America Advances Two Talents, One Tramp

On Wednesday, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, and Michael Sarver advanced. Gokey and Sarver’s advancements were acceptable. Grace’s was not. Anoop Desai should have proceeded.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“California is in the hole for $42 billion, so a budget has been proposed. I’m no financial expert, but when you have no money, and no prospects of making money, and you owe $42 billion, you’re way beyond putting yourself on a budget.”

The Tonight Show

Survivor Tocantins (During Our Absence)

Week One
In an immediate vote, Sandy and Sierra were chosen. They were not eliminated. Instead, they were offered another choice. Construct their campsite or seek the hidden immunity idol. Sandy chose the latter. Carolina excoriated this. Carolina was eliminated (7-1).

Week Two
On February 19, Jalapao garnered immunity. Subsequently, Candace schemed. Her objective? Eliminate Coach. She did not succeed. Via a 7-1 vote, Candace was eliminated.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Japan this week. There was an awkward moment when at one point she saw some sumo wrestlers and she said to the prime minister, "Oh, you have interns here too."”

The Tonight Show

Fox News: Charity Benefits From Home

For $100 and with a whole lot of luck, Heather Gray's four-bedroom home in Gilbert, Ariz., can be yours. Gray lost her job in the economic meltdown and is now on the verge of losing her 2,200-square-foot home outside Mesa, too. But rather than have her credit destroyed and become another foreclosure statistic, the 33-year-old Air Force veteran, who served four years of active duty, has found a way out of her predicament.

She's donating her home to a charitable foundation, which will pay off her mortgage and raffle off her home — at $100 a pop. For Gray, it's a chance to walk away with no financial obligations, and start all over again. "While certainly, I want to get myself out of the situation that I'm in, I'm not looking to walk away with anything," says Gray, who bought the house in November 2007 but could no longer afford to live in it after she broke up with her fiance and was laid off as the public information coordinator for the city of Mesa. "I just want to be at zero and get a chance to start over."

Gray called the Murray Grey Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Phoenix that provides assistance to military families facing foreclosure, and she proposed a novel idea: She would donate her home to the foundation, and it would raffle off the house at $100 a ticket. "We made the plan to raise $500,000," Gray says. "I need $350,000 to pay off my debts in the home that I owe, and the charity will receive at least $150,000, and anything we receive over $150,000 will go directly to Murray Grey, 100 percent," she told Foxnews.com.

People can join the raffle by making a $100 tax-deductible donation at the Murray Grey Foundation's Web site. http://themurraygreyfoundation.org Everyone who enters the raffle receives a $500 gas or grocery voucher that can be used anywhere in the country. The drawing will be held on April 11.

The lucky winner will wind up shelling out much more than $100, because the Internal Revenue Service considers raffle prizes to be taxable income. In the case of a non-cash prize, such as Gray's home, the winner must pay 25 percent of the fair market value of the prize, minus the price of the raffle ticket. Since the fair market value of Gray's house is $280,000, the winner will owe the taxman $69,900.00. "You can try to lower it based on the comps in the area," says Mario Piccolino, a Certified Public Accountant and owner of A&A Income tax, referring to the comparable home values. "But it's pretty much the fair market value."

Then the winner must pay a tax on the property to Arizona at 5.04% — another $14,112.00. Factor in $1,200 in annual property taxes and all the other expenses a homeowner incurs – insurance, utilities, upkeep and repairs — and that $100 ticket has become more than $84,000. That's not chump change, but it's still a dirt-cheap price for a four-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home in sunny Arizona.

The Murray Grey Foundation has no financial responsibility to the IRS or the state of Arizona once the house has been raffled off, and neither will Gray, as the $350,000 she will receive from the ticket sales will cover everything she owes. Murray Grey hopes that its partnership with Gray will not only give someone a home, but that it will also elevate the profile of the problems military servicemen and women are facing in this economy.The foundation reports that it has heard many stories like Heather's, particularly regarding active duty servicemen and women.

"Our job is to really help, do what we can do, whatever we can do, providing short-term aid, and help try to prevent people from being evicted from their house," said David Walsh, Murray Grey's president of marketing. "We just owe it to these people to help."

National Guardsmen and National Reservists are in particular need, he said. When a Guard or Reservist gets activated, his employer is required only to keep his position open until his return — not to pay his salary while he is on active duty. As a result, most Guards and Reserve soldiers end up supporting families on their military income alone, which is usually less than half of what they earned in their civilian jobs.

"On average, they're making 50 percent or 60 percent of what they were making when they were deployed, and they leave the wife to deal with the issues, and they're on the edge because their bills remain the same," said Walsh. "So we get calls — I mean, we get calls for food, calls in the middle of winter when people's, you know, utilities were shut off."

According to RealtyTrac, a data research firm in California, that tracks foreclosure statistics, military families have filed for foreclosure at a much higher rate than civilian families since the start of the economic downturn. Their research shows that in the first four months of 2008, foreclosure filings for military families were up 217 percent; the national average was 59 percent. "The best solution here is for Heather not to be left in pain, like a lot of other military families are, like there is no help," says Mark Liddel, executive director and founder of Murray Grey.

Gray hopes her story will inspire Americans to help other military veterans and active duty servicemen and women who are in danger of losing their homes. Though she says her plans for the future are unclear, she is committed to continuing the donation/raffle program with Murray Grey. "I would love to partner with them in the future and definitely help out other deserving families who might be in similar situations. So I see this program, with our economy the way it is, I see this program grow, and growing in an amazing way."

NEW RULE

Tycoons contribute.

This week, President Obama, Senators John McCain, Chris Dodd, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and Bill Nelson, as well as Representatives Barney Frank and Charles Rangel forfeited Allen Stanford’s donations. Is anyone shocked? Millionaires purchase aircraft, cars, jewels, and mansions. Why not politicians?

Worth A Read

Prairie State Blue

Progressive Illinois politics.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be California?

In Pennsylvania, George Kalman filed a lawsuit. Kalman’s company? I Choose Hell Productions. For a company, those words are controversial. For Mike Leach and Texas Tech’s relationship, those words are perfect.

Today’s top five or this weekend’s attractions (1) Academy Awards, (2) Penguins at Capitals, (3) Hornets at Lakers, (4) Auto Club 500, (5) Senator Roland Burris

Obama, Canada

Press Conference Complete Text

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“President Obama was in Arizona speaking about the housing crisis. Arizona seems like a strange place to be speaking about the crisis because most of the homes there are owned by John McCain.”

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Tiger Woods Commences 2009

Tiger Woods announced today that he would compete in the 2009 World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship February 23-March 1. Woods is the defending champion and also won the event in 2003 and 2004.

“Elin and our new son Charlie are doing great. I’ve enjoyed my time at home with the family and appreciate everyone’s support and kind wishes,” Woods said.

Woods last played June 16 defeating Rocco Mediate in 91 holes to win the US Open. It was his 14th professional major victory and 65th career win on the PGA Tour. Following the playoff, on June 24 he underwent season-ending reconstructive surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and some cartilage damage in his left knee. Woods also had fractures in his left tibia.

In six starts on the PGA Tour last year, Woods won four times and finished second in the Masters. He also captured the Dubai Desert Classic on the PGA European Tour. His 14 majors tails only Jack Nicklaus’ total (18) and his 65 PGA Tour wins is third on the all-time list behind Sam Snead (82) and Nicklaus (73)

“I’m now ready to play again,” Woods said.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“Yesterday was Presidents Day. Congress commemorated George Washington’s throwing a dollar across the Potomac by throwing $780 billion down a rat hole.”

The Tonight Show

NEW RULE

Bristol Palin is not news.

If Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK) were not elected, Tripp Palin would be another infant. Therefore, Bristol Palin’s opinion is irrelevant. Her parenting is irrelevant. Her relationship is irrelevant. Sarah Palin merits attention. Another unwed teenager does not.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Tonya Harding?

In North Dakota, fertilized eggs are people. North Dakota… What should we expect?

Today’s top five or Grey’s Anatomy’s finest (1) Meredith Grey, (2) Derek Shepherd, (3) Miranda Bailey, (4) Richard Webber, (5) Cristina Yang

President Announces Homeowner Assistance

President Obama Complete Text

Race Reality

Attorney General Eric Holder: “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. If we're going to ever make progress, we're going to have to have the guts, we have to have the determination, to be honest with each other. It also means we have to be able to accept criticism where that is justified. Saturdays and Sundays, America in the year 2009 does not in some ways differ significantly from the country that existed almost 50 years ago. This is truly sad.”

Dana O’Neil: From List to Legacy

It was a typically frantic Monday morning and, hurrying to get out the door, Kathy Smith started to scratch her name on her son's homework assignment when she stopped to read what he had written. The fourth-grade creative assignment was pretty straightforward: If I Had Three Wishes.

Kathy smiled as she read the first item on her son's bucket list: a golden retriever. Ever since he met a slobbering canine friend across the street, Tanner had been hounding his parents for a puppy. But with the holidays closing in, his parents already had warned him: Don't bother asking Santa for a dog.

His second wish was to play professional basketball, hardly a surprise for a young jock like Tanner, who spent his time shuffling between the football fields, baseball diamonds and basketball courts in his Alpharetta, Ga., community. It was the third item that made Kathy stop. "To make kids with cancer laugh," Tanner wrote in his 9-year-old scrawl.

Kathy showed the paper to her husband, Craig. "Well, he's getting a dog," Craig Smith said.

And indeed, that Christmas a big pile of blonde fur who would be christened Griffey bounded into the family living room. Also among the wrappings were a Sacramento Kings locker and a red clown nose. "The locker was to represent basketball and the nose was to make kids with cancer laugh," Kathy said. "We figured that would be the end of it."

For two years, that was the end of it. And then as part of a sixth-grade homework assignment, Tanner reiterated his wish to help kids with cancer. "I wanted to make sure my parents got the message," said Tanner, now a freshman guard for No. 13 Clemson.

Plenty of people would have dashed off a check to the American Cancer Society or found a fundraiser for their son to join and been done with it. The Smiths turned their son's dream into a reality, stuffing smiles and kindness alongside toys and trinkets into Tanner's Totes, the grab bags of goodies the family's nonprofit company delivers to preteens and teenagers battling cancer and other long-term ailments.

In seven years the family has delivered more than 1,200 totes. "Plenty of people are affected by cancer, but not everyone is spurred to action by it," said Clemson coach Oliver Purnell. "That's what makes Tanner and his parents extraordinary. They did something about it."

Cancer crept into the Smiths' lives more than 15 years ago. Craig Smith, a young father just growing into his dentistry practice in Georgia, was diagnosed with Stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The family spent three months in Nebraska, where Craig received a bone-marrow transplant from his sister.

Tanner, the Smiths' only child, was 3 and remembers only sketchy details -- donning the germ-free suits to visit his father in the hospital, falling and breaking his own collarbone -- from the family's stay there. The Smiths returned to their Alpharetta home, and for a while, life rolled into a comfortable pattern. And then, just a year after battling cancer, Craig was diagnosed with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a complication in which the white blood cells transplanted along with his sister's bone marrow attacked his own. GVHD is not uncommon, but Craig has an extreme case. He cannot produce saliva or tears, and has just 25 percent use of his lungs.

Prone to severe infections, he has endured frequent hospital stays and shuttered his career as a dentist. Just last week he was on a heavy dose of antibiotics to fend off yet another infection. With a tight family knot of three, the Smiths are incredibly close, but Craig's struggles have made them even closer. Tanner offers his parents fleeting joy and welcome distractions -- "To sit there and watch Clemson whipping Duke and my son is on the floor, oh my gosh, it's just incredible," Craig said -- and Craig imbues Tanner with his strength. "My dad, my dad is just an incredible man," Tanner said. "He's had to deal with so much, but the way he's handled it, it amazes me. I'm sure there have been times where he's thought, 'This is it,' but he just handles everything so well."

Craig took a job that allowed him to work from his house, so while other kids watched their dads pack up for business trips or late hours, Tanner was spoiled by the comfort that his dad was always home. But there was a tradeoff. Craig was around, but his physical frailty made it difficult to really get down and dirty when it came time to teach Tanner to play sports.

As Tanner grew taller and more talented -- joining the Georgia Stars AAU team on which he played alongside Wake's Al-Farouq Aminu -- he split his time between the Alpharetta sports facilities and the hospital rooms housing his dad. Tanner has never spent a whole lot of time examining his conscience, trying to pinpoint what exactly motivated him to help kids all those years ago. He remembers seeing "Patch Adams," the Robin Williams film about a doctor who used unconventional measures, including humor, to treat his patients.

But even more he remembers his dad's hospital rooms, where every card was prominently displayed, every flower given a spot to shine. Anything that could make the gloomy room even a little brighter, Craig used. "Tanner knows the difference between sympathy and empathy," Craig said. "That's what he has for these kids: empathy. He's seen me in the hospital. He knows what it's like."

The Smiths didn't have any grand plans, just Tanner's guiding principle: to make kids with cancer laugh. Kathy contacted a sorority sister who worked in an Atlanta-area hospital for advice. She learned that little kids received plenty of support from outside groups, but preteens and teenagers were sort of the forgotten demographic.

Buoyed by the idea of helping kids the same age as Tanner, the family decided to gather things to brighten hospital rooms, and toys that would fill an otherwise lonely day. The Smiths put everything in tote bags so kids could carry their wares from treatment to treatment.

The first bags were as mom-and-pop as could be, printed by an uncle with a silk-screening business and filled by neighbors who, at the Smiths' request, came armed with loot to the family's annual Halloween party. In 2002, 12-year-old Tanner made his first delivery to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "At first I wasn't sure it would matter," Tanner said. "I mean, what can colored pencils and modeling clay do? But we can't cure cancer right now. There isn't a medicine or a shot or a test that helps you cure it or prevent it. At least we can help somebody get through it.

"I remember when I was in high school, this girl got cancer. Her brother was in my class, and the year before he was helping me fill bags. Then all of a sudden we're delivering a bag to her. You just don't know."

Tanner was too young to visit the patients. He just pulled a wagon filled with them to one of the hospital staff members and left the rest to his mother. "I'm sure the hospital staff is thinking, 'Oh that's cute,' figuring it was a one-time thing," Tanner said. "I mean, I was a kid."

But the idea took root in the hospital. Kids loved the bags, so the Smiths decided to keep going. Craig handled the necessary paperwork to turn Tanner's Totes into a nonprofit, while Kathy went shopping. She bought things kids would like: nail polish and manicure sets for the girls, Nerf basketballs and hoops for the boys and Staples "Easy" buttons for everyone ("So when they finish a treatment, they can hit that button and say, 'OK, that was easy,'" Kathy explained).

The first bags -- it costs about $60 to fill one -- were paid for out of pocket, but soon Tanner's teams were helping out, using Tanner's Totes as fundraisers. Then it was area Girl Scout troops joining in, and later a Georgia garden club contributing $18,000. Before long, the Smiths' basement rec room turned into Tanner's Totes headquarters, the pingpong table covered with boxes of gear to fill the bags.

The effort stayed fairly localized, with visits to Atlanta-area hospitals and an affiliation with the Medical University of South Carolina, until last year when Vern Yip and HGTV featured the Smiths on "Deserving Design."

Tanner got a new hang-out room, Craig a new office and Tanner's Totes an unexpected boost of national publicity. Hospitals in Jacksonville, Fla., and Nebraska have contacted the Smiths for tote bags; a Girl Scout troop in Texas is working with Dallas-area hospitals, and just last week Kathy shipped a second order of 15 to a Memphis hospital. The totes have given solace and comfort to more than a thousand kids, but closer to home have buoyed the spirits of someone far more important to Tanner. "When I see my wife come in with the gobs of stuff and look at our basement, or what used to be our basement, it's amazing," Craig said. "It's really amazing."

This year, Tanner took a sabbatical from his fledgling charity to help another cause: Clemson basketball. The kid who grew up loving baseball so much he named his dog after Ken Griffey Jr. sprouted into a basketball player once he hit high school. By the end of his freshman season at the Wesleyan School, Tanner was starting for the varsity. By the middle of his high school career, his dad figured he had a Division I player on his hands. "I was thinking he'd be a great mid-major player," Craig said. "I'm thinking maybe Georgia State."

Instead, as Tanner blossomed into a three-star prospect and all-state selection by the end of his senior year, the letters came from Missouri and Virginia Tech, Georgia and Clemson. He chose Clemson because it was close enough for his parents to get to games, but far enough that he could spread his wings. And it was in the ACC, a league Tanner remembers watching as a kid. "Those guys looked like men," he said. "I was a scrawny little blonde kid."

The scrawny little blonde kid is 6-foot-5 now. He's appeared in all 25 of Clemson's games, averaging 3.9 points and 13 minutes per game as a true freshman. It's all pretty amazing really, as if that fourth-grade wish list was scribbled on a genie's notepad. Griffey is an amiable nine now, slowed down by a recent knee replacement, but a full-fledged family member that even Kathy and Craig can't imagine living without. Professional basketball may or may not be in Tanner's future, but by joining the miniscule percentage of athletes who have earned Division I scholarships, he has certainly taken at least a baby step in that direction.

And Tanner's Totes? Tanner dreams of it exploding into a national charity, and is majoring in pre-business with hopes of guiding Tanner's Totes along for the foreseeable future. But even if it stays small, Tanner knows his original wish -- to help kids -- is coming true. On the organization's Web site is a list of testimonials from patients and families, people who wrote to thank Tanner and his parents for their efforts. "It really makes me feel good knowing someone's thinking about me," 14-year-old D.L. wrote (real names aren't used).

"I am a cancer patient. I have a tumor in my right leg. Thanks so much for the beautiful watch. It made me feel better," signed T.G., age 15.

"My 15-year-old daughter was diagnosed with AML leukemia. Shortly after that, we received one of your tote bags. … May God bless you for having blessed us!" added a parent identified by the initials M.A.

One kid, three wishes, countless lives changed. "You read that paper, a fourth-grader's wish, and you're thinking, 'OK, he'll want to be a fireman or play sports,"' Kathy said. "And then you get to the third item and it's 'Whoa.' You're just floored. I can't believe where it's taken us, can't even put it in words. This little fourth-grader, he just changed us all."

NEW RULE

Experts are experts.

On Tuesday, Trump Entertainment filed bankruptcy. Warren Buffet comprehends capitalism. James Carville comprehends politics. Urban Meyer comprehends football. Donald Trump has erected buildings, incurred debt, received bailouts, hosted a television show, married thrice, and divorced twice. His opinion should never be requested.

Worth A Read

Male Fitness Blog

Encouraging creativity, entertainment, and information.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Facebook?

According to Owner Jerry Jones, Terrell Owens’ future remains uncertain. Concerning Jessica Simpson’s weight, Tony Romo issued a similar statement.

Today’s top five or greatest house songs (1) Pink Houses, (2) White Houses, (3) House of the Rising Sun, (4) Our House, (5) Burning Down the House

Automotive Resuscitation?

On Tuesday, Chrysler and General Motors promised payroll reductions. They requested $39 billion. Viability via unemployment and welfare? Is this rational?

Stimulus Signed, Dow Down 297.81

President Obama Complete Text

A-Roid Answers Questions

Jayson Stark: Analyzing Alex’s Half-Culpa

His friends told him the truth would set him free. But is that what Alex Rodriguez told Tuesday? The truth? The whole truth? And nothing but the truth? Ehhhhh … it didn't feel that way.

Let's start with this: He sure didn't tell the same story Tuesday that he told to Peter Gammons a week and a half ago. Did he? Nine days ago, A-Rod didn't know what kind of drug (or drugs) he was taking -- even though he says he took it for three years. Now, nine days later, he knows it was something called "boli." Which, best we can tell, is another name for Primobolan, the exact drug he was asked point-blank by Gammons whether he had taken.

Nine days ago, there wasn't one word uttered about any mysterious cousins who were procuring this stuff and helping him inject it. Now, it's time to start poring over his family tree to try to figure out which cousin it was. Nine days ago, A-Rod was implying that whatever he was taking, he was buying it down at the mall, presumably while he was waiting for an Auntie Anne soft pretzel to come out of the oven.

Now, he's admitting his cousin was the one doing the purchasing. And although he continued to say this drug was bought "over the counter," we now know that counter was located in the Dominican Republic, not outside his friendly neighborhood food court. Nine days ago, there was no mention of any other "substances." But on Tuesday, Rodriguez admitted to ESPN's Hannah Storm that he also used to take Ripped Fuel, which was later banned -- at least in its original ephedra-based form -- by both baseball and the FDA.

And nine days ago, Rodriguez was angrily accusing universally respected Sports Illustrated reporter Selena Roberts of "stalking" him. Now, it turns out, he just had a "misunderstanding of the facts." So never mind. Now let me ask you: Would a man whose mission was simply to tell the truth do that much zigzagging in a nine-day span? Sorry. That's tough to accept.

Let's say this about A-Rod's 33-minute performance under the Yankees' big tent: We all said we wanted more information from him this time than we got in his ESPN sit-down. And he definitely gave us more. But how come every time he gives us an answer, he also seems to leave us with another question?

As he walked away from the podium Tuesday, all I could imagine was this scene: Investigative reporters all across America racing for the nearest airport to start tracking down Cousin Whatsisname. Or jetting to the Dominican to trace how easy it is to buy "boli" and sneak it across the border, repeatedly, for three years. Or heading for the local chemistry lab to find some scientist who could tell us whether it's possible for a guy to take "boli," then test positive for both Primobolan and testosterone (which, from initial appearances, it isn't).

And those are probably just the topics that came up in the first four minutes of Tuesday's "Inside Edition" story meeting. So what we've got here, friends, is trouble -- for a man who didn't need any more trouble. What Rodriguez most needed to accomplish Tuesday was some semblance of closure. Instead, he merely unleashed a whole new set of story lines. So if he thinks this is over, oops. Just wait a day.

But there are other important areas where A-Rod failed the credibility test Tuesday. For instance, try to glue all these quotations together into one coherent, consistent thought: He said at one point that whatever he took, whatever his cousin was injecting into his body, he "didn't think they were steroids."

But he was still so terrified of anyone finding out, it was "one of those things you try not to share with anyone."

For "all these years," he said at another point, "I really didn't think I did anything wrong."

Yet just minutes later, he said: "I knew I wasn't taking Tic Tacs. I knew it was something that could perhaps be wrong."

OK, everybody following that? One minute, he's continuing to insist he had no idea he had tested positive -- or, apparently, done anything wrong -- until this story broke. The next, he's grateful that this confession was allowing him to lift the boulder on his shoulder he's been carrying around for eight years. So which is it, exactly? I'm confused. And I'm not alone.

Of course, part of the problem is that this guy has never been mistaken for Winston Churchill, or even Bob Costas. Even his general manager, Brian Cashman, admitted, frankly, that "Alex is not very good at communicating, to be quite honest."

And not just when he's trying to explain away his steroid adventures to reporters from Toronto to Tallahassee, either. "If anybody has ever been in that clubhouse and seen Alex trying to talk to successes or failures in the baseball arena, he's not very good at it," Cashman said. "So I do think there's a degree of difficulty for him going into this circumstance."

True. No doubt. Nevertheless, the GM didn't sound as if he was fully on board with his third baseman's entire spin cycle, either. For instance, I'm not sure when the statute of limitations runs out on being "young and naive." But age 25 is definitely pushing it. And when Cashman was asked whether he thought "young and naive" was an acceptable excuse in this case, he didn't whip out his tap shoes. "I like more when he carries it that he was stupid," the GM said. "Rather than young and naive, it was stupid. It was a bad decision that may cost him on so many levels."

And on that, we're agreed. What this man did, considering all it could cost him, was the height of stupidity. But Cashman's most revealing answer came when he was asked whether he "regrets" handing Rodriguez a 10-year, $270 million contract just a year and change ago. It's a good bet that 29 out of 30 general managers in baseball would have replied: "No. Of course not. He's still the most talented player in the game, and we're glad he's on our side." Or something like that. Instead, here's how this GM, at his refreshing best, answered that question:

"Well, we're not in a position to go backwards on this. The position we're in is to try to move forward and make sure that we can help him get through this. We've got nine years of Alex remaining. … We've invested in him as an asset. And because of that, this is an asset that is going through a crisis. So we'll do everything we can to protect that asset and support that asset and try to salvage that asset."

Yikes. So that's what this has come to now? The man who was once seen as the best player on earth, the man who was once viewed as the guy who could save his sport, is now, essentially, just another troubled asset in the Steinbrenners' portfolio? And these next nine years fall under the category of "salvaging that asset"?

Whew. Is that one powerful commentary on how the Yankees have been rocked by this tsunami or what? Later, Cashman said, "If you want to use the analogy that this is Humpty Dumpty, we've got to put it back together again."

And they do. Do they ever. What they don't know is exactly how broken this Humpty is, or exactly how much Super Glue it's going to take to put him back together. But hey, at least they have a whole spring training ahead of them to find out. And then only nine more years of this fun after that.

We don't know yet how to measure whether they'll look back on those nine years as the greatest Yankees asset-reclamation project ever or as the tanker spill that keeps on spilling. But here's one way they can measure it: The less they have to parade their third baseman into the tent they led him to Tuesday, we can safely say, the better off both team and player will be.

MLB Commissioner: I Merit Credit, Not Criticism

Bud Selig: “I don't want to hear the commissioner turned a blind eye to this or he didn't care about it. That annoys the you-know-what out of me. You bet I'm sensitive to the criticism. The reason I'm so frustrated is, if you look at our whole body of work, I think we've come farther than anyone ever dreamed possible. I honestly don't know how anyone could have done more than we've already done.”

“I'm not sure I would have done anything differently. A lot of people say we should have done this or that, and I understand that. They ask me, 'How could you not know?' and I guess in the retrospect of history, that's not an unfair question. But we learned and we've done something about it. When I look back at where we were in '98 and where we are today, I'm proud of the progress we've made. Starting in 1995, I tried to institute a steroid policy. Needless to say, it was met with strong resistance. We were fought by the union every step of the way.”

American Idol Live Blog

Jackie Tohn (27 – California)

Why ruin an apocryphal song? Soul lyrics? Slow temp? Her interpretation is abysmal. Her performance is asinine. “Little Less Conversation” is an energy song. Thus, energy should be evoked. She is evoking nausea. One candidate. One potential elimination. No one could have enjoyed this.

Ricky Braddy (26 – Tennessee)

I am bored. I may google Leon Russell. His appearance is acceptable. His performance is satisfactory. However, advancers capture attention. He will not. Advancers elicit conversation. No one will remember his name.

Alexis Grace (21 – Tennessee)

Colored hair. Dirty voice. Why am I unsurprised she is a parent? Her dress is hideous. Black and slut. She is trash. Her commencement is acceptable. Unfortunately, her wail ruins the endeavor. She should not advance. She should have never been selected. Simon approves? I am disgusted.

Brent Keith (28 – Ohio)

If you are struggling, renounce your dream. Do not audition. His song choice is repugnant. His performance is worse. He is sans personality. He is sans talent. He should realize this. Ryan's question is appropriate. Their window has closed. Their window is soddered shut. They should quit.

Stevie Wright (16 – California)

Her fashion elevates her appearance. Her facial expressions reinforce my opinion. They are insipid. Her song choice is the conclusion. Her performance is juvenile and scattered. Simon and I concur. She was terrible.

Anoop Desai (21 – North Carolina)

His commencement is excellent. His chorus reduces the endeavor. He should sing. He should not scat. He should not run. Monica sang words. He should sing words. Adequate performance. However, he has missed an opportunity.

Casey Carlson (20 – Minnesota)

“Every little thing” was a favorite. Unfortunately, I can never listen again. Her entrance is cheesy. Her facial expressions are creepy. She is gorgeous. Why scare people? Her performance is equally reprehensible. Her vocals are apprehensive. Her vibe is pathetic. Simon selects the appropriate word. Atrocious.

Michael Sarver (27 – Texas)

His performance is adequate. He oversings slightly. However, he does not interpret the selection. He sings the selection. His conclusion is stellar. He was not perfect. With that stated, he should advance.

Ann Marie Boskovich (22 – Tennessee)

“Natural Woman” is powerful. She is putrid. She scatters the commencement. Now, she is screaming? Why? Screams are not emotion. Oversinging is not emotion. This song requires intensity. She was insipid. If she survives, America is stupid.

Stephen Fowler (26 – Ohio)

Once again, his performance is unmemorable. His appearance is adequate. His vocals are adequate. He is not offensive. He is simply pedestrian. Contestants must realize…. David Cook won with excitement. This effort was unexciting.

Tatiana Nicole Del Toro (24 – Puerto Rico)

A territorial contestant…Her introduction video is ridiculous. Stop crying. Her appearance is wretched. Clothes should flatter. Her dress fattens. Also, the dress resembles drapes. Her performance is uninspired. Her vocals are satisfactory. However, she is bland. Her emotion is contrived. She should not advance.

Danny Gokey (28 – Missouri)

Mariah Carey? Seriously? His commencement is unmemorable. His transition is slightly oversung. His glasses are distracting. As he sings, I cannot overlook the obvious. This is a female song. His performance was satisfactory. However, I am not impressed.

Deuce Exodus Epitomizes Different Era

Community athletes are special. They may be icons. They may be superstars. However, they are also charitable and generous. Their contributions trump championships and statistics.

On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints released Deuce McAllister. “For the last four or five months, when I'm out going to eat or with my family, I can't tell you how many times a fan says, 'Hey, keep Deuce. Hang on to Deuce,'” said Coach Sean Payton. “So that's strong. It's a strong message and I think clearly, if you just pay attention, you appreciate and understand what this player has meant not really just on the football field but what he's meant in all other aspects.”

During his career, McAllister amassed 1,429 carries, 6,096 yards, and 49 touchdowns. In 2008, he totaled only 107 carries, 418 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

In the 2006 NFC Championship contest, the Saints opposed the Chicago Bears. Seven hundred and fifty-six afternoons subsequent, the Saints’ circumstances appear irreconcilable.

Hornets Net Nothing For Money

On Tuesday, the New Orleans Hornets traded center Tyson Chandler to the Oklahoma City Thunder. As reciprocation, the Hornets received forwards Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox.

Concerning the Thunder, this exchange improves them. Concerning the Hornets, their rational was monetary. They should have utilized the offseason.

Facebook Founder Discusses Clarifications

Facebook CEO CEO Mark Zuckerberg: “A couple of weeks ago, we updated our terms of use to clarify a few points for our users. A number of people have raised questions about our changes, so I'd like to address those here. I'll also take the opportunity to explain how we think about people's information.”

“Our philosophy is that people own their information and control who they share it with. When a person shares information on Facebook, they first need to grant Facebook a license to use that information so that we can show it to the other people they've asked us to share it with. Without this license, we couldn't help people share that information.”

“One of the questions about our new terms of use is whether Facebook can use this information forever. When a person shares something like a message with a friend, two copies of that information are created—one in the person's sent messages box and the other in their friend's inbox. Even if the person deactivates their account, their friend still has a copy of that message. We think this is the right way for Facebook to work, and it is consistent with how other services like email work. One of the reasons we updated our terms was to make this more clear.”

“In reality, we wouldn't share your information in a way you wouldn't want. The trust you place in us as a safe place to share information is the most important part of what makes Facebook work. Our goal is to build great products and to communicate clearly to help people share more information in this trusted environment.”

“We still have work to do to communicate more clearly about these issues, and our terms are one example of this. Our philosophy that people own their information and control who they share it with has remained constant. A lot of the language in our terms is overly formal and protective of the rights we need to provide this service to you. Over time we will continue to clarify our positions and make the terms simpler.”

“Still, the interesting thing about this change in our terms is that it highlights the importance of these issues and their complexity. People want full ownership and control of their information so they can turn off access to it at any time. At the same time, people also want to be able to bring the information others have shared with them—like email addresses, phone numbers, photos and so on—to other services and grant those services access to those people's information. These two positions are at odds with each other. There is no system today that enables me to share my email address with you and then simultaneously lets me control who you share it with and also lets you control what services you share it with.”

“We're at an interesting point in the development of the open online world where these issues are being worked out. It's difficult terrain to navigate and we're going to make some missteps, but as the leading service for sharing information we take these issues and our responsibility to help resolve them very seriously. This is a big focus for us this year, and I'll post some more thoughts on openness and these other issues soon.”

Assorted Idols

The male semi-finalists are muddled. Kris Allen, Nick Mitchell, and Von Smith are acceptable. Unfortunately, Matt Breitzke, Danny Gokey, Nathaniel Marshall, and Alex Wagner-Trugman have odd appearances. Adam Lambert and Scott MacIntyre are scary.

The female semi-finalists are also unclear. Kendall Beard, Megan Corkrey, and Kristen McNamara are adorable. However, Alexis Grace, Allison Iraheta, Jeanine Vailes, and Stevie Wright are questionable.

This season, thirty-six contestants are semi-finalists. Last season, only twenty-four contestants were semi-finalists. Given the format and results alteration, preseason evaluations are problematic. Performance evaluations will not be.

Monologue Joke of the Evening

“It’s Barbie’s 50th anniversary. She was featured at Fashion Week in New York. They had Preppy Barbie; they had Wedding Barbie; they had Republican Running-Mate Barbie…”

Late Show with David Letterman

NEW RULE

Loopholes should not invoke anxiety.

Evidently, Facebook owns you. Your information. Your observations. Your photographs. They own everything. Who conceived this? When is their termination?

In 2009, privacy and safety remain issues. Facebook must recognize this. They must apologize. They must eradicate this clause. Terms of Service should protect us. They should never exploit us.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Phoenix Suns Coach?

On Monday, the Cincinnati Bengals franchised kicker Shayne Graham. Today, the Cincinnati Bengals issued this statement: What did you expect?

Today’s top five or American Idol favorites (1) Carrie Underwood, (2) Blake Lewis, (3) David Archuleta, (4) Kelly Clarkson, (5) Chris Daughtry

Uncorrectable Mistake

Cores are imperative. If aesthetics are altered, franchises sacrifice their appeal. If approaches are altered, franchises sacrifice their familiarity. If a core is altered, franchises sacrifice their character, conviction, heart, and resolve.

On Monday, the Phoenix Suns fired Coach Terry Porter. Assistant Coach Alvin Gentry supplanted him. “I hired Terry because I believed in him,” said General Manager Steve Kerr. “He's got a ton of integrity and dignity and class, and he's got a great work ethic. I hired him because I believed he was the best man for the job. In the last month, it became apparent to me that, look, this is not working, what we're trying is not working. I think we still can make this a very successful season. This was a move I think we had to make in order to give our team the best chance for success.”

During his career, Porter logged an 86-103 record. In Milwaukee (2 seasons), he accrued a 71-93 record. Upon his firing, the Suns stood 28-23. “We are who we are and I think we have to go back to trying to establish a breakneck pace like we've had in the past,” said Gentry. “We have enough talent that we should not be on the outside looking in right now.”

From 2004-2007, the Suns amassed a 177-69 record. Unfortunately, they acquired Shaquille O’Neal. They fired Mike D'Antoni. Phoenix should have never altered their core.

Loyalty Lost: Jaguars Jettison Fred Taylor

One athlete. One jersey. This combination is rare. Rookie. Initial contract. First jersey. Free Agent. Substantial contract. Second jersey. Veteran. Supplemental contract. Third jersey. These combinations are recognizable.

On Monday, the Jacksonville Jaguars released Fred Taylor. “We felt like the best thing for this football team is what it has to be about,” said Coach Jack Del Rio. “We feel good about the talented group of backs that we have ... and as you work through it, it's difficult to come up with a role that's going to be acceptable for everybody. It makes it awkward. It makes it difficult. We came to an agreement on what the best course of action was as a football team.”

During his career, Taylor amassed 2,428 carries, 11,271 yards, and 62 touchdowns. In 2008, he totaled only 143 carries, 556 yards, and one touchdown. “This was a difficult decision to come to, but a decision that had to be made despite how we all feel about Fred,” said General Manager Gene Smith. “We all respect and appreciate what Fred has done, and we feel that he can still play in the NFL, but in our current situation we believe this is the right move at this time.”

Despite Jacksonville’s decision, Del Rio remained complimentary. “He's got some talent,” said Del Rio. “I'm sure there is going to be some interest in him. I can't speak for other teams. I know Fred's done a great job taking care of his body and has been a complete stud in the time we've been here. I've said that several times. He's been a good teammate, he's been a guy that's all about winning and I've been impressed with the way that he's conducted himself since I've been here. You don't turn 33 without losing a step, but he's clearly worked hard. He's worked hard to allow himself to play at a high level. To hold off talented youngsters, you've got to do that, and he's worked his tail off to have that be the case.”

John Elway and Barry Sanders. Two athletes. Two jerseys. Keyshawn Johnson and Terrell Owens. Two athletes. Seven jerseys. Relocation cannot revoke renown. However, allegiance evokes admiration.

Big Papi’s Drug Policy

David Ortiz: “I would suggest everybody get tested, not random, everybody. You go team by team. You test everybody three, four times a year and that's about it. Ban 'em for the whole year. I think you clean up the game by the testing. I know that if I test positive by using any kind of substance, I know that I'm going to disrespect my family, the game, the fans and everybody, and I don't want to be facing that situation.”

“So what would I do? I won't use it, and I'm pretty sure that everybody is on the same page. All the drama, bringing that to court and acting like those [are] serious criminals, it doesn't look good for the game. It's not like something that is happening right now. Everybody that has been taken to court, it's because they did it in the past when it wasn't banned from the game.”

NEW RULE

Rain must reschedule.

In 2003 and 2009, rain abbreviated the Daytona 500. The Super Bowl has never been abbreviated. If the Daytona 500 is significant, NASCAR should ensure a conclusion. If the Daytona 500 is insignificant, NASCAR should silence their hype.

Worth A Read

Life in the Turn Lane

David Poole covers NASCAR.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Pittsburgh Penguins Coach?

According to a study, kisses ease stress. Finally, Bill Clinton’s unhappiness has an explanation.

Today’s top five or Big East Conference’s finest (1) Connecticut, (2) Pittsburgh, (3) Louisville, (4) Marquette, (5) Villanova

Penguins Purge Coach, Competence

Confidence is fragile, impulsive, and unreliable. Confidence cannot be purchased. Confidence cannot be requested. Confidence is simply inherent.

On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Penguins fired Coach Michel Therrien. Assistant Coach Dan Bylsma supplanted him. “I didn't part like the way, the direction the team was headed,” said General Manager Ray Shero. “I've watched for a number of weeks and, at the end of the day, the direction is not that I wanted to have here. I wasn't comfortable, and that's why the change was made.”

According to Bylsma, aggression would be improvement. “With the strengths we have, we should be able to go into buildings and make teams deal with the quality of players we have at every position,” he said. “I look at a group that can win games right now, and we need to do that. We can do this, but the players have to believe we can do this. We need to put the brakes on -- we're in a hole, but we need to stop digging and get focused on what we need to do to play good hockey. We need to be an aggressive group, and get focused on playing back to our strengths, and focus away from this situation the last while here.”

During his career, Therrien logged a 212-132-22-46 ledger. In Montreal (190 games), he accrued a 77-77-22-14 record. In Pittsburgh (272 games), he amassed a 135-105-32 record. “You hear that in pro sports, that the team may have tuned the coach out, or the coach may have lost the team, but I'm not sure if you can pinpoint that,” said Shero. “As the general manager of the team, I'm very close from watching, it's just a feeling -- the timing is right.”

On July 19, the Penguins retained Therrien. Pittsburgh’s confidence renunciation is ridiculous.

Kenseth Scores First Race

On October 27, 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays completed five and one-half innings. Rain interrupted. On October 29, the Phillies and Rays concluded their contest. NASCAR should mirror this example.

On Sunday, Matt Kenseth won the Daytona 380. He did not capture a crown jewel. He did not score a signature victory. NASCAR’s crown jewel includes 500 miles. NASCAR’s signature victory involves 200 laps. Kenseth completed only 152.

Major League Baseball did not abbreviate the World Series. The NFL would never abbreviate the Super Bowl. The NCAA would never abbreviate the NCAA Tournament. Clearly, the Daytona 500 is not special. The Daytona 500 is merely another event.

The Big Five

For reasons good and bad… they were the news.

The Hot Five

A quintet of sizzling conversation starters.

Line of the Morning

Representative Barney Frank (D-MA)

“Mr. Gibbs may not like it [executive compensation restrictions], but it is going to be enforced. This is not an option. This is not, frankly, the Bush administration, where they're going to issue a signing statement and refuse to enforce it. They will enforce it.”