News And Reaction: The Entertainment Version

Not a whole lot striking my interest to write about tonight so... a handful of little topics!

NEWS: NBC Puts Office Spinoff On Fall Schedule
REACTION: My immediate reaction is: "Cool! Another series by the Office creators! That'll rock!" My second reaction is... "Wait, the showrunners have no idea on what to do for a spinoff? And the network put it on the schedule anyways? That's... fucked." My biggest problem with is is that I'd be concerned that The Office would get watered down - that the creators would be so overworked, the quality level would slip. We already saw that a bit with all the hourlong episodes earlier this season and they've got more "super-sized" episodes coming next season. I hope they know what they're getting into.

NEWS: Lost May Be Getting One More Hour This Season
REACTION: Ohhhh hellllll yeah! More Lost = it's all good in the hood. Since Lost came back on in early '07, it has been nothing short of spectacular and it seems like it's only getting better. Whether it's an extra episode or a two hour finale, it's all golden, baby.

NEWS: Oprah On 30 Rock?
REACTION: Ohhhh fuuuuuuck no! I hate Oprah - hate her with every fiber of my being. Hate her in every way possible that you can hate a celebrity who has no major impact on your life. But god dammit, woman... you ruin enough of the world of television, don't you dare step foot on my 30 Rock!

NEWS: Script Pages Leak From Stone's Movie About Bush
REACTION: I was curious to see it actually. I love JFK so I was wondering where Stone would take a movie about Bush. On the first page, Bush calls Rove "Turdblossom." I'll let that sink in for a bit. Turdblossom. That news either makes this the greatest movie of all time or the worst thing to hit the silver screen since King Arthur. Discuss amongst yourselves.

NEWS: Fight Club: The Musical?
REACTION: No f'n shit. From MTV Movie News online, I discover an article saying that David Fincher wants to do a Broadway musical version of Fight Club for the 10th anniversary of the movie. And if that's not cool enough news, he intends to secure the services of Trent Reznor to write the music for it. Excuse me? Can we change that "no f'n shit" to "HOLY F'N SHIT!" This is one of the coolest pieces of news that I've seen in ages.

She's Rockin' The Suburbs

10 year old Japanese girl rocks the feather boa...

...and then ROCKS YOUR FACE OFF!

Superman vs Wolverine!

Impossible, you say?

Imagine the not-so-distant future. You race into your local comic store on Wednesday, quickly looking over the racks to find your favs. Captain America is back... and yes, it's an alive Steve Rogers. Batman's in some kind of grave danger and questioning his role in society... check. Spider-man is back to being a mystery and the Punisher is still killing people.

You grab for the latest edition of the Justice League of America. The team is engaged in some major battle... all the major players are involved... Batman, Wonder Woman, GL, Flash... there seems like there's someone missing though. Can't quite place who but something just doesn't seem quite right.

You pick up all the Superman books. They're all still there. But again, something's just a little different. The numbering of the books seems off too and the logo is... hrmm.

You're flipping through the pages of the Superman issue. Was that Nick Fury? Couldn't have been.

You grab for a copy of the Avengers. Yep, they're all there too. Cap, Thor, Iron Man... hey, who's the guy with the big "S" on his chest? That's weird.

As you reach the register, there's a giant pile of books that are among the most-hyped. You look at the cover... it's a shot of Wolverine attempting to shove his claws into the guts of Superman. It's a beautifully done cover and as you marvel [no pun intended] at the company cooperation... you notice no DC logo on the book. It's Marvel only.

And you wake up with a start! Whew, that was a close one. A world where Marvel controlled Superman? Now _that_ was a dream... or a nightmare.

Or was it?

A couple weeks ago, Warner Bros lost a lawsuit to determine who owned the rights to Superman. The court ruled the rights belonged to the heirs of Siegel and Schuster, the original creators.

What's that mean?

Well, it means that the heirs could tell WB to shove it and kill any upcoming Superman film properties.

It also means, in five years time when the contract expires, they could very well sell the comic book rights to Marvel.

Will it happen? Probably not.

But Superman gone from the JLA? The Big Three becomes the Big Two? Marvel gets the Man of Steel?

The mind boggles at the possibilities.

Blue's Concert Calendar [updated!]

It's been a few weeks so I thought I'd go ahead and update this and shed some bitter tears at the idea that I already missed Bon Jovi in town and will miss Springsteen tonight and tomorrow. Damn this money thing! Wouldn't life be grand if we could all live the Bohemian lifestyle? If the world was all one big cast of Rent, then maybe we could not sit around all the time and complain about our jobs.

Ahhhh, dare to dream.

April
-----
4/7-8 - Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band @ The Pond
4/9 - Bon Jovi & Daughtry @ Staples Center
4/12-13 - Eddie Vedder & Liam Finn @ The Wiltern
4/15 - The Nightwatchman + Friends @ The Troubadour
4/16-17 - Eels @ The El Rey
4/24 - Rilo Kiley @ Glass House in Pomona
4/28 - I'm From Barcelona @ The El Rey
4/28 - Colin Meloy @ The Henry Fonda

May
---
5/6 - Laura Veira/Liam Finn @ The Echo
5/13 - Port O'Brien, Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin @ The Echo
5/15 - Eisley @ The El Rey
5/17 - Eisley @ Glass House
5/27 - The Police @ Hollywood Bowl
5/28 - Mates of State @ Henry Fonda
5/29 - R.E.M. @ Hollywood Bowl
5/30 - Flight Of The Conchords @ The Orpheum

June
----
6/25 - Tom Petty @ Hollywood Bowl

July
----
7/11-12 - Ricky Gervais @ Kodak Theatre
7/16 - Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick @ Irvine Meadows

August
------
8/1 - Rod Stewart/Bryan Adams @ The Venue Formerly Known As Irvine Meadows
8/22 - Tom Petty @ Verizon Wireless
8/29-30 - John Williams @ Hollywood Bowl

September
---------
9/6 - Nine Inch Nails @ The Forum

GI Joe Vs Transformers

Ahhh, remember the days of yore when Marvel released a GI Joe versus The Transformers miniseries? Good times. And then years later, when both comics had been relaunched by Devil's Due, they repeated it? Not as good of times. Although it did inspire killer statues like...



Anyways... on this very late Sunday night, I thought I'd review a handful of news and rumors about the upcoming GI Joe movie as well as the Transformers sequel [which I can't read much about because my lazy ass still hasn't watched the first one... but I do own it on DVD so I'm one step closer - besides, can it really be any better than Transformers: The Movie where millions of innocent children collectively gasped around the world when Starscream said "shit?"] that have made their way across the Interweb in the past few days.

** DEVASTAAAAATOR!
Rumors are running rampant that the Constructicons will be in the Transformers sequel with the news that set fanboys all atwitter that yes, where the Constructicons go, DEVASTATOR is sure to follow. Now, if only we can get the Dinobots involved.

** "Latino Review reports that Brendan Fraser has filmed what sounds like a cameo as Gung Ho in G.I. Joe, while Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has been offered the role of Shipwreck."
JESUS FUCKING CHRIST! How many god damn Joes do we need in this flick? Brendan Fraser?!? ENCINO MAN?!?! Have these people even fucking seen a Gung Ho action figure? Gung Ho is all beefy and brawny and asskickingly cool. Brendan Fraser is the guy who pissed himself when he saw the ocean in Blast From The Past [a highly underrated flick where Ms. Silverstone (if you're nasty) is scorching hot]... he is not Gung Ho.



The Rock as Shipwreck? Barring any racially motivated "that's not rights" - I can sorta see it. BUT I DON'T NEED TO! HOW HARD IS THIS MOVIE TO MAKE?! You needed Hawk, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, Stalker, and maybe a couple more to start with. Gung Ho would have been fine to add to the group... SIX MONTHS AGO! You don't need the cavalcade of Joes who're going to be on screen too quickly to notice or too shallow to give a shit about. Did no one learn anything from that X-Men 3 rubbish?

** Logo for GI Joe movie goes active
Apparently discovered at a toy show, here you go...



I'm filled with large amounts of indifference. It's not exactly inspiring me to do cartwheels, pull all my toys out of the closet, and support Sgt. Slaughter blindly in all that he does. You know what bugs me about it? It's that fucking star. It reminds me of the scene in LA Story [another criminally underrated movie] where Sarah Jessica Parker [before she was famous] and Steve Martin are on a date. He asks her for her name and she replies it's "Sandy"... or so you think! When Martin replies that it's nice to meet a girl with a normal name unlike all the people with weird names now like Tiffany spelled with a p-h-i or instead of Nancy, it's Nanceen. Sandy replies that her name is SanDeE... with that exact capitalization... and that there's a star at the end. And that my friends, is what I think of the GI Joe movie logo.

It's shiny, fancy, and has a star randomly fucking placed for IMPACT. And yes, the old logo had a star but I'm standing firm in my belief that this star blows ass... you may quote me.

Gah... I thought there was more. That's all I've got!

Back tomorrow with a crazy-ass story about Superman that you do NOT want to miss!

How's that for a teaser?

Eeeks!

Just got home from a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn[wait for it]nnnnnnnnnnnnnnng day that started innocently enough with a little shopping and plans to visit IKEA... maybe a little Bed Bath And Beyond [I'm not sure if we'll have time!] devolved into a barrage of technological insanity.

First, a phone call. "I just bought a ton of electronic equipment and I need your help in assembling. Can you drop everything you had planned for the day and assist?" Me, being the extraordinary friend and world-class human being that I am? "Umm...err... ummm... well, okay, I guess."

I arrive to find a new TV... a PS3... a new DVD Recorder... a new quasi-surround sound system and more gold-plated cabling than you can shake a stick at. Oh, and did I mention a new stand for said equipment that needed to be built?

Hours later, all equipment was installed, connected, and powered on... but as typically happens in such an install, there was one quirk... one monkey in the wrench. There was no sound.

I plugged and unplugged cables. I played with settings on the TV. I played with settings on the sound system. I stared blankly like Festus from Friday Night Smackdown as I tried to run the cables in my brain to see where the problem lied. I started drinking, searching for liquid inspiration.

And in the end?

It works. And I'm tired.

Quite the day!

You'll excuse me if you call me tomorrow and "it goes to voicemail."

Just kidding...

...maybe.

Oh, by the way, I fucking hate Jake Peavy.

Top Five Friday

Ok, ok... time is ticking.

By suggestion...

Top Five NBA MVP Candidates!

5. Tim Duncan
How do you not have Tim Duncan listed on any listing of MVP candidates? You can list your Dwight Howards for taking Orlando to the division title or your Tracy McGradys for that incredible winning streak or your Steve Nashs for keeping Phoenix near the top again but in the end, it's still Tim Duncan... the Spurs are still one of the best teams in the league... and he's still one of the best players in the game. He automatically makes this list for me easily.

4. Lebron James
Honestly, I'm not all that impressed with Cleveland. They made the playoffs, sure, but they're squeaking in as a four seed in an absolutely abysmal Eastern Conference. You can't deny that he's a great player and that Cleveland would be horrific without him but... come on, they're not _that_ good to bestow the MVP on him.

3. Kevin Garnett
You gotta give someone credit for the Celtics being so great this year and I guess KG is a better choice than Ray Allen, right? It's hard to really gush all over him though considering he did join Allen and Paul Pierce. Put those three on any team and I gotta think they're very competitive. I don't think KG's done enough individually to lift that team up to be worthy of the MVP nor is he the best player in the game.

2. Chris Paul
Where you run into an issue here is when you determine what makes an MVP to you. Is it the best player in the game or is it the player that if you took him off his team, his team is a low lottery team? Chris Paul has done an absolutely incredible job with the Hornets and if they managed to finish the season in the top spot of the Conference, I would have absolutely no issues with him as the MVP. I can't really make an argument against him other than he's not the best player in the game.

1. Kobe Bryant
Now, _he_ is the best player in the game. You can argue that he lifted the Lakers into the top spot in the West [with the help of a rapidly developing Andrew Bynum]. Those two things together should be enough to win the MVP for him unless the Lakers bottom out before the season's end. Kobe and Chris Paul are #1/2 in my mind and are almost interchangeable. It's hard to pick one over the other... extremely hard but with my heart wearing purple and gold, I'm picking Kobe as the MVP.

Diversity Day

Running a few errands this afternoon and I thought I'd remotely share 5 Things iPod About You.

With the iPod on random, the first five artists I listened to were Eazy E, Kid And Play, Creedence, The Four Tops, and the Aquabats.

Ahhh, sweet sweet diversity!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

UFC Picks Results

Ugh. Pretty sure I bombed on this one. Haven't checked for sure yet though.

Here's where I was before the show:

21 out of 37 for the year for .568
Moneywise - +86.50 for the year

After the show:
28 out of 49 for the year for .571
Moneywise - $126.50 for the year

Money! Money! Yeaaaah! Yeaaaah!
And I actually increased my average. Neato mosquito.

Next picks event is for the UFC PPV where I will likely be rooting for Matt Serra over that dastardly Canadian GSP.

PICK: David over Goliath via slingshot in Rd 2

Yes, it's that time again. There's a UFC Fight Night tonight so it's time to continue the ongoing drama of Blue's 2008 UFC Picks.

First, let's see how I'm doing so far this year...

21 out of 37 for the year for .568
Moneywise - +86.50 for the year

A looooooooooooot of fights tonight. 12 fights, good grief. Alright, let's get crackin', son!

Location: Broomfield, Colo.
Venue: Broomfield Event Center
Broadcast: Spike TV

PRELIMINARY CARD
---
Anthony Johnson vs. Tommy Speer
ODDS: Speer -220, Johnson +180
Johnson is 4-1 coming off a loss to Rich Clementi. Speer is 9-2 coming off a loss to Mac Danzig. This one really could go either way. I'm going with Speer since he has the experience edge.
PICK: Tommy Speer via TKO (strikes in Rd 1)
BET: None

Roman Mitichyan vs. George Sotiropoulos
ODDS: Mitichyan +160, Sotiropoulos -200
Mitichyan is 5-1 coming off a three fight win streak - no one of note on his record though. George is 8-2 and is on a two fight win streak. I'm going with George.
PICK: George via submission [RNC in Rd 2]
BET: None

Samy Schiavo vs. Clay Guida
ODDS: Guida -600, Schiavo +400
Schiavo is 10-4 on a six fight win streak. Clay Guida met my friends Phil & Stacy recently - oh, and he's 22-9. He's got a real spotty record though with losses to Huerta, Griffin, and Din Thomas of all people in 2007. Just because I know it'll piss Phil off, I'm picking the upset!
PICK: Samy Schiavo via TKO (strikes in Rd 1)
BET: $15 on Schiavo to win $60

Jeff Cox vs. Manny Gamburyan
ODDS: Cox +500, Manny -800
Cox is 9-4 with a spotty track record. Manny is 7-2 with one of the losses that fluke shoulder injury in the Diaz fight. This looks like a setup to build Manny back up. I'm picking Manny but the bet on Cox is worth a shot.
PICK: Manny via submission (guillotine in Rd 2)
BET: $15 on Cox to win $75

Josh Neer vs. Din Thomas
ODDS: Neer +!60, Thomas -200
Neer is 23-6-1 in his first fight back in the UFC since August of '06. Since then, he's fought seven times - fighting six times in 2007. Impressive. Thomas is 20-7 coming off a first round loss to Kenny Florian. I'm thinking Neer is the hungrier fighter right now and I'm picking the slight upset.
PICK: Josh Neer via decision
BET: None

Marcus Aurelio vs. Ryan Roberts
ODDS: Marcus -800, Roberts +500
Jeez. Another long odds fight. Marcus is 15-5 but only fought twice in 2007 - a loss to Guida and a win over a scrub. But he's beaten Gomi once and taken him to a decision a second time - an impressive feat. Roberts is 8-2 coming in on a two fight win streak to make his UFC debut. I'm picking Maximus to win but I'm tempted by the long odds as usual.
PICL: Marcus Aurelio via submission (armbar in Rd 1)
BET: $15 on Roberts to win $75

TELEVISED CARD
---
Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard
ODDS: Edgar -220, Maynard +180
Edgar is 8-0 coming off a win over Spencer Fisher. Maynard's 4-0. A battle of the undefeated. I'm a little more impressed with the competition that Edgar has faced so far so I'm picking a win for him.
PICK: Edgar by decision
BET: None

Nate Diaz vs. Kurt Pellegrino
ODDS: Diaz -145, Pellegrino +115
Very close odds on this one. Diaz is 8-2 on a three fight win streak. Pellegrino is 11-3 with some decent names on his record. Diaz has looked unstoppable in his last few fights so I'm going with him.
PICK: Diaz by decision
BET: None

Houston Alexander vs. James Irvin
ODDS: Houston -250, Irvin +190
Ahhh... Houston Alexander. The world wanted to make him a superstar so badly after the two surprise KOs but Thiago Silva brought him back down to Earth. This will probably be the fight that decides if Dana keeps Houston around. Irvin is 13-4 but doesn't have the most impressive record against anyone with a name (although he does have a NC on his record for a fight against Bobby Southworth where they both fell from the cage... good shit.) I think Houston realizes if he loses here, he's probably gone and will fight accordingly.
PICK: Houston by TKO (strikes in Rd 1)
BET: None

Tim Boetsch vs. Matt Hamill
ODDS: Hamill -180, Boetsch +150
Hamill is 3-1 and is coming off that bullshit decision loss to Bisping. I expect he'll be out to prove a point tonight. Boetsch is 7-1 and this is his "reward" for stepping into a late fight with David Heath back in Feb. He'll be hungry to make sure he can stay in the UFC. I'm guessing this'll be quite the slugfest.
PICK: Hamill by TKO (strikes in Rd 2)
BET: $25 on Hamill to win $14

Thiago Alves vs Karo Parisyan
ODDS: Karo -170, Alves +140
Thiago is 13-3 and on a four fight win streak. Karo is 18-4 on a three fight win streak. Both men are looking to get in the picture to fight the winner of Serra/GSP. Karo also serves in kind of a gatekeeper role for the division so this should be an interesting fight. Karo gets treated as an afterthought but he's no pushover. He's got wins over some top guys in the division.
PICK: Karo by decision
BET: None

Kenny Florian vs Joe Lauzon
ODDS: KenFlo -185, Lauzon +155
I love me some Kenny Florian. He's 8-3 on a three fight win streak and is looking to get the winner of Sherk/Penn. Lauzon is 16-3 on a six fight win streak including his stunning win over Jens Pulver. This should be an excellent fight and really could go either way quite easily. I'm gonna be like George Michael though... I'm gonna have faith in my boy KenFlo.
PICK: Florian by submission [RNC in Rd 2]
BET: $30 to win $16

And that's that. Check back tomorrow to see how I did.

March Mixtape + Stuff

Firstly, I want to announce that the March Mixtape is going to be delayed for a few days or so. The songs are selected but I REALLY want to do something different with it and I don't have the equipment to do so at the moment. I'm hoping to have that resolved by the weekend.

Now, with that out of the way... some random randomness to get you through the day...

NEWS: Dennis Quaid wraps on GI Joe
REPLY: Well, the interesting thing about that is that the production moved to the Czech Republic where I presume they will shoot action footage. That makes me curious. Does that mean Hawk isn't in any of the battle scenes? If so, that's a unique creative choice. Not bad nor good... just unique. On a side "NEWS", the actor playing Storm Shadow completed his first scenes on set recently. I'm stoked to see him in costume.

NEWS: DODGERS WIN!
REPLY: 1 down, 161 to go. It was a great Opening Day with a great win over the arch-rival Giants but perhaps more entertaining, a tremendous pre-game ceremony with tons and tons of former Dodgers in the house for it. Even a first pitch from Sandy Koufax. Just awesome.

NEWS: Ric Flair retires
REPLY: The last twenty minutes of Raw were perhaps the greatest 20 minutes of Raw ever. It was so emotional, as stirring, as moving of a segment that professional wrestling is capable of. Old friends, old rivals, people inspired by the man, people who aspired to be "the man" - everyone was present for without a doubt the greatest farewell I've ever seen. Even non-wrestling fans should watch those 20 minutes and I defy you to not at least feel a tug on your heartstrings. Thanks for the memories, Ric... one last time.

NEWS: Dolly Parton Night on AI
REPLY: Oh god. I don't think I've ever looked forward less to American Idol.

NEWS: The Ultimate Fighter starts tomorrow night
REPLY: Could be good, could be bad. Ask me Thursday.

That oughta do it for today. Evenin', folks!

GAME ON!

I am quite drained from the emotional roller coaster of the Ric Flair retirement yesterday but not enough to not be extremely psyched for Opening Day today. Of course, some would argue it's not really Opening Day since the Sox and A's opened the season in Japan last week. Or some might argue that since the first stateside game was last night, this is just another day in the season.

To me, the first day the Dodgers play is always Opening Day. And there's just nothing quite like opening the season at home.

I love going to Opening Day. The stadium always looks so beautiful on that first day - like an old friend you haven't seen in six months. You can smell the fresh cut grass when you walk in. Your neck cranes from left to right to pick up those little [or major] changes made over the off-season. The people are excited - there's the "audacity of hope" in the air that you are about to start a World Championship season. I've always imagined that feeling being echoed in ballparks all over the United States on Opening Day - even in places like Kansas City and Tampa Bay where their chances are slim and none with slim scheduled to be contracted along with Minnesota - but that the hope is there nonetheless. For at least just that one day, they can imagine their team in the World Series battling for the championship.

And the Dodger Dogs, oh my god, the Dodger Dogs. You can smell them from a mile away... as soon as you get parked and cast your first glance on Blue Heaven On Earth, you can seemingly smell the greatest hot dog in professional sports. It's not a "Friar Frank"... it's not a "Halo Dog"... it's not a... hey, in Oakland, do they call their hot dog "A Dog?" It's the Dodger Dog. The hot dog that the Good Lord Almighty himself [if you believe in Moses bringing down the Ten Commandments, you know, the actual stone tables and smashing them into dust... if you believe in that sort of thing] reached down from the heavens and deposited into the grandest cathedral in all of baseball.

I'm heading out the door [sadly not to the game] shortly so before I go... a quick [maybe] story of my favorite Opening Day...

The year was 2005. And we had decided to buy a Dodgers "mini-plan" of tickets that would give us 4 tickets to games throughout the season... including Opening Day. The audacity of hope was in the air that season, having just battled into the playoffs the season prior.

The drama starts days before the game as two of the people scheduled to attend the game with us, two of Mrs. Blue's siblings [names withheld to protect the innocent... AND THE GUILTY!], announce they may be unable to attend. They ask us to find replacements for them. Mrs. Blue fills one slot with another sibling and I offer the final to Poff Daddy. He agrees and we're set.

The night before the game, Poff Daddy pulls what is known in circles as "The Poff Flake." He starts with a wishy-washy excuse... something about traffic is possible. Then the excuses get more bizarre... he starts accusing the Dodgers of not being worth driving that far to see because... well, Paul LoDuca had been traded among others. Eventually, it turns into, "I'm not that much of a baseball fan anyways. Give it to someone else." With literally less than 24 hours til game time, we give up and just assume that ticket will be wasted.

The next morning we get off to a late start driving to the game because... well, because it's Mrs. Blue and her sister which automatically means we'll be late to anything. Traffic is predictably snaggled which makes for a slow-go and I start getting a little nervous. As someone who can't stand missing the previews at the movies, the idea of missing the opening ceremonies on Opening Day has me nearly pulling my hair out. At some point, I turn the radio on so I can at least hear the awards being given out.

We're getting closer, battling the Los Angeles traffic, as the game ticks closer as well. We emerge into the Dodger Stadium parking lot with just minutes before game time - ordinarily a fairly easy task but on this particular Opening Day, there was absolutely not a single parking space to be found. While scouring two filled lots, the Dodgers fall behind early with starter Derek Lowe giving up a home run and putting the Dodgers down 5-0 before they even come to the plate. Ultimately, I end up parking in a place that's basically an empty space between two lots. I am assured by a random parking attendant that I won't get towed. I cross my fingers and head for the turnstiles.

By the time we reach our seats, I'm quite grumbly. I'm bitching about the fact that I took the day off work for this and that I can't even get to my seats before the fourth inning. The top of the 4th arrives, I sit down in my seat with my Dodger Dog that I really can't even enjoy. The Dodgers are down... not huge but enough that I'm pissed off and there's no changing that.

They rally here and there, chipping away but coming up short. I'm disgusted by the team, I'm disgusted by the day - at this point I just want to go home and wallow in my misery. I'm so annoyed that when Mrs. Blue's brother arrives at the stadium to claim the final seat, I actually volunteer to go up and give him the ticket so I don't have to watch the game.

By the time we reach the bottom of the ninth and the place has thinned out greatly, the score is 8-5... not insurmountable but for a team with notoriously questionable offense, it's not looking good and I'm still in a pretty foul mood. The Giants bring in Armando Benitez and my mood is not improving.

But they kept chipping away and soon, Milton Bradley came to the plate with a 8-7 score and a mentally drained home crowd finding a little life in their hearts to try and root the much-maligned Bradley on.

A shot to left field seems to be a single that'll tie the game...

...and it shoots right under the left fielder's glove, allowing one more run to come home and putting the Dodgers in first place with a score of 9-8. The players were thrilled, Bradley being mobbed by the team. The fans were jumping up and down all over the stadium, hugging and high-fiving random strangers like we had just won the division... not the championship mind you, the division. I can't even imagine what people will do to strangers the day that World Championship returns to Dodger Stadium...

...but hopefully I'll have an answer to that in six months.

It was one of my favorite days in Dodger Stadium in all the years I've been going there and in the end, it proves the moral of my story.

On Opening Day, everyone can... and should... have the audacity of hope.

Play ball.

The Tingle

I said a week or so ago that Wrestlemania this year didn't have the feel yet. It didn't have "the buzz."

Now, with hours to go, I've got the tingle. The feeling of anticipation. The hype going through the roof. The knowledge that we're just hours away from the once a year extravaganza.

It's slowly been building over the past week but sometime in the past two days, I just felt it. I could feel the tingle and knew I was ready for the biggest spectacle in "sports entertainment."

And with the tingle going strong, that leaves only one thing left to do.

PREDICTIONS AND FANTASY BOOKING!

Let 'er rip!

ECW TITLE BATTLE ROYAL
Lots of big bodies in there. Not too many that they'd want to put on PPV. With the outdoor setting, I gotta imagine the effects guys are going crazy with what they could do with Kane's entrance.
SHOULD BE: Kane - someone around that long deserves the big PPV bonus. My runner-up in a "he deserves better than he's gotten" is Stevie Richards.
WILL BE: Kane - gotta imagine they want the fire entrance on PPV and he's really the only guy they can put in with Chavo at Mania and have the crowd care.

ECW TITLE MATCH - Chavo Guerrero vs Kane
This seems like a good time to go away from the pretty bad Chavo push. Kane as the ECW champ doesn't do much for me but it might draw a few more eyeballs to ECW and at minimum, would seem to put the ECW Title on a higher level than it currently is.
SHOULD BE: Kane - not much left to do with Chavo in that spot
WILL BE: Kane - big men = ratings in Vince's mind

BUNNYMANIA - Ashley/Maria vs Beth Phoenix/Melina
I'm not about to go back and look but has the Playboy cover girl ever lost her Mania match? Ideally, this match is used to have someone pin Beth to set her up for a title shot. But Ashley and Maria aren't what I'd have in mind for that. Maybe a Mickie James interference? They kinda went away from that angle though. This match would've been a hundred times better if Lawler was on the face side and Santino was with the heels in the ring.
SHOULD BE: Ashley/Maria with outside help from someone ready to go for the title
WILL BE: Ashley/Maria with lots of bad wrestling and Snoop Dogg getting to lay out Santino.

BELFAST BRAWL - Finlay vs JBL
How do you not have the avenging father win here? Expect a Hornswoggle return to help Finlay... maybe. I saw somewhere online someone suggest the idea that Hornswoggle turn on Finlay because he's mad that Finlay never told him that he was his father... that he used him to embarrass Vince, etc. I'm not opposed to that idea but I just don't know where that goes. Hornswoggle with JBL? Hornswoggle with Vince? Actually, JBL playing Raven to Finlay's Sandman with Hornswoggle as Tyler would be pretty cool. Hornswoggle throwing little Clotheslines From Hell. Hrmm... I like it!
SHOULD BE: JBL wins with Hornswoggle interference to further the feud because I could watch JBL and Finlay face off for months.
WILL BE: Finlay wins with Hornswoggle interference

Batista vs Umaga
I think this match is going to be far cooler than anyone expects. Umaga is amazingly good and gets so little credit for it. I expect this one to be a potential show stealer if given the time and latitude.
SHOULD BE: Umaga wins through some nefarious means. Batista attacks him the next night on Raw. Raw trades Umaga/London/Kendrick to Smackdown for the returning Matt Hardy and a player to be named later.
WILL BE: Batista wins to give Smackdown a cookie

MONEY IN THE BANK
My dream booking of this has Matt Hardy run in right after the bell and start participating in the match. He goes straight for MVP and stays on MVP for most of the match. Security tries to force him out from time to time, but he keeps breaking free and re-joining the fray. Have him do some of the Jeff spots to pop the crowd.
SHOULD BE: A returning Matt Hardy to the push of a lifetime.
WILL BE: MVP [which is my backup "SHOULD BE" if Matt Hardy's not in the cards]

BIG SHOW VS MAYWEATHER
This could be spectacular or it could be a spectacular trainwreck. Basically, this match has become two heels squaring off and I just don't know what you do with that. My gut says they convinced Mayweather to lose to Show. I expect chaos, wild brawling, and a chokeslam. The only thing that sticks in my craw is Mayweather's people hyping a big swerve that no one will see coming. I just can't figure out what that would be.
SHOULD BE: Big Show - you don't pay all that money to bring the Show back and have him lose to someone three times smaller than him
WILL BE: Double DQ - I could see it getting thrown out with Floyd's posse hits the ring and some of the unused WWE guys on the show charge in to brawl with them.

WORLD TITLE MATCH - Edge vs Undertaker
I don't think anyone envisions a scenario where Edge wins this. It's interesting because so many people were picking Orton to beat Taker a few years ago because Orton "Was the future of the WWE." Isn't Edge closer to the future of the WWE than Orton is yet no one is picking Edge at all?
SHOULD BE: Taker
WILL BE: Taker

RIC FLAIR VS SHAWN MICHAELS
I just can't pick against Flair. It just seems wrong that Flair's career is going to end in such a foregone conclusion. Of all the predictions on the Internet, almost no one is picking Flair to win. It's just not right.
SHOULD BE: Ric Flair wins... and then retires in a tearful speech, saying beating Shawn Michaels on the biggest stage of them all is as good as it gets and he wants this night to live forever.
WILL BE: Flair goes out on his back and we all cry

WWE Title Match - Randy Orton vs Triple H vs John Cena
Triple H doesn't need the title and there's really no matches I'm dying to see him in with it. John Cena doesn't need the title and there's really no matches I'm dying to see him in with it. Randy Orton has been treated as an afterthought in this whole angle and deserves to sneak out the victory. So, imagine Orton sneaking in an RKO on Cena and getting the win. The crowd is stunned. Orton's music is playing as the show appears to be over. And here comes Matt Hardy, MITB case in hand. Matt grabs the mic, says this one is for Jeff... short five minutes match... Twist of Fate puts the gold on Matt Hardy and the place goes nutty as the show ends. Now _that's_ a finish.
SHOULD BE: Randy Orton leading to Matt Hardy winning the title
WILL BE: Triple H gets the gold back

And that's that.

See you tomorrow for a special MLB Opening Day post!

Pre-season almost over

So, the Dodgers lost the big Coliseum game.

It's a shame but hey, it's all in good fun. It was for charity. It was a fun and unique game to see. And I dig seeing the Red Sox in town. If it was an official game, I'd be all over it. A preseason game makes it lose some of its luster.

Game's over - but the season's about to begin.

I'm so stoked for the season to start especially with the Lakers dropping two disappointing games in a row. Monday can not arrive quick enough. Opening against the Giants is always fun as well.

This is one of those "phone it in" posts. It's one hour "til deadline."

So sue me!

I feel like I should give something more though. Hrmm.


OH MY GOD!

They used to play this song on the "Dodgers Radio Network" back in the day. I adored it. It was such a fun, feel-good moment whenever it would come on. And now, I give it to you...

...WITH F'N LEGOS!

Top Five Friday

Looks like we're going out tonight so I can't procrastinate and do this posting at 11:50 PM tonight to "just beat deadline."

I had a hard time trying to pick a topic this week since I felt like I should do something both baseball related and wrestling related since Wrestlemania is this weekend and the Dodgers open up on Monday [plus have the big game at the Coliseum tomorrow night against the Red Sox.]

But since I still intend to write something about Wrestlemania this weekend, I give you...

My Top 5 Memorable Moments In Dodgers History.

Let me preface this by saying it has to be an event that I actually remember happening [preferably hearing or seeing.] This rules out things like Fernandomania in '81, Bob Welch striking out Reggie Jackson, etc. Also, I reserve the right to change this list every day for the rest of my life.

Here we go...

5. BACK TO BACK TO BACK TO BACK
Who can forget it? Bottom of the 9th in mid September. Dodgers down by four. the Padres opt to not bring in Hoffman with a 4 run lead. I remember being so pissed at the Dodgers at that point, barely watching the game while it was on. It starts simple enough. Jeff Kent hits a solo shot. Hey, that's cool. Too little, too late, right? J.D. Drew up next... he does the same. Well, that's interesting. The Pads bring in Hoffman at that point and I figure that'll do it. Russell Martin is next and there goes another solo shot. At this point, I'm stunned. I haven't seen three HRs in a row in... well, maybe ever. I'm intrigued as Marlon Anderson comes to the plate. Not like there's any chance of- holy fucking shit. 4 HRs in a row to tie the game in the 9th. And the Dodgers go on to win on a walk-off homerun by Nomar in extra innings. Four HRs in a row - something that hadn't happen in over 40 years. Absolutely amazing.

By the by, I REALLY wanted the 4 in a row for the video here but... well, this was damn cool too.



4. LIMA TIME

Okay, this one REALLY rocks for me because I was there. To set the stage, the Dodgers are at home against the Cardinals in the 2004 playoffs. The Dodgers have not won a playoff game since 1988. The fans are sick with the idea that they're about to get swept out of the playoffs again. Enter Jose Lima - a journeyman pitcher who had managed to win the hearts of Dodgers fans with his crazy antics and intense spirit. Lima manages to throw a five-hitter of electrifying baseball to shut down the Cards and give the Dodgers one more chance. Of course, they failed - but I still get this game to remember. Oh, and Mrs. Blue almost blinded me for life by hitting me in the eye with a rally towel at one point.

3. FINLEY WITH THE SLAM
Ahhhh, yes. In 2004, the Dodgers went into the final game of the season with one more chance to win the division and get into the playoffs. As you can tell from above, it happened... but how it happened was another Dodger moment nothing short of legendary. The Dodgers were bad that day... so bad that they entered the 9th inning against the arch-rival Giants down by seven runs. Things looked bad... real bad. But they chipped away and away and away, aided by some fielding troubles by the Giants and found themselves suddenly with the bases loaded and a victory within one swing of the bat. The man taking that swing? Steve Finley. And one swing later, the Dodgers were in the playoffs in one of the most unbelievable scenes ever witnessed in Dodger Stadium.

I kinda dig these videos taken from the crowd. This one actually gave me chills at the slam itself - just took a little while to get there.



2. HERSHISER BEATS DRYSDALE

Ahhh, memories. Orel Hershiser closing out the 1988 season by cementing his Cy Young campaign by going for the consecutive scoreless innings streak - a record held by then-Dodgers broadcaster Don Drysdale. Drysdale was actually in the dugout as Hershiser took the mound with one more inning to go until the record was his. It was as special of a moment as you can imagine.

1. IN THE YEAR OF THE IMPROBABLE, THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS HAPPENED!
Like there's any doubt what was going to be number one. I can't do this justice. All I can add to the video below is I was an 11 year old kid jumping around my living room, leaping off of couches, and it's one of the best memories of my life. Thanks, Gibby.



And for a little bit of the "lighter side" of this moment...



Game on, baby. I hope I can add to this list come November. GO DODGERS!

Under The Gun!

Trying to watch the Celebrity Apprentice Finale before Mrs. Blue falls asleep. So, I don't have time for a full post. Take this and enjoy it!

108-95

What can you say?

The Lakers have their own fate in their hands. They went into tonight leading the Western Conference - albeit barely. The Conference is in the tightest race of all time where one or two wins or losses can move you drastically in either direction.

It is a crazy race and one where you can not afford to lose to the teams you should be beating.

Tonight, the Spurs beat the Clippers... like they're supposed to. Houston beat Minnesota... like they're supposed to. New Orleans beat Cleveland... which you can debate all you want but they were probably supposed to.

And Phoenix lost to the Celtics... like they were supposed to!

The Lakers? The Lakers fell 108-95 to the Charlotte Bobcats - the same Bobcats that are in 12th place in the horrid Eastern Conference. The same Bobcats who were 6-28 on the road going in to tonight. The same- you get the point.

I realize they're undermanned right now with Pau and Bynum... and Ariza... and Mihm... and... good lord. But, it's the Bobcats. You gotta beat teams like that. You just don't have a choice. You can't put it in neutral until your big men come back.

So, if the Lakers manage to win the Conference, tonight's loss is just a memory. But if they don't, it's one of those games you can look back on and cringe as to the reason they're facing a better team in the first round than they should.

Only about a month left, boys. Don't take your foot off the gas now.

Oh, and just to add a little more cloud to your silver lining, Kobe scored two technicials in the fourth quarter to earn himself an ejection. Not a problem on the surface but #24 leads the league in technicials with 15. One more technical in the regular season earns him a one game suspension.

Is there any chance in hell that that won't happen in the next month? I doubt it.

Scandal!

EDIT #2 - 10:42 PM - Alright, fine. I jumped the gun. After reading something elsewhere, I tracked down a Youtube of the performance and Seacrest actually introduced it as being Chris Cornell's version of the song. Of course, you could barely hear him say that and the judges completely ignored it. Eh... I'm not deleting my post though! It still counts, dammit!



On a bit of a lighter note from yesterday, I just finished watching American Idol. Idol is one of those shows that I thought I would hate from the minute I heard about it. As a self-admitted "music snob," the mere idea of having some kind of a singing contest to produce music's next big superstar was abhorrent to me. I didn't even watch the first season while operating under this same umbrella.

At some point, I heard Kelly Clarkson sing and thought, "Huh. Well, she's not so bad." But I really didn't watch Season 2 either until close to the very end. And in the end, I thought Rubin had a good voice but probably wouldn't be a star because R&B as a genre is in the toilet right now buried under a pile of pop and hip hop. So it goes. I watched Season 3 and thought it had some bright spots but was a little nauseous when Fantasia won.

Season 4 was awesome and I was hooked. Now we watch every season.

For those of you who haven't been watching this season, there's a contestant by the name of David Cook who is quickly becoming the "odds on favorite." He's a "rocker." I use quotes because Idol really doesn't have actual rockers... but they have a kinda generic quasi-rocker. Which isn't to say it's bad... it's just... light rock. If you've heard Chris Daughtry, you know what I'm trying to say.

David Cook is the second coming of Chris Daughtry and it almost feels like Idol is trying to "do it right" this time. Daughtry didn't make it to win his season but promptly outsold those who finished above him. I think Idol would like to finally crown a "rocker" just to get a little street cred back.

The problem with David Cook is not his vocals or his performing or any of that. The problem is the arrangements. And it's not his fault. The arrangements are usually pretty good actually.

The problem is that the arrangements are someone else's.

Which also wouldn't be a problem except for the fact that no one gets credited for them.

You see, when Daughtry was steamrolling his way through his season of Idol, he busted out a version of "I Walk The Line" one week by the immortal Johnny Cash. It had a "hard rock" style arrangement to it that went over very well with the judges and the fans.

It also wasn't Chris' arrangement. He had swiped it from Live's cover of the same tune. Like I said, not a bad thing to do... but at least give them some credit for it. At the time, when people figured out what he'd done, there was quite a bit of controversy around it and the Idol people eventually ended up giving Live credit on air. Good of them but it would be nice for the voters to know they're not voting for an original arrangement before they vote.

But I digress.

This year, David Cook has awed the judges and fans with his arrangements. First, a nifty little version of Lionel Richie's "Hello." There seems to be another one too but it's escaping me at the moment. And tonight? A rocky version of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean."

The problem? The arrangement of "Hello" was apparently used by Incubus before.

The arrangement of "Billie Jean" I instantly identified as Chris Cornell's horrific cover of it.

So, I give the kid credit for outdoing Chris Cornell tonight... but I can't give him credit for an original arrangement.

The hard part is listening to the judges fawn all over his "originality" and "bravery" while he sits there and smiles and soaks up their praise. If you respect the artist enough to want to use their arrangement, I would think you would respect them enough to want to give them credit on-air for it.

Maybe I'm being too hard on the boy. Maybe the Idol producers told him to shut his mouth and do it.

But a few years ago, it was a scandal not to it. What happened?

Am I just being silly to expect scruples from a reality show?


EDIT: Oh! And I forgot my other point. They were supposed to be singing songs from the year they were born. In David Cook's case, that was 1982. "Billie Jean" was on the Thriller album that is celebrating it's 25th anniversary this year - which means it was released in 1983. January 3, 1983 to be precise.

So, not only did they rip off the arrangement... they fudged the dates! Incredible.

Context Is Key

I know, I know... I keep saying we're not doing the politics thing. But there are things that bother me that sometimes I just can't help but share with the rest of the class.

Context is key.

CNN Contributor Roland Martin on "Chickens coming home to roost":

"As this whole sordid episode regarding the sermons of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has played out over the last week, I wanted to understand what he ACTUALLY said in this speech. I’ve been saying all week on CNN that context is important, and I just wanted to know what the heck is going on.

I have now actually listened to the sermon Rev. Wright gave after September 11 titled, “The Day of Jerusalem’s Fall.” It was delivered on Sept. 16, 2001.


One of the most controversial statements in this sermon was when he mentioned “chickens coming home to roost.” He was actually quoting Edward Peck, former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and deputy director of President Reagan’s terrorism task force, who was speaking on FOX News. That’s what he told the congregation.

He was quoting Peck as saying that America’s foreign policy has put the nation in peril:

“I heard Ambassador Peck on an interview yesterday did anybody else see or hear him? He was on FOX News, this is a white man, and he was upsetting the FOX News commentators to no end, he pointed out, a white man, an ambassador, he pointed out that what Malcolm X said when he was silenced by Elijah Mohammad was in fact true, he said Americas chickens, are coming home to roost.”

“We took this country by terror away from the Sioux, the Apache, Arikara, the Comanche, the Arapaho, the Navajo. Terrorism.

“We took Africans away from their country to build our way of ease and kept them enslaved and living in fear. Terrorism.

“We bombed Grenada and killed innocent civilians, babies, non-military personnel.

“We bombed the black civilian community of Panama with stealth bombers and killed unarmed teenage and toddlers, pregnant mothers and hard working fathers.

“We bombed Qaddafi’s home, and killed his child. Blessed are they who bash your children’s head against the rock.

“We bombed Iraq. We killed unarmed civilians trying to make a living. We bombed a plant in Sudan to pay back for the attack on our embassy, killed hundreds of hard working people, mothers and fathers who left home to go that day not knowing that they’d never get back home.

“We bombed Hiroshima. We bombed Nagasaki, and we nuked far more than the thousands in New York and the Pentagon and we never batted an eye.

“Kids playing in the playground. Mothers picking up children after school. Civilians, not soldiers, people just trying to make it day by day.

“We have supported state terrorism against the Palestinians and black South Africans, and now we are indignant because the stuff that we have done overseas is now brought right back into our own front yards. America’s chickens are coming home to roost.

“Violence begets violence. Hatred begets hatred. And terrorism begets terrorism. A white ambassador said that y’all, not a black militant. Not a reverend who preaches about racism. An ambassador whose eyes are wide open and who is trying to get us to wake up and move away from this dangerous precipice upon which we are now poised. The ambassador said the people we have wounded don’t have the military capability we have. But they do have individuals who are willing to die and take thousands with them. And we need to come to grips with that.”

He went on to describe seeing the photos of the aftermath of 9/11 because he was in Newark, N.J., when the planes struck. After turning on the TV and seeing the second plane slam into one of the twin towers, he spoke passionately about what if you never got a chance to say hello to your family again.

“What is the state of your family?” he asked.

And then he told his congregation that he loved them and asked the church to tell each other they loved themselves.

His sermon thesis:

1. This is a time for self-examination of ourselves and our families.

2. This is a time for social transformation (then he went on to say they won’t put me on PBS or national cable for what I’m about to say. Talk about prophetic!)

“We have got to change the way we have been doing things as a society,” he said.

Wright then said we can’t stop messing over people and thinking they can’t touch us. He said we may need to declare war on racism, injustice, and greed, instead of war on other countries.

“Maybe we need to declare war on AIDS. In five minutes the Congress found $40 billion to rebuild New York and the families that died in sudden death, do you think we can find the money to make medicine available for people who are dying a slow death? Maybe we need to declare war on the nation’s healthcare system that leaves the nation’s poor with no health coverage? Maybe we need to declare war on the mishandled educational system and provide quality education for everybody, every citizen, based on their ability to learn, not their ability to pay. This is a time for social transformation.”

3. This is time to tell God thank you for all that he has provided and that he gave him and others another chance to do His will.

By the way, nowhere in this sermon did he said “God damn America.” I’m not sure which sermon that came from.

This doesn’t explain anything away, nor does it absolve Wright of using the N-word, but what it does do is add an accurate perspective to this conversation.

The point that I have always made as a journalist is that our job is to seek the truth, and not the partial truth.

I am also listening to the other sermons delivered by Rev. Wright that have been the subject of controversy.

And let me be clear: Where I believe he was wrong and not justified in what he said based upon the facts, I will say so. But where the facts support his argument, that will also be said.

So stay tuned."




Roland Martin on "God Damn America":

"I just finished listening to the nearly 40-minute sermon Rev. Jeremiah Wright gave on April 13, 2003, titled, “Confusing God and Government.”
ALT TEXT

For those of us watching and listening to the media in the last week, it is better known as the “God Damn America” sermon.

Wright’s scriptural focus was Luke 19:37-44 (reading from the New Revised Standard Version).

In this sermon, Wright spoke about the military rule during biblical days, led by Pontius Pilate. It was clear, through his language, such as “occupying military brigade” that he was making an analogy to the war in Iraq.

“War does not make for peace,” he said. “Fighting for peace is like raping for virginity.”

“War does not make for peace. War only makes for escalating violence and a mindset to pay the enemy back by any means necessary,” he said.

He then gets to the thesis of his sermon, saying, “y’all looking to the government for only what God can give. A lot of people confuse God with their government.”

Wright criticizes the Bush administration and its supporters for using Godly language to justify the war in Iraq. He equates using God in America as condoning the war in Iraq to the same perspective of Islamic fundamentalists.

“We can see clearly the confusion in the mind of a few Muslims, and please notice I did not say all Muslims, I said a few Muslims, who see Allah as condoning killing and killing any and all who don’t believe what they don’t believe. They call it jihad. We can see clearly the confusion in their minds, but we cannot see clearly what it is that we do. We call it crusade when we turn right around and say that our God condones the killing of innocent civilians as a necessary means to an end. WE say that God understand collateral damage. We say that God knows how to forgive friendly fire.”

“We say that God will bless the shock and awe as we take over unilaterally another country, calling it a coalition because we’ve got three guys from Australia, going against the United Nations, going against the majority of Christians, Muslims and Jews throughout the world, making a pre-emptive strike in the name of God. We cannot see how what we are doing is the same thing that Al-Qaeda is doing under a different color flag – calling on the name of a different God to sanction and approve our murder and our mayhem.”

He continues on his thesis of equating government with our God, saying that God sent the early settlers to America to take the country from Native Americans; ordained slavery; and that “we believe that God approves of 6 percent of the people on the face of this earth controlling all of the wealth on the face of this earth while the other 94 percent live in poverty and squalor while we give millions of tax breaks to the white rich.”

He also criticizes the “lily white” G-7 nations for controlling the world’s capital.

Then Wright speaks to:

1. Governments lie.

“This government lied about their belief that all men were created equal. The truth is they believed that all white men were created equal. The truth is they did not even believe that white women were created equal, in creation nor civilization. The government had to pass an amendment to the Constitution to get white women the vote. Then the government had to pass an equal rights amendment to get equal protection under the law for women. The government still thinks a woman has no rights over her own body, and between Uncle Clarence (Thomas), who sexually harassed Anita Hill, and a closeted Klan court, that is a throwback to the 19th century, handpicked by Daddy Bush, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, between Clarence and that stacked court, they are about to un-do Roe vs. Wade, just like they are about to un-do affirmative action. The government lied in its founding documents and the government is still lying today. Governments lie.”

“The government lied about Pearl Harbor. They knew the Japanese were going to attack. Governments lie. The government lied about the Gulf of Tonkin. They wanted that resolution to get us in the Vietnam War. Governments lie. The government lied about Nelson Mandela and our CIA helped put him in prison and keep him there for 27 years. The South African government lied on Nelson Mandela. Governments lie.”

“The government lied about the Tuskegee experiment. They purposely infected African American men with syphilis. Governments lie. The government lied about bombing Cambodia and Richard Nixon stood in front of the camera, ‘Let me make myself perfectly clear…’ Governments lie. The government lied about the drugs for arms Contra scheme orchestrated by Oliver North, and then the government pardoned all the perpetrators so they could get better jobs in the government. Governments lie.”

“The government lied about inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color. Governments lie. The government lied about a connection between Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein and a connection between 9.11.01 and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Governments lie.”

“The government lied about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq being a threat to the United States peace. And guess what else? If they don’t find them some weapons of mass destruction, they gonna do just like the LAPD, and plant the some weapons of mass destruction. Governments lie.”

2. Governments change. He said long before the United States colonized the world, so did Egypt.

“All colonizers are not white. Turn to your neighbors and say that oppressors come in all colors.”

He then went back to the Bible and spoke about the changing of kings in Babylonia.

“Prior to Abraham Lincoln, the government in this country said it was legal to hold African in slavery in perpetuity…when Lincoln got in office, the government changed. Prior to the passing of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution, government defined African as slaves, as property. Property, people with no rights to be respected by any whites anywhere. The Supreme Court of the government, same court, granddaddy of the court that stole the 2000 election. Supreme court said in it’s Dred Scott decision in the 1850s, no African anywhere in this country has any rights that any white person has to respect at any place, any time. That was the government’s official position backed up by the Supreme Court – that’s the judiciary; backed up by the executive branch – that’s the president; backed up by the legislative branch and enforced by the military of the government. But I stop by to tell you tonight that government’s change.”

“Prior to Harry Truman’s government, the military was segregated. But governments change.”

“Prior to the Civil Rights and equal accommodation laws of the government in this country, there was backed segregation by the country, legal discrimination by the government, prohibited blacks from voting by the government, you had to eat and sit in separate places by the government, you had sit in different places from white folks because the government said so, and you had to buried in a separate cemetery. It was apartheid, American style, from the cradle to the grave, all because the government backed it up.”

“But guess what? Governments change. Under Bill Clinton, we got a messed up welfare to work bill, but under Clinton blacks had an intelligent friend in the Oval Office. Oh, but governments change.”

“The election was stolen. We went from an intelligent friend to a dumb Dixiecrat. A rich Republican who has never held a job in his life; is against affirmative action (and) against education – I guess he is; against healthcare, against benefits for his own military, and gives tax breaks to the wealthiest contributors to his campaign. Governments change. Sometimes for the good, and sometimes for the bad.”

“Where governments change, God does not change. God is the same yesterday, today and forever more. That’s what his name I Am means. He does not change.”

“God was against slavery on yesterday, and God, who does not change, is still against slavery today. God was a God of love yesterday, and God who does not change, is still a God of love today. God was a God of justice on yesterday, and God who does not change, is still a God of justice today.”

“God does not change.”

3. He then speaks of the government in his Bible text and said the Romans failed. Then he said the British government failed even after it colonized the world. He said the Russian government failed. The Japanese government failed. The German government failed.

“And the United States of America government, when it came to treating her citizens of Indian descent, she failed. She put them on reservations.”

“When it came to putting her citizens of Japanese descent fairly, she failed. She put them in interment prison camps.”

“When it came to putting the citizens of African descent fairly, America failed. She put them in chains. The government put them on slave quarters. Put them on auction blocks. Put them in cotton fields. Put them in inferior schools. Put them in substandard housing. Put them scientific experiments. Put them in the lower paying jobs. Put them outside the equal protection of the law. Kept them out of their racist bastions of higher education, and locked them into positions of hopelessness and helplessness.”

“The government gives them the drugs, builds bigger prisons, passes a three strike law and then wants us to sing God Bless America. Naw, naw, naw. Not God Bless America. God Damn America! That’s in the Bible. For killing innocent people. God Damn America for treating us citizens as less than human. God Damn America as long as she tries to act like she is God and she is Supreme.”

“The United States government has failed the vast majority of her citizens of African descent. Think about this. Think about this. For every one Oprah, a billionaire, you’ve got 5 million blacks that are out of work. For every one Colin Powell, a millionaire, you’ve got 10 million blacks who cannot read. For every one Condi-Skeezer Rice, you’ve got 1 million in prison. For every one Tiger Woods, who needs to get beat at the Masters, with his Cablanasian hips, playing on a course that discriminates against women, God has this way of brining you up short when you get to big for your Cablanasian britches. For every one Tiger Woods, we’ve got 10,000 black kids who will never see a golf course. The United States government has failed the vast majority of her citizens of African descent.”

“Tell your neighbor he’s (going to) help us one last time. Turn back and say forgive him for the God Damn, that’s in the Bible though. Blessings and curses is in the Bible. It’s in the Bible.

“Where government fail, God never fails. When God says it, it’s done. God never fails. When God wills it, you better get out the way, cause God never fails. When God fixes it, oh believe me it’s fixed. God never fails. Somebody right now, you think you can’t make it, but I want you to know that you are more than a conqueror through Christ. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”

He then went on to talk about the salvation of Christians through the death of Jesus Christ. The sermon ended with a song proclaiming, “God never fails.”"


And that's that.

Context is key, people. Always remember.


EDIT: And if you managed to wade through all that, here's your reward!

One Week

As I once again race to beat "the deadline" so I can continue the streak, I'm looking for a nice, simple topic to write about so I don't have to think too much.

With that in mind, we find ourselves approximately seven days from two of my favorite days of the year.

Next Sunday will be Wrestlemania - always a holiday for me. The price has gone up yet again and the show doesn't have a lot of the same flair [no pun intended] that it has in past years but there is still plenty about it that I'm looking forward to. I'll probably do a little more thorough rundown later in the week so I don't want to burn all that up right now but I will say that I almost feel bad for Shawn Michaels heading into next Sunday. He's been put into one of the toughest positions imaginable where he needs to figure out a way to work his Wrestlemania magic and give Ric Flair a final match that no one will ever forget. It won't be easy... Flair hasn't had a truly memorable match in quite some time. But it will be a huge moment one way or the other.

Next Monday will be the Dodgers Opening Day. And with seven days to go til the 2008 season opens at home, the Dodgers _still_ have a lot of questions to be answers for their team. As short-term problems, they need to figure out if Jeff Kent will be ready for Opening Day and if not, who will take his spot [my money is on Abreu although Marcus Giles got cut today and immediately becomes a dark horse candidate for me.] Nomar appears to be missing Opening Day and LaRoche is sidelined for a month or so more after that. My guess is that Hu and Abreu will double up at the hot corner until Nomar is ready to go. We still need a fifth starter which has settled into a battle between Park and Loaiza. My gut still stays Loaiza gets the gig because of his contract but Park has pitched well enough to earn a shot... if not in Dodger Blue, somewhere else in the big leagues. All signs are that Kuo and Young will both make the squad because they're out of minor league options - meaning we either keep them with the big club or risk losing them to another team via waivers. That'll make for quite the roster crunch. Supposedly, we should expect some big cuts tomorrow so it'll be interesting to see who is left standing.

I'm done! Be back tomorrow with something a little more... well... who knows really.