Bye Bye Baby*

*that's what Charles Barkley said to me when he left me at the 15th Hole at Edgewood Golf Course




-----------


from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Go 2 Guy: At 'Party with Arty,' Barkley and friends grab spotlight

By JIM MOORE
P-I COLUMNIST

STATELINE, Nev. -- "Ten thousand five hundred?! That ain't enough, little fella!"

It's Wednesday night in the Harrah's Casino showroom, and Charles Barkley is smack-talking Marcus Allen as they bid for a trip to Wimbledon, a charity item at the American Century Championship.

"Hey, $15,000!" Barkley shouts from his spot next to the bar.

Emcee/auctioneer John O'Hurley informs Barkley that Allen just raised the bid to $15,500.

"Hey, man!" Barkley yells to Allen. "You're bringing a knife to a gunfight. $20,000!"

Sold.

Besides the celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe, there are several peripheral events such as this one, an auction that was preceded by an elegant buffet dinner and followed by a standup routine from Cedric the Entertainer.

Barkley takes the stage to introduce the headliner but gets off a couple of cracks before he does.

"As y'all know, I'm probably not gonna win this thing, I'm here for the gamblin'," Barkley said. "But I want you to know that no matter how good you think you are in this room, you're not at the greatest level. So you suck just like I do."



Cedric the Entertainer is funny, but not hilarious Barkley funny. The next show is about to start in Harrah's lounge. It's a "Party with Arty," but Arty the keyboard and karaoke guy is about to turn the spotlight over to Barkley and friends.

About 200 people crowd around as Ray Allen takes one of the mikes and sings a background vocal to "Brick House." For the next two hours, the Sonics star is center stage, but if this were baseball, he'd be the set-up man, and Barkley the closer.

In less than an hour, Sir Charles buys 10 bottles of Patron tequila and pours double shots into plastic cups for dancers and drinkers around the stage. He takes several swigs himself and is unquestionably the life of Arty's party.

Former Coug Mark Rypien has a tradition here of interrupting the hip-hop and rap music with his rendition of Billy Joel's "Piano Man." Part of the crowd swayed and sang along, but Barkley glared.

"I love Mark Rypien," he says to the crowd. "But if he ever plays that song again, I'm gonna kill him."

With that, Barkley polishes off the last shot from the 10th bottle with help from Jerry Rice.

"I'm sorry, I gotta go," he says. "If I don't gamble, I'll break out in a rash."

Barkley told ESPN he has lost $10 million gambling. He won't quit but is trying to bet in moderation. Asked how much he was up or down playing 21 in the high-rollers room Wednesday night, Barkley said: "Up about a hundred (thousand)."

BEN ROETHLISBERGER arrived at the range before 8 a.m. Thursday, attracting more media attention than Donald Trump, who hit balls next to him.

Roethlisberger is a big story because he led the Steelers past the Seahawks in the Super Bowl and an even bigger story after a helmet-less accident on his motorcycle last month in Pittsburgh.

For the first time, Roethlisberger spoke about the incident on ESPN Wednesday night and said he nearly died. Aside from talking to Sam Farmer of the L.A. Times and Roy Firestone on Thursday, Roethlisberger won't address the scribes here until this morning.

That didn't stop some of us from observing him, and one of us sunk lower than a divot to blatantly eavesdrop on two of his conversations.

"You look good," Maury Povich told Roethlisberger.

"Thank you, I feel good," Roethlisberger said.

I'd never seen him close-up before the accident so I have no idea if he looked about the same, worse or maybe even better after breaking his jaw and other facial bones. He looked completely unblemished from my range, maybe 10 feet away.

"Are you going to be able to go full speed from the beginning?" Trump asked him.

"Yeah," Roethlisberger said.

Fans with his No. 7 jersey lined the green fence behind the range and watched him hit a handful of balls with his Nike clubs, smacking drives that towered over the pines and traveled straight, too.

AFTER ROETHLISBERGER left for his 7:55 tee time, I hung out behind Trump's bag for half an hour. He hit some good shots and more bad ones, while finding time to be interviewed, pose for photos with fans and schmooze with other rich people.

He seemed bothered by interview requests and short with responses. In a crafty veteran move, I asked yet another Trump assistant if I could talk to him, and the guy said yes, when Trump was finished.

I prepared a few questions, realizing I'd get about 60 seconds with the man. I also chose not to give him a hard time for rejecting my request to caddie for him because he probably didn't hear about it anyway.

"So what was harder for you, turning 60 or fatherhood at 60?" I asked.

Trump's wife, Melania, gave birth to The Donald's fifth kid three months ago, a boy named Barron.

"Definitely turning 60," he said. "The concept of fatherhood I've handled well. But I see friends of mine who are 60 and I go (bleep)! Sixty! That's getting up there, no question about it."

Trump has said he doesn't change diapers and indicated Thursday he doesn't get awakened at night because "I've got a wife who watches the baby so beautifully."

At that point he was whisked away from the questions and onto the course, his hair not-so-neatly tucked under his red cap.

RAY ALLEN is about to tee off but finds a few minutes to hit balls and answer questions. But first I had to poke fun at his karaoke skills.

"When people do karaoke, who can sing?" Allen said, lamely defending himself. He would get a better shot in later.

Allen addressed a variety of subjects. He said the KeyArena issues won't affect the players, and he hopes free agent Chris Wilcox stays with the team.

"He's in a whirlwind right now," Allen said. "We've been playing phone tag. I definitely want him to understand how much we need him. What he did at the end of the season, he could do for an entire season. Contract-wise, if he plays well, he doesn't have to worry about money."

Regarding controversial first-round draft choice Mouhamed Saer Sene, Allen said: "I was booed when I was drafted by Milwaukee. We all have to assume the guy is going to be able to play and help us a lot. They wouldn't have drafted him (No.) 10 if he couldn't play.

"And really, how much do you get out of first-year players anyway, especially this year because the draft is so much weaker?"

Allen won't guarantee a playoff berth next year, saying: "All I can guarantee is when people come in the building, they're going to enjoy themselves. We're going to do as a team what we're expected to do."

A Bob Weiss backer a year ago, he's a Bob Hill backer now.

"He's a great motivator, and he's going to get on you, but he always peppers it with good stuff," Allen said of his coach. "You can see his passion. He'll cheer on the sidelines and it breeds on down the bench."

Allen then tackled a more important topic, wondering if I wanted to bet on his score. What? Of course. He's a 6-handicapper, and we set the over-under at 77.

I caught up with Allen again on the par-5 18th tee. Naturally, he was 1-under. "Want to go double or nothing on this hole?" he asked.

So we did, Allen needing to make birdie to win again. What happens? He smokes a 310-yard drive down the right side, has 180 left, hits a branch with his approach, lands in a bunker, knocks it out to 15 feet and naturally makes the downhill birdie putt.

An index finger is pointed my way, and I wanted to respond with a different finger but settled on a handshake instead.

"Remind me to never bet against a professional athlete again," I told Allen.

"No," he said, "I'll remind you to not bet against me again."

The amount of the bet was nominal ... to one of us.

MORE BARKLEY: Can there ever be too much? In between tequila pours, I asked Barkley if I could get five minutes with him on Thursday. He obliged, and the quickie Q&A was conducted on the first two holes of his round in which he hit his drives everywhere but down the middle.

Lance Armstrong is here, helping raise money for charitable causes, which is a very cool thing, but he's not a true athlete according to Barkley.

"Nobody riding a bike can be considered great," Barkley said. "Everybody can ride a bike. He's in phenomenal shape, but he rides a bike."

Asked if he likes the idea of Michelle Wie playing against the men, as she is again this week at the John Deere Classic: "No, 'cuz she's a woman. She's trying to see if she can make the cut. If you can't win, don't do it. She needs to learn to win against people her own age. Making the cut doesn't mean anything to me."

And he has a dog. What kind? "A little, I don't know what you call the (bleep)," he said.

Barkley has lost 25 pounds and hopes to lose 25 more, trimming down for a special occasion in September.

"I don't want to be a fat (bleep) when I go into the Hall of Fame," he said.

Multimedia message

Happy Birthday America

Let's have a party!

First I need to gather the music ...

US Marine Band - Marine's Hymn and Stars and Stripes

Lena Horne - The Best Things in Life Are Free, From This Moment On, and I'd Do Anything

Dwight Yoakam - Streets of Bakersfield and Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee

The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly By Wow and I'm Stone in Love With You

The Pussycat Dolls - Sway

Lee Greenwood - God Bless the USA

Johnny Cash & June Carter - Walk the Line, Jackson, Ring of Fire and It Ain't Me Babe

Ray Charles - America the Beautiful, What'd I Say and Georgia on My Mind

Frank Sinatra - The House I Live In, The Birth of the Blues, The Song is You and Night and Day

The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go, Stop In the Name of Love and You Keep Me Hanging On

Sir Mix-A-Lot - Baby Got Back

Cake - I Want a Girl with a Short Skirt and a Long Jacket

Dean Martin - Return to Me and Ain't That A Kick in the Head

Darryl Worley - I Will Hold My Ground and Have You Forgotten

The Doors - Light My Fire

Nancy Wilson - The Best is Yet to Come and Do You Still Dream About Me?

Anybody want to add any suggestions to the play list?

Want to have some fun this summer?

On my other site, I've got lots of suggestions

Los Angeles

San Francisco Bay Area

San Diego

Palm Springs & the Desert

Monterey & Santa Cruz

Lake Tahoe, Yosemite & the Sierras

Orange County

San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara

Sacramento, Gold Country & the Valleys

North Coast & Wine Country

Inland Empire


I've got a bunch of ideas for Hawaii

and a handful of ideas for other places around the country and the world :
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Washington D.C., Georgia, Maryland,
Minnesota, Montana, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Mexico, Canada and Spain

If you've got anything to add, email me at thingsyoushoulddo -at- hotmail.com

Thanks!

Airstrike Remix

Check out this fantastic video


And more from the Mil Bloggers
Blackfive - the Paratrooper of Love

Here is One Marines View

In the post just before this one I talked about “Supporting the Troops”. If you don’t have the time to go to Anysoldier.com but want to still show your support for the troops, you can look on the far right Colum and donate quickly by clicking on “Donate Cigars”. Once we have a respectable amount we will purchase stoags for service members in Iraq and the ship them over to them. We will then put their pictures of them smoking your cigars here! Wet wipes are great, Gatorade is better but stoags are the heat!!!


Click on the donate button, then send us your alimony you were going to pay to your “other”, then stand by!!! Nothing beats shooting at bad guys while enjoying a cigar!!!


I challenge any cigar store out there to match what we buy!!! C’mon fellas, they are Marines!!!


Semper Fi……….


Time for a C-Gar!

Posted by Capt B at 05:35 PM | June 7, 2006

U.S. strike kills Iraq terror chief al-Zarqawi

From staff and wire reports

BAGHDAD — Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the terrorist leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the top target of the military coalition supporting the country's nascent democracy, was killed Wednesday in an airstrike, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.
Jubilant officials from several countries described al-Zarqawi's death as a major victory in the war on terror. He was linked to a series of terrorist bombings and executions not only in Iraq, but also in his native Jordan.

The leader and seven aides, including spiritual adviser Sheik Abdul Rahman, were killed Wednesday evening in a remote area 30 miles northeast of Baghdad in the volatile province of Diyala, just east of the provincial capital of Baqouba, officials said.

"Zarqawi has met his end and this violent man will never murder again," President Bush said Thursday morning at the White House. He called al-Zarqawi's death "a severe blow to al-Qaeda and a victory in the global war on terror."

More Info from the Mil Bloggers & their friends
Captain's Quarters
Mark in Mexico
Greyhawk
Baldilocks
Citizen Smash




Smash posts:

Ding-Dong, Zarqawi's Dead

[SMASH]
Had a minor case of food-induced insomnia early this morning, so I decided to check the headlines on my mobile phone...

Boy, am I ever glad I chose the rich chicken mole at that mexican restaurant last night for dinner!

ZARQAWI IS DEAD!

GOOD RIDDANCE M---ER F----ER!

WOOHOO!

Sorry, just had to get that out of my system.

Powerline posts:

The meeting ended early

Here is the Centcom press release announcing the successful strike that killed Zarqawi and his colleagues in Iraq yesterday:

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Gen. George W. Casey Jr., Multi-National Force-Iraq Commanding General, announced the death of al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi in the following statement during a press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad June 8:

“Ladies and Gentlemen, Coalition Forces killed al-Qaida terrorist leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi and one of his key lieutenants, spiritual advisor Sheik Abd-Al-Rahman, yesterday, June 7, at 6:15 p.m. in an air strike against an identified, isolated safe house.

“Tips and intelligence from Iraqi senior leaders from his network led forces to al-Zarqawi and some of his associates who were conducting a meeting approximately eight kilometers north of Baqubah when the air strike was launched.

“Iraqi police were first on the scene after the air strike, and elements of Multi-National Division North, arrived shortly thereafter. Coalition Forces were able to identify al-Zarqawi by fingerprint verification, facial recognition and known scars.

Al-Zarqawi and al-Qaida in Iraq have conducted terrorist activities against the Iraqi people for years in attempts to undermine the Iraqi national government and Coalition efforts to rebuild and stabilize Iraq. He is known to be responsible for the deaths of thousands of Iraqis. Al-Zarqawi’s death is a significant blow to al-Qaida and another step toward defeating terrorism in Iraq.

“Although the designated leader of al-Qaida in Iraq is now dead, the terrorist organization still poses a threat as its members will continue to try to terrorize the Iraqi people and destabilize their government as it moves toward stability and prosperity. Iraqi forces, supported by the Coalition, will continue to hunt terrorists that threaten the Iraqi people until terrorism is eradicated in Iraq.”

Congratulations to all those serving in Iraq and elsewhere who enabled our forces to administer justice to Zarqawi with skill and precision.

Greyhawk Posts:

After the air strikes, CoalitionForces launched 17 raids against terrorist targets in Baghdad "within hours" of identifying Zarqawi, uncovering a "treasure trove" of intelligence information. The targets were previously being exploited to track Zarqawi's movements. Now the Coalition is pushing rapidly to roll-up the al Qaeda network in Iraq.

And the press is so busy trying to get stories about coalition deaths in Iraq to "balance" the Zarqawi story that they've missed it. The announcement of the Ministers of Defense and Interior is being ignored too, or mentioned briefly and "balanced" with references to how long it took. Arguably that's information significant only to the handful of people outside of Iraq who know what's going on in Iraq - but it's huge news.

But back to the 17 (so far) raids. Imagine how many known operators and locations have been watched - even at some cost - in order to make this day happen. Now it's go time on them, and with intel gained there other dominoes are likely to fall.

Mark in Mexico posts:

ADDENDUM: Youssef M. Ibrahim, Jul. 25, 2005:
The world of Islam is on fire. Indeed the Muslim mind is on fire. Above all the West is now ready to take both of them on.

The latest reliable report confirm that on average 33 Iraqis die every day, executed by Iraqis and foreign jihadis and suicide bombers, not by U.S. or British soldiers. In fact, fewer than ever U.S. or British soldiers are dying since the invasion more than two years ago. Instead we now watch on television hundreds of innocent Iraqis lying without limbs, bleeding in the streets dead or wounded for life. If this is jihad, someone got his religious education completely upside down.

Do the cowardly jihadis who recruit suicide bombers really think they will force the U.S. Army and British troops out of Iraq by killing hundreds of innocent Iraqis? U.S. troops now have bases and operate in Iraq but also from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman?

The only accomplishment of jihadis is that now they have aroused the great "Western Tiger." There was a time when the United States and Europe welcomed Arab and Muslim immigrants, visitors and students, with open arms. London even allowed all dissidents escaping their countries to preach against those countries under the guise of political refugees.

Well, that is all over now. Time has become for the big Western vengeance.

What is more important to remember is this: When the West did unite after World War II to beat communism, the long Cold War began without pity. They took no prisoners. They all stood together, from the United States to Norway, from Britain to Spain, from Belgium to Switzerland. And they did bring down the biggest empire. Communism collapsed

In this new cold and hot war, car bombs and suicide bombers here and there will be no match for the arsenal those Westerners are putting together - an arsenal of laws, intelligence pooling, surveillance by satellites, armies of special forces, and indeed allies inside the Arab world who are tired of having their lives disrupted by demented so-called jihadis or those bearded preachers who under the guise of preaching do little to teach and much to ignite the fire, those who know little about Islam and nothing about humanity.

Last month I went to our CEO trip in Cabo San Lucas, the sales achievement award trip of my company. I swam with the dolphins, saw Sammy Hagar perform, played in a golf tournament, ate and drank at The Office, danced the mambo at The Mambo Cafe and in general had an excellent time.

The Guest Speaker for the trip was Andy Andrews, who was marvelous.

What could this one man possibly have to say that is important enough for the Commander of the Allied Air Forces to ask his help? Why did every senior leader the United States Air Force has in Europe and the Middle East recently assemble in one room—at one time—to hear him speak?

Who is this man, that he would walk the golf course with Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez as she played her last tournament as a touring professional? Why was he invited to spend an afternoon with General Norman Schwarzkopf and his son, who was about to depart for college? What would he be asked to discuss with a ninety-one-year-old Bob Hope alone by the swimming pool in the entertainer’s back yard?

Hailed by a New York Times writer as a “modern-day Will Rogers who has quietly become one of the most influential people in America,” Andy Andrews is an internationally known speaker and novelist whose combined works have sold millions of copies worldwide. He has been received at the White House and has spoken at the request of four different United States presidents. His two-hour PBS special is entitled Andy Andrews: The Seven Decisions and is now airing nationally to incredible reviews.

Andrews’s best-selling book, The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success, is an international sensation, remaining on the New York Times bestseller list for four and a half months and being translated into nearly twenty languages. Featured on ABC’s Good Morning America as a book-of–the-month selection, The Traveler’s Gift is the stunning story of one man’s search for meaning and success in life by traveling back into time and conversing with seven historic individuals. Its message of hope, faith, and perseverance is transforming thousands of lives worldwide every day, spawning a teen version, The Young Traveler’s Gift; The Traveler’s Gift Journal; a home study audio program, Timeless Wisdom from the Traveler; and life-study curriculums in high schools, mental-health organizations, and prisons nationwide.

Andrews lived a relatively normal life until the age of nineteen, when both his parents died—his mother from cancer, his father in an automobile accident. “I took a bad situation and made it much worse,” Andrews says with a rueful smile, referring to choices he made during this tragic period of his life. Within a span of several years, the young man found himself literally homeless (“before that was even a word!” he says), sleeping occasionally under a pier on the gulf coast or in someone’s garage.

It was at that time when Andrews asked the question that would focus his search for what would ultimately affect millions of people. The question? “Is life just a lottery ticket, or are there choices one can make to direct his future?” To find the answer, he first went to the library. There, over time, he read more than two hundred biographies of great men and women. How did they become the people they were? he wondered. Were they simply born this way? Or were there decisions made at critical junctures in their lives that led to such success? The young Andrews finally determined that there were seven characteristics that each person had in common. “What will happen,” he mused, “if I study these seven common denominators and harness them in my own life?”

The rest is history. “The Seven Decisions,” as he calls them, were the engines used to carry Andrews’s life in a different direction. And twenty-plus years later, these same Seven Decisions became the outline around which he built the story of The Traveler’s Gift and the basis of his PBS Special.

Bob laughed at me because I cried through at least half of Andy's presentation. Yes, I am a mushball.

When we got home, we each received an autographed copy of The Traveler's Gift. I've been reading it (repeatedly) at lunch.

The Seven Decisions That Determine Personal Success (the book's subtitle) are:

The buck stops here.
I will seek wisdom.
I am a person of action.
I have a decided heart.
Today I will choose to be happy.
I will greet this day with a forgiving spirit.
I will persist without exception.


Some of these things are easier to commit to then others. For me, the hardest is forgiveness - both forgiving myself and others. But I'm trying.

Mexican Marinade

This is a great marinade and flavor enhancer for tofu and for any vegetables that will be roasted or baked.

1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
Juice of 2 limes
1 teaspoon olive oil
3 garlic cloves minced
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 teaspoon minced serrano peppers
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a glass or ceramic bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to one month.

--from The Rancho La Puerta Cookbook - 175 Bold Vegetarian Recipes from America's Premier Fitness Spa by Bill Wavrin

Jarhead Red

Firestone Vineyard is proud to offer Jarhead Red as a perfect match for Memorial Day barbecues and summertime grilling.

Jarhead Red was conceived by Adam Firestone (CAPT USMC 1984-91) and vineyard foreman Ruben Dominguez (SGT USMC 1979-84). It is a robust, Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine with rich black fruit flavors.

Net proceeds from Jarhead Red benefit the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which provides educational assistance to children of U.S. Marines, with special attention given to children of fallen Marines. Visit www.JarheadRed.com for more information.

Isn't this truly obnoxious



The text on this banner reads Discover a Place Before The President Starts a War There Search from Here - Kayak.com.

Imagine, this is not a political site, this is a business. Guess they are writing off the red states. Or in their arrogance, they think that conservatives don't travel.

Here's the message from the affiliate site of Kayak.com

Congratulations! You have been approved into the Kayak.com Affiliate Program!

Created by co-founders of Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia, Kayak.com is a search engine that helps consumers find great travel deals from over 100 other travel sites.

Our Affiliate program gives you 50 % of the revenue we generate from visitors who are sent to us from your site.

We offer a variety of links and link types. We recommend using our popular (and high conversion) Dynamic Rich Media search box.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at partners@kayak.com with any questions.

Thank you for your participation in the Kayak.com affiliate program, and we look forward to a rewarding partnership with you!

I had one of their banners up on my Things You Should Do website, something with a normal message, but I went searching to find a banner I could post that was a different size when I stumbled across this one. I semt the affiliate manager an email last week expressing how offensive this banner was, but I received no reply (it figures)

Perhaps other bloggers might want to tell the founders of Orbitz, Travelocity & Expedia how offensive their marketing is.

Calling themselves the new Internet travel "dream team," a group of online travel experts has launched a Norwalk-based Web site to take on the companies they helped develop into industry giants. Former executives from Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia and Intuit have created Kayak.com, an online travel search site with its headquarters on Marshall Street /snip/ Kayak.com's founders include Steve Hafner, co-founder and chief executive officer of Kayak.com and a co-founder of Orbitz Inc. in 1999. /snip/ The Kayak.com team also includes Chairman of the Board Terry Jones, the former president and chief executive officer of Travelocity.com, which he helped found in 1996; and Greg Slyngstad, director, former senior vice president of destinations and lodging at Expedia.com, which he helped found. Also Keith Melnick, formerly a manager at the Boston Consulting Group, where he served on the launch team of Orbitz; Matt Mancuso, former corporate controller at Hotwire, which he helped found in 2000; and Drew Patterson, former director of pricing, distribution and e-commerce for Starwood Hotels and Resorts, where he oversaw formation of Travelweb, a hotel industry consortium to distribute net rate inventory.