$3.13 for gas. Whoa. Get the posse rounded up.
Heads should roll, but not the oil company heads. Gas is a commodity and behaves according to the fundamental laws of economics. Shooting the oil companies will not changes this. There are two big reasons the price has increased: the demand is high and the supply is low. The US has made fundamentally stupid choices that have affected each.
1) Demand is High. Okay, China and India are starting to drive up demand, but we have not helped by rejecting alternatives that would ease the demand pressures in the US, primarily making sure not one watt of electricity requires oil to produce. We need to invest in alternatives (nuclear if you ask me) in driving down that part of the demand. But this is a temporary fix, our flawed policies have really focused on lack of supply.
2) Domestic Production of Oil. Open ANWR and the continental shelf for drilling. Start developing the 1 TRILLION barrels of oil field in Colorado (oil shale). Don't like to do that? Then shut the f*** up about high prices.
3) Refining Capacity. Has not increased since the 70s. If 100 billion barrels of oil were available for free, it would not do us any good. We need to add refinery capacity to get it to the pump.
BUT, if we tripled refinery capacity, that would not help. The government requires oxygenates in the gasoline, currently MTBE or ethanol. The tort bar is suing the MTBE manufacturer and the government (bought by the ethanol lobby) refused to help. So now MTBE is out of the picture. But there is not enough ethanol. Ooops. That is wrong, there is plenty of ethanol available from abroad, but there is a very expensive tariff on its import (guess who got that through).
Finally, normally we could take the excess supply from one region and use it in another. (You can see this coming.) BUT, there are 17 different state mandated formulations of gasoline, so you can't simply take the supply from Oklahoma and ship it to Georgia.
Still upset. Well, oil company profits from a gallon of gas run about $0.09-$0.10. Local, state and federal TAXES run $0.45 per gallon.
See the picture that is emerging? By all means, put a bullet in the heads of the CEOs of Exxon and Chevron, just don't be surprised when the price of gas remains the same.
UPDATE: I swear I did not read Charles Krauthammer prior to writing this post.
4.28.2006
The Dance of Court
I have some perspectives on this case:
Clearly, the Duke lacrosse players need to be punished for their idiotic behavior. And this is not just a single incident, if you read some of the articles written, they certainly have a history of "bad boy" behavior; several documented incidents have come to light, and several of the players (including one of the accused) are or were on probation for various naughty incidents. So is this a single case of the boys being boys - nah, it's a continuation of an ongoing pattern of rambunctious behavior by a team known for it. But why is THIS incident, in my humble opinion, bigger than it really needs to be...
Durham, NC, is a very racially charged and economically segregated area. On the one hand you have the rich, priviledged, student body of Duke. On the other hand you have the lower class, predominantly black, populace of Durham. Clearly a case of them vs us, rich vs poor, white vs black. So getting a conviction of some sort to "appease" the injured and insulted populace of the local area is critical for...
Mike Nifong's political aspirations. Yeah, Tilam, I know that he deferred all this talk until after the trial, but wow, what a heckuva martyr. "No, I won't use this as an opportunity to gain faction and further my own political ambitions, we'll wait". Wow. I can just see at the local barber shop..."Oh man, that Nifong guy, he's really focused on this case, he doesn't care about the election, I LIKE HIM, I"M GONNA VOTE FOR HIM." And if gets a conviction of the rich athletes on behalf of all the local black population, they are REALLY gonna vote for him. But in the end, you and I both know it comes down to...
The almighty dollar. Dollars for the stripper who is NOT the accuser, who has made no bones about "trying to parlay my fame into money for me and my kid". To the accuser, who is either lucky or good, the conviction of the criminal case is completely irrelevant, she's focusing on the civil case. THAT's where the money is...remember Michael Jackson? He beat the child molestation rap (against what I thought was pretty darn compelling evidence), but the REAL case was getting a civil settlement aside from putting him in jail. Kobe Bryant? Need I go on?
In other news around the world...
Somewhere in butt fuck Texas, 2 redneck teenagers beat and sodomized a mexican young man who they thought was trying to kiss a white girl. Looking at their mug shots, they look like the typical run down broke ass redneck skinhead punks. The young man is in the hospital and apparently has a 50/50 chance of living. They should send those 2 little boys to jail and let the big convicts show them what it means to be anal-retentive.
So how we're in the phase of analyzing why those air packs failed the 12 miners stuck in the shaft during the Sago mine blast in VA. If you read the accounts, there is a complete confluence of stupidity and lack of planning which caused 11 men to die. Mines need to be safe, but since they inherently are probably not, then we need to take measure to keep our miners alive. Give them working air packs. Teach them how to use them (there is some speculation that they were not properly trained). A reported methane leak was plugged up with glue - WHAT? But what does this indicate about our country? Welp, it simply states that we are lazy stupid morons with no thought to the future, and changes are only enacted after something horrific happens - we manage our safety by death these days. We assume it always safe until people die or get hurt. What is wrong with this picture? That mining company, Alaska Airlines, and as a frequent flyer, I'm not convinced that we haven't become lazy and un-diligent in our airline security AGAIN! It's never a problem, we don't think of safety, until people get hurt or die. I'll stop here...
In the WTF department...Chevron Corp.'s first-quarter profit soared 49 percent to $4 billion, joining the procession of U.S. oil companies to report colossal earnings as gas prices soar. Am I the only one who reads that sentence and says "are you f**kin kidding me?!" I paid $3.15 today per gallon. I want someone's head on a platter...
Clearly, the Duke lacrosse players need to be punished for their idiotic behavior. And this is not just a single incident, if you read some of the articles written, they certainly have a history of "bad boy" behavior; several documented incidents have come to light, and several of the players (including one of the accused) are or were on probation for various naughty incidents. So is this a single case of the boys being boys - nah, it's a continuation of an ongoing pattern of rambunctious behavior by a team known for it. But why is THIS incident, in my humble opinion, bigger than it really needs to be...
Durham, NC, is a very racially charged and economically segregated area. On the one hand you have the rich, priviledged, student body of Duke. On the other hand you have the lower class, predominantly black, populace of Durham. Clearly a case of them vs us, rich vs poor, white vs black. So getting a conviction of some sort to "appease" the injured and insulted populace of the local area is critical for...
Mike Nifong's political aspirations. Yeah, Tilam, I know that he deferred all this talk until after the trial, but wow, what a heckuva martyr. "No, I won't use this as an opportunity to gain faction and further my own political ambitions, we'll wait". Wow. I can just see at the local barber shop..."Oh man, that Nifong guy, he's really focused on this case, he doesn't care about the election, I LIKE HIM, I"M GONNA VOTE FOR HIM." And if gets a conviction of the rich athletes on behalf of all the local black population, they are REALLY gonna vote for him. But in the end, you and I both know it comes down to...
The almighty dollar. Dollars for the stripper who is NOT the accuser, who has made no bones about "trying to parlay my fame into money for me and my kid". To the accuser, who is either lucky or good, the conviction of the criminal case is completely irrelevant, she's focusing on the civil case. THAT's where the money is...remember Michael Jackson? He beat the child molestation rap (against what I thought was pretty darn compelling evidence), but the REAL case was getting a civil settlement aside from putting him in jail. Kobe Bryant? Need I go on?
In other news around the world...
Somewhere in butt fuck Texas, 2 redneck teenagers beat and sodomized a mexican young man who they thought was trying to kiss a white girl. Looking at their mug shots, they look like the typical run down broke ass redneck skinhead punks. The young man is in the hospital and apparently has a 50/50 chance of living. They should send those 2 little boys to jail and let the big convicts show them what it means to be anal-retentive.
So how we're in the phase of analyzing why those air packs failed the 12 miners stuck in the shaft during the Sago mine blast in VA. If you read the accounts, there is a complete confluence of stupidity and lack of planning which caused 11 men to die. Mines need to be safe, but since they inherently are probably not, then we need to take measure to keep our miners alive. Give them working air packs. Teach them how to use them (there is some speculation that they were not properly trained). A reported methane leak was plugged up with glue - WHAT? But what does this indicate about our country? Welp, it simply states that we are lazy stupid morons with no thought to the future, and changes are only enacted after something horrific happens - we manage our safety by death these days. We assume it always safe until people die or get hurt. What is wrong with this picture? That mining company, Alaska Airlines, and as a frequent flyer, I'm not convinced that we haven't become lazy and un-diligent in our airline security AGAIN! It's never a problem, we don't think of safety, until people get hurt or die. I'll stop here...
In the WTF department...Chevron Corp.'s first-quarter profit soared 49 percent to $4 billion, joining the procession of U.S. oil companies to report colossal earnings as gas prices soar. Am I the only one who reads that sentence and says "are you f**kin kidding me?!" I paid $3.15 today per gallon. I want someone's head on a platter...
4.27.2006
Out with A Whimper?
According to an article on ESPN, two Duke lacrosse players have admitted that there was a heated dispute and racial slurs were used. But they deny a rape occurred. But that's not the interesting part...
The father of the accused says she is considering dropping the case. If these kids are guilty, I hope she keeps going for the sake of all rape victims. But there are other ways for her to get "justice." It does seem to me that dropping the criminal case and pursuing a civil suit against DUKE is where the real money is. The facts, as we know them, certainly support a civil suit for her (and the 2nd stripper) and the last thing Duke needs is additional publicity, so they will cave like a card house.
Quite frankly, ASSUMING THERE WAS NO RAPE, a large monetary award from Duke acting in loco parentis is the best possible outcome. It seems to me that the lacrosse team's behavior merits some "punishment," but while punishing the players might give some short term benefits, punishing the university sends a broader message. Let's face it: Duke was forewarned about the teams behavior and while I am normally against "awards that send a message" this seems to be an appropriate case.
The father of the accused says she is considering dropping the case. If these kids are guilty, I hope she keeps going for the sake of all rape victims. But there are other ways for her to get "justice." It does seem to me that dropping the criminal case and pursuing a civil suit against DUKE is where the real money is. The facts, as we know them, certainly support a civil suit for her (and the 2nd stripper) and the last thing Duke needs is additional publicity, so they will cave like a card house.
Quite frankly, ASSUMING THERE WAS NO RAPE, a large monetary award from Duke acting in loco parentis is the best possible outcome. It seems to me that the lacrosse team's behavior merits some "punishment," but while punishing the players might give some short term benefits, punishing the university sends a broader message. Let's face it: Duke was forewarned about the teams behavior and while I am normally against "awards that send a message" this seems to be an appropriate case.
No, You Don't...
Dick Meyers at CBS has an insightful article on a key difference between conservatives and liberals, "We Know What's Best for You." The most insightful portion of it relates to "two types of liberty" - positive and negative. Quoting Meyers:
"Negative liberty is freedom "from" things; positive liberty is freedom "to do" certain things. ... Negative liberty means simply that one is free from interference by the state and others, that one has a zone of liberty and in that zone there can be no interference so long as another's liberty isn't constrained. What you do in the zone of negative liberty is your business. Positive liberty takes a dim view of simple negative liberty, arguing that it is meaningless unless a person has a real, positive freedom - the power "to do" vital things. Being left alone, in the world view, is meaningless if you don't have the power "to do" the important things, whatever they may be – get an education, earn a fair wage, live in an alienated society."
Meyers point is that America is the proto-typical negative liberty place which I agree with whole-heartedly. "Rugged individualism" is what sets us apart from, say, France and certainly from the tyrants in the Middle East and Third World. It always has and, I believe, always will. Further, Meyers says that, while both parties have aspects of negative and positive liberties in their platforms, Republicans tend more toward the negative and Democrats toward the positive. Meyers concludes that voters can dislike positive liberty (which he says smacks of "we know what's best for you") and can sense it a mile away. And that does not bode well for the Democrats.
Paul Mirengoff of Powerline is not so sure that voters will "consistently reject" this approach. Paul is absolutely right, but it important to understand when the voters won't. I posit that voters will accept the "we know what's best for you" approach under two condition. The first is a time on emergency, such as war (Iraq, GWOT) or national disaster (Katrina). The second is when the moral foundations become so obvious as to require remedial action (the civil rights movement). The problem the Democrats face is they are offering no leadership on either of these issues. The problem the Republicans face is that faced with time of emergencies, they have botched it. (Query, if Congressional Republican would have shown more domestic leadership on spending, Social Security and taxes, would President Bush's numbers be as low. I say no.) Paul may be right that voters may swing back to the Democrats and thus accept the Dems approach, but it would be because, given the chance, Republicans have screwed up.
"Negative liberty is freedom "from" things; positive liberty is freedom "to do" certain things. ... Negative liberty means simply that one is free from interference by the state and others, that one has a zone of liberty and in that zone there can be no interference so long as another's liberty isn't constrained. What you do in the zone of negative liberty is your business. Positive liberty takes a dim view of simple negative liberty, arguing that it is meaningless unless a person has a real, positive freedom - the power "to do" vital things. Being left alone, in the world view, is meaningless if you don't have the power "to do" the important things, whatever they may be – get an education, earn a fair wage, live in an alienated society."
Meyers point is that America is the proto-typical negative liberty place which I agree with whole-heartedly. "Rugged individualism" is what sets us apart from, say, France and certainly from the tyrants in the Middle East and Third World. It always has and, I believe, always will. Further, Meyers says that, while both parties have aspects of negative and positive liberties in their platforms, Republicans tend more toward the negative and Democrats toward the positive. Meyers concludes that voters can dislike positive liberty (which he says smacks of "we know what's best for you") and can sense it a mile away. And that does not bode well for the Democrats.
Paul Mirengoff of Powerline is not so sure that voters will "consistently reject" this approach. Paul is absolutely right, but it important to understand when the voters won't. I posit that voters will accept the "we know what's best for you" approach under two condition. The first is a time on emergency, such as war (Iraq, GWOT) or national disaster (Katrina). The second is when the moral foundations become so obvious as to require remedial action (the civil rights movement). The problem the Democrats face is they are offering no leadership on either of these issues. The problem the Republicans face is that faced with time of emergencies, they have botched it. (Query, if Congressional Republican would have shown more domestic leadership on spending, Social Security and taxes, would President Bush's numbers be as low. I say no.) Paul may be right that voters may swing back to the Democrats and thus accept the Dems approach, but it would be because, given the chance, Republicans have screwed up.
4.24.2006
More Duke Lax
Newsweek has a lengthy article which brings everyone up to date on what is going on at Duke. Duke New Sense continues to give news from the front, so to speak. Of course, LaShawn Barber is taking more than a passing interest.
There are two interesting things going on. First, the second stripper is more "active." She is speaking to the media and seems to be changing her story slightly. Note that she does not say that rape definitely occurred, but that it could have. It is not clear she is making wholesale changes, but her tune is different. It is also clear she is motivated by money. Unlike many, I will not condemn her at all, so long as the truth comes forth. If that happens, I cannot fault her for trying to parley her 15 minutes into some green for her and her daughter.
The other thing is that the next set of DNA results will not be in until mid-May (after the election for DA). Reports until now indicated that those results were due in this week, though that may have been wishful thinking by the defense.
This is a sorry situation for all. Ann Coulter, who I think is funny like liberals think Al Franken is funny, wrote a piece on this saying what goes through most peoples minds: "Lay Down with Strippers, Wake Up with Pleas." I don't normally agree with Ann's writing, but here's a money quote:
"You can severely reduce your chances of having a false accusation of rape leveled against you if you don't hire strange women to come to your house and take their clothes off for money.
"Also, you can severely reduce your chances of being raped if you do not go to strange men's houses and take your clothes off for money. (Does anyone else detect a common thread here?)"
That seems about right.
There are two interesting things going on. First, the second stripper is more "active." She is speaking to the media and seems to be changing her story slightly. Note that she does not say that rape definitely occurred, but that it could have. It is not clear she is making wholesale changes, but her tune is different. It is also clear she is motivated by money. Unlike many, I will not condemn her at all, so long as the truth comes forth. If that happens, I cannot fault her for trying to parley her 15 minutes into some green for her and her daughter.
The other thing is that the next set of DNA results will not be in until mid-May (after the election for DA). Reports until now indicated that those results were due in this week, though that may have been wishful thinking by the defense.
This is a sorry situation for all. Ann Coulter, who I think is funny like liberals think Al Franken is funny, wrote a piece on this saying what goes through most peoples minds: "Lay Down with Strippers, Wake Up with Pleas." I don't normally agree with Ann's writing, but here's a money quote:
"You can severely reduce your chances of having a false accusation of rape leveled against you if you don't hire strange women to come to your house and take their clothes off for money.
"Also, you can severely reduce your chances of being raped if you do not go to strange men's houses and take your clothes off for money. (Does anyone else detect a common thread here?)"
That seems about right.
4.18.2006
Duke Lax Players Arrested
Two Lacrosse players have been arrested and charged with rape, assault and kidnapping. They were arrested based on a grand jury indictment. This may seem significant, but it isn't. As one of the lawyers stated: "you can indict a ham sandwich." Quoting from one of LaShawn Barber's commenters:
"The DA had no obligation to present any exculpatory evidence to the grand jury. He could have presented only the following: (1) the alleged victim's testimony that she was raped and her identification of her attackers and (2) the hospital nurse's testimony that the alleged victim's injuries were consistent with rape. These facts would be sufficient for an indictment, which is all the Nifong needs for his re-election campaign.
"At trial, however, the jury will have the following exculpatory and impeachment evidence to consider: (1) the absence of any DNA match, (2) photographs of the alleged victim showing bruises before the alleged attack, (3) various inconsistencies in her story, and (4) evidence of the alleged victim's bad character for honesty and truthfulness (i.e., her prior criminal record). It is highly unlikely in my opinion as a lawyer for the past 25 years that based on this evidence a jury would find guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
This is true: anyone willing to perjure themselves can get someone arrested. But PROVING the case is a completely different matter. Now that the case has two defendants, rather than the "Duke Lacrosse team", we will see more and more focus on the what, where and whos of the case.
Stay tuned.
"The DA had no obligation to present any exculpatory evidence to the grand jury. He could have presented only the following: (1) the alleged victim's testimony that she was raped and her identification of her attackers and (2) the hospital nurse's testimony that the alleged victim's injuries were consistent with rape. These facts would be sufficient for an indictment, which is all the Nifong needs for his re-election campaign.
"At trial, however, the jury will have the following exculpatory and impeachment evidence to consider: (1) the absence of any DNA match, (2) photographs of the alleged victim showing bruises before the alleged attack, (3) various inconsistencies in her story, and (4) evidence of the alleged victim's bad character for honesty and truthfulness (i.e., her prior criminal record). It is highly unlikely in my opinion as a lawyer for the past 25 years that based on this evidence a jury would find guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
This is true: anyone willing to perjure themselves can get someone arrested. But PROVING the case is a completely different matter. Now that the case has two defendants, rather than the "Duke Lacrosse team", we will see more and more focus on the what, where and whos of the case.
Stay tuned.
4.11.2006
Doesn't pass the "WTF Test"
Okay, so there is no current DNA evidence that implicates any of the Duke Lacrosse players. So are we seeing the Tawana Brawley case all over again? Things that make you go "Hmmm"...
What is there to gain by accusing the players of this? What does the stripper hope to get out of this deal, a free out of court settlement?
Tilam is the legal expert, but is there a possiblity that there will be civil recriminations against the accuser?
The Prosecutor is continuing on...wonder what he knows that we don't? Or suspects? Is he running for local office and needs the black vote?
Where do we go from here? A coach's reputation tarnished (possibly irrevocably), a team's season on suspension, a FURTHER divided community (after what seems to be a false reverse racial accusation). Blarg...
Let's face it, I have been close to college athletics in my previous years, and they are a bunch of spoiled punks with a sense of impunity and entitlement. They routinely do stupid and wrong things, believing they are above the law because they are high profile athletes and that the university will protect them. But let's look here more closely. Does this show the Duke LAX players to be saints? Nope. Are they guilty of some/many of the other supposed transgressions? Probably. But are they guilty HERE? It sure doesn't seem so.
What is taking Brett Favruh so long to decide? "waiting and seeing if the Pack will get him good players" apparently. Hmm, I'm not so sure that's such a good thing with the new coach - "hey, if you get good players, I'll come back and play, but if not, well, I'll just play golf". BS man. Set a line in the sand, decide by "x" date, and be done with it.
Apple - what an incredibly shitty organization. I finally purchased an iPod Nano, and while I LOVE it and it works great, Apple's policy on peripherals is even worse than Dell's, a company whom I despise with a heightened passion. Included with the iPod: iPod, earphones, computer based charger, and software. No wall charger. NOTHING else. If you want the iPod to work with speakers, or anything else other than your ears, you have to spend (at least) $30 for "accessories". Wall charger? $30. You can purchase great speakers, but to hook the iPod up to them you need to purchase a base stand ($40). It is INCREDIBLE how much you have to actually purchase to get your iPod entertainment system. I can see some of it, but on the whole, iPod is screwing the customer with all this ancillary bullshit purchase requirements.
Josh Boone declared himself eligible for the NBA draft but didn't hire an agent - smart move. Spend another year in school and prove yourself worthy of playing in the NBA by LEADING (read: showing up for games and performing) your team to (at least) the Final Four. We'll see you back in UCONN next year when you come to the realization that your draft status sux based on what EVERYONE saw to be a poor showing in the NCAA's.
Luc Robataille is retiring after this hockey season. Another great guy leaving a great sport - the highest scoring left wing in NHL history is someone we'll miss.
What is there to gain by accusing the players of this? What does the stripper hope to get out of this deal, a free out of court settlement?
Tilam is the legal expert, but is there a possiblity that there will be civil recriminations against the accuser?
The Prosecutor is continuing on...wonder what he knows that we don't? Or suspects? Is he running for local office and needs the black vote?
Where do we go from here? A coach's reputation tarnished (possibly irrevocably), a team's season on suspension, a FURTHER divided community (after what seems to be a false reverse racial accusation). Blarg...
Let's face it, I have been close to college athletics in my previous years, and they are a bunch of spoiled punks with a sense of impunity and entitlement. They routinely do stupid and wrong things, believing they are above the law because they are high profile athletes and that the university will protect them. But let's look here more closely. Does this show the Duke LAX players to be saints? Nope. Are they guilty of some/many of the other supposed transgressions? Probably. But are they guilty HERE? It sure doesn't seem so.
What is taking Brett Favruh so long to decide? "waiting and seeing if the Pack will get him good players" apparently. Hmm, I'm not so sure that's such a good thing with the new coach - "hey, if you get good players, I'll come back and play, but if not, well, I'll just play golf". BS man. Set a line in the sand, decide by "x" date, and be done with it.
Apple - what an incredibly shitty organization. I finally purchased an iPod Nano, and while I LOVE it and it works great, Apple's policy on peripherals is even worse than Dell's, a company whom I despise with a heightened passion. Included with the iPod: iPod, earphones, computer based charger, and software. No wall charger. NOTHING else. If you want the iPod to work with speakers, or anything else other than your ears, you have to spend (at least) $30 for "accessories". Wall charger? $30. You can purchase great speakers, but to hook the iPod up to them you need to purchase a base stand ($40). It is INCREDIBLE how much you have to actually purchase to get your iPod entertainment system. I can see some of it, but on the whole, iPod is screwing the customer with all this ancillary bullshit purchase requirements.
Josh Boone declared himself eligible for the NBA draft but didn't hire an agent - smart move. Spend another year in school and prove yourself worthy of playing in the NBA by LEADING (read: showing up for games and performing) your team to (at least) the Final Four. We'll see you back in UCONN next year when you come to the realization that your draft status sux based on what EVERYONE saw to be a poor showing in the NCAA's.
Luc Robataille is retiring after this hockey season. Another great guy leaving a great sport - the highest scoring left wing in NHL history is someone we'll miss.
4.10.2006
Surprise, Surprise
Sports Illustrated is reporting that the DNA tests on the Duke Lax players have come back negative. Key bit of information:
"[T]he the report indicated authorities took DNA samples from all over the alleged victim's body, including under her fingernails, and from her possessions, such as her cell phone and her clothes."
The prosecutor has indicated he will continue...damn the evidence. He might want to consider walking it back...
"[T]he the report indicated authorities took DNA samples from all over the alleged victim's body, including under her fingernails, and from her possessions, such as her cell phone and her clothes."
The prosecutor has indicated he will continue...damn the evidence. He might want to consider walking it back...
Monday Morning Update
Ahhhh. The Masters. One of the few times Mrs. Tilam becomes a sports widow. An enjoyable ending, which was very much in doubt until the final few holes. And, as I predicted, Lefty won. He is now half way to a Tiger Slam and looked quite comfortable doing it. Old Phil would have done something extraordinarily stupid to miss his chance, but he was pretty poised and confident. The chip on 15 sealed it for him and was a shot that would have went into the water five years ago.
My heart was pulling for Fred Couples. He was striking the ball really well but could not putt worth a damn. (Tiger and Vijay seemed to suffer the same problem.) After the birdie on 13 out of the shit, I thought he had regained his confidence, but I guess not. Great effort.
Duke Lacrosse. While the results are not in, it is starting to look like a textbook case of racism, but not the one originally put forth. Can you say Tawana Brawley? If her story turns out to be fake, I do hope justice is served. Keep up with this story by visiting Duke New Sense.
Finally, Anne Benson has withdrawn her divorce petition. It seemed all those guys outside her door were not an attentive landscaping company, but the grounds crew from the Orioles.
My heart was pulling for Fred Couples. He was striking the ball really well but could not putt worth a damn. (Tiger and Vijay seemed to suffer the same problem.) After the birdie on 13 out of the shit, I thought he had regained his confidence, but I guess not. Great effort.
Duke Lacrosse. While the results are not in, it is starting to look like a textbook case of racism, but not the one originally put forth. Can you say Tawana Brawley? If her story turns out to be fake, I do hope justice is served. Keep up with this story by visiting Duke New Sense.
Finally, Anne Benson has withdrawn her divorce petition. It seemed all those guys outside her door were not an attentive landscaping company, but the grounds crew from the Orioles.
4.07.2006
Is Being Boorish Illegal?
One story I have been watching with great interest is the Duke Lacrosse controversy/crime. The place to get all the updates is Duke New Sense. The reason I have not commented is that anything said is pre-mature. We should know quickly whether there was a rape or not. I will offer two general comments though:
1. Boorish behavior will be punished. The fact is that the Lacrosse program has had a number of boorish and criminal or nearly so incidents. This will lead to a knee jerk reaction of guilt, regardless of the outcome. The players may not have raped the girl, but no one doubts that it was a possibility. Why? Because of their past.
2. Stonewalling isn't stonewalling when you are innocent. Much of the criticism stems from the initial reaction of the players to band together and "stonewall." Well, what if the allegations are pure fiction? That isn't stonewalling to me. Will the critics apologize? No. Will the coach get his job back? No. Is this fair? Well, read point #1. Their past behavior has led to this, even if they are innocent.
More later...
1. Boorish behavior will be punished. The fact is that the Lacrosse program has had a number of boorish and criminal or nearly so incidents. This will lead to a knee jerk reaction of guilt, regardless of the outcome. The players may not have raped the girl, but no one doubts that it was a possibility. Why? Because of their past.
2. Stonewalling isn't stonewalling when you are innocent. Much of the criticism stems from the initial reaction of the players to band together and "stonewall." Well, what if the allegations are pure fiction? That isn't stonewalling to me. Will the critics apologize? No. Will the coach get his job back? No. Is this fair? Well, read point #1. Their past behavior has led to this, even if they are innocent.
More later...
4.05.2006
Round the Horn Sports Thoughts
Zzzzzzz...huh? The Final Four is over. My God. I can not remember a more boring Final Four. The matches were not close and there was none of the excitement that the earlier rounds generated. GMU's Cinderella smashed the glass slipper, slipped on the shards and got them stuck in her ass. And, after all that, the final game was a quick blowout.
Blech!!!!
Anna Benson. Okay, I spent too much time on her. Will we never get past our fascination with $20 hookers?
Masters week. Yum. Golf Digest had a wonderful article on Jack's win in 1986. Read it. So who is going to win it this year? My favorite is Lefty. He is playing well and I trust he'll keep his head on straight. Tiger is dealing with his Dad's health and, whether you like Earl or think he is a total tool, Tiger is very close to his Dad and it is effecting his concentration. (Of course, he could go our and lap the field in Earl's honor.) Golf Digest says the numbers say "Vijay", but the Masters has never been about the numbers. It is about passion for golf and a will to win. I would like to see Adam Scott take it.
With college basketball over and baseball not yet interesting it is a peaceful time for me. I was supposed to go golfing today, but it is snowing right now. No, really, it is snowing.
Got spam announcing a book called the "Dark Lover." The author is described as a "Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance." "Erotic paranormal?" I think there is a line there, but since I like erotic and I like paranormal, I might give this a try. (Is this sports? Yes, sex is sport.)
Steroids. This is fast becoming a problem. Not just in the juice. This is becoming a PR nightmare for the MLB. As Bonds approached Hank Aaron's record, you would have thought it was a great opportunity to promote the sport. Think again. If Rose is not HOF eligible for gambling and lying, should Bonds be eligible for getting juiced and lying? I would rather see Rose in then Bonds.
On the bright side, a new book by Baseball Prospectus talks about (among other things) Clutch Hitters. #1? Mark Grace. Hmmmm.
Congrats to the Lady Turtles. Now that was an exciting Final.
Adios!
Blech!!!!
Anna Benson. Okay, I spent too much time on her. Will we never get past our fascination with $20 hookers?
Masters week. Yum. Golf Digest had a wonderful article on Jack's win in 1986. Read it. So who is going to win it this year? My favorite is Lefty. He is playing well and I trust he'll keep his head on straight. Tiger is dealing with his Dad's health and, whether you like Earl or think he is a total tool, Tiger is very close to his Dad and it is effecting his concentration. (Of course, he could go our and lap the field in Earl's honor.) Golf Digest says the numbers say "Vijay", but the Masters has never been about the numbers. It is about passion for golf and a will to win. I would like to see Adam Scott take it.
With college basketball over and baseball not yet interesting it is a peaceful time for me. I was supposed to go golfing today, but it is snowing right now. No, really, it is snowing.
Got spam announcing a book called the "Dark Lover." The author is described as a "Best Selling author of erotic paranormal romance." "Erotic paranormal?" I think there is a line there, but since I like erotic and I like paranormal, I might give this a try. (Is this sports? Yes, sex is sport.)
Steroids. This is fast becoming a problem. Not just in the juice. This is becoming a PR nightmare for the MLB. As Bonds approached Hank Aaron's record, you would have thought it was a great opportunity to promote the sport. Think again. If Rose is not HOF eligible for gambling and lying, should Bonds be eligible for getting juiced and lying? I would rather see Rose in then Bonds.
On the bright side, a new book by Baseball Prospectus talks about (among other things) Clutch Hitters. #1? Mark Grace. Hmmmm.
Congrats to the Lady Turtles. Now that was an exciting Final.
Adios!
4.03.2006
Time to yap about the wimmen
Will Anna Benson ever go away? Unfortunately, our favorite ex-stripper can't put something in her mouth enough to keep it shut. But now, she's divorcinga Kris, apparently for cheating. And we KNOW what she promised if she ever caught him cheating. The $64,000 question is "if he REALLY cheated on her, does she still sleep with the Mets, or the Orioles?". Then again, based on their performance last year, I'd go with the Mets, since the Orioles can't hit a hole to save their life, even one THAT wide open...
Michelle Wie - someone tell her there's a difference between "playing" and "winning". Faced with an up & down to force a playoff with Karrie Webb, she chose the low percentage shot and CHIPPED to the hole instead of putting. Someone hit her caddie with the CLUE HAMMER. Remember Michelle, winning doesn't have to be pretty, it's STILL a win. Play the right shot next time.
However, kudos to Karrie Webb, it's nice to see her back in the winner's circle again.
Rory Sabbatini proved once again to us volunteer marshalls (at tour events) that he's one of the true, genuine, ASSHOLES of the game. After hitting a shot at the BellSouth classic last week, he was informed that the ball was OB. FOUR f-bombs later he took the walk of shame back to the tee to replay his shot with the penalty. Now, I understand how frustrating it is to hit one OB (Tilam does it routinely when we play, so I know the player's reaction), and I also understand that out of courtesy he could have been informed before he walked all that way, but that doesn't excuse profanity and insults. He ranks up there on my hate list with Olazabal. And this isn't the first time that Rory has done this...
Tiger at Augusta? Hmmm, the safe bet. But I'm going to predict Zach Johnson...
Michelle Wie - someone tell her there's a difference between "playing" and "winning". Faced with an up & down to force a playoff with Karrie Webb, she chose the low percentage shot and CHIPPED to the hole instead of putting. Someone hit her caddie with the CLUE HAMMER. Remember Michelle, winning doesn't have to be pretty, it's STILL a win. Play the right shot next time.
However, kudos to Karrie Webb, it's nice to see her back in the winner's circle again.
Rory Sabbatini proved once again to us volunteer marshalls (at tour events) that he's one of the true, genuine, ASSHOLES of the game. After hitting a shot at the BellSouth classic last week, he was informed that the ball was OB. FOUR f-bombs later he took the walk of shame back to the tee to replay his shot with the penalty. Now, I understand how frustrating it is to hit one OB (Tilam does it routinely when we play, so I know the player's reaction), and I also understand that out of courtesy he could have been informed before he walked all that way, but that doesn't excuse profanity and insults. He ranks up there on my hate list with Olazabal. And this isn't the first time that Rory has done this...
Tiger at Augusta? Hmmm, the safe bet. But I'm going to predict Zach Johnson...
3.28.2006
The Number 1s are Done
Wow. Not a single number 1 seed survived this past weekend. But while my Bracket is in a shambles, there was some might good basketball being played. Some comments.
Duke & Gonzaga. As you know from my picks, I had Duke losing to LSU and Gonzaga missing the Elite 8 also. Neither of these games were particularly surprising. Each team suffered from the same vulnerability: too much reliance on one or two players. I will say that Sheldon Williams was wonderful to watch. He almost carried that whole team to victory.
UConn, on the other hand, simply did not want to win. Statistically, they played well, but GMU played like they really wanted to go to the Final Four. It is hard to pin down the reason for UConn's lack of heart, but Josh Boone is a good start. His poor play throughout the tournament killed UConn. Not simply in the missed lay-ups and FT, but in the fact that he was simply not an option for Marcus Williams. Jim Calhoun would have been better off sitting Boone and keeping Jeff Adrien in the whole second half.
Despite all that, UConn came within 1/2 inch of winning.
Duke and Gonzaga lost, but UConn got what they deserved.
Duke & Gonzaga. As you know from my picks, I had Duke losing to LSU and Gonzaga missing the Elite 8 also. Neither of these games were particularly surprising. Each team suffered from the same vulnerability: too much reliance on one or two players. I will say that Sheldon Williams was wonderful to watch. He almost carried that whole team to victory.
UConn, on the other hand, simply did not want to win. Statistically, they played well, but GMU played like they really wanted to go to the Final Four. It is hard to pin down the reason for UConn's lack of heart, but Josh Boone is a good start. His poor play throughout the tournament killed UConn. Not simply in the missed lay-ups and FT, but in the fact that he was simply not an option for Marcus Williams. Jim Calhoun would have been better off sitting Boone and keeping Jeff Adrien in the whole second half.
Despite all that, UConn came within 1/2 inch of winning.
Duke and Gonzaga lost, but UConn got what they deserved.
3.27.2006
Tastes like Chicken
Time to eat crow. I haven't checked the bet and picks, but I have the feeling that I am mathematically eliminated from our little contest. Looks like Tilam won't have to pay to get this ass whooped on the golf course, it'll be my treat. Grats to him!
Impressions of the weekend:
"come on honey, it'll only be the second time this month!" - oh wait, wrong impression.
Parity (to use Tilam's word). More talent is being spread out among colleges. Less fear of the "big boys". Quality coaching at the mid-level is now getting high quality players, and it's showing. I must concur with Tilam, at this point, Cinderella is dead and gone - call George Mason a cinderella if you want, but 4 games in a row? Nah!
Impressions of the weekend:
"come on honey, it'll only be the second time this month!" - oh wait, wrong impression.
Parity (to use Tilam's word). More talent is being spread out among colleges. Less fear of the "big boys". Quality coaching at the mid-level is now getting high quality players, and it's showing. I must concur with Tilam, at this point, Cinderella is dead and gone - call George Mason a cinderella if you want, but 4 games in a row? Nah!
3.22.2006
Joga Bonito
"Play Beautiful"
Nike has a new series of ads celebrating World Cup 2006 and launching their new line of soccer shoes. Normally, I don't give this marketing thing a second thought, but they have a series of videos hosted by Eric Cantona. Most impressive is the Brazilian Ping Pong with Ronaldinho. Impressive in its originality, but doubtful that it actually happened. While Ronaldinho swears he did it, I find it highly improbable. I will say that if anyone in the world could, Ronaldinho could - his foot skills are amazing.
My favorite is 4-4-2 or 1-1-8? Anyone who loves the "beautiful game" will immediately love that point of view. There is some impressive play (Thierry Henry's back heel goal is my favorite), though with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Henry and Wayne Rooney, you think they could fill several reels of highlight films.
Check it out...
TILAM UPDATE: It did occur to me that anyone who know Cantona's history will find it surprising he is advocating the "beautiful game." But I guess drop kicking SPECTATORS is ok. Still, as regular readers know, I prefer to remember the athlete for the totality of his/her career, and not based on one incident. Long live King Eric.
Nike has a new series of ads celebrating World Cup 2006 and launching their new line of soccer shoes. Normally, I don't give this marketing thing a second thought, but they have a series of videos hosted by Eric Cantona. Most impressive is the Brazilian Ping Pong with Ronaldinho. Impressive in its originality, but doubtful that it actually happened. While Ronaldinho swears he did it, I find it highly improbable. I will say that if anyone in the world could, Ronaldinho could - his foot skills are amazing.
My favorite is 4-4-2 or 1-1-8? Anyone who loves the "beautiful game" will immediately love that point of view. There is some impressive play (Thierry Henry's back heel goal is my favorite), though with Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Henry and Wayne Rooney, you think they could fill several reels of highlight films.
Check it out...
TILAM UPDATE: It did occur to me that anyone who know Cantona's history will find it surprising he is advocating the "beautiful game." But I guess drop kicking SPECTATORS is ok. Still, as regular readers know, I prefer to remember the athlete for the totality of his/her career, and not based on one incident. Long live King Eric.
3.21.2006
Up for Air
First things first:
KUDO's to Tilam for calling the Atlanta & Minneapolis regions SPOT ON! I guess after successful therapy for surfing the web for animal porn he's found a new hobby, and his research into college hoops is showing benefits. Good Job Tilam!
Big games in the Tilam-Thew challenge: LSU/Duke, Fla/G'Town (I gotta root for G'Town since Tilam has UF and I'm outta this one).
Now, the pain...
I rode the wave of the Orangemen after the Big East tournament. McNamara seemed hot, the team seemed relaxed, and BAM, they ran into LSU. Okay, I'm a dumbass.
Not since Hersey Hawkins strode the sidelines for the Braves has Bradley made a significant splash. If I didn't have Memphis beating them, I'd root big time.
I bailed on Florida as over-rated and bet on Oklahoma, which was backwards. The OSU loss to Georgetown was a huge surprise, and it wasn't close, it was a bit of a spanking.
When I was revived, I actually hopped on the "the selection committee got it right" bandwagon with George Mason. Too much confidence in Roy Williams' coaching at UNC, I guess.
I have 11 of the Sweet Sixteen, but I'm definitely shut out of 2 of the Elite Eight games. However, I too, have all my Final Four teams still in.
On a good note, I am third in the office pool...
TILAM COMMENT: Thank you for the kudos, but that won't prevent me from a small correction. 'Cuse may have run into LSU...in the locker room, but not on the court. They got wasted by A&M.
KUDO's to Tilam for calling the Atlanta & Minneapolis regions SPOT ON! I guess after successful therapy for surfing the web for animal porn he's found a new hobby, and his research into college hoops is showing benefits. Good Job Tilam!
Big games in the Tilam-Thew challenge: LSU/Duke, Fla/G'Town (I gotta root for G'Town since Tilam has UF and I'm outta this one).
Now, the pain...
I rode the wave of the Orangemen after the Big East tournament. McNamara seemed hot, the team seemed relaxed, and BAM, they ran into LSU. Okay, I'm a dumbass.
Not since Hersey Hawkins strode the sidelines for the Braves has Bradley made a significant splash. If I didn't have Memphis beating them, I'd root big time.
I bailed on Florida as over-rated and bet on Oklahoma, which was backwards. The OSU loss to Georgetown was a huge surprise, and it wasn't close, it was a bit of a spanking.
When I was revived, I actually hopped on the "the selection committee got it right" bandwagon with George Mason. Too much confidence in Roy Williams' coaching at UNC, I guess.
I have 11 of the Sweet Sixteen, but I'm definitely shut out of 2 of the Elite Eight games. However, I too, have all my Final Four teams still in.
On a good note, I am third in the office pool...
TILAM COMMENT: Thank you for the kudos, but that won't prevent me from a small correction. 'Cuse may have run into LSU...in the locker room, but not on the court. They got wasted by A&M.
3.20.2006
UConn Woes
Let's compare two Sweet 16 teams:
Team 1: Scored a combined 159 points, shot 54% from the field and 41% from 3 point range.
Team 2: Scored a combined 144 points, shot 48% from the field and 35% from 3 point range.
The media laments on how Team 1 has played poorly and Team 2 rolls through the Bracket. Could it be that Team 1's opponents have stepped it up and Team 2's have not?
The coverage of the NCAA's always makes me laugh because you cannot compare UConn's (Team 1) games with Duke's (Team 2). There was no doubt UConn was very sloppy against Albany, but give the Great Danes credit. Kentucky played arguably their best game of the year and shot 50% from 3 point land (from NBA 3 point land it seemed) in the second half.
My one gripe on UConn is that they have been real tentative on the boards - only 6 blocks in two games. They need to OWN the boards against Washington.
Team 1: Scored a combined 159 points, shot 54% from the field and 41% from 3 point range.
Team 2: Scored a combined 144 points, shot 48% from the field and 35% from 3 point range.
The media laments on how Team 1 has played poorly and Team 2 rolls through the Bracket. Could it be that Team 1's opponents have stepped it up and Team 2's have not?
The coverage of the NCAA's always makes me laugh because you cannot compare UConn's (Team 1) games with Duke's (Team 2). There was no doubt UConn was very sloppy against Albany, but give the Great Danes credit. Kentucky played arguably their best game of the year and shot 50% from 3 point land (from NBA 3 point land it seemed) in the second half.
My one gripe on UConn is that they have been real tentative on the boards - only 6 blocks in two games. They need to OWN the boards against Washington.
Good Calls and Air Balls
The reason I did not post until after the dust settles on the Sweet 16 is that there is a tendency to use one game as the barometer of the Tournament. Of course you can't. But there are some observations that deserved to be made:
Parity. Parity. Parity. Maybe it's the lure of the NBA on the Top BCS players (and HS seniors who would otherwise go to a BCS school), but Cinderella has just been killed. She is a myth. No one can take a "mid-major" program for granted.
Four of the Sweet 16 team are Big East, two each from ACC (thank got they stole BC from the BEast!), Pac10, SEC and Missouri Valley. One from CUSA, Big 12, WCC and Colonial. Zero from the Big 10.
Air Ball: I have got to apologize to the Pac 10. I have disrespected them all year and UCLA and Washington both looked like they deserve to be in the Sweet 16. Much apologies. Same can be said for Memphis and Gonzaga also, but, so far, each has performed according to my expectations.
Good Call: I said below: "UNC and Kansas seem to be favorite picks for deep runs. Not gonna happen." I will say I had UNC going further out of a "weak side" bracket, but their loss is no surprise here.
Sort of Good Call: I have 12 out of the Sweet 16. Missed the Bradley and George Mason runs, but called Wichita State. I placed too much faith in Marquette (and Steve "The Bust" Novak) and missed the coin toss that was the Illinois and Washington game. Unfortunately, I can only get a max of 6 of the Elite 8, but my Final Four are all still alive.
Parity. Parity. Parity. Maybe it's the lure of the NBA on the Top BCS players (and HS seniors who would otherwise go to a BCS school), but Cinderella has just been killed. She is a myth. No one can take a "mid-major" program for granted.
Four of the Sweet 16 team are Big East, two each from ACC (thank got they stole BC from the BEast!), Pac10, SEC and Missouri Valley. One from CUSA, Big 12, WCC and Colonial. Zero from the Big 10.
Air Ball: I have got to apologize to the Pac 10. I have disrespected them all year and UCLA and Washington both looked like they deserve to be in the Sweet 16. Much apologies. Same can be said for Memphis and Gonzaga also, but, so far, each has performed according to my expectations.
Good Call: I said below: "UNC and Kansas seem to be favorite picks for deep runs. Not gonna happen." I will say I had UNC going further out of a "weak side" bracket, but their loss is no surprise here.
Sort of Good Call: I have 12 out of the Sweet 16. Missed the Bradley and George Mason runs, but called Wichita State. I placed too much faith in Marquette (and Steve "The Bust" Novak) and missed the coin toss that was the Illinois and Washington game. Unfortunately, I can only get a max of 6 of the Elite 8, but my Final Four are all still alive.
3.14.2006
The gauntlet thrown
Okay, game on!
Sweet Sixteen:
Atlanta: Duke / Syracuse / West Virginia / Texas
Oakland: Memphis / Pittsburgh / Gonzaga / UCLA
DC: UCONN / Washington / North Carolina / Wichita State
Minneapolis: Villanova / Boston College / Oklahoma / Ohio State
Elite Eight:
Atlanta: Duke / Texas
Oakland: Memphis / Gonzaga
DC: UCONN / North Carolina
Minny: Villanova / Ohio State
Final Four:
Duke / Gonzaga / UCONN / Villanova
Final Game:
UCONN over Duke
Sweet Sixteen:
Atlanta: Duke / Syracuse / West Virginia / Texas
Oakland: Memphis / Pittsburgh / Gonzaga / UCLA
DC: UCONN / Washington / North Carolina / Wichita State
Minneapolis: Villanova / Boston College / Oklahoma / Ohio State
Elite Eight:
Atlanta: Duke / Texas
Oakland: Memphis / Gonzaga
DC: UCONN / North Carolina
Minny: Villanova / Ohio State
Final Four:
Duke / Gonzaga / UCONN / Villanova
Final Game:
UCONN over Duke
I'll Take That Bet..
You all have seen my Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4, Final 2 and Champ.
I will challenge Thew with a round of golf on the line.
I showed you mine, now show me yours...
I will challenge Thew with a round of golf on the line.
I showed you mine, now show me yours...
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