US Supreme Court , Justice Roberts, I Didn't Think You Had It In You!

If you live on planet Earth, you heard that the US Supreme Court upheld "ObamaCare " 5-4. Huge, huge win for Obama and the Democrats . Of course, almost as big as the news of the decision, was the fact that Chief Justice Roberts in a Landmark decision voted with the liberal members of the Court to form a majority . Shocker in fact!
It's almost " old hat " during confirmation hearings" that the nominated Judge will answer" I will not vote along ideological or party lines ", if I'm chosen to sit on the Court"! Then lo and behold what happens? They vote along ideological lines anyway. Surprise, surprise .
So keeping this all in perspective, Roberts' vote on ObamaCare was even more historic. And his reasoning was brilliant. There's an old adage, if a Judge or Jury likes a particular party or the case itself , they will find a way to hold in that party's favor. That's exactly what happened here . Robert's did not want his Court to be remembered for striking down a historic social reform in an "election year", so he found a way to uphold the law. He reasoned that the law imposed a (Not constitutionality per se)
permissible tax(backed into decision) and the rest is history.
While no one knows how the new law will play out, we do know one thing the " Supreme Court(Oz) has spoken.

Supreme Court analyst Steve "Harlan" Goldman reporting.

JP Morgan; If You Want to Be Technical, The Bank Could Actually Lose $30 Billion From Trading Debacle!`

Will this "trading disaster " for JP Morgan ever come to an end? First thought to be $2 billion in losses, then three billion. Now possibly as high as $9 billion "Easy come, easy go"! Couple these anticipated losses as things "unravel" with the $23 billion in loss of share market value , and you're over $ 30 billion. Yes, you heard right...$30 billion (US Dollars).
The shareholders must be seething . Shareholder actions will be plentiful. What will the Board do? Will their " beloved CEO keep his job? It takes a lot of profitable quarters to make up these kind of numbers. How will Congress ultimately act?
Of course, no one feels sorry for The House of Morgan . Because when you play with fire , sometimes you actually do get "burned"!
Wall Street analyst Steve "SEC " Goldman reporting.

Wimbledon; Can Federer Get Number 7? Not Going To Be Easy!

So Wimbledon is under way. Great tennis, grass ,Royal Boxes , The Big 3 and rain. Yes two weeks of rain on and off. While the tournament needs no extra hype, and while the British long for Andy Murray to go all the way, the evolving story line is can Roger do it again ? Number seven? Can he catch Sampras for most career Wimbledon Titles ?
Federer is 30, playing well on his best surface and is in great shape mentally and physically. All that's in his way is "the field ", not to mention Djokovic and Nadal . He believes he can do it, which is half the battle . Now let's see if one of the greatest can pull it off .
I , for one , am rooting for him.


Woops, I'm late for tea.

Wimbledon Insider S. Goldman The 3rd reporting.

Sandusky Aftermath: He's Going To Get Either 500 Years or Life In a Psych Hospital!

It's over! A relief to all. Actually, in my opinion an anticlimatic verdict , almost overshadowed by the revelation that Sandusky sexually violated his adopted son too! Holy sh_t! It seems like almost everyone in "Happy (Unhappy ) Valley " knew about Sandusky's propensities, but for one reason or another did nothing to stop him . Oh yeah, I forgot...The allmighty Penn State Football Program needed him. That''s the sick reality.
So Sandusky will be psychologically evaluated(He's normal right) , will be sentenced and forgotten .
I bet you never would have thought this, or believed this...But he's more of a monster than Bernie Madoff .
May he rot in his cell. Penn State and your army of insurance companies, start writing the checks to these young men!
Legal analyst Steve Goldman reporting.

Sandusky Trial; Doesn't Matter If You Believe Accusers or Not, He Was Dead Meat From the Outset!

Look , I can't tell you one way or the other whether the Prosecution presented a strong case in chief or whether the the Defense did a competent job cross-examining the "accusers". Because let's face it, the case could only really have been defended to "a level of acquittal" if each and every accuser were not only discredited on cross but also by a independent source. Only one who could refute the allegations actually was and is Sandusky!
For there to have been any chance of acquittal, the jurors would have to conclude that every accuser is lying and this was one big conspiracy to convict Sandusky and facilitate millions of dollars in civil payments. Just too wild to possibly believe . The reality is , even if there were "fabricated claims" they still would be impossible to defend. Strength in numbers, similar to the "Priest Sex Abuse Cases".
So at the end of the day, the defense kinda through up the " I loved the kids, showered with them, but nothing inappropriate happened defense "! Doomed from the start. No chance.
So did he do all these terrible things? Was he a monster? Serial sexual predator ? I don't know, neither do you.
But it doesn't matter, he was "dead meat " from the beginning. If he did it, he deserves "life without parole". Penn State University was the facilitator here!
Next stop, civil suits!

Steve Goldman reporting.

Topsy Turvy Wall Street Continues!

Ah, another day, another dollar . Where would we be without the economies of Greece, Spain, Italy and others imploding right in front of our very eyes? People running to the dictionary to look up the meaning of "austerity ". Right Wing Coalitions, Left Wing Coalitions, Socialists..Parliments being dissolved. The world as we know it!
So where does this leave the Dow? Up to 13,300 several weeks ago. Down to 12,500, and now creeping back to 12,850. What does it really mean anymore anyway?
Not much when interest rates can fluctuate on bad news coming out of Lichtenstein. Go figure.

Wall Street Analyst Steve Goldman reporting.

Clemens Jury Deliberating, Will Clemens Be Remembered For His Time in Pinstripes or "Another Kind Of Stripes"?

I can guarantee you Roger Clemens has been humbled ! The seven time Cy Young Award Winner . "Roger the Rocket ! Athlete of "Rock Star " status. 100 mile an hour fastball. World Series winner. Earned well over a $ 100 million. Even had a special contract with the Yanks where he was able to go home on "off-days " and watch his sons play. 350 wins....Should I go on?
But with the case now in the jurors' hands , not even the greatest brushback pitches ever can help or save him. His fate is 1000 % in those 12 citizens' hands . Right now, Roger is thinking about acquittal. The Hall of Fame. Conviction, shame, disgrace, prision time and "familial strife" . It will never be the same if convicted and then having the conviction affirmed on appeal! It would be Roger with a new number:#78654368978. Well you get the point .
So as these 12 jurors go through the testimony and the admitted evidence ,Roger can only keep his chin up ,his happy face on and pray ! I'm going on record right here and now ...Clemens will be acquitted on all counts. McNamee is a sleezebag, and Petite's testimony just didn't make the cut . To convict , the jurors would have to reason that McNamee , an admitted liar, cheater, sleeze testified truthfully and they are convinced "beyond a reasonable doubt ".Key words, "reasonable doubt"!
Well it won't be long now .
Legal analyst Steve "Jurisprudence " Goldman reporting.

Rajat Gupta; Wow, He's Got Effectively His Whole Life Riding on Deliberations!

Jury is back deliberating today. Day 2! Gupta , formerly a globally respected "insider" , who is very wealthy, wife , kids, friends, big home in Connecticut is in an "all or nothing situation ". Remember, he's 63 years old.
If he's convicted, he's going away for at least 5 yrs....Possibly more . May be some forfeiture concerns as well. He would be imprisioned, disgraced and close to 70 when he comes out. Valuable time for anyone , especially when you reach his age .
If he's acquitted, "life will be good". He'll do philanthropic work, dabble in Wall Street, play golf, travel , watch his grandchildren grow up and will be free to visit Raj Rajaratnaram in jail. So will the jury convict him on a lot of " circumstantial evidence " ? Interesting case.
My vote yes. We'll know soon enough.

Wall Street analyst Steve Goldman reporting.

Edwards; Smart Choice, US Attorneys Office Decides To Leave "Bad Enough " Alone!

Almost anyone following the Edwards trial would have told you it was inevitable...The Government couldn't justify retrying Edwards with the legal and factual problems they would face on a retrial. Tough enough to get a conviction. But perhaps a bigger problem loomed. Would an Appellate Court ever let them hold onto it ? That was the "$64000 " question.
After coming to the realization that this was a dead end prosecution, the Government had to merely decide the best way to drop charges. Procrastinate? Drag things out ? Keep their game face on?
Well , at the end of the day they " cut bait " quickly and decisively. Charges dropped ! Edwards free to practice law! Another "black eye " for the Public Integrity Division. For Edwards, he's been through the worst, he's healthy and only 58 and remarkably still has a lot going for him...Including his license to practice law.
All I can say is...."It's comeback time!'
Legal analyst Steve 'Tell it Like it Is " Goldman reporting.

Nadal, Historically , With 11 Grand Slams, Where Do You Rank Him All-Time?

So Nadal, after a little uneasiness picked up his 7th French Open title. No doubt now, he's the greatest clay court player ever!(Sorry Bjorn). But let's not forget , he's got eleven "slams" under his belt. That puts him right in the thick of things all-time.
So , who are the 10 greatest mens players of the modern era. Tough one. Well , here are my choices;(Hope I didn't forget anyone).
1. Laver
2. Federer
3. Borg
4. Sampras
5. McEnroe
6. Connors
7. Nadal
8. Agassi
9. Lendl and
10. Wilander/Edberg.

Your thoughts,

Steve "LaCoste " Goldman reporting.

NBA Final: Sorry to Say It, I'm Picking Heat in 7!

I know that the fashionable thing this post-season has been to be a " Heat Hater ". I'll confess ...I'm as guilty as the next guy. I rooted against Lebron and Wade in every series. I pulled especially hard for the Celts in the last series!
So here we are in the "finals". Great anticipation, great expectations (not Charles Dickens u nimwit), great matchups, Durant vs. Lebron , young studs vs. The Big 3 . Who will win their first title first? Lebron or Durant ? Wow! Hope I can stay up....Those 9 o'clock starts are tough stuff .
I'm not going to bore you with "x's and o's , or analyze matchups . Plenty of so-called experts to do that. I'm just going to make a prediction and then explain. Pure and simple.
Heat in 7! Yes I said it. Here's why . I honestly believe in the Boston series they learned how to win, how to survive and how to close out games(game 6 and 7). Once you learn that, couple it with confidence, talent and the taste for the championship....You're there!
Going to be a great final. Dog fight. Maybe different heroes every night . In the end though, Lebron gets the monkey off his back this year.

Make sure you pick up extra 5 hr energy drinks.

Steve "Van Gundy " Goldman reporting.

Bonds Files Appellate Brief on Obstruction of Justice Conviction.

As you probably recall, Barry Bonds was acquitted on all 3 Perjury Counts at trial and found guilty on the "lighter" Obstruction of Justice count. Not exactly what the US Attorneys Office was hoping for. Almost like a cheap consolatiion prize.
Despite that result, Bonds' legal team has pressed on with their appeal on this count. While Bonds' life has really not changed one iota with the conviction, the significance of the appeal to Bonds should not be downplayed.
If Bonds wins the appeal, in my opinion he MUST get into the Hall of Fame! If his conviction is upheld , I don't think he has a snowball's chance in hell of getting in. The Pete Rose stigma. Criminals and cheaters (who get caught) should not be bestowed the ultimate honor...Induction into the Hall of Fame !
So you can be assured that Bonds' lawyers are under strict orders...Full steam ahead, no shortcuts...No stone unturned !
Well, we'll know soon enough. Plenty of time for Bonds' testicles to grow and his head to shrink.
Sports reporter Steve "Ace " Goldman reporting.

Sandusky Trial; Jury Selection Starting Today, Going to Be Very, Very Interesting Trial!

Can you imagine the efforts that the Court and attorneys will have to undertake to select a "truly fair and impartial Jury "? Yikes. First of all , the trial is taking place in Penn State's backyard. Unless you've been living on the International Space Station for the past year or so , you've heard all the lurid details of the "Sandusky Child Molestation Scandal" . You couldn't avoid it.
Penn State Football is the" end all" in this neck of the woods . Paterno and Sandusky are household names. Everyone saw Sandusky's TV interview ! I don't think there is a person on this planet who doesn't have a strong opinion on " child molesters ". Who hasn't heard the Penn State assistant coach's description of the shower scene? And it goes on and on ! Both sides better dig down during jury selection, because this case , perhaps more than most ,will be won or lost there.
Is it possible in a case like this to impanel a fair and impartial jury? Honestly, I doubt it . But , the individuals who say the right things and respond appropriately during questioning will eventually be seated on this case. Right, wrong or indifferent.
Ok, counsel. Time to earn your fees! Good luck.
This is a perfect case for the legendary Gerry Spence to defend!

Jack Twyman-Maurice Stokes; What Started Off as Heartbreaking Story, Turned Into a Real Life Story What Friendship is All About!

So what would you consider to be a good friend? Watching your neighbors' kids because you're running late from work? Buying groceries for a sick friend ? Lending your car or an extra generator to a neighbor in a time of need? Loaning money to an out of work friend? Picking a friend up at 3 a.m from the airport? Making a call to try to try to get a friend a job?
Yes, yes these are what friends do for each other. But , the story of Jack Twyman and his teammate , Maurice Stokes, truly brought the definition of "friendship " to another level! Twyman and Stokes were All-Star caliber players on the Cincinati Royals of the NBA in the late 1950's . Twyman went on to the Hall of Fame. Stokes a talented power forward, who once pulled down 38 rebounds in a game, probably would have made it there too. But.....
As the story goes on March 12th 1958 , during a game against the Minneapolis Lakers, Stokes in a collision with another player fell and hit his head on the floor. A few days later , Stokes at age 24 lasped into a coma. When he came out of it he was paralyzed .
Stokes , who had no family in Cincinati was alone. What did Twyman do? Not much! Just dedicated his life to taking care of Maurice Stokes. Caring for him medically, financially, spiritually...And most importantly being with him....being a friend. Twyman organized the annual Maurice Stokes Classic, an All-Star basketball game in the Catskills which raised tremendous amounts of money for Maurice. Twyman, it seemed was with Maurice more than he was with his wife and family. And Twyman only sought Stokes' friendship and companionship in return.
In 1970, after making significant strides to recovery, Stokes passed away. Twyman passed away just this past week at age 78 . These were two great men. Not for what they did on the basketball court, but what they did in life when adversity hit home.
Now that's a friend! God Bless em both.

Edwards Verdict...As The Dust Clears!

The day after a big verdict, win or lose is always a time for reflection . When I was trying a lot of cases , after a verdict I would always immerse myself right back into work . Usually, because being on trial put you so far behind on the rest of your practice .
So what are the participants feeling or thinking now ? Edwards is obviously elated . He's a free man. Not guilty on one major count. He withstood the barrage by all the King's horses and all the King's men. Went toe to toe with Uncle Sam .
He probably is also somewhat relieved that all the " dirty laundry " was aired , so it will not be a shock to his family and supporters if there is a re-trial. Of course, the element of uncertainty can be a killer. Can Edwards try to go back to his practice of law, familiy life, rebuild his reputation ....all with the possible decision to retry him looming overhead like a dark storm cloud? Guess what? He has no choice!
The US Attorneys Office suffered another humiliating defeat! They might be kicking themselves for even attempting to prosecute such a novel case(with a very complex statute) out of outrage and emotion . They're certainly licking their wounds now! Will they retry? My prediction ? No! Without the luxury of having the "donors"(Bunny Melon and Fred Baron) to testify, if may very well be an exercise in futility. We shall see .
The Judge. She did an excellent job. Only Appellate Review can really determine if her instructions to the Jury were proper. Will either side address the soundness of the charge? More money for the lawyers. In any event, nobody will be in a rush to retry this case anytime soon. Probably 16-18 months by the time all is said and done.
The Jurors. Relieved to be done .Now enjoying their "time in the sun" appearing on Good Morning America et al.Some may write books...Or may be doing so already. They certainly are now a part of history! Good job...Nine days of deliberations!
Let's not for forget Edwards' defense team. All I can say is awesome job !
And finally the protagonist here, Rielle Hunter. Yes, her tell all book coming out June 26th. Did someone say 7 figure advance? She must have been quite skilled at something to have former Senator Edwards, "lay " it all on the line for her. Hmmm.
Somehow this case has the feel of a mini-OJ saga. Stay tuned!

Legal analyst Steve "Scoop ' Goldman reporting.