Friday, December 23, 2016

Rubio was right

Marco Rubio, "Little Marco," was right. Donald Trump is a con man. We elected a con man.

He did just settle his Trump U lawsuit for $25 million. Said he didn't have time to defend it and win. He's also said he never settles lawsuits. Strike one.

Now, he's dispatching surrogates to explain every misnomer he recites. His Press Secretary-to-be, Sean Spicer, and advisor to be, Kellyann Conway, especially, have had to hit the media trail every time Trump tweets from the hip.

Like his just posted nuclear declarations. Spicer and Conway are out there explaining, 'no,' he didn't mean he was going to blow up the world or get in an arms race. Yet, those were his exact words.

He has already castigated his own intelligence community with his dismissals of their findings on Russian influence on the election. Strike two.

Hello President Con Man. Congratulations U.S.A. You who voted for him got what you voted for.

Nuclear proliferation? Strike three?

Monday, December 12, 2016

Cowboys can be beat - just gotta' stay ahead of 'em

Dez does not do Dallas. Giants actually hung on. Eli played terribly and the Giants can't run the ball. But their defense is good and they showed the league how to beat Dallas - get pressure on Prescott. Under pressure, he is inaccurate.  Cowboys are No. 1 against the run because they're usually ahead so everyone has to throw against them. Not last night, although I question Giants' playcalling. With 2:07 left and Dallas out of timeouts, shoulda' gone play-action pass with 2-minute warning coming up anyway. Probably woulda' had a wide-open receiver with Dallas stacked up to stop the run.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Frustrated, stupid people

What am I missing?

Why is Jim Comey still in office at the FBI? What an idiot. Jim, you don't release that you're investigating a candidate during the race.

Your career is over.

Why are there stupid people in football?

No defense can stop an offense. No defensive backs can guard a wide receiver. One on one is considered a favorable matchup. Really?

A good athlete can't guard another good athlete? I'll tell you why - they never play the ball, just the man, and then get beat.

Defensive coaches are teaching this technique? Really.

Stupid. Just plain stupid.

Defensive coordinators are stupid. They prove it every Sunday. And Thursday and Monday for that matter.

And I like MSNBC's coverage of politics. But where's Katy Tur? She's still listed on her bio as an NBC correspondent, but she's been invisible on MSNBC lately. Is she sick? Suspended? Has she infiltrated Trump's camp undercover?

Can't wait to see the evidence in the Huma Abedin emails. Or ... not -- considering most of them are Anthony Weiner sexts. Yikes.

Trump as president is stupider than ... Richard Nixon as president.

Maybe this investigation of Huma Abedin will bring out the nasty best in Hillary. She needs it.

And defensive coaches, you're stupid.

And Bernie Sanders is right about Hillary: no one cares about her damn emails. The United States is no grave danger because of her emails. The United States is in no danger because of them period.

Shut up, Jim. Shut up, Donald. Get back to the campaign. And Comey, go home.

And defensive coaches, smarten up.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

Depressing, Boring, and Electable?

It's getting depressing.

Trump lies. Fabricates. The media doesn't challenge vigorously enough. Lets him change the conversation, redirect the topic, not answer.

He'll do the same or try to during the debates. He'll grab numbers out of midair (58% unemployment among black youth - it's really 8%). He'll cheat at appearances. Told the woman who invited him to Flint that he didn't know he couldn't make a speech critical of Hillary Clinton when she embarrassed him and cut him off when he tried.

He came back later and told Fox News she was nervous, sweating, shaking, intimating what she did was a setup.

The media doesn't challenge.

Media, you are afraid of him, afraid to challenge and confront him.

Grow a pair and not only get after him but stay after him until he answers the questions to which he doesn't know the answers.

Before he becomes president. Protect us from him now. Later will be too late.

Even NBC's Katy Tur, who's tough and gritty, admitted the media can't pin him down. Well, you better start. That's your job.


Friday, September 9, 2016

I Can't Take Trump Anymore

I've listened to enough.

Mark Cuban, just this morning, said he'd take all of his assets, put them in a hedge fund and protect himself from the stock-market crash he anticipates if Donald Trump wins the election.

Cuban would do it the next day, Nov. 9, that is.

Cuban may be a lot of things that a lot of people don't like. Stupid is not one of them.

Stupid is a lot of what Trump says. Praise for a virtual dictator in Vladimir Putin. Praising Saddam Hussein as a killer of terrorists.

Trump will jeopardize the future of this nation. His shocking lack of knowledge about foreign affairs is to the point of inviting terrorists in and inviting young Americans to join ISIS. He's their best recruiter.

I can't believe Americans are falling for this. Marco Rubio called him a con man. So did everyone who's suing him over Trump U (a suit he will settle rather than lose - just watch).

He won't release his income tax returns. He knows it would cost him the election because of the links it would reveal, the business practices he adheres to, his actual worth, the amount he actually paid in taxes and the rate at which he paid them.

It's not illegal or a violation of any regulation that income tax returns, even under audit, can be released. But he won't. He knows why. We know why.

He says he can "read" the body language of intelligence officers who brief him and how they are disgusted over the president's reaction to their recommendations.

Donald, can you read my language here, loud and clear?

You are not presidential material. If you take office, you're going to start barking orders to wipe out ISIS the next morning. Good luck with that. You'll eventually put hundreds of thousands of American lives at stake on the ground in Iraq and Syria and even more at risk here at home when ISIS unleashes every terrorist attack it possibly can, everywhere it can. Lone wolves will strike everywhere.

Because you inspired them.

Donald, do you even know the names of the generals you say are reduced to rubble? Do you? And we already know you won't listen to your advisers. You listen to your gut. Your gut is going to cost a lot of American lives.

I've posted a lot of material about you, opposing you, mocking you. I'm done now. I'll let Hillary do that, along with her surrogates.

You say outlandish things. America says OK.

Women don't though. The educated ones don't. Minorities don't. I really think educated women who have traditionally voted Republican will come out and vote against you, will see the damage you have wrought and realize the danger you represent. They may very well just decide this election.

Your policies are that you'll have one later. You hate and disrespect Barack Obama. You prefer Vladimir Putin.

You've got to be kidding.

No, wait, you're not.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

Clinton knows best; Trump knows less than nothing

If anything, the Commander-in-Chief Forum on NBC revealed Trump's ongoing lack of knowledge about anything.

He continues to flip-flop, waver, be wishy-washy and unknowledgeable about the very basics of American government, foreign policy, domestic programs, national defense and terrorism.

He has a plan. His plan is to have a plan later. He insulted our military. He announced he would illegally seize a foreign country's assets (oil), leaving a force behind to secure it that would be sitting ducks for every terror cell around the world.

Our generals have been "reduced to rubble." No Donald, your knowledge of basics is rubble.

Hey media, do your jobs. Make Trump answer about his uninformed ideas. He loves Putin.

Speaks for itself.

Friday, September 2, 2016

I hope...

I hope all the underdogs win the college football games this weekend (Appalachian State almost already did).

I hope Penn State puts the Sandusky thing behind them once and for all. C'mon Lions, let it go.

I hope no one gets shot this weekend. Enough.

I hope our enrollment holds at Columbia into the spring.

I hope Hillary wins, because if Donald does, God help us.

I hope my brother and sister-in-law finally sell their house. Please. Looks promising.

I hope my game is competitive tonight. My 41-15 game last week was not as close as the score would indicate.

I hope Baylor has learned its lesson.

I hope the NY Giants get it in gear this season.

I hope local boy Jimmy G plays great for Brady. He deserves the positivity. Is that a word? By the way, Brady's still with Gisele for a reason: she's still the highest-paid model in the world and he's not the highest-paid quarterback. He's just the one with the most rings.

I hope Kristine Leahy finally calls me. What's taking so long, Kristine?

I hope Colin Kaepernick figures it out. His message is fine. His methodology is not.

I hope the Cubs don't have a Cubbie occurrence this year. But they will.

Have a great holiday weekend, everyone.




Monday, August 29, 2016

Hey Colin, What Up?

So, Colin Kaepernick does not want to stand for the national anthem.

Actually, that's fine. I don't begrudge his protest nor his reasons therefor.

But Colin, what are going to do on Sept. 11?  No, wait, you lucked out. You don't play til the 12th, on Monday night.

But the NFL will still be honoring the memories of those lost that horrible day 15 years ago, the memories of the children, the memories of people of various faiths and races, the memories of athletes and scouts and coaches who died on those planes or in those buildings.

Will you?

You're not the first to use the flag in a protest or make a statement. Michael Jordan and other Nike athletes used it in the 1992 Olympics to conceal a competitor's logo on the warm-up suits they were mandated to wear for their medal ceremonies.

They draped the flag over their shoulders in a show of solidarity for their sponsor while still embracing the gold medal they won in the Olympics.

And there was Kid Rock. He entertained at the Super Bowl. He wore the American Flag in a Superman-like outfit in what he said was a show of support for America and its great game, not a protest of any sort from the sometimes sideways rocker. He wasn't the first rocker/entertainer to do it and he certainly has not been the last.

And hey, remember Rick Monday? As a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, he scooped up an American Flag that protestors were about to burn in the Dodger Stadium outfield, preventing their act of vandalism.

I support you, Colin. I support your privilege to speak out on an issue you believe to be unfair and discriminatory. I support your right to protest.

In fact, I'm a journalist. I'd be happy to give up my blog space to you any given day or week, this one or the one I write for thesportspost.com, entitled "Juice This," in which I often skewer the NFL and some of its stars and most-visible athletes and administrators for unethical and sometimes unspeakable actions.

So where were you when I went off on Greg Hardy? On Ray McDonald? On Ray Rice? Did you sit during the National Anthem, especially before the Rice video went public? Where were you on violence against women? Why were you online in a Miami Dolphins' cap, by the way (just thought I'd throw that in)?

What will you do on Sept 11, OK Sept. 12, when they play the National Anthem before your game, and there's a flyover and a moment of silence for the lives of 3,000-plus people who sacrificed their lives that day so radical protestors could make a statement?

What will you do? Hundreds of thousands of people in NFL stadiums that weekend will stand and salute the flag, sing the anthem and honor America and those victims. Some of those people, many of those people, agree with the position that you've chosen. And that's fine. Race issues need to be resolved in this country, no question.

Last time I looked, we were all Americans, not just All-Americans, Like you.

All Americans support America. Hopefully, so do All-Americans.

Like you.








Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Busy Is As Busy Does

I've been so busy being busy that I was too busy to blog here for a while.

It's tough to make time when you're making doctors' appointments, scheduling Social Security interviews to secure retirement benefits and just watching the Olympics while porking out.

And listening to Donald Trump make his daily fool-of-himself quote.

The Olympics have been compelling though. I've enjoyed American athletes wagging a no-no finger at previously doping-convicted Russian competitors. I really like hearing about IABA (boxing) judges suspended for just being bad judges.

It's amazing finding out about the open-water athletes exposed to the filth in Rio's bay, making them vulnerable to who-knows-what health issues.

And of course, now Brazilian authorities want to chat with Ryan Lochte and other American swimmers who say they were robbed in Rio at gunpoint by criminals alleging to be police officers themselves.

Otherwise, what else could go wrong? I don't know. I've been too busy to find out. There must be some actual competition worth following and watching too.

Sunday, August 14, 2016

A Few Points

Watching the Olympics...

U.S. Men's basketball team cannot and clearly does not want to play defense. Thank God they can shoot. Coach K has gotta' be dying. They beat Australia, Serbia and France by a combined 16 points, and surrendered a total of 376 points. The women's team probably won't give up that many the whole tourney.

Hank Iba is rolling over, somewhere.

Gymnastics is OK to watch and not just for women. The U.S. competitors are compelling and overtly talented.

Handball, that combination of waterpolo, indoor soccer and rugby on a basketball court, is ridiculously fun to watch. We need a U.S. league.

The golf was compelling to watch. The guys really competed, even without Rory, Dustin and Jordan. Ryder Cup should be fun this year.

So how come every event I watch has so many empty seats? Lousy ticket-sales promotion? Too high ticket prices? Zika scares? Pros in the Olympics, who we see all the time on TV and in person anyway?

Yes, yes, yes and yes.

Finally, a Trump moment: my friend posted an article that conservative/Republican policy would have reversed the plight of blacks in this country, going as far back as 1950.

No, Republican attempts to stifle them has. Republicans help their rich friends and corporate sponsors. Democrats help people. My mother never let me forget that. R.I.P., mom, I won't.



Friday, August 12, 2016

How Stupid Are We?

Just how stupid are we?

We allow ourselves, or at least so many of us have, to be duped by Donald Trump. The number of his critically dumb remarks continues to multiply in the meantime.

He has inferred that the Democratic presidential nominee be assassinated by a Second Amendment rights' supporter out there somewhere.

He has termed the president of the United States the founder of the terrorist group ISIS. The president of the United States!

Days after each dumb remark, he backpeddles, saying it was sarcasm and how dumb are we to think it was anything other, or that it was a call to political arms and not real armaments. We're the dumb ones for thinking he was serious. You mean he wasn't? The Secret Service thought so.

Trump has never apologized, never withdrawn the remarks and always comes back and makes the next stupid remark.

But his remarks aren't stupid. We are, if we believe them. Please don't vote for him. His own party faithful are abandoning him, from those in Congress to some of the finest and sharpest national-security minds who have ever served this country.

Don't let Donald serve. Or else, as "everyone says " (Trump's favorite phrase), well, just, or else...

Sunday, August 7, 2016

Pretty Simple Praise For A Hero Or Two

Pretty simple today. Noted today are two guys in hero status, as far as I'm concerned.

Former NFL'er Steve Gleason's column in S.I. on July 25 reminded me that life is about spirit and attitude. Gleason has ALS, a devastating, life-taking disease for which there is no cure. Yet, despite the motor- and motion-robbing deterrents it has on the lives of those inflicted with it, he still managed to author an inspirational column, father a child and do so much more, without feeling sorry a bit for himself. He is a hero.

In S.I.'s Olympic and Para-Olympic preview issue, there are sketches of some expected star U.S. athletes. One of them, Lex Gillette, is blind. Yet, he long jumps 22 feet.

For those of you, of us, who think we have problems, Gleason and Gillette are reasons, by contrast, we don't, at least none we can't overcome. I will always remember that, remind people of that and tell my students in my college classrooms about them.

Always.

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Blogging Away Again, Finally

Here in beautiful Minneapolis, where I'm attending a successful AEJMC convention (more in a moment), my attention is focused way south, to the Olympics in Brazil, which begin anything but athletically.

Taiwan has to compete as Chinese Taipei because the Peoples Republic of China says so. Russia has more athletes sent home than competing because of overt PED usage. American rowers are competing in special microbiotic-sealing suits because of the open-water health concerns.

The Brazilian president is facing an impeachment trial, in good part for redirecting resources into Olympic and, two years ago, World Cup soccer facility infrastructure instead of - oh, say - the needs of  Brazilian people ravaged by the economic strife there.

And even Brazil's best-known athlete ever, Pele, was too ill to attend opening ceremonies and light the cauldron. Hopefully, it wasn't the zika virus, that had so many athletes cancel.

Meanwhile, back in Minnesota, had a terrific conference. Discussant duties, important networking and a chance to reunite with a Columbia alum went well. Very very well. Was even asked to contribute to next year's conference in Chicago, even though I'll officially be retired.

Doesn't get any better, except when the storm knocked out the hotel TV. While I was watching an Olympic soccer game. Damn Direct TV.



 

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Trump Card

Donald Trump is the gift that keeps on giving for Democrats, with his virtually daily miscues, insults and lack-of-knowledge statements.

He keeps insulting a Gold Star Family and the memory of their late veteran son. He tossed a crying baby out of one of his rallies.

It's bad enough that his Muslim-ban and Mexican-wall proposals still stand and now he refuses to endorse Republican stalwarts like Paul Ryan and John McCain, who have said they'll vote for him. It's gotten so bad, so extreme that Republican fundraiser and H-P chief Meg Whitman is now endorsing Hillary Clinton.

Trump is not mentally stable enough to be president, to be commander-in-chief.

He is not stable enough, period.


Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Phony baloney

A lot of phony-ism going around.

According to NBC, the Purple Heart given to Donald Trump by a vet at a rally in Virginia was a copy of the actual award. Virginia is where the Khan family is from, the one Trump keeps dissing over their heartbreak of losing their son in the Iraq War.

Like Trump himself, the donated award was phony-ism at its finest.

Then there's the predictions of the fallout of what will happen to the New England Patriots in the 4-game absence of Tom Brady. Woe upon them.

Not.

They will be just fine with Jimmy G at QB (that's Garoppolo, for those outside of his native Illinois).

He's got weapons galore, a great defense and the best coaching mind of our generation on his side. At worst, he'll go 2-2. At worst. Turn off the false punditry of their fall from grace. They'll be fine.

They were fine after Spygate. They were fine after having their perfect season spoiled by the Giants in the Super Bowl. And they'll be fine now.

Cheating shows. And it works. Sometimes.

But watch out for phony-ism. It is everywhere. Had phony-ism tried on me recently. Got one of those phone calls saying I owed the IRS $6,800 and it had to be paid now or I'd be arrested that very day.

I kept the supposed IRS agent on the line for almost a half-hour, playing along in my best panic acting, making him think I was buying this.

Then I told him I was an FBI agent and we had stayed on the phone long enough to trace the call and were on our way to get 'em.

I could hear the cursing under his breathe as he hung up, realizing he was the one who'd been scammed.

OK, so some phony-ism can be fun. Can it ever.




Sunday, July 31, 2016

That Time Of Year

It's that time of year when all NFL teams are going to training camp, declaring their Super Bowl chances.

Yeah, right.

It's also that time when MLB teams that started out with playoff-chance declarations are now trading overpaid, under-achieving, so-called stars.

Things didn't quite work out the way they expected, or so they tell their fans.

It's also that time when Donald Trump continues to be the total, insensitive ass that he is, a racist isolationist who refuses to recognize ethnic or racial equality in this country, or anywhere else. Just ask Megyn Kelly or Khizr Khan.

What can we say? It's that time of year.

Friday, July 29, 2016

Philadelphia Feeling

The contrast in tone and temperament between the Republican and Democratic national conventions was stark.

Trump and Republicans painted a picture of an America I don't live in or recognize. A dark place full of fear, loathing and the racism only he can bring to a table.

The Democrats delivered a message of hope, prosperity and dreams come true going forward.

I prefer that direction and a positive outlook and not the dark, scary place Donald Trump thinks America is.

And by the way, there was no Twitter post about where you can buy Chelsea's dress as opposed to Ivanka's.

Trump wants to be president to promote his brand. Hillary wants to president to preserve ours.

Oh, by the way, the White Sox need to can Robin Ventura and hire a manger who won't let them keep blowing big leads. And it's nice to see the Cubs acquire a quality-character guy.

Problem is, fans don't care, as long as he strikes out people. Politicians can't serve with records like that. But athletes can play. Sad.

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Monday Manic

What a Monday.

Cory Booker had his "Barack Obama" 2004 moment, for sure. If he is the future, bring it on.

Michelle Obama had her First Lady triumphant moment. Anyone notice that she was the only speaker from Monday who about whom Trump was afraid to tweet.

Elizabeth Warren had her attack-dog moment and she is so damn good at it. It clearly gets under Trump's skin because he can't stand watching her, listening to her get the best of him.

But in NFL headquarters, this just announced: Josh Gordon reinstated and Peyton Manning suspended for life.

And gosh darn it, the White Sox kept Cubs' fans silent this morning. Where have you gone Jake Arrieta? Just FedEx the Cy Young from last year to Zack Greinke, OK? Because that's how you've been pitching the last month-and-a-half. Like a mere mortal.

And kudos to Stephanie Ruhle, who did her best Sarah Silverman on MSNBC this morning and put two Bernie-or-bust candidates in tbeir place.

I love sports. I love politics. How come they are one and the same, more and more?

Thursday, July 21, 2016

RNC - Sadder and Sadder

The Republican National Convention has been a disaster from the get-go.
  • The shouting down of the Dump-Trumpsters
  • Melania's speech
  • Still Melania's speech
  • Cover-up for Melania's speech
  • Finally finding someone to take the blame for Melania's speech
  • The "air" kiss
  • Ted Cruz
  • Scott Baio (really, Scott Baio?)
Trump's kids said exactly what daddy told them to say. Trump's wife did too, unfortunately.

Did anyone expect Cruz to say anything different after the way Donald dissed his wife and father?

Mismanaged, mishandled, missed target. If this convention is an indication of how he's going to run the executive branch of government, we've got a big problem.

And Trump is it.

Off topic, kudos to ESPN First Take today for having an all-female panel. Impressive group of smart, intellectual sports writers.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Max, The Coach and The Donald

Watching Max Bretos and Jonathan Coachman sit in on ESPN2's First Take is refreshing. Newly First Take-anointed Max Kellerman and veteran Steven A will be hardpressed to be as insightful and intellectual.

Meanwhile, the RNC continues to disappoint. The entire tone has been anti-Hillary as opposed to feeling the love for Donald. Paul Ryan hardly mentioned him and is clearly rooting for Hillary so he can run against her in 2020. The vitriol is truly disgusting.

There are no arguments for Trump; only against Hillary. That's because there are no arguments for Trump. He is the argument. With the plagiarist wife and the well-heeled kids. And the three spouses to prove it.

Trump has no issue specifics. No foreign policy. No domestic policy. No economic policy. Unless you include misogyny and racism as policy planks.

Max Bretos and Jonathan Coachman for president and veep. Not necessarily in that order. Or they can take turns. Works for me. At least they're decisive and issue specific.


Monday, July 18, 2016

Watching Morning Joe. The crowd at Flannery's in Cleveland responded to the question, "Who here absolutely adores Donald Trump?" with one person in a packed room mildly applauding. To the same question on Hillary Clinton, half the room applauded. In Cleveland, where the RNC is going on. Where Chachi is speaking and Tim Tebow was announced as one but not the host-state governor. Where Mike Pence was OK to support the war in Iraq but not Hillary.

Good night, Donald. Drive home safely. Oh, btw, the room applauded raucously in support of the same question about the Indians. The baseball team, not the next ethnicity or nationality you will likely insult.

And, oh yeah, Donald spent three-quarters of his time introducing Pence as his runningmate reacting instead to a Clinton-supporter ad featuring a hardcore Republican condemning Trump as too maniacal.

Have fun, Donald.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Frumping for Trump

Just read the AARP Bulletin article on Trump v Hillary on Social Security. Donald has no specific plan whatsoever to maintain it. None. Zero. Zip. Hillary, meanwhile, will preserve and grow it.

Please do not vote for Trump if you value your future. There won't be one.

Meanwhile, played golf yesterday, with fav foursome partners Bernie and Nancy Tafoya in the Benes Open at Glendale Lakes, which is called "Lakes" for a reason. Me and Nancy, respectively, earned closest-to-the-pin honors.

Cool.

Always a fun outing. Will be back next year. Good to see Pat Cassidy and Rich King there too.



Thursday, July 14, 2016

Searching for ESPN

So I went up and down the TV dial on the treadmill at the gym looking for the British Open this morning. ESPN. ESPN2. Fox. FS1. NBCSN (Tour de France thing there). Aha, Golf Channel. Only took six guesses.

And there's Mike Tirico, anchoring the action for the NBC-owned property. He left ESPN, and certainly without the fanfare of Bill Simmons, Keith Olbermann or Colin Cowherd. And now Skip Bayless.

Is anyone left at ESPN? Anyone worthwhile, worth watching, besides Scott Van Pelt? Sports Center anchor Lindsey Czarniak is competent, but not the force of any of those who have left. And will be leaving (Mike Ditka, Ray Lewis, Cris Carter, Keyshawn Johnson and soon, Chris Berman, all on NFL Countdown). Neil Everitt and Stan Verett are on the West Coast, and their schtick is getting old. Kenny Mayne pops up where and when you least expect him. Precisely.

The ones worth watching there don't get near enough exposure. Like Van Pelt. Trey Wingo. Kenny Mayne.

Last one out the door at ESPN, turn out the lights. Lance Armstrong is no longer in the basement, churning away on his bike, keeping the power generator going like he did in the long-ago network promo with Dan Patrick.

Lights out in Bristol.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Just watching, just saying...

Just watched Wimbledon. Some exciting points between champion Andy Murray and Milos Raonic. But not the same intensity as if it would've been Federer instead of Raonic. Just didn't feel the tingle. Watched some CNN at different points, actually.

Watching MLB division races too. Not games, just races. Games are boring. Can order and have pizza delivered between pitches sometimes. Just wondering: did the Dodgers really fire Don Mattingly after three division titles so they could be where they are now? Mattingly is doing a great job with the Marlins, meanwhile.

And hello Cubs fans. What the heck is going on? Since starting 28-6, they are 24-29. Magic Joe Maddon has no answers (and no bullpen). And lately, no starting pitching. Jake Arrietta, since his no-no-clothes shot for ESPN, has been a mere mortal. Jon Lester has been the most-overpaid pitcher in all of baseball. And the Pirates and Cardinals are coming. Hard.

Here's a what-if for ya': what if the Cubs had successfully pried Joe Girardi away from the Yankees years ago instead of landing Maddon? And why isn't Theo Epstein signed beyond this year yet?

Eh, after waiting 107 years for a "next" World Series title, what's the difference between waiting 108?

Go Cubs go. And congrats, Andy Murray, for what it's worth. Novak and Rafa were not around for this one. Lessens the gravity of it a little. Just a little.


Saturday, July 9, 2016

Proud to be an American

What an amazing day.

Watched the U.S.Olympic Track & Field Trials, from the birthplace of American track and field, Eugene, Oregon. Fantastic women's 10,000 meter race won by the incredible Molly Huddle. Wire to wire, over that distance. Incredible.

Still on. Not turning away.

Watched Serena Day at Wimbledon.  Incredible quality tennis in her finals win over Angelique Kerber. Her record-tying 22nd major title, drawing her even with Steffi Graf (although at silly, stuffy old England, she'd be Mrs. Agassi). As if the singles title didn't sizzle enough, she came back with big sis Venus to win the doubles title. Venus is in her 20th year competing at Wimbledon.

Between them, they have 29 Wimbledon titles, combined, in singles and doubles. No siblings will ever touch that.

Or be as classy. The way things have been in America lately, what a much-needed and welcome event. Something to smile and rejoice about, to be proud to be an American.

And I'm damn proud. Damn proud. Back tomorrow to trample on Trump though.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Shooting guns, firing blanks

Sad, so sad, watching the images from and hearing the news updates about Dallas. Trained, sophisticated gunmen firing at police. Protesting for Black Lives Matter, or at least the dead shooter said before they took him down. Sad.

Twelve cops shot, 5 dead. Sad. What had happened in Minnesota and Louisiana were bad enough, but this is not how to respond. Never. Ever.

All the shootings make you pause. We wake up here in Chicago mornings to news of the next drive-by shooting, kids shot, perhaps killed. Chicago has become a shooting gallery.

What is the problem? Is it guns? Assault weapons? Or the people who use them? How do they acquire them? Why do politicians express their grief and then vote not to restrict access, especially to those on no-fly and security-agency watch lists?

I'm tired of all this. It is time to see something/say something. I wish there was more. So wish. RIP to all those we have lost, for all the wrong reasons.


Thursday, July 7, 2016

Of but not by or for the People

The amount of vitriol in the congressional hearing today with the FBI director was almost immeasureable. Ridiculous.

Wouldn't it be nice if for once the Democrats and Republicans agreed to do something good for us, for all of us? Like contain and eliminate the national debt? Like make us feel more confident in the supposedly recovering economy? Like make us feel more secure about our safety from a terrorist attack? Do you feel more secure now than you did on Sept. 12, 2001? Really?

They just want to embarrass each other, blame each other for everything that goes wrong and get re-elected at each other's expense.

At our expense.

I have no respect for such spiteful, hateful and ego-driven and egocentric people. I hope you don't either.

Rep. Chaffetz from Utah is a pig. The Republicans basically tried the case today that they wanted the FBI director to recommend be tried by the Justice Department.

If the Republicans get the  White House, they'd better be careful: they're going to get what they asked for. God help us. He'll need to.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Phone blues

My home phone rings a dozen times a day. A dozen. I'm home now, being a teacher. It is always an 800 number or Unknown Caller. Screw 'em. No, I don't want to answer your goddam survey about who I'm voting for and what issues I'm interested in.

I'm interested in balancing the budget, cutting the deficit and not having a racist pig as my president.

No, I'm not interested in reviving my self-published book. It did well when I published it the first time, and that's that. Yes, "Married Women Are (Still) Easy," but I did OK on it the first time around and that's that, like I said.

No, I don't want to renew my appliance warrantee extension policy that I never purchased in the first place.

No, I'm not interested in changing energy suppliers. I have plenty of energy and a company I pay a small fee to each year to come in and service my A/C and furnace. They also installed them when the house was built and replaced them when they wore down and still warrantee them for a reasonable, all-inclusive rate. So, alternate service suppliers, leave me alone anout that. I'm not interested.

What's that? Switch to AT&T/Direct TV? Not on your life!

Stop calling. And I'll stop complaining. Probably.