random facts, tidbits, articles and most importantly my thoughts about things that i find while aimlessly surfing the web...
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Architecture, College Football, Baseball, Hockey, March Madness, The Economy, Corporate Corruption, Incomptent Leadership, Tulane, Atlanta, Florida, etc.
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travacado's thoughts
or at least "others'" thoughts that I find interesting...
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Saturday, November 30, 2002
FLORIDA STATE 31
FLORIDA 14
fireronzook.com
TIDAL 11:43 PM
Sunday, November 24, 2002
CHEERLEADER OF THE WEEK
Adriana, Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders
TIDAL 9:43 PM
Sunday, November 17, 2002
Braves to acquire lefty Hampton
The Braves will have a veteran left-hander in their rotation next season, but it's going to be Mike Hampton instead of Tom Glavine.
Hampton, a former 22-game winner who struggled in two seasons for Colorado, was traded Saturday to Florida, then dealt to Atlanta for reliever Tim Spooneybarger and an unnamed prospect.
The Braves will pay only $35.5 million of the $84.5 million owed to the 30-year-old lefty over the next six seasons, with the Rockies and Marlins picking up the rest of the tab.
After going 22-4 for Houston in 1999 and 15-10 for the Mets in 2000, Hampton signed an eight-year, $121 million contract with Colorado, the richest deal in history for a pitcher. The Braves were among the teams bidding to sign him at the time.
He slipped to 14-13 with a 5.41 ERA in his first season with the Rockies and bottomed out at 7-15 with a majors-worst 6.15 ERA in 2002.
The Hampton-to-Atlanta trade, expected to be announced today or Monday, explains why the Braves have made little effort to re-sign free agent Glavine. They first wanted to see what happened with Hampton.
Glavine, who will be 37 before next season, has three-year offers for $27 million from Philadelphia and $31 million from the New York Mets. The Braves have offered Glavine a one-year, $9 million deal. (By David O'Brien, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) View the entire article
While the Braves are in all likely hood getting a "steal" here, I wished that we had signed Hampton two years ago to pair with Glavine and Maddux to win a World Series. This deal also leads me to believe that Glavine, like his predecessors Aaron, Niekro and Murphy will end his career in a uniform other than the Braves...
CHEERLEADER OF THE WEEK
Mary, Houston Texans Cheerleaders
TIDAL 8:29 AM
Thursday, November 14, 2002
When Did ESPN Stop Doing Sports?
Tucked in among the football highlights on Sunday's edition of NFL Primetime was a very revealing statement. In discussing the guarantee of victory made by Cincinnati coach Dick LeBeau, ESPN analyst Tom Jackson blurted, "It doesn't matter what he said, it only matters what we say he said." A similar arrogance has convinced ESPN it can air a steady stream of talk shows that insult viewers accustomed to quality sports programming. It's one thing to try something new and produce a movie based on the vulgarity of Bobby Knight or a show revolving around the dubious talents of Jay Mohr. It's another to give every single (male) sports columnist in the country a televised forum. On the same subjects. At maximum decibel level. This ugly trend reaches its nadir with Monday's heavily promoted offering, the debut of Around the Horn. (By Robert Weintraub, Slate.com) View the entire article
PTI is good though...
White Lies: HBO gets it half right
HBO's latest sports documentary says it's an examination of race relations throughout O.J. Simpson's life, a "Study in Black and White." Actually, it's a study in white. It toes a media party line that white is right and black is base. There are knowing lines within the documentary, but they are blunted by an overall naivete.
The documentary's most honest trait is its brevity -- some 49 minutes in length. Why? Because, when you get down to to it, at the center of O.J. Simpson, there was nothing there. Nada. If ever there was not only a colorless but soulless man, it was him.
Yet the documentary starts off with him saying, "I'm a black guy, always been a black guy, never been nothing but a black guy."
This is disingenuous. O.J. tried and almost succeeded at being everything but a black guy -- and, more important, his own guy.
He fooled himself. He fooled white people. But he didn't fool very many black people. Not the ones who knew him well, anyway. (By Ralph Wiley, ESPN.com) View the entire article
TIDAL 6:05 PM
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
TMQ Gives In!
After countless requests, TMQ finally adds a hunk to his roster of cheer-babes
Since joining Page 2 in April, Tuesday Morning Quarterback has been deluged by requests that he add a little beefcake to his weekly cheesecake. Well, our man has finally decided to give equal time, honoring both a female and a male NFL cheerleader this week. If you're shaken by this news, don't worry. There's still plenty of hard-core football talk. (By Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN.com) View the entire article
Here are some of the highlights...
Reader Roger Denning of Phoenix has conducted an incredibly scientifically advanced analysis:
Have you noticed that teams play much better -- and win more often -- in the week after you pick one of their women as Cheerleader of the Week? Setting aside Week 8, in which Miami had a bye following your selection of a Dolphins cheerleader, teams are 6-3 on the Sunday after you feature one of their cheerleaders. And it's not that you just pick babes from winners; those same teams are a combined 32-33 over the rest of the season. Can you control the weather, too?
If NFL teams wish to bribe me to select Cheerleaders of the Week from their squads, a Swiss bank account number can be arranged. It would be money better spent than many of the bonuses teams hand out. Also, individual cheer-babes are welcome to attempt to influence my rigorous selection process!
Joe Sedon's plays on the fact that the popularity of last week's TMQ links to swimsuit photos of scrumptious mega-babe Bolts cheerleader Sarah Reichert caused the entire San Diego Chargers official website to crash last Tuesday afternoon. Tim Bryner of Anchorage, Alaska, must have read the column during that period, as he wrote to complain, "Why no link to the Charger cheerleaders' 'we-are-definitely-not-shy' swimsuit calendar?" The reason is that after TMQ readers hosed the Chargers' system, ESPN.com removed the Reichert and swimsuit-calendar links from the column for a few hours, at the Chargers' request, so team techno-persons could reinitialize the server. The links were restored later when the Chargers' system came back up.
I am extremely disappointed that my "mentor" on the Cheerleader of the Week front has sold out to political correctness! But I did write a "haiku" to the TMQ about said "Charger Girl":
ahhh, Sarah Reichert
don the retro powder blue
beautiful image!!!
(Now I didn't say that it was actually any good...)
And I could only wish that another shameless plug for Mavs Dancer Jennifer S. would cause web traffic to cease but I haven't gotten as many hits to my blog since its launch as the TMQ gets in a second on a Tuesday afternoon... Oh well, I'm not a fellow of the Brookings Institution either!
TIDAL 6:55 PM
Monday, November 11, 2002
A sports fan's guide to the personals
If you are currently single, odds are you're aesthetically unappealing and/or do not live in Los Angeles. Otherwise, you would have already found love as a contestant on "Blind Date," "The 5th Wheel," "elimiDate," or "Dismissed."
So, where's an unattractive sports fan living outside the borders of La La Land supposed to find that special someone, especially now that the peephole into the Eagles cheerleader's locker room has been sealed? That's right, personal ads!
However, navigating the personal ad landscape can be a treacherous voyage, rife with an endless stream of confusing acronyms and clichéd, misleading descriptions. Fortunately for you, I've taken the liberty of compiling a personal ad guide, a primer to help shepherd you through the maze so that you can make an informed, accurate decision regarding a potential mate. Included is a glossary of acronyms you should become familiar with, along with a series of common phrases I have decoded, revealing their true meanings. (By Eric Immerman, ESPN.com) View the entire article
Jags: Craft says team won for Coughlin
Ol' ball coach pitches it around, but runs out of gas
Tom Coughlin did everything but click his heels yesterday.
After the Jaguars took a 23-7 lead over Steve Spurrier and the Washington Redskins late in the third period, the Jaguars coach jumped up and down on the sidelines in a display of elation.
When Coughlin headed toward the locker room after the Jaguars recorded a 26-7 victory, he was hugged in the hallway by his wife, Judy. He even gave the players today off as a reward for the victory.
Coughlin was saluted by cheers from among the 66,665 fans at Alltel Stadium -- just two weeks after he heard boos and was spit on by a fan after a 21-19 loss to the expansion Houston Texans. (By Vito Stellino, The (Jacksonville) Florida Times-Union) View the entire article
Tie doesn't satisfy these Falcons
Pittsburgh -- Good teams along the way to something better haven't a use for anything not synonymous with victory. So, after the Falcons and the Steelers stopped alternating thrills Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field with an exhausting but scoreless overtime, the Falcons suggested they're close to that next level.
That is, if the Falcons aren't already there. You have to like their direction these days, because a slew of those inside the visitors' locker room shrugged, cringed or fumed in the aftermath over things that would bring joy to your average NFL bunch seeking to escape mediocrity, or worse.
Things such as roaring from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter against a Super Bowl-caliber team before its historically rough crowd for guests. Things such as having a young quarterback display his combination of gifts and guts despite getting slammed by defenders with everything shy of one of the nearby bridges. Things such as a flimsy defense for most of the game finding enough in the clutch to keep the other team from winning.
Instead, more than a few Falcons players viewed their improbable ride to a 34-34 tie as exactly what it was, and it was a glorified loss. (By Terence Moore, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution) View the entire article
TIDAL 7:19 AM
Sunday, November 10, 2002
HAIL TIGERS!
Henderson, LSU grab miracle win
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky fans rushed the field as LSU quarterback Marcus Randall threw the football far downfield, the final two seconds of game time having expired moments earlier. Some began trying to pull down the goal posts behind Randall in the south end zone while the ball flew northward.
Beyond the other end zone, choreographed fireworks exploded high above Commonwealth Stadium, where only seconds before Kentucky appeared to have pulled out a most improbable comeback victory over No. 16-ranked LSU.
But there was still the matter of the descent and resolution of Randall's wing-and-a-prayer heave, which seemed to be no more than a doomed formality, the ultimate last-ditch act of duty and optimism on a Saturday afternoon which seemed destined to end with the Tigers licking their wounds after repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot.
Then everything became tangled up in blue -- Kentucky's celebration, its upset-in-the-making -- before it literally slipped through the Wildcats' hands, and legend bounded into the waiting hands of LSU wide receiver Devery Henderson.
As Kentucky's victory fireworks whistled and popped high above him, Henderson bobbled then caught the tipped pass for what turned out to be a 75-yard touchdown, dodging two would-be tacklers and racing the last 15 yards with the ball for perhaps the most spectacular finish to an LSU victory in 109 seasons of football.
The scoreboard said, simply: LSU 33, Kentucky 30. The moment, the aftermath, the replays said: Unbelievable. (By Carl DuBois, The (Baton Rouge) Advocate) View the entire article
CHEERLEADER OF THE WEEK
Lindsey Hanson, Raiderettes
TIDAL 8:12 AM
Friday, November 08, 2002
Historic Victory, Yes -- But, a Mandate?
As the midterm election drew closer, political analysts agreed that there were about 10 toss-up races, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The president had a choice: He could have stayed home and not risked his popularity by going out on the campaign trail, engaging in overt partisanship and potentially being blamed if his party lost a lot of seats. Instead, he made the calculation to expend his political capital trying to transfer his popularity to GOP candidates in close races.
He went to those states, pounded his agenda-tax cuts, homeland security, strong military and he blamed Democrats for having no agenda other than obstructionism.
The strategy, crafted by Bush's very smart political team worked like a dream: He was able to tip the balance. In state after state, Republicans motivated by his message, came out in to the ballot box. Republicans won most of the close races and picked up two Senate seats.
But look at the two closest Senate races in which Democrats lost: In Missouri, Republican Jim Talent beat Democratic incumbent Jean Carnahan by 23,531 votes. And in New Hampshire, Republican John Sununu beat Democrat Jeanne Shaheen by 18,817 votes. The difference between winning and losing those two races-and the Senate-was less than two percent of the combined votes in those races. (By Terry M. Neal, The Washington Post) View the entire article
TIDAL 5:24 PM
Thursday, November 07, 2002
Braves introduce premium pricing for peak games
Unless they buy season tickets, Braves fans will pay more to attend Friday and Saturday games next summer at Turner Field.
From May through August, when attendance typically rises, there will be a $3 increase Fridays and Saturdays for all seats except those in the upper pavilion and skyline sections, which will remain $5 and $1.
The new "premium game pricing" was among changes included in a ticket restructuring plan announced Wednesday by the Braves, who are raising their average ticket price by 2.5 percent.
The single-game price of the 5,500 seats in the dugout section will increase $5, to $45.
The price of 4,500 seats in the lexus and terrace levels will be reduced by $5, to $27 and $22.
Add $3 to those prices for Fridays and Saturdays in the summer.
The Braves' attendance has decreased for six consecutive seasons. Last year, they drew just more than 2.6 million fans, an average of 32,142 per game.
At least three other teams -- St. Louis, San Francisco and Colorado -- also charge more for high-demand games.
"I think we're fine, but we can't take anything for granted," Braves president Stan Kasten said. "We're trying to reach out in as many different ways as we can while still maximizing the revenue."
The significant discount for season tickets is in the pavilion level, where outfield seats from foul pole to foul pole cost $10 per game in a season plan. The same seats will cost single-ticket purchasers $18, and $21 on summer Fridays and Saturdays.
"I think the main thing is we really thought long and hard about all that we offer," Kasten said, "and what works for the people who like our premium locations and the people who are more concerned with their budget, to see what we can do for them." (By David O'Brien, The Atlanta Journal-Consitution)
Yet another example of "arrogance" shown by the Atlanta Braves. Look for attendance to drop for a SEVENTH consectutive year!
Dishing out the dirt about DirecTV
Wow, look at the card for Sunday afternoon -- San Francisco at Oakland, Pittsburgh at the Cleveland Oranges, Tom Brady's Patriots at Drew Bledsoe's Bills. Too bad most of the country won't see these monster games. On a weekly basis, much of the country cannot tune in the best NFL contests; even people willing to be charged for the privilege often find that a monopoly prevents them from paying to watch the games they want. Therein lies a tale that ought to be of interest to lawmakers in Washington.
While the NBA, college football and other sports allow fans to pay extra to watch the games of their choice via cable, "NFL Sunday Ticket," which charges household viewers $199 annually to tune in any game, is available solely via DirecTV, the satellite service. DirecTV is really terrific -- if you can get it, which most Americans cannot. Only homes with an unobstructed view of the sky above the southwest, where the DirecTV satellite hangs, can access this service. If you live in a city with tall buildings, a suburb with trees or in the countryside around rolling hills, you're out of luck. (By Gregg Easterbrook, ESPN.com) View the entire article
TIDAL 6:33 PM
Wednesday, November 06, 2002
DAY ONE: Jeb Bush's "Devious Plan"
Jeb, congrats on your re-election. One problem: How do "you" plan on providing the funds for Ammendment 9? Looks like "you" might have to raise taxes...
Harvard invested heavily in Harken
It was a moment of deep embarrassment in 1991 when Harvard University's prestigious endowment fund admitted it had just experienced its worst loss ever. Jack Meyer, Harvard Management Co. president, said at the time he hoped the fund would never again take such a big hit, a $200 million write-down.
Back then there was relatively little focus on one major reason for the loss: Harvard Management's large and ill-timed bet on little-known Harken Energy Co., whose board included George W. Bush, then the son of the US president and now the president himself. Even as losses mounted, Harvard Management bailed out the troubled company, first by splitting up Harken and then by sheltering Harken's liabilities in a partnership.
Indeed, even as Bush was dumping the bulk of his Harken holdings - about $848,000 in stock sold to a buyer whose name has never been disclosed - Harvard Management plowed millions more into the firm. (By Beth Healy and Michael Kranish, The Boston Globe) View the entire article
Fed cuts a half point
NEW YORK - To give a jolt to the sluggish U.S. economy, the Federal Reserve cut a key short-term interest rate Wednesday more than most analysts expected -- but it also signaled that could be the last cut for a while. (By Mark Gongloff, CNN/Money) View the entire article
The End for McAuliffe?
Last night's GOP rout was a stunning victory for President Bush and a defeat for the Democrats' strategy. Don't expect any more talk of a "50/50 Nation," or tactical races, or targeting narrow demographics. The Dems know they need some big ideas.
In a sweep, Republicans kept the House and regained the Senate. Two closely watched Senate races--Arkansas and New Jersey--went Democratic, while Republicans claimed victory in Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. In Louisiana, Mary Landrieu (D) faces a run-off. The Associated Press is declaring Tim Johnson (D) the winner in South Dakota, by a 500-vote margin.
Sonny Perdue becomes the first Republican governor of Georgia since Reconstruction. Republican Bob Ehrlich defeated Kathleen Townsend for the governorship of Maryland. New York Governor George Pataki easily held onto his seat, and Florida Governor Jeb Bush trounced Bill McBride. Jeb's victory is a crushing defeat for the Dems, who hoped to avenge Bush v. Gore and strike a blow at the Bush White House by unseating him.
Missouri Senator Jean Carnahan conceded to challenger Jim Talent at 2 a.m. ET, handing the Senate to the GOP.
Bush bet his popularity in the Senate races, and it paid off, the Washington Post and the L.A. Times declare. Even before the fate of the Senate was clear last night, the Weekly Standard's David Brooks called the election a major vindication for the president's war on terrorism. Brooks says he's "humbled" by the decisive results--but why should he be? He predicted a GOP Senate majority.
Many commentators think this is the end for Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and his tactical, focus-group style of politics. The Democrats' downfall wasn't poor tactics "so much as an over-emphasis on tactics in general," writes talkingpointsmemo's Josh Marshall. "A lot of heads are going to roll over this." (By Kate Taylor, Slate.com) View the entire article
Since the Democrats showed absolutely no backbone during this election cycle, we now get to look forward to the following:
A War with Iraq to fufill the Bush family ego. Never mind that it will probably destabilize the enitre Middle East and could lead to WWIII! What ever happened to "snuff"ing Osama bin Laden out? A permanent tax-cut for the rich. Which will lead to deficit spending a la the Reagan era. It took 8 years to balance the books after 12 years of deficits while Bush 43 managed to whiddle it away in less than 2 years! Continued "relaxed" governance of corporate America. Bet Ken Lay and company get off scot-free after taking most of middle america's 401(k) money! An energy policy. That destroys the Arctic Wildlife Refuge! Who is going to "encourage" the big three to produce more fuel-efficent automobiles??? Not Bush-Cheney!
But the "minority" party did not challenge the Republicans on any of these issues! They failed the people of the United States. I hope that the next two years do not turn into "Pax Americana" because that kind of "manifest destiny" will lead to the destruction of the world's only remaining "superpower".
All I can say is that the campaign for the 2004 Election cycle began today...
TIDAL 6:46 PM
Tuesday, November 05, 2002
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!!!
TIDAL 7:43 AM
Sunday, November 03, 2002
CHEERLEADER OF THE WEEK
Shannon, Washington Redskins Cheerleaders
TIDAL 7:35 PM
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