Man for Man, Yanks Better than the Red Sox!

Well, as a diehard Yank fan I was glad to see the Yanks get the first game of the series in Fenway. Mariano, of course getting the save. Sabathia trudging along. Some timely hitting. Soriano getting em out of the 8th.
As I was watching Entourage on HBO after the game, I got to thinking...I feel the Yanks are better than the Sox at almost every position except DH["Big Papi "], and starting pitching. A-Rod at third, Jeter at short. I take Cano over Pedroia and even though Adrian Gonzalez is having a "career year " at first I take Teixeira ! Left field, I'll take Gardner. In center , this year Granderson over anybody !And in right , you can put Swisher down for 25 homers, 30 doubles, 85 RBI's AND .270. Catching is close..but I personally like Martin... Bullpens are both good...but if Soriano, Robertson and Mo are pitching well...tough combo to beat.
So at the end of the day, will Boston's starting pitching be enough to beat the "Bombers " come playoff time ?
All I can say is...There is no better rivalry in sports !

Dow Jones Industrial up 254 Points Today...Honestly, Is There Any Rhyme or Reason to the Market Fluctuations?

Since the summer of 2008 I have been closely following the market on a daily basis. Since the downgrade by S&P about three weeks ago I have now been following it on an hourly basis. I am acutely aware that there are thousands of MBA market experts out there from Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Univ. of Chicago, Oxford, Cambridge....You name it! I also am well aware of the sophisticated trading algorithms utilized by Goldman Sachs ,etc...Let's not forget the millions and millions of dollars spent on market research and due diligence . Some even watch "Jim Lehrer's Nightly Business Watch"(lol).
So where does it all leave us ? Is sophisticated market research better than a"good old coin flip"? Does anyone really invest in "individual stock performance " anymore or do you dictate your investment decisions based solely on national or global economic factors? Should the stability of Greece's economy really affect the value of Google? Do you sell off stocks everytime there is bad economic or financial news?
Frankly, in my opinion it has become laughable. No stability, no real trends to speak of. Let's face it , no stocks truly trade on their own merits(or lack therof).But what can really be done?
Just continue to do what you've been doing. Listen to experts, hear what friends have to say, read "The Journal " and invest in a "newsletter ". But before I wrap up I have to ask you to explain one little, tiny thing to me...How does the Dow Jones jump 254 points just one day after a massively destructive hurricane(tropical storm) causes ten's of billions of dollars in damages up and down the east coast? All I can say is "I"ll bite....
Your thoughts?

Boston Archdiocese; The Partial List of Clergy Accused of Sexual Abuse is Long Overdue and Incomplete!

I am leveled by the scope and the breadth of "Clergy " who have been accused of and/or found guilty of sexually abusing children . It seems to never end! The Archdiocese of Boston on Thursday published a partial list of clergy members who have been accused of sexual abuse nearly a decade after the scandal broke.
Previously , about 30 other Archdioceses including Chicago, Los Angeles and Philadelphia have published lists . What's upsetting to " victims groups " is twofold. First, the length of time it took for Boston to " man up " and publish the list. Secondly, the list is far from complete. The Boston Archdiocese unilaterally set the rules as to who would be named and who wouldn't. For example if a Priest was accused of sexual abuse while working in Boston, but is currently working in another diocese, his name was not published . Why? Who knows ? Does the privacy issue outweigh victims rights and church members' onging safety? Presumably, Priests accused of sexual abuse could be currently leading a parish "outside of Boston ".
To me, this is just another example of the " Catholic Church " condoning this behavior , failing to accept 100 % responsibility, turning a blind eye and pretending the abuse is isolated rather than pervasive worldwide.
The only way the problem can be rooted out is to bring in "independent investigators and prosecutors " who have unfettered prosecutorial powers. Get rid of "all" the deviant clergy and then start fresh with new qualifications and rigid psychological screening going forward.
Can this continue for another 500 years? I certainly hope not.

Watergate; Judge Orders Nixon Secret Grand Jury Testimony to Be Released!

Watergate, Woodward and Bernstein, "Deep Throat", "The Break In", 18 Minute gap on the White House Tapes, Nixon's Resignation...All part of one of the biggest political scandals of all time. Hope they're teaching it in high schools today. And yes, it all happened almost 40 years ago !
What many Americans didn't know is that in June 1975, Nixon for two days near his home in California gave secret grand jury testimony about Watergate. It was the first time a former President had testified before a grand jury. May shed light on Nixon's knowledge of the breakin. Fascinating stuff!
While US District Court Judge Royce Lamberth has ordered the Government to publicly release the 297 page transcript, a probable appeal could delay it's release. Have to wait and see.
Interesting to see what " Tricky Dick" had to say on those 2 warm days in June 36 years ago.

Pat Summit; Great Woman's Basketball Coach at Tennessee Has Early Signs of Dementia, But Will Continue to Coach Away!

The world has changed so dramatically in the last 4o years in a million different ways. Today, more so than ever in modern times, individuals have "gone public " with a variety of issues including addictions, HIV , being gay, childhood abuse, being diagnosed with cancer and their battles against other illnesses as well. The strength and bravery in doing so should not be diminished. Going public serves many purposes. It brings attention to issues. Gives the fortitude to others to cope and of course serves as a way for the individual to be honest with themselves and others and to gain support and help , if need be.
Pat Summit , the great basketball coach at Tennessee has done just that. She has been diagnosed at age 59 with the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease, apparently a condition which other family members have suffered from. It's a progressive condition with no known cure, but is treated by "medication and managing the symptoms". It affects different people in different ways. Coach Summit just advised her team of her condition and after consulting with her physicians at the Mayo Clinic decided to "keep on keeping on "! She will coach as long as able, rely more on her assistants and staff than ever and will not feel sorry for herself. A message that we should all more than superficially absorb.
I am sure her announcement will help countless others, highlight the need for more research in seeking a cure and allow others to seek help as well.
In the meantime she will continue to do what she has done better than almost any other person in history....Coach basketball ! And by the way, don't feel sorry for her because next thing you know you could be down 30 points to her "Lady Volunteers"!
Pat , you are a model of strength and class for all!

Strauss-Kahn Case; "Day is Done, Gone the Sun, From the East, From the West, From the Sky, All is Well, Safely Rest.....Prosecution Done!

DSK, will be free to travel anywhere he wants, do anything he wants, stay in any hotel he wants and inter-(course) act with any hotel maid he wants in just a matter of days. It's all over but the crying ! Yesterday, the DA's office filed a 25 page motion detailing why the indictment should be dismissed with prejudice. It really boils down to one , simple, glaring reality ; No one trusts, believes, respects or has confidence in "the accuser". The DA's office, already with "egg on it's face " for rushing to judgment, doesn't want to spend millions of dollars in time, expense and manpower only to be dragged through the mud by top-notch[and respected] defense lawyers.
So while the actual dismissal has lingered, all that remains now is for the Supreme Court Justice to grant [Rubberstamp] the unopposed motion to dismiss.
While Strauss-Kahn is now free to live unrestricted, the civil case and imminent request by " the accuser " to appoint a "special prosecutor " will take on lives of their own . Strauss-Kahn will be living in luxury in Paris, trying to ressurrect(Not ress-erect) his political career(and reputation) with unlimited money to hire an army of attorneys to defend the civil case. He will travel and galavant ,but I'm sure he will stay away(far away) from the good old US of A . Wouldn't you?
But there is probably one thing which could make it all go away...Just one little, tiny thing...Yes, about $5 million and a "secrecy agreement ". What do you think?

Roger Clemens Retrial; The Government May Be Up Sh_ts Creek Without a Paddle!

As we all know, Roger Clemens' first criminal trial ended in a mis-trial. The Government is now seeking to retry Clemens on the same charges. The question that Judge Reggie Walton may ultimately have to decide is whether the Prosecutors' mistake in playing a video which contained "precluded eveidence " was inadvertent or intentional . If the error was inadvertent(hard to believe ) Clemens will be retried. If intentional , "the ballgame may be over"! No retrial.
Let's reflect on a few key factors. Number one, the evidence that was precluded was the subject of hotly contested legal proceedings. The evidence was a videotape of a Congressman at the Congressional Hearings reading the affidavit of Laura Petite which essentially stated that "Andy told me that Roger told him that he took steroids". Classic "double hearsay " .
After hearing arguments on pretrial evidentiary issues , Judge Walton barred the admissibility of that affidavit and any references to it . So what do the Prosecutors then do on day 2 of the trial ,after making a glaring error in opening statements? Yes, believe it or not they play a video to the jury containing the reading of this inadmissible affidavit. Oy vey! Huge problem. My opinion , not inadvertent, but intentional!
Second point. We are dealing with top-notch, seasoned , well-respected prosecutors . Not kids, wet behind their ears . So for the Gov't to argue that they were all caught up in jury selection, openings and presenting their case and thus made " a boo boo" is totally and completely unfathomable ! These are attorneys with 100's of trials under their belts. You just don't inadvertently make a mistake like that, do you?
Lastly, I believe Judge Walton "hates this case "! He, on a number of occasions has questioned why all this time, money, these resources and energy are being spent on this prosecution. Clearly he does not view Clemens as public enemy number one, two or three. Having said that, Judge Walton may be looking for a way to end the misery and dismiss this case.Who knows.
One thing though is for sure; The Government is now scrambling , has been eating craw all summer and they are "now begging " the Court for another opportunity to try the case.
"Will it[The Case] stay or will it go now " (The Clash)? You be the Judge?

Don't Look Now, Derek Jeter up to .291 !

With the stock market uncertainty, housing market problems and unrest throughout the world, we have almost lost sight of the fact that the Yankee shortstop has lifted his average to 291 and is nearing 50 RBI's. As usual, even at age 37, he is playing an impeccable shortstop. Jeter looks like Jeter! Not as many homers of course, but hitting balls the opposite way with that classic "inside-out swing", driving the ball in the gaps and legging out infield hits . Even stealing a base or two...and playing with ease and confidence especially since the "3000 hit monkey is off his back "!
So all you doubters out there, I must definitively state, Derek Jeter is not washed up ! He is still a very productive # 2 hitter with a spring in his step.
And Ty Cobb and Pete Rose, well....Let's see.

Madoff Revisited; Court of Appeals in an Unpopular Decision Upholds Trustee's Approach on Investor Losses.

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a ruling yesterday which will significantly affect the way "investor losses " are handled by the Trustee going forward. The ruling, while unpopular uses a common-sensical approach when calculating losses.
Essentially , the ruling defines "investor losses" as the amount of cash the investor ACTUALLY LOST , not the fictitious amount set forth on their account statements over the years. This will further enhance the Trustee's ability to pursue "clawback suits " against many Madoff victims.
I understand that to a victim "who was sucked into this fairy-land world of high yields" it seems grossly unfair, but at the end of the day this ruling analyzes amount of cash in vs. amount of cash out...Plain and simple!
Tough ruling, especially in light of our current economic times...But the right one?
You be the judge.

What Would Things Have Been Like If Ralph Branca Was Jewish?

So we now know that Ralph Branca's mother, Kati Berger from Hungary was Jewish. That fact, under Jewish custom and tradition would make Branca Jewish. Branca , who played with the Brooklyn Dodgers pitched in the "majors " from 1944-1956. He is most remembered for giving up "the shot heard around the world" to the New York Giants Bobby Thompson. Devastating to this day for Dodger fans!
So how would things have been for Branca, The Dodgers and Brooklyn, if Branca a devout Roman Catholic for his entire adult life , was actually a practicing Jew? Let's remember that Brooklyn in the 1940's and 1950's was largely Jewish as well.
First of all, until Koufax came around in 1955 , Branca probably would have been the most popular Dodger. Would have had a bagel named after him and I'm sure " a Ralph Branca sandwich"; corned beef, roast beef and turkey with Russian dressing and cole slaw on rye. He would certainly have had his own tv/radio show, owned a men's clothing store and maybe even would have worshipped at a local temple.
Billboards everywhere with Branca's likness. Branca's deli, Branca's Used Cars. Branca, B'nai B'rith's "Man of the Year" . Ralph Branca for Mayor! And a perfect ending to his career...passing the torch to the greatest Jewish pitcher of all-time, Sandy Koufax!
I can only imagine!

Wall Street; All That Stress, Pressure, Worrying...And We Ended Up Friday Almost Where We Started On Monday!

Last week was probably one of the most stressful in recent times for "Wall Street ". No one really knew if the market would go into a "free fall ", whether the downswings on Monday and Wednesday would continue on Tuesday and Thursday . Whether there was any good news lurking out there ? Were we going back to "7,300 " after bouncing around 12,000 for a while?
Nobody knew, nobody was sure, the customers were panicked and Wall Street was bracing for the worst . A dark cloud of pressure and stress hung over lower Manhattan (and for that matter the whole "Global Economy") for the entire week , right up to the closing bell Friday.
I guarantee you there were a multitude of relieved traders, brokers, investment bankers, wealth managers and customers at 4 pm "EST " this past Friday. Nobody was drinking white wine then , just the hard stuff...And from what I hear, plenty of it!
So where does that leave us? Last week we had 3 days of gains, 2 days of downswings and "The Dow" ended the week down just a 100 points or so . Come Monday morning at the opening bell we will all start the week fresh. No "S&P downgrade" lurking over the market waiting to wreak havoc and fury Monday morning. I believe also a renewed sense of confidence "that we can take the worst punch and still get up". Wall Street "manned up " this past week.
This week we get our reward....11,300, 11,500, 12,000........Who knows?

Let's not think about it yet, it's only Saturday night! " May the force be with you"!

Chris Mullin, One of My Favorites Going Into the Hall Tonight!

If you are a hoops fan, New York basketball junkie and are in the mood to cry tonight, watch the Chris Mullin Hall of Fame Induction Speech tonight! Reports suggest that Mullin(out of Flatlands ,Brooklyn,St. Johns) will have 100's of supporters there. Not a dry eye, I guarantee it.
What a story, what a man. Of course Mullin is remembered as one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. Savy, great passer,could shoot with either hand and had amazing court sense. Lou Carnesecca, his long-time mentor, college coach and friend said," imagine how great he would be if he could run and jump" . Selected to the dream team in 1992 with Jordan, Barkley, Ewing and Company. In one of his best years he averaged 26.5 points and more than 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game. Got to an NBA final. Never won one though. Became a well-respected GM and now ESPN analyst.
But that's the story we all know. What you don't know or may not remember is that in 1987 while playing for Golden State , Don Nelson ,his coach, pulled him aside and told him that he had to confront the fact that he was an alcoholic. Mullins' dad was a recovering alcoholic. Nelson made Mullins call his parents right on the spot and tell them about his problem. He did. Chris' dad said "listen to your coach". He did so , checked into a 30 day rehab and has been sober ever since . The rest is history!
So tonight , if you have 45 minutes to spare, you will be in for a treat listening first to Carnesecca and then Mullin in Brooklyn's finest accent humbly thanking everyone along the way that made it possible.I can't wait!
That's what life is all about, isn't it?

New York Judges; That Long-Overdue Pay Raise is Almost Here!

Tuesday's New York Law Journal reports that 2 members of the panel considering "Judicial Pay Raises" favor immediate and substantial pay raises for New York Supreme Court Justices. One panelist recommended a raise to $197,000, the second panelist recommended $220,000. Much better than $133,000. About time! The Justices have not had a pay raise since 1999. Would you have put up with that?
The final vote by the "Commission " is scheduled for August 26th, 2011. Barring something unforseen, the recommendations I believe will be rubberstamped . While Judges do take their fair share of criticism, the raise is fair, reasonable and a long-time coming.
Finally!

Market Comeback Yesterday Was Beyond Huge!

Monday was like being convicted of a crime and then going back for sentencing...You knew it was going to be bad . It had to have been the same feeling for " Wall Street " after Standard & Poors " downgrade following the market close this past Friday until the opening bell Monday. It must have been like "doom waiting on your doorstep"! Nothing could be done except to absorb the body shots and keep your chin up.
So after Monday's pounding and the rough first part of yesterday, it looked like we were heading for a free fall with no relief in sight. Thank God for the announcement by the Fed . The market rebounded , finished up over 400 points for the day and almost recovered 2/3rds of Monday's fall-off.
That was the immediate result. The longer term effect was it avoided 2 consecutive days of catastrophic downswings, which could have started a downward, out of control spiral . Investor confidence got a boost and we all live to see another day.
We just have to take one day at a time!

Goldman Feel-Good Stories; Oscar Pistorius, South African "Double Amputee" to Compete in the Track and Field World Championships...Wow!

Oscar Pistorius, born without fibulas in either leg, will be the first amputee athlete to compete in Track and Field's World Championships. Pistorius who runs with bilateral prosthetics was cleared to run by a 2008 decision making him eligible to compete. He will race in the 400 meters and the "4 x 400 relay" . Let me remind you he will be running against competitors with two natural legs. He will be attempting to qualify for the 2012 Olympics in London.
While there is some surrounding controversy relating to "whether there is an advantage to racing " with light weight custom -made prostethics, his accomplishments in my opinion are breathtaking. The dedication , perseverence and inner toughness should be inspiration for all of us .
Good luck Oscar...You can do it!

Rick Perry, Governor of Texas; What Happened to Separation of Church and State ? Am I Missing Something Here ?

Ok, here are the facts . Rick Perry is the Governor of Texas, the nation"s second largest state. He is a "Presidential Hopeful" . He is a conservative outspoken Christian and has preached since 1997 .
So that brings us to yesterday's "public prayer rally" at Reliant Stadium in Houston . Governors from all across the country were invited to this religious event. Governor Perry used his position as Texas Governor , stature , reputation and influence as the highest elected official in Texas to organize the event, draw people and lend credibility to the gathering. Emails have been sent out from his official address and he has made "no ifs, ands or buts" that THIS IS THE GOVERNOR OF TEXAS' RALLY!
So has Mr. Perry crossed over line separating Church and State ? You better believe he has. Furthermore, based on accounts in the New York Times, he has violated the 1962 landmark decision of the US Supreme Court prohibiting organized prayer in public schools on several occasions as well.
Most distressing perhaps is the fact that the sponsor of the rally is listed as "an antigay hate group" by a well-respected watchdog organization. Rick Perry is dangerous, won't hesitate to violate the law, has run amok of the "separation of Church and State " and now considers himself a serious Presidential Contender. His arrogance and lack of respect for the US Constitution are mind boggling.
Religion and faith of all denominations are undoubtedly an important fabric of our society . The actions of elected officials are what make our country run. There cannot be any overlap of any kind! Or for that matter even the appearance of overlap. We as Americans should not condone it in any shape, form or manner. Not now, not ever!
And Governor Perry, next time you want to participate in a prayer rally simply participate as "Rick Perry private citizen". That's the way the US Constitution and Supreme Court say it should be done.

Ex-Colt Great Bubba Smith Dies at Age 66...All These Great Players, But All These Pre-Mature Deaths......

It seems like every other week or every month as of late a former NFL great passes away...It seems that none really make it past the the "ripe old age of 70 " either. Am I imagining things? Obituaries seem like broken records, "ex-NFL player 60 something dies of natural causes"! Just recently John Mackey[another Colt] and now beloved Bubba Smith . Sad beyond words .
Bubba was a great one...All 6 feet seven inches of him. He dominated from the defensive end position, first with the Michigan State Spartans, then the Baltimore Colts for 5 years where he played in the 1969 Super Bowl loss to Joe Namath and the Jets and then was part of the Colts 1971 Super Bowl championship team.
Two time pro bowler and one time all-pro . He was a force almost always requiring double teams. After the Colts he played a total of four more years with Oakland and Houston. Had a successful acting career , most notably in the Police Acadamey Series. Seemingly had it all!
But did he? Is it more than coincidence that so many former NFL players are passing away so young. I'd be very interested to see the average age that former NFL PLAYERS FROM THE 1950'S AND 1960'S live to . Probably shocking. My heart hurts for their families.
So while we celebrate "Bubba" and mourn his loss , where does that leave us ? More studies, continued reduction in hits to the head, better medical treatment, followups and monitoring of former players..better medicine, better benefits.
We can't just go on worshipping these studs, living vicariously through them and then just let them fade away into obscurity both literally and figuritively . It sucks!
Something has to be done and real soon! And I'm talking to you NFL owners when I say that!
God bless you Bubba!

Welcome Cuba to The 21st Century, You're Finally Going to Allow Private Citizens to Buy and Sell Property !

Look, I'm a huge supporter of First Amendment Freedom of Speech and all the great Constitutional Protections that citizens of our great country have. Yes, I also love strong opinions , some controversy and constructive criticism !
But, one thing which really bugs me is when people say what a terrible place our country is, how they "can't stand living here", etc, etc. While our country and Government are far from perfect, have you looked around at the rest of the world lately ?
Things which we "take for granted " such as being able to buy and sell private property without Government interference are not givens all over the world.
Take Cuba for example. The New York Times reported that the day is almost here where private citizens in Cuba will be able to buy and sell real property for the first time since Castro took over in the late 1950's....Can you imagine? Up until now people in Cuba actually had to "trade property" where no money changed hands. Cuba may even lift restrictions on cell phone usage. What a life! Why do you think Cubans came here?
So the next time you want to complain about politicians, taxes, budget crises, credit card debt, etc....Remember one thing, you still live in the greatest country on this planet...
If you don't believe me, try Cuba.

" It Aint Over Til the Fat Lady Sings "; Conviction of AIG Executives and an Executive from General Re Overturned on Appeal.

The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan (Federal) just overturned a 2008 conviction of 5 insurance executives from AIG and Genral Re. The executives had been out on bail pending the appeal . Each of the defendants was represented by nationally recognized appellate counsel.
The Appeals Panel held that the trial judge had unfairly prejudiced the jury by admitting into evidence certain information regarding AIG-stock and it's market fluctuations . Bottom line was that defendants were denied a "fair trial ". So the conviction is thrown out...and the local US Attorneys office must decide now whether to retry the "big 5". Lot of work and $ down the tubes!
And yes, it always helps to have wealthy defendants, and of course the best legal talent money can buy.
To be continued!

Goldman Second Chance Stories : Plaxico Burress You are One Fortunate Dude...Don't Blow It!

To me one of the great things in life is the "second chance opportunity ", which has become so fashionable. And why not? We all mistakes , right? To me it's not how many times you fall but how many times you get back up that truly defines a person!
Let's talk about Plaxico for a second. Before his "firearm troubles" he was a top-notch wide receiver . Five hundred and five (505) career receptions, 55 career TDs, 7800 yards, superbowl hero. Long yardage threat. Size, speed, hands...knows how to get open.
So why wouldn't the Jets take a shot. Price is right. They worked him out and obviously liked what they saw. While he is 34 and has been out two years , the flip side is that his body has not taken hits for 2 years either.
This is a tremendous oppotunuity for Burress and the Jets; Plaxico you got the world at your fingertips. Work hard, keep your nose to the grindstone...and don't blow it! We need you and you need us. And by the way, you won't get a third chance.