Bush, Young & Leinart: Proving Themselves in the NFL

Although it’s taken pretty much the entire season to transpire, last year’s Big Three draft picks– Reggie Bush, Vince Young and Matt Leinart -- have stepped up and emerged as top-tier rookies in the NFL. All of them came along with huge expectations, but as anyone with any knowledge of the concept of potential vs. reality can tell you, just because you did well playing college football doesn’t mean you’ll make it in the NFL. As former coach Jerry Glanville once said, the NFL stands for “Not for long” if you can’t adapt to the speed and fierce competition of the Greatest Show on Turf. Just ask guys like Ryan Leaf, Brian Bosworth, Lawrence Phillips, and Andre Ware, just to name a few. First there’s Reggie Bush, the player that the Houston Texans didn’t covet. Not only has Bush brought a new excitement to the New Orleans Saints – he’s also done everything he could to embrace a city that really needs him. He’s selflessly donated his time and money to help the state that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. He gave a local high school a new football field, and has tirelessly made himself available to help the city heal. If his performances against the 49ers and the Cowboys over the past couple weeks are any indication of what Bush is capable of doing in this league -- well, we’re in for a lot of exciting moments. Vince Young, who many NFL teams passed on, has also come into his own, putting the Tennessee Titans on his back and carrying them through a modest winning streak. A one-man show, Young is learning the game more quickly than many people thought he could. The rap on him during last year’s draft was that the man wasn’t that smart. Well, he’s bright enough to win games, and at this level, that’s all that really matters. The man can throw, he can run and he has a football instinct you can’t teach. With the Titans’ recent winning binge, he may have also saved Head Coach Jeff Fischer’s job. Leinart may not be able to save Dennis Green’s job as coach of the Cardinals, but he sure is on his way to making a name for himself in Arizona. It’s “I told you so” time for all the teams who passed on him. Leinart is a prototype QB with all the skills required to take Arizona to the Promised Land. He makes quick decisions, has learned to read the complex defensive schemes in the NFL, and is improving every quarter. Last week, Arizona beat the Seattle Seahawks, the caliber of team that in the past they had no clue against. With a new stadium and young talent throughout their roster, the Cardinals are chirping about next year already. Bush, Young and Leinart – they should have been selected 1-2-3. They’re doing it for their teams, the ones who were smart enough to pick them, while those clubs who passed on this talented and rapidly improving trio are left crying in their beers.

The Fat Flush Diet -- Will It Work for My Fat Ass?

Right after the new year, I'm starting a diet called The Fat Flush Diet. I sure hope I can do it. A good friend of mine swears by it. I need to do something, because I'm getting fatter again. At one time I was hugely obese (340 lbs.-plus). Then, I started working out (swimming, primarily) and eating less, and in just five months I got down to 270 lbs. Now, I'm back to 280. I have to get back on the right track, and I'm hoping this diet will do the trick. In exactly 21 days, I will embark on this diet. Until then, I will eat like a PIG!! If anyone out there has had success with this diet, please let me know!

DAY ONE (1/3/2007)

Wake up: 8 oz cranwater + 1 tsp psyllium husk

Before breakfast: Hot Lemon water

Breakfast: One piece sprouted bread with a veggie scramble: two eggs, spinach, green peppers, scallions, parsley, and cranwater to drink.

Mid morning snack: ½ grapefruit

20 min. before lunch: 8 oz. cranwater

Lunch: 4 oz. salmon with lemon and garlic; warm asparagus; green salad with broccoli florets and cucumber and Flush dressing. 8 oz. cranwater to drink.

Snack: one apple (men add 2-4 oz. leftover salmon from lunch)

20 min. before dinner: 8 oz. cranwater

Dinner: 4 oz. cider turkey (1 lb. skinless turkey breast cut into 1 in. cubes and cooked fully in 2 tbsp no-salt –added chicken broth. Then add mushrooms, red peppers, and ¼ cup apple cider vinegar and cook until veggies are soft. Garnish with parsley if you like.) Add to that steamed zucchini and a green salad with flush dressing, sliced carrots and tomatoes.

After Dinner: Hard boil some eggs for the week.

Before bed: 8 oz cranwater + 1 tsp psylium husk

Fat Flush Shopping List

Most of these items can be found at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s
· Alvarado St. Bakery Sprouted grain or essential flax bread
· Unsweetened cranberry juice (Trader Joe’s is best deal)
· Apple cider vinegar
· 32 oz water bottle with measurement markings (REI is a good place for this)
· Spices, seasonings, herbs: cinnamon, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, parsley
· Fruit (organic): apples, grapefruit, pears, tomatoes, nectarines
· Fresh and Frozen organic berries: Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.
· Veggies (organic): Lettuce (romaine or spring mix baby greens), asparagus, artichokes, fresh spinach, peppers (any color), scallions, broccoli, cucumber, radishes, zucchini, mushrooms, baby carrots, Chinese greens, bok choy, water chestnuts, bean sprouts.
· omega-3 enriched eggs
· Organic salmon filets
· Organic lean beef: London Broil or Top sirloin
· Organic turkey breast and organic ground turkey
· Organic low sodium (no-salt-added) veg, chicken, and beef broth
· Lemons and Limes

These items are ready for you to pick up at VitaSport downtown Los Gatos between Double D’s and Pedro’s on N. Santa Cruz Ave.
· GLA supplement (one 1000 mg capsule of borage oil twice daily)
· high lignan organic flax seed oil
· Optional: Cromium Picolonate (follow directions on bottle)
· Optional: L-Carnitine (follow directions on bottle)
· multi vitamin (follow directions on bottle)
· Stevia Plus sweetener
· whey protein (vanilla bioplex is good)
· Powdered psyllium husk

Fat Flush Dressing: Even parts apple cider vinegar and flax seed oil (one tblsp of each will serve two people)+ add garlic (fresh is best) and lemon juice to taste.

Cranwater: In a 32 oz bottle mix 4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice and 28 oz water. Add stevia to taste

Long life cocktail: Add 1tsp psyllium husk to 8 oz. cranwater morning and night. This is a high fiber plant so if you’re on birth control or other prescription medications, take them at least 2 hours before or after the long life cocktail. The fiber can interfere with the absorption of the medication.

Lemon water: 8oz hot water + juice of ½ fresh lemon (or lime if you prefer)
Fat Flush Shopping List

Most of these items can be found at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s
· Alvarado St. Bakery Sprouted grain or essential flax bread
· Unsweetened cranberry juice (Trader Joe’s is best deal)
· Apple cider vinegar
· 32 oz water bottle with measurement markings (REI is a good place for this)
· Spices, seasonings, herbs: cinnamon, garlic, ginger, cayenne pepper, parsley
· Fruit (organic): apples, grapefruit, pears, tomatoes, nectarines
· Fresh and Frozen organic berries: Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc.
· Veggies (organic): Lettuce (romaine or spring mix baby greens), asparagus, artichokes, fresh spinach, peppers (any color), scallions, broccoli, cucumber, radishes, zucchini, mushrooms, baby carrots, Chinese greens, bok choy, water chestnuts, bean sprouts.
· omega-3 enriched eggs
· Organic salmon filets
· Organic lean beef: London Broil or Top sirloin
· Organic turkey breast and organic ground turkey
· Organic low sodium (no-salt-added) veg, chicken, and beef broth
· Lemons and Limes

These items are ready for you to pick up at VitaSport downtown Los Gatos between Double D’s and Pedro’s on N. Santa Cruz Ave.
· GLA supplement (one 1000 mg capsule of borage oil twice daily)
· high lignan organic flax seed oil
· Optional: Cromium Picolonate (follow directions on bottle)
· Optional: L-Carnitine (follow directions on bottle)
· multi vitamin (follow directions on bottle)
· Stevia Plus sweetener
· whey protein (vanilla bioplex is good)
· Powdered psyllium husk

Fat Flush Dressing: Even parts apple cider vinegar and flax seed oil (one tblsp of each will serve two people)+ add garlic (fresh is best) and lemon juice to taste.

Cranwater: In a 32 oz bottle mix 4 oz unsweetened cranberry juice and 28 oz water. Add stevia to taste

Long life cocktail: Add 1tsp psyllium husk to 8 oz. cranwater morning and night. This is a high fiber plant so if you’re on birth control or other prescription medications, take them at least 2 hours before or after the long life cocktail. The fiber can interfere with the absorption of the medication.

Lemon water: 8oz hot water + juice of ½ fresh lemon (or lime if you prefer)

Bash Brother Getting Bashed

Mark McGwire will never be in the Baseball Hall of Fame because 1.) He took steroids and 2.) He wasn’t honest about it. People as a rule are a pretty forgiving bunch. We forgive crooked politicians, philandering celebrities, drug-riddled athletes and all sorts of crimes committed by people in the news. But, if you aren’t honest and contrite after being caught or exposed for a wrongdoing, folks will hold it against you for life. Some prime examples are Pete Rose, O.J. Simpson and Richard Nixon. Pete Rose lied about gambling until he thought he had a shot at being in the Hall of Fame and getting back into baseball, but by then it was too late. O.J. has never admitted murdering Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman, and America hates him now more than ever. And Nixon never clearly explained the Watergate situation and all that erased tape, so he goes down in history as a liar and an unforgiven man. The truth is that you can do crank with gay hookers while watching satanic porno and hitting on pages and people will forgive you if you come clean. But, McGwire chose another route and the end result is that he’ll never reach the pinnacle in Cooperstown. If it weren’t for the steroid issue, the former bash brother would probably be a first-ballot slam dunk selection. He hit 583 career homers, which by itself should be enough to get him there. But, if you analyze his stats a little more closely, there are arguments for his absence in the Hall. He played 16 seasons and got 1,626 hits. There are only 13 players currently in the HOF with less. Then, add in the fact that he hit .263 lifetime, and the case against him becomes stronger. A lot of players with lower averages are in the Hall, including huge names like Harmon Killebrew (.256) and Mike Schmidt (.267). But, both of them played longer than Mac did and had more career hits. When you look even more carefully at McGwire’s career, you’ll see he wasn’t a big doubles guy (252), nor was he much of an RBI man (1,414). The latter is an indication that the man hit a lot of solo dingers and/or wasn’t a real run-producing threat. When questioned by Congress Mark McGwire stated that he didn’t want to “talk about the past.” Big, big mistake. I’m not suggesting he should have pointed his finger and vehemently denied the entire affair like Rafael Palmeiro did, but I think he should have at least admitted to some culpability, like Jason Giambi did. Is anyone harping on Giambi now? Hell no. People think he’s a mensch. And they’ve lost all respect for McGwire, who just eight years ago was America’s darling and baseball’s savior. And that’s why he’ll never get into the Hall of Fame. Mac is destined to stand outside the sacred shrine of baseball superiority for an eternity, peering forlornly through the window, alone and uninvited to the big party. That is, of course, unless the powers that be decide to build a Wing of Shame sometime soon!

Beware of this Internet Scam

There are several companies out there who are scamming people over the Net with so-called "quick surveys". What they're doing is offering these very tempting gifts, like a $500 gift card from Best Buy, free iPODs, flatscreen TV's, etc. In their junk, unsolicited e-mails, they say all you have to do is answer a few questions and the gift is yours. Well, you know what they say -- when something seems too good to be true...Well, the scam part is that they make it literally impossible for you to complete the surveys. And if you don't sign up for stuff, you don't get the prize. Some of the surveys go so far as to request your social security number as required information they need in order for you to complete the survey. I spent at least 35 minutes going through this labyrinthe of surveys and offers for things like Columbia Music Club, Verizon, Coca-Cola, etc. The catch is that even after you're unable to jump through their obstacle course of hoops, and, of course, thereby fail to qualify for their dangling carrot of a prize, you are still signed up for all these offers. These companies now have your e-mail address, your home address, and, in some cases, your home phone and cell phone numbers. So, now you're going to be inundated with sales calls from companies bugging you, all because you went for a prize gift you had literally no chance of getting. I should know better!
The name of the place is:
Exclusive Gift Cards
13900 Jog Road, Suite 203-251
Delray, FL 33446
(561) 674-9700

They are a complete rip-off!! Beware!!

More of My Wacky Artwork

My art is getting mixed responses. The last time I posted some, people commented extensively. Some were surprisingly complimentary. Others were brutally critical. Here are some more of my pieces. Judge for yourself.

The Bruination of USC

I still cannot believe that USC lost to UCLA. I’m always torn when the two teams play each other. My mom went to UCLA and my brother recently graduated from Southern Cal. But, there was no way I thought the Trojans were going to fold up like a cheese omelet the way they did last Saturday. It just proves a point – never underestimate the power of a long-time bitter rivalry. UCLA and USC hate each other. It goes all the way back to O.J. Simpson and Gary Beban and the fact that John Wooden’s Bruins basketball team spanked USC for so many years. The two schools are so different. You can see it in their student bodies, alumni and fans. USC people are more corporate. They wear their red sweaters and talk business when they’re not taking football. They’re more grounded and less creative. They are also a little arrogant. Bruin supporters are more whimsical. They’ve got a laid-back attitude, but are still very competitive. They are more likely to get a little wild and do crazy stuff. USC is like U.S. Steel. UCLA is like Google. USC fans drink wine and mixed drinks out of nice cups and eat steak and lobster at their tailgate parties. UCLA fans drink beer and Red Bull out of the can and prefer ribs or barbecued chicken at their tailgaters. This game was a classic example of how teams tend to look past an opponent they don’t respect. The Trojans were thinking about Ohio State in Arizona, not UCLA. They failed to finish, and nobody respects a non-finisher. The biggest surprise is that Pete Carroll let the team lose its focus at exactly the wrong time. You can talk about how Booty blew it, or how the Trojan’s defense didn’t step up, but the bottom line is that I blame the coach in a situation like this. So, now the Trojans get sloppy seconds and have to play a strong Michigan team that will be looking to take Southern Cal’s heads off. I predict a major letdown on the part of USC. They were so close, but they screwed the pooch by not being prepared to play a team that is obviously inferior. When we look back at the biggest upsets in college football history, this one will really stand out. In the end, I don’t think it matters, anyway. I believe that Ohio State is by far the most dominant team out there this season, and that no one ever had a chance to beat them in the championship game. I predict that they’ll spank Florida by at least 14 points. But, to think that USC’s season was essentially ruined by the Bruins is a tough one to swallow – they were so close and yet so far.

This Week's Restaurant Review: McCovey's in Walnut Creek

Sports bars are rarely known for their cuisine. We’re talking burgers, sandwiches, salads and a lot of finger food. People go to sports bars to drink and watch sports. If they get drunk enough or get the munchies, they’ll usually settle for sub-par food, as long as their favorite game is one on of the TV’s in the joint. I have never had spectacular food at a sports bar. Some of it has been pretty decent, but the majority would best be described as very mediocre. That’s why I’m not surprised but I am quite unhappy to say that I recently went to a highly renowned sports bar where the food can only be described as totally inedible. The place I am referring to is called McCovey’s, a trendy spot located in the yuppified section of downtown Walnut Creek. The atmosphere here is remarkable, with one of the most comprehensive collection of baseball memorabilia I’ve ever seen in one location, except maybe at the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. I am a huge baseball fan, and when I go in McCovey’s I feel like I’m in a baseball museum. They have autographed bats, balls, jerseys, artifacts and artwork that is unsurpassed on the West Coast, in my opinion. But, that’s where the McCovey magic stops. First, let’s address the service. I am not a real complainer when it comes to restaurants, as anyone who reads my reviews knows. Give me decent food and fairly attentive service, and I am a happy camper. But, when service is really bad, I go out of my way to say something about it. If it occurs once, I can be somewhat forgiving, but I have been to McCovey’s 3-4 times to watch games and meet clients, and the service has been atrocious each and every time. The wait staff there seems to specialize is forgetting you exist. They make you wait a good 10-15 minutes before they realize you’re there and then they let you sit with nothing on your table for another 10. When they do take your order, it’s invariably wrong, and then you have to send stuff back and wait all over again. Then, the food is not good. They serve all of your basic sports bar items – from pizzas to burgers to hot dogs and the like. They also try to do some other higher-end items at McCovey’s like Ahi Tuna and Prime Rib. But, overall the food is less than all-star quality. The other day I was in there for lunch and I ordered the Fish & Chips. The fish was undercooked and the fries were limp, even though I requested that they be extra crispy. To add insult to injury, they had to be the most expensive Fish & Chips this side of London – a whopping $16.95! You would think that for that kind of money, you’d at least get something other than cold cod and potatoes. McCovey’s isn’t a total shutout – the beers on tap are decent and the drinks I’ve had were good. But, overall the place is surely not a home run. I would rate it somewhere between a pop up and a bunt single. Go in there to watch your favorite team and then venture down the street where Walnut Creek offers a plethora of superior food alternatives. McCovey’s is located at 1444 North California Avenue in Walnut Creek and their phone number is: (510) 268-7050.

More Yuckfest photos

Photo 1: The Marines were out in full force.

Photo 2: Grateful Don kicked ass as lead vocalist for Chubby's All-Stars

Photo 3: Every year, it's great to see Mad Dog, the roadie for Chubby's All-Stars

The Yuckfest Was a Success!

Last night's Yuletide Yuckfest was a complete success. The comics were great, and Chubby's All-Star Band kicked ass. The highlight of the evening had to be the appearance of Spinal Tap's Viv Savage (pictured at right). Thanks to everyone who was there to help Toys for Tots!!

The Dine and Dash Olympics

(I did a little dining and dashing back in my crazy days. It's actually quite a rush. I remember one time I got my fat ass stuck in a bathroom window trying to flee from a Denny's. This waiter came in, saw me and grabbed one of my legs. I kicked him and the motion sent me right through the window and into the parking lot in the back. My friends were waiting in their Pinto to drive me to safety. Obviously, dining and dashing has developed into an art form in Qunicy, Massachusetts. This poor IHOP owner has decided to run his place using Gestapo-like tactics. If I was a 20-something d&d'er, I'd go to this place just for the challenge. The IHOP logo (pictured here) should say, "Come hungry. But, bring $$!")

QUINCY, Mass. - John Russo has been a victim of identity theft. So when he was asked to fork over a photo ID just to be seated at an IHOP pancake restaurant, he flipped.
"You want my license? I'm going for pancakes, I'm not buying the Hope diamond,' and they refused to seat us," Russo said, recounting his experience this week at the Quincy IHOP.
The restaurant now has agreed to reverse the policy of requiring customers to turn over their driver's licenses before they can order — a rule that was enacted to discourage "dine and dash" thefts.
WCVB-TV in Boston reported the Quincy restaurant's policy had been enacted without corporate approval.
IHOP Corp., based in Glendale, Calif., released a statement Monday night to WCVB that said an employee felt the policy could eliminate the problem of people leaving without paying.
"This was done without the knowledge or approval of management. ... We apologize to any guest who was inconvenienced," the statement said.
Russo said a security guard at the restaurant had "at least 40" licenses in hand when he arrived to eat.
"Identity theft is rampant. I wouldn't want to give my license, with my address or Social Security number to anyone that I'm not familiar with," Russo said. "I'm going just for breakfast."