NFC South Week 10 Wrap Up

  NFC South Week 10 Wrap Up

 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer
Southeast Region

 
New Orleans 28 St. Louis 23
This was not supposed to be this hard for the Saints, but with the kind of football they have played recently, it’s no surprise that it was. Drew Brees started the year blowing defenses away with accuracy and hardly any mistakes. These past few games he has shown many flaws that can cost the Saints down the line come playoff time. So they came in to this with the chance to find their offense again. To put together four quarters of Saints football that add up to points. What they did was continue to make the mistakes that have made the past three games harder on them. The Rams had more first downs, more passing yards and more total yards. That is some of the things that have not happened to the Saints all year. They turned the ball over three times in all. Brees threw two more picks and was 18-26 for 223 yards. He also threw for two touchdown but once again was unable to dominate a lesser team. Reggie Bush had two scores for the first time since last year and Courtney Roby returned the second half kickoff 97 yards for another score. All of this was needed to hold off a 1-8 team that has not put up much of a fight against most opponents this year. The defense is really becoming an issue they must address now. The Rams were able to run with Steven Jackson (26-131 and a touchdown), and pass with Marc Bulger (26-40 298 and 2 scores with one pick). If the Saints are hoping to overtake the likes of Indianapolis, New England or defending champion Pittsburgh they have much work to do. They did rush for over 200 yards but must find a balance of pass and run to be more effective. They will have to tighten up on defense, as the elite teams will eat them alive in the postseason with their failures and mistakes.
 
Carolina 28 Atlanta 19
The theme of a Panthers win is simple these days. Don’t let Jake Delhomme get rattled and provided him with some defense to help. For the third game in a row he was turnover free and finished 15-24 for 195 yards and two touchdowns to Steve Smith. The running game was just as effective with DeAngelo Williams getting 92 yards on 19 carries and Jonathan Stewart adding 82 with two scoring runs. Carolina used the hurry up offense with Delhomme calling the plays and it worked pretty well. The Falcons on the other hand had their issues and the first one was the injury to running back Michael Turner’s ankle. He had already rushed for 111 yards when he got hurt and is now questionable for this week. Quarterback Matt Ryan had a horrendous first half and finished up 22-41 for just 224 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He has now thrown as many picks as last year and is suffering from the so-called sophomore jinx. The defense was shorthanded and they were out of sync all day. Jason Elam is one of the most sure fire kickers in this league and even he missed a 34-yard field goal that would have put the Falcons in the lead. Still Carolina found a way to keep Atlanta in the game until Richard Marshall intercepted a Ryan pass and then Stewart ran away with the game on his 45-yard scamper to end it.
 
Miami 25 Tampa Bay 23
Well it looks like the Bucs may have found their future quarterback in a season otherwise lost. For the second consecutive week Josh Freeman led his team on a fourth quarter comeback but fell just short this time. He was 16-28 for 196 yards with a touchdown and an interception but showed why this team chose him. He was also harassed by the Dolphins defense as he fumbled a snap to stop a drive and fumbled two more while being sacked but kept those. Still he had those shining moment you love to see out of an underdog type player like his scoring strike to Maurice Stovall to end the first quarter. The way he can keep his cool long enough to lead this team to the comeback when they really have no business being in the game. Kellen Winslow continues to improve getting over 100 yards receiving for the second time this year. Still head coach Raheem Morris continues to look for the right personnel to make this team click. Freeman is gaining confidence while learning the game of the NFL. His teammates are impressed with his ability to keep his cool in the line of fire. Kicker Connor Barth had field goals of 51,49,50 and 54 yards showing that the team has a kicker they can count on for the long one.

“FRO’s Favorite Five” Frankie’s Favorite Fantasy Picks Week 11

“FRO’s Favorite Five”
Frankie’s Favorite Fantasy Picks
Week 11

By Frankie Underwood, Senior Fantasy Writer at www.footballreportersonline.com Email questions and comments to Frankie@footballreportersonline.com


Short and sweet this week, since I have a weekend vacation:

Atlanta QB Matt Ryan against a still depleted Giants defense.

Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall against Kansas City.

Baltimore WR Derrick Mason against a depleted secondary in Indianapolis.

Chicago TE Greg Olsen against the Eagles.

Cincinnati Defense against Oakland with a new starting QB.


Last Weeks Favorite Five

Donovan McNabb - 450 passing yards 2 TDs 1 INT, that’s what I like to see.

Laurence Maroney - 31 rush yards 15 receiving yards 1 TD and 1 Fumble, at least he scored.

Sidney Rice – 200 receiving yards, what a day!!!

Todd Heap – 43 receiving yards, I guess that’s O.K.

Dallas Cowboys – 4 sacks, Tennessee or Green Bay would have been better choices.

Seven & Out – Week #10

Seven & Out – Week #10

By Michael – Louis Ingram-Associate Editor/Director of Scouting Football Reporters Online/ Contributing Writer-Black Athlete.com

 
PHILADELPHIA (BASN/FRO): The teams are approaching the top of the stretch, and as always, it will be not a matter of how one starts; but how one finishes.
Meanwhile, let’s get back to rollin’ those bones. Alright, shooter - the point is 10;
 
The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS defeated the St. Louis Rams 28-23 and improved to 9-0 for the first time in franchise history.  The Saints have scored an NFL-best 331 points, the fourth-most by a team in the first nine games of a season in NFL history.
 
 
(As the legions of fantasy fondlers masturbate at the sound of his name, I can’t find fault with 9-0; however, I can find fault with a contemptible punk like Drew Brees, who had the nerve to say the Old School retired players who helped him become a millionaire didn’t matter. With the overall offensive talent the Saints have, just about any QB could be successful with them now. So point blank – win some games in December, and a playoff game or two, and then we’ll talk. Until then, fuck Drew Brees - and the hobbyhorse he rode in on!)
 
 
Tennessee running back CHRIS JOHNSON rushed for 132 yards in the Titans’ 41-17 win against the Buffalo Bills.   Johnson, who leads the NFL with 1,091 rushing yards and is averaging 6.4 yards per carry, joined Pro Football Hall of Famer JIM BROWN (1963) and Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON (2007) as the only players in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards and average 6.4 yards per carry in a team’s first nine games of a season.
 
 
(We love Chris Johnson and the way he plays; but we have issues with the mainstream press ignoring Vince Young going 3-0 since reclaiming the starting spot; not, mind you, at the behest of head coach Jeff Fisher, but team owner Bud Adams. Hmmm - maybe the bird flipped by Adams after the victory over Buffalo wasn’t for the Bills’ fans after all).
 
 
San Diego running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON rushed for 96 yards and two touchdowns in the Chargers’ 31-23 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. Tomlinson recorded his 145th and 146th career touchdown and surpassed MARCUS ALLEN (145) for the third-most touchdowns all-time (JERRY RICE, 208; EMMITT SMITH, 175).  Tomlinson, who now has 12,145 career rushing yards also moved into 12th place for most rushing yards all-time.
 
 
(And, while Tomlinson is still being unappreciated in San Diego, Andy Reid and the Eagles continue to bitch up in prime time with their spineless approach on offense; I would rather have my defense go first and 10 from the opposition’s one yard line with no points scored than kick a fucking 8 yard field goal! Meanwhile 24 carries and two rushing touchdowns for L.T. and a game where Donovan McNabb threw for 450 yards, a career record – but still loses the fucking game - Lies, damn lies – and statistics; need I say any more?)
 
 
Arizona quarterback KURT WARNER threw two touchdown passes in the Cardinals’ 31-20 victory against the Seattle Seahawks.  Warner, who now has 200 touchdown passes, reached the mark in his 118th career game, becoming the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. 
 
 
(While Warner is a good guy, let’s remember that the throw means nothing – without the catch. Give Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston and Ben Patrick some love, too!)
 
 
Minnesota quarterback BRETT FAVRE passed for a season-high 344 yards in his 300th consecutive start (including postseason) in a 27-10 win over the Detroit Lions.  Favre’s 344 yards are the third-most passing yards in a game by a 40-year old quarterback in NFL history.  He trails only Pro Football Hall of Famer WARREN MOON (409 on October 26, 1997) and VINNY TESTAVERDE (355 on September 12, 2004).
 
 
(While Favre continues to rack up accolades, we know it took Testaverde at least a decade before he became a successful pro quarterback, and Moon was a star walking in the door.  As Minnesota seeks to fine-tune their potential for post-season success, they would do well to remember that #4 may make the noise, but #28 does the damage. Forget Adrian Peterson – and you can forget Miami; no matter how much swashbuckling is done).
 
 
Buffalo rookie safety JAIRUS BYRD registered his eighth interception of the season today against Tennessee.  Byrd has an interception in five consecutive games and is one of only two players since 1970 with an interception in five consecutive games in their first season in the NFL.  The other was Kansas City’s ERIC HARRIS in 1980 (six in a row).
 
 
(With all the noise made about young talent on the offensive side of the ball, a lot of defensive talent is taking a back seat due to the lack of publicity. Byrd has already proven to be a skilled ball hawk as a Buffalo Bill {like father, like son, right Gil?} and is a likely free agent prize-in-waiting should he remain healthy in a couple years; and Byrd is my front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Don’t let this one get away, Mr. Wilson!)
 
 
In a 41-17 win over Buffalo, Tennessee Titans head coach JEFF FISHER became the 10th head coach in NFL history to coach 250 career games (regular and postseason) with one team.  The Titans’ victory gives Fisher 136 wins for his career, tying him with Hall of Famer HANK STRAM for 20th all-time.
 
 
(They should subtract the 21 games Vince Young has won; since Fisher never wanted him quarterbacking his team in the first place. Rest assured, if he’s going to win any more games for the Titans, it will be with Young under center, if he knows what’s good for him).
 
 
 
Well, as always – once the point’s established, if you throw a seven, you’re gonna crap out!
 
 

 
mike@footballreportersonline.com
 
 
 
 

FRO's FAVORITE FIVE Top Five NFL Moments - Week 10

Photo: Lucas Oil Stadium-Where Peyton Manning trumped Bill Belichick ....

FRO's FAVORITE FIVE
Top Five NFL Moments - Week 10
by Jon Wagner, Sr. Writer-At Large, Football Reporters Online


#5: WARNER STARTS SLOW, FINISHES STRONG TO TIE FOUTS

After starting the 2009 season 4-0 on the road but just 1-3 at home, Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals appeared headed for another head-scratching home defeat. They trailed Seattle, which came in 0-3 on the road, 14-0 more than halfway through the second quarter, after being stopped on their first five drives. Then, Warner and the Cardinals caught fire, scoring on their next three possessions and on five of their next six, spanning the game’s final three quarters. In the end, the Cardinals scored 31 of the game’s final 37 points, to beat the Seahawks, 31-20. Warner finished the game throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 29 of 38 passes for 340 yards. It marked the 51st career 300-yard game for Warner, tying him with the legendary Dan Fouts for fourth on the all-time NFL list.


#4: SIDNEY RICE COOKS LION’S DEFENSE

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson calls his teammate Sidney Rice “Showtime,” but he didn’t come up with the nickname himself. “He’s got it tattooed on his arm,” Peterson said. ”It fits him well.” It certainly did on Sunday, in the Vikings’ 27-10 victory over the Detroit Lions, who joined the Houston Oilers (1982-84) as the only NFL teams to lose 31 of 33 games. Rice caught seven passes, accounting for 201 of Brett Favre’s season high 344 yards, to help the Vikings to 492 total yards of offense. It was the third time in four games that “Showtime” put on a show, as the Vikings’ 2007 second-round pick followed up receiving games of 176 yards in a win over Baltimore in Week 6 and a 136-yard effort in a Week 7 loss at Pittsburgh.


#3: BENGALS BEAT STEELERS AT OWN GAME

The Cincinnati Bengals resurgence this season doesn’t surprise me. After all, I picked them on our FRO Show as my surprise turnaround team of 2009 after their 4-11-1 season last year. I have to admit though, I didn’t think it would be the Bengals defense that would lead them back this year. I figured their defense would be better, but I thought a strong year from Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco would be leading the charge. And, although a 7-2 isn’t far off from where I thought they’d be at this point in 2009, I do find it hard to fathom that the Bengals have matched last year’s win total solely against their two biggest division rivals, after already sweeping both Baltimore and Pittsburgh. On Sunday in Pittsburgh, the Bengals, using a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown and a punishing defense, beat the Steelers at their own game, not even needing an offensive touchdown, to win, 18-12. Cincinnati held Pittsburgh to 226 total yards, sacked Ben Roethlisberger four times, intercepted him once, and most importantly, did not allow a Steeler touchdown. As a result, there’s a new balance of power in the NFC North, as the Steelers and Ravens are now chasing the Bengals this year.


#2: DUAL THREAT JOHNSON AND BIG 4TH QUARTER CARRY TITANS

At 3-6, the Tennessee Titans have had a very tough season overall, but one constant has been Chris Johnson. It’s just that now, Johnson’s exploits are leading to Titans’ victories. Johnson has been excelling all year long, but a lot of that came through an 0-6 start for Tennessee. Lately though, Johnson’s personal success has rubbed off on his teammates to the tune of a three-game winning streak. On Sunday, Johnson, as he has been all season, was a dangerous dual threat. This time, the talented running back reached triple digits both rushing and receiving, carrying 26 times for 132 yards while catching nine passes for another 100 yards. The second of his two rushing touchdowns broke a 17-17 tie with Buffalo, and started a huge 24-0 fourth quarter for Tennessee that was capped by the Titan’s defense returning two interceptions for touchdowns. Johnson is one of just three players in the NFL (the Ravens’ Ray Rice and the Rams’ Stephen Jackson, the others) who leads his team in both rushing and receiving.


#1: BELICHIK’S BLUNDER KEEPS COLTS UNBEATEN

Near the conclusion of NBC’s Sunday Night Football telecast of the Indianapolis Colts’ stunning 35-34 comeback win over the New England Patriots, a happy Colts fan flashed a sign for the NBC cameras. It read simply, “Nobody Beats Colts.” Thanks to a huge miscalculation by Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick, those words remain true so far this season. The 9-0 Colts indeed had beaten everyone else so far this season, but to stay undefeated on Sunday, they needed someone else to beat themselves. With Belichik’s help, the Colts rallied from a 31-14 fourth quarter deficit to win a 35-34 thriller in the final seconds. Indianapolis still trailed 34-21 after a New England field goal with just 4:12 left in the game, but Peyton Manning led a 6-play, 79-yard drive in just 1:44, to cut the Patriots’ lead to 34-28 with 2:23 to go. Perhaps seeing how easily and how quickly the Colts marched down the field on that drive, Belichik then decided to do the unthinkable, going for a first down on 4th-and-2 from the Patriots’ own 28-yard line with 2:08 rather than punt the ball away and make Manning and the Colts earn the win with a typical long, two-minute drill type of drive. It initially appeared that the gamble worked, when Kevin Faulk had the ball past the first down marker, but he bobbled it, and was pushed backward while doing so, leaving him short of the first down. The Colts took advantage of Belichik’s failed risk, and moved to 9-0 on the season, going 29 yards on four plays in 1:47, winning the game on Manning’s fourth touchdown of the night, with just 13 seconds left. The irony in the Colts’ win is that it was their 18th straight regular season victory, finishing the 2008 regular season with nine wins and beginning the 2009 season with the same. That in itself isn’t ironic, what is though, is the fact that much is made (and rightfully so) of New England being the only team to go through an entire regular season with a perfect record of 16-0, and extending that to 18-0 in the playoffs. And, here was of all teams, New England, looking to prevent the Colts from going 18-0 over their past eighteen regular season games, and they had a great chance to do it on the Colts’ home field. But, because they couldn’t put the Indianapolis away with a big fourth quarter lead, Belichik panicked into giving the Colts a gift which allowed them to continue their own streak. Interesting stuff in Indy in the latest chapter of a great rivalry between two of the NFL’s best teams over the past decade or so.

JAGS DELIVER CRUSHING BLOW TO RYAN'S JETS 24-22

Photo: By Bill Menzel-Jets QB Mark Sanchez hands off to RB Thomas Jones

JAGS DELIVER CRUSHING BLOW TO RYAN'S JETS  24-22
by TJ Rosenthal for Football Reporters Online

This WAS a playoff game. This WAS the game that was slated decide the fate of the 4-4 Jets who stare down the barrel of a brutal second half schedule that includes the Pats, Colts, Falcons, Bengals as well as the always tough Bills in Orchard Park. A win on Sunday and the Jets could find a starting point for navigating through a harrowing November and December. It was not to be. A crushing 24-22 loss to the now 5-4 Jacksonville Jaguars,  has left the Jets desperate and needing help in order to reach the postseason. A far cry from a 3-0 start that had left many Jet faithful willing to believe this was NOT the "same old Jets." Well, doubt has crept back into Jet nation.

The Jets gave up 21 first half points and trailed 21-13 at the half. The malaise attributed to perhaps the two week layoff coming off of their bye week. Both S Jim Leonard and FS Kerry Rhodes were  quoted saying he team was flat defensively in the first half. That's a hard pill to swallow for Jet fans, especially since reports had coach Rex Ryan chewing out his team this week to stop the excuses, imploring them to play like a playoff team he was quoted as claiming they are.

Star RB, the little bulldozer, Maurice Jones Drew torched the Jets early and often , with 78 first quarter yards. He finished with 123 on the day. The biggest play of the game however, came on a TD that Jones Drew chose NOT to score on.  With the score 22-21 Jets with 1:48 left, the Jets called for "Free Way"  a play that allows the opposing team to score in order to get the ball back and have a chance to win. On the first try the Jets mistakenly tackled Drew. "We couldn't even get that right," Ryan, never at a loss for words, admitted afterwards. The second time, Drew shrewdly stopped at the one yard line. With no time outs left thanks to wasting two earlier ( to prevent a  twelve men on defense flag and the other by Sanchez on the Jags goal line), the Jets were forced to watch the clock wither away. Josh Scobee added the virtual extra point at the gun for the 24-22 Jags win.

This erased the comeback that left the Jets up 22-21 with 5:04 left thanks to a Thomas Jones (21-77 yds) one yard TD plunge. WR Braylon Edwards (3-79 yds) had a key two point conversion knocked out of his hands by the Jags FS Reggie Nelson. The throw was behind Edwards but still catchable. "Nelson is paid to make plays and he made a godd play on that one." Edwards said. The former Browns WR, known for the dropsies is now 1-8 combined in games played this year with Cleveland and the Jets. His fault? No, but the frustrations is apparent. "It stinks..its not my fault per se but I don't want to fell like the black sheep." he added lamenting what so many Jets who've come and gone in this franchise's consistent  losing history must feel upon exiting the stadium.

The Jets are not dead yet. They ARE however, on life support. The defense has still yet to create points off of turnovers. The Sanchez to TE Dustin Keller combo, so poised to break out and open up the passing game outside the numbers, is just missing the mark on too many occasions. All parts, including game management by the coaches, need to start clicking fast or this season will be gone by Turkey day.

As for Sunday, has a player ever taken a knee over scoring a touchdown in order to keep the clock moving like Jones-Drew did? Probably not. Only the Jets franchise would be involved in a play like that.

Nonetheless , the Jets need to go to Foxboro and try to begin to erase the ghosts of their Gang Green past that have somehow crept back into the equation. Worse, they need to do it against  the furious Pats, their hated rivals, who want revenge from their week two loss at the Meadowlands. Bill Belicheck's first place crew also will be stinging from the loss at Indy Sunday night that saw them go for a strange fourth and two on their own 28 yard line in order to prevent Peyton Manning one last shot. It backfired. 

The 4-5 Jets remain just two games  back of the 6-3 Pats. A  win would inch them closer to the top of the AFC East and  give them the tie breaker over New England. When the dust settles this week, that will be how Rex Ryan must frame this next test. As a game that, with a win, restores hope. To do that, Ryan will have to stop Brady and put the "Same Old Jets" talk to bed again. It's funny how these negative Green ghosts somehow rear their ugly heads every season.

A LOOK BACK ON THE THREE KEYS TO THE JAGS GAME:

Turnovers: The Jets defense, built off pressure and chaos, again, didn't get any. End of story.

Thomas Jones vs Maurice Jones Drew. Jones-Drew won the battle in yardage 123 to 77. He also made the play of the day by not scoring on the final drive.

Mike Sims-Walker vs Darrelle Revis: Sims Walker managed a TD catch but didn't dominate the field. Revis is a big play guy the Jets desperately need
going forward. An interception taken back by a ball hawk shut down corner like Revis, would aid the Jets offense in a huge way.

Follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter@ thejetreport

OaklandSeen- Aimee Allison & Zennie Abraham on KPFA

OaklandSeen is KPFA 94.1 KPFA Morning Show radio personality and twice candidate to represent Oakland City Council District Two (now-Councilmember Pat Kernighan won the race), Aimee Allison's new show where she talks about what's happening in Oakland. This was an interesting show in that it was produced at a makeshift studio within Revolution Cafe at 1612 7th Street in West Oakland, and across from the Oakland Main Post Office.

(As an aside, the cafe's real cool and has a nice collection of couches and overstuffed chairs. My only issue with Revolution Cafe is, at an 8 PM time, it closes too early. 10 PM would be great.)

Aimee Allison's 85-minute plus show featured Port of Oakland Board of Commissioners' member and 2nd Vice-President Margaret Gordon, Ronnie Stewart of the Bay Area Blues Society, Erica Torrence of People's Grocery, Aimee Allison, and me, Zennie Abraham. (The meat of the video starts about 20 minutes in; you can see and hear us set up before the actual show starts.)

The idea of this segment was to focus on problems and issues in West Oakland and Margaret Gordon , Ronnie Stewart, and Erica Torrence, who are activists in the area, were perfect. I learned a lot from them, but first and foremost I realized that the same problems we were working to solve in West Oakland during the 90s are still with us today: poor grocery stores with substandard food offerings and gentrification.

But it's also clear that in small ways West Oakland's becoming a better place to live and to be. As a result of Margaret Gordon's work, trucks must have special emissions-reduction retrofits before they can move through West Oakland. And more people like the owners of Revolution Cafe are discovering that they can do good business there. West Oakland is not, as some have said, a dumping ground any more.

We also talked about Oakland's World Cup Soccer bid and I learned that while 50,000 signatures are needed by December 4th, only about 2,500 have been collected. Margaret Gordon said that more people have to get involved in Oakland if Oakland is to improve.

While most of the time was used to talk about West Oakland, we also talked about the Oakland Parking problem and I explained that just yesterday a woman who drove down to Grand Avenue with her child watched in horror as her car was towed away for too many parking tickets; she was left to figure out how she was going to get her kid back home. (Remember, the "tow trigger" is five or more tickets and the City of Oakland's giving out more and more of them.)

I also talked about the Oakland Parking Initiative and what we were trying to do, but I didn't get enough time to talk about that more in depth.

(As a note, you should turn your speakers way up for the video.)

Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Crash leaves one dead

For some reason Miley Cyrus name is coming up in a tragic way of late. The first time was a not funny Internet trick, "Miley Cyrus Dead" which scared the heck out of me when I saw it but for a second. This time and just days later, "Miley Cyrus Tour Bus Crash" is real, but thankfully she was not involved in it at all.

According to TMZ.com and People Magazine, one of four concert tour buses carrying the lighting crew for Miley Cyrus show crashed this Friday morning outside Richmond, Va. There was one death - believed to be the bus driver as of this writing - and nine reported injuries.

"It was one of our tour buses, but not Miley's,” Miley Curus manager said to TMZ.com. "It was one of our buses that transported our lighting crew."

Miley Cyrus website reports that she's is set to perform Sunday in Greensboro, N.C. Officials for the concert told TMZ that the show would go on.

Sarah Palin Newsweek Cover: Runner's World pans photo use

Newsweek's in hot water with the editors of Runner's World Magazine, which did not approve of or like the use of their 'Sarah Palin' photo on Newsweek's cover. A photo that sparked a lot of complaints, including mine:



Runner's World wrote:

On the cover of this week's issue of Newsweek is a photo that was shot exclusively for the August 2009 issue of Runner's World, in which Sarah Palin was featured on the monthly "I'm a Runner" back page. The photos from that shoot are still under a one-year embargo, and Runner's World did not provide Newsweek with its cover image. It was provided to Newsweek by the photographer's stock agency, without Runner;s World's knowledge or permission.

And now that photo's all over the place and Newsweek, not Runner's World, is benefiting from it. OK, and so are a lot of publications and bloggers and vloggers. But, as I told my good friend Lars, Newsweek started it. That written, and regardless of the benefit to bloggers and vloggers, Newsweek was wrong and its not out of bounds for me to use their work to make a point against their actions.

Let's face it: it helped get my message out.

What will Runner's World do? Well, I think they've already done it. The question is what will Governor Palin do?

Stay tuned.

The Awl blog post not racist because it mentions black and white

The Awl is a blog started by ex-Gawker folks Choire Sicha and Alex Balk. I've got to admit I'd never read the thing until I happened on a testy take by Robert Quigley at Mediate.com, the blog by Dan Abrams that I do read regularly.

Robert Quigley accused The Awl of playing "the race card" or the "Twitter race card" in a rather amusing post called “What Were Black People Talking About On Twitter Last Night?”

My immediate thought was that I'm glad someone's interested. What Quigley and others don't understand or try to do is realize that there are differences in what people do based on race at times. In other words there are blacks like me who are not racially-trapped and have multicultural habits; whites who are more interested in a certain part of black culture, and so on.

Big deal. Sharing perceptions of differences is how we learn; it's when the perceptions are racially insulting that problems start. I did not see that in the Awl post, even though it did seem borderline. But I took at as tongue-and-cheek and no further.

You know, there's one thing I'm sick of and its this over-used child-of-the-Regan-era term called "The Race Card" and is habitually used mostly by someone who doesn't want the topic of race mentioned, even if the person doing so is pointing out racism.

That term and the use of it must be destroyed. It's political correctness run-amok and used by Couch Potato Conservatives all too often. Robert Quigley is not that, but by using the term he has something in common with the Sarah Palin's of the world.

Sorry Robert Quigley.

Anyway, as a black blogger, I take no issue with the Awl's blog post. In fact, it was rather cool.

Chris Spielman's wife Stefanie Spielman passes at 42

More at Zennie62.com | Follow me on Twitter! | Get my widget! | Visit YouTube | Visit UShow.com

Former Ohio State and NFL Linebacker Chris Spielman lost his wife Stefanie Spielman to breast cancer today. She was 42 years old.

Stephanie was 30 years old when the cancer was first detected. That's really sad and hard news for me to read. It really is.

I followed the Spielmans' story as in 2005 my own mother battled and eventually beat this cancer we all must work to defeat.

Talk about video - blogging with Sarah Austin

Watch live video from Sarah Austin on Justin.tv

Want to learn more abour video-blogging? You've come to the right place for a start.

Videoblogger Sarah Austin and I are doing a live and recorded video talk on multiple platforms. We're talking about YouTube, vlogging, and Internet success and how to make money!

You can catch this at Pop17.com, Justin.tv, USTREAM.TV, and SFGate.com.

"Cocktails for a Cure" REAF benefit party through Dec 1st

I just got a note from Ken Henderson, the Executive Director of The Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF) in San Francisco and regarding "Cocktails for a Cure". Ken writes:

"We want to make sure everyone knows Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' Cocktails for a Cure campaign is still going on across the country through Dec. 1st. Order a Red Ribbon cocktail at any participating property and $1/drink goes to a designated local AIDS organization. In SF Bay AREA, it's REAF. Invite your friends out for a few cocktails and know you're doing a good thing. Whodathunk? Bottoms Up! Go Kimpton!"

In San Francisco, the places to go are these hotels and restaurants: Hotel Monaco, Argonaunt, Tuscan Inn, Harbor Court Hotel, Hotel Palomar, Blue Mermaid, Chowder House & Bar, Cafe Pescatore ,Fifth Floor, Grand Cafe , Harry Denton's Starlight, Room , Ponzu, Postrio , Puccini & Pinetti, and Scala's Bistro

Check the map at this link for locations.

Twilight / New Moon holds 94 percent of online ticket sales

Why is Twilight / New Moon so popular?



The Twilight / New Moon phenomenon has long past heated up and is red-hot. Just a day and a few hours before the midnight release of the second movie in the series based on the popular books, Deadline Hollywood Daily reports that Twilight / New Moon is responsible for a remarkable 94 percent of online ticket sales.

DHD's famous Nikke Finke ads that there are 200 sellouts in Los Angeles and New York alone and theaters in many cities have already sold out.

Oscar buzz? None so far; a lot of wishful fans. Stay tuned.

In Oakland, it opens at the Grand Lake Theater and Signature Jack London Square with both having Thursday midnight openings. I think I'll see what all the fuss is about.

Frank Schaeffer: "Old Testament, biblical equivalent of calling for Holy War."

...against our President. It's arguably treasonous language and suggestions, coming from supposedly Christian sources, who are, according to Evangelical author Frank Schaeffer, lifting bible verses to trawl for assassins.

"Most Americans will just see the bumper-sticker and smile and think that it's facetious...

What surprises me is that responsible (if you can put it that way) Republican leadership, and the editors of some of these Christian magazines, etc., etc., do not stand up in holy horror and denounce this.

You know, they're always asking: where is the Islamic leadership denouncing terrorism?"

Frank Schaeffer
Author, Patience with God

Here's some video from the Rachel Maddow show. It starts with a discussion of Obama's trip overseas, and how his diplomacy and the observation of protocol has provoked criticism at home. She proceeds to a frank discussion with Schaeffer about veiled messages inciting violence against the President.

Trusting, faithful Christians are, it seems, being led astray by those with clearly political, anti-American agendas cloaked in carefully selected bible verses while waving American flags. Those who seek to create chaos and violence are neither Christian nor patriotic. They prey upon our most trusting, by manipulating scriptures for their own aggrandizement while accusing their counterparts overseas for engaging in the same selfish, godless goals.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, and political analyst who contributes regularly to a host of web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

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Sarah Palin Newsweek Cover: Palin not Carrie Prejean

Well, just one day after Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin appeared on Oprah for what was a good interview and on the day her book "Going Rogue" was released (I have to admit I bought Star Trek on DVD instead), Newsweek helps keep Palin's name near the top of the public conversation (and makes her into Carrie Prejean) by using this cover photo:

The pict got the best of Governor Palin who took to her Facebook page to complain about it, writing:

The choice of photo for the cover of this week's Newsweek is unfortunate. When it comes to Sarah Palin, this "news" magazine has relished focusing on the irrelevant rather than the relevant. The Runner's World magazine one-page profile for which this photo was taken was all about health and fitness - a subject to which I am devoted and which is critically important to this nation. The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist and oh-so-expected by now. If anyone can learn anything from it: it shows why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, gender, or color of skin. The media will do anything to draw attention - even if out of context.


- Sarah Palin

Palin's post - I can see her frowning as she wrote it - sparked a powerful reaction that's bound to keep her name up in online search results for another two months. (A momentary aside. Yesterday I wrote that Palin's Internet popularity was due to Oprah and not herself; today, it's due to Newsweek and not Palin.)

The LA Times asked if Palin was really concerned that the photo was sexist and used their entertainment blog for the Academy Awards to issue the observation, leading me to believe they're saying (or at least LA Times blogger Elizabeth Snead holds) that Palin's acting.

The Kansas City Star's headline was "It just goes on and on". Blog SheKnows.co asks if Palin is really offended or just seeking press. If she is looking for media coverage, she's getting it.

But aside from what Palin thinks, I will say it certainly is sexist.

Look, I'll use a revealing photo to get the readers attention in a second, so I know what Newsweek was doing and it was a ploy to sell magazines and draw web traffic in a recession. Governor Palin's no longer, well, Governor, which makes her tanned and fit good looks the perfect target for their intentions.

But the bottom line is Newsweek didn't have to employ the Runner's World photo and could have opted to just show Palin in the suits she's generally wearing in public appearances. Instead Newsweek wanted to grab a photo that really looks like one I'd expect to see on a truck with a gun rack.

Maybe that was the point.

Whatever the case, I thought Newsweek Editor Jon Meacham's explanation was massively weak:

"We chose the most interesting image available to us to illustrate the theme of the cover, which is what we always try to do,” Meacham said. "We apply the same test to photographs of any public figure, male or female: does the image convey what we are saying? That is a gender-neutral standard."

Sorry but that's the biggest bunch of horse manure I've ever seen. Jon Meacham obviously didn't want to explain that they realy wanted to make a real point, which is 'Sarah wants attention and this photo's the best way to make sure she gets it, focus on our point that we think she's an attention monger, and get a lot of buzz, magazine sales, and Internet traffic too.'

But all of this to me is another wound in the scaring of Sarah Palin. All of this - the book, the book tour, the Oprah Interview, etc. - is a way for Palin to heal. It's not a path to Palin 2012. No.

Sarah Palin is damaged.

Here's a young woman executive plucked from obscurity and thrust at warp-speed into the hyper-media spotlight. Then, when Senator John McCain and the GOP were done with her and lost the Presidential election to Barack Obama, they turned on Palin, cast her aside, and made her feel crappy in the process.

Remember the accusations that Palin was essentially stealing clothes given to her for use by the GOP and a lawyer had to fly to Alaska to get them back? Or how about the constant drumbeat of statements on her lack of understanding of policy from everyone including me.

Sarah's saying "You can't treat me that way and cast me aside."  You know what; she's right.  

Look, I don't agree with Governor Palin on a number of political issues, but in my way of living that does not mean I have to want to see her mistreated by anyone. Newsweek's actions were horrible. The Newsweek photo was totally off base and I think they should apologize for using a photo intended for an athletic publication in the way they did.

To be clear, I agree with using photos like the one of Carrie Prejean, but hey, she's a model. Ok? Sarah Palin's a government executive not far removed from office (and if she kept herself in it, this would not have happened).

Governor Palin is not Carrie Prejean nor should her image be altered to make her look that way. Again, she may be a Couch Potato Conservative, but at least let her relax on the couch in peace. Now, she's scarred all over again and we're not going to hear or see the last of her until she's healed and that's going to take a long time.

Count on it.

49ers San Francisco Stadium: Carmen Policy on KNBR today

Carmen Policy (left) with Eddie DeBartolo

Just right on the heels of my blog post comparing the environmental impact reports (EIR) of the Candlestick Point and Santa Clara 49ers stadium development proposals, do I find the mp3 recording of an interview of former 49ers President Carmen Policy.

The show record link is here.

Carmen Policy is the spokesperson for the stadium effort and went on KNBR's Murph & Mac Show to talk about stadium progress to date and make his case for keeping the 49ers in San Francisco.

The conversation opened a brief talk about the Browns v. Ravens game on Monday Night Football, then moved to talk about the progress of the stadium and the redevelopment of Hunter's Point.

With the release of the EIR, Policy says the project can go forward without negative impacts on the community. "The curtain's drawn now. Everyone's ready to go ahead and get this ball rolling."

Policy says the Santa Clara project is "frustrating" but feels they should move forward with their project and "keep this situation on a parallel path."

I know what Carmen's thinking here without having talked to him. NFL politics is such that Policy knows the league will essentially want and have the Yorks pursue the best deal. From that perspective the NFL will use Santa Clara as a, well, pawn, in the creation of a deal that ultimately works for both the league and the 49ers.

In the interview, Policy said that in the end the 49ers will get the best deal. He believes the Hunter's Point project offers the best option.

What about Mayor Newsom?

KNBR asked about the roll of Mayor Newsom given his recent decision to drop out of the California Governor's Race and jet off to Hawaii (in fact Brian Murphy remarked that the "Chronicle was all over him" and called it a disappearing act) and how that impacted their efforts. Policy said the Mayor's actions didn't hurt the development process and that they were allowed to move forward.

Stay tuned.

Niners Candlestick Point stadium looks better with Santa Clara problems

Candlestick Point

An interesting development occurred over the past few days and virtually under the radar of much of the media in the Bay Area. Two environmental impacts reports were released at almost the same time: one for the Candlestick Point / San Francisco 49ers Stadium development and the other for the SF Niners stadium proposed for Santa Clara.

I also must explain that I'm biased toward the idea of keeping the 49ers in San Francisco, but I'm not beyond telling it like it is with respect to how the enviromental impact reports are presented.

I've read both EIRs (it was part of my role as Economic Advisor to The Mayor of Oakland when Elihu Harris was Mayor and for Robert Bobb before I worked to try to bring the 2005 Super Bowl to Oakland) and while at 3,000 pages (I didn't read all of the pages), the Candlestick Point includes comments and a detailed and well-organized list of anticipated impacts and ways to work to dampen or eliminate them (called "mitagations"), the Santa Clara DEIR is not so well-written.

I've got to say the Santa Clara EIR's not very good at all. In fact, some of the responses to comments are irresponsible and don't show that the project's impacts are being well considered.

Many of the Santa Clara EIR answers to comments are defensive rather than technical and call into question to what degree this document was rushed into production to beat the City of San Francisco's Candlestick effort.

There's a threat of comments regarding the anticipated transit use that would be generated from a new stadium in Santa Clara. The problem with the Santa Clara DEIR is that it bases future estimates of use of cars, buses, and trains on the existing Candlestick Park stadium, which the Candlestick Point DEIR seeks to replace with a new stadium.

In other words, the use of trains versus cars is dependent on the design of the streets, roads, and buildings with respect to each other. The Santa Clara DEIR does not seem to reflect that.

Take this comment / response example:

Comment B-2: Table 15 indicates tbe modal split at the existing stadium is: 82% auto, 10% charter bus, and 8% transit for attendees; 90% auto and 10% transit for employees. For the proposed stadium, modal split is 74% auto, 7% cbarter bus and 19% transit for attendees; 80% auto and 20% transit for employees. Since Candlestick Park is situated within a rich public transportation network, it should have higher charter bus and transit modal splits compared to the proposed stadium. On the contrary, the proposed stadium shows higher charter bus and transit modal splits. What are the underlying assumptions to justify these modal splits tor the proposed 4gers Santa Clara Stadium?

Response B-2: While the City of San Francisco overall has a good public transportation network, the area where Candlestick Park is located does not. There is no rail transit of any kind available to Candlestick Park attendees. The only transit currently used is chatter and municipal buses. As explained in the EIR (pages 176-178), an extensive multi-modal transit system serves north Santa Clara. The assumptions for each type of available transit are described on pages 177-178, including subsections labeled "Bus and Light Rail" and "Heavy
Rail Service".

The Santa Clara DEIR states:

There is no rail transit of any kind available to Candlestick Park attendees.

Hmm....

If that's the case, why is it I can take either BART, Caltrain, or Muni Metro rail and step on the Candlestick Express bus? Yes, it's not direct to the stadium's front door, but its rail and its not far away. Moreover, an EIR is a technical report that's supposed to be devoid of such errors in wording. It's the one place where detailed, accurate description is expected and vital to the success of the project.

The Santa Clara EIR was written as if by a snickering, snipping bureaucrat who had no patience with questions from, well, other bureaucrats from Bay Area agencies, which are in abundance in the document.

By contrast, the Candlestick Point DEIR, while it does concern a much larger 700-acre development, does in detail explain transit impacts and professionally lists the answers to anticipated impacts. There's not the hint of schoolmarm whining that dominates the comment responses in the Santa Clara document.

All of this should make former San Francisco 49ers President Carmen Policy more excited over the prospects for the successful construction of a new 49ers Stadium at Candlestick Point in San Francisco.

But regarding Santa Clara, the San Francisco 49ers should be ashamed of themselves for allowing such a substandard EIR to be produced. I've seen a lot of EIRs in my time and this one's just plain terrible.

If this is an example of what we're to expect, 49ers owner John York should jettison his Santa Clara stadium efforts and work with the more professional team over the Candlestick Point development. Yeah, I'm biased, but it's not without justification.

The Big Game: Ray Ratto, forget it: Stanford will not beat Cal

 The Big Game

Hey Ray Ratto. I just read your column regarding possible Stanford bowl scenarios and the Emerald Bowl, and you write that the Stanford road to the Rose Bowl starts with the Cardinal beating Cal.

Forget it. It's not happening.

Again, Cal 30, Stanford 21. And yesterday I explained why this was possible here.

The bottom line is stopping the Cardinal running game and putting the contest in Stanford Quarterback Andrew Luck's hands. Cal wins, and smashes Stanford's Rose Bowl hopes. 

Movie Theaters: Parkway Oakland founders start new business

The Oakland Parkway Theater closure and restoration issue hasn't been in the main news cycle for a few weeks now, but that doesn't mean there's nothing going on. Catherine and Kyle Fisher, the now former owners of both the Parkway and Cerrito Theaters have done a lot of soul searching in the wake of their loss of both facilities and the controversy that followed.

When I interviewed them earlier this year they were at a cross-road in their life and it came out in our talk. Oh, and if you missed that talk, it's here below and it's a good idea to take a look at the video then read what their next move's going to be, which is presented in the email below the video.



Here's the email from Catherine and Kyle on their new venture:

Catherine and I have had our walk on the beach. We've licked our figurative wounds and are ready to start the next chapter in our lives for better or for worse. We're sharing this with you, our wonderful former patrons because our next endeavor concerns some of you.

Over our 13 years at Speakeasy Theaters many people approached us for information on how to start a business like Speakeasy Theaters that spoke as much to the needs of the community and the lifestyle of the operators as to earning a living. When asked, we gave the best answer we could under the circumstances of the encounter, but I fear that given our time constraints our responses were mostly inadequate. We would like to answer this question in the appropriate detail. What we also determined on our walk was that one of the things that we enjoyed most about operating Speakeasy Theaters was working with and nurturing the often fledgling independent contractors who held events at the Parkway, helping them bring their ideas into focus and executing them as well as they could.

To this end, Catherine and I developed Wild Card Circle. Wild Card Circle is several things each of which are intended to help entrepreneurs develop community responsive businesses that in turn allow the developer to live a lifestyle that is rewarding mentally, spiritually and hopefully financially. One of the main components of Wild Card Circle are workshops designed to help the individual find their inner entrepreneur and show him/her how to express it. If any of this seems remotely interesting to you, you can find out more about it at WildCardCircle.com or contact us at Kyle or Catherine @WildCardCircle.com, otherwise this is us signing off from your lives and wishing you well and thanking you for your years of support.

I wish them the best of luck. Regardless of the outcome of the theaters or how you may feel about them, they did give the Oakland and El Cerrito communities fun places that helped to define the East Bay's unique culture.

Michael Jackson - Janet Jackson and AEG blocking Jackson's doctor

According to TMZ.com, relations are becoming more contentious between Janet Jackson, event producer AEG, and Michael Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray.

Dr. Conrad Murray holds that AEG owes him $300,000, and is late paying for two months of service.

I wonder if that period includes the segment of time leading to Jackson's passing? If so, Murray not only may not see that money, it seems he should understand the circumstances surrounding AEG's actions and have some kind of insurance backup plan. His job was to keep Jackson not just working, but alive. Still, a contract is a contract.

In reading TMZ.com, I have to wonder why Murray's lawyer needs a publicist and who's paying the publicist? Only in LA.

Which leads to this new bit of related information: Janet Jackson doesn't want Murray to practice again. She says he was the only one giving drugs to Michael Jackson.

I think there's a connection between the non-payment by AEG and Janet Jackson, but that's just my gut.

Stay tuned.

Miley Cyrus: Seventeen’s Style Star of the Year

Miley Cyrus bounces back! After getting the not-so-flattering AOL award as Worst Celebrity Influence of 2009...



...singer Miley Cyrus gets a more flattering award as Seventeen Magazine’s "Style Star of the Year".

Just Jared reports:

The 16-year-old starlet was chosen as the mag’s Style Star of the Year. The mag quotes, “She finally shed her Hannah Montana shell and showed the world she’s an A-lister with it-girl style, which is why Seventeen is honoring Miley as our Style Star of the Year!”

Great to see the Miley Cyrus PR Machine hard at work.

UCLA basketball shocked by CS Fullerton 68, Bruins 65 (2OT)

The stage was set: UCLA basketball opening home game at legendary Pauley Pavilion with what was supposed to be fodder in Cal State Fullerton, making for an easy win coming off close games against Concordia and Humboldt State in preseason.

Right.

Someone forgot to tell Cal State Fullerton. They won in double overtime 68 to 65 and broke a nine-game string of losses to UCLA. With strength training and the Internet used to pass on coaching points, it's harder than ever to beat a non-ranked team without the ranked team playing its "A" game.

Teams don't just "see the name brand" and lay down anymore. If anything, "UCLA" or "Notre Dame" in football just fires teams up, in some cases causing them to play over their heads. Is CS Fullerton that good down the stretch? We shall see.

What I Saw in Week 10

[Late Monday Night Edition]
Tuesday Morning Huddle
 
What I Saw in Week 10

By David Ortega for Football Reporters Online


Vikings quarterback still fantasy stud…. 
When the season started quarterback Brett Favre was not on anyone’s radar as a number one fantasy quarterback. At 40 years of age, Favre’s better days looked to be in the rear view mirror or so we thought. In Favre’s last four starts he is averaging 300-yards passing per game with eight touchdowns and only one interception.

Marvelous McNabb throws for a mile…. 
The Eagles quarterback played very well on Sunday, but no matter how often he threw (55 times) or who he threw the ball to (seven different receivers) it wasn’t enough. While the Eagles fell McNabb’s numbers rose with 35 completions for 450 yards in the air and two touchdowns in a week 10 loss to the Chargers.

Action Jackson will not be stopped…. 
If you drafted running back Steven Jackson, but had second thoughts because the Rams offense is just bad pat yourself on the back for sticking with the stud. The St. Louis Rams may be 1-7, but that is not stopping “Action” Jackson from having a big season. On Sunday Jackson turned in his third straight 100-yard rushing game with 176 total yards against the Saints. Only twice has Jackson totaled less than 100 yards and for the season he has 1,146 yards of total offense ranking second behind Chris Johnson.
 
Worst of the Worst

When it comes to the Raiders-Chiefs rivalry, the Silver and Black know very little about home-field advantage. Thanks primarily to an inept offense that converted just 12 percent (2/16) of third downs, completed just 13 of 32 passes, and turned the ball over twice, the Raiders lost for the seventh straight time at home against the Chiefs. The Raiders are now 2-7; how did they win two games?


Jury is still Out

Has the Broncos offense finally turned the corner? Well after a fast start on Sunday against the Redskins, it certainly appeared that McDaniels had made the necessary adjustments and the offense was finally right. This was all until disaster struck. After watching Orton complete 11 of 18 for 193 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, the Broncos offense completely disappeared with backup Chris Simms in the game for the injured Orton. With a big matchup with San Diego in week 11 and Simms the likely starter, the offense might regress some before taking any more forward steps. The Jury is going to remain out on Denver’s “Patriot’s West” offense, at least until a healthy Orton returns.



10 Things I Remember From Sunday
(Week 10)

1. The Panthers used their two-headed monster out of the back-field to take down the Falcons; Stewart and Williams combined for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
2. One of my “Four Horsemen” Sidney Rice puts up 201 receiving yards against the Lions secondary.
3. The Titan’s running back Chris Johnson plays like a stud in a league of his own totaling 232 yards and scoring two touchdowns against the Bills.
4. The Redskins offensive line just blew holes into the Broncos defense all day to the tune of 174 yards on the ground.
5. Despite their recent struggles through the air, the Broncos and quarterback Kyle Orton came out gun-slinging in week 10; Orton passed for 193 yards in the first half before leaving with an injury.
6. The “Old man” in Arizona Kurt Warner took a while to get started, but once he did he was unstoppable completing 29 of 38 passes for over 300-yards and two touchdowns.
7. The Bengals defense showed up on Sunday against Big Ben and the Steelers recording four sacks and a forced fumble in their 18-12 win.
8. Steven Jackson is a one man wrecking crew in St. Louis rushing for 131 yards and catching nine balls for another 45 yards.
9. Who is Brandon Gibson, likely the next Waiver wire darling after catching seven passes for 93 yards.
10. Peyton Manning is still Peyton Manning; Sunday night against the Patriots he passed for 327 yards with four touchdowns.







 

Mediocre NFC Yields Giant Strides For Big Blue During Bye Week

Mediocre NFC Yields Giant Strides For Big Blue During Bye Week
BY Jon Wagner-Sr. Writer at Large Football Reporters Online

New York Giant fans can now calm down a little this week. Rest assured, at this point, there’s still very much of a season left for Big Blue.

It wouldn’t be New York if its fans and media didn’t often overreact to each game that any professional team plays in New York. That response just comes with the territory when rooting for or discussing teams in the New York City area.

Sure enough, to the degree that the Giants were being discussed as part of the National Football League elite after a dominant 5-0 start, was the extent to which many in the New York area were asking what was wrong with the Giants and how New York could let its entire season slip away after a subsequent four-game slide.

No doubt, the questions surrounding the problems that the Giants still need to fix this season were, and still are, legitimate. And, if the Giants don’t soon rectify a lot of the issues that were exposed during their aforementioned four-game losing streak, it’s true, Big Blue’s goal of reaching the playoffs could be in serious jeopardy.

But, for those who were spewing all of the doom and gloom talk about the Giants’ playoff possibilities, many going so far as to say that the Giants’ fourth straight loss ended their season, take a look at the current NFC standings after what happened on Sunday, as the Giants tried to regroup during their bye week.

Sure, New York had slipped from 5-0 to 5-4, and from first place to third place in the NFC East.

Yet, simply by not playing, the Giants moved back into a tie for second place with the 5-4 Philadelphia Eagles (who were beaten in San Diego on Sunday), and are now just one game behind the 6-3 Dallas Cowboys, the NFC East leaders, who lost at Green Bay this week.

As for the NFC wild-card race, the Giants and Eagles are not only tied for the wild-card lead with each other, but also with the 5-4 Atlanta Falcons (losers at Carolina on Sunday) and the 5-4 Green Bay Packers. Carolina, San Francisco, and Chicago are each a game back, at 4-5.

For all of this past week’s chatter about the Giants’ season being over, New York still very much controls its own destiny as long as it can pull everything together and play better.

The Giants host Atlanta next week, while having other home dates with Dallas, Philadelphia, and Carolina in December. And, the Giants are done with both the Cowboys and Eagles on the road.

The bottom line is that while the Giants have to correct a lot of what plagued them while losing four games in a row, and they still have much work to do in order to reach the playoffs this year, they’re very far from the fate many had prematurely predicted for them (if any Giants are Mark Twain fans, they can certainly relate).

As evidenced while the Giants rested this week, no one else in the NFC East seems to be running away with their division, and even less so in the NFC wild-card picture.

So, at least for now Giant fans, view the remaining Giant games in this season the same way your team plans on approaching them. It may sound clichéd, but forget about the recent past and take the rest of the season one game at a time.

Because it doesn’t appear that anything regarding where the Giants are headed this season, one way or the other, will be determined any time soon.

Lauren Bacall, Roger Corman, and Gordon Willis get first Oscars of season

The first Governor's Awards were given Saturday night, kicking off the film awards season and marking the first time the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave out honorary Oscars at a ceremony separate from The Academy Awards. Lauren Bacall, Roger Corman, and Gordon Willis were honored. Let's take a video look at their work, staring with the legendary Lauren Bacall.

Lauren Bacall

Lauren Becall was introduced by Angelica Huston, who said "Lauren Becall once said 'Stardom isn't a career; it's an accident", then observed that for Becall, celebrity was no accident.

Becall took the stage to a massive ovation and looking at her Oscar said "I can't believe it. A man, at last."

Lauren Bacall is known for being statuesque, confident, and damn sexy. With a voice that could melt you as much as it commands your attention, Becall went on to star in the classic film The Big Sleep, and was best known for her relationship with Humprey Bogart. But to many Ms. Becall was associated with a then-new cigarette-cool class and style that was the hallmark of the post war feminine image.

Here's Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep:

Roger Corman

Roger Corman was introduced by one of my favorite filmmakers Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia) , said that Corman had a "mind-bloggling ability to create successful films under impossibly tight schedules and budgets."

Roger Corman is known as the "King of the B-Movie Makers." Some of Mr. Corman's films have come to define American Culture, particularly the bombastic yet creepy sci-fi / horror movie introductions of the day, like this one from Corman's It Conquered the World (1957):

Gordon Willis

Gordon Willis was introduced by actor Jeff Bridges, who remarked that Willis was being feted for his "unsurpassed mastery of light, shadow, color, and motion."

Willis said that he was fortunate that he was able to do "pretty much what I wanted to do" in his career.

Cinematographer Gordon Willis is best known for my personal all time favorite film, The Godfather, which I've seen 44 times now. Here's the final scene from part one of Francis Ford Coppola's modern epic:



In all the awards show was a success, even with the occasional flubbing of the introductory lines that one would not seen in an Oscar telecast. But then, this wasn't on television. The Governor's Awards had the feeling of a party at an exclusive club, but considering the legends in the room, that was the best way to do it.