Larry and Tom's Blog

Not sports or cab driving must read

2011-08-30T12:08:00.000-07:00

Since hearing about his grandfather and great-uncle's experiences fighting in World War II, Keith Nolan has wanted to follow in their footsteps. Unfortunately, Nolan was born deaf to deaf parents, and the U.S. Army requires all soldiers to pass a hearing test.

Now Nolan is touring college campuses, visiting deaf soldiers in Israel, and enlisting a congressman to his cause to change U.S. Army policy.

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Philadelphia JobsAfter he finished high school, Nolan visited a Navy recruitment center. When Nolan told the man he couldn't read his lips, the man handed Nolan a piece of paper: "Bad Ear Disqual."

So Nolan became a teacher, completing a Masters in Deaf Education. Last year, while teaching, he also audited classes at an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps' program.

Nolan would show up to 5 a.m. exercises, even though his interpreter wasn't so easy to see before sunrise. He got perfect results in his military sciences class, and so impressed his superiors that they allowed him to wear the uniform, reports The Associated Press.

"He definitely was one of our top performers," said Capt. Sid Mendoza, a training supervisor in the program.

Mendoza learned to sign "motivation," since Nolan's interpreter used the word so much, in explaining to Nolan what his classmates were saying about him.

When May rolled around, however, those classmates graduated to become second lieutenants in the armed forces. Nolan handed in his uniform.

"I want to do my duty, serve my country, and experience that camaraderie," Nolan told AP, "and I can't, owed to the fact that I'm deaf."

While deafness may seem like a sensible disqualification from armed duty, Nolan points out that there are a number support positions that deaf individuals are completely capable of fulfilling, like computer technology, military dog training, and intelligence (where Nolan dreams of working).

To those who believe it would make communication too challenging, Nolan explained in a TED talk that deaf individuals have a number of means of relaying information, like voice, lip-reading, gesture, sign language, text and email.

"There's no magic wand necessary," He said. "It's the same thing we do every day."

There's also a double standard buried in the Army's policy; soldiers who suffer hearing loss while enlisted are allowed to continue their service.

One in four soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan in 2008 had damaged hearing, USA Today reported the Army as saying.

Deaf individuals also are allowed to serve in non-combat positions in the Israeli armed forces. Nolan interviewed 10 of them last year when he visited them on the job.

Deaf soldiers are not totally unknown in American history, either. Nolan wrote a research paper on the history of deafness in the military, and found that deaf individuals fought in the Texas War of Independence, and on both sides in the Civil War, as well as in World War II.

Nolan had resigned himself to a civilian life as a teacher years ago. But it was his students who prompted him to turn his lifetime dream into a political campaign. After Nolan gave a lecture on the Mexican-American War, one of his deaf students approached him and said that he wanted to join the military.

"Sorry," Nolan told him. "You can't. You're deaf."

"It struck me that all along I'd been told no, you can't," Nolan said, "and now I was perpetuating that message to the next generation, my own student."

This moment spurred on Nolan's fight. The "Commission Cadet Nolan Now" Facebook page urges people to contact Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif, and pressure him to sponsor a bill allowing deaf people to enlist. The page currently has over 3,000 fans.

"A true American soldier," wrote one commenteant

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Humor

2011-08-29T05:16:00.001-07:00

A drunk woman, stark naked, jumped into a taxi at the Courtney Place Cab Rank.

The Indian driver opened his eyes wide and stared at the woman. He made no attempt to start the Cab.

"What's wrong with you Luv, haven't you ever seen a naked woman before?"

"I'll not be staring at you lady, I am telling you, that would not be proper, where I am coming from..."

"Well, if you're not bloody staring at me Luvie, what are you doing then?"

"Well, I am looking and looking, and I am thinking and thinking to myself,
where is this lady keeping the money to be paying me with?!"

David Price-Tampa Bay Rays

2011-07-25T15:20:00.000-07:00

I heard on WDAE 620 that Price said he would quit if James Shields got traded. I am a big fan of both of them, but he needs to careful of what he puts on his twitter. That is not good for compionship in the club house.

James Shields-Tampa Bay Rays

2011-06-20T09:25:00.000-07:00

Finally something about the Rays-considering how they lost most of their bullpen, including a 44 save closer, this came from the internet.

Shields also dominates for 18

Tampa Bay's James Shields pitched a pair of complete games last week, allowing just one unearned run in the process. by: Bill Bender
Rory McIlroy had a fantastic weekend.

Dude shot a 16-under at the U.S. Open over the weekend. That's unreal considering I shoot about 16 over on the front nine of any golf course I play.

McIlroy, however, wasn't the only person who dominated over 18 last week. Tampa Bay pitcher James Shields allowed one unearned run over 18 innings in two starts last week.

We won't get it into what is more impressive, but let's just say I think I would get a lucky par at the Congressional Country Club before I would pitch a shutout in the majors. Call it even?

I found out first-hand what it's like going against Shields in a H2H league. He threw exactly 110 pitches in back-to-back complete games against the Red Sox and Marlins. I lost ERA this week as a result.

How good is Shields? Well, he leads the league in complete games (5) and shutouts (3). He's doing all those things Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee do. Half the headlines, half the price, same production.

Can Shields keep it up? Well, he should continue to dominate at Tropicana Field (3-3, 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) and be good enough on the road (4-1, 3.28, 1.07).

His first-half career splits (35-26, 3.48, 1.19) are much better than his second-half numbers (28-29, 4.80, 1.33). It would take some serious gumption to sell high on Shields knowing all that, but I guess it depends on what you can get in return.

If it were me, I'd stick with Shields.

A-Rod's cousin

2011-06-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

Sporting News
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A Major League Baseball executive vice president of player relations Rob Manfred told ESPN.com that the league's investigation into allegations that Yuri Sucart, the steroid-supplying cousin of new York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, was spotted at the team's hotel earlier this week, is closed.

"Our position is, we told the Yankees, they agreed, that (Sucart) should not be allowed in any non-public areas; clubhouses, any team charters, buses. And it's our understanding that that prohibition has been respected," Manfred told ESPN.com. "We've talked to the Yankees and they've assured us the prohibition has been respected."

During a press conference in the spring of 2009, Alex Rodriguez admitted using steroids while a member of the Rangers from 2001-03; he said Sucart (his cousin) would acquire the steroids from the Dominican Republic and inject them into the All-Star. (AP Photo) During a press conference in the spring of 2009, Rodriguez admitted using steroids while a member of the Rangers from 2001-03. He said Sucart would acquire the steroids from the Dominican Republic and inject them into the All-Star. Following that admission, the Yankees—in connection with MLB—banned Sucart from any team-related function or facility.

On Thursday morning, the New York Daily News reported Sucart again is traveling with the team on some road trips and was at the team's hotel in San Francisco on Tuesday night. And that he had done so last season as well.

"All we can do is control his access to areas that (MLB) or the team control. We will stay in touch with the Yankees to make sure that prohibition is being respected. A hotel lobby is a public place; there is nothing we can do," Manfred added.
The above came from the inter net. My question is why doesn't A-Rod's hits, homeruns be taken off of his record for those years that he cheated while in Texas. When he hit the 600th home run I wonder if he felt a little GUILTY.

Pete Rose- Hits leader

2011-05-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

"I've taken responsibility for my life," Rose said. "Baseball isn't good for second chances — not for gamblers. They are for people who take drugs. They are for people who beat up their wives. They are for people who drink a lot of alcohol. I screwed up. I wish I could change it."

Up and coming Dodger Ace

2011-04-12T04:02:00.000-07:00

Kershaw clearly was the most talented Dodgers pitcher entering last season, but then-manager Joe Torre didn’t hand him the ball on opening day. He wanted to minimize the pressure on his young lefthander.

But Kershaw posted a 2.91 ERA, 212 strikeouts and 132 ERA+ while eclipsing 30 starts and the 200-inning mark, both benchmarks for an ace.

This year, there was no doubt who would get the ball on opening day against the hated rival and defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants and their ace, Tim Lincecum. And Kershaw, 23, was marvelous, spinning seven shutout innings and striking out nine with one walk for the win.

Now of course there is David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. So far no wins but rather difficult to gain a win when the offense have left their bats on the bus. But I have a feeling that when the smoke clears he will be near the top.

The Rays and Taxi's

2011-04-11T04:42:00.000-07:00

The Rays are off to thier worst start in history. The first year in the league wasn't this bad. Ha even Carl Crawford isn't hitting. Boston even is losing, what with their HUGE payroll. Althrough they did win yesterday. Also what with the high price of gas United Cab is taking a beating, the drivers that is. The owners could care less, they are happy as long as they get their lease money. Let's hope tomorrow will bring a better day.

Baseball and Taxi's

2011-04-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well folks, baseball is upon us. The Tampa Bay Rays are undefeated and gas prices are starting to drop. Also Obama is going to change his mind about running in 2012. Now that you have let that sink in or you may think "what the hell is that old fart talking about". Than I woke up and found it was only a dream. But as I have said before "keep the faith". Most of the people who are giving the Rays hell are the ones who are bandwagon fans. Not real fans. They only pull for the winners. The people who give taxi drivers hell never ride a cab anyway. Futher they don't have any idea what a cab driver goes through just to make a decent living. I no longer drive a cab but I am afraid that United Cab, even with their new set up for getting and giving calls is in deep do-do. Have a great day, be careful out there. UC157 Larry

The Canseco Brothers

2011-03-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

THE BROTHERS GRIM
It's shaping up to be a banner week for Bay Area baseball brothers. Because on the heels of the Canseco brothers (allegedly) taking a stand against truth in the world of celebrity boxing, the Giambi brothers are expected to take the stand later today and testify in the perjury trial of Barry Bonds. The Giambis (see: Jason, and Jeremy) have both admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs that they got from Greg Anderson, the personal trainer for Bonds who is in jail at the moment for refusing to testify against Bonds. It could be tough for the lawyers to balance that out. Or not. In less than 48 hours the 2011 major league baseball season will start---finally. The Tampa Bay Rays will defend their east division title. Everyone seems to think they will be a underdog. I for one have always pulled for the underdog. When I played baseball in high school I was a underdog. On the Air Force team I was a underdog, but like the Rays found a way to win. Have fun out there and be careful

Ha ha

2011-03-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Here’s the latest “Quote of the Day” winner from manager/quote machine Ozzie Guillen:

I’m the Charlie Sheen of baseball, but without drugs and a prostitute

Miami cry baby's ( Heat)

2011-03-08T11:57:00.000-08:00

Stan Van Gundy: Heat have themselves to blame for their problems
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A Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy doesn't want to hear the Miami Heat's crying about how fans and media are roaring about the team's troubles.

“I do chuckle a little bit when they sort of complain about the scrutiny when they get,” Van Gundy told reporters Monday, according to the Orlando Sentinel. “My suggestion would be if you don’t want the scrutiny, you don’t hold a championship celebration before you’ve even practiced together.

Stan Van Gundy says the Heat invited criticism by the way they've carried themselves this season. (AP Photo)“It’s hard to go out yourself and invite that kind of crowd and celebration and attention, and then when things aren’t going well, sort of bemoan the fact that you’re getting that attention. To me, that doesn’t follow.”

Van Gundy was referring to the glitzy show the Heat put on last summer to introduce its newly formed Big Three – Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

After Miami suffered a fourth consecutive loss Sunday, Wade told reporters: “The world is better now since the Heat is losing.” Despite the streak, Miami is 43-20 and in no danger of missing the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Van Gundy, a former Heat head coach, blames overconfidence for the players' disposition.

“I think the players thought it was going to be easy and they were going to roll over everybody,” Van Gundy said, according to the Sentinel. “It hasn’t materialized that way up to this point.

Tampa Bay Rays

2011-02-22T06:20:00.000-08:00

A lot of talk about Johnny Damon and "Manny" playing with the Rays this year. I am not from the "show me" state but I have to be shown none the less. A lot of talk also about Joe Maddon, the manager, changing the line up from day to day. But in the last two years he has been to the World Series and won the East Title. So we will just have to wait and see. I think it would pay to keep your eye on Hellickson, I think he will win the spot for being the fifth starter. About the NBA All-Star game. My main man Kobe won the MVP, my co-writer, Tom doesn't agree however he seems to hate good ole Kobe. If the game had been in Miami James would have won due to his triple-double. The Spurs will have to be reckoned with. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE UC-157Larry

New Season

2011-02-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

Well sports fans here we go again to a exciting baseball season. If there are any remaining Tampa Bay Rays fans out there please don't buy any of that bum Carl Crawfords Boston Red Sox jersey that is being sold around this area. What a bum, I heard one interview that he gave and he said not one word about his time here in the Bay area. Check out 620 WDAE and you can find out what ole Steve thinks of him. It wouldn't have been so bad if he went to the Angels or a National League. But the hated Red Sox that is almost as bad as the Yankees. Now getting to the taxi cab business I am afraid that according to Tim it hasn't gotten any better. They have the GPS or blackberry or some crap like that. I do like the swipping machine for credit cards. But in the ten plus years that I drove never had many come back null and void. Be careful out there.

Playoffs

2010-10-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well boys and girls, err, taken from Tony on Pardon the Interuption. Looks like the fat lady is starting to clear her vocal cords. I really believe that both league's will go seven games. But I don't think the Phillies or the Giants can handle either the Yankees or the Rangers. The Yankees lost their first baseman, but he wasn't hitting anyway. He 0 for a lot. But what will hurt the Yankees is his glove.UC157 Larry

Tampa Bay Rays-2010

2010-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Oops, the fat lady has finished her song. Now all this writer can do is hope that the Texas Rangers open up a big and I mean big can of whip ass. uc157Larry

The Rays

2010-10-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Good morning. There has been a lot of comments on the sports radio shows concerning what is wrong with the Rays.Some good points one being the hitting coach. Seems to me he is not doing his job. They are taking too many pitches. The first pitch from the Texas pitchers have been in the strike zone. They know that the Rays are taking the first pitch, might as well throw it in the zone. They are going to take it anyway. They have scored 800 runs but most of them were before they started looking for walks. When you are behind 0-1 or 0-2 than the opposing pitcher can play around with you and let you swing at crap in the dirt or way out of the zone, they you have to protect the plate. That being said, I will still pull for them, but I am sorry, just as my Dodgers were in the habit of saying every time the dreaded Yankees would beat them in the World Series, "Wait till next year", but I am afraid that next year for the Rays will be long time cominig. They are going to lose Carl Crawford and their set up guy for Soranio. Have a nice day.UC157Larry

Tampa Bay Rays

2010-10-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking about what you say about the Rays. How can a team that has won 96 games look so bad. The first game of the playoffs against Texas, Maddon had the favorite Rocco playing. What??? Played it 10 games all year. He is a great guy however, great personalities don't win playoff games. What about James Shields as the game two starter, he has not had a good season, let alone a good second half. Yeah Garza should have started the second game. But even if he had started brings to mind what happened happened to the Dodgers years ago, Don Drysdale was told that Koufax pitched a no hitter, Don said "yeah, did he win?" Why aren't the Rays hitting. Could be they are thinking about what the owner said about cutting the payroll next year. Have a good weekend, ye ole baseball fans.UC157Larry

The Rays

2010-09-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

I blame 95% of Monday nites loss on Joe Maddon. He did what he has been doing of late, leaving the starting pitcher in too long. On Monday Wade Davis had 6 strong innnings. He only gave up one run. The Rays bullpen is one of the best in the league. It is a lot easier to get one run than it is to get four. But no he starts Davis in the 7th and when Choate does come in he has two on already, rather than letting him or Quails start with the bases empty. If you have 9 outs to get one to tie you can do different things. Now regarding the number of folks that came to the game, 12,000+. Before the homestand I believe that it was announced that the payroll was going to be cut for 2011. Now that is a great way to get fans to go to the remaining games. Now I think that it is known that I am not a Yankee fan but at least the owner of THAT TEAM puts money into the team so that they have a good 25 players to represent the city.UC157Larry

Tampa Bay Rays

2010-09-27T06:11:00.000-07:00

It seems to me that neither the Rays or that other team, the Yankees want to win the Eastern Division of the American League. I am not sure that Maddon wants to win the division. Granted Longo is hurt a little, but I think he should play the guys who are hitting. Navarro is not hitting his hat size. In the game yesterday, Wilson is a dead fastball hitter. Shields was doing very well with his change. Kelly calls a fast ball, bam! game over. Not only that he is a first ball hitter. I blame not in this order, Shields, the catcher and Maddon. Seven games to righten the ship. UC157 Larry

Tampa Bay Rays

2010-09-01T06:21:00.000-07:00

I have been a fan of the Rays forever. I have heard manager Joe Maddon say quite a few times that no lead is safe in the American League East. However the last few games that the Rays were getting blown out he pulled some of the starters. I recall in 2008 they were a exciting team as they came from behind a lot. Last night why did he wait so long to come out and get Jeff Nieman. He pitched well for 5 innings. Considering what happened his last start manager Joe should have been watching him closely. Would the outcome have been different. Hard to say, but don't let him get pounded like that. As it could carry over to his next start. The head of a pitcher is a strange bird. There are a lot of pitcher can forget about a bad outting and go on with the next game some can't. I am not a bandwagon type fan, win or lose, they are mine. UC 157 Larry

New kid on the block

2010-08-03T08:46:00.000-07:00

Major league debuts are always a good time, and we've had a whole lot of exciting ones this season. Enter, Jeremy Hellickson. The 23-year-old right-hander has been clamoring for a shot at the big leagues all season while posting some rather gaudy numbers at Triple-A Durham. On Monday against the Twins, he got that shot. Hellickson fired seven innings of two-run ball and struck out six batters to earn a win in his first appearance with the Rays. He was optioned back to Durham immediately after the start and will only be recalled as a reliever -- if he's recalled at all -- but keeper league owners got their first taste of what's to come and it sure went down smoothly. Like most of Tampa's youngsters, he will be a major factor in fantasy leagues for a long time to come.

I watched this game, for being only 23 years old he seems to have a lot of poise. The really good part is that he is not afraid to go inside and challenge the big boys. Add this kid to the Rays already great young staff in the years to come they will be tough.UC157Larry

Thriple Crown????

2010-07-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Elite sluggers racing toward Triple Crown

It's been 43 years since a hitter claimed the Triple Crown -- will 2010 be the year to end the drought? With the 81st All-Star Game in the books and the second half under way, four sluggers remain in contention to lead their respective league in batting average, home runs and RBIs. It's no surprise that each plays on a team making a serious playoff push. Amid a monster offensive campaign, first baseman Miguel Cabrera is perhaps the strongest candidate, driving in runs in bunches and batting well above his .313 career mark as the Tigers battle the Twins and White Sox for AL Central supremacy. Left fielder Josh Hamilton's unbelievable June -- during which he compiled a .454 average, nine homers and 31 RBIs -- propelled the Rangers to a sizable lead in the AL West, and little has changed since. Albert Pujols is once again posting MVP-caliber numbers in St. Louis, but he may not even be the best first baseman in his division this year; the Reds' Joey Votto has emerged as an elite player, hitting for both average and power as Cincinnati and the Pujols' Cardinals slug it out down the stretch. UC157Larry

Home Run Derby

2010-07-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

last week's action is any indication of how tonight's Home Run Derby is going to go, then the action should be spectacular -- even without the likes of Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Josh Hamilton.

Provided you turn the volume down on the remote, of course.

Why do I say so? A total of 243 homers were hit across the majors last week. The Chicago White Sox hit 16, with Carlos Quentin hitting six. The Blue Jays also hit 16 homers, which should come as no surprise.

Four other players hit five homers last week, including Adam Dunn, Matt Holliday, Buster Posey and Jayson Nix.

As a result, some outrageous totals could be seen across H2H leagues. My team hit a season-high 19 homers (thanks to Dunn and Posey). Senior Editor George Winkler went up against a 29-homer barrage (thanks to Dunn, Holliday and Lance Berkman).

It serves as another reminder that we're not totally re-visiting the "Dead-Ball Era" quite yet. It has always been my belief that home runs and RBIs are the keys to a fantasy championship. Now is the right time to make sure you have enough power reserved for the second half.

As for tonight's derby, I'll take Holliday. As for Tuesday's game I will take the American League winning it in the ninth with David Price the winning pitcher and Evan Longoria the MVP. With the exception of the comments on the All Star Game the rest is from Fantasy Source. UC157 Larry

All Star game fast approaching

2010-07-06T10:00:00.000-07:00

Lost in the shuffle of a billion All-Star snub articles, Rays closer Rafael Soriano has quietly put together a fantastic first half this season. Through 32 appearances and 22 save opportunities, the Dominican-born rigthy has a 1.42 ERA, a 0.76 WHIP and 21 successful saves. He's not fanning batters at the ridiculous rate that we saw last year in Atlanta, but 28 strikeouts against 5 walks is not half-bad. Soriano was traded to Tampa Bay this offseason after controversially accepting arbitration from the Braves and has been a lightning bolt at the back end of the second-place Rays' bullpen.

Suspended Carlos Zambrano should take some of the big bucks and enroll in a anger mangement class. Or better yet look for a different line of work. I hope that your favorite teams have done well the first half of the baseball season. Strange game has been on TV, everyone kicking a white ball around, some games going for 90 minutes without a score. I have been told golf is boring. Take care out there. UC157Larry

Rays problems

2010-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

On the front page of AOL this morning it showed B.J. Upton being held back when he was confronted by Evan Longoria. This was regarding his trotting to get the ball hit in the gap in the Sundays game against the Diamondbacks. This writer thinks it is about time that one of the players put him in his place. It isn't the first time that he has loafed. There have been numerous times that he may have beat out a grounder hit it the infield. Granted he makes some nice catchs in centerfield. But only because he plays so shawllow. He is not hitting his hat size. For you old time Yankee fans, does anyone remember Billy Martin. It would have been shame on Upton. I think it is about time for Joe Maddon to realize that changing the lineup every day is not getting it done. I don't think Jackson would have gotton that no-hitter if Crawford had of been in the line-up. Yeah yeah I know he was in the lineup when that guy from Oakland, Dallas something or other. What a strange name for a man, much less a baseball player. Ha, ha I am outta of here. UC157 Larry

The Rays

2010-06-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays socked it to the San Diego Padres 5-3 Thursday afternoon with a cadre of players who earned their stripes – and a manager who found a most creative way to fire up his team in getting the boot.

Prior to the game, skipper Joe Maddon and five of his starting players donned ’70s-style striped stirrup socks of navy, light blue and white ordered by equipment manager Chris “Westy” Westmoreland – anything to change their recent run of misfortune and six losses in the previous seven games. I can recall wearing this type of leggings. Except mine were cut higher on the back of the heel. Does anyone remember the big long white socks that went on before the outer socks with the strips. If this catches on with the Rays maybe it will have the same effect that the mohawk had when it seemed to put them on a roll. However nothing can replace the Dodger Blue. Now if my Dodgers could now put a whippin on the ole pin stripsUc157 Larry

How about this for a "tip"

2010-06-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

(June 16) -- Taxi driver Don Pratt said he took it with "a pinch of salt" when a longtime customer said she would "look after" him in her will. But the salt took on a very sweet taste when he learned she meant exactly what she said -- to the tune of $370,000.

Pratt, 65, spent 20 years taking Mary Watson on countless shopping trips around her home in Cornwall, England, and she had always been a good tipper.

But he said he couldn't believe it when a call from Watson's lawyer confirmed she had left him the biggest tip possible: her entire estate, including her house and her savings.

"She was a very nice lady, always very generous. We would always have a good chat while I ferried her around," Pratt said, the British media reported today.

And although she had told him, "When I pass on I'll look after you," Pratt said he had "no idea she was going to leave me a fortune."

Watson, who died this year at age 86, moved into a home for the elderly a few years ago in Northampton, in the English Midlands.

The two "lost contact completely," Pratt was quoted as saying in London's Daily Mail, but Watson stayed true to her word.

Pratt, a cab driver for 30 years and a father of four, said the money will enable him to retire, but he won't stop driving.

"We want to go around England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland -- to start with, anyway."

Pratt said he was not sure how Watson's family felt about the will, but a spokeswoman for the care home in Northampton said, "She didn't have any close family to speak of," and that "there was a whole side to her life we didn't know about."

She added: "It's a very generous thing to do and he obviously had a great impact on her life. He must have been a very good driver."

Good, and now able to take as many cab rides as he might like.

Oh my!!!

2010-06-14T11:56:00.000-07:00

Today is the first time in 51 days that the Tampa Bay Rays have not had sole possion of first place in the Eastern division of the American League. Also the Celtic's have taken a commanding lead in the NBA Finals. They are going back to Los Angeles for game's 6 and 7. No folks it is not a typo, I said 6 and 7. In closing this is the first time that my Los Angeles Dodgers have been swept by the Angels at Dodger Stadium. I do believe that is a long time. Also does anyone care to respond on the crappy umpiring that has been going on in the MLB. Jim Joyce at least admintted he made a mistake. UC157 Larry

Only in LA

2010-05-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

This writer has probably been in this parking lot if it is near the bars in Santa Monica, CA. When I was young that is.
Most drivers have experienced the downer that is discovering a parking ticket on their windshields.

But a quick burst of four parking tickets? You'll have to ask KTLA reporter Gayle Anderson how that feels.

Anderson was doing a segment on the best cars for summer road trips from a Santa Monica parking lot. The cars were lined up, and, according the folks who work at the lot, the television station hadn't paid for the spaces like they said they would.

So they called in the Santa Monica Police Department, which ticketed the cars, one by one, as the live TV cameras continued to roll.

Bemoaning this heavy-handed treatment, a KTLA station official told Asylum that the news team had "done this type of shot at that parking lot before and always settled up before they left."

He added that the station would have had no problem paying the parking fees -- or the parking tickets -- but was baffled as to why the parking attendant decided to call the cops, and then the police decided to issue the tickets on live television. UC Larry

Fun Time

2010-05-20T12:50:00.000-07:00

Hi folks. Just a little information about the sporting news of Tampa Bay. My Rays, yes my Rays have a 4 game lead in the Eastern division. Over that other team, the New York Yankees My Dodgers got there steak stopped at 9 last night. The Rays hitting attack had been slowed down but seem to have come out of their drought, even thought they have been winning. Pitching and defense. But unless you have been under a rock they whipped up on the Yankees last night 10-6. That was surprising considering that they played at the new Stadium in New York. I have to admit it is a very nice place to play. But for over a billion it should be. Oh yeah the Los Angeles Lakers are up 2-0 in the Western conference finals. Stodimire of the Suns maybe shouldn't have run his mouth so much in calling them "lucky". Who was that who being lucky is just as good as being good. I can't think of anyone who would care but my co-writers team, the Boston Celtics are up 2-0 in the Eastern conference finals. Have a fun day and be careful out there.

Sports update

2010-05-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Low and behold the Dodgers have won 7 in a row and the Rays have retained the best record in baseball (26-11) to go along with the best road record. To the tune of 15-4. Granted the Yankees are only 2 game behind at 24-13 but they suck on the road at 12-10. I was swiching between the Rays game and the Yankees game. When the lights out Revera came in with a 3-1 lead he walked in a run in the 9th. Can you believe the first time this has happened since 2005. No boys and girls that is not a misprint, since 2005. That has to be a record. But than again this is his 16th year. Right along with Jeter and Posada. Andy Pettite was with them but he did like so many do with where the money was with Houston. But Andy came back to the Yankees where the powerhourse is. The Rays haven't been hitting of late, however, they are winning with pitching and defense. Seems like if one guy doesn't have a big hit than someone else will. The only sad part of the weekend was that the Celtics held on for a win Sunday. Nite.

GTMI (get the man in)

2010-05-14T10:12:00.000-07:00

This taken from the Rays web site.

ANAHEIM -- Baseball number crunchers have to be scratching their heads these days when examining Rays hitters.

On the one hand, the Rays entered Thursday leading the Major Leagues with a .310 average with runners in scoring position. On the other, they ranked 19th in the Major Leagues in hitting at .253. What gives?

"We seem to be clutch hitting, getting hits when we need them," Carl Crawford said. "When times come up where we have runners in scoring position, we find a way to get it done. Remember how the hitting was in '08? It was all about timely hitting."

In 2008, the Rays never seemed to strand a runner, even though few, if any, players on the team had career seasons. In contrast, several Tampa Bay players experienced career seasons in '09 and the club set a franchise record by scoring 803 runs. So the team didn't have any trouble scoring runs, it just had difficulty bringing the runs home when it mattered most.

"I think [what we are doing this season is] unusual a little bit," Ben Zobrist said. "If you look at our individual stats, a lot of guys were having better years last year at this point. So you look at the ability to be able to score some runs, a lot of that has to do with guys just stepping up.

"A guy like John Jaso for example, coming in here and getting as many hits as he has, as many RBIs as he has very quickly -- that's boosted our offense. And you've always got [Evan Longoria], who comes through in the clutch. I think you need to have the right mindset with guys in scoring position. And that was a decided thing during Spring Training that we were working on."

Zobrist pointed to another facet of this year's team: the selfless style of play.

"I think overall the hitting has really concentrated on doing whatever you need to do to get the run in," Zobrist said. "If you have to give yourself up a little bit, we're willing to do that as a team right now. I don't know necessarily if we did that as much last year."

The Rays wear T-shirts around the clubhouse with the initials "GTMI" written across the front. The meaning is simple, but hardly easy: Get the man in.

The Rays have embraced the concept. And even though several hitters are struggling, they still manage to get the hits when needed. Even Pat Burrell, whose entire tenure with Tampa Bay can be judged a struggle, has come through with two of the team's biggest hits this season, with homers against the Red Sox and A's that gave the Rays the lead.

"We have done a great job with runners in scoring position," manager Joe Maddon said. "That was a major emphasis during Spring Training. Some of the guys just have not hit to their level yet. And the only thing I can really think about that is we've been playing in a lot of cold weather, and that has a lot to do from a hitter's perspective offensively.

"I think as it warms up, you're going to start seeing some of our guys start swinging the bat better in regards to actual batting-average numbers. But I'm more concerned with working good at-bats, seeing pitches, maintaining our slugging percentage, our OPS ... and that's why we've been so successful to this point."

Prior to the start of every series, the Rays conduct what could best be described as a reminder session.

"We throw out the little mantras we created during Spring Training to make sure that all these little things we're trying to emphasize are being kept up on," Maddon said. "[Hitting coach Derek Shelton will] talk about that, and we'll talk about our baserunning issues and different things like that. So that's always addressed prior to the first game of the series."

Count Carlos Pena among those struggling to get into a groove this season, but he isn't panicking and he believes there's a reason why the Rays have become good in the clutch.

"It goes back to that maturity thing," Pena said. "Like [Monday night's 5-4 loss]. We were getting pitched well, we were hitting balls right at people and things weren't going our way. All the way until that last out, we thought we had a chance to win that ballgame."

Even though the Rays lost the game in extra innings, they mounted a successful three-run comeback in the ninth inning to tie the game.

"We kept plugging away and look what happened," Pena said. "And it happened against their closer. That's what we expected to happen. So we weren't surprised. It was like finally we've got it.

"I think all of that goes hand in hand with maturity. When we see a situation, we try to capitalize. We relax and focus on the task at hand to get it done. So it goes back to that maturity level. We're more mature than we were in the past. We try to seize the moment. It goes back to this team growing."

With so many at-bats during the season, the question regarding whether hitters could actually treat one at-bat more importantly than another seemed to hold some significance. Zobrist managed to differentiate between hitting with runners in scoring position and otherwise.

"I think the way you treat it is just with a little more focus [when runners are in scoring position]," Zobrist said. "And the pitcher does, too, because he's trying to bear down.

"If you have a man on third, you want to get it out there to the outfield where he can't throw him out on a sac fly. In that kind of situation, it's more you pull back on your own approach a little bit to get the runner in. Getting the runner in is the most important thing in that situation."

And when nobody's on base?

"It's kind of just between you and the pitcher, where you're battling to drive the ball somewhere," Zobrist said. "Get the ball to the gap, whatever."

Crawford said the Rays seem to focus better in important situations.

"So maybe we need to bring that kind of focus to the other [at-bats]," Crawford said. "Do something like that. Maybe we'll be better off."

Shelton didn't seem too caught up in the odd numbers put up by his hitters, because he is not a big believer in the statistic of batting average.

"I can honestly say statistically, batting average is probably one of the least important stats I look at," Shelton said. "I'm looking at getting on base -- if we're having good at-bats, if we're doing a good job with runners in scoring position. I'm looking at those things.

"I don't place a large emphasis on what the actual batting average on the club is. I honestly think it's kind of an old-school stat. If we're making pitchers work and we're drawing walks and we're getting runners on base -- we're getting runners in -- I think that's what I look at."

However, Shelton does believe in the concept of clutch hitting.

"I think guys can have better at-bats, yes, and I think it's a focus," Shelton said. "And I think it's why you have to talk about it and make it a focus, where they realize that those at-bats are extremely important. And the outcome of those at-bats affect whether you win or lose games."

No matter how the Rays' hitting numbers are interpreted at this juncture, there is one thing everybody can agree on, and that is their reflection on winning.

This girl could be special

2010-05-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

PLANT CITY, Fla. -- As an organ donor, pitching great Joe Niekro left his eyes behind so another man could see. He left his liver, kidneys and heart so three others could live today.

He left a unique and special gift -- his famed knuckleball -- to a precocious little girl who could be on the verge of inspiring a whole new generation of baseball players.

Chelsea Baker, only 12, has learned to make that pitch dance, to magically make it move like a butterfly on its way to home plate, baffling and befuddling young hitters. Like Joe taught her, shortly before his death in 2006 (the two are seen in the photo above).

"Joe would be so proud, so really proud,'' said Debbie Niekro, Joe's widow who has watched Chelsea pitch several times. "He really liked Chelsea. He loved the way she listened, and learned at that age. He knew she was going to be something special.''

Share Niekro was 61 when he died suddenly of a brain aneurysm. At the time, he was helping coach a Little League team on which Chelsea and his own son played in his adopted hometown of Plant City.

Chelsea was 8 when he died, too young to quite understand how final death would be, but old enough to understand the gift that Niekro had left her. It gave her a passion for the game, and specifically for the pitch.

"I bugged him to teach me because I never could hit that knuckleball when he would throw it to me in batting practice. He always said it was a secret, but he finally taught me, and we worked on it a lot,'' Chelsea told FanHouse last week after a game. "I love throwing it. My catcher says it's so nasty.''

And the batters can't touch it. Although there are many young girls peppered across America now playing Little League Baseball with the boys, there are only a few who can dominate as Chelsea does.

She has thrown two perfect games within the past year, including one in an All-Star Game. She is unbeaten this season in nine starts, throwing 54 innings and striking out 103 batters while allowing only four runs. She also is hitting .569, playing third base when she doesn't pitch.

"When she first came to me for instruction, I was thinking 'OK, here is a girl I can help,'' said Keith Maxwell, a hitting instructor who played 12 years of professional baseball, including five with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. "But after two weeks with her, I was like 'wow.' She has an incredible pop in her bat. She isn't just a pitcher. I thought, 'This is probably going to be the first girl to play Major League Baseball.' And I don't say that lightly.''

She already is being recruited to play for the Sparks, a girls baseball team based in the Northeast that tours nationally playing against the best boys teams in the country.

Chelsea, average size for a 12-year-old girl, is unusually athletic with a powerful arm and a fastball that comes close to 70 mph. Yet it's Niekro's knuckleball, and the passion he sparked, that makes her so special.

It's why in the fall, when her sixth-grade history assignment was to do a project on "Someone Who Changed The World,'' she selected Joe Niekro as her topic. She already had all his old baseball cards. She had several pictures of her and him on the baseball field together.

"I got an A on the project. The teacher told us it had to be about someone you felt strongly about,'' she said. "And I knew how famous Coach Joe was. I miss him. I remember before every game I pitched, I had to give him a kiss on the cheek before he'd give me the ball.''

Niekro pitched 22 seasons in the major leagues for seven different teams. He won 221 games. He and his brother Phil Niekro combined for 539 wins, the most of any brother tandem in history. Chelsea knows all those numbers now.

She is the one who wrote the moving passage that was used as part of Niekro's obituary tribute. It brought friends and family members to tears.

"Coach Joe taught me so much in the few short years I new (sic) him. He taught me how to have pride in myself, and to be humble. Most of all, he taught me to throw his famous knuckle ball. . . . . I miss seeing him . . . . . . and his happy face at the ballpark. I will always remember and love you. – CHELSEA BAKER.''

It was also Chelsea who came to the funeral viewing services and left a baseball in Niekro's open casket. And it wasn't just any baseball, either. It was a scuffed baseball, with four tiny and barely visible fingernail marks along the seams, exactly where he taught her to grip it.

"He taught me how to hold it like this,'' she demonstrated last week. "I usually wait until I have two strikes. They can't hit it. He told me that's how it would be.''

She is merely a seventh-grader, but watching her pitch or watching her play, or hearing her speak about Niekro, she seems much older. For all her accomplishments -- she will make her sixth consecutive All-Star team in Plant City -- she is surprisingly humble.

Some of her teachers at Turkey Creek Middle School don't even know she plays baseball. Most of the boys do, because they've been playing against her for several years, accepting her as one of the best. It's when she travels, as the only girl in her league, that occasionally she hears remarks about her being a girl. Mostly it's from the grandstands, from other parents.

"I still hear parents from other teams say, 'When is she going to start playing softball?' '' said stepfather Rod Mason, who helps coach her team now. "And it kind of ticks me off. So I usually just say, 'When she stops striking out your little Johnny.' ''

Mason and wife Missy have followed Chelsea's baseball from the start. She started with baseball because that's what Mason's sons played. And she just happened to be so good at it.

"I've had other parents tell me now that they couldn't get their girls to practice until they saw Chelsea play,'' Mason said. "I think her success will help other girls. She's just so unbelievably focused. I never ask her to practice. But she always comes to me.''

Home-plate umpires often come to Steve Gude, manager of her team now, and apologize for missing calls when Chelsea pitches. Her knuckleball often darts out and back into the strike zone when she keeps it low -- like Coach Joe taught her.

Joe never taught her this trick, but it's one she can do if you ask. She can stand out in center field -- and her arm is so strong -- she can throw a knuckleball all the way to home plate, giggling as it flutters through the air.

"Joe was really good to her,'' Mason said. "He went out of his way to help her. He was such a giving guy with all the kids, always willing to help. But I think he knew Chelsea was kind of special."

Rays new hitting coach

2010-04-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

This was taken from the St.Pete Times. Strange but the "Animal" named Steve from WDAE 620 was talking about this just yesterday on his show. Situational hitting hs been stressed since high school. Anyway Rays fans here it is.Derek Shelton figures this is a good situation.

Shelton was announced Wednesday as the Rays' hitting coach and already has plans to address one of their primary shortcomings: lack of success in situational hitting.

"It's important, and it's something that's going to be stressed from Day 1 in spring training," Shelton said. "The big thing we're going to try to talk about and be consistent with is making sure our approach stays consistent.''

Among the concepts he'll stress: pitch selection, making more use of the middle of the field, and "team offense."

Shelton, 39, spent the past five seasons as the Indians' hitting coach then was let go along with manager Eric Wedge and the rest of the staff.

A former minor-league coach with the Indians and Yankees, he has lived in Wesley Chapel the past 15 years and is excited about joining the Rays, where he'll replace Steve Henderson.

Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman praised Shelton's attention to detail and communication skills and called him "one of the better minds in baseball when it comes to hitting." Manager Joe Maddon said he and Shelton have similar philosophies and hiring him was "an easy decision."

They needed him tonight

2010-04-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Basketball College Careers of Greatest NBA Players of All Time: Jerry West Jerry West was born in West Virginia in 1938. In his high school years, he would dominate his opponents as he would throughout his career. In his senior year of high school he was named an All-American after becoming the first high school player in West Virginia to ever score 900 points in a single season. Staying close to home, West would become a West Virginia University Mountaineer. As a sophomore, West would start all 28 games, shoot near 50% for the season from the field, and average a double-double. As impressive as his sophomore campaign was, as a junior, things only got better. He would improve to 26.6 points per game, 12.3 rebounds per game, and 51.8% shooting percentage. West would obtain two impressive college highs during this season, blazing for 44 points versus Tennessee and 31 rebounds versus George Washington University. In his final collegiate season, amazingly the improvements continued. West averaged 29.3 points and 16.5 rebounds per game. He was an all-American selection and Southern Conference tournament in every season he played for West Virginia. He managed a trip to the NCAA tournament finals once, where the Mountaineers lost. West’s individual efforts throughout college would lead him to becoming the second overall pick in the 1960 NBA entry draft. As a Los Angeles Laker, West’s seemingly unlimited potential would turn him into a legend around the league and a staple of the franchise for decades to come.

Woman calls 911 on police...from jail

2010-03-31T03:26:00.000-07:00

This is something new, after being arrested for refusing to pay her cab fare she then calls 911.

This dame is from a different world, other wise known as not from the blue planet, she tells the 911 dispatchers I am trapped in a detention facility, and got a charge of making a false 911 report, this on top of not paying her cab fare which got her
theft of labor or services, criminal trespass to land and disorderly conduct.

I am not sure about the other charges as we have seen here, you nearly have to kill a cab driver to get more then just probation, this 911 thingy may just stick, story from UPI below.

NAPERVILLE, Ill., March 23 (UPI) -- Police in Illinois said a woman arrested after an altercation with a taxi driver called 911 from jail to say she was "trapped" in the facility.

Cmdr. Mike Anders of the Naperville police said Carly Houston, 29, of Chicago, was arrested early Sunday morning after her taxi driver asked her for specific directions to her intended destination and she allegedly "yelled, screamed, cursed and extended (both) middle fingers at the cab driver and threatened bodily harm" against him, the Naperville (Ill.) Sun reported Tuesday.

The driver pulled over at a BP gas station, where witnesses were "alarmed and disturbed" by the passenger's behavior, Anders said.

Houston was arrested after police arrived and she refused to pay the taxi fare.

However, Anders said Houston incurred further charges at the police station when she used an allowed phone call to dial 911 and report she was "trapped inside the detention facility."

She was charged with misdemeanor charges of making a false 911 report, theft of labor or services, criminal trespass to land and disorderly conduct.

The year of the upset at the big dance

2010-03-28T03:02:00.000-07:00

This has been a very unusual year for the NCAA Tournament, its been one upset after the other.

In the East regional number 12 Cornell beating number 5 Temple and then number 4 Wisconsin before getting trampled by Kentucky. Number 11 Washington beat number 6 Marquette and New Mexico then beaten by Eastern Regional winner West Virginia.

Number 7 Clemson was another 1st round upset victim losing to Missouri, who
turned around and gave West Virginia a tough game before fading late 69-59.

The East seemed to calm down until last night when the number 1 seed
Kentucky lost to West Virginia 73-66. In a game that the Wildcats
made several runs but poor 3 point shooting through out the game
and lack of clutch foul shooting sealed the deal for Kentucky.

The Midwest region had its upsets and has the 2 lowest ranked teams in the
Great 8 Michigan State and Tennessee, its biggest upset was of number 1 Kansas
by number 9 Northern Iowa in the second round.

The first two rounds where friendly to the favorites in the West, with only
number 13 Murry State winning a squeaker over number 4Vanderbilt 66-65,
the second rounds only upset was Xavier over Pit 89-66.

It was in the Sweet Sixteen when things changed, the number 5 Butler Bulldogs
beat the number 1 seed in the West, Syracuse 63-59 and followed that up
with beating the number 2 seed Kansas State 63-56, and have made it to
the final four.

The South has had only 3 upsets throughout, number 11 Old Dominion in a
close one over Notre Dame 51-50 and the 2 upsets by every one's favorite of the
tournament St Mary's.

St Mary turned the table's on Gonzaga in there conference tourney after getting
beat twice in the regular season, they then faced number 7 Richmond in the
first round of the big dance, the number 10 St Mary's surprised the South's
number 2 seed Villanova.

Today we have four more teams trying to punch there ticket to Indy, the first
game is 5 Michigan v 6 Tennessee and 1 Duke v 3 Baylor.

Buckle your seat belt it should be one heck of a ride, through next weekend.

Words from Charlie Daniels, country western star

2010-03-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

He may proudly sing patriotic songs, including 'This Ain't No Rag, It's a Flag' and 'My Beautiful America,' but now Charlie Daniels says he's angry and disappointed by leadership in his home country. Speaking out against the recent health-care reform bill, Charlie says America is on a fast downward spiral.

"We no longer have a representative government; we essentially have a dictatorship that is willing to force their will on us regardless of what we want," he says in a March 22 post on his website's "Soapbox and Message Board" titled 'Black Monday.' "This is the most despicable act ever perpetrated on the American public by the most dishonorable congress we've ever had."

But most of the blame, the musician continues, falls on the Commander-in-Chief. "[President] Obama claims this program will actually cut the budget, but anybody with a brain in their heads knows that it will not only not cut the budget, but will cost trillions of dollars that we just don't have, adding catastrophic amounts to the national debt."

He continues, "I have always had unfailing faith in the American ability to persevere, to bounce back and overcome almost anything, but people, this health care bill will change America into something that will resemble a police state."

He then closes the post by issuing a bleak preview of where he believes the country is heading. "America is on it's way to becoming the largest banana republic on earth," he warns. "Pray for our troops, and for our country."

The Grand Ole Opry member, who recently returned to stage after recovering from a mild stroke he suffered earlier this year, is already back on the road with his band. (He also hints that skydiving may be in his future!)

Hot off the press a teen punch's a cab driver and rob's him of $78

2010-03-25T05:23:00.000-07:00

Yeah what else in news another teen punch's a cab driver and rob's him of $78, this happend in a fairly affluent town of Somerset, NJ.

More then likely he was bored out of his head and needed something to do, so he goes off to a nearby motel where he calls a cab, and as they say the rest is history.

I think we all know whats next, a trip to the courthouse with a high priced mouthpiece and the judge says probation, big surprise, and on a on we go, again.

So where does it stop, I am not the violent type but there should be a pay back of some kind, and I am not talking cash here which would come from Mommy and Daddy.

The story is from NJ's Star Ledger, enjoy.

Somerset teen is accused of punching, stealing $78 from cab driver
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP — A Somerset County teenager allegedly punched a cab driver and swiped $78 from him during an early morning attack Monday, according to court papers.

Timothy Lewis, 18, of Arden Street in Franklin Township, was charged with second-degree robbery, according to court papers. Bail was set at $75,000.

The incident occurred at 2:09 a.m., and the driver did not require medical attention, said Capt. Jack Bennett, a spokesman for the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.

The victim told police that Lewis reached over the front seat and punched him in the face, causing his nose to bleed, according to the affidavit Franklin police Detective Brian Stillwell filed in Superior Court in Somerville.

Uniform patrol officers arrested Lewis after they identified him through known associates, Stillwell wrote. Lewis allegedly told police that he had someone else call Amigo Taxi for a driver to pick him up at the Quality Inn on Easton Avenue, and the driver took him to Phillips Road, where he ultimately reached over and took the money, the affidavit says.
Authorities found the money at Lewis’ residence, court papers say.

The diva gets away with it, again

2010-03-23T04:50:00.000-07:00

Miodrag Mejdina the New York City taxi driver assaulted by top supermodel Naomi Campbell, , has said he wont press charges after his run in the with feisty fashion diva.

I wonder how much it cost for him to drop the charges, and yeah I get it he has to pay his bills, but the diva gets away again.

I mean it was not like she just slapped him, she hit him hard enough to cause his head to hit the steering wheel.

And its not like its her first offence, if you read my post of 2 days ago you know she has a violent history.

It seems the super model wants to put this behind her let me translate, hey it over with so lets just forget about it, after all he was only a cab driver and I am a super model.

I think this quote she gave to the Times of India just 13 hours ago says it all, "I've worked very hard on correcting my previous wrongdoings and I won't be held hostage by my past behaviour. I always try to treat people with respect, she added", sounds like a new spin on an old line of shit.

It's like the old line given by jock's or celebrity's who get caught doing something wrong and the universal line is "I want to put all this behind me", what about the people you have hurt or worse.

I have written about jock's and celebrity's violence against cab drivers on this blog, and its always the same sorry tale, at worst they get a slap on the wrist, and then they give the big press conference where they are so sorry and want to put this behind them.

Take it easy out there and stay safe!

Could hard times be hitting Santa and Mrs Claus?

2010-03-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

This story comes from Fairbanks, Alaska where the police have arested a woman from the North Pole for stealing TV's for the second time, and using taxi's as her get away car.

She was last arrested in December, I wonder what holiday is in December, am I the only person with a grin from ear to ear?

The story below is from the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Police said a North Pole woman accused in December of stealing televisions and hiring a cabbie as her getaway driver is now accused of trying it again.

The Fairbanks Dail News-Miner reported that a 27-year-old woman was charged with second-degree felony robbery and misdemeanor theft in the Friday incident, which occurred just one week after she posted bail in the similar case last year.

The newspaper said the woman was arrested Friday after police were called to a Fred Meyer store on a report of a woman walking out without paying for a TV and trying to leave in a cab.

Court records said the woman was arrested late last year for going into a Sam's Club on two occasions and allegedly stealing $6,000 worth of televisions, then loading them into a taxi.

More crap done to cab drivers, part 2

2010-03-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone, yeah its been a while since my last post.

Between cab drivers getting robed, beat up and worse, plus the fact finding any funny or positive news story's about cab drivers is next to impossible I just gave up.

I don't know if this is a one time thing, if I can find something on a regular basis but here goes

This is a story about a model named Naomi Campbell, miss Campbell seems to have a problem keeping her hands or what ever is handy from hitting people.

The latest is a NYC cab driver, this despite recently going through an anger management class, I guess it has worked as well as probation has with this Deva.

The news article does not say what started the fight, maybe the drivers outfit matched hers or he had the same color cell phone,but she started beat down on the driver from the back seat, then bailed when the driver pulled to the curb and called 911.

Police are now looking to interview Campbell, I wish them good luck I hope they wear a helmet.

The British runway diva has a violent streak that dates back to at least the late 90s. In 2000, she pleaded guilty in a Toronto court to a 1998 assault on Georgina Galanis, her then assistant. Campbell had allegedly assaulted Galanis with a telephone in a hotel room and threatened to throw her out of a moving Peugeot.

In March 2005, Campbell allegedly slapped assistant Amanda Brack and beat her with a BlackBerry.

Also that year, Italian actress Yvonne Sciò claimed Campbell left her “covered in blood” after an altercation at a Rome hotel, allegedly because Sciò had worn the same dress as Campbell.

In March 2006 in New York City, Campbell was arrested for assaulting another housekeeper with a jewel-encrusted cell phone, resulting in a bloody head that required several stitches.

On October 25 of that year, Campbell was arrested in London on suspicion of assault. Two months later, another former Campbell housekeeper, Gaby Gibson, began a new court case against the model seeking unspecified damages, and accusing her ex-employer of being a “violent super-bigot.”

On January 16, 2007, Campbell pleaded guilty to a charge of reckless assault against her housekeeper Ana Scolavino. She was sentenced to five days community service and ordered to attend two days of an anger management course.

On April 3, 2008, Campbell was arrested inside Heathrow Airport on suspicion of assaulting a police officer after one of her bags had been lost.

Campbell was subsequently banned from flying globally with British Airways by the airline.

She was charged with three counts of assaulting a constable, one count of disorderly conduct likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress, and one count of using threatening, abusive words or behavior towards cabin crew.

Campbell pleaded guilty to four of the six charges against her.

It looks like another round of anger management and more probation for the Deva, one more joke heard from!

Paddy's Day

2010-03-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

The Chicago River flows green once every year. Credit: Wallula Junction, Flickr
The global urge to "go green" may have reached a fever pitch in the past few years, but it was the push to protect our waterways that gave Chicago one of its best-known traditions.

The Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Local 130 call it the eighth wonder of the world: Dyeing the Chicago River green on the morning of every St. Patrick's Day Parade.

"Plumbers, they can do anything they want to do," jokes Kevin Sherlock, parade coordinator for the plumbers union, which has been putting on one of the world's biggest St. Pat's celebrations for more than fifty years. The Chicago River once flowed into Lake Michigan, the lake that provided drinking water for all of Chicago, Sherlock tells Holidash. Thanks to the plumbers, the river was re-routed more than a century ago to prevent pollution of the water source. These days, the lake flows into the river, keeping the polluted water away from the potable water.

What does that have to do with dyeing the river green for St. Patrick's Day? Well, it was the plumbers who set out to determine exactly how the river was being polluted in the 1960s, a job that heralded the introduction of the first batch of green dye to the 156-mile waterway.

"The plumbers were testing plumbing systems to see if anything was being illegally dumped into the river," Sherlock explains. "They were putting a green dye into the systems of each building." If the dye ended up in the river, they'd know whose system needed an overhaul.

The idea of adding massive amounts of green dye to the Chicago River on St. Patrick's Day, however, came from a plumber working on the project, who mentioned it to his co-workers when he stopped off at the offices of Local 130 to pay his dues. What better tribute to the Emerald Isle, after all, than a bit of Irish green in the river? The first time the plumbers tried it, the people of Chicago observed the bright green water flowing by their buildings for three days.

Today it's more like three hours before the green stuff dissipates naturally. The process begins at 10:45 a.m. on Columbus Drive on the morning of the Chicago parade. Men in giant white suits and masks throw an orange powder -- one of three colors, along with white and green, on the Irish flag -- that Sherlock likens to Tang into the river. Boats churn the water to turn it a perfect emerald green, and the current carries the color along the parade route just in time for step off at noon.

The river-dyeing festivities alone attract anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 people -- two-thirds of whom traditionally stick around and join the even bigger crowd at the parade. "You don't need to be Irish to appreciate it!" explains former resident Karen Reilly. "Every time I saw the green water it made me smile."

So what's inside those buckets of "Tang"? Some say it's fluorescent, the same dye used by crime scene investigators to find latent blood stains, but Sherlock won't say.

"It's like the McDonald's Big Mac sauce, it's a secret," he tells Holidash with a laugh. "We can't tell you -- this is very unique to Chicago."

Even when the city of Dublin, Ireland came calling with a request for help in dyeing the storied River Liffey green, the folks at the plumber's union would only agree to assist if it was their crew who did the job -- the same group who has been making the magic happen in Illinois since the 1960s.

So what can Sherlock say about the powder? Don't worry about those white suits and masks -- it's 100 percent safe. After all, a project born of an effort to clean up the rivers would hardly be appropriate if it were toxic.

"As plumbers, we're here to protect the water," Sherlock says. "What's going in there does not harm the fish, does not harm the plant life." It's even been tested by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to ensure there's only fun -- and nothing funky -- about this St. Pat's tradition

Stephen Strasburg

2010-03-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Well, that didn't take long. Hey, be happy we're learning about this now, as opposed to four weeks from now. Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman tipped his hand Tuesday -- and I think certainly helped fantasy baseball owners in the process -- when discussing the April destination for everyone's favorite pitching prospect, Stephen Strasburg.

"Spring training is great, but even as opposed to Double-A or Triple-A pitching, it's just not the same. When everything counts, records count and statistics count, regular season is just a different animal with a guy to go out there with the adrenaline throwing on both sides and the other team is trying to get you."

Got that? It's almost assured the kid with the 100 mph fastball will be starting the 2010 season in the minor leagues. This is hardly a surprise. It's the right move, and I applaud the Nationals when they officially make it. I've been discussing this for a few months, and getting odd stares and angry e-mails in the process, but this is yet another reason rookies are very dangerous and often trip people up in fantasy baseball drafts. See Matt Wieters from last season. You want Wieters now, but how many owners still feel burned by him? I for one took him on one of my fantasy teams. I think he will be up sooner than most folks think. Now if he was owned by a team with a slam dunk picthing staff or a team like, God Forbid the Yankees, than maybe it would be next year or the end of the season. But Washington, come on, give the kid a shot. You fantasy buffs have a great year.

Tampa Bay Rays

2010-03-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

The Tampa Bay Rays are everything that most small-market teams strive to be. They aren't loaded from top to bottom with billboard-recognizable names, and they boast a core group of young, cheaper players that are putting up enviable numbers.

The pitching staff in Tampa could lead this team back to a playoff run. All five projected starters have the talent to put up win totals in the 'teens and stay below four in the ERA department. If healthy, the new closer in town could shine in his role as the sole ninth-inning hurler.

The batting order is a pleasant mix of power, speed and upside potential that could pressure the upper portion of the division come September and October. With two hitters easily taken among the first 20 picks on fantasy draft day, one being a potential MVP candidate, 2010 looks like it could be a great season for the Rays.

Base season is fast coming

2010-03-02T09:09:00.000-08:00

I am quoting from Mike Schmidt, hall of famer. He wrote this in the March issue of the Sporting New. The following is just the tail end of his comments. This concerns one of my favorite baseball players. PETE ROSE "One the surface, it would seem Pete Rose's crime is no worse that that of Mark McGwire's. If baseball can forgive McGwire and ALL of his contemporaries,why not Pete? Gambling on the game vs.cheating in the game--one gets you banned for life, the other makes you famous."

Dodger Blue

2010-02-20T11:04:00.000-08:00

Last week, Ned Colletti signed Brian Giles to a Minor League contract. At 39, Giles seeks an opportunity to show what he can do after having an off-year with knee surgery. The Dodgers need more outfield depth than in the recent past.
After Manny Ramirez's offensive decline last year, people realized he was aging. Though Joe Torre blames the 50-game suspension for Ramirez's decline, Ramirez should have improved as the season went on, but the opposite was true. I think being hit on the wrist in the middle of July affected his swing, although the Dodgers deny this. Anyway, Ramirez's offensive performance disappointed most Dodgers fans and made it more difficult for the Dodgers to win their division than it should have been.
Immediately after the season ended, Ramirez reportedly told some teammates that he should be a designated hitter in the American League. His legs were exhausted. The guaranteed $20 million salary proved too much for Ramirez to walk away from. However, Torre has said that he must rest him more days this season.
I can see by July that unless Ramirez turns into the hitter similar to what he was in 2008 when he joined the Dodgers, that he will become a pinch-hitter. Although he doesn't have to hit over .350 to keep his everyday starting outfield job, he needs to hit more than he did in 2009 after his suspension. Everyone knows that the Dodgers didn't obtain Ramirez for his defensive abilities. They wanted a player who could hit for a high batting average and had some power. When Ramirez's offensive production tailed off, he became a defensive liability in left field.
Everyone understands that the Dodgers have a weaker starting rotation than they did in 2009. With a weaker rotation, the Dodgers must have good defense to prevent runs. I think we will see Ramirez being replaced more for defensive purposes than we have in the past.
The Dodgers lost a possible leadoff hitter when they traded Juan Pierre. Although Rafael Furcal will lead off most of the time, the Dodgers need to have a reserve leadoff hitter for when Furcal needs to rest or if he gets injured. If Giles doesn't make the team, the most logical choice for a leadoff hitter for the Dodgers is Russell Martin. Although Martin is coming off of a poor offensive year, his on-base percentage was still decent. I don't want to waste Matt Kemp's power in the leadoff position. Casey Blake is too slow to be a leadoff hitter.
Putting a catcher in the leadoff position would tax his stamina. To me, Martin's offensive problems are caused by playing so many games. He gets tired, but he won't admit it.
Without any doubt, the Dodgers have a shortage of depth in players who can lead off. In the National League, teams who don't have a good leadoff hitter usually don't go to the playoffs. Giles always has had an excellent on-base percentage. Over his 14-year career, Giles has had a .400 on-base percentage, and this is outstanding. Though he hasn't stolen bases during his career, he has been a smart runner. I know he had knee surgery last season, but if the knee has healed properly, he should be a decent runner.
In the recent past, the Dodgers have carried only four outfielders because they wanted to carry more pitchers. To me, it was a risky decision. Over the years, many outfielders have collided and injured themselves seriously. I know the Dodgers thought they had players like Blake who can play in the outfield in an emergency until the team could promote a Minor League outfielder. I hope the Dodgers will carry five outfielders, especially with Ramirez's questionable legs. I know this will diminish the number of pitchers that they can carry, and with their weakened starting rotation, the Dodgers will need more relievers than usual because their starters probably won't go as long in games as the Dodgers need. However, having an extra outfielder could make a big difference.
The acquisition of Reed Johnson will help the Dodgers. Although he isn't the caliber of Pierre, he can play three outfield positions. He is a decent hitter. I think Dodgers fans will see much of Johnson over the 2010 season.
With the growing concern about Ramirez holding up for the entire season, the Dodgers must have two reserve outfielders. I know that Colletti has signed many players to Minor League contracts to develop greater competition during Spring Training and create more depth. Most of these names can be ignored by the common Dodgers fan.
Obtaining Giles could be a huge boost for the Dodgers. None of the people who follow the Dodgers seriously are comfortable with either Jason Repko or Xavier Paul as reserve outfielders. If Giles is healthy, he can provide the Dodgers with an experienced reserve outfielder and leadoff hitter.

a short post

2010-02-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

This post is in reference to Tampa Taxi Shots. The writer is complaining how the city police are ruining the city. Why because they are giving out tickets for running traffic lights. Damn don't run the lights. I mentioned this when I commented on his post. My co-author, got T-boned on Hillsboro because someone ran a light. The shit head had no insurance. As United Cab does nothing for us when a thing like this happens shit out of luck. Too bad the guy wasn't stopped before he hit Tom, oh but I forgot too many cops making this a police state. Or that is what the guy who writes Tampa Taxi Shots said. One out of thirty-one men in Florida are in jail. Not sure about that figure. But I wonder how many derserve to be there. I know of one that was there and yes he deserved to be there.

Feel Gutsey

2010-01-25T13:00:00.000-08:00

There are men, there are brave men, and then there's an Austrian skydiving expert named Felix Baumgartner, who later this year will take a flight in a stratospheric balloon more than 120,000 feet up and attempt to become the first person to break the sound barrier (approximately 690 mph) in a freefall.On January 22, Baumgartner and several members of the Red Bull Stratos team publicly unveiled for the first time the details of their "Mission to the Edge of Space," for which Baumgartner is the Test Jump Pilot. According to the company, "This is very much a step into the unknown; no freefall -- let alone a supersonic one -- has been successfully completed from the target altitude." The goal is obvious -- get Baumgartner safely back to Earth. But the challenges are innumerable. Keep reading for more details about the incredible mission."The main challenges," says Art Thompson, the team's Technical Project Director, "concern pressure, thermal -- hot and cold temperatures, and acceleration and deceleration through three layers of space." Baumgartner will wear a pressurized suit and helmet along with his parachute and chest pack with data recorders, but even the equipment presents a challenge."It's NOT comfortable being in a pressure suit," says Thompson. "People get antsy wearing it ... we wanted to see if Felix freaked out in the suit, but he was fine."Baumgartner is an accomplished BASE jumper and he's set records before which include a flight across the English Channel with a carbon wing. But he's never done anything like this. When asked if he was nervous, he answered in the affirmative. "Yes, there's fear," says Baumgarter. "But I use fear to my advantage, to keep focused."Joe Kittinger, a retired United States Air Force colonel, is the only person who knows exactly what Baumgartner will feel when he opens the capsule and prepares to jump; he set the record that Baumgartner will attempt to break 50 years ago when he made a parachute jump from 102,800 feet in Aug. 1960, nine years before the Apollo mission. Kittinger will also be the voice from the ground inside Baumgartner's helmet when the Austrian will otherwise be all alone at 23 miles above the Earth. Asked if he hesitated before he made his epic jump, Kittinger responded, "Hell no, I didn't hesitate. I was happy as hell to go back to a friendly place. Space is a hostile environment." Baumgartner will be there soon. The rest of us can watch live images of the incredible mission online, from the comfort of home. Pajamas are optional.
One more thought, I have to believe that Bret Favre will relive the last pass that threw that was picketed off. As Jim Nantz said he had a clear shot for about 15 yards if he ran instead of throwing. Of course I was watching the game. If he wold have ran, it would have been a chip shot for a game winning field, than the other guys prediction would have been mote. The only quarterback who could have made that pass, across his body and across the field would have been John Elway

Rays help Haiti

2010-01-20T06:04:00.000-08:00

Brandon, Florida - Baseball after baseball, jersey after jersey, bat after bat. Carlos Pena signed and signed and signed.
Afterall, if he could help generate donations for the Red Cross for those in his neighboring country of Haiti, he'd do whatever he could.
Pena was just getting ready for spring training, working out in his native Dominican Republic when the earthquake hit Haiti. He was on the 4th floor of the gym and felt the tremors and the building sway. It lasted less than a minute. But it was a minute he will never forget.
Now Pena is back in the U.S., trying to help generate donations and giving his own. In addition to signing autographs at Brandon Town Center Tuesday, he has opened his own wallet, donating $15,000 of the Rays Foundation $50,000 gift to disaster relief. While still in the Dominican Republic, Pena and his wife Pamela donated supplies to herd across the border.
The Rays will also donate proceeds from their annual Fanfest on Feb. 20th at Tropicana Field. All of the professional players in this great country of ours should open up their wallet too. I believe that I just read where a well known relief pitcher, ( 9 million / one year ) just signed. Come on pro guys give some of the green. Tax deductagle to boot

Come back player of the year

2010-01-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

the beginning there was hope. How much, though, is hard to say. The Bucs had been through this once before, after all, and few among us will ever forget the way that turned out - with Cadillac Williams curled up near the sideline pounding the ground with his fist and saying to no one in particular, "Not again, not again.''
Yes, again. Another knee injury, his second in as many seasons. Neither, of course, was of the minor variety. In both instances, Williams tore his patellar tendon, first the left, then the right. For any athlete, but especially for a running back, that's about as major as it gets.
Worse than torn ACLs, patellar tendon tears have been known to stop careers dead in their tracks. But nothing, it seems, can stop Cadillac's career.
A year removed from what many thought was his second career-ending injury in as many seasons, Cadillac's career is back on track and progressing better than anyone, perhaps even Williams himself, could have imagined.
With only today's game against the Falcons left to play, Williams is guaranteed to finish the season as the Bucs leading rusher.
Certainly no one saw that coming. Williams did, after all, start the season as, at best, the third back in what was supposed to be a two-pronged power running attack featuring Derrick Ward and Earnest Graham.
Fifteen games later, though, Williams has more carries (191), more yards (781) and more touchdowns (four) than Ward and Graham combined.
You could, in fact, make the argument - though you very well may lose it to supporters for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. - Williams has been the Bucs' most valuable player this year.
One argument you probably can't lose, though, is to suggest Williams is the NFL's comeback player of the year.
No one else's comeback seems to compare to Williams' this year. Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's certainly doesn't. He's only coming back from one knee injury, and it wasn't a torn patellar tendon.
Titans quarterback Vince Young might warrant some votes. But Young came back from his knee injury last year after a few weeks and didn't play much thereafter because he just wasn't as good as Kerry Collins.
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer could certainly challenge Williams for comeback player honors. He blew his elbow out a few games into 2008 and has bounced back to have one of his best seasons ever.
The same, though, can be said for Williams, who actually seems to have come back this year as a slightly better and more versatile player than he was before he was injured.
During his breakout rookie season, for example, Williams touched the ball 310 times and gained 1,259 yards for an average gain of 4.0 yards per touch. He also scored six touchdowns, all on the run.
This year, Williams has touched the ball 216 times and gained 965 yards, for an average gain of 4.5 yards per touch. His seven touchdowns, meanwhile, are a career high and that number includes three as a pass catcher.
Williams hasn't fumbled the ball yet this year either, and that's an improvement as well. Prior to this season Williams had fumbled the ball nine times in his career and lost seven of those fumbles.
So not only has Williams come back from two devastating and potentially career-ending knee injuries, he's come back a better player, one who seems far more adept as a pass catcher and even a leader.
Williams used to be a very soft-spoken man of few words. Now, if he senses that everyone isn't on the same page or someone isn't pulling his weight, he says so, bluntly.
Maybe it's a result of having lost the better part of two years to knee injuries. Maybe it's a result of facing the prospect of never being able to play again. Whatever it is, Williams has changed.
When he came back to the Bucs this year, he came back better, stronger, more mature and more productive than ever before. That's about as complete a comeback as any player will ever have.

GPS

2010-01-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

All we hear about these days is the little box on top of the dash board called GPS, some people let it run there life.

I have never liked these things and here is another good reason why.

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a holiday hurry, Jeramie Griffin piled his family into the car and asked his new GPS for the quickest way from his home in the Willamette Valley across the Cascade Range.
It said he could shave 40 minutes off the time of the roundabout route he usually takes to his future in-laws' place.
Following the directions, he and his fiancee headed east on Christmas Eve and into the mountains, turning off a state highway onto local roads and finally getting stuck in the snow.
They had no cell phone service and ran short on formula for their 11-month-old daughter. After taking exploratory hikes, trying to dig out and spending the night in their car, the distraught couple filmed a goodbye video.
Like two other parties of holiday travelers who followed GPS directions smack into Oregon snowbanks, Griffin and family were eventually rescued. But their peril left law enforcement officers and travel advisers perplexed about drivers who occasionally set aside common sense when their GPS systems suggest a shortcut.
"Did everybody just get these for Christmas?" asked Klamath County Sheriff Tim Evinger, leader of one rescue effort.
In Griffin's case, in fact, the GPS device was a Christmas gift, from his parents. He used it for the first time to plan the trip to Central Oregon.
It's one he'd made many times before, following a route travelers have found reliable since at least the days of the Oregon Trail. But, he said, a shortcut the GPS device suggested was attractive.
"We were in such a hurry to get over there, we programmed it in the driveway and went ahead," he said.
In hindsight, he said, he should have double checked the route against a paper map — and packed extra formula for the baby. "We would be better prepared for the unknown," he said.
The AAA and the National Association for Search and Rescue say they don't sense a surge in trips that go amiss because of a blind reliance on GPS directions, but they hear about them from time to time.
"It's usually about every other month," said Christie Hyde of the national travel association AAA. It's a small number compared with the millions of GPS units in service, she said.
She's heard, she said, of one driver who made a right turn as directed and had to be towed off railroad tracks, and another party led near the edge of a cliff. I am a firm believer in the good ole fashion map and use your brain should handle it.

Go Bucs

2009-12-22T13:41:00.000-08:00

The Bucs just gave their owners a vivid job stimulus package to consider.
Coming off last week’s drab 26-3 loss to the Jets that dropped Tampa Bay to 1-12, players, coaches and Buc executives faced an uncertain future. The club responded with a 24-7 triumph at Seattle’s Qwest Field, where the Seahawks had been 4-2.
The Glazers, seeking a tangible sign of progress amid the gloom, saw the Bucs reel off the final 24 points for their first regular-season win on the West Coast since 1999.
It was a gratifying effort for players who are already fighting for their place on the 2010 roster. For GM Mark Dominik, the lopsided win was a sign that the organization is going in the right direction.
And beleaguered rookie coach Raheem Morris was all smiles in the closing moments, knowing he had taken a significant step in showing ownership that the club was progressing.
“Job security is not an issue for coaches,’’ Morris said Monday. “We don’t have any. You just go out there and present your best self every day. That’s all I can do. We make decisions based on how do we beat our next opponent. There will be no decisions based on serving Raheem Morris, Mark Dominik or any player.’‘
Buc players fighting for jobs appeared to want the game more than their Seattle counterparts, who were badly outplayed in the second half in front of home fans who raced for the exit gates early.
“There’s always guys on the bubble,’’ Morris said. “There’s always coaches on the bubble. How you respond to being on the bubble is what defines you as a man, as a coach or as a player. Those defining roles will come out in the next two weeks.

BUCS VS SAINTS

2009-11-21T10:25:00.000-08:00

The Bucs started this year 0-7 and were the only winless team in the NFL. Tampa Bay had played so poorly, many were starting to wonder if the Bucs could finish this season 0-16 before they defeated Green Bay a few weeks ago.
New Orleans is on the more positive end of that spectrum.
The Saints are 9-0 and one of two undefeated NFL teams (Indianapolis is also 9-0). Many football observers are starting to wonder if New Orleans can finish this season 16-0. As New Orleans prepares to face Tampa Bay (1-8) on Sunday, the Bucs are hoping to spoil their rival’s perfect season.
“There’s no secret — I’m sure [Sean] Payton [New Orleans coach] is telling those guys, ’Hey, this team has beaten us three out of the last four times we’ve met,’ ” Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. “I’m sure he’s telling them that. I’m sure he’s getting those guys motivated in the same way. It’s a division game — that’s one. It’s guys that don’t like us and we don’t like them. There’s no secret there.”
There is also no secret why New Orleans is undefeated.
New Orleans has the NFL’s top ranked offense, averaging 37 points a game. S Darren Sharper has made an immediate impact on defense, recording seven interceptions this season . But I can remember a few years ago with the Vikings came in here 8-0, alas they left 8-1. Stranger things have happened. But no, I wouldn't put the farm on it. Antino Bryant is due to start. Looking forward to see how Antino and Josh Freeman can and if they can hook up. Keep in mind Josh is only 21. Have fun out there.

Dodger blue

2009-11-14T13:11:00.001-08:00

It has been said that Tom Lasoda bleed blue blood. Ha that is hard for me to believe. But the following is taken from his web site. Enjoy grew up in Norristown, PA, which is just outstide of Philadelphia. I'll never forget going to Shibe Park for the first time to watch an actual Major League game. I found out that the nuns were going to take the local crossing gaurds to see a Phillies game so I became a crossing gaurd.
I stood out in the cold snow, sleet and hail to help kids cross the street. Finally we go to the game and we saw the Phillies play the New York Giants. The nuns took five of us. I bought a program for 10c. Can you imagine a program costing only ten cents?
I also made up a book for autgraphs. In the old Shibe Park there was a twenty foot stretch where the visiting team players would have to walk with the fans to get back to the clubhouse. I asked one player for his autograph and he pushed me out of the way.
I was heartbroken. Major Leaguers were my heroes.
I looked up his number in the program and read his name: Buster Maynard.
Years later I was pitching in Sally League in South Carolina and the PA announcer said the next batter's name: Buster Maynard.
That's the rat who pushed me out of the way and wouldn't give me an autograph!
He stepped into the box and with the first pitch I dumped him. He got up, brushed himself off and got back in the box. I dumped him again. He yelled at me to stop throwing at him, and with the third pitch he went down again, but this time when he got up he came charging out after me.
I cleaned his plow in the free-for-all.
After the game was over someone came to our clubhouse asking for Tom Lasorda. I wanted to know who it was and the person identified himself as Buster Maynard. I told him that I cleaned his plow on the field and that I'd do it again. But he didn't want to fight. He just wanted to know why I was throwing at him.
I told him the story, and he couldn't believe it. When I became the manager of the Dodgers I would tell my players the same story about old Buster with the moral being that if a kid asks for your autograph you better sign it because he may grow up and come back to get you.

No men allowed in Pink Taxis

2009-11-13T17:38:00.000-08:00

A fleet of hot pink taxis are hitting the pavement in Mexico, and it's all in an effort to give women a safe ride home.
The Associated Press reported on October 19 that 35 female-operated cabs are now patrolling the streets of the city of Puebla. The Chevy compacts not only refuse to pick up men, but also come with a GPS tracking system, an emergency alarm button, and a beauty kit.
Pink Taxi driver Aida Santos told AP: "Some of the woman who have been on board tell us how male taxi drivers cross the line and try to flirt with them and make inappropriate propositions." "In the Pink Taxi they won't have that feeling of insecurity, and they feel more relaxed," Santos continued. Not everyone, however, is enthusiastically hailing the new service. Some believe the bubblegum-colored cabs are just a way to sugarcoat the real problem of sexual harassment. Vianeth Rojas of the Network for Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Puebla told AP that the cabs "are absolutely not helping eradicate violence against women" and are simply "saying women have continued worrying about beauty and nothing more." Still, the taxis are opening doors for women in an overwhelmingly male-dominated profession. Forty-year-old taxi driver Lidia Hernandez called the taxi service "a new and attractive source of employment." Before getting a job with the pink taxi service, Hernandez had been working at a gas station. The privately financed Pink Taxi service cost about $440,000 to start up, with the Puebla state government providing licensing and training to female drivers. Similar services have been catching on other cities world-wide, such as Moscow and Dubai. If the program is successful, it may be expanded to other cities as well. Now so far as I can tell beautiful Tampa Bay is not going to be invaded by PINK TAXIS.

2009 WORLD SERIES

2009-11-05T12:38:00.000-08:00

This will be short. Congrats to my co-writer. I really didn't care much for the series this year. No excitment at all. Ya folks it was a forgone conculsion who was going to win. Hard to beat 217 million dollar payroll. Jeter, A-Rod and Mark what his name are all going to the hall of fame. Not next year of course. But I would venture to say within in 5 or 6 years after they retire. I probably won't be here to see the last two. Matsui MVP??? Sorry I disagree. Jeter had the better series, in my humble opinion. I also know that I can't remember when someone on the opposing team won the award. But Chase Utley had a hell of a series. 5 home runs off their top of the line pitchers. Well boys and girls the season starts in April of 2010. Is anyone interested in my picks? No, thought not. Have a good winter. In closing keep in mind that the Los Angeles Lakers will repeat. I know Chick Hern would agree, rest his soul.

2 MILLION MILES

2009-10-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

After 62 years and 2 million miles on New York streets, 82-year-old "Jack the Hack" Dym has parked his cab for the last time.
Fresh out of the U.S. Army, he began driving a cab in 1947, following his father and three brothers into the business.
It was an era of hulking DeSoto, Packard and Checker cabs, a lush Manhattan street life, and cheap gas. His own cab, a Packard, became his entrée to people of every station and to improbable friendships.
"I am friendly and I love people," he said. "That’s it in a nutshell. But I decided to leave because I have been in the industry, you know, since 1947."
In his early days, "hacking" was decidedly low-tech. The only GPS was a cabby’s steel- trap mind, and Dym liked it that way.
He is no fan of the partitions separating driver from passenger either, preferring an unencumbered connection to his passengers. To his kids’ consternation, he feels the same about seat belts.
While other cabbies moved on to new careers, Dym kept driving. He and his late wife Harriet were like so many others after World War II: A house in the suburban Howard Beach, a commitment to education, a warm family life.
He married relatively late, and the couple had their first child in the early 1960s and then three others in quick succession.
Financial success was the missing piece in the suburban idyll. "I struggled," he admits. "I was always in trouble financially. But I have four diamond kids, and I am the richest guy in the world."
He did work for a time as a dispatcher, a chauffeur and co-owner of a taxi fleet. But he always seemed to end up back behind the wheel of a taxi.
Over his six decades of driving, accidents were few and far between. "I can count on my hands the little incidents that I had over all those years," Dym said. "I never drove fast. I always drove safely. I used to get comments from my clients about this."When his kids began reaching college age around 1980, he sold the major investment of his life. It was his cab medallion, the official New York emblem granting the right to operate a cab. It brought in about $65,000, and he used much of the money to send his kids to college. It could be worth as much as $700,000 today, he said. He says his children haven’t forgotten him today and support him financially. One consolation of his life on the streets was a view of New York available to few others. He gave rides to celebrities like Jack Lemmon and Sharon Stone. Jacqueline Onassis rode in his cab a number of times.He developed friendships with business executives, and every now and then one would offer him a job as a driver. The media seem to know he was close to the Manhattan’s heartbeat. At least one documentary filmmaker has tapped into his wealth of knowledge. And the late Dennis Duggan, a Pulitzer Prize winning Newsday writer, once built a column around interesting people who had traveled with him. His daughter Ilene gave a trip with "Jack the Hack" a special cachet during the 1970s. An art student, she began decorating the back seat of his cab with her drawings of flowers, and suggested that he give copies to his passengers as a way of brightening their day. She also created a sign saying "Sit back and relax and enjoy a safe, pleasant ride with my dad, Jack the Hack."On one occasion, his daughter’s art may have kept Dym from being robbed. As he dropped two passengers off on a secluded street, they admitted to him that they had been thinking about robbing him. But they were dissuaded by Ilene’s flowers and warm message.As it was, they simply left without paying him. 'Lock your doors and get out of the neighborhood before we change our minds," one told him.After financing his own children’s education, Dym finally got the opportunity to attend his own high school graduation -- more than five decades after being drafted right out of high school to help meet urgent manpower needs late in World War II. "My mother was beside herself," since his three brothers were already in the military, Dym said. "I had two months to graduation." She had been hoping that his slight build would keep him out of the service. "She used to say, ‘You’re so skinny, you stand sideways, you look like an umbrella."But seven years ago, Dym wrote to his old high school in Brooklyn, explained his situation, and asked to attend their next graduation. Officials agreed, and he even capped off the experience in 2002 by attending the prom with his wife Harriet She died several years ago, and he now spends much of his time on local Masonic activities. Since the 1960s, he has helped his lodge expand a relationship with a counterpart in Idaho – the only Masonic Grand Lodge in the U.S. to publicly decry Hitler and the Holocaust in the 1940s, Dym said. As a result, he has developed friendships with ranchers and potato farmers in that state, and visits every year. He also dances and practices yoga at a Queens senior center. At his retirement, New York City honored him with the Taxi and Limousine Commission’s Lifetime Achievement Award, saying he represented "the living history of the taxi industry."Dym still drives a 1994 Toyota and doesn’t plan to give it up any time soon."I haven’t been on a train or bus for years," he said. "If I don’t have wheels under me, I feel like a guy who doesn’t have feet under him."

BUC'S

2009-10-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Emotions surged just before halftime when Carolina CB Dante Wesley inexplicably leveled Bucs return man Clifton Smith with a vicious and illegal hit. As Smith looked up while waiting for a Jason Baker punt to arrive, Wesley launched his forearm into Smith’s head, apparently knocking Smith unconscious. A melee followed, fueled by the ire of Smith’s teammates, and Wesley was ejected from the game. The above was quoted from Buccaneers' web site. I am wondering if any of you football fans have some comments on this hit. There has been a lot of stories about injuries to football players, from high school to the pro's. As of yet I have heard nothing about any fine other than was normally comes with a ejection. Granted football is a tough sport and you should be on guard at all times. However, it is my opinion that he should be suspended for the reminder of the season. Any comments????

2009-10-09T18:45:00.000-07:00

I was just reading about the robberies in Robles Park. Last month was bad for a few of the drivers for United Cab. One got robbed twice, in the same area????? Reminds me of the guy who had a problem with jaywalking he just couldn't help himself. He liked to see how close he couild come to the cars without getting hit. The end of the story of course he finally got hit. What did that driver think was going to happen when he got robbed once already. Go back and take a chance for a few dollars. Melesia said she had friend who lived in Robles, good, damn let her go get them and get her tail caught in a crack. Why in the world take a chance, I realize that there is not much in the line of good fares, but it is going to change. Now getting to the world of sports, doesn't look like the Bucs are going to do very well this year. I was and still am a fan, I can recall the first and second year. That was when there were only 14 games in the regular season. Good thing if there were 16 like now, we would have lost them too. The first coach was John Robinson from USC fame. Student body right, didn't work in the NFL Coach Robinson got a five year contract and said he would have a playoff team in five years. He was asked what would happen if he got a 6 year contract he said than he would have a playoff team in 6 years. Bless his soul. Be careful out their, Go Buc and Dodgers.

Buying the door

2009-09-25T05:09:00.000-07:00

There is big problem in Miami Beach called buying the door, it is a practice of some cab drivers paying door men for choice rides.

Hummm sounds familiar hotel's like the Hyatt Westshore, and others in and around Tampa, where certain drivers seem to get the better rides, and the dispatchers in jest (we hope) are always telling some drivers that the Hyatt needed donut's sandwiches etc etc etc.

I had a call from the Harbor Island Hotel a while back, the fare was standing outside I asked there name and it matched the name that I was given by dispatch so I loaded there luggage and we about to pull away when the door men came running out, he asked my fare "don't you want the cab I called for you"?

The fare told him we never asked you for a cab and and they called themselves, at that point a cab plus pulled alongside and right after that my fare told me they where going to Orlando with the doorman right there, I smiled at him and said oh now I get your game and left.

So make no mistake people this goes on each and every day and it happens everywhere and anywhere, and with how bad the economy is it is with out question it is worse now then it ever is, so lets watch out and be safe out there everyone.

The Rays

2009-09-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

The following is from Roto World that is sent to me every day.,
Wade Davis followed up his excellent big-league debut with a rough outing against the Red Sox last week, giving up eight runs while recording eight outs. He bounced back in a huge way Thursday with a complete-game shutout of the Orioles, allowing just four hits and two walks while striking out 10. He also threw 124 pitches, which is a high for any Rays starter this season, so keep an eye on his next outing. With that said here are a few of my ideas for next year. I am still hoping that the Rays can go on a huge winning streak. But if they don't I really think that they should find a way to do something with B>J> Upton. I still think that he can help the team. Maybe a fire under his ass. With his speed he should be able to beat out a lot of those slow roller to the left side of the diamond. Pete Rose vintage, run like hell on every hit ball. If he doesn't want to sit his butt on the bench. It is esy to see why Longeria's batting average is creeping up, he has played through the pain since he came back from DL. But of course that is what great players do. I am wondering why folks aren't starting to compare him to the vacuum cleaner. Yeah first name "Brooks"

Something special happend last night

2009-09-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

Above is the grapic shown at Yankee Stadium last night after Derek Jeter hit a line drive past the diving first baseman of the Orioles for a single to right field, for his 2722 hit of his star studded career in pin stripes, it put him past Yankee great Lou Gehrig the "iron horse" for most hits by a Yankee.

You can hate the Yankee's all you want, I did growing up in Brooklyn and my co-author does but you have to give this guy his due, he plays hard every day, runs out every routine ground ball and pop up, who does that these days, not many.

Some feel he has a chance to pass 4000 hits and maybe Pete Rose, though I don't think he is the type to "hang on" for a record or the cash for a year or more if he feels it would hurt the team, for those who don't get it he is all about the team, an example of where his head is at, on Wednesday after his third hit of the night which tied him with Gehrig, he was worried all the fuss had showed up the Rays.

I don't know how many more good years he has left in his 35 year old body, and after last season where he failed to hit 300+ for the first time in a while, this year has been a pleasant surprise he is batting 331 and will hit about 20 home runs and 80 RBI's.

All I can add to this is I hope he does pass Rose, but most of all he leaves on his terms and with the dignity he has always brought to the game.

His mom said so

2009-09-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

Tampa Buc's news Cadillac Williams didn't learn of his place atop the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' running back depth chart from his coach. He heard it first from his mother.
"Yeah, she called me all excited and told me and I was like, 'Wow, where did you see that?' '' Williams said of his mother, Sherry, who lives in Alabama. "She said it was on the crawl on TV.
"I had a lot of people call and text me and I just said, 'I wasn't informed, guys, but I guess so. I can't confirm it.' ''
It's confirmed now. Williams, who is trying to bounce back from a second major knee injury, will start Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys.
The promotion comes as a bit of a surprise because of who else the Bucs have in their backfield. Returning starter Earnest Graham topped the depth chart during the preseason and Derrick Ward was obtained in free agency.
It's a crowded backfield, but the Bucs believe they can wear people down by rotating all three backs.
That Williams likely will get the ball first is a testament to his hard work in coming back from a second patellar tendon injury.
"Yeah, it was a surprise," Williams said of earning the top spot on the depth chart. "But I knew if I could come in here and show some of the old flash and compete, I was pretty comfortable with my chances.''
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Don't drive near this place

2009-09-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

This is Jericho, Arkansas a typical small southern town of 150 people with 7 cops.

Now most people would think 7 cops in a town of 150 is an awful lot of cops, but they are needed to man all the town's speed traps and to keep the peace.

Yes the police of Jericho have many duty's, what you may ask?

Oh like shoot the town's fire chief in front of a judge over one of the many speeding tickets given out hard to believe but true, you can only imagine what they would do to a wise cracking cab driver?

The very best thing about all this is no one can remember which of the 7 cops did the shooting and the only charges D.A. could come up with was a possible misdemeanor for the fire chief for the scuffle that preceded the shot being fired.

If you would like to read the zany story its at: www.boingboing.net/2009/09/04/speed-trap-happy-cop.html

Be sure to read the comments!!

A few things to think about

2009-09-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

I just found 3 story's among my Google news alerts that caught my eye, yeah I have not been posting much and some of these are a week old.

It seems the electric cab's-cart's may be on there way back, I think there has been some political arm twisting behind closed door's, because the Public Transportation Commission has rewritten the rule's on these cart's since according the law's they had no jurisdiction with them in the first place.

We may not agree with all this but are stuck with it, I also have to say some drivers dislike of short runs back when things where better may have brought this on.

There has been several cab drivers getting beat up and robbed in Trinidad, I would have thought before starting this blog with my co-writer that all that went on there was sea, sun and fun, but reading the alerts from news outlets from around the world I know violence vs cab drivers is at an epidemic level everywhere.

Patrick Kane and the story that can't seem to go away or stop being a thorn in the side of any cab driver who read about it. The latest I have read (and its several days old) if from his team, the Chicago Black Hawk's just one line from this latest story tells it all "we are so happy this is all over it have been very difficult on Patrick and his family", do I need to say more.

Worst game of the year

2009-09-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

To start with I am still a Rays fan. But last night was the worst that I have ever seen them play. To quote the "animal" of 620 WDAE, gold glove my ass. Why Joe Maddan started Andy Sonnanstine in such as important game beat the shit out of me. Made 91 pitches, to the tune of 8 hits, 5 runs of which 3 were earned. This folks in just 4 innings. Wow a ready made triple play, na, Evan Longoria bobbled the ball, than made a bad throw to first, when the ball should have been thrown to second. Than a two hop ground ball to Iwamora for a ready made double play, opps missed it. Not to be left out Pena after hitting a deep shot for a homer, missed a routine grounder. Lets not forget Carl Crawford our MVP of theAll-Star game, missing a fly ball that he normally catches while writing a letter home. 7th inning I believe bases loaded with none I say none out. Not even the hint of a run. Lastly B.J. Upton. How long will they put up with his lack of anything, other than being able to run down fly balls. 141 strike out for a speed murchant. Than when Crawford found the infield pulled around to the right Whih his burning speed, why square around to bunt rather than drag it down the line. The only person who could have thrown him out would be Brooks Robinson. But as I said in the beginning I live in Tampa and I will pull for them when they play.

I could have told you...and I did

2009-08-31T00:45:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago I wrote about Patrick Kane the 20 something Chicago hockey player who beat up on the 50 something cab driver, in Buffalo.

I had said we should all feel sorry for Mr Kane as he was about to become a victim of probation, well you can stop singing sad songs for him, his high priced mouth piece got the charges reduced to disorderly conduct, that is an insult.

Wait it gets better, all he has to do is write a letter of apology to the cab driver, no talk about paying for hes medical bill's, his glasses or heaven help us the man's lost wages, all this scum bag could say he was looking to put this all behind him and he looks forward to moving on.

What makes this even crazier is nearly all the comments on Chicago based WGN.com was pro Kane, go figure and lets be safe out there.

Tampa Bay Rays/Tipping

2009-08-30T18:19:00.000-07:00

Let us first talk about the Rays. The bull pin let the team down again. Nieman had pitched 7 great innings. He left with a 3-1 lead. Granted the relief corps did it yesterday but more oftain than not they have messed up a nice game. They traded Kazmir for who I can't find out. They have 17 very important games coming up with New York, Bostan and Detroit again. I notice Upton got two hits today, whoppee. The way he runs out grounders or long fly balls Billy Martin, rest his soul, whould have his ass. I recall a quote from Don Drysdale regarding Sandy Koufax. Sandy pitched one of his no hitters, Drysdale was hurt and wasn't there. However, when he was told about the no hitter, he asked if Sandy won. In those days the Dodgers offense wasn't to good. But the Rays offense is good. But they need a big time closer and sit up man. Now folks about tipping cab driver.s. I took this person and his wife to the airport and he was from out of state and we got into a discussion about tipping. He said that the fare on the meter should be good enough, Oh my here we go. I asked him he tipped the waiter or waitress when he goes to a resturant. He said sure. I asked him why, they don't cook the food all they do is bring it to your table. Now with a cab driver you and your wife and maybe a couple of kids are going to the airport to see Grandma and Grandpa. You put your life and the life of your wife and children in the cab drivers hands. You are hoping that he is a safe driver. Don't you think you should award him for getting you there in one piece. The meter amount is for the car and gas. Think about that folks. Be careful out there

Here you go buddy "keep the change"

2009-08-25T04:45:00.000-07:00

I just read a story from Myrtle Beach, SC, on tipping cab drivers, it talks about people giving the driver $700 for a $680 ride and telling them to "keep the change".

The writer Linda Sullivan challenges her readers to try giving a 20 cent tip to a waiter or bartender and see the looks you get.

It also talks about the hours a driver spends behind the wheel each day, and how little they end up with for all those hours.

The story is titled "Cab drivers worthy of decent tips" you can read the story at: http://www.thesunnews.com/opinion/story/1033835.html

Reading this reminds me of something that happend about 10 years ago, I had picked someone up in the gate and to him on a ride that was $305 and the guy asked me if I wanted the nickle, after thinking for a second I asked him if it was $ 295 would he want the nickle?

He answered yeah sure, and then thought about it and said no, I told him too late first answer was yeah so I want it also, a tip whats that. =)

Baseball Season

2009-08-23T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well good readers the baseball season is approaching a end. My Dodgers are still in first place after having taken 3 out of 4 from the Cubbies. The Rays are still in the hunt for a wild card in the junior league. Excuse me the American League. The Yankees have been playing some great baseball since the All-Star break. Good game tonight, CC vs Beckett. But the Rays remind me of the old Bucs a few years ago, they are fun to watch. Now with the Yankees I am not surprised, not with all of the power they bought, along with CC and AJ. But anything can happen, that is why Baseball is such a great game.

20 cents

2009-08-12T15:33:00.000-07:00

Reading Tom's post about the 20 cents reminds me of a situation 3 or 4 years ago, I took a call taking a Doctor from the Howard Johnson on North Dale Mabry to the medical building on Sligh Ave on Dale Mabry. The fare was $7.80. Now this fine Japanesse Doctor gave me $8.00 and yeah you guessed it, he wanted his 20 cents back, along with a reciept. I gave him his 20 cents and the reciept. As fate would have it I got this sucker again a few days later. Same amount $7.80 and he gave me $8.00, wanting his 20 and a reciept. This time I put the amount on the reciept, $7.80. The ending of this little story gets better. A week later I went to Howard Johnsons but this time he came out with three more doctors. When we got to the Medical Building I already had the reciept ready as the channel two dispatcher told me it was a Doctor. The ring leader of this group wanted some blank reciepts, I told him no, not unless he wanted to pay $7.80 for each of the other Doctors. They got out without another word. I thought for sure I would get a call from the office. but no not yet. I would have given him a book of reciepts if he hadn't wanted his damn 20 cents. I really think that most professional people always tip, say 95% do. As their company normal pays the tab anyway. Be careful out there. There are still drivers out there that are eat up with the dumb ass.

All this over 20 cents

2009-08-10T05:12:00.000-07:00

The star of the Chicago Blackhawks James Kane was arrested after an incident involving a cab driver in Patrick's home town of Buffalo.

When they reached the destination Kane gave the driver $15.00 for an $13.80, the driver gave him a dollar and told Kane he didn't have the 20 cents, Kanes then took the $15 back, punched the cab driver in the face, grabbed his throat and broke his glasses, seems like a reasonable thing to do after Kane was robed of 20 cents.

He also kept telling the driver "you don't know who you are dealing with" I have read that many times as big time athletes are being arrested, thinking the cops will be impressed, but the cops still arrest them and the courts make a joke about it and give only probation, or a fine that is also a joke, as it is penny's compared to what they make.

Didn't anyone ever explain the theory of tipping to this genius, who as a hockey star makes millions and can't afford to, or won't tip.

The only other explanation like many other athletes of today he is on roids and this was just roid rage.

Maybe we should just feel sorry for the soon to be victim of probation, you really didn't think he would get jail time, did you?

Pitch count what pitch count?

2009-08-09T04:22:00.001-07:00

I read a sidebar story about the 15 inning classic Friday night between the Yankee's and the hated Red Sox.

It was about a game played 46 years ago between Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants and Warren Spahn of the then Milwaukee Braves.

It ended when Willie Mays homered of Spahn in the bottom of the 16, both starters pitched the entire game and both had a pitch count over 200 and Marichal was over 220, both pitchers are in the Hall of Fame as is Mays

Warren Spahn won 363 games in 21 years in the big leagues with an era of 3.09 and 2,583 strike outs.

Juan Marichal won 243 games during his 15 years in the majors with an era of 2.88 and 2,303 strike outs.

Willie Mays played for 22 years and was an all star 20 for 20 of those years, he played all but the last year with the Giants in NY and SF, he finished up back in NY with the Mets.

Willie was a life time .302 hitter with 660 home runs and over 3000 hits, all this plus he was a 12 time gold glove winner, he is known for the over the shoulder catch nearly 500 feet from home plate in the 1954 World Series vs the Indians.

Rays Sweep

2009-08-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

If any of you folks follow the Tampa Bay Rays know that they whipped up on the Red Sox, that is red as in Boston, which is home of the Celtics, whom I detest almost as much as the Yankees. My co-author has just told me that the Boston press said something about the Redsox being down the tubes since they got bombed last night. I hope so that will push the Rays into a race with those guys from the Bronx, not sure but I assume that is part of New York. Hee, hee.

Now on a sadder note, if any of you follow Tampa Taxi Shot know that the writer of that blog drives a cab. I have know Tim for over ten years. Due to the slow taxi business he may be homeless in a few days, yep that is what he said. His cell number is on his blog so if you happen to need a cab give him a call I am sure you will enjoy the ride. Now about this guy (homeless hank) He says he is homeless, I guess he uses the computer at the library or maybe a friends. PayPal. Yeah right. With a beard like that would be kind of hard to make a good impression in a job interview. I don't think it should matter but I am afraid the person giving said interview might not think that way.
Also if you folks happen to have a few too many don't forget to call a cab or a friend. A lot of news print this week on DUI's people are getting killed out there. Take care

Airport Security Precautions

2009-08-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

On 60 minutes tonight, they had a segment on airport security. This post does not have to do with the security when attempting to board a airplane. They have all kinds electrical equipment, including x-rays. I remember just after 9/11 when they were stopping cars. I am sure any you folks going to the airport remember that. Of course I was still working at the time. One fine day I had picked up this fare and had just got to the approach into the airport. My fare and I both noticed that they were stopping cars on right side of the road. As was my habit I was in the left lane. I commented to my fare look at those police over there what a joke. Wow he got pushed out of shape. He asked me "didn't I believe in security", I told him damn right if it is done properly. I than asked him if he took cabs to the airport very oftain. He said three or four times a month. I than asked him the clincher. "How many times has the cab he is riding in get stopped?" I already knew the answer. Zilch, nada, and zip that is how many. I had asked numerous drivers if they have ever got stopped. No they hadn't. I have been stopped once, but that is another story.

Does anyone take responsibility for there own actions?

2009-07-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

I just read a story about a Boston cab driver who was suspended from his job because the 6 "adults" he picked up at the airport forgot they had a child with them and left him in the back seat when they got out, the strange thing is I remember this happening in I think Chicago a few years ago.

Should the driver have checked the back seat for sure, but so should have the 6 adult passengers.

I don't know how long the driver will be out of work, or if this is the last straw, its just another way the world sticks to cab drivers, if you want to read the story the link is below, while there read the comments they are about 80% pro driver, that's a surprise.

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/20193223/detail.html

No Hitter's

2009-07-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

I am sure most of all baseball fans are familiar with the term no hitters. But even more of a feat is the Perfect Game. Most folks remember the Don Larsen gem in the world series. Where my favorite guy Larry "yogi" Berra jumps into Larsen's arms. I was watching the Rays game when Burhele of the Chicago Whitesox did it to them. He was on fire, of course that great catch by thier center fielder, who was put in for defense. One of the Rays announcers, Kevin Kenndy, I believe put up names of previous pefect game pitchers. Koufax not only threw a perfect game, but struck out 20 men in the game. Can you imigine 20 of the 27 went down. It has been said that Sandy had three pitches. A fastball, a curve and change up. Some say that if two of his pitches weren't up to par that day, no matter he could beat you with the last one.
As I was raised in Burbank, California I have seen Koufax pitch at Dodger Stadium. When tickets were cheap. Behind home plate his curve ball was like falling off a table. If he was on, I swear that pitch was unhittable. I think he was the best pitcher to ever play, in his prime. The following I took from Google. I saw this game in person.Sandy Koufax's perfect game was the first one pitched at night. It was nearly a double no-hitter: Cubs pitcher Bob Hendley gave up only one hit, a bloop double to left-fielder Lou Johnson in the seventh inning that did not figure in the scoring. The Dodgers scored their only run in the fifth inning: Lou Johnson reached first on a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, attempted a steal of third, and scored when Cubs catcher Chris Krug overthrew third base. The total number of base runners in the game—2—is the fewest in major league history

From the you've got to be kidding department

2009-07-23T04:52:00.000-07:00

Cab drivers form the small town of Bournemouth, England have been getting letters from the local government there, telling them they will be getting tickets for dropping 10 year old severely disabled boy in front of his school.

For the boy to get into school he needs a "frame" (could be what the Brit's call a walker) and two teachers, that is why it is so vital that he be dropped as close to the school as possible, but the city council can't seem to figure that out, all they can see is a cab is stopped in a no stopping zone.

The local authority said the camera car operated a zero-tolerance approach on parking offences in the interests of safety to schoolchildren, I guess the town needs the 70 pound fine (about $120.00) in this difficult economy and that's that.

What kind of bullsh*t is this

2009-07-22T04:32:00.000-07:00

I have posted many story's from newspapers around the world on rights that cab drivers have elsewhere that Tampa drivers don't have, this is a switch cab drivers in the Canadian city of Ottawa don't have the right to ask for cash up front.

The taxi union there had asked 2 years ago to change the law and where turned down flat.

Yusef Al Mezel, the president of the union representing Ottawa taxi drivers is looking to reintroducing the law after an Ottawa cab driver was badly beaten last Friday, all they are asking if to be permitted to get cash up front on calls after midnight, sounds reasonable to me.

But not Linda Anderson, manager of bylaw and regulatory services for the City of Ottawa, says she is open to discussing advance payment, but doesn't know if it would have made a difference in this case.

Anderson also notes that the bylaw regulating taxis says that the passenger is required to pay the fare displayed on the meter, "I don't know how people can pay in advance if they don't know what the fare is going to be," she said, she must be a real genius, if she was a man her Mother would call her sunny for sure.

It should be a right of any cab driver everywhere on any out of town call, or a call that gives you that funny feeling in the back of your head or the queasiness in your gut to say, "yeah I want cash up front" and if the customer says he or she won't pay up front, say good bye!!

Be safe out there everyone!!!

Help for cab drivers with the swine flu in Singapore

2009-07-21T04:44:00.000-07:00

The government of Singapore and the taxi union's there have combined to help cab drivers there who come down with the H1N1 flu.

The drivers will be subsidised for there medical costs and for lost time do to the swine flu.

As the saying goes don't try this at home, meaning don't wait for this to happen anywhere near
Tampa, anytime soon, but it sure would be nice if someone would do something-anything for the cabby's of the area, but we won't hold our breath.

Tell us something we didn't know

2009-07-20T04:04:00.000-07:00

A study commissioned by NYC Councilman Eric Gioia found that 52% of all NY cab drivers have no medical insurance.

I don't know how much of the tax payers ca$h he spent (you really didn't think he or any other politician would spend there own ca$h with all the free stuff around, did you) I would have told him that for free, and I tend to think his number is a bit low.

OK now that Councilman Gioia has this little nugget of information what does he plan to do with it, keep it under his pillow for safe keeping, or is he going start a low cost health care plan for NYC cab drivers.

Maybe its just worse in Tampa but in the nearly 9 years of driving for United I knew no one with
medical insurance.

I drove a cab for over 20 years between Tampa and elsewhere and never had health insurance during that time, it was not untill I went on disability and got Medicare, when I had to go to a DR back then and that was the only time I would ever go, it cost me big bucks.

The clothing cop's are coming

2009-07-19T02:24:00.000-07:00

I just read a story about a cab driver in Brisbane, Australia who was given a $100. ticket because his socks where too short.

The dress code for drivers in Brisbane states the driver needs to wear a uniformed shirt that is tucked in, business trousers or tailored shorts with long socks pulled up and dress shoes.

The cop listed the offence as and I quote "WHT/runners, short running socks", Queensland Transport's management calls it a petty offence, there have been a rash of questionable tickets for things a $400 fine for not having a 2009 version of a street directory, or for allowing a car's window tinting to peel.

I had a somewhat similar situation when I was still driving, while sitting on 23 the old public transportation (not the new SS Boys) stopped by to check out the cabs there, when he got to me he asked me where my sock's where, I opened my sneaker and showed him.

He told me I had to have sock's that went above the shoe line, I then asked him nicely where in the rule's and regulations it said that, he smiled and said nowhere.

I had another interesting dress code incident, I picked up a woman at the downtown Hyatt, as soon as she said airport I could hear her Back Bay Boston accent, and as soon as I start to pull away from the curb I hear "I can't believe you are wearing shorts", yes I am I answer.

Now its summer time and 95 in the shade, and she asks is it OK for drivers to wear shorts she asks, yes it is I say, did you notice the doorman at the Hyatt was wearing shorts, as where everyone we passed heading to 275.

She went on and on about the shorts, more then one time I told her its Florida not Back Bay Boston, the weather is different so are the rules.

At one point I had enough of her nonsense and asked do they still ware those vest's and funny hat's where you come from? Her answer was there is nothing funny about the hat's or the vest's they are proper attire for cab drivers every ware. It was very heard not to laugh in her face, but I told her if we had to ware anything like that here there would be no cab drivers in state of
Florida.

Don't laugh too much and keep cool and safe out there guys.

The Rays want a new stadium...again

2009-07-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

We all remember last year the Rays wanted to build a new open air ball park on the bay front in downtown St Pete, not to be payed for by the Rays but by the alleged profit from the sale of the Tropicana Field property.

Fast forward to this year and now the Rays want a retractable dome stadium that will cost between 550 and 600 million and not much is being said where it will come from or where it will be built.

Now the Yankee's have built there 1.5 billion Taj Mahal, which will be paid in full by the Yankees, but is being financed by tax free bonds, which have many politicians and the Media there howling.

The old Yankee Stadium was 85 year's old and a structural time bomb a few years ago when the Yanks where on the road a 30+ foot beam fell out of the upper deck, and had other problems.

The dome in St Pete is less then 20 years old, yeah I know it could have been made better, without the cat walks and all but is still a relatively new ball park and the team has a contract to play in St Pete through the 2027 season, and I would think where they are now.

I think the city and county needs to show some back bone and think of the tax payers first for a change, let the Rays get at least another 10 years out of the dome and let the team pay for part of a new stadium.

I do have a question has the city and county paid off the old stadium yet?

Now we learn the truth, I guess

2009-07-13T13:24:00.000-07:00

This is a follow up story to Friday's post, there are two articles in today's alerts about the Oklahoma City taxi company.

In the first article states, A-1 thought nothing could stop them from creating a positive name for themselves while increasing profits 500 percent in four years.

The second stated that A-1 cab company received a stern warning and 180 days’ probation, but will keep its license after employees admitted they refused service to potential clients whose destinations would generate less revenue.

So it was the company's employees not its independent contractor drivers that where the problem, who would have thought that would have been the problem?

"Independent contractors"

2009-07-10T06:17:00.000-07:00

I just read a story about a cab company in Oklahoma City, called A-1 is being suspended for refusing to take calls in certain areas.

The owner who is fighting this is is naturally claiming its the driver's fault because they are independent contractors. Why are we independent contractors, surely its not our choice, we didn't hire the company it was the other way around.

Why does the company want us to be independent contractors, for starters they don't have to collect income tax, which they would have to hire one or more workers in the office for this purpose.

They would have to pay for disability and medical insurance, unemployment, and all that costs money.

This is not the first instance that an owner puts blame on a driver for any problem using the excuse they are independent contractors nor will it be the last, you can bet on that.

Overloaded taxi goes off a cliff and kills 11 of 18 on board

2009-07-07T04:10:00.000-07:00

Just over 2 week's ago I wrote and joked about a grossly overloaded taxi in South Africa and today I read about a crash there that killed 11 people, and that's no joke.

In the story of 2 week's ago I made all kinds of stupid jokes and included a picture of a car with people sitting and standing all over the outside, but 11 dead riders is very sobering.

We have talked about many issues on this blog that concern cab drivers such as violence against cab drivers, and the problem that is world wide of too many cab's in a municipality's.

Cab drivers have to act responsibly, as I said in the earlier post, I have allowed at times a passenger above the posted limit, and have had some wild rides with passengers that where drunk or close to it.

The driver of the cab was both lucky and unlucky to survive this crash and faces charges, the legal amount of passengers is based on the number of seat belts, so lets be smart out there guys.

DRIVER DETAINED

2009-07-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

A Louisiana driver has been stopped and detained for having a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker on his vehicle and was warned by a police officer about the "subversive" message it sends.
NOTE: What happens if you are driving your car from New Hampshire? On the tag is the state motto; "Live Free or Die!" And if your car says "One Nation Under God...! You go diretly to jail! What the hell is going on in this country?
I got the above from the VETERANS POST, July, 2009 issue. It is placed at the VA Hospitals.

If you think you have had a bad day, wait until you hear about this woman

2009-07-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

A woman in Brisbane, Australia stole a cab and then rear ended 2 off duty cops, a start to a very bad day.

To make a bad situation worse she tested out at nearly 3 times the legal limit for blood alcohol, wow she must have had a "few" of those extra large fosters, you know those mini kegs.

Along with all her other problems the 2 cops where treated for soft tissue injuries and pain, I think she will be seeing lots of the officers in the court's, you think?

Look out big Brother is watching!!

2009-06-30T11:07:00.000-07:00

Its really bad when you can't stop to pick up or drop off a passenger without getting a ticket, I just read a story at address below.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2009/06/29/taxi-calgary-parking-tickets-cab.html

One thing that caught my interest was the fact that the company sends someone to court to fight the tickets, could you just see that happening at a cab company in Tampa, no I could not either.

In the past year, Associated Cab has seen an increase of 80 per cent in tickets or about 130 tickets every two months, issued by the authority against the company but about half of them are annulled in court, said general manager Jeff Garland.

I guess city's have to raise ca$h any way in these hard times.

How to tell when a cab is available

2009-06-20T04:30:00.000-07:00

I just read something that reminded me of when I drove a cab at night in Tampa and would get flagged many times when my cab was all ready occupied.

I would turn on my inside light so they could see that yes I already had a passenger, and at that point I would get cursed out more often then not, it would all start all over again as we passed the next bar in Soho.

I would often tell my fare if I ever get rich Ill take out a full page ad in the Trib and explain when the light is out you need to find another cab, why is it people who go out each and every weekend can't figure that out?

Big Foot???

2009-06-19T14:03:00.000-07:00

Hey boys and girls, ha just like the ESPN PTI. I was reading Tim's new web site, something about a Skunk Ape, whatever that is. Nice picture of Tim, head band and back pack. I don't have the foggiest idea if he drives his cab like that.

Now about a little baseball. My Dodgers are still surprising a lot of folk. Considering their top hitter is still on suspension they are doing quite well. The good teams always seem to find someone to pick up the slack when there is a problem. Now in the Eastern division, most consider the toughest division in baseball, which I concur. The Red Sox are playing well, the Blue Jays are fading, which doesn't surprise me. What does surprise me is the Yankees losing two out of three to the Nationals, the last by being shut out. Also the Rays losing two out of three to the Rockies. I have to admit that the Rockies are playing well. The Phillies won the last title so they should be considered the team to beat. They are the Champions until they are dethroned.

A few words about people riding a cab who like to bring all of their kids, grandma and a few cousins so they can save a few dollars. I had a situation like that a few years before I got sick, this lady and her five screaming kids two of them which were under five. She used some words on me that I didn't use even when I was in the Air Force. She got rather upset when I refused to take her to the store. It was only a few miles away. But if something happened it would be hard to live with it. Have a good day folks, be careful out there

So you think your customers want to over load your cab?

2009-06-14T05:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah I know by law you are only allowed to pick up 4 passengers at a time with a sedan, but sometimes you might let 1 or 2 more in rather then lose the ride on a slow night, but then you get an idiot that wants to put 7 or 8 in that same cab and you ask where are you going to put them?

It seems a very special cab driver in Cape Town, South Africa found room in his cab for 122 passengers, in a cab built for 26, yeah I know you would love to borrow that baby for Friday and Saturday night's working in Ybor or Soho.

While they where all kids, your paper work does not distinguish between adults, kid's or munchkins, 4 means 4, at least that's what I have been told.

Its really too bad there are no pictures of the 122 kids in the cab or just the cab, I would like to see a cab built to carry 26 people. Maybe it looked something like this.

Pedicab Slams Into a Taxi in Brooklyn

2009-06-13T03:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you have to just scratch your head a wonder what some people are thinking, if at all.

On Thursday four people where hurt when a pedicab Slammed Into a Taxi in Brooklyn when coming off the Williamsburg Bridge, on a trip that started in Times Square, a trip of about 3 miles.

I have seen pedicab's in Ybor back when I still drove for United cab and wondered how safe they where, but driving in and around Ybor is one thing, and driving on a bridge is another, but most of those trips where short, such as taking people to there car.

The Williamsburg Bridge is very much like our Sunshine Skyway, high in the middle and low at each end, which means when you get over the hump its all downhill from there, and the driver loaded down with 3 passengers could not control his speed and hit the Taxi.

The driver got the worst of it, he flew over the taxi on impact and is in Bellevue Hospital in serious condition.

Its so typical, but Fridays paper asked if there should be tougher laws regulating pedicabs, yeah the horse is out of the barn so lets lock the door.

You can read the original story in the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/11/nyregion/11pedicab.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion

No, they where not kidding!!

2009-06-12T04:07:00.000-07:00

A few months ago I wrote about the plans of the city of Tampa and Hillsborough County to start a water taxi, in and around downtown Tampa.

Then it looked like just another build it and they will come plain, as it still does, such as the railroad station that the city spent 5+ mil on a few years ago that still has but 1 train per day, the city will remind you that most of the money is from the fed's, but it is still our tax money at work, or not.

Another bright idea was to take down the art museum and build a new and bigger building, not to worry about the fact that the old one could not support itself, just pour more money into the hole.

How about the trolley, has it paid for itself yet? Maybe they just need to make it bigger, why not what else would they do with our money...I don't know, maybe make the buses as well as the government work for the people of the county, and stop waisting more money on build it and they will come pipe dreams in downtown.

2 story's that sum up the way things are for cabby's right now

2009-06-09T03:28:00.000-07:00

Between the way the economy is right now and the fact the price of gas is creeping up and ridership is down and today I read 2 story's that make me wonder how much more can cabby's take.

The first story, is from Fiji, where you would think the biggest problem would be to pick which beach to go to.

I wrote about a story a month ago from Australia about a cab driver, who ran over a fare beater, it seems to have happend again in Fiji.

This driver as well as the driver in Australia where both arrested, so please don't try this at home as they say, you go from being the victim to being the bad guy in a heart beat.

The second story is from North Kent, England, a cab driver was beat and robbed and it took the cop's 30 minutes to arrive, despite 4 calls to 999 (there 911 I guess) and a take out joint hitting there alarm which has a direct line to the cop's.

What makes this even more amazing is the police station is 1 half mile away, the injured driver feels the closed circuit cameras that have been installed in the cab's there have made the cop's feel that is a substitute for quick response time.

The good news is the 2 assailants have been caught and are awaiting trial, where we can only hope they get something other then probation, be careful out there.

So you want to drive a taxi

2009-06-07T02:41:00.001-07:00

If you want to drive a taxi there is no need to sign up with a company and give them an outrageous amount each week, or get a permit from the local city or county government, just get a sign and a meter and go pick up people.

This is part of the reason there have been taxi strikes in Ireland and other places
too many legal cab's and more illegal ones daily.

For 850 euros you can buy a meter and a sign that looks like the real deal, what a deal, that's less then 2 weeks lease at most cab company's.

Here is a link to read the story from the Times of London.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/ireland/article6445980.ece

What's next??

2009-06-06T04:32:00.001-07:00

Among the dozens of stories about cab drivers getting robed, beaten and yes killed around the world in the Google news alerts I receive every day for cabby, cabdriver and every variant I can think of, today comes a story about robot cab drivers.

Yeah along with the the price of gas going up, the economy still heading in the wrong direction and more cabs on the street then needed with the number always on the rise, we now have to worry about being replaced by a robot, above is what it could look like.

My only question for the world in general is...who will you have to tell your troubles to then?

Cabby's never get a break

2009-06-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

I found the following on the interest this fine day in Tampa, there a few articles about shootings, robbery and all of the regualar stuff. One driver claimed to give back $10,000 some drunk left in the back seat. The way the econamy is I tend to take that with a grain of salt. Possible yeah I guess.
Anyway this comes from New York, why readers doesn't that surprise me.

Gov. George E. Pataki has vetoed a bill that would have given a Long Island cabdriver the chance to become the first Lotto winner in the state to be awarded a prize without a ticket.

The cabdriver, Howard Reid, of Hempstead, said he tossed a winning lottery ticket in the trash before realizing it was worth millions of dollars. The bill vetoed Friday by Mr. Pataki would have given Mr. Reid a hearing before the State Lottery Division.

Mr. Pataki did leave the door open for Mr. Reid to collect eventually, instructing state lottery officials to develop an administrative review process ''through which clear-cut injustices can be addressed.''

''I remain sympathetic to the plight of individuals who can demonstrate convincingly that they purchased but misplaced winning tickets for substantial prizes,'' Mr. Pataki wrote in his veto message.

The bill would have applied only to the May 31, 1997, lottery drawing. Mr. Reid claims he held one of four winning tickets for that $70 million drawing. He said he had picked a lump-sum prize of $7.4 million.

Under current law in New York, a person must have a valid lottery ticket to collect. Other states, including Connecticut, have procedures for those who misplace tickets.

Mr. Reid's lawyer, Jerrold Parker, said his client was disappointed but remained hopeful.

A version of this article appeared in print on Sunday, August 9, 1998, on section 1 page 30 of the New York edition.More Articles in N.Y. / Region >

Intesting huh, I know if I had a ticket and I play every week, there is no chance that I would lose it, as I wouldn't have in my hot hand very long, just long enough for the Lottery to verify it.