Atlanta Hawk........Update

NBA: Atlanta 91, Chicago 81

 

ATLANTA

, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Josh Smith scored 18 points, collected 14 rebounds and handed out 10 assists Friday in leading Atlanta to a 91-81 win over Chicago.
It was the second triple-double of Smith's six-year career. The Hawks let a 12-point, first-half lead get away, but outscored the Bulls in the final period 27-11.
The Hawks won their fifth straight home game and improved their record to 21-5 in Atlanta this season. Joe Johnson also had 18 points and Jamal Crawford produced eight of his 17 in the fourth quarter.
Chicago, losers of three in a row, got 20 points from Luol Deng. The Bulls missed all of their 10 attempts from 3-point range.

(23-25)

1 2 3 4 Total Chicago 20 26 24 11 81 Final  Atlanta 27 23 14 27 91

(32-17)

Hump Day.....News & Views

It's.....a Wednesday!

Wakey.......wakey......It's  "Hump Day".    It's mid January.....it's cold.....it's winter time.


In this ......small,  southern,  college town....we are following sports news as well as "regular" news.......for we are equal opportunists........in our never ending appetite for the juicy stories available ......on this "internet".

Here's some of that........"stuff":

NFL players go to the Hill about contract

David Akers reacts after kicking a field goal against the New York Giants on Jan. 11, 2009. (UPI Photo/John Angelillo) | Enlarge

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- A group of 25 NFL players has gone to Congress about a possible lock-out during negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.
The group included 20 active and five retired players, including NFL Players Union President and Tennessee Titans center Kevin Mawae and Philadelphia Eagles place-kicker David Akers.
"We're just letting the members of Congress know that we are not trying to walk away from the game, that we want to play," Akers said after an eight-hour meeting Wednesday with more than a dozen members of Congress. "We're just trying to make sure that they know what issues are out there and that the players are united to do whatever we can to have a fair negotiation with the owners, so that we can keep this great product on the field."
The members of Congress included Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis.                                 

It could get....ugly...Work stoppage in the NFL in 2010?    Say it ain't so!

Phillips to lead Cowboys next two seasons

Published: Jan. 21, 2010 at 2:22 PM

Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips walks onto the field before the game against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on December 27, 2009. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn | Enlarge

IRVING, Texas, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- Dallas Cowboys Coach Wade Phillips has a contract to lead the NFL team for at least the 2010 and 2011 seasons, team owner Jerry Jones said Thursday.

Phillips' tenure was rumored to be in doubt before the team finished strong and won the NFC East with a 11-5 record. Dallas was ousted in the divisional playoffs, however.
The Cowboys are 33-15 with two division titles in three seasons under Phillips.
Jones, at a season-ending news conference, said, Phillips was a "better head coach than he was three years ago and is a better head coach than we when went into training camp (last summer.)
"We want to build on the foundation we've put in place the past three years."
Jones also said he "saw the team moving in the right direction. It's embracing Wade's leadership as head coach."
Dallas is the third NFL head coaching full-time position for Phillips. He led the Buffalo Bills in 1998-2000, going 29-19, and was coach of the Denver Broncos in 1993-94, finishing 16-16. He also served as interim head coach for New Orleans (0-2) and Buffalo (0-1).

A bit of a surprise here.....But Jerry Jones owns the team.  He can call his own shots.  If I was a Cowboy fan.....there's reason to worry.....in Big D. 

Serena Williams, shown in a 2009 file photo, was an easy second-round winner Thursday at the Australian Open. UPI /Monika Graff . | Enlarge

MELBOURNE, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Serena Williams sailed into the third round of the Australian Open in dominating fashion Thursday in Melbourne.

 Williams dominant in second round win

Williams, who is also the tournament

defending champion, faced only two break-point situations in a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Petra Kvitova. She won nine consecutive games at one point and won 30 of 33 points when she got her first serve, which was 66 percent of the time.
Williams draws No. 32-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro, who as a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Andrea Petkovic Thursday, in the third round.
No. 4-seeded Carolina Wozniacki was on the court just 65 minutes in a 6-3, 6-1 pasting of Julia Goerges, sixth-seeded Venus Williams also claimed a straight-set win, knocking off Sybille Bammer 6-2, 7-5 while No. 7 Victoria Azarenka topped Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 6-0. Also, No. 9 Vera Zvonareva defeated Iveta Benesova 6-0, 6-3 and 10th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska swept past Alla Kudryavtseva 6-0, 6-2.
There were a pair of upsets Thursday with 20th-seeded Ana Ivanovic falling 6-7 (6-8), 7-5, 6-4 to Gisela Dulko and No. 21 Sabine Lisicki being ousted by Alberta Brianti 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
No. 13-seeded Samantha Stosur defeated Kristina Barrios 7-5, 6-3 and No. 16 Na Li rallied to beat Agnes Szavay 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 among wins by highly seeded players.

 Our very first.....Serena sighting of the year.  It will not be out last.

NBA: Atlanta 108, Sacramento 97

 

ATLANTA, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Jamal Crawford came off the bench to score 20 points Wednesday and lead the Atlanta Hawks to 108-97 decision over Sacramento.
Crawford, a leading candidate for the NBA Sixth Man Award this year, hit 7-of-12 shots and registered a key four-point play in the fourth period. He hit a 3-pointer as he was being fouled with 7:11 remaining and his ensuing free throw gave Atlanta a 91-78 cushion.
Crawford is averaging 19 points a game in his last eight contests.
Joe Johnson added 17 for the Hawks and Josh Smith had 16. Atlanta stayed a half game in front of Orlando at the top of the Southeast Division.
Sacramento, losers of five in a row, was led by Tyreke Evans with 24 points and Kevin Martin with 23.

Don't look now......but these Hawks are in first place in their division.    Go Hawks!

Have a great......."Hump Day"

Hump Day.....News & Views

Wednesday......."Hump Day".....

Some "stuff".......we're following:

From the "I want to be like Plaxico" files.....we give you this story:

	Dodgers' Padilla hurt in gun incident LOS ANGELES, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Vicente Padilla was treated for a gunshot wound after being accidentally shot in the right leg.

Guns........and pro athletes........just don't make a good mix.....period!


In case you missed it:

NFL: New Orleans 35, Atlanta 27

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Drew Brees passed for 308 yards and two TDs Monday and the New Orleans Saints held off a late threat to get a 35-27 win over Atlanta.

Atlanta had their chances on Monday night......But Matt Ryan threw 3 interceptions....one , a pick 6 the other way. The Saints are now 7-0......But.....

Falcon fans should rely on history. In their 40 something year existence, the Saints have never made it to the Super Bowl......and ........they will not ......this year.

These are the New Orleans Saints.....mark our word......the wheels will come off......be it injuries, bad luck........or both. This is a cursed city......and the football gods will never let these Saints......go undefeated.......much less .......win a Super Bowl.


Alright......we were wrong:

NBA: Atlanta 97, Portland 91

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Jamal Crawford led all scorers with 27 points Tuesday and the Atlanta Hawks used the fast break and a dominant inside game to down Portland 97-91.

We thought the Hawks would never win on the west coast.......Last night, they proved us wrong. This Jamal Crawford dude.........can ball!


MLB's World Series.....enters game 6:

The News ...

Phils' Victorino will play despite finger injury - The Associated Press

NEW YORK — All-Star center fielder Shane Victorino was in Philadelphia's starting lineup Wednesday night for Game 6 of the World Series despite a finger injury. Victorino was struck on his right index finger by a fastball from AJ Burnett in the first ...

This has been an entertaining series.....and a ratings success for Fox. MLB has learned a valuable lesson: Let the games start earlier. In the past, the first pitch would not be made until around 9:30 eastern standard time. This year, the games start promptly at 7:57 pm. Meaning......MLB.......has all of us on the east coast.......watching......instead of sleeping.


People born on this day.....you just might know:

Actress Loretta Swit (MASH) is 72.
Actor Ralph Macchio ( The Karate Kid) is 48.
Survivor host Jeff Probst is 48.
Actor Matthew McConaughey is 40.
Rapper-producer Diddy (Sean Combs) is 40.


Finally......I hope you guys voted yesterday......No , I did not.......but we didn't have any races going on in this small, southern, college town.

Finally......finally.....I actually heard......Christmas music......in a store I was in yesterday....and we're just barely into November....Go figure!

Hump Day..........News & Views

Been a while.......since we had some fun with "Hump Day" topics.....but here goes:


We agree with Fran.......

From UPI......

Tarkenton critical of Favre signing

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Former NFL great Fran Tarkenton says the Brett Favre signing with the Minnesota Vikings was "an absolute circus."
"I really have no interest in what Brett Favre does," Tarkenton, a Hall of Famer, said Wednesday on "The Opening Drive" on Sirius NFL Radio. "(But) It's an absolute circus, and it takes away from all the other things that are going on with the Vikings, with the NFL."

We feel the same way Fran does........enough is enough...........



Stupid is..........as......Stupid does....

Police: Beer thief didn't get far

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Police in Florida said they arrested a homeless man accused of stealing several bottles of beer and a cooler from a yacht club bar.

Daytona Beach police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said Scott Riley, 28, allegedly broke into the Halifax River Yacht Club's Tiki Bar Sunday night and took the beer and cooler to a shrub across the street from the club, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Wednesday.

Flynt said police found Riley passed out in the shrub next to the bottles and cooler, which was labeled "Halifax River Yacht Club."

Riley was arrested charged with burglary. He was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail in lieu of $2,500 bail. Flynt said investigators believe Riley may be linked to another nearby burglary.

And we thought our "Scrabble" games were brutal....

Police: Man attacked family over UNO game

OREM, Utah, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Police in Utah said a man arrested for attacking his nephew and his wife was upset by a game of UNO.

Orem police said the 58-year-old man was in his home drinking and playing the card game with his 47-year-old nephew and the nephew's 64-year-old wife at about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when he allegedly became agitated and smacked the woman on the back of her head, The Salt Lake Tribune reported Tuesday.

Lt. Gary Downey said the nephew and his wife gathered their belongings to leave, but the man grabbed his nephew's arm and punched him. He said the pair fought until the man threatened the couple with a knife and ordered them to leave.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and three outstanding warrants for aggravated assault, simple assault and driving under the influence.

Finally......another John Smoltz....update: from Google News:

Chicago T...

Smoltz joins Cards; could start or relieve - MLB.com

By Matthew Leach / MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Having already made several upgrades, the Cardinals are down to two areas of need: right-handed setup relief and the back of their starting rotation. On Wednesday they made a move that could address either, ...

... View related stories


Finally........finally........

What is it? A ..... "he"? A....."she"?

Have a great "Hump Day".......

Female .... or male?

Y'all look closely, now. So masculine looking.......so muscular.....no boobs.

Could it be .....a man? Then again.......with the "crotch"
area........without any bulges..... Could it be a woman?

Read the full story from the AJC by clicking Female .... or male?

Or simply look at these photos.....and judge for yourself.............

Michael Vick.....Public Enemy #1?

Let the "Vick Bashing"....begin in earnest ........

Report: Michael Vick signs with Eagles

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Michael Vick has been given a second chance at a pro football career by the Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN reported Thursday.

The deal went down around 8 pm last night........just in time to make the Philly morning papers:

And so it goes g.....for a man who lost everything.......served 2 years in jail....all because of a cultural difference in the way he viewed dog fighting.




Here's the PETA peoples' first salvo, “PETA and millions of decent football fans around the world are disappointed that the Philadelphia Eagles have chosen to sign a man who hanged dogs from trees, electrocuted them with jumper cables, held them underwater until they drowned in his swimming pool, and even threw his own family dogs into the fighting pit to be torn to shreds while he laughed,” said the group in a statement.


According to statistics by the FBI, over 17,000 "human beings", (young, old, black, white, rich and poor) were "murdered within the past year. Murdered by gun-shots, stabbings, beatings, poisonings, sexual assaults, and other violent acts.

I do not share in the thinking of many self-righteous Americans......who want to condemn a man for life.......for the treatment of dogs.....and look the other way........and ....excuse...murderers of actual ........people.

Vick deserves a 2nd chance.......

I'm glad the Philadelphia organization had a set "balls" .......manly enough to .....to ignore public criticism........and do the right thing.

PETA..........and .......Dead Fish.......

Those "PETA" people.....

Are at it again.......Those folks........whom the average pet loving American.....would love to admire what they stand for, ( Ethical Treatment of Animals). But.......it's stunts like this one which distances many of us away from their cause.

PETA...........Michael Vick's worst nightmare.....has a new whipping boy. The fish tossers........in Seattle, Washington.

From UPI:

PETA criticizes Seattle's famed fish toss

SEATTLE, June 10 (UPI) -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says the fish tossing that occurs at Seattle's Pike Place Market is unacceptable.

The animal rights organization told the American Veterinary Medical Association it should rethink its plan for a Pike Place Fish Market demonstration at an upcoming Seattle convention, The Seattle Times said Wednesday.

The organization told the veterinary group in a letter the practice of fish tossing makes fish appear like toys and therefore is an unacceptable practice for individuals who care for animals.

Lindsay Rajt, a PETA spokeswoman in Norfolk, said compassion should be shown by veterinarians.

Justin Hall, a Pike Place Fish Market assistant manager, said workers at the market respect the fish they toss around for customer and tourist amusement as the animals represent their livelihood.

Huh???? Can they really be serious???? And how can they expect normal people to ever take their causes serious........again.

Here's a few reader comments on this article:

anonymous · 23 hours ago

this is absolutely stupid. the fish are already dead! next thing they'll say is cremating dead people is wrong because they are being burned.... they're dead, PETA! get over it... I'm part of PETA- People Eating Tasty Animals... whats wrong with dinner and a show?

Fishy in Seattle · 22 hours ago

Are you kidding me? Doesn't PETA have anything else to busy themselves with than this? If you don't want to see the fish thrown, then don't come to Seattle.

Claudine Erlandson · 4 hours ago

PETA is definitely right. You wouldn't be throwing dead dogs and cats or dead babies, perhaps only Nazis might have done that or in some genocides. Furthermore we are talking veterinarians for heaven's sake, they are supposed to protect animal's lives! We must respect all creatures, dead or alive!

get real · 22 minutes ago

I can't believe p.e.t.a. is waisting there time on DEAD, let me say that again 'DEAD' fish. They are protesting the fish mongers (people that throw the 'DEAD' fish at the market) What a waste of energy, why aren't they in every kill shelter in the United States... how bout the sea lions KILLING our salmon here in the Northwest... get real P.E.T.A. much bigger battles out there to fight...

You knew there had to be one "PETA" nut case.....

This is why ..........there is a very good chance.....our Michael Vick .....may never, ever don an NFL uniform.

It they can do this to ......."fish throwing" vendors in Seattle.....Vick.....doesn't stand a chance.