Phillies Top SF Giants 6 To 1 Oswalt Gets Win

One day after the San Francisco Giants beat the Philadelphia Philies in a duel between Tim Lincecum and Roy Halliday,  the Phillies return the favor winning 6 to 1.  Now the NLCS series is tied 1 - all. 

This time Phillies Pitcher Roy Oswalt gets the win after an effective performance augmented by Philli bats.  Jimmy Rollins drove in four of the six runs for the Phillies. 

While Philadelphia bats were hot SF Giants bats were cold.  All with the exception of Cody Ross.  The outfielder and Giants playoff star hit a home run to drive in San Francisco's only run.  

SF Giants Pitcher Jonathan Sanchez got the loss due to inconsistent pitching that led to three Phillies runs, two earned in six innings of play.  According to ESPN, Sanchez had dominated the Phillies in five previous outings. 

Game 3 In SF Tuesday

The NLCS scene shifts to San Francisco Tuesday afternoon with the series tied 1-1. 

The Alley Has The Giants In Oakland

The photo above is from a bar called The Alley in Oakland,Ca that had the Giants vs Phillies game on.  The Alley has 10,000 business cards on the walls, good steak, and a piano player, Rod Dibble, who's played there since 1960.   Its on 3325 Grand Avenue. 

Cowboys vs Vikings: Brett Favre, Percy Harvin, Vikings Win 24-21

Sunday's Cowboys vs Vikings NFL game pitted two 1 and 4 teams, both desperately seeking a win. In what Bleacher Report's Mihir Bhagat called "The Panic Bowl," the Cowboys are the team in a panic now, after losing to the Vikings, 24-21.

Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones, who dreamt of having Super Bowl XXXXV in Dallas and his Cowboys in it, is watching his dream slip away in the wake of another loss.

The Cowboys find a new way to lose each week of late, and today a 95-yard kickoff return by Vikings Wide Receiver Percy Harvin - the result of an obvious Cowboys special teams breakdown - was the difference. Without it, the Cowboys get the win, even with Quarterback Tony Romo's two interceptions.

For the Vikings, Brett Favre played effectively, even with a groin irritation and a tendonitis-effected elbow that threatened to keep him sidelined and out of the contest. Finishing with 14 for 19 for 118 yards, one touchdown and a 106 passer rating, Favre didn't do anything to make anyone think he was battling an irritation in the same area he's alleged to have shown to Jenn Starger via text message.

But the Cowboys did their best to get to Favre. He was sacked three times and hit on eight of his first 10 pass attempts. Still to sustain that and get a 106 passer rating is not bad. Brett faired about as well as his quarterback counterpart, Tony Romo.

Romo was 25 for 33 for 211 yards, and one touchdown, that to rookie Dez Bryant, and two interceptions.

Cowboys Wade Phillips Fired?


Jerry Jones is already on record for saying that Head Coach Wade Phillips will continue through the 2010 Season, but with this kind of performance, one has to wonder to what degree Jones' patience will hold. Time will tell.

Written by - Zennie Abraham

Oakland Mayor's Race: Rebecca Kaplan Fears Joe Tuman

The Oakland Mayor's Race is heating up, and with Joe Tuman in the spotlight, yet again. All of this because Tuman has become a serious threat to Mayoral Candidates Don Perata, and Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Jean Quan, the elected officials considered front runners in the Oakland Mayor's Race.

Yesterday in this space it was reported that Tuman so frustrated San Francisco Chronicle Reporter Matthai Kuruvali that he placed his head in his hands and on the table in a photo that, until closer inspection, looked like Kuruvali was banging his head.

While the full report on the "heated discussion" is coming soon, knowing Tuman and the overall landscape, as well as what information's come in, the tone of the conversation between Tuman and Kuruvali was undoubtedly shaped by Kuruvali's desire to prove that when it comes to Oakland politics and policy, he thinks Tuman's a novice. Knowing Joe, he never relented to Kuruvali's dogged attempt to trip him up.   (Note to Kuruvali: relax, brotha!)

Now comes Rebeca Kaplan.

Kaplan is openly recommending that Joe Tuman not be anyone's second choice, and for good reason: it seems every time Rebecca gets an endorsement, Joe's name is mentioned next.  Thus, if some pick Don Perata, the next person may be Joe Tuman; now with Rebecca's rise, Tuman has two camps to grab from - Perata's and Kaplan's.  Joe's star is rising almost because of Rebecca Kaplan. So Rebecca's trying to shake Joe as best she can before a constant stream of second choice votes pushes Tuman into the Mayor's Office on election day.

What could happen is with the third choice.  If that choice is solidly one person, say, Councilmember Jean Quan, or Greg Harland or Don Macleay or Terrance Candell, that person could win.   That's the possibility Ranked Choice Voting presents, especially with the game playing going on.

The Oakland Mayor's Race is so tight now, that a little thing like where the candidates stand on the repeal of the Oakland anti-cross-dressing law or a big thing like the Oakland Gang Injunction effort may turn the election for one and against the other.

Stay tuned.

Corey Feldman Talks Corey Haim and Lost Boys Ball House Of Blues Tour

Corey Feldman (pictured with Corey Haim on the right) the child star, and actor in over 100 films and television shows, is back and talking about Corey Haim and touring with his band.

According to Zennie62.com, earlier this year, Feldman was in the news as actor Corey Haim, his "brother" and best friend, passed away due to what was at the time reported to be a drug overdose.

But on the Today Show last week, Feldman said that was wrong: "It was reported that he died from a drug overdose, which, in fact, was not true. He died of an enlarged heart and pneumonia. He had, in fact, been clean for a year and the autopsy results showed that. But, of course, it got buried in the press."

Feldman continued: "He was a good boy. He was taking care of his very sick mom who had cancer. He was cooking for her, cleaning for her, taking care of her on a daily basis. They found no drugs in his system."

Feldman is the lead singer of his band Truth Movement  and announces, "The Lost Boys Ball," a four city House of Blues tour kicking off in San Diego, CA, on October 21, followed by Las Vegas, NV (October 23); Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, CA (October 24); and Anaheim, CA (October 28).

Each tour date will feature a screening of the classic Lost Boys film, clips from Lost Boys: The Thirst (releasing on Warner Home Video, October 12), and a performance by Feldman’s band, Truth Movement.

Stay tuned.

Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Eminem, and Ke$ha For AMA's

Katy Perry 

The American Music Awards is November 21st and five artists - Justin Bieber, Eminem, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry - are competing for "Artist Of The Year." Who will you vote for?
This blogger's two top choices are Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry, and for two different reasons.

Lady Gaga more for her great effort at advancing political issues like Gay Marriage as she performs, and Katy Perry for really hitting what modern American Culture is all about.

Perry including Snoop Dogg in California Girls was not just a stroke of genius, but a show of just how diverse our nation's culture has become. The reason why California Girls is so popular is because it brings all people together under one big party tent. California Girls is a celebration not just of California itself, but of how the common divisions that once defined American Culture are slowly fading away.

Perhaps more than any other artist outside Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, in helping to redefine American Culture, has become a custodian of it.  Lady Gaga has set a trend for the new, responsibility rebellious artist - the modern day version of KISS - and with her style has also come to define modern American Culture.  But the way Katy ties Hip Hop and Pop together in California Girls is genius. 

So, after all that, it's Katy Perry for this space.

Whomever you select, don't forget to vote at the AMA website with a click here.

Eminem's Birthday, Corey Feldman's Lost Boys Ball House Of Blues Tour

Eminem's Birthday and the return of Corey Feldman in his Lost Boys Ball House Of Blues Tour are part of entertainment news on Sunday. It's Eminem's birthday, so call him Eminem, Marshall Mathers, or visit the Eminem wiki, or listen to Slim Shady to celebrate that he turns 38 years old today.

38? Unbelievable. You'd have thought Eminem was 28 years old, because he doesn't look a day over that, and not even 30. Perhaps that's what playing and creating music for a young audience does for a performer. Just look at 37 year old Corey Feldman, the child star and best friend of the late Corey Haim is back and performing.

Corey Haim Did Not Overdose

Earlier this year, Corey Feldman was in the news as his "brother" and best friend Corey Haim passed away due to what was at the time reported to be a drug overdose, but Feldman said last week on the Today Show that was wrong: "It was reported that he died from a drug overdose, which, in fact, was not true. He died of an enlarged heart and pneumonia. He had, in fact, been clean for a year and the autopsy results showed that. But, of course, it got buried in the press."

Feldman continued: "He was a good boy. He was taking care of his very sick mom who had cancer. He was cooking for her, cleaning for her, taking care of her on a daily basis. They found no drugs in his system."

Corey Feldman On Tour

Corey Feldman is the lead singer of his band Truth Movement  and announces, "The Lost Boys Ball," a four city House of Blues tour kicking off in San Diego, CA, on October 21, followed by Las Vegas, NV (October 23); Sunset Strip, Los Angeles, CA (October 24); and Anaheim, CA (October 28).

Each tour date will feature a screening of the classic Lost Boys film, clips from Lost Boys: The Thirst (releasing on Warner Home Video, October 12), and a performance by Feldman’s band, Truth Movement.

Barbara Billingsley, June Cleaver Of "Leave It To Beaver" and "Airplane" Dies

Barbara Billingsley, an American television legend who played "June Cleaver" in Leave It To Beaver and its sequel Still the Beaver (also called The New Leave It to Beaver), and was a hit in Airplane, died Saturday at the age of 94 in Santa Monica, California.

Way before Mad Men there was Leave It To Beaver, the real 1950s show that promoted the ideal of the American Family. A suburban couple with a house with a white picket fence where the wife, Barbara Billingsley, cleaned it while wearing a skirt, heels, and pearls.

Billingsley proudly played June Cleaver from 1957 to 1963, and was the television series everyone watched when this blogger was a small boy in the early 1960s.

From this African American's point of view, Leave It To Beaver was still the ideal family example and there was nothing in the show to tell blacks they could not achieve that standard. What some forget it that a person can watch a program that doesn't have anyone who looks like them in it, and still enjoy it. Still, a program that's racially diverse is more desirable than the other way, but it's for the reason stated that June Cleaver became "America's mother."

Leave It To Beaver expressed basic good values. Billingsley said that the shows writers and creators didn't try to hit you over the head with them, they were there, but just under the surface.

On Talking Jive In Airplane

Later in her career, Barbara Billingsley would play a kind of parody of her Leave It To Beaver character in the classic comedy Airplane:



Billingsley said people talked as much about that scene as any she'd done in Leave It To Beaver. She had to actually learn jive, or what's now called Ebonics, to do the role. "I was cast because I'd been June Cleaver, I'm sure that was the humor of the thing. I was sent the script, and I thought it was the craziest script I'd ever read, and my husband thought it was funny," she said. "Well, my part wasn't written. It just said I talked jive. So I went to see the producers and I said I would do it. I met the two black fellas that were talking jive (in the scene). They're the ones that wrote the jive talk. And we went to lunch and we discussed this whole thing. You know there's even a book out about jive?

"I was put in contact with a girl who worked at Paramount who knew all about jive. They never figured out if it was the slave days - they didn't want whitey to know what they were talking about - or whether it's street talk. She couldn't tell me. Anyway, I researched for it, and these fellas were wonderful and they taught me."



Barbara Billingsley is survived by her two sons, a stepson, and four grandchildren. With her passes on a key milestone in American culture: the model of the 50s housewife.

Written by
Zennie Abraham

SF Giants 4, Philadelphia Phillies 3, Tim Lincecum, Cody Ross Get Win

The SF San Francisco Giants came out of MLB's version of a heavyweight championship fight with the NLCS Game 1 win against the Philadelphia Phillies Saturday night.

The baseball playoff was billed as a battle between star pitchers Tim Lincecum for the Giants and Roy Halliday for the Phillies, and both were expected to make the game a defensive battle.

Halliday came off a no-hit game against the Cincinnati Reds to open that division series. Lincecum opened the Braves division playoff series with a 14-strikeout performance.

Instead of defense, it was a lot of offense, with both Lincecum and Halladay pushed to the limits of their talents in an effort to get the win, and allowing a combined total of 16 hits. Thanks to Giants Outfielder Cody Ross' 2-run homerun, the Giants won 4-3.

According to ESPN, for Tim Lincecum, it's getting out in front of the Phillies. Tim said "It's tons of confidence, but I think it's more about winning Game 1 for us, setting the pace." And of Ross' home run in the third inning, Lincecum said "It was just enough to squeak by for us."

For a time, it looked like it would be Halladay and not Lincecum getting the win, as Lincecum allowed the first hit, while Halladay retired the first six Giants at bat. Then, the Giants turned it around in the third inning, grabbing the lead 1-0.

Then in the fifth inning, Ross hit one into the left field seats, and the Giants jumped out to a 2-1 lead. Eventually, the Giants would pull ahead to 4 to 1, but then the Phillies roared back on Chase Utley and Jayson Werth's two run home run off Lincecum in the seventh inning.

The Giants, under the relief pitching of Brian Wilson, held on to win and go up 1 nothing.

Giants Fighting For Right To Go To World Series

After winning the NLDS by beating the Atlanta Braves 4 games to 1, the SF Giants find themselves in a seven-game battle for the right to go to the World Series for the first time since 2002. Winning game one was a big step in that direction.

Oakland Mayor's Race: Joe Tuman, Matthai Kuruvali, Marcie Hodge

If you think the Oakland Mayor's Race can't get under the skin of some people who say they're not "getting involved," try looking at this photo of San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer Matthai Kuruvali, who placed his head on the table of the board room at the San Francisco Chronicle as if he'd had enough of something.

 In the background is Oakland Mayoral Candidate Joe Tuman, who seems just calm and collected.

What's interesting is that Matthai Kuruvali tweeted on Twitter..

matthai matthai kuruvila - Just to be clear, I'm not on the ed board and I'm not involved in the decision, but I'll be there for the interview and will ask questions.

Yeah. Right. According to SFGate.com intern Ali Thanawalla, Matthai Kuruvali got into what Ali calls "a heated discussion" and a "funny moment" and Ai reports on both Flickr and on Twitter:

After a heated discussion with Oakland mayoral candidate Joe Tuman, writer Matthai had had enough. Funny moment. http://flic.kr/p/8Kit5P

While Matthai may claim he has no involvement in the Chronicle Editorial Board's decision, he's clearly working to influence it just by his body language. Moreover, some observe that Matthai has been hostile to the idea of any one of the candidates other than Don Perata and Councilmembers Rebecca Kaplan and Jean Quan receiving any media attention.

Moreover, of all of the candidate photos Ali took, this was the only one he took of Matthai's reaction to Tuman.  Nothing of his reaction to the other candidates at the SF Chronicle Editorial Board meetings, specifically Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan and Former State Senator Don Perata.

Additonally, Matthai has been less than respectful of current Mayor Ron Dellums, even to the point of repeating what the Mayor asked him to do - be respectful - on Twitter as if he was mocking Mayor Dellums:

matthai matthai kuruvila
At same time, Dellums always talks about how being mayor is 24/7 job. I guess not when you're w/ your wife (his "senior adviser")
4 Aug Favorite Retweet Reply

matthai matthai kuruvila
I told Dellums he was mayor of Oakland & he ought to answer questions. Dellums: "I'm with my wife. Please, respect that, brother." 4 Aug

If you're going to treat people that way as a media person, it's better to be a blogger than a journalist. What this blogger can't stand is for journalists to use that badge to hide their real feelings. More on this soon. It must be reported that Marcie Hodge has something special: a lawn sign.

Marcie Hodge Has A Lawn Sign

While driving up Oakland Avenue away from Whole Foods and toward the 580 Freeway, a shocking image flashed by: a lawn sign for Oakland Mayoral Candidate Marcie Hodge. That well-placed sign, visible by thousands of people each day, is one indication of how the sheer number of candidates coupled with Ranked Choice Voting could combine to produce an unexpected outcome.

Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan leads in media endorsements while Former Senator Don Perata leads in television commercials. Meanwhile, Tuman's name recognition grows in the Oakland Mayor's Race. The end result and the wild card is just how much on-the-ground walking is being done by the candidates.

Stay tuned.

Kim Kardashian turns 30

Courtesy if People Magazine

On October 21, 2010 Kim Kardashian will turn 30. She had a big celebration on Friday, October 15 at Tao in Las Vegas.

Kardashian told People magazine that she is having mixed feelings about turning 30; especially since her family has been giving her a hard time about it.

Kardashian still looks as stunning and beautiful as ever - age is just a number.

Brett Favre Sex Scandal: Farve To Meet With NFL Commissioner Goodell

According to ProfootballTalk.com and NBC Sports reporter and NFL Network's Alex Flanagan via Twitter, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has confirmed rumors that he will meet with Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Brett Favre in the wake of a blog story floated by Deadspin.com that Farve allegedly sent racy texts, photos, and messages to New York Jets Sideline Reporer Jenn Starger when Farve was QB of the Jets two years ago. (Jay Mariotti blasts Favre and Randy Moss.)

Alex Flanagan tweeted:

NFL will meet with Brett favre tuesday regarding text message and photo situation

NFL Commissioner Goodell was at the Notre Dame game against Western Michigan because, according to Flanagan via Twitter, his niece attends Notre Dame, so he paid a visit.

On NBC's Notre Dame halftime show, Sports Illustrated's Peter King said that NFL Vice President Of Security Operations Milt Aldridge and the Commissioner would meet with Bret Favre in Minneapolis. Also, Goodell has not talked with Jenn Starger as of this writing.

Profootballtalk.com reports there's no indication of a penalty on Favre.

Black Bloggers Blast Obama For Gossip-Oriented Black Bloggers Summit

Mr. President, you forgot about us!

President Barack Obama and the generally Internet savvy Obama White House made a major misstep in the execution of what's called "The Black Bloggers Summit" held October 11th at The White House.

The trouble is - and yes, for this blogger it's whining, so let's get that out of the way - a number of prominent political bloggers who happen to be African American, or black if you prefer, were left off the list, including this blogger.

Instead, representatives from theRoot.com, City Limits, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Essence, Jack & Jill Politics, Concrete Loop, AOL Black Voices, Black America Web and MediaTakeOut, to name some of the bloggers, were invited. 

And guess what?  MediaTakeOut.com crashed today under the weight of its new Internet traffic levels. Great way to get President Obama's message out there.  Geez.

As explained as Zennie62.com:

"Not a one of the bloggers represents a major news site or has connections to one, and people like the legendary Oliver Willis, or John Ridley, or for that matter, Zennie Abraham, er, me, weren't there. Hell, this blogger didn't even get an invitation. Yes, gossip is done here, but so is politics, and in large measure.

And for all of the effective blogging Zennie62 did when it was "Zennie's Zeitgeist" and one of 128 blogs credentialed for the Democratic National Convention? With all of the CNN iReport work this video blogger did at the DNC 2008? With all of the Obama Rapid Response work done to put Barack in the White House? For being on the websites of Mediaite, the San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Examiner, and Seattle Post-Intelligencer?

Just what brand of weed the White House is smoking is the question of the day."

That really is the question. A number of black bloggers are taking the White House to task for asking black gossip bloggers to come, and those representing obviously "black" blogs, rather than inviting bloggers who have larger reach with major news sites who happen to be black.

While some looked at the effort with tongue in cheek criticism, others, like Oliver Willis, a powerful political blogger who happens to be black, completely ignored it, and the UK (England!) DailyMail  used it to essentially lie about what happened - that one blog, Jack and Jill Politics, said it "refused to be pimped."

That was taken out of context by the DailyMail for political purposes. What Jack and Jill Politics blogger "The Christian Progressive Liberal" was explaining was that she was happy President Obama walked into the room, but blogged "if you want me at the dance, I better get something in RETURN. One can always be pimped – it is a whole different ballgame when you’re treated like you have the influence to change the course of events."

The problem is by not having a big black blogger tent, or a big blogger tent, President Obama created an Internet climate of criticism from those left out of the summit, and praise only from those allowed in to it. Moreover, the President allowed in group of bloggers who don't seem to know what "off the record" means. Opps.

After all, a blogger who calls herself "HappyAboutThis" wasn't happy at all about the Obama Black Bloggers Summit:

"Tell anyone who reads MediaTakeout.com that the site was invited to the White House for a policy briefing and discussion as part of its effort to “broaden online engagement” with the black community and it will be at least 5 minutes before you can continue the conversation due to the laughter that will ensue....Media Take Out and Young Black and Fabulous are known to print highly speculative and, in many cases, clearly false information about people in the public eye. Much of the content on Media Take Out’s web site is graphic and certainly not safe for viewing on your work computer. What could they possibly add to a conversation about Obama’s healthcare, education, and civil rights policies?"

What can we expect? They're gossip bloggers, right?

Stay tuned.