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They Don’t Build Cars Like They Used To — They Build Them Better

Posted by on Jan 21, 2014 in Blog, Politics, Travel | 1 comment

 

chevrolet-bel-air-chevrolet-malibu

 

How often do we hear the saying….” they don’t build things like they used to?”

I suppose there’s truth to some older things having more style.  It’s hard to top the fashions and fads from many years ago.

But the fact is, just about everything made today is now better and safer than it used to be.  Especially cars, thanks in no small measure to consumer activist Ralph Nader, the pioneer for American automobile safety.

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The Player We Should All Be Talking About Instead: NaVorro Bowman

Posted by on Jan 20, 2014 in Blog, Sports Betting | 1 comment

 

NaVorro Bowman

 

Lost in all the hype and controversy surrounding Seattle’s victory over San Francisco in the NFC Championship game, and the combustible post-game interview given by Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, was the extraordinary self-sacrifice of 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman.

I’ve been watching NFL football for more than four decades.  That excruciating play in the fourth quarter at the goal line was one of the most courageous and selfless acts I’ve ever witnessed in the heat of competition.  It bears noting and remembering, especially since it might cost this player his playing career.  According to early reports, that’s how bad the injury was.

For those needing the instant replay, at a critical junction of the game, Seattle’s wide receiver fumbled the ball at the one-yard line.  The ball was plucked in midair by Bowman, who then began an involuntarily fall towards the turf.  At that instant, his leg became twisted underneath another player and as his descent progressed, the knee buckled and snapped.  For a football player, it’s perhaps the very worst kind of injury.  Like a racehorse breaking a leg.

The injury was reminiscent of the Joe Theisman broken leg injury many years ago.  Television kept showing the incident over and over again until you finally had to turn away.  No matter who you rooted for, it was painful to watch.

WATCH NAVORRO BOWMAN PLAY/INJURY HERE

Unfortunately, injuries are a part of football.  Players get injured all the time.  What qualifies NaVorro’s effort as courageous, however, was that he somehow managed to hold onto the ball, despite what must have been a gruelingly painful experience.  Not many players, if any, could have retained possession of the ball while enduring such pain.

The terrible irony of the incident lies in what happened afterward.  Two things, really.

First, in yet another illustration of the abominable rules in force in the NFL, somehow Bowman’s recovery of the ball wasn’t a fumble.  In a mind-boggling synopsis of absurdity and inconsistency, the play was not only “not subject to review,” the ball was given to Seattle at the one-yard line, even though the 49ers player came away with the ball, at the cost of what might be his NFL career.

By the way, this isn’t the perspective of a San Francisco fan.  Not only was I cheering for the opposing team Seattle, but I also had money on the Seahawks.  But fair is fair, and right is right.  Moreover, it doesn’t matter what happened on the next play, which was an actual fumble.  What matters is this — the NFL continues to have rules in force that remain a constant source of controversy and officiating crews that are atrocious.

The second indignity took place a few minutes later when Bowman was strapped to a cart and was wheeled towards the locker room for treatment.  As he left the field and headed into the tunnel passing Seattle fans, he was showered with popcorn from some idiots who obviously lack a brain.  I can’t even imagine something like this happening.  Had I been there and witnessed that, there would have been a fistfight and probably an arrest (me).

Make no mistake.  Navarro Bowman cost me serious money last week in the Carolina game, where he anchored two defensive stops on the goal line.  He did his very best to cost me money again yesterday, by sacrificing his body for his team in a critical spot.  That said, I sure do respect Bowman and I hope he somehow recovers from his injury.

I won’t be rooting for San Francisco anytime soon.  But I sure will be rooting for Bowman.

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The Worst Person in the Universe: Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA)

Posted by on Jan 20, 2014 in Blog, Politics | 4 comments

 

frank-wolf

 

Note:  This is the first in a new series called “Worst Person in the Universe.”  It’s a bastard ripoff of  Larry Flynt’s “Asshole of the Month” column which used to appear in Hustler, and Kieth Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World” television segment on MSNBC.  This month’s playmate is Republican Congressman Frank Wolf, of Virginia.

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Fleming’s Steakhouse Grand Opening

Posted by on Jan 17, 2014 in Blog, Las Vegas, Restaurant Reviews | 3 comments

 

nolan-dalla

 

One of our favorite restaurants has opened its second Las Vegas location.  Tonight was the grand opening.

Fleming’s Steakhouse, of Summerlin fame, opened up location number two on the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, in Town Square.

We were among the first diners to arrive this evening and were the first to pay, which I suppose officially makes us Customer Number 1.

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