In Senate, the conformation hearing for Elena Kagan, Obama's appointee for the Supreme Court opening is taking place. You would think this would be a serious process, after all, Kagan (if approved) could influence our country's judicial system for the next decade. However, one of the questions asked to Kagan today by Senator Amy Klobuchar was Team Edward or Team Jacob? in reference to the Twilight films. Kagan declined the question, in part because she had not seen the film and probably because it is irrelevant to how she would rule as a justice. Really, a US Senator asking about Twilight?
In the senator's defense, Kagan kind of set the tone for this seemingly loose confirmation hearing. Yesterday, Kagan made a joke after being asked where she was on Christmas, the day of an attempted bombing attempt on board a plain. In response, she said "Like all Jews, I was probably at Chinese restaurant." I guess its good that she has a sense of humor, but shouldn't she and the senators be taking this a little more seriously?
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Larry King is stepping down!
Today, it was announced on CNN's website that Larry King is hanging up the suspenders. The TV icon is planning to step down as the host of Larry King Live sometime this fall. Though his most recent news has come from the tabloids from his divorce filing and reconciliation with his 8th wife, Larry King's show had become the longest running show with the same host and the same time slot. The article indicates that King desired to leave on his own terms. Nevertheless, King had a remarkable career and was the guy to be interviewed by. Besides his TV fame, King was in 20 movies, and also the author of a best-selling autobiography, "My Remarkable Journey."
Olympic History Books/ My Summer Reading
Lately, I've been reading a lot about Olympic History, and I am currently reading "Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler's Olympics" by Jeremy Schaap, the ESPN reporter. I am about halfway through and I would highly recommend it. The Nazi Olympics, held in Berlin in 1936, are particularly fascinating as they are probably the prime example about how politics are very much so a part of sports. While Schaap's book focuses mostly about Jesse Owens' experience, it does go into detail about the Nazi planning of the games.
This is probably a shot in the dark, but if you are interested in this subject, David Clay Large's "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936" is also a good read. It is more focused on the both the Summer and Winter Olympics of 1936 (Germany won the rights to both Olympics that year).
Another great book about Olympic History is David Mariniss' "Rome 1960," perhaps the first truly modern Olympics. It was the first Olympics with TV and faced the struggle between amateurism and professional athletes. Many all-time great athletes competed in these games. From the American team alone: track greats Rafer Johnson and Wilma Rudolph, NBA legends Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, and future heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Rome 1960: The Summer Olympics That Stirred the World
This is probably a shot in the dark, but if you are interested in this subject, David Clay Large's "Nazi Games: The Olympics of 1936" is also a good read. It is more focused on the both the Summer and Winter Olympics of 1936 (Germany won the rights to both Olympics that year).
Another great book about Olympic History is David Mariniss' "Rome 1960," perhaps the first truly modern Olympics. It was the first Olympics with TV and faced the struggle between amateurism and professional athletes. Many all-time great athletes competed in these games. From the American team alone: track greats Rafer Johnson and Wilma Rudolph, NBA legends Oscar Robertson and Jerry West, and future heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali. Rome 1960: The Summer Olympics That Stirred the World
Bradley vs. Duke
In a Peoria Journal Star article published yesterday, it was announced that the Bradley Basketball will play at Duke in the upcoming 2010-11 basketball season. The defending champion,Duke beat Butler last April to win the 2010 NCAA Tournament, andthis match certainly won't be easy. According to a more extended article, Duke and Bradley meet previously in 1951, when Bradley was one of the best basketball teams in the country. The tables have turned, and while Bradley has not been awful the past few years, they certainly have not achieved the national prominence they had when they made the Sweet 16 in 2006.
When it comes to scheduling, many schools believe that it is smart to schedule easier opponents, which may guarantee more wins. However, in the past few years, teams have been criticized and even potentially left out of the NCAA tournament field because their strength of schedule was not good enough.
I think that it is great and gutsy that Bradley scheduled this game against Duke. Duke, with a long winning streak against non-conference opponents, will be heavily favored. However, Bradley is challenging itself and will get good exposure from throwing itself out there. By playing such a quality team like Duke early in the season, Bradley will be able to measure its team against one of the best in the country. Their are a lot of players coming back, including Andrew Warren, Sam Maniscalco, and Taylor Brown, and Bradley has the potential to once re-emerge as a MVC power.
When it comes to scheduling, many schools believe that it is smart to schedule easier opponents, which may guarantee more wins. However, in the past few years, teams have been criticized and even potentially left out of the NCAA tournament field because their strength of schedule was not good enough.
I think that it is great and gutsy that Bradley scheduled this game against Duke. Duke, with a long winning streak against non-conference opponents, will be heavily favored. However, Bradley is challenging itself and will get good exposure from throwing itself out there. By playing such a quality team like Duke early in the season, Bradley will be able to measure its team against one of the best in the country. Their are a lot of players coming back, including Andrew Warren, Sam Maniscalco, and Taylor Brown, and Bradley has the potential to once re-emerge as a MVC power.
I'm back!
I've officially graduated Bradley University, and spent the past few weeks recovering from ACL Surgery (I tore my ACL in February playing basketball), and now I'm going to try to blog more often. Since graduation and the surgery on June 3rd, I've been looking for a grown-up job and when ever I need a break from tedious job searches, I will definitely make sure to blog.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)