Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Twenty Five Coolest Athletes of All Time

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to Mad Dog Radio on Sirus.  They were talking about a GQ article titled above. I thought what a cool idea, I would build my own list and then compare.  Knowing the way most of these things go the publications list would be tilted toward the more recent athletes.
Here is my list.
  1. Muhammad Ali, a boxer of unmatched skill, not my favorite mind you, I was a Frazier fan, poetic, handsome and great with the press.
  2. Paul Hornung, the "Golden Boy", Heisman Trophy winner, gambled, an aura of cool even now.
  3. Willie Mays, the "Say Hey Kid", as a young man the embodiment of joy in baseball.
  4. Joe Namath, quarterback, brash enough to guarantee a Super Bowl win, popular enough to model pantyhose.
  5. Wilt Chamberlin, arguably the best basketball player ever, banged all those women, an unabashed man's man.
  6. Walt Frazier, Clyde the Glide, played with cool precision in the biggest NBA town in basketball, a career that formed a persona that lasts today.
  7. Mickey Mantle, The Mick, with the Yankees of the 50's and 60's, set the standard in the Big Apple for making bars and nightclubs popular, hard drinker and a fantastic baseball player.  Best switch hitter ever.
  8. Joe DiMaggio, Joltin Joe, the man who married Monroe, played baseball with unparalleled grace.
  9. Don Meredith, Dandy Don, not the greatest athlete but a very good quarterback, his singing and enjoyment of life made Monday Night Football what it is.
  10. Dizzy Dean, the Cardinal pitcher of the Gas House Gang, a ringleader of the coolest baseball team ever.
  11. Dennis Rodman, started as the shy kid draft to the Pistons after John Salley, became the best rebounder of his era, crazy enough to dress any way he wanted, started the tattoo fad present now in the NBA.  Bagged Madonna, which I guess is not that big of a deal, and tons of white trash hooker types.  A man who just doesn't give a shit what people think.
  12. Michael Jordan, I had trouble with this one, but his drive as a player made him the marketing man of his time, if he backed it, it sold.
  13. Fred Williamson, The Hammer, good looking football player of the 60's, got his ass handed to him by Donnie Anderson in the first Super Bowl, moved on to movies and 40 years later is still at it.
  14. Walter Payton, joy for the game and an illustrious career, made this tough running back a favorite of all. 
  15. Yogi Berra, the catcher for the Yankees during their most successful run, a smart man who managed as well, a penchant for saying in an inarticulate but fun way.
  16. Babe Ruth
  17. Casey Stengel,  the first baseball manager that worked the press, successfully, while winning tons of games.
  18. Jim Brown, the greatest running back, handsome, a decent actor who in the Dirty Dozen made himself immortal for the second time. 
  19. Ted Hendricks, The Stork, smart smart smart football player, marches to his own piper, great player.
  20. Jimmy Conners, played tennis like a demon over along career, dated Chris Evert and married a Playboy Playmate.
  21. Bjorn Borg, another tennis player, cool under pressure, dominating for an extended period.
  22. Joe Montana, cool in all the big games of his career, another handsome quarterback who had enough sense to stay within his game.
  23. Satchel Paige, when he made it to the majors he was already an old man, knocked em dead, great mannerisms.
  24. Pele, brought soccer to North America, a man of boundless joy for his sport.
  25. Wayne Gretsky, the best hockey scorer ever, handsome, lots of trophies.
 Here's the list from GQ.
  1. Muhammad Ali:  A MATCH
  2. Mario Andretti:   I guess I can see it, but if you have Mario, wouldn't Richard Petty be a better choice, a more accomplished driver, with a far more recognizable persona.  I DO NOT AGREE.
  3. Arthur Ashe:  No freaking way! Granted a torch bearer for his race, a good man who died far too young. But, the man was a dullard.  I DO NOT AGREE.
  4. George Best:  Don't know about the guy, I guess he was a soccer player.  I DO NOT AGREE.
  5. Bjorn Borg: A MATCH
  6. Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen, at a NY gala in 2009. Montana = Brady so I guess I have to agree, six of one, half dozen of the other.  I ACCEPT.
  7. Jim Brown:  A MATCH
  8. Julius Erving: Dr. J still sets the record as the nickname that causes the most excitement with the fewest letters.  Erving > Rodmann.  I ACCEPT.
  9. Walt Frazier: If Denzel Washington had ever decided to do a biopic of an NBA player, Clyde is who he would have played. A MATCH
  10. Bob Gibson: A mean SOB, great player but a mean SOB.  I DO NOT AGREE.
  11. Allen Iverson:  Poster boy for selfish behavior, will do prison time after his basketball career ends.  I DO NOT AGREE
  12. Bo Jackson: Great football player, above average baseball player but he was no Jim Brown and his career was way too short.  I DO NOT AGREE
  13. Michael Jordan:  A MATCH
  14. Jean-Claude Killy:  A skier, their careers last what about one winter season.  I DO NOT AGREE
  15. Evel Knievel:   Unique.  I ACCEPT.
  16. Tim Lincecum: A three year pitcher who can't talk? No way. DO NOT AGREE
  17. Pete Maravich was a ball-handling marvel.  Pistol Pete was so artistic with a basketball he made two generations of sportswriters look up the spelling on Baryshnikov. I like the style.  I ACCEPT.
  18. Joe Namath: His Super Bowl guarantee was so cool that we're willing to overlook that thing with Suzy Kolber. A MATCH
  19. Arnold Palmer: He's the only man in U.S. history who got to have his own army without going to boot camp. If you have to include golfers, ok. I ACCEPT.
  20. PelĂ©:  A MATCH
  21. Gary Player:   One golfer was pushing it and Player wasn't Palmer. DO NOT AGREE
  22. Derek Sanderson: The guy must have played hockey in New York because they think everybody there is the greatest, Gretsky has no equal.  DO NOT AGREE
  23. Kelly Slater: Never heard of him.  Is he the burn out that does the American Express commercials?  DO NOT AGREE
  24. Ken Stabler:  A cool customer on the field, had some personality but still a stretch. DO NOT AGREE.
  25. Ted Turner: Is anyone in a yachting cap cool? Only if they owned the Braves and squired Jane Fonda for a few years.  As relates to sports, the Braves and the Americas Cup, a definitely cool man. I ACCEPT.
Seven matches.
Six more that I agreed with their choice over my own.
That leaves twelve that GQ completely whiffed on.
The losers need to keep to judging metrosexual clothing for gay men.

I like my list better.

Gas or Beer


I think when you compare measures, it is not cheaper yet.  Unless they still have some of those beer joints that sell beer out of the keg.   Ansley Mall used to have such a thing, you could bring a gallon milk jug with a screw on cap and fill up for a dollar.  The sign is funny.



Sunday, March 27, 2011

The Camp of the Saints

One of my Christmas presents was a green covered book.  Had never heard of it so I did a little digging and piqued my interest.  Most reviews suggest that if you are squeamish about politically incorrect positions to stay away.  The warning was true.
In 1973 Jean Raspail authored the book The Camp of the Saints. It carries only a couple of hundred pages single space text, translated from French, the book is a tough to digest.  The story is riveting, the poverty stricken masses of India have commandeered over a hundred ships and are sailing for better homes.  The western countries know that one of their beaches is their destination and become excited over the proposition of being able to share their bounty, an opportunity to wrest supremacy from the colonialists.  In the minority of people, those that want to protect their homeland from mongrelization, realize that they do not have the resolve to do what is necessary.  Those that are willing are overwhelmed in the end.
In the afterward, written in 1982, Raspail described how the pen won out, the ending he pictured in his mind's eye would be like so many feel good endings, the doomed winning over impossible odds, no, the brave and culturally secure die in this story.
This is a worthwhile book to read.
Thank you Dustin.

Friday, March 11, 2011

MegaVote: GA 13th, 3/7/2011

All the votes about the det ceiling are a bunch of crap.  Congressmen should simply pass a resolution that says we'll spend whatever money we deenm necessary.  That's the result I always see, artificial barriers are artificial.  I think the thing has been raised 16 times in the last 5 years, something like that.
That David Scott voted to repeal part of the Healthcare program is pleasing, if not surprising.

Congress.org (congress.org) presents: M E G A V O T E  
March 7, 2011

In this MegaVote for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes -
* Senate: Short-term Continuing Resolution
* House: Short-term Continuing Resolution
* House: Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011

Upcoming Congressional Bills -
* Senate: Patent Reform Act of 2011
* House: FHA Refinance Program Termination Act
* House: Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act
Recent Senate Votes:
Short-term Continuing Resolution
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=29&chamber=S&congress=1121
Vote Agreed to (91-9)

The Senate gave final approval to this continuing resolution funding government operations through March 18, 2011.  Passage of the CR gives lawmakers time to work out a long-term solution to the 2011 fiscal year budget.  The president signed it into law later that day.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES
Recent House Votes:
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term Continuing Resolution
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=154&chamber=H&congress=1121
Vote Passed (335-91, 6 Not Voting)

The House passed this continuing resolution funding government operations through March 18, 2011.  Passage of the CR gives lawmakers time to work out a long-term solution to the 2011 fiscal year budget.  The president signed it into law the next day.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=162&chamber=H&congress=1121
Vote Passed (314-112, 6 Not Voting)

The House voted to repeal a provision of the 2010 health care bill requiring businesses to report payments to vendors over $600 to the Internal Revenue Service.  There is support in the Senate for repeal, but the two chambers disagree on how to offset the cost of repeal.
Rep. David Scott voted YES
Upcoming Votes:
Patent Reform Act of 2011 - S.23
The Senate is scheduled to work on this bill that would overhaul the nation's patent laws.

FHA Refinance Program Termination Act - H.R.830
The House is scheduled to take up this bill that would end a Federal Housing Administration program intended to aid homeowners who owe more than their homes are worth.

Emergency Mortgage Relief Program Termination Act - H.R.836
The House is also expected to take up this bill that would end a Department of Housing and Urban Development program that provides loans to unemployed homeowners facing foreclosure.

MegaVote is powered by the CQ-Roll Call Group (http://corporate.cqrollcall.com)
Copyright (c) 2011.


Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The New Ruger

Compliments of Dustin....

Ruger has just announced that they are coming out with a new pistol in honor of Barack Obama.
It will be named the "Union Worker".
It doesn't work and you can't fire it.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Victory in Georgia

Every day I get email from NumbersUSA, most of the news is depressing. Today something not depressing, the state House passed an E-Verify bill by a vote of 113 to 56.
Teh proposed law would require the use of the SAVE system prior to the issuance of of public benefits and allow law enforcement officers to enforce federal immigration laws.
A different Georgia Senate version just made it through committee, there will have to be a reconciliation.

MegaVote: GA 13th, 2/22/2011

About a week late, unremarkable stuff.


Congress.org (congress.org) presents: M E G A V O T E
February 22, 2011

In this MegaVote for Georgia's 13th Congressional District:

Recent Congressional Votes -
* Senate: FISA Sunsets Extension Act of 2011
* Senate: FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act
* House: Continuing Resolution, FY2011
* House: FISA Sunsets Extension Act of 2011

Editor's Note:
The Senate and House are in recess until Monday, February 28, 2011.
Recent Senate Votes:
FISA Sunsets Extension Act of 2011
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=19&chamber=S&congress=1121
Vote Passed (86-12, 2 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill extending some expiring provisions of the Patriot Act for 90 days.  The extension allows both chambers more time to work on long-term bills.  The House cleared the measure for the president two days later.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted  YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted  YES
FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=25&chamber=S&congress=1121
Vote Passed (87-8, 5 Not Voting)

This $34.6 billion bill reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration for two years and sets aviation policies.  The House is working on its own version of the bill that would cover four years.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss voted YES
Sen. Johnny Isakson voted YES

Recent House Votes:
Continuing Resolution, FY2011
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=147&chamber=H&congress=1121
Vote Passed (235-189, 9 Not Voting)

The House passed this long-term CR that would fund government operations through September 30, 2011, the end of the current fiscal year.  The bill includes $61.5 billion in spending cuts.  The current funding expires on March 4, 2011.  The bill now goes to the Senate.
Rep. David Scott voted NO

FISA Sunsets Extension Act of 2011
http://capwiz.com/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=66&chamber=H&congress=1121
Vote Passed (279-143, 11 Not Voting)

The House gave final approval to this bill extending some expiring provisions of the Patriot Act for 90 days.  The original House bill would have extended the provisions to December 8, 2011, but the Senate approved the short-term bill on February 15.  Both chambers are working on long-term bills.  The president is expected to sign the bill into law.
Rep. David Scott voted NO

MegaVote is powered by the CQ-Roll Call Group (http://corporate.cqrollcall.com)
Copyright (c) 2011.