Handicapped Harley

Does anyone else in the wide, wide, wide, wide, wide world of sports think a handicapped license plate on a Harley seems a little strange?

Have you ever woke up with bullfrogs on your mind

I just woke up in the middle of the night thinking of a slice of pie. You don't think that means ....?

Who wrote this about Gene Hackman

"As we moved into the main course, it was as if a cosmic wind enveloped us. Some giant space magnet was pulling us together. We didn't finish the meal. We went upstairs, flew into bed and made love. It was epic. And the next morning, Gene went back to his film and I went back to mine. I haven't seen Gene since that night, but I remember well the feisty lad he was."

Who is this guy?

Perhaps the swastika gives it away, but, if you haven't guessed, this was a picture taken two days ago at the California State Prison at Cocoran of the now 74-year-old Charles Manson. Manson is serving a life sentence there and the picture is the result of periodic updates of inmates pictures by prison officials.

This August will mark the 40th anniversary of what has become known as the Manson killings. Manson and other members of his cult were convicted of killing actress Sharon Tate, then the wife of director Roman Polansky, and six other persons. As for the swastika, Manson carved it in his forehead during his trial. At first, it was an "X," but he altered it until it took its current shape. Once they saw what Manson had done, the young women who were also defendants in the trial, carved x's in their foreheads as well.

(Thanks to Jeff Siegel at the Advocate for directing me to this photo.)

A collective Olympic yawn

Is there anyone out there who is even midly excited about the upcoming Summer Olympics?

Is the sun beginning to set on Oprahland?

Interesting story in yesterday's New York Times about all things Oprah. If you don't want to go to the link and read the entire piece, here are the substantial paragraphs:

The average audience for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” has fallen nearly 7 percent this year, according to Nielsen Media Research — its third straight year of decline. “Oprah’s Big Give,” an ABC philanthropic reality show, beat every program on television except “American Idol” in its premiere week this winter, but steadily lost nearly one-third of its audience during the rest of its eight-week run, according to Nielsen.

The circulation of O, The Oprah Magazine, has fallen by more than 10 percent in the last three years, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and the magazine is now seeking a new editor in chief after the announced retirement of its longtime steward, Amy Gross.
And while Ms. Winfrey still displays a Midas touch when it comes to the endorsement of books and products, some of her latest picks have attracted criticism from longtime fans as she has strayed into new-age spiritualism and, perhaps more dangerously, politics. Her endorsement of the presidential bid of Senator Barack Obama appears to have alienated some of the middle-aged white women who make up the bulk of her television audience, many of whom support Senator Hillary Clinton.

Questions that need to be answered after Hornets whip Mavs

After Jason Terry lit up the Hornets by scoring 31 points against them in the last game of the season, why did Mavs coach Avery Johnson start Jerry Stackhouse, who has been out with injury for much the latter half of the season and has relatively little experience playing with Jason Kidd, ahead of Terry?

When Johnson sat Stackhouse, why did he put Brandon Bass in his place instead of Terry?

Hornets coach Byron Scott obviously made some adjustments at halftime, holding the Mavs to only nine field goals in the entire second half, just a little over half the number (17) they scored in the first half. Why didn't Johnson make any adjustments, especially since the Hornets actually scored more field goals (18) in the first half than the Mavericks? The Mavs 12-point first half lead came from a 16-2 advantage at the free throw line.

Why is it that Johnson seems determined to let Chris Paul be the Dwyane Wade of this playoff series? Paul scored 14 points more than his season average in Game 1.

What I wouldn't give to see Larry Brown coaching this team right now.

This has nothing to do with Johnson, at least directly, but why did Dirk Nowitzki let David West treat him like a sissy late in the game? Get tough, Dirk! Don't let him pat you on the face like that.

Monday. Monday

Yesterday was Super Sunday. Tomorrow is Super Tuesday. What does that make today? (This is not a riddle. I really would like an answer to this question.)