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CBS Super Bowl Ad: Rejects Gay Dating Website Ad

I guess the executives of CBS are worried about upsetting the religious right who is beginning to flex its political muscle. I watched the commercial and don't find it that offensive. Actually, it is very tame.

Inside Chiba Lotte Marines: Getting Rid of Bobby Valentine

After reading the article about how certain individuals within the Lotte Marines organizations conspired like children to oust the popular manager of the team, Bobby Valentine, last year. It is an incredible read: children running a professional baseball organization. How in the world would the owner of the team sit back and allow such childish activities destroy the baseball club? Read the article to find out. I am so glad that I am no fan of the club. I would be livid at how Bobby was thrown under the bus. The fans should march to the team's offices and throw the people responsible under the bus instead. And I mean it.

Read article: Japan Times.

Bad guys involved (people wearing the black hats): Ryuzo Setoyama, Yoko Yoneda.

Let's hope the team stays at the bottom of the league for the next 10 years as punishment for their evil and dirty management ways. Let them be cursed.

Ha ha!

Excerpt:

A key, if unusual, combatant in the effort of the front office to discredit Valentine was a moon-faced, middle-aged woman named Yoko Yoneda, who, at the start of the 2009 season, had been elevated to the No. 3 spot in the front office, in charge of media relations and VIP suites.

With a fondness for garish fashion — black, zebra-striped polyester shirts and loud pink dresses — and carrying a mauve business card that described her as a "fortune teller" who did "character and color analysis," she was surely one of the strangest NPB executives in the annals of the game.

Yoneda made news at the beginning of the season, when she ordered reporters to stop wearing jeans and to use keigo, or formal Japanese when speaking to the players. This was the cause of great mirth to some observers, since most reporters had nothing else in their wardrobe and most players, for their part, were so uneducated they could not understand honorific Japanese.

A former cheerleader at high school baseball powerhouse PL Gakuen and an employee at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., which manufactures Pocari Sweat, a Japanese soft drink, Yoneda had been introduced to Akio Shigemitsu, by the president of Otsuka, and had been given a job in the Lotte front office in 2006.

No one could figure out what the nature of her relationship was with the diffident billionaire's son, who denied there was anything romantic going on. He simply explained in a news conference that Yoneda was an "eccentric character" who told his fortune.

Poor Tiger Woods: Money-grubbing Mistresses

It is a sign that the world has gone  bonkers: sex partners who run to the media to sell their stories of being the 'other women' in an extra-marital affair. Such is the life now for Tiger Woods. I feel sorry for the guy. I have scorn for the other women. They should be ashamed of themselves. Obviously, they were only 'in the affair' to suck as much money from the Tiger Woods-business conglomerate. Shame on them. Shame on the public for paying money to read about the affairs. I believe the only place for such women is HELL. I actually have much stronger words I would like to use but, one day, my son will take over this blog and I don't him to see/read me cursing. Nuff said.

Spanish Olympic Basketball Team Photo: Slant Eyes

Do I take offense at the gestures made by the Spanish basketball team? Yes and No.

Yes: I detest any acts of racism.
No: The players most likely did not understand the gesture is insulting to many Asians.

Growing up in Canada, many school yard bullies made the exact same gesture to me and then, went on to mimic an Oriental person speaking in a funny language. Ha! Ha! You are so funny. You are so smart. But, you are so funny that I wish you all my love. Yeah, right. For many of those people who made fun of me and my family's ancestry, I have never forgiven them. Nor will I ever.

People who have insulted me in the past or have treated me unkindly, I refuse to acknowledge their presence. I guess that is why some people think I don't play well with others.

As for the Spanish athletes, now that you know the gesture is offensive, please do not do it again.

Beijing 2008: Olympics - Did the IOC make the right decision?

If the IOC gave the 2008 games to Beijing with the belief that China would become a much better global citizen (honor freedom of speech, promote safety of citizens around the world, and usher in more democracy), then the IOC failed terribly. No one, on country, no international organization is going to tell the CCP how to act or behave in the 21st Century. The CCP plans on being around in the 22nd Century and any idea or notion about granting more rights to its own citizens is misplaced. The Chinese government has no plans on bringing in democracy to the country. No way. No how. Not now. Not ever. The Beijing 2008 games will go off well and many people will get a short glimpse of how much China has progressed in the last 10 years.

However, if the world wants China to do more to help promote peace and prosperity throughout the world, it may need to wait at least 100-200 years more. Short of an all-out revolution, the communists are in control and will remain in control unless some natural disaster forces the one billion people in the country to act out against the government and overthrow them. The earthquakes out west tested the patience of the people. A few more disasters on much larger scales will surely test the limits of a 'central command and control' system. When a billion people stand up and march to Beijing demanding change, it will send shockwaves throughout every capital city around the world.

Let's hope the summer games will show the CCP how much more they need to do for its own citizens and the people of Sudan. Stand tall and proud and accept your place in the world. Stand behind political rhetoric and ideology and you shall reap what you sow. The Chinese are a proud people and let's hope the Chinese government makes some very strong progressive moves within the next 5-10 years. A billion people deserve the right to live out their lives in peace and prosperity. Not under the thumb of a communist regime.

Chicago White Sox in the World Series?

The bookies in Las Vegas must be having a field day: the Chicago White Sox are one win away from a ticket to the biggest baseball series on this side of planet Mars. Who would've thought a year ago that the White Sox could be contenders for the Series. Just freaking outstanding.

North Korean vs. FIFA

In today's newspaper, a top FIFA official announced that the June 8 World Cup qualifying match between North Korea and Japan may be one played  behind closed doors. The North Korea - Iran match was disrupted by both violence on the field and in the stands.

It is also reported that the FIFA match commissioner, Sunil Senaweera, and the match referee, Mohammend Kousa were held up at the airport customs and then, had their cash confiscated. It was only after direct intervention by a Syrian diplomat and the North Korean Football Association official did the money return to its owners.

I don't believe the North Korean government will guarantee the safety of the Japanese national team nor will they protect the FIFA match official, referees and other personnel. North Korea is a nation about to erupt in a massive uprising. The North Korean fans believe their 'bullying' will produce the results they want on and off the field.

I hope the Japanese government sends armed soldiers to North Korea and escorts the players to and from the airport. If the North Korean government does not permit armed Japanese soldiers to protect the players and Japanese national team officials, I believe the next match, June 8th, should be played in a neutral third country. I really do think it is time that the world take a stand against North Korea and show that their 'bullying' will no longer be tolerated by the international community.

Either the world tells North Korea how to behave in international sporting competitions now or we can expect to see more violence. How will the offiicials of the Olympics handle such behaviour at the next summer Olympics? Why the world is "SO" willing to negotiate with North Korea is beyond me.

North Korean Fans Get Violent at Football Match

I sure hope the fans were just showing their outrage at the football match for their repressive political/military regime and not at what was happening on the field. With the world's attention on the football match, the fans knew that this was their chance to 'speak out' (as it were) on the countrymen's frustrations.

Let's all hope that the citizens match all the way to the capital and overthrow the regime.

(NY Times: North Koreans riot)

Boston Red Sox Player Ransoms Ball

Does the BoSox player who has the World Series winning ball intend to put the ball up for auction? Doesn't he think the team owns the ball and not him? Is he kidding himself? I hate to see one person become so greedy that he puts his own self interests ahead of the team's. It is a sad statement when a player only thinks of his own bank account. What a sad day for the sport.

(Read NY Times: Victory Ball)

NBA Brawl

Well, I just had to chime in with some comments about the fights that took place this past week in the NBA game between the Pistons and the Pacers. First, "yikes"!!! The game looked like a NHL game. Perhaps, hockey fans got some satisfaction that all out brawls can occur in other sports as well. Second, it is sad that so many professional athletes can let their tempers get out of control. I believe the players were severely provoked by some unruly fans. However, the actions by drunken fans should not absolve the retaliation committed by the players. Third, I hope the police and the district attorneys will review all the video tapes and arrest those 'drunks' who threw punches and beer cups at the players. And last, I hope the NBA bans those fans who were involved in the altercations from attending future games.

(Sports Ilustrated: article)

Sask Rider Fans Show Anger

I'll just post the link to the story here and let you read for yourselves. I can't believe this could happen at home.

(Globe and Mail: article)

Excerpt from article:

Regina — Add Saskatchewan's Paul McCallum to the list of Scott Norwood, Bill Buckner and others who have paid a nasty price for a costly mistake on the playing field.

McCallum missed two field goals, including the potential winner in overtime, in a 27-25 loss to the B.C. Lions in the CFL West final Sunday in Vancouver.

Within hours, eggs had been thrown at his home, manure dumped on his lawn and he had been the target of threats.

Ichiro: Congratulations

Quite impressive. (Mainichi News)

Ichiro sets single season hit record

SEATTLE -- Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki set a new Major League record for the most hits in a single season when he earned his 258th hit in a game against the Texas Rangers here on Friday.

Cornelius Horan: Lock him up!!! Men's Marathon Marred by Crazy Man

I saw the Olympic highlights of the incident and I was shocked to see how easy it was for someone to disrupt the Men's Marathon in Greece.

I believe it is best to place the defrocked Irish priest behind locked walls till a time when he is deemed to be no longer dangerous to society. Should he be allowed to roam freely knowing that each time, he does something more spectular. Will the doctors and police allow him to bring down an airplane? Will the police allow him to derail a train? Will the government allow him to poison millions?

This person does not deserve to enjoy the same rights you or I have. He needs to be locked up for our safety. If the authorities are no willing to place him in jail, they should make him pay a large fine of a couple of million dollars. By the way, why doesn't the government strip him of his passport? I don't ever want to see him in Canada or Japan.

(Globe and Mail.)

Taiwan Wins First Gold Medal

Congratulations to the Taiwanese for their wins at Athens: Chen Shih Hsin and Chu Mu Yen. It is sad that the team from Taiwan must compete under the name of "Chinese Taipei" instead of their official name of "Republic of China". Also, it is a shame that they cannot fly their own flag at the games and must compete under a more neutral Taiwanese Olympic flag. I cannot understand how the other countries can allow or sanction the political wranglings of the PRC in the Olympics.

I know the PRC will never give up their claim on the island and the world should prepare itself for the day when military leaders in China give the orders to retake the island. A regional war between the PRC and ROC will ignite a much larger war as other countries are pulled into the battles. I only hope that Japan begins thinking long term and understands what a more expansionist military China means to them. China has never forgiven Japan for the Sino-Japan War and one day, the PRC will get their revenge. If Japan were foreward-thinking, it would be wise to re-arm itself sooner rather than later.

Olympic Controversy

Unbelievable. (NY Times.)

Rape Allegations Scuddle Careers of Coaches

So what else is new on college campuses?? LaSalle coaches are suspected of instructing the alleged victim from going to the police much earlier.

Excerpt Begins

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the investigation centers on a recent statement made to police by a member of the La Salle women's basketball team who claimed she was raped by a men's player but had been discouraged by university coaches from reporting it.

Excerpt Ends

(SI.com)

Matsui: Rookie of the Year?

It's all over the media here: Hideki Matsui did not win the Rookie-of-the-Year Award. Apparently, the voting was put into question as one writer decided to make Matsui ineligible for the award due to Matsui's playing professional baseball in Japan for many years. Interesting how much is being written about this situation. It would have been nice had Matsui won the title, but I don't think not winning it will bother him one little bit. (Related story.)

Photos of Verdy Match

Oh, I forgot. I have posted some of the better photographs from Saturday's football match. I have a roll of film (yes, I still shoot on 35mm) in my camera bag that is about ready to be developed. Once that gets done, I will upload some of the finer shots here.

Tokyo Verdy Football Match

Heading out this evening to see today's football match at Ajinomoto Stadium in Western Tokyo. It should be a good match. Good teams. Good weather. Great company. I will try to take a few photos and upload them later. I sure hope the rain clouds stay away - there is nothing I hate more than having to sit outside to watch a sporting event in rain-soaked clothing. (Verdy HP.)