Been a long time...although I don't think anyone follows this so probably no big deal. Life is hard man. How is it possible to be working harder than ever, making more money than ever and yet still be struggling? Absolute mystery but I guess homeownership is just a bitch. But, I guess I shouldn't complain too much...
Luckily Touchdown Jesus is almost here to save us all with the start of football season...and America's favorite pastime...football gambling.
So, I'm going to start putting some of the teams I like to be very undervalued going into the year and ironically the first two are my alma-maters. Indiana. Arizona.
Indiana Hoosiers
First off, no way in hell IU finishes in last place in the Big Ten. No possible way that happens. I'd drop some expletives to make this even more clearer but this is a kid friendly blog. So here's the situation--if you return the TOP RETURNING QB in the league there is NO WAY IN HELL you'll finish in last place. I don't care who is around that QB in the skill positions, the o-line or the D. No way in hell that happens. Throw in a bunch of stud skill position players...see D. Willlis (RB) and a bunch of stud WRs, ie, Tandon Doss et. al and Ben Chappell slinging the ball and that is a better than average Big-Ten offense. I don't care how bad the D is...and I do not expect them to be bad at all. Average yes, bad no.
You heard it here first Indiana will be playing in a bowl this year. I would not touch their early games but I do fully expect IU to be a home dog to Michigan come week 4 and IU will win that game straight up.
Arizona Wildcats
Per the clown experts...AZ is predicted to finish between 5th and 8th place in the Pac-10 (or is it 12). Anyway, what a joke. Am I biased, yes. But am I an idiot, no. Again, no way in hell a team that finished tied for 3rd last year and was literally 1 or 2 plays away from heading to its first Rose Bowl is going to drop that much with the returning players AZ has. Say what you want about Mike Stoops but he has built a program in Tucson. This is not some clown-show operation like ASU.
With Foles, Criner, Grigsby, Antolin, Bug, et. al on offense...even with a new O-Coordinator, it will be explosive. Not to mention the new O-Coordinator is basically version 2.0 of Sonny Dykes. And as for the D, AZ is at the point now where they reload. Stoops is a defensive coach and even without his brother to help him there is no way the D will disappoint to the level the "experts" are suggesting. Corners and D-line should both be very strong taking the edge off of any inexperience at LB and safety. I expect HUGE seasons from Wade and my boy Golden. Not to mention the Pac-10 will be VERY down this year. With Oregon players not being able to avoid stealing drunk frat boys' computers and USC having the institutional control of BP, the Pac-10 is wide open. Oregon St. lost its Senior QB, WA is overrated with all the Locker hype, Luck is gone for Stanford without Gerhart and Tedford is always good for 2-3 real bad losses. Did I mention ASU is a DISASTER.
Look for AZ to be a home dog versus Iowa under the lights Saturday night, Sept. 18th...and take AZ to win straight up. Welcome to the desert Iowa...enjoy getting PR'd and your long flight back home to the corn.
More to come....
Friday, August 20, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Real Illegal Immigration Story?
Whatever your thoughts on the new AZ Bill 1070 that is causing a stir across the nation, and I still have yet to make up my mind on it, at least it is creating some noise. And I say that because the problems here in AZ/TX/CA are real.
It's easy for some mayor in NYC or Boston (or a Congresswoman in IL) to rip the bill when they do not have to deal with the same consequences everyday as a direct result of illegals. In AZ at least, the costs associated with illegals is a major drain to the state. When they go to the ER they have to be taken care of; children of illegals overwhelm our schools; detainment costs; deportion costs; jail/prison costs; and most illegals do not have car insurance making our premiums outrageous here.
Yet, I also see the other side of most illegals--they work and they work hard. They generally are not here for a handout. Unlike a lot of Americans, and the current administration, they generally understand that things should not just be given to you--you have to work for them. There is no sense of entitlement, which is refreshing.
At the end of the day, this is a federal government issue. Yet, the federal government recently stated they will not take up the illegal immigration issue until after the next round of elections. Well, that's just great. Great leadership again Team Obama.
The point of this post though is another story that resonates from the illegal issue--and it's a story that is becoming a bigger problem in our country. The borders used for drug smuggling in El Paso/Juarez and San Diego/Tijuana are extreme crime problems. Although Phoenix has a ton of crime involving the illegal immigrant trade, Phoenix and AZ in general have generally been kept free of any major felony type crimes on legal Americans. But that is changing with the death of a border rancher in Douglas, AZ. The story was big news here but not surprisingly has been swept under the rug now with the focus on this new bill. Well below I offer another view, that the media is not discussing, that again shows why we need to get illegal immigration and the borders under control.
Full disclosure: this was attached as a comment by a reader in the AZ Republic. Am I certain it's true: no. Can I confirm it's true: no. Does it read to be true based upon the intricate details given: yes. Do I believe it: yes. Here it is--and this is my major fear with respect to illegals--that the drug war and everything that comes with it (kidnappings for cash, etc.) is creeping across the border into AZ:
Anonymous Comment:
I want to share this with all of you because it is true and I don't understand why people like Al Sharpton and others who don't have a clue what is going on at our border speak like they know.
As you know, one of the local ranchers was murdered in Douglas, AZ recently. I received three messages similar to the one below from different officers within the Rangers and law enforcement. Yesterday afternoon I talked to another rancher near us who is a friend of ours and whose great grandfather started their ranch here in 1880. These are good people. He told me what really happened out at the Krentz ranch and what you won't read in the papers. The Border Patrol is afraid of starting a small war between civilians here and the drug cartels in Mexico.
Bob Krentz was checking his water like he does every evening and came upon an illegal
who was lying on the ground telling him he was sick. Bob called the Border Patrol and
asked for a medical helicopter evac. As he turned to go back to his ATV he was shot in the side. The round came from down and angled up so they know the shooter was on the ground. Bob's firearm was in the ATV so he had no chance. Wounded he called the
Cochise County Sheriff and asked for help. Bleeding in the lungs he called his brother but the line was bad so he called his wife but again the line was bad.
Several ranchers heard the radio call and drove to his location. Bob was dead by this time.
The ranchers tracked the shooter 8 miles back towards Mexico and cornered him in a
brushy draw. This was all at night. The Sheriff and Border Patrol arrived and told them not to go down and engage the murderer. They went around to the back side and if you can believe it the assassin managed to get by a BP helicopter and a Sheriff's posse and back to Mexico. So much for professional help when you need it.
One week before the murder Bob and his brother Phil hauled a huge quantity of drugs off the ranch that they found in trucks. One week before that a rancher near Naco did the same thing. Two nights later gangs broke into his ranch house and beat him and his wife and told them that if they touched any drugs they found they would come back and kill them. The ranchers here deal with cut fences and haul drug deliveries off their ranches all the time. What ranchers think is that the drug cartels beat the one rancher and shot Bob because they wanted to send a message. Bob always have food and water to illegals and so they think they sent the assassin to pose as an illegal who was hungry and thirsty knowing it would catch Bob off guard.
What is going on down here is NOT being reported. You need to tell people how bad it is along the border. Texas is worse. Near El Paso it's in a state of war. 5000 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez last year and it's over 2000 so far this year. Gun sales down here are through the roof and I get emails from people wanting firearms training. Something has to be done but I don't hold out much hope. These gangs have groups in almost every city in the US. Please read below. This is serious business. The Barrio Azteca and their sub gangs are like Mexican Corporations and organized extremely well. If this doesn't get dealt with down here you guys will deal with it on your streets. Local law enforcement agencies are encouraging citizens to take firearms training and get proper concealed weapons permits. New Arizona law soon will allow everyone that is not a convicted felon to carry a firearm. Every citizen is responsible for his or her own safety
according to the Pima County Prosecuter. Again the media from the liberal press will not report on anything that makes illegal aliens look bad.
If true, this is scary. RIP Bob Krentz. We need to deal with this now. AZ Bill 1070 is a cry for help to the national government. Help us protect our borders and laws like this will not be brought.
It's easy for some mayor in NYC or Boston (or a Congresswoman in IL) to rip the bill when they do not have to deal with the same consequences everyday as a direct result of illegals. In AZ at least, the costs associated with illegals is a major drain to the state. When they go to the ER they have to be taken care of; children of illegals overwhelm our schools; detainment costs; deportion costs; jail/prison costs; and most illegals do not have car insurance making our premiums outrageous here.
Yet, I also see the other side of most illegals--they work and they work hard. They generally are not here for a handout. Unlike a lot of Americans, and the current administration, they generally understand that things should not just be given to you--you have to work for them. There is no sense of entitlement, which is refreshing.
At the end of the day, this is a federal government issue. Yet, the federal government recently stated they will not take up the illegal immigration issue until after the next round of elections. Well, that's just great. Great leadership again Team Obama.
The point of this post though is another story that resonates from the illegal issue--and it's a story that is becoming a bigger problem in our country. The borders used for drug smuggling in El Paso/Juarez and San Diego/Tijuana are extreme crime problems. Although Phoenix has a ton of crime involving the illegal immigrant trade, Phoenix and AZ in general have generally been kept free of any major felony type crimes on legal Americans. But that is changing with the death of a border rancher in Douglas, AZ. The story was big news here but not surprisingly has been swept under the rug now with the focus on this new bill. Well below I offer another view, that the media is not discussing, that again shows why we need to get illegal immigration and the borders under control.
Full disclosure: this was attached as a comment by a reader in the AZ Republic. Am I certain it's true: no. Can I confirm it's true: no. Does it read to be true based upon the intricate details given: yes. Do I believe it: yes. Here it is--and this is my major fear with respect to illegals--that the drug war and everything that comes with it (kidnappings for cash, etc.) is creeping across the border into AZ:
Anonymous Comment:
I want to share this with all of you because it is true and I don't understand why people like Al Sharpton and others who don't have a clue what is going on at our border speak like they know.
As you know, one of the local ranchers was murdered in Douglas, AZ recently. I received three messages similar to the one below from different officers within the Rangers and law enforcement. Yesterday afternoon I talked to another rancher near us who is a friend of ours and whose great grandfather started their ranch here in 1880. These are good people. He told me what really happened out at the Krentz ranch and what you won't read in the papers. The Border Patrol is afraid of starting a small war between civilians here and the drug cartels in Mexico.
Bob Krentz was checking his water like he does every evening and came upon an illegal
who was lying on the ground telling him he was sick. Bob called the Border Patrol and
asked for a medical helicopter evac. As he turned to go back to his ATV he was shot in the side. The round came from down and angled up so they know the shooter was on the ground. Bob's firearm was in the ATV so he had no chance. Wounded he called the
Cochise County Sheriff and asked for help. Bleeding in the lungs he called his brother but the line was bad so he called his wife but again the line was bad.
Several ranchers heard the radio call and drove to his location. Bob was dead by this time.
The ranchers tracked the shooter 8 miles back towards Mexico and cornered him in a
brushy draw. This was all at night. The Sheriff and Border Patrol arrived and told them not to go down and engage the murderer. They went around to the back side and if you can believe it the assassin managed to get by a BP helicopter and a Sheriff's posse and back to Mexico. So much for professional help when you need it.
One week before the murder Bob and his brother Phil hauled a huge quantity of drugs off the ranch that they found in trucks. One week before that a rancher near Naco did the same thing. Two nights later gangs broke into his ranch house and beat him and his wife and told them that if they touched any drugs they found they would come back and kill them. The ranchers here deal with cut fences and haul drug deliveries off their ranches all the time. What ranchers think is that the drug cartels beat the one rancher and shot Bob because they wanted to send a message. Bob always have food and water to illegals and so they think they sent the assassin to pose as an illegal who was hungry and thirsty knowing it would catch Bob off guard.
What is going on down here is NOT being reported. You need to tell people how bad it is along the border. Texas is worse. Near El Paso it's in a state of war. 5000 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez last year and it's over 2000 so far this year. Gun sales down here are through the roof and I get emails from people wanting firearms training. Something has to be done but I don't hold out much hope. These gangs have groups in almost every city in the US. Please read below. This is serious business. The Barrio Azteca and their sub gangs are like Mexican Corporations and organized extremely well. If this doesn't get dealt with down here you guys will deal with it on your streets. Local law enforcement agencies are encouraging citizens to take firearms training and get proper concealed weapons permits. New Arizona law soon will allow everyone that is not a convicted felon to carry a firearm. Every citizen is responsible for his or her own safety
according to the Pima County Prosecuter. Again the media from the liberal press will not report on anything that makes illegal aliens look bad.
If true, this is scary. RIP Bob Krentz. We need to deal with this now. AZ Bill 1070 is a cry for help to the national government. Help us protect our borders and laws like this will not be brought.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
From Each According to Their Means to Those According to Their Needs...
Yes, that is the socialist motto and yes, that is where our current administration and Congress is taking us towards. Take a look at this:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/26/cbos-2020-vision-debt-will-rise-to-90-of-gdp/
Debt to be 90% of GDP by 2020 and the way our leaders are spending, one has to assume it will come quicker. Current federal debt levels equate to $56,000 per household. $170,000 by 2020 per the CBO prediction. Yeah...and the public has a spending problem. This unmitigated and egregious spending will result in unprecedented tax increases going forward.
I already work half my week to pay the government. The spending by our government is out of control. Even if it were to suddenly stop, we are still in the middle of an extreme wealth distribution time period--especially for the upper middle class.
Welcome to America's version of socialism. Big surprise that this is the response by white males like myself who bought into Obama's hope thesis. I too was fooled:
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=915922&category=OPINION
Can't wait to vote him out.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/26/cbos-2020-vision-debt-will-rise-to-90-of-gdp/
Debt to be 90% of GDP by 2020 and the way our leaders are spending, one has to assume it will come quicker. Current federal debt levels equate to $56,000 per household. $170,000 by 2020 per the CBO prediction. Yeah...and the public has a spending problem. This unmitigated and egregious spending will result in unprecedented tax increases going forward.
I already work half my week to pay the government. The spending by our government is out of control. Even if it were to suddenly stop, we are still in the middle of an extreme wealth distribution time period--especially for the upper middle class.
Welcome to America's version of socialism. Big surprise that this is the response by white males like myself who bought into Obama's hope thesis. I too was fooled:
http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=915922&category=OPINION
Can't wait to vote him out.
Hello
Hello. I thought I'd finally create a blog to allow me to get some thoughts out on things that interest me: politics, gambling, the market, golf and maybe the occasional pop culture reference. I'm sure no one will really be listening...or reading, these posts. Yet, for whatever reason I know I'll feel better just having the outlet to get some of these thoughts out.
Thus, feel free to comment and share your thoughts. Maybe you'll agree with me, maybe you'll think I'm an idiot. Whatever, this will be fun...
Thus, feel free to comment and share your thoughts. Maybe you'll agree with me, maybe you'll think I'm an idiot. Whatever, this will be fun...
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