March 04, 2007
A handful of reporters gathered in Los Angeles at screening for the WARNER BROTHERS movie "300," about the battle of Thermopylae some 2,500 years ago, cornered the director Zack Snyder with an unanticipated question. "Is George Bush Leonidas or Xerxes?" one of them asked.Snyder, who said he intended neither analogy, suddenly knew he had the contemporary version of a water-cooler movie on his hands, the NY TIMES plans to report on Monday.
"But the danger is that an accidental political overtone will alienate part of the potential audience for a film that needs broad appeal to succeed," reports the paper's Mike Cieply.
Is the film a thinly veiled polemic against the Bush administration, or is it slyly supporting it?
I don't think it is either, but I think that the analogy to the current situation is an apt one.
I cannot help but remember that Persia was the greatest threat to Western Civilization for centuries -- and nukes in the hands of that country's current regime, headed by the Madman of Teheran, once again raises the specter of expansionist moves by the successors of Xerxes. I therefore place myself in the "Bush as Leonidas" camp -- and cannot help but put the Neo-Copperheads and the White Flag Republicans in the same category as those Spartan leaders who lacked the will to stand against the enemies of Western Civilization.
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March 03, 2007
The Texans had a whirlwind start to the free-agency signing period Friday when they pursued free-agent quarterback Jeff Garcia, agreed to a three-year contract with offensive tackle Ephraim Salaam and lined up interviews with running back Ahman Green and receiver Ashley Lelie.Garcia, the hottest quarterback on the market, visited with the Raiders on Friday.
He owns a home in the Bay Area, where he began his NFL career with San Francisco.
Several teams, including Tampa Bay, have shown interest in Garcia.
Coach Gary Kubiak has been a Garcia fan for years. When he was the offensive coordinator at Denver, the Broncos tried and failed to acquire Garcia.
"I've always been impressed with the guy," Kubiak said. "He's one tough son of a gun. He makes smart decisions. He's been productive just about everywhere he's been."
The Texans' interest in Garcia, 37, has no bearing on David Carr, who's expected to be traded regardless of what happens with their pursuit of another veteran.
The Texans also have Sage Rosenfels, who finished last season on injured reserve after breaking a bone in his hand. They're expected to draft a quarterback in the second or third round.
The Texans wouldn't give up a draft choice for Denver quarterback Jake Plummer. They won't trade picks. They're interested in acquiring additional picks.
Well, I suppose Garcia makes more sense than the Jake Plummer thing.
Personally, I'm for letting Sage Rosenfels have a shot at the starting job for a season, while the team grooms the University of Houston's Kevin Kolb as the quarterback of the future. And that would certainly be a popular move among my fellow fans.
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February 28, 2007
By waiving offensive tackle Zach Wiegert, defensive tackle Seth Payne and receiver Eric Moulds, the Texans cleared up salary-cap space for the start of free agency on Friday and provided opportunities for some younger players to solidify their positions on the team.Wiegert, 34, and Payne, 32, suffered season-ending knee injuries last season. Moulds, 34, saw his performance drop off over the second half of the season.
Expected to replace them as starters are offensive tackle Eric Winston, defensive tackle Anthony Maddox and receiver Kevin Walter.
"We all face difficult decisions at this time of the year," Texans general manager Rick Smith said. "We're doing everything we can to improve our team."
The Texans saved $3.07 million on Wiegert and Payne. Moulds, who played one season in Houston, wasn't a cap casualty.
"We have several areas we want to improve," Smith said. "We've got a couple of free agents we've targeted, but we're going to be prudent financially."
Like it or not, these are older guys who needed to go. The team has struggled since the beginning, and Coach Gary Kubiak is moving in a different direction from that of the Capers era. Young players stepped-up last season and are ready to take the roles filled by these older guys.
And on another interesting note, discontent over QB David Carr's role on the team is bubbling up. This comment comes from teammate Dunta Robinson.
Texans cornerback Dunta Robinson said Wednesday night that he believes it is time for quarterback David Carr to be traded.
"It's just my opinion, but I think it's that time," Robinson said. "We haven't won. I'm not saying it's David's fault, and I'm not saying he can't be a great quarterback with another team. But he's been here for five years, and the best we've been able to do is 7-9. I just think it's time for us to make some moves that'll help the Texans become a winning team."
That he is making such statements publicly tells me that the sentiment is much more widely shared on the team. The question is, do the Texans listen to this sentiment that is shared by players and fans alike?
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FILM Queen DAME HELEN MIRREN has admitted she didn’t wear undies at the Oscars.The star, 61, revealed her saucy secret on US TV as she showed off the gown she wore to the awards.
“It was all made for me so I didn’t have to have any underwear,†she told presenter OPRAH WINFREY.
“It fitted me like two angel’s hands,†she giggled, cupping her boobs to illustrate the point.
“I cried when I put it on, it is a work of art.â€
TMI!
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FILM Queen DAME HELEN MIRREN has admitted she didnÂ’t wear undies at the Oscars.The star, 61, revealed her saucy secret on US TV as she showed off the gown she wore to the awards.
“It was all made for me so I didn’t have to have any underwear,” she told presenter OPRAH WINFREY.
“It fitted me like two angel’s hands,” she giggled, cupping her boobs to illustrate the point.
“I cried when I put it on, it is a work of art.”
TMI!
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February 26, 2007
That distinct farm animal smell, the click-click of spurs and signs advertising every food imaginable "on a stick" have returned to Reliant Park.That's right — it's rodeo time.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo kicks off today, bringing thousands of youth livestock raisers to Reliant Park.
This year's 75th anniversary edition also features a new rodeo scoring system with more prize money, a different entertainer every night of the 20-day event, and a carnival with hair-raising rides and heaps of fried food.
It's a diamond anniversary organizers promise you won't want to miss.
"This is going to be a fun year," said Leroy Shafer, the show's chief operating officer.
Seriously, the rodeo is one of the best entertainment values I've ever encountered -- tickets for tonight's competition and the post-rodeo concert by George Strait could be had for a face value of under $20.00. Try getting into any concert by a top-name star for that price anywhere else. And its good to know that the money made at the rodeo goes for scholarships for Texas students.
Cowboy up!
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February 23, 2007
When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens anticipates a big inheritance. Instead, his grandfather has devised a crash course on life with twelve tasks – or “gifts” – designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways, sending him on a journey of self-discovery and forcing him to determine what is most important in life: money or happiness.
Now the movie itself is based upon the book of the same title, which was published several years ago, and motivated many of its readers to engage in wonderful acts of charity towards their fellow human beings. It looks like the movie has the potential to do the same, given that at the 300 preview screenings that have been held so far there have been over $5,000,000 in charitable donations made. There is no reason to believe that there will not be more of the same once the movie opens on 800 screen nationwide on March 9, 2007. The film itself is quite powerful, if the clip they have posted online is any indication, so there is definitely reason to hope that this movement towards charitable giving, initially begun among readers of the book and continued in the previews, will continue among the viewers in the general population.
Speaking as a teacher, I hope many of my students see this film and are changed by it. Too many of them are influenced by the culture of conspicuous consumption and wealth at any cost found in popular culture. A movie like this has the potential to open their eyes and let them see that there is something more to life than the hedonistic pursuit of pleasure and property.
For more information on the film, visit the official site of the movie "The Ultimate Gift" and the grass-roots movement its starting to help charities and give to others.
Paid Endorsement.
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February 17, 2007
Britney Spears appeared in a tattoo parlor in the San Fernando Valley with her head shaved completely bald.Video on KABC-TV showed the newly shorn Spears with tiny tattoos on the back of her neck as she sits Friday night for a new tattoo — a pair of red and pink lips.
“She just wanted something real small on her wrist, something dainty,” Max Gott, the tattoo artist at Body and Soul in Sherman Oaks, told the TV station. “She got some cute little lips on her wrist.”
This seems to be a sign of Spears flunking out of rehab.
Hey, Britney -- your 15 minutes are up. Have Howard K. Stern send you some of whatever Anna Nicole was taking and have your publicist call us in the morning.
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February 11, 2007
After death threats, boycotts and a cold shoulder from the country music establishment, the Dixie Chicks gained sweet vindication Sunday night at the 49th annual Grammy Awards, capturing honors in all five of the categories in which they were nominated.The Dixie Chicks took home Grammys for the top three awards: record, song and album of the year. Their “Taking the Long Way” (Open Wide/Columbia) won best country album and “Not Ready to Make Nice” also captured best country performance by a duo or group with vocal. That song is an unapologetic response to the furor set off in 2003 when the band’s lead singer, Natalie Maines, made an off-the-cuff antiwar remark to London concertgoers: “Just so you know, we’re ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas.”
But Sunday’s awards were the Recording Academy’s rejoinder to the country music radio establishment, which ignored the album. Accepting the award for song of the year, Ms. Maines joked, “For the first time in my life, I’m speechless.” But she found her voice on later trips to the stage. “I’m very humbled and I think people were using their voice the same way this loudmouth did,” she said, self-referentially, after “Taking the Long Way” was named album of the year. The Dixie Chicks’ sweep of the major Grammy categories served as a sharp counterpoint to their shut-out at the Country Music Association awards in November. The Recording Academy consists of members across the nation who work in all genres of music. The Country Music Association’s membership is concentrated among artists, engineers and executives tied to the Nashville establishment.
In other words, these awards are really meaningless, and probably are best seen as a political swipe at the president by an entertainment industry that has always rejected him.
And I think the positioning of the group's performance and introduction by Joan Baez indicate that the night's awards were less about the group's artistic accomplishments than their political activism.
The Dixie Chicks got the last laugh Sunday night. Rejected by the country establishment, the polarizing group was tickled to find itself in the warm embrace of the broader Recording Academy, which honored the Chicks with five Grammy Awards -- including the three biggest: album of the year, record of the year and song of the year.The Texas trio also won for best country group vocal and best country album. The latter award was especially surprising since they were excommunicated from the church of country music in 2003 after singer Natalie Maines popped off about President Bush and the war in Iraq. Upon bouncing to the podium after the result was announced, Maines said what just about everybody inside Staples Center was probably thinking: "That's interesting." She closed her gaping mouth just long enough to grin mischievously, then said, "Well, to quote the great Simpsons, 'HA HA!' "
"Not Ready to Make Nice," the group's defiant answer to the angry country fans who'd criticized the group for criticizing Bush, won song of the year, the industry's top writing award. "I am, for the first time in my life, speechless," Maines said. Earlier, the protest singer Joan Baez had introduced the Dixie Chicks as "three brave women who are still not ready to make nice."
I've said it before -- the band has every right to make its political statements, ad to remain as defiant as they want. That is part and parcel of the First Amendment. However, country fans have every right to refuse to buy their CDs and concert tickets and country radio has every right to refuse to play their songs on the radio in response -- also protected by the First Amendment. And frankly, most of us don't feel any particular urge to make nice either.
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February 06, 2007
David CarrÂ’s future with the Houston Texans remains in limbo.
Owner Bob McNair remained non-committal about Carr on Tuesday, saying he is still being evaluated and any decision on whether the fifth-year quarterback returns next season will depend on what the Texans can accomplish in free agency.“David has been inconsistent, and we‘ve said that” McNair said at a Texas Bowl luncheon at the JW Marriott. “He’s had some good games and he’s had some games that haven’t been as good. He’s a tremendous athlete. We’ve got to get better consistency there, either with David or with some additional help. We need more consistency at quarterback.”
McNair has been one of CarrÂ’s biggest supporters since the team drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick during their expansion season in 2002. But after five straight losing seasons that support appears to be waning. McNair has not publicly endorsed Carr in recent months and has declined to speculate on the quarterbackÂ’s future with the team for the 2007 season.
McNair said the entire team is currently being evaluated by general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak.
It will all come down, of course, to who they can bring in to replace Carr under center. Personally, I think a year or two with Sage Rosenfels at the helm would be acceptable, if the team could pick up Kevin Kolb or a comparable quarterback in the second or third round. Properly developed over that transition time, the new quarterback would not be rushed in too soon – or have to take the many hits that have left the current starter gun-shy.
Heck, I wouldnÂ’t even mind seeing Carr back, so long as he and Rosenfels enter training camp competing for the starting job rather than with the decision made before the first practice snap is taken. Such a move would be good for both of them.
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February 04, 2007
In a sloppy, exciting, rainsoaked NFL title game Sunday, the Colts defeated the Bears 29-17 behind 247 yards passing from Manning, the star quarterback who finally won the big one after nine record-setting seasons that was missing very little besides a championship.It was a surreal scene for the NFL's showcase game, played indoors or in perfect weather for almost all of the previous 40 years, but not this time.
In a good ol'-fashioned South Florida soaker — the first Super Bowl to be played in the rain — the football squirted loose and bounced all over the waterlogged field. It resulted in eight turnovers, including two late interceptions thrown by Chicago's Rex Grossman that sealed the game for Indy.
And it has just been announced that Peyton manning is the MVP of this year's game! Another well-deserved honor for the league's most dominant quarterback.
To me, though, the most interesting moment were the words by Tony Dungy, when there was an attempt to turn this victory into something about race. He brought it all into perspective -- and paid tribute to opposing coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears -- by noting that it was about showing that you can win coaching the Lord's way.
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Phew! CBS got through the halftime show without a "wardrobe malfunction." The Artist Formerly Known as a Munchkin of Wardrobe Dysfunction began by singing "Let's Go Crazy," but he didn't.
* * * The closest thing to a fashion statement Sunday night was an odd kerchief on his head. So the NFL had no repeat of the 2004 Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake show, which happened the last time CBS broadcast the game.
The 48-year-old Prince, who rose to stardom in the '80s with his distinctive fusion of R&B, funk, soul and rock, once looked androgynous and produced songs that (lest we forget) drove Tipper Gore nuts (and made her a fat target for anti-censorship types like Frank Zappa).
Musically, the diminutive, erstwhile prodigy from Minneapolis kept it old-school, rockin' the house with "Purple Rain" and other golden hits.
He delivered one of the best Super Bowl halftime shows - ever. Consequently, he didn't come across as a painfully safe choice - or a has-been, the rap against the previous couple of Super Bowl halftime acts, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones.
Now if we can just get some more decent performances in the future, we won't have to worry about the awkward "dead period" in the middle of the game.
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Sienna Miller and Hayden Christensen are said to be convincing in their "Factory Girl" love scenes. The reason? The sex is for real, a source told the New York Daily News."It's not simulated," the insider said. "They're really doing it"
* * * The News reports that Miller had a romance with "Star Wars" actor Christensen while on a break from her ex-boyfriend Jude Law — but then jilted him.
"They spent about a month hanging out," a Christensen pal told the News. "But then she decided that she didn't want a relationship. Hayden was devastated. He really fell for her."
Added a friend of Miller, "Sienna wanted to try to make another go of it with Jude. But again, it didn't work out. At the end of last summer, she and Hayden ended up in Toronto for more shooting. They hadn't talked in six months. But it turned out to be a great reunion."
It was during this "reunion" that the two former lovers, both 25, reportedly did the deed for the world to see.
Seriously -- are we going to start seeing REAL sex scenes on the big screen in the future? Or are we going to take a stand and draw a line here?
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Oh, yeah, and by the way, even though I lived many years in the Chicago area, my wife and I are big fans of Peyton Manning, so you can guess where I stand on this one.
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February 01, 2007
J. K. Rowling, the author of the record-setting Harry Potter books, announced yesterday that the seventh — and last — installment in the series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” will be published on July 21.That will be just eight days after the release of the film version of the fifth book in the series, “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” promising a huge summer for fans of the young wizard.
Millions of fans around the world are fiercely anticipating the final installment. But the end of the series, in which Ms. Rowling has hinted she may kill off one of the main characters, comes as a bittersweet finale not only for readers but also for the publishing companies, booksellers and licensees that have cashed in on the international phenomenon since it began more than nine years ago with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
And it will be sad, givent he international phenomenon that hte books have been for the last decade. And while there are at least two additional movies to be made, one wonders if we really have seen the last of the young wizard and his friend. Will Rowling be able to resist the call to write additional books about Harry Potter? Or will she kill the hero? And will death be sufficient, or will he make an unexpected return like Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes did after an apparent tumble over a waterfall?
Only time will tell.
Oh, and as a side note, the big screen's Harry Potter is branching out with a nude scene in Hairy Potter and the Happy Trail Equus on the London stage.
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January 28, 2007
Back when my wife taught at a school with a 20% Asian student body, she had many Indian students. They introduced her to a number of aspects of Indian culture, including this one. And while we do not speak the language, many of the films are available with subtitles so we can enjoy.
That is how I became familiar with the work of O.P. Nayyar, who died today in India.
Indian music director O.P. Nayyar, who composed some of Bollywood's most memorable tunes of the 1950s and 60s, died on Sunday after a heart attack at his home outside Mumbai, a news agency reported.Nayyar, 81, was famous for the use of Punjabi rhythms in his music and is credited with making stars of several leading singers, including Asha Bhosle, Press Trust of India said.
Indian film director Mahesh Bhatt described Nayyar as ``an audacious man who was a king in his time.''
Nayyar, who always dressed in white and was never seen without his distinctive black felt hat, was born in Lahore in what is now Pakistan in 1926.
He got his first break in 1949 when he was appointed music director on ``Kaneez'' (Junior), but recognition came with 1950s movies like ``Mr and Mrs 55'' and ``CID.''
Nayyar may have died, but his influence lives on today in much of Bollywood cinema.
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January 27, 2007
A Sailor assigned to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) has become a celebrity almost overnight as millions of Americans watched him advance to the next round of the "American Idol" competition on national television Jan. 16.Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Jarrod Fowler said he has received numerous telephone calls, e-mails and even a few requests for his autograph after his audition for FOX's hit series "American Idol" competition aired earlier this week.
Fowler, who has spent much of his time over the past two days giving telephone interviews to local radio and television stations, says he was totally caught off guard by all of the attention."It's not just being on national television," said Fowler, "it's the chance to represent the entire crew of USS Ronald Reagan. I really want to say thanks to everyone who helped get me here."
The audition, which was taped back in September, took place in Minneapolis while Fowler was on leave. Fowler said he wore his uniform to the audition in order to represent both the Navy and the crew of Ronald Reagan.
* * * Ronald Reagan is the Navy's newest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and completed its maiden combat deployment in support of the global war on terrorism in 2006.
Let's hope Jarrod Fowler can win one for the Gipper -- and for every man and women in our nation's uniform at a time when too many Americans are ready to betray them and their mission in Iraq and the war on Islamofascist terrorism.
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January 26, 2007
But at the Super Bowl this year, tailgating is banned – even at venues not part of the stadium complex, including private property.
Die-hard football fans attending the Super Bowl game at Dolphin Stadium are getting a rude awakening after finding out that no tailgating of any type will be allowed on game day within one mile of the stadium."There is no tailgating allowed in the Dolphin Stadium parking lots," Sue Jaquez, a member of the Super Bowl XLI Host Committee, confirmed on Tuesday. "And there is no tailgating anywhere within a one-mile radius of the stadium." "And there are no RVs allowed."
* * * Detective Nelda Fonticella of the Miami-Dade Police confirmed the Super Bowl rules.
If caught grilling or consuming alcohol within that one-mile radius of Dolphins Stadium, fans initially "will be warned and asked to pick up their things and leave," Fonticella said. "We're trying to make this a pleasant experience for everyone, and there will be plenty to do in the week leading up to the game."
I can understand the on-site issues – but banning tailgating at off-site venues seems to be a bit of a draconian approach.
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January 25, 2007
That is a controversy raging in the Chicago area, after Bears safety Chris Harris made such a promise to Bryan Lange during a 40-second interview for a public-access television show.
Months before the Chicago Bears clinched their first trip to the Super Bowl in 21 years, safety Chris Harris stared into a video camera and promised to take fan Bryan Lange with him to Miami if the team made it to the big game.The apparent promise -- made during a 40-second interview with a public access television show last June -- might have seemed like a longshot at the time.
But now that the Bears are in, thanks in part to Harris' big plays last Sunday, Lange is trying to hold Harris to his words.Lange, a construction worker from Crystal Lake and a Bears season ticket holder, has set up camp on the road to Halas Hall this week with a sign saying, "Chris Harris You Promised.''
He also posted a clip of the interview he filmed at a charity event at www.psychobabble tv.com/chrisharrispromised.
In it, Harris tells Lange -- who goes by the name Chong on a show called Psycho Babble -- that his goal is to make it to the Super Bowl.
Says Lange: "If you guys make it to the Super Bowl, I'll sell my Harley to go.''
Harris replies, "You won't have to sell it. I will give you tickets.''
Lange replies, "I'm going to hold you to it. I've got you on tape.''
Harris, looking at the camera, then agrees: "It's on tape. If we win, he's going.''
Lange concludes the interview by saying, "Chong is going to the Super Bowl with the Bears on Chris Harris' dollar.''
HarrisÂ’ agent calls LangeÂ’s demand unreasonable, based upon the fact that Harris only can purchase 15 tickets and has about 40 family members who want to attend the game. Lange and his supporters think Harris ought to take him along. Personally, I think someone in the Bears organization ought to scrounge up a ticket to keep a fan happy and get some good publicity out of the deal.
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Bears finally asleep as cold wave hits Russia
Oh -- wrong bears!
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Bears finally asleep as cold wave hits Russia
Oh -- wrong bears!
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January 22, 2007
And ever since we first started dating, I've known that she held a grudge against a certain no-talent actress she knew growing up -- one she refers to as "that bitch" and whose appearance on a television screen causes a quick grab for the remote.
And so this "professional recognition" for her childhood rival warms my beloved to the very depths of her soul.
At least someone was happy Sharon Stone reprised her notorious femme-fatale role with "Basic Instinct 2."The box-office bomb received seven nominations Monday for the Razzie Awards that mock the bottom of Hollywood's barrel, among them worst picture and worst actress of the year.
* * * Stone previously won a Razzie as worst-actress for 1994's "The Specialist" and "Intersection."
"She's what we call a Razzie repeat offender. Perhaps even a recidivist," Wilson said.
"Basic Instinct 2" also had a nomination for worst screen couple for Stone's "lopsided breasts." Also nominated were co-star David Thewlis for worst supporting actor and the movie's director, Michael Caton-Jones.
And as my darling shouted when she heard that second nomination -- "They aren't even real!"
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January 18, 2007
Michael Vick reluctantly surrendered a water bottle to security at Miami International Airport that contained a residue "closely associated with marijuana," police said Wednesday.The Atlanta Falcons' quarterback entered a concourse Wednesday morning at the airport with the 20-ounce bottle. He eventually handed it over and boarded his flight to Atlanta. But his initial reluctance to turn over the bottle aroused suspicion among airport security screeners, a police report said.
The bottle was found to have a hidden compartment that contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with marijuana," the report said. The compartment was hidden by the bottle's label so that it appeared to be a full bottle of water when held upright, police said.
No decision has been made on charges, league discipline, or actions by the Atlanta Falcons.
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More info?
Just 
January 11, 2007
Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation today aimed at blocking the 49ers from leaving San Francisco by giving National Football League owners the right to vote on all franchise moves.The measure, called the Football Fan Protection Act, would require an anti-trust law exemption.
Baseball has a much broader anti-trust exemption and has had only one franchise move, the switch of the Montreal Expos to Washington, D.C., in the past 25 years. In a similar period, the NFL has had seven franchise moves, Feinstein noted, including the Raiders, who moved from Oakland to Los Angeles and then back again in search of the best stadium deal.
Feinstein, a Democrat who was mayor of San Francisco when Candlestick Park was remodeled for the 49ers, was furious last November when she learned that the team's owners, John and Denise York, had broken off talks with Mayor Gavin Newsom over a new stadium at Candlestick Point and were instead undertaking negotiations with Santa Clara on a new South Bay stadium.
"This legislation is designed to slow the movement of NFL teams and prevent communities from suffering the financial and intangible costs of these moves," Feinstein said. "Our football teams are more than just businesses. They are a common denominator that cuts across class, race and gender to bond the people of a city. They are a key component of a city's culture and identity."
Imagine if she actually gave a damn about keeping major employers from moving rather than something as trivial as a sports franchise -- and I say that as a season ticket-holder for our local team.
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January 08, 2007
Locally, none of the three major country stations say they have a ban on Dixie Chicks music — but they also haven't played the group's music in years."We don't really have an official policy," said Mark Wilson, programming director at Cat Country 100. "We basically play the songs that test well and unfortunately, their songs just don't test well."
This goes not only for new music, but also the group's old hits — songs that used to top every country station's playlist.
"We didn't really ban them per se, but like most of the other country stations, the hate scores on the music they put out has come out so high that it makes it impossible to play them," said Mark Phillips, programming head at Gator Country 101.9. "They had a bunch of great songs that tested power gold — that's our top oldies category — and when you take out all those songs at once, it leaves a giant vacuum in your music library."
Quite frankly, the girls pissed off a lot of country music fans with their rhetoric about the president and their subsequent whining about non-existent censorship and insulting comments directed at country music fans. The result is that they produce a strongly negative reaction from a sizable segment of the audience – and the desire to hear their more pleasant early work is simply not that great on the part of the rest of the audience. And let’s face it – if 1 out of 4 (or even 1 out of 10) listeners will turn the station because a group is played, that is deadly to a station’s ratings and profit margin. On the other hand, most listeners are not so anxious to hear the Dixie Chicks that they will leave a station because they are not played. Thus, it is merely economic common sense not to play them.
And that is no more censorship than the decision of the local R&B station to not put Alan Jackson into their rotation.
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January 07, 2007
But today my heart is broken for the Trojans and their fans following the senseless death of their incredible young kicker, Mario Danelo.
Police said there was no evidence pointing to suicide in the death of Southern California kicker Mario Danelo, whose body was found about 120 feet down a rocky cliff."I have no indication per se that it was a criminal event," Lt. David Pierson, commanding officer of the LAPD Harbor Division detectives, told the Los Angeles Times. "But we exhaust all leads to ensure that we're making the right categorization of the case."
Pierson said investigators had information that Danelo was out with friends Friday night and that he was last seen around midnight. His body was found Saturday afternoon near Point Fermin lighthouse in the city's San Pedro section.
Pierson said police had no information as to whether Danelo had been drinking and that there was no evidence he committed suicide. Martha Garcia of the Los Angeles Police Department said the body showed signs of traumatic injuries.
I cannot even begin to imagine the depth of the loss being experienced by the Danelo family at this time, and my prayers are with them. May God reach out and comfort them in this time of tragedy.
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January 03, 2007
Well, we were half right.
The winner of that honor is a Texan -- but not Williams. It is DeMeco Ryans.
DeMeco Ryans came into the NFL as Houston's second choice to bolster its defense. He leaves his first pro year as The Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year.The linebacker, chosen at the top of the second round of last April's draft — 32 spots after the Texans made defensive end Mario Williams the first overall selection — was a runaway winner of the award announced Wednesday. Ryans led the league in solo tackles with 126, and his 156 total tackles were 33 more than the next-best rookie, Detroit linebacker Ernie Sims.
In fact, no rookie in the last 20 years had more tackles than Ryans, who was an All-American at Alabama in 2005. And Ryans had more tackles than any of the other five linebackers who won the award this decade, including Brian Urlacher and Shawne Merriman.
"It's always nice to be touted as one of the best and have a big-time stat, but I credit that to the other 10 guys that are around me on defense," Ryans said. "We wouldn't be talking about me without those other 10 guys out there."
This young many has bee absolutely incredible -- and clearly outshined Williams. he's also become a fan favorite, with a winning personality and a genuine warmth shown towards the people of his professional home. And the great thing is that we know there is more to come from this kid, that he has yet to reach his full potential.
So congratulations, DeMeco -- you earned this one.
And I'll keep that autographed football in the place of honor it deserves.
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December 25, 2006
James Brown, the dynamic, pompadoured "Godfather of Soul," whose rasping vocals and revolutionary rhythms made him a giant of R&B and an inspiration for rap, funk and disco, died early Christmas morning. He was 73. Brown was hospitalized with pneumonia at Emory Crawford Long Hospital on Sunday and died around 1:45 a.m. Monday, said his agent, Frank Copsidas of Intrigue Music. Copsidas said the cause of death was uncertain. "We really don't know at this point what he died of," he said. Along with Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and a handful of others, Brown was one of the major musical influences of the past 50 years. At least one generation idolized him, and sometimes openly copied him. His rapid-footed dancing inspired Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson among others. Songs such as David Bowie's "Fame," Prince's "Kiss," George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Sly and the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song" were clearly based on Brown's rhythms and vocal style. "He was an innovator, he was an emancipator, he was an originator. Rap music, all that stuff came from James Brown," entertainer Little Richard, a longtime friend of Brown's, told MSNBC. "A great treasure is gone." If Brown's claim to the invention of soul can be challenged by fans of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke, then his rights to the genres of rap, disco and funk are beyond question. He was to rhythm and dance music what Dylan was to lyrics: the unchallenged popular innovator.And without a doubt, we have lost a icon of American culture, a man whose influence on the musical scene went from sea to shining sea and around the world. It's hard to believe that he is gone. Let me also note that Brown certainly could make a claim the title of "the hardest working man in show business" -- he had concerts scheduled for this week, and was to perform live on one of the New Years Eve shows. It took Death itself to silent that magnificent voice and still those dancing feet.
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December 24, 2006
Indianapolis Colts: 24
It only took five full seasons, but the Houston Texans have FINALLY beaten the Indianapolis Colts!
It doesn't take a Heisman Trophy winner to run through the Colts' defense. But on Sunday it certainly made it easier.Ron Dayne, who won the award in 1999, had a career-high 153 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Kris Brown kicked the winning 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Houston Texans their first win over Indianapolis, 27-24.
The loss denied the AFC South champions the chance to clinch a first-round playoff bye.
It was the first time Dayne had gained 100 yards since September 2001 with the Giants.
The Texans (5-10) used Dayne and rookie Chris Taylor to eat up the clock and exploit the Colts' suspect run defense, ranked last in the NFL, while taking pressure off David Carr and the struggling passing game. The win broke a nine-game losing streak to the Colts (11-4).
It was, to say the least, a fantastic game -- and one I am glad not to have missed.
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December 13, 2006
Kotto, 69, is producing and starring in a two-hour TV pilot that he says is inspired by The X-Files. He's also pitching publishers a book on the making of Live and Let Die, a film that joins the four-volume James Bond Ultimate Collection, new in stores this week.Kotto had quit acting soon after ending six seasons as star of NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street. "People say you disappeared and criticize you for being away," he said. "But what am I supposed to do? Die on a set? It's too much."
So Kotto, who had worked steadily since the '60s, slipped away."I was tired, so I split. I went to the Philippines, built a restaurant and laid down on the beach for two years. I also hung out in Hong Kong and Europe. I got away from acting and movies. Then the bug bit me, and I came back to L.A."
The LST piece mentions that Kotto is Jewish – and supported Steve Forbes for president in 2000, presumably making him a Republican.
I canÂ’t wait to hear more about the television pilot.
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November 30, 2006
For years they've been crosstown rivals in despair, suffering loss after loss while fans waxed nostalgic about long-vanished gridiron prominence. At times their supporters could only empathize with the bittersweet lament of the perpetual loser: "Been down so long it looks like up to me."As Chronicle sportswriter Richard Justice observed, "Every year around this time, we gather to bury football at Rice and Houston. We hurumph that the Owls and Cougars will never again be respectable, that their time has long since passed."
Not this holiday season. Both Rice and UH can hold their heads high. Tonight at Robertson Stadium, the latter faces Southern Mississippi for the Conference USA championship, with the Liberty Bowl on the line. Meanwhile Rice is packing its bags for a trip to the Big Easy and the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 22 to face the Sun Belt Conference champion.
Houston's comeback started in earnest in 2003, when coach Art Briles arrived and put gifted freshman quarterback Kevin Kolb at the helm of his unorthodox offense that was initially as entertaining for its shifting formations as its scoreboard results. The Cougars went to the Hawaii Bowl that year, and after several disappointing seasons have bounced back to amass a 9-3 record.
Rice's rise has been meteoric, with first-year coach Todd Graham taking a team that was 1-10 last year and started 0-4 this season to a 7-5 finish and their first bowl appearance in 45 years. It's fitting that the two Houston teams faced off at the start of the year; the Cougars scratched out a come-from-behind, 31-30 victory.
Both teams are reaping awards for their performances. UH's Kolb has been named C-USA player of the year, while Rice coach Graham is the conference coach of the year. Meanwhile, Cougar coach Briles is in the running for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
Now that Rice and UH have discovered the formula for winning seasons, fans might just start getting addicted to success. Cougar supporters can do their part by bundling up tonight and filling chilly Robertson Stadium to root their hot team on to Memphis.
Looks like Houston may have something to root for this bowl season.
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October 11, 2006
The Bully is taking a beat-down. Game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. was ordered to demonstrate an upcoming video game titled "Bully" for a judge to determine whether it violates Florida's public nuisance laws. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ronald Friedman issued the order yesterday.The move is a major coup for conservative Miami attorney Jack Thompson, known for his crusades against pornography and obscene rap music, and now the video game industry. He claims that the makers of the game have designed a "Columbine simulator" in Bully, which follows the life of a prep school student as he navigates the social ladders of a fictional school called Bullworth Academy.
Thompson filed the lawsuit a month ago, claiming that the game would violate Florida's public-nuisance laws, which are more typically used to prosecute environmental polluters. Besides Take-Two, the suit also names retailers Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and GameStop Corp.
"My view is that the game potentially impinges on public safety," he said. "I'm pretty sure that the game is harmful to minors."
Since the game has not been released yet, how does this idiot lawyer know that it is a "Columbine simulator", And even if it were a "shooting gallery" game set in the halls of a high school, would that make any difference from a First Amendment standpoint? After all, if the game is a public nuisance, what about movies, television shows, and music that glorify certain sorts of anti-social behavior. Might a judge be able to declare them to be a "public nuisance" subject to special regulations or outright bans, the guarantees of the US Constitution notwithstanding? Heck, I could see lawsuits declaring certain religious groups to be a "public nuisance" because of their unpopular or "intolerant" (read that "in accordance with traditional Christian teaching") teachings constituting a threat to others
A better move, from my point of view, would be to declare Jack Thompson, the lawyer in this case, to be a public nuisance, to strip him of his license to practice law, and to forbid him to file any future lawsuits seeking censorship of others.
After all, if you don't like the game then don't buy it and don't allow your kids to buy it. I realize that some folks have a real problem with such radical concepts of personal responsibility over government regulation, but it strikes me as much more important from the standpoint of balancing individual liberty over government power.
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October 10, 2006
Novik's series">series several weeks ago as one of my favorite new finds. Look's like Peter Jackson is interested in giving them the Lord of the Rings">Lord of the Rings treatment.
Naomi Novik has written three fantasy novels chronicling the Napoleon-era adventures of a swashbuckling ship captain and a heroic dragon named Temeraire who fight to rescue Britain from a French invasion.Now she has a dramatic tale of her own: Geek Girl Makes Good.
Ms. Novik has just sold the film rights to all three of her books to Peter Jackson, the director of such blockbusters as “King Kong” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. The deal has completed her ascent from a computer programmer to a virtually unknown writer to a newly minted member of a select group of authors — J. R. R. Tolkien among them — whose novels could receive the extravagant high-tech, big-budget Jackson treatment.
Sitting in the living room of the tidy Upper East Side apartment she shares with her husband, Charles Ardai, Ms. Novik, a petite, pale and bookish-looking 33-year-old, said she had always hoped her novels would catch Mr. JacksonÂ’s eye.
“I fantasized about Peter Jackson,” said Ms. Novik, surrounded by bookshelves crammed with “Star Wars” figurines and vintage toys that bring to mind the apartment of the lead character in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” “Before we ever sent the books to Hollywood, really, I was talking, we were joking with friends. Even my parents were saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the man who did ‘Lord of the Rings’ bought your books?’ ”
“I’m a big geek and a fangirl,” she said, referring to her penchant for fantasy fiction. “If you wanted to make a dragon movie, I would be incredibly excited about it, just for that. And if it’s mine, so much the better.”
It is nice to see science fiction and fantasy works going more and more mainstream instead of being treated like escapist fare for pimple-faced teenagers with no friends. Some of the best writing today is found in the genre, which is so much more than Star Trek and Star Wars.
By the way, to give you a quick taste of what reviewers are saying of Novik's work, I encourage you to look at this.
Reviewing her first novel, “His Majesty’s Dragon,” in The Washington Post, Rachel Hartigan Shea wrote that the book contained a “generous dollop of intelligent derring-do.” The Times of London called it “Patrick O’Brian crossed with Anne McCaffrey: historic, seafaring adventure, with dragons.”
And now, coming soo to a theater near you!
And speaking of Anne McCaffrey, when will we get a film or television adaptation of the Pern novels?
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October 02, 2006
But a premeditated action calculated to injure an opposing player, engaged in well after the whistle has blown? That goes far beyond what anyone will recognize as a legitimate part of the game.
Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth was ejected early in the third quarter Sunday after he kicked Dallas center Andre Gurode in the face. Now the tackle expects to be punished and knows he deserves it.* * *
Julius Jones had just scored on a 5-yard run, putting Dallas up 20-6 in what wound up as a 45-14 victory. Gurode's helmet came off, and Haynesworth, standing over him, used his right foot to kick Gurode in the head.
Gurode said they hadn't been talking or having any exchanges that led to Haynesworth kicking him twice. He received stitches above his forehead and beneath his eye.
"In all my years of football, this has never happened to me. I've never been kicked in the face like this, and I've never seen anybody kick nobody else in the face," Gurode said.
A flag was thrown, and Haynesworth followed an official toward the Titans' sideline, protesting.
Haynesworth pulled off his helmet and slammed it to the ground, prompting another flag. Referee Jerome Boger disqualified Haynesworth, and the player walked off the field after talking briefly with Titans coach Jeff Fisher.
This was not accidental. The play had stopped and Haynesworth looked around before assaulting Gurode. Gurode eventually required 30 stitches to his face, and was unable to return to the game due to blurred vison.
Unfortunately, TitanÂ’s coach Jeff Fisher doesnÂ’t appear to understand the gravity of the situation.
The coach called Haynesworth's actions unacceptable and promised he would be punished by the Titans even if the NFL disciplines him.
"It's ridiculous to get to that point. Two back-to-back penalties like that, there's no place for it," Fisher said.
Excuse me? No place for back-to-back penalties? How about “there is no place for actions that would get you charged with a felony if they took place off the field”? Or maybe “there is no place for actions calculated to gravely injure a player, especially after the play is over”?
Haynesworth needs a long suspension – perhaps encompassing the rest of the season – for his misconduct. I would encourage the local prosecutor to consider filing criminal charges in this case. Michael David Smith over at AOL Sports Blog thinks that Gurode should sue Haynesworth. What this thug did cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be classified as “just a part of the game.” And I say this fully acknowledging that Haynesworth has acknowledged that his actions are indefensible.
By the way, I expect that Haynesworth will get a very cool reception the next time he comes to play here in Houston. Andre Gurode is a local boy – a graduate of the school where I teach. I’m sure the fans will give Haynesworth hell.
UPDATE: Looks like the suspension will be for five games, which is unprecedented in NFL history. But I'm still not sure that it is adequate.
The NFL handed down an unprecedented five-game suspension on Monday to Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for kicking Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode in the head.That length of suspension represents the biggest on-field disciplinary action in league history. Charles Martin held the previous high for a suspension, sitting two games for his bodyslam of Bears quarterback Jim McMahon on Nov. 23, 1986.
"There is absolutely no place in the game, or anywhere else, for the inexcusable action that occurred in yesterday's Titans-Cowboys game," commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.
"This is an unprecedented suspension," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "I feel like his actions on the field were also unprecented."
The coach indicated that Haynesworth would not appeal the decision.
"I felt there needed to be some serious action taken from a discipline standpoint, and I think what the league has done now is adequate," he said.
The suspension will cost Haynesworth $190,070 -- $38,014 per game -- which adds up to five-seventeenths of his 2006 base salary of $646,251.
"I think five games, five paychecks is substantial," Fisher said.
The suspension takes effect immediately. Haynesworth can return on Nov. 19 for the Titans' game at Philadelphia.
That means that Haynesworth will be with the team when they come to Houston, Gurode's hometown, on December 10. I want to encourage every fan of the Houston Texans to make sure that Hanesworth is the recipient of the sort of contempt he deserves from every lover of the game. Indeed, I encourage fans in every city to boo haynesworth and make sure he knows that we don't need his sort in the NFL.
And fortunately, there is still the possibility of prosecution.
The action could potentially cost Haynesworth more than a suspension from the football field. The Nashville, Tenn., police department issued a statement saying it "stands ready to assist [Andre] Gurode in criminally prosecuting [Albert] Haynesworth if Gurode so chooses."Gurode's cooperation appears key to any charges being filed against Haynesworth.
"In assault situations, an affirmative desire for prosecution and an acknowledgement of cooperation from the victim, in this case Gurode, are preferable before officers and prosecuting attorneys move forward with the development of a case," the statement continued.
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September 24, 2006
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms was taken by ambulance to a Tampa hospital Sunday afternoon.Several news sources say Simms is in critical condition, although a top official with the Buccaneers is denying that report.
Officials at St. Joseph's Hospital, where Simms was taken, are not commenting on the quarterback's condition.
Buccaneers' general manager Bruce Allen this evening vehemently denied to NBC Sports that Simms is in critical condition. However, Allen confirmed that members of Simms' family, including his father, former NFL quarterback Phil Simms, had been contacted.
Simms was hospitalized a short time after the Buccaneers' last-minute 26-24 NFL loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Simms appeared to experience medical problems during the game. He was hit hard several times by Panthers defensive players and was taken out of the game in the third quarter. Announcers said Simms had suffered from dehydration in the 90-degree-plus heat and high humidity in Tampa.
Regardless of the case, let us offer prayers for his recovery -- after all, football is only a game.
UPDATE: Simms has had his spleen removed.
Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms had his spleen removed after taking several hard hits in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers and was resting in a hospital, the Buccaneers confirmed in a statement."Chris Simms suffered an injury to his spleen during today's game and was taken to the hospital," said Buccaneers team doctor Joe Diaco. "He underwent a spleenectomy (removal of the spleen) this evening and is in stable condition. Chris is doing well and we anticipate a full recovery."
After taking several hard hits to the rib area during the game, Simms missed only two plays due to what was believed to be dehydration. He also experienced what was beleived to be cramping, but now appears likely to be the effects of the injury which required this surger.
I'm guessing the Tampa Bay QB will be out for a while
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September 08, 2006
"Angie and I will consider tying the knot when everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able," the 42-year-old actor reveals in Esquire magazine's October issue, on newsstands Sept. 19.
Everyone? Really?
Does this just a pathetic way of saying/not saying that they support homosexual marriage? Or do they include incestuous unions in there, too? How about polygamy/polyandry/polyamory?
Knowing Angie, it could be all of the above -- that way she could have Brad, her brother, and her lesbuian ex-lover all tied up in her dominatrix lair. As noted above, she's done it all!
I won't speculate about the couple's position on the rights of the perverts who advocate Man/Boy love -- or whether he thinks freaks like John Mark Karr ought to be able to marry their pre-pubescent obsessions, just like Muhammad did.
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September 06, 2006
This yearÂ’s Big Tex Choice Awards, given to the top two State Fair vendors for creative food ideas, may have proven that anything fried and dusted with powdered sugar is delicious.The second annual contest is a preview of the many foods that patrons will see at this yearÂ’s State Fair of Texas, which kicks off Sept. 29 and runs though Oct. 22.
Winning this yearÂ’s contest was the battered Fried Praline Perfection for best taste, and the cup of dough-rolled Fried Coke was named most creative. Each winner received a trophy.
* * *
The six finalistsDeep Fried Cosmopolitan — A fried pastry filled with cheesecake and topped with a cranberry glaze and a lime wedge. Served on a stick.
Donkey Tails — Large all-beef franks, slit on one side and generously stuffed with sharp Cheddar cheese, wrapped in a large flour tortilla and fried until golden brown. Served with mustard chili sauce or Ruth’s salsa.
Fernie’s Fried Choco-rito — A flour tortilla stuffed with marshmallows, coconut, candy bar pieces, caramel morsels and cinnamon then dipped in pancake batter and deep-fried to a crispy, crunchy outside and sweet, gooey inside. Drizzled with honey and topped with whipped cream.
Fernie’s Fried Mac-n-cheese — Texas-sized bites of macaroni and cheese, covered with a layer of garlic- and herb-flavored bread crumbs and deep fried until crispy outside and hot and cheesy inside. Served on a stick with a side of dipping sauces.
Fried Coke — Smooth spheres of Coca-Cola-flavored batter that are deep fried, drizzled with pure Coke fountain syrup, topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sugar and a cherry. Served in souvenir contoured glasses.
Fried Praline Perfection — Plump coconut and pecan pralines, battered and fried to a rich golden crust. Served warm with powdered sugar.
I think I’m going to be sick – and I haven’t even been on the Tilt-A-Whirl yet!
H/T Lone Star Times
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Filmmakers have created a nonchronological story to emphasize the Greek tragedy behind the Dixie Chicks' spiral into country music's public enemy No. 1. The Chicks vs. President Bush, the Chicks vs. Toby Keith, the Chicks vs. country radio -- every antagonistic angle is covered, and yet Maines, Emily Robison and Martie McGuire persevere, with their chroniclers providing a sympathetic tone to their every struggle.
And their actions following Natalie MainesÂ’ stupid comment about President Bush while on stage in England certainly appear insane to me.
Maines is seen backstage at Shepherds Bush Empire asking for an update on the just-launched war in Iraq; within hours -- with cameras rolling -- she offhandedly says, "We're ashamed the president is from Texas," the home state of both Bush and the Chicks. She makes the statement, turns to a bandmate and laughs.The press makes hay of her comment, and the Chicks and management go into damage-control mode, which will last nearly three years. There's the famous nude Entertainment Weekly magazine cover shoot, the Diane Sawyer interview and the protests at concerts.
Yes. But there is something that gets out. Rather than apologize for offending their fans (which would have been sufficient for me, who was prepared to buy tickets for their 2003 concert in Houston), they sounded a defiant note. Rather than acknowledge that those who were offended had a right to disagree, the band instead painted themselves as the victims of some McCarthyistic furor. Not only that, but they and their supporters acted as if the band was entitled to airplay and album sales – an insane proposition that placed the band’s freedom of speech above the rights of the rest of the American public.
The Left likes to tell us the Ditzy Slits Dixie Chicks were censored for their political speech. There is some truth to that claim – but not the way that the advocates for the band would have the public believe. Millions of Americans did censor band by turning them off and refusing to buy their albums and tickets. Hundreds of radio stations, reacting to listener pressure, censored them by dropping the band from playlists. All of this censorship, though, was of a sort that the Constitution permits – and at no time did the government act against the band, which is prohibited under the First Amendment. The rights of the band were respected, but so were the rights of millions of Americans to express their disapproval with their wallets.
After all, while the girls have every right to speak and sing, they have no right to an audience or a paycheck
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September 04, 2006
Steve Irwin, the hugely popular Australian television personality and conservationist known as the "Crocodile Hunter," was killed Monday by a stingray while filming off the Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.Irwin was at Batt Reef, off the remote coast of northeastern Queensland state, shooting a segment for a series called "Ocean's Deadliest" when he swam too close to one of the animals, which have a poisonous barb on their tails, his friend and colleague John Stainton said.
"He came on top of the stingray and the stingray's barb went up and into his chest and put a hole into his heart," said Stainton, who was on board Irwin's boat at the time.
Crew members aboard the boat, Croc One, called emergency services in the nearest city, Cairns, and administered CPR as they rushed the boat to nearby Low Isle to meet a rescue helicopter. Medical staff pronounced Irwin dead when they arrived a short time later, Stainton said.
Irwin was famous for his enthusiasm for wildlife and his catchword "Crikey!" in his television program "Crocodile Hunter." First broadcast in Australia in 1992, the program was picked up by the Discovery network, catapulting Irwin to international celebrity.
Irwin is also known for one of the worst movies ever made -- 2002's "The Crocodile Hunters: Collision Course".
This is a truly sad event, especially for his wife, Terri, and their two children, daughter Bindi Sue, 8, and son Bob, who will turn 3 in December. May they be comforted by the fact he died doing what he loved.
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August 28, 2006
Running back Domanick Davis, the Texans' career rushing leader, is in danger of not making the team this season.Davis, who missed five games in 2005, has not practiced since the first week of preseason because of a bruised left knee that is unrelated to the arthroscopic surgery he underwent on the same knee in December.
Unlike Wali Lundy and Vernand Morency, Davis has been unable to be on the field to impress his new coaching staff, specifically head coach Gary Kubiak and offensive coordinator Troy Calhoun. Kubiak said Monday that if the regular season began today, Lundy would start against Philadelphia.
Each day, Kubiak grows more concerned about Davis' lack of availability. The roster will be reduced to a final 53 on Friday, one day after the Texans close the preseason at home against Tampa Bay.
"I'm very concerned," Kubiak said. "There's not much we can do about it, but I'm very concerned about that situation.
"It'll be a tough decision for the final 53. We'll make the decision based on what's best for Domanick and the team."
The Texans will have several options. They can make Davis, 25, part of the final roster and wait for him to get healthy. They can place him on waivers. They can put him on injured reserve, which means he wouldn't play this season. They also could trade him, which is unlikely because he's damaged goods.
We here in houston -- especially the season ticketholders -- will be waiting to see what happens here.
And for the first time, I wonder if we didn't make a mistake in letting Reggie Bush slip to the number 2 pick in the draft by picking Mario Williams, who has not developed quite as fast as some of us have been hoping.
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