How To Pretend To Care About The Elections

This is too funny... tips on how to pretend you know politics... actually ways to make it look like your informed!

Landis Verdict Upheld

Well Floyd Landis is 0 for 2 in trying to clear his name and regain the 2006 Tour de France title that he was stripped of after testing positive for doping.

What the Floyd Landis case, for me, more than anything else is to no longer trust the athlete's word when they deny the allegations of cheating. The athlete, like Landis, time and time again will launch an increbile public relations campaign to sway public opinion and offer some sort of plausible excuse. I even was willing to give Landis some benefit of the doubt. But as what has been seen in the past, when these cases go to court the athletes always lose...ALWAYS. What makes me change my perspective towards the athlete in these cases was the Marion Jones case, the Barry Bonds case and now the Floyd Landis case where...

In the end, the panel saved its harshest criticism for Landis, who it said essentially tried to muddle the evidence and embarrass the French lab, and continued on that course even after the evidence was shown not to exist.

It further illuminates the desperation these athletes exhibit to save their fame. You then factor in that the Landis camp also tried to threaten Greg LeMond the night before his testimony during the first hearing, you can see how desperate Landis was to be cleared. The problem the athletes have and is ultimately always the key factor in these cases, is that they did indeed cheat...they only think the bad part that they did was getting caught.

By catching Landis in '06 and with last years scandals during the Tour de France - multiple cyclists dismissed for testing positive including a yellow jersey - it appears that cycling has developed a methodology that should minimalize cheating in their sport. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new drug free era in all sports.

You Suck At Photoshop Season 2

After a short break, the You Suck At Photoshop series has started it's second season...

Enjoy...

Wimbledon '08 Underway

Wimbledon started on Monday and I have been fortunate enough to watch quite a few matches thanks to DirecTV and the Tennis Channel. There are 6 live court feeds and the Tennis Channel is replaying matches during primetime...so it has been really tough to actually not watch Wimbledon coverage!

Today I tuned in time to watch the final set and 1/2 from the Safin-Djokovic match...Djokovic looked totally beaten and dejected, double-faulting on match point(!?!?!)...whereas Safin looked like the Safin of late 2000 when he won the US Open and was the number 1 ranked player in the world. But Safin has had the skills that could beat anyone on any given day...but his mental game hinders him as to where he could lose to anyone on any given day.

Also, Djokovic...this guy has been rammed down my throat as the 'next best guy'...oh sure, he won the Australian Open this year but let's be real...the Australian Open is the 'small pig' on the list of majors to have on your resume....yes, you want to make sure you win at least one for the career grand slam but there really isn't much other 'honor' than winning the warmup tournament of tennis which happens to be labeled a major. I do want to like Djokovic, but he seems to be just a better James Blake... player that can consistantly make it to the semi's yet lose.

I watched Roger Federer beat Robin Soderling over the lunch break...Soderling did break Rog in the 3rd set, but Rog broke Soderling to get back on serve at 5-5, the set went to a tiebreak and Rog was up 5-0 before closing the deal (I think) 7-2. I like Federer and I think he is playing well...this match with Soderling, Rog was able to ratchet up his game to save a set point, get back on serve and then dominate the tiebreak.

I have been paying attention to the women's side, but really haven't had a chance to watch any matches...I'm a Sharapova fan and she is an underdog these days so I'll try to follow her through the tourney...

I'm watching the Igor Andreev-David Ferrer match this afternoon via the internet here, not a bad way to spend an afternoon at work...

Foley Case To Begin

It's been almost 2 years since San Diego Charge linebacker Steve Foley was shot by an off-duty police officer, essentially ending his career. The trial, where Foley is suing the shooter, Aaron Mansker and the city that employed him, Coronado, CA.

I will continue to follow this case, but in my mind, I think Foley has a strong case...even though the court will not allow the fact that Mansker was turned down by employment from 10(!) agencies, because of psychological reasons...namely, a vendetta towards drunk drivers. You then factor in that Mansker has 3 times been involved in off-duty situations, prior to Foley, that he followed Foley for over 20 minutes and then eventually shot him. The mere appearance of a renegade, over zealous officer seems to develop. I have no idea why the court would not find any of that information relevant, but I would think that Foley and his legal team will find a way to get some of that information revealed during testimony during the trial if possible.

Article here.

Religion: Why You Should Join

Here's a fairly factual commercial about religion....

Filter: Sioux Falls, SD 6-17-08

So me and some friends went to Sioux Falls, SD this past Tuesday to go see Filter at the Sioux Falls Expo Building.

The show was really good...the crowd, we felt, was surprisingly small... I would guess 500 people. Filter still put on a really good show...they played all their hits (IE: Head Like A Hole, Take A Picture, Welcome To The Fold) and had a good mix of new songs from their latest album. Filter could have easily gone 'dark' and slow if they wanted too, but instead, played mostly high energy, heavy rocking songs. The drummer that is with Filter right now was really whaling on the drums and he really put on a show.

The Richard Patrick - lead singer/Filter - mentioned at the end of the show that maybe next time the promoter will get it right and get a decent pa for them. The pa did seem small...the upside...my ears weren't ringing at the end of the show.

As we were walking into the show, about 45 minutes before Filter was to play, we walked by Filter's bus to see the guys throwing orange cones for fun and just as we were passing, Richard Patrick came out and greeted one of our buddies that was wearing a Clutch T-Shirt saying that Clutch is one of his favorite bands too. Brush with greatness it was...

Here are some videos taken with my cell phone... so they suck... but it's something....

No Smoking Allowed...ANYWHERE!

So my town just passed a complete no-smoking ban for all businesses. Previously, smoking was permitted only in bars/restaurants that didn't allow patrons under the age of 21. Well, of course this isn't good enough for all the nannies of the world and they rallied their do-gooders and got everyone to pass the complete ban.

Now, let me start out with this... yes, it is probably the 'right' thing to do. Smoking is bad and evil and so on... and it does seem to be a 'considerate' type of thing to do...But here's where I have some issues...

First it is all the non-smoking proponents that say that businesses won't be adversely affected but rather that this will be a boon for them...for you see, there is a plethora of non-smokers that would just LOVE to go out and frequent these establishments but the stench of smoke prohibited them because of health concerns. This couldn't be a bigger lie... here, in my town, the majority of businesses were smoke free and there were even smoke free bars...what prevents them from going to these places? Of course nothing...they have no intention of increasing their frequency to go to bars but will say that they will just to say it...and to prove everyone wrong, they may very well step into one of the former smoking bars...once...but never will return. These people aren't the clientele bars are interested nor do they have any interest into going to bars in the first place.

For you see, probably the most underlying reason a non-smoking ordinance passes is because there are a group of people that don't approve of the type of lifestyle others have. They have non intention of paying for liquor let alone going out to consume it at an establishment and if there is anyway they can make it less 'fun' for those that do choose to go out to the bars, they must be hindered.

I would have less of a problem with the non-smoking ordinance passing if it wasn't for the 'type' of people that are behind it. They have little concern for liberties of a person or for governmental interfering with the way a business operates...their only concern is their personal vendetta against those that smoke and go to bars...which again, is only because they choose not too and want too somehow hinder those that do.

I would gladly vote to outlaw the consumption and sale of all tobacco products but even the health groups don't want that because that is where they get their funding as well. Even when asked during this campaign, many posed the question that wouldn't it be even a better tact to ban tobacco within the city? And the nannies come up with some excuse as to why that isn't even considered...but the real reason would be that they would be out of business if tobacco was totally outlawed...

Woods Wins In Sudden Death

Rocco Mediate had to make a lengthy putt on the first hole of sudden death to extend the playoff with Tiger Woods for the 2008 US Open championship. But Rocco placed his drive into a fairway bunker, then his second shot was well of the mark landing in the grandstands but still had a respectable putt for par to remain tied with Tiger but missed that shot. Tiger, on the other hand, blasted his tee-shot and landed on the fairway. Then made the green in regulation with a lengthy birdie attempt himself...missed that and tapped in for par...and that was the conclusion of the 2008 US Open... the whole weekend had some unbelievable golfing and Tiger Woods provided plenty of highlight material to his resume...

US Open Goes To Sudden Death

Rocco Mediate and Tiger Woods just finished their 18 hole playoff to decide the winner of the 2008 US Open Championship...both golfers shot even par for the round. One would have thought that Tiger had the match won when he up by 3 strokes with 8 to play...but Mediate outplays Tiger on the backnine and Rocco had a putt on the 18th hole that would have won it for him...but was by far no gimme. Just like yesterday, Tiger needed a birdie on the 18th to keep playing for the championship and he got it...

Tiger Thrills At US Open

How could any sports fan not get wrapped up into the US Open this past weekend...and if you are a Tiger Woods fan, then it only meant more excitement for you. It all started Saturday in the third round where Tiger made 2 Eagles - one on the 18th hole to take a 1 shot lead and chipped in 2 birdies...he certainly is an exciting player to watch. Because Tiger then starts out his final round on Sunday with a double-bogey on the first hole and a bogey on the second hole, giving up his lead and now trailing the leaders. He then starts just grinding out pars until he needed a birdie to force a playoff with Rocco Mediate on the 18th hole. Overall, if it wasn't for Tiger's putting he probably wouldn't be in a playoff right now. His driving was extremely inaccurate and he misplayed several short irons as well. It didn't seem as if he hit the ball well with any consistancy...but what makes Tiger still the formidable force is that even when he is not playing well, he is still able to play equal to the rest of the field. Tiger is able to scramble better than anyone else and that seems to be the deciding factor when playing in any of the majors on the PGA Tour.

Has It Been That Long?

Wow, it's been a while... I got busy with work and then drinking so let's quickly recap...

Stanley Cup Finals - Detroit wins the series 4-2 in what was a very entertaining series. I thought Detroit outplayed Pittsburgh in each game and if these teams played another 6 games I think the outcome would be about the same... Fleury, who played out of his mind, for the Penguins was the primary reason the Pens were in the series because any less of a performance and the series could have been a 4-0 sweep. Too bad one of the highlights from the series was him backing in the game-winner for game 6.

The Belmont: I went into the race saying to myself that only a fool will make a bet with Big Brown in the mix because it wouldn't pay...plus, if by chance Big Brown doesn't win the Belmont - which no one even thought was plausible - the payout would be pretty sweet... so what do I do? 3 box-exacta bets all with Big Brown in the mix... BB finishes last, I don't make shit. My friends... fuck it, let's put $10 on the 6 horse...yeah, that sounds like a great idea, he's 38-1 that's easy money... I win jackshit...they win a few hundred bucks...hooray for them the lucky bastards!

The NBA Finals are underway and with 2 games in the books I just have one question....are the refs wearing Celtics jersey's under their uniforms? I am by no means a Laker fan or cheering for either team in particular (although I have money riding on the Lakers but a nominal amount...not enough to make me too bias...) but from what I have seen so far the refs have been totally jobbing the Lakers I mean come on... And Paul Pierce? Is there a bigger pussy on the planet than him? Bawling like a baby, getting carried off, crying in a wheelchair... and then, cue the fireworks, cue the dramatic movie soundtrack and out of the tunnel, ready to lead the Celtics to victory is Paul Pierce... I mean did he have the rights to his 'story' already sold and wanted to make sure they had a scene that didn't need too much more embellshment....

Roids Dealer Found Shot: Named NFL Players

The steroid scandals continue to pile up and to add to the 'conspiracies' a convicted roids dealer that named NFL players he sold steroids too was found shot to death. So the question is, who wanted him dead? I would guess that a NFL player wouldn't be behind the actions namely because if this guy already spoke with the NFL, what has the player got to gain by making sure this guy is dead? It will certainly squelch the guy from any further squealing and refuting any counter-claims...but the public has already accepted the 'guilty until proven innocent' mentality with athletes associated with steroids...because as of right now, any athlete associated with steroids has been found to be guilty even despite their pleas of innocence...which of course is then followed up later with an admission of guilt...so the pattern has been set. My guess is that there has to be a bigger party involved...and underworld... and the supplier wanted to remain in business and can not have this guy revealing any portion of the roid distribution ring that either existed or continues to exist among professional athletes.

But I think the pieces would come together if the killer(s) are found... if they are found, it's likely they were amateurs...likely hired by someone to 'shut this guy up'...I would then guess that the killer(s) would roll on whomever they got paid from - and that very well could be an athlete. If the killer(s) are not found, it would be likely that they are professionals...likely associated with the underworld and even if caught, they likely wouldn't rat out their superiors for their life in prison would be cake if they keep their mouth shut.

But that is just my wild speculation... we'll have to stay tuned to this story and see if anything comes of it or if it just quietly goes away...as those who are behind the killings likely want to have.

Penguins Rally, Win In 3 OT

Last night's game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals was exactly the type of game everyone loves to watch... The Penguins jump out to an early 2-0 lead. The Wings take a 3-2 lead in the third period and the Penguins then score with about 30 seconds left in the game with an empty net at their backs. The game goes to a third overtime where it is finally ended when Petr Sykora notched the game winner.

And what I also wanted to mention...since I am very critical of the media and the way their coverage is on a variety of shows but I rarely mention when I notice someone doing a good job and that is what I am saying... though the first 3 Stanley Cup games that NBC has carried, I think they have done a fantastic job. They have quick, and appropriate replays, multiple angles and overall, have just been really solid. Their commentators aren't dolts, the play-by-play and color, during the game, has been good, Mike Emrick is pretty good at pbp for hockey...but his interview and off-the-cuff, non-game related banter is a little weak but as long he stays within his realm of pbp, I think he is solid as well.

So I did want to give some props to NBC...a network that as of last year, I thought, didn't give 2 shits about the NHL. But they definitely are gettting their money's worth this year with this final and NBC is no-doubtedly helping the NHL with the quality broadcasts that they are putting together for the finals.

Car Slams Into Bike Race

I saw this picture and the image was just too much to not post...

Here's the caption:

A car collides into cyclists participating in a race in Mexico's northern border city of Matamoros, Sunday June 1, 2008. At least one person was killed and 14 injured when a driver slammed into a bicycle race.

If I was a betting man, I'd bet the driver was probably under the influence of something...but is that not just an unbelievable picture?