I just saw this a few seconds before I posted it. This is an excerpt. Two things angered me: the report of people stepping over -- rather than helping -- this man, and the very slow response of the SF Police Department. It seems San Francisco's finest can spend more time making racist videos than solving crimes. Mr. Nielsen eventually died from what was finally identified as an attack -- but by whom, no one knows to this day.
DEATH ON THE STREET
Barry Nielsen curled on the corner, a head wound oozing blood, as his iPod hissed the soundtrack to a mystery in the foggy night
Mike Weiss, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
It began with a man crumpled on a nighttime pavement, his knees pulled protectively under his chin and blood pooling beneath his head. Something bad had just happened to Barry Nielsen. Exactly what remains a mystery.
Moments earlier he had been acting as a greeter outside an open studio at 1890 Bryant St., an industrial-chic home to artists, architects and a wine broker. He was dancing exuberantly. Now his iPod was still playing, but on this Friday night with fog dampening the air, he could no longer hear the music.
But this is San Francisco, where a man curled on a sidewalk means a homeless person. Even though the intersection with Mariposa Street was bathed in light from a Muni yard on the northeast corner, people stepped around him.
It was 7:25 p.m. on Oct. 21, and the neighborhood was well-trafficked. People came and went at KQED; there were clubs and restaurants nearby; and on the southwest corner, Starbucks was crowded, mostly with deaf people at a get-together. Finally a woman out for a smoke saw Nielsen's body and grew alarmed. She ran to Starbucks, where a pair of cops had parked their black and white and were on a coffee break.Officer Angel Lozano inspected Nielsen, saw the blood, and summoned an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, Nielsen no longer showed vital signs, Lozano said, but they revived him with CPR.
"We interviewed a few people," Lozano explained outside the same Starbucks a few weeks later, "and nobody saw what happened."
"The gentleman still had his iPod and his wallet," Lozano said. "It didn't appear there was a crime involved. First impression -- he had fallen down." So the officers did not create a crime scene or begin a thorough canvass of the area or summon detectives.
The building at 1890 Bryant is roughly halfway between San Francisco General Hospital, where Nielsen, 48, was rushed in a wailing ambulance, and the Hall of Justice. Over the days and weeks ahead, conflicting versions of what had befallen the dying painter and puppeteer -- had he fallen or been assaulted? -- would emerge from the two edifices...
By Saturday afternoon, when the police had not contacted Nielsen's friends or family, one friend, Dwight Horn, went to Mission Station and was told, "'What investigation? It was a fall, not a crime."
"We were hearing from every doctor we spoke to" that Barry had been assaulted, Hallquist said, "and the cops were doing nothing."
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
New Orleans Police Shooting - Why is it that 12 white guys with guns feel they need to shoot one black guy sporting a knife?
I'm watching CNN, and they keep showing a video of 12 -- yeah, 12 -- white New Orleans Police officers with guns drawn and pointing at one black guy who reportedly has a knife.
These idiots -- yep dummies -- killed that man.
I'm looking at this and thinking "Did anyone bother to just shoot the guy in the foot?" Why not? All of those cops and not one had the presence of mind to think outside the box of organized mob-rule that seems to govern New Orleans Police activity, especially after The Katrina Problem. Are they just plain robots?
I'll bet if the person was a blond woman they'd have not fired a single shot. These guys need to be off the force, ASAP.
I'm starting to think the New Orleans police hire emotionally disturbed people or that the job itself makes them that way. There's no -- no good excuse for what they did.
They should all be fired.
These idiots -- yep dummies -- killed that man.
I'm looking at this and thinking "Did anyone bother to just shoot the guy in the foot?" Why not? All of those cops and not one had the presence of mind to think outside the box of organized mob-rule that seems to govern New Orleans Police activity, especially after The Katrina Problem. Are they just plain robots?
I'll bet if the person was a blond woman they'd have not fired a single shot. These guys need to be off the force, ASAP.
I'm starting to think the New Orleans police hire emotionally disturbed people or that the job itself makes them that way. There's no -- no good excuse for what they did.
They should all be fired.
New SBS Online Gaming blog
Yep, it's too big to ignore, so I created a blog on online gaming. Click the post to check it out!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Brokeback Mountain hits the Zeitgeist
As a movie buff who's seen The Godfather 27 times, and a good set of movies over 10 times, plus written two screenplays (no, not sold..yet) and recently seen King Kong twice (a terrific work), I feel compelled to see "Brokeback Mountain" because of the buzz around it. Yet, I'm not attracted by the fact the story is of two men in love. What I'm drawn to is that it's directed by Ang Lee, one of my favorites.
I think -- to be frank -- a very large part of me wonders why Hollywood seems to avoid producing movies that feature inter-racial relationships, specifically between white women and black men. In the two examples where such relationships were the focus of the flick (I like that), they were not "normal" relationships. In "Jungle Feaver" the relationship was painted as taboo. In "One Night Stand" both characters were married to other people.
By contrast, it seems that Gay White Male relationships are presented from a more sympathetic perspective. Now there's a huge difference in that we're talking about a lifestyle choice (being Gay) versus a physical type beyond the control of the person. But what is similar is both kinds of people have not been shown in mainstream movies much at all until the last 20 years. America has been presented with a huge set of movies with Straight White Male / Straight White Female romances.
What bothers me about this recent trend is it still seems as if White Female and Black Male parings are not well-considered by some even to this day. A social dynamic I regard as rather sick. It's as if America is saying "You can do anything, even date another man...but White Women and Black men?....Well....
That's stupid.
I suppose the only solution is to establish a well-financed film production company which aims to get movies wtih interracial themes made and distributed.
I think -- to be frank -- a very large part of me wonders why Hollywood seems to avoid producing movies that feature inter-racial relationships, specifically between white women and black men. In the two examples where such relationships were the focus of the flick (I like that), they were not "normal" relationships. In "Jungle Feaver" the relationship was painted as taboo. In "One Night Stand" both characters were married to other people.
By contrast, it seems that Gay White Male relationships are presented from a more sympathetic perspective. Now there's a huge difference in that we're talking about a lifestyle choice (being Gay) versus a physical type beyond the control of the person. But what is similar is both kinds of people have not been shown in mainstream movies much at all until the last 20 years. America has been presented with a huge set of movies with Straight White Male / Straight White Female romances.
What bothers me about this recent trend is it still seems as if White Female and Black Male parings are not well-considered by some even to this day. A social dynamic I regard as rather sick. It's as if America is saying "You can do anything, even date another man...but White Women and Black men?....Well....
That's stupid.
I suppose the only solution is to establish a well-financed film production company which aims to get movies wtih interracial themes made and distributed.
SBS's new Blog Network
All of our blogs can be accessed from the main SBS site now. Just click on the title post to see the new place at the SBS main website.
Monday, December 26, 2005
SBS' on its Oakland Baseball Simworld
I figured that I had blogs on a number of subjects, but not our simulations! Since I spend much of my time setting up or working on my beloved Oakland Baseball Simworld, I decided to change that. Here's our newest blog on it, and all you have to do is click on the title of this post.
If you've not ran my simulation, give it a go. It's used at many of the major college sport management schools -- high schools too! I swear, you will become addicted to it.
It's just $12.50 per student per class, and for a one year account.
If you've not ran my simulation, give it a go. It's used at many of the major college sport management schools -- high schools too! I swear, you will become addicted to it.
It's just $12.50 per student per class, and for a one year account.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Mike Silver on Tony Dungy
My longtime friend Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Michael Silver wrote a very good and reflective column on Indianpolis Colts' Coach Tony Dungy in the wake of the passing of his son James. Most of his work is here, and the entire column can be read at CNNSI.Com with a click on the title of this post.
Leaning on faith
Dungy will reach deep inside as he mourns for son
Michael Silver
Because Tony Dungy is such an inspirational man, because nearly everyone who meets can't help but admire him, it's tempting to believe that he's capable of overcoming any horrific circumstance, even the most tragic occurrence imaginable.
As Dungy and his tight-knit family cope with the death of his 18-year-old son, James, who died of an apparent suicide early Thursday morning, the pain and grief, undoubtedly, will be overwhelming. That this awful experience will play out publicly makes Dungy's burden seem unfathomable.
Yet if anyone in pro football is capable of carrying on, in the near- and long-term, it's this deeply religious, inherently decent man.
"The thing that will get him through this is the same thing that has gotten him through all of the hard times -- losing his mother, and then his father," said Jets coach Herm Edwards, who grew close to Dungy while working on his staff in Tampa Bay. "His faith is what will get him through, somehow. But it's so, so tough."
I called Edwards on Thursday evening looking, I guess, for some sense of comfort. Ostensibly, as a journalist, I wanted to get his reaction, but every question I asked or considered asking seemed hopelessly forced, trite or inappropriate.
Earlier, I had spoken briefly with one of Dungy's former players in Tampa, Cleveland Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer, who I knew would be taking this news as hard as anyone in the NFL. Two years and eight months ago, at a memorial service for his 5-year-old son, Trevin, Dilfer delivered an amazingly poised, unplanned speech that brought 2,000 attendees to tears. Since then he and his wife, Cass, have displayed strength and grace on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean the pain is gone, or will ever disappear.
Unlike Dilfer, who endured months of soul-searching before deciding to return to football, Dungy's nightmare coincides with the stretch run of what has thus far been a magical season. If he returns to guide the Colts through the playoffs, and possibly the Super Bowl, Dungy will feel the coalesced support of a sports-watching nation.
Yet at some point the insanity of the playoff run will fade, and he and his wife, Lauren, will continue to be tested in ways most of us, thankfully, cannot imagine. That's when he'll draw on 51 years of sincere, principled living and figure out some way to endure.
Understand that Dungy, more than anyone I've met in his profession, has put family and faith above football on the most basic of levels. Not only did he help launch All-Pro Dad, later becoming the nonprofit organization's national spokesman, but he also made a point of interacting with his children, eschewing the sleep-at-the-office madness to which most of his peers have succumbed...
Leaning on faith
Dungy will reach deep inside as he mourns for son
Michael Silver
Because Tony Dungy is such an inspirational man, because nearly everyone who meets can't help but admire him, it's tempting to believe that he's capable of overcoming any horrific circumstance, even the most tragic occurrence imaginable.
As Dungy and his tight-knit family cope with the death of his 18-year-old son, James, who died of an apparent suicide early Thursday morning, the pain and grief, undoubtedly, will be overwhelming. That this awful experience will play out publicly makes Dungy's burden seem unfathomable.
Yet if anyone in pro football is capable of carrying on, in the near- and long-term, it's this deeply religious, inherently decent man.
"The thing that will get him through this is the same thing that has gotten him through all of the hard times -- losing his mother, and then his father," said Jets coach Herm Edwards, who grew close to Dungy while working on his staff in Tampa Bay. "His faith is what will get him through, somehow. But it's so, so tough."
I called Edwards on Thursday evening looking, I guess, for some sense of comfort. Ostensibly, as a journalist, I wanted to get his reaction, but every question I asked or considered asking seemed hopelessly forced, trite or inappropriate.
Earlier, I had spoken briefly with one of Dungy's former players in Tampa, Cleveland Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer, who I knew would be taking this news as hard as anyone in the NFL. Two years and eight months ago, at a memorial service for his 5-year-old son, Trevin, Dilfer delivered an amazingly poised, unplanned speech that brought 2,000 attendees to tears. Since then he and his wife, Cass, have displayed strength and grace on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean the pain is gone, or will ever disappear.
Unlike Dilfer, who endured months of soul-searching before deciding to return to football, Dungy's nightmare coincides with the stretch run of what has thus far been a magical season. If he returns to guide the Colts through the playoffs, and possibly the Super Bowl, Dungy will feel the coalesced support of a sports-watching nation.
Yet at some point the insanity of the playoff run will fade, and he and his wife, Lauren, will continue to be tested in ways most of us, thankfully, cannot imagine. That's when he'll draw on 51 years of sincere, principled living and figure out some way to endure.
Understand that Dungy, more than anyone I've met in his profession, has put family and faith above football on the most basic of levels. Not only did he help launch All-Pro Dad, later becoming the nonprofit organization's national spokesman, but he also made a point of interacting with his children, eschewing the sleep-at-the-office madness to which most of his peers have succumbed...
The Return of Martina Hingis - and a new Women's Tennis Blog!
Click on the link of the title post to read about the planned comback of Matina Hingis to Women's Tennis, at SBS Women's Tennis Blog.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Merry Christmas from Zennie's Zeitgeist!
Here's wishing you and yours a very wonderful Christmas and very happy holidays!
Friday, December 23, 2005
Paris Hilton gets new dogs to fight title of "World's Worst Dog Owner'
From Ireland Online - Paris Hilton is hoping to distance herself from her newfound title as the world's worst dog owner, by purchasing two new puppies.
The hotel heiress recently acquired the undesirable title from magazines The New York Dog and Hollywood Dog, days before the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals named her as the worst dressed celebrity for her love of wearing fur.
But 24-year-old Hilton, who counts a ferret, a kinkajou monkey and a goat among her list of pets, is undeterred and recently took ownership of Chihuahua puppies Tokyo Blue and Harajuku Bitch during a trip to Japan.
She says: "That's it, no more pets for now."
To read about Paris Hilton's lesson for sports marketing click here
Britney Spears back on top!
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Britney Spears reclaimed the top spot on Yahoo!'s annual list of the most searched-for terms on the Internet, with all of the top 10 coming from the world of entertainment, says the Hollywood Reporter.
Spears has been No. 1 for three of the past four years (outpaced last year by "American Idol").
Rounding out the list, in order, are 50 Cent, Cartoon Network (specifically its "Adult Swim" lineup), Mariah Carey, Green Day, Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Eminem, Ciara and Lindsay Lohan.
But Britney...woo, those legs!
Tony Dungy - A great man who will prevail
I've never met Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy, but I feel like he's my brother. I have always been a fan. When I was invited to the Octagon party at the Houston Super Bowl, I has hoped Dungy, an Octagon client, would be there. I had a new defensive front idea I wanted to share with him. So, paper and diagram in hand, I went. Unfortunately, he didn't come to the event. I was sad, but eventually had a good time.
Still, I felt it was less without the attendance of the most respected coach in the NFL, and someone America seems to have adopted.
From one perspective, since we share what some call the "Black Experience" in America, I suppose he is. So, I, like others and really regardless of color, root for Tony.
We cheer for him not just because of his success, and how it contributes to the erosion of social racism, but because we like the man he is: steady, determined, faithful -- decent. To me Tony is untouchable. I couldn't -- and still can't -- understand why the Tampa Bay Bucaneers let go of this man. But he landed in a better place: Indy.
His son, James Dungy, in the best place one can be: Heaven. The Lord only knows what was happening to him in the last moments of his life. But the Lord will also take care of him. God will take care of Tony, too.
No, Tony's team will not go undefeated. The Colts will be in the playoffs with home field advantage, and a new resolve, as if they didn't have one already. And now it seems as if everyone in sports is rooting for them and him. They deserve it. Tony deserves it.
But even if it doesn't happen that he is able to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy in February 2006, Tony Dungy will always be high on the mantle of great people in sports and in life.
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