Luciano Watch Out...

In contrast, here is a phenomenally inspirational video. I love this guy!

And he is on to the finals. Go Paul!

Now, okay, he is not quite the "shower singer" bumpkin and has performed opera on stage, but, dude, he does sell car phones for a living!

And quite frankly, anyone who can make Amanda Holden weep twice is mensch in my book.

Who's Responsible?

Okay, I am tremendously conflicted on this. Six teenagers hit a stalled train and the four in the back seat were killed. The father of one of the victims is very upset in the video. (He lost a niece also.)

How can I be conflicted? The drivers were 15, the victims were 14. It was 3:30 am. The vehicle was stolen.

I really feel for the guy's loss (nice Father's Day, huh), but he goes off on how the grade crossing was dangerous. Well, yes. ALL grade crossing are dangerous. The train was stalled, there were no lights; it was an accident waiting to happen.

But what the hell is his 14 year old doing out at 3:30 am? What prompted her to participate in the theft of a vehicle?

This was a tragedy of parenting as well as a tragic loss of life.

No Brotherhood Afterall

From Captain's Quarters:

"'They're firing at us, firing RPGs, firing mortars. We're not Jews,' the brother of Jamal Abu Jediyan, a Fatah commander, pleaded during a live telephone conversation with a Palestinian radio station.

Minutes later both men were dragged into the streets and riddled with bullets."

This no surprise. Nor will it clarify the problem (Islamists addiction to violence) to those who have not understood this yet. The most prevalent motivation in the Middle East for centuries is "hate." You cannot build anything on hate. You can only destroy.

But at least they are destrying each other.

The Candidates

One other comment of the GOP field. It is a truly deep field. Mike Huckabee from Arkansas and Duncan Hunter from California have neither the name recognition or the money to be a viable candidate, but would make excellent presidients as well. With the exception of Ron Paul (TX) and Tom Tancredo (CO) who are, IMHO, niche candidates the rest of the field has the chops to be president.

This may be because I do not know enough about, say, Tommy Thompson to dislike him, but I don't think so.

In Bed with Fred

No, this is not a sordid follow-on to Thew's Porky's problems. While I happen to support Mitt Romney in the current field of Republican candidates, I do support the phantom candidacy of Fred Thompson. (See Donation Box on lower left.) I find I don't agree with him only a few issues (tort reform and campaign finance), but think he represents a different set of perspectives - perspectives needed in the GOP field.

The good news for the GOP is that all the front-runners - Giuliani, McCain and Romney - would make fine presidents, while only two Democrats - Clinton and Biden - would have that potential. (While I would not support Hillary, my gut feel is that she would do the right thing once she has no need to pander to the Far Left and would ultimately be a better president then Bill.)

The bad news is that the GOP I love stands for freedom (personal and economic) and SMALL government. None of the current Big Three has come out for decisively reducing the size of government. Fred has.

Of course, the last actor turned president didn't do half bad.

Whoa, Trigger

I guess my response is "I don't care." I am just saying that having broken down in the travel lane, it is reasonable to assume that someone might be coming and take extra care. Late at night, it is possible that the person might be impaired. What precautions (flares, reflectors, etc.), if any, the tow truck driver took are important to understand before you say he is off the hook.

Location Location Location

A car is stalled in the travel lane. Where is the tow truck SUPPOSED to park? Haven't you ever been in a traffic jam caused by an accident or a stall? To get the vehicle on the flatbed you have to usually pull it on the truck bed using a winch of some sort - you can't do that from the side unless you have the ability like that of the cranes they use to life indy cars off the track. WTF dood?

Doesn't matter whether I was the Porkee or Porker, it's still rude and inconsiderate and perpetuates a stereotype of the "horny fag on the prowl leering at anyone and everyone". I don't appreciate it in the damm men's locker room.

Hold on a Sec

Wait, while I do not agree with the "sue the world" approach and believe Josh Hancock was responsible for his drinking, I understand the towing truck was in the travel lane, not off to the side. I think the towing service has some 'splaining to do.

As for your other "issue", dude, you just got Porky'd. It sucks being a sex object...

More Victims of Stupidity

Now, let me first say that this is a TRADGEDY, the kind that snuffs out a life prematurely, a child/husband dead, the family left grieving. My sympathies and prayers go out to the family of Josh Hancock, tragically killed in an automobile accident.

HOWEVER. It appears you CAN put a price on life. His father is suing everyone and their grandmother, saying that THEY are the cause of his death, not Josh himself.

Let's break down the list of defendents:

Mike Shannon's Restaurant, owned by the longtime Cardinals broadcaster who starred on three World Series teams in the 1960s, is being held liable because, as the father claims, "It's our understanding that from the moment Josh Hancock entered Mike Shannon's that night that he was never without a drink."

Justin Tolar, the driver whose stalled car on Interstate 64 was being assisted by Eddie's Towing driver Jacob Hargrove. The lawsuit claimed Tolar was negligent in allowing his vehicle to reach the point where it stalled on the highway and for failing to move it out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Eddie's Towing, the company whose flatbed tow truck was struck by Hancock's sport utility vehicle after stopping to assist with the stalled vehicle of Tolar. The report said he told officers he was there five to seven minutes before his truck was hit by Hancock's SUV, although Hancock's lawyer says "it might have been there up to 15 minutes".

Officially: Authorities said the 29-year pitcher had a blood alcohol content of nearly twice the legal limit when he crashed into the back of the tow truck. He was also speeding and using a cell phone and wasn't wearing a seat belt, police chief Joe Mokwa said after the accident.

I'm sorry Dean Hancock, but your son is dead because he was stupid. HE got his own ass into these circumstances, HE could have said "NO" to any offered drink, HE could have worn a seatbelt, HE might have been a little high. FREE CHOICE, he wasn't forced to drink, and he CHOSE to not wear his seatbelt. I'm sorry your son is dead, but to hold those people responsible is playing the victim, trying to profit from your son's accident. I mourn the passing of a good baseball player, but I hope this case gets tossed out of court.

EDIT: yay for some common sense.

**********

TIME FOR AN ANTI-GAY RANT:

KEEP IT PRIVATE! PLEASE. I work out at the gym every day, and of course, I endeavor to make myself pleasant afterward so that my fellow employees don't say "whoa that Thew, he's tough to be around..."

But I found something disturbing in the men's shower. There are holes cut into the plastic curtains at eye level, obviously meant for someone to either look out (or *gasp*, IN?!) at another person in the shower.

This is BULLSHIT. You want respect, respect others. You want people to accept your homosexuality, stop pulling this kinda shit; stuff that makes people like me (i.e., straight men) pissed off at your being intrusive. Do I really think you're gazing at another gay man? Nope, you're gazing at ANY naked man who strolls into the shower area, all the while probably polishing the bishop behind the curtain. It's despicable and instrusive, and creates negative feelings towards "rabid horny gay" men and perpetuates anti-gay sentiment. Do men masturbate to Playboy? Of course. Do gay men masturbate to Playgirl? I'd think so. But keep it in the privacy of your own home; too damm bad, shit like this just pisses off ANY person - hell, I've known gay men who think this is so lame, they are ashamed to be on the same team as these people.

Like I said, you want respect, respect others. You want consideration, consider the feelings of others. You want to pull this kind of shit, prepare to be vilified; by both gay and straight men. You'll never get accepted into "the mainstream of society" while you piss off that same group of people.

**********

2 of 3 for the Yanks against the Sawx. Here's to hoping they will turn it around after what should be a real confidence building series. Dominated 'em in game 1, lost the lead in game 2 to get beat badly, lost a 4 run lead in ONE INNING but hung on, clawed back, and won it in the top of the ninth. Come on boys, time to play!

Stupidity, Yes, But Whose?

Thew asks an interesting question: is there liability there? I will put aside the issue for now as to WHO is liable, because Speaker claims he was told traveling was fine.

First off, to be liable, someone has had to suffer damages. It is not enough to be anxious you might have caught TB, but you must have caught it. (That said, if one could prove demonstrable suffering based on the incident, it MIGHT be compensable.)

But even if someone catches TB and dies, I am unclear if the law will award damages. One could claim civil assault (an intentional act which causes a reasonable and imminent apprehension of a harmful or offensive contact which is unconsented), but the "intention" has to be there. (Battery of assault & battery fame is the physical contact part.) In addition, I don't know how much time can pass before "reasonable and imminent" is no longer applicable. (Someone shoots an arrow at you, but misses...you do not notice, but find out later. Assault?) Here you would have to argue that "imminent" extends through the phase of being tested and cleared of TB...a logical position.

Now "intention" can also be a disregard for safety so reckless that any reasonable man (that term, again) would have understood the action to pose a threat. But on the facts as I know them...I am not sure that is the case. The tests did not come back showing the drug resistant strain until he was in Europe. So anyone on the flights until that point he can't be accused of reckless endangerment.

But I would also point out that this is a very slippery slope. Suing someone you catch a cold from? That forces you out of your hourly job for three days? I am just not sure we want to go there.

ProBono Work

So Tilam, any legal ramifications from Andrew Speaker's stupidity?

Reckless Endangerment? Is there a crime or lawsuit possibility if no one gets sick? What's the scoop?

Send in the clowns

Michelle Wie amusement, since I haven't laughed at her clown-like sideshow in a long time...

Wie withdrew from the Ginn Tribute on Thursday after shooting 14 over par through 16 holes, aggravating a wrist injury that sidelined her since January. After Wie bogeyed the par-4 seventh, the 17-year-old star (WHY THE HELL DO THEY CALL HER A STAR?) from Hawaii told an LPGA tour official: "We're not going to play anymore."

Wie wore bandages on her wrists during the round and said her withdraw was because she "tweaked" the injury and not because of an LPGA rule that bans nontour members for the year if they shoot 88 or higher. Wie was two bogeys from that scenario when she stopped.

Round highlights:

- Wie's round included a 10 on the par-5 third hole, when her first drive hit a parked car and rolled down a roadway drain. After her provisional tee shot went way left, Wie's third drive landed in the rough and she went on to a quintuple bogey.
- Wie drove into a pond on the 11th for a bogey.
- She hit a tree with her tee shot on the next hole and made double bogey.
- On her first par-3, the 14th, Wie landed in the woods right of the green. She chose to re-tee and again went right. A chip and two putts later, Wie had made a triple bogey.
- Wie's problems continued on the par-5 16th as she pushed her drive into clumps of grass. She took relief about 80 yards behind her ball for yet another bogey.

"I had issues with my wrist," she said. "Shooting 88 is not what I think about." Surely you don't expect us to believe that!?!

Random Thoughts on A Conversation at Starbucks

Man: You should come diving with me.
Woman: Nah, I got certified a few years ago, but I did not enjoy it.
Man: That seems to happen to a lot of woman divers. I don't know why...

Me: Maybe because you can't talk non-stop while diving...

The Worst, the Best and Just PlainSports

I am really un-interested in the whole dog-fighting thing. It should be stopped, period. If Vick is involved, he should be thrown out of the NFL. SI has a big article on what is going on for those interested. Be warned, the details are not pretty.

* * *

This weekend had two phenomenal lacrosse games. First, Duke beat Cornell 12-11 in the second semi-final and the right to play Johns Hopkins. After being down as much as 10-3, Big Red came back and tied the game with 17 seconds left! Duke wins the face off and as time wound down, Matt Greer put the ball in the net. Time remaining: 0:03.

The title game was just as exciting without the last second heroics. But it was the Blue Jays up 10-4 at the half and Duke coming back. Duke was poised for another Cinderella like ending, but the blistering shot with 9 seconds left was kicked away (yes, kick save!) by the Jays goalie. Final Johns Hopkins 12-11.

But hats off to Duke. Given the total crap they went through with the false allegations of rape, the spinelessness of the Duke administration and faculty, cancelling their 2006 season and the scrutiny they were under this year, it is truly amazing what they accomplished.

* * *

The CONCACAF Gold Cup starts next week after a US-China warm-up. Comments and analysis to follow. This is Coach Bradley's first real competition as permanent head coach, so it will be interesting to see how the players respond.

Of course, this is just a warm-up for Copa America later this year...

Despicable Acts of Cruelty

Michael Vick has been identified by a confidential source as a dog fighting "heavyweight". A prominent figure who brings quality dogs and a ton of money to bet and move around the event. That is despicable. He SHOULD go to jail, but who knows what will happen if he is convicted, since he's a famous athlete. Fame = minimal culpability. Others will take the fall for him. He won't do time. And if any "normal" person has seen any footage of 2 poor animals tearing each other part, pretty much to the death, the loser whining and writing in agony, ripped and bleeding, torn and broken, like I have, and feels no emotion at that, then you are without a soul. This is a HUGE button push for me, simply cruel to good hearted dogs who have been raised to die horribly. Just once, I'd like to take the "promoters" and put THEM in a cage and have THEM fight TO THE DEATH. See how they like it. Enough on this, it makes me physically ill.

**********

If anyone missed the NHL Stanley Cup Finals game 1 yesterday, you missed quality hockey. And you're a worse person for it. It did NOT disappoint - heavy hitting, fast play, missed chances, buried goals. Everything that Tilam hopes hockey is about as opposed to the regular season "goon fest" as he calls it. Little chippy play too, which is always good for the fan. :)

Tilam and I have blasted Michelle Wie time and again for her LACK OF accomplishments, and we (or at least *I*) constantly root against her on the PGA because she's nothing more than a sideshow, as bad as that sounds. But HERE is a young lady that deserves our cheers and hope. Good luck MacKinzie!

And in the world of high priced asswipes, flagrant demonstrations, selfish promotion, there is a hero who, tragically, gave his life to become so. Farewell and godspeed, Marquise Hill, rest in peace, your sacrifice saved the life of another. One person is alive because of your gift...

An Old Warrior

I attended the burial of my Uncle yesterday. My Uncle and I were not close as he lived in the Virgin Islands and did not seem to time his trips to my home state of Connecticut based on my schedule. But he was one of those great Uncles - young, handsome and an absolute rapscallion. Married a very pretty women, tended bar and, overall, led a life that a 13 year old thinks is very cool, until he grows up...

He was also a Vietnam War vet and many of his troubles have been blamed on his war experiences: both combat and non-combat, if you get my drift. He joined the US Army in 1968, qualifying Jump School with the 101st Airborne. He was a recipient of the Army Commendation Medal w/"V" Device, the Vietnam Service Medal w/4 Bronze Service Stars, a Parachutist Badge, and a Combat Infantry Badge.

He died young (age 60). As he was divorced, childless and without a will, the family decided to have him buried in a military cemetery in Connecticut.

Now let me say that I hate funerals. Really hate them. This is because of my own awkwardness regarding the situation: what do you say to someone who has lost a loved one? "I am sorry"? "He/she is in a better place"? Nothing seems adequate. Yesterday was different.

The day was beautiful and the cemetery was solemn and dignified with rows of white marble headstones neatly in formation. The two marines assigned to the burial were great treating the family with respect. My father asked me to read my Uncle's commendation letter to start things off and you could tell that this was unknown to most of the two dozen or so attendees. When I read that my Uncle's actions were a credit to "him, his unit and to the tradition of the United States Army", the emotion was palatable.

The folding of the flag was next with an accompanying 9 gun salute. The tri-folded flag was presented to my father as the family scion with a sharp salute and my father then turned and presented the flag to my Uncle's ex-wife. In the background, trumpeter unseen to any of the attendees, "Taps" was played. I can not convey the sense of higher purpose prevalent in this ceremony. It was beautiful and moving with a nobility not often found today.

My Uncle spent many years bucking the system and fighting the man. Later in life, he seemed to reconcile with friends and family in a meaningful way. I know he did not look fondly back on the Vietnam War (no surprise) and also did not think highly of the Army, but I think just maybe he looked down on the cemetery yesterday and came full circle on his military service also.

God Bless You, Uncle Peter.

Party at the Vick House: Korean Dinner After!

Clinton Portis gives new meaning to the phrase "backwards-ass country black". And gives the true measure of his intelligence with following MENSA worthy comment:

"I don't know if he was fighting dogs or not, but it's his property, it's his dog," Portis said. "If that's what he wants to do, do it. I think people should mind their business."

When told that dog fighting is a felony, Portis replied, "It can't be too bad of a crime." Citing he was from deep back woods Mississippi, he stated "I know a lot of back roads that have the dog fighting if you want to go see it."

Here's a CLUE. It's a FELONY you frikkin' moron. Looking it up in the dictionary, which is something you're obviously not familiar with, give us "One of several grave crimes, such as murder, rape, or burglary, punishable by a more stringent sentence". That means it's a SERIOUS crime, and AGAINST the law, and you GO TO JAIL for it.

Just goes to show you that athletic prowess has NOTHING to do with and NO COLRRELATION with intelligence nor common sense. It just boggles the mind...

*****

Steroids in MLB. I have always been both a forgiver and comdemner of juiced baseball players. On one hand, steroids don't make you better able to hit a pitched baseball, which is still IMHO one of the, if not THE, toughest things in sports (next to Tilam beating me at golf and getting any married woman to play pelvic ping-pong). So from that standpoint, steroids are a worthless investment.

However, steroids DO make warning track power 3 row home runs, and THAT is the big issue here. 20 more feet from the warning track is a round tripper, so high flies will travel over the fence easier than they would if you had not done the sauce.

Then again, the difference between hitting a ball 385 feet to dead center and 405 feet over the wall is probably a millimeter on the bathead, steroids don't help you align that better.

Conversely, if you're off that millimeter and you DO steroids, then it's a home run.

See? I can debate myself all day...

Jason Giambi. Hmm, what to say about him. Well, he's already admitted to using 'roids, but he swears that he did not use them after signing the Yankee contract, which is all of a sudden in doubt. And now the Yankees are going to consider voiding the contract with Giambi if it's found that he did do 'roids after signing with New York. Again, as with Barry Bonds (unfortunately), unless something is PROVEN, you can't accuse and act upon speculation. I'm NOT in favor of voiding the contract of Giambi now for stuff he did a few years ago. Water under the bridge.

Oh, and Bud Selig, it's UNFORGIVEABLE that you don't plan on being there when Bonds breaks Aaron's career MLB home run record. Sure, he's at the center of the BALCO investigation. Sure, we have testimony that he did performance enhancing drugs. BUT YOU HAVEN'T PROVEN ANYTHING. And this is a significant record, and you SHOULD be there. I've always thought you were an asshole anyway, now that you no longer own the Brewers they are doing well, but this is an honor in baseball you need to recognize. If Bonds is proven to have done drugs later, react as you will. But to have accusations that are basically unproven guide you conduct, makes you a big asshole. I don't like Bonds much, and I believe he's done "something", but without proof he's another baseball player who will break a record, and you owe it to the GAME to be there, regardless of your personal feelings towards Barry and his alleged drug use.

I thought we were innocent until proven guilty?

Ruff Life

Again, this is something I will never understand. God has given you talent and opportunity and you just throw it all away. Even when you get a second, third and fourth chance, you keep on throwing it away.

I am not sure what it is. I don't think it is a race thing (white and Hispanic athletes also do it), but WTF is he thinking?

I have mentioned on many occasions that the NFL generally produces "good" characters (as oppose to the nuts of the NBA). But there are exceptions...

* * *

In other news, Floyd Landis' doping hearing got more interesting. Greg Lemond revaled that he was sexually abused as a child and that Landis' manager threaten to reveal that information if Lemond testified against Landis. Now, Lemond is a total asshole, but WTF. What are these people thinking?

* * *

Jason Giambi has admitted to using steroids. Is anyone surprised? Of course, now that the Yankees pitching has settled down, the bats have gone quiet. Good news is they are back in 2nd place, the bad news is that they are 9 1/2 back and the Red Sox are paying .700 ball. (Is it time to Panic? No, let's wait to see how the Red sox do after the All-Star break - Ed.) But at least there is finally harmony in the clubhouse. Oh, wait.

* * *

The Girls are 5 - 0 (7 - 2 as split squads) and generally dominating. As a coach, you definately enjoy these seasons more then the 0 - 5 seasons. I have seven of my 11 girls going for all-stars, but it was funny to watch my girls (who are competeing against their own grade and the next grade up) struggle against the bigger, older girls. They did well, but there were 60 eight and nine year olds trying out for about 33 slots. And, as is usual, the Top 10 are pretty obvious, the Bottom 10 probably apparent, and the remaining 40 girls are all good and very close in skills. I think I am more nervous then they are...

2 Woofs, a Yip, and a Woof

Well, the Michael Vick case just keeps getting more interesting...

Now, despite the fact that Vick has said that he was rarely at the Virginia house he owned where officials have found evidence of dog fighting and that he never took part in the practice, investigators don't agree. Kathy Strouse, the animal control coordinator for the City of Chesapeake in Virginia which is investigating the case at the Smithfield home, has spoken with individuals who can "put Vick on that property" during matches. Saying she is "very confident" that Vick will be tied directly to the dog fighting on the property, Strouse has challenged Surry County Commonwealth attorney Gerald Poindexter to bring charges.

But Michael Vick is famous...

"I'm not going to be a party to a witch hunt," Poindexter said, according to the Journal Constitution. "This [process] will not be driven by people who hate Michael Vick, love Michael Vick or people who love animals."

What the hell is this guy smoking? Make no mistake, something really bad was happening around that house, a house that Vick owned but "left to my family members and cousins". I call bullshit. Lately, reports regarding his involvement in the operation keep surfacing.

- Police conducting a drug investigation at the end of April raided the Vick-owned house and reported finding dozens of dogs, some injured and emaciated
- Investigators also discovered items associated with dog fighting, including veterinary supplies, blood-soaked carpeting, treadmills used for training and tools used to pry apart a dog's jaws.
- Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site on Thursday that two friends of Vick said the QB knew about the dog fighting operation at the home.
- WAVY-TV in Norfolk reported that clerks at a store near the property said Vick bought items such as syringes typically used in dog fighting.

But make NO mistake, this is about protecting your local famous athelete. This is about protecting the sterling (?) image of Surry County, VA, that it is not some back woods redneck shithole where people play banjos and watch dog fighting. More to come, but now, as you look at the Vick family, you begin to realize that the dickhead younger brother Marcus is not the exception, but the rule; and now, apparently coming to light, big bro Michael is the same way.

Joie de Vivre

As the world community gets smaller, the importance of things happening abroad grow. A very important thing happened this past weekend: an adult was elected to lead France.

Now I enjoy calling the French surrender monkeys as much as the next bloke, but there are two things to keep in mind. The first is the the common Frenchman is no more like the French politician as I am like Harry Reid. So while I agree that Chirac "est un Ver" I don't attribute his failings to the common Frenchman.

Second, we need a strong and vital France as much as we need a strong and vital England, Australia, Germany, Japan, Canada, Mexico...you get my drift. To a certain extent, it is MORE important. The French have had a nasty habit of dealing with unsavory regimes and going around the US and UN sanctions. Why? $$$$ A vibrant economy will take some pressure off of the French multi-nationals to make deal with such regimes simply for the money.

The problems the French face are tough, but not insurmountable. The solutions require the nation to take some risks, but Sarkozy seems to have been very up front about that and still won walking away. But if he can break the unions, revive the economy and give the French a boost of confidence, France can be a formitable player on the international stage. With the Brits flagging, Germany content and Japan tied up with North Korea, the US needs that right now.