Who are the Watchdogs?
I’m not the only one who thinks the media has betrayed the media even more than our politicians have. Watch this great video from Glenn Beck:
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Temple Men’s Basketball vs. LaSalle
The Good: Nothing good if you’re a Temple fan. Temple was outplayed from the onset. LaSalle played great defense, clogged all the passing lanes, got up and down the floor and attacked the basket. The Owls were spectators.
The Bad: Another terrible game from Dionte Christmas, as well as the rest of the team. The lowlight was Semaj Inge getting called for a technical. You need to keep your head!!!
The Ugly: As a result of this lose, the Owls have gone from a chance to win the A-10 regular seasing to fourth place. The only way for the Owls to now make the NCAA tournament is to win the A-10 tournament, which given the tallent among the top teams in the league will not be easy.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: The Auto Club 500
The Good: Another strong performance by the 17 team putting Matt Kensenth back in victory lane while holding of a very strong Jeff Gordon for the last 40 to 50 laps. This is the first time a driver has opened back to back since 1997 (Jeff Gordon, who went on to win the Championship). Watch for Jeff and Matt to battle all season, both of these teams are strong!
And how about Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch dousing Kenseth in Victory Lane with a celebratory Coca-Cola! I think this show how much respect these guys have for each other.
Speaking of Kyle Busch, how about his weekend dominating the Truck and Nationwide races, followed by a strong third in the Cup race. I know a lot of people dislike Kyle, but I really don’t know why. I used to be one of you, but how can you fault a guy who just wants to win. He’s definately won me over!
The Bad: Blown engines galore! In a race with so few cautions and no wrecks, several drivers from strong teams blew engines: Kevin Harvick, Mark Martin and Dale Jr, are all expected to run for championships and blowing engines on these kind of tracks will keep them from the chase. Speaking of Harvick, where has the Childress bunch been?
The Ugly: Greg Biffle had a car the could have won the race, but on the last pit stop he blew past his pit sign and stopped on the front air hose, dropping him to ninth. His post race comments summed it up “They should fire the driver.” I don’t think that’s going to happen, Greg. He came back to finish fourth. Watch for him to rebound in Vegas next week, where Kenseth and the Roush boys, as well as the Hendrick crew should be favorites again.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Temple Men’s Basketball vs. St. Bona
The Good: Another home win in double-digits behind an NBA like performance of LaVay Allen, 20 points and 18 rebounds. The highlight of was an amazing give and go from Dionte Christmas to Semaj Inge back to Dionta to Lavoy for a slam dunk, all with volleyball type passing.
The Bad: Overall sloppy play with some really weak passing at times. Sloppy play like that against the A-10 elite will make for quick exit from the A-10 tournament and an NIT berth.
The Ugly: The National Anthem. Yes, the anthem was ugle. Time for me to rant. Why do people singing the National Anthem feel the need to embelesh? Holding and vibrating notes that make them feel like a squeeling pig. This has been ever since Whitney Houston sung to Anthem in the Super Bowl all those years ago. To all you Anthem singers out there, you ARE NOT Whitney Houston. In fact Whitney Houston isn’t Whitney Houston anymore more.
My quess is that the person singing today’s Anthem doesn’t even know how many versus there are in the Anthem. I think this should be a test that one has to take in addition to being able to sing. You must know how many versus in there are in the Anthem. For those who don’t know, the answer is four!
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: The Daytona 500!
The Good: A win by Matt Kensenth in a rain shortened race. I believe that NASCAR made the right call by ending the race when they did. On tv, they stated that NASCAR didn’t see restarting the race before 11. A second by Kevin Harvick, who reversed roles with Kensenth from two years ago.
The Bad: Kyle Busch, who had by far the best car of the night, taken out in “the big one.” He was running third at the time because of some really good luck by Elliot Sadler. I know a lot of fans love to hate Kyle, but I think he’s got the most tallent on the track today and is always going for the win. Dale Earnhardt said “Second place is just first looser” and Kyle races that way every week.
The Ugly: The Big One caused by Dale Earnhardt, Jr and Brian Vickers. No matter who you think caused the wreck, two lap down cars should not be racing like that so near the leaders. The whole thing was just plain ugly.
Matt Kenseth Wins the Daytona 500!
The Good, the Bad & The Ugly: The Gatorade Duels at Daytona
The Good: A strong performance by Jeff Gordon leading to his win in the first duel. Weather you like him or not, you have to respect his tallent and Jeff Gordon running strong is good for NASCAR. Kyle Busch winning the second race to show the end of last season was a fluke and that he will be running strong again this year. Like Gordon, Kyle Busch running well is good for NASCAR.
Also, Scott Riggs, driving for Tommy Baldwin, and Jeremy Mayfield, driving for his own team, racing their way into the Big Show. (Cudos also to A.J. Allmendinger). Neigther of these teams existed a month ago. These guys showed that its worth taking a chance and that it can pay off.
The Bad: Defending champion Ryan Newman wrecking his US Army car and having to start in the back. Both Stewart-Haas cars looked really strong. Seeing Joe Nemechek having to pack up and go home. Like Tommy Baldwin and Mayfield, he’s started his own deal and he came up just short. I hope he makes the field in California next week.
The Ugly: There was a lot written about Tony Stewart taking a chance on becoming a car owner, and while a lot has been positive, there has still been a lot of naysayers. Now that Tony has had some early success, coming in second in yesterdays Duel race and third in the Bud Shootout, commentators are minimizing the success by saying that he’s really just a fifth and sixth Hendrick team (along with teammate Ryan Newman). Well guess what, so was Haas-CNC, and they sucked. So what’s the difference? Tony Stewart.
2009 NASCAR Predictions
So after a long off season of no testing and lots of teams coming and going, I’m all set for the 2009 season, and I’m giddy as a school girl after watching Saturday’s shootout. Way to go Happy Harvick on running a great race and getting the win! Of course, Harvick is one of my favorite drivers, so I’m biased, but he did run a great race and had some good luck as well after loosing the draft a couple of times. I do feel bad for Jamie McMurray, he can’t seem to get a break, but more on Jamie Mac later.
While watching the race I had a lot of time to think on the up coming season, so here are my 2009 predictions for the upcoming season.
1) Jimmy Johnson will have another good regular season and great chase, however, will just fall short of his fourth straight championship. This is no way a slight to JJ. Winning one championship, let alone three is amazing, but the odds of winning a fourth straight are astronomical. That said, he will come in second too . . .
2) A Roush-Fenway driver not named Carl. I predict that Greg Biffle will win the championship by winning the race at Homestead. Why the Biff? He has the same shop behind him that Carl does, but unlike Carl, Biff has won championships (One each in Truck and Nationwide series), he knows how to win in the Chase (back to back chase wins) and most importantly, he knows how to keep his car clean and get the most out of a bad day.
3) The Dodge teams will continue to lag behind the other manufacturers. As a result, I really believe this will be Dodge’s last year in the sports, at least for a while (and it pains me to say this).
4) Tony Stewart will become the most successful Owner/Driver since Alan Kulwicki. He will qualify for the chase, and teammate Ryan Newman will be on the Chase bubble.
5) David Ragan, Jamie McMurray, Brian Vickers and Casey Mears will all win races this season, and one of them will make the chase.
6) A small, one car team will surprise a lot of people and run in the top 20 all year.
7) Robbie Gordon will win one of the road races this season.
8) Here’s an easy one: both Jeff Gordon and Matt Kenseth will win at least one race this season.
These are some of my thoughts going into the season. I wish all the drivers the best for the season, but especially my cadre of guys: Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Jeff Burton and Matt Kenseth!
And as they say, “Let go racing boys!”
An Open Letter To A Citizen Of Gaza: I Am the Soldier Who Slept In Your Home
Reprinted with permission from Maariv, originally published Jan. 25, 2009
By: Yishai G (reserve soldier)
Hello,
While the world watches the ruins in Gaza, you return to your home which remains standing. However, I am sure that it is clear to you that someone was in your home while you were away.
I am that someone.
I spent long hours imagining how you would react when you walked into your home. How you would feel when you understood that IDF soldiers had slept on your mattresses and used your blankets to keep warm.
I knew that it would make you angry and sad and that you would feel this violation of the most intimate areas of your life by those defined as your enemies, with stinging humiliation. I am convinced that you hate me with unbridled hatred, and you do not have even the tiniest desire to hear what I have to say. At the same time, it is important for me to say the following in the hope that there is even the minutest chance that you will hear me.
I spent many days in your home. You and your family’s presence was felt in every corner. I saw your family portraits on the wall, and I thought of my family. I saw your wife’s perfume bottles on the bureau, and I thought of my wife. I saw your children’s toys and their English language schoolbooks. I saw your personal computer and how you set up the modem and wireless phone next to the screen, just as I do.
I wanted you to know that despite the immense disorder you found in your house that was created during a search for explosives and tunnels (which were indeed found in other homes), we did our best to treat your possessions with respect. When I moved the computer table, I disconnected the cables and lay them down neatly on the floor, as I would do with my own computer. I even covered the computer from dust with a piece of cloth. I tried to put back the clothes that fell when we moved the closet although not the same as you would have done, but at least in such a way that nothing would get lost.
I know that the devastation, the bullet holes in your walls and the destruction of those homes near you place my descriptions in a ridiculous light. Still, I need you to understand me, us, and hope that you will channel your anger and criticism to the right places.
I decided to write you this letter specifically because I stayed in your home.
I can surmise that you are intelligent and educated and there are those in your household that are university students. Your children learn English, and you are connected to the Internet. You are not ignorant; you know what is going on around you.
Therefore, I am sure you know that Quassam rockets were launched from your neighborhood into Israeli towns and cities.
How could you see these weekly launches and not think that one day we would say “enough”?! Did you ever consider that it is perhaps wrong to launch rockets at innocent civilians trying to lead a normal life, much like you? How long did you think we would sit back without reacting?
I can hear you saying “it’s not me, it’s Hamas”. My intuition tells me you are not their most avid supporter. If you look closely at the sad reality in which your people live, and you do not try to deceive yourself or make excuses about “occupation”, you must certainly reach the conclusion that the Hamas is your real enemy.
The reality is so simple, even a seven year old can understand: Israel withdrew from the Gaza strip, removing military bases and its citizens from Gush Katif. Nonetheless, we continued to provide you with electricity, water, and goods (and this I know very well as during my reserve duty I guarded the border crossings more than once, and witnessed hundreds of trucks full of goods entering a blockade-free Gaza every day).
Despite all this, for reasons that cannot be understood and with a lack of any rational logic, Hamas launched missiles on Israeli towns. For three years we clenched our teeth and restrained ourselves. In the end, we could not take it anymore and entered the Gaza strip, into your neighborhood, in order to remove those who want to kill us. A reality that is painful but very easy to explain.
As soon as you agree with me that Hamas is your enemy and because of them, your people are miserable, you will also understand that the change must come from within. I am acutely aware of the fact that what I say is easier to write than to do, but I do not see any other way. You, who are connected to the world and concerned about your children’s education, must lead, together with your friends, a civil uprising against Hamas.
I swear to you, that if the citizens of Gaza were busy paving roads, building schools, opening factories and cultural institutions instead of dwelling in self pity, arms smuggling and nurturing a hatred to your Israeli neighbors, your homes would not be in ruins right now. If your leaders were not corrupt and motivated by hatred, your home would not have been harmed. If someone would have stood up and shouted that there is no point in launching missiles on innocent civilians, I would not have to stand in your kitchen as a soldier.
You don’t have money, you tell me? You have more than you can imagine.
Even before Hamas took control of Gaza, during the time of Yasser Arafat, millions if not billions of dollars donated by the world community to the Palestinians was used for purchasing arms or taken directly to your leaders bank accounts. Gulf States, the emirates – your brothers, your flesh and blood, are some of the richest nations in the world. If there was even a small feeling of solidarity between Arab nations, if these nations had but the smallest interest in reconstructing the Palestinian people – your situation would be very different.
You must be familiar with Singapore. The land mass there is not much larger than the Gaza strip, it is considered the second most populated country in the world. Yet, Singapore is a successful, prospering, and well managed country. Why not the same for you?
My friend, I would like to call you by name, but I will not do so publicly. I want you to know that I am 100% at peace with what my country did, what my army did, and what I did. However, I feel your pain. I am sorry for the destruction you are finding in your neighborhood at this moment. On a personal level, I did what I could to minimize the damage to your home as much as possible.
In my opinion, we have a lot more in common than you might imagine. I am a civilian, not a soldier, and in my private life I have nothing to do with the military. However, I have an obligation to leave my home, put on a uniform, and protect my family every time we are attacked. I have no desire to be in your home wearing a uniform again and I would be more than happy to sit with you as a guest on your beautiful balcony, drinking sweet tea seasoned with the sage growing in your garden.
The only person who could make that dream a reality is you. Take responsibility for yourself, your family, your people, and start to take control of your destiny. How? I do not know. Maybe there is something to be learned from the Jewish people who rose up from the most destructive human tragedy of the 20th century, and instead of sinking into self-pity, built a flourishing and prospering country. It is possible, and it is in your hands. I am ready to be there to provide a shoulder of support and help to you.
But only you can move the wheels of history.
Regards,
Yishai (Reserve Soldier)
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, Temple Men’s Basketball vs. Richmond
The Good: Another home victory in front of a decent crowd. A double – double from F/C Lavoy Allen despite the fact that his teammates, in my opinion, didn’t give him the ball in good places to score. Getting to the foul line early and often, shooting almost 80% from the foul line , going 38 of 48 from the line, with most of the misses coming in the first half (see The Ugly). Ryan Brooks making some key shops.
The Bad: Another slow start with Sergio Olmos starting for an injured Craig Williams. Williams later entered the game and the offense immediately rose in intensity. A terrible shooting night, shooting 36% from the field and 23% from 3-point range.
The Ugly: The entire first half, which ended with Temple holding a 16-13 edge.
We are proud to support the following charities:
