Custodial Justice

On Saturday, Dale and Leilani Neumann were convicted of reckless homicide. As previously stated, they ignored their daughter’s diabetes. They prayed. Their daughter died. Dale and Leilani Neumann merit maximum punishment. They are not parents. Parents love children. They protect them. They do not murder them.

Champion Conquers Deafness

On Saturday, Ashley Fiolek garnered the Women’s Moto X Super X. Fiolek is hearing impaired. Her disability is not irrelevant. However, she earned this success. She scored this victory. Headlines should herald her imperfection and skill equally.

Yahoo Evaluates MLB Trade Deadline

WINNERS

Boston Red Sox: GM Theo Epstein had at least as many trading chips to play as Amaro, and used them just as judiciously in wooing the same trading partner, the Indians, to acquire switch-hitting catcher/first baseman Victor Martinez, who finally ends Boston’s quest for a successor to captain Jason Varitek behind the plate in 2010. They also flipped first baseman Adam LaRoche, a pending free agent who played a week in Boston, to Atlanta for Casey Kotchman, a slick-fielding cheaper alternative who will be under Boston’s control next season. Epstein has enough pieces left that he can resume his pursuit of San Diego’s Adrian Gonzalez this winter if he so chooses.

Detroit Tigers: GM Dave Dombrowski would have liked to have added another left-handed bat (Luke Scott of the Orioles), but outmaneuvered a host of other suitors for Mariners veteran lefty Jarrod Washburn, a fly ball pitcher who should fare nicely in Comerica Park. Jim Leyland now has a top three of Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Washburn, while easing the load on rookie Rick Porcello.

Kenny Williams: If GMs had nicknames (and who since Trader Jack McKeon has), Williams should be known as the Stealth Bomber. The Chicago White Sox wheeler-dealer somehow traded twice for the same star pitcher, Jake Peavy, without anyone spilling his secret either time. And this time Peavy accepted. The deal will look even better if Peavy, who is out with a bad knee, will be pitching again in the big leagues by September, as Williams expects. Even if he doesn’t, the White Sox have control over him for four more years, which might be enough to persuade Mr. Perfecto, Mark Buehrle, to put off retirement plans.

New York Yankees: Why do they get a “W” when all they did was pick up utilityman Jerry Hairston Jr? Because their big moves in the offseason have left them in a position where they didn’t have to do more than that.

Philadelphia Phillies: Of course they are. First-year GM Ruben Amaro Jr. upgraded a struggling rotation by landing Lee from the Cleveland Indians without giving up the prospects he valued most, and also may get lucky with free-agent signee Pedro Martinez, who was making a Triple-A rehab start Friday. Roy Halladay would have made the Phillies nigh unbeatable; Lee makes them merely more formidable, and both the Braves and Marlins still believe they have starting pitching that matches up favorably.

Pittsburgh Pirates: The annual selloff of any Pirates player with a pulse is numbing to the fans, but GM Neal Huntington is doing the necessary restocking of the system, especially with pitching, and could hit it big with one of the young arms he has acquired. The one arriving with the most buzz is 20-year-old Tim Alderson, a former No. 1 who comes from the Giants in the Freddy Sanchez deal.

St. Louis Cardinals: The nights when the Cardinals’ lineup requires just a table for one are over. GM John Mozeliak’s pickups of first Mark DeRosa and then the bigger prize, Matt Holliday, should lighten the load on Albert Pujols, the game’s best hitter. With Ryan Ludwick regaining his stroke, rookie Colby Rasmus living up to the hype and Rick Ankiel one day getting healthy again, the Cardinals are primed for a red October. The Holliday trade loses some of its luster if he doesn’t re-sign after the season, but the Cards were willing to give up top prospect Brett Wallace to take that chance.

LOSERS

Cleveland Indians: In 2007, the Indians were a game away from advancing to their first World Series since 1997. The wheels have come off since, and GM Mark Shapiro has now traded Cy Young Award winners (CC Sabathia and Lee) in back-to-back Julys. Shapiro has traded away big pieces before for great returns, but this is just another reason why LeBron James owns that town.

Jake Peavy: No one likes to be rejected, and White Sox fans are liable to take it even more personally that Peavy pined for the Cubs in the winter before shooting down Williams’ first trade bid. If Peavy struggles, which frequently happens for pitchers migrating to the AL, White Sox fans, a boisterous lot by definition, will not be easily mollified.

Jim Hendry: The Chicago Cubs GM’s biggest move of the winter, signing outfielder Milton Bradley, so far has been a bust, and there have been many nights spent wishing he’d never let DeRosa go. Now, with the sale of the Cubs on hold for two years, Hendry came into the trading deadline with his hands tied financially. Cubs picked up lefty John Grabow for the bullpen and some depth in lefty Tom Gorzelanny, who instantly gets thrust into the rotation Tuesday after pitching well in Triple-A.

J.P. Ricciardi: There are plenty of people in baseball who smell blood in the water after Ricciardi’s very public auction of Halladay ended with him eating the gavel. Never mind that the decision not to trade Halladay belonged as much to interim president Paul Beeston as it did Ricciardi; the predictions are already flying that J.P. may not last the season, and almost certainly will not be back in 2010. Already, the names of possible successors (Tony La Cava, Tim Wilken) are making the rounds. Ricciardi is telling people that he will try to win with Halladay next season; the Jays may indeed do so, but without the current GM.

Los Angeles Angels: There is still the August waiver period, so GM Tony Reagins still has a limited opportunity to upgrade. But as well as the Angels are playing, does anyone really think they can beat the Yankees or Red Sox in October?

Milwaukee Brewers: Last year, GM Doug Melvin electrified baseball with his bold rental of CC Sabathia, which catapulted Milwaukee into the postseason for the first time since ’82. This time, with both starters and relievers at the top of his list, the best Melvin could do was Claudio Vargas, a spare part in the Dodgers’ bullpen.

New York Mets: They sat this one out, figuring that anyone they traded for would probably blow a hammy packing his bags. Can you blame them?

Senator Dodd Suffers Cancer

On Friday, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) disclosed his prostate cancer. The Dodd family has our thoughts and prayers.

NEW RULE

Presidents solve problems.

President Obama attended the All-Star Game. Jay Leno interviewed him. Healthcare and unemployment remain unsolved. President Obama is not an actor. He must address problems. He must cease superfluous media opportunities.

Worth A Read

Only Walt Disney World

Discussing dining, discounts, parks, and resorts.

The Daily Smak

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act may subsidize pervert revues, pornographic films, and simulated sex dances. President Obama is a unifier… He bonded red states and red lights.

Concerning trade negotiations, Toronto Blue Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi said, “we're waiting to be blown away, and we haven't been.” Roy Halladay’s response? Does he expect carats and prospects?

On Thursday afternoon, the Oakland Raiders signed Darrius Heyward-Bey. On Thursday evening, Heyward-Bey issued this statement: Only five years until freedom.

Beer Sketch

America should discuss race. We should discuss the realties and repercussions. We should discuss our divisions. We should discuss our racial choices and our reasoning. Unfortunately, this was a photo opportunity.

Congress Spends, We’re Not Better

On Wednesday, Congress passed excessive military appropriations (400-30). President Obama opposes these appropriations. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates opposes these appropriations. Why were they passed?

Jason Whitlock: Barbie, Deadspin, Hypocrisy, & Racism

It was a gross, heinous invasion of privacy. It was not the crime of the century, decade, year, month, week, day or even hour. The intent of this column is not to minimize the horrible violation of privacy that struck America's favorite sideline Barbie doll, Erin Andrews.

This column will attempt to add context and reasonable perspective — two things generally lacking when a favored white woman is wronged in America — to the debate raging in the sports blogosphere about whether blogs contributed to the crime perpetrated against Ms. Andrews. Surely by now you've heard. Someone secretly videotaped Erin Andrews while she was nude at a hotel(s) curling her hair and ironing her clothes. TMZ.com speculated rather persuasively the Zapruder in this fiasco might very well be one of Andrews' co-workers.

The video had been available (and ignored) on the Internet for months, but gained popularity this week when the influential Web site Deadspin wrote a post on the subject and linked to the Web site hosting the Andrews peephole footage. Deadspin has been the world-wide leader in sexually objectifying Erin Andrews (ESPN actually trails Deadspin in this category) and in invading the privacy of athletes and members of the sports media, so it is not all that surprising that its editor, AJ Daulerio, would throw the match on gasoline poured by a peephole pervert. Daulerio has since apologized, sort of.

Daulerio's original enabler and co-conspirator, Will Leitch, the former editor of Deadspin, offered his apology on Tuesday. Of course, Leitch and Daulerio do everything they can to distance themselves from the crime. Leitch rambles on about how every "upright walking normal human being" he has spoken with is "profoundly disturbed" by this crime against white womanhood.

It's all so (freaking) dishonest and biased that I'm embarrassed I read it. In the sports world, Deadspin eliminated the shame of privacy invasion for profit and made it mainstream. When Leitch and Buzz Bissinger had their infamous "Costas Now" confrontation, Leitch said the web site "humanized" its victims.

No, the site exploits private lives for profit, just like Hollywood paparazzi. Sometimes, it's a relatively harmless invasion of privacy. But sometimes it isn't. I contend — and I'll explain — that Daulerio's invasion of Stuart Scott's and Michelle Beisner's privacy in 2007 is just as gross and heinous as what happened to Erin Andrews. Everyone celebrated and/or blew off the crime against Scott and Beisner because Scott is not beloved by white men (or people like me who are turned off by his ghetto shtick).

But let me refresh your memory once again regarding Deadspin's original, unpunished sin. At a Super Bowl party Daulerio looked over Stu Scott's shoulder and read a text message that Scott sent to Beisner at 12:30 a.m. The message simply stated, "Lemme know."

Here's how Daulerio interpreted the text: "Now, obviously, "Lemme know" is pretty non-descript. But at 12:30 a.m., in Miami, well, it means "Are you coming out tonight to f--- me or what?" Especially given who Scott was texting (I literally read the name right off his phone):

"Her name is Michelle Beisner, former Denver Broncos cheerleader and aspiring D-list Hollywood actress-type. Blonde. White Woman. Hey, nobody likes to start rumors about Stuart F---ing Scott, but if Michelle Beisner is his booty call, well, BooYa, my friend. Boo F---ing Ya."

What's the problem? Here's his post so you can read it for yourself. Read this, this and this to get a sample of how then-Deadspin editor Leitch rejoiced in Daulerio's invasion of privacy. OK, you might think no one is being videotaped naked in the Scott post. I'd argue that Scott and Beisner would've preferred to be videotaped naked rather than having an influential blog accuse the then-married Scott of adultery and Beisner of being a home-wrecking, booty-call-answering whore.

Why was Beisner unworthy of sympathy? Her privacy was violated. It couldn't be because she committed the felony of Befriending a Black Man While White and Attractive? Deadspin has rewritten the rulebook when it comes to privacy and fairness as it pertains to athletes and sports media. The site is inherently unfair to minorities and random members of the media it chooses to dislike for whatever reason.

No one objects. The mainstream media have treated Leitch and Daulerio like they're Woodward and Bernstein. Sports Illustrated's magazine and web site served as Leitch's hype man. He was celebrated in a magazine profile. His good friend, Richard Deitsch, regularly broke out the cheerleading uniform at SI.com, tossing Leitch softball questions or plugging Leitch in monthly media rankings. Do I believe Deadspin is evil? No. I like to laugh at my own stupidity and the hypocrisy and buffoonery of my peers and athletes. Most days I enjoy Deadspin. But the site, like everything else on this planet, is flawed, and Deadspin is flawed in ways the mainstream media should notice, analyze and criticize.

I've argued for the past two years the site is no different from ESPN, Deadspin's favorite whipping-boy institution. For two days ESPN ignored the Ben Roethlisberger sexual-assault lawsuit. There has been no official explanation why the civil suit filed against Big (White) Ben is being treated differently from Shannon Brown's or Isiah Thomas' much-discussed sexual-harassment lawsuit or countless other he-said-she-saids. ESPN plays favorites for a wide variety of reasons. It's unfair.

Invasion of privacy for profit is what we all do to some degree in this day and age of Internet, camera-phone journalism. We're in desperate pursuit of clicks and ratings. There was a time when athletes could visit nightclubs and whatnot without fear of being photographed or videotaped. We respected their right to a private life even while in public. We judged and analyzed them by what they did on the field. We don't do that now, and the change has little to do with improved journalism. It's all about improved ratings and hits.

I'm just as guilty. The difference is I want us all to play by the same rules, regardless of color, willingness to befriend certain bloggers or business relationships. If we're willing to exploit athletes and their private lives for profit, let's not complain when we are exploited. Again, I just want the exploitation to be equal opportunity. It's not right now.

The Pacman Jones stripclub video served no journalistic purpose. It was aired on ESPN and everywhere else solely to titillate and entertain. The raw footage didn't help us understand the crime. There was no interaction between Jones, his entourage and the club's bouncers.

There were black asses shaking and black entertainers demonstrating how fools depart from their money. It was a reality version of Spike Lee's underrated movie Bamboozled. America couldn't get enough of the Pacman video until Erin Andrews was caught dropping it like it was hot in front of a hotel mirror. ESPN won't cover that story. It's climbed up on some high horse and is passing judgment on the New York Post for running pictures of ESPN's sideline Barbie.

How do you think the world-wide leader in hypocrisy would handle it if Serena Williams, Anna Kournikova or Candace Parker had been videotaped? I bet the network would throw together a two-hour documentary on how the video was made. And Leitch and Daulerio would drop the profoundly-disturbed-and-remorseful act.

Fox News: Inspiring Public Servants, Not Silent Plebeians

Aziz Royesh opens the doors to Marefat High School every morning with one eye gazing toward his country’s future -- and the other looking warily over his shoulder. One morning three months ago, he says, he was greeted at the school in West Kabul not by students -- but by an angry mob of nearly 40 men and boys. “They started stoning the windows and the door of the school,” Royesh says. “They were shouting … they want Aziz, and we want to kill him, and we will execute him.”

The Afghan National Police arrived, but the crowd continued shouting death threats at him, into the evening. Royesh's "crime"? He lets girls attend the same school as boys. When Royesh opened the Marefat School in Pakistan, his native Afghanistan was ruled by the Taliban, who denied basic rights to women and girls under their strict interpretation of Islam.

But when the Taliban government fell in 2001, Royesh moved the school to his homeland. Now Marefat has 2,550 students, from Kindergarten through 12th grade -- and about 40 percent of them are girls. “If we do not help the girls to get free, we will not help the men, or the male part of the community, to get free,” Royesh says. “If you educate the girls…it means you have helped society to get rid of all the barriers they put around themselves.”

But that philosophy is a hard sell in Afghanistan. In 2003, Royesh says, Marefat became the target of a smear campaign in local Shiite mosques and educational centers. The school's teachers were accused of preaching Christianity, communism, Judaism and secularism – all of which are illegal under Afghan law.

Last year the smears spread further, over the airwaves of a television channel set up by Mohammad Asif Mohseni, the Shiite cleric who drafted the controversial law that allowed marital rape in Afghanistan. Royesh opposed the law, and he denounced it forcefully in a BBC interview. Two days later, that angry mob appeared at Marefat's front door. The school was closed the next day, but it reopened the day after that -- with police officers standing guard.

Royesh says the fear-mongering lasted about a week and a half. He says a letter left on doorsteps throughout the community threatened that the girls would be burned with acid if they did not trade in their school uniforms for traditional Islamic clothing. For a few days, Royesh says, students were harassed on buses and side streets. A 12-year-old boy named Ali remembers being harassed as he went to school by a bus cleaner who called him “a puppy of a Christian” and slapped him on the face. A 17-year-old girl named Fatima says her relatives accompanied her to school after a group of men told her she’d be kidnapped or killed if she did not abandon her education.

These days, Afghan National Police stop by the school regularly to check on security. The threats continue, but they are focused largely on Royesh himself – not on students. Still, he does not have guards, and he chooses to travel freely. “When a people are not introduced to modern norms of life, how can they bring a change to themselves?” he asks. “Otherwise, every day, we have the possibility of the Taliban-type movements to return back to Afghanistan.”

The impact of education is clear in the eyes of the students at the school. Fourteen-year-old Fatima Jafari returned with her family from Iran two years ago to study here. Already, she presents a poise that is hard to find in an American teenager, much less an Afghan girl. “They want to make us to be brave, to participate in every program," Fatima says in halting English. "Our teachers want that we should be president, not only a lady that works only in a home."

“It is our responsibility to get an education,” adds Masooda Kasami, age 14. “We should make the situation better. I should be a servant for my people.”

Words like those make Royesh confident in his mission. “When the people are illiterate, when they are not aware of their rights, when they are not aware of their responsibilities, then you have despotic rulers," he says. "The civic education that we have inside the school – this is the main cause that we feel is very important for the future of Afghanistan.….This is something which can lead Afghanistan to a better life.”

NEW RULE

Facebook is users. Facebook should protect their users.

Recently, Facebook has endured several rumors. Personal information may be vulnerable. Personal photographs may be vulnerable. No substantial violations have occurred. However, these rumors are unacceptable. Financial institutions would endure an investigation. Facebook should also.

Worth A Read

Beyond the Box Score

A saber-slanted baseball community.

The Daily Smak

Hey, weren’t you Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison?

In Europe, mosquitoes can carry malaria vaccine. Can they carry tequila?

On Wednesday, a sports reporter was charged with prostitution. Marv Albert, seek some help.

Another Dolan Debacle: Indians Exchange Cliff Lee

Each season, exchanges will occur. Contenders acquire essential components. Their opposites discard cornerstones and superstars. The latter may be conceding their campaign. However, they cannot surrender. They must receive premiere prospects.

On Wednesday, the Cleveland Indians traded Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to the Philadelphia Phillies. As reciprocation, the Indians received minor league catcher Lou Marson, minor league infielder Jason Donald, and minor league pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Jason Knapp. “At the root of this deal was balancing the conviction of our ability to compete in 2010 with the opportunity to impact the team's construction for years to come,” said Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro. “Without the sense of confidence in the team's ultimate competitiveness, we acted aggressively to add players that will impact the organization in 2010 and beyond.”

Currently, the Phillies are 58-41. In the National League East, they lead the Florida Marlins and Atlanta Braves. Florida’s deficit is six contests. Atlanta’s deficit is eight contests.

During his career, Lee has amassed an 83-48 record. He has posted a 4.01 earned run average. In 2008, Lee garnered the American League Cy Young Award. This season, he has registered a 7-9 record. “Obviously the Phillies are the defending world champions, they're a good team and they're in first place,” he said. “Honestly, it's an honor and I look at it as a good thing. If other teams are wanting me and are willing to trade some of their key players and future players for me, it's a compliment.”

Since 2007, the Indians have discarded Casey Blake, Paul Byrd, Ryan Garko, Lee, and C.C. Sabathia. They have received only one premiere prospect. Owner Larry Dolan warrants excoriation. He has embarrassed his city. He has embarrassed his franchise. He has embarrassed Major League Baseball.

NEW RULE

Bowl choices should be their own.

From 2010-2013, the Rose Bowl must accept non-major conference participants. The Bowl Championship Series is absurd, incompetent, pathetic, ridiculous, and stupid. The BCS’ national champion is symbolic. The BCS’ national championship contest is symbolic. The BCS should not smear an icon.

The Rose Bowl is a national treasure. The contest and venue merit revered institutions. Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Texas, and USC are appropriate selections. Boise State and Utah are not.

Worth A Read

NW Republican

Pacific Republicans read and share.

The Daily Smak

Hey, didn’t you used to be Michael Phelps?

I-Phones include card counting and police pinpointing applications. Intriguingly, Mickey Rourke can be found with each.

According to a study, tanning beds are lethal. They rival arsenic and mustard gas. I cannot believe this. Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan are alive.

Kabuki Court Conclusion

On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Sonia Sotomayor (13-6). Sotomayor’s confirmation was absurd. Her judicial perspective is reprehensible. Unfortunately, she will win confirmation. Republicans are impotent.

Second Slip

On Tuesday, Michael Phelps scored silver. No one should overreact. One race is unmemorable. With that stated, Phelps spiral is evident. His reputation is tarnished.

Tony Dungy: Vick Should Receive, Will Utilize Second Chance

Tony Dungy: “I'm not sure what football is going to hold for him; that will be discussed at length in the sports pages over the next few weeks. I believe in second chances for people who admit their mistakes and are committed to changing. I think Michael deserves the chance to show people he has changed and learned from past mistakes, but my true hope is that he will make sound decisions about his future and, at the same time, let people know more about the person that I've come to know recently.”

“I know the public will be skeptical, but I think, over time, people will find there's a different side to him than what they've seen so far. Sure, he would love to play football in the NFL again… but I think he has other priorities. He also would like to have a positive impact on young people's lives and he realizes that his dogfighting conviction has been a huge negative in that respect. I know he wants to turn that around and help kids understand the importance of good decision-making.”

Bobcats, Hornets Shuffle Components

On Tuesday, the Charlotte Bobcats traded Emeka Okafor to the New Orleans Hornets. As reciprocation, the Hornets received Tyson Chandler. “Emeka is one of the premier centers in the NBA with All-Star caliber scoring and rebounding averages throughout his career,” said Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower. “His potential to improve is endless once you put him on the court running with Chris Paul.”

During his career, Okafor has recorded 14.0 points and 10.7 rebounds per contest. Conversely, Chandler has registered 8.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per contest. “We looked at this trade as an opportunity to improve our team,” said Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins. “Tyson brings that unique level of athleticism in a 7-footer that puts us in a position to compete night in and night out with the other quality centers in the league.”

This exchange is intriguing. The exchanged are compliments. They are not superstars. They may not impact rosters. They may not increase victories. For improvement, franchises require alteration. A component reshuffling is insufficient.

Goodell’s Line Erased With Embarrassment

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cavorts as an authoritarian. Athletes embarrass their franchise. They embarrass the NFL. Goodell eviscerates them. Unfortunately, Goodell’s persona is an illusion. His presentation is castigation and exile. His reality is reprimand and return.

On Monday, Goodell reinstated Michael Vick. "I do recognize that some will never forgive him for what he did,” said Goodell. “I hope that the public will have a chance to understand his position as I have."”

On July 17,2007, Vick, as well as associates Purnell Peace, Quanis Phillips, and Tony Taylor were charged with competitive dog fighting. On July 26, Vick plead not guilty. On July 27, Taylor plead guilty. On August 17, Peace and Phillips plead guilty. On August 24, Vick acquiesced. He received twenty-three months incarceration. He served eighteen months.

Vick’s reaction was reflective. “I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to commissioner Goodell for allowing me to be readmitted to the National Football League,” he said. “I fully understand that playing football in the NFL is a privilege, not a right, and I am truly thankful for the opportunity I have been given. As you can imagine, the last two years have given me time to re-evaluate my life, mature as an individual and fully understand the terrible mistakes I have made in the past and what type of life I must lead moving forward.”

During his career, Vick has completed 930 of 1,730 passes for 11,505 yards with 71 touchdowns and 52 interceptions. He has also logged 523 carries for 3,859 yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2006, Vick hit 204 of 388 aerials for 2,474 yards with 20 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Rehabilitation is appropriate and noble. However, Vick is an irreversible precedent. Goodell has renounced his authority. He has surrendered his morality. His actions have inferred the abhorrent. Athleticism trumps character.

Incite Russia, Inspire Angst

Vice President Biden: “I think we vastly underestimate the hand that we hold. Russia has to make some very difficult, calculated decisions. They have a shrinking population base, they have a withering economy, they have a banking sector and structure that is not likely to be able to withstand the next 15 years, they're in a situation where the world is changing before them and they're clinging to something in the past that is not sustainable.”

Sergei Prikhodko: “The U.S. vice president's intention to tie this serious work (on cutting nuclear weapons stockpiles) to economic reasons rather than to the responsibility that Russia and the U.S. bear to the international community are absolutely incomprehensible.”

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: "It takes time, it takes trust-building. And we want what the president called for during his recent Moscow summit. We want a strong, peaceful and prosperous Russia. The Russians know that, you know, we have continuing questions about some of their policies, and they have continuing questions about some of ours.”

Fox News: Former Pilot Creates Canine Corps

No one knows first hand the horrors of war more than World War II hero Irwin Stovroff. That's why when Stovroff — who was held for one year in a Nazi POW camp before being freed by allied forces — learned that the U.S. government didn't supply service dogs for wounded soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the 85 year old decorated hero from Boca Raton, Fla. made it his mission to overhaul the policy. "It is a shame." Stovroff says about the lack of an official federal program that pairs up battle-injured veterans with guide and therapy animals that can greatly improve their rehabilitation. "I wanted to do something about it."

Stovroff has raised nearly $2 million dollars to help train and match up service canines with wounded combat vets. Stovroff is also pushing lawmakers for federal funding to finance the program that he says has received lots of bi-partisan praise. Stovroff is not someone who shirks away from a tough mission.

Stovroff is not just a World War II vet, but a Distinguished Flying Cross recipient whose own personal tale reads like a Hollywood movie. After Stovroff was shot down behind enemy German lines on his 35th bombing flight, he had to hide his Jewish faith from his captors to survive, even throwing away his dog tags before his plane crashed.

His latest mission is to bring awareness and support. "The dog can become his eyes. He can become his legs. He can bring him anything he needs." Stovroff told Fox News with his golden retriever, Cash, lying by his side. "A dog is probably the best thing that can happen to these soldiers."

Stovroff says that the dogs help the injured soldiers, not just in a functional way, but therapeutically. "They need a guide (but) they need the help and love of a dog as well," he says, petting Cash.

Worley who lost most of his left leg, and severely injured his right one in a 2004 roadside bomb in Fallujah, Iraq says that his service dog is much more than a pet, but a “vital” support system. "He braces to help me stand up. He brings me my shoe when I put my prosthetic on. He stabilizes me when I walk," Worley says.

However, it can be expensive to train these canines. Costs to train a service dog can run between $30,000 to $50,000 per dog, Stovroff explains, the reason behind his lobbying Congress for extra help. But his efforts are beginning to pay off. Earlier this month, Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) introduced legislation to help train guide dogs and other service animals for wounded veterans.

According to a release by Klein’s office, The Wounded Warrior K-9 Corps Act would establish a grant program for organizations that provide wounded warriors and disabled veterans with service animals. On the Senate side, their newest member Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) has also put out a similar bill. For wounded warriors this means not just a lifeline, but a friend. “He is a completely trust-worthy companion that does not judge anything. He is willing to help you, and its entire life is based off making you happy,” says Worley.

While We Were Silent

During our absence, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won reelection. North Korea launched another missile. Air France, Caspian Airlines, and Yemenia Airlines endured tragedy. President Obama advocated healthcare.

The Los Angeles Lakers, LSU Tigers, and Pittsburgh Penguins scored titles. Roger Federer won the French Open and Wimbledon. Stewart Cink, Lucas Glover, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Serena Williams won major championships. Helio Castroneves garnered the Indianapolis 500.

David Carradine, Walter Cronkite, Farrah Fawcett, Arturo Gatti, Michael Jackson, Karl Malden, Billy Mays, Ed McMahon, Steve McNair, and Robert McNamara died.

The Daily Smak, New Rules, and Worth A Read will return Wednesday. For our absence, our sincere apology.