Over anti-gay slurs.

The Chiefs released running back Larry Johnson on Monday, his first day back from a two-week suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
Johnson called out coach Todd Haley two weeks ago in a Twitter post before using a pair of gay slurs on his Twitter profile and, a day later, to a group of reporters. He missed SundayÂ’s game at Jacksonville, and the suspension cost him about $330,000. He also ended his Chiefs career 74 yards short of the franchise rushing record, set by Priest Holmes.

Now there is plenty of room to argue about whether or not this is the right move for the Kansas City Chiefs organization to make. After all, there are PR and other considerations that go into such a decision, in addition to the on-field issues.

But IÂ’m still mighty disturbed by the decision.

After all, the team and the league were willing to keep him on the payroll when he had earlier issues involving his conduct.

Johnson has been arrested four times since 2003 on various assault charges against women. In 2003, he was arrested for felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor domestic battery for waving a gun at his then-girlfriend, during an argument at his home. The charges were dropped when Johnson agreed to participate in a domestic violence diversion program. In 2005, he was again arrested for assault when a woman accused Johnson of pushing her to the ground, but the case was dropped after the alleged victim failed to appear in court for three different hearings.

His third arrest for assault came on February 24, 2008, after allegedly pushing a woman's head at a nightclub on February 24. On October 10, 2008, Johnson was arrested for the fourth time and charged with one count of non-aggravated assault for allegedly spitting a drink in a woman's face at a Kansas City nightclub on Oct. 11. The woman involved, Ashley Stewart, has since filed a civil suit against Johnson, accusing him of negligence, assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

In other words, it is acceptable in the NFL for a player to engage in repeated physical assaults against women – acts which are criminal in nature. On the other hand, the uttering (or typing) of the wrong word will end your career if it offends the wrong political pressure group.

But then again, we already knew that – just ask Rush Limbaugh.

I guess it is all just a matter of priorities.

Posted by: Greg at 11:35 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Today's Houston Texan's game was something special.

It was Salute to the Military day, and lot's of active duty, reserve and vets were in attendance.

The Golden Eagles parachuted in with the flag and the game ball.

The marine Silent Drill Team showed their great skill at halftime.

And the honorary team captains were a father and son -- one a decorated pilot during WWII and the other a fighter pilot with the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam era.

Oh, yeah -- they were also the 41st and 43rd presidents of the United States.

If you live here in Houston, you see the elder George Bush around town a lot, and are likely to find yourself at a game or a theater event with him. But I have to say that I don't recall ever being in the same building with BOTH the father and the son at the same time. It was an honor.

Oh, yeah -- and the Texas beat the 49ers, 24-21, taking them to 4-3 on the season.

Posted by: Greg at 01:28 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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It seems youÂ’ve come out against allowing an American patriot, a US citizen who makes a livening by commenting on our nationÂ’s politics, to own a minority stake in an NFL franchise. Why? Because you donÂ’t like what he has said in the course of exercising his constitutional rights. Frankly, this season ticketholder is concerned by the decision to, in effect, impose a blacklist based upon the political utterances of this potential owner, a successful entrepreneur who is truly a self-made man whose daily radio show garners some 20 million listeners.

Now I could argue that there is something unseemly – indeed, un-American – about a McCarthyite political blacklist like that used in the 1950s to prevent those whose politics were deemed unacceptable from earning a living in many occupations, including the entertainment industry. I won’t, because unlike your target, Rush Limbaugh, many of those Americans were not patriots and were treasonously in the thrall of an enemy regime that was out to destroy the US Constitution, American liberties, and our entire way of life. Limbaugh, whether you love him or hate him, is not such an individual – he is an all-American individual with a strong belief in the US Constitution, individual freedom, and the liberty of each American citizen to improve his or her lot in life through hard work and enterprising spirit. That makes your blacklist infinitely worse.

But if a history of controversial political comments is to be the basis for excluding individuals from close association with the NFL on the basis that their words offend a segment of the population (and therefore the potential fan base of the league), why does the NFL allow Keith Olbermann to be a part of the lineup of commentators for NBC? After all, Olbermann is equally as offensive if not more so, especially in light of his nightly rants and insulting language directed towards national leaders and political opponents. Do you mean to tell me that Olbermann’s recent statement that a prominent minority blogger, columnist, and author is a “a big mashed-up bag of meat with lipstick on it” who espouses “total[ly] mindless, morally bankrupt, knee-jerk, fascistic hatred”? If statements attributed (many of them falsely) to Rush Limbaugh are the sort of “divisive comments” that “are not what the NFL is all about”, then is it your position that Olbermann’s statements are what the NFL is all about? Or are you planning to take immediate action to have Keith Olbermann removed from his position as a commentator on NBC’s NFL programming? In short, on what basis do you exclude Limbaugh but include Olbermannn – and is the difference principled or hypocritical?

And if we are going to get into the issue of what is and is not acceptable language and conduct for those associated with the NFL, can we consider the following situations?

• One minority owner of the Miami Dolphins is about to appear nude in a pornographic publication. Is this the sort of thing that the NFL is all about?
  
• This same minority owner has recently faced sanctions from the professional athletic body that governs her sport for cursing an official and threatening that official with physical violence during an athletic competition? Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• This same minority owner recently defended the exclusion of Jews from some competions in her sport based upon their religion. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• A pop music star known for her sexually explicit lyrics and dancing is about to become a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• The Checketts group reportedly includes an individual who admittedly collaborated with the Nazis in the deportation of Jews during the Holocaust. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• A number of players in the NFL are members of the Nation of Islam, an anti-Semitic black supremacist group with a history of violence. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• You recently reinstated a convicted felon who had engaged in wanton acts of animal cruelty. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?
  
• An NFL player recently killed a man in a drunk driving incident and was quickly reinstated by the league. Is this the sort of thing the NFL is all about?

I guess what I am asking, Commissioner Goodell, is whether or not the NFL has any standards at all – beyond objecting to political and social views held by a large segment of the American people, and seeking to exclude those who hold such views from active involvement in the NFL.

While I certainly do not share all of the views held or articulated by Rush Limbaugh, we have many in common. As a blogger, IÂ’m concerned any time there is an attempt to stifle political speech. And since the suppression of political views similar to my own seems to be what the NFL is all about, IÂ’m left wondering if there is any longer a place in my budget for my season tickets to the Houston Texans if the NFL is to be the No Freedom League. WhatÂ’s more, I suspect IÂ’m not the only person in an NFL city who is asking that question. Is it really your intent to alienate us?

I look forward to your response, Mr. Goodell. It will be a major factor in whether or not my wife and I will be occupying those seats in Section 541 of Reliant Stadium on ten game days next season. I will also forward this letter to Bob Mcnair of the Houston Texans, soliciting his answers to these questions as well as his opinion regarding your continued employment as commissioner of the NFL.

Posted by: Greg at 11:44 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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As a Rams fan, I imagine he might be if this were to come to pass.

In 2003, Rush Limbaugh had a brief dalliance with the sport he loves, spending a month as the "voice of the fan" on ESPN's pregame show before resigning after a delayed reaction to comments made regarding Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb triggered a firestorm.

Since then, the mega-rich Rush's name has bubbled up from time to time as a potential owner of all or part of an NFL team.

And it could be coming to fruition.

Charley Casserly of CBS reports that, of the three groups that submitted bids to buy the St. Louis Rams, one group includes Dave Checketts and Limbaugh.

Given that the Rams are this yearÂ’s Detroit Lions, it seems to me that this may be the only thing that my friend and fellow WatcherÂ’s Council member will have to cheer this season.

If, of course, it happens.

Posted by: Greg at 09:45 AM | Comments (83) | Add Comment
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I've had season tickets for the Houston Texans since the beginning of the franchise.

It hasn't always been pretty.

Sometimes it has been downright awful.

But there has always been one constant during the regular season -- one thing we could count on.

Chester Pitts would be starting for the team.

And so this news is sort of devastating.

Texans left guard Chester Pitts, who has started every game in franchise history, will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing major knee surgery Wednesday and will miss the remainder of the season.

Pitts, who started 114 consecutive games, had two procedures performed on his right knee by Dr. Walter Lowe.

Pitts underwent surgery to repair the meniscus cartilage and also had microfracture surgery to repair the articular cartilage. The damage to his medial collateral ligament will heal on its own.

Pitts was injured in the Texans' 34-31 victory at Tennessee on Sunday.

Kasey Studdard, a three-year veteran from the University of Texas, will replace Pitts in the starting lineup.

Pitts' season-ending surgery means kicker Kris Brown is the last of the original Texans on the 53-man roster.

Pitts, a second-round pick from San Diego State in 2002, is in the last year of his contract and turns 31 next season, which means he might not play again for the Texans.

Chester Pitts NOT starting for the Texans? Maybe not EVER suiting up for the team again?

It really does feel like the end of the world as we know it.

Here's hoping that he'll be fine -- and back with the team next season.

UPDATE: For all the folks who are not fans of the Houston texans, here's how you may better know Chester Pitts. Just one more reason we all love him down here in Houston, too.

Posted by: Greg at 12:10 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I love football.

And for a time, earlier in my life, I worked with developmentally disabled adults, including many with Down Syndrome.

And so my emotions overwhelmed me when I read about this.

Matt Ziesel doesnÂ’t stray far from coach Dan McCamy on the sidelines during St. Joseph Benton High SchoolÂ’s freshman football games. He likes to stay within earshot.

“I’m ready, Coach. … Coach, I’m ready,” Ziesel says.McCamy says he hears it about 10 times a game, and also at practices, from Ziesel, his 5-foot-3, 110-pound running back.

So in the final stages of Benton’s third game of the season on Monday at Maryville, McCamy decided it was time for Ziesel — a 15-year-old freshman with Down syndrome — to make his season debut.

With about 10 seconds left in the game, and Benton trailing 46-0, McCamy called his final timeout, told an assistant coach to organize the team for the “Matt play” and ran across the field to the Maryville defensive huddle — and to some puzzled looks from the opposing players.

And the result?

This.

I am undeniably a science fiction fan. And I love Star Trek, in all its various incarnations. But I’ll be among the first to say that this is really pretty tacky, even by the admittedly low standards of much of sci fi fandom – Star Trek cologne.

Firebox is now selling three scents designed specifically for Trekkies.

The first, called Tiberius after none other than James T. himself, is “a casual yet commanding cologne spiked with freshness and sensuality. Citron zest, black pepper and cedar create refreshingly clear top notes, layered over a wooded, spicy scent.” (No mention there of alien gore or spacecraft exhaust fumes).

For those who would admit to being a zero rather than a hero, there's a cologne called Red Shirt. Firebox says: “…this manly scent has been named after the apparel favoured by the bold but stupid saps/extras who, with grim inevitability, always met a grisly end during away missions.” It promises “top notes of green mandarin, bergamot and hints of lavender [and] base notes of leather and grey musk” delivering a whiff of “the sweet smell of…expendability”.

Finally, for the ladies, is the Ponn Farr perfume, which is named after the Vulcan mating cycle. Presumably it's designed to attract males of the human variety as well as those with pointy ears.

Set phasers to maximum, and fire at will, Mr. Worf.

Posted by: Greg at 12:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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The Houston Oilers were gone by the time I moved to Houston, so I have no great attachment to that team or its players. however, the murder of Steve McNair is still a very sad thing, though I don't know that I would use the word tragedy to describe it (though it is certainly a tragedy for his family and other loved ones).

For those unaware of the news, McNair and a woman were found shot to death in an apartment/condo in Nashville -- the former QB with multiple gunshot wounds. He appears to have had some sort of relationship with the woman, based upon the fact that there was a vehicle registered in both of their names. I won't speculate what that relationship was without evidence, though at least one article I've read refers to the young woman as his "girlfriend".

However, the details of the case do raise questions -- especially given this bit of information.

McNair was found shot to death in a Nashville condominium he was renting. He suffered several gunshot wounds, including one to the head. [Sahel] Kazemi was found on the floor near him with a single gunshot wound to her head. The Nashville Tennessean reports a pistol was found near her body.

Additionally, Nashville police are not actively looking for suspects. Police have not yet called the deaths the result of a murder-suicide. Autopsies are scheduled for today, after which an official cause of death is likely to be named.

It appears that McNair was the victim rather than the perpetrator in this case. Unfortunately, the end of his life may ultimately overshadow the greatness he showed on the football field.

Steve McNair leaves behind a wife and kids, making this situation all the more sad. That they will have to carry on in the wake of this ugly situation is difficult to contemplate.

Posted by: Greg at 03:56 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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There once was a talented performer named Michael Jackson. But that individual died long ago, and was replaced by a strange caricature of a human being whose sexual proclivities would have put a less famous person behind bars.

That new-and-not-improved Michael Jackson died yesterday at the age of 50.

Debbie Schlussel offers an observation that I join in.

. . . I miss the original Michael Jackson--the one with talent, a voice that could range several octaves, feet that made us all dancing "the moonwalk" in the '80s, composing music and writing and singing that had him melding rock guitar with pop in songs like "Beat It" in a way that even demanded the respect of the heavy metal world. He was an original, all right. And he was a phenom.

That he was, and his music will, undoubtedly, stand the test of time.

Unfortunately, there is unseemly celebration of this warped individual as some sort of icon -- which writer Jonah Goldberg notes is a perversion of the term given its roots in religion as an item that represents holiness and is intended to bring people into closer contact with God. I also share in his observation about the accusations made against Jackson regarding the sexual abuse of young boys.

I know that Michael Jackson wasnÂ’t convicted of the despicable crimes he was accused of. And thatÂ’s why he never went to jail. Three cheers for the majesty of the American legal system. But in my own personal view he wasnÂ’t exonerated either. Nor was he absolved of his crimes because he could sing, moonwalk or sell 10 million records. (Though many of us suspect the money and fame he made from those things is precisely what kept him out of jail).

And, while I merely think he was a pedophile, I know he was not someone responsible parents should applaud, healthy children emulate nor society celebrate.

And while we’re at it, his relatively early death wasn’t “tragic.” He was one of the richest people in the world. He spent his money on perpetual childhood and he was perpetually with children not his own.

Meanwhile, in the last ten days, weÂ’ve seen or heard of remarkable people whoÂ’ve given their lives for freedom in Iran. WeÂ’ve heard of innocents killed because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. In the last decade, America has lost thousands of heroes in noble causes and thousands of innocent bystanders who were denied the simple joys of life through no fault of their own. Those deaths are tragic, and we're hard pressed to think of more than a handful of names to put with the long line of the dead.

If anything, Michael JacksonÂ’s life, not his death, was tragic.

Personally, I'm rather disgusted at the adulation being poured out over Jackson, and the wall-to-wall news coverage his demise is generating. It obscures what is really important today -- not just the situation in Iran, but also great debates on health care, energy policy, and the political leadership. Whatever cultural importance Michael Jackson may or may not have, it does not merit this sort of hagiography.

That said, I do feel for his family members who mourn the loss of a loved one this day. But I cannot say that I feel any sense of loss that Micheal Jackson is no longer among the living -- and do believe that the children of the world are a little bit safer today for his no longer being in it.

UPDATE: May I note my disgust over the House of Representatives having a moment of silence to honor this man who paid $20 million to make accusations of child abuse go away?

I'm (D)isguste(D) by this farce -- an(D) can't help but note the party affiliation of all of the buffoons who gathere(D) to see the (D)ecease(D) pe(D)ophile honore(D).

I'm opening comments -- and reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments.

Posted by: Greg at 06:32 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
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17 It obscures what is really important today -- not just the situation in Iran, but also great debates on health care, energy policy, and the political leadership.

Posted by: Mireya Lombardi at Tue Aug 21 05:26:04 2012 (Lzpcw)

18

There once was a talented performer named Michael Jackson. But that individual died long ago, and was replaced by a strange caricature of a human being whose sexual proclivities would have put a less famous person behind bars.

http://www.leonlogothetis.com/

Posted by: Florene at Sun Aug 26 11:21:00 2012 (M7Wtz)

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Some things just are not done – but this idiot did one of them anyway.

"Transformers" star Tyrese Gibson has upset patriotic NBA fans after altering the lyrics of the national anthem at Game 5 of the Western Conference finals on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old actor/singer turned up to sing the Star Spangled Banner at the Staples Center arena in L.A.

However, Gibson, who hails from California, took the chance to sing the anthem and cheer his favorite team at the same time.

He replaced the line "our flag was still there" with "our Lakers were still there."

Now granted, down in Atlanta there is a little tweaking of the final word of the song during baseball games, but the statement that the flag waves over the “home of the Braves” rather than the “home of the brave” still communicates an essential truth that the emblem of freedom still flies over our land. But to gratuitously insert the name of any sports team in the middle of the song is another matter entirely. What next – paid product placement during the anthem?

Hurrah for the fans at the game who booed GibsonÂ’s disrespectful deed.

Posted by: Greg at 09:11 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Since everyone wants to make his American Idol loss a gay/straight thing, I suppose it is time to comment on why my wife and I both voted against him (repeatedly).

It wasn't his sexuality. After all, we are both pretty gay-friendly -- indeed, I've spoken with only two non-family members on the phone this weekend, and neither of the two is straight. Indeed, one of them certainly qualifies as my best friend. So personal feelings about sexuality didn't do it.

Neither did religion. Both of us are seminary trained, and my wife was, for a time, pastor of a church in a liberal, gay-friendly denomination.

And we both voted for Clay Aiken, assuming he was gay long before he came out of the closet, because we liked his style and were put off by the constant shilling of the judges for other contestants during that season.

So why not vote for Adam, and instead pick Kris Allen?

Easy. We didn't like the "hard sell" tactics of certain of the judges on the show. They were declaring Adam to be the winner weeks ago, even though it was not at all clear to us that he deserved the crown. I was fond of Danny & Allison -- indeed, I thought the final three should have been Adam, Allison, and Danny, with Kris disappearing when they reduced the crew to three. And of the final three, my pick would have been Danny because I liked his voice and his style. I thought Kris had the same sort of stuff going for him.

Which brings me back to Adam. Aside from the shameless shilling by the judges, there was one other problem -- Adam was too theatrical in his style. No, that isn't a code for "gay" -- it is a recognition that Adam has a long history as a stage performer, and that he sings and presents himself like a stage performer.. Indeed, his phrasing often reminded me of this.

Well, maybe not quite that bad, but Adam Lambert was just a little bit too precise in his delivery -- great for Broadway, not so much for pop or rock music. Even when he rocked out (and I'll concede, Adam gave some great rock performances) it all seemed a bit . . . artificial, sort of like the example above.

That doesn't mean that I wouldn't pay to see Adam Lambert -- I would, but probably not as a concert performer. If, however, he were to be the lead in just about any musical, I'd buy a ticket and go -- and be thoroughly pleased by his performance.

But who knows -- Adam may yet have a fantastic career as a solo artist. And I may yet become a serious fan. But my faith and his sexuality won't be factors in that change, either.

So when I see an analysis like this one, I simply have to laugh at how misguided those who put forth this thesis really are.

UPDATE: Lots of traffic on this one -- I'll open the comments for you. Play nice.

Posted by: Greg at 01:23 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I won't say anything about who I want to win or who I think will win. I've written nothing about the show, and had planned to keep it that way.

However, the performance by Rod Stewart has broken my resolve.

Don't -- please don't -- for the love of God don't -- sing Maggie May again.

Collect your books and get on back to school? How about collect your walker and get on back to the nursing home? That is a young man's song -- and you aren't any more.

But here's the song -- a favorite from my childhood some three-and-a-half decades ago -- when you were in your prime.

Posted by: Greg at 01:55 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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After all, if non-traditional, cross-racial casting is such a good thing for the bio-pic of Frank Sinatra, why not have a white guy play the slain civil rights icon? As such, I may have to join Debbie Schlussel in her call DreamWorks to give serious consideration to casting the very white, very blond Wilson as the lead.

Are you offended by the suggestion? If so, IÂ’m sure you must be equally outraged by the suggestion of Jamie Foxx as OlÂ’ Blue Eyes. After all, there is something quite silly about such casting decisions in historical or biographical features.

This puts me in mind of a discussion I had over 20 years ago when I was doing a graduate fellowship with the Coro Foundation in St. Louis. When a couple of my colleagues argued that race shouldnÂ’t matter in casting decisions, I caused quite a stir when I made the following observation.

“Sometimes race really does matter. After all, no one is going to cast me as Chaka Zulu, and there would be an uproar if someone did. When you are dealing with historical facts, such things as race and gender can and do make a difference. And since the original historical person was a white peasant girl, no matter how talented a black actress is she just cannot play Joan of Arc.”

Friends, that isn’t racism. It is common sense. Otherwise we will see such absurd things as Ben Stiller playing Barack Obama, or Morgan Freeman as Ronald Reagan. And while a bit of gender bending by John Travolta in Hairspray might be good clean fun, do we really believe that audiences will suspend their disbelief sufficiently to allow Nathan Lane to play Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in a movie – and should they even be asked to do so?

Posted by: Greg at 11:43 AM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Were it not for Alec BaldwinÂ’s threats of violence against political opponents. Instead, IÂ’m actually much more amused by this threat of violence against Baldwin by a politician.

Alec Baldwin's joke about getting a Filipino mail-order bride provoked a sharp response in the Philippines, with one senator saying Monday that the "30 Rock" star faces violence if he ever visits.

Baldwin, 51, who is divorced with a teenage daughter, said in a May 12 interview on "The Late Show" with David Letterman that he would love to have more children.

The Emmy-winning actor quipped that he was "thinking about getting a Filipino mail-order bride at this point ... or a Russian one."

Baldwin has been involved in a bitter dispute with his ex-wife, Oscar-winning actress Kim Basinger, over custody of their 13-year-old daughter, Ireland.

Philippine Sen. Ramon Revilla said Monday that Baldwin's comment was "insensitive and uncalled for" and an insult to millions of Filipinos.

He called the actor "arrogant" and said he is apparently unaware that the Philippines has a law against mail-order brides.

"Let him try to come here in the Philippines and he'll see mayhem," Revilla said, using a local idiom that implies the speaker will personally administer a beating.

What I particularly love is that Baldwin has pissed of the Filipino version of Chuck Norris. HereÂ’s hoping that Senator Revilla administers a good ass-kicking when he gets the chance.

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I love Star Trek. Always have, always will. But having grown up in a military family, IÂ’ve always had the same sort of question as Kurt Schlichter at NewsBusters.

I just cannot get behind this Star Trek rebirth. The whole thing is just so unrealistic. Not the warp speed or phasers or beaming about the universe - those are at least remotely plausible. I am talking about the fact that the starship Enterprise is composed entirely of officers and yet it still seems to function. Where are the non-commissioned officers (NCO), the petty officers and sergeants who actually make any military organization run? No, I can suspend disbelief over Klingons and tribbles, and I actively support the notion of green alien hotties. But the idea of a functioning military unit without sergeants is just a wormhole too far.

And may I take it a step further – where the heck are all the Master Chiefs and Senior Chiefs, if we are operating on a distinctly naval model? Even as an officer’s son, I learned early that the real work of the Navy could not have been accomplished without those senior enlisted men. How do they manage it on the Starship Enterprise.

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I’ve always hated the Oakland Raiders, and I suspect I always will. But for some reason, I always liked John Madden when he was their coach. Maybe it was because of the decency that somehow showed through the silver and black – like this example following the devastating injury to Darryl Stingley caused by a hit by one of Madden’s own players.

After the game, Madden went directly to the hospital. It was Madden's first instinct to go to Stingley.

* * *

But even at the hospital something was dissonant, out of sync. Expecting to find himself among concerned New England officials, Madden found himself alone. No one from the Patriots was there. Not the owner. Not the coach. No one.
Grabbing a phone, Madden called the Oakland airport. Immediately, he was patched through to the New England charter, taxiing out to take off. A more-than-animated discussion followed. The plane returned to the gate. The business manager was put off.

In the hospital, Stingley was conscious, as doctors worked to fit the halo. Having donned surgeon's garb, Madden appeared beside him, leaning close. "Everything's going to be all right," he whispered. If only it had been true.

* * *

In the days and weeks that followed, Madden visited Stingley, if not daily, then as often as he could. During one visit, Madden discovered a malfunction in Stingley's ventilator. In summoning a nurse to fix the problem, Madden might have saved Stingley's life.

Madden and Stingley remained friends until the latter’s death – a friendship forged from Madden’s compassion for his fellow man.

After giving up the role of coach, Madden became a beloved broadcaster. And today he has announced the end of an era.

John Madden, the most recognized analyst in television sports, is calling it quits.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Madden, who was NBC's No. 1 NFL analyst on the Peacock's Sunday night package, said: "It's time. I'm 73 years old...It's been such a great ride...the NFL has been my life for more than 40 years, it has been my passion - it still is. I appreciate all of the people who are and were such an important part of the most enjoyable, most fun anyone could have...It's still fun and that's what makes it hard and that's why it took me a few months to make a decision."

This is a loss for the NFL, and for broadcasting. I donÂ’t know of anyone who could replace Madden in terms of expertise, not to mention his frenetic style. Sundays just wonÂ’t be the same this fall.

Farewell, John – good health and long life to you. And thank you for so many memories, and for the show of real manhood that so struck me when I was a kid that it has remained the first thing to come to my mind whenever I hear your name.

Posted by: Greg at 09:54 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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For those of us who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s, the Beatles will always have a special place in our hearts. Even if there are other groups that may hold a higher place in our hearts, their music is undeniably a part of the soundtrack of our lives. That is why I find this to be a rather exciting development.

According to Apple Corps, the Beatles’ company, and EMI Music, it will be released, at last, on Sept. 9 — the whole catalogue, more or less, revitalized for the first time since 1987, when it was converted, disastrously, for the CD format. What we’re all hoping to hear is what George Martin and the band heard when the tracks were first mastered, before they were squeezed and contorted to fit the various formats in which they were eventually sold.

Fantastic news for all of us. We have the technology now for all of us to hear what the Beatles meant their music to sound like before it was released on monophonic and primitive stereo LPs – and later converted to eight-track, cassette, and CD. Properly remastered – hopefully with the involvement of the two surviving band members – there is a real possibility of gaining whole new insights into these beloved classics.

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Could we here in Houston be getting a new neighbor, for at least part of the year? Well, according to Rush Limbaugh, we might -- namely himself.

When I am there working I pay whatever, you know, my rate is based on income for that day in New York. And I try to go as little as possible. If it weren't for hurricanes down here, I would never go up there. New York is the escape valve in case hurricanes are showing up in our area, because of the loss of electricity. So I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to look for an alternative studio somewhere outside New York, perhaps Texas -- another no-income-tax state -- and I'm going to get the hell over there, when a hurricane starts coming our way, 'cause I told Mayor Bloomberg: I'll be the first to lead the way. You know, this is just... I'll sell my apartment. I'll sell my condominium. I'm going to get out of there totally, 'cause this is just absurd, and it's ridiculous -- and it isn't going to work. It's punishing the achievers for the mistakes and the lack of discipline on the part of a bunch of corrupt politicians that have run that city and state into the ground for I don't know how many years -- and I, for one, am not going to take the blame for it.

One of the things that too many of the political class forget is that We, the People are not serfs. We are not bound to the land, and the law does not compel us to live and work in any particular place. In the case of Rush Limbaugh, he can do his job from just about anywhere. That is the beauty of technology today. So if taxes increase in New York to the point that they are prohibitive (especially when there are seemingly politically-based audits conducted yearly), then there is no need for him to stay in New York. And since Texas has a very attractive business and personal tax system, why should Rush not relocate to a place where it is possible to keep more of what he earns AND where the views and values of the populace are more like his own?

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Ron Silver was one of those Hollywood faces i always enjoyed seeing in films and television shows. He was guaranteed to give a competent performance that audiences would enjoy. And even though he was a liberal, his political activity was in the best tradition of America in that he respected his opponents, unlike so many of his fellow performers who view their fame as a sign of their moral superiority over the rest of America.

After September 11, Ron Silver understood the nature of the jihadi threat against America and spoke out about it. In 2004, he spoke before the GOP convention and offered his full support to president George W. Bush and his reelection campaign. In his speech he offered an assessment of what happened on 9/11 that still defines what I consider to be the only patriotic view of the jihadis and their supporters.

Just over 1,000 days ago, 2,605 of my neighbors were murdered at the World Trade Center — men, women and children — as they began their day on a brilliantly clear New York autumn morning, less than four miles from where I am now standing.

We will never forgive. Never forget. Never excuse!

Ron Silver has died after a courageous two year battle with cancer. May he rest in peace, and may his loved ones be comforted in their time of loss. He will be missed by his fans, and by those who love this country.

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I came across this video the other day, and just feel like I ought to share it with the rest of you.

Yeah, a bit weird -- and truncated from the original -- but sort of cute.

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Looks like an attempt at “extortion by lawsuit” by a race-based grievance ho in California.

Miley Cyrus has said she meant no offense by a gesture that some have construed as insensitive to Asians — but one woman isn't buying the pop star's story, and she thinks Cyrus should pay.

TMZ reports that the Los Angeles woman, Lucie J. Kim, has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all Asian Pacific Islanders living in Los Angeles County. And she's seeking quite a payout: $4 billion.

In the controversial photo, Cyrus, 16, is shown sitting on her boyfriend Justin GastonÂ’s lap surrounded by a group of friends all making a stereotypical gesture by pulling their eyes into a slanted position. The gesture is commonly thought to be offensive to Asian Pacific Americans.

Now here’s the problem with this lawsuit – there is absolutely no actionable harm alleged in this suit. Being offended is not an actionable in civil court. Neither is the expression of an (arguably) racist sentiment. This suit ought to be thrown out with extreme prejudice – and Ms. Kim and her legal team ought to be subjected to serious legal sanctions for filing this frivolous suit.

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Let’s see – a college kid does something sort of dumb, like so many other college kids. Why is it news? Because he is among the most elite athletes in the world today, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Now let’s be honest – taking a hit off of the bong was a dumb thing to do. But his response and that of the IOC are absolutely correct.

The International Olympic Committee expressed confidence Monday that Michael Phelps will learn from his "inappropriate behavior" and continue to serve as a role model after a British newspaper published a photo of him inhaling from a marijuana pipe.

Phelps, who won a record eight gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics, apologized and acknowledged "regrettable behavior" after the picture was published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World.

"Michael Phelps is a great Olympic champion," the IOC said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press on Monday. "He apologized for his inappropriate behavior. We have no reason to doubt his sincerity and his commitment to continue to act as a role model."

Of course, the media has had a field day with the story, and really has not separated the issue of performance enhancing drugs from recreational drugs. Just call it one more sign of media cluelessness.

And for those of you who are surprised by my position – yes, I do support legalization (or at least decriminalization) of marijuana, even though it is a substance that I’ve never had any particular interest in using. I’d classify it along with tobacco and alcohol – substances that I either don’t use or don’t use often, but which I personally find inoffensive if they are used responsibly and in moderation.

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Gateway Pundit has a neat story up about Kurt and Brenda Warner – but unfortunately it is not accurate. Here’s his original.

In a supermarket, Kurtis the stock boy, was busily working when a new voice came over the loud speaker asking for a carry out at register 4. Kurtis was almost finished, and wanted to get some fresh air, and decided to answer the call. As he approached the check-out stand a distant smile caught his eye, the new check-out girl was beautiful. She was an older woman (maybe 26, and he was only 22) and he fell in love.

more...

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If this were a white athlete accused of such conduct by a black employee, wouldn’t we be hearing howls of outrage from the usual suspects – and demands for action by the appropriate league officials? So tell me, where is the similar outcry in this case?

Knick center Eddy Curry was slapped with a shocking sexual-harassment suit yesterday by his former driver, who claims the 6-foot-11 hoopster tried to solicit gay sex from him.

Stunning court papers charge that Curry, a married father of several kids, repeatedly approached chauffeur David Kuchinsky "in the nude," saying, "Look at me, Dave, look" and, "Come and touch it, Dave."

Curry, 26, also made Kuchinsky perform "humiliating tasks outside the scope of his employment, such as cleaning up and removing dirty towels [into which Curry had ejaculated] so that his wife would not see them," the Manhattan federal court suit says.

Kuchinsky, 36, who is straight and Jewish, also alleges racism, saying Curry hurled slurs at him, including "f- - - ing Jew," "cracker," "white slave," "white devil" and "grandmaster of the KKK."

Now for what it is worth, I don’t know if the accusations here are true or not. Curry denies them – but then again, could you imagine anyone actually admitting to them even if they were true? But I find it interesting that the charges of racism and anti-Semitism have not been the fodder for the sort of media frenzy that we see with charges of racism made against white celebrities. Sort of an interesting double standard, don’t you think?

Posted by: Greg at 11:14 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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I'm a long-time science fiction fan. Tonight I mark the passing of an important figure in Star Trek -- Majel Barrett Rodenberry.

Majel Barrett Roddenberry, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's widow and a fixture of nearly every incarnation of the space travel franchise, died on Thursday. She was 76.

Roddenberry, who suffered from leukemia, died at home in Bel Air, Calif., according to a spokesperson.

Before Star Trek, the Ohio-born actress worked on a range of television shows, including Bonanza and Leave it to Beaver.

She was romantically involved with Roddenberry when he launched Star Trek in the mid-1960s. Though he cast her as the USS Enterprise's unnamed first officer in his pilot, she would go on to fame as the secondary character Nurse Chapel in the original series and in subsequent films. The couple married in 1969.

Roddenberry reappeared in the revamped Star Trek: The Next Generation as one of its beloved recurring characters: Betazoid ambassador Lwaxana Troi and as the voice of the starship's onboard computer — a job she would also hold on spin-offs Deep Space Nine and Voyager, audio books, animated series, video games as well as on the forthcoming J.J. Abrams prequel film.

As noted above, she appeared as three characters in the series -- two of who became fan favorites. But it is her voice work as the voice of the computer, so ubiquitous throughout the entire run of the franchise, that we who love Star Trek may find ourselves missing the most.

In addition to her tie back to the Star Trek's creator, of course.

Rest in Peace, Majel -- and know that you are missed.

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I think I may have found an over-privileged, over-paid, super-rich class that needs to be socked with higher taxes -- whiny liberal celebrities with private jets.

Take this story about Diddy and the privations he is upset about facing.

Fuel prices have grounded an unexpected frequent-flyer: Diddy.

Sean "Diddy" Combs complained about the "... too high" price of gas and pleaded for free oil from his "Saudi Arabia brothers and sisters" in a YouTube video posted Wednesday. The hip-hop mogul said he is now flying on commercial airlines instead of in private jets, which Combs said had previously cost him $200,000 and up for a roundtrip between New York and Los Angeles.

"I'm actually flying commercial," Diddy said before walking onto an airplane, sitting in a first-class seat and flashing his boarding pass to the camera. "That's how high gas prices are. I'm at the gate right now. This is really happening, proof gas prices are too high. Tell whoever the next president is we need to bring gas prices down."

I'd like to address a few words to the semi-talented Pee Diddly-squat:

I'm sure I speak for the overwhelming majority of Americans when I say "Big f*ckin' deal!"

The horror of it all -- you have to fly commercial with all of us plebeians? Let me guess -- they made you go through airport security just like a normal human being, too. The utter humiliation of being told "shoes off, empty your pockets, open that bag, sir" -- instead of avoiding all that by taking a private jet from a private terminal where you don't have to be bothered with such things!

Listen, you arrogant, elitist douchebag, that is how the rest of America lives -- when we can afford to get on a plane at all. After seven years without setting foot on an airplane at all, I've actually flown three times this year -- once to visit my mother-in-law when she became critically ill, then again to bury her two weeks later. The third trip was to see my parents for the first time in eight years. Only once -- when a fluke with my dad's frequent flier program made it cost fewer miles than flying economy -- did we have the luxury of flying in first class where there are still meals, drinks are free, and you even get a hot towel to wash up. So forgive me if I don't feel your pain about not being able to afford $200K private jet flights.

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And the US men set a world record in the 4x100 freestyle relay.

Michael Phelps won his second gold medal of the 2008 Games on Monday, with a victory by the United States in the 4x100 freestyle relay. The U.S. finished first in 3 minutes 8.24 seconds, smashing the world record by nearly 4 seconds, with France taking silver and Australia getting bronze.

Jason Lezak provided an incredible performance in the anchor leg, coming from behind to out-touch FranceÂ’s Alain Bernard.

The French had been trash-talking the Americans for the last few days -- but it looks like this year the US will re-establish its dominance in men's swimming.

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I think I've mentioned a time or two that I am a long time fan of the group Styx.

There is, however, one album that Styx fans don't necessarily like to talk about -- 1984's Caught in the Act. Yeah, it has great concert material -- but also the single worst studio track the group ever recorded.

And what got released as the single? That song -- Music Time.

And the video is worse.

It has to be my nominee for worst video of all time. Watch it with that in mind.

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The birth of a healthy baby is generally cause for celebration -- and the birth of this pair, much anticipated by the celebrity obsessed media, is no less an occasion for good wishes for the parents and their children.

The Brangelina twins are here: Angelina Jolie has given birth to a girl and a boy.

The obstetrician who delivered the twins, Dr. Michel Sussmann, told The Associated Press that the actress, the babies and Jolie's partner, actor Brad Pitt, "are doing marvelously well."

Sussmann said Jolie gave birth to a boy, Knox Leon, and a girl, Vivienne Marcheline, by Cesarian section on Saturday night.

He told the AP on Sunday morning that the boy weighed 5.03 pounds and the girl 5 pounds. The 33-year-old actress gave birth at around 8 p.m on Saturday night, the doctor told The AP by telephone.

Hurrah!

Now on to news that actually matters.

Posted by: Greg at 01:46 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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I've always liked Tim McGraw.

And now I have to respect the hell out of the guy for taking action on violence against women -- in the middle of a show, no less.

Country singer Tim McGraw hauled a rowdy fan out of the audience and up onto the stage during his Washington concert on Tuesday.

Video shot by a fan at the concert shows McGraw shouting "Get rid of this guy," summoning security and helping arriving crew members to haul him onstage. When the heavyset fan moves toward McGraw, the singer threatens him with a cocked fist as he's hauled away.

McGraw's rep said, "While Tim was performing at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, Wash., last night, he watched a man rush to the front of the stage. This overly aggressive fan attacked a female fan and Tim witnessed this incident.

"Tim called for security, but when they could not respond quick enough Tim and several crew members removed the fan from the audience where he was then turned over to the local authorities."

I may disagree on some political things with McGraw, but I certainly do admire him taking action in this case. My question -- why didn't the fans around this creep act to defend the woman from her assailant?

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I believe that he committed all 14 offenses with which he is charged.

However, the ability to delay the case for six years and influence the victim and her family made it possible for him to create something that the jurors felt constituted "reasonable doubt".

Grammy-award winning rhythm and blues superstar R. Kelly broke down and wept Friday as a jury cleared him of 14 charges of child pornography.

The hugely successful Chicago-based star had consistently denied the charges since his arrested in 2002 after an incriminating video tape was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times.

"There wasn't enough evidence," jubilant defense lawyer Edward Genson told a press conference saying they were "ecstatic" that Robert Kelly was cleared of all the charges against him after the jury deliberated for less than a day.

"What happened today when those verdicts started (was) you got to see the real Robert Kelly. He sat there and he was contrite. He sat there and he was crying," said another defense lawyer Sam Adam.

"He sat there and was thanking God. All I heard the entire time those 14 verdicts were being read was thank you Jesus," Adam said, adding: "He is a deeply religious man."

Sorry, you pedophile bastard, Jesus didn't have anything to do with your skating on these charges. It was your money and a different spiritual powerhouse -- Satan.

And I can't help but notice that one of kelly's lawyers sort of gave away his client's guilt in that passage above -- "He was contrite."

Let's consider what "contrition" actually is. It is a sadness and remorse for having done wrong -- often understood as carrying with it a sense that one is facing eternal damnation. R. Kelly could not be contrite today unless he was also guilty of the acts in question.

And let's be honest -- this isn't the first time he has used an underage girl as his sexual plaything. Can we say Aaliyah?

Remember, they lied about her age (she was really 15) to get married and the marriage was later annulled for that reason.

Of course, there is also the issue of the videotape. Either Kelly and his young victim on the tape, or someone somehow just happened to get a dead ringer (in appearance and voice) for Kelly AND a relatively unknown child who R. Kelly just happened to have access to. I'm no math whiz, but I can't help but believe that the odds of this collusion of circumstance is so small as to defy reasonable belief.

In a court of law, R. Kelly may be not guilty. However, in the court of common sense the verdict must be something else.

And I hope that the twelve jurors who let this platinum predator go will recognize their guilt WHEN R. Kelly sexually abuses his next victim -- and there will undoubtedly be a next victim.

And may I point to this article which talks about the biggest scandal that this case highlights?

It wasnÂ’t that they couldnÂ’t believe that Kelly, a grown man, had engaged in sex with a girl who may have been no older than 14. They just didnÂ’t see a problem. For an apparently large number of Americans, adult men having sex with young teen girls is no big deal.

The numbers donÂ’t lie: Almost 66 percent of nearly 280,000 babies born to teen mothers in 2005 were fathered by men who were 20 or older, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Most of those men were 20 to 24 years old.

WhatÂ’s going on here? Some, pathetically, blame the young girls. It takes two to tango, they say. But a 14-year-old girl is not psychologically or emotionally equal to a manipulative, preying older man.

And if this is the case, why are we as a society so willing to allow our daughters, nieces and sisters to be sexually exploited in this fashion?

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"The odds are you won't live to see tomorrow."

We can only hope so after this video.

Hebe-Land? Elders of Zion? What next -- resurrecting Leni Riefenstahl to produce his show?

Contact Comedy Central to protest this anti-Semitic humor.

H/T LGF

Posted by: Greg at 09:25 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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And I can think of no more fitting tribute than this video, surrounded by some of the greats he inspired.

Musician Bo Diddley has died at the age of 79.

The Grammy-winning singer-guitarist died of heart failure in Florida, his spokeswoman said.

He had suffered a heart attack in August 2007, three months after suffering a stroke which affected his ability to speak.

He rose to fame in 1955 when he topped the R&B charts with Bo Diddley. His other hits include Who Do You Love, Before You Accuse Me, and Mona.

The legendary singer and performer was known for his homemade square guitar, dark glasses and black hat.

His so-called "Bo Diddley beat" influenced rockers from Buddy Holly, to Bruce Springsteen and U2.

Rest in peace.

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My wife was flipping channels a few minutes ago and came across a live performance of this song by the artist below.

Yeah -- David Hasselhoff doing grave damage to one of the great songs of my childhood. If there is one thing that Democrats and Republicans ought to be able to get together on, it is the necessity of legislation banning David Hasselhoff from coming within 100 feet of a recording studio.

And yeah -- the live performance was just as awful.

Hooga Hooga Ooga Chaka indeed.

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Surely a ballplayer is worth more than a box of bats!

During three years in the low minors, John Odom never really made a name for himself.

That sure changed this week—he’s the guy who was traded for a bunch of bats.

“I don’t really care,” he said Friday. “It’ll make a better story if I make it to the big leagues.”

For now, Odom is headed to the Laredo Broncos of the United League. They got him Tuesday from the Calgary Vipers of the Golden Baseball League for a most unlikely price: 10 Prairie Sticks Maple Bats, double-dipped black, 34-inch, C243 style.

“They just wanted some bats, good bats—maple bats,” Broncos general manager Jose Melendez said.

According to the Prairie Sticks Web site, their maple bats retail for $69 each, discounted to $65.50 for purchases of six to 11 bats.

“It will be interesting to see what 10 bats gets us,” Melendez said.

So let's see -- that would make Odom worth precisely $655.00 to his new team. hardly a vote of confidence, in my book.

But then again, this is the minor leagues.

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Well, these are some young men who will have a great teacher.

Craig Biggio found it difficult to peel off his uniform after the final game of a 20-year career with the Astros last fall. Now he will have the opportunity to wear another uniform.

Biggio, perhaps the most popular player in Astros history, will be named today as baseball coach at St. Thomas High School, said several people close to the situation.

Biggio's oldest son, Conor, is a football and baseball player for the Eagles, who won a state title in baseball this month. Biggio helped coach the Eagles in football and baseball after his playing career ended.

St. Thomas, a private school on Memorial Drive, will introduce Biggio as its baseball coach and former Rice University quarterback Donald Hollas as its football coach to the students at an afternoon assembly.

Neither Mike Netzel, who will be introduced as the new athletic director at St. Thomas, nor Biggio could be reached for comment.

Biggio was always a class act while here in Houston, and is revered in a way that few athletes ever experience. That he has chosen to give back to the community in this way is a model that I hope we see more athletes take to heart.

Posted by: Greg at 10:37 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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Not good, if your name is Bill Belichick.

A former New England Patriots employee has sent the N.F.L. eight videotapes showing the team recorded play-calling signals by coaches of five opponents in six games between the 2000 and 2002 seasons, in violation of league rules.

But the group of tapes does not include video of the St. Louis RamsÂ’ walk-through practice the day before the 2002 Super Bowl. The employee, Matt Walsh, had been linked to such a tape by news media speculation.

Walsh emerged as a pivotal figure in the spying controversy that enveloped the Patriots last season after they were caught taping Jets defensive signals in the season opener.

Walsh, who worked for the Patriots from 1997 to 2003, agreed to turn over the tapes and other evidence by Thursday under an agreement reached last month between lawyers for the N.F.L. and Walsh. The agreement indemnifies Walsh from all future legal fees.

WalshÂ’s tapes show that the Patriots recorded the signals of offensive and defensive coaches in regular-season games against the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, the Cleveland Browns and the San Diego Chargers and against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2002 American Football Conference championship game. In that game, the tape has been edited to show Steelers coaches signaling plays, followed by two different camera angles of the actual plays that were called.

I guess I remain unfazed by the whole thing.

Yes, the tapes appear to show a rules violation.

But I've never understood why it OUGHT to be a rules violation -- after all, signal-stealing in baseball is a fine old tradition and a respected part of the game. And since the signals can be viewed openly by anyone in the stadium, recording them seems trivial.

But the point remains that the tapes DO violate league rules -- and there must be an appropriate penalty. Will it mean the end of one of the NFL's top coaches? Let's wait and see.

Posted by: Greg at 10:38 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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Vanity Fair is about to run a cover featuring teen superstar Miley Cyrus. The photo, shot by glorious photographer Annie Liebovitz, is not pornographic, but it is disturbing nonetheless. The Wall Street Journal notes the reason.

She is also 15. Thus this week's uproar over a seminude photo by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair magazine. The photo – showing Miley draped in a sheet, back bared, hair tousled, with a come-hither smile – upset countless parents who immediately grasped the photo's essential vulgarity.
Such ordinary wisdom apparently escaped every so-called grown-up involved in the photo shoot. The sophisticates at Vanity Fair defended the picture as a "beautiful and natural portrait." Absent sensible adults, Miley herself stepped forward to issue a statement saying that the now-embarrassing photo shoot was supposed to be "artistic."

This isn’t a porno shot – it really does qualify as an art shot. But a (seemingly) naked teenage girl draped in a sheet is a bit too sexual for my taste. Frankly, it is a bit too sexualized in a society in which teenage sexuality is already a source of concern. After all, we’ve just removed hundreds of children from a religious cult over the issue of sexual abuse of girls the same age as Miley Cyrus – aren’t we sending a highly contradictory message when we show her in a seductive pose on the cover of a national magazine?

Posted by: Greg at 10:46 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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I understand that you can turn almost anything into a commercial.

But there is something about this that is wrong on so many levels.

Meat loaf?

Doing a cell phone commercial?

Utterly destroying a cultural icon in the process.

Posted by: Greg at 03:47 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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