Day Off

Tucker Max is to blame for taking the day off from posting. I have been reading his stories the last couple of days and it is all his fault, or actually my roommates fault for introducing me to his work. So if anyone even reads this, and is dissapointed just go to www.tuckermax.com and read something actually worth your time. Occasionally stop back in here just to make me happy. Sorry in advance for your Tucker Max addiction.

Pirates Update

With all the talk of Santana going to the M-E-T-S METS METS METS, i figured i would let everyone know what is going on with the Pirates.

January 8, 2008
Pirates' Duffy could miss part of spring training
Chris Duffy, the Pirates' Opening Day center fielder last season, is still healing from shoulder surgery and might miss part of spring training.

January 15, 2008

Pirates, LaRoche agree, working on multiyear deal
First baseman Adam LaRoche bypassed arbitration by agreeing to a $5 million, one-year contract with the Pirates as the sides continue to discuss a multiyear deal.

January 17, 2008

Pirates re-sign 3B Jose Bautista for $1.8 million
Third baseman Jose Bautista and the Pittsburgh Pirates bypassed arbitration by agreeing Thursday to a $1.8 million, one-year contract.

AND...

January 29, 2008
Bucs' Marte in car crash in Dominican Republic
Pittsburgh Pirates Damaso Marte was involved in a car accident Tuesday but did not suffer any serious injuries, an official from his winter league team said.

Signing Bautista and LaRoche back will help but i don't see it hepling them to an above .500 record this season. They do have a great core of young talent but with young talent it takes time like a fine wine to get in it's prime. Also with there development and growing interest and i guess now you can say investment in the Dominican Republic will hopefully help bring that talent into the organization, thus improving the team in the long run. I believe are lineup is going to be roughly the same as last year so hopefully the team that turned the most double plays in the league(Yes the Pirates) can gel and put together a couple of more win's and avoid a couple of long losing streaks. This is how I see the 2008 Pirates starting line-up although i would LOVE to see some kind of move to help fill there available salary cap. You have the room and money SPEND IT!!! Anyways here is the depth chart that i see for the 2008 Pirates.

The letter indicated in the ( ) is how they bat. (Just incase you were unsure)
Catcher
Ronny Paulino (R)
Ryan Doumit (S)
First Base
Adam LaRoche (L)
Chris Gomez (R)
Steve Pearce (R)
Second Base
Freddy Sanchez (R)
Josh Wilson (R)
Chris Gomez (R)
Third Base
Jose Bautista (R)
Josh Wilson (R)
Chris Gomez (R)
Shortstop
Jack Wilson (R)
Josh Wilson (R)
Chris Gomez (R)
Left Field
Jason Bay (R)
Jose Bautista (R)
Chris Duffy (L)
Nate McLouth (L)
Center Field
Nate McLouth (L)
Nyjer Morgan (L)
Jose Bautista (R)
Chris Duffy (L)
Right Field
Xavier Nady (R)
Chris Duffy (L)
Ryan Doumit (S)
Steve Pearce (R)
Nate McLouth (L)
Starting Pitcher
Tom Gorzelanny (L)
Ian Snell (R)
Paul Maholm (L)
Matt Morris (R)
Zach Duke (L)
Relief Pitcher
Damaso Marte (L)
John Grabow (L)
Evan Meek (R)
Franquelis Osoria (R)
Romulo Sanchez (R)
Closer
Matt Capps (R)

Hopefully last season's late aquisation in Matt Morris can provide a spark or possibly some needed leadership and experience he might bring to the table. Only time will tell. In the meantime go penguins, Crosby come back soon.

Idiot Of The Day

Today's Idiot of the day is a well known person if your a Syracuse Orange fan. Point gaurd Scoop Jardine is my pick for idiot of the day maybe even idiot of the month. A guy who wasn't going to get much playing time probably this year walks into a HUGE starting role on a prominent D1 basketball team thanks to injuries. So let's see what would I do if i just became a D1 started for the cuse, of course i would help my 40 year old cousin carry $115.65 worth of food purchased with a stolen ID card. BRILLANT. Here's the story posted by Jim O' Hara on http://www.syracuse.com/...

"Syracuse University basketball player Scoop Jardine knew another student's identification card was being used to order more than $100 worth of food, helped carry in the food when it was delivered to his apartment and then tried to cover up his involvement, according to a statement from his cousin filed in court today.
District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick said he did not plan to prosecute Jardine. He said the case had been reviewed by senior members of his staff who decided Jardine's involvement was "sufficiently minor so as to allow the Syracuse University judicial process to handle it." Fitzpatrick said he had not seen the paperwork, but okayed his staff's decision.
Jardine was suspended indefinitely from the basketball team last weekend by coach Jim Boeheim, but remains enrolled as a student, said Kevin Quinn, SU's vice president of public affairs. He did not comment further about Jardine's academic standing or give the reason for the suspension, citing federal privacy laws prohibiting universities from talking about students.
Boeheim, who was on the road with his team, declined to comment about Jardine today. Jardine could not be reached for comment.
Here's more reporting on Orange basketball, including Jardine's absence from the SU team. Jardine hasn't practiced this week and didn't accompany the team to Chicago. SU plays at DePaul Wednesday night.
Jardine's cousin, Robert Washington was arraigned today in Syracuse City Court on felony charges of second-degree forgery and fourth-degree grand larceny and a misdemeanor count of third-degree identity theft.
Washington admitted in a written statement to police that he signed the receipt for the purchase of $115.65 worth of food on the stolen ID card Jan. 13. He said Jardine was there when the use of the stolen card was discussed and the food was ordered and delivered to Jardine's apartment on Winding Ridge Road.
Washington also said Jardine called him last week to say police were investigating their use of the card and to direct Washington to tell lawyers Jardine was not involved.
Washington, 40, of Philadelphia, is being held in the Justice Center jail without bail pending a bail review Wednesday morning before County Judge William Walsh. He was arraigned today before City Judge Vanessa Bogan.
Defense lawyer James McGraw said Washington maintains Jardine was not involved in any criminal wrongdoing. McGraw said Washington did not mean to implicate Jardine in anything that was said in his court statement."

A guy gets every chance in the world and still manages to mess it up. I don't care if you're from the hood or from a rich part of town, or even just a normal person, why throw the opportunity away? I hate to almost have a debate with myself but maybe i am jumping to conclusions. Maybe this scum-bag cousin was in fault and Jardine kind of got thrown into a bad situation. I guess only time will tell. If he does get another chance to play he better make that his one mess up of a lifetime, and yes this is coming from a nobody sitting on the outside looking in. If you have a problem with it please proceed to another post or simply press the red x in the top right corner. Thanks and have a good day. Jardine if you have any extra food please let me know i will be down there on the 15th, thanks.

Idiot Of The Day

I wasn't feeling any great nominee's for Idiot of the Day the last couple of days. But today I found one that is worth sharing. "A man ran through two bottles of wine, then cut through a snowstorm on his lawnmower, riding down the center of the street to reach the liquor store.
Adrian police say they found 49-year-old Frank Kozumplik homeward bound on a John Deere tractor Saturday night, toting four bottles of wine in a paper bag.
He told officers his wife had taken their car to work, and the mower was the only way he could reach the store two miles from his southern Michigan home." Apparently his BAC was over 2 and a half times the legal limit in Michigan. For his sake hopefully it was some good wine. I wonder if when he was pulled over he had a huge smile and was laughing. Last summer i went on a wine tour with some buddies and it was the happiest drunk i think i have ever been. It was great. Even when we were drunk in the Monte Carlo got passed by an Amish buggy and realized we were driving down the road at an astonishing 5 miles an hour, all Black Sheep like. At least this guy did not end up falling out of a boat full dressed losing fishing poles, wallets, cell phones, bait and tackle, and the infamous inspector gadget like wine bottle opener. Anyways nothing runs like a deer, well except this lawn mower because if it ran like a deer Mr. Kozumplik wouldn't have gotten pulled over on his lawnmower.

Football-less Sunday's Suck

After being entertained the last 20 weeks with football every Sunday and then all of a sudden being cut-off is hard. I almost had to call an Intervention. It almost hurts even more to know that this Sunday is going to be the last Sunday for awhile. Yes there is a random college basketball game on, and NASCAR is starting back up, but still nothing beats knowing when you go to bed Saturday that you have a full day of beer drinking and football from 1-sleepytime. I will feel alot like Tiki Barber feel's now, lonely and missing football. After this feeling sunk in i was unable to move and felt numb like the guy broke the record for standing in neck high ice to break is own record. Thinking of not hearing the Monday Night Football song until next season, and only being able to watch one more game, a game in which i can't even where my Big Ben jersey has left me sad and almost unable to think therefore producing a couple of weak posts. Once I snap out of this depression I promise you my loyal fans some kick ass posts and to stop pouting. But it's almost safe to say if you don't feel like i feel now guy's, then turn in your man card.

Man On Mars

Just like every morning I go to Yahoo and check my fantasy teams, which is sad that fantasy football is over and I am now living the fantasy sports dream through hockey and basketball and now pretty soon golf and nascar. When I went to Yahoo this morning I saw one of the main stories that caught my eye, no not "10 jobs you didn't know you wanted" but "Human-Like Figure Spotted on Mars." Wow intriguing you got me Yahoo let's check it out. It then brings you to a video of a Man or statue or bigfoot type figure on Mars. I'm not buying it. I mean i do believe there is other life in the universe so maybe there is life on Mars but something looks fishy to me. Go check out the video and let me know what you think.
www.yahoo.com then click the "Human-Like Figure Spotted on Mars." Then click see it up close.
According to astronomers it is just a rock. It's hard enough to accurately recognize figures and faces across the room. Mars, depending on when you measure it, is about 35 million miles away. The best telescopes aren't of much help in determining surface features, and that's why NASA sent robots with cameras to Mars. The reason many people see a figure on the Martian landscape is the same reason that people see faces in clouds, Rorschach blots, and coffee stains. This phenomenon, called pareidolia, is well known in psychology, and it is the cause of many supposedly mysterious and miraculous events (including the famous "Jesus in the Tortilla"). Examples are all around us; in fact if you have a New Hampshire state quarter, you have pareidolia in your pocket or purse (take a look).

Idiot Of The Day

Today's idiot of the day is a Fort Drum soldier. A man enlisted for duty to serve our country. A respected individual, well until he did this. I mean there is nothing wrong with going out having some beers, having a good time, especially with probably what they have to put up with everyday. But to get behind the wheel of a car twice the legal limit of .08 and get caught doing over 100, yes you are an idiot. Here is the story from Newzjunky.com...

January 24, 2007, 8:00 p.m.The following motorists are charged with driving while intoxicated and related offenses:Jim R. Callicoat, 20, of 10234 N. Riva Ridge Loop, Apt. 229, Fort Drum, was arrested by state police at 2:50 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 81 in the town of Ellisburg and charged with driving while intoxicated, speeding and driving over dividing space. Troopers said he was driving 103 mph in a 65-mph zone before crashing into the median on Interstate 81. No injuries were reported. His blood alcohol content was 0.15 percent, troopers said. A level of 0.08 percent or more is considered proof of intoxication under state law. He is ordered to appear in Ellisburg Town Court on Feb. 6.
http://newzjunky.com/police/coplog080124dwi.htm

Tisk Tisk

Yes it's sad enough the poor guys name is a fruit drink combined with a fatty sandwhich condiment. Yes OJ Mayo. USC's freshman sensation might not be there much longer. Maybe it's a USC thing? Just the perks of being a Trojan man, athlete I mean. This is what ESPN.com had to say about it...

Southern California freshman standout O.J. Mayo might have violated an NCAA rule by accepting free tickets to Monday night's NBA game between Denver and the Los Angeles Lakers from Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony.

Mayo told reporters Tuesday he had received the tickets, which were located behind courtside seats near mid-court at Staples Center and had a face value of $230 each.
"We don't know the specifics of the situation and won't be able to comment," NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson said Wednesday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
USC sports information director Tim Tessalone declined comment on behalf of the university.
NCAA bylaw 16.11.2.2.3 states that student-athletes may not receive "free or reduced-cost admission to professional athletics contests from professional sports organizations, unless such services also are available to the student body in general."
The NCAA could consider Anthony a friend who gave Mayo the tickets rather than a representative of the Nuggets, perhaps making the matter legal by NCAA standards.
Mayo, averaging a team-leading 19.7 points and 4.6 rebounds, said Anthony made the offer of tickets at a party he hosted Sunday night.
"I was talking to him like, `Man, you're out pretty late. You've got a game tomorrow night against Kobe [Bryant],"' Mayo said. "He said, `Nah, it will be all right.' And then he asked, `You want to come to the game?' And I was like, 'Sure.' "

BUT since Melo and Mayo are friends this could be fine. Interesting.

Idiot Of The Day

A man accused of drugging his 9-year-old daughter with cold medicine so he could meet his mistress has pleaded guilty to endangerment for leaving the girl and her younger sister alone at night. In court, Richard Bowen did not admit to giving one girl Nyquil so she would sleep, but prosecutors said he admitted it during phone calls from jail. Police said Bowen was responsible for his 8- and 9-year-old daughters while his wife worked overnight. On several occasions between February and May, he allegedly gave the cold medicine to the 9-year-old, then put both girls to bed before leaving to visit his mistress. Speechless...

That's My SUNY Canton

Two SUNY Canton students had cocaine, ecstasy tablets, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a set of brass knuckles, according to village police.Police used a search warrant at 80 Riverside Drive shortly before 2 a.m. Arrested were:
Christopher Stokes, 19, West Winfield, NY
Danielle Holmes, 18, West Winfield, NY

According to the SUNY Canton website, Stokes was on the dean's list in the spring 2007 semester, studying criminal investigation. The 2 ounces of cocaine and 112 ecstasy tablets that were seized have a street value of of about $9,000, police said. Also seized was about $4,000 in cash. Whoops there goes your criminal justice degree. Maybe they can further there education on behalf of the NYSDOC. I blame it on being a Kangaroo, this stuff never happened when they were the Northstars. Kangaroos are nothing but bad news. At least the campus is still B-E-A- UTIFUL.

Idiot Of The Day

Beth Modica - a 44-year-old former prosecutor and the wife of a local police chief had steamy sex romps with two of her son's classmates - on the same weekend - and engaged in boozy, drug-fueled bashes with five more kids. Modica had intercourse with a 16-year-old boy - believed to be a Suffern HS football player - and oral sex with a 15-year-old schoolmate on the same weekend in July. She supplied both boys with alcohol during their steamy trysts, which occurred either in cars or the kids' homes. Beth Modica, a lawyer who grew up in Spring Valley, had worked as the deputy attorney for both Ramapo and Sloatsburg before the sensational case broke. She once served as head of her kids' PTA.
She also had once worked as a Queens assistant district attorney - but was booted after allegedly making racial remarks to a co-worker.
Beth Modica served as a prosecutor for Queens DA John Santucci in the late 1980s, under her maiden name of Gardner, before she was forced to resign in December 1989 after allegedly making the cracks to an office typist.
Modica, who comes from a politically connected family, landed one of her first jobs in the Queens prosecutor's office under then-DA Santucci in August 1988. Sick, sick people in this world.

Idiot Of The Day

Today's idiot of the day is New England's cocky quarterback Tom Brady. Brady sported an orthopedic, open-foot brace on his right leg as he struggled with luggage and the box of white flowers. Not only does he look like a wimp with a walking cast, but he is carrying a huge box of flowers. This must have made every defensive lineman for the Giants salivate like a dog looking at a nice juicy steak. Brady turn in your man card, and congratulations on being named Idiot Of The Day.

Clemente's Number Retired Throughout The MLB??

According to an article in The New York Sun, written by BENJAMIN SARLIN, ex Pirate Roberto Clemente's number will be retired from all of baseball. Clemente was one of the most accomplished baseball players of his generation, winning World Series rings in 1960 and 1971, an MVP award in 1966, and making 12 all-star appearances over 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hailing from Puerto Rico, Clemente helped lay the groundwork for the many Latino baseball stars that followed him. After he died in 1972 in a plane crash while delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua, he became the first Latino player to be admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Every year Major League Baseball honors a player who has distinguished himself through volunteer work with the Roberto Clemente Award in honor of the late ballplayer's humanitarian efforts. Currently about a dozen active players wear Clemente's number 21, including Mets star Carlos Delgado, who is also from Puerto Rico, Tigers pitcher Dontrelle Willis, and Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young. Several people that are involved in the Jackie Robinson foundation and family members of Robinson want Robinson to be the only one that has their number retired throughout the Major Leagues. We will see what will become of this. Hopefully it will be retired so at least something positive will come from the Pirates organization.

Idiot Of The Day

Today's idiot of the day is a complete idiot and an @$$hole. Here is some of the article written by Ryan Hutchins of The Press Republican.

PLATTSBURGH -- Police say two thieves targeted donation jars at four Kinney Drugs stores this month.
The crooks alledgedly made off with hundreds of dollars that was supposed to go toward helping a local cancer patient get a bone-marrow transplant.
Troopers said they don't have any suspects yet, but are looking for a man and woman who are shown in surveillance videos from three of the stores. The man is shown taking the money as the woman waits, police said.
The first incident occurred on Dec. 10 at the Boynton Avenue store. The crooks then hit a different store each day following, taking money from jars at the Kinney Drugs in P&C Plaza on Route 3, the store on New York Road and finally at the Military Turnpike locations, police said.

Happy Martin Luther King Day

It is much easier for me to just post the link to the video, so that's what I am going to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk&eurl=http://newzjunky.com/

New Fish Tank

Not really new anymore but new to anyone who hasn't seen it, pretty much i just wanted to post a couple of pictures of it because i think it's awesome.

Idiot Of The Day

In efforts to try to get me to make at least a post a day I will attempt to post an idiot of the day story. Todays story is about an idiot Packer fan.

A Pardeeville father accused of forcing his 7-year-old son to wear a Packers sweat shirt and then tying him up during the divisional playoff game last weekend said the incident was a joke that "got blown way out of proportion."
Mathew Kowald, 36, was cited for disorderly conduct Wednesday after authorities arrested him Monday on tentative felony charges of causing mental harm to a child and false imprisonment. He was issued only a disorderly conduct citation for the incident.
Kowald reportedly forced a Packers sweat shirt on the boy, who said to his father that he refused to root for the Packers and was told by Kowald that anyone who said that would be grounded. Kowald allegedly also wrapped his son in insulation tape, forcing him to watch the football game.
"He wanted the juvenile to be a Packers fan, and I would suggest he went about it the wrong way," Columbia County Lt. Wayne Smith said.
The boy's mother took pictures of the incident on her cell phone camera and filed them with the sheriff's department.
Kowald pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct after he was released from the Columbia County Jail. He received a fine of $186.

Pirates Update...

With the offseason up and running and a new coaching staff there hasn't been any major inquiries. Although the ticket office is running a deal if you buy 8 games you get 2 free. Laroche did sign a one year extension for 5 million making him the 4th highest paid player in the franchise and the arbritation eligible players to four. The Pirates announced that they will be breaking ground on what will be the Pirates' new Latin American headquarters on January 22. The complex, which will span 43 acres, will be located in El Toro, Dominican Republic. The facility is expected to open sometime in 2009. "Latin America needs to be an even greater priority for our ballclub," Pirates owner Bob Nutting said. "The Pirates have had a great history of Latino ballplayers making a significant impact at the Major League level, including the great Roberto Clemente. Today, no team has more opportunity or, frankly, a greater need to acquire and develop quality players from this region than we do." Well hopefully the Pirates can get some quality players that will start with the Pirates become great players and then they will trade them for young prospects that we also trade for more young prospects. We have signed RHP T.J. Beam, C Raul Chavez and INF/OF Jose Macias to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training. We also signed RHP Adam Bernero and RHP Elmer Dessens to Minor League contracts with invitations to Spring Training.

I Am Still Alive...

Yes i am still alive. Almost 3 months since my last post, and i am pretty sure nobody is still reading this i am determined to post on a regular basis. Just an update, I am coaching 8th grade modified basketball now, still working the same job, still living in the same place, still have the same lover. Not much has changed. Although my xbox 360 addiction is no longer an addiction. I do have a kegerator now which is nothing but a good time. If you are in the neighborhood i encourage you to stop in for a nice cold draft. Donations are accepted.