San Antonio...meet a real dynasty!

I blocked this former NBA player's shot yesterday morning at LA Fitness! Say my name.....

A bittersweet night indeed....the Lakers did what they were supposed and Roy Jones did not. I sincerely hope Jones fights Tarver again. A rubbermatch for pride.....It's only right

I cannot defecate in public restrooms if there is anyone else in the bathroom.  Is that weird???  

That guy

You know that guy in your office, and we all have this guy in our office, that thinks he has a great sense of humor but really no...not funny .  He's the one who tells the joke or makes the comment and ends it with a laugh that isn't drowned out by the laughter of others because others aren't laughing.  'Cause that guy is not funny!!!  Someone should really tell them that their sense of humor lacks global appeal and they should save their comedic gems for their family and closest friends, you know the ones who feel obligated to laugh!!

ESPN.com: Page 2 - Livin' la vida Lakers This article spells out my feelings last night to the last detail....

Wow

WHAT!!!!  WHAT!!!!!  Greatest game of the season....one of the greatest in Playoff history......one of the greatest in the storied franchise that is the L.A. LAKERS!   Saturday cannot come fast enough.  I worry that we aren't going to come out with that hunger that has rocketed us to this 1 game lead.   I love these damn boyz!!!!!!

The ultimate female fans....who gives a shit how much they actually know about the sport.....they are great for morale!!!

Rained on my truck today...pissed about that.....blogger broke, pissed also about that.  I don't know if it's fixed but I noticed Raymi's blog to the right had some problems too so maybe it's the service.....

I'm trying to decide if I should start carryin the digital camera around with me everywhere and keeping like a photojournal of my life....but knowing me you would only see the drunk heathen parts....but those are the fun parts anyway so who cares....]

I haven't decided if I like having the 'Day By Day' cartoon at the top of me blog.....I read some and I liked them but it seems like they have started to suck since I added here....guess I'm bad luck

Have you ever wondered why they can't seem to make manholes level with the rest of the street?  Why the hell is that?  It's stupid I tell ya....How hard is it to know how much or little pavement will be necessary to maintain a nice even surface???

Okay, I think I may have fixed it. Don't know how I did that either.

My blog hurts....don't know what I did to it...

I think I broke my blog...not sure how I broke it but it sure ain't right....

I think I broke my blog...not sure how I broke it but it sure ain't right....

Just testing some stuff so ignore me....wait most of the online world is ignoring me....but I shall have the last laugh...and with that last laugh I shall giggle like a school girl....

Oh yeah

Big game tonite.  I can't wait.  And it's early too.  That's a good thing I think.  Either way, a lot of folks think the winner of this game goes on to win the series.  I just want the Lakers to come out with the same enthusiasm and effor that they did in game 3 and the second half of game 4.  I almost wish Kobe had a case every game day.....actually no, no I don't.

WOW, a Canadian talking trash--the NBA needs him. Boy, these younguns nowadays sure do have some big balls. He's Canadian, and he thinks the NBA needs him. NEEDS HIM? HE's Canadian....no problems with the Canadians have I but Steve Nash is an aberration as far as Canadian hoops go. I mean, Canadian Hoops? Doesn't even sound right? I could quite possibly lose my blogging rights for even coupling those two words.....

Now tell me women aren't crazy.

Laker Love

Well you can probably imagine that I am a pretty content fellow this morning. As I read through the mornings headlines to see who has what to say about the Lakers victory last night I ran across this snippet(which is only entertaining because we did win):

In Lakers' lore, these Kobe Doubleheaders are golden, and Bryant is treated by fans like a returning hero. Only in Lakerland -- a rape trial with a silver lining.

Oh yeah...Teenage Head...doesn't get better than that...

Today's Man News!!!

German men prefer cars to sexy women
Honestly, this isn't that surprising. After all, cars don't talk back, you know which buttons to push to make them do what you want. They always wanna go where you wanna go. They don't mind hanging out in the garage all day. And when something's wrong and you try to find out what it is, they never say "I'm fine". What else could you want from a companion!?!? And they don't mind if you sleep with other women!!!

Message to Phil Jackson:

PUT KOBE ON TONY PARKER!! GARY PAYTON CAN NOT GUARD HIM, DEREK FISHER CAN NOT GUARD HIM!

Why are we wasting an All Defensive Team player on Bruce Bowen? Bruce Bowen can only hit threes from the corner and then only if he is wide the fuck open. So why isn't Kobe guarding Parker, or Ginobli. Parker is faster than Kobe but at least Kobe has the athleticism to get a block from behind, he has the body length to at least make it difficult for Parker to dump the ball off after penetration.

Message to Kobe Bryant:

YOU CANNOT TAKE GAMES OFF! YOU CANNOT TAKE GAMES OFF ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT'S SAID IN THE MEDIA! YOU CANNOT TAKE GAMES OFF ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THAT'S SAID IN THE MEDIA BY SHAQ'S STEP-FATHER! DAMN!

Bruce Bowen is a great defender. Although, since he's gotten a reputation for being a great defender, the refs are letting him do a lot of hand checking. I cannot see how Kobe shoots 2 yes 2 free throws in an entire game???

Now this is just downright silly?!?!!

New design! You like? You Like? I was blog surfing and came upon a site that looked exactly like mine (which isn't surprising since mine is a template). But that bothered me so I decided I'd make some simple color modifications to at least differentiate a wee bit....

See, we should have done what Sacramento did last night. That's how you make a statement. It hurts me to give Sacramento any kind of credit but that's how you play the game psychologically. You come on the enemy's court, look them in the eye for a brief second, then turn them around, bend 'em over and have your way with them. Then throw them a towel and a phone book and tell them to call a cab....okay maybe I've gone a bit far now.......

So I arrived in North Carolina a couple of hours ago in a new record time for me...3 hours 35 minutes. The old record was 3 hours 45 minutes. The average is about 4 hours 15 minutes. I surprise myself with how good I am sometimes. I didn't even feel like I was driving that fast. But at 5:30 in the morning traffic is ridiculously light! By the time I reach any rush hour, I am already in a zone and rush hour is just a wake me up.

I suspect that there are quite a few people that would think I am all broken down about the Lakers loss yesterday. Oddly enough, I'm not. I am slightly disappointed because I feel we beat ourselves (although I always feel that way). 10 turnovers in the fourth quarter? Unacceptable. Trying to lob to Shaq 2 or 3 times in 3 or 4 possessions? Unacceptable. Allowing a team to go on a 19 - 2 run in the most heated NBA rivalry? In the playoffs? Downright unacceptable. The good news is we shot horrible and I can only hope that we have hit bottom as far as our shooting is concerned because statistically we outrebounded and we did most of the other things to win accept make shots. Some will say that's because of the Spurs defense. Their defense is partially to blame but let's not go overboard with crediting their defense. Turnovers are turnovers. You can't do that and expect to win.....you just can't!

Ever notice at Chinese restaurants they have pictures of food and no matter which one you go to the pictures are the same. Is there someone out there who specializes in selling those....I think I want to decorate using those. They are so artistic and provocative. I'll place my order based solely on those pictures.....yep, sure would.

YAO Supporters

Is it me or have the Yao supporters become surprisingly quiet suddenly? Strangely enough, there is no talk about how Yao matches up with Shaq. No discussion about Yao whatsoever. Did Shaq have a dominating game? Offensively, no. Defensively, Yao was servicing Shaq like a prisoner does a salad (some of you know the reference to tossed salads...with yo' dirty asses). I've never seen such a collective cold shoulder given in such a short time. From a week ago when the Houston offense was being told to go through Yao to today where Yao is only mentioned in highlights when he's getting his shot blocked. Comparable to Shaq? That's like saying Denny's is comparable to Outback! And if you believe it is then you have more issues than Cosmo.....

The Olsen Twins

Are there seriously people out there that think these two children are talented? Their stint on Full House doesn't really count because they were like 3 or 4 years old so there are automatically 'too cute and cuddly'. Since then they have made a bunch of pubescent films that I have been fortunate enough to only see horrible trailers for.

But I hear there are grown men out there counting the days until these two turn 18? They aren't particularly cute in my opinion. They aren't ugly either but if I saw them at a bar (unless they have a body that I truly don't think they have), they would be hard pressed to get a tasty libation from me.

Truly though, I just wanted to have something to put in my blog and I heard something about them on CNN Headline News. Speaking of Headline News, I was telling my pops the other day that Robin Meade from Headline News is a low key hottie, my favorite kind!!! She comes off as just an attractive woman, but when you wake up to her everyday she becomes more and more of a hottie. Yes indeedy.....or I could just be horny as hell and missing my fiancee....On any account, Robin is a hottie....she anchors Headline News from I think 5 am to 9 am so check her out. And she lives in Atlanta, and I live in Atlanta.....okay now I'm just getting carried away.

Check the links on the bar over there --->

The news parodies are hilarious. Seriously, if you need to kill some time at work, you must go to these places to do so. Unless your panties are all twisted in a knot.....

Eli 'What have I done' Manning

Can someone, anyone explain to me what the hoopla over Eli Manning is? He didn't lead Ole Miss to anything special. He may have broken some passing records at Ole Miss but that's pretty insignificant since I can't name 4 other quarterbacks to come out of Ole Miss. He didn't win a conference championship, never made a BCS bowl, and his team was unranked for a good part of his career. So, again, why is he so coveted? Oh because he shares the name of a great quarterback....that's right.

Have we not learned that athleticism is rarely evenly spread among siblings?

Ronde and Tiki Barber: One is a super bowl champion....the other fumbles the bowl every third carry.

The Hasselbecks: One has a relatively successful career, and I can't even remember who the other one plays for.

The Vicks: Michael (I will still call him Michael, screw that Mike Vick stuff) led Va Tech to a national championship game, the other hasn't even been able to take the starting role yet and may be on his way to a little jail time.

If anything, it seems like if you have to have family in the league, it's best that you have a cousin in the league. That way your genes can obtain athletic contribution from another source.

And what in the hell is Archie Manning doing sticking his nose in the Chargers business? If I were the Chargers, I would draft the hell out of Eli, just for spite. He doesn't walk to the podium, fine. Sit on the bench all year. Let his ass be like that Nebraska QB a couple of years ago who retired in the third week of training camp.....during his ROOKIE year!. NFL teams draft players, players don't draft teams.

And while I'm on the topic, the whole Maurice Clarett thing is out of control. The NFL has a rule. That's that. I feel bad for Mike Williams because he may not be able to play college football again since he declared for the draft but at the same time, that was his choice to haul ass into the draft....maybe the NCAA will reinstate his eligibility. Let's hope so, it's the right thing to do. Clarett on the other hand better start thinking about getting on a squad in the CFL if for no other reason but to stay in shape. Though he was only suspended from his team, he dropped out of classes after the winter quarter so chances of him playing college ball are about the same as Jessica Simpson getting a post graduate degree.

Okay, going back to work now.....

An Anti-Anniversary

One year ago today, in about 2 and 1/2 hours, an event occurred in my life that really scared me. And pissed me off. And still pisses me off every now and then. Due to some corporate politics, I was laid off. During my damn annual review no less. There was one person responsible for it. Wait, I take that back. There were two people responsible. I was responsible for not kissing the ass of the other person who kissed ass to gain leverage in our department. When the 'new' head of our department needed a name of someone for cost cutting purposes, it was nothing for the butt cheek chaser to give out my name.

My name! Despite being the only person on the team who had worked on every system for which the team was responsible. Despite being one of the senior members of the team. Despite never receiving a negative annual review. Despite being in the good graces of everyone on the team and countless people in the company as a whole. Despite being the lowest paid member on the team which I know I was (how do you call yourself cutting costs when you cut one of the most valuable and least paid members of the team?). Despite being the trainer and oft-times saviour of the person who replaced me. Despite these facts.....

When have you ever heard of people outside of your department being contacted by HR to let them know that another employee was being let go just to ensure there wouldn't be any issues. Well it happened when I was laid off, twice!

Yet, I must take some of the blame. After all, I could have simply sucked it up and kissed that trick's ass or the very least played the role as others did in my department. But that's not me. If I don't like you, I won't go out of my way to make it known and at the same time I won't play nice either. Ah, but perhaps it was the best for me. I'm making more money than they ever would have paid though I still have no health insurance (thank you God for watching me over the course of this past year). Though I'm out of town most of the time, I feel like I will eventually find a full time gig in the ATL and probably for more than they would be paying me if I were at that hellhole now (including any annual increases).

But all I want in relation to that former employer is to be in the mall, and to see the butt cheek chaser. Have her come up to me with that fake smile and fake accent (which I think she uses to her advantage as well but no need to get into that). And then I lay into her like crabs into a crack whore.....oh one day it will happen...and I won't be the bigger person for it.....and I won't care.

When I have children, I hope I don't become one of those people that talk about nothing but my children. I find that to be overly annoying. I want to be the best parent I can be but I don't want being a parent to define who I am. I don't want to give up hobbies, or doing things I enjoy to be a parent. I understand that I will have to sacrifice things but I don't think I should sacrifice everything. I work with someone now whose whole personality seems to be defined by her being a parent. Granted, it's her first child and the child has had some rather serious problems but she still seems a little overboard. Almost every other conversation anybody has with her has to do with labor, pregnancy, or some other aspect of babyology. Her child is like 8 months old and she sometimes acts as if the child was born yesterday. Maybe I'm just finnicky and not fit to be a parent.

I need to work with some people that have no kids and\or don't use the fact that they have children as an excuse for doing nothing else.

Cee-Lo green is the soul machine! Seriously hot album....deep fried chicken soul for that ass!!! Okay, I don't know where that last statement came from but I meant it.

Usher's album starts off well but then kinda loses me the further I listen.

Fight Night 2004 is off the chain for PS2. I've had it a couple of weeks and I still haven't gotten a title. Or even beaten a real boxer yet for that matter. See that's what video games should be like.

So I'm trying to decide if I am going to go to the Georgia Force game this weekend. If I do, the weekend will become quite busy. I leave Winston tomorrow around 4:30 (assuming I get here by 8:30 which is a big assumption based on the assumption that I don't venture out to the fox and hound tonite which is an assumption that I don't go play basketball which is a 50/50 shot right now). That get's me to Atlanta by 9. The fiance lady doesn't have to work tomorrow night so I may be forced to watch the 9:30 Lakers game at the house. That's bad because the Lakers never win when I watch it in the comfort of my wonderful abode.

Saturday morning we wake up and drop my truck off to get it looked at for this rattle sound it's been making for a few years. Yeah, better late than never. After dropping the truck off, we go workout. Then we head out to buy yard stuff for the day of yard work ahead of us. Saturday night, we go to the movies or do something lovey dovey because she doesn't have to work that night either.

Then there's Sunday. The Ga Force game is at noon. The Lakers play at 3:30. I also have to drive back to Winston at some point. And I should probably wash my dirty clothes as well. L-Boogie (the fiance lady) doesn't want to go to the Ga Force game, so I'd probably being going solo which is fine by me. But I also can't put 4 brews down during the game which is my modus operandi. But if I don't go to the game I won't see the Force for a good 3 or 4 weeks. And I missed last week's game while I was in VA visiting the parentals. There's also the risk that the game runs long and I miss the tip off for the Lakers game. One thing I could do is drive back to Winston early Monday morning and that why I can enjoy tasty brews for both events while having a chance to wash clothes etc and so on.

Yep, I think that's what I'll do. Thanks for listening!!!

It's official!!! ESPN.com is now officially better than cbs.sportsline.com. For years I have been loyal to the cbs site. But the past year has been a disappointing experience for me. Besides the fact that their reporters have become ho hum to say the least, or the fact that they either started charging for features or simply dropping them, now no matter what page you click on in the site you are bombarded with an advertisement for something or other. It's horrible.

Plus, ESPN has Page 2 which has slowly evolved into my morning paper with that first cup of coffee. Entertaining, funny, dynamic in it's various viewpoints, controversial, off topic, oh the joy of sports journalism like it should be. And to top that off, they have Page 3 which is a serviceable if somewhat less entertaining alternative/follow up for Page 2.

So I'm sitting here waiting for a report to run that is taking a long time. My current task is to figure out what's wrong with the report. Only two problems, everyone says the data is inaccurate but no one can tell me exactly why, what, or how it's inaccurate. And number two, I'm still learning the business so I don't even know exactly what the damn report is supposed to show. But as I've stated earlier, I'm good so I will persevere.

Have you ever noticed that in the four major American sports, the referees are never former players? They are never even big enough to be former amateur players. I don't like referees at all. They are the little guy who didn't get picked as a kid who is now power tripping on being able to 'rule' over the jock. I wasn't a jock as a youth but I wasn't a little guy either. Referees suck in general. They are rarely held accountable for their actions. They expect respect while barely ever earning it. I'm not quite sure how you become a ref either. Is there a referee school or something???

Taxes are good!!! I'm getting a refund and the world is a beeeeautiiiiiful place. Yep, it sure is!

I feel bad. I had a friend who was supposed to do my taxes for me this year and I hadn't heard from her. So mentally I'm cursing her out as I scramble to try to get them done. Well she called this morning and she had a house fire so that's why I hadn't heard from her, fortunately she was unhurt but she's been going through her share of hard times. I'm scum.....

What exactly is a son of a gun??? Is that like a slingshot??

Yep, I am a crowd pleaser.

Just so you know, random statements like the one above come from when I figure something out at work that really has nothing to do with me....and yeah I just did that . . . . .again! Geesh...sometimes it hurts being this good.....

Well, playoff time is here and what a Western Conference battle we have in store. Being a Lakers fan, I am actually much more nervous this time around than I have been in years past. With our early exit last postseason, and the strides that Minnesota has made and the consistency that San Antonio has maintained, I see potential disappointments if we don't come with our 'A' game.

And there's no reason we shouldn't come with our 'A' game. Everyone is healthy. Horace Grant is out but I hardly consider that a particularly large blow to the team performance on the floor as much as it may be in the locker room. But Ho Grant should be in the locker room so that shouldn't be seen as a weakness. Speaking of weaknesses, I think one of our weaknesses right now is we are not feeding off of Shaq as much as we should early in games. Give Shaq the rock down low, maybe get some folks in foul trouble, and run the triangle off of him. Also, we need somebody running with the Glove down the court. He wants to run oh so bad and a lot of times he ends having to take it himself. There is no reason we shouldn't be scoring six to twelve points off of fast breaks per game. And that's being conservative!!

Defensively, we are playing decent ball but our problem, as it has been over the past 5 years or so, is the pick and roll. And it is not only a problem when Shaq's man is setting the pick. I hate to say it but at some point the NBA needs to enforce the moving pick foul. San Antone and Sac-town have the moving pick down to an art. Also speaking of rules, I think the flagrant foul should be called during 'Hack-a-Shaq'. Some will argue that 'Hack-A-Shaq' is a gameplan. That's idiotic. In no other sport are the rules purposely broken as part of the 'gameplan'. If you hug a player, flagrant. If you foul player intentionally and he doesn't even have the ball, flagrant. Dr. James Naismith, who would be sickened by the 'zone' defense being used in the pros, would probably disown the game if he had known that intentionally fouling a player was a gameplan to some teams. I know it disgusts me, so it must be worthy of discussing.

I spend most of the day trying to wake up and most of the night trying to fall asleep. Such is the life of a night owl....hoot hoot

Did I ever tell you how hot Macy Gray's last album is? Very nice piece of work....uncommon flow and beats. Because I guess I'm getting tired of the same ol same ol in hip hop and r&b or maybe I'm just getting old! That's probably it. Old ass X

I forgot I had a livejournal blog. Wow, I sucked at the blog thing back then. Although judging by the lack of visitors here, I can't say I've gotten any better.

I am amazingly good at what I do....just thought I'd let you in on that!!

Am I the only person confused about the whole Nick and Jessica phenomenon? Two mediocre singers at best are everywhere on the tube and I don't know why. Throw in the fact that I've taken shits that are smarter than Jessica and you see why the fate of popular culture leaves a foul taste in my mouth. I can't really say too much about Nick; he seems like a regular guy except for that gay boy band thing but do what you gotta do I suppose. But how can we preach education to our kids and then allow them to watch stupidity prosper in Jessica Simpson? It is not an act....she's really that stupid. If it is an act, she deserves one of those little statues they give out on Sunday nights at those award thingies.

Ah, it has been quite a while since last you were graced with my lyrical elegance. I have been running the southeast ragged between North Cackalackie and the ATL with a quick jaunt to the VA mixed in there as well.

The new job is cool. Really not doing what I thought I'd be doing but I'm sure I will get around to that eventually. I am learning quite a bit of resume worthy skills so there is an upside. The downside is I'm not sleeping very well here and I think my body is feeling the effects of waking up every hour or so.

Spent the past weekend at Va Tech. Boy, was that an experience. I am officially mature now. AFter watching some of the shit that went on the other night, I now know I have gone on in my life. And I can't even say that I'm upset about it. I had my share of fun but now it's time to start being that full fledged adult who cares more about his grass than his weed (not that I smoke) but you get the idea.....

Well I got a job in Winston Salem. Kinda happy but kinda disappointed that I will be leaving the ATL again. At least this job is close enough for me to drive back and forth each weekend though.

This is bad. Kinda of addictive though. It's the suicide bomber game.

CBS.SportsLine.com - Judges reconsiders request; woman's testifying delayed

Perhaps I am a little more passionate about this because it involves the Lakers. But the sexual assault victim advocates are truly starting to annoy me. Before I rant, I want to emphasize that I do not condone Kobe's adultery nor do I condone rape. I do, however, have some opinions concerning victim privacy protection.

Keep in mind, my entire rant here is made entirely with regards to the Kobe trial. The victim has yet to testify in any of the preliminary hearings. What this essentially means is that the victim has maintained her privacy and normal ('normal' for what it's worth given the circumstances) day to day life. She is still, despite early internet photos and and defense attorney name slips, relatively unknown allowing her to cope with the situation personally as well as to escape it to some degree. Granted Kobe is a well known celebrity and would not have this option in any situation.

But my point is this, say Kobe is found not guilty. Will that really matter? Kobe's image has been smeared. Endorsements, aspects of his livelihood have been lost. And the victim? More than likely there will be some civil suit that she probably will win. Although personally, I believe if you lose a criminal case you should not be allowed to come back and file a civil suit. But that's another topic for another day. If Kobe is found innocent because the victim just straight out lied then I would be in an even deeper fervor because Kobe lost it to some money hungry, conniving so and so.

Now I don't want to smear the victim because I don't know Kobe personally and he could have very well raped her. But my current issue with this rape issue deals with the multiple specimens of semen found in the victim's underwear. Now if the sexual encounter occurred before the alleged rape then the injuries (severe vaginal bruising) could have been pre-existing. If the sexual encounter occurred after, well that says a lot about 1) the victim's state of mind and/or 2) whether the victim initially believed she was raped or if that's something that she decided to declare at a later date. This is the reason the defense wants to examine her sexual history along with her tendency to go to extremes when dealing with turmoil in her life (ie multiple suicide attempts).

This will be an interesting case to watch as the foundation for future rape charges could likely look at this case as precedence. My fear is that 1) there is no 'jury of peers' in Colorado hence making a tougher case for the defense, 2) the jury will feel the need to make an example of Kobe Bryant given the number of athletes on the wrong side of the law, and 3) Kobe is truly and honestly guilty (not a case of he said vs. she said but without a reasonable doubt guilty).

I really have nothing to say that is worth publishing for the world to see. Nope the ol' creative caravan has run amuck....I should be rambling on and on about something or other but nothing really gets me going right now.....I think I will go grocery shopping......need anything while I'm at the store?

I heard about this website while watching Tech TV today called MusicPlasma.com. You type in an artist and using Amazon's 'People who bought this album also liked' functionality to show you other artists you might get into. Very cool flash design on the website. Cool enough to get added to my links section.

I need to get out of this house!! But getting out of the house means I will end up spending money which I can't do since I have no job!! But I am losing my mind here. I wake up, look for a job, and then what?!?! There are things I could do around the house but it's being in this house for as many hours straight with no human contact whatsoever that is driving me slightly crazy!

TheStar.com - Teen killed boy to escape parents Kids have lost their damn minds. This is rather bothersome.

Unemployment sucks. I wake up every morning to try and find a job. After countless hours of hopes getting up and going down, I find myself still unemployed. I have become very accustomed to the lifestyle the employed X allowed me to have.

I haven't been out of the house for any extended period of time since Sunday. I almost feel like if I do go out and do something fun, that I don't deserve it and I should be at home looking for a job. The no job blues are kicking in this morning. I feel pretty damn useless waking up and not having anything to do but look for a job.

Okay, I gueess I'll just have to keep my head up. It would be easier if I had an outlet like basketball or working out but I would have to join a gym for that and adding additional monthly expenses at this juncture is not the wisest idea I've had recently. So I don't know what to do. I guess I'll have more coffee......

Spent the whole day cleaning and watching old NBA All Star games. Thank the heavens for Espn Classic. Watching the old games brought back fond memories as well as got me pretty hype for the game going on now. I haven't gone out of my way to catch this game the past couple of years but I was really looking forward to it today....maybe cuz my Lakers are the hosts for the event this year.

The Daily Collegian - MTV's message is one-sided

[Listening to: Overnight Scenario [Live] - Rare Essence - We Go On and On (04:56)]

I am so tired of hearing people complain about the loss of values of american society based on Janet Jackson revealing a single flipping breast. Grown ass adults are crying foul because of a breast. In Europe and pretty much every other country, sex is not some taboo subject. It's not a rash that's to be avoided. It's common ground. We as humans all have sex, most enjoy sex, and all come from sex. So when you think of sex being the gutter, remember your birth is a product of the gutter.

It is a shame that it is 2004 and the biggest thing people can think to talk about is a 90% exposure of a breast. I love living in America but we can sure be some dumb asses sometimes. Oh, and everyone is so upset that Nelly and Kid Rock grabbed their crotch. Come on people, do we really think our youth are that damned innocent. Parents, we know you think you're raising little angels but I've heard your kids talk when you're not around and they know what they are saying when they say 'eat me', or 'you suck'. They know the derivatives of such catch phrases. And another thing, I'm a single guy with no kids....damn it why should I be forced to watch watered down family fun television? I don't have any damn kids and I want to see adult programming. Stop letting tv raise your kids.....that's the problem as it is. Parents are just too uninvolved, too soft, too damn lazy nowadays. My parents let me watch a lot of TV growing up but they also taught along the way. They didn't try to hide stuff from me knowing that would just make me more curious. If there was something with an adult theme on TV, they explained it to me the best they could and we went about our business.

I just don't understand why America is so damn soft? why? why? why?

[Listening to: In Public - Kelis - Tasty (04:26)]

Strange NFL CONSPIRACIES

9/11/2001 - World TRade Disaster - America needs to come together in patriotic fashion - Patriots win super bowl that year
2003 - America goes to war with Iraq - America needs to come together in patriotic fashion - Patriots win super bowl that year

Strange? Kinda ironic, don't ya think?

[Listening to: Let Your Hair Down [*] - Dwele - Subject (04:12)]

Oh cloudy day....save me from myself

[Listening to: It's a Pity - Tanya Stephens - Reggae Gold 2003 Disc 1 (04:15)]

And Tom Brady wasn't the MVP, Antowain Smith deserves it.....more on that later

[Listening to: She's Hot - T.O.K. - Reggae Gold 2003 Disc 1 (03:30)]

More Super Bowl Reflections

Questionable Officiating

Through the pats last two games, there have been several controversial calls in the pats favor. It is not the number of penalties called, it is the timing of the penalties that is most important. Against the Titans, there were numerous defensive holding and pass interference calls that were simply not called. ESPN made note of this throughout the following week. In Sunday's games, there were at least two calls that changed the face of a drive and led to pats scores.

1) 4th and 1, pats have the ball, they run the ball, hole opens and is violently closed by the Panthers. A horrible spot from the referee leads to a first down even after review of the play and agreement among the commentators that he never go to the first down line. The replay clearly shows this, the pats were going from right to left. In a reference to watching it on TV, the rb starts towards the top of the screen with the ball in his left hand (towards the bottom of the screen), cuts back to the bottom of the screen and is nailed. Clearly only his helmet and maybe a bit of his right shoulder crossed the first down marker and that's being generous. The left side of his body, including the ball, never cross the line....ever. The referees explanation after reviewing the play....the point of the ball crossed the first down marker which is impossible since the RB at not ime extended the ball out. If the left side of his body never cross the line, how does the ball? They went on to score a drive instead of turning the ball over on Downs.

2)Tom Brady apparently is immune from Intentional Grounding. In one instance early in the game, it didn't matter since the drive ended with a missed field goal although it could have meant a different field position for the Panthers. The second intentional grounding, the Panther come with an all out blitz and Brady is in the midst of the first sack of his post season. He is between the guards as he dropped straight back. He throws the ball into the offensive line. There was no runningback, no wide receiver, no one who could legally catch the ball. The ref's call? Illegal touching because it bounced of the legs of an offensive lineman, the back of the legs no less. The difference between the two calls is Illegal touching is a 5 yarder (maybe a 10 yarder) and repeat the down. Intentional grounding is loss of down and the ball is placed at the spot the qb threw it from. Huge difference between 2nd and 15th and 3rd and 21.

Now I'm back in New England and miserable. What I wouldn't give to talk to a pats fan that knew something about the game and was realistic enough to admit that the pats had a whole helluva lotta luck this season. ON the plane ride here, there were pats fans everywhere and even the friggin stewardesses who obviously knew nothing about football are talking about the super bowl. It will only get worse.....

In my opinion, there was no Super Bowl Champion for 2004....Next. Done.

Well, for the second time in three years the patriots (I refuse to capitalize that) have won the super bowl. The first time was a bonified fluke in my opinion. If that game in 2002 is played 10 times the Rams win 9 of those ten times. It just so happened that the one that was played was the one that counted. I will not say that this last super bowl was a fluke, but I will say them being there (yes even with consideration for their win streak) is a fluke (though I have to imagine the referees had to be getting some sort of kick back).

I find it hard to cheer, congratulate, or admire a champion that is unable to truly dominate a single game. Yes, I know this is the Super Bowl and it's the matchup of the two best (or hottest) teams in the league so a close should be expected. But even looking back through their season, they weren't in a particularly strong division yet they had only one blowout victory against a pitiful Bills (although the Bills did give it to them in the first game of the season). They also lost to my Washington Redskins as well as needed overtime to beat the Texans. They required horrible playcalling in week 16 (an approximation) to get by the Colts the first time and horrendous lack of officiating to get by them the second time. They beat an injury riddled Titans team in the playoffs although it seems the Titans are always injury riddled. They were just not impressive.

My theory on teams that win in the last period of a game is contrary to what the experts would have you believe. See the experts say coming through with clutch victiories shows heart......wrong! Coming through with clutch victories against good teams or superior teams shows heart. Needing that for everyone is just a

• Lack of concentration
• Lack of talent
• Lots and lots of luck
• A generally mediocre performance for most of the game

Working in Boston my views are not looked upon in the most positive fashion. Rather, I get the all too common and oft overused 'You're a hater.' My main reason for not cheering for the pats is because I have yet to encounter a New England fan that will listen to a sensible argument about the game. They are generally the most blind, one-sided fans I have ever met. And this goes for red sox fans as well. Oddly enough, the celtics aren't winning so no one seems to notice them too much. Kinda like the amount of attention the pats received at the beginning of the year. Actually now that I think about it, there were hardly ever any crowds at the Avenue to watch most of the early season of the pats. The crowds didn't start gathering until the winning streak was solidly under way. Strange how that could happen in such a sports loyal city....

Aaaah, but what do I know. I'm just an outsider who refuses to resign my current loyalties in order to jump on the pats bandwagon so I can fit in with my peers. Maybe it's the thug in me....

Check out this website: Mobile Asses.com . Entirely too much time on someone's hands......

I've got to do a better job of waking up in the mornings. Which basically means I need to go to sleep as soon as I get home. I need to resist the peer pressure of stayin up for bad late TV.

Yeah, so the apartment I'm staying in has pretty much turned to a war zone. One roomate has an uncontrollable substance abuse problem which often ends with him pissing randomly on the living room floor, or the kitchen floor, or if we're really lucky he'll piss on the bathroom floor which is at least the right part of the house. This has led to my cool roomate not talking to either the pisser or the cat lady; instead the cool roomate stays in her room all the time now because she is disgusted with the other two roomates. Although, it has seemed since Sunday that she has been pretty distant with me as well. It doesn't bother me too much because I don't go there until around midnight and then I try to go straight to sleep. I haven't seen the cat lady roomate in a few days which is good because if she were around she would see me mentally terrorizing those nasty ass cats she calls pets.

I'm trying to decide if taking a PS2 to a bar makes me a loser or not. It's just so much easier than going back to the aforementioned apartment. Can you imagine walking into a place that reeks of cat shit and piss all day everyday. My stomach is getting a little queasy thinking about it. So I've taken to taking my PS2 to the Avenue (my watering hole) and playing games, having cute waitresses serve me tasty beverages, and watching several different sporting events at once. Hell no, no loser would come up with such a great idea!!

[Listening to: Seventeen - Musiq (Soulchild) - Aijuswanaseing (03:23)]

Why do people ask stupid questions like

'Cold nuff for ya?'

"Why no actually. I still have a slight sensation on the left hemispere of my scrotum sack where I haven't freezed my balls off yet"

I mean, when it is below 30, that question is no longer necessary. I hate stupidity.

News - gaimCool Instant messaging client if you use multiple instant messengers.

News - gaimCool Instant messaging client if you use multiple instant messengers.

I've been told recently on several different occasions that I have to be the center of attention. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Each time it happens, I can't quite make out the tone of the person telling me. They have a smile on their face and they sound like they are beiing good natured but at the same time I feel defensive. I don't think I HAVE to be the center of attention, it just happens in a lot of situations. I will readily admit that I can be pretty damn funny/silly/etc in social situations. And I will say some things out of left field in comedic efforts but I hardly think I am demanding any and everyone's attention. I enjoy making people laugh. I enjoy laughing. Hell, I laugh at myself probably more than anything/anyone else. I will happily stop making jokes if there is someone that can make me laugh harder than I can make myself laugh. When that happens, I will no longer demand to be (not that I demand it, it just happens) the center of attention.

What makes this funny is that I consider myself to be shy. I was very shy when I started college but the friends I made there drew me out of my shyness. However, when I am by myself, which I am quite often, I rarely draw up a conversation with a stranger because I don't feel like I'm any good at small talk and I'm not the kind to ask personal questions. I feel you'll tell me what you want me to know and we'll go from there. Is that being self centered??? Oh so much self analysis, so little time!!

Say the same thing over and over and over and over and over and over

I'm feeling very destructive today. I have managed to destroy my only set of headphones. They were on the glitch anyway but I completely dismantled them after one ear went out. That has to be the most annoying thing about headphones is when one ear goes out and less you hold the connector a particular way. You would think someone would invent headphones that could not do this. Or maybe they have I just manage to keep buying really cheap headphones. Well, you would think someone would invent really cheap headphones that could not do this.

[Listening to: R. Kelly, Ginuwine - Hell Yeah (Remix) - Unknown Album (1/12/2004 4:42:43 PM) (04:08)]

How many times can you explain the same thing to the same person before cursing them out? Is there a rule or some kind of guide for these types of situations? I mean, seriously, at least twice a week for the past 5 months I have explained the same thing to the same person. I don't know how else I can say it that will help this person understand. I may be flustered, oh no wait, pissed. Yes, pissed is what I meant....

~(@)~ 4-20-99: a Columbine site -- Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold - Littleton, CO school shooters ~(@)~ Kind of weird that this guy follows Columbine so close but kind of interesting too.

[Listening to: Drips - Eminem - The Eminem Show (04:46)]

I'm trying to finish up the book From a Buick 8 by Stephen King so I can start on The Da Vinci Code since I keep hearing all these great things. I'm kind of worried though. Anytime I read a book that I've heard 'great' things about, it seems like I don't like it too much....we'll see I guess.

Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

[Listening to: Pop That Booty - Jermaine "JD" Dupri - MH (04:06)]

What's the deal with OC??

Somebody at work just told me to get a life. Not that interesting right. Except that it was a 27 year old woman who still lives with her mom!!!! And I'm supposed to get a life.....odd?

I'm so tired of people wanting me to feign happiness in Boston. "You weren't always like this" "You gotta get over the weather" "Why are you . . . . " Blah blah blah. My bad for not being in the Boston summer time mood you met me in. Deal with it! Atlanta I miss you oh momma ATL.

I will be the first to admit that I am pretty grumpy in the mornings. People that know me well know that I'm grumpy in the mornings. People that don't know me well are soon told that I am grumpy in the mornings. Alas, people still want to talk to me in the mornings. I don't understand. If you have the facts considering my general outlook on the mornings, why do you think you could change it? Why insist on it? Hm? Huh?

Sports Republicans

Hello kiddies! This is the first in what will hopefully be a mini series on Sport Republicans.

.

This is a term I coined one evening while engaging in a sprts related discussion with an associate of mine. As men usually are, we were both insistent on the points we were respectively making. The only true difference in my argument versus his was that his argument sounded like a consolidation of sports talk radio and home team bias. It was at this time that it dawned on me that I was talking to someone who did not take the time to think about the subject ihe was defending, rather he too the overly conservative route of saying (and believing without thought) what everyone else was saying. I abruptly ended the conversation with "I cannot talk to a sports republican". Oddly enough, he laughed without asking for further explanation. Why? Because he know the gist of my comment.

A sports republican is someone who is, much like his political counterpart, considerably conservative in relation to sports. For example, a sportscaster (most of whom are sports republicans) will openly denigrate an athlete for talking trash during the game. Why is that? Is being professional shutting up and doing what you're supposed to be doing and that's it? Is trash-talking not part of the spirit of competition, the fun of it all, the drive of the game? Do you honestly think the players that don't trash talk have more class because they keep their mouth closed? If your general feeling is yes to these questions, chances are you're a sports republican.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying being a sports republican is bad. Well, actually, yes yes I am. But don't let my opinion affect your self esteem. It's just that trash talking is something we all do in our daily lives whether it's at the water cooler or in the end zone. We do it, enjoy it, and it is what makes our job go by a little bit easier. Hell in some cases, receiving a fair amount of trash talk can be the driving force to some of our accomplishments at work. So why do we wish to deprive professional athletes of this ritual. Why don't we want to see them having fun at their job? Why should they not get to celebrate their touchdown creatively? I know I have my own celebration that I do when I get something important done at work so why shouldn't Terrell Owens be afforded that same pleasure? These guys shouldn't be thought of as cocky because they play their game with confidence just like we should not assume that the players that avoid celebration and trash talking have some inordinate amount of class. Chances are they just suck at trash talking.

So now that we have an idea of what I mean by sports republican when it comes to trash talking, let's move to what it means to be a Sports republican in other ares of the sporting world. However, let's do that tomorrow. Actually, let's not say tomorrow. Let's say later....yes, we'll get into that later.

Since it looks like my digital cam is gone for good, with who knows what drunken pictures on it, I want another one but I want something more top of the line. But I really shouldn't be out buying gadgets and the like. So what to do, what to do? Succumb to the temptation of frivolous spending or be wise and patiently wait until the bankroll is right. I waited last time before I bought the camera, like a year and a half. Oh the day to day struggles of life.

Rocketpack - Humor and creative writing magazine Fun Stuff. Out of the norm fun stuff....

Job Search Continued

And now that I think about it, I blame (yes the blame for my employment failures do not rest squarely on my shoulders) good old ex-employer (not to be named) for pigeon holing me my last year there which effectively reduced the skills I could be using to acquire a payment providing position now.

Job Search Blues

It is quite frustrating looking for a permanent job at home. I know that I have had my fill of being in Boston. I really appreciate the experience but I would very much like to move on. The thing is as I continue my job search, it seems like I'm almost qualified for a lot of jobs out there but not quite. Either the qualifications want a certain number of years of experience or a certain skill. And I know in my heart that if I don't have the skill, I could quickly pick the skill up if given the chance but the days of employers taking chances on potential are over. I guess I just have to keep my head up.....

How to be a small town slut This is hilarious!!! Oh entirely too funny to be ignored. This Raymi chick has a blog that's kind of interesting/sad but this article(if that's what you want to call it) is good stuff.

And Damn if he didn't respond to my thank you letter back to him. What a generally nice fellow!!

[Listening to: Love's a Game - Marques Houston - MH (03:59)]

Now this is what sports reporters should be about. A little background first: the Lakers played the Cavaliers last night. The Lakers pulled out a victory. I notice an article on the internet entitled 'Lame Lakers Limp past Cavs'. Lame because Kobe got hurt leaving us with only one of our big four on the floor. It's also important to notice that the article was written for the Akron Beacon Journal. So I read the article and it seemed to me to be putting Lebron in a light that wasn't necessarily the case being as I saw the entire game. So after reading the article and the stats that LeBron was attributed, I shot the following email off to the author of the article:

I just read you Lame Lakers Limp article. I noticed you didn't mention LeBron's six turnovers since you mentioned his seven assists???

Now I'll be the first to admit that I was looking to pick a fight, well maybe not a fight but a heated argument with this sportswriter just because I find most sportswriters to be Sports Republicans. But I was dead wrong. First, he actually responded to the email which surprised me beyond comprehension. There have been so many times where I have sent an email to an address on the internet trying to start a discussion and this is only the second time I have ever had a response. Secondly, though, his response was not at all what I expected:

Xavier,

I agree it was a lame article. I filed it 37 seconds
after the game ended due to time zone and deadline
issues. I also didn't mention that he went 0-5 from
the field in the fourth quarter or that the team shot
25 percent as well.

I appreciate your thoroughness.

B******** W***********
Akron Beacon Journal

I am keeping his name confidential since he didn't exactly agree to me posting this email. But I thought was exceptionally cool of him to respond and to be so non-defensive. Kudos to B******** W********.

I get so tired of the term gangsta rapper? Are John Wayne or Slyvester Stallone or Vin Diesel gangsta actors? Because they sure do glorify violence in most of their films. Or does the term 'gangsta' only refer to those we wish to see in a negative light? Gangs of New York, ScarFace, the Godfather Trilogy are all considered great movies but if you do a song about it you're a gangsta....get off it....

[Listening to: Flashback - Kelis - Tasty (03:26)]

Kelis has a very sexy thing about her......

[Listening to: Make It Clap [Remix] - Busta Rhymes; Sean Paul; Spliff Star - Reggae Gold 2003 Disc 1 (04:03)]

I absolutely cannot stand when people chew with their mouth open. That is so freaking disgusting and annoying. Smack Smack Smack. And inevitably people who do this will proceed to make some juicy oral noise long after they've swallowed such as sucking teeth or just constantly making the juicy sound. UGH! I don't even say ugh vocally so if I'm typing it you know I must be serious!!

I am pleased with myself. Yes, I am.

I have lost my digital camera. I think it was stolen but in either case I don't have it. I think somebody got me at the bar when my bag was sitting under my coat. I don't think it was anyone that works at the bar because I know everyone there. This just sucks. And to top off the negative degree wind chill of the weekend, I awoke to Monday morning snow. Boston is not the place for a born and bred southerner like myself!!!

I could really go for some good food right now. I am so tired o eating out that I am seriously contemplating not eating anything until a good meal comes and kicks me in the ass. I really really hope the Patriots lose tonite....I have trouble seeing the smug faces of all these fans in Boston because they finally have a team that seems like it may have a shot at greatness.

I am a little depressed that I have not had any leads for jobs in Atlanta. I thought that after the holidays my phone may start ringing a little more but that has not been the case at all. Instead, I'm nearing completion of the work that I was contracted for here in Boston (that's not to say there won't be more for me to do but you get what I'm saying), I'm freezing my scrotum skin off, and I'm more homesick than an 11 year old boy at NeverLand.....

I'm gonna go watch some football. That always relaxes me a little bit!!

[Listening to: Clubbin' - Joe Budden; Marques Houston; Pied Piper - MH (04:04)]

Well, the extended stay at home did nothing but enlighten me to how much I would rather be at home. I won't say that I have a growing hatred for Boston but I am increasingly disenfranchised. Sub zero temperatures will do that to a brother.....

[Listening to: Players Haters - Rare Essence - We Go On and On (06:34)]

Boston sucks big time. Inhumanely cold weather. Depressing. I am a southerner until the day I die if for nothing else than the weather!!

[Listening to: Showdown - R. Kelly; Ronald Isley - Chocolate Factory (07:54)]

Love this song

[Listening to: Girl Next Door - Ayana; Musiq (Soulchild) - Aijuswanaseing (04:46)]

Ok, ok, I'm reloaded...you motherfuckers think you're big time...fuckin with Jay Z, you gon' die big time....HERE COME THE PAIN!

JOE GIBBS is back baby!!! Just in time too!! Cuz I was a hair away from giving up on sports....with Va Tech choking, the Redskins doing whatever it is they consider themselves doing, and the Lakers playing like a second rate team, I was that close to removing some unnecessary stress from my life!!! Now if the Lakers can get healthy and show the league what the deal is and if Phil will get off his high horse and let this team run a little bit more instead of forcing them to run the triangle, we may just be able to meet the lofty expectations expected from us!!

Why? Why do women nag? What possesses them to go from hottie to nag? Why? Like I once heard, men marry women hoping they will never change, women marry hoping to change them????/