TODAY'S CHUCKLE.....from yesterdays Chicago Sun Times

Neil Steinbergs's response to the following:
A reader wrote in complaining about Keith Olbermann's coverage of Bush's speech:

"He strikes me as a one trick pony....I used to think he was incisive and kind of funny. Now he comes across as a chronic whiner, totally unbalanced in his appraisals of the political leadership of this country."

Steinberg's reply:

Criticizing something on television is like complaining about the wallpaper in a brothel--the legitimacy of your complaint is overshadowed by the fact that you shouldn't be there in the first place.

WAFA SULTAN - AMAZING VIDEO

Heads Up to the blog site Carpe Diem for this video (they are a favorite!!). You have to wonder why this Al-Jazeera offering does not find it's way to CNN or any of the mainstream media outlets (interesting, even provocative). Perhaps Ron Paul, and anyone else who would say "we need to understand why Muslims hate America", should give this one a look. And then come back and tell me if you understand the issues that Ms. Sultan is articulating. I know somebody's compass is way off on this issue, I just don't happen to think it is hers. - TheSlav
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wafa_Sultan

Wafa Sultan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wafa Sultan (Arabic: وفاء سلطان) (born 1958, Damascus, Syria) a Syrian-born American psychiatrist and a vocal critic of Islam.

Life and career

Sultan was born in Damascus to an Alawi family.[1]She resides in Los Angeles, California. She emigrated to the United States in 1989, and is now a naturalized citizen. Sultan has become notable since the September 11, 2001 attacks for her participation in Middle East political debates, with Arabic essays that circulated widely and some television appearances on Al-Jazeera and CNN.

On February 21, 2006, she took part in Al Jazeera's weekly 90-minute discussion program The Opposite Direction. She spoke from Los Angeles, arguing with host Faisal al-Qassem and with Ibrahim Al-Khouli about Samuel P. Huntington's Clash of Civilizations theory. A six minute composite video of her remarks was subtitled and widely circulated by MEMRI on weblogs and through e-mail. In this video she scolded Muslims for treating non-Muslims differently and for not recognizing the accomplishments of non-Muslim society, while using its wealth and technology.

The New York Times estimated that the video of her appearance was viewed at least one million times as it spread via weblogs and email.[2] Sultan revealed to the Times that she is working on a book to be called The Escaped Prisoner: When God Is a Monster.


Political views

Sultan describes her thesis as witnessing "a battle between modernity and barbarism which Islam will lose". It has brought her telephone threats,[3] but also praise from reformers. Her comments, especially a pointed criticism that "no Jew has blown himself up in a German restaurant", brought her an invitation to Jerusalem by the American Jewish Congress.

Sultan believes that "The trouble with Islam is deeply rooted in its teachings. Islam is not only a religion. Islam [is] also a political ideology that preaches violence and applies its agenda by force."[citation needed] In a discussion with Ahmad bin Muhammad, she said: "It was these teachings that distorted this terrorist and killed his humanity".[4]

Sultan said she was shocked into secularism by the 1979 atrocities committed by Islamic extremists of the Muslim Brotherhood against innocent Syrian people, including the machine-gun assassination of her professor, Yusef al Yusef,[citation needed] an ophthalmologist renowned beyond Syria, in her classroom in front of her eyes at the University of Aleppo where she was a medical student. "They shot hundreds of bullets into him, shouting, 'God is great!' " she said. "At that point, I lost my trust in their god and began to question all our teachings. It was the turning point of my life, and it has led me to this present point. I had to leave. I had to look for another god."[citation needed]

Riyad Asfari, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Aleppo, stated in an interview that the assassination took place off campus, and that no one had ever been killed anywhere at the university. Asfari's comment was also confirmed by Syrian expatriates Adnan Halabi and Ghada Moezzin. Moezzin, who attended the University of Aleppo in 1979, commented "We would’ve known about the killing if it had happened. It would have been big news on campus and I do not recall ever hearing about it." Moezzin added that government security was always present around the university at the time.[5]

Awards and recognitions

In 2006 Wafa Sultan was named in Time Magazine in a list of 100 influential people in the world "whose power, talent or moral example is transforming the world."[6] Time stated that "Sultan's influence flows from her willingness to express openly critical views on Islamic extremism that are widely shared but rarely aired by other Muslims."[6] In this interview she still described herself as a Muslim: "I even don't believe in Islam, but I am a Muslim."[6]

YAHOO BEATS ESPN--YAAAAAAHOOOOOOO!!!

http://sports.yahoo.com/

There's a new WWLIS, at least according to comScore Media Metrix. This is more than enough for me to proclaim--in the words of ESPN dick-head Dana Jacobson--F*ck Dana Jacobson, F*ck the WWLIS moniker, F*ck ESPN. There can't possibly be a more concentrated collection of morons, cretins and self-indulgent misfits anywhere on the planet.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/122/yahoos-rally-cry.html

So far, so good. Yahoo beat "the worldwide leader" in unique visitors in August, September, and November 2007, according to comScore (NASDAQ:SCOR) Media Metrix. In the money game, according to a private Nielsen/NetRatings AdRelevance report obtained by Fast Company, both Yahoo Sports and ESPN.com generated about $80 million in ad revenue through the first three quarters of last year. (Nielsen, ESPN, and Yahoo wouldn't comment.) No wonder CEO Jerry Yang cites Sports as part of his goal of "becoming the starting point for the most consumers on the Internet."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
And take your weak-assed apologies--Ms. Jacobson and ESPN--and shove them up your collective asses. And chase said apology with the vodka bottle which, in your mind, fueled the burst of religious bigotry you characterize as "humor". On second thought, why punish the vodka bottle, without it--and the lubricant it provides to ones inhibitions--we may never have learned the extent of your true feelings. Have a great career, my dear.

Maybe you should ask Michael Richards for career and/or PR advice. Disgusting little pukes.

JACOBSON'S STORY AND "APOLOGY" FROM SportsbyBrooks.com:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/jacobson-thinks-media-exaggerated-her-rant-15671

BREAKING NEWS - METS TO WIN SANTANA SWEEPSTAKES

The New York Post is reporting that the Mets and Twins have agreed to a deal for left handed Cy Young Award winner Johann Santana. The Twins would receive prospects Carlos Gomez, Deolis Guerra, Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber.

Earlier, the Twins had insisted the Mets agree to include All-Star SS Jose Reyes in any deal for Santana.

It look like the Mets GM Omar Minaya has just won the biggest fish in the market this off season without surrendering any major pieces from his roster--if this trade goes through as reported.

A GIANT WIN: GOOD FOR WHAT AILS THE ECONOMY

Given the way the value of Americans most precious asset--their homes--are melting like a snowman in Miami, can we really afford to see our 401K's and retirement assets meltdown in similar fashion?

I didn't think so. The Patriotic thing to do therefore is for all Americans to root the Giants to victory in Arizona. It would do more to help the consumer revitalize the economy, via the "wealth effect", than any crumbs Uncle Sammie or Fed-head (Dead-head?) Bernanke might toss our way.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GIANTS........

------------------------------------------------------------
FROM CNBC.COM
http://www.cnbc.com/id/22883662
Super Bowl Market Stats - Big Blue and Big Scores
Posted By:Ariel Nelson
AP
As Darren Rovell pointed out, the market historically has outperformed when an original NFL team wins the Super Bowl and lags when an orginal AFL team wins. [Original NFL teams that switched to the AFC when the AFL and NFL merged include the Steelers, the Colts and the Browns.] We decided to look at the market's performance of AFL / NFL teams as well as the current AFC / NFC split. Either way you slice it you gotta say GO GIANTS!!!!!!!

* 39 Super Bowls with Original AFL / NFL teams
25 NFL wins
14 AFL wins
* Avg annual returns when NFL wins
Dow up 14.7%
S&P up 13.7%
Nasdaq up 14.7%
* Avg annual returns when AFL wins
Dow down -2.8%
S&P down -0.4%
Nasdaq up 7.7%

Using the current AFC / NFC delineations, you get the following:

* 41 Super bowls to date
21 NFC wins
20 AFC wins
* Avg annual returns when NFC wins
Dow up 14.3%
S&P up 13.8%
Nasdaq up 15.6%
* Avg annual returns when AFC wins
Dow up 2.0%
S&P up 3.0%
Nasdaq up 8.6%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

PATRIOTS CONTINUE TO MESS WITH THE INJURY REPORT

Coach Bellicheat characteristically taunted the assembled media scribes by letting them know that the Pats injury report would be released for their amusement on Wednesday January 30th as prescribed by the league and not a moment sooner.

Fortunately, we have obtained, from unidentified league sources, the following advance information--submitted by the team--regarding the Patriots starting QB Tom Brady.

Player - Brady, Tom
Position - QB
Injuries or Conditions of Note - Priapism (not responding to treatment), Partially torn testicle (left or non-throwing side), Sebaceous Cyst (not responding to treatment, considerable build-up), minor bladder control issues (season-long condition), Partially dislocated penis (not responding to treatment).
Status: Probable

It's clear that Coach Bellicheat treats the injury report as useless fodder for gamblers and degenerates and simply does not treat it with quite the reverence that the NFL would like.

He's going to play folks. And when the Giants win, the media will treat his dalliances with the "super-model du jour" in much the same manner as Tony Romo's trip to Mexico with his "trophy girlfriend". Which is to say, not very harshly.

Anyway, that twinkle in Brady's eye when he throws a pick is sure to be some off-week flashback to his "date" with whomever he was bringing the flowers to. I say shack up all week Tom, hell don't practice at all, I wouldn't. Show them you are Tom-F**king-Brady and you can do whatever you want. The reports from "the field" regarding Brady's comings and goings sure beat seeing that insufferable "Fourth Brady Boy" vignette that ESPN keeps nauseating us with. Although I could see Marcia getting pounded in the honker with that weak FB toss, all day long. HAHAHA. Like that toss would have caused the kind of swelling they showed later, maybe if she got hit with a baseball bat. I can't believe we bought into that episode. Oh well, we were young.

Anyway, Giants 35 Patriots 34, just so that there is an everlasting reminder to young Tom as to where his focus was, and where it should have been.

Then, after Eli is named Super Bowl MVP, the national sports focus and debate can shift from who is the NFL's biggest slut QB, Romo or Brady, to who is the alpha male in the Manning family, Peyton or Eli?

TRAINING DIFFERENCES OF BASEBALL PLAYERS

This is a reprint of an article that appeared in Coach Peter's Baseball Tips Web Site. The site contains quite a few informative articles from baseball coaches from around the country. The site is a good resource for players and coaches alike, especially the Instructional Articles section.

http://www.baseballtips.com/playertraining.html
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Training Differences of Baseball Players vs. Other Athletes

Charles Slavik, President of Eagle Baseball Club
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
George Carlin did a classic bit of comedy on the differences between the sports of baseball vs. football, giving the impression that the two sports couldn’t be more opposite in terms of pace, terminology and other factors. We agree and would add that the training for each sport has to be different as well. Both sports are power oriented sports, but there are differences in how that power is expressed and trained.

Sport & Athlete Needs Assessment
The trainer has to assess the unique needs of the sport and allocate time to improving each quality within the athlete. Athletic abilities assessment should be made for each athlete to match the athlete’s needs to the sport based on the level of competition. Then the athlete has a clear roadmap of where they are and where they wish to go based on their motivation and goals.

All sports differ in terms of the relative importance various physical skills contribute to the game and to individual athlete’s performance. The movements in baseball are ballistic in nature and involve full-body activity. The ability to repeatedly perform near maximal level with limited rest bouts is necessary for baseball players.

Baseball players should not be trained to build excess bulk or muscle mass. They should focus on improving quick, reactive movements, increasing explosiveness and injury prevention, as well as improving speed and trunk rotation. This will lead to improved bat speed and ball velocity.

Energy Systems
Because of the anaerobic nature of the game, baseball players use the phosphagen system as the primary source of energy. About 80% of the body’s metabolic energy will come from the phosphagen system. Training programs involving sprinting and plyometric exercises under 10 seconds in duration that provide complete recovery are indicated. This type of training will improve speed and power development.

Rotational Movements
One of the key differences in baseball is that the main activities of hitting and throwing occur in a rotational plane of movement and are very ballistic or explosive in nature. Therefore, baseball players need to train rotationally with light weights and high speed. Exercise that emphasizes rotating the hips and torso using resistance from cables/pulleys, dumbbells and medicine balls are effective.

Players often lack abdominal or core strength. Abdominal crunches and various rotational twists with a medicine ball should be used to develop a strong muscular base in this area. This will focus on improving strength and power in the rotational muscles of the core area that are vital for swinging a bat or throwing a ball.

Shoulder Stability & Rotator Cuff Work
Another key difference is the unusually high stress placed on the shoulder joint generally and the rotator cuff muscles. The act of pitching occurs at an angular velocity at the shoulder joint approaching 7,000 degrees per second (almost 20 full circles) and is one of the fastest human movements. This places the shoulder joint and surrounding muscles at significant risk of injury from repetitive stress.

Exercises that strengthen the anterior and posterior shoulder muscles in a balanced manner are vital. The shoulder should be flexible to allow for adequate external rotation necessary to throw at high speeds. Deceleration is the phase of pitching most associated with injury. Specific exercises to develop the muscles responsible for deceleration (mainly the rotator cuff and scapula muscles) are crucial.

Plyometric exercises for the shoulder and upper body are useful due to the explosive nature of the pitching motion. Exercises for the rhomboids, lats, pectorals and shoulder area are necessary to throw at high speeds.

Bat Speed Training
Swinging the bat is a skill that is unique to baseball. Players need good lower body and core strength to develop power in the swing. These muscles need to be trained rotationally in a high-velocity, explosive manner.

Strong hip and leg muscles will initiate the swing, the core area then sequentially transfers the rotational speed to the torso and the arms to complete the swing. The efficient transfer of force from the lower body to the upper body, known as the kinetic chain principle, requires that there be muscular balance for optimal sequential transfer of forces.

Strong lats, triceps and forearms will help to continue bat acceleration through ball contact. Squats, bench presses, pull ups, forearm and triceps exercises will develop the potential for power. Bat Speed Training with heavy and light bats within a prescribed range will transfer that potential to the actual sports skill in a specific manner.

Ball Velocity Training
Throwing a baseball with high velocity is an explosive, full-body movement that requires total body development. Strong leg, hip and core muscles are crucial to transfer power from the ground, through the lower body to the torso and eventually to the arm and hand to provide a fast, whip-like release of the ball. The efficient transfer of force through the proper sequencing of body parts through the legs, hips, trunk, and upper limb to the ball is crucial.

In addition to strength training, a weighted ball program or medicine ball throwing progression can be utilized to improve velocity. This will improve the ability to generate power in the throwing muscles. The combination of a heavy load to build power and a light load to build arm speed, thrown in a prescribed manner, has been shown to improve throwing velocity safely.

The athlete should train for proper trunk rotation during arm cocking as well as strength and flexibility in order to generate angular velocity within the trunk for maximum ball velocity. Training should involve trunk rotational exercises to develop the obliques so that maximum arm speed can be generated.

Biomechanical Analysis
We use video analysis of the pitching and hitting mechanics of each player for technique analysis, fault correction and feedback, as well as for assessing progress at a later stage of the program

Visual Skills Training
We also incorporate visual skills training for batters since the ability to accurately track the baseball and predict where it’s going to be is crucial to a hitter. Without this unique skill, all your other training can be rendered useless. Many of the exercises are easy to perform and do not require expensive equipment.

Mental and Emotional Skills Training
We introduce mental and emotional skills training to help players deal with both success and failure, as well as to deal with game pressure. Baseball is unique in that being successful three times out of ten gets you to the Hall of Fame. Players have to deal with consistent failure and still remain confident.

The following are the basics for a Baseball / Softball Conditioning Workout:

Cardiovascular Training: Sprints and interval training, not long distance running
Stretching: Important for increased flexibility and injury prevention.
Strength Training: Important for increased maximum strength. Begin with bodyweight exercises and progress to weights.
Medicine Ball Exercises: Important for rapid powerful upper body movements to develop increased explosiveness and rotational forces.
Plyometrics: Used in conjunction with strength development in an integrated program to improve the link between the strength developed in the weight room and the ability to develop explosive power, speed and agility.
Speed, Agility and Quickness Training: When it comes to baseball, speed and agility are important on both sides of the field. Speed is important in the field where hit balls must be defended. On offense, speed puts pressure on the other team and distracts the pitcher and catcher; this help the hitter get better pitches to hit. The development of speed and agility is as vital as the development of batting power and throwing arm stability.

When you translate the strength developed in the weight room with the speed developed during the plyometric training and then add proper batting and pitching mechanics, you will have a stronger, more powerful, more productive player.

All training needs to be integrated with sports skill training. You cannot do either area in isolation without leaving the player's development lacking. Trainers need to work closely with the team coach and medical staff to ensure a balanced, effective training program. Nutrition and diet and various recovery methods should be discussed with appropriate professionals in those fields.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Slavik is the President of the Eagle Baseball Club in South Elgin, Illinois. Coach Slavik has helped his players' maximize their athletic performance and avoid injuries by combining his 16 years of experience as a youth baseball & softball coach with his advanced and practical knowledge of the strength and conditioning field. Charles is a Certified Personal Trainer by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association.

DEALING WITH COLD WEATHER IN ILLINOIS

ICE FISHING IN MINNESOTA - VIDEO AVAILABLE IN LINK BELOW

I thought the guys that went sleeveless in the GB-Giants game were illustrating the concept of mind over matter but this might be an even better example. It is certainly fertile ground for further research.

http://www.fishfever.com/node/406

-------------------------------------------------------------------
QUOTE FROM GB QB LEGEND BART STARR:

"I don't want this to sound trite, because it's not --
it's attitude," Starr said. "It's a mental thing and
you, an individual, regardless of what's coached to
you, you have to put it out of your mind and focus on
what the purpose and what your objectives are. You
have to push it away."
-------------------------------------------------------------
10 DAYS UNTIL SUPER BOWL XLII

24 DAYS UNTIL PITCHERS & CATCHERS REPORT

THE APPEARANCE OF THE SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SWIMSUIT ISSUE ON MAGAZINE RACKS
(I'd bet the bulk of their rack sales are in the cold weather climates)

THE APPEARANCE OF THE MASTERS COMMERCIALS ON TV

These are the mental tricks, I use to get through the
seemingly endless below zero, arctic temperatures and
snow shoveling that January has delivered to Illinois.

Sorry, Punksatawnne Phil just doesn't do anything for me.

I might have to look into this ice fishing a little
more, it looks like fun.

IS ERIN ANDREWS A PED?

As in pedophile, NO, NO. Unless you're counting some interviews at the Little League World Series. Those youngsters clearly looked uncomfortable and somewhat confused by their feelings towards the lovely Erin. Sort of like when someone puts ICYHOT in your jockstrap. Or even better, she makes them feel kinda funny, like when they used to climb the rope in gym class. (Gratuitous Movie Reference: From what Movie? Aswer below)

However, at the NCAA level, she seems to be eliciting heightened levels of performance enhancement among collegiate level athletes just by virtue of her mere presence and somewhat tactile interviewing techniques.

This story, from the blog "Awful Announcing", documents a couple of examples recently where clearly Ms. Andrews had effect on collegiate athletes that are normally associated with PED use.

Not that there's anything wrong with that....Let's face it, I would worry more about the student-athlete who performed better after being interviewed by Jay Bilas or Digger Phelps than Erin Andrews, but that's just how I roll, homey.

I hear that if you drool when she sticks that phallic symbol of a microphone in front of you, that she openly questions your sexuality behind the scenes with her fellow announcers, producers and technicians. So there is a little stress on the youngsters, a perverse sort of reverse-Pavlovian phenomena on display, if you will. ESPN, you are cruel, sadistic bastards.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2008/01/erin-andrews-is-fueling-college.html

First it was Pat White getting a hug and a peck on the check, now it's MSU Guard Drew Nietzel who is benefiting from the Erin Andrews "touch". The Senior guard got to talk with Ms. Andrews for 15 minutes or so before the Spartans game last Tuesday against Ohio State. And while Drew says the talk "helped" him, it also made his teammates very jealous....

Neitzel, however, talked to Andrews for about 15 minutes during the pre-game shoot-around and all he did is score eight of MSU's first nine points (Naymick opened the game by making one of two foul shots) on 3-for-5 shooting including two 3-pointers, get a rebound and a steal for a quick triple-single.

"All the other guys were kind of jealous," Neitzel said. "I was pretty pumped up after talking to her. She gave me that little boost that I needed, I guess."

A "little boost" huh? Riiiight. Seriously though, if I was a College Coach I would hire Erin Andrews to give speeches to certain players before big games. She could make a fortune giving mini pep talks.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Maybe Congress has to get involved before this corrupting influence on our nations youth continues to ply its trade through the entire NCAA? Who will protect the children?

Note - Perhaps the WWLIS simply needs to put a little dose of salt-peter in the drinking fountains around Bristol, CT. Maybe if they had, Harold Reynolds would still be on Baseball Tonight and the human tragedy wrought by the Salisbury cell phone could have been avoided.

ANSWER TO GRATUITOUS MOVIE REFERENCE: Wayne's World - Garth Algar: That is a babe. She makes me feel kinda funny, like when we used to climb the rope in gym class.

MARTIN LUTHER KING

ONE OF THE GREATEST SPEECHES OF ALL TIME-CS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PICTURE GALLEY OF THE ERA FROM TIME MAGAZINE:


http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1704734,00.html?cnn=yes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND AND TEXT OF THE SPEECH:

http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/overview/38.html

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
As far as black Americans were concerned, the nation's response to Brown was agonizingly slow, and neither state legislatures nor the Congress seemed willing to help their cause along. Finally, President John F. Kennedy recognized that only a strong civil rights bill would put teeth into the drive to secure equal protection of the laws for African Americans. On June 11, 1963, he proposed such a bill to Congress, asking for legislation that would provide "the kind of equality of treatment which we would want for ourselves." Southern representatives in Congress managed to block the bill in committee, and civil rights leaders sought some way to build political momentum behind the measure.

A. Philip Randolph, a labor leader and longtime civil rights activist, called for a massive march on Washington to dramatize the issue. He welcomed the participation of white groups as well as black in order to demonstrate the multiracial backing for civil rights. The various elements of the civil rights movement, many of which had been wary of one another, agreed to participate. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Congress of Racial Equality, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee and the Urban League all managed to bury their differences and work together. The leaders even agreed to tone down the rhetoric of some of the more militant activists for the sake of unity, and they worked closely with the Kennedy administration, which hoped the march would, in fact, lead to passage of the civil rights bill.

On August 28, 1963, under a nearly cloudless sky, more than 250,000 people, a fifth of them white, gathered near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington to rally for "jobs and freedom." The roster of speakers included speakers from nearly every segment of society -- labor leaders like Walter Reuther, clergy, film stars such as Sidney Poitier and Marlon Brando and folksingers such as Joan Baez. Each of the speakers was allotted fifteen minutes, but the day belonged to the young and charismatic leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had originally prepared a short and somewhat formal recitation of the sufferings of African Americans attempting to realize their freedom in a society chained by discrimination. He was about to sit down when gospel singer Mahalia Jackson called out, "Tell them about your dream, Martin! Tell them about the dream!" Encouraged by shouts from the audience, King drew upon some of his past talks, and the result became the landmark statement of civil rights in America -- a dream of all people, of all races and colors and backgrounds, sharing in an America marked by freedom and democracy.

For further reading: Herbert Garfinkel, When Negroes March: The March on Washington...(1969); Taylor Branch, Parting the Waters: America in the King Years, 1954-1963 (1988); Stephen B. Oates, Let the Trumpet Sound: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr. (1982).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I HAVE A DREAM" (1963)
I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But 100 years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men - yes, black men as well as white men - would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and security of justice. We have also come to his hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end but a beginning. Those who hoped that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating "for whites only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today my friends - so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification - one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day, this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning "My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my father's died, land of the Pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring!"

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi - from every mountainside.

Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring - when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children - black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics - will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Distribution statement: Accepted as part of the Douglass Archives of American Public Address (http://douglass.speech.nwu.edu) on May 26, 1999. Prepared by D. Oetting (http://nonce.com/oetting).

Permission is hereby granted to download, reprint, and/or otherwise redistribute this file, provided this distribution statement is included and appropriate point of origin credit is given to the preparer and Douglass.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUNDAY...AND THE GIANTS ARE THERE

TWO HOURS PLUS UNTIL KICKOFF:

Opportunities like this do not come around very often, it's only the fourth time in my life that the G-Men have made it this far, so hopefully the Giants are able to capitalize and derail the Favre-train. Strahan will have to be a factor and he will certainly not get any gimme-sacks from Favre today. A Super Bowl trip for them would be totally unexpected given the way the Giants limped into the beginning of this season. Continue to play disciplined and stay away from the dumb penalties that hurt them early, pound Brandon Jacobs if the field is sloppy, make sure the good Eli shows up. Reportedly, Eli's fiancee has to sit in the cold, field level seats (rather than a suite)--due to Eli's superstitions--and brother Peyton has to stay home entirely since he's such a jinx and Archie still loves him more. Athletes are weird.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5:05 PM CST

It looks like it is going to have to be a rematch between the New England Patriots and the Giants. Patriots finish dismantling a beaten-up Chargers bunch. Nobody wanted to see Giants-Chargers anyway, and I'm sure now the preference is Brady vs. Favre, but that's OK.

It's 8 degrees here, usually colder in Wisconsin by a few. Surprisingly, I was out earlier and I have to say it was not that bad. Unfortunately, once the sun goes down, I think the saying "not fit for man nor beast" will apply.

I'm trying to decide what to eat, I need to find out what foods are least likely to be thrown-up. Maybe, I'll Google it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
5:10 CST

This is the best I could come up with when I Googled "foods least likely to vomit".

from a place called the clevelandclinic.org:

Once you feel nauseated, how do you prevent vomiting?
Vomiting can be prevented by consuming small amounts of clear, sweetened liquids such as soda pop, fruit juices (except orange and grapefruit because these are too acidic) and popsicles. Drinks containing sugar calm the stomach better than other liquids. Rest either in a sitting position or in a propped lying position. Activity may worsen nausea and may lead to vomiting.

F**k that, that advice is for pussies, this is MAN TIME!!! What the hell was I thinking? I HATE THE PATRIOTS. They just got their trophy.

I HATE TOM BRADY. He's probably going to copulate another dozen super-models, which theoretically, leaves that much less for the rest of us. Shit, did I say that out loud?? Hold on, I have to go hide all the sharp knives before my wife gets home.

Did Junior Seau just say the Patriots "have a chance to be a part of EVER"?? What the hell is EVER?? Is he retarded, or are parts of his brain frozen over? Is that the garage door opening? Oh F**k, the knives!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
5:30 PM CST

I can't take Howie Long seriously he looks like Commissar Howie Long. I can't take Jimmy Johnson seriously in that headband either. Terry Bradshaw somehow looks more intelligent than usual in his headgear.

It's going to be chicken tender and chips with some hot sauce and the stomach be damned.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
KICKOFF:

Giants looking good so far. Nice choice of uniforms by both teams, on this field it looks like a Giants-Packers tilt from the 60's.

Eli drives them down to a early field goal. Brandon Jacobs still doesn't look 100%, no burst. Plax and Al Harris seem like they're going to locked up all day. GIANTS 3-0

Giants D- holds again, three and out. RW McQuarters is awfully close on that fair catch, if the ball kicks up and hits him, that's going to be a huge turnover. Sometimes that's the difference between making and escaping dumb mistakes.

Toomer drops one that while fluttering a bit, hits him right between the 8 and the 1. Gotta be a catch. WR screen to Jacobs, while original, is ineffective. Three and out.
Feagles punts a turd. Good field position for the Pack instead of pinning them back.

FIRST QUARTER ENDS GIANTS 3 PACKERS 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giants almost pop a fumble loose on a WR screen. Good to see Aaron Ross in there, the kid is a junior-stud. He can jump a route and go get the ball, which we seem to have trouble doing.

Oh, luckily for me, my wife read the blog and seems to be of the opinion that super-models are too dumb to want me anyway, so Brady could have 100 of 'em and it wouldn't affect my chances one iota. I was counting on them not quite being that dumb, but whatever. I think her logic is fundamentally flawed, but I'm not going to argue the point at this time. Perhaps at a later date more conducive to intelligently disccussing the merits of such a scenario like adults.

Burress makes a play while Al Harris is taking liberties with Plax's face mask. Giants are threatening.

Pam Oliver reports Giants bench is not heated. Shouldn't the Packers have to turn off their heated bench as well, like when the communications gear on one side goes off? I guess Packers vs. the Patriots would be appropriate, both are little, chicken-shit, classless cheaters.

Giants settle for a field goal.

GIANTS 6 PACKERS 0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Koren Robinson tries to gift-wrap one on the kick-off. Packers recover.

Favre to Driver 80-something (90 officially) yards right through the Swiss-cheese secondary, nobody lays a glove on him. Too easy.

PACKERS 7 GIANTS 6.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahmad Bradshaw in for Jacobs as a change of pace. Burress with a great catch on third down and gets drilled by the safety. First down Giants.

Incomplete to Boss, looks clearly like pass interference, but that's the home-field advantage. Incomplete to Toomer. Refs letting Harris mug Burress way past five yards. Giants to punt.

Nine minutes left in the half. Packers ball.

Nice completion to Lee over the middle. Nobody near him again. Greg Jennings next on the hit parade. Giants playing flag-football tackle so far, that's not going to work.

Giants have to keep them out of the end-zone on this drive.

Tuck with a knock down at the line of scrimmage, near INT. Third Down almost big play to Martin, that would have been a back-breaker. Packers punt.

McQuarters grabs the ball near the five and gets bounced out of bounds. Another risky move. I wish the Packer would have really drilled him and knocked some sense into his head.

Brandon Jacobs runs over the Packs MLB and carries him about eight yards extra. Jacobs plays pinball with the DB's but holding brings the Giants back and nullifies a first down. DUMB.

Jacobs again, not much. Third and long around the nine yard line. Delay of Game Giants, five more yards back. No, illegal shift, which Pack declines for 4th down.

Giants punting. Too much time left on the clock, that first down nullified is large right now. The highlight of the 1961 championship is on and it looks like the same unis and the same field conditions.

Grant for little, less than 4 minutes left GB on Giants 48 yard line. 2nd and 10.
Favre throws behind Driver incomplete. To Driver incomplete, Johnson with another dumb penalty to convert a Packer first-down. DUMB #2 for the G-men. Remember, one of the keys was to stay away from dumb penalties.

Driver wide open over the middle again for about twenty yards. The Giants philosophy in the secondary seems to be just hope they drop it. The Swiss-cheese look, while appropriate to taunt true-Wisconsin-ites will not win this game. Packers in field goal range.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL NOTE:

I love that SYNC commercial where the chick goes "door open" and splatters coffee all over herself when the door petulantly ignores her commands. The look on her face is priceless. She strides right into that bitch HARD. It's like watching someone slip on a banana peel, which I've never seen in person, but this is how I imagine it would feel--F**CKING HILARIOUS. I must be mean for liking that one though. I did pull a rib muscle laughing so hard, if its any consolation. Hey, it's a commercial anyway, its not like she's a real person, she's a cartoon character. No wonder I don't get any super-models. Well that and I don't have any Super Bowl rings. Super Models are super-ficial. HAHA.

Giants hold the fort on two consecutive plays. One Favre throws away, but Antonio Pierce going through two blockers to blow up a screen. Pack kicks a field goal to make it:

PACKER 10 GIANTS 6 with a minute and a half left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bradshaw looks like he could bust one later, nice burst. ELI to PLAX nice throw and catch, now we're in position. It looked like they were going to play for a first down and go into the locker room down four. Eli to Plax again, he fumbles, I hope since he makes no effort to get it, but the Packers do. Giants from the 36. Eli runs for two yards. Incomplete on third down. This one is fizzling pretty quick. Need a first down on the sideline with no TO's left.

From the 34, Eli sacked. Half is near over, five seconds left. Packs take a knee to close it.

PACKERS 10 GIANTS 6 AT THE HALF.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HALFTIME:

Well, no turnovers, a couple of dumb penalties hurt. Eli looks good so far. And only one breakdown on defense from holding them to three points. Running game looks like it can open some things up in the second half if the defense can hold the Packers out of the end zone. Can't go down too far and become throw-throw-throw.

Let's see if Spagnola can make some defensive adjustments at the half to counter the Packs and get some pressure on Favre or his WR's.

Howie Long couldn't look dumber if he was wearing an inverted heated bucket over his head. And you need to shave too, you look like shit. Maybe he's trying to get released from this broadcast.

Who's dumb idea was it to put them outdoors anyway? I know it's cold there, I don't need to see the talents lips turning purple. Heads need to roll for this. Terry changed headgear to a sort of a ski-cap motif. Versatile Terry. Jimmy adds a scarf to the ensemble to complete the winter look. Florida boy must be hating life right now.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECOND HALF:

Giants Hixson return it to the 31. I thought he got busted in half on the first return. Jacobs goes nowhere on first down. Eli to Plax first down at the G42.

Jacobs for one. Chris Meyers has a raccoon hat on the sidelines just like Howie. Eli throws behind Steve Smith pretty wide open down the sidelines. Smith needed to stop and comeback and he might have gotten a cheap penalty called, but that's a rookie mistake. Third and nine, almost delay of game, timeout G-men.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
COMMERCIAL NOTE:

That Burger King commercial that highlights their seemingly psychopathic customers who freak out when told they have discontinued the Whopper makes me somehow less likely to want to patronize the place, Whopper or no Whopper. Again heads need to roll. You already have the psychos apparently, but you might want to keep it a secret in order to attract the normal junk-food consumer. Make a mental note of that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Harris mugs Plax again and gets a cheap INT, but the zebras catch him. Jacobs for three. Third and five to go. Eli pass knocked down, Eli knocked down, roughing the passer on Packer Safety coming on a blitz. That's a DUMB for GB.

Jacobs for a couple. Eli to Plax first down. Harris has no chance on that one and gets a face massage from Plax on the way down field. Jacobs for five. Giants at the six yard line. Jacobs first down to the one yard line. On no they marked him short, I though he had it. Third and inches. BIG PLAY COMING UP.

Jacobs has it and fumbles, Boss recovers for a FD. Looked like a ?? spot but just enough. That was CLOSE. Manning puts one up for grabs, GB ruled offsides but Eli didn't know that. Almost DUMB. They call GB offsides. GB offsides again. CHEATERS.

Jacobs pile drives in for the TD and then aborts the Lambeau Leap. Good move Brandon.

GIANTS 13 PACKER 10.
------------------------------------------------------------------
This is now officially my longest, probably most annoying post to date. But it's kind of kept me more relaxed than I might normally be. We have a long way to go though.

Big KO return sets the Pack up nicely on the 39 yard line. The slant to Driver for eight. Grant close to a first down. First Down. Osi almost gets to Favre incomplete.
Screen for not much. Third and eight Strahan tips one in the D-backfield they stop the Pack short of the first down but veteran Sam Madison commits a DUMB penalty for DUMB #3 on the Giants. Not smart at all.

First down at the G12. Wise open lob pass to Lee for a TD. No defense close to him.
At least make them earn it guys, the defense is at times non-existent.

GREEN BAY 17 GIANTS 13.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Hixson with a nice return to the Giants 43 yard line to open the drive.

Eli to Plax for eight. Bradshaw for a first down. Nice start. Bradshaw for eleven to the GB 35, kid runs hard, he may be why Ryan Grant is on GB. Or they chose Grant over him, not sure which one it was.

Incomplete to Toomer. Pax at 10-140 yards so far. Monster Day. Toomer down the sidelines in bounds to the 12 yard line 23 yard play. CHALLENGED BY GB. Feet look in, upper body looks out, depends which the zebras see. Call was complete on the field.
BIG CALL. The catch stands, GB loses a TO but that's a good challenge.

Eight yards to Toomer on an Eli roll out. From the four yard line, Bradshaw drive s it in for a TD. WOW.

GIANTS 20 PACKERS 17

It looks like the first defense to string together a couple of stops or pops a turnover could really take control of the game.

Eli's fiancee must be getting warmer thinking about how much Eli's wallet will swell with endorsements if he pulls this off.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GB touch back on the kickoff.

Giants have dominated possession 28 minutes to 15, so far.

Koren Robinson wide open 16 yards. Grant for a 13 yard run. Defense sucks so far today. Grant for not much. At least, they're plugging the run a little. Deep pass attempt to Driver to end the quarter.

THIRD QUARTER SCORE: GIANTS 20 PACKERS 17
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, Money Time. Fourth Quarter.

Temp -3 degrees Wind Chill -24 degrees

Favre to Driver to the 33, 20 yards, nobody close to him. Too easy. Interception by McQuarters runs right into a tackler (Grant) and coughs it up to a lineman recovering. This guy (McQuarters)is just killing me today. Packers at the 21.

Two yard pass to the 19.. Grant runs for seven to the twelve. We have our first Mrs. Favre sighting. Screen/lateral pass to Grant loses 7 yards to the 20 yard line. Thirty seven yard field goal ties it up 20-20.

GIANTS 20 PACKERS 20
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hixson brings it out to the 40 yard line to start the drive.

Eli to Toomer for five. Bradshaw carries for three. OL Siebert is down and hurt for the Giants. Eli to Plax on the sideline for 14. Big First Down.

Bradshaw turns the corner for six yards.Nick Collins down for the Packers. Bradshaw loses yardage, third down and five. Giants have to take the second TO. That hurts.
Need to get the first down even more now. Toomer can't catch another one. Offensive Pass Interference on Toomer and another lineman down. Replay shows he dropped it because he was pushing off. Good Call. 3rd and 15. Scree to Bradshaw, breaks a tackle and gains ten, 4th and 5. Giants going for it. Good call here. Pass Interference on Packers close to the FD marker. Automatic First Down. Woodson got him early. Good Call.

Eli has Plax open in the end zone and under throws him. Harris is limping. Go back to him. Bradshaw runs for two to the 25. 3rd and 7. Under 7 Minutes to play. GB uses its second time out. No time for mistakes here. Giants are in long FG range for Tynes under todays conditions.

Looks like Archie Manning in a suite, you would think he could sit with his potential daughter in law, what a chump. Incomplete pass to Smith on third down. Tynes wide left on the FG attempt.

GB ball on the Giants thirty-three. 6:49 left.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Favre bounces one to Jennings. He's looking deep more often, pass rush has to get there and up until now it has not.

Almost a heck of a catch by Jennings, Osi gets to Favre. 3rd Down-10. Toss to Vorency for seven short of a first down. Big three and out.

McQuarters to the G-37. 5:53 left.

Jacobs for five yards. Jacobs close to the marker, looks a little short. 5:05 left in the quarter and a measurement. An inch short. 3rd down. Manning on a keeper, looks like he has it. And he does.

4:30 left in the game. Incomplete on a swing pass to Jacobs. Jacobs for one on the corner, under four minutes. Third Down. BIG PLAY. KGB looks like he jumped way offsides, gets a sack, no call. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. Giants have to punt. I REALLY HOPE THIS GAME DOES NOT GET DECIDED BY THAT BLATANTLY BAD OF A NO-CALL. HORRIBLE.

GB from it's own 17. Favre incomplete. False start GB, second and fifteen. Incomplete pass low. Big Third Down. Lee over the middle for five, Giants TO with 2:30 left and Gb punting.

Here we go guys, one drive. One Drive Eli.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
McQuarters continues to play for the other side, by fumbling the punt. GET HIM OUT OF THERE.

Giants luckily get the fumble back at the GB 48. Bradshaw breaks one but holding on the Giants brings it back. Not much of a hold it appears. Second angle shows it on Snee. 1st and 20 from the Giants 43. Tyree gains three, 2nd and 17 with the two minute warning. DUMB Penalty 2nd and 20 if you get caught, 2nd and eight or nine if you don't hold. There's no benefit, unless you think you've camouflaged it well enough for the zebras not to see. You have to be real sure at this point in the game.
DUMB #4.

Steve Smith catches it near the first down marker, doesn't roll over for the extra yard he needs. Reviewing the catch or the spot. It is a first down. Now reviewing the catch with 1:26 left.

Now they move him back a half yard. 3rd and one. Bradshaw gets about eight for a big first down. Manning to Smith for eleven yards. Bradshaw for three to the eighteen. Manning grounds it with 0:02 left as the Giants have no TO's left.

36 Yard FG by Tynes to end it. I hate FG's to end it. Bad snap and Tynes hooks it wide left again. OT.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER REGULATION: GIANTS 20 PACKERS 20

I hate OT too.

GB wins the toss and will receive.

Koren Robinson returns it to the 26 to start. Grant rushes for two yards. Tuck down for the Giants. INT by Corey Webster.

Please, PLEASE go for the TD, even on fourth down. Bradshaw for four yards. Bradshaw for zero. Playing for the F**king FG again, great. Incomplete intended for Smith.

Another FG attempt. It looks like he's going to fade it wide right, but it comes back and YES, the Giants are going to the Super Bowl. Again.

GIANTS 23 PACKERS 20

The New York Giants vs. the New England Patriots. See you in two weeks.

P.S.- The Manning deal is now and forever "officially" WORTH IT. - TheSlav 1/20/2008

SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM.....

Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters.

-- Daniel Webster

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking."

-- English author A.A. Milne
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Never mistake activity for achievement.

-- John Wooden
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Chance favors only the prepared mind.

-- Louis Pasteur

----------------------------------------------------------------------

“Yes, risk taking is inherently failure-prone. Otherwise, it would be called sure-thing-taking.”

-- Jim McMahon - Chicago Bears

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gratuitous Beatles Reference:

Let It Be - Beatles (1970)

THE RACE TO BE SURROGATE PARENTS

ILLINOIS BECOMES 4TH STATE TO IMPLEMENT PED TESTING PROGRAM

The Illinois High School Association's Board of Directors voted earlier this week to implement a performance enhancing drug testing program beginning this fall for state championship competitions. The Board's vote came after reviewing the results of a survey sent to all 765 member schools on December 11, 2007. Curiously, only 414 schools (54%) responded to the survey that was due on Sunday, with 294 schools (72%) voting in favor of implementing a testing program.

IHSA Press Release:
http://www.ihsa.org/announce/2007-08/2008-01-14.htm

Illinois becomes the fourth state to implement such testing, following New Jersey, Florida, and Texas. Illinois is unique in that its implementation is not the result of state government action, but rather a voluntary choice by IHSA member schools, albeit with an affirmative response from less than 40% of the membership. The IHSA still has to select a collection agent and lab, determine the exact scope of the testing, select a medical review officer, and determine the relative penalties for the athletes and schools after a positive test. Interestingly, the aforementioned survey reveals that while the schools (the voting was done by either the principal or athletic director) were heavily in favor of making the athlete ineligible for testing positive (97% in favor), the schools were against forfeiting a post-season team award for the same offense (60% against).

IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman said the IHSA likely will fund its own program at an initial annual cost of $100,000 to $150,000. Based on an estimated cost of $175 a test, the IHSA would test fewer than 1,000 athletes a year.

It will test them only after they enter state competition and perhaps only in sports in which use of performance-enhancing substances produces significant competitive advantages. Hickman said the IHSA also plans to strengthen its education program regarding avoiding use of performance-enhancing substances.

Of course, the devil is always in the details, but given these parameters you wonder if this will amount to more window dressing than deterrent. Don't get me wrong, the overall goal of deterring drug use among high school athletes is a positive end goal. I'm just not sure this program gives us much reason to assume that the landscape will change very much.

It would seem as if your school doesn't compete in state competitions and it does not conduct testing on its own, you could continue use and not be at risk of detection. So we may only be talking about deterring a limited percentage of players.

I'm aware that something is better than nothing, but by the same token effective is better than ineffective as well. It remains to be seen whether or not this program, as well as those of the other three states, realizes its goal of deterring and reducing drug use in the future effectively.

According to Frank Uryasz, president of the National Center for Drug Free Sport, data is lacking regarding how many high school athletes take steroids, but he believes anecdotal evidence indicates a need for testing.

The courts have in the past ruled that the legality of searches of this nature are determined “by balancing the intrusion on the individual’s interests against its promotion of legitimate government interests” (US Supreme Court). The balancing act is based on the privacy rights of the students and the general intrusive nature of the tests themselves vs. the need and importance of the instituting the tests.

Generally, the students privacy rights have fared as well as an employees rights in the workplace, which is that you check your constitutional rights at the door. Further the perception is that athletic participation is a privilege, not a right.

I'm OK with that, in fact we often caution athletes that they can and will be held to higher standards than the general student population in this area as well as issues like grades, behavior, interaction with their teachers and fellow students.

What I do worry about, especially after hearing some of the commentary from the Mitchell hearings and after, is we are heading down a slippery slope where we follow the International model of suspicion less testing, where there is no probable cause.

If the school system (state) wants to continue to act in its capacity as surrogate parents, then it needs to assume the same posture that a reasonable parent or guardian would.

Where the IHSA and the testing proponents may gain some traction is that it appears as if some of the focus of the effort will be directed against supplements that are readily available over the counter. So we may be willing to criminalize or stain athletes reputations and perhaps improperly inflate the scope of the crisis by including legal supplements into the testing trap. I understand they all fall under the catch-all of Performance Enhancing Substances but the message heard by others is DRUGS and STEROIDS.

Initial reports are the IHSA will use the NCAA banned substance list as a model, so that would include things like DHEA and possibly supplements that include various banned stimulants. Some of which are legal and sold over the counter.

Interesting stuff.
------------------------------------------------------------
FROM THE JANUARY 20, 2008 DAILY HERALD
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=117284

Bigger, stronger, faster -- over the counter
The focus of IHSA drug-testing is not steroids but those legal supplements

Anabolic steroids get the bulk of attention.

Yet, the main focus of a new state drug testing program for high school athletes won't be illegal steroids, but the shakes, powders and pills available at drug stores, nutrition retailers and gyms across the suburbs -- and for purchase by any teen with cash.

"It's difficult for high school kids to get their hands on anabolic steroids," said Marty Hickman, executive director of the Illinois High School Association. "The over-the-counter substances are really the main concern."

Dietary supplements -- which include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids, enzymes and organ tissues -- are legal, largely unregulated, and highly alluring to teens looking to boost athletic performance.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Very interesting comments by Mr. Hickman. "It's difficult for high school kids to get their hands on anabolic steroids". This begs the question, where do these high levels of use by high school kids come from? Hopefully not from the anecdotal evidence cited by Mr. Uryasz above. Hopefully not from flawed surveys conducted where kids self-report usage based on incomplete or erroneous knowledge of what they are being asked.

Also interesting comment regarding "The over-the-counter substances are really the main concern". Really, since when? What kind of bait and switch tactic is that? I've been following this issue fairly closely recently and that is not the impression I was given. It was steroids and HGH that was the apparent boogey-man and it was these substances that the powers that be developed a mandate to fight against. Over the counter supplements can be regulated by the Fed anytime they so choose. Be careful, under the guise of good intentions, this may not pass the smell test as we move further down the road. Someone may have some further explaining to do.

THE RACE TO BE ROBIN HOOD

Interesting how all the presidential candidates--as well as President Bush--are posturing to see who can give the biggest check, to the most voters, the quickest.

Also interesting to see how just like during yesterdays Bernanke testimony, as soon as Bush and Treasury Secretary Paulson got on the airwaves and started speaking, the stock market went from +100 points to minus territory before they finished speaking. A crisis of confidence in our collective leadership?

The money has to come from somewhere though, since Bernanke I believe cautioned yesterday that, in addition to being a temporary move that the stimulus does not increase the budget deficit in a meaningful way. Therefore, the money given to an as yet to be determined group of people (those who would spend it the fastest) has to come from another group of people (presumably those who would do something stupid like save it or invest it).

Maybe they should just have the states send everyone 1,000 lottery tickets each instead of $1,000 and reimburse the states from federal coffers/printing press. That way we can further reinforce stupid, short-term economic decision making.

Isn't this type of quick fix, short-term, band-aid approach to the economy what got us in the deep a pile of fiscal doo-doo we are in right now? I'm just asking.

But don't just take my word for it.

------------------------------------------------------------
FROM THE CATO INSTITUTE http://www.cato.org

In the Cato Daily Podcast "Cash Advance Stimulus," Chris Edwards, Cato's director of tax policy studies, comments: "I think that Mr. Bernanke has been drinking the same sort of Keynesian Kool-Aid that other prominent economists like Larry Summers have been drinking. I don't believe it works. I think it simply pushes debt onto future generations of Americans, so I actually think there is a moral question here. A stimulus package simply is the federal government borrowing more money, giving it to people now, just sort of randomly and then putting the tab on taxpayers and our children in the future. It seems to be very immoral for the federal government to go ahead and do this when frankly they have no idea what they are doing with the economy.

"Economists have a horrible track record on forecasting what the economy is going to do, even a few months ahead of time. This sort of stimulus package is just a shot in the dark, it's a big waste of money and it just increases the nation's debt."

Cato senior fellow Dan Mitchell comments: "The president’s proposed stimulus based on 'temporary' tax cuts designed to boost 'consumer spending' will not work. It is a disappointing re-run of the misguided policies of Jimmy Carter. Rebates are particularly disappointing because they resuscitate the discredited Keynesian notion that an economy benefits when the government borrows money from people in one sector of the economy and distributes it to people in another sector of the economy. Economic growth occurs when there is an increase in national income, not a redistribution of national income. That is why lower marginal tax rates on work, saving, and investment are the best short-term and long-term strategy for faster growth. But such tax rate reductions should be permanent since temporary tax cuts -- even well-designed tax rate reductions rather than rebates -- do little more than generate economic activity today at the expense of less activity in the future."


MOODY'S SAYS U.S. BOND RATING IN JEOPARDY

Moody's Investors Service said on January 10 that soaring healthcare and social security spending could threaten the United States' "triple-A" government bond rating. "These two programs are the largest threats to the long-term financial health of the United States and to the government's Aaa rating," said Moody's analyst Steven Hess.
------------------------------------------------------------

So clearly, those who say "doesn't Congress have better things to do?" have a case given the lingering, long-term problems that Congress has failed to adequately deal with and that they are directly responsible for:

The Budget Deficit, Health Care, The War, Terrorism, Social Security, National Security, Economic Issues like the housing crisis, the lending crisis, Immigration policy, and on and on. All these are issues where Congress can make a real and lasting impact and affect the lives of adults and children in this country, yet they fail to do so. The buck keeps getting passed to future Congresses, future administrations and oh yeah, future generations. And the clock keeps ticking in the background like a time-bomb. But Congress sure can attempt to divert our attention with these side issues can't they?

You know Congressmen and women, your lack of progress on these substantive, everyday issues will affect the lives of our children, now and when they inherit this mess we leave them with. Why not show you really care about the lives of kids by getting out of the playground of sports and getting back to work? Or is that too hard for you to do?

Congressmen and women, you are not fooling anybody by using this issue to demonstrate your level of competence to the people. If anything you are reinforcing the majority of citizens perceptions regarding your competence, as demonstrated by public opinion polls which show the approval rating of Congress to be lower than that of the President. I'm not sure this type of grandstanding is an effective use of your time, nor is it an effective way to curry favor with the majority of your constituents, I would bet.

Roll up your sleeves and get back to work on the major issues of the day and quit fooling around and dilly-dallying while these other, clearly more important issues turn into crises.
---------------------------------------------------
ROBIN HOOD from Wikipedia:

Robin Hood is a figure in archetypal English folk tales, whose story goes back to medieval times. In popular culture he is painted as a man known for robbing the rich to provide for the poor and fighting against injustice and tyranny. His band consists of "seven score" group of fellow outlawed yeomen – called his "Merry Men.

In the oldest legends the outlaw's enemy is the sheriff due simply to his profession,[8] but in later versions the sheriff is despotic and gravely abuses his position, appropriating land, levying excessive taxation, and persecuting the poor.

In some tales the antagonist is Prince John, based on the historical John of England, who is seen as the unjust usurper of his pious brother Richard the Lionheart.

In some tales he is the champion of the people, fighting against corrupt officials and the oppressive order that protects them, while in others he is an arrogant and headstrong rebel, who delights in bloodshed, cruelly slaughtering and beheading his victims.

STOCK MARKET CRASH OF 2008??

Nobody seems to want to use the R- word, even though we may indeed be in an actual recession.

And certainly, nobody seems to want to use the C- word to describe the actions of the Dow recently, even though it may be doing exactly what it appears to be doing.

How about we dust off that euphemism "controlled descent into terrain" the NTSB used to gently describe a plane crash? How does that work for you? Yeah, that's the ticket folks. The stock market is executing a brilliantly orchestrated, controlled descent into terrain. Relax, nothing to see here.

Where's Howard Cosell when we need him to "tell it like it is". The truth? We can't handle the truth.

It's a good thing Congress had Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke testify today.
It appears as if the words and actions are both, too little, too late.

But at least they saved the nations youth and made the game of baseball safe from cheaters.

And Nero fiddled while Rome burned, right?

What a sad state of affairs.

A brilliant example of our nations leadership in action.

What will we tell the children?

Especially when they ask "Where were the leaders, the experts and what were they doing when the housing market went to hell in a hand basket, the stock market crashed and the dollar was debased, devalued and treated like so much fancy toilet paper around the world?"

THE MITCHELL REPORT GOES TO WASHINGTON

Mitchell does a great job of defending his reports contents, methods and recommendations. He's smooth under questioning, although they are generally receiving him well. He does have the advantage of being one of the brethren, indeed a well-respected former member.

Again, I think he reiterated the central theme of his report, that the focus should be on moving forward and continuing to make incremental progress, as other sports have done in the past.

Mitchell made an interesting comment in response to the observation made by a congressman that the statistical analysis of named users cited by the report, have not shown much, if any "performance enhancement" and what did he think about it (The study was posted earlier on this blog). Mitchell related the possibility of placebo effects, or "Possunt quia posse videntur" which is Latin for "They can because they think they can".

He related his own experience as a young player and compared it to delivering a speech when you feel good, as opposed to when you do not, in order to frame it in terms the representatives could relate to. And even that answer ignores the "non-performance enhancement" effect.

He will be a tough act to follow.

Almost as an aside, Rep. Waxman opened with a request for the Justice Department to look into the possibility that Miguel Tejada may have lied to investigators in 2005 when he said he had no knowledge of steroid use. The Mitchell report did name Tejada as a player who received steroids from a teammate.

One of the representatives did bring up the timing of Rafael Palmeiro lying, before or after his 300th hit. That's not a typo, the Congressman had to be corrected to bring Palmeiro's hit total to 3000, but no suggestion of an investigation for lying to Congress or even menacing finger-wagging was requested for Raffy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN Analysis:

Roger Cossock of ESPN seems to be rehearsing to be Roger Clemens defense attorney rather than a legal commentator. He says that Senator Mitchell exhibits an important contradiction when he accepts Brian McNamee's testimony regarding the player Mitchell cited who was excluded from the Mitchell Report. However, as Mitchell testified, that player provided Mitchell with evidence that although he did in fact acquire illegal PEDs, Mitchell believed that he did not use them after the player and his attorney provided satisfactory evidence. Cossock implies that this displays evidence that McNamee lied, but he apparently doesn't listen well enough or he is listening through biased ears.

Steve Phillips who should be able to give the management perspective as well as anyone else, falls back on the "Hey, I didn't have much to go on. I have a family to feed. I can't afford to put myself at a competitive disadvantage."

Which illustrates just the type of toxic culture that pervaded from the clubhouse to the owners box. Nobody wanted to put themselves at a disadvantage. Apparently the predominant justification given, silly as it may seem, for dropping the lions share of blame on the players doorstep, is our kids look up to the players and wish to emulate them.

So of course we need the government to fill the role of parents, the nanny state, because the Washington group-think is that we can't raise our kids adequately enough on our own. Typical.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bud Selig and Donald Fehr seem to be playing nicey-nice and showing the committee members that they are willing to work together, so they can keep Congressional involvement to a minimum. They appear to be echoing Mitchell's comments as much as possible under the circumstances. Good strategy.

Both Selig and Fehr publicly take responsibility for mistakes that were made. Of course, the next committee member took them to task for being reactionary rather than more proactive. 20-20 hindsight is a great gift.

The question of using statistical anomalies as a form of evidence or the basis for implementing mandatory testing or impose punishments has come up. This is the International model, where a positive test is not the only way to ban a competitor. Circumstantial evidence can be used. Accusations by competitors can be used. Wholly un-American and a dangerously slippery slope to go down.

Fehr says "Gene Doping will make steroids look quaint". Must be reading this blog because that may very well be a direct quote from here.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have to wonder why question Mitchell, Selig or Fehr regarding what they thought about the Giants trainer Stan Conte reporting concerns about Greg Anderson distributing steroids to Brian Sabean and whether those concerns were passed on to Giants owner Peter McGowan and what was done about it. The "Institutional Control Issue" I guess you could call it. I understand asking Mitchell since he must have interviewed them, but why not just call those three in for direct questioning as well?

They let the owners and management off rather easily here today. And the Commissioner and Donald Fehr walked away with no more than minor flesh wounds. Which probably does not bode well for the players when they go in for questioning next month.

BYE, BYE BABY: Terrell Owens Crying

Go cry in your popcorn bee-yatch, and take Troy Aikman with you. It took Troy 59 Minutes and 51 seconds of game time to realize that the Cowboys were not the best team on the field yesterday. His fawning over his ex-team was sickening.

All the hype over T.O. coming back from his ankle injury and not a mention of Plaxico Burress who has played on a bum ankle virtually ALL SEASON!!

I know everyone was looking forward to a match up between Brett Favre and his little puppy dog Tony Romo in the Championship Game, but someone forgot to tell the Giants.

I don't blame Tony Romo for the Mexico excursion. If it was me, I'd have called in sick to work for as many sick days that were at my disposal, given the circumstances. But maybe the old fight managers had it right, he had the legs taken right out from under him. You know, all that "sight-seeing" and all, the long walks on the beach, etc.

Hope she was worth it, Tony. Next time, put the team first. It's not like you've won a playoff game or anything. Who do you think you are, Tom Brady? Get the rings first, then you get the girl. And the girls are higher quality once you get the rings. Lesson learned.

MEMORIES...LIKE THE CORNERS OF MY MIND...MISTY WATER COLORED MEMORIES..


It looks like the light has finally gone on in Eli Manning's head. It's been a long time since he's thrown a horribly bad ball. No Shock-to-me, but if my memory serves me right, it was around the time that Jeremy Shockey went down and out of the lineup. Those two simply did not appear to be on the same page and it amazed me that so many pass attempts were directed his way while he played. He's long past being a serious threat or a match-up problem, he looks heavy-legged and slow. Kevin Boss appears more productive in the pass game at this point, so hopefully Jeremy has a Plaxico-like epiphany of maturity.

I really admire Plaxico's grit this season. He's proven to be a workhorse and a leader. After some of the things that went on around and about him in past years, it's good to see that he's turned things around. I read an article where he was quoted as saying he took some of the negative criticisms directed his way and realized that some of the things said may have in fact been true. Instead of pouting or reacting defensively or negatively, he made positive changes. That's displaying maturity and it shows in the leadership he has displayed this year. Way to go Plax!!

I still miss (heart) Tiki, but more importantly the Giants were blessed with a plethora of RB's recently and they apparently don't miss (or heart) Tiki. Brandon Jacobs (also playing hurt outside the media spotlight), Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw apparently were good enough to crowd out the Packers Ryan Grant, who was good enough to rush for 200-yards in the playoffs. I hope the coaches knew what they were doing when they released him. Maybe the fumbles?? I don't know, didn't Coughlin cure Tiki of fumbleitis?

All right, that's my last shot at Coach Coughlin, who appears to have had an epiphany of his own in management-player relations. The guys appear to be playing well for him. Now they just need to figure out how to win at home. Luckily, that's an issue for next year. No more home games this year. Way to go Coughlin!!!

All right, that's enough mea-culpas from me for now. Normally, I'm able to say I was wrong about as well as Arthur Fonzarelli, but in these cases, it's way too obvious. GO BLUE!!!!