The delectable and always delightful Roselyn Sanchez . Who could ask for anything more ?
Though she’s had her fair share of tv roles and a number of films to her credit, amongst which was the blockbuster Jackie Chan , Chris Tucker sequel ‘Rush Hour 2′ , in which she co-starred alongside the two comedic action stars. She was also in the depressingly ‘unfunny comedic’ vehicle for Mariah Carey’s ‘cougar husband’ Nick Cannon . Anyone who might have had the stomach to witness ‘Underclassman’ must now be completely devoid of all of their faculties. But having recently had some spare time on my hands and with the Netflix subscription found to be wanting. I thought better of it and requested the movie ‘Boat Trip . In which she co-starred alongside Oscar winner , Cuba Gooding Jr , in this somewhat rather mundane comedy. That asides, there is one scene that will have all testosterone driven males yearning to have Sanchez reproduce the scene , in which she suggestively performs fellatio on a banana. That scene alone was worth watching, the no more than four minutes therein , that just wets your appetite for something more lascivious to be forthcoming from the actress.
Here you see Roselyn Sanchez perform her now famous ‘banana scene’ from the movie ‘Boat Trip’. Sit back and enjoy , as you’ll have a new found reverence for Roselyn Sanchez one way or another. Make of it what you will.
And just to make you feel even better here are some pics of the delectable Roselyn Sanchez. Hopefully you’ll find the content matter to your liking ?
Alan Parkins aka tophatal
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Roselyn Sanchez all wet and wild ......
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Wet that's how I for one would like to see Roselyn Sanchez ! Is there really any other way to view her ?
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Stills from that now 'infamous scene' from the movie ' Boat Trip' . Who wouldn't want to be that banana for at least a couple of minutes ?
And The Survey Says……… I Think That You Screwed Up Mr President ………
As an impartial observer on the outside looking in . I can’t help but wonder if Barack Obama as President, had it all to do-over once again . Would he have sought to have surrounded himself with such a bunch of misfits ? His cabinet thus far has been about as useful as piece of fecal matter on the floor of an operating theater in a hospital. I know that when it comes to House and Senate majority leaders there’s little that he can do to the likes of Sen. Harry Reid (D-Utah) or for that matter Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca). To my mind both of these individuals are self serving and condescending when it comes to addressing the needs of the nation as a whole. That’s not to say that the Republicans themselves are without fault. As they’re as much to blame for this turmoil but they’d rather act oblivious to that very fact. And in terms of them coming up with solutions. Well that’s like asking Paris Hilton to explain the difference between a ‘balance sheet’ and a ‘baking sheet’. She’s as clueless as the Republicans on the matter.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with members of the Cabinet in the Cabinet Room on September 10, 2009 at the White House in Washington. During the meeting President Obama said he accepts the apology of Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for yelling out “You Lie” during Obama’s speech on healthcare reform to a joint session of Congress last night . photo appears courtesy of UPI/ Olivier Douliery …….
The President’s cabinet thus far, has proven to me that whilst a great many of them are obviously highly intelligent. When it comes to being forthright and communicative orally , they become tongue tied and about as comprehensible as alien life form that has suddenly landed on planet earth but is unable to communicate with anyone in any particular verbal format. If I’m not the only one of this opinion then I may well have misjudged the situation altogether. But somehow I think not !
The troubling fact now is , as the country gets mired in an economic meltdown that neither the economists or the Presidents own Council of Economic of Advisers have answer for as to when we may begin to start the climb out of the current recession. We have the asinine statements being made by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and that of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner , all throwing their hat into the ring, as to what they view as a certainty that the tides of change are suddenly beginning to foment and that the economy is about to take a turn for the better. Those are the sort of statements that are speculative in nature and which drive the greed that we tend to see on Wall St. But then again where were the members of ‘Congress’ and the ‘Senate’ , when these charlatans were bringing the economy to its very knees ?
President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner , make statements on tax reform, Monday, May 4, 2009, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Ron Edmonds ..........
Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner defended the Treasury bond’s AAA rating yesterday on television. But what else could he do? Last Wednesday, credit rating agency Moody’s warned that the T-bond’s rating was in danger of a downgrade, which would be a disaster for Geithner and the Treasury. A downgrade would raise the cost of the nation’s borrowing addiction, potentially hamstring the economic recovery and look really, really bad for Tim. So he did what he could to talk the spectre of a downgrade back into the closet. But it won’t do any good. It’s not his call.
Moody’s was pretty clear about what had to happen to prevent a downgrade:
Unless further measures are taken to reduce the budget deficit further or the economy rebounds more vigorously than expected, the federal financial picture as presented in the projections for the next decade will at some point put pressure on the triple A government bond rating.
In other words, the Treasury bond’s rating is up to Congress, the strength of the recovery, and the analysts at Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. How likely is it that Congress will get behind meaningful deficit reduction? Four days before Moody’s fired its shot, Douglas Elmendorf of the Congressional Budget Office offered some dismal testimony about how much Congress would have to change. (Thanks to Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Associates for pointing out the testimony):
…. accumulating deficits will push federal debt held by the public to significantly higher levels. At the end of 2009, debt held by the public was $7.5 trillion, or 53 percent of GDP; by the end of 2020, debt is projected to climb to $15 trillion, or 67 percent of GDP
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In order to read Eric Schurenberg’s article in its entirety
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And though the venerable Sarah Palin and her Tea Pot coterie are trying to sound anew . Haven’t we all heard this same sort of bulls_it once before with J. Ross Perot ? Only in the case of Perot, he wasn’t ’suckering the masses’ the way Palin is now intent on doing. Her most recent public engagement where she addressed a hall of thousands concerning the present administration. Where as the noted speaker, she had little of interest to say , other than a few mocking anecdotes. What I for one would like to know, were any of those in attendance aware that Palin was in receipt of $100,000 , merely to attend and address those congregated there to hear her speak ? And the masses are to believe that “she” of all people, is intent on seeing change up on Capitol Hill ? If she’s painting herself as an individual of a different mindset from those she’s now intent on criticizing. Then why all this false bravado and the money she’s accepting just to make these asinine and moribund statements, that at present have little or no sense to them at all ? For her it’s not about change but just the same old insipid tactic that all politicians tend to use just to ingratiate themselves amongst the electorate. And those gullible enough, tend to follow her lead rather than looking intensely and listening as to whether or not she’s making sense or has anything at all that insightful to begin with.
But for me at present , my biggest concern are the inane statements that are now being made by Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary. Either this guy is a habitual liar or he’s plainly someone who happens to be amoral. Anyone who happened to have heard Geithner’s most recent public statement concerning US Treasury bonds ought to know that when those are indeed downgraded , it shows that the ratings’ agencies believes that there’s cause for concern over the government’s handling of the nation’s finances as well as the economy at large. For him to make the claim that there’s nothing at present , is very much akin to the boy who persistently cries wolf when there’s nothing there. But when the wolf just happens to be at his very door he’ll act as if the wolf had been invited in for supper and to devour anything within its sight. This is more or less Geithner’s view not just only on the economy but also on the financial crisis now within our midst.
There seems to be a belief that there’s a neverending abundance of money here that federal government has at its beck and call. In reality nothing could be further from the truth. For inasmuch as the Treasury continues to print money and issue US Treasury Bonds. The inflationary minutiae that’s created , once opened up like can worms is extremely hard to gather up and placed back into the can. And having the Federal Reserve then enact a somewhat draconian fiscal monetary policy tends to exacerbate the matter further , instead of allaying the fears that are already out there.
The fact of the matter is, Tim Geithner is now kidding not only himself but now he’s trying to pull the wool over the eyes of 300 million inhabitants of the nation. I wonder which sock puppet he really is at this juncture ? And who indeed has their fingers up his ass controlling his thought process and speech at present ? Because clearly for a so called intelligent and knowledgeable individual ,something is very awry , askew with his view on the world and that of the US economy at present.
All Good Things Must Come To An End ……. So Did Superbowl SBXLIV ……………
So it came and went , what was the NFL’s showcase event …. Superbowl 44 (SBXLIV). The two representatives of the AFC and NFC put on a thoroughly energetic display of all-out attacking football. And at times the Indianapolis Colts showed that their defense was more than capable of stopping the New Orleans Saints’ ‘prolific offense’. But when it was all said and done , the Boys of ‘The Louisiana Bayou’ would end up prevailing in an exhilarating and well earned 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Superbowl (SBXLIV) MVP Drew Brees raises the Lombardi Trophy aloft after his team's victory over the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the game played at Sun Life Stadium , Miami, Florida. This was the Saints' first victory in the Superbowl in their enrtire 43 year existence. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images / Chad Restins..................
Sun Life Stadium , Miami, played host to the event and its ensemble spectacle. The half time showed had veteran rockers ‘The Who’ perform many of their hits, the show of which was somewhat uninspired , to say the very least. But then again the demographics that the NFL tends to appeal to doesn’t always resonate with the masses at large . The preponderance of young kids watching may only know some of themes being sang as that to the various CBS hit shows from the ‘CSI’ (trilogy) dramas on the station, hosting the Superbowl itself. Good cross product tie in by the network , even if it was somewhat uninspired to begin with.
New Orleans - February 7th, 2010. Celebrating New Orleans Saints fans spill out into the streets outside of LeBon Temps Roule uptown neighborhood bar just minutes after the New Orleans Saints won a Super Bowl XLIV victory in New Orleans, Louisiana. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images / Skip Bolen ......
Miami Gardens, Fla. — Drew Brees grew up in Texas and started playing for pay in faraway San Diego. But he made New Orleans his home and its cause uniquely his own.
After 43 years of Saints futility and one of the finest quarterbacking performances ever delivered in a Super Bowl, Brees made sure there’s no need to ask “Who dat?” anymore.
Thanks to Brees, the answer to “Who dat say they gonna beat them Saints?” is nobody.
“We just believed in ourselves, and we knew that we had an entire city and maybe an entire country behind us,” Brees said Sunday after being voted MVP in New Orleans’ 31-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts. “What can I say? I tried to imagine what this moment would be like for a long time, and it’s better than expected.”
“I’m just feeling like it was all meant to be. What can I say? The birth of my son, and in the first year of his life, we won a Super Bowl championship.”
The people of New Orleans now will embrace Brees tighter than some of their kinfolk. It didn’t hurt, of course, that when Brees arrived in 2006, both he and the city were at a crossroad.
A torn labrum in his throwing shoulder in the final game of the 2005 season, coupled with young Chargers passer Philip Rivers waiting in the wings, made Brees expendable in San Diego and left him wondering whether his career already was on the downside. When Saints coach Sean Payton drove Brees around New Orleans hoping to sell him on joining the Saints, the quarterback realized, seeing residents struggling to cope with the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, that he’d found the perfect place to begin his own comeback.
“Four years ago, who ever thought this would happen?” Brees said, still fighting back tears.
Earlier, as confetti swirled just above the playing surface at Sun Life Stadium, Brees’ eyes already were watering, trying not to cry as he held his son, Baylen, who was wearing a Saints jersey with his father’s name on the back and a headset so the loud celebration wouldn’t scare him. Brees struggled yet one more time to keep his emotions in check as he lifted the silver Lombardi Trophy over his head.
But a few minutes into his post-game interview, Brees simply quit trying.
“Eighty-five percent of the city was under water, all the residents evacuated all over the country, people never knowing if they were coming back or if New Orleans would come back,” he said. “But not only the city came back, and the team came back … when the players got there, we all looked at one another and said, ‘We’re going to rebuild together.’
“We leaned on each other,” Brees said, pausing as he choked up. “This is the culmination of that.”
Yet in the same way that New Orleans’ progress has come in fits and starts, so it was with the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. After a rocky first quarter, Brees found his rhythm midway through the second quarter and finished with a record-tying 32 completions in 39 attempts for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He was never finer than during what turned out to be the go-ahead scoring drive, stringing together seven straight completions — to seven different receivers.
“Phenomenal,” Saints wide receiver Marques Colston said. “You really can’t put that kind of performance in words. To have 32 completions and two drops, he deserves the MVP.
“Hopefully,” he added, “you guys (in the media) can start putting Drew in that elite quarterback conversation.”
Consider it a done deal.
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The Indianapolis Colts fights for a loose ball against the New Orleans Saints after an onside kick to start the second half during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Doug Benc .....
The game pitted two of the better quarterbacks in the NFL to have started a Superbowl in recent years and it was expected to be something of a chess match between these two celebrated stars of the league in, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. And the two most certainly did not disappoint with their play. If anything they served to show they have two of the most prolific and accurate passers in the NFL, in recent years.
And for the respective coaches in, Jim Caldwell and Sean Payton , this was an experience to soak up and remember for years to come. They may well use it as anecdote to tell their children and grandchildren for years to come, into the future.
Garrett Hartley (#5) of the New Orleans Saints kicks a field goal as Mark Brunell (#11) holds against the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Ezra Shaw ..........
Initially it was the Colts who got off to a fast start and they harried and rushed the Saints and their offensive line. But once the Saints steadied themselves , the game took on something more of a competitive edge about it all aspects. It was never going to be blowout for either side but at the same you got the inclination that whoever made the least amount of mistakes would end up prevailing in the game. And when it was all said and done , that was inevitably became the case. And for residents and citizens of New Orleans this may well have felt like vindication and redemption for all that the city has been through over the past few years. At the height of its troubles , they well have felt that the world had left them behind and had forgotten about them. But that was never really the case . As it all came down to the haphazard way that the local , state and federal government agencies dealt with a natural disaster that was unimaginable and inconceivable to comprehend in the magnitude of the destruction caused and the psychological aftermath of the toll that it left on the city’s citizens , young and old. Never mind the lives that were lost in the tragic disaster that was ‘Hurricane Katrina’ . This victory by the Saints may well provide some and be part of the healing process in the end , as the city looks to pick up the pieces and rebuild.
For the moment , whatever the future hold for the Saints and its owner, Tom Benson remains to be seen. But somehow , I for one don’t believe that the masses and the fans of the NFL will begrudge the team , the organization or for that matter , the citizens of New Orleans their moment to shine and to be proud of the achievements of their team. Kudos to the New Orleans Saints on a well deserved victory !
tophatal
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Kellita Smith, actress and former model. Smith is more widely known for playing the wife of the late comedian Bernie Mac , on the Fox comedy hit ‘ The Bernie Mac Show’.
Calmer Heads Ought To Prevail ……..But We’re Talking About The NFL and The NFLPA (Players’ Union) Here …….. So What Gives ?
OK, so this is the showcase weekend for the NFL, as its piece-de-resistance’ , showcase event , as in the Superbowl takes place in the‘cosmopolitan’ city of Miami ? . Having lived just north of the municipality, I wouldn’t exactly call Miami cosmopolitan ,in the true sense of the word. The city and the large proportion of its residents believe themselves to be entitled and better off than many of their other residents. But that’s a story for another day.
MIiami Grounds crews prepare the field for the Super Bowl at Sun Life Stadium February 6, 2010 in Miami, Florida. Super Bowl XLIV (SB XLIV) between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints will be held tomorrow, Sunday February 7, 2010. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Win McNamee .......
With countless millions watching nationally and tens of millions worldwide , this is the most watched sporting event in North America. In effect it becomes a proxy ‘national holiday’ for many. And the two participants , the respective representatives of the AFC and NFC will throw down the gauntlet on Sunday evening, as they seek to achieve supremacy and be anointed ‘Superbowl’ champions. The Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints are more than deserving of their place in the championship game. And for God’s sake can the ‘Brett Favre apologists either stop whining or simply jump of the damn cliff and follow the other lemmings that might’ve done so already !
A group of New Orleans Saints players pose on the Super Bowl logo at the 50-yard line for a souvenir photograph during football practice at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Miami. The Saints play the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL football Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Mark Humphrey ......
For both coaches and their entire staffs this will be something to savor , whether or not it’s their first time or a repeat , as in the case of the Colts . For first year coach Jim Caldwell of the Colts, he seeks to do what only a few men have done in the NFL in their first year as a coach and that’s to raise the Lombardi Trophy to signify that they have won the Superbowl. Caldwell’s counterpart, Sean Payton seeks to achieve his own place in history and at the same time give the residents of the city of New Orleans something to be proud of. This may well be the redemption also that Saints’ owner, Tom Benson seeks. As he’d often been thought of as something of a pariah within the city and its surrounding parishes. That may well have now changed but prior to the Hurricane Katrina disaster , let’s just say the sight of Benson within the city and its surrounding area was about as welcoming as a dose of the bubonic plague. Much of that changed once the city underwent the disaster as the nation and the inhabitants rallied around to help rebuild and resurrect the city and residents. Though a lot has been done there is still a great deal more to do.
As to the game itself , I’m not about to prognosticate and make a bold prediction. I’ll leave that to the likes of the ‘guys’ in Vegas and the analysts on tv. Suffice to say, all I’m wishing for is that this will be a highly competitive contest ! And on the day the better team will prevail. Sentiments being what they are, would suggest that some will rally around the Saints and cheer them on to victory. While others will no doubt want to see the Peyton Manning led Colts win their second Supebowl in four years. Manning having won his fourth league MVP award , now looks to cement his legacy and add to the annals of NFL history. Whether or not he’ll achieve that goal, we will know by late Sunday evening . But you can bet that he and his teammates will be looking to make it a certainty. Hoping to make sure that doesn’t happen will be Saints quarterback, Drew Brees , his high powered offense and the veteran presence of Darren Sharper .
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton leads football practice at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010 in Miami. The Saints play the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL football Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Mark Humphery .....
Now once the game is over and all of the celebrations are to be had. We head into the off-season and all of the uncertainty that’s surrounds it. The ongoing slugfest between the two prinicipla rivals , as in the NFL and the NFLPA (Players’ Union), has left a decidedly and uniquely nasty taste and stench within our midst. One the one hand you have the players wanting, it would seem an even larger slice of an ever diminishing piece of pie. Whereon the other hand you now have the owners and the NFL pleading poverty and the fact that they’re not making as much money as they use to. Pardon me for saying this but when the fu_k have you ever heard of a ‘poverty stricken NFL owner’ ? Well other than that of the ‘Glazer family’ and their less than candor shown, as to their ongoing financial predicament with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United .
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – DeMaurice Smith slammed a 200-m.p.h. serve into NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s end of the court Thursday afternoon when the executive director of the players’ union strongly suggested that the owners would force a work stoppage with a lockout in 2011.
Goodell was far less aggressive with his return in yesterday’s state-of-the-league address at the Broward County Convention Center.
“We want an agreement,” Goodell said. “I think every owner will say the same thing. We want an agreement that is fair to the game, to the players, and will allow us to continue to invest in the game.
“The idea that ownership would be anxious for a work stoppage is absolutely false. You don’t make money by shutting down your business.”
That was much more diplomatic than the message sent by Smith when he met with reporters in the same building less than 24 hours earlier, but Goodell didn’t offer any substantial reasons for optimism on labor negotiations that apparently will lead to a season without a salary cap in 2010.
Smith and the Tennessee Titans’ Kevin Mawae, president of the union, the National Football League Players Association, said the owners had asked the players to take an 18 percent cut in the revenue sharing between the sides.
That contention was among 10 labor questions asked of the commissioner, who had to know the subject would dominate his news conference.
“I will tell you that what we’ve asked for very clearly” is “that when investments are made to grow the game and generate new revenue, they’re given recognition,” Goodell said. “And that will encourage further investment that will hopefully grow [the] pie.”
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NFLPA Executive Director, DeMaurice Smith and Union President, Kevin Mawae , have pretty much made it clear that if it’s a fight that the NFL wants. Then they’re pretty much prepared to give it to them. As to what form that might take , no one is sure and nor do they welcome it. But it’s pretty much safe to say that the union is prepared for a stoppage and the possibility of a lockout. The last time that happened the NFL was shut down for a few months in 1987. To think that would happen again would send a seismic shockwave across the sporting landscape. And the financial loss to all involved would cost tens of millions of dollars. Never mind that the fans would no doubt feel alienated and betrayed both parties. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell , appears to be saying all of the right things but his actions and that of the owners would suggest otherwise. The owners aren’t prepared to acquiesce and give any ground to the union and the same can be said of the union and their view of the situation . For the time being it appears to be a stalemate but somehow , I for one feel that things could get a whole lot nastier before they even give the appearance of getting better. Time is essentially running out for both sides as the deadline set for both sides to reach an agreement is the 5th March. That may well seem a long way off but when measured by the lack of progress that’s been made between both sides. It feels like an eternity or as wide as the Grand Canyon, if you want a meaningful contrast and visual portrayal ?
NFLPA President Kevin Mawae seen here discussing the NFLPA’s involvement with regard to their philanthropic assistance to the strife torn country.
FORT LAUDERDALE — No sooner had NFLPA assistant executive director of external affairs George Atallah said during a state of the union Thursday news conference that total league revenue rose to $7.6 billion this past year, than labor strife rhetoric ramped up.
There was NFLPA president Kevin Mawae saying inside meeting room 315 at the Super Bowl media center inside the Fort Lauderdale Convention Center that owners are asking players to take an 18% pay cut and the players’ motto is, “Once uncapped, we’ll never go back.”
The league is less than one month from entering an uncapped 2010 season. If an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by the end of the 2010 league year in early March, NFL executive director DeMaurice Smith said on a scale of 1-10 that a lockout by owners is a “14.” And once the owners remove the salary cap for this season with restrictions in place, players won’t want to return to a salary-cap mechanism.
“It will be a very difficult task to go back to a capped season,” the veteran Tennessee Titans center said. “I can’t see going back to it. If players can make more than what they can make now in the future, than why would we go back to it?”
It is one of the key questions amid owners demanding the players’ side accept an 18% paycut.
“It’s absolutely that they’ve asked for 18%,” Mawae said. “(New York Giants co-owner) John Mara came out in a meeting last time that they proposed 20% and they won’t budge.
“It’s football. This is the greatest week in the NFL every year. It so happens to be a year when there could be possible labor unrest.
“You don’t want it to overshadow the game. But it’s obviously a part of what’s going to happen in this game. What you see this coming Sunday may not be here in 2011.”
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Tampa Bay Bucaneers former President Gay Culverhouse (R) testifies before the House Judiciary Committee about football brain injuries along with National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell (L) and NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith (C) on Captiol Hill October 28, 2009 in Washington, DC. A recent NFL study of retired players suggested that N.F.L. retirees ages 60 to 89 are experiencing moderate to severe dementia at several times the national rate. Suffering from cancer and with six months to live, Culverhouse is an advocate for players with brain injuries and testified about her 20 years experience in the NFL. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images North America / Chip Somodevilla ................
Needless to say the fans will start to get pissed , having seen the posturing of both sides and with very little having been accomplished. Kindergarten children have been known to show more resolve than what we’re now witnessing from both sides. Suffice to say, the bickering is ongoing and the only thing we’ve yet to see from either side is the name calling. When asked as to how close they were in reaching an amicable agreement upon a new collective bargaining agreement – Kevin Mawae was heard to say …..’what you see here on Sunday …may not be here in 2011′. With that one statement it’s pretty safe to say that averting a lockout, will not be happening. If an agreement can’t be reached in principal and they somehow do seek to play this upcoming season. Then it will be done without the NFL mandated salary cap. Without one in place then it petty much gives the wealthier teams around the NFL ‘carte-blanche’ to go after whomever they want and pay a player whatever they may well seek in terms of a salary. Financial constraints simply goes out the window and the mayhem ensue thereafter. If it’s one thing that we learned when the salary cap first came into being within the NFL. It was that it leveled the playing field and it made the teams and their general managers fiscally responsible. A return to the days of old and the chaos and mayhem that comes with it all , will no doubt add to the complexity of an already exacerbated situation.
If there’s one thing that we know about both the NFL and the NFLPA , it’s that they can both be inconsistently consistent as to a stance taken and then seemingly in the next breath do an about face and act as if the first stance taken by them never happened to begin with. And we’re now seeing it happen as each side is trying to portray themselves as a victim. Whilst I’m watching this unfold it has somewhat given me something of a new found respective for Bud Selig , the MLB hierarchy and that of their own MLBPA (Players Union). At least with each of the parties there , I could tell that they were blowing smoke up my ass , even if it wasn’t being done intentionally ! With the case of both the NFL and NFLPA , they would have you believe that they are sincere in trying to resolve their situation amicably and at the same time stay in the good graces of their patrons, the fans. Truth be known ? Neither party gives ‘a flying fu_k’ what the fans think to begin with because in their eyes it’s about what ‘they want’ , ‘their needs’ and how best it gets achieved !
While we’d all like to see an agreement reached that’s equitable for all of the parties concerned. It’s becoming abundantly clear that there could very well be labor unrest this off-season within the NFL. And if that does happen and there’s a lockout and stoppage. Then for all sense and purpose the NFL and its players can in effect say goodbye to the last piece of goodwill that it had amongst the fans.
Far be it for me to suggest that both the NFL and NFLPA should resort to the ‘ Chicago Way’. But it seemed to have worked for Eliot Ness and his Untouchables.
tophatal
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The always sensuous ravishing , captivating and sexually alluring Italian actress Monica Bellucci . There aren't too many actresses around with her sort of sex appeal by far !
PTI (Pardon The Interruption) But You’re Going To Pay Him What ? How Much ? Get The **ck Out Of Here ! ……….
Having led the organization to their second Superbowl appearance in three years. The Indianapolis Colts’ hierarchy and front office are looking to lock up their 4 time league MVP and Superbowl MVP (SBXLI)winning quarterback, Peyton Manning to a contract extension, that could in effect net him in excess of $ 120 million dollars , if he fulfills the obligations of the contract that’s allegedly being drawn and which awaits the player’s signature at the culmination of this year’s Superbowl. Colts’ owner, Jim Irsay, the team’s GM, Bill Polian and team coach Jim Caldwell are all in accordance with this. As to what this would suggest to Manning’s teammates is only a matter of speculation and conjecture. But suffice to say ‘….Peyton is getting his just like any other player , who expects to be amply rewarded for their exploits on the field of play. Manning , himself is said to earn in excess of $ 20 million a year, in terms of commercial endorsements from corporate sponsors , alone. That supplements his NFL salary rather nicely , placing him amongst the 40 highest paid athletes on the planet.
Indianapolis Colts' Peyton Manning answers questions during a media availability,Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Indianapolis will face the New Orleans Saints in the NFL football Super Bowl XLIV Sunday. It's widely being rumored that the Colts' quarterback is about to sign the most lucrative contract in the NFL history. Though figures have yet to be confirmed . It is believed that the contract will eclipse that signed by his younger brother Eli, worth at the time $97.5 million over 6 years. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Eric Gay ......
If as expected, the player does sign the dotted line on the contract extension then he’ll not only become one of the highest paid players in the NFL . But he’ll also eclipse the contract signed by his younger brother, Eli Manning of the New York Giants. If one remembers that was also an extension that will pay Giants’ quarterback $97.5 million over six years. Netting him an average of $16.25 million per year (of that $97.5 million-$43 million was guaranteed). Now as to whether or not the younger Manning is worth that sort of money , I’ve leave that up you to decide. Granted , he’s led the team to a surprising Superbowl (SBXLII) win over the New England Patriots in 2008. But since that win, the Giants have been something of anathema as a team.
Courtesy of ESPN.com
Irsay plans to break bank for Peyton
By Len Pasquarelli , ESPN.com
MIAMI — Negotiations to extend the contract of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will begin in earnest after the season, Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed on Tuesday, and the new deal is expected to make the Colts’ star the highest-paid player in NFL history and to keep him with the franchise for his entire career.
Manning’s current deal, the final two years of which have been technically voided, will expire after the 2010 season.
“You know it’s going to get done,” Irsay said during media day interviews. “I think it’s clear, and we’ll start on it this summer. That’s been the way we do things [to hammer out an extension when a player is entering the final year of his contract]. And it’ll be the biggest [contract] in history; there’s not much doubt about that.”
Irsay has said in the past that Manning will be “a Colt for life,” and he reiterated that stance on Tuesday morning.
Manning, 33, signed a contract extension for $99.2 million in 2004, and the deal included a record $34.5 million singing bonus, all of it paid up front. The final two seasons of that contract were voided because Manning met predetermined playing-time incentives, making 2010 the final year of the deal.
The Manning contract, Irsay said, “is the easy one to do, because you know it’s going to have to be the highest ever.” The Colts’ owner noted the “harder deals” are the ones involving good, but less important players, and cited former Indianapolis starters like guard Steve McKinney and linebackers Marcus Washington and David Thornton, veterans whom the Colts could not afford to pay because of the franchise’s salary structure, and were forced to sacrifice to free agency.
“It simply comes to one question, and that’s replaceability,” Irsay explained. “Everything is based on the replaceability factor. You make decisions based on who you can afford to target and keep. … Other guys you really want to [re-sign] you might have trouble doing it, because of what it costs you, and how much attention they’re getting [from other teams in free agency]. We don’t have that luxury and we’ve had to work hard.”
Team president Bill Polian said during the season that the club, because it had such high-profile players, often had to determine “how fungible” some players and positions were. But Irsay, who invested about $100 million into the club after his father, Robert Irsay, died in 1997, is prepared to make Manning a very rich man. The younger Irsay, in fact, has dipped into his own wallet in the past to fund the contracts of some key players.
Ironically, the contracts of Manning and New England quarterback Tom Brady are both up after the 2010 campaign. Irsay allowed he will “watch closely” the bargaining on the Brady deal.
“We didn’t have the luxury [of not having a salary cap],” Irsay said. “Without one, not having those [constraints], we would have done an incredible job.”
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In order to read Len Pasquarelli’s article in
its entirety just click unto the link provided .
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NFL Commissioner , Roger Goodell inset, seated left is seen here with his union executive counterpart NFLPA Executive Director , DeMaurice Smith , seen here up on Capitol Hill, DC , in front of the empaneled Senate Judiciary Committee. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Charles Dharapak .......................
It is by no means a surprise that the Colts’ organization would want to lock Peyton Manning up to a long term deal. And if as suggested, by the owner ,Jim Irsay , that it is his intention to have the player play his entire career with the team. Then they’re now pretty much sure that this is the way that they want to reward him. Without a doubt, Manning himself, has been one of the best quarterbacks ever to have graced the NFL. But that asides, it leaves somewhat of an unsavory taste in one’s mouth when you consider that he couldn’t have done it without the full complementary of players that he’s been surrounded by. And how are they, then to be rewarded when their contracts are up for renewal or extension ? With this upcoming season (2010-11) very well being an uncapped season if the NFL , the owners and the NFLPA (Players’ Union) are unable to make an assertive effort in reaching common ground, with regard to a renewal of the collective bargaining agreement. Then the whole rationale and inner workings of a great many teams within the league could be turned upside down. As it is, NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith is itching for a fight and looking to derail the somewhat autocratic rule of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. As contentious as the two sides appear to be with regard to the ongoing negotiations and the very fact that both sides addressed the members of Congress and then met in convened meeting in-front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Nothing was accomplished , other than the usual amount of posturing and pandering by both sides. Never mind the fact that at times it looked as if the empaneled members seemed to be in awe of the NFL players who addressed them. But should we really expect anything else from these legislators ?
(Left to right) General manager Bill Polian, team owner Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning (#18) of the Indianapolis Colts look on during Super Bowl XLIV Media Day at Sun Life Stadium on February 2, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Doug Benc ..........
The hard part here is to fully comprehend how both sides were one minute all sync with one another concerning going forward. And the next accusations are being leveled by both sides against each other , as to the greed and disingenuousness shown by both sides. Neither side it appears wants to acquiesce to the others’ wishes , as they feel that it would show a sign of weakness on their part. It may well be that they aren’t overly concerned as to what the fans are indeed thinking about the situation at this juncture. A lockout, reminiscent of the labor dispute that shut down the entire NFL in in 1987 for several weeks and that led to a great deal of discord between the union and the NFL . Something along those lines once again and we’re liable to see the fans quite possibly abandon the game and the NFL altogether. But were the NFL to use replacement players as they did in ‘87, and we would be liable to see the tension build up even further between the two parties. There’s nothing like a ‘bunch of greedy owners’ and ‘their self serving counterparts’ ,as in the ‘highly overpaid players’ bickering about how many more millions that they can slice off the piece of an ever diminishing slice of an already big piece of pie. One thing is for sure , neither the players or the fans will take kindly to seeing replacement players taking to the field and then calling it an NFL game. At the same time one doubts that the NFL owners and its hierarchy are stupid enough to do such a thing ?
Miami — The NFL will be in full glory this week. A marvelous Super Bowl matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints is days away.
Soon after the confetti flitters about Sun Life Stadium and the Lombardi Trophy is hoisted triumphantly, football’s showcase event will give way to uncertainties and insecurities about an imminent labor clash, one that will have significant ramifications on the 2010 season, could lead to a 2011 lockout and might even scuttle an entire season.
You’ve ignored the NFL labor situation, hoping it would fix itself before you invested one minute of your life, one ounce of worry.
“I’ll just watch football,” you thought. “I’ll concentrate on the season, the stars, the X’s and O’s. I’ll carry on as though the NFL is simply in the greatest league in the world, a game, a diversion from real-world issues — not an industry.”
Time to start paying attention to the big business, folks.
Big trouble is near.
Collective bargaining agreements, economics, uncapped seasons and revenue haggling aren’t nearly as entertaining as game highlights and chalk talk.
But if you want to follow along with what could evolve into the most important off-field storyline in recent sports history, you’ll need to learn the issues. (The NFL, league and owners are synonymous. So are the NFL Players Association, the union and the players.)
What’s on the line?
The owners and players have until March 5 to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement, essentially the off-field rule book for an $8 billion industry. If they do not reach new terms, a host of provisos will be triggered.
Most significantly, the 2010 season will be played without a salary cap or floor, allowing teams to spend as much or as little as they wish. Two weeks ago, New York Giants owner John Mara indicated that an uncapped season appeared unavoidable. If a new CBA isn’t struck by March 2011, a lockout would be highly probable.
How did we get here?
The players got the upper hand on the owners in 2006, the last time they hashed out a CBA. The players were able to renegotiate what revenues were considered a part of the financial pie, from which they would receive about 60 percent.
The salary cap skyrocketed from $80 million per team in 2005 to $102 million the next year. In each subsequent season, the cap climbed to about $109 million, $116 million and $128 million for the 2009 season. The salary floor — the amount of money teams are forced to spend — was $112 million this season, or $32 million more than the highest ceiling under the previous CBA. By doing so, the owners froze the percentage of revenues dedicated to player costs at 57.5 percent.
In 2008, the owners voted unanimously to exercise a clause that allowed either side to opt out of the CBA one or two years early.
What does the league want?
The owners’ objective is to retain more revenues, because they’re assuming virtually all of the risk in this business venture. Their mission statement is that they want to provide long-term stability and growth opportunities, but their margins are thinning because of the U.S. economy. Sponsorship dollars are scarcer. There were 22 blackouts this season, up from nine in 2008. Money has been sunk into stadiums and practice facilities.
At the top of the league’s wish list is an 18 percent rollback in salaries and a rookie salary cap that would redirect money to proven talent rather than players who might not have what it takes. Another way for the owners to grow the revenue pie would be expanding the regular season to 18 games.
What does the NFL Players Association want?
Maintaining the status quo would be just fine with the players.
What would an uncapped year mean in 2010?
It sounds like an uncapped year would favor the players, because it gives the impression that freewheeling owners would start throwing money around in their quest for a Super Bowl title. But the uncapped year is a bit of a misnomer. It’s true there wouldn’t be a salary cap. Deep-pocketed teams such as the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and New England Patriots could spend as much as they want. But in reality there would be no financial limitations at all. Teams would have no salary floor to maintain, although minimum individual player salaries still would need to be met. The salary floor for 2009 was about $108 million.
How would the uncapped year affect free agency for the upcoming season?
These changes would be unfavorable for the players. The requirement to be eligible for unrestricted free agency would jump from four years to six. Rather than being allowed to hit the open market, 212 players would be restricted free agents instead. Teams have the right of first refusal on restricted free agents and would receive draft compensation if they chose not to match the offer.
Some of the bigger names who would have been unrestricted but would not be in an uncapped year include Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall and outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil, San Diego Chargers receiver Vincent Jackson and linebacker Shawne Merriman, Houston Texans linebacker DeMeco Ryans and Cowboys receiver Miles Austin.
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Click on the above link shown to read Tim Graham’s piece
in its entirety.
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For the Colts as an organization they’ve been somewhat fiscally prudent but at the same time when one sees in large part one player taking up in excess of 1/3 of a team’s salary in order for that player to re-sign and remain with the team. One has to ask the question how much is enough when it comes to the players and their ever burgeoning need to earn even more ? It’s OK in the good times when the money is said to be plentiful a bullish economic times. But when there’s an acute crisis within their midst what would it suggest that the NFL and their teams ought to be doing ? If they can’t seemingly show some constraint and then expect the fans to make the outlay to see their games. Then surely there’s something amiss with the whole business concept and template with which the NFL continues to operates under ?
At age 33 , it could well be that Peyton Manning could play another decade in the NFL. And with the proposed contract that’s being offered that scenario seems to be all but a certainty. As to whether not it’s a 6 year $100 million contract or something akin to 10 years $150 million-$180 million remains to be seen. The one thing you can be sure of , is that the print and tv media will not let this story go. If anything it will become the piece’ de resistance for the likes of ESPN/ABC Sports , Fox Sport, NBC Sports , CBS Sports and the vast coterie of sports’ reporting organizations across the landscape. Money can be the ‘root of all evil’ but it can also come as a blessing in disguise. Somehow , for someone of Peyton Manning’s stature , I’m not so sure that it really matters or not. I get the feeling that if he were asked to simply play a game of ‘tag football’ in a playground , he’d still derive the same amount of pleasure as he does playing in the NFL.
Voluptuous model and aspiring actress Bianca Holland . Less is more as they say . And the more of Bianca that we see the less concerned we are about our other problems wouldn't you say ?
I Won’t Discuss Politics But I Will Discuss Sports
Usually on the weekends my buddies and I will get together at the home of our choosing of one the six or seven of us that might get together, to take in some sports and just have a good time. We’re either married or involved in relationships wherein the spouse or partner of the friends in question either lives with or has a place of their own. In the case of the latter for me , I live on my own in my own abode , whereas the girlfriend lives in Orlando. Absence they say makes the heart grow fonder ?
Now usually off limits, when we get together will be the subject of politics. OK, so we each have our own opinions on the matter as well as our own political affiliations. For myself , as I’m not a registered voter , nor am I citizen of this country. My affiliations as such , are as an impartial observer, even though I am galled and am liable to get pissed off when I hear the asinine utterances of a number of political commentators or legislators speaking on a wide variety of topics where their knowledge is limited at best. My buddies chafe at the fact that I’ve been a legal resident here for the past sixteen years but have chosen not to become a ‘US citizen’. Wherein, I reply ….’ why should I ‘ ? It’s not as if anything that’ll be afforded me will actually change my life overnight. I work , I pay taxes of which I’m not overly enamored with at present , given the ‘national debt’ and ‘unrelenting budget deficits’. And given the fact that the country is in such ‘a monumental mess’ and neither side of the political aisle has an answer for what ails the country. Instead , all that we see is this so called ‘democracy at work ‘. Well, if that means bi-partisanship, name calling, unfounded accusations , bickering like pre-adolescent kids in a playground . Then I can well understand why the country will proceed forward at a snail’s pace. Something of which , when I say this , it seems to draw the ire of my colleagues.
Miami Gardens, FL February 2nd 2010. (L-R) General manager Bill Polian, team owner Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning (#18) of the Indianapolis Colts look on during Super Bowl XLIV Media Day at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Doug Benc .......
That being said, we’ll congregate at my home this weekend for some Superbowl (SBXIV) festivities and hopefully get to watch a terrific game between the two participants, the Indianapolis Colts, and New Orleans Saints. Two teams , who as the representatives of AFC and NFC , have been by far in a way ‘the best two teams’ in the entire NFL throughout the regular and postseason. Forgive me when I say this , but the likes of Chris Berman , Mark Schlereth and Ron Jaworski couldn’t spot a good team if they were handed instructions on what to look for. Listening to that triumvirate whine on, as to ‘the greatness that is’, Brett Favre and how the Vikings and Cowboys would meet in the NFC championship game was about as bearable as having either a colo-rectal or prostate examination. And we males, all know uncomfortable and disconcerting that experience can be . Don’t we ?
Davie, Fla. – Darren Sharper’s currency in his profession had supposedly gone counterfeit, which might be the worst thing that can happen to a player at his position. Linebackers can be camouflaged. Cornerbacks can be shifted. Even defensive ends can be schemed into relevance. But once an NFL safety becomes a liability – once his body is unwilling and his ball skills have eroded – he becomes impossible to obscure, like trying to hide a zeppelin under a bed sheet.
A year ago at this time, that was the dark cloud following Sharper around once it became clear the Minnesota Vikings were turning their back on him. For a player whose tender was creating game-changing plays, his one forced turnover in 2008 spoke volumes. And to the NFL at large, the then 33-year old Sharper’s bank appeared to be empty.
“That was the talk, right?” Sharper said with a Cheshire grin. “… [2008] didn’t go the way I wanted, but yeah, I was surprised at the perception. Someone [messed] up on that one, huh?”
Of that reality, there remains little doubt. Not only is the New Orleans Saints safety coming off one of his finest seasons, he took note that the Vikings sorely missed a playmaker like him this season. In fact, he delighted himself with the thought a few days before the NFC championship game, then promptly went out and helped the Saints deal the death blow to Minnesota’s Brett Favre -inspired fairytale.
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In order to read Charles Robinson’s article in its
entirety just click unto the link shown
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Head coach Jim Caldwell of the Indianapolis Colts speaks to members of the media with a Haitian flag on his head during Super Bowl XLIV Media Day at Sun Life Stadium on February 2, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images / Doug Benc ..........
I’ve no particular team to vie for in this match-up , though sentiment would deem it to appropriate to cheer on the Saints, given what the organization and the city of New Orleans has been through over the past five years. But inasmuch, as I like the team. I have to admit that in watching Jim Caldwell of the Colts, coach his team. I can’t help but wonder if he and his predecessor , Tony Dungy , had some sort of symbiotic relationship ? This Colts’ team hasn’t skipped a beat and that’s given the fact that they’ve got several new faces on this roster. None of whom , has had more of sensational postseason than their wide receiver, Pierre Garcon. ‘His story’ if anything, has had something of a profound effect on us all . How can it not , given the tumult he’s been through after the devastation wreaked in his native , Haiti ?. Peyton Manning may well be the leader of this team but it’s now Garcon who’s the breakout star on it .
Drew Brees (#9 )of the New Orleans Saints speaks to members of the media during Super Bowl XLIV Media Day at Sun Life Stadium on February 2, 2010 in Miami Gardens, Florida. photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Doug Benc ...............
On the other side of the equation you have Sean Payton as the coach of the Saints and their high powered and prolific offense led by quarterback, Drew Brees. The naysayers were already saying that the ‘Who Dat Boys’ of the Bayou , wouldn’t be able to get the job done. It was deemed that they were too one dimensional and too reliant on a pass proficient offense. Well somehow they proved the naysayers wrong, with their emphatic triumph over the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC championship game. And the long suffering fans of the Saints finally had something to cheer shout about. I begin to wonder which side of the fence that Berman , Schlereth and the ‘diminutive pip squeak’, Merril Hoge , will straddle ? No Brett Favre or Tony Romo to become infatuated over . So I guess that they’ll either have to choose between Peyton and Drew Brees ?
Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints speaks to members of the media during Super Bowl XLIV Media Day at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida . photo appears courtesy of Getty Images/ Scott Halleran ......
Now for my buddies, we’re liable to debate who’ll be the ‘better team’ on the day. And no doubt our observations and the veracity of the arguments we’ll be trying to make will be blurred by our voracious consumption of alcohol. Well what’s a Superbowl party without booze, chips , dips , buffalo hot wings and an assortment of fine cigars to boot ? That’s my idea of pigging out on the day ! What’s yours ? One way or another , we hope to enjoy ourselves and hopefully there won’t be any bone of contention with regard to the wagers being laid. One thing I do know, I for one am not going down that route ! It’s a sucker’s bet that’s far too close to call.
Recently on a local sports talk radio show, the host and co-host were debating as to who the ‘Fighter of The Decade’ has been in the sport of boxing. Naturally, the choices were between the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr (40-0, 25 KO’s), and the multiple divisional world champion, Manny Pacquaio (50-3-2, 38 KO’s) . Now for myself, as a self avowed fan of the sport. I thought that this was a tremendous topic of conversation. And though you’d be hard pressed to choose between the two. Nonetheless, a choice can be made dependent upon the parameters that you’re willing to set in order to adjudicate. The deciding factor as far as I am concerned, will be the body of work of both fighters and the caliber of opponents faced. Granted, both are exceptionally skilled fighters , each in their own way. And with them each, comes a great deal of excitement when they’re in the ring facing an opponent. While Mayweather is deemed the consummate showman in the style of predecessors such as Muhammad Ali and ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard. Pacquiao is the classic fighter and boxer ,who’s equally adept in using either style to defeat an opponent. But in his vast array of arsenal there is a devastating puncher , who has been known to destroy the careers of fighter who were thought to be invincible. Is it any wonder that he’s been known as ‘The Assassin’ ? He’s literally destroyed the careers of such Latin fighters as Miguel Cotto, David Diaz , Oscar De La Hoya , Juan Manuel Marquez , Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales. All of whom at one time or another, either have been world champions or legitimate number one contenders in their specific weight categories.
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Manny Pacquiao seen here in his light welterweight title bout against Ricky Hatton at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas , Nevada. Pacquiao would go on to defeat his opponent with a second round TKO.
New York (AP)—Manny Pacquiao was honored as the fighter of the decade by the Boxing Writer’s Association of America on Monday, along with matching Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield by winning his third fighter of the year award.
Pacquiao (50-3 with 2 draws and 38 KOs) capped off a remarkable decade by stopping welterweight Miguel Cotto in the final round in November to win a title in a record-setting seventh weight division. Pacquiao will return to the ring in March when he defends his WBO belt against Joshua Clottey at the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium in Dallas.
Pacquiao says he will accept his awards haul in person at the 85th boxing writers awards dinner on June 11 in New York City.
The reigning pound-for-pound king was chosen fighter of the decade over Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Marco Antonio Barrera.
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, was honored with a record-setting fourth Eddie Futch Award for trainer of the year. Futch once trained Roach, who eventually became his assistant and has gone on to train the likes of Israel Vazquez and James Toney.
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Mayweather , for his part has never really ducked an opponent but what may well be the one factor that alienates him from the fans has been his demeanor and disdain at times. He’s of the opinion that he’s never been given his due as a fighter and has often been in contention with promoters and fans alike. Never mind the fact that when needed to, he’ll choose to denigrate an opponent in order to sell tickets for a fight. Love him or hate him, you have to admire his talent in the ring, if not outside of it. Now for Floyd Mayweather, himself a multiple world champion in three different weight categories , it’s his belief that he’s ‘pound for found champion and the best fighter on the planet, bar none. He has his supporters as well as his detractors. The same too, can be said of the Filipino, Manny Pacquaio. And amidst the controversy that surrounded their now postponed and what was meant to be a highly anticipated title bout between Mayweather and Pacquaio. The fans are now left with the debate, as to ‘who’ is the better fighter and which of the two has been the ‘fighter of the decade’. Easy to choose between the two , if you really know what to look for. But like I said it all comes down to their body of work and the caliber of opponents faced. The common thread here is the fact that both have faced Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton. And each case , both De La Hoya and Hatton were found to be wanting against both of these opponents. But that in of-itself can’t really lead us to a conclusive decision. Suffice to say it comes down to whom you like or dislike , be it for personal reasons or not.
Mayweather seen here facing Oscar De La Hoya in their WBC light middleweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mayweather would go on to defeat De La Hoya in split decision , majority verdict over 12 rounds.
Now I don’t want to bore you all but you obviously know how I feel about the game of baseball, in particular Bud Selig , his minions , as in the MLB hierarchy and league owners within the sport. I find them all to be a self serving bunch of downright greedy bastards who’ve nobody’s interests but their own when it comes to self preservation. They alongside the MLBPA (Players’ Union) couldn’t give a flying fu_k about the fans and what we think about the game and our gravest of concerns about it.
Texas Rangers president, Nolan Ryan talks with reporters in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. Ryan will be part owner when Major League Baseball approves the sale of the team from Tom Hicks. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press Mike Fuentes ............
We also have to also contend with the bloviated comments of Selig, as to the game and its seemingly good health ? Perhaps, I’m mistaken here but what’s healthy about a sport , when over 60 % of your franchises are having to scramble to make ends meet ? Never mind the fact that the Pittsburgh Pirates and their front office led by principal partner, Bob Nutting, has about as much business acumen as Sarah Palin shows of her understanding of ‘foreign affairs’, the inner workings of the US Supreme Court, why it exists and ‘her’ complete lack of knowledge when it comes to the US economy. But I digress, as the problems of the Pirates’ ownership and their unwillingness to sell the franchise to someone who’s willing to turn them into a competitive entity, shows me why it is that I find the vast majority of owners within the game to be just simpletons ! Click here to read my article on Bob Nutting and his unwillingness to sell the franchise to Pittsburgh Penguins’ owner , Mario Lemieux and his consortium.
Texas Rangers new owner Chuck Greenberg, left, has a laugh with Rangers' Jarrod Saltalamacchia, right, during a media availability in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2010. Major League Baseball still has to approve the sale of the team from Tom Hicks. Greenberg is a senior partner with noted Pennsylvania law firm Pepper Hamilton LLC. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Mike Fuentes .......
Now if that doesn’t top it all, we now have the fact that the Texas Rangers , in the midst of its own self inflicted financial problems, is about to be sold by its beleaguered and besieged owner, Tom Hicks. Another self indulgent asshole, who’s business acumen rivals that of the entire members of both legislative houses of the Federal government. Never mind the fact Hicks has about as much insight into the game of baseball as Clay Aiken has about the NFL. But I was under the impression that the board of governors of MLB used due diligence when it came to assessing a bid and did scrupulous research work into the prospective purchasers of an MLB franchise ? Well there’s as much due diligence being used there, as was used by the US Treasury Department under Treasury Secretary, Tim Geithner, when they decided to hand out the ‘TARP’ money to any bank and ‘fuc_king shyster’ that wanted it. Due diligence takes a back seat to idiocy when it comes to both of these organizations !
Hicks, with his financial woes on all fronts from the Rangers , to his ownership of the Dallas Stars of the NHL, as well English Premiership League (EPL) soccer club Liverpool , faces a barrage of criticism over his handling of all three sporting concerns. But nowhere is there a word to be heard from the front office of MLB. Nor has there been a formal statement forthcoming Bud Selig, himself , as baseball’s highest ranking official. Strange don’t you think ? But then again, we are talking about that jack-ass, Bud Selig ! A man who on his best day couldn’t find his penis , if he had a flashlight to assist him in the endeavor.
After several months of speculation, the Hicks Sports Group LLC said Jan. 23 it has reached a definitive agreement to sell the Texas Rangers franchise to an investment group led by Chuck Greenberg, a Pittsburgh attorney, and Nolan Ryan, currently president of the Texas Rangers.
“Together, we have worked exhaustively since last month to attain this agreement,” said Tom Hicks, whose family controls Hicks Sports Group, in a press release. “It’s a complex business deal that positions the franchise positively for the future.”
The sale is still subject to approval by Major League Baseball, certain lending institutions and the completion of financing, according to Hicks Sports Group officials. The deal is expected to be complete by April of this year. No purchase price was announced for the transaction.
When completed the major league franchise will be owned by Rangers Baseball Express LLC, an investment group headed by Greenberg and Ryan. Greenberg will serve as the managing partner and CEO of Rangers Baseball Express while Ryan will continue in his role as president. Co-lead investments in Rangers Baseball Express will be made by Ray Davis of Dallas and the family of Bob and Janice Simpson of Fort Worth. Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, currently chairman of the board at XTO Energy Inc. in Fort Worth, will serve as co-chairmen of the board of Rangers Baseball Express. Greenberg has asked Hicks to continue his association with the club as chairman emeritus.
In a separate transaction, Ballpark Real Estate LP, an independent investment firm controlled by Hicks, entered into an agreement to sell or transfer to the Greenberg-Ryan group about 153 of the 195 acres around the ballpark and Dallas Cowboys Stadium that is owned or controlled by Ballpark Real Estate or the Hicks family. In return for the transferred land, Ballpark Real Estate will receive cash, notes and an ownership position in the team.
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In order to read this article in its entirety just
click unto the link provided.
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Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, left, and Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks , stand together at the start of a news conference announcing that Ryan has agreed to become the Rangers' team president in Arlington, Texas. Hicks has agreed to sell the Texas Rangers to a group that includes Nolan Ryan. The sides announced they had finally reached an agreement Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, eight days after a 30-day exclusive negotiating window expired. The group is headed by Pittsburgh sports attorney Chuck Greenberg. The purchase price is expected to be more than $500 million. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Donna McWilliam ................
As I alluded to before , Hicks is in the midst of selling the Rangers to a consortium led by former MLB great , Nolan Ryan and noted attorney, Chuck Greenberg. And with the mountain of debt that the club has at present , plus the litigation that Hicks has with various concerns, as well as with several of his creditors. And one has to ask, why it is that Selig and the game’s hierarchy has sat idly by, as much of this has built up and fomented over the past few years ? Not one word has been uttered by Selig or even from , Bob DuPuy, as President and Chief Operating Officer for MLB. Call me naive, but what jobs are both Selig and DuPuy meant to be doing ?
If not to oversee that the integrity of the game and its image is upheld . Then why the f_ck are these two idiots still in a position of authority , while such antics and behavior are being exhibited by both Bob Nutting and Tom Hicks ? Any other public or private corporation would’ve had its board request the resignations of both principals instantaneously. But alas, the owners and the board of governors of MLB are a bunch of retarded idiots to begin with !
So guys there you have it, I’ve minimally touched on the subject of politics but only to intertwine within the context of this piece. So now let’s discuss the topics I’ve set out within the piece. I’d certainly like hear your thoughts on the matter and read your responses . Chime on in as and when you’re ready. I’ll gladly respond to each and every comment forthcoming.
NB: Click here to view Mayweather’s fight record. Click here to view Pacquiao’s fight record.
‘The Number One Spot’ by Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges .
Actress, model and business entrepreneur Lisa Raye Cooper. That's 'one hot' sista' don't ya' think ?
The More Things Change The More They Remain The Same ………….
The notion that when a new found fad suddenly catches on , it all of a sudden becomes the next ‘big thing’ can often be seen as great. For myself , I just find it somewhat bemusing , merely from the fact that I’m now suppose to be in awe of the sport of ‘free running’. This was something that I was doing years ago, when I was heavily into the martial arts and the various forms of savate, jeet-kun-do and karate. But as as they say……’whatever floats your boat’.
This video is of some ‘free runners’ in the UK display their techniques. Make of it what you will. Enjoy.
And if ever you were unsure as to how good this is as an art form , then take a look at these scenes from the Bond movie ‘Casino Royale’ (2006) , starring Daniel Craig as Agent 007, otherwise known as James Bond of Her Majesty’s Secret Service. In the scene here is Sebastien Foucen,as Bond’s adversary ,the role of which he plays a terrorist by the name of ‘Mollaka’. He’s (Foucen) said to be founder of ‘free running’ as a competitive art form.
I’ve always felt a great admiration for an athlete who walks away from the game on their own terms , rather than in the end for them having to be shown the door unceremoniously . It happens far too often with regard to the latter. And I know there’ll be those out there who will say that it’s their right to go on as long it’s humanly possible. But consider this , in the real world there’s a mandatory retirement age. And granted, we see people in all walks of working late into their years in a variety of fields. We’re not going to see someone in their late forties still playing in the NFL . Well , not unless your name happens to be Brett Favre. I can only surmise, that he wants to play ‘til he’s as old as Methuselah ? And for those of you who aren’t religious or perhaps have never read the Bible. Methuselah happened to be the oldest recorded person from that venerable book.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner announces his retirement from football with his family Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 at the Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Matt York ........
Well after 12 years in the NFL, Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback, Kurt Warner , has to decided to call it a day. He goes out on his own terms having had a story book career . A two time league MVP, Superbowl (SB XXXIV) winner and Supebowl winning MVP. Amongst other accolades , Warner has three of the top five performances ever as a quart back in the Superbowl. If that’s enough to book him a place in Canton , Ohio, then they might as well shut the frigging place down once and for all ! Never mind the regular season stats that’ve littered his career. Kurt Warner has been an exemplary player, teammate and an outstanding human being. And there are not too many sport’s individuals that one can say that about in this day and age. I don’t care in what sporting endeavor you might care to name. There has never been any controversy surrounding Warner on or off the field. And his peers past and present consider him to be amongst the very best not only as competitor , teammate or opponent. But also in terms of his character and his compassion for other less well of than him. That will be the measure of Warner’s legacy upon the NFL.
Now having said this, I must admit that his retirement hasn’t taken me by complete surprise. I understand why he now feels it’s time to bow out from a stage he graced so successfully. He’s a family man but also someone who has devoted a great time in the pursuance of helping others. And his beliefs , as he’s a devout Christian , wills Warner now to a higher calling . In this case it’s not solely about spreading the world of Christ but also to as I’d previously stated is to help those in need. It’s the same approach that was taken by former Indianapolis Colts’ head coach Tony Dungy. And it is now the same path that Warner will now follow . Both men , their accomplishments and their calling are commendable traits !
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner holds his daughter Sierra Warner, 4, as he stands with his family from left, Kade Warner, 11, Jada Warner, 8, Elijah Warner, 6, Sienna Warner, 4, wife Brenda Warner, Zack Warner, 20, and Jesse Warner, 18. after he announced his retirement from football Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 at the Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press/ Matt York .....
Now looking at the Cardinals going forward, I think that they have a solid foundation, from which to build upon. That being said , I’m not quite sure as of yet that Matt Leinart possesses the temperament to lead this team. It’s all well and good that he had things essentially handed to him on a silver platter with USC. But since his arrival in the NFL , he’s yet to show that he has the capacity for learning the game , much less show signs of maturity. How else can one explain the petulance shown by him when he was replaced as the starter on the Cardinals’ team by coach, Ken Whisenhunt ? If that doesn’t indicate that Leinart, when at USC was all about self entitlement, rather than doing what is best for the team. Then it’s easy to understand the reason why he’s struggled to make his presence felt in the NFL. With Warner , having been given the starter’s role on the team they haven’t looked back since.
It will definitely be strange, next season to see this Cardinals’ team take the field and no longer see Warner there , with his name emblazoned on the back of his jersey. But as I alluded to earlier , he walks away from this game under his own steam , in good health , knowing that he’s accomplished a great many feats that perhaps none of us could ever have dreamed him doing . Warner did things his way and for that I for am grateful to say that it has been indeed a privilege to see him play. Anything beyond that is now just an after thought.
I don’t think anyone could’ve said it better than ol’ “Blue Eyes”… Frank Sinatra. ‘I Did It My Way’
There Are Certain Things In Sports That Have That Certain Air Of Inevitability About It ……………..
I don’t know about you but being an avid sports fan and having grown accustomed to watching on average dependent upon busy work and weekend schedule. I try and get in watching at least four hours of sports over the week /weekend. Granted, when the girlfriend comes to visit , the minimal amount of time that I can devote to her without getting her thoroughly annoyed , the better !
Doug Gottlieb , ESPN College Basketball analyst and host of their college game day show covering the sport. photo appears courtesy of espngo.com .............
During the week, whilst at work during some downtime , I had my notebook computer on, while I streamed some ESPN and their mens’ college basketball show. One of their panelists on, was their very knowledgeable analyst and columnist, Doug Gottlieb. Now Gottlieb is a former college player himself, having played under coach, Eddie Sutton, while at Oklahoma State. Gottlieb was a point-guard for the ‘Cowboys’ , having graduated in 2001. His professional career in basketball was somewhat non-descript . But he managed to eke out a career , having played in the USBL, ABA and with brief international stints in Russia , France and Israel. He won a Russian Basketball Federation Championship to go along with a number of other accolades. But the career path of a long term professional career in the NBA , somehow seemed to have eluded him. He did however manage to obtain a tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers but it came to no avail.
Doug Gottlieb’s knowledge of college basketball is as astute as they come. And his in-depth analysis of not only the game but the decision making and trends of a player or coach, provides the fans of the game with more information than they’d normally come across getting from a game-time commentator or from even the likes of Fran Fraschilla , Bobby Knight , Jay Bilas , Jay Williams , Steve Lavin, Brent Musberger or that venerable self promoting sage, himself, Dick Vitale. Each of the individuals mentioned bring with them a unique knowledge of the game from having either played or coached at various levels of the game. Such is their fervor for the sport , that I find it somewhat more entertaining than the NBA, in terms of the analysis provided . That’s not to say that either format doesn’t have its faults. I mean how often can one afford to endure Dickie V’s self aggrandizing and bombastic analysis ? Or the over analysis of Lon Kreuger ,when it comes to the game at the professional ? It’s enough to either put you to sleep or you in the end just decide to push mute button on your remote to keep your peace of mind . For msyelf , I just want to be informed with just about a bit of light hearted entertainment sprinkled in on the side. If only we could have Charles Barkley sitting on the college games at times , I think it would be somewhat better ? But Charles prefers the forum and domain offered up to him at TNT Sports, that’s for sure ! Only he can get away with his type of criticisms and witticisms without falling afoul of his victims. Such is the respect and rapport that he has with his peers ,as well his enemies as a matter of fact !
Courtesy of Rivals.com
Cats Survive Slugfest
By Matt May, CatsPause.com Senior Writer
With basketball royalty in the house Kentucky proved it is still the king of the Southeastern Conference.
The Cats (20-1, 5-1 SEC) held a double-digit lead for the final 32 minutes on their way to a 85-72 victory over league-leading Vanderbilt at Rupp Arena. The game took a regal flair when NBA superstar LeBron James took his courtside seat eight minutes into the contest before later doing the ‘Y’ in Kentucky at a second half media timeout.
The game itself was anything but splendid, as the teams were whistled for 58 combined fouls (two technicals) and shot 70 free throws in the disjointed affair. The Cats jumped to a 21-11 lead and never let the advantage dip into single digits again, pushing it to as large as 19 points in the second half.
DeMarcus Cousins set the tone from the outset, creating five ‘and-one’ plays on his way to a game-hhigh 21 points and 10 rebounds. When the Commodores (16-4, 5-1) threatened to slice the lead under 10 late UK forward Darnell Dodson bailed the Cats out with eight straight points to hold the ‘Dores at bay.
John Wall added 12 points and nine assists for UK, while Jermaine Beal led Vanderbilt with 19 points.
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Well the season in college basketball has started and it has most certainly been a welcoming one. And within mens’ game we’ve seen the rankings change almost as quickly as ticker on the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). Now seated atop of the rankings are John Calipari’s Kentucky ‘Wildcats’ (19-1). And they were ‘the only’ unbeaten team inside the AP Top 25 Poll. And until recently the thoughts of perfection were in part real. But it wasn’t to be and they succumbed to that all too expected loss when there’s a bullseye on your back for everyone to a shot at. But such has been the standard set by this team thus far in the season . Seemingly , while everyone is playing at one speed they are able to step it up a notch or two, leaving everyone behind while they stare back in their rear view mirror to see the distance opening between them and the rest of the field. And that distance seems to be ever increasing with each passing game.
Front Row (from left): Asst. Coach Rod Strickland, Asst. Coach Orlando Antigua, Darius Miller, John Wall, Mark Krebs, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Liggins, Head Coach John Calipari, Asst. Coach John Robic. Back Row (from left): Jon Hood, Ramon Harris, Patrick Patterson, Daniel Orton, DeMarcus Cousins, Josh Harrellson, Perry Stevenson, Darnell Dodson. photo appears courtesy of ukathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl ................
While no one can deny that John Calipari isn’t a good college basketball coach. His methods have come in for a great deal of criticism , as it relates to recruiting. Seemingly , over the course of his career, issues have been raised and it’s clear that Calipari has to bear the brunt of the blame for what went on at Memphis and its basketball program. And also at Calipari’s previous stop at UMass. That being said, how a coach, who over the course of his has brought two esteemed programs to brink of its knees and as close to extinction as is humanly possible and still remain a within collegiate athletics is a worrisome thing to a great many individuals. That notwithstanding, his denial of any wrongdoing gives the impression that as long as he’s proving to be successful, the faculty members , athletic director and the fans are prepared to look the other way. What’s even more exacerbating, is that the NCAA would rather punish the school or any athlete caught up in a scandal , rather than punish the coach who’s behind much of the wrongdoing that has led to the actions being taken. It alludes to the fact, that a person such as Calipari, having acted in such a manner can up and leave and avail him of another position elsewhere without there being a penalty to pay on his part. Meanwhile, a school’s character and athletics’ program can be left in tatters under the brunt of numerous sanctions that can last for up to several years in some cases.
The Wildcats as to their season thus far have played an exceptional brand of basketball, that some people wondering whether not they can remain unbeaten this season. That task in ofitself is not an easy one and it is something that hasn’t been since Bobby Knight’s Indiana team achieved the feat in 1976 , on their to winning the national championship. Since then , we’ve had to wait but seemingly speculate each year when see a team start to play ‘a dominant brand of basketball’ , while leaving everyone else in their wake. And that’s how dominant Knight’s team were , that year. As to whether or not Calipari’s team can replicate that success , remains to be seen. But it bodes well for the team at this juncture. And one the many reasons behind the team’s play has been the exceptional form and presence shown by the team’s freshman guard, John Wall. For whom, many believe is the best college basketball player in the country , bar none. And that opinion is now becoming to a consensual one , based on Wall’s exceptional play and leadership of this team.
The Wildcats’ loss to South Carolina 68-62 ought to be sign that they cannot become too complacent. And if anything, it should resolve them to become more resilient. As contentious as the college basketball season has become , once the NCAA Basketball Tournament comes around, you can expect it to become great deal more contentious. Especially with so much being on the line. There’s an expected ‘air of certainty’ , as it relates to ‘big teams’ around the collegiate basketball landscape, once the national championship commences. Everything else takes a back seat during that period of March where absolutely everything becomes a frenzy. Sixty four teams are guaranteed a place but there’s always that plus one , to be added into the mix. And that’s why of all the collegiate national championships, it is the ‘NCAA national championship’ tournament that is by far the most beloved. No controversies as you play yourself into contention . No need for computers or the assist of the coaches. You play well enough and you’ve got the right pedigree and you’re in. No if’s or and’s about it, it’s about as good as it gets !
Now it’s far too early to suggest that the Kentucky Wildcats can seemingly have a cake-walk all the way to the national championship. If it were that simple then there’d be a multitude of teams that would be in with a chance to win it all. But in reality this season , there’ll be no more seven or eight teams at best that are in with a chance of winning it all. And the slew of usual suspects would like nothing better than to be a part of the mix. So take it for what it’s worth , teams such as Syracuse, Michigan State, Kansas , Georgetown , Texas, Kansas State , Villanova and Duke , have as good a chance as any, to win it all , if they strike lightning in a bottle. Hitting a rich vein of form and maintaining that consistency throughout the tournament is the key to winning. And that’s why coaches such as Jim Boeheim , Roy Williams, Jim Calhoun and Mike Krzyzewski know what it takes to win. This is not a knock on John Calipari. But given what we essentially know about him and his demeanor. While he’s achieved a certain amount success, am I to believe that the very same issues raised about his methods at Memphis and Umass aren’t likely to crop up again ? One only has to look at the actions of Kelvin Sampson at Indiana to realize what I’m saying is true. A leopard can never change its spots, neither can John Calipari as an individual ! He’ never been known to, nor is ever likely to. And that’s even with the ‘NCAA’ squarely having him within the cross-hairs of their scopes. But then again, when has anyone ever known the NCAA stand up and do what’s right for the student athlete , much less what’s right for collegiate sports ?
Rank Team Record Votes Previous
1 Kentucky (65) 19-1 1625 2
2 Kansas 19-1 1519 3
3 Villanova 19-1 1503 4
4 Syracuse 20-1 1455 5
5 Michigan State 18-3 1324 6
6 Texas 18-2 1307 1
7 Georgetown 15-4 1124 12
8 Duke 17-3 1120 7
9 West Virginia 16-3 1113 11
10 Purdue 17-3 977 13
11 Kansas State 17-3 960 10
12 Brighham Young 20-2 894 14
Above are the national rankings as they currently stand and if anything our national champion is liable to come from one these twelve teams. On the other hand there’s a remote possibility of team outside the top 12 at the end of the day coming in and pulling off that big surprise. That’s what makes the tournament such fun !
Geto Boys ‘My Mind Is Playing Tricks On Me’
Alan Parkins aka tophatal
Stunning Victoria's Secret Lingerie and Sports Illustrated model, Selita Ebanks. The Caribbean beauty has found fame on the international catwalks across the globe alongside such luminaries as Bar Rafaeli , Hedi Klum , Alessandra Ambrosio , to name but a few . What else is up for her you might ask ?
Missing In Action ………No This Isn’t One Of Chuck Norris’ Lame A_s Movies ……………….. Hello Tiger Meet Brett It Appears That The Two of You Have Something In Common ?
Well my friends , well at least I hope I can call you each individually a friend ? Here it is right off the bat, the NFL season is almost at an end. All that is left is for the rather redundant ‘NFL Pro Bowl’ game to be played and then on the ‘main event’ itself, the Superbowl (SBXLIV) . A sigh of relief shall we ? Well, I say that , as I’m entirely happy as that self aggrandizing and often petulant child, Brett Favre won’t be a participant in the main event itself. Thankfully , Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints put that ‘bad boy to rest ! It’s not so much that I find him to annoying , which I do. But it has now become redundant to hear him once again opine and not come to an outright decision as to his immediate future. Were this any other person than Brett Favre, NFL player and ‘future Hall of Famer’. Then the mass market media of the print , sports’ talk radio and tv media in the guise of the sports’ broadcasters wouldn’t be hanging unto his every word as if this were the naming of a new ‘Pope’ . This is how asinine it has all become as the player is about weave his spell on the mice representing sports’ journalism . Much as the ‘Pied Piper of Hamlin’ had done in the classic children’s fable. Unfortunately for us it’s not Brett who’ll end up drowning but we the die-hard sports’ enthusiasts under the barrage of ‘none stop round the clock’ reporting on this whole media fiasco.
Favre on the field of play for the Vikings
As much as I admirer the talent of Favre as a player , as a person off the field of player in terms of his general demeanor , he leaves a great deal to be desired. And as much as we now hear his Minnesota Vikings’ teammates talk of him in glowing terms, as to ‘the terrific season’ that he had. What cannot be lost in the midst of this all, is that the circus has started all over again and with it comes the media frenzy. About the only other individuals that I know of who can generate this amount of mass market media frenzy. One at present currently resides in the White House , none other than President Barack Obama. The others are Oprah Winfrey , ‘a cottage industry unto herself’, in terms of the pint media coverage that she attains and the fact that when she anoints a book or a writer, it or they become an immediate bestseller within the blink of an eye. And last but not least, is Michael Jackson. He’s dead and there’s now more being printed about him than at any other time prior to and during his last court trial. How the f_ck does that happen ? And why I might ask does it continue to do so to this day ?
The buffoons of ESPN talk about what they envisage on Brett Favre. Merril Hoge and Trent Dilfer show their worth as analysts. Worth a great deal of excrement as far as I’m concerned !
With Favre and the Vikings’ season having been curtailed in the NFC championship game loss the the Saints by the result of 31-28 . It has to be said that after that loss the thought might be that Favre ride off into the sunset , waving goodbye to the fans , as bids them farewell. That’s how it’s suppose to go with most fairy tale endings , isn’t it ? But this isn’t a fairy tale as it has manifested itself into friggin’ nightmare of monstrous proportions.
Brett Favre’s indecision as to his immediate future it appears, hasn’t taught anyone within the Vikings’ front office a lesson at all. Vikings’ coach, Brad Childress , as a recently as Tuesday, stated that Favre can take as much time as he wants before coming to a decision as to his future with the team and the NFL. Pardon me for saying this but unless there’s been a recent bereavement in his family, then there’s no way in hell that he ought to be allowed that sort of latitude ! . We’ve seen how the player handled his prior issues as it concerned what we all thought was an impending retirement. So much so, that it ran the gamut of mass hysteria on the part of the press and in particular the ’squawk boxes’ within ESPN. There the unabashed admiration and adulation of Favre borders on being homo-erotic. And for the likes of ESPN NFL analyst’s, Mark Schlereth and Merril Hoge, it’s almost akin to the secretive homosexual relationship that took place in the Ang Lee directed movie ‘Brokeback Mountain’ (2005) between the two main characters, Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist , portrayed by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal . Now I’m half expecting either Hoge and Schlereth to let us know that their admiration for Favre is nothing more than a boyish adulation. That may be all well and good but neither of the two aforementioned individuals have ever been known to be critical of the player when he’s being playing bad for this or any other team that he has played over the course of his two decade career.
If Childress’ statement about Favre was a way of either deferring or avoid upcoming controversy , then it may well come back to bite him in the ass at some point in the future. Minnesota Vikings’ team owner, Zygi Wilf, has yet to issue any sort of formal statement concerning the situation. And one can only surmise that he much like Childress , is prepared to sit and wait this one out. Now very much like the decision making when it comes to the anointing of a Pope , we await the plumes of smoke to rise up into the heavens before Favre beckons us all to make his decision. We know it’s not bound to be emphatic, as Favre is about is as decisive as former Democratic Presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry (D-Ma). His indecision and that one monstrous statement that can be directly attributed to him …….”I actually did vote for the $87 billion, before I voted against it.” …at the time this was in response to voting legislation funding the troops for the war in Iraq. And we wondered why he lost toGeorge W. Bush in a Presidential election ? Who’s no vessel of intellectual intelligence, himself !
The problems of PGA Tour player and world number one, Tiger Woods, have been well chronicled over the past two months. And the player’s self denial has been parodied and become the ‘fodder’ for the late night talk show hosts. Even the heifers of ABC’s ‘The View’ have seen fit to chime in with their thoughts on Tiger Woods’ now well documented sexual exploits and sexcapades. You’d have thought that he’d ‘nailed more females’ than his official tour wins on the PGA Tour, by the way that they’ve been carrying on. But then when it comes to a woman scorned who knows of their plight better than that of another woman who just wants to either castrate and emasculate the first man that they see no matter what their character might happen to be ? Alas, for these women one cut to Tiger’s nuts might not be just enough to keep them at bay.
The body language says a great deal about a person. Woods in happier times.fee]HE
Now strange as this may seem , somehow the paparazzi and now the print media have reported that Woods has been seen at a sexual rehabilitation clinic. Nothing wrong in that at all I might add. Better he be cured of what ails him , rather than carrying on the way that he has done , doing a great deal of harm not only to himself but also to his character and that of his immediate family. His wife, Elin and their two young children have to be in some way hurting as to his sexual indiscretions. And for the now more than fifteen women who’ve come forward to say that they’ve had sex with Tiger. My words of advice to them all “………skanks get yourselves tested ” ! If Tiger’s done all of you, then he’s done each of you multiple times over. Because if as it has been widely been reported, a number of you shared the player at the same time. Then Woods’ actions aren’t just egregious but downright criminal and they border on being done with malicious intent and in no way can those actions be forgiven. God or Christ as the case maybe, may love a
sinner but surely not one who’ll repeatedly make the same mistake over and over again. And then chooses the press as mockery to atone for what is said to be a mistake ! A mistake is not meant to be an action that one deliberately repeats several times over . So sorry Tiger, but you’ve longer got my respect at all !
Eldrick ‘Tiger’ Woods, whoever said ‘that having ‘ 9 iron doesn’t help your game’…. has got to be kidding. You’ve been hittin’ more ‘tail’ and ‘rough’ than Jean Van der Velde did, when he had that monumental meltdown at the 1999 British Open, at Carroustie , in Scotland. Who can forget that mess on Van der Velde’s part ? One minute he’s in the lead down the stretch with less than four holes to play. The next he’s ’submerged in the drink’ . And no way to acquit himself of his multiple mistakes. Much likes in a similar vain, Woods has yet to atone for his own misdeeds but he’s now allegedly said to be trying . But first shouldn’t he have accept the responsibility for his very actions and be held accountable ? An innocuous statement over the internet hardly makes that statement.
For Woods and his daily sojourn into sex rehab , well that’s all well and good. But what has really surprised me is where Tiger Woods is said to be undergoing sexual rehab treatment. Far be it for me to suggest , but a black man ……….(screw being politically correct) ….. attending a sexual rehab clinic in Hattiesburg , Mississippi , is akin to asking for trouble, given Woods’ sexual proclivities and the mere fact that the vast majority of his sexual partners were Caucasian ! I am surprised that there’s yet to have been a ‘Klan rally’ in the city of Hattiesburg ! But I digress, that sort of thing doesn’t happen anymore now, does it ? I mean we’re now living in the twenty first century and the racial divide between the races is said to have gotten smaller, rather than larger. Perhaps , someone ought to remind Pat Robertson of that ? After his racial and totally abhorrent diatribe aimed at the tiny nation of Haiti. The statements attributed to him , shows how unintelligent and unenlightened he is as a man who purports to be a Christian. A pox on him , his multitude of asinine and idiotic supporters !
Woods’ self proposed ‘indefinite leave of absence’ from the PGA Tour , has left it without not only its biggest star but also its biggest draw. And Tiger Woods is essentially the pulse and heartbeat of the Tour. Without him on the course or greens and attendances and viewership plummets for not only the televised events but also the none televised also. And with total prize money on the Tour in excess of $ 270 million . One can well understand why PGA Tour Commissioner, Tim Finchem is acutely aware and concerned as to Woods’ prolonged and self imposed absence. The Tour’s corporate sponsors are then become reluctant to commit and work in conjunction the group. With each passing week that Woods is away from the Tour and the game , the greater the pain that is suffered by PGA Tour financially . And when they’re hurting it affects not only the sponsors but also all of the affiliated businesses that work alongside the PGA Tour. From airlines , to golf equipment and apparel makers, to restaurants, to hotels , to even the smallest family ran businesses that solely exists to service the needs of the PGA Tour and its patrons , including the fans. The ripple effect is like that of a stone being thrown into a lake or pond. Just seemingly watch the ripples created as they magnify in size. That’s ” Tiger Woods’ effect” on the PGA Tour . About the only other the person in the world who holds that sort of sway on an entity may well be Oprah Winfrey and her influence on the mass media entertainment field.
One now can only surmise as the length of time Woods will be away from a golf course never mind his absence from The Tour , as he undergoes treatment for his addiction. But this much is clear the likes of Phil Mickelson, Geoff Ogilvy, Vijay Singh , Rocco Mediate , Rory McIlroy, Pardraig Harrington , Steve Stricker , Ernie Els and Retief Goosen simply cannot capture the imagination of a crowd or a television audience the way that Woods can and still have them yearning for more . Doubt my word ? Then just watch but a few moments of a PGA Tour event , just to see what it’s like without Woods on the greens. The silence heard is almost as eerie as that of being in a graveyard in the dead of night and the you’re the only person in sight. Certainly not something that the fans of the sport, the television broadcasters or the PGA Tour commissioner would like to see for the foreseeable future. The longer the situation is prolonged . The more disastrous are the effects and the reverberations felt on the sport of golf and its associated partners on the PGA Tour.
Fave and Woods both have a great deal of soul searching to do. Decisions have to made and a commitment has to made as to their immediate futures. For Favre ,it’s to the game that he loves and the camaraderie of the NFL. In the case of Woods , it’s the chance to seek redemption and at the same to rewrite an egregious and the pain and suffering that he has caused to his immediate family and friends. He’s yet to offer the fans an apology , much less the young children who attend the charter school that’s a part of his foundation. A situation which Woods has made all the much worse with amoral lying and philandering. Never mind the fact, that to these young children , he espoused the virtues of honesty , being of good character but above all respect for one’s peers and elders. Something of which Tiger Woods, himself failed at and obfuscated all of the principles he espoused to those young kids. He much like his NFL counterpart , Brett Favre, have behaved like immature children. But now they’ll be using the press and print media alike, in order seek the public’s empathy. While they are missing in action , are their respective sports better off with or without them ? Seemingly, there’s no real right answer but somehow , we the public and the fans will be asked to look the other and act as if nothing at all has really happened .
Somethin’ to throw at you playa’ ….. ‘Stand Up’ by Ludacris feat’g Shawna. Love it y’all !
’bout it,’bout it, out it , out it !
Nicole “Coco” Austin , rapper Ice-T’s main squeeze and fun toy. I wonder , where , when and how he makes or finds time to jack an’ tap that a_s up ? Inquiring minds need to know and they damn well need to know now !”
tophatal
tophatal
Alan Parkins
And The Survey Says……… I Think That You Screwed Up Mr President ………
And The Survey Says……… I Think That You Screwed Up Mr President ………
As an impartial observer on the outside looking in . I can’t help but wonder if Barack Obama as President, had it all to do-over once again . Would he have sought to have surrounded himself with such a bunch of misfits ? His cabinet thus far has been about as useful as piece of fecal matter on the floor of an operating theater in a hospital. I know that when it comes to House and Senate majority leaders there’s little that he can do to the likes of Sen. Harry Reid (D-Utah) or for that matter Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca). To my mind both of these individuals are self serving and condescending when it comes to addressing the needs of the nation as a whole. That’s not to say that the Republicans themselves are without fault. As they’re as much to blame for this turmoil but they’d rather act oblivious to that very fact. And in terms of them coming up with solutions. Well that’s like asking Paris Hilton to explain the difference between a ‘balance sheet’ and a ‘baking sheet’. She’s as clueless as the Republicans on the matter.
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a meeting with members of the Cabinet in the Cabinet Room on September 10, 2009 at the White House in Washington. During the meeting President Obama said he accepts the apology of Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for yelling out “You Lie” during Obama’s speech on healthcare reform to a joint session of Congress last night . photo appears courtesy of UPI/ Olivier Douliery …….
The President’s cabinet thus far, has proven to me that whilst a great many of them are obviously highly intelligent. When it comes to being forthright and communicative orally , they become tongue tied and about as comprehensible as alien life form that has suddenly landed on planet earth but is unable to communicate with anyone in any particular verbal format. If I’m not the only one of this opinion then I may well have misjudged the situation altogether. But somehow I think not !
The troubling fact now is , as the country gets mired in an economic meltdown that neither the economists or the Presidents own Council of Economic of Advisers have answer for as to when we may begin to start the climb out of the current recession. We have the asinine statements being made by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and that of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner , all throwing their hat into the ring, as to what they view as a certainty that the tides of change are suddenly beginning to foment and that the economy is about to take a turn for the better. Those are the sort of statements that are speculative in nature and which drive the greed that we tend to see on Wall St. But then again where were the members of ‘Congress’ and the ‘Senate’ , when these charlatans were bringing the economy to its very knees ?
President Barack Obama and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner , make statements on tax reform, Monday, May 4, 2009, in the Grand Foyer of the White House in Washington. photo appears courtesy of Associated Press / Ron Edmonds ..........
Courtesy of CBS Moneywatch
And though the venerable Sarah Palin and her Tea Pot coterie are trying to sound anew . Haven’t we all heard this same sort of bulls_it once before with J. Ross Perot ? Only in the case of Perot, he wasn’t ’suckering the masses’ the way Palin is now intent on doing. Her most recent public engagement where she addressed a hall of thousands concerning the present administration. Where as the noted speaker, she had little of interest to say , other than a few mocking anecdotes. What I for one would like to know, were any of those in attendance aware that Palin was in receipt of $100,000 , merely to attend and address those congregated there to hear her speak ? And the masses are to believe that “she” of all people, is intent on seeing change up on Capitol Hill ? If she’s painting herself as an individual of a different mindset from those she’s now intent on criticizing. Then why all this false bravado and the money she’s accepting just to make these asinine and moribund statements, that at present have little or no sense to them at all ? For her it’s not about change but just the same old insipid tactic that all politicians tend to use just to ingratiate themselves amongst the electorate. And those gullible enough, tend to follow her lead rather than looking intensely and listening as to whether or not she’s making sense or has anything at all that insightful to begin with.
But for me at present , my biggest concern are the inane statements that are now being made by Tim Geithner as Treasury Secretary. Either this guy is a habitual liar or he’s plainly someone who happens to be amoral. Anyone who happened to have heard Geithner’s most recent public statement concerning US Treasury bonds ought to know that when those are indeed downgraded , it shows that the ratings’ agencies believes that there’s cause for concern over the government’s handling of the nation’s finances as well as the economy at large. For him to make the claim that there’s nothing at present , is very much akin to the boy who persistently cries wolf when there’s nothing there. But when the wolf just happens to be at his very door he’ll act as if the wolf had been invited in for supper and to devour anything within its sight. This is more or less Geithner’s view not just only on the economy but also on the financial crisis now within our midst.
There seems to be a belief that there’s a neverending abundance of money here that federal government has at its beck and call. In reality nothing could be further from the truth. For inasmuch as the Treasury continues to print money and issue US Treasury Bonds. The inflationary minutiae that’s created , once opened up like can worms is extremely hard to gather up and placed back into the can. And having the Federal Reserve then enact a somewhat draconian fiscal monetary policy tends to exacerbate the matter further , instead of allaying the fears that are already out there.
The fact of the matter is, Tim Geithner is now kidding not only himself but now he’s trying to pull the wool over the eyes of 300 million inhabitants of the nation. I wonder which sock puppet he really is at this juncture ? And who indeed has their fingers up his ass controlling his thought process and speech at present ? Because clearly for a so called intelligent and knowledgeable individual ,something is very awry , askew with his view on the world and that of the US economy at present.
Alan Parkins