AND STAY OUT!

Its been a long time since I've had the pleasure of kicking an undiserable guest out of my home. So long that I've forgotten the pleasure it brings once the door slams shut on the heels of the unwanted nuisance.

Today we Giants fans are basking in that pleasureable afterglow of watching the door slam on the heels of our former closer Armando Benitez, an undesirable guest on our ballclub. The SF Giants have finally given Armando the boot after allowing him a stay in our home, a stay that almost all feel was overextended and disruptive to our team.

What made Armando's stay so unwelcome in the home that Barry built are the little things. Things like leaving the toilet seat up, the cap off the toothpaste, drinking out of the carton of milk and putting it back in the refridgerator, blowing saves. Then giving that all familiar Armando smirk when caught and shrugging it off like it wasn't his fault. If only he'd once said "I'm Sorry, I'll try harder next time."

Maybe its rude to celebrate the eviction of a tenant or guest, but when said tenant/guest has menacingly caused you pain and grief through his lack of effort to perform the duties he was contracted to do, as the saying goes, "Its Time For A Change (a speedy oil change at that).

The Giants have shipped Armando off to the Marlins of Florida; a place known for humidity, swamps, drugs, spring break Parties, alligators, hurricanes and Jeb Bush. In other words, they've given him a one-way ticket to Hell and Satan was more than happy to have'em.

MLB Insider sources have quoted Satan as saying he wanted to bring the troubled closer back to Hell because "Armando makes godfearing souls say and do the damndest of things."

So as we celebrate what seems an answer to our Giants prayers (May Armando burn in Hell) let us ask God to forgive us our evil thoughts of the former closer, lest we end up in Hell ourselves one day; forced to wear a silly hat with a wriggling fish on the front while watching our pitiful team closer balk in the tying run, then give up the game winning home run, again. We sit in our flaming seats of fate watching this eternal game over and over. And as Armando comes in to close yet another game, it occurs to us what banal act of ours has banished us to such a hellish place. We remember Armando as he was back in our home, the undesireable guest who infuriated us so that we cursed him to hell. We awake from this nightmare in a drenching sweat, reciting a mantra that'll stick with us for the rest of our earth walking lives.

"Hell is for people who can't say "I'm Sorry."

Guess I'll be seeing you in Hell someday Armando. May your bones incinerate into ashes before my arrival though you balking bastard.

Food that'll make you wanna Smack Yo Momma! Twice!

I ain't from Texas or Louisiana. My life has been spent pretty much on the East coast in my younger dayz and on the West coast as an adult, United States that is.

I still love my New York Pizza and Italian food, and I enjoy the variety of Asian foods in California.

I have no desire to live anywhere in between these two wonderful states at this time. And if you asked me about places like Louisiana or Texas I'd have to give some ignorant stereotypical reply; Cowboys Hats & Boots, Bayou, Oil, Hurricanes, Steer and Barbecue come to mind. Out of these southern items I'd have to say that I have very little love for all with the exception of one. Barbecue!

As a Raiders fan, season ticket holder and tailgater I've tasted some barbecue that'll make ya wanna go cattle wrestling. I've been introduced to fried turkey, giant sea oysters and roasted pig meat all prepared right in the parking lot of the coliseum. Loved them all. But the Texas barbecue and Louisiana gumbo always make my Sunday at the coliseum special.

When you taste barbecue or gumbo the way its supposed to taste, it is then that you wanna smack your momma for cohabitating with a non-texan or louisianan. Then you wanna go back and smack her again for not telling you there was such a thing as gumbo and Ho cake, or baby back ribs in beer sauce. Hell, if momma ever mentioned the words Ho and Cake in the same sentence you'd thought this good christian woman were just talking about feeding the homeless and/or drug addicted from the streets.

When I discovered barbecue and gumbo it was then that I realized how a food could be the way to a man's stomach. Because of the costly business space in the Bay Area many southern cooking establishments have left or closed their doors. There was a time when people drove down from miles away to goto a barbecue shack or soul food restaurant in the Bay Area. After reading about M&M's FISH&CHICKEN SHACK in Reno,NV, it seems times may be a changing and it is the Bay Area person who must drive miles away to experience the delight of some good southern cooked food.

Case and Point, I give you this fellow bloggers discovery of M&M's Fish & Chicken Shack up in Reno,NV. I share with you my fellow bloggers review because 1. the following is from her blog and 2. She's a native southerner from Texas who knows authentic southern style cooking.

The Following is from Melinda of Reno's Blah Blah Blog:

M&M's Fish & Chicken Shack
Today, I experienced a little slice of heaven in an otherwise regular and mundane day. I had lunch from M&M's Fish & Chicken Shack. Where have I been???I'm not sure where the owner Mr. Mitch Moore is from...but I'd swear he stepped off my Grandmama's back porch in Texas. M&M's is a discreet little hideaway nuzzled in the heart of Reno's industrial district. Who'd know one of the cities' most fantastic culinary wonders is hidden away as a sleeper joint located at 3080 Mill Street, just off Terminal Way. Living so far away from my native roots, it's very rare that I find home style food that I would consider anywhere CLOSE to Texas home style...even when the food is good. And, finding fried okra at any restaurant, much less GOOD fried okra is a near impossibility!This is truly DOWN HOME cookin'. They advertise southern cooking and soul food, specializing in fried fish, BBQ ribs, fried okra, gizzards, gumbo, greens, yams, black-eyed peas, red beans and rice, sweet potato pies, peach cobbler and MORE! I had a simple rib basket with potato salad, black-eyed peas, and fried okra. They drilled the fried okra right smack dab on the head for the way it always was back home. The ribs were meaty and tender, with a perfect sauce. My potato salad was just like it is "supposed" to be...I was at home back in the South rocking on the back porch with every bite. If you do not have the time to travel across town to Mill Street for your lunch...call (775)-348-0707 and order lunch and pick it up. It's worth the drive.I'LL BE BACK FOR SURE!!

Posted by Malinda777 at 2:03 PM 3 comments Links to this post
Labels: Recipes, Reno
Monday, May 7

"Go Raiders! " - Last Words of A Condemned Man

Though I do not condone the violent acts of a convicted killer, I empathize with the passion he carries for the Raiders as he speaks his final words before receiving three life ending injections.

"Go Raiders!"

I know the Raiders badboy image has appealed to many a violent offender, but I choose to believe that many outsiders and outcasts of society are attracted to the Raiders simply because the organization and its fans represent diversity, equality and acceptance regardless of background. Being part of the Raiders family expunges you of all your sins. At least that's the feeling amongst Raiders fans who share in proudly spouting the term "Go Raiders."

Heck, if the catholic church can instruct wrong doers after confessing their sins to say a few Hail Mary's then "Go forth and sin no more", then why not AL Davis? may peace and blessings be upon him.

It doesn't make your sins right or acceptable, but as a worshiper of the Oakland Raiders you are bathed in brotherhood and forgiven your trespassess, just as you should forgive those who trespass against you. And sin no more.

For us Raider Fans who may have walked on the wild side for a time, we are the last to judge sinners and the first to forgive.

The beauty of being a Raiders fan and spending a Sunday congregating with the Raider Nation is that what you did yesterday and what you'll do tomorrow don't count for or against you come gameday. What counts on Football Sunday is the Raider Passion you bring and the Raider Brotherhood you share amongst all others. Sure we may be a bit hostile toward those who come to our house wearing the devil's raimants (opponents jerseys/colors), but more times than not we accept them as misguided souls and ask the lord to forgive them, for they know not what they do.

And so with the execution of convicted killer Robert C. Comer in Arizona, who when warden Carson McWilliams asked if he had any last words said, "Yes, Go Raiders," we the Raider Nation understand that there is yet hope for this misguided soul. Maybe not in this life but possibly in the hereafter is where he'll be forgiven for his sins and find peace. And hopefully the family of his victims will not judge his "Go Raiders" salute as unrepentent or cold, for it (Raider Fan Solidarity) might have been the only expression of love and acceptance this broken man has ever experienced in his heart.


Prayers go out to the victim Larry Pritchard and others that have suffered from the violent acts of Robert C. Comer.

DO BELIEVE!

Golden State Warriors' Baron Davis dunks over Utah Jazz's Andrei Kirilenko (47), of Russia, during the second half of an NBA Western Conference second-round basketball playoff game Friday, May 11, 2007, in Oakland, Calif. Golden State won 125-105. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Golden State Warriors Legendary Playoff Win!

When it comes to great sports stories we tend to use analogies and comparisons to define and rank incredible moments. It seems there's always a fitting past moment or fable to go along with the miraculous sporting event of the day.

Not Today. Not for this mornings' Golden State Warriors, who knocked off the top seeded Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 2 in their best of seven first round playoff series. No numer 8 seed has won a NBA seven game series, ever. And not only did the Warriors win, but they did it with a style all their own with plenty of drama for all the stars twinkling in expensive courtside seats.

Yes, The GOlden State Warriors are writing a storybook for all basketball fans to read. A first novel that has all the spice and intrigue of a bestseller with hints of past sports heroics.

For the Bay Area, last nights game is right up there with "The Catch" from 49ers lore. Like the '81' Niners, the Warriors haven't won much of anything for quite some time. Almost an entire generation of kids have grown up without ever seeing a winning professional basketball team in the Bay Area. Last night changed that.

Shades of the 70's New York Knicks star Willis Reed limping back onto the basketball court to help his team finish off a rival team and win a playoff series. Baron fits the bill.

How about the memory of Michael Jordan shrugging his shoulders after making yet another three point playoff game clinching shot as if he just can't understand the zone he's in either? Stephen Jackson was zoning.

All that and much more were on display at Oracle Arena in Oakland last night as the Warriors finished off the Dallas Mavericks 111-86. Oh, did you see the Matt Barnes SLAM DUNK? Over mvp Dirk Novitski?Beautiful!

Baron Davis
Stephen Jackson
Matt Barnes
Jason Richardson
Michael Pietrus
Andris Biedrins
Monta Ellis
Al Harrington
Josh Powell
Azubuike
Jasikevicius
Old Man Foyle
Nellie
Mully

Thank you all Golden State Warriors for bringing winning basketball back to the Bay Area. Thanks for giving us a LEGENDARY playoff series topping it off with a truly LEGENDARY night. We now have LEGENDARY hopes throughout the rest of the 2007 NBA Playoffs and seasons to come.

WARRIORS
COME OUT AND PLAY-YAY!

SF Giants Sweep L.A.

Duck The Fodgers!

The San Francisco Giants are the Hot team in the NL West. Eight straight road wins, including three against the Fodgers. Yeah, those stinking Fodgers who caught the Giants as the season began and made life difficult for all. Guess it was time to return the favor, and what better way to do it than a three game sweep against the division leading Fodgers in Los Angeles. Well, the Fodgers ain't leading much of anything as of tonight, because the Giants hold the NL West lead. Our lead may only be a few percentage points, but heck, we'll rejoice in it.

Even Armando Benitez, the one Giants player who consistently gets booed at home, is now playing like the closer we'd hoped for. And Armando can thank the Fodgers for giving him back his confidence and fastball. Do I forsee "Please Marry Me Armando" placards around AT&T Park when the Giants return? Anything is possible in this season of downs and ups.

There's plenty more games to be played, but as of tonight, my Giants are sitting pretty atop the NL West after dethroning the Fodgers in L.A., Life is Good! Especially when you find your team at the broom handle end of a three game SWEEP!

Warriors Win Game 1 against Dallas

can you dig it?
Can You Dig It?
CAN YOU DIG IT?

"click on pic"

Don Nelson Coaching
Smothering Team Defense
Baron Davis - 33pts
Jason Richardson - Key Block on Fast Break
Matt Barnes - Dagger 3-pointer after J-Rich Block

Can You Count Suckers?

Final Score
Warriors 97
Mavericks 84

Cheerleader Blog?

Well don't just sit there with your mouse in hand looking like a starved netsurfing pervert. Click on the link to "The Professional Cheerleader Blog" and get your daily dose of sports spice. Seems April is known for more than just the NFL Draft. Cheerleader tryouts have already begun and you don't wanna miss the hot candidates now do you? Especially those candidates with little smarts, less talent but the best enhanced racks and collagen injected lipz money can buy. These Bikini Bimbos usually don't make it out of the first round of cuts, so you better catch'em quick.


Seriously though, this site dedicated to Professional Cheerleaders is a place to check out. Cheerleaders really do do more than just jump up and down at sporting events. They travel the globe raising funds and awareness for many charity foundations. They are ambassador-ettes of goodwill for sports.

So do try reading a bit about these vibrant women. Many are much more than just eye-candy. See Raiderettes tryout articles, April 20-21.

WARRIORS, COME OUT TO PLAY YAY!

Not the Warriors of 1980's Coney Island lore, but the Warriors of 2007 Oaktown fame are coming out to play in this season's NBA Playoffs.

We as Warriors fans are just happy to have made the playoffs, but it appears the team's sites are on winning in the Playoffs. And honestly, they're playing like a team that expects to win.

Watching them beat up on the second and third string Dallas Mavericks the other night and the Portland Trailblazers tonight convinced me that the Warriors believe they belong, and who's to say they don't. It may turn out that the biggest mistake the Mavericks made this season was allowing the Warriors to dominate them in their last regular season meeting. Because when the two teams meet in the first round of the Playoffs, the Warriors will start out believing they can't lose based on a 5-0 season record against the Mavericks.

So if I were Avery Johnson, coach of the Mavericks, I'd begin drilling my players on the importance of the Playoffs being a new season and quickly forgetting last season. The question is can they forget?

As for the Golden State Warriors, getting out of the first round and all the way to the Championship game could be as tough as fighting rival gangs from the Bronx to Coney Island. But again, this ain't your past years Warriors team. And compared to this Warriors team, all other NBA teams are "Just A Bunch Of Wimps."


Congratulations Golden State Warriors for making believers out of us all. They're not the same old warriors, not this year. Woe Nellie! Playoffs!

Prayers Go Out To Virginia Tech

Life On Earth Is But A Fluttering Gift, Precious and Very Fragile.

But Once Released To Journey Home, Our Souls Can't Wait To Travel.


May Their Journey Home Be As Beautiful As Their Arrival Here.

Enjoying Bay Area Sports

Fresh off a four hour Friday night baseball game where the Oakland A's played superbly in their 11 inning win over the New York Yankees, 5-4. The night was full of fans rooting for both teams at McAfee Coliseum. Though I'm a New Yorker by birth (Let's Go Mets), I had to go with my local A's team as they suprised us all with some very outstanding plays. I foresee the A's getting back to the playoffs with this years team, which seems to be even better than last years. They've got pitching, hitting and defense going for them.

As for the SF Giants, they're still climbing out of the hole they dug themselves into the first two weeks of the season. Friday's game resulted in a 8-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Barry Bonds hit home runs 736 & 737 to inch within 18 of tying Hank Aaron at 755.

The Golden State Warriors, The Playoff possible Golden State Warriors blew out their NorCal rival Sacramento Kings 125-108. They are currenly in a three-way tie for the 8th and final western division playoff spot. The team as a whole has turned it up a few notches and are playing some very inspired basketball. Though they're not in control of their playoff destiny, their chances are as good as any of the other three teams (Lakers, Clippers, Hornets) vying for the final spot. Just Win Baby!

The San Jose Sharks dropped a game to the Nashville Predators in Nashville last night, evening their best of seven NHL playoff series at 1-1. My understanding is that the two teams are both improved from last season and pretty evenly matched. Go Sharks!

My Oakland Raiders added another piece to their rebuilt offensive line in signing former Denver Bronco Cooper Carlisle. Now comes the draft.

After all the talk this week about radio/tv talk host IMUS making racially disturbing comments about the Rutgers Women's Basketball Players, we have a much more interesting and proud racial milestone in sports to recognize come Sunday. The day will mark the 60th anniversary of desegregation in major league baseball. Though we as Americans, especially African-Americans, should be proud of the steps major sports has taken the past 60 years to make ours the land of Freedom, Justice and Opportunity for All athletes, we can't sit back and think we've arrived at that goal today. Our attitudes about ourselves and each other in this salad bowl we call the U.S.A must continually work toward tolerance, acceptance and understanding of our differences as well as our similarities. Hopefully athletes like Tiger Woods, Dana Patrick and even the Rutgers women's basketball players are inspiring today's generation of young aspiring athletes to strive forward and knock down obstacles that once stood in the way of those who came before them.

I've never quoted Barry Bonds, and I probably won't find myself ever again quoting Barry, but for me as an African-American male who loves baseball, he summed up the feelings I have about the Jackie Robinson 60th anniversary of breaking the color barrier in professional baseball. When asked what Robinson meant to him, Bonds said:

"What does it mean to all African American athletes? But I don't think only African American athletes should be answering the question. I think baseball should be answering the question as well. Some of the white ballplayers should be answering that question as well, not just African American ballplayers. We already know what it means to us. We've answered that question over and over."

Of course those biased against Barry might misunderstand his meaning, but I, and I'm sure many African-Americans understand and applaud Barry's reply.

Barry plans to wear No. 42 in Sunday's game against the Pirates, in honor of Jackie Robinson.

Almost forgot our San Jose Sabercats of the Arena Football League, they were friday night victims of the New Orleans VooDoo, losing 67-54. I'd never heard of the VooDoo until Friday. I just can't imagine what their team logo looks like, nor their team mascot. Gotta be something with a skull or crossbones. Whatever the image, they had the magic potion going for them on Friday, even if it was black magic potion.

Killer Looks!

After signing Cooper I thought maybe I'd take a look at one of those depression era gangsters. Sorry Coop, you may look the part but "Baby Face" Nelson was truly a killer. Took 17 bullets to take him down and he still lasted a few hours. Here's the headline:

George "Baby Face" Nelson (Lester Joseph Gillis)December 6, 1908 - November 27, 1934
The most violent member of the Dillinger gang, Nelson was credited with killing several men, including three D.O.I. special agents. He may even have been a gunman for the Chicago Syndicate. Nelson was shot 17 times during a gun battle with special agents in Barrington, Illinois. He died several hours later at a house in Niles Center, now called Skokie, Illinois.

Be On The Lookout For This Offender

Alright, don't go calling in on the Amber Alert just yet. I know the picture above looks murderesque, but please don't be alarmed.

Its only newly signed Oakland Raiders Offensive Tackle Cooper Carlisle. The four year veteran comes over to the Silver & Black after learning how to chop block in Denver. Its okay though, as they say, no harm no foul. And besides, he's now a Raider.

The Raiders new coaching staff are revamping the offensive line with experienced yet young players. Cooper C., the former Gator, has also shown he can catch those red zone touchdowns; he's scored one for Denver.

To be honest, if his style of play can match that criminally insane bipolar look of his, our 'O'-line will be impregnable this coming season. I watch enough horror and gangster movies to recognize that blank, empty look of a psycho. He's Michael Myers (without the hockey mask) and Machine Gun Kelly rolled into one.

Welcome to the Oakland Raiders Cooper C., you animal. Now go get'em boy!

Sorry bout the Amber comment Coop, but you did just leave Denver.

The Butcher of Hanover

As I love to pick up old books and browse through their pages, I discovered one this weekend that mentioned the horrors of a early 1920's serial killer. I confess, being a horror movie buff I've often wondered just what makes a serial killer tick? or explode might be the more appropriate term. I've read quite a few case studies that go from suggesting cruel parents to traumatic childhood experiences, to traumas of war as the cause. Truth is we may never know.

Most of us today know of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dalmer as two of the scariest and most abominable serial killers of the past century. Bundy because he was so normal looking and acting, and Dalmer because he ate the flesh of some of his victims. But.........what if I told you about THEE serial killer? The one whose actions actually coined the phrase "Serial" killer?

His name was Friedrich Haarmann (known as Fritz) and the place and time were ripe for such a monster. It was Post WWI Germany and Fritz was on the prowl. What puts Fritz at the top of the Serial Killer chart is not that he killed with abandon or that he killed some of his victims by biting them through their throat, but that his meat packing enterprise sold the flesh of his victims to post-war German citizens suffering from economic and social chaos. That is surely a crime against humanity and a crime which fittingly had newspapers of the day dubbing him "The Butcher of Hanover." Kind of reminds me of the Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man."


Excerpt from the book "The Victims by Jack Gratus, describing the times, the crime and the criminal:

After the First World War Germany suffered from economic and social chaos. Families were broken up as men drifted away from the small villages and towns to the larger cities in search of work. All the security they had ever known had been totally destroyed. Hanover railway station was one of the main receiving centres for this large drifiting population of the unemployed.

Into this crowd of lonely homeless men came Fritz Haarmann, a man who by 1919 had been convicted many times for indecent assault, burglary, pickpocketing and petty fraud. His father had tried twice to have him certified insane. In 1918, after a five-year sentence for theft, he took to smuggling and made enough money to set himself up in respectable lodgings. A homosexual, Haarmann offered comfort, friendship and the security of a decent home to the young boys hanging about the station. But the security did not last long. Soon after they had been brought to his lodgings Haarmann would kill his victims - at least twenty-seven of them - some by biting them through their throats. Their carcasses were then cut up and sold through Haarman's meat-smuggling enterprise to the unwary but hungry public. In a few cases parents came from the distant homes to complain about their missing sons, but the police could only shrug and point to the never-ending stream of drifters coming daily into Hanover. The missing boys could be anywhere; they might not even be in the city.

At last, however, the reports, together with the discovery of human remains close to Haarmann's home, made the police suspicious. After being closely watched by detectives, he was arrested for indecency. He then decided to CONFESS. In December 1924 he was sentenced to death by decapitation.

See: Crime Library-The Butcher of Hanover

Also see: Albert Fish, a "Real" Hanibal Lecter. What I remember reading about Albert Fish is that when they first tried electrocuting him in the electric chair it shorted out. Albert had confessed to sticking metal pins into his groin for sadistic gratification. Xrays had already confirmed that some pins were still inside his body, between rectum and scrotum, causing a short in the first electrical surge. Unfortunately, the sick bastard probably enjoyed the fatal second jolt of juice.

Excerpt from Crime Library on Albert Fish:
Fish was not happy with the verdict, but the prospect of being electrocuted had its appeal to him. A Daily News reporter wrote, "his watery eyes gleamed at the thought of being burned by a heat more intense than the flames with which he often seared his flesh to gratify his lust."

I SMELL A RAT! A Lying, Stinking Rat!

Here's a story that just gives one more reason why we should dread being placed in or placing a loved one in a nursing home. I know all places that assist the elderly with daily living activities aren't bad, but it only takes one (alleged) incident such as this to rekindle the horrors that we imagine takes place in these facilities.

The Headline: Lawsuit alleges dead rat found in dementia patient's mouth

The Allegation: Staffing was so inadequate at a California senior center that a rat crawled into an Alzheimer's patient's mouth and died there before staff noticed

The Facility: Paragon Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care Community in Mission Viejo,Ca

The Lawsuit: overbooking of their facility to receive corporate bonuses while cutting back on staff to increase profits

The Defense:
A. Glue Traps
B. Field Mouse
C. Dementia = False Allegation

The Facility's Track Record:

1. Troy Nelms wandered from Paragon and was never found. He is presumed dead and his family has sued the facility

2. Six clients were injured and one died after improper care

Add to all this; "Revoking of Licenses, State Barring of employee contact, Anonymous Snitching, and the kicker..........RAT POiSoN, makes this case one for the Ages.

What trained professional would put Rat Poison in the room of a patient suffering from demetia? Thank goodness the patient survived and suffers from memory loss. I do wonder if the lawyer is seeking dollars or justice out of this case? Maybe its best the victim suffers from dementia; rats, poison and lawyers all have one thing in common, they can all drive a sane person insane.

I suppose it could be worse, the facility could reside in Iraq with bombs and missiles raining down on them. Of course the lawyer would then need a retainer deposited into his swiss account before talking with his client. What A World!

For the FULL story here's the link: Dead Rat Lawsuit

Passing of a Coaching Legend

Legendary Grambling State Football Coach Eddie Robinson passed away on Tuesday, he was 88 years old.

He was affectionately known simply as "Coach" throughout college football. During his tenure, Robinson established himself as the winningest coach in college football history becoming the first coach to record 400 wins. Robinson retired with a record of 408 wins, 165 losses and 15 ties. Even during the era of segregation in the American South, Robinson's talent was praised by many white coaches, especially by the legendary Bear Bryant of the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa.

The following is a statement from Ms. Doris Robinson, wife of legendary Grambling State University football coach Eddie G. Robinson, who passed away at the age of 88 on Tuesday, April 3, 2007:

“The many expressions of support, sympathy, and gratitude that we have received from all over the country have been overwhelming. I truly appreciate each and every person, so many of whom we have never met, who has said such kind and inspiring words about Eddie, his legacy, and our family.

“Our love and admiration for Eddie were unyielding, as was Eddie’s for his immediate family and his extended Grambling family. Eddie was the consummate husband, father, teacher, leader, role model, and, most of all, the greatest of Americans.

“Words cannot express the loneliness that I will feel without my beloved Eddie. However, I realize, and the immediate family realizes, the greatness that Eddie contributed to our society. He will forever fill our hearts, minds, and souls.”

Funeral arrangements for Coach Robinson are as follows:

Coach Robinson will lie in state in the Louisiana State Capital Rotunda in Baton Rouge, La., on Monday, April 9, from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Family visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, April 10 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at New Rocky Valley Baptist Church on 2155 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. in Grambling, La.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m. in the Assembly Center on the campus of Grambling State University (across from Robinson Stadium). Internment will be at Memorial Gardens in Grambling, La.

In lieu of flowers, it is the Robinson family’s wishes that donations be made to the Friends of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum. Those wishing to contribute may call 1-866-WINS-408 or log on to www.robinsonmuseum.com and donate online. Contributors may also mail a donation to the Friends of the Eddie G. Robinson Museum at P.O. Box 550 Grambling, LA 71245.

For more information contact:

Dave Whinham, 1-866-484-3832

John Belton, 318-680-6904

Coach Wilbert Ellis, 318-614-8716

Carolyn Collier, 318-791-9287

Tennesse Vols win NCAA Women's Basketball Championship

Since I didn't watch the game I really shouldn't comment on it. So I won't.

Congratulations Pat Summitt and the Tennessee Lady Vols on winning the 2007 NCAA Basketball Championship.

Final Score

Tennessee 59
Rutgers 46

NCAA Men's Championship Game

Opening tipoff of the NCAA Championship game between defending champion Florida Gators and the Ohio State Buckeyes was the suspense filled moment of the evening. All the questions about whether the gators could chomp down on another championship or whether the buckeyes could dethrone them came down to this defining moment, the tipoff. All the suspenseful specualation has come to a head in this one revealing moment. The ball is tossed, the whistle blows, the game has begun.

Anything and everything that happened afterward will go down in sports lore, as good defense, clutch three point shooting, courageous coaching and team hustle deservingly produced a second (back-to-back) championship trophy for the Florida Gators. And though Ohio State played as good a game as any against the Gators, they were unable to catch up once Secretariat took the lead and began his gallop toward the line. The Finish Line that is!

Final Score

Florida 84
Ohio St. 75


ATLANTA - APRIL 02: Head coach Billy Donovan of the Florida Gators cuts down the net after his team defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game at the Georgia Dome on April 2, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)


Congratulations Florida Gators on winning the 2007 NCAA Basketball Championship to go along with your 2007 NCAA Football Championship. A Historic Achievement Indeed.

So What's 7ft. 9in basketball player Sun Ming Ming UP to?

Since last I wrote about 7 foot 9 inch Sun Ming Ming, he's moved up in basketball league status, literally. Back in February, Sun was playing for the Maryland Nighthawks of the ABA league, a basketball league formed in 1999. As of last week he's a Grand Rapids Flight teammate in the International Basketball League. So just who are the Grand Rapids Flight? Here's the ad I saw from December that said it all:

Breaking News From The FlightDeck
FINAL TRYOUTS
Wednesday, December 27th 7-9pm
Rivertown Sports
Cost $25

$25, Who Knew? I'd better check to see if there's an International Basketball League team in my neck of the woods. For $25, I may wanna lace up and take a shot at making the team. Old dreams of sports stardom sure die hard don't they?

Sun still has hopes of reaching the NBA in the not too distant future, but is focusing on improving his game right now.

In the following interview Sun appears comfortable talking in front of the cameras, but I found his accent made it a bit hard for me to understand his english. It didn't help that the lady interviewer, standing about crotch level to Sun, was treating him more like a circus freak than a potential basketball all-star. So much for American journalism. From what I can gather, he's a poor man's Yao Ming. But do give Sun credit, he may not have the training and political clout that Yao Ming had, but he seems to have the will to continue trying. So don't let anything keep you from attaining your goal Sun. Remember, "Eye of the Tiger." Keep it going Sun Ming Ming.

Interview with Sun Ming Ming

NOTES from the HYENA'S BELLY

Author: Nega Mezlekia

Winner of the Governor General's Award

Growing up in Ethiopia
amidst Socio-economic and Political Change

A Very Enjoyable Read. So enjoyable that I wrote this Amazon Review encouraging others to read it:

If you enjoy a book showing you the real people, places and happenings that were "Once Upon A Time," then you may just find this book to be a treasure. I myself enjoyed the way this author held my inner voice's attention. It was almost as if I were sitting at his home while he spoke of the life experiences that make him the person now sitting before me. Because I'm such an avid reader, I did put this book down a few times to indulge in other reads. I did this knowing that when I'd pick it back up I'd have a great companion to spend time with. I almost hated to see the book conclude. The fact that I'm writing only my second or third amazon review says how much I enjoyed this read. Hope you decide to visit the Hyena's Belly. You won't be disappointed.


I learned while stil in the early chapters of this book that the author and editor had a falling out. Seems the editor wanted to claim authorship of all but a few pages of the book. I believe the editor lost her battle in court. The author has since written, without the same editor, at least one if not more books that carry the same magic as this one, proving him to be the gifted writer of Notes from the Hyena's Belly.

A Very Enjoyable Read. A Keeper.