Sinclair Swaps Signals, Buys CBS6; Who Is Carma??

And the winner of the CBS6 Ownership Sweepstakes is Sinclair Broadcasting!

Today they announced the purchase of the "Wagon Train" station for $85 million, while selling off WRLH/Fox Richmond to the broadcast powerhouse, Carma Broadcasting, LLC.

What? Who? Didn't find a corporate site on Google. Maybe I'm missing something.

Oh, well-----those who feel Sinclair has politically "meddled" in its station broadcasting will, I'm sure, be watching the CBS6 News Department like a hawk. In the meantime, Sinclair says it will continue to provide "sales and non-programming services" for Fox Richmond.

So will they still utilize NBC12 talent for their News at Ten? Wouldn't seem to make sense.

Don't be surprised if the gang at CW News at Ten becomes Fox News at Ten at some point in the future, and vice versa.

I can hear the new slogan for Curt and Diane if they're on CW:

"We've got all this news, but only half the time!"

See? Naps ARE a good thing!

Read on, my friends!

41.......

Coming home from work today, I realized there's not alot of cultural references to the number 41.

Bush 41? That's only applicable to one man. It's the 13th smallest prime number. It's the atomic number of niobium. Montana was the 41st state admitted to the Union.

In Christianity, it represents the 39 lashes given to Christ, plus the spear thrust in His side, and the crown of thorns placed on His head. This is definitely the meaning to revere.

So, now 41 can add another meaning; for the next year. My age.

As The Who once said so well:

"...this is no social crisis, just another tricky day for you."

A Tribute To "The T-Man": Terry Sisisky

In my radio career, I have logged many an hour behind the console in a studio running the board for sports broadcasts. My first-ever airshift on commercial radio was running a University of Massachusetts football game in 1985.

I've "board op'ed" (as we used to call it in radio) for UMass Football, the Boston Red Sox, the Boston Bruins, Virginia Tech football and basketball, William & Mary football and basketball, VMI football, James Madison University football and basketball, and the "original" Richmond Renegades hockey team of the 1990s.

But my best experiences, my best memories of spending an evening in the studio listening for cues to play commercials or the famous "station identification" are from my years running VCU Basketball broadcasts back on "the real" WDYL back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Why? Because of the man at courtside behind the mic: Terry Sisisky.

There is no one quite like T-Man. He is an never-ending explosion of energy, usually a nervous wreck, and one of the greatest conversationalists I've ever had the pleasure of shooting the breeze with.

For example, if you're a true baseball fan (meaning you appreciate the history of the game, not just what's going on now), I dare you to ask Terry this question:

"Should Bert Blyleven be in the Baseball Hall of Fame?"

You've automatically triggered a 30 minute non-stop conversation of information and fascination. I know, I fondly remember spending that time and more debating that very question with him in my office at WDYL, lo those many years ago.

But, back to VCU. He'd call the station to hook up and be scared stiff we wouldn't get on. And we would. And he'd display his nervousness during breaks, in a positive way. And then he'd call the game with a style and personna that no one else has. Why? Because they're not The T-Man.

Terry Sisisky is passion on two legs. He absolutely loves VCU and their basketball program. That's why it came as a huge surprise to me when I read online today of his decision to hang up the headphones at the Siegel Center after nearly three decades at courtside.

What I appreciate the most from Terry is he is that rare combination of what some people refer to when discussing sports announcers as a "homer", defined as someone showing bias for "the home team" when describing the action, reacting to calls, etc., and a good old fashioned realist.

Time after time I'd hear Terry, in his voice, urge the Rams on to victory. Nothing wrong with that. But if they simply just couldn't hit the shot, but played well, he'd tell you that. And, frankly, if they sucked and couldn't hit the broad side of the barn, well, he'd tell you that, too. He never had a problem telling the home fans of the troubles and failures of their home team. And I always appreciated that.

Read THIS ARTICLE where Terry explains his decision, and reveals which of his two broadcasting passions he is continuing to allow to burn.

I'm starting my 7th season soon covering Patrick Henry High School football (my alma mater!) on WHAN Radio in Ashland, and hardly a Friday evening goes by where I have to stop myself from opening the broadcast with:

"Once again a very pleasant good evening everyone and welcome to Patrick Henry High School Football."

Because up unto the "welcome to...." point, I would be blatantly stealing Terry's opening line from VCU broadcasts.

I did, though, borrow his closing.

Which is why I sign off by saying either:

"We bid you a good night from Ashland, Virginia!", if it's a home game, or:
"We bid you a good night from " " High School, if it's an away game.

I hope T-Man doesn't mind a bit of him sticking with me.

The final T-Man story I'll share is from April 25, 1997. After nine years, I was leaving my management post and on-air broadcast position at WDYL. That morning, while cleaning up some last things in my office....who stops by to say hello?

Yep. He sure did. And I've never, ever forgotten that.

Terry, maybe, just maybe, the Good Lord will let Petersburg and Patrick Henry meet in the Division 5 Regional Playoffs this year. We'd get to share a booth and finally call the same game together, albeit it on opposite sides and on different stations.

But there's no doubt who would offer the best play-by-play.

And it definitely would not be me.

Circuit City-----one step closer to the "final fizzle"

I think it might even be too late at this point to "rewind" this company and take them back to the days of:

"The Loading Dock" or even "Wards"!!!

Get back to your roots, eh? I think it may be too late for even that. And that makes me sad, because I NEVER want to see a homegrown company fade away.

The latest bad $$$ news for Circuit City here.

WHEW!!!!!

I've had new jobs, but I've never been the first person ever to hold a position with a company before. It brings its own set of challenges, exciting mind you, but still challenging!

So, these past several days have been spent doing the following:

1) Getting settled at Robinson Radio! Getting to know the clients, new contacts, get my brain around the current systems and what efficiencies are needed to better them (as well as me!!) It's fun and NOT boring, that's for sure! I don't know what's coming from day to day, and that's cool by me.

2) The end of the school year! Robbie was ready to get out of school in, well, at Christmas Break. Rachel, meanwhile, ended her elementary school years last Friday, called me at the office crying, which made me cry, and she is ALREADY bored. And there's 10 1/2 weeks of summer vacation left! Go ahead, sing the Phineas and Ferb theme song now if you'd like......

She's missing her friends more this year than ever, and I think it has to do with going up to middle school next year. I also think the struggles I had for months losing my friend connections at Clear Channel had somewhat of an effect on her, too. Mom told her, "It's part of life, get over it." Rachel answered, "I'm like my Dad, and I can't just get over it." I'm proud of her. If you "get over" being with a friend hours a day, five days a week in a quick manner, it makes me wonder if you really, really enjoyed being around them in the first place, or if they were just "convenient friends". Know what I mean?

3) Sleep. Need I say more?

4) ANOTHER PET!!!! Starbuck Rock Witham, a new teeny-tiny Siamese Kitten entered the Witham Nation over the weekend. I come home from work this evening, and he's in my recliner. He's already taking over. :)

--------------------------

Then there's all the news and events I've been REALLY wanting to blog about, but didn't have time!!!

---The Death of Tim Russert: I heard the news from Sean Hannity on his radio show on an Internet stream, who actually announced it before it was posted on MSNBC.com, by about two to three minutes. Many "TV Heads" were right in saying the tributes to Russert got to be a bit much after awhile. I could understand NBC's coverage Friday afternoon/evening, and their prime time special was well done. I also understood Sunday's Meet The Press (wow, what a moving show!) and today's funeral coverage. But there was lots more than that, and it was somewhat overboard. I think part of it was because NBC News was so stunned, they didn't know what else to do at that moment, and subconsciously used coverage to help cope. Though the coverage was too saturated over the weekend, I can't fault their emotional state.

And I'm SURE if Tim Russert were here to see it, he would've put a stop to it about four minutes after the death announcement. What a shame that a man who loved politics and Presidential years (especially this one) won't be able to cover the November election.

---OIL!!!! I love the ignorant Democratic mantra:

"Even if we start drilling today, it wouldn't affect the price of gas for five to ten years."

Okay, then. You then admit had we started drilling TEN YEARS AGO, our prices would be LOWER today!

Are there Republicans in bed with oil? I'm sure. But Democratic thinking on this issue simply boggles the mind. They want conservation! It'll bring price relief quicker!

Good Lord, AL GORE's electric usage doesn't hold water!

So, why is it that we, Americans, you know, the innovators, the hard-working people of the world, for some reason, according to "insert politician name here", can't go after:

---Conservation
---New Oil Drilling Offshore AND in Anwr
---AND, AND create new energy sources!! More nuclear plants, more wind energy, more solar energy.

Why don't we, as Americans, go for it all!!! We settled the land, won our independence, got to the moon, got the nuclear bomb first before Hitler (imagine had he gotten it first)......we can do it all!

If the idiots who clog up our 6:30 newscasts would just get out of the way and shut up.

WHEW! There's other stuff in the world to discuss, but I'm all oiled out for now. Back soon. Sooner than 10 days. Honest!

Follow the bouncing Rob!

Rob has updated job news!

It's coming soon.

Until then, I haven't disappeared; today for example, I sacrificed myself for the kids at Busch Gardens. It was horribly hot. No other way to describe it.

May's Winning Numbers.....

.....9, 11, 22, and 31.

Considering all the strangeness that May contained, that's not bad.

FUTURE BREAKING NEWS: THE YEAR 2019

Groundbreaking took place earlier today outside Chicago for the Barack Obama Presidential Library, just three years after the one-time Illinois Senator completed two terms in office as America's first African-American President.

In a related story, former New York Senator Hillary Clinton announced she has not conceded the 2008 Democratic Primary race just yet, and will be meeting with her advisers and other party leaders later this week to see how the groundbreaking will affect her future role in the party, and her future personally in politics.

I am alive!!!

It's been a whirlwind last few weeks. Training and starting my new job, plus some substituting, dealing with routine changes here at home (as I work 4p to midnight now instead of days), the kids' winding down school, and the usual ups and downs of life.

OH, and a great holiday weekend with my bro and sis-in-law, including lunch at Roy's Big Burger!!

I'll be around more soon. I have lots I want to talk about, though the train has already left the station on most of the current events that made me wish to comment.

That's okay, I'm sure there's more where that came from!

Now, to remember to feed the fish when I get home!

So, exactly what has come to pass in these past six months......

Random thoughts now on things which have happened, people I've met, things in general that are in my life now that weren't there on 11/5/07 when I was advised to leave the Clear Channel Hotel.....

---the TV writers went back to work before I could....
---but, no new episode of "24" to be had....
---Henrico elected a practically new School Board....
---NFL fans went nuts when they couldn't see Dallas/Green Bay on NFL Network
---NFL fans went nuts when they couldn't see New England/Giants on NFL Network when the Patriots were going for 16-0, so they brought NBC and CBS in to broadcast it, too.
---the almost complete disappearance of Michelle Malkin from cable news.
---I'm glad I didn't own a radio station in town and had earlier come to agreement on a four-year deal to broadcast Richmond Braves baseball games.....
---Hanover beats PH, part deux, ending the Patriots' season at 7-5 in the Regional Final.
---Phineas and Ferb ("MOM! PHINEAS AND FERB ARE MAKING A TITLE SEQUENCE!!!")
---The ridiculous loss of Sean Taylor
---Michael Vick to jail....
---The death of Benazir Bhutto
---The shooting at New Life Church in Colorado
---The shooting at Northern Illinois University
---On a better note, my first salad at Chili's
---Mitt Romney's hair
---Mike Huckabee's guitar
---Ron Paul is still running for President somewhere
---Fred Thompson's Emmy winning performance as Best Actor Who Ran For President But Really Didn't Want To....
---No snowstorms in Richmond this winter (shut up, Gore)
---The New York Giants. Enough said. :)
---Geico's string of mediocre ads ends thanks to Mrs. Butterworth
---Led Zeppelin played their first concert in 25 years. 20,000 people suffered minor burns on their thumbs living in the past by using their lighters instead of their cell phone lights.
---The Fed cut interest rates 64 times to its current negative five percent.
---Queen Elizabeth just won't die.
---Some State U. beat some Tech in some sort of Bowl game sponsored by a company who just laid off a few thousand workers. Tens of people cheered from the stands.
---Wifey thinks constant throwing up and severe pain is a great way to get attention. It also got her gall bladder removed.
---My daughter fell in love with Jeff Hardy.
---My son keeps the faith to get in shape and become the next big WWE Superstar.
---Harry J learns quickly when it's time to go onto the front porch to greet Rachel off the bus.
---Oil prices eclipse $100, $105.....$768.....whatever.
---Gas prices eclipse the numbers found on your paycheck.
---We are introduced to John King and the CNN Magic Wall, the CNN Election Center that looks like the old Match Game set with the rows of three pundits each....
---Keith Olbermann committing the kiss of death in Liberal-land, that is, up until late 2007, by trying to push Hillary outta the way ever since, oh, I don't know....Iowa, maybe?
---"Senator Obama.....can we get you anything?"
---"Senator Obama.....are you sure, because it's not a problem."
---Mom sees wrestling live and survives.
---John McCain and Mitt Romney have the only fireworks of the Republican campaign at a debate at the Reagan library. Nancy kicks 'em both in the groin and tells them to grow up.
---Bill Richardson suspends his Presidential campaign, immediately begins growing the Obama beard.
---Bill Clinton single-handedly provides You Tube enough "blow-up" moments to teach the next generation how NOT to handle themselves during pressure situations.
---John Edwards ends Presidential campaign, completing a five-year, two-election cycle with every hair on his head in place at every single public function.
---Parts of China paralyzed for days by huge snowstorm (what about it, Al??)
---Tim Russert officially taken off Hillary Clinton Christmas card list
---Super Tuesday.
---Super Tuesday II.
---Sicka Tuesday III.
---Roger Clemens equals Cy Young total with mistress total.
---Fidel Castro retires and enjoys his new-found love, cable TV.
---Earthquakes everywhere...Peru, Sumatra, Nevada, Illinois, China.......
---Groundhog saw his shadow, gave us six more weeks of Clinton/Obama and said, "so long, suckers!" before burrowing back home.
---Brett Favre announces retirement
---The fall of Eliot Spitzer
---The Atlanta tornado during the SEC Tournament.
---Davidson to the Elite Eight.
---Kansas in overtime.
---Price of "Love My Bear Stearns!" t-shirts go into freefall
---Blow out the Olympic torch anyone???

(editors note: In 1996, I covered the Olympic torch coming through Richmond, live, on the radio. In retrospect, I'm not sure how the flame came out on the dial.)

---Ric Flair retired. Honest. I think. :)
---Pope Benedict to America. In a little known fact, the night before he celebrated Mass in Yankee Stadium, he got the save for the Cardinals. Get it?
---Robbie gets to Chicago, sleeps thru an earthquake, and sees Da Cubbies!!
---Danica Patrick gets off the shnide!!!
---BIG BROTHER!!! My TV haven in lieu of no "24".

Highlights?

---Sheila and Adam, the hatin' couple, end up in the final three. They were my favorites anyway.
---Sharon was on the block for 74 weeks before being evicted.
---Ryan got SO lucky on day 28 when they split up the couples.
---James, could you just leave already?

And let's not forget Big Brother After Dark, featuring:

---Joshuah playing bowling with objects I cannot remember
---Watching Ryan and Adam play golf with plastic toys
---The night Sharon saved the snail and had Sheila "snail-sit" it while she had to report to the diary room
---When it was only Ryan and Adam left, Bonnie enjoyed one night where they showed both of them.....sleeping.
---Chess games.
---And, occasionally, some interesting conversation.
---And, 15,204 promos for "The Tudors". Good Lord.

We lost....

---Evel Knievel
---Jim Beauchamp
---Don Chevrier
---Dan Fogelberg
---Beverlee McKinsey
---Eight Belles
---Lynne "Angel" Harvey
---Jim Hager
---Paul Davis
---Stanley Kamel
---Charlton Heston
---Richard Widmark
---Ivan Dixon
---Gary Hart
---Eve Carson
---William F. Buckley
---Larry Norman
---John Shand
---Johnny Weaver
---John McWethy
---Suzanne Pleshette
---Lois Nettleton
---Allan Melvin
---Bobby Fischer
---Ernie Holmes
---Sir Edmund Hillary

....and a trip to Virginia Beach, a flirt with Big Brother 10, and lots of naps.

I CANNOT WAIT to get back to work! :)

April's Winning Numbers.....

....are 9 and 27.

Oh, dear.

Oh, well........

.....welcome Darren McFadden to the already crowded backfield in Oakland.

BTW, who gave Justin Fargas a new contract anyway?? WHAT?????

Quick last-second draft thoughts......

1) To the Oakland Raiders----PLEASE do NOT take Darren McFadden. That's all we need; most of our $$$ tied up on two "rookies" as catalysts of the offense. We need to replace Warren Sapp. We need a defensive stud. And since it looks like Howie's boy can't make it two generations in Oakland, we'll welcome Ghoulston, but DEFINITELY would welcome Glenn Dorsey!!!!

2) To the New York Giants----get a linebacker and a DB. And, in round 7, grab a kicker to scare Lawrence Tynes!!!

Muslims, Christians, Apostasy, Death Threats, and the British MSM.....

....the church I pastored supports a missionary family whose work has been/is to evangelize to Muslims in and around London, England.

Doesn't sound too tough when you think of the stereotypical "missionary" picture that comes to your mind. You know, jungles, dirty bare feet, strange people with piercings speaking a language no one knows, and you, the missionary, enjoy life in a hut.

Think again.

It's not the clothes or the shelter that often determine a degree of "difficulty", to the human eye at least, when it comes to the life of a missionary family.

I know that for my friends in England, 9/11 changed their entire lives, ministry focus, purpose, reactions.....everything.

So, when you read THIS article, note how the tide of "theocracy thought" amongst younger British Muslims is rising. Many believe, don't throw the book (secular laws) at them, throw the Quran. And they DON'T live in a country run by a "religious" faction, et al.

But note even moreso, how HORRIBLE the persecution is on those who choose to believe Christ, leaving their Muslim faith behind.

I know if one of my kids ever came to me and announced they were converting away from Christianity, I would be wounded to the core, but I would LOVE them, and BE with them, and, least of all....I wouldn't try to KILL them!!

And I add my thanks to the British media for finally showing their countrymen how some of their own wish to discard the government and begin to rule Britain in a totally different light.

My TV loss is Dallas' gain......

Jennifer Lopez has exited the Weather Channel. She is going to the NBC affiliate in Dallas, Texas.

For me, she ranks with Jeanetta Jones and Jill Brown as my all-time favorite Weather Channel ladies. Good luck to the REAL J-Lo! :)

Mourning the loss of another lifelong friend.....

I lost my first best friend in 2003, eight months after my mama died. He was only 36.

Saturday I shockingly discover that the first friend I made in first grade, another lifelong friend, had died suddenly at age 40. Arrangements are pending.

If I'm not around for awhile, I just wanted to let the world know why.

It's Official: MY SON CAN SLEEP THROUGH AN EARTHQUAKE

Yep. He's tried to tell us for years he was a heavy sleeper. And we knew that, as he sleeps nightly in his bedroom while his TV blares away for all the animals to be annoyed by (and yes, his sister's TV is the same way....).....

Now we have concrete proof. The 5.2 earthquake that hit Southern Illinois at 4:36AM CT was centered about 230 miles south of the Windy City, but it swayed the skyscrapers there. Didn't sway Robbie.

Neatly wrapped in his sleeping bag somewhere in his hotel room with who knows how many guys and chaperones.....he never felt a thing.

When he called this morning, his focus was on the fact he'd lost his good sunglasses.

Sure is good to write about my son and a surprise earthquake, and be able to humor about it.

------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERATION ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!

This afternoon after a half day of substituting a marvelous group of third graders, I sat my keyster in front of the TV to watch a Cubs/Pirates baseball game.

Why in the world would I do that?

Because a Witham would be there. :)

Robbie made it to Wrigley Field today, and we talked twice by phone. After our call just after the game ended, I realized the following.

1) I remember my Dad talking about going to Fenway Park in Boston when he was young and he saw the great Ted Williams hit a home run during a game.

2) So, in 1985, when I made it to Fenway Park, I couldn't help but use the pay phone, call back home to Virginia, just to tell my Dad, "Guess where I am? I'm at Fenway!"

3) In 2008, my son, no sports fan, calls me at home twice from one of the three baseball stadiums I want to visit before dying, Wrigley Field. He got there before I did. And that's fine with me. :)

Had I pondered it another 20 seconds, I would have blubbered. :)

THIS HAS BEEN A WITHAM GENERATION ALERT.......

Ric Flair Makes Congress!!! WHOO!

Thank you Representative Sue Myrick of the 9th District of North Carolina, for her speech of earlier today! WHOO!!!!!!!!!!

Can you help this congregation??

This church is part of the denomination of the church I pastored for nine years. They have made a great decision in the face of this battle to keep the historical building, but need to finish the inside work in order to finish the project.

They are doing lots of fundraisers and more (read article), but they can still use our help.

Click HERE to go to the website of New Ipswich Congregational Church, in New Ipswich, New Hampshire to read the stories and learn how you can help!

Thanks!

Apparently Ben Bernanke Couldn't Sleep This Night....

Economic 3rd-shifters rejoice! Hillary's on the case!

At least he's smart enough to try to blow up privately.....

....Bill Clinton, that is.

Big Brother 9's Big Baby!!!!

Good Lord. I thought my kids could throw a fit.

James, before winning POV AGAIN, throws the biggest hissy fit in the world, after catching Sheila in a fib. Now, it's fine for James to come out from his room (where he overheard Sheila) and call her on it in front of the other guys.

To then come back with two MORE fits, including an explosion directly at Sheila (heard by everyone west of Denver) was hissy city. He cries and complains no one is with him, no one wants him to stay.

It's a GAME, here to beat the REST of them. You're supposed to be an island, ultimately. DUH!

Sorry. Can't handle six year-olds in the house.

March's Winning Numbers.....

.....9, 10, and 20.

Not a stellar first quarter. But it's not a recession!

I hope!

BREAKING: Keith Olbermann has never listened to Rush Limbaugh!

My comedic evening fodder, Keith Olbermann (you know, the guy who has the same five people on as "guests" every night), thought he was REALLY funny and witty tonight!

He couldn't believe that Rush Limbaugh had, during his "Operation Chaos" on his radio program, possibly caused a "Democrat" to win a future Congressional election!

Here's the deal: Rush tells Mississippi listeners, hey, go vote for Hillary in the Democratic Primary. Keith thinks that Rush didn't know that, in Mississippi's 1st Congressional District, if you crossover, you then couldn't vote in the Republican Primary two weeks later.

This, he says, means up to 3,000 voters who may have voted for the more "conservative" Republican won't (how does he know a number??), thus the more "moderate" Republican would get the victory.

THEN, he adds, what's more, the Democratic Congressional nominee is actually "more conservative" than 85 percent of the Republicans in the District. (Based on what? The Huffington Post Index?)

Therefore, Keith's conclusion, to his glee, is that Rush may actually help vote a DEMOCRAT into the House!!! Watch Keith's eyes gleam! See him foam in victory! Too bad it's not in HD!!

NOTE TO OLBERMANN: If you ever listened to Rush, you would know that Rush doesn't push for getting "Republicans" into Congress. He's all about "CONSERVATISM".

If the Democrat is conservative, all the better!!

I am not so juvenile as to call Keith a "worst person" like he does.

I'm just calling him out on some facts.

BB9: The Goodbye Girl.......

.....will be Chelsia or Sharon.

Let's see, Chelsia got so "ga-ga" over being with James, and now she's realizing that it was a mistake to let him back in.

A little late to figure that out, I'm afraid.

Sharon, on the other hand, is nothing more than a puppet. Tonight she said, "There is no "I" in team."

WHAT?!? Memo to Sharon: They broke up the couples weeks ago and NO ONE wants to help you get to the $$$!!! Joshuah has her drinking serious Kool-Aid.

But I think she will get the reprieve. Chelsia goes, because:

1) James is actually easier to deal with than Joshuah
2) James can't win everything

P.S. to CBS: If you're going to bring anyone else from Big Brother history back, PLEASE make it Erika!! :) :) :)

25 Years Ago: March 26, 1983 was a GREAT day!!

It was a Saturday. A beautiful Saturday. My Dad took me up to Charlottesville so I could participate in the Virginia High School League's Annual Forensic Competition.

Two weeks previously, just before NC State's miracle run to win the ACC Tournament, I finished a surprising second in the regional competition, qualifying me to go to the state tourney. I was pleasantly stunned!

So, I worked and worked and poured over my 3 X 5 cards containing what few notes you get, and it was best to do it from memory, so that you tell a compelling story and make a compelling argument as to whatever your speech's premise may be.

Mine was an expose on the trials faced by college sports regarding graduation rates, drugs, and the "failure" of the student-athlete due to outside forces (and sometimes inside).

The event was held at the University of Virginia.

NC State beat Virginia 81-78 two weeks earlier to win the ACC Tournament and get the automatic bid into the NCAA Basketball Tournament.

So I, a HUGE Wolfpack fan, give this speech, on the UVA campus, on THE DAY NC State and UVA face each other for the 4th time that season; this time in the West Regional Final with a trip to the Final Four at stake.

After the speech I remember listening to some of another game (Louisville/Kentucky)on the radio. Then Dad and I went to the award ceremony, and I was STUNNED to hear my name called as winning 3rd place in the Original Oratory category. I got up, went down the aisle and picked up my medallion (which I definitely still have!!!), then went back, sat down, and looked at Dad. He looked at me. It was a "proud" moment and neither one of us had to say a word. :)

Then, headed home, I'm trying to decipher Dick Stockton's call of the frantic final seconds of the game on CBS......then I hear the best sentence of the day:

"NC STATE WINS!"

I went nuts! We're going to the Final Four!!!!! AND BETTER YET, WE ENDED UVA'S SEASON AND THE CAREER OF OUR FOUR-YEAR NEMESIS, RALPH SAMPSON!!!!

To this day I've never taken credit for my presence at UVA that day having anything to do with that 63-62 final score. Don't plan to. I went to UVA and did my job, then THE CARDIAC PACK went on the same floor as UVA and did theirs, too.

What a great day. :)

I'm a sub! Quicker than I thought!!!

....I "officially" became a substitute teacher in my home county's school system yesterday, after completing their orientation.

A long-time friend is in administration at one school and told me with Spring Break next week, most teachers will be around afterwards, not having vacations or doc appointments scheduled, etc....except for the sicknesses, you know.

The phone rang at 7:52 this morning. It was my friend.

"Can you be here at 11:30?"

"When does the day end?" (I had a 3:15 doctors appt. across town)

"2:30."

"I'll be there."

...and I proceeded to nervously attempt to nap for a couple of hours, even dreaming of being at a school which was connected to a local record store (as in next door to each other, and when I picked up some checks from an employee thinking they were the school's, come to find out after walking out the door, they were for the record store, and that's when I woke up....)

Go figure!

Three hours with 20, 21 fourth-graders. I got everything from:

"You sweat alot!"
"You sound like you worked in the circus!"
"You sound like a voice that should be on a computer!"

to.......

1) the usual one kid attempting to "fall ill" around test time (who magically felt great 45 minutes later upon time for recess to commence). :)

2) the several who attempt to tell you in their spin how their teacher would handle everything (politicians start young!)

....and overall it went fine!

Though, after only three hours with them, I WAS BEAT!!

NOTE TO SELF: Wait until you spend ALL day with a group of them!!! Hee hee......

New adventure! We're off and running! Now, I wonder if the phone will ring tomorrow.......

Matt leaves the Big Brother house before climbing the "roof of victory"....

Matt...roofer from around Bah-ston (I can do that because my father's side of the family is from Maine, and they talk like that.).....

....controller of Natalie's emotion on Big Brother since moment one......

....who, honestly, put up a good last defense to his housemates showing that Ryan shouldn't be getting "free passes" for what he's done to them during the game....

....still was voted out last night when the six remaining houseguests split 3-3 (deft move by Sheila, not wanting to be the "decider", thus having Natalie go off on her).

James? Your move? Precious moment of revenge! And it was done.

Matt was genuinely disappointed he didn't win, which was interesting to see, as was his comments on Natalie (she needs to realize he ain't the one).

I immediately told wifey that Matt leaving will empower Natalie, because she'll take all her energy of sadness and channel it into getting James or one of his cronies out of the house ASAP.

Sure as I said it, I turn on the late night feed overnight, and Natalie is on, roughly, a 45 minute diatribe to Adam, the new HOH, about who to evict. It got to the point where it wouldn't have surprised me to hear Adam simply yell, "SHUT UP!"

Anyway, Adam was packing for his new digs and decided to already speak to the others and get the "pulse" of the house.

Adam winning HOH is the best thing that could happen in this game right now, as he has been, to me, the strongest player. Don't play your cards until you're forced to. Now we will begin to understand what makes Adam tick.

Who are you ready to toss out?

James or Joshuah are on my clock.

P.S.----Julie Chen.....were they a wild pair of boots or what? I honestly wondered how much her feet sweat during an hour wearing those things under the lights....

Thank you Final Four and ESPN!!!

WOW!

"Kinda live" blogging ESPN's tourney special Sunday night and posting the Final Four choices of their experts has EXPLODED the number of visits to ATW!

Thanks to all of you who have come by, and I hope you found the information accurate and helpful.

Come back often! You never know what goodies are in store!

P.S.----Dang! Kent State? 10 points in one half?!? That's got to be so disappointing.....

Obama, his pastor, his race, and Ashley.....

Senator Barack Obama made what some pundits thought had to be "the speech", to try to put the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, his pastor, and his extremely controversial pulpit rants found all over the media, "behind him", as behind him as possible, of course.

The entire transcript can be found here, so you can decide for yourself. I do urge you to read it, then make your own decisions. And the questions brought up by Obama's speech are deeper, more profound than, "will you disown Rev. Wright?"

I'll make one observation:

Ted Kennedy had Chappaquiddick.
Bill Clinton had Monica Lewinsky.

When history writes its chapter on today's Obama speech, I believe the following will be said

When history is written, Senator Obama won't be looking "vis-a-vis" at the two previous sentence.

Barack Obama will NOT have Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Today Obama's superior oratory skill contained much, much more. Whether you agree with him or not, today, he brought substance. Period.

---------------------------------

P.S.---I am a pastor. Do you honestly think every member, every parishoner in the church I pastored agreed with everything I said or preached??? Heck, no!!! No, I cannot compare my actions to Rev. Wright's (thank goodness!), but I can say that I understand it's perfectly plausible....expected honestly....for people to disagree with their minister!

Now, the REAL question: who gets the million dollar interview with Rev. Wright???

Got fingerprinted lately?

I haven't. Until tomorrow. :)

It's part of the process of becoming a substitute teacher! Hope to be helping the kids of our world very soon.

Stop laughing. I can help them. Really. Honest!

I said stop laughing!!!

Thank you.

Fed cuts, bulls buy, tech winners.....and Liz Claman

When the Fed announces a rate cut, I call my wife at 215pm at her workplace (a credit union) to inform her of the amount, then get her take on it. When the 3/4 point cut was announced today, we watched the Dow go from up 300 pts. to up only 150 in a matter of ten or fifteen inhales and exhales. We both figured it would not get much better, and could be worse.

Oops.

Dow finishes today up 420 points! Good day for tech stocks, even real estate companies had a good day (that's gotta give someone some hope somewhere!)

Now, time for the overseas ripple effect and see what 9:30am tomorrow brings. Meantime, those of us STILL unemployed just want to cut through all the speculation, figures, et al, and get a job. It's a great feeling to know you are feeding your kids.

And in closing, Fox Business brings me the information I need and the personality and looks of Liz Claman. CNBC's loss is Fox's gain. Whoo hoo!

March Madness Games on Richmond 3/20/08

Click HERE to see the schedule from CBS6 in Richmond for our local game broadcasts on Thursday. AND, read the info on the page, too, so you don't end up calling the poor receptionist on Broad Street.

Remember to get your VIP Pass (if it's not too late) and watch games not aired locally online!!!!!!!

Your Announcers for this weekend's games in the Big Dance!!!

Thanks to our new friends at Awful Announcing......

Click here. Also note the extra shout-out to fans of Gus Johnson, in case you are a big fan. Having him with Len Elmore is excellent!

I also look forward to Kevin Harlan and Dan Bonner. Bonner is a local boy (UVA grad) who CBS has used for many years in the first two rounds, then normally has him do the Division II championship game. Maybe one day, he'll make the Sweet 16!

Verne and Raf hit the air Friday (MMMMMAN TO MAN!!!), and I must admit, the fact that I don't see James Brown's name on the roster for this weekend is a good thing. He didn't do well as play-by-play guy at the regionals last year. :( But I do love JB!

Gary Hart: Wrestling Loses Another Great One

I knew him as the nasty manager of the Great Kabuki, the Great Muta, and for his time in World Class Championship Wrestling (we got their weekly show for a time in the 80s).

Read this, and you'll learn more about Gary Hart, who sadly passed away Sunday at 66.

Big Brother: Is there any beer left???

Sheila, for the first time that at least I have witnessed, may have let a little too much about her slip out last night.

And....maybe it's because she may have let herself have a little too much to drink.

She was rather bold in her thoughts about herself, her game-playing techniques, and even her past to a few fellow houseguests, which surprised me. The closer she has played to the vest the better so far, in my view. You know, "let 'em think I'm just a middle aged woman in a game with all these 20-somethings and I have nothing to offer in the wisdom or strategy department....".

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!! (Don't want Power of Veto results? Stop here!!)
Or, finally, maybe it was because she was celebrating the fact that James won the Power of Veto, and TOOK HER OFF the chopping block.

James replaced Sheila with Matt. So, indeed, one of "the boys" will go home Wednesday, unless that stupid alarm sounds again.

The alarm needs to sound at 1am ET one night, with people waking up to check the 24/7 feed or reading blogs for spoilers to find out that something huge happened and they missed it!

Oh, well. It is the "ratings alarm" after all. In TV, aren't they all?

More Final Four Picks.......

From ESPNU's version of Bracketology......

Adrian Branch: Louisville, Kansas, Memphis, UConn (wow!) He didn't get to give us his final.

Andy Katz: UNC, Kansas, Memphis, UCLA (all four ones again!) UCLA over Kansas.

SHOCKER!!! Laurie Dhue and Fox News part ways!! NO!!!!

Read here.

She has now completed the "Cable News Trifecta", working at MSNBC, and CNN before that. Where does she go now???

ESPN Heads Make Their Final Four Picks.....

C'mon guys! Too many ones! For most of you.....

Jay Bilas picks ALL FOUR Number one seeds! Kansas to beat UCLA for the title.

Digger Phelps picks ALL FOUR Number one seeds! Memphis over UNC for the title.

Hubert Davis picks Carolina, Kansas, TEXAS (a #2!!) and UCLA. Kansas beats Texas Monday night.

Bobby Knight picks UNC, Kansas, Pittsburgh and UCLA, with PITT upsetting ??? He said Kansas, but the graphic read Carolina.

and Dickie V picks UNC, Georgetown, Texas, and UCLA, with Carolina defeating UCLA.


AND RIGHT NOW ON ESPN2, IT'S THE NIT SELECTION SHOW!!! WHOO HOO!!! If you watch THIS show, like I am, you ARE college hoops CRAZY!!

Another look at the hour of Selection Sunday....

....from one of our NEW blog links, Awful Announcing, is another look at how the 6pm hour went down tonight and how some teams got into the bracket, and others did not.

Live Blog on Selection Sunday.....after the announcement.....

Okay. First, sorry for the absence and glad to be back on the ol' blog.

It's Selection Sunday, and Baylor just got spot #65.

EAST: It's the UNC Invitational!! I really don't see anyone beating UNC when they don't even have to leave the state to play all four games. Tennessee and Louisville (seeds two and three) are both coming off conference tournament losses.

MIDWEST: What about KU? Rock Chalk Jayhawk?? Clemson has a chance to have something to say; Georgetown and Wisconsin should have switched positions. After all, the Badgers won their regular season AND conference tourney titles! Big Ten dissed.

SOUTH: Memphis has a gripe; their region is toughest. Michigan State, Pitt, Stanford, Texas are seeds 5 thru 2. Heck, Marquette is number 6!

WEST: UCLA owes the committee a thank you note. They're already in the Elite Eight. UConn? Ha. Drake? Nope. Duke? Not this year. There's no one in that bracket that will beat UCLA, so two of my Final Four picks are already mailed in.

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Two teams I think that SHOULD be going to the NIT but they're not:

Arizona (19-14)
Kentucky (18-12, only because they were 12-4 in the SEC playing all the weak sisters. Oh, and they LOST TO GARDNER-WEBB! Yes, with an RPI of #189.)

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Two teams that have EVERY RIGHT to be TICKED about not getting in:

Arizona State (19-12, lower RPI (83) but they SWEPT Arizona (RPI 37). Does head-to-head battle mean nothing??
Virginia Tech (19-13, WINNING record in the ACC, which is the NUMBER ONE ranked RPI conference, who BEAT Miami in the ACC Tournament and came within eight-tenths of a second from knocking off No. #1 North Carolina!)

---------------------------------------------

I want you to now look at the names of the teams Kentucky defeated to get their 18 wins.....

Central Arkansas, Liberty, Texas Southern, Stony Brook, Tennessee Tech, FIU, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Auburn, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida.

Two over Georgia, who meant nothing before their miracle ride this weekend. The BIG wins over Vanderbilt and Tennessee. That's all. Period. So, FOUR WINS over teams in the tourney.

NOW, the teams Virginia Tech defeated for their 19 wins.....

Elon, Eastern Washington, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Greensboro, George Washington, Liberty, Hofstra, St. Johns, Charleston Southern, Maryland, Virginia, Boston College, Florida State, Virginia, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Wake Forest, Miami

Yep, just one win against a tourney team (Miami), but it was a convincing win. Two wins against a Maryland team who collapsed at season's end (nothing Tech) can do about that. One point loss to Clemson on the road, then the heartbreak to UNC. The loss to Richmond isn't that bad (it was at Richmond, who played surprisingly well this year in a tougher-than-expected Atlantic 10).

Virginia Tech from the ACC, the TOP ranked RPI Conference.
Kentucky from the SEC, the fourth ranked RPI Conference.

I think we know now that two losses by a combined three points in March on the road must be more damaging than losing to RPI Team 189 in November by 16 at home.

Biased? I'm sure I am. But I just can't believe Kentucky got in.

---------------------------------------

And don't EVEN get me started about Arizona.

Now, as for the Commonwealth, it's George Mason. Our only standard bearer. Go GMU!!

More to come; I'm going to actually go digest some bracket matchups now. :)

Christian Nymphos? Well, sure there are! :)

You just have to know where to find them! :)

My newest blog link is HERE.

Christians. Marriage. Hot sex. Serious *******!!!

Why, of course! God created it, didn't He??

A Friday Funny.......

Big Brother Changes!!

So, no more couples on Big Brother. Had I been paying better attention to their title graphic, I would've known it sooner (the "Til Death Do Us Part" portion was eliminated, I believe, before they made the announcement).

I actually liked Allison, so I wasn't happy to see her have to go through what she did.

My fave is still Sheila, and I'm rooting for Adam, too. I was hoping he would win HOH, for I thought the "unknowns" of Adam (he really has been under the radar, except for being a great source of nicotine) would make for a wild week of changes.

Ryan, on the other hand, I think will make the week more tranquil, though, you have to think he's stunned at today's developments.

--You could be out.
--You're out.
--Wait a minute.
--Everyone break up!
--You could be out again.
--You're not, and she is.
--I'm HOH?!??!!!?

What a day. Looks like the game will go on for awhile, and I'm glad. I haven't followed BB since the first one.

P.S.----SOMEBODY HIRE ME!!!

Classic Feminist Speaks Volumes......as to how she has no brain or heart......

Thank you to Blonde Sagacity again for a great synopsis of the lunacy that is Gloria Steinem.

Yep, she's still in the public square.

And exposing herself as truly NOT being a feminist, just a supporter of certain members of the female persuasion.

Hillary: loves her.

Any female member of the U.S. Military, who her "tireless work" SUPPOSEDLY broke ground so said females could proudly serve our nation, breaking the "wretched male hold" on our proud soldiers: apparently can't stand them or maybe hates them.

Michelle Obama: I wonder.

Muslim women still living under ridiculous laws at the hands of zealot men: Got me.

READ HERE. You won't be surprised.

Oh, and I didn't even get into the comments about John McCain's POW years, vis-a-vis, what if he had been "Joan McCain"??

What if she were "George Steinem"?

She would have been drinking buddies with Archie Bunker.

David Tyree: A Changed Man, But Not For What You Think....

He made what can only be called, in Super Bowl terms, "The Catch".

But David Tyree will tell you there have been many more important moments in his life the past four years. Click here to read it all.

John Shand: 1917-2008

...if you live in Richmond at any time between 1948 and, say, 1990, you know the name John Shand.

You know he was the first voice ever heard on a television station in Richmond, Virginia.

You know he gave the first legal identification announcement in Richmond television history on April 22, 1948.

You know his legendary handlebar mustache (that put Rollie Fingers to shame).....

You know his work as "the South's First Anchorman", the voice of the Yellow Cab commercials, and the man who led WTVR-TV 6 to its prominence in not just Richmond television, but in the annals of local television station history.

Only 19 stations were on the air, none south of a line from Washington, DC to St. Louis, when WTVR hit the airwaves. So indeed it is "The South's First Television Station".

And it wouldn't be close to what it is today and what it has meant to Richmond for these 60 years without the presence of John Shand.

Article and links to video, including an interview done just two days before his death are at this link.

Ah, the caucuses...lesson one: Don't Let The Other Team Take Control

A few years back I was involved in the formation of a new parent-teacher group for a new school attended by my child. VERY long story short, the school community voted for one type of group, then, at the beginning of the second session to "form" the group, the minority who lost the election began, essentially, a coup, and systematically spent months changing the outcome of the will of the majority.

Ha! And you thought that only happened in party politics! :)

So, in the end, the noisy minority got what they wanted, and the kids in the 5th grade that year (their only year at the new school) lost out on support from a parent group because, for most of the year, it didn't exist.

Okay----that's history.

CLICK HERE to go to Politico.com, who reports the Dallas Morning News has obtained a copy of "talking points" from the Clinton campaign as to, basically, "how to perform a coup" at your local caucus, to make sure Hillary wins.....NO....I'm sorry, my bad, to make sure Hillary's supporters are PROPERLY REPRESENTED.

Duh. Double duh. Might as well taken this memo straight from the "how to take over a nation" playbook.

Now, for all we know, Obama has this covered, too. But, at this moment, we don't see any evidence.

Good Lord, WHY CAN'T PEOPLE ACCEPT THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE??!!??

Live From New York, it's Hillary...and Hillary!

DEFT political move on the part of the Clinton campaign. Could be the best decision they've made since New Hampshire.

Click here for the "preview" article; I can confirm, she was on. Though she wasn't the greatest (after all, she's not an improv comedienne), her "Live From New York" intro was good and will be all over the news through Tuesday.

If it's 3AM and my children are asleep, I want WALTER to answer the phone at the White House!!

Clinton/Obama Unfair Media Weigh-In #1420

...this is the story of the "founder of a prestigious institute on media and politics..."

He's crying foul that Hillary Clinton has been unfairly picked on by the media.

He's also a long-time supporter of......

....you know who.

Click here.

I (selfishly) feel I have a pretty good synopsis of the whole Clinton/Obama media thing right here just a few posts down. Read it. Then tell me your thoughts....

February's Winning Numbers.....

....11, 14, 25......

Well, at least they come together to make a mathematical equation! :)

Global Warming: The Frozen Kind

I've always regretted the fact that the one full winter I lived in New England, there was below average snow.

That cannot be said about this year.

So friends, in an effort to continue to bring ALL information about our climate to our consciousness, please click here for an in-depth look at snow totals for various portions of New England and an incredible photo from Watertown, New York, who has apparently had the (sad) experience of getting some 146 inches of snow in a two-week period.

I like snow, but as Mary Poppins said, "Enough is as good as a feast!"

Oh, and ask the people of Wisconsin about Global Warming Inevitablitiy. There's a link in the article to a story about their winter wonderland as well.

Media Coverage of Clinton v. Obama.....

There are some dynamics going on here that, frankly, I'm not sure I've heard many people bring up or discuss with regard to who the media likes (Obama), who they are unfair to (Clinton), et al.

First, Barack Obama.

1) When was the last time there was a Presidential campaign featuring a fresh new face from the "outside"? Answer: 1992, when Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton burst onto the scene, and captured the Presidency in the three-way dance with Bush 41 and Ross Perot.

2) Was that campaign (Clinton '92) fairly covered? I was in the media for that election year, and it was painfully obvious that, first, Clinton was able to run against, frankly, a tired-looking President. The Ross Perot phenomenon in the Spring and early Summer caused Clinton to lose face time, much to his campaign's chagrin. But once his 15 minutes of fame passed by, Clinton returned to the spotlight.

3) So when was Clinton the media darling in 1992? Well, early on, thanks to the "60 Minutes---Stand By Your Man" opportunity, he became the "Comeback Kid" by finishing second (?) in New Hampshire. Then, the "man from Hope" got the royal treatment right here in Richmond at the Presidential debate best known for President Bush looking at his watch and the question from the pony-tailed guy....

From the debate transcript....

SIMPSON: May I--I talked to this audience before you gentlemen came and I asked them about how they felt about the tenor of the campaign. Would you like to let them know what you thought about that, when I said are you pleased with how the campaign's been going? (Audience: "No.")

SIMPSON: Who wants to say why you don't like the way the campaign is going? We have a gentleman back here.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPANT: And forgive the notes here but I'm shy on camera. The focus of my work as a domestic mediator is meeting the needs of the children that I work with, by way of their parents, and not the wants of their parents. And I ask the three of you, how can we, as symbolically the children of the future president, expect the two of you, the three of you to meet our needs, the needs in housing and in crime and you name it, as opposed to the wants of your political spin doctors and your political parties?

SIMPSON: So your question is?

AUDIENCE PARTICIPANT: Can we focus on the issues and not the personalities and the mud? I think there's a need, if we could take a poll here with the folks from Gallup perhaps, I think there's a real need here to focus at this point on the needs.

SIMPSON: How do you respond? How do you gentlemen respond to--

GOVERNOR CLINTON: I agree with him.

PRESIDENT BUSH: Let's do it.

SIMPSON: President Bush?

PRESIDENT BUSH: Let's do it. Let's talk about programs for children.

AUDIENCE PARTICIPANT: Could we cross our hearts? It sounds silly here but could we make a commitment? You know, we're not under oath at this point but could you make a commitment to the citizens of the United States to meet our needs, and we have many, and not yours again? I repeat that. It's a real need, I think, that we all have.

----------------------------

"Meet our needs". Meet our needs??? Government is supposed to do that? That's called SOCIALISM.

Anyway, Clinton thrived in those situations, not to mention moderator Carole Simpson, (then of ABC News), was so into Clinton it wasn't funny.

So, lesson? Sometimes the media give you a lighter treatment.

Is the media's coverage of Barack Obama been as tough as it has been for Hillary Clinton? No way! But it's NOT really because, suddenly, everybody with a microphone, a videophone, all pundits and bloggers, voted to turn on her en masse.

In 2008, Barack Obama is the fresh face. He represents "new" at another point in history where "change" is being sought by the electorate. Go back and look at Clinton's 1992 campaign and see how the terms "hope" and "change" were utilized to his advantage. Deft political move in that kind of political climate.

Obama's doing the same thing. He's bringing people into the political process, and not just very young voters, that either had never participated or had walked away for a period of time.

Fresh face, candidate of hope and change, and, as his campaign revved up, it's become a phenomenon that the media has no choice but to cover it. And it's a positive story! It's reality, so the media MUST cover that.

So, dynamic of Obama's media coverage? New face, rallying new electorate groups, effective communicator, aligns with the individual, and has effectively made himself the poster boy for "change and hope".

Now...the dynamic of Hillary's media coverage. Establishment candidate. Her track record in the White House left at least 40 percent of the active electorate of, say, a year ago, against her. That makes it more difficult to be able to capture a general election. In spite of that, a year, six months, heck, four months ago, Hillary was THE presumed Democratic nominee!

Then she got pissed at Tim Russert over his questioning to her at an early debate (which was a poor move on her part....first, don't blame others; second, if you are the presumed front-runner, you should be able to answer questions that reporters won't spend time asking Dennis Kucinich, because we all know he's not going to win!

Then, as the Obama Phenomenon caught on, especially after his win (albeit by a small margin) over Edwards and Clinton in Iowa, the media went to the inevitable "Clinton Question".

What's wrong?

Tell ANYONE last August that she would finish third in Iowa and people would check your temperature.

Then, she triumphantly returns in New Hampshire and the game is on, again!

But then there's South Carolina....and Bill. Bill Clinton quickly becomes a liability with sound bites played everywhere. After all, he IS a former President! So, Hillary takes him out of sight for a season.

So as Obama is a rising star, his star is headed straight for, well, the Planet Clinton. Suddenly, she's not the only candidate in the stratosphere. Suddenly, she can't hold on to the money she wants to save until fall. She has to use it now!

One, two, three.....six, seven.....eleven races in a row for Obama and everything, EVERYTHING has changed.

Obama performs well in debates, is able to deflect most of her attacks and remain pretty much positive and "above the fray", which his constituents love (and rightly so).

Nothing is working for the Clinton campaign, and, suddenly, the inevitable Democratic nomination is starting to slip away from Hillary Clinton. And ever since, their chief architects seem to be either tearing each other down or living in "delusion-land".

ROB'S BOTTOM LINE:

Obama is getting more "positive" media treatment, at this time of the political campaign. Why? He's the Bill Clinton of 2008. New, fresh, with a message of hope and change. And, whereas the media gave Bill a "get away from Gennifer Free" card 16 years ago, they haven't had to do that with Obama. His entire campaign story is filled with positives. That does NOT, though, give the media "artistic license" to not ask him tougher questions and to not begin to dig into all of his past. There are dynamics to Obama 2008 that make the story of Clinton 1992 look very small in comparison.

And I never said anything about him being African-American.

Clinton? Yes, tougher questions. But going from an "inevitable" nominee to an even playing field, followed by an 11-state losing streak will certainly cause the tone of the media queries to be more "what is going on?" or "what is wrong?", or "what can your campaign do to stem the Obama tide?" It's like being a football coach.

Take New York Giants football coach Tom Loughlin. I'm a Giants fan. I was screaming for his head at the end of the 2006 season. They collapsed in the second half of that season both on and off the field and played one horrendous playoff game.

Now, Tom's getting peppered with tough questions as to why the collapse occurred, if there really is infighting in the locker room, are you still able to "reach" the team.

One year later....Coughlin's team wins an improbable Super Bowl title, is the toast of New York City, and, watching his press conference the next day, I didn't hear many "tough" questions. Why? Success!

We didn't hear "why are you so tough on me?" questions from Hillary and unfair accusations against the media by Bill, complete with his signature wagging-finger, last summer or fall.....when she was "head and shoulders" above the other 11 or 57 or 108 other candidates.

But we do now from a campaign that, I honestly believe, never, ever spent one minute discussing "what if?" strategy, just in case by some weird twist of fate, one of those "other guys" happens to get some traction and begins to become a clear cut second choice in polls and gathering steam.

------------------------------------------------------

What was Bill Clinton's blessing in 1992 has become Hillary Clinton's albatross in 2008. Also NOT helping her is her past. Remember "vote one get one free!" from Bill Clinton? How about Hillary heads the Health Care effort, though she doesn't hold elective office? And, to this day, we really don't know how many "Hillary Clintons" there really are. She hasn't thrown a lamp at David Gregory or Kate Snow yet.

She's probably saving it for her next one-on-one with Tim Russert.

Who she has been (in all her incarnations) now returns to haunt her.

And notice I never said a word about "first woman President".

------------------------------------------------------

TO CLOSE (promise!)

They asked Bill Belicheck, "what went wrong?" and Tom Coughlin "how does it feel?"

Bill B equals Hillary, Tom equals Obama.

The Devil Didn't Get All The Good Music. Thank You, Larry Norman...

Contemporary Christian Music lost its first real pioneer over the weekend.

Larry Norman had been in ill health for quite some time, but God continued to overflow his heart, spirit and mind with messages of hope not just in song, but to people one-on-one. And judging by the emails his family is receiving this week, you know he was obedient to hand out those messages quite liberally and faithfully.

I've been involved with and a fan of "CCM", as we call it in the "industry", since 1985, and, around the top of the list of those who "blazed the trail" for the Amy Grants, the Michael W. Smiths, the Jars of Clay, etc, etc.....was Larry Norman.

His trail has now taken him Home. Enjoy the good music there, Larry.

***----Read this article from ChristianityToday.com for a different perspective on Larry Norman, the human; his struggles and strained relationships, and psychological battles (which I certainly can understand). Plus links to YouTube video of his performances and more.

Bill Cunningham.....idiot.

So, he uses the middle name three times, "Barack Hussein Obama".

He calls him, "the Prophet from Chicago".

Yeah, it might work on WLW on his radio show, but this is why Bill Cunningham is not, say, Rush Limbaugh.

Rob?? What do you mean??

Rush wouldn't have been there in the first place. And when he says things like "drive-by media", he has a substance-filled argument for using the phrase.

Note Cunningham didn't explain himself on his web site or on a CNN interview. He just said he'd endorse Hillary Clinton.

Wonder what'll happen to this radio host? At the least, how about a reality check of what you say?

Live Blog: The Final Debate???

Too good of an opportunity to pass up......

....but we also will update you on Big Brother...... :)

One quick thought.....will Obama Girl get to ask a question? :)

----------------------------------

I don't care much for Brian Williams. He reminds me (and it certainly may not be true) of the guy who is pretty sure he knows a little more than you do.

Tim Russert is fine by me.

904pm-----Clinton camp yells, "The press did it again!!" They showed two of the faces of Hillary.

905pm-----First use of "15 million people left out of health insurance"....

906pm-----"....so far as I know....." She doesn't know yet if the Obama picture came from her camp?

907pm-----Obama's first comments: negative mailings about "15 million people". Is this our drinking game mantra tonight?

908pm-----"force them to have it...." Those without health care? Force them? Want to hear Hillary's response.....

909pm-----"Senator Clinton....her campaign that is.....", separating her just a bit from the mailings. Obama trying to go both ways here?

910pm-----"Do what is right", Clinton says regarding having health care for everyone. Clinton uses "insurance" first; good move by her. Everyone hates their health insurance people! Unless they work there. :)

"Achieve Universal Health Care"? Party represented this since Harry Truman? Who are the "independents" who have studied her plan?

912pm-----Obama I do, she says I don't. Obama pulls out a Clinton Secretary of Labor who approves his plan as better financially.

How does she "enforce a mandate", he asks? Massachusetts imposes fines?

913pm-----Clinton: "This is too important!" No difference in any mandate, she says! Good point, number two. But now she throws in Social Security and Medicare. Shaky move as it proves her plan is nothing more than a government takeover of 15 percent of the nation's GDP.....

"...nearly everybody"?? She really used that term??

915pm-----It's Obama's experts vs. Clinton's experts!! Put 'em in a steel cage!!! Hit the experts with a chair!!!!

Obama strikes a blow. "Clinton's experts say there's not much difference in the plans"....

917pm-----Clinton very aggressive, using the emergency room scenario and young people will die!! Obama's got you covered up to age 25.

918pm-----Brian Williams says 16 minutes is enough on health care.

I HEAR BOOS!!! STUPID MOVE, HILLARY!!!! Whine, whine, whine!! "Why do I always get the first question? Should we ask Senator Obama if he's comfortable?"

Obviously, she is already frustrated that she apparently didn't score the blow she personally hoped for on the health care issue. So now it's, "THE PRESS DOESN'T LIKE ME!!!" Good Lord, what was the question???

Oh, NAFTA!

Hillary says I'm anti-NAFTA (but the 90s??) and we should have a "real debate". Obama returns serve with Hillary's 2004 quote on NAFTA and New York State. He applauds Hillary for her stand now, subtly. Man, he's deft. He brings in the China toys and foreign medicines.

No sweat on his brow yet.....

923pm: Russert to Clinton....oh, lots of quotes from hubby and her. NAFTA gone in six months under Hillary? Be clear! No "gone", we must renegotiate.

She bounces back on splitting the issue by splitting her state geographically.

Russert vs. Clinton II: Apparently Hillary says Russert doesn't read the Cleveland Plain Dealer. This is great! NOW, if Russert would just press Obama the SAME way!!

David Gergen says in the White House, she wasn't happy about NAFTA. But people also say she never threw lamps.

Russert to Obama....renegotiate. "Senator Clinton is right". If that's his heart, then cool. Otherwise, maybe he's not as schooled on this issue. Rest of this answer sounds solid.

Obama Strategy: "If there's no difference between us on an issue, agree, compliment, then discuss your knowledge and solutions".

Russert: Excellent turnaround on Obama with regard to Ohio!! Obama skirts answer, says "I've got a plan". Don't sound like Kerry!!! Weak point for him tonight.

930pm....ALREADY!!

BIG BROTHER UPDATE AT 930pm: Allison is going after Sheila.

Russert to Clinton, again.....is 5 million too exuberant? 5 million new jobs???

You didn't get 200,000 jobs for New York State, you lost 30,000!!

She thought Al Gore would be President. Wonder if there was an asterisk on that comment back then?

Ohio becomes her Green State! No more Red and Blue states??

933pm: She'd never compare us to Germany in a debate in the general campaign!

934pm: Foreign policy question from Williams to Obama regarding Clinton comparing you to Bush 43. How were those comments unfair?

Obama: Experience doesn't equal longevity in Washington. He goes to the Iraq War vote, which is always a killer for Hillary. 12 billion dollars a month sent out when it should be here.

He now goes over Pakistan, telling truth about Musharrf (certainly not our greatest ally!!).....

Hillary? Are we taking a chance with Barack?

"You know, I've been here and there, done this and that.....". NEW strategy on Iraq question. He didn't have to vote in 2002!!! He was just talking!!!

Is this a good move on her "talking only, no results" theme? Good shot, if you ask me. Good move, Hillary!

938pm: Obama said he wanted to bomb Pakistan. His hands come down, but he didn't try to interrupt. Oh dear, back to 80 countries (somebody check her visa!!)....."I can hold my own." Does this mean Obama will wither??

Obama says it's more than words. "It's not I told you so, it's to give you insight as to how I make decisions." "Bus in the ditch....who made the decision to do that? She gave in to George Bush "on Day One". WOW!!!!!

SERIOUS counterpunch by Barack. This is a GREAT exchange, though I have a faint hope that somehow, still, we may still get one exchange without the words "experience and change".

Final sentence by Obama putting Clinton's war vote in McCain's camp until her run for President....serious shot to the gut!

Russert to Obama: Iraq says "GET OUT!" Do you get out, Obama? He says yes, but also meet our security interests.

"Careful getting out as careless as we were getting in." Good line. Bet he didn't come up with it. :)

Russert to Clinton: "GET OUT?" You'd listen? Hillary, "absolutely!"

We interrupt for Russert's do we go back in? As he put it, "...and Iraq goes to hell"...

Hillary "you're hypothetical, Tim!"
Russert: "No, it's reality."
Clinton: "No, this isn't reality."

That'll be a BAD SOUND BITE for Hillary.

945pm: A new left hook from Hillary; if Barack's gonna talk about being on the Armed Services Committee, what about NATO? Why haven't you had any hearings?

946pm: Obama honestly answers about the committee! Good move!

Obama: "I will always reserve the right as President.....we will have to act in the best interests of the American homeland and our interests abroad....make sure we hunt them down."

THAT sounds more Presidential than picking on Tim Russert......

BIG BROTHER UPDATE: Amanda is back from the hospital and she's okay. She learns about Allison, who now returns. :) And they have a heart to heart....

BACK TO CLEVELAND: Ya think Hillary came out late on purpose to get some love??

Hmmm....the "celestial choir" soundbite! Obama: "Sounds good!"

It's a tape aired in error! Really? Obama: "I'll give her points for delivery."

Tell the wounded warriors at Walter Reed Hospital that it's all talk, he says. Obama had this answer ready probably late Sunday afternoon after he saw the soundbite for the first time.

BIG BROTHER UPDATE: The Power of Veto is NOT used! Alex and Amanda or Matt and Natalie say goodbye tomorrow night at eight, seven Central......roll credits.

Back to Hillary! 55 billion dollars back from the special interests! I want to get it back! It's Bush and members of Congress who did this!

Why didn't she work harder the past seven years to save a couple of those billion already?

Clinton is a fighter, will fight for the people of Ohio!!!

OBAMA IS INTERRUPTED!! Good!

Barack FINALLY opens the can on the First Lady experience issue. He doesn't begrudge it. Good move. His theory on taking responsibility and credit during the Bill years is alright, and I agree. But it's minor in the scheme of this election. Normal people who aren't political wonks don't care about it......

RUSSERT talks financing for the campaign. Are you waffling? You checked yes. What's the deal??!!?? Good press by Tim, but not full court like he did to HC.

Obama will sit down with McCain "IF I'm the nominee..."
Russert: You MAY go back on your word?

Russert to HC: ...you refuse to release your tax returns. Your supporter, the Governor of Ohio, said release them to his opponent. Why won't you?

HC: "It's the American people who are funding my campaign, that's obvious!----I will release my returns....", she says maybe before she becomes the nominee, but SHE DOESN'T HAVE TIME right now.....

DOESN'T SHE HAVE A CPA???

What about all your files from the Clinton White House?

HC: "As soon as we can, Tim...."

RUSSERT TO OBAMA: Do you support the endorsement of Louis Farrakhan?

BO: I can't censor him; we are not doing anything with him."

Russert now brings in Obama's pastor, who said Farrakhan "epitomizes greatness". And he pulls a Jewish quote from the pastor, too. Tough question! But it's religion, but that's no longer off limits in Presidential elections.

Obama has support from Jews, says he wants to restore a historic tradition between the African-American community and the Jewish community. He goes into that history, which I only recently learned on a PBS Special that had nothing to do with either candidate.

That is a GREAT answer.

Hillary wants to add something. I rejected the Independence Party in 2000 for being anti-Jew. That's excellent. But she thought it was a risk? That's stretching it a little. She had hardly any opposition in 2000 or 2006.

Obama: "I'll concede the point and reject and renounce." He follows up HC's real reason for her comments, that she rejects the wackos, but Barack wouldn't. He answered with the above. Wow! Someone concedes a point!

She's still going to be mad that his doing that will work to his advantage. Her saying, "That's good" or whatever she said quickly is inconsequential, but maybe does show she was all about "winning the point". I'm sure Farrakhan was near the top of her talking points memo to make sure Obama had to answer to it.

Going on 10:20pm ET.......final questions? Let's see where they go.

WILLIAMS: "How can you run with a more liberal record than Ted Kennedy?"

Barack goes first to comparing the grades given by National Review to him and Hillary, ignoring the Kennedy comparison. His "ethics package" is not "liberal", he says. "The categories don't make sense!" Obama shrugs off the "labels" and says voters are looking at issues, not "you're liberal", or "you're conservative". Decent answer.

RUSSERT: Russia. Tell me about his successor.

HC first. "He's a hand-picked successor." General answer here....I bet Obama's may have been even more "general" had he gotten it first.

Can't pronounce the name. Most of us can't. Obama coattails on Hillary's answer (see, I told you so!), then brings out some Bush/Putin discussion.

RUSSERT: Russia sends troops to retake Kosovo. What does President Obama do?

"We work with international community that also recognizes Kosovo." He also praises the work of the Bill Clinton administration for creating troops/plans to work in these situations.

--------------------------------

Tim Russert: "In your public service, what would you take back?"

HC: Her Iraq vote....then sends the conversation immediately into the public and rattles off a ton of other issues "we could have done another program, Tim." Fragmented sentence, I know.

BO: Teri Schiavo situation circa 2005 when Congress voted to intervene. I didn't stand up on the floor of the Senate and stop it. I'm a lawyer, I knew better." I quote as best I can.

Now, Obama to wax poetic....20 debates, "proud to campaign with her", as he now takes her last comment from last week.

Obama: "They want a hand-up." Whew! And all this time I thought he wanted to hand out, well, "hand-outs"!

WILLIAMS' FINAL QUESTION: What question must HC answer to prove her worthiness?

BO: Lauds her worthiness, launches into McCain and Bush, but WHAT QUESTION WOULD YOU ASK?? Anyway, "why I think I'm better....I can bring people together." He brings a "special bias in opening up government." Interesting quote there.....

WILLIAMS: And what about BO, HC?

HC: She gets one shot at the First Women President, which gets some applause. "Who can actually change the country? My experience, over 35 years....."....you know the rest.

She simply "wants to help". We need a "fighter in the White House".

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Don't forget the Spanish version on David Letterman's favorite channel, TELEMUNDO!!!!


Now the audience responds! Clinton shakes BO's hand, Clinton turns away from Russert, Obama goes to Russert, Russert goes to Clinton. Tim and Hillary should NEVER be a couple in the Big Brother house!!!

------------------------

Olbermann: "Field goals, no touchdowns, and field goals won't do it for Hillary Clinton."

Matthews asks what I did, WHY did she go to the "give a pillow to Obama, SNL" crap.

Not sure I wanna comment about those two much more. :) Good 'ol PMSNBC.

ANDREA MITCHELL IS HERE! She loves Hillary! Well, Mrs. Greenspan??

Hmmm....not much from her.

OVER TO CNN........"she seemed to be a little testy", says an Obama supporter. John King? "These two are tired of each other."

He is SO right! Now, excuse John, he needs to work on wedding preparations.

--------------------------------

Tim Russert is being interviewed. He's just speaking truth right now. And I didn't realize that his Russia question was directed at no one.

He grilled Clinton on tax returns and Obama on public financing.

Well, well. Interesting evening. On points, I say Obama wins 15-12 and remains current Democratic Heavyweight Champion.

Who would have thought Hillary's victory in New Hampshire would possibly be her last?

Rebuttal: The many faces of Barack Obama?

The Barack Obama picture in question from his 2006 trip to Kenya when he dressed as a Somali elder. From the Clinton campaign? Obama's?? Who knows......





Obama at a rally held last week in Youngstown, Ohio, according to Boston.com...




Obama debating Hillary Clinton last Thursday night in Texas.

One thing can be said....I don't see many differences in these faces; as opposed to the last post.

The daily faces of Hillary Clinton???

Here is Hillary Clinton on Sunday, delivering a "more-than-subtle" (and that's being nice) dig of sarcasm against the "naive hopes" of her opponent, Senator Barack Obama.



Here is Hillary on Saturday, scolding Senator Obama for his mean, shameful mailers straight from the Karl Rove School of Dirty Politics.......



And here is Hillary at the end of last Thursday night's debate......

Wonder what face we get when tomorrow night's debate begins?? It would be sad if it weren't so contrived. The "faces" of Hillary that she could hide in the White House all those years that we knew existed, are finally in plain view.

BREAKING NEWS: Longtime Construction Foreman Sues Presidential Frontrunner for Plagiarism

Bob The Builder has filed a $34.6 trillion dollar lawsuit against the Presidential campaign of Illinois Senator Barack Obama over use of the phrase, "Yes We Can!"

"I am stunned and sickened that Obama would take the definitive phrase of my boss, an icon to wanna-be construction workers everywhere, and pass it off as his own," said long-time Bob The Builder team member "Dodger" at a hastily called press conference held on top of five pallets using a megaphone at a field being prepared for commercial development in the Far West End of Henrico County, Virginia.

Fellow "Bob's Top Team" member Packer was too distraught to discuss the issue and left the event early.

But Team member Scoop was more vocal. "What has Senator Obama built in Congress? What has he constructed successfully? Is he a foundation for any building blocks to America's future?" A reporter asked him if Bob came to him for any advice regarding filing the suit and if he (Scoop) would help him. Scoop replied, "No prob, Bob! And I better not hear anyone use THAT line! It's mine!!".

Moments after the press conference, a spokesperson for the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign emphatically denied being behind either the lawsuit itself or Scoop's comments.

When asked if he and his team are ready to take this plagiarism case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Bob The Builder said with a smile, "What he said! That I said first....".

There was no immediate response from the Obama campaign.

WWE's Same Ol' Same Ol'.......

SPOILER ALERT!!! If you didn't pay 40 bucks (NEITHER WOULD I!!) to watch the No Way Out PPV Sunday night and don't want to know the winners (well, one of them), then leave this page, friends.

Facts:

--My daughter has a HUGE crush on Jeff Hardy.

--Jeff Hardy has gotten by far the BIGGEST crowd reactions and has busted his rear like crazy to excite and entertain those fans for months now.

--BUT because Jeff Hardy is NOT the son-in-law of the owner of the company, he did NOT win in the Elimination Chamber tonight.

--Triple H did, just as I suspected. Why?

--Didn't you hear me? He's the son-in-law of the owner of the company.

Remember, kids---hard work pays off! But only if you marry the daughter of the owner of the company.

Great moral to THAT story.

God doesn't like coal? How about windmills?

From the country that says they have no gays.......

.....I bring you the latest edict from the Supreme Leader of Iran (He's even bigger than I-M-A-NIM-A-ROD!)

Like nuclear power, or get ready for God's mushroom cloud of doom!

I guess Iranians with a, ah, free thinking mind should now consider Chernobyl a myth along with the Holocaust.........

Rest In Peace.....Johnny Weaver

Johnny Weaver, arguably the foundation of Jim Crockett's Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling promotion from his tag team days with George Becker to his legendary managerial stint with Dusty Rhodes ending at Starrcade '87, passed away this morning at age 73.

I'll post more as it comes. The initial report is here.

Death of the Old Media II: Radio Stocks......

.....local radio isn't dead. It will be awhile before it takes the full effect of the new media onslaught that is occurring. That's why radio companies are diligently working to train terrestrial listeners to go to their station websites to listen to music online, download music, and check out exclusives.

BTW, Clear Channel needs to be applauded for its work in the website arena, as their listenership of internet radio recently surpassed Yahoo!, and, they are savvy about partnerships with artists, focused on producing events that can only be seen on their sites.

But the OTHER reason why radio is tying themselves into their websites is simple. Terrestrial radio has begun its descent into a new level of oblivion. It will take years for aspects such as the local morning drive show to end. But radio itself has already given up ground by saying goodbye to localism, news departments, night DJ's, even afternoon DJ's. One station in Charlotte is now making their morning show team record a show for that afternoon.....for no extra pay. Gee, originality there, eh?

The first radio patient in critical condition is on Wall Street. Let me let Jim Cramer talk about from a (yeah...) "web-exclusive" on TheStreet.com on 2/8/08.

A "That's All Folks" of the worst possible kind.....

....my memories of Bugs Bunny are of Elmer Fudd, Fearless Freep, and the Barber of Seville.

....Middle Eastern children now get someone who looks alot like Bugs, but has a much darker heart than our beloved bunny.....let me introduce you to Assud the Rabbit.

This isn't the first time Hamas or other Islamist Radicals have used cartoons to brainwash children into anti-Semitism, and it won't be the last.

But for those of you who haven't read it for yourself....read it here.

My NEW favorite TV show!!!

I LOVE THESE GUYS!!! Especially Ferb! Episodes nightly at 8pm ET through February 29on Disney Channel!