Monday, October 31, 2005

Dan: Update on the Neocons' Favorite Country

Damned neocons! Why won't they just stand back and let Israel be destroyed???

IRAN & PALESTINIAN ISLAMIC JIHAD [Andy McCarthy]

Remember one of the big points on why Saddam was an international terror menace who needed to be removed was his payments to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers?

Well, the Times of London reports that the Ahmadinejad regime in Iran is similarly subsidizing rocket attacks on Israel by Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the West Bank. According to a “Palestinian intelligence official,” the deal is $10K for rocket attacks. Payments are routed from Teheran to the always helpful Syria, where Ibrahim Shehadeh, the head of PIJ’s overseas operations, is permitted to operated and is said to transfer the loot to the West Bank.

The good sign, if it’s true, is that Abbas and the Palestinian Authority are reported to be helping the Israelis locate and destroy the safehouses where the rockets are being made. The bad sign, again – if it’s true – is that it underscores that Abbas cannot control the terrorist militias himself and needs Israel’s help – even assuming he really wants to destroy them, as to which many of us remain dubious.

Blah blah neocon blah blah Alito

Dan - Did you catch FNC covering the nomination of Alito to the SCOTUS? They showed his family and everything. They gave him airtime to make a speech. Therefore, using Gray Logic, he must be a NEOCON! Whose only interest is in serving ISRAEL! And who looks like a balding human sweater when approaching his wife in bed at night!

That damned BUSH! CHENEY must be behind this! And MURDOCH is making money off the whole deal! The REPUBLIC is DOOMED!

Sunday, October 30, 2005

UNCLE!

Okay, challenging Bruce on a sports pick is like challenging the Pope on the catechism.

Donovan McNabb is hurt and ineffective. He should be ordered to have surgery or else be benched. Go to Germany if you have to (where there supposedly is some surgeon who claims a 2-week recovery time).

The dink-and-dunk offense is anemic and disgraceful. TO's antics are insufferable. Andy Reid's headstrong ways are not helpful this year. This is a lost season, and the sooner they realize that and do what is needed to change course, the better off they will be in the long run.

Heck, they may be better off in the short run - if they play .500 ball without McNabb and he is back in late December, they would have a chance to sneak into the playoffs. As it is, they are going to be a mediocre team with an injured QB. Make the changes NOW!

Broncos-Birds

Bruce is baiting us, picking the Broncos to win easily over the Birds. Beware, Bruce. This is a trap and you have walked into it! Eagles 31 Broncos 20.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Withdrawal

Never felt so satisfying! I would like to think that our little blog contributed to it, and I think the post in particular that did it was Dan's "Scarpati" post - the President was flustered by the invocation of the name of a DB from the 60's with no apparent relation to the rest of the post, read deep meaning into it, and concluded that it was time for Harriet to withdraw - so this whole thing wouldn't "Scar PATI". (President and Those Intellectual-types).

That's why you titled the post "Scarpati", right Dan? Good work!

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Virginia Postrel on Miers

Postrel is a libertarian and a very interesting thinker. Her initial posts on Miers were cautiously supportive (at least in my reading of them), but she has come to occupy the same space that I do:

As regular readers know, I've written an extraordinary amount about Bush's nomination of Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court. Early on, my primary purpose was reportorial--to use my locational advantage to provide information and context for people outside of Dallas. But the more I learned, the more appalled I became.


This really is an embarrassment of a nomination. It gives Dan the ability to go on an extended anti-Bush jag and for me to do nothing more than sullenly agree with him. Perhaps Bush could have done worse, but with the promise to nominate someone in the mold of Scalia or Thomas as the starting point, this might be as bad as I could have imagined. Like Bush himself, Miers seems to have no intellectual curiosity (maybe she just watched Fox News, Dan), doesn't think or speak in a way that suggests any sort of "big picture" philosophy, and seems to be little more than a functionary who is being rewarded for loyalty because there is a nominal connection between her post-graduate degree and the job to which she is being nominated. This is the downside of a President who is admirable in many ways, but whose inarticulateness generally and his inability to convey any sense that he has pondered big questions more particularly is maddening.

How he can fight the War on Terror yet call the Minutemen who assist INS in patrolling the border "vigilantes" is analogous to his having nominated John Roberts - owner of the perfect SCOTUS resume - and then nominating Miers. This pick is a disaster, and the sooner she withdraws, the better off everyone will be.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Olshanmania!

Bruce is gonna love this story - it's a good illustration as to why door-to-door campaigning can be fun.

I approached the home of a couple with the last name of Olshan, noting that the he was a Green Party member and the she was a Democrat. I figured that there were no votes to be had, so rather than focus on politics, I had to ask the guy: "Are you related to Mort Olshan?" He looks at me as if he's thinking "No way!" He says "the guy with the betting paper?" I said "Yea, The Gold Sheet, out on the west coast". He says "Yea, that's my grandfather's cousin". We talked Mort, Bruce, and TGS for a while.

I don't know if he'll vote for me, but I would rather have moments such as those every now and then to keep my spirits up. Today was miserable: mid-40's, steady rain. I got to Judd and Hannah Olshan's house toward the end of a 6.5 hour day campaigning in this crap. The most distressing moment was when I talked to a woman who assured me she wouldn't be voting for me because, among other things, I am "too fiscally conservative". After asking her whether cutting spending without having cut a single program - and while improving quality of services - was a bad thing, she stuttered, assured me that she knew all about what was happening, and wouldn't vote for me. After she couldn't answer specific questions, she got flustered and said that I was wasting my time - she wasn't going to vote for me. I told her that I wasn't trying to get her vote, as I knew that wasn't happening, but I did want to know what specifically she thought I had done wrong. Nothing. I asked her to send me 3 to 5 items and that I would happily respond. I am not expecting anything. Her husband is a college professor - I am sure these people are proto-lefties, which is fine as far as it goes. But if they are so superior intellectually, why won't they engage the debate?

Anyway, I am cold and miserable right now, and I am going to take a long, hot shower. But I had to pass along the Olshan story.

PS: Vote DiGiovanni: He's Too Fiscally Conservative!

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Bork's Borking of Bush

In my never-ending attempt to get the personal e-mails posted here, I will respond to Dan's private e-mail on the blog. This is a bit lazy, just copying and pasting someone else's thoughts, but I think Podhoretz gets it just right:


BORK AND BUSH [John Podhoretz]
The Robert Bork piece in the Wall Street Journal is unfortunately but understandably intemperate. As he criticizes the Miers nomination, Bork expands out his criticism to accuse Bush of not being a "conservative." That is simply preposterous, and it's become a lazy charge on the part of right-wingers who have problems with individual parts of his agenda.

Yes, he signed No Child Left Behind. Yes, he signed campaign-finance reform. Yes, he supports an immigration-reform proposal that some say features amnesty. But let's not miss the major fact. Anyone who cuts taxes by nearly $2 trillion is a CONSERVATIVE. Anyone who is willing to pursue an aggressive foreign policy without the support of the liberal elite is a CONSERVATIVE. And anyone who has appointed as many conservative jurists as Bush is a CONSERVATIVE.

As for Bush's failure to contain spending, hey, if you guys want a Republican president obsessed with federal spending and the need to contain it, let me introduce you to George Herbert Walker Bush. Remember him? The one-term floperoo?

I said that Bork's attack was understandable. That's because, all the way back in 1999, Bush chose to attack Bork quite directly and with some disrespect in the most important early speech of his campaign. ""Too often, on social issues, my party has painted an image of America slouching toward Gomorrah," Bush said, using the title of Bork's own wildly pessimistic bestseller about American decline. "Something unexpected happened on the way to cultural decline. Problems that seemed inevitable proved to be reversible."

Bush was and remains a spokesman for a more confident and optimistic vision of America and its future than many on the Right, including Bob Bork. But Bork didn't deserve to be slapped that way, and so he has every right to be angry at Bush.

But everybody needs to chill a little bit. The president made a bad Supreme Court appointment, and has done other disappointing things in the last five years. Grow up, people. He's a politician -- in my view, a great one, but still a politician. And if you lived in Washington in the 1980s, you heard all manner of similar attacks on Ronald Reagan during his presidency, let me assure you -- including, may I say, during the summer that Bob Bork was under merciless attack. "Where's the president?" people cried. "Why isn't he defending Bork? Why is he letting this happen? He's so lazy. He's so distracted. Blah blah blah."


Yes, Bush deserves criticism for many things, but Dan is bound and determined to hate the guy on all things. The nomination of Miers is indeed a travesty, and I have signed Frum's petition. But a little measure of temperance in judging his record is appropriate.

And if Dan could please refrain from citing Fox News as the source of all my (or Mark's, or any Republican with whom he isn't in perfect harmonic convergence, which is about all of them) political insights, I would try to respond to his substantive remarks with substantive replies. But if it all comes down to "This is what Rupert Murdoch and his Fox Flunkies tell you to believe", then there is no point in arguing, as the premise is an ad hominem attack, not a starting point for debate.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Lileks on American reaction to the Iraqi constitution vote

The day after Iraqis voted on their constitution I passed a knot of protesters standing on three corners of a wide suburban interchange. The signs had peace symbols, and the text encouraged all to honk if we wanted peace. There was little honking. Death and fire seem to the desires of most of the minivan demographic, it seems.

...What struck me was that these people standing by the shopping mall were protesting the means by which the right to vote had been secured. It seems like protesting Meals-on-Wheels because the truck broke the speed limit and had expired tags.

... My point? No point. Just that the day the people of Iraq went home with purple fingers, some folks in a nice safe suburb of Minneapolis reacted by standing on a streetcorner with transcribed bumperstickers urging the US to abandon Iraq tomorrow. Who would Jesus bomb? I cannot presume to speak. If you think he would have bombed Afghanistan, Iraq, AND Yugoslavia to strike at tyranny, well, you must hold the current president in contempt. He’s two for three.

On being the parent of a Down Syndrome child

... and the sick reaction of the "cultural elite" in this country.

One of the defining stories of my life is the one that occurred shortly after Ralph's birth. My father was a medical student at the time and was in some far off rural town doing a clinical rotation. My mother was alone when the doctor (I think this was the obstetrician, but maybe it was the pediatrician) came into her room to explain to her that Ralph had Down Syndrome, and how, as a doctor's wife, this would be an unbearable burden. He was ready to help her find an "appropriate" institution in which to place this deformed child.

With anger and disgust, she fired the doctor on the spot. She, her mother, and her grandmother were determined to do whatever it took to make sure that Ralph hit his developmental milestones on time. And so he did. What he has meant to me, to the rest of the family, and to innumerable other people puts the lie to the notion that his life is in any way "worth" less than anyone else's. I wish I was half as successful in having a positive impact on others.

These morons who think that they can place a value on a human life, up to and including imposition of a prenatal death sentence, disgust me with their fake intellectualism. They are frauds and phonies who should be called out for what they are: narcissistic jerks.

PS: I like to say of my mom that she was "pro-life" before "pro-life" was cool. (Except it hasn't ever really been cool, but you get the idea)

Cortland County Blog

Check out the blog that I am maintaining for our run for reelection. Let me know what you think.

Where's Waldo?

I came here looking for Mark's rookie post - where did it go? Same place the Astros' pennant clinching win went tonight, I guess. What a game, what a comeback. The kind of win that can change a series, I think.

Bruce's generous comments about the Chisox are spot on. What a fun team to watch. The calls went the way of the Pale Hose, but the Angels did nothing to offer even the barest hint that they were a more worthy representative of the AL in the Fall Classic. Is AJ Pierzynski working off a deal with the devil or something? How does he get himself in the middle of so much controversy - and not just by being a jerk.

I am pressing on in the campaign - did the door-to-door stuff after work today for an hour in my opponent's neighborhood. If this were a referendum on our performance, I would be sitting at home, relaxing. Instead, I am running against a school teacher, and darn near every teacher in this ward has a sign of his up. Friends of mine witnessed one of my signs being stolen yesterday (talk about Dumb-o-crat - this guy steals the sign in the middle of the afternoon on a Sunday, and this was witnessed by three people). I drove around for a while, hoping to catch the guy trying to swipe another sign, but I guess he got scared off by the yelling of my friend's. I just love the political process....

Monday, October 17, 2005

The Juco Wire...

As a former juco, I feel obligated to honor the best two years of my schooling in the title, even if it qualifies me as a thug or a hood in some circles. Long live Long Beach City College. Indeed, there are times I wish more than one of my daughters would have gone the juco route instead of jesuit (they must have confused the "j" words), at least for two years, it sure would have saved daddy a few bucks...

No crying on this end after the ALCS, the better team definitely won. Though the bogus call in Game Two still grates, no use crying about it because the Sox still had to move Osuna into scoring position before the game-winning double. As for the catcher interference in Game Four, okay, but there is no evidence the Halos were ready to do big damage to Garcia or any other Sox pitcher. They had plenty of chances against that entire staff and were simply humbled, only 34 baserunners total in the 5 games. That's less than 7 baserunners per game! Angels weren't beaten those last three games, they were emasculated...

Now it's Bill Stoneman's move to go out and get a real DH, maybe a first basemen, and think hard about what he wants to do at 3B. The staff is still solid, even if Washburn leaves, the pen is outstanding, defense fine. But they need to get more guys on base to turn the runners loose on the paths, where the Halos really excelled this year. Eventually their impatience undid them, especially Vlad, who looked at an average of about 2 pitches in his ALCS at bats. He was completely taken out of the series by the Sox pitchers. Halos went through several such offensive funks during the season and lived through them because they were generally good in the clutch, and of course had that pitching to fall back on when the bats were cold. In the end, however, with hardly anyone getting on base, how were they to win?...

I am very cool with the Sox, especially with the new Chicago connection in the family. They were head-and-shoulders the best team this season, and only cooled in August and September because they lost their edge with such a big lead. When they geared up, they took care of the Tribe the last weekend, routed the Sox, and dispatched the Halos. The lineup is solid, they play good defense, run the bases well (despite those mistakes in ALCS Games One & Two, they really made up for it with some smart running in games 3 thru 5), and the staff speaks for itself...

I think the Series could be a rout vs. either the Astros or Cards. Houston would be fortunate to last past five games, and so would the Cards, who at best might stretch it to 6. No surprised if Sox dispatched either in as few as 5 games, even 4. The Houston staff has no edge on the Chisox, and I take Ozzie's lineup any day. The Cards are overrated to begin with, and now they are banged up. As Big Dan predicted a few months ago, a team with some live arms like the 'stros could hook the Cards in the postseason and take them out in a short series. Which is exactly what has happened thus far. Let's hope Andy P closes it out tonight...

Football-wise, I am still shaken from SC-Notre Dame, but am amazed that the Trojan honks think their team has cleared its last hurdle. The next three weeks should be a respite of sorts (Washington--more on Ty in a minute, a fading Washington State, and Walt Harris' Stanford), but the stretch drive is going to be tough, with Cal, Fresno, and UCLA (now up to 8th in the polls!), then the Rose Bowl if they win thsoe games. Still not sure the Trojans can escape unscathed...

Too bad the Irish lost that game to MSU, I'd do anything to see a rematch with SC in a bowl game. It is far too unlikely of a scenario to happen now, but it would have been fun...

Bruins do not have enough defense to beat SC (as we thought, Wazzu's Jerome Harrison ran wild on UCLA in the Palouse), and how many teams can give up 330 yards rushing in back-to-back weeks and still win? Bruins were lucky to win at WSU, are pushing their luck these days three straight white knucklers), and would be hard-pressed to hold Troy under 50, if not 60, points. But SC is a bit vulenrable defensively, as Charlie Weis proved, and I would still give Cal a real chance (despite its last two losses) because Bears can run the ball, play frenetic defense, and Jeff Tedford has been more than a tactical match for Carroll the past few years. Cal's ongoing problem is at QB, where fellow juco Joe Ayoob, the "white Michael Vick," has been maddeningly inconsistent (such as 13 of 39 passing last week vs. the Beavers). If Tedford can straighten out this season-long project before November 12, Bears have a chance, because they get SC at Berkeley, and we have seen that Troy can be seriously challenged on the road...

The "sleeper" team in the mix could be a dangerous Fresno State, which catches SC after the emotional Cal game and before UCLA. This could be a tricky sandwich spot for SC, because Bulldogs can defintiely run with Wendell Mathis and Bryson Sumlin, have a capable senior QB in Paul Pinegar, and lots of speed on defense. FSU is the best WAC team this season, and rest assured Fresno would not have been plastered at Georgia as Bosie was. Plus the Bulldogs, who have traveled to all corners of the country and beaten some good teams (inclduing Virginia in the Boise Bowl last year), have the sort of swagger and cockiness needed to combat SC. They will not be intimidated. I really think Fresno has a lot better shot at the Trojans than does UCLA. And I will always remember the great 1992 Freedom Bowl, when Fresno punished SC in my presence 24-7, sending Larry Smith out the door once and for all. Still one of the great nights of my sports life...

As for Ty. not sure if you guys caught the Washington-Oregon box score from Saturday, but Ty's team was routed, 45-21. The Seattle Times sports page was pretty rough on U-dub, for good reason, as the team apparently looked unprepared and unemotional for a battle vs. one of its oldest and most-hated rivals (lots of Huskies hate Oregon more than they do Washington State). And this after U-dub had a week off and was supposedly much healthier on the defensive side. By comparison, look how Notre Dame performed after its bye week, and look how the Huskies played in the same situation. If there was ever an illustration of the differnece between Ty and Weis, that's it...

Rod Gilmore, Kellen Winslow, and the rest of Ty's supporters in the media ought to realize that Willingham is going to do their cause more harm than good in the long run, because he is decidedly mediocre. The p.c. crowd can tout Ty all it wants and heap scorn on Notre Dame, but anybody who doesn't think the Irish are WAY better off with Weis is nuts. By the way, of Willingham's last 8 teams at Stanford and ND, only 3 of them have finished with a winning record. Make that 3 of 9 after this season. He's the poster child for mediocrity. Already, I know that lots of Husky boosters are livid at AD ex-Vandy Todd Turner for this p.c. hire. They are so rabid up there that a change could be demanded by next season, and I wonder if Turner will let himself sink with Willingham...

Elsewhere out here, the Mountain West is quite a race, with every team save UNLV capable of beating everyone else. BYU has started to play well, and could give Notre Dame a bit of a tussle this week, especially after the Irish emptied their tanks last weekend. Cougars +20 might be a good bet. TCU has been the surprise of the league and might win it, but could have a tricky battle vs. Air Force this week. Fisher DeBerry's option might slow down the Frogs' wild defensive pressure (they have blitzed like crazy this year, but can't do as much ot hat stuff vs. the option, which demands assignment defense). Good border war in Fort Collins this week as Wyoming, off 2 losses, heads in to face CSU (I attended that game at Fort Collins in 1986, amazed at the intensity...real hate between those schools).

WAC update. Boise is not carrying the big numbers this season and has proven a rather unreliable big favorite. Broncos are still winning, but they're not destroying foes, even on the blue carpet, as they did the past few years. Fresno probably the best in the WAC, but keep an eye on the rejuvenated Nevada Wolf Pack, riding a nice 3-game win streak and off a handy win over capable La Tech at Reno last Saturday. The Pack actually sits atop the WAC right now at 3-0 in confernece, and Chris Ault's hybrid "pistol" attack is beginning to click nicely. Worst team in the WAC is Hal Mumme's New Mexico State, which is winless and could end up 0-12 this year. Bad year for Mumme and his d.c. Woody...

The man Urban Meyer needed to run his spread this season wasn't Chris Leak, it was Jay Cutler. Though the SEC defenses are fast enough to deal with all the tricks, Cutler is very similar to Alex Smith, and would have run the offense much better than Leak...

Broncos are looking good, at 5-1 they are sitting pretty in the AFC West. Didn't see the turnaround coming after the opening-day debacle in miami, but give Shan credit for sticking with Jake and rebuilding that defense. Denver is a real threat this season. Now, if we can only get the Colts into Denver for the playoffs...

Sunday, October 16, 2005

Guys'  Rules

From future (?) blogger Big Brother Mark:

At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down.

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Finally, the guys' side of the story.

These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1"  ON PURPOSE!

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're  a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be, you cannot change it..

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And  no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Please ask for what you want!
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every  question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving  it. That's  what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem! See a doctor!

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In  fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days.

1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Please, don't ask us!

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done.  Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors,  like Windows default (required) settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit.  We have no idea what mauve is!

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that!

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing,"  we  will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...  Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about - unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as football, the shotgun formation, Point spread, Sports Illustrated Bathing Suit Pictures.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape.  Round is a shape.

Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; but did you know men really  don't mind that? It's like camping.

Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh.

Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a bigger laugh!

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Palm Card

Here it is:


Stolen game

What a ridiculously stupid call by the home plate umpire on that third strike. What a kick in the balls that it decides the game.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Bad memories from close-outs, and Louis Freeh...

Whenever the subject of close-out games and the Angels are mentioned in the same breath, I break out in a cold sweat, the nightmares of 1982 & '86 still fresh in my mind. I would have thought the magic year of 2002 would have erased some of that pain, but the anguish was apparently so seared within me that it will never go away...

I'll leave it at this for tonight. Either "the good" Angels or "the bad" Angels show up. A little more patience at the plate will go a long way toward solving Mussina. A few extra baserunners will allow the Angels to do more of what they do best, that's run the bases, and put pressure on the shaky Yankees defense. Flail away wildly as in Game One, and this could add another chapter to the litany of postseason bitterness...

The Yankees won Game Four in Angels style, with aggressive baserunning. With Saturday's rainout, I would assume that Mariano will be ready to go if needed again tonight, even after pitching 2 innings on Sunday. So I'd much rather the Halos jump on Mussina early, get out to a 3-0 or 4-0 lead, and let Bartolo do his stuff, then turn things over to the capable Halo bullpen in the late innings. I suspect, however, that this might be a game for the ages, and something dramatic will happen to determine the outcome...and whether I start pulling for the White Sox after tonight...

Cardinals could be vulnerable against the Astros. And I still think the Phils could have given the Redbirds all they could handle. I thought the Padres had their chances throughout the Cardinal series, but were atrocious in RISP situations. And the Pad starting pitching was abysmal, never giving the solid bullpen a favorable situation in the late innings. I will go out on a limb and pick Astros to win the NLCS in 6. Cannot believe that is the same team I saw with Dan that lost so meekly in Baltimore June 13, when the O's, not the 'stros, looked like the team in contention. Or the sluggish 'stro team I saw lose in Minute Maid Park to the Cubs way back on April 28. No way would I have ever envisioned the Houston teams I saw earlier this season ever making it this far...

Better news comes from the Dodger managerial search, where the politicking Terry Collins, who has a high-profile role within the organization, has apparently moved to the front of the pack to succeed Mr. Excitement, Jim Tracy. I could envision Collins' BS playing very well with the shallow McCourts, Jamie McCourt in particular, and probably elevating him over Trammell, Ron Washington, and anyone else the McCourts and DePodesta might want to hire. There is absolutely no talk of Lou coming out here (I don't think he would dig working for DePodesta, or the McCourts, for that matter), which is good, but I don't think any manager is going to matter too much with this current crop of Dodgers, who are destined for another sub-.500 finish next season. Collins' hire, however, would ease my mind, because he is an egomaniac, a flawed tactician, and a proven loser. He worked behind the scenes to undermine Art Howe in Houston (remember how Art, in better work than he eventually did in Oakland, kept the 'stros afloat when they went through some serious housecleaning in the early '90s, only to be rudely dismissed after steering the team back to respectability?) and was an unmitigated disaster in Anaheim, when the Angels underachieved and eventually imploded under his glare in 1999. Sounds like the perfect Dodger manager to me...

I would expect the Eagles to bounce back from the Dallas fiasco, but my warnings about the NFC East are coming true, though in a roundabout sort of way. I suspect the Cowboys and Skins will probably hang in this thing a bit longer than I originally thought, joining my earlier team du jour, the Giants, to keep the division race interesting. The Birds fell behind quickly yesterday, and the run game went out the window, but Andy should be a bit cautioned about his offense that often reverts to dink-dink-dink mode. At times the Eagles fall too much in love with McNabb's short throws. At some point opponents are going to get keen to all of this and Andy will have to adjust accordingly. Maybe now is the time...

Broncos made that game closer than it should have bene with the Skins. The ex-Browns that litter Shanahan's defense contributed to those incredible penalties that kept the Skins' last TD drive alive, but how many times have we seen teams drive the length of the field in the final minutes vs. defenses playing too soft. When will they learn? Broncs did have Skins stopped at midfield with just over 2 minutes left, but that 4th down penalty kept the drive alive, and Brunell & Co. almost burned them in the end. Wins, however, are precious, and after that early scare following the Miami debacle, Broncos are a tidy 4-0 and have survived what looked like a rough portion of the schedule pretty much in tact. Don't get too carried away with the Redskin stats edge, remember how the Broncos simply throttled Jacksonville down there last week. Play next week and Denver might have a 400-200 yardage edge. Let's see what happens when the Patriots visit this week. A win would be huge because it could also come into play with any tiebreakers that might eventually be involved with the Pats...

How far can Denver go this season? I'll leave it at this--the Broncos will be good enough to get to the Super Bowl when they are good enough to get all of their playoff games at home. I would hate to have Denver to go back to Indianpolis again, much better to get the Colts in Denver...

On the coaching front, I can't believe Dom Capers has much longer to go in Houston. The team is abysmal, and is getting worse instead of getting better. Dismissing Chris Palmer as o.c. is like a band-aid covering a gaping wound. The Palmer-designed offense can't do anything as long as David Carr is taking hits like he's George Chuvalo in the pocket. Does anyone remember that new Teaxans o.c. Joe Pendry was the coach of USFL Pittsburgh Maulers (Mike Rozier & Glenn Carano) back in 1984? The Carano family, by the way, runs the El Dorado Hotel/Casino in downtown Reno...

Would also think that the most-overrated coach in the NFL, Brian Billick, is going to get his comeuppance after this season. After the Ravens fall to 5-11 or 6-10, he will likely use the Boller injury as an excuse, but I hope Steve Bisciotti sees through that baloney and sends this first-rate phony packing after the season. The Raven defense isn't what it once was, either...how can any team allow Detroit to score 35 points?...

Cal-UCLA was one of the wildest and most-exciting college games I can remember. If there was ever a hump win for the classy Karl Dorrell, that was it, but Bruins had better temper their talk of being 10-0 for the SC game until they plug some holes on that defense. Cal ran for over 300 yards, and the rest of the Pac-10 will exploit that weakness, starting with Washington State this week. Look for Coug RB Jerome Harrison to blast away, and already I think that UCLA -7 is too rich. The Bruins ought to be happy to escape the Palouse with any sort of win this week...

LSU-Vandy score was a bit deceiving, Dores were hanging tight until the 4th Q, but there are still opportunities to get to make that first postseason trip since the 1982 All-American Bowl in Birmingham. Vandy simply must play error-free football vs. the upper-echelon teams to have any chance against the LSUs and Georgias, which in itself is an upgrade from the much of the past when they basically had little or no shot to compete. Just getting on ESPN and CBS a couple of times is a step in the right direction, but Cutler could use a bit more help. Still, I think 6-5 is very doable, and a trip to the Independence Bowl to face an improved Baylor team would be one of the neat stories of the postseason...

And Wake up the Echoes, guys, ND is ready to pull the big upset this weekend. I was a bit miffed in the new TGS that Chuck insisted he write this week's cover story about the game, in which he missed out on much of the history of the series that will come back into focus this week. How many streaks and unbeaten seasons have been ended by one or the other in this rivalrye? Anyway, Chuck only writes a few stories each season, so I'll let this one slide, and I did the game writeup. I just could have written this week's cover story a lot better than him...

In the meantime, I think I'll go buy a copy of Louis Freeh's book. Looks like good reading to me...

Saturday, October 08, 2005

Ola Halos!

That was a wacky win - not quite in the same class as the 15-14 game in the 1993 Series, but it had its charms. 5-0, 5-6, 11-6, 11-7. The suits at ESPN and Fox cannot be happy that the Bosox are out and the Yankees are on life support.

I hit the campaign trail today despite the rain. I think you gain a bit of sympathy showing up at the door with a wet mane. Every two years I fear doing this, and every two years I learn how much I like it. I have met some remarkable people while campaigning, from a Holocaust survivor to the grandparents of a freshly minted Vanderbilt graduate. The woman who survived the Holocaust graciously told her stories to me and Emmy one day a couple of years ago when Emmy was learning about this era in school. Sadly, her husband passed away a few months ago. He was an American GI in WWII, but was originally from Germany.

I always seem to run across at least a few people who buck up my spirits. The old guy who knowingly says "They give you grief in the newspaper, but I've been following what you're doing, and doing a great job". The schoolteacher who still hasn't forgotten a presentation I did for her class probably five years ago now, who offered me an umbrella (I was relying on a waterproof pull-over with a hood), and immediately lent her support, not just for herself but for her neighbors two doors down ("When you see Cathy and Carol, tell them I sent you"). She couldn't find an umbrella (I watched "Lazy Town" with her two sons while she looked), but I was happy for her having made the offer (and trying to secure me two more votes). A few minutes later, she emerged from her house, rain pouring down, to track me down to give me her umbrella. Moments like that make it seem worthwhile.

I also remember a grouchy old SOB who attacked me in 2001 because I wasn't a Democrat. He didn't want to hear a word beyond my being a Republican. This year (and in 2003) I managed to go to his house while he wasn't home - YES! I try to visit homes that I missed the first time on a second go-round, but not households like that one. Maybe if I explained to him all the reasons why I am disappointed in the GOP (locally and nationally)... Nah!

Anyway, I hope he enjoys seeing the palm card list, which includes "Endorsed by the CSEA". I bet he'll choke a bit on his oatmeal reading that!

Off to Cleveland tomorrow for a Sunday baptism. Back to the campaign trail Monday afternoon.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Posting

Gentlemen (and Dan):

I am guessing that you are auto-referencing your posts by filling in the "Link" field with some sort of self-referential link. Or else the site is doing it to you (although, somehow, not to me).

Clicking on the little "?" next to the Link box gives you an explanation of how to use it. Scroll down to the "Post Links" explanation. For example, in my last post, I copied the permalink from the WSJ web site and pasted it into the Link Field. I took the title of Fund's entry and put that above the link in the "Title" box. Voila! The title is now a link to the source material.

I think I am going to play it straight tonight. I am very tired, the result of way too much late-night budget reviewing and campaign preparation. I have to stop preparing, though, and start campaigning, which in these parts means knocking on doors. It's actually fun to do, the only drawback being the time it takes - time away from the wife and kids, time that is not easy to come by in the first place.

Minute Man's Minute Is Up

John Fund is not so bullish on Gilchrist:

Anti-immigration activists are touting the 14% showing of Jim Gilchrist, founder of the Minuteman Project, in a special election to fill the House seat of Chris Cox, the Californian who resigned to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. Mr. Gilchrist, who ran under the banner of the American Independent Party, will now face GOP State Senator John Campbell, a leader of anti-tax forces in the state, in a December runoff. Mr. Campbell won 46%, just shy of the majority needed to avoid a runoff.

While it's true that Mr. Gilchrist almost beat Marilyn Brewer, a former GOP state legislator who had been endorsed by John McCain and former New Jersey Governor Christie Whitman, Mr. Gilchrist's showing is unimpressive on close examination. Chuck Muth, a political consultant who works with candidates who oppose immigration, said Mr. Gilchrist was inarticulate on issues other than immigration and failed to raise money for his campaign. "Without that... he's dead meat on December 6," admitted Mr. Muth. "What a squandered opportunity."

C'mon, let's do the Bristol Stomp

And now for something completely different. And bring an airline sickness bag. An online 50s radio station with a special weekend to honor doo-wop types...

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Some thoughts for Paul's speech...

Some one-liners for Paul to think aboiut using in his Thursday speech...

"The opposite of pro is con/ That fact is clearly seen/ If progress means move forward/ Then what does Congress mean?"--Nipsey Ruseell (appropriate, perhaps, in the week of his passing)

Some doctor jokes, which might or might not resonate with the crowd...

A doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so he gave him another six months.

My doctor grabbed me by the wallet and said "Cough!"

The Doctor called Mrs. Cohen saying "Mrs. Cohen, your check came back." Mrs. Cohen answered "So did my arthritis!"

The Doctor says "You'll live to be 60!" "I AM 60!" "See, what did I tell you?"

A doctor says to a man "You want to improve your love life? You need to get some exercise. Run ten miles a day." Two weeks later, the man called the doctor. The doctor says "How is your love life since you have been running?" "I don't know, I'm 140 miles away!"

The patient says "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." "Then don't do that!"

The doctor says to the patient, "Take your clothes off and stick your tongue out the window". "What will that do" asks the patient. The doctor says "I'm mad at my neighbor!"

A doctor has a stethoscope up to a man's chest. The man asks "Doc, how do I stand?" The doctor says "That's what puzzles me!"

"Doctor, my leg hurts. What can I do?" The doctor says "Limp!"

Doctor says to a man "You're pregnant!" The man says "How does a man get pregnant?" The doctor says "The usual way, a little wine, a little dinner...."

A man goes to a psychiatrist "Nobody listen to me!" The doctor says "Next!"

A man goes to a psychiatrist. The doctor says "You're crazy" The man says "I want a second opinion!" "Okay, you're ugly too!"

"Doctor, I have a ringing in my ears." "Don't answer!"

Nurse: "Doctor, the man you just gave a clean bill of health to dropped dead right as he was leaving the office". Doctor: "Turn him around, make it look like he was walking in."

I know a guy who had his doctor say "take some weight off, go to a health club." This man lost 20 pounds in one week! The machine tore his leg off!


(Those are from the great Henny Youngman's collection!)

More from the best of Henny, some drunk jokes, which also might or might not resonate with the crowd...

A drunk was in front of a judge. The judge says "You've been brought here for drinking." The drunk says "Okay, let's get started."

Another drunk goes up to a parking meter, puts in a quarter, the dial goes to 60. The drunk says "Huh. I lost 100 pounds!"


Some homeless guy jokes from the Youngman collection...

A bum asked me "Give me $10 till payday." I asked "When's payday?" He said "I don't know, you're the one who is working!"

A bum came up to me saying "I haven't eaten in two days!" I said, "You should force yourself!"

Another bum told me "I haven't tasted food all week." I told him "Don't worry, it still tastes the same!"

Another bum asked me "Can I have $300 for a cup of coffee?" I told him "Coffee's a quarter!" The bum said "Yeah, but I want to drink it in Brazil!"

I was walking down the street, and I found a man's hand in my pocket. I asked "What do you want?" "A match" "Why didn't you ask me?" "I don't talk to strangers."


And some of my personal Henny favorites...

"If there's a price on your head, take it"

There was a girl knocking on my hotel room door all night! Finally, I let her out.

Was that suit made to order? Where were you at the time?

You have the Midas touch. Everything you touch turns to a muffler.

If you had your life to live over again, do it overseas.

She's been married so many times she has rice marks on her face.

She has a wash and wear bridal gown.

You have a ready wit. Tell me when it's ready.

You look like a talent scout for a cemetery.

You have a nice personality, but not for a human being.

The more I think of you, the less I think of you.

Where did you get your haircut, the pet shop?



How about some other sayings and quotes worth a laugh or two...

"When a guy brings his wife flowers for no reason, there's a reason"-Al McGuire

"When it's dry, think wet"-McGuire again

"The older you are, time flies. I feel like I'm having breakfast every 20 minutes"-McGuire

"When you ask for the non-smoking section in Montreal, they send you to Buffalo"-Hank Greenwald, former Giants and current A's broadcaster

"You get up in the morning, go to bed at night, and do what you want in between"-success, as defined by Bob Dylan

Many years ago, Phil Rizzuto and Bill White were at the mike of a Yankees telecast. The camera spots an attractive woman in the crowd.
Phil: "She reminds me of that old song, 'A Pretty Girl is like a Memory.'"
Bill: "Scooter, I think that's Melody."
Phil: "Really? How do you know her name is Melody."


And, finally, some classic Jerry Coleman-isms from the distant past...

"Gaylord Perry and McCovey should know each other like a book--they've been ex-teammates for years"

"Royster has gone 6 for 7 agaisnt Bob Shirley this year--and there's a single, that makes him 5 for 8"

"Redfern won't be 22 until October...hey, he's only 21!"


Somewhere in this pile, you'll be able to find some stuff to bring the house down Thursday night!...

48th district election update...

Will leave the heavy-duty election analysis to Dan...

In a nutshell, Dan was working for Jim Gilchrist's campaign. Since none of the candidates, including the "annointed" Republican, John Campbell, secured a majority of votes the special election to fill SEC-bound Chris Cox's seat, the top vote-getter from each party will be involved in a runoff in early December. Gilchrist, who garnered about 15% of the vote while running as an American Independent, will be part of the runoff, as of course will Campbell, who "won" this election with 46%. Runner-up Marilyn Brewer, a Republican who netted about 17%, will not be invited to the December festivities. The Democrat candidate, Steve Young (not the 49er...I don't think), tallied all of about 9%. He will be involved in the December runoff, too, but in this district (as in many OC districts, save Loretta Sanchez' Santa Ana) a Dem has about as much chance as the Kansas City Royals did of winning the AL pennant this season.

Anything above 10%, and forcing a runoff, was pretty good for Gilchrist, the leader of the Minutemen. Though mostly a one-trick pony with his anti-immigation theme, it is a hot topic that is really beginning to resonate, and the mere fact that he has forced Campbell into a runoff is a moral victory of sorts. Though his odds of overtaking Campbell in December remain long, every percentage point he picks up will be watched closely by Arnold and countless other politicians who will have to make the immigration dilemma a part of their upcoming campaign platforms.

The 48th district runoff is a real test-tube of sorts for the immigration issue. So far, results confirm it is a definite hot-button topic for upcoming elections.

(How'd I do, Dan?)...

P.S.-Check out the Gilchrist website, www.jimgilchrist.com, and go to the photos section. Click on the October 3 photos from the KFI debate with Campbell. Scroll down that photo page and you will find a nice picture of my wife alongside a Gilchrist aide!

Orange County Election Outcome

Bruce & Dan:

Is this the outcome you wanted? Expected? Was Gilchrist your guy (Bruce referenced him in an earlier e-mail, but it wasn't clear from the context if that meant that he was the guy for whom you were working)? Is Campbell a good pick?

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

What a nice drive...

As I left home for the long trek up the freeway earlier today, I expected the normal bump-and-grind commute. When I leave for the office, usually later in the morning, the northbound traffic generally moves okay up through Long Beach, then gets a bit sticky around the 405-110 junction, is anybody's guess through the rest of the South Bay, then inevitably jams just north of LAX, as I enter West LA, where it's usually stop-and-go, no matter what time of the day (save midnight-5 AM, perhaps), what day of the week.

Today, though, the surprises kept coming. Traffic stayed relatively light through the south bay, and no brake lights north of LAX. What gives? Wasn't this a normal Tuesday? Where was the traffic?

To my amazement, it stayed clear through West LA, very light, in fact, and even as I exited Wilshire Blvd., headed east, there were few cars, save for the usual blur of activity near UCLA. Past Westwood, it thinned out again considerably, and as I wound my way past the Beverly Hilton, up Whitter Ave, then to Lomitas, weaving through Beverly Hills...still no traffic! Back on to Sunset, where it was also uncharacteristically clear sailing, all of the way to my building, where the parking garage, capacity usually bursting, was practically empty.

What was going on, I wondered? Was a hurricane on the way? Had everyone evacuated West LA? And if they did, how did they do so without me knowing, or seeing? They sure weren't on the freeways, they weren't on the streets, and they definitely weren't at work.

Then, in a flash, I was enlightened. There are a handful of shops on the bottom floor of our office building, all but one of those being closed as well. I walked by one of them, and it finally hit me as I saw the sign on the door.

"Closed Tuesday--Rosh Hashana."

Not a lot of perks to being a gentile and working in West LA, but being the only one up here on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is rather pleasant.

Shalom, indeed!

Little help

I have to do a 3-minute speech at a candidates forum on Thursday. How about feeding me a funny anecdote or good joke that would be appropriate for the forum? Post some of your best ideas and I will decide if one of them fits the bill. The joke would have to be G-rated but memorable, and neither caustic nor overly personal. I hope if nothing else this spices things up.

Monday, October 03, 2005

Lake George tragedy

Was it only a few weeks ago that I was enjoying a pleasant trip to Lake Geoerge? It's hard to believe that something like this could happen in a location that defines "serene". May God grant the families of this disaster some comfort in their time of loss and grief.

Oops!

Thanks for the gentle corrective on the predictions, Bruce. I forgot when posting that the first round is a best of 5. So my picks are not only likely to be wrong in terms of which team wins, but also in terms of number of games.

I have been waiting for Big Dan to weigh in on the SC pick. I found myself saying "Harriet Miers?" over and over to myself. For the best gloss on it that you are likely to find, read this. I hope the guy is proven right, but I am not sure that with so much at stake, a tricky pick such as this one is the right move. Dan - you're the attorney - what do you say?

Quick notes on a scorecard...

Working deadline later today on the soccer publication, after a usual TGS grind on Sunday. Will have more time to comment later this week, but for now, a few quick notes...

SC is vulnerable, and if I had to beat my life I would say the Trojans won't get out of South Bend with a win in two weeks. ASU had SC on the ropes, but couldn't put the Trojans away because the defense simply wasn't strong enough, and QB Sam Keller had about as much mobility as Frankenstein in the pocket. Teams can pass the Trojans silly, and had Keller been able to escape the pocket just a few times, ASU would have sustained some drives and scored 40 or more. A QB like Brady Quinn, who has some mobility, would have been able to escape freely those times and have 15-20 yards of clear pasture in front of him, and can burn a Pete Carroll defense, which loves to blitz. I suspect Charlie Weis, who is looking more brilliant every week, will be able to execute the "Tedford game plan" against Troy, and then some, keeping the chains moving by picking apart SC on short stuff, neutralizing Carroll's blitzing tendencies, mixing in the intermediate and occasional long stuff to stretch the 2ndary, while Darius Walker keeps the Trojans off balance with well-designed runs. My only concern is with the ND defense, but I believe it is stronger than ASU's or Oregon's, and will have the benefit of Weis' sage observations (even though he spends most of his time with the offense).

I like Weis enough to become a Notre Dame fan aagin.

This SC teams tends to be sloppy, piling up ridiculous penalties (8 in the 1st Q alone at Tempe), has already been burned by a couple of kick returns, and is vulnerable. The Irish have a week off before facing SC as well, there will be lots of talk of how ND broke Oklahoma's win streak in the 50s, so the scenario is set for another epic Notre Dame performance. Not only will the Irish win, but I suspect Cal has a good shot at SC as well in November. Tedford has proven he can match wits with Carroll, the Bear defense is fierce, and Cal figures to get better as the season progresses as the young talent continues to mature. The Bears also get SC in Berkeley. Though Cal has a tricky date vs. UCLA this week, and will have to scrap to survive, the possibility of being unbeaten when SC comes to visit is very real.

The Bruins, by the way, will have a harder time staying close to SC, because the defense is still susceptible to quality ground games, and I just don't think the UCLA stop unit can withstand the onslaught for 60 minutes. The Bruins might have a puncher's chance vs. SC, but the narrow escape vs. a so-so Washington team is a red flag, as UCLA had trouble controlling the line of scrimmage (as has been the case the past 2 years vs. stronger opposition), and only because the Huskies have yet to learn to win under Ty did the Bruins escape with a last-minute win. Still some work to do in Westwood.

Much impressed with the Eagles yesterday, rallying from 24-6 in that hostile environment. Just as disappointed with Kansas City, which couldn't stop the momentum once it swung Philadelphia's way. McNabb is MVP, and Eagles remain team to beat in NFC, but I still suspect a bit tougher sledding in the NFC East. Not necessarily the Skins, who are improved, though not as much as people think. A couple of inches on a desperation pass, and a missed-last second FG by the Seahawks, and Gibbs is 1-2 (and fortunate to beat the Bears for that one win). My comrades at TGS are loving Gibbs now and outvoted me on Denver-Wash. this week, but the Skins will come home from Denver with their first loss. The Eagles should handle Dallas this week, but the real team to watch will be the Giants, as Eli is quickly turning into a force. He simply has the sort of feel for a game that most QBs don't, I have seen that since he made an otherwise average Ole Miss team into a good one in his college days. He is starting to do the same with the Giants. All of the talk is about the Redskins right now, but don't be fooled, the Giants are more dangerous.

Elsewhere, do not discount the Falcons, though if Vick's knee injury is more serious than first believed, their chances are severely compromised. That defense is real, as the Eagles found out, and Atlanta can run the ball, but the extra dimension of a healthy Vick is needed to make a serious push in the postseason. No other NFC team is really bowling me over. Tampa Bay is improved, but will flatten out soon. Mike Martz could get fired after this season, if not during the season, in St. Louis. Ditto for Tice in Minnesota, and Sherman in Green Bay. I still think the Lions could make something happen, but I don't like Harrington much, and Steve Mariucci might not be able to survive another sub-.500 season. Carolina is lurking out there, but the Panthers have yet to hit stride. There's plenty of time to find their groove, and I will watch with interest against the Pack tonight (if I am done with the soccer pub, that is).

Playoff predictions. Both AL mini-playoffs go the distance, with Halos and White Sox prevailing in five. Cards sweep Pads, and Astros get Braves in four. I'll worry about ALCS and NLCS next week. Feel bad for the Phils not getting in there, I still say they had the best chance in NL to beat the Cards. But do not discount the gutty Astros. Not sure I have ever seen a team maximize what little it really has, and in the short series format of the postseason, that staff can be lethal.

Oh yes, and the Dodgers lost 91 games. Today is also wedding anniversary number 24. I'm sure we will have a celebratory dinner tonight, but I will save a toast for the bumbling Blue Crew, whose misadventures over the past few months truly made it one of my best summers in years...

Sunday, October 02, 2005

That's better

The Eagles' stirring comeback made up for an otherwise lost weekend.

The Phils earn kudos for sweeping in DC to give themselves a shot down to the last day, but they are a team stuck on mediocre (86, 80, 86, 86, 88 wins) in need of some major changes. Thome, Abreu, and Burrell could bring some swag. There is some talk of moving Ryan Howard to LF and Abreu to CF, moving Burrell to RF and keeping Thome on 1B. They could do worse.

Vandy's loss still bothers me. I was dreaming of a bowl game, with the only question being how good a bowl game it would be. Losing to Middle makes me wonder if we won't end up with a mediocre record, perhaps without any bowl game.

Prediction time:

Chisox over Bosox in 6.
Yankees over Angels in 7.
Astros over Braves in 5.
Padres over Cardinals in 6.

Given my track record, the smart money is on the Bosox, Angels, Braves, and Cards. What do the rest of you say?

Saturday, October 01, 2005

Blue

Over the Blue Raiders. Vandy, not so dandy.

Over the Tribe, who have lost by 1 run several times and by 2 runs twice since a blow-out loss in late August. Couldn't we have just one of those games back?

Over the Phils, who at least have given us a 162 game season, but seem destined for disappointment.

Over reviewing budgets for Cortland County. A lot of damned work, but I am not sure it will be recognized in the end.

Over being in 2nd place in the VDRL heading into the final day, with numerous permutations that would give me the title, all of which have a slim chance of happening.

Over ASU not holding a 21-3 halftime lead over USC.

But the Dodgers have lost 90+ games!

It is good to hate sometimes, huh Brucie?

Isn't it great to hate!

These indeed are heady times for Dodger haters like me. Lost in the euphoria of Red Sox-Yankees, Tribe-Chisox, and the NL wild card battle is the fact the Dodgers posted their 90th loss of the season tonight.

By my calculations, this now officially becomes the second-worst season in LA Dodger history, behind only the Strawberry/Eric Davis "in yo' face" 99-loss wonders in the year of Rodney King '92. Several LA Dodger teams have hit the 89-loss plateau, including (off the top of my head) 1967, 1986, and 1987, so this current edition really is breathing some rarified bad air as we hit the tape.

For Dodger and Laker haters (like me), this has truly been a blissful few months. Interesting how the Dodgers mirrored the Lakers' steep descent in the latter stages of the last hoop season. Since that deceiving 12-2 start, the Blue Crew is chugging along at 58-88, which is the worst in the NL (even worse than Pittsburgh) over that 146-game stretch. The NL West has been kicked a lot this season, and deservedly so, but perhaps the ultimate indignity for this sorry group is that a wretched team like the Dodgers could actually be hanging on the fringe of the NL West race until about 2 weeks ago. At least the 1973 NL East had a slew of teams right around .500; the '73 Cubs finished only 5 games out, in fifth at 77-84, which might be the best-ever record for a 5th-place team since division play began in 1969 (unitl this year's NL East, that is).

And my belief that Laker fans are the biggest frontrunners in the universe has been confirmed in the last few months. Though there was some initial euphoria at Phil Jackson's return, it is amazing how quiet things have been on the Laker front the past three months, especially compared to years past. It's as if Phil has told the Laker p.r. people to tone down expectations this year, but it runs deeper than that, as no callers to talk shows have been even mentioning the Lakers for a couple of months (unlike last year, when Shaq-Kobe dominated headlines thru the summer, even pushing the Dodgers, in the midst of a good...er, lucky...season, to the backburner). Maybe the rank-and-file Laker fans are smarter than I think, and many apparently (and correctly) view Phil as an opportunist, a shameless self-promoter, and a hypocrite, after coming close to burning bridges with the Lakers in his book that was released about 7 months before he was rehired. Only the most-deluded Laker fans are pleased about Phil resurfacing, as many instead view this as an audacious run for the money, a chance to reconnect with the owner's hot-hot-hot daughter Jeannie Buss, and an opportunity for Phil to meditate, or do whatever else he does, as he sings to the bank making 10 mill per year.

So, happy times indeed, as the Dodgers are bad, and the Lakers aren't much better. Now, if we can only figure out a way to get Paul Hackett to coach USC football again, I'll truly be the happiest guy on earth...