This is an update of an earlier report on Help for Haiti after the 7.0 Earthquake. The organization list was updated such that new information was placed in alphabetical order.
Haiti's an impoverished nation that is asking for fiscal help in the wake of the terrible destruction from the 7.0 Earthquake, the largest ever in that region of the World. Moreover the nation's being battered with aftershocks.
Power is out everywhere and people are in the dark and need help. The capital city of Port-Au-Prince has been catastrophically damaged.
Fortunately, legitimate online help efforts are being established. Here are some of them as of this writing:
American Red Cross (Reportedly has contributed $200,000 to Haiti relief.)
AmeriCares Help For Haiti. Goes to their International Disaster Relief Fund.
Chuck Simmins also has this blog - http://northshorejournal.org/haiti-earthquake-aid - of coverage of the Haiti Earthquake Disaster and where to donate, including any organizations that may not be listed here.
Doctors without Boarders - not a Haiti Specific page as of this writing.
HaitiArise - HaitiArise has provided education and relief for the past six years. It's a registered Canadian charity and reports that 100 percent of donated funds go directly to Haiti.
Haiti Emergency Relief Fund - by Vanguard Public Foundation in San Francisco. Established for Haiti before the Earthquake.
Mercy Corps - Mercy Corps' website is devoted to the Haiti Earthquake Disaster; they're deploying a team bound for Haiti now.
Partners In Heath - You can use the drop-down menu to specify donations to Haiti.
Yele Haiti - Wyclef Jean's Haiti initiative to assist his native Haiti.
UNICEF - UNICEF has set up a special page for donations for the children of Haiti. In an email, UNICEF's Alissa Pinck reports: "UNICEF’s country office in Haiti and the regional office located in Panama is on the ground and have already deployed emergency teams to assess the situation and determine what the additional emergency needs are for the people of Haiti."
If there are any Haiti-specific efforts not listed here, please send an email to zennie@zennie62.com and this entry will be updated.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Twitter news, 7.0 Earthquake in Haiti near Port-au-Prince reveals damage
A 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti just 10 miles from Port-au-Prince, the nation's capital city. According to CNN, the earthquake knocked down buildings and inflicted "a catastrophe on the impoverished Caribbean nation."
NBC's Brian Williams reports that it's the largest earthquake ever to hit that region of the World.
The earthquake hit at 5 P.M; little information has come since then, but Twitter tweets indicate many people have friends, relatives, and relations in Haiti, and can't contact them:
But a person named Musician Richard Morse is producing tweets from there, as he reportedly manages a hotel in Port-au-Prince:
These are the latest tweets from Richard Morse at http://twitter.com/RAMhaiti as of 4:48 PM PST / 7:48 PM PST and arranged latest tweet first:
NBC's Brian Williams reports that it's the largest earthquake ever to hit that region of the World.
The earthquake hit at 5 P.M; little information has come since then, but Twitter tweets indicate many people have friends, relatives, and relations in Haiti, and can't contact them:
reduceharm Can't get through to my aunt and some cousins who have phone access in Port-Au-Prince... who would've predicted.
2 minutes ago from web
Alexandros_ It appears situation in Haiti is bad. Really bad. Still no images or coverage from Port-au-Prince. Only scattered reports.
3 minutes ago from TweetDeck
But a person named Musician Richard Morse is producing tweets from there, as he reportedly manages a hotel in Port-au-Prince:
samseder Haiti 7.) earthquake RT@cbcconnect Musician Richard Morse, who also manages a hotel in Port-au-Prince, is tweeting updates @RAMhaiti
3 minutes ago from web
These are the latest tweets from Richard Morse at http://twitter.com/RAMhaiti as of 4:48 PM PST / 7:48 PM PST and arranged latest tweet first:
another aftershock..people are screaming and freaking out down towards the stadium..much singing and praying in large numbers
2 minutes ago from web
Collapsed UNIBANK building is on NYTIMES.com
11 minutes ago from web
people are needing medical supplies..food, housing; I don't know water situation;
12 minutes ago from web
I can't confirm what I hear about different buildings which are said to have collapsed but all reflects intensity of situation
14 minutes ago from web
A few people showing up @ Oloffson..roads are blocked by falling walls..much destruction on Grand Rue. I hear hospital General has collapsed
16 minutes ago from web
Phones are starting to work..got a call from some one who's house fell in, child is hurt but ok. .
19 minutes ago from web
we're ok..a little freaked out but ok..every one is hanging out outside on the driveway @mannysister
22 minutes ago from web
I see people on Rue Capois and I see some cars but i think getting around is difficult @tinoisette
23 minutes ago from web
isabelleMORSE much destruction on Grand Rue (Ave Dessalines) Daniel Morel's ok. Police Sta, Cathedral, Downtown teleco, Church St Anne all destroyed
31 minutes ago from web
Retweeted by RAMhaiti and 4 others
the tsunami warnings are for Jamaica and Cuba
about 1 hour ago from web
cars are starting to circulate..I see lights in the distance towards the wharf
about 1 hour ago from web
A huge hospital that was being built across from the Oloffson has collapsed
about 1 hour ago from web
Port au Prince is dark except for a few fires
about 1 hour ago from web
two helicopters have flown over head an hour ago but nothing since then
about 1 hour ago from web
they say it was a magnitude 7.0 earthquake..there are tsunami warnings here and in the Caribbean
about 1 hour ago from web
people are bringing people by on stretchers
about 1 hour ago from web
I'm told that parts of the Palace have collapsed..the UNIBANK here on Rue Capois has collapsed
about 1 hour ago from web
people are praying in groups..others are looking for relatives..no phone service..no electricity
about 1 hour ago from web
Our guests are sitting out in the driveway.. no serious damage here at the Oloffson but many large buildings nearby have collapsed
about 1 hour ago from web
lot's of rumors about which buildings were toppled..The Castel Haiti behind the Oloffson is a pile of rubble..it was 8 stories high
about 1 hour ago from web
Pete Carroll press conference at Seattle Seahawks
Former USC Head Coach Pete Carroll officially became the new head coach and executive vice president of The Seattle Seahawks in a press conference held at their headquarters today.
In his rambling, cheerleader way, Pete Carroll expressed how excited and happy he was to be in Seattle: "I am so fired up to be here today. Right from the beginning, they undersold. This is a tremendous place to come to work. It's really almost dreamlike for me."
Coach Carroll steps into a situation where, he says, the Seahawks are letting him do it his way: "They have embraced my approach (and) in a manner in which they want to wipe the path clear and give me the clearest opportunity to bring everything that I have to offer. That's really what I was looking for, the trust and belief from the top of the organization."
Pete Carroll leaves a legendary mark at USC. He has 97 wins and 19 losses, and two national championships. Pete Carroll's the only coach to have won the Rose Bowl three straight years, and has produced a record seven BCS bowl appearances.
And he leaves it all for Seattle and the Seahawks.
Pete Carroll takes over a team that's solid at quarterback with Matt Hasselbeck, but has questions in its defensive personnel. The Seahawks finished at 5 and 11, a record that led to the immediate ouster of Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr.
Here's a video of excerpts from today's press conference:
Pete Carroll will have a larger number of duties than just those of head coach. He will the kind of control that a general manager has but to a degree. Pete Carroll will actually pick his general manager, and work alongside, not for, that person. It's an arrangement that appears to circumvent the concerns of the Fritz Pollard Association, which advocated for the interviewing of and hiring of Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier.
Stay tuned.
In his rambling, cheerleader way, Pete Carroll expressed how excited and happy he was to be in Seattle: "I am so fired up to be here today. Right from the beginning, they undersold. This is a tremendous place to come to work. It's really almost dreamlike for me."
Coach Carroll steps into a situation where, he says, the Seahawks are letting him do it his way: "They have embraced my approach (and) in a manner in which they want to wipe the path clear and give me the clearest opportunity to bring everything that I have to offer. That's really what I was looking for, the trust and belief from the top of the organization."
Pete Carroll leaves a legendary mark at USC. He has 97 wins and 19 losses, and two national championships. Pete Carroll's the only coach to have won the Rose Bowl three straight years, and has produced a record seven BCS bowl appearances.
And he leaves it all for Seattle and the Seahawks.
Pete Carroll takes over a team that's solid at quarterback with Matt Hasselbeck, but has questions in its defensive personnel. The Seahawks finished at 5 and 11, a record that led to the immediate ouster of Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr.
Here's a video of excerpts from today's press conference:
More duties than just coach
Pete Carroll will have a larger number of duties than just those of head coach. He will the kind of control that a general manager has but to a degree. Pete Carroll will actually pick his general manager, and work alongside, not for, that person. It's an arrangement that appears to circumvent the concerns of the Fritz Pollard Association, which advocated for the interviewing of and hiring of Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier.
Stay tuned.
Chloe has Amanda Seyfried and Julianne Moore in lesbian sex scandal
Chloe is a new movie due out in March that's getting buzz for its daring lesbian sex scandal storyline that features Amanda Seyfried.
According to The Daily Mail UK, it features 24-year-old Amanda Seyfried in a hot relationship with 49-year old Julianne Moore who's character Catherine, hires the escort Chloe to seduce her husband, played by Liam Neeson, and who she suspects is cheating on her.
But the two meet in hotel bar and after some chat, Julianne Moore yanks off Amanda Seyfried's blouse before the two engage in a passionate kiss. The movie tagline is "She invited Chloe into her life, her home and her marriage. Big mistake."
Chloe is a remake of the french film of the same name and is directed by Atom Egoyan. The release date is March 10, 2010. It the second girl-on-girl kissing movie for Amanda Seyfried, the first being Jennifer's Body, when she locked lips with the sultry Megan Fox.
Stay tuned.
According to The Daily Mail UK, it features 24-year-old Amanda Seyfried in a hot relationship with 49-year old Julianne Moore who's character Catherine, hires the escort Chloe to seduce her husband, played by Liam Neeson, and who she suspects is cheating on her.
But the two meet in hotel bar and after some chat, Julianne Moore yanks off Amanda Seyfried's blouse before the two engage in a passionate kiss. The movie tagline is "She invited Chloe into her life, her home and her marriage. Big mistake."
Chloe is a remake of the french film of the same name and is directed by Atom Egoyan. The release date is March 10, 2010. It the second girl-on-girl kissing movie for Amanda Seyfried, the first being Jennifer's Body, when she locked lips with the sultry Megan Fox.
Stay tuned.
Jack Del Rio to replace Pete Carroll at USC? Not so fast
Reports are swirling that Jacksonville Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio will replace outgoing USC Head Coach Pete Carroll, who's about to join the Seattle Seahawks as their new head coach in a press conference today. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer claims that USC sent a contract offer to Jack Del Rio Monday.
While Jack Del Rio is a popular selection and ESPN reported last night that USC had their sights set on him, Jack Del Rio placed ice on that claim today, according to the USA Today. Del Rio said...
Jack Del Rio's record with the Jacksonville Jaguars is 58-57, the team finished at 7 and 9 in 2009 and missed the playoffs, and while he has a great relationship with team owner Wayne Weaver, reportedly Del Rio is to meet with Weaver for a review of the season this week.
Del Rio has an active contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars which has $15 million remaining that would have to be bought-out if he were to move to USC.
Stay tuned.
While Jack Del Rio is a popular selection and ESPN reported last night that USC had their sights set on him, Jack Del Rio placed ice on that claim today, according to the USA Today. Del Rio said...
"That's all speculation and hype. All of those things are manufactured. The only thing I can tell you is I've been busy working on the Jaguars for 2010. We're busy at work, trying to build this team strong. All of those other things are a figment of other people's imaginations."
Jack Del Rio's record with the Jacksonville Jaguars is 58-57, the team finished at 7 and 9 in 2009 and missed the playoffs, and while he has a great relationship with team owner Wayne Weaver, reportedly Del Rio is to meet with Weaver for a review of the season this week.
Del Rio has an active contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars which has $15 million remaining that would have to be bought-out if he were to move to USC.
Stay tuned.
Roxxxy sex robot lifesized girlfriend debuts at at AEE 2010
In what's sure to be viewed as a wrong-way direction for social change, "Roxxxy" the robot lifesized girlfriend was introduced at AEE 2010, the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas. Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend is a anatomically correct facsimile of a woman dressed for sex, and with "servos" and other electronics to make it seem, well, real. It's maker calls it the first "sex robot."
Violet Blue, where are you?
Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend was created by former Bell Labs employee Douglas Hines, who's overweight, balding, bespectacled look fits the perfect image of a guy who would make such a thing.
Douglas Hines says that he developed Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend after losing a friend in the 9-11 terrorist attack. Just who that friend is, Douglas Hines does not say, leaving one to wonder if he just spent too much money at strip clubs.
Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend is designed to respond to touch: a grab of her wrist causes her to "say" something depending on the personality type that's installed. The whole thought bring the question of how Douglas Hines actually tested the product.
Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend is the first in what is going to be a line of products by "True Companion", including, for women, a male version called Rocky.
But why make this, really, is anyone's guess.
What is disturbing is that in the video below the Roxxxy sex robot just sits there in an open position. It does nothing and would seem to be the perfect image of what Douglas Hines wants his women to do: nothing and just lay there. Be, well, submissive. In the video, this blogger was longing to see Roxxxy robot slap the crap out of Douglas Hines, but he didn't program it to do that. But perhaps you can because Hines says you can "create your dream personality" to have.
But if it's 2010 and we have Roxxxy sex robot lifesized girlfriend, what will 2020 bring? What this shows is technology replacing the need for human contact in everything from phones where people send texts, to invisible online commenters on forums, to this. Perhaps one good thing is that men who elect to go in this direction tske themselves out of the pool of us who love the real thing.
Stay tuned.
Violet Blue, where are you?
Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend was created by former Bell Labs employee Douglas Hines, who's overweight, balding, bespectacled look fits the perfect image of a guy who would make such a thing.
Douglas Hines says that he developed Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend after losing a friend in the 9-11 terrorist attack. Just who that friend is, Douglas Hines does not say, leaving one to wonder if he just spent too much money at strip clubs.
Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend is designed to respond to touch: a grab of her wrist causes her to "say" something depending on the personality type that's installed. The whole thought bring the question of how Douglas Hines actually tested the product.
Roxxxy robot lifesized girlfriend is the first in what is going to be a line of products by "True Companion", including, for women, a male version called Rocky.
But why make this, really, is anyone's guess.
What is disturbing is that in the video below the Roxxxy sex robot just sits there in an open position. It does nothing and would seem to be the perfect image of what Douglas Hines wants his women to do: nothing and just lay there. Be, well, submissive. In the video, this blogger was longing to see Roxxxy robot slap the crap out of Douglas Hines, but he didn't program it to do that. But perhaps you can because Hines says you can "create your dream personality" to have.
But if it's 2010 and we have Roxxxy sex robot lifesized girlfriend, what will 2020 bring? What this shows is technology replacing the need for human contact in everything from phones where people send texts, to invisible online commenters on forums, to this. Perhaps one good thing is that men who elect to go in this direction tske themselves out of the pool of us who love the real thing.
Stay tuned.
Spider-Man drops Tobey McGuire and Sam Rami; Taylor Lautner?
In what has been viewed as a massive film business blunder, the Spider-Man property dropped Tobey McGuire and Sam Rami after a dispute over script direction. But there's word that Avatar Director James Cameron still has "fire" to do a Spider-Man film. And, speculatively, the stage could be set for Taylor Lautner to be the new Peter Parker.
According to Nikke Finke at Deadline Hollywood, the creative problems led to a dispute that on Monday, officially ended the Spider-Man relationship between Columbia Pictures, Marvel Comics, Tobey McGuire, and Sam Rami, who starred in and directed the first three blockbuster films.
The problems started in December 2009, and with a Spider-Man 4 script written by screenwriters Jamie Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross, that according to Aint It Cool News, had something to do with Peter Parker, Mary Jane, and a baby. It's widely reported that Sam Rami hated the script, and didn't feel he could make a May 11, 2011 deadline with the technical demands it called for.
Finke reports that once Sam Rami said he was out, Columbia Pictures' Matt Tolmach and Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal wanted to "reboot" the franchise, in the way that J.J. Abrams was assigned to reboot the Star Trek franchise.
Reportedly, Rami wanted a script from Spider-Man Producer Laura Ziskin's husband and script writer for the Spider-Man 2 and 3 movies, Alvin Sargent. But Finke reports that her sources said the movie can't be made given the script issue, unless the script could be fast-tracked. To this date, as of this writing, that has not happened. Originally, the date for filming was February, and now it's undetermined. What is sure is that Alvin Sargent's working on a new script that involves Peter Parker in high school.
For several reasons, this blogger thinks Sony and Columbia have Taylor Lautner in mind for the new Peter Parker role. This is a hypothesis, but consider that Taylor Lautner is 17, right at high school age and has a strong 13 to 17 demographic that studios have been hot to capture of late (Miley Cyrus, for example). Moreover, Pascal says - and fans hate - that Sony and Columbia want to explore Peter Parker's teenage years and how he deals with those problems. That's a perfect vehicle for Taylor Lautner, who's now a hot property after the success of Twilight: New Moon.
In other words, they didn't want to deal with an adult Peter Parker for business reasons.
As for the reaction to all of this, fans are divided over at Aint It Cool News, but some patterns are obvious: first, many didn't like Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker because they didn't feel he matched the comic book version. Second, fans hate the idea of a Spider-Man reboot for a franchise that doesn't need one. Star Trek did and everyone knew it. Differences aside, the Spider-Man formula worked, even if Spider-Man 3 was too heavy on special effects and not on story. Tobey McGuire brought a certain innocence to the role that's hard to replicate.
Who will replace Sam Rami has not been determined, but Aint It Cool News reported a conversation with Avatar Director James Cameron at last year's Comic Con, who told Harry Knowles of AICN that he still has the "fire" in him to do a movie based on a treatment he penned several years ago, and is not intimidated by the success of the first three movies.
Stay tuned. The press release is below:
Taylor Lautner
According to Nikke Finke at Deadline Hollywood, the creative problems led to a dispute that on Monday, officially ended the Spider-Man relationship between Columbia Pictures, Marvel Comics, Tobey McGuire, and Sam Rami, who starred in and directed the first three blockbuster films.
The problems started in December 2009, and with a Spider-Man 4 script written by screenwriters Jamie Vanderbilt, David Lindsay-Abaire, and Gary Ross, that according to Aint It Cool News, had something to do with Peter Parker, Mary Jane, and a baby. It's widely reported that Sam Rami hated the script, and didn't feel he could make a May 11, 2011 deadline with the technical demands it called for.
Finke reports that once Sam Rami said he was out, Columbia Pictures' Matt Tolmach and Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal wanted to "reboot" the franchise, in the way that J.J. Abrams was assigned to reboot the Star Trek franchise.
Reportedly, Rami wanted a script from Spider-Man Producer Laura Ziskin's husband and script writer for the Spider-Man 2 and 3 movies, Alvin Sargent. But Finke reports that her sources said the movie can't be made given the script issue, unless the script could be fast-tracked. To this date, as of this writing, that has not happened. Originally, the date for filming was February, and now it's undetermined. What is sure is that Alvin Sargent's working on a new script that involves Peter Parker in high school.
For several reasons, this blogger thinks Sony and Columbia have Taylor Lautner in mind for the new Peter Parker role. This is a hypothesis, but consider that Taylor Lautner is 17, right at high school age and has a strong 13 to 17 demographic that studios have been hot to capture of late (Miley Cyrus, for example). Moreover, Pascal says - and fans hate - that Sony and Columbia want to explore Peter Parker's teenage years and how he deals with those problems. That's a perfect vehicle for Taylor Lautner, who's now a hot property after the success of Twilight: New Moon.
In other words, they didn't want to deal with an adult Peter Parker for business reasons.
As for the reaction to all of this, fans are divided over at Aint It Cool News, but some patterns are obvious: first, many didn't like Tobey McGuire as Peter Parker because they didn't feel he matched the comic book version. Second, fans hate the idea of a Spider-Man reboot for a franchise that doesn't need one. Star Trek did and everyone knew it. Differences aside, the Spider-Man formula worked, even if Spider-Man 3 was too heavy on special effects and not on story. Tobey McGuire brought a certain innocence to the role that's hard to replicate.
Who will replace Sam Rami has not been determined, but Aint It Cool News reported a conversation with Avatar Director James Cameron at last year's Comic Con, who told Harry Knowles of AICN that he still has the "fire" in him to do a movie based on a treatment he penned several years ago, and is not intimidated by the success of the first three movies.
Stay tuned. The press release is below:
Culver City, CA (January 11, 2010) -- Peter Parker is going back to high school when the next Spider-Man hits theaters in the summer of 2012.
Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios announced today they are moving forward with a film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on a teenager grappling with both contemporary human problems and amazing super-human crises.
The new chapter in the Spider-Man franchise produced by Columbia, Marvel Studios and Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin, will have a new cast and filmmaking team. Spider-Man 4 was to have been released in 2011, but had not yet gone into production.
“A decade ago we set out on this journey with Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire and together we made three Spider-Man films that set a new bar for the genre. When we began, no one ever imagined that we would make history at the box-office and now we have a rare opportunity to make history once again with this franchise. Peter Parker as an ordinary young adult grappling with extraordinary powers has always been the foundation that has made this character so timeless and compelling for generations of fans. We’re very excited about the creative possibilities that come from returning to Peter's roots and we look forward to working once again with Marvel Studios, Avi Arad and Laura Ziskin on this new beginning,” said Amy Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment.
“Working on the Spider-Man movies was the experience of a lifetime for me. While we were looking forward to doing a fourth one together, the studio and Marvel have a unique opportunity to take the franchise in a new direction, and I know they will do a terrific job,” said Sam Raimi.
“We have had a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration and friendship with Sam and Tobey and they have given us their best for the better part of the last decade. This is a bittersweet moment for us because while it is hard to imagine Spider-Man in anyone else’s hands, I know that this was a day that was inevitable,” said Matt Tolmach, president of Columbia Pictures, who has served as the studio’s chief production executive since the beginning of the franchise. “Now everything begins anew, and that’s got us all tremendously excited about what comes next. Under the continuing supervision of Avi and Laura, we have a clear vision for the future of Spider-Man and can’t wait to share this exciting new direction with audiences in 2012.”
"Spider-Man will always be an important franchise for Sony Pictures and a fresh start like this is a responsibility that we all take very seriously," said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. "We have always believed that story comes first and story guides the direction of these films and as we move onto the next chapter, we will stay true to that principle and will do so with the highest respect for the source material and the fans and moviegoers who deserve nothing but the best when it comes to bringing these stories and characters to life on the big screen."
Tom Hayes: Consequences of "gotcha politics" aimed at Senator Reid
Melissa Harris-Lacewell offers an excellent perspective in her piece "What Reid's Race Gaffe Tells Us About Inequality" today at The Nation. Nobody's surprised that the opposition party would leap on such a gaffe, but if they really want to accomplish change they'd be focused on more than one politician. The focus has clearly been a virtual frenzy - a "tar-and-feather the heathen" first, ask questions later approach - the sort of "gotcha" that McCain and other prominent GOP members famously claim to oppose.Is Senator Reid above criticism? Absolutely not. His choice of language reveals something of his social context and the resultant view of the world. Clearly conversations about race in his circle are lacking, and his experience is insulated from the way most Americans live.
But creating what political theorist Nancy Fraser calls, "a difference-friendly world, where assimilation to majority or dominant cultural norms is no longer the price for equal respect," isn't what the elite right-wing strategists or the supporting talk-show punditocracy is calling for, (or presumably hoping to achieve.) Their goals appear much less lofty: attack the party of the President to weaken his political influence, one member of Congress at a time.
Naturally some of GOP politicos and voters are applauding the response to the gaffe. But rather than the tactics Americans who want to reclaim moral high-ground while rebuilding the leadership role for their country on the world stage need to succeed, these reveal a willingness to return to the arrogant do-anything, say-anything tactics of fear for short-term political advantage that most Americans voted to curtail in 2008.
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.
Mark McGwire's steroids cry means Barry Bonds stays silent
Mark McGwire shocked the Sports World Monday with his explanation that he did indeed take steroids and performance enhancing drugs through his career in Oakland and all the way to his record setting 1998 season when he broke the Single-Game Home Run Record. Mark McGwire issued this statement Monday:
“I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the ’90s, including during the 1998 season. I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.”
The statement turned Major League Baseball upside down, but don't look for former San Francisco Giants Slugger Barry Bonds to say he used steroids anytime soon. To do so, in Barry's mind, would mean that "the system" beat him.
Barry Bonds wants to beat "the system" because he sees it as racist. This view, and he has some fair reason to assert this, has unfortunately backed him into a corner that he's going to remain in for the rest of his life.
For Barry Bonds to admit any use of steroids absent under immunity, which he should have been granted long ago, is to perjure himself and write his ticket to jail. Anyone who's foolish enough to say or write that Barry Bonds should say he used steroids knows this. Moreover, in Barry's mind, he's already said he didn't know what he was being given. Proving that he did know is next to impossible.
Meanwhile, Barry Bonds rests with the belief that had he been white and broke McGwire's record, there would not have been the tremendous scrutiny placed on him. As one of my blogger friends Hodaka Kajita wrote in 2004, Barry Bonds was the target of sports reporters who "have hoarded Bonds in order to extract a comment that tarnishes his public image."
Of course, Hodaka's blog post caused a good debate, and that will continue today. But the bottom line is Barry Bonds felt he was the target of a racist witch hunt, author David Zirin believed this as well and expressed it in 2006, and I agree with both Bonds and Zirin.
Mark McGwire was given kid glove treatment in part because he's white and in part because he's a nice person. There's no argument here that some of Barry Bonds problems have been caused by the perception that he has an alleged legendary attitude, but even this is in question. Skip Bayless pointed to Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly as the person who stsrted the torrent of "Bad Barry" columns and pres.
Bayless said this is so because San Francisco Giants' Jeff Kent, who didn't at all get along with Bonds at the time, was filling Reilly's notebook with negative Barry Bonds information and Reilly was soaking it up. Meanwhile, it was Jeff Kent who had the bad attitude according to Deadspin.
So all of that can be distilled to this: Barry Bonds is backed into a corner such that talking the way Mark McGuire did on Monday would give him a trip to the slammer for perjury and obstruction of justice. Bonds has nothing to gain from "pulling a McGuire" and letting his enemies get the best of him.
Meanwhile, the real question is what did the Commissioner of Baseball know about this and when. I personally don't believe he didn't know what was going on because too much money was at take not to. All of this was in the middle of a home-run race that fueled the creation of a baseball stadium boom that gave us everything from Camden Yards in Baltimore to AT&T Park in San Francisco.
AT&T Park is the house that Barry Bonds built. I believe he knows it and so does MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.
Stay tuned.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Breast cancer survivors: Am I cured yet?
[Republished from DocGurley.com with permission]
October has become so synonymous with Breast Cancer Awareness month that it's almost a total pink-out. Signs, stores, and even scarves urge us to stamp out breast cancer. And following on October's (high) heels this year was the Mammogram Media-Monstrosity (for a bullet-sized version, check out #9 in the Doc Gurley Year in Review: Top Ten Health Lessons of 2009, or, for a more detailed look at the issue, check out the article, Battle of the Breasts: 16 Crucial Facts for You to Know). Now that we're into a new year, it's a good time to reflect on, well, life. Specifically, life after breast cancer. What with all the hula-baloo about prevention and screening, I'm thinking that the people who've already been diagnosed might have been just a wee bit overlooked.
So how do you embrace health post-breast-cancer? And what's with the weird reluctance of doctors to use the C-word ("cured")? Are there important, simple steps you can take to tilt the odds in your favor for living well? These are the kinds of issues you don't hear so much about in the news - despite the fact that shockingly large numbers of us know and love a mother, sister, friend or daughter who's been diagnosed. To cover some of these issues, I had the pleasure of talking with the charming Zennie - who's very interested in this topic on behalf of his mother. More and more we LIVE with diagnoses and diseases. And that's a good thing. But often we're left trying to decipher life-style advice, and, as research shows that our groups of family and friends is crucial to success, lots of us want to know what might help. So here are some recent, positive research results that you can consider when it comes to life after breast cancer.
Obligatory disclaimer: An article (ANY article) is, in no way, a replacement for actual medical care, and should not be mistaken for personal medical advice. When it comes to random, non-customized medical discussion, take to heart the message that the deep voice says (at the end of gazillions of soft-focus pharmaceutical ads) and see your doctor.
1) The "C-word." Or, why won't my doctor say I'm cured? Doctors don't tend to say that anyone is cured, and even just the absence of that word feels like a heartbreaker for many people. Refusing to say you're cured feels like a HUGE statement that professionals may be lacking-faith in your future. But that's not true. So why won't doctors say it? At it's worst, you could say that doctors don't generally pronounce anyone cured because the doctor is worried it will come back to haunt them if a patient relapses - after all, no doctor can tell the future. At its best, you could say that life is a continuum, that finding a breast cancer and treating it is the beginning of a process - a lifelong process of prioritizing your health. So what kinds of things can a person do to promote health after a diagnosis of breast cancer?
2) Should I lose weight? Exercise? Even at 60? What's clear is that being overweight significantly increases your risk of getting breast cancer in the first place. But what about after you've been diagnosed - should you lose weight? The answer is still being debated. But some well-done research shows that obese patients have worse outcomes, even after diagnosis, and even when you control for the same stage of tumor. What is clear is that promoting your health is a good thing. Eating well, walking everywhere, lifting weights three times a week for as little as 20 minutes at a time - all those things are important to your health. Simple steps can make a big difference - cut out all sugar drinks, including those with sugar-substitutes (become an unsweetened water/tea/coffee-only person!) and buy smaller plates to help with portion control. But keep in mind, fixating on weight-loss alone is probably not a healthy approach - instead, focus on nurturing yourself with only the best. You deserve it, and, heck, you're in this for the long-haul. These changes will help protect you from other significant diseases too. Lifting weights, for example, is important since many of the drugs women take after breast cancer can cause osteoporosis, or thinning of your bones. Lifting weights helps combat this. It's never too late to start - exercise and eating well can make a difference, even in the very elderly.
3) Vitamin D? More and more studies are showing a strong connection between low vitamin D, breast cancer and survival - even after diagnosis. In fact, in my opinion, if vitamin D was a patented drug, it would have more ads running continuously than any other pill (and that's saying a lot!). Here's the deal - vitamin D is about the only thing that doesn't just boost your immune system, it also makes it work smarter (a really hard thing to do!). In contrast, indiscriminately boosting your immune system can result in cases where your immune system attacks the wrong thing, or flares in a way that's, frankly, ineffective. But, keep in mind, you CAN overdose on vitamin D - so it's important to know where your body is living, and then optimize it. You want your vitamin D level well into the normal range - luckily, finding out is a simple, easy blood test. Your doctor can help you safely dose up to a good range, then make sure you stay there.
4) Do I have to take pills forever? Here's one of those good new/bad news kind of situations. Women tend to get two very distinct types of breast cancer - those cancers that have a receptor for estrogen, and those that don't. In general, it's much better to get the kind of breast cancer that "feeds" on estrogen. Studies have shown that type of tumor, in large groups of patients, is much more likely to be treatable without recurrence. That's the good news. The "bad" news is that studies also show survival can be definitely improved for groups of patients who take an estrogen-blocking pill for 5 or more years. Even if the tumor comes back! There are now pills that a patient should be taking for ten years after a diagnosis - even if the diagnosis was at age 81! In another of the weird good news/bad news twists, women who get joint pains from taking one of these pills, Femara, are less likely to have the tumor come back (now that's a motivation for enduring some joint pain if there ever was one!).
6) Sleeping, drinking and smoking: The good, the bad and the ugly. Sleep is good for you. While there are no huge, well-designed studies showing a strong link between sleep and disease-free survival from breast cancer, sleep IS associated with a better-functioning immune system, as well as improvement in many other health areas like blood pressure, and diabetes. Many Americans (if not most, in some subgroups) are just not getting enough sleep. Why take the time to make sleep a priority? Sleep is free, has no side-effects, and generally beneficial to your overall health and mood. I believe it's also a marker of other life issues - if you're unable to get enough sleep, there are probably other things impacting your health (like a high-stress life that can result in grab-and-go-bad-food-choices, and a lack of exercise, for example). Alcohol, on the other hand, when it comes to breast cancer, may be bad for you. Most of us have heard that alcohol, in moderation, can be beneficial for some heart disease prevention. [What does "moderation" mean? For women, zero-to-one drinks per night, with a max of less than 7 a week, for sure.] What many of us may not have have heard, however, is that many studies show that alcohol is not good for breast cancer - in fact, the larger the number of alcoholic drinks a week, the worse the risk. If you're living post-breast-cancer diagnosis, when it comes to alcohol, you want to be the picture of moderation. In fact, teetotalling may be the way to go. So if sleep may be the good, and alcohol the bad, smoking is just flat out the ugly. Smoking, and even passive smoke exposure, are associated with breast cancer. Getting a diagnosis can be the wake-up call to help see you through a solid quit. You'll reap mega benefits for ALL your health.
7) Mammograms...what's the point? Once you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, your regular screening becomes even more important. Recurrences can be treated too - and the earlier the better. It's important to not become discouraged (or worse yet, to despair). After the emotional shock of a diagnosis, it can be really hard to remember that finding a cancer is better than NOT finding one (until it's too late...).
So if you know, love, or care about a person who's living with a diagnosis of breast cancer, what can you do to help promote health after treatment is over? Here are some tips - keeping in mind that nagging is never a good way to go, but loving support, and encouragement can make a world of difference!
1) Be eager to move too. Exercise works best when done with a social group, at every age. Take the time to drive grandma to the mall for a gentle stroll each Sunday. Form a lunch-walking or Tai Chi group. Be the person who makes moving fun for those you love! 2) Encourage appropriate testing - mammograms and regular doctor visits (especially waiting for results!) can be grueling rocky experiences without support from those who care. Be aware, and be there, if you care. 3) Help your loved one to remember to ask about a vitamin D test at her next doctor's appointment. Spread the word! 3) Eat well. Just as with exercise, good eating works best when those around you are supportive. Don't be the person who sighs heavily and says, while gazing at the salad, how much nicer some spicy chicken wings would be. But also don't be a criticizer. Mindful nurturing is the way to go when it comes to improving your diet. As Michael Pollan says, "Eat food, not too much. Mostly plants."
What do you think? Got some tips to share for those who care? Post them in the comments section. Get on the Twitter bandwagon and follow Doc Gurley! Also check out Doc Gurley's joyhabit and iwellth twitter feeds - so you can get topic-specific fun, effective, affordable tips on how to nurture your joy and grow your wellth this coming year.
Got a thingie on your doohickey? Or are you pondering how to tell your doctor he's a jerk? Send your burning healthcare questions to Doc Gurley by emailing docgurleyatgmaildotcom. Doc Gurley cannot answer every question, and she cannot practice medicine through a keyboard (not even with her stethoscope pressed firmly against the monitor) but be assured - your questions will be kept strictly confidential and identifying traits are changed.
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Breast Cancer detection and treatment: an Interview with Doc Gurley
"Doc Gurley" is Doctor Jan Gurley, who's my colleague at SFGate.com's City Brights blog section, and an expert on all aspects of Breast Cancer detection, treatment, and survival. Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing her for a video on Breast Cancer.
The reason for my motivation was that my Mom's a Breast Cancer survivor (since 2005) and as an only child, my mind's on constant alert status, making sure that she's OK and ready to basically alter my life if anything happens to her again, which I'm thankful has not been the case.
So, I turned to Doc Gurley with a lot of questions that are not just for people in my situation but really tailored for women who have questions about what to do about Breast Cancer at every stage of our lives.
Doc Gurley wrote a blog on Breast Cancer for Friday's SFGate.com. That companion to this post is here.
Doc Gurley and I met at Lake Chalet Restaurant in Oakland, where we talked by the fireplace in what is called "The Pump Room". Here's the video in two parts:
Part One:
Part Two:
Doc Gurley
The reason for my motivation was that my Mom's a Breast Cancer survivor (since 2005) and as an only child, my mind's on constant alert status, making sure that she's OK and ready to basically alter my life if anything happens to her again, which I'm thankful has not been the case.
So, I turned to Doc Gurley with a lot of questions that are not just for people in my situation but really tailored for women who have questions about what to do about Breast Cancer at every stage of our lives.
Doc Gurley wrote a blog on Breast Cancer for Friday's SFGate.com. That companion to this post is here.
Doc Gurley and I met at Lake Chalet Restaurant in Oakland, where we talked by the fireplace in what is called "The Pump Room". Here's the video in two parts:
Part One:
Part Two:
California High Speed Rail defies Jerry Brown's letter
In considering an alternative to the downtown San Francisco terminus for the planned California High Speed Rail System, The California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) is acting against a letter written by California Attorney General Jerry Brown.
The CHSRA has gained the anger of San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly and residents and businesses around "The Beale Street Alternative", particularly the Rincon Hill Neighborhood Association.
The fear of homeowners is that their properties may be demolished to make way for High Speed Rail in the Rincon Hill Neighborhood area. As stated in the blog Rincon Hill Neighbors by "Jamie",
San Franciscans have always had the idea that High Speed Rail would be located in downtown San Francisco at the Transbay Terminal. It was to be the centerpiece of a $2 billion redevelopment plan. To that end, a design competition was held, where the competing designed were shown in San Francisco City Hall and a winner was selected. This video discusses the competition:
Now the CHSRA wants to include alternatives sites for study. In a letter dated December 28, 2009, California Attorney General Jerry Brown urged the High Speed Rail Authority not to consider any other site as an alternative and focus on the TransBay Terminal Terminus plan:
The reason for this is the Attorney General asserts that when the voters approved Proposition 1A it was not intended to approve an action that would replace the Downtown Transbay Terminal plan. But even with the letter, the Beale Street Alternative continues to be active in the Authority's plans, much to the displeasure of Jerry Brown and many San Franciscans.
Stay tuned.
The CHSRA has gained the anger of San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly and residents and businesses around "The Beale Street Alternative", particularly the Rincon Hill Neighborhood Association.
The fear of homeowners is that their properties may be demolished to make way for High Speed Rail in the Rincon Hill Neighborhood area. As stated in the blog Rincon Hill Neighbors by "Jamie",
The remote possibility of the Authority choosing to build a second train station in the Rincon Hill neighborhood, in addition to the already in progress Transbay Transit Center which will extend Caltrain from 4th and King, leaves 424 condo units (disclosure – I own one of those units) in Rincon Hill and South Beach under the shadow of a remote possibility that they will need to be demolished in the future to make way for a high-speed rail station along Beale Street between Harrison and Mission Streets.
San Franciscans have always had the idea that High Speed Rail would be located in downtown San Francisco at the Transbay Terminal. It was to be the centerpiece of a $2 billion redevelopment plan. To that end, a design competition was held, where the competing designed were shown in San Francisco City Hall and a winner was selected. This video discusses the competition:
Now the CHSRA wants to include alternatives sites for study. In a letter dated December 28, 2009, California Attorney General Jerry Brown urged the High Speed Rail Authority not to consider any other site as an alternative and focus on the TransBay Terminal Terminus plan:
"..the Authority need not and cannot consider alternative that would displace the Transbay Terminal as a San Francisco High Speed Rail terminus."
The reason for this is the Attorney General asserts that when the voters approved Proposition 1A it was not intended to approve an action that would replace the Downtown Transbay Terminal plan. But even with the letter, the Beale Street Alternative continues to be active in the Authority's plans, much to the displeasure of Jerry Brown and many San Franciscans.
Stay tuned.
Sarah Palin to join Fox News, gains official wingnut status
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will join Fox News as a contributor, according to Howard Kurtz at The Washington Post. Sarah Palin, who was the GOP vice presidential candidate in the 2008 Election Race, will be used on various Fox shows and will join 2008 GOP presidential candidate and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee on Fox News.
This officially solidifies Sarah Palin as a television pundit and moves her further away from being considered a serious candidate for the 2012 Presidential Race. Governor Palin joins Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity, thus she risks being considered only a Right-wingnut and not a politician.
If Palin does run, when 2012 approaches every ill-considered comment or quip will be gathered, blasted on television and online, and used against her again and again, wrecking any chance she has of being considered electable.
On a positive note, Kurtz reports that Palin will also host an occasional program that will examine inspirational tales involving ordinary Americans.
For Fox News, the move is genius. It takes CNN away from the habit of using a Sarah Palin comment as news without feeding Fox News' ratings machine.
No official word on compensation or if Palin will eventually get her own show (and not an "occasional program") as of this writing. After she appeared on The Oprah Show, Palin said she would like to have a talk show of her own.
Stay tuned.
This officially solidifies Sarah Palin as a television pundit and moves her further away from being considered a serious candidate for the 2012 Presidential Race. Governor Palin joins Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity, thus she risks being considered only a Right-wingnut and not a politician.
If Palin does run, when 2012 approaches every ill-considered comment or quip will be gathered, blasted on television and online, and used against her again and again, wrecking any chance she has of being considered electable.
On a positive note, Kurtz reports that Palin will also host an occasional program that will examine inspirational tales involving ordinary Americans.
For Fox News, the move is genius. It takes CNN away from the habit of using a Sarah Palin comment as news without feeding Fox News' ratings machine.
No official word on compensation or if Palin will eventually get her own show (and not an "occasional program") as of this writing. After she appeared on The Oprah Show, Palin said she would like to have a talk show of her own.
Stay tuned.
Casey Johnson funeral: Tila Tequila not invited, issues Twitter rant
Adding insult to the injury of the death of her loved one Johnson & Johnson heiress Casey Johnson, Reality Show TV Star Tila Tequila was not invited to the funeral for Casey Johnson, according to RadarOnline.com.
Casey Johnson was found dead at her home Sunday, January 4th by Tila Tequila, who announced it on Twitter. As of this writing, the LA County Cornorer's Office has not reported an official cause of death and the investigation is continuing, but its known that Casey Johnson suffered from diabetes and drug problems.
Tila Teguila was engaged to be married to Casey Johnson late in 2009, and just weeks before Johnson passed away. Tila Tequila said to RadarOnline Sunday:
The funeral was hosted by Casey Johnson's father Robert "Woody" Johnson and attended by a small group reportedly including Casey's friend Nicky Hilton. Last week, Tila Tequila called 911 against Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton when they went to recover Casey Johnson's dog from her.
The revelation that she was not invited to the funeral caused Tila Tequila to lash out at everyone using her Twitter page, including herself:
Casey Johnson and Tila Tequila in 2009
Casey Johnson was found dead at her home Sunday, January 4th by Tila Tequila, who announced it on Twitter. As of this writing, the LA County Cornorer's Office has not reported an official cause of death and the investigation is continuing, but its known that Casey Johnson suffered from diabetes and drug problems.
Tila Teguila was engaged to be married to Casey Johnson late in 2009, and just weeks before Johnson passed away. Tila Tequila said to RadarOnline Sunday:
"Yes her funeral is today and I can't even see my wife for the last time to say goodbye to her and see her. It's breaking my heart... I'm crying so bad, they are horrible, mean people. Sure, one day I can visit her grave but I will never ever get to see her face again to say goodbye and kiss her before they bury her. I can't talk about this now it's making me cry."
The funeral was hosted by Casey Johnson's father Robert "Woody" Johnson and attended by a small group reportedly including Casey's friend Nicky Hilton. Last week, Tila Tequila called 911 against Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton when they went to recover Casey Johnson's dog from her.
The revelation that she was not invited to the funeral caused Tila Tequila to lash out at everyone using her Twitter page, including herself:
PPL say I need 2 get off twitter & grieve with friends & family...WHERE? I DONT HAVE ANY! Casey was my only family & my Dogs! Worst day ever
about 18 hours ago from web
Why do I tweet so much? Even BEFORE Casey passed away? BECAUSE I HAVE NO FRIENDS! THERE! THE TRUTH COMES OUT! Just pray 4 her please!
about 18 hours ago from web
AND NO FOR THE LAST TIME I HAVE NO FAMILY OR FRIENDS! YES I FINALLY ADMITTED IT! I AM A LOSER! MY DOG & HER WAS ALL I HAD!
about 18 hours ago from web
Im upset. What would YOU do if you were MADLY IN LOVE & then ur fiance died & their family blamed you for it when it was THEIR FAULT? hmm.
about 18 hours ago from web
If I was a GUY as her fiance, I wouldn't be treated like this. They did NOT like lesbians. Neither did Nikky Hilton. Casey told me. SAD!
about 19 hours ago from web
Casey wanted me to Adopt Ava & was already calling me her Mommy. I bet this is all because they are against LESBIANS! So wrong!
about 19 hours ago from web
Sen. Harry Reid racist comments; George Will is wrong
The firestorm over the discovery of Nevada Senator Harry Reid racist comments regarding now-President Barack Obama prove that memories are short. Much has changed since Barack Obama became the 44th President of The United States, specifically attitudes about race and the overall willingness to talk about race and racism.
Harry Reid, the Democratic Senator, is accused of essentially saying that Obama would be a good presidential candidate even though he's African American. According to ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, In a new book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin called Game Change, Reid reportedly said this:
At the time, Harry Reid's comments were both race-concious and racist. ABC News George Will is really wrong when he said "there's not a scintilla of racism in what Harry Reid said. At long last, Harry Reid has said something that no one can disagree with, and he gets in trouble for it."
But what he said, and what George Will rubber-stamped on ABC News' This Week, Sunday, is both race-concious and racist. One is OK, but the other, racism, is not. To be race-concious is to be keenly aware of racial differences in people, but not use that to the detriment of the person who's being judged. To be racist is to put down a person - to reject them or avoid associating with them - because that person's skin color is different.
What Harry Reid said both acknowledged and supported the common view that to be black in America is to be judged by whites, and now some blacks, as less than. That a "common" black person speaks in a certain way and has dark-skin. By contrast, Harry Reid was saying, and George Will is acknowledging, that Barack Obama can "pass" for white and that makes him OK.
That view is racist but it was also very common to hear or read in 2008. Barack Obama's successful campaign challenged people who were used to seeing a "whites only" political arena, and even those considered not racist at all, specifically former President Bill Clinton, were recorded making questionable comments regarding Barack Obama.
Clinton's approach in comparing Obama's run to that of Jesse Jackson's in 1984 was attacked as racist, and doomed Hillary Clinton's presidential run.
And some African Americans, particularly many of those over 40, didn't give Barack Obama a chance to win before the 2008 Presidential Primary started. When Obama performed well during that time, some blacks were quick to say that Obama's "not black." That too is racist and is expressed from a "self-hating black" perspective.
All that is in the past; now we have Obama as president and a new America, where commercials pairing interracial couples are the norm. That wasn't true even as recently as 2008. America has gone through a rapid and far reaching wave of cultural change that continues today, that does not mean the past should be rewritten.
What Harry Reid said was in 2008 was racist; but that does not mean he's racist. Reid has apologized to Obama Moreover Reid, like other Americans, has learned a lot about himself and the country in just over one year.
Harry Reid, the Democratic Senator, is accused of essentially saying that Obama would be a good presidential candidate even though he's African American. According to ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, In a new book by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin called Game Change, Reid reportedly said this:
“Harry Reid was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama -- a ‘light-skinned’ African American ‘with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,’ as he said privately.”
At the time, Harry Reid's comments were both race-concious and racist. ABC News George Will is really wrong when he said "there's not a scintilla of racism in what Harry Reid said. At long last, Harry Reid has said something that no one can disagree with, and he gets in trouble for it."
But what he said, and what George Will rubber-stamped on ABC News' This Week, Sunday, is both race-concious and racist. One is OK, but the other, racism, is not. To be race-concious is to be keenly aware of racial differences in people, but not use that to the detriment of the person who's being judged. To be racist is to put down a person - to reject them or avoid associating with them - because that person's skin color is different.
What Harry Reid said both acknowledged and supported the common view that to be black in America is to be judged by whites, and now some blacks, as less than. That a "common" black person speaks in a certain way and has dark-skin. By contrast, Harry Reid was saying, and George Will is acknowledging, that Barack Obama can "pass" for white and that makes him OK.
That view is racist but it was also very common to hear or read in 2008. Barack Obama's successful campaign challenged people who were used to seeing a "whites only" political arena, and even those considered not racist at all, specifically former President Bill Clinton, were recorded making questionable comments regarding Barack Obama.
Clinton's approach in comparing Obama's run to that of Jesse Jackson's in 1984 was attacked as racist, and doomed Hillary Clinton's presidential run.
And some African Americans, particularly many of those over 40, didn't give Barack Obama a chance to win before the 2008 Presidential Primary started. When Obama performed well during that time, some blacks were quick to say that Obama's "not black." That too is racist and is expressed from a "self-hating black" perspective.
All that is in the past; now we have Obama as president and a new America, where commercials pairing interracial couples are the norm. That wasn't true even as recently as 2008. America has gone through a rapid and far reaching wave of cultural change that continues today, that does not mean the past should be rewritten.
What Harry Reid said was in 2008 was racist; but that does not mean he's racist. Reid has apologized to Obama Moreover Reid, like other Americans, has learned a lot about himself and the country in just over one year.
Mick Jagger hangs with USC Volleyball star Jess Gysin
While USC Football Head Coach Pete Carroll was mulling over a possible return to the NFL that eventually led to his resignation from USC for the NFL Seattle Seahawks, USC Vollleyball star and grad student Jess Gysin was enjoying the beach in her bikini with The Rolling Stones' legendary singer Mick Jagger.
Ok, it's not what you think. A well-dressed for the beach Mick Jagger stopped to take a photo with Jess Gysin and her friends. Jessica Gysin (on the left) put the photo up on the Internet December 27th and via her Twitpic account.
From the looks of the photo, satisfaction was had by all, and Mick Jagger still knows how to find time to be photographed with beautiful women. Jessica Gysin is considered by sports fans at the blog Busted Coverage to be one of the hottest women in college sports.
Ok, it's not what you think. A well-dressed for the beach Mick Jagger stopped to take a photo with Jess Gysin and her friends. Jessica Gysin (on the left) put the photo up on the Internet December 27th and via her Twitpic account.
From the looks of the photo, satisfaction was had by all, and Mick Jagger still knows how to find time to be photographed with beautiful women. Jessica Gysin is considered by sports fans at the blog Busted Coverage to be one of the hottest women in college sports.
Pete Carroll resigns from USC for Seattle Seahawks
After a controversial deal struck while The Seattle Seahawks were simultaneously interviewing Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier, Pete Carroll resigns from USC as head coach and is expected to officially become the Seattle Seahawks next head coach on Monday, according to the LA Times and The LA Daily News.
The LA Times reports that Pete Carroll came to agreement on a 5-year $35 million contract.
The news that Pete Carroll was desired as the next head coach of the Seahawks surfaced as far back as last Thursday and was reported that Friday. But to comply with an NFL rule known as "The Rooney Rule", the Seahawks would have to interview with at least one minority candidate.
After saying no to being the minority candidate because he believe the Seahawks wanted Pete Carroll anyway, Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier said "yes" at the behest of the Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA), which looks at NFL Rooney Rule compliance performance. The FPA was under the impression that because Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke reportedly said to the FPA they would not give general manager duties to Carroll, that meant Carroll was not "the guy" preferred by the Seahawks.
The FPA was wrong.
While Leslie Frazier never got a real shot at a job that wasn't his to start with, soon-to-be former USC Head Coach Pete Carroll gets a job and deal he reportedly wanted, else he was going to remain with the University of Southern California. Pete Carroll returns to pro football and a won-loss record that is the reverse of the one at his storied tenure with USC.
Pete Carroll's NFL record is 33-31 in four seasons with the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, and 1997 with the New England Patriots. At USC Pete Carroll's record was 97 wins, 19 losses. A list of Pete Carroll's accomplishments at USC and posted at Wikipedia is worthy of review:
With all of this, why leave USC and a job Carroll once said he not leave for the NFL? The consensus is that Pete Carroll wants to make up for his first two failures in the NFL.
Stay tuned.
The LA Times reports that Pete Carroll came to agreement on a 5-year $35 million contract.
The news that Pete Carroll was desired as the next head coach of the Seahawks surfaced as far back as last Thursday and was reported that Friday. But to comply with an NFL rule known as "The Rooney Rule", the Seahawks would have to interview with at least one minority candidate.
After saying no to being the minority candidate because he believe the Seahawks wanted Pete Carroll anyway, Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier said "yes" at the behest of the Fritz Pollard Alliance (FPA), which looks at NFL Rooney Rule compliance performance. The FPA was under the impression that because Seahawks CEO Tod Leiweke reportedly said to the FPA they would not give general manager duties to Carroll, that meant Carroll was not "the guy" preferred by the Seahawks.
The FPA was wrong.
While Leslie Frazier never got a real shot at a job that wasn't his to start with, soon-to-be former USC Head Coach Pete Carroll gets a job and deal he reportedly wanted, else he was going to remain with the University of Southern California. Pete Carroll returns to pro football and a won-loss record that is the reverse of the one at his storied tenure with USC.
Pete Carroll's NFL record is 33-31 in four seasons with the New York Jets and the New England Patriots, and 1997 with the New England Patriots. At USC Pete Carroll's record was 97 wins, 19 losses. A list of Pete Carroll's accomplishments at USC and posted at Wikipedia is worthy of review:
Two BCS Championship Game appearances (win over Oklahoma, and a loss to Texas in 2005)
Two national championships, including the AP 2003 national championship and the undisputed 2004 national championship.
Seven consecutive Associated Press Top-4 finishes
A record six BCS bowl victories
A record seven consecutive BCS bowl appearances
A record seven consecutive years as Pac-10 Champions or Co-Champions
A national-record 33 consecutive weeks as AP's No. 1-ranked team
A winning record of 97–19 (85.6%), including 16–2 against traditional rivals Notre Dame and UCLA
A NCAA record of 63 straight 20-point games
Twenty-five All-American first teamers
53 players selected in the NFL Draft, including 14 in the first round.[49]
Three Heisman Trophy winners (Carson Palmer, 2002; Matt Leinart, 2004; Reggie Bush, 2005)
Four Top-5 recruiting classes
Win streaks for home games (34) and Pac-10 home games (22).
In 2007, USC became the first NCAA FBS team to achieve six consecutive 11-win seasons.[50] In 2008, USC added an unprecedented seventh consecutive 11-win season.
28–1 in the month of November
Only team in history to win three consecutive Rose Bowl Games
With all of this, why leave USC and a job Carroll once said he not leave for the NFL? The consensus is that Pete Carroll wants to make up for his first two failures in the NFL.
Stay tuned.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Pete Carroll to USC for Seahawks; NFL Commissioner OK's deal
NFL PR Head Brian McCarthy reports that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been in "constant contact" with the Seattle Seahawks and that they're in compliance with The Rooney Rule. McCarthy took to Twitter to report the news and that the Washington Redskins were in compliance as well.
The Seattle Seahawks almost simultaneous interview of Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier while working an agreement to hire USC Head Coach Pete Carroll has caused a massive controversy as it appears the Seahawks were using Leslie Frazier to comply with The Rooney Rule.
The Washington Redskins hired former Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan, but after setting full interviews with minority candidate and Defensive Coach Jerry Gray before making a decision. By contrast, the Seahawks appear to have made a decision even before talking to Leslie Frazier.
Stay tuned.
Goodell, in Cincy for Jets-Bengals game, told media that Redskins + Seahawks have complied w/ Rooney Rule
about 2 hours ago from UberTwitter
The Seattle Seahawks almost simultaneous interview of Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier while working an agreement to hire USC Head Coach Pete Carroll has caused a massive controversy as it appears the Seahawks were using Leslie Frazier to comply with The Rooney Rule.
The Washington Redskins hired former Denver Broncos Head Coach Mike Shanahan, but after setting full interviews with minority candidate and Defensive Coach Jerry Gray before making a decision. By contrast, the Seahawks appear to have made a decision even before talking to Leslie Frazier.
Stay tuned.
Pete Carroll leaving USC for Seahawks? Seattle using Leslie Frazier?
The rumors are all over that USC Head Coach Pete Carroll is leaving USC for The NFL's Seattle Seahawks, and that Mike Riley will take over for Pete Carroll at USC. But if that's the case, and it's still not officially a done deal, it would mean in the view of this blogger that the Seattle Seahawks are using Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier and just as a minority pawn.
As this is going to post, its reported that the Seahawks have a deal with Carroll on the same Saturday they're reportedly still interviewing Leslie Frazier.
Moreover, it would mean the Fritz Pollard Association did not pressure the Seattle Seahawks to stop press leaks that Pete Carroll was the coach they wanted all along.
Here's what happened.
On Friday rumors circulated that USC Head Coach Pete Carroll was highly sought after by the Seattle Seahawks, who fired Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr. after only one season. But the NFL has a provision called "The Rooney Rule" which states that each team considering a head coaching candidate must interview a qualified minority coach.
But The Rooney Rule does not force minority coaches to interview with NFL teams, so when the Seattle Seahawks called on Leslie Frazier to be interviewed, really to comply with The Rooney Rule, he at first said "no".
Smart.
The Rooney Rule has been used to set up a number of less-than-sincere interviews of black coaches for head coaching positions when the NFL team had zero intention of hiring a black coach. Meanwhile, the NFL has continued a track record of hiring coaches who are white and have poor records, but then are rehired again by another team. By contrast, the NFL has no problem assuming a running back is good in part because he's black.
(It's also why a number of bloggers including this blogger started comparing Stanford Running Back Toby Gerhart to Jim Brown. First, Toby Gerhart reminds many of Jim Brown, but it wasn't the first comparison offered in conversation; John Riggins of the Washington Redskins was. Riggins is white, as is Gerhart; Jim Brown is black)
In this case, Pete Carroll has a poor NFL record and yet would be rehired by a team in the NFL, if a deal was done.
Leslie Frazier changed his mind after a day when the Fritz Pollard Association, which has worked to assure that NFL teams were in compliance with The Rooney Rule, stepped in, and got Seahawks EVP Tim Lewicky to agree that they were not going to give Pete Carroll control over personnel decisions. And on that basis, the interview happened.
Why?
Because it was believed that not giving Pete Carroll full control of the team means that he's not "their guy" in the mind of the Fritz Pollard Association. It's a twisted logic that could lead to Pete Carroll getting the Settle Seahawks job because he was "their guy" anyway and Leslie Frazier left out to bear the cold winter of Minnesota.
Leslie Frazier deserves his shot as an NFL Head Coach. He's coached many of the top players and created some of the NFL's best defenses. He should be given the same chance that many white NFL defensive coordinators, from Wade Phillips to Dave Campo (and both with the Dallas Cowboys) have received.
Pete Carroll won at USC because he was a great recruiter and a great coach. But at the NFL level, he would just be a great coach. That does not guarantee the amazing level of success Pete Carroll has had at USC.
Meanwhile, this episode should really cause the league to look at The Rooney Rule. Pete Carroll will not fare well at Seattle because he's not the best scheme person and at the NFL level, teams will zero in on what he's doing and stop it by the seventh game of the season. By contrast, Mike Holmgren knew and coached the Walsh Offense before he came to Seattle.
Seattle will learn, the hard way.
Stay tuned.
Leslie Frazier
As this is going to post, its reported that the Seahawks have a deal with Carroll on the same Saturday they're reportedly still interviewing Leslie Frazier.
Moreover, it would mean the Fritz Pollard Association did not pressure the Seattle Seahawks to stop press leaks that Pete Carroll was the coach they wanted all along.
Here's what happened.
On Friday rumors circulated that USC Head Coach Pete Carroll was highly sought after by the Seattle Seahawks, who fired Head Coach Jim Mora, Jr. after only one season. But the NFL has a provision called "The Rooney Rule" which states that each team considering a head coaching candidate must interview a qualified minority coach.
But The Rooney Rule does not force minority coaches to interview with NFL teams, so when the Seattle Seahawks called on Leslie Frazier to be interviewed, really to comply with The Rooney Rule, he at first said "no".
Smart.
The Rooney Rule has been used to set up a number of less-than-sincere interviews of black coaches for head coaching positions when the NFL team had zero intention of hiring a black coach. Meanwhile, the NFL has continued a track record of hiring coaches who are white and have poor records, but then are rehired again by another team. By contrast, the NFL has no problem assuming a running back is good in part because he's black.
(It's also why a number of bloggers including this blogger started comparing Stanford Running Back Toby Gerhart to Jim Brown. First, Toby Gerhart reminds many of Jim Brown, but it wasn't the first comparison offered in conversation; John Riggins of the Washington Redskins was. Riggins is white, as is Gerhart; Jim Brown is black)
In this case, Pete Carroll has a poor NFL record and yet would be rehired by a team in the NFL, if a deal was done.
Leslie Frazier changed his mind after a day when the Fritz Pollard Association, which has worked to assure that NFL teams were in compliance with The Rooney Rule, stepped in, and got Seahawks EVP Tim Lewicky to agree that they were not going to give Pete Carroll control over personnel decisions. And on that basis, the interview happened.
Why?
Because it was believed that not giving Pete Carroll full control of the team means that he's not "their guy" in the mind of the Fritz Pollard Association. It's a twisted logic that could lead to Pete Carroll getting the Settle Seahawks job because he was "their guy" anyway and Leslie Frazier left out to bear the cold winter of Minnesota.
Leslie Frazier deserves his shot as an NFL Head Coach. He's coached many of the top players and created some of the NFL's best defenses. He should be given the same chance that many white NFL defensive coordinators, from Wade Phillips to Dave Campo (and both with the Dallas Cowboys) have received.
Pete Carroll won at USC because he was a great recruiter and a great coach. But at the NFL level, he would just be a great coach. That does not guarantee the amazing level of success Pete Carroll has had at USC.
Meanwhile, this episode should really cause the league to look at The Rooney Rule. Pete Carroll will not fare well at Seattle because he's not the best scheme person and at the NFL level, teams will zero in on what he's doing and stop it by the seventh game of the season. By contrast, Mike Holmgren knew and coached the Walsh Offense before he came to Seattle.
Seattle will learn, the hard way.
Stay tuned.
Artie Lange out of hospital, will remain with Howard Stern Show
Artie Lange, The Howard Stern Show star and sidekick to Howard Stern, is out of Jersey City Medical Center. Artie Lange was released Friday after a successful surgery. An executive for Sirius XM and The Howard Stern Show has released a statement that Artie Lange is welcome back and is "very much a part of these channels".
According to the NY Times, Howard Stern Show Senior Vice President Tin Sabean said “Artie is very much a part of these channels, and we look forward to Artie’s fast recovery and we wish him all the best.”
This ends a horrifying week for Artie Lange fans, for his family, for Howard Stern Show fans, and Howard Stern himself, as it started last Saturday with the report of Artie Lange's accident, then intensified Monday, as The New York Post Page 6 reported that Artie Lange stabbed himself in a suicide attempt that was only confirmed by Hoboken Police on Thursday.
According to the NY Times, Howard Stern Show Senior Vice President Tin Sabean said “Artie is very much a part of these channels, and we look forward to Artie’s fast recovery and we wish him all the best.”
This ends a horrifying week for Artie Lange fans, for his family, for Howard Stern Show fans, and Howard Stern himself, as it started last Saturday with the report of Artie Lange's accident, then intensified Monday, as The New York Post Page 6 reported that Artie Lange stabbed himself in a suicide attempt that was only confirmed by Hoboken Police on Thursday.
Emma Watson's missing leg spotted in video
British Actress and Harry Potter star Emma Watson is burning up the Internet, and that's due to her new Buberry advertisements which feature her as the face of their campaign and a controversy about her legs, or one of them.
The 19-year-old star has created the ads (her second go-round with Burberry in two straight years) with her brother, 17-year old Alex, and for the British label’s Spring/Summer 2010 campaign.
There's just one problem: it looks like Emma Watson's missing a leg in one of the iconic photos created by legendary photog Mario Testino for Burberry.
The photo above of her with Alex looks as if Emma Watson's right leg is half there. The way her leg is placed visually implies that it should continue such that it can be seen between Alex legs. But what's there is the same color as the wall.
This has caused massive web buzz with speculation that Emma Watson's leg was photoshopped out of view. The Huffington Post's readers seem to think so, according to their poll.
But they're wrong. This video below shows that Emma's leg is actually exactly behind that of her brother's leg.
Thus, from a straight on angle, as the photo was taken from, it appears that Emma Watson has part of her leg and not the whole.
If Emma Watson weren't so skinny, all of her leg would have been visible, even behind that of her equally thin brother, Alex.
Did Burberry instruct Mario Testino to make the photo that way to deliberately draw attention? Or did Mario Testino comes up with the idea on his own? In either case, the result is pure Internet marketing genius.
Stay tuned.
The 19-year-old star has created the ads (her second go-round with Burberry in two straight years) with her brother, 17-year old Alex, and for the British label’s Spring/Summer 2010 campaign.
There's just one problem: it looks like Emma Watson's missing a leg in one of the iconic photos created by legendary photog Mario Testino for Burberry.
The photo above of her with Alex looks as if Emma Watson's right leg is half there. The way her leg is placed visually implies that it should continue such that it can be seen between Alex legs. But what's there is the same color as the wall.
This has caused massive web buzz with speculation that Emma Watson's leg was photoshopped out of view. The Huffington Post's readers seem to think so, according to their poll.
But they're wrong. This video below shows that Emma's leg is actually exactly behind that of her brother's leg.
Thus, from a straight on angle, as the photo was taken from, it appears that Emma Watson has part of her leg and not the whole.
If Emma Watson weren't so skinny, all of her leg would have been visible, even behind that of her equally thin brother, Alex.
Did Burberry instruct Mario Testino to make the photo that way to deliberately draw attention? Or did Mario Testino comes up with the idea on his own? In either case, the result is pure Internet marketing genius.
Stay tuned.
Oakland Raiders John Herrera out of control
The Oakland Raiders have had a great tradition of Senior Executives who have had great relationships with the press, politicians, and the public. Such names as Morris Bradshaw, Al LoCasale, and Bruce Allen have held the title of Oakland Raiders Senior Executive.
Both Al LoCasale and Bruce Allen have been legendary figures in the National Football League because they command respect by treating everyone with the dignity and honor they deserve.
In Al LoCasale's case, this blogger learned NFL politics from him. In 1996, when I served as Economic Advisor to the Elihu Harris, when he was the Mayor of Oakland, Al LoCasale contacted me and we met for lunch almost weekly at his favorite restaurant, Linguini's in Alameda in Park (great Lasangna).
Why? Because LoCasale wanted me to work behind the scenes to help reestablish the 49ers / Raiders Preseason Game. At the time the Oakland Raiders were involved in a lawsuit with the NFL so LoCasale believed it would be hard to get the league to agree to a game that would be of benefit to them at the time.
I agreed to help him. After weeks of conversation and preparation with LoCasale, the first call I made under LoCasale's direction was to then-NFL Executive Vice President Roger Goodell. That was a great first start because as it happened, I read about his father the late Republican Senator Charles E. Goodell several years ago, but didn't know Roger Goodell was his son!
After much conversation about politics, Goodell said the best way to reestablish the preseason game was to approach the San Francisco 49ers. My next endeavor centered on gaining a meeting with San Francisco 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo. "Mr. D" as he's called, came with his then-assistant Ed Muranski to Oakland for a meeting with Mayor Harris and myself.
We talked about the NFL, the Oakland Raiders, and the redevelopment of Jack London Square, because the then-new DeBartolo Entertainment Company was looking for venues to build themed sports bars. Jack London Square was a perfect candidate, especially since Mac's Sports Bar had just closed its doors.
But with those meetings, including an incredible trip to 49ers Headquarters in 1997 that featured a tour and a brief talk with a man who's become now a friend: then 49ers Head Coach Steve Marriuci, who's now with the NFL Network and I last saw at the 2008 NFL Draft and at a Cal game later that year:
All of that was set in motion by AlLoCasale both directly and indirectly.
While I never got to know Raiders Executive Assistant Bruce Allen as well as I did Al LoCasale, Bruce was always gracious to me, even during the time I was trying to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland, and the Raiders were involved in a nasty lawsuit against the City of Oakland. And when I saw him at Leigh Steinberg's Super Bowl Party in Houston in 2004, and when he was General Manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jon Gruden was the head coach, Bruce introduced me in a way that made my hair stand, and I don't have any.
Bruce said to Jon: Jon, this guy was with the City of Oakland; he could be a good general manager.
I had no idea he felt that way, and while I never followed up on what he said, it was just nice to hear.
Morris Bradshaw has always been a friend. We've talked about a lot of aspects of life, way beyond football. Morris knows what I mean here; I don't need to write any more. Morris Bradshaw is a good man.
The point in all of this, is Oakland Raiders Senior Executives have a tradition of understanding how to work with people and giving them the respect they deserve. Unfortunately, that history is threatened by the behavior, as I have seen it, of John Herrera.
What spurred me to finally write this was his quip against Rich Gannon in the San Jose Mercury News where the Merc's Steve Corkran wrote:
That was not right to say. Flip? Yes. Angry? Of course. Necessary? No. Rich Gannon just extended a hand of help to a team he played for who needs it because he cares and sees a major diamond-in-the-rough in Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell. For Herrera to think of making that statement, of all things he could have said, was the product of an awful train of thought.
But if that's terrible, it pales compared to how John Herrera treated Mercury News Columnist Tim Kawakami in 2008. As the video below shows, John Herrera essentially tried to bully Tim Kawakami because he didn't like something Tim Kawakami wrote.
Here's the video:
Herrera could have addressed the issue in a classy, dignified way. But what he did was disappointing to see. Tim should have never been exposed to that kind of treatment by any Oakland Raiders official.
John Herrera has a long tradition of Oakland Raiders Senior Executives to follow. Right now, Herrera's not, in my view, doing a good job. No one "hates the Oakland Raiders" here. This is a matter of a call for John Herrera to act with the dignity, kindness, and respect that past and current Oakland Raiders executives have set a standard for, from Morris Bradshaw to Al LoCasale, and Bruce Allen.
Let's hope for a better performance in the future.
John Herrera points finger in face of Tim Kawakami in 2008
Both Al LoCasale and Bruce Allen have been legendary figures in the National Football League because they command respect by treating everyone with the dignity and honor they deserve.
In Al LoCasale's case, this blogger learned NFL politics from him. In 1996, when I served as Economic Advisor to the Elihu Harris, when he was the Mayor of Oakland, Al LoCasale contacted me and we met for lunch almost weekly at his favorite restaurant, Linguini's in Alameda in Park (great Lasangna).
Why? Because LoCasale wanted me to work behind the scenes to help reestablish the 49ers / Raiders Preseason Game. At the time the Oakland Raiders were involved in a lawsuit with the NFL so LoCasale believed it would be hard to get the league to agree to a game that would be of benefit to them at the time.
I agreed to help him. After weeks of conversation and preparation with LoCasale, the first call I made under LoCasale's direction was to then-NFL Executive Vice President Roger Goodell. That was a great first start because as it happened, I read about his father the late Republican Senator Charles E. Goodell several years ago, but didn't know Roger Goodell was his son!
After much conversation about politics, Goodell said the best way to reestablish the preseason game was to approach the San Francisco 49ers. My next endeavor centered on gaining a meeting with San Francisco 49ers Owner Eddie DeBartolo. "Mr. D" as he's called, came with his then-assistant Ed Muranski to Oakland for a meeting with Mayor Harris and myself.
We talked about the NFL, the Oakland Raiders, and the redevelopment of Jack London Square, because the then-new DeBartolo Entertainment Company was looking for venues to build themed sports bars. Jack London Square was a perfect candidate, especially since Mac's Sports Bar had just closed its doors.
But with those meetings, including an incredible trip to 49ers Headquarters in 1997 that featured a tour and a brief talk with a man who's become now a friend: then 49ers Head Coach Steve Marriuci, who's now with the NFL Network and I last saw at the 2008 NFL Draft and at a Cal game later that year:
All of that was set in motion by AlLoCasale both directly and indirectly.
While I never got to know Raiders Executive Assistant Bruce Allen as well as I did Al LoCasale, Bruce was always gracious to me, even during the time I was trying to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland, and the Raiders were involved in a nasty lawsuit against the City of Oakland. And when I saw him at Leigh Steinberg's Super Bowl Party in Houston in 2004, and when he was General Manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jon Gruden was the head coach, Bruce introduced me in a way that made my hair stand, and I don't have any.
Bruce said to Jon: Jon, this guy was with the City of Oakland; he could be a good general manager.
I had no idea he felt that way, and while I never followed up on what he said, it was just nice to hear.
Morris Bradshaw has always been a friend. We've talked about a lot of aspects of life, way beyond football. Morris knows what I mean here; I don't need to write any more. Morris Bradshaw is a good man.
The point in all of this, is Oakland Raiders Senior Executives have a tradition of understanding how to work with people and giving them the respect they deserve. Unfortunately, that history is threatened by the behavior, as I have seen it, of John Herrera.
What spurred me to finally write this was his quip against Rich Gannon in the San Jose Mercury News where the Merc's Steve Corkran wrote:
Raiders senior executive John Herrera said Wednesday that neither Davis, Russell, coach Tom Cable nor the Raiders needs any help from Gannon and that "maybe it's Rich that needs the help."
That was not right to say. Flip? Yes. Angry? Of course. Necessary? No. Rich Gannon just extended a hand of help to a team he played for who needs it because he cares and sees a major diamond-in-the-rough in Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell. For Herrera to think of making that statement, of all things he could have said, was the product of an awful train of thought.
But if that's terrible, it pales compared to how John Herrera treated Mercury News Columnist Tim Kawakami in 2008. As the video below shows, John Herrera essentially tried to bully Tim Kawakami because he didn't like something Tim Kawakami wrote.
Here's the video:
Herrera could have addressed the issue in a classy, dignified way. But what he did was disappointing to see. Tim should have never been exposed to that kind of treatment by any Oakland Raiders official.
John Herrera has a long tradition of Oakland Raiders Senior Executives to follow. Right now, Herrera's not, in my view, doing a good job. No one "hates the Oakland Raiders" here. This is a matter of a call for John Herrera to act with the dignity, kindness, and respect that past and current Oakland Raiders executives have set a standard for, from Morris Bradshaw to Al LoCasale, and Bruce Allen.
Let's hope for a better performance in the future.
There's snow in florida? Snow fall in Orlando, Florida
The East Coast United States' weather has been colder than in the past but never so cold that it was snowing in Florida. But that's what's happening today: snow in Florida. Snow fell in Orlando, Florida and Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Lake counties in central Florida (around Walt Disney World), have all seen snow.
According to the National Weather Service, Williamsburg, Florida, also next to Disney World, has a 7-day weather forecast that includes a wind chill warning, a hard freeze warning, a wind chill advisory, a freeze watch, and a fire weather watch.
The National Weather Service reports it's currently "Cloudy and cold, with a high near 37. Wind chill values as low as 29. North northwest wind around 15 mph" and it's going to get as cold as 14 degrees at night with the wind chill factor.
The snow is such an unusual site that Florida residents have taken to YouTube to post videos of the event.
This video is from Ocala, Florida, and posted today:
And this snow in Florida video features a Florida snowball fight:
Unbelievable.
The forecast is for warmer weather near the end of next week.
Stay tuned.
According to the National Weather Service, Williamsburg, Florida, also next to Disney World, has a 7-day weather forecast that includes a wind chill warning, a hard freeze warning, a wind chill advisory, a freeze watch, and a fire weather watch.
The National Weather Service reports it's currently "Cloudy and cold, with a high near 37. Wind chill values as low as 29. North northwest wind around 15 mph" and it's going to get as cold as 14 degrees at night with the wind chill factor.
The snow is such an unusual site that Florida residents have taken to YouTube to post videos of the event.
This video is from Ocala, Florida, and posted today:
And this snow in Florida video features a Florida snowball fight:
Unbelievable.
The forecast is for warmer weather near the end of next week.
Stay tuned.
NFL MVP is Colts' QB Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Peyton Manning has scored a record 4th NFL Most Valuable Player Award, and his second NFL MVP Award in two consecutive years. According to ESPN, Manning received 39.5 votes, to 7.5 for Drew Brees and 2 for Drew Brees and 1 for Brett Favre. But the 2009 NFL Season was among Peyton Manning's best.
Peyton Manning threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns in the 2009 NFL Season. And at 33-years-old, he's started in every game of his career. He led three fourth quarter comebacks this year, and during a winning stretch that saw the Colts rack up 14 straight wins.
While many in the media point to his receivers and his drive as the reason for his amazing success and the 2009 NFL MVP, the other reason, the main one, is his ability to read NFL defensive coverages and determine how best to attack them and the freedom the Colts offense gives him to do this.
Peyton Manning's success is a testament to the idea that the quarterback, not the coach, has the best feel of the game. It's something that may have missed Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress and caused his arguments with Quarterback Brett Farve.
In the Colts Offense, Peyton Manning is given three plays to pick from and at times, he changes the play at the line of scrimmage.
Moreover, Peyton Manning's throwing motion is worthy of study. He carries the ball high, near his ear, thus reducing the time it takes for him to throw a pass. It's in stark contrast to legendary Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Roger Stauback's wind-the-arm-back, then-bring-it-up-to-throw long developing motion that NFL defensive backs would take advantage of today. That major key to Manning's success also shows how far the pro football passing game has evolved from the 1970s.
Peyton Manning's MVP award is the result of a technical understanding of the game, use of textbook passing mechanics, coaches who have developed a state-of-the-art offense, tutored him in its operation, and let him run with it. That's a formula for constant success.
Peyton Manning threw for 4,500 yards and 33 touchdowns in the 2009 NFL Season. And at 33-years-old, he's started in every game of his career. He led three fourth quarter comebacks this year, and during a winning stretch that saw the Colts rack up 14 straight wins.
While many in the media point to his receivers and his drive as the reason for his amazing success and the 2009 NFL MVP, the other reason, the main one, is his ability to read NFL defensive coverages and determine how best to attack them and the freedom the Colts offense gives him to do this.
Peyton Manning's success is a testament to the idea that the quarterback, not the coach, has the best feel of the game. It's something that may have missed Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress and caused his arguments with Quarterback Brett Farve.
In the Colts Offense, Peyton Manning is given three plays to pick from and at times, he changes the play at the line of scrimmage.
Moreover, Peyton Manning's throwing motion is worthy of study. He carries the ball high, near his ear, thus reducing the time it takes for him to throw a pass. It's in stark contrast to legendary Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Roger Stauback's wind-the-arm-back, then-bring-it-up-to-throw long developing motion that NFL defensive backs would take advantage of today. That major key to Manning's success also shows how far the pro football passing game has evolved from the 1970s.
Peyton Manning's MVP award is the result of a technical understanding of the game, use of textbook passing mechanics, coaches who have developed a state-of-the-art offense, tutored him in its operation, and let him run with it. That's a formula for constant success.
“FRO’s Favorite Five” Frankie’s Favorite Fantasy Picks Wildcard Weekend
“FRO’s Favorite Five”
Frankie’s Favorite Fantasy Picks
Wildcard Weekend
For the playoffs I prefer to rate each position for those people who play in the Playoff Fantasy Leagues. Teams on bye (Indianapolis, San Diego, New Orleans and Minnesota) are not included in these rankings.
By Frankie Underwood, Senior Fantasy Writer at www.footballreportersonline.com Email questions and comments to Frankie@footballreportersonline.com
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay @ Arizona
Kurt Warner – Arizona versus Green Bay
Tony Romo – Dallas versus Philadelphia
Tom Brady – New England versus Baltimore
Donovan McNabb – Philadelphia @ Dallas
Joe Flacco – Baltimore @ New England
Carson Palmer – Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Mark Sanchez – New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Running Backs
Ray Rice – Baltimore @ New England
Thomas Jones - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Ryan Grant - Green Bay @ Arizona
Cedric Benson - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Marion Barber - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Laurence Maroney - New England versus Baltimore
Beanie Wells - Arizona versus Green Bay
Felix Jones - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Willis McGahee - Baltimore @ New England
Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Tim Hightower - Arizona versus Green Bay
Kevin Faulk - New England versus Baltimore
Leonard Weaver - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Wide Receivers
Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona versus Green Bay
Randy Moss - New England versus Baltimore
Donald Driver - Green Bay @ Arizona
Miles Austin - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Anquan Boldin - Arizona versus Green Bay
DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Braylon Edwards - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Greg Jennings – Green Bay @ Arizona
Derrick Mason - Baltimore @ New England
Chad Ochocinco - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Jerricho Cotchery – New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Laveranues Coles - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Patrick Crayton - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Julian Edelman - New England versus Baltimore
Roy Williams - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Jeremy Macklin - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Steve Breaston - Arizona versus Green Bay
Brad Smith - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Tight Ends
Brent Celek - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Jason Witten - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Todd Heap - Baltimore @ New England
Jermichael Finley - Green Bay @ Arizona
Dustin Keller - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Ben Watson - New England versus Baltimore
Donald Lee - Green Bay @ Arizona
JP Foschi - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Ben Patrick - Arizona versus Green Bay
Martellus Bennett - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Kickers
Neil Rackers - Arizona versus Green Bay
David Akers - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Shaun Suisham - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Mason Crosby - Green Bay @ Arizona
Stephen Gostkowski - New England versus Baltimore
Billy Cundiff - Baltimore @ New England
Jay Feely - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Shayne Graham - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Defenses
Dallas vs Philadelphia
New York Jets @ Cincinnati
New England versus Baltimore
Baltimore @ New England
Green Bay @ Arizona
Philadelphia @ Dallas
Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Arizona versus Green Bay
Frankie’s Favorite Fantasy Picks
Wildcard Weekend
For the playoffs I prefer to rate each position for those people who play in the Playoff Fantasy Leagues. Teams on bye (Indianapolis, San Diego, New Orleans and Minnesota) are not included in these rankings.
By Frankie Underwood, Senior Fantasy Writer at www.footballreportersonline.com Email questions and comments to Frankie@footballreportersonline.com
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers - Green Bay @ Arizona
Kurt Warner – Arizona versus Green Bay
Tony Romo – Dallas versus Philadelphia
Tom Brady – New England versus Baltimore
Donovan McNabb – Philadelphia @ Dallas
Joe Flacco – Baltimore @ New England
Carson Palmer – Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Mark Sanchez – New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Running Backs
Ray Rice – Baltimore @ New England
Thomas Jones - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Ryan Grant - Green Bay @ Arizona
Cedric Benson - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Marion Barber - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Laurence Maroney - New England versus Baltimore
Beanie Wells - Arizona versus Green Bay
Felix Jones - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Willis McGahee - Baltimore @ New England
Brian Westbrook - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Tim Hightower - Arizona versus Green Bay
Kevin Faulk - New England versus Baltimore
Leonard Weaver - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Wide Receivers
Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona versus Green Bay
Randy Moss - New England versus Baltimore
Donald Driver - Green Bay @ Arizona
Miles Austin - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Anquan Boldin - Arizona versus Green Bay
DeSean Jackson - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Braylon Edwards - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Greg Jennings – Green Bay @ Arizona
Derrick Mason - Baltimore @ New England
Chad Ochocinco - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Jerricho Cotchery – New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Laveranues Coles - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Patrick Crayton - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Julian Edelman - New England versus Baltimore
Roy Williams - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Jeremy Macklin - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Steve Breaston - Arizona versus Green Bay
Brad Smith - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Tight Ends
Brent Celek - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Jason Witten - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Todd Heap - Baltimore @ New England
Jermichael Finley - Green Bay @ Arizona
Dustin Keller - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Ben Watson - New England versus Baltimore
Donald Lee - Green Bay @ Arizona
JP Foschi - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Ben Patrick - Arizona versus Green Bay
Martellus Bennett - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Kickers
Neil Rackers - Arizona versus Green Bay
David Akers - Philadelphia @ Dallas
Shaun Suisham - Dallas versus Philadelphia
Mason Crosby - Green Bay @ Arizona
Stephen Gostkowski - New England versus Baltimore
Billy Cundiff - Baltimore @ New England
Jay Feely - New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Shayne Graham - Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Defenses
Dallas vs Philadelphia
New York Jets @ Cincinnati
New England versus Baltimore
Baltimore @ New England
Green Bay @ Arizona
Philadelphia @ Dallas
Cincinnati versus New York Jets
Arizona versus Green Bay
JETS OPEN UP WILDCARD IN CINCY WITH A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDERS
JETS OPEN UP WILDCARD IN CINCY WITH A CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDERS
by TJ Rosenthal-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
Sometimes the best remedy for being an underdog is carrying an "us against the world" mentality. On Saturday the New York Jets will do just that as they visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the opening round of the AFC Playoffs. There are plenty of experts and football fans who believe the Jets were benefactors of good fortune at the end of the season, and not truly playoff worthy. The Jets have reminded us all week that they are the league's number one rushing team and defense. In a rematch of week 17, the Jets will soon get their chance to prove the doubters wrong, while taking one step closer to the ultimate goal, a trip to the Super Bowl.
Last weeks 37-0 trouncing of these same Cincinnati Bengals has been defined in the press this week a few different ways. The first viewpoint has been that only the 9-7 Jets had everything to play for, with a win or go home scenario staring them down last Sunday night. Unlike the Bengals who had nothing to gain except the addition of key players to the injury report had they risked injury in order to get a meaningless win. The other side of the coin offered has been that the Jets are a tough team built for January that is getting on a roll. Gaining momentum on both sides of the ball.
The reality is, the truth will come out, starting on Saturday. For now, what can be said about the Jets win in the final game at Giants stadium, is that the club DID achieve one thing. It set the template for how these 2009 Jets CAN be a force through January. That is, a bruising run game (one that rushed for 257 yards combined last week) with a defense that is tough to move it on, a quarterback in Mark Sanchez who risks little, and an emerging playmaker who will see opportunities to make a difference in Brad Smith. Smith's 58 yard run that set up the Jets first TD, a 2 yard plunge by RB Thomas Jones, made it a second straight week with a big play for the former QB at Missouri. Smith has been used before behind center in his four years as a Jet, but the breakout game Sunday night (4-92 yds 1 TD) followed another game in which Smith made a huge difference with a big play. In Indianapolis one week prior, Smith returned the second half kickoff 106 yards for a TD, the longest in Jet history, putting the Jets up 10-9 at the time against the then undefeated Colts..
If Smith has emerged as a true weapon who can be effective with an increased work load both as a running QB and one who can pitch the ball to Jones or rookie RB Shonne Greene, the load will be lightened for Sanchez. This would come as a delight to the Jet staff, as they look to keep the rookie under wraps more. After a great start that helped lead the Jets to a 3-0 record, a mid season turnover swoon developed, leading to a 20 interception season. The total tied Sanchez with Detroit rookie Matthew Stafford for second most in the NFL. Only the Bears Jay Cutler threw more with 26 . Should Rex Ryan's Jet defense be even more opportunistic with sacks and scoring off of turnovers, Sanchez's role will be lightened even more. For now, short throws mainly to the outside, away from traffic seem like the best formula for the rookie out of USC, who has not thrown a pick the last two weeks since the gameplan has become even more stringent on the QB.
The Bengals will be at full strength this Saturday after resting four defensive starters and their top rusher last week. Banged up RB Cedric Benson, the teams leading rusher figures to help an offense that struggled to move the ball at all against the Jets last week. Veteran QB Carson Palmer who has been solid all year for the division winning Benglas, had zero yards passing in the first half. Palmer played just one series in the second half.
Flamboyant WR Chad Ochocinco offered Jet Superfan Fireman Ed tickets to the game after failing to come through on doing his own Fireman Ed chant after scoring on Jet star Darelle Revis in week 17. The Bengals top WR was held to no catches on the day, this after proclaiming all week on Twitter that he was going to win the battle. Ochocino then praised Revis on Monday again on twitter, saying that number 24 was tops in the NFL. Ochocinco, who injured the knee on the icy field during warmups last week said that after having sex on Monday, the knee held up beautifully and is ready to go. So with the defense at full strength, Ocho healthy, Benson back, and Palmer sure to be more focused, the Bengals will be aiming to show why they were AFC Central champions.
The Jets hope to continue as they left off. Ground and Pound it with Thomas Jones and Shonne Greene on offense, while All Pro CB Darrelle Revis and the Jets defense shuts Ochocinco and the Bengals down on defense. Rex Ryan has been bold during his press conference's saying that of all the teams still alive, he'd rather be coaching the Jets; a team with the number one D and rushing unit in the NFL. He's also tried to reframe the notion that the Jets are long shots to go far. Vegas odds have them a 50-1 shot to win the Super Bowl. The brash outspoken rookie head coach has called the Jets in fact, "the team to beat" in this years playoffs.
Jets LB David Harris, injured last week with a sprained ankle was insulted this week by the Benglas Benson. Asked what the potential loss of Harris would mean to the Jets, Benson replied "I don't even know who that is." Harris leads the Jets in tackles. He practiced lightly on Thursday. No word as to his status has been determined yet.
Despite the Jets and Ryan proudly mentioning those "number one" stat categories, they know they have something to prove. In order to truly be thought of as an elite team in 2009 , the Jets have to go out and prove they deserve to be. They have to go out and once again beat the Bengals. This time, in a do or die game for both sides. This time, on the road.
The Jets were fortunate in catching a break when so many AFC teams lost in week 16 that they regained control of their destiny. They faced a Bengal team on cruise control last week. Although those back to back odd circumstances worked heavily in NY's favor, they don't have to apologize for them.
What they have to do instead, is make the best of their opportunity. The opportunity to prove that maybe, just maybe, they have bought enough time in 2009 for all three phases to finally put it together in unison. That they have found the right approach for the offense with Sanchez playing it safe while mostly handing it off to the top rushing unit on football. That they have hung around long enough for the defense to have regained it's early season swagger. That they acknowledge Brad Smith has to be a bigger cog in the gameplan. Saturday in Cincinnati marks the beginning of a playoff run that is there for the taking. Only however, if the Jets can seize the moment by channelling the emotions born when a team goes out to prove so many people wrong by playing focused, sound passionate football.
KEYS TO THE BENGALS:
EMOTIONS: Are the Jet truly setting their sights on the Super Bowl or are they satisfied just to have made it out of December?. Many have called their playoff berth a joke, or simply luck. Rex Ryan will undoubtedly use the "Us against Them" card throughout the postseason. The Bengals did not like getting knocked down 37-0. They're also at home. WR Chris Henry's death weeks back after a domestic dispute shocked the Bengals who went out days later in San Diego and played magnificently in Henry's honor. This past week, Jets owner Woody Johnson's daughter Casey, 30, was found dead in LA. Both teams will play with heavy
hearts as a result of these tragedies on Saturday.
STEP UP NOW ROOKIE, IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE: It goes without saying that if the Jet ground game falters, so will the Jets. However, the Jets may in fact move it on the ground yet also need Sanchez to deliver some key third down throws. Maybe even over the middle. Lead a comeback or two. Here's to hoping that Sanchez plays with that confidence he exuded most notably Monday night in Miami, leading the Jets back twice in the second half. The perception of Jets doubters will change only with a win that includes Sanchez having contributed more than handoffs and quick rollout tosses to the flat. A win is a win though, so if it means play it safe with the lead, he'll do it. Ill advised throws have to be behind the kid who seems to be adjusting to his game managing role well, or else, trouble looms.
X FACTORS: Here are two, Brad Smith and FS Kerry Rhodes. Smith can provide big plays on special teams, as WR, and while getting direct snaps in the Jets version of the Wildcat or Kordell Stewart "slash" role of taking handoffs right under center. Rhodes has been coming on since the benching a month ago. His hit on Ochocinco that broke up a pass play last week showed that he is back to playing with instinct again. His three interceptions have got us thinking that something big could be on the way from the guy Rex Ryan hoped could be the next Ed Reed. A key read by Rhodes on a Palmer throw could go a long way to help leading the Jets to victory. One that would make Ryan's first playoff game as an NFL head coach even more memorable.
additional notes:
The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was in 1982, Jet RB Freeman McNeil rushed for 202 yards in a 44-17 Jet win . That was the strike shortened season when the playoffs were called the Super Bowl tournament.
The Bengals were the last team admitted into the AFL back in 1968. Paul Brown was the head coach. Soon to be 49er legend but then assistant Bill Walsh, was credited with inventing the West coast offense during this time. This out of necessity as the team had a hard time run blocking. Former Bengal Super Bowl coach Sam Wyche was the QB.
follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter @thejetreport
by TJ Rosenthal-Contributing Writer-Football Reporters Online
Sometimes the best remedy for being an underdog is carrying an "us against the world" mentality. On Saturday the New York Jets will do just that as they visit the Cincinnati Bengals in the opening round of the AFC Playoffs. There are plenty of experts and football fans who believe the Jets were benefactors of good fortune at the end of the season, and not truly playoff worthy. The Jets have reminded us all week that they are the league's number one rushing team and defense. In a rematch of week 17, the Jets will soon get their chance to prove the doubters wrong, while taking one step closer to the ultimate goal, a trip to the Super Bowl.
Last weeks 37-0 trouncing of these same Cincinnati Bengals has been defined in the press this week a few different ways. The first viewpoint has been that only the 9-7 Jets had everything to play for, with a win or go home scenario staring them down last Sunday night. Unlike the Bengals who had nothing to gain except the addition of key players to the injury report had they risked injury in order to get a meaningless win. The other side of the coin offered has been that the Jets are a tough team built for January that is getting on a roll. Gaining momentum on both sides of the ball.
The reality is, the truth will come out, starting on Saturday. For now, what can be said about the Jets win in the final game at Giants stadium, is that the club DID achieve one thing. It set the template for how these 2009 Jets CAN be a force through January. That is, a bruising run game (one that rushed for 257 yards combined last week) with a defense that is tough to move it on, a quarterback in Mark Sanchez who risks little, and an emerging playmaker who will see opportunities to make a difference in Brad Smith. Smith's 58 yard run that set up the Jets first TD, a 2 yard plunge by RB Thomas Jones, made it a second straight week with a big play for the former QB at Missouri. Smith has been used before behind center in his four years as a Jet, but the breakout game Sunday night (4-92 yds 1 TD) followed another game in which Smith made a huge difference with a big play. In Indianapolis one week prior, Smith returned the second half kickoff 106 yards for a TD, the longest in Jet history, putting the Jets up 10-9 at the time against the then undefeated Colts..
If Smith has emerged as a true weapon who can be effective with an increased work load both as a running QB and one who can pitch the ball to Jones or rookie RB Shonne Greene, the load will be lightened for Sanchez. This would come as a delight to the Jet staff, as they look to keep the rookie under wraps more. After a great start that helped lead the Jets to a 3-0 record, a mid season turnover swoon developed, leading to a 20 interception season. The total tied Sanchez with Detroit rookie Matthew Stafford for second most in the NFL. Only the Bears Jay Cutler threw more with 26 . Should Rex Ryan's Jet defense be even more opportunistic with sacks and scoring off of turnovers, Sanchez's role will be lightened even more. For now, short throws mainly to the outside, away from traffic seem like the best formula for the rookie out of USC, who has not thrown a pick the last two weeks since the gameplan has become even more stringent on the QB.
The Bengals will be at full strength this Saturday after resting four defensive starters and their top rusher last week. Banged up RB Cedric Benson, the teams leading rusher figures to help an offense that struggled to move the ball at all against the Jets last week. Veteran QB Carson Palmer who has been solid all year for the division winning Benglas, had zero yards passing in the first half. Palmer played just one series in the second half.
Flamboyant WR Chad Ochocinco offered Jet Superfan Fireman Ed tickets to the game after failing to come through on doing his own Fireman Ed chant after scoring on Jet star Darelle Revis in week 17. The Bengals top WR was held to no catches on the day, this after proclaiming all week on Twitter that he was going to win the battle. Ochocino then praised Revis on Monday again on twitter, saying that number 24 was tops in the NFL. Ochocinco, who injured the knee on the icy field during warmups last week said that after having sex on Monday, the knee held up beautifully and is ready to go. So with the defense at full strength, Ocho healthy, Benson back, and Palmer sure to be more focused, the Bengals will be aiming to show why they were AFC Central champions.
The Jets hope to continue as they left off. Ground and Pound it with Thomas Jones and Shonne Greene on offense, while All Pro CB Darrelle Revis and the Jets defense shuts Ochocinco and the Bengals down on defense. Rex Ryan has been bold during his press conference's saying that of all the teams still alive, he'd rather be coaching the Jets; a team with the number one D and rushing unit in the NFL. He's also tried to reframe the notion that the Jets are long shots to go far. Vegas odds have them a 50-1 shot to win the Super Bowl. The brash outspoken rookie head coach has called the Jets in fact, "the team to beat" in this years playoffs.
Jets LB David Harris, injured last week with a sprained ankle was insulted this week by the Benglas Benson. Asked what the potential loss of Harris would mean to the Jets, Benson replied "I don't even know who that is." Harris leads the Jets in tackles. He practiced lightly on Thursday. No word as to his status has been determined yet.
Despite the Jets and Ryan proudly mentioning those "number one" stat categories, they know they have something to prove. In order to truly be thought of as an elite team in 2009 , the Jets have to go out and prove they deserve to be. They have to go out and once again beat the Bengals. This time, in a do or die game for both sides. This time, on the road.
The Jets were fortunate in catching a break when so many AFC teams lost in week 16 that they regained control of their destiny. They faced a Bengal team on cruise control last week. Although those back to back odd circumstances worked heavily in NY's favor, they don't have to apologize for them.
What they have to do instead, is make the best of their opportunity. The opportunity to prove that maybe, just maybe, they have bought enough time in 2009 for all three phases to finally put it together in unison. That they have found the right approach for the offense with Sanchez playing it safe while mostly handing it off to the top rushing unit on football. That they have hung around long enough for the defense to have regained it's early season swagger. That they acknowledge Brad Smith has to be a bigger cog in the gameplan. Saturday in Cincinnati marks the beginning of a playoff run that is there for the taking. Only however, if the Jets can seize the moment by channelling the emotions born when a team goes out to prove so many people wrong by playing focused, sound passionate football.
KEYS TO THE BENGALS:
EMOTIONS: Are the Jet truly setting their sights on the Super Bowl or are they satisfied just to have made it out of December?. Many have called their playoff berth a joke, or simply luck. Rex Ryan will undoubtedly use the "Us against Them" card throughout the postseason. The Bengals did not like getting knocked down 37-0. They're also at home. WR Chris Henry's death weeks back after a domestic dispute shocked the Bengals who went out days later in San Diego and played magnificently in Henry's honor. This past week, Jets owner Woody Johnson's daughter Casey, 30, was found dead in LA. Both teams will play with heavy
hearts as a result of these tragedies on Saturday.
STEP UP NOW ROOKIE, IT'S YOUR TIME TO SHINE: It goes without saying that if the Jet ground game falters, so will the Jets. However, the Jets may in fact move it on the ground yet also need Sanchez to deliver some key third down throws. Maybe even over the middle. Lead a comeback or two. Here's to hoping that Sanchez plays with that confidence he exuded most notably Monday night in Miami, leading the Jets back twice in the second half. The perception of Jets doubters will change only with a win that includes Sanchez having contributed more than handoffs and quick rollout tosses to the flat. A win is a win though, so if it means play it safe with the lead, he'll do it. Ill advised throws have to be behind the kid who seems to be adjusting to his game managing role well, or else, trouble looms.
X FACTORS: Here are two, Brad Smith and FS Kerry Rhodes. Smith can provide big plays on special teams, as WR, and while getting direct snaps in the Jets version of the Wildcat or Kordell Stewart "slash" role of taking handoffs right under center. Rhodes has been coming on since the benching a month ago. His hit on Ochocinco that broke up a pass play last week showed that he is back to playing with instinct again. His three interceptions have got us thinking that something big could be on the way from the guy Rex Ryan hoped could be the next Ed Reed. A key read by Rhodes on a Palmer throw could go a long way to help leading the Jets to victory. One that would make Ryan's first playoff game as an NFL head coach even more memorable.
additional notes:
The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was in 1982, Jet RB Freeman McNeil rushed for 202 yards in a 44-17 Jet win . That was the strike shortened season when the playoffs were called the Super Bowl tournament.
The Bengals were the last team admitted into the AFL back in 1968. Paul Brown was the head coach. Soon to be 49er legend but then assistant Bill Walsh, was credited with inventing the West coast offense during this time. This out of necessity as the team had a hard time run blocking. Former Bengal Super Bowl coach Sam Wyche was the QB.
follow TJ Rosenthal on twitter @thejetreport
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