“Showdown at Saddleback”: McCain & Obama Take Part in SoCal Church Forum
August 16, 2008
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Earlier this evening Presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain took turns answering questions from mega church Pastor Rick Warren. The setting was Saddleback Mega Church, which is located in sunny Orange County, CA and also is one of the larger, more mainstream evangelical super centers of prayer. Both candidates are friends with Pastor Warren, the founder of the church and moderator of tonights forum, and came up with the idea of a dual candidate Q and A months ago.
USA Basketball Continues to March Down Redemption Road
August 15, 2008
BEIJING - The United States stopped the pick-and-rolls, and just about everything else, to beat Greece 92-69 Thursday at the Beijing Olympics. These Americans that looked so lost two years ago appear to have found their Olympic defensive way. Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to win big.
Kobe Bryant and Chris Bosh each scored 18 points for the United States (3-0), which clinched a spot in the medal round and moves on to a match up of Group B unbeatens Saturday against world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group’s top seed for the quarterfinals.
Dwyane Wade added 17 points and LeBron James scored 13.
Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the world championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.
This time, the Americans had an answer for everything, using a suffocating defense to extend a seven-point lead into a 19-point cushion in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the first half.
Theo Papaloukas scored 15 points for Greece, which found things easy against the Americans two years ago but not this time. The Greeks had 26 field goals but committed 25 turnovers.
Here is ESPN’s Ric Bucher giving an in depth analysis surrounding Team USA’s huge win over Greece, as well as their overall performance up until this point both as individual players, and more importantly - a team.
Team USA faces Pau Gasol and the rest of Spain Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. This match up should be a lot of fun to watch, but if the American’s play like they have been this contest, just like all the others so far in Beijing, will be a one sided victory for the good guys - USA.
It is however important to note that Gasol sn’t the only NBA talent on Spain’s roster. In fact there are three other NBA players — Jose Calderon of the Toronto Raptors, Juan Carlos Navarro of the Memphis Grizzlies and Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trail Blazers. All of whom are currently on their respective teams roster.
Gotta Love Beach Volleyball: Round Deux
August 14, 2008
First and foremost let me get it out of the way and let it be known that I love womens beach volleyball. Why you ask? Simple, the women, the setting (love the beach) and of course the athleticism. So here is another slide show made in tribute to the beach bunnies who dominate day in and day out on the sandy courts.
The Best Comments From John McCain’s Website/Blog: “Classic Stuff”
August 12, 2008
Laughter does not describe what I have been through over the course of the last hour or so. Finding myself bored I decided to head over to John McCain’s website/blog and see what our friend had no clue what I was in for, “Old Man Walnuts” was up too. Seeing as though this was only my second time on his site, I had no clue what a good dose of old fashioned comedy I was in for.
Stephen Colbert Weights in on Hillary’s “Post Primary” Behavior
August 12, 2008
As Denver and the Democratic National Convention that will take the city over just a few short weeks from now have seemed to trigger somewhat of a “reload” which has Hillary Clinton supporters doing what they do best - making demands: some want Hillary to somehow get all those delegates supporting Obama to just, ya know - “change their minds,” and decide Hillary should be the Democratic candidate, while others are less demanding (basically the lesser of two evils) is crying out for a roll call vote on the convention floor with Hillary’s name on the ballot. This of course is the equivalent to the New England Patriots demanding a shot in sudden death overtime after the clock hit zero, and the Giants had won.
So with all of this irrational banter spewing from just about every orifice of media (the internet, TV, newspapers, etc, etc.) who better then Stpehen Colbert to weigh in on the topic, and provide us with some of that superior intellect he has become famous for.
Here is a video clip that has Stephen Colbert discussing the upcoming Democratic National Convention, as well as any alterior motives Bill and Hillary might have for their spotlight roles as part of the convention, and of course Colberts unique, “cut through the fat” analysis of the situation as a whole:
Carey Hart’s Younger Brother Killed in Moto-Cross Accident
August 10, 2008
Following in what seems to be the week long “tragedy” theme (Bernie Mac, Isaac Hayes) it’s now being reported that moto-cross legend Carey Hart has lost his younger brother Anthony, who was only 21 years of age. While the specifics are still trickling out TMZ.com has managed to confirm the story as well as some of the broader details of the incident:
“Anthony Hart, Carey Hart’s brother, died yesterday after wrecking his motorcycle at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut.
Hart, 21, crashed during a practice session for the Doug Henry New England Grand Prix, which is part of the American Motorcyclist Association’s XTRM Supermoto Championship series.
Anthony was critically injured when he lost control of his motorcycle and slammed into a wall. He was airlifted to Hartford Hospital where he later died.”
Carey Hart, who literally is a legend bigger then any other in the world of motor-cross currently resides in Las Vegas where he is opening a new business venture that will compliment his already uber popular tattoo parlor, which was the center of a reality TV show on A&E.
Anthony Hartalso resided in the greater Las Vegas area and according to those who knew him best was attached to his older brother whenever their schedules allowed them to be.
At the time of this report Connecticut state troopers were awaiting results of an autopsy that was expected to be completed on Monday and released to the public. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of the victim. RIP.
Isaac Hayes Dead at Age 65
August 10, 2008
The AP - With its riveting orchestration, definitive guitar play and signature sensual baritone vocals, Isaac Hayes’ theme song for the 1971 movie “Shaft” not only became one of pop music’s iconic songs, but also the defining work of Hayes’ career. Yet the “Theme from Shaft,” which would earn both Grammy’s and an Oscar, was just a snippet of the groundbreaking music for which Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65, was responsible.
The Art of Selecting a Perfect Campaign “Theme Song”
August 10, 2008
We’ve all seen or heard it before - candidate X wins primary Y in state Z and takes the stage in victory with music blaring and a crowd of supporters cheering. After a while the candidate settles on a “theme song” for these occasions, often times testing out a handful of selections before the final decision is made. However their happens to be much more involved in this process, which surprisingly is somewhat scientific.
“One down, seven to go”: WATCH Michael Phelps Breaks Captures His First Gold Medal
August 10, 2008
BEIJING (AP) - Michael Phelps powered to the wall and whipped around to get his time, so eager to see another amazing set of numbers that he bumped his head on the end of the pool. Not that he felt any pain. With President Bush cheering him on, Phelps dominated his first event of the Beijing Olympics on Sunday morning, crushing his own world record and all hopes of his challengers with a mark of 4 minutes, 3.84 seconds in the 400-meter individual medley.
Comedian Bernie Mac Dead at Age 50
August 9, 2008
The Associated Press - Bernie Mac blended style, authority and a touch of self-aware bluster to make audiences laugh as well as connect with him. For Mac, who died Saturday at age 50, it was a winning mix, delivering him from a poor childhood to stardom as a stand up comedian, in films including the casino heist caper “Ocean’s Eleven” and his acclaimed sitcom “The Bernie Mac Show.”
