The Old Blog

Oh, they haven’t quite yet. But they will.

Update:
They did.

I wonder how many of the people who are anti-Arab despite the actions of a few extremists (idiot rednecks who beat up local shopkeepers, Ann Coulter, etc.) will disregard the dispicable actions of US prison guards for being “just a couple of bad apples.”

I also wonder why it was OK for newspapers to run these stories with pictures, but not to show pictures of the flag-covered caskets of American soldiers.

Boston parking spots can cost six figures.

By Jayson Stark, in his latest “Really Useless Info” column, under “useless reader info” (towards the bottom).

He credits me with discovering the many ways Kenny Lofton grounded out during the first Red Sox/Yankees game this year, which I discussed here. The benefits from those company tickets just keep going!

I’m sure Barbara Walters and 16-year-old mom “Jessica” have the best of intentions with their new show “Be My Baby.” After all, the teenaged mother will probably get some money out of the deal, and any family that gets this kid will have to be damn good to avoid even more intense media scrutiny. Nevertheless, the idea of offering a baby as a “prize” on a reality show churns my stomach.

I just signed up for Google’s G-mail. It’s free and it’s a gig of storage, so if nothing else, I can email myself large files.

We are fighting in Iraq for freedom. … If it doesn’t appeal to you, shut the radio off. Just because you don’t like the words ‘anal sex,’ doesn’t make it indecent.

-Viacom President Mel Karmazin, proving there are still some high-ranking executives in the media industry who realize the importance of the First Amendment

Minnesota’s sports teams went through two heart-stopping games last night, one in which a team trailed until the final inning, and one in which a slim lead prevailed, despite two last-ditch shots to tie.

The Twins, showing plenty of pluck (as Henry Chadwick would have written), scored six runs in the final two innings for the second time in a week to come back and beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-4. Jacques Jones went 3-5 with the walk-off homer. Not surprisingly, he faced a right-handed pitcher for every at-bat. Someone please tell Gardy that he has one hell of a player on his hands–if Jones is held out of the lineup against lefties.

A timezone away, the Timberwolves celebrated their fourth straight instance of being the #2 game on the NBA’s schedule (behind the Hornets/Heat, for cripe’s sake) by barely hanging on for an emotional and pivotal win over Denver. In fact, I will go so far as to say the win tonight was the most important in the team’s history. It extended the series lead to 3-1, and avoided what would have been a gut-wrenching blow to the team’s confidence. Game 5 on Friday has been rescheduled, but still won’t air until 9:30. I guess anything’s better than having a weekday afternoon playoff game, though. Has any number-one seed ever had such an audience-avoiding schedule?

Weird fact of the day: the city of Denver had three teams from three professional sports visiting tonight (Wolves, Marlins, and Sharks, who will play tonight), and all three are staying in the same hotel.

“Buyer pays shipping and handling. Sale is final. Marriage isn’t.“

A lot has been said about Pat Tillman, and unfortunately, I was occupied much of the weekend, so I haven’t had the chance to throw in my two cents until now.

Pat Tillman was a brave man who lived–and died–by his convictions. He turned down multiple millions of dollars and went to a war zone with a group of the army’s most elite soldiers. But I have a hard time considering him any more of a hero than anybody else whose actions were similar.

Yeah, the teachers and recent high school grads who volunteered for the army after 9/11 didn’t have millions at stake when they did so, but that does not mean their sacrifices were any less than that of Tillman; all recruits offer the army their time and their lives–one of which they don’t get back, the other of which they have no guarantee of keeping.

Unfortunately, the media has fixated on Tillman alone. As Rob Ryder pointed out today (scroll to the bottom), there are even other football players who died in combat during the war on Saddam terror. While Lance Corporal Michael J. Smith Jr. wasn’t a pro, the disparity between the treatment of his death and that of Tillman indicates one of the more pressing reasons Tillman’s death has gotten so much press: the desire to sell more newspapers, raise the ratings, and generate web hits. Yes, it’s news that a professional football player died, but it should also be news when a doctor, or a mechanic, or an ROTC kid fulfilling their required service perishes, as well.

I’m also a little confused as to why the Cardinals have decided to retire Tillman’s number. NFL players who died in WWII and Vietnam were not similarly honored. Is it the prospect of selling out the stadium for at least one game next year (the retirement ceremony) that led to the team’s decision?

Nightline has the right idea: according to Americablog, this Friday’s episode will contain just the names and pictures of those who have fallen in the war on the guy who wanted to kill my daddy terror. Expect the Bush adminstration to denounce the decision, much like they did the pictures of caskets last week. Because, despite what I see in the Reuters raw feed at work, “things in Iraq are going according to schedule.” Right.

Finally, though it may not seem that way for some rightie, pro-war readers, I do greatly admire what Pat Tillman did and the decision he made. Hell, he volunteered to go to war. Eli Manning wouldn’t even go to San Diego.

Thanks to Wonkette for the “schedule” link.