Week 7 Picks

Well its finally here, USC-Notre Dame week. I am really excited for this game and hoping for big things from the Trojans. Stafon just got released from the hospital on Wednesday, is doing good and gives SC a huge emotional boost. USC is hyped up for this game and will prove they still deserve to be in the national title talk this year. This weekend is also full of some other great games and some huge ranked matchups. My big pick this week, is Oklahoma over Texas in the Cotton Bowl, with OU's defense pulling them through the game, and I didnt pick the upset, but I think Georgia Tech's rushing attack confuses Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech could pull put the victory...

Picks are in CAPS, with my confidence points after:
WEEK 7
OKLAHOMA SOONERS vs. Texas Longhorns- 3
IOWA HAWKEYES at Wisconsin Badgers- 8
USC TROJANS at Notre Dame Fighting Irish- 10
Minnesota Golden Gophers at PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS- 9
Texas Tech Red Raiders at NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS- 6
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS at UCLA Bruins- 7
NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK at Boston College Eagles- 5
VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets- 2
South Carolina Gamecocks at ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE- 4
MISSOURI TIGERS at Oklahoma State Cowboys- 1
Tiebreakers:
Final Score
Oklahoma Sooners 41
Texas Longhorns 33

Week 6 Picks

Here are the picks for this week... Bummer about Dez Bryant being suspended... Deion Sanders needs to stay out of young athletes lives, Bryant and Michael Crabtree are cases in point... My upsets this week are Michigan over Iowa, I think Tate Forcier gets it done, and in a big one, Ole Miss over Alabama, I hope Snead can get it together, and if he does, the Rebels pull this one out at home, 34-31...

Picks are in CAPS, with my confidence points after:
WEEK 6
Purdue Boilermakers at MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS- 9
AUBURN TIGERS at Arkansas Razorbacks- 3
GEORGIA BULLDOGS at Tennessee Volunteers- 7
Alabama Crimson Tide at MISSISSIPPI REBELS- 1
Wisconsin Badgers at OHIO STATE BUCKEYES- 8
OREGON DUCKS at UCLA Bruins- 6
Colorado Buffaloes at TEXAS LONGHORNS- 10
GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS at Florida State Seminoles- 4
FLORIDA GATORS at LSU Tigers- 5
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES at Iowa Hawkeyes- 2
Tiebreakers:
Final Score
Michigan Wolverines 28
Iowa Hawkeyes 27

Week 5 Picks

Big games this weekend for many teams, especially USC, who I am hoping can win one for Stafon today. Look out for Nick Perry and the USC defense, who lead the country in sacks with 18, and Perry has 6 of them. My big picks for this weekened are Miami over Oklahoma and the upset is Georgia over LSU...

Picks are in CAPS, with my confidence points after:
WEEK 5
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES at Michigan State Spartans- 8
Wisconsin Badgers at MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS- 3
LSU Tigers at GEORGIA BULLDOGS- 2
PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS at Illinois Fighting Illini- 9
UCLA Bruins at STANFORD CARDINAL- 4
Washington Huskies at NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH- 6
Texas A&M Aggies at ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS- 7
AUBURN TIGERS at Tennessee Volunteers- 5
USC TROJANS at California Golden Bears- 10
Oklahoma Sooners at MIAMI HURRICANES- 1
Tiebreakers:
Final Score
USC Trojans 34
California Golden Bears 17

Stafon

Lets all pray for Stafon to have a full and successful recovery. If you have not heard the news by now, an unfortunate accident happened on Monday afternoon. Stafon Johnson, senior tailback for the USC Trojans, was bench-pressing in the weight room when the bar slipped and fell on his throat. Johnson was rushed to emergency surgery and was in surgery for many hours. As of now he is out of surgery and awake and recovering. He is still unable to speak, but doctors say its only a matter of time, and are also hopeful about Johnson's return to football. I really hope that he is given an extra year of eligibility because he deserves it, maybe the most out of anyone. Johnson was frustrated with the tailback rotation early in his career at USC, but fought through it, playing extremely well, and came back for his senior year. More importantly, I just hope he gets a chance to do what he loves again. So lets all keep number 13 in our minds for the rest of the season. Fight on Stafon...

College Football

It is clear to me that after Week 4 of this years college football season, there is not a clear top 5, only a clear top 3. Anyone who watches college football can agree that the top 3 teams are Florida, Texas, and Alabama. Florida is undefeated and the defending national champs, so I put them at number one, but Texas or Alabama could be number two, with Alabama having the more complete team and the best defense of the top 3. There are a lot of other good teams out there, but I do not think LSU is a legit number four or Boise State is a legit number five. After October we will see how USC is playing, and if they come out of that stretch, beginning this weekend, of at Cal, at Notre Dame, vs. Oregon State, and at Oregon, then they are a legit top 5, if not top 3, team. And Nick Perry is for real. Number 8, freshman defensive end for USC, second in the nation right now with 6 sacks. He will be the next great USC defender. And along with Everson "Superfreak" Griffen, Jurrell Casey, and Christian Tupou, I think they are the best defensive line in the country.
Another team I like is Cincinnati, who are getting no love. They have a great quarterback in Tony Pike, who has 11 TDs and only 2 INTS. They also have a really good reciever in Mardy Gilyard, who can do it in the return game also. There defense has also held its own so far this season.
As far as the BCS buster this season, I have thought since before the season began that TCU was the team to do it, and so far I have not changed my mind. They are playing the best out of the top teams not in BCS conferences and I think their defense, anchored by Jerry Hughes is dominate and will carry them through the season undefeated. BYU has no chance against them this year, same as last year. The other team that could go undefeated, and who I have mentioned in older posts, is Houston. They have a great offense led by Case Keenum, who is a really good quarterback, but their defense is shaky and they may have trouble with a team like Tulsa, although they looked good against Texas Tech.
After being blown out by Virginia Tech, Miami is still a top 15 team, but they need to rebound against Oklahoma, who is beatable, especially without Sam Bradford. Miami's defense is fast and has lots of potential and need to play the way they did against Georgia Tech. If Jacory Harris can play well against Oklahoma, the Canes will pull it out.
Michigan also continues to impress me. Tate Forcier is exactly what Rich Rod needed and has been running the offense great. The defense, which started the season as the stronger unit, needs to step it up and start playing better and Michigan could be a top 15 team, challenging for the Big Ten title.
And speaking of Big Ten, I am really impressed by Iowa so far, and they are definitely the team I most underrated to start the season. Their defense is great, and the running game is still solid, even without Jewel Hampton, which at first I thought would hurt them. They look good and play Michigan in two weeks, which will be a great game.
Finally, do not count out Oregon. After the LeGarrette Blount incident, many people counted the Ducks out for the rest of the season, dropping them completely out of the top 25. After their dismantling of Cal, that says one thing to me, and that is how much parity there is in the Pac 10. Besides USC. The rest of the teams are all good and all capable of beating each other. Stanford beating Washington this weekend was another example. I still think USC are the champs and the ones to beat in the Pac 10, and as long as Barkley is healthy they will not be de-throwned this season.
So after week 4, my top 5 looks like:
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Alabama
4. Virginia Tech
5. USC
And to fill out the top 10:
6. Cincinnati
7. LSU
8. TCU
9. Oklahoma
10. Ohio State

Week 4 Picks

So I went 9-1 last week in my picks, only losing the Arizona-Iowa game. I was very disappointed in USC last week, hopefully Barkley can come back out and look good and get it going again for SC. Anyways here are my picks for Week4 of the college football season. Houston over Texas Tech and Stanford over Washington are my big upset picks this week...

Picks are in CAPS, with my confidence points after:
WEEK 4
North Carolina Tar Heels at GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS- 5
MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS at Wisconsin Badgers- 9
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS at Oregon Ducks- 6
MIAMI HURRICANES at Virginia Tech Hokies- 4
TEXAS CHRISTIAN HORNED FROGS at Clemson Tigers- 3
Pittsburgh Panthers at NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK- 8
NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH at Purdue Boilermakers- 7
Iowa Hawkeyes at PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS- 10
Washington Huskies at STANFORD CARDINAL- 1
Texas Tech Red Raiders at HOUSTON COUGARS- 2
Tiebreakers:
Final Score
Miami Hurricanes 27
Virginia Tech Hokies 21

College Football Polls

"The only thing I remember about twitter is when I used to look at those pretty girls when I was a senior in high school... Thats the only time I twitted" - Joe Pa
Great quote from College Gameday this morning haha... So the talk of college football recently has all been about the polls and the different ways to do them, or even to do them at all. I personally really like polls and think they add a lot of excitment to the season. The most interesting opinion in the polls has been by a writer, Doug Lesmerises, whose top 5 looks like:
1. Alabama
2. Miami
3. Houston
4. Cincinnati
5. Florida
Lesmerises thought is that you need to throw out the polls every week and start new, based on results from last week, getting rid of the slotting that goes on a lot in the polls. I agree with getting rid of the slotting, and starting almost from scratch every week. One thing Lesmerises leaves out, that I think is very important, is the concept of potential. What Lesmerises is basically saying in his poll is that Houston or Cincinnati are better than Florida or should go to the title game over Florida. You need to factor potential into your polls. I would put both Miami and Houston in my polls, but not that high... Miami is a great example of why Lesmerises polls are flawed... I think Miami is a great team this year but the hype has swallowed many people whole, as the Canes #2 ranking in Lesmerises' poll proves.
Although I tend to disagree with Lesmerises thinking, I do think things need to be shifted more in the polls when teams lose or teams have big wins.
My top 5 right now would look like this, based on results, potential, and quality of play so far this year:
1. Texas
2. Florida
3. Alabama
4. Miami
5. Cal

Week 3 Picks

Just started in the ESPN Pick Em this week, so I am going to post my picks every week. I know theyre a little late this week, but here they are, I had to get them in before today anyways.... But I am watching the Cal-Minnesota game right now and Jahvid Best looks like the best back in the country and Eric Decker is for real. He is my favorite reciever in college right now, he gets it done.

My picks are in CAPS, with my confidence points after:
WEEK 3
East Carolina Pirates at NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS- 8
Boston College Eagles at CLEMSON TIGERS- 5
CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS at Minnesota Golden Gophers- 9
Nebraska Cornhuskers at VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES- 3
Utah Utes at OREGON DUCKS- 1
ARIZONA WILDCATS at Iowa Hawkeyes- 7
CINCINNATI BEARCATS at Oregon State Beavers- 2
GEORGIA BULLDOGS at Arkansas Razorbacks- 4
West Virginia Mountaineers at AUBURN TIGERS- 6
Texas Tech Red Raiders at TEXAS LONGHORNS- 10
Tiebreakers:
What will the final score be?
Texas Tech Red Raiders 24
Texas Longhorns 45

USC vs. Ohio State

So I had the privilege of going out to Columbus this past weekend and going to the USC-Ohio State game, which was amazing. I have never been to a louder, more deafening place in my life, the sound seemed to funnel into the stadium. The game was awesome and the greatest experience I have had at a game yet. I had half-expected USC to go in and repeat last year and after Chris Galippo's interception early, I thought it would happen. This game turned out to be nerve wracking and exciting and the last drive had my heart in my mouth the entire time. I certainly was fearing I would witness a loss for the first time since the Stanford game of 2007, which even then I thought would never happen. But when Stafon ran that late touchdown in and saved the game for the Men of Troy, the once loud Ohio Stadium was silent, and I was relieved and jumping in the air.
I told my Dad standing next to me as the final drive was about to start that it would define Matt Barkley's career and set the stage for an amazing career over the next 3-4 years. And he certainly did not disappoint as he managed the ball very well down the field to the final touchdown. Barkley played amazing and became more than the 19 year old true freshman that he is.
The game left me with an amazing feeling and also excitment for the rest of the season as Barkley and the rest of the Trojans look very prepared to beat the rest of their opponents, with a few games in Ocotber still looming, including at Cal, Oregon, and Notre Dame. I think the Trojans of 2009 have what it takes and I am really impressed with Barkley and our defense so far. Now we just have to fix what happened last year and get past the next opponent after OSU, which will be Washington this time around.

I also got to catch some of the other games this weekend, and Michigan really impressed me. I think Michigan has the athletes, especially Tate Forcier, to fit Rich Rod's scheme, and after the first 2 games, I think they have what it takes to win 7 or 8 games. On the other side of the USC game, I honestly do not see the Buckeyes losing another game this year, with the game at Penn State being the only real test the rest of the season. Pryor looked good. I also called the Central Michigan upset of Michigan State, as well as the Houston upset of Oklahoma State. I like Central Michigan and put them in my preseason Top 25 because I really like Dan LeFevour and I think they can win 9-10 games and win the MAC this year. I also like Houston and Case Keenum, who lit up the air last season and is not stopping anytime soon. I like them coming out of Conference USA and winning 8 or 9 games this year. With Texas Tech coming to Houston in 2 weeks, I would not be surprised to see the Cougars hand a second straight Big 12 team a loss. On the other hand, I was very disappointed in Oklahoma State, but hopefully this will wake them up and I still see them having a shot at taking out Texas and representing the Big 12 South in the title game. Speaking of Big 12, I also am very impressed with Missouri, who I did not expect to play as well as they have been. Blaine Gibbert looks great and after seeing them dismantle Illinois and rally to take care of Bowling Green, I think they have a great shot at defending their Big 12 North title for the third year in a row. I also underrated BYU at the beginning of the year, but after seeing them beat OU I think they look pretty good, although I still like TCU as the non-BCS team this year. But if BYU can beat them, I like BYU crashing the party. And finally a player who I think looks really, really good is Michael Floyd, wide receiver on Notre Dame. Floyd has had 2 monster games so far and does not look like he is going to slow down. By the end of the year I see Floyd as being a first or second team All-American.

MY College Football Preseason Top 25

Sooo I decided to make a preseason Top 25 for this season, as do many other people... the way I see preseason top 25 polls is that I rank the team the way I see them doing this season based on what I know before the season... My opinions will change over the season about teams based on performance and emerging players, etc.... So this Top 25 of mine is the way I see the top 25 looking based on what I know about these teams as of now, the preseason, and also how I think they will do this year. One thing I disagree with in most people's preseason polls is the factoring in of how teams did last season... Irrelevant for this year.. So after all that, here is the poll:

PREASEASON TOP 25:
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. USC
4. Oklahoma
5. Ohio State
6. Virginia Tech
7. Oklahoma State
8. Mississippi
9. Penn State
10. Georgia Tech
11. Oregon
12. Texas Christian
13. Alabama
14. LSU
15. Boise State
16. California
17. Florida State
18. Georgia
19. Oregon State
20. Illinois
21. West Virginia
22. Kansas
23. North Carolina
24. Nebraska
25. Central Michigan

Great Article

I havent had TV for the past 2 weeks, and have just been checking on the news on the Internet, so not really up to date... So I dont really know all the details of the Rick Pitino story, but I saw this really well written article by Jason Whitlock, one of the better sports writers around in my opinion. I really like Rick Pitino and the Louisville basketball program and have watched their team for a while now, so I hope that this does not ruin their program or Pitino's legacy. I tend to agree with Whitlock's opinion and do not think an error in Pitino's personal life, such as this, should effect his professional career. This was a momentary lapse in judgement and should not tarnish his legacy....

Article:
Pitino ran into the biggest dynasty in sports
by Jason Whitlock

The '72 Dolphins can't touch Pussy Galore.

Adding Rick Pitino, Josh Hamilton and Reggie Miller to her list of victims, Pussy Galore's record remains unblemished and unprecedentedly gaudy since the beginning of the decade when A.C. Green escaped the NBA untainted by her joys.

Mercury Morris isn't allowed into her neighborhood. John Wooden's UCLA Bruins couldn't afford a house on her block.

Since Green's hiccup and jerri-curl-aided getaway, PG has knocked out every challenger, ruining careers, marriages and lives along the way.

Reportedly she's set her sights on Tim Tebow, vowing to bring down the allegedly still-celibate Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback before the BCS title game.

Is there a logical reason to believe she won't succeed?

She impeached a president and now, more impressively, she threatens to topple a highly successful college basketball coach.

As my mother would say, she's a bitch on a bicycle. Respect her and her power or risk experiencing her wrath.

Pitino should've coughed up the $10 million. His reputation will never recover.

How does a millionaire, married, middle-aged public figure have an unprotected one-night stand on the floor of a restaurant with a woman he's known for a couple of hours if her name isn't Beyonce, Gisele or Halle?

Monica Lewinsky, the White House and a Cuban cigar make more sense than Karen Sypher, a restaurant and an assistant coach playing peek-a-boo in an adjoining booth.


Seriously, I don't want to make excuses for Pitino. I don't want to rationalize his gross error, but you know damn well Pussy Galore's BFF (booze) played a major role in this fiasco. This sounds like the mother of all Patron body shots that skidded way off course.

Like Hamilton, Pitino should take the Jamie Foxx route and blame it on the al-al-al-cohol.

Look, the adultery is bad. His $3,000 bribe/health care package is worse. But those, along with his Catholicism, are private matters properly left between Pitino and his wife and family. Louisville should not use some sort of flimsy morality clause to get rid of Pitino.

He is no more immoral than Hamilton and Miller, PG's other recent victims.

I know, Hamilton blamed his fall off the wagon on his addiction to alcohol and drugs. The Deadspin pictures told a far different story. Drunken actions are sober thoughts. The groping, licking and backdooring revealed a man using the bottle as an excuse to reconnect with the real love of his life, Strange Tang.

Hamilton battled PG with a Bible, a 12-step program, a full-time sobriety coach and a just-say-no public-relations campaign the likes of which we haven't seen since Ronald and Nancy Reagan vacated the Oval Office.

They were no match for the ambush Galore laid for Hamilton in Arizona. Hamilton was General Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorny.

And just as Hamilton should thank Pitino for diverting attention away from his defeat, Reggie Miller can thank Hamilton for overshadowing his text-message pursuit of a 25-year-old clothing designer with a crazy, rich and vindictive fiance.

The "Reggie Miller Stop Pursuing Married Women" banner that flew over Malibu could've easily been Galore's story of the month, but short of a Tebow-Paris Hilton sex tape surfacing nothing is likely to top Pitino's sexcapades in the near future.

Quite frankly, it would take Michelle walking in on Barack and Hillary to unseat Slick Rick. Yes, the Pitino case is that strong of a testament to PG's strength.

Focusing on Pitino's restaurant romp doesn't even come close to telling the complete story.

The truly enlightening tale is the aftermath, the fact that Louisville's conditioning coach, Tim Sypher, would learn the details and conclude Karen would make a wonderful bride.

Just think about that and ask yourself if there is a more powerful force on this planet than Pussy Galore.

Tim Sypher went to work every day with his head high and a smile on his face despite knowing his boss knocked boots on a dirty restaurant floor with his wife within hours of meeting her and then financed her abortion.

If love is blind, lust is deaf, dumb and blind.

I'm sure some of you reading this are appalled that I won't pass harsh judgment on Pitino's transgression. You're making the same mistake made by the hypocritical South Carolina governor who voted to impeach President Clinton.

Or you play for a team that never schedules Pussy Galore as an opponent.

BKU

Long time since my last post..... Saw this story on FOX Sports, and have known about it for a while. Kenechi Udeze, defensive end for the Vikings, was diagnosed with cancer a few years back and has been trying to make a comeback and has unfortunately decided to retire. BKU was one of my favorite players to ever play at USC and a very integral part of the Wild Bunch II, playing defensive end on that dominant front four. Udeze is a very courageous human being and has taken the challange of leukemia head on. I wish him the best and I hope he is able to fully recover... Best of luck BKU!!!!

Story from FOX Sports:

Battling leukemia, Vikings DE Udeze retires at 26
Associated Press

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) - Minnesota Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze has decided to retire, ending a remarkable comeback from leukemia.

The Vikings announced Thursday that Udeze has been placed on the reserve/retired list. Minnesota's first-round draft pick in 2004 out of USC, Udeze was a starter for four years and tied for the team lead with five sacks in 2007.

He was diagnosed in February 2008 with the disease, which is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Udeze spent last season on the reserve/non-football-illness list while dealing with his condition.

After a marrow transplant more than a year ago, Udeze was on the field for practices throughout this spring and summer. He said at minicamp in May he was "feeling pretty good" but acknowledged the challenge of the comeback.

"I'd be lying if I said it was easy," Udeze told the Star Tribune after a June workout. "There was never an easy point. The first time I went back to USC and started working out with the fellas, I fell. I took two steps and I fell. I took small steps at first and, to where I am now, I can't complain."

Udeze received the Vikings' Ed Block Courage Award last season.

Ganja

Two different stories that I saw on msn.com this morning, one about the rampant prescription drug abuse and the other about the rising debate on the legalization of marijuana. My thoughts are below.

Legalize pot movement gains steam
Violence in Mexico, crumbling budgets build momentum for debate
Associated Press
updated 1:47 p.m. PT, Mon., June 15, 2009

NEW YORK - The savage drug war in Mexico. Crumbling state budgets. Weariness with current drug policy. The election of a president who said, "Yes — I inhaled."

These developments and others are kindling unprecedented optimism among the many Americans who want to see marijuana legalized.

Doing so, they contend to an ever-more-receptive audience, could weaken the Mexican cartels now profiting from U.S. pot sales, save billions in law enforcement costs, and generate billions more in tax revenue from one of the nation's biggest cash crops...
Rest of story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31375064/ns/health-addictions/


Prescription drug abuse ravages a state's youth
Kentucky officials see an ‘epidemic’; officials say drugs coming from Florida
By Mark Potter
Correspondent
NBC News
updated 5:17 a.m. PT, Mon., July 6, 2009

MOREHEAD, Ky. — Late in the morning last New Year's Day, Sam and Lynn Kissick received a devastating phone call that would tear their lives apart.

The caller informed them their 22-year-old daughter, Savannah, was being rushed by ambulance to the St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, Ky. She had long battled drug addiction, but it looked like this time, Savannah had overdosed on a combination of painkillers and sedatives while celebrating New Year's Eve.

After racing to the emergency room to be by Savannah's side, her parents were met by a physician with grim news. "I'm sorry, Mr. And Mrs. Kissick, but she didn't make it," he said....
Rest of story: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31707246/ns/health-addictions

Prescription meds are killing kids, adults, and everyone in between, not just in Kentucky which is the focus of the article, but all over the country. They are definitely the new drug of choice, especially amongst younger kids who are reluctant to try pot because of the false labeling as a Schedule I drug that it recieved a long, long time ago. Marijuana is harmless and a plant. Prescription meds are more addictive than heroin, and easier to get, and are killing people around the country. When is it going to be time to take the focus off of pot and onto much, much more dangerous and addicting drugs. When will this so-called "war on drugs" that is costing our country billions going to end or be reformed?? Hopefully soon. Many prisons across America are filled with non-violent drug offenders who will waste away in prison and only become criminals from their time spent around much worse people. And when are these people who are addicted to drugs going to be treated like humans who have a disease instead of animals who need to be thrown in a cage to rot? Where is the humanity in that?? Why aren't the recovery centers across America filled?? Why aren't the propositions that call for more centers or rehabilitation over prison not being passed?? I think the opponents of this movement and the un-informed need to take a much longer look at this situation.

STEVE McNAIR

I just read about Steve McNair and this is truly sad news. He was a great football player, one of the greatest field generals I have watched played and THE toughest player I have watched play. He should stand as an example to all these new, young, hot shot players who hold out for more money or take plays off, etc. Story I found at FOX Sports:

Police rule McNair shooting death a homicide
Associated Press

Updated: July 5, 2009, 3:25 PM EDT
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Police have ruled the shooting death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair a homicide.


McNair and a 20-year-old woman were found dead in a Nashville condominium Saturday. The death of the woman is still unclassified.

McNair was discovered with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head. The woman — Sahel Kazemi, whom Nashville police spokesman Don Aaron called a "friend" of McNair's — had a single gunshot wound to the head. Police said a pistol was discovered near the bodies.

Aaron said Saturday that McNair's wife, Mechelle, is "very distraught."

"At this juncture, we do not believe she is involved," he said. "Nothing has been ruled out, but as far as actively looking for a suspect tonight, the answer would be no."

Fred McNair, Steve McNair's oldest brother, said some family members likely will travel to Nashville on Monday to consult with Steve McNair's wife.

"It's still kind of hard to believe," Fred McNair said. "He was the greatest person in the world. He gave back to the community. He loved kids and he wanted to be a role model to kids."

He said he did not know who Kazemi was.

The bodies were discovered Saturday afternoon by McNair's longtime friend, Wayne Neeley, who said he rents the condo with McNair.

Aaron said Neeley told authorities he went into the condo, saw McNair on the sofa and Kazemi on the floor but walked first into the kitchen before going back into the living room, where he saw the blood.

Neeley then called a friend, who alerted authorities.

Police said a witness saw McNair arrive at the condo in the upscale Rutledge Hill neighborhood between 1:30 and 2 a.m. Saturday and that Kazemi's vehicle was already there. The condominium is located within walking distance of an area filled with restaurants and nightspots, a few blocks from the Cumberland River and within view of the Titans' stadium.

Two days ago, Nashville police arrested Kazemi on a DUI charge while driving a 2007 Escalade registered to her and McNair. McNair was in the front seat, but didn't break the law and was allowed to leave by taxi.

The arrest affidavit said Kazemi had bloodshot eyes and the smell of alcohol on her breath, but refused a breathalyzer test, saying "she was not drunk, she was high."

McNair and his family frequented the restaurant where Kazemi was a waitress, according to employees and patrons of Dave & Buster's in Nashville. Keith Norfleet, Kazemi's ex-boyfriend, told The Tennessean newspaper that McNair and Kazemi met at the restaurant.

"She was reliable 90 percent of the time," manager Chris Truelove said of Kazemi. "She was pretty outgoing. A lot of the guests liked being around her, and she liked being around the guests."

Co-worker Shantez Jobe, 33, she said was friends with Kazemi.

"We talked about who had more fashion sense, and who was the cutest, and who could get more boys, you know some of the stuff girls do," Jobe said.

In June, McNair opened a restaurant near the Tennessee State University campus. It was closed Saturday evening, but had become a small memorial, where flowers, candles and notes had been placed outside the door.

On the restaurant's windows were messages: "We will miss you Steve" and "We love you Steve."

A note attached to a small blue teddy bear read, "We will never forget you, Steve. Once a Titan, always a Titan."

"We don't know the details, but it is a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the families involved," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

McNair, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, led the Titans to the 2000 Super Bowl, which they lost 23-16 to the St. Louis Rams. He was co-MVP of the NFL with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning in 2003. He also played for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring in April 2008.

His most notable moment came in that Super Bowl, when he led the Titans 87 yards in the final minute and 48 seconds, only to come up a yard short of the tying touchdown. Kevin Dyson caught his 9-yard pass, but was tackled at the 1-yard line by the Rams' Mike Jones.

McNair accounted for all of Tennessee's yards in that drive, throwing for 48 yards and rushing for 14. The rest of the yardage came on penalties against the Rams. Before that, he brought the Titans back from a 16-0 deficit to tie the game.

"If you were going to draw a football player, the physical part, the mental part, everything about being a professional, he is your guy," former Ravens and Titans teammate Samari Rolle said. "I can't even wrap my arms around it. It is a sad, sad day. The world lost a great man today."

McNair grew up in rural Mount Olive, Miss., and became a nationally known college football star playing for Alcorn State, a Division I-AA school in his home state. He was so dominant in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, he became a Heisman Trophy contender. National media flocked to little Lorman in the southwest corner of the Magnolia state to get a look at "Air McNair." He still holds the Division I-AA (now known as Football Championship Subdivision) records for career yards passing (14,496) and total offense (16,823).

McNair was the third overall draft pick in 1995 by the Houston Oilers, who eventually became the Titans. He finished his career with 31,304 yards passing and 174 touchdowns. McNair's rugged style led to numerous injuries and aches. He played with pain for several years, and the injuries ultimately forced him to retire.

"On the field, there isn't a player that was as tough as him, especially at the quarterback position," the Ravens' Derrick Mason said. "What I have seen him play through on the field, and what he dealt with during the week to get ready for a game, I have never known a better teammate."

During a five-game stretch at the end of the 2002 season, McNair was so bruised he couldn't practice. But he started all five games and won them, leading the Titans to an 11-5 record and a berth in the AFC championship game for the second time in four seasons.

McNair played all 16 games in 2006, his first season in Baltimore, and guided the Ravens to a 13-3 record. But he injured his groin during the season opener in 2007 and never regained the form that put him in those Pro Bowls.

"I am deeply saddened to learn of today's tragic news regarding the death of Steve McNair. He was a player who I admired a great deal," said New England Patriots senior football adviser Floyd Reese, who was GM of the Titans when McNair played for them. "He was a tremendous leader and an absolute warrior. He felt like it was his responsibility to lead by working hard every day, no matter what."

Titans coach Jeff Fisher was out of the country, taking part in the first NFL-USO coaches tour to Iraq.

Ozzie Newsome, Ravens executive vice president and general manager, said he immediately thought of McNair's four sons.

"This is so, so sad. We immediately think of his family, his boys. They are all in our thoughts and prayers," he said "What we admired most about Steve when we played against him was his competitive spirit, and we were lucky enough to have that with us for two years. He is one of the best players in the NFL over the last 20 years."

No funeral arrangements have been made.

The Troubled Teen Industry

The therapeutic boarding school business across America is one that is not well known, but is pretty widespread and has been going on for over 40 years. There are these so called "emotional growth" schools located all over the country, many of the older ones having been the focus of numerous lawsuits and allegations of abuse. I was sent to one in southern Virginia for 18 months called Carlbrook.

I randomly came across all these sites and blogs and was fascinated by the similarities and strange web of connections between the CEDU program and former employees and the program I was at. It was really weird and freaky to see people who had gone through literally almost the same experience as me 15 years before, since it was some sort of "formula" to apply to every student, and was duplicated among the offspring schools that came from the CEDU program.

Interesting posts on therapeutic boarding schools, specifically Carlbrook:
Carlbrook official site:
www.carlbrook.org
Troubled Teen Forum:
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=9
Thread about Carlbrook (My posts are on page 6 under user name Godfather):
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=8792
Carlbrook:
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10982&hilit=carlbrook
Carlbrook part 2:
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=20599
The Carlbrook thread (gets interesting on pages 8-9):
http://fornits.com/wwf/viewtopic.php?f=52&t=20531
Carlbrook-CEDU connection:
http://www.fornits.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=8001
Carlbrook wikipedia page:
http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Carlbrook
CEDU:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CEDU
Rocky mountain academy:
http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Rocky_Mountain_Academy
Cascade:
http://wiki.fornits.com/index.php?title=Cascade_School
Synanon Cult:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synanon

Some really interesting video clips:
Raps were called groups...


Weird, I know...


Site where videos came from, from documentary about CEDU, "Surviving CEDU":
http://liamscheff.com/daily/cedu-documentary/#fn1
Liam Scheff:
http://liamscheff.com/daily/cedu-documentary/
Interesting and mind blowing similarities between these testimonials and my and others who were with me's experiences.

RIP King of Pop

RIP to an idol and a legend in music.
Whether you like him or not or believe the accusations or not, he did a lot for the world of music and gave back to humanity.

FINALS MVP

After that great parade in LA last Wednesday and the thousands of fans at the Coliseum, Lamar and Trevor are not going anywhere. And it definitely boosted the teams drive and confidence for a repeat because of the amazement at the level of support and dedication that LA and all Laker fans have for their team. I am sure Pau Gasol has not ever been to the Coliseum before and that experience was huge for him. The Lakers are the greatest franchise in all of sports and we got some more titles coming in the next couple of years...

USA vs. SPAIN

I am in straight shock after seeing the Spain/USA game today.. In case you missed it, the US won the game 2-0!!! In my mind this is the biggest sports upset in a long time. I think bigger than the Giants beating the Patriots. Coming into the game, Spain was the number one team in the world, clearly, and was riding a 35 game unbeaten streak, which included a current 15 game win streak, which came to an end Wednesday. Spain had recently won the 2008 Euro Cup and has some of the best players in the world at all positions with the likes of Fernando Torres and David Villa, Xavi, Sergio Ramos, and many more
Although Jozy Altidore's goal for the US had a bit of luck that Iker Casillas, Spain's goalkeeper who got a hand on it, did not stop it, it was still a great goal and this was a monumental upset. USA limped into the semifinal, having lost to Italy and Brazil and just beaten Egypt 3-0 and got lucky from some mistakes by the Italians against Brazil, unfortunately, including an own goal. This win was not in a very meaningful tournament, the Confederations Cup, but it still gives USA a lot of momentum and confidence going into next year's World Cup, and their remaining qualifiers.
I think that Spain is upset with this loss, even more so because they were not even able to post one goal, but I do not think they will miss a beat as they go into the World Cup next year. They are still the best team in the world and if anything they will get better from this loss.
I personally really like the Spainish national team and El Nino is my favorite player in the world right now, but I still was happy for USA and it was a great victory, perhaps one of the greatest of all-time for the US national team.
Looking forward to the final on Sunday, unless we seeing an even bigger upset, Brazil will advance against South Africa and that would put Brazil and USA into a rematch from last week, where Brazil easily won 5-0. I predict the score will be closer this time around, but I do think Brazil will be too much for the US. A bummer we were not able to see the potential blockbuster match up between Brazil and Spain.

Fullerton

Bummed on Cal State Fullerton's performance in the College World Series, I really thought they had a chance to win it all. After their great effort in the super regionals, I thought they had big momentum coming in. Against both Arkansas and Virginia they were unable to really play their style of ball and get going. I think they had a much better chance of beating Virginia today, but I think they left some great chances on the bases in some early innings and that really hurt them in the end, when they were able to close it to 7-5 in the 9th before losing.
Overall they had a great year and the three freshmen pitchers looked great this year and will be back doing work again next year. Too bad the moustaches didnt pull them through this time...

LAKE SHOW

Bringing the title back to L.A.!!!! Number 15!! Game 5 was a great game for the Lakers. The announcers were talking about how there would be a point in the game where Orlando's will would be tested, and the Lakers would either crush it and take control or the Magic would fight for it. That point came late in the 2nd quarter when then Lakera went on a 16-0 run and closed the half up by 10. The 2nd half was controlled by the Lakers and they hoisted up the trophy for the fourth time this decade, the most of any team.
Kobe had another solid game and finally walked away with the Finals MVP trophy!! Pau was huge for the Lakers, the whole rest of the team came up big in Game 5 and had a great season. And we will be back next year, contending for a title in the Finals, I am sure of it. Congrats to the Lakers on a great season and for winning the title!

Tim Floyd

Well, I am not looking forward to watching USC basketball for the next, uh, 10 years. Tim Floyd resigned as coach of the SC basketball team yesterday, amid the allegations involving O.J. Mayo taking lots of cash during his stay at SC, including an envelope full of $100 bills from Floyd. Our program is going into a freefall after this and it will be a long time before we recover. Our basketball team was just finally reaching its potential, and we had a great coach in Floyd, and now it has all fallen apart, and I agree with the article by Rosenberg (bottom) that Floyd was essentially "forced" or "gently pushed" out by USC, except I have no problem with it.
When looking at USC's situation, both the basketball and football programs, I believe that Floyd probably knew about Mayo being paid and may have given money to him (innocent until PROVEN guilty), but I also believe, in opposition to many, many people, that Coach Carroll would not have paid Reggie Bush, or known about it. Maybe some of the other football coaches MIGHT have known about it, but Pete is not that type of coach or person, and all the idiots launching assualts on his character are simply ignorant and do not fully understand the type of person Coach Carroll is. And also, why should it be the university's fault at all if an agent, who has very, very low credibility, claims to have been paying Bush's family money and paying for their house?? First of all, this guy is just bitter that Bush chose another agent instead of him, and secondly, why should anyone believe the crap that comes out of his mouth?? The basketball situation is different, because it is much more believeable because that happens every day (I am not condoning it) in college basketball, USC just got caught. The NCAA is a corrupt organization that is just looking to make money, and in a time where one of the top programs, Memphis, is under scrutiny, they will make an example out of USC's basketball program, I am sure, since USC is not a top school like Memphis.
USC's football program will always be under scrutiny because of their level of success and will always have people who will try to bring them down. Like Coach Carroll said, now that we are on the top, everyone will be gunning for us, whether on the field or off of it. The Bush case is so old and ridiculous, that it was only brought up again after the Mayo situation was brought to light. Bush has already settled the case in civil court, give it a rest. I think that if something was to come out of this, it would have already. Nobody likes a program when they are consistently at the top, and people will do anything to bring them down, unfortunately. And this is not just some West Coast, USC bias type of thing, I am just looking at this realistically. Within weeks of the Mayo allegations, Floyd was gone and the NCAA and USC will probably place some sort of punishments on the basketball team. Mike Garrett, USC athletic director and President Steven Sample did what was necessary to protect their school and to clean up the mess that was the basketball program. They have been criticized for doing "nothing" to uncover the truth, which is complete b.s. The Bush situation has been dragged on for long enough it should be moot by now, and it is a last ditch effort by ignorant media members to drag USC's name through the mud. The NCAA is a joke and if they really want to exercise some sort of control over universities, they should start by changing up some of their rules as the times change, so that every school in the country will not make some sort of infraction against the out-dated system the NCAA "imposes."

Article by Jeff Goodman, of FOX Sports:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9659054/USC-hoops-to-fall-hard-after-Floyd's-resignation

Article by Michael Rosenberg, of FOX Sports:
http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/9665990/Floyd-created-a-mess,-but-he-also-had-company

Gasol

Gasol had a huge game on Sunday, keeping Dwight Howard in check, for the most part, recording a double-double (24 and 10), and almost sealing up a Lakers sweep. Gasol has really stepped up to the plate the past couple of games and has shed the perception that he is "soft," which I thought was a bad interpretation by the media of Gasol having a bad game. Gasol is not soft, he just needs to be more physical sometimes and trust his defense and team more. Gasol is having a great Finals and I look for his great play to continue in Game 3, and I will be surprised if this series comes back to L.A.
In addition to Gasol, the "Candyman," Lamar Odom, is having a great series as well, flying all over the court and playing great on both sides of the ball. If Lamar plays up to the level he has been, along with Gasol, I think that it will be very hard for the Magic to muster a win in this series. Kobe has been pretty much unstoppable and has been deciding when to be the facilitator and when to score at his own will. Since Bynum continues to get into foul trouble, it will be up to Odom and Gasol to get the work done. So far the Candyman has been doin his thing this series, and that block last nite, very much like a LeBron James block, was sick!! L.A. needs to go into Orlando with the same intensity, Kobe needs to bring out the underbite and seal this shit up!

Finals: Game One

Kobe should be doing Shaq's rap, ("...how does my ass taste??") but to all the stupid media and "experts," who I laughed at, as they made their "witty" and "trend-setting" pick of Orlando to win the Finals, along with many picking Orlando to win Game One as well! Why did it become so trendy for people in the media to pick Orlando to win? They all used the same arguement that "everybody" was picking L.A. to win an easy series, so they were going to pick Orlando, and gave horrible reasoning, such as Kobe was "too focused." What?? I bet if you took tallies from before the game yesterday, more media "experts," like that idiot Skip Bayless on First Take, took Orlando to win the whole thing, and a bunch more probably picked Orlando to win Game One, like Bayless.
I sat there laughing and curious as to what these members of the media were seeing? Sure Orlando and Dwight Howard took apart Cleveland and beat the defending champs, Boston, in seven games, and sure they beat L.A. both times in the regular season. But Los Angeles is completely different from either of those teams, and they ran up and down the court, proving their superiority and dominating every aspect of the game. And, I really hope Kobe's AMAZING performance, 40 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists, has put a sock in all the Laker-haters and Kobe-doubters. Its nice when LeBron gets all his triple-doubles, but until he does it in a NBA Finals, and until he gets wins to go along with all his triple-doubles, they mean nothing except nice stats. James can keep his regular season MVP, Kobe is going for the real MVP: Finals MVP.
Kobe's performance last nite, is arguably his best performance ever in a NBA Finals game, and it was only game one!! "The Closer" decided that he did not want to wait for the 4th quarter to close the game and did so in the 3rd quarter instead, lighting up Orlando en route to a 20+ point lead. I am extremely excited for Game Two, in which I predict another Lakers win, a 2-0 lead going to Orlando, and, hopefully, many media members will admit to their wrong picks and "idiotic" reasonings that I heard to back them up.
Bring the title back to L.A.!!!!

The real "Big Baby"

From a FOX Sports article:

On why he didn't congratulate the Magic after Game 6, James said Sunday, "It's hard for me to congratulate somebody after you just lose to them. I'm a winner. It's not being a poor sport or anything like that. If somebody beats you up, you're not going to congratulate them. That doesn't make sense to me. I'm a competitor. That's what I do. It doesn't make sense for me to go over and shake somebody's hand."

Uhhh... thats being a bad sport, LeBron. Even in the UFC and boxing, when you see a guy beat the crap out of the opposition, they always shake hands after. LeBron is really making it obvious he skipped college, and had a breeze through high school, when he makes ignorant comments like that. Do not get me wrong, I am not a LeBron hater, I still think he is one of the two best players in the NBA, along with Kobe who is still number one. I still think he is very intelligent when it comes to the game of basketball, inlcuding its history, but when he makes dumb comments like the one above, it makes him look dumb. That is what you are expected to do as a professional athelete, which is act like a man, not a baby like LeBron did after Game 6 in Orlando.
And how much less class can you have then when LeBron was clearing out his locker with a New York hat on. LeBron deserves the nickname "big baby," more so than Glen Davis, and he cried on national TV! James defined how to be a very sore loser in this situation. I lost a lot of respect for LeBron after the past couple of days.

My flippy floppys

L.O.

The Lakers game 5 last nite was pivotal. If they had lost that game, I think the series would have been over. The biggest part of that game, that helped the lakers win when Kobe was not having his best game, was Lamar Odom stepping up.
L.O. had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and 4 blocks, comin up huge for the Lakers. Odom is really one of the most important players for the Lakers and needs to play well for us to close out this series. He has the potential to have a 15-15 or 20-20 game when he is playing good.
Looking forward to the Finals, if the Lakers make it there, like I think they will, they will probably have to play the Orlando Magic and the beast Dwight Howard. L.A. will need huge games from Lamar and really needs Bynum to step up and be more physical. He needs to stop worrying about fouls so much and step up his game.
Lakers over Denver in 7.

LAX

So lacrosse is a sick sport that needs more coverage and recognition.. I've known about lacrosse from being over on the east coast for a year and a half and hearing about it from kids from out there and the South, and playing it some over there too. Its gotten a little bigger since then, but is still growing. Its similar to hockey, but no ice or skates. Check it out, its sick.
Anyways, I was watching the national championship of college lacrosse on ESPN (its gettin some coverage at least) on Monday between Syracuse and Cornell. Syracuse is to college lacrosse like UCLA is to college basketball, having won 10 titles before this game. And Cornell is a good team this year too.
The game was close throughout and in the 3rd period was 7-6 Cornell, when Syracuse scored on a scramble in front of the goal, but a Orange player's right hand had barely touched the crease, the circle around the goal that the opposing team can't cross. The goal would have tied it, and Cornell went on to make it 9-6, behind John Glynn's hat trick and two assists.
A three goal deficit is a very challenging comeback for a team in lacrosse, even one as high-caliber as Syracuse, who was looking to defend their national title from 2008. With less than four minutes left in the game, Syracuse scored two goals in under a minute, with Cody Jamieson scoring with under three minutes to make the score 9-8.
After that ridiculous comeback, Syracuse was still down by one and in the final seconds, after a mad scramble at midfield, Syracuse came up with the ball and made it down to Cornell's goal. Matt Abbott managed to get the ball to Kenny Nims in front of the goal, who got it in the goal, tying the game with four seconds left!
In overtime, Cody Jamieson scored the winning goal a minute and a half in and sealed the comeback and repeat national title for Syracuse, winning 10-9.
The game was crazy, it provided great suspense and excitement and will hopefully create more excitement about lacrosse.

Dreamworld

Dreams are really nuts. I don't know if my dreams are just crazier and way more out there than everyone elses or what, but they are intense. And I seem to remember a lot of them. I seem to be running around or being chased a lot, and seem to be in parking structures, hotels, and previous schools a lot in my dreams. Why?? I still think that the greatest invention ever is going to be when a way is discovered to record dreams somehow. I am sure that somewhere down the line this is possible. I also have a dream that is recurring, just different in aspects of it, but I am at my parents house in Glendora, and people are trying to get in and I have to keep running around and locking doors to keep them out or fighting to keep a door shut or something.... Crazy shit, please help explain...

PASSENGERS

Really good movie. I watched it the other night and it was a little slow at first and I was wondering what the point of some of the scenes were, but once it reached its conclusion and everything came together, it was great. I liked it a lot and thought that it was done really well and the suspense that comes to light at the end is really intriguing and a really interesting concept... And Anne Hathaway is a really good actress and everything that was said about her at this year's Oscars is true- perhaps the next Katherine Hepburn, etc. Definitely recommend the movie.

Lebron

So LeBron's shot at the end of game 2 was ridiculous and saved the season for Cleveland. And theres really nothing more to say about that.

Game 1

What is there to even say, that game was ridiculous... Melo had the best game of his career, shooting 70%, and 80% from three point land, for 39 points!! That was an amazing performance by a very underrated player, who is probably one of top 10 players in the NBA right now.
And then there was Kobe. Scoring 18 points in the 4th, for a total of 40 and outdueling Carmelo. That was a great performance as well, especially since the rest of the Lakers were not stepping it up. We need to take this momentum into Game 2 tonite and Pau or L.O. need to have a huge game. Pau grabbed 14 rebounds, six of them offensive, which was good but he needs more production on the scoreboard.
I expect tonite to be another great game and hopefully I won't be shitting my pants at the end of the game like I was in Game 1.

Quote

"Everything changes except the shit that doesn't change"

MV7

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9586626/On-the-Mark:-Vick-needs-us-to-find-new-cause

Great article by Mark Kreigel, who writes for Fox Sports as well, about the whole Mike Vick incident. He is days away from being released to house arrest to finish his sentence and the issue is still as big as 2007. People will not give this guy a rest, and as Kreigel put it, to not give a 28-year-old ex-con a chance to at least attempt to once again do what he is best at is blatently "un-American". I agree completely, and ever more so once I read the rest of his article. He points out the need for all these protesters to find a new cause, and he suggests DUIs in the NFL, which is dead on because these have been going on unnoticed and apparently not very "news worty", until Donte Stallworth.
Stallworth recently hit and killed a pedestrian and is awaiting trial and many people are not going to be surprised if he gets a more lenient sentence than Vick. Kreigel points out the much forgotten incident with Leonard Little, a football player for the Rams who hit and killed a woman while he was drunk and got off with 90 days and community service. And then got another DUI a couple years later and was onced again acquitted.....
What is the malfunction here? Why are multi-million dollar athletes getting away with this, and as Kreigel points out as well, why cant they hire a damn driver???
I say give Vick a chance. He served his time, like most athletes and stars have not and has taken the brunt of much criticism directed at the NFL, as he became a scapegoat. He is an amazing talent and made some mistakes, but what is wrong with much of the media and the people today that they will be so quick to blast Michael Vick and Michael Phelps and throw them under the bus for crimes miniscule in comparison to taking another persons life??
I mean they took an Olympian hero, an American hero and threw him to the wolves because he got caught taking a bt?? Please. We need to adjust our values here and, as Kreigel says in his artice, why are most people more considered about dogs and pot than other humans lives??

WAYNE

Must watch part 2...

Thug Life

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9569780/Cuban/'s-out-of-line-and-it/'s-Stern/'s-fault

Interesting article by Jason Whitlock, good writer who writes for Fox Sports, about the incidents during the Denver-Dallas series, mainly Mark Cuban being an idiot again and talking shit to K-Mart's mama...
I am just as surprised as Whitlock that K-Mart hasn't knocked Cuban out or there wasn't riot at Dallas in Game 4 when the players' wives, mothers, and children were being harassed. Cuban has so much money that he should he learned some sort of respect by now and its going to take someone teahing his ass a lesson, like Kenyon Martin, before he gets it.
On another note, the Nuggets look like the team to beat in the playoffs this year. Cleveland has coasted through two easy series- Detroit folded in the regular season after they realized the Iverson trade was a bust and putting Rip on the bench was dumb, and Atlanta is still too young, they need another marquee player and Josh Smith still needs to develop his jump shot and then he'll be unstoppable. Denver has been playing with great passion and the mix of players on the team have the potential to win a championship: Smooth already has one title, a Finals MVP, and a second Finals trip already under his belt; Melo is playing inspired basketball and really has his j going; Dahntay Jones is stepping up and playing really well in the playoffs; J.R. Smith and Birdman are great off the bench, and Birdman is just the shit; K-Mart and Nene are beasts down low and play really physical basketball, which is what worries me the most when L.A. has to play them in the Conference Finals (hopefully).

Melo

Just finished watching the Nuggets-Mavs game 3, and what a great game.. Nowitski had like 35 and 17 and Billups had like 35 points, and Carmelo is just straight nasty... That shot he hit to win the game was ridiculous..
The playoffs this year have produced some really good games and have been getting more and more exciting every game. This game was up there as one of the best, back and forth and the last shot that Melo hit to cap the game was great. The refs had been giving the players a lot of slack for the fouls and the lip they were giving the refs in this game, and so the way they had been reffing the game, that was not a foul at the end. Antoine Wright needed to do more than give a little hip check to Melo and he just let him go around him and get the look for that nasty 3....
Great game and I think that the Mavs are done, especially with Howard and Wright losing it after the game, I think this was way too deflating of a loss, especially since it was at home and they had been up or tied most of the game and playing really well.
Nuggets in 4.

The Black Mamba

Kobe was great last nite as the Lakers took game 2, in one of the most exciting and entertaining games I have seen in a while, other than the recent Bulls-Celtics series. Triple Ocho came out firing in the first quarter and was 7/11 for 15 points in the Lakers' 39 point quarter.
After whatever it was that happened in the second quarter that led to the Rockets taking the lead, L.A. was great again in the 3rd quarter, which was when the real entertainment started. Luis Scola is a huge bitch and the whole Lakers team was letting him know that, haha. I liked the message Fisher sent and he never does that kind of stuff, so it was not like Ron Artest making a dirty play or anything.
Speaking of Artest, what another joke. First of all his new haircut is so burnt its not even funny. Like Sir Charles said, grown men shouldn't be cutting designs into their hair, haha.. Artest is a dumbass and when he got in the Mamba's face, I think that just fired him up. If Artest can't handle a little physical play maybe he should take his tampon out...
And obviously Shane Battier can't guard 24, as Kobe let him know when he got that bullshit T. Kobe went for 40 in the game and The Black Mamba let Battier know that he cant guard him or stop him and this is going to be a long series for him.
I can't wait for the next game and how fired up Kobe and the Lakers are going to be, especially after this game and going back to Houston. I really hope Fisher is not suspended or Kobe giving a flagrant for that elbow, its part of the game!! Oh, and how G is Lamar Odom walking to the Staples Center for the game!!

Texas

Apparentely it keeps getting better with Texas, just watching Rick Sanchez on CNN and now there is all the talk about how Texas is claiming they want to secede, small government, states rights and all the same radical right bullshit... They are still living in the days of the Articles and Gov. Rick Perry is ridiculous, "Get the hell off my backstop!" I can just imagine that in his southern accent Hahahaha... Perry and Texas are ignorant redneck Republicans who want to move the time back and are moving further and further to the right.. AND the best part about it is that Texas is the NUMBER ONE state in America to recieve federal funds from FEMA.. It doesnt get much hypocritical than that! Perry was at a "Dont Mess With Texas Tea Party" claiming secession, states rights, lower taxes etc. and bashing on the government and Obama's tax plan.. Most of the people at the tea party, and all the other tea parties around the country, probably make less than $250,000 and are not seeing their taxes cut anyways..

"Texas is really just a microcosm of what is going on with Republicans in the United States!" -Rick Sanchez... said in response to the upcoming Governor election in Texas and how the Republicans are split between moving further right or remaining where they are, which is still pretty right wing.

And by the way I am not an Obama enthusiast, I am just in support of his idea of Change and Hope because that is what everybody needs, and am critical of certain aspects of his admin, but am optimistic, especially after the last one..

Wow....

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/05/highway-robbery-by-law-enforcement/

Most ridiculous story I have read in a while, but I shouldn't be surprised. There are still parts of our country, mainly in the South, where the bigotry and discrimination that was so prevalent in the earlier history of our country still exists. This is absurd and I will be very upset if the police departments do not get swept through with indictments. This is the type of case that could set back our country a 100 years. If this sort of thing is allowed to go on anywhere in America, it is just as bad as everywhere. When the whole steroid issue in baseball is brought up, the players being accused probably make up less than 10% of the entire MLB, yet it is the main story and all the focus is on it and how baseball is being shamed. Why is this not a bigger story in America today?? How many people even know about this?? It is being pushed aside and only fueling the "color blind racism" ideology in our country. Just because many people pretend that racism and discrimination does not exist or fail to acknowledge it, does not make it go away. Many different groups/cultures around America still face discrimination from the rich and the bigots who are quick to cast judgement while their faults and crimes outweigh many others. It is not just black people or Latino people who face this today, but many other groups, and not just different races, but cultures, like gays or even the whole culture of pot smokers who face quick judgement and discrimination, built on many false ideas and beliefs. What will it take for our country to keep moving forward and resist the temptation to take a few steps backwards???? (See the Hendrix quote....)

Taylor Mays..... looook out

Ridiculous video- Danny Macaskill