Stephenie is back !!! The toughest female survivor ever - she is my favorite to win and she has a huge target on her back. She looked pretty happy to win that first immunity challenge too. Bobby Jon is also back and has continued with his impressive streak of never not going to Tribal Council. The location looks brutal - the teams look interesting - I think we will not see the strongest player win this time but will see a weasel like Brandon the Farmer go a long way.

Better recaps and comments to follow I promise - had to help my daughter with her homework for half of the show.....

Why do I feel good about paying $3.11 for gas ?

First September and now October ? Two good issues in a row at Playboy ? What the hell is going on over there ?

Why was I watching "Battle of the Network Reality Stars" at 5am ? I think I just answered my own question.

I still want to throw up in my mouth when I think about the Donkey's opening game this year......

Why do I care more about Fantasy NASCAR than Fantasy Golf ? Why am I even asking that question ?

Thank you Moose for silencing the taunts - your # will look great up in the rafters......

A couple of quick thunks coming out of the last few days......

Paula Creamer is going to be the next "Annika" in women's golf. She called out the euro's before the Solheim Cup and then absolutely crushed one of their biggest stars in the final round of matches on Sunday 7 & 5. She is only 19 but plays like a veteran - it also helps that she grew up in a town I used to live in many years ago

I sure am glad that the football season is 16 weeks and not just one game - I can only take solace in the fact that the Pats lost their opener a few years ago 33-0 to Buffalo but went on to win the SuperDuper Bowl. I can't even bring myself to check out the Denver Post website.

"Mad Max" was on AMC early this AM - first time I had seen it with Mel's aussie voice not being dubbed - great 5am movie but I wish they hadn't cleaned it up......

"LOST" is back in 8 days........

Juliette Huddy & Kiran Chetry hosted Fox & Friends First this past Sunday - a double dipped delight - I liked Kiran's push-up bra too - she was almost in the same league as Juliette

"Change" by the Warren Brothers is my new favorite song so far this week

and Ed McBain dies this past July - why didn't I know this ?????

You asked for it (Glen) and now you got it – with apologies to Peter King, I now present my “10 Thunks I Thunk I Thunk”……

1. I have now reviewed, analyzed and scrutinized my Broncos schedule and I can honestly say that 16-0 would be a good season, 15-1 would be OK, 14-2 could be blamed on the incompetent refs blowing a call, 13-3 would be a disappointment and 12-4 or worse would be a complete and utter failure of a season and Shanahan should be fired (not that I am biased or anything) – it also helps that my nightmare of the wasted 3rd round pick is finally gone and that Jerry Rice decided that his ego couldn’t sit on the bench and work it’s 43 year old self back into the line-up

2. Bill Parcells is obviously deluded and the rest of the cowpokie fans have been smoking cow chips if they think that Drew Bledsoe is their savior – they will all be missing Quincy Carter by week 3 – and word is that Jeff Hostetler has started working out again as he is the next stop on the Parcells QB Reunion Tour….DeMarcus Ware may be the only cowpokie worth watching this year

3. Steelers fans better look for some place soft to land as Ben Roethlisberger comes crashing back to earth this year………look for Cincy to steal the AFC North this year

4. The only reasons I am watching tonight’s Pats-Raiders tilt are – it’s opening night for the NFL, to see the raiders lose and to see the raiders get injured – oh and to see the raiders lose

5. Speaking of the raiders, their offense has definitely upgraded this year with Kerry Collins channeling Daryle Lamonica, Lamont Jordan as a real RB threat and Randy Moss doing bong hits with the Raider Nation faithful but their defense still stinks – should be one track meet after another – raiders will be lucky to get to 8-8

6. Speaking of going 8-8, that is about all that Giants fans can hope for with Eli at QB this year – 4-12 is the best they can hope for if Tim “My wife is on The View” Hasselbeck plays – too bad they cut the Bachelor, they could have been even worse with him at the helm….and how did the Giants get the NFL to give them a 9th home game – the game against the Saints should have been played as close to Nawlins as possible for the sake of the team and the region.

7. Carolina will now have the SI Cover Jinx to deal with this year and as much as I hope their defense delivers (I have them on my 2 fantasy teams), I can’t see them hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February – Can’t see Philly doing it either as the TO/McNabb undercurrent will continue to eat away at the team chemistry – it’s easy to bury it in the first quarter of a pre-season game

8. At least the NY Jets fans will always have 1969…….

9. and now some of my non-football thunks

a. The Mets killed their season in the place where they always commit playoff suicide by losing 3 straight in the Field of Screams that is Atlanta. Why is ESPN even still listing them in the NL Wild Card Race ?
b. I would vote out Gary Hogeboom in the first Tribal Council in this next version of Survivor just because he played for the cowpokies
c. Coffeenerdness – when is Peter King going to quit drinking liquid candy and start drinking Community Coffee Nawlins Blend ???
d. LOST starts in 2 weeks and I can’t wait – Evangeline Lilly has a permanent spot on my current LIST
e. Juicin’ Giambi must think the 10 games will be worth it because there is no other explanation for his new found lost power at the plate
f. Allison Moorer’s “Send Down An Angel” is this week’s video pick
g. Last night’s Agassi-Blake quarterfinal match was great viewing and a US Open instant classic – it reminded me of many of the McEnroe matches of another era – he was wizard at this time of year
h. Is anyone watching “Battle of the Network Reality Stars” and if they are, why ?????

10. Quick Super Bowl pick – Denver 34 Minnesota 31 (as if you couldn’t guess)………

That’s it for now – thank you for your time – don’t forget to donate to www.redcross.org for those affected by Hurricane Katrina

Looks like Jo Dee Messina wants to fight Gretchen Wilson for Shelby Lynne's old seat at the end of the bar down at the Last Call Bar & Grill.....

I think my next fantasy team is going to be named "Shapely Adorables"

This morning there were 13 vultures on the building - yesterday there was only one and he did not look happy - even more ticked off than the large woman I just saw in the cafeteria who missed out on the last Cheese Danish..........

Miss America is leaving Atlantic City - they should move it to Vegas - the potential for yearly scandal would be off the charts and it would definitely help elevate the level of the contestants

The kids are stepping in and stepping up for the Mets - 4 in a row in AZ to start this 7 game trip - Mike Jacobs went 1-3 last night and his average slipped to .500 - I really hope this kid is real - the corners of the Mets infield would be set for years to come.......and I was right, the Mets really aren't missing Piazza that much - even he joked about it last night - this team is 7 over .500 with 24 of their remaining 35 against the NL East where they have a 27-23 record - they have their season in their own hands now

Would someone in the AL please finally put the stake in the heart of the Yankees ??? This is getting ridiculous - now Cleveland is stepping it up since the A's have somewhat faltered in the Wild Card race - and Yankee fans, your team has a $210M payroll - shouldn't they be playing for the Division Title and not just the Wild Card ?

Are White Bucks too formal for the office on Casual Friday ?

Jets-Giants tonight - will the brawl in Albany make a reappearance ? Probably not on the field but it will in the stands - only Giants and Eagles fans probably fight more often.......I am still a long way from convincing myself that Ron Dayne is real.....fantasy football draft is coming up next week and I need to finish my pre-rankings - I also need to join a public league where I can be the king of the waiver wire - I also need to start up a salary cap league and find another 2 or 3 more suicide pools to join........I haven't paid attention to any of the pre-season college football coverage yet - I have seen a lot of replays of games from last year on the various Fox sports channels - I'll be psyched to have the games back for real come the fall - they will fill an awful lot of those 5am workout slots - the more obscure the conference, the better

Some mornings just say Toby Keith and this was one of those mornings

Now Sports Illustrated is looking into the Outdoor Life Network - there may be hope for me seeing NHL games after all - I would hate to be stuck with only being able to see the Devils or the Fishstix when my Rangers aren't on.......Rangers signed another very large young player with impressive penalty minutes down in the AHL - they may not be all that good this year but it looks like the fans at MSG will be getting their money's worth - especially since Dolan actually did lower the price by 10% this year like he promised......it was strange seeing Brian Leetch in a Toronto jersey last year but seeing him in a Bruins jersey this year is going to hurt as much as seeing Brad Park in a Bruins jersey all those years ago.......Rick Middleton for Ken Hodge is still a trade that haunts me late at night......where did the Penguins suddenly get $$$$ ????.......Does anyone actually care about the Flyers ? I know I don't. There actually isn't another sport where I really dislike every other team in the league as much as I dislike the other teams in the NHL - I can tolerate most of the Western Conference teams but I can't find a single redeeming thing to say about another Eastern Coference team - it's just the way it is.

I haven't see Quite Frankly with Stephen A. Smith and quite frankly I am not in a real hurry to see it either - it sounds like he hasn't quite hit his stride yet with the show anyway.

LOST Season 1 DVD on 9/6 – 2nd season premiere on 9/21 at 9pm Eastern…….

I'm late on this one but it is called the "Alan Houston Rule" for a reason !!!! The basketball does not promise to be pretty at MSG this year....

Last week's culinary adventure was Scallop Pizza with Red & Yellow Tomato sauces and Manchego cheese (thank you Rachel Ray for the cheese) - quick easy and real good if I do say so myself - not sure what is on tap for the weekend but I have all day Sunday to experiment in the kitchen

Back to Fantasy Football - it's my annual quandary - do I ban all of the other AFC West teams (and the Giants) from my rosters or do I sell out to the awesome stats of Priest, Gates, Moss and most likely, Lamont Jordan ? Probably only in my public league

Van Zant's "Help Somebody" and Brad Paisley's "Alcohol" are my two new current favorites in the rotation on VH1 Country - I still have to shake my head at Faith Hill's attempt at rocking out in her "Mississippi Girl" video - I have never seen her in concert but it just doesn't look natural for her - I liked her blonde better

More shallow news bunny news from your truly, Erica Hill has re-surfaced (or I actually finally found her) on CNN Headline News Prime News Show every night - I miss her at 5am......Carol Costello & Kristine Johnson have both been on vacation this week and greatly missed.....

Is it ever smart to pick a road team in a Suicide Pool ?

Hello Jessica Simpson, this is a sandwich, you eat it. ......CMT showed the "new" version of her Boots video last night - no more pink bikini car wash - got replaced by random clips from the movie......why ?

I have had the chance to have some real Colombian Coffee the last 2 mornings and now I know why they smoke so much weed down there too - this stuff could give Espresso a run for it's money....

I'm banking on Jeff Gordon to show some pride this weekend in Bristol - some no name is going to three jack & steer job himself to a win in the PGA's Buick No Name Championship - my own golf game continues it's sabbatical which is probably a good thing....

Thanks for wasting your time reading this - Whiskey for my men and Beer for my horses.......

just a few short days ago, the dynamics around here changed in so many different ways that I still can't comprehend it all......still the most amazing thing on earth

staying home this past week has given me less time to post and less time to reflect on the little oddities and irrelevances that life throws you....I can also state for the record that weekday morning TV is no better after 7am than it is at 5am - 6am may have the strongest hour with Imus, Fox & Friends First, Mike & Mike, CMT, Robin Meade and the Lost World all kicking off at the same time.....speaking of kickoffs, many more bits & pieces seen of preseason games this weekend courtesy of the NFL Network - still no clue how to rank my players for my fantasy draft - I need to get a team in a Yahoo Public League - those are the teams where I wear out the waiver wire picking up every unknown flash in the pan I can find

Ron Dayne had another huge game this weekend and may have just solidified that spot on the roster - yet another promising young player who could not handle the pressures & expectations of NYC - Denver has a microscope all of it's own - better give something good out on Halloween....how is Jerry Rice doing ? I missed the re-broadcast of the Niners/Donkey game this afternoon - I need to cruise www.denverpost.com

So Tiger flew home while he was technically still in the hunt. Many people have already said it but I would have to thunk that an awful lot of people at the PGA would have been stepping on their dicks trying to figure out a way to have a Tuesday Playoff or would they have waited until late afternoon to start the playoff so that Tiger could have flown back - Lefty made these questions irrelevant but they would make a good argument at the 19th hole.

Saw "March of the Penguins" this past weekend - we now need to see a documentary of the Leopard Seal now !!!! .......How much longer until "Wedding Crashers" gets to DVD ?....... The Sopranos is coming back for an additional 8 episodes in 2007 - we still haven't seen Season 5 yet......Still don't see a movie out there being worth $100.......Did Rachel Blakely ever come to her senses and do some soft core ? Why isn't Xena on in the morning ? The NHL is on the Outdoor Life Network this season ? Does that mean we get a Pond Hockey Game of the Week ? OLN is part of the Arts package for my cable system - this is not going to work - Patriot Media will be hearing from me daily. "LOST" returns on September 21 and that is not a moment too soon. Saw an "Iron Chef" repeat last night where the challenger only plated 2 dishes - sounds like he worked at Hell's Kitchen. "Two and a Half Men" is slowly becoming a guilty pleasure that you no longer have to feel guilty about watching. If you are still watching "Yes Dear" then you should just be ashamed of yourself.......

The Mets will keep it interesting for their fans with regard to the wildcard but Braden Looper is making me miss Armando and that just doesn't feel right.....Piazza is the newest Met on the shelf but I really don't think they will miss him as much as they should.....bet Kris Benson won't be getting any at home any time soon after he bombed on Sunday......nice to see George & Joe try to take the spotlight off their underperforming check cashing $210m payroll

that's all for now - read Dan Jenkins

You just have to know that Phil Mickelson was praying for lightning yesterday as his game continued to melt in the hot NJ sun. Last night's rain has softened the greens and the humidity & temperature are both down too. Another player who will benefit today is Vijay. He is perfectly capable of tossing birds at 17 & 18 - in fact he has birdied 18 all 3 rounds. Ben Curtis wore NY Giants gear and proceeded to cough up a 77 and take himself out of contention. Good sign for the real Giants. Think Tiger really wanted to stick around another day today ? The weather has pretty much guaranteed that the field won't come back to him but this is golf, so stranger things have happened. He can't afford to not be here. Play starts again at 10:05am - back later with more thunks.....

Got to love the NFL Network and their primetime Saturday night pre-season football coverage. It is like NCAA Hoops Tourney coverage. And to have it all again on Sunday morning during my workout ? Excellent morning viewing choice. One thing does irk me about watching preseason football from regional feeds - if you are the visiting team, you are virtually ignored by the announcers. You might as well watch without the sound.

13 vultures on the edge of the building this AM and they are sneaking ever closer to the front doors......left the house 10 minutes later than usual and saw 2 to 3 times more bike riders in the swamp - packs of riders can be more annoying than landscaping trucks

Pre-season Football has started !!!!

Thanks to the scrapped Shuttle landing this morning, the News Bunnys were out in force at 5am - Kiran Chetry, Christi Paul, Kristine Johnson and Carol Costello - too bad Juliet Huddy, Erica Hill and Robin Meade weren't doing remote spots.....

Mrs. Leetch - I'll miss you.....

The Great One goes behind the bench - how soon before the Messiah does too ?

Yahoo Launchcast labels some bands as Alternative Country yet doesn't have a sub-group to listen to for it - this needs to be done now.......is Faith Hill trying to look like Julia Roberts ? She was hotter as a blonde.......and isn't it about time for some new bumpers on VH1 Country - the Dixie Chicks aren't fat and Lee Ann Rimes is still a virginal kid.....

Pre-Season Football has started !!!!!

Still singing the praises of my wireless headphones - though they are a little big and a little hot

Mike Piazza is still swinging that hot bat in the # 6 spot - too bad the Mets can't seem to put a major run together - they should be a lot better than a .500 team....

That's it for now - I know there will be more after I log off

Welcome to this week's edition of "This Old Shuttle". We are going to repair some protruding gap filler - think tile grout - with a handmade hybrid hacksaw made out of a nail file and duct tape.........you have got to be kidding me ? I just hope that the astronauts make it home safely.

Tons of player movement has begun in the NHL - Martin Straka does not make me feel good enough about my season tix......Pronger for handful of role players ? Done ! Nice pickup by Edmonton

The redhead in the Pussycat Dolls video has a real nice nastiness about her - same goes for the middle blonde on the left in Jessica Simpson's latest video

I have now seen a full body shot of Robin Meade of CNN Headline News and Juliet Huddy of Fox News First now has some serious contention for the Early AM Queen of the News Bunnies - never discount Kiran Chetry though......

Anybody seen or heard from Crazy Tom Cruise and his brainwashed bride to be Katie Holmes ? Didn't think so - phase 2 of her indoctrination must be taking place. Her former soul will be posted for sale on E-Bay soon enough

Wireless Headphones - why did I wait so long. The NFL Network has never looked so good at 5am.....Live TV coverage of the Bills-Packers pre-season practice scrimmage on Friday night - how awesome is that ?

36 days until kickoff - later

Broncos Training Camp Opens Today ! NBA Free Agent signings start today ! The NHL is in the newspaper again today. The sports world is starting to shape up some….

I know I have mentioned this before but when I work out at 5am I watch TV without any sound. It makes for some frustration and for some amusement. I still don’t know what to thunk about why Martha Stewart and Edgerrin James were on the screen at the same time during ESPN News the other morning and I really don’t need to know why…..

Chacon is coming to the Yanks – order more tickertape……..Al Leiter sure went from “Leits Out” to “Leit Him Up” in a hurry…..the yanks simply don’t have the pitching to carry them into the playoffs but the Red Sox don’t seem to want to kill them off. It is almost like they have to be in a struggle with the yanks to make the season worth playing…..The O’s have tanked and aren’t even a legit wild card threat………the Mets are becoming less of a wild card threat too – you can’t waste 8 innings of pedro on the road with the Astros big guns still waiting in the wings for the next 3 games- of course, Houston may be peaking early and the trade deadline is Sunday…..

The producers over at Access Hollywood must have read my throw away thunk yesterday about whether Nancy O’Dell was pregnant or not – still just a chest up shot this morning but what she was wearing was far too tight to hide a pregnancy – thank you MSNBC…..

The vultures have moved a level closer to the parking lot and another mailroom intern has gone missing………no interesting roadkill this morning – no metaphors for work….I did have a NASCAR moment as I took the big left turn and headed into the long straightaway……

I believe that my Balsamic Corn & Black Bean salad recipe is next on my the request list. That could of course and probably will change by the time I get home…..

Now I know I made fun of Tim McGraw doing a duet with Nelly and I know I was scared of the possibility of J-LO hooking up with Wynonna but Willie Nelson trying to sing Reggae is a laughable crime. I heard & saw the video on VH1 Country the other morning and it was like driving past an accident on the highway – I couldn’t stop myself from watching. I can’t imagine not owning this CD and yet at the same time, I can’t imagine ever listening to it either. I know that Willie likes to smoke some doobies but the record exec who okayed this deal must have been smoking some absolute killer weed………

I have said it before and I will say it again – the chick in Shooter Jennings new video is Smoking Hot!........speaking of hot – Sara Evans is most definitely back in running with her latest video – she hasn’t looked this good since “Perfect”……and does Shania twain ever look bad in a video – she does not seem to age at all – not like Melanie Griffith and Meg Ryan – someone stop these women before they give Jocelyn Wildenstein a run for her money

It may be some time before I get back into a movie theater for an grown up film so all I can hope is that “Wedding Crashers” comes out on DVD real soon……I really don’t have any problem at all seeing Kurt Russell as an aging superhero……..I thunk that John Cusack is a great onscreen representative for guys in their late 30’s and early 40’s…….Diane Lane is great onscreen rep for those ladies in their late 30’s and early 40’s too……

Have I mentioned that Broncos training camp opened today ? Maurice Clarett has signed too. Running back is a position that I really don’t think is a problem spot for the donkeys – Anderson, Bell, Griffin – a strong trio without the rest in camp – Kyle Johnson is going to be an all-pro fullback in the next 2 years…..I still don’t see what Jerry Rice can add to this team other than a few reporters from Geriatric SI…… Champ Bailey better be excited about seeing Randy Moss twice a year now – he certainly didn’t live up to his billing last year – that all pro choice was strictly on reputation last year………I need more time to thunk about Jake – that will come in a single thunk special…….Pre-season football is about to be all over my NFL Network – 55 games in 25 days – morning TV viewing is going to get better……

I know I am repeating myself from yesterday’s one off thunk but this bears repeating, The Living Water Church (www.lwcbuddlake.com) in Hackettstown, NJ had a bible study course last night entitled “Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study: Modern Parables as seen in the TV show” - I had to miss it but I do plan on attending “Sanford & Son Bible Study: The 10 Commandments as seen through the eyes of Fred G. Sanford” and “White Shadow Bible Study with Special Guest the Rev. Dr. Sports Guy – Bill Simmons”………it’s fun to drag your mouse through the water portion of their site too…

The MILF Morning Walker of the Year for 2004 has just won the award again for 2005………peppers and peas are in a slump but the beans and tomatoes are going nuts – new garden locations are being scouted for 2006

Thanks for the 5 minutes of your life that you will never get back – see Peabody and his pet boy, Sherman, for refunds

Remember, we will soon be switching from a tight man to man to a loose zone……

The Living Water Church in Hackettstown, NJ is having a class tonight called "Beverly Hillbillies Bible Study" - modern parables as told through discussion and analysis of the TV show.....I myself am holding out for next month's "Sanford & Son Bible Study" - the 10 Commandments as interpreted by Fred G. Sanford

Only 1 vulture on the building this morning and a couple of summer interns are missing.....

The chick in Shooter Jennings new video is HOT !!!

Is Nancy O'Dell from Access Hollywood pregnant ? I only see her early in the AM on Access MSNBC but the camera shots have all been head & shoulders shots only.....

Piazza likes the #6 hole in the order but the Mets can't lose 2 of 3 in Colorado.....

Broncos start training camp tomorrow and the NY Rangers signed their # 1 draft pick - sports are starting to look real good......

Yesterday it was a brilliant lightning display in the swamp as I drove to work and this morning it was fog.......10 vultures on the edge of the building this morning when I parked - I don't remember seeing that many before.....

Watched about 30 minutes of "Point of No Return" with Bridget Fonda the other morning and it got me thunking, Jennifer Garner owes a lot of her success to this movie and what the hell has happened to Bridget Fonda ? Isn't time for her to make a comeback film with copious amounts of gratuitous sex and nudity ? I can only hope so............another favorite is making her way back to the screen this week (or so) - Diane Lane looks great in the spots for "Must Love Dogs".....

I have to admit, I have watched College Paintball Championships on early morning TV but this morning I drew the line and said no to watching College Ultimate Frisbee - good thing I was able to catch the 4,653rd airing of the latest"Girls Gone Wild" commercial instead.....

"Empire" ends tonight - classic summer trash tv....."I want to be a Hilton" is on too - so what - long since lost interest when this became less of a fish out of water thing and more of stupid tv games thing........much like I would never hire someone who was on "The Apprentice" I think it is very safe to say that I will never eat a restaurant owned by someone who was on "Hell's Kitchen".......thank you Game Show Network for your airings of the old episodes of "The Amazing Race" - I finally had to learn their channel #.......

The NHL is back and not too soon - good to see that Adam Graves is back with the Rangers in a coaching/scouting/relations role - time to get Mess to do the same thing. Next they need to re-sign Brian Leetch at any cost.......hate the shootout, like the no red line, like the rules on goalie handling of the puck and like the smaller pads - hate the shootout.....

Best way to stop Ricky Williams this year ? Throw a big fat bone on to the ground in front of him and watch him toss that football aside........Broncos training camp opens on Friday and I am wildly predicting 14-2 for now....I could be wrong since 15-1 is probably more likely....

No fog this morning except in my own head - overslept and didn't get my full workout - the car 21.57 mpg last tankful so price increases aren't huting me as bad as they should be..........there is always roadkill as I drive through the swamp but that possum I saw this morning really got creamed last night..........Rachel Ray may be the perfect woman - cute, funny, energetic and after you bang her, she will have a great meal ready for you in just 30 minutes.......hope the yanks enjoyed their 24 hours at the top - I don't think they will see it again this year......Piazza bats 6th - gets two hits and the Mets beat the Padres in 11 - keep it up Willie..........Salad, Empire, tape LOST and go to bed - tonight's riveting plan of action......

More fog this morning - both here at my desk and out on the road...........The vultures have moved down a levelon the building - I think they are starting to pick their targets.........Travis Henry is a very nice pick up by the Titans - he will fit will in a combo with Chris Brown........Happy Birthday Joe Torre - I can't see first place lasting with the pitching you don't have - just consider it a gift that neither the Sox or O's really want 1st place either........I spent yesterday commuting into and out of the City - I don't miss it........and could Kiran Chetry have looked any hotter this morning ? She made Robin Meade look like a librarian........

Drove to work this morning in a deep fog - both literally and figuratively.

Tiger Woods wins the British open by going wire to wire. I was actually surprised that he somewhat folded on Saturday when he played the round with Fat Montie. I really thought he would bury him right then and there but he didn't. Tiger is looking real good for the PGA next month - I'm sorry I won't be able to attend.

Had the intense displeasure of having to listen to the Yanks-Sawx game on the radio last night. Suzyn Waldman was getting so excited about Al Leiter that I swear she had to leave the booth in the 6th inning just to go finish herself off.

Boy is that ever an ugly picture to put into my own mind this early in the morning.....

The NY Post is running a contest to win "4 Nights in Paris" - I wonder how her fiance feels about that and whether they will have control of the inevitable video rights ???

I have posted this elsewhere but the Royal Bankof Scotland has issued a Jack Nicklaus 5 pound note. Jack was always considered to be a "money" player and now he really is money. Makes you wonder who else could be considered for sports money. Joe Montana comes to mind for football cash though and argument could be building for Tom Brady based on recent history. Joe Namath proved to be "money" before Super Bowl III but is delivering on a guarantee enough? If it is, then Mark Messier deserves consideration in the realm of hockey cash but Wayne Gretzky may be the most money player in NHL history - from winning to helping the NHL print cash in the 80's - Bruce McNall should have saved some of that money too......Michael Jordan was certainly a money player down the stretch and the people of New England (and French Lick) would argue that Larry Bird deserves the nod but maybe with all those game winning 3's he seems to hit in the playoffs, Robert Horry should be considered. In baseball there are plenty of players stealing money and quite a few who have enough to be their own bank but I can't think of anyone who was always bank.

Saw a heron stab a frog this morning as I crept through the swamp stuck behind a landscaping truck - I almost miss the school buses.

"I want to be a Hilton" has become a bore but the social elite of NYC are finding great humor in it according to Page Six

the summer repeats of "Lost" have been must viewing and even better now that you know the backstories of the characters - you can see the clues and the paths that the writers were leaving and leading us down. Sawyer still is the best character on the show with Sun and Kate as close seconds.

Time to print the NFL Schedules and time to get back to work......

Drop the puck - I have a train to catch !!!!

The Kenny Rogers All-Star situation really shows everything that is wrong with baseball these days – at least to me. Here you have a player who gets suspended for 20 games and fined $50,000 for attacking a cameraman. He then gets named to the All-Star team and more than likely triggers a bonus clause in his contract that will now cover the cost of the fine. I hope that the people of Detroit boo him off the field when he gets introduced and that Bud Selig gets another “black eye” from it all. Not that baseball will really care…………..along the All-Star front – no Cliff Floyd ? And Beltran and Piazza are starters ? I’m not one to advocate taking the vote away from the fans but maybe an IQ test is in order before they should allow some of the fans to vote…….the Home Run Derby should be fun this year with no “juice” for the players – the winner might have what - 6 HR’s ?????

The NBA Draft did not disappoint – my favorite moment was listening to first Dickie V and then Stephen A. Smith kill the league for picking soft young Euro players over the remaining UNC players that were still available – and all of this over a public address system so all could hear – do you think that David Stern wanted to go yank a plug or two as they ranted away ?????..........I was a little disappointed in the fashion statements made – I see more color & flair here in my office – especially from the dude I saw getting coffee this morning in white bucks…………and does anyone know where I can get a Stuart Scott to English – English to Stuart Scott Dictionary ????? BooYah !

Is there anyone out there that isn’t siding with Brooke Shields in her whole “War of the Words” with psycho Tom Cruise ?...... in a related matter, the Page Six hinted the other day that a certain action star has signed his new “fiancé” to a 5 year $10m deal and that she is doing the best acting job of her career….wonder who they could be ???

Tonight on “Being Bobby Brown”, Bobby meets the Dalai Lama and hilarity ensues……..it should be almost as funny as Kathy Hilton telling a contestant on “I want to be a Hilton” that she needs to “tone down the sexuality” if she wants to make it in high society – this advice coming from the mother of Paris Hilton…….”Empire” is some classic summer mini-series trash but well worth taping if you want an hour or so of mindless viewing – guaranteed that by the end of the 6 hours the cute Vestal Virgin is no longer Vestal……..

It’s summer time and the vultures have returned to Berkeley Heights, NJ – nothing says Good morning when you walk into work like a bunch of Vultures perched on the edge of the building watching you…….

I don’t know which is more pathetic, the fact that Fox Sports Atlantic was showing a rebroadcast this morning of the 2004 Boston Market Bowl Before the Bowl game between the Miami Gardens Chargers and the Pembroke Pines Bengals 100-115 pound youth football teams or that I was actually watching it. For those who care, Miami Gardens had an awesome defensive stand stopping Shaquille Kearse on the 1 yard line with 6 seconds to go and then won the game 14-6 in the first OT……in a related note, only 63 days until the Patsies play the raidazz in the first game of the 2005 season………and Tim Brown signed a one day deal with the raidazz in order to retire – funny, based on his performance last year, I thought he had already retired……and can someone put this idea into jerry rice’s head for me ?

Made Mango Chipotle Spicy Ice Cream recently – spicy, creamy and cool all at one time – served it with Blueberry Cake – I must say it was awesome – a friend of mine in restaurant business told me it sounded great but it would never sell if I put it on the menu – guess it would fit better in the Latin marketplace…..and seeing that it is blueberry season here in NJ, I will be making some Blueberry Corn Muffins this weekend……

Rumor has it that the NHL and the NHLPA have come to an agreement – it’s only about a year too late – I may forgive the lockout and I will go back to the games but I will never forget the greed of the players and the idiocy of the whole thing – the minor league hockey I went to the past year was great and I plan on going back again

Went to the Women’s Match Play Championships at Hamilton Farm this past weekend. Annika Sorenstam is so smooth. She was hitting shots at the range that were all 200 yards and all were landing within a 6 foot radius – all while talking to her caddy. Too bad her putter went stone cold in the quarterfinals. Also caught Natalie Gulbis on the practice range – wow – she is good and hot – with that Kathleen Turner raspy voice that just makes you want to……..looking forward to the tourney again next year.

There are not too many pleasant surprises to be had in the office during the workday but the unexpected partial glimpse of a red satin thong has to be one of them……especially when it is on someone that you never thought would wear one…….

How can the French be upset that they were snubbed in favor of London for the 2012 Olympic Games – the French have been snubbing the rest of the world for years

That’s it for today – Free Katie !!!