Sunday, March 06, 2011

Terrell Owens Tweets To Zennie62, On Mike Lombardi Of NFL Network

Yesterday, this blogger posted a blog entry attacking NFL Network Analyst and former Oakland Raiders exec Mike Lombardi for a set of mean-spritted comments Lombardi made regarding Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Terrell Owens (photo by UPI.com).

To briefly recap, on Saturday night's NFL Total Access show, and in response to NFL Network Anchor Scott Hansen's question on T.O.'s future, Lombardi went off, bellowing a new version of the same old media song about Owens being a lockerroom disruption.

Lombardi completely ignored Owens 2010 output of 72 receptions for 983 yards and nine touchdowns over just 14 games, as well as the fact that Terrell was the Bengals leader in catches. Lombardi's take was on the scale of a rant, and delivered with such assertion and yet without concrete facts, Mike seemed to have a bias against Owens.

But Lombardi's biggest mistake was in using an unconfirmed quote from Bengals Quarterback Carson Palmer to issue a "diss" against Owens that's at best questionable and at worst criminal. Lombardi said "Well, talk to Carson Palmer. Owens wasn't always in the right position." But there no evidence of Palmer actually saying that, and to restate my point, Owens was a new player in the offense, so he would be expected to make a mistake or two; his incredible production more than made up for it.

Terrell Owens Responds On Twitter

Today, about 20 minutes ago as of this writing, Owens issued a Twitter tweet to explain to this blogger at Zennie62.com, it was "all good," and first, Owens guarantees he had made the least of mistakes, second, that he picked up the Bengals Offense in one month. Here's the tweet:


@zennie62 all good!! Sum ppl rn't even worth responding 2. I guarantee I had the least of mistakes & I learned tht offense n a month's time

As I said in my tweets back to Owens, he has a great attitude about the whole thing. Moreover, there are media types who do have Owens back, like me.

Stay tuned.  

Celebrity Apprentice Star Gary Busey Weighs In On Wisconsin Protests

To say that Celebrity Apprentice star Gary Busey is outspoken is an understatement. Just ask him for his view on The Wisconsin Protests, as this blogger did at the Night Of 100 Stars Oscar Party last Sunday. Here's Gary, with fellow acting legend Ed Asner at the Oscar Party, below.

 Busey's take on Wisconsin starts at the 3:56 mark, but he says "I think America is finally learning to turn the dump over, and get rid of the bull BEEP, and turn it on the people who are part of the middle class, and celebrate being part of this country."



That's just a taste of the Gary Busey you're going to see on Celebrity Apprentice tonight on NBC. But if you're wondering what all of the fuss is about over the legend that is Busey, here's another taste.

Gary's known for being in over 120 films, such as A Star is Born, as "Buddy Holly" in The Buddy Holly Story, for which he earned a "Best Actor" nomination in 1978.  Of late, he's taken a number of roles where he plays himself, the most recent example the reality TV show by Donald Trump.

Off-camera Busey's known for his off-center, free-sprited, yet interesting personality. He's also known for a motorcycle accident in 1988, where he almost died because he wasn't wearing a helmet.

Fortunately Busey survived, and is now enjoying an entertainment rebirth of sorts on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Oakland's Desley Brooks Cannabis University Degree Hits Internet

To some this Oakland story is a big deal but to others, not. Still, the fact is that certain people connected with the Oakland "University of Cannabis" are now pushing a video showing Oakland Councilmember Desley Brooks (District 6, Central East Oakland) getting a "Diploma of Certified Seedling," from the Oakland-based institution called UniCann is interesting. Especially since Councilmember Brooks got (earned?) the degree last year in June.

Oh, and what's the University all about? Well, according to its website, the chancellor is none other than former Oakland City Councilmember Vice Mayor Leo Bazile. According to search results, Bazille started teaching "Marijuana University" just over a year ago and is featured in this video from the website:




But three Twitter accounts - @GroMaster, @M24Cabbage, and @calpotnews - have posted two video links featuring Councilmember Brooks on March 1st and March 4th. The first video shows Brooks receiving a diploma from a man named Dhar Mann. The Unicann website reports this person to be the founder of Cannabis University; he's also the founder of the marijuana supply store WeGrow. The same organization who's business has been hampered by the Federal Department of Justice's crack down on attempts to promote the production, use and legalization of pot, particularly in Oakland.

In other words, pot farms are illegal.

Here's Brooks getting her diploma from Dhar Mann:



That's the video currently being pushed by GroMasters on Twitter. The other video, tweeted by calpotnews, shows Councilmember Brooks talking about her new redesign of the ordinance that, if passed by the Oakland City Council, would permit the legal cultivation and sale of marijuana in Oakland, even as California voters rejected Prop 19 last November, which would have made such effort legal in California.

Now, even with a warning letter from U.S Attorney Melinda Haag, that said "individuals who elect to operate 'industrial cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facilities' will be doing so in violation of federal law," and that the Justice Department was "carefully considering civil and criminal legal remedies regarding those who seek to set up industrial marijuana growing warehouses."

Which by extension means Brooks could be identified by the Feds as an accessory to such efforts.

Here's the video where Brooks explains her new ordinance and says that the Oakland City Attorney's office is blocking a legal review:



Brooks claim that Oakland City Attorney John Russo's blocking review of her ordinance is really not the case at all, because it implies that Russo wasn't in support of the legalization of the use of pot, and that he contacted the Federal Government on his own, without City Council direction.

First, here's my video from last year, where Russo wanted the public to know of his support for Prop 19, which, if passed would have paved the way for Oakland's pot growing efforts (a video with over 4,000 views as of this writing):



Obviously, Russo had a reason to be compelled not to steer the City of Oakland to the point where some Oakland Councilmembers seem bent on placing it as of this writing: as working to flout Federal law.  The reason was Prop 19's election loss.

Brooks and Mayor Jean Quan have said to some media types they can't get Russo to review the new ordinance and that he contacted the Federal Government on his own.

But The Bay Citizen reports otherwise, quoting Russo as stating "The City Attorney wrote to the US Attorney’s office at the direction of the City Council. The Council directed this office to get specificity about the concerns of federal officials and this letter is the result.

It looks like the Oakland Council - or some of them - are trying to throw Russo under the bus.  Any claim that Russo contacted the Feds on his own is obviously playing tricks with the truth, but this blogger's question isn't "Why?"

 It's this:

With an unemployment rate near 20 percent and people trying to find jobs, what the hell is the Oakland City Council, or at least Councilmembers Kaplan, Brooks, and Mayor Quan, doing spending so much time and energy on an effort the Federal Government has issues with, even to the point of trying to work against their own lawyer? If the persons investing in the establishment of pot farms need to take their money where there is, as Scott Hawkins, who worked as a consultant to medical cannabis pioneer Richard Lee, put it "Right now Oakland is far too visible for this kind of investment. Investors don't want to risk their capital in this situation unless things can get worked out between the city council and the Department of Justice and the city attorney's office."

Not to mention public opinion. If the public were behind the legalization of pot, this blog post would not have seen the light of day. But Prop 19 lost and people need jobs. It seems like the City of Oakland is more concerned with growing weed than growing jobs, and that's the saddest news of all.

Ah...Next to the fact that Russo's fired his client, the City of Oakland, and has sought employment as Alameda's next City Manager.  

If Russo goes out, it sends a message to the nation that Oakland's not the place for a competent lawyer to work.  Think about it.  Mayor Quan has said she wants an appointed lawyer under control of (presumably) the Mayor and the City Council.  So, in this "pot case," the Mayor and Council would expect that person to guide them into a position of violating Federal and State laws?   That's not what a good lawyer will do; apparently Oakland doesn't want one of those.

Stay tuned.

Tuesday: International Women's Day

International Women's DayIn 1910, at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Clara Zetkin proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day to press for their demands. The idea was approved unanimously by the 100 women from 17 countries in attendance; International Women's Day is the result.

Google
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
As you can see from the chart below, hundreds of events will occur during the month of March celebrating the contributions of women to our lives, as well as their economic, political and social achievements throughout history.

Gender issues persist both locally and world-wide; progress starts at home.
What will you be doing Tuesday?

Political Correspondent Thomas Hayes is a former Congressional Campaign Manager; he's a journalist, photo/videographer, entrepreneur, and communications consultant who contributes regularly on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community, who incidentally stands in solidarity with the citizens and workers in Wisconsin refusing to let their Governor's self-created budget "crisis" and new spending priorities be re-cast as a reason to undermine contractual obligations and collective bargaining agreements.
You can follow Tom as @kabiu on twitter.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

NFL Network: Mike Lombardi Uses Carson Palmer To Diss Terrell Owens

Terrell Owens, most recently wide receiver for the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, once again posted great receiving numbers: 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns over 14 games, which means with just one more game, Owens would have equaled his average performance over three years with the Dallas Cowboys.

Owens signed a one-year contract with the Bengals, and so is, once-again, a free agent. One big reason why he's not on the Bengals roster is he tells it like it is, much to the dislike of former Oakland Raiders exec and NFL Network Analyst Mike Lombardi (pictured). Owens got on NFL Network and said that "Offensively, we really didn’t have the coaching that we really needed to muster what we had on the offensive side of the ball."

T.O.'s correct, and this blogger could write a 60-page book on the Bengals offensive design problems. But Owens mouth has nothing to do with the fact that he produces. But Lombardi, who's not known as a technical, scheme-oriented football executive, has to turn to stupid bad-mouthing of dumb reasons why no NFL organization should sign Owens. Lombardi said that Owens has been "a disruption" in the locker room every where he goes.

There's no question that Owens speaks his mind, but if there weren't so many insecure NFL coaches and front-office people, what T.O. says would be used as material on that teams website to generate monetized web traffic.

Just another one of thousands of examples of how ego damages business potential, but I digress.

Then, Lombardi landed the haymaker of stupid T.O. comments, using Bengals Quarterback Carson Palmer to hide behind in the process.

When NFL Network Analyst Steve Wyche talked about Owens numbers, Lombardi said "Well, talk to Carson Palmer. Owens wasn't always in the right position." While Pro Football Talk reported that there were rumors of Palmer and Owens having "issues," the simple fact that pops up on a Google search for "Carson Palmer and Terrell Owens" is that Palmer wanted the Bengals to sign him, and came away impressed after a workout with him.

Thus, it's more than likely Lombardi got that information second-hand rather than talking with Palmer himself. If so, Lombardi needs to retract his statement because when Lombardi says "You talk to Carson Palmer," he's essentially saying that Palmer was dissing Owens.   Better back that one up.

If Lombardi was thinking instead of talking, he would have remembered that 2010 was Owens first year in the Bengals offense, which means Terrell had to learn a new system. Thus, it's expected that Owens may have been "out of position" on some plays. But to absorb all that new information and still have the receiving performance Owens turned in last year, was just incredible.

It also points to how stupid and biased Lombardi's NFL Network comments were. Moreover, Lombard made his comments with such force and assertion, it seemed he has a bias against Owens. If so, he should reveal just what the issue is, but be prepared to be roundly criticized for it.

A smart NFL executive should be concerned with one word: production. The Bengals one-dimentional passing game and a 15th-ranked defense (down 10-spots from 5th ranked in 2009) was the problem in 2010. Indeed, that alone was the difference between 4 and 12 in 2010 and the playoffs in 2009.

The Bengals poor season wasn't T.O.'s fault. But once again, Terrell's the victim of bad organizational timing and a former NFL exec who's anti-Owens bias is so obvious he gets on NFL Network, talks before he thinks, and wrongly quotes Owens' teammates.

Friday, March 04, 2011

Bay To Breakers 100 Scores Record Number Of Early Registrants

The 100th Bay to Breakers, which means the event is 17 years older than The Academy Awards (think about that), is posting a record number of early registrants for the running race held on May 15th (Which means this blogger had better hurry if running it for the 20th time is in order).

What this all means is all of the complaints of having a boring Bay to Breakers after bans on alcohol were installed obviously aren't coming from those who are signing up for it. The reason The Bay To Breakers draws people is that it's the Bay Area's ultimate expression of community, not of drinking.

Angela Fang, the race organizer, said it best: "The Bay to Breakers Centennial is a once in a lifetime San Francisco event for runners and walkers alike. We are thrilled at the unprecedented number of runners registering daily. This high participation speaks to the legacy the Bay to Breakers footrace and to its tremendous popularity."

Race organizers report that over 41,000 runners and walkers have already signed up and the entire process is set to close before the end of March. So, hurry up and register at www.baytobreakers.com .

Wisconsin Protests: Republican Attempt To Arrest Democrats Unconstitutional

Say, here's a question: isn't the Republican attempt to arrest Wisconsin Senate Democrats for not being their to vote, thus allowing the Wisky GOP the chance to take away much of the collective bargaining power of teachers, unconstitutional?

Hell yeah, it is.

The First Amendment of The U.S. Constitution protects "Freedom of association." Taking away the ability of the Wisconsin Senate Democrats not to assemble with State Republicans is an act against the U.S. Constitution.

There's nothing in Federal law, which always trumps state law, that says a legislator must be present for every vote on every bill. Heck, look at how the conservative Erick Erickson was slammed for abstaining all of the city council meetings he missed while being on the Macon City Council. Under the logic of his blog's attack on the Wisconsin Senate Democrats, Erickson himself should have been arrested.

And they should be locked up for their misquoting Wisconsin Senate Rule 23. They have printed, again and again, this:

Senate Rule 23
Senate Rule 23. Committee not to be absent. Members of a committee, except a conference committee, may not be absent by reason of their appointment during the sitting of the senate, without special leave.
[am. 2001 S.Res. 2]


Which, if you look at the Red State blog post by SusanAnne Hiller, has a link that takes you to a web page indicating that the rule has expired. Now, laugh for a minute, then continue reading below for more laughter.

If you take that entire "rule" and copy it and paste it as a search in the Wisconsin Senate Data Base, you can't find it.

The bottom line is Wisconsin has no authority to arrest Senate Democrats. None. Moreover, it seems the Wisconsin Government has become a police state, with cops tackling Representative Nick Milroy for just coming in to get his clothes:



Wisconsin should vote to recall Governor Scott Walker. This is nuts. Governor Walker should give up his obviously personal attack on teachers.