Friday, December 31, 2010

"Happy Christmas"....and "Merry New Year"!!!

Odd...Weird?

Well.......duh!

Here's some of the oddest....weirdest stories of 2010.

From "msn.com":

Suggested charge: Existing while stupid

Arrest in theft of game systems from casket

Adult drive-thru store in Alabama offers privacy

Cops: Man steals, wrecks 3 cars in 2 hours

Electric neck massager strangles Florida woman

U.S. dispensary sparks food drive with free pot

Utility pole slams into Ohio home

Cops: Man playing real-life 'Frogger' hit by SUV

Jeweler loses $400,000 white Christmas bet

Man arrested for punching teenager on plane

The law didn't need that long arm for this guy

Gunman with plastic-bag mask fails to rob drive-thru

Stupid is .......what stupid does......

A final ...."Farewell" to those We Lost...

We will miss....you all:

Lena Horne

The singer and civil rights activist achieved a place in the pantheon of female jazz vocalists and broke ground in Hollywood as an African American star in the 1940s. She also won acclaim on Broadway and as a cabaret performer. She was 92. Full obituary

See full list.....Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times:

Notable deaths of 2010 - latimes.com

Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Godfather of Free Agency

41 years ago.....Curt Flood....changed Major League Baseball.....

Here's how....

Courtesy of Business Insider and Cork Gaines:

You've Never Heard Of The Second Most Important Person In MLB History

Cork Gaines | Dec. 30, 2010, 2:50

When Carl Crawford is sipping his 1982 Chateau Margaux out of his diamond encrusted wine glass tonight, we hope he will raise his glass and offer a toast on the anniversary of the day that made his $142 million contract possible.

It was 41 years ago today that the New York Times first reported Curt Flood was planning a lawsuit to challenge Major League Baseball's reserve clause.

The "reserve clause" was a standard part of the player's contract that allowed a team to retain a player's rights even after that player's contract had expired. Players could only sign a new contract with their current team unless they were released or traded.

But in 1969, Flood decided he was tired of being treated like "property," and decided to stand up to the system. From the New York Times:

A major attack on the reserve clause, a feature of baseball contracts that binds a player to his original team and makes trades possible, is being mounted by Curt Flood, with Arthur Goldberg, a former United States Supreme Court Justice, as his counsel.

Flood had met with the Player's Association to ask for their support. Interestingly, in doing so, Flood stopped short of comparing the reserve clause to slavery. But the Times article says he did admit that "being black perhaps made him more sensitive to issues of freedom and dignity."

Ultimately, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Major League Baseball, but their decision left open the possibility for closer examination and further challenges. The reserve clause was ultimately struck down in 1975.

But it was Curt Flood that gave players the hope of someday being able sell their services to the highest bidder. And among people that helped further the rights of all player's, Flood may be surpassed only by Jackie Robinson. It is a shame more of today's players don't acknowledge that.

All About the ..."Benjamins"

Money talks...especially in big time college football.   These bottom line profits would make a lot of CEO's ....of major corporations ...envious.

Their secret?   Payroll.......are lack there of.   The 17 - 21 year olds bringing in all that cash.....get none ...

More hypocrisy......from the men in suits....who run these colleges and the NCAA.

Here's the top 5 ....

Courtesy of ....The Huffington Post:

#1