Sponsored by the letter "N"

So I occasionally utilize this space to promote friends of mine and their projects or blogs. One of the blogs I always enjoy reading is that of Susan Courtad, who I graduated from Pascack Hills High School way back in 1986. It's called "One Woman Show" and details her life and musings as a single mom raising two kids in the Pittsburgh area and trying to survive bouts with dating nightmares and pimping her manuscript.

Recently, she posted a witty article in which she responded to someone else's response to the following challenge:

Leave a comment and I’ll give you a letter. Post ten things you LOVE that begin with that letter. Then give a letter to anyone who leaves a comment for you… and the cycle will continue.

I responded to her response about the letter "O" and pointed out that she didn't post the word "O'Donnell". I suggested this for the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell, who guided Susan's beloved Steelers to Super Bowl XXX. Today, she responded to my comment and assigned me the letter "N" in honor of Neil.

Of course, the mind immediately began to race with possibilities, but I decided to somehow choose just 10. Also, I decided not to go for the easy and obvious ones, such as "New Jersey Devils", "New York Mets", "New York Giants", and "Notre Dame Fighting Irish". I also had a couple that I liked but just missed the cut, such as: night life, North Hollywood, North Wildwood (where my uncle owns the best Bed & Breakfast on the planet), NBC Sports, and the first Naked Gun movie, which still cracks me up every time Leslie Nielsen tries to sing the national anthem as Enrico Pallazzo.

So, here they are, my submission of 10 things that I love beginning with the letter N:

(1) Nieces. I could use 5,000 words alone just on describing the love that I have for my two nieces, Bella and Vivi. They are awesome. They are funny. They are adorable. They are smart. They are well-behaved, with total credit for that going to their parents. And they are growing so fast. Fortunately, anytime I need to see them, I can always go here.

(2) Nine Irons. When you are an occasional weekend duffer who just hopes to be within four shots of par on a given hole, and praying to the golfing gods to keep my overall scores within two digits, grabbing the nine iron out of the bag means that I'm close to the putting green. I am awful off the tee, and tend to try to hard to read puts the right way. But the mid-range shots I seem to be able to handle. I just wish I could play more to further enjoy lining up and addressing the ball with my niner. "Hello ball..."

(3) Newcastle Beer. I know this may come as a shock to many, but I tend to enjoy partaking in an alcoholic beverage every now and then. Over the years, my beer of choice has tended to change. When I first legally started drinking, it was Michelob Dry. Then it changed to Bud Ice. Then I moved to Red Dog. Then I became a Killian's drinker. Nowadays, it's either Guinness (room temperature please) or Newcastle. It drinks fairly smoothly, doesn't feel heavy, and is reasonably cost-effective in most places. Hey bartender, top me off please...

(4) Nerf. This can mean two things to me. One of them is the first part of a phrase I use to describe Domino's Pizza or Pizza Hut: nerf pizza. Actually, credit for this phrase should go to Jon Doscher, but I continue to use it. It describes, for those like me who grew up in an area filled with the best pizza in the world, just how generic and slightly rubbery their pizzas can be. But the other thing this refers to is Nerf footballs. Growing up, my friends and I always played pick-up football games using a Nerf, because it was easy to throw (especially when we were younger) and you can make crazy catches with them. I also wanted to play "Kill the Guy with the ball" when I first moved to Montvale in 1976 as a 3rd grader. In fact, on my 20-year reunion website blog from 2006, I wrote a posting about this primal morning ritual. So I asked my dad for a Nerf for Christmas, so that I could supply the ball for the morning game before school began each day. In the 31 Christmases since, he has given me a Nerf every year but once. It has become a tradition, and one of the many things that I cherish about my relationship with him.

(5) Narration. This might seem an odd choice at first, but since part of what I've done in my career as a writer has been to write narration for documentary films and sports television programs, it seemed like a smart inclusion. But my love for narration stems back into my childhood because of NFL Films. I don't care what is going in my life, if there is an NFL Films program coming on television, especially if it includes narration by the late John Facenda, I stop what I'm doing and watch. The marriage of his narration in which he sounds like the voice of God would sound to the slow-motion footage and the accompanying music is what serves as an influence in my writing style.

(6) NCIS. I always tended to be a fan of drama shows on television more so than comedies, and I've always tended to gravitate to "cop shows". In fact, I wrestled with trying to find a way to include NYPD Blue, one of my all-time favorites, into this list. But I have become addicted to NCIS in just this past year. This is because of the intelligent writing, and the cast of actors and the characters that they play. The banter is very snappy, the plot lines are believable, and the camaraderie of the characters make it an enjoyable hour that goes by way too quickly.

(7) Nutter Butters. You knew I would need to sneak in some kind of snack food here, as someone who basically considers the four food groups to be: Beer, Wings, Snacks, and Soda. I can eat a lot of different type of cookies like Oreos and Chips Ahoy, but every once in a while i will have a craving for Nutter Butter cookies, with a peanut shaped wafer and peanut butter inside. It's something I remember I used to have with my grandmother Mom-Mom (not nicknamed Nana) when I was a little kid. Maybe that's why it has a special place in my heart for me.

(8) "Not So Fast My Friend". Anyone that watches College GameDay on ESPN on Saturday mornings know exactly what I'm talking about. For those that don't, the show originates live on the campus of each week's biggest game. The host is Chris Fowler, and he is joined on set by former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit and former college coach Lee Corso. Corso was a college teammate at Florida State of Burt Reynolds, and he's unintentionally humorous in his analysis. He's kind of like a lovable grandfather who thinks he knows everything (and sometimes does). But the two things he does each week that are 'must-see' in quality are his final pick of the show each week, where he wears head-gear of the team he is picking, and when he interrupts one of Herbie's predictions that he disagrees with by saying, "Not So Fast My Friend."

(9) New Car Smell. Do I really need to describe why this is so intoxicating? I mean, it has to do with the chemicals that they spray on the dashboard at the end of the assembly process, but I don't care what those chemicals are. I just enjoy the sense of adventure and freedom that it seems to engender.

(10) New Jersey. Yes, I grew up here. Yes, I've had to endure all the idiotic jokes made by other people about what exit I'm from, and why it's nickname is the Garden State not the Toxic State, and why we just call it Jersey, and why we go "down the shore" instead of "to the beach". Still, you can't get better bagels anywhere, or better pizza. The list of entertainers born and raised from New Jersey reads like an entertainment Hall of Fame: Frank Sinatra, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Bruce Springsteen, Abbott and Costello, James Gandolfini, Bruce Willis, and even the Jonas Brothers, headline this who's who. The casinos in Atlantic City, all the strip malls on Route 22, the Meadowlands. I could go on and on. As my former drama teacher Phil Bernardi is famous singing, "I've been a lot of places, seen pictures of the rest, but of all the places I can think of, I like Jersey best."

There you have it. 10 things that start with the letter N that I love. Now it's your turn. Post a comment and I'll assign you a letter to work on. Come on, it's fun!

G-Men of '08 like Broncos of '98

ITEM ONE: Big Blue in the driver's seat

So after tonight's MNF game between the improving Cards and the deteriorating Niners, every team in the NFL will have played 9 regular season games, and there will be no more bye weeks until the playoffs. There have been a few surprises (Titans 9-0, Brett's new team with better record than Brett's old team) and a few disappointments (Jags 4-5, Seahawks are awful). But one thing is for certain is that the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants are the best team in the league right now, and a clear cut favorite in my mind to win a second straight championship.

I admit that I didn't think this was possible before the season began for several reasons. First, they had everything break just right for them during their run to the title last year. Second, the loss of Michael Strahan to retirement and Osi Umenyiora to a season-ending injury meant the defensive line, which was a strength last season, would be a detriment to the team this season.

Well, at the halfway point of 2008, I think it's entirely possible to say that this year's team may be better than last year's club. In fact, the 2008 Giants remind a lot of the 1998 Denver Broncos, who started that season 13-0 and eventually won a second straight season Super Bowl. Consider the parallels:

- The Broncos in 1997, after several disappointing playoff exits, were a wild card team that had to go on the road and win at a division rival (Kansas City) and a cold-weather favorite (Pittsburgh) just to qualify for the Super Bowl, where they were a nearly two touchdown underdog to a dominate team (Green Bay) and surprised the football world with an upset victory. Sounds familiar in a lot of ways to the 2007 Giants run to glory.
- The Broncos in 1998, having finally triumphed in the big game, came back in 1998 and were a dominant team themselves with a superior running game, a quarterback that was a master of the offense he ran, a defense that was fundamentally sound, and special teams units that were equal to their offensive and defensive brethren. The 2008 Giants fit that to a tee.

The Giants will, statistically speaking, face the toughest schedule in the league down the stretch of their last 7 games: 6-3 Baltimore, tied with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North, at home this coming week; then at Arizona, who leads the NFC West and after tonight could have that division all but sealed up; then at Washington, clearly one of the better teams in the league at 6-3; then home to the Eagles, in a rivalry game; followed by their final trip to Texas Stadium to face the Cowboys, never an easy task; and finishing with a home game against Carolina, currently leading the NFC South at 7-2, and a road game at Minnesota, a team that may be playing for their playoff lives. If the Giants can go 4-3 in this stretch, they will be 12-4 heading into the post-season. I think they will go 5-2 in this stretch, making them the team to beat in the NFL post-season.

If you had told any Giants fan 12 months ago that this was going to happen, they would have responded by saying that they agreed with you, and that the climate on Mars was eerily similar to that of Earth...

ITEM TWO: Marvin the Martian this ain't

A couple of years ago, I silently vowed not to watch ABC prime time programming because I felt they did a disservice cancelling NYPD Blue following a glorious 12-year run. This was not only for selfish reasons as a fan of the show, but also because I thought it would have been cool to squeeze 3 more years out of it so that they could say the 15th Squad had a 15-year run. BTW, NYPD Blue's theme song is still the best for a television show ever...

But I have since ended this personal embargo due to a new show that I have become hooked on called Life On Mars. It is based on a TV series of the same name from the BBC, not that it is in any significant to this posting, just a fact.

For those that haven't yet dialed into it, a modern day New York detective is involved in an incident where he is hit by a car and put into a coma. But in his mind, the detective is back in time in 1973, where he is also a police detective in the 125th precinct. Jason O'Mara plays Sam Tyler, who tries to fit into 1973 New York and to figure out why he is in 1973 New York. Also in the cast are Harvey Keitel, the great Michael Imperioli, and Gretchen Mol.

The thing I most enjoy about the series so far has been the way it has been shot, very dark and mysterious and brooding, and the music and wardrobe. And as someone who was only 5 years young in 1973, I am fascinated about getting this glimpse at that period of time in New York. O'Mara is a great actor, and the writers of the show take advantage of the cast. If you haven't checked it out yet, do so, you will not be disappointed. Along with NCIS on Tuesday nights, Life on Mars is much-watch TV for me these days. It is certainly filling the Thursday night at 10PM void left by Burn Notice's current hiatus.

ITEM THREE: Donovan is, dare I say, en fuego

I was please to hear that Burn Notice is returning for 13 more episodes on USA Network in January. I got hooked on Burn Notice in summer of 2007, and lamented that I had to wait a full year for more episodes thanks to last year's writers strike. The show is well written and has a great cast, but the stand out reason why I tune in to every episode is Jeffrey Donovan.

He is quickly becoming my favorite actor, and if you haven't seen him in Burn Notice yet, then you should go check him out in the new Angelina Jolie film Changeling. The movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, is about a mother who's son is lost in 1920's Los Angeles, and the corrupt police department, in need of a PR win, 'finds' a replacement son that they try to pawn off as hers. Jolie, who I don't really care for as an actress, is terrific in this film, as is John Malkovich.

But to me, Donovan, who plays the the police captain assigned to the case, jumps off the screen with his performance as a cold-hearted and diabolical corrupt cop trying to put the LAPD in a good light. If you are looking for a film that may have some Oscar-nomination worthy performances in theaters right now, Changeling is the film you are looking for. Here's hoping casting directors throughout Hollywood recognize that Donovan is more than a one-trick pony.

RANDOM THOUGHTS: I was disappointed that Penn State lost to Iowa this past weekend, because it likely means that the Nittany Lions, a.k.a. the "Fighting JoePas" , will not be a part of the BCS Championship picture. It would have been nice to see if the pollsters would have tried to overrule the computers and give Joe Paterno one last shot at glory... a lot of my SoCal friends think the Hollywood Fakers are a lock to win the NBA title because they are off to a 5-0 start. Yes, they whipped up on Houston last night, but they should also consider that 2 of their other 4 wins have come against the Clippers, a team that would finish 3rd if entered into the NBA's Developmental league, and they several players with injury histories. Maybe we can get the Lakers into the spring healthy before we start anointing them as anything but a team off to a good start... I've stated this on my Facebook page recently, but I need to reiterate it here: never mind his policies on domestic drilling, education, health care, redistribution of wealth and others - if Barack Obama had made it clear a couple of months ago what he made clear last Monday night, that he fully supports the inclusion of a college football playoff system at the Division I level, I would have gone door-to-door to campaign for the man... the only good thing to come out of the fact that Madonna is getting divorced and is officially dating Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is this: at least she isn't dating Mets third baseman David Wright... speaking of Facebook, if you haven't joined it yet, I encourage you to do so. It's like a constant on-line reunion service. I have reconnected with so many people I knew from years ago because of it, and it's a great way to keep in touch with friends from far away. And it is way better than MySpace because of the lack of spammers and frauds. It's very cool... speaking of cool, you might want to check out the home page of Mahalo, my former employers. They recently launched a re-designed home page that looks a lot tighter and organized than the original home page. It is much easier to navigate, and from what I understand, it is much easier to keep updated. Be sure to check it out and give them your feedback. And no, I didn't get paid for that promotional plug, and did plug it even though I am disappointed that the management team laid off more of my friends for poorly constructed reasons... If things hold up, I'll be 8-2 in the Kokua Football League, which means I'm in good shape to make a playoff run. It's much better than last year's effort, where injuries to key players resulted in a 1-win season.

TBS tech issues - very funny

I really thought I was going crazy last night. I went to turn on Game Six of the American league Championship Series on my television, hoping to see the start of the game between the Boston Red Sox (facing elimination) and the Tampa Bay Rays.

It's been difficult enough to find these baseball playoff games on a basic cable channel that nobody watches. It's been difficult enough to accept the fact that MLB Owners Cartel Czar Bud Selig (I refuse to call him a commissioner) has so little interest in building up his sport in his own country that he potentially shows only 14 out of a possible 41 playoff games over-the-air. It's been difficult to sit through the awful pre-game shows and the constant graphics reminders that I'm watching TBS. It's been difficult to watch Craig Sager's ridiculous sport jackets, and Chip Caray's misappropriation of his vocal inflection. It's been difficult to watch the 27,384 promos for Frank TV (and trust me, I think Caliendo is hilarious).

But last night, imagine how I felt watching a re-run of the Steve Harvey Show from like 5 years ago because TBS had technical difficulties with the feed and couldn't show the game for the first 29 minutes!

But that isn't the worst part. Knowing that TBS is part of the Turner family of networks, I quickly began flipping back-and-forth to both CNN and Headline News, convinced they would have something acknowledging the TBS difficulties and keeping me informed of what was happening. After all, CNN had a live news program in-progress with Rick Sanchez (a name I have loathed since Hurricane Andrew, more on that in a later post), and Headline News was re-running a Nancy Grace episode (I just love watching her make words like prosecution into 7 syllable words). Yet, neither of these networks had any information about what was happening. And all TBS kept doing was running a crawl that they were having technical difficulties. Of course, the first crawl didn't appear until 8:10, ten minutes into the expected broadcast of the game.

Bud Selig's incompetence and ineptitude is only surpassed by that of George W Bush. Nice going Selig - thanks for putting these important games on a network that can't even handle a transmission issue. Somebody at TBS should be fired over this.

What makes me say that? Think about this: in 1989, ABC was preparing to broadcast Game 3 of the World Series between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants. During the opening tease for the game, Tim McCarver was making a point about base-running when the screen shaked, his audio repeated 3 seconds, and then Al Michaels exclaimed, "I think we're having an earthqua..." before the screen went to black. A few seconds later, after the "Loma Prieta Earthquake" rocked northern California, ABC came back on the air with a full screen ABC World Series logo and audio from Al Michaels stating, "Well folks, that's the greatest open in the history of television, bar none!"

This was in 1989, when the technology wasn't as sophisticated as it is today, and ABC was back on the air within a minute - not 28 minutes! TBS went Earnest Byner, fumbling the ball hard at the goal line; Turner Networks dropped the ball by not jumping into action and helping frustrated viewers with what was happening during those 28 minutes; and MLB dropped the ball by choosing these clowns in the first place.

I'm changing my mind - I'm not writing in None of the Above for President, I'm writing in Bud Selig. People think this country can't get worse, but if Bud ran the country like he runs baseball, I can't wait to watch the carnage that would unfold.

Bud, seriously, can you please resign now? Or maybe you can just cancel the World Series again...

None of the Above

In 1996, I was becoming more and more disenchanted by the available candidates for President of the United States. I was becoming more cynical about the process, without realizing (looking back on it now) that I was only scratching the surface.

I was led to believe that the best and the brightest were the ones who would run our country. After all, throughout school from 3rd grade to senior year, every time there was an election of officers, it was always the smart kids that ran for things. In the rare instances when a popular kid not thought to be super smart ran and won, they were simply a one-hit wonder, because they didn't realize the commitment that student government brings. Nevertheless, I naturally assumed that those kids that year-in and year-out ran student government in not only my school but numerous others would elevate themselves into politics as adults.

Sadly, this seems to have happened in only rare cases. It's no surprise considering the earnings potential for most of the smart kids in fields other than politics. But in 1996, I watched as President Clinton (who I think meant well but was betrayed by who he really was) and Robert Dole (again, someone that I think meant well but was not presidential material) lead me to a state of ambivalence.

One night, while trying to fall asleep in the days before SportsCenter was repeated over-and-over-and-over-and-over again, I was flipping through the dial when I came across an old Richard Pryor movie. It was called "Brewster's Millions". The main plot of the film was that a struggling minor league baseball player had just inherited $30 million, but would inherit $300 million if he spent all $30 million within 30 days in a waste less manner.

So one of the subplots that emerged was that Brewster became disenchanted with the local mayoral race. It was mudslinging to the hilt, and it left him as a voter with no viable choice. He wished he could choose "None of the Above". Then he got the idea of running "None of the Above" as a candidate for people to vote on instead of the two contenders. He bought television, radio, and print ad time and urged voters to take the write-in option and write-in the phrase "None of the Above". As it turned out, many of the people agreed with Brewster's position, and when election night rolled around, "None of the Above" had won by a decisive margin.

Watching the film that night gave me an idea. Rather than not voting, which to me seems like a lazy approach considering all the countries where people can't vote for their leaders at all, I decided that I would vote for "None of the Above" in that 1996 election. I actually had to write the phrase onto the ballot area that was provided.

Ever since, I have been waiting for either the Democratic Party (otherwise known as the ultra-liberal group of crybabies) and the Republican Party (otherwise known as the ultra-conservative group of thugs) to offer me a candidate I can actually vote for. Someone that has a firm group of ideals and beliefs that they stand for; someone with the intelligence to complete an actual sentence of their own without regurgitating rehearsed talking points; someone who would stand above the fray and not engage in negative politics but who would rather speak in positive tones about their own beliefs; someone who had admittedly made mistakes in their past, as all of us regular human beings had, and would not only account for them, but would explain them and make you understand their thought processes; someone who doesn't seem bought and paid for by lobbyists; someone that doesn't use the race card or military service for and/or against themselves and/or their opponents; someone who actually says what they mean and means what they say...

I'm still waiting.

This is why, for the fourth consecutive presidential election, I am casting my vote for the obvious choice. Considering the options and the current economic mess we find ourselves in, the two major parties have chosen to not put the best candidate forward to solve our problems. So, therefore, I have voted for "None of the Above", and I urge all of you to do the same.

Yep, if we are headed for economic chaos and a government system where there is no oversight of basic things that help our country be what it is, why do we need an actual person as president? Okay, we do need someone in the position, but why does it have to be a choice between these two idiots? Why does it have to be a choice between the lesser of two evils?

When legendary baseball player Babe Ruth got a salary raise in 1931, someone asked him how it felt to make more money than President Hoover. "Why not? I had a better year than he did," said the Babe. Isn't it odd that the supposed most important position in the free world pays like Derek Jeter's backup? Perhaps if we utilized a 'sports salary cap' mentality and put a ceiling on what CEO's of corporations can make in this country, they all won't be trying to make tons of jack anyway possible, regardless of the external damage caused.

And perhaps if the position of President of the United States paid more like what George Clooney gets per picture, as opposed to what a production assistant on one of his films makes, we might actually inspire better selections from the candidates-to-be pool, and be allowed to choose from the best and the brightest.

So my friends, don't be afraid, don't think you are wasting your vote, do what I did via absentee ballot already. Go to the ballot box this November, and at the bottom of the screen where there is a keypad in most ballots, or otherwise stick a pen in your shirt pocket, and be sure to type or write in the logical choice for change - NONE OF THE ABOVE!

Make them start from scratch with candidates that we can actually approve of! If you really want to have a voice, if you really want change, then tell the elephants and the donkeys and all the pundints that this is still a country of the people, by the people, and for the people.

OSU faces a case of "Cush-lash"

Until now, the only thing that the northern New Jersey borough of Park Ridge has been know for was Tony Soprano. Not the character, but the actor who played him. James Gandolfini hails from Park Ridge, and before he became well known as the man who put the bada in the bada Bing, he was another North Jersey kid who wanted to play college football.

With all the talk about this Saturday's regular season college football showdown between #5 Ohio State and top-ranked USC centering around the health status of Buckeyes running back Chris Wells, don't be fooled. Three of the best linebackers in the country will be on the field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. One of them is Ohio State's James Laurinitis. Another will be USC middle linebacker Rey Maualuga.

And the third will be the newest pride of Park Ridge: Brian Cushing.

It's been fun for me, as someone who has followed his young career, to watch him grow into the football player he seemed destined to. I first saw him while standing on the sidelines of the 2003 New Jersey Group IV non-public championship game.

He was a junior for Bergen Catholic, and was facing the undefeated Don Bosco Prep at Giants Stadium. The amount of talent on the field that night was significant. Don Bosco's team, considered by many to be the greatest in New Jersey high school history, featured: Rutgers QB Mike Teel, Boston College LB/FB Brian Toal, and Florida State CB Michael Ray Garvin, among others. Cushing's teammates for BC included Maryland WR Isaiah Williams and Stanford TE Jim Dray.

Cushing was easily the best player on the field that night, making numerous and significant tackles, forcing the game to go right down to the wire. The next year, in 2004, he led Bergen Catholic to the state title while earning numerous honors such as being named a Parade All-American and state player of the year.

He had an immediate impact on the USC campus, not only making the team as a freshman, but starting in the 2006 National Championship game in the Rose Bowl for the Trojans against Texas. The following year, he was named the defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl as USC crushed Michigan.

This year is Cushing's senior season, and he's rated by ESPN Draft Guru Mel Kiper as one of the 5 best prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft. With outstanding speed (4.55 40-yard time) and a knack for finding the ball carrier (nearly 20% of his tackles are for loss), pro scouts are anxious to try and find a spot for him next year.

So when watching the game on Saturday, be sure to watch for #10 on defense for the Trojans. If the Buckeyes have any chance of winning, they will need to be watching for where he is too.

NBC drops the ball

So last night I'm watching the 49ers-Bears pre-season game on FOX, with really no plans to watch any Olympics coverage. But thanks to a story and NBC's lack of reporting it in a timely fashion, I watched all 4 1/2 of primetime coverage last night, only to watch NBC fumble hard.

During the football game, FOX kept showing updated scores of the baseball games in-progress. At about 7PM Pacific time last night, the score flashed that the Mets had edged the Braves 5-4, to move 2 1/2 games past Philadelphia. So, I flipped over to ESPN, where Baseball Tonight was just starting and was actually showing the Mets highlights.

But at the bottom of the screen, on the ESPN crawl, something caught my attention. A report surfaced that the International Olympic Committee had asked the governing body of gymnastics to investigate further claims that surfaced on the internet in which the Chinese national team had used underage participants. This was apparently not the first inquiry about this, and I recall the NBC announcers talking about this during the competitions without stating that China was cheating.

So I started flipping around to first NBC, which was in local programming out here in Los Angeles, and then to the various news channels, seeking more info. There was none to be found.

I decided to lock onto NBC at 8PM Pacific, knowing that the primetime coverage was starting, expecting Bob Costas to lead the program with this breaking news. But to my disappointment, they didn't. In fact, it appeared as though we were given the exact same recorded coverage that NBC provided to the east coast some three hours earlier.

I stayed with NBC, waiting for them to announce this major news, but they didn't. By 10:30PM Pacific, which would have been 30 minutes on the east coast feed after the news broke on ESPN and was repeated in a crawl on CNN, still nothing from NBC. At 11PM, coverage of the men's beach volleyball followed for 75 minutes.

Finally, at 12:15AM Pacific time, two hours on the east coast feed after the news broke, and five hours in real time, Costas made brief mention of the investigation and the consequences therein.


So, where do we begin in assailing NBC on this? Assuming I'm correct and that NBC simply ran the programming on a 3-hour delay tape for the west coast audience, it is a black eye to NBC as a news organization for not providing this information in a timely fashion. After all, us sports fans have been led to believe in recent years that the Olympics are for "non-sports fans", which is why sports like gymnastics, track and field, and beach volleyball and swimming/diving get primetime coverage, while actual sports that regular sports fan enjoy such as basketball and baseball/softball and even to a lesser degree soccer don't even get a mention. Meaning, if a non-sports fan watches only the 4 hours of primetime coverage and nothing else, they are totally being denied any information about all of the other sports in play.

But what's worse here is that a major story concerning the integrity of one of those primary sports NBC has showcased in primetime was 'buried' until 4 1/2 hours into the telecast. It wasn't detailed when it happened just 2 hours into their broadcast to the east. What's worse, because they taped it as if it had to fit a pre-determined schedule, instead of coming on the air live at 8PM Pacific and detailing the story one hour after it broke, they made West Coast viewers wait 4 1/2 hours to get info about it.

I have a hard time believing that someone with the journalistic integrity of Bob Costas was provided the option to report the story in real time and decided against it. Which means one of two things, either: (1) NBC was too married to the taped version of their programming to break live with the info, or, (2) as many conspiracy theorists like myself might find more believable, they waited until 12:15 AM to run the story because they were asked to by the IOC and/or China, because of the embarrassment aspect of the story. After all, most people probably shut their TV's off after 11PM.

Overall, I think NBC has done well considering the time difference. The major problem I had with the coverage until now is that their two best play-by-play broadcasters, Al Michaels and Mike Emrick, were nowhere to be found. Maybe they didn't feel they had anything for Emrick to do, but having Michaels on your staff and not utilizing in the Olympics, for which he is best known for, it's incomprehensible. How do you not have a sport that needs covering for the man who asked if we believed in miracles?

Yet, this problem is not nearly as significant as NBC's unwillingness to break the gymnastics news within a reasonable timeframe. Of course, most damming for MSNBC is the fact that they have "24 hour news channel" in MSNBC that they didn't utilize at all. Throughout the period of the breaking story, the channel had a re-run of Keith Olbermann's show, a repeat of a Dateline "Catch a Predator" episode, and three episodes of them behind the scenes at a prison. Um, what? What the hell, MSNBC? Aren't you a cable NEWS channel? Oh, my bad, like many grocery stores back in the day, the "24-hour" label is a misnomer, in that they apparently mean 24 hours, but not all of then consecutive.

Very disappointed in the Peacock network.

End of An Era

There have been many twists and turns in my life since becoming an adult 22 years ago. Changes in direction, changes in location, changes in attitude. Some changes were very minuscule in the big picture of life. Some changes were very significant, both that affect me personally and those from an observant standpoint.

Through this, however, there have been a few constants that I could always rely on. Family is certainly one of them. Many friends have changed, but some have remained constant throughout. And then there are the things that you could always count on to help entertain and inform, those outside sources that could, in the words of Jim Valvano, make you, "laugh, cry, and think" to make for a full day. Sadly, one of those constants is no more.

After 19 years together, the Mike and the Mad Dog radio program in New York has come to an end.

Maybe sports isn't your thing; that's okay. Maybe sports talk isn't your thing; I understand where you are coming from. But for someone who loves sports, and someone who has come to appreciate sports talk as a medium, today is a day of sadness for me. As someone who not only listened loyally for two decades two this show, but who also briefly engaged as a production intern at the station and got to know Mike Francesa and Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, it is a tough ending to a working partnership that not only revolutionized the sports talk genre, but has come to define the best of it.

I remember being a listener to the fledgling station in that first year of 1987 and early into 1988, and knowing that it was the ONLY sports radio station in the entire United States, most said the idea of 24-hour sports radio would never work. In 1989, the radio station decided to pair Mike, who had been working mid days with Ed Coleman, and Mad Dog, who had just moved over from WMCA, to takeover the afternoon drive time slot previously occupied by Pete Franklin, who was great in Cleveland but awful in New York.

It was always an uneasy partnership. Mike is perceived as a curmudgeon, a know-it-all who's opinion was the only one that matter, prickly and over-sensitive about his weight. Dog is perceived as a flighty and screaming know-it-all, who was always trying to out scream everyone that he was right, with a ridiculous laugh. They were often so steadfast in their opinions that they often fought, sometimes on-air.

Yet, through it all, it was a fabulous relationship. It was honest. It was funny. It was, at it best, as good as radio talk shows, not sports talk shows, but talk shows, could ever be.

And as a New York sports fan, we went through all the important moments with them. Whether it was the Giants Super Bowls, the Jets playoff run in 98, the Yankees playoff runs, the Rangers and Devils and Knicks title runs, the 9/11 tragedy, and so much more. Many of us like me experienced a lot of these moments with Mike and Chris right by our side.

They were the first to go broadcast shows during Super Bowl week - now hundreds of stations send their program hosts to "Radio Row" because of these guys. The concept of a two-man talk show, in sports and other topics, came about because of their success.

For anyone that grew up listening to them, and anyone who grew old listening to them, today is like the day the announced the break-up of the Beatles. I know this because every television station in New York City led last night with the news of their announcement.

Sports radio will never be the same for me. Sure Mike will continue in the drivetime slot for WFAN, and Chris will likely go onto other things. But it just won't be the same. It just won't be the same.

So, on behalf of the millions and millions of people that had the pleasure to listen to you guys, and to the smaller group of us that got to know you even a little bit, to quote the late great Bob Hope, "Thanks for the memories".

KFL Draft Lottery Update

So the main fantasy football league that I am a part of as commissioner, the Kokua Football League, set the draft order this past week with the draft lottery. Last year, I was 3rd and moved up to 2nd with a draft day trade. However, I took Steven Jackson (who was injured most of the first half of the season), gave up 2nd and 4th round picks as part of the deal (for 5th and 7th), and suffered through a horrible year. In my other league, I won the championship, which luckily balanced out my football year.

Here's the draft order for the first round this year. We used the snake method (1-12 in odd rounds, then reversing it 12-1 in even rounds), and our draft is on August 28:

(1) Nice Marmots - Ryan Mac, one of 3 new team owners in the league this season. Jessica Biel (LaDanian Tomlinson) or Jessica Alba (Adrian Peterson) - can't really go wrong there.
(2) Unnamed Franchise - Raj M. He had #1 pick last year and took LDT - maybe he gets to grab him again, but I hear he wants to move down in the order.
(3) Northridge Bungals - Ken B. Ken, are you really thinking about taking Ocho Cinco with the #3 overall pick? Just kidding, I'd take Brady here.
(4) Silver Lake Cubs - Dean M. Live and let Addai, right Dean?
(5) Runaway Guides - Adam S. Too high to grab Clinton Portis there... you might hate it, but Brian Westbrook is a steal at 5
(6) Los Feliz Navy Dads - Jonathan H. Brady's probably gone, but if not, I'm sure you'll take him again and try to ride to the finals for a 2nd straight year.
(7) Park La Brea Freemen - Travis O. Now it gets hinky, perhaps Willie Parker or Steven Jackson here?
(8) Wicked Playas - Andrea J. Another newbie - she's from Boston, so I'm guessing Moss if he's still there, which he might be.
(9) Everybody Loves Ray - Ray M. The defending champ - Frank Gore perhaps?
(10) Heartland Transplants - "Budke". Last of the newcomers - can we con him into taking Favre 7 rounds higher than he should be? Probably not - Portis here or even T.O.
(11) Montvale Whalers - ME. Be glad to take best player available here; does anyone think Larry Johnson is '06 version or '07 version?
(12) Palms Sundaes - Evan B. With Westbrook long gone, and Peyton a question with knee, I'm guessing best RB available if he doesn't trade up to get Westbrook.

I can't wait for the draft - just two weeks away!

Rocking TMZ as a savant

Okay - in case you missed it - here is my appearance on TMZ this past Friday afternoon answering sports trivia questions. It was a blast getting to meet Harvey and the whole crew - especially Christie and Tyler! Anyways, it was a lot of fun, and I guess I answered more correct than incorrect - so I guess I didn't implode, which was my only real goal. Enjoy:



BTW - Kirk Gibson was not traded to the Dodgers. He was awarded free agency due to the 1987 Owners Collusion case and left the Tigers as a free agent.

Putting the "Idiot" in Idiot Savant

ITEM ONE: ON TMZ FRIDAY: Britney, Paris, Lindsay... and Crief?
Well boys and girls, the moment has arrived. Like Kato Kaelin and others before me, I'm about to make a total fool out of myself in front of the whole world.

On Friday August 8 at 5PM Eastern Time, (that's 2PM for those of you here in LA), I will appearing as a guest on a live webisode of something called "Idiot Savant Friday" on the popular celebrity rumor site TMZ. I answered an ad for people who think they are significantly proficient in sort of inane trivia, and took a phone quiz with 2 of their producers this week on the subject of sports. I went 50% on a few football questions, then answered 14 of 15 baseball questions, and they decided that I would be their guy this week. Last week, they some guy who successfully claimed he could sing the lyrics to any popular song from 1965 to 2000. Not only was he able to answer every challenge, he actually sang them. That's the act that I get to follow.

So for about 30 minutes tomorrow, I will stare down the barrel at people logging onto the TMZ website at their home page and answer sports trivia questions. I believe that for this episode they will limit questions to major league baseball and the Super Bowl, but I'm not 100% definite on that. What I do know is that I will be at the TMZ World Headquarters tomorrow afternoon to get a tour of the facilities before the show begins.

Having already been a former alternate for ESPN's Stump the Schwab sports trivia show, I am not nervous about answering the questions. I just hope I don't flake under the pressure of millions of Internet viewers watching me tomorrow. In any event, I will have a full report on how it went from the inside on Saturday morning for you.

I hope you all will tune in to check it out at this page: http://www.tmz.com - hopefully I won't need witness protection afterwards :)

ITEM TWO: J-E-T-S! Brett! Brett! Brett!
So, it turns out, I was half right. If you look at an earlier version of this blog, you'll see my post from a two weeks ago where I suggested the Jets trade for Brett Favre and then ship him to Minnesota. I had the first part correct, but not the second.

I think this is the best move for all concerned, except I wonder if the Packers won't be trying to acquire a veteran QB on waivers to back up Aaron Rodgers. In watching the talking heads discuss the Pack "post-Brett", none of them discussed the worst case scenario for them - a season ending injury to Rodgers before the season starts or during the first game. That would leave them with rookie Brian Brohm as their option. Yikes!

With the improvements the Jets had already made in the off-season, I already had them at 8-8 this year. Remember, they had a ton of injuries last season, a QB in Chad Pennington who's arm was so weak that he couldn't break a pane of glass with a throw, and still they almost beat New England in Foxboro late in the year, (of course, it was another New York team that finally, and thankfully did beat them). Adding Favre could get them, with a weaker schedule than most, to 10-6 and maybe a wild card birth. From a fantasy football standpoint, the happiest in the league right now is probably Thomas Jones, the Jets starting running back. Because Pennington could throw the ball down field last season, teams stacked 8 and 9 guys in the box to shut down the running game. Defenses won't be able to do that with #4 under center, which should open up a lot of running lanes for Jones.

BTW, ESPN was the only network covering the press conference tonight. CNN thought the Cafferty Files about weight gain were more important? Headline News thought more rehashing about the missing girl (with no new details in a 4-hour window before or after) was more important? FOX News thought O'Reilly misleading people about the energy situation was more important? MSNBC thought 5 people talking about "Shillary" wanting to speak at the convention was more important? I didn't think the main networks would interrupt programming, but isn't cable news supposed to cover news when it breaks? There wasn't any mention of it on the bottom of screen crawls either. Bad job of them.


See you on TMZ tomorrow! Hey, I'm going to meet Harvey Levin in person! Whoo-hoo!