Trick-Or-Treat

So, I was out trick-or-treating last night and was collecting a lot of candy until I finally realized I was a little too old for trick-or-treating and I wasn't wearing a costume. I guess people just felt sorry for me or something...I'm not sure. So then I was heading home and I just about ran over a dozen people...not kids but their parents who, for some inexplicable reason, think they can just walk in the middle of the road. Kids at least have enough sense to move out of the road when a car is coming for them...adults, not so much.

How about them Steelers? Almost blew one against the Ray-less Ravens. That would not have been good at all.

Supreme Court Justice Alito? Heck yeah! I'm excited about the choice...much better than Harriet Miers. This guy has 15 years experience as a Federal Court Judge, confirmed 100-0 each time. Should be a heck of a battle.

Big football game tomorrow night against UConn...will go over all that later. That's about it for today...

Somebody's Got a Case of the Mondays...

Ah, Monday...what a wonderful day. Just makes me want to be sick. But, anyway, went 3-2 with the football predictions but, if the Steelers win tonight, I'll be 4-2 and that ain't bad. Somehow, Marshall was able to defeat Tulane. That wasn't supposed to happen. And Gary White's head didn't explode and they beat Elkins. Who would have guessed that? Not me apparently.

Best games of the weekend, Giants pounding the Redskins in honor of their deceased owner and whoever beating the Eagles. It doesn't matter who beat them as long as someone beat them and beat them good.

The worst though had to be the Sunday night game as the Bills visited Tedy Bruschi. Apparently, the other Patriots didn't matter a bit...it was Bruschi night on ESPN. Granted, the guy came back from a stroke...he apparently had clearance to do it and it is remarkable. I will admit all that. But, come on people...let's not go crazy here. ESPN literally missed plays...big plays...because they were interviewing Bruschi's wife. I mean, they treated this like it was the Second Coming. It was absolutely ridiculous. I couldn't even watch the game because every time I turned it on, they had the zoom on Bruschi.

Of course, it doesn't help that I despise the Patriots anyway. But, I think it was over done by ten fold. He is a leader of the Patriots...okay. But, there are a lot of people that make a team and for ESPN to devote 3 hours on one guy and completely overshadow a good game because of him was absolutely insane. But, I don't expect any different from ESPN anymore. New England, USC, Notre Dame, ACC, they go crazy.

Lastly, if anyone wonders why the Big East is made fun of so much, they should have watched the Cincinatti/Syracuse game. It was sloppy and ugly. I was embarassed for the league. Granted, those are two of our lesser teams but they're still representing the Big East and it definitely was apalling.

The Power Returns

The nightmare is over...the electricity has returned. Couldn't come soon enough, that's for sure. I was going to write this big long article about how my week without electricity wasn't a big deal and draw a parallel between this week of uncertainty and the daily life of Iraqis and why we are fighting for them a better future...but, I figure you can figure that out for yourselves.

Went to the Fairmont Sr./Bridgeport game last night...thought West might dominate after they took a quick 14-0 lead but Bridgeport eventually ran all over them and blew 'em out. Now East and West are both 5-4 and I'm not sure if either of them will make it to the playoffs...waiting to see what the SSAC rankings are this week...they'll be out Tuesday. Most 6-4 teams make it because there are only 36 AAA teams in the state and 16 teams make the playoffs but neither East nor West have quality win points. Should be interesting. Full football wrapup coming Monday...maybe.

Anyway, gonna take a nap now...have a Halloween soiree to attend this evening. I will be going as the evil self I am.

Friday Rambling

Well, we enter Day Four of the Blizzard of '05 and still no electricity. I don't fault the power company...I'm sure they're doing all they can. You know who I blame? WDTV Chief Meteorologist Brandon Butcher. You know, as well as I, all these problems begin with allowing this guy to call himself a meteorologist. Okay...so, some random stuff now:

• Luckily, my Grandma got her cable back yesterday so I was able to watch the Virginia Tech - Boston College game. Unfortunately, Va. Tech's ugly uniforms caused me to go blind.
• THE PENGUINS WIN! THE PENGUINS WIN! Yeah, they're playing hockey. Oh, you didn't know that? I didn't either until I heard the Penguins won.
• Sheryl Swoops is a lesbian. Wow. So, Oddjack's Cultural Oddsmaker is running odds on who will come out of the closet next. My money is on Kordell Stewart.
• "Scooter" Libby may be indicted today...not for breaking the law that he was originally investigated for but because he may have been tripped up in testimony. So, he didn't get a crime but he may have committed a crime during the procedure of the investigation. What a great system.
• Harriet Miers stepped down from her Supreme Court nomination...she probably is a nice lady but I can't say I'm sad to see her step away.
• Why are some communities trick-or-treating tonight, Saturday and Monday? Can't they come up with some kind of agreement or are they looking for a way for kids to maximize their candy potential?

That's all for this morning. If you have some other Friday ramblings I need to hit upon, feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment. I think I'm going to take a nap here...or work. Or a combination thereof.

Football Predictions - YAY!!!

How long is it going to take before the Times-West Virginian wakes up and puts me in the grid guessers? Come on folks...I have a better record than any of those clowns...

Anyway, here goes nothing:

West Fairmont @ Bridgeport
Circle the wagons folks, we're going to have an old-fashioned shootout in Bridgeport on Friday. No, it's not like West Fairmont is the Cowboys or anything...but's it's not going to matter to the Indians. Throughout most of the game...there isn't a whole lot of progress. The Indians make a push...the Bears make a push. The games is tied 7-7 going into the 4th. The Bears then put in their secret weapon against the Indians: Colonel George Custer and the Seventh Cavalry. It looks bleak for the Indians...until the counter with their own surprise: the Crazy Horse. Ladies and gentlemen, the Battle of Little Bridgeport is about the commence.

As the Indians closed in on the game winning touchdown, Custer ordered his men to shoot their horses and stack the carcasses to form a wall, but they provided little protection against the continued attack of the Indians. When the smoke cleared, the football was in the endzone and Crazy Horse and his Indians had led Bridgeport to victory. Bridgeport 14 - West 7.

North Marion @ Elkins
The Huskies are trying to end a miserable season...Elkins - ditto. My guess is that Elkins will win and Gary White's head will explode mid-4th quarter. Elkins 26 - N.M. 14

Morgantown @ University
The MoHawk Bowl. No Crazy Horses...no bald eagle swooping in to carry off a Mohiganette. A simple pounding applied by Morgantown. Morgantown 35 - University 18

Marshall @ Tulane
I thought about writing a joke about Marshall football...but, I guess Marshall football is the joke. Sorry Jennifer...but look at the record. Tulane rolls. Tulane 24 - Marshall 13.

Boston College @ Virginia Tech
So far Marcus Vick has been able to avoid the appeal of the high school girls in the stands at Virginia Tech. Can he make it another week? I think so. Virginia Tech 42 - Boston College 28

Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh
This pick is made on the understanding that Big Ben is playing and Tommy Maddox gets nowhere near the field. If Tommy takes a single snap, the prediction is null and void. Pittsburgh 17 - Baltimore 9.

Go ahead and put the good money down...these picks are locks.

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story

Well, we are now entering Day Three of the Blizzard of '05 and I still don't have electricity. Apparently Allegheny Power didn't hear my pleas...or, they did and chose to ignore them. I was even willing to take the day off and work for them...a full day for no pay. No response. But, at least I'm not bitter over missing the longest game of the World Series ever and watching the White Sox win the Series for the first time since 1917. Nope, not upset about that at all.

Anyway, today I will give you a movie review...Family Guy's Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story. This straight-to-DVD movie promised to be an excellent purchase. Family Guy is consistently one of the funniest shows on television. The dark humor may not appeal to all but I enjoy it.
I won't give away the plot or anything but I thought the first half of the movie was very good. It was pretty much like the television show with a lot of one-liner jokes that may take a moment or two to sink in. Towards the end of the first half, before Intermission, we finally find what the entire movie revolves around...and of course, it is Stewie as advertised.

But, from that point, the movie kinda turned downhill for me. The jokes weren't that funny and I really didn't enjoy it. It almost seemed like they ran out of material...the plot wasn't that good to begin with and the story just kinda spiraled out of control. By the end, I was just wanting it to be over...and that's not a good thing. The 3-minute post-movie party was actually better than the entire 20-30 minute second half.

Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story is worth the watch...but probably not worth the $19.99 I think I paid for it. I've tried to watch it about 6 times now...only twice have I seen it all the way through...every other time I have fallen asleep before the Intermission...probably trying to put myself out of the misery of watching it all. But, that's just my take...maybe I'm missing the greatness of it all...but I doubt it.

Don't Buy Those Tickets Yet...

I wouldn't be putting the bids up for those BCS tickets yet. Now, granted, I would much rather be in Atlanta or Miami or Phoenix rather than in Fairmont without power...but, if you're going there in hopes of seeing the Mountaineers play, well, I wouldn't count on it yet.

Don't get me wrong, I want to see WVU in a BCS bowl but it's hardly a lock. I've heard a lot of people talking about who we'll play in the Sugar Bowl or discussing whether or not they want to travel to Miami over New Year's. Folks, there's no guarantee that WVU is in the driver's seat to go to the BCS yet. West Virginia has 4 games remaining and could, if they play poorly, lose 3 of them. UConn is still a decent team but they've been on a slide as of late. But Pitt has become hot all of the sudden and, scary as it may be, is still in the hunt for the Big East title with one loss in the conference. It would make Pitt's year to spoil the Mountaineers title run. And everyone knows what USF did to Louisville. Short of some type of implosion, they should be able to handle Cincy.

Remember, this is a team that people predicted to win the Big East last year and looked on their way there until a weak finish. Don't get mad at me because I'm not saying that will happen again...but I wouldn't be purchasing those tickets to see the Sugar Bowl yet...because it may be back to Charlotte for the Mountaineers.

To All My Friends on I-79

To All My Friends on I-79 This Morning:

Thank you for being on the interstate this morning with me. It gave me great joy to see you all out braving the Blizzard of '05 and going to work.

To my lady friend in the gold mini-van - Thank you for going 35 MPH and nearly causing me to hit you. I know I was blazing along at an exorbitant 55 MPH until I came across you and had to slam on my brakes nearly causing everyone behind me to plow into me. If it hadn't been for you, I probably would have continued traveling at my 55 MPH and who knows what kind of damage that would have done.

And to you, the green Toyota truck driver - Thank you for pulling onto the shoulder of the Interstate for no particular reason and continuing to drive at the same speed you were going on the Interstate. Watching you confused me enough to nearly have me swerve into the passing line in the way of that semi truck that was barrelling down upon me. That woke me up. Thanks.

And to you, the semi truck driver that passed me on three occassions - Thank you for flying down the hills and nearly coming to a stop going up the next. It was fun to pass you and then watch you pass me. I especially like how the sludge from your wheels would fly up on my car every time you passed me. That was fun. And, that one time you couldn't get over to pass me because someone was beside you, I really appreciated you getting as close to my bumper as you could. I should have sped up but I was already going 70 MPH and the roads were slick. But I should apologize because I should have just pulled over like the green Toyota truck driver and let you go. My heart has been heavy all day over holding you up for nearly 10 seconds.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who was on I-79 in the Blizzard of '05. Without you, my drive into work would have probably been boring. If only there were more morons who can't drive in the snow that came out today, we could have all met in a giant wreck somewhere. Oh well, maybe next time.

Oh, and make sure you read my take on the Blizzard of '05 below. I'm proud of it.

Blizzard of October '05

Today, thousands of people wake up in West Virginia without power and without the ability to leave their homes because of the blizzard that has befallen the Mountain State. Schools are closed and people are sitting at home without TV or Internet Access. Yes, it snowed here but we need to look at the deeper problem with the snow...who caused this and why weren't people prepared?

It starts at the top. Where was President Bush during the preparations for this blizzard? Why wasn't he here to help the great people of West Virginia? And where was FEMA? I have yet to see an adequate response to this great natural disaster. To date, and I have no confirmation of this but I'll say it anyway, I believe there are over 10,000 dead and that number could climb as high as 25,000. The National Guard has ordered at least 15,000 body bags.

People without power have been evacuated to the Woody Williams Armory, which I hear could be without power. There is murdering and raping occuring there. The smell of all the people there would be enough to overcome most people. Food and water is in short supply and the mayor is no where to be found. There are busses snowed in at the Bus Depot in Marion County. Why weren't the busses dispatched before this disaster?

Here in Clarksburg, there is looting in the streets. They have broken in to Wal-Mart and stolen the guns. Crime is running rampant. The National Guard is afraid to go into the city because they don't know what they will find in this war zone. Only the poor folks are suffering though because the rich either evacuated before the storm or have nice fire places to keep them warm.

The people of West Virginia are clearly victims of George Bush's class war. Had West Virginia been a rich state, Bush would have saved us but because we're poor, he has left us to suffer through this unbelievable storm. Where is George Bush today? How dare he not be in this state trying to stop this storm. Where is the federal response? How many innocent West Virginians must suffer before this government steps up and changes the weather patterns? Clearly this is the effect of global warming...err, cooling. Global something, that's for sure.

I, for one, am not taking it any more. Something must be done and someone needs to do it. It won't be me but someone better do something or I'm going to be mad and whine about it and complain. But, that's all I'll do because I don't have the ambition to actually make a difference. And that's all I have to say.

First Snow

Okay...who had October 24th for the first snow of the year? Don't lie...I know you didn't. So, I guess winter is getting a good jump this year...October 24th and we have confirmed snowfalls. I have a report from Buckhannon of some stickage on the rooftops and grass. I have visually confirmed some flakes here in Fairmont.

It looks like it will probably be warming back up here at the end of the week but we have snow...so it appears winter is now here. So, get out the puffy sweaters and start bundling up the wee-ones because, baby, it's cold outside.

Oh, Flu, Why Hath Thou Forsaken Me?

Now, I'm not 100% certain that I have the flu...might be a cold...might be a sinus issue or something. I can't say for certain. What I can say is that I woke up this morning feeling pretty miserable. I thought it might just be the weather or something...give me time to wake up and it would go away. Nope. We're talking headache with congestion...that head is going to just explode into a million pieces because of the pressure congestion. So, I broke down and took some Tylenol flu medication to see what that does. I'm not a big fan of taking medication so it's obvious that I feel pretty crappy. (Can I say crap on here? Well, I'm going to. I feel like crap.)

Anyway, feeling as bad as I do, I still don't feel as bad as the Bengals do, or at least should, feel today. They got abused by the Steelers yesterday. Chad Johnson...haha. Chris Henry...hahaha. I mean, we're talking used here folks. The Bus was rolling...Big Ben was on track. And lil' Willie Parker was just zipping by the Bungle defenders like they didn't exist. Steelers are still the class of the AFC North. Chad Johnson said after the game that he still thought Cincy was better than the Steelers...I guess he lives in an alternate universe where his Bengals stood up to the Steel attack...but, in the real world, the Bengals still have some work to do.

And now, some short observations:

• Looks like the White Sox might win the series being up 2-0. I'm happy with that...mainly because it punishes the "bleacher bum" Cub fans.
• Who woke up the Washington Redskins? They put 52 up against the hapless 49ers.
• Manning led a perfect game winning drive. And it was Eli Manning...miracles do occur.
• If I were the PA operator for NFL teams that played against the Vikings, I would play the Love Boat theme during every break. Haha...Love Boat. You know, the Vikings really are in trouble despite their win over GB. And how in the world has Mike Tice not been fired yet?
• Baseball is unhappy with the Moo Juice commercial that milk manufacturers made. "There is nothing humorous about steroid abuse," said Tim Brosnan, executive vice president for business for baseball. Really? They're probably right but they sure managed to not pay attention to it for long enough. It's a joke...get over it. Just like baseball was a joke for the juicing years.
• The New Orleans Saints are allegedly moving to another city next year. I would just chalk it up to another move to help New Orleans become a better city after the hurricane.
• And lastly, ND and USC won again. There is not justice in NCAA football.

Just so close...

East Fairmont was thisclose to securing its first playoff spot in 29 years at Buckhannon-Upshur on Friday night. And I was thisclose to going to the game...I was coming back from Charleston and was passing the stadium but it was raining and I heard the score was 17-0 B-U and decided I just wanted to go home instead of get sick...but I digress.

East Fairmont football has overgone 29 years of futility missing the state playoffs. Let's look at the numbers real quick: There are 36 AAA schools in the state of West Virginia. There are 16 playoff spots. That means that 44% of all WVa AAA schools go to the playoffs every year. And East Fairmont hasn't been there in 29 years. You would think that we would luck into a playoff spot eventually. Now, I know what you're saying...or might be saying...there used to be more than 36 schools. That's true...but still, 29 years is a long time. Once of the most unique things in those 29 years is the fact East Fairmont won the NCAC in 1990 and still didn't go to the playoffs...that's kinda weird. And, in case you're wondering, the 1976 team played Dupont in the first round of the playoffs and were promptly eliminated.

Why can't East Fairmont football be successful? Is it a culture of losing? Poor coaching (like L.D.)? We have some talent...I mean, two breaks and we could be 7-2 and a lock for the playoffs. Instead, we lose to University by 1 when we led by as much as 3 touchdowns at one point...and we lose to B-U in a heartbreaker. And, we lost to North Marion which we are clearly better than this year. I've seen other sports at East be successful...make playoffs and compete for championships...why not football?

I keep hearing wait until next year...the freshman team is good. The 8th grade team is good. Blah, blah, blah. I've heard that for a long time now...next year. I haven't given up on this year yet...if we beat West Side and get a few breaks, a 6-4 record might get us in...but it's going to be close. But, if we don't get in, it's not due to lack of opportunities. But, I guess I can wait til next year. Or the year after that. Or maybe the one after that.

It's Not Wal-Mart's Fault

I'm in Charleston tomorrow so I have to post this a little earlier than usual --

First, in case you didn't know -- and I might be wrong -- but here's the way I understand it. Sam's Club in Fairmont is closing and the Wal-Mart in Fairmont is moving to where Sam's is and is becoming a Super Wal-Mart. They are going to open Sam's Clubs in Morgantown and in Clarksburg following the closing in Fairmont. They are also building a new Wal-Mart in Morgantown. Like I said, this information may or may not be accurate...just what I heard.

Anyway, with all these changes coming, be prepared to hear a lot of Wal-Mart bashing. There's going to be a lot of talk about "that's the only place to shop" and "it runs people out of business" and the such. And those same people who complain are going to be the same people standing in line at Wal-Mart when it opens. I will not be one of those people complaining...

When people say it's the only place to shop, they're wrong. There's lots of places to shop...if you need paper, go to Adam's Office Supply or Office Max. If you need clothes, go to the mall. If you need tools, go to Sears. If you need toilet paper or a cantalope, go to the grocery store. Last time I checked, all those places are still in business. But, why do you go to Wal-Mart? Because it's convenient. Well, that's not Wal-Mart's fault. That's your fault.

I don't go to Wal-Mart often...I'd rather not fight the crowd. I go to Circuit City and Office Max...to the mall, even to Target to avoid Wal-Mart. Not because I don't like Wal-Mart but because I don't like the crowd. So don't act like there's no choice. Additionally, Wal-Mart provides a service...they provide goods at a cheap price, they provide jobs (more jobs than any other employer in West Virginia) and they provide a place to shop for a lot of areas that wouldn't have anything otherwise (Logan, anyone?).

If you don't like Wal-Mart, don't go there...it's that simple. Wal-Mart is a business...they are going to try to get your business. If you don't like them, take your business elsewhere. Otherwise, shut up.

Football Predictions

Well, it's that time again...time for some football predictions for this weekend. So far, my predictions have been pretty good I think...I'm not sure what my record is but I feel confident it is above .500. So, here goes:

West Virginia @ South Florida
This is an easy one...Mountaineers coming off a thrilling 3OT victory. South Florida trying to gain some respect in the Big East. But the real winner is going to be Fred Flinstone because Wilma is coming in to whip up on both of em.

East Fairmont @ Buckhannon-Upshur
If East can beat BuckUp and former alumnus/coach Eddie Vincent, they will all but ensure their first appearance in the state playoffs since 1976. That's a pretty long stretch of time. And, for most of the game, it appears that the Bees are going battle their way to a victory. But, then the ghost of L.D., recently released from the alien spaceship, appears in Buckhannon. Memories of past games suddenly return upon the sight of our friend L.D. and the team suddenly can no longer maintain their level of excellence...they now play to the level of L.D. and let BuckUp come back to win the game. Buckhannon-Upshur 28 - East 24

West Fairmont v. Nicholas County
East Fairmont isn't the only team that suffers from the ghost of L.D. Simply put, Nicholas County scares everyone anyway since they are the Grizzlies...and when L.D. is spotted, that's more than the Polar Bears can take. After several wet their pants, they retreat from the field leaving only the cheerleaders to compete. Despite a valiant effort, the Grizzlies put the Polar Bear cheerleaders away in the 4th quarter. West Fairmont 14 - Nicholas County 18

Other Games:
Wheeling Park 35 - North Marion 17
University 23 - Preston County 6
Bridgeport 17 - Phillip Barbour 25
Marshall 13 - UTEP 117

Is Karl Rove In Trouble?

I know a majority of my readers are friggin' geniuses and already know this...but, in case you didn't, I will lay out what this whole mess is so you understand what is happening and can make an informed decision. So, the question is: Is Karl Rove and "Scooter" Libby in trouble? The short answer is: Yes. Here's what happened:

Valerie Plame (later Valerie Wilson) was a CIA operative, a so-called NOC (non-official cover operative). A NOC is basically a spy who works under the deny everything policy...the US doesn't know you and you don't know the US. If you get in trouble, you're on your own type of spy. Which means protecting her identity is of supreme importance. There is an understanding that the government will never reveal an NOC's identity and an NOC shouldn't reveal their identity. Even if the NOC reveals that they work for the government, the government should still never confirm nor deny it...no comment is the best way to handle it.

Valerie Plame married Joseph Wilson, a former diplomat who was very critical of the Bush administration over the Iraq War. That is important to remember here shortly. Now, according to Rove and Libby, Judith Miller from the New York Times called them and said the Times was going to run an article in which they named Plame as a CIA agent. She asked Rove and/or Libby is this was accurate and they confirmed, anonymously, that Plame did indeed work for the CIA at some point. And, that's where it lies. Allegedly, they confirmed the information was true. Now, we don't know who initially gave the name of Plame to Miller but it was allegedly confirmed by Rove and/or Libby.

That's not good news for those guys. Was it done as payback to Joe Wilson for his criticism of the administration? Was it a mistake or accident? Did Rove think the privilege had been waived because the reporter already had the name? That's what prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is trying to find out. But it doesn't look good for Rove, that's for sure. If he deliberately leaked the name of a CIA operative, there's no excuse for that. If he confirmed it, that's still wrong but probably not as deliberate.

NOC's are the backbone of the espionage system in the United States and they must be protected. At best, Rove made a mistake that shouldn't have occurred. At worst, Rove deliberately undermined the entire espionage system. I'm sure it will all come out in the wash...hopefully it was just a mistake.

More Media Ranting

How about this:

Cindy Sheehan, the so-called "peace mom" on a crusade to end U.S. involvement in the Iraq war, is publicly blasting Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., for her continued support of the ongoing conflict. "I think she is a political animal who believes she has to be a war hawk to keep up with the big boys," Sheehan writes in an open letter. "I would love to support Hillary for president if she would come out against the travesty in Iraq. But I don't think she can speak out against the occupation, because she supports it."

So, where is the media on this? Where is the news vans and pundits on PMSNBC talking about what a brave woman Sheehan is? Where are all the people who love Cindy when she's ripping Bush and Cheney? No where to be found. Why? Because she's ripping their darling Hillary now.

When Cindy picketed Bush, it was headline news...it was everything. Poor Cindy...using her son's death as a platform for her agenda. The media couldn't get enough of her. But, when she blasts Hillary, what do we hear from the news? Silence. Tell me there isn't a double standard.

Hurricane Katrina and the Media

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and caused widespread devastation. Undisputed by me or anyone else for that matter. It was a disaster. And, unfortunately, those things happen. Nature tends to do those things from time to time...earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, avalanches, volcanoes, etc. All disasterous in their own way...all causing human suffering beyond our imagination.

But, the one thing that really striked me after Hurricane Katrina was the doomsday that the media predicted. 25,000 dead. A minimum of 6-months just to get the water out of the city. An uninhabitable wasteland after the water was removed. Those evacuated to the Superdome were in a war zone with hundreds, if not thousands, of evacuees dead in the subsection of the stadium with pillaging and plundering everywhere. To read it or see it on TV, New Orleans was the equivilant of Ethiopia or worse.

Well, an amazing thing happened within a couple weeks of the hurricane...all this was proven to be WRONG. There were about 1,000 dead...a tragedy but hardly 25,000. The water was removed most more quickly than predicted and New Orleans is already rebuilding. There weren't nearly the problems in the Superdome that the media portrayed...it was not a nice place to be but there were 4 dead inside...not hundreds. But, have you seen the media say they were wrong? No. Has the media apologized for their reporting? No.

The "press" in this country is given a free pass to LIE. They LIE. They make up the news with no basis whatsoever and put it out for the world to see. And when it's wrong, they don't do anything to rectify it. Irresponsible journalism is the real story of Hurricane Katrina. The fact that it takes a full month to get a real story out of New Orleans is unaccepatable. To take rumor and innuendo and report it as "the news" is intolerable. The LIES about the dead, the LIES about the Superdome, the LIES about the response is unacceptable. The response to Katrina was much better than the media reported...as evidenced by the lower number of dead and by the lower number of homeless. Up until today, it was reported that 600,000 people were still in hotels. The truth, the number is 200,000 or lower. Once again, irresponsible journalism used to incite the American public.

But, when the media is wrong, such as in Rathergate where Dan Rather used forged documents to make up a story, the media turns a blind eye and pretends they might have been right. "It's the substance of the story" is what Rather said. Nevermind the fact the story is completely fabricated. Where are the journalists apologies for lying to the American public?

Which brings me to this...Iraq voted to approve a constitution over the weekend. Women were allowed to vote for the first time ever in that country. Over 60% of the eligible voters voted...a huge feat for that country. Where was the media for that? No where...why? Because they would have to admit that Iraq is moving forward and maybe, just maybe, the mission there is turning out to be successful. But that would mean the media has been lying again over the course of this action. And lord forbid the media ever admit they are WRONG.

Let the Whining in South Bend Begin

OH NO!!! NOTRE DAME IS 16th IN THE BCS POLLS! SIXTEENTH!!! It's unheard of...16th! I mean, isn't this the Notre Dame that pushed USC to the brink. I mean, they should be 2nd in the polls so we can have that great showdown. They deserve another shot at the National Champs. It's NOTRE DAME. What? What's that you say? Notre Dame has lost TWICE? No...can't be. Oh, yeah, Michigan State.

What is all this whining about Notre Dame being 16th in the BCS? Big deal. If they would win out, they'll end up in the BCS. If they lose again, they'll be in the Gator Bowl. That's the way it works folks...if this were the last week for the BCS instead of the first, I would understand the concern...but there is a lot of football left. If ND is so concerned about the BCS, they should have joined the Big East in football and been in a position to get an automatic bid. But THEY chose not too...they turned their back on the Big East when teams were talking about leaving and, therefore we lost Va. Tech, BC and Miami and nearly our automatic BCS bowl. Pardon me if I don't feel pain for the Irish. They're not undefeated...they're 4-2. And they gave up 44 points and lost AT HOME to Michigan State and AT HOME to USC. Granted, they've had a great turnaround but they are not a top 5 teams. Just because the media orgasms every time they hear the name Charlie Weiss and just love the tradition of ND doesn't make them a top 5 team. Only winning makes them top 5 and I see 2 (TWO) losses on their record.

What is a travesty is West Virginia is ranked 20th in the AP & Coaches poll. The computers have us ranked 12th...which is a little high. 15th sounds about right to me...but, once again, while the media loves USC and ND and the ACC and SEC, they hate the Big East with a passion because we're not the "elite" schools. If Louisville or Pitt were undefeated right now, they would be everywhere because that means the sportswriters predictions were right...but, since they're not, the Big East is nowhere to be seen and it's a shame.

But, in defense of that media snubbing, WVU is projected to go to the Sugar Bowl and, if they win out, they probably will. A 10-1 record sounds nice and we'd probably move into the Top-10 in the polls. But don't expect a lot of gushing about what a great season it was for the Mountaineers on ESPN and whatnot. Until we can win a few bowl games, don't expect a lot of accolades to befall this team...if we play Georgia or LSU, expect them to predict a blowout and until we can stop it from happening, don't expect much respect for the Big East.

More Sports from the Weekend

DON'T MISS THE WVU WRAPUP BELOW!
I said there were a lot of things to cover...the last post just started it...here's more:

East Fairmont won on Friday to improve to 5-3. This is a team that let University beat them in the 4th quarter 34-33 and lost of North Marion, at team they are clearly better than. Had either of those games gone the other way, EFHS would be looking at securing a playoff spot for the first time since 1976. Instead, they need to beat Buckhannon-Upshur and West Side to get into the playoffs...but, I will tell you now, I have faith. I think it might actually happen...and I'm predicting now that EFHS will upset BU this weekend.

• Aren't you glad you're not a Vikings fan? Mike Tice will be gone soon...and some of the players may find themselves in the slammer for soliciting...what a franchise! It's a good thing they got rid of that trouble-maker Randy Moss.
• The Cardinals are imploding in the NL Championship Series. LaRussa got tossed and might be cracking under the pressure. The Astros look pretty collected.
• I found myself cheering for the Wahoos...Virginia beat Florida State. I enjoyed it. Looks like Bowden has an ego problem with one of this receivers. A wide receiver with an attitude problem...unheard of.
• USC will lose to Cal or UCLA. They have to...I can't put up with much more of the Trojans.
• Notre Dame lost but didn't move in the polls. They have lost 2 games now and remain in the top 10. What a joke.
• The Texans are horrendous.
• Can someone please put Temple out of this misery? I don't know how that team can even take the field. I know, they don't want to disappoint their 7 fans but give me a break.
• I'm guessing they are going to give out 17 Heisman's this year...all going to USC. The 17th will go to the 3rd string waterboy.

Ok...that's all for now...I'm sure there's more but I really have to do some work.

WHAT A WEEKEND FOR SPORTS!!!

Wow! What a weekend for sports! There's so many great games this weekend that it may take me a couple days to disect them all and get to what it means for everyone. But, let's start with the best...WVU v. Louisville:

First of all, I'm not mad at all the people who left Mountaineer Field early. I feel pity for them...it's a shame. They missed one of the greatest comebacks in Mountaineer history...and maybe one of the greatest games. Not the greatest of all time or anything...but it's up there. WVU comes back from 17 down in the 4th quarter...that doesn't happen often. And they continue to find a way to win without a passing game. If either quarterback could throw the ball, can you imagine how dangerous we might be.

Anyway, despite the fact the defense gave up nearly 300 yards in the first half, they managed to hold Louisville to only 17 points. That's pretty amazing. The defense did a lot of bending but never broke and they deserve a lot of credit for that. The offense was nowhere to be found though. And, the touchdown at the end of the first half was a shot through the heart...or so I thought.

I don't know what happened in the second half...it was a blur. We continued playing "small ball" by running and not doing a whole lot. The touchdown out of the locker room was big but UL came right back down to go up by 17. That's when a lot -- and I mean A LOT -- of people left. What a shame. But then something amazing happened and we mounted a comeback of monumental proportions. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Who woke up this team all the sudden? The onsides kickoff call was amazing...great coaching. The defense stood tall when they had to do so. Louisville basically folded.

The overtimes were great...the crowd was in a frenzy. The place was electric. It was awesome. So, now we control the Big East. If we win out, a 10-1 record is great and a Sugar Bowl or Fiesta Bowl berth is at hand. And, who knows, that could turn out alright. WVU gained some respect and maybe the Big East did too.

The downside: There were a lot of great games this weekend so the 3OT thriller didn't get the press it probably should have. The media still gives us no credit. I read more articles about Louisville not being able to play on the road then I did about WVU's great home win. One line that really fired me up talked about how WVU managed to avoid falling into a first place tie with Rutgers and Pittsburgh atop the Big East rather than talk about how we took control of the Big East. Why does the media put a negative spin on everything the Mountaineers do?

I read an article about the thousands of Mountaineer fans that rushed the field after the game. Where were they? I missed us rushing the field somehow. Why is it necessary to continue to perpetuate the stereotype that Mountaineer fans are out of control at any win that means anything. Fans didn't rush the field and the writer of that story should be smacked for saying so.

I thought the Louisville fans were nice and respectful. They were quiet during the Alma Mater and they applauded Don Nehlen. You won't get that out of Pitt fans. Unfortunately Mountaineer fans weren't that respectful...I saw more than one beer can fly into the see of red as they walked towards the stadium. That's not the type of rep we need...at least, not against the Cardinals. When it is towards Pitt or VTech fans, I can overlook those things...even though they still aren't right.

Overall, it was a great game and a great night. I feel sorry for the fans that left...they missed out on one of the greatest at Mountaineer Field. Now we can't have a letdown against USF or they will beat us...ask Louisville.

Other news:

• USC defeated Notre Dame in case you hadn't heard. Oh, how could you not have? I saw more coverage on that game than I have the entire Iraq operation. Give me a break! I hate USC and ND.
• Penn State lost in a great game. I'm disappointed by that. But can you imagine getting to play Penn State in the BCS bowl? Wouldn't that be awesome?
• Marshall won. Wow...over UAB. Wow.
• The White Sox are advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1959. I just hope the Astros can get there too.
• Tommy Maddox is horrible.

Steelers Win!

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I Went 5-1 This Week!!!

Yes folks, 5-1 on the week...an outstanding record if I say so. Maybe Air Bud didn't get put in the game and maybe North Marion didn't forfeit (but they probably should have), but my win/loss was 5-1 and I was brilliantly close on some of my predictions. If only Robert C. Byrd would have shown up at Bridgeport this week, I would have been perfect. Oh well, I guess you can't win them all...but you can lose them all...just ask Elkins. Haha...

Anyway, tonight is Monday Night Football with the Steelers playing the San Diego Chargers. If this were a Sunday game, I'd pick the Chargers, but on Monday night, I have to go with the Steelers. Cowher is nearly invincible on Monday Night Football...so, Steelers 24 - Chargers 20.

In other news, the Yankees are still alive in MLB playoffs and so are the Sox. The WHITE SOX...haha. I'll try to be nice and not rub it in too much...but it is funny. Regardless of whether the Yankees advance or not, it doesn't matter much at this point.

And did you see that Astros game? 18 innings...Roger Clemens coming out of the bullpen and pinch hitting. Two Grand Slams. And the Braves, as usual, choked. That's always good stuff too. Bobby Cox, for the 84th consecutive year explaining why the Braves can't win a World Series...I always look forward to that.

Oh, and did anyone else see Chris Henry catch 2 passes for like 70 yards and a touchdown on one drive last night? The one catch was pretty good, I'll admit. But I still don't like the guy at all. But, my disdain for Chad Johnson is right up there too so I figure before the year is out the two of them might get into a good fight and that will be funny.

Anyway, that's about all I can think of right now...going to do some work. Later...

Football Predictions

Because EFHS plays on a Thursday this week, I have to do my predictions a day early and I'm not happy about that...but here goes:

East Fairmont v. Lewis County
Coming off their disappointing loss at North Marion, the Bees will be looking to rebound against dismal Lewis County. It should be a blowout...but not so fast my friends. Lewis County will hang with the Bees all night and it will be 26-20 East going into the 4th quarter. Lewis County scores with 4:00 remaining to tie the game up (of course they can't get an extra point). So, with 2:00 minutes left, Haddox pulls out his secret weapon...Air Bud. Yes folks, all this time Coach Haddox has had Air Bud hidden away. Why he didn't use him last week is beyond me but he's here tonight against Lewis County.

Immediately Leonard throws to the open Air Bud who drives us down the field without problem. Air Bud is one fast dog. But with :23 left and no time outs, the Bees have only made it to the Lewis County 40-yard line. So, the Bees line up for a field goal attempt. The snap is back and Air Bud kicks a 57-yard field goal for the win. Wow...what a game. Air Bud will definitely be getting a treat after this one. Unfortunately the treat was a free trip to France where the French government used him for shark bait. Ah well, we still win the game. East 29 - Lewis Co. 26.

West Fairmont v. Buckhannon
Another tight game at East/West Stadium as the Bears host the Buccaneers. West Fairmont leads by three and has the ball with only 1:34 remaining and things seem to be cruising along well until a spaceship appears over the stadium and pulls L.D. up into the ship. Apparently just your typical probing stuff...not sure. Anyway, the West Side players are so rattled by this turn of events that they leave the field. Buckhannon, not really caring about L.D., stays on the field and wins by forfeit. What a shame. Buckhannon wins.

North Marion v. Morgantown
Learning from last weeks debacle when Preston took the field against Morgantown, North Marion decides to forfeit and, instead, make the Morgantown players buckwheat cakes like the Preston Knights promised to. The Morgantown players are so touched by this display that they only injure 3 North Marion players despite the fact no one took the field. Morgantown wins.

Bridgeport v. Lincoln
Bridgeport defeated RCB last week. Now is time for the revenge of Byrd. Robert C. Byrd missed last weeks game because he got confused as to what year it was...but he'll make his way to Lincoln and inspire them to beat the Indians. He rallies the clan to pull the upset. Lincoln 34 - Bridgeport 29

Virginia Tech v. Marshall
Well, Coach Snyder isn't going to be feeling like a princess this week, that's for sure. The Hokies, despite the absence of Marcus Vick (I'm not even getting into it), easily handle the Herd. Frank Beamer's goiter is overheard saying "You know what, that Coach Snyder would be an excellent princess." Virginia Tech 48 - Marshall 10

West Virginia @ Rutgers
The Scarlet Knights are no pushover like they used to be. And after the antics of Chris Henry last year, they'll be looking for revenge. Now, my question is: How in the world do we play 2 years in a row at Rutgers? But, that's for another story...Rutgers comes out pumped up and takes a 14-0 lead. Things look bleak for the Mountaineers until there is a disturbance in the crowd. Chris Henry has shown up at the game...and he's ready to play.

After individually going through the crowd and assaulting everyone, Henry takes the field as quarterback and passes the ball to himself and scores touchdown after touchdown. He's that good folks. Following the game, Henry thanks himself and punches a little girl in the face because she has an R on her cheek. After that, Henry tears down the goal posts and carries it back to his house. He's that strong folks. Anyway, West Virginia 35 - Rutgers 21.

That's all folks...just wait, it's going to happen.

That other school..

Thanks for the reminder Jennifer...I forgot to put up a prediction for our other in-state Div. I-A school...that being -- ummm, give me a second. It'll come to me. Anyway, that school won this weekend and the Mountaineers lost. You know who I'm talking about...Byron Leftwich got carried down the field there...and what's his name, the receiver guy, played there.

MARSHALL...that's it. Whew, almost forgot. Anyway, they had an epic battle this weekend against the football powerhouse of Southern Methodist University or, for those in the know, SMU. For those who don't know SMU, they are one of the very few schools that have ever been issued the "death penalty" by the NCAA. Those sanctions were placed in 1987 and remained until 1991. Since then, SMU has racked up an astouding 47-119-3 record. And they were 1-3 coming into the game against Marshall, including a 66-8 loss to Texas A&M.

Well, with that said, you knew it was going to be a struggle...I mean, a football great like SMU with players like Jerad Romo and DeMyron Martin coming into Marshall. In a classic battle that saw Marshall trail most of the game, the Blundering...err, Thundering Herd battled back to tie the game at 10 and force overtime. SMU scored a field goal in overtime but Bernie Morris scampered into the end zone to give the Herd a 16-13 win over the highly touted Mustang team.

"My legs came through for me tonight," said Morris, who led the team with 63 yards rushing on 15 carries. They sure did...and the Marshall fans knew it. They rushed the field and carried coach Mark Snyder off on their shoulders. It is believed he said "I feel like a princess" as he left the stadium.

Congratulations to Marshall who improved to 2-2 on the season. There are 7 games remaining on the Herd schedule but surely no one can be disappointed from this point on with a win over a team like SMU!

I was wrong...kinda

Well, apparently my predictions were a little off. East Fairmont lost and I didn't see any midgets at Husky Field. West Virginia lost and Frank's goiter never took the field. He did flip the bird to Mountaineer fans though. Jeff Hostetler didn't play either...but I think Don Nehlen was in on three plays. Robert C. Byrd didn't show up at the Bridgeport game and it cost his namesake the game. And Preston didn't forfeit...but they probably should have. I don't know if I should say I was 0-5 or 2-3. I think 2-3 sounds better...so that's what I'm going with.

As for other news, the Yankees completed the comeback of the season and beat the Red Sox for the AL East crown. Ah, that feels good. Yes, the Yankees are AL East Champions. Let me say it one more time: The YANKEES, not the Red Sox, the YANKEES, are AL East Champions.

Other than that, not much to speak of. I'll get some predictions up for football later this week. As for baseball, I'll get into it later. But, real quick, Yankees in 4, Sox in 5 (guess which one), Astros in 5 and Cardinals in 4.