Katelyn's Way

It Makes You Wonder Why.....................

2011-05-19T02:52:00.000-07:00

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/17/senator-questions-benefits-to-adult-baby/

...........wonder why you go to work, pay taxes.

Is this what it's all for???

Here Here!

2011-01-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Sarah Palin: "America's Enduring Strength" from Sarah Palin on Vimeo.

Sweet......

2010-12-25T14:59:00.000-08:00

Emotion.

Okay, You Have To Do This Once......

2010-12-24T18:58:00.000-08:00

ROLL TIDE!

2010-12-18T05:24:00.000-08:00

h/t to my good buddy at The Capstone Report.

Another Reason to Hate the Stinking, Classless New York Jets

2010-12-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

We here at Katelyn's Way have been Miami Dolphin's fans since the early seventies. From that time forward a well nurtured hate was developed for the northern franchises of the AFC East.

The Colts and the Bills were always tolerated but the Patriots and the Jets, not so much.

The Patriot franchise was always dirty, emphasized by this:

That vid pretty much describes the Patriot franchise to this day for us. Cheating, dirty and unapologetic.

Then we have what the New York media is describing as a "tripping" incident.

Excuse me for saying it but tripping my ass. That coach kneed the Dolphins player and could have cost him his career. This coach should be banned from the NFL for life.

But there will be a fine and the NFL will gloss it over.

The past 20 years of Dolphin franchise history have jaded our passion for the team but the burning hatred of the Jets (and Patriots) franchise remains.

From Enterprise, Alabama

2010-12-04T09:03:00.001-08:00

What It Is, What It Is................

2010-11-24T21:24:00.000-08:00

Get up on it, Aretha!

The First Time??? I Think Not!

2010-11-06T11:08:00.000-07:00

"He's got to FIND THAT RIGHT MOMENT".

from a July 14th, 2010 post:

“He has to find some way between now and November of demonstrating that he is a leader who can command confidence and, short of a 9/11 event or an Oklahoma City bombing, I can’t think of how he could do that.”

from Bob Shapiro, former Clinton White House official and Obama supporter, speaking to Obama's sagging polls and credibility.

They're really wanting this bad.

The Next Reagan?

2010-11-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

One can only hope he means this. Regardless, a new wave of conservatives will be and are invading the political landscape. Along with Rubio, out of Florida comes Allen West. New Jersey fighter Chris Christie leads the charge out of the Northeast.

And not only will they face attacks from the Democrats, but from the establishment of their own party.

From this perch, cautious hope reigns.

Ozzy

2010-11-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

From Nat King Cole to Ozzy.

Where else can you go???

Don't Make Me...................

2010-09-27T08:14:00.000-07:00

So Smooth

2010-08-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

Come and Get It

2010-08-11T19:53:00.000-07:00

For The Love of Money

2010-08-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

Ouch! But Will It Blend???

2010-07-16T03:49:00.000-07:00

"All over the country today there were huge lines at Apple stores for the iPhone — not to buy them, to return them. Apparently, Apple is addressing problems with the iPhone. For now on, if you buy an iPhone, they throw in a Verizon Blackberry so you can make a call." —Jay Leno

2010-07-14T03:48:00.000-07:00

“He has to find some way between now and November of demonstrating that he is a leader who can command confidence and, short of a 9/11 event or an Oklahoma City bombing, I can’t think of how he could do that.”

from Bob Shapiro, former Clinton White House official and Obama supporter, speaking to Obama's sagging polls and credibility.

As the debate on why the Obama Justice Dept. dropped an open and shut voter '08 intimidation case, we here at Katelyn's Way have been wondering exactly why did the Justice Dept. drop this case??? Since, several damning videos have hit the web involving the suspects in question who were video'ed standing in front of a Philadelphia polling place, one with nightstick in hand, intimidating potential voters.

The young man brandishing the nightstick is King Samir Shabazz. As a part of the settlement with Shabazz in the case, he has agreed to stay away from polling places for three years.

Since, more video with Shabazz has surfaced:

Add to this a video I posted in an earlier blog where Mr. Samir publicly rails about "killing cracker babies".

This man and this party is gasoline itching for a match. They openly speak of arming themselves against the tea party and white people. Janet Napolitano early on in her tenure as Homeland Security chief spoke of "homegrown" (caucasian) terrorism. Soldiers returning from the Middle East were singled out for attention by the feds.

After the Times Square bomber was confirmed to be muslim, the mainstream media couldn't hide their disappointment.

But they and the Obama Justice Dept. turn their backs on a group that shows up at polling places in this United States brandishing weapons and publicly advocate killing white children.

It's obvious the New Black Panther Party's looking for a fight. And they'll find one, never doubt it.

(while the Obama administration looks the other way)

“He has to find some way between now and November of demonstrating that he is a leader who can command confidence and, short of a 9/11 event or an Oklahoma City bombing, I can’t think of how he could do that.”

Yes he can.

To Katelyn:

2010-07-12T04:58:00.000-07:00

The Governors: The Handwriting. Immigration: The Wall.

2010-07-12T01:06:00.000-07:00

The Obama administration had to have a distraction. They were (and still are) getting killed on the Gulf oil spill. Their ties to B P and the bungling of the response were driving the President's poll numbers into the tar-balled sand. The McChrystal gaffe and replacement could carry them only so far.

But illegal immigration???

A lawsuit against Arizona for trying to do what the American people overwhelmingly think should be done???

In an election year???

Democrats running for re-election get it. From the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/12/us/politics/12governors.html

By ABBY GOODNOUGH
Published: July 11, 2010

BOSTON — "In a private meeting with White House officials this weekend, Democratic governors voiced deep anxiety about the Obama administration’s suit against Arizona’s new immigration law, worrying that it could cost a vulnerable Democratic Party in the fall elections."

If you've paid attention you know that we here at Katelyn's Way aren't big fans of John McCain. In our view it's too bad dear John didn't have a more competent opponent running against him this year in the Republican primary for the Arizona Senate seat.

But give McCain credit. When he, Lindsay Graham of South Carolina and the late Ted Kennedy were trying to ram a "comprehensive" immigration package down the American people's throats, McCain backed off in the face of a public uprising against him. "I get it", he told the American people.

Some in the Democrat party don't. Others do. Speaking after meeting with the White House:

“There are 535 members of Congress,” said Gov. Brian Schweitzer of Montana, a Democrat. “Certainly somebody back there can chew gum and hold the basketball at the same time."

Hold a basketball?!?!?! Yikes!

They're "listenin'" to ya Guv, but are they "hearin'" ya???

It Would Be Funny..............

2010-07-11T15:26:00.000-07:00

.....if it weren't so damn true.

No Sleep 'Til........

2010-07-11T13:01:00.000-07:00

One must wonder if he's happened upon O. J. looking for the real killer. Yet.

Drifting Before It Was Cool.....

2010-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

This movie inspired so much. Thanks to Jody Potter at the Junkyard Life blog for inspiring this post.

William Ayers, the Weather Underground, Barack Hussein Obama and the New Black Panther Party

2010-07-07T08:42:00.000-07:00

case dismissed.......

About To Go "Viral"........

2010-07-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

"same as it ever was......."

Things That Make You Go "Hmmmmmmmmm"

2010-03-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.zombietime.com/zomblog/?p=621

In all this fracas about threats to Congressional Democrats after the Obama health care rape job, it's important to look back at the actions and threats during protests against Bush 43. (be sure and scroll down to see all the pictures. it's really quite enlightening)

And what's currently going on unnoticed by even most conservatives is the money being raised by Democrats in response to these supposed threats.

If the threats are as egregious as the liberals in the media would have you to believe, why are the campaign coffers of Democrats profiting from this???

We here at Katelyn's Way believe ANY threat against ANY politico is a serious matter. Too serious to be used as an opportunity to profit from a threat. We call on any politician whose campaign chest has benefited from an increase in donations due to the supposed threats to return the money.

That is if you're serious about your convictions.

(which we don't believe you are)

Dude

2010-03-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

Check Out Anytime You Like.....

2010-03-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Eagles - Hotel California
Uploaded by hushhush112. - Explore more music videos.

One of the greatest songs in rock and roll in my opinion. I'll always admire lead singers who also play the drums.

When I hear this song now I always think of Nicole Brown Simpson.

Hygiene-less

2010-03-13T09:15:00.000-08:00

'Price of Beauty' doesn't include toothpaste for Jessica Simpson: 'I don't brush my teeth'

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2010/03/13/2010-03-13_price_of_beauty_doesnt_include_toothpaste_for_jessica_simpson_i_dont_brush_my_te.html#ixzz0i4uC6VFQ

"I just use Listerine - and sometimes I'll use my sweater," she added with a laugh.

"I do brush every now and again, but my teeth are extremely powerful. Fine, maybe when I'm 60 I'll be all, ‘ow!’.

Suddenly, I just gained newfound respect for Tony Romo. Yeah, he got sucked in by the blonde bimbo celebrity thing, but after waking up next to the plaque-magnet enough......he said enough!

And what does that mean for a single guy dating today? Simpson doesn't brush. Madonna doesn't shave. Sheryl Crow wipes one square at a time. These are the fashionistas for our young women today?

Ball-less

2010-03-08T00:46:00.000-08:00

We here at Katelyn's Way were really pulling for J. D. Hayworth to take the Republican nomination for the Arizona U. S. Senate seat John McCain currently holds. No love lost here for McCain. Recently Hayworth's campaign ran an online ad featuring this picture of McCain in an obvious Avatar spoof:

The thin-skinned McCain and his camp responded:

“Ex-Congressman J.D. Hayworth should immediately apologize and and take down his latest online ad, which is an outrageous offense to John McCain’s lifetime of honorable service to our state and nation, and insulting to Native Americans here in Arizona and across America," said Shiree Verdone, McCain's campaign manager. "Mr. Hayworth is welcome to debate the challenges facing our state and nation, but this kind of character assassination has no place in the Republican Party, and Mr. Hayworth should ashamed of his campaign for running it.”

Then the equally insecure Hayworth camp responded by pulling down the original picture and replacing it with this:

This friends, is what's wrong with the Republican Party. There was nothing racist about the original picture. But somebody said it and got the Hayworth team "crawdaddin".

Gutless.

It begs the question: If you'll back down from such a childish, playground popgun, what will you do in D. C. when the Democrats come at you with the big guns?

Sheesh!

Crazy Cooter

2010-03-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

Bedazzling... below the belt?

Recently, on the George Lopez Show, actress Jennifer Love Hewitt gushed about "vajazzling," a new trend in ladies' intimate fashion that involves rounding out a bikini wax with the decorative application of Swarovski crystals, Salon reports. The procedure, which is offered at Completely Bare spa in New York City for $115, including the cost of the bikini wax and your choice of crystal design, takes about 45 minutes. The decoration is applied to the freshly waxed skin using an adhesive on the back of the crystals—which are applied in a large pattern or, in the case of certain detailed designs, are also individually hand-placed—and the glitzy result is supposed to last about five days.

Read more: http://wellness.blogs.time.com/2010/03/05/bedazzling-below-the-belt/#ixzz0hVFgnW8O

Tommy Emmanuel

2010-03-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

Dead Soldiers

2010-03-03T03:39:00.001-08:00

Thirty years ago those would have been buttwipers.

Thirty years.......

Snuggie Update.....

2010-02-27T02:55:00.000-08:00

Here at Katelyn's Way, we've decided to help mainstream the woefully mis-understood Snuggie into the American lifestyle. From this point on any reference to the Snuggie will be dutifully noted.

from Taegan Goddard's Political Wire blog:

"This is going to come as quite a shock to people up here that I can write a book, much less read one."

-- Former President George W. Bush, quoted by Mike Allen, addressing a Bush-Cheney reunion breakfast. Bush's memoir is due in November.

Read more: http://politicalwire.com

in the comments section Blue 387 responded:

"I'm amazed he could put on his own clothes.

Was he wearing a Snuggie?"

My work is done here.

Interim N. Y. Governor David Paterson......................

2010-02-26T09:19:00.000-08:00

step on down.

After pressure from the Democrat machine from President Obama on down for New York governor David Paterson to forgo a run for the seat he currently holds, Paterson has decided he won't run for the guv. Paterson stepped into the chair after Eliot Spitzer resigned in the wake of your typical Democrat sex-with-whores scandal.

Paterson, after defiantly proclaiming he'd run, has been under a lot of pressure to step back.

from the NY Times 9/19/09:

"Gov. David A. Paterson defiantly vowed to run for election next year despite the White House‘s urging that he withdraw from the New York governor’s race."

Since there's been rumors of drug use, Paterson's own sex scandal and of late this:

"Paterson been under fire for contacting a woman who accused one of his top aides of domestic violence."

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/02/26/2010-02-26_gov_david_paterson_pulls_plug_on_election_bid_but_will_not_resign.html#ixzz0gfFbtWQg

Paterson's being investigated by N. Y. Attorney General (AND candidate for governor himself) Andrew Cuomo.

Paterson got the message. He saw the handwriting on the wall. He listened to the late night phone call:

'We're just getting started Mr. Paterson. These are pop guns we're firing right now. Step back before we bring out the heavy artillery.'

Think Rahm Emanuel.

SWITZERLAND?!?!?!?!

2010-02-25T16:48:00.000-08:00

Double Take City: I swear I just saw/read on that Fox News scrolling headline thingy, Moammar Kadafi (yeah, the chickenshit from Libya) just declared jihad on........Switzerland.

What a coward. You'd think he'd jihad something a bit more challenging like say........the Netherlands.

Glenn Beck - CPAC Keynote

2010-02-21T06:14:00.000-08:00

This takes about an hour of your time but is must-hear in this time in our great nation.

At about 16:40 into the speech: "but it's not enough just to not suck as much as the other side."

Translation: voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.

Hello, Republicans???

The Future of Conservatism

2010-02-20T16:47:00.000-08:00

hear, hear.

Happy Anniversary To Us........Edition 29

2010-02-20T03:01:00.000-08:00

The only girl my heart beats for.......no joke.

.....and is there ever an occasion that is inappropriate for:

The ugly duckling WAYYYY over kicked his coverage!!!

(Rick Dees was an AM disc jockey in Birmingham in the early seventies. I listened to him faithfully every morning riding the school bus!)

BUSTED

2010-02-17T07:34:00.000-08:00

A while back one of my buddies over at the Alabama Basketball Blog posted this about:

Stupid Inventions
I assume the readers of this blogs (thanks for the support BTW) are too smart to buy this:

(check out the old guy shivering without his snuggie bottom/left)

If you bought one I am embarrassed for you. Let me get this straight... a blanket with sleeves? Why not wear a sweater in the house if you're cold. Or here's an idea... turn the heat up. This might be the dumbest invention ever to hit the airwaves since the Flowbee. If you're too young to remember the Flowbee, google is your friend.

Posted by bobbyjack at 4:25 PM

Naturally, being red blooded American men:

We all had a little fun with it:

Mitchell said...
Hahaha. The Snuggie is horrible. Who in their right mind would buy that atrocity?

My favorite bit in the commercial is when the douchebags are at the football game cheering while wearing their Snuggies. The people around them are like, "what the hell is that?"

My old lady and I refer to the old cat sitting in the chair reading the paper as Emperor Palpatine. The Snuggie: Chosen by Sith Lords for centuries!

Your's truly chimes in: (tongue firmly planted in cheek)

finebammer said...
my job's on the line,

my 401k's toast,

and now you want to take my snuggie?!?!?!?

oh, the insensitivity of it all!!!!

what's next??? my 'listen up'??

my enzyte???

(and by the way, the red snuggie with the brown couch just ain't workin' for me, you know?)

and finally:

bobbyjack said...
One last comment about the snuggie... you know those things would sell like hotcakes if they were licensed by the NCAA. Imagine a row of Bockrath Elephant, snuggie wearing fools in your section. Joy!

the man is a prophet, I tell you. An entrepreneurial genius!

Busted! The man-card suspended indefinitely!

The Daytona 500 2010 Edition

2010-02-17T03:24:00.000-08:00

Nascar is once again ushered in to it's new season with it's "Super Bowl" event, the Daytona 500. Lots of changes for the 2010 edition to placate the old guard in the fan base and prop up it's sagging ratings.

Most races will start at noon, central time. Lately, from week to week, no one could keep up with when a race starts. Aging baby-boomers, such as myself, often fell asleep and didn't get to see the finish of late starting races.

In response to the economic downturn, ticket prices have been reduced to get more butts in seats.

Drivers are going to get much more freedom to drive on the track. No penalties for bump drafting and the like.

There was mucho rumero of changes to the restrictor plates and the dastardly wing but I didn't see any speeds over 190 or so and the wing was still in place.

As advertised, the race started at noon. But due to a track issue, there was over two hours of red flag. The track problem can best be described this way:

Nascar just can't catch a break. A pothole develops in the track during the race. One red flag to "fix" it, (patch patrol) another to fix it again when the first fix comes apart. Combined almost two and one half hours of red flag. Fans, cold and disgusted, leave. Let the channel surfing begin.

Drivers make jokes, (Dale Jr. said put a cone on it and let's race) Nascar makes excuses.

Nascar's starting to look snake bit.

Whatchamacallit

2010-02-14T03:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's honey.

Frozen Love

2010-02-12T02:46:00.000-08:00

With all the snowstorms of the winter of '09/'10, here's a little shoutout/tip-of-the-hat the Owl Gore, Micheal Mann and global warming idiots around the world:

Get On Your Knees........

2010-02-07T19:23:00.000-08:00

and thank God for our soldiers.

(h/t gottagetdrunkfirst)

The Super Bowl

2010-02-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

While I don't have a dog in the hunt and one has to feel for the New Orleans Saints considering their franchise history of mediocrity, (and that's being nice) I'm pulling for the Colts today for one reason:

Week fourteen the Colts are playing the Jets. Not only do the Colts have a playoff spot locked up, they've got homefield advantage throughout. First year head coach Jim Caldwell pulls key starters in the second half and the Jets win the game sacrificing a shot at a undefeated season for Indy to the consternation of the mainstream sports media.

(1.) If it were his predecessor, Tony Dungy, who had done this he would have been praised for the foresight to rest his stars for the playoffs.

(2.) Had Peyton Manning been taken out with a season-ending knee injury in the second half of that game, Caldwell would have been ripped to shreds for leaving him in by the same idiots ripping him for taking him out.

For that reason alone, go Colts.

(I'm currently listening to "Queen Latifah" sing America the Beautiful. Frankly, she sucks, Carrie Underwood couldn't carry a note in a bucket singing the National Anthem. Does anyone listen to these people sing beforehand??? Did we lose Sara Evans number???)

(and the who at the half. i hope townshend understands how embarassing he looked. hang it up, bud)

(and to the alabama strength coach, you can keep your shot, bud. roll tide anyway)

It's On

2010-02-07T13:08:00.000-08:00

As innocuous as this Focus on the Family Super Bowl ad may seem, I hope the Tebows are ready for the onslaught.

You guys ever hear of Sarah Palin? (hacked e-mail account by the son of a Tennessee Democrat)

Joe (the Plumber) Wurzelbacher had the temerity to ask the One an unscripted question. (an Ohio Democrat flunkie used government computers to dig into Joe's IRS history)

Hope you have your powder dry. You're going to need it.

If You Didn't Like This Guy Before......

2010-02-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

Only A Matter of Time

2010-02-07T11:23:00.001-08:00

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Wishful Thinking???

2010-02-07T10:52:00.001-08:00

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Is this a classic SNL spoof or what the good folks at NBC would really like to hear??

O'Reilly v. Stewart

2010-02-05T19:24:00.000-08:00

Towards the end of the first segment, Stewart assumes a classic liberal stance in his discussion with Bill concerning FNC.

From the beginning Stewart parrots typical Democrat thinking in his determination that Fox is the media arm for the Republican Party. He argues that the "fair and balanced" description Fox uses to promote itself is disingenuous and misleading to it's viewers.

Bill counters that there's a difference between the hard news reported on Fox and the opinion shows like his, Sean Hannity's, Greta Van Susteren, Glen Beck and (gag) Geraldo Rivera.

O'Reilly compared FNC to a newspaper, where you have "hard" news printed on certain pages and opinion on others.

This is where Jon Stewart falls into the typical liberal trap. He responded that FNC viewers weren't smart enough to tell the difference.

We're not bright enough to know that when Sheperd Smith signs off and The Factor comes on a news show just ended and an opinion show just started.

Now nevermind that everyday, in news outlets across the country, liberal opinion is passed off as hard news.

For example, this editorial was passed off as a news story by the AP and outed by the Sweetness and Light blog:

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/ap-brown-must-work-with-dems-to-survive

Nevermind that in the months before the start of the Iraq war, CNN based it's reporting operation in one of Saddam Hussein's golden palaces. How objective was the "hard" news coming out of that situation?

How objective could anything coming out of NBC or MSNBC in it's reporting of the '08 elections when NBC was owned by GE, who's CEO, Jeffrey Immelt, served as an advisor to the Obama campaign and now advises his administration? In fact, NBC was the biggest media cheerleader for the Obama camp. Who could forget this:

Objective indeed.

None other than Bill O'Reilly himself has made a career out of exposing the corrupt Immelt. He outed Immelt when he was dealing with Iran while our soldiers were dying fighting terrorists in Iraq using Iranian weapons. That aforementioned cheerleading done by NBC??? All to curry favor for Immelt and GE for the "green" industry about to be foisted on (and subsidized by) the unsuspecting taxpayers. Immelt has run GE into the ground and has to have the favor of the Obama administration in future deals to save his hide.

All of this going on over Mr. Stewart's shoulder and he's worried about what FNC viewers might think???

Or that one network, one media outlet might favor conservative thought processes in it's opinion shows.

Really Jon.

O'Reilly vs. Stewart, Pt. One

2010-02-05T13:04:00.000-08:00

I've recently acquired a taste for Jon Stewart. It's really amazed me over the years the Democrats failure to come up with a palatable alternative to Rush Limbaugh.

Not that they haven't tried. Air America was an entire radio network created by the Democrats to respond to Rush. Didn't sell. Just declared bankruptcy.

They may have stumbled across one in Jon Stewart. (although it isn't clear they've realized it yet) Jon is clearly a liberal, doesn't hide from it. And he's funny. And smart. (very smart)

Some of my takes from this "must-see-tv" interview.

Early on the the interview O'Reilly asks Stewart how he thinks Obama is doing as POTUS.

Stewart: "I can't tell if he's a jedi-master, playing chess on a three-level board way ahead of us or if this is kicking his ass."

Stewart tells O'Reilly he likes that Obama has ramped up the regulatory function of the Executive branch (the EPA and the like) but is quite uncomfortable with Obama's failure to use the bully pulpit of the Presidency to control the political debate and therefore his party.

Stewart: "He has decided that Congress is an equal branch of government. Huge mistake."

O'Reilly: "Ignore Congress??"

Stewart: "Absolutely. Ignore Congress."

Wow! But there's more!

Stewart: "Addington and the Bush administration established the unitarian executive, they established the power of the executive, you can't just walk in there as the next guy and say let's go back to three equal branches."

In other words, Stewart is upset that Obama isn't going all Dick Cheney/left on us. So one could surmise that when Stewart and his "ilk" pulled the "change" lever for Obama in '08, it wasn't the amount of power the Bush administration had grabbed for the executive branch they wanted changed, it was whose proverbial ox being gored.

Read the above quote carefully. Remember their protestations over the Patriot Act? Warrantless wiretapping?? The "secret" prisons? Stewart is apparently upset that the Obama administration hasn't used the powers they claimed the Bush administration illegally usurped to bully Congress and force his will legislatively.

He's upset Obama's not more like Tom Delay.

Stewart is asked to opine on the Republicans opposition to the Democrat's healthcare reform (control) bill. He claims not to know. Then when cornered by O'Reilly that the Republicans are upset their ideas haven't been taken seriously by the administration he states: "that's not why the Republicans don't like it."

So Jon doesn't know what the Republicans motivations ARE for opposing the heathcare issue but he knows what it's NOT.

O K.

At about 8:30 into the interview (full length) O'Reilly confronts Stewart with a quote by Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post:

O'Reilly: "Stewart has clearly become an important cultural arbitor. He's pulled of the trick of being taken seriously when he wants to be and taken frivolously when he wants to be."

(sounds a bit like Rush, eh?? When Rush makes valid points, the left dismisses it as "entertainment". When they don't like something he jokes about, it suddenly takes a more serious tone. Kinda inverted, huh?)

While Jon uses body language (rolling eyes, bobbing head) to convey a dismissive tone toward the question, it's clear to me he's enjoying the attention of Mr. Kurtz and O'Reilly.

Very interesting. More later.

Update???

2010-02-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

The aforementioned pathetic excuse at Roger Daltrey hair.

(my dad was right all along)

The Who

2010-02-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

O K, I'm on a Who jag now.

One of the silver linings to the early onset of Alzhiemer's (which I'm convinced I have)(either that or CRS) is that I re-discover old joys all over again.

I'm sitting in Hunt's Oyster Bar and Seafood, Panama City, FL last night and someone puts this on the jukebox:

Great seafood, great music, great atmosphere, great memories.

The Bird Is the WORD!

2010-01-30T15:01:00.000-08:00

cluck, cluck indeed.

Meet The New Boss...........

2010-01-30T14:02:00.000-08:00

While there is NO replacing the king of conservative talk radio, Rush Limbaugh, Jerry Doyle is an up-and-comer. This guy's not just quick-witted, smart and bald, (bald is truly beautiful) but like me, he's a rock and roller. He doesn't just play rock and roll bumpers but he constantly makes public R & R references.

A clip from a Lou Dobbs interview:

(what an influence on a young teenaged Finebammer. In my early teens I had never seen The Who outside of a ragged Circus magazine and a concert poster on my bedroom wall. But I later fought viciously with my Dad for my "right" to my pathetic excuse for my Roger Daltrey hair and despite having never seen Pete Townshend play, the guitar riffs over my tiny transistor radio inspired me to remarkably similar air guitar renditions in my bedroom, miles away from the evangelical wailings of my loving Baptist parents)

Don't let 'em fool us again, Jerry. Rock on!

As I Sit In My Room..................

2010-01-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

and make mental preparations for tonite's big, hairy, nightshift, papermill shutdown grind......

Mathews Caught With His.........Well......

2010-01-29T14:07:00.000-08:00

Funny stuff by Stewart. Give the guy credit, he'll rip his own when necessary.

And this was sooo necessary.

If I could ask Chris a follow-up question it would be:

'Chris, what jogged your memory?'

(a shout out to my buddy, Hawk. Tanx for the kind words, buddy)

(hat tip to the jammiewearingfool)

Thinking About Coach Bryant

2010-01-26T13:23:00.000-08:00

Dispite all the revelry and good feelings of the '09 National Championship at the Rose Bowl, I'll never forget the greatest coach at Alabama, Coach Bryant.

R I P, Coach.

Rammer Jammer 2010

2010-01-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Stolen from "bradcurfman" off the 'tube. Thanx Brad and ROLL TIDE!

Title Celebration

2010-01-24T09:08:00.000-08:00

The celebration begins.........

and in the stands Derrick Lassic, starting running back from our '92 National Title team, and I give you a big ROLL TIDE!!!!

(in the interest of truth in advertising, I met Derrick during halftime. He was visiting with friends in the stands behind me and the rumor was floating in the crowd that he played on the '92 team. I turned and recognized him immediately. Derrick is a super guy and graciously shook every hand and signed every autograph for the duration of the half. I later felt bad about outing him and interrupting his visit but he handled it all with the patience and class one would expect of a high profile representative of the University)

(also take particular notice of that fat championship ring on his hand. That hunk of gold was a significant blip on the radar of my peripheral vision while posing for that shot. Again, Derrick Lassic, super guy)

More Pre-game

2010-01-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

The eyes of Texas and all that.

The Rose Bowl skyboxes and press box. This is an incredibly old and storied facility. In a lot of ways it reminded me of Legion Field. The stadium is......old. The neighborhood around it (on the west side of the 210) dangerous and hard to navigate if you're not familiar with the area. (still, no gps needed) But I had absolutely no worry of my vehicle and it's contents due to the competent parking plan. And the palm trees with the magnificent mountains in the backdrop distract you from the warts.

Hard to believe just four days ago we leave the Heart of Dixie and sub-freezing weather and are now about to enjoy the Alabama's thirteenth National Championship in 70 degree temperatures.

The Game

2010-01-23T02:22:00.001-08:00

Pre-game warm-ups.

Tunnel Thirteen. We took this a good sign as our team was playing for it's thirteenth national championship.

I thought this was a cool concession set-up.

Susie showing off her program in front of the Rose Bowl.

Vegas To Pasadena

2010-01-15T02:29:00.000-08:00

The gameday van. I purchased this unit summer '08 after gas prices went thru the roof and everyone was dumping their "clunkers" for new econo-box deathtraps and new car payments. (in a case of cruel irony, the bottom fell out of the economy just a few short months later and many with those new payments were on the street looking for a job) I paid cash $2800. This unit was a garage-kept piece with 72,000 actual miles. Beautiful interior and an undercarriage one could almost eat off of. Rides and drives like a Caddy. 350 four bolt main. Again, as my wife has a significant fear of flying, this unit provided us with comfortable transportation to the game and a chance at a great tailgating experience at the game.

There are no pictures that can justify these mountains between Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Certainly mine far woefully short.

More Dam Pictures

2010-01-14T18:42:00.000-08:00

A cool pic of the dam with the shadow of the bypass construction cast on it.

The gorge and the hydro-electric generation facility.

The base of the dam and the hyrdo-electric turbine facility.

The Hoover Dam

2010-01-14T15:45:00.000-08:00

Susie at the dam.

The dam bypass. Currently the dam is part of Highway 93 running from Kingsman, Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada. Tourist travel slows traffic across the dam to a crawl and I would imagine infuriates the locals having to travel 93. (I know it would me) To me, the bridge construction is as fascinating as the dam itself. I was disappointed with the photos as I could not get the afternoon sun behind me. The bridge is being built with two trolley cranes suspended on cables spanning the gorge. These cranes are operated by remote control. The bridge members are pre-cast concrete. The construction workers are hundreds of feet above the river downstream from the dam. I can't imagine a better view from a corner office.

A memorial to those who died building the dam. A different era for safety.

A floor display featuring the positions of the moon, the planets and the stars on the night of the dam's dedication. Cool.

On to Las Vegas.

Update..........................

2010-01-09T09:09:00.000-08:00

After the snow in Arky and my dead battery blunder, things have gone smooth. Cold as hell in Oklahoma. In northern Texas we were surprised at the lack of recognition for the Longhorns. No flags. No bumper stickers. Texas is a BIG place. Austin is a LONG way from Amarillo.

I must insert the obligatory George Strait video here:

(I've heard Strait won't appear on stage with others due to his insecurity about his height. Never seen him in concert so it's just a rumor)

Lots of windmills in Oklahoma and New Mexico.

T. Boone must be proud although talking with electrical generation techies in the past, windmill generated electricity is a long way from practical application.

One: the wind doesn't blow all the time. When the wind doesn't blow, you must have the traditional generating capacity to supply the need. Power storage (batteries) technology to save the power generated by the mills for when the wind doesn't blow is decades away.

Two: Parts. These windmills are apparently incredibly expensive. According to those I've talked to, so are repair parts.

We saw a small percentage of the windmills inoperable. Makes one wonder.

T. Boone has also been a big promoter of power generated by CNG. (compressed natural gas) As there is plenty of the stuff domestically and the technology is way more current it seems to be the more practical alternative at the moment.

On to Albuquerque. More later.

The Road To Pasadena

2010-01-07T03:31:00.000-08:00

Well, it's been a long but interesting drive to Pasadena but we're finally here.

The trek got interesting early as we hit snow just past Memphis on I-40 in Arkansas. After driving into the evening in the snow we decided to bed down at a Best Western in Clarksville. My daily driver has many of the modern creature comforts, one being the interior lights shut off after a period of inactivity. Not so with the Game Day van. My dumbass leaves the lights on all night and the next morning I awake to a dead battery.

Now let's take a moment to set the scene:

It's 4 am and snowing like a bitch.

I call a "24 hour" wrecker service and tell the attendant (who I can't help but believe I woke up) I need a jump. He then proceeds to run down a checklist of hurdles that will have to be crossed to get me jumped-off. Icy roads. Wake somebody to get to me. ("24 hr." ???) After about 5 minutes on the phone with the guy he finally gets around to telling me it will be one hundred and twenty five bucks to get me going.

I've got the cash, okay? Just not inclined to bend over like that so quickly. (and so early)

I'm a morning person.

I'm in Arkansas, home of Walmart. There has to be one on every corner.

Out comes the trusty I-phone. (Merry Christmas to me)

After a brief search, sure enough, right across the interstate.

I'm fortunate in that a cold blast hit the state of Alabama before we left and I was prepping things in the Game Day van wearing my thermal coveralls. Made it easy to shed them when it was time to leave and just throw them under the seat. Don the coveralls and off to Walmart.

The purchase of a 70 buck battery and an "invigorating" hike back through the snow got the Game Day van purring again and off we go into the morning darkness.

It didn't take long to discover the "24 hour" wrecker guy wasn't bullshitting me about the icy roads. About five miles into our excursion a Ford F-350 duelly with a trailer-load of equipment of some sort passes us on a rise. Dude had gotten about three hundred yard past me we he lost traction on the ice and spun out right in front of us. Off the road he goes, slams against the embankment, pointing the opposite direction he was headed originally.

Experienced drivers (such as myself - no gps needed) know that using your brakes on ice is a recipe for disaster. Less known and spoken of is the dangers of a vehicle in "cruise-control" on ice. This accident occurred while driving up a rise in the highway. I'm convinced this guy had his truck in "cruise". When the on-board computer sensed the resistance of the grade, it applied pedal and the truck lost traction. It now momentarily "over-revs" trying to regain traction and further complicates issues for the driver. I believe this happened because I never saw his brake lights until he was well around in front of us, totally out of control.

I wanted to stop and check on the guy. In fact, I did pull over. I twas at that point my beloved better-half (the street-smarts in the family) began screaming like a banshee, her contention being that another slob was going to come along and wipe out taking our good Samaritan asses with them.

(you know, no good deed goes unpunished)

A quick look in the rear view confirmed her fears. A convoy of tractor-trailers headed for us. They passed without incident but the combination of her correct thought process and that siren she was born with obliterating my eardrums convinced me to move on.

On pulling out special care had to be taken on the ice. The next thirty miles or so was driven at a snail's pace. Coasting across bridges. Judicious braking. The siren wailing.

Patsy Cline's on the radio:

There's a message here I'm thinking but too distracted to focus on it for the moment.

More later.

On Our Way To See The Tide Play

2010-01-03T08:42:00.000-08:00

About to pull out for Pasadena, Cali. Tailgate ready. In route I plan to re-read Stephen King's "The Stand" to commemorate Larry Underwood's trek across the country. Hopefully we can avoid Nadine, the Trashcan Man, Randall Flagg and Captain Tripps. (and the swine flu - i call it Miss Piggy)

I'd love to tell you I'm reading from a rare first edition hardback but no such luck. Just a dog-eared pb.

ROLL CRIMSON TIDE ROLL! BRING IT!

2009-12-26T02:59:00.000-08:00

And oh yeah, the big ticket item this Christmas!!!

ROLL TIDE ROLL ALL THE WAY TO PASADENA!

(remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T05:56:00.000-08:00

Santa visits Ryan and Sarah Christmas morning!

Muppet Christmas!

2009-12-24T04:10:00.000-08:00

ding dong!

Warning: VIRAL.........

2009-12-23T02:56:00.000-08:00

One of the great wisdoms one trades their youth for is another oldie-but-goodie:

What goes up, MUST come down.

Kind of like a Tiger Woods advertisement contract.

And don't we just wallow around like a pig in slop over all of it.

Sad. (but funny)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T18:34:00.000-08:00

and a Happy New Year!

God, I Miss This Guy.........

2009-12-20T12:39:00.000-08:00

CHA CHING!!!!

2009-12-19T23:47:00.000-08:00

And as if to verify my previous post on the economic impact of the Alabama fan base:

http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-sports/2009/12/crimson_tide_turns_38_million.html

"Nick Saban's eight-year, $32 million contract looks like something of a bargain, considering University of Alabama athletics turned a profit of $38 million in the last academic year.

The Associated Press reports that's almost 40 percent more than the year before Saban was hired in 2007.

The windfall doesn't include this fall's football success, which has the top-ranked Crimson Tide (13-0) heading to Pasadena, Calif., for a BCS championship showdown against No. 2 Texas (13-0). That sure-to-be-record profit won't be counted until the end of the current academic year in May."

And with the certainty of the tide rolling in, Alabama state representative John Rogers is now once again clamoring for an Alabama v. Alabama/Birmingham matchup.

http://blog.al.com/breaking/2009/12/legislator_urges_alabama_aubur.html

"At the legislative budget hearings on higher education today, Rep. John Rogers Jr., D-Birmingham, urged the presidents of Alabama and Auburn to schedule UAB in sports events."

Why?

And why bring up this request at a budget hearing? A "higher education" budget hearing???

A similar thing happened in 1947. Officials at the Alabama Polytechnical Institute (Auburn) lobbied the Legislature to re-institute a football game between the University of Alabama and API. Why? Auburn historian David Housel will tell you it's because their athletic dept. wanted us to (say it with me) "show them (me) the money". He's freely admitted in the past that Auburn's coaches were stealing money from the Coke machines to buy helmets and pads. They needed that game for the money. And if you look at what they have in Auburn now, it's not hard to see what our money did and still does for them.

The game at Legion Field, you know..... the REAL Iron Bowl, was moved for more than just the recruiting or the fans psychology, but for the economic impact we have everywhere we go. Our money has built more than just a stadium, it's built Auburn. Alabama could easily replace Auburn in our season ticket package and move on. Remove it from theirs and go hide. Nothing's changed in 61 years. In the best of times for Auburn, they need us, we don't need them.

(Remember what I told you in the past about Auburn's 61 game winning streak. Doesn't matter what the final score is, when they take the field with us, they're automatically winners)

The school colors are green and gold, ironic considering Mr. Rogers interest in procuring this money-maker for his "other" employer, UAB.

Don't believe for two seconds Mr. Rogers isn't keenly aware of the economic windfall the Alabama athletic department currently enjoys thanks to Coach Saban.

And he wants his piece of the pie. (like Mr. McGregor says, "you can be a winner too!" Cashin' in on a 'Bama game is better odds than Larry Langford playing Uncle Miltie's bingo, lot's better! It's the surest of sure things)

And he wants it for more than just the money for UAB. He wants the Crimson Tide back in Birmingham.

Crimson Tide football is the ONLY sporting endeavor to ever be financially successful within the city limits of Birmingham. From the towel-wavers on Graymont parking cars to the businesses to City Hall, money was made by all. Over time, the city's leadership lost sight of that. From the near constant state of dis-repair of Legion Field to the financing of UAB athletics (that begs the question: did UAB ever repay the 2.2 million the city loaned it back in the late eighties???) with money Crimson Tide athletics helped it make, Birmingham didn't make it a hard decision when the City of Tuscaloosa started lobbying the University to bring it's games home where they'd be more appreciated.

Is Rogers planning an "instant replay" of Auburn's playbook in 1947?? Does Rogers plan to use his political influence to force a game, basketball or football, with Alabama?? (and don't be distracted by the Auburn thing, he wants a game with ALABAMA, a FOOTBALL game with ALABAMA)

If so, you really couldn't blame him, it's an old weakness.

Sing it, Tanya.

But take some advice from Glen, John, it ain't gonna be without a fight.

The Economic Crimson Tide

2009-11-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

I've always held onto the firm belief the Alabama fan base is a stimulus package all in itself. Cities and towns of Alabama's opposition and bowl games of all varieties love to see the Crimson Tide coming because of the economic boom that we provide when we get there. (even in the tough times for the football team AND the economy)
Politicians at any level wish for the stimulus the money that the Alabama Nation can collectively provide.

Dissatisfaction with the internal workings of the program have affected season ticket sales and attendance in the past but downturns in the economy never have.

Folks like the Auburn historian David Housel will confirm that the Auburn program was literally running on Coke machine money before the Alabama state Legislature forced us to re-start the Auburn/Alabama series. They needed us for the money. Just like they needed to get the Iron Bowl out of Birmingham and down to Auburn for the money.

Alabama people follow their team and spend big money doing it. We rival NASCAR in brand loyalty and have for years.

This misguided blog:

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2009/11/are-football-and-fraud-connected-in.html

and the Mark Ingram S I cover led me to opine.

I read this piece and laughed, not because of the suspicion of Paul Bryant Jr. but because of the failure to understand how the financial windfall the hiring of Nick Saban works.

And please don't misunderstand my knowledge that Roger Shuler is a black helicopter conspiracist (if that's not a word, it should be) who believes that everyone this side of the Mississippi had a hand in his "unlawful termination" from UAB.

But it does provide for me the launching pad from which I can crow about..........us.

The hiring of Nick Saban has paid off in spades for the Alabama athletic dept. not because of Paul Bryant Jr.'s money alone but because of ours. From the biggest skyboxer to the Joe Lunchbox fan, the hiring of Nick Saban and his subsequent success has spurred all Alabama fans to shell out big bucks whether it be big time donations to the program or sales of officially licensed shirts, caps and other memorabilia.

People think media members like Paul Finebaum make their living off the trials and tribulations of a program like Alabama's but Paul will tell you quickly the opposite is true. I've personally heard him comment that financially, things were never better than after Alabama's '92 national championship. Everybody made money, he personally did, his newspaper did, we all know Daniel Moore did.(not that there's anything wrong with that)

The "Tradition Continues" that commemorates the Tide's 12th national title has 19,920 "limited" edition copies, one of which hangs in my personal office. Moore's made so much money off commemorating, how shall we say......defining moments, (hope I haven't trampled on any copyrights there!!!) the University sued him for MORE money than their original licensing deal provided for. (the United States civil court system recently sided with Mr. Moore) Moore has done many paintings and sold many prints but none like the "Tradition Continues". Regardless, Alabama fans have made Moore a wealthy man. (along with many Moore wannabes)

Which begs the question: how does a cover like the Ingram cover - that Capstone Report recently posted about - or the now famous or infamous, however you choose to look at it, "'Bama's Back" cover from a few years ago affect Sports Illustrated's bottom line?

It's a known fact that S I made tons off the Alabama 1992 national championship special edition. Of course, I have no balance sheets to prove that but judging by the fact that before that '92 Sugar Bowl, Sports Illustrated had never done a "special edition" championship magazine and since they've branched off into special edition packages that include a leather-bound book, a fleece shirt with the S I logo, (of course!) memorabilia and the obligatory half-price subscription on everything from Chinese ping-pong to Bavarian tiddlywinks champions, I'd say the Alabama fan base that rushed to the bookshelves and newspaper stands to gobble up that mag that magic year opened Sports Illustrated's eyes to the potential financial windfall such a thing could be. (and we didn't get a dime for our troubles. Know a good lawyer? - that's a rhetorical question considering that if your hold a degree from the U of A, you probably ARE a good lawyer!)

So Roger, go fly your black helicopter elsewhere. We know who the culprit is paying Nick Saban's salary. We know from whencst the money comes. Did Paul Bryant Jr.s money play a role? Certainly it did. But we all look in the mirror every morning with the warm satisfaction of knowing the role we all played in bringing Nick Saban to Tuscaloosa, the financial windfall that has occurred since and the "rain" we make everywhere we go.

(next thing you know, Roger will be suing US for his "unlawful termination" from UAB!!!)

This time, we got us a winner in Nick Saban.

RTR!

Raymond McKinnon (finebammer)

Officials see rise in militia groups across US

2009-08-12T03:20:00.000-07:00

Wow! An ominous headline to say the least. More Oklahoma City's. More militia nuts. More guns.

But what evidence does Eileen Sullivan use to back up the claim??

"Last October, someone from the Ohio Militia posted a recruiting video on YouTube, billed as a "wake-up call" for America. It's been viewed more than 60,000 times."

That's it. Read the piece.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9A140QG0&show_article=1

"Bart McEntire, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, told SPLC researchers that this is the most growth he's seen in more than a decade.

"All it's lacking is a spark," McEntire said in the report."

Breathlessly.

All it needs is a spark.

But in the paragraph prior we read this:

"The stress of a poor economy and a liberal administration led by a black president are among the causes for the recent rise, the report from the Southern Poverty Law Center says. Conspiracy theories about a secret Mexican plan to reclaim the Southwest are also growing amid the public debate about illegal immigration."

But Bart, what more motivation would a poor redneck need to go out and buy a gun that uses 22 caliber (slightly above a pellet gun round) ammunition to wage war on "a black president".

"Things are bad, things are real bad, and it's going to be a lot worse," said the man on the video, who did not give his name. "Our country is in peril."

The man is holding an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, and he encourages viewers to buy one."

If you militia nuts out there are reading this, forget the .22.

Go for the gusto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9zR5HTtaCI

Peace out.

Fish For This............

2009-08-09T05:01:00.000-07:00

Last week in response to Matt Drudge posting videos exposing President Obama's real intentions for health care reform, the White House responded by exhorting Americans to send any emails or "casual conversations" that might differ from their views ("sound fishy") in the health care debate to "flag@whitehouse.org".

The White House responded by saying their not "collecting" names.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/07/white-house-collect-fishy-info-health-reform-illegal-critics-say/

"The White House Thursday denied that it was playing "Big Brother."

"Nobody is collecting names," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said."

Well, if not, exactly what are they doing with them?? The e-mail addresses?? The information they receive???

And imagine the howls of those Patriot Act opponents and the left wing media had this occurred on the Bush administration's watch

This extremely disturbing news brings to mind the current controversy involving the continued drip-drip leakage of names of the Major League Baseball players who tested positive for whatever in '03.

In 2003, MLB and the player's union agreed to test their members to gauge steroid use and any possible actions to combat it. The players were promised by MLB and the union that all results would be kept secret.

First off, I question the intelligence of anyone who believed that.

Two, the more people who know the list, the more opportunity for leaks.

Which is what happened when the government (the Justice Dept.) confiscated the list.
Players were paraded before Congress and compelled to testify in the now memorable liar's brigade that ensued.

Now let me be clear that I in no way, shape or form endorse steroid or human growth hormone use. I believe it's devastating to kids and their families who look to these players as role models. They're telling kids this is what you have to do to win.

But I also believe the player's confidentiality in this matter should mean something. And as sure as death and taxes, if you want everybody to know something, tell the government and tell them to keep it a secret.

It should surprise no one regardless of party affliation, that some government bureaucrat is leaking these names. (See Joe Wilson. He was sent to Niger by his wife and the CIA to investigate Saddam Hussein's actions in trying to acquire yellowcake uranium, came back and went straight to the New York Times)

I think it's important to remember when the administration tells you your personal health care information collected as a part of the health care reform package (which it will be. That's why Jeffrey Immelt is currently a White House consultant on the matter. His future and that of his company, GE, depends on getting the government contract to manage that information. This is the same GE, under Immelt's watch, who was doing business with Iran while they were training terrorists to kill our soldiers in Iraq until Bill O'Reilly of Fox News exposed him)

I think it's also important to remember this when the White House tells you they're NOT collecting names or e-mail addresses sent to them by their operatives and supporters.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25891.html

“If you get hit, we will punch back twice as hard,” Messina said, according to an official who attended the meeting."

Word.(s)(Just)

Things That Make You Go "Hmmmmmmmmm"

2009-07-04T06:05:00.000-07:00

Question: How many of those spending money hand over fist to buy some piece of Michael Jackson's legacy in the wake of his death have health insurance on themselves or their families???

Stimulus Hypocrisy

2009-02-23T04:36:00.000-08:00

Feel the "stimulus" yet?

Well, the nation's state governors certainly are. At a meeting with state officials yesterday President Obama told them the Feds will be watching closely as they spend the taxpayer's money.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itBENNErYRQKT05EtyY6woQTQb1wD96SQ1AG0

"If we see money being misspent, we're going to put a stop to it".

"If wasteful spending is found, we will call it out and we will publicize it".

Pretty strong language coming from a man who promised in his campaign for the presidency to veto legislation from Congress containing wasteful earmarks.

Then just this week signed a budget with over 8000 pork barrel earmarked projects in it.

Then is it any wonder Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, Bob Riley of Alabama, Mark Sanford of South Carolina any others are wary about accepting the carrot, eyeing the big stick that hangs menacingly above it.

Wasteful is in the eye of the beholder. Cross the administration on a project they want and they'll hang you from the gallow's pole for all to see.

And then there's the hypocrisy of an administration warning the state governors then on the other hand doling out 990 million dollars to the terrorist organization Hamas with nary a word said about how that money is to be spent.

The dots:

Obama's ties to Tony Rezko.

Rezko's ties to Saddam Hussein's former operatives in Great Britian.

The administration's suspension of the U. S. S. Cole's bomber's trial at Gitmo.

The $990,000,000 in aid to the known terrorist organization Hamas.

We supply, you connect.

A Search For A Basketball Coach

2009-02-15T06:38:00.000-08:00

Since the "resignation" of Mark Gottfried as Alabama's head basketball coach, the typical rumor mill of possible replacements has achieved high RPM. It seems there are two camps in which the names of possible candidates fall: the legitimate and the hopelessly impossible.

Bobby Knight, Mike Anderson, Anthony Grant and others are some serious contenders for the position.

In the hopelessly unrealistic category fall the likes of John Calipari, Rick Barnes, Jim Boehiem, Roy Williams or any other top shelf coach currently working at a "basketball" school.

Another in the unrealistic category was thrown into the fray last week by Nick Taylor of the Tide Times blog last week: Tom Izzo of Michigan State.

Nick opined on his blog last week that Alabama athletic director Mal Moore had tendered an offer to Izzo to become Alabama's next basketball coach.

In the blind-squirrel-stumbles-on-a-relevant-opinion category, a February 15th column by Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News addresses the severe breach of protocol such an action by Moore would be.

Now, if there's a bigger dolt than Kevin Scarbinsky, it has to be Nick Taylor of the Tide Times.

During a recent call to Paul Finebaum's radio show, Nick was pushing his incredibly STUPID (and despite Nick's claims of "journalistic integrity and ethics") and UN-SOURCED (of course, that would probably be a selling point should Nick apply for a job at the New York Times!) story, he also claimed that the current coach at Oregon State is the brother-in-law of Michelle Obama and due to Nick's perceived "red state" mentality of the fan base he might not be looked on favorably by the search team.

And this idiot claims to be alum. (and that wouldn't surprise me)

Never mind the fact that the athletic dept. at the University has never given one whit what the rank-and-file Alabama basketball fan thinks or feels.

Nor did he give any statistical evidence of a majority political bent in the Alabama basketball fan base one way or another. Or that if there was, it would matter at all.

Since George Wallace's "stand at the schoolhouse door", (for which I will never forgive him) the University has bent over backwards to and made tremendous strides in improving minority participation.

Currently the minority makeup in the student body at the Capstone runs at around 25%.

Compare that to "that-school-down-the-road" (if there's anything good that came out of the Franchione regime, wasn't it that phrase??) where minorities are about 2% of the student body.

Recently at the university, a big-to-do was made over apologizing and recognizing the mistreatment and efforts of two slaves who worked at the school in the 1800's. Their graves were marked and a day was dedicated to the remembrance of their service. (and rightfully so)

Contrast that to Auburn, where in this century, this decade, on campus, frats posted pictures of themselves partying like it's 1899.

Pictures of some in black face, others with guns and ropes, pretending (or was it practicing?) to lynch blacks, were posted on the Internet.

When it went public, the school moved to expel the frats from the campus grounds by taking them to court. (as they should have) Feeling they were being singled out for special treatment, the frats hired attorneys to defend themselves.

In court, the lawyers for the frats in question appeared with 202 pictures of other frats and sororities (at least they're not sexist in their racism!) engaged in similar activities.

Auburn's legal representation immediately moved to settle the case and negotiate to seal away the pictures from the exposure of public disclosure.

Of course, what would you expect from the grounds of an old Confederate hospital???

Over in Oxford, Mississippi, one can still go to a football game on a fall afternoon and see a Confederate battle flag proudly waving in the stands.

But of course these comparisons are lost on Alabama graduate Nick Taylor.

He claimed to speak to Nick Saban regularly. But he can't figure out by listening to ole Saint Nick's public statements and sentiments he's a loyal Democrat who likely voted for Obama for president. (I say "likely" because I don't know that for a fact...... but considering his public comments on his time at Kent State, Martin Luther King, Jr. and his snubbing of a Republican president, I'd bet the house he did. )

He can't look around his alma mater and figure out it's now one of the biggest bastions of liberal thinking and philosophy in the South.

He can't see that every Democrat politician in this state of any consequence has a Capstone pedigree.

No, it's not enough for Nick Taylor to post outright fabrications about Mal Moore and Tom Izzo on his blog, he's got to call Paul's show and opine through the fine linen of his Klan hood.

While those who read this blog likely know my politics are a little to the right of Attila the Hun, I believe one thing Alabama basketball Democrats and Republicans can come together on is we need, no, we DESERVE a competent basketball coach regardless of his politics or connections. It's a "don't ask, don't tell" thing, I think most fans understand.

But truly, with friends of the Alabama basketball program like Nick Taylor, who needs enemies.

(and we wonder why bloggers have such a bad reputation)

Sifting the Sugar Bowl Rubble

2009-01-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

In the wake of the Utah tsunami that engulfed Nick Saban's Alabama football team last Friday, the shreds and shards of the embarrassing loss to the under-appreciated Utes are being examined for evidence of the crime.

Before the game rumors that Assistant Head Coach and defensive co-ordinator Kevin Steele was considering a move to another team. Was he distracted and did this affect the preparation of the defense for Utah?

In the business world this concept is called "short-timing it".

Many bosses (including mine) won't accept two week notices. Why? Because they believe your not focusing on the work at hand. And if you're not focusing on the work at hand, you're into other things.

I've seen it before, hell, I've done it before. In the '80's, due to the nature of the job market, one had to quit one job for another to get a raise. As a result, I've changed jobs many times in the past to climb the ladder. (been with my current job 20 yrs.) Once in my mind I knew I had another job lined up, my motivation changed. Once I realized what was happening, I'd just go ahead and quit. I felt that if I wasn't giving the man 100%, I shouldn't be taking his money.

Now do I believe, IF Steele was considering another job, this happened? Certainly.

Do I believe that's the sole reason the team looked so unprepared? Certainly not.

Disasters like Friday night (and in football terms, this was a disaster) are generally the product of another phenomenon called the "cascade affect".

That's the theory that NOT one single event caused the disaster but many did.

Was the team hungover after losing the SEC championship game?

Probably.

Was there too much time off?

Likely.

Were they underwhelmed by their bowl situation?

Were you? How many of us were disappointed with our team's bowl game? How many wished it were Ohio State or Texas or some other "name team"?? You think those players and coaches are aliens? Of course not! They're humans too.

Did Andre Smith's situation create a distraction??

Likely.

Did Nick Saban's commentary provide an already out-to-prove-something Utah team added motivation?

I think that's obvious.

I think it's also obvious that not one but all these things combined to create the "perfect storm" Alabama walked into Friday night.

And it's a storm that sometimes an established program can't weather.

And it must be remembered that this was the SECOND year of Nick Saban's "process".

Do we have the depth and stability of other programs that aspire to national prominence?

I think that's obvious too.

WWNSD?

Hit the recruiting trail with a little extra motivation.

(if that's possible)

This 'Trading-My-Youth-For-Wisdom' Thing Isn't Working Out

2008-10-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

You know your getting old when Van Halen's "Jump" comes on the radio and all you can think about is your trashed 401k.

Thank God For Mississippi

2008-10-05T02:42:00.000-07:00

We won.

No major injuries. (to my knowledge)

Alabama 17, Kentucky 14.

That's about all the good that can be gleaned from Saturday's win in Tuscaloosa. Coach Saban said it best in his post-game interview: "It should have been 24 - 0 at the half. That would have changed everything". Talk about stating the obvious!

It's important to note that one of the characteristics of a young team is emotional highs and lows. Coach Gene Stallings was a master at keeping his teams on an even keel, never getting too high after a win, too low after a loss. He emphasized a business-like attitude. Ditto Coach Saban. But was anyone listening?

Starting immediately after the big win over #3 Georgia he started preaching focus. The huge win over the nationally ranked Bulldogs would be meaningless if they lost to Kentucky before a nationally televised audience and home standing crowd. One had to look no further than the play of John Parker Wilson to see his point.

Wilson looked like Dan Marino last week. He played like Dan Rather Saturday. And he's a senior. Over throwing. Under throwing. It was clear Georgia was still on his mind. He couldn't have been anymore off target than Barney Frank at the Playboy mansion.

What was on the minds of the officials is anyone's guess. But what is clear is it was another horribly officiated Southeastern Conference game highlighted by an inexplicable offensive pass interference call on freshman receiver Julio Jones.

The Buffalo Wildwings restaurant chain currently is running an amusing television ad featuring a zebra sticking his head in the sideline replay camera boot and asking the crowd at Wildwings if they're ready to go home. After a moment of thought the patrons respond in the negative. Afterwards an official is seen tripping an open player running down the field for a presumed game-ending touchdown. I can't help but believe this commercial was inspired by SEC officiating.

The SEC is supposedly the premier college football conference in the country. Wouldn't it be nice if we could match that with consistently and appropriately competent officiating??

But today the 'Bama Nation turns it's weary eyes to the polls. Alabama came into yesterday's game ranked #2 in the AP and #4 in the USA Today/Coaches poll. After the win over Georgia, Tide fans dared dream of BCS bowl games. As the first BCS poll races toward us, will the lackluster performance drop the Tide from the top five? Is Alabama a legitimate top 5 team?

#1 Oklahoma has beaten Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Washington, Baylor and barely legal #24 Texas Christian. Their combined records are 12 - 15.

#2 LSU? Appalachian St., North Texas, Auburn, Mississippi State. Combined record: 8 - 13.

#3. Mizzou. #20 Illinois, Southeastern Missouri State, Nevada, Buffalo, and Nebraska. 13 - 13.

#4 Alabama. #9 Clemson, Tulane, Western Kentucky, Arkansas, #3 Georgia and Kentucky. Pay close attention. You're looking at the ONLY top five team whose opponents combine for a winning record. 17 - 14.

#5 Texas. Florida Atlantic, Texas-El Paso, Arkansas, Rice and Colorado. Combined? 11 - 16.

Now some will argue (legitimately) that statistics can be twisted to prove anything. But certainly my argument has more basis in fact than sports writers with their regional biases, college sports information directors (who are for the most part the real voters in the coach's polls) and so-called media "experts" with their agendas.

Alabama was also the ONLY top 5 team on Saturday, Oct. 4Th, to play an undefeated opponent.

Despite Saturday's big blue speed bump, not only should the Tide not fall in the polls, they should still be given legitimate consideration for number one.

I'd buy stock in Fannie Mae before I expected that.

Alabama's out of the spotlight with an off-week this Saturday. And there's a legitimate "marquee" match-up for the ESPN/ABC sports monopoly to hype this week (after throwing up all over themselves with that Vandy/Auburn snoozer) in Oklahoma v. Texas. #2 LSU also travels to Gainesville to face (as it stands now) the 13th ranked Gators.

Yet what was old is new again for many in Alabama today for once again we have reason to give thanks for our neighbor of a shared border to the west.

Was it not for the Ole Miss upset victory over Florida, Sept. 27th, and it's subsequent appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the Bermuda Triangle of the sports media, the SI jinx could have easily been the intangible that put Kentucky over the top at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday.

Sincerely, thank God for Mississippi and Roll Tide.

And The Sun Also Rises.........

2008-09-28T04:53:00.000-07:00

Alabama 31 - Georgia 0, halftime. Alabama 41 - Georgia 30, final score.

And from Pat Forde of ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3613594&sportCat=ncf

to Darren Epps of the Chattanooga Times Free Press

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2008/sep/28/crimson-tide-makes-case-no-1-harris-poll-rating/?sports

the case is being made for the Crimson Tide's inclusion in 2008 college football national title contention.

This perfect storm began Thursday night as Oregon State toppled the #1 USC Trojans. Then, in an early Saturday game, the #4 ranked Florida Gators flop around, allowing Ole Miss to stay in the game with them and inexplicably lose to the Rebels in front of their home crowd at Gainesville. This loss with the lesson of USC - Oregon State just two days prior.

With these two losses it became clearer to those who chose to look objectively that #3 Georgia vs. #8 Alabama Saturday night became a "gateway game" for Alabama's possible re-emergence onto the national scene.

And what a splash they made.

Georgia hyped the game into overdrive with their "blackout". ESPN's prime time Saturday night slot assured eyeballs to screen across the nation. If there's a dark side to any of this for this writer, it's that 40+ yr Georgia radio play-by-play man Larry Munson's first game to witness after retirement had to be this near-total emasculation by the Nick Saban coached Tide.

My God Almighty!

And Richt's "blackout" gimmick has only served to further burn the image of the no-nonsense strategy of Nick Saban on the national consciousness. If Saban had any tricks up his sleeve, he didn't play them Saturday night. With the exception of John Parker Wilson's laser accuracy, Alabama didn't do anything different than they did in smashing Clemson. Makes one wonder if Saban didn't sandbag Wilson. He never looked better.

In 1864, William Tecumseh Sherman marched through Georgia with his infamous scorched-earth campaign. Yet he left Atlanta with enough of a base to rebuild and didn't touch Savannah.

Nick Saban marched to Atlanta and dismantled #9 Clemson and with their loss to unranked Maryland Saturday, it's clear they haven't recovered. Tommy Bowden may finally be on his way out there. To make sure the job was done, Saban marched his Crimson troops back into enemy territory and under the cover of darkness (some call it blackout) sprung a surprise attack on Athens and left it in rubble.

And the devastation is complete. From Rome to Albany, there can now be no doubt. As the dust clears, it's obvious the state of Georgia is a college football smoking ruin.

But let's be clear about one thing. Last night was game five of a long regular season road. Nick Saban now faces the unenviable task of getting this extremely young team's feet back on the ground in time to face undefeated Kentucky in Tuscaloosa.

How tough can that be? Just ask Urban Meyer.

But for this day, the sun has a special warmth on this dog's ass.

ROLL CRIMSON TIDE ROLL!

(Update: In the intro to ESPN'S "Sports Reporters", Mitch (Ears) Albom said that "compared to the 700 billion dollar government bailout of Wall Street, the 32 million Alabama paid Nick Saban now looks like a bargain".

Humpfh.

Don't be fooled by these carpetbaggers, friends. They now love us only for our ratings and ad money. They'll be the first to shovel dirt on us when the rainy days inevitably come. The road from raving introductions to parting shots is traveled in a "New York minute". RTR!)

Listening To Eli..........

2008-09-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

As i flip between the Auburn - MSU game and Ohio State v. So. California, I'm listening to 'Bama drum Western Kentucky.

Since Kenny Stabler decided to take a year off of his broadcast duties to fight his latest DUI charge, Tom Roberts and a rotating sub have been doing the color. Last week Roger Schultz did OK.

This week they have Prince Wembley in the booth. He's awful. Wembley combined with Roberts are actually making Eli sound good.

Still, Eli's mis-calls an Alabama touchdown. Here's a tip Eli: if you're unsure of the play, wait for the official's signal.

In another blunder, he refers to freshman running back Mark Ingram during a running play as "Riddle", as in former Alabama running back Dennis Riddle.

(Update: Immediately after the Riddle mistake, Eli tryed to play it off on Wembley being in the booth, retro-ing back to Prince's playing days. Uh, Eli, By the time Dennis Riddle played, Wembley was long gone)

Then Eli's hawking products during the game. Tonite he runs through the menu at Wings. Roberts chimes in and asks about dessert!

OY!

To start the second half, Eli breathlessly proclaims that because 'Bama scored 31 points in the first half, all attendees to the game can present their ticket stubs at their nearest Advance Auto for a free gallon of windshield washer fluid. Long lines at the gas stations and the parts stores tomorrow!

Well, last week the football team took the night off. This week it's the broadcast team. While Barry Krauss is interviewing a long-winded Jerry Pate, the listeners miss two plays. Eli finally cuts in and when he goes back to Krauss and Pate later, they've taken a powder.

Somebody told me last week Alabama fans were "lucky" to have Eli Gold. That's going to require a little more explanation.

Oh, yeah. 'Bama wins big.

SEC Football Observations - 09/13/08

2008-09-13T14:32:00.000-07:00

The Undercard: Alabama - Birmingham v. Tennessee.

SEC snitch Phil Fulmer needs a quarterback and in a hurry. Because judging by the booing in Knoxville today, there's a huge target now painted on his ample backside.
If UAB had a bigger player on the field today than UT running back Arian Foster, I didn't see him. But in a rare inspiring effort by a Neil Callaway coached team, the Blazers scored a moral victory today in losing to the Vols 35 - 3.

Speaking of paint, those Blazer green streaks on those white UT helmets clashed with the pumpkin orange power T. Translation: UAB was doing some hittin' out there.

The Main Event: Georgia v. South Carolina.

Is it really Georgia Bulldog football if Larry Munson isn't calling the game?

If you don't like watching Steve Spurrier, you just don't like good college football coaching. The guy's a genius.

The first quarter is typically marred by horrible officiating. The on-the-field play clock is malfunctioning and the officials are calling penalties they're having to pick up. Twice in the first quarter they announce to the audience time is being kept on the field. Ticky tack calls. Thank God for the instant replay.

Richt's horses, Stafford and Moreno, need better blocking.

Spurrier's developing a QB in Chris Smelley.

Carolina, driving in for a score, fumbles into the endzone, Georgia recovers. Georgia's running backs likely the difference in the game. (The Dogs have them, the Cocks don't)

It's late in the fourth quarter, Smelley's ripping up the UGA defense. (Alabama fans must hope someone on their staff is watching USC's tight end rip the Dog defense)

Spurrier's getting too cute, subbing quarterbacks.

Spurrier got too cute. Subbed in freshman receiver and ran the pass play to him. He ran the wrong route on fourth down. Ball game.

Not so fast my friend! Georgia's three and out. Spurrier's got the ball back. (no timeouts)

USC drives down, Smelley throws into double coverage, intercepted. Dogs escape, 14 - 7.

The Afterbirth: Auburn v. Mississippi State.

After one quarter, it's a punting contest. Advantage: Sylvester Croom and the Dogs. Auburn needs to work out the new offense and score. State wants to muck it up and wait for an Auburn miscue.

The kickers are getting a workout in this one. Auburn receives a Dog (literally) punt on it's own 40, drives the short field, stalls, kicks a field goal. Auburn three - State zip.

Auburn misses a field goal right before the half, Croom sits on ball to go into the half down by three.

It's an ugly, defensive game that favors MSU. While Croom can't be happy with his quarterback's play, he has to feel good about his position at the moment.

Third quarter. MSU misses an important field goal that would have tied the game. Chip shot at that.

Brad Lester is hurt in what looks like a neck injury. Let's pray he's OK.

Auburn looked as if it was inspired by the injury to Lester, aided by a penalty, drives down to the MSU 2, then is stood up by the Dogs.

Auburn misses another field goal attempt. That is gonna come back and bite them.

It's the fourth quarter. State punts. Auburn gets the ball on it's own fourty something and thanks to a couple of holding calls again stalls and has to punt. LSU's coming to town soon. If Auburn doesn't figure out a way to score soon, that top ten ranking isn't the only thing they're gonna lose.

It's getting uglier for Auburn. backed up inside their own five yard line, Auburn offensive lineman Ryan Pugh tackles a State defender in their own endzone. Safety. It's now 3 - 2 Auburn and they have to kick to the Dogs from their own twenty.

Croom screws the pooch. Misses a fourth down and short.

Tuberville gets a sideline penalty.

Auburn fumbles. Dogs recover.

ESPN is now recounting past AU - MSU baseball scores.

Croom screws pooch AGAIN! Fourth and long in his own territory and goes for it. Of course they didn't get it. Auburn takes over in supreme field position.

Auburn fumbles AGAIN! State recovers. Review in process.

MSU ball. Then they promptly throw an interception. IT'S under review.

Auburn ball.

Auburn runs out the clock and in a comedy of errors, Auburn wins. But did they really? That number 9 ranking is in the toilet. And LSU's around the corner.

And it can't go unsaid Sylvester Croom's piss poor calls at the end of this game. One could make the argument Croom gave that game away.

Well Hello Dolly

2008-09-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

The 2008 version of Nick Saban's Alabama football program made a memorable first impression by clobbering the #9 ranked Clemson Tigers before a nationally televised audience at the Georgia Dome.

Before and during the contest Alabama was billed to be a "middle of the road" SEC team facing the cream of the Atlantic Coast Conference crop in Clemson.

From this perch, Alabama may be a bit better than a middle of the road SEC team. To say Nick Saban's vaunted #1 ranked recruiting class made a significant contribution to this eye-opening win would be the mother-of-all understatements.

Mark Ingram proved he's worthy of Johnny Musso's #22.

Terrence Cody pushed the interior of Clemson's offensive line all night.

Julio Jones started and looked more-than worthy of a starting spot.

The ACC as a conference looked bad Saturday. From Virginia being blown out at home by a USC team that has had significant injuries to this point and traveled across the country to play to the pre-season pick to win the conference having their heads handed to them by Alabama, it was not a good day to be in the ACC.

There are many voices shouting from the hinterlands today proclaiming Clemson's once again over-rated. As Lee Corso, sporting his Clemson Tiger head, would say, "Not so fast, my friend!"

This Clemson team reminded me of the Miami team that Alabama faced in the Sugar Bowl in 1992. (that is in NO WAY meant to make that old, tired comparison of this year's Alabama defense to that Bill Oliver coached championship defense of 1992) Clemson '08 and Miami '92 had Alabama's offense pound them with the running game. Clemson's defense had as little an idea of who Mark Ingram was as Miami '92's defense did Derrick Lassic. Both had a significant conversion leaving their respective domes.

I don't think there can be any question that Tommy Bowden choked on this game. His deer-in-the-headlights sideline look confirmed to me he tightened up with what I still believe to be a very talented football team. It was very similar to the Johnny Majors coached Tennessee teams that many years faced Alabama with superior squads but inexplicably walked away losers while 'Bama puffed the stogies. In the end Majors was knifed in the back by Phil Fulmer backers due to those choke jobs.

As Nick Saban said afterwards, this is just one game. When we're battling vastly superior competition on the road in conference play, this game will be long forgotten.

We'll now sneak up on no one with our vaunted freshmen.

Those same freshmen will make mistakes that will likely cost us games down the road.

But for today, John Mark Stallings sits at Bryant's right hand and he laughs, claps and queries the Bear on whether the Tulane game will be angel-per-view.

Tropical Tradition

2008-08-26T01:05:00.000-07:00

It's early morning Tuesday, (very early) the rain from the former hurricane Fay pours outside and I'm finally starting to get football fever.

Most seasons I've already worn out my collection of Alabama football CDs and tapes but this year not so much. I'm getting old and cynical.

But I was reading a blog on famous (and infamous) Alabama football openers and the 1985 Alabama-Georgia game is mentioned. This game is special to me.

In the summer of 1985 a pick-up basketball buddy of mine gave me two tickets to the game in Athens. My wife and I had been married about four years at the time and we didn't have two rocks to rub together financially. But that mattered not, we were going to the game!

My preparations were meticulous. Grill and cooler in the back seat of our maroon red '75 Caprice Classic as there was no room in the trunk. My worrisome mind fretted over the prospect of driving to Athens, Georgia on four bald tires so I cobbled together three bald spares in case of trouble. My weather eye kept close watch on the Gulf of Mexico as Hurricane Erin wandered back and fro along the Gulf Coast. There was scattered talk of canceling the game. E-gads!

Well, we made the trip without event. The hurricane held it's water. The game was a rather boring back and forth contest with Ray Perkin's Alabama squad finding itself trailing with a minute left to play. I thought we were going home losers.

Mike Shula, Greg Richardson and Al Bell had other ideas. A last minute desperation drive down the field culminated in an Al Bell touchdown reception in the end zone right in front of the wife and I. That big win in that road setting (I'll always remember that UGA scoreboard, 'This is Bulldog Terrortory!') burnt that game in my memory as one of the best games I've ever attended.

My youth was spent watching Alabama football in it's championship mode. I grew up thinking Alabama would win every game we played. It was the product of being a fan of a team coached by Paul William Bryant. Despite a bowl-less 1984 season, I was still mentally in that mode in 1985. Bryant's now been buried over 25 years. The Alabama football program that enjoyed the rarefied air of his tenure has suffered through some rough and tumble times. The losses, scandals and probation have tempered this old man's expectations, to say the least.

When asked about my game prognostication by a couple of friends at work yesterday they were shocked that I could not just fathom the prospect of an opening day loss but predict it. Fans of Alabama football have been through a lot in the last twenty five years. Last year's result only underscored the enormity of the task Nick Saban faces in rebuilding the program to the level of it's championship past.

None of that seemed to phase my friends yesterday. In them I saw my youthful optimism. The past doesn't matter. The superior opponent doesn't matter. The road trip to Georgia doesn't matter. The weather doesn't mat........

Wait. Game in Georgia. As I type this is sit in the rain of tropical storm Fay with tropical storm Gustav brewing in the Caribbean. Could that 1985 game, it's location and the weather circumstances that surrounded it be a favorable omen for the Tide's 2008 football fortunes? Certainly not! I'm too old for that kind of childish thinking!

But, just in case, if you know anyone with a 33 year old Chevy for sale.......

The Crimson Tide's #1 Fan, John Mark Stallings, Dies

2008-08-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

It is being reported by Pat Smith and Ryan Haney of WJOX Gameday and Cecil Hurt of the Tuscaloosa News this morning that the son of former Alabama head football coach Gene Stallings, John Mark Stallings, has passed away. He was 46. It is believed he died of complications due to Downs Syndrome.

John Mark became a beloved figure in the Alabama family during his father's tenure as head football coach with Alabama. Despite his condition he was a very high profile figure around the program and obviously a huge fan of Alabama football. Many fans remember the television footage of he and his mother, Ruth Stallings, excitedly watching as his father coached Alabama to it's first and only college football national championship against the Miami Hurricanes in 1993 since the retirement of Paul William Bryant.

John Mark far outlived the pronostications of his doctors throughout his life. In an interview on the Paul Finebaum Radio Network last year Coach Stallings was ask about his son by a caller and at that time Coach Stallings admitted John Mark was struggling with his condition like never before.

Rest in peace, John Mark. And ROLL TIDE!

JACKASS

2008-07-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

Today I called the Paul Finebaum Show. I've been listening and calling for over twenty years now. Today, as has been the case for the better part of twenty years, I made a fool of myself.

The topic that motivated my call today was the public perception of Nick Saban, head football coach at the University of Alabama. Keith Dunnavant was a guest on Paul's show and the topic was how he perceived Saban's now infamous quote while still head coach of the Miami Dolphins:

"I'm not going to take the Alabama job."

When Dunnavant was asked his thoughts on the statement he didn't give a positive response. He didn't feel like Saban came off looking very good after backing down on his word. He and Paul both feel, as do I, some of the media criticism he's received since was valid.

This provoked the typical homer response of an Alabama fan who called and immediately began repeating the boilerplate excuses and defenses of Saban that after a year and a half or so I'm, frankly, sick of hearing. When Nick Saban told the Miami media he wasn't going to take the Alabama job he made a serious mistake, whether he took the job or not. You never allow the media to nail you down like that. Nick Saban made enemies in the Miami sports press corp. When didn't keep his word it gave the media, Miami at first, then nationally, a club to beat him over the head with. And without fail, they haven't missed an opportunity.

The point I did a piss-poor job of trying to make is that after 1 1/2 years, Alabama fans need to quit worrying about what outsiders think of Saban. As long as the Alabama family are happy with what Saban's doing, we should give a whit what anyone else thinks, media or otherwise. Since Saban's hiring, it certainly hasn't been a smooth road. I myself haven't agreed with every decision Nick Saban's made with my Alabama Crimson Tide. But had Saban made the correct decision in every move he made with this team, on the field or off, it wouldn't have made one bit of difference to the Colin Cowherd's and Dan LeBatard's of the world.

They'd still be ripping him to shreds at every opportunity.

As a matter of fact, I'd RATHER have a coach that's doing what he was hired to do and is hated by our opponents and the media than to have a coach who's clueless on how to run a bigtime college football program but is given glowing reviews because of his last name.

Call me the anti-Sally Fields.

"You hate me! You REALLY hate me!!!!!

EARTHQUAKE

2008-07-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

They just experienced a 5.4 earthquake in Southern California. No damage. Lots of small aftershocks. Reports of pictures off walls and shaken nerves but not much else.
The epicenter is being reported as Chino Hills, just south of Pomona. This is really just an amusement park ride for these guys.

Let's pray that this is the worst of this episode.

Being from the Birmingham, AL area I've experienced two minor temblors here. The first was around '72 or '73. I was up late watching Carson (in those days the Tonight Show was thought of as very risque in these parts and the Birmingham NBC affliate delayed it until 11:30 to make sure all the Baptists were in bed) and around 11:20 pm the pictures and dishes started rattling. Lasted about 15 seconds. Can't remember when the second one was but do remember riding to work, listening to the radio coverage of it. Both were around 3 on the Richter. I've been told there's a small fault line somewhere north of B'ham.

Was also in another while working in New Hampshire. Laid up in a motel in Gorham around 8:00 one night and the bed started shaking. (Stop it!) This was in November of 1988. It was a small shaker epicentered in Montreal, Canada. I told everyone it was a quake and they all laughed until they saw the news the next morning.

There are several places around the world famous (or infamous?) for quakes but they really happen in a lot of places not known for earthquakes.

NASCAR In Decline

2008-07-27T15:16:00.000-07:00

I sit here listening to the post-race excuses. All the drivers and all the crew chiefs and all the owners are in line.

This was the best we could do.

Well, I'm sorry. This is INDIANAPOLIS YOU GOMERS! That bullshit doesn't feed the bulldog. NASCAR owes every fan who showed up for that bullshit today a refund. And not just the ticket price either. Fans spend big money to get there. They spend big money to get in. Save the excuses about the COT. The track. The tires.

Message to Robin Pemberton: This is YOUR stupid car. You KNEW something was wrong. If one of the teams screwed up this bad, you'd fine them into oblivion. YOU shipped in tires from Pocono anticipating problems.

Keep it up, big boy. Lots of the old line NASCAR fans have already seen enough.

Save the excuses. How about an apology?

War, Children, It's Just A Shot (or a centrifuge) Away

2008-07-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

With the today's announcement by Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran now has in it's possession twice the number of centrifuges needed to enrich weapons-grade nuclear material, can it be made any clearer we are headed towards world war?

Israel cannot allow Iran, it's sworn enemy, to go nuclear. One nuclear-tipped missile would devastate Israel. Iran's president has not been bashful about his intention to "wipe Israel off the map", a point that has been symbolically underscored with Israel's latest "exchange" with Hizbollah, a Lebanese terror organization supported by Iran. The exchange of live terrorists for the dead bodies of Israeli soldiers sends a clear message. It has also likely ensured the re-emergence of the no-nonsense Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli president. Ben has seen this movie before. He won't repeat the mistakes of Olhmert. He will be pro-active.

The United States stake in this is also huge. A nuclear strike against Israel will likely be accompanied by a strike against the U S in Iraq also.

Due to our dependence on oil imports, prices here and worldwide will skyrocket due to shipping disruption and market instability. Don't believe for two seconds Ahmadinejad doesn't know this. He wants Israel to attack. The ensuing fallout will turn the world on Israel and any ally they might have.

Ahmadinejad's back is against the wall. His oil reserves are dwindling. He faces civil unrest from within and is bordered on two fronts by United States forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nuclear weapons are his last ace-in-the-hole. His actions of late show he won't hesitate to play it.

God help us.

(Update 07/27/08) House Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. was interviewed on Fox and Friends Weekend this morning and was spouting that unbelievably irresponsible line about tapping the Strategic Oil Reserve to lower prices at the pump.

What idiots. With the current events in the Middle East, how can one be this stupid? This reserve was created to address just the kind of crisis that's staring us in the face. By presenting this "plan" Congressional Democrats admit our current petroleum situation is a supply-and-demand issue. Yet they'll throw anything against the wall to deflect attention from what really needs to be done, drill. Drill here. Drill now. Drill everywhere there's oil. Just talking about it's forced the Saudi's to pump more and prices are down.

Yeah. Let's blow our rainy day fund for a little temporary relief.

Again, God help us.

But Radar Is Also Picking Up A Squadron Of Russian ICBM's, So I Wouldn't Sweat The Thunderstorms!

2008-07-26T05:45:00.000-07:00

I love that old line from George Carlin's standup routine. May he RIP.

Alabama v. Clemson

Tommy Bowden v. Nick Saban

August 30th, 2008. 7 pm

Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA

Considering the events at the Dome the last time an Alabama team played there I'd be extremely up-to-date as to the weather conditions BEFORE I entered that arena.

As we all know now, keeping CUSTOMERS abreast of impending severe weather isn't very high on the priority list at that facility.

Good night and good luck!

What Have you Done To Deserve A Raise?

2008-07-24T20:40:00.000-07:00

The national minimum wage today went up 70 cents per hour to $6.55 per hour.

(1.) Who makes minimum wage any more??

(2.) The next time you're looking at the "food" they just shoved through the drive-thru window at you and you're wondering how come it can't remotely look like the food on the menu you ordered from, ask yourself: does the tattooed, multiple pierced individual that just threw that slop together deserve a raise???

And please save me the line about how people are struggling to live on minimum wage money. Minimum wage positions are ENTRY LEVEL positions. If you've been working in an entry level job for over a year without a raise based on merit or leaving for a better paying job OR getting a second job to supplement your income, you deserve exactly what you're getting.

Government has NO business telling business what they must pay an individual to work at ANY level.

There's No Place Like Home

2008-07-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

So said Dorothy while clicking the heels of her magic red slippers before exiting Oz and going home to Kansas.

No one knows if Antoine Pettway was wearing the red shoes he became famous for wearing during his playing days at Alabama when interviewing for the assistant coaching position he now holds. And this certainly ain't Kansas, (Oz, basketball or otherwise) but it is home.

Coach Pettway was a fan favorite during his playing days. He wasn't highly recruited. Son of a high school coach, he came to 'Bama on an academic scholarship. His hustle, grit and intelligence earned him a full basketball scholarship later. That's one of the few decisions Mark Gottfried's made as head coach at Alabama that's actually paid off. In 2002 Pettway scored a last second layup to beat Florida and secure the regular season championship for Alabama at home. It was as wild a scene as I've ever witnessed in Coleman Coliseum for Alabama basketball. In the '04 NCAA tournament Pettway hit a running jumper to beat Southern Illinois as time expired and sent 'Bama on that magical Elite Eight run.

Since Antoine's graduation times have been tough for 'Bama basketball. Alabama made the NCAA tournament in '05 but was bounced out in an ugly fashion by Wisconsin-Milwaukee coached by Bruce Pearl. (Pearl parlayed that into the head coaching position at Tennessee and is now the refreshment chairman of the Mark Gottfried fan club......really!) In '06 'Bama again made the Big Dance and lost in the second round to eventual Final Four UCLA. Mr. All-Everything Ron Steele missed a last second jumper that would have catapulted Alabama to the Sweet Sixteen. But Gottfried rode his stallion Steele like a rented mule during the '05-'06 season (Steele averaged 40.3 mpg in '05-'06) and that fact reared it's ugly head pre-season '06-'07. Gottfried came under intense scrutiny for his handling of Steele and without a healthy Ron Steele the wheels came off. 'Bama has failed to make the NCAA tournament for the past two years and fan apathy is at David Hobbs levels. (who Mark was hired to replace)

Gottfried has hired Pettway to hopefully bring back the magic touch of his playing days. He's been hired to replace Kobe Baker who's dealing with an ailing family member. Baker was hired to replace Tom Asbury who also had to leave to deal with an ailing family member. Athletic director Mal Moore had to leave Alabama head football coach Gene Stallings' staff to deal with an ailing family member years before. He was later "re-assigned" as athletic director. It is thought Baker will also be similarly "re-assigned".

We're also being told Pettway won the job over numerous other candidates, some being former head basketball coaches. Of course, they're unnamed. He supposedly consulted with the "likes" of none other than Roy Williams.

The inference being Roy Williams recommended Pettway for the job. Sorry, folks. I love Antoine as much as the next Alabama basketball fan but I'm not buying any of this for two seconds. (likely the same amount of time Roy Williams has spent thinking on Mark Gottfried) Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News, who "broke" this story, has been in the tank for Mark Gottfried for some time. The Alabama head basketball coach likes having his name mentioned with the elite college coaches and Scarbinsky is all too eager to comply.

The sad truth is Antoine Pettway is a desperation hire by Mark Gottfried. Mal has made it plain to anyone listening this is a make-or-break season for Gottfried. Basketball at Alabama is about money and if you ain't makin' the Dance you ain't making money. Plus, attendance is down. If anyone else was consulted it's likely they know Gottfried's the captain of a sinking ship. Richard Hendrix is gone. Ron Steele's damaged goods or he'd be gone too. That leaves Mark with a very young team in need of bench coaching, something Mark's proven he's not very good at.

The hiring of Pettway is a very calculated move by Gottfried designed to hit several birds with one stone.

(1.) Gottfried knows Pettway is a fan favorite and hopes to re-energize apathetic fans.

(2.) Re-energized fans might come back to his games this season.

(3.) Firing Gottfried will mean firing Pettway. Don't think this isn't part of the thought process. If he doesn't make the tournament this season there will be serious pressure to can him. But no one will want to cut loose Pettway.

(4.) He fills a position with a young, inexperienced coach who played for him. Pettway likely won't challenge Mark. He desperately wants to keep this job but he also desperately wants to prove his critics wrong and show the world he CAN coach with the big boys.

(5.) And who knows? Maybe Antoine Pettway IS Mark Gottfried's lucky charm.

Secret Secret

2008-07-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Disgraced and disbarred former NBA ref Tim Donaghy has a secret. Question is, how long will he keep it?

Donaghy has admitted to betting on NBA games and feeding information about those games to gamblers. Yes, Donaghy likes to talk. A lot. Fox News recently reported that in the time period Donaghy confessed to betting on and passing info on NBA games (Oct '06 thru April '07) he also called colleague Scott Foster 134 times. One must hope Donaghy listened to Barkley and had Foster in his T-Mobile myFave plan.

NBA Comissioner David Stern calls Donaghy a "rogue, isolated criminal". Of course, he has to call him that.

Mr. Stern has had a lot on his plate since the retirement of Micheal Jordan. The superstar standard-bearer left huge shoes to fill. Who to do that?

Allen Iverson? With his thuggish off-court activities and gunplay he certainly wasn't the answer.

Shaquille O'Neal? There was certainly a lot of effort put into grooming him to replace MJ but something was missing.

Kobe Bryant? One fateful late night episode with a SWC (stupid white chick) took care of Kobe.

So with the thug culture infesting the "Association" along with the void left by Jordan, Stern's been a busy man. Now this. This is Stern's greatest challenge. The perception that the league's officials are on the take would destroy the NBA's credibility. All of David Stern's hard work since the retirement of Micheal Jordan gone.

And don't believe for one second that Tim Donaghy and his lawyers don't know that. Stern started out demanding 1.4 million dollars in restitution. They're now down to under $500,000. In the end I'll be surprised if he pays anything or does any hard time.

Because Tim Donaghy's got a secret. 134 (or more) of them.

"The Minute I Laid Eyes On You I Knew You Were No Good"

2008-06-25T15:39:00.001-07:00

Cecil Hurt: Trouble Was Always Brewing For Jimmy Johns.

Kevin Scarbinsky: "A lot of us (define 'us', Kevin. Names?) have heard whispers during the past academic year that Johns might be involved in off-field activities beyond missing class or showing up late for team meetings......."

Ian Fitzsimmons and Lance Taylor of WJOX knew.

The minute they laid eyes on..............

College Football Police Blotter: Jimmy Johns

2008-06-25T04:54:00.000-07:00

Popular Alabama football player Jimmy Johns has been arrested for 5 counts of selling cocaine to undercover agents of the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force.

For the fans of Alabama football, the hits just keep on coming. Five times. In a search of his apartment by officers, cocaine and marijuana were also found. This incident follows what is a now becoming long line of infractions by football players that have occurred since the hiring of Nick Saban. What separates this incident from the others is that the Johns arrest comes after team meetings with Saban where he supposedly expressed his dissatisfaction with the high profile incidents. Psychologists were hired. Player peer groups were formed. It was rumored that after the Rashad Johnson incident, Saban met with the Tuscaloosa Chief of Police. To no apparent avail for Mr. Johns.

Predictably, the Internet blogs and talk shows are blazing. (In the interest of truth in advertising, as your humble correspondent types, he's listening to a radio show emanating from Birmingham, AL) Questions are flying about like muslim scarves at an Obama rally.

What did Nick Saban know and when did he know it?

Was his staff aware at any level?

What's worse: You knew and did nothing or you didn't know?

Mr. Johns was apparently selling to students. Were members of the football team among those students?

Were members of the team aware of Mr. Johns' activities? The police are going out of their way to make it known Johns' teammates WERE UNAWARE of his activities. Why?

Regardless, Mr. Johns had history. While certainly the latest situation is the most egregious, this isn't a first time incident for him. If not before, it's certainly plain now Jimmy Johns did not belong on the University of Alabama campus for any reason.

And had he had to meet the same entrance requirements of a regular student, we'd have known that right off the bat.

The GOP: Gas and Oil Party!

2008-06-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

"After eight years, President Bush and Dick Cheney have turned the GOP into the Gas and Oil Party. That's the legacy that they are going to leave."

Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey responding to President Bush's call to Congress to lift federal restrictions on domestic oil exploration and drilling.

Ironic. If you listen to the pundits, John McCain is stumbling over himself in an effort to distance himself from the President. Yet here, as was the case a few weeks ago when Mr. Bush created a liberal furor comparing today's terror apologists to those who coddled Nazis before WWII, the President has handed the "presumptive" Republican nominee another clear issue to separate himself from his opponent and a political club to beat him over the head with.

The War on Islamic radicals and access to oil are the defining issues of this election and certainly of our time. Energy independence from those who would do us harm is critical to the American way of life. Solar, wind, nuclear and other alternative energy sources are important rungs of the ladder we must climb as a nation to get out of the energy fix we've gotten ourselves in. But we can't do this without oil. Domestic oil. OUR OIL.

Like four dollar a gallon gas?? Let Iran continue to provoke unrest in the Middle East to the point of war. You'll be pining for 5 dollar a gallon gas! In the event Israel makes a defensive strike on Iranian nuclear sites, gas will skyrocket 4 dollars a gallon overnight! Never doubt it.

The only question is when will John McCain quit wasting time prattling on about climate change, stand strong and fight for our way of life. We have to utilize our resources. We have to drill. We have to secure a reliable source of petroleum while we refine alternatives. Democrats stand in the way.

Political idiots such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, B. Hussein Obama and the aforementioned Rep. Markey demagogue the oil companies and flat out lie to public about the impact of domestic oil production to our market and economy. They propose to sue foreign entities who they have no jurisdiction over and sit on reserves at home.

Doubt the impact of our resources on the world market?? Just talk among conservative voices in Washington and across the nation in the past couple of weeks have spooked the Saudis into pumping 500,000 more barrels A DAY over current production. Remember that the President was just there recently begging for more oil and they couldn't seem to find an extra drop. They're listening. They know. They're scared. They're scared somebody here might get a clue.

So they call us the Gas and Oil Party? No problem here. When and where does this party start, John McCain??

Party hardy!