The Mitchell Report

More input from the Mitchell steroids report. It's mostly the same dreck, but there are some interesting viewpoints.

Curt Schilling, Red Sox pitcher: http://38pitches.com/2007/12/13/the-most-explosive-24-hours-in-the-games-history/#more-141

Thank goodness, a congressional hearing: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3154067

And the President speaks out: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/sports/baseball/14cnd-bush.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Typical sports talk drivel: http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2007/12/clemens_and_pet.html

And the denials begin: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/14/steroid.report/index.html?eref=onion

And when will the NFL Mitchell report come out. No one is suggesting the Carolina Panthers get an asterix after most of their O-line (and punter) were caught buying 'roids.

Do as I say....

State Rep. Harold Dutton represents 3rd Ward, a historically Black neighborhood that contains Texas Southern University. TSU has had a LOT of financial trouble through the years. So has Mr. Dutton:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5371263.html

Now that's entertainment.

Meanwhile the Mitchell steroid report has been issued. Thank goodness! I'm glad the whole steroid era is over and we can get on with our lives. I think the real winners in this episode are:
1. The children, who all athletes and politicians seem to represent
2. the Lawyers, who represent the politicians and the athletes and collect fees.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5375472.html

Love thy neighbor...

A local man shot and killed 2 people who broke into his neighbor's home. He called 911 and told the operator he was going to shoot the robbers. A plain clothes policeman was in the area, but he did not identify himself and witnessed the shooting.

Now everyone in Houston is upset about this incident. Some folks are mad that the neighbor may face murder charges, others are mad because he may not face murder charges. I just have a few thoughts/questions:

1. If you can shoot people who break into neighbor's homes, how far away is someone's house to call them a neighbor?
2. Would people get upset if the neighbor missed and hit an innocent bystander?
3. Why do local minority activists rally around criminals shot by white people, but not criminals/innocent people shot by minorities?

I'm in favor of a full investigation by a state or federal internal affairs office (the municipality n question has a poor history regarding police work in general). If the neighbor broke the law, he should have his day in court. In general, we shouldn't shoot people unless our lives are in jeopardy. The risk of hitting an innocent bystander increase when untrained persons are shooting at moving targets when they are nervous or in an excited state.

I'm back

Why the Texans stink

I live in the Greater Houston area, which means I have to watch the Texans. It's pretty easy to miss how the Texans have fallen from 2-1, with the one loss being a close one against the Colts, to 3-5, with the win coming on a 57 yard field goal against the (embarrasing) winless Dolphins. A lot of people blame the running backs, the line, and the stunning number of turnovers (11 in 2 weeks).

I blame a lack of depth on the offensive and defensive lines. The O-line is made of various cast-offs and low round draft picks. The D-line is made of first round draft picks- the cream of the crop.

They are the foundation of any football team.

The Texans offense was hummng and going initially- until Steve McKinney (center) got hurt. The running game fell apart, which meant that defenses could key on the passing game, which meant that people had trouble getting open, which meant that they don't keep the ball, which means the defense is ALWAYS on the field. Which leads to tired defensive lineman that can't tackle or sack anyone because they are getting more and more tired as the season wears on (and it is wearing on).

Now the local papers talk about the new fangled running backs playing poorly and all world receiver Andre Johnson getting hurt. And the turnovers. But the root cuase is the lack of depth in the offensive and defensive lines.

Progress in Louisiana

Granted, I have different political views from the winner of Lousiana's gubernatorial election, but I'm excited they elected a minority:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/us/nationalspecial/21louisiana.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

Especially a minority not named Ray Nagin. But seriously, congratulations to Bobby Jindal, the first Indian-American governor in the US.

My new favorite Cowboys

I am a huge Dallas Cowboy fan. And the 3-0 start has me full of confidence and smugness that only Cowboys fans (and Yankees and Laker fans) can have.

But I'm rooting for the Oklahoma State Cowboys!!!!! First, they get horse-whippped by Troy. Then they give up 700 yards of offense to Texas Tech, win by 4, and the coach doesn't even bring it up during the press conference. Instead, he belittles and berates a female columnist for saying that his newly demoted, heavily recruited second string quarterback is a mama's boy with a glass jaw. And the Texas Tech defensive coordinator gets fired. That, my friends is excitement!

Although Coach Gundy (who I've followed since he was the OSU quarterback in the 80's) was wrong to publicly berate the columnist, and wrong for not saying what was inaccurate about her story, and wrong for ignoring his own team's exciting victory; he was dead on about defending his player. While Texas Tech coach Mike leach fired his Defensive Coordinator (effectively saying,"It ain't my fault"), Coach Gundy put his stones on the table for a back-up quarterback who has been very disappointing at best. I bet his players play hard for him. They know that when all else fails, coach will embarrass himself and sacrifice himself for their benefit. If you don't think an 18-23 year old doesn't appreciate that kind of loyalty, go to a gang riddled neighborhood and see what those kids do for each other in the name of loyalty.

Coach Gundy was wrong to go off like that, but anybody who will go to bat for a second team player has some good in them.