What's $15 Trillion among citizens?

ITEM ONE: Uncle Sam can you spare some dimes?

It's as if once a week we hear about some industry that is in trouble with its finances. My initial reaction to this is that friends of mine like Brian D'Errico had the right idea about their choice of profession. Brian is currently a senior accountant for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and while I think he's found his dream job working for an NFL franchise, he's really in a good place being an accountant for an organization that constantly is under the salary cap. I say this because he and his fellow co-workers obviously know how to keep their organization profitable and running within a budget dealing with millions of dollars.

Too bad some of the companies and industries knocking on the GAO's door with their hands out don't have the same kind of people working in their financial departments. Consider the following have received government handouts in 2008 alone:

• Bear Stearns - $30 billion – JP Morgan purchased this company but needed the money as a credit line from the Federal Board to complete the purchase
  
• Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac - $200 billion – poster children for the collapse of the housing market
  
• AIG - $150 billion – and there may be more on the way
  
• Auto Industry - $25 billion – and like AIG, likely there will be a lot more on the way for the Big 3, or should we start calling them the Big 3 Idiots?
  
• "Troubled Assist Relief Program" - $700 billion – acronym is TARP but it should be TRAP, as in…
  
• Citigroup - $247.5 billion – how in the hell does a bank need money anyway
  

The total damage done here in just 2008 alone: $1,352,500,000,000.00 – that's right, $1.35 trillion dollars. Yet, the average American taxpayer, struggling as badly as ever in recent memory, doesn't get to see a single dime.

So how do we fix this? Do we storm the government buildings and burn them to the ground in an effort to start over again? Do we take all of the CEO's from these failed entities and file a class action suit to recover their salaries and bonuses, which combined probably, are equal to or exceed the above sum figure of handouts?

Well I say since our government seems to think they can just print money to cover these "loans", why not take it one step further and give us loans. Think about it: if every single citizen of the United States, and I estimate there are about 350 million of us, were to receive a check for $10,000 from the IRS, the amount the government would lay out is $3.5 trillion, or only slightly more than twice as much as all of those failing businesses were loaned. What could you do with another $10,000 right now? Could you take a nice vacation with your family for the holidays? Put a down payment on a new car, or buy new furniture? Pay off some debt or invest it in a college fund? Or just have an extra $28 a day for dinner and drinks?

I mean, if we're going to go this much into debt as a nation in order to save necessary public and private industries, isn't it just as important to save our citizens as well? Aren't we just as necessary? Okay, perhaps this isn't really feasible because of the fact that not everyone in the population pays taxes, and the rich won't need $10,000 extra since that's just pocket change to them. Still, if the government is going to allow the coffers to be fully accessible for a limited time only, why not us and why not now?

It's just a thought.

ITEM TWO: Coloring in the playoff picture

So with 4 weeks to go, we are beginning to have a clearer understanding of the NFL playoff picture. Here is where we stand:

		AFC	W	L	T	WK 14	WK 15	WK 16	WK 17
	1	TEN	11	1	0	CLE	@ Hou	PIT	@ Ind
	2	PIT	9	3	0	DAL	@ Bal	@ Ten	CLE
	3	NYJ	8	4	0	@ Sf	BUF	@ Sea	MIA
	4	DEN	7	5	0	KC	@ Car	BUF	@ Sd
	5	IND	8	4	0	CIN	DET	@ Jax	TEN
	6	BAL	8	4	0	WAS	PIT	@ Dal	JAX
		MIA	7	5	0	@ Buf	SF	@ Kc	@ Nyj
		NE	7	5	0	@ Sea	@ Oak	ARZ	@ Buf
		BUF	6	6	0	MIA	@ Nyj	@ Den	NE
		HOU	5	7	0	@ Gb	TEN	@ Oak	CHI
		JAX	4	8	0	@ Chi	GB	IND	@ Bal
		SD	4	8	0	OAK	@ Kc	@ Tb	DEN
		NFC	W	L	T	WK 14	WK 15	WK 16	WK 17
	1	NYG	11	1	0	PHI	@ Dal	CAR	@ Min
	2	TB	9	3	0	@ Car	@ Atl	SD	OAK
	3	ARZ	7	5	0	STL	MIN	@ Ne	SEA
	4	MIN	7	5	0	@ Det	@ Arz	ATL	NYG
	5	CAR	9	3	0	TB	DEN	@ Nyg	@ No
	6	ATL	8	4	0	@ No	TB	@ Min	STL
		DAL	8	4	0	@ Pit	NYG	BAL	@ Phi
		WAS	7	5	0	@ Bal	@ Cin	PHI	@ Sf
		PHI	6	5	1	@ Nyg	CLE	@ Was	DAL
		CHI	6	6	0	JAX	NO	GB	@ Was
		NO	6	6	0	ATL	@ Chi	@ Det	CAR
		GB	5	7	0	HOU	@ Jax	@ Chi	DET

Keep in mind that Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Seattle have already been officially eliminated from playoff contention. I further feel that Houston, Jacksonville, and San Diego in the AFC as well as Green Bay in the NFC are also too long of long shots to get into the playoffs. It's looking more and more like there will be 3 teams from the NFC South in the playoffs this year; that 10 wins may not be enough to get in as a wild card; that 3 of the 8 division winners might only have 9 wins; and that two of the marquee franchises in the league, the Cowboys and the Patriots, would miss the playoffs if the season ended today. So as I gaze into the crystal ball, here is who I think will finish the season in the playoffs:

AFC SEEDS will be: (1) Tennessee (13-3), (2) Pittsburgh (12-4), (3) NY Jets (11-5), (4) Denver (9-7), (5) Indianapolis (12-4), and (6) Baltimore (12-4). This means that the Patriots at 11-5 will lose on the division tie-breaker to the Jets in the AFC East based on division record, and that 11 wins will not be enough for them to get in as a wild card. The Steelers will lose at Baltimore in Week 15, but will win the division based upon the conference record tie-breaker. Miami will have the chance to play a spoilers role, especially the last week at the Jets. Speaking of the Fighting Favres, they have 2 west coast trips still to come at San Francisco and Seattle, and even though they are the better team, Jet fans will understand why I don't think they will win them both and also sweep home games against Buffalo and Miami as well. And as the playoffs commence, many will question the Titans, despite a conference best 13-3 mark, because I think they will lose their last two games (vs. Pittsburgh and at Indianapolis).

NFC SEEDS will be: (1) NY Giants (14-2), (2) Carolina (12-4), (3) Minnesota (10-6), (4) Arizona (9-7), (5) Tampa Bay (11-5), and (6) Atlanta (10-6). The most glaring thing that jumps out here is Atlanta making the playoffs over NFC East stalwarts Dallas, Washington, and Philadelphia. This is where analyzing the schedule comes into the play. The Falcons road games (New Orleans and Minnesota) are winnable games, and they get St. Louis at home at end of season. The Eagles have too much ground to make up thanks to that costly tie at Cincinnati. The Redskins are getting injured in key spots at the wrong time, and even though they have road games at Cincinnati and San Francisco, something tells me that, in addition to losing this week at Baltimore, the Eagles will trip them up. The Cowboys last four are simply brutal: at Pittsburgh (no way), home to the Giants (giving them that one), home to Baltimore (not tough enough), and at Philly (fans alone there will make sure they get eliminated). This coming week's Monday nighter between Tampa Bay and Carolina will influence who wins the South; Minnesota should beat Detroit (who I thinks finishes with the 0-16) and Arizona at home, and I think the Giants will continue to do their thing down the stretch.

We'll see what happens…

RANDOM THOUGHTS: A little birdie tells me that Terrence Howard was among the celebrities at a Starline Films event this past week in Paramus, where they held a fundraiser and showed a preview of the Anyone's Son documentary. I've also heard a rumor that their funding is finally being put into place and that shooting could begin on both Anyone's Son and 4CHOSEN in 2009. I'll try to confirm this as soon as I can… I have long been a vocal proponent of a college football playoff system, and it's looking like this could be another year to make the argument. Imagine what happens if Missouri should upset Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game this coming Saturday. Does that vault Texas, a team that didn't even outright win its own division, into the BCS Championship against the Alabama/Florida winner? Does a one-loss USC team (providing it doesn't get stung by cross-town rival UCLA) get the nod? What about one-loss Penn State, who won the Big Ten outright? And if Florida does beat Alabama, let's say in overtime, doesn't a then one-loss Bama deserve a re-match opportunity like Florida did against Florida State in 1996? Memo to President-Elect Obama: when you are ready to convene your blue-ribbon college football playoff panel, just make sure I get a seat at the table and I guarantee it would get done… Speaking of the new president, I like the way he is using the "keep your friends close and enemies closer" approach to building his cabinet. I mean, from the sound of people still reacting to his election, not only will we have all financial issues rectified and complete troop withdrawal from Iraq finalized within the first 90 days, but he's also supposed to enact complete health care for everybody and discovered a cure for cancer. No pressure, right? Perhaps some of us need to lower our expectations because short of walking on water (which I'm not saying is impossible) he's not going to be able to make all of the change people want by snapping his fingers. If only… Since the above mentioned bailout of Citigroup amounts to $247.5 billion, and the $240 million over 20 years ballpark naming rights deal with the Mets is unaffected (which is ridiculous), here's my shopping list for the Mets this off-season, seeing as how money shouldn't be an object to them: start with the pitching – they won't get Sabathia, and I don't want Sheets or Burnett, but if K-Rod comes down to 3 years, then roll the dice. Otherwise, I'd try to get Jonathan Broxton from the Dodgers via trade to be the new closer, and add relievers Chad Durbin from the Phillies, Mark Hendrickson from the Marlins, and 2 of these 3 starters: Derek Lowe of the Dodgers, Randy Wolf of the Astros, and Jon Garland of the Angels, to pitch behind Santana, Maine and Pelfrey. Offensively, they need to just eat the contract of Luis Castillo and bring in Orlando Hudson from Arizona to play 2B, while adding either Craig Monroe or Shannon Stewart might be good additions to the outfield… temps were pleasant in North Wildwood for Thanksgiving this year, and it was great to visit with family, especially getting to see my Dad. The house that he grew up in at 107 Asbury Ave in Ocean City is no more. All that's left is the lot; the house was completely demolished and the rubble removed. We saw it on Friday; just this empty patch of land on a street with small plots of property overflowing with other homes, and it just looked odd. But it wasn't a total loss – the fried donuts from Ward's Pastry on Asbury Avenue between 6^th and 7^th were beyond delicious, if there is such a thing.

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.