Tracking the sports scandals

Considering little of sporting importance is supposed to happen in July, it's a great month for a vacation, which is why nearly everyone except me takes one.

Only this July has turned out like no other. Indictments, drug scandals and humiliated commissioners -- and no, not talking about Barry Bonds. Hell, Barry looks like a Boy Scout compared to Michael Vick and Tim Donaghy, and that's just the top of the list.

Here's a few quick hits of the month nearly passed. With so much foolishness, maybe all of sports should consider taking some time off:

• The irony of the NBA's crooked referee scandal is that the league's critics have been bashing it for years because its players are too bold, too brash and, let's face it, too black for some people's comfort.

And then it's the clean-cut white guy who ruins the whole thing.

• There's no excuse for dog fighting, but why doesn't everyone get even remotely as outraged about all the pro athletes who beat up women? That's practically an every-week crime.

• I all but gave up on cycling some time ago -- great sport, lots of cheating; even Lance Armstrong was implicated yet cleared -- but how does anyone remain a fan when UCI president Pat McQuaid says the following about Tour de Farce leader Michael Rasmussen: "It would be better if somebody else were to win. The last thing this sport needs is more speculation about doping."

Rasmussen was removed from the race Wednesday.

• And why was anyone surprised by Gary Player's claim that some PGA pros are on the juice, too? People cheat in every walk of life -- religion, charity, government, marriage. Why would golfers tempted by millions of dollars be the only honest bunch left out there?

• Then there's the poor NHL, which can't even get a good scandal going.

• I ruefully admit to watching part of one segment of "Who's Now?," the SportsCenter series so ridiculously bad it makes Chris Berman continuing to ruin the home run derby seem reasonable.

Matt Leinart was up against Tiger Woods (I think) and, I swear, one of Leinart's attributes was that he may have hooked up with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. This was cited as a positive. And Mike Wilbon went along with it. I saw this happen. Really.

That's a wretched two minutes of my life I can never do over.

In August -- maybe even before we exit July -- Bonds will break Aaron's home record, Tom Glavine will get his 300th win, and some of the focus will turn to baseball playoffs and the anticipation of football season. It has to get better for the sporting life -- doesn't it?

What a Threat We Have in Cheeses

Houston -- and America: we don't have a problem. If you're stupid enough to be alarmed by this, then by all means stay tuned to Dancing With the Stars.

Hat tip to Steve Bates for the headline.

More bloggerrhea ...

-- You've been getting ripped off at the pump by the oil companies, for as long as there's been motor fuel and hot summers, in ways you probably never imagined. Never forget what our nation's finest are fighting, bleeding, and dying for. Record profits.

-- Democratic "centrists" get snubbed by every single presidential candidate. Of course this is a political calculation, especially by the early polling leader. See, she actually benefits from being criticized by progressives -- like me -- because it gives her the opportunity to present herself as unbeholden to the party's base.

-- OMFG Dept.: Alberto Gonzales is a liar, and there's a paper trail to prove it.

You don't think he could be forced to resign, do you?

-- Are we there yet?

The America that would accept this kind of edict in silence is not the America that we grew up in. Something has changed. We are poised to accept this like we've accepted every other insult. It's hard to imagine that, even when bloggers and other dissenters start losing their property, that there will be tens of thousands in the streets to protect us. As long as the forms are still there, and the system continues to do what it must to sustain itself, we will simply be collateral damage.

If we accept the forcible removal of our property without due process, forcible removal of our lives will not be far behind. And there are people eager to accomplish this: according to Barna Research, there are about 50 million hardcore fundamentalists who have been eagerly awaiting the day, training and planning and praying for the chance to do just that -- to take out their frustrations on the liberal traitors whom they have been taught to believe are responsible for everything that's wrong with their lives. They believe, in their bones, we have stabbed God's America in the back; and they are out for vengeance. This is the edict that will provide "legal" support and justification for their first tentative steps toward mob rule.

Are we there yet? Not quite. But Bush has just put the capstone on the doorway leading to the coming fascist state. Whether your own B clause is a passport or a gun, it's probably time to make sure both are in good working order.

Lighter-fare links ahead.

-- The Ten Commandments of Cellular Telephone Etiquette. My personal most grating:

1. Thou shalt not subject defenseless others to cell phone conversations. When people cannot escape the banality of your conversation, such as on the bus, in a cab, on a grounded airplane, or at the dinner table, you should spare them. People around you should have the option of not listening. If they don't, you shouldn't be babbling.

5. Thou shalt not dial while driving. In all seriousness, this madness has to stop. There are enough people in the world who have problems mastering vehicles and phones individually. Put them together and we have a serious health hazard on our hands.

-- This story made me want to run away and join the circus.

-- And I missed this last Sunday, but San Antonio and Austin can still catch it:

The Uncathon event is to raise money for Port Arthur blues legend "Uncle" John Turner, who has played with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Johnny Winter, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix and a number of other blues luminaries.

Update (today, from commenter Bev): RIP, Uncle John.

John Cornyn dressed as a Rove cheerleader (and assorted postpourri)

Or you can make him put on a lapdog outfit, complete with a box turtle. Yes, you. You can do it.

Is there no shame too great for Alberto Gonzales to endure? Apparently not.

Right, Greg takes it in stride. Good; we mean it all in fun -- just so long as Rick Noriega gets elected, that is. You can still be one of those Great 800 with as little as one dollar.

Last night I took my nephew to the ballgame. It was a fine time:

They stood throughout Minute Maid Park in the sixth inning Tuesday night, focused on Craig Biggio at the plate. In the home dugout and in the stands, they craved one of those storybook moments that rarely materialize the way fans and players see them in their dreams.

Only six hours after Biggio had shown gratitude for being able to write his own retirement script and announcing this will be his last season as a major league player, the Astros icon added the perfect ending to his monumental day.

The bases were loaded, and the score was tied. The crowd of 38,247 was on its feet and sending a raucous echo through Minute Maid Park. As if straight from central casting, Biggio rewarded his fans with a grand slam into the Crawford Boxes. ...

"I didn't even feel like I was touching the bases at times," said Biggio, 41, who will retire after his 20th season, all in Houston. "It was just a magical, magical day. I topped it off with an unbelievable ending."

Like an obedient servant to the adoring masses, Biggio responded to the "BIG-GI-O! BIG-GI-O!" chants by tipping his cap during a curtain call.

You know, Greg? You're right.

Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and again. Eye on Williamson says it a little nicer than me, but that's because he doesn't know you as well as I.

Goalposts will be moved. 800 donors by the end of September is more reasonable, and all of us Kool Kidz appreciate your suggestion.

Now ... about that candidate of yours currently leading in the polls? Nnnnnot so much.

P.S. I thought this watch party announcement was plenty enough 'equal treatment'.

Almost post-debate bloggerhea

Edwards' "Hair" video:



Dodd's Talk Clock:


Poll of Kossacks:

Who is currently your favorite 2008 candidate?
Hillary Clinton
9% 1293 votes
Barack Obama
26% 3612 votes
John Edwards
37% 5204 votes
Bill Richardson
5% 777 votes
Chris Dodd
0% 136 votes
Joe Biden
0% 128 votes
Dennis Kucinich
4% 563 votes
Mike Gravel
1% 176 votes
No Freakin' Clue
5% 790 votes
Other
7% 1093 votes

13772 votes

Update (7/24): Gary has a comprehensive summary.

A beer with Brad

Brad Friedman came to town last week and a group of us progressive, election-integrity-concerned types were privileged to spend a casual evening with him (and his lovely girlfriend/producer). He's in Houston to do his radio gig again:

Beginning on Wednesday, I'll be guest-hosting the Peter B. Collins Show for a week and a half, Monday through Fridays from 3p - 6p PT (6p - 9p ET, or 5p - 8p CT on our Houston clock) and hope you'll tune in to one of Peter's affiliate stations, or via the Internet for whatever trouble-making we end up cooking up.

We'll be broadcasting each day out of the facilities of KPFT, as generously offered by the good folks of Houston's Pacifica Radio affiliate station there. We're very much looking forward to it, as we've not been on the air for such a long stint in quite a while. The last time would also have been out of Texas, during the Summer of 2005 from "Camp Casey," where we took the old BRAD SHOW on the road for our special "Operation Noble Cause" broadcasts from the middle of one damned hot cow pasture.

That's where I first saw Brad, at the Crawford Peace House, doing his show in the sweltering late August heat, the weekend before Katrina hit New Orleans.

If you're not in California you can listen to Brad live here.

Monday July 23rd: Debate and Impeachment events

Club 44 Democratic Debate Watch Party

Monday, July 23, 2007 from 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM

Gs and Zs, 4412 Almeda, Houston, TX 77004

Please join Honorary Host, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Co- Hosts Carol Alvarado, Sue Lovell, and Annise Parker for the Democratic presidential debate taking place on July 23rd. All across the country, thousands of women and men will be watching at house parties as part of Club 44: Make History with Hillary! We'll hear from a special guest and get a campaign insider's analysis via a conference call from the debate site in South Carolina immediately following the debate.

Houston Area Endorsements:

Houston City Councilwoman and President of the Texas Municipal League Carol Alvarado, Former Houston Mayor Lee Brown, Council Member Sue Lovell, Comptroller Annise Parker, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas Arthur Schechter, State Senator Mario V. Gallegos Jr., State Representative Hubert Vo, State Representative Senfronia Thompson, DNC Member Denise Johnson, State Democratic Executive Committeewoman Rose A. Salas, Former Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan and Sylvia Quan, Texas Young Democrats President Shondra Wygal, State Democratic Executive Committeeman Lloyd Criss, Chairman of the Texas Democratic County Chair Association Sharon Teal of Livingston, TX

RSVP via email to Natakoerber@sbcglobal.net

Also:

July 23, 2007, is the fifth anniversary of the Downing Street Meeting, the assembly at Number 10 Downing Street at which the head of British intelligence reported that Bush and Cheney were intent on invading Iraq and were going to "fix the intelligence and facts around the policy." The meeting was recorded in the Downing Street Minutes which were leaked in May 2005. It was then that we launched AfterDowningStreet.org.

Monday, July 23rd, Cindy Sheehan will lead a march from Arlington National Cemetery at 10 a.m. to Capitol Hill, to the office of Congressman John Conyers to ask him to move forward with impeachment. We will wear orange that day, a color that has come to stand for nonviolent revolution. We encourage as many people as possible to join us, and if you cannot, to phone Congressman Conyers' office that day asking him to move forward on impeachment: (202) 225-5126.

Cindy Sheehan plans to announce her candidacy that day for Congress, challenging Speaker Nancy Pelosi to represent the 8th District of California. Sheehan's candidacy is motivated by Pelosi's actively blocking the impeachment of Cheney and Bush, but Sheehan won't run if Pelosi endorses impeachment. Please phone Pelosi's office right away and as often as you can to encourage her to support impeachment: (202) 225-0100.

The 23rd in DC is part of a march from Texas to New York. Cindy Sheehan, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, and others are leading a march/drive from Crawford, Texas, to New York City. The march will include stops at the district offices of House Judiciary Committee Members Mel Watt and Bobby Scott. You can organize a meeting, protest, honk-a-thon, or sit-in at your Congressmember's office. One way to get organized is with this system. You can find events and create them here. And you can meet people in Facebook. Below is the route and a link for more information and to get involved.

July 10 Crawford Tx Houston Tx
July 11 Houston Tx. New Orleans La.
July 12 New Orleans La. Montgomery Al.
July 13 Montgomery Al. Ft. Benning Ga
July 14 Ft. Benning Ga Atlanta Ga.
July 15 Atlanta Ga. Gainsville Ga.
July 16 Ganisville Ga. Clemson SC
July 17 Clemson SC Charlotte NC
July 18 Charlotte NC Greensboro NC
July 19 Greensboro NC Lynchburg VA
July 20 Lynchburg VA Charlottesville VA (rally at 6 p.m.)
July 21 Charlottesville VA Richmond VA
July 22 Richmond VA Arlington VA
July 23 Arlington Cem White House/ Capitol
July 23 Washington DC Philadelphia PA
July 24 Philadelphia PA Allentown PA
July 25 Allentown PA New York City NY
July 26 United Nations Action
July 27 Begin to Gather at Central Park
July 28 TBA
July 29 Gathering of Hearts Fest Central Park
http://www.thecampcaseypeaceinstitute.org