Monday, April 17, 2006
62 Percent Of Houston Chronicle Readers Think Texans Should Pick Reggie Bush Over Vince Young
I just saw it on the Houston Chronicle's website. It's a landside election for the USC tailback and in Vince Young's back yard, Houston.
New Blog URL: www.nflbusinessblog.com
Yep. That's the new website adress of this blog. It's easier to remember than the other one.
So, bookmark www.nflbusinessblog.com
So, bookmark www.nflbusinessblog.com
A Great And Happy Easter Sunday!
I had a great and happy Easter Sunday, even if I was more than a little sluggish.
It started out with good intentions in that I was either going to brunch with my friend Cherie and others or she and I were going to my friend KJ's party on Angel Island. Well, the rain played a role in that I thought it was going to terminate the island party, but didn't get word it was still on until late. By then, Cherie went to the brunch.
After I got the word, I kind of lazed around because I'd found the movie "The Wedding Crashers" which was funny, but weirdly paced. It was fast, fast, then slowed way down and kind of lost me in the change. Not constant at all.
The other thing that kind of stalled me as well, was the sight of this lovely athletic woman on Grand Avenue. Since I'm not seriously hooked up with anyone right now, I can report this with one word: Wow.
She was wearing just leotards and walking briskly toward Lake Merritt, cut and muscularly shapely legs pumping, and everyone was looking at her. It was hilarious. As she walked by I had to ask how she maintaned her body; "I do some of everything," she said. Boy, I'll say.
Ok. Enought of that.
The Angel Island party was too fun and afterward we went to a yacht club bar next to the Tiburon Cove where the ferries and boats come in.
Later than evening, Cherie and I saw Spike Lee's "The Inside Man." A totally excellent film, seen with a totally excellent person.
It started out with good intentions in that I was either going to brunch with my friend Cherie and others or she and I were going to my friend KJ's party on Angel Island. Well, the rain played a role in that I thought it was going to terminate the island party, but didn't get word it was still on until late. By then, Cherie went to the brunch.
After I got the word, I kind of lazed around because I'd found the movie "The Wedding Crashers" which was funny, but weirdly paced. It was fast, fast, then slowed way down and kind of lost me in the change. Not constant at all.
The other thing that kind of stalled me as well, was the sight of this lovely athletic woman on Grand Avenue. Since I'm not seriously hooked up with anyone right now, I can report this with one word: Wow.
She was wearing just leotards and walking briskly toward Lake Merritt, cut and muscularly shapely legs pumping, and everyone was looking at her. It was hilarious. As she walked by I had to ask how she maintaned her body; "I do some of everything," she said. Boy, I'll say.
Ok. Enought of that.
The Angel Island party was too fun and afterward we went to a yacht club bar next to the Tiburon Cove where the ferries and boats come in.
Later than evening, Cherie and I saw Spike Lee's "The Inside Man." A totally excellent film, seen with a totally excellent person.
Duke Lacrosse Lawyers Offer Their Version Of Events - Newsweek
I don't think the smoking gun has been found yet. The question is did one of the players commit assault -- not rape. And are the dancers lying about the entire outcome of the party because one or two of the players made a racial slur? Personally, I think that may have happened.
April 24, 2006 issue of Newsweek -- Attorneys for members of the Duke University lacrosse team are presenting their fullest accounting yet of what happened the night a stripper says three players raped her. The timeline -- illuminated by photos from one partygoer's digital camera that NEWSWEEK has viewed -- offers a preview of the defense strategy should indictments come as expected early this week.
At 11:02 p.m. on March 13, a group of partygoers, sitting on couches around the edge of the room awaiting the arrival of two strippers, smile for the camera. They're holding plastic cups. Above their heads, a Duke lacrosse poster on the wall reads it's hard to beat a team that never gives up. (Robert Ekstrand, who represents 33 of the players, used a forensics expert to establish the photo times.) The accuser is dropped off at about 11:45, about a half hour after the other (second) stripper arrived. By midnight, according to a photo, the two are almost naked on the beige carpet in front of their visibly happy audience. But by 12:03, the mood has turned: in a photo, the women are standing and the second stripper appears to be reaching toward the guys, all of whom have lost their smiles. She slaps one of them for suggesting the alleged victim use a broom as a sex toy, according to Ekstrand. Then both women lock themselves in the bathroom, Ekstrand details. The partygoers get nervous about what the women are up to and start slipping money under the door asking them to leave, says Bill Thomas, a lawyer who represents one of the captains. The women go out to the second stripper's car at about 12:20, but the accuser has left her purse behind; she goes back inside to get it, according to Ekstrand. A photo at 12:30 shows the alleged victim standing outside the back door of the house looking down into two bags with what appears to be a smile. She's wearing only her scant red-and-white outfit and one shoe. By the time she realizes she's missing a shoe—a few minutes later—the guys have locked the door to keep her out, say the attorneys. A 12:37 photo shows she's lying on the back stoop; she fell, according to Ekstrand. Her elbow is dusted and scraped, and her ankle is cut and bleeding. At 12:41 she gets into the car, and one of the partygoers appears to be helping her. In a call to a police dispatcher at about 1:30 made public last week, one of the first officers to see the accuser, in a parking lot, said she was "passed-out drunk" but "not in distress." Since the release of the recording, Ekstrand has suggested that if any assault happened, it was after the accuser left the house. Defense attorneys said last week that no DNA had been found on or inside the accuser. She was never alone in the house for more than about 10 minutes, according to their timeline.
The second woman supports the partygoers' story, says Thomas, who says he has seen a summary of an interview with her conducted by a member of the defense team. "Their versions are basically identical," he says. But Mark Simeon, an attorney for the second dancer, tells NEWSWEEK that Thomas's claim is not accurate. "She rejects the notion that she agrees with their timeline. I've shown their story line to my client, and she says there's a lot that's wrong with it. From the beginning, she has been cooperating fully with [Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong] and the police, and she looks forward to testifying truthfully at the trial." Thomas replies, "She has given us several statements, so I don't see any room for her to change her story now simply because she has a lawyer speaking for her." Nifong could not be reached for comment.
—Susannah Meadows and Evan Thomas
April 24, 2006 issue of Newsweek -- Attorneys for members of the Duke University lacrosse team are presenting their fullest accounting yet of what happened the night a stripper says three players raped her. The timeline -- illuminated by photos from one partygoer's digital camera that NEWSWEEK has viewed -- offers a preview of the defense strategy should indictments come as expected early this week.
At 11:02 p.m. on March 13, a group of partygoers, sitting on couches around the edge of the room awaiting the arrival of two strippers, smile for the camera. They're holding plastic cups. Above their heads, a Duke lacrosse poster on the wall reads it's hard to beat a team that never gives up. (Robert Ekstrand, who represents 33 of the players, used a forensics expert to establish the photo times.) The accuser is dropped off at about 11:45, about a half hour after the other (second) stripper arrived. By midnight, according to a photo, the two are almost naked on the beige carpet in front of their visibly happy audience. But by 12:03, the mood has turned: in a photo, the women are standing and the second stripper appears to be reaching toward the guys, all of whom have lost their smiles. She slaps one of them for suggesting the alleged victim use a broom as a sex toy, according to Ekstrand. Then both women lock themselves in the bathroom, Ekstrand details. The partygoers get nervous about what the women are up to and start slipping money under the door asking them to leave, says Bill Thomas, a lawyer who represents one of the captains. The women go out to the second stripper's car at about 12:20, but the accuser has left her purse behind; she goes back inside to get it, according to Ekstrand. A photo at 12:30 shows the alleged victim standing outside the back door of the house looking down into two bags with what appears to be a smile. She's wearing only her scant red-and-white outfit and one shoe. By the time she realizes she's missing a shoe—a few minutes later—the guys have locked the door to keep her out, say the attorneys. A 12:37 photo shows she's lying on the back stoop; she fell, according to Ekstrand. Her elbow is dusted and scraped, and her ankle is cut and bleeding. At 12:41 she gets into the car, and one of the partygoers appears to be helping her. In a call to a police dispatcher at about 1:30 made public last week, one of the first officers to see the accuser, in a parking lot, said she was "passed-out drunk" but "not in distress." Since the release of the recording, Ekstrand has suggested that if any assault happened, it was after the accuser left the house. Defense attorneys said last week that no DNA had been found on or inside the accuser. She was never alone in the house for more than about 10 minutes, according to their timeline.
The second woman supports the partygoers' story, says Thomas, who says he has seen a summary of an interview with her conducted by a member of the defense team. "Their versions are basically identical," he says. But Mark Simeon, an attorney for the second dancer, tells NEWSWEEK that Thomas's claim is not accurate. "She rejects the notion that she agrees with their timeline. I've shown their story line to my client, and she says there's a lot that's wrong with it. From the beginning, she has been cooperating fully with [Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong] and the police, and she looks forward to testifying truthfully at the trial." Thomas replies, "She has given us several statements, so I don't see any room for her to change her story now simply because she has a lawyer speaking for her." Nifong could not be reached for comment.
—Susannah Meadows and Evan Thomas
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Mike Silver On Vince Young
SI's Mike Silver's got a great take on Vince Young's draft stock and why it's not really falling at all. You can read all of it with a click on the title of this post. Here's the first page below:
Still the one
No reason for Young's stock to fall since Rose Bowl
Posted: Friday April 14, 2006 12:04PM; Updated: Friday April 14, 2006 5:11PM
"The trouble with you is the trouble with me. You've got two good eyes but you still don't see...."
-- Grateful Dead, "Casey Jones"
Back when he was at UCLA, my father took a final exam in which the professor presented only a single hypothetical question requiring a yes or no answer, with the addendum, "If yes, explain."
Reasoning that the basic setup of the query begged for an affirmative response, each of my dad's classmates began scribbling furiously -- but my father simply sat at his desk and stared at the test. After a couple of minutes he went with his gut, wrote "No" in his blue book and, to the amazement of his fellow students, walked out of the room and headed straight to Santa Anita to bet on the Daily Double.
It was a hell of a gamble, and it spoke to a basic premise that applies to the NFL's bizarre courtship of former Texas quarterback Vince Young: If the available evidence tells you something is so, there's no need to overthink the question.
Or, to put it another way: Why do so many teams at or near the top of the NFL draft seem to be going to such great lengths to talk themselves out of picking Young?
Yeah, I know, Reggie Bush is fantastic, and his fellow ex-USC backfieldmate, Matt Leinart, is a ballsy leader who's probably going to be a heck of an NFL player. And while I can't say I've watched a whole lot of North Carolina State football recently, I'm sure 6-foot-7 defensive end Mario Williams has the potential to be a pass-rushing beast for some lucky team.
I'm also well aware that at the combine, Young reportedly had a subpar showing on the Wonderlic test, the same faithful measuring stick of intelligence that rated Ryan Leaf 11 points ahead of Dan Marino. And no, Young does not fit the traditional drop-back profile of a classic NFL quarterback, and he'll certainly have to adjust to the speed and complexity of pro defenses and may take some lumps in the process.
Fine. All of those points are valid. Now let me start by offering a two-word rebuttal: Rose Bowl.
Oh yeah, remember that game? My new friend LenDale White does -- more on our burgeoning relationship later -- and the ultra-confident former USC running back is still haunted by the sight of Young snatching a national title from the Trojans by the sheer force of his talent, will and poise.
Did CAA Give Leigh Steinberg "Six Figures" To "Walk Away" From Filing A Greivance Against The CAA / Tom Condon Team?
More on the Matt Leinart Matter. It seems that Chuck Price may have been the agent acting inappropriately. According to Florio at Profootball talk....
PRICE TAKING THE LEAD IN TEAM LEINART
The source that has been feeding us all sorts of interesting tidbits regarding the recent upheaval in the representation team handling USC quarterback Matt Leinart tells us that, while Leinart will replace Leigh Steinberg with Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency, relative novice Chuck Price has strengthened his position significantly, and could be listed as the lead agent.
Indeed, it was Price's growing influence over the situation that prompted Matt Leinart and his father, Bob, to take a close look at adding a replacement other than Condon. Most observers believed that Leinart's existing relationship with CAA made the choice of Condon a no-brainer, but we're hearing from multiple sources that Ryan and Bruce Tollner, who currently are colleagues of Steinberg, also were under consideration for the Leinart representation. Steinberg, we're told, made a strong push to keep Leinart, and at least one other firm was in the mix.
Word is that the Tollners would have partnered up with Price, if Leinart had chosen to add the Tollners to the team. In fact, we hear that there's a still a possibility that the Tollners will join Price's shop. Some league insiders believe that, if this happens, there's a possibility that the Tollners will carry with them Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. (Of course, the Tollners might want to have a brief chat with David Dunn before trying to leave Steinberg's shop and taking with them one or more of Steinberg's existing clients.)
The winner to date in this process is Price. Widely regard as a wannabe, Price successfully has parlayed relationships with Steinberg and Leinart's personal quarterbacks coach, Steve Clarkson, into the prime spot in the representation team. We're told that Clarkson has now surprisingly been cast aside, too. Some league insiders are convinced that Price intentionally worked to undermine Clarkson with an eye toward getting him dumped.
We're also told that CAA has paid a six-figure sum to Steinberg in order to get him to go away without a fight. In theory, Steinberg could have filed an NFLPA grievance against CAA and/or Condon for tortious interference with the Steinberg-Leinart relationship. There's talk in league circles that Steinberg already has exercised his prerogative to file such a claim against Gary Uberstine, based upon the recent decision of USC offensive tackle Winston Justice to switch from Steinberg to Uberstine.
We've been trading phone messages with Steinberg over the past couple of days, and we hope to talk to him on Monday in order to clarify some of these issues. Stay tuned.
I too will check in on this. Whatever the story, it reads as sleezy acting on CAA's part. I think the NFLPA should step in and take action, period. Moreover, I think Leigh should get seven-figures for damages, not six. But I wonder if this really offer happened. It may have, and it may be that Leigh decided to reject it.
More soon.
PRICE TAKING THE LEAD IN TEAM LEINART
The source that has been feeding us all sorts of interesting tidbits regarding the recent upheaval in the representation team handling USC quarterback Matt Leinart tells us that, while Leinart will replace Leigh Steinberg with Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency, relative novice Chuck Price has strengthened his position significantly, and could be listed as the lead agent.
Indeed, it was Price's growing influence over the situation that prompted Matt Leinart and his father, Bob, to take a close look at adding a replacement other than Condon. Most observers believed that Leinart's existing relationship with CAA made the choice of Condon a no-brainer, but we're hearing from multiple sources that Ryan and Bruce Tollner, who currently are colleagues of Steinberg, also were under consideration for the Leinart representation. Steinberg, we're told, made a strong push to keep Leinart, and at least one other firm was in the mix.
Word is that the Tollners would have partnered up with Price, if Leinart had chosen to add the Tollners to the team. In fact, we hear that there's a still a possibility that the Tollners will join Price's shop. Some league insiders believe that, if this happens, there's a possibility that the Tollners will carry with them Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. (Of course, the Tollners might want to have a brief chat with David Dunn before trying to leave Steinberg's shop and taking with them one or more of Steinberg's existing clients.)
The winner to date in this process is Price. Widely regard as a wannabe, Price successfully has parlayed relationships with Steinberg and Leinart's personal quarterbacks coach, Steve Clarkson, into the prime spot in the representation team. We're told that Clarkson has now surprisingly been cast aside, too. Some league insiders are convinced that Price intentionally worked to undermine Clarkson with an eye toward getting him dumped.
We're also told that CAA has paid a six-figure sum to Steinberg in order to get him to go away without a fight. In theory, Steinberg could have filed an NFLPA grievance against CAA and/or Condon for tortious interference with the Steinberg-Leinart relationship. There's talk in league circles that Steinberg already has exercised his prerogative to file such a claim against Gary Uberstine, based upon the recent decision of USC offensive tackle Winston Justice to switch from Steinberg to Uberstine.
We've been trading phone messages with Steinberg over the past couple of days, and we hope to talk to him on Monday in order to clarify some of these issues. Stay tuned.
I too will check in on this. Whatever the story, it reads as sleezy acting on CAA's part. I think the NFLPA should step in and take action, period. Moreover, I think Leigh should get seven-figures for damages, not six. But I wonder if this really offer happened. It may have, and it may be that Leigh decided to reject it.
More soon.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Did SF Mayor -- And Friend -- Gavin Newsom Have A "Fling" With Paris Hilton?
I found this bit of news just a minute ago. If it's true, all I've got to say is Dude gets around. It does not alter the fact that he's an effective elected official. -- Zennie
John Kennedy, canada.com
Published: Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Paris Hilton had a fling with San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom, according to sources -- and it might have led to his split from wife Kimberly Guilfoyle. Insiders claim Newsom had some explaining to do when Hilton's Sidekick was hacked into and his name and number came up. Not long after, he and Guilfoyle separated.
Donald Rumsfeld, Defense Secretary - Wash Post Columnist Calls For His Ouster
I agree, but who does President Bush replauce Rummy with? It's one thing to get rid of him but how do we salvage this mess?
Replace Rumsfeld
By David Ignatius
Friday, April 14, 2006; Page A17
With luck, Iraq will make a fresh start soon with the formation of a new government. The Bush administration should do the same thing by replacing Donald Rumsfeld as defense secretary.
Rumsfeld has lost the support of the uniformed military officers who work for him. Make no mistake: The retired generals who are speaking out against Rumsfeld in interviews and op-ed pieces express the views of hundreds of other officers on active duty. When I recently asked an Army officer with extensive Iraq combat experience how many of his colleagues wanted Rumsfeld out, he guessed 75 percent. Based on my own conversations with senior officers over the past three years, I suspect that figure may be low.
But that isn't the reason he should be replaced. Military officers often dislike the civilians they work for, but in our system strong civilian control is essential. On some of the issues over which he has tangled with the military brass, Rumsfeld has been right. The Pentagon is a hidebound place, and it has needed the "transformation" ethic Rumsfeld brought to his job. I'm dubious about the Pentagon conventional wisdom that we needed 500,000 American troops in Iraq. More troops were necessary, but they should have been Iraqi troops from an army that wasn't disbanded.
Rumsfeld should resign because the Bush administration is losing the war on the home front. As bad as things are in Baghdad, America won't be defeated there militarily. But it may be forced into a hasty and chaotic retreat by mounting domestic opposition to its policy. Much of the American public has simply stopped believing the administration's arguments about Iraq, and Rumsfeld is a symbol of that credibility gap. He is a spent force, reduced to squabbling with the secretary of state about whether "tactical errors" were made in the war's conduct.
The Bush administration has rightly been insisting that the Iraqis put unity first and that in forming a permanent government they remove ineffectual and divisive leaders and replace them with people who can pull the country together. The administration should heed its own advice. America needs leadership that can speak to the whole country, not just the people who already agree with the president.
Rumsfeld's replacement should be someone who can help restore a bipartisan consensus for a sensible Iraq policy. One obvious candidate would be the centrist Democrat Sen. Joe Lieberman. Another would be a centrist Republican with military experience, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel or Sen. John McCain. The administration would have to swallow its pride to take any of them on board, but that's the point: Without bold moves from the White House, support for the war will continue to slip away.
It now seems clear that President Bush can't erase the Iraq credibility gap on his own. He has been trying to rebuild consensus for the war for months, in a series of speeches and strategy papers. But the poll numbers keep going down. His job approval ratings have fallen below 40 percent in all the latest polls, with Post-ABC News at 38 percent, CNN-USA Today-Gallup at 37 percent and Fox-Opinion Dynamics at 36 percent. Support for the war has crumbled even more sharply. The latest Post-ABC poll found that 58 percent of the country now feels the war wasn't worth fighting, compared with 27 percent back in April 2003.
If the Iraqis can form a unity government -- and that's certainly a big "if" -- they will need America's help in pulling the country back from civil war. America now has a better military strategy for Iraq, one that puts more responsibility on Iraqi forces and emphasizes counterinsurgency tactics. And it has a political strategy that is at last reaching out to all the different Iraqi communities -- Sunni, Shiite and Kurd -- rather than to a handful of former exile leaders. This political-military strategy may fail, but it's too soon to make that call. To buy some time, the administration needs a new political base. If it continues with the same team, it will get the same result.
Rumsfeld is a stubborn man, and I suspect the parade of retired generals calling for his head has only made him more determined to hold on. But by staying in his job, Rumsfeld is hurting the cause he presumably cares most about. The president, even more stubborn than his Pentagon chief, is said to have rejected his offer to resign. If that's so, it's time for Rumsfeld to take the matter out of Bush's hands.
The administration needs to look this one clearly in the eye: Without changes that shore up public support in America, it risks losing the war in Iraq.
davidignatius@washpost.com
Friday, April 14, 2006
Matt Leinart On The Switch From Leigh Steinberg "It's Something I Would Prefer To Discuss Next Week"
I saw this on Leinart's ESPN Draft Diary today.
"My focus is 100 percent on my visit with the Jets early next week. Reporters have been asking a lot of questions about my agent situation. It is a subject that I would prefer to discuss next week."
He also says that he was in Atlanta, where I told you he ran into his ex-girlfriend....
"Editor's note: Former USC QB Matt Leinart will offer ESPN.com an exclusive look into his life in the days and weeks leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-30).
I haven't been sleeping much with all of the travel this week.
Monday, I was in Atlanta appearing for a network. Eli Manning, Matt Hasselbeck and I were appearing there and signing autographs. We went out to dinner afterwards. Eli wasn't at dinner because he had to leave town, but we hung out a lot that day. It was my first time in Atlanta. I enjoyed it. My flight from L.A. to Atlanta left at 6 a.m. on Monday morning."
"My focus is 100 percent on my visit with the Jets early next week. Reporters have been asking a lot of questions about my agent situation. It is a subject that I would prefer to discuss next week."
He also says that he was in Atlanta, where I told you he ran into his ex-girlfriend....
"Editor's note: Former USC QB Matt Leinart will offer ESPN.com an exclusive look into his life in the days and weeks leading up to the NFL draft (April 29-30).
I haven't been sleeping much with all of the travel this week.
Monday, I was in Atlanta appearing for a network. Eli Manning, Matt Hasselbeck and I were appearing there and signing autographs. We went out to dinner afterwards. Eli wasn't at dinner because he had to leave town, but we hung out a lot that day. It was my first time in Atlanta. I enjoyed it. My flight from L.A. to Atlanta left at 6 a.m. on Monday morning."
NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock's Prospect List For the 2006 NFL Draft
(April 11, 2006) NFL Network draft expert Mike Mayock has put together his positional rankings for the 2006 NFL Draft:
Quarterback
1. Jay Cutler, Vanderbilt
2. Matt Leinart, USC
3. Vince Young, Texas
4. Charlie Whitehurst, Clemson
5. Brodie Croyle, Alabama
6. Tarvaris Jackson, Alabama State
Interesting
Reggie McNeal, Texas A&M
Omar Jacobs, Bowling Green
Others
Brent Basanez, Northwestern
Darrell Hackney, Alabama-Birmingham
Ingle Martin, Furman
Barrick Nealy, Texas State
Michael Robinson, Penn State (slash)
D. J. Shockley, Georgia (slash)
Brad Smith, Missouri (slash)
Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech
Running Back
1. Reggie Bush, USC
2. Laurence Maroney, Minnesota
3. DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
4. LenDale White, USC
5. Joseph Addai, LSU
6. Brian Calhoun, Wisconsin
7. Maurice Drew, UCLA
Others
P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech
Andre Hall, South Florida
Jerome Harrison, Washington State
Taurean Henderson, Texas Tech
DonTrell Moore, New Mexico
Jerious Norwood, Mississippi State
Gerald Riggs, Tennessee
Lawrence Vickers, Colorado
Leon Washington, Florida State
Wide Receiver
1. Santonio Holmes, Ohio State
2. Chad Jackson, Florida
3. Sinorice Moss, Miami (FL)
4. Demetrius Williams, Oregon
5. Maurice Stovall, Notre Dame
6. Greg Jennings, Western Michigan
7. Brandon Marshall, Central Florida
8. Derek Hagan, Arizona State
9. Brandon Williams, Wisconsin
Others
Jason Avant, Michigan
Hank Baskett, New Mexico
Will Blackmon, Boston College
Jeremy Bloom, Colorado
Skyler Green, LSU
Mike Hass, Oregon State
Martin Nance, Miami (OH)
Cory Rodgers, Texas Christian
Travis Wilson, Oklahoma
Tight End
1. Vernon Davis, Maryland
2. Marcedes Lewis, UCLA
3. Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame
4. Joe Klopfenstein, Colorado
5. David Thomas, Texas
6. Leonard Pope, Georgia
7. Dominique Byrd, USC
Others
Owen Daniels, Wisconsin
Tim Day, Oregon
Garrett Mills, Tulsa
Tony Scheffler, Western Michigan
T.J. Williams, North Carolina State
Offensive Tackle
1. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Virginia
2. Winston Justice, USC
3. Eric Winston, Miami (FL)
4. Daryn Colledge, Boise State
5. Andrew Whitworth, LSU
6. Marcus McNeill, Auburn
Others
Rashad Butler, Miami
Paul McQuistan, Weber State
Ryan OCallaghan, California
Jonathan Scott, Texas
Zach Strief, Northwestern
Jeremy Trueblood, Boston College
Interior Offensive Line
1. Nick Mangold, Ohio State (center)
2. Davin Joseph, Oklahoma (guard)
3. Max Jean-Gilles, Georgia (guard)
4. Deuce Lutui, USC (guard)
5. Chris Chester, Oklahoma (center)
6. Charles Spencer, Pittsburgh (guard)
7. Fred Matua, USC (guard)
8. Rob Sims, Ohio State (center)
Small Schools
Jahri Evans, Bloomsburg (PA) (guard)
Kevin Boothe, Cornell (guard)
Others
Ryan Cook, New Mexico (center)
Greg Eslinger, Minnesota (center)
Pat Ross, Boston College (center)
Jason Spitz, Louisville (guard)
Defensive End
1. Mario Williams, NC State
2. Mathias Kiwanuka, Boston College
3. Daryl Tapp, Va Tech
4. Tamba Hali, Penn State
5. Manny Lawson, North Carolina State
6. Parys Haralson, Tennessee
Others
Victor Adeyanju, Indiana
Mark Anderson, Alabama
Elvis Dumervil, Louisville
Ray Edwards, Purdue
Chris Gocong, Cal. State San Luis Obispo
Jason Hatcher, Grambling
Eric Henderson, Georgia Tech
Julian Jenkins, Stanford
Ryan LaCasse, Syracuse
Rob Ninkovich, Purdue
James Wyche, Syracuse
Defensive Tackle
1. Brodrick Bunkley, Florida St.
2. Haloti Ngata, Oregon
3. Claude Wroten, LSU
4. John McCargo, NC State
5. Gabe Watson, Michigan
Others
Barry Cofield, Northwestern
Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma
Orien Harris, Miami (FL)
Johnny Jolly, Texas A&M
Johnathan Lewis, Virginia Tech
Jesse Mahelona, Tennessee
Babatunde Oshinowo, Stanford
Montavious Stanley, Louisville
Kyle Williams, LSU
Rodrique Wright, Texas
Linebacker
1. A.J. Hawk, Ohio State
2. Ernie Sims, Florida St.
3. Chad Greenway, Iowa
4. Kamerion Wimbley, Florida St. (OLB)
5. D'Qwell Jackson, Maryland
6. Rocky McIntosh, Miami (FL)
7. DeMeco Ryans, Alabama
8. Bobby Carpenter, Ohio State
Others
Jon Alston, Stanford
Omar Gaither, Tennessee
Abdul Hodge, Iowa
Thomas Howard, UTEP
Clint Ingram, Oklahoma
Brian Iwuh, Colorado
A.J. Nicholson, Florida State
Kai Parham, Virginia
Freddie Roach, Alabama
Dale Robinson, Arizona State
Gerris Wilkinson, Georgia Tech
Cornerback
1. Michael Huff, Texas
2. Jonathan Joseph, South Carolina
3. Tye Hill, Clemson
4. Antonio Cromartie, Florida State
5. Jimmy Williams, Virginia Tech
6. Kelly Jennings, Miami (FL)
7. Richard Marshall, Fresno State
Others
Antoine Bethea, Howard
Will Blackmon, Boston College
Charles Gordon, Kansas
Cedric Griffin, Texas
Devin Hester, Miami (FL)
Marcus Hudson, North Carolina State
Darrell Hunter, Miami (OH)
Tim Jennings, Georgia
Danieal Manning, Abilene Christian
Marcus Maxey, Miami (FL)
DeMario Minter, Georgia
Anwar Phillips, Penn State
David Pittman, Northwestern State
Dee Webb, Florida
Ashton Youboty, Ohio State
Alan Zemaitis, Penn State
Safety
1. Jason Allen, Tennessee
2. Donte Whitner, Ohio State
3. Daniel Bullocks, Nebraska
4. Anthony Smith, Syracuse
5. Darnell Bing, USC
6. Ko Simpson, South Carolina
7. Roman Harper, Alabama
Others :
Greg Blue, Georgia
Tra Boger, Tulane
Reed Doughty, Northern Colorado
Dawan Landry, Georgia Tech
Calvin Lowry, Penn State
Bernard Pollard, Purdue
Dwayne Slay, Texas Tech
Scott Ware, USC
Pat Watkins, Florida State
The South Park "Mohammed" Episode Was On Last Night...
and I found it totally funny. It was the most daring segment I've even seen from the South Park creators.
Wow.
Wow.
Colts' Best Bet: UCLA's Maurice Drew - Reggie Bush's Key Rival
If the Indianapolis Colts -- in search of a running back to take over for the departed-for-Arizona Edgerrin James -- are concerned that they may not be able to get Reggie Bush, there's one player that may still be on the board by the time their turn at #30 comes around in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft: UCLA's Maurice Drew.
Here's Bush's workout stats:
40 yard dash - 4.33
225 lbs reps - 24
Vertical Jump - 40.5 inches
Now keep in mind that Bush did this at USC's Pro Day, a full month after the NFL Combine, where UCLA's Maurice Drew participated. This means that Reggie had a full month to workout to beat Drew's stats:
40 yard dash - 4.39
225 lbs reps - 18
Vertical Jump - 36 inches
Drew compares favorably with Bush, and like his rival can take over a game. If the Colts can get him, he's an even better value than Lendale White.
USC Running Back Lendale White Stands Up SI's Mike Silver; Suffers Decrease In Draft Status
Note to Lendale White: If you want to maintain your first round pick status in the 2006 NFL Draft, don't stand up Sports Illustrated Senior Writer and Cal Bear Michael Silver.
Now, you've got bad press.
But from a PR Perspective, there's just press, right?
Maybe White's bad hamstring was to blame. It could also be a part of an elaborate ploy to cause White to fall into the waiting arms of a winning organization.
The ploy could backfire.
Now, you've got bad press.
But from a PR Perspective, there's just press, right?
Maybe White's bad hamstring was to blame. It could also be a part of an elaborate ploy to cause White to fall into the waiting arms of a winning organization.
The ploy could backfire.
CAA's Tom Condon's Was Sued For Violation of NFLPA Regulation Section 3 (B) 3 In 2003
Yesterday, I reported that CAA's Football Agent Tom Condon, formerly of IMG, may have violated several sections of the National Football League Player's Association (NFLPA) regulations guiding agent conduct in the matter of USC Quaterback Matt Leinart.
Today, I uncovered this recent report by Liz Mullen of The Sports Business Journal, written September of 2003. It, combined with the more recent allegations involving Leinart, suggest player contact practices that should be reviewed by the NFLPA.
Mullen's report applies to NFLPA Regulation Section 3 (B) 3 -- Providing or offering money or any other thing of value to a member of the player's or prospective player's family or any other person for the purpose of inducing or encouraging that person to recommend the services of the Contract Advisor; Providing materially false or misleading information to any player or prospective player in the context of recruiting the player as a client or in the course of representing that player.
LAWSUIT TARGETS IMG FOOTBALL CHIEF CONDON
September 8, 2003
SportsBusiness Journal
By Liz Mullen
IMG Football President Tom Condon falsely told top NFL draft prospects that a rival agent "played the race card" in negotiations with NFL clubs in an effort to damage the agent and win recruiting battles, according to claims in a lawsuit filed in Philadelphia federal court.
NFL player agent Lamont Smith, who is black, claims in the suit that Condon, who is white, and Cleveland-based IMG slandered him in their efforts to win recruiting battles.
An IMG spokeswoman and an attorney for IMG both declined to comment. Condon did not return phone calls.
"It is a defamation of character, slander lawsuit stemming from a systematic pattern that Tom Condon has engaged in against me personally, and our firm," said Smith, a principal of All Pro Sports & Entertainment, which represents about 60 NFL players, including Eddie George, Jerome Bettis and retired running back Barry Sanders.
"He has basically stated to kids, repeatedly, that general managers have been reluctant to deal with me because of the interjection of race in negotiations, which is patently false," Smith said. "The apparent intent is to blackball. It leads a player to think you are not accepted in NFL circles, which could not be further from the truth."
The lawsuit claims that in the last three years, Condon told players Antonio Bryant, Kenyatta Walker and Larry Johnson, and/or their advisers, that Smith was known to use race in contract negotiations. The suit says the comments were made while Condon and Smith were competing to sign players before the 2001, 2002 and 2003 NFL drafts.
"Condon may have told other current and prospective NFL players... that they should not become clients of plaintiff Smith because Smith had alienated general managers of NFL clubs by 'playing the race card,' " the suit states.
The suit against Condon, who leads a practice that represents about 85 NFL players and who is widely considered to be the most powerful football agent in the country, is just the latest in a slew of lawsuits filed against or by major NFL player agents.
Octagon's football division was sued by three agents in the last two years, although one of those suits was dismissed for lack of evidence. Agent Hadley Engelhard has filed suit against his top recruiter, asking a court to enjoin the recruiter from working with his clients who were first-round NFL draft picks.
Last fall, NFL player agent Leigh Steinberg won a $44.66 million judgment against his former protégé, agent David Dunn, and his rival firm when a jury found that Dunn engaged in unfair competition.
George Croner, Smith's attorney, said the lawsuit could have a chilling effect on what is considered to be a widespread practice by agents of making negative comments about their rivals while recruiting athletes.
Croner said Condon's comments go far beyond standard competition.
"If you tell a kid that another agent has a problem with general managers... and if you embellish on it by saying the reason they don't like him is this highly inflammatory issue of playing the race card with general managers who are almost invariably white, you have created an explosive situation," he said.
Croner added that the result of the case "will not be found in documents. It will be found in the testimony of witnesses."
Roy Kessel, chairman of the Chicago Bar Association's Sports Law Committee and a certified NFL player agent, said Smith's case against Condon may be difficult to prove because Smith does not represent all the players named in the suit. Smith represents Bryant. Condon represents Walker. Agent Marvin Demoff represents Johnson.
"If you don't have the player, you will be hard-pressed for them to testify," Kessel said.
But Greg Genske, an attorney with San Francisco law firm Morgan Lewis who was part of the litigation team that won the $44.66 million judgment in the Steinberg case, noted that NFL players can be subpoenaed.
"I think it's easy to get to the truth with the players because at the end of the day they are not going to lie to protect an agent," said Genske, who cross-examined several NFL players during the Steinberg trial. "I don't think they would lie to protect Mr. Condon or lie to support trumped-up, fabricated allegations against Mr. Condon."
Again, the ball's in the court of the NFLPA.
Today, I uncovered this recent report by Liz Mullen of The Sports Business Journal, written September of 2003. It, combined with the more recent allegations involving Leinart, suggest player contact practices that should be reviewed by the NFLPA.
Mullen's report applies to NFLPA Regulation Section 3 (B) 3 -- Providing or offering money or any other thing of value to a member of the player's or prospective player's family or any other person for the purpose of inducing or encouraging that person to recommend the services of the Contract Advisor; Providing materially false or misleading information to any player or prospective player in the context of recruiting the player as a client or in the course of representing that player.
LAWSUIT TARGETS IMG FOOTBALL CHIEF CONDON
September 8, 2003
SportsBusiness Journal
By Liz Mullen
IMG Football President Tom Condon falsely told top NFL draft prospects that a rival agent "played the race card" in negotiations with NFL clubs in an effort to damage the agent and win recruiting battles, according to claims in a lawsuit filed in Philadelphia federal court.
NFL player agent Lamont Smith, who is black, claims in the suit that Condon, who is white, and Cleveland-based IMG slandered him in their efforts to win recruiting battles.
An IMG spokeswoman and an attorney for IMG both declined to comment. Condon did not return phone calls.
"It is a defamation of character, slander lawsuit stemming from a systematic pattern that Tom Condon has engaged in against me personally, and our firm," said Smith, a principal of All Pro Sports & Entertainment, which represents about 60 NFL players, including Eddie George, Jerome Bettis and retired running back Barry Sanders.
"He has basically stated to kids, repeatedly, that general managers have been reluctant to deal with me because of the interjection of race in negotiations, which is patently false," Smith said. "The apparent intent is to blackball. It leads a player to think you are not accepted in NFL circles, which could not be further from the truth."
The lawsuit claims that in the last three years, Condon told players Antonio Bryant, Kenyatta Walker and Larry Johnson, and/or their advisers, that Smith was known to use race in contract negotiations. The suit says the comments were made while Condon and Smith were competing to sign players before the 2001, 2002 and 2003 NFL drafts.
"Condon may have told other current and prospective NFL players... that they should not become clients of plaintiff Smith because Smith had alienated general managers of NFL clubs by 'playing the race card,' " the suit states.
The suit against Condon, who leads a practice that represents about 85 NFL players and who is widely considered to be the most powerful football agent in the country, is just the latest in a slew of lawsuits filed against or by major NFL player agents.
Octagon's football division was sued by three agents in the last two years, although one of those suits was dismissed for lack of evidence. Agent Hadley Engelhard has filed suit against his top recruiter, asking a court to enjoin the recruiter from working with his clients who were first-round NFL draft picks.
Last fall, NFL player agent Leigh Steinberg won a $44.66 million judgment against his former protégé, agent David Dunn, and his rival firm when a jury found that Dunn engaged in unfair competition.
George Croner, Smith's attorney, said the lawsuit could have a chilling effect on what is considered to be a widespread practice by agents of making negative comments about their rivals while recruiting athletes.
Croner said Condon's comments go far beyond standard competition.
"If you tell a kid that another agent has a problem with general managers... and if you embellish on it by saying the reason they don't like him is this highly inflammatory issue of playing the race card with general managers who are almost invariably white, you have created an explosive situation," he said.
Croner added that the result of the case "will not be found in documents. It will be found in the testimony of witnesses."
Roy Kessel, chairman of the Chicago Bar Association's Sports Law Committee and a certified NFL player agent, said Smith's case against Condon may be difficult to prove because Smith does not represent all the players named in the suit. Smith represents Bryant. Condon represents Walker. Agent Marvin Demoff represents Johnson.
"If you don't have the player, you will be hard-pressed for them to testify," Kessel said.
But Greg Genske, an attorney with San Francisco law firm Morgan Lewis who was part of the litigation team that won the $44.66 million judgment in the Steinberg case, noted that NFL players can be subpoenaed.
"I think it's easy to get to the truth with the players because at the end of the day they are not going to lie to protect an agent," said Genske, who cross-examined several NFL players during the Steinberg trial. "I don't think they would lie to protect Mr. Condon or lie to support trumped-up, fabricated allegations against Mr. Condon."
Again, the ball's in the court of the NFLPA.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Profootballtalk.com Reports That Leinart Team Wanted Steinberg Fired Because Houston Would Not Trade Up To Get USC Signal Caller
I found this item at Profootballtalk.com:
LEINART CAMP TRYING TO PERSUADE TITANS TO TAKE MATT
The same source who tipped us off over the weekend to the looming termination of agent Leigh Steinberg by USC quarterback Matt Leinart tells us that the driving force behind the change was the lack of interest that the Titans were demonstrating in the 2004 Heisman winner.
The source says that Titans G.M. Floyd Reese is leaning toward Texas quarterback Vince Young, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow want Leinart.
The source also tells us that Chow recently informed Leinart that Reese won't trade up to the No. 1 overall spot in order to get Leinart.
Co-agent Chuck Price, who will remain a member of Team Leinart in the wake of the Steinberg termination, supposedly has told Reese that the failure to land Leinart will be the biggest draft gaffe in team history.
Apparently, Reese is now on the fence.
Per the source, Leinart will sign with Tom Condon after the five-day waiting period expires following Leinart's termination, and Condon and Price will work together. Condon's pitch, as we recently heard, was that he'll get either the Titans or the Jets to trade up to No. 1 with the Houston Texans.
The long-term plan, we're told, is for Price to learn the ropes of the agent business over the next couple of years, with an eye toward being the lead agent for Leinart's second contract. (We suspect that Condon hasn't gotten that memo.)
The broader question, as we see it, is whether these goings-on will raise a red flag for any team that otherwise will be interested in Leinart. There's already a question as to whether he has a sufficient passion for the pro game. And his pro day workout was hardly a show stopper.
So by trying to force his way into the No. 1 spot, the risk could be that Leinart slides even lower than he otherwise might have gone.
Stay tuned.
It still does not adress the matter of how Condon came to be hired by Team Leinart. Who gave Leinart the idea that Houston could be "made" to want to trade up? They didn't just come to that view after a night of reflection. All signs point to how Condon handled himself in this affair.
It's still up to the NFLPA.
LEINART CAMP TRYING TO PERSUADE TITANS TO TAKE MATT
The same source who tipped us off over the weekend to the looming termination of agent Leigh Steinberg by USC quarterback Matt Leinart tells us that the driving force behind the change was the lack of interest that the Titans were demonstrating in the 2004 Heisman winner.
The source says that Titans G.M. Floyd Reese is leaning toward Texas quarterback Vince Young, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow want Leinart.
The source also tells us that Chow recently informed Leinart that Reese won't trade up to the No. 1 overall spot in order to get Leinart.
Co-agent Chuck Price, who will remain a member of Team Leinart in the wake of the Steinberg termination, supposedly has told Reese that the failure to land Leinart will be the biggest draft gaffe in team history.
Apparently, Reese is now on the fence.
Per the source, Leinart will sign with Tom Condon after the five-day waiting period expires following Leinart's termination, and Condon and Price will work together. Condon's pitch, as we recently heard, was that he'll get either the Titans or the Jets to trade up to No. 1 with the Houston Texans.
The long-term plan, we're told, is for Price to learn the ropes of the agent business over the next couple of years, with an eye toward being the lead agent for Leinart's second contract. (We suspect that Condon hasn't gotten that memo.)
The broader question, as we see it, is whether these goings-on will raise a red flag for any team that otherwise will be interested in Leinart. There's already a question as to whether he has a sufficient passion for the pro game. And his pro day workout was hardly a show stopper.
So by trying to force his way into the No. 1 spot, the risk could be that Leinart slides even lower than he otherwise might have gone.
Stay tuned.
It still does not adress the matter of how Condon came to be hired by Team Leinart. Who gave Leinart the idea that Houston could be "made" to want to trade up? They didn't just come to that view after a night of reflection. All signs point to how Condon handled himself in this affair.
It's still up to the NFLPA.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
BREAKING NEWS: CAA's Tom Condon May Have Cheated In Drawing Matt Leinart Away From Leigh Steinberg -- The Only Question Is What Will The NFLPA Do?
I have it from a confidential source that NFL Player Agent Tom Condon (pictured at left), formerly of IMG and now with Creative Artists Agency, may have violated key rules established by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) in an effort to draw USC Quarterback Matt Leinart away from Sports Agent Leigh Steinberg (photo below left).
NFLPA regulations on the conduct of agents -- referred to as contract advisors -- are strict. The areas of NFLPA regulations that apply to what I wil call "The Leinart Case" are:
From The NFLPA Website:
Section 3 (B) B. Prohibited Conduct
Contract Advisors are prohibited from:
1. Representing any player in individual contract negotiations with any Club unless he/she (i) is an NFLPA Certified Contract Advisor; (ii) has signed the Standard Representation Agreement with such player; and (iii) has filed a copy of the Standard Representation Agreement with the NFLPA along with any other contract(s) or agreement(s) between the player and the Contract Advisor;
2. Providing or offering money or any other thing of value to any player or prospective player to induce or encourage that player to utilize his/her services;
3. Providing or offering money or any other thing of value to a member of the player's or prospective player's family or any other person for the purpose of inducing or encouraging that person to recommend the services of the Contract Advisor;
Providing materially false or misleading information to any player or prospective player in the context of recruiting the player as a client or in the course of representing that player.
4. Representing or suggesting to any player or prospective player that his/her NFLPA Certification is an endorsement or recommendation by the NFLPA of the Contract Advisor or the Contract Advisor's qualifications or services;
But it's Section 3 (B) (Prohibited Conduct), Paragraph 21 that Condon is in true violation of. It states:
Section 3 (B) 21. (a) Initiating any communication, directly or indirectly, with a player who has entered into a Standard Representation Agreement with another Contract Advisor and such Standard Representation Agreement is on file with the NFLPA if the communication concerns a matter relating to the:
(i) Player's current Contract Advisor;
(ii) Player's current Standard Representation Agreement;
(iii) Player's contract status with any NFL Club(s); or
(iv) Services to be provided by prospective Contract Advisor either through a Standard Representation Agreement or otherwise.
(b) If a player, already a party to a Standard Representation Agreement, initiates communication with a Contract Advisor relating to any of the subject matters listed in Section 3(B)(21)(a) the Contract Advisor may continue communications with the Player regarding any of those matters.
(c) Section 3(B)(21) shall not apply to any player who has less than sixty (60) days remaining before his NFL Player Contract expires, and he has not yet signed a new Standard Representation Agreement with a Contract Advisor within the sixty (60) day period.
(d) Section 3(B)(21) shall not prohibit a Contract Advisor from sending a player written materials which may be reasonably interpreted as advertising directed at players in general and not targeted at a specific player.
Published reports from several sources confirm what my source knows: that Condon violated "Paragraph 21" in his pursuit of Matt Leinart. For example, Profootballtalk.com had this information, which could not be directly linked to because of the design of its site. I copied it:POSTED 9:24 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:42 p.m. EDT, April 11, 2006
LEINART "DEFINITELY" HIRING CONDON
We've heard from yet another source that USC quarterback Matt Leinart "definitely" is hiring Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency to replace Leigh Steinberg, whom Leinart recently has terminated.
The talk in league circles is that Condon and CAA have told Leinart that they will persuade either the Jets or the Titans to swing a deal with the Texans to make Leinart the No. 1 overall selection in the draft. If that's true, the Condon potentially has run afoul of the NFLPA regulations that impose a five-day waiting period before a new agent can swoop in.
But don't assume that the NFLPA will take any action, given that Condon also represents NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw.
We haven't confirmed whether Chuck Price will be involved in the ongoing representation of Leinart, but we've previously heard that Price will still be a part of the team, working directly with Condon.
The timing of the conversations between Leinart and Condon is such that Condon was tampering with Steinberg's client, Matt Leinart.
My source said, "They (Condon working for CAA) probably used the old IMG model: (Where they may have told Leinart) We'll take a reduced fee and a bit more up front, and by the way, we'll get your Dad a job."
If this is 100 percent true, and it appears to be approaching 80 percent truth, Condon's also in violation of NFLPA Section 3 (B), Paragraph 3, which reads:
3. Providing or offering money or any other thing of value to a member of the player's or prospective player's family or any other person for the purpose of inducing or encouraging that person to recommend the services of the Contract Advisor;
Providing materially false or misleading information to any player or prospective player in the context of recruiting the player as a client or in the course of representing that player.
The question is what will the NFLPA do? My well-placed source reports that not only is Tom Condon NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw's agent, but NFLPA attorney Jeffrey Kessler's son works for Condon. (Kessler's pictured at right.)Given this, it's very possible Condon could have communicated to Leinart that he's the representative of the NFLPA's Executive Director and therefore has special authorization to contact Leinart in so forward a way as he's done. Now, I'm piling on; there's already too much information. But if that were the case, Condon's stepped over the bounds of Section 3 (B), Paragraph 4, which reads:
4. Representing or suggesting to any player or prospective player that his/her NFLPA Certification is an endorsement or recommendation by the NFLPA of the Contract Advisor or the Contract Advisor's qualifications or services;
Stay tuned. It's going to get worse before it gets better.
NBA Commissioner David Stern Huge Dem Giver - Over $700,000!
In stark contrast to NFL Commissioner Tagliabue, NBA Commissioner David Stern is a large giver to Democrats.
Just look at his numbers:
$2,000 Republican
$762,780* Democrat
$17,000 special interest
total: $781,780
He's given to KWEIS MFUME, I (D) Senate - MD, the DNC, and others over his life.
Anyone who believes Stern's a conservative because of the NBA Dress Code matter should see this information.
NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue Contributes Mostly To Republican's -- But Not By Much
The best sports commissioner since Pete Rozelle's got a balanced history of political giving. According to records, his money breaks down like this:
12,250 Republican
$8,001 Democrat
$7,500 special interest
total: $27,751
His most recent give was to Tennessee Senator (R) Lamar Alexander. (Remember to click on the title of this post to see the full record. )
Christie Brinkley's A Major Liberal! She Even Gave Money To A PAC To Impeach President Bush!
Of the $89K she's contributed over her life, the Supermodel has given $76K of it to Dems and of that she's contributed money to "IMPEACHPAC" -- an organization that is working to elect a congress to impeach President Bush.
Raider Owner Al Davis Gave Mostly To Republican Causes - But Only $19,000 Total; $11,000 to The GOP
I had to look up Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis. This is what I found:
$11,000 Republican
$4,000 Democrat
$4,000 special interest
total: $19,000
Most of that -- in fact -- was when he was in LA. He also gave to something called SYMMS PAC.
Alec Baldwin's Put Over $100,000 into The Dems!
Alec Baldwin, the favored whipping boy of "South Park" and "Team America" creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, has poured over $100,000 into Democrats.
Here's his breakdown:
$102,602 Democrat
$500 Green
$1,000 Independent
$5,000 special interest
total: $109,102
Hugh Hefner's A Big Dem Contributor, Too!
Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner's a huge and consistent giver to the Democratic Party. He recently gave $5,000 to the DNC this year. He's also contributed to the campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Jerry Brown.
Here's his breakdown...
$102,100 Democrat
$1,000 Independent
$14,500 special interest
total: $117,600
Click on the title of this post to see what he's done.
Tom Cruise' Poltical Contributions? He Like Senator Barbara Boxer - So Do I
According to this Federal Campaign Contribution Report I found, Tom Cruise has given $1,000 to Senator Barbara Boxer, $10,000 to Senator Hilary Clinton, $500 to Senator John Kerry, and others. All Dems.
Airbus A-380 - Think It's 100 Percent Foreign Made? Think Again
Some of it's parts are made or finished in America. Like the landing gear and wing pistons. The wing pistons were made by Southwest United Industries of Oklahoma.
Apprentice 5 Ratings Very Low - Worst In Show's History
I saw this in a recent article on Trump's idea to have viewers pick the Apprentice. The reason for the low number is simple: Jack Baeur. "24" is simply too hot to be beat by The Apprentice on Mondays.
NBC made a terrible mistake. Now, they're taking a beating in the ratings on Thursdays and Mondays, with no relief in site.
...Unless they move The Apprentice back to Thursday's ASAP.
Viewers Hired to Choose "Apprentice"
by Gina Serpe - E! Online
Mar 30, 2006, 11:50 AM PT
Donald Trump is taking a page from Simon Cowell's playbook.
The real estate mogul/reality TV star has announced a change in plans over how he'll choose his next Apprentice, allowing viewers to phone in votes on who they believe should be selected as the next mini-Trump.
"I'm very anxious to see who the fans choose for their favorite finalist--their decision could have a big effect on my ultimate decision," the Donald said in a statement.
But then again, it might not.
Unlike American Idol or other audience-dictated reality shows, viewers who cast their vote for one of The Apprentice's burgeoning businesspeople may not get the payoff they're expecting. The contestant who racks up the most votes will not automatically win the coveted apprenticeship--Trump will simply be made aware of the tally before making his final decision.
"Over the past four seasons of The Apprentice, Donald Trump has used the final episode to hire candidates with advice only from George and Carolyn," Mark Burnett, the show's creator and exec producer said. "This year we thought it would be interesting to discover what America has to say about the candidates, incorporating our fans and viewers as virtual judges.
"While Trump will still be the final arbiter of who he hires, America's feedback is certain to have an impact on his decision."
And, NBC hopes, his ratings.
Despite Trump's routine boasting of his show's ratings prowess, The Apprentice has dipped to an all-time low viewership, averaging just 9.9 million viewers since the fifth cycle kicked off last month. Last fall, The Apprentice 4 drew in a slightly higher 10.7 million viewers, down about 4 million from the previous installment. (With Martha Stewart's incarnation is long gone as a scapegoat, we're still waiting to see what excuse Trump will offer now to explain away his dismal Nielsen numbers.)
Viewers will be able to cast their vote for one of the final two candidates following the penultimate episode of the season via phone or by going online. As in years past, Trump will announce the winner in the live finale, during which he will also be presented with the results of the viewer vote.
The finale airs in June.
Cheney Gets Booed; Bush Poll Numbers Go Lower - What Do They Expect?
The bad news continues to fly in. The Vice President is booed at a baseball game -- again. President Bush has terrible and falling poll numbers.
It's clear to me what the problem is. They're too right-of-center to be in touch with the mood of America. 9-11 skewed all that's political and it's going to take three years to flush out the elected officials from office who don't see the economic and social problems we're facing in America and focus on them rather than the Mid East.
It's clear to me what the problem is. They're too right-of-center to be in touch with the mood of America. 9-11 skewed all that's political and it's going to take three years to flush out the elected officials from office who don't see the economic and social problems we're facing in America and focus on them rather than the Mid East.
Ty Law Considering Seattle Seahawks - Seahawks Looking At Ty Law - Seattle PI
Veteran Ty Law says Hawks offer chance to win
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
SEATTLE P-I REPORTER
KIRKLAND -- Ty Law has been to the pinnacle repeatedly, only to find the view obscured by what should have been.
During his 11-year NFL career, Law has been on four Super Bowl teams, voted to the Pro Bowl five times and led the league in interceptions twice -- including last season, his first with the New York Jets after playing 10 years with the New England Patriots.
It's not enough. The free-agent cornerback desires more, and can see himself achieving it as a member of the Seahawks.
"What's there left for me to do? There's a whole lot left to do," Law said Monday during a telephone interview from an airport in Florida, where he was catching a plane to New York City to visit his 6-year-old daughter, Tya.
"I've made five Pro Bowls. I should have made nine, because I feel I got ripped off for four others," he added. "The last time I went to the Super Bowl (after the 2004 season with the Patriots), I feel like I got shorted because I didn't get to play in that game.
"So I'm still trying to play catch-up. That's just what I do with my own psyche, to want to improve."
Law visited the Seahawks last week, and liked what he saw and heard.
After he departed, coach Mike Holmgren raised what seem to be the two biggest factors in signing Law: What does he have left mentally as well as physically; and how much will it cost to have him playing opposite Marcus Trufant in 2006 as the Seahawks defend their NFC championship?
Law chuckled when informed that Holmgren had said, "The great ones don't come cheap."
"Mike's been around," Law said. "He knows how it goes. As great a coach as he is, he doesn't come cheap, either."
As for being 32 and seemingly having nothing left to prove -- or play for -- it was as if Law had been waiting for someone to broach that subject.
"I want to play football," he said. "I love to compete. I'm confident in my abilities. I can be a big assist to any team. This 'old man' has something left in his tank."
More significantly, Law's actions speak louder than his words.
During the offseason, he leaves his material trappings in Florida and moves into a corporate apartment in St. Louis to work out with renowned track and field coach Bob Kersee -- whose wife, Jackie Joyner Kersee, won five medals in three Olympics in the heptathlon and long jump.
"Actually, the decision to work with Bob came from being overlooked," Law said. "I figured it was something that could take me to the next level."
It did. His first offseason with Kersee in 1998 led to Law's first Pro Bowl selection that season.
Law and his agent also are talking with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and Patriots. But Law likes his chances of adding to his legacy with the Seahawks.
"Although I did have a season no one thought I would have last year, it just didn't satisfy me at all," he said of intercepting 10 passes and being voted to the Pro Bowl for the 4-12 Jets.
"I'm used to winning. So the objective is to go somewhere with a chance to compete and an opportunity to win. I really, really want an opportunity to win again, and I definitely think that could come in Seattle."
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
America's Shame: Black Urban Communities Like Third World Countries
I'm glad CNN's exposing this, but the best examples of modern racism are not in what we say, but what we do. In this case, what we've done is permitted the private sector to avoid investing in the poorest areas of the inner city. Moreover, urban economic development programs have largely failed our cities. They're better at drawing big developers than creating a foundation for small business investment and growth.
Terrible. And with no end in sight.
Texans Pondering Bush Or Young - What's This About Indy and A Trade? - Houston Chronicle
ON PRO FOOTBALL
A Young-Bush debate in Nashville? Hmm . . .
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Let's see if we can get this straight. The Texans are going to give Bud Adams a choice between Vince Young and Reggie Bush?
Based on their recent flirtation with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the Texans may be putting themselves in position to be haunted for years by Young or Bush.
The only thing that could be worse than Young's going to Tennessee would be Indianapolis' pulling off a trade to get Bush. Then four times each season, the Texans could play against one of the stars they passed up.
The more we think about the Texans' recent interest in Williams — the best defensive player in the draft, by the way — the more it makes sense. They're going to need an impact defensive player to chase Young all over the field twice a season for, say, the next 10 years.
Bush, who is one of the greatest prospects in history, can do a lot of things — leap tall buildings in a single bound, for instance — but he can't harass Young when Young leads the Titans against his hometown team twice a season.
Today, Young makes what could be the first of many trips from Houston to Nashville. The Titans are rolling out the red carpet for Young and agent Major Adams.
The Adams & Adams Show
If Tennessee uses the third pick in the draft on Young, his agent is going to become so close to Bud Adams that people might start to believe they're related.
Just think. Rather than throw up the Horns with Austin sideline buddies like Matthew McConaughey and Roger Clemens, Young can hang out with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Victoria's own Cowboy Troy.
Houstonians can be sure that Adams — Bud, not Major — has been sitting behind his desk in his Galleria-area skyscraper soaking in all the Vince Young controversy.
The Budster knows that University of Texas fans — not to mention many others — want the Texans to use the top pick on Young.
He knows when the Texans select Bush or Williams (yeah, right!) that a lot of Houstonians are going to be so angry they'll be seeing burnt orange. He also knows that if the Titans draft Young, he'll get some UT fans from Austin to go with the UT fans he already has from Knoxville, Tenn.
If Adams pays attention to the national media, he'll see that many reporters believe Matt Leinart is a higher-rated prospect than Young. But if Adams needs to make a case for Young over Leinart, no matter how he crunches the numbers, they'll always look like this: 41-38, 266, 200.
And, Bud, that's not the combination to a safe.
Titans' contracts expiring
For more than a decade, Adams has been letting general manager Floyd Reese make personnel decisions, with input from coach Jeff Fisher. But Reese is in the last year of his contract. So is Fisher, although the team has an option year for the coach.
If Adams were to suggest to Reese and Fisher that he thinks the Titans might be better off drafting Young, they're not in position to put up much of a fight. Not that they would, anyway, because both already know what an incredible prospect Young is — just like Bush.
The Titans also have two injury-prone running backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry. If the Texans were to actually draft Williams before New Orleans used the second pick on offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Tennessee would have a difficult decision.
Young or Bush.
Bush or Young.
Thank you, Houston.
No matter what the Texans do with the first pick — Bush or Williams (get serious!) — it says here that when the Titans make the third pick, The Eyes of Texas will be on Tennessee.
John McClain covers the Texans and the NFL for the Chronicle. john.mcclain@chron.com.
A Young-Bush debate in Nashville? Hmm . . .
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Let's see if we can get this straight. The Texans are going to give Bud Adams a choice between Vince Young and Reggie Bush?
Based on their recent flirtation with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the Texans may be putting themselves in position to be haunted for years by Young or Bush.
The only thing that could be worse than Young's going to Tennessee would be Indianapolis' pulling off a trade to get Bush. Then four times each season, the Texans could play against one of the stars they passed up.
The more we think about the Texans' recent interest in Williams — the best defensive player in the draft, by the way — the more it makes sense. They're going to need an impact defensive player to chase Young all over the field twice a season for, say, the next 10 years.
Bush, who is one of the greatest prospects in history, can do a lot of things — leap tall buildings in a single bound, for instance — but he can't harass Young when Young leads the Titans against his hometown team twice a season.
Today, Young makes what could be the first of many trips from Houston to Nashville. The Titans are rolling out the red carpet for Young and agent Major Adams.
The Adams & Adams Show
If Tennessee uses the third pick in the draft on Young, his agent is going to become so close to Bud Adams that people might start to believe they're related.
Just think. Rather than throw up the Horns with Austin sideline buddies like Matthew McConaughey and Roger Clemens, Young can hang out with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Victoria's own Cowboy Troy.
Houstonians can be sure that Adams — Bud, not Major — has been sitting behind his desk in his Galleria-area skyscraper soaking in all the Vince Young controversy.
The Budster knows that University of Texas fans — not to mention many others — want the Texans to use the top pick on Young.
He knows when the Texans select Bush or Williams (yeah, right!) that a lot of Houstonians are going to be so angry they'll be seeing burnt orange. He also knows that if the Titans draft Young, he'll get some UT fans from Austin to go with the UT fans he already has from Knoxville, Tenn.
If Adams pays attention to the national media, he'll see that many reporters believe Matt Leinart is a higher-rated prospect than Young. But if Adams needs to make a case for Young over Leinart, no matter how he crunches the numbers, they'll always look like this: 41-38, 266, 200.
And, Bud, that's not the combination to a safe.
Titans' contracts expiring
For more than a decade, Adams has been letting general manager Floyd Reese make personnel decisions, with input from coach Jeff Fisher. But Reese is in the last year of his contract. So is Fisher, although the team has an option year for the coach.
If Adams were to suggest to Reese and Fisher that he thinks the Titans might be better off drafting Young, they're not in position to put up much of a fight. Not that they would, anyway, because both already know what an incredible prospect Young is — just like Bush.
The Titans also have two injury-prone running backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry. If the Texans were to actually draft Williams before New Orleans used the second pick on offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Tennessee would have a difficult decision.
Young or Bush.
Bush or Young.
Thank you, Houston.
No matter what the Texans do with the first pick — Bush or Williams (get serious!) — it says here that when the Titans make the third pick, The Eyes of Texas will be on Tennessee.
John McClain covers the Texans and the NFL for the Chronicle. john.mcclain@chron.com.
Confirmed - Leinart Bolted Leigh Steinberg - Story Broke By Nikki Finke's Daily Deadline
Here's the story by Nikki below and linked to via the title of this post. ESPN did not break this story.
EXCLUSIVE: USC Megastar QB Matt Leinart Leaving Steinberg, Going to CAA?
EXCLUSIVE: I've just learned that USC megastar quarterback Matt Leinart sent a termination letter late last night to his reknown sports agent, Newport Beach's Leigh Steinberg who just signed him in January. Steinberg confirmed this to me today. This is huge news considering that the NFL draft is on April 29, and Leinart is expected to be the No. 2 pick behind USC running back Reggie Bush. (Both are Heisman Trophy winners.) But what makes this an even bigger story is that sources tell me that Leinart is expected to soon sign for his multimillion dollar football contract negotiations with CAA, a first for the Hollywood talent agency in this arena. The agency has daily contact with the sports celeb because it already represents him for marketing deals like off-the-field endorsements, licensing, autograph shows, public appearances and charity work.
Leinart signed with CAA a week before signing with Steinberg in January; at the time, a CAA spokesman told Advertising Age that the agency was not about to open a sports division. But on April 5th, CAA hired IMG football agent powerhouse Tom Condon as well as IMG football rep Ken Kremer. (Yesterday, CAA also signed IMG baseball agent Casey Close, who reps Derek Jeter.) I'm told that, interestingly, Leinert had earlier met with Condon at IMG and rejected him in favor of Steinberg. Steinberg is best known for having repped the first pick in the NFL draft eight times and specializing in QBs (Steve Young, Warren Moon and Troy Aikman, Ben Roethlisberger and Mark Brunell have been or are clients). Condon, who reps QBs Peyton and Eli Manning, has repped the first draft pick the past two years running (Eli Manning in 2004 and Alex Smith in 2005). "But this year, he got nobody. He lost the competition for Matt Leinart first time around," an insider told me. I'm told CAA's first move with Condon, one of IMG founder Mark McCormack's business-is-war acolytes, aboard was to take Leinart away from Steinberg even though there was no discord in the agent-client relationship. But this does mean war now between CAA and other sports agents since the Hollywood agency is hellbent on going after superstar athletes' sports contract business, no longer content to just market sports stars. But it's a reminder of CAA's cunning legacy under Michael Ovitz, who said he wasn't going into the advertising business when he signed Coca Cola to a consultancy contract but then started making commercials for the soft drink giant.
Officially, CAA can not comment one way or another whether they have Leinart in the fold already. Under league rules, Leinart's termination letter sets in motion the five-day rule, meaning that for the next five days Steinberg (left) is still legally the QB's sports agent. (Leinart also filed the necessary paperwork with the players' union yesterday.) Of course, the rules also state that, while Steinberg had this client, no other sports agents were supposed to be talking to Leinart. And, as things stand now, no agent is supposed to contact Leinart until the five days have expired. So then how come sources are telling me that Leinart is about to switch to CAA for sports repping? "You have to make the assumption that they went to him the minute they got Condon. But how do you make the tampering case against CAA here?" one source told me. "They do it in Hollywood. They're not supposed to do it in football. It's totally against the guidelines. It's totally illegal to talk to someone who's represented about switching. The point is rarely is a case like this brought. How do you prove it?"
I'm told the phrase "sons of bitches" to describe CAA was floating around Steinberg's office after receiving Leinart's letter of termination. Ironically, USC offensive tackle Winston Justice fired Steinberg late last week because he felt Steinberg focused all his time on his other Trojan client, I hear. With his heartthrob good looks and impressive athleticism, Leinart is expected to become a twofer cash cow both in his football contract and his endorsement potential. That's incentive enough for CAA to steamroll over anything and anyone to get Leinart as a full-service client. Steinberg's the first road kill.
Latino's March Against Bush and Republican Immigration Policies - Blacks, People of Color, and Women Should Join Them
My view is that we should make it easier to become an American citizen. Also, the new Americans are not "taking jobs" from others, because the jobs they go after aren't posted on Monster.com nor do they call for W-2 forms. They're odd tasks that someone comes up with at the moment. The "taking" idea is silly.
HOUSTON, Texas (Reuters) -- Massive street marches to protest a proposed crackdown on illegal immigration have energized U.S. Hispanics and may signal a new day of Hispanic political involvement.
The demonstrations, which attracted both legal and illegal residents across the country, mean politicians may face an angry Hispanic electorate in which Republicans would be the biggest losers, activists said on Monday.
Half a million people marched in Los Angeles two weeks ago, and another half a million protested in Dallas on Sunday. On Monday, there were smaller marches in more than 60 cities, all to express displeasure with proposed legislation in Washington aimed at clamping down on illegal immigration.(Watch how the rallies could change the political landscape -- 2:28)
As happened in Los Angeles, the Dallas march stunned the organizers, who expected only 20,000 people in politically conservative Texas.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine half a million people marching in a city that has 1.2 million people," said Lydia Gonzalez Welch, a board member with the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, which promoted the so-called Mega March.
"The feeling of celebration and amazement yesterday was powerful and we will make sure that power continues to be demonstrated and the local leaders will feel it," she said.
"This is the first real social movement, bottom-up,
grass-roots movement of the 21st century," longtime Hispanic activist and university professor Jose Angel Gutierrez told the Dallas Morning News.
Flexing what it hopes is new political muscle, LULAC, the largest U.S. Hispanic organization, called for supporters to boycott stores Monday and not go to work, but the results were not clear.
Organizers at all the marches, with an eye to future elections, encouraged protesters who are citizens to register to vote. They urged illegal immigrants, who cannot vote, to push those who can to exercise their right.
"We will see this transfer into political power. If we cannot change their minds, we will change them (politicians)," said Elias Bermudez, head of advocacy group Immigrants Without Borders, at a march in Phoenix, Arizona.
40 million Hispanics
There are 40 million Hispanics in the United States, although due to age and legal status, just 13 million are eligible to vote.
Of those, only 60 percent are registered to vote and turnout at the polls is usually lower than among whites and blacks, experts say.
But they are concentrated in key states such as California, Texas and Florida and, by 2020, the number of Hispanic voters nationally is expected to top 20 million.
Democrats stand to gain most from new Hispanic involvement because political analysts say that, typically, two-thirds of Hispanics vote for their party.
Despite exuberance among activists, greater Hispanic political activism is not assured because the Hispanic population is not a political monolith, experts say.
While U.S.-born Hispanics are largely sympathetic to illegal immigrants, a Pew Hispanic Center survey found that a third of them feel illegal immigrants drive wages down.
Republicans have made gains in attracting Hispanics, but could lose ground by pushing a harder line against illegal immigrants, said Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson in Dallas.
They "should take a deep breath here, and ask themselves what a failure to deal with the concerns of immigrants both legal and illegal will mean for the Republican Party," he said.
Republican political consultant Bill Miller in Austin agreed the party is in a difficult position.
"It's a real high risk situation for Republicans, and it's almost all down side," he said. "There is no more sacred issue to Hispanics."
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Leigh Steinberg Reportely Fired By USC Quarterback Matt Leinart
I'm rather surprised by this move, as Leigh's a good agent. But from what I'm reading in a number of areas, Leinart seems to think he should be the number one pick of the NFL Draft and go to the Houston Texans.
Obviously someone's really fibbing to Matt regarding his chances of being drafted either by the Texans, Saints, or Jets. His best bet is with the Gang Green, but even they may select Jay Cutler, who tests as well as Leinart in workouts.
If Tom Condon, who was hired by Hollywood Agency CAA, told Leinart he could get the Texans to sign him over Reggie Bush, that would be a terrible lie, or the dumbest action the Texans could take. But if the Texans are thinking of trading the pick, anything could happen. But Matt will not be the first selection of the 2006 NFL Draft.
I wonder how much this is connected with Leinart's showing up at events like The Atlanta Playboy Party. I wonder if Leigh was just trying to reign his client in and it became too much for the USC Prima.
We'll find out soon.
Obviously someone's really fibbing to Matt regarding his chances of being drafted either by the Texans, Saints, or Jets. His best bet is with the Gang Green, but even they may select Jay Cutler, who tests as well as Leinart in workouts.
If Tom Condon, who was hired by Hollywood Agency CAA, told Leinart he could get the Texans to sign him over Reggie Bush, that would be a terrible lie, or the dumbest action the Texans could take. But if the Texans are thinking of trading the pick, anything could happen. But Matt will not be the first selection of the 2006 NFL Draft.
I wonder how much this is connected with Leinart's showing up at events like The Atlanta Playboy Party. I wonder if Leigh was just trying to reign his client in and it became too much for the USC Prima.
We'll find out soon.
Matt Leinart At Playboy Party In Atlanta During Cable Convention - Sees Ex Girlfriend and Gets Jealous - From MySpace
I found this on a MySpace post on tghe site of a guy who calls himself "Doubledown!" (david2d) and lives in Atlanta. The actual post can be seen with a click on the title post link above.
For those who like stories, here it goes:
My friend from CNN took a job a several months ago as a VP for Playboy. We met up a last month in Miami (WMC) and then again last Saturday as he was in Atlanta for a cable tv convention. He sent me an invite for this Playboy party that they'd be sponsoring during the National Show. Well, I've been to 3-4 Playboy parties and they were are virtual hoax they sucked so bad. However, as time neared, it became apparent that this was going to be the actual Playboy Enterprises, not local girls with buddy-ears on.
I invited a couple of girls and put everyone on the list. Both invited wingmen couldn't make it. This was no time for the B-list, so I figured I'd just hangout with the girls. One came early but had to leave, the other came so late that she missed the entire fashion show and most of the rockparty that followed (both of which were too great for words).
Anyway, back to the story. The first girl is one I meet at the best-of-the-best tryouts (some reality show for models) a few weeks prior. I invited her out a few times but always got the "oh, wish I could, call me next time!" response....I'm no rookie, she probably has a boyfriend...but who cares! She's a 6'0 stunning beauty who answers when I call, so she's always invited. Anyway she meets me there around 10pm. I introduce her to the VP, we get some drinks, vip bands, it's totally on!! She's hotter than 90% of the girls working the event.
I claim the sweetest table there and we start having a blast (James's lawyer friend was with me and had 2 hotties with him also). Once we set-up shop, two cameramen start taking pics of us. The show hadn't started yet, so everyone was just watching us. All of a sudden Matt Leinart walks up, cool right? The Heisman winner and soon to be top5 pick in NFL! Well he goes right to Jessica, they hug and start talking like they know each other. (Ok, I really need to start asking people more questions...didn't know, or remember, that she was from LA). Turns out she dated him - during the national championship season! As an LSU fan I threw-up in my mouth a little when I heard that, but I was ready to move-on and party. She wasn't.
There must have been a lot of unresolved issues because it ruined both of their nights! They both got pale and neither could shake it off. *He didn't know she lived here - and - she had no reason to suspect he'd be at the freakin Atlanta Playboy party for a cable tv convention.* The karma was so bad that she left and my crew broke into pieces. James was working the big wigs, so I was all alone for like 45 mins during the party of the freaking year.
Leinart didn't seem to like me, obviously thought I was dating his ex. Haha sucka! Anyway, VP James, the girls, and the lawyer all showed up separately but at the exact same time. Then Brandon (listed on myspace friends) stepped-in as my dependable wingman and it was back on! Great, great, great, great party! Forgot my camera but here's treo phone pic of the ice sculpture...will update this if can get my hands on one of those paparazzi photos early on.
NFL COMMISSIONER SEARCH COMMITTEE APPOINTED
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WWW.NFLMedia.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-21 4/5/06
COMMISSIONER SEARCH COMMITTEE APPOINTED
NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE appointed an eight-member committee to lead the
search for a new commissioner, the NFL announced today.
The eight members of the committee are:
• Al Davis, Oakland Raiders
• Lamar Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
• Woody Johnson, New York Jets
• Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys
• Robert Kraft, New England Patriots
• Mike McCaskey, Chicago Bears
• Jerry Richardson, Carolina Panthers
• Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jerry Richardson and Dan Rooney will serve as co-chairs of the committee.
Commissioner Tagliabue announced on March 20 that he will retire by the end of July.
The next regularly scheduled league meeting will take place on May 23-24 in Denver.
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Monday, April 10, 2006
John Kerry Sends Email Asking President Bush To "Tell The Truth" About Iraq
I just got this email from the office of Senator John Kerry
Dear Zenophon,
"Tell the truth. Fire the incompetents. Get out of Iraq. Have health care for all Americans. These are pretty simple messages, and they're worth fighting for today."
That's what I said yesterday when I appeared on "Meet the Press" to push our call for two deadlines and an exit from Iraq.
You and I both know it will take a massive citizen effort to force a President bogged down in this war to change his course - but doing so is our moral responsibility.
I urge you to join me today in calling for the withdrawal of American combat troops by the end of 2006 - and sooner than that if Iraqi politicians allow the civil war to grow and continue to delay, squabble and jockey for their own political turf while our brave soldiers sacrifice life and limb every day to create the conditions for democracy.
Sign our Out of Iraq in 2006 Petition Now
Fortunately, more and more people are stepping forward to join in our call to bring our troops home by the end of this year. Political leaders like Russ Feingold, Max Cleland, and Gary Hart have endorsed our plan -- and grassroots support for our call to action is growing.
Still, the President and his administration remain frozen in place, boxed in by George W. Bush's stubborn refusal to admit that he has America on the wrong course in Iraq. The President seems content to endlessly wait for various political factions in Iraq to get their act together.
That's totally unacceptable. And you and I have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to make George W. Bush do what he likes to do the least - and that's confront reality head-on.
Sign our Out of Iraq in 2006 Petition Now
I'm not suggesting that this will be easy. The fact is, it would be far easier to challenge the President on other topics if all we were interested in is scoring political points.
But, no one in 2006 -- Democratic or Republican, liberal or conservative -- can refuse to step forward and offer clear ideas on Iraq. And, with 133,000 courageous American men and women putting their lives on the line for democracy in Iraq, it is essential for you and other members of our three-million person johnkerry.com community to take action.
I need you to join me in leading an all-out effort to turn this President's wrong-headed policy on Iraq around. And ask your friends and family to do the same by forwarding this email to them.
Sign our Out of Iraq in 2006 Petition Now
Our soldiers have done their jobs. They can't resolve political differences between Iraqis in an escalating civil war. It can't be done militarily; it can't be done from a Humvee or a helicopter. It can only be accomplished by a dramatic change of course, turning away from George W. Bush's aimless "stay for as long as it takes" approach. You and I have to try to make this administration change their approach before it's too late.
I urge you not to wait another day before signing onto this profoundly important fight for a better way.
Sincerely,
John Kerry
P.S. Late Saturday night I went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. The Wall is a powerful reminder of our moral obligation to tell the truth. As you walk down the ramp, you find yourself literally engulfed as the Wall, tens of thousands of names etched on it, gets higher and higher.
There are far too many people whose names are on the Wall who died after leaders in Washington knew that our policy wasn't working. We need to get Iraq right for our soldiers today before we let history repeat itself.
NFL TO IMPLEMENT "FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING"
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WWW.NFLMedia.com
NFL TO IMPLEMENT "FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING" DURING
SEVEN OF FINAL EIGHT SUNDAYS OF 2006 SEASON
ALLOWS TEAMS TO PLAY THEIR WAY ONTO NBC SUNDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE
The NFL this season will implement for the first time in its history a primetime "flexible scheduling"
element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17.
Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give surprise
teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.
The 2006 NFL schedule will list start times for all Sunday games during the "flex" weeks as 1:00 PM
ET, except for games played in the Mountain or Pacific Time zones, which will be listed at 4:05 PM ET
or 4:15 PM ET.
The NBC Sunday night time slot for "flex" weeks will list teams as "TBD."
Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to
games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights.
Just as the six major college football conferences have done for many years, the NFL now will have
additional flexibility to move the start times of games on Sundays, using a 12-day notice format.
For example, a game scheduled for Sunday, November 26 could move from a 1:00 PM ET kickoff to
an 8:15 PM start, but the change would be made and announced no later than Tuesday, November
14.
The NFL has commonly moved games between 1:00 PM ET and 4:15 PM ET (eight times last
season) on Sunday afternoons. The new practice allows the NFL to employ flexible scheduling to
include one of its primetime package of games – on Sunday evenings.
Sunday afternoon games, as in the past, can still be moved between 1:00 and 4:05 or 4:15 PM ET.
In Week 17, in order to ensure a Sunday night game with playoff implications, the decision to move
the start time may be made on six days notice.
CBS and FOX will each be able to protect a total of five games in the seven weeks of flexible
scheduling, but not more than one game in any week.
During the 2005 regular season, the NFL conducted a study with mock flexible scheduling. An eightperson
task force consisting of team executives, one from each division, was consulted on a weekly
basis. In addition, television network partners and the NFL's broadcasting department participated
weekly in the process.
-- more --
"NFL Flexible Scheduling 101"
- Begins Sunday, November 12, 2006 (Week 10)
- In effect Weeks 10-15 and Week 17.
- Not in effect Week 16 due to holiday weekend.
- Only Sunday afternoon games in Weeks 10-15 and 17 are subject to being
moved into the Sunday night window.
- The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1:00 PM ET during flex weeks
except for games played in Pacific or Mountain Time zones which will be listed
at 4:05 or 4:15 PM ET.
- No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.
- The NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce on
12 days notice the game being moved to 8:15 p.m. ET and may also announce
games moving to 4:15 p.m. ET.
- Week 17 start time changes could be decided on 6 days notice to ensure a game
with playoff implications.
- The NBC Sunday night time slot in "flex" weeks will list teams as "TBD."
- Fans and ticket holders must be aware that NFL games in flex weeks are subject
to change 12 days in advance (6 days in Week 17) and should plan accordingly.
- NFL schedules all games.
- CBS and FOX each get to protect a total of 5 games in the 7 weeks of flexible
scheduling, but not more than one game in any week.
- Teams will be informed as soon as they are no longer under consideration or
eligible for a move to Sunday night.
# # #
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