Meth-ed

It would be a good idea for state legislators to introduce a bill that would require public schools to have a program that provides education about the drug crystal meth. If teenagers are not already being educated about this drug, then it is absolutely necessary to start doing so. It's highly addictive and very trendy right now. Not a good combination when we're talking about teenagers.

Gator Glory

The NCAA tournament is down to four and four surprising teams at that. No number seeds made it to the final four and 11th seed George Mason seems to have captured the hearts of basketball fans everyone. While I would love to see the underdog win the whole thing, I just don't see it happening. Florida, a team that I didn't think would get out of the second round after their poor performance in the SEC championship game against a mediocre South Carolina team, appears to be playing the best ball going into the final four. They have all the pieces and should defeat George Mason and then take down either LSU or UCLA. I think Billy Donovan and company will be cutting down the nets on Monday.

A Little Late Isn't It?

The lead story on the Star Tribune's website right now has a headline of "Gay-marriage storm could erupt in Minnesota".

I hate to rain on the parades of the editors at the Strib, but I think the storm is already here. Consider it erputed ladies and gentlemen. If you live in Minnesota and pay any attention to the local newspapers, radio airwaves and local newscasts, you are aware that we are in the midst of the storm. The Star Tribune of all places should know this.

Strib columnist Katherine Kersten writes about gay-marriage three out of every four columns these days. In order to maintain some sort of balance on the issue, columnists Doug Grow and Nick Coleman also write about the issue often these days.

The phones light up at any radio station that decides to tackle the issue. It is discussed often on WCCO (830 AM), KTLK (100.3 FM), KSTP (1500 AM) and KFAN (1130 AM).

Rallies are held daily it seems, often times at the capitol in St. Paul. Of course when this happens, the local television station are there reporting on the story.

And of course the churches are involved. Every pastor and reverend and rabbi and preacher has been forced to relay their opinion on the matter.

Yes foulkes we are in a storm with no signs of it clearing.

What's On Your Facebook?

Word is that many employers are snooping around on candidates facebook profiles to try and dig up any possible dirt on current college students. What a joke. If employers don't remember what it was like to be in college then I wouldn't want to work for them anyways. If your boss is going behind your back to look at your facebook profile then I would say he has his undies in a little too tight of a bunch for my liking.

The Agony Of Defeat

Uggggghh! Where do I start? Duke falls to LSU in the sweet 16 in one of the ugliest college basketball games I have ever seen. The officials let a lot go tonight and that hurt Duke in a big way. The Blue Devils never adapted to the physical, bodies flying everywhere style of play. J.J. struggled and who wouldn't struggle when they are being grabbed and held on every possession as he was. McRoberts has bugged me all season and tonight put me over the edge. All the guy can do is dunk for christ sake! He takes gambles on defense that make no sense and he struggles to finish in traffic. Dicky V thinks he is going to be a star next year, but I am not convinced. Paulus on the other hand is going to be a great point guard. I thought he made some strides at the end of the season. Dockery and Nelson shot the ball horribly tonight and both looked incredibly nervous. Finally, as much as it hurts me to say this I put a lot of this loss and previous early NCAA tournament exits on Coach K. He has to establish a deeper rotation during the season. Even if this means three or four more regular season losses, you cannot win the big dance with seven players. Period. The team looked slow and sluggish tonight as they did in several games at the end of the year (Temple and North Carolina come to mind). He has to start trusting nine or ten players and the starters have to trust those bench players as well. Thanks to J.J. and Sheldon for four great years and see you in the NBA.

We Don't Win, But We Don't Fail Either

In a rather odd vote of confidence type speech today, U of M athletic director Joel Maturi announced that Dan Monson will continue to serve as Gophers men's basketball coach. Maturi backed up his decision by explaining that Monson has a good record of graduating his student athletes which was an obvious downfall of his predecessor, Clem Haskins. I'd just like to inform Joel that it is possible to find a division I worth coach who will win AND manage to keep the university out of a major academic scandal. Those coaches do exist. Really they do.

Daunte's A Chicken

I've been meaning to write about this for awhile now. During the last two months leading up to the point when Daunte Culpepper was traded to the Miami Dolphins, Culpepper repeatedly communicated with the Minnesota media via email. What an absolutely ridiculous thing for a professional athlete to do. Can Daunte just not handle answering questions live so that he had to do things via email? I bet George Bush's advisors wish the President could do all communication through email, then he would never say any of the dumb things he does.

Bush Says No Timetable

With support for the war in Iraq waning, I was shocked today when George Bush told reporters that as long as he is President, there will be a major military presence in Iraq. The certainty with which he said it was alarming to me. Well this should help his approval rating.

Boys State Tournament Starts Today

The Minnesota boys basketball state tournament starts today at Target Center and Williams Arena. At Target Center you will get the chance to see the two best teams in the state in my opinion in Hopkins and Braham. Hopkins will face Lakeville North at 4 p.m. in the Class 4A tournament while Braham and Michigan State recruit Isiah Dahlman will play at 8 p.m. in the Class 2A tournament.

Book Suggestion

I just bought and started reading Steve Rushin's The Caddie Was A Reindeer. Although I am not even half way through, I'm pretty impressed so far. Good stories and Rushin adds some comic relief.

Dukies To Face LSU; Carolina Loses

A good weekend turned into a great weekend today as Carolina was taken out by 11th seeded George Mason. Now it's time to get ready for Duke vs. LSU on Thursday. While people said when the brackets were announced that the Tigers and Glen "Big Baby" Davis would pose a problem to the Dukies, I don't see it. Redick and Williams are hungry and Paulus looked like he was ready to take his game to the next level this weekend. I'm going to say Dukies by 11.

Three Year "Anniversary" Arrives

I think it's just wrong that George Bush is calling the day that marks the country's three year timeframe in Iraq an "anniversary". An anniversary is something to be celebrated. There is nothing to celebrate when it comes to the war in Iraq.

Even more vomit-worthy is that this gives our moron President an excuse to give another one of his stay the course bull shit speeches. Bush would be still be "encouraged" if his mother was taken hostage and held by terrorists.

Royals Beat Kennedy To Win State

The Hopkins Royals got 29 points from senior Jillian Schurle and went on to beat defending state champion Bloomington Kennedy 65-48 to win the Class 4A state championship tonight. The Royals trailed by three at halftime, but shut down Kennedy standout and Illinois recruit Jenna Smith by holding her to two points in the second half.

In a classy move after the game, head coach Brian Cosgriff gave his gold medal to a Hopkins cheerleader who has Downs Syndrome. Cosgriff is not only the best girls basketball coach in the metro area and maybe the state, but he's also a great guy.

Borton Blows One

While Cosgriff had a great night, the same cannot be said for University of Minnesota coach Pam Borton. Borton coached the worst game of her career today against Washington in a first round NCAA Tournament loss. The coaching mistakes made in the final five minutes were so numerous that I can't even count them on two hands. Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful.

Duke Rolls Again

Duke had no trouble with George Washington today and now I am starting to feel fairly confident about the Blue Devils chances to get to the final four and make a run at Coach K's third NCAA Championship. LSU scared me when the brackets were announced, but I haven't been impressed with them at all during the first two rounds. Now Texas is a different story. I wouldn't mind seeing Rick Barnes' crew getting knocked off.

Can J.J. Take Duke All The Way?

The NCAA Tournament is underway, and my Dukies are off and running with an expected victory over Southern. J.J. Redick and Sheldon Williams played well with each netting 29 points, but the efforts of the rest of the team were a little disappointing. I was really looking for Demarcus Nelson to step up and score in double figures every game this tournament, but he had just two points in 22 minutes against Southern. Duke will not be able to ride Redick and Williams all tournament. Somebody needs to step up in the scoring column and I think Nelson is the likely candidate.

Other tournament tidbits...I knew Syracuse wouldn't last long. I can only imagine how many people put them far into their bracket after last week's showing in the Big East Tournament...Gonzaga barely escapes making me think that they might struggle to get into the sweet 16...Everybody's screaming and yelling due to Tennessee getting a two seed seems warranted after the Volunteer's showing today against Wintrhop...How great would it be if Mike Davis got Indiana to the Elite Eight or Final Four this year. The guy gets pushed out of Hoosier land after getting the team deep into the tournament twice in four years.

But Katherine I Want Six Wives!

I just read Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten's latest drivle and for some reason I can't get the Wizard Of Oz song "If I Only Had A Brain" out of my head. Hmmmmm. Odd. Very odd.

Anyways Kersten says that if we don't pass a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage that polygamy will be on the horizon. I'm surprised Kersten didn't throw beastiality in there too. "If we don't get rid of the gays, men will start having sex with coyotes!"

This latest article further proves my theory that the Star Tribune has Kersten on staff to make Republicans and especially the religious right look silly. What other explanation is there?

She could while away the hours, conferrin' with the flowers, consulting with the rain. And her head, she'd be scratchin, while her thoughts were busy hatchin', if she only had a brain.

Oscar Reactions

-Crash wins in what's being called an upset. I was kind of torn about this one. I liked Crash better than Brokeback Mountain, but my liberal mind really wanted Brokeback to win just to piss off all the gay-hating Jesus freaks out there.

-Don't wear Levi's to the Oscars.

-"It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp" wins best original song? Are you fucking kidding me. As John Stewart so hillariously pointed out: Martin Scorsese 0, Three 6 Mafia 1.

-In really the only category that I had a real opinion on, Reese Witherspoon deservedly wins best actress. I also thought she gave one of the best acceptance speeches of the night. A very classy and humble woman.

-Gena Rowlands is OLD! I thought she was having a stroke out on the stage. She is not looking good for 75.

Duke Hangover

For those who were wondering, I am recovering from Duke's loss to North Carolina on Saturday night. Thankfully I had plans to go to a friends house and get drunk after the game so I didn't have to sit at home and get drunk by myself to wash away the pain from the loss. I really wasn't worried after the loss to Florida State, but it's really becoming obvious that J.J. has worn down and that teams have figured out how to beat the Devils. Somebody like Demarcus Nelson or Josh McRoberts needs to step up if they are to get to another final four this year.

Kelley Campaign Looking Strong

It appears that the Steve Kelley campaign for Governor has really gained some momentum in the last couple of months. While frontfunner Mike Hatch continues to arrogantly skip debates with the other candidates, Kelley appears to have picked up a significant number of supporters. Tuesday's caucuses are looming and should be very interesting.

Kirby Battling For His Life

One of the first athletes that I ever admired is battling for his life in an Arizona hospital after suffering a major stroke. Not much has gone right for Kirby Puckett since the Twins won the World Series in 1991. Puckett has been forced out of baseball with eye problems, been accused of abuse by a woman in an Eden Prairie restaurant, been accused of abuse by his ex-wife Tonya and now this. His off the field problems since his retirement have really affected his public image because I just don't feel the kind of sadness from people in Minnesota as you would expect from a major sports star who led his team to two world championships.

Katherine Kersten Back On Her Gay Soapbox

The Star Tribune's conservative columnist was back at it the other day with another gay marriage amendment rant. Kersten said that DFL'ers are scared of allowing the public to vote on the issue because polls show it has the support to pass and become law. So what Kersten wants is to allow the public to vote on anything where a poll shows one side has a majority? Like the war in Iraq? I mean Katherine, polls show that most Americans want the U.S. to start withdrawling troops immediately. Lets vote on it shall we?