And By the Way . . .

I almost forgot to mention that O.J. Simpson was convicted on all 12 counts (wow) in his armed robbery trial. His co-defendant also went down for all of the charges. See? This is why I don't bet. So that means he's going away for a long time (he hasn't been sentenced yet. December 5th.), potentially for the rest of his life.

Of course, O.J.'s people will try to claim that the all-white jury was trying to get him back for getting off for killing his wife and her "lover," but in my experience, jurors take their jobs fairly seriously and try to be fair even when it's difficult (as here, where they were all intimately familiar with at least one of the defendants). People have a conscience about affecting other people's freedoms, and since a unanimous verdict is needed in these cases, there's usually at least one of these people on every jury. The comments from some of the jurors on Simpson's case confirms this. Although Simpson's team had claimed that he didn't know guns were going to be used in the robbery, the "secret" tapes where they talk mention a "piece" ended up mattering more than any other evidence with which the jury was presented. Yup, that'll do it.

Well, O.J., I guess we'll be saying goodbye to you shortly. Come on, you didn't think you could get away twice, did you?

Running and Winking

If you're like me, then you not only watched the Vice Presidential debate, but you watched the 6 hour post-game wrap-up and replay on CNN. I actually ventured over to FOX News' website and was surprised to see "liberal" articles. But that doesn't mean I'm going back. Plus, Anderson Cooper's much easier on the eyes and ears than Shepard Smith.

So perhaps you'd welcome a reprieve with a little bit of sports talk. I aim to please:

1. What are the odds that O.J. Simpson would be waiting on a verdict on the anniversary of the last time he received a verdict? An even better question is what the odds are that he'll be acquitted again. Even if I had watched the entire trial (I haven't followed it all), I couldn't tell you with any certainty who would win. A judge I know once told me that even he had been surprised during his many years on the bench by jury verdicts, and the only thing he knows for certain is that you just can't tell. If I were a betting woman, I'd go with not guilty, because somehow I think O.J. was meant to suffer on the outside. Just a feeling . . .

2. Warren Sapp is a jack of all trades. He's toe-tapping on Monday and Tuesday, and Wednesday he's giving football opinions. And he certainly had some interesting things to say. Sapp, who played with the Oakland Raiders before he retired from the NFL in 2007, said in an interview that Al Davis (surprise, surprise) knows old school football with old school athletes, but is about 30 or 40 years behind the times. He also says that Davis would call in plays during the games. Wow. I don't know if that happens in other places but that's the ultimate sign of a control-freak. That's jumping past three levels of people (management, coordinators, and coach) to whom he has supposedly given over control to directly affect what happens on the field. Sapp further confirmed what many others have already pointed out: Lane Kiffin was dead as a doornail before he even got there. What a sad state of affairs out there in Oakland. At least the weather's kind of nice this time of year . . . and it's pretty.

3. What a sad (by Pleats 'n Cleats standards) story. I'm sorry it only gets this little bit of space . . . I may give it more when I have a moment. University of Connecticut freshman Nate Miles, who was to be a forward on the UConn basketball team, has reportedly been expelled from school for allegedly assaulting a fellow female student. Miles has been accused of violating a restraining order issued against him after a UConn student claimed he attempted to force her to have sex with him. Although this does not affect whether he tried to force her to have sex on a particular occasion, it should be noted that the two had been in a consensual sexual relationship since September. Upon finding out that he violated the order by calling the woman 20 minutes after it was issued by the court, the school reportedly expelled him. Wow. I don't know all the facts but that seems harsh, especially in light of the fact that the charges against him could be dismissed if he goes to counseling. I read that he had attended five different high schools, but I don't see how that makes it OK to drop the kid the first time he allegedly messes up. I have to imagine that he must have been on the edge already and this just tipped it. (UConn coach Jim Calhoun has certainly had a challenge with his recruits, eh? Google for the full story.) If Miles did something wrong, he should certainly be punished in a meaningful way and not just slapped on the wrist, but just kicking him to the curb is not the answer. I do hope he receives help if he needs it and is able to either successfully appeal this or find a new program. If he was good enough for UConn, then he's good enough for just about all the other teams around the country. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this one . . .

4. I'm sorry, but I have to switch over just a moment to make this public service announcement: 1) "Nucular" is not a word. It's time to throw out those Bush tapes you used to prepare. 2) Winking is not appropriate during a debate. Twice is grounds for disqualification. 3) General McClellan was a commander in the Civil War. Although a certain candidate may have made his acquaintance, he has been dead for over a century. He probably didn't have much to say about Afghanistan back then. 4) I didn't know you could "choose your own adventure" in books and debates. 5) "Shout out" is so 1990's. "Big ups" would have gone over much better.

5. Ok, I'm back. I just had to get that off my chest. I haven't been much into baseball this year, but the playoffs are usually pretty interesting to me for some strange reason. Maybe it's because I do like baseball but they play too many "doggone" games during the year which dilutes the value in watching any particular game. Even with basketball, unless it's a good team, I can't really just watch any game. (And any sport where you can play twice in a day is borderline an activity anyway. . . but I digress.) I have kept my ear to the ground enough to know that the New York Yankees, despite their bloated salaries, are not in the playoffs, and the Chicago Cubs are looking at a World Series run . . . ok, maybe that's "were." The Cubs have dropped the first two games in their series against the L.A. Dodgers. Shockingly, I missed the game Thursday night in favor of the debate. But I did catch this picture which is worth at least a thousand words (also about the number of people who will approach him at work on Friday). I hope his kids are old enough to enjoy (or be embarrassed by) this and that his wife gets this framed for him.



Enjoy the weekend!

Show Me Some Skin

Some things I've been musing over the past few days:

1. Chris Cooley, tight end for the Washington Redskins, has his own blog which is apparently pretty decent. Cooley had a game this Sunday but wanted to do a post before his game, so he hurriedly posted a picture of what he thought was just his play book. Unfortunately, in his haste, he included a little too much "fore red skin" (why did I just see that PTI stole my joke??). So not only did Cooley catch flak from his coach for posting a page from the play book, but now we all know . . . a little too much about him. Hopefully he has learned that a 2" x 2" digital camera screen is short on detail (no pun intended). You can click here to see the picture, but I'd wait until you get home because it's definitely NSFW (not safe for work). I would have put this up for MYSM next week, but most of you wouldn't be smiling . . . Cooley apologized for the exposure, but I feel like we deserve some kind of an explanation for the conduct itself. (Update: And here it is). Hilarious.
   
   
2. The NFL referee who botched the call that let the Denver Broncos back in (and eventually win) their game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday has received a downgrade from the NFL for his mistake. They say this means he could receive less pay or even be terminated when he comes up for review. Gee whiz. Ed Hochuli is a veteran ref who made a really bad call - accidentally, not purposely. Bad calls happen, but it's not like he wasn't working within the rules nor was he trying to ruin the game. I'm happy to see his brethren rallying around him in his hour of need. Had his call come at a less pivotal point in the game, then obviously his mistake wouldn't have mattered as much. So, yeah, he blew it, and yeah, it sucks for the San Diego Chargers, but as Norv Turner said, the score will always be 39-38. Let's move on.
   
   
3. Baltimore Ravens QB Troy Smith has been cleared to work out following a severe case of tonsilitis that cause him to lose 20 pounds. The Ravens doctor added, however, that he was never critically ill and his health was never in danger. He's still on antibiotics and will likely need his tonsils removed, but probably won't have the procedure until the end of the season. Wow, all that from tonsilitis? I had tonsilitis when I was a babe (as in young, not "hot"), but I can't imagine it being that bad. I'd say losing 20 pounds when you're sick is sufficiently serious even if he wasn't "critically ill." Poor guy. To go from Heisman Trophy winner to having to compete for a starting QB spot has to be a tough transition over a two-year span. Although there are a lot of great things about being a professional athlete, the fact that it can all be over in an instant is definitely not one of them. Here's hoping he surpasses the expectations of this latest batch of naysayers.

4. Speaking of competing for a starting spot, the Tennessee Titans have decided to stick with the veteran Kerry Collins as their QB, potentially even after Vince Young is able to return. Coach Jeff Fisher says he'll stick with Collins as long as the Titans keep winning. I can't say that I blame him, and maybe this will be actually be good for Young, giving him more time to collect his thoughts. (With every day that goes by, I am increasingly happy that I don't have a fantasy football team this year . . .)

5. You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned O.J. Simspon's Las Vegas trial at all. That's because I'm just really not interested anymore (although I expressly reserve the right to blog about this if something interesting happens). As I've said in previous posts on Mr. Simpson, it's probably about time the Juice got squeezed, but with folks like this testifying for the prosecution, (and check out this other great court performance) one can't be too sure. For some reason, I have a feeling he'll be cleared again, but whether he does time or doesn't, he has already been punished. Living on the outside knowing that everyone believes you've killed your wife and won't have anything to do with you because of it is prison - only you never get to leave. I know lawyers aren't taught to believe this, but the courtroom is not the only place where justice is served.
   

6. Monday Night Football scored a ratings coup for cable TV with its Cowboys vs. Eagles showing taking the crown as the top-watched cable program of all time. Of course, they could have had bigger ratings if they were on network TV so those who can't afford cable could have watched it, but that's of no import to the Not Free League. A story for another day . . .
   

Judge Jackie Is Not Having It

Every now and then, judges provide excellent quotes that let the regular folks know how much power they really wieldin there. I guess this past Wednesday counts as "now." Without further ado, I present to you the words spoken to O.J. Simpson by the judge in his case after he tried to contact a co-defendant in his case, in clear violation of his probation terms. She stated:

"I don't know Mr. Simpson what the heck you were thinking -- or maybe
that's the problem -- you weren't," Clark County District Court Judge Jackie
Glass told Simpson.

"I don't know if it's just arrogance. I don't know if it's ignorance.
But you've been locked up at the Clark County Detention Center since Friday
because of arrogance or ignorance -- or both."

If you're really asking, Judge Glass, I'd go with both. With that, she doubled his bail to $250,000. Anymore funny business, she said, and she's locking him up.

Oh, O.J.

2 Quickies.

Two other items that I am waiting for more details to develop before I comment:

1) The father of a California high school (female) basketball standout was gunned down during half time of her game. The father was apparently very involved with the team and his daughter's development as a basketball game. The game was called before it ended after officials learned what had occurred. The man's daughter had been pulled from the game prior to that. No word on a motive. Very sad.

2) Orenthal James Simpson may be heading back to jail for violating the terms of his bail by contacting one of his co-defendants in the case to discuss testimony. If this is true, he should be tethered to his lawyer at all times.

Dropping Like Mike Williams' Passes*

Another one bites the dust in the case against O.J. A third co-defendant has decided to take the plea deal and testify that O.J. told him to bring guns to the meeting to get his stuff back.

How many guys were in that room? O.J.'s lawyer says that he believes this was the last snitch"cooperating witness." There can't be any more co-defendants willing to throw the Juice under the bus. I think they're just grabbing guys with criminal records and asking them to testify against him. Glad to see that it has the possibility of backfiring, too.

I'm pretty sure I said this before, but I don't buy into the idea of snitching, in so far as it means you tell what you know if you're NOT involved in the crime. But if you are, there should be no incentive for selling out your co-conspirators. None. You did it, then you should pay, too. Period. If you want to tell on people, feel free to do so. At the most, that should get you a better jail cell. I don't like a system where there's a perverse incentive to lie and to escape punishment for tattling. I have no respect for these guys.

And I actually find myself feeling sorry for O.J. . . . but then I hearken back to the days when I watched his trial between practices that summer. It's in that moment that I am reminded that payback really is a . . .

Enjoy your remaining days of freedom, O.J.





*See here.

Oh, It's Definitely Gonna Fit This Time

In other news, O.J. Simpson had a 12th charge added to the 11 he had already been charged with, which by themselves amounted to life in prison. Make that life in prison plus 6 more years with the latest charge of felony coercion. This added charge stems from the allegation that Simpson and another defendant (one who hasn't said "let's make a deal") conspired to persuade other co-defendants to tell investigators that no weapon was used in the alleged robbery.

As the gov-uh-nuh of California, whose citizens found Simpson not guilty of murder in 1995, Arnold Schwarzenegger must have put in a call to the Vegas prosecutor's office to make sure they really say "Hasta la vista, baby" to Simpson this go round.

It's looking more and more like they might finally put the squeeze on the Juice. You know what they say about throwing crap on the wall - some of it has to stick.

You Thought Kato Kaelin Was Bad?*

O.J. Simpson's co-defendants, not unlike Michael Vick's co-defendants, are dropping like flies.

The Today Show decided to give one of them, Charles Cashmore (real name?) and his attorney, some airtime.

O.J. co-defendant recalls bust

(On a side note, I love how Matt Lauer questions his guests like they're on the stand. He took Tom Cruise to task for his comments about the use of anti-depressants to treat postpartum depression, and his interview with Cashmore was no different.)

So this guy Cashmore was coming from a job interview and received a call from a friend saying he needed some help getting back some things that belonged to him. At this time, he says he was introduced to O.J.

Lauer asks what his reaction was at seeing guns "brandished" and "on the person" of the other co-defendant. He says it was one of "aweshock." I've heard of "shock and awe," but I think you just made up a word, friend.

Then Lauer asks him about the surveillance video released of him carrying a box. He inquires, quite reasonably, if Cashmore, as a man with a criminal record, was involved in a situation in which guns are being brandished and are on the person of others ("on the person of" screams "I've been coached by a lawyer"), why didn't he go right to the police rather than waiting 6 days to do so?

His response?

"I thought it was friends, [and that it] would basically blow over."

Right. Because when I threaten my friends with a gun for taking my stuff, we usually go bowling a few hours later. And usually, O.J. accompanies us. His lawyer repeats this story, saying his client thought the situation would "blow over."

Since the day he was arrested for double murder, when has anything O.J. Simpson did just blow over? I bet O.J. can't even smile in public without someone coming down on him for being happy while his "victims" are dead.

I already don't like the idea that co-defendants get a break for telling on their fellow co-defendants. How can you trust a guy whose sole motive is to save his own behind? Now, this guy is on national TV discussing his side before O.J. cuts a deal, when he could be a potential prosecution witness if O.J. went to trial. If I were his attorney, I might advise against all this talking, especially if you aren't going to come out looking like the most truthful guy that ever walked the earth.

But the fact remains that O.J. now has two co-defendants willing to tattle on him for their own gain.

Has he depleted his stash of get out of jail free cards? Or was he really just stealing back his own stuff?



*For those not in the know, Kato Kaelin was staying in a guest house on the Simpson property and became a witness during the original O.J. double-murder trial. Kato tried to make a career out of his space cadet showing on the stand, during which he was helpful to neither side. Not dissuaded by this, attorneys called him back for the civil trial against O.J., giving him one more minute of fame to add to his 15. I think Wikipedia can delete that "is an aspiring American actor" because after 30 years of aspirations, perhaps he should aspire to more gainful employment.

Lock Up Your O.J. Rookie Cards

O.J. Simpson is free on $125,000 bail.

In other news, I hear that Al Cowlings was spotted in a white Bronco heading toward Las Vegas.

O.J.'s Felony Charges Now Surpass Number of Remaining Fans

Well, everyone's favorite whipping boy is now up to ten felonies against him, including kidnapping. He's now looking at life in prison if convicted on all of them. If you're saying to yourself, how is that possible if they never left the room, let me attempt to explain.

Kidnapping is not just what you see in the movies when they leave the ransom note with New York Times cut out letters. Generally, kidnapping occurs where a person is intentionally captured, detained, confined, or moved against his or her will, usually for the purpose of engaging in some other crime. There are a few more elements, including that the kidnapper must actually intend to and knowingly confine the person, but this isn't the bar exam so I will spare you.

The bottom line is that the "justice" system let him get away once and they are making certain that does not happen again. 10 felonies? At least one of them should stick. You may see him behind bars after all. Poor Sydney and Justin.

Almost Forgot About This One

Isiah Thomas should thank God for O.J. Simpson, who has managed to take the spotlight away from Isiah's abysmal sexual harassment trial with his own brand of crazy.

In The Zeke Trial, Day 3 (click here for Day 1 and here for Day 2), videotaped testimony from several depositions was played in court, including testimony from Isiah, one witness and the plaintiff, Anucha Browne Sanders. Browne Sanders also withstood some apparently intensive cross-examination. Choice morsels from today include:

• Isiah said during his deposition that it's more offensive for a white man to call a black woman a b*tch than for a black man to do it. While he claims he may have sworn around her, he says he never swore or cursed at Anucha Browne Sanders (the plaintiff)

• Testimony from Robert Levy, "an employment lawyer and a Knicks' season-ticket holder," who testified that he saw Isiah put his arm around him and remark that "it was distracting working with someone easy on the eyes." Umm. First off, why is a season-ticket holder who saw an open practice one of your main witnesses on the conduct of your employer? Second, this guy is probably a disgruntled fan. Third, I don't believe Isiah said this. That's all I'm saying.
  

• Browne Sanders testified that Isiah called her names during business meetings, and defended herself against claims that she was fired for poor performance. The defense has alleged that she started making claims of sexual harassment when she felt that her job was slipping away from her. She admitted that she didn't report any issues about Isiah's cursing.
  

• The judge in the case has asked the lawyers to speed it up, and jurors have been spotted nodding off. Not a good sign for the plaintiff.
  

Well, this is looking more and more like a tough case for Browne Sanders to win. But according to this Sports Illustrated writer, Isiah and the Knicks are on the ropes. I don't know. I still cannot tell why she was fired, so I need to see a few more days of testimony, but so far, Zeke's job is probably safe - for now. Sorry, Knicks fans.

O.J.'s "Robbery" Caught On Tape

I know I said this was the last you'd hear of it, but I totally forgot who I was talking about. This is the man they love to hate. The man who by most accounts should be in jail already. O.J. in jail is the day the Goldman and Brown families have been waiting for.

Today, TMZ.com released audio alleged to be from the event. Yeah, it sounds like Juice, but we'll see where this goes. I still don't see him spending more time than he is now in prison. Because even if O.J. doesn't have money to afford a good defense team, the limelight for the next Johnnie Cochran will surely suffice.

We'll see.

Three Out of Four Ain't Bad

Because it wasn't enough that he got off for murder, then lost his civil trial. Then was found not guilty in a road rage trial. No, now Orenthal James Simpson would like to press his luck on the wheel of justice for the fourth time.

It seems that O.J. and his band of merry thugs allegedly decided to take back some sports memoribilia that he claims belongs to him. But not satisfied with just that, he claims O.J. swiped his cellphone, too. The man O.J. allegedly stole from, Alfred Beardsley, a memoribilia collector, actually testified for O.J. in his civil trial. After that trial, O.J. was ordered to cough up over $30 million after being found civilly liable for the deaths of Nicole (now I can type it) Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. Maybe O.J. was a little mad about that.

Beardsley claims O.J.'s men came into his hotel room brandishing weapons, but O.J. says no way weapons were involved. This is the same man who claimed he didn't kill his ex-wife despite serious evidence to the contrary. Now, they haven't found any weapons, but O.J. has a few strikes against him in the telling the truth department.

And then O.J. actually said: "I'm O.J. Simpson. How am I going to think that I'm going to rob somebody and get away with it?"

Ok, all together now: "Well, you got away with murder, so robbery? Yeah, that's possible."

Not coincidentally, this all occurred on the day that the book "If I Did It," which describes how O.J. might have killed Brown Simpson and Goldman, was supposed to hit stores. The New York Times says this publicity will help book sales. Double ick.

O.J., even if it was your stuff, Texas justice is not legal, not even in anything goes Las Vegas. And besides, if the stuff is yours, then it's going right to the Goldman and Brown families.

Please, just accept the plea deal and spare yourself another trial of this century, too, k?