On the Eve of the most anticipated film of December, maybe even the year. The film that is supposedly going to "change" the way movies are made. I am so freaking excited to see this film. A true drama that is nominated for a Golden Globe as best movie of the year and it is in 3D! WHAT! Let's go! How can you not be excited for this? Dare I say it... game changer like the Matrix? Let me know what you think.
Official Avatar Movie
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Phillies fans stop crying for Lee!
Stop the crying! Seriously! You just got the best pitcher in baseball. Enjoy it. Remember, nothing is guaranteed. Don't listen to the sports talk people that say that the Lee/Mariners deal was a bad deal. No matter what they say you have to do your own research. Three things:
First: The Halladay deal was set on getting something back for him. In the Halladay deal we got 6$ million dollars from Toronto and gave away Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis d'Arnaud. The most important part was the 3 year extension for $60 million. So for the 2010 season we have the best pitcher in baseball at a discount.
Second: We gave away Cliff Lee for Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and Juan Ramirez (all minor leaguers).
Third: Most importantly the Philadelphia Phillies organization has made a lot of money, but if you believe what President David Montgomery said then you have to applaud this deal because they are looking at the bigger picture.
Don't think that the Phillies are cheap. According to the interview the Phillies are in the red and been for awhile! So if that is true, they have to look at ways to control their payroll and everyone is baseball knows the best way to do that is to have a good farm system. That being said, let’s talk about why this deal makes sense.
The Phillies have become an elite team in baseball and players want to come here. Quality players, not just your average Joe looking for a paycheck. I think that the Roy Halladay deal has the potential to set a precedent that will allow the Phillies to negotiate with players like Jason Werth, Ryan Howard, and Shane Victorino in the near future. Halladay took less than market value ball all accounts (see C.C. Sabathia, John Lackey, and Johan Santana) because he wanted to play for a team that is dedicated to winning. Ruben Amaro's job is to keep us winning for the long haul. Spending all the money in the world on players will not make you a World Series Champion, it helps your chances but I believe what is most important is the heart of a team and the trust that management puts in these players.
Here in Philadelphia, we love one thing and ask for it every time an athlete takes the field, heart. We want them to play 110% win or lose. We want them to sign with us not for the money but for the feeling they get when they hear 15,000 fans cheering for them and booing them when they do not live up to their talent. We also want the organization to do everything they can to keep us on the winning side. We don't want to be average because we know that we are not. Now factor in all these reasons and you begin to understand why this is such a good deal.
How can Howard, Werth, Victorino, and others ask for Yankee/Red Sox type money when they know that the best pitcher in baseball took a discount to play here? How can they not work with the Phillies management knowing that they don't print money for a living? If they truly are playing the game because they love the game, then I believe this deal will make it a lot easier to sign them in order to keep winning for years down the road. Remember players do not only make money by signing huge contracts. Players sign endorsement deals too. How much easier will it be for them if they are playing for a winning team World Series Championship team? Amaro know that he is going to have to pay these guys close to what market value projects for them. But now know the players know that the Phillies are going to ask for a home town discount because of what we have here.
Remember, Ruben Amaro said that he would have kept Cliff Lee. So don't give up on getting Lee yet. All we have to do is keep being Philadelphia fans and selling out the ball park and truly believe that come 2010 offseason, we will be one of the teams Cliff Lee wants to sign with because of the atmosphere of winning that this organization has created. If he, like Halladay, truly wants to win then he will give Philadelphia a discount and come play for the best team, best franchise, and best city in all of baseball.
Also, let’s start a Cliff Lee fund this year. At every home game 950ESPN the Fanatic has suggested we collect money to help the Phillies sign Cliff Lee this offseason. I’m all for it. Imagine how much we could get if every fan gives 1-2 dollars at the game. This will show Cliff Lee that we do care about him and we want him back and put even more pressure on the Phillies and his agent to sign here.
First: The Halladay deal was set on getting something back for him. In the Halladay deal we got 6$ million dollars from Toronto and gave away Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, and Travis d'Arnaud. The most important part was the 3 year extension for $60 million. So for the 2010 season we have the best pitcher in baseball at a discount.
Second: We gave away Cliff Lee for Phillippe Aumont, Tyson Gillies, and Juan Ramirez (all minor leaguers).
Third: Most importantly the Philadelphia Phillies organization has made a lot of money, but if you believe what President David Montgomery said then you have to applaud this deal because they are looking at the bigger picture.
Don't think that the Phillies are cheap. According to the interview the Phillies are in the red and been for awhile! So if that is true, they have to look at ways to control their payroll and everyone is baseball knows the best way to do that is to have a good farm system. That being said, let’s talk about why this deal makes sense.
The Phillies have become an elite team in baseball and players want to come here. Quality players, not just your average Joe looking for a paycheck. I think that the Roy Halladay deal has the potential to set a precedent that will allow the Phillies to negotiate with players like Jason Werth, Ryan Howard, and Shane Victorino in the near future. Halladay took less than market value ball all accounts (see C.C. Sabathia, John Lackey, and Johan Santana) because he wanted to play for a team that is dedicated to winning. Ruben Amaro's job is to keep us winning for the long haul. Spending all the money in the world on players will not make you a World Series Champion, it helps your chances but I believe what is most important is the heart of a team and the trust that management puts in these players.
Here in Philadelphia, we love one thing and ask for it every time an athlete takes the field, heart. We want them to play 110% win or lose. We want them to sign with us not for the money but for the feeling they get when they hear 15,000 fans cheering for them and booing them when they do not live up to their talent. We also want the organization to do everything they can to keep us on the winning side. We don't want to be average because we know that we are not. Now factor in all these reasons and you begin to understand why this is such a good deal.
How can Howard, Werth, Victorino, and others ask for Yankee/Red Sox type money when they know that the best pitcher in baseball took a discount to play here? How can they not work with the Phillies management knowing that they don't print money for a living? If they truly are playing the game because they love the game, then I believe this deal will make it a lot easier to sign them in order to keep winning for years down the road. Remember players do not only make money by signing huge contracts. Players sign endorsement deals too. How much easier will it be for them if they are playing for a winning team World Series Championship team? Amaro know that he is going to have to pay these guys close to what market value projects for them. But now know the players know that the Phillies are going to ask for a home town discount because of what we have here.
Remember, Ruben Amaro said that he would have kept Cliff Lee. So don't give up on getting Lee yet. All we have to do is keep being Philadelphia fans and selling out the ball park and truly believe that come 2010 offseason, we will be one of the teams Cliff Lee wants to sign with because of the atmosphere of winning that this organization has created. If he, like Halladay, truly wants to win then he will give Philadelphia a discount and come play for the best team, best franchise, and best city in all of baseball.
Also, let’s start a Cliff Lee fund this year. At every home game 950ESPN the Fanatic has suggested we collect money to help the Phillies sign Cliff Lee this offseason. I’m all for it. Imagine how much we could get if every fan gives 1-2 dollars at the game. This will show Cliff Lee that we do care about him and we want him back and put even more pressure on the Phillies and his agent to sign here.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Republican Party is Dieing a Slow Cold Death
Wall Street Journal writer Michael Petrilli, makes a convincing case for the death of the GOP. In it he argues that the growth of the intellectual college educated group that is 25 and older is bigger now than it ever was in the past. Petrilli then states that "According to exit-poll data, a majority of college-educated voters (53%) pulled the lever for Mr. Obama in 2008—the first time a Democratic candidate has won this key segment since the 1970s." This, my friends is a great point.
The push of the Republican Party to go back to their "roots" of conservatism and be completely anti-liberal on every agenda in Congress is a prescription for death. This group that Barack Obama won in his election is every particular and is very open-minded to major social issues of our day. Let me speak from my point of view. During the 2008 campaign what drew me towards the Obama campaign was the idea of inclusion not separation. On a national level I do believe that we are a nation of immigrants and that our diversity is what makes us exceptional as a country and what has lead to our success as a capitalist society. America, for the longest time has been beating the drums for its populous to become educated and the capitalist economy has reaffirmed that notion as well. Now a days, if you want to become successful in your field it is a mandate that you have a Bachelors degree. Then if you want to rise to the top of your field, that requires at least a Masters or Doctorate. Businesses understand that educated people are more likely than not to help grow their company and that is why the Bachelors degree has become the new high school degree. Educated people are more critical in their analysis and tend not to take things at face value.
So, if the Republican strategy is to alienate this growing population of Americans I have to say that they, who claim to have the pulse of America, are committing political suicide. Aligning themselves with groups like the Tea Party, which advocates the promotion of the "working class American values," will create an even greater divide in the amount of college-educated people voting for them. The more the make fun of Georgetown democrats and Ivy League elitists, the more the dig themselves into a hole which they will never come out of.
People in this group may not agree on every issue, which they shouldn't, but instead of having shouting matches they have constructive arguments which lead to better understanding and thus progression. I guess my basic point is that candidates like Sarah Palin will never win over this college educated group because of the basic fact that they believe she is truly not smart enough to be our President. When she makes statements about how Obama is an elitist and did not work hard because he has a college degree from Columbia and a law degree from Harvard, she degrades us who worked hard for our college degrees and want we could get into schools like that. Not all college educated people are liberals and the Republican Party needs to realize that.
The push of the Republican Party to go back to their "roots" of conservatism and be completely anti-liberal on every agenda in Congress is a prescription for death. This group that Barack Obama won in his election is every particular and is very open-minded to major social issues of our day. Let me speak from my point of view. During the 2008 campaign what drew me towards the Obama campaign was the idea of inclusion not separation. On a national level I do believe that we are a nation of immigrants and that our diversity is what makes us exceptional as a country and what has lead to our success as a capitalist society. America, for the longest time has been beating the drums for its populous to become educated and the capitalist economy has reaffirmed that notion as well. Now a days, if you want to become successful in your field it is a mandate that you have a Bachelors degree. Then if you want to rise to the top of your field, that requires at least a Masters or Doctorate. Businesses understand that educated people are more likely than not to help grow their company and that is why the Bachelors degree has become the new high school degree. Educated people are more critical in their analysis and tend not to take things at face value.
So, if the Republican strategy is to alienate this growing population of Americans I have to say that they, who claim to have the pulse of America, are committing political suicide. Aligning themselves with groups like the Tea Party, which advocates the promotion of the "working class American values," will create an even greater divide in the amount of college-educated people voting for them. The more the make fun of Georgetown democrats and Ivy League elitists, the more the dig themselves into a hole which they will never come out of.
People in this group may not agree on every issue, which they shouldn't, but instead of having shouting matches they have constructive arguments which lead to better understanding and thus progression. I guess my basic point is that candidates like Sarah Palin will never win over this college educated group because of the basic fact that they believe she is truly not smart enough to be our President. When she makes statements about how Obama is an elitist and did not work hard because he has a college degree from Columbia and a law degree from Harvard, she degrades us who worked hard for our college degrees and want we could get into schools like that. Not all college educated people are liberals and the Republican Party needs to realize that.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Happy Halladay's Philadelphia!
All the rumors were true! Roy Halladay is coming to Philadelphia! This early Christmas gift has ignited a whole bunch of speculation because all the details are not finalized, but I am not here to talk to about the details that will be for another post. This post is all about Doc.
Philadelphia, we are getting a True Ace. Don't worry about losing Cliff Lee. I loved him just as much as all of you did, but in all honestly he is no Roy Halladay. This guy carves up the Yankees and Red Sox for a living, on a yearly basis. Doc has been getting wins with a Toronto that we all know sucks. Doc has been a constant Cy Young award nominee for the last four years. Doc will be with us for multiple years. And Doc unlike Lee said that he would take a cut in market value in order to sign with the Phillies. How much more of a team player can this guy be? All I have to say is let's go Ruben! Check in tomarrow for details on this trade.
Philadelphia, we are getting a True Ace. Don't worry about losing Cliff Lee. I loved him just as much as all of you did, but in all honestly he is no Roy Halladay. This guy carves up the Yankees and Red Sox for a living, on a yearly basis. Doc has been getting wins with a Toronto that we all know sucks. Doc has been a constant Cy Young award nominee for the last four years. Doc will be with us for multiple years. And Doc unlike Lee said that he would take a cut in market value in order to sign with the Phillies. How much more of a team player can this guy be? All I have to say is let's go Ruben! Check in tomarrow for details on this trade.
D-JACK is Back
DeSean Jackson has to be the most explosive wide receiver in the NFL. He has to be. This guy is on another level when it comes to break away speed and agility. Now I am not going to say he is the best wide-receiver in the league but he has to be top 5. Look at the tape. He can beat you in two dimensions on the football field.
First as a wide-out. This guy, for some reason always finds the gaps in opposing defenses. Even Jerry Rice was suprised by this guy's speed, route running, and hands. Yes Jerry Rice (See Video). Jackson seems to catch everything that comes his way. He also has great balance! Balance is sometimes over looked and under stated but this guy has it. Balance allows him to cut back, change directions, and make unbelievable catches that most NFL players just can't do. This guy is something special.
Then add the second dimension, special teams. Special teams seems to be the most important part of football, if all over things are held equal. And man, this kid continues to produce. In the feast or famine aspect of football, he gets his share of turkey a lot more than many players do in this league. And that is with a defense that does not seem to be able to stop teams. Imagine if the Eagles had a shut down defense. Imagine how many opportunities he would have to return punts in a game. My feeling is that if you give him five chances during a game, one of those will definitely get run back for a touchdown, at least one. He is that good.
Eagle’s fans, lets enjoy this as long as we can. The DeSean Jackson Show is live and playing in full 1080i HD while other players are still broadcasting in standard definition. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
First as a wide-out. This guy, for some reason always finds the gaps in opposing defenses. Even Jerry Rice was suprised by this guy's speed, route running, and hands. Yes Jerry Rice (See Video). Jackson seems to catch everything that comes his way. He also has great balance! Balance is sometimes over looked and under stated but this guy has it. Balance allows him to cut back, change directions, and make unbelievable catches that most NFL players just can't do. This guy is something special.
Then add the second dimension, special teams. Special teams seems to be the most important part of football, if all over things are held equal. And man, this kid continues to produce. In the feast or famine aspect of football, he gets his share of turkey a lot more than many players do in this league. And that is with a defense that does not seem to be able to stop teams. Imagine if the Eagles had a shut down defense. Imagine how many opportunities he would have to return punts in a game. My feeling is that if you give him five chances during a game, one of those will definitely get run back for a touchdown, at least one. He is that good.
Eagle’s fans, lets enjoy this as long as we can. The DeSean Jackson Show is live and playing in full 1080i HD while other players are still broadcasting in standard definition. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tiger Woods leaves golf indefinitely!
Well, according to his website. But we all know that he will be back. The greatest player in the game leaving while he is still in his prime...ehhh... the question is when not if he will be back.
The whole Tiger saga has created a big uproar in sports and news that has us all questioning, "Are there any morally great people left in this world?" That depends on your perspective. For me, I take everything with a grain of salt. Tiger Woods is like all of us human. Humans are imperfect and make mistakes. Luckily, Americans love a good comeback/underdog story. How many more stories do we have to hear about men in power cheating on their wives for us to finally stop caring? What does that say about us if we do stop caring?
O yeah, speaking of men in power cheating, how long will it take for people in these positions of power to start realizing that they need not just body guards but whore-hooker-slutty-drunk-crazy-anyone that is not my wife or family/friend woman guards! Seriously, if I was that famous and had that much to lose I would put a wall around me. People would guard me with signs on their shirts that say "ALL HOES MUST STAY 15FT AWAY!" Come on, there comes a point when you have to be proactive and not reactive. And supposedly over ten women? Not a couple or a few, but maybe a dozen!? Come on! There are many untold stories about celebrities and politicians that we never here because they never happen. These guys should get together and write a book, better yet manual (so people can keep it in there pockets), because some people just do not know how to stay out of the tabloids.
On a positive note:
One thing that has been great about this Tiger saga is these great animations about how this all went down. I love that someone took the time to make these things. ENJOY!
I love the part were he turns around in the car and looks back at this wife! PRICELESS!
The whole Tiger saga has created a big uproar in sports and news that has us all questioning, "Are there any morally great people left in this world?" That depends on your perspective. For me, I take everything with a grain of salt. Tiger Woods is like all of us human. Humans are imperfect and make mistakes. Luckily, Americans love a good comeback/underdog story. How many more stories do we have to hear about men in power cheating on their wives for us to finally stop caring? What does that say about us if we do stop caring?
O yeah, speaking of men in power cheating, how long will it take for people in these positions of power to start realizing that they need not just body guards but whore-hooker-slutty-drunk-crazy-anyone that is not my wife or family/friend woman guards! Seriously, if I was that famous and had that much to lose I would put a wall around me. People would guard me with signs on their shirts that say "ALL HOES MUST STAY 15FT AWAY!" Come on, there comes a point when you have to be proactive and not reactive. And supposedly over ten women? Not a couple or a few, but maybe a dozen!? Come on! There are many untold stories about celebrities and politicians that we never here because they never happen. These guys should get together and write a book, better yet manual (so people can keep it in there pockets), because some people just do not know how to stay out of the tabloids.
On a positive note:
One thing that has been great about this Tiger saga is these great animations about how this all went down. I love that someone took the time to make these things. ENJOY!
I love the part were he turns around in the car and looks back at this wife! PRICELESS!
All Phillies fans should want to be like the Yankee's!
Yes, they are the evil empire. Yes, we all hate the fact that they can buy any player in baseball during free agency but don't we want to do that? Look there is no way that the Phillies will be able to spend like the Yankees unless they can buy Comcast. Yankee money is billionaire money. Yankee money lets you make mistakes on players and not care the next season when you cut them. The Phillies do not have that kind of money but what they do have (like Yankees of old) is a good farm system. Quality farm prospects are jewels in baseball. And jewels can buy you players.
In baseball teams draft “prospects” every year and if you have an eye for talent then you can consistently replenish your system each year. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Phillies scouting crew has done wonders for the last 10 years. They used the draft to build a team that would lead them to two World Series berths and one crown. That being said, people need to stop worrying about Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor/Dominic Brown.
The Phillies’ organization has put themselves in a very unique place. They have the opportunity to start gambling like the Yankees do, but not with money with prospects. Now the late 90s and early 2000s the world saw a Yankee team that was home grown and supplemented with great players. There is no reason in my mind that the Phillies cannot duplicate what the Yankees did. The Phillies have their entire core players signed through 2011 basically and just need to add a few pieces to make this the era of Philly dominance in baseball.
Now there are a lot of things that have to go right in order for this to happen (everyone says healthy, Brad Lidge/Cole Hamels bounce back, etc) but all aside, the Phillies need to make the deal for Roy Halladay happen. Why? Let’s call it a “safety halve.” You sign Halladay and you play for a World Series for three years straight then comes free agency for him and Cliff Lee. Now, all you have to do is sign one of them and bring up your new big name prospect and add him to the rotation for 2011, and trust me there will be. There is no reason why fans should not expect new good prospects for the next 5 years. Seriously, what has given you the impression that there won’t be another Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Kendrick, John Mayberry Jr., Antonio Bastardo, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, etc.. Every year we hear about these great prospects that the Phillies have and every year they draft/sign even more. And yes I know that Rollins, Howard, Hamels, and Utley are All-Stars yada yada yada….
Phillies fans, all I am saying is that I trust our farm system to replenish and that a trade for Drabek and Taylor/Brown for Halladay sounds and we should all expect them to do it. There will always be diamonds in the rough and Roy Halladay in the NL East with Lee and Hamels against the freaking Mets sounds great.
In baseball teams draft “prospects” every year and if you have an eye for talent then you can consistently replenish your system each year. I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Phillies scouting crew has done wonders for the last 10 years. They used the draft to build a team that would lead them to two World Series berths and one crown. That being said, people need to stop worrying about Kyle Drabek and Michael Taylor/Dominic Brown.
The Phillies’ organization has put themselves in a very unique place. They have the opportunity to start gambling like the Yankees do, but not with money with prospects. Now the late 90s and early 2000s the world saw a Yankee team that was home grown and supplemented with great players. There is no reason in my mind that the Phillies cannot duplicate what the Yankees did. The Phillies have their entire core players signed through 2011 basically and just need to add a few pieces to make this the era of Philly dominance in baseball.
Now there are a lot of things that have to go right in order for this to happen (everyone says healthy, Brad Lidge/Cole Hamels bounce back, etc) but all aside, the Phillies need to make the deal for Roy Halladay happen. Why? Let’s call it a “safety halve.” You sign Halladay and you play for a World Series for three years straight then comes free agency for him and Cliff Lee. Now, all you have to do is sign one of them and bring up your new big name prospect and add him to the rotation for 2011, and trust me there will be. There is no reason why fans should not expect new good prospects for the next 5 years. Seriously, what has given you the impression that there won’t be another Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Carlos Carrasco, Kyle Kendrick, John Mayberry Jr., Antonio Bastardo, Kyle Drabek, Michael Taylor, etc.. Every year we hear about these great prospects that the Phillies have and every year they draft/sign even more. And yes I know that Rollins, Howard, Hamels, and Utley are All-Stars yada yada yada….
Phillies fans, all I am saying is that I trust our farm system to replenish and that a trade for Drabek and Taylor/Brown for Halladay sounds and we should all expect them to do it. There will always be diamonds in the rough and Roy Halladay in the NL East with Lee and Hamels against the freaking Mets sounds great.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Fox News hates smart people?! CNN Checks SNL facts!?
Look, I love me some Fox News. Honestly, it is must watch TV and most Americans agree with me. I like it not because of the news value but because it is just so freaking entertaining and I love debating with them while I watch. What I love the most is seeing just how blatantly they skew some arguments in their favor (Right-wing Republican leaning vs. CNN and MSNBC's more Left-wing Democratic leaning). Americans love drama and Fox News understands that. However, Fox News also seems to think that Americans are a little "slow" and need to be spoon feed.
Enter Gretchen Carlson. Take it away Jon Stewart.
Now on to CNN. Where do you get to bones to fact check SNL? Now I realize that people in the media feel that SNL has this huge influence on its audience in regards to political matters but seriously, it’s Saturday Night Live! These people get paid to do parody not get their facts right. Then the guy in this suggests that “Saturday Night Live is a very important factor in how people get information about American politics...” What?! I thought that was CNN's job. If anyone out there thinks that SNL is a news source and that their skits on Sarah Palin and Barack Obama are news stories, then CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News are not doing their job. It’s supposed to be FUNNY!
But enough of my rant… take it away Wolf.
Enter Gretchen Carlson. Take it away Jon Stewart.
Now on to CNN. Where do you get to bones to fact check SNL? Now I realize that people in the media feel that SNL has this huge influence on its audience in regards to political matters but seriously, it’s Saturday Night Live! These people get paid to do parody not get their facts right. Then the guy in this suggests that “Saturday Night Live is a very important factor in how people get information about American politics...” What?! I thought that was CNN's job. If anyone out there thinks that SNL is a news source and that their skits on Sarah Palin and Barack Obama are news stories, then CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News are not doing their job. It’s supposed to be FUNNY!
But enough of my rant… take it away Wolf.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
FOUR MORE YEARS, FOUR MORE YEARS!
Andy Reid is back ladies and gentlemen. Yes we know that he has won the most games in Eagles football history and yes we know he has won multiple playoff games. But why does this deal just feel...wrong?
O yeah thats right, no Superbowl! I personally think Reid has made a lot of good personel decisions. But not winning a Superbowl is a huge scar on his record. I say its not his fault! Blame the players. Like Mike Singletary once said "I want winners!"
I believe that coaches don't win games, players win games. Andy Reid makes some dumb calls but its the players that throw the ball in the dirty, drop the passes, fumble the football, get stupid penalites, etc. So here is to hoping that number 5 and crew can finally pull it together and get something done this year, despite Andy's dumb calls. Which he will continue to make.
One more thing. We need big rant from Andy Reid. I'd take anything along these lines:
O yeah thats right, no Superbowl! I personally think Reid has made a lot of good personel decisions. But not winning a Superbowl is a huge scar on his record. I say its not his fault! Blame the players. Like Mike Singletary once said "I want winners!"
I believe that coaches don't win games, players win games. Andy Reid makes some dumb calls but its the players that throw the ball in the dirty, drop the passes, fumble the football, get stupid penalites, etc. So here is to hoping that number 5 and crew can finally pull it together and get something done this year, despite Andy's dumb calls. Which he will continue to make.
One more thing. We need big rant from Andy Reid. I'd take anything along these lines:
Dennis Prager's stupid narrowminded comment on poverty
Now let me start is off by saying that I am one that tries to build bridges not burn them. But I was listening to Dennis Prager on my local station News Talk 990am here in Philadelphia and he made a comment that I just had to call him out on.
To paraphrase, he asked why it is that poverty in places like Afghanistan leads to people taking arms and becoming terrorists while here in the United States that just does not happen. Well Mr. Prager, that’s because poverty here in the US is completely different than poverty in Afghanistan. Someone living in poverty in the United States is classified as making less than $11,000 a year and the GDP per capita is $47,500. While in Afghanistan the GDP per capita is $800. Anyone see a difference? And the argument that during the Great Depression we had horrible conditions and we still did not do it is just ludicrous when you put it in perspective. At the worst point in the Great Depression we had 25% unemployment versus Afghanistan's 40%!
Look I am not saying that this unemployment justifies becoming a terrorist. But is it so hard to understand why uneducated, low income young people can justify it in their own head after growing up in a war torn country with no chance for a sense of stability? If in America we see news stories about people losing there jobs and then killing their families and/or other people then why is it so hard to believe that some Al-Qaeda terrorist can brainwash some young kid to strap on a bomb for a few virgins and a cash payment to his family? Better yet, why couldn't Dennis Prager see this logic?
To paraphrase, he asked why it is that poverty in places like Afghanistan leads to people taking arms and becoming terrorists while here in the United States that just does not happen. Well Mr. Prager, that’s because poverty here in the US is completely different than poverty in Afghanistan. Someone living in poverty in the United States is classified as making less than $11,000 a year and the GDP per capita is $47,500. While in Afghanistan the GDP per capita is $800. Anyone see a difference? And the argument that during the Great Depression we had horrible conditions and we still did not do it is just ludicrous when you put it in perspective. At the worst point in the Great Depression we had 25% unemployment versus Afghanistan's 40%!
Look I am not saying that this unemployment justifies becoming a terrorist. But is it so hard to understand why uneducated, low income young people can justify it in their own head after growing up in a war torn country with no chance for a sense of stability? If in America we see news stories about people losing there jobs and then killing their families and/or other people then why is it so hard to believe that some Al-Qaeda terrorist can brainwash some young kid to strap on a bomb for a few virgins and a cash payment to his family? Better yet, why couldn't Dennis Prager see this logic?
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Allen Iverson is BACK!
So last night I finally watch a Sixers game this year. Yes, they lost but was it not exciting? I could feel the energy blasting through my TV. The Iverson pass to the reverse dunk by Iguodala, the baseline alley loop to Dalembert, and the pull up jay to beat the shot clock. Philadelphia basketball is relevant again, if only for entertainment purposes.
The Good:
The Sixers will not have someone who embodies what Philadelphia sports is all about. Someone that can break down a defense help people like Elton Brand regain whatever is left in there basketball career. Someone that will give GREAT sound bites what will keep us talking all day long. And finally, Allen Iverson will create a sense of urgency that does not exist in this franchise.
The Bad:
The Sixers will have to completely alter their "Princeton Offense" in order to accommodate him. He is not the Iverson of ten years ago and will not have the speed that made him great. Andre Iguodala will have to share the ball and realize that he is not an All-Star but a top 10 highlight. The Sixers will still win enough to barely make the playoffs and not do anything once they get there.
The Bottom-line:
Why are we even watching this team? One reason and one reason alone. Allen Iverson = Drama and we LOVE that. Face it. We do. Second worst team in the East and we are still watching, for now...
The Good:
The Sixers will not have someone who embodies what Philadelphia sports is all about. Someone that can break down a defense help people like Elton Brand regain whatever is left in there basketball career. Someone that will give GREAT sound bites what will keep us talking all day long. And finally, Allen Iverson will create a sense of urgency that does not exist in this franchise.
The Bad:
The Sixers will have to completely alter their "Princeton Offense" in order to accommodate him. He is not the Iverson of ten years ago and will not have the speed that made him great. Andre Iguodala will have to share the ball and realize that he is not an All-Star but a top 10 highlight. The Sixers will still win enough to barely make the playoffs and not do anything once they get there.
The Bottom-line:
Why are we even watching this team? One reason and one reason alone. Allen Iverson = Drama and we LOVE that. Face it. We do. Second worst team in the East and we are still watching, for now...
Why not Placido Polanco?
When looking at the Phillies 3rd base position we have to ask otherselves, what do we REALLY want? If we want someone who could contend for a gold glove with one hand, then seemingly strikeout in key moments after Raul Ibanez or Jason Werth just walked, then we need Pedro Peliz. But, if we in Philadelphia like the long-ball then we need to embrace the logic on GM Ruben Amaro.
Now I am not saying that Amaro thinks that Polanco is going to hit 25-30 homeruns but I'm am saying that he will make the homeruns that Utley, Howard, and Werth hit a lot more clutch. How much did you hate all those solo homeruns that we hit during the World Series? Polanco had a higher OBP and AVG than Feliz and Rollins last year. Now put him in the number two spot in the line up and move Shane Victorino to the 7th and we have seemingly the most prolific run producing team in all of baseball.
1. Rollins (speed, potential power)
2. Polanco (avg)
3. Utley (avg, power)
4. Howard (POWER)
5. Werth ( little bit of power, avg)
6. Ibanez (little bit of power, avg)
7. Victorino (avg, speed)
8. Ruiz (avg)
9. Pitcher
What is great about this line up is that now we have more patience at the top on the order and more speed rounding out the bottom. The only "free out" that I see in this line up is the 9 hole. But they may just be bunting over Victorino or Ruiz.
So let me know what you think? Good idea for the Phillies or not?
Now I am not saying that Amaro thinks that Polanco is going to hit 25-30 homeruns but I'm am saying that he will make the homeruns that Utley, Howard, and Werth hit a lot more clutch. How much did you hate all those solo homeruns that we hit during the World Series? Polanco had a higher OBP and AVG than Feliz and Rollins last year. Now put him in the number two spot in the line up and move Shane Victorino to the 7th and we have seemingly the most prolific run producing team in all of baseball.
1. Rollins (speed, potential power)
2. Polanco (avg)
3. Utley (avg, power)
4. Howard (POWER)
5. Werth ( little bit of power, avg)
6. Ibanez (little bit of power, avg)
7. Victorino (avg, speed)
8. Ruiz (avg)
9. Pitcher
What is great about this line up is that now we have more patience at the top on the order and more speed rounding out the bottom. The only "free out" that I see in this line up is the 9 hole. But they may just be bunting over Victorino or Ruiz.
So let me know what you think? Good idea for the Phillies or not?
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