One of the greatest Defensive ends that ever played the game of football has died.  Reggie White (The Minister of Defense) died Sunday at his North Carolina home at the age of 43.  I was shock when I heard the news.  As a matter of fact I still am.  

 All I wanted was the opportunity to finally get some closure to this dreadful football season and for once stick it to those Cowboy fans. I was 30 seconds away from a "Damn!.... it was a great weekend" weekend, but as the saying goes "it ain't over til the fat lady sings" Well the big woman got busy with a B flat and deflated what appear to be a victory by my Skins much to the chagrin of a last second touchdown by the Dallas Cowboys.  No matter how the Washington Wizards would have performed this weekend. A Redskin victory over the hated Cowboys would have made my weekend great.

Oh well I guess I will have to wait until next season.........  Cowboys suck! (Yes I am sore loser)

   The top ranked defense in the NFC only has one pro-bowl selection?  I am as upset over this as an Al Gore voter in 2000  Yes I am very bias I will wholeheartedly admit to it.  But I know football and I know players such as Fred Smoot, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin, and Antonio Pierce deserve to be in Hawaii.............  Hell I won't mentioned the offensive shaft.  The only Clinton I ever voted for in my life was Portis..  He didn't get picked (I guess Hillary is the only Clinton running things in DC)

THE ALL SHAFTED SELECTION:

Congrats to Marcus Washington (bottom) for not making the ALL SHAFTED SELECTION. 

 He was the ONLY Redskin selected to the Pro-bowl (not as an Alternate)

Hail to the Redskins!

MOSUL:  As US troops sat down to partake in a noon chow at the Dining Facility (DFAC or Mess tent) A mortar fired by insurgents hit their tent killing approximately  13 solders and wounding many others.

A radical Sunni Muslim group, the Ansar al-Sunnah Army (Banners of Truth) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Before Tuesday, Mosul was the scene of the deadliest single incident for U.S. troops in Iraq. On Nov. 15, 2003, two Black Hawk helicopter collided over the city, killing 17 soldiers and injuring five. The crash occurred as the choppers maneuvered to avoid ground fire.

While I was in Iraq I had to fly to Mosul for a two day stay.  During the aftermath of major combat operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom Mosul was relatively peaceful. However in the larger populated Suni areas the attacks from the insurgents have increased. As we get closer to elections I predict n increase in attacks against the coalition. It remains to be seen if we will attack Mosul like we did Fallujah.

More information about the City of Mosul  http://i-cias.com/e.o/mosul.htm

 UPDATE;

I know I had reported that it was a mortar attack that happened in Mosul.  I have since learned that all indications lead to a suicide bomber attack on the mess hall at Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul.  Chairmen of the Joint Cheif of Staff Gen Meneral Richard Myers (AF) said investigators in Mosul said that at this point it "looks like it was an improvised explosive device worn by an attacker." 

(Links) http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Dec2004/n12222004_2004122211.html

"Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd.
Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game."

After weeks of  uncertainty the DC council narrowly passed a financing package plan to build a stadium along the Anacostia Waterfront.  By a 7 to 6 vote the 33 year wait is over.  The Montreal Expos will be morphed into the Washington Nationals.  Lets PLAY BALL

The Nationals, formerly the Montreal Expos, are scheduled to open their 2005 season at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in Washington.

DC is no longer Dodge City

According to Councilmember Jack Evans website

The new ballpark fee is structured as follows:

• Each fee-payer with annual District gross receipts of $5,000,000 to $8,000,000 shall pay $5,500;
• Each fee-payer with annual District gross receipts of $8,000,001 to $12,000,000 shall pay $10,800;
• Each fee-payer with annual District gross receipts of $12,000,001 to $16,000,000 shall pay $14,000; and
• Each fee-payer with annual District gross receipts greater than $16,000,001 shall pay $16,500.

Off the Heels of the surprisingly popular Daredevil movie  (I am a fan of the Daredevil comicbook I just don't like Ben Afleck)  My favorite woman in red Elektra will hit theaters mid January 2005.  Elektra is Daredevil's or shall I say Matt Murdock off and on love interest (mainly off) but since we won't be seeing our blind superhero in this movie I will not go into depth about their relationship.

Jennifer Gardner (Alias) is reprising the role of Elektra.  If they stick to how Elektra is portrayed in the comicbook, Jennifer Gardner would make Uma Thurman's character tin the Kill Bills look like a church girl.                               

  I wonder how much in value my book will go up?                         

 Washington's football and basketball teams went to Cali and whup up on the 49ers and Lakers in their respective sports. However, the next night the Wizards fell to a hot Phoenix Suns (literally) team but nevertheless it was an alright weekend. 

Also My Tarheels gave Virginia Tech a rude awaking in their first ACC home game.  Led by a pesky defense that limited the Hookies to 36.2% shooting and Sean May's 17 points 8 rebounds. The Tarheels show why they are one of the favorites to take the nets down in St. Louis.

Speaking of Tarheels or better yet ex Tarheels. This past off season my Wizards traded for Antwan Jamison.  Besides Michael Jordan and George Lynch, Antwan was one of my favorite players at the University of North Carolina.

As Mike Wise of the Washington Post writes:

Poor Antawn Jamison. No rap sheet to explain, no court date to keep, no CD to promote. How can the bright young forward for the Washington Wizards expect to be an all-star when he is so lacking in today's behaviorally challenged NBA? Retro jerseys, yes. But a retro player?

No flash just substance.  No matter how you look at it. Whether if it is a 360 dunk or a hook shot it is still two points.   

     Without a shadow of a doubt the city of Washington DC has got to have some of the dumbest politicians running that city government. My city which I  love dearly had the opportunity to bring America's pastime (barring the steroids controversy) back to city.  Major league baseball had approved the move of the Montreal Expos to Washington DC and for the first time since 1971 we would be able to hear those famous words "PLAY BALL"  all throughout the summer.   A Midsummer night Dream you say........Well how about a nightmare.

Tom Boswell of the Washington Post writes

Late Tuesday night, in the 11th hour of a marathon D.C. Council meeting, chairman Linda W. Cropp blew to smithereens the deal that MLB thought it had in place with Washington to build a ballpark on the Anacostia waterfront. With that single blow, which leaves baseball no alternatives, the return of major league baseball to the nation's capital is now dead.     

This particular area of town is in dire need of revitalization.  There is a renaissance traveling throughout DC but it has taken a detour to bypass East of the Anacostia.  Painstakingly enough this is the poorest part of the city and place I had spent plenty of time in at my grandmother's place. 

Right now in Baseball's eyes........DC stands for Don't Come, Dodge City, Damn Cropp or my favorite Dumb Councilmen or women 

 UPDATE: Major Leauge Baseball's Statement

Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating Office Bob DuPuy issued the following statement today regarding the legislation passed by the D.C. Council Tuesday night:

"The legislation approved by the District of Columbia City Council last night does not reflect the agreement we signed and relied upon after being invited by District leaders to consider Washington as a home for Major League Baseball. The legislation is inconsistent with our carefully negotiated agreement and is wholly unacceptable to Major League Baseball.

"Because our stadium agreement provides for a December 31, 2004 deadline, we will not entertain offers for permanent relocation of the club until that deadline passes. In the meantime, the club's baseball operations will proceed, but its business and promotional activities will cease until further notice. We thank the fans of Washington, D.C. for their support and enthusiasm, but given the present uncertainty, any ticket purchaser who entrusted us with a deposit may request a refund through the club's ticket office."
 

Baseball's letter to the D.C. Council (pdf)

UPDATE:

Cropp Adds Baseball to Tuesday's Agenda

Straight from the Washington Post

D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp today added baseball to the council's agenda at its final scheduled meeting of the year tomorrow, clearing the way for a possible reconsideration of legislation passed last week that requires private funding for at least half the cost of a new baseball stadium.

I think the council wil aproved the stadium plan.  However with Crop's grandstanding this has solidify her run for mayor at Anthony Willaims expense. (Is there really honor amongst DC Democrats?) 

Soldiers searched for insurgents after a car bomber rammed civilian cars last month on Baghdad's airport road, one of Iraq's most dangerous.

I was in Baghdad at the time when the road that leads from the Baghdad Green Zone to the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP pronounced BY AP) was opened up for travel to Iraqi people.  It was was approximately several weeks after the date we handed Iraq its sovereignty.  You really hate to blow caution into the wind but the consensus from the people I was with knew that opening up this stretch of road would make it in a literal and physical sense a “Highway of Hell”.  Lately, this road, which some have called “The most Dangerous Road in Iraq”  has lived up that billing. From the beginning of November through last week there have been 20 car bombings targeting military convoys and government officials.  Traveling down this road makes you appreciate things you take normally take for granted…”Like Beltway Traffic” 

Unfortunately this is not a road less traveled. Therefore, we have to remain ever vigilant in order to prevent innocent Iraq's from dying senseless fashion.

Check out the Washington Posts article

Guarding Baghdad's Highway of Hazards

I will admit, had my skins won I would have been on Avery Tooley’s blog site rubbing it in.   

But as much as I hate the Eagles I have to get credit where it is due.  They have a hell of a football team. McNabb is clearly showing why he is one one best QB’s in today’s game

(By the way this was a bogus interference call on my boy Shawn Springs)

As Avery puts it

An ugly win beats an ugly loss every day of the week. And to be honest, this is the type of game I expected out of Washington. They're well-coached and starting to find themselves. If Ramsey had been starting all season, I could easily see them as a wild card team. They looked like a 10-6 team last night.

Would I have been as gracious and humble if my team was victorious? Out of the respect I have for Avery and the city of Philly which I love.  So the answer would have been yes…(Although it would have hurt me to do so)

Nevertheless my Wizards are making me proud.  After losing to a good Denver Nuggets team the Wizards have since won 2 straight against the the Knocks and Hornets respectively to improve to 12 wins s6 losses…  With three potential All stars (Arenas, Hughes and Jamison ) It is sort of early but I predict my Wizards will be in the play-offs