This 'n That

- Just a couple of weeks ago I picked up a Titans 2005 calendar on clearance and hung it at my desk. Since the cuts yesterday, I think I'm going to have to take it down, because I don't think I can handle Kevin Carter's picture looking down on me much longer. Up next is Lance Schulters (a rumored future cut) and Mr. April is Eddie George (guess they print these things months in advance or something.) A couple of yesterday's cuts are really hard to stomach. Carter's not only a key defensive player, but a team leader and beloved in the community. He and his wife have raised a ton of money for Nashville charities. We're gonna miss him a lot (but maybe he'll be back?) And yeah, D-Mase is one of the key ingredients of the Titans' playoff runs of years pass, not to mention McNair's favorite target. But yeah, it had to happen. The Ravens did it themselves a few years back, and they were competitive again within a year. And they still have some very strong pieces to our puzzle - if McNair's truly doing as well as they say since his sternum surgery, he is only one year removed from an MVP award. Not to mention a strong backup QB, some veteran wide receivers who can now stay with the restructuring (and Tyrone Calico, you'd better be healthy this year), a running back who proved himself admirably last year, and a defense that has hopefully learned a few lessons the hard way. They've had their injuries and their bad luck. Now it's time to see what Norm Chow really can do with a young team.
- The obligatory Hunter S. Thompson salute: I was late learning about the man, growing up in a non-Rolling Stone environment. However, reading his writings in college and beyond was an inspiration to me and countless others. And above all, I admire him for living his life on his terms, openly and unapologetically. And for all those out there who are dumping on the man for killing himself - note the sentence above.
- This has unfortunately been largely overlooked in the HST aftermath, but one of the last vestages of classic Hollywood is now lost to the ages. Goodbye, Sandra Dee.
- If people are already flipping out this badly over what Chris Rock is saying before the Oscars, the actual telecast should be a treat. I'm beginning to become seriously concerned that in the post-Nipplegate era, the entertainment industry has lost all sense of irony.
- So Patty is the gay Simpsons character. How sweet. Seriously.
- Speaking of gay marriage, one of the new Republican state senators in the Midstate has decided to introduce an amendment to the state constitution prohibiting adoptions by gays or lesbians, either singles or partnered. In a story this weekend, Sen. Black said that she thought this was a good idea because the ideal environment for children to grow up in is a two-parent household with a mother and a father. This is offensive on so many levels - not only to the gays and lesbians who have raised children in happy, stable homes, but to the millions of single parents throughout the country who have done the same thing. And this is a slap in the face to all the kids in foster care who need a family, period. Please, Tennessee, we really don't need to become that state.
- This is one of the most disgusting ideas I've ever seen. And I've lived in a dorm, so I've seen some truly disgusting ideas. If you want the curse to end, Cubbies, stop sucking. The BoSox can tell you that stunts don't work. Admittedly, dumping Sosa is a move in the right direction.
- My constant refrain about marrying my TiVo doesn't come from nothing - sometimes I think it knows my tastes better than I know my own. Witness last night, when I discovered that it had taped the special 25th anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice" edition of Pardon the Interruption. It was actually a pretty entertaining walk back through history, and something I appreciated, since I have absolutely no memory of the actual event when I was 6. And that bugs me, because I remember lots of other things from that time period. I remember drawing yellow ribbons in Kindergarten and my teachers marvelling about my developed political knowledge. I remember wearing my plastic peanut necklace and crying when Carter lost (gee, how the politics ran in my home?) I remember the split-screen at Reagan's inaugural. I even remember the oil crisis. But somehow I get the feeling that in our particular patch of rural South, people didn't much care about a hockey game, no matter what the political implications were. And that makes me sad.
- Just saw on the wire that Rashad McCants isn't going to be playing for the Tar Heels when they go up against N.C. State tomorrow night. Uh oh. Last time McCants was out for a game was against Santa Clara in Maui, and we all know how that turned out.
- Bill Cosby cancelled a town-hall appearance in Pittsburgh in the midst of the sex allegations made against him last month. However, he made good on his promises and gave a phoned-in message to schoolchildren today. That's class, ladies and gentleman. I have no idea if any of the things that the two women have said against Cosby happened - that's not for me to judge. But I do think that his message is relevant and needed, regardless, and I'm glad that he hasn't been silenced.