too? Steroid testing going to have any teeth? Will Jason Giambi be a player worth even 100K a year, since he sucked so bad last year even when he played? Ken Giffey Jr hurt, say it isn't so! Oh wait, the guy with the gimpiest legs in baseball is "recovering" from yet another leg injury (torn hammy). Talk about talent unfulfilled. How will the Big Unit do in the Bronx? Hey, did you notice that the SF Giants trainer is named Conte? How ironic! The Red Sox are insulting A-Rod, saying he's "not a Yankee". Before a pitch is even thrown! I do think that A-Rod needs a little lesson in "being a Yankee", but he'll learn.
Oh, and THIS one is rich! New York attorney Kerry Konrad won the right in an eBay auction to name Boston's FleetCenter for a day. For his $2,325, Konrad wanted to honor the New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. But, on Friday, FleetCenter officials rejected the name, which Konrad hoped would add to the 25-year rivalry he has had with his former college classmates who are Boston Red Sox fans. "We decided that all the names had to be rated G, and this name was determined to be obscene and vulgar," said Richard A. Krezwick, president and chief executive of the FleetCenter. I tell ya, there is NO BETTER RIVALRY in sports than Yankees-Red Sox.
Countdown to May 19th for TILAM. Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith is out. Watch for him to twitch more as the date approaches. :)
3.01.2005
Post Vacation Musings
There is nothing like being up a few thousand feet on a mountain with a 24 inch blanket of fresh powder in front of you. Well, in front, but well below you as the pitch is quite severe.
My oldest son is starting to piss me off. He is almost 11. It has nothing to do with his behavior (he is a pain, but not too much) or his school work (he is a model student), but he gets so good at things so quick. There is not a video game that he can't kick my ass at within a week, but that is, you know, technology and I am suppose to be outclassed by the younger generation. The latest manifestation is on the slopes. Last year, Son of Tilam #1 was a very tentative snow boarder. He had boarded for a year or so, but was just finding his legs. Something happened in the last year. Now he is hitting grind rails, jumps and even on the difficult slopes, it is all I can do to keep up.
(I have heard that a snowboard is easier then skis, which is what I ride. Even though I have not tried a board, I don't buy that. They are different, for sure, but I am not willing to brush off riding a snowboard as "easier.")
Thank God, I can still kick his butt at foosball - for now.
Maurice Clarett. Another self-absorbed blowhard bites the dust. Repeat after me: do you want to Supersize that?
Seriously, Clarett was a wasted talent. There is no doubt in my mind the kid had the goods once. And yes, he screwed up. But the lesson here is how NOT to react. Instead of admitting the mistake and trying to shore up his image, he tries to sue his way through. I would blame his advisors, but how does he react to his poor showing in the 40s? He quits.
You know, there are alot of jerks in professional sports, but there are few quitters. Would I draft him? You bet. But it would be late and I would sure have a heart to heart with the guy fast.
John Chaney calling a "hit" on an opposing player? Wow. I am surprised. Call me naive, but Chaney seemed like a classier act than that. I am trying to practice what I preach, though and not judge the guy's career by a stupid (and I mean really stupid) mistake. Take a deep breath John, take the rest of the year off. Come back in 2005-06 for one more year, then leave. If you cannot control yourself at your age, you are setting yourself up for a career tarnishing moment. Don't let that happen.
NCAA Hoops. There is nothing much to say right now. This weekend has the marquee match-up of Duke v. UNC at Chapel Hill. I have turned my attention to seeding projections, bubble teams and general Tournament stuff. At this writing, Joe Lunardi's Bracketology has a wild Conference Bid breakdown (Bracketology is dynamic, so it may change):
Big East - 8
Big 12 - 6
ACC - 5
SEC - 5
Eight for the Big East? Okay, BC, UConn, Syracuse, Pitt and Villanova. But he goes on to add ND, Georgetown and West Virginia, I guess under the theory that a winning conference record gets you into the Dance. The ACC sends UNC, Duke, Wake, GT and Maryland. But Lunardi is no fluke, Jerry Palm of collegerpi.com has similar results. I guess the ACC is strong, but only on the backs of a few teams.
My biggest disappointment this year is GT. Title game last year, second round exit this year. With the same team. UConn lost their two top guys and clearly struggled this year with chemistry, role playing and leadership, but they are peaking at the right time. GT is taking the opposite path.
This past week marked the 164th consecutive week that Duke was in the AP Top 25. They have been in every Top 25 poll since preseason 1996-97. It is the fifth longest streak ever and the longest active streak. The longest streak ever was UCLA's 221 consecutive appearances from 1966 to 1980. Whether you like 'em or hate 'em, Duke is a consistently excellent team. Hats off to Coach K and the program.
My oldest son is starting to piss me off. He is almost 11. It has nothing to do with his behavior (he is a pain, but not too much) or his school work (he is a model student), but he gets so good at things so quick. There is not a video game that he can't kick my ass at within a week, but that is, you know, technology and I am suppose to be outclassed by the younger generation. The latest manifestation is on the slopes. Last year, Son of Tilam #1 was a very tentative snow boarder. He had boarded for a year or so, but was just finding his legs. Something happened in the last year. Now he is hitting grind rails, jumps and even on the difficult slopes, it is all I can do to keep up.
(I have heard that a snowboard is easier then skis, which is what I ride. Even though I have not tried a board, I don't buy that. They are different, for sure, but I am not willing to brush off riding a snowboard as "easier.")
Thank God, I can still kick his butt at foosball - for now.
Maurice Clarett. Another self-absorbed blowhard bites the dust. Repeat after me: do you want to Supersize that?
Seriously, Clarett was a wasted talent. There is no doubt in my mind the kid had the goods once. And yes, he screwed up. But the lesson here is how NOT to react. Instead of admitting the mistake and trying to shore up his image, he tries to sue his way through. I would blame his advisors, but how does he react to his poor showing in the 40s? He quits.
You know, there are alot of jerks in professional sports, but there are few quitters. Would I draft him? You bet. But it would be late and I would sure have a heart to heart with the guy fast.
John Chaney calling a "hit" on an opposing player? Wow. I am surprised. Call me naive, but Chaney seemed like a classier act than that. I am trying to practice what I preach, though and not judge the guy's career by a stupid (and I mean really stupid) mistake. Take a deep breath John, take the rest of the year off. Come back in 2005-06 for one more year, then leave. If you cannot control yourself at your age, you are setting yourself up for a career tarnishing moment. Don't let that happen.
NCAA Hoops. There is nothing much to say right now. This weekend has the marquee match-up of Duke v. UNC at Chapel Hill. I have turned my attention to seeding projections, bubble teams and general Tournament stuff. At this writing, Joe Lunardi's Bracketology has a wild Conference Bid breakdown (Bracketology is dynamic, so it may change):
Big East - 8
Big 12 - 6
ACC - 5
SEC - 5
Eight for the Big East? Okay, BC, UConn, Syracuse, Pitt and Villanova. But he goes on to add ND, Georgetown and West Virginia, I guess under the theory that a winning conference record gets you into the Dance. The ACC sends UNC, Duke, Wake, GT and Maryland. But Lunardi is no fluke, Jerry Palm of collegerpi.com has similar results. I guess the ACC is strong, but only on the backs of a few teams.
My biggest disappointment this year is GT. Title game last year, second round exit this year. With the same team. UConn lost their two top guys and clearly struggled this year with chemistry, role playing and leadership, but they are peaking at the right time. GT is taking the opposite path.
This past week marked the 164th consecutive week that Duke was in the AP Top 25. They have been in every Top 25 poll since preseason 1996-97. It is the fifth longest streak ever and the longest active streak. The longest streak ever was UCLA's 221 consecutive appearances from 1966 to 1980. Whether you like 'em or hate 'em, Duke is a consistently excellent team. Hats off to Coach K and the program.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)