Sad News

The infant son of Lakers forward Lamar Odom died Wednesday night in New York, apparently suffocating while sleeping in his crib, a Lakers official said. Jayden Odom was born last December, the third child of Odom and his longtime girlfriend.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Lamar and his family in these trying times.

1st Round Pick

Jordan Farmar out of UCLA gets to stay home as he becomes the newest Los Angeles Lakers. As I've stated before, I'm not a huge college basketball fan so I don't know enough about Jordan to make an informed opinion.

As such, I gotta take the 'experts' from ESPN's at their word that this is a good pick. We shall see.

Lennox Lewis Lines Of the Night

Lennox Lewis is doing color commentary for HBO's Boxing after Dark....let's track his performance.

-Lennox officially referred to himself in the third person less than 5 minutes into the broadcast.

-Lennox states "You'll find lots of basketball players that are good basketball players", in reference to one of tonite's pugilists once being good enough for a college basketball scholarship.

Sidebar - I sure do love Paul Masson Brandy. I see other blogs with PayPal donate buttons. I wonder if I can get a Paul masson donate button?

-Through a round and a half, Lennox has done a pretty decent job. Nothing that will be repeated in boxing philosophical texts, but nothing that makes him sound like he took one too many punches.

-Lennox messed up a bit in the third. Bringing up the list of one of the combatant's favorite fighters, poor Lennox forgot the folks on the list, bringing up only my boy Pernell Whitaker.

Sidebar - I took my nipple ring out last week before my echocardiogram (oh yeah, had some heart issues, had to do a bunch of tests that will end up costing me 800 bucks probably just so they can tell me it's all good) and decided not to put it back in. Hell, I'll be 32 years old in a couple of months. What the hell am I doing with a ring and hole in my nipple?

-Lennox just said 'This ain't boxing, this is the sweet science right now.' Uh, boxing is called the sweet science so can that statement possibly be right?

-Lennox has gotten mysteriously quiet. I think he got him a groupie...

Sidebar - There is a pimpin101.net site....I'll let you take it from here.

Sidebar extended - Sadly, I found that pimpin101 site because of the pimpbook.com...yeah a pimpin manual....once again I'll let you take it from here

-Lennox says with 1 minute left in round 11 of 12 'He needs a knockout, he's basically got 6 minutes.....' Er, that would be 4 minutes but who's counting....

Sidebar - You remember back in the day when they had the squirt bottles in the corners? Now they got aquafina bottles.....

Sidebar -  Good first fight.  Quintana defeated Julio via unanimous decision. Quintana was the underdog though both fighters were undefeated.

Ok, Lennox is talking a lot less so I'll end this post now.......

War Games

Wouldn't it be more prudent to keep our (our being the U.S.) military capabilities and defense mechanisms a secret? What ever happened to not letting your enemy know what's up your sleeve?

I'm sure the U.S. has other tactics that the media hasn't storied up on but this reminds me of the warning to Iraq that we would attack in 48 hours. I find that sneak attacks always seem to work better. Like Pearl Harbor, for example. Do you think Pearl Harbor would have been as effective had the Japanese told us their plans?

Or remember, 'The British are coming, the British are coming'? Remember how well prepared the colonists were now that they knew an attack was inevitable. The British were caught off guard because they didn't know that we knew they were coming....

Now that North Korea knows at least part of our defensive gameplan, they can re-cooordinate their offensive......Not a great strategic call in my opinion.....

Bleeding Purple and Gold moving! And NBA Finals Joke

As far as the mockery that was Games 5 and 6 of the NBA Finals, I find it hard to discuss and say that I'm an NBA fan right now. The unaccountable referees have once again found a way to make the NBA a joke to all but the most die hard fans. How can one player shoot 46 free throws in two games after averaging around 10 per game? How can one player shoot as many free throws in two games as the entire posing team? Travesty.

With the Superbowl being a referee sham, and the NBA finals being decided by the refs, sports year 2006 is becoming the year of the power hungry referee. A shame really, cuz I may have to watch hockey in order to see the actual players determine the outcome of a championship.

Getting Real

It's definitely starting to get real now. Yesterday marked the 10 week point. Last Thursday, I heard my child's heartbeat. Wooshka, wooshka, wooshka. 180 beats a minute!

Without my wife being noticeably pregnant, I don't think it was real for us. But with pictures and sound, it is definitely becoming more of a reality. January 16th is our due date.

Waist Deep

In the previews for Tyrese's new action flick 'Waist Deep', Tyrese's character's son is kidnapped.....by folks in a convertible.....hmm....a car with no roof is used to keep someone captive......How the hell do you kidnap somebody with a convertible?  In the backseat no less???

Teen Suing Myspace

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A 14-year-old girl who says she was sexually assaulted by another user of MySpace.com sued the social networking Web site Monday, claiming it does not take sufficient steps to protect underage members.

Welcome the newest addition to frivolous lawsuits. Apparently, this teen and her mother think the website is responsible for underage girls looking for love and passing out their phone numbers to folks they've never met on the internet. They claim that MySpace does not protect minors.

MySpace didn't force this girl to pass on her number to a stranger. In fact, for a sexual assault to occur, this girl had to take initiative to either tell this sicko a) where she lived, or b) where to meet her. In no way, am I implying that this is her fault but....

Preliminary Move has begun

The Xpinionated posts have been imported into xavieredavis.com. The template is still generic but new posts will now appear here.

Dave Chappelle

Tonite, the wifey and I are headed out on the town. Okay, not really out on the town. But we are going to see Dave Chappelle perform down at the Tabernacle. I accidentally got tickets for the 10:30 show when I meant to get them for the 7:30 show but whatever's clever. I'm trying to decide if I should get a bit of a buzz before hand or not....probably not since it is a monday night and all.....

To Call or Not To

I like Dwayne Wade. I really do. With that said, who exactly fouled him last night on his drive to win the game? Nowitzki didn't touch him, in fact no one did. This is the biggest play in the game on the leagues biggest stage. Cuban has every right to be ridiculously upset with having a game taken away by the grey shirts. No call on what looked like a push off was bad enough, but then to call a foul where none occurred is horrible.

Xpinionated Moving!!

In the very near future, Xpinionated will be leaving it's current address to its new home at xavieredavis.com!

For a while now, I have wanted to move out of the 'fake website' and on to the truly hosted environment. All of the xpinionated cycle blogs will be moving in time, however, xpinionated (which is the most popular of the blogs, only slightly ahead of laker purple and gold) will be the first to move.

In addition, I will be leaving blogger more than likely in favor of Wordpress. Moreso, because I'm paying for it as part of my hosting services.....

A Less Deserving Player

Is there any other person in the NBA that is least deserving of an NBA title than Antoine Walker? He exemplifies cry baby. He exemplifies content-less hype. I don't think I've ever seen a player complain every time the whistle is blown (or not blown).

Don't get me wrong, when he's hot, he's money. But isn't that the definition of being hot? Isn't every player in the league capable of being hot? The key is consistency. The other key is at least knowing when you're not hot.

If he's not crying, he's about to cry. If he's not about to cry, he looks like he's about to cry....

Marcus Banks

Admittedly, I don't know anything about Marcus Banks' game. I know he was part of dealing Gary Payton until the mitten failed his physical. But the latest rumors are that Banks is coveted by management....

The word is that Wolves free agent point guard Marcus Banks is headed for the Los Angeles Lakers. Two years ago, the Boston Celtics and the Lakers made a trade that had Banks going to the Lakers and Gary Payton moving to the Celtics. But Payton failed a physical and the deal was called off. The Lakers have been trying to land Banks ever since, and that is where he is likely to be when the 2006-2007 season starts.

Jack Nicholson Is P.O'ed

The Lakers said Monday they had increased prices in eight of their nine season-ticket pricing plans, an average of 4% to 5% overall.

I guarantee you can go get season tickets for the Hawks for two grand.....

Libation Lovers Rejoice!!

A new study says that coffee puts in mad work against cirrhosis of the liver!!!

Researchers report that drinking coffee cuts the risk of cirrhosis of the liver from alcohol -- by 22 percent per cup each day -- but they stopped short of saying doctors should prescribe coffee for that reason

So let me get this straight, I drink five cups of coffee a day and I can binge drink that same night?!?!! Finally, medicine produces some good news...!!!

Let's Hear it for the Boy

Shaquira! Shaquira
I never knew that he would shoot that bad
He makes the basketball mad
Rims don't lie

Behind the numbers: Jerry Stackhouse scored more points in the last minute or so of the 2nd quarter than Shaquira scored in the entire game. In fact, Stackhouse almost outcored Shaquira on a single possession. 2/16 from the freebie line in 2 games, and it should really be 2/19 including his retries due to lane violations....

With that said, if anyone knows how finnicky the roundball mistress can be, it's Lakers fans. So I won't harp anymore until the finals are said and done. I may harp a little bit but I won't talk as if it's over until the fat man sings....Shaquira Shaquira.....

Beauty

Is this not a beautiful picture?


Antonio Tarver got his ass handed to him Saturday night and for the first time in a long time, a boxing match ended the way I wanted it to end. Yeah, that's selfish of me but whatever. I passionately dislike Tarver. I've always disliked him. From the first time I heard an interview from this cat, I've disliked him. After getting twelve rounds of leather hor'deurves (sp?), he had the arrogance to say, "Everbody knows my history, I'm undefeated in rematches."

Really? Instead of just sucking it up and actually acting like a 37 year old man should act, that's your response? You and your busted eyes are gay.....

For ATL Bachelors!!

So while doing a convenient search in the new google search on that sidebar of mine on the right, I found a website called nflcheerleaders.blogspot.com. This website features interesting articles about the outside of the game activities of professional cheerleaders. It's pretty well written and covers several teams, including teams outside of the NFL. Okay, okay, it has pictures of cheeleaders too!!

Anyway, if I were a bachelor, I would have to organize a field trip to the Hilton Atlanta Airport the weekend of June 24-25. Yeah, I live in Metro Atlanta but it would be easier just to plan a trip to the southside that weekend instead of making the drive back and forth. Why would I be so eager to be at a hotel, you ask? Well it's the Professional Routines On Demand Conference. Simply put, professional cheerleaders hunkering down in a single place. The conference is from 9 - 5 so that means cheerleaders will be hanging around the Atlanta area, more than likey the south side given that's where the conference is.....a single man's dream!!!

A new nickname

Since Shaquille O'Neal had the audacity to nickname Eric Dampier, it's only fair that Shaquille is given a nickname of his own. I've decided that from here on out, Shaquille O'Neal will now be referred to as ....duh donna nuh.......Shaquira!

Shaquille's Idiocy Exposed

This week, he was at it again, taking a backhanded swipe now at Phil Jackson when he praised Pat Riley by saying: "I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings, but he's actually been the best coach I've ever had."

That's right, better than the guy who coached him to three titles. The one who has won nine NBA titles to Riley's four.

Back in 1999, Shaq said of Jackson: "He's like a white version of my father."

This week he said of Riley: "He's the Italian version of my father."

Maybe Shaq has all these insecurities because he has daddy issues.

But the really silly thing he said this week was of Buss and the reason for his trade to the Heat: "He didn't want to pay me."

Right, Buss never wanted to pay him. Guess that $175million he signed him to over the years was chump change. And that $40-plus-million offered for another two years was an insult.

Shaq wanted the max, and since he was already set to earn over $27 million in the final year of his contract in 2005, it was an easy decision for Buss. Shaq was 32 and Kobe 25, and my 10-year-old could have made that call.

Shaq ended up signing an extension with the Heat at the $20 million per he rejected with the Lakers, and just to rub it in, lost the weight for Riley he never would for Buss.

And yet, there are those that still say Kobe pushed Shaquille out......with no proof of this, they still spit it like it was the word....

In a bad way

I'm pretty bored. Bored in general. I think the boredom starts around 20 minutes after I get to work and lasts until I go to sleep some days.

Penis University

I couldn't make this up. It's not a university but it is a museum of phallology. Yes, a penis museum. In Iceland of all places. 'The water was cold...it's normally bigger than that!!!'

HUSAVIK, Iceland - Most animals don't have to worry about erectile dysfunction. Seals, walruses, mice, bats, monkeys, chimpanzees and polar bears have a penis supported by a bone. Bulls and goats gain stiffness from fibrous tissues.

That there's more than one way to get an erection was one of several take-home messages for visitors at Iceland's Institute of Phallology - the only known penis museum in the world.

More Bushit

"You never know what your history is going to be like until long after you're gone." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 5, 2006

Shoot!

Now my blog will be cursed cuz I birthed a blog entry on the day of the beast!!!!

Gwinnett County Soap Opera

In the middle of my busy day I stumbled upon an article about the Gwinnett County LIbrary Director. Apparently, the library director's salary is $127,000 per year. Yes, library directors are making half of what the the President of the United States makes.

When I brought this up with fellow Gwinnettians, the look of shock, awe, and lastly disgust were repetitive. Followed by the question, 'What does a library director do?'

"You! Yes you. Put that book back in it's place!"
"If I have to shush you one mo' 'gain, so help me I will revoke your microfiche privileges!!!"
"DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM!! What part of Dewey don't you understand!!!!"

Now, the article wasn't about the salary raked in by JoAnn Pinder. It was about the prospect of her getting fired. Fired not because of performance after apparently 15 years of providing literary ecstasy to millions. Nope, fired because Phyllis Oxendine, a board member, has haterade pulsing through her veins. Phyllis, ya see, she don't like JoAnn and we think it's 'cause of some mess years ago when Phyllis toiled in the library system. So now that Phyllis is a big wig, relatively speaking, she has recruited two other members to her side to oust not only JoAnn but many others as well, probably for being associated with JoAnn. It's kind of like a bookworm driveby. Phyllis is shooting for JoAnn but she'll take anyone close to her as well.

Now as a member of the soon to be outsourced, I must say that I sympathize with JoAnn. No one should lose a job because of personal vendettas, unless of course you work for the mafia. The sad part is that one of the three hitmen hitpersons on the board is a new member. She just joined last month so it's very likely that Phyllis is straight using the newbie for her personal agenda....ah the politics of it all!!!!!

New Xpinionated Blog!!!!!

Just a blurb. Started yet another blog. This one will address all the frivolous lawsuits cropping up. Week after week, there's someone else trying to get rich quick...let's call them out....check out Frivolous Lawsuits here.

Frivolous Lawsuits

Every day there is another civil lawsuit. Somebody wanting an inordinate amount of money for what usually is a minuscule wrong, if a wrong has even occurred.

I am here to provide my two cents about how this has gotten out of control. You want to know why healthcare is a sham in this country, a big part of it is the malpractice insurance healthcare providers have to carry to protect themselves from those who wish to profit on death and illness of loved ones. Though the United States still touts itself as a land of opportunity, that opportunity is coming more and more in the form of litigation opportunities. When can I sue someone? How can I get a rich person or entity to do me just wrong enough so I'll be set for the rest of my life?

What makes a lawsuit frivolous? In my opinion, it comes down to a couple of things. The amount of money being sued for (in particular the purely subjective punitive damages), the cause for the lawsuit (the actual incident), and the consequences requiring such large payouts (the ever useful emotional distress etc). If the combination of these things leads to too much money for subjective consequences based on a relatively little incident, we got ourselves a frivolous lawsuit.

In our first installment, we have an Iraq war veteran suing Michael Moore for 75 million dollars for emotional distress and loss of reputation.....oh and his wife suing for 10 million additional dollars for emotional distress to her husband. Sgt. Peter Damon states his feelings were hurt (not his words, but that's what it amounts to) when Michael Moore took a snippett of a quote Damon made and used it for his own purposes in Fahrenheit 9/11. Just to get this straight, the things he said were used out of context. And this out-of-context use caused him 75 MILLION dollars worth of reputation loss and emotional distress. Now, if he were to win the money, his reputation would be able to recover as well as his emotional well-being. I'm sure every day, a stranger walks up to him and comments on his 'cameo' in Moore's film. Now to be fair, I do believe that his comments may have been used out of context and he deserves to let that be known. And maybe a $25000 settlement should come his way. Or better yet, as so many involved in frivolous lawsuits say it's the principle of the matter, perhaps the money should be sent to a charity of Damon's choosing. But 75 million is excessive. And the fact that his wife is suing in a separate lawsuit for, as the article states, because of emotional distress to her husband (not herself) makes this a prime example of what this category will be about.