Tuesday Morning Starting Five: April 21, 2009
Dwight Howard becomes youngest player to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
(Orlando Sentinel)
Mike Brown maybe Coach of the Year, but it’s all about family. He’s my favorite coach to get post game quotes from. (Cleveland Plain-Dealer)
Eagles are not trading Sheldon Brown despite his wishes. (Philly.com)
One of my favorite people, Stephen Hawking is resting comfortably in a hospital. (CNN.com)
2009 Pulitzer Prize winners. Of course I want one. (AP)
Vince knows the mainstream sports world is waiting for him to speak out so they can go after him with more accusation, rumors and innuendo during the ‘slow’ sports news cycle. However, Vince knows the power of ESPN and the Court of Public Opinion is hard to stop once they get going. (Case in point: Pac Man Jones, Vick, T.O. or even the Dallas Academy coach who got fired, Micah Grimes)
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4082898
“I just don’t want them to say anything about Vince Young that he is not taking care of his responsibilities,” Young said. “I will always take of my responsibilities if I am not playing or if I am playing. I don’t want no negative stuff going out to other teams saying Vince Young is not playing and because he’s being a bad guy. That is not me.
Vince has probably talked to his agent and looked at the situation that he has two more years left on his contract, and being VOCAL about his situation (forced benching) would hurt his value even more, because the mainstream media wants to believe he is damaged goods and is ‘waiting’ to rehash the suicide angle.
It has become clear that Fisher wanted Matt Leinart (that’s why he likely hired Norm Chow in 2006), but ownership wanted Vince Young. However, ownership loves Jeff Fisher more. Actually Vince Young saved Jeff Fisher’s job, but still tried to undermine Vince Young’s development as a QB and turn him into Matt Leinart or pocket passer.
“Whatever they want me to do that is what I am going to do. If they want me to sit on the sideline and be there to watch the game then that is OK with me, but at the same time I am getting my checks and I am fine.”
Even if Vince is ‘allowed’ to play and help the Titans win games in 2009 (even playoff games), I just don’t see him re-signing with the Titans…maybe if Fisher fired…
An aging Kerry Collins may be the consummate pro, but the loss of Albert Haynesworth was a big loss to the Titans. Lendale White has had an up and down career and had been critical of Coach Fisher himself, and even though Chris Johnson played great for most of the year, how durable is he?
When Fisher feels threatened that he may lose his job, Vince will be called upon to save the day (again), but Vince might be looking at the next opportunity he receives as an audition to go somewhere else in the near future.
Vince Young is not going to completely change his style of play to appease Fisher.
Vince Young knows his career in Tennessee is over, but he is still getting paid and he is still in the prime of his career and has an opportunity to control his destiny when he becomes a free agent or when he becomes a forced salary cap casualty in 2010.
Vince has a better W-L resume and has taken a team to the playoffs, but the stuff Cutler did to get out of Denver is something Vince would not able to get away it… Vince knows it, his agent knows it. Right now he is stuck in Tennessee. “I am just going to shut my mouth and play my role, and if they need me then I will be available as a weapon.”
Sad situation in Kenya.
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/562388/-/u4aygq/-/index.html
At least 26 people have been killed in Monday overnight clashes between residents on the border of two villages in central Kenya and suspected Mungiki members.
The sect members struck two villages on the border between Kirinyaga and Nyeri districts and killed 26 people in retaliation after a week in which more than ten of their members were killed in Kirinyaga area. A Nation team at the scene confirmed the body count, but a doctor at the local hospital put the figure at 29.
Republicans are really desperate to attach a scandal or negativity to Obama…now its a handshake with Chavez. (What’s next?)
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/20/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4956980.shtml
Coverage of the handshake over the weekend between President Obama and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during the Summit of the Americas has earned the president some harsh criticism back home from Republicans.
CLICK HERE FOR ‘BROTHER HANDSHAKE’ ::: http://d.yimg.com/a/p/rids/20090417/i/ra324586193.jpg?x=400&y=299&q=85&sig=GdZayxZnhjt.4PDVbGK75A–
Patrick:
You’ve gotta give some context here. All death is sad, but there is more going on in Kenya. Can you help us to understand what’s going on there? Thanks.
Chad Johnson continues to be a ‘prisoner’ in Cincinnati in much the same way Vince Young is in Tennessee and so far Anquan Boldin and Edgerrin James are in at Arizona.
Ocho Cinco’s former teammate says Chad is crying about his situation and very UNHAPPY.
http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/04/20/houshmandzadeh-claims-ocho-cinco-crying-for-trade/
Patrick:
That’s a great photo of the handshake. Their eyes were smiling. It says a great deal. After the Republicans failed to kill Chavez using coups and the Colombian government, I guess they WOULD BE pissed to see Hugo not only survive, but live to shake hands. The Bolivian president just survived an assassination attempt. The Republicans are getting desperate.
Black ops teams don’t work. Paying off neighbors doesn’t work. Elections don’t work.
Damn, damn, damn!!!
Anquan’s not a prisoner. None of these guys are “prisoners.” They’re not compelled to sign long term deals. No one is whoopin’ their ass or denying them access to the rudiments of life. They opted for a measure of security and conceded the right to contractual freedom on an annual basis.
Prisoner is just the wrong word here.
Temple:
Certain sects (gangs) in Kenya are attempting to extort money from households, businesses, etc and if they don’t get ‘protection’ money, then citizens are being kidnapped or killed.
The villagers are taken justice into their own hands because they feel the Kenyan police force isn’t doing enough to protect the law-abiding citizens.
>>Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe has said investigations are underway and urged locals not to take the law into their own hands.
“The Kenya Police Force is treating the matter very seriously,” he said.>>
Citizens are taking justice into their own hands, but the gangs are retaliating apparently, so there has been more of a back and forth conflict between vigilantes and the bad bad guys (eye for an eye, or arm for an arm’ situation)
(side note) A couple of years ago, I remember the story of former MLB pitcher, Venezuela’s Ugeth Urbina. His mom had been kidnapped for ransom, and eventually he got caught up in some situation involving workers on his property and went to jail.
Temple:
Prisoner probably isn’t the right word for Ocho’s or Boldin’s situation. I guess I was being a little ‘melodramatic’ in my description or interpretation… LOL
Wiki says the Kenyan police knocked off like 5000 of these cats at one time. What’s up with that? Any info?
By the way, I honed in on that quote when I was reading it the first time…that’s a scary ass quote. What the hell does that guy mean they’re taking it seriously? 29 bodies…does that mean they haven’t taken the other incidents seriously? If not, why not?
When it comes to Africa, my inquiry always begins with the question of land. So, who are the players with respect to land ownership? Have you come across anything that can begin to answer that question? Thanks again for the supplement. (I definitely remember the Urbina situation. Another messy mess.)
I am happy to hear the Washington Post’s Eugene Robinson won a Pulitzer. He is a frequent guest on MSNBC’s Countdown with Keith Olbermann.
I believe Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder wants to prosecute officials from the Bush administration, but right now focusing on rebuilding the economy, transitioning to green energy/jobs and providing health care reform are his main focus.
However, there has been tremendous pressure from members of his own party to go after Bush, but shouldn’t Congress take up the issue themselves?
Right now Defense Secretary Robert Gates ( a Bush holdover) is in the White House, and to me he is a ‘mole’ for Cheney. Obama wants to finish the job in Iraq, Afghanistan and get the bulk of his legislative agenda through, and once Mr. Gates and some of holdover Bush officials are out in 2010, then you will likely see a more aggressive Obama in terms of prosecuting Bush officials.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/21/obama-administration-bush_n_189521.html
Prosecuting the defiant members of the Bush administration will be a spectacle, but Obama needs to accomplish his legislative goals before tackling that issue.
Cheney needs to go to jail. So does Karl Rove. Rumsfeld and Bush as well.
I agree with your take on Obama and the prosecutions. From a long-term legal perspective, its the best move. A few guys can do some time; a few guys can get pardons. They’ve gotta purge the books.
“Black ops teams don’t work. Paying off neighbors doesn’t work. Elections don’t work.
Damn, damn, damn!!!”
ROFLMAO
Hey…did y’all know the “way” Obama shook Chavez’s hand was a (drumroll please)……….a “Boys N Da Hood” handshake!?!
http://mediamatters.org/countyfair/200904200037?show=1
If the first 100 days are THIS crazy, I cant imagine the depths of the stupidity in the months to come.
Miranda………..haha I have to laugh so I won’t choke a fool.
Yeah they just made cause its 2 brothas who are leaders of 2 countries in the western world.
I have to give it to Chavez though that kat don’t hold his tongue for nothing. Plus I give him props for helping the black Venezuelans…..as far as I know Chavez has never ran from his blackness.
You’ll know he dropped 18 Mill on Danny Glover so he could get his film about Toussaint Louverture made.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/138489.html
Oh and Miranda what if this sista makes it into office in Costa Rica.
Can you imagine Michelle Obama going there and meeting her. Man the media would hate like no other. I can hear them now saying some racist sh^%…..like calling it a meeting of the baby mommas or some crap.
http://www.afropresencia.com/id47.html
http://www.jakehwoods.com/2009/02/17/epsy-campbell-to-run-for-president-of-costa-rica/
Origin, I just laugh at the hypocrites. They’re funny..with their teabagging minions running around lapping up every ignorant drop from those fools.
Anyway…..how the hell do 21 horses just drop dead at the US Open Polo Match? If this isn’t obviously deliberate I don’t know what is….horses worth up to $200k a piece? all dead? oh hell naw…this is a Law & Order episode waiting to happen:
http://news.aol.com/article/21-horses-die-before-polo-match/435339?icid=main%7Cmain%7Cdl1%7Clink7%7Chttp%253A%252F%252Fnews.aol.com%252Farticle%252F21-horses-die-before-polo-match%252F435339
Wow, that sista looks younger than 45! Very impressive.
It was kinda obvious the contempt the mainstream media had for the Summit of the Americas…afterall…that’s the summit of brown and black heads of state….Pat “Lucifer” Buchanan called these grown men….BOYS….he’s gonna say “nigger” flat out on air one day…I know its coming.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/#30314187
It’s crazy how these “people” forget the last 8 years as if they compared to the last 100 days.
Dumbasses.
Espy Campbell’s got my vote and if she needs a first gentleman I’m there for her.
Listening to Buchanan I remember why I stopped even trying to give conservatives a listen because they’re selective historical amnesia and barely concealed racism drown out anything else they may be trying to say.
Boyz n da hood? Bastard.
So VY is going to keep his mouth shut and be a good soldier? That’s good to hear and it’s also heartening that he knows he’s not treated any differently than any other QB just ’cause he’s black. Same with Jason Campbell in DC. Sorry, but I’d be laughing at these two if they’re naive stupidity wasn’t so sad. They can play the company roles so good they’ll be nominated for Oscars one day but they’re still going to catch the dirty end of the stick from coaches and management regardless. Better to empty every clip in the chamber by standing up for yourself and calling hypocrites out on their duplicity.
Lebron finished 2nd in the Defensive Player of the Year voting; Wade finished third. Because of his 2nd place finish in the DPY voting, I think that Lebron has that MVP award locked up.