 Sunday, January 07, 2007
BCS Championship Preview
The 12-0 Ohio State Buckeyes meet the 12-1 Florida Gators in Monday night's BCS Championship.
The Buckeyes have the advantage on both sides of the ball and special teams. Florida's Chris Hetland has only made 4 of 13 field goal attempts this season and will have to step it up if the Gators have any hopes of winning the game.
Gator Defensive Back Jones is great and probably going to the NFL after his Junior season according to his Mom but he can't cover Buckeye All-Ten receivers Ginn and Gonzalez at the same time.
Though Gators Coach Urban Meyer is a great young coach, the edge goes to Buckeye Coach Jim Tressel because he has more experience. If the Buckeyes win Monday night, Tressel's reputation will continue to climb toward that of his idol, the legendary Woody Hayes.
I do give the Gators the edge in that they are less rusty than the Buckeyes who haven't played since the "Immortality Bowl" on Saturday, November 18, 2006. They have also won the SEC which is the best top to bottom football conference in the country. The Gators haven't always won big or pretty but college football isn't a beauty contest, it's more important than life itself.
The Gators need to keep their turnovers to an absolute minimum or it will be a Buckeye Blowout.
Prediction: The game will be hard fought and close until the second half when the Buckeyes start to pull away. The Buckeyes win the BCS Championship Game 27-17.
Posted by Steve for the Travelling Tank going home to Upstate NY.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Miami Dolphins and Heat Coaching Vacancies
On Wednesday, Miami Head Coaches Nick Saban abruptly quit the Dolphins and Pat Riley took a medical leave of absence from the Heat.
Though I coincidentially spent the last few days in South Florida, the Tank wants to clarify that he is not a candidate for the Miami Dolphins nor Heat jobs. However, for the $5 million per year that Coach Saban was making last season with the Dolphins, the Tank will gladly coach the Dolphins into the ground. 
As the Tank is a big fan of the 1980s Showtime Lakers and Pat Riley is also a student of Tony Robbins life changing technologies, best wishes to Pat for a speedy and healthy recovery.
Posted by Steve for the Travelling Tank.
Friday, January 05, 2007
NFL Wild Card Picks
The Tank was 10-5 in his picks last week to close out the regular season strong, touch wood. I excluded the Giants-Redskins game because of my protest against the Giants.
For new readers, my picks are designed for you to win the highest number of games in your office pool which are normally predicated on wins and losses, NOT the Vegas line. I do not bet Vegas lines because they are subject to change and Vegas knows more than everyone except God. Furthermore, Vegas lines are designed for the "vig" or the balance of the betting money which is why you see ridiculous double-digit lines to get people to take chances and care about potential blowouts. Whereas, I want you to win your office pool and be the talk of your office.
Remember, bet within your limits, past performance is not indicative of future results (mutual fund speak legalese disclaimer), and have fun. The predicted winning team is in bold. The Jets went into Foxboro and beat the Patriots during the regular season. Expect the
Patriots to make the necessary adjustments and win wth the home field advantage.
The Colts "dome" field advantage and do enough on run defense to beat the visiting Chiefs.
The Eagles let victory slip through their hands earlier in the season against the Giants
at home. The Eagles won't make the same mistake twice. For all my Eagles friends like
Coach Emily, Jennifer, and Lisa, this one is for you. Eagles win.
In the hardest game to pick in the weekend, the Seahawks home field advantage overcomes
the Cowboys who are due to bounce back after the inexcusable loss to the Lions.
Posted by the Travelling Tank in South Florida enroute home.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Breaking News: Randy No Longer Dandy
The Yankees and Diamondbacks reached an agreement Thursday on a trade that would send Randy Johnson back to Arizona. Arizona would send relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino to the Yankees along with minor league right-handers Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson, and shortstop Alberto Gonzalez. Sounds like the Yanks wanted to really get rid of him. Full story on Yahoo Sports here.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
On this day in New York Yankee History
Every year on January 3rd, I get this email from mega-Yankees fan Jack. He likes to remind us of the rich history the NY Yankees have. Specifically, he likes to remind us of Babe Ruth.
--
From: Jack Prilook
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2007 2:48 PM
To: Stephen Forte
Subject: On this day in New York Yankee History.
Jan 3, 1920. The Yankees purchase the contract of Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $125,000 and a $350,000 loan against the mortgage on Fenway Park.
On Jan 3, 1973 A group led by Mr. George Steinbrenner III buys the Yanks from CBS for $10 million.
--
Jack
So who made out better, the Yankees or the Red Sox? Everyone thinks the Yankees since they won a gazillion World Series since and the Red Sox only won 1 and had Bill Buckner let the ball go through his legs in 1986. Putting aside the 26 World Series rings for a moment, let’s look at the numbers.
While Yankees fans like to claim the Curse of the Bambino, I'll call it Supply Side Economics.
Yankees had more money and spent it well. Considering the Per Capita GDP of the World Economy in 1920 was a mere $965, the Yankees spent more money than God to bring Babe Ruth to New York. Was it really such a bargain?
Adjusted for inflation Babe Ruth's contract was $1,375,000 and the loan against Fenway was at $3,850,000. That is $5,225,000 spent for the privilege of paying someone (Babe Ruth) $110,000 a year (or $10,000 in 1920 dollars.)
Babe Ruth played on the Yankees for 14 years. In that time the Yankees made the playoffs 7 times and won 4 World Series. We are going to ignore the annual contract figures for two reasons, one is that they would have to pay the market price anyway for a star player, and two we are only concerned about the contract that they purchased since it is the legend and quote we hear about all the time.
So, for a $5.2 million investment the Yankees netted 4 World Series in seven appearances over 14 years with Ruth. Contrast that to Derek Jeter who came up through the Yankees’ farm system. The Yankees drafted Jeter in 1992 and paid him $700,000 or just a hair over $1 million in today's dollars. So for a $1 million investment, the Yankees won 4 World Series in 11 appearances over 11 years. That is $250,000 a World Series Ring with Jeter vs over $1.3 million for Ruth.
All you naysayers who think I am not fairly comparing Ruth and Jeter, Jeter has 100% playoff appearances at 11 to Ruth’s 50% at 7. Back then it was actually *easier* to make the playoffs, all you had to do was win the division to make the World Series. (The NLCS and ALCS were introduced in 1969 with divisional play.) Based on that statistic, if Jeter’s stats are extrapolated to Ruth’s, Jeter would statistically have won 6 World Series since in 10 years the Yankees have won the American League East 10 times and by 1920s rules, would have went to the world Series 11 times.
So the Yankees should start to celebrate June 1st, 1992, instead of January 3rd, 1920. That was the day Jeter was drafted by the Yankees. I'll expect an annual email from Jack. I created an Outlook reminder on May 30th to remind him.
Funny, all this from a Mets fan who hates Jeter. J
Posted By Steve in New York.
Nick Saban Going to Sweet Home Alabama
The Tank traveled to South Florida Tuesday night for some r and r and to visit some friends for a few days. It was also perfect timing to witness firsthand the reaction of Miami Dolphins fans to Nick Saban's quitting the Dolphins to become the Head Coach at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AKA The Crimson Tide.
The Tank couldn't be more thrilled for the following reasons:
(1) The Tank grew up an Alabama fan because of the late great Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, R.I.P., and former Jets quarterback Joe Namath. Though Gene Stallings thankfully won a national championship in the 1992 season with a great defense, it hasn't been the same in Tuscaloosa since Coach Bryant has been there. Nick Saban is young enough to have a chance to hopefully return Alabama to its greatness for a long period of time, God Willing.
(2) As a Bills fan (and still jilted Jets fan after they left NY for the Meadowlands), I am glad that I don't have to face the Dolphins coached by Nick home and away each season. Coincidentally, "Trader Lou" Saban, Nick's cousin, coached the Bills to AFL Championships in 1964 and 1965.
(3) At upcoming Julian / Old Calendar Christmas Dinner at my parents house Upstate this upcoming Sunday, I'll have a chance to remind my brother-in-law Jim who is a Dolphins fan about Nick's departure.
Bottom Line: Alabama has a chance to return to national prominence and the Dolphins lose a great coach. Could 2007 get off to a better start?
Don't get me wrong, it is harder in some ways to win in the SEC, the best college football conference in the country, than in the NFL. Every conference game is a battle but Coach Saban gives Alabama a chance to return to the Promised Land.
Until next time, Roll Tide!
Posted by the Tank in South Florida.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
World Peace Through Partying and Other New Year's Resolutions
It is popular this time of year to make resolutions. Granted, most people make resolutions about weight loss, exercising more, saving more, etc.
Being an out of box thinker, the Tank would like to offer unique resolutions that I am "focusing" on for 2007.
(1) Subway Series closure: The Tank was disappointed that the Mets and Yankees did not make the World Series in 2006 and hopes they both do in 2007. I plan to cheer both teams onto the World Series this upcoming season.
(2) A proposed peace summit between the Tank representing the United States and the Dude representing a prominent Middle Eastern country. The Dude is fourth in line to his country's throne and has spent much of his adolescence in various American colleges. The Dude's decimal point GPA reflects his intense immersion into American social life rather than studies over the past seven or so years of college. Therefore, the Tank hopes to find common cultural grounds to reach diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East regardless if the peace talks take place at a ballpark, jello wrestling event, or other more relaxed venue.
As an example of the success of "Tankplomacy", the Tank can point to his afterhours "Disco Diplomacy" at a Model European Union Simulation in Luxembourg in January 1994 where he played the role of President of the European Commission, French Socialist Jacques Delors. At the end of the conference, I met the then current Luxembourg Prime Minister Jacques Santer who became President of the European Commission in 1995. Thanks to my efforts, the Euro was introduced a few years later. Dancing with the beautiful women in the Italian delegation until all hours of the night didn't hurt either. Hey, no other Middle East "peace summit" has worked so we might as well give it a try. We'll at least have some fun.
To the Dude's Crew (AKA PG, Upper West Side Mike, Raj, etc.): If you are reading this, please track down the Dude and advise of him of my olive branch of peace through partying. The next round of "Tankplomacy" will be at Arlene's on Sunday, January 14. Give peace a chance, eh?
(3) Though the Tank is still afraid of God and dying, the Tank made emotional breakthroughs and less afraid of relationships as 2006 progressed. The Tank hopes to continue making progress in his personal life in 2007.
We'll see. As Meatloaf sings, "Maybe Two Out of Three Ain't Bad".
Good luck in achieving all your dreams, resolutions, and goals!
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Monday, January 01, 2007
What Happened to Winter?
Happy New Year!
As I was leaving Peter and Linda's great New Year's Eve Party last night (thanks for the invite guys), I was putting on my jean jacket, Wladimir Klitschko scarf, hat, and gloves. Peter asked me if my jean jacket was warm enough and I replied yes. The only down side of the walk from 57th Street to Grand Street to catch the train back to Brooklyn was light rain but it wasn't that cold and I thankfully endured it easily enough, touch wood.
I enjoyed walking the three or four plus miles down Second Avenue through Manhattan's diverse neighborhoods walking off the delicious snacks and a glass of wine and champagne, clearing my head, and exchanging New Year's greetings with strangers. While listening to Bob Valvano (brother of the late great North Carolina State Basketball Coach Jimmy Valvano, R.I.P.) on ESPN 1050 AM, he talked about the history of "Auld Lang Syne" and it got me thinking back to past New Year's Eves.
I remember playing in a big snow fort with my brother after my Dad cleared the snow in the driveway as a young boy in 1980. OK, that was 176 miles northwest of the City in Upstate New York and over 25 years ago. What about 10 years ago when I last stayed outdoors in Times Square with Bay Ridge Bob and the hundreds of thousands of strangers? New Year's Eve 1997 was really cold.
Don't get me wrong? I don't mind warm weather but winter is necessary to kill germs and bacteria that accumulate during the year. If the bacteria isn't killed, the risk of West Nile and other viruses increases. What happened to the weather over the past decade or so? Is global warming for real? During my trip to Antarctica almost two years ago where I met Steve, Linda, and the rest of the Antarctica Marathonmaniacs, I talked to a Russian sailor Valentin who had been traveling back and forth to Antarctica for several years. Valentin informed me of the climate changes that he noticed in Antarctica during that time. Just before his finishing his goal of Seven Marathon Continents on July 2, 2006, the Tank watched former VP Gore's well done and informative "Inconvenient Truth" movie.
It got me thinking about what I could do. In addition to being innovative sports journalists, Steve and the Tank care about the environment. Steve invited me to a lunchtime Baruch Conference on Halloween. Messrs. Mark Townsend Cox and Peter Fusaro were the main speakers. I am not going to bore you all my notes but will list some key points and informative websites.
(1) Mark's New Energy Fund VC fund tries to find companies long before the technologies are en vogue. He focused on sustained energy technology.
His main points were as follows:
(a) There is a "Universe of 427 Global Renewable Global Equities". There are 61 solar stocks are worth $53 Billion. Vestis of the Netherlands is a leader.
(b) "Ballard Power is a waste of time." They go through about $50 million a year without any real technological breakthroughs.
(c) Besides solar, other referenced technologies are hydro, tidal wave, geothermal, heat pump, ocean thermal, osmosis, wind power, and biodiesel (small scale).
(d) For interested investors, entry into Mark's fund is at $250,000.00. I think the management fees are 1.5 percent with the standard 20 percent profit.
After the presentation and the question and answer session, we had a good conversation about the regarding the wind power research I was doing on possibly placing a wind farm on my brother's farm land. He said New Community Energy is a good company. For more on the wind farm near my parents house in Jordanville, New York.
The biggest problem for Community Energy or any other wind provider is the concept of Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) of residents from Upstate NY to Cape Cod to elsewhere across the country. The following article has a great quote: "The developer's strategy seems to be to paint turbines to blend in and render them hard to detect. Jim Gordon, president of Cape Wind Associates, accepts that there will be some opposition. 'Everyone loves wind, but when it comes to building wind farms, no one wants them in their backyard.'"
There's hope for Jim's project as Peter said Martha's Vineyard resident Walter Cronkite recently came on board. Jim has been fighting for years and I wish him luck.
Cherry Valley, a town in between Jordanville and my hometown, has already zoned out wind farms. Other nearby town hall meetings are literally knock down drag out affairs when people's lives and livestock get threatened. Native born locals and retirees from the City unite to oppose wind farms because they don't want windmills in their backyards.
(2) Peter Fusaro is a former Department of Energy official and wrote the first article on global warming in March 1990. There are three driving factors to change: (i) higher sustained energy prices; (ii) technology shift; and (iii) rising global environmental impetus.
Other points include:
(a) Goldman Sachs is seeding much in this space including "11 defining technologies". Venture Capital gaint Kleiner Perkins is also getting into the act.
(b) The Chicago Climate Exchange "is the world’s first and North America’s only voluntary, legally binding greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and trading system for emission sources and offset projects in North America and Brazil." This is CCX's homepage. (c) As for Brazilian sugar turned into ethanol, it is hopeful catalyst for change but they changed the way they make their cars. If America wants the same thing, we have to change the way process the fuel in cars. If not, 1,000 ethanol stations don't stand a chance against 180,000 gas stations. (My comment: It's sad because converting cars to ethanol is not that hard. Ethanol is better for the environment than oil and it would save many struggling American farmers from bankruptcy.)
(e) Germans are way ahead in wind power policy and technology as they maintain General Electric's plants in California.
(e) Other topics that were discussed were water hedge funds, weather derivatives, cleaner coal. Scientists like Dr. Paul Epstein of Harvard Medical School are now tracking how changes in the climate are affecting health.
(f) Peter was able to place the first environmental finance analyst at RNK Capital.
(g) Peter listed the following helpful websites:
Conclusion: I enjoyed the conference and grateful for Steve's invitation to same.
If we are going to save the environment, the markets are going to play a key role as they work faster and more efficiently than governments. Peter remarked that corporate guidelines through the EU and ETS are even stricter than Kyoto. I think they are fairer because Kyoto favors less developed countries and hurts more developed countries like America. There are no double standards in IT troubleshooting. Politics and international treaties should be the same way. If you think smog in LA is bad, you should go to Beijing. I have and it makes LA's air feel like fresh mountaintop air. Steve and others have informed me that Shanghai is even worse. Not good.
Lastly, we as people have to change our NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) mentality in order solve our environmental problems. Be it windmills in Upstate New York or Cape Cod, people need to look at the bigger picture and the damage we are doing to the environment. Tough choices and sacrifices are going to have to be made.
Posted by The Tank in NY.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Ultimate Fighting Championship 66 - Liddell versus Ortiz 2
In keeping with the fighting spirit of recent posts, my friend PG (from the Knicks-Nuggets game) invited me over to his buddy Mike's place on the Upper West Side for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 66 Saturday night. UFC 66 features the Light Heavyweight Championship, featuring a rematch between champion Chuck "The Ice Man" Liddell and Tito Ortiz. The Light Heavyweight division is for fighters 205 pounds and below.
Ultimate Fighting is often misunderstood as barbaric free-for-alls and is banned in many states, including New York.
After watching WWE wrestling on Monday night's on Spike TV a few years ago, the Tank was first exposed to the Ultimate Fighting reality show where contestants competed for the right to be the next "Ultimate Fighter". Like every other "reality show", the contestants lived in this unbelievably nice mansion that no regular person, much less an aspiring fighter would live in.
Anyway, enough Hollywood. Ultimate Fighting is Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) where fighters from different fighting backgrounds (wrestling, boxing, jiu-jitsu, karate, judo, etc.) compete in a high Octagon in three five minute rounds except for the champion fight which is five rounds. MMA appeals to the Tank because it's great to see a wrestler compete against a boxer or a martial artist and vis-versa. Some fighters try to grapple (wrestle) on the ground while others try to fight standing up. Which fight style is the best? Regardless of which style or fighter is the best, these are incredible athletes.
During the 2005 Great Wall Marathon in China, the Tank met Gary from Vegas who trains UFC athletes. Gary finished the Boston Marathon in about 2 hours 12 minutes about 23 years ago. Both Gary and the athletes he trains are well conditioned. Like Amateur Female Jello Wrestling which is real as witnessed and blogged by the Tank, UFC has made inroads because professional wrestling is scripted, boxing is still a mess but getting better and UFC is in not as violent as P.R.I.D.E. in Japan (super ouch and even bloodier) or Muay Thai (take your life into your own hands stepping into the ring). UFC has rules and is regulated by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Before we get to the main event, there are several good under cards including (1) Andre "The Pit Bull" Arlovski of Belarus and now residing in Chicago. Arlovski uses a mouthguard shaped as fangs to get a psychological advantage on his opponent. It works and Arlovski beats Marcio Cruz.
In between bouts, the camera pans to Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi sitting at ringside as Agassi has a home in Vegas. Steffi looks scared.
Other noteable matches include (2) Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald of Canada beating Chris Leben by putting him in a guillotine hold. Chris Leben couldn't tap out. Leben is very candid in his post match commentary. Question: "How do you feel?" Answer: Unprintable. More celebrity sightings include actor Chris Angel and musician Kid Rock. (3) "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine TKOed Forrest Griffin. I felt bad for Griffin who fought a good fight and was crying after the fight. He said he'll be back. Good luck! (4) Thiago "The PitBull" Alves of Brazil (now Florida) beats Tony DeSouza of Peru. His shirt says "I am not a grappler. I am not a striker. I am both." (5) The main event features Chuck "The Ice Man" Liddell versus Tito Ortiz versus Chuck Liddell. They are former friends and training partners. PG informs me that Ortiz is dating actress Jenna Jameson. As Rod Stewart sings, "Some guys have all the luck". Ortiz comes out with a two sided Mexican and American flag to one of Eminem's hits. Ortiz is psyched while Liddell is relaxed. Bruce Buffer, brother of boxing announcer Michael "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" Buffer, is the UFC announcer. PG predicts an Ortiz win to setup Ortiz-Liddell 3. Ortiz submission versus Liddell. The online voting leading up to the event ends 51-49 in favor of Liddell. It is scheduled for five, 5 minute rounds. They size each other up but Liddell quickly gets down to business as causes Ortiz to bleed over his right eye. Liddell is defining the territory of the Octagon well and limiting Ortiz's movement. Liddell knocks Ortiz down toward the end of the first round and the ref should have the called the match. However, the first round is scored 10-9 in favor of Liddell. Ortiz kept the points close because he connected and scored on body kicks. To start the second round, the crowd cheers "Chuck" for Liddell. Ortiz connects on some body kicks but Liddell counters with punches. Ortiz shoots for Liddell's legs but he is too far out to get him on the mat. Ortiz tries again and succeeds in getting Liddell unto the mat. Liddell somehow gets out of the hold and off the mat. Unbelievable! Commentator Eddie Bravo scored Round 2 10-9 in favor of Ortiz because he scored on the leg kicks. Therefore, the fight is even on the card as we enter Round 3. Ortiz gets knocked down but Liddell waves him up. Liddell then puts together overhand and underhand combinations to win by TKO in 3:59 of the third round. PG, Mike, Drago, Gary, and The Tank celebrate Liddell's victory. In unique upstart and cool fashion, Liddell announces that his after party is at "Studio 54" in Vegas. Liddell also promotes the upcoming " 300" movie which the Tank is looking forward to March 2007. Ortiz thanks everyone including the troops serving overseas. His after party is at Jag in Vegas. How many boxers or wrestlers announce their after parties on air?
Until next time, this is the Tank reporting UFC 66 from Mike's place on the Upper West Side in Manhattan. Keep fighting the good fight inside and outside the ring in 2007. Happy and Healthy New Year to all!
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Getting Off The Canvas
Steve and The Tank took a few punches to the chin this past week.
(1) Barry Zito signing with the Giants was a huge blow to Steve and I had to talk him off the ledge again. It was a huge shock to the Tank because Zito signed much earlier than he thought he would. However, Super Mega Sports Agent Scott Boras played the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Mariners, and anyone else he could have found against each other to get the Giants to offer him the richest contract for a pitcher ever.
(2) The Tank was knocked to the canvas once again as he lost someone he cares deeply about. No, it wasn't President Ford who was historically important but the Tank lost someone even more special and important. Steve returned the favor and talked me off the ledge.
To quote the Philadelphia Poet Rocky Balboa, "It's not how hard you've been hit by life, it's how hard you hit back!" After some blood, sweat, and tears like in Rocky, Steve and the Tank cheered each other up and accomplished a great deal this week. For instance, Steve did a great job upgrading the website. The Tank has been fighting the good fight against YouTube's copyright department after they pulled our global exclusive Knicks-Nuggets video from inside Madison Square Garden. I can't divulge all the details at the present time but the Tank is fighting for equal treatment under the law while others with less intellectual property standing show their videos freely without harrassment.
To quote the great country signer Toby Keith, we were sucker punched this past week. Steve And The Tank have gotten off the canvas, answered the bell, and will keep fighting for you in 2007 and beyond. "Fall Down 7 Times, Get Up 8!"
Posted by The Tank in NY.
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