A Dream Transferred

Lorraine Hansberry, American Playwright (1930-1965)

				A Raisin in the Sun My Amazon Review		77 used & new from $3.62
A Dream Transferred , April 13, 2009 I watched this movie last night and the effects it had on me are still lingering through this morning. Not only is it a wonderful film production and acting performance of a classic and timeless story written for the stage by Lorraine Hansberry, but its also a much needed reminder of what it takes to keep our dreams alive while staying true to the moral and religious values that helped carry generations before us through tougher times. My mother took us to see this play in NYC back in the 70's when I was about 10 year old. I remember not understanding the different reactions of the grown-ups, I was more captivated by the experience of my first Broadway play and being inside a huge ornately decorated theatre. Watching the movie last night I now understand what all the sorrow, laughter, disappointment and triumph I saw on stage and throughout its audience of years past was all about. I now know why my mother was teary eyed afterwords. This story is simply about the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. The torch comes with all the emotions of the past (both good and bad) as well as its hopes and dreams. Any people who've been immigrants to or experienced oppression in a land will relate to this story. I learned from watching this movie last night that what touched my mother so much in this story is that it represented her and my father's story, or any parent's story for that matter; for their children to attain all the dreams and hopes of their parents and generations past, dreams that have now become the children's dreams. I also realized in watching that the obstacles and frustrations I've had to overcome are similar to those of my parents, maybe even inherited. So Now it is I who carry the torch and will someday, with teary eyes of joy, pass all the hopes, dreams, sacrifices and struggles to my children when the time is ripe. The message is clarified in this updated movie production. For if we don't pass on to the next generation our hopes and dreams along with the spiritual wisdom and moral guidance of past generations, all of it can simply "dry up like a raisin in the sun, or fester like a sore and run." A Must Watch! And for those reviewers who I feel are unjustly criticizing the acting of Sean Combs, try to remember, its not about the messenger as much as the message. Don't be deferred, he delivers the message brilliantly. The question becomes, are you ready to receive it? Deceased father's love for children and dreams expressed in these lines from the movie: "Seems like God didn't seem fit to give a Black man nothin but dreams, but he did give us children to make the dreams seem worthwile."

Seven Blows of the Dragon

I was about ten or eleven years old when I saw this movie in a theater packed with neighborhood kids. It was a dazzling movie that I still have fond memories of. The signature theme sound that played everytime one of the heroes (the mountain brothers) jumped effortlessly through the air (cheeka, cheeka, chaa) had us in the audience cheering every time. A Classic Shaw Brothers Martial Arts Bonanza.

Cheeka Cheeka Chaa!

An Angel In The OutField

Sad news crashed down on Major League Baseball today. Reports about the unexpected death last night of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart rocked the league and sports world. Nick, a 22-year old from Silver Springs, MD, made his first start of the season last night against the Oakland A's in Anaheim. It is suspected that he, along with another passenger and the driver, were killed when a hit and run drunk driver ran a red light and crashed into their vehicle. The accident happened just hours after the game. Prayers go out to the families of those killed.

About Adenhart

Nick Adenhart was selected by the Angels in the 14th round of the 2004 draft. At the time of his death, he was the youngest pitcher on a big league roster.
• Age: 22 (born Aug. 24, 1986)
• MLB debut: May 1, 2008
• Career MLB record: 1-0 (4 starts)
• Career minor league record: 37-28

The Bizarre Killing of Michael Malloy

Ever hear the depression-era story about the killing of one Michael Malloy in the Bronx? I hadn't either until I came across the book "On The House" by Simon Read. I just finished the book and I'm praying that someone out there will make poor Malloy's story into a movie. Last checked, Harvey Keitel was putting a movie together about the bizarre incident titled "Murder Trust."

The movie could easily be called The Man of Steel or The Man Who Wouldn't Die. The book was full of facts straight from the trial transcripts. With so many characters with similar names and all, it was a bit confusing to stick with, but the craziness of it all kept me reading. It was just too unbelievable to believe it happened. The arresting police and D.A. had a hard time believing it.

The story goes like this; A few low life criminals in a depression era speakeasy come up with the idea of bumping off some poor slob after taking out an insurance policy on him, figuring they'd collect the dough once he's dead. Just so happens there's a poor alcoholic slob that frequents the joint and he just so happens to be at the bar piss drunk when the idea is hatched. Its all one drawn out Bronx tale of a farce from there.

Though the book was semi-amusing, a movie with the right characters and bronx accents would drive it home. Also, I think after 75 years Michael Malloy deserves some honorary medal for his "man of steel" refusal to succumb to the murderous antics of the gang newspapers dubbed "Murder Trust."

The Story:

In January of 1933, a group called the Murder Trust tried to kill a vagrant by the name of Michael Malloy. Already, you can tell this story is going to be awesome.

The Murder Trust (consisting of Tony Marino, Joseph Murphy, Francis Pasqua, Hershey Green, and Daniel Kriesburg) took out life insurance policies on Malloy. If he died, they were going to gain over $3,500. They gave Malloy an unlimited tab at Marino's speakeasy, hoping he would drink himself to death. Malloy proved resistant to the killing effects of the demon rum. Every night, he would come in, drink until he passed out, and return the next night. Malloy's unlimited appetite was in danger of bankrupting the speakeasy, so the Murder Trust decided to up the ante. They began to serve him anti-freeze, turpentine, horse linament, and rat poison. They made him eat a sandwich of spoiled fish, nails, and metal shavings, but Malloy still continued to be invulnerable.

One night, the Trust decided to get serious. After Malloy passed out, they stripped him, carried him outside, dumped five gallons of water on his chest, and left him to freeze. On the night in question, it was a nippy -14 degrees Fahrenheit. Malloy still didn't die. Growing desperate, the Trust decided to run him over with a taxi. They hit him at 45 miles per hour and drove off. Unbeknownst to the Trust, Malloy was not dead; he was merely hospitalized for three weeks, with a concussion and some broken bones.

Three weeks later, he showed up at the speakeasy, looking for drinks. The Trust finally decided to finish the job. After Malloy passed out from drink on February 22, they took him to Murphy's room and stuck a hose connected to a gas jet in his mouth. Malloy finally died. The Trust was arrested. Green went to prison, and the other members were executed at Sing Sing.

San Francisco Giants Opening Day

The SF Giants gave fans plenty to cheer about in their opening day win over the Milwaukee Brewers 10-6. Young NL Cy Young award winning pitcher Tim Lincecum didn't fare too well as a starter and was pulled after the third inning, but hitters (3-home runs) and relievers were able to limit Brewer damage and give the home crowd a pleasing start to the 2009 Major League Baseball Season.

The park was sold out and the knothole standing cage was packed. The weather held out and as the 9th inning came to a close the sun smiled down on the park. A great beginning for a hopeful Giants season. And there's Tony Bennet blaring through the park speakers, winner's music.

Go Giants!

Go Ahead And Crown'em

Five minutes into the NCAA Mens Basketball Championship and North Carolina leads Michigan State 17-7. I'm crowning the Tar Heels at this point. All five starters have scored, they're making two pointers and three pointers, they're causing the Spartans to turn the ball over and you can see that the Spartans are resorting to taking long-range shots, a last resort.

So go ahead and Crown the North Carolina Tar Heels NCAA Men's Basketball Champions, they're playing better ball than five of the worst teams in the NBA. And I guess we should congratulate former Tar Heel Michael Jordan for being selected for induction into the NBA Hall of Fame today. It's a powder blue Monday folks!

Raiders Sign Veteran QB Jeff Garcia

The Oakland Raiders are making the smart moves this off-season. Today they continued that smartness with the signing of veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia. Garcia brings a 10-year resume to the silver & black along with pro bowl and playoff appearances. He's also proven tough and can help starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell in his development.

Garcia began spent his first five NFL seasons across the bay in whiner land. He spent last season with the the tampa bay *ucks.

Welcome to the Oakland Raiders Jeff Garcia!

Scheduled Competititve Eating Contests

Are you one of those sports fans who hasn't participated in a sport since high school or college? Sorry buddy, bowling night with fries and a pitcher of beer doesn't count. Well if you fit this mold and want to break out of it there's a competition just bursting to have you enter and compete.

The economy may be in a downturn but the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) is alive and well here in the United States. With baseball's opening day on the horizon, so to is the competitive eating circuit's competitions. On April 11th the first of four IFOCE championships of the month will take place at Great America in Santa Clara, California, prizes to be determined. Its the great Funnel Cake Eating Contest and Joey "Jaws" Chestnut, champion of last year's Nathan's Hotdog Eating Contest at Coney Island, will be competing against his archrival Pat "Deep Dish" Bertoletti.

It may not be too late for you couch potatoes out there to sign up and surprise your friends and family by becoming a competitive sportsman of the new millennium.

What? You say you've got baseball game tickets for that date? Well maybe you the wife and kiddies can truck on down to New Orleans the following week for the official IFOCE sponsored ACME World Oyster Eating Championship. Gas is cheap again and hurricane season isn't for a few more months.

Competitive eating is becoming a very big sporting event thanks to the eating machine Takeru "The Tsunami" Kobayashi from Japan. I myself became a fan after seeing Kobayashi down 53.5 hotdogs one year at Nathan's Coney Island. The Machine has a huge fan base and though he lost last year to Joey Chestnut, he's still the "Pele" of competitive eating.

So if you need a bit of inspiration to get yourself to get off the couch, log in and sign up for one of these food filling events, Here's a little training video. I give you The Machine "Kobayashi" battling a real live bear:

Raiders Part Of AFL History

Click on link to read story: NFL Celebrates 50th Anniversary of American Football League.

And Then There Were Four

The next Four games of the NCAA Tournament (The Elite Eight) will be missing two teams many thought, including myself, might be there; Memphis and Duke.

The #2 seeded Memphis Tigers were handled convincingly by the #3 seeded Missouri Tigers in the West bracket tonight. I hadn't really filled out a full bracket, but I was banking on Memphis to return to the championship and win it all. Now I'm rooting for the winner in the East bracket, Villanova or Pittsburgh, to take it all.

The Duke Blue Devils were humbled by the Villanova Wildcats on Thursday.

MARCH MADNESS! Have U Gone Mad Yet?

Stimulus Package Prompts New Banking Process

The Creature from Jekyll Island

I've had this book over five years and have yet to finish it. Why? Because its so damn scary. Actually I do go back to it from time to time. And now with all that's going on in the economy I've opened its pages once again.

The story of the Federal Reserve Bank as written in this book by G. Edward Griffin is enough to make you wanna buy a pick, shovel and tin pan, then go digging for gold around Sutter's Mill in Northern California. What you might of thought you knew, you really don't, not the full story anyway. The book makes some of our leading bankers and politicians who created our monetary system look like Bernie Madoff on steroids.

But I really shouldn't be trying to give an account of the book being that I haven't fully read it through. But I will give you one of the best reviews I've read on any book. It was posted on Amazon.com by a Stephen T. McCarthy of Phoenix,AZ USA. Please, read Stephen's review for a fun yet scary synopsis of this revealing book about money. You're being scammed if you think the Federal Reserve Bank is Federal. As stated in the book; "it is not federal and there are no reserves. Furthermore the Federal Reserve Banks are not even banks."

134 of 138 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars An Evil Of MONSTROUS Proportions!, May 5, 2006 By STEPHEN T. McCARTHY (a Mensa-donkey in Phoenix, Airheadzona.) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Creature from Jekyll Island (Hardcover) What is The Creature From Jekyll Island? Well, first of all, it's uglier than The Creature from the Black Lagoon; it's more densely wrapped in deception than the Mummy is in cloth; it sucks the lifeblood of America more ravenously than Dracula does his victims; it reeks worse than the Werewolf; and it's stronger and more dangerous than Doctor Frankenstein's miscreation! The Creature from Jekyll Island is the PRIVATE Federal Reserve that holds America and Her People hostage with an astoundingly perverse and "criminal" economic system that is an evil beyond your worst monster-infested nightmare. But the Creature comes in a guise to mislead the people, like a Wolfman in sheep's clothing. Why is the system "criminal"? Because the U.S. Constitution proclaims itself to be the "supreme Law of the Land" (see Article VI), and Article I, Section VIII of the Constitution states that "The Congress shall (Constitutionally speaking, "shall" has been legally defined as "must")...coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures." Why Congress? Because it is answerable to the People it represents! Remember, our Constitutional Republic was meant to be representational government! We're a long way from that now! The Federal Reserve is NOT Congress; it is unelected, meaning nonrepresentational, and being therefore unconstitutional, it is illegal, hence "criminal." I first read G. Edwrd Griffin's magnificent study, 'The Creature From Jekyll Island' eight years ago. I had read plenty of political books prior to this one, and countless since, but Mr. Griffin's tour de force has yet to be equaled when it comes to educating the reader in wide-ranging topics that coalesce most of the geopolitical mysteries of our time into the diabolical scheme known as the Federal Reserve System. Don't make the mistake of letting the sophisticated subject matter drive you away as forcefully as the intriguing title beckons you. Despite the complexity of the topic, G. Edward Griffin masterfully organizes the material and lays it out, not only in a very readable manner, but he actually fashions a carefully researched, extensively footnoted nonfiction tome into a spellbinding journey that reads nearly like a page-turning mystery novel. In the process of explaining and demystifying the history, the stated goals of the Federal Reserve, and the real agenda behind it, Mr. Griffin necessarily enlightens the reader about myriad conspirators who occupy positions in a variety of social engineering organizations. Without this understanding, one could not possibly grasp the full scope of the problem, nor fathom how such a demonstrably evil entity could have remained cloaked and in power since 1913. (Indeed the thirteenth year of the Twentieth Century represented an unlucky number for America and eventually the world.) You will find some reviewers here complaining that Mr. Griffin has unfortunately polluted his 600+ page study with John Birch Society style conspiracy theories. What you WON'T find is where any of those same reviewers have proven any errors in fact committed by Mr. Griffin. They challenge the idea of a conspiracy, but not any of the abundant and overt evidence that clearly points to it. I myself don't like little yapping dogs, but I'm not prepared to say that they don't exist simply because I'd prefer not to even think about them. And I can hear those yapping quadrupeds as clearly as I can see the indisputable evidence of underhanded collusion in high and influential places when it comes to this country's monetary system. "You are a den of vipers!" President Andrew Jackson thundered at a delegation of supporters of the central Bank of the United States in 1834. "I intend to rout you out, and by the Eternal God I will rout you out!" Jackson succeeded in ridding this country of the inherent perniciousness that a central bank levels on a nation. But President Jackson's hard-earned victory for his countrymen was sadly overturned in 1913, when a corrupt privately owned central bank was again foisted on the sleeping people of this once free nation in the form of The Federal Reserve cartel. As Griffin states on page 573, "The Federal Reserve is the world's largest and most successful scam." I will tell you plainly that regardless of what you think you know about the political spectrum, Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, civil rights and corporate greed, socialism and capitalism -- regardless of how well informed you may think you are by reading mainstream news magazines and newspapers, listening to NPR and talk radio programs and watching political debates on nightly news TV shows -- until you have read and digested G. Edward Griffin's, 'THE CREATURE FROM JEKYLL ISLAND', you will never really understand contemporary American and global politics. But afterwards, the political puzzle will come together before your eyes, and never again will you follow the red herring into the brainwashing house of mirrors which is our current political milieu. If you're inclined to read only one political book, be sure it's this one, as it will make sense of your world like nothing else. 'THE CREATURE FROM JEKYLL ISLAND' belongs in the personal library of every American who truly cares about his or her country (regardless of political party affiliation); by rousing the people of this nation from the ignorance of deep sleep, it has the potential to be the silver bullet or the stake through the heart of America's worst monster! Read it now or the Wolfman's gonna getcha!

Legendary Friend Passes

My friendship with Archie Green sprouted about three years ago and now with his death I feel our relationship has reached higher than I ever could have imagined. In the final weeks of his life Archie was busy wrapping up his affairs and making sure that his life work, loved ones and many protege's would continue to grow and be a part of future generations. I'm honored to say that I am an Archie Green protege.

His life and death are symbolic of a man who believed that individuals have a responsibility to the group(s) they're a part of, whether that group be national, social, religious or other. Archie's views didn't always agree with my own, but we could sit and digest what each was saying without getting heartburn.

Archie is a natural born teacher who wants to enlighten any and all listeners to stories and ideas they might never have heard before. And if one has already heard the story, Archie goes immediately from teacher to student by quieting down and intently listening to what may be a newly revealed twist on an old story. Imagine a 91 year old man capable of learning something new from a person half his age, or even younger. This is what makes Archie such an easy person to befriend regardless of your age, gender or race, he welcomes everyone into his circle of life and death.

If ever someone could teach me how to die, Archie was the man. He approached death just as he had life. If he found reason to protest and fight there would be no hesitation in doing so. Archie was a firm believer in the struggle toward rights for the working man. And if he found that circumstances warrant he accept whatever fate lay at his doorstep, he could swallow the bitter pill, open the door and greet the visitor.

I know that Archie is on a journey of discovery as I write this letter. Energy like that of Archie's just doesn't dissipate into the ether like cosmic dust. No, my friend Archie is soaring soulfully through the galaxies observing and choosing what world is in need of his services. And where ever he lands will become a better place for its occupants to tread on thanks to Archie's arrival.

Archie Green
Folklorist/Laborlore Scholar
1917-2009

"If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation…want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters…. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will."
Frederick Douglass

Cal Bears Exit Early From NCAA Tournament

7-for-24 from 3-point range

Ever heard the saying "Live by the sword, Die by the sword?" That's the story in a nutshell of the California Golden Bears first round western regional tournament loss to the Maryland Terrapins, 84-71.

Coach Mike Montgomery stated that the Terrapins simply disrupted the Bears rhythm and threw them completely off their game. Cal ends the 2008-09 season with an overall record of 22-11, winning five games more than last season and earning an invitation to dance. Unfortunately for Cal, the invitation clearly states: Winner Advances To Next Dance Round, Loser Exits Dance Party. See you dancing Bears next season.

When is $43 Million Dollars Not Enough?

When you're divorcing a man worth $329 million. I really wanted to post a sports story, honest, but how often do you hear of a woman asking for $53,000.00 a week in alimony to cover her living expenses. The really scary part is that she just might be granted that and more.

Marie Douglas-David is her name folks and from the looks of it she's accustomed to only the best in life. Based on the amount Marie's lawyer has filed for in a divorce settlement, I'd say Marie is trying to cover all her bases in an economy that has effected everyone from Investment Bankers to Celebrities to Saudi Princes; well maybe not the Saudis but you get my drift. Marie is taking no chances in today's economy and wants her millions while its still worth millions.

Meanwhile, the target of Marie's sharkfin lawyer, husband George David, would be more than happy to part with the $43 million that he and Marie agreed to in the post-nuptial agreement back in 2005, three years after they said "I DO." What Georgie boy isn't willing to part with is anything outside of what the nuptial agreement states. Sounds fair enough, however, Marie says she was "Forced" and "Coerced" into excepting the post-nuptial and therefore is now asking for ...........Drum Roll Please........................................................
$100 Million Dollars In Cash and Stock Plus ..................................................................
$130 Thousand Dollars A Month in Alimony Payments.

This is the Marie Douglas-David Stimulus Package that the courts in Connecticut will decide on in the near future. Just who the hell does she think she is anyway, AIG?

So, do you think Marie deserves her Stimulus Package or is it her fault that she didn't invest her time and money more wisely when she had access to all Georgie's finances?

I'm sorry, I forgot to mention what triggered the irreconcilable differences that led Georgie and Marie to Connecticut's Divorce Court to begin with.

Each is accusing the other of having Extra Marital Affairs.

Are you kidding me? You spend more than $53,000.00 a week on crap and I'm complaining that you're screwing someone else? Georgie, wake up and smell the coffee baby. Your wife isn't cheating on you sexually, she's too busy having fun stimulating the economy by throwing your money away. The money that any 31-year old woman would expect from a man she married who's twice her age. You got what you paid for Georgie, a high-maintenance broad who looked good on your arm. So stop your bitching, pay the toll fare for using the thruway and proceed to the exit. And stay out of that fast lane Georgie, its a doosie.

MYFACE.CON

Here's something for you internet photo browsing freaks. Wanna see a spooky cross section of American culture? A culture that crosses all racial and ethnic borders? A culture who are risk takers by nature and nocturnal by design. A culture practicing their craft incognito on unsuspecting friends, family, strangers and businesses. To get a view of these unusual circadian rhythm creatures all it takes is googling the four words that link each as a member of this after-hours activity group:

POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS

With every face there's a story. In every story there's a targeted victim. For most victims there's some sense of justice in the capture. In every capture there is not always a conviction.

So which FACE is prowling your neighborhood this evening? If you live in Raleigh,N.C. it could be Sang Youp Lee pictured above.

My Newest Sports T-Shirt

1-800-AUTOPSY

Imagine walking into your favorite team's stadium wearing this T-shirt. Its even better on the back where the list of services range from:

Forensic autopsies
Tissue & organ procurement
Exhumation & disinterment
Post-mortem DNA analysis

Unlike my favorite sports team the "Oakland Raiders," who cut up their specimens while still alive on the field, autopsy technicians don't begin cutting and probing until the bleeding stops and the corpse/cadaver has gone through rigor mortis.

I purchased this t-shirt at a thrift store figuring to wear it during the next Halloween. And as you Raider fans know; Halloween brings out the best of us Silver&Black fans at the stadium. So, I look forward to this year's ghoulish festivities and gameday costumes surrounding the Oct. 31st Day of the Dead.

On another note, I found there is actually a www.1800autopsy.com website that provides all the services listed on the t-shirt and some. The guy who began the company, Vidal Herrera, actually drives around Los Angeles in a van with 1-800-AUTOPSY on the side along with the services provided. Now here's a guy who saw a need and filled it. Here's a link to the story on how Vidal started his business: 1-800-AUTOPSY. 

I'll bet my gameday barbecue hot link sandwich that good'ol Vidal is a Raiders fan. Why? Because anyone who can stay calm and focused while cutting open a carcass that resembles their own must either be committed to excellence or committed to an insane asylum. I take it our boy Vidal is committed to the former; Excellence.

Raider4Life

syraCuse vs Uconn going into 4th Overtime

As I write this the Syracuse Orangemen and the Conneticut Huskies are entering the 4th overtime of their Big East tournament game. It's been a very exciting and competitive game between two evenly matched teams. They appear to play similar styles of basketball.

As I peer over my shoulder at the game #34 hasheem Thabet just foulded out for Uconn. The kids are tired and playing on guts and emotion. I'm rooting for the Orangemen, but this is simply one of those games you hate to see someone lose. A tie, though not allowed in tournament play, would be acceptable on a night of play such as this.

A great game with a few underlying stories to boot. One of the players for Syracuse is the son of someon known. He's a three point juggernaut.

Well, back to the game. 1:33 left in the fourth overtime with the game tied at 104.

(20) Syracuse 104,

(4) Connecticut 104

Oh My!

Did You See Dwyane Wade Stun The Bulls?

They're calling last night's performance his signature stamp for this season's league MVP award. Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat not only led his team through four quarters and two overtimes of back and forth scoring against the Chicago Bulls, but he did what only a handful of past NBA phenoms are remembered for doing; he took control of the game with an incredible defensive play and a picturesque winning three point shot.

Yes, against the team that MJ played for, D-Wade scored 48 points with the last three coming on the backend of a steal with about four seconds left in a double over-time game. Give the Bulls credit (Ben Gordon 43pts), they battled gallantly and had what appeared to be the final shot in hand. But never underestimate the skills and determination of a player like D-Wade.

Like MJ, he plays until the final buzzer sounds, be it on offense or defense. Last night was the stamp of approval for D-Wade to be named league MVP with no questions asked. He was not only unstoppable, but he raised his teammates up to that level of greatness that makes for historic moments in sports.

final score
Heat 130
Bulls 127

Buffalo Just Loves Me Some Me

And there you have it. The Buffalo Bills have gone where no team wanted to go in free agency; they've signed wide receiver Terrell Owens to a one year contract worth $6.5 million.

So try saying this T.O. trademarked jingle and see if it makes better since now that he's on a mediocre team:

I LOVE ME SOME ME!

The Buffalo Bills, who last made the playoffs in 2000 and have only had one winning season since, are looking for T.O. to provide enough fireworks to spark an offense on the field and settle down a disgruntled fan base in the stands.

And I do believe that acquiring T.O. gives the Bills a much needed boost that could find them contending for the AFC East crown. But don't crown'em just yet, Trent Edwards is going into only his third season as Buffalo's quarterback and we all know about T.O.'s treatment of his quarterbacks when things go south. Better Trent than JaMarcus is my feeling.

So I want to thank the Buffalo Bills and wish them all the best on giving "I Love Me Some Me" a new place that he can call his home for a season. For as much as I would like to see the Oakland Raiders acquire a wide receiver with T.O.-like talent, the drama and suspense of waiting for the refrain "I Hate Me Some Them" to come out of his jowls is just too scorching a price to pay for admission to the T.O. show.

Lost At Sea!

Lost At Sea, a bleak and hollow epitaph for any family or friend to accept about a loved one. Though we all continue to have hope, the official word from the U.S. Coast Guard after over 60 hours of searching the waters for three men is simply, "Lost At Sea."

Prayers go out to the three young men and their families:

Marquis Cooper
Corey Smith
William Bleakley

The Raider Nation will sorely miss one of its own in Marquis Cooper. Tragedy at sea always leaves an empty spot in the hearts of those left to mourn on the Gridiron.

#95 Marquis Cooper

Always A Raider!

1965 USF DONS SPORTS

About a year ago I was in a secondhand store looking at books when I came across a University of San Francisco yearbook from 1965. Me being a history buff and sports fanatic decided to check out the pictures and happenings of the time.

While viewing the sports section I came across some revelatory information, to me anyway. The USF Dons (Hilltoppers) basketball program of the early 60's had some powerhouse teams. 1965 featured all-american honors for three USF players, Ollie Johnson, Joe Ellis and Erwin Mueller. Ellis and Johnson were named to the All-Coast first team and Mueller to the second. In addition Ollie was honored for the second time as Player of the Year in Northern California as well as Player of the Year in the WCC (West Coast Conference ).

These three guys (the big three) made up the frontcourt while guards Russ Gumina and Huey Thomas directed the Dons attack with timely scoring. The Dons wreaked havoc in the WCC and led the team to a third consecutive conference championship and NCAA tournament bid.

The Dons would travel to Provo,Utah for the tournament regionals. There they would defeat an Oklahoma City University team 91-67 in the first round before falling to the UCLA Bruins 93-101. The game was much closer than the final score indicates.

excerpt from the 1965 Year Book:
Ollie's tremendous play was readily acknowledged by all as he was named Most Valuable Player for the Tournament. Shooting an amazing 68% from the floor, he garnered 72 points in the two games and shattered Bill Russell's all-time USF scoring record. Jumping Joe Ellis, who played with brilliant consistency both nights, joined Johnson on the All-Tournament team.

UCLA coach John Wooden called Ollie "the best center I've seen on the low post for position and finesse."

#32 Ollie Johnson - All American
averages over 3 seasons 1963-1965
19.9 points
15.8 rebound
58.7 field goal
66.1 free throw

Team record overall: 23-4 (excludes NCAA Tournament)
League record: 13-1
13 consecutive victories

Other Sports Records
Football 6-2
Soccer 5-3
Frosh Basketball 19-4 (equivalent to Junior Varsity)

THE USF DONS WON BACK-TO-BACK NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 1955-1956

In 1955, the University of San Francisco, behind a gazelle with a mean streak named Bill Russell and granite of a guard named KC Jones defeated heavily-favored La Salle (Hmm. These guys seem to be everywhere. Go USF) 77-63. Tournament prognosticators pegged the Explorers to romp away with their second straight title on the strength of its awesome line-up led by All-American Tom Gola. Jones recalled that “the Dons were said to have a better chance of being struck by lightning on a sunny day than winning it all.” As it turned out, not only did the Dons wallop the defending champs but they won back-to-back titles (a 83-71 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes in 1956) and 55-straight games to become the first team to go undefeated in NCAA play.

article posted at Bleachers' Brew

News Today

Just sharing some news stories that caught my eye while flipping through this mornings San Francisco Chronicle.

Daring Helicopter Prison Break Leads to Facebook Fandom

Chinese Realtors Coming To America

Immigrants (legal or otherwise) To The Military's Rescue

"Passing Strange", White Man Passes For Black In 1800's

Al Davis Admits Mistakes

SF Bay Area Sports Pride

We've come a long way from Ken "the snake" Stabler, Rick Barry and Joe Montana. We've come even further in our college sports competition with Cal, Stanford, St. Mary's and SJ State.

And while our college sports competition has been competitive at best, our professional teams haven't put a dent into a championship run since the Oakland A's were swept in the 2006 ALCS by Detroit. But that's only if we're still calling our professional hockey team an expansion team with professional promise.

News Flash: Expansion team they are no more. Our San Jose Sharks of the NHL are not only contending for the league's championship title this season, they're favored to possibly take it all. Yes, the Sharks of San HO! The team that has gained respect since they're inaugural season in 1991 is now looking like a league powerhouse on the brink of their first NFL championship.

Well, they may not be on the brink yet, but like barbarians at the gates you can smell the scent of desire rolling off they're hardened sweaty faces. They've actually been contenders in the past four seasons, making the playoffs in all four. But the closest they've come to the championship is their 2003-04 season where they lost the conference finals to the Calgary Flames two games to four.

Yes, the Sharks who set a franchise record with their 26th home win of the season last night against the Atlanta Thrashers are atop their conference and positioned to have home ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

As we get over our dismal football season showing in the bay area and head into spring training with prayerful hopes of competitive baseball, let's not ignore the strides made by our hockey team, the San Jose Sharks, who appear to be on the brink of greatness.

And don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating WE STOP BELIEVING in the future of Golden State Warriors Basketball, but the Warriors simply "are who we thought they were," a young team needing a bit more veteran leadership and defensive play. Hopefully they'll get it down the road.

SF BAY AREA SPORTS FANS, do not sleep on this season's San Jose Sharks. They are by far having the best season of any Bay Area professional sports team since names like Bonds, Gannon, T.O. and Giambi were suiting up in the Bay.

GO SHARKS!

Asomugha Re-Signed

4-time Pro Bowl Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has been re-signed to what's said to be a 3-year contract. As with punter Shane Lechler, we're taking care of business this off-season. On another note, wide receiver Ronald Curry was released. Guess I'll be looking for his #89 jersey come fan appreciation day. I always liked Curry, unfortunately his relationship with the organization went south when Kiffin took over. Good luck RCURRY.

Valentine's Day Massacre

Okay! The divorce is final, the lawyers are all paid and she got custody of the stinkin' cat. So what do you think this e-card I received from my ex-wife this past Valentine's Day means?

I THOUGHT SO. IT AIN"T OVER. I'M SCREWED!

Best Leg In The Business Signed

Of course if we were talking the business of Hollywood Horror/Action Movies, no leg is as valuable or as exciting to watch as Cherry Darling's of "Planet Terror." She's a terror on the screen and looks damn good while taking down her opponents.

But we're talking Raiders Football here, and everyone knows that the leg of pro bowl punter Shane Lechler is most valuable to the team.


Lechler was signed to a four year contract today that is said to be the greatest ever awarded to an NFL punter. We can all agree that it is money well spent, our special teams have carried us through some tough times of late thanks partly to Shane's golden leg. We knew you we're committed to excellence Sugah Shane and we appreciate you staying on board.

For those Raider fans who only see his punts on television, shame on you. You don't know what you're missing by not being at the coliseum seeing and hearing the pigskin boom off of his foot. I swear some of his punts resemble a blimp flying overhead. I didn't get to see Ray Guy punt for the Raiders, but if his leg was as powerful as Shane's, the Hall-Of-Fame committee should be immediately impeached.

#9 Shane Lechler, a thing of beauty to behold punting a football.


As for that other leg of beauty to behold, Cherry Darling's, I saw her mowing down the bad guys in the movie "Planet Terror" tonight. I must say that I loved the uzi effect. And the gimpy running in the skirt gave off a demented sort of turn-on. But I'd much rather have her blow me away with those shapely pair of legs intact and commanding a stage.

See what I mean?

KryptoNate Leaps Over Superman

Nate Robinson tugged on Superman's cape -- and won. The diminutive New York Knicks guard beat defending champion Dwight Howard of Orlando in an electrifying slam dunk contest on Saturday night, winning 52 percent of fans' votes. Clad in an all-green Knicks uniform with green shoes, Robinson used Howard as a prop in the final round, springboarding over the 6-foot-11 center to jam.

5-foot-9 Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks wins his second Slam Dunk championship with a leaping one-handed KryptoDunk over top the 6-foot-11 defending champion Dwight "Superman" Howard.

It came down to who could out-create the other and thanks to some help from the man-of-steel Howard, Nate was able to overwhelm the crowd and the judges. Decked out in a green uniform with matching Krypto-green armband, sneakers and ball, Nate used Superman as his prop (a la spud webb) and simply soared over top the super hero and slammed home a monster dunk. His smooth landing found him gliding straight into a sideways Crank-Dat Superman Dance with arms outstretched. Yeah, Superman was left looking more like his mild-mannered reporter counterpart Clark Kent, while the green flash of KryptoNate soared overhead and into slam dunk competition lore.

Dwight did have a final dunk remaining and at first it appeared he would fly from the three-point line and render KryptoNate's power ineffective. But it was not to be as Dwight's final dunk was a flight that began from just inside the foul line and looked pedestrian at best for his size. His earlier dunk which began from out-of-bounds in the corner could have easily been the highlight of the night had he not volunteered himself to be Nate's prop in the KryptoDunk. Nate pulled off a move that Superman nemesis Lex Luthor would envy; he beat Superman by using the man-of-steel's compassion and generosity toward us lesser human beings.

In the end it was KryptoNate hoisting up the 2009 Slam Dunk Championship trophy. But unlike the notorious Lex Luthor, Nate was appreciative of Superman's generosity and gave credit to him for his success.

Congratulations to both Nate Robinson and Dwight Howard for putting on a wonderful display of athleticism and good sportsmanship while grandly entertaining us fans. Lebron James officially through his bid into the hat to participate in next year's Slam Dunk Competition to be held in Dallas, TX.

All-Star Saturday Night Winners

Erland Van Lidth

We're due for a good remake of a Classic movie. I challenge any movie studio/producer to attempt remaking this classic:



Well, Any Takers?

Will We Be Cable-Ready By Week 1?

The Oakland Raiders are in store for another offseason of adds, moves and changes. But this season the change at Head Coach could be the biggest difference from recent years. Why? Because Tom Cable, newly installed HC, is a believer in the Silver & Black's future. Like us he loves the fabled history of the Raiders, but more importantly he sees a chance at making new history right around the corner.



Cable believes that the Raiders are a talented young football team that's coming together. In listening to Cable's press conference the other day he said some things that validated his Raider Nation status. Trust me when I say he's one of "Us" who just happens to be Head Coach.

Remember when former coach Lane Kiffin had his press conference introducing him as head coach of the Oakland Raiders? You said to yourself, "who the freak is this green white-collar wannabe coach?" Then you hoped for a miracle that never came. We won't even talk about Art Shell's second coming. Well, after hearing Tom Cable talk of his passion and plans for the Raiders, I'm sold that he's the real deal. He's a captain who'll stand up for his men and if need be go down with the ship if that be their fate. He knows what Big Al wants, he knows what it will take to get there and he's not afraid to steer the ship through hell to get us there.

So, will we be ready come week 1 of this coming season? It can't start out any worse than Kiffin's opening Monday night loss against Denver this past season, a 41-14 blowout. And Lord forbid if it does, I'd expect Cable to take it like a man and build the season around redeeming the Silver & Black legacy.

Win, Lose or Tie!

Brooks Was Here

Veteran actor James Whitmore passed away this past Friday. He was a true professional from the old school of acting. Recognizable by his bowlegged cowboy style of walk, I'd seen him mostly in Westerns and War movies when I was a kid. I also spotted him in in a Twilight Zone episode or two. But it was his role in one of my favorite movies, Shawshank Redemption, that left an impression on me so strongly.

In Shawshank he played the wise old institutionalized convict, Brooks Hatlen, who'd been inside so long that he'd grown to depend on the prison walls as his safety from the outside modern world. When he was finally paroled, after serving about fifty years or so, he was so scared to leave the prison he almost murdered another inmate just so he could stay. Once on the outside he continued to contemplate ways to get himself thrown back in the clink.

What James Whitmore did in his final scene as Brooks Hatlen was show us a glimpse of what it must feel like to be locked up for fifty years then set free in a fast moving world where nobody knows you, nobody cares about you and everything seems foreign.
As Brooks said while putting on his prison issued suit and tie in his boarding room before deciding to check out, "I'm tired of being afraid all the time, I've decided not to stay."

Yes, James Whitmore always put a bit of himself in the roles he played, and it was that soulful self of his that captured your imagination while watching him in a movie.

I almost forgot to mention. Before checking out of his room permanently, Brooks left behind the only mark that a convict who'd spent just about his entire life behind bars could. He took out his pocket knife, probably a violation of his parole to have, stood up on a wooden chair and proceeded to carve three scraggly words into the old chalky headboard above the rafters. Those three words were as good as having a headstone in a plot at a cemetery for good old Brooksy. It said as much about him as anything on a gravestone could ever have read. Those three words?

"BROOKS WAS HERE"


James Allen Whitmore, Jr.
(October 1, 1921 – February 6, 2009)

IMDB Link to James Whitmore

Pictures of Ohio State Reformatory (Shawshank Prison)

Say It Ain't So Cowboys

We all know how the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football league have a way of garnering headlines for all the wrong reasons. Well, today I came across two news headlines with stories featuring Cowboys. The players involved are "former" cowboys, with one being deceased, but who ever said post-cowboy career actions and death exempt a Cowboy player from media exposure and criticism.

Take former Cowboy wide receiver Terry Glenn for instance, a 34-year old who's been unemployed for the past two seasons. Glenn was a great receiver under coach Bill Parcells. He led the team in receptions from 05- 06 with 132 catches for 2,200 yards and 13 touchdowns. But injuries sidelined his career and Dallas released him last July after he refused to sign an injury waiver.

Last week the former Cowboy was arrested, boy that sounds so familiar. Police were called to a hotel in Irving, Texas, for a suspicious naked person who was wandering the hallways checking door handles. The former Cowboy was charged with public intoxication and possession of a small amount of marijuana. Obviously Glenn needs some help, though not all Cowboy fans see this as a cry for help. Here's a fan comment from one blogger page:

Meteor Freaks says:

Oh please, I walk around hotel hallways naked when I'm not drunk. That's hardly a personal life in shambles. Half these writers have all kinds of skeletons in their closets yet they just love to judge...

This commenter may have a point, but then again, Terry Glenn has more in his past than just a walking hallways while naked incident. He assaulted the mother of his fiver year old son in 2001 and was book for urinating behind a restaurant dumpster in 2005. Okay, even I have experience in urinating behind fast food restaurants, sorry Jack! But I swear I wasn't drunk at the time, like Glenn was. And I don't think of assaulting women as a skelton in the closet, its a criminal act punishable in the court of law.

Enough about Terry Glenn though. I hope he gets the help he needs. I also hope not to find myself passing through Texas anytime soon and needing a hotel for the evening. I just don't need naked and drunk ex-football players entering my dreams of Obama's change for America.

The other Dallas Cowboys news item is less assaulting but just as controversial. My childhood sports hero, #22 WR Bob Hayes, was finally inducted into the Hall of Fame this past weekend. I was overjoyed by the news and moved to almost tears when listening to Lucille Hester, his now alleged sister, deliver a speech of thanks to the NFL. As an encore to this momentous ocasion, Lucille read a letter that "allegedly" Bob gave her just before he died, to be read should he ever be inducted into the HOF. It was truly a glorious moment for the NFL and fans of Bob Hayes's like myself to hear him being honored.

Unfortunately, that old Cowboy smear showed up on this wonderful story within days, maybe hours, of its airing on national television. Word is that Lucille Hester "IS NOT" the sister of Bullet Bob Hayes, but a fraud. There's people alleging that Lucille only met the star receiver on his death bed and has since crowned herself the spokesperson for anything related to Bob Hayes. Supposedly Bob Hayes's family is aware of Mrs. Hester's self anointment as Bob's posthumous agent and wants this to stop. There is a Bob Hayes Jr., and its expected that we'll hear from him before all is said and done.

Adding more damage to Lucille Hester's claims are expert computer font analysts who say after reviewing the letter Bob Hayes "allegedly" gave to Lucille in 2001, it appears to be typed in a font that was not released by Microsoft until 2007. So either the experts are wrong, Lucille is lying or Bullet Bob pulled his fastest move ever and is alive and well in some undisclosed location. I feel for Bob's family if fraud is the case. To wait so long for him to be inducted and then have this ugliness hovering over it just distracts from the celebration. But then again, Lucille Hester, Fraud or Faithful Sister, did one helluva job in eulogizing the Bullet and delivering a speech that was so fitting. The fraud supporters will say that an expenses paid trip to the Super Bowl in Tampa, as received by Lucille, is enough to inspire any well spoken fan to stand in front of the cameras and speak eloquently of their most admired player.

I hope this can be cleared up quickly and we can move on to talking about Bob Hayes the player and not Lucille the............

Say it isn't so Lucille!

Link to Story: "hall of fraud"
Link to Story: "further evidence"

Tom Cable A Made Man

Now that Tom Cable has been officially made the Oakland Raiders Head Coach, let's see if Big Al allows him to run the outfit like a real capo or captain.

I hear it said that when reporters asked Cable what it felt like being summoned into Big Al's office to be told his fate, he began to sing the Gypsy Anthem (Dark Eyes).

Dark Eyes (The Gypsy Anthem)

Eyes of ecstacy, always haunting me,
Always taunting me, with your mystery,
Tell me tenderly, you belong to me
For eternity–dark eyes talk to me!

Eyes so dark and dear, eyes of loveth here,
Beauty full and true, I’m in love with you.
Give me eyes of love, like the stars above.
You stole my heart. May we ever part!

Gypsy melody that has haunted me,
Won’t you set me free of all memory:
Of the time that’s waste, of the path we traced
Of the pain we taste–so endlessly!

Sugar Shane Mosely Dispatches Antonio Margarito

Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times

Shane Mosley finishes a flurry that led to Antonio Margarito's corner throwing in the towel in the ninth round of their WBA welterweight championship fight Saturday night at Staples Center.

While waiting for the Super Bowl to begin I watched last week's WBA Championship Boxing title match between Antonio Margarito and Shane "Sugar" Moseley. Margarito came into the fight favored over the 37-year old Moseley, mainly because of his win over formerly unbeaten Miguel Cotto six months ago.

Sugar Shane Moseley took it to Margarito through nine toe-to-toe rounds that simply wore down Margarito and had his corner finally throwing in the towel. Though Moseley dominated, Margarito showed he deserved to be there. Margarito's fighting philosophy is never retreat. With that he kept coming forward and engaging in combat even though he was coming out on the short end of the exchanges. He proved that he can take a punch, and believe me Sugar Shane was winding up with some dynamite-filled power punches.

There was controversy prior to the fight where Margarito was alleged to have had some type of hardening substance found under his hand wraps prior to the match. It was said that Margarito was ordered to have his hands re-wrapped three times. After the fight the state of California suspended Margarito's license. The fight was a title bout held at the Staples Center Arena in Los Angeles.

Good Fight Sugah!

Big Ben Rothlisberger & The Pittsburth Steelers Are Champions Again!

Super Bowl XLIII went above and beyond its hype with some historic plays and an electrifying finish. In the end though it was Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger standing tall and leading his team down field to score a game winning touchdown with thirty-five seconds left in the game.

The Arizona Cardinals are probably feeling like former coach Dennis "We-Let'em-Off-The-Hook" Green this morning. After Pittsburgh's defense had bottled up Cardinal WR Larry Fitzgerald throughout the first half, QB Kurt Warner found his #1 target twice for touchdowns in the second half. Fitzgerald's last touchdown in the fourth quarter, a 64-yard strike, put the Cardinals ahead 23-20 with 2:25 to play.

With the pressure coming in on him Big Ben Rothlisberger delivered time after time on that final Pittsburgh drive, alluding pass rushers and putting the ball where it needed to be. No pass was more defining of Big Ben's mvp-like performance than his final pump pass to Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end-zone for a ballet style toe tapping touchdown. WR Santonio Holmes may have been named game mvp, he made some clutch catches, but it was Big Ben who lead the way in keeping his team on track to win the game.

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin probably said it best when asked on the championship podium how he felt at the time of the Arizona Cardinals comeback. Tomlin said there wasn't any different feeling, that Steeler football is a full sixty minutes of playing smash mouth, nothing pretty football.

The game was an entertaining performance put on by the best of the NFL. Both teams are to be commended for delivering their best on a stage that defines greatness. Super Bowl XLIII will go down as one of the most entertaining, nail-biting championship games to date. Yes, it was as good as last year's Giants vs Patriots work of art.

Congratulations Pittsburgh Steelers on winning your league leading sixth Super Bowl Championship!

Final Score:

Pittsburgh 27
Arizona 23