Charlsie Canty ain't what she used to be

Quinella Queen asked what I thought about this quote from the plan: 'Make our television product more compelling with new in-show formats, crossgenerational talent and technological advances currently in use by other major sports (e.g., improved video/audio, virtual finish line, telestrator, computer-generated race simulations, in-race jockey and owner microphones, etc.)'

I think it will help, I don't think they know what the specifics are. But, it's a nice obtuse statement that sounds right.

I think step one should be to watch racing from Europe. Their camera angles, graphics are far superior than what we currently use and different than regular sports. I love the jockey silks on the grass display, although I'd like to see the odds included. I think this is much better than your regular box shot with horse center frame and a little box with all the info below. That leads to the virtual finish line which is in full effect everywhere but here. I love whent he horses run over the 400yd mark, then 300 hundred, 200 hundred (Deep Impact is closing!!!) and he's gone by the 100 yard mark. It makes it a lot easier to see the acceleration some of these animals have and I think everyone would like to see it. Same thing with inquiries where in Europe they lay down path lines to see how many paths a horse went etc. It could help our stewards.

Crossgenerational talent: Does this mean Charlsie Canty might not be the youngest "babe" on set? I shudder to think.

Computer-generated virtual races: I get that you want to explain pace, and front runners and closers but if I see something that's like Grand Theft "Thoro" on screen I'll puke, and the younger kids will know you're trying to get them and they'll go the other way. It has to be done right and look right. If you are about to see real life horses it's kind of weird showing virtual ones. Example: They'll play the Super Bowl on Madden before the actual event and tell you the score, they don't show you play by play footage.

Audio; I think TVG's all access is awesome. Not every race does a jockey say something that you want to hear, but to have them mic'd at all times is great incase something does happen. I like it when a horse draws off and the jockey doesn't say a word. I think it better illustrates the connections these atheletes have with one another. Very cool stuff.

One more idea I have. Why not film the on air talent making their bets. Or even: If you are bundling days why not have 2 gues handicappers. Give em 5k each and make them bet that any which way they want. Guarantee 5k to each of their charities plus the winnings either guy makes. I think the best kind of stars would be atheletes from other sports (obviously they'd have to be retired) but watching MJ throw down bets and lose or win would bring in a whole nother set of fans. They'll probably end up with the stars of from the shows that are on that channel, but that won't be that bad either. Many are afraid of going up to the window (my wife included) so showing that might take some of the mystique out of betting.

Hey, NTRA, i'm full of these ideas, when are you going to drop me a line?

Rocketboom - Andrew Baron On Amanda Congdon And Their Problem - Video

In this vlog make At "CaseCamp" and which appears below this text, Andrew Baron, one of the two person founders of Rocketboom, explains that Amanda Congdon was his partner and both of them created Rocketboom two or three years ago. At the end of March 2006 it was "her and I doing pretty much everything."

By the end of that month they sold their first ad for $40,000 for one week; two days later they sold their second at at the same rate. Then Andrew reports that about three weeks prior to the making of this clip, and obviously the meltdown that led to it, they sold an ad for $80,000 for one week.

At the end of March, they started having problems, according to Baron. He sets up what he explains with a kind of preface that: "We're not really friends. We have a completely professional relationship. We're not even close socially. Everything started going down hill for all kinds of reasons."

He says that Amanda has always wanted to go to Hollywood pursue her professional acting career, even as Rocketboom was establishing a new way of getting news and entertainment -- vlogging. Baron says he was supportive of her desires from the begining of their relationship.

"But as time went on, Amanda became more antzy to get out there (to LA)," he claims. Meanwhile he says they both were trying to figure out how to "make this work" where Rocketboom could be produced in LA.

As time passed still, Amanda got even more anxious and Andrew more nervous because when he said "OK, let's go out to LA," she told him "Actually, I don't want you to go." She wanted him to stay in New York City. He said "Ok, but (even though) I'd prefer to stay in New York, I don't care where I live. If we have to go to Toronto (lol from audience) or something, I'd do it there."

Two weeks ago Amanda annouced that she was just going to leave for LA, and that she couldn't take it anymore. They talked about it and had -- as Baron said -- more communication problems. They needed a businesss partner and found one in someone who Andrew has known for a while and is a VP at Morgan Stanley (now to be informative to those who may get the wrong idea, VP at Morgan is not a high position, as they have SVPs and Regional Directors, CFOs, COOs, and so on)

At any rate, Amanda said "I'm moving next week, and Patrick said 'That will not work, we don't have the money." Then another check came in and it would take a month for it to clear the bank. Andrew and Patrick (I guess this is the business guy) were asking Amanda to just wait until the monies were in place but she "had to go now" as Andrew put it.

After that what Andrew described as "A little nightmare" unfolded. Their communication problems were such that they couldn't even talk any more. They "had a mediator come in" as Andrew explains, "and try to work it all out."

They had a large meeting, with Amanda and her parents on one side of the room, and Andrew and "we" as he put it (which I guess is the Rocketboom team) on the other side and a recording device in the middle.

Andrew says that they hit "another impass" on Tuesday night as reported to him by "Chuck" the mediator. Then on Wednesday, Andrew woke up to find an email sent from Amanda to the ten-person Rocketboom team which included the link to her video which all of you have seen, I guess, and which reports that "I've been fired" as Andrew says in the video.

He then goes on to report the message of Amanda's video: I wanted to go to LA. I can't. I'm stuck here at my parents with no money. I've got nothing.

Andrew says "I wake up and see this and oh my God. We've been negotiating for so long and there were always two possibilities." One was a way to make it work (It being the LA move). (Andrew didn't explain what the other possibility was; he jumped to his reaction to the Wednesday video by Amanda.)

"Now she's saying that I kicked her out."

Andrew explained that the real problem with the video she made was that all of Rocketboom's followers thought that Amanda was the face of the program and he was this evil business guy who got rid of her and gave her nothing, when it wasn't true. Andrew says that he thinks Amanda's an amazing business woman.

So Andrews looking at this and saying "This is not how I imagined this was going to turn out."

Andrew then says the two possibiliies were 1) work it out, or 2) not work it out, but design a way to "transition out" (I hate that term) of their relationship and get her to LA with some kind of contract in place.

Andrew says Amanda "Came in and stole the message. Totally twisted it up. I know I'm saying she twisted it up, but you all are thinking 'Well how do we know,.' and I'm saying that I'm not prepared to defend through all that."

Andrew said in his opinion Amanda reported the opposite of what really went down, and the whole Rocketboom team (I guess her brother too) was saying "Whoa she bailed on us and now she's saying she was fired."

Andrew believes he was "gyped" as he put it, because he's not the business guy and is now forced to tell his side of the story. He felt he had to respond because he was being painted as evil, and even as his sister was telling him not to fire back.

Andrew cracks, "Oh Amanda's the star and Jason Calicanis of Weblogs is giving her everything and you can be my star, and Andrew's well, he's just this dumb guy who.."

And that's when Andrew decided to put up the message that as of this writing is still on Rocketboom's home page.

Andrew essentially reports that his basic challenge is to remake Rocketboom and he's never been in this kind of position. Andrew says that events are starting to turn and people like Star Jones (@##$!!!) are producing a new spin on the entire matter.

"What I have to do is take control of the message," Andrew says. "The only way to make it through is,to..I'm not sure." He says that whomever he puts on Rocketboom on Monday is just not going to work and they would "throw tomatos" at them. It will have to be an interim host.

Andrew spent the rest of the time explaining the ideas they came up with for the Monday show -- which stlll isn't up yet. One of them was to do a segment on how they wanted Amanda back, but she's not coming back, so Rocketboom lives on.

Andrew was talked out of that.

The audience basically told Andrew that Monday was important in that he needs to show that he's moved on and that Rocketboom is viable.

I agree.

First, I think Andrew''s too worried about what people will think. He needs to just do it. Make the show. Second, as usual, the real truth is in the middle and we're starting to see that middle.

Amanda should have just waited and let Rocketboom grow. Unfortunately she was thinking too much about herself and not being a team player. More trajically, this episode is a grand example of what people -- most people -- do to thwart success. I've seen this time and again, and experienced it when I was working to bring the Super Bowl to Oakland.

When people who are involved in something that suddenly gains massive success, they want to "break it up" such that they have more 1) control and 2) money. It's always this dynamic at play. It always comes with people who are not experienced in life or business matters or both. They can't see a bigger picture from the "place" that caused the growth to begin with; they want to change the role so it's all about them.

Success is never all about one person. There's always a team behind it.

Amanda, here's my message to you: in the future, be patient and as the saying goes "When you're invited to the biggest dance of the year, you go with who 'brung ya." In this case, that person was indeed Andrew and you should have brung him to LA.

Be careful to always tell the truth, even if it doesn't make you look good. What you did was alter the story to create a fictional tale of good (you) and evil (Andrew). I think you owe him an appology.

Also, try to work within a team, even as your star status grows. You don't want to be marked as "hard to work with" so let this be a lesson.

Jason, here's your cautionary tale writ large. Buyer beware.

Andrew, move on and make the show. As of now, it's 10:08 PST and there's still no show at all. That means it's after 1 EST. What's up?

Just do it.

West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL

The disciples
West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL
Posted: Thursday June 29, 2006 3:00PM; Updated: Thursday June 29, 2006 4:06PM

The practitioners of the West Coast offense were once dominant in the NFL. Not too long ago it seemed like anyone who had ever assisted someone who had assisted West Coast mastermind Bill Walsh -- or even cleaned the pool of someone who assisted him -- was coaching gold and primed for his own NFL head spot.

But looking to the 2006 NFL season, it's clear there's another coaching tree that's standing a little taller.

There are plenty of successful West Coasters out there, still working the old magic. One of them was in the Super Bowl last season, another in the AFC conference championship.

But in 2006, the West Coasters are being overtaken by what we'll call the West Pointers. The name "West Pointers" is given in honor of the man who stands at the top of the tree, Bill Parcells. He coached at Army for four years and has carried a military bearing with him. Parcells' leading sideline progeny, his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, also has a certain martial quality -- not surprising, considering that Belichick's father, Steve, coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy.

In the 2006 NFL, the West Pointers will narrowly outnumber the West Coasters. Granted, some of the "limbs" of the West Point coaching tree are stronger than others, the weakest connection being new Rams coach Scott Linehan, who makes the West Point list on the basis of one year assisting Nick Saban, who assisted Belichick in Cleveland in the early '90s. But on the whole the groups cohere pretty tightly. Here are the rosters:

WEST COAST

1. Mike Holmgren (Seattle)
2. Mike Shanahan (Denver)
3. Jon Gruden (Tampa Bay)
4. Andy Reid (Philadelphia)
5. Jim Mora (Atlanta)
6. Brad Childress (Minnesota)
7. Gary Kubiak (Houston)

WEST POINT

1. Parcells (Dallas)
2. Belichick (New England)
3. Tom Coughlin (New York Giants)
4. Saban (Miami)
5. Romeo Crennel (Cleveland)
6. Eric Mangini (New York Jets)
7. Sean Payton (New Orleans)
8. Linehan (St. Louis)

You could make an argument that the West Coasters are the more accomplished group. The top three coaches on the list have won Super Bowls, and the five non-rookie coaches on that list have taken their teams to at least the conference championship in the last three years. Holmgren's Seahawks represented the NFC in the 2005 Super Bowl and Reid took his Eagles there the year before that.

On the West Point side, the top two guys on the list, Parcells and Belichick, carry the burden of accomplishment. And in the last few years it's really been all Belichick, at least in the NFL. Saban did win a BCS championship at LSU, and another West Pointer, former Belichick offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, has Notre Dame back in contention. What would really set this comparison on fire is an obvious and flagrant contrast in styles between the two groups, but there isn't one. The West Coasters themselves are not as philosophically coherent as they once were -- Shanahan runs the ball a little more comfortably than, say, Reid. And while the West Point coaches tend to have more severe personalities, it's not as if the West Coast coaches are giving their players a week's vacation between training camp and the season opener so they can go to Burning Man.

But if you wanted to say which group is hot right now, it's clearly the West Pointers. And not just because a 34-year-old like Mangini gets a head coaching job after one year of being a coordinator for Belichick. Coming into the 2006 season, the NFL's most intriguing story line is the old master Parcells latching on to Terrell Owens -- who is playing outside the West Coast offense for the first time in his career -- and readying to take what may be his last best shot at another Super Bowl. Then there's Saban coming on strong with a team that finished 2005 on a six-game winning streak and picked up a star quarterback in the offseason. Plus you've got Belichick, who will contend as long as he and Tom Brady are together. And don't forget Coughlin, a Parcells assistant in the 1980s, who could take the Giants deep into the playoffs this year if Eli Manning rounds into form.

The West Coasters as a group are a stand of redwoods. All five of the veterans have proved themselves to be the kind of coaches who will last in the NFL as long as they want to. I would bet that four of those seven West Coach coaches will put teams in the playoffs this year -- the same number I would pick for the West Pointers.

But the thing about the West Coast philosophy is, it doesn't feel like the future anymore. It can't. Not with so many teams going the other way.

West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL

The disciples
West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL
Posted: Thursday June 29, 2006 3:00PM; Updated: Thursday June 29, 2006 4:06PM

The practitioners of the West Coast offense were once dominant in the NFL. Not too long ago it seemed like anyone who had ever assisted someone who had assisted West Coast mastermind Bill Walsh -- or even cleaned the pool of someone who assisted him -- was coaching gold and primed for his own NFL head spot.

But looking to the 2006 NFL season, it's clear there's another coaching tree that's standing a little taller.

There are plenty of successful West Coasters out there, still working the old magic. One of them was in the Super Bowl last season, another in the AFC conference championship.

But in 2006, the West Coasters are being overtaken by what we'll call the West Pointers. The name "West Pointers" is given in honor of the man who stands at the top of the tree, Bill Parcells. He coached at Army for four years and has carried a military bearing with him. Parcells' leading sideline progeny, his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, also has a certain martial quality -- not surprising, considering that Belichick's father, Steve, coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy.

In the 2006 NFL, the West Pointers will narrowly outnumber the West Coasters. Granted, some of the "limbs" of the West Point coaching tree are stronger than others, the weakest connection being new Rams coach Scott Linehan, who makes the West Point list on the basis of one year assisting Nick Saban, who assisted Belichick in Cleveland in the early '90s. But on the whole the groups cohere pretty tightly. Here are the rosters:

WEST COAST

1. Mike Holmgren (Seattle)
2. Mike Shanahan (Denver)
3. Jon Gruden (Tampa Bay)
4. Andy Reid (Philadelphia)
5. Jim Mora (Atlanta)
6. Brad Childress (Minnesota)
7. Gary Kubiak (Houston)

WEST POINT

1. Parcells (Dallas)
2. Belichick (New England)
3. Tom Coughlin (New York Giants)
4. Saban (Miami)
5. Romeo Crennel (Cleveland)
6. Eric Mangini (New York Jets)
7. Sean Payton (New Orleans)
8. Linehan (St. Louis)

You could make an argument that the West Coasters are the more accomplished group. The top three coaches on the list have won Super Bowls, and the five non-rookie coaches on that list have taken their teams to at least the conference championship in the last three years. Holmgren's Seahawks represented the NFC in the 2005 Super Bowl and Reid took his Eagles there the year before that.

On the West Point side, the top two guys on the list, Parcells and Belichick, carry the burden of accomplishment. And in the last few years it's really been all Belichick, at least in the NFL. Saban did win a BCS championship at LSU, and another West Pointer, former Belichick offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, has Notre Dame back in contention. What would really set this comparison on fire is an obvious and flagrant contrast in styles between the two groups, but there isn't one. The West Coasters themselves are not as philosophically coherent as they once were -- Shanahan runs the ball a little more comfortably than, say, Reid. And while the West Point coaches tend to have more severe personalities, it's not as if the West Coast coaches are giving their players a week's vacation between training camp and the season opener so they can go to Burning Man.

But if you wanted to say which group is hot right now, it's clearly the West Pointers. And not just because a 34-year-old like Mangini gets a head coaching job after one year of being a coordinator for Belichick. Coming into the 2006 season, the NFL's most intriguing story line is the old master Parcells latching on to Terrell Owens -- who is playing outside the West Coast offense for the first time in his career -- and readying to take what may be his last best shot at another Super Bowl. Then there's Saban coming on strong with a team that finished 2005 on a six-game winning streak and picked up a star quarterback in the offseason. Plus you've got Belichick, who will contend as long as he and Tom Brady are together. And don't forget Coughlin, a Parcells assistant in the 1980s, who could take the Giants deep into the playoffs this year if Eli Manning rounds into form.

The West Coasters as a group are a stand of redwoods. All five of the veterans have proved themselves to be the kind of coaches who will last in the NFL as long as they want to. I would bet that four of those seven West Coach coaches will put teams in the playoffs this year -- the same number I would pick for the West Pointers.

But the thing about the West Coast philosophy is, it doesn't feel like the future anymore. It can't. Not with so many teams going the other way.

West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL

The disciples
West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL
Posted: Thursday June 29, 2006 3:00PM; Updated: Thursday June 29, 2006 4:06PM

The practitioners of the West Coast offense were once dominant in the NFL. Not too long ago it seemed like anyone who had ever assisted someone who had assisted West Coast mastermind Bill Walsh -- or even cleaned the pool of someone who assisted him -- was coaching gold and primed for his own NFL head spot.

But looking to the 2006 NFL season, it's clear there's another coaching tree that's standing a little taller.

There are plenty of successful West Coasters out there, still working the old magic. One of them was in the Super Bowl last season, another in the AFC conference championship.

But in 2006, the West Coasters are being overtaken by what we'll call the West Pointers. The name "West Pointers" is given in honor of the man who stands at the top of the tree, Bill Parcells. He coached at Army for four years and has carried a military bearing with him. Parcells' leading sideline progeny, his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, also has a certain martial quality -- not surprising, considering that Belichick's father, Steve, coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy.

In the 2006 NFL, the West Pointers will narrowly outnumber the West Coasters. Granted, some of the "limbs" of the West Point coaching tree are stronger than others, the weakest connection being new Rams coach Scott Linehan, who makes the West Point list on the basis of one year assisting Nick Saban, who assisted Belichick in Cleveland in the early '90s. But on the whole the groups cohere pretty tightly. Here are the rosters:

WEST COAST

1. Mike Holmgren (Seattle)
2. Mike Shanahan (Denver)
3. Jon Gruden (Tampa Bay)
4. Andy Reid (Philadelphia)
5. Jim Mora (Atlanta)
6. Brad Childress (Minnesota)
7. Gary Kubiak (Houston)

WEST POINT

1. Parcells (Dallas)
2. Belichick (New England)
3. Tom Coughlin (New York Giants)
4. Saban (Miami)
5. Romeo Crennel (Cleveland)
6. Eric Mangini (New York Jets)
7. Sean Payton (New Orleans)
8. Linehan (St. Louis)

You could make an argument that the West Coasters are the more accomplished group. The top three coaches on the list have won Super Bowls, and the five non-rookie coaches on that list have taken their teams to at least the conference championship in the last three years. Holmgren's Seahawks represented the NFC in the 2005 Super Bowl and Reid took his Eagles there the year before that.

On the West Point side, the top two guys on the list, Parcells and Belichick, carry the burden of accomplishment. And in the last few years it's really been all Belichick, at least in the NFL. Saban did win a BCS championship at LSU, and another West Pointer, former Belichick offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, has Notre Dame back in contention. What would really set this comparison on fire is an obvious and flagrant contrast in styles between the two groups, but there isn't one. The West Coasters themselves are not as philosophically coherent as they once were -- Shanahan runs the ball a little more comfortably than, say, Reid. And while the West Point coaches tend to have more severe personalities, it's not as if the West Coast coaches are giving their players a week's vacation between training camp and the season opener so they can go to Burning Man.

But if you wanted to say which group is hot right now, it's clearly the West Pointers. And not just because a 34-year-old like Mangini gets a head coaching job after one year of being a coordinator for Belichick. Coming into the 2006 season, the NFL's most intriguing story line is the old master Parcells latching on to Terrell Owens -- who is playing outside the West Coast offense for the first time in his career -- and readying to take what may be his last best shot at another Super Bowl. Then there's Saban coming on strong with a team that finished 2005 on a six-game winning streak and picked up a star quarterback in the offseason. Plus you've got Belichick, who will contend as long as he and Tom Brady are together. And don't forget Coughlin, a Parcells assistant in the 1980s, who could take the Giants deep into the playoffs this year if Eli Manning rounds into form.

The West Coasters as a group are a stand of redwoods. All five of the veterans have proved themselves to be the kind of coaches who will last in the NFL as long as they want to. I would bet that four of those seven West Coach coaches will put teams in the playoffs this year -- the same number I would pick for the West Pointers.

But the thing about the West Coast philosophy is, it doesn't feel like the future anymore. It can't. Not with so many teams going the other way.

West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL

The disciples
West Pointers overtaking West Coasters in NFL
Posted: Thursday June 29, 2006 3:00PM; Updated: Thursday June 29, 2006 4:06PM

The practitioners of the West Coast offense were once dominant in the NFL. Not too long ago it seemed like anyone who had ever assisted someone who had assisted West Coast mastermind Bill Walsh -- or even cleaned the pool of someone who assisted him -- was coaching gold and primed for his own NFL head spot.

But looking to the 2006 NFL season, it's clear there's another coaching tree that's standing a little taller.

There are plenty of successful West Coasters out there, still working the old magic. One of them was in the Super Bowl last season, another in the AFC conference championship.

But in 2006, the West Coasters are being overtaken by what we'll call the West Pointers. The name "West Pointers" is given in honor of the man who stands at the top of the tree, Bill Parcells. He coached at Army for four years and has carried a military bearing with him. Parcells' leading sideline progeny, his former defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, also has a certain martial quality -- not surprising, considering that Belichick's father, Steve, coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy.

In the 2006 NFL, the West Pointers will narrowly outnumber the West Coasters. Granted, some of the "limbs" of the West Point coaching tree are stronger than others, the weakest connection being new Rams coach Scott Linehan, who makes the West Point list on the basis of one year assisting Nick Saban, who assisted Belichick in Cleveland in the early '90s. But on the whole the groups cohere pretty tightly. Here are the rosters:

WEST COAST

1. Mike Holmgren (Seattle)
2. Mike Shanahan (Denver)
3. Jon Gruden (Tampa Bay)
4. Andy Reid (Philadelphia)
5. Jim Mora (Atlanta)
6. Brad Childress (Minnesota)
7. Gary Kubiak (Houston)

WEST POINT

1. Parcells (Dallas)
2. Belichick (New England)
3. Tom Coughlin (New York Giants)
4. Saban (Miami)
5. Romeo Crennel (Cleveland)
6. Eric Mangini (New York Jets)
7. Sean Payton (New Orleans)
8. Linehan (St. Louis)

You could make an argument that the West Coasters are the more accomplished group. The top three coaches on the list have won Super Bowls, and the five non-rookie coaches on that list have taken their teams to at least the conference championship in the last three years. Holmgren's Seahawks represented the NFC in the 2005 Super Bowl and Reid took his Eagles there the year before that.

On the West Point side, the top two guys on the list, Parcells and Belichick, carry the burden of accomplishment. And in the last few years it's really been all Belichick, at least in the NFL. Saban did win a BCS championship at LSU, and another West Pointer, former Belichick offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, has Notre Dame back in contention. What would really set this comparison on fire is an obvious and flagrant contrast in styles between the two groups, but there isn't one. The West Coasters themselves are not as philosophically coherent as they once were -- Shanahan runs the ball a little more comfortably than, say, Reid. And while the West Point coaches tend to have more severe personalities, it's not as if the West Coast coaches are giving their players a week's vacation between training camp and the season opener so they can go to Burning Man.

But if you wanted to say which group is hot right now, it's clearly the West Pointers. And not just because a 34-year-old like Mangini gets a head coaching job after one year of being a coordinator for Belichick. Coming into the 2006 season, the NFL's most intriguing story line is the old master Parcells latching on to Terrell Owens -- who is playing outside the West Coast offense for the first time in his career -- and readying to take what may be his last best shot at another Super Bowl. Then there's Saban coming on strong with a team that finished 2005 on a six-game winning streak and picked up a star quarterback in the offseason. Plus you've got Belichick, who will contend as long as he and Tom Brady are together. And don't forget Coughlin, a Parcells assistant in the 1980s, who could take the Giants deep into the playoffs this year if Eli Manning rounds into form.

The West Coasters as a group are a stand of redwoods. All five of the veterans have proved themselves to be the kind of coaches who will last in the NFL as long as they want to. I would bet that four of those seven West Coach coaches will put teams in the playoffs this year -- the same number I would pick for the West Pointers.

But the thing about the West Coast philosophy is, it doesn't feel like the future anymore. It can't. Not with so many teams going the other way.

Explaining the World Cup

Here in the US, the World Cup is a passing interest. I'd be suprised if the TV ratings surpassed that of the WSOP.

But everywhere else in the world, it's the Superbowl. Times 10. People risk getting SHOT to watch.

There's a commentary here on freedom, too.

Pasadena City Council voted unanimously to place a measure on the ballot aimed at luring a team to the Rose Bowl.

It proposes giving the league rights to play at the stadium for 25 years in exchange for a 500-(m) million dollar stadium renovation, 500-thousand dollars a year in rent, and other considerations.

City Councilman Chris Holden says passing the measure would relieve Pasadena of paying 200-(m) million dollars for renovations he said are needed at the Rose Bowl.

But the initiative is opposed by West Pasadena residents, preservationists, and other city leaders, including Mayor Bill Bogaard.

Meanwhile, a committee of N-F-L owners heard stadium presentations last week from Los Angeles, Anaheim and Pasadena.

They could decide later this month whether to approve a Southern California franchise.

bowleaglesfans new articles for Sunday, April 16, 2006Super Bowl legacy is pain for some, promise for others (Detroit News)
M ore than two months after Super Bowl XL, I was beginning to wonder: With the daffodils in bloom and winter's last blasts over, what had that blowout in Ford Field really wrought?

VFW delivers food to Northport Veterans Hospital on Super Bowl (Massapequa Post)
For the eighth year in a row, VFW Post 7763, Massapequa Park, fed 200 patients at the Northport Veterans Hospital on Super Bowl Sunday. Hero sandwiches, salads and sodas were provided. Shown in the photo, left to right, are Vanessa Smith of the V.A., Commander Richard Begandy, Past Commanders Stephen Piller, Robert Duffy and Alan Arcery and members John Bruder, Roy Solvang and Ed Feltman.

Drum corps 'Super Bowl' marching into Rochester (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle)
The Drum Corps Associates World Championship is returning to Rochester after a 10-year hiatus. The annual competition is considered the "Super Bowl" of drum corps contests and could draw 14,000 people to the city.

Keaton makes pitch for Pirates to spend money (Kansas City Star)
Perhaps sports fans in Pittsburgh deserve a bad baseball team because they can still bask in the Steelers winning the Super Bowl.

NFL Network growing in stature, popularity (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Super Bowl XL was the third covered by the NFL Network, which may be around for at least 40 more.

Super Bowl star Hines Ward meets mixed race Korean children (phillyburbs.com)
SEOUL, South Korea - Beaming Kim Gwan-woo couldn't hide his excitement at getting to meet Super Bowl star Hines Ward, a hero that the 7-year-old Korean boy wants to emulate.

QB donates Super Bowl rings to La. Tech (CBS Sportsline)
Steelers great Terry Bradshaw donated his four Super Bowl rings, College Football Hall of Fame ring, Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, Hall of Fame bust, four miniature replica Super Bowl trophies, and a helmet and jersey from one of his Super Bowl victories to Louisiana Tech.

Las Vegas posts busiest ever February for visitors (KRNV)
Chinese New Year and Super Bowl parties helped to make February the busiest on record for Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says the area attracted 2.8 million visitors, up 0.9% from a year earlier.

NFL Football Schedule 2006 (KWWL-TV Iowa City)
NEW YORK - April 6, 2006 - The defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, marquee teams, storied rivalries and sibling rivalries highlight NBC’s return to the National Football League as the NFL today announced its 2006 slate of games.

Postseason berth on line (Denver Post)
When the Colorado Crush plays the Kansas City Brigade today at Kemper Arena, team owner John Elway will meet a former Broncos teammate and they can compare Super Bowl rings.

bowleaglesfans new articles for Tuesday, April 11, 2006Super Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentence
Super Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentenceSuper Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentenceThe brother of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Tyrone Carter had his sentence for driving with a revoked license increased from six months to ...

The End of Cause Marketing
Technorati tags: 1984, apple, big brother, cause marketing, corporate social responsibility, halo effect, ipod, luke skywalker, microsoft windows, star wars, super bowl advertising, the sopranos, wall street journal.

Pondering Blogs
I recently read an article about Hines Ward, wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who just won the Super Bowl. Ward, on first glance, much like Tiger Woods, looks African American. I suppose, technically, he is. ...

Favre From Being Over
He returned a proud franchise to championship status with a win in Super Bowl XXXI and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXII. He’s become one of the most beloved quarterbacks of all time—and as fans he’s been given the benefit of the doubt ...

Disney to Make 4 ABC Shows Free Online - Yahoo! News
Consider the Super Bowl - many people watch the Super Bowl just to see the ads. Can they provide provocative, varied ads to keep people interested? It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

a little pregnant: Your cervix and the next recipients of the ...
a little pregnant: Your cervix and the next recipients of the Super Bowl trophy will thank you It must be a political day for me, breastfeeding and now this. Julie brought this to my attention with her latest entry. ...

Singapore's Jurong Super Bowl McDonald's: Nice
Count on the Jurong Super Bowl store to meet your expectations for a great spot to eat. The McChronicles: A blog about, not affiliated with, McDonald's. Image: The McChronicles.

Chill Your Bud for Super Bowl 2010
But we still agree the Super Bowl is an excellent venue for publicity about the commercials. In fact, the pre-game publicity is worth far more than the commercials. And here is a great bit of publicity. Anheuser-Busch has decided to ...

Super Bowl MVP Ward returns to South Korea as hero
South Korea welcomed the return on Monday of its newfound sports hero Hines Ward, the Korean-American football star who left as a toddler, but questions remain over how the country treats its mixed-race children.

[Asinine] FCC releases some Super Bowl complaints from this year ...
(Some Guy)

Super Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentence
Super Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentenceSuper Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentenceSuper Bowl trip adds 4.5 years to prison sentenceThe brother of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Tyrone Carter had his sentence for driving with ...

Updating the Blog!
They're not going to win anything significant (ie Super bowl, playoff game, division) this season so why not plan for the future now? Sure, Rodgers will take some hits and be hurried but it won't be as bad as Carr's tenure at Houston or ...

Report: DeLay's Exit Doesn't Close The Curtain On The Republican ...
Abramoff also paid for members of Ney's staff to travel to the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, as well the Super Bowl in Tampa. [Washington Post, 9/28/04; Plea Agreement between DOJ and Abramoff, 1/3/06] ...

Court Awards Bavaria to the Dowager Princess
The verdict was a setback for the city of Detroit, and Mitch Albom who cried foul when the DP bolted from her Renaissance Towers Suite after the Super Bowl. “She’sa bookmaker,” said detective Artie Shaw. “I don’t care if she is the ...

Unpatriotic?
If you watched the Super Bowl last Sunday you probably noticed that the Indianapolis Colts weren't playing. I'm sure that this article will not sit well with those who automatically receive it as part of their free "Buy American Mention ...

My First Weekend Of Spring
So, in one of the most interesting and sporting events around [imagine the past Super Bowl champion coach awarding the trophy to the one that just won it]....we saw Tiger Woods put the Green Jacket on Mickelson just one year after ...

Masterful Masters Management
... and no comments about bikini wax or Mark O'Meara belonging to Tiger a la Gary McCord. I know I am supposed to hate them for not allowing women members, but I don't. It's the civilized and circumspect Super Bowl of golf.

MLB Notes
86 hat in honor of Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward of the Steelers. David Ortiz is with the Red Sox for at least another 4 years, and all it cost the Sox was $50 million. A fresh of breath air after the Johnny Damon nonsense. ...

Record Crowd on Hand as Tigers Fall to ChiSox
Game-time temperatures over 50 degrees and a record 44179 fans were on hand at Comerica Park to welcome the boys of summer back to the D. Super Bowl hero and Detroit-native Jerome Bettis was on hand to throw out one of the ceremonial ...

Movie Awards
It’s awards show season—the Super Bowl of fashion, the Olympics of egos, the paparazzi prom—and we can’t get enough of it. Year after year, we gossip, we air kiss, we live vicariously, while at the same time, tearing it all to shreds. ...