NBC Sports: NBA 1991- NBA Finals Game 1- Los Angeles Lakers @ Chicago Bulls: Full Game

Source:Post Up- The Lakers vs Bulls in the NBA Finals.

Source:The New Democrat

“Rewatch or discover the 1991 NBA Finals, Michael Jordan MVP.

With Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant vs James Worthy, Vlade Divac, Magic Johnson.”

From Post Up

Game 1 of the 1991 NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls, Magic vs. Air Jordan, James Worthy vs. Scottie Pippen and I could go on. But this is perhaps the one NBA Finals matchup that every NBA fan wanted to see in 1991.

The team of the 1980s and perhaps of all-time, the Los Angeles Lakers, with the player of the 1980s and perhaps of all-time in Earvin Magic Johnson. Vs. who would become the team of the 1990s, with the player of the 1990s and perhaps the player of all-time in Michael Air Jordan.

Not every year and perhaps every decade that the NBA produces Super Bowl caliber matchup’s in their championship series. But 1991 was certainly that and had James Worthy and Byron Scott been healthy for the Lakers in this series, we are easily talking about one of the greatest NBA Finals matchup’s of all-time, that would’ve made it back to Chicago for at least game 6, if not game 7 as well.

Biography: Elizabeth Taylor

Source:Biography-

Source:The New Democrat

If there is just one actress that I could have to put into any role for anything, I could only have one, that women would be Elizabeth Taylor. I mean she was a great actress before she was even a teenager in the 1940s. She’s the gold standard, the standard that all actress’s are judged by. The Jim Brown or Babe Ruth of acting at least when it came to actress’s. There isn’t a better dramatic or comedic actress than Liz Taylor. Someone who could make dramatic roles look hysterical, like when she played Martha in Virginia Wolf and could make comedic roles look serious.

And I’ve only covered her professional skills. But do you another women with a better pair of eyes, sweeter or prettier eyes than Elizabeth Taylor. A beautiful baby-face brunette really her whole life. And we are talking about almost eighty-years and with the curves that she had. She could play a really adorable women, who just makes guys go, “aw, she’s so cute!”. Or she can play a sexy baby-face beautiful brunette that guys can’t get their minds off that drives wives crazy every time they are in her presence.

And of course no one is perfect and Liz Taylor might be the perfect example of that. A lot of her life is a dramatic comedy, or Hollywood scandal. With the countless marriages that she had, the alcoholism and obesity that she was fighting in the 1980s and perhaps even before that. But none of that takes anything away from what she brought to Hollywood and millions of movie fans. As this beautiful baby-face sexy brunette, who was an incredible actress, as well as one of the funniest people of all-time. Both intentionally and unintentionally.

Jim Morrison Project: The Doors - Crawling King Snake

Source:The New Democrat- Jim Morrison & The Doors: Live from Frankfurt, Germany (1968)

Source:The New Democrat

I think the Crawling King Snake video from The Doors with Jim Morrison perfectly sums up the style and career of Jim Morrison. The man made leather jeans and rock and roll culture and why it looks the way it does today, at least with hard rockers and headbangers. The Lizard King obviously wasn’t a hard rocker or a headbanger, but he put his signature black snake-skin leather jeans on the map and made them cool. To the point by the 1980s they were standard for rockers male and female. And probably a big reason why Melissa Etheridge and Joan Jett got into them and why you saw rock and roll bands like Guns N Roses and Kiss get into them and of course the metal bands like Skid Row and Motley Crew.

And that is what you see in this video. The Lizard King moving so smoothly in his snake skin’s and cowboy boots and the concho belt. He combined rock and roll culture and lifestyle, with Western and American-Indian culture with the leather jeans, cowboy boots and concho belt and the leather jacket as well. He put these looks on the map in rock and roll, because of how often he wore this outfit in public and all the images that have come from those appearances. That were famous then and if anything now more popular forty-five years later. And without the Lizard King, rock and roll probably looks a lot different in the 1970s, 80s, 90s and today.

Leather in general wasn’t very popular in America when it came to wardrobes pre-late 1960s or so, except for perhaps biker and to a certain extent Western culture. So Jim Morrison in his full leather suit and then throw in the cowboys boots and the concho belt, that if anything even highlighted his leather jeans even more, especially in front, he was taking a risk. But he had the style, the look, the moves to make it work to the point that he became a rock and roll and perhaps even style icon in America and not just in rock and roll. And all of this is part of legacy that is still alive and well today.

HTS: MLB-1989-Anaheim Angels @ Baltimore Orioles: Mike Deveraux's HR Wins it

Source:The New Democrat

This was certainly one of the highlights of the 1989 Orioles season, that again had their been a wildcard back then, the Orioles make the AL Playoffs with 89 wins, but that is a different story. The 1989 Orioles are what a good team looks like. Not a great team, not a talented team, but what a team looks like. How good a team can be when it has a lot of good players and is deep. As well as lets say average players who have big years and big moments for them. The 89 Orioles were a pitching and defense first team, that would score enough and score when they needed in order to win. Their pitching wasn’t very good in this game, so their offense backed them up and scored enough runs to win and bailout the Orioles pitching in this game.

The Merv Griffin Show: Dennis Hopper Interview, Easy Rider, The Last Movie (1971)

Source:Merv Griffin Show- actor Dennis Hopper on Merv Griffin in 1971.

Source:The New Democrat

There is such a thing as being ahead of your time, but I don’t think that applies to Dennis Hopper. Who I consider to be a baby boomer born in the mid-1930s, I believe 1936. He is obviously not a boomer, but he fits into that generation so well, especially the Hippie Culture, the Counter Culture of the 1960s. And a lot if not most of his movies from the 1960s and 70s, had something to do with the current culture of that era and a lot of them were about Hippie Culture. So if he had a movie that didn’t do very well in that era and it was about Hippies, it probably wasn’t because Dennis was ahead of his time. That argument could’ve been made about someone making a counter-culture movie in 1955 or so. But you make a movie like that in the late 1960s and early 1970s, you’re in the perfect time frame for that movie.

So Dennis’s problem with The Last Movie, perhaps was the title, but anyway it might just have been that the movie wasn’t very good. And I’m saying this as someone who is a big Hopper fan and have liked a lot of his movies. As far as this interview, classic Dennis Hopper I believe, at least from that era. I mean he just did Easy Rider in 1969 and he walks onto the stage as a Hippie drifter. Which is essentially what he played in Easy Rider. He is a man for his times, as he was back then and is still today. So whether he doesn’t do as well as he wants to, it just might be because the movie or his performance wasn’t as good as it needed to be for him to do as well as expected to do. It is easy to put it on the audience, or people you work with, but harder to look at yourself to see where you came up short.

Mariah Carey: 'All I Want For Christmas is You'

Source:Mariah Carey- Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas.

Source:The New Democrat

"About the "Merry Christmas" the album:
Merry Christmas is the first Christmas album, and the fourth studio album, by Mariah Carey. The album features cover versions of popular Christmas tunes and original material. Carey worked with Walter Afanasieff, with whom she wrote all of the original tracks, as well as producing Carey's interpretations of the covered material. The album contains a contemporary holiday theme, and featured "authentic, gospel flavored background vocals". Three singles were released from the album, of which All I Want for Christmas Is You went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all time."

From Mariah Carey

This is something I’ve wanted to post for, like years now and forgive me for being busy. But I can’t think of a better person and perhaps a more adorable person to sing this adorable song, than baby-face goddess Mariah Carey. With that voice and those facial expressions, watching perform always make me want to go, aw! And be in aw of her, I mean she really is one of the sweetest performers you could ever see and hear and perhaps talk to.

Mariah is the voice of our generation, especially since Whitney Houston unfortunately passed a few years ago. And perhaps the best voice that has performed since The Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra. I mean Mariah is absolutely insane, no not mentally, but in physical, as well as professional talent. It is like watching an angel from above who came down from Heaven. Perhaps bored because God doesn’t give her enough work to do. And she bless’ everyone with her presence.

MLB Classics: MLB 1983- MLB World Series-Game 5- Baltimore Orioles @ Philadelphia Phillies: Full Game

Source:MLB Classics- The Orioles unlike in 1979, coming through when it counted in 83.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Baltimore Orioles 5 at Philadelphia Phillies 0, F — Eddie Murray hit a pair of homers and Rick Dempsey added a solo shot to back the five-hit pitching of Scott McGregor as the Orioles wrapped up their first World Series title in 13 years with a 5-0 shutout of the Phillies. Murray and Dempsey hit solo homers off Charles Hudson in the 2nd and 3rd innings, and Murray’s two-run shot in the 4th broke the game open. Al Bumbry drove in Dempsey in the 5th to set the final margin, and McGregor took over from there. Picking up where he left off in Game 1, when he allowed only two runs in eight innings despite taking the loss, McGregor went the distance, striking out six, as the Orioles wrapped up the championship.”

From MLB Classics 

What makes the 1983 World Series different from the 1979 World Series that the Orioles had a 3-1 series lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979, as opposed to the Phillies in 83, is the Orioles pitching and their hitting.

The Phillies other than the really the first game of this series, were pretty much shut down offensively in this series. Including getting shut out in-game 5 to clinch the Series for the Orioles. Unlike game 5, 6 and seven in the 79 World Series against the Pirates, the Orioles got all the pitching, key runs and key hits in-game 5 of the 83 Series and for most this World Series as well.

The Phillies had a very solid lineup in 83, but you shut down 3B Mike Schmidt and you could pretty much shut down the Phillies lineup. Then throw in the fact that Joe Morgan their leadoff hitter was forty-years old, Pete Rose is forty-two and their 1B Tony Perez is thirty-nine years old and all of these players being great at one point, but were all at the end of their careers against the Orioles in this series.

As well as the Phillies not having the pitching that the Pirates did in 79. Everything was set up for the Orioles to win the 83 World Series. The only question was, would they come through or not.

Tim Fuerhardt: MLB 1991-Detroit Tigers @ Baltimore Orioles: Orioles Last Game at Memorial Stadium

Source:The New Democrat

The story of this Tigers-Orioles game, even though it is a very small part of the Orioles 1991 season with this being their last game at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, but this game pretty much summarized their season. You would think that the Orioles management would’ve put more into trying to make sure that they had a competitive team in 91, considering this was their last season at Memorial. And they tried to do that with the Glen Davis trade, but they were horrible in 91. Very little pitching, at least consistent pitching either starters or in the bullpen. And not a lot of offense in their lineup to go with Cal Ripken.

The Orioles lost this game I believe 8-1 to the Tigers, who had a pretty good lineup that year. But the real story of this game was that it was the end of a great era not just for Orioles baseball with all the success the Oriole had at Memorial, but the end of a great era for Major League Baseball as well. Just too bad that the Orioles, especially for their fans, that after winning their last MLB World Series in 1983, they five of their last eight seasons at Memorial, were losing seasons. Including losing 108 in 88 and two 95 lost seasons in 87 and 91. But the Orioles of the 60s, 70s and 80s were one of the best franchises in MLB and all of that home success came at Memorial.

ABC Sports: MLB-1985-MNB-Detroit Tigers @ Baltimore Orioles: Highlights

Source:The New Democrat. 

Interesting matchup between two non-contending AL East teams in 1985. The Detroit Tigers finished in third place, but fifteen games out of first. And the Orioles finished fourth sixteen games out of first. But the AL East was deep in 1985, with four teams, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Tigers and Orioles all having winning seasons. And the Boston Red Sox were a 500 club that year. So it wasn’t like the Tigers and Orioles had bad years in 85, it was just that the Blue Jays and Yankees were both very good. And had their been a wildcard back then, both the Jays and Yanks would’ve made the AL Playoffs.

The Orioles were in transition in 85 especially as it relates to their pitching with Jim Palmer retiring after the 84 season. They were still good enough to be a winning team, but no longer a serious contender for the AL East. Their pitching wasn’t nearly as good as it was in the early 1980s and 1970s. And became a power hitting team that needed big offensive games to win. The Tigers won the MLB World Series in 1984 and were still good enough to contend in 85. But they slipped back as the Blue Jays and Yankees finished first and second.

Rachel Maddow: Best of Michelle Bachmann Fails

Source:The New Democrat

Just to state a fact here and hopefully not my only one in this post, it is kind of funny to hear from Rachel Maddow and really anyone on MSNBC talk other than maybe Larry O’Donnell and Ed Schultz, talk about the lack of facts coming from really anyone, including Michelle Bachmann. Who at least in the Representative’s case, she has a following, unlike MSNBC. To correct Rachel Maddow, Representative Bachmann only serves in the House. So she doesn’t sit on the Intelligence Committee in Congress, but on the House Intelligence Committee, which is bad enough. And also to correct Rachel Maddow, Representative Bachmann wasn’t appointed by the Congressional Republican Leadership to the Intelligence Committee. Just by the House Republican Leadership. Since Representative Bachmann only serves in the House and not the Senate as well.

So how about my greatest hit of the distinguished Representative from Minnesota who hopefully for the rest of the country, not including comedians and bloggers on both sides if the aisle, will be spending a lot more time back on the Frozen Tundra next year as she departs the House of Representatives at the end of the 113th Congress.

I think number one has to be which was in her 2011 presidential campaign announcement speech about saying that “same-sex marriage being the number one threat to national security”. I don’t know this as fact, but I believed she included pornography in that speech as well and said both pornography and same-sex marriage are our number one threats to national security.

You know, you would think someone who serves on one of the intelligence committees in Congress, not the Congressional Intelligence Committee in Congress, (to take another jab at Rachel Maddow) would be getting briefings and, gee I don’t know intelligence, (I know wild idea) about what are truly the national security threats to America. And hear things like North Korea, Islamic Republic of Iran and their state-sponsorship of terrorism, Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State of Syria, that also occupies part of Northern Iraq. And think, “gee perhaps these states and groups are real threats to American national security”. And same-sex marriage and pornography, which would never even come up in a House Intelligence Committee hearing at all for no reason whatsoever. Well because they have nothing to do with national security.

I’ve never viewed President George W. Bush as a dumb man. Well at least not post-9/11, because at that point at least I thought President Bush was up to the job at least when it came to national security and foreign policy. And it looked like when, even including Vice President Dick Cheney, that the President was in good hands with a good team around him. Even with the Iraq debacle, I saw him as unqualified, sure, but not stupid which are two different things. But I could easily see why others viewed him that way with his horrible habit of saying things that are simply false. But whether you think G.W. Bush is a bright guy or has bricks for brains (to put it lightly) the man looks like an English professor at Harvard in comparison to Michelle Bachmann.

Whether Michelle Bachmann needs to be institutionalized, or under some therapy for some mental handicapped she’s suffering from, or simply an asshole who specializes on speaking out of her ass, which could be said by a lot of people in Congress both House and Senate, there isn’t an easier person to make fun of in Congress than Representative Bachmann. And yes I have to admit, as a blogger and political satirist myself, I’m going to miss her for those reasons alone. Plus, she’s so damn cute and funny both intentionally and unintentionally. Intentionally when she’s not going off on Democrats with nothing more than a bucket of spit. That I hope she keeps herself in the public eye in the future. Just as a private citizen, perhaps as a political satirist, columnist, blogger, radio talk show host. All jobs she’s actually qualified for, unlike her current one.

The Newsroom: Maggie On Michele Bachmann & Christianity

Source:The New Democrat

What the Maggie character from The Newsroom didn’t mention and perhaps didn’t think of, is that perhaps Representative Michelle Bachmann’s whose career in Congress will be over in just a few weeks, (counting the days, can’t wait) that perhaps Michelle believes her own propaganda. See I’m not sure if the distinguished Representative from Minnesota is an escaped mental patient, someone who should be committed, but because she’s married to Markus Bachmann who perhaps should be committed as well, or is not smart enough to see that her dear wife needs professional help. Or is a complete idiot who believes her own, lets say propaganda about “God wants me to run for President”.

You know not all politician’s are liars. Which is as difficult to believe that it never snows in Minnesota, or the New York Yankees aren’t from New York, or there isn’t a lot of oil in Texas. But there are politician’s that are simply flat nuts or complete morons, or perhaps in Michelle Bachmann’s case a case of both. And yes there are politician’s that lie, well their mouths off, who the only way to know what they think and know about anything, at least important is to always have them on truth serum. I’m just throwing it out there that there are politician’s who are nutty or dumb enough to actually believe their own words and aren’t always lying.

Real Time With Bill Maher: 'Most Americans Are Dumb & Uneducated'

Source:The New Democrat

I wonder if Bill Maher includes himself in the group "most Americans are dumb and uneducated". I also wonder where he got those polls and numbers he was apparently quoting. Assuming what he does is a real job, he wouldn't have the time go do those polls himself, or do all the research. Bill Maher again leaves me with a piece where I'm sort of with him, but not completely there. Are there stupid Americans, you might as well ask if their lakes in Minnesota, snow in Alaska, or water in Michigan. That is not a real question or debate. And to be completely truthful, I don't believe "are most Americans stupid a real question and debate either".

If most Americans were stupid, the country wouldn't be nearly as developed as it is and far along and powerful across the board as it is. Why, because a country run by idiots and not just in the public sector and private sector couldn't create that. Why, because they are idiots and what are idiots good for, well why are they called idiots, because they are experts on idiocy. I know Bill Maher is a comedian, at least technically so what he says should be taken with at least jar of salt every time he even tries to sound serious, but he's simply wrong about that.

Now here is where I agree with Maher. And again no debate, too many stupid Americans, but why is that, one our education system, public for the most part isn't as good as it needs to be for a country this size. Too many Americans either not finishing high school and even if they do not getting out of high school what they should've gotten that taxpayers paid for and as a result having to take high school courses in the junior college that would take them  so they can finish their high school education and be ready for junior college.

But it is not just education, but it is also about values. And no I'm not a Religious Conservative, but things that people need to do well in America, aren't valued as highly as what is considered hot or awesome at the time by too many young Americans. Which is how you get such a high percentage of Americans who couldn't tell who their U.S. Representative is, even if it meant winning the latest smart phone with a year of free service. Why because they are too busy playing video games, watching so-called reality TV, what was the latest bar their favorite celebrity got kicked out of. Or what Kim Kardashian had for lunch in Beverly Hills on Saturday and what shoes she wore with her purse.

A lot of young Americans are more interested in these celebrity culture and technology stories, than they are in current affairs and politics. And forget about American history or the U.S. Constitution, "because that is like so yesterday and not awesome". Actually for a lot of Millennial's, what happened last year, "is like so ancient history". American history and current affairs is being replaced by valley culture and valley pop. At least in the short-term, hopefully at some point they'll grow up and become more serious and respectful of things and people that came before them. But right now they are making America look stupid.

The Late Show With David Letterman: Jon Stewart On Things (November 13th, 2014)

Source:The New Democrat

As far as kids, glad I don't have any! And so far I've done a hell of a job up achieving one of my goals in life which was not to have kids. I'm not even crazy about being an uncle, as my two nieces and nephew may tell you. Not saying that having kids is not important and that kids don't have a place in the world. Last time I checked, people don't start off as adults in life. I'm a perfect example of that and some may say I haven't finished childhood yet. I'll say one thing nice about kids. I'm glad my parents decided to have them and more importantly at least to me, I'm glad they had me.

As far as Halloween, I'm glad that's over for me. I mean it was useful to me as a kid, because it meant about a week or a few days of free candy. Depending on how successful I was at tricker treating and not scaring the hell out of people who may give me candy. Like dressing up as Charlie Manson, Ted Bundy, Saddam Hussein. But one thing I discovered as an adult with a job, that if I want candy, I don't have to ask my parents. I can just go buy it, like I did on Friday and besides candy is not that important to me anyway. A couple of things you learn as an adult.

As far as freedom in Egypt and the Middle East, or Arabia. This may sound harsh, but are they ready for freedom, I mean what would happen if all the sudden they had it, would they know what to do with it? I think freedom to people in that part of the world they where they grew up and living as adults in such an authoritarian statist environment, where you are told what to do by your own damn government all the time, you come to expect that. It is a reason why these countries are called police states. Because it essentially like living in prison where you don't have to make decisions for yourself.

I think learning to live freely for people who've only known an authoritarian system, would be like trying to learn how to drive without an instructor right after you learn how to, well drive for lack of a better word big wheels. I think their would be a real learning curve there. And if you free the people there, then you are also freeing authoritarian radicals who want to tear down the current police state to establish their own. Not saying that freedom couldn't work in a large like Egypt to use as an example, but there would have to be smart people there who have to know how to establish it. And an overwhelming majority of the country that actually wants it.

ABC Sports: NFL 1978-MNF- Baltimore Colts @ New England Patriots: Joe Washington Highlights

Source: Joey Mesa - Baltimore Colts RB Joe Washington.

Source:The New Democrat

I'm posting this because as a Redskins fan who is not quite old enough to have a very good memory of the Baltimore Colts before escaped to Indianapolis in 1984, I remember Joe Washington with the Redskins in the early and mid-1980s.

He was what the NFL calls now and perhaps then a hybrid on offense. Someone between a wide receiver and running back. Someone you could run out of the backfield in a traditional set, but run draws, catch screens and swing passes out of the backfield. But you also line him up in the slot position as a possession receiver, or even big play receiver. Hybrid offensive players tend to not be big for running backs and not tall for receivers.

Hybrids tend to be about 5'9-5'11 around 190-200 pounds or smaller than that. Strong enough to run the ball out of the backfield and catch the ball as a wideout and get open. But not quite big enough you want that player to be doing full-time, at least as your go to runner or receiver. The guy who really reminds me of Joe would be Eric Metcalf who played for the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons in the 1990s. And played both halfback and wide receiver, as well as return kicks and punts.
Source:Joey Mesa

Real Time With Bill Maher: Bill Maher Tells American Socialists to Come Out of the Closet

Source:The New Democrat

Forget about me saying at risk of slapping myself on the back, because I'm just going to slap myself on the back so much, you would think I was being whipped with a belt by a gay lover. Because I've made at least part of the point over and over of what Bill Maher is saying here. We not only still have closet gays in America, but we have closet Socialists as well. We have Americans who say "I hate socialism, oh by the way, you even think about touching my damn Medicare, I'll kill you". And that is the nice version, but who do you think runs Medicare, Jesus Christ? Medicare is a socialist centralized federal government-run program that is financed through taxes that we the people pay.

But there's even more, because we also have Americans who say they aren't Socialists. They just speak highly of socialism and defend socialism, as if their lives or Unemployment Insurance depended on it. Sort of like the Christian fundamentalist preacher who says he hates homosexuality and that it is a sin. While at the same time he's having affairs with men that his wife and ten kids don't know about of course. But the difference being the closet Socialist on the Left, doesn't have the balls to admit they are a Socialist. The person on the Right doesn't support socialism broadly. So I'll cut them some slack.

But the closet Socialist on the Left is a Socialist, perhaps knows they are a Socialist and just doesn't want to admit it. Because admitting to being a Socialist in America or admiring it, is liking a man admitting he likes boys, or admitting to being a rapist or something. It is not socialism that Americans hate, but the word itself because it gets linked to communism and other leftist authoritarian ideologies. It is not that we don't have Socialists or gay lovers of gay socialism in America. It is that we have Socialists who don't have the balls to admit to what they are. And Americans who do not understand what socialism actually and look down at and people who actually admit they are Socialists.

Whether you want to call the lets say hard core Left in America especially in the Democratic Party McGovernites, which is how they were labeled in the 1970s and 80s, or Progressive Caucus in the 1990s and even today, or the modern label Occupy Wall Street, these are the stuck in the closet with the door bolted down that an Army tank couldn't knock the closet door down Socialists in America. The Bernie Sanders of this movement actually has the balls to admit he's a Socialist and damn proud of it. But a lot of his followers don't and go by Progressive, or what makes me want to try to ram a brick wall down with a head, I hate saying this but they some call themselves Liberals.

NFL Films: NFL 1958-Championship-Baltimore Colts @ New York Giants

Source:The Daily Journal

Was the 1958 NFL Championship game the best game ever played, well if you look at the 5-6 turnovers in that game and both teams getting in the red zone and not scoring and other mistakes like that of course not. The 1967 NFC Championship between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Back Packers especially if you consider the weather conditions and where the game was played in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was a much better played game. 

But the Cowboys and Packers still manages to play very well in that game. Even though it was played under those conditions. And the Hall of Fame head coaches Tom Landry and Vince Lombardi coaching that game and all the Hall of Fame players that played in that game. Cowboys DT Bob Lilly, WR Bob Hayes, CB Mell Renfro. For the Packers QB Bob Starr, OT Forrest Gregg, OG Jerry Kramer, DE Willy Davis, LB Ray Nitchke and others. I believe thats the greatest game ever played as far as the quality of the game.

And that's different from the most important game ever played. Because the 1958 NFL Championship had more to do with the future of the NFL as well as pro football. It made it easier to form the American Football League because of the attention that the 58 NFL Championship got, because now it was clear that there was room in America for more than twelve Pro football franchises, that were all in the NFL. And the NFL wasn't looking to expand, but instead consolidate the revenue that it had. 

The NFL had just survived the Korean War where it lost players to that war, World War II obviously same thing the Great Depression and somehow survived financially from that and came out better and on top from where it was before. What makes the 1958 NFL Championship and yes it was a very well played game and even a great game to watch as far as how entertaining it was, was for one it was the most important game ever played. You're talking about the two best teams in pro football playing for the NFL Championship in New York at Yankee Stadium in front of a live national televised audience, with two great football teams that had great coaching. 

For the Baltimore Colts coached by Weeb Ewbank who's in the Hall of Fame. For the New York Giants, forget about their head coach Jim Lee Howell and (I know with a name like Jim Lee Howell how can you forget that name) but you got Vince Lombardi as the offensive coordinator and Tom Landry as the defensive coordinator. As they say in Brooklyn, forget about it! That's all you need to know about the Giants coaching staff.  

And then you Hall of Famers for the Colts like QB John Unitas the greatest ever, RB Len More, RB Alan Ameche who scored the winning TD in the game, OT Jim Parker maybe the greatest OT of all time. WR Ray Berry one of the greatest possession WR of all time. DE Gino Marchetti maybe the greatest DE of all time, CB Johnny Sample and many others. The 1958 Giants as far as Hall of Famers, on offense RB Frank Gifford, on defense DT Andy Robostelli, DT Rosey Greer, MLB Sam Huff. 

These are three of the greatest defenders of all-time and they had the best defense in the NFL as well and scored enough points to win. With  Frank Gifford, FB Alex Webster, WR Tobin Rote and QB Charlie Connerly who could both run and pass and do them well. Anytime you get a matchup like that, under those conditions in a championship final on network TV and radio with all the major newspapers covering the game, you got something special, the NFL at this point was a major sports league. 

But Major League Baseball was still number one and college football was probably number two as far as team sports. But this game set the stage because of the audience it drew, still one of the highest rated programs and intended games in pro sports history, for the NFL by the early 1970s to be the dominant sports league in America if not the world. 

What the 1958 NFL Championship Final did, was set the stage for the NFL and the AFL to become the number one sports league in America because of the teams that played it, the players that played in it, how well they played. And of course the audience it drew, because now America could see how great of a sport pro football was and decided they wanted to see a lot more of it. 

Frank Russo: Captain: The Thurman Munson Story

Source:The Daily Journal

I'm not an expert on Thurman Munson, he died in 1979 and I didn't start watching baseball until 1983 but what I've heard about Thurman Munson, is that there's not nearly enough information or reporting about him one of the most underrated and under appreciated baseball players of all time. We are talking about one of the best all around Catchers of the 1970s, right there with Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench. Same skills as both players but ran better and could hit for a better average. 

This was a catcher who was a 300 hitter and back then that almost never happened. Besides I'm a Baltimore Orioles fan and the New York Yankees are our arch rivals and Orioles fans hate the Yankees and we had a very good rivalry with each other in the 1970s and 80s and the Yankees cost the Orioles a three division titles in the mid and late 1970s, 76-78. But again what I've heard and know about Munson, is a great all around catcher who was headed to the Hall of Fame. 

And even though he only played eleven seasons 1969-79, again since he was one of the best all around catchers of an entire decade that alone should be enough to give Thurman Munson consideration for the Hall of Fame. Anytime you're one of the best players at your positions and one of the best players in the game for an entire decade, that alone should give you strong consideration to be in the Hall of Fame. But thats not up to me but it took a plane crash in the Summer of 1979 to keep Thurman Munson out of the Hall of Fame because he's a player that played in pain constantly, similar to Mickey Mantle another great Yankee and who was headed to the Hall of Fame.

If you want to know if Thurman Munson was a great baseball player or not, you need to know what makes a great baseball player. To me thats someone with no glaring weakness's and at least with a few glaring strengths and you show these skills consistently for a solid period of time, 5-7 or ten years to me for a catcher to be a great Catcher, you can't just be a guy that calls a great game, defends his position well and throws the ball well, Rick Dempsey of the Orioles did all of those things very well. 

And for about ten years about as well as they could be done. But he was basically a 230 hitter with very little if any power and not much of a run producer his entire career. But he was a good clutch hitter in the playoffs but that alone even with being a great Defensive Catcher. Doesn't get you in the Hall of Fame, the reason why Thurman Munson was a great catcher because he did everything that Rick Dempsey could do if not better. 

But he was also a 300 Hitter who drove in runs. Who also had solid power but not great power but definite threat to go deep. In the American League the two best catchers in the 1970s were Carlton Fisk and Thurman Munson and you could go either way and for that decade I would lean towards Munson, because he played through injuries without losing production. Fisk missed a lot of time because of injuries. When I think of the term captain as it relates to sports, I think of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers who his teammates called Cap. 

But captain also fits Thurman Munson of the New York Yankees who was not only the captain of his teams but the leader the quarterback, the on field coach of that team that his teammates knew they better do their jobs or the captain was going to get on them. Who always did whatever he could to make sure his players were in the best position that they could be so they could play as well for the Yankees as possible. Thurman Munson was the Captain of the New York Yankees.

1987-88 Los Angeles Laker Back to Back

Source:The Daily Journal 

The Los Angeles Lakers of the 1980s were a great dynasty for several reasons and more reasons because they had Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin Johnson and Pat Riley as their head coach and Jerry West as their general manager. They had the best center of all-time, the best point guard of all-time, one of the best head coaches of all-time in Pat Riley, one of the best executives of all-time in Jerry West. And a great chief executive in Jerry Buss, again one of the best ever. All these people are Hall of Famers and in Jerry West a Hall of Famer as one of the best players of all-time as well as one of the best general managers of all-time.

And you add in James Worthy another Hall of Famer and a guy who played both small forward and power forward at 6'9 225 pounds the size to play both positions and you throw in their fast break, I believe the best ever with their ability to defend, rebound, run the floor. Kareem, Magic, Riley and their fast break is what they are known for, but these are just some of the reasons why they were a great dynasty. 

You had Jerry West putting the teams together, Pat Riley leading the teams and then Kareem and Magic, both two of the best players of all-time not just at their positions and you can make a good case for both of them that they are the best basketball players of all-time period as their lead players, with Worthy backing them up, who on most other teams in the NBA would be the best player on the team, but since he played for the Showtime Lakers he was the third best player.

The Showtime Lakers had three of the best players in the league all on the same team with the best head coach in the league at least at the time in Pat Riley with their three franchise players. One or two of them even could have a bad game, not in a championship game, at least not two of them and the Lakers could still win. Because two or just one of them was great enough to pick up the slack for one or two players. The Celtics back then were the only other team in the NBA that had that.

With all that, that's still not enough to be NBA champions, that's most of the pieces, but not all of them. They had great role players as well, Byron Scott great outside shooter and defender, Michael Cooper the same thing and with the ability to play both guard positions and small forward. Kurt Rambis excellent post defender, rebounder and ran the floor very well and a great hustle player. AC Green another excellent rebounder and post defender who ran the floor very well and could score a little as well. Mychal Thompson a great third big man, the ability to play both center and power Forward. Could rebound defend, score and ran the floor very well as well.

The Showtime Lakers are known for their fast break, but what doesn't get mentioned is why they are a great fast break team. Back then the Lakers were also one of the best defensive teams if not the best defensive team as well as a very good rebounding team and the best passing team in the league. Their defense and rebounding led to their fast breaks, with Earvin Johnson the best Point Guard the NBA has ever seen running the Laker show. 

But with Kareem, Magic, Worthy, their outside shooters, they were also a great half court team. The Showtime Lakers were like a great movie or TV show with a great producer, director, great lead actors and great character actors with everyone knowing their roles and playing them up to their best ability. Which is why I believe the Showtime Lakers are the best NBA dynasty of all time. 

Larry King Live: Bill Maher Remembers George Carlin (2008)

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008, talking about comedian George Carlin.

Source:The Daily Journal 

"Bill Maher remembers George Carlin" 

From Van 

"Bill Maher remembers George Carlin" 

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on comedian George Carlin.

From Van  

This photo is from a YouTube video by someone who goes by Anti-Conformist. But the video that this photo is from not currently available right now online because it was either deleted or blocked. 

Source:CNN- comedian Bill Maher on Larry King Live in 2008.

George Carlin isn't my favorite comedian but he's one of them. I don't consider him to be the best comedian but definitely one of them. But he's my favorite satirist and I consider him to be the best ever at that at least the best I've ever heard of. 

I guess all comedians are satirists, they all get their material from what they see in life. But Carlin to me is a satirist first, a great political satirist and a fair political satirist. He takes on both sides, that alone doesn't make him fair but the fact that he takes on the weakness's of both sides does because he hits people regardless of party where they deserves to be hit.

I try not to listen to political satirists from the right or left, unless they say something ignorant. Sarah Palin and yes thats what she is, she's a satirist and pretty funny one. But she's may favorite target on the Right. But I prefer to listen to satirists like George Carlin, Jon Stewart, Dennis Miller (a real Conservative) , Adam Carolla, a Libertarian satirist people who take on the establishment but in satiric form. 

If you're going to take on the establishment, you shouldn't pick on one side and treat them like the Devil. People who are completely incompetent and treat your side like its a God not capable of making mistakes. You should be able to hit both sides when they mess up, especially when they are hypocritical, perfect example of this. 

When someone like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachmann, both have a future in comedy if they want it. Rush Limbaugh a big fat target, that a blind person could hit would be another one, when Sarah, Michele and Rush go off on Democrats for supporting Big Government, whether the Democrats they targeting support Big Government or not, they're generally being hypocrites. These folks may want big government out of our wallets, but then put big government in our homes to make sure we're living what they would call a moral, Christian life. 

But what separates George Carlin from everyone, is his honesty, bluntness and credibility. He has all of those things, he goes after everyone he believes deserves to be critiqued. Both Democrats and Republicans, as well as Independents and the voters as well. He doesn't blame politicians for the problems in the country. But the people that voted for those politicians and then voted for their reelection. Which is what separates George Carlin from the pack.

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Joan Rivers Standup (1984)

Source:The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson- Joan Rivers standup in 1984.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Joan Rivers stand-up Tonight Show - hilarious monologue 2 - 1984. Joan guest hosts in 1984.

From Musical Atmosphere 

Speaking of annoyances in life, how about Joan Rivers. After listening to that performance (the whole damn thing, by the way) I feel like I just got back from a Judas Priest heavy metal concert. And I was not only in the first row, but right in front of the speakers listening for two-hours straight. Looks like I'm going to the ear-doctor tomorrow, because I can't even hear myself think. So if this post sounds strange it is because I might not know what I'm saying, because I can't even hear myself think. Joan was very funny, but her act was loud (to put it mildly) that is just sort of how she spoke to people and performed.

As far as what Joan was talking about: filthy people, who likes filthy people especially if they live right next door to you, or worst even in your home? Wait, I think I got it, filthy people like filthy people. Could you imagine a filthy person getting on someone for being filthy? That would be like an alcoholic getting on someone who smokes too much. It would be a little hard to put up with without making fun of a the tiny hypocrisy there. But the part of that is funny, is that she also doesn't like to clean, but with the money she had, she probably had her own cleaning crew. So it worked out for her.

Joan doesn't like cooking, so I guess going to her place for dinner meant bringing your own food. Unless she ordered out for both of you, or perhaps had her cooking staff prepare a meal for you. 

Aging, you know this is going to sound as obvious as saying when you jump in a lake, you're going to get wet and perhaps will sound easy coming from a guy, especially a guy who is not an athlete or divorced, but if you want to live a long time and I mean really live and not just be alive and do it for a long time, you're going to age. Speaking about facts of life.

The Ed Sullivan Show: Joan Rivers- On Dating (1967)

Source:The Ed Sullivan Show- comedian Joan Rivers in 1967.

Source:The New Democrat 

"Joan Rivers performed on The Ed Sullivan Show on April 23, 1967. Subscribe now to never miss an update:Ed Sullivan." 

From The Ed Sullivan Show 

I never got Joan Rivers putting down her physical appearance, especially with the style icon that she has become with her own clothing line that I'm sure is worth in the hundreds of millions of dollars.  

Is Joan Raquel Welch, well does it snow in Houston, Texas in July: same answer to both questions. But most women are not Raquel Welch with that great of a physical appearance where they can make women young enough to Raquel's granddaughter jealous of her looks. But Joan Rivers is sure as hell not Janet Reno either and if she was, the only thing she would be famous for would be kicking the hell out of NFL players with her butch appearance and presence. Actually Janet Reno is famous for putting away tough guys, but in a more legal fashion. 

I saw Joan as a cute little Jewish blonde (not to get too ethnic) but from New York. With a damn quick wit that comes from that community and city. And never understood why she was always putting herself down. Other than to get great laughs, which she was great at.

The Tonight Show With Joan Rivers: Angie Dickinson (1983)

Source:The New Democrat

On a personal note and perhaps just the only one. I could watch and listen to Angie Dickinson until it snowed in Miami, Florida. Sitting in Miami, Florida in July waiting for it to snow and getting so tanned and sunburned that I make John Boehner look like the Snowman. By the way, Snowmen aren't real. I hate to break that to you kids and seriously retarded adults. People just make fake men out of snow. Sort how women see fake men as real men and then act horribly surprised when their man turns into a bastard.

But back to Angie Dickenson before I lose anymore followers. Ha, my followers are back already. I could literally listen to her read off of a phone book and go through the thousands of Joe and Mary Smith's who live on Main Street near Bob's Diner and Gas Station and it would sound fascinating coming from her. She has this adorable and yet sexy vibe from her that everything she says and talks about just grabs you. The women could also look hot in pajamas and an orange baggy prison jumpsuit. She has this quality about her that is incredible that is hard to explain that you simply don't see on a regular basis.

Froma Harrop: Progressives Don't Need Washington All That Much

Source:CNN-

Source:The New Democrat

There's a tiny little state in New England right next door of New Hampshire which is happens to be the Libertarian Republic of New Hampshire and just south of Maine called Vermont. Or as I and a lot of others like to call the Socialist Republic of Vermont. Of course if you are an American you already know that unless you live somewhere thousands of miles from Vermont with no access to any media. But I say this because Vermonters do what so-called Progressives in Washington especially in Congress and so-called progressive activists say they want to do, but never actually get done, but do it differently.

What I'm getting to is that Vermont is nicknamed the Socialist Republic of Vermont because they have the highest percentage of Socialists or socialist supporters in America at least outside of the San Francisco area. And they have been able to establish the polices and programs in their tiny little state of seven-hundred-thousand people or so, that today's so-called Progressives inside of Washington and their supporters have been talking about doing for decades. But haven't had any real success at it at least since the Great Society in the 1960s.

Vermont has single payer health insurance and affordable health care for everyone. They have a pension system that is for everyone. And they have a boatload of other taxpayer funded state-run social services for their residents for everyone. And haven't asked Congress or the Administration for the funding for them or permission to run federal services in their state. Because they already have them at home. Vermont is the perfect example of why Progressives and Social Democrats should embrace federalism. Because they've shown they can enact progressive policies in their state without Washington.

Now today's so-called Progressives who in a lot of cases are really Social Democrats or Democratic Socialists, would be the last people you would expect to be Federalists. If there's anyone who believes in big centralized government, it would Progressives and Social Democrats. The inventors of the New Deal and Great Society. But people with the same ideological perspectives as they relate to both economic and social policy in Vermont has shown how federalism can be used in a progressive way and make it work for everyone in their state.

The lesson for today's Progressives and Social Democrats when it comes to the 2014 midterm elections, is that they don't need Washington to enact their progressive and socialist policies. Minimum wage increases and marijuana reform happened at  the state level on Tuesday. Not at the federal level and states like Vermont, Massachusetts and California have proven that Progressives know how to govern in their states and give people the public services that they want. And that they know how to pay for them and run them.
Source:CNN

Salon Magazine: Luke Brinker Talks to Rula Jebreal: Rula Jebreal Sounds Off on Bill Maher Islam Spat

Source:The New Democrat

First of all just about this so-called interview. It sounded more like a conversation to me and a slanted one at that. With the Luke Brinker taking the typical Salon leftist political correctness slant. Suggesting that by asking "does Bill Maher's criticism of Islam give rise to new Islamaphobia". Another example  would be "does Bill Maher's criticism make him sound like a Neoconservative". You can click the link in this post to see the actual conversation yourself.

First of all if you saw the show yourself the Real Time episode that Rula Jebreal was on with Bill Maher, it was essentially three against one. Bill Maher, Senator Angus King an Independent by the way, hardly anyone's radical and General Wesley Clark a center-left Democrat. Especially Maher and Senator King were defending free speech and Maher's right to speak freely especially express the truth. With Rula Jebreal trying to put the focus on Maher and herself and debate Islam. With her comparing Maher to an anti-semite of all things.

Any criticism against Islam even when it comes from Liberals and other leftists and you get labeled as a racist or some other type of bigot by the political correctness Left. Even when Muslims such as Reza Aslam are quick to point out that Bill Maher is not a racist and besides Islam is not even a race to begin with. And that is what I at least saw on that show. Rula Jebreal making the politically correct argument against those who would criticize Islam. And Bill Maher as well as Liberals sticking up for free speech. Freedom of Speech vs. political correctness in America. 

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson: Frank Sinatra & Angie Dickinson (1977)

Source:The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson- Chairman of the Board Frank Sinatra, guest-hosting and interviewing Hollywood Goddess Angie Dickinson.

Source:The New Democrat 

"OCEAN'S 11 1960'S INTERVIEW FRANK SINATRA" 

From Mr. Dnice   

"The Tonight Show Featuring Guest Host Frank Sinatra & Guest Angie Dickinson" 

Source:Dino Forever- Hollywood Goddess Angie Dickinson, on The Tonight Show With Frank Sinatra, in 1977. (Pun intended)

From Dino Forever

"THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON -- Pictured: (l-r) Actress Angie Dickinson, guest host Frank Sinatra on November 14, 1977 -- (Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)" 

Source:Getty Images- Angie and Frank, on Johnny in 1977.

From Getty Images

"Frank Sinatra guest hosting The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, November 14th, 1977" 

Source:Francis Albert Sinatra- Angie and Frank in 1977.

From Francis Albert Sinatra

Frank would’ve made an excellent talk show host with his sense of humor. His ability to sing obviously and all of the people he knew. Plus his intelligence and interests the ability to talk about multiple topics. 

This interview with Angie Dickinson I bet was fairly easy for him. Except for perhaps trying to focus and pay attention to the interview and not just stare at Angie the whole time. Who just happens to be one of the top goddess's in Hollywood history. 

I bet this interview was easy for Mr. Blue Eyes, because he and Angie knew each other pretty well. They worked together to do the 1960 film Ocean's Eleven. They were very friendly and had history together and gave them both an opportunity to talk about some of the better moments in both entertainer's career. And the time they spent together. I just wish I knew what show this was.  

Salon Magazine: Rula Jebreal to Bill Maher: 'When You Talk About Islam in a Certain Way, Some People Feel Threatened'

Source:The New Democrat

This whole debate has been coming from really the Hollywood and other political correctness leftists against Bill Maher. Because instead of using his time to just critique Christians when it comes to religion, being the true Atheist he is, he goes after other religions he's not a fan of and other radicals from other religions that he doesn't like. With the far-left responding by saying essentially "what are you doing? You are supposed  to go after Christians and Jews and Israel. Not people we want to protect". Because they tend not to be Anglo and Western European.

Senator Angus King who is an Independent by the way, but caucus's with Senate Democrats at least in this Congress, I believe had the best line in this exchange. When he said that "free speech is not just speech that you agree with, but also speech you disagree with and may be offended by.". Which is really the whole debate on the Left in America with Bill Maher getting in trouble with the far-left and Liberals such as myself defending his right to speak freely regardless of what others think of it.

Bill Maher getting in trouble with political correctness fascists on the far-left who can't handle anything that contradicts their ideological arguments, especially when they are facts that contradict them. As Bill Maher said that he's gotten into trouble for speaking the truth on Islam. Again we are talking about free speech. Not politically correct speech, or politically incorrect speech. But free speech that protects everyone's right to express their opinions. And people shouldn't get in trouble for speaking their minds and getting censored, especially when it is the truth. 

ESPN U: SEC Storied- The Life of Herschel Walker

Source:The New Democrat

Imagine being a defender in football and having to try to tackle a man whose 6’1 225 pounds of muscle, probably bench presses four hundred pounds, with track speed probably runs like a 4.3. Because that’s what the challenge was in trying to stop Herschel Walker. A running back no matter what level he ever played at he was always one play away from scoring no matter what part of the field he was on. Because he either broke a tackle from someone who would’ve tackled him if he’s a good tackler, or he would just hit a hole with raw speed.

Try to chase Herschel down would be like trying to chase down a horse on foot. Now imagine if Herschel didn’t play in the United States Football League for three seasons and went straight to the NFL. Imagine if Herschel didn’t start his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys when they were in decline in 1986. Imagine if Herschel was drafted in the 1983 NFL Draft by not only someone who wanted him, but could use him. And build their offense around him or at least make him their go to RB and they were a good team.

What I’m getting at is that unfortunately Herschel Walker’s career a lot of it is about imagination. Of what would’ve been or what could’ve happen because here is arguably the most talented running back of all-time. And a case could make that he’s the best running back of all-time. But Herschel will never be in the Hall of Fame. The USFL was not a good move on his part at least as it turns out.

And when Herschel finally get’s to the NFL he’s playing for the Dallas Cowboys who were 7-9 in Herschel’s rookie season in 1986. And playing behind Tony Dorsett who was one of the best running backs in the NFL at that point. And by the time Herschel becomes the main RB in Dallas in 1988, the Cowboys are 3-13 the worst team in the NFL. And they weren’t very good in 1987 either and Herschel being the only solid weapon on offense that the Cowboys had with QB Danny White in his last season in the NFL. And opposing defenses knew this and Herschel take a whipping while he was in Dallas.

In 1989 Cowboys new head coach/general manager Jimmy Johnson trades his only Pro Bowler and great player on the Cowboys team to Minnesota. And plays for a Vikings team that was also in decline as well and struggling just to make the NFC Playoffs. And ends up getting traded to Philadelphia and playing for an Eagles team that wasn’t bad, but it was Randall Cunningham’s team. And Herschel was there to give the Eagles a threat in the running game.

But this Eagles offense wasn’t the offense for Herschel either. So Herschel Walker the greatest running back of all-time coming out of college in 1983 ends up being a journeyman player in pro football. Because he was never able to find that right team for him that was a good team, but also a team that would utilize all of Herschel’s talents and get the best out of him.
Herschel Walker the greatest college running back of all-time and the physical and mental abilities to be a great NFL running back. And be in the Hall of Fame and challenge Jim Brown as the greatest running back of all-time. This is the career that Herschel would’ve had, but that never happened because in the NFL he was never with a team that was headed in the right direction. Either an established winner or moving up to becoming one. And as a result became a journeyman player in the NFL.