According to this Federal Campaign Contribution Report I found, Tom Cruise has given $1,000 to Senator Barbara Boxer, $10,000 to Senator Hilary Clinton, $500 to Senator John Kerry, and others. All Dems.
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Tom Cruise' Poltical Contributions? He Like Senator Barbara Boxer - So Do I
According to this Federal Campaign Contribution Report I found, Tom Cruise has given $1,000 to Senator Barbara Boxer, $10,000 to Senator Hilary Clinton, $500 to Senator John Kerry, and others. All Dems.
Airbus A-380 - Think It's 100 Percent Foreign Made? Think Again
Some of it's parts are made or finished in America. Like the landing gear and wing pistons. The wing pistons were made by Southwest United Industries of Oklahoma.
Apprentice 5 Ratings Very Low - Worst In Show's History
I saw this in a recent article on Trump's idea to have viewers pick the Apprentice. The reason for the low number is simple: Jack Baeur. "24" is simply too hot to be beat by The Apprentice on Mondays.
NBC made a terrible mistake. Now, they're taking a beating in the ratings on Thursdays and Mondays, with no relief in site.
...Unless they move The Apprentice back to Thursday's ASAP.
Viewers Hired to Choose "Apprentice"
by Gina Serpe - E! Online
Mar 30, 2006, 11:50 AM PT
Donald Trump is taking a page from Simon Cowell's playbook.
The real estate mogul/reality TV star has announced a change in plans over how he'll choose his next Apprentice, allowing viewers to phone in votes on who they believe should be selected as the next mini-Trump.
"I'm very anxious to see who the fans choose for their favorite finalist--their decision could have a big effect on my ultimate decision," the Donald said in a statement.
But then again, it might not.
Unlike American Idol or other audience-dictated reality shows, viewers who cast their vote for one of The Apprentice's burgeoning businesspeople may not get the payoff they're expecting. The contestant who racks up the most votes will not automatically win the coveted apprenticeship--Trump will simply be made aware of the tally before making his final decision.
"Over the past four seasons of The Apprentice, Donald Trump has used the final episode to hire candidates with advice only from George and Carolyn," Mark Burnett, the show's creator and exec producer said. "This year we thought it would be interesting to discover what America has to say about the candidates, incorporating our fans and viewers as virtual judges.
"While Trump will still be the final arbiter of who he hires, America's feedback is certain to have an impact on his decision."
And, NBC hopes, his ratings.
Despite Trump's routine boasting of his show's ratings prowess, The Apprentice has dipped to an all-time low viewership, averaging just 9.9 million viewers since the fifth cycle kicked off last month. Last fall, The Apprentice 4 drew in a slightly higher 10.7 million viewers, down about 4 million from the previous installment. (With Martha Stewart's incarnation is long gone as a scapegoat, we're still waiting to see what excuse Trump will offer now to explain away his dismal Nielsen numbers.)
Viewers will be able to cast their vote for one of the final two candidates following the penultimate episode of the season via phone or by going online. As in years past, Trump will announce the winner in the live finale, during which he will also be presented with the results of the viewer vote.
The finale airs in June.
Cheney Gets Booed; Bush Poll Numbers Go Lower - What Do They Expect?
The bad news continues to fly in. The Vice President is booed at a baseball game -- again. President Bush has terrible and falling poll numbers.
It's clear to me what the problem is. They're too right-of-center to be in touch with the mood of America. 9-11 skewed all that's political and it's going to take three years to flush out the elected officials from office who don't see the economic and social problems we're facing in America and focus on them rather than the Mid East.
It's clear to me what the problem is. They're too right-of-center to be in touch with the mood of America. 9-11 skewed all that's political and it's going to take three years to flush out the elected officials from office who don't see the economic and social problems we're facing in America and focus on them rather than the Mid East.
Ty Law Considering Seattle Seahawks - Seahawks Looking At Ty Law - Seattle PI
Veteran Ty Law says Hawks offer chance to win
By CLARE FARNSWORTH
SEATTLE P-I REPORTER
KIRKLAND -- Ty Law has been to the pinnacle repeatedly, only to find the view obscured by what should have been.
During his 11-year NFL career, Law has been on four Super Bowl teams, voted to the Pro Bowl five times and led the league in interceptions twice -- including last season, his first with the New York Jets after playing 10 years with the New England Patriots.
It's not enough. The free-agent cornerback desires more, and can see himself achieving it as a member of the Seahawks.
"What's there left for me to do? There's a whole lot left to do," Law said Monday during a telephone interview from an airport in Florida, where he was catching a plane to New York City to visit his 6-year-old daughter, Tya.
"I've made five Pro Bowls. I should have made nine, because I feel I got ripped off for four others," he added. "The last time I went to the Super Bowl (after the 2004 season with the Patriots), I feel like I got shorted because I didn't get to play in that game.
"So I'm still trying to play catch-up. That's just what I do with my own psyche, to want to improve."
Law visited the Seahawks last week, and liked what he saw and heard.
After he departed, coach Mike Holmgren raised what seem to be the two biggest factors in signing Law: What does he have left mentally as well as physically; and how much will it cost to have him playing opposite Marcus Trufant in 2006 as the Seahawks defend their NFC championship?
Law chuckled when informed that Holmgren had said, "The great ones don't come cheap."
"Mike's been around," Law said. "He knows how it goes. As great a coach as he is, he doesn't come cheap, either."
As for being 32 and seemingly having nothing left to prove -- or play for -- it was as if Law had been waiting for someone to broach that subject.
"I want to play football," he said. "I love to compete. I'm confident in my abilities. I can be a big assist to any team. This 'old man' has something left in his tank."
More significantly, Law's actions speak louder than his words.
During the offseason, he leaves his material trappings in Florida and moves into a corporate apartment in St. Louis to work out with renowned track and field coach Bob Kersee -- whose wife, Jackie Joyner Kersee, won five medals in three Olympics in the heptathlon and long jump.
"Actually, the decision to work with Bob came from being overlooked," Law said. "I figured it was something that could take me to the next level."
It did. His first offseason with Kersee in 1998 led to Law's first Pro Bowl selection that season.
Law and his agent also are talking with the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and Patriots. But Law likes his chances of adding to his legacy with the Seahawks.
"Although I did have a season no one thought I would have last year, it just didn't satisfy me at all," he said of intercepting 10 passes and being voted to the Pro Bowl for the 4-12 Jets.
"I'm used to winning. So the objective is to go somewhere with a chance to compete and an opportunity to win. I really, really want an opportunity to win again, and I definitely think that could come in Seattle."
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
America's Shame: Black Urban Communities Like Third World Countries
I'm glad CNN's exposing this, but the best examples of modern racism are not in what we say, but what we do. In this case, what we've done is permitted the private sector to avoid investing in the poorest areas of the inner city. Moreover, urban economic development programs have largely failed our cities. They're better at drawing big developers than creating a foundation for small business investment and growth.
Terrible. And with no end in sight.
Texans Pondering Bush Or Young - What's This About Indy and A Trade? - Houston Chronicle
ON PRO FOOTBALL
A Young-Bush debate in Nashville? Hmm . . .
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Let's see if we can get this straight. The Texans are going to give Bud Adams a choice between Vince Young and Reggie Bush?
Based on their recent flirtation with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the Texans may be putting themselves in position to be haunted for years by Young or Bush.
The only thing that could be worse than Young's going to Tennessee would be Indianapolis' pulling off a trade to get Bush. Then four times each season, the Texans could play against one of the stars they passed up.
The more we think about the Texans' recent interest in Williams — the best defensive player in the draft, by the way — the more it makes sense. They're going to need an impact defensive player to chase Young all over the field twice a season for, say, the next 10 years.
Bush, who is one of the greatest prospects in history, can do a lot of things — leap tall buildings in a single bound, for instance — but he can't harass Young when Young leads the Titans against his hometown team twice a season.
Today, Young makes what could be the first of many trips from Houston to Nashville. The Titans are rolling out the red carpet for Young and agent Major Adams.
The Adams & Adams Show
If Tennessee uses the third pick in the draft on Young, his agent is going to become so close to Bud Adams that people might start to believe they're related.
Just think. Rather than throw up the Horns with Austin sideline buddies like Matthew McConaughey and Roger Clemens, Young can hang out with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Victoria's own Cowboy Troy.
Houstonians can be sure that Adams — Bud, not Major — has been sitting behind his desk in his Galleria-area skyscraper soaking in all the Vince Young controversy.
The Budster knows that University of Texas fans — not to mention many others — want the Texans to use the top pick on Young.
He knows when the Texans select Bush or Williams (yeah, right!) that a lot of Houstonians are going to be so angry they'll be seeing burnt orange. He also knows that if the Titans draft Young, he'll get some UT fans from Austin to go with the UT fans he already has from Knoxville, Tenn.
If Adams pays attention to the national media, he'll see that many reporters believe Matt Leinart is a higher-rated prospect than Young. But if Adams needs to make a case for Young over Leinart, no matter how he crunches the numbers, they'll always look like this: 41-38, 266, 200.
And, Bud, that's not the combination to a safe.
Titans' contracts expiring
For more than a decade, Adams has been letting general manager Floyd Reese make personnel decisions, with input from coach Jeff Fisher. But Reese is in the last year of his contract. So is Fisher, although the team has an option year for the coach.
If Adams were to suggest to Reese and Fisher that he thinks the Titans might be better off drafting Young, they're not in position to put up much of a fight. Not that they would, anyway, because both already know what an incredible prospect Young is — just like Bush.
The Titans also have two injury-prone running backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry. If the Texans were to actually draft Williams before New Orleans used the second pick on offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Tennessee would have a difficult decision.
Young or Bush.
Bush or Young.
Thank you, Houston.
No matter what the Texans do with the first pick — Bush or Williams (get serious!) — it says here that when the Titans make the third pick, The Eyes of Texas will be on Tennessee.
John McClain covers the Texans and the NFL for the Chronicle. john.mcclain@chron.com.
A Young-Bush debate in Nashville? Hmm . . .
By JOHN MCCLAIN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
Let's see if we can get this straight. The Texans are going to give Bud Adams a choice between Vince Young and Reggie Bush?
Based on their recent flirtation with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams, the Texans may be putting themselves in position to be haunted for years by Young or Bush.
The only thing that could be worse than Young's going to Tennessee would be Indianapolis' pulling off a trade to get Bush. Then four times each season, the Texans could play against one of the stars they passed up.
The more we think about the Texans' recent interest in Williams — the best defensive player in the draft, by the way — the more it makes sense. They're going to need an impact defensive player to chase Young all over the field twice a season for, say, the next 10 years.
Bush, who is one of the greatest prospects in history, can do a lot of things — leap tall buildings in a single bound, for instance — but he can't harass Young when Young leads the Titans against his hometown team twice a season.
Today, Young makes what could be the first of many trips from Houston to Nashville. The Titans are rolling out the red carpet for Young and agent Major Adams.
The Adams & Adams Show
If Tennessee uses the third pick in the draft on Young, his agent is going to become so close to Bud Adams that people might start to believe they're related.
Just think. Rather than throw up the Horns with Austin sideline buddies like Matthew McConaughey and Roger Clemens, Young can hang out with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban and Victoria's own Cowboy Troy.
Houstonians can be sure that Adams — Bud, not Major — has been sitting behind his desk in his Galleria-area skyscraper soaking in all the Vince Young controversy.
The Budster knows that University of Texas fans — not to mention many others — want the Texans to use the top pick on Young.
He knows when the Texans select Bush or Williams (yeah, right!) that a lot of Houstonians are going to be so angry they'll be seeing burnt orange. He also knows that if the Titans draft Young, he'll get some UT fans from Austin to go with the UT fans he already has from Knoxville, Tenn.
If Adams pays attention to the national media, he'll see that many reporters believe Matt Leinart is a higher-rated prospect than Young. But if Adams needs to make a case for Young over Leinart, no matter how he crunches the numbers, they'll always look like this: 41-38, 266, 200.
And, Bud, that's not the combination to a safe.
Titans' contracts expiring
For more than a decade, Adams has been letting general manager Floyd Reese make personnel decisions, with input from coach Jeff Fisher. But Reese is in the last year of his contract. So is Fisher, although the team has an option year for the coach.
If Adams were to suggest to Reese and Fisher that he thinks the Titans might be better off drafting Young, they're not in position to put up much of a fight. Not that they would, anyway, because both already know what an incredible prospect Young is — just like Bush.
The Titans also have two injury-prone running backs in Chris Brown and Travis Henry. If the Texans were to actually draft Williams before New Orleans used the second pick on offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, Tennessee would have a difficult decision.
Young or Bush.
Bush or Young.
Thank you, Houston.
No matter what the Texans do with the first pick — Bush or Williams (get serious!) — it says here that when the Titans make the third pick, The Eyes of Texas will be on Tennessee.
John McClain covers the Texans and the NFL for the Chronicle. john.mcclain@chron.com.
Confirmed - Leinart Bolted Leigh Steinberg - Story Broke By Nikki Finke's Daily Deadline
Here's the story by Nikki below and linked to via the title of this post. ESPN did not break this story.
EXCLUSIVE: USC Megastar QB Matt Leinart Leaving Steinberg, Going to CAA?
EXCLUSIVE: I've just learned that USC megastar quarterback Matt Leinart sent a termination letter late last night to his reknown sports agent, Newport Beach's Leigh Steinberg who just signed him in January. Steinberg confirmed this to me today. This is huge news considering that the NFL draft is on April 29, and Leinart is expected to be the No. 2 pick behind USC running back Reggie Bush. (Both are Heisman Trophy winners.) But what makes this an even bigger story is that sources tell me that Leinart is expected to soon sign for his multimillion dollar football contract negotiations with CAA, a first for the Hollywood talent agency in this arena. The agency has daily contact with the sports celeb because it already represents him for marketing deals like off-the-field endorsements, licensing, autograph shows, public appearances and charity work.
Leinart signed with CAA a week before signing with Steinberg in January; at the time, a CAA spokesman told Advertising Age that the agency was not about to open a sports division. But on April 5th, CAA hired IMG football agent powerhouse Tom Condon as well as IMG football rep Ken Kremer. (Yesterday, CAA also signed IMG baseball agent Casey Close, who reps Derek Jeter.) I'm told that, interestingly, Leinert had earlier met with Condon at IMG and rejected him in favor of Steinberg. Steinberg is best known for having repped the first pick in the NFL draft eight times and specializing in QBs (Steve Young, Warren Moon and Troy Aikman, Ben Roethlisberger and Mark Brunell have been or are clients). Condon, who reps QBs Peyton and Eli Manning, has repped the first draft pick the past two years running (Eli Manning in 2004 and Alex Smith in 2005). "But this year, he got nobody. He lost the competition for Matt Leinart first time around," an insider told me. I'm told CAA's first move with Condon, one of IMG founder Mark McCormack's business-is-war acolytes, aboard was to take Leinart away from Steinberg even though there was no discord in the agent-client relationship. But this does mean war now between CAA and other sports agents since the Hollywood agency is hellbent on going after superstar athletes' sports contract business, no longer content to just market sports stars. But it's a reminder of CAA's cunning legacy under Michael Ovitz, who said he wasn't going into the advertising business when he signed Coca Cola to a consultancy contract but then started making commercials for the soft drink giant.
Officially, CAA can not comment one way or another whether they have Leinart in the fold already. Under league rules, Leinart's termination letter sets in motion the five-day rule, meaning that for the next five days Steinberg (left) is still legally the QB's sports agent. (Leinart also filed the necessary paperwork with the players' union yesterday.) Of course, the rules also state that, while Steinberg had this client, no other sports agents were supposed to be talking to Leinart. And, as things stand now, no agent is supposed to contact Leinart until the five days have expired. So then how come sources are telling me that Leinart is about to switch to CAA for sports repping? "You have to make the assumption that they went to him the minute they got Condon. But how do you make the tampering case against CAA here?" one source told me. "They do it in Hollywood. They're not supposed to do it in football. It's totally against the guidelines. It's totally illegal to talk to someone who's represented about switching. The point is rarely is a case like this brought. How do you prove it?"
I'm told the phrase "sons of bitches" to describe CAA was floating around Steinberg's office after receiving Leinart's letter of termination. Ironically, USC offensive tackle Winston Justice fired Steinberg late last week because he felt Steinberg focused all his time on his other Trojan client, I hear. With his heartthrob good looks and impressive athleticism, Leinart is expected to become a twofer cash cow both in his football contract and his endorsement potential. That's incentive enough for CAA to steamroll over anything and anyone to get Leinart as a full-service client. Steinberg's the first road kill.
Latino's March Against Bush and Republican Immigration Policies - Blacks, People of Color, and Women Should Join Them
My view is that we should make it easier to become an American citizen. Also, the new Americans are not "taking jobs" from others, because the jobs they go after aren't posted on Monster.com nor do they call for W-2 forms. They're odd tasks that someone comes up with at the moment. The "taking" idea is silly.
HOUSTON, Texas (Reuters) -- Massive street marches to protest a proposed crackdown on illegal immigration have energized U.S. Hispanics and may signal a new day of Hispanic political involvement.
The demonstrations, which attracted both legal and illegal residents across the country, mean politicians may face an angry Hispanic electorate in which Republicans would be the biggest losers, activists said on Monday.
Half a million people marched in Los Angeles two weeks ago, and another half a million protested in Dallas on Sunday. On Monday, there were smaller marches in more than 60 cities, all to express displeasure with proposed legislation in Washington aimed at clamping down on illegal immigration.(Watch how the rallies could change the political landscape -- 2:28)
As happened in Los Angeles, the Dallas march stunned the organizers, who expected only 20,000 people in politically conservative Texas.
"Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine half a million people marching in a city that has 1.2 million people," said Lydia Gonzalez Welch, a board member with the League of United Latin American Citizens, or LULAC, which promoted the so-called Mega March.
"The feeling of celebration and amazement yesterday was powerful and we will make sure that power continues to be demonstrated and the local leaders will feel it," she said.
"This is the first real social movement, bottom-up,
grass-roots movement of the 21st century," longtime Hispanic activist and university professor Jose Angel Gutierrez told the Dallas Morning News.
Flexing what it hopes is new political muscle, LULAC, the largest U.S. Hispanic organization, called for supporters to boycott stores Monday and not go to work, but the results were not clear.
Organizers at all the marches, with an eye to future elections, encouraged protesters who are citizens to register to vote. They urged illegal immigrants, who cannot vote, to push those who can to exercise their right.
"We will see this transfer into political power. If we cannot change their minds, we will change them (politicians)," said Elias Bermudez, head of advocacy group Immigrants Without Borders, at a march in Phoenix, Arizona.
40 million Hispanics
There are 40 million Hispanics in the United States, although due to age and legal status, just 13 million are eligible to vote.
Of those, only 60 percent are registered to vote and turnout at the polls is usually lower than among whites and blacks, experts say.
But they are concentrated in key states such as California, Texas and Florida and, by 2020, the number of Hispanic voters nationally is expected to top 20 million.
Democrats stand to gain most from new Hispanic involvement because political analysts say that, typically, two-thirds of Hispanics vote for their party.
Despite exuberance among activists, greater Hispanic political activism is not assured because the Hispanic population is not a political monolith, experts say.
While U.S.-born Hispanics are largely sympathetic to illegal immigrants, a Pew Hispanic Center survey found that a third of them feel illegal immigrants drive wages down.
Republicans have made gains in attracting Hispanics, but could lose ground by pushing a harder line against illegal immigrants, said Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson in Dallas.
They "should take a deep breath here, and ask themselves what a failure to deal with the concerns of immigrants both legal and illegal will mean for the Republican Party," he said.
Republican political consultant Bill Miller in Austin agreed the party is in a difficult position.
"It's a real high risk situation for Republicans, and it's almost all down side," he said. "There is no more sacred issue to Hispanics."
Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Leigh Steinberg Reportely Fired By USC Quarterback Matt Leinart
I'm rather surprised by this move, as Leigh's a good agent. But from what I'm reading in a number of areas, Leinart seems to think he should be the number one pick of the NFL Draft and go to the Houston Texans.
Obviously someone's really fibbing to Matt regarding his chances of being drafted either by the Texans, Saints, or Jets. His best bet is with the Gang Green, but even they may select Jay Cutler, who tests as well as Leinart in workouts.
If Tom Condon, who was hired by Hollywood Agency CAA, told Leinart he could get the Texans to sign him over Reggie Bush, that would be a terrible lie, or the dumbest action the Texans could take. But if the Texans are thinking of trading the pick, anything could happen. But Matt will not be the first selection of the 2006 NFL Draft.
I wonder how much this is connected with Leinart's showing up at events like The Atlanta Playboy Party. I wonder if Leigh was just trying to reign his client in and it became too much for the USC Prima.
We'll find out soon.
Obviously someone's really fibbing to Matt regarding his chances of being drafted either by the Texans, Saints, or Jets. His best bet is with the Gang Green, but even they may select Jay Cutler, who tests as well as Leinart in workouts.
If Tom Condon, who was hired by Hollywood Agency CAA, told Leinart he could get the Texans to sign him over Reggie Bush, that would be a terrible lie, or the dumbest action the Texans could take. But if the Texans are thinking of trading the pick, anything could happen. But Matt will not be the first selection of the 2006 NFL Draft.
I wonder how much this is connected with Leinart's showing up at events like The Atlanta Playboy Party. I wonder if Leigh was just trying to reign his client in and it became too much for the USC Prima.
We'll find out soon.
Matt Leinart At Playboy Party In Atlanta During Cable Convention - Sees Ex Girlfriend and Gets Jealous - From MySpace
I found this on a MySpace post on tghe site of a guy who calls himself "Doubledown!" (david2d) and lives in Atlanta. The actual post can be seen with a click on the title post link above.
For those who like stories, here it goes:
My friend from CNN took a job a several months ago as a VP for Playboy. We met up a last month in Miami (WMC) and then again last Saturday as he was in Atlanta for a cable tv convention. He sent me an invite for this Playboy party that they'd be sponsoring during the National Show. Well, I've been to 3-4 Playboy parties and they were are virtual hoax they sucked so bad. However, as time neared, it became apparent that this was going to be the actual Playboy Enterprises, not local girls with buddy-ears on.
I invited a couple of girls and put everyone on the list. Both invited wingmen couldn't make it. This was no time for the B-list, so I figured I'd just hangout with the girls. One came early but had to leave, the other came so late that she missed the entire fashion show and most of the rockparty that followed (both of which were too great for words).
Anyway, back to the story. The first girl is one I meet at the best-of-the-best tryouts (some reality show for models) a few weeks prior. I invited her out a few times but always got the "oh, wish I could, call me next time!" response....I'm no rookie, she probably has a boyfriend...but who cares! She's a 6'0 stunning beauty who answers when I call, so she's always invited. Anyway she meets me there around 10pm. I introduce her to the VP, we get some drinks, vip bands, it's totally on!! She's hotter than 90% of the girls working the event.
I claim the sweetest table there and we start having a blast (James's lawyer friend was with me and had 2 hotties with him also). Once we set-up shop, two cameramen start taking pics of us. The show hadn't started yet, so everyone was just watching us. All of a sudden Matt Leinart walks up, cool right? The Heisman winner and soon to be top5 pick in NFL! Well he goes right to Jessica, they hug and start talking like they know each other. (Ok, I really need to start asking people more questions...didn't know, or remember, that she was from LA). Turns out she dated him - during the national championship season! As an LSU fan I threw-up in my mouth a little when I heard that, but I was ready to move-on and party. She wasn't.
There must have been a lot of unresolved issues because it ruined both of their nights! They both got pale and neither could shake it off. *He didn't know she lived here - and - she had no reason to suspect he'd be at the freakin Atlanta Playboy party for a cable tv convention.* The karma was so bad that she left and my crew broke into pieces. James was working the big wigs, so I was all alone for like 45 mins during the party of the freaking year.
Leinart didn't seem to like me, obviously thought I was dating his ex. Haha sucka! Anyway, VP James, the girls, and the lawyer all showed up separately but at the exact same time. Then Brandon (listed on myspace friends) stepped-in as my dependable wingman and it was back on! Great, great, great, great party! Forgot my camera but here's treo phone pic of the ice sculpture...will update this if can get my hands on one of those paparazzi photos early on.
NFL COMMISSIONER SEARCH COMMITTEE APPOINTED
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WWW.NFLMedia.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-21 4/5/06
COMMISSIONER SEARCH COMMITTEE APPOINTED
NFL Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE appointed an eight-member committee to lead the
search for a new commissioner, the NFL announced today.
The eight members of the committee are:
• Al Davis, Oakland Raiders
• Lamar Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
• Woody Johnson, New York Jets
• Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys
• Robert Kraft, New England Patriots
• Mike McCaskey, Chicago Bears
• Jerry Richardson, Carolina Panthers
• Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jerry Richardson and Dan Rooney will serve as co-chairs of the committee.
Commissioner Tagliabue announced on March 20 that he will retire by the end of July.
The next regularly scheduled league meeting will take place on May 23-24 in Denver.
# # #
Monday, April 10, 2006
John Kerry Sends Email Asking President Bush To "Tell The Truth" About Iraq
I just got this email from the office of Senator John Kerry
Dear Zenophon,
"Tell the truth. Fire the incompetents. Get out of Iraq. Have health care for all Americans. These are pretty simple messages, and they're worth fighting for today."
That's what I said yesterday when I appeared on "Meet the Press" to push our call for two deadlines and an exit from Iraq.
You and I both know it will take a massive citizen effort to force a President bogged down in this war to change his course - but doing so is our moral responsibility.
I urge you to join me today in calling for the withdrawal of American combat troops by the end of 2006 - and sooner than that if Iraqi politicians allow the civil war to grow and continue to delay, squabble and jockey for their own political turf while our brave soldiers sacrifice life and limb every day to create the conditions for democracy.
Sign our Out of Iraq in 2006 Petition Now
Fortunately, more and more people are stepping forward to join in our call to bring our troops home by the end of this year. Political leaders like Russ Feingold, Max Cleland, and Gary Hart have endorsed our plan -- and grassroots support for our call to action is growing.
Still, the President and his administration remain frozen in place, boxed in by George W. Bush's stubborn refusal to admit that he has America on the wrong course in Iraq. The President seems content to endlessly wait for various political factions in Iraq to get their act together.
That's totally unacceptable. And you and I have a moral responsibility to do everything in our power to make George W. Bush do what he likes to do the least - and that's confront reality head-on.
Sign our Out of Iraq in 2006 Petition Now
I'm not suggesting that this will be easy. The fact is, it would be far easier to challenge the President on other topics if all we were interested in is scoring political points.
But, no one in 2006 -- Democratic or Republican, liberal or conservative -- can refuse to step forward and offer clear ideas on Iraq. And, with 133,000 courageous American men and women putting their lives on the line for democracy in Iraq, it is essential for you and other members of our three-million person johnkerry.com community to take action.
I need you to join me in leading an all-out effort to turn this President's wrong-headed policy on Iraq around. And ask your friends and family to do the same by forwarding this email to them.
Sign our Out of Iraq in 2006 Petition Now
Our soldiers have done their jobs. They can't resolve political differences between Iraqis in an escalating civil war. It can't be done militarily; it can't be done from a Humvee or a helicopter. It can only be accomplished by a dramatic change of course, turning away from George W. Bush's aimless "stay for as long as it takes" approach. You and I have to try to make this administration change their approach before it's too late.
I urge you not to wait another day before signing onto this profoundly important fight for a better way.
Sincerely,
John Kerry
P.S. Late Saturday night I went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. The Wall is a powerful reminder of our moral obligation to tell the truth. As you walk down the ramp, you find yourself literally engulfed as the Wall, tens of thousands of names etched on it, gets higher and higher.
There are far too many people whose names are on the Wall who died after leaders in Washington knew that our policy wasn't working. We need to get Iraq right for our soldiers today before we let history repeat itself.
NFL TO IMPLEMENT "FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING"
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
WWW.NFLMedia.com
NFL TO IMPLEMENT "FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING" DURING
SEVEN OF FINAL EIGHT SUNDAYS OF 2006 SEASON
ALLOWS TEAMS TO PLAY THEIR WAY ONTO NBC SUNDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE
The NFL this season will implement for the first time in its history a primetime "flexible scheduling"
element on Sundays in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17.
Flexible scheduling will ensure quality matchups on Sunday night in those weeks and give surprise
teams a chance to play their way onto primetime.
The 2006 NFL schedule will list start times for all Sunday games during the "flex" weeks as 1:00 PM
ET, except for games played in the Mountain or Pacific Time zones, which will be listed at 4:05 PM ET
or 4:15 PM ET.
The NBC Sunday night time slot for "flex" weeks will list teams as "TBD."
Only Sunday afternoon games are eligible to be moved. Flexible scheduling will not be applied to
games airing on Thursday, Saturday or Monday nights.
Just as the six major college football conferences have done for many years, the NFL now will have
additional flexibility to move the start times of games on Sundays, using a 12-day notice format.
For example, a game scheduled for Sunday, November 26 could move from a 1:00 PM ET kickoff to
an 8:15 PM start, but the change would be made and announced no later than Tuesday, November
14.
The NFL has commonly moved games between 1:00 PM ET and 4:15 PM ET (eight times last
season) on Sunday afternoons. The new practice allows the NFL to employ flexible scheduling to
include one of its primetime package of games – on Sunday evenings.
Sunday afternoon games, as in the past, can still be moved between 1:00 and 4:05 or 4:15 PM ET.
In Week 17, in order to ensure a Sunday night game with playoff implications, the decision to move
the start time may be made on six days notice.
CBS and FOX will each be able to protect a total of five games in the seven weeks of flexible
scheduling, but not more than one game in any week.
During the 2005 regular season, the NFL conducted a study with mock flexible scheduling. An eightperson
task force consisting of team executives, one from each division, was consulted on a weekly
basis. In addition, television network partners and the NFL's broadcasting department participated
weekly in the process.
-- more --
"NFL Flexible Scheduling 101"
- Begins Sunday, November 12, 2006 (Week 10)
- In effect Weeks 10-15 and Week 17.
- Not in effect Week 16 due to holiday weekend.
- Only Sunday afternoon games in Weeks 10-15 and 17 are subject to being
moved into the Sunday night window.
- The majority of games on Sundays will be listed at 1:00 PM ET during flex weeks
except for games played in Pacific or Mountain Time zones which will be listed
at 4:05 or 4:15 PM ET.
- No impact on Thursday, Saturday or Monday night games.
- The NFL will decide (after consultation with CBS, FOX, NBC) and announce on
12 days notice the game being moved to 8:15 p.m. ET and may also announce
games moving to 4:15 p.m. ET.
- Week 17 start time changes could be decided on 6 days notice to ensure a game
with playoff implications.
- The NBC Sunday night time slot in "flex" weeks will list teams as "TBD."
- Fans and ticket holders must be aware that NFL games in flex weeks are subject
to change 12 days in advance (6 days in Week 17) and should plan accordingly.
- NFL schedules all games.
- CBS and FOX each get to protect a total of 5 games in the 7 weeks of flexible
scheduling, but not more than one game in any week.
- Teams will be informed as soon as they are no longer under consideration or
eligible for a move to Sunday night.
# # #
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Bush Ordered CIA Leak: MSNBC
Libby: Bush himself authorized leak on Iraq
Former Cheney aide says president OK’d giving prewar intel to media
EXCLUSIVELY ON MSNBC.COM
Updated: 1:11 p.m. ET April 6, 2006
WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney’s former top aide told prosecutors that President Bush authorized the leak of sensitive intelligence information about Iraq, according to court papers filed by prosecutors in the CIA leak case.
Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure of information to reporters about prewar intelligence on Iraq.
The authorization came as the Bush administration faced mounting criticism about its failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the main reason the president and his aides had given for going to war.
Libby’s participation in a critical conversation with Miller on July 8, 2003, “occurred only after the vice president advised defendant that the president specifically had authorized defendant to disclose certain information in the National Intelligence Estimate,” the papers by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald stated. The filing did not specify the “certain information.”
'Unique' circumstances
“Defendant testified that the circumstances of his conversation with reporter Miller — getting approval from the president through the vice president to discuss material that would be classified but for that approval — were unique in his recollection,” the papers added.
Libby is asking for voluminous amounts of classified information from the government in order to defend himself against five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI in the Plame affair.
He is accused of making false statements about how he learned of Plame’s CIA employment and what he told reporters about it.
Her CIA status was publicly disclosed eight days after her husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, accused the Bush administration of twisting prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat from weapons of mass destruction.
In 2002, Wilson had been dispatched to Africa by the CIA to check out intelligence that Iraq had an agreement to acquire uranium yellowcake from Niger, and Wilson had concluded that there was no such arrangement.
Libby says he needs extensive classified files from the government to demonstrate that Plame’s CIA connection was a peripheral matter that he never focused on, and that the role of Wilson’s wife was a small piece in a building public controversy over the failure to find WMD in Iraq.
Fitzgerald said in the new court filing that Libby’s requests for information go too far and the prosecutor cited Libby’s own statements to investigators in an attempt to limit the amount of information the government must turn over to Cheney’s former chief of staff for his criminal defense.
According to Miller’s grand jury testimony, Libby told her about Plame’s CIA status in the July 8, 2003, conversation that took place shortly after the White House aide — according to the new court filing — was authorized by Bush through Cheney to disclose sensitive intelligence about Iraq and WMD contained in a National Intelligence Estimate.
The court filing was first disclosed by The New York Sun.
Former Cheney aide says president OK’d giving prewar intel to media
EXCLUSIVELY ON MSNBC.COM
Updated: 1:11 p.m. ET April 6, 2006
WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney’s former top aide told prosecutors that President Bush authorized the leak of sensitive intelligence information about Iraq, according to court papers filed by prosecutors in the CIA leak case.
Before his indictment, I. Lewis Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information and that it was Bush who authorized the disclosure of information to reporters about prewar intelligence on Iraq.
The authorization came as the Bush administration faced mounting criticism about its failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, the main reason the president and his aides had given for going to war.
Libby’s participation in a critical conversation with Miller on July 8, 2003, “occurred only after the vice president advised defendant that the president specifically had authorized defendant to disclose certain information in the National Intelligence Estimate,” the papers by Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald stated. The filing did not specify the “certain information.”
'Unique' circumstances
“Defendant testified that the circumstances of his conversation with reporter Miller — getting approval from the president through the vice president to discuss material that would be classified but for that approval — were unique in his recollection,” the papers added.
Libby is asking for voluminous amounts of classified information from the government in order to defend himself against five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI in the Plame affair.
He is accused of making false statements about how he learned of Plame’s CIA employment and what he told reporters about it.
Her CIA status was publicly disclosed eight days after her husband, former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson, accused the Bush administration of twisting prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat from weapons of mass destruction.
In 2002, Wilson had been dispatched to Africa by the CIA to check out intelligence that Iraq had an agreement to acquire uranium yellowcake from Niger, and Wilson had concluded that there was no such arrangement.
Libby says he needs extensive classified files from the government to demonstrate that Plame’s CIA connection was a peripheral matter that he never focused on, and that the role of Wilson’s wife was a small piece in a building public controversy over the failure to find WMD in Iraq.
Fitzgerald said in the new court filing that Libby’s requests for information go too far and the prosecutor cited Libby’s own statements to investigators in an attempt to limit the amount of information the government must turn over to Cheney’s former chief of staff for his criminal defense.
According to Miller’s grand jury testimony, Libby told her about Plame’s CIA status in the July 8, 2003, conversation that took place shortly after the White House aide — according to the new court filing — was authorized by Bush through Cheney to disclose sensitive intelligence about Iraq and WMD contained in a National Intelligence Estimate.
The court filing was first disclosed by The New York Sun.
Katie Couric - CONGRADULATIONS! You Deserve It!
I thought I'd post this as I've not seen anyone do it. Congradulations, Katie! And thanks to CBS and its president Leslie Moonvies for constant forward thinking.
Some people think the evening TV news anchor is supposed to be a man. I say that's stupid. I don't get how some can think of themselves as smart and yet constantly fall into the kind of "box" thinking that keeps the best person for a job from getting that position.
I'll never understand that aspect of the human condition.
But I digress.
I think Couric will show that she is worth -- more than worthy -- of the place held by Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, and Bob Schieffer (who I really liked in the position).
Best of luck, Katie.
Brian Doyle - What Was This Guy Thinking? A 14- Year Old?
I really don't understand why there are grown men who find 14-year old girls -- or younger -- sexually attractive. What is it? Power? I just can't understand how a person lets their brain get wired to think in those terms.
And do they know how much such a view can wreck their lives? Do they care? Wow, it's something else, indeed that men -- and women, if you think about all the teacher sex scandals -- are drawn to kids. Weird.
Homeland Security official arrested in child sex sting
Sheriff: Suspect chatted online with detective posing as teen girl
Wednesday, April 5, 2006; Posted: 11:38 a.m. EDT (15:38 GMT)
Department of Homeland Security deputy press secretary Brian J. Doyle faces extradition to Florida.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Department of Homeland Security official was arrested Tuesday night on charges of using his computer to seduce a child after he allegedly struck up sexually explicit conversations with a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, authorities said.
Brian J. Doyle, 55, is charged with seven counts of use of a computer to seduce a child and 16 counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor, according to the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff's Office.
Doyle, a deputy press secretary, will be placed on administrative leave, although it's unclear if it he will be paid, a department official said.
And do they know how much such a view can wreck their lives? Do they care? Wow, it's something else, indeed that men -- and women, if you think about all the teacher sex scandals -- are drawn to kids. Weird.
Homeland Security official arrested in child sex sting
Sheriff: Suspect chatted online with detective posing as teen girl
Wednesday, April 5, 2006; Posted: 11:38 a.m. EDT (15:38 GMT)
Department of Homeland Security deputy press secretary Brian J. Doyle faces extradition to Florida.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Department of Homeland Security official was arrested Tuesday night on charges of using his computer to seduce a child after he allegedly struck up sexually explicit conversations with a detective posing as a 14-year-old girl, authorities said.
Brian J. Doyle, 55, is charged with seven counts of use of a computer to seduce a child and 16 counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor, according to the Polk County, Florida, Sheriff's Office.
Doyle, a deputy press secretary, will be placed on administrative leave, although it's unclear if it he will be paid, a department official said.
Bill Gates Work World Is Almost Paperless....But That's True For Most Internet CEOs
According to CNN, Bill Gates doesn't need lot of paper in his office. But neither do I. He remarks that e-mail is the preferred way to communicate, but does that mean a lot of misunderstandings? I too use email, but it still doesn't beat the phone for complete understanding.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Boot Camp: Mac's Now The World's Best Computer For Everyone - Not Just Us Applephiles!
The battle between Mac and Microsoft is officially over! This is a milestone in Apple's storied history.
Madonna Tickets - Madonna's In Concert In May! Hooray!
Madonna, the undisputed Queen of Pop, is in concert, starting at The Forum in Inglewood, just outside of LA on May 21st. Get tickets with a click here.
Bengals Finally Land Big DT: It's Sam Adams
Teammates thrilled with Adams signing
BY MARK CURNUTTE | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
Sam Adams' signing Monday was greeted warmly by the players he'll line up beside.
The 335-pound defensive tackle, who officially signed a three-year contract, could make a major contribution in improving the defense.
"A guy like Sam Adams is going to help you. I've talked to JT (John Thornton) and (Bryan Robinson)," defensive end Justin Smith said on the first day of the team's offseason strength and conditioning program "We're all excited. We just want to have a good football team.
"The better people you have, the better team you have. All the things you want in a 'D' tackle, he's him. He's been a part of some great football teams, successful football teams. Any time you get a guy like him it's going to be good."
Adams will be a 13th-year player in 2006. He was voted to three Pro Bowl teams in the past six seasons, beginning in 2000 when he started for Super Bowl-winning Baltimore. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was the Ravens' defensive coordinator.
Adams was a Pro Bowl alternate for Buffalo in 2005. He started the first eight games before being slowed by an ankle injury that forced him to miss two games.
He has made 150 career starts in 12 seasons with 179 career games.
"We're excited to have Sam join the Bengals," Lewis said. "His abilities, both physically and mentally, will upgrade our defensive unit."
Though he had yet to sign Monday morning when reporters were allowed in the locker room, Adams already had a locker. A placard reading "Adams 95" hung above one stall. He will wear No. 95.
In Adams' three-year contract, the first year is worth almost $4 million if he reaches all incentive clauses.
Adams is expected to play primarily against the run, a weakness for the Bengals even after three years under defensive guru Lewis.
The signing of former Tampa Bay safety Jackson and the return of healthy free safety Madieu Williams also should help significantly.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Sandi Thom - Sing On The Webcam, Get Discovered By Sony Records! It Really Happened
Webcast singer snapped up by Sony - CNN.com
Tuesday, April 4, 2006; Posted: 9:42 a.m. EDT (13:42 GMT)
LONDON, England -- A British singer has signed up by a major record label after broadcasting live performances from her living room on the Internet.
Sandi Thom, 24, is now on the books of RCA/SonyBMG after signing with the label at her flat on Monday night.
She built up a daily audience of more than 100,000 people around the world.
Speaking on British television, Sandi said she could not believe what had happened and that her life had "changed dramatically."
"I don't think I have quite realized it just yet," she told GMTV.
"It has obviously changed for the better. "I have managed to get massive amounts of exposure through using the Internet and that is something that people have struggled to do for years."
Several record labels had approached the aspiring star following her Webcasts, which were broadcast on 21 consecutive nights.
RCA label director Craig Logan said: "Sandi is a very talented artist with an already unique story.
"We're very excited that we're now going to be a part of that story as she develops into a major artist."
Debra Lafave Meet Rachel Holt - She Had Sex With Her Student 28 Times in One Week! -
What's up with all this?
Underage Outrage - From The Smoking Gun
Cops: Teacher had sex with 13-year-old student 28 times in one week
APRIL 4--Meet Rachel Holt. The 34-year-old Delaware teacher is facing rape charges for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old student 28 times during a one-week period last month. Holt, a science teacher at Claymont Elementary School, allegedly had sex with the boy, a student in her class, at her Wilmington home. According to a probable cause affidavit filed today in Justice of the Peace Court, the boy's father contacted cops yesterday afternoon and told them his child was having "inappropriate contact" with Holt. Last night, in an interview at New Castle County police headquarters, Holt admitted she had intercourse with the boy 27 times and performed oral sex once during the last week of March. She also revealed that another student, 12, had watched her having sex with the boy and that she had provided both boys with beer. Holt is being held in a local lockup in lieu of $560,450 bail.
Underage Outrage - From The Smoking Gun
Cops: Teacher had sex with 13-year-old student 28 times in one week
APRIL 4--Meet Rachel Holt. The 34-year-old Delaware teacher is facing rape charges for allegedly having sex with a 13-year-old student 28 times during a one-week period last month. Holt, a science teacher at Claymont Elementary School, allegedly had sex with the boy, a student in her class, at her Wilmington home. According to a probable cause affidavit filed today in Justice of the Peace Court, the boy's father contacted cops yesterday afternoon and told them his child was having "inappropriate contact" with Holt. Last night, in an interview at New Castle County police headquarters, Holt admitted she had intercourse with the boy 27 times and performed oral sex once during the last week of March. She also revealed that another student, 12, had watched her having sex with the boy and that she had provided both boys with beer. Holt is being held in a local lockup in lieu of $560,450 bail.
"King Kong" - DVD Sales Push Film To Fourth Highest Grossing In Universal's History
`King Kong' DVD Sets Sales Record - Associated Press
Apr 04 4:18 PM US/Eastern
LOS ANGELES
It took heat during the holidays for failing to reach the supremo- blockbuster status that many predicted, but "King Kong" can do some supersized chest-thumping now.
Released as a single DVD and two-disc set on March 28, the Peter Jackson film logged Universal's best first-week sales in studio history, in six days selling 6.5 million copies for a take of more than $100 million.
The previous record-holder was "Meet the Fockers," a studio spokeswoman said.
The film's brisk DVD sales add to its worldwide box-office haul of $550 million. Its ticket sales make "King Kong" the fourth highest- grossing film in Universal's history, following "Jurassic Park," "E.T." and "The Lost World: Jurassic Park."
Universal Pictures is owned by NBC Universal, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Vivendi Universal.
Justin Berry - Child Porn Star Blows Whistle On Sick Trade
Yippee! This dark area of the Internet is finally getting a lot of good light shown on it. Now, the FBI needs to go in and arrest the consumers and pronto.
April 5, 2006
House Hears Online Child Porn Testimony
By Roy Mark http://www.internetnews.com
WASHINGTON -- The testimony was stark and dark yesterday as Congress took one of its periodic looks at child pornography on the Internet.
Specifics replaced the usual generalities with the focus on pay-for-view live webcams of underage children -- including infants and toddlers -- engaging in sexual acts. In some cases, the parents of the children shot and produced the videos.
Congressional estimates put the online child pornography business at $20 billion a year and growing. Online or offline, child pornography is illegal in the United States and most other countries.
"Of all the hearings that we've done ... I've never been more revolted in preparing for a hearing than in reading the materials that I've had to read for this one," House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) said.
Highlighting the sparsely attended hearing was the testimony of 19-year-old Justin Berry, who was featured in a December New York Times series on child exploitation over the Internet and the author of the story, Kurt Eichenwald.
"Like most people, I gave little thought during my life to the scourge of child pornography. But, I now know we are fighting a losing battle," Eichenwald said. "The predators are sophisticated in the use of computers and talented in the manipulation of children."
He added, "They count on our willingness to avert our eyes from the unpleasant to succeed in their pursuit of illegal images of minors."
For Berry, it began when he was 13 years old after he received a webcam as part of signing up for a broadband account.
"No teenager ever contacted me but many child predators did," Berry said. "I believed these people were friends. They taught me about the wish list on Amazon and began buying me presents."
According to Berry, the seduction was slow, beginning with a man offering him $50 to take off his shirt live on Berry's webcam. Before it was over, Berry's father was producing live video of his son having sex.
"My Dad? He said he was helping me maximize my profit potential," Berry said.
Eichenwald said his research showed that Berry was not an isolated case.
"Hundreds of minors have been lost to the lure of performing in online pornography. They include children from every walk of life -- wealthy and middle class, honor students and those struggling with their grades, children of divorce and with intact families," he said.
Eichenwald said the only shared characteristic he found was "a loneliness that these minors feel is alleviated by meeting people online -- and in person -- through their webcam business."
Beyond the sexual exploitation of children, Eichenwald said one of the most troubling aspects of his research was that "major American and international companies" were advertising on portals promoting underage pornographic webcams.
"The advertisements appeared immediately above images used by boys and girls to market their pornographic sites," he said. "Apparently, these companies were attempting to win business both from customers and teenagers themselves, as they offered services to help efficiently run for-pay sites."
The New York Times reporter specifically named webcam manufacturers Logitech and Creative and Verotel, an international credit card processing company, as advertisers on the portals.
"I even found a company that provided streaming video to sites operated by minors, on condition that its president be allowed to watch the pornographic performances for free," Eichenwald said.
Lawmakers were appropriately shocked.
"What kind of society do we have if we can't protect infants from sexual exploitation?" Barton asked. "One of the witnesses' material shows that almost half of the incidents of sexual exploitation of children are by family members. What kind of family is that?"
Rep. John Dingell, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said through a statement, "Let's be clear about this. This is not about pornographic images of adults. The Internet has regrettably provided the medium for the exponential growth in these deplorable crimes."
In addition to webcams, Dingell also noted, "Some of these chat rooms provide an opportunity to trade images. Unfortunately, the price of admission is often new material: hence, the ease of contact via the Internet has contributed to the incentives and growth of the horrendous abuse endured by these young victims, usually within their own homes."
Barton promised hard questions for the Department of Justice and other law enforcement officials who are scheduled to testify on Thursday morning.
"I just don't understand it. This is one where you can expect the subcommittee and the full committee, if we need to, to do everything possible," he said. "And I mean everything, not just hold hearings."
April 5, 2006
House Hears Online Child Porn Testimony
By Roy Mark http://www.internetnews.com
WASHINGTON -- The testimony was stark and dark yesterday as Congress took one of its periodic looks at child pornography on the Internet.
Specifics replaced the usual generalities with the focus on pay-for-view live webcams of underage children -- including infants and toddlers -- engaging in sexual acts. In some cases, the parents of the children shot and produced the videos.
Congressional estimates put the online child pornography business at $20 billion a year and growing. Online or offline, child pornography is illegal in the United States and most other countries.
"Of all the hearings that we've done ... I've never been more revolted in preparing for a hearing than in reading the materials that I've had to read for this one," House Energy and Commerce Chairman Joe Barton (R-Texas) said.
Highlighting the sparsely attended hearing was the testimony of 19-year-old Justin Berry, who was featured in a December New York Times series on child exploitation over the Internet and the author of the story, Kurt Eichenwald.
"Like most people, I gave little thought during my life to the scourge of child pornography. But, I now know we are fighting a losing battle," Eichenwald said. "The predators are sophisticated in the use of computers and talented in the manipulation of children."
He added, "They count on our willingness to avert our eyes from the unpleasant to succeed in their pursuit of illegal images of minors."
For Berry, it began when he was 13 years old after he received a webcam as part of signing up for a broadband account.
"No teenager ever contacted me but many child predators did," Berry said. "I believed these people were friends. They taught me about the wish list on Amazon and began buying me presents."
According to Berry, the seduction was slow, beginning with a man offering him $50 to take off his shirt live on Berry's webcam. Before it was over, Berry's father was producing live video of his son having sex.
"My Dad? He said he was helping me maximize my profit potential," Berry said.
Eichenwald said his research showed that Berry was not an isolated case.
"Hundreds of minors have been lost to the lure of performing in online pornography. They include children from every walk of life -- wealthy and middle class, honor students and those struggling with their grades, children of divorce and with intact families," he said.
Eichenwald said the only shared characteristic he found was "a loneliness that these minors feel is alleviated by meeting people online -- and in person -- through their webcam business."
Beyond the sexual exploitation of children, Eichenwald said one of the most troubling aspects of his research was that "major American and international companies" were advertising on portals promoting underage pornographic webcams.
"The advertisements appeared immediately above images used by boys and girls to market their pornographic sites," he said. "Apparently, these companies were attempting to win business both from customers and teenagers themselves, as they offered services to help efficiently run for-pay sites."
The New York Times reporter specifically named webcam manufacturers Logitech and Creative and Verotel, an international credit card processing company, as advertisers on the portals.
"I even found a company that provided streaming video to sites operated by minors, on condition that its president be allowed to watch the pornographic performances for free," Eichenwald said.
Lawmakers were appropriately shocked.
"What kind of society do we have if we can't protect infants from sexual exploitation?" Barton asked. "One of the witnesses' material shows that almost half of the incidents of sexual exploitation of children are by family members. What kind of family is that?"
Rep. John Dingell, the ranking Democrat on the committee, said through a statement, "Let's be clear about this. This is not about pornographic images of adults. The Internet has regrettably provided the medium for the exponential growth in these deplorable crimes."
In addition to webcams, Dingell also noted, "Some of these chat rooms provide an opportunity to trade images. Unfortunately, the price of admission is often new material: hence, the ease of contact via the Internet has contributed to the incentives and growth of the horrendous abuse endured by these young victims, usually within their own homes."
Barton promised hard questions for the Department of Justice and other law enforcement officials who are scheduled to testify on Thursday morning.
"I just don't understand it. This is one where you can expect the subcommittee and the full committee, if we need to, to do everything possible," he said. "And I mean everything, not just hold hearings."
Tom Delay's Out OF Politics? I Don't Believe It!
I can't believe Delay's really getting out of politics. I'll be he's just changing his position from donor-receiver to donor-giver. You don't just give up the scene. I'll bet he's figured out a way to really stick around the pull some strings. But as a private person, he can do all of that, in...well, private.
He's not going anywhere. He's just moving to a place where there's less scrutiny of what he does.
49ers Stadium Issue - San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom Works To Change The Rules of The Prop D Game
S.F. seeks go-ahead for 49ers stadium
Bill would let city ask court to OK changes to '97 ballot measure
Charlie Goodyear, SF Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Mayor Gavin Newsom's administration wants to let a judge rather than San Francisco voters decide whether the 49ers can move forward with a new stadium project that is different from the one the city's electorate approved in 1997.
At the request of the mayor's office, state Sen. Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, quietly introduced legislation last month that would let the city seek a Superior Court ruling that the 49ers and the city can legally proceed despite changes from what was presented to voters nine years ago.
A top real estate development aide to the mayor said the Newsom administration is not trying to avoid public scrutiny, but merely to settle at the outset important legal questions that will have direct bearing on the feasibility of a new stadium project and presumably on how or if the 49ers will proceed.
"In no way does it short-circuit the public vetting or approval process through multiple city commissions and multiple stops at the Board of Supervisors," said Michael Cohen, a former deputy city attorney who oversees military base reuse projects for the mayor's economic development office.
"It doesn't limit anyone's ability to sue or stop the project," said Cohen. "It simply allows us to validate that what we're doing is consistent with voter-approved measures."
Passage of Migden's legislation would save the team and its City Hall backers a return to the city ballot -- and the time, money and uncertainty that go along with it -- for an on-again, off-again project with a controversial political history in San Francisco.
Peter Detwiler, staff director for the state Senate's Local Government Committee, which is scheduled to take up Migden's bill, SB1842, on Wednesday, said he has found no precedent for what the Newsom administration is asking.
"If the stated reason for the legislation is, 'We're worried about whether (the new) mixed-use development falls within' " what voters approved, Detwiler said, "why don't we just ask the voters?"
At stake are a voter-approved $100 million public subsidy for the stadium, the fate of 77 acres of public parks and recreation space, and perhaps the future of the 49ers in San Francisco.
In June 1997, city voters passed two measures that were supposed to pave the way for a new stadium and mall at the site of the city-owned stadium at Candlestick Point that has been home to 49ers games since 1971.
Proposition D, which passed with only 50.4 percent of the vote, authorized $100 million in city bonds to help finance the new stadium. Proposition F, which passed with 50.3 percent of the vote, rezoned city land under and around the existing stadium -- creating the Candlestick Point Special Use District -- to allow construction of a larger stadium and a shopping and entertainment mall.
According to campaign assertions of the 49ers and then-Mayor Willie Brown -- which were supported by the city controller in a written statement included in the official ballot pamphlet sent to voters -- the mall, which was to be developed by Mills Corp., would eventually generate enough new sales-tax revenue to pay off the city bonds and their interest payments. After the vote, however, the project hit several snags as team owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. became embroiled in a federal corruption probe, questions surfaced over the proposed development's economic feasibility, and quibbling started over who should pay for shoring up parts of the development site sitting on landfill.
Last year, Newsom signaled he wanted the 49ers to decide whether to proceed with the project by October of this year and before the team's lease runs out in January 2007.
The team said last year it wants to stay at Candlestick and brought in Lennar Corp., one of the country's biggest homebuilders, to discuss adding residential housing to the development -- something not explicitly approved by voters in 1997. A study expected to be completed by Lennar this summer will detail exactly how much housing could be included in the project's plans.
Now, city officials have turned to Migden to help secure legal assurances and move the project forward.
An aide to Migden said she was willing to carry the legislation because of the prospect of bringing additional housing to a city where demand keeps prices high.
"The city did ask us to carry it," said Migden spokesman Eric Potashner. "Of interest to the senator is the opportunity to create more housing."
Cohen, of the mayor's economic development office, said Monday that the legislation is intended to save the city time and money as well as uphold the will of the voters.
"This is a very good government efficiency measure," he said.
A representative for the 49ers indicated Monday that the team would like the legality of a development project that differs from the 1997 version to be settled at the outset.
"We certainly share the mayor's sense of urgency for this project," said 49ers spokeswoman Lisa Lang. "We've spent a great deal of time and money on this project over the past few years."
The Newsom administration's handling of the matter already is raising eyebrows at City Hall, however.
Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin said he was erroneously listed by Migden's office as a supporter of her bill and has concerns that a judge might rule on the development plan before supervisors have their say.
"The legislation in its current form is putting the cart a little bit before the horse," Peskin said Monday.
Cohen emphasized that the team has yet to present a formal development plan for the site or select a builder for the mall portion.
"We hope to know whether the 49ers and their development partners think there is even a feasible project or not before the start of the next football season," he said.
Monday, April 03, 2006
I'm Having A Lot Of Fun!
HA! Someone saw my post reporting an article on marriage problems for black women, and assumed I was having a problem. That person was also too much of a coward to reveal their name. Well, while the Bay Area does make finding a wife a bit of a chore, that says nothing for bachelor life; it's totally fun. So, if that's the "problem," I'll take it!
Heck, I love the idea of marriage, but I'll be damned if I jump into anything without looking first. After all, it's supposed to be forever, not for one year.
Heck, I love the idea of marriage, but I'll be damned if I jump into anything without looking first. After all, it's supposed to be forever, not for one year.
Wait. Didn't We Already Do This With Iraq? - Attacking Iran May Trigger Terrorism - Wash Post
I think there's a twisted logic here. We've already done a good job of keeping any terrorist units out there active. Attacking Iran will just make things worse. It's time we close the tent on the Mid East as there's so many problems here -- like New Orleans after Katrina.
Attacking Iran May Trigger Terrorism
U.S. Experts Wary of Military Action Over Nuclear Program
By Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 2, 2006; Page A01 - Click on the link for the rest.
As tensions increase between the United States and Iran, U.S. intelligence and terrorism experts say they believe Iran would respond to U.S. military strikes on its nuclear sites by deploying its intelligence operatives and Hezbollah teams to carry out terrorist attacks worldwide.
Iran would mount attacks against U.S. targets inside Iraq, where Iranian intelligence agents are already plentiful, predicted these experts. There is also a growing consensus that Iran's agents would target civilians in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, they said.
U.S. officials would not discuss what evidence they have indicating Iran would undertake terrorist action, but the matter "is consuming a lot of time" throughout the U.S. intelligence apparatus, one senior official said. "It's a huge issue," another said.
Citing prohibitions against discussing classified information, U.S. intelligence officials declined to say whether they have detected preparatory measures, such as increased surveillance, counter-surveillance or message traffic, on the part of Iran's foreign-based intelligence operatives.
But terrorism experts considered Iranian-backed or controlled groups -- namely the country's Ministry of Intelligence and Security operatives, its Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah -- to be better organized, trained and equipped than the al-Qaeda network that carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The Iranian government views the Islamic Jihad, the name of Hezbollah's terrorist organization, "as an extension of their state. . . . operational teams could be deployed without a long period of preparation," said Ambassador Henry A. Crumpton, the State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism.
The possibility of a military confrontation has been raised only obliquely in recent months by President Bush and Iran's government. Bush says he is pursuing a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but he has added that all options are on the table for stopping Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Speaking in Vienna last month, Javad Vaeedi, a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator, warned the United States that "it may have the power to cause harm and pain, but it is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if the United States wants to pursue that path, let the ball roll," although he did not specify what type of harm he was talking about.
Government officials said their interest in Iran's intelligence services is not an indication that a military confrontation is imminent or likely, but rather a reflection of a decades-long adversarial relationship in which Iran's agents have worked secretly against U.S. interests, most recently in Iraq and Pakistan. As confrontation over Iran's nuclear program has escalated, so has the effort to assess the threat from Iran's covert operatives.
U.N. Security Council members continue to debate how best to pressure Iran to prove that its nuclear program is not meant for weapons. The United States, Britain and France want the Security Council to threaten Iran with economic sanctions if it does not end its uranium enrichment activities. Russia and China, however, have declined to endorse such action and insist on continued negotiations. Security Council diplomats are meeting this weekend to try to break the impasse. Iran says it seeks nuclear power but not nuclear weapons.
Former CIA terrorism analyst Paul R. Pillar said that any U.S. or Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory "would be regarded as an act of war" by Tehran, and that Iran would strike back with its terrorist groups. "There's no doubt in my mind about that. . . . Whether it's overseas at the hands of Hezbollah, in Iraq or possibly Europe, within the regime there would be pressure to take violent action."
Attacking Iran May Trigger Terrorism
U.S. Experts Wary of Military Action Over Nuclear Program
By Dana Priest
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 2, 2006; Page A01 - Click on the link for the rest.
As tensions increase between the United States and Iran, U.S. intelligence and terrorism experts say they believe Iran would respond to U.S. military strikes on its nuclear sites by deploying its intelligence operatives and Hezbollah teams to carry out terrorist attacks worldwide.
Iran would mount attacks against U.S. targets inside Iraq, where Iranian intelligence agents are already plentiful, predicted these experts. There is also a growing consensus that Iran's agents would target civilians in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, they said.
U.S. officials would not discuss what evidence they have indicating Iran would undertake terrorist action, but the matter "is consuming a lot of time" throughout the U.S. intelligence apparatus, one senior official said. "It's a huge issue," another said.
Citing prohibitions against discussing classified information, U.S. intelligence officials declined to say whether they have detected preparatory measures, such as increased surveillance, counter-surveillance or message traffic, on the part of Iran's foreign-based intelligence operatives.
But terrorism experts considered Iranian-backed or controlled groups -- namely the country's Ministry of Intelligence and Security operatives, its Revolutionary Guards and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah -- to be better organized, trained and equipped than the al-Qaeda network that carried out the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
The Iranian government views the Islamic Jihad, the name of Hezbollah's terrorist organization, "as an extension of their state. . . . operational teams could be deployed without a long period of preparation," said Ambassador Henry A. Crumpton, the State Department's coordinator for counterterrorism.
The possibility of a military confrontation has been raised only obliquely in recent months by President Bush and Iran's government. Bush says he is pursuing a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but he has added that all options are on the table for stopping Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Speaking in Vienna last month, Javad Vaeedi, a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator, warned the United States that "it may have the power to cause harm and pain, but it is also susceptible to harm and pain. So if the United States wants to pursue that path, let the ball roll," although he did not specify what type of harm he was talking about.
Government officials said their interest in Iran's intelligence services is not an indication that a military confrontation is imminent or likely, but rather a reflection of a decades-long adversarial relationship in which Iran's agents have worked secretly against U.S. interests, most recently in Iraq and Pakistan. As confrontation over Iran's nuclear program has escalated, so has the effort to assess the threat from Iran's covert operatives.
U.N. Security Council members continue to debate how best to pressure Iran to prove that its nuclear program is not meant for weapons. The United States, Britain and France want the Security Council to threaten Iran with economic sanctions if it does not end its uranium enrichment activities. Russia and China, however, have declined to endorse such action and insist on continued negotiations. Security Council diplomats are meeting this weekend to try to break the impasse. Iran says it seeks nuclear power but not nuclear weapons.
Former CIA terrorism analyst Paul R. Pillar said that any U.S. or Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory "would be regarded as an act of war" by Tehran, and that Iran would strike back with its terrorist groups. "There's no doubt in my mind about that. . . . Whether it's overseas at the hands of Hezbollah, in Iraq or possibly Europe, within the regime there would be pressure to take violent action."
Green Bay Packers WR Javon Walker Does Not Want to Return To Lambeau Field - AP
Walker's threats ignored
Packers won't give in to wide receiver
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Wide receiver Javon Walker says he'd rather retire than return to Green Bay and play for the Packers. General manager Ted Thompson says he has no plans to placate the former Pro Bowler.
Walker, rehabilitating his right knee at his former college Florida State, told ESPN.com on Thursday that he wants to be traded or released.
"If I had to go back there, I'd retire," he said. "I don't have to play."
Thompson, who has reorganized the Packers in his 14-month tenure by firing former head coach Mike Sherman and bringing in Mike McCarthy, said Friday the organization will not concede to Walker's demands.
"During his time as a Green Bay Packer, Javon Walker has been well thought of by everyone here. I like Javon, certainly as a person and a player," he said in a statement. "There have been several highly publicized cases of player discontent in the National Football League. I don't anticipate us making any concessions in this matter."
Walker's new agent, Kennard McGuire of CSMG Sports, asked Thompson to move the veteran entering his sixth year or pursue a trade. His former agent, Drew Rosenhaus, made similar requests to management.
McGuire did not return messages left Friday by The Associated Press.
"I just don't feel like this is the best place for me to be right now," Walker told ESPN.com. "I really have no interest in being in a Green Bay Packers uniform or playing for Green Bay again."
Walker has been at odds with the organization since management refused to renegotiate his contract that had two years remaining on it after his Pro Bowl season in 2004, when he caught 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Brett Favre criticized Walker's threat of holding out in 2005, and Walker returned only to tear a knee ligament in the season opening loss to Detroit.
"I just don't like the way the organization runs itself," Walker said. "They want players to come up there and play hard and work hard, but when it comes time to be compensated, it's like, 'We forgot what you've done."'
Walker also said Favre's comments last year made living in Wisconsin difficult, and he felt it was unfair the team let Favre interfere with Walker's squabble with management.
"There's an unwritten rule that players stick together," Walker said.
Walker says he will not show up for training camp or come back at all for the final season of his contract regardless of whether Favre decides to retire or return. He said he'll repay the Packers the prorated portion of his signing bonus to leave Green Bay.
"Why should I risk another year of getting beat up playing for a team that I don't want to play for? That's stupid," he said.
Walker said he'll be ready for the 2006 season wherever he lands.
"If I'm going to go out and take hits, it's going to be for a team that I love playing for," he said. "I'm not going to grandstand. I just want the Packers to give me peace of mind."
For now, the Packers say the only way Walker will be free to play elsewhere is if he finishes what he started in Green Bay.
"Javon is under contract," Thompson said. "We expect him to honor it."
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Reggie Bush USC Pro Day Gets Rave Reviews - 4.33 40-Yard Dash and 225 Pounds at 25 Reps - Houston Chronicle
He's ready to be drafted by the Texans. The question is, if you're the Indy Colts, who do you draft to stop him? I'll give that answer soon.
April 3, 2006, 1:14AM
Bush has powerful showing
RB demonstrates strength to go with 4.33 speed in 40
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
LOS ANGELES - Southern California running back Reggie Bush entered his workout for the NFL scouts Sunday as if it were a game. It wasn't simply about targeting specific numbers.
Bush had just one specific objective: to secure his place as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. By late Sunday afternoon, he stood outside the USC practice facility confident he had done just that.
"There's always that .1 percent chance, but pretty much I figure 99.9 percent I am (the top pick)," said Bush, who checked in at 5-11, 202 pounds. "I did a pretty good job today. I think I proved to them that I should be the No. 1 pick."
With a ticket to Houston on his mind, Bush was nearly flawless in the different stations. He ran the fastest time of the day in the 40-yard dash — 4.33 seconds. He recorded the highest vertical jump — 40.5 inches. And he recorded the longest broad jump — 10 feet, 8.5 inches.
The biggest surprise to the more than 150 scouts and NFL personnel watching, however, was Bush's ability to complete 24 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press. That beat the majority of his teammates, many of whom are bigger than him.
"He took his shirt off, and I mean, he was huge," USC quarterback Matt Leinart said. "You should have seen the looks on (the scouts') faces. They already know how fast he is. They didn't know he looked like that."
Bush hopes that image stays with NFL scouts, who have criticized him at times because of his size.
It was an image that definitely left an impression on Texans coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Charley Casserly, who watched every move Bush made.
"That was my biggest surprise," Kubiak said. "I knew he was what he was. But to bench-press what he did at his size was pretty impressive."
Young vs. Bush
The Texans are weighing their options between drafting Bush or Texas quarterback Vince Young. They will meet with both players at their Houston offices this week, and because they hold the top pick in the draft, they can begin contract negotiations with one or more players at any time.
Bush will visit Reliant Stadium on Thursday. Young will visit and go through an on-field workout with the Texans on Friday.
Bush doesn't figure his association with Young will end even after the draft. The rivalry that grew between them in college is one Bush expects to continue in the NFL, especially if they are drafted by teams in the AFC.
"They will try to make that Reggie Bush vs. Vince Young," Bush said. "I think it'd be good. It'd just be an ongoing rivalry."
'Class individual'
Bush, who has never visited Houston, will be joined Thursday by his agent, Joel Segal, and his marketing consultant, Mike Ornstein. Because Bush had dinner Saturday night with Casserly and Kubiak, much of Thursday will be spent meeting with Texans owner Bob McNair and some of the assistant coaches.
"We spent a couple of hours with him, and you get a little more read on his personality, more than a 15-minute interview in Indianapolis," Casserly said. "I think he's a class individual, well-spoken, genuine."
Many in the league agree with Bush, taking it as a foregone conclusion he will land in Houston on April 29. That doesn't mean other teams weren't setting up meetings, though.
After Bush's four-hour workout, Tennessee Titans general manager Floyd Reese, coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow met with Bush. After working with him for two years as the offensive coordinator at Southern Cal, Chow praised his former standout.
"I think he's a tremendous player," Chow said. "He's so explosive."
As for the potential of playing against him two times each season, Chow was less thrilled.
"We don't want to even think about it," he said.
megan.manfull@chron.com
Penn State QB Michael Robinson and Boston College WR Will Blackmon: Tweeners for the 2006 NFL Draft - Pro Sports Group's Jeff West
Tweeners for the 2006 NFL Draft
A couple months ago, Consensus Draft Services explained the definition of a "tweener" prospect for the NFL Draft. A tweener is a player who may play one position in college, but be ill-suited for that same position as a professional. Generally this occurs when a player has the athleticism to excel at the position in college, but does not have the requisite size needed to play the same position at the professional level.
In April of 2005, DeMarcus Ware (Troy State) was selected in the first half of the first round based on his athleticism. As a collegiate defensive end he played at 225 pounds and used his athleticism to dominate his opponents. A 225-pound defensive end would likely be tossed around easily by most NFL offensive tackles. So Ware made the transition from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker and was coveted by NFL teams once they saw he had the athleticism to make the switch. A few picks after Ware was selected, the outstanding Georgia defensive end, David Pollack, was selected by the Bengals with the intent to move him to a 4-3 outside linebacker position.
Now the 2006 NFL Draft is approaching and a new group of "tweeners" has emerged. CDS will take a look at some of them in this issue.
The play of Michael Robinson at quarterback has been largely responsible for the success Penn State has enjoyed this season. Robinson is a big play QB who can succeed in the right system in college, but scouts believe he will likely have to consider a move to wideout or running back to continue playing as a professional. He certainly has the athleticism to make the change, following in the footsteps of a player like Antwaan Randle-El.
Another player who is considered a tweener, not based on size or athleticism, but experience, is Boston College's Will Blackmon. Some players are firmly entrenched in a position in college, only to have to learn a new one in the NFL. Others have the advantage of a head start. After establishing himself as one of the top corners in the NCAA as a junior, Blackmon decided to give wideout a try as a senior. However, despite some moderate success at WR, CDS believes that he will be drafted as a corner since truly good ones are so hard to find. He would be a nice double threat in the NFL, much like Champ Bailey and Deion Sanders were early in their careers, however he has probably hurt his draft status some since he has not played much corner as a senior.
One position that is sometimes hard to define is the H-back position. Is the player a tight end or is he a fullback (or both)? Tulsa's Garrett Mills is one of the most productive tight ends in the country, yet he wasn't even considered for the Mackey Award because of his ability to line up in the backfield as a blocker. Vernon Davis (Maryland), a junior who might consider declaring for the draft, is another player who would be ideal in the H-back position. He is a bit undersized to be used as a blocker on the line of scrimmage consistently in the NFL, but would be a dangerous threat as a receiver out of the backfield and would be very effective picking up the blitz with his blocking ability.
There are a number of other players following in the footsteps of DeMarcus Ware and David Pollack for the upcoming draft. North Carolina State's Manny Lawson has had a solid year as an undersized pass-rushing end, however at 240 pounds with outstanding athletic ability and blazing speed, he will likely be looked at as an OLB in the NFL. Brandon Guillory of Louisiana-Monroe could be this year's Ware, coming from a small program to make draft headlines. Guillory, with a strong showing during post-season workouts, should garner some interest as a 3-4 OLB who has pass-rushing ability along with the athleticism and speed to drop back into coverage when needed. Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley is quickly climbing draft boards with his production as a sack artist in 2005, however he too is undersized by NFL DE standards at only 240 pounds. If he puts up good 40-yard dash times after the season, he could be a candidate to switch to a 3-4 outside backer. A little-known prospect from tiny Anderson University in Indiana, Wyatt Gayer should make some noise this off-season with his workouts. Gayer is a smallish DE (6' 2" and 250 pounds) who projects well to a 3-4 OLB position. He is productive on the field and is an amazing athlete with surprising speed, quickness, and strength.
There are a number of collegiate defensive tackles who might not have the size or strength to play the position in the pros. LSU's Claude Wroten is a 4-3 DT who is having an outstanding season. He has the size and speed and strength to continue playing the position at the next level, but he's really ideally suited to be a 3-4 defensive end. At nearly 300 pounds with uncommon quickness, he could be dominant at that position. There are some DTs in college who are productive without Wroten's size. Cal-Poly's Chris Gocong leads the nation in sacks playing a lot of 3-4 DT at about 265 pounds. He would have trouble holding up at the point of attack inside in the pros (unless he was able to add another 25+ pounds while maintaining his strength), so he will likely be looked at as a DE because of his athleticism and speed (4.7 forty).
Another common move for prospects is from linebacker to strong safety. A strong safety has to be tough enough to be an effective run stopper, but still quick enough to provide solid pass coverage. Michael Boulware of Seattle made the switch after it was determined that he was too small to play outside linebacker in the NFL. Auburn's Antarrious Williams has played weakside linebacker quite effectively in college, but is too small to consistently take on the bigger blockers in the NFL. He does have the speed and coverage skills to effectively make the change to strong safety in the NFL. Stanford's Jon Alston is another player who has outstanding speed and athleticism at the OLB position, but at 6' 1" and 220 pounds with very good speed, he's a prime candidate to be tried at the SS position where his size would be a better fit. Devin Conwell of Ashland (Ohio) University is a tad small for the LB position at 6' 2" and 216 pounds, and has seen some work at SS this year. With his athleticism and football intelligence, the big-hitting Conwell could be a nice sleeper tweener in the NFL Draft.
Finally, the last move to be discussed is the cornerback to safety (or vice-versa) switch. One of the top prospects coming into the season was Tennessee's Jason Allen. He was a stand-out free safety who might have been a first-round selection in 2005, however he agreed to go back to Knoxville for his senior campaign if he was allowed to switch to corner, a more coveted position. By all accounts, he was playing well at corner before suffering a season-ending injury. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can get back to good health and what position he will be drafted for. Jimmy Williams is another player who can play either the corner or safety position. His versatility and skill at both positions will likely make him a top ten selection in April.
There is a marked difference between the collegiate game and the NFL, and success and production at a position at the collegiate level does not guarantee the same success in the NFL. However, a player may translate success at one position into opportunity at another position.
--------------------
Jeff West - Site Editor, Scout, Writer, Administrator
A couple months ago, Consensus Draft Services explained the definition of a "tweener" prospect for the NFL Draft. A tweener is a player who may play one position in college, but be ill-suited for that same position as a professional. Generally this occurs when a player has the athleticism to excel at the position in college, but does not have the requisite size needed to play the same position at the professional level.
In April of 2005, DeMarcus Ware (Troy State) was selected in the first half of the first round based on his athleticism. As a collegiate defensive end he played at 225 pounds and used his athleticism to dominate his opponents. A 225-pound defensive end would likely be tossed around easily by most NFL offensive tackles. So Ware made the transition from a 4-3 defensive end to a 3-4 outside linebacker and was coveted by NFL teams once they saw he had the athleticism to make the switch. A few picks after Ware was selected, the outstanding Georgia defensive end, David Pollack, was selected by the Bengals with the intent to move him to a 4-3 outside linebacker position.
Now the 2006 NFL Draft is approaching and a new group of "tweeners" has emerged. CDS will take a look at some of them in this issue.
The play of Michael Robinson at quarterback has been largely responsible for the success Penn State has enjoyed this season. Robinson is a big play QB who can succeed in the right system in college, but scouts believe he will likely have to consider a move to wideout or running back to continue playing as a professional. He certainly has the athleticism to make the change, following in the footsteps of a player like Antwaan Randle-El.
Another player who is considered a tweener, not based on size or athleticism, but experience, is Boston College's Will Blackmon. Some players are firmly entrenched in a position in college, only to have to learn a new one in the NFL. Others have the advantage of a head start. After establishing himself as one of the top corners in the NCAA as a junior, Blackmon decided to give wideout a try as a senior. However, despite some moderate success at WR, CDS believes that he will be drafted as a corner since truly good ones are so hard to find. He would be a nice double threat in the NFL, much like Champ Bailey and Deion Sanders were early in their careers, however he has probably hurt his draft status some since he has not played much corner as a senior.
One position that is sometimes hard to define is the H-back position. Is the player a tight end or is he a fullback (or both)? Tulsa's Garrett Mills is one of the most productive tight ends in the country, yet he wasn't even considered for the Mackey Award because of his ability to line up in the backfield as a blocker. Vernon Davis (Maryland), a junior who might consider declaring for the draft, is another player who would be ideal in the H-back position. He is a bit undersized to be used as a blocker on the line of scrimmage consistently in the NFL, but would be a dangerous threat as a receiver out of the backfield and would be very effective picking up the blitz with his blocking ability.
There are a number of other players following in the footsteps of DeMarcus Ware and David Pollack for the upcoming draft. North Carolina State's Manny Lawson has had a solid year as an undersized pass-rushing end, however at 240 pounds with outstanding athletic ability and blazing speed, he will likely be looked at as an OLB in the NFL. Brandon Guillory of Louisiana-Monroe could be this year's Ware, coming from a small program to make draft headlines. Guillory, with a strong showing during post-season workouts, should garner some interest as a 3-4 OLB who has pass-rushing ability along with the athleticism and speed to drop back into coverage when needed. Florida State's Kamerion Wimbley is quickly climbing draft boards with his production as a sack artist in 2005, however he too is undersized by NFL DE standards at only 240 pounds. If he puts up good 40-yard dash times after the season, he could be a candidate to switch to a 3-4 outside backer. A little-known prospect from tiny Anderson University in Indiana, Wyatt Gayer should make some noise this off-season with his workouts. Gayer is a smallish DE (6' 2" and 250 pounds) who projects well to a 3-4 OLB position. He is productive on the field and is an amazing athlete with surprising speed, quickness, and strength.
There are a number of collegiate defensive tackles who might not have the size or strength to play the position in the pros. LSU's Claude Wroten is a 4-3 DT who is having an outstanding season. He has the size and speed and strength to continue playing the position at the next level, but he's really ideally suited to be a 3-4 defensive end. At nearly 300 pounds with uncommon quickness, he could be dominant at that position. There are some DTs in college who are productive without Wroten's size. Cal-Poly's Chris Gocong leads the nation in sacks playing a lot of 3-4 DT at about 265 pounds. He would have trouble holding up at the point of attack inside in the pros (unless he was able to add another 25+ pounds while maintaining his strength), so he will likely be looked at as a DE because of his athleticism and speed (4.7 forty).
Another common move for prospects is from linebacker to strong safety. A strong safety has to be tough enough to be an effective run stopper, but still quick enough to provide solid pass coverage. Michael Boulware of Seattle made the switch after it was determined that he was too small to play outside linebacker in the NFL. Auburn's Antarrious Williams has played weakside linebacker quite effectively in college, but is too small to consistently take on the bigger blockers in the NFL. He does have the speed and coverage skills to effectively make the change to strong safety in the NFL. Stanford's Jon Alston is another player who has outstanding speed and athleticism at the OLB position, but at 6' 1" and 220 pounds with very good speed, he's a prime candidate to be tried at the SS position where his size would be a better fit. Devin Conwell of Ashland (Ohio) University is a tad small for the LB position at 6' 2" and 216 pounds, and has seen some work at SS this year. With his athleticism and football intelligence, the big-hitting Conwell could be a nice sleeper tweener in the NFL Draft.
Finally, the last move to be discussed is the cornerback to safety (or vice-versa) switch. One of the top prospects coming into the season was Tennessee's Jason Allen. He was a stand-out free safety who might have been a first-round selection in 2005, however he agreed to go back to Knoxville for his senior campaign if he was allowed to switch to corner, a more coveted position. By all accounts, he was playing well at corner before suffering a season-ending injury. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can get back to good health and what position he will be drafted for. Jimmy Williams is another player who can play either the corner or safety position. His versatility and skill at both positions will likely make him a top ten selection in April.
There is a marked difference between the collegiate game and the NFL, and success and production at a position at the collegiate level does not guarantee the same success in the NFL. However, a player may translate success at one position into opportunity at another position.
--------------------
Jeff West - Site Editor, Scout, Writer, Administrator
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Next Buys Disney! Steve Jobs Plans To Transform Disney World
Steve Jobs, Chairman and CEO of Next, Inc., as well as Apple Computer, annouced that Next purchased Disney for just north of $234 billion today, in a hostile takeover. Jobs and his investment bankers used Next, believed dead, as the holding company for their takeover bid.
"I'm ready to bring Disney into the 21st Century," Jobs said as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs stood behind him with perfect Disney smiles.
Jobs also revealed plans to transform Walt Disney World in to the real EPCOT, or Experimental Prototype Community of Tommorrow. "Walt never got to see his dream come to life. We're going to make it happen. There are too many problems in our cities not to have an urban lab of some kind. EPCOT will be just that."
He also said that Disney would convince the NFL to allow it to establish a franchise in Los Angeles. "We can clear up the mess that the other deals the NFL's looking at are, and build a new kind of sports company around the new LA franchise."
Jobs also took time to appologize for how Disney treated A.A Miline, the creator of the "Winnie The Poo" cartoons, who claimed Disney owned it $200 milllion in back revenues from the "Poo" property. "Disney will do everything to clean up this mess," Jobs said, "and restore Winnie The Poo and Tigger, too, to the Disney family."
April fool!
Commissioner Tagliabue Press Conference, Annual League Meeting Orlando, FL -- March 29, 2006
From NFL Media.com
Commissioner Tagliabue
Good afternoon. We've covered a lot of ground since I saw you on Monday. I think in a nutshell
we had a really good report from the Competition Committee. You've just heard about all of
that. Once again they've done a terrific job, and I think the membership recognized that with the
endorsement they had of most of their recommendations. Other than that, we had many reports
and a lot of discussion about short-term things -- 2006 season -- and some long-term things --
business in the United States -- and some discussions about where we are headed internationally
in Europe, Asia, and elsewhere.
I know that you have many different subjects on your minds, so I'll go ahead and take your
questions.
Q: Are you still confident that you can retire in July (with a successor in place)?
PT: Am I still confident I can be out of here by July? I think so. Yes. It doesn't really matter
whether it's the 28th of July or the 10th of August. The only reason we've talked about July is
because that's I discussed with Dan Rooney, and we estimated that this could take four months.
If it takes two and a half, fine. If it takes five and a half, that's fine, too.
The one thing that might be extended, just in terms of being practical, is that there's a dead
period in the league from June 15 to July 15 where not a lot happens on any front because most
clubs take vacations. I'll be taking some vacation then, too, which we did discuss with the
owners. The practicalities of the NFL calendar are that when minicamps end in mid-June, a lot of
teams go to part-time schedules. Coaches take vacations, players leave, front office staff leave,
and they don't resume until sometime after the Fourth of July. That's got to be factored into the
timeline.
Q: So you are confident you will not have to go through the next season as Commissioner?
PT: Yes. Other than as a fan.
Q: What are the odds that the NFL will play a game in China (in 2007)?
PT: I think they are increasing. We've had some discussions on that. Our own international
people have been to China a number of times. I was there last May and met with representatives
of the city of Beijing, their Olympic Committee and the Mayor of Beijing. We and NBC have
been having those discussions. I think there's an increasing prospect that we could have a game
there in August 2007, which would be the beginning of the one-year countdown to the following
year's Olympics, which will begin on 8/8/08.
Q: Can you comment on the size and makeup of the search committee for the next
commissioner?
PT: We've talked to the owners about a committee of no fewer than six and no more than eight,
but that's not cast in concrete.
Q: When will the committee be announced?
PT: Probably sometime next week.
Q: If you could reflect back on the Cleveland situation 10 years ago, how do you view that
problem as it arose and how it was resolved?
PT: I guess I view it today pretty much as I viewed it then. It was a very traumatic thing for the
Browns' fans, the franchise and the league. The traumatic aspects of it were compounded by the
fact that Baltimore had had a similar trauma in '84 -- losing its team. So we had two cities, two
states, and two groups of fans -- great fans for many, many decades -- to deal with. Great
traditions. Some of the greatest players ever in the league played with the Colts and the Browns.
So that was very traumatic. I think the solution that was reached involved some considerable
give on all sides. Mayor White was terrific. Al Lerner was terrific throughout. Hopefully the
solution that was reached, which was novel, was one for the long term.
One of the personal regrets is that Al's health caught up with him, and he couldn't be there to see
a Super Bowl. I know that is the team's goal, that's Randy's goal, but it would have been nice if
Al had been there to pursue it.
Q: Do you continue to keep playing regular season games overseas?
PT: I think that we had an excellent report by our new head of international -- Mark Waller. We
presented the idea that going forward after 20 years of preseason games in non-U.S. venues,
starting with the Cowboys and the Bears in '86 in Wembley Stadium up through Tokyo last
summer, that the priority now has to be to institutionalize arrangements to have live, regularseason
games plus other important NFL events such as the Pro Bowl, for example outside of the
U.S. because the fans now are interested and they want to be part of the regular season or want to
be part of other events like the Pro Bowl. So that's going to be our focus, and we started some
conversation yesterday with the owners about what kind of a structure, what kind of
commitments it would take from all the teams to institutionalize that so the obligation of playing
a game every now and then, a regular season game, outside of the United States would become a
part of the normal team participation in the National Football League.
Q: Do you view the Mexico City game last year as an experiment or a success?
PT: I think it was a resounding success. I think it was built upon the preseason games we had
down there. It built upon the fan interest that's there. It was a resounding success both in Mexico
and the United States, and the two teams (49ers and Cardinals) view it that way, as does the
whole league.
Q: Regarding Los Angeles, you already have a 32-team template that works perfectly. Does
that mean the league would have to move a team into Los Angeles once that situation is
settled out there?
PT: Not necessarily. We've operated with odd numbers of teams. We've operated with divisions
with different numbers of teams. We'll be looking at all kinds of alternatives. I think that the key
thing here at this meeting was that we had a positive reaction to the proposals that have been
developed by our staff with the Coliseum and Anaheim. I'm expanding our working group of
owners by adding six owners to the five we've had. We'll now have an 11-owner group and
we'll be expecting to have meetings either in April or early May with representatives of the
Coliseum and Anaheim to put this to hopefully some decision at our May meeting.
Q: Is the escalating cost of building stadiums a deterrent to this project or to expansion
because then you'd have a huge fee to build a stadium and then another huge fee to
purchase a franchise?
PT: Yes. I think the escalating cost of anything in life, the escalating cost of a pair of shoes are a
deterrent to having two or three pairs. It's sort of obvious. So yes, it's an issue.
I remember when I was a kid I had baseball spikes and I wanted to run track, and my father told
me to run the mile with baseball spikes, which was not good for your feet, because two sets of
spikes were unnecessary. They were expensive. So I've always had that philosophy. In fact, I
won the state high school high jump championship with baseball spikes.
Q: It must have been a weak field?
PT: It was a weak field. Very weak. That's a different issue. Costly shoes and a weak field -- you
can still succeed.
Q: Will the search committee hire the consulting firm or will you?
PT: It would be a decision the committee would make after we interview multiple firms.
Q: Are you concerned about the perception of officiating in the playoffs with so many fans
convinced that there were bad calls?
PT: No.
Q: Why didn't you fine Mike Holmgren for his comments?
PT: We discussed that with Mike this morning. He said earlier in the meeting that he wanted to
make it totally clear that the Steelers won the game fair and square and he emphasized that at
several different points during the meeting. Then I spoke with him this morning, and he spoke
with me. He said that he just wanted to express strong appreciation for the relationship we've
had and what he's learned from me. I felt the same way.
We talked about the fact that Mike Holmgren was one of the first coaches, if not the first, to
emphasize to me how important it was for me as the commissioner to make myself accessible to
the assistant coaches, to the coordinators. We talked about a meeting we had in Green Bay when
he was the head coach and I was visiting training camp and expected to spend most of my time
with the players, or with the head coach, or with the Packers executive committee. But Mike
urged me to have lunch with all the assistant coaches and coordinators. Then Fritz Shurmur
wrote me a note later saying he'd been in the league for 34 years and never had had a prior
conversation with a commissioner, but it was one of the most important things that ever
happened in Fritz Shurmur's life. From that point forward, whenever I went to training camps, I
would meet with assistant coaches and coordinators whenever I could.
We talked this morning about learning from each other, and then he said that he knows he
popped off a little bit about the officiating after the Super Bowl. I told him I had a letter on my
desk written by my staff to fine him, but that that particular letter falls under the category of
something I learned a long time ago -- the first draft of a letter is better put in the trash can than
sent to the addressee, which means you should think twice before you start firing letters off. I
think the issue is resolved.
Q: How important is it that this search committee be diverse economically and
geographically? Is that important?
PT: Yes. We had some discussions yesterday with the owners about whether the committee
should be one owner from each division or whether there was any one factor that should
determine how the committee would be composed. I expressed the view that there was no single
litmus test, that if you wanted to have a representative committee, you'd have to look at multiple
factors. That's the way we'll approach it.
Q: There's a lot of complaints from fans about too much drinking in the stands. What's
your stance on that?
PT: I think we've had fewer complaints on that than we've had on the doubleheader games
starting at 1:00 P.M. in Jacksonville.
Q: Who's complaining about that?
PT: I thought that's what you asked me the other day. Were we going to start that Dallas-
Jacksonville game at 1:00 P.M. or 4:00 P.M.?
Q: But seriously, don't you get complaints like that?
PT: I'm sure the teams do and sometimes they get to my attention. We've had programs over the
years with the teams run through the league about fan behavior, and the teams make it a big
priority including having their security people be very attentive, policies about when beer is
served, when beer is not served. We have technology in the stadiums, cameras and other
technology, to identify unruly fans and revoke their season tickets. So, yes, that's part of sports.
It's part of American life, I guess. That happens at the beach, too, not just at NFL stadiums.
Q: On the issue of minority hiring, there seems to be fewer minorities on the offensive side
of the ball in coordinator positions. Have you looked at that at all?
PT: We have looked at that. I think over the years the numbers have kind of flipped back and
forth. At particular points in time it seems like there would be more on the defensive side, other
points of time, more on the offensive side. Why that is, no one seems to know.
We've tried to encourage the teams, if it's an issue of responsibility, to broaden responsibility. If
it's an issue of participation by position coaches in meetings with the coordinators and head
coaches to try to address it. It's something that's been discussed, and we try to address it
internally with our diversity committee and with some of the ways that we structure programs at
the coaching seminars that we run in May. The answer is yes.
Q: With the NFL Network preparing to broadcast its first regular-season game this
Thanksgiving, considering the billions of dollars that are involved with other networks,
what do you see as the potential for the Network to broadcast more games in the future?
Has the idea of pay-per-view ever been entertained?
PT: No. Our focus for the next six years is the eight games. We're going to be very careful to
make those incremental in terms of when they are played. When you boil it all down, it's about
three or four incremental national games. We had some Saturday games on CBS and FOX which
are now kind of folded into primetime and will be run on the NFL Network. I think we've gone
from 92 national games to 96 or something like that. It's a very small increment. There's been no
discussion of pay-per-view. It really is an effort to get games that otherwise might be regional
telecasts or national games on other networks in a couple of instances onto a nationally distributed network.
Q: If the Kansas City proposal were ever to get approved, would putting those extra games
on the NFL Network be a consideration?
PT: It's not something we've ever discussed, because I have never thought the idea of expanding
the playoffs was compelling. It's not anything we've ever discussed and I wouldn't anticipate
that. I think the playoff games will remain on our outside networks, if we ever have any more
games. Like I said, I don't think it's a good idea. We're going to discuss it at the May meeting, in
terms of expanding the playoffs.
Q: Why do you like the current format as is?
PT: Because it works. I think that when you go beyond that, you get into dilution and other
issues you shouldn't be getting into.
Thank you very much.
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