The two most celebrated opponents

Last year the NBA brought back to life the greatest two player rivalry ever in the history of the league. The truth of the matter is that no matter how hard Magic Johnson and Larry Bird competed, there was a greater rivalry than the two of them. It was the rivalry between the two clubs they played for; the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Basketball is a team sport and both Magic and Bird were on teams that were loaded with talent. Both legendary players made everyone on their teams better. The NBA realized this and put the focus on the rivalry between the two teams.

Boston Celtics vs L.A. Lakers

What the NBA never imagined was that the team play of Boston’s big three would whoop ass on the superstar play of the L.A. Laker’s Kpbe Bryant. The Celtics swept the Lakers right out of the finals. This year the NBA once again forgot that basketball is a team sport. The NBA is infatuated with superstars. All season long the debate has been who is the best player in the league, who is the MVP. All their promotions focused on the two best players in the league, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James. One big problem is there is no direct rivalry between the two of them. No problem for the NBA, they just create a rivalry between the two of them. MVP rivals, and rivals for commercial air time.

Who sells more shoes ?

Now the fortunate thing for the NBA is that both the Lakers and the Cleveland Caveliers led their conferences this year and both teams got the number one seed in their conference. The problem is that the playoffs are different from the regular season. In the playoffs, teamwork really matters and will be the difference between winning a championship and getting knocked off and dissapointing fans. During the regular season, a team with a superstar, surrounded by a bunch of schleps can win a lot of games. Its easy for the NBA officials to call the game in favor of the superstar. Fans pay money to see superstar players play, so they rarely foul out. The playoffs is another matter and in the heat of a 7 game series battle, the flaws of any team get exposed, especialy teams with an overly dependant reliance on a single superstar. Just ask the greatest basketballer of all time, Micheal Jordan. Once he understood this and got a team around him that he supported and that supported him, he found out how to win a championship.The problem is that promoting a whole team is really hard. The best team in the NBA, the riegning champion Boston Celtics, limped into the playoffs with their main superstar on IR. Add other injuries and the Celtic chances were doomed. They still put on two great series of team basketball, ending with pushing the Orlando magic to the brink and perhaps showing them how a team wins. The Celtics weren’t so lucky and they were bounced out of the playoffs. The rivalry of the NBA two greatest players was now in the hands of the two MVPs, Lebron James and Kobe Bryant.Is this rivalry over ?

His airness

Bird vs Magic re-newed !

The democrats got 3 republicansin the senate to bail them out by voting for the so called ” stimulus “ and save Obama’s presidency from a humiliating legislative defeat. Now, somewhere between 3 to 4 million jobs will be either created or saved according to Obama. There’s no way to actualy track this and it really doesn’t matter anyway, because the democrats and president Obama now own the future U.S. economy. If it continues to tank, Obama won’t have former president Bush to blame, he will have to admit he screwed it up. Screwing up is something Barack has been willing to admit to like his selection of Tom Daschle for Health and services secretary.

The general opinion on whether the spending plan will work is split evenly between the liberal left, other delusional dreamers, and people so infatuatedand and enamored by Obama, they will believe anything, so they have total faith it will work and the conservative right, common sense folk, and doomsayers who predict economic disaster from spending so much on government waste. Increasing the national debt as far as the eye can see, borrowing foriegn money we can’t pay back, and printing more of our own deflating it’s value brings the dire possibility of hyper inflation that will make the U.S. dollar almost worthless.

You can afford to spend three dollas, yes you can !

Sources have it that president Obama already has a secret plan that his treasury secretary Timothy Geithner put forth to print a new three dollar bill. Geithner knows the U.S. is still on the hook for another trillion or two to save or bail out the banks, the car industry, forclosures, and anybody else that needs money, so hyperinflation is sure to devalue the regular dollar. The new Obama three dolla bill will replace the dollar’s weak standing in the world and become the new gold standard for currency. If the new bill’s value helps restore and stabalize how the rest of the world views our monetary policies, Geithner has speculated that Obama may consider a Biden seven dollar bill, or a Pelosi thirteen dollar bill in the future if nessecary as well.

Obama and the Democrats are betting the future on spending plan !

With the help of 3 Republicans who broke party ranks to vote for the biggest spending legislation ever proposed by the congress, president Obama and the Democrats appear ready to bet the future on government spending. The final package with amendments and the intrest payments that will be needed to finance this plan, looks to be well over 800 billion in the one trillion plus range. This massive spending plan looks to be a HUGE risk for our country. Even the president himself has proclaimed that catastrophe will follow if either nothing is done, or the plan fails. Republicans have to be wondering what deal, or payoff was offered by the democrats and Obama to get the 3 Republicans to break ranks. Unlike a Vegas casino, the U.S. will not be able to double down if the plan is crap(s). Obama’s political future and the future of the Democratic party will now ride on the plan future success or failure. Alternate, less costly and perhaps more effective stimulus ideas offered by the republicans were spurned with partisan bias. Let’s hope we get lucky and it works, cause otherwise the U.S. may never be the same.

Superbowl XXXXIII concluded in dramatic fashion with Santonio Holmes making a spectacular reception to seal the deal and win the Steelers an unprecedented sixth superbowl victory. A fan could not have asked for a better NFL Sunday ticket to the game. Despite the depressing economic cloud hanging over this event, with sponsors, advertisers, and fans alike cutting budgets and scaling back plans, the game itself had many viewers tuning in and they got their moneies worth as the Phonix cardinals clawed their way back to take the lead by the fourth quarter. NFL TV  was very happy with the market share of the game, which was slightly less than the previous years’ match-up between the unbeaten New England Patriot’s and the New York Giants.

This year’s game provided several highlights and some of it’s own historic accomplishments as well. The Steelers defense made the longest play in superbowl history when a 100 yd interception return resulted in a TD for Harris. Larry Fitzgerald and Curt Warner electrified the game in the second half with two TDs bringing the Cards back into the game. However it was too little too late, leaving some Phoenix fans wondering why the dynamic duo hadn’t hooked up more in the first half. During the regular season and during the Cardinal’s superbowl march, both fans at the games, fans watching on the major networks, and fans using DirectTV NFL Sunday Ticket to gain access to exclusive broadcasts of their favorite teams had come to expect the remarkable from Fitzgerald, who some have already labeled as the best receiver in the game today. It was Santonio Holme’s text book tiptoe reception that stole the show and won the game for the Steelers.

Over all it was a NFL TV Package that delivered. Ben Rothlesburger was the total package, providing critical throws and dodging blitzing Phoenix cardinal linebackers to buy time for receivers to get open. At 27, he is the second youngest QB to win 2 superbowls, so the Steelers future looks solid with him at the helm. The level of competition in the superbowl and the cinderella rise to the big game for the 9-7 Cardinals bodes well for the NFL. Parity seems to be well established with more than 3/4 of the teams in the NFL being legitimate threats to make it to the playoffs and advance to the big game. Attendance at games and fan’s viewership of games is projected to grow despite the dire economic forecasts for the next several years. Direct TV NFL Sunday Ticket is especialy expected to gain more viewership as fans demand to see THEIR team on Sundays.

Are you ready for some football - next year ?

PLAY BALL

you may need help carrying the money needed for a loaf of bread in the near future !

History repeats itself, especialy if we do not learn from our mistakes. With the U.S. congress led by the democrats and president Obama set on passing the biggest spending bill in the history of our nation, the wheels are about to come off the economy. Back during the ” great ” depression, the U.S. dollar devalued to the point it was nearly worthless. With comparisons of our current crisis to the great depression being made by leading economists and president Obama, already there are many sinilarities. Bamks going belly up, consumer confidence at all time lows, stock market panic, and record level unemployment. Unbeknownst to most of the general public is that the u.S. treasury has been printing money non-stop since the september bail-out prior to the election.  Our money supply is about to double. You do the math, that means it will devalue by half. Add to that the record deficit’s that will surely occur if the 819 billion dollar spending plan is approved and you have the perfect storm for hyper-inflation to kick in to finnish off whatever stability the U.S. economy had.

The failing economy and the war on terror.

With an ever changing and worsening economy, president Obama has already endorsed a stimulus package that the democrats have offered that presently sits at about $825 billion dollars, but some are projecting it will increase to over 1.3 trillion. Opposition to the amount and purpose for this money is mounting, while both republicans and democrats pledge more oversight and transparency on spending the money so that it won’t get wasted like the last 700 billion our government  took from taxpayers.

It will be up to president Obama to broker a bi-partisan solution that republicans will sign up for, Otherwise the democrats can and will have to pass it, and therefore take the blame for the failure or mismanagement of the money. The amount is so huge, it is like playing russian roulette to solve the problem, if you not careful, you can shoot yourself in the head. If the plan fails, it will no doubt prolong and worsen the economy. Sadling future generations with debt, while deflating the value of money by kick starting hyper inflation. The U.S. cannot borrow foriegn currency or print money to solve the crisis.

Who is pulling the strings on president Barack Obama ?

President Barack Obama has only been officialy in office for several days, but but any hope that he might be a pragmatic, middle of the road leader are quickly fading. As the saying goes ” you can’t change the spots on a leopard “, Obama’s record as a U.S. senator clearly showed he was maybe the most liberal member of congress. His ties to radical individuals were overlooked by the mainstream media during his campaign. Now as he assumes his responsibilities of office, his true colors are begining to show. With his immediate knee jerk executive orders to change and reverse several of former president Bush’s decision’s it has become clear that Obama has an agenda driven by the left.

His promises of a new bi-partisan era in Washington, appear to be just lip service. Despite his PR meetings with the opposition party republicans, there is little to no evidence that that Obama has any intention or ability to use any of their input or ideas. The democrats led by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, are intent on shutting out any GOP involvement in the future. From their trillion dollar bail-out package, loaded with pork and waste, that the CBO says will be ineffective and too late to actually stimulate the economy, to shutting down the Gitanamo facility without any plans of what to do with terrorist prisoners, to refunding international abortion, it is clear who is pulling the strings in Washington. Obama is the new mouth piece and puppet of the left agenda. This does not bode well for his presidency, nor the American economy.

The real question is whether the opposition party will actualy become the opposition party and give real voice and choice opptions for america, or have we reached an era, where the press and propaganda riegn supreme and the republican party is subject to polls and the bully pulpit. The GOP needs to take a stand and not worry about being seen as obstructionists. Todays obstructionists become tomorrow’s leading candidates and maybe our next president (kinda like Obama). President Obama and the democrats don’t need the republican’s support, they can do and are doing whatever they want. What they want is to sucker the right to signing onto their bail-out plan, so that down the road it cannot be used against them and against Obama’s run for a second term. Unfortunately, now as president, Obama cannot vote present and has to go on record as supporting the biggest waste and con job ever presented to the American public. The silver lining for the left is that the billions and trillions of dollars they seek, provide the opportunity to create the ultimate christmas list of government spending programs. The bail-out will fund their agenda for the next four years and beyond.

Republicans cannot be fooled by Obama’s hollow bi-partisan pleas. They need to regognize that Obama is just a tool. a puppet for Pelosi and Reid to manipulate. They need to stand-up for their beliefs and not comprimise America’s future by supporting this catastrophe in the making. If the republicans cave in they might as well let their party dissapate, because there is no difference between them and the democratic party. Voters will intsead turn to independants or third party choices for  change and opposition to Obama’s cherade. From his appointments of past losers from the old, failed, Clinton team to appointees with questionable issues like not paying taxes, it is clear that no new change is coming. What we have is a complete about face and reversal of the last 25 year’s and we have now embraced the utter failures of the Jimmy Carter era. As much as I want the U.S. to succeed, I fail to see how bringing back the horrible economic and international standings Jimmy Carter created will help us. Is there any legitimate alternative options available. If the proverbial “shit” hits the fan in 2009 because Obama’s lack of vision, leadership, and experience proves he was the wrong choice at the right time, then the dire consequences that will inevitably result from the leftist agenda being thrust upon us  will ultimately bring about the change really needed. Let us just hope it does’t get too ugly, because dire circumstances also create dire reaction and possible revolution. Now is the time for the GOP to go on record and begin their climb bcak to respectability and viability as an alternate choice and solution for America’s future. Lowering taxes may sound old hat, but it works. Streamlining taxes, or eliminating income taxes and the IRS are real solutions that need to have a voice.

It’s only Saturday, January 17th, still three days prior to president elect Obama’s official inaugeration at our nation’s capitol in Washington DC, but the hype and expectations for this historic event are already through the roof. Maybe it’s just me.  I understand the emotions of joy people have regarding this event, especialy minorities and blacks. I think the monumental importance of Barack Obama’s  achievment cannot be understated, however I also think the expectations of many people for an Obama presidency are bordering on delusional. A nicer way to explain their expectations, might be that their expectations are unrealisticaly high, but seriously, for some people their views of Obama are beyond politics and almost religious. The very meaning of his name and the dire circumstances surrounding his presidency have people looking for miracles from him and believing he can deliver !

Will he deliver us to the promised land.

Even as Obama prepares for his inaugeration, he has been downplaying expectations and telling us it may take time and there may be more mistakes made. Are the people who view him as some kind of messiah listening ? A lot of talking pundits have been comparing Barack Obama to Abraham Lincoln and making direct and indirect parallels between their two presidencies. I believe a lot of people have gone beyond this.  Their views  have elevated Barack to Jesus status. They believe he can and will do no wrong (mistakes) and that slavation from recession, depression, war, bigotry, global warming and more is on the way. Obama has to be asking “what would Jesus do ?” Jesus wouldn’t know what to do with this mess. I will enjoy this week and Tuesday’s historic inaugeration. People’s emotions will be reaching historic heights and Obama will leverage as much good will as he can and must from that. As the days, weeks, and months pass by and the glow of his monumental accomplishment wears off and are drowned out by daily reality, hopefully people won’t be too dissapointed, when their president is shown to be a mere mortal created equaly as flawed as the rest of us. In todays 24/7 news cycle, I have found us to be much more critical of our leaders. As Obama’s historic inaugeration takes place let us remember the “history” part of it and also remember people are measured by history, not just the moment. That politics and campaign promises are just that, and that reality and the challenges we face are what make our character. A more perfect union yes, but only if we accept our own imperfections.

Barack Obama campaigned promising change to the american public. Americans stand united in acknowledging his historic achievement in becoming our nation’s first “black” president. Although Obama promised change in specific areas like health care, taxes, foriegn policy, and the government’s role and involvement in our daily lives, the biggest change his historic presidency may be bringing is, his ethnicity to the job. The president elect has consistently stated that race was not a part, or factor in his candidacy, nor will it be in his presidency,  Come ON !

The fact is that it absolutely was a factor in his candidacy, whether he wanted to admit it, or not. Race was a factor, but not in the ugly, bigoted, and hateful way that some pundits expected or wanted. Instead, race was a factor in a more positive way. History was made on November 4th, and it undoubtedly will be, in the future for the new president, because of race.

For years, decades, hell from the very start, the United States of America has been run by white men. That is a fact. It has been called the “old boys ” network, some in a more negative and racial aspect have labeled him/them  ”the man”, but an unforseen coalition of white men has been the secret common force in politics even between both opposing political parties in America. The republicans are mostly viewed as white males even though they have others in the party. Their main agenda in the next two years is to try and expand their umbrella to get more inclusion of women, blacks, hispanics, gays, and pretty much everybody except white men. The democrats although far ahead of the republicans in inclusion of other demographics for several decades, they had still been a party controlled and led by white men. Then comes the 2008 election cycle.

There were two equaly historic factors that entered the 2008 election. Race and sexism were both present as Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton entered the race. Most pundits believed it was Hillary Clinton’s race to lose. A reason for this was the idea that Hillary’s husband, former president Clinton was a part of the establishment and that the fix was “in”.  Although several other token white men announced their candidacy, they were all for show and inseconsequential, because the party had already accepted that this “change” was expected.  “Change” as in accepting a “woman” as “the man”. The ol boy’s club was comfortable that they would be in the drivers seat with Bill Clinton as their chauffer. What they did not consider is that “race” would trumph “sexism” in 2008. What we witnessed during the campaign was the democrats ol boys’ network and status quo adjusting to the new dynamic of the country being run by a black man that was not so beholden to them. His dealing’s with Hillary and his cabinet selections reflect this power reshuffling of the status quo. The republicans experienced their own melt down of their ol boy’s network as McCain selected a “woman”, Sarah Palin as his running mate. The hardest part for the republicans to accept is that in order to succeed and grow the base, the status quo will be challenged by new forces. “Loose cannons” or voter dynamics based on “race”or “sexism” will empower candidates that are “mavericks”. A 2012 Sarah Palin candidacy has the republican party scared “shittless”, because they don’t know how to controll and manage it.

The real power behind the scenes

Now Barack Obama has an historic opportunity as the “racial” aspect of his presidency provides a new dynamic within the Washington power circles.  This force, used constructively by Obama, could net positive bi-partisan results, resulting in his ability to move ideas and legislature through congress. It’s not that conservatives have changed their positions, but rather they are willing to work with a new black president, because it bodes well for their principles and expanding their demographic reach to new constituents in the future. The key to president Obam’s success in the future will be his willingness to be pragmatic in his apprach to solving today’s problems. If he becomes too engulfed in party demagogary, liberal ideals, and partisanship, then the opportunity for comprimise and consensus that is clearly present from both parties toward our new black president will be lost and that would be a bad thing.