My Top Ten Bond Girls

I have always been a huge fan of James Bond. The creator of Bond, writer Ian Fleming, created a character that displays brashness, intelligence, imagination,and ruthlessness, yet still shows us a softer human side of 007. The always interesting aspect in the Bond movies are The Bond girls. All individually displayed pieces of James Bond's personality, but all very different. Bond Girls are not only beautiful, but are smart, witty, funny, and bad asses. Thinking of that, I wanted to share my personal top 10 Bond Girls of all time. 

10. Miranda Frost as Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day 2002)
She plays a double crossing MI6 agent who does whatever is necessary to get what she wants.She is beautiful, smart, and very good with swords. The fight scene with Jinx(Halle Berry) at the end doesn't hurt her stock either.

9.Lois Chiles as Holly Goodhead (Moonraker 1979)

First of all, any beautiful woman with the last name Goodhead is a lock in the top 10. And besides being beautiful, she was a NASA trained astrophysicist who worked for the CIA. Sexy nerds are always attractive. 

8.Famke Janssen as Xenia Onotopp
(Golden Eye 1995)


Using sex as her favorite weapon, this sexy killer who also gained sexual pleasure from killing had an amazing talent of suffocating her victims with her thighs. Lord Have Mercy !

7.Barbara Bach as Maj.Anya Amasova (The Spy Who Loved Me 1977) 
Sexy Russian spy competing with Bond for a secret microfilm is all good and fine.She was Agent XXX !  What else needs to be said ?





6.Jill St. John as Tiffany Case (Diamonds Are Forever 1971) 


The Beautiful Jill St. John plays a greedy smuggler for the evil Blofeld. In many attempts on her life she definitely holds her own an ultimately helps Bond in tracking down smuggled diamonds. 






5.Michelle Yeoh as Wai Lin (Tomorrow Never Dies 1997)

Not only beautiful, but this Bond girl shows her strengths using her martial arts background as she poses as a Chinese journalist. Not to mention her shower scene with Bond was pretty sexy. 

4.Maud Adams as Octopussy,Andre Anders 

(The Man With The Golden Gun 1974,

 Octopussy 1983, View To Kill 1985) 

Maud has always been a very beautiful woman, and she displays that even more at the age of 38 in her role in Octopussy. Cunning , and smart, her character uses a different type of weapon to get what she wants. Seduction. The fact she is in three Bond movies, two with major roles and one as an extra, that alone puts her on my list. 

3.Halle Berry as Jinx (Die Another Day 2002)

I don't know if there are any real words that describe how beautiful Halle Berry is.Her character was average in this film, but when u have looks like that who cares ! She's sexy, holds on her on in fights, is sassy, while still making it known to us that she's a woman. All woman ! 

2.Ursula Andress as Honey Ryder (Dr. No 1962)

Berry in the 3rd spot brought back this beauties breathtaking scene walking out of the water in a tiny retro bikini. Honey practically invented The Bond Girl and will always be considered the trend setter.

1.Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore (Goldfinger 1964)

This is my #1 Bond Girl of all-time. The name alone pretty much makes it a done deal. Other than "Pussy Galore" the name, she does beat down James Bond. She's smart, she's sexy, and doesn't need to strut around naked to be noticed(wishful thinking).

Healthcare for NFL Retirees Is Not About Owing

The class-action complaint presented by a group of retired players in Federal District Court in Minneapolis against the teams, the NFL, the Brady v. N.F.L. Players association, and DeMaurice Smith is not as threatening or vicious as it seems. The suit claims the current players and the association are "conspiring to depress the amounts of pension and disability benefits to be paid to former NFL players in order to maximize the salaries and benefits to current NFL players." This weekend Sporting News Radio host Peter Brown spoke on why retired players feel like they are owed money from current players and the league. He specifically noted that it's not the current players fault retired players didn't put money away, were to busy buying cars and houses, living the extravagant lifestyle and even compared the incomes of household Americans to NFL players salaries  Although I understand the angle Mr. Brown was taking, In my opinion it is a misrepresentation of what is really the issue.

First and foremost, I am a fan of Sporting News Radio host Peter Brown. I listen to him often and appreciate his views and opinions on the many different topics he covers. He has a vast amount of knowledge and often produces credible facts to support his opinions. In respect to Mr.Brown I think he missed the overall picture of why the suit was filed. If you do or don't know, I am a former player in the NFL of 11 years. I do consider the ramifications of the damage that has been done to my body, and I signed up for it knowing those risks. I also have no regrets about it. 

The suit was not filed by the retired players to specify they are owed something. It was filed on the premis they have been excluded from negotiations  specifically to issues dealing with them as a whole. To some degree they have validity considering the District Court combined the retired players suit with the Brady suit. I am not fully aware of all laws pertaining to this subject, however, logic would tell me that if the suits are combined then the retired players should be allowed representation at the negotiations as well. In my opinion, the retired players should be represented apart from the NFLPA by the Retired Players Association anyway. It is ridiculous to think that retired players and their well being would be at the forefront or even the middle of present collective bargaining agreements. For those of you that don't know, the NFL is a cut throat business. With the exception of a small group of people, no one really cares, no one has loyalty. It is also sensible to understand the feelings behind the suit as they watch owners and players argue over 9 billion dollars and wonder what portion if any are they to receive. 

Brown brought up the point why NFL players or profesional athletes should be any different from the average American. I couldn't agree with him more. For example, the average American can file for workers comp, NFL players can not. Average Americans are able to work in the state they live in,relocate elsewhere for a specific duty, regardless of the length of time, and are only taxed in the state which they work. In the NFL, every state a player sets foot in, even for two days, they are taxed in those states and in the state of their employer. Another example is UPS. If an employee is injured, they pay for  medical expenses for maximum recovery of the employee, lost wages, and LIFETIME medical benefits for the pertained injury. Also, if an employee is not able to return and work in the current position because of the injury, UPS will pay to retrain the employee for a different position in the company or a different field of work all together. Based on that information I would certainly think professional athletes would not want to be any different. The expected response to my points of course will always be "professional athletes make millions of dollars." Of course some do, but not as much as one would think. That's another topic for another time. 

Another point Brown expressed was the comparing of NFL player salaries to salaries of the average American in 1960. There is no one determinant of what players and the average American salary is or was, especially during that time. Data collecting and sources are no where near as accurate or as credible as now. Those numbers are skewed on both fronts because there is always a small percentage of either players or employees in corporations that change that number dramatically. Even now, if the average American salary is $70K, realistically that number is more like $35K because CEO's like Lloyd Blankfein collect salaries and bonuses of $100 million dollars in a years time. In my opinion using that as a determinate of the gap in salaries can't be fully supported. Think about this, supposedly the average player salary in the 1950's was $6000, the minimum starting in 1970 was $9000. Because of possible inaccurate  information, the number in 1960 can't be fully supported. 

In my opinion, both the retired and the current players should be united on this front. It has already been determined that money will be set aside for retired players, but what is important is the actual number itself. Whatever is decided for retired players now vastly affects the current players who will retire in the future. The healthcare system in place now has only increased for what it costs for medical care. There have been great advancements in technology and medicine, but the reality for now is it will only increase. The current players will have injuries and ailments just like myself and many other former players. For the risks players endure for this game, for families, fans, and the owners, it should definitely be addressed. If the league continues to use the likeness of players both former and present, and continue to be adamant about how players of the past fought and contributed to the growth of the NFL, then putting in place something that helps them with healthcare should not be an issue. Retired players are not owed, it was earned. 

Refuse To Be Silent

Those of you that know me, for the most part understand where I coming from. I'm usually pretty opinionated about certain topics, but I pose the following question. As a professional athlete, should I be as opinionated or as outspoken as I am ? There seems to be a weird dynamic among the public about athletes speaking out on issues. They pay to see athletes play but do not want to hear them speak their minds or have opinions on some issues.


Recently former NY Giant wide receiver David Tyree was very outspoken about his views on gay marriage. Tyree's view and opinion of the matter is not the subject, but should he have spoken out in general is.Many individuals who follow sports are very hypocritical. They want us to be "role models", be good fathers, leaders, mentors, love our country, and stand for things. However, when the athlete speaks out, these same individuals call he or she spoiled, not in touch with the real world, and at times unintelligent. This leads me to wonder what their definition of "role model" is. If those are the labels projected on athletes then why the need to be silent and walk around emotionally enslaved ? If the athlete is unknowledgeable of the issue being discussed, by all means it should not be spoken on, but if they are, whether they lived it or researched it in some form or fashion then it is appropriate for them to have an opinion about it. 

For instance, what if Curt Flood had not spoken up for free agency in baseball, Arthur Ashe had not spoken out against South Africa's aparthied policies, or Billy Jean King speaking up for equality and women's rights. These were all critical social issues and they made their voices heard. They were not robots, they did not walk around devoid of conscious. All made themselves heard and spoke intelligently on what they believed in.


In the present day, many athletes of this magnitude do not exist. No one speaks out or has an opinion as our athletic ancestors did. Why won't Tiger or Jordan be more outspoken and opinionated openly ? Obviously as humans our personality traits are different, but at some point everyone either has a need or needs to say something at some time on some issue. So pertaining to the athlete of today, are they only concerned with contracts and endorsement deals ? Is it the scrutiny or repercussions they could face when taking the opportunity to speak out ? Or, the lack of knowledge in general. In my opinion these reasons exist, but everything an athlete says now is planned or programmed. It's almost insulting because it feeds into the "dumb jock" label which isn't always the case. 

Athletes should be able to speak out on issues sports related or not. Just like the every day working man or woman, athletes have rights to society as well. Being a professional athlete does not diminish nor take away the social contract we as humans have. That does not mean speak without substance or validity, it means having knowledge of a situation, be able to articulate it, and express it in a manner where people can understand. I'm aware some individuals lack the skills or the confidence to do this, but just like shooting jumpers, or throwing passes, it too has to be practiced. I am in favor of athletes speaking out more. I think it adds a critical and influential element to society.


"I try to be as honest about what I see and to speak rather than be silent, especially if it means I can save lives, or serve humanity." Sandra Cisneros

Champions League Match Up

The biggest game of the year features two of the best clubs in the world with English champion Manchester United versus Spanish champion Barcelona.  A rematch of 2009 which was won by Barcelona 2-0. The Red Devils look to redeem themselves in a match that could make  Sir Alex Ferguson the top manager in the competitions history. However, Barcelona has an agenda of their own, to prove they are the best club in the world. 

Barcelona:

In Barcelona's 4-3-3 formation the team clearly plays around Lionel Messi. Messi continues to grab accolades as the top player in the world with timely runs and precision shots. Saying that, United will counter with the Premier League's best defender Nemanja Vidic. Vidic is physical and plays with tremendous pace, but his match up will be difficult as it will consist more of stopping Messi while on the run. Messi is the best at breaking down defenses and if not contained the goals will come plenty. 

Barcelona play maker Xavi, is an excellent passer, protects the ball very well, and plays with composure. There is no doubt he's the quarterback creating opportunities for the front line, and also a decent ball winner defensively. But Xavi has had trouble when pressed by high energy defensive midfielders. United could have the advantage if either a fit Darren Fletcher or Park Ji-Sung are used to attack or shadow Xavi, disturbing the flow of play and making it hard for him to pass effectively and set up the front three. 

Manchester United:

Sir Alex has a difficult task at hand deciding tactically how to play Barcelona. The 4-4--1-1 with Wayne Rooney playing behind Javier Hernandez has delivered excellent results. With Barcelona's high playing style, this could be an effective way for United to press and create opportunities. Hernandez is quickly emerging as a premier forward and because of the danger he presents, it has allowed Rooney to regain the same form he showed last year.

IF Ferguson decides to pack the midfield and defend deep, it would split up Rooney and Hernandez but could make it hard for Barcelona to get the ball to the front line by making them take possession of the ball deeper. this will help United in taking advantage of a Barcelona team that's weak against the counter.

Throwing the Technical mumbo jumbo out of the window, if United attack, are physical, and do a good job of cutting down passing lanes in the middle, they will win this match. Barcelona will win if they  control the game with passing and are patient and timely with runs. They also have to do a good job defensively  on counters.

X Factor: Set Pieces

I think the more physical United team has the advantage here. Could ultimately win the game here. 

The Day of May 24

First and foremost I'd like to thank everyone for the wonderful birthday wishes. I also want to wish Happy Birthday to all others born on this day. Considering I'm a nerd and history geek, I was curious to see the things that have transpired throughout time on this day. Here's just a few things on the list that caught my interest. Enjoy !

1544 - Birth of William Gilbert ( Father of Electrical Engineering )
1658 - Battle of Dunes (Spanish-French War)
1738 - Methodist Church forms
1818 - Gen Andrew Jackson captures Pensacola Florida
1830 - Mary Had A Little Lamb is written (this is funny)
1830 - First Passenger Rail service in US (Baltimore & Elliots Mill,Maryland)
1854 - Lincoln University, Penn 1st Black college in US forms by Prebyts
1861 - Major Gen Benjamin Butler declares slaves "contraband of war"
1883 - The Brooklyn Bridge is opened
1915 - Thomas Edison invents telescribe to recored telephone conversations
1935 - 1st major league night baseball game, (Reds v Phil)
1935 - Babe Ruth hits 714th and final home run of his career vs Pittsburgh Pirates
1941 - World War 2, German battleship Bismarck sinks the pride of the Royal Navy HMS Hood
1951 - Willie Mays begins playing for NY Giants
1951 - Racial Segregation in Washington DC restaurants ruled illegal
1964 - Harmen Killebrew hits longest homer ever 471 ft ( RIP Sir)
1967 - AFL grants franchise to Cincinnati Bengals
1974 - Dean Martin last show airs on NBC
1978 - Birth of Brian Ching ( big Shout Out !!)
1979 - Birth of Tracy McGrady (so Ching & I share a birthday with this Knob ? )
1985 - View to a Kill premiers in US (Awesome !)
1989 - AC Milan wins 34th Europe Cup 1 at Barcelona
1989 - Indiana Jones and Last Crusade premiers
1994 - 4 men convicted of bombing the World Trade Center(1993) each sentenced to 240 years in prison (sucks to be you ! )    

Just Be Who You Are

Maybe I'm too old school in some areas, or maybe i am witnessing the continued wussification of our country. In some instances I wish there were more Charles Barkley types on earth. At least everyone would know where they stand. The say one thing do another act is so played out, that now  it's just annoying and not even news worthy.

Recently Tyler Hamilton, who was banned from cycling for two positive doping tests, came forth with his "confession" that Lance Armstrong was doping and also encouraged him to do it as well. Let's remember this is the same guy who has adamantly denied ever using PED's of anytime during his career. So why now ? Losing sleep at night ? Or you just couldn't turn down the money offered to you by 60 minutes or publishing companies that want to hear "your side" of the story.

The NFL owners are holding their annual spring meetings today. As usual the media runs to Roger Goodell to ask what is going on with the lock out, etc.  as he so frequently does, he states, "The sooner we get back to the negotiating table the more we can address those issues in a timely fashion and get to what everybody wants, which is football, In the meantime we've done everything to prepare for 2011." Well...commissioner, why are there still court battles and litigations going on ? From what I understand both sides can agree to remove the suits and immediately start negotiating. Why has that not happened ? It hasn't even been brought up as an option. I don't consider myself to be ultra knowledgeable of labor laws and such, however, it  seems to be simple enough to do.


As I am now  a part of the media, i clearly grasp the concept that news story good and bad have to reported. I also am aware that at times things have to be made controversial whether true or not. However, the majority of sports talk hosts hide behind the political correctness of their jobs to hide the personal feelings they may have about an individual. For example, in one breathe most say, "the game of golf needs Tiger", or "even though golf has new  talent on the rise, it's still missing something without Tiger." Shortly in another breathe  "I am not sure if he can come back" or "he doesn't have enough time to break Jack's record." Even though those things may all be true, what is your real feeling as an opinionated media source. Pick a side, and if that's what you believe then that's what you believe.

It's not about whether Lance doped or not, or if Goodell and the owners just want more money for whatever reason, or if Tiger makes it back. Just give the public a real answer. Years ago I attended an entrepreneurial course at Harvard Business School, where owner of the New England Patriots and Alum was the guest speaker. A question posed to him was, "why do we not have guaranteed contracts in the NFL?" His answer, "because we feel like some players, not all, won't play up to the standard of their contract once they know they have the money." On one hand I was shocked at the answer and on the other I respected his honesty, he was just being real.Commissioner Goodell, just say the owners want more money, all of you media people just say you don't want Tiger to break Jack's record, and Hamilton, if it's a money grab make note of it instead of feeding the sob story. The public would rather just know as opposed to people trying to run circles around them and playing sides. Just be honest ! just be real.

One Dollar

The news that Judge Susan Nelson granted the injunction by the players to lift the NFL lockout is not as surprising as made out to be. I would say congratulations are in order, however I've never been someone to play the rah-rah role about anything. I do commend Judge Nelson for examining the facts, being firm, and making a logical decision based on what she was presented with. For those of you that have seen "Trading Places" with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, Randolph and Mortimer Duke bet one dollar they could turn a common criminal into a successful businessman while in turn destroying Louis to see if he resorts to crime once out of his rich environment. I am not sure who the individual was Commissioner Goodell bet his one dollar salary with that the NFL and owners would have the lockout remain in place, but it is clear he is upset and is in jeopardy of losing his one dollar salary. The lockout is bad for everyone, owners, players, and the fans. There is no reason it should have gotten to this point. No one that I know wants the 2011 NFL season to be missed. What I find interesting is the hypocrisy he displays in his letters and interviews, for example.

Hypocritical Statement 1: "For many years, the collective bargained system-which has given the players union enhanced free agency and capped the amount that owners spend on salaries-has worked enormously well for the NFL, for NFL players, and for NFL fans." Yep,worked so well that you and your yuppy band of brothers decided to put everyone on the streets because another billion dollars is what you guys need. There are people in this country that can't even eat and I'm sure some of the season ticket holders took out second or third mortgages on their homes to come watch their teams play. While you fight over all this money, think of that instead of being insensitive thinking of your own pockets. You, Commissioner Goodell, destroyed what was good, for the league and for the people.

Hypocritical Statement 2: Under this vision, players and fans would have none of the protections or benefits that only a union (through a collective-bargaining agreement) can deliver. What are the potential ramifications for players, teams, and fans ? Some of the examples listed are no draft, players signing wherever they wanted out of college, no minimum payroll, no guarantee for injured players, no benefits players funneled to same teams, etc. First and foremost that is all a lie. For those of you that work for corporations no matter how enormous or how minute, federal law requires insurance, workers comp, 401 k's etc especially with companies as large or larger than the NFL. No draft ? Last I checked, the NFL was in a lockout up until yesterday and the draft was still scheduled for thursday evening. So that is a moot point as well. Although I am not in favor of players making deals like Lebron, Wade, and Bosh did, I did enjoy the years that teams like the 49ers, Cowboys, and Giants, were dynasties of the NFL, and with players deciding to play where they want it could present itself again.

Hypocritical Statement 3: "Is this the NFL that fans want ? A league where carefully constructed rules proven to generate competitive balance-close and exciting games every Sunday and close and exciting divisional and championship contests-are cast aside ? Do the players and their lawyer have so little regard for the fans that they think this really serves their interests ? The only thing the fans have wanted this entire time is for you, the commissioner, to do your job and bring the to sides together and work out a deal. Period. Instead commissioner, you decide to take favor to one side. Could it be because your under the table pay-offs, or your salary, which was 11 million last year, has a chance to increase substantially more if the owners get another billion on top of the other billion they already receive ? Making that last statement honestly caused me to dry heave just now. Sometimes the mind of a conspiracy theorists does not work in our favor. Remember, this was all started by the owners and Goodell jumped on board. What the fans want is not a thought of you nor the owners, mainly because the importance of the sport is known by both parties. And it is known the fans will return to watch the great game of football despite whats happened.

Although the 9 billion dollar pie is not completely ironed out, at least allow the players and coaches to go back to work. Be able to have OTA's, off-season workouts, film study in the facility, and free agent signings. I propose that because 9 billion seems to be the only real problem with the entire negotiation process. Meeting on that issue alone gives you 4-5 months to hammer out a deal. This is not rocket science people, this is a case of greed and of businessmen over-thinking themselves and the system in place. (Which according to Goodell has worked so so well) In the ending of Trading Places, Louis and Billy Ray come together and win over the Winthorpe's, fittingly over one dollar. I would like to thank the commissioner for being sympathetic and reducing his 11 million dollar salary down to a dollar.I am confident that was an easy decision to make, considering he most likely received the other 10,999,999 dollars in some form of a bonus that does not count towards the books. But for his one dollar , it seems he still may have lost.

Filling Pockets

I am very surprised how everyone attempts to act surprised when coaches and players of NCAA schools commit illegal acts. Lying, taking money, bribes, tattoos, or whatever the interests are. Under handed deals have been going on in collegiate sports for many decades now, and it will never stop. In knowing this, I have a proposal that may be able to assist everyone, the NCAA, schools, recruiters, and the players.

A person would have to either be very sheltered or very ignorant to not know what goes on in collegiate sports and the money that's involved. No school is perfect and every school cheats to some degree, FACT. Of course the bigger schools, even when caught, hire some top-notch attorney, donate money to the board members of the NCAA, and all is forgiven. Smaller schools are so insignificant that when they do cheat it's almost laughable and nothing is done.  In my opinion just make it legal, I propose the following.

Have a Dues or Registration Fee:

The NCAA might as well treat collegiate sports like the NFL. Any Recruiting agency or representative that wants to be involved or associate themselves with the NCAA should have to pay yearly dues. Depending on the sport, since the amount of revenue being brought in by the sports is different, the dues should have a pay scale. This way an agency, uncle or dad can solicit whoever they want to whatever school they want. The schools themselves should also pay a yearly fee if they want to use these services. Between the NCAA and the schools, millions of dollars are brought in yearly so a small fee, lets say 10,000 for programs like Texas or USC is nothing. For example, and these are strictly fictional numbers, schools like Texas pay 10,000 and schools such as Appalachian State pay 7500. Of the 120 Division 1 FBS teams lets say 50 are elite and 70 and below that. Multiply the fee by the amount each school is slotted to pay and that's 525,000 and 500,000, which is over 2.6 million dollars the NCAA gets a year. Included are the fees paid by the recruiting agencies, lets say 5,000. If there are 30 recruiting agencies, that's another 150,000.

The Player Gets A Percentage:

Since the player is the one bringing value to the NCAA, the school, and the recruiting agencies, wherever the player signs it is only right that the player receives a one time fee on signing day. If the kid is being "solicited" for 80,000 give him 10,000. Again he brings all the value, period. These amounts can also be slotted based on the player's star rating, which in my opinion is a not so credible system as well. It may not stop players from taking money, gifts etc, but at least it will lessen the chances of it happening because the money is up front and the player doesn't feel too slighted by the school using them to bring in millions and they get nothing. And please don't throw the "kids gets a free education at a credible school" at me, because it's not a factor. Also depending on the bowl, advancement into tourney play, a small amount should be given as well. Coaches get bonuses from the schools or from contracts with Nike or Adidas, the players should as well.

Draw A Definitive Line On The Rules:

A player can get investigated or get in trouble for borrowing someones car or getting tattoos and it's considered the same as taking money. It's not the same. One could argue that trading a jersey for a tattoo is monetary yet technically no money has been exchanged. The rules are too vague and too suggestive which is why some punishments are more severe than others. Also during the recruiting process, be clear if a coach can be around, call, text, Facebook or whatever. I say that because of the incident with Nick Saban and Barry Sanders JR. Let's be honest, if Nick Saban comes to my high school, didn't go to the school himself, or has a child there, then why else is he there. It's not because of the "Just Say No Program", so get real people. Also if he says hello or is too in-depth talking to the kid then it's considered "contact." I am unsure of the rules, I say just don't let the coaches set foot on the high school campus period ! Again too vague.

This is not the answer to violations that happen daily with colleges, however it can be a start to somewhat of a conclusion to this debacle. With the exception of elementary, junior high, and high school, amateur sports no longer exists. Even on those levels it really doesn't exist. The NCAA, schools, and recruiting agencies are only concerned about making money. It might as well be legal, no harm no foul. This is an epidemic that will never stop, it has gone on since the beginning, and unless definitive parameters are set it will continue. It's a hoax and a farce, and is an embarrassment to sports and shows the hypocrisy of the NCAA and those involved.

A Different Direction

On July 15, 1979, Jimmy Carter gave a speech that most say was the most important speech of his presidency. In the midst of the Iranian Revolution, Carter delivered a speech of frankness from ideas he received from the American people. Holding a meeting at Camp David, he met a group filled with doctors, lawyers, ministers, and regular laborers to get the opinions from people in high positions to the average working person. Although we are not in an energy crisis, in my opinion many of the words spoken by Carter from the information he gathered can help us as people.

Carter has received mixed reviews during his tenure as president. I myelf am a Teddy Roosevelt man, though some of the issues Carter addressed are similar to Roosevelts. Our country has changed during my short time on this Earth, the economy has been up and down, we have new technologies, exposed to new and different cultures, and become a more efficient people. On the other hand we have been mistreated by our own government, financial instituitions, and each other. Many of these events, like the mortgage crisis and the Madoff's of the world have helped put this country in debt and in a very unfavorable position. One particular statement by Carter was, "Our people are losing that faith, not only in government itself but in the ability as citizens to serve as the ultimate rulers and shapers of our democracy." Everyday I hear the people complain about the state of our country. I hear people not being able to do simple things, like eat, have health care, and more. The people running our country and our institutions are getting rich at the people's expense. They have lied to the people, used schemes that seem beneficial but are not in the long run. A woman from the group said, "The big shots are not the only ones who are important. Remember, you can't sell anything on Wall Street unless someone digs it up somewhere else first." Everyday something related to these issues arises, the more that comes out, the less faith the people have.

"In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption." Look around us, someone always has a get rich quick scheme, unemployment is high because people have been laid off but I also think it's because many don't want to work and collect welfare or think they are owed something. It also seems that people are so busy doing them that the family atmoshere has changed. What happened to having dinner at the table with no tv, having neighbors over. It happens in some households, but not as frequent as it used to be. Even with our kids, more time is spent inside in front of the xbox or computer than actual outside time. I remember growing up never wanting to be inside, even when I had an Atari, or Sega, it just wasn't happening. The images that are potrayed in magazines and television are not reality. Everyone is not rich, or flys on private planes, drive Ferrrari's, or makes it rain every night. People place more value on material things or there job than they do themselves or another human being. Clearly the definition of idolatry. I'm no different, there was a time I did that myself until I realized that is not what defines me or makes me happy as a human being. If a person works hard and is able to afford luxury things then so be it, but without over consuming and waste. If anyting pay it forward to someone that actually needs it. In some instances less is more.

To conclude, Carter stated, "We've always believed in something called progress. We've always had a faith that the days of our children would be better than our own." Americans have always strived to progress in different areas of life, whether it be for themselves, their families, or their race. This country, as great as it may be, is still not progressing in some areas. The only way that changes is if the people change it. Instead of being stuck in our ways,we need to think out of the box, modernize the way businesses are run, and diversify with people that don't fit the standard mold. Basic principles apply to everything in life, however using alternative means and incorporating them into the basics is how new ideas are formed. The only way progress happens is through adaptation and experimentation. Staying the course is good, but staying the course without an open mind, minimizes that chance of change.

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The Honor Code Or Speaking In Code

Brandon Davies, the sophomore forward on BYU's basketball team was dismissed after admitting he had "sexual relations" with his girlfriend. According to BYU's Honor code, students are not allowed to have premarital sex. I do not question the honor code set forth by the university, I more so question the manner in which it was handled. An article written in DeadSpin by an anonymous journalist, list actions and events that are clearly against the Honor Code. According to this individual, the Honor Code almost seems like a myth, or something put in place as a requirement than an actual law to live by.

The first statement of the Honor Code is "We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. . . . If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things." I think this is a powerful statement, and I think it is symbolic of God, or whatever God people choose to live by. However, were these behaviors used when Davies admitted his acts and was dismissed shortly after ? If you go on BYU's web site under the "Our Values" section, it explains how God gave us our agency and will always respect our freedom to make choices. It does also note's that we are accountable for those choices both good and bad, that God never approves of us using force, and in fact fosters the spirit of freedom to effectively serve and believe in him. It also states that everyone has the right to their own opinion and beliefs.

Fosters the spirit of freedom to effectively serve and believe in him is an interesting statement to me. From what I understand and believe, is that because God gave us free will, he understands we as humans will make mistakes. I also agree there are consequences, but he does forgive us and helps us learn from the mistakes. But why does what Davies did warrant a dismissal for the remainder of the year ? Why was this made a public spectacle ? A review is under way to determine if he will be allowed to remain in school and on the basketball team next year. So let me get this straight, the board is actually contemplating not letting this kid back in school because he had sex. There was no harm done to either party and it was consensual. Another part to the story is who was the rat in all this. Where were they being honest and of good report ? It sounds more like they are good at reporting someone else's business. My rule on that is when someone else gossips or tells your business, they themselves are hiding their skeletons or faults. Take that as you wish. Also, what is to really be determined in this review ? What about, in doing good to all men? I understand the rule is in place and he is to learn a lesson for breaking the code, but being dismissed for the length of time left is a bit much and the decision in my opinion was made to quickly. Furthermore, in other articles I've read, other students have come out and disclosed most of them have sex on campus anyway,which openly questions the validity of the code.

I am not preacher, far from a saint, and damn sure not perfect. It is not my place to judge, and what someone else does, especially when it does not directly involve me is none of my business. The conspiracy theorist in me questions the suspension, the motive behind it, and the person or persons who relayed the information. That's my opinion, however from the information I've gathered, students have come out and acknowledged that sex is a regular act on campus, fact. That's makes me question the code, and the people monitoring it. As I stated earlier, it is not my place to judge, it's their school, their rules, and their system, but mentioned in the "Our Value"section of the schools web site, I have a right to my own opinion and belief. I believe there is much more to this story than we are lead to believe, unfortunately we will never find out what the truth really is.

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The Combine , Real Or No Real Meaning

Today marks the day when 300 or so football players from across the nation gather in little Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. The combine gives NFL organizations a chance to evaluate players at every angle. I participated in the combine coming out of college, and I have to say it is a very grueling process. However, is the combine as valid as people make it out to be ? I am 50-50 on the answer to that question considering the history given.

The combine has changed over the years in order to help teams evaluate players more efficiently. My experience of the combine was much shorter and much more intense.  We only had a couple of days to fly in, workout, and meet with teams.  I vividly remember being yanked on by doctors, taking  EKG's, having blood drawn, and more. I even had to take a cardiac stress test ! During my examination the doctors said I had a small block in one of my ventricles. Let's just say they were way off on that one. The heart is a muscle, and all muscles, even the heart, grow to some extent.  As in most athletes  involved in endurance related sports, the ventricle walls can actually grow depending on how conditioned the athlete is. Mine is .005 centimeters thicker than normal. So Lance Armstrong  is lucky not too many brothers like to ride bikes up and down hills across the world for fun. I might give him a run for his money.

There are pros to the combine. Since scouts usually go to the larger schools, it does give players like Cecil Shorts WR (Mount Union) and  Julius Thomas TE (Portland State) an opportunity to be seen up close and personal. Teams can talk face to face, see body structure, and look at how they react to the environment of the NFL. A player can improve his draft status significantly with great workouts and numbers. Players can also show improvements of flaws listed by NFL teams, like weight, foot work, arm strength, and character. The are many opportunities  in these few days to have coaches and GM's leave with a positive outlook on a player.

As good as that may sound, there are cons to the combine as well. In my opinion some organizations put too much stock in numbers. Because a guy runs a 4.2 40 yard dash, it doesn't make him a football player. If a player does 40 reps during the bench press test, it doesn't mean he's a football player. I place many great combine workouts under the Immaculate Mamula Theory.  Mike Mamula's story is known, great workout, scored like 48-49 out of 50 on the wonderlic test, everything needed to be done to raise his stock, he did it. FAIL ! On the other hand, Zach Thomas, a friend and former teammate of mine is 5'10 at best, very good athlete, not physically put together like some may be, or as fast ,and had an average combine workout. Taken in the fifth round of the 1996 draft by the Miami Dolphins, fourteen years and eight pro bowls later, he is an example of how combine numbers don't matter. Let me explain the Immaculate Mamula Theory. We as humans are able to train our minds and bodies to adapt and improve in certain areas with practice and repetition over a period of time. If a person knows exactly what to train for, has a proper plan and practices it, then of course the results are going to be significant. Anyone can train for anything. Football is a game of speed, reaction, and improvisation, which is why some players do not produce on the field. Learning game plans, and schemes do play a significant part, however, adapting does as well. Many things happen during the course of a play, and although it may be drawn up a certain way on the board, the majority of the time is does not work out that way. Innovation with calculation is key in this case.

The combine has turned into a money grabbing, over hyped, meat market. Hall of Fame selector and editorial consultant for FOX NFL Sunday, John Czarnecki, says," there was a time when less than five reporters, not 750, showed up for the Combine, and security wasn’t really necessary." Those numbers show how much the NFL has hyped up this event for ratings, which essentially makes them more money. I have always been a firm believer that, a football player is a football player. Athleticism is needed, especially at the skilled positions, but an unusual amount is not required. I think more like 1560 The Game's talk show host John Harris, " why don't you go and put the film on bro! " I am more interested in how a player performs during the game, what adjustments are made, and how good is his technique. If I desire to see  running and jumping,  I'm sure there's a local high school track meet going on around here somewhere, and I at least get to spill cheese and jalapeno juice on my shirt from the nachos I devour.

Negotiations, Whatever

Over the last three to four years, I have become very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of different businesses and their structures. I am also aware of the political crap and lies that are incorporated into businesses as well. The Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations to me is a farce on both fronts. Yes, you heard me correctly. I said both sides. Watching the slander that has come from both the NFLPA and Owners publicly is an embarrassment to the NFL and the great men who helped build  this game. Jim Thorpe, Bert Bell and Lombardi, are in heaven and not very happy right now. The game has turned into a game of greed and without correction, as in all businesses it will fall because of it.

First things first, hearing people say they are tired of billionaires and millionaires fighting over money needs to stop. No one is griping about the battles Gates, Buffet, or some of the other billionaires and millionaires in the world when they are disagreeing over issues with people. As with everyone that works or is skilled in a profession, that person wants to be paid their worth or somewhere close to it. Unions of different industries have labor disagreements every year. Hard working Americans all over fight for their health care, benefits, and retirement, which are the same issues happening now with the NFL and NFLPA. The owners of these companies of course try to make as much money possible with as little pay out as possible. Understandable, yet they need not forget that the employees are the commodity or move the commodities of their respective businesses. Which is the reason why ruckus always starts anyway.

I've always said when listening to things involving the NFL, I listen to about two or three individuals, mainly Kraft, and Rooney. If you go back and look at the interviews and conversations these men have had up to now, they are frustrated with the process, frustrated with the individuals, and believe a deal can be done soon and should have been done without all the extra curricular activities. It's amusing to me that not all the owners are not on the same page as these two which is part of the problem to begin with. The owners feel they got a raw deal in 2006, if that's the case they shouldn't have signed off on it to begin with. In my opinion, the owners underestimated the potential increase in future revenue, and since the players are receiving a substantial amount of it, now they want it back. Ridiculous. Another ridiculous issue is Goodell wanting the percentage of revenue to decrease from 60% to 41%. So you want to add 2 reg season games and ask the players to take a 19% decrease ? Now, I'm no Georg Simon Ohm , but clearly that doesn't add up. By the way, Commissioner Goodell, don't try to play us like Donkey Kong saying you will reduce your salary to $1 if there is a lock out. In some capacity unknown to us, you'll get that 9 million in a bonus structure we don't understand. Spare us. DeMaurice Smith, you claim you won't go lower than 60% percent of all revenues. As a former player, I realize we are the commodity, fans come to see players play. Fans also come to experience tailgating,  see the stadium, its history, and the overall football environment. Unfortunately, without all of the creative ideas owners have to create this environment, it's just a bunch of grown men playing sandlot at George Bush Park. To some degree, I am in favor of the owners getting a bit more, simply because they create these avenues and  the players are provided with many opportunities on and off the field. The percent of the pie needs to be a fair number for both.

This public outbreak of walking out, "this is war", please, and  Carolina owner Richardson, with his cheap self,  being critical does nothing for negotiations. Call Dan Rooney, get Kraft, everyone else go and play on your yachts,  and let these men handle the negotiations without adding your two cents. They will keep you informed. D. Smith, talk with  individuals who worked with the late Gene Upshaw , take them in the room with you and get this deal done. As of now the Commissioner, Owners, and NFLPA are doing nothing more but confusing everyone, including themselves. This is a true example of , "too many chiefs not enough Indians." And, the more  I read about it the more I think  "talking loud saying nothing."

No Point, No Purpose

When"The List" came out, I was told by someone involved in the baseball investigation of steroids and performance enhancing drugs, the intent was to make Barry Bonds the face and most highly scrutinized player of the MLB steroid era. Seemingly enough, with the help of the BALCO raid, the evidence against Bonds was mounting a pile of crap higher than the words that came from Mel Gibson's mouth. The federal prosecutors had the upper hand. What they did not count on was that Greg Anderson, Bond's personal trainer would be so tight-lipped throughout the entire investigation. It is apparent he will never testify and thus far has proved it by serving more than a year in jail. Recently, all six of the charges that involved Anderson were thrown out. Of course the federal prosecutors will attempt to bring Anderson back for his testimony, clearly a pointless effort on their part.

At this point the prosecutors are scrambling and hoping a positive drug test from 2003, testimony from a former girlfriend and personal manager, will be enough to prove Bonds lied when he was in front of a grand-jury in 2003. In my opinion, without the testimony of Anderson and already numerous unfavorable rulings by the judge, the case seems weak and the citizens tax dollars are once again wasted on a wild goose chase. Another case where resources are being wasted is the case against Roger Clemens. Clemens is being indicted on charges of perjury, making false statements, and obstruction of Congress. Clemens former trainer Brian McNamee testified he injected Clemens with steroids and growth hormones. McNamee  also stated he stored syringes used to inject Clemens. My question is, why has so much effort been put into the Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens case ? So what if they lied !  Players, fans, and media have already resigned themselves to the fact the steroid era existed in Major League Baseball. Just about half or more than half of baseball players at that time used some form of performance enhancing drug. Commissioner Bud Selig has all but washed his hands of the entire steroid era and has moved forward.

In this country we have murders, Ponzi scheme professionals, and crooked corporations that should be at the forefront of investigations by federal prosecutors, yet they are adamant about proving Bonds and Clemens's guilt. CEO's lie in front of congress everyday, even congress-persons lie in front of congress daily. It can't be that Bonds and Clemens arrogance, brash, and strong personalities are the reason for this witch hunt. My conclusion is this.. From what I understand from friends and associates who are attorneys, the only way you move up is by number of cases and how high the profile of the case is. What better way to notch a mark on the headboard than convicting Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens. I have researched many articles and stories involving these two cases, and the only legitimate reason stated, besides "lying under oath" were the prosecutors in the Bonds case have "a righteous feeling that their charges are valid." The definition of righteous "is acting in accord with divine or moral law." It also means "free from guilt or sin." Personally, I find it hard to believe  these cases are only being tried from a morally lawful position. Is lying under oath morally wrong ? Yes. Is stealing money from hard-working Americans , watching dollar bills float through the sky in the form of fumes from the private jets flown by CEO's and executives like GM and Madoff morally wrong ? Yes. Watching companies like Citigroup give its executives pay raises totaling millions in cash and stock during a huge recession ? Yes. Meanwhile ,Congress is worried about two professional baseball players accused of "lying" about supplements.

Congress should not be involved in professional sports, period. There is no reason why congress should be called to regulate a steroid scandal, collective bargaining agreement, salaries, or anything sports related. Try getting back the 50 billion dollars Madoff stole from citizens of this country both old and young. I love this country, however at times I am embarrassed by the backwards thinking our so-called "higher up" or "intellects" use. At the conclusion of these trials whether found guilty or not guilty, Major League Baseball will continue to move forward. Nothing about the game will change, neither past or present.

Why Not ?

I'm sure many of you that listen to 1560 the game in Houston, heard my rant of how insulting and fabricated the Rooney Rule is. Although considered an honor, if I were Mr. Rooney I would think about having my name removed simply because the rule is used as more of a loop-hole than its actual meaning. With that being said, I'd like to congratulate Alonzo HighSmith on being named NFL Scout of The Year. Alonzo has an ample amount of experience, being that he's scouted for the Green Bay Packers a number of years and also had a 6 year NFL career as well. So why aren't there more AfricanAmerican GM's in the NFL ? Obviously we are very capable to handle not only the business side, of the game, but the  talent evaluation as well, See Ozzie Newsome, Jerry Reese, and Mickey Loomis, Rick Smith doesn't count, yet. Even though that shows improvement, I am still confused at why more African- American players  are not considered for higher positions.

I'm somewhat of a conspiracy theorist, so my opinion may not be in line with others. However, there is always an element of truth to conspiracies. Is it possible that an element of, not  racism, but prejudice to former African-American players exists when the General Manager position is concerned. There are many assistant coaches, a small number of head coaches, and plenty of scouts that are black. Based on the accomplishments of these men, it's not too far-fetched to say that if put in the GM position or a higher position of authority, they would not flourish. I am starting to think the gentlemen in upper management, are in some aspect defiant of the possible success that could occur. I was told this by a scout who is black, "it will be a long time before we see more black GM's or black VP's, etc because we played the game, know the game, know what it takes win, judge players by their play and not merely numbers, so our credibility is much higher than others. These people keep African-Americans in certain positions and will not allow us to move up because they know the owners and others will listen and their jobs are threatened." This is coming from someone on the inside ! So it's very believable and somewhat validated by how long the process has taken.

In my opinion, this area needs to be addressed along with the head coaching issue. I am not saying give the positions away, however make the opportunities more available. The NFL is a business, and in business companies want the best, most experienced employees in positions so the company will flourish. Why should the NFL treat it any different ? This again speaks volumes of the hypocrisy of the NFL and it's owners. If the owners, as they claim, want to win and build successful organizations, then every avenue needs to be explored and not over looked to find the right person for the job. Regardless of color or background, every person needs to be considered especially if experienced in that particular area.

NFL Fails again on Post Career Care

NFL officials and representatives for the NFL Players Association are far apart on the agreement of a new CBA. It is hypocritical to say in one breath, they want a new deal done, but in another breath along with  no action, not aggressively negotiate. On top of an already controversial topic, add to that the article written by John Barr about the misuse of painkillers by NFL players. According to the article, Barr states that retired NFL players misuse pain medications at more than four times that of the general population. I personally would have thought the number would be higher, however I am in agreement with Barr. In relation to the CBA and the possible 18 game schedule the owners are pushing for, I think this is another issue that is going to affect NFL CBA.

If the number is more than four times the general population now, imagine adding two more games on top of that. I am fully aware the general population compared to the NFL is difficult. Dr. Lawrence Brown quotes "It is scientifically flawed to compare the general population with athletes, active or retired. NFL players understandably would be more susceptible to the misuse of painkillers simply due to their increased exposure to the drugs during their playing days.If you don't have the exposure, you're less likely to misuse." While I agree with Dr. Brown to an extent, I think him using that as his reason for why the NFL has failed to take care of retired players is ridiculous. The exposure of drugs of all kinds, to the general population may be the same or even greater than that of a player in the NFL.  I also think that Dr. Brown may be  upset that the first scientific study of painkiller use and misuse by former NFL players was done by Dr. Linda Cottler and researchers at Washington University in St. Louis of Medicine and not the NFL.  Way to go NFL substance abuse program ! Staying ahead of the curve I see.

Dr. Cottler and her research team also  found that there were very few men who only took painkillers once or twice. Most used on a regular basis.  As to possible solutions, screenings and other methods have been suggested as well.  According to Dr. Brown,"The NFL has the most intrusive drug testing of any sport." I am gonna go on record and say that's not entirely accurate. Here's why. While the NFL program tests for PED's, alcohol, etc, street drugs and pain killers normally get overlooked. Furthermore, if you have an injury or have had surgery and experience pain and discomfort, all the player has to do is tell the trainer, trainer tells the team doctor, player gets painkillers. It's really that simple. So even if they are "aggressively" testing for it, it's validated by the prescription from the team doctor, which makes the test invalid from the beginning !

I personally overcame the misuse of alcohol, I have taken painkillers before. I clearly understand what the players both current and retired are going through. I was fortunate enough to overcome it. Studies of this nature should continue in order to show the owners and the NFL, they are not doing enough taking care of players post career, need to do more for the current players,  and with concussions now reportedly increasing, issues like health care, revenue sharing and other related topics really need to be compromised on. This study  is clearly something the almighty NFL has missed on. I find it insulting that outside sources with no necessary connection to the NFL are taking the time and resources to understand what current and retired NFL players are going through, and what can be done to help prevent further damage to the players in the future, while the NFL and it's owners are only concerned with the almighty dollar as usual.

Damn that Ditch Right Now

I waited, although I knew what the result was going to be, I wanted to see who actually was going to get interviewed for the Defensive Coordinator job of the Houston Texans. Based on Kubiak's words, he mentioned they would interview a few candidates and from there make a final decision. Question ? Who were the other candidates ? Why aren't their names mentioned ? So I can only believe the trend of hiring "my buddies" within the Texans organization continues on. Now don't get me wrong, I like Wade Phillips as the Defensive Coordinator but let's not get all willy nilly jumping into every ditch we see in the Houston area trying to pull out an ox. It's a few ditches out there that have waters with swift and powerful currents. Unless you plan on going downstream without a paddle like this team did this past season, I'd advise you to say he hell with that ox.

In saying that, even though Phillips has had success in the NFL as a defensive minded guy, hiring him is not the only answer. Being the nerd I am I went back and looked at the rosters of the teams that had the best years statistically. Being fair, I pulled the Buffalo Bills roster from the year 2000, and the San Diego Chargers roster from 2006. Respectively the Bills were 15th that year, and the Chargers were 7th. Listed below are the rosters of both teams. Now compare them to the defensive roster of the Texans and as I've stated before, you must have talent in this league to win. Not All Pro's everywhere, but players that are good at being role players and  then give you a little extra every now and then. Here is the list.

San Diego Chargers:

Luis Castillo, Jacques Cesaire, Jamal Williams, Igor Olshansky, Shawne Merriman, Shaun Phillips, Randall Godfrey, Donnie Edwards, Quentin Jammer, Drayton Florence, Terrence Kiel, Marlon McCree.

Buffalo Bills:

Phil Hansen, Shawn Price, Ted Washington, Marcellus Wiley, Keith Newman, John Holecek, Sam Cowart, Sam Rogers, Antoine Winfield, Ken Irvin, Henry Jones, Keion Carpenter.

Taking a look at these rosters and comparing them to the Texans roster, the talent level on these teams related to the Texans isn't even close. It's also obvious the amount of moves the Texans need to make to get to the level of what these teams did. My point is, only one piece of the puzzle is in place, Wade. I'm not going to discount Mario, Demeco, Smith, Quinn, or even Cush, but all the other pieces need to be decided on and installed. This will not be an easy task.

The free agent period and the draft are very important for the Texans this year. I wonder if they realize this or if they think the hiring of Wade fixes all of their problems. In my opinion, no. Mr.McNair  needs to watch over this very carefully and  needs to open up his wallet a bit more. I will be observing this like the eye of Sauron,(for you Lord Of The Ring Fans) and everyone else should also. No getting in the ditch for me people, I'm gonna stay high and dry, at least for now. I'll get in, but only if given the tools that will allow me to get the ox out and walking on level ground . I also need to be able to see that the ox knows better next time it faces going down into that ditch again. Hopefully the Texans will understand the same thing. If the Texans get this together then their ox will plow a straight furrow.