There comes a time in every blogger's life...

For years I've written (with varying degrees of consistency) at my old blog

Today, I hang it up and move on like a hermit crab who has outgrown its shell.

SPADream was meant to be a forum for me to vent about sports, politics, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

I guess I felt pigeonholed by the title, and eventually quit writing.

Maybe I've realized the American Dream, so I ran out of things to say.

Either way, this will be a much more diverse forum.

Because I'm a pack-rat, I've imported my old postings to this blog. Some habits die hard.

You can still expect to be subjected to my rants about the Grizzlies, Braves, Crimson Tide, Titans, Memphis Tigers, etc.

Likewise I'm sure I'll still have plenty to say about the state of American Politics.

As for what else may appear? Like always, you'll have to...

Stay tuned.

John Calipari: My Take

I have waited to say something until things settled down.

Much like our President, I like to know what I'm talking about before I speak.

Does it hurt that Calipari left?

Like hell.

Am I disappointed that the dream season we expected next year has vanished?

Unspeakably.

Do I blame him for taking the Kentucky job?

Not in the least.

Am I angry at Calipari?

I'm not.

Do I hope he fails at Kentucky?

That depends.

It depends on what he does with the Memphis roster. If he takes players (Witherspoon, Sallie, Garcia) and recruits (anyone NOT named John Wall, Demarcus Cousins and Xavier Henry) then I'll be rooting against that team next year. That would re-ignite the anger I felt last night.

If, on the other hand, he tells the current Memphis players that they cannot follow him to Kentucky and tells the recruits (again, other than the Top 3 in the country) that they don't have to stay committed to Memphis, but they can't play for him then I won't root against UK and I won't be angry.

Why do I exclude those three recruits? I'm a realist. The top 3 players in the country want to play for Calipari, and if you are going to take your dream job it is reasonable to expect that you take those guys if they want to follow you. He's not going to Kentucky to lose, we know that much.

But at the end of the day my sadness is not about wins and losses. Its about what the Memphis Tigers mean to the City of Memphis. The city has had legendary support for this program for decades, long before Calipari. I trust that they will support the Tigers A.C. (after Calipari) as well. But in this economy, there are a lot of people who were planning to pony up a lot of money to see a top 5 team play next year that suddenly need to ask themselves if they can afford to spend that kind of money to watch a team that may lose 10 or 15 or 20 games.

At the end of the day, my feelings will be cemented when I see who we hire next. If we hire Tony Barbee, we're in for a long Tic Price-esque period of mediocrity. If we go out and hire someone like Tim Floyd (USC) or Sean Miller (Xavier) or Bruce Pearl (UT) or Avery Johnson (Formerly of the Dallas Mavericks) then we may be okay. We won't be as good as we were last year. Or the year before that. Or as we would have been next year. But we will be okay.

Its worth noting that, as an Alabama fan I've seen a LOT of coaching changes. Never, ever have I seen a coach accept a position, get introduced, and still feel so strongly about the city he left that he came back that day to address them. I remember Dennis Francione and his midnight departure to Texas A&M just days after he told his players to "hold the rope" during NCAA sanctions. That is classless. What Calipari is doing is as close to class as one can show when they leave.

He said it himself, he would have made more money to stay at Memphis. This was about his dreams. No one can fault him for chasing them. He's been here for 9 seasons, but before that he spent his life aspiring to basketball greatness. Kentucky is basketball greatness.

Now my anxiety is focused on our coaching search. It has been well documented that we have (1) a lot of money to pay a coach, (2) the facilities necessary to be successful, (3) a commitment by our Athletic Dept and Boosters to the Basketball program, (4) a program that is attractive to recruits and (5) the ability to be a #1 or #2 seed in the NCAA tournament despite being in C-USA. That has to be attractive to a lot of coaches. We have to wonder whether they are hesitant to follow Calipari and the expectations he's left behind.

The reality is that high-school players do not care about what conference we play in. The only initials that matter are N-B-A. In Memphis they get to play in an NBA arena. They get to play pickup basketball with NBA players in the summer. They are exposed to NBA scouts. On top of that, Memphis is an urban area that is attractive to many of the top prospects.

So the watch begins as an era ends. Thank you coach Cal, for all that you did for Memphis and the Tigers over the last nine years - but don't expect us to be cheering for you. And don't pillage our roster on your way out of town.

Go Tigers Go!!

Stay Tuned...

Memphis Light Rail System

I sent the following letter to Congressman Steve Cohen on February 25, 2009. As always, Congressman Cohen has been very responsive, and agreed to meet with me later this month to further discuss this matter. This is the kind of response citizens of every district ought to receive, and I'm grateful for Congressman Cohen's dedication to serving the TN-9th.

Dear Congressman Cohen,

...

In light of our recent financial crisis, and the stimulus bill that was passed by the Congress this month, I believe that now is the time to move forward on the development of an efficient, area-wide mass transit light-rail system in Memphis and Shelby County. The potential benefits of this system are obvious: jobs will be created (to build the line), money will be infused into the city (to local developers, contractors, construction firms and supply companies), and the city can look forward with optimism because we're taking a step into the next century.

Inspiteof the negativity surrounding our current state of affairs, Memphis's leaders need to stand up and call upon its citizens to embrace the advancement of our city. While the short sighted among us will be concerned about the interference associated with construction, our children will thank us for providing them with a meaningful and efficient method of public transportation. If properly executed the system will not only bring more people and businesses to Memphis, but keep our businesses here. It will also provide a mechanism by which Memphis's very distinct and diverse populations can begin to interact and appreciate what each culture offers this city.

While people may feel that Memphis is not able to compete with Dallas, Atlanta or Denver today, taking proactive steps can position us to be a city on the rise in 2020. Last night President Obama presented a vision of our country that is ambitious and bold, despite our financial situation. I believe that it is these most challenging times when we must take our biggest steps forward. With significant Federal Stimulus money being marked for Transportation and Infrastructure, now is the time to act. While the project may not be quite "shovel ready", MATA has been studying the plan for over a decade and a vast majority of the preparatory work is complete. With your voice as a leader of the Memphis community, and your presence on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, we can take action to move Memphis forward.

I am available to meet at your Memphis office at any time. I understand that you are back-and-forth from D.C. and have hundreds of people back in the 9th who would like to get your ear for a few moments. I hope you will find a moment to discuss this matter with me. Our city has everything to gain, and as President Obama said last night, "someday years from now our children can tell their children that this was the time when we performed."

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, I hope it finds you well.

Jonathan Louis May

I hope that my fellow Memphians will join me in my "call to arms" on this issue - now is the time for action!

Stay Tuned...

An Open Letter to Chris Wallace (GM - Memphis Grizzlies):

Mr. Chris Wallace,

I just want to put my two cents in. I know you are getting bombarded with fan's who "know best" when it comes to whether or not to part with significant assets for Amare. I won't pretend to know enough basketball to tell you what to do. I just have one nagging thought - unless Amare is willing to sign an extension as part of the deal, I can't help but feel that when the season opens in the fall of 2010, we will have taken a huge step backwards.

We will have lost Amare and Rudy/Conley/Picks/Cap Space/etc and be left with OJ (thank god) and either Rudy or Conley and Gasol, and probably get shut out of the big-named free-agent players in 2010. Right now you have a promising young core in Rudy/OJ/Conley/Gasol and all the picks and cap space we could dream of. In a year, that could materialize into something special, and something stable (perhaps more important).

If you sell out the future just to make a run at the playoffs next year (because it wont happen this year) you'll find yourself right back where you started. Sure, the city will be abuzz about Amare coming to town, and we might even make the playoffs next year. But after that…we’ll be back to square one, talking about three-year plans and new coaches. Our previous GM, Mr. West, made the mistake of thinking that 3 straight trips to the playoffs would make this city attach itself to the team. It will take more than that, because its not about the playoff trips - its about how miserable the other 5 seasons have been.

Please don't trade out our chances at being a good, middle of the pack team that is always one draft pick or one well-timed free-agent signing (or trade) away from being a contender. I'd rather win 45 games a year and miss the playoffs more than we make them than mortgage the future for one full season with Amare. This trade – while worthy of headlines and gossip, is not a long-term solution to our teams needs.

You have subjected the fans to talk of patience and cap space. Of waiting till the time was right, of looking to the future and not forsaking it for “instant gratification” even when all we wanted was for our owner to spend enough money to prove that he cares. This trade will send the wrong message, that Mr. Heisley thinks the city can be tricked into caring about the team, in spite of the obvious long term negative impact this trade would have.

I grew up here in Memphis and you won't find a bigger supporter of this team. I preach it to my friends and family, as well as my co-workers. I just got out of law school, and the first purchase I made when I moved back to Memphis was a 22-game pack in the cheap seats for my fiancé and I. We can't wait until we can afford good seats, but we will always remember where we came from - the rafters, where the real fans sit. I hope this email finds you well, and I hope you make the right decision, even if its not the decision I would make.

If, by chance, you can get Amare without giving up Gay/Conley/Mayo/Gasol, I’d like to go on the record with my full support.

GO Grizz!
Jonathan L. May

Stay Tuned...

Wasssssup (8 years later)

An absolute must see video:

The "Wassssssup" guys from the Budweiser commercials are back, and life couldn't be more different.

Youtube Link



Just 9 more days - enjoy!

Stay Tuned...AND VOTE!

Spin...an American Tradition

I'll tell you one thing. I don't say this often, but I have to give it up to the GOP. The last three weeks have demonstrated that the brain-trust of the party is truly capable of spinning absolutely anything. I have three particular instances that are so astonishingly impressive and depressing at the same time.

Exhibit A: The Bristol Palin Pregnancy.

Leave it to the GOP, the party of "family values" to take what - for a Democrat - would be a crushing PR disaster among the religious right and turn it into a shining beacon of conservative values. They have managed to turn irresponsible pre-marital teenage sex and turn it into proof that the Palin family is the standard-bearer for all "values voters" to follow. Please note what I called it - Irresponsible (no protection); Pre-Marital (now they plan to wed); Teenage (she is 17) - that is not a value judgment, just a statement of fact. It is the conservative right that has been attaching moral judgment to those terms for the last 25 years.

This is the political equivilent of Tiger Woods' 350 yard drive. You just can't compete, no matter how well you play. They are playing a different game.

Exhibit B: The Biden "Stem Cell" Remark

No matter how you cut it, Joe Biden is right. If the GOP were truly the party most interested in helping families with disability, they would be more open to stem-cell research. What he said makes such a compelling point that - rather than responding with substantive debate supporting their ban on stem-cell research - the GOP attack machine condemmed Biden for sinking to "a new low" in modern politics.

How dare Joe Biden discuss stem-cell research when Sarah Palin's own child suffers from Downs Syndrome! How dare he properly point out that the Democrats have a significant policy difference from the Republicans on the issue of stem-cell research and that such research has the gasp! potential to help millions of American's suffering with disabilities.

And yet, Joe Biden is the bad guy because he has mentioned the "d-word" (disability) which, now that Sarah Palin has entered the race, is off-limits to the Democrats.

This is incredible work being done by truly gifted political minds. Not policy minds, but political minds. These are the same minds that were so preoccupied with scaring Americans into voting GOP in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006 that they ran the country right into the ground.

Exhibit C: The "lipstick on a pig" Remark

Now we see why Governor Palin was selected to be VP. It was not because her 5-month old child would give the GOP a monopoly on all discussions regarding disability - that was a freebie. It was because any reference made, by any Democrat, which might hint at gender is now a "slap" at Gov. Palin. So sensitive to the plight of women (and pigs, it seems) are the McCain folks that the use of the word "lipstick" brought the ire of the campaign. I'm not sure if they are suggesting that "lipstick" was offensive to put on a pig, or if they felt that Sarah Palin was being called a "pig" - it is unclear at this time.

Either way, this much is clear, the GOP will have NO references to gender in this election year. Unless Arnold is up for reelection in California again, in which case all "girlie-man" references will be wildly embraced by the Republican Party.

All this ignores one major consideration. Barack Obama was making reference to his sense that McCain's "change" agenda is bologna. It was not a reference to Sarah Palin. There were no women (and no pigs) involved in his use of the colloquialism.

When John McCain used the saying last year, however, he was specifically referring to Hillary Clinton's policy proposals.

Hypocrisy - at its absolute best.

Just when you thought you'd seen it all when you watched John Kerry's swift boat sink, Karl Rove and Krew swoop in to shame you into submission once more. For a party that whined and cried about Obama "playing the race card," they sure haven't hesitated to play the gender & disability card since adding Sarah Palin to their ticket.

I don't care what political party you belong to, at a certain point its time to get back on the issues. If John McCain doesn't like his "agenda of change" being characterized as a pig-in-lipstick, perhaps he should present legitimate policy provisions that represent the type of change that voters are looking for. If Sarah Palin doesn't like Joe Biden being a voice for millions of Americans living with serious disabilities, maybe she should respond by presenting proposed changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act or Medicare funding for 24-hour in-home nurses to help working families care for special needs children.

Alas, in this age of 24-hour news cycles and talking points there is no room for substance, and those that dare breach the muddy waters of intelligent debate are blasphemous elitist who clearly don't represent our interests.

To paraphrase one of my favorite sports casters, the late Don Poier, "Only in the movies and in America!"

Stay Tuned...

Palin: I can't help myself

Let me preface this - I don't want you to think that I consider myself "better" than anyone else because I have a law degree. Regardless of my personal education, I have standards for a Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidate.

I don't think for ONE SECOND that it is an ASSET that Sarah Palin has no education beyond a Communications Degree from the University of Idaho. This is a Tier 3 school according to US News & World Report. That means it checks in AT LEAST lower than 130 other schools (after 130 they are listed alphabetically). Among schools higher? The University of Alabama. Auburn University. Samford University. The University of Tennessee. Illinois Institute of Technology. and AT LEAST 125 other schools. But rankings aren't everything.

I'm not saying she has to have a J.D., but I want my commander-in-chief to have more than that B.S. (that's a pun - get it?) A Masters in Public Affairs/Policy would even be sufficient for me to feel confident that she understands the nature of the job she seeks.

I'll accept that her "not being a lifetime politician" can be a turn on, but I think its ludicrous to insinuate that her lack of advanced education is an asset. That - to me - sounds a little hollow.

I'm all for empowering ordinary citizens to seek elected office, but that should be City Council, or maybe the House of Reps - not President or Vice President. I expect more than "average" out of whomever holds that office.

And to be honest, I think anyone that contends otherwise is bitter that they haven't realized their own potential and find shallow reassurance in the potential success of another.

For what it's worth - this only touches on one MINOR issue I have with the Palin candidacy, and if I have time I will address the others.

There are so many.

Stay Tuned...

The Bar Exam - 10 things that drive us crazy

Someone sent this to me. Its too perfect not to share with the world. Those of you taking the Multistate Bar Exam will know EXACTLY what I am talking about

(sorry about the language, its written by someone else)

1. People who don't record their deeds:
Hey. Fuck face. That's a nice deed you got there. Went ahead and bought Stankacre, didya? That's awesome. Owning property is a sign of real maturity. Now, why don't you do us all a fucking favor, and go record the fucking deed.Right. Fucking. Now. Don't put it in a goddamn drawer. Don't go off to India for 20 years. Don't leave the deed in your will for dear cousin Victorianox. Get your fat lazy ass down to the records office, and record it before I burn your goddamn house down.

2. Wily property sellers:
Here is a suggestion to those Bill of Rights violatin' petty thug assclowns, the Police. How about you go down to Doucheacre, and arrest the son of a bitch who sells the same house to 15 different people, over and over. I'm sick of this guy getting away every time he pulls this shit, and I'm left to sort out the fucking pieces.

3. "Known" arsonists:
Here's a little tip to all the cretins that keep hiring "known"arsonists to burn down their cheating girlfriend's house. Why is it, do you think, that he is a known arsonist, you dipshit? He's known because he has been fucking caught before. You don't know who the good arsonists are, do you! Because they have their shit together. But no, you had to go hire Dusseldorf, or Durango, or whatever D word your fuckwit moron arsonist is named, and now he's gone and burned the wrong house, and left me with a BAR question.

4. People who back out of conspiracies:
Why don't you just stick with it and save us all some trouble, you pussy.

5. Power companies that leave an electric wire live to deter copper theft:
While I appreciate your effort to rid the world of thieves stupid enough to try and steal raw copper wiring that's fucking humming and has blue arcs dancing on it, it's just gonna bite you in the ass in the end. Just let the copper go.

6. Fertile Octogenarians:
I think I speak for all of us when I say...
...Burn the witch!
Burn her!
And don't use a "known" arsonist!

7. People who use anything more complicated than Fee Simple Absolute in a will:
Hey, old man. Either give Horatio your fucking interest in Scroteacre, or don't, alright? Don't condition it on him growing a mustache, or learning to play the calliope, or winning "Dancing with the Stars." Don't grant a springing executive interest to Zenobia if she manages to graduate from Ninja academy. Stop making my life more complicated than it needs to be, you Narcissistic old twat, and stop trying to control your property from the grave in a vain attempt to make up for your feebleness in life.

8. House Painters:
Just paint the fucking house yourself, Paulson.Trust me on this one. It's not worth it.

9. Bank Mortgages:
Hi there, First National Bank of South Calizonachussettsas. I don't mean to tell you how to run your business, but allow me to impart a bit of sage wisdom.
When someone :

1) named Defaultina McBankrupstein,

2) is taking out her 17th mortgage with you,

3) on a place called Mushacre

4) so she can buy a new hat,
….do NOT fucking come crying to me when the inevitable judicial foreclosure sale nets $34, a button, and some lint, all of which are devoured by the banks that are 20 miles ahead of you in creditor line. And do not ask me whether you are a junior or senior mortgagor, or whether you debt is secured, or some other bullshit I don't understand, because the answer is always the same.
D) You are Fucked. Take it like a man.

10. Wanna-be Burglars:
I am sick to death of these slack jawed melon-heads deciding at 2 a.m.that they need to borrow their neighbors wrench, and are sure he"won't mind" if they saunter on over there in the middle of the night, crowbar the garage open, smash open his tool chest, and "borrow it."And then always the inevitable fucking:
Did he commit Larceny/Burglary/Robbery?????? Ohhhhh, no intent!

Let him go, boys. Let the man go. So I can throw the wrench right at his goddamn teeth. Good thing when we are really in practice we will have these IntentGoggles (c), that can magically tell us, despite every bit of evidence to the contrary, this jackass really didn't intend to commit a crime.He genuinely thought that breaking into your neighbor's house,stealing his car, taking a shit on his pool table, and sleeping with his wife were all part of the social covenants between good neighbors.

I hope you got as good a laugh out of this as I did.

NOW GET BACK TO WORK!


Stay Tuned...

Michael Moore sounds...sane?

You really ought to take the time to read Michael Moore's piece on the Democratic Primary Season. He has kept his obnoxious and large mouth out of the race until today, when he posted a plea for PA democrats to vote for Obama on his behalf.

Here is the link.

Here is a great little clip that seems to be going unreported:

Finally, I want to say a word about the basic decency I have seen in Mr. Obama. Mrs. Clinton continues to throw the Rev. Wright up in his face as part of her mission to keep stoking the fears of White America. Every time she does this I shout at the TV, "Say it, Obama! Say that when she and her husband were having marital difficulties regarding Monica Lewinsky, who did she and Bill bring to the White House for 'spiritual counseling?' THE REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT!"

But no, Obama won't throw that at her. It wouldn't be right. It wouldn't be decent. She's been through enough hurt. And so he remains silent and takes the mud she throws in his face.

Will the hypocrisy ever end?!?

Stay Tuned...

Is it just me...

Or do the Clintons want to be Republican?

CNN.com is reporting that Clinton's latest ad features Pearl Harbor and Osama Bin Ladin. Thats right. HRC has resorted to fear-politics. The exact kind the Democratic party has lambasted for the last 8 years.

Not only that, Bill Clinton came out today with a bunch of bullshit about how, under the GOP primary rules, HRC would be leading the race.

Wow. The family that knows no boundaries, no limits, no shame.

And a President hell-bent on destroying his legend.

And now I'll have to vote for McCain if HRC manages to steal this election.

You see what you've done Hillary? You see what you've made me do?!?

Outspent. Outfundraised. Outclassed.

Stay Tuned...

Clinton v. Obama: Experience

Lets look at the "35 years of experience" that the Clinton Camp keeps harping on:

The Facts:

Senator Barack Obama

1996-2004 (Illinois State Senator)

2005-2008 (United States Senator)

12 Years of Elected Office Experience

Senator Hillary Clinton

2001-2008 (United States Senator)

7 Years of Elected Office Experience

(FYI - George W. Bush had 6 years in office before the presidency)

So, 35 years that Hiliary keeps talking about, less 7 years of elected office = 28 years

Here are the remaining 28 years -

8 Years (Lawyer)

12 Years (First Lady of Arkansas)

8 Years (First Lady of the U.S.)

28 Years of Zero Elected Office Experience

Since when is 20 years of being a first lady equal the type of experience needed to be president?

Does that mean that the wife/husband of a heart surgeon is qualified to transplant my heart?

Don't let Clinton Supporters blindly throw "experience" in the face of voters - share this with other voters.

At the very least, it is absurd to imply that being a member of a state legislative body is not "experience" while being the spouse of a governor or president is.

Her experience is valid, and important - but it does not significantly distance her from Barack Obama in a discussion about who is ready to lead this country.

Stay Tuned...

Top 10 Signs Its Exam Time

Direct from the home office in Knoxville, Tennessee -

The Top 10 signs its exam time:

10. The lights in the law school have switched to "reserve power" meaning that I am at the law school after 1:30am;

9. I have not slept in more hours than I can count;

8. My diet consists mostly of sugar free red bull, diet coke and pharmaceuticals (as properly prescribed, don't get the wrong idea);

7. Aaron needs a haircut;

6. I am buying CDs on iTunes just to avoid listening to The Darjeeling Limited soundtrack for the 40th time today;

5. I can feel my heart beating in my throat;

4. I am wasting time desperately trying to come up with ten items for this list instead of finishing my take-home Disability Law exam;

3. I've taken to watching season 2 of Prison Break as a means of rewarding myself for solid stretches of diligent work;

2. I'm going to waste even more time by taking this away message and posting it on the blog; and

The #1 sign that it is exam time again:

I just had to go back and reverse the numbering on this list because I'm so tired that I screwed it up. Yet, I was so concerned about this away message that I was willing to waste the time to fix it instead of doing my work!

Stay Tuned...

Roadtrip Anyone?

What better way to cleanse the body of the Tennessee Bar Exam than a 11461 mile, 4 week road trip?

Knoxville, TN to Fairbanks AK (by way of Lake Nebagamon, WI and the BWCAW)

to Vancouver, BC

to Seattle, WA

to Los Angelas, CA

to Las Vegas, NV

to Salt Lake City, UT

to Denver, CO

to Santa Fe, NM

to Jaurez Mexico

to San Antonio, TX

to Austin, TX

to Dallas, TX

to Houston, TX

to Memphis, TN

to Knoxville, TN.

11461 miles.

183 hours of driving - according to Yahoo! Maps.

A visit to Camp Nebagamon.

A night or two in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

A week in Denali National Park.

A day or two in British Columbia.

A drive down the Pacific Coast.

A day or two in L.A.

Three nights in Vegas.

The Great Salt Lake.

The Grand Canyon.

A voyage of literary proportions. The kind of trip that will wash our lives of all the mundane and clear our souls for the begining of the rest of our lives.

Done on the cheap, with no firm plans, reservations or accommodations - just a starting date, an ending date and a list of things to do.

The things we dream of during exams.

Stay Tuned...

The Procrastination Flowchart

This was found at the My Million Dollar January blog.

Very accurate, and probably made while someone was procrastinating.

Stay Tuned...

Let me save us all the trouble...

Let me save you the trouble.

I hate Auburn.

I hate Tennessee.

I hate LSU.

I hate going 6-6.

I hate losing to Auburn.

I hate losing to LSU.

I love beating Tennessee.

I am embarrassed to lose to La. Monroe.

I'm not embarrassed to lose to Miss St.

I'm embarrassed to have lost to Auburn tonight.

You want to talk shit about my coach being paid $4 Million dollars and going 6-6?

I'll be happy to point you in the direction of Mike Shula and the talent that he left on this roster.

I'll be happy to make excuses.

I'll tell you all about injuries, and the poor play of John Parker Wilson.

I've got all that if you want to hear it.

What I really want to tell you is that 6-6 doesn't matter.

That the calendar year of 2007 will be judged by the recruiting class - the 22 commits, two 5-star and twelve 4-star kids - and what they mean to the program when the are two years into their college career.

You want to talk shit about Nick Saban?

That is jealousy, because the god's honest truth is that every school in the country would take him at the helm of their program.

Every Auburn fan would take Nick Saban.

Every UT fan would take Nick Saban.

Every LSU fan would take Nick Saban.

Well he is the Alabama Coach, and as long as Coach Nick Mother Fucking Saban coaches in Tuscaloosa the future is bright.

Yeah, we went 6-6.

Yeah, that sucks.

Yeah, Auburn has won 6 straight against us.

Yeah, that sucks too.

But watch out...and enjoy it while you can.

Roll Tide Roll!

Stay Tuned...

Law School: The Musical

For those of you in need of a break from the realities of law school (or practicing law) - feast your eyes on this classic video:

Click here to watch "Law School Musical"

I hope this has helped stem the stress of the "early exam prep" period and given you the burst of energy you need to keep mindlessly typing up those hand-written notes you took. That was a bright idea, in retrospect...

Props to Jhasta Moore for the find - I can't take credit for this diamond.

Stay Tuned...

Radiohead Fights Piracy - Gives Away New CD Online!

So called "Music Piracy" has dominated the intellectual property headlines ever since Lars Ulrich (of Metallica) decided to punish his fans and take on Napster. Well the times they are a changing. For those of you who are not aware, Radiohead has found a new way to fight music piracy - Give the music away to your fans and allow them to pay as much or as little (£0.00) as they feel like paying! You heard me right! The new album In Rainbows is available at Radiohead.com for any amount.

A recent survey of U.K. listeners indicated that as much as 2/3 of all downloaders paid some amount to the band, and some paid as much as £20 (almost $40). One Radiohead fan even paid £100 for the album! The early reports are that Radiohead will ultimately make the same profit that they traditionally make. This will set an interesting precedent in the music world. Clearly there are only a handful of bands that could afford to take such a gamble. In the last 15 years (since piracy became an issue) bands have relied heavily on concert ticket sales to balance out their bottom line. With that being the trend (and ticket prices going up as much as 40% over that span), will more artist take a gamble on the "good faith" of their consumer and put their work out for public consumption? Perhaps the larger issue is the quality of the music that many of the artist are putting out today.

I can personally say that I did not pay anything to download the album. That being said, if I like it I will go back to the site and pay them something (though I am not sure how much) for the music. I am a firm believer in rewarding artists that put out quality music, not just 15 tracks of crap and 1 radio-play single.

Legally Radiohead, unlike many artist who sign with big labels without equal bargining power, was in full control of thier music and could make this release if they choose to. There are a lot of other artist who do similar things, but you tend to see that from small artist trying to get their name out there and are thus willing to spread their music far & wide in the hopes of landing a record deal. Trent Reznor, of Nine Inch Nails, has recently taken the music industry head-on in an attempt to put out the second half of the Year Zero album in much the same way. Reznor released this statement October 8th on the Nine Inch Nails Website:

"...as of right now nine inch nails is a totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label. I have been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the business radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very different and it gives me great pleasure to finally be able to have a direct relationship with the audience as I see fit and appropriate."

The long story short is that artist are starting to stand up for their fans and challenge the record executives. The RCAs and Sonys of the world are nothing without their talent and their fans, and when the two join forces freedom might be obtainable. For now, we will settle for a free album.

Kudos to Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails for taking a chance on their fans - I hope it works out, and I hope other artists learn from it. Thats right Metallica - I'm looking at you.

Stay Tuned...

LSU Writer Defends Alabama -

The Black Coaches & Administrators put out an annual report card grading the "coaching searches" conducted by college athletic programs. In an absolutely shameful act, the BCA gave the UNiversity of Alabama an "F" for the coaching search that ultimately led to the hiring of Nick "CNMFS" Saban.

The BCA disregarded the fact that Rich Rodrigquez (a latino) was not only a candidate, but he was offered the job of Head Coach, before balking to remain at WVU.

If the BCA wants to stand for equality and diverse hiring practices, then maybe they should recognize minorities other than African American. It is so hypocritical that its almost laughable. If it wasn't true, you'd never believe it.

As Mr. Scott (of tigerbait.com) writes below, the BCA not only owes the Crimson Tide an appology, but they should take a full page ad out in the USA Today and correct their mistake. It hurts UA across the board - recruiting, retention, ticket sales, image and national impressions. Further it hurts the entire state of Alabama.

I will point out, as does Mr. Scott, that its hilarious that he has now had to defend the University of Alabama (and more specifically its coaching search that ultimately yielded CNMFS).

NO Fs IN ALABAMA

By Chadd Scott

The Black Coaches and Administrators, an organization whose primary purpose is to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports (that's taken straight from its web page), has come out with its annual report card for college football on its hiring practices and the news is not good for some.

For Alabama, the news is downright ugly. The BCA slapped the Tide with a big, fat, red, "F" for the way it conducted its search that ultimately ended with the hiring of Nick Saban.

There are three things about this I don't like. One, I don't appreciate the competition when it comes to ripping the Alabama football program; I staked my claim to that fertile turf long ago and I don't need any company. Two, these claims are total b.s. and the BCA owes Alabama a public apology for them. Three, because of number two, I'm forced to defend Alabama which puts me in a bad spot because of number one.

From the USA Today story Wednesday about this "report card:" "Alabama got F's for the makeup of its search committee and for minority candidates considered."

An "F" for minority candidates considered, huh?

Funny, I thought Rich Rodriguez, who was offered the Alabama job and turned it down, was Hispanic?

Is he not?

I just checked his biography, he is.

Do Hispanics not count to the BCA?

Is Rich Rodriguez not "minority" enough?

Are some minorities more important than others in the eyes of the BCA?

Is this just an attempt to smear the reputation of Alabama – again, bordering real close to infringement on my territory – regardless of the truth?

Is the BCA just plain stupid?

Is the BCA lazy?

Is the BCA playing off Southern stereotypes by trying to portray Alabama in a negative racial light despite the school's best effort to hire a minority?

All these are questions that have to be asked and deserved to be answered by the BCA, because the BCA loves to dish it out and call people names and threaten lawsuits, but it has libeled Alabama in my opinion with the gross misrepresentation – no, downright total and blatant fallacy – that Alabama did not pursue a minority football coach when it had a vacancy.

Alabama didn't just pursue a minority candidate, it hired one. Or so the school thought before Rodriguez wriggled away at the last moment.

Alabama doesn't deserve an "F" for its hiring practices, it deserves an "A."

But just correcting the Tide's "F" to an "A" by this irrelevant pressure group doesn't go nearly far enough in correcting the damage done to the reputation of the University and its athletic department because of this completely false and inflammatory accusation.

The BCA should immediately, and I mean today, run a public apology to the University of Alabama in the form of a full page advertisement taken out in the USA Today.

The BCA, in a highly public and visible manner so that no one can be left with the incorrect impression it has created, needs to take total blame for its lack of accuracy in researching the Alabama football coaching hire and applaud the University for the job it did in trying to promote minority coaches within its football program.

This story was mentioned on the cover of the most widely read newspaper in the country. It was fodder for talk shows all over America. The buzz words were "race," "Alabama," "denied opportunity," "F," "Black," "Saban."

Those buzz words and the utter mistruths promoted by the BCA through its shocking ignorance in researching this report only foster the misconception, a still widely held misconception in many parts of the county, that Southerners and people from Alabama are a bunch of racists who view someone by skin color first and promote a good old boy network that excludes outsiders.

I spent the last four years of my life living in Connecticut. I know that presumption exists.

I lived 10 years in Alabama and know that reality does not.

It is erroneous and agenda driven reports like this that continue to feed the prejudices of people outside the South that we Southerners are all bigoted hillbillies clinging to Jim Crow.

That's incendiary, it's malicious, and the BCA owes the University of Alabama an apology for casting those aspersions on it.

The intimation from the BCA with this "F" grade on minority hiring is that the University of Alabama is racist.

How do you think that effects recruiting?

How do you think that effects perception?

Not just of the University, but of the state of Alabama.

How do you think that affects the lives of the people at the University of Alabama who've tried to do everything they know how to break from the racial injustices of the past?

The BCA, through this poisonous "report card," has slurred an entire state in general, and a proud university in specific, and it has slurred them over something they did not do!

Where is the apology?

Where is the correction?

Where is the recognition that Alabama not only considered a minority candidate for its vacant head football coaching position, but interviewed one and offered its job to one?
Or does the BCA not offer corrections and apologies when it damages somebody? Does the BCA just chalk that up to breaking a few eggs to make an omelet? Does the BCA not consider facts important when it wants to promote a stereotype?

This is the cold, hard, truth as I see it: the Black Coaches and Administrators is not a fair minded organization seeking to raise awareness about the problem of too few minority coaches in college football, a problem which is real and deserves attention.

The BCA is a hostile pressure group well read in the Jackson/Sharpton race-baiting handbook and it's using a sympathetic media and totally biased research to try and force colleges and universities into hiring black – not minority, black – coaches whether those coaches are qualified or not.

No one else has the guts to say it, I will.
Prejudice and stereotypes have two sides, I've already been suspended and demoted from jobs for attempting to shed light on both of those sides so if I go down over what I've just written, so be it.

I have no allegiance to the University of Alabama, thousands of people think I hate the University of Alabama, but the University of Alabama was wronged in a deeply sinister way by the BCA and someone has to stand up and expose the lies and the jackals who tell them.

The perception that we're racist is something Southern people need to get serious about.

It's something we need to fight.

It's a sick fallacy perpetuated by insulting reports like the one issued by the BCA.

It's something I take personally because I know it's not true and I know it negatively influences the way Southern people and Southern institutions are thought of in ways you can't even imagine.

The BCA is calling the University of Alabama racist; I've researched the claims, they are untrue.

Who's going to hold the BCA accountable for this outrage?

One last thing –

My report card on organizations who claim to promote equality gives the BCA an "F."

Will we ever get tired of seeing groups advocate for an ideal that they don't themselves

Stay Tuned...

Sold!

Ran into a guy today at the Apple store who was buying 5 iPhones!

Told him my situation...

Yada, Yada, Yada...

He bought my phone.

It no longer sits on my desk taunting me.

My bank account and pride, however, are not yet healed.

Stay Tuned...

Failed the Bar & Grill, Monday at 8/7c

Coming to NBC next fall, the story of recent law graduates without a real job...

Follow the gang as they deal with the misadventures of failed law aspirations and overcooked filets at your favorite local pub, Failed the Bar & Grill.

Simultaneous to the launch of the show will be the opening of the very first Failed the Bar & Grill in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Enjoy such delicious items as:

Opening Statements: All your favorite Bar food!

The Jury Sampler - all 12 of our delicious appetizers on one plate! A word of warning, the choice of sauce must be unanimous at your table!

Title VII Nacho's - with multicolored tortilla chips and a non-discriminatory array of toppings!

The PMBR & Jelly Sandwich - Only $800 if you order before October 11th!

California Crab Cakes - Unlike crab cakes in any other jursidiction!

Case-in-Cheif: Tasty dishes to meet that burden!

The Chief Justice Warren Earl Burger - a 1/2lb of fresh angus beef, garnished with Lemon and Roe!

Bifurcated Fajitas - perfect for sharing!

Res Ipsa Lasagna - So good, the thing speaks for itself.

Strict Scrutiny Spagetti - This dish is narrowly tailored to serve the compelling interest of your hunger.

Trade Secret Tartar - What's in this dish? We'll never tell!

Chapter 7 Curry - It will liquify your assets!

The Wrongful Termination T-Bone - 22 ounces, available at-will! Don't worry if you can't finish it, we can always wrap it up in one of our severance packages.

Closing Arguments: Finish your deliberations with one of our famous desserts!

Raspberry Tort, a common law favorite!

Decadence per se - A cake so rich that it violates the T.C.A.

Joint & Several Pie - It doesn't matter how you divide it up, as long as the whole thing gets eaten!

Stare Decisis Sundae - It hasn't changed in years.

Cake of First Impression - We promise you've never seen cake like this before!

Also join us for our Hypothetical Happy Hour where we never discriminate on the basis of age. Find your way to voluntary intoxication with our famous punitive punch, and the full array of culpable cocktails like the knowing kamakazis, intentional irish carbombs, reckless rum & coke, and negligent sex on the beach!

So come on down to Failed the Bar & Grill and judge for yourself!

Note: We are taking applications. We are an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of GPA.

Stay Tuned...


("Failed the Bar & Grill" is copyright of Jonathan Louis May and not to be used without the expressed written permission of this blog - October 2, 2007.)