“Out to lunch; back in five minutes.”

I was thinking about commenting today on the few mock NBA drafts I’ve seen on the internet and how they have Jameer Nelson slipping all the way to the bottom third of the first round. As I said, I was thinking about it. And the more I thought about it, the bitchier I got. So, rather than just let loose with some unintelligible rant, I’m going to take a break for a little while and see if I can’t get my head screwed on straight.

Random Thoughts

Another week, another set of random thoughts. And away we go. 1. Why is that Arab media are monsters for broadcasting pictures and/or video of captured hostages, but American media aren't for re-broadcasting those same images? 2. A belated congratulations to Ray Bourque, Paul Coffey, Larry Murphy and Cliff Fletcher for their selection the Hockey Hall of Fame. 3. A belated congratulation to Jim Thome for clubbing his 400th career home run on Monday night. 4. How does MLB not step in and have Junior Griffey play Monday night against the Phils? Never before in MLB history have two players hit their 400th and 500th career home runs in the same game. How do you not take advantage of this?

Random Thoughts

Many apologies for taking Memorial Day week off; I think had I blogged I would've been ripping on all the Smarty Jones coverage everyday. So I left that to the experts -- here and here. Now -- back to the countdown: 1. How long until Ronald Reagan is deified? I mean he's already being talked about as if he's a saint, so why not go the next step? Can we please get over calling him the man who defeated communism? All he did was spend money like a kid with his parents' credit card and rack up a deficit that has only been topped by our current moron-in-chief, not to mention that it was on his watch that the CIA decided to sell crack cocaine to American citizens to finance another country's war. Also, how can we really now when his Alzheimer's started affecting him? 2. What's the over/under on when the "Bo Must Go" chants start at Citizen's Bank Park? July 1? August 1? Do I get bonus points for actually starting one? 3. I understand the need for safety belts and thoroughly believe in their use, but isn't it going way too far by having seat belt laws? Our government right now is saying that a woman can legally kill her child, but when I'm driving I have to wear a seat belt. Eh, what?? 4. How awful is it that the last image hockey fans will have for the next two years is that of octogenarian Dave Andreychuk hoisting the Cup? 5. At the end of the day, is there anything more beautiful than a newborn baby?

The New Axis of Evil

Far be it from me to say it, but way back when, when W referred to North Korea, Iran and Iraq as the new "Axis of Evil," I think he got it wrong. He should have slapped that label on the state of Florida. Florida is home to, among other things, the Marlins and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Lightning. The Marlins -- as many of you will recall -- ran over the Phillies last year on their way to the World Series title and continue to do so this year, with a streak of 9 straight wins over the Sillies and something around 19 out of the last 25. The Buccaneers, meanwhile -- or, as my friend Andy likes to call them, the "Succaneers" -- beat the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game in January of 2003 -- on their way to a Super Bowl win. Then there's the Tampa Bay Lightning. The very embodiment of mismanagement from their inception, they have somehow managed to disgrace hockey fans the world over and win the greatest trophy in all of sports -- the Stanley Cup. Oh, that's right -- they also just happened to beat the Philadelphia Flyers in the Eastern Conference Finals on their way to the Cup win. And, as if none of that were enough, we have Florida -- that hotbed of conservatism -- to thank for hijacking the 2000 election and getting George W. Bush "elected." Were I to have a "People I Hate" list going like Middie Back!, the entire state of Florida would be number one with a bullet. Thanks for nuthin'!