My Love/Hate relationship continues! This organization is such a mess… it’s total chaos down there at TB Central!

I have inside information here… inside my head… I hear voices you know! Once in awhile my voices tell me rumors, sometimes they tell me more than that… sometimes they even speak truth! I never know what to believe until it’s confirmed in the various “trusted” sources.

So, what’s up with the Trailblazers anyway? What do my voices tell me about their recent decisions? Why did they do the massive dance on March 15th? What was their motivation?

Well, let’s start with the Coach. He was fired because he could no longer “fire em up”. He couldn’t get anything out of his players…. his fault???? I’m not so sure.

The fans loved Gerald Wallace… so why trade him? Why couldn’t “coach” get the fire back in him? My voices say that he just wasn’t into the game anymore. He had more pressing issues that he’s been handling (or trying to). He’s going through a life changing event that is consuming him… he’s getting a divorce… and they’re never pleasant… maybe downright nasty????

Marcus Camby was also a fan fav, but he too was no longer performing. My “guess” is that he’s been consumed also… not by something so temporary as divorce, but on-going, lingering, mind and body consuming something… like Train sang, “don’t know what I was on, but think it grows in Oregon, so I kept on going, going right on through”. That’s the only “logical” explanation for his lack of enthusiasm and poor performance. hmmmmm could be???

Greg Oden… NOT a fan fav… but deserves mention here as a point to how low the TBs have sunk. I’ve NEVER liked this guy. I was sooooo upset when they drafted him over Kevin Durant (I was STILL smarting over the Sam Bowie / Michael Jordan mistake). And I was right! But I think it goes way beyond his fragile knees. I think he has mental problems as well. I believe he’s an Alcoholic… boy, those voices of mine are stretching here – aren’t they?

And as you know, my personal favorite punching bag is: Paul Allen… Wow what can I say that I haven’t already told you? Even my voices scream at me about this guy!

He WILL sell the team! That according to my loudest voices… the quieter ones say that he’s opened up huge salary opportunities, gotten some great help in the upcoming draft (thanks to the Net’s stupidity) and therefore will stick it out for one more season. BUT – somewhere out there is a person or a group that knows a good deal can be made, and it’s time to strike that deal!

So, goodbye to all above, and I’m glad they’re gone (and my voices tell me why I’m glad) Join me in those beliefs, or don’t… either way, I’d like hear from you….

Shhhhhh…. Can you hear it?

There’s a loud roar coming from the Pacific Northwest… If you listen closely, you’ll hear laughter, crying, joy, despair… yes, it’s a cacophony of human outcry…

The Trailblazers slashed and cut and maimed and yes… killed like Brutus and the Gang of Senators attacking Caesar.

Fired: Head Coach Nate McMillan

Traded: Fan favs: Gerald Wallace, and Marcus Camby…

Released: Greg Oden – thus the cheering (at least from me) who is a big, …. well that’s it… just big…. not talented, not physically gifted, not attractive even… what were they thinking when they drafted HIM number one instead of Kevin Durant????? What were they thinking? Oh Yeah…. they wanted to repeat the fiasco of ’81 when the passed up Michael Jordan for… a…. hmmmm…. what’s his name? … ummmm  a very forgettable; Sam Bowie…. also big and… yep that’s all, just big.

So the cheering crowd is chanting Oden, Oden… gone at last! … and the coach too…. although I personally believe that HE wasn’t the problem as much as the owner and his entourage.

As you’ve read here before… owner; Paul Allen has left a huge wake of failures behind him…. and one huge success: Microsuck! And I’m not sure he had anything to do with that story either…. except befriending Bill Gates.

So, who did the Trailblazers get in this carnage? Who cares? they’re going nowhere, their season is shot, their organization is in shambles… look for a sale of the team soon…. and maybe an exodus from Portland.

Just Sayin…

I am so pissed! I just read a Christian article on the evils of gambling. Whether or not you choose to believe that Gambling is evil is up to you… but you can’t be swayed by the foolish arguments in the article I just read. I’m not going to tell you where to find the article because I don’t want trouble, but mostly because I don’t want them to benefit from my large group of readers! I AM however, going to quote extensively from the rubbish that the writer (R. Mohler) professes (and probably fully believes).

First, he states that 1/3 of the nation’s money is spent on Gambling. If you read my posts, you know that he’s dead wrong! Truth is; 100% of all the World’s money is spent on gambling! Whether you put it under your mattress (a real gamble) or put it into savings (a real gamble) or spend it (a real gamble) it’s spent on gambling. It’s a gamble when you buy a stock, bond or commodity (but he probably thinks THAT’S alright!) It’s a gamble when you buy insurance… you know what… it’s a gamble when you pick out one head of cauliflower over the others… or when you buy cauliflower at all. More than just spending your money  goes through the process of gambling… do you not think that picking your spouse was a gamble? Yes, Christians and non-Christians… EVERY single decision you make is a gamble.

He then goes on to enlighten us with this gem: “The basic impulse behind gambling is greed-a basic sin that is the father of many other evils.” Greed – isn’t that the reason we all go to work everyday????? Isn’t that the reason we “gamble” on those aforementioned, socially acceptable stocks????? If you hear someone say that money makes the world go ’round… you’re listening to a greedy person.

pass the plate again reverend….

Then he says; “The burning desire for earthly riches leads to frustration and spiritual death.” or to happiness, a full life, a realization of one’s dreams. Try THAT without “earthly riches”!

After taking us through many scriptures reinforcing his argument, he states a common mistake made by millions…

“The worldview of the gambler assumes a world of indeterminate and random chance, for which the chief virtue is luck.” As a real “bettor” knows, luck has very little to do with success or failure in gambling. Poker for instance, might make its appearance in the Olympics. IF it were a game of luck, there wouldn’t be thousands of books written on how to win at Poker, nor millions of websites extolling the systems and strategies that make one player a winner over another. More than one judge has ruled that it’s a game of skill!

This isn’t a coin toss Reverend… this is a Skill Game. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see the same faces on the final tables of tournaments. You wouldn’t know the “Odds” of one hand as opposed to another… and so forth.

It’s not the roll of the dice that makes a winner or loser – it’s how the players bet their money. A Seven is a big loser… or a big winner…depending on how you bet… no luck there! Does a successful card player know when to hold ‘em and when to fold ‘em… yep… he’s not considering luck at all!

Here’s a great piece of nonsense: “gambling is a direct attack on the work ethic presented in Scripture. One of the constant threads through the Old and New Testaments is the dignity of honorable work, and the proper reward for labor and industriousness” Are you kidding? Thousands of hours are spent learning this craft. Certainly more than one spends on his major in a college or university. S/he must spend an equal amount of time on “unproductive” (he’s going to use that word in a minute) electives. Now THAT’S a gamble!

You can’t win any money at the track without studying the horses, the trainers, the jockeys and a myriad of other variables. What’s so undignified about learning cards through courses at MIT or Harvard? He actually then went on call gamblers “lazy, slothful, unproductive and undeserving of financial rewards”.  Then he states “offering the hope of riches without labor)” Holy Crap! I must take a break ’cause I’m pissed off!!!!!!!

k – I’m back (but still pissed off)

Gee, thanks to gamblers, there are millions of jobs in the US. Thousands of hours are spent studying the various forms of casino gambling, testing and tweaking the procedures, and perfecting their craft. If he wants to pick on the lazy, he must look elsewhere (and Lord knows there are plenty of places to look).

“Gambling corrupts the culture, polluting everything it touches. Recent scandals in college basketball are proof positive that gambling is not a problem limited to casinos and horse tracks.” He’s right there isn’t he… scandal is in Congress, in the Senate, in the Banks, the Oil companies, car manufactures, wall street, and politicians running for President of the United States, and on and on and on…<p>

Hey Reverend… are you running a Bingo Game?

Fund Raisers? …gambling, gambling, gambling!

“The Church had better not bet on this problem just going away.” Bet? the Church can Bet?

There are other activities that he could better spend his time on: Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes, etc (but counting on a wide readership (which is what this greedy reverend wants)…that would be gambling.

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Disclaimer: It’s only one game into the new Basketball season.

Fact: Portland Trailblazers beat up on Philadelphia.

Conclusion: Maybe I was a bit hasty in my assessment of the Blazers (not of Paul Allen).

Last night, I attended the opening night of this 2011-2012 NBA Basketball season for the Portland Trailblazers at the Rose Garden.

Believe me: the final score is NOT indicative of how lopsided the game was. The TBs  fell behind in the first quarter (2 – 0) but gained the lead and never looked back. They out performed the Sixers in every aspect of the game.

Now what makes this important to me? Well, I had written them off (as my previous posts indicated) as forever-inept… AND having lost their star players: Brandon Roy, Greg Oden (again), and LaMarcus Aldridge (albeit temporarily) – I felt (knew) that front office decisions in the last minutes since the lockout and before the opening game once again meant doom for the team.

I haven’t seen any good decisions there in years (ever?)…

But, I have a friend (Jeff) who’s a BIG TB fan… and yesterday he told me that this is the BEST team that’s ever worn the TB colors! Huge! I know!… so, I decided to attend the opening night game to see for myself (thanks for the Cap and for the Chalupa).

My good friend Matt from Las Vegas is here visiting, he’s always up for a challenge, (He’s NEVER seen the TBs win in person – now THAT’S a challenge) so off we went…

I was surprised. Jeff might have been right! Again, it’s way too early to be singing their praises, but what I saw from the last minute additions to the team is impressive!

UPDATE:

Tonight, the Sacramento Kings came into the Rose Garden and were slaughtered as if lambs amongst lions. I’m impressed again.. and especially with the star of this game (and IMO last night’s game too): Gerald Wallace!

Not there’s a real ironic twist: A man with the initials “GW” that I can like!

Yes, Surprise was the word of the day yesterday as the Titanic of horse racing, the 1-9 favorite Uncle Mo lost to two (not just one, but two – Toby’s Corner and Arthur’s Tale)  rivals in the Wood Memorial.

BTW: As you know, I had picked Uncle Mo to win that race (as did everyone else it seems – after all, he went off at 1-9) so that was a loss. What I didn’t have time to tell most of you was this. When Uncle Mo showed those odds (1-9) I jumped off him! At those odds, no horse is bettable because you risk your money for a very small return… it’s just not smart! So, the play in this case was to bet EVERY OTHER HORSE to win… and hope for an upset. Because, the closest odds to the favorite was an amazing 17-1 (late betting pushed him down to 8-1 – may have been his connections who always bet at the very last moment)… the other horses were well into the high 20′s, the 30′s, and beyond. So, place one unit on each of the other horses to win, and 2 units on the favorite-of-the-rest (8-1).

Playing $10 units, your bet would have been $90, and your return was nearly $200.

At the start of that race, Uncle Mo was also the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby. Less than two minutes later… dog meat! Well, that’s a little harsh, he’s still a good horse in a so-so crop of 3 year olds. That’s horse racing! As we know, anything can and does happen. Unless it’s discovered that Uncle Mo was injured (and Bob Baffert said he tore a quarter at the gate) Uncle Mo had no excuses as the times were very, very slow.

Here, see for yourself:

So, where does that leave us in the hunt for a winner on May 7th at Churchill Downs? It doesn’t appear at this moment that we’re going to have a Triple Crown Winner… again! (1978 was the last)

Ok, Uncle Mo’s an also ran, Dialed In barely beat a 68-1 long shot, Premier Pegasus is out with an injury, Jaycito too… Where’s Beetlebomb when you need him?

All of this makes next week’s race at my favorite race track in all of North America very much in the spotlight.

If The Factor wins the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn next week, he will undoubtedly be the favorite in the Kentucky Derby as well.

The race to enter The Kentucky Derby tightens up considerably today through two very important prep races; the Santa Anita Derby, and the Wood Memorial.

Here’s how I see them:

Santa Anita Derby – Today’s SADerby is going to be hottly contested based upon of all things: the horses! Duh! You say… but consider the facts that great careful breeding, high prices, famous connections, perfect training and deep pocket owners can all do their parts and still not make the grade… in this case: The Grade I, Million Dollar SAD!

Today, in the last chance for Left-Coast horses to qualify for the Kentucky Derby (and subsequently the Triple Crown) we’ll see only nine horses enter the starting gate.

On Thursday, the runaway favorite to win (8-5) Premier Pegasus was scratched due to a hairline fractured cannon bone. The horse will have to wait this out to heal.

Then, yesterday, Bob Baffert announced that his top contender Jaycito would also sit this one out due to a bruised foot… also not career ending, but he’ll need to rest it awhile. He might enter the Grade III, Lexington Stakes to get into the qualifying money for the Kentucky Derby.

So, that leaves nine: nine horses that would have finished up the track are now battling for the win. Current favorite: Silver Medallion (a triple crown name – right?) will have some trouble with two other stake’s winners in Anthony’s Cross and front-running Comma To The Top. Bob Baffert is hopeful that his long-shot; Midnight Interlude (another sexy name) will give him the win he needs for a trip to Kentucky.

With all these hiccups, who can handicap this one?

I will try:

Anthony’s Cross and Silver Medallion have both been absent since Feb 12th… question? SM has never run on the dirt… question?

Midnight Interlude is a big, unproven horse that may not be able to handle the distance nor his own weight… question?

Comma To The Top finished fourth in the San Felipe after a front end dual that sank his rivals to dead last in the race. Despite that, or because of it, I’m picking Comma To The Top to upset in the Santa Anita Derby. He’ll still go to the front, but may be handled a bit to conserve his energy. That’s the promise his trainer Peter Miller delivered Thursday.

===================

Wood Memorial – This one is not so contentious. The clear and overwhelming favorite (1-5); Uncle Mo (also the current favorite to win the Kentucky Derby) will break out of the starting gate against nine opponents in the premier race at New York’s Aqueduct Race Track.

The 2010 Champion 2 Year Old Colt is a galloping sensation. His stride beats anything we’ve seen this year and perhaps preceding years going back to the late 70′s. He’s 4 for 4 and looks to stretch out his perfect record today.

The second choice Toby’s Corner will get blinkers for the first time. The other “contenders” are admittedly trying to get into the exacta and/or the trifecta bowing to the superior horse.

Secretly, the trainers all say; IF… if the horse (Uncle Mo) stumbles or has a bad day…

So, barring that, my pick for the Wood: Uncle Mo… Duh!

Sure, Dialed In, the 5-2 second favorite in the eight horse field ridden by Julien Leparoux and trained by Nick Zito, won the Florida Derby. But I have to ask “So What”? It was his trademarked long-strided stretch run that got him the win… but…

… and that’s a HUGE “but” – over who?

Soldat? the 3-2 favorite… where was he? completely out of the money… that’s where!

Stay Thirsty? missing in action as were all the others including Flashpoint the much heralded speedster who gave up his run for the Swale to enter here… oops!

The race was exciting, there’s no doubt, and the times were hohum pretty good… but this was a Grade I race, and the times should have been spectacular!

Up the backstretch (and everywhere else) Shackleford (who?) was pressed by To Honor and Serve had the solid lead. Third was Flashpoint with Soldat on the inside, and trailing everyone was Dialed In… some 14 lengths back.

Around the final turn Shackleford, ridden by Jesus Castanon, kept a hold on the lead with To Honor and Serve second and Dialed In making his rally from last.

Shackleford still led with a furlong to go as Dialed In began to grind it out and catch the former.

Dialed In caught the leader just yards before the finish and was able to stick his head out as he and Shackleford hit the wire.

To Honor and Serve, the 7-2 third pick, finished third followed by Flashpoint, Soldat, Arch Traveler, Stay Thirsty and Bowman’s Causeway

Notice that no one else but Shackleford, To Honor and Serve, and Flashpoint even got a call until Dialed In joined the mix!

So, the race was all hype and no result!… save one: the amazing presence of Shackleford, the longest shot on the board at 68-1 in the photo at the finish.

Obviously, no one gave this horse (named for Charles Shackleford of NC State fame) a chance to beat the others today. However, his winnings of $212K put him in the top 20 money earners headed for the Kentucky Derby. He’s currently 19th (out of 20) and doubtful to stay in.

Plus, I’m not convinced he deserves to be in the KD. His connections will decide whether to point him there in the next day or two. Time is running out to enter another graded race, and his winnings are probably too low NOT to enter another.

My guess is; he’s a no go!

What about Dialed In? Yeah, he’ll be there, but I can’t be excited about his chances after watching today’s race. Ditto Soldat et all!

The Kentucky Derby race to the post begins today. There’s a big field of horses trying to qualify for the Run for the Roses. It’s a matter of money… that is, the top money earners of this year’s crop of three-year-olds will get into the big race on the first Saturday in May (May 7th).

Update: Results below…

Since 2004, the Kentucky Derby has had 20 horses in the race. If more than 20 (the limit) are entered, the top graded money earners are admitted.  Last year, the bubble horse was “Make Music for Me”, and his earnings were a record high $218,750.

So, it’s no small order to get into the Kentucky Derby any longer, with the current system for qualifying, coupled with the huge crop of horses that appear this time of year as contenders, coupled with the “machines” in place for developing quality horses (that would include breeding practices, trainers and their methods, big money owners, better facilities, improving medical, physical and exercise treatments, racing grounds and surfaces, savvy riders, marketing) there is little likelihood of ever seeing a short field Kentucky Derby again.

Currently, tied for fifth-place in earnings (with “The Factor”) is a much lauded horse “Mucho Macho Man” And he’s running as the favorite in the first Million Dollar race at the Fairgrounds in New Orleans… the Grade II “Louisiana Derby” at a mile and an eighth.

Mucho Macho Man’s connections (majority partner; Dean Reeves) has been pointing MMM toward the KD since late last summer. Trainer; Kathy Ritvo took over the reigns from her trainer husband; Tim Ritvo when he took on the huge responsibility of Racing Vice President of Magna. They too are focused on getting their horse entered in the Kentucky Derby.

UPDATE: Mucho Macho Man finished a strong third in the race and may still be in the running for the Kentucky Derby. But it will be a difficult 6 weeks as the connections try to solve the puzzles: 1) Why didn’t he win. 2) Do we enter him in another race before the Kentucky Derby to assure ample winnings. 3) Do we rest him, and train him into the race – hoping that his current earnings are enough?

Meanwhile, the winner of the Million Dollar “Louisiana Derby” will HAVE to run at Churchill Downs on May 7th due to the enormous purse he won today. “Pants on Fire” was entered by his trainer; Kelly Breen to set the race for PoF’s stable mate; “Nacho Business”, but “Pants on Fire” didn’t know that. He ran a great race on his own under the handling by jockey; Anna Rose “Rosie” Napravnik.

Stay Tuned…