I Hate Sports

O's Sssssssssssssssssssuck

2010-04-12T09:32:00.003-04:00

I know I've been lazy about updating the blog. It's been about 5 months since I posted anything, but I can assure you, there are good reasons for this. First, I've been trying to figure out what exactly I want this blog to be about. I started it initially because I got laid off from my old job and needed something to do to keep myself from going insane. At first, I just wrote about sports, mainly hockey because the Caps were in the playoffs and I was going nuts over the fact that they almost lost in the 1st round to the Rangers. Then, I started linking to stories I covered and interviews I conducted for my new employer. But after awhile that got boring, and linking to stuff I've written at work isn't why I created the blog in the first place. So that, coupled with the fact that no one reads this anyway, is the reason I stopped blogging.

UNTIL NOW

I guess I owe my newfound comittment to blogging to your 2010 Baltimore Orioles. Since the Caps and Terps have been awesome this year, I haven't had much to bitch about. Sure, the Wizards are awful and the Skins were a joke in 2009, but the Caps and Terps made me forget about those two. Now, even though the Caps are in the playoffs, and are favored to make a run to the Cup (I'm skeptical.....cough.....Poti......cough), they don't play every day.

Enter the O's

I should probably make this post retroactive to Opening Day, which was 6 days ago. Since then, the O's have managed to go 1-5, losing two out of three against the Rays to start the season, then getting SWEPT at home against the Jays. Real impressive. Even better is the fact that new "closer" Mike Gonzalez blew two of his first three save opportunities, and would've been 0-3 if Ben Zobrist reached base in Game 3. A guy I follow on Twitter made a good point yesterday. You could actually blame yesterday's loss to Toronto on Gonzalez, too. Even though starter Kevin Millwood gave up two homers in the 8th inning to blow the lead, you could argue that if Manager Dave Trembley had any confidence in his bullpen, he would've taken Millwood out in the 8th. Maybe then he doesn't tire and give up two dongs. Maybe then the O's don't blow the lead and get swept in their first home series of the season. Maybe then I don't pissed off enough to start blogging again. Maybe......

Anyway, there are two points here: The first is that once again, surprise surprise, the O's suck. They've sucked since I was 16, and they will continue to suck until I'm 60. The second point is that I've finally found meaning in this blog. I chose the title, "I Hate Sports" because I find myself saying that constantly, whenever one of my teams loses a tough game. And now - lightbulb - I have decided to devote this blog to documenting any and all future moments that make me say those three words. Enjoy.

Joe Theismann Talks Skins With Me

2009-11-09T20:54:00.003-05:00

First off, yes, I realize that Joe Theismann is not in the pro football Hall Of Fame. But, he is in the college football HOF, so technically, that does make him a Hall of Famer. You can put it on the board kid, yes!

Next, Joe Theismann may be the coolest motherf*cker on the planet. I have decided that I will eat at his restaurant at least once a month from now on. Watch the interview to see for yourself.

Listen to me debate Air America's Jack Rice

2009-10-23T16:53:00.004-04:00

Jack is a phenomenal guy, extremely nice, very very smart, but on this issue, dead wrong! Click the headline to listen and keep in mind that this is only an excerpt of our conversation. I wish the AA guys posted the entire clip, but what can you do.

NBC's Washington Affiliate Picks Up My Arlen Specter Video

2009-10-23T14:25:00.003-04:00

Click the headline to check out NBC Washington's write-up of my video which captured members of the Yes Men chasing Sen. Arlen Specter around near the Capitol building.

Watch my interview with Wizards Coach Flip Saunders

2009-10-21T14:02:00.005-04:00

Like Derrick Dockery yesterday, Flip played things pretty close to the vest.

On Gilbert, he said he thinks Gil looks strong and has made good progress since coming off a third surgery on his right knee.

On who the starting two-guard will be, he said he doesn't know yet, but added that Nick Young could become a starter this year. I personally think he's gonna go with Mike Miller.

On whether or not the team can win a title this year, he said maybe if they get lucky. Translated: if LeBron, Shaq, Superman, D-Wade, and KG all die in a freak water polo accident, then YES!

On defense, he said that if guys want to play, they'll have to play defense. In my opinion, I don't think he's got the balls to bench Gilbert or AJ if they don't play D. Hopefully I'm wrong. For what it's worth, before I interviewed him, he told everyone in the room that the team is doing a better job this season of limiting opponents' field goal percentages.

Someone asked Flip about JaVele's post moves, to which he replied that he's working with him on developing a jump-hook. Makes sense considering McGee is 9'8''.

Anyway, click on the headline to watch the video if you want to hear more of what the new coach had to say. Tomorrow, I'll be interviewing Dan Snyder about why he is such a douchebag.

Kidding.

Or am I?.............

The H-man makes the Huffington Post

2009-10-20T20:28:00.003-04:00

I mean, it isn't Drudge, but you gotta start somewhere.
Even if "somewhere" is a website dedicated to liberals giving each other hand relief

Derrick Dockery Says The Season Is Not Over For The Skins And Says Players Aren't Worried About Play-Calling Shakeup

2009-10-20T13:06:00.004-04:00

Click the headline to watch my interview with Washington Redskins starting offensive guard Derrick Dockery. As a lifelong Skins fan, I'm going to say that either Dockery is extremely media-savvy, or he is 100% delusional. Playoffs? PLAYOFFS? Don't talk about PLAYOFFS!

The only thing I regret not asking Derrick is whether or not he regrets re-signing with the Skins. I mean, he makes a ton of money, but by signing with DC in the middle of his prime, he has virtually destroyed any chance he'll ever have to start for a Super Bowl winner.

Anyway, enjoy!

WZFG's Rob Port and I Interview Tom Tancredo

2009-09-16T13:26:00.004-04:00

Click on the headline above to listen to WZFG's Rob Port and I interview former Congressman Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) during Day 2 of the 2009 "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio row in Washington, DC.

Interview with Rep. Pete Hoekstra

2009-09-16T10:24:00.004-04:00

Click on the headline above to listen to my interview with Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Mich.) during Day 2 of the "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio row in Washington, DC.

WVLY's Howard Monroe and I Interview Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.)

2009-09-16T10:01:00.004-04:00

Click on the headline above to listen to WVLY's Howard Monroe and I interview Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) during Day 2 of the "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio row in Washington, DC.

WHON's Dan Mills and I interview Brigitte Gabriel at the 2009 "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" Rally

2009-09-15T20:02:00.005-04:00

Click the headline above to listen to WHON's Dan Mills and I interview global terrorism analyst and expert on all things radical Islam Brigitte Gabriel live from Day 1 of the 2009 "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio row in Washington, DC.

Interview With Rep. Lamar Smith

2009-09-15T19:43:00.002-04:00

Click on the headline above to listen to me interview Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) during Day 1 of the 2009 "Hold Their Feet to the Fire" radio row in Washington, DC.

In Mexico, Obama Addresses Critics, Critical Issues

2009-08-10T15:46:00.000-04:00

In a news conference Monday in Guadalajara, President Barack Obama issued a direct response to those who have criticized him for not doing enough to ensure that ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya is allowed to return to power.

“The same critics who say the U.S. has not intervened enough in Honduras are the same people who say that we’re always intervening and Yankees need to get out of Latin America….you can’t have it both ways.”

Aside from that, Obama’s remarks, which addressed a range of issues, both domestically and internationally, from healthcare, to immigration to Mexico’s security, were fairly nonconfrontational.

Joined by President Felipe Calderon of Mexico and Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada, Obama shared his view that North America is becoming defined less by its borders and more by its bonds, and vowed to support expanded trade between the neighboring nations in lieu of a more protectionist policy.

On immigration, Obama insisted that his administration is exploring ways of enhancing the nation’s border security as well as creating pathways to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants already inside the U.S. He divulged that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is currently spearheading discussions with members of Congress in an attempt to make reforming the nation’s immigration policy a top priority in 2010.

“We have a broken immigration system, nobody denies it,” said Obama. He argued that reform is badly needed in the U.S. in order to protect immigrant workers from being exploited, and to subside political tensions with Mexico.

“American people want fairness,” Obama added. He later admitted that immigration will most likely have to take a backseat to healthcare, energy and financial regulatory reform. Obama described his domestic agenda as a “pretty big stack of bills.”

On healthcare, Obama called the current debate between supporters and opponents of reform a “healthy thing.” Although recent reports have placed the number of uninsured Americans at roughly 45 million, Obama estimated the number to be around 46 to 47 million.

When asked by a Canadian journalist to address comparisons between his plan and the system currently used by his neighbors to the north, Obama replied that “the Canadian model works for Canada, it would not work for the United States…we’ve got to develop a uniquely American approach to this problem.”

Obama further disqualified the notion that his healthcare plan is modeled after Canada’s publicly financed system.

“I suspect that you Canadians will continue to get dragged in [to the debate] by those who oppose reform even though I’ve said nothing about Canadian healthcare reform.” Obama joked that “I don’t find Canadians particulary scary, but I guess some of the opponents of reform think they make a good boogie man. I think that’s a mistake.”

Later, Obama praised the Mexican government for its efforts combatting violence caused by drug cartels, and promised continued support from the U.S. in aiding the fight.

“I have great confidence in President Calderon’s administration applying the law enforcement techniques that are necessary to curb the power of the cartels, but doing so in a way that’s consistent with human rights,” said Obama. He added that the U.S. must lower its demand for illegal drugs which are entering the country through its border with Mexico.

Sotomayor Confirmed, Senate Democrats Rejoice

2009-08-06T21:39:00.001-04:00

By a vote of 68-31, the Senate voted Thursday to confirm Sonia Sotomayor. She becomes the nation’s 111th Supreme Court Justice as well as the first Hispanic-American to serve on the court.

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.), who has dealt with myriad of health issues lately, was the only member of the Senate not to vote.

“This is a remarkable thing for our country,” said Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). “This is the American dream, it’s a dream we all spoke about when we campaigned and today we made it real.”

After nearly 18 hours of debate this week, 9 Republicans joined 59 Democrats in voting “aye,” a gesture that did not go unacknowledged by their colleagues across the aisle.

Said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY.), “we salute our 9 GOP colleagues.” He added that despite facing pressure, “they had the courage to say ‘yes.’”

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said that the “Republican members of the [Judiciary] committee handled themselves with dignity.”

All 31 votes opposing Sotomayor’s confirmation were cast by Republicans. Leahy attributed such opposition to the fact that her nomination came from a Democratic President.

“Even if Obama had nominated Moses, there would’ve been votes against.”

Democrats made the most of their opportunity to speak on such an historic day.

“This is truly a great day for the U.S. Supreme Court…a great day for law…and a great day for any young woman who says ‘yes I can!’” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid bragged that his party “made history by confirming someone as qualified as [Sotomayor].”

Schumer pledged his belief that Sotomayor is a leader who will “lead our country back to the mainstream.”

Sotomayor will be sworn into the Supreme Court on Saturday, August 8 at 11 a.m. The court reconvenes for its next session on October 5th.

Town Hall Healthcare Protests Are “Amusing”

2009-08-06T14:08:00.000-04:00

Special interest groups, conservative talk radio and big businesses are to credit for recent uprisings that have occurred at town hall meetings across the country, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) on Thursday.

“I want fair and balanced information being shared at these meetings,” said Brown, who claimed that he was amused by the protests.

During the past week, members of both the House and Senate, from Steve Dreihaus (D-Ohio) to Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), have been confronted by inquisitive constituents who have been able to turn the forums into chant-filled debates. Democrats in Congress have responded by labeling them as mobsters.

Brown argued that town hall participants who have disputatiously engaged their elected officials are victims of a misinformation campaign led by anti-Democratic groups. Brown claimed that the campaign has extended from opposing healthcare reform to questioning President Obama’s citizenship.

“Special interests are trying to shape this bill….trying to decimate the public option…it’s not just drug and insurance companies, but they’re a big part of the resistance.”

Brown said he’s not surprised by the opposition, described by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week as an “astroturf” movement, disingenuously created by organizations such as Freedom Works, which is led by former GOP Congressman Dick Armey.

“They always have their way with Republicans,” joked Brown.

Brown also addressed concerns from liberals that the Senate may pass a healthcare bill without a public option, an item President Obama has demanded be included in reform. The Senate Committee on Finance, led by Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is considering stripping the public option from the bill in an attempt to appease Republicans and moderate Democrats.

Brown divulged that he has spoken to Baucus numerous times of late, but said he isn’t pleased with how negotiations are going in that committee.

The Senator said that he’d be “very disappointed” in voting for a bill that doesn’t include a public option, but stopped short of calling it a make-or-break deal.

“I’m unwilling to say that if the public option isn’t it in, I’ll vote against it.”

Brown also questioned why President Obama hasn’t vocalized more support for a single payer insurance system, which critics argue a public option will create.

Lower Costs, Republican Support Key To Passing Healthcare Reform

2009-08-03T15:15:00.000-04:00

Tasked with finding bipartisan support for healthcare reform, the Senate will use this week, as well as its month-long recess, to explore ways to lower the price tag on the current legislation, said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY.) during a conference call with reporters Monday.

“Many are asking, ‘how are you gonna pay for it?’ The number one way we’re gonna pay for it is by cutting costs,” said Schumer, a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

Schumer disclosed that his committee, led by Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), wants the bill to include provisions such as care bundling and value-based purchasing, items he believes will lower the bill’s cost to under $900 billion and will ensure that the system it creates will not be based on a ‘fee for service’ model.

“We’re gonna make sure that doctors and hospitals are awarded based on [patient] outcomes,” pledged Schumer.

Baucus, said Schumer, has told the committee that he wants a bipartisan compromise on the legislation reached by no later then September 15th, a timeline that Schumer called “more than fair.”

“Six weeks should be enough to sort things out,” said Schumer, who added that the Senate’s goal is to “have the bill passed and signed by the President by the end of the year.”

However, Schumer and his Democratic colleagues will face fierce opposition to reform efforts in the coming weeks from Republicans who argue that a government-run healthcare system will ration care to patients and ultimately, will lead to a system of ‘socialized’ medicine. In addition, certain conservative Democrats are worried that the high cost of reform will lead to tax increases on most Americans, a concern that certainly was not put to rest over the weekend when Larry Summers, the Chairman of President Obama’s National Economic Council, told a cable news program that “It’s never a good idea to absolutely…rule things out no matter what.”

To that end, Schumer explained that Democrats in the Senate are working on contingency plans to move the legislation forward in the event that a bipartisan consensus can’t be reached. However, Schumer declined to reveal specifics on what such plans would involve, saying only that “no matter what happens, we’re gonna enact healthcare reform by the end of the year.”

Schumer explained that the bill’s public option provision, a key item in President Obama’s reform wish-list, could be scrapped in the quest for bipartisanship.

“I believe very strongly in the public option, I’m gonna fight for it…..but no one’s drawing any lines in the sand yet,” said Schumer.

The Senator was also asked to address concerns that Congress’s failure to plan accordingly for it’s “Cash For Clunkers” program, which will require a Senate vote to supply $2 billion in additional funds after the program ran out of money, meant that it wouldn’t be able to handle healthcare reform effectively.

Replied Schumer, “there were some computer problems….those problems will be straightened out,” adding that the car rebate program and healthcare reform are “apples and oranges.”

“Healthcare [reform] is totally different,” said Schumer. “Yes, it’s hard to do, we know that…but the two are not analogous at all.”

GOP “Distorting” Truth About Health Care Reform

2009-07-31T15:05:00.000-04:00

Republican criticisms of democratically-backed health care legislation are “distortions” designed to scare the American public into opposing reform, said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) during a conference call with reporters on Friday.

Van Hollen sought to paint partisan attacks against the plan as being futile, arguing that that the “campaign of distortion during the medicare debate years ago didn’t work then, and it won’t work now.”

Van Hollen’s remarks illustrated how he and other Democrats have found a new buzz word with which to strike back at their detractors.

On the question of whether or not reform would mean granting health insurance to illegal aliens, Van Hollen replied, “The notion that the House bill allows illegals to get insurance is a distortion.”

As for concerns that the legislation would hurt small businesses, Van Hollen stayed the course; “The myth that somehow all small businesses will be heavily taxed is a distortion.”

Finally, Van Hollen addressed bi-partisan worries that the bill would create a mandate for taxpayer funded abortions, saying, “Republicans have tried to distort that issue, but that has been addressed.”

House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) echoed Van Hollen’s assertions, accusing Republicans of “inundating Americans with lies and distortions.”

“We’ve seen this all before,” Miller said. “Republicans are scaring people into thinking that the government is going to take over their health care.”

The Play Has Been Called, But Is Washington Botching The Snap?

2009-07-30T12:29:00.002-04:00

I am one of the millions of fortunate Americans who receive health insurance through their jobs. I understand, however, that for every Geoff Holtzman, there’s a man or a woman out there who would like to be covered, but isn’t. I also understand that even some folks who ARE employed don’t have insurance because it’s too expensive for their employer to provide and it’s too expensive for them to buy on their own. In fact, I used to be one of these people back when I was working two part-time jobs, before I landed my first real full-time gig. We as a nation have a huge problem on our hands, I get it. This is why, even though I align myself with most conservatives, I feel it is important for Washington to do something about reforming the system. Maybe not today, maybe not even by the end of the week. But, ideally by the end of 2009, so this issue doesn’t die in an election year.
I applaud President Obama for taking initiative on this issue. For God’s sake, our country has needed health reform since the 60’s. However, I think he’s been hurting reform efforts more than helping them of late. And as a result, his approval ratings, both on the way he’s handled health care reform and as a whole, have slipped recently. In my opinion, Obama started off with the right approach. He told Congress he wanted legislation (albeit by the August recess, but whatever), he laid out a few items he wanted included on the table, and then he basically let Congress go to work. I think most Americans appreciated this approach as opposed to the way the Clintons tried to shove Billarycare down Congress’s throat. But, to paraphrase the administration that came before Obama, he hasn’t stayed the course.
Lately, he’s been touring the country, campaigning for reform like it’s 2008 all over again. Mr. President, please, we get it. We get the fact that you really really really want health care legislation passed. We understand what it will do for you, both in 2012 and for your legacy. But you’re smothering us. Listen, this thing has a good chance of passing by the end of the year, regardless of whether conservatives rail against it or Blue Dogs take time to address fiscal concerns. You need to stop stumping. Trust me, every time you go out and try to “sell” this plan to the public, they see it as exactly that, a sales pitch! What you ought to do is take your foot off the gas and let your operatives take care of winning hearts and minds in Congress. Rahm Emanuel’s closed door meeting with members of the Blue Dog coalition in Nancy Pelosi’s office that produced a subsequent compromise should tell you something.
(Deep breath)
Now, are there components of the legislation that bother me? Of course. I am wary of a public option. I don’t believe that it will make the health insurance industry more competitive. On paper, it makes sense. But its application will eventually bankrupt the private system, which will in turn do two things. First, it will cause enormous job loss. Secondly, it will create a single payer system. I can’t support a plan that does either of these things.
Do I support a co-op? Not necessarily, and for two reasons. First, the state of Massachusetts tried doing this in 2002. At first, it worked to bring more people into the system. However, eventually it led to massive costs and placed a huge financial burden on the state. (On a related side note, the beauty of the Massachusetts health care debacle is that you can blame both Democrats in the state legislature as well as Republican Governor Mitt Romney for being behind it.) Next, Blue Cross, one of the biggest health insurance mega corps in the country began as a co-op. What does that tell you? It tells me that at some point, a non-profit health insurance company is going to want/need to privatize, grow, and make some dough.
The only solution I’ve heard that makes sense to me so far is for Congress to get serious about tort reform. Why? Because the fewer number of medical lawsuits there are, the less doctors and physicians will charge their patients and/or order unnecessary tests, procedures and prescriptions in an attempt to protect themselves. Now, I am not a legal expert (can you tell?) nor do I pretend to be one, so I’m not going to elaborate on tort reform. But, that’s the purpose of op-eds, right? To get you all thinking…….
So, the bottom line is this: First, we need health care reform and we need it relatively soon. Next, President Obama needs to stop selling us on the idea of a public option and how it A) won’t negatively impact the private insurance industry and B) won’t increase the deficit by billions of dollars. And finally, Congress needs to come to terms that it might be time to start getting tough on lawyers in this country.
Does that make sense?

Son Of Former Shah Urges Iranians, Media To Sustain Movement For Democracy

2009-06-22T16:45:00.002-04:00

Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah of Iran, told a captive audience at the National Press Club Monday that worldwide media must help expose the government-led oppression of citizens in Iran following that nation’s controversial Presidential election.

“Only an information blackout can isolate individuals so that they can be oppressed separately. Thus, the outcome of this struggle will depend on your ability, the free media, to fight their blackouts with the light of information.”

Pahlavi acknowledged the Iranian Government’s recent crackdown on foreign media, as well as its restrictions on the use of social networking websites including Facebook and Twitter, but urged dissenters in the country to continue sharing their stories with the rest of the world.

“It is the third leg of communication, from people to people, from one resistance cell to another, from leaders to supporters inside of which the regime is most fearful.”

Pahlavi, recognized by some as the Crown Prince of Iran, left Iran in 1978 to study collegiately in the U.S., and was exiled from his home country for good following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. He has not returned to Iran since.

Moments after expressing his desire to help Iranians achieve freedom, Pahlavi became visibly shaken up, pausing his speech to choke back tears after detailing some of the violence that has occurred in Iran as a result of clashes between protestors and government-backed forces.

Later, Pahlavi called on foreign governments to allow opponents of the Iranian regime to be the sole owners of the current revolution.

“Your governments have insisted that they would not interfere in Iran’s internal affairs; I applaud that. Any such attempt will give the tyrants the excuse they need to paper over their own differences, and target every man struggling for freedom as a foreign agent.”

In a possible reference to the U.N.’s failure to strongly condemn the government-backed violence against demonstrators in Iran, Pahlavi urged the international community to show solidarity, and to “provide the Iranian people with more than just verbal support.”

Pahlavi encouraged protestors to continue being resilient, and to sustain their movement for change.

“It may not succeed immediately, but it will not die because we will not let it die!” Pahlavi exclaimed. Later, when asked by a reporter for a prediction on how long the protests will last, Pahlavi responded by saying “the numbers will grow.”

Note: Pahlavi reminded the audience on more than one occasion that his public appearance did not signal a desire to return to politics in Iran. “The opposition is not about me,” he said. Pahlavi also divulged that he has spoken with military intelligence sources inside Iran who told him that the regime has enlisted members of Hamas to help quell some of the protests taking place in cities such as Tehran.

Dodd, Frank Applaud Obama's Financial Overhaul

2009-06-17T17:10:00.002-04:00

Speaking to a group of reporters following the President’s speech on overhauling the nation’s financial regulatory system, Senator Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) called Obama’s plan a “step in the right direction.”

Dodd described the President’s plan, which would give the Federal Reserve the ability to monitor risky investments made by financial companies, as an effort to reinvigorate the marketplace.

Although the Senator admitted that there is “not a lot of confidence in the Fed right now,” he professed that the agency has the necessary experience to properly assume this new responsibility. Dodd added that “sitting around, hoping things will work,” should not be the President’s way of dealing with this nation’s current financial mess.

Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who joined Dodd in speaking to reporters afterwards, took a swipe at Republicans, accusing them of turning a blind eye over the years as major financial companies made risky investments.

During his speech, President Obama described his plan as a means of “leveling the playing field,” for investors, both big and small. The President stressed his desire to promote free and fair markets by closing loopholes that exist in the current financial system. Specifically, Obama suggested it was time to crack down on intricate financial instruments such as derivatives, which he described as being “so complex, it’s impossible to know their actual value.”

The President also spoke of the need to move the country away from a bubble-based economy, adding that it is the duty of his administration to prevent scenarios in which private innovation negatively impacts the marketplace.

Obama also proposed holding mortgage bankers to higher standards, requiring hedge fund advisors to register with the FCC and creating an independent Consumer Financial Protection Agency to eliminate small print and ‘gotcha’ clauses found in mortgages, credit card and other financial agreements.

The President referred to these proposals as “common sense rules.”

Torture......Or Fraternity Hazing? (choose B)

2009-05-15T15:40:00.004-04:00

I promise you I have witnessed frat hazing that was way worse than this. I'll add that the pledges I saw being hazed weren't members of a death cult responsible for the murders of thousands of innocent people over the past decade.....

Reaction To Game 7 Raping

2009-05-13T23:15:00.008-04:00

I gave up on the game with 8 minutes to go in the 2nd period, and decided to go drink and play blackjack. Things were getting out of hand, and some assh*le Twins fan sitting next to me was starting with the "its ok man, there's tons of time left" and "this sucks man, i feel for you i really do. i wanted this game to be close just as much as you" comments.

I won $10, then returned to my hotel. I refused to call my girlfriend and I refused to call my Dad and my brother back. However, I did manage to express my inner rage and furiosity by posting the following to my Facebook page.....

FLEISCHMANN IS A FRINGE NHL'ER AT BEST. WON'T EVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING MORE

THE BETTER TEAM WON THIS SERIES

SIDNEY CROSBY IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NHL RIGHT NOW, NOT AO. YOU CAN'T BE THE BEST IF YOU CAN'T WIN IN THE PLAYOFFS.

BACKSTROM AND GREEN NEED TO SACK UP IF THEY WANT TO WIN A CUP. SEMIN NEEDS TO HIT THE WEIGHT ROOM AND THEN MAYBE GROW A PAIR.

WHY WOULD YOU BENCH BRASHEAR FOR THE 2 BIGGEST GAMES OF THE SEASON? YOU PUT THAT GOON OUT ON THE ICE AND ORDER HIM TO TAKE A CHEAP SHOT AT MALKIN OR CROSBY. IF HE GETS SUSPENDED AGAIN HE GETS SUSPENDED AGAIN. NOT A BIG DEAL.

SEND SCHULTZ DOWN, TRADE MORRISSON FOR A DRAFT CHOICE, WAIVE JURCINA, WHO BY THE WAY PROB WOULDNTVE STARTED FOR BU THIS SEASON, CUT POTI, AND CUT POTHIER

YOU COULD PUT MARTY BRODEUR IN NET AND HE'D GIVE UP 4 A GAME BEHIND THE CAPS' D

WAIVE NYLANDER. WAIVE KOZLOV. EAT THE $$. SIGN A D-MAN. PROMOTE ALZNER. GIVE CARLSON A SHOT AT WINNING A ROSTER SPOT. TRADE SEMIN FOR A D. LET FEDOROV GO. BRING IN A VET RW TO PLAY WITH A.O.

TRADESEMIN.COM

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS. AM I THE ONLY PERSON WHO UNDERSTANDS THIS?

And with that, I'd like to now announce that there will be no further discussion of hockey on this blog until October.

I GOT A NEW JOB

2009-05-12T23:22:00.003-04:00

Stay tuned for details......

Game 7

2009-05-11T23:49:00.003-04:00

I just spent the last hour and change watching the highlights of Game 6. I am so freakin pissed off that I am going to have to watch Game 7 in North Dakota (forgot to mention that I'm out here again until the 22nd).

I would elaborate, but I am too emotionally drained to continue forming coherent sentences.

ps - Go read Artie Lange's book. I'm only halfway done, but I have decided that it is the best book I have ever read.

Go CAPS.

25 Things You Should Know About North Dakota

2009-05-03T20:56:00.017-04:00

Today was my last in North Dakota (for now). I spent almost 3 weeks here, although it felt like much more. So, what did I learn about the place? Well, in no particular order, here's a list. Each item has a + or - next to it. In the end, I'll decide whether or not I could live here based on the final tally.......

1) There is almost nothing to see in North Dakota. If you're like me, and you like being surrounded by lots of natural scenery (mountains, hills, lakes, etc) you will not enjoy this state. The landscape is completely flat for miles. There are however, plenty of family restaurants.
(-1)

2) Fargo has the cleanest air in the country. Read about it here.
(+1)

3) I'm positive I mentioned this in an earlier blog, North Dakotans love hockey. Guess who else loves hockey?
(+1)

4) It's always cold. Or windy. Or raining. Or snowing.
(-25,000)

5) The Governor is a nice guy.
(+1)

6) There are a surprising amount of liberals.
(-1)

7) There is no Chipotle, but there is a Qdoba.
(push)

8) There is no place you can go, like a Panera, to get a sandwich.
(-1)

9) There are no Noodles & Co.'s
(-1)

10) There is no traffic. EVER.
(+1)

11) You can drive 105 on the freeway, and not get pulled over.
(+1)

12) Obviously, there are devastating floods once every decade.
(-1)

13) People don't really seem to complain too much.
(+1)

14) They have Scheels. Scheels is the most amazing sporting goods store I have ever been to. It not only stocks all the local team apparel (this includes the Independent League baseball team in Fargo), but it also has like four aisles stocked full of college and pro gear from teams around the country. Even random teams. For instance, I found 3 different pairs of Florida State basketball shorts. If I lived here, there is no doubt that I would go to Scheels at least once a week. For no reason.
(+1)

15) There are no pro sports teams in North Dakota which means people who live here have to root for the Twins, Vikings, Wild and T-Wolves. Can you imagine having to root for one of those teams? That's teeeeeeerible.
(-1)

16) North Dakotans have cool accents.
(+1)

17) From Fargo, it takes longer to get to Montana than it takes to get to Canada or Minnesota.
(-1)

18) I was thinking about driving out to see Mount Rushmore, but discovered that it is 8 hours away from Fargo.
(-1)

19) No subway.
(-1)

20) People aren't rude to you if you're a member of the media. You wanna interview me? Sure! Hey, you wanna interview my family, too? Great, I'll go get 'em!
(+1)

21) Nothing is within walking distance. Again though, there is no traffic.
(push)

22) Corn-fed women.
(+1)

23) No Mexicans........just kidding.
(but seriously, +1)

24) There is live blackjack in the bars here. No computer screens. Live dealer, real cards and all. The real deal Holyfield.
(+1)

25) And, last but not least, radio stations up here use old-school jingles for sweepers and ID's.
(+1)

So in conclusion, based on the tallies above, I could not live in North Dakota. Thank you all for coming out, and remember, nobody likes people who wear Birkenstocks.

HOLY SH********************T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-29T01:04:00.003-04:00

The Caps did it. They actually did it. They beat NY 2-1 in Game 7, capping a miraculous comeback from 3 games-to-1 down.

I am beside myself right now.

All the years of pain and suffering have finally paid off. This time, MY team won the series/game it was doomed to lose. This is almost as good as Maryland making the NCAA's after losing to Duke by 40. On second thought, this is waaaaaayyyyy better....

I could care less if the Caps lose the next round to Pittsburgh. All I care about is the fact that DC overcame all odds to steal Round 1 from the Rangers. Holy sh*******t, this is truly a night to remember.

Good thing I was in North Dakota to see it happen. More on this later I promise!

The Best Game 7 Preview....EVER

2009-04-27T23:32:00.008-04:00

I don't know that any sports writer or blogger has ever tried this, so allow me to be the first. In lieu of predictions and analysis, I'm going to let the following email conversation between me and my friend, a Rangers fan - let's call him.......hmmmm, I don't know......let's say James - serve as my preview of Game 7 between the Caps & Rangers.....

Me: who throws a water bottle?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzbnI-4G7Ew

what a p*ssy

James: Agreed. No matter how g*y and classless the fans are (which they are unthinkably g*y and classless) a player or coach should never retaliate. Now I am not one to complain about the refs, but the officiating in the NHL playoffs have been wretched. In our series, it has gotten out of hand. To me it is flat out despicable how the refs are handling this series.

I am sure you saw last nights match, Brashears's hit on blair betts was one of the dirtiest hits I have seen this season. It just seams that NHL will do anything to make sure their star players advance in the playoffs. Now that is not to say that the capitals completely out played the rangers last night, which they did. But to call matching penalties on Brashears hit is ludicrous. It should have been a 5 min major and an ejection. Especially when you consider that the NHL has suspended two players in other series this year for significantly less sever hits to the head.

Two interesting articles from the Daily news. I would like to hear your thoughts on it. As for the rangers i fear they have little to no chance to win this game on Tuesday. Alas, I will have to start watching baseball much much earlier than I wanted to.

peep it

Commissioner Gary Bettman, plain and simple, you have created a monster. The bias that your officiating staff shows is implorable and there is no need on the ice for incompetent officials, let alone two. This sport is quickly becoming like the NBA and NFL, but without the revenue success. Your rules and officiating have dominated the games and become the story rather than the game itself. And this sentiment is not just present in this series, but all the series. Any fan who has watched the playoffs this season has to be scratching their head at many of the on-ice decisions the officials make. Players, embarassingly, look around when a penalty is called because neither team knows who committed the foul.

It looks ridiculous and the NHL should expect more from their officials. If any average American or Canadian is poor at their job, they are fired. In the NHL, mediocrity amongst officials is merely swept under the rug with "internal" accountability and no improvement in performance.

And in one of the more bizarre revelations of the season, stand-in coach Jim Schoenfeld said after the game that Brandon Dubinsky had required a tetanus shot during the second period because he'd been bitten on the arm by Caps defenseman Shoane Morrison during a post-whistle scrum. "I don't know what effect that will have on him, so his status remains in question," Schoenfeld said. "As he was trying to show it to the linesman, instead of looking, he gave him a 10-minute misconduct. That was a double whammy for us."

Capitals enforcer Donald Brashear dropped Blair Betts with a blatant late hit to the head, one that referees Bill McCreary and Brad Meier saw but ruled "a clean, open-ice hit - direct quote," Drury said. The score at that point was tied 1-1; Washington scored twice in the next 7:20 and never looked back.

Me: First off, the Daily News is the worst paper in the world. The bacalaca dirka mohammed jihad times may be slightly worse. But still, that puts the daily news in the top 2.
Next, stop crying. It's the playoffs.
Also, Brashear just got suspended for 6 games. for throwing a shoulder. what more do you want?
And if you wanna talk about penalties being called, the Rangers have had 41 power plays so far, the Caps have had 30.
And to make things even worse, Lundqvist is no longer ze party starta.

James: I would like a penalty to be called when some one bites another player. Hank will always be the ze party starta

Me: yeah but thats just an allegation at this point. i wanna see dubinsky's arm before i am convinced. besides, how do u bite through your mouthguard and then through another player's jersey and pads to get skin? this is just another case of nyr knowing they arent any good and trying to make excuses. also, writing a letter to the NHL was maybe the g*yest thing a hockey team has ever done.

James: A fan wrote that.

Me: well then i mean it must be true.

James: Well the fact that blair betts has a broken face bone and that the officals thought it was a clean hit, but the league suspended brashear for 5 games, shows you how terrible the refs have been. For all sides, not just against the rangers. The caps are just dirty players. Ha

Me: Blair Betts is just a p*ssy. I mean his name is Blair. I know chicks named Blair, but no guys. Second, the refs can't call what they don't see. They miss calls all the time, it's part of the game. Rangers fans should just be thankful that A) the Giants are good, and B) Brash got suspended and will miss Gm 7. Finally, I'd rather have dirty players than a bunch of h*mos who can't even finish ze party. Besides, Gomez has swine flu..........

And there you have it. So I guess in conclusion, what I was trying to say to James was that the Caps will win Game 7 by a final score of 4-2. Thanks for coming out everyone, have a terrific Tuesday.

5-3 = 7

2009-04-26T16:59:00.004-04:00

Caps & Rangers are all tied up at 3 now, and like I've been saying, I don't think the Caps will lose Game 7. I said in an earlier blog that if they won Game 6, they'd win the series. I stick by that. I think the Caps have solved Henrik Lundqvist, and the Rangers have absolutely no confidence at all heading into Tuesday night's game. If the Caps can stay out of the box, the series is theirs. I'll be watching, will you?

Skins Take DB At #80

2009-04-26T13:53:00.005-04:00

The Redskins went local with their second pick in the draft, taking Maryland Safety Kevin Barnes in the 3rd round. I have mixed feelings about this pick. On one hand, Barnes appears to be the kind of player that could strengthen the team's nickel package. He plays the pass well, and has a 40' vertical.......

On the other hand, Barnes is weak against the run. Thus, he'll probably never be a starter on D. In addition, the Skins desperately need help on the O-line. Taking a lineman with this pick would've probably been a better decision, and from what I'm reading, there were a couple guys available at #80. My guess is that Washington's strategy heading into the draft was to use the few picks it had to sure up its D. The team probably figures its only chance of winning next season is to try to keep opposing teams under 20 points a game since without a line, the offense won't be able to put up big numbers......

O-line issues aside though, if the Skins don't make another smart decision in the final 4 rounds, they'll at least have bolstered their defensive line with the selection of Orakpo in the first round...

Skins Draft a DE

2009-04-25T17:50:00.002-04:00

I have no idea if Brian Orakpo is any good (Todd McShay from ESPN had him listed as the sixth best prospect in the entire draft), but at least the Skins didn't do anything crazy or stupid. More on this later.......

If The Caps Can Win Game 6...........

2009-04-25T11:16:00.004-04:00

.......Then I think they'll win this series. However, my gut feeling is that the Rangers will close the series out Sunday afternoon in NYC........

The 3 words I used the most in the barrage of text messages I sent to family and friends during Game 5 were "Matt F*cking Bradley." There's nothing more to say. 'Shocking' might be the word I'd use to describe his 2 goals. Definitely didn't see that coming. I don't think anyone did. But, that's how it goes in the playoffs; if the bounces go your way, you win. Don't believe me? Go back and watch Game 4. The Caps badly outplayed the Rangers, but NY got 2 fluky goals, and it was all they needed. One last thing - those of you idiots out there who still think Sidney Crosby is better than Alex Ovechkin may want to watch this........

Two other videos I'd like you all to check out. The first is footage of Rangers Coach John Tortorella throwing a water bottle over the glass and hitting a Caps fan in the head (please tell me the NHL will at least fine him for this). Watch it here.......

Next, the station I'm working with is suffering from a shortage of interns available to report, so yesterday I took a Flip Video and went out to Richland County, ND to shoot some video of the flooding that has occurred out there. Take a look.

Fallout From Game 4

2009-04-23T19:32:00.009-04:00

Here are my thoughts on Game 4. First and foremost, Henrik Lundqvist is really really really good. But, he hasn't been beating the Caps singlehandedly. He's getting a ton of help from the Rangers blue-line; Guys like Paul Mara, Wade Redden (just a year or two removed from being the top defensemen in the game), Michal Rosival, Daniel Girardi and trade-deadline acquisition Derek Morris are keeping the Caps out of the slot, and cutting off key passing routes in front of the net. The Caps may have had 39 shots on goal last night, but a lot of those came from beyond the circles, and most were not from point-blank areas. The Caps actually could've finished with 50-55 shots, but the Rangers d-men blocked something like 15 shots. That's almost unheard of. That in and of itself is a huge reason New York now has a 3-1 series lead. I hate to be the token cynic, but I don't think the Caps have what it takes yet (veteran playoff experience/leadership) to come back. Rangers in 6.......

Moving on, I've now been in Fargo for over a week, and I'm starting to miss home (and the gf, although that's not a new development). It's not that I'm homesick - it's hard to miss home when your hotel room is bigger than your apartment - but it's just a different world up here, and I definitely don't fit in - and the food is terrible. I'm having a great time working with the guys at AM1100, they've been great, but I'm just not getting a good vibe from anyone else in town. It's puzzling because when you grow up on the East Coast, all you hear about people from the Midwest is how warm and friendly they are. There is most likely a lot of truth behind that stereotype, but seemingly everywhere I go around here, I get stared at or, in some cases, heckled. I'm not exaggerating, two people have yelled things out their car windows at me the past two days.

Press 1 if you want Geoff to follow the last sentence up with, "I'm pretty sure they weren't complimenting me on my $40 sports coat from Target."

Press 2 if you want Geoff to follow the last sentence up with, "Should I be putting on pants before I walk around downtown during the day?"

Congratulations, none of you were able to vote because this blog is actually a blog, and not a phone...............

Anyway, there is good news. I am getting some killer experience. Working on this project beats the living piss out of what I was about to do had I not received this offer. No matter how bad the food is, I'll never regret coming up here.....

H-man, out.

2-1

2009-04-22T23:15:00.002-04:00

This is why I hate sports. I'll elaborate later. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to cry myself to sleep....

Caps Need a Big-Time Blueliner

2009-04-18T18:32:00.006-04:00

Caps are now down 2-0 to NY. Game 3 is Mon nite at MSG. I'm not counting the Caps out yet. I still think they can come back. Remember 2003 when the Caps stole the first 2 from Tampa on the road? Did the Caps win that series? Nope. So everyone, relax. Don't jump yet. Series isn't over....

I gotta say though, the Caps need help on D. I like Mike Green. Every team needs a d-man like him who can push the puck, join the rush, anchor the PP and score. But after Green, the Caps don't have much. They're never gonna go anywhere in the playoffs with Tom Poti, Jeff Schultz, Brian Pothier, Milan Jurcina and John Erskine. They just aren't, trust me. I'm optimistic though because I think Karl Alzner will help next season, and I think John Carlson, their top prospect in the minors, is close to being NHL-ready. From what I hear, Carlson is a stud. I can't wait to check him out during training camp this fall. In addition to these two, I think the Caps need to acquire a stud on D if they have any money this offseason. Goalie-wise, I think Varlamov is the future. I also hear good things about Darren Machesny who's at Hershey right now. I feel good about who the Caps have in net moving forward.....

I'm currently on Day 4 of my North Dakota trip. Looks like I'll be here at least until the 28th. The gf doesn't like it too much, but she's hanging in there. She's a trooper. I went to a hockey game last night. Seats were great. I have tickets for tomorrow's USA-Russia contest. After the Caps game this afternoon, I did a little organizing for work. Tonite, I think I'm gonna go out in Fargo. Fargo's downtown is about the size of my parents' neighborhood, so I should be able to see most of it in a matter of hours......

Well, that's it for now. I really hope the two people who read this are enjoying all that this blog has to offer.

North Dakota....Where Unemployed Producers Go After They've Been Fired

2009-04-17T19:22:00.008-04:00

I am in Fargo, North Dakota right now. I'll be here for at least the next 2 weeks. Working on a project that takes me 10 minutes to explain each time I try.....

Honestly, I'm too tired to describe what I'm doing out here right now because I've been at AM 1100 The Flag for 40 of the past 48 hours. I'll blog more this weekend after I take a much-needed nap. Also gonna try to put a vid together. I realized I have iMovie on my MacBook, so I should be able to throw something up here pretty easily. If not, there's a 12-year-old who hangs out at the station who says he can tutor me if I need help. He said he won't charge me for his time.

I appreciate that buddy.

RIP Harry Kalas

2009-04-14T10:50:00.003-04:00

I don't much care for Philadelphia's Major League Baseball franchise, but I will miss Harry Kalas. I had the privilege of listening to a few of Kalas's broadcasts, and I gotta say, he was good. I loved his voice. It was calm, relaxed and carefree sounding. It was consistent and even-keeled. More importantly, Kalas had the ability of using his voice to perfectly paint a picture of the game to listeners.

His skill at bringing the game to life through his play-by-play was unmatched as far as I'm concerned. I'll forever consider Kalas one of the game's greats, right up there with Jon Miller and Harry Caray. I was miserable when the Phillies won the WS last season, but today, I rejoice in the fact that Kalas had the pleasure of enjoying one final Championship before he passed. My personal preferences aside, on that day, life was fair.

On an unrelated note, did anyone watch the NCAA Hockey Championship? I watched the replay of the Miami (Ohio)/BU game on CSN the other night. That was one of the best games of hockey, college or pro, I've ever seen. Though I learned of the outcome before I watched the game, I was still pretty shocked to see how Miami blew its 3-1 lead with a minute to go in the game's final period.

I've never seen a comeback like the one BU pulled off. The fact that it happened in a Championship game made it that much more amazing. The look of heartbreak on the faces of the Miami players was gut-wrenching. I couldn't help but feel for those guys, athletes representing a school that had never won a Division I Championship in any sport. To get that close, only to fall apart in the game's final 60 seconds, must have just killed those kids.

I didn't even watch the overtime. It was hard enough watching Miami blow its seemingly insurmountable lead, I couldn't bear to watch them suffer defeat.

Funny Sports Quotes

2009-04-02T14:48:00.002-04:00

1. Chicago Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson on being a role model: "I wan' all deem kids to do what I do, to look up to me. I wan' all the kids to copulate me."

2. New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first."

3. And, upon hearing Joe Jacoby of the 'Skins say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

4. Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: "He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings."

5. Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann, 1996: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."

6. Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh: "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes."

7. Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up alphabetically by height." And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle."

8. Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton."

9. Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."

10. Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regime of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is."

11. Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt."

12. Frank Layden, Utah Jazz president, on a former player: "I told him, "Son, what is it with you? Is it ignorance or apathy?" He said, "Coach, I don't know and I don't care."

13. Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."

14. Amarillo High School and Oiler coach Bum Phillips when asked by Bob Costas why he takes his wife on all the road trips, Phillips responded: "Because she is too damn ugly to kiss good-bye."

The Car Is The New Bar

2009-03-31T14:40:00.006-04:00

Stuff You, Jemaine!

2009-03-31T14:39:00.005-04:00

Floridians are apparently somewhat confused about the law when it comes to inbreeding. My buddy Chris tells me there are TV screens inside the state court offices that display rotating facts on them. Today’s fact:

Q: Can I marry someone to whom I’m related?
A: No. Florida statute prohibits this.

There’s an old saying that I made up three minutes ago; Only in Florida. And probably West Virginia.

This is the coolest ad I’ve ever seen. Notice how Coach K is on bass. I don't need to remind you all that the bassist is usually the loser in the band. There are occasional exceptions to this rule.

Now is the time in my blog where I discuss sports. All I have to say on this front today is that despite the fact that Oklahoma got spanked by UNC, I still love Blake Griffin. I watched Oklahoma play three times this season and I am convinced of two things.

First, Blake Griffin is nasty. He will easily be the top pick in this summer’s draft. I hope to God the Wizards get the #1. By the way, WHY is Gilbert Arenas playing? The Wiz should be focused on losing out and trying to get as many ping pong balls as possible.

Next, Blake Griffin had dangerously little help this season. His brother Taylor was OK. The PG was decent. But, you put BG on a team with just a little more talent than the Sooners had this year and I guarantee he wins a championship.

Oh by the way, best response to a post-game press conference question EVER goes to Taylor Griffin. Here's the exchange:

Reporter asks Taylor Griffin, "Taylor, can you talk about college basketball and what it means to you to have played alongside your brother?"

Taylor Griffin: "No, not right now."

Good enough for me.

As for the Tournament itself, I guess I’ll be pulling for Villanova this weekend. I like the fact that almost half the squad is made up of guys from the DC area. I don’t like Michigan State because they play in the dreeeeadful Big Ten (although I like Goran Suton a lot) and I don’t like UConn because Jim Calhoun is a dirty cheater who murders puppies, click here for proof. They say every time Jim Calhoun lands a top recruit, a unicorn dies.

As for UNC, I can’t root for any school Jerry Klein once attended.

Finally, a joke: What’s the difference between Joe Biden’s daughter and a coke whore?

I'm Embarrassed By Sports Writers Who Say They're Embarrassed To Be Sports Writers

2009-03-31T14:35:00.003-04:00

Did you hear what Nats beat writer Chico Harlan said the other day? During an interview he did with Washingtonian Magazine, Harlan said, and I’m paraphrasing here, that he is embarrassed to be a sports writer and he can’t wait to quit and do something else.

Um....WHAT?

I’m sorry, Chico, but you get paid to write about pro baseball. You have one of the most desired jobs around. And you’re telling me you’re embarrassed by what you do? What would you rather be doing, covering budget committee hearings? You do realize that there are guys who dig ditches for a living who would do your job for free, right? God, just writing about this makes me angry.

Naturally, Harlan was given a second chance to redeem himself by the press, and here’s what he had to say….

"Maybe it's worth explaining the conversation that led me to the I-hate-sports declaration. When I first started talking to Harry Jaffe, the journalist who talked to me for the piece, we were discussing my background, my childhood love for baseball, the fact that I played it as a teenager, etc. I didn't want to be portrayed, though, as some central casting sportswriter: the sort who always dreamed of athletic glory, lacked the skills, and chose the next best thing. That's not me. I wanted the make the point that I have other interests, many more. I suppose I made that point with an inartful tap of the sledgehammer.

This is not intended as a defense. Parts of this job are a grind. Parts are thrilling. You lose some hair, gain some Marriott points. But know this: I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't have passion. I love — love-love-love — writing, and love that I get the chance to document so many interesting storylines, characters and dramas. Thanks for understanding.”

Notice that nowhere in his ‘apology’ does he say that he loves, or even likes covering Major League Baseball or the Nats. I think I speak for every sports fan out there when I say, apology not accepted, Chico.

By the way, it's worth mentioning that the title of Harry Jaffe's story on Harlan is "Harlan Would Rather Write About The Real Hot Dogs." Hot Dogs, as in weiners? Well, like I always say, it takes one to write about one.

Anyway, in case you don’t read the user comments that are posted below the story I’ve linked to above, this one from ‘CardinalFang’ pretty much sums up how I feel about Chico Harlan: “Another smarmy Syracuse [expletive] who thinks a lot more highly of himself than anyone else. Chico should ask off the beat or resign. There are so many out-of-work sports writers who love covering baseball and would die for the opportunity to take over that beat.”

This one from ‘JB’ is also good: "I say fire him and get someone who actually wants to write about the Nats. Let the guy write stories about being unemployed and eating ramen."

Well said, JB.

Hey Chico, you suck.

Nice name by the way.

Today I'd Like To Talk To You All About Chicks

2009-03-31T14:34:00.002-04:00

I can’t ignore the abuse Meghan McCain has been taking from a certain skinny, blonde talk show host.

Sure, Meghan McCain may have “started” this whole thing by calling out Ann Coulter in a recent blog post on some things Coulter has said, but Laura Ingraham stepping in and responding ("i'll take this one, Chip") was way out of line. The conservative radio host called McCain “a valley girl gone awry” and claimed she was rejected from a TV reality show because “they don’t like plus-sized models.” I believe she also later called McCain a “useful idiot.”

Ok, there are a couple things wrong with Ingraham responding like this. First off, Meghan McCain never said one word about Laura Ingraham, so why does Ingraham feel compelled to go after McCain? I mean, Ann Coulter is a grown up, she can handle her critics. Does Ingraham have a secret girl-crush on Coulter where she feels compelled to protect her or something? That’s weird.

Next, if a woman is gonna attack another woman for being unattractive, then she better be attractive herself. Ingraham calling McCain overweight is like Berta from Two and a Half Men making fun of Rosie O’Donnell for being fat. Laura Ingraham isn’t that hot. Maybe she thinks she is, but she’s not. Sure, she’s skinny and has blonde hair and really white teeth and all that. But, there’s just something about her that makes her completely unsexy. Meghan McCain, and again I think most guys would agree with this, is sexy.

To quote my 12th favorite rapper of all time, Juvenile, she get it from her momma.

Ok, what do you all know about Tara Wheeler? Wheeler is the current Miss Virginia and was the starting goaltender on the Penn State women’s hockey team. Like Meghan McCain, Tara Wheeler is hot. I don’t really have anything more to say about Tara Wheeler, I just found the fact that she is hot AND plays hockey to be extremely awesome.

One more thing real quick. As you may or may not know, we producers get a ton of guest pitches from public relations firms. Well, I got one earlier this week that blows away every other pitch I’ve ever received…..

Here’s the pitch: The guest’s name is John Curtis and he is apparently a “fabulous” guest (meaning he’s gay?). He is an expert in explaining to people why they shouldn’t listen to “gurus” like Rush Limbaugh, Oprah, Dr. Phil, etc etc.

In other words, John Curtis is the Anti-Guru Guru.

Ladies and gentlemen, the exciting world of Public Relations.

Life Is Good When You Aren’t Invested In The Market

2009-03-31T14:31:00.003-04:00

I realize this may sound insensitive, but I really don’t care that the market is slumping. I take comfort in knowing that in a year or so, when I do decide to invest, things won’t be as bad.

Or will they……

Seriously though, I’m not that worried. Do you think I should be? If so, feel free to enlighten me. I will say however that I am paying attention to what’s going on. The situation is extremely intriguing to me. Especially given the fact that every time the President or someone in his cabinet speaks about the economy, the market goes down.

Today is the NHL trade deadline and I’ve been checking the Caps’s website all day to see if they’ve made any moves. No activity so far, but they have til 3pm so we’ll see. On a related note, while I was surfing the sports blogosphere, I stumbled across Caps owner Ted Leonsis’s blog, and discovered that “Teddy Log-on,” as Tony Kornheiser used to call him, isn’t much of a Rush Limbaugh fan.

Here’s the story, it’s kinda “inside baseball” so bear with me. Caps superstar Alex Ovechkin (please tell me you’ve heard of this guy) likes to celebrate when he scores. Well, famous Canadian hockey analyst Don Cherry called Ovechkin out last week, describing his post-goal celebrations as “goofy stuff.” OV’s boss responded this past Sunday.

Wrote Leonsis, “Don Cherry is like Rush Limbaugh and President Obama is in office with very high popularity ratings. :-) Change has come. It is like oxygen, get used to it.”

Ted, I love the Caps, I love what you’ve done for the team these past few years, but you CANNOT compare Don Cherry to Rush Limbaugh. Don Cherry is an arrogant and possibly senile Canadian nationalist whose ability to analyze the sport of hockey is completely blinded by his pure hatred of all things not Canadian. Rush Limbaugh is the opposite of arrogant and senile, is a patriot, and does not express hatred towards foreigners. Perhaps most importantly, Rush Limbaugh is RELEVANT. Cherry, not so much.

Having said that, Leonsis may be on to something with his Ovechkin-Obama comparison.