Kentucky Derby 2011

Jockey John Velazquez atop Animal Kingdom

What a day at the Kentucky Derby. Yesterday my horse pick, Uncle Mo, was scratched due to a mysterious stomach ailment. Three days ago the jockey for longshot colt, Animal Kingdom, was injured when another horse he was riding threw him off then kicked him in the face for good measure. The injured jockey suffered a broken nose and was scratched for today's derby.

So with one horse and one jockey scratched, guess who rode Animal Kingdom and won?

The jockey originally slated to ride Uncle Mo, John Velazquez.

"Animal Kingdom, who had never raced on dirt before, reacted to his new rider the way a champion should, charging down the middle of the stretch to win by 2¾-lengths in front of a crowd of 164,858, the largest in Derby history."

This was the 137th Kentucky Derby. Did you know that early jockeys were negro and/or negro slaves who rode the horses of their slave masters? Some of these pioneers of the sport (negro freemen) did in fact own their horses. In the first Kentucky Derby thirteen of the 14 jockeys were negro. Negro Jockey Isaac Murphy sits at the top of the list of popular horse riders of the day.

Other popular early negro jockeys:

Pike Barnes

Andy Hamilton

Jimmie Winkfield

Willie Simms (first non-English jockey to win a race on an English track)

Johnny Stoval

"Tiny" Williams

the two Clayton brothers

"Soup" Perkins

"Monk" Overton

Linc Jones

Bob Isom

Emanuel Morris

Felix Carr

Jimmie Lee (at Churchill Downs 1907, won all six races on the card)

"Snapper" Garrison was the only white jockey of his time

Boxing Battle Tonight!

May 7, 2011, MGM Grand Las Vegas
CBS/Showtime Pacquiao vs Mosley Fightcamp 360°

Tonight's WBO welterwieght title fight between champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and "Shugga" Shane Mosley is much anticipated for many reasons. My cousin, the boxing guru of our east coast African-American family and also barbershop boxing analyst (a reputable position in the black community) gave me a take on the fight I'd never considered.

This morning I called my cousin to get his take on the fight. Mind you my cousin, who became a Manny Pacquiao fan after seeing him destroy Oscar Delahoya, has always judged fighters based on past performance and current skillset, nothing more. Cousin predicts that Shugga Shane will knock the Pacman out either early or late in the pay-per-view aired fight tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He gave two reasons why:

1. Pacquiao splits his focus on boxing with his musical and political careers.
2. Mosley is the first African-American Pacquiao has ever faced.

My initial reaction to the boxing guru of the old 'hood' was WHAT! I'd never heard of ethnicity playing a role in analyzing the outcome of a professional boxing match. Cuz was quick to point out that the dark-skinned Joshua Clottey, who Pacman's speed rendered punchless thirteen months ago, was from Ghana and not a "real" Brotha.

So I had to think about it. Had my Cuz been blinded by loyalty to stick with a Brotha over a filipino or does his theory somehow, someway hold a shotglass of truth in it?

I found myself pondering the notion of an opponent's racial superiority or inferiority like a "tale of the tape" statistic. What I came away with we're two conclusions that unfortunately, do not paint Cuz in the best of light:

1. Cuz is looking out for his reputation in the old 'hood' and playing it safe. As the Raiders saying goes, "win lose or tie, I'm a Raider 'til I die."

2. Cuz is so convinced of the psychological damage caused by a first encounter with a Brotha opponent in the ring, that skills become a moot point in such a match.

I didn't have the heart to tell Cuz that Pacquiao's sparring partner for this fight is a Brotha from San Francisco named Karim Mayfield, who's also sparred with Mosley. Brotha Karim believes that Pacman has the edge over Shugga.

I've concluded that Color and/or Race alone cannot determine the superior or inferior performance of a professional boxer during a match.

Sorry Cuz, but that dog just won't hunt!

Update: Pacman floors Shugga in the 3rd Rd

Shugga runs ring avoiding Pacman power

Manny Pacquiao wins unanimous decision

The Story Of Islam

"There is no compulsion in religion, it can take a man many years or only minutes.
It is God who decides the time. So respect his doubts."

There are many sayings like this throughout the movie "The Message." Sayings that cause you to scan back and replay them so you can fully ingest their meanings. This was my third time watching this movie and again I come away with new ideas as well as a greater respect for Muslims and their faith. When the Christian Abbysinnian King draws a line in the ground to show how thin the differences between Christianity and Islam are, you get a sense that you're watching a movie that can change peoples perceptions about other religions.

I thought not having an actor portray Mohommad (PBUH) was a signature theme of the respect this movie shows for Allah and his messenger. While Anthony Quinn seemed to thrive in his role as the Lion Hunter, his dialogue with the camera as Mohommad was brilliant. The supporting cast, though a bit stiff (1977), takes nothing away from the overall performance. There is no misunderstanding the messenger's message. He continues to remind followers that he is just a man. An illiterate man who received the word of God with a duty to reveal it to man.

Regardless of your ethnicity or religious beliefs, this movie is a joy to watch simply because it teaches while telling a very revelatory tale about the man who brought the message of Islam to Arabia and the struggle to have it take root in the culture. Don't be afraid to learn about Islam and/or expel preconceived notions you may have about its beliefs and practice. There is no room for prejudicial judgment in this movie, just brotherly confirmation amongst mankind.

Joe Louis Arena - Sharks Jab Jab Jabbing

The banners hanging from the rafters of Joe Louis Arena make it apparently clear that the Detroit Red Wings are seasoned Heavy Weight veterans of the Ice. In the past 15 years they've won twice as many Stanley Cups (4) as any other team during that span.

But tonight in Detroit, the San Jose Sharks kept jabbing away at the Red Wings in Game 3 of their 7 game playoff series. The jab paid off huge as the Sharks stunned the Wings with yet another knockdown overtime goal to go up 3 games to none. The sharks are 5-0 in overtime games this postseason. They can taste the belt.

Can You Count Suckas? The Sharks are 9 wins away from their first ever NHL championship. Stick and move fellas, just keep sticking and moving and stay off the ropes.

[During Rocky's retraining]
Mickey: You're gonna eat lightnin'; you're gonna crap thunder

Final ....1 2 3 OT Tot
San Jose 1 1 1 1 4
Detroit.. 1 2 0 0 3

NFL FIlms & Cliff Branch

What Oakland Raiders Legends are made of. Credit Steve Sabol and NFL Films for preserving the moments. #21 Cliff Branch, making defenses adjust. Or try to adjust.

Uptown Saturday Night

Enjoyed this beautiful Sunday afternoon parked in front of the television watching the 1974 comedy classic "Uptown Saturday Night," featuring Sidney Poitier and Bill Cosby. I own the movie and have seen it plenty of times, however, during this most recent viewing, which happened to follow NBA playoff games, I caught something I'd missed in earlier viewings.

After losing his wallet with a winning lottery ticket to masked robbers at an afterhours club called Madame Zenobia's , Poitier and sidekick Cosby begin scouring Harlem for information that'll lead them to the robbers and the ticket. After a short encounter with Richard Pryor as a swindling private detective (Sharp Eye Washington), they get information that directs them to gangter Little Seymour's bar.

They enter the bar and talk big trash to the patrons about Seymour and his bodyguard Big Percy in hopes of flushing them out. Nobody talks. Then, just as Poitier, on the advice of Cosby, begins to say something dirty about Little Seymour's mother, a small man in a suit and derby (played by one of the Nicholas Brothers) is standing there glaring at them. They laugh until hearing, then seeing the big, tall, booming voiced Percy enter and take his place beside a martial arts trained Little Seymour.

During this very tense scene I notice sports posters on the wall behind Seymour and Percy. Mind you, this was 1974 and the posters represented New York as well as that era of blacks in sports, mainly basketball. I saw New York Knicks guard #10 Clyde 'the glide" Frazier along with what must've been a 1950's black and white of a City College of New York championship basketball game. Of the other two posters, one I immediately recognized as #44 Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves swinging a bat during an all-star or post-season game. The one remaining poster centered squarely in the middle completely stumped me.

The poster that completely threw off my sports equilibrium was a basketball player of the early 70's wearing jersey number 42 with "The City" and a bridge sprawled across the front (see above picture). I first assumed it must've been a New York team with one of its bridges as their logo. I stopped the dvd, scanned back to a clearer view of the poster and pressed pause. The player and jersey logo were clearly visible behind the small stature of Little Seymour. The logo wasn't a picture of the Brooklyn or Verrazano bridge, but that of San Francisco's Golden Gate bridge.

Everything began to click. It was a player from the San Francsco / Golden State Warriors. The Warriors began wearing the retro jersey's again just a few years back, so the logo is familiar to me. But the player with the early 70's porkchop sideburns I couldn't make out. The team, originally from Philadelphia, moved across the bay to Oakland in 1973. They were in the playoffs six times from 1971-1977, and won their only west coast championship in 1975 by upsetting the favored Washington Bullets.

Yes, Google and the Internet are incredibly useful for pulling up past memories. It took all of five minutes to find an exact image of the poster behind the mean looking Little Seymour and Big Percy. I should've guessed it but then again, I was a Knicks fan way back then.

#42 of the San Francisco / GS Warriors is no other than Nate "the great" Thurmond, who played for the team from 1963-1974. Nate still has a presence here in the Bay Area with Nate's Barbecue, a tasty barbecue restaurant he established after retiring. Nate still does charity work here in the Bay. He was enshrined in the NBA Hall of Fame in 1985 and named one of the 50 Greatest Players of NBA History in 1996. Big Percy...........I mean, Big Nate's jersey #42 was retired by the Warriors and the Caviliers. Nate played and held his own against some of the other greats, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Willis Reed and a young Lew Alcindor aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

I'm so glad that movies of my youth took the time to design sets with a realistic flavor of the times. Though Clyde Frazier was the flavor for early 70's basketball in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area had one of its own that was worthy of having his poster included with sports greats of the era.

I went back to watching Uptown Saturday Night, enjoying the all-star black cast that included Calvin Lockhart, Harry Belafonte and Flip Wilson. But as a sports fan past and present, I really enjoyed being transported back to the memories of sports heroes of my youth. Nate was and continues to be one of those Heroes. Thanks Nate!

Here's a link to the video clip on Youtube - Little Seymour. After seeing this clip I caught yet another surprise in the bar scene.

There's a poster of an Oakland Raiders player on the wall behind a group of patrons at about 2:44 into the clip. At first I thought it was wide receiver Cliff Branch, one who's deserving of being on a wall of greats. On further review the player has a facemask with a vertical and the only proof of a ball handling black player with that type of facemask is lightening running back Clarence Davis, also deserving.

A Franco Harris poster can also be seen. Nothing Immaculate.

Book of Revelations

After hearing of Donald Trump attaching his political wagon to the caboose requesting proof of President Barak Obama's birth certificate showing citizenship, I was reminded of a book I'd read many years ago by Irving Wallace titled "The Man."

I suppose I should thank Mr. Trump for triggering a memorable enlightening moment in my young life. Until I'd read Irving Wallace's well written novel I was so naive to the challenges the first Black President would face, not from foreign governments and world organizations mind you, but from that known as the American fabric of western civilization; the American peoples.

The American people and many of its leaders have shown in 2 1/2 years of the Obama Administration what Irving Wallace fictionalized so well in his 1964 New York Times #1 best selling book "The Man"; a black man with all the wit, smarts, respectability and integrity of any leader in American history will struggle more from his skin color than anything else in trying to lead the country and free world forward during turbulent times. Donald Trump has helped confirm that in the year 2011, "Race" in these United States matters.

My Amazon.Com Review of Irving Wallace's "The Man"

This is one of the first books I was entranced by, once I started reading novels. It truly launched my joy and discovery of reading fiction.

The Man, written in 1964, is a story about a black man becoming united states president by line of succession. The vice presidency was vacant because of the incumbent's death. Then a freak accident kills the president and speaker of the house, catapulting the president pro tempore of the senate, a young black senator, into the unenviable role of the first black president of the united states.

Its been years since I read this book, but so great was its influence on me and so powerful its truth, that it changed my view of reading forever by broadening the genre of what I read as well as how I read. I have the great author of this book, Irving Wallace, to thank for writing a book that appealed to a young man who only saw value in reading instructional or historical related books. Mr. Wallace introduced me to the meaning of the infamous quote by Jessamyn West; "Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures."

I write this review many years later because of today's opposition toward and attacks on the integrity of president barack obama, the realworld first black president of the united states. I recommend this book to all citizens of the united states to read in this year, 2011. Hopefully, yesterday's fiction can reveal obscured truths about the reality of race today.

Oakland Raiders NFL Draft

59-yard TD pass to David Ausburry

photo By Mark Avery, AP

Looks like the Raiders went after athletic talent in this year's draft. Their first pick being in round 2, they got what'll be a second generation Raider in OC Stefan Wisniewski. Yes, break out "The Wiz" banners once more as this young man brings some much needed help to our offensive line.

A stalwart to anchor the middle of the offensive line, the Raiders selected center/guard Stefen Wisniewski out of Penn State in the second round as the # 48 overall pick.

The Raiders selected other O-Line help, but shame on me, I'm impressed with two weapons acquired that handle the ball:

running back Taiwan Jones out of Eastern Washington in the fourth round. The head coach saw something special in Jones. “How do you pass up a guy that can make plays like that…a guy that can score touchdowns as often and as fast as he can?” asked Jackson to the press.

the multi-position threat in David Ausberry from the University of Southern California. ausberry plays running back and wide receiver, a big wide receiver.

Bush Administration WMD Claim Still Haunts

The Iraq war taught him that "deliberate deception was not limited to small countries ruled by ruthless dictators," ElBaradei writes in "The Age of Deception," being published Tuesday by Henry Holt and Company.

Former chief U.N. nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei

L.A. Dodgers Ownership A Mess

Teacher: Okay students here's today's assignment. Use the terms Divorce, Takeover and Internal Revenue Service in a sentence.

Students: While in the midst of a brutal divorce, L.A. Dodgers owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are facing the teams' takeover by Major League Baseball as well as financial investigation by the Internal Revenue Service.

Teacher: Very good my students. In using the preprositional phrase "as well as," you've cojoined two actions (takeover and investigation) taken against the perpetrators...........I mean the subject.

In the meantime, fans and rivals of the Los Angeles Dodgers can send their get well or you still suck cards to the patient at Chevez Ravine headquarters.

I'm not a doctor, but my training in CPR has taught me to recognize when resuscitation of a patient is needed. We should all stand back while baseball commissioner Bud Selig puts the cardiac paddles on the chest of the Dodgers in attempts to jolt that dead horse back to respectability.

Condolences From World Series Champion

San Francisco Giants

Hockey Highlights Bay Area Sports

It isn't often that professional hockey teams fight back from a 4-0 deficit. However, last night our own San Jose Sharks did just that to force a 4th period overtime and eventually win it 6-5 against the Los Angeles Kings in L.A.. Sharks on the prowl!

Sharks lead the seven game series 2-1 with game four Thursday at Los Angeles.

Meanwhile the San Francisco Giants are playing like Champions as they've taken over the title of hottest team in the N.L. West, while downing the former titlist Colorado Rockies two nights straight. They did it in Rockies fashion with homerun blasts early. Add that to a Giants Championship pitching staff and manager Bruce Bochy's Bill Walsh-like genius and you have a baseball team that's simply unstoppable.

April baseball is getting just as heated up across the bay where last night the Oakland A's put a cap on the visiting Boston Red Sox three game win streak. The league best not sleep on the rebuilt A's this season. They've got pitching, hitting and a man from Japan they call Godzilla (Hideki Matsui), who's two-run double in the eighth inning last night gave the A's a 4-0 lead on their way to a 5-0 burial of Boston.

But there was something for the many Bay Area Boston transplants to cheer about last night. Their beloved Celtics were saved the embarrassment of losing to a New York team in the final seconds of an NBA playoff game. Boston's Kevin Garnett would be the Celtic savior as he hit the go-ahead basket with 14 seconds left in the game, then stole the ball from New York Knick Jared Jeffries to seal the win with four seconds left.

The NFL released the regular season schedules and the Raiders and 49ers both appear to face a good percentage of medium-light competition. But this could all be for null if the NFL Owners, yes Owners, can't overcome their GREED disease and do what's right for the sport of professional football.

GREED!

Excessive desire to possess wealth or goods

with the intention to keep it for one's self.

Transparent to the naked eye, GREED has no form until it infects a human who commits actions performed on its behalf. There is where it grows a mind and body to wreak havoc on the world.

Greed is not a living organism, but an idealistic parasite living off the excessive needs of the human mind.

It restricts the ability for one to feel compassion for another's life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

GREED instructs one to sacrifice (give) only so that they may be positioned to gain (take) more later.

GREED'S only truth is its comand to stockpile wealth and goods while keeping its host blind, diseased and thirsty for more than it can drink

To own the "legal" rights for selling all possible drinking water in a poor land, then implement laws to make it illegal for others to gather rain water from the heavens, is the mechanics of GREED in action.

GREED trusts nobody, respects only itself and lives so that it may claim the fruits of humankind for itself.

GREED is Unkind.

And so it seems that the only thing that kills GREED, is GREED. May it die a horrible suicide!

Twilight Zone Presents

I've seen just about every old episode of the over 150 Twilight Zone series at least once. Everyone that is, except this unique presentation.
LikeTelevision Watch Movies and TV Shows

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge

New Ministry Induction

Heinz Chapel in Pittsburgh, PA. Heinz Chapel has 72-foot tall Stained Glass Windows, which are some of the tallest anywhere.

Copied down after silent prayer at the Grace Cathedral Episcopal Church. The signs of the Lord appear everywhere when viewing through spiritual eyes.

This is the pact a new minister makes with his Lord and Flock as well as with himself.

Book of Common Prayer

Celebration of a New Ministry

Induction (pg.562)

The new Minister, if a priest, may then kneel in the midst of the church, and may say

O Lord my God, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; yet you have called your servant to stand in your house, and to serve at your altar. To you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do. Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and grant that I may faithfully administer your holy Sacraments, and by my life and teaching set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my ministry. In prayer, quicken my devotion; in praises, heighten my love and gratitude: in preaching, give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn into your blessed kingdom. All this I ask for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Bishop then presents the new minister to the congregation saying

Greet your new Rector.

When appropriate, the family of the new minister may also be presented at this time.

The Congregation expresses its approval. Applause is appropriate. The Bishop greets the new minister.

The new Minister then says to the people

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People........ And also with you.

The new Minister then greets other members of the clergy, family members, and the congregation.

The People greet one another.

San Jose Sharks Playoff Favorites Again

Thursday, April 14, 2011: Kings 2 Sharks 3 OT

The San Jose Sharks took game one of a seven game series against the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday at the Shark Tank. Its the National Hockey League Playoffs and the Sharks are back to finish the job they so disappointingly couldn't the past four seasons.

They've competed well these past seasons only to come up short in the conference finals. Its more than what the Golden State Warriors can say about their recent past. The Sharks have been the winningest professional sports team in the Bay Area of late if you exclude the San Jose Sabercats.

So here we are with the boys in Teal facing yet another post season. Each of them must've followed the San Franciso Giants improbable road to the championship last fall with thoughts of "If Not Now, When? If Not Us, WHo?" The time is NOW for the Sharks. Its time to ride that Bay Area magic to another championship day parade. And who better to begin against than a Los Angeles team.

If Not Now, When?

Awakening

Its not the awful moments of life that stifles our spiritual growth. Its getting caught in a cycle of re-living those awful moments. We can escape the cycle and live full and fearless life.

I came across a book by spiritualist Adyashanti titled Emptiness Dancing. The author reawakened me to the essence of God and life with a simple sentence; "The truth is that you already are what you're seeking. You are looking for God with his eyes."

Think that's deep? Check out this video if you can subdue your fear of learning ancient truths:

Barry Bonds Verdict: Obstruction Of Justice

Finally, the federal justice system can get back to investigating more important issues than professional sports steroids. Today a jury came back with an obstruction of justice verdict against former SF Giants slugger Barry Bonds. I suppose this is good news for Barry since the other three counts charging him with perjury ended in a hung jury.


I'm not the biggest of Barry fans but I truly believe there was more to this.......witch hunt than seeking justice for an alleged crime. I give Barry credit for not throwing friends and business acquaintances underneath the bus. Barry endured and now comes away with a huge legal tab. Is that justice? Maybe for those who love to see a media-made celebrity brought down by that same media.


Meanwhile, I applaud the jury for enduring this “mock” trial. They hung in there to the end and it seems they felt much like many of us about the charges against Barry; there just wasn't enough meat on those bones to justify a conviction. If only our federal legal representatives were better in touch with everyday society, maybe then those big dollars spent on this failed attempt to prosecute Barry Bonds could've gone to keeping our communities safer, our schools staffed, our homeless sheltered and our government budget better balanced.


It'll be interesting to see what path Barry's life will take now. Experts agree it’s likely that his sentence will carry nothing more than probation and the feds aren't likely to prosecute him again for the three hung counts. Will probation include a ban from major league baseball? I personally would like to see Barry in a MLB uniform one more time. Why? Because he’s endured the hunt and still can be historically considered one of the best hitters in major league baseball. Juice or no juice. Unfortunately, it’s a predator’s world, and they hate it when their prey escapes from their traps.


Bonds Verdict

Latest Raiders News

A U.S. district judge has ordered the NFL and its players to court-supervised mediation beginning this Thursday in Minneapolis. Who the Freak Cares! Bring me an agreement guaranteeing my team is on the field ready to kick butt come this September. Any other NFL news is unacceptable.

Well, there is one small piece of fantastic football news that's always acceptable and just rocks my boat. Its the Raiderette Preliminary Auditions.

The tryouts are in full swing and thank goodness the fantastic females cheerleading contracts are all one-year deals with following year favoritism I'm sure. They seem to be a lovely bunch of girls who are just happy to be there and enjoy entertaining with their brains, beauty and athleticism.

NFL cheerleaders do more than just shake their rumps on the field. They're ambassadors of the game traveling around the world and participating in humanitarian causes. They're assets to their communities and positive role models for young girls.

After all, nobody really wants to watch replacement cheerleaders attempting coordinated routines that were meant for "Real Cheerleaders." Unless of course they all look like the lustrous escort pictured above. Sorry folks, no phone number with ad.

Imagine the types of women a tryout for replacement NFL cheerleaders would lure. Pardon me, but if I wanted strippers with my football I'd watch games at Larry Flynt's Hustler's Club or Hooters. Here's a better example; ever seen a stripper who's routine was taken from her high school cheerleading squad? Exactly, you felt sorry for her and gave a tip in hopes of shooing her along.

Strippers........ I'm sorry, I mean exotic dancers, have no more business on a professional cheerleading squad than pro cheerleaders have slinking down a stripper pole at some gentlemen's club. And that's that!

So be thankful and appreciative for the dedication and hard work of the many young women chosen for an NFL cheerleading position. For if they weren't on the gridiron on Sunday, they might be at a local strip club near you, doing cartwheel splits into your lap.

I know, that was cold and uncalled for. Forgive me Lord!

Giants Receive Championship Rings - Win in 9th

Baseball season just keeps getting historic for the San Francisco Giants. Yesterday they pull out an opening day win in the bottom of the 12th. Today, after opening with a championship ring ceremony, they thwarted the St. Louis Cardinals again with a Miguel Tejada double in the bottom of the 9th.

Both winning hits came on two outs, but tonight's just seemed extra special. Trailing 2-1 with Miguel coming up to bat, who would've thought they'd pull another one out of their hat. Miguel managed to hit a double on the ninth pitch of Cardinal Ryan Franklin.

It seemed the outfielders may have misjudged the depth of the fly ball as Rasmus got his hands on it in an attempt to make a basket catch but dropped it before falling to the track. The ball rolled away and the Giants took the lead and ballgame 3-2. The call on KNBR with the crowd screaming in ecstasy was electrifying. Did I mention that Miguel Tejada does not have a ring......Yet?

Torture is feeling good once more!

Giants Still Torturing Us

Opening Day At AT&T Park

Its now the top of the 10th between the SF Giants and St. Louis Cardinals. I stopped listening after the Cards took a 4-3 lead in the top of the 9th. The Giants were one strike away from winning the game 3-2 with nobody on when closer Brian Wilson gave up walks and hits to the next 5 hitters.

The Beard was finally replaced by Ramon Ramirez with the Giants trailing. This is opening day at AT&T Park for the World Series Champions. They're truly picking up where they left off last regular season with torturous play.

At the moment it doesen't look good for the champs. Cardinals have two on with two outs in the top of the 11th. Torture Again!

Game Update: Giants Win In 12 Innings

Native American Wisdom

THE TEN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMANDMENTS:

Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect..

Remain close to the Great Spirit..

Show great respect for your fellow beings..

Work together for the benefit of all mankind..

Give assistance and kindness wherever needed..

Do what you know to be right..

Look after the well-being of mind and body..

Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good..

Be truthful and honest at all times..

Take full responsibility for your actions.........

UCONN Wins Sloppy Finals Game

April 2004

The NCAA Basketball Tournament had to end sooner or later, but must it end in a game played so sloppy that the halftime analysts appeared to be apologizing for talking about the game?

Halftime saw Butler ahead 22-19, but it was a halftime both teams might want to forget.The game was so ugly that I chose not to post a current pic and instead ran a 2004 Sports Ill cover of then Conneticut Huskie Emeka Okafor celebrating its second championship. Note the Ted Williams banner in Red.

The 2011 Conneticut Huskies took over in the second half and showed that they were bigger, stronger and made the necessary adjustments in order to dominate. Butler had to resort to 3-point shots because of the Huskie big man presence inside. The cinderella Bulldogs couldn't buy a shot nor defend one as they went cold and flat the rest of the way.

Final Score: Butler 41 Conneticut 53

The Hangover II

Either you saw The Hangover and thought it a silly movie about loser white guys doing things too dumb to watch, or you saw it as one of the funniest bachelor movies of the millenium and screamed for more. I screamed for more, and soon that second dose of stupid-comedy overdose pays a visit to theaters near you.

The Hangover II is slated for release this May. As with the first Hangover, there's mayhem, mystery and laughter all along the way. The first one had a tiger mysteriously appear on the scene, this one uses a monkey in what looks like an even funnier effect. Keep an eye out for Mike Tyson, he just might make another crazy cameo appearance. You gotta love Iron Mike onscreen. He makes any scene memorable.

The Hangover II
May 2012
"Remember"

Going To Champions Home Exhibition

THE CHAMP!


Tonight I get to see the Major League Baseball Champion San Francisco Giants play their first game at home since their World Series win in game two over the Texas Rangers. No, I wasn't at that game, but I watched every damn morsel of their cinderella run to the championship.

Damn......Its So Good To Be The Champ!

update: Giants Beat A's 4-3.

Book Review: Famous Libel and Slander Cases

A Democratic Right Of Speech
By W. Powell -

This little booklet details seven famous libel and slander cases throughout history, beginning with Socrates. The writing gets a bit litigous at times, but anyone with the equivalent of a high school diploma can follow the cases.

This book is important in that it shows us how thankful we should be to those in the past who sacrificed themselves in courts of law so that future generations could enjoy freedoms of expression in a free democratic society. While reading the case of libel against Thomas Cooper I was made aware of the Amercian Sedition Act of 1798 and the alien laws of that period.

Mr. Cooper, newspaper editor, politician and scientist, took a stand against charges of libel for printing articles thought damaging to then president of the United States, John Adams. Mr. Cooper's decision to fight the charges of libel was not because he wasn't guilty under the law, but that he felt any law making it criminal to question the capacity of a President to carry out his functions as commander in chief, was a tyrannical law in a democracy.

Did you know that in 1800 you could be fined and jailed for saying or printing anything that put the President of the U.S. in a bad light? Mr. Cooper knew this and yet and still he challenged the law that forbid his right to say and print what he felt was the public's right to know.

This book reminds me of a famous quote I once heard somewhere: "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."


Know Your First Amendment Rights and Those Who Defended it.
First Collier Books Edition 1962 (paperback)

WIll The Real Cinderfella Please Stand Up

Move the hell over Butler Bulldogs, the Virgnia Commonwealth Rams are crashing the final four as a #11 seed looking to get the girl, the watch and the gold ring.

VCU stunned #1 seed Kansas Jayhawks with a barrage of three pointers, outstanding guard play and hustle defense in what may go down as the BIGGEST UPSET in NCAA Tournament history.

They'll go to the semifinals in Houston,Tx. to face the #8 seed Bulldogs of Butler, who've also made believers of many doubters, to see who's fairy godfather brewed the better potion.

Here's the incredible part about VCU; with the tournament expanding to 68 teams, VCU played an additional game, one they weren't expected to win.

I don't know about you, but I'm clearing my calendar for April 2nd, 6:09PM ET. That's when two cindefellas will tip-off to see which stays on the ballroom dance floor and which must leave the ball immediately and stumble home in one sneaker, a brokendown ride and ugly stepbrothers waiting to torment them about their loss.

The Madness of March can be so rewarding, and yet so cruel.

Best Of Oakland Raiders 2010-11

This youtube video has to be the best in quality and content of the Oakland Raiders 2010 football season. The plays, the fans and the accompanying music make for a creative collage of silver and black highlights.

Based on how the NFL players and owners contract talks are going, I'd say we better soak in all the good stuff from last season, because it could be a time before we see the real deal again.

Inside Job - Oscar Worthy Documentary

Chris Ferguson, producer and director of the movie "Inside Job" spoke at the commonwealth club. He breaks down how Synthetic CDO's and other unethical investment practices, allowed Goldman Sachs and other banking institutions to market an investment package and then bet heavily against its success .

The Financial Crisis was an inside job.

A Fredo Moment

Butler Coach Wanted

If you were around watching the MLB baseball playoffs in 2003 then you know the unfortunate story of Chicago native Steve Bartman and his cursed Cubs.


Steve Bartman, after interfering with a questionably catchable foul ball at Wrigley Field, was blamed for the Cubs losing the game and series. He was a marked man in Chicago and Cubs fans still claim to want a piece of him.

When I opened my newspaper this morning and saw a picture of Butler Basketball Coach Brad Stevens, I thought I'd found the wanted man and was ready to collect the reward. After all, my California lottery ticket didn't pan out in last night's $300 milllion-dollar drawing. I figured this must be God's way of opening one door after another has closed.

But this post isn't about past frustrations, oh no. This post is to congratulate Coach Bartman......I mean Coach Stevens for guiding his squad past #2 seed Florida in an elite-8 classic. The Butler Bulldogs will advance to the Final Four once more, and coach Stevens is at this moment the hottest coach on the planet. With defense and a collective calm while weathering many storms, the #8 seed Butler Bulldogs survived overtime to celebrate a 74-71 victory.

Meanwhile, Cubs fans are on the case and requesting proof of Brad Stevens personal, as well as professional history. After all, the Bartman was a little league baseball coach at the time of his......crime against humanity.

Catch Butler coach Brad Stevens as he heads to the NCAA Final Four

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310850057

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/26/SPTB1IJSU4.DTL

FoodMatters - A Must See

I wrote this review after watching this "must-see" documentary about food. Its basic message is very clear; you are what you eat. Discovering that foods we eat can be poisonous, then learning that medicines we take can be poisonous, its no wonder so many people in one of the richest countries ever are suffering from health related issues.

Here's my take after watching this thought provoking documentary:


Foodmatters
DVD ~ Andrew W. Saul

Ingest This Important Healthcare Information, March 16, 2011

This movie is about taking direct action toward curing illness and living healthier lives through nutritional eating and vitamins. I don't know how anyone could view the information shared as quackery. What "FoodMatters" teaches viewers is that what we eat is directly related to our health. The part that will blow you away is the revelation that prescribed and over the counter medicines can be posioneous to our health.

In these times of unaffordable healthcare its comforting to learn that we can limit and possibly prevent serious illness by educating ourselves on proper nutrition. But to benefit from the information and methods shared in this documentary will take a concentrated effort by those willing to follow the advice. The choice is all yours.

I noticed that unlike the many medicine and drug advertisments aired nonstop on television, good nutrition does not use scare tactics to prove its curing effects. Good nutrition proves itself by awarding you with a healthier happier life. Foodmatters is not trying to sell you anything. Its a healing program that'll open your eyes if you haven't already crowned your doctor a messiah.

Invest in your health, its the one commodity that cannot be bought with dollars or replaced when broken.

Tai Chi Chuan

The Spaniard

In the sport of boxing there's one true means by which to measure the effectiveness of a boxer's skills. That being, can he knock MoFo's out? Its not a matter of putting on a pugilistic clinic so much as overpowering his enemy that gives boxers indestructible reputations.

Fans in the past crowded around to watch Iron Mike Tyson not because of his footwork or clever use of the ring. Folks enjoyed watching Mike simply because he knocked Mofo's out. It was quick and it was brutal. There was no "sweet science" in the method of Mike Tyson. Brute force entered the ring, brute force laid out its opponent then left the ring. End of story. Those were the days.

I don't think we'll ever see another Mike Tyson. But tonight I saw a boxer who mixes both speed and power with a brute sort of force. His style is a bit unorthodox yet he measures up to what we see as pound-for-pound greatness. Tonight the commentators pointed out his ability to "out jab the jabber" in beating an opponent, who's known for his superior jabbing skills, to the punch. They also compared his juking style and handspeed to that of Roy Jones, Jr. Just so happens that Roy was in the booth and agreed with the comparion, taking it as a compliment.

The boxer with such enduring stamina, lightening quickness and knockout power in both hands hails from Argentina and now resides in Oxnard, California. He defended his WBC Middleweight Championship belt against Ukrainian challenger Sergiy Dzindziruk. He won by TKO in round 8 after knocking Dzindziruk down 5 times in the fight. He showed yet again his courageous fearlessness in going after his opponent with unbridled abandon.

His two previous fights against Kelly Pavlik and Paul Williams both ended with crushing knockouts of the two. Knockouts you'll find on any of boxing's best of the year highlights. Ring Magazine named him their 2010 Fighter of the Year. After seeing him tonight I'd have to agree with ring magazine. With each knockout it seems he gains more confidence. After his win tonight he welcomed as challengers Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

So who's this Argentine boxer I've labeled "The Spaniard?"

He's thirty-six year old Sergio Martinez. He's a champion who's hungry to show that he belongs in the ring with the best. There's something I see in the spaniard that makes me think one day he'll shock the boxing world. Maybe his will to win is so strong because he's past the prime age for boxing. Whatever it is that drives the spaniard with such a vengeance, it sure has us boxing fans craving for more. We simply can't wait to see him knockout the next MoFo!

Sergio Gabriel Martinez

47 Wins

26 Knockouts

2 Losses

2 Draws

0 No Contests

Iowa Cycloned By Marist Women's Squad

The 10th seeded Marist Red Foxes dominated their first round NCAA tournament opponent Iowa State, winning 74-64. The Cyclones came in as a No. 7 seed, but that didn't phase the Red Foxes who now sport a 27-game winning streak and move on to face the No. 2 seed Duke Blue Devils.

This just shows that the NCAA can't possibly get all the seedings right when putting together a national college tournament.

Many around college women's basketball thought that Marist should have been ranked higher and Iowa State lower. Their meeting in Durham, N.C. today, with a half-time score of 40-25 favoring Marist, put a reverse spin on the ranking system as it was Iowa State that played with potential upset aspirations while Marist simply played like...............Red Foxes; smart and cunning with hightened defensive instincts.

Congratulations Marist On Your First Round Victory. Now ignore the rankings and go slay us some Blue Devils.


Marist is a "Independent Coeducational Liberal Arts College" with 5,000 students on its Poughkeepsie, New York main campus overlooking the historic hudson river and valley. The area is full of breathtaking scenic views during the fall season foilage.

This Is Madness!

Listen, and understand. Its out there.

It can't be bargained with.

It can't be reasoned with.

It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear.

And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until...

NCAA March Madness is in full swing and the basketball games are whipping by at a terminating pace. There's something for everyone when it comes to college basketball; upsets, controversial calls, buzzer beaters and true cinderella stories. Its a basketball marathon and the last one dancing gets the glory. And we get to watch it all.

So don't let go of that remote control or you might not get it back from your sweetie. Unless of course you talked her into filling out a bracket. Trust me, it works!

PITT

They Wanna Fock With Us Fans!

Does the NFL think we fans are going to take this football strike lying down? I say we fans should Organize and Financially Terrorize any and all businesses affiliated in any way with the NFL.

I've been calmly praying and hoping that the NFL owners and its players would come to terms and work out a deal. I figured there's enough money to go around for all, its just a matter of agreeing to how they'll slice it up. Then when I got my season ticket renewal request, reminding me how much I annually contribute to these clowns, I got angry.

The NFL is billing me months in advance for a product they cannot deliver today. Ever buy something from a television or newspaper ad where they guarantee satisfaction or your money back? Isn't there always a catch? Well fellow fans, the NFL appears to be doing just that this season; marketing a flawed product with no concern for the sucker placing the order.

What fans need to remember is this: Much of that Pie owners and players will be slicing into is OUR money. Through contracts, sponsors and affiliates fans are supporting NFL owners and players without even buying a ticket to the game.

I came across an article by Susan Milligan on USNEWS website titled:

Football Fans and NFL Cities Should Go On Strike

I chose to comment on the article and share it here with Raider Nation and all football fans. If we have to suffer a loss, they should suffer a loss. Yes, an eye for an eye is what's in order for this situation. Below is my comment:

I agree that fans should hit the owners and players where it hurts, in their pockets. I learned years ago a strategy of protest that might just work here.

Most owners and many players are owners, partners or investors in other businesses. If fans put together a list of businesses associated with NFL owners and players, they can boycott the products of those businesses.

You think sponsors dropped Tiger Woods like a hot potato, wait'll affiliated businesses of the NFL see a drop in sales and investments. Watch as television & satellite affiliates begin suing the NFL because Fans are cancelling subscriptions due to the NFL's negligent behavior.

There's more fans than owners and players, it would definitely get their attention. We fans have much more power than we realize. The key is to organize and act with a tactical purpose.

Boycott NFL Products and affiliated businesses. Organize!

Singer/Songstress Lizz Wright

From Lizz Wright's Album "The Orchard"
Flamenco, Jazz and Blues Intertwined

The Smartest Woman I Know

Ever hear somone talking, whether in person or on televison or radio, and it dawns on you just how smart the person is? Kinda makes you wonder if your own intelligence quotient might be lower than you'd proudly thought, maybe closer to the level of a let's say........ Fredo Corleone of The Godfather fame? Well I had one of those moments while listening to international economist Dr. Dambisa Moyo.

A former consultant for the World Bank and former emerging markets investment banker at Goldman Sachs, Moyo was named by Time Magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World

Dr. Moyo was born in Zambia and educated abroad in the West. Her accent and look almost resemble what I thought that of entertainer Mary J. Blige. She's hip and has a sleek feminine body that can wear out a taut fitting dress or business suit. Yes, Dr. Moyo's got style. But unlike so many of our stylish covergirls of today its her Intelligence, not her looks, that she is known and praised for.

Now and then while up early in the AM hours I'll listen to a radio broadcast of the San Francisco Common wealth club's guest speaker for the evening. Yeah, I know, what's the commonwealth got to do with sports? Nadda! But for us Fredo's of the world we don't come up short for lack of effort. We can sometimes hear "Smaart."

I tuned in this morning and heard this Brooklyn-British accented woman break down the state of global economics along with the past, present and future of Western economies. Though she used some words we may only find in a mathamatician's dictionary, her delivery was down to earth and decipherable to the most challenged of Fredo's tuning in. Okay, maybe not all of it.

A New York Times Best Selling author, Dr. Moyo was in San Francisco in Feb. 2011, to discuss the content of her second book; "How The West Was Lost." She points out how China has become a manufacturing colossus and their products are admired and welcomed throughout Africa. She's a great teacher and breaks it all down. She's also been on the inside of the financial institutions.

I'm sure there are many smart and beautiful women in the world doing their parts to bring awareness and new ideas to the masses, but Dr. Dambisa Moyo appeals to that Fredo Corleone part of me, who when not throwing down shots and chasing skirts in Las Vegas with Mo Green, enjoys listening to a good early morning radio talk on current events and issues.

A Fredo Moment!

Click on links below to listen to Flora.TV broadcast of Dr. Dambisa Moyo:

Dead Aid (highlights of the hoover institution series)Dr. Moyo argues that foreign aid has harmed Africa and that it should be phased out. The book offers proposals for developing countries to finance development, instead of relying on foreign aid. She argues that foreign aid helps perpetuate the cycle of poverty and hinders economic growth in Africa

How The West Was Lost (Commonwealth club)Moyo daringly claims that the West can no longer afford to simply regard global up-and-comers as menacing gatecrashers. In a world where Western economies hover on the brink of recession while emerging economies post double-digit growth rates, Moyo calls out the economic myopia of the West and the radical solutions that it needs to adopt to salvage its global economic power

Showing Dodgers What Champions Look Like

The World Series Champion San Francisco Giants overcame a Andre Ethier bases loaded triple today in a comeback win over their Los Angeles Dodgers rival.

The Champions are still on fire, with the best MLB record (13-4) of spring training. Beating the Dodgers is always special, I don't care what the circumstances. But to do it with smashing long balls and comeback scoring against the bums in blue in the ninth inning is just awesome.

If you haven't seen Pat "The Bat" Burrell's two run blast you're cheating yourself. His swing definitely has a Will "The Thrill" Clark flavor to it. Cody Ross had two out of the park home runs as well as the Giants gave the Dodgers a preview of what to expect come this season.

Final
LA 7
SF 8

CHUCKY"S BACK!

Not the old Chuckster Jon Gruden, but the Seed of Chucky is named the Oakland Raiders Defensive Coordinator.

Chuck Bresnahan returns to the Raiders after stints with the Cincinnati Bengals and the United Football League's Florida Tuskers. In three seasons his Bengals defenses never ranked higher than 25th in yards allowed, a definite concern. His Tusker teams went to the two UFL championship games, losing both times to the Las Vegas Locos.

From 2000-2003, Seed of Chucky was sprouting under Gruden as Defensive Coordinator of a Raiders team that dominated mostly with an offensive juggernaut comprised of legendary weapons. His last game with the Oakland Raiders was that Super Bowl down I-5 South that we all choose to forget.

So we'll have to wait and see this season if former DC Jon Marshall will be sorely missed or barely a memory in the eyes of fans as Chucky leads the defense into battle.

Welcome Back Chucky!

Oakland Raiders San Diego Smash 2010

Week 7 Oakland Raiders vs Denver Broncos 10-24-2010 HD Highlights


Oakland Raiders top 10 of 2010

DMAC 2010-11 Highlights