Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert has more than caught the Zeitgeist with his blog-and-You-Tube reported lampooning of President Bush. It's also pitted journalists against bloggers, or is it blogging journalists versus non-blogging journalists. Hmmm...
I got the article by William Rivers Pitt from a friend and decided to post it and the Richard Cohen article here on my blog as a kind of comparison. I dispensed with the links because I don't know how long they're going to be active.
My take is that to a degree Cohen's spot on...about the online anger, I mean. I disagree with his take on Colbert. What made him funny was the simple fact that he had the guts to do it.
Here's William Rivers Pitt attacking Cohen:
An Open Letter to Richard Cohen
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective
Tuesday 09 May 2006
Greetings! I was inspired to write you after reading your missive in today's Post regarding all the nasty emails you have received of late. Personally, I found Colbert's performance hilarious and timely, the kind of satirical backhand so desperately needed these days. I don't begrudge you your opinion that he wasn't funny, and I agree with your belief that it wasn't your opinion on his performance that motivated such an angry response.
It wasn't. You yourself nailed the reason: "Institution after institution failed America - the presidency, Congress and the press. They all endorsed a war to rid Iraq of what it did not have."
The fact that your Colbert commentary became the flint against this rock doesn't mean that Colbert, or your opinion of him, is to blame for the resulting firestorm. The fact is that people are angry - brain-boilingly, apoplectically, mind-bendingly so - at what has happened to this great country. I am, quite often, so angry that my hands shake. Yes, a former high school teacher from New England here, so filled with bile and rage that I sometimes don't recognize my face in the mirror.
You, sir, should not be asking why so many of your email friends are so angry. You should be asking why you yourself are not with them in their rage. I have admired a number of your articles over these last years, and know that you are no fool regarding our situation in Iraq and here at home. It isn't your grasp of the issues that concerns me, but the absence of outrage. Do you really care about the things you write about, or is all this merely grist for the mill that provides you a paycheck?
"I have seen this anger before," you wrote, "back in the Vietnam War era." No, sir, you have not.
You hearken back to rock-throwing days in Vietnam, and lament hatred and rage. But you do not see that those days are quaint by comparison given our current geopolitical situation. Johnson and Nixon, whatever else their faults may have been, were internationalists who understood the need for connection to the wider world. The war in Vietnam, barbaric as it was, did not inspire tens of thousands of Vietnamese to join martyr's brigades. It did not threaten to unleash chaos in a part of the world that holds the economic lifeblood of our whole existence. It did not threaten to shake loose nuclear weapons from quasi-rogue states like Pakistan.
You speak of the angry mob because you got slapped around via email, but your characterization of the anti-war crowd tells me you have not spent a single moment out in the streets with them. I have. I have covered dozens of protests, large and small, in cities all across this country before and after the invasion of Iraq. Millions upon millions of Americans participated in these, and never once, not one time, was a rock thrown.
No violence was offered anywhere, unless it was violence offered to old ladies by riot-garbed police, as was evidenced in Portland several years ago. I have the photographs to prove it. If you want to see anger, enjoy this picture of a 60-year-old woman holding an anti-war sign while being placed in a hammer-lock by a riot cop:
"The hatred is back," you say, as if such hatred is beyond justification. It is interesting that you make so many allusions to Vietnam; the comparison is apt, yet not on point. This is not a situation of "Then" and "Now," but "Then" and "Again." The two issues are joined by a common theme: official malfeasance, presidential lies, administrative fear-mongering and horrific body counts in a faraway land. The lesson of Vietnam was so searing, many believed, that it would never have to be learned again.
Why the anger? Because that lesson didn't take, at least with this crowd. Why the anger? Because millions of people are staggered by the idea that, yes Virginia, we have to go through this again. We have to watch soldiers slaughter and be slaughtered for reasons that bear no markings of truth. We have to watch the reputation of this great nation be savaged. We have to watch as our leaders lie to us with their bare faces hanging out.
Why the anger? It can be summed up in one run-on sentence: We have lost two towers in New York, a part of the Pentagon, an important American city called New Orleans, our economic solvency, our global reputation, our moral authority, our children's future, we have lost tens of thousands of American soldiers to death and grievous injury, we must endure the Abramoffs and the Cunninghams and the Libbys and the whores and the bribes and the utter corruption, we must contemplate the staggering depth of the hole we have been hurled down into, and we expect little to no help from the mainstream DC press, whose lazy go-along-to-get-along cocktail-circuit mentality allowed so much of this to happen because they failed comprehensively to do their job.
George W. Bush and his pals used September 11th against the American people, used perhaps the most horrific day in our collective history, deliberately and with intent, to foster a war of choice that has killed untold tens of thousands of human beings and basically bankrupted our country. They lied about the threat posed by Iraq. They destroyed the career of a CIA agent who was tasked to keep an eye on Iran's nuclear ambitions, and did so to exact petty political revenge against a critic. They tortured people, and spied on American civilians.
You cannot fathom anger arising from this?
I wrote a book called "War on Iraq" in the summer of 2002. That book stated there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, no al Qaeda connections in Iraq, no connections to 9/11 in Iraq, and thus no reason for the invasion of Iraq. It is now almost the summer of 2006. That book was right then, and is right now, and the millions of Americans who agree with the facts contained therein have shared these four years with me in a state of disbelief, shock, sorrow and yes, anger. None of this had to happen, and the fact that it was allowed to happen inspires the kind of vitriol you got a taste of via email.
If you want anger, you should try reading some of the emails I get on a weekly basis. The mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and children of American soldiers killed in Iraq write to me asking why it happened, what can be done, how this is possible. They write to me because I wrote that book, because somehow they think I have an answer to that bottomless question.
I am sorry you were so wounded by the messages you received. I wish that hadn't happened; I am personally from the more-flies-with-honey school of journalistic correspondence. But in the end, truth be told, I don't feel too badly for you. It isn't an excess of outrage that plagues this nation today, but an abject lack of it. Instead of castigating those who take an interest, who have gotten justifiably furious over all that has happened, I suggest you take a moment within yourself and ask why you don't share their feelings.
This isn't Vietnam, Mr. Cohen. This is a whole new ballgame, and the stakes are higher by orders of magnitude. It took almost ten years of Vietnam for people to reach the boiling point you are so apparently horrified by (and worthy of note, that rage may have elected Nixon, but also served to stop the killing in Southeast Asia). Should those of us who are angry today wait until 2013 to raise hell?
At a minimum, I suggest you head down to your local hardware store and buy a few sheets of 40-grit sandpaper. Apply it liberally - pardon the pun - to any and all parts of your body that may be exposed to the scary anger of the anti-war Left. Toughen up that hide of yours, and greet the coming days with a leathery mien impervious to a few angry emails.
Afterwards, you could perhaps figure out why the anger of those who see this war as a crime and this administration as a disaster is so terribly threatening to you. Anger is a gift, after all, one that inspires change. If you don't think we need a change, real change, I can only shake my head.
P.S. Another reason for the anger you have absorbed can be laid, frankly, at your own feet. There are enough of us around who can still remember your words from November of 2000: "Given the present bitterness, given the angry irresponsible charges being hurled by both camps, the nation will be in dire need of a conciliator, a likable guy who will make things better and not worse. That man is not Al Gore. That man is George W. Bush."
Locate a mirror, Mr. Cohen. Stare deep within it. Know full well that today, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, will recast all your yesterdays as having passed like a comforting dream. Your ability to remain within the safe bubble of the beltway clubhouse, drifting this way and that in some meandering, rudderless fog, has ended. Al Gore invented the internet, or so we are told, and some bright-eyed editor decided to staple your email address to the bottom of your works. Welcome to the age of electronic accountability.
Here's what Richard Cohen wrote:
So Not Funny
By Richard Cohen
Thursday, May 4, 2006; Page A25
First, let me state my credentials: I am a funny guy. This is well known in certain circles, which is why, even back in elementary school, I was sometimes asked by the teacher to "say something funny" -- as if the deed could be done on demand. This, anyway, is my standing for stating that Stephen Colbert was not funny at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. All the rest is commentary.
The commentary, though, is also what I do, and it will make the point that Colbert was not just a failure as a comedian but rude. Rude is not the same as brash. It is not the same as brassy. It is not the same as gutsy or thinking outside the box. Rudeness means taking advantage of the other person's sense of decorum or tradition or civility that keeps that other person from striking back or, worse, rising in a huff and leaving. The other night, that person was George W. Bush.
Colbert made jokes about Bush's approval rating, which hovers in the middle 30s. He made jokes about Bush's intelligence, mockingly comparing it to his own. "We're not some brainiacs on nerd patrol," he said. Boy, that's funny.
Colbert took a swipe at Bush's Iraq policy, at domestic eavesdropping, and he took a shot at the news corps for purportedly being nothing more than stenographers recording what the Bush White House said. He referred to the recent staff changes at the White House, chiding the media for supposedly repeating the cliche "rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic" when he would have put it differently: "This administration is not sinking. This administration is soaring. If anything, they are rearranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg." A mixed metaphor, and lame as can be.
Why are you wasting my time with Colbert, I hear you ask. Because he is representative of what too often passes for political courage, not to mention wit, in this country. His defenders -- and they are all over the blogosphere -- will tell you he spoke truth to power. This is a tired phrase, as we all know, but when it was fresh and meaningful it suggested repercussions, consequences -- maybe even death in some countries. When you spoke truth to power you took the distinct chance that power would smite you, toss you into a dungeon or -- if you're at work -- take away your office.
But in this country, anyone can insult the president of the United States. Colbert just did it, and he will not suffer any consequence at all. He knew that going in. He also knew that Bush would have to sit there and pretend to laugh at Colbert's lame and insulting jokes. Bush himself plays off his reputation as a dunce and his penchant for mangling English. Self-mockery can be funny. Mockery that is insulting is not. The sort of stuff that would get you punched in a bar can be said on a dais with impunity. This is why Colbert was more than rude. He was a bully.
I am not a member of the White House Correspondents' Association, and I have not attended its dinner in years (I watched this year's on C-SPAN). The gala is an essentially harmless event that requires the presence of one man, the president. If presidents started not to show up, the organization would have to transform itself into a burial association. But presidents come and suffer through a ritual that most of them find mildly painful, not to mention boring. Whatever the case, they are guests. They don't have to be there -- and if I were Bush, next year I would not. Spring is a marvelous time to be at Camp David.
On television, Colbert is often funny. But on his own show he appeals to a self-selected audience that reminds him often of his greatness. In Washington he was playing to a different crowd, and he failed dismally in the funny person's most solemn obligation: to use absurdity or contrast or hyperbole to elucidate -- to make people see things a little bit differently. He had a chance to tell the president and much of important (and self-important) Washington things it would have been good for them to hear. But he was, like much of the blogosphere itself, telling like-minded people what they already know and alienating all the others. In this sense, he was a man for our times.
He also wasn't funny.
...And here's what Cohen wrote in response to the emails he got:
Digital Lynch Mob
By Richard Cohen
Tuesday, May 9, 2006; Page A23
Two weeks ago I wrote about Al Gore's new movie on global warming. I liked the film. In response, I instantly got more than 1,000 e-mails, most of them praising Gore, some calling him the usual names and some concluding there was no such thing as global warming, if only because Gore said there was. I put the messages aside for a slow day, when I would answer them. Then I wrote about Stephen Colbert and his unfunny performance at the White House correspondents' dinner.
Kapow! Within a day, I got more than 2,000 e-mails. A day later, I got 1,000 more. By the fourth day, the number had reached 3,499 -- a figure that does not include the usual offers of nubile Russian women or loot from African dictators. The Colbert messages began with Patrick Manley ("You wouldn't know funny if it slapped you in the face") and ended with Ron ("Colbert ROCKS, you MURDER") who was so proud of his thought that he copied countless others. Ron, you're a genius.
Truth to tell, I peeked into only a few of the e-mails. I did this because I would sometimes recognize a name I thought I knew, which was almost always a mistake. When I guilelessly clicked on the name, I would get a bucket of raw, untreated and disease-laden verbal sewage right in the face.
Usually, the subject line said it all. Some were friendly and agreed that Colbert had not been funny. Most, though, were in what we shall call disagreement. Fine. I said the man wasn't funny and not funny has a bullying quality to it; others (including some of my friends) said he was funny. But because I held such a view, my attentive critics were convinced I had a political agenda. I was -- as was most of the press, I found out -- George W. Bush's lap dog. If this is the case, Bush had better check his lap.
It seemed that most of my correspondents had been egged on to write me by various blogs. In response, they smartly assembled into a digital lynch mob and went roaring after me. If I did not like Colbert, I must like Bush. If I write for The Post, I must be a mainstream media warmonger. If I was over a certain age -- which I am -- I am simply out of it, wherever "it" may be. All in all, I was -- I am, and I guess I remain -- the worthy object of ignorant, false and downright idiotic vituperation.
What to make of all this? First, it's not about Colbert. His show has an audience of about 1 million -- not exactly "American Idol" numbers. Second, it marks the end of a silly pretense about interactive media: We give you our e-mail addresses and then, in theory, we have this nice chat. Forget about it. Not only is e-mail too often a kind of epistolary spitball, but there's no way I can even read the 3,506 e-mails now backed up in my queue -- seven more since I started writing this column.
But the message in this case truly is the medium. The e-mails pulse in my queue, emanating raw hatred. This spells trouble -- not for Bush or, in 2008, the next GOP presidential candidate, but for Democrats. The anger festering on the Democratic left will be taken out on the Democratic middle. (Watch out, Hillary!) I have seen this anger before -- back in the Vietnam War era. That's when the antiwar wing of the Democratic Party helped elect Richard Nixon. In this way, they managed to prolong the very war they so hated.
The hatred is back. I know it's only words now appearing on my computer screen, but the words are so angry, so roiled with rage, that they are the functional equivalent of rocks once so furiously hurled during antiwar demonstrations. I can appreciate some of it. Institution after institution failed America -- the presidency, Congress and the press. They all endorsed a war to rid Iraq of what it did not have. Now, though, that gullibility is being matched by war critics who are so hyped on their own sanctimony that they will obliterate distinctions, punishing their friends for apostasy and, by so doing, aiding their enemies. If that's going to be the case, then Iraq is a war its critics will lose twice -- once because they couldn't stop it and once more at the polls.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Rumor: Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly Fired - Profootballtalk.com
According to today's Profootballtalk.com, Houston Texans GM Charley Casserly has been fired. Here's their report, with a link to it at the title of this post.
CASSERLY OUT IN HOUSTON
A league source tells us that the Texans and G.M. Charley Casserly officially have parted ways after a six-year relationship, which preceded by more than two full years the team's official arrival to the NFL.
For now, we don't know whether the move is being characterized as a resignation or a termination. Our guess is that it will be described to the media as voluntary.
Several weeks back, we reported that Casserly would be fired after the draft. Our report prompted a strong denial from the team and from owner Bob McNair. Our prediction at the time was that all parties were hoping to preserve the appearance that Casserly's ultimate departure was not in any way forced.
His name has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Art Shell in the league office, but we've heard that the rumors of Casserly's candidacy for that specific position trace not to the Park Avenue, but to Casserly himself.
And based on things we're hearing it now appears that the Texans will make a run at Broncos assistant G.M. Rick Smith before moving on to other candidates. Some league insiders believe that the Broncos would never give Smith permission to leave, and other league insiders believe that the Texans don't (or at least shouldn't) want Smith given his close relationship with new head coach Gary Kubiak.
Randy Moss Fires His Agent Over Drug Charges - AP
Moss drops agent facing drug charges
Associated Press and Fox Sports
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss has dropped an agent who is facing drug charges in Florida.
Charleston lawyer Dante DiTrapano, his wife Teri, and three others were arrested March 14 at a St. Petersburg, Fla., hotel. Police there said they recovered 73 pieces of crack cocaine and 21 grams of powder cocaine. All five were charged with felony possession of crack cocaine.
Moss signed an agreement on April 20 designating another Charleston lawyer, Tim DiPiero, as his sole agent, the NFL Players Association told The Charleston Gazette for a story in Tuesday's editions. DiPiero confirmed the agreement on Monday but he told the newspaper that he would not comment on the reasons.
DiTrapano and DiPiero are members of the same law firm, DiTrapano, Barrett & DiPiero PLLC. The law firm has removed DiTrapano's name from the sign outside its Charleston offices.
DiPiero has represented Moss as an agent and attorney since 1995, when Moss was accused of kicking a classmate at DuPont High School. Moss later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.
Associated Press and Fox Sports
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Oakland Raiders wide receiver Randy Moss has dropped an agent who is facing drug charges in Florida.
Charleston lawyer Dante DiTrapano, his wife Teri, and three others were arrested March 14 at a St. Petersburg, Fla., hotel. Police there said they recovered 73 pieces of crack cocaine and 21 grams of powder cocaine. All five were charged with felony possession of crack cocaine.
Moss signed an agreement on April 20 designating another Charleston lawyer, Tim DiPiero, as his sole agent, the NFL Players Association told The Charleston Gazette for a story in Tuesday's editions. DiPiero confirmed the agreement on Monday but he told the newspaper that he would not comment on the reasons.
DiTrapano and DiPiero are members of the same law firm, DiTrapano, Barrett & DiPiero PLLC. The law firm has removed DiTrapano's name from the sign outside its Charleston offices.
DiPiero has represented Moss as an agent and attorney since 1995, when Moss was accused of kicking a classmate at DuPont High School. Moss later pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery.
Seahawks, A&M reach deal on 12th man phrase - AP
Seahawks, A&M reach deal on 12th man phrase
Associated Press
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - The fight over the "12th Man" is over and both Texas A&M and the Seattle Seahawks will be able to use the phrase.
Texas A&M and the Seahawks said Monday they had reached a deal settling the university's lawsuit over the nickname for their fans.
As part of the agreement, the Seahawks acknowledge Texas A&M's ownership rights of the trademarked phrase. However, the NFL team may continue using it under license. Neither side admitted any fault or liability.
The Aggies hold a federal trademark rights to "12th Man." They wanted to halt Seattle from using "12th Man" earlier this year.
In February, the university filed a lawsuit in Brazos County over the Seahawks use of the trademark. Days before Seattle faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, a restraining order was issued calling on the Seahawks to halt any usage of "12th Man," or "12th Mania."
Origins of the term "12th man" aren't exactly clear, but the traditions in Seattle and College Station date back decades.
The Aggies trace their use to 1922, when an injury-plagued roster led the team to pull E. King Gill from the stands and suited him up to play. Gill never took to the field, but the legend strengthened campus-wide commitment to support the team. The words "Home of 12th Man" adorn the stadium and the entire school is considered the 12th Man.
The Seahawks retired the number 12 in 1984 to honor fans who made the old Kingdome one of the noisiest stadiums in football. It hangs alongside Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent's No. 80.
Associated Press
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - The fight over the "12th Man" is over and both Texas A&M and the Seattle Seahawks will be able to use the phrase.
Texas A&M and the Seahawks said Monday they had reached a deal settling the university's lawsuit over the nickname for their fans.
As part of the agreement, the Seahawks acknowledge Texas A&M's ownership rights of the trademarked phrase. However, the NFL team may continue using it under license. Neither side admitted any fault or liability.
The Aggies hold a federal trademark rights to "12th Man." They wanted to halt Seattle from using "12th Man" earlier this year.
In February, the university filed a lawsuit in Brazos County over the Seahawks use of the trademark. Days before Seattle faced the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl, a restraining order was issued calling on the Seahawks to halt any usage of "12th Man," or "12th Mania."
Origins of the term "12th man" aren't exactly clear, but the traditions in Seattle and College Station date back decades.
The Aggies trace their use to 1922, when an injury-plagued roster led the team to pull E. King Gill from the stands and suited him up to play. Gill never took to the field, but the legend strengthened campus-wide commitment to support the team. The words "Home of 12th Man" adorn the stadium and the entire school is considered the 12th Man.
The Seahawks retired the number 12 in 1984 to honor fans who made the old Kingdome one of the noisiest stadiums in football. It hangs alongside Hall of Fame receiver Steve Largent's No. 80.
David Blaine - Why Do I Care?
Look. Why do I care that this David Blaine is off doing some weird stunt? It's all just another way to get noticed. I've never known of this guy until last week. I'd prefer he just go into investment banking.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Hacker Attacks Craigslist - Website Posting Disabled Due To Actions Of Kevin Mesiab
I found this guy's blog -- click the title of this post -- on Technorati. I'm surprised it wasn't picked up and sent around the blogsphere ealier. But if you look at it, he's figured out some kind of way to enter user accounts on CL. This happened on May 7th.
Maybe he wants a job with Craig Newmark? Whatever the reason, it's a terrible action on Kevin's part.
Maybe he wants a job with Craig Newmark? Whatever the reason, it's a terrible action on Kevin's part.
Oakland Raiders Mini Camp Under Art Shell: "Leadership" and "Accountability" Are Spoken Words
As reported by "RaiderDee" at Raiderfans.net the Oakland Raiders' first mini camp under new head coach Art Shell featured the players using words like "Leadership" and "Accountability" to describe the style of player behavior this year and the coaching staff' approach to player relations.
RaiderDee reports:
"The recurring themes at today's camp were 'everyone's on the same page' and 'this coaching staff let's us know where we all stand.' Offensive lineman Barry Sims expounded on these themes during today's afternoon break. He talked about how he approached coach Shell about being moved to left guard and how he felt he was a better left tackle. Then later, Shell explained that if the team needs him to be a guard, then he'll be a guard. Shell touched on that conversation between he and Sims and confessed that that was what he expected Sims to say. "Barry said, to his credit, he said 'look coach. I think I'm a left tackle. I can play the position, but if you or the team want me to move to guard, I'll do that.' So, that's a credit to him. If he didn't push back, I would be disappointed. He did push back a little bit, but he understands we're doing what we think is best for our football team. We're going to get the best five guys out there that can play."
Barry Sims also spoke about how different the coaching staff was compared to seasons past. The last few seasons, guys were too loose and lacked leadership. He went on to mention how everyone's being held accountable now.
After Art Shell was hired as the 2006 Oakland Raiders Head Coach, there have been many comments on whether or not he and his assistants have been away from the game too long. I would tell you that time away from the game means nothing! If you are a good coach, then you are a good coach. After what I have seen today, I am convinced that this team can make a dramatic turnaround. Today, I witnessed crisp and surprisingly energetic workouts for it to only being a mini-camp. There was a sense of personal pride and fierce competition amongst the players. Moss was pushing the young receivers, Sapp lending his knowledge, and a head coach understanding that mistakes are to be expected as he (Shell) bellowed out a laugh as he patted a rookie player on the back of his helmet a if he were saying, 'I've been there before…it's alright. You'll get the hang of it' finally, a Raider coach 'gets it' Making his players more productive without having to resort to yelling with a dirty scowl (Jon Gruden), chastising its players for every mistake they made and walking off the field between games (Bill Callahan), and without having a fish-out-of-water, confused, bewildered, and befuddled look of utter impotence (Norv Turner). Once again, there is structure, discipline, and focus.
Welcome to the Art Shell Era (part deux)."
Visit Raiderfans.net for more information.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
2006 NFL Draft - More Sights And Sounds, And Bert Sugar
There's no NFL Draft video like the one you're about to see. It's a tour -- a walkaround, as I call it -- and it includes a stop by the NFL Network; we see ESPN's Chris Mortensen as he's preparing to go on the air; we meet such NFL staffers as Craig Ellenport of NFL.com and the people who staff the team tables, take the calls, and write in the names of the players who will become NFL stars.
But the highlight is my now annual meeting with HBO's Boxing Analyst Bert Sugar. Bert always attends the NFL Draft; I first met him last year, and after Bill Chachkes told me to go up, introduce myself, and get a cigar. But Bert's good for more than just expensive cigs, he's got a unique insight into boxing and what's wrong with it. He was not shy about sharing his opinion on that subject as well as how he told NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle that the NFL Draft was something people wanted to see. (Sugar said "Rozelle said 'Who wouild want to watch that?' Look now!")
We also see the first "walk" of all of the top draftees as they're introduced by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network: Reggie Bush, Vernon Davis, Matt Leinart, Mario Williams, D'Brickshaw Ferguson, and Vince Young.
In all, it's a great view of a fantastic event.
Here's the video:
But the highlight is my now annual meeting with HBO's Boxing Analyst Bert Sugar. Bert always attends the NFL Draft; I first met him last year, and after Bill Chachkes told me to go up, introduce myself, and get a cigar. But Bert's good for more than just expensive cigs, he's got a unique insight into boxing and what's wrong with it. He was not shy about sharing his opinion on that subject as well as how he told NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle that the NFL Draft was something people wanted to see. (Sugar said "Rozelle said 'Who wouild want to watch that?' Look now!")
We also see the first "walk" of all of the top draftees as they're introduced by Adam Schefter of the NFL Network: Reggie Bush, Vernon Davis, Matt Leinart, Mario Williams, D'Brickshaw Ferguson, and Vince Young.
In all, it's a great view of a fantastic event.
Here's the video:
Friday, May 05, 2006
Partying Out Of The Way, Matt Leinart Works Out Today - AP
He's sporting a jersey with the number "7" after another winner, John Elway.
Andrew Bagnato
Associated Press
May. 5, 2006 02:37 PM
TEMPE, Ariz. - Matt Leinart led Southern California to two national titles.
He won a Heisman Trophy. He hung out with movie stars.
But Leinart couldn't help feeling slightly anxious on his first day on the job with the Cardinals on Friday. Leinart, Arizona's first-round draft choice, participated in his first practice with the team. He took the field as a back-up for the first time since 2002, when he played behind Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer at USC. advertisement
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, but I felt comfortable," Leinart said. "It's definitely different sitting back, but it's a great situation to learn behind a guy like Kurt (Warner, the starter), just to kind of watch and see how he plays and look at coverages."
Of course, Leinart isn't a typical second-stringer, happy to be on a roster. He represents nothing less than the future for a team with little glory in its past.
Leinart is helping to create a buzz around an 87-year-old franchise that has had more home cities (3) than postseason victories (2). And it has nothing to do with the gossip linking him to Paris Hilton.
Five days after drafting Leinart with the 10th overall pick, the club announced Thursday that it had sold out its season-ticket allotment in its new retractable-roof stadium in Glendale, west of Phoenix. The team said it would reserve about 3,000 of the 65,000 seats for individual game sales.
Fan interest perked up in March when the team signed running back Edgerrin James, a four-time Pro Bowler, to a four-year, $30 million deal. The addition of Leinart has prompted full-blown Cardinalmania, or what approaches it in a laid-back sports town.
On Friday, a helicopter from a local news station circled the team's practice facility as players did nothing more than run through plays in helmets, shorts and jerseys. Thousands of fans are expected to attend the annual fan festival at the team's headquarters Saturday.
"There's a buzz," Warner said. "Now we just have to live up to it, right?"
There hasn't been this much excitement surrounding a Cardinal quarterback since Jake Plummer, a product of nearby Arizona State, led the team to a 9-7 record and a playoff victory in 1998. Four years and 43 losses later, Plummer left to sign a free-agent deal with the Denver Broncos.
Plummer was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round in 1997 and thrust into the starting line-up that season. The Cardinals hope they don't have to do the same thing with Leinart.
At the moment, he is slated to spend his Sunday afternoons watching Warner, who is signed through the 2008 season. But Warner hasn't played a 16-game season since 2001. He has started a total of 19 games the last two years.
"Hopefully, (Leinart) doesn't have to play one down during the regular season," coach Dennis Green said. "That would mean that Kurt Warner is healthy all year. That's how we did it with Daunte Culpepper (at Minnesota). He never took a snap. We'd like it that way, just to get in and learn how we do things and learn the pro game."
Actually, Culpepper, the Vikings' first-round pick in 1999, played briefly in one game as a rookie. But he didn't throw his first pass until his second year as a pro, when he led the Vikings to the NFC Central title.
Leinart said he's content to wait his turn while learning the playbook and adjusting to the speed of the NFL. That can come as a shock to young quarterbacks, but perhaps not to Leinart, who spent five years in a pro-style USC offense that featured future pros such as Reggie Bush, the second overall pick in last week's draft.
Still, Leinart was impressed by the Cardinals' receivers, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, as well as James.
"I was very fortunate to play at USC with a lot of great players, (future) NFL players," he said. "But here, it's no different. These guys are the best of the best. Handing the ball off to Edge is pretty cool."
Reggie Bush' Agent Segal Says Bush Will Attend Saints' Rookie Camp
There's much concern around the league that Joel Segal, Reggie Bush's agent, will keep his client out of training camp as deal leverage. He seems to dispell that idea in this Times-Picayune article:
DEAL WITH IT
Getting Saints No. 1 draft pick Reggie Bush's contract completed before training camp may be unrealistic, but negotiations with agent Joel Segal don't take long
Friday, May 05, 2006
By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer - Times-Picayune
In one of his first trips to the plate, sports agent Joel Segal kept fouling off the best pitches Cincinnati Bengals owner/general manager Mike Brown could offer.
Thrown into the lineup as a pinch-hitter after the Bengals' 1993 first-round draft choice, John Copeland, fired his first agent just before the start of Cincinnati's training camp, Segal, who'd just been certified by the NFL Players Association as an agent six months earlier, worked Brown, the Bengals' notoriously penurious boss, for everything he could.
After a holdout of 23 days, it appeared Copeland, a defensive lineman who was the fifth overall selection that year, had agreed to terms.
Then there was some disagreement regarding a workout clause in the deal. Copeland, who'd hired Segal because he was impressed with the work Segal had done getting Miami receiver O.J. McDuffie into camp on time earlier that summer, missed a flight to sign the contract. Finally, two days after agreeing to a five-year, $5.925 million contract that included a $3.2 million signing bonus, Copeland made it to training camp for the team's last walkthrough workout. Total holdout: 25 days.
In the ensuing years, the majority of Segal's clients who were first-round draft picks experienced holdouts of anywhere from zero to 16 days.
But Segal, who represents Saints first-round draft choice Reggie Bush, said his goal always is for clients not to miss any part of training camp.
"I always like to get a player in on time," Segal said this week, adding, "I never discuss negotiations. Ever. I've had guys drafted all over the first round, three, nine, eight. But I don't discuss negotiations."
Segal wouldn't even talk about his negotiating style.
The Saints, who last dealt with a Segal first-rounder in 2004 when he represented defensive end Will Smith, who missed two practices, would not allow senior football administrator Russ Ball, with whom Segal will be negotiating, to comment about Segal.
But it appears likely, based on Segal's track record, that coming to a contract accord before training camp with Bush could be difficult for the Saints.
Since 1993, Segal has represented 13 first-round picks, the highest being Cleveland defensive tackle Gerard Warren (third overall in 2001), the lowest being Atlanta receiver Michael Jenkins (29th in 2004).
Of Segal's first-round picks, four have not missed any camp time; Copeland's 25-day ordeal is the longest.
Warren sat out for nine days before agreeing to a six-year, $33.6 million contract with a $12 million signing bonus.
Segal will be working below the figure the Houston Texans gave No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams, whose five-year contract is worth $54 million with guaranteed money of about $26.5 million and includes a team option for a sixth year.
According to the NFLPA, since the advent of contracts that included guaranteed money for rookies beginning in 2003, never has the second overall pick gotten more guaranteed money than the first pick.
In 2000, according to NFLPA researchers, linebacker LaVar Arrington of the Washington Redskins signed a contract which, through incentive and escalator clauses, conceivably could have paid him more than the first overall pick, defensive end Courtney Brown, chosen by Cleveland.
When the Texans passed on Bush last week to take Williams, the defensive end from North Carolina State, the NFL draft grapevine buzzed with word that Bush's "signability" was the reason.
Reports had surfaced in the days leading up to the draft that Segal initially sought $30 million in guaranteed money from the Texans, who reportedly contacted Williams the next day.
Houston general manager Charley Casserly squashed rumors about "signability" in an interview this week on ESPN radio.
"I have been asked the question: 'Did signability enter into this? Was this a money decision?' Absolutely not," Casserly aid. "We made a statement that signability may be an issue. That's a negotiating statement on our side. You're negotiating with two people. They make negotiating statements on their side.
"The reality is both sides (the Bush and Williams camps) agreed to $54 million. Both sides wanted a signing bonus of over 26-and-a-half (million dollars), and we didn't want to pay (more than) 26-and-a-half. Thursday morning (before the draft), we felt it was time to make a decision. We wanted to have an honest shot to sign the player we were going to choose before the draft. We thought we needed 48 hours to finish the negotiations.
"We thought that was fair. (Coach) Gary (Kubiak) and I sat down on Thursday morning and independently came to the same decision. (Houston owner Bob McNair) was in New York. He signed off on the decision."
Segal said the Heisman Trophy winner will participate in the Saints' three-day rookie camp.
DEAL WITH IT
Getting Saints No. 1 draft pick Reggie Bush's contract completed before training camp may be unrealistic, but negotiations with agent Joel Segal don't take long
Friday, May 05, 2006
By Jimmy Smith
Staff writer - Times-Picayune
In one of his first trips to the plate, sports agent Joel Segal kept fouling off the best pitches Cincinnati Bengals owner/general manager Mike Brown could offer.
Thrown into the lineup as a pinch-hitter after the Bengals' 1993 first-round draft choice, John Copeland, fired his first agent just before the start of Cincinnati's training camp, Segal, who'd just been certified by the NFL Players Association as an agent six months earlier, worked Brown, the Bengals' notoriously penurious boss, for everything he could.
After a holdout of 23 days, it appeared Copeland, a defensive lineman who was the fifth overall selection that year, had agreed to terms.
Then there was some disagreement regarding a workout clause in the deal. Copeland, who'd hired Segal because he was impressed with the work Segal had done getting Miami receiver O.J. McDuffie into camp on time earlier that summer, missed a flight to sign the contract. Finally, two days after agreeing to a five-year, $5.925 million contract that included a $3.2 million signing bonus, Copeland made it to training camp for the team's last walkthrough workout. Total holdout: 25 days.
In the ensuing years, the majority of Segal's clients who were first-round draft picks experienced holdouts of anywhere from zero to 16 days.
But Segal, who represents Saints first-round draft choice Reggie Bush, said his goal always is for clients not to miss any part of training camp.
"I always like to get a player in on time," Segal said this week, adding, "I never discuss negotiations. Ever. I've had guys drafted all over the first round, three, nine, eight. But I don't discuss negotiations."
Segal wouldn't even talk about his negotiating style.
The Saints, who last dealt with a Segal first-rounder in 2004 when he represented defensive end Will Smith, who missed two practices, would not allow senior football administrator Russ Ball, with whom Segal will be negotiating, to comment about Segal.
But it appears likely, based on Segal's track record, that coming to a contract accord before training camp with Bush could be difficult for the Saints.
Since 1993, Segal has represented 13 first-round picks, the highest being Cleveland defensive tackle Gerard Warren (third overall in 2001), the lowest being Atlanta receiver Michael Jenkins (29th in 2004).
Of Segal's first-round picks, four have not missed any camp time; Copeland's 25-day ordeal is the longest.
Warren sat out for nine days before agreeing to a six-year, $33.6 million contract with a $12 million signing bonus.
Segal will be working below the figure the Houston Texans gave No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams, whose five-year contract is worth $54 million with guaranteed money of about $26.5 million and includes a team option for a sixth year.
According to the NFLPA, since the advent of contracts that included guaranteed money for rookies beginning in 2003, never has the second overall pick gotten more guaranteed money than the first pick.
In 2000, according to NFLPA researchers, linebacker LaVar Arrington of the Washington Redskins signed a contract which, through incentive and escalator clauses, conceivably could have paid him more than the first overall pick, defensive end Courtney Brown, chosen by Cleveland.
When the Texans passed on Bush last week to take Williams, the defensive end from North Carolina State, the NFL draft grapevine buzzed with word that Bush's "signability" was the reason.
Reports had surfaced in the days leading up to the draft that Segal initially sought $30 million in guaranteed money from the Texans, who reportedly contacted Williams the next day.
Houston general manager Charley Casserly squashed rumors about "signability" in an interview this week on ESPN radio.
"I have been asked the question: 'Did signability enter into this? Was this a money decision?' Absolutely not," Casserly aid. "We made a statement that signability may be an issue. That's a negotiating statement on our side. You're negotiating with two people. They make negotiating statements on their side.
"The reality is both sides (the Bush and Williams camps) agreed to $54 million. Both sides wanted a signing bonus of over 26-and-a-half (million dollars), and we didn't want to pay (more than) 26-and-a-half. Thursday morning (before the draft), we felt it was time to make a decision. We wanted to have an honest shot to sign the player we were going to choose before the draft. We thought we needed 48 hours to finish the negotiations.
"We thought that was fair. (Coach) Gary (Kubiak) and I sat down on Thursday morning and independently came to the same decision. (Houston owner Bob McNair) was in New York. He signed off on the decision."
Segal said the Heisman Trophy winner will participate in the Saints' three-day rookie camp.
"If He's The Future, I'd Better Get Out Of This Game" - NY Giants DE Mike Strahan On Vince Young
From the USA TODAY:
NFL Report: Opinions still vary on Young; Hasselbeck on Favre
Posted 5/3/2006 6:01 PM ET
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Vince Young is a fear-factor quarterback.
The 6-5, 229-pound Young scares defenders with his size and 4.48 speed. He also scares some old-school talent evaluators, raised on the traditional definition of a drop-back passer, who can't figure out what to make of him.
Opinions on the Titans' third overall selection in last weekend's draft range as wildly as one of Young's electrifying broken-field runs.
Here are a few:
"I think if that's the future of quarterbacks, then I better hurry up and get out of this game," Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan says. "He's fast. He's strong, and he has a great arm. He's the next-generation Randall Cunningham, except that he's bulkier. He's got a real cool demeanor and never gets flustered.
"He's phenomenal. I've never seen a guy take a game in his hands and take it over like he did in the national championship game against USC. He's the type of player you can build around in this league as a franchise player."
Titans general manager Floyd Reese clearly sees Young that way, selecting him with the No. 3 pick. So does former Broncos, Giants and Falcons coach Dan Reeves, who says Young's playmaking ability and rugged style is reminiscent of a Hall of Fame quarterback he coached in Denver, John Elway. Reeves says Young just needs time to refine his passing skills.
"John was further along as a passer than Vince at this point," Reeves says. "But John loved the shotgun because it gave him an extra second to see the field.
"John and Vince have a lot of escapability and they have the size and strength to shake off that first tackle. I don't think it'll take Vince long to catch up. He improved a lot last year as a passer. Like John, Vince seems to thrive when the game's on the line, and he can hurt you as a runner as well as throwing."
Last September, Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian openly pondered the league's new trend toward more athletic and rugged quarterbacks raised on the shotgun formation.
While Young is considered a better passer coming out of college than Michael Vick, the top overall pick in 2001, personnel men such as Polian worry about Young's shelf life in the bigger, tougher NFL world. Young's predecessor and longtime mentor, Steve McNair, has absorbed many injuries with his rugged playing style, possibly taking years off his career.
"For me, the biggest question is how the game is going to change; if it's going to change to accommodate the Michael Vicks and Vince Youngs, because Steve McNair, for all of his greatness, has spent a lot of time being hurt," Polian said. "The question is, can the pure running quarterback, the guy who makes his living running the ball, can that guy survive in the NFL? Steve Young did it. But there's more and more of those guys coming in.
"That's what I see at the college level every week. It's an interesting down-the-road trend. Whither Vince Young? Will he hold up? I don't know."
That day is here.
And now it's Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow's job to get Young ready to play because McNair's ongoing contract dispute might lead to a trade and backup Billy Volek isn't the long-term answer.
Chow coached Philip Rivers, the Chargers quarterback with the same funky sidearm throwing motion as Young, at North Carolina State. But that's where the similarities end. Rivers is a classic drop-back quarterback. Young, who completed 61.8% of his passes at Texas, is attempting to show he can make the transition from shotgun, one-read-and-go college quarterback to polished drop-back NFL passer.
"Vince Young is the wild card of this draft," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says. "He has a lot to learn regarding an NFL passing system. He doesn't understand how to process yet where to go with the football. Norm Chow has this unbelievable talent; he has to figure out how to best utilize what Vince can do."
Old ally one key to Favre return
Matt Hasselbeck says he wouldn't have been surprised if Brett Favre rode off into the sunset on his John Deere tractor.
Favre's former understudy believed the Packers legend wouldn't risk a repeat of the worst season of his career — a 4-12, 29-interception nightmare compounded by injuries that left Favre with receivers straight from an NFL Europe lineup.
"I'm a little surprised, but at the same time, the whole time I've known Brett, he's always surprised me," Hasselbeck said. "I know that he loves to win, and it's no fun when you lose."
Hasselbeck thinks one of the deciding factors for Favre was the relationship he forged with new Packers head coach Mike McCarthy when McCarthy was the Green Bay quarterbacks coach in 1999.
McCarthy, 42, the son of a fireman, is a blue-collar guy players enjoy. But when it's time to work, McCarthy is known for his toughness and emphasis on preparation.
"I know that Brett's relationship with Mike McCarthy has got to have a lot to do with the fact he's coming back," Hasselbeck says. "That's not to say anything about Mike Sherman. But I was there with Brett and (McCarthy). That was a year in his life when a lot of things changed. Brett quit drinking. He became a really good dad, a really good husband. There's a special friendship there between those guys."
Favre just had to take time to get his mind right.
"The thing Brett talked about with me was he was discouraged about how last year ended," McCarthy says. "But he said the familiarity we have with each other and the system was important and he was looking forward to coming back strong.
"When it's a tight game, there's nobody you want more with the ball in his hand than Brett Favre."
Was Bush too pricey?
One analyst's opinion on why the Texans took Mario Williams over Reggie Bush: money.
The former North Carolina State defensive end signed a six-year, $54 million deal, a 9% increase over last season's six-year, $49.5 deal that 49ers quarterback Alex Smith signed.
"This deal doesn't explode the rookie deals in line with the growth of the salary cap," Sirius Radio analyst Pat Kirwan says. "I would think Reggie's deal was going to be richer than that. Let's say Reggie's deal that he wanted was 12-13% over last year's deal. Basically, 5% more than Mario's. If you run that 5% growth for every rookie contract this year, you're talking about an NFL expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars.
"You have 31 other owners looking at the first deal. Can they influence (Texans owner) Bob McNair? No. But I think they're happy as can be it came in like that."
Quick slants
Years from now, the winner of the great debate of the 2006 draft —Reggie Bush or Mario Williams — might be clear to see.
For now, here are a couple of prominent NFL Bush supporters:
"Breathtaking, that's the word," says 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, Bush's former high school teammate. "He sees things on the field, and he ends up doing things only he can see. No one else has that imagination he has."
Says Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers: "He's one of a kind, the fastest guy I've ever seen on a football field. He's a guy I'm looking forward to seeing how he does in this league, and I'm looking forward to playing against him."
•Vince Young had his mom, Felicia, accompany him to the podium when he addressed the media on draft day.
"We're very close," Young says of his mom. "We've been through a whole lot. I feel like the world should see where I come from and that's why I brought her up here."
Asked how he would spend his first NFL paycheck, Young smiled.
"Mommy, what you want? You've got to ask her. Whatever she wants."
NFL Report: Opinions still vary on Young; Hasselbeck on Favre
Posted 5/3/2006 6:01 PM ET
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Vince Young is a fear-factor quarterback.
The 6-5, 229-pound Young scares defenders with his size and 4.48 speed. He also scares some old-school talent evaluators, raised on the traditional definition of a drop-back passer, who can't figure out what to make of him.
Opinions on the Titans' third overall selection in last weekend's draft range as wildly as one of Young's electrifying broken-field runs.
Here are a few:
"I think if that's the future of quarterbacks, then I better hurry up and get out of this game," Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan says. "He's fast. He's strong, and he has a great arm. He's the next-generation Randall Cunningham, except that he's bulkier. He's got a real cool demeanor and never gets flustered.
"He's phenomenal. I've never seen a guy take a game in his hands and take it over like he did in the national championship game against USC. He's the type of player you can build around in this league as a franchise player."
Titans general manager Floyd Reese clearly sees Young that way, selecting him with the No. 3 pick. So does former Broncos, Giants and Falcons coach Dan Reeves, who says Young's playmaking ability and rugged style is reminiscent of a Hall of Fame quarterback he coached in Denver, John Elway. Reeves says Young just needs time to refine his passing skills.
"John was further along as a passer than Vince at this point," Reeves says. "But John loved the shotgun because it gave him an extra second to see the field.
"John and Vince have a lot of escapability and they have the size and strength to shake off that first tackle. I don't think it'll take Vince long to catch up. He improved a lot last year as a passer. Like John, Vince seems to thrive when the game's on the line, and he can hurt you as a runner as well as throwing."
Last September, Indianapolis Colts President Bill Polian openly pondered the league's new trend toward more athletic and rugged quarterbacks raised on the shotgun formation.
While Young is considered a better passer coming out of college than Michael Vick, the top overall pick in 2001, personnel men such as Polian worry about Young's shelf life in the bigger, tougher NFL world. Young's predecessor and longtime mentor, Steve McNair, has absorbed many injuries with his rugged playing style, possibly taking years off his career.
"For me, the biggest question is how the game is going to change; if it's going to change to accommodate the Michael Vicks and Vince Youngs, because Steve McNair, for all of his greatness, has spent a lot of time being hurt," Polian said. "The question is, can the pure running quarterback, the guy who makes his living running the ball, can that guy survive in the NFL? Steve Young did it. But there's more and more of those guys coming in.
"That's what I see at the college level every week. It's an interesting down-the-road trend. Whither Vince Young? Will he hold up? I don't know."
That day is here.
And now it's Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow's job to get Young ready to play because McNair's ongoing contract dispute might lead to a trade and backup Billy Volek isn't the long-term answer.
Chow coached Philip Rivers, the Chargers quarterback with the same funky sidearm throwing motion as Young, at North Carolina State. But that's where the similarities end. Rivers is a classic drop-back quarterback. Young, who completed 61.8% of his passes at Texas, is attempting to show he can make the transition from shotgun, one-read-and-go college quarterback to polished drop-back NFL passer.
"Vince Young is the wild card of this draft," NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock says. "He has a lot to learn regarding an NFL passing system. He doesn't understand how to process yet where to go with the football. Norm Chow has this unbelievable talent; he has to figure out how to best utilize what Vince can do."
Old ally one key to Favre return
Matt Hasselbeck says he wouldn't have been surprised if Brett Favre rode off into the sunset on his John Deere tractor.
Favre's former understudy believed the Packers legend wouldn't risk a repeat of the worst season of his career — a 4-12, 29-interception nightmare compounded by injuries that left Favre with receivers straight from an NFL Europe lineup.
"I'm a little surprised, but at the same time, the whole time I've known Brett, he's always surprised me," Hasselbeck said. "I know that he loves to win, and it's no fun when you lose."
Hasselbeck thinks one of the deciding factors for Favre was the relationship he forged with new Packers head coach Mike McCarthy when McCarthy was the Green Bay quarterbacks coach in 1999.
McCarthy, 42, the son of a fireman, is a blue-collar guy players enjoy. But when it's time to work, McCarthy is known for his toughness and emphasis on preparation.
"I know that Brett's relationship with Mike McCarthy has got to have a lot to do with the fact he's coming back," Hasselbeck says. "That's not to say anything about Mike Sherman. But I was there with Brett and (McCarthy). That was a year in his life when a lot of things changed. Brett quit drinking. He became a really good dad, a really good husband. There's a special friendship there between those guys."
Favre just had to take time to get his mind right.
"The thing Brett talked about with me was he was discouraged about how last year ended," McCarthy says. "But he said the familiarity we have with each other and the system was important and he was looking forward to coming back strong.
"When it's a tight game, there's nobody you want more with the ball in his hand than Brett Favre."
Was Bush too pricey?
One analyst's opinion on why the Texans took Mario Williams over Reggie Bush: money.
The former North Carolina State defensive end signed a six-year, $54 million deal, a 9% increase over last season's six-year, $49.5 deal that 49ers quarterback Alex Smith signed.
"This deal doesn't explode the rookie deals in line with the growth of the salary cap," Sirius Radio analyst Pat Kirwan says. "I would think Reggie's deal was going to be richer than that. Let's say Reggie's deal that he wanted was 12-13% over last year's deal. Basically, 5% more than Mario's. If you run that 5% growth for every rookie contract this year, you're talking about an NFL expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars.
"You have 31 other owners looking at the first deal. Can they influence (Texans owner) Bob McNair? No. But I think they're happy as can be it came in like that."
Quick slants
Years from now, the winner of the great debate of the 2006 draft —Reggie Bush or Mario Williams — might be clear to see.
For now, here are a couple of prominent NFL Bush supporters:
"Breathtaking, that's the word," says 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, Bush's former high school teammate. "He sees things on the field, and he ends up doing things only he can see. No one else has that imagination he has."
Says Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers: "He's one of a kind, the fastest guy I've ever seen on a football field. He's a guy I'm looking forward to seeing how he does in this league, and I'm looking forward to playing against him."
•Vince Young had his mom, Felicia, accompany him to the podium when he addressed the media on draft day.
"We're very close," Young says of his mom. "We've been through a whole lot. I feel like the world should see where I come from and that's why I brought her up here."
Asked how he would spend his first NFL paycheck, Young smiled.
"Mommy, what you want? You've got to ask her. Whatever she wants."
"Pick Vince Young" Song and Video Shows Anger Of Texans Fans - Says "Don't Mess Up This One"
This video was produced and added on You Tube on April 7th, just before the draft. Yeah, I just found it, but it communicates just how much some Houston Texans fans wanted the team to draft Vince Young.
Take a look:
Take a look:
Vince Young: A Highlight Film Of His Texas' Years
This is a great film video on Vince Young, set to the music of The Gap Band. If you've never seen Vince Young, and didn't know he could catch as well as throw and run, look at this:
Titans Still Treating Steve McNair Stupidly - Hearing Set For May 16th
McNair grievance to be heard May 16
QB's plea: Let me work out or cut me
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer - The Tennesean
An arbitrator is scheduled to hear the NFL Players Association's grievance against the Titans on May 16, and the outcome could bring quarterback Steve McNair's playing future into focus a little sooner.
The NFLPA filed the grievance on behalf of McNair after the Titans barred him from working out at Baptist Sports Park last month.
If the arbitrator rules in McNair's favor, the Titans would have to let him work out at their facility or release him. Recently, the Titans have discussed trading McNair to the Ravens.
"It is a situation that cries out for fairness, and we define fairness as he's either a Tennessee Titan or he should be allowed to play with another team,'' NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Tuesday.
Arbitrator John Feerick is scheduled to hear the case on May 16, Berthelsen said. Cases are normally heard in the NFL team's city.
McNair is scheduled to make $9 million in base salary and count $23.46 million against the salary cap this season. The Titans want to lower those figures, but negotiations with Mc Nair's agent about a restructured contract have been stagnant for weeks.
The Titans asked McNair to train elsewhere because they would be liable for those amounts if he is injured on team property. The NFLPA considers that a breach of contract, Berthelsen said.
On Sunday the Titans gave McNair's agent, Bus Cook, permission to try to facilitate a trade with the Ravens, but the two sides couldn't agree on compensation. Indications are the Titans might be willing to wait until July to release McNair if they can't agree to a new contract or trade him by them.
Cook and the NFLPA say it's not fair to keep McNair in limbo.
"He has the right to be with the other players to prepare for the upcoming season, to get into football shape and get in a routine with the new receivers and young receivers on the club,'' Berthelsen said. "If they don't want to do that, then he should be able to go elsewhere.''
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said Tuesday he's spoken with Cook since the end of the NFL Draft on Sunday and hopes to sit down with him at some point. As for a trade with the Ravens, little has changed since the two sides broke off talks Sunday, Reese said.
"The first thing we need to do is sit down with them, throw some thoughts out and see exactly where we are,'' Reese said. "The Baltimore thing, in my mind, is dead. I haven't talked to them in a few days so I assume it was a one-shot deal. Now could that change? Sure. We'll just have to see what happens." •
QB's plea: Let me work out or cut me
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer - The Tennesean
An arbitrator is scheduled to hear the NFL Players Association's grievance against the Titans on May 16, and the outcome could bring quarterback Steve McNair's playing future into focus a little sooner.
The NFLPA filed the grievance on behalf of McNair after the Titans barred him from working out at Baptist Sports Park last month.
If the arbitrator rules in McNair's favor, the Titans would have to let him work out at their facility or release him. Recently, the Titans have discussed trading McNair to the Ravens.
"It is a situation that cries out for fairness, and we define fairness as he's either a Tennessee Titan or he should be allowed to play with another team,'' NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Tuesday.
Arbitrator John Feerick is scheduled to hear the case on May 16, Berthelsen said. Cases are normally heard in the NFL team's city.
McNair is scheduled to make $9 million in base salary and count $23.46 million against the salary cap this season. The Titans want to lower those figures, but negotiations with Mc Nair's agent about a restructured contract have been stagnant for weeks.
The Titans asked McNair to train elsewhere because they would be liable for those amounts if he is injured on team property. The NFLPA considers that a breach of contract, Berthelsen said.
On Sunday the Titans gave McNair's agent, Bus Cook, permission to try to facilitate a trade with the Ravens, but the two sides couldn't agree on compensation. Indications are the Titans might be willing to wait until July to release McNair if they can't agree to a new contract or trade him by them.
Cook and the NFLPA say it's not fair to keep McNair in limbo.
"He has the right to be with the other players to prepare for the upcoming season, to get into football shape and get in a routine with the new receivers and young receivers on the club,'' Berthelsen said. "If they don't want to do that, then he should be able to go elsewhere.''
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said Tuesday he's spoken with Cook since the end of the NFL Draft on Sunday and hopes to sit down with him at some point. As for a trade with the Ravens, little has changed since the two sides broke off talks Sunday, Reese said.
"The first thing we need to do is sit down with them, throw some thoughts out and see exactly where we are,'' Reese said. "The Baltimore thing, in my mind, is dead. I haven't talked to them in a few days so I assume it was a one-shot deal. Now could that change? Sure. We'll just have to see what happens." •
Vince Young Behind Only Reggie Bush In Post-NFL Draft Apparel Sales - The Tennesean
You can even get his Jersey here!
Young jerseys No. 2 in NFL apparel sales
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennesean
Only Saints running back Reggie Bush has been a hotter post-NFL Draft property than Titans quarterback Vince Young, an official with the NFL's official apparel company said Wednesday.
According to Eddie White, vice president of team properties for Reebok, the company had 15,000 orders for Bush jerseys and 14,500 for Young jerseys as of early this week.
White also said that Saints and Titans hats were among the top five sellers at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the draft was held Saturday and Sunday.
Bush was the second overall pick by the New Orleans Saints and Young went third to the Titans.
"The buzz around town has been great," said Don MacLachlan, vice president of administration and facilities for the Titans.
"For them to have gotten that many orders for jerseys in that short amount of time, that indicates he'll be quite a marketing fixture, not only for us, but for the NFL, for a long time."
The Titans Pro Shop sent out an e-mail 12 minutes after Young was drafted on Saturday, making fans aware his jersey was could be ordered online at a price of $74.99.
The Titans Pro Shop at the Coliseum expects to have Young jerseys in stock and on sale Friday.
Young jerseys No. 2 in NFL apparel sales
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennesean
Only Saints running back Reggie Bush has been a hotter post-NFL Draft property than Titans quarterback Vince Young, an official with the NFL's official apparel company said Wednesday.
According to Eddie White, vice president of team properties for Reebok, the company had 15,000 orders for Bush jerseys and 14,500 for Young jerseys as of early this week.
White also said that Saints and Titans hats were among the top five sellers at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the draft was held Saturday and Sunday.
Bush was the second overall pick by the New Orleans Saints and Young went third to the Titans.
"The buzz around town has been great," said Don MacLachlan, vice president of administration and facilities for the Titans.
"For them to have gotten that many orders for jerseys in that short amount of time, that indicates he'll be quite a marketing fixture, not only for us, but for the NFL, for a long time."
The Titans Pro Shop sent out an e-mail 12 minutes after Young was drafted on Saturday, making fans aware his jersey was could be ordered online at a price of $74.99.
The Titans Pro Shop at the Coliseum expects to have Young jerseys in stock and on sale Friday.
Tennessee Titans To Bring Vince Young Along Slowly - The Tennessean
Titans to set a slow pace for Young
Deliberate plan helped McNair
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennessean
Along with the rest of the Titans' new rookies, Young was expected to arrive in Nashville last night. This morning they begin a two-day rookie orientation that includes two practice sessions.
Young will be asked to start digesting and learning the Titans' playbook, though the team has no intention of rushing him into the lineup on opening day when the Titans face the Jets on Sept. 10.
That's the same plan the team had for Steve McNair when he was drafted third in 1995. The Houston Oilers offensive coordinator at the time, Jerry Rhome, worked with Young as a private coach preparing him for the combine and his pro day leading up to the draft.
''I know back in '95 Coach Fisher had a plan for him; we wanted to bring Steve along,'' Rhome said. ''I think the way the Oilers handled him back in '95-96 was very smart. We brought him along slowly, gave him a little action.
''Then he and I worked together four days a week, probably two and a half hours each day in the offseason after his rookie year, inside and outside. He was a great student and learned quickly, and I think it helped him have a great career.''
Resisting the temptation to use Young before he's ready will be a big theme for Jeff Fisher and his current offensive coordinator, Norm Chow.
Because Fisher has seen the patient plan payoff before, he is more likely to stick with the long-term vision than other coaches around the league who talk of plans to wait on a quarterback but wind up turning to rookies in times of trouble.
McNair missed the early part of his first training camp while his contract was ironed out. The Titans, Young and his agent, Major Adams, have pledged to work diligently to ensure that this quarterback is under contract by the time camp opens in late July.
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese talks often about how damaging playing too early can be to a young quarterback's psyche. While Fisher and his staff will decide if and when Young plays, they are unlikely to hear any whispers from Reese pushing to see him.
"I think the key is that in spite of what you want, he will get there when he gets there,'' Reese said. "And if I want him to be ready for the second preseason game and he says, 'No, I will be ready for the 10th regular-season game,' then there's not much you can do about it.
"The thing that happens with so many of these young quarterbacks is they get thrown out there and end up getting hurt. They're confused. They loose their confidence. When you're done with the whole experiment, you end up with a shipwreck. We're going to make sure that doesn't happen with this kid. If it takes a little bit longer, then it takes a little bit longer, but that's the process.''
Rhome said McNair circa 1995 and Young now are comparable in that they both had a knack in college for leading their teams to comebacks and they both arrived in the NFL with a need for polish.
But McNair's experience in the small program at Alcorn State was certainly different than Young's at Texas, where he led the Longhorns to consecutive Rose Bowls.
''I think Vince is probably a little bit ahead of Steve because Steve came out of a little bit of a smaller school and Vince was playing for the national champions,'' Rhome said with a laugh. ''That might be a little bit different there.''
Rhome said despite his strong rapport with Fisher and Reese left over from his two seasons as the Oilers coordinator in 1995 and 1996, there was no special insight for them to gain from him about Young as they prepared for the draft.
"I visited with them,'' he said. "I think Vince is a good player who's ready. But it wasn't a matter of Jeff or Floyd trying to pick my brain. They knew what they were looking for.''
Said Fisher: "I spoke with Jerry at the (Young's) workout. He's spent a lot of time with Vince, and they have a good relationship. He's very excited for Vince's future and the potential.''
Rhome said he'll watch Young carefully and expects to have fun doing so. He said he hopes to talk to Young periodically but not in any way that would interfere with the Titans coaching.
"If (Fisher) chooses to put Vince out there early, there will be a good reason for it,'' Rhome said. "You never know. I don't know how quickly Vince will progress or what they plan on doing. But I think that the Titans will make good decisions all the way down the line with him. They know they got a great athlete, they know what they'll have to do to work with him.
"He's just like any other rookie coming in. It's the NFL, and he's going to have to develop. He's not going to be any different than all those other No. 1 draft choices coming in. They all want to play.'' n
Deliberate plan helped McNair
By PAUL KUHARSKY
Staff Writer The Tennessean
Along with the rest of the Titans' new rookies, Young was expected to arrive in Nashville last night. This morning they begin a two-day rookie orientation that includes two practice sessions.
Young will be asked to start digesting and learning the Titans' playbook, though the team has no intention of rushing him into the lineup on opening day when the Titans face the Jets on Sept. 10.
That's the same plan the team had for Steve McNair when he was drafted third in 1995. The Houston Oilers offensive coordinator at the time, Jerry Rhome, worked with Young as a private coach preparing him for the combine and his pro day leading up to the draft.
''I know back in '95 Coach Fisher had a plan for him; we wanted to bring Steve along,'' Rhome said. ''I think the way the Oilers handled him back in '95-96 was very smart. We brought him along slowly, gave him a little action.
''Then he and I worked together four days a week, probably two and a half hours each day in the offseason after his rookie year, inside and outside. He was a great student and learned quickly, and I think it helped him have a great career.''
Resisting the temptation to use Young before he's ready will be a big theme for Jeff Fisher and his current offensive coordinator, Norm Chow.
Because Fisher has seen the patient plan payoff before, he is more likely to stick with the long-term vision than other coaches around the league who talk of plans to wait on a quarterback but wind up turning to rookies in times of trouble.
McNair missed the early part of his first training camp while his contract was ironed out. The Titans, Young and his agent, Major Adams, have pledged to work diligently to ensure that this quarterback is under contract by the time camp opens in late July.
Titans General Manager Floyd Reese talks often about how damaging playing too early can be to a young quarterback's psyche. While Fisher and his staff will decide if and when Young plays, they are unlikely to hear any whispers from Reese pushing to see him.
"I think the key is that in spite of what you want, he will get there when he gets there,'' Reese said. "And if I want him to be ready for the second preseason game and he says, 'No, I will be ready for the 10th regular-season game,' then there's not much you can do about it.
"The thing that happens with so many of these young quarterbacks is they get thrown out there and end up getting hurt. They're confused. They loose their confidence. When you're done with the whole experiment, you end up with a shipwreck. We're going to make sure that doesn't happen with this kid. If it takes a little bit longer, then it takes a little bit longer, but that's the process.''
Rhome said McNair circa 1995 and Young now are comparable in that they both had a knack in college for leading their teams to comebacks and they both arrived in the NFL with a need for polish.
But McNair's experience in the small program at Alcorn State was certainly different than Young's at Texas, where he led the Longhorns to consecutive Rose Bowls.
''I think Vince is probably a little bit ahead of Steve because Steve came out of a little bit of a smaller school and Vince was playing for the national champions,'' Rhome said with a laugh. ''That might be a little bit different there.''
Rhome said despite his strong rapport with Fisher and Reese left over from his two seasons as the Oilers coordinator in 1995 and 1996, there was no special insight for them to gain from him about Young as they prepared for the draft.
"I visited with them,'' he said. "I think Vince is a good player who's ready. But it wasn't a matter of Jeff or Floyd trying to pick my brain. They knew what they were looking for.''
Said Fisher: "I spoke with Jerry at the (Young's) workout. He's spent a lot of time with Vince, and they have a good relationship. He's very excited for Vince's future and the potential.''
Rhome said he'll watch Young carefully and expects to have fun doing so. He said he hopes to talk to Young periodically but not in any way that would interfere with the Titans coaching.
"If (Fisher) chooses to put Vince out there early, there will be a good reason for it,'' Rhome said. "You never know. I don't know how quickly Vince will progress or what they plan on doing. But I think that the Titans will make good decisions all the way down the line with him. They know they got a great athlete, they know what they'll have to do to work with him.
"He's just like any other rookie coming in. It's the NFL, and he's going to have to develop. He's not going to be any different than all those other No. 1 draft choices coming in. They all want to play.'' n
Racist Florida Guards Responsible for Death of 14-Year Old African American Boy - AP News
There's no good reason for this at all. It makes me sick to my stomach, but it also causes me to wonder if this is the first time this has happened. I wonder what other black kids have been abused in this camp, or others like it. Whatever the number the President should issue a directive that this is not acceptable. The kid was 14 and was "in" for "stealing" his grandmothers car to take a joy ride.
Now how many of you have taken a joy-ride in a family member's car when you were that age? Did your family member call it "stealing?" I don't believe this.
(05-05) 13:44 PDT Tampa, Fla. (AP) --
A 14-year-old boy kicked and punched by guards at a juvenile boot camp died because the sheriff's officials suffocated him, a medical examiner said Friday, contradicting a colleague who blamed the death on a usually benign blood disorder.
"Martin Anderson's death was caused by suffocation due to actions of the guards at the boot camp," said Dr. Vernard Adams, who conducted the second autopsy.
Adams said the suffocation was caused by hands blocking the boy's mouth, as well as the "forced inhalation of ammonia fumes" that caused his vocal cords to spasm, blocking his upper airway.
Martin Lee Anderson's body was exhumed after a camp surveillance videotape surfaced showing the guards roughing him up Jan. 5, a day before he died. His family had questioned the initial finding by Dr. Charles Siebert, the Bay County Medical Examiner, that the boy died of complications of sickle cell trait.
"I am disturbed by Dr. Adams' findings and consider the actions of the Bay County boot camp guards deplorable," said Gov. Jeb Bush, who ordered the investigation that led to the second autopsy.
In a statement, Bush assured Anderson's parents that the state will provide any resources prosecutors deem necessary "to complete this investigation as quickly as possible."
No one has been arrested in connection with the death, which sparked protests at the state Capitol, forced lawmakers to scrap the military-style camps and led to the resignation of the state's top law enforcement officer.
Anderson's parents planned a news conference Friday evening at their attorney's Tallahassee office to respond to the findings. Marc Tochterman, a spokesman for the Bay County Sheriff's Office, which operated the boot camp, said the agency had no immediate comment.
Siebert did not immediately return a call seeking comment, but he has repeatedly stood by his findings, saying they were based on reliable science, not emotions. He also has said he was being unfairly attacked by special interest groups.
State Attorney General Charlie Crist said Friday that Siebert "should probably be suspended pending further review." He said the second autopsy report wasn't surprising.
"I can't say I'm shocked after having watched the tape. What was surprising was the first autopsy," Crist said. He said there will "probably will be arrests."
The videotape shows Anderson being kneed, struck and dragged by guards on his first day at the Bay County Sheriff's boot camp for juvenile offenders. He was eventually taken to a Pensacola hospital, where he died a few hours later.
Waylon Graham, attorney for sheriff's Lt. Charles Helms, who was second in command of the boot camp and present in the exercise yard that day, said he wasn't shocked by Adams' report. Graham said the investigation has turned into a "witch hunt" with criminal charges inevitable.
"I think (Helms) knows what's coming next," Graham said. "When you get an autopsy with results like that it's pretty clear that they are going to charge him and obviously the others. It would take a pretty naive person to think otherwise."
He said Helms doesn't believe that the guards caused Anderson's death.
The second autopsy was ordered by Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober, whom Bush tapped to lead the investigation.
A forensic pathologist hired by Anderson's family observed the second autopsy, Dr. Michael Baden, said afterward that he believed Anderson didn't die from natural causes.
Siebert's autopsy concluded that physical exertion had triggered sickle cell trait and ultimately caused small blood clots to develop in Anderson's bloodstream, which resulted in internal bleeding.
Anderson had collapsed while doing push-ups, sit-ups, running laps and other exercises that were part of his admission process at the camp. The sheriff's office said force was used on Anderson because he was uncooperative.
He had been sent to the boot camp for violating probation by trespassing at a school after he and his cousins were charged with stealing their grandmother's car from a church parking lot.
Now how many of you have taken a joy-ride in a family member's car when you were that age? Did your family member call it "stealing?" I don't believe this.
(05-05) 13:44 PDT Tampa, Fla. (AP) --
A 14-year-old boy kicked and punched by guards at a juvenile boot camp died because the sheriff's officials suffocated him, a medical examiner said Friday, contradicting a colleague who blamed the death on a usually benign blood disorder.
"Martin Anderson's death was caused by suffocation due to actions of the guards at the boot camp," said Dr. Vernard Adams, who conducted the second autopsy.
Adams said the suffocation was caused by hands blocking the boy's mouth, as well as the "forced inhalation of ammonia fumes" that caused his vocal cords to spasm, blocking his upper airway.
Martin Lee Anderson's body was exhumed after a camp surveillance videotape surfaced showing the guards roughing him up Jan. 5, a day before he died. His family had questioned the initial finding by Dr. Charles Siebert, the Bay County Medical Examiner, that the boy died of complications of sickle cell trait.
"I am disturbed by Dr. Adams' findings and consider the actions of the Bay County boot camp guards deplorable," said Gov. Jeb Bush, who ordered the investigation that led to the second autopsy.
In a statement, Bush assured Anderson's parents that the state will provide any resources prosecutors deem necessary "to complete this investigation as quickly as possible."
No one has been arrested in connection with the death, which sparked protests at the state Capitol, forced lawmakers to scrap the military-style camps and led to the resignation of the state's top law enforcement officer.
Anderson's parents planned a news conference Friday evening at their attorney's Tallahassee office to respond to the findings. Marc Tochterman, a spokesman for the Bay County Sheriff's Office, which operated the boot camp, said the agency had no immediate comment.
Siebert did not immediately return a call seeking comment, but he has repeatedly stood by his findings, saying they were based on reliable science, not emotions. He also has said he was being unfairly attacked by special interest groups.
State Attorney General Charlie Crist said Friday that Siebert "should probably be suspended pending further review." He said the second autopsy report wasn't surprising.
"I can't say I'm shocked after having watched the tape. What was surprising was the first autopsy," Crist said. He said there will "probably will be arrests."
The videotape shows Anderson being kneed, struck and dragged by guards on his first day at the Bay County Sheriff's boot camp for juvenile offenders. He was eventually taken to a Pensacola hospital, where he died a few hours later.
Waylon Graham, attorney for sheriff's Lt. Charles Helms, who was second in command of the boot camp and present in the exercise yard that day, said he wasn't shocked by Adams' report. Graham said the investigation has turned into a "witch hunt" with criminal charges inevitable.
"I think (Helms) knows what's coming next," Graham said. "When you get an autopsy with results like that it's pretty clear that they are going to charge him and obviously the others. It would take a pretty naive person to think otherwise."
He said Helms doesn't believe that the guards caused Anderson's death.
The second autopsy was ordered by Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober, whom Bush tapped to lead the investigation.
A forensic pathologist hired by Anderson's family observed the second autopsy, Dr. Michael Baden, said afterward that he believed Anderson didn't die from natural causes.
Siebert's autopsy concluded that physical exertion had triggered sickle cell trait and ultimately caused small blood clots to develop in Anderson's bloodstream, which resulted in internal bleeding.
Anderson had collapsed while doing push-ups, sit-ups, running laps and other exercises that were part of his admission process at the camp. The sheriff's office said force was used on Anderson because he was uncooperative.
He had been sent to the boot camp for violating probation by trespassing at a school after he and his cousins were charged with stealing their grandmother's car from a church parking lot.
Niners Trade Ken Dorsey -- Their Only Effective Quarterback -- For Trent Dilfer.
Last year, he was the first 49ers Quarterback to throw a touchdown pass.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers acquired a proven backup quarterback for Alex Smith, getting Trent Dilfer from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in a trade for quarterback Ken Dorsey and an undisclosed 2007 draft pick.
Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2001, will give the 49ers depth behind Smith, who struggled as a rookie last season after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
"Trent was a player we had interest in last season," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said in a statement. "We were looking for a veteran quarterback with experience that could help mentor Alex Smith. Trent fits the bill on both counts and we are excited to have him with the 49ers."
Dilfer signed a four-year deal with the Browns last year after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He went 4-7 as a Browns starter before losing the job to rookie Charlie Frye. Dilfer completed 59.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,321 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"Trent Dilfer played an important role in the making over of our football team last year," Browns general manager Phil Savage said in a statement. "At this point, to add Ken Dorsey and to give Trent the opportunity to go back home to California is a win-win for all parties."
Dilfer, who played in college at Fresno State, has started 107 career games, throwing for 106 touchdowns and 117 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay in 1997 after passing for 2,555 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Dorsey started 10 games in his three years in San Francisco, including three last season. He completed 48 of 90 passes for 481 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2005.
Cody Pickett is San Francisco's third-string quarterback and the team also drafted Michael Robinson in the fourth round last month. Robinson, a quarterback in college at Penn State, is expected to mostly be used as a running back, receiver or kick returner in San Francisco.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- The San Francisco 49ers acquired a proven backup quarterback for Alex Smith, getting Trent Dilfer from the Cleveland Browns on Thursday in a trade for quarterback Ken Dorsey and an undisclosed 2007 draft pick.
Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with Baltimore in 2001, will give the 49ers depth behind Smith, who struggled as a rookie last season after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.
"Trent was a player we had interest in last season," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said in a statement. "We were looking for a veteran quarterback with experience that could help mentor Alex Smith. Trent fits the bill on both counts and we are excited to have him with the 49ers."
Dilfer signed a four-year deal with the Browns last year after stints with the Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks. He went 4-7 as a Browns starter before losing the job to rookie Charlie Frye. Dilfer completed 59.8 percent of his passes last season for 2,321 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
"Trent Dilfer played an important role in the making over of our football team last year," Browns general manager Phil Savage said in a statement. "At this point, to add Ken Dorsey and to give Trent the opportunity to go back home to California is a win-win for all parties."
Dilfer, who played in college at Fresno State, has started 107 career games, throwing for 106 touchdowns and 117 interceptions. He made the Pro Bowl with Tampa Bay in 1997 after passing for 2,555 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Dorsey started 10 games in his three years in San Francisco, including three last season. He completed 48 of 90 passes for 481 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in 2005.
Cody Pickett is San Francisco's third-string quarterback and the team also drafted Michael Robinson in the fourth round last month. Robinson, a quarterback in college at Penn State, is expected to mostly be used as a running back, receiver or kick returner in San Francisco.
Bills Sign Nate Clemons To A One-Year Deal
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Nate Clements re-signed with the Bills on Friday, accepting the one-year, $7.2 million contract Buffalo offered the star cornerback after designating him the team's franchise player in February.
The deal was struck in time for Clements to attend the start of a three-day minicamp. Clements, who missed a voluntary minicamp session last month, took the field Friday afternoon.
Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Clements is a five-year starter who leads the team with 20 interceptions, four of which he's returned for touchdowns.
He was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection and considered a key member of a defense that is rebuilding under new coach Dick Jauron.
The deal was struck in time for Clements to attend the start of a three-day minicamp. Clements, who missed a voluntary minicamp session last month, took the field Friday afternoon.
Buffalo's first-round pick in the 2001 draft, Clements is a five-year starter who leads the team with 20 interceptions, four of which he's returned for touchdowns.
He was a 2004 Pro Bowl selection and considered a key member of a defense that is rebuilding under new coach Dick Jauron.
Six Penn State Nitany Lions Selected In 2006 NFL Draft
This was sent to me via Penn State Sports News:
Defensive end Tamba Hali, a consensus 2005 All-American for the
Nittany Lions, was selected Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs in the
first round of the National Football League Draft.
In addition, Penn State standouts Michael Robinson, Calvin Lowry and Alan Zemaitis were selected in the fourth round of the National Football League Draft,
Tyler Reed was taken in round six and Ethan Kilmer was drafted in the
seventh round.
Hali is Penn State's fourth defensive lineman to be
selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the last seven years,
joining Courtney Brown (2000), Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Haynes
(2003). Hali is the 33rd Penn Stater to be chosen in the first round
of the NFL Draft, 30 of whom have played for legendary coach Joe
Paterno. Hali is the 222nd Nittany Lion to be drafted under Paterno
and more than 300 of his players have signed NFL contracts.
Defensive end Tamba Hali, a consensus 2005 All-American for the
Nittany Lions, was selected Saturday by the Kansas City Chiefs in the
first round of the National Football League Draft.
In addition, Penn State standouts Michael Robinson, Calvin Lowry and Alan Zemaitis were selected in the fourth round of the National Football League Draft,
Tyler Reed was taken in round six and Ethan Kilmer was drafted in the
seventh round.
Hali is Penn State's fourth defensive lineman to be
selected in the first round of the NFL Draft in the last seven years,
joining Courtney Brown (2000), Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Haynes
(2003). Hali is the 33rd Penn Stater to be chosen in the first round
of the NFL Draft, 30 of whom have played for legendary coach Joe
Paterno. Hali is the 222nd Nittany Lion to be drafted under Paterno
and more than 300 of his players have signed NFL contracts.
Porter Goss Resigns From The CIA - Did Mary McCarthy's Problem Cause This?
All I know is CIA chief Porter Goss was on the job for about two years. Then, today, he resigns. Blogger News Network seems to have a view of what happened that's connected to the firing of Mary McCarthy for alledged leaks of classified information. Here's the rest of the story from CNN:
Porter Goss resigns as CIA chief
'I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically,' he says
Friday, May 5, 2006; Posted: 4:03 p.m. EDT (20:03 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- CIA Director Porter Goss is resigning, President Bush announced Friday.
"Porter's tenure at the CIA was one of transition, where he's helped this agency become integrated into the intelligence community, and that was a tough job," Bush said in a photo session with Goss at the Oval Office.
"He's got a five-year plan to increase the number of analysts and operatives, which is going to help make this country a safer place and help us win the war on terror," the president said. (Watch Bush's Oval Office announcement -- 2:38)
Goss told Bush: "I believe the agency is on a very even keel, sailing well, I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically."
No reason was given for Goss' resignation, but the White House has been in the midst of an administration shakeup since Josh Bolten took over as chief of staff.
Goss' resignation was based on a "mutual understanding" between Bush, national intelligence director John Negroponte and Goss, a senior Bush administration official told the Reuters news agency.
"The best way to describe it is when you ask somebody to do very difficult things during a period of transition, it often makes sense to hand off the reins to somebody else to take the agency forward," the official told Reuters.
No replacement was announced.
Goss became CIA chief in September 2004. He had previously served 16 years as a Republican congressman from Florida. During his congressional tenure, Goss served as chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence.
From 1962 to 1972, Goss was a CIA clandestine service officer.
Goss' deputy, who may take over in the interim, is Vice Adm. Albert M. Calland.
Reaction to Goss' resignation from lawmakers emphasized that the CIA needs to continue to change, regardless of who takes the reins.
"Director Goss took the helm of the intelligence community at a very difficult time in the wake of the intelligence failures associated with 9/11 and Iraq WMD," Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas who is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a written statement. "Porter made some significant improvements at the CIA, but I think even he would say they still have some way to go."
Former CIA Director Stansfield Turner told CNN that Goss may have resigned because he was passed over for the position of director of national intelligence, which went to Negroponte.
Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr agreed with Turner's speculation and added, "I think there's going to be more coming out; we don't know the whole story."
"This is a devastating blow, the importance of which really cannot be overestimated," Barr told CNN. "It indicates again a continuing downward slide in the intelligence capabilities of our government, it indicates again the disorganization on the part of our intelligence agencies at a time when we can ill afford to see that happen."
The agency was recently rocked when Mary McCarthy was fired, reportedly for allegedly leaking information about secret prisons to The Washington Post. McCarthy's lawyer denies that she was the source for the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting.
McCarthy's firing was seen as part of a crackdown by Goss on the leaking of classified information.
There has also been media reports of dissatisfaction with Goss' leadership among the rank-and-file within the agency and the exodus of several high-level staff members.
Porter Goss resigns as CIA chief
'I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically,' he says
Friday, May 5, 2006; Posted: 4:03 p.m. EDT (20:03 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- CIA Director Porter Goss is resigning, President Bush announced Friday.
"Porter's tenure at the CIA was one of transition, where he's helped this agency become integrated into the intelligence community, and that was a tough job," Bush said in a photo session with Goss at the Oval Office.
"He's got a five-year plan to increase the number of analysts and operatives, which is going to help make this country a safer place and help us win the war on terror," the president said. (Watch Bush's Oval Office announcement -- 2:38)
Goss told Bush: "I believe the agency is on a very even keel, sailing well, I honestly believe that we have improved dramatically."
No reason was given for Goss' resignation, but the White House has been in the midst of an administration shakeup since Josh Bolten took over as chief of staff.
Goss' resignation was based on a "mutual understanding" between Bush, national intelligence director John Negroponte and Goss, a senior Bush administration official told the Reuters news agency.
"The best way to describe it is when you ask somebody to do very difficult things during a period of transition, it often makes sense to hand off the reins to somebody else to take the agency forward," the official told Reuters.
No replacement was announced.
Goss became CIA chief in September 2004. He had previously served 16 years as a Republican congressman from Florida. During his congressional tenure, Goss served as chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence.
From 1962 to 1972, Goss was a CIA clandestine service officer.
Goss' deputy, who may take over in the interim, is Vice Adm. Albert M. Calland.
Reaction to Goss' resignation from lawmakers emphasized that the CIA needs to continue to change, regardless of who takes the reins.
"Director Goss took the helm of the intelligence community at a very difficult time in the wake of the intelligence failures associated with 9/11 and Iraq WMD," Sen. Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas who is chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a written statement. "Porter made some significant improvements at the CIA, but I think even he would say they still have some way to go."
Former CIA Director Stansfield Turner told CNN that Goss may have resigned because he was passed over for the position of director of national intelligence, which went to Negroponte.
Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr agreed with Turner's speculation and added, "I think there's going to be more coming out; we don't know the whole story."
"This is a devastating blow, the importance of which really cannot be overestimated," Barr told CNN. "It indicates again a continuing downward slide in the intelligence capabilities of our government, it indicates again the disorganization on the part of our intelligence agencies at a time when we can ill afford to see that happen."
The agency was recently rocked when Mary McCarthy was fired, reportedly for allegedly leaking information about secret prisons to The Washington Post. McCarthy's lawyer denies that she was the source for the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting.
McCarthy's firing was seen as part of a crackdown by Goss on the leaking of classified information.
There has also been media reports of dissatisfaction with Goss' leadership among the rank-and-file within the agency and the exodus of several high-level staff members.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Matt Leinart Parties With Paris Hilton -- And 200 Others -- In Las Vegas
Well, I can say I ordered him a free cocktail last week. We -- just the two of us -- were at the bar at Gustavino's in NYC last Thursday and I said "I'll never get the chance to say this, so 'Buy the bar a round?"
I just hope Matt can focus on the field once training camp starts, but I think he can. It's a new level. Still, it's like he's turning 21 again -- what's one more big bash?
Thing is, he's a very nice person, so those 200 people who were in attendance were not there just for his name.
Paris Hilton & Matt Leinart: Cozy in Vegas
Thursday May 04, 2006 3:50pm EST
By Stephen M. Silverman
Hilton and Leinart on May 1
CREDIT: ALPHAX / X17
Matt Leinart celebrated being drafted into the NFL by partying at a Las Vegas nightclub on Tuesday with Paris Hilton.
For the record, Leinart was joined at the club PURE by more than 200 of his closest friends, including Nick Lachey, Wilmer Valderrama and Danny Masterson – but he spent the better part of the evening with the newly single Hilton, a source tells PEOPLE.
On his way into the bash, the 22-year-old, 6'5", Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, who was recently drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, told PEOPLE, "After this, it's all business, all NFL."
Inside, he danced with Hilton, 25, on the club's VIP beds. She called him "baby" and rested her head on his back, sometimes holding his hand, says the source.
The pair danced the night away – and at one point disappeared together behind closed doors in the club's private suite.
Later, Hilton treated the crowd to an impromptu concert, jumping on top of the DJ booth and belting out several songs from her upcoming album, including a rendition of Rod Stewart's "Do You Think I'm Sexy" – which she dedicated to Leinart.
When not on the dance floor, the pair nestled themselves into the corner of a VIP bed, where they kissed and hugged before leaving around 3:30 a.m.
Hilton and Leinart have been spotted together several times recently. On May 1, Hilton, wearing a brunette wig, shopped at the Grove in Los Angeles with Leinart, PEOPLE reports. That night, they partied together at L.A. club Shag. "They seemed really into each other," said one witness. "He was very touchy-feely."
Leinart's rep denies that they're dating, and Hilton's publicist, Elliot Mintz, says, "She knows Matt, she likes Matt. They are friends. I don't want to go any further than that. They have known each other a while."
Russian Youth Exhibit Signs Of Mental Illness -- Attacking People Just Because Of The Color Of Their Skin
I saw this on Yahoo! and wanted to call for a medic. Read it because it's as stupid as it reads. The Russian youth need to be institutionalized. Their behavior is sick.
Think about it. DOGS don't even do that. DOGS!
Think about it. DOGS don't even do that. DOGS!
Oakland Raiders Legend Michael Dotterer's Advice To The New Raider Draftees - Video
Oakland Raiders running back Michael Dotterer -- who was also on the Stanford team that lost to Cal because of "The Play" in the 1982 Big Game -- has been my friend for about 11 years now. He played for the Silver and Black during their LA years and was part of the 1984 Super Bowl Championship Team. He is also one of only 24 two-sport all stars in Stanford University history.
During my trip to the NFL Draft, I asked Mike if I could do a kind of walking interview of him and his advice for the Raiders newest draftees on the eve of the NFL Draft. He was more than happy to allow this. The result is a talk and walk through Midtown Manhattan on the way to dinner at The 21 Club restaurant. My favorite.
Along the way, Mike reveals that his Raiders roommate was none other than the legendary Lyle Alzado, a true character and so much in the Raider mold it's easy to forget he played for the Denver Broncos. Mike also instructs rookies to listen.
We covered a lot of ground and in more ways than one.
Here's my conversation with Michael Dotterer:
During my trip to the NFL Draft, I asked Mike if I could do a kind of walking interview of him and his advice for the Raiders newest draftees on the eve of the NFL Draft. He was more than happy to allow this. The result is a talk and walk through Midtown Manhattan on the way to dinner at The 21 Club restaurant. My favorite.
Along the way, Mike reveals that his Raiders roommate was none other than the legendary Lyle Alzado, a true character and so much in the Raider mold it's easy to forget he played for the Denver Broncos. Mike also instructs rookies to listen.
We covered a lot of ground and in more ways than one.
Here's my conversation with Michael Dotterer:
"Beyond The Call" - Adrian Belic and Michael Dotterer Introduce Adrian's New Film "Beyond The Call" At The Tribeca Film Festival
Last Friday I had the pleasure of attending the premier of a new film called "Beyond The Call" at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. It's a really good and moving work about three ex-military Americans who travel around the world making sure that food and other resources get right to the people who need it.
My friend Michael Dotterer's helping Adrian market the film, and so I thought I'd take a video of Adrian and Michael talking about a documentary that's certainly oscar-material.
This is the first of three videos on the movie.
Here's the video:
My friend Michael Dotterer's helping Adrian market the film, and so I thought I'd take a video of Adrian and Michael talking about a documentary that's certainly oscar-material.
This is the first of three videos on the movie.
Here's the video:
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Prom Hairstyles - It's That Time Of Year!
You can tell what America's doing just by a simple visit to The Lycos 50, a website that tracks the most popular searches conducted with engines like, well, Lycos.
The most popular search this week is for something as simple as prom hairstyles. What's number one in that category? Click on the title of this post to find out.
Proof that NBA Basketball Is a Contact Sport - Watch Your Mid Section
Last Saturday, Reggie Evans had the nerve to do something that may be considered ok only in the ranchiest of gay bars (Heck, I don't know.) What did he do? Click on NBA Business Blog to find out.
"BuziBUZZ" - BuziBuZZ: My Friend J. Randy Gordon's Book Is Out -- And It's A Hit!
At the EA Sports Super Bowl party in Detroit, I ran into my friend Leigh Steinberg, who knows a thing or three about the "buzz" business and was the boss of my good friend J. Randy Gordon, who's just finished and released his long awaited book "BusiBUZZ."
"When is his book coming out!?" Leigh asked.
Well, it's out.
I don't write this just because he's my friend and I'm biased, but as a follower of the Zeitgeist, this is it! He's got the one book you want. I know you've wanted that one book full of all the popular saying's you've been within earshot of someone uttering: "Close The Deal," "et It Across The Goal Line" , "I'm shagged", "I need to drop a bomb." They're all here and many you never knew existed.
I decided to have fun with Randy and his book, so I interviewed him at a great place: The Golden Gate Perk Cafe in San Francisco on Bush near Kearny. This talk is laced with the buzz words that appear in his book, and it's fun to hear.
Check out Randy Gordon talking with me about his new book "BuziBuzz" then go out and buy it!
Here's the video, followed by a press release about the book, BusiBUZZ. (As a note, the video is a LARGE file, which may take a few minutes to load depending on browser and service. Go get some wine, then come back. Also, YouTube may be down for service, too!)
New Book Exposes the 'Real' Language Heard in Today's Boardroom
More than 5,000 Buzzwords and Catch Phrases Brought to the Forefront by
Marketing Executive, J. Randy Gordon in His Book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business
Buzzwords for Survivin' and Thrivin' in the Big City
LOS ANGELES, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's "going after the low
hanging fruit," or "fast tracking the project," America's boardroom
maintains its very own corporate speak and first-time author, J. Randy
Gordon has captured it in his book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business Buzzwords for
Survivin' and Thrivin' in the Big City (Booksurge Press -- an amazon.com
company). With more than 5,000 buzzwords, catch phrases, euphemisms, short
anecdotes and general business speak, BusiBUZZ(TM) discloses a
"behind-the-scenes" view of the interaction that's taking place in the
executive offices of corporate America.
With the foreword written by famed sports agent and author Leigh
Steinberg, BusiBUZZ(TM) goes where no outsider has gone before -- the inner
sanctum of the business world's most exclusive circles. Readers will
experience corporate-speak at its best -- ranging from negotiation
terminology to the daily vernacular reflected in various industries found
in such words or phrases as "podcasts," "traction," "going nano,"
"hotspots," "blogging" and "mash-ups," among thousands more.
"This book will hopefully level the playing field for many people in
business or just getting started in the business world," said Gordon.
"Boardroom chatter is not necessarily a secret code but it's easy to feel
as though your colleagues are speaking an unfamiliar language. I've made it
easier to feel a part of the inner circle."
Gordon, who has held positions at some very prestigious companies
including The Coca-Cola Company, Sony Computer Entertainment America,
Universal McCann and Ubisoft Entertainment, recorded more than 15 years of
executive daily dialogue and interaction by listening to those around him
and attending meetings, conferences and interviews.
"Every profession and field has its own lexicon and jargon which needs
translation," commented Leigh Steinberg, CEO, Leigh Steinberg Enterprises.
"In the world of sports representation, language can either serve as either
a barrier or a bridge. With so many catch phrases in today's sports lingo,
one needs a vivid imagination just to keep up."
The book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business Buzzwords For Survivin' and Thrivin'
in the Big City, is available for purchase on http://www.booksurge.com for $19.95
and will soon be available on Amazon.com. The ISBN number is:
1-4196-2124-6.
"When is his book coming out!?" Leigh asked.
Well, it's out.
I don't write this just because he's my friend and I'm biased, but as a follower of the Zeitgeist, this is it! He's got the one book you want. I know you've wanted that one book full of all the popular saying's you've been within earshot of someone uttering: "Close The Deal," "et It Across The Goal Line" , "I'm shagged", "I need to drop a bomb." They're all here and many you never knew existed.
I decided to have fun with Randy and his book, so I interviewed him at a great place: The Golden Gate Perk Cafe in San Francisco on Bush near Kearny. This talk is laced with the buzz words that appear in his book, and it's fun to hear.
Check out Randy Gordon talking with me about his new book "BuziBuzz" then go out and buy it!
Here's the video, followed by a press release about the book, BusiBUZZ. (As a note, the video is a LARGE file, which may take a few minutes to load depending on browser and service. Go get some wine, then come back. Also, YouTube may be down for service, too!)
New Book Exposes the 'Real' Language Heard in Today's Boardroom
More than 5,000 Buzzwords and Catch Phrases Brought to the Forefront by
Marketing Executive, J. Randy Gordon in His Book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business
Buzzwords for Survivin' and Thrivin' in the Big City
LOS ANGELES, April 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's "going after the low
hanging fruit," or "fast tracking the project," America's boardroom
maintains its very own corporate speak and first-time author, J. Randy
Gordon has captured it in his book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business Buzzwords for
Survivin' and Thrivin' in the Big City (Booksurge Press -- an amazon.com
company). With more than 5,000 buzzwords, catch phrases, euphemisms, short
anecdotes and general business speak, BusiBUZZ(TM) discloses a
"behind-the-scenes" view of the interaction that's taking place in the
executive offices of corporate America.
With the foreword written by famed sports agent and author Leigh
Steinberg, BusiBUZZ(TM) goes where no outsider has gone before -- the inner
sanctum of the business world's most exclusive circles. Readers will
experience corporate-speak at its best -- ranging from negotiation
terminology to the daily vernacular reflected in various industries found
in such words or phrases as "podcasts," "traction," "going nano,"
"hotspots," "blogging" and "mash-ups," among thousands more.
"This book will hopefully level the playing field for many people in
business or just getting started in the business world," said Gordon.
"Boardroom chatter is not necessarily a secret code but it's easy to feel
as though your colleagues are speaking an unfamiliar language. I've made it
easier to feel a part of the inner circle."
Gordon, who has held positions at some very prestigious companies
including The Coca-Cola Company, Sony Computer Entertainment America,
Universal McCann and Ubisoft Entertainment, recorded more than 15 years of
executive daily dialogue and interaction by listening to those around him
and attending meetings, conferences and interviews.
"Every profession and field has its own lexicon and jargon which needs
translation," commented Leigh Steinberg, CEO, Leigh Steinberg Enterprises.
"In the world of sports representation, language can either serve as either
a barrier or a bridge. With so many catch phrases in today's sports lingo,
one needs a vivid imagination just to keep up."
The book, BusiBUZZ(TM): Business Buzzwords For Survivin' and Thrivin'
in the Big City, is available for purchase on http://www.booksurge.com for $19.95
and will soon be available on Amazon.com. The ISBN number is:
1-4196-2124-6.
2006 NFL Draft - Sights And Sounds Before The Start Of The Draft
I took my camcorder on a kind of tour around the main theater of Radio City Music Hall just before the start of the NFL Draft. It was kind of like the crew of the Starship Enterprise preparing the big vessel before it leaves drydock. A cool scene.
During my rounds I reconnected with Todd Barnes, who, with Jerry Andersen formed the plans for the use of the Oakland / Alameda County Coliseum for the 2005 Super Bowl in1999-2000. He's a very nice person, who's landed well as the architect for the NFL. The segment where I almost ran into him wasn't fake -- it really happened.
I also feature Bill Chachkes, who as you know if you regularly read this has attended more NFL drafts than perhaps all but a handful of people in the room. I also catch ESPN's Mike Golic, who at the 2005 NFL Draft was tossing his cookies to the audience. No kidding. (He later told me that security really got on him for that, so he didn't do it this time.)
I also met Jerry Davis, Al Davis brother, whom I refered to earlier. You can see how much he's really like the man who runs the Oakland Raiders.
You also see both ESPN's crew and the NFL Network's hosts getting ready to go into action.
Along the tour one can gain a keen idea of the complexity of this massive production.
Here's the video:
During my rounds I reconnected with Todd Barnes, who, with Jerry Andersen formed the plans for the use of the Oakland / Alameda County Coliseum for the 2005 Super Bowl in1999-2000. He's a very nice person, who's landed well as the architect for the NFL. The segment where I almost ran into him wasn't fake -- it really happened.
I also feature Bill Chachkes, who as you know if you regularly read this has attended more NFL drafts than perhaps all but a handful of people in the room. I also catch ESPN's Mike Golic, who at the 2005 NFL Draft was tossing his cookies to the audience. No kidding. (He later told me that security really got on him for that, so he didn't do it this time.)
I also met Jerry Davis, Al Davis brother, whom I refered to earlier. You can see how much he's really like the man who runs the Oakland Raiders.
You also see both ESPN's crew and the NFL Network's hosts getting ready to go into action.
Along the tour one can gain a keen idea of the complexity of this massive production.
Here's the video:
Tiger Woods' Father Passes Of Prostate Cancer At 74 - I Feel His Pain
I just learned that Tiger Woods' father Earl Woods passed on from prostate cancer at 74. Last year, I lost both my father and stepfather to that something I hate so much.
For us a black men, hit hardest by prostate cancer, it's very important to get annual PSA level checks, eat as much fish as possible, stay fit and not overweight, and keep vitamins in our system and our blood pressure low.
I think we can beat this thing if we try.
Tiger's father got to see his son at his best. I'm sure he went to rest in peace.
For us a black men, hit hardest by prostate cancer, it's very important to get annual PSA level checks, eat as much fish as possible, stay fit and not overweight, and keep vitamins in our system and our blood pressure low.
I think we can beat this thing if we try.
Tiger's father got to see his son at his best. I'm sure he went to rest in peace.
2006 NFL Draft - "From A White Game To A Black Game" - S.I.'s Paul Zimmerman On The NFL Draft, Pro Football, and Katie Couric - Video
I had the pleasure of conducting an interview with the legendary Sports Illiustrated writer, Paul Zimmerman at the 2006 NFL Draft. While our conversation was short -- we were all getting ready for the drama that was to unfold after the Houston Texans officially annouced their selection of defensive lineman Mario Williams -- it was blunt, honest, illuminating, and fun.
Some of the highlight of our conversation: "If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available, and busted my hump to sign him. Maybe they did that...Football has changed from a white game to a black game. It's a speed game... If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available. Maybe they did that. Time will tell... You tell me. What has Katie Couric done for $15 million?"
Well, you get the idea. This was totally off the cuff. Paul didn't know this guy was going to come with with a camcorder and ask for an interview. We didn't go over exactly what was going to be asked. I just filmed our conversation. It was that simple.
For those of you who don't know who "Dr. Z" is, here's his bio from S.I.com:
"Paul Zimmerman, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated since 1979, videotapes and charts as many as eight NFL games a week from his home. It's safe to say that Dr. Z has watched more NFL games than any other person on the planet. In addition to his regular columns for SI, he contributes Insider, Power Rankings and Mailbag columns to SI.com.
Dr. Z is the author of seven books on the NFL, including The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football. His inside analysis and opinions are rooted in more than 50 years of playing and watching football.
As a 15-year-old, Zimmerman sparred with Ernest Hemingway in a Manhattan gym. He sustained four broken noses as an offensive lineman in high school (Horace Mann High in the Bronx, N.Y.), at two colleges (Stanford and Columbia) and for his Army team (the Western Area Command Rhinos, in Germany). He also played semi-professionally in New Jersey for the Paterson Pioneers and the Morristown Colonials.
Before joining SI, Zimmerman worked for the New York Journal-American and the New York World-Telegram & Sun, and spent 13 years at the New York Post, where he covered pro football and three Olympic Games. He was one of the few journalists to get close to the Israeli compound during the 1972 hostage-taking in Munich; he bucked two lines of security guards and took a rifle butt to the head.
Zimmerman and his wife, to whom he often refers in his columns on CNNSI.com, live in Mountain Lakes, N.J.
Dr. Z refered to his wife in our conversation, too.
Here's the video of my conversation with Paul Zimmerman:
Some of the highlight of our conversation: "If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available, and busted my hump to sign him. Maybe they did that...Football has changed from a white game to a black game. It's a speed game... If I were the Texans, I'd have taken the best player I thought was available. Maybe they did that. Time will tell... You tell me. What has Katie Couric done for $15 million?"
Well, you get the idea. This was totally off the cuff. Paul didn't know this guy was going to come with with a camcorder and ask for an interview. We didn't go over exactly what was going to be asked. I just filmed our conversation. It was that simple.
For those of you who don't know who "Dr. Z" is, here's his bio from S.I.com:
"Paul Zimmerman, a senior writer at Sports Illustrated since 1979, videotapes and charts as many as eight NFL games a week from his home. It's safe to say that Dr. Z has watched more NFL games than any other person on the planet. In addition to his regular columns for SI, he contributes Insider, Power Rankings and Mailbag columns to SI.com.
Dr. Z is the author of seven books on the NFL, including The Thinking Man's Guide to Pro Football. His inside analysis and opinions are rooted in more than 50 years of playing and watching football.
As a 15-year-old, Zimmerman sparred with Ernest Hemingway in a Manhattan gym. He sustained four broken noses as an offensive lineman in high school (Horace Mann High in the Bronx, N.Y.), at two colleges (Stanford and Columbia) and for his Army team (the Western Area Command Rhinos, in Germany). He also played semi-professionally in New Jersey for the Paterson Pioneers and the Morristown Colonials.
Before joining SI, Zimmerman worked for the New York Journal-American and the New York World-Telegram & Sun, and spent 13 years at the New York Post, where he covered pro football and three Olympic Games. He was one of the few journalists to get close to the Israeli compound during the 1972 hostage-taking in Munich; he bucked two lines of security guards and took a rifle butt to the head.
Zimmerman and his wife, to whom he often refers in his columns on CNNSI.com, live in Mountain Lakes, N.J.
Dr. Z refered to his wife in our conversation, too.
Here's the video of my conversation with Paul Zimmerman:
2006 NFL Draft - A Neat Sign-Off: Bill Chachkes Takes Us Out, NFL Network's Pat Kirwan and NLS John Murphy Give Views
While it's not the last video from the NFL Draft you'll see on this blog, it was the last one taken there. It's a sign off, and starts with Bill Chachkes of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com and Fieldposition.com and now nflbusinessblog.com signing off, Mel Kiper giving an opinion just as he's called away by someone at ESPN, NFL Network's Pat Kirwan providing his views, and John Murphy of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com chiming in as well.
In this, you'll not only get a view of Radio City Music Hall, but also an idea of just how many people are required to put on what really is a TV production. Also notice how fast everyone was working. That's because Radio City's security people kept coming by and asking us to pack up. It was a little much, especially considering that we had not received the on-paper results from the 7th and final round. Some draft attendees write down each pick. I did that last year; not this year and because the NFL's going to give them to us, and I figured I needed the time to produce video and blog content.
Here's the video:
In this, you'll not only get a view of Radio City Music Hall, but also an idea of just how many people are required to put on what really is a TV production. Also notice how fast everyone was working. That's because Radio City's security people kept coming by and asking us to pack up. It was a little much, especially considering that we had not received the on-paper results from the 7th and final round. Some draft attendees write down each pick. I did that last year; not this year and because the NFL's going to give them to us, and I figured I needed the time to produce video and blog content.
Here's the video:
Monday, May 01, 2006
John Kenneth Galbraith - Quotes
In what will be a series of posts in celebration of the man who so shaped my intellectual gantry, I am presenting this set of quotes by John Kenneth Galbraith, and that I found at www.brainyquote.com. They're worth remembering :
A bad book is the worse that it cannot repent. It has not been the devil's policy to keep the masses of mankind in ignorance; but finding that they will read, he is doing all in his power to poison their books.
John Kenneth Galbraith
A person buying ordinary products in a supermarket is in touch with his deepest emotions.
John Kenneth Galbraith
All of the great leaders have had one characteristic in common: it was the willingness to confront unequivocally the major anxiety of their people in their time. This, and not much else, is the essence of leadership.
John Kenneth Galbraith
All successful revolutions are the kicking in of a rotten door.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Anyone who says he won't resign four times, will.
John Kenneth Galbraith
By all but the pathologically romantic, it is now recognized that this is not the age of the small man.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Commencement oratory must eschew anything that smacks of partisan politics, political preference, sex, religion or unduly firm opinion. Nonetheless, there must be a speech: Speeches in our culture are the vacuum that fills a vacuum.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Economics is a subject profoundly conducive to cliche, resonant with boredom. On few topics is an American audience so practiced in turning off its ears and minds. And none can say that the response is ill advised.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Economics is extremely useful as a form of employment for economists.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Few people at the beginning of the nineteenth century needed an adman to tell them what they wanted.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Humor is richly rewarding to the person who employs it. It has some value in gaining and holding attention, but it has no persuasive value at all.
John Kenneth Galbraith
If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
John Kenneth Galbraith
If wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon the heart. The spirit should never grow old.
John Kenneth Galbraith
In all life one should comfort the afflicted, but verily, also, one should afflict the comfortable, and especially when they are comfortably, contentedly, even happily wrong.
John Kenneth Galbraith
In any great organization it is far, far safer to be wrong with the majority than to be right alone.
John Kenneth Galbraith
In economics, hope and faith coexist with great scientific pretension and also a deep desire for respectability.
John Kenneth Galbraith
In economics, the majority is always wrong.
John Kenneth Galbraith
In the choice between changing ones mind and proving there's no need to do so, most people get busy on the proof.
John Kenneth Galbraith
It is a far, far better thing to have a firm anchor in nonsense than to put out on the troubled seas of thought.
John Kenneth Galbraith
It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold people, or houses to the homeless.
John Kenneth Galbraith
It would be foolish to suggest that government is a good custodian of aesthetic goals. But, there is no alternative to the state.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Liberalism is, I think, resurgent. One reason is that more and more people are so painfully aware of the alternative.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Meetings are a great trap. Soon you find yourself trying to get agreement and then the people who disagree come to think they have a right to be persuaded. However, they are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Modesty is a vastly overrated virtue.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Money differs from an automobile or mistress in being equally important to those who have it and those who do not.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Money is a singular thing. It ranks with love as man's greatest source of joy. And with death as his greatest source of anxiety. Over all history it has oppressed nearly all people in one of two ways: either it has been abundant and very unreliable, or reliable and very scarce.
John Kenneth Galbraith
More die in the United States of too much food than of too little.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Much literary criticism comes from people for whom extreme specialization is a cover for either grave cerebral inadequacy or terminal laziness, the latter being a much cherished aspect of academic freedom.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Nothing is so admirable in politics as a short memory.
John Kenneth Galbraith
One of the greatest pieces of economic wisdom is to know what you do not know.
John Kenneth Galbraith
One of the little-celebrated powers of Presidents (and other high government officials) is to listen to their critics with just enough sympathy to ensure their silence.
John Kenneth Galbraith
People who are in a fortunate position always attribute virtue to what makes them so happy.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Politics is the art of choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Power is not something that can be assumed or discarded at will like underwear.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Several times I concluded that there was too much detail; always I returned to continue and enjoy the book.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Talk of revolution is one of avoiding reality.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The commencement speech is not, I think, a wholly satisfactory manifestation of our culture.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The conspicuously wealthy turn up urging the character building values of the privation of the poor.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The enemy of the conventional wisdom is not ideas but the march of events.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The great dialectic in our time is not, as anciently and by some still supposed, between capital and labor; it is between economic enterprise and the state.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The man who is admired for the ingenuity of his larceny is almost always rediscovering some earlier form of fraud. The basic forms are all known, have all been practiced. The manners of capitalism improve. The morals may not.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The Metropolis should have been aborted long before it became New York, London or Tokyo.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The process by which banks create money is so simple that the mind is repelled.
John Kenneth Galbraith
The salary of the chief executive of a large corporation is not a market award for achievement. It is frequently in the nature of a warm personal gesture by the individual to himself.
John Kenneth Galbraith
There are few ironclad rules of diplomacy but to one there is no exception. When an official reports that talks were useful, it can safely be concluded that nothing was accomplished.
John Kenneth Galbraith
There are times in politics when you must be on the right side and lose.
John Kenneth Galbraith
There is certainly no absolute standard of beauty. That precisely is what makes its pursuit so interesting.
John Kenneth Galbraith
There is something wonderful in seeing a wrong-headed majority assailed by truth.
John Kenneth Galbraith
There's a certain part of the contented majority who love anybody who is worth a billion dollars.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Total physical and mental inertia are highly agreeable, much more so than we allow ourselves to imagine. A beach not only permits such inertia but enforces it, thus neatly eliminating all problems of guilt. It is now the only place in our overly active world that does.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Under capitalism, man exploits man. Under communism, it's just the opposite.
John Kenneth Galbraith
War remains the decisive human failure.
John Kenneth Galbraith
We can safely abandon the doctrine of the eighties, namely that the rich were not working because they had too little money, the poor because they had much.
John Kenneth Galbraith
We have escapist fiction, so why not escapist biography?
John Kenneth Galbraith
Wealth is not without its advantages and the case to the contrary, although it has often been made, has never proved widely persuasive.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Wealth, in even the most improbable cases, manages to convey the aspect of intelligence.
John Kenneth Galbraith
You will find that the State is the kind of organization which, though it does big things badly, does small things badly, too.
John Kenneth Galbraith
Stephen Colbert Let's Loose On George Bush At Annual Dinner
This video's making the rounds on the blogsphere and for very good reason: it's really funny. What's equally hiliarious is the almost nervous reaction of the attendees at the White House Correspondents Dinner.
He hits just about everyone, including Joe Wilson, but saves his best stuff for President Bush.
After the attach, er, segment, President Bush seemed stone-faced, but then nice-face only to shake Colbert's hand. But watch Bush's expression after Colbert walks by.
Here's Part One....
and Part Two:
..Here's an article on the event, with a link at the title of this post:
Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner -- President Not Amused?
By E&P Staff
Published: April 29, 2006 11:40 PM ET updated Sunday
WASHINGTON A blistering comedy “tribute” to President Bush by Comedy Central’s faux talk-show host Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent Dinner Saturday night left George and Laura Bush unsmiling at its close.
Earlier, the president had delivered his talk to the 2,700 attendees, including many celebrities and top officials, with the help of a Bush impersonator.
Colbert, who spoke in the guise of his talk-show character, who ostensibly supports the president strongly, urged Bush to ignore his low approval ratings, saying they were based on reality, “and reality has a well-known liberal bias.”
He attacked those in the press who claim that the shake-up at the White House was merely re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. “This administration is soaring, not sinking,” he said. “If anything, they are re-arranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg.”
Colbert told Bush he could end the problem of protests by retired generals by refusing to let them retire. He compared Bush to Rocky Balboa in the “Rocky” movies, always getting punched in the face — “and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world.”
Turning to the war, he declared, "I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."
He noted former Ambassador Joseph Wilson in the crowd, just three tables away from Karl Rove, and that he had brought " Valerie Plame." Then, worried that he had named her, he corrected himself, as Bush aides might do, "Uh, I mean ... he brought Joseph Wilson's wife." He might have "dodged the bullet," he said, as prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald wasn't there.
Colbert also made biting cracks about missing WMDs, “photo ops” on aircraft carriers and at hurricane disasters, melting glaciers and Vice President Cheney shooting people in the face. He advised the crowd, "if anybody needs anything at their tables, speak slowly and clearly into your table numbers and somebody from the N.S.A. will be right over with a cocktail. "
Observing that Bush sticks to his principles, he said, "When the president decides something on Monday, he still believes it on Wednesday -- no matter what happened Tuesday."
Also lampooning the press, Colbert complained that he was “surrounded by the liberal media who are destroying this country, except for Fox News. Fox believes in presenting both sides of the story — the president’s side and the vice president’s side." In another slap at the news channel, he said: "I give people the truth, unfiltered by rational argument. I call it the No Fact Zone. Fox News, I own the copyright on that term."
He also reflected on the alleged good old days for the president, when the media was still swallowing the WMD story.
Addressing the reporters, he said, "Let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The president makes decisions, he’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know -- fiction."
He claimed that the Secret Service name for Bush's new press secretary is "Snow Job."
Colbert closed his routine with a video fantasy where he gets to be White House Press Secretary, complete with a special “Gannon” button on his podium. By the end, he had to run from Helen Thomas and her questions about why the U.S. really invaded Iraq and killed all those people.
As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling. The president shook his hand and tapped his elbow, and left immediately.
Those seated near Bush told E&P's Joe Strupp, who was elsewhere in the room, that Bush had quickly turned from an amused guest to an obviously offended target as Colbert’s comments brought up his low approval ratings and problems in Iraq.
Several veterans of past dinners, who requested anonymity, said the presentation was more directed at attacking the president than in the past. Several said previous hosts, like Jay Leno, equally slammed both the White House and the press corps.
“This was anti-Bush,” said one attendee. “Usually they go back and forth between us and him.” Another noted that Bush quickly turned unhappy. “You could see he stopped smiling about halfway through Colbert,” he reported.
After the gathering, Snow, while nursing a Heineken outside the Chicago Tribune reception, declined to comment on Colbert. “I’m not doing entertainment reviews,” he said. “I thought the president was great, though.”
Strupp, in the crowd during the Colbert routine, had observed that quite a few sitting near him looked a little uncomfortable at times, perhaps feeling the material was a little too biting -- or too much speaking "truthiness" (Colbert's made-up word) to power.
Asked by E&P after it was over if he thought he'd been too harsh, Colbert said, "Not at all." Was he trying to make a point politically or just get laughs? "Just for laughs," he said. He said he did not pull any material for being too strong, just for time reasons. (He later said the president told him "good job" when he walked off.)
Helen Thomas told Strupp her segment with Colbert was "just for fun."
In its report on the affair, USA Today asserted that some in the crowd cracked up over Colbert but others were "bewildered." Wolf Blitzer of CNN said he thought Colbert was funny and "a little on the edge."
Earlier, the president had addressed the crowd with a Bush impersonator alongside, with the faux-Bush speaking precisely and the real Bush deliberately mispronouncing words, such as the inevitable "nuclear." At the close, Bush called the imposter "a fine talent. In fact, he did all my debates with Senator Kerry." The routine went over well with this particular crowd -- better than did Colbert's, in fact, for whatever reason.
Among attendees at the black tie event: Morgan Fairchild, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Justice Antonin Scalia, George Clooney, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers -- in a kilt.
.
He hits just about everyone, including Joe Wilson, but saves his best stuff for President Bush.
After the attach, er, segment, President Bush seemed stone-faced, but then nice-face only to shake Colbert's hand. But watch Bush's expression after Colbert walks by.
Here's Part One....
and Part Two:
..Here's an article on the event, with a link at the title of this post:
Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner -- President Not Amused?
By E&P Staff
Published: April 29, 2006 11:40 PM ET updated Sunday
WASHINGTON A blistering comedy “tribute” to President Bush by Comedy Central’s faux talk-show host Stephen Colbert at the White House Correspondent Dinner Saturday night left George and Laura Bush unsmiling at its close.
Earlier, the president had delivered his talk to the 2,700 attendees, including many celebrities and top officials, with the help of a Bush impersonator.
Colbert, who spoke in the guise of his talk-show character, who ostensibly supports the president strongly, urged Bush to ignore his low approval ratings, saying they were based on reality, “and reality has a well-known liberal bias.”
He attacked those in the press who claim that the shake-up at the White House was merely re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. “This administration is soaring, not sinking,” he said. “If anything, they are re-arranging the deck chairs on the Hindenburg.”
Colbert told Bush he could end the problem of protests by retired generals by refusing to let them retire. He compared Bush to Rocky Balboa in the “Rocky” movies, always getting punched in the face — “and Apollo Creed is everything else in the world.”
Turning to the war, he declared, "I believe that the government that governs best is a government that governs least, and by these standards we have set up a fabulous government in Iraq."
He noted former Ambassador Joseph Wilson in the crowd, just three tables away from Karl Rove, and that he had brought " Valerie Plame." Then, worried that he had named her, he corrected himself, as Bush aides might do, "Uh, I mean ... he brought Joseph Wilson's wife." He might have "dodged the bullet," he said, as prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald wasn't there.
Colbert also made biting cracks about missing WMDs, “photo ops” on aircraft carriers and at hurricane disasters, melting glaciers and Vice President Cheney shooting people in the face. He advised the crowd, "if anybody needs anything at their tables, speak slowly and clearly into your table numbers and somebody from the N.S.A. will be right over with a cocktail. "
Observing that Bush sticks to his principles, he said, "When the president decides something on Monday, he still believes it on Wednesday -- no matter what happened Tuesday."
Also lampooning the press, Colbert complained that he was “surrounded by the liberal media who are destroying this country, except for Fox News. Fox believes in presenting both sides of the story — the president’s side and the vice president’s side." In another slap at the news channel, he said: "I give people the truth, unfiltered by rational argument. I call it the No Fact Zone. Fox News, I own the copyright on that term."
He also reflected on the alleged good old days for the president, when the media was still swallowing the WMD story.
Addressing the reporters, he said, "Let's review the rules. Here's how it works. The president makes decisions, he’s the decider. The press secretary announces those decisions, and you people of the press type those decisions down. Make, announce, type. Put them through a spell check and go home. Get to know your family again. Make love to your wife. Write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know -- fiction."
He claimed that the Secret Service name for Bush's new press secretary is "Snow Job."
Colbert closed his routine with a video fantasy where he gets to be White House Press Secretary, complete with a special “Gannon” button on his podium. By the end, he had to run from Helen Thomas and her questions about why the U.S. really invaded Iraq and killed all those people.
As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling. The president shook his hand and tapped his elbow, and left immediately.
Those seated near Bush told E&P's Joe Strupp, who was elsewhere in the room, that Bush had quickly turned from an amused guest to an obviously offended target as Colbert’s comments brought up his low approval ratings and problems in Iraq.
Several veterans of past dinners, who requested anonymity, said the presentation was more directed at attacking the president than in the past. Several said previous hosts, like Jay Leno, equally slammed both the White House and the press corps.
“This was anti-Bush,” said one attendee. “Usually they go back and forth between us and him.” Another noted that Bush quickly turned unhappy. “You could see he stopped smiling about halfway through Colbert,” he reported.
After the gathering, Snow, while nursing a Heineken outside the Chicago Tribune reception, declined to comment on Colbert. “I’m not doing entertainment reviews,” he said. “I thought the president was great, though.”
Strupp, in the crowd during the Colbert routine, had observed that quite a few sitting near him looked a little uncomfortable at times, perhaps feeling the material was a little too biting -- or too much speaking "truthiness" (Colbert's made-up word) to power.
Asked by E&P after it was over if he thought he'd been too harsh, Colbert said, "Not at all." Was he trying to make a point politically or just get laughs? "Just for laughs," he said. He said he did not pull any material for being too strong, just for time reasons. (He later said the president told him "good job" when he walked off.)
Helen Thomas told Strupp her segment with Colbert was "just for fun."
In its report on the affair, USA Today asserted that some in the crowd cracked up over Colbert but others were "bewildered." Wolf Blitzer of CNN said he thought Colbert was funny and "a little on the edge."
Earlier, the president had addressed the crowd with a Bush impersonator alongside, with the faux-Bush speaking precisely and the real Bush deliberately mispronouncing words, such as the inevitable "nuclear." At the close, Bush called the imposter "a fine talent. In fact, he did all my debates with Senator Kerry." The routine went over well with this particular crowd -- better than did Colbert's, in fact, for whatever reason.
Among attendees at the black tie event: Morgan Fairchild, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Justice Antonin Scalia, George Clooney, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter of the Doobie Brothers -- in a kilt.
.
John Kenneth Galbraith - My Hero Passed Away Over The Weekend
I'm going to write more later, but I just learned that Harvard Professor and well-noted writer John Kenneth Galbraith passed away over the weekend. He was the first public figure who caused me to entirely shift my interest in life to that of economics and specifically institutional economics.
More soon.
More soon.
Video - 2006 NFL Draft - Draft Analysis By Bill Chachkes, Eric Strauss, and Matt Shapiro
Three NFL Draft media veterans totalling 34 years of NFL Draft experience talked about the 2006 NFL Draft with me at Radio City Music Hall. Bill Chachkes (pictured) of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com and Fieldposition.com and now nflbusinessblog.com which you're reading, Eric Strauss of Raiderfans.net , and Matt Shapiro of cstv.com provide this really interesting take on the draft and which teams did well and why. I really enjoyed filming this. We even picked an interesting place, all the better to escape the loudspeakers.
As to their takes, it's varied and well worth listening to. It's also contains some opinions on where the draft was held, and other views you're not going to get anywhere else.
Here's the video:
2006 NFL Draft - It's Over And Too Bad
The NFL Draft finished with Paul Salada's read of the Oakland Raiders selection of Maine's Kevin McMahan as "Mr. Irrelevant" at as the 255th pick and all the while as fans were cheering for Marcus Vick to be that pick.
Best draft? Well, John Murphy of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com and a 10 year draft veteran says that "I really like New England for how they filled those long-term offensive needs with Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson... Cardinals have continued to add value across the board... Leinart, Lutui, Pope and then Gabe Watson who falls into the second day... Eagles have traded around and gotten excellent value, especially Winston Justice in round two... also like how the Broncos added a future starting QB in Jay Cutler and improved for this season by trading for wide receiver Javon Walker."
I've got a lot of video "in the can" as they say, and came away with some new friends and solidified some existing relationships. Longtime NFL Draftnik Bill Chackhes is joining my blog, and I welcome his knoweldge, wisdom, and charm. Now, if I can just get him to acitivate his Blogger account!
(Speaking of Blogger, I thought this little experiment of video / blogging went very well. With some tweaking, it will be huge next year.)
The NFL staff, as usual, were great to work with and feel like family to me. Radio City Music Hall was a great venue to hold the Draft and as I understand it better than the ballroom at Javitz because of the ceiling design there. I liked the space at Javitz but at Radio City everything and everyone was around me, as the videos will show.
Neat.
Stay tuned for a lot -- a large number -- of video clips and pictures. You'll love it.
Best draft? Well, John Murphy of www.nextlevelscoutinginc.com and a 10 year draft veteran says that "I really like New England for how they filled those long-term offensive needs with Laurence Maroney and Chad Jackson... Cardinals have continued to add value across the board... Leinart, Lutui, Pope and then Gabe Watson who falls into the second day... Eagles have traded around and gotten excellent value, especially Winston Justice in round two... also like how the Broncos added a future starting QB in Jay Cutler and improved for this season by trading for wide receiver Javon Walker."
I've got a lot of video "in the can" as they say, and came away with some new friends and solidified some existing relationships. Longtime NFL Draftnik Bill Chackhes is joining my blog, and I welcome his knoweldge, wisdom, and charm. Now, if I can just get him to acitivate his Blogger account!
(Speaking of Blogger, I thought this little experiment of video / blogging went very well. With some tweaking, it will be huge next year.)
The NFL staff, as usual, were great to work with and feel like family to me. Radio City Music Hall was a great venue to hold the Draft and as I understand it better than the ballroom at Javitz because of the ceiling design there. I liked the space at Javitz but at Radio City everything and everyone was around me, as the videos will show.
Neat.
Stay tuned for a lot -- a large number -- of video clips and pictures. You'll love it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)