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Signs We Are Near The End Of Civilization: Can You Imagine What Would Happen If Tony Stewart Had Killed A Black Teenager?
At first glance, the title of this piece seems ludicrous, but the events of this past week in upstate New York and suburban St. Louis share one overarching theme. In both cases, there is a world full of people who not only want me to jump to conclusions based on what they want to believe, they expect me to do so based on on some flimsy mob mentality to which they've subscribed.
In case you were on the International Space Station this week and NASA forgot to pay the cable bill, on Saturday night at a race track in Canandaigua, New York, NASCAR driver Tony Stewart struck and killed fellow driver Kevin Ward, Jr. who had exited his car after colliding with Stewart's car. A few days before that in Ferguson, Missouri, Michael Brown was shot and killed during a confrontation with police. While these two incidents are a thousand miles and worlds apart, they are bound by several common threads.
First of all is the aforementioned mob mentality. I'm surrounded by people who looked a the video of the Stewart incident and are convinced this was a act of stone-cold murder. While I'm willing to admit that video looks bad, I'm also not willing to forgo due process because of it. As far as the Brown situation is concerned, this is just another in a long line of incidents where there is a predisposed, politically-correct determination of the sequence of events based solely on the race of the person who ended up dead.
Instead of looking at these situations by poo-pooing what I don't know, let's look at what I do know. It seems to me that getting run over is a fair risk to expect from walking around on a race track. There's really no denying that is what happened, regardless of whatever else comes to light. In other words, Ward could not have been run over had he stayed in his car.
Ironically, by all witness accounts, the incident between Brown and the police began when Brown and another unidentified male approached the officer's car and began a physical confrontation with him when he attempted to exit his squad car. The accounts of what happened after that point vary greatly, but the end was not vague at all.
While I'm spending my morning spewing coffee across the room at how outlandish the coverage of both these stories is becoming; at least the outraged NASCAR fans are equating the need for justice with the right to smash the windows at a Wal-Mart and steal a 50-inch flat screen. But that isn't the only way terms are getting confused.
In a rare moment when ESPN wasn't bleating the Stewart story this morning, they did one of those "puff" pieces about a BASE jumper who blew out his spine jumping off a bridge. While they are telling the story of his "comeback," the kept using the word "tragedy" to describe his injury. What happened to this guy was not a "tragedy;" a six-year old getting mowed down in a crosswalk is a "tragedy." Ending up in a wheelchair because you played "patty-cake" with a bridge piling is not a "tragedy," it's an occupational hazard.
Know what else are occupational hazards? Sucking a fender at fifty miles an hour because you are an impulsive hothead, and eating a bullet because you picked a fight with a guy wearing a gun. In other words, what is really infuriating about the coverage of both of these stories is the media has this silly need to obfuscate the fact that both of these stories have a distinct "it takes two to tango" factor. No matter how much white-wash you sling, there's no denying if you don't want to get run over, you shouldn't walk around on race-tracks. A great way not to get shot by the police is not to start fist fights with them. And if you cripple yourself jumping off bridges, don't let ESPN use you to reinforce the idea that we bear no responsibility for what happens to us anymore.
Radio J-Dub, Volume 1 – NFL Free Agency and the Phil Jackson Saga
We here at Dubsism are excited to bring you a new feature, an audio podcast to go along with the series of video podcast we produce. In the inaugural episode, J-Dub talks about how NFL free agency is like having a girlfriend who is jet-screaming hot, but is also bat-shit crazy. He also puts to rest some misconceptions about the Phil Jackson as president of the New York Knicks saga, and lays out a reason you'll never get from the dick-tards at ESPN about why a Jackson return to the Los Angeles Lakers is all but impossible.
You can subscribe to and download the podcast here, as well as get information on how to participate live when Radio J-Dub is being recorded live.
What We Learned From Week One of the 2013 NFL Season
By J-Dub and Ryan Meehan
Without any further fanfare, let's just get to the stuff week one of the NFL season showed us.
1) Peyton Manning's performance hid the fact the Broncos' defense sucks.
If Thursday night taught us anything, it's that the Broncos are indeed going to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. By "struggle," we're talking something akin to a turtle on its back getting gang-raped by a group of Hell's Angels all to an all Kenny G soundtrack. If you consider all of the mistakes that Baltimore made offensively, the fact that Denver gave up 27 points is pretty pathetic. Ray Rice is a pretty solid "yards after contact" guy, but against the Ponies defense, he got more second chances than Robert Downey Jr.
Not to mention, we aren't even counting the mistake made on the interception return that by all that is right in the football universe should have resulted in yet another Broncos' touchdown. This is where Danny Trevathan had a "Honey Badger meets DeSean Jackson" level brain-fart. After making the pick, and cruising to what should have been the "pick-six" part of this, he inexplicably released the ball before he crossed the goal line in a momentary lapse of judgment reminiscent of a young DeSean Jackson. As you would hope, Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio ripped Trevathan's ass open like he was Edward Norton in the prison shower scene in American History X, because Denver can't expect Grandpa Manning to chuck 7 touchdowns every week.
The Riley Cooper Situation: Yet Another Exercise in the Exploitation of Racism for Profit
Last week, steroids were the worst thing to ever happen in the history of the sports world. Trust me, there was absolutely no hyperbole spewing from the mouths of the sports media gasbags when they were saying this. Never mind there were sandwiching the steroid conversation with talk about a guy who may have killed at least one person. Let's be honest, it is common knowledge in the sports media world that steroids are definitely worse than murder. The disproportionate amount of coverage given to these topics bears that out.
That was until Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver Riley Cooper got caught on video saying the word "nigger." In one fell swoop, racism became the worst thing ever in the history of the sports world. It was worse than killing somebody, It was worse than the systematic use of illegal drugs. That's right, a single word became the worst thing in the history of the sports world, and I have a one-word answer for that.
Forget about the ridiculousness inherent in a bunch of reporters blowing a story completely out of proportion; they do that anyway, so it all evens out. Forget about the idea that the systematic use of performance-enhancing drugs has become as issue that threatens to mess up the integrity of just about every sport out there (Has anybody been caught juicing in curling yet?) Forget about the idea that anybody is supposed to believe that the utterance of a single word is worse than that shooting somebody in the back of the head. I'm not even going to get into the utter hypocrisy that if a white guys says "nigger," he's instantly somewhere between Adolf Hitler and the guy who changed the formula for Coca-Cola, and a black guy can say it with impunity (such as me exactly 24 words ago). Hell, Stephen A. Smith probably has "nigger" printed on his business card.
Three Crucial Facts About The Aaron Hernandez Situation ESPN Is Conveniently Ignoring
If you are a sports fan, you likely watch a lot of ESPN. Unless you spent the last three weeks at your time share on the dark side of the moon, you are nauseatingly aware of the situation embroiling former New England Patriot and current murder suspect Aaron Hernandez. But in the avalanche of the coverage the World Wide Bottom Feeder, there's some really important stuff the blow-dries in Bristol would prefer you didn't know. Of course, that is exactly why we here at Dubsism are pointing them out.
1) The only person at fault for what is happening to Aaron Hernandez is Aaron Hernandez
To understand this, you must realize that ESPN is in the business of idealizing athletes, which means nothing can ever be an athlete's fault. Since ESPN became a cash cow by filling SportsCenter with highlights, the focus of those highlights have to stay as squeaky-clean as possible. Of course, anybody with better than 20/6,000,000 vision and a reasonably functional cerebral cortex knows that's a pantload of the first order. That's also happens to be the exact reason why there are millions of sports fans who lap up the swill ESPN puts out. That's also why the omni-directional sludge pump known as ESPN has been floating the idea that somehow the fact Aaron Hernandez is footballs-deep in a murder investigation is the fault of everybody but Hernandez.
First, this was somehow Bill Belichick's fault for drafting a guy the Patriots knew had a rail-car full of baggage coming out of the University of Florida. The fact that Hernandez was thug-a-licious all the way back clearly isn't the fault of Emperor Palp-a-chick. But, right after they tossed that story out there, ESPN realized they've been sucking up to Belichick and the Patriots for the better part of the last decade. Then they figured out that convincing America that Bill Belichick was right up there with the guy driving the white Bronco was bad for business. It was at that moment they realized they need to find another scapegoat. Now, that isn't to say that the Patriots (and specifically owner Robert Kraft) aren't completely full of shit in the way they've handled this, but I will get back to that.
The next stop on the scapegoat train was former Florida coach Urban Meyer. Sure, the Gator coaching staff knew he had a track record. Sure, they knew about plenty of incidents while he was at Florida. So what? Let's cut through he crap here. Football coaches aren't in the business of being parole officers, social workers, or nannies. They are in the business of winning football games. There's a precise term to define football coaches who don't win games. It's called "fired."
The same applies to Belichick. Football is a "what have you done for me lately" world, which means that coaches will recruit, sign, and play Lucifer himself if he can bring wins. You don't want to admit that, but it's true. In other words, both Belichick and Meyer knew what they had on their hands – a guy who could help them win football games. Everything wasn't there problem, because there is just one rule in big-time college football and the NFL. In the immortal rules of Al Davis, "Just Win, Baby."
There's a reason for that. The very same fan who is right now contemplating his comment to me about that "athletes are role models" bullshit is the same guy who calls sports radio shows bitching about his team's coach. The math works like this. Football coaches are under pressure to win, and that pressure comes from fans who are every bit as tolerant of bad behavior as long as they think the bad guy is good with a football. The minute Cam Newton threw for 4,000 yards in the NFL, everybody forgot about his sordid past. O.J. Simpson had a track record of bad behavior all the way back to his community college days in San Francisco. So, before anybody starts shifting the blame for Aaron Hernandez away from Aaron Hernandez, they may want to take a look in the mirror. It's only a logical extension once you say Hernandez is the result of the action of another individual to then say the actions of those other individuals are the result of the pressure to when exerted by the fans.
Not to mention, if ESPN is reticent to blame the athletes they glorify, there sure as shit aren't going to blame the viewers they need to stay in business.
2) Aaron Hernandez is not the only bad guy in the sporting world right now
I could run the list of bad guys in sports today from here to the end of the interwebz, but because murder is sensational, and because Hernandez happens to have been associated with one of the flagship franchises in the NFL, this will undoubtedly be one the stories which will consume the sports world for the foreseeable future. But there are all sorts of other stories out there that simply don't get the coverage. We've already forgotten about the Jovan Belcher tragedy in Kansas City, and right now I would bet that 75% of you can't tell me who Ausar Walcott is. In fact, did you know that 27 NFL players have been arrested since the Super Bowl?
The example which ties this point perfectly with the first one is Ray Lewis. No only were there a ton of football fans who have forgotten Lewis' involvement in a double-homicide, many of them completely ignored it because Ray delivered on the field. That's why ESPN hired Lewis, because they know those same fans will tune in football fans together .
To be fair, this isn't happening only in the NFL. Police blotters are full of college athletes, NBA players, and NHL players. Even today, the news came out the a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants not named Cain or Lincecum was arrested for allegedly being a drunken pervert. But since he's not a marquee name. and since he doesn't pitch for the Yankees or the
Red Yankees Red Sox, you haven't seen his name anywhere other than a slight blurb on ESPN's crawl.
The point here is we love to be selective with our moral outrage. You can use all the steroids you want, unless you play baseball, in which case you are the moral equivalent of a Nazi cannibal. Being a cheat, a liar, and a thief is perfectly acceptable as you are a politician with the correct affiliation, and you can literally get away with murder if you are a star athlete with a dubious story you can sell to an even more dubious jury. If you doubt that, don't forget that all it takes to screw the entire judicial system is one misguided Patriots' who simply will not vote to convict regardless of the evidence presented.
3) The fertilizer value of Robert Kraft's "We Were Duped" story could end world hunger as we know it
Yeah, I can see it now…another round of attacks coming from the "Tommy Boy and Sully" Patriots fan crowd because I have dared to besmirch the name of Saint Bob. Bring it on. If you can't handle the truth about Saint Bob, stop reading right now, tune in Boston sports radio and wait for the latest "let's all blow Bob-fest," which I think they are currently running about every two hours or so.
I first pointed this out the other day about the bovine scatology kn own as the "Patriot Way."
It's really hard to ignore the fact that if the "Patriot Way" wasn't just a bunch of lip service, guys like Aaron Hernandez would have never worn the Patriot uniform in the first place. I love the fact that I-285 likens the "Patriot Way" to an "Al Davis mantra," because it really means "Just Win, Baby." The fact this all comes down to sloganeering is yet another example of how this is really all about image.
Consider that Kraft whole approach to marketing the image of his team died right about the same time Odin Lloyd did. That's why Kraft's most recent comments are beyond laughable.
Two days after returning from a vacation in Europe and Israel, Patriots owner Robert Kraft finally broke his silence Monday about Aaron Hernandez's arrest on a murder charge and subsequent release from the team.
"No one in our organization was aware of any of these kind of connections. If it's true, I'm just shocked," Kraft said in his office at Gillette Stadium. "Our whole organization has been duped."
Kraft, who has owned the Patriots since 1994, said he was "limited" in what he could discuss because of "an ongoing criminal investigation, as well as other potential civil proceedings," yet spoke to reporters despite being advised not to by his attorneys. It is unclear if the family of Odin Lloyd, the victim in Hernandez's murder case, will attempt to sue the Patriots.
But Kraft said it "is important that our fan base hear directly from our organization." Kraft said the team knew Hernandez was "immature," but didn't think his off-field activities ever would lead to a murder charge.
So, let's break that down. Kraft is smart for not wanting to say anything that could fuel a civil case against the Patriots, but the fact he is concerned about that means he knows there is a potential problem here. I'm not a lawyer, and I'm certainly not going to get into what it takes to get sued in this country, but I will say this. You know damn good and well Saint Bob got the word of several lawyers before he said a public word on this matter. If you doubt that, consider the following.
In fact, the Patriots were willing to draft Hernandez because they believed he had owned up to his past. Kraft disclosed a letter Monday that Hernandez sent to the Patriots on April 16, 2010, six days before the NFL draft.
In the letter, addressed to Patriots player personnel director Nick Caserio and written with help from Hernandez's agents at Athletes First, Hernandez admitted to recreational drug use while at the University of Florida and said he would "willfully" submit to biweekly drug testing during his rookie season if the Patriots were willing to draft him. Hernandez also offered to make a monetary atonement stemming from his $200,000 rookie signing bonus for any failed drug test.
"In addition, I will tie any guaranteed portion of my 2010 compensation to these drug tests and reimburse the team a pro-rata amount for any failed drug test," Hernandez wrote.
Right there, Kraft's "Duped" story starts taking on water. I understand this letter only focuses on Hernandez' alleged history of drug use, but think about it for a minute. If you are the Patriots, and you are considering drafting this player who has a trail of stuff behind him a mile long, and he's already tacitly admitting there's credence to the drug concerns, wouldn't you do a bit of homework on him before you drafted and gave him multiple millions of dollars? Of course you would.
So, when Kraft uses the term "duped," he is saying one of two things. Either the Patriots simply took Hernandez at his word and ignored everything else, or they simply didn't do the homework on this guy. If they chose to turn a blind eye to everything other than the drug concerns, then there is no where they can claim they were "duped." If they didn't bother to do the due diligence, the can't claim they were "duped." Ane they did take the effort to check out Hernandez' background, they surely didn't do a very good job of it. In any event, Kraft and the Patriots were not "duped." They either knew what they were getting and didn't care, or they didn't bother to find out.
A Patriots spokesman said he could not say whether the team took Hernandez up on his offer. Most NFL players are drug tested twice per year — once between August and April, and again between April and August — but the Globe reported in 2010 that Hernandez would face additional testing from the league because of marijuana issues he had at Florida.
Several media outlets, including the Globe, have reported that Hernandez failed multiple drug tests during his three seasons at Florida. But before the 2010 draft, Hernandez told teams he had failed just one, and a Florida spokesman told the Globe Monday that "we do not dispute his claims in this regard."
Kraft said the Patriots felt comfortable drafting Hernandez in the fourth round after receiving this letter, and did not believe he had any other major off-field issues.
"Here's a guy writing a letter, taking responsibility," Kraft said. "The only thing I ever heard on Aaron Hernandez was he was very young, immature, and potentially had problems presented in this letter. Never saw signs of anything else."
Again, there is no way the Patriots can claim they didn't know about the marijuana issues. But this isn't about some sort of "marijuana, the killer weed that makes people kill people;" this is about why would you take action on a tacit admission of one set of concerns and ignore the others? All of the stuff coming out of Florida subsequent to Hernandez' arrest in Massachsetts was all pretty easy stuff for an investigation to find. Police reports can be obtained, court proceedings are public record, and good, old-fashioned knocking on doors and asking a few questions would have dug up a lot of this stuff. It begs the question why that never happened?
Kraft said all he knew about Hernandez is what happened inside the practice facility at Gillette Stadium, and that for three years Hernandez was a model football player. He noted that coach Bill Belichick said that Hernandez had the best training camp of any Patriots player last August, after Hernandez had signed his contract extension.
The fact that Kraft is sticking to "I didn't know anything" after his statements about playing it all close to the vest because of current and possible legal entanglements are a complete contradiction. If he really doesn't know anything, then say that and move on. But to say, I don't know anything, but I can't comment," raises red flags, and deservedly so.
"I only know what goes on inside this building. We don't put private eyes on people," Kraft said. "When he was in this building, I was never exposed to anything where he was not positive. He was always polite, respectful. Kraft didn't say whether the team will be less willing in the future to take on players with character risks, but "you can be sure we'll be looking at our procedures and auditing how we do things."
Forget about "private eyes." It wouldn't have taken Jim Rockford to bird-dog this guy, especially in light of how quickly this stuff surfaced after Hernandez was arrested. But at least we now know which route the Patriots took; they weren't "duped," they didn't do their homework despite the fact they had every reason to do so. They seemingly didn't even do the same background check one would be subject to trying to get a job at Wal-Mart.
Kraft certainly wishes he had done more research on Hernandez's off-field activities before giving him the extension last August, but he felt at the time that signing Hernandez to a long-term deal was the best move for the team. Hernandez's rookie contract was supposed to run through the 2013 season, and the Patriots felt like they could get better value if they had signed him to a long-term deal before he reached free agency.
"If you let the best players go to free agency or get to the last year, you usually pay more," Kraft said. "It was a business decision. We were paying for performance. He was undervalued his first two years, then we wanted to get him in range."
Just what performance were they paying for? Take a look at Hernandez' stats over the past three seasons: He's only played in 29 of 38 possible games, which means he misses about one game in four. So his durability is questionable. On average, he's worth about 56 catches a year for about 650 yard and right around 6 touchdowns. Is that really worth 5 years and $37.5 million?
That's why I think there's more to this. In a previous piece, I mentioned that "the Patriot Way" was all about image, and I really believe that Robert Kraft so wanted to be seen a s a guy who can rehabilitate wayward youth that he was using Hernandez as a show pony. That's why the decision was made so quickly, and the efforts to sever the ties were so demonstrable. The Aaron Hernandez story meant more to Robert Kraft than simply having a player get into trouble.
What it all boils down to for Saint Bob is this. You can tell me you didn't do your homework. You can tell me you saw something in Hernandez that wasn't there. You can even tell me that you wanted to use the "rehabilitated Hernandez" story as a feather in your tri-cornered Patriot hat.
But don't tell me you were "duped."
Before We Get Carried Away…The Miami Heat Are Not The NBA's Newest Dynasty
I know you are going to be shocked by this, but here comes another Dubsism rant that flies in the face of popular opinion and the bilge being pumped out by ESPN.
First, let's be magnanimous. The Heat won their second straight NBA Championship last night, and for that, I only have one word. Congratulations. Winning a title in any professional league is tough enough; winning consecutive championships is tougher than getting through an afternoon with your in-laws while simultaneously battling a toothache and hemorrhoidal flare-up.
Secondly, let's be honest. This accomplishment has the Lebron-ists at ESPN in full throat, both figuratively and literally. My feelings about the World Wide Bottom-Feeder are only a secret to those who have never read this blog; all you have to do is look at the contents of my "ESPN" tag to understand that. All morning, the World Wide Bottom Feeder has been having yet another LeBron-gasm, and there's one big thing I've heard that I just can't let go unchallenged. For some reason in this country, we have this compulsive need to overstate things. What is happening this morning with LeBron James and the Heat is the perfect example, and ESPN isn't the only guilty party.
So far this morning, I've heard the "LeBron is the greatest of all-time" get progressively louder; I can ignore them because I've already destroyed that argument. I've heard a lot of stuff about how this could be the end of the San Antonio Spurs. That might be true, after all we all know time moves forward, and no team has more time behind them than San Antonio. But we've been hearing that for years now, and it still hasn't happened. After all that, the one thing I'm hearing today that I have to challenge is the notion that the Miami Heat are now a dynasty.
Bullshit…unequivocal, uncut, flies-circling-it bullshit.
This is just the media getting carried away with itself, because to say the Heat are now a dynasty ignores three undeniable facts.
1) Even thought the definition of "dynasty" is subjective, the Heat still don't meet it.
I'll admit that I'm a very "old-school" guy when it comes to definitions, and that of "dynasty" is no exception. When you say "dynasty" to me, I picture the Minneapolis Lakers who won 5 championships in 6 seasons. I picture the Boston Celtics who won 11 titles between 1957 and 1970. I picture the 1980′s, where there were only two teams not named the Lakers or the Celtics to win an NBA title.
But since then, several factors have changed the NBA, and therefore have changed what a "dynasty" is. Those factors include "big-money free-agency," league expansion, and the influx of foreign players Let's look at what I would call NBA "dynasties" since those factors came into play:
- The Michael Jordan-era Chicago Bulls – six titles in eight seasons.
- The Kobe Bryant-era Los Angeles Lakers – five titles in eleven seasons.
- The Tim Duncan-era San Antonio Spurs – four titles in nine seasons.
Now, you can look at the list of NBA champions and say that last night's win gave the Heat their third NBA Championship in eight seasons, which is true. At best, taking that consideration only puts the Heat on the cusp on the conversation. they would still need to win again next year to match the Spurs accomplishment.
But even if the Heat three-peat, I would not consider them to be a "dynasty" for one big reason. Every other team I've mentioned here as a "dynasty" has one thing in common. During their dynasty years (with the sole exception of the Boston Celtics of the 80s who are also arguably not a "dynasty"), they all had the same coach and the same star player.
- Minneapolis Lakers: Coach, John Kundla; Star Player, George Mikan
- Boston Celtics of the 60s: Coach, Red Auerbach; Star Player, Bill Russell
- Los Angeles Lakers of the 80s Coach, Pat Riley; Star Player, Magic Johnson
- Boston Celtics of the 80s: Coaches Bill Fitch & K.C. Jones; Star Player Larry Bird
- Chicago Bulls: Coach, Phil Jackson; Star Player, Michael Jordan
- San Antonio Spurs: Coach Gregg Popovich; Star Player, Tim Duncan
That means that for purposes of calling the Heat a "dynasty" means the 2006 NBA Championship can't be counted because the head coach of that team was Stan Van Gundy (who was fired mid-season in favor of Pat Riley), and the star player was Dwyane Wade. The current consecutive NBA champs are a team which is coached by Eric Spoelstra and revolves around LeBron James.
2) This team may not survive long enough to meet even the lowest definition of "dynasty."
Lets say the Heat "three-peat" in 2014. I have a hard time calling a "three-peat" the sole requirement for a "dynasty," because there needs to be a time factor associated with being a "dynasty." The NFL gives the best example of this. Had the New England Patriots, won either of the two Super Bowls, they would be called a "dynasty" because they would have won four championships in either a seven or eleven year period. "Three-peats" or going three out of four doesn't get you the "dynasty" tag because in the era of free-agency era, six years seems to be the bare-minimum time period considered to be "dynasty"-worthy. The Dallas Cowboys of the early 1990′s won three Super Bowls in four years just like the Patriots did, and both are not called "dynasties" as a matter of common practice. But the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970′s who won four Lombardi Trophies in six season are.
There seems to be a criteria set out for being called a "dynasty" and it seems to be best exemplified by either the San Antonio Spurs or the Joe Montana-era San Francisco 49ers, who each won four titles in a nine-season spam. The "dynasty" period is measured by the first and last championship, it has to be at least six years long (ostensibly because the "useful" part of star-player contracts are almost never longer than that), you must have won a significant number of championships in that time, and in the years you didn't win, you still had to be amongst the leagues' elite. So, if the Brady/Belichick Patriots win another super Bowl before the end of their era, they are a "dynasty" in my book, and they don't then they aren't.
So, what the hell does that have to do with the Heat? It's actually rather simple. For me to consider this team a "dynasty," they have to remain one of the league's best team for at least four more years, and they have to win at least two more championships in the next four years.
That begs the question as to what this team will look like in four years. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh all have early-termination options in their contracts at the end of the 2015 season, and player options for no less than $21.6 million each at the end of 2016. That means that right now, the projections have the amount of salary owed to the "Big Three" in 2015 to be right around $65.3 million, and the salary cap for that season is expected to be approximately $62 million. But since it's a soft cap, the threshold before a team has to pay the "luxury tax" should be about $76 million.
To make a long story short, one of the "Big Three" isn't going to be around in 2016, because the Heat need to pay nine other players. Not to mention, they are going to need to deal with the fact that Dwyane Wade is in the back-end of his career and his knees are only getting worse, Chris Bosh is a ten-year vet who starting to show some signs of "big-guy" wear and tear, and that at the end of his current contract, LeBron James will be at the end of his 13th NBA season in a league where finding guys who contribute past twelve seasons is rare.
Couple that with the fact that as of right now, the Heat are $26 million over the salary cap, and the one thing that becomes certain is that this team is going to have a fair amount of different faces by the time we get to the "dynasty" deadline."
3) There's way too much competition out there.
Not only are the Heat quietly getting old, but there is some serious young competition on the rise. The Chicago Bulls, who were as beat up as Tina Turner after Ike got a bad eight-ball, took the Heat to six games. They are only going to get better. The Pacers, who are younger than Gary Glitter's choices in a Vietnamese brothel, took the Heat to seven games. They are only going to get better.
And that's just in the East. This past play-off season showed that there is a changing of the guard happening in the West. There's a youth movement driving teams like the Golden State Warriors, The Denver Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies, and most importantly, the Oklahoma City Thunder. We must not forget that the entire complexion of this play-off season changes with the presence of a healthy Russell Westbrook.
Here's another spot where I must be fair. I have to give props to ESPN's Kurt Rambis because he said a lot of the things I've pointed out in this piece. That's why he is likely bound and gagged in a basement somewhere under ESPN's compound in Bristol, Connecticut. The problem is that the ESPNazis can't silence everybody.
NBC Sports Network Is Moving In The Right Direction – Here's Some Suggestions To Keep That Going
I'm all in favor of anything that chips away at the dominance the World Wide Bottom-Feeding Four-Letter Network has over the sports world. That's why I found this press release from the NBC Sports Network so refreshing.
Buoyed by seven of the 10 most-watched NHL games in the network's history, NBC Sports Network viewership rose 14% in the first quarter compared to first quarter in 2012, according to data released by The Nielsen Company. Additionally NHL programming, including the newly-created Wednesday Night Rivalry games, was up 58% compared to Q1 in 2012, the best start in the network's history; The Dan Patrick Show viewership is up 58% compared to time period in 2012 Q1; the opening IndyCar telecast rose 78%; and MLS games are up eight percent over last year.
That opening paragraph gives one a brief shot as to what NBC sports Network is doing right; the rest of the release gives some details. We here at Dubsism intend to use those details to offer some suggestions as to how this network can continue it's growth. Continue reading →
The Dubscast, Volume 1
Welcome to a new era in the bullshit to which Dubsism exposes it's six regular readers. We've now entered the video world, and here's our first video podcast, and as terrible as it may be, it's a "Neil Armstrong" giant step for this crappy, uncensored, independent sports blog.
The subject of this initial cast is a blog written by fellow Sports Blog Movement member Ryan Meehan in which he broached the topic of homosexuality in sports. While that is a touchy topic, it was a commenter on that post that led to this podcast, which offers a "gut-punch" honest assessment of the entire issue.
Click here to view the entire podcast, but be warned it is a big dose of unvarnished truth…be offended at your own risk.
A High-School Hockey Shout-Out For All My North Dakota Peeps
ICYMI…that's "in case you missed it" for those of you less hip to internet slang than a 45-year old blogger…
This goal by NHL propsect Alec Rauhauser of Bismarck Century High School was not only a classic "What the fuck was that?" moment, it actually made #2 on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays on Wednesday. For those of you that are hard-core hockey fans, this goal might look a wee bit familiar.
I don't know about you, but to me it sure looks like that sick-ass goal Michigan Wolverine Mike Legg hung on Goldy F. Gopher back in the day. Rauhauser is drawing the attention of pro scouts with his line going into this game of 19 goals, 26 assists, 45 total points, and that goal helped Century beat cross-town Bismarck High 5-4 in overtime.
While that goal was pretty sweet, I can't like it because far too many years ago, I was a BHS guy. But, then again, I'm hoping this kid was just living a dream; getting a chance in a real game to re-enact a moment every kid does in his back yard. I would think for a hockey player, scoring that Legg goal had to be high on the list. In comparison, my "Sandlot" age friends weren't hockey players; but playing "pitch and catch" in his back yard, I can't imagine how many times my best friend Doug threw Strike Three in the bottom of the ninth to win the World Series…and he probably can't tell you how many times I dropped Strike Three and had to gun down the runner at first…thus saving his perfect game.
Doug is also the witness to my then-infamous "Century Sucks" chant at a state tournament basketball game. Whether it is the NFL or North Dakota high-school sports, fuck the Patriots.
Go Demons.
Signs We Are Near The End Of Civilization: When Tragedy Gets Sports Used As A Pulpit For Failed Politics
Obviously, this piece is being written in the aftermath of the horrific event at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Before I go anywhere with this, I'm going to quote fellow Sports Blog Movement member Patrick Young who really encapsulated this terrible tragedy in relevance to a sports blog as well as I think it can be done.
Like many people, I have been deeply troubled by what happened in Newtown, CT this past Friday. Obviously not as much as the residents of the town, and certainly not nearly as much as the victims' families, but my heart truly breaks every time I think about that tragedy for more than a second. I have found it difficult to force myself to write about anything as trivial as sports, and writing about the tragedy itself is not something I can accomplish. I simply do not have the words.
To the residents of Newtown, Connecticut, and specifically the victims' families, you have my unending sympathy. If there was anything I could ever do to help you in this time of grief, I would do it without question. May God grant you peace and understanding.
But unlike Young's eloquent words, I happen to see a relationship between what happened both in the Jovan Belcher situation and at Sandy Hook because in no time at all, both of them were used by people to advance a political agenda, and sports were used as a conduit to do so.
Having said that, it is time for a disclaimer. The following opinions are those of J-Dub, and do not necessarily reflect those of Patrick Young or any other member of Sports Blog Movement. In other words, if what you are about to read pisses you off, take it up with J-Dub and nobody else.


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text: In a message dated 2/9/00 2:19:06 PM Central Standard Time, magdlena at earthlink.net writes: << Beer mixed with apple juice is almost drinkable too. -Magdalena <ducking> >> Yes, yes, yes. I knew that response was coming :) I have to admit, she's right. (Not about the beer. Beer is god, er I mean good, no I mean god! all by itself) Applejuice mixes well with all sorts of stuff. Even beer. Ox ============================================================================ Go to http://lists.ansteorra.org/lists.html to perform mailing list tasks.


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Category Archives: Recipes
Mushroom & Caramelized Onion Tart
For me, there's nothing like the delicious combination of onions and mushrooms. Add some truffle oil, cheese and pile it into a buttery crust and wow… This is my go to recipe when I have people over, and it usually… Continue reading
Discussion Leave a comment Category Appetizers, Recipes Tags butter pie dough, easy to prepare appetizer, Mushroom onion tart, pastry dough
Quick Pickled Vegetables
m4s0n501 I really do try to involve my kids in the grocery shopping/cooking experience. Sometimes though, my lack of time and patience leaves me standing in the kitchen in a frenzied state. That's when I exile the kids to their rooms… Continue reading
Discussion 1 Comment Category Recipes, snacks, Vegetarian Tags Easy pickled vegetables, Haight Street Market, healthy pickled vegetables, vegetarian
Easy Make Ahead Hors d'oeuvre ~ Crab Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
Hors d'oeuvre. The word sounds intimidating doesn't it? Try spelling it. After years of preparing the "hors d'oeuvre" I usually end up misspelling it. Okay, I always misspell it. Sometimes I switch the "o" with the "u" and inadvertently insert… Continue reading
Discussion Leave a comment Category Appetizers, Recipes Tags appetizers, crab stuffed cherry tomatoes, Easy make ahead appetizers, easy make ahead hors d'oeuvres


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Wedding style: Three ways to master bridal beauty
It is one of the most important days of your life, so we understand that you want everything to be perfect – but don't let the stress of planning your big day make you forget, this is also one of the happiest moments in life. Enjoy your wedding day, mishaps and all.
Once you have your date, location and bridesmaids in place, it's time to begin the search for the perfect dress. The three looks below have been hand-selected to suit the most popular wedding destinations for this time of year.
Whether you love the thought of something classic and simple, or a beautiful vintage lace dress, be sure to take your location into consideration. After all, a heavily embellished gown may look out of place on a beach in the Bahamas, and leave you feeling flustered.
City weddings are all about simple, contemporary pieces with a touch of bling. Holding the ceremony in a church? This ivory Phase Eight wedding dress won't look out of place in the most upmarket establishments. The elegant embroidery keeps the look simple and sophisticated, while the No.1 by Jenny Packham shoes and Alan Hannah Devoted tiara create a glamorous, modern feel. Top it off with a delicate silver bracelet and a nude lipstick for the ultimate city-chic look.
When we think of traditional weddings, we imagine friends and family, a beautiful manor in the country and let's not forget about beautiful garden views. For these occasions, laced vintage-inspired dresses work best. Keep the whole look classic with these understated shoes, elegant earrings and a vintage bracelet.
For beach weddings, opt for something short and sweet and make a statement with glitzy accessories. These Dune shoes add a hint of glamour while not taking all the attention away from the dress. For this style of wedding, this embellished hair comb and statement earrings look beautiful with beachy-boho waves or a sleek up-do.
Once you've finalised all the little details like centrepieces, seating arrangements and the cake – it is up to you to make the most of your special day, and don't forget to practise that first dance beforehand.
Tags: beauty, Dresses, lipstick, occasionwear, Phase Eight, shoes, spring/summer, ss14, Summer, Weddings, womens


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Information on "Protectionism" and "Asia"
April 2014
Apr 2014
The Rise of 'Murky Protectionism': Changing Patterns of Trade-Related Industrial Policies in Developing Countries
Author: Nicholas Intscher
Publisher: LSE Department of International Development (ID)
According to this author, international actors have pushed developing countries to remove their discriminatory trade policies in the name of speeding up development. More on «The Rise of 'Murky Protectionism': Changing Patterns of Trade-Related Industrial Policies in Developing Countries»
February 2014
12 Feb 2014
India's Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies
Author: Arvind Subramanian
Publisher: Center for Global Development (CGD)
This transcript is of a testimony before the United States International Trade Commission by CGD's Arvind Subramanian on India's trade, investment, and industrial policies and US-India economic relations. More on «India's Trade, Investment, and Industrial Policies»
June 2012
13 Jun 2012
Russia's Accession to the WTO and Its Implications for the United States
Author: William H Cooper
Publisher: US Government
This paper explores the implications of Russia's WTO accession for the US. More on «Russia's Accession to the WTO and Its Implications for the United States»
November 2011
Nov 2011
Sino-Indian Economic Strategic Dialogue: Beyond the Beijing Round
Author: Bhartendu Kumar Singh
Publisher: Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS)
Nothing concrete may have emerged from the first round of Sino – Indian economic strategic dialogue, but, both countries agreed to stay committed to deepening their economic ties based on 'pragmatic cooperation'. More on «Sino-Indian Economic Strategic Dialogue: Beyond the Beijing Round»
January 2011
Benevolent Benefactor or Insensitive Regulator?
Author: Rajnish Tiwari, Cornelius Herstatt, Mahipat Ranawat
Publisher: East-West Center (EWC)
India's automobile industry has witnessed an impressive run of sustained growth in the past two decades. More on «Benevolent Benefactor or Insensitive Regulator?»
November 2010
16 Nov 2010
Currency Wars: Between Domestic Politics and International Cooperation
Author: Federico Steinberg
Publisher: Elcano Royal Institute of International and Strategic Studies
This Elcano Analysis compares the currency war that began in 2010 with that of the 1930s and explains the relationship between competitive devaluations and protectionism. More on «Currency Wars: Between Domestic Politics and International Cooperation»
January 2010
Jan 2010
Envy, Altruism, and the International Distribution of Trade Protection
Author: Xiabob Lü, Kenneth Scheve, Matthew J Slaughter
Publisher: Leitner Program in International & Comparative Political Economy
This paper examines the puzzle of why lower-earning and less-skilled intensive industries tend to receive relatively high levels of trade protection. More on «Envy, Altruism, and the International Distribution of Trade Protection»
December 2009
Dec 2009
The Great Regression?
Author: Kristian Kurki, Toby Archer, Vadim Kononenko, Matti Nojonen, Raimo Väyrynen
Publisher: Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the dynamics of the global financial crisis and the challenges it poses for governance across the board. More on «The Great Regression?»
November 2009
Nov 2009
Capping Unusually High Tariffs
Publisher: International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD)
This publication examines what a cap on extremely high tariffs may mean for developing country exporters. More on «Capping Unusually High Tariffs»
July 2009
13 Jul 2009
Rescuing the Doha Development Round
Author: Suparna Karmakar
Publisher: Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS)
This paper examines the changing contours of the engagement of developing countries in the global trade regime, with special reference to the important role India and China can play in the 21st century WTO system of trade governance. More on «Rescuing the Doha Development Round»


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Hampton Creek Foods CEO Josh Tetrick holds a species of yellow pea used to make Just Mayo, a plant-based mayonnaise.
Photo by Associated Press /Chattanooga Times Free Press .
published Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
Stories this photo appears in:
The startup is housed in a garage-like space in San Francisco's tech-heavy South of Market neighborhood, but it isn't like most of its neighbors that develop software, websites and mobile-phone apps. Its mission is to find plant replacements for eggs.


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: Humor
Grossmith, George & Weedon: The Diary of a Nobody (illustrated), v1, 14 Aug 2007
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Originally Posted by
I've added a TOC and restored most of the original illustrations.
From Wikipedia:
Diary of a Nobody, an English comic novel written by George Grossmith and illustrated by his brother Weedon, first appeared in the magazine Punch in 1888 89, and was printed in book form in 1892. It is considered a classic work of humour.
The diary is that of Mr Charles Pooter, a lower middle-class man, a city clerk, with modest social pretensions. Other characters include his wife Carrie (Caroline), his son Lupin, his friends Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing, and Lupin's unsuitable fiancée, Daisy Mutlar. The humour derives from Pooter's unconscious gaffes and self-importance, as well as the snubs he receives from those he considers socially inferior (i.e. tradesmen). The book has spawned the word "Pooterism" to describe a tendency to take oneself excessively seriously
Mr. Charles Pooter sounds like Mr. Dursley from the Harry Potter books.
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6200-6691 Delmar Blvd.
University City, MO 63130
Category: Attractions and Amusement Parks
Region: Delmar/ The Loop
Zombies were around long before George Romero's Night Of The Living Dead, but that film popularized the zombie as a lumbering, slow moving menace that allowed potential victims plenty of time to fall, twist an ankle and still shamble out of the zombie's reach. That all changed with films like 2004's Dawn Of The Dead remake, 28 Days Later and the Resident Evil series, which amped up the walking dead's pace from a shuffle to a sprint, raising the ire of purists who argued those decaying ankles would never be able to support a zombie at such mach speeds. One thing everyone can support is the St. Louis Zombie Walk, a fundraiser for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America that invites you and your pals to dress up like zombies and traverse the Loop at the speed you deem appropriate. Zombie up and meet in the parking lot behind Starbucks at Leland Avenue and Delmar Boulevard at 6 p.m. You'll need to sign a code of conduct agreement before you can participate. The walk begins at 7 p.m., and several businesses are offering special deals for zombies afterward. Creep on over to www.facebook.com/StLZombieWalk for a look at the map and a downloadable code of conduct agreement, as well as a direct link to the CCFA's donation page.
Sat., Oct. 22, 2011


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Photos and Description of this 5 bedroom holiday home in Broadstairs - Stone Bay House
A Stunning Interior Designed House With Fabulous Sea Views.
A 5 bed 'upside-down' house with a light and airy open plan living/dining/kitchen on the top floor with gorgeous direct sea views and a lovely balcony from which to soak it all up.
The kitchen area has Corian work surfaces in a pale aqua shade with matching tiled splashback. It is very well equipped and it is a lovely space in which to cook while not feeling cut off from the party! We like to sit at the island unit with drinks and nibbles and then move on to the dining table for dinner.
The living area has a Conran sofa and arm chair and the kitchen chairs can also be used for extra seating.
The first floor has three double bedrooms. The master bedroom has lovely sea views and is a very good size. Bedroom 2 looks over the garden and is also a very good size. This has two singles that can be made up as a double if preferred. The third bedroom is smaller but still has a double bed. There is a family bathroom on this floor that has polished porcelain tiles and a good shower with screen over the bath.
The ground floor provides flexible accommodation as it provides two further receptions that can be used as extra living space or if needed they can also be used as two double bedrooms.
There is also a separate toilet and shower room on this floor. French windows lead on to the private and sunny mature garden which has a stylish decked area for dining or lounging and a kids play area on the lawn.
It is a very child-friendly property with a high chair, a travel cot, toys, kids dvds and books available on request.
There is off street parking for one car to the rear of the property and no parking restrictions on the street at the front and behind the property, so it always easy to find an additional space near the house.
The house is new to the holiday letting market (first bookings in March 2014) which is why we have no reviews as yet. It has been re-decorated over the past 12 months so it will be very clean and fresh for your stay.
- Suitability:
- children welcome
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- wheelchair inaccessible
About Nick Austin
This has been our very happy home for the past 6 years but we have decided to try living in Spain for a couple of years so we thought we'd let it out for holidays so we can still use it ourselves when back in the UK.
Nick Austin purchased this house in 2007
Why Nick Austin chose Broadstairs
We moved to Broadstairs from London because we fell in love with it and we still do. It has everything you could want in a British seaside town an The Sunday Times agrees as it recently voted it the BEST PLACE TO LIVE BY THE SEA! The views are stunning and on a sunny day the open plan living area is flooded with light. The mirrored units in the kitchen as well as two huge mirrors mean that the sea view is reflected and expanded to create a real WOW factor! The pale aqua worktops and tiles in the kitchen and the turquoise sofa really add to the effect. The garden is a peaceful haven and all the bedrooms are a good size and stylishly decorated.
What makes this house unique
The sea views, the proximity to the beach and the town and the stylish décor all make this the perfect property for a stay cation in Broadstairs.


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- Report: #1052966
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Complaint Review: Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel311 Hartmann Drive Lebanon, Tennessee USA
Cracker Barrel Glass, debris, hospital, Cracker Barrel, Meatloaf Lebanon Tennessee
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I went to Cracker Barrel recently with my wife because I was in the middle of remodeling a kitchen in the home we had recently purchased. The kitchen was not suitable for preparing a meal and since I had to run down to Home Depot for parts I suggested that we just get Cracker Barrel to go while we were out. They are always advertising on their chalkboard when you first walk in that you can order certain items that are made all at once so that you can get it quickly. Meatloaf is one of these items. It's not my most favorite meal, but that with three vegetables would work fine to grab and eat quickly while in transit.
She and I did this and right after leaving I needed to make a quick stop by the local Home Depot. While I was inside she ate her food and I returned just after she finished her meatloaf.
She began to tell me that she felt something in her food but swallowed it before she could stop. At the same time I was already busy cutting into my meatloaf and chewing the first bite. I eat fast so before she could get everything out I was starting into my second cut with my plastic fork. Upon separating the meatloaf I noticed right away that there was a reflective almost "bluish colored" item that seemed like it almost "eased" out of the other part of the meatloaf.
I instantly knew it was glass. I told my wife to go back to Cracker Barrel right now. We hadn't been gone more than a few minutes and Home Depot was just around the corner. I went in and spoke with the manager off to the side of the store. He took my information and all the while my wife was quietly "freaking out" about the thought of having eaten glass herself.
The manager told me that there was nothing they could do but refer me to the home office for information.
He cooked up some chicken tenders to replace my meatloaf, but that was it. The meal was not refunded, and I left in a strange feeling of shock that this just happened. I just kept saying, this isn't a hair, or a bug or anything. This is a piece of glass!
The home office called me the next day. I spoke with a lady that was less than friendly to my surprise. She apologized for the bad experience, but said that there was nothing they could do because the item had left the store property.
I told her that I just wanted to make sure that this didn't happen to anyone else. She assured me that a "thorough" investigation would happen and that she would actually let me know the results of that when they knew. She also tried to deflect any responsibility for this because the meatloaf was "premade" by a vendor and then just warmed up on site.
Shortly after this occurred, my wife started having severe cramps in her stomach. She ended up missing work that whole week and going to the doctors for several tests. She didn't eat for days and she had severe vomitting and lets just say, it was "coming out both ends". It was so severe that she couldn't make it to the doctors office without having two "accidents".
I tried to tell this to the lady at CB but she actually cut me off and would not let me finish. Thinking back on it now I wonder if it is because she was recording the phone calls without my knowledge and didn't want that as part of the record for some reason.
Well, CB has refused to help me with these bills and I'm very frustrated that it's come to this. I don't know if this is how they usually handle customer issues, but I want to do my part to try and help others avoid any issue like this. I couldn't even take my wife out for her birthday because she was in so much pain. Please eat there with caution. I would certainly not order anything that can "contain" any foreign items going forward.
This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 05/22/2013 11:14 AM and is a permanent record located here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/Cracker-Barrel/Lebanon-Tennessee-37087/Cracker-Barrel-Glass-debris-hospital-Cracker-Barrel-Meatloaf-Lebanon-Tennessee-1052966. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year.
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text:
Airbus A380 bows out of Air Force One competition
European Aeronautics Defence and Space (EADS), parent company of Airbus, has announced that it doesn't intend to bid for the recently-announced contract to supply new US presidential aeroplanes. Aviation Week quotes Guy Hicks, EADS North America spokesman in Washington, as saying: "After careful review, we've determined that …
Did anyone REALLY believe that the US government wouldn't pick Boeing Anyway?
The whole US congress is in each others pocket, and you can bet money palms were already greased sufficiently to ensure Boeing got the contract, so why should Airbus even waste their breath?
How about Obama's shoes?
Is there a contract to supply infantry 1R and 1L?
His Segway becomes Pillock Transporter One.
I beleive that the Boeing 747-200's are known as VC-25's when not carrying the President.... I may be wrong...
If the US President flies around in a hang glider, does that become the de facto Air Force One?
I subscribed so I could cancel my subscription
Following your appearance on the Today programme this morning, I have decided The Register is far too mainstream, so I shall not be reading it anymore.
Marine One
VH71 Kestral Manufactured by Bell Helicopter,
US101 Manufactuered by AgustaWestland/EuropeanHelicopterIndustries
Stop pretending its european you'll frighten em out of the deal..
VH71A - Phase 1 = US101 Test Craft made in Europe.
VH71B - Phase 2 = 23x VH-71 US manufactured, to compose the VIP Fleet.
A refuller the size of the double decker.. that's a lot of fuel.
What happened to Blair Force One?
I thought No.10 was getting one too (or No.32 Sqn RAF, if it still exists) ?
Well they chose the Anglo-Italian AW101...
Tanker Contract
I'm a firm believer that the tanker contract should be awarded to both Boeing and Northrup-Airbus, 50% each.
Firstly, this will reward both sides for their efforts, keep the patriots happy, but most importantly bring breadth to the USA's logistical readiness.
Secondly, this will show Boeing, Lockheed etc that the US government is serious about obtaining value for money for its military branches and will not just award contracts based on blind patriotism.
As we've seen in the past, it's often the case that a specific model in the air force arsenal is temporarily grounded due to mechanical issues. This would mitigate this possibility and provide The USAF with two different types of aircraft for common and differentiated usage models.
On the downside, twice as many spares would be required to be maintained, twice as much training and certification would be required, but as the USAF does this already for many programs, this is a minor inconvenience. Moreover, the tanker fleet is comprised of multiple models today.
"Duh" for different reason
Folks, have a look at how many airports can handle A380.
That was quick, because it's not many.
Having an Air Force One that can fly to only a few airports in the U.S. and worldwide just doesn't seem like a sensible plan.
Of course, Airbus didn't draw attention to the airport size/weight requirements in the PR piece.
Now, A340 might be a contender and that would be the U.S. vs. Europe issue. But not A380. That was a dumb idea from the start
About time, really...
While the US certainly has the right to favour their domestic maufacturer (although how much of Boeing's products these days is American-made is certainly debateable), it doesn't have the right to consistently use Airbus as a stick in an (increasing pointless) attempt to beat Boeing's prices down. I certainly wouldn't waste my time and money participating in a complex and expensive bidding process that I haven't a hope in hell of winning.
It seems to me that Airbus are essentially using the most visible USAF procurement programme it's possible to imagine to illustrate exactly what the costs of getting stuck with a monopoly supplier are.
I'd go with Airbus. At least they float.
Re: VC-25
VC-25 is the aircraft type. It's the military designation for the 747-200, just as the KC-10 is a DC=10.
When the president isn't aboard they are referred to by their tail numbers -- (SAM) 28000 and (SAM) 29000 -- the same as any other aircraft.
Hang on
If Obama needs to get anywhere overseas he can just walk over the water. I bet he can fly too. If he wants to.
The A380 can land on any airstrip where the 747 can land on, this was one of the design guidelines. Terminals have to modified or built to cater for the A380's size, but not the runways....
Anyway, the A380 would be a much better alternative either way, simply because it only needs one pilot with one arm to fly it. If terrorists assassinated all flight personnel on board (bar the pilot), and amputated both of the pilot's legs and one of his arms, he could still fly the plane. That's a huge advantage. The A380 is controllable with just one functioning limb - designed so to prevent terrorism. It uses a joystick rather than a yolk, and is meant to be as easy to control as an electronic video game. The autopilot can also land the plane, so if the pilot was able to activate the autopilot before he bled to death, the A380 wouldn't need a pilot at all.
Good call
A good call on the part of EADS. No way the contract would have gone to Airbus, so they just saved a good few million that it would have cost to mount a serious tender campaign only to "lose" in the end.
Big A380
Maybe the runways are OK, but the taxiways are not (as well as the terminals). Air Force One seems to park away from terminals, but you can't park it on the runway!
Re: Runways
Given that the anonymous comment was specifically limited to runways, it is correct. However, the A380 cannot operate at many airports due to two other factors:
1. Taxiway clearance. The wingspan is such that there is not always adequate wingtip clearance between a runway and a parallel taxiway.
2. Taxiway width. The A380's outboard engines are rather far out on the wings and they are not allowed to operate over unpaved surfaces due to the possibility of foreign object damage (FOD).
I think the President should use an SR-71. He would get anywhere he wants to go at Mach 3. Let the press and other hangers-on ride in cattle^H^H^H^H^H^H coach on a regular airline flight.
The SR-71s nickname works well in the current context, too.
Come on, let's face it. The ONLY reason the Airbus A380 was even mooted was because of its size. 'Mr President' is regarded as the Most Powerful Man On The Planet (ppfha!) and 'needs' to have the biggest, most sumptuously decked out passenger airliner available. It's got sod all to do with anything else. Fugging ego trip! It's not even like he's fat! We should have RAF-1 in the shape of a flipping GUPPY for our fat 'leaders'!!!
@AC-Runways. Limbs aren't an issue. Most airliners built in the last 15 years can take off, fly and land on autopilot (most of the time better than the actual pilot..). A flight attendant could land the plane if they know what button to press.
Yes and the terminal requirements are somewhat moot for Air Force 1 too - it always parks well away from public terminals for safety reasons. It's immense size might have reduced the tendency to take a fleet of planes on big trips these days.
Not a lot of bargaining anyway
"That's probably a sound business decision, but it will weaken the US air force in bargaining with Boeing for the presidential jets, as the US manufacturer is now the only realistic contender."
There probably wouldn't be too much bargaining anyway... I mean, it's probably EMP (electro-magnetic-pulse) resistant, armored, maybe has a some anti-aircraft weapons for defense, chaff, custom electronic countermeasures, and on and on. (Plus the interior being gutted and turned into a custom jet interior) I can't see the words "bargain" or "bargaining" anywhere near a custom job like that.
Re: Safety
I thought the same thing as well. Airbus planes float!
AirFord 1 anybody?
Anyone in their right mind (and lets face it the senate are anything but in their right mind) will tell you that Airbus planes are better than Boeings in every way, but they're not American. Everyone also knows that Hondas and Toyotas are better in every way than Chryslers and General Motors vehicles, yet buying American is almost a religion to many Americans. I forsee the day when Airforce 1 is one of the few remaining Boeings in the air and Boeing are begging for a bailout. Politicians never learn. Come what may they are intent I'm sure on voting for AirFord 1.
Beg to differ...
"Anyone in their right mind (and lets face it the senate are anything but in their right mind) will tell you that Airbus planes are better than Boeings in every way"
That's a matter of opinion my friend. And until Airbus stops taking government money in day to day operations, it won't be a legititate business. It's easy to do things when you have government cash rather than earning a contract. Boeing got where it is by being a good company and product. They were only able to buy up competition beacuse they produce good planes. The Boeing Dreamliner is THE superior passenger liner in the world.
@Safety-related comments
"Airbus planes float!".
It also just happens that it wasn't the first *attempted* water landing of any plane, and the US Air flight had some specific factors in its favour. One of them being, it wasn't landing in open ocean like all of the previous water landings I can recall. They also had the benefit of knowing how *not* to do a water landing. (Not that I'm saying they didn't do a remarkable job under pressure)
And about the A380 not needing any human to fly it... Not quite true. Someone still needs to program the computer to tell the plane what to do, and not knowing how to do it properly means crashing is highly likely. Just think about the Air France flight 296 crash (among others) where the pilots improperly used the plane's automatic systems. Besides, even Boeing aircraft can auto-land.
Boeing. Airbus. Neither are necessarily superior manufacturers, though the two *do* operate with very different design theories, and mismanaging either is no better or worse than the other.
Forget politics, how about common sence?
I bet that the AF1 plane is pretty different from normal 747s.
I imagine there is enough amour to stop a 50 cal sniper rifle from penetrating the hull and giving the occupants a bad day.
I'd suggest that the plane is hardened against EMP from a nuke knocking out its systems. I'll bet that the current 747 AF1 has more resemblance to the original 747 than it does with the current model. More mechanical devices will work after an EMP event than electronic ones. I'm sure that AF1 has lots of electronic fun on it, but I'll bet it's not in the flight systems.
Shielding for electronics adds more weight, plus your not guaranteed have your electronics survive. With mechanical systems, they will work even if they weigh more.
The choice of aircraft that AF1 is, I feel more to do with survivability than performance. Airbus may have a better aircraft, but it relies on electronics throughout. Can they be guaranteed to work after an EMP event?
Anyway, the President has no say on what make of aircraft AF1 is, it's the people who have to protect him that dictate that.
I'm in the UK and I'd love to see the President flying around in an A380. But, for the reasons stated above, I doubt it would happen.
Commercial flights not good enough?
Scratch AF1, scrath the fighter escorts.
Send the POTUS on commercial flights, they often have First Class areas.
He's just ONE man, he isn't THAT important.
If he dies, the VP takes over.
If the VP dies as well, then the next guy, ad infinitum.....there are quite a few US Politicians...
AF1 is just a massive waste of money.
Seriously, what do you describe Boeing going crying to congress about losing to a superior bid and having the decision to award the contract for air-to-air refueling planes to Airbus reversed as if not government interference in the market?
Funnily enough both companies take advantage of all their relevant governments can do for them, so calling Airbus black is simply showing yourself up to be a pot.
"I imagine there is enough amour to stop a 50 cal sniper rifle from penetrating the hull and giving the occupants a bad day."
I'll bet there fucking well isn't. There's a bloody good reason that the world's military forces aren't universally equipped with flying armoured personnel carriers, you know.
Oddly enough, if fuselage skin penetration were an issue, the best of breed out there right now is the GLARE skin on the, er, Airbus A380.
Not surprising they pulled out.
Whats the deal on offer for Airforce 1 -
Supply maybe two aircraft that chances are will have to be mainly put together in the US, with US contractors etc. etc. A world of pain for any company.
Thats not much of a deal for Airbus as most of the money and effort would remain in the US.
On the other hand the Tanker deal -
Supply maybe a couple of dozen aircraft mainly built in Europe with final fitting/conversion to be carried out in the US.
I know which contract I'd concentrate on.
However as a tax payer I dont care anymore where they planes come from as long as its the best for the job and the best deal for the tax payer.
terrorists and the A380
Anonymous coward said "If terrorists assassinated all flight personnel on board (bar the pilot), and amputated both of the pilot's legs and one of his arms, he could still fly the plane."
Fuck me! If a terrorist wanted to incapacitate the pilot, why would he hack off the pilot's limbs but leave them with one arm to fly the plane? What evil terrorist masterplan would that achieve? The terrorist would more than likely just kill the pilots outright. And how could a terrorist get anywhere near Airforce One, let alone get on it? AC's been watching too many dumb Hollywood movies.
Paris icon because she's been in a few dumb movies.
re Beg to differ
>> That's a matter of opinion my friend. And until Airbus stops taking government money in day to day operations, it won't be a legititate business. It's easy to do things when you have government cash rather than earning a contract. Boeing got where it is by being a good company and product.
Of course. Boeing's never, ever had handouts or made excessive profits from Uncle Sam, has it?
>> The Boeing Dreamliner is THE superior passenger liner in the world.
Is that the same Boeing Dreamliner that hasn't even made it out of the factory or actually flown?
RE Chris@Beg to differ
You are forgetting all the government, military, space "contracts" Boing gets!!!
Boeing went to court and lost on this very issue!!
But go ahead and spread your FUD further!
Airbus got loans (money it pays back) from EU governments at some point.
The McDonald,Lockheed and Boeing could not stop EADS from growing, so they merged the whole lot and still fail. Sad, is it not?
Dreamliner? ROFL, you also believe that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo is democratically elected as well, just because the name implies it?
Some forget why Boeing lost the contract
Boeing splashed around major bribes on Capitol Hill to get the _original_ KC135 replacement contract. That contract was cancelled when the grand scale of the bribery was discovered.
Unfortunately the blame was placed on a scapegoat and Boeing was allowed to participate in the contract which Airbus won, as fair and square as these things get.
Boeing then whined to and bribed their tame Congresscritters and got the new contract overturned on the ground of bias. The fact that any bias was perfectly legitimate was ignored.
Boeing not government-funded?
They get NASA research data free-of-charge, stonkingly huge budget (money an time) overruns on military projects and you (Chris) seriously think they're not funded by the US Government? I am not saying that Airbus are any better or worse, just that you should check your facts before you start trying to tell us Boeing are commercial heroes.
The reason Boeing lost the tanker contract was because the Airbus offering was able to deliver the required performance cheaper, and will actually have a greater share of the work done in CONUS than Boeing's bid. Or did you not realise that Boeing's engine struts (forex) are made in China, and that other contractual workshare offsets made when Boeing were selling airliners mean that much of the "all-American" aircraft is really built overseas?
But why let a little thing like product capability and availability stand in the way of Boeing's good name?
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