A Great New Deal from Hyped Up Sports!

A company named Hyped Up Sports recently announced an incredible new concept that I believe will be the newest innovation in the world of sports collectibles and autographs by top athletes. They are offering their customers the chance to send their coveted memorabilia to Upper Deck for signing. We’re not talking scrubs or non-celebrity athletes here. We’re talking about the greatest names in sports today, like Tiger Woods (the greatest golfer in the history of golf); Michael Jordan (the greatest b-baller in the history of pro basketball); Lebron James (possibly will be the greatest of all time by the time he’s done playing); Kobe Bryant (who will most likely take his Lakers to the NBA Finals this season -- see photo.); and Kevin Durant. This is an incredible program, because it allows fans to get their favorite items autographed. Maybe you have a painting of Tiger or Jordan. Maybe you have a game worn jersey that Kobe wore when he won his NBA championships with Shaq. Or you might possibly own a pair of tennis shoes from King Lebron’s rookie year. The most important thing about this promotion is that YOU make the decision on what you want signed. You're in control! And you know that it will be an authentic autograph, excellent for mounting, framing and putting in a place of prominence in your home or office. Hyped Up Sports is really stepping up with this one, so take advantage of this great sports collectibles deal today!

Sea Pines is Super Fine

There is a place in Hilton Head, South Carolina called Sea Pines. It's a great place for vacationing and recreation during the summer months. At Sea Pines, you can enjoy the wonderful beaches and sights, and participate in all kinds of activities, like dinner cruises, dolphin cruises, dolphin cruises, nature cruises, parasailing, sailing, boating, golf, tennis, jet skiing, horseback riding, fishing kayaking and so much, much more! Sea Pines rentals are a great way to do it too -- they're very affordable and some of them have swimming pools, hot tubs and all kinds of wonderful amenities. Get away from the hustle and buslte of the city life and visit Sea Pines this summer!

Does Alli Work?

Alli promotes weight loss by decreasing absorption of fat by the intestines, which reduces the number of calories you absorb. Lipase, an enzyme found in the digestive tract, helps break down dietary fat into smaller components, so it can be used or stored for energy. Alli works by disabling lipase, which prevents the enzyme from breaking down the fat while it's in your digestive tract. The undigested fat continues through the intestines and is eliminated through bowel movements. Alli is taken with fat-containing meals, up to three times a day. Because of how Alli works, it's recommended that you eat no more than 15 grams of fat with each meal. Eating higher amounts of fat can cause unwanted effects, such as urgent bowel movements, diarrhea and gas with oily spotting.

I Got A Trojan Horse!

I picked up a terrible virus on my computer -- a Trojan Horse called Trojan Vundo! I have never had this happen to me before, but it is horrible. It has attacked my computer and slowed it down to the point where it's almost completely dead. I don't know how I got it and it's going to cost me some money to get rid of it. What a hassle! Why do people create these Trojan Horses? What does it achieve? I hate it!

Rechargeable Flashlight

We're living in earthquake country here in San Francisco, and I do believe that we may be due for a big one sometime soon. That's why if you live here (or anywhere where catatrosphic events are likely to happen) you should consider buying a rechargeable flashlight. If the lights go out, you don't want to get stuck in a compromised situation, and besides having water, food, blankets, batteries, vodka, comic books, playing cards, poker chips, spam, dog food (same thing); old Playboy magazines, 8-track tapes of Abba and KC & The Sunshine Band -- you should also be sure to have a rechargeable flashlight.

Student Loan Problems: You're Not Alone

I just paid off my student loan last week, which is pretty incredible considering I took it out when I was a sophomore at San Jose State -- in 1978! Unfortunately, I forgot about the loan and didn't pay anything on it for approximately 20 years, so by the time I started to pay it off, it was over $9,000 with interest and penalties. But, a couple of weeks ago, I finally paid it off completely, and boy -- what a relief! If you want advice on a student loan or want to consolidate your student loan(s), check out a Web site called Tuition Wise. These people really know the student laon game and can help you!

Mortgage Lenders

With the economy the way it is right now, this is a good time to buy a house or get a second on your mortgage. Some of the mortgage lenders out there can really find some good deals for you right now. Be alert and stay abreast of these possibilities -- being in the right place at an opportune time can really benefit you even more than you know. There are deals galore out there in the market, and if you're not ahead of the game -- well, you're going to miss out. Be proactive, not reactive -- that's what I always like to relate to my blog readers.

Conventions are All About Celebrities!

I covered the NADA (National Automobile Distributors of America) Convention in San Francisco this weekend, and I got to meet Chop from the show "King of Cars", along with his sidekick the Blue Genie, and Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett. These are the perks of the job, meeting famous people and getting a chance to talk to them.

Hublot Big Bang Watches

Everyone is super excited about the Hublot big bang watch. It's a beautiful watch that is both stylish as well as well-made. The Hublot big bang will make you look like a player as well as tell very accurate time. It's also an extrememly durable watch that will not break on you. If you're looking for a hot new watch, consider the Hublot big bang. It's durable, reliable and affordable -- and it will look great on your wrist, guys. Why wear a boring, predictable and mundane watch when you can live and play on the cutting edge with a Hublot big bang!

Home Theater Carpet

If you have a home theater, you should really consider investing in home theater carpet. There is a Web site out there called http://www.stargatecinema.com/, and they have some of the coolest theater carpets in the world. Theater carpet is sturdy, so that if you spill soda, popcorn (or even beer or wine) on it, you're not going to have to get it steam cleaned. It's kind of like indooor/outdoor carpeting for your home theater. http://www.stargatecinema.com/ also has a lot of other cool things for a home theater -- like movie posters, theater seating, popcorn machines and more!

Friday Night Lies

I think this story is hilarious. This kid had everybody believing he was being recruited by top football schools. It was a little lie that got bigger and bigger and finally spiraled out of control.

I have experienced some of these situations with my baseball interviews. I am a member of The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and interview retired major league baseball players as part of my affiliation with this organization. I also post the interviews here on Broo and on my baseball web site, www.thisgreatgame.com.

Many times, guys will tell me that they played major league baseball, or know someone who did. But, when I check out the information, I find out it’s not true. Maybe they played semi-pro or college ball, or possibly even at the minor league level. But, they never played in The Show and it’s sad to think that they’ve been lying to everyone for so long and that it’s not true. Usually, I just say thanks but no thanks on the interview and leave it at that. I don’t feel right bursting their bubble and/or destroying their fantasy.

Why do people do this? I don’t know, it’s probably because they’ve dreamt of achieving something great in their lives and have fallen short, so creating it in their mind is the next best thing. It’s sad and in a way, I feel a certain sense of compassion for these folks.

But, you do have to give this kid credit. He really had some juevos to take this as far as he did. And he actually had a lot of people believing him for quite a while.

Here is the story as it appeared yesterday on www.aol.com:

A northern Nevada prep football player who had claimed he was duped into believing he was recruited to play at a Pac-10 school admitted Wednesday he made up the story.Kevin Hart, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound offensive lineman for Fernley High School, offered a broad apology in a statement he issued through the Lyon County School District. Hart said he had wanted to play football at a Division I school "more than anything."

"When I realized that wasn't going to happen, I made up what I wanted to be reality. I am sorry for disappointing and embarrassing my family, coaches, Fernley High School, the involved universities and reporters covering the story," Hart said.Lyon County sheriff's detectives had been unable to corroborate Hart's claims that he had been duped by a man he paid to help promote him to college football programs.Lt. Rob Hall said Hart had not informed detectives of his confession, and they would continue to investigate to see if Hart had broken any laws, such as filing a false police report.Hart first spoke with deputies Saturday, a day after he announced at a school assembly and a news conference that he would sign with the University of California, Berkeley.At the announcement ceremony, Hart, with Fernley coach Mark Hodges at his side, said he talked with Cal head coach Jeff Tedford many times, and that "personal experience" led to his decision to choose the Golden Bears over Oregon, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported.But the announcement was questioned almost immediately, and on Monday officials with California and the University of Oregon said Hart was never recruited.Hall said Hart had claimed that the alleged promoter he paid was named Kevin Riley, and that he believed he was from Las Vegas. Hart, however, was "unable to provide any phone numbers, addresses," or other contact information for the purported recruiter, Hall said."Initially, we thought if this was in fact a hoax or something Kevin came up with, maybe he was trying to put his name out there and create some interest," Hall said."Or maybe he just thought it was going to be and when it didn't happen, rumors started and it just got bigger and bigger and he didn't know what to do. That's why we want to sit down with Kevin and talk with him to get his perspective about what happened, where did it start, when did it start," he said.Hall said detectives will forward their investigation to the district attorney's office to decide whether prosecution was warranted.Tedford said Wednesday he had never talked to Hart and the Golden Bears never recruited him."It was total news to me, and it's unfortunate that that whole situation is what it is," Tedford said."I've talked to other coaches who have had people saying they've committed to their programs who they're not even recruiting, and it just seems like this thing is getting so big and egos are getting so involved ... people want to have an identity or whatever. To get to that magnitude that I read about is really kind of unfortunate," he said.Oregon coach Mike Bellotti also said Wednesday the Ducks did not recruit Hart, and that he had been contacted by law enforcement authorities."Whatever happens, it's a shame," Bellotti said.On Tuesday, school district administrators said an internal investigation showed that none of the universities once thought to have pursued Hart - including Nevada, Washington and Oklahoma State - had contacted Hart.Superintendent Nat Lommori and Assistant Superintendent Teri White, in issuing the statement the day before recruits across the country sign letters of intent to play for college programs, said they wanted to relieve concerns prospective recruits to those schools might have because of the Hart matter.The school district's investigation was continuing, White said.

Pigeon Forge Cabin Rentals Rock!!

There’s a great place called Pigeon Forge in Tennessee that is an amazing vacation spot. If you can’t afford to go to the more expensive vacations destinations – like Vegas, California, Florida, Chicago, Hawaii or New York – why not consider the beauty and serenity of a place like Pigeon Forge. Pigeon Forge cabin rentals are a cost-effective alternative and will still provide you and your family with an unforgettable experience! These log cabin rentals have Jacuzzis, pool tables, huge decks from which you can view Mt. Le Conte, the highest peak in the Smoky Mountains, fireplaces, big comfortable rooms and more. When you’re considering the vacation possibilities for this summer, consider Pigeon Forge!

Fiber Cable

If you're looking for a high-quality fiber cable that is both reliable and efficient, you really need to take a look at a Web site called http://www.blackbox.com/. The fiber technology that is out there in the market right now is amazing and the prices become more affordable each and every year. But, the important thing when it comes to this particular type of cable is to avoid skimping to save money and then getting caught with an inferior product that won't do the prescribed job. Visit http://www.blackbox.com/ today and put the words "fiber cable" in the Search box. Take Big Ed's word for it -- you'll be happy you did!

Three Great Nor Cal Restaurants

Auberge Du Soleil in Napa Valley (180 Rutherford Hill Road, Rutherford, CA 94573; (707) 963-1211; www.aubergedusoleil.com) features French and Mediterranean cuisine that is creative, flavorful and expertly prepared by Executive Chef Robert Curry. Winner of the "One Star Award: in 2007 from The Michelin Guide and the "Mobile Four Star Award," Auberge Du Soleil is considered one of the wine country's finest restaurants. The Prix Fixe tasting menu is outstanding, pairing excellent wines with outstanding signature dishes. Some of the selections from this menu include a starter like Ahi Tuna Sashimi, Crunchy Vegetables, Crème Fraiche, Sevruga Caviar, paired with a 2004 Nikolaihof "Hefeabzug" Gruner Veltliner from Wachau-Austria; a main course of Seared Scallops, Veal Sweetbreads, White Corn, Summer Black Truffle, paired with a 2004 Martin Alfaro Chardonnay from the Santa Cruz Mountains; and a dessert of Hot & Cold Foie Gras with Peaches, Pain Perdu and Almonds, paired with a 2002 Bon Pere Germanier "Mitis" Amigne de Vetroz from Valais, Switzerland. Food like this makes me wax poetic. Auberge Du Soleil is a gem in the wine country that should not be missed.

Sierra Mar in Big Sur (Post Ranch Inn, Highway 1 in Big Sur (831) 667-2800; www.postranchinn.com) features top-tier contemporary Cal-New French cuisine in a marvelous setting. Voted The #1 Hotel Restaurant in California by the Zagat Survey in 2006, and the #1 Hotel in the World by Conde Nast Traveler in 2003, Sierra Mar is perched atop a 1,200 foot cliff above the Pacific -- and if the view doesn't take your breath away, the food surely will. With a 4-course Prix Fixe menu at just $85 per person, you can't go wrong. For our first course, I had a Carpacio of Ahi Tuna with Gribiche & Quail Egg One-Eyed Susans. The Ahi was melt-in-your-mouth tender and the Gribiche was exquisite. My dining partner had Sweet Corn Fritters with Fried Green Tomatoes, accompanied by a Green Tomato Chutney and Pasilla Chili Jus. My second course was a Lobster-Coconut Bisque with a Thai Lobster Summer Roll. The bisque was one of the most amazing things I have ever tasted. My dining partner had a Roasted Heirloom Tomato Soup with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich. It was good, but I never would have ordered it. I didn't come all the way to Big Sur to eat grilled cheese. My third course was a Grilled Prime Rib Eye Cap "Oscar" with Asparagus, Dungeness Crab and a Choron Sabayon. My dining partner had the same. The prime rib was magnificent and went well with the richness of the crab. For dessert, we both had the Light Meyer Lemon Pudding with Huckleberry Compote. It came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. The service at Sierra Mar was perfection and the entire experience an adventure in culinary ecstasy! I can see why everyone loves this place!

Passionfish in Pacific Grove (701 Lighthouse Avenue, Pacific Grove (831) 655-3311; www.passionfish.net) offers a very unique California dining experience with outstanding food and wine in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Chef Ted Walter is well-known for changing his menu all the time, which means that you'll always find new and exciting items every time to visit Passionfish. Walter is a big advocate of using the freshest sustainable seafood, slow cooked meats, farm fresh organic greens, and delectable house-made desserts. Walter is also into the culinary theory that "simpler is better", which I cannot agree with more. So many restaurants serve food that it overwrought with sauces and ingredients that don't add anything to the dish. They're basically showing off. Walter serves food that is healthy, flavorful and ecologically sound. They also have an amazing wine selection, which led to them winning several Wine Spectator awards. When we visited Passionfish, we had the Asparagus Fries with a sesame aioli ($7); Oysters in a carrot ginger sauce ($8); a Roasted Beet Salad with goat cheese, greens and fried onions ($8); a Tilapia entree with a balsamic-garlic butter sauce and thyme mashed potatoes ($17); Idaho Trout with sautéed artichokes, banana potatoes and basil ($16); and a Dick Confit with a honey-vinegar reduction, chili potatoes and braised fennel. As you can see by the prices that I have listed here, Passionfish is not incredibly expensive, which is a refreshing change when you consider all of the restaurants in San Francisco that are grossly over-priced.

Cheaters Never Prosper

If football gods exist out there, they’re surely smiling today. The New York Giants, a team no one believed in, beat the New England Patriots yesterday in the Super Bowl by a score of 17-14. A boring game for three quarters, this one will go down in history as one of the best ever.

It will also be remembered as the day when the brash braggarts, the cocky prima donnas, the princes of the NFL, got their come uppance. If revenge is best served cold, yesterday was a chiller. Bill Belichick and his group of elite athletes were outplayed and overmatched. The king is dead. The dream is over.

New England will not be talked about in the same breath as the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys, great NFL dynasties all. The Patriots came off like big-headed trash talkers and the Giants left us with a happy, warm feeling. It was a karmatic snap-back of the highest magnitude. It was sweeter than candy and more fitting than a good pair of shoes. Okay, enough with the corny adjectives.

Things couldn’t have gone worse for the Pats. The day before the game, The Boston Globe published a report that New England cheated again back in 2002, when they videotaped the St. Louis Rams’ final practice prior to the Super Bowl. If you don’t know, a walk through is where a team goes through all of the plays and formations that they plan to run in an upcoming game.

If indeed the Patriots taped that practice and used the information they gleaned from watching it, they would have had an undeniable advantage. It would be like knowing the end of a movie or the punch line to a joke. As it was, New England beat the Rams in that Super Bowl, even though St. Louis was heavily favored.

Although Patriots’ officials vehemently deny the charges, the whole thing stinks. It also tends to ring true, since we already know for a fact that the team is not above cheating and videotaping is their preferred method. The most ironic part of it all is that The Boston Globe broke the story – New England’s hometown newspaper. Maybe they’re as sick of Belichick as everyone else is.

Then, there was the cocky attitude of the Patriots before, during and after the game. You would think that a team with their record of dominance would be a little humble. Not these clowns. They were talking smack the week before, throughout the game and afterwards during the post-game press conference. Tom Brady made a snarky comment before the game during a press conference, when he implied that the Patriots would score a bunch of points against New York’s defense. Rodney Harrison dissed them, and then Randy Moss made some disparaging remarks about the Giants’ secondary – a secondary that had just shut him down.

And then the capper had to be when Bill Belichick left the field early at the end of the game. That really showed a complete lack of class. If a player did that, he’d be fined and possibly suspended. The bottom line is that Bill Belichick thinks he’s above it all. He could care less what anyone thinks. Belichick is the epitome of a selfish, egocentric bore – the man has shown that he’ll cheat to win and then when he loses, he acts like a four-year-old.

And that’s why the whole affair was wonderful to watch. It was the choke job of the decade, if not the century and a pleasure to experience from beginning to end. At least that’s my take on it. I guess if you’re a Patriots’ fan you’d probably see it a little differently.

Pot Vending Machines Crop Up In Los Angeles

Los Angeles is always on the cutting edge. The City of Angels is well-known throughout the world for leading the way in music, film, art and theatre. And now LA-LA Land is turning heads with its newest cultural innovation – a vending machine that dispenses pot.
This amazing city, the place that popularized the fast food drive-through, edible underpants, eight-headed vibrators (aka “The Hydra”), phone sex and microwave chimichungas-- has a new invention that will set the world of 420 on its noggin -- 24-hour medical-marijuana vending machines.
Patients suffering from chronic pain, loss of appetite, annoying in-laws, nosy neighbors and other ailments that marijuana is said to alleviate can now get their pot with a dose of convenience at the Herbal Nutrition Center, where a large machine will dole out the drug around the clock.
Inventor and owner Vincent Mehdizadeh said the machine gives users convenience, low prices, safety and anonymity.
But federal drug agents say the invention may need unplugging and the people who own and fill such machines could be breaking laws.
"We have an open investigation [into these machines]," Jose Martinez, a special agent for the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, told The Globe and Mail in a telephone interview from Los Angeles yesterday.
"We have to follow through and basically dot our i's and cross our t's and once we have completed our investigation we'll present the matter to a magistrate and if we have enough we'll get some seizure warrants."
U.S. federal law does not recognize the medical-marijuana laws in California and 11 other states. "Marijuana is illegal in the eyes of the federal government," Mr. Martinez said.
Two dispensaries in the city have installed vending machines to distribute the drug to people who carry cards authorizing marijuana use. A third is awaiting delivery of its machine.
The computerized machine requires fingerprint identification and a prepaid card with a magnetic stripe. Once the card and fingerprint are verified, a bright green envelope with the pot drops down a slot.
Mr. Mehdizadeh said it took seven months to develop and patent the black, armoured box, which he calls the PVM, or prescription vending machine.
Mr. Mehdizadeh said any user approved for medical marijuana and registered in a computer database at his dispensary can purchase the drug in advance and then use the machine to pick it up.
The process provides convenience and privacy for users who may otherwise feel uncomfortable about buying marijuana, Mr. Mehdizadeh said.
At the Timothy Leary Medical Dispensary in the San Fernando Valley, the vending machine is accessible only during business hours. An employee there said the machine was introduced about five months ago, and provides speedy service.
"It helps a lot of patients who are in a lot of pain and don't want to wait around to get help," Robert Schwartz said. "It's been working out great."
Mr. Mehdizadeh said he sought the advice of doctors and decided to limit the amount of marijuana dispensed to a user to one ounce a week. Each purchase from the machine yields one-eighth or one-quarter of an ounce. By eliminating a vendor behind the counter, he said, the machine offers users lower drug prices. The one-eighth-ounce packet would cost about $40 (U.S.) - $20 lower than the average price at other dispensaries.
The DEA and other federal agencies have been actively shutting down major medical-marijuana dispensaries throughout the state over the past two years and charging their operators.
Mr. Mehdizadeh said his centre was the target of a federal raid in December.
He said no arrests were made and no charges filed against him.

Will We Be Singing "Ebony & Hillary?"

Last night when Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supposedly debated, I couldn’t believe my eyes. You call that a debate? I haven’t seen that much love in one room since John Lennon and Yoko Ono did their famous sleep-in peace protest in 1969. I thought that at any moment they were going to start making out. I’m surprised someone didn’t yell, “Get a room!”
It’s pretty obvious what is happening. The Democrats believe that Obama and Hillary on the same ticket will lead to certain victory. A black man has his supporters and a woman has hers, even if that woman is Hillary Clinton. Put them together and you’ve got a pretty formidable combination. Or so they think.
It’s a strategic move that has been well-calculated and expertly orchestrated. The two candidates don’t want to beat each other up now so that they can’t run together later. The objective is not who gets to be the next President – it’s to get the Republicans out of office. And who knows -- it might just work.
This was USA Today’s take on the debate/lovefest:
In their first one-on-one debate last night at the Kodak Theater in Los Angeles, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton engaged in "cordial" (AP), "congenial," and "civil" debate on policy questions. The rivals marked the absence of recently departed contender John Edwards by making repeated plays for his supporters. The Wall Street Journal reports "several weeks of political jabs largely took hiatus" on Thursday night when Clinton and Obama "set aside differences and threw darts at the Republicans in their first one-on-one debate." The Los Angeles Times calls the debate "congenial," while ABC reported, "Both candidates came in with a clear plan. Be nice. No nasty swipes or bitter arguments tonight."
USA Today notes the two "drew sharp distinctions on issues such as health care and foreign policy." They "agreed on two things: either of them represents a stark change from President Bush and one will be the nation's first woman or African-American president." As she has "throughout their campaign, Clinton challenged Obama as being too inexperienced to be in the White House from 'day one.'" Obama "countered that Clinton represents the status quo of Washington." The Politico says the debate "did little to change" the race, and notes that Clinton and Obama "associated themselves repeatedly and obsequiously to" Edwards, "whose endorsement both are seeking."