Three Men and a Baby (of a Congress)

Three men are sitting in a bar.  Two are going to trial next year for lying under oath, allegedly.  The other is the modern day hero of the Democratic Party.  We all know William Jefferson Clinton lied about his involvement with a young White House intern, Monica Lewinsky.  However, what we do not know is why did Clinton receive a pass on his alleged perjury, yet the witch hunt is raging against Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds?  Let's look at the facts, shall we?

Merry Christmas...yeah, I said it: CHRISTMAS!

I absolutely love this time of year.  Christmas is my favorite holiday followed by Thanksgiving.  I love the festiveness, the unusual pleasantries which are exchanged by complete strangers in passing.  I love the excitement of innocent children as their giddiness increases as the days in December pass us by one by one.  I remember my youth and the excitement I felt in receiving the school calendar each year which read:  Christmas Break.  At some point while I was in school, this morphed into Winter Break.  So, what happened?  I would surmise that some myopic attorney felt the need to challenge the word Christmas in court, and in turn some hyper-sensitive asshat judge began what has become the wussification of America.  Oh, the outrage!  Actually having to read and hear the word Christmas!  Keep reading, it gets better...

The 5th Play Turned The Tide(s)

Aloha!  Been a while.  Let's get right to it:  The 5-7 campaign for the Texas Longhorns was dealt a final death blow over the weekend as coach and defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp, left the 40 Acres to replace Urban Meyer as the Head Coach for the Florida Gators.  Texas did their best to prevent this by naming Muschamp their "Head Coach in Waiting."  One glaring problem, no timetable was ever given to Muschamp on Mack Brown's decision to turn over the reins to the program.  Did I mention that Muschamp just tripled his salary?  Yeah, that's a thing.  While $900,000 goes a long way in Austin, TX, $2,700,000 goes a bit further in Gainesville, FL.  So, what happened here?

Every. Game. Counts. (that's what they tell you)

Why do I do this to myself?  Every season, I am giddy in September.  I know it is the beginning of a 13 week buffet of wondrous match-ups, unless of course if you happen to reside in one of the "power" conferences.  Then, the first three or four weeks feature opponents which are absolute cupcakes.  Hey, if you are going to offer a school close to $1 million, you may as well buy a victory.  Then the season begins to take shape as conference play ensues.  I'm so fired up by this point, I can barely contain myself.  Follow along after the break...

Not In My Backyard

On April 5, 2010, an opportunity was bestowed upon a university which may never occur in Division 1A college football (I refuse to call it the Football Bowl Subdivision).  In one corner, you had the behemoth, heralded program which exudes the finest pedigree known to man.  In the other, you had a little known up and comer of a university.  Why do so many wish to put down and deem unworthy those schools which fight for a chance, an opportunity for a mere place at the table amongst "the elite" of college football?  If you don't recall, Butler pushed the Duke Blue Devils to the brink in the national championship game on the aforementioned date before losing 61-59, in what was one of the most exciting finales to any hoops season I can recall.  Unless the BCS is treated like Osama Bin Laden and blown to smithereens, never to be heard from again, this will never have a chance of happening in college football for the foreseeable future.  What a shame...follow along after the jump.

The Facts of (my) Island Life

Many I know are enthralled with the aspect of island life.  Don't get me wrong, we are very blessed to live here.  That being said, I thought it would be pertinent to share with you the quirks and nuances which make island life both interesting and joyous.

There is no Target here, but there is a Costco.  There is also a Wal-Mart, but the county fought this addition to the island with much vigor.  We adore Costco due to the fact that some stores will make your wallet feel as if it just endured a high-powered colonic.

The Aggies' 12th AND 13th Men

Poor Huskers.  Poor Coach Pelini.  Poor blind officials.  Don't get me wrong.  It is somewhat satisfying to watch in wonderment if Coach Bo Pelini will actually be the first human being to launch into orbit by his own personal powers.  And by powers, I am referring to his uncanny ability to look as if he caught a bandit red-handed, robbing his home, stealing his car, and kicking his puppy, all at the same time.  Personally, I'd get over the stuff, but if you kick my dog, I am going to unleash my inner Pelini with a force never witnessed on this earth heretofore.

In fairness, Coach Pelini has a reason to be completely livid.  If you did not click the link to the left of this sentence, do so now......................That right there should have been a penalty on the Aggies, but per the usual, the refs saw the retaliation, not the instigator, which was one Tony Jerod-Eddie.  You sir, are a coward of a football player.  Going after another player's junk?  First the TSA and now you?  Notice the official could not see Jerod-Eddie sexually assault Ben Cotton at the bottom of that pile.  That is bush league antics which should earn Jerod-Eddie a suspension for the upcoming game against the Longhorns.  The other egregious call against the Men of Corn was a disaster of a "Roughing the Passer" penalty which made it look like the fix was in.  For the record, the Huskers got flagged 16 times while the Aggies only suffered 2 penalties the entire game.  Needless to say, Husker Nation is none too happy.  Nor should they be.....

I Always Feel Like Somebody's Watchin' Me...And I Have No Privacy

Maybe Rockwell was onto something with their 1984 "hit" that graced your TV screen back when MTV actually played music videos.  One thing is for certain in life:  Change.  Most certainly, the attacks of 9/11 changed not only the USA, but the world.  After the families and friends who lost loved ones on that fateful day, nowhere has this change been felt more than for those who fly here in the USA.  In typical fashion, our government likes to overreact to situations vs. utilizing astute analysis and arriving at a conclusion deemed sensible.  Their motto is literally:  Ready.  Fire.  Aim.

You all remember Richard Reid, the infamous "Shoe Bomber" who failed miserably at his assigned task which would have netted him 78 virgins by Allah upon entry to lala-land and other warped views of these deranged murderers?  Thanks to this dimwit, you and I still remove our shoes prior to going through security.  The worst part about this situation is that if the uber-complicated protocol of Freaking Common Sense would have been deployed, they would have caught this sad excuse for a human being before he even got on the plane.  Follow along after the jump...

Like a Good Neighbor: State Farm Bails On You.

I'm no socialist, not by a long shot.  I'm simply for doing the right thing.  This is a practice which seems very lost in American corporate culture. For example, I'm against airlines increasing their fares between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day simply because it's "the holidays."  What if retailers decided to jack up prices during the holiday shopping period?  First, they would all have to collude to pull it off.  But, the main reason that will never happen is capitalism and the fact that the free market takes over and keeps them in check.  Oh how I long for there to be a free market regarding air travel.  Sadly, we are faced with a corporate oligarchy, which bilks consumers for more dollars on a whim due to the seasons changing.  Those are the facts.  Their costs do not rise dramatically between November and January.  It is akin to a hurricane or earthquake striking and retailers charging $7 for a gallon of water as opposed to $1.50.  This practice would be known as "price gouging" and is against the law.  Because of my work commitments, I cannot leave Kauai to be with my family over the holidays.  Since, the airlines increase the fare on the route from LA to Kauai by 60-80% during this time period, it prohibits me from flying them out here as well.  This upsets me but I will get over it.  However, the airlines abuse of the "free market" is a bit minor compared to what this post is going to focus on next...

A Review: Death to the BCS

I'm passionate about college football.  My wife will tell you that my passion is exponentially exuded when the Longhorns are occupying space on the flat screen in our home.  Listen to this woman, she speaks truth and wisdom.  I was recently asked what the difference is between the NFL and college football.  Regarding the NFL, nothing can compare to Andrew Siciliano and DirecTV's Red Zone Channel.  Every Sunday, this NFL experience is a whirlwind tour from game to game around the league, focusing on various team's scoring opportunities, with live network feeds.  It's like having about 10 flat screens in your living room each displaying a separate game.  You have reached in-home football viewing nirvana.  Fact. 

The Republicrats Have Failed This Nation

In order to heal what is ailing this nation, we have to get to the source or root of the problem.  What Pelosi's Congress has done over the past four years is the equivalent to strapping a band-aid over a gunshot wound.  The source of our pain is the money grubbing entities which are more self-serving than anything else.  In no particular order, they are our Congress, the media, lobbyists, and unions.  Let's take a bit of a closer look at a few ideal ways to heal America.  Follow along after the jump...

Did Coach Stoops Open Up the Can of Quit?

Coach Bob Stoops: Men, we are trailing 36-27 with a little more than 2:24 left in the game.  I know we have owned Missouri in the past, but I am not sure if we can pick up this 4th down and 10, from our own 7 yard line.  We are going to punt the football even though every instinct in me says to give you all a shot at converting this 1st down and hopefully winning this football game. 

Team:  Um, Coach?  We have never quit on anything related to a football game in our lives, much less here at OU. Why do you want to punt here?  Come on Coach!

Coach Bob Stoops:  Men, I know you do not understand, but I need you to trust me.  It is not that I do not have faith in your abilities, but if we do not get this first down and Missouri scores, we will lose by 16 points and the result will make this loss appear worse than it actually will be. 

Team:  So, you really want us to quit coach?  You honestly do not believe we can pull this one out?  All we need is a field goal and a touchdown.  With our offense, we have a shot!  Plus, we have plenty of time! 

Coach Bob Stoops:  Men, all of you are warriors.  To try and win this battle may actually cause us to lose the war. 

Welcome to the new era of "strategic quitting" in college football's BCS era.  Let me explain...

NPR, Juan Williams, and Me, Circa 1994.

“I mean, look, Bill, I’m not a bigot. You know the kind of books I’ve written about the civil rights movement in this country. But when I get on the plane, I got to tell you, if I see people who are in Muslim garb and I think, you know, they are identifying themselves first and foremost as Muslims, I get worried. I get nervous.” ~ Juan Williams, Former NPR journalist, Current Fox News Analyst

"Juan Willilams should have kept his feelings about Muslims between himself and 'his psychiatrist' or his publicist." ~ Vivian Schiller, CEO of NPR

Ms. Schiller terminated the contract of Williams for his comment in quotes above.  She then immediately offered her own apology for her comments about Williams, but has yet to apologize to Williams personally.  Hey, Ms. Hypocrite, you should be terminated on the spot.  You are apparently unfit to run a media organization.  You essentially just offended the mentally ill in this nation in the same manner which you held Williams' feet to the fire for his comments.  And let's get one thing straight:  Williams was not advocating mistreatment, discrimination, or hostility towards Muslims.  He simply said how he feels when he is in that situation.  I'm sure he is not alone.  It's called classical conditioning, madam.  Not bigotry.  Let me give you a personal example...

Are We Overly Politically Correct?

I've been thinking about this for quite some time.  I'm not opining to open a religious debate, but the First Amendment is a primary example of political correctness gone awry.  Here is the wording:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.  My how this has been twisted and turned over the years...

Common Sense: Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should

This past week, emotions spilled over during Bill O'Reilly's visit on "The View."  Now, I know what you are thinking...Tony, why on earth were you watching The View?  What has happened to you?  Did hell freeze over?  Um...well...uh...not exactly.

For the record, I did not tune in to the entire program.  But, when I learned of the story and why the tension built, I was intrigued to say the least.  Therefore, I did some high-level recon work...

BCS Bowls are Charities? Oh Really...

It's that time of year.  This weekend, the very first BCS rankings will be released.  It is expected that Boise State will be atop the rankings as the computers love their schedule thus far.  That will change in the forthcoming weeks as the Broncos venture into the thick of their whack WAC schedule.  But, let's set all of this aside for a moment and turn our attention to the BCS Bowls themselves.  These are self-proclaimed charitable institutions, much like XYZ Cancer Institute.  Let's explore just how charitable they truly are...

Officially: How Some Games Are Lost

Twenty years ago, the Colorado Buffaloes (11-1-1) earned a share of the National Championship with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-0-1), even though GT was the lone team without a loss on the season.  What is even more miraculous, is the fact that the Buffaloes were given 5 downs in their game against Missouri some 1,040 weekends ago...

Go (Away) Big Red

Get your Heisman ballots ready.  Taylor Martinez is making a strong case in Lincoln, NB for his name to be atop that frat boy ballot.  If this season goes the way many suspect, Martinez very well could bring the hardware back to Lincoln.  But, at least we will all be spared from having to tune out the perpetually annoying Billy Sims screaming "Boomer" umpteen times while Sam Bradford does his best "I'm with Stupid" T-Shirt impersonation.  Many believe this is the year of Corn Nation vs. Roll Tide.  Looking for proof?  Follow along after the jump...

Bud Selig: You're Fired.

I cannot believe this will be two baseball posts in a row.  What gives?  I'll tell you: The Kevin Brown Rule.  The year is 1998.  Remember this Astros fans?  The Astros completed the season with a nice curb-stomping of its Central Division foes with an overall record of 102-60.  This was our year.  Remember?  More after the jump...

How to Save Baseball: Less is More

Last week, the Tampa Bay Rays were on the cusp of clinching a post-season berth for the second time in three years.  The Rays are an excellent young team, built by Gerry Hunsicker, the brains behind the 2005 National League Champion, Houston Astros.  God, do I miss having competence at the helm of the Astros franchise (Drayton McClane, not included).  For those who do not know, Hunsicker was the Astros' General Manager from 1995-2004 .  Go ahead, count their post-season appearances during that span.  You will need two hands.  What's more, Tampa does not seem to care about the Rays.  I've got my theories as to why and we'll explore them after the break...

BCS, Please RIP...Quickly.

I love the month of October.  It finally begins to feel like fall, unless you live on Kaua`i.  The leaves are changing, unless you live on Kaua`i.  The temperature is dropping, unless you live on Kaua`i.  Your wardrobe is changed out, unless...ok...OK!  I'll stop complaining about living on Travel and Leisure's #2 ranked island worldwide.  But, and it's a big but, I do miss the seasons.  Moreover, I know you don't feel bad for me as I wake up every day to this:

Well, I don't wake up right here at this exact spot, but you get the drift.  Do you know why else I love the month of October?  Football you say?  Well, that is a given.  Let's delve a bit deeper.  I especially love this time of year as the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) rankings are set to make their debut on October 17, 2010.  Why do I love it you ask?  Because I get to ramp up the disdain for a system that is embraced by a few, loathed by many, yet seems set in stone for the foreseeable future.  Why am I so disenfranchised?  Glad you asked.  Let's explore that after the jump...

The Tunnel: Texas/OU

This piece is from SneezyBeltran at Burnt Orange Nation.  Enjoy....

This is my favorite weekend of the year and this is always a great read on the Friday morning before the Red River Shootout. This is from TornJock over at HornsFans, a friend of my buddy's dad and a former UT player, obviously. Enjoy and Hook'em Horns!

This is my recollection of how things were back before the 1974 game, my last against the Sooners.
It's hard to believe that 35 seasons have passed since that day, but the images, sensory, olfactory, and visual, are as clear in my mind today as they were back then.

I just hope the outcome of this year's game is more favorable than it was in '74.
That was a heartbreaker...

My New Love: Hands On Head Fan

Football coverage has certainly evolved over the years.  It seems just like yesterday that Tom Mees and Chris Berman were anchoring Sportscenter on my wall mounted television in my room during my high school years (thanks Pops - you rock).  This was a superb era.  Motley Crue was touring, Ozzy Osbourne could speak coherently, Nolan Ryan was in training preparing to kick Robin Ventura's ass in the coming years, MTV played music videos religiously, and there were far fewer cameras to provide us with the tidbits on the field as well as in the stands at our sporting venues....yep, times have certainly changed....

Monday Morning Rant (Yeah, I know it is Tuesday)

A few things happened this past weekend:  Los Angeles felt like Dubai in the middle of August, UCLA waltzed into Austin, TX and laid the wood to the Longhorns once again, the NFL's pass interference rules swung momentum in several games, oh...and I got married in Laguna Beach, CA.   It's been a while, so let's get to it.......

The Warped Cries of Boise State - We Belong!

As a Longhorn fan, I recall being completely enamored by the Boise State Broncos while watching the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.  You will recall that this is the game that put the Broncos on the map.  They defeated a big time program that January day.  They defeated an arch nemesis of Texas.  They defeated a team full of Texas kids that somehow ($$$) left the Lone Star State to attend school in Norman, OK.  They defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in what many consider to be one of the greatest college football games of all time.  I am part of this group.  They won with speed, execution, and trickery.  My how times have changed...

Term Limits: A Nation Governed by Fossils

First, a couple of definitions:

Living Fossil: an organism (as a horseshoe crab or a ginkgo tree) that has remained essentially unchanged from earlier geologic times and whose close relatives are usually extinct (Merriam-Webster).  


Politician: a person primarily interested in political office for selfish or other narrow usually short-sighted reasons (Merriam-Webster). <-----actual definition option.


How they each apply, after the break...

The Second Act and I'm no George Clooney

By now, most everyone has seen the clip of Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's game winning touchdown grab.  Yes, the end of the previous sentence completed with the "strikethrough" effect is quite applicable.  It was criminal for Johnson's grab to be ruled incomplete.  Is the NFL rules committee deliberately trying create havoc on a weekly basis?  Um, hard to say after one week, but worth a harsh look after the break...

Barney Frank, Fannie Mae, and a VERY Moronic Electorate

It is primary season as we prepare to head into November's elections, where the Republican party is expected to return to power in varying degrees.  The Tea Party has made some impressive strides and let's face it, some shocking primary victories.  In a large upset, Tea Party-backed candidate Christine O'Donnell whipped a veteran congressman for the Senate nomination in Delaware.  A Tea Party backed gubernatorial candidate also won the race for New York Governor.  Tea Party candidates also secured races in Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky and Alaska.  While this may come as a surprise to some, what I am about to share with you is even more shocking.  Follow along after the jump.

Bush, VY, and the Ghost of the Heisman

Well, here we are.  We find ourselves in a situation that is completely unnecessary.  Reggie Bush has acquiesced and made the prudent decision to return the Heisman Trophy which, he earned while being ineligible at USC.  Will it go to Vince Young at this point, who finished second to Bush in the voting for college football's most prestigious award?  Absolutely not.  Should it?  Possibly, but that is a debate for another day.  Today, we are going to focus on why this situation was completely preventable.

In December 2005, Bush was awarded the Heisman Trophy over Vince Young and Bush teammate Matt Leinart.  In January of 2006, Bush was largely overshadowed by Young in the BCS Championship Game, which resulted in Young's Longhorns defeating Bush's Trojans in what many argue as the greatest college football game of all time.  Had the Heisman Trophy vote taken place after the bowl season, Young very well could have commandeered the infamous hardware away from Bush.  Sadly, we will never know, and college football will not correct this shortcoming. 

Statistics from Bowl games are included when looking at a player's overall performance during their college careers.  It is a shame that the Heisman Committee chooses to ignore these games.  For if they did not, Young very well could be holding today what is rightfully his.