Bye, Derrick...

Photo - Mike Brown - Commercial Appeal

To the astonishment of no one, Derrick Rose is leaving for the NBA after one season, according to the CA. Of course he is; his market value will never be higher, and he does not need to run the risk of injury that could derail a potential pro career. Weep not, he gave us all he had for as long as he could, and he was one foul short of a national championship for his troubles, and this blog says THANK YOU to Mr. Rose, he was a comet, leaving brilliance in his wake.

Now, if NTFN (Not The Fox News') Chris Wallace will think about trading a package to get him....

61 Years

Jackie Robinson debuted 61 years ago. Think about it.

Too Funny

Bravo! Come down for “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED”!

“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED” EVENT
MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQ WAR’S END

THIRD MAN, GIANT BEAR,

ANTIQUE CURTAINS,

AND DAN MONTGOMERY
TO PLAY FREE OUTDOOR EVENT DOWNTOWN,
FEATURING CLASSIC PROTEST SONGS AND ORIGINAL MATERIAL

SATURDAY, MAY 3, BEGINNING AT 2:00 P.M.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC,

NEAR THE NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MORE INFO:
April 8, 2008

Kerry Hayes
kerry.hayes@gmail.com

901 481 5104

Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. --George W. Bush, May 1, 2003

MEMPHIS—On Saturday, May 3, we commemorate the fifth anniversary of this historic moment with “Mission Accomplished: Five Years Later,” an afternoon of free music and free thought. Memphis artists Dan Montgomery, Antique Curtains, Giant Bear, and The Third Man will take the stage on the grounds near South Main Street and Nettleton Avenue, near the National Civil Rights Museum, to perform a selection of classic and contemporary protest music.
“Mission Accomplished: Five Years Later” is an outdoor event, free and open to the public.

The artists:
Dan Montgomery: "Montgomery's ability to spot people you'd never notice and turn them into characters you can't resist is uncanny." –Cosmik Debris.

Antique Curtains: “Perfectly Wire-d songs with an arty, angular approach that will leave you panting for more.” –vicitimoftime.com

Giant Bear: “This highly touted Memphis-based quintet throws big band, bluegrass, country and Bob Dylan into a blender with unpredictable and exhilarating results.” –Creative Loafing
The Third Man: "Smart pop is hard to come by, and the Third Man's latest release, ‘Among the Wolves,’ is borderline brilliant.” –Commercial Appeal

Key Points:

While Memphis’ activist community have staged and/or taken part in numerous rallies and protests opposing the Iraq War, this is the first event to include significant participation by Memphis’ independent music community.

Each band/artist will be performing a mix of classic “protest” rock music (Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, etc.) as well as original music.

Yes, we are doing this to take advantage of the many thousands of people who will already be downtown for Beale Street Music Festival.

No, we are not trying to position ourselves as a competitor to that event. This is a locally-focused alternative to mark an important date in the history of our nation’s propaganda.

3,874 American lives have been lost since May 1, 2003—a date that President George W. Bush arbitrarily declared “an end” to the Iraq War. (Source: www.antiwar.com/casualties)

Tennessee has lost 93 men and women in the war. (Source:projects.washigtonpost.com/fallen )

As our country slips farther into recession, the long-term economic burden of the war on American taxpayers is currently estimated as $1 – 5 billion. (Source: www.alternet.org/waroniraq)

Photos, MP3s, press materials and artist interviews available
by contacting Kerry Hayes, kerry.hayes@gmail.com or 901 481 5104.

Preach it, brother!

H/T to The Field..

Return of the Zombies

Oh-oh, fearlessvk warns us that in a mere 12 days, Zombies are coming back for your brains.

Don't say you haven't been warned.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Greg Maddux

Greg Trott/Getty Images

ESPN The Magazine has a wonderful story about the Majors' all-time Active leader in victories, whom I have followed since he first came up with the Cubs. A certain Hall of Famer, I am eagerly awaiting the game when he passes Roger Clemens on the all-time victories list.

I am having a blast playing with Flock; it has a blog editor in the browser, which is how I am posting this, it let me do a drag-and-drop with the above picture. Cool, eh?

Blogged with the Flock Browser

We're testing this out...

I just downloaded Flock as a browser, and I want to see how this works...

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Weekly Blogger Roundup returns

The Sunday "spring has sprung but why is it so cold?" edition of the TennViews weekly blog roundup showcasing the best bloggers in Tennessee and what they are talking about...

• 10,000 Monkeys and a Camera: Add my voice to the "Bredesen Blew It" Chorus: Disappointing is becoming a real habit for you.

• 55-40 Memphis: Scary: In fact, some days I'm not absolutely certain he's black, but I'll take Obama's word for it.

• Aunt B.: Why Does Nashville Have Such a High Incarceration Rate?: So, why is our jail a quarter full of illegal immigrants and Memphis’s jail not?

• BlountViews (yellowdog): TDOT Still Backwards After All These Years: The TDOT people and the consultants they hire are stuck in old and irrelevant system of transportation planning rules, and it will take public outcry and active engagement at the level of the regional transportation planning organizations (TPOs) to change it.

• Carole Borges: Mandated health insurance causing problems in MA: One thing we certainly don't need in America is another law that involves the government making choices for citizens. The crisis in MA should make people stop and think before they jump on the mandated health insurance bandwagon. It just might be going nowhere.

• The Crone Speaks: Uninsurance Third Leading Cause of Death for Near-Elderly: How many people should die because they don't have health insurance, before we recognize the need for a Medicare for All program?

• Cup of Joe Powell: Devilish Details In TN Cable Franchise Legislation: But it's rather obvious the state legislature has crafted a plan to serve the needs of business first and residents second. Given the solemn claim by Tennessee House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh to push this plan through, your voice and the voices of other Tennessee residents has little impact, and this proposal will likely become the law in Tennessee.

• Don Williams: As KnoxVoice reinvents herself, so am I: I’m optimistic or naive enough to believe our old world and country are headed for a gentler blooming. Springtime is the season for hope, renewal, for celebrating touchstones and anniversaries.

• The Donkey's Mouth: One more reason why Lincoln looks strong in ‘08: It does seem fishy that Lankford lives outside of the district and will probably be self-financed. A New York Times article, "Short of Funds, GOP recruits rich to run," talks about the significant dearth of fundraising and legitimate recruits at the RNC.

• Enclave: Senate's Foreclosure Prevention Act Forecloses on Families: Once again, in a crisis the U.S. Senate is going to come down on the side of the people who are hurting least in the housing industry. And as Republicans, the Senators of Tennessee can do no other.

• Fletch: Lackluster and Luster

• KnoxViews: State funded luxury hunting lodge audit findings: Apparently, most of the funds have gone to build a luxury hunting lodge and payment of Bittle's salary. (Bittle sponsored the bill that created the specialty license plate and directed the proceeds to his foundation while he was a member of the Tennessee House.) The state audit recommends changes to state law to require better accounting of how such funds are spent.

• Lean Left: Lean Left: They have violated laws and common decency with impunity. They will probably get away with it -- our press refuses to cover it and our Democratic leadership refuses to act. Plus: Petraeus and Crocker: Iraq Wrong War with No Way Out

• Left of the Dial: No Thanks: I received an offer to interview either Sean Astin or John Grisham tomorrow about their support of Hillary Clinton. I passed. I'm all for Hillary but, sorry, no free ad time.

• Left Wing Cracker: Stunning news from the Election Commission: This changes everything, folks, stay tuned...

• Liberadio: This week's Liberadio(!) podcast You know what else John McCain’s not so strong on? Giving Martin Luther King his props., plus more.

• Loose TN Canon: Colin Powell supports Iraq withdrawal and praises Obama

• NewsComa: Meeting Mike Padgett: an extensive report

• Progressive Nashville: Closed-minded legislators: The Tennessee legislature, which has spent an inordinate amount of time this session trying to close records and operate in secret, is at it again with a plan to make it more difficult to obtain public records. Plus: Thompson floated as veep

• Resonance: "Success" In Iraq: Here's my definition...

• RoaneViews: A Letter to Tommy Kilby, and His response: Don't exclude "limited resource waters" from "waters" of the state

• Russ McBee: On the Olympic torch protests: Although the Olympics are supposed to be beyond politics and are supposed to rise above international disputes, the Chinese government itself is assuring that this cannot happen.

 • Sean Braisted: Alexander and "Big Oil": Bob Tuke, in an appeal for contributions, takes Sen. Lamar Alexander to task for being in the pockets of "big oil". Plus: DSCC Forgets Tennessee

• Sharon Cobb: Hey Tennessee, Jon Stewart is coming To Nashville, plus: Total Bullsh*t That Hillary Calls On Boycott Of Olympic Games Now: While I am in total agreement that the entire planet should boycott the Olympics in China, why didn't Hillary Clinton call for a boycott before this week?

• Silence Isn't Golden: Silence Isn't Golden: The Bitter Irony: Of all of the faux outrage over Obama's statement, this has got to be the most ironic. Plus: Define "Women's Issues"

• Southern Beale: Gus Puryear: Still A CCA Crony: Why is Democrat Thurgood Marshall Jr. endorsing Gus Puryear, Bush’s controversial pick for the federal bench in Middle Tennessee? Plus: Energy Saved Is Energy Found

• Tennessee Guerilla Women: Governor Rendell (D-PA): Obama Should Pay Keith Olbermann, plus: Photos of NYC Protest Against Hillary-Hating Media Bias

• TennViews: TN Senate 08 wrinkle: Questions arise whether Overbey is qualified to be on the ballot v. Sen. Raymond Finney. Plus: Republicans defeat Rural Health Act.

• Vibinc: Free Ride: The Tennessee Bush Dogs are on their way to re-election, some with less opposition than others.

• Whites Creek Journal: George W. Bush Should Stay Away from the Olympics!: No, I'm not proposing a boycott... I just don't want George W. Bush representing America any more. Plus: Stoopid Human Tricks: A close second behind coal burning in the stupid human tricks department is damming rivers.

• Women's Health News: 1) Think About Sex. 2) Design Undies. 3) Win!

Stunning news from the Election Commission

My sources have told me that, by a unanimous 5-0 decision, the Shelby County Election Commission approved the petition of Rep. Joe Towns, Jr. (D-Memphis) to run for the Democratic nomination for Congress from the 9th Congressional District.

Holy crap!

Unlike Nikki Tinker, Towns has A) legislative experience, B) a record of public service to the Memphis community and C) an ability to draw votes from the African-American community, which makes him a viable candidate against Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis).

This changes everything, folks, stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The last word on the 2007-2008 Tiger season

Congratulations to the Lady Vols and Pat Summitt

AP Photo/Gerry Broome

Now, before some of you Tiger fans cringe in horror, let me remind you that MOST of the Vol fans that I saw online and other places were pulling their asses off for us last night, and it's time we returned the favor.

Pat Summitt is the best coach in the history of college basketball, having won more games than anyone else.  You will notice that I didn't discriminate between Men's and Women's hoops, either.  I love John Wooden, but at the young age of 58, Pat Summitt will be around long enough to tie and pass his record of ten NCAA championships if she wants.

Show some love to the Lady Vols, folks, they have more than earned it.

And now, let's show some appreciation for a truly remarkable accomplishment.

For all that we are still grieving over last night, it is time to step back and note that something wonderful and beautiful is scheduled to take place at the end of this coming summer.

Joey Dorsey, who comes from a neighborhood in Baltimore so stark and bleak that he says THE WIRE didn't really capture how bad it was, who is not only the first member of his family to attend college but the first to GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL (let that soak in for a moment), is on track to receive his Bachelor's degree.

Given his background, abandoned by his father, this is is a far greater accomplishment than all of his wonderful playing for the Tigers combined.  Joey, if you finish and are willing to walk across that stage, I'm coming to your graduation, and I'd like the whole city to come with me.

Folks, we owe this to Joey for having the courage to escape the hellish nightmare of his neighborhood, for having the courage to graduate high school under such conditions, and becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college.  He has given us thrills for lo these many years, and we need to honor him for something that will matter far more than his numerous accomplishments on the court.

I would like to see at least a thousand people, if not a lot more, pack the stands at graduation, and when Mr. Dorsey's name is called, we need to give him a standing ovation for this achievement.  

I will get more details later, but let's plan this shindig!

Bob Knight sums it up

We simply did not finish.

Derrick Rose was right in the post-game interview, it wasn't the free throws, it was the plays BEFORE the free throws.

Like Joey Dorsey making a bad foul for his fifth and final one, going out just past two minutes.  It's Rose himself not taking the ball and dominating until the second half, and then shying away again in the last two minutes.  It's not fouling Mario Chalmers before he could get a shot off, which would have sent him to the line for TWO, not three shots, which would have kept us in the lead.  It's a million little things that caused what Bill Simmons would call a Stomach Punch game.

This loss will go down as one of the great collapses in sports history, and it did not have to happen.  Bill Self out-coached John Calipari when it counted, and our guys, well, as much as we still love them, choked.  I still support them, I want to attend Joey Dorsey's graduation this summer, but our Tigers choked tonight, and that's why Kansas equaled Duke with their third Men's Basketball championship.

To Cal's ever-lasting credit, the stood up and took full responsibility for this, as he should have.  We were not prepared for intensity at crucial moments, and it comes back to him.  Don't worry, as badly as the fans feel, as badly as the players feel, as badly as we ALL feel, no one feels worse about this than John Calipari.  

He is now faced with the graduations of Joey Dorsey and the suspended Andre Allen, the almost-certain departure of Derrick Rose (he would be a top 3 lottery pick, folks, he CAN'T stay), and Chris Douglas-Roberts, so we are FAR from a Final Four trip next year.

And what should we make of the Newsday report (H/T to TrueHoop) that the Knicks are interested in hiring Calipari away from the U of M?  This could be the last trip in a LONG time for this program, which is what makes this hurt even worse.

Damn, we might need to hire a shaman after this to rid the whole town of a curse; I really thought tonight would be the end, but I guess not.  It hurts, and will for a long, long time; I just hope it doesn't take so long that Larry Finch never sees it.

Enough for now.

OK, we've got a moratorium on politics here at least until Wednesday

Courtesy Matt York/AP via ESPN

Because we here have other things on our mind.  First, go to the CA website and see the picture and the caption: The FIRST #1 SEED TO FALL.....  UCLA.

Damn skippy.  As you may have noticed, especially if you are a Memphian, the Memphis Tigers exorcised 35 years of demons against the sons of Westwood, dominating UCLA, 78-63 in the first National Semifinal.  They will face the Kansas Jayhawks, who blew out to a 28-point lead in the first half, only to see North Carolina pulling within four points in the second half, only to see the Tar Heels run out of gas and lose.

What I enjoyed was watching the guys afterward and noticing that, while they were happy, they were not overjoyed, because they knew that the job is not yet finished.  39-1 must be achieved.

But until Monday at 8:17 P.M., let me offer the comments of the gentleman who is the person after whom this blog was named, and who was a freshman at MSU when they lost to the Bruins in 1973:  FUCK BILL WALTON.

GO TIGERS, ONE MORE TO GO.

I had just about given up on American popular music

Because, you know, these kids listen to music and it's just NOISE.  Why, in my day, you could listen to the soothing sounds of those hep cats from Public Enemy or before that, the Sex Pistols or the Ramones.  Nowadays, though, it's just HEY! GET THE HELL OFF MY LAWN! 

Sorry, you know how these kids are.  Anyway, I was grumbling about the state of music when the Goddess that is Newscoma turned me on to this snappy little ditty that I think you can dance to, give it a listen.  It's Saul Williams with LIST OF DEMANDS.

Let us ALWAYS remember this moment....

Your 2008 candidates for office

Courtesy of your Shelby County Election Commission!

CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 7, 2008
STATE AND FEDERAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 7 Vote for One (1)
JAMES TOMASIK DEMOCRAT
TOM LEATHERWOOD REPUBLICAN

(Note - Marsha probably filed in Williamson County)

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 8 Vote for One (1)

UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 9 Vote for One (1)
STEVE COHEN DEMOCRAT
JAMES GREGORY DEMOCRAT
ISAAC RICHMOND DEMOCRAT
NIKKI TINKER DEMOCRAT
M. LaTROY WILLIAMS DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE SENATE DISTRICT 28 Vote for One (1)
JIM KYLE DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE SENATE DISTRICT 30 Vote for One (1)
BEVERLY ROBISON MARRERO DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE SENATE DISTRICT 32 Vote for One (1)
MARK NORRIS REPUBLICAN


TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 83 Vote for One (1)
BRIAN KELSEY REPUBLICAN

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 84 Vote for One (1)
JOE TOWNS, JR. DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OR REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 85 Vote for One (1)
EDDIE JONES DEMOCRAT
PAUL LEWIS DEMOCRAT
LARRY TURNER DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 86 Vote for One (1)
BARBARA COOPER DEMOCRAT
GEORGE T. EDWARDS, III REPUBLICAN

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 87 Vote for One (1)
JENNINGS BERNARD DEMOCRAT
KAREN CAMPER DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 88 Vote for One (1)
LARRY J. MILLER DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 89 Vote for One (1)
JEANNE D. RICHARDSON DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 90 Vote for One (1)
JOHN J. DEBERRY, JR. DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 91 Vote for One (1)
LOIS M. DEBERRY DEMOCRAT
TIMOTHY EDWARD COOK, JR. REPUBLICAN

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 92 Vote for One (1)
G. A. HARDAWAY, SR. DEMOCRAT
EDDIE NEAL DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 93 Vote for One (1)
MIKE KERNELL DEMOCRAT
TIM COOK REPUBLICAN

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 95 Vote for One (1)
CHRISTOPHER L. TAYLOR DEMOCRAT
CURRY TODD REPUBLICAN
MICK WRIGHT REPUBLICAN

Note - Mick is the first blogger to run for local office, AFAIK

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 96 Vote for One (1)
STEVE McMANUS REPUBLICAN

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 97 Vote for One (1)
JIM COLEY REPUBLICAN

Note - Jim Coley is a Republican we can ALL support.

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 98 Vote for One (1)
BORIS COMBEST DEMOCRAT
ULYSSES JONES, JR. DEMOCRAT

TENNESSEE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 99 Vote for One (1)
RON LOLLAR REPUBLICAN



CANDIDATES FOR AUGUST 7, 2008
STATE-WIDE & SHELBY COUNTY GENERAL ELECTIONS

CRIMINAL COURT JUDGE, DIVISION 6 Vote for One (1)
LATONYA S. BURROW
CLAIBORNE FERGUSON
MICHAEL G. FLOYD
JOHN T. FOWLKES, JR.


ASSESSOR OF PROPERTY Vote for One (1)
CHEYENNE JOHNSON DEMOCRAT
BILL GIANNINI REPUBLICAN

TRUSTEE
PAUL MATTILA DEMOCRAT
RAY BUTLER REPUBLICAN
RODERICK FORD INDEPENDENT
M. LaTROY WILLIAMS INDEPENDENT
DAVID W. VINCIARELLI INDEPENDENT
TAMMY WARREN INDEPENDENT

GENERAL SESSION COURT CLERK Vote for One (1)
OTIS JACKSON DEMOCRAT
CHRIS TURNER REPUBLICAN
ROBERT J. MATTHEWS, JR. INDEPENDENT

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 2 Vote for One (1)
RICHARD HASLEY
J. W. HILL, II
JIM W. JONAKIN
JOE MORTON
TRAVIS MOSBY
MICHAEL WISSMAN

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 4 Vote for One (1)
EDGAR BABIAN
JOE CLAYTON
BEVERLY J. WILLIAMS

COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DISTRICT 6 Vote for One (1)
DIANE GEORGE
TODD PAYNE

Don't faint, but...

I LIKE this Hillary commercial, where the hell has this been? Hat tip to THE FIELD.