Monday, November 2, 2009
Does Kobe have anything to prove?
There has been all of this talk about what Kobe has to prove. He has to win a championship without Shaquille O’Neil. He won that championship. He won without the big fella. He took his team to victory and the Lakers are the world champions. Now there is talk that Kobe needs to win without Derek Fisher. Is this a joke? Michael Jordan did not win without Steve Kerr, Ron Harper, Scottie Pippen, or Phil Jackson, and the animal on the boards, Dennis Rodman. Basketball is a team sport and not one player wins without his team. Granted, every team has an MVP, but that doesn't mean that person wins alone. This is a game played 48 minutes with good offense from several members and even better defense from EVERY member. To think that any player has to win a championship without another player is just nonsense talk. What every player needs to win a championship is a team that can put forth a team effort. If you question this just ask the Lakers who lost to the Celtics two years ago. That was a team effort by the Celtics, not a Paul Pierce, or Kevin Garnett win, but a Celtics win. The team did that with team defense, just as the Lakers did last year. Didn’t Trevor Ariza make some really good defensive plays late in the game? No player wins without a good defensive team effort and a good offensive team effort.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Has Lobbying made your Supplements dangerous?
Lobbying and lobbyists have long been a source of influence on government, whether it is on a local or federal level. Companies who want legislation passed or have an issue they consider important hire a lobbying firm that poses influences and has ties to the political spectrum. This is done to promote that companies agenda. Well, what if the supplements that are on the market were passed not because they are beneficial or even safe, but because a Senator was lobbied, and even influenced?
Senator Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah has long been considered one of the most powerful lawmakers. Utah has been called the Silicon Valley of Supplements. Senator Hatch also has ties to lobbyists. Hatch's son Scott is a named partner and registered lobbyist at Walker, Martin and Hatch LLC, a Washington lobbying firm. The firm was formed in 2001; the other two partners are Jack Martin, a staff aide to Senator Hatch for six years, and H. Laird Walker, who has been described as a close associate of the Senator's (Source Watch, 2008). The pharmaceutical industry that long has benefited from Sen. Orrin G. Hatch's legislative efforts has directed large sums of money to a charity he helped found -- and still raises money for -- while also hiring the Republican lawmaker's son as a lobbyist. This all came about, when a normally confidential tax filing was mistakenly released by the Internal Revenue Service to a nonprofit database last year. In March 2003, the Los Angeles Times quoted Senator Hatch as saying that the firm was formed with his "personal encouragement," and that he saw no conflict of interest in championing issues that helped his son's clients. He has also legislated for dietary supplements to be governed outside of the realm of drugs and food additives. When the FDA was reviewing the adverse effects of ephedra, Hatch defended the supplement industry. At the time, Walker, Martin & Hatch LLC were being paid, by companies with interests in ephedra manufacturing, for lobbying Congress (LA Times 2003).
In March 2009, the Washington Times reported that the pharmaceutical industry, which has "long has benefited from Sen. Orrin G. Hatch's legislative efforts," had previously undisclosed connections to Hatch. Five pharmaceutical companies and the industry's main lobbying group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), wrote checks in 2007 totaling more than $170,000 to the Utah Families Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable foundation which Hatch helped start in the 1990s and had vigorously supported since. Walker, Martin & Hatch LLC was paid $120,000 by PhRMA in 2007 to lobby Congress on pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration legislation (McElhatton, Seper 2009).
Scott Hatch has maintained he does not lobby his father even when it involves issues that Sen. Hatch is involved with. Sen. Hatch has admitted and finds no blurring of ethical lines. Everyone should help charity. Pharmaceutical and health-product companies already rank at the top of Mr. Hatch's political supporters, donating more than $1.25 million to his campaigns since 1998. Those donations are disclosed to the Federal Election Commission. In a Feb. 18, 2008, report to the IRS listing its 2007 revenue and expenses, the Utah foundation said Eli Lilly and Co. gave the charity $25,000; medical supply company Becton Dickerson, $25,000; Barr Pharmaceuticals, $30,000; AstraZeneca Pharm LP, $25,000; drug maker Sepracor, $27,500; and PhRMA, the major health-care lobbying group, $40,000. The donor information had been available on Guidestar.org, a nonprofit organization that gets public tax filings from the IRS and charities then posts the information online. However, the company removed the Utah foundation's donor information immediately after being contacted by The Times.
Some speculation has taken place whether Senator Hatch has such a proclivity to favor these companies and this industry due to his ties to Xango, a Multi Level-Marketing company that has health and supplement style products, or due to the fact that Utah is the “Silicon Valley of the Supplement Industry.” Xango LLC has been one of the top contributors to Senator Hatch’s campaign giving $48,200 in 2008 and $46,700 in 2006. To clarify, open secrets.org, a database and watchdog site states, “This table lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2007 - 2008 election cycles. The organizations themselves did not donate; rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates” (CRP 2009). This tie to the pharmaceutical and supplement industry is obviously a major influence on Senator Hatch’s lawmaking and has been one of the premier contributors to his campaign over his career. His ties to the pharmaceutical companies and supplement industry have deep roots and have obviously influenced his lawmaking and his ideals on supplements and the pharmaceuticals. The only information that was not found was Xango lobbying Senator Hatch but instead made significant campaign contributions and has found that Sen. Hatch has favor towards the supplement and pharmaceutical industry. Now, to be fair, these supplements are not harmful, but do not have to have any advantage. Many in the MLM industry have said that the important thing is the down line that is built, not the product. The product is only important in so far that is creates an income (David Griffiths, (personal communication, August 14, 2009). This does not mean that supplements can be of no nutritional value all the while making claims that they are the wonder fruit and miracle plant.
The issue is that it is up to the manufacturer to make sure these products are safe and effective, not the FDA, so there is no assurance they are safe or effective.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) supplements are regulated in a different way than food or prescription medication that has to be proven safe.
According to the FDA website, “Do manufacturers or distributors of dietary supplements have to tell FDA or consumers what evidence they have about their product's safety or what evidence they have to back up the claims they are making for them?
No, except for rules described above that govern "new dietary ingredients," there is no provision under any law or regulation that FDA enforces that requires a firm to disclose to FDA or consumers the information they have about the safety or purported benefits of their dietary supplement products. Likewise, there is no prohibition against them making this information available either to FDA or to their customers. It is up to each firm to set its own policy on disclosure of such information. For more information, see claims that can be made for dietary supplements” (FDA 2009).
“Various studies have found banned substances in 15-25 percent of supplements tested. Tainted supplements endanger health and risk athlete eligibility. When Red Sox slugger David Ortiz says he didn't knowingly use steroids and blames tainted supplements for his positive drug test in 2003, perhaps it sounds to you like blaming the dog for eating his homework. So maybe Ortiz is telling the truth, laughable as it may seem on its face. Even if he isn't, his case is an important reminder that a supplement doesn't have to be safe to be sold” (Meyer 2009).
Dehydroepiandrosterone, more commonly known as DHEA, is a substance found in over-the-counter supplements. This is not an illegal substance to possess or to consume. DHEA went before congress to be put on a banned substance list but never left committee. “Yahoo! baseball writer Jeff Passan… reported that Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, whose son is a lobbyist for a major DHEA production firm, killed the Senate bill attempting to reclassify DHEA” (Ziller 2009).
According to a press release from Senator Hatch he wants more regulation of supplements, but this does not seem to show in some of the laws. His press release reads, “Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) today welcomed the long-sought publication of good manufacturing practices (GMP) regulations for dietary supplements. Hatch and Harkin were the principal authors of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, which gave the FDA the authority to write GMP guidelines specific to supplements, and they have been pushing the FDA to publish GMPs for more than a decade. “I can’t believe this day is finally here,” Hatch said. “GMPs are crucial because they assure the public that the products they are buying live up to their labels. That’s why we included GMPs in DSHEA. It took a long time to publish these GMPs, and they’re more than 800 pages. So I’m going to review them very carefully to make certain they are good regulations. But every indication leads me to believe the Administration was very sensitive to the impact the GMPs might have on the supplement industry, especially smaller companies.” “I am pleased that the Food and Drug Administration has, at long last, issued GMPs for dietary supplements,” said Harkin. “More than 150 million Americans regularly take dietary supplements. I look forward to reading this rule in its entirety, but it is my hope that these GMPs will increase consumers’ confidence that all dietary supplement manufacturers are adhering to the highest standards of quality. In the absence of FDA action, many companies have taken steps to adopt GMPs on their own, and I have applauded those steps. I hope that today’s announcement can build on that work” (Hatch, Harkin 2007).
Calls to Heather Barning Senator Hatch’s Press Secretary were not returned. A webform email on his website that was sent said he would reply by mail if contact information was provided.
Source Watch, 2008 Taken From http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Walker_Martin_%26_Hatch Retrieved August 15, 2009
Chuck Neubauer, Judy Pasternak and Richard T. Cooper Los Angeles Times Mar 5, 2003 Taken From http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/300234371.html?dids=300234371:300234371&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+5%2C+2003&author=Chuck+Neubauer%2C+Judy+Pasternak+and+Richard+T.+Cooper&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=The+Nation Retrieved August 15, 2009
By Jim McElhatton and Jerry Seper Monday, March 2, 2009 EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Hatch's secret drug firm links http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/02/the-fog-of-congressional-transparency/ Retrieved August 16, 2009
Copyright © 2009 Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&type=I&cid=n00009869&newMem=N&recs=20 Retrieved August 16, 2009
FDA.gov Last Updated: 05/07/2009 http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/ConsumerInformation/ucm110417.htm#regulate Retrieved August 26, 2009
John Meyer. The Denver Post 8/11/09 http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_13034036 Retrieved August 26, 2009
Tom Ziller. Fanhouse 2009 http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/08/06/steroid-rashard-lewis-tested-positive-for-completely-legal-in-ba/ Retrieved August 26, 2009
HARKIN, HATCH: GMPS KEY ASPECT OF DSHEA (2007)
Senators Welcome FDA Guidelines for Supplement Manufacturing http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&PressRelease_id=a3be409c-e2a8-4322-bce1-54080c548637 Retrieved August 26, 2009
Senator Orrin Hatch (R) of Utah has long been considered one of the most powerful lawmakers. Utah has been called the Silicon Valley of Supplements. Senator Hatch also has ties to lobbyists. Hatch's son Scott is a named partner and registered lobbyist at Walker, Martin and Hatch LLC, a Washington lobbying firm. The firm was formed in 2001; the other two partners are Jack Martin, a staff aide to Senator Hatch for six years, and H. Laird Walker, who has been described as a close associate of the Senator's (Source Watch, 2008). The pharmaceutical industry that long has benefited from Sen. Orrin G. Hatch's legislative efforts has directed large sums of money to a charity he helped found -- and still raises money for -- while also hiring the Republican lawmaker's son as a lobbyist. This all came about, when a normally confidential tax filing was mistakenly released by the Internal Revenue Service to a nonprofit database last year. In March 2003, the Los Angeles Times quoted Senator Hatch as saying that the firm was formed with his "personal encouragement," and that he saw no conflict of interest in championing issues that helped his son's clients. He has also legislated for dietary supplements to be governed outside of the realm of drugs and food additives. When the FDA was reviewing the adverse effects of ephedra, Hatch defended the supplement industry. At the time, Walker, Martin & Hatch LLC were being paid, by companies with interests in ephedra manufacturing, for lobbying Congress (LA Times 2003).
In March 2009, the Washington Times reported that the pharmaceutical industry, which has "long has benefited from Sen. Orrin G. Hatch's legislative efforts," had previously undisclosed connections to Hatch. Five pharmaceutical companies and the industry's main lobbying group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), wrote checks in 2007 totaling more than $170,000 to the Utah Families Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable foundation which Hatch helped start in the 1990s and had vigorously supported since. Walker, Martin & Hatch LLC was paid $120,000 by PhRMA in 2007 to lobby Congress on pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration legislation (McElhatton, Seper 2009).
Scott Hatch has maintained he does not lobby his father even when it involves issues that Sen. Hatch is involved with. Sen. Hatch has admitted and finds no blurring of ethical lines. Everyone should help charity. Pharmaceutical and health-product companies already rank at the top of Mr. Hatch's political supporters, donating more than $1.25 million to his campaigns since 1998. Those donations are disclosed to the Federal Election Commission. In a Feb. 18, 2008, report to the IRS listing its 2007 revenue and expenses, the Utah foundation said Eli Lilly and Co. gave the charity $25,000; medical supply company Becton Dickerson, $25,000; Barr Pharmaceuticals, $30,000; AstraZeneca Pharm LP, $25,000; drug maker Sepracor, $27,500; and PhRMA, the major health-care lobbying group, $40,000. The donor information had been available on Guidestar.org, a nonprofit organization that gets public tax filings from the IRS and charities then posts the information online. However, the company removed the Utah foundation's donor information immediately after being contacted by The Times.
Some speculation has taken place whether Senator Hatch has such a proclivity to favor these companies and this industry due to his ties to Xango, a Multi Level-Marketing company that has health and supplement style products, or due to the fact that Utah is the “Silicon Valley of the Supplement Industry.” Xango LLC has been one of the top contributors to Senator Hatch’s campaign giving $48,200 in 2008 and $46,700 in 2006. To clarify, open secrets.org, a database and watchdog site states, “This table lists the top donors to this candidate in the 2007 - 2008 election cycles. The organizations themselves did not donate; rather the money came from the organization's PAC, its individual members or employees or owners, and those individuals' immediate families. Organization totals include subsidiaries and affiliates” (CRP 2009). This tie to the pharmaceutical and supplement industry is obviously a major influence on Senator Hatch’s lawmaking and has been one of the premier contributors to his campaign over his career. His ties to the pharmaceutical companies and supplement industry have deep roots and have obviously influenced his lawmaking and his ideals on supplements and the pharmaceuticals. The only information that was not found was Xango lobbying Senator Hatch but instead made significant campaign contributions and has found that Sen. Hatch has favor towards the supplement and pharmaceutical industry. Now, to be fair, these supplements are not harmful, but do not have to have any advantage. Many in the MLM industry have said that the important thing is the down line that is built, not the product. The product is only important in so far that is creates an income (David Griffiths, (personal communication, August 14, 2009). This does not mean that supplements can be of no nutritional value all the while making claims that they are the wonder fruit and miracle plant.
The issue is that it is up to the manufacturer to make sure these products are safe and effective, not the FDA, so there is no assurance they are safe or effective.
Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) supplements are regulated in a different way than food or prescription medication that has to be proven safe.
According to the FDA website, “Do manufacturers or distributors of dietary supplements have to tell FDA or consumers what evidence they have about their product's safety or what evidence they have to back up the claims they are making for them?
No, except for rules described above that govern "new dietary ingredients," there is no provision under any law or regulation that FDA enforces that requires a firm to disclose to FDA or consumers the information they have about the safety or purported benefits of their dietary supplement products. Likewise, there is no prohibition against them making this information available either to FDA or to their customers. It is up to each firm to set its own policy on disclosure of such information. For more information, see claims that can be made for dietary supplements” (FDA 2009).
“Various studies have found banned substances in 15-25 percent of supplements tested. Tainted supplements endanger health and risk athlete eligibility. When Red Sox slugger David Ortiz says he didn't knowingly use steroids and blames tainted supplements for his positive drug test in 2003, perhaps it sounds to you like blaming the dog for eating his homework. So maybe Ortiz is telling the truth, laughable as it may seem on its face. Even if he isn't, his case is an important reminder that a supplement doesn't have to be safe to be sold” (Meyer 2009).
Dehydroepiandrosterone, more commonly known as DHEA, is a substance found in over-the-counter supplements. This is not an illegal substance to possess or to consume. DHEA went before congress to be put on a banned substance list but never left committee. “Yahoo! baseball writer Jeff Passan… reported that Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, whose son is a lobbyist for a major DHEA production firm, killed the Senate bill attempting to reclassify DHEA” (Ziller 2009).
According to a press release from Senator Hatch he wants more regulation of supplements, but this does not seem to show in some of the laws. His press release reads, “Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) today welcomed the long-sought publication of good manufacturing practices (GMP) regulations for dietary supplements. Hatch and Harkin were the principal authors of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994, which gave the FDA the authority to write GMP guidelines specific to supplements, and they have been pushing the FDA to publish GMPs for more than a decade. “I can’t believe this day is finally here,” Hatch said. “GMPs are crucial because they assure the public that the products they are buying live up to their labels. That’s why we included GMPs in DSHEA. It took a long time to publish these GMPs, and they’re more than 800 pages. So I’m going to review them very carefully to make certain they are good regulations. But every indication leads me to believe the Administration was very sensitive to the impact the GMPs might have on the supplement industry, especially smaller companies.” “I am pleased that the Food and Drug Administration has, at long last, issued GMPs for dietary supplements,” said Harkin. “More than 150 million Americans regularly take dietary supplements. I look forward to reading this rule in its entirety, but it is my hope that these GMPs will increase consumers’ confidence that all dietary supplement manufacturers are adhering to the highest standards of quality. In the absence of FDA action, many companies have taken steps to adopt GMPs on their own, and I have applauded those steps. I hope that today’s announcement can build on that work” (Hatch, Harkin 2007).
Calls to Heather Barning Senator Hatch’s Press Secretary were not returned. A webform email on his website that was sent said he would reply by mail if contact information was provided.
Source Watch, 2008 Taken From http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Walker_Martin_%26_Hatch Retrieved August 15, 2009
Chuck Neubauer, Judy Pasternak and Richard T. Cooper Los Angeles Times Mar 5, 2003 Taken From http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/300234371.html?dids=300234371:300234371&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+5%2C+2003&author=Chuck+Neubauer%2C+Judy+Pasternak+and+Richard+T.+Cooper&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=The+Nation Retrieved August 15, 2009
By Jim McElhatton and Jerry Seper Monday, March 2, 2009 EXCLUSIVE: Sen. Hatch's secret drug firm links http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/02/the-fog-of-congressional-transparency/ Retrieved August 16, 2009
Copyright © 2009 Center for Responsive Politics http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cycle=2008&type=I&cid=n00009869&newMem=N&recs=20 Retrieved August 16, 2009
FDA.gov Last Updated: 05/07/2009 http://www.fda.gov/Food/DietarySupplements/ConsumerInformation/ucm110417.htm#regulate Retrieved August 26, 2009
John Meyer. The Denver Post 8/11/09 http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_13034036 Retrieved August 26, 2009
Tom Ziller. Fanhouse 2009 http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/08/06/steroid-rashard-lewis-tested-positive-for-completely-legal-in-ba/ Retrieved August 26, 2009
HARKIN, HATCH: GMPS KEY ASPECT OF DSHEA (2007)
Senators Welcome FDA Guidelines for Supplement Manufacturing http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.View&PressRelease_id=a3be409c-e2a8-4322-bce1-54080c548637 Retrieved August 26, 2009
Friday, August 7, 2009
Keeping Odom
The Lakers keeping Lamar Odom after his flirting with Miami is a huge move for a repeat for LA. Odom's play off numbers are ppg 12.3 RPG 9.10 APG 1.8 EFF +18. His numbers are are a great advantage to the Lakers as well as his size and versatility. The triple threat of LA with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Lamar Odom make Los Angeles a more dangerous team. This is not even to mention Kobe Bryant, the best player on the planet or the acquisition of Ron Artest. The contract Odom received was $32.8 Million over 4 years with the Lakers holding a team option in year 4. The Lakers are a much better team with Odom than without him. The loss of Odom would have been a major blow to the Laker lineup and could have potentially cost them the chance of a repeat. With Odom, they have a much better shot at a repeat and are now the team to beat. The Celtics just got better with the signing of Rasheed Wallace and are now better with KG back from injury that plagued them last season and cost them from advancing to the Finals. Odom has a great potential to rebound and either start or come off of the bench as the sixth man and be a threat to spark the Lakers bench play as he did last season. Miami tried hard, but Odom is right where he wants to be, in contention for another championship or maybe two more. Time will tell.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Experience is nothing
According to Stan Van Gundy, experience is nothing and had absolutely nothing to do with Derek Fisher's two big three's down the stretch. Hmm... It was that the Magic did not guard him and denied Bryant the ball but forgot about Fisher, the point guard that Bryant won 3 championship rings with. this is not about experience, it is about the Magic not guarding a guy who has 3 rings and can shoot the ball and is a veteran that can make big shots. That is what it is about. Not experience, just a good veteran basketball player making big shots that he has done for years. This is "just a basketball game" according to SVG.They play hundreds of them, he said. Face it SVG, you were out coached and your players were outplayed by an experienced team that wanted it more and took it. you are just mad that you let another one slip away when you had a 12 point lead going into halftime. Wait, you did not let it slip away, the Lakers stole it right out from under your noses. That is what experience does, steals what they need when they need it. Maybe next time Stan.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Spoken too soon
Can we hear it again? Do we need to hear it again? Has the Orlando-Cleveland series put an end to the ridiculous comparison of Kobe vs Lebron? Who is better? Who cares? How about the one that makes it to the finals and wins a championship. So far the Lakers series is still that, a series. The Cavaliers-Magic series is, well almost over. Even if it does go another game or two, will the Magic really lose four games in a row? Doubtfully. The mark of a great player is not that he or she has great talent individually, but that that talent not only needs to inspire the other players around that person, but make them play better and be a team player. The ability to score a lot of points and even make a great shot all the while losing a series is not the sign of greatness but talent that needs direction and maturity. The biggest differences is that LBJ is a young up and coming talent that has amazing potential, while Kobe is a veteran that has proven himself and has the greatest shot right now at a title. If this is not his year as well as the Lakers, than I do not know when it is. That is not to say that the Lakers will not be good next year, but when opportunity knocks it is a good idea to open the door before no one is there and it becomes too late. Maybe Jerry West would like a second chance to reiterate his thoughts on Lebron passing Kobe? Going Going Gone. Well, time will tell who is going to come out the champ and if it is not The King the Mamba will reign supreme until it is time for a monarchy again.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
All the Kobe vs Lebron talk
So the Lakers took game 1 against Denver and the Cavs lost game 12 against the Magic. Kobe willed his team to win, Lebron wished his team would have won. I was going to pontificate, but I think that last sentence says it all. In fact, I think I'll end that article right there. The best closer in the NBA for 13 seasons, or an up and coming star who is not at the intelligence level of the Mamba. LBJ is not stupid and is a magnificent player, he just is not the Mamba.
Monday, May 18, 2009
NBA's MVP. Lebron or Garnett?
This year was a disappointment for some and a complete bliss for others. Three guesses, first two don't count. The Celtics lost KG and lost in the second round and experienced great disappointment. Lebron was awarded MVP and experienced bliss. The majority of sports articles state that KG was the reason that the Celtics lost and once KG is back and healthy, the Celtics are going to make another run. MVP is about the most valuable player; that is, the player providing the most value to their team. The player that makes the difference, not the best player or the most popular. Now, I think Lebron is a viable candidate and I really like Lebron. However, if the Celtics would have been in the finals with a healthy KG, shouldn't have been a viable candidate for MVP? Just a thought?
Friday, May 15, 2009
Lakers vs Rockets
So here we are, the most talented team in the NBA against the the most undermanned team in the NBA that has shown the most heart and determination. Game 7. Who would have thought that this would go to game 7. I sure didn't. OK the rockets are pretty good, but not this good. The Lakers have been that bad and the Rockets have had that much heart to stay in it that long. The Lakers have made adjustments in some areas. The one area that they need to make an adjustment is to start either Farmar or Brown in place of Derek Fisher. I love Derek Fisher. I have his autograph on a hat. He cannot keep up with the speed of Aaron Brooks and Brown and Farmar seem to have that advantage. They have also been shooting the ball at a higher percentage rate. The ultimate blame here lies on coaching decisions. The coaches need to respond with the same intensity that Kobe Bryant has responded with. He cannot do it all. Even Michael Jordan had John Paxon and Steve Kerr to hit big shots not mention Scottie Pippen who was a threat that spread the floor. If Phil wants ring number 10, he needs to make some adjustments and not worry about the starting lineup or a veterans feelings, but the team's welfare.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
More on Chris Buttars
Read this about Chris Buttars. This man is a genocidal Maniac!! : http://sn.im/lds-gulag
Buttars and his bigotry
Senator Chris Buttars is one of a kind. One of a kind bigot. He has done it again. He made some very offensive and ridiculous comments about gays. Buttars: "What is the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that because anything goes." And finally, this is how senator Buttars refers to the "radical gay movement.""They're probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of." Buttars: "What is the morals of a gay person? You can't answer that because anything goes." And finally, this is how senator Buttars refers to the "radical gay movement.""They're probably the greatest threat to America going down I know of." Are you serious? The greatest threat to America? Is this man drinking antifreeze? He made some comments a year ago as well that shows his bigotry. "This baby is black...this is a dark, ugly thing."And even though Buttars says in the documentary interview,..."the ACLU - bless their black hearts...," it’s his other comments which may get the strongest reaction. So this man is a bigot and a racist. Why is it that the right breeds hatred, intolerance and discrimination, especially the religious right? It is this kind of bigotry that makes people want nothing to do with Christianity and religion. Why is that? Because it is the worst form of hypocrisy. Christ taught that all are one. There is no Jew, or Scythian, or barbarian, slave or free. He said to treat others as you would want to be treated. why does religion rear its ugly head and justify this kind of hatred? Spanish Inquisitions, Salem witch trials, Sand Creek Massacre, and several more. Apparently nothing has been learned from history.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Utah seems to breed discrimination
What is it about the conservative and religious right that breeds discrimination and fosters an attitude of hate and bigotry? The house senate on Tuesday 2/17/2009 voted down 5-8 a bill that would prohibit an employer from terminating someone for being gay. What is it about religion that creates so much bigotry and discrimination. I thought that we were supposed to love our neighbor, not discriminate and marginalize them. This kind of bigotry makes me sick and ashamed to live in this state. What a disgrace that we cannot even treat someone with equal dignity and respect even all the while having our own thoughts and opinions. I mean has this country learned nothing from the way that it treated and continues to treat Indians, then slavery and women after that. Now it's Latino immigrants and the gay community. What ever happened to the 14th amendment? Oh that only applies to those whom the lawmakers wish to give it to. What a sad thought that this country has not learned from their mistakes but just make the same ones over and over and changes their focus. Merriam Webster dictionary defines bigotry as follows: bigot
One entry found.
Main Entry:
big·ot
Pronunciation:
\ˈbi-gət\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
French, hypocrite, bigot
Date:
1660
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices ; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
Racism as follows:
racism
One entry found.
Main Entry:
rac·ism
Pronunciation:
\ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
So the only difference is an intolerance of someones ethnicity or the intolerance of one's sexual orientation. So it is intolerant hatred based upon a belief of superiority in both instances. So a bigot and a racist are brothers holding hands united for the cause of fostering a superiority and oppressing those who are not of their mindset. This is love? If so I want no part of it!!!
One entry found.
Main Entry:
big·ot
Pronunciation:
\ˈbi-gət\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
French, hypocrite, bigot
Date:
1660
: a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices ; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
Racism as follows:
racism
One entry found.
Main Entry:
rac·ism
Pronunciation:
\ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-\
Function:
noun
Date:
1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race 2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
So the only difference is an intolerance of someones ethnicity or the intolerance of one's sexual orientation. So it is intolerant hatred based upon a belief of superiority in both instances. So a bigot and a racist are brothers holding hands united for the cause of fostering a superiority and oppressing those who are not of their mindset. This is love? If so I want no part of it!!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Bailing out corruption
I have heard so much over the bailout of these companies that is makes me want to live in a cave on another planet. The tax payers have had to bailout quite a few companies to only find out that the CEOs were giving themselves huge bonuses that could have covered a large part of their debt. On top of this these corrupt businessmen were making more in a year than some will ever make in a lifetime. If they really cared about the company, the economy of this country, and the taxpayers, why did they not take a pay cut to help their company and the employees there and level the playing field a bit for the time being just to stimulate the company and the economy? The greed and corruption that has been seeping from corporate America is sickening and enough to make anyone that cares about human rights and equality to be disgusted. Now GM and Chrysler are seeking billions more in loans and GM says that it might need more in the future. What is this a socialistic country that we live in? We should have never bailed out these corrupt companies in the first place. These are the ones that oppress and exploit the innocent for their own selfish and sordid gain, and we bailed them out. What were we thinking? Or were we thinking?
Utah Jazz fans
Since moving here to Utah I have found Utah Jazz fans to be obnoxious and overbearing. I do not go around bragging how good the Lakers are and that the Jazz is sliding and fighting for a playoff spot. If Utah happens to win, which they did the first matchup of this season, the fans have to come up to me if I am wearing a Lakers hat or shirt and say, "Hey we won that last game." Yea so? You might not even make the playoffs. go away. The fans here hate the Lakers and there is not even a rivalry there. Los Angeles fans do not even think about the Jazz much less hate them. The Jazz fans are just jealous that they cannot make it past the western conference finals and that is with the leadership of Laker Derek Fisher. They are bitter that he went back to LA. Why because it was best for his daughter? Talk about inconsiderate. Coming from a state of people that think family is important that is a pretty shocking statement.
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