Anonymous Internet Trolls Sued By Yale Women

I learned of this from TechCrunch , where Michael Arrington wrote "Although the case may well turn into an argument in relation to free speech online, it’s difficult to sympathize with the trolls. Free speech does need to be defended but it must be respected; with any power comes responsibility. Slandering people anonymously, particularly where that slander has direct consequences is a step too far."

I totally agree, yet there are people who pose as Anonymous Internet Trolls and lurk on sites like The Daily Kos , and seem to delight in trying to be insulting and hurful, and they do so behind a fake name and generally with no other website to track them down at.

I call them cowards who would not say what they write to anyone in public, and be considered pretty fucked up if they did.

As a Barack Obama supporter, I've got some weird comments; so many that after the last one, I elected to disallow comments from all but registered Blogger users.

According to Reuters,.. after facing lewd comments and threats by posters, two women at Yale Law School filed a suit on June 8 in U.S. District Court in New Haven, Connecticut, that includes subpoenas for 28 anonymous users of the site, which has generated more than 7 million posts since 2004.

According to court documents, a user on the site named "STANFORDtroll" began a thread in 2005 seeking to warn Yale students about one of the women in the suit, entitled "Stupid Bitch to Enter Yale Law." Another threatened to rape and sodomize her, the documents said.

The plaintiff, a respected Stanford University graduate identified only as "Doe I" in the lawsuit, learned of the Internet attack in the summer of 2005 before moving to Yale in Connecticut. The posts gradually became more menacing.

Some posts made false claims about her academic record and urged users to warn law firms, or accused her of bribing Yale officials to gain admission and of forming a lesbian relationship with a Yale administrator, the court papers said.

This news certainly should come as welcome to bloggers like Kathy Sierra, who was the target of death threats by Anonymous Internet Trolls, some of which took to wildly insulting and scary methods of hurting her with words and pictures, and for no reason -- no good reason that is.

I for one do no allow Anonymous Internet Trolls to write on this blog save for the occasional person who's trying to make money by adding a link to some program they sponsor. I'm fine with that. But in other cases, forget it. I want names. I want you to be known so we can have the authorities track you down.

Now, someone reading that last sentence might cringe, thinking about the many politically motivated blogs that need to protect their writers. Hey, I've got no problem with protecting righfully subversive political figures, but that's where a need for a community of people who really protect these figures is needed. Look, if a government wants to find even a "blogger in hiding" it can do it; a system -- a social system to keep these change-agents protected, even if it means getting them out of the country itself and to America, is needed.

My point is that we have so many Anonymous Internet Trolls running around they've spoiled the soup for the nice and respectful bloggers. Perhaps we have to remove the good with the bad as the community does not seem to want to police itself.

We've got to do it for them.

Bonnie Piesse Is "Aunt Beru" From Star Wars Episode II and Episode III

Actress Bonnie Piesse appeared at WonderCon in San Francisco and was kind enough to listen to my stupid question regarding her time playing "Aunt Beru" in Star Wars Episode II and Star Wars Episode III. In our conversation Bonnie explains that the baby she held was in fact not real, but was made to feel like a real baby.



She also offered that George Lucas, who directed and produced the movies, was relaxed and easy to work with. Finally, Bonnie talks about her music and her album which is set to debut in late 2007.

The Bill Clinton / Hillary Clinton / Ron Burkle Memos

The bottom line is that Bill Clinton's had this unchecked investment organization that has paid the Clinton's over $1,000 in payments. That same company invests Worldwide. Because the Clinton's are being paid, it does seem like influnce-peddling. Indeed, it's hard to argue against such a claim. But the bottom line is that poltiicians are still paying for access. This must end -- please.


YUCAIPA COMPANIES: “POSTER CHILD
FOR THE ILLS OF POLITICAL DONATIONS AND BUSINESS”
Yucaipa is a holding company that invests across a wide range of industries—from groceries to logistics to
magazine distribution. Ronald Burkle, chairman of Yucaipa, has been a multi-million fundraiser and donor for
Bill and Hillary Clinton and in Bill Clinton’s post-presidency, Burkle has emerged as a close friend and rain-
maker for the Clintons – and the friendship has been prosperous for both.

“The mainstream business press beats up on [Burkle], essentially for buying access and
influence among politicians and leaders of the pension funds that invest with him
(FORBES included). ‘I basically became the poster child for the ills of political donations
and business. It’s preposterous!’ Burkle protests.” [Forbes, 12/11/06]

BILL CLINTON AND YUCAIPA

2006: Bill Clinton Has Guaranteed Payments “Over $1,000” From Yucaipa And Has Invested In Several
Yucaipa Funds. Hillary’s financial disclosure report indicates that Bill Clinton has “over $1,000” in guaranteed
payments from Yucaipa Global Holdings. Because the Clintons are not required to report the actual amount or
any range of income that is more specific than “over $1,000” we do not know how much Bill has been compen-
sated. Through WJC International Investments GP, Bill Clinton invests in Yucaipa Global Holdings and Yu-
caipa Global Partnership. The Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund “invests in securities of corporations that con-
duct significant operations in foreign countries.” Clinton reported interest income between $201-$1,000 from
Yucaipa Global Holdings and between $1,001-$2,500 from Yucaipa Global Partnership Fund. [2006 Sen. Clinton
Senate Financial Disclosure Report; 6, 8]

2005: Bill Clinton Has Guaranteed Payments “Over $1,000” From Yucaipa And Has Invested In Several
Yucaipa Funds. Hillary Clinton’s Senate annual financial-disclosure statement for 2005 show Bill Clinton re-
ceiving ‘guaranteed’ partnership payments from the Yucaipa Global Opportunities Fund I LLC of ‘over
$1,000.’ A spokesman for Bill Clinton said he owns a one-third share of that fund. The two other Yucaipa
funds involving the former president the Yucaipa American Fund and the Yucaipa Corporate Initiative Fund
aren’t listed on Hillary Clinton’s disclosure form. Bill Clinton’s spokesman said he would only receive remu-
neration from those two funds if they meet certain investment benchmarks. Since he hasn’t received any mon-
ies from them, no disclosure is required, the spokesman said.” [Wall Street Journal, 5/2/07]

∞ WSJ: Bill Clinton May Receive Millions From Yucaipa. “After leaving the White House, Bill Clinton
became a senior adviser to Yucaipa and involved in three of its investment funds. When Clinton joined
Yucaipa in 2002, the company said he would ‘provide counsel’ and ‘participate in events related to the
funds and provide advice in the development of potential investments.’ Neither Yucaipa nor Mr. Clinton
has released full details about the former president’s compensation. Some observers have estimated he
could make millions of dollars or more from his Yucaipa connection. [Wall Street Journal, 5/2/07]

YUCAIPA BUSINESS DEALS

TRUCKING DEAL: BILL CLINTON HOOKS BURKLE UP WITH HOFFA, TEAMSTERS

Bill Clinton Assisted Billionaire Hillary Clinton Bundler Ron Burkle In A Controversial Effort To Take
Over The Car Hauling Business. Los Angeles billionaire Ron Burkle has stirred up controversy with his ef-
fort to take control of a big chunk of the nation’s car-hauling business, with some help from Bill Clinton. In
2006 two investment funds in Burkle’s Yucaipa Cos. bought big holdings of Allied Holdings Inc. debt, making
Yucaipa the largest unsecured creditor of the company, which sought bankruptcy-court protection in 2005. Ear-

lier this year, Yucaipa gained control of Performance Transportation Services, another big car hauler. Allied and
Performance together account for an estimated 50 percent of the new vehicles hauled by truck in the U.S. The
International Brotherhood of Teamsters agreed to back a 15 percent wage cut for those workers. By bringing
Burkle together with teamsters boss James Hoffa, Bill Clinton helped to pave the way for the two sides to work
together in the effort to reorganize Allied and bring it out of bankruptcy proceedings. [Wall Street Journal, 5/2/07]

∞ Lawsuit Says Yucaipa Interfered With Teamsters To Push Own Reorganization Plan. Now, a fed-
eral lawsuit filed in Atlanta by some union members, three Allied directors and several outside investors
alleges Yucaipa interfered in Allied’s talks with the Teamsters as a way to push through its own reor-
ganization plan. They also say that as an owner of a major Allied competitor, Yucaipa has a conflict of
interest and is looking to gain an improper amount of market power in the car-hauling business. In the
Allied matter, Burkle has credited President Clinton with persuading Hoffa to work with Yucaipa as a un-
ion-friendly employer a feat that Burkle said he couldn’t have pulled off on his own. Teamster and Yu-
caipa officials say that in 2003 Clinton suggested to Hoffa that he look to Yucaipa if any companies em-
ploying Teamsters got into financial trouble.” [Wall Street Journal, 5/2/07]

Mickey Kaus: Clinton-Burkle-Hoffa Deal Has Implications If Hillary Is President. Kaus wrote, “Yucaipa
arranged for Clinton to make a speech at a Teamsters conference in 2003, and later Clinton urged Teamsters
President James Hoffa Jr. to trust Burkle and present him with possible deals. Result: This spring Yucaipa paid
$100 million to buy a controlling stake in Allied Holdings, a trucking outfit in bankruptcy proceedings. ‘Clinton
got it to the point where Hoffa actually helped us with that deal, something I couldn’t have gotten on my own,’
Burkle says. So Hoffa helps Clinton with a deal that makes Clinton and Burkle money. And if Hoffa needs
something in a few years from President Hillary Clinton’s White House ...” [Mickey Kaus, Slate, 12/28/06]

INVESTMENTS IN ASTROLOGICAL SOFTWARE AND DISTRIBTION OF PLAYBOY

Recent Yucaipa Investments Have Included Alliance Entertainment Corp. And Source Interlink. Accord-
ing to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Alliance Entertainment Corp., Florida, is a music and magazine distributor.
Yucaipa paid an estimated $130 million for the company in 1999, and traded the firm for stock worth more than
$300 million in 2005 to Source Interlink Cos., leaving Yucaipa as Source Interlink’s largest shareholder.” [Phila-
delphia Inquirer, 3/26/06]

MATRIX SOFTWARE

Matrix Software, Part Of Alliance Entertainment, Is The Leading Astrological Software Provider. “Ma-
trix Software is the leading developer and publisher of specialty astrological software for use on personal PC’s.
Founded in 1977 Matrix is one of the oldest continuously operating PC software companies in existence today.
Matrix Software became a part of Alliance Entertainment in 1995 when it was purchased with its sister com-
pany All Media Guide (AMG). Today Matrix catalog of more than sixty programs are used by astrologers, and
the astrologically curious in over 119 countries. The Matrix Oracle online is one of the most visited astrology
sites on the web.” [Alliance Entertainment website, accessed 5/23/07]

SOURCE INTERLINK

Source Interlink Renewed Full Distribution And Marketing Agreements With Playboy. A Source Interlink
press release included, under the heading “Recent Business Highlights”: “The Company renewed full distribu-
tion and marketing services agreements with Playboy Enterprises International, Inc. and Scientific American,
Inc. for the international marketplace. [PR Newswier, 4/17/06]


Source Interlink Secured Exclusive Distribution Of All Magazines To And Borders Stores... In a May
2007 Source Interlink press release, Michael Duckworth, chairman of Source Interlink, commented “We are
very pleased to have been selected by Borders Group as its exclusive supplier of magazines and we consider
this to be an outstanding opportunity to help expand the category. We look forward to working with the com-
pany and our publisher partners to enhance the customer experience at newsstands.” [Source interlink press release,
11/04/05, accessed 5/23/07; Source interlink press release, 5/7/07, accessed 5/23/07]

...And Penthouse Sales Grew At Borders. Mediaweek wrote, “Penthouse has stopped taking ads with strong
sexual content, resulting in a 4.1 percent drop in ad pages year to date, according to the Mediaweek Magazine
Monitor. But circulation has increased. The title is back at many more Borders and Barnes & Noble outlets, and
paid and verified circ was up 2.9 percent, to 366,024, in the six months ended June 30, according to the Audit
Bureau of Circulations.” [Mediaweek, 10/9/06]

DEAL WITH CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM

2006: Calpers: We Chose To Invest In Yucaipa Funds Because Of Their Track Record, Commitment To
Disadvantaged Communities. The New York Times wrote, “The California Public Employees Retirement
System, often called Calpers, is a major investor in the two domestic funds of Yucaipa, committing $400 mil-
lion since 2002 with an option to invest another $275 million, according to public records. Calpers officials said
they chose to invest with Yucaipa because it has a stellar track record and it invests in communities that have
trouble attracting other investment capital.” [New York Times, 4/23/06]

2002: Experts: Bill Clinton Is Worth $5 Million A Year To Raise Investment Funds From Unions. The
New York Post wrote, “Bill Clinton has landed a real job. And if the ex-president rakes in enough cash for the
coffers of Yucaipa Cos., a group of investment funds based in Los Angeles, his pay could top $5 million a year,
experts estimated. ‘He can get that [$5 million] and more,’ said one. ‘He’s worth it.’ The fund managers want
Clinton to help raise $1.5 billion, mainly from the nation’s $400 billion in union pension funds.” [New York Post,
4/12/02]

∞ Success Raising Funds From Unions Motivated Creation Of The Second Domestic Fund. The New
York Times wrote, “The two funds started by Yucaipa first got their start last year when the California
Public Employees’ Retirement System, one of the nation’s largest and most influential pension plans, ap-
proved a $475 million initiative to invest in blighted urban and rural communities throughout the state.
The retirement system then picked 11 investment firms as partners with the hope it would spur develop-
ment in areas ignored by venture capitalists. Yucaipa was allotted $200 million by the retirement system
and set up a fund. But Mr. Burkle liked the idea enough to start another fund, the American Fund, which
has raised $560 million from state and union pensions.” [New York Times, 4/11/02]

2004: Data Showed Zero Return From Yucaipa Funds. The New York Times wrote, “Mr. Scheer also said
that the information would help settle longstanding questions about whether some investment partnerships were
favored because they had cultivated relationships with politicians and celebrities. A family of private invest-
ment partnerships created by the Yucaipa Companies, for instance, sometimes sponsors appearances by former
President Bill Clinton at conferences for pension trustees. The new data show that Calpers paid fees around $8.6
million to three Yucaipa investment partnerships in 2003. The return from those partnerships was zero.” [New
York Times, 12/8/04]


Burkle Won No-Auction Deals From CALPERS, Leaned On Ties To Influential Politicians. Forbes wrote,
“In 2000 Burkle decided to launch a few private equity funds aimed at big no-auction deals (he has been the
sole bidder in 75% of his transactions), and he brandished a well-honed talent for mixing business and politics.
California’s then $165 billion state pension plan, Calpers, committed $760 million to Burkle’s funds. More
scorn for Burkle: In the mid-1990s he had contributed money to the campaigns of Governor Gray Davis, San
Francisco’s former mayor Willie Brown (his former lawyer) and State Treasurer Philip Angelides, and later
Brown and Angelides joined the Calpers board. ‘How were we supposed to know in the mid-1990s that Willie
Brown was going to be on the board of Calpers?’ he says. You would never have guessed unless maybe you
knew that Willie Brown was about as well-connected as any politician in California’s history.” [Forbes, 12/11/06]

∞ CALPERS Board Drew Criticism For Awarding Investment Deal To Yucaipa Despite Ties To The
Company and Burkle. “Bob Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies, a consumer
watchdog group in Los Angeles, said he is concerned that CalPERS board members are ‘in the position
of voting to invest with people who have made campaign contributions. I think there’s a problem with
that.’ [...] Nine of the board’s 13 members are elected officials. Six are elected to the board directly by
current and former state employees, and three more seats are held by San Francisco Mayor Brown, State
Treasurer Phil Angelides and State Controller Kathleen Connell. [AP, 7/18/02]

∞ Key CalPERS Decision Makers Received Campaign Contributions. “State records show that Brown,
Angelides and Connell all received campaign contributions from supermarket magnate Ron Burkle, his
wife or his companies. All three later voted to invest hundreds of millions with Burkle’s Yucaipa
Co...Paul Sanford at the Center for Responsive Politics in Washington, D.C., a nonpartisan group that
tracks money in politics, said those who had received money from Burkle should have recused them-
selves. ‘That doesn’t even seem like a close call,’ he said.” [AP, 7/18/02]

CLINTON APPOINTEE STEERS BURKLE TOWARDS (BUNGLED) FEMA CONTRACT

Burkle Firm, AmeriCold Logistics, Won FEMA Contract With James Lee Witt’s Help. USA Today wrote,
“A firm headed by former Federal Emergency Management Agency director James Lee Witt helped a Georgia
company win federal contracts worth up to $85 million in work related to Hurricane Katrina and other major
2005 storms, interviews and government records show. James Lee Witt Associates received $40,000 in lobby-
ing fees this year for representing Atlanta-based AmeriCold Logistics, one of the nation’s largest cold-storage
companies, federal records show. As part of the lobbying effort, Witt’s firm arranged a meeting between FEMA
officials and AmeriCold last spring, before the start of the hurricane season, Witt spokesman Barry Scanlon
said.” According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, “AmeriCold Logistics, Atlanta, is the nation’s largest cold-
storage company. Yucaipa paid $145 million for 21 percent of AmeriCold in 2004.” [Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/26/06;
USA TODAY, 10/13/05]

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Q&A - Charlotte, NC – June 5, 2007

Q&A with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell

Charlotte, NC – June 5, 2007

Re: What it means to present the award to Carolina Panthers Owner/Founder
Jerry Richardson?
A great deal. Jerry Richardson is not only an important person to the NFL, but he’s also
an incredibly important person to this region. What he’s done for this region and to be
able to honor him was a great honor for me.

Re: His relationship with Richardson.
It goes back now almost 20 years to when he began his effort to get an expansion
franchise. From the moment I met him, you just have a great admiration and respect for
his integrity, his values and for his can-do attitude. He’s always demonstrated that and
he’s been incredibly important both to me but more importantly to the league in his
tenure as the owner of the Carolina Panthers. I can’t say enough good things about
Jerry Richardson.

Re: What kind of addition to the NFL the Panthers have been?
I stated earlier I believe he’s put together a model franchise here. It’s representative of
his community. It’s representative of his family. He’s done everything he can to make
sure this franchise represents the community in the best possible way. I think he’s
somebody this region should be very proud of.

Re: Conduct being a focus this offseason.
It hasn’t been our focus. Obviously, we’ve had to deal with that and we believe we’re off
to setting some important standards to making sure our players and their coaches and
everyone involved in the NFL understand the importance of it. But it’s an ongoing issue
and it’s going to continue to be an ongoing issue.

Re: The feedback he has gotten from the players on his conduct policy.
We put this policy together with a lot of input from the players. I met with well over 100
players, including the union, and got a great deal of input to try to understand what are
the issues we’re dealing with and what should we do to try to address this issue. I think
the reaction has been quite supportive. Our players are outstanding young men, and
they are doing great things in their community. Obviously, we’ve had a few incidents
we’re not happy about and we’ve dealt with this and we’ve had the support of players in
doing that.

Re: When he will know if the steps he has taken are successful?
I think it’s an ongoing issue you just have to address. You have to recognize we’re
dealing with young people, a large number of people, 2,000 young men, and mistakes,
they’re going to make mistakes. What we need to do is provide as many resources as
we possibly can to help them make good decisions. But it’s going to happen, and when
it happens, they have to understand the consequences of that also.

2
Re: Richardson stressing the importance of character in his players.
It’s important for Jerry Richardson because this franchise represents this community
and his family, and it represents the National Football League. It’s no mistake he’s got
the NFL shield at the 50-yard line of Bank of America Stadium. It means a great deal to
him. I know he’s supportive of the policy and so are the players, having met with them
this morning.

Re: The rift between retired players and NFL Players Association Executive
Director Gene Upshaw.
The retired players are important to us. They helped us build the game. I don’t think
there’s anybody that I know of that’s done more for retired players or players in general
than Gene Upshaw. I think he’s done a tremendous amount toward that. I think it’s
unfortunate that this kind of thing is going on. I think that’s the reason Gene and I have
talked about forming this alliance to make sure we can address these issues in a
responsible fashion. I don’t think it’s helpful, but I understand it’s an emotional issue
also.

Re: What say to both sides?
I don’t think there are both sides. I think we have a genuine interest, and Gene leans
that way, to try to do what’s responsible for our players. No one has done more for
players than Gene Upshaw.

Re: Upshaw saying he would break Joe DeLamielleure’s neck.
I wasn’t part of those discussions so I don’t have any response to it.

Re: The prospect of a competing professional football league involving Dallas
Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban.
I don’t know many of the details of it so I really couldn’t comment too much on it.

Re: How much bigger the NFL can get?
I think our game is a great game. I think it’s healthy on all levels, and we’re looking for
ways to expand the popularity of our game, not only in the United States but on a global
basis. We think there’s still tremendous growth out of the National Football League
because the game is so strong and our fans are so passionate.

Re: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick’s status for the 2007 season.
We don’t deal with hypotheticals. We’re waiting to make sure we gather all the facts and
we understand what the circumstances are. Michael and I have met. We’ve talked on
the phone. He understands what is expected of him, and I expect he’s going to make
the changes necessary in his life to make sure he avoids these things going forward.

Re: Role as the NFL commissioner and being comfortable in his new position.
Non-stop. It’s always an issue we have to deal with, but I knew that getting into it. There
weren’t a lot of surprises when you start this job after being in it 25 years. You
understand the role and the responsibility and the accountability we have to our fans.
3
It’s an awesome responsibility, but I enjoy it. I love the NFL and I want to contribute
whatever I can to that.

Re: Conduct being his stamp and other issues he hopes to advance.
I understand why the media is focused on the player conduct issue. We are not. We
have a number of challenges we are dealing with on a daily basis, mostly on how we
continue to expand the popularity of the game. I think the player conduct issue is
something that’s important to the league, to make sure people respect our players and
the NFL in general. But we’re focused more on how we can continue to promote the
league on a broader basis.

The media world is changing. We have to be responsive to that and make sure we can
find ways to continue to deliver NFL football to future generations of NFL fans. So we’re
continuing to make sure we stay up with those changes and making sure we’re
positioned properly to continue to do that.

Re: Looking forward to the end of his first year as NFL commissioner:
I can’t wait.

Re: His first year as NFL commissioner.
There have been no surprises. When you work for the NFL for 25 years, when you work
for the two greatest sports commissioners, as I did with Pete Rozelle and Paul
Tagliabue, you’re not surprised by much. On the other hand, feeling that awesome
responsibility is really something you feel as much to the fans as to the ownership or
anyone associated with the NFL.

# # #

NFL Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agent Signings - June 14th

This is from NFLMedia.com

2007 NFL UNRESTRICTED & RESTRICTED FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS
AS OF 6/14/07

(Based on official notification to NFL office)

1) 126 UNRESTRICTED free agents have signed with a NEW team:

TEAM PLAYER FORMER TEAM DATE REPORTED

ARIZONA DE Rodney Bailey Pittsburgh 4/13
CB Ralph Brown Cleveland 4/13
T Mike Gandy Buffalo 4/3
S Terrence Holt Detroit 3/8
CB Roderick Hood Philadelphia 3/13
C Al Johnson Dallas 3/6
NT Ross Kolodziej Minnesota 4/11
WR Sean Morey Pittsburgh 3/15
DE Joe Tafoya Seattle 4/13

ATLANTA K Billy Cundiff New Orleans 5/7
G Toniu Fonoti Miami 3/15
T Leander Jordan San Diego 5/9
FB Ovie Mughelli Baltimore 3/2
CB Lewis Sanders Houston 3/7
LB Marcus Wilkins Cincinnati 3/3

BUFFALO G Derrick Dockery Washington 3/3
RB Josh Scobey Seattle 5/3
T Langston Walker Oakland 3/3
C Jason Whittle Minnesota 3/3

CAROLINA S Deke Cooper San Francisco 3/26

CHICAGO DT Anthony Adams San Francisco 3/30

CINCINNATI DT Kenderick Allen Green Bay 5/14
DT Michael Myers Denver 4/20

CLEVELAND DE Antwan Peek Houston 3/5
DT Robaire Smith Tennessee 3/16
G Eric Steinbach Cincinnati 3/3
CB Kenny Wright Washington 3/6

DALLAS T Leonard Davis Arizona 3/5
S Ken Hamlin Seattle 3/26

DENVER TE Daniel Graham New England 3/9
LB Warrick Holdman Washington 4/26
G Montrae Holland New Orleans 3/5
LB D.D. Lewis Seattle 4/26
DT Alvin McKinley Cleveland 3/21
P Todd Sauerbrun New England 4/20
RB Paul Smith St. Louis 3/6

DETROIT RB T.J. Duckett Washington 3/16
CB Travis Fisher St. Louis 3/13
WR Shaun McDonald St. Louis 3/19
WR Troy Walters Arizona 6/1
DE DeWayne White Tampa Bay 3/5

JACKSONVILLE WR Dennis Northcutt Cleveland 3/5
T Tony Pashos Baltimore 3/3

GREEN BAY CB Frank Walker NY Giants 3/15

HOUSTON LB Shawn Barber Philadelphia 3/21
T Jordan Black Kansas City 3/9
WR Andre Davis Buffalo 4/12
RB Ahman Green Green Bay 3/5
LB Danny Clark New Orleans 3/7
CB Jamar Fletcher Detroit 4/5


INDIANAPOLIS
DT Jeff Zgonina
G Rick DeMulling
Miami
Detroit
3/15
3/30
KANSAS CITY
TE Mike Seidman
DT Alfonso Boone
Carolina
Chicago
5/8
3/20
LS J.P. Darche
LB Donnie Edwards
Seattle
San Diego
3/8
3/19
LB Napoleon Harris
S Jon McGraw
Minnesota
Detroit
3/6
3/28
MIAMI
G Damion McIntosh
K Jay Feely
Miami
NY Giants
3/3
3/8
WR Az-Zahir Hakim
G Chris Liwienski
San Diego
Arizona
3/22
3/22
TE David Martin
FB Cory Schlesinger
Green Bay
Detroit
3/5
3/15
MINNESOTA
S Cameron Worrell
LB Vinny Ciurciu
Chicago
Carolina
3/8
3/3
S Mike Doss
WR Cortez Hankton
Indianapolis
Jacksonville
4/4
4/16
TE Visanthe Shiancoe
WR Bobby Wade
N.Y. Giants
Tennessee
3/5
3/7
NEW ENGLAND TE Kyle Brady
CB Tory James
Jacksonville
Cincinnati
3/3
4/24
RB Sammy Morris
WR Donte’ Stallworth
Miami
Philadelphia
3/3
3/13
LB Adalius Thomas
WR Kelley Washington
Baltimore
Cincinnati
3/3
3/13
NEW ORLEANS LB Troy Evans
TE Eric Johnson
Houston
San Francisco
4/10
3/8
NEW YORK GIANTS
S Kevin Kaesviharn
LB Kawika Mitchell
Cincinnati
Kansas City
3/15
3/27
CB Michael Stone
QB Anthony Wright
Houston
Cincinnati
4/16
4/18
NEW YORK JETS FB Darian Barnes
DE David Bowens
Miami
Miami
3/8
4/2
DE Kenyon Coleman
QB Marques Tuiasosopo
Dallas
Oakland
3/6
3/23
OAKLAND G Cooper Carlisle
T Cornell Green
FB Justin Griffith
Denver
Tampa Bay
Atlanta
4/13
3/30
3/12
C Jeremy Newberry
RB Dominic Rhodes
San Francisco
Indianapolis
3/7
3/9
TE Tony Stewart
WR Travis Taylor
Cincinnati
Minnesota
3/12
5/22
PHILADELPHIA
TE Fred Wakefield
WR Kevin Curtis
Arizona
St. Louis
3/9
3/19
WR Bethel Johnson
DT Ian Scott
Minnesota
Chicago
3/15
5/3
PITTSBURGH DE Nick Eason
C Sean Mahan
Cleveland
Tampa Bay
4/16
3/12
ST. LOUIS WR Drew Bennett
LB Chris Draft
Tennessee
Carolina
3/3
4/2
S Todd Johnson
RB Travis Minor
Chicago
Miami
3/12
3/9
SAN FRANCISCO
CB Lenny Walls
LB Tully Banta-Cain
Kansas City
New England
4/4
3/7
DB Nate Clements
NT Aubrayo Franklin
Buffalo
Baltimore
3/3
3/3
WR Ashley Lelie Atlanta 3/6


S Michael Lewis Philadelphia
SEATTLE S Deon Grant Jacksonville
DE Brandon Green St. Louis
DE Patrick Kerney Atlanta
S Brian Russell Cleveland
TAMPA BAY RB B.J. Askew N.Y. Jets
LB Patrick Chukwura Denver
QB Jeff Garcia Philadelphia
LB Cato June Indianapolis
DE Lance Legree San Francisco
TE Jerramy Stevens Seattle
TENNESSEE WR Justin Gage Chicago
CB Nicholas Harper Indianapolis
QB Tim Rattay Tampa Bay
CB Bryan Scott New Orleans
WASHINGTON LB London Fletcher Buffalo
CB David Macklin Arizona
S Omar Stoutmire New Orleans

2) 88 UNRESTRICTED free agents have re-signed with their OLD team:

TEAM PLAYER

ARIZONA LB Monty Beisel
DT Chris Cooper
S Hanik Milligan
RB Marcel Shipp

BALTIMORE DE Jarret Johnson
S Gerome Sapp
RB Musa Smith

BUFFALO RB Anthony Thomas
CB Kiwaukee Thomas
CAROLINA LB Na’il Diggs

DT Kindal Moorehead
CHICAGO G Ruben Brown
CINCINNATI TE Reggie Kelly

RB Kenny Watson
CLEVELAND C Hank Fraley
C Lennie Friedman
DALLAS T Marc Colombo
K Martin Grammatica
DENVER WR Quincy Morgan
DE Kenny Peterson
DETROIT RB Aveion Cason
DE Corey Smith
GREEN BAY C Tyson Walter
LB Tracy White

HOUSTON TE Mark Bruener
RB Ron Dayne
DE Ndukwe Kalu
CB Dexter McCleon
T Ephraim Salaam
P Chad Stanley

INDIANAPOLIS LB Rocky Boiman
DT Dan Klecko
WR Aaron Moorehead
LB Rob Morris

JACKSONVILLE LB Tony Gilbert

3/3
3/13
4/25
3/7
3/12
3/5
3/3
3/3
3/19
3/8
4/30
3/23
3/16
5/11
3/26
3/3
4/6
3/22
DATE REPORTED
3/15
3/26
3/3
3/6
3/6
4/11
3/6
3/12
3/13
3/2
4/23
3/30
3/8
3/5
3/3
3/20
3/12
3/7
3/12
3/13
3/7
3/5
3/5
3/7
3/12
3/23
3/5
4/2
3/5
3/7
4/17
3/23
4/27
3/5
3/26


RB LaBrandon Toefield 3/29
KANSAS CITY DT Ron Edwards 3/15
QB Damon Huard 3/2
DT James Reed 4/16
DE Jimmy Wilkerson 3/21
MIAMI CB Michael Lehan 3/19
LB Donnie Spragan 4/25
S Travares Tillman 4/13
NT Keith Traylor 3/8
MINNESOTA LB Jason Glenn 4/4
NEW ENGLAND FB Heath Evans 3/2
LB Larry Izzo 3/6
LB Junior Seau 5/21
N.Y. GIANTS C Shaun O’Hara 3/3
C Grey Ruegamer 3/27
N.Y. JETS T Anthony Clement 3/19
C Wade Smith 3/12
NEW ORLEANS S Jay Bellamy 4/2
CB Dejuan Groce 3/9
NT Antwan Lake 3/5
T Jon Stinchcomb 3/5
OAKLAND T Chad Slaughter 3/12
CB Duane Starks 3/26
WR Alvis Whitted 3/9
PHILADELPHIA RB Correll Buckhalter 3/21
CB William James 3/15
DE Juqua Thomas 3/2
PITTSBURGH S Tyrone Carter 4/2
RB Najeh Davenport 3/6
CB Chidi Iwuoma 3/15
ST. LOUIS LB Raonall Smith 5/3
T Todd Steussie 3/7
SAN DIEGO G Kris Dielman 3/5
LB Carlos Polk 3/22
C Cory Withrow 3/9
SAN FRANCISCO WR Bryan Gilmore 3/3
LB Hannibal Navies 3/16
RB Moran Norris 3/5
SEATTLE WR Bobby Engram 3/23
G Chris Gray 4/9
TE Will Heller 3/5
G Floyd Womack 3/12
TAMPA BAY CB Philip Buchanon 3/2
CB Torrie Cox 3/3
TENNESSEE QB Kerry Collins 3/12
DT Rien Long 3/2
S Donnie Nickey 4/2
T Seth Wand 3/8
LB LeVar Woods 3/12
WASHINGTON S Vernon Fox 3/2
CB Ade Jimoh 3/6
T Todd Wade 3/20
TE Todd Yoder 3/15

3) 4 RESTRICTED free agents have signed with NEW teams:
TEAM PLAYER FORMER TEAM DATE REPORTED
CLEVELAND DT Shaun Smith Cincinnati 3/16


NEW ORLEANS CB Jason David Indianapolis 4/27
ST. LOUIS P Donnie Jones Miami 4/18
TENNESSEE LB Ryan Fowler Dallas 3/16

4) 88 RESTRICTED free agents have re-signed with their OLD team:

TEAM PLAYER DATE REPORTED
ARIZONA C Nick Leckey 4/13
ATLANTA TE Dwayne Blakely 4/4
QB Matt Schaub 3/22 (Traded to Houston)
LB Demorrio Williams 4/23
BALTIMORE WR Devard Darling 5/15
WR Clarence Moore 4/24
PR B.J. Sams 5/10
BUFFALO DT Tim Anderson 4/17
DE Tony Hargrove 4/5
CAROLINA DT Jordan Carstens 3/20
WR Drew Carter 4/18
TE Michael Gaines 5/4
CINCINNATI G Stacey Andrews 4/23
CB Greg Brooks 4/2
LB Landon Johnson 4/20
P Kyle Larson 3/20
LB Caleb Miller 4/24
CLEVELAND T Nat Dorsey 4/27
NT Ethan Kelley 4/20
LB Mason Unck 4/25
DALLAS WR Patrick Crayton 4/5
CB Nathan Jones 4/13
CB Jacques Reeves 4/20
DENVER RB Kyle Johnson 4/2
RB Cecil Sapp 4/11
DETROIT LS Don Muhlbach 3/2
S Keith Smith 4/24
HOUSTON LB Charlie Anderson 4/24
S Glenn Earl 4/28
CB Von Hutchins 4/3
RB Vonta Leach 3/26
LB Shantee Orr 4/23
INDIANAPOLIS LB Gilbert Gardner 3/16
G Ryan Lilja 3/20
G Jake Scott 4/19
QB Jim Sorgi 4/11
DE Josh Thomas 4/24
JACKSONVILLE CB Ahmad Carroll 4/4
LB Jorge Cordova 4/19
QB Quinn Gray 4/20
DE Bobby McCray 6/13
K Josh Scobee 3/2
WR Ernest Wilford 4/20
KANSAS CITY DE Jared Allen 5/22
LB Keyaron Fox 4/24
WR Samie Parker 4/26
T Kevin Sampson 4/26
S Benny Sapp 4/3
LB Rich Scanlon 4/24
K Lawrence Tynes 4/4
MIAMI S Yeremiah Bell 5/21


QB Cleo Lemon 5/29
WR Wes Welker 3/5 (Traded to New England)
MINNESOTA G Anthony Herrera 4/23
DT Spencer Johnson 4/24
TE Richard Owens 4/19
RB Artose Pinner 4/23
DE Darrion Scott 6/1
NEW ENGLAND CB Randall Gay 5/29
G Gene Mruckzowski 3/22
NEW ORLEANS WR Terrance Copper 3/27
NT Rodney Leisle 4/3
NEW YORK GIANTS LB Reggie Torbor 4/23
RB Derrick Ward 5/29
S Gibril Wilson 5/2
NEW YORK JETS TE Sean Ryan 3/26
LB Cody Spencer 3/28
OAKLAND RB Reshard Lee 5/7
PITTSBURGH QB Brian St. Pierre 4/23
T Max Starks 4/25
ST. LOUIS LB Brandon Chillar 4/23
G Adam Goldberg 4/19
TE Aaron Walker 4/17
SAN DIEGO RB Michael Turner 4/26
SAN FRANCISCO RB Maurice Hicks 5/3
P Andy Lee 3/8
SEATTLE CB Jordan Babineaux 5/4
WR D.J. Hackett 4/23
LB Niko Koutouvides 4/20
T Sean Locklear 4/24
DT Craig Terrill 4/3
LB Robert Reynolds 4/4
TAMPA BAY G Jeb Terry 5/7
TENNESSEE C Eugene Amano 4/17
T Jacob Bell 6/14
TE Ben Hartsock 4/24
DT Randy Starks 4/17
WASHINGTON P Derrick Frost 4/2

5) 0 FRANCHISE players have signed with NEW teams:
TEAM PLAYER FORMER TEAM DATE REPORTED

6) 3 FRANCHISE players have re-signed with their OLD team:
TEAM PLAYER DATE REPORTED
CINCINNATI DE Justin Smith 5/8
NEW ORLEANS DE Charles Grant 4/27
SEATTLE K Josh Brown 5/2

Browns TE Kellen Winslow Dumps Poston's As Agents - Hires Drew Rosenhaus - Profootballtalk.com

This indicates that Winslow's interested in preparing for a larger contract in the not-to-distant future.

WINSLOW MAKES AGENT CHANGE - PROFOOTBALLTALK.COM

Multiple league sources have informed us that Browns tight end Kellen Winslow has hired agent Drew Rosenhaus. Winslow previously was represented by Carl and Kevin Poston.

Carl Poston was summarily suspended by the NFLPA in 2006 due to alleged delays in the resolution of Poston's appeal of a two-year suspension resulting from his admitted failure to read the final draft of a new contract for then-Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington. The contract allegedly was supposed to pay two separate $6.5 million roster bonuses in 2006, and Poston claimed that the team pulled one of the roster bonuses from the last version of the deal. He said that he didn't notice the omission because he didn't read the contract. A league source tells us that the hearing on the original suspension will be conducted in September.

It's unclear whether Winslow made the change because of Carl Poston's status, or whether there were other factors. We've previously pointed out that Winslow's rookie deal contained a multi-million-dollar bonus tied to minimum playing time, but that it applied to his rookie season only. Most contracts of this nature allow for the payment to be triggered by reaching the 35-percent threshold in any year of the deal. Because Winslow broke a leg while playing special teams in 2004 and did not qualify for the payment, it was forever lost.

The hiring of Rosenhaus could be a sign that Winslow wants a new contract. However, it was only a year ago that the Browns and Winslow resolved the unfortunate "vroom-vroom, smash" incident by taking back some bonus money, adding a year to the deal, and giving him the opportunity to earn back the lost bonus money via incentives.

He currently is signed through 2010, and is due to earn a salary of $2 million in 2007. Rosenhaus will be eligible for no fee unless and until a new contract is negotiated.

But Winslow has bigger issues than his contract. He is recovering from microfracture surgery, and there are indications that he will be limited at the start of training camp. Still, he played well in 2006 and, if his knee allows him to play, he likely will continue to perform at a high level.

Letter To SF Chron's Phil Bronstein - In Ellen Lee's YouTube / CNN Story, "The Man" Is Zennie Abraham

In Ellen Lee's YouTube / CNN Story, "the man" she referred to is me...

Zennie Abraham.

Phil, Ellen knows who I am. We met several times, first through mutual friends at a tech function, then again at Vloggercon where she knows my friend Dina Kaplan of Blip.tv (who reintroduced us) and, where she said she'd call to ask me about Sports Business Simulations and video-blogging.

She never did.

Now, I was one of six blacks out of 300 people in attendance, and live in Oakland.

Then I saw her again -- but said nothing -- at the Vloggies. Then I've been at Web 2.0 and other events. And I continue video-blogging and running my online simulation company.

After following Ellen's request to call her, and hearing nothing back, yet seeing person after white person being presented by her in the SF Chron, I felt there was a problem and did in express this concern to her, but no feedback. Hey, it's a hard subject to adress, but it's something that must be done.

Now, YouTube commissioned me to make a sample video to show the nation how a debate question is to be asked. It's at
http://www.youtube.com/debates

I'm featured promimently in the video -- I'm first and credited. She could have tried to contact me; she did not.

So Ellen writes this, and starts with "a man stands in front of a check cashing center..."

That man is me.

What's the deal Phil? Is Ellen's prejudice against me for whatever reason so great she can't even bring herself to get the real story, let alone explain it even if it involves a Bay Area resident, and particularly someone of color making a mark in Video-Blogging?

This is troubling to me. I hope you agree and investigate this.

Best,

Zennie

YouTube - YouTube Features My Video Question For Debate

Hey Everyone,

That's not a doctored photo; it's me and CNN's Anderson Cooper on the YouTube page!

If you click on this link:

http://youtube.com/debates

You will see a video that features me as the first person asking a debate question for the upcoming CNN / YouTube Presidential Debates on July 23rd.

It's also here:



I thank YouTube and "Citizen Steve" for seeking me out and appreciating my diverse set of work.

Thanks!

Zennie Abraham
Chairman and CEO
Sports Business Simulations
"Learn to Run"
www.sbs-world.com
510-387-9809
zennie@sportsbusinesssims.com

CNN's Anti-Barack Obama Stance - Fear Of A Black President

CNN's so afraid of a Black president they've given to actually either hiding the truth or just plain giving their negative impressions.

Let's take CNN's Jacki Schechner's take on the YouTube Barack Obama page, where she issues critical comments which really are not her telling the news but giviing an opinion. It's the first time I've seen her do this, rather than just be a journalist and keep her ideas to herself.

But CNN's people are so afraid of Barack Obama's success, they'll do anything. I mean whatever it takes to misrepresent his position and popularity. I watched the Situation Room yesterday and CNN's Wolf Blizer took time to not tell us that Senator Obama was tied with Senator Clinton, but that an averaging of past polls shows Clinton ahead.

What!

Anything to avoid reporting Barack's success.

This is a total crime. We've got to take steps to make CNN behave fairly. It's obvious they're not going to play fair, so we've got to make them do it!

Let's roll!

Titans' Pacman Jones Accepts 1 Year NFL Suspension

Titans' Jones Accepts NFL Suspension
By DAVE GOLDBERG
AP Football Writer

NEW YORK -- Adam "Pacman" Jones dropped his appeal of a yearlong suspension Tuesday, pledging to repair an image that made the Tennessee Titans cornerback the poster child for NFL misconduct.

His decision came after a third meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell.

"I understand my responsibilities to my teammates, the Titans and my fans and I am committed to turning my life around and being a positive member of the NFL," Jones said in a statement issued by newly hired agent Michael Huyghue.

Jones was suspended after 10 encounters with police and five arrests since he was drafted in 2005.

"Last week, I asked for an opportunity to meet privately with commissioner Goodell," Jones said. "I met with him earlier today to tell him about the steps I have taken to change my life since being suspended by the NFL. I accept the discipline that's been imposed on me and I am withdrawing my appeal."

Neither the NFL nor the Titans commented.

Still pending is a case in Las Vegas involving a fight and shooting at a strip club during the NBA All-Star weekend that left one person paralyzed.

The outcome of that case could determine whether the suspension is reduced from 16 games to 10 games. That could happen if Jones adheres to the conditions set by Goodell and is not arrested again. If he misses the entire season, the suspension will cost him his salary of nearly $1.3 million.

Lt. George Castro in Las Vegas said police still have not connected what happened inside the strip club and the shooting that took place outside. No new suspects have been identified and police are not seeking new charges based on new information developed during the three months since District Attorney David Roger first declined to prosecute, Castro said.

Until now, Jones had been represented primarily in his dealings with the league by his lawyer, Manny Arora. After he was suspended by Goodell on April 10, Arora filed an appeal on Jones' behalf.

But this time, Jones was accompanied by Huyghue, who was his agent when he was drafted sixth overall in 2005 and is a former league office employee and former senior vice president of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Earlier this year, the players' union listed Jones as being without an agent, although Arora said Huyghue had been involved in case from the start.

Arora said he would have been at Tuesday's meeting, but was tied up with criminal cases. He emphasized that he remains Jones' lawyer, but that Huyghue's knowledge of the NFL was important in dealing with Goodell and other league officials.

Huyghue said Jones intended to keep working out and would go back to school, taking courses online from West Virginia University, where he played.

Jones' suspension was the most severe of three handed down this spring by Goodell as part of the commissioner's crackdown on player misbehavior during a year featuring the arrest of nine Cincinnati Bengals.

Tank Johnson of Chicago and Chris Henry of Cincinnati each got eight games. Johnson served two months in jail for violating probation on a gun charge. Henry, Jones' teammate at West Virginia, was arrested four times in 14 months. Henry served a two-game suspension last season.

Last week, the Titans took steps to fill Jones' vacancy by signing Kelly Herndon, a former starter at cornerback for Denver and Seattle.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So Adam must think that if he "cleans up his act" he'll get back after game 10, and if the titans are in the Playoff race he'll get a shot to contribute. Ofcourse all that goes doen the drain if he gets convicted in the "Vegas incident."
Meanwhile they are still trying to figure out weather they will file charges in that case. stay tuned for the saga of Adam Jones in a new movie entitled " the whole world doesn't like me and they just wanna keep a man down."

Senator Hillary Clinton's Poll Lead Due To Women - Washington Post

According to the Washington Post , Senator Hillary Clinton's poll leads -- until recently -- came due to her support from "less educated women" where Senator Obama fared better with women with higher education.

It will be interesting to see if this remains as we get more into the debate season.

Gallup Poll - Senator Obama Ties Hillary Clinton In USA Today / Gallup Poll

In a USA Today / Gallup Poll conducted June 5th, Senator Barack Obama has tied Senator Hillary Clinton. According to Gallup, "The poll was conducted June 1-3, 2007, and almost all of the interviews were completed prior to the Democratic candidate debate held in New Hampshire on Sunday, June 3. Republican candidates will debate one another in New Hampshire on Tuesday night, June 5...

The poll asked Democrats and independents who lean toward the Democratic Party who they are most likely to support for the Democratic nomination for president next year. Obama and Clinton are now tied, with 30% supporting Obama and 29% supporting Clinton. Seventeen percent of Democrats support former Vice President Al Gore for the nomination, and 11% support former North Carolina Senator John Edwards. No other candidate registers better than 3% support.