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3 people got busted on October 10, 2011
2 people got busted on October 9, 2011
1 person got busted on October 8, 2011
1 person got busted on October 7, 2011
7 people got busted on October 6, 2011
3 people got busted on October 4, 2011
4 people got busted on October 4, 2011
2 people got busted on October 3, 2011
2 people got busted on October 2, 2011
Who is Mark Daniel Ronson?
Who is Mark Daniel Ronson? The entertainment and music world knows him as a Mark Ronso British DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronso & The Business Intl.While his debut album Here Comes the Fuzz failed to make an impact on the charts, his second album, Version included three top ten hits and won Ronson a BRIT Award for Best Male Artist 2008. His third studio album, Record Collection, was released on 27 September 2010.
Early life
|Samantha Ronson
Ronson was born September 4 1975, at the Wellington Hospital, St John's Wood, to writer/socialite Ann Dexter-Jones and one-time band manager and real estate entrepreneur Laurence Ronson.[3] His parents are of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, with ancestors from Austria, Russia, and Lithuania, and Ronson was brought up in Conservative Judaism.[4][5] Ronson's family name was originally Aaronson but his grandfather Henry Ronson changed it to Ronson.[6] Ronson is related to British Conservative politicians Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Leon Brittan,[3] as well as Odeon Cinemas founder Oscar Deutsch.[7] Ronson has younger twin sisters, Charlotte Ronson, a fashion designer, and Samantha Ronson, a singer and DJ. Ronson also has five younger half-siblings. Alexander and Annabelle, through his mother's remarriage to Mick Jones as well as David, Henrietta, and Joshua, through his father's remarriage to Michele
|Mick Jones
Human. After his parents broke up, his mother married Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, which contributed to a childhood surrounded by music.[8]
Ronson went to high school at the private Collegiate School in New York.[9] Attending Vassar College and then New York University (NYU), Ronson became a regular at downtown hip hop spots and made his name as a DJ on the New York club scene in 1993, charging $50 per job. Though a novice with little experience, he became known for his diverse, genre-spanning selection. Influenced by funk, the hip hop scene of New York and the more rock influence of the UK (all of which he incorporated in his sets) he attracted a wider audience. He was soon one of the most respected DJs and was being called on for celebrities' private parties. In 1999, Ronson was featured in an ad wearing Tommy Hilfiger denim in the recording studio for an ad campaign for the company.[10]
He provided the score for the 2011 film Arthur.
Here Comes the Fuzz and initial producing
He moved on, however, to producing music after Nikka Costa's manager heard one of his gigs and introduced the musicians. He produced her song "Everybody Got Their Something", and soon Ronson signed a record contract with Elektra Records. Mark had produced tracks for Hilfiger ads, and in 2001 used the connection to have Costa's single "Like a Feather" used in an ad.[11]
Ronson's first album, Here Comes the Fuzz, was released in 2003 and was critically acclaimed and a financial success, despite initially poor sales. On the album, he wrote the songs, made the beats and played guitar, keyboards, and bass. The album featured artists from diverse genres, including Mos Def, Jack White, Sean Paul, Nikka Costa, Nappy Roots and Rivers Cuomo.[12] The best known song from the album, "Ooh Wee", samples "Sunny" by Boney M and features Nate Dogg, Ghostface Killah, Trife Da God, and Saigon.
It was featured that year in the movie Honey and its soundtrack. The song was later used in the movies Hitch and Harold &; Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.[12] Two weeks after releasing Here Comes the Fuzz, Elektra Records dropped him.[13] Ronson has since produced multiple songs on the albums of singers Lamya,[14] Macy Gray,[15] Christina Aguilera, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, and Robbie Williams.
Ronson became one of the regular DJs at Justin Timberlake's New York club, Suede, when it opened in 2003.[16]
In 2004, Ronson formed his own record label, Allido Records, a subsidiary of Sony BMG's J Records, along with his longtime manager Rich Kleiman. The first artist he signed to Allido was rapper Saigon, who later left to sign with Just Blaze's Fort Knox Entertainment. He has signed Rhymefest, most well-known for winning the Grammy for co-writing Kanye West's "Jesus Walks".
Version (album)
Ronson released a cover of The Smiths' track "Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before" under the title "Stop Me" on 2 April 2007, featuring singer Daniel Merriweather, which reached number 2 in the UK singles charts, the biggest hit for Ronson to date.
Ronson remixed the Bob Dylan song "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)" in promotion for the three disc Bob Dylan set titled Dylan released October 2007. Ronson has also produced Candie Payne's "One More Chance (Ronson mix)" in 2007.
The album has been well received by critics. In May 2007 it was awarded the title Album of the Month by the British dance music magazine, Mixmag. On 23 June, the DJ made the cover of the Guardian newspaper's Guide magazine, alongside singer Lily Allen.
In June 2007, Ronson signed DC hip hop artist Wale to Allido Records. In late 2007, he focused on production, working with Daniel Merriweather on his debut album, and recording again with Amy Winehouse and Robbie Williams.[17]
On 24 October 2007 Ronson performed a one-off set at The Roundhouse in Camden, London as part of the BBC Electric Proms 2007. The performance featured the BBC Concert Orchestra and included special guests Terry Hall, Sean Lennon, Tim Burgess, Alex Greenwald, Ricky Wilson, Charlie Waller, Adele and Kyle Falconer.[18]
Ronson received a Grammy Award nomination in early December 2007 for 'Producer of the Year, Non Classical', along with Timbaland and Mike Elizondo. Ronson's work with Amy Winehouse also received substantial praise, gaining 6 nominations. Back to Black, an album mostly produced by Ronson was nominated for 'Album of the Year' and 'Best Pop Vocal Album'. "Rehab" received nods for 'Best Female Pop Vocal Performance', 'Song of the Year' and 'Record of the Year'. Ronson would go on to win three Grammys for 'Producer of the Year' as well as 'Best Pop Vocal Album' and 'Record of the Year' (which he shared with Amy Winehouse) in early February 2008.[19]
Ronson is credited as producer on a mixtape album called Man in the Mirror, released in January 2008 by the rapper Rhymefest which is a tribute to the pop star Michael Jackson. The album features Rhymefest appearing to speak to Michael Jackson using archive audio from interviews with the pop star.
Later in January 2008, Ronson received three nominations for the Brit Awards, including 'Best Male Solo Artist', 'Best Album' (Version) and 'Song of the Year' ("Valerie"). Ronson won his first Brit for 'Best Male Solo Artist' in mid February 2008 over favorite Mika. He also performed a medley of "God Put a Smile upon Your Face" with Adele, "Stop Me" with Daniel Merriweather and "Valerie" with Amy Winehouse.
The performance allowed for a large boost in sales in the iTunes UK Top 100. "Valerie" would jump almost 30 spots in the days after the event, while "Just", "Stop Me" and "Oh My God" all appeared in the chart as well. That same week, Ronson appeared twice in the UK Top 40, with "Valerie" rebounding to number 13 and "Just" at number 31, his fourth Top 40 hit from "Version". The Brits performance also allowed for "Version" to climb 18 spots to number 4.
Around this time, Ronson received his first number one on an international chart (Dutch Top 40) for "Valerie", which has spent four consecutive weeks at the top of the chart. He collaborated with Kaiser Chiefs on their third album.[20]
Ronson has toured the album "Version" vigorously through both the UK and Europe during 2008. Notable sold out performances at The Hammersmith Apollo and Brixton Academy. Ronson is known to champion new upcoming artists on the road with him, such as Sam Sparro and Julian Perretta. Ronson's string backing was provided by the all-female string quartet Demon Strings. In May 2008, Ronson played at the largest private party in the world, the Trinty Ball in Trinity College Dublin.
On 2 July 2008 in Paris, Mark Ronson performed a unique live set with Duran Duran for an exclusive, invitation-only performance. Together, they showcased specially re-worked versions of some of Duran Duran's classic hits that were created by Ronson, along with tracks from the band's new album, Red Carpet Massacre. Ronson & the Version Players also brought Ronson's acclaimed live show to the event, performing songs from his album Version. Simon LeBon was one of his featured guest vocalists. As of March 2009 Ronson was working with the group on their upcoming 13th album.[21] The Album, titled All You Need Is Now was released digitally exclusively via Apple's iTunes on 21 December 2010. A physical release with an expanded track list will be released in March 2011.[dated info][22]
Record Collection
At the launch of his most recent Gucci pop-up store in London, Ronson confirmed the name of his new album Record Collection, and said that he hoped to have it out by September 2010. Additionally, Ronson announced the name of his new band, "The Business Intl.'", which is the alias adopted by Ronson on the third studio album. The first single "Bang Bang Bang". which featured rapper Q-Tip and singer MNDR[23] was released on 12 July 2010, where it peaked at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart, giving Ronson his fourth Top 10 hit.
The single also saw success on the Irish Singles Chart, where it peaked at number 18. The second single from the album, "The Bike Song", was 19 September 2010[24] and features Kyle Falconer from The View and Spank Rock. The album was released on 27 September 2010. This is the first of Ronson's albums that he has sung on.[25]
- Ronson created a video, along with Directors Gary Breslin and Jordan Galland: Circuit Breaker, which is a Homage to video hero The Legend of Zelda (video game)[26]
Personal life
Ronson spends his time between New York and London; due to this and his childhood he has a Mid-Atlantic English accent. Ronson is the nephew of property tycoon Gerald Ronson. Mark has two sisters who are twins: Charlotte is a fashion designer and his other sister Samantha is a DJ and singer. He lived next door to, and was friends with, Sean Lennon. Ronson became a naturalised citizen of the United States in 2008.[27]
|Rashida Jones
In 2002, he began dating Quincy Jones's daughter, actress/singer Rashida Jones[28] They became engaged in March 2003, with Ronson proposing by creating a crossword puzzle with the message "Will you marry me".[29] They later broke up. In the beginning of 2008, Ronson briefly dated English model/socialite Daisy Lowe.[30] Ronson went on to date Tennessee Thomas,[31] the English drummer of American indie girl band The Like, but they split in early 2009.
|Joséphine de La Baume
In March 2009, Ronson was pictured with French actress and singer Joséphine de La Baume.[32] She featured in his 2010 video for "The Bike Song." The couple got engaged in February 2011.[33]
In 2009 he participated in PETA's "Please Don't Wear Any Fur" campaign.[34] He was also voted the most stylish man in UK by GQ magazine.[35]
Studio albums
|Album details
|Peak chart positions[36]
(sales threshold)
|Here Comes the Fuzz
|Record Collection [A]
|"—" denotes releases that did not chart
|Chart positions[36]
|Hottest 100
|"Ooh Wee" (featuring Ghostface Killah, Nate Dogg & Trife)
|Here Comes the Fuzz
|"Just" (featuring Alex Greenwald)
|Exit Music
|"Toxic" / "God Put a Smile upon Your Face"
|"Stop Me" (featuring Daniel Merriweather)
|"Oh My God" (featuring Lily Allen)
|"Valerie" (featuring Amy Winehouse)
|"Just" (featuring Phantom Planet)
|"Bang Bang Bang" (featuring MNDR & Q-Tip) [A]
|Record Collection
|"The Bike Song" (featuring Kyle Falconer & Spank Rock) [A]
|"Somebody to Love Me" (featuring Boy George & Andrew Wyatt) [A]
- Other charted songs
|Chart positions[36]
|US Rhy
|"International Affair" (featuring Sean Paul & Tweet)
|Here Comes the Fuzz
|"God Put a Smile upon Your Face" (featuring The Daptone Horns)
|"Stop Me" – single
|"No One Knows" (featuring Domino)
- A – As Mark Ronson & The Business Intl.
Production discography
- 1998: Flip Squad Allstars – The Flip Squad Allstar DJs
- 1999: The High & Mighty – Home Field Advantage (programming)
- 2001: Nikka Costa – Everybody Got Their Something
- 2002: Jimmy Fallon – The Bathroom Wall (mixing)
- 2002: Sean Paul – Dutty Rock
- 2002: Saigon – The Best of Saigon a.k.a. The Yardfather Volume 1
- 2003: Mark Ronson – Here Comes the Fuzz
- 2003: Macy Gray – The Trouble with Being Myself (programming)
- 2004: Consequence – Take 'Em to the Cleaners
- 2005: Ol' Dirty Bastard – Osirus
- 2005: Terry Sullivan – TheErthMoovsAroundTheSun (guitar)
- 2005: Teriyaki Boyz – Beef or Chicken
- 2006: Lily Allen – Alright, Still
- 2006: Rhymefest – Blue Collar
- 2006: Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics
- 2006: Amy Winehouse – Back to Black
- 2006: Robbie Williams – Rudebox
- 2006: Ghostface Killah – More Fish
- 2007: Wale – 100 Miles & Running
- 2007: Mark Ronson – Version
- 2008: Rhymefest – Man in the Mirror
- 2008: Adele – 19
- 2008: Estelle – Shine
- 2008: Wale – The Mixtape About Nothing
- 2008: Solange Knowles – Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams
- 2008: Nas – Untitled
- 2008: Q-Tip – The Renaissance
- 2008: Kaiser Chiefs – Off with Their Heads
- 2009: Wale & 9th Wonder – Back to the Feature
- 2009: Richard Swift – The Atlantic Ocean
- 2009: Wale – Attention Deficit
- 2009: Daniel Merriweather – Love & War
- 2009: The Rumble Strips – Welcome to the Walk Alone
- 2009: ODB – A Son Unique
- 2010: The Like – Release Me
- 2010: Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. – Record Collection
- 2011: Duran Duran – All You Need is Now
- 2011: Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. – Record Collection 2012
- 2011: Black Lips – Arabia Mountain
- 1997: Posse-O – "It's Up to You…"
- 1998: Powerule – "Heatin' Up"
- 1998: Powerule – "Rhymes to Bust" / "It's Your Right"
- 2001: Nikka Costa – "Like a Feather"
- 2002: J-Live – "School's In"
- 2004: Daniel Merriweather – "City Rules"
- 2004: Daniel Merriweather – "She's Got Me"
- 2005: Ol' Dirty Bastard – "Dirty Dirty"
- 2005: Rhymefest – "These Days
- 2005: Rhymefest – "Brand New"
- 2006: Amy Winehouse – "Rehab"
- 2006: Robbie Williams – "Lovelight"
- 2006: Lily Allen – "Littlest Things"
- 2007: Amy Winehouse – "You Know I'm No Good"
- 2007: Robbie Williams – "Bongo Bong and Je Ne T'Aime Plus"
- 2007: Amy Winehouse – "Back to Black"
- 2007: Christina Aguilera – "Slow Down Baby"
- 2007: Candie Payne – "One More Chance"
- 2007: Amy Winehouse – "Love Is a Losing Game"
- 2008: Adele – "Cold Shoulder"
- 2008: Leon Jean-Marie – "Bed of Nails"
- 2008: Kaiser Chiefs – "Never Miss a Beat"
- 2008: Wiley – "Cash in My Pocket"
- 2008: Kaiser Chiefs – "Good Days Bad Days"
- 2009: Daniel Merriweather – "Change"
- 2009: Daniel Merriweather – "Red"
- 2009: Daniel Merriweather – "Impossible
- Grammy Award 2008 Producer of the Year – Non-Classical, Record of the Year (with Amy Winehouse), Best Pop Vocal Album (also with Winehouse)
- The BRIT Awards 2008 Best British Male Solo Artist
- Vodafone Live Music Awards – Best Live Male – Winner 2008
- Glamour Women of the Year – Men of the Year – Winner 2008
- BRIT Awards 2008 Best Album – Version, Best Single Valerie (feat. Amy Winehouse)
- MOBO Awards 2010 Best Video – Bang Bang Bang (feat. Q-Tip & MNDR), Best Song – Bang Bang Bang (feat. Q-Tip & MNDR)
|Mark, , Samantha, and Ann Dexter-Jones (Family Photo)
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Who is William Perry?
Who is William Perry? The professional football knows him as the "The Refrigerator" or, abbreviated, "The Fridge", he is a former professional American football player. He is best known for his years as a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. In reference to his large size (relative to his time—later NFL players would be much larger), he was popularly known as
Life and athletic career
Perry was born December 16, 1962 in Aiken, South Carolina. After a successful career at Aiken High School (South Carolina), Perry played college football at Clemson University. In 1985, he was selected in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Nicknamed "The Refrigerator" for his gargantuan, square-like frame, Perry was 6 ft 2 in and weighed 382 lb (173.3 kg) at his peak weight. He quickly became a favorite of the Chicago Bears fans.
Perry, who wore number 72 as a Chicago Bear, became famous for his prowess as a defensive lineman. In addition, Perry was used as a fullback when his team was near the opponents' goal line or 4th and short situations, either as a ball carrier or a lead blocker for running back Walter Payton. During his rookie season, Perry rushed for 2 touchdowns and caught a pass for one. Perry was once used in a surprise play during a Pro Bowl game as an offensive lineman.
Perry even had the opportunity to run the ball during Super Bowl XX, as a nod to his popularity and contributions to the team's success. The first time he got the ball, he was tackled for a one-yard loss while attempting to throw his first NFL pass on a halfback option play. The second time he got the ball, he scored a touchdown.
Perry went on to play for ten years in the NFL. His Super Bowl ring size is the largest of any professional football player in the history of the event. His ring size is 25, while the ring size for the average adult male is between 10 and 12.[1]
Perry retired after the 1994 season. In his 10 years as a pro, he played in 138 games, recording 29.5 sacks and 5 fumble recoveries, which he returned for 71 yards. In his offensive career he ran 5 yards for 2 Tds. Perry later attempted a comeback, playing the 1996 season with the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football (later NFL Europa).
Beyond football
- In 2006, he came out with a barbecue sauce.[2]
- In 2006, he participated in the Lingerie Bowl as the super sub.
- Perry participated in a World Wrestling Federation battle royal at WrestleMania 2 in Rosemont, Illinois. In 2006, he returned to the Chicago area to be inducted into the "Celebrity Wing" of the WWE Hall of Fame by John Cena.
- In 2002 he lost in the third round to 7 ft 7 in (2.3 m) former NBA basketball player Manute Bol in a charity boxing match on the Fox Network's Celebrity Boxing program. Perry entered the match visibly above his NFL playing weight.
- The Fridge is one of several real people to be immortalized as a 3.75 inch (9.53 cm) G.I. Joe action figure. Like Sgt. Slaughter before him, Perry's figure was available through mail order. The figure was offered in 1986, the same year the Bears defeated the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.
- During his popular tenure with the Bears, Perry participated in the recording of two rap records, both in 1985, in addition to the team's very popular "Super Bowl Shuffle".
- Walter Payton and Perry recorded an anti-drug, pro-peace rap tune entitled "Together" which was written by four Evanston, Illinois teens. It was re-released in 1999 with part of the profits going to the Walter Payton Foundation.
- Popular rap trio The Fat Boys recorded a twelve-inch single titled "Chillin' with the Refrigerator" released on Sutra Records.[3]
- A novelty hit, "Frig-O-Rator", was released in December 1985 on the Motown label by Roq-In' Zoo and featured sound bites of Bears game plays. The following year The Fridge was yet again remembered in a rap song, this time by the obscure Los Angeles-based hip-hop group Hard Machine who released the single "Refrigerator".
- In 2000, he was defeated by Bob Sapp in a toughman boxing competition on FX.
- In 2003, he appeared in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest as a "celebrity contestant". He stopped eating 5 minutes into the competition. This was parodied in an episode of TV Funhouse from the November 11, 2006 episode of Saturday Night Live in which Takeru Kobayashi plays a hot dog eating superhero. After Kobayashi saves the day by eating a lot of hot dogs, a cartoon William Perry makes an appearance saying "Damn!" in Japanese.
- In 2003, he appeared in a TV movie by Comedy Central called Windy City Heat, where a man named Perry Caravello was made to believe he was acting in a major motion picture.
- He starred in a commercial in the 1980s with Jim McMahon, fellow Chicago Bears teammate for Coke Classic and Coke.
- Appears on the Chef Tony infomercial endorsing My Rotisserie in a number of acted scenes where he plays poker with his friends, while singing the praises of the kitchen appliance.
- He made a guest appearance in the '80s TV show The A-Team. In the 21st episode of the 4th season ('The Trouble with Harry') "Fridge" signs in to the same hospital The A-Team is using to help their friend Harry recover. Throughout the episode, Perry only has a few lines (including the funny: "They'll never catch him," referring to his NFL playing days), but he gives out 'Bears' caps in the final scene. B. A. Baracus and Hulk Hogan (who guest starred in the episode as well) react angrily when they don't get a cap, but the large sized Perry is able to calm them down with his huge smile.
- He also made a short appearance in the opening of According to Jim (Season 8, Episode 15).[4]
After he retired as a player, Perry founded his own small commodity hedge fund in his native South Carolina and made numerous public appearances.
Recently, he was named Director of Football Operations for the Continental Indoor Football League's Chicago Slaughter.
In June 2008, he was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome, a chronic inflammation disorder of the peripheral nerves.[5] On April 22, 2009, Perry was hospitalized in South Carolina in serious condition from his Guillain-Barré syndrome.[6] Perry spent approximately a month in the hospital before being released. At one point his weight fell to 190 pounds, before going back up to 275 pounds.
|Super Bowl Shuffle
During Super Bowl XLIV, Perry joined other members of the 1985 Chicago Bears in resurrecting the Super Bowl Shuffle in a Boost Mobile commercial.[7]
In June 2010, it was reported that Perry now suffered from hearing loss, but also that he was improving after his diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome. He had lost more than one hundred pounds, but was, by this time, back up to 330 pounds.[8]
In February 2011, ESPN ran a somber article about him, citing ongoing health and drinking problems, and a weight of 400 pounds.[9]
In April 2011, Cliff Forrest, a 10 year-old child, accidentally bought a replica Perry Super Bowl ring for $8,500 thinking it was the actual, and gave the ring to Perry. [10]
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Who is Michael Brown?
Who is Michael Brown? The professional football world knows him as Mike Brown, he is the owner of the Cincinnati Bengals, an American football team in the National Football League. He is the son of former Cleveland Browns, Ohio State University and Cincinnati Bengals coach/co-founder, Paul Brown.
Brown's ownership has been criticized for a lack of on-field success, his refusal to cede football operations to a general manager and the team's relationship with Hamilton County before and after a voter-approved tax increase to fund Paul Brown Stadium.
Before Bengals ownership
|Paul Brown
He is one of two sons by Paul Brown and was born in August 10, 1935. (His brother, Pete, is currently the Senior Vice-President of Bengals' player personnel.[1]) He studied law and was the football team's quarterback at Dartmouth College, graduating in 1957.[2] In an unusual meeting between future sports owners, eventual New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner hired him to a summer job as a deck hand for Kinsman Marine Transit Company.[3]
Brown eventually followed his father into football management. Paul Brown founded the Bengals, then an American Football League team, in 1968. (This was several years after Paul Brown was dismissed as Cleveland Browns head coach in a well-publicized falling out with Art Modell). Mike Brown began his executive duties with the Bengals as assistant general manager. Along with personnel decisions, he was a spokesperson for the team on issues of league rules and team policy.[4][5]
Taking over the team
He assumed ownership responsibilities upon his father's death in August 1991[6] and has remained in the ownership position since. His first significant move as owner was to fire popular coach Sam Wyche after the 1991 season (although he originally claimed that Wyche resigned).[7] Days later, Brown hired Dave Shula to be head coach, making Shula (at the time) the second youngest NFL head coach in history and making Dave and Don Shula the first father-son to lead different NFL teams in the same year.[8] Going into 1993, Brown sought to negotiate a new lease with Cincinnati to keep the Bengals in the city.
Threats to move and a new stadium deal
Initially, Brown rejected advances from other cities to discuss moving the team.[9] By 1995, he felt Riverfront Stadium's small seating capacity and lack of luxury boxes prohibited the Bengals' success.[10]
In 1995, he announced that Cincinnati had breached its lease agreement when it was late by one week in paying $167,000 in concession receipts.[11] He threatened to move the team to Baltimore if Cincinnati or Hamilton County would not fund a new stadium.[12] The leverage of this threat proved successful as Cincinnati's City Council and the Hamilton County Commissioners opted to fund the new Paul Brown Stadium with a proposed county sales tax increase, which needed voter approval. In 1996, Hamilton County voters passed a one-half percent sales tax increase to fund the building of a new facility for the Bengals and a second new facility for the Major League Baseball Cincinnati Reds.,[13] the Bengals filed suit against the County for the right to manage it in 2000.[14] County commissioners agreed to let a Bengals' subsidiary run the stadium[15] and it opened later that year.[16]
In 2007, Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune (a former Cincinnati City Council member, though not Commissioner at the time the parties executed the lease), filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the NFL, the Bengals and the other 31 NFL teams. Portune felt, among other things, that published revenues from 1995-1999 [17] contradicted Brown's claims of financial distress. The Hamilton County Board of Commissioners eventually was substituted as the plaintiff in the case.[11] Fans supporting Portune cite what they feel is the broken promise that the Bengals would "be more competitive" with a new stadium.[18] The Bengals have had only two winning seasons out of 11 since the stadium opened.
Rick Eckstein, co-author of "Public Dollars, Private Stadiums," describes the Hamilton County arrangement as "the single most lopsided stadium deal since 1993″ and questions Bob Bedinghaus'[19] role with the team after having been County Commissioner when the deal was reached.[20] A 2008 Forbes survey suggests the team's rankings in direct revenues have dropped since the stadium's construction (placing the team 21st in total value at $941 million).[21]
The Bengals have requested that the County extend the lease for the stadium for 20 years, while Portune maintains his criticisms of the original agreement.[22][23]
Lack of on-the-field success
Since Brown became owner, the team has had only 2 winning seasons out of 20 and has a winning percentage of .361 (115-204-1) in the regular season and .000 (0-2) in the playoffs.[24] In 2008, the Bengals set a record for the most games needed under one specific owner to attain 100 wins (288). In 2010, the team set a record for the least games needed to lose 200 (both considering and not considering playoffs) under one specific owner (314).[25]
The Bengals hold a number of distinctions for the time frame of Brown's ownership: It is the only team with three nine-game-or-more losing streaks.[26] It also holds six of the twenty-five 0-6 starts (24%)[27] and four of the thirteen 0-8 starts (31%) in that time.[28] The Bengals have gone winless in October eight different times in twenty years under five different head coaches (Sam Wyche was originally hired by Paul Brown).
The most successful coach during Mike Brown's tenure is current coach Marvin Lewis with a .465 winning percentage (60-69-1). The Bengals won the AFC North Division in 2005 and 2009 (then losing to the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets respectively).
Brown is considered the de facto general manager of the team. In 2009, the Cincinnati Enquirer publicized details of testimony in a Hamilton County Probate Court trial over the $300 million estate of Austin Knowlton. Brown testified that he received a general manager bonus every year since he took over the team in 1991.[29] Due to the team's record under his ownership, Brown has been subject to criticism for his approach to the running the football side of the Bengals' organization.
Tolerance of off field conduct
|Chris Henry
In the mid-to-late 2000s, the Bengals were involved in a series of disciplinary measures with a variety of players. In 2005, the Bengals drafted Chris Henry and Odell Thurman, each considered exceptionally talented but possible disciplinary hazards during their college careers.[30][31] The following year, they were among nine Bengals players arrested for various offenses. Brown cut several "problem players" in 2008 including Henry and Thurman, but re-signed Henry later that year.[32] This came after five arrests of Henry and Brown's statement earlier in the year that Henry's "conduct could no longer be tolerated."[33] One fan protested by purchasing an electronic billboard along the Cincinnati interstate reading "CHRIS HENRY AGAIN? ARE YOU SERIOUS?"[34] Henry died during a domestic dispute on December 17, 2009. Commenting on his death, Brown defended his decision to re-sign Henry, noting that "We knew him in a different way than his public persona."[35]
Later in 2008, the Bengals signed running back Cedric Benson, whom the Chicago Bears had waived, in part, due to his off-field activities.[36] In 2009, the team added Larry Johnson to provide depth for the position after the Kansas City Chiefs released him for "detrimental conduct."[37] Johnson had also experienced recent legal difficulties. Benson was among 2009's leading NFL rushers, while Johnson saw limited action.
Brown has commented that the league's current attitude towards discipline is a change from a past "boys will be boys" attitude.[38] Brown's father welcomed tailback Stanley Wilson back to the Bengals in 1988 after two drug suspensions. Wilson relapsed the night before Super Bowl XXIII[39] and his absence in short-yardage situations affected the Bengals' efforts in one of the closest Super Bowl games in history.[40]
Loyalty Issues
Brown is historically reluctant to fire personnel after multiple losing seasons. His first hire as head coach, David Shula, lost fifty games faster than any NFL coach in history (69 games).[41] Shula's successor, Bruce Coslet, resigned with a 21-39 record in 2000; Brown had yet to fire him.[42] Current head coach Marvin Lewis has two winning seasons out of eight in Cincinnati, two playoff appearances, and a 60-67-1 regular season record (0-2 playoff record). Nevertheless, Brown agreed to extend Lewis' contract shortly after its expiration at the end of the 2010 season.[43]
Brown also values his family's connection with the franchise; evident in his choosing to name Paul Brown Stadium after his father rather than to sell corporate naming rights for it.[44] Daughter Katie Blackburn is the president of the team and her husband Troy is an executive VP with additional family members among the front office staff.[45] From 1994-2000, the Bengals paid out over $50 million to the Brown family members of Bengals staff in salaries.[46]
|Boomer Esiason
Former Bengals receiver Cris Collinsworth argues Brown's loyalty played a role in decision to not persuade Boomer Esiason out of retiring despite a productive 1997 season. Esiason became a color analyst on ABC's Monday Night Football. Collinsworth suggested Brown "thought he was doing the right thing by Boomer" and did not want to cost him the MNF job. Collinsworth contrasted this attitude to other NFL owners, like the Dallas Cowboys' Jerry Jones, whom Collinsworth felt "would have flown Boomer down to the Bahamas on his personal jet, offered to kiss his ring and signed him right there."[47]
Brown employs a small scouting staff. A 2008 comparison between the Bengals' scouting department and five AFC teams with a .540+ winning percentage since 1991 showed the winning teams employing five or more scouts whereas the Bengals employed only one.[48] In his first press conference as Bengals head coach, Marvin Lewis claimed Brown assured him of a retooled scouting staff.[49]
Emphasis on the quarterback
Brown has publicized his belief that a "bell cow" quarterback is a necessity in turning a team into a winner.[50] In a 1999 interview, he remarked "If you don't have a productive quarterback, you won't go anywhere…I know it doesn't seem that simple, but it is."[51] Comparing quarterbacks to other positions on a football team, Brown has said "He's the hub of the wheel…like a queen on a chessboard. These other guys are like rooks or bishops or other pieces that are not quite as valuable. Some are more valuable than others. That's just a fact."[52]
Brown turned down then-Saints coach Mike Ditka's offer of nine draft picks for one in the 1999 NFL draft[53] against then-coach Coslet's advice. Coslet wanted as many draft picks as possible to help the Bengals' defense.[54] Instead, Brown overruled Coslet and selected University of Oregon quarterback Akili Smith.[55] Smith only played 22 games in his NFL career. Coslet later regretted that he "didn't insist hard enough" in trying to persuade Brown to accept the Saints' offer.[54]
Before the 1992 Draft, press reports stressed the Bengals' need for either a cornerback or defensive lineman.[56] Brown himself had been quoted the day before the draft as stating "we would dearly love to get a top defensive lineman, they're at a premium, and it's less true of other positions."[57] Instead, the Bengals selected Houston quarterback David Klingler. Then Bengals quarterback Boomer Esiason and strong-safety David Fulcher both openly questioned the move the next day, arguing the team needed help on defense.[58] Klingler became an eventual bust. Esiason has since revealed that he had actually demanded a trade at the end of the 1991 season, which may have influenced Brown to select Klingler (Esiason was traded to the New York Jets in 1993).[59]
|Carson Palmer
Brown places a great deal of responsibility on current quarterback Carson Palmer, calling him the Bengals' "lead dog" and stating "as he goes, we go."[60] Palmer holds a number of team records and three Pro Bowl selections. The Bengals are 46-51 (.474) with Palmer as starter.[61] On January 23, 2011, ESPN reported that Palmer, whose contract runs through 2014, was demanding a trade from the Bengals and was considering retirement if this did not occur. Brown has publicly refused the request.[62]
"Carl Pickens Clause"
|Lee Johnson
In 1998, the Bengals cut punter Lee Johnson. Brown attempted to fine Johnson after cutting him for "conduct detrimental to the team" in relation to comments Johnson had made about the organization and the 1998 season. A reporter asked Johnson after a Bengals loss "if you were a fan, would you have come here today?" to which Johnson replied "No, no way…why would you? You're saying (losing) is OK. I guess if you've got nothing else to do. I'd sell my tickets."[63] This fine resulted in a dispute with the NFL players union, whose counsel remarked "A fine is a disciplinary measure, you discipline someone to try and make sure they're a better employee in the future. How can you do that if you've fired them?"[64]
In 2000, the Bengals instituted a "loyalty clause," which allows the Bengals to deny various bonuses to players depending on the remarks they make about the Bengals.[65] The ability to enact such a clause appears justified under the collective bargaining agreement which states an NFL team can fine a player one week's salary and suspend him without pay for up to four weeks for any action the club considers detrimental to the team.[66] Brown responded that the clause would only be enacted under extreme circumstances. He wrote an editorial for the Cincinnati Enquirer, citing team cohesion as his main motivation for the clause.[67]
It is often dubbed the "Carl Pickens Clause," stemming from the 2000 offseason. Brown renewed Bruce Coslet's contract despite his 21–36 Bengals record. Pickens responded, "I don't understand it. We're trying to win; we're trying to turn this thing around out there. And they bring (Coslet) back."[68] Pickens finished his career with the Tennessee Titans.
Over the years since the clause, Bengals players have commented on a negative atmosphere within the organization, notably Takeo Spikes,[69] Jeff Blake[70] and Jon Kitna.[71]
The most vocal critic of the Bengals since the clause was instituted was Corey Dillon.[72] In 2001, after becoming the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards or more in five consecutive seasons, he remarked "at the end of the season, what do I have to feel good about? Nothing at all. It's not cool." After a fifth losing season with the team in 2002, he remarked ""I'm tired of it, six years of this B.S. I ain't lying to you. I'm sick of this crap, period."[71] Dillon demanded a trade at the end of 2003 and won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.
In 1994, agent Leigh Steinberg described Brown as "in a lonely fight for economic rationality in the NFL" and "a Don Quixote-type figure pushing back the forces of salary madness."[1] Over the years, Brown has proven reluctant to finish free agent signings or trades. Warren Sapp (in 2004) and Shaun Rogers (in 2008) are notable recent examples.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus described it as a "matter of hours" before the Bengals would sign Sapp, only a day before the Raiders signed him.[73] Sapp accused the Bengals of "playing with the money" on the original deal they offered him, deferring more money to incentives rather than in guarantees.[74] The Associated Press reported a completed trade between Cincinnati and the Detroit Lions on February 29, 2008 for Rogers.[75] However, the trade fell through and the next day, it was confirmed that the Lions instead traded Rogers to the Cleveland Browns. [2]
Fan Response
Organizers from MikeBrownSucks[76] organized a boycott of a December 2001 regular season game [77] and fans visiting this site as well as another site, SaveTheBengals.com, have paid for planes to fly a banner in the Cincinnati area calling for Brown's resignation.[78]
Who Dey Revolution (WDR)[79] has staged "Project Mayhem" since 2008 in an effort to persuade Brown to make changes to the Bengals. These steps ranged from calling the Bengals "JERK line"[80] to report Brown's behavior as abusive[81] to purchasing billboards displaying a request for a General Manager[82] to merchandise and ticket donations/boycotts[83] and letter-writing campaigns.[84] The website's purchase and distribution of 1000 urinal cakes at a Bengals' home game advertised Brown's lifetime regular season record of 98-186-1 to that point.[85]
WDR publishes a comic strip titled "The Lost Generation", presenting Mike Brown in a Charlie Brownesque caricature, presumably to correlate Brown's track record to the famous cartoon character's history of hard luck and failure.[86]
Despite these protests, the Bengals have remained popular within Cincinnati. A November 21, 2010 game vs. the Buffalo Bills marked the first time since November '03 that network affiliates and DirectTV were legally obliged to "black out" the Bengals game within a 75-mile radius of Paul Brown Stadium for lack of ticket sales. The remaining home games against the New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, and San Diego Chargers were also blacked out.[87] Prior to this, the team sold out 57 straight games, a club record.
Responses to criticism of Brown
Several people cast Mike Brown sympathetically in response to fan and media criticism. After a surprising upset of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2003, Marvin Lewis tearfully awarded the game ball to Brown and told his players "he has put up with so much for you guys."[88] Former Bengals dismiss notions that Brown is unconcerned with winning. Boomer Esiason, now a CBS analyst, refers to Brown as a "nice man" who is simply over his head running the team.[89][90] In 1998 interviews, Cris Collinsworth and Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham also rejected notions that Brown did not care about winning. Collinsworth remarked "I don't think anybody could be suffering more over this than Mike is."[47]
Personal life
Brown is considered somewhat reclusive although he occasionally grants interviews, mostly to discuss offseason moves with the Bengals. In 2008, Brown and the Bengals donated $250,000 to assist the Cincinnati Park Board in paying for Cincinnati Riverfront Park.[91]
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Last week's . Congratulations to James who was the first person to correctly guess the Severna Park business the sandwich came from—.
This week, can you guess which Severna Park restaurant this pink doughnut came from? Leave a comment to tell me where, and the first person to get it right wins … bragging rights. Exciting, I know.
I will post the answer and the winner at the top of the next week's column.
Happy guessing!

subset: commoncrawl


text: The Intex Water Pro Goggles combine style and substance. These goggles feature soft thermoplastic rubber eye-cups for minimum leaks and maximum comfort. The anti-fog lenses are lightly tinted with UV protection. On the style side, swimmers can pick from purple, pink, or black. The Intex Water Pro Goggles are eye-catching eye protection!


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Page Showing 1-10 of 38 Results
Avg. Customer Rating (Based on 38 Reviews)
Write a Review | Back to Product Page
Forearm Paddles Not a Good Fit
Barbara G.
from PRATTVILLE, AL
on 4/23/2013
My swim coach recommended I get these to train for a proper FS stroke. I felt like I was struggling more to keep them on then I was working on improving my stroke. The kid's size is too small and the adult size too large. Maybe Finis should consider adult female and adult male sizes instead of "youth" and "adult". Ohters on my team tried them as well as the coach; the forearm paddles did not have the affect hoped for. I appreciate swimoutlet's easy return policy and will use the credit in the near future.
little funky
from highlands ranch, CO
on 1/20/2014
I learned to swim back in "the day". My hands enter in front of my head and then I made a "key hole" movement under the water. My stroke is jacked to say the least. I've been working on improving it for the last two years. These help but they take some getting used to.
Stroke Perfection
Trisha K.
from Omaha, NE
on 4/6/2013
The paddles work wonders on your stroke! I have been swimming for 5 years and was at a point where I wanted to improve my stroke. I started by working with a swim coach, but I just couldn't get my stroke perfect so I got the paddles so that I could feel how to do the stroke properly. After a lap with these paddles, my stroke is better than ever!
from Bronx, NY
on 1/24/2013
It takes a bit guetting used to it but it DEFINITELY does not allows you to bend your wrist. I also find that it makes me be more aware of the position of my arms as they go under water and because my wrist is straight I find myself moving faster as I can push more water away.
great product
nearly drowning
from texas
on 10/30/2012
i didn't know what to think of this, and it is a little to small to wear with my wet suit, however, i was surprised how my very next swim after using these for only a couple laps made a huge difference. i have never had formal swim lessons so even this little bit helped. i'm still slow, but am not excited to keep trying and have hopes for going faster.
very useful
Holly H.
from Peoria, AZ
on 6/24/2012
These are very helpful in straightening out the wrist. Just be sure to notice that they come in two different sizes.
Discipline your stroke
Benjamin L.
from waukegan, IL
on 3/24/2012
Very useful for getting the filing of the right stroke.
These work well.
Elizabeth R.
from Montoursville, PA
on 3/19/2012
My daughter was having trouble keeping her wrists straight when swimming freestyle. These helped. Now she is working on her catch.
Swim Mom
from Wyoming
on 12/11/2013
I bought the adult size of these for my son and husband to use. I assumed they would be too large for my 11 yr old daughter. My 13 yr old son is 6'4" and my husband is 6'5". They do not fit my husband's hands or forearm. My son's forearm is not as muscular but he has big hands and the end of the paddle rolls his thumb into his palm - in other words, his hands are too big. My daughter is about 5'4" and they fit her so she's using them at practice. I haven't tried them yet myself. I am tall as well, but my hands aren't as wide as the guys in this house, so I'm wondering if they'll actually work for me.
from Las Vegas NV
on 3/19/2012
Send a picture of correct way to use it maybe...other than that they fit great ...


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Meet the new Boss, not the same as the old BossBy
I saw only bits and pieces of the George Steinbrenner Yankeeography this week. At some point, I'll sit down and watch this entire odd to the Boss, but what I saw was reminiscent of a distinct era in Yankee history, one long gone.
The Boss of the 1970s and 1980s was a man unto himself. He was loud and brash. He wanted the Yankees; he wanted headlines; he wanted championships. Despite his early promises of hands off management, he courted controversy and attention as a moth to a flame.
Steinbrenner's shenanigans worked in the late 1970s as the Yankees won. The team members hated each other, and many players had a love-hate relationship with their boss – the Boss. Yet, the Bronx Zoo years remains one of the more colorful eras in Yankee and New York history, and nostalgia for that era reigns supreme. Whether we should yearn for those days of Billy and Thurmon and Reggie is another question entirely.
In the 1980s, a few years removed from the Yanks' last world title, George wore thin. He hired, fired and rehired managers on a whim and was impatient with his GMs. A revolving door of players came and went, oftentimes in a matter of months as George tried to put together a team according to his and his so-called Baseball People's ideas, and the farm system was neglected. The Yanks won more regular season games in the 1980s than any other AL team but post-season success eluded them.
In the 1990s, a new Boss emerged. Suspended at the start of the decade, George couldn't interfere, and Gene Michael, Brian Cashman and the Yanks' Front Office were free from the constraints and demands of the Boss. A last-place finish in 1991 guanranteed them Derek Jeter in the following year's draft, and the rest is history.
George came back and let his employees run the team. He would roar, but it was all for show. No one was fired, and the good times rolled.
Today, George is ailing. Rumors of Alzheimer's have swirled around him for the better part of the decade, and he rarely makes appearances at games. He speaks primarily through Howard Rubenstein and has turned control of the team over to his sons and daughters.
This week though George showed up at the office for a few hours, and he made some headlines. Promising to come to New York for the playoffs, he said, "Let's keep it going.". And that was it. No threats if failure follows; no promises of an easy October. Just a weak encouragement.
Once upon a time, we would yearn for George-inspired stories. Nothing makes for better headline fodder than a roaring lion. But that's not George anymore. His influence is on the wane, and while we might pine for the Boss-inspired Years of Terror, the Yankees are better off without it.
57 Comments»
Who yearns for the old Boss besides sports writers? They have won a lot more since he returned from his suspension and he was forced to become the new Boss.
Eh, when the team struggles some people, right or wrong, like to hear ownership/leadership express their displeasure to the world.
next question.
That seemed like two different posts in one. It seemed like praise but then you say the Yankees are "better off without him". I couldn't disagree more.
I for one think New York City owes Mr. Steinbrenner a debt of gratitude. For all the headlines, drama and desire to put together a winning team. He did so much for the city and I can't for the life of me think of a bad thing to say about him. Of course he could've done this or should have done that. He is a baseball icon and he is at the dawn of days.
You can't think of anything bad to say? The man was at times abusive to his employees, he had players followed to dig up dirt on them, and wasn't he involved in some kind of bribery scandal or something?
nobody's perfect.
No one said anyone was. You said you couldn't, for the life of you, think of a bad thing to say about him.
That's a pretty far cry from "nobody's perfect"
i was thinking the sum of the parts, not really the ugly bits. so he was a bastard. undiplomatic. tactless. occasionally crazier than a tree full of monkeys on nitrus oxide. i guess i could think of alot of bad things to say about him. but i prefer to focus on the positives. He might not live to see the end of the year.
nobody's perfect.
George was convicted of illegal political campaign contribution to Richard Nixon. He made 10 low level employees accept $5000 checks and then make $3000 "individual" contributions, and then tried to cover it up when investigated. Red flags went off because their annual salaries were only $15,000, so they weren't in a position to "give" such a high percentage of their salary.
Mr. Steinbrenner will always have a huge role in Yankees history. I believe that without a doubt he is the single most important man of the entire organization of the last 35 years.
The turnover rate of players, managers, general managers, and owners has always been high. Mr. Steinbrenner has always been fickle, but the one constant in baseball over the last 35 or so years? The Boss having ownership of the Yankees.
I admire the man greatly and cannot honestly say anything negative about what he has meant to the Yankees.
The Yankeeography is must see TV. While they may have avoided some controversial issues, there is a time and a place for it, not right now IMO. Gotta love the boss, hopefully he'll be able to travel to the Bronx and watch us win some games in October.
Whatever you say about George and all the bad stuff he may have done, the fact is that his priority was always winning, something that cannot be said for many owners. I tip my cap to him.
I tip my cap to him. like so.
i agree with this sentiment.
I am a fan on George. He care more about winning then money, which can't be said for the owners of all teams. I am grateful that The Boss owns the Yankees.
I am fan of George. He cares more about winning than money.
I need to care more about spelling and grammar.
hey nice job, pick on the esl guy who's praising the boss…
discrimination is discrimination…i dont care WHO you pick on! bullying is wrong!
"If Mark McGwire is hitting 60 homers, the only thing that matters is his performance," Arroyo said, according to USA Today. "People don't own teams to lose money. If you ask any owner whether they would rather make $20 million and come in last place or lose $20 million and win a World Series, there's only one guy who honestly would take that championship: George Steinbrenner. Nobody else."
so true. arroyo ftw
Awesome quote. What more could you want as a fan?
I think Arroryo is right, and I am thankful to have been a fan of a team whose owner in nigh fanatical about winning. At times it was detrimental to the Yanks because he thought he knew more than he did about how to GM a team. At times, he did bad things in his life. I'm just saying that we as fans can and should be thankful for his devotion to winning while still taking a clear view of the flawed man that is George Steinbrenner.
GREAT quote.
Great to see him say that. I think he's completely right there. I just wish more people would call out the Marlins for being so far on the other end of the spectrum.
Baseball is a business, and you really can't fault someone who owns a business worth hundreds of millions of dollars for caring about profit, but, baseball really should do something to at least weed out the owners who care as little as the Marlins do.
I see how people can complain about the Yankees having the highest revenues and simultaneously being willing to spend so much on payroll that they take a loss, but, it's just not right for the Marlins to twist the system as much as they do. Driving payroll so low that you're guaranteed a profit just from the money other teams give you regardless of your own profit just isn't right.
meh, i'm torn…
baseball fan says 'strike out the bum' for owners like that…
libertarian says 'its his. stfu.'
you'll have to excuse the libertarian side, he doesnt get out much, and therefor doesnt have what we call 'the social skills.'
Imagine Mark Cuban and the Boss dueling. It would be like Arnie trying to take down Hulk Hogan. Or The Hills.
Is George Steinbrenner a HOFer?
The arguement is there rite?
The only blemishes is of course is the suspensions and bans.
I wouldn't rule it out.
Oh yeah, and we won't get fooled again.
"he courted controversy and attention as a moth to a flame."
This makes no sense.
as to
Stein:Controversy and attention
lsat much?
community college?
A last-place finish in 1991 guanranteed them Derek Jeter in the following year's draft, and the rest is history.
They finished in 5th place in 1991. The AL East had 7 teams at the time. They picked Jeter with the 6th overall pick. I believe they were paranoid Cincinnati would pick him with the 5th pick, but they picked Chad Mottola.
The Yankees finished last in 1990, and picked Brien Taylor with the #1 overall pick in 1991.
call me selfish but that was my favorite line of that whole piece.
Wow. I can't even imagine a reality where Jeter isn't a Yankee.
I can't even imagine a reality where this guy isn't playing for his current team.
When you see it, you'll shit bricks.
Who knew?
13th round……sweet leaping jebus…every other team could have had him 10x over and then some….my word
You think that's bad?
Look what you can find in the 62nd round.
Neither can he. It was his goal since he was a kid. Imagine having a lofty goal like that and actually reaching it and then to go onto being one of the most beloved Yankees ever?
On the other side of the coin, imagine what must feel like to have a dream like that and lead the Yankees to the World Series throwing a perfect game along the way, then walk into spring training and find out you were traded?
ha, Scouting FAIL
So does RAB regard Hal Steinbrenner as the new Boss?
i'd say so.
At aprox. 90 mins, the Steinbrenner Yankeeography goes on too long, and is more of a video PR release or obit than any thing else; glossing over controversy and over-glorifying GMS III. Yes, we should all be grateful that we root for a team whose owner is all about winning and puts his money where his mouth is. But he's not the almost saintly figure that the Yankeeograpghy paints him as. If I, being a passionate Yankee fan found it to be a bit much, I can see others who lack the same investment as myself being turned off by it. Don't get me wrong, there were some nice moments. But when I found out it would be 90 mins. in length, I knew it would be long on the worship and not much else.
Re: Bronson Arroyo. Truer words…
Btw, you guys at RAB need a proofreader/spell checker. You hiring?
odd is just there special way of spelling owed, so yes, it was an owed to the boss, big whoop.
was that on purpose?
was that on purpose?
I didn't think it went on too long. There were limited commercial breaks on its premiere and I couldn't change the channel.
Can we make a separate post for Papelbon being fined for his endless time between pitches? I'm glad he is getting hit in the wallet for the time it takes to stimy up the energy to put on that fradulent stare.
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On bike tours with Gears and Grapes Getaways, groups cycle through the iconic Napa Valley, internationally recognized as one of the nine Great Wine Capitals in the world, and the slightly-more-indie Sonoma Valley, home to nearly every type of grape grown in California.
Groups typically stop at four boutique wineries during the tours, pausing at midday for a gourmet picnic lunch. Those who get tired of pedaling or who want to pretend they're on a stakeout can hop on the shuttle that follows close behind at any time. Guides also take visitors on tours of wineries and breweries in San Francisco proper.
Housed within the heart of Golden Gate Park, Park Chalet Garden Restaurant manages to simultaneously embrace its natural surroundings and its contemporary, urban setting. Glass walls and ceilings completely surround the diners, affording them pastoral views of Queen Wilhelmina's windmill and the dutch-tulip garden without sacrificing the comfort of an indoor environment. During warm, sunny days, natural light floods the space and the retractable glass doors slide open to admit warm breezes. The dining room's pendant lamps and immense stone fireplace become invaluable at night, keeping the restaurant brightly lit and the temperatures toasty throughout the evening.
To complement this elegantly cozy ambiance, Executive Chef Matthew Urban and his team devised a menu of familiar comfort foods with subtly refined touches. Smoked paprika oil adds an unfamiliar yet welcome burst of savory flavor to the fried chicken, and cornmeal-crusted trout arrives at tables with an aromatic saffron aioli. Occasionally, the chefs look for inspiration in other cuisines and fuse those flavors with Californian ingredients. Crushed avocados add to the ahi tuna tartare's richness, but the dish's ginger-sesame vinaigrette balances those flavors with a hint of zesty spice.
However, the chefs aren't the only culinary talent at Park Chalet Garden Restaurant. The staff also brews a variety of beers in-house, crafting everything from smoky, German-style märzens to refreshingly hoppy IPAs. As diners enjoy one of these brews with their meal, they can take in the views and applaud the local bands and extraterrestrial magicians that perform every Tuesday evening.
Bluxome Street Winery is a celebration of California winemaking history. More than a century ago, SOMA—then called South of the Slot—was the center of new-world wineries. To pay homage to that legendary time, Bluxome draws upon rustic decor and old-school practices, such as sourcing high-quality fruit from small, meticulously farmed vineyards.
Bluxome also extends its reach to a Balinard vineyard in Russian River. There, three acres of pinot noir clones grow in an organic environment, producing the fruit that composes Bluxome's aromatic, smooth, and electric wines that linger on the palate and pair perfectly with steak.
The last Saturday of every month sees the winery explode into a community-focused farmers market filled with artisan food vendors. Pinot in hand, visitors are free to roam among vendors such as Sinful Salt and Crescent Farm, tasting the honey of Gerard'Z Honeybees and the jam of Grandma's Homemade. This eclectic gathering is perhaps a reason readers of the San Fransisco Bay Guardian named Bluxome one of the Best Wineries in 2013.
Now that eating on an ordinary table or atop a stack of Chinese acrobats seem horribly passé, adventurous foodies are seeking the next unconventional dining experience. Today's Groupon puts a little motion under your meal with two gourmet dinners on the Napa Valley Wine Train for $99 (a $198 value for dinner, $188 value for lunch). Treat yourself and a loved one to a three-hour ride through Napa Valley on an antique locomotive engine, accompanied by a delicious gourmet meal in lieu of the traditional mysterious murder.
The history of Ceja Vineyards dates back the 1950s, when Pablo Ceja, then working in St. Helena vineyards, dreamed of owning his own land where his ever-expanding family could grow their own grapes and make their own wine. Fueled by this dream for a better life for his children, Pablo moved his family from Mexico to the Napa Valley in 1967. Fortunately, 2 of his 10 children, Pedro and Armando, inherited his passion for wine and belief in hard work. When they were old enough, Pedro and Armando planted their first pinot-noir grapes in 1986 and, 13 years later, officially founded Ceja Vineyards with their wives and children. Today, the Cejas' operation boasts 113 producing acres and a chic wine-tasting salon where guests can enjoy sips of the vineyard's red and white varietals, artisan cheeses, gourmet food items, and featured works from local artists.
In good Ceja tradition, Pedro and Armando's kids are now beginning to purple their feet in the family business as well. Pablo's family has undoubtedly made him proud; they've done much since their humble beginnings in St. Helena. The family hopes their story of hope and determination surfaces in every sip of their lovingly cultivated wines.
Wildflower-filled vases adorn hardwood tables within Savour St. Helena's rouge-tinted tasting room, where servers dish out hard-to-find vinos culled from small wineries. The Vinter's Tasting offers oenophiles and foodphiles the makings of an authentic vintner's lunch, uniting assorted cheeses and charcuteries with the sipper's choice of three wines. Quaffs of the Areté 2010 sauvignon blanc or the Houdini 2007 merlot escort nibbles of artisanal cheeses, cured meats, and mixed olives to a flavorful promenade chaperoned by bites of crusty french bread and a kindly corkscrew. Alternatively, a flight of Spotted Owl Vineyards 2008 mountain cuvée and Veendercrest 2005 Rutherford cabernet sauvignon can coast in for a smooth landing upon your palate's runway.


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By Alistair Barr, MarketWatch
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- QS Investors, an $11 billion asset-management firm, said Wednesday that it split off from Deutsche Bank AG.
As economies weaken, markets wilt
Stocks, commodities and riskier currencies fell on worry over the flagging U.S. recovery and slowing growth in China. All three major U.S. indexes turned negative for the year. Dennis Berman and Michael Casey discuss.
QS, which uses computer models and other techniques to make investment decisions, was part of Deutsche Asset Management for more than a decade. The firm's management team, headed by Janet Campagna, bought the business from the German banking giant /quotes/zigman/207002/delayed/quotes/nls/db DB +0.06% .
"We have completed an extraordinary time of growth and development as part of Deutsche Asset Management and look forward to working with them as an important client in the years ahead," Campagna said in a statement.
Other executives who moved with Campagna include James Norman, president of QS Investors; Rosemary Macedo, chief investment officer; and Robert Wang, head of portfolio management.


text: I have always been spellbind by Samuri sowrds. But I do not have the time or fasilety's to take care of such beuty. But I can't get it over my heart to sell them, unless i can be sure they are not going to land up in some dusty closet. These two swords are made in perfection every inch of the blade and grip. If you know of any one that mite be interested and would take care of them, please let me know.


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bebe Signature Envelope Clutch
Style # 226499
AVAILABILITY: Unavailable for immediate shipment.
The best part of the day is the night. Lend your after-hours fall look a touch of luxe with this bebe envelope clutch, featuring contrasting black and gold flaps that open for separate compartments. Lined with images from our fall 2013 campaign.
- 100% polyurethane
- H 8" (20 cm) x W 10" (25 cm) x D 3" (8 cm)
- Imported
bebe Signature Envelope Clutch 2 2
Loving it I love this clutch. Holds everything I need for night out October 11, 2013
Love Love Love! Such an adorable clutch! Love the inner flaps and suprise details inside! October 3, 2013
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Sell Your Home
Elevate Your Listing
I believe that marketing is a critical component for selling a home at top dollar in today's market. M Realty recently developed a cutting-edge marketing system that captures and presents the "story" of your home like no other brokerage. The marketing campaign starts where most buyers do – the internet. Your home will be displayed on beautiful web pages and videos aimed at reaching a large, targeted audience of potential buyers. The web-based efforts are enhanced with equally beautiful print media. This unique combination creates a buzz about your property and engages potential buyers before they even tour your home.
The Story of Your Listing
Every home I sell has a compelling story that will resonate with the next owners. It might be built-in window seats, an uber-cool shade garden, or proximity to a happening commercial district. Our staff of web designers, photo/video experts, and copywriters capture the special elements of each home and create custom web-based and print media that will be shared with neighbors, brokers, and buyers. The goal is for potential buyers to envision living in your home before they've ever seen it in person.
Beautiful Online and Print MEDIA
The first impression of a home is absolutely critical. Most potential buyers will find and view a home for the first time on the internet. Our design, photo, and video experts drive the visual experience, while the copywriter ensures that the story is compelling. Buyers and their brokers should say "We have to see this house." The online presentation will attract people to the home. Once they visit, a strong emotional connection will be made. The take-home print materials will extend and enforce that connection.
A Large, Targeted Audience
After the story of your home is captured and presented, we launch a comprehensive marketing campaign to reach as many potential buyers as possible. We also track any online efforts through Google Analytics. The campaign includes many (if not all) of the following:
- Listing on RMLS
- Sign with Perma-Flyer
- Superflyer booklets and color flyers
- Contacting cooperating brokers with potential buyers
- Placement on M Realty agent website network
- Email newsletter
- Facebook/social media exposure
- YouTube video post(s)
- Postlets and Craigslist ads
- Direct mail campaign with handwritten envelopes
- Open House invitations to neighbors
- Broker Open
New Potential Owners
I work diligently with our marketing team to handle every detail of the listing process. This ensures that the new potential owners connect emotionally with your home and see it in the best possible light. Below are just some of the team members who are dedicated to helping you sell your home. Now that you've reviewed the system, I invite you to contact me about listing your home.
M Realty Marketing Team


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Water Tower House by Zecc Architects
This amazing Industrial water tower in the Netherlands has been converted into a modern residential house which consists of nine floors and small rooftop terrace that offers beautiful panoramic views. Designed by Zecc Architects the house is located in Soest, Netherlands. The water tower was built in 1931.
Zecc Architects encountered many challenges while constructing the house, like maintaining the interior's industrial characteristics, letting more daylight in, ensuring an effective and efficient layout.


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It's easy to become cynical about the prospects for any new highway to the Grand Strand. After all, we've been promised one since the 1980s and have yet to see it materialize. But while proponents of Interstate 73 – or any new road to our area – may seem locked in limbo, there are a few bright spots on the horizon.
New DOT Commissioner Mike Wooten, the first to represent our new 7th District, is an ardent supporter of the road, which if nothing else will continue to ensure that the need for some sort of improved route to the Strand stays before the commission.
Along with a growing number of state leaders, Wooten also supports raising more funds for South Carolina's roads, whether through raising the gas tax or some other method. As well as making sound economic sense, such an increase would also raise the hopes for building new roads, including any new highway to the Grand Strand.
And perhaps more signficantly for I-73 given the enormous cost, which South Carolina simply cannot afford to bear on its own, new U.S. Rep. Tom Rice has been given a seat on the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, which has already begun putting together the 2014 highway bill that will distribute funding throughout the nation. As a freshman congressman, Rice may not have a great deal of influence yet, but his seat at the table could certainly help direct more federal dollars to any local highway project.
There remain some significant roadblocks, however, funding being the most glaringly obvious. Yes, transportation needs in the state have garnered a larger spotlight of late. Gov. Nikki Haley highlighted the issue in her recent State of the State address, and legislators have shown a growing willingness to address the state's road system. But most of that focus is on restoring and maintaining existing infrastructure. Outside of the Grand Strand, it's hard to find much, if any, enthusiasm for a $2 billion highway connecting Conway to the interstate system.
It's hard to blame state leaders. When the state Department of Transportation is already predicting a funding deficit in the tens of billions over the next decade just to keep up the roads we already have, it's easy to see how building a massive new road to the beach could be a luxury that the state can't afford. And as legislators continue to look for places to cut taxes, the chances of finding any substantial funding for the interstate shrink.
Not that local leaders are giving up, by any means. After the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce's annual legislative reception last week, senators from across the state went into the chamber Thursday morning and found I-73 promotional items left on each of their desks. The "fancy pens and blinky buttons" are fine and good, Gaffney Sen. Harvey Peeler said later that day, but before the state builds I-73 it needs to fix the other interstates that we already have.
Peeler was advocating specifically for money for I-85, which runs through his district. And therein lies one of the main problems for I-73 supporters. S.C. road building is almost inextricably linked to parochial politics in the state.
Sen. Larry Grooms put it well back in 2011 when there was a brief flurry of discussion of reforming the DOT commission (a reform that just as quickly fizzled): "Everybody wants to make sure that the roads closest to home are the ones that get the most asphalt." Given that reality, legislators from elsewhere have never been particularly thrilled about the idea of building a road that they see as beneficial only to the beach.
Will a new road to the Grand Strand be built this year? No. But state and federal leaders could put in place a foundation that makes it more likely in the coming years.


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The next release on my record label is by French DJ and producer Stamba. I am remixing one of the songs called Deviation. All the tracks on the release are what you would call darkwave, ebm, techno. Don't you love all these sub-genres? Take a listen:
I recreated his original song in Ableton Live, keeping his vocals but using all my own sounds. Some of the gear and plug-ins used include a Jomox Mbase-01, Vermona DRM1 MKIII, Audiorealism Bassline, Korg Legacy, PSP Nitro, Fabfilter Volcano 2, assorted TC Powercore dynamics and Sugar Bytes Effectrix.
We have released the remix samples under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License. If you want to grab the samples for your own fun head to the discography page for this release at Things to Come Records:
The full release will be available on August 4, 2008.
This entry was written by Ableton Live, hardware, music, plug-ins and tagged Audiorealism, Creative Commons, darkwave, EBM, Effectrix, fabfilter, Jomox, Korg Legacy, PSP Nitro, remix, Stamba, The Horrorist, Things to Come Records, Vermona DRM1. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post., posted on July 23, 2008 at 12:42 am, filed under


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Magic Forest
Lake George, New York
|Park type:
|Amusement Park
|Opening year:
|Roller Coasters:
Check rates and make reservations now.
Magic Forest Hotels
Route 9, P.O. Box 71
Lake George, NY 12845
Phone: (518) 668-2448Magic Forest Location Map & Directions
| New York Theme Parks | Theme Parks A to Z | Theme Parks by State | Theme Park Map |


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The InvisibleShield Orbit case provides premium protection that's virtually unnoticeable. It perfectly complements the design of your Galaxy S5 as it encircles its sides and corners in durable TPU, covered with tough polycarbonate. The Orbit case also includes an Invisible Glass screen protector for the most crystal clear protection for your phone.
Your order will leave our warehouse between: right now and sometime soon
Subtotal: ERROR


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JOPLIN, Mo. —
Do you ever sense, as the lights dim and the crowd hushes, that a movie is going to be special?
I always have that experience when I attend True/False, an annual documentary film festival in Columbia, Mo. I usually see anywhere from 10 to 12 movies in a three-day period. Some of them are forgettable, but occasionally I see one that stays with me.
"The Way We Get By,"which I saw in 2009 and which aired later that year on PBS's "POV,"is such a film. I saw it at a Secret Screening Ñ meaning that attendees had a vague idea of what the documentary was about but no knowledge of the title or film makers.
The festival guide simply read: "The challenges of aging and patriotism mix in this sensitive portrait of three senior citizens, who have met every arriving and departing flight since the beginning of the Iraq War."
Now, in a town with liberal tendencies such as Columbia, where peace protests are common, a movie about patriots could potentially result in a contentious Q-and-A with the director. Not so with "The Way We Get By."
By the time the closing credits rolled, the audience had been won over. No matter how you feel about the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq, you will find the stories of these three individuals riveting.
Bill, Joan and Jerry are members of the Maine Troop Greeters, a group of volunteers who welcome and see off all U.S. soldiers at the Bangor International Airport.
The airport is a busy place, as it is the main entry and exit point for U.S. troops going to Iraq and Afghanistan. Sometimes there are seven or eight flights a day, and the Greeters meet all of them, day or night.
The volunteers meet and send off the soldiers with hugs, handshakes and greetings of "Welcome home, heroes" and "We appreciate you." They provide them with cookies and candy. They offer them cell phones to call loved ones.
The soldiers' wary expressions soon give way to smiles and laughter. The airport scenes are both touching and sobering. Throughout the film, the Greeters mark grim milestones: 300,000 soldiers, then 500,000. By the film's end, they've met close to 900,000.
But "The Way We Get By" is about so much more than the Maine Troop Greeters. While profiling the volunteer work of Bill, Joan and Jerry, the film delves into their private lives. With an intimacy that is sometimes painful, we witness their personal dramas.
The knowledge that soldiers, and soon her grandchildren, are going into war zones weighs heavily on Joan, who also happens to be the director's mother.
"How can you be safe? It's not like being home," she asks, her face betraying her anxiety before she bursts into tears.
Jerry's jovial facade cracks when he has to put down his faithful dog.
"The vet said it was time," he says, unable to look at the camera. "But he sure was a good puppy. And I'm very lucky to have had him for 16 years."
Bill's loneliness is palpable, perhaps heightened by his fight with prostate cancer.
"My life don't mean a hell of a lot to me," he says, his blue eyes bright with tears. When the interviewer asks him why, he answers, "Well, I have nothing to live for other than what I do for other people. I've outlived my usefulness, as far as individually. I think, you know, helping other people puts a little meaning back in my life. At least I hope that's what it's doing."
Ultimately, the point that "The Way We Get By" makes is that, regardless of their age, people have worth. In a country that often ignores or underestimates its older citizens, they can make a difference.
The film's tagline says it all: "Sometimes all it takes is a handshake to change a life." But whose life is being changed? More than the soldiers' lives are changed, as become evident in the film.
"It's not something I have to do. It's something I want to do," Jerry says of his role as a Greeter. "If I can make one of them feel a little more comfortable on their way out, and show our appreciation on their way back, if you can make a soldier smile before he goes over, that's all that's needed."
I've seen this documentary four times now. Each time I find something new to love about it. Check it out for yourself at the Joplin Public Library.
Lisa E. Brown is the Administrative Assistant at the Joplin Public Library.