Hmmmm, have you seen this Casey

Observe...


And now look at this next photo...



I think I have a phone call to make.

Blazers 2.0

While the zombie Sonics are "allegedly" one of the most talented young teams in the NBA, the nearby Portland Trailblazers are probably the most talented young teams in the league. After jumping ship (well call it getting dumped by the Sonics/Thunder) and getting on the Trailwagon, this should be a fun season of basketball... the Blazers are going to compete for the best record in the West while Oklahoma City maybe gets a playoff spot.

Portland won 54 games last season, gave the Lakers as many problems as anyone in the West and has more young talent than any Western contender. These are inarguable facts. Equally salient is that they lost in the first round of the playoffs to Houston, a defeat they blame on their lack of playoff experience.

Thus, one can see the danger in extrapolating from Portland's 2008-09 regular season by having the Blazers anoint themselves championship hopefuls and worthy rivals to L.A. -- um, shouldn't they win a series first?

So on Monday, the Blazers came out in humble mode, with an answer for their season goal that seemed more scripted than a political talking point: "Win the division."

You had to be there to believe it. It wasn't one person or a couple of people saying this; it was everybody, from general manager Kevin Pritchard to coach Nate McMillan (both of whom talked with the media last Wednesday) to the deepest reserves. There was no ambiguity at all, no stuttering looking for the right words. Regardless of who talked, every single question about goals for this season met an immediate response of "win the division."

How about you guys do this... win the division and blow out Oklahoma City/Zombie Sonics every chance you get. I wouldn't mind a brawl going into the stands in OKC either, if there's fans still going to those games after the economy took a dump.

New EWU Jerseys made by me!

With Casey coming up with some EWU replica jerseys (so very good ones in fact - scroll down on the blog to see them) I have decided also to make my own EWU replica jerseys. Using my ginger intuition, the resources available to me in Spokane and roughly four Jack and Cokes ...

HERE IS THE RESULT!

A spitting image huh? You'd rather have my EWU replica jersey than Casey's right?

We're sending clowns into space now

Space travel is no joke, unless you're the Russian Space Program, and you need the money, and the rich founder of a circus wants to go up to the International Space Station.

MONTREAL (AFP) – Cirque du Soleil's founder, who will soon rocket into space, went from pauper to circus mogul by turning a troupe of ragtag street performers in 1984 into a global entertainment empire.

At 0714 GMT Wednesday, Canadian Guy Laliberte will celebrate his recent 50th birthday by becoming the seventh space tourist to rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan to the International Space Station for a 12-day "poetic, social mission."

Near the end of his 35-million-dollar trip, on October 9, he will direct a "planetary artistic event" in 14 cities on five continents.

The social dimension will be represented by his One Drop foundation, which works to improve access to water resources and to raise awareness of water-related issues.

"I've been introduced in a number of different ways in the past -- as a fire-eater, an artist, an entrepreneur, an entertainer, and I have to admit that (now) being introduced as a space explorer is quite something for me," he told a news conference in June.

"I am profoundly touched by this," he said, recalling a television interview during the Cirque's early years in which he quipped: "One day I hope I can take the Cirque du Soleil into space."

This guy likes to play practical jokes - which could be a problem if he puts one of those exploding cans of fake snakes in someone's space suit.

Epic Photo: Eastern Jerseys

These are some jerseys that Brandon and I both agree are awesome. JustSON exclusives. These are real, twill sewn numbers jerseys.

Seattle P-I test results still unknown

This evening I came across this blog post by Kenneth Corbin in which he talks about the future of journalism and how the Seattle P-I is testing the waters in this new media age.

And if that's not interesting enough, check out this site. It's called Paper Cuts and it shows exactly how many newspaper jobs have been lost to-date. And also where these cuts have been made. Great time for print journalism right? Well, looks like to survive journalism must adapt. Kinda like JustSON. Welcome to the future.

WASHINGTON -- In some ways, the Seattle P-I is one of the best testbeds the country's got going for what local journalism will look like after the city paper takes its inevitable place behind the glass case at the Smithsonian.

The paper, formerly the beta daily in a two-newspaper town, ended its 146-year print run in March, a victim of declining circulations and the spare economics of digital advertising.

The paper, though eulogized thoroughly, was reborn as a Web-only experiment, a digital news organization pruned from an editorial staff of almost 180 down to about 20.

"It's an adventure," said Monica Guzman, who carriers the title of "news gatherer" at the online-only incarnation of the Seattle P.I.

That title refers to the diversified role of what old-media types knew as reporters. Now, Guzman says everyone on staff does everything. Next Saturday, she'll take a turn at the production shift, leaving her in charge of managing the Web site. All writers are to be trained how to use a camera, to ease the load of the one full-time photographer on the P-I's staff.

"There's this acknowledgment that reporting isn't just reporting in the traditional sense," Guzman said this afternoon at the Gov 2.0 Summit. The event, co-hosted by O'Reilly Media and TechWeb, focuses principally on government and technology, but justified the panel on the future of journalism for the civic good that investigative reporters sometimes provide.

As a "news gatherer," Guzman said she is often cast in the role of facilitator, marshalling the verve of bloggers and citizen journalists by doing things like packing the P-I's site with raw government data that leads to a wellspring of fact-based reporting and commentary, much of it of the hyper-local variety.

"Any time we put up a database online, it just takes off," she said.

So, given the tools, time and inclination, anyone can be an investigative reporter of the sort that helps keep civil servants honest?

Well, it's an experiment. Seattle, Guzman readily admitted, is blessed with a comparatively tech-savvy population that has spawned a vibrant blogging culture. The way she tells it, they're getting street cred in the halls of power. Whereas a couple years ago, press passes for new media types were hard to come by and the desk sergeant might not have given a blogger the time of day, in Seattle of 2009 it's "bad news" for the officials who don't work with the blogging community, Guzman said.

Some of them are even making money, farming out paid assignments, she said.

Enough to shine a light on City Hall, to avoid the descent into the golden age of corruption that David Simon darkly warned a Senate panel about back in May?

Too early to tell. But it's hard to argue that Seattle isn't better off for the online P-I and its burgeoning courtship with the local bloggers. So the experiment continues.

Epic Video: Always play to the whistle

Fast-forward to 1:10. Watch the great catch and then the field goal attempt. After the field goal try, watch a terrible error that cost the player's team the game.

Also, this has got to be the most over the top TV guy. He's terrible.

Best. Seahawks Jersey. Ever.

Thank you Deadspin.

Epic Video: I want to see Ric Flair in a cage match with Charlie Weis

Where's Stone Cold Steve Austin when you need him?

Dangerous... hehehe.... man in Spokane

Found this on Huckleberries, God Bless that blog.

The FBI is looking for this man, who robbed the INB bank branch at Hawthorne Road and Nevada Street at gunpoint Tuesday. Officials say the suspect tied up bank employees with duct tape during the robbery. Dangerous

Oh man, only in Spokane. (That is not Casey by the way).

What a Tuel

At WSU, they like to gently work young talent along and develop them until they're absolutely ready.

That's why true freshman Jeff Tuel got thrown to the wolves against USC last week and will hopping from the frying pan into the fire against Oregon at Autzen Stadium this weekend.

No pressure, kid.

Actually from what we saw from Tuel against USC, this might be the spark that the Cougars are looking for. Not this season. Seriously? You think there's any hope whatsoever for this season? What Cougar-shine have you been drinking? We're talking about the future. Hope you brought your time machine.

Paul Wulff developed Erik Meyer and Matt Nichols at Eastern Washington, both throwing them out on the field early in their collegiate career. They may not win this year, but Wulff knows how to turn these young guys into eventual winners.

Say hello to the the start of the Jeff Tuel era.

Epic Video: Fall Season Lineup

Fall is here. And with fall comes the new season of television. Check out this promo for the new shows on ABC.

P.S. See if you can find Tony Danza with Who's the Boss?

Yep

These are the uniforms Brandon prefers to the Seahawks green ones.

Ugh.

Casey, these jerseys are disgusting. What were you thinking?

Don't leave your plane on the street corner

Apparently somebody lost something...

Boundary County Sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents are working together Tuesday to search for a stolen airplane. According to Airport Manager Dave Parker, a Cessna 182 was stolen overnight from the Boundary County Airport in Bonners Ferry.

Boy i hate when you leave you plane alone for one minute and somebody steals it. Now where are the thieves going to land, because don't you think somebody would notice a stolen airplane?

Epic Photo: Whoops Bob! It appears to be broken

"Hey! Something appears to be wrong down here."

The funny thing is, these broken water mains in LA may be because of a water rationing measure.

Since Sept. 1, there have been 43 breaks that have flooded or damaged streets, compared with 21 in September 2008, 17 in September 2007 and 13 in September 2006.

The rash of blowouts began in June, when a new drought-induced water policy went into effect, a circumstance leading outside engineers and analysts to question whether water restrictions are contributing to the problem.

Under the policy, residents are permitted to water their lawns only on Monday and Thursday, causing a surge in water flow those days that may be taxing the system, said Richard G. Little, a policy analyst at the University of Southern California who studies public infrastructure. “I am one person who thinks there is something odd going on here,” Mr. Little said.

Local government appears to be working all cylinders! Naturally they wouldn't assume everyone would try and water their lawns on the same day that they were allowed to. Who would of thunk it?!

Maybe the Spokane City Council aren't the only dummies in America...

Shock members of new arena football league

Arena Football has been resurrected, say hello to Arena Football 1...

Tulsa, OK: Arena Football 1 was officially introduced this afternoon at a press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With this announcement, it is assured, the game Jim Foster invented will be competitive and above all fan friendly. Long serving arena football executive Jerry Kurz was introduced as Commissioner of the newly created league that will unite former AFL, af2 and other indoor football teams under the Arena Football 1 banner.

As of right now three markets from the AFL will be business: Chicago, Phoenix and Orlando. One of the smaller markets will be none another than Spokane, meaning the dream of the Shock becoming an AFL team has kind of come true.

While I'm assuming there will be some sort of tier system, here's the other markets they'll have in the AF1.

The initial sixteen teams and their respective markets are: Arizona, Arkansas, Bossier-Shreveport, Central Valley (Fresno, California), Chicago, Iowa, Jacksonville, Kentucky, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Spokane, Tennessee Valley (Alabama), Tri-Cities Washington, Tulsa, Utah (Salt Lake City). Additional teams will be announced by October 9th.

Wait a minute! Tri-Cities gets an AF1 team? Weren't they like the worst market/team in the af2? Oh boy... let's hope they're put in Tier 2 and ran out of the league in a year or so.

Epic Video: Brandon's favorite song

Here's one of Brandon's favorite song. Whenever it's on, he dances to it.

The Big Sky Conference is in Montana's jockstrap

I hate the Big Sky Conference. It might as well be called the "We love Montana" conference because I swear the Grizzlies run the league office. After having one of the best performances in the nation, EWU running back Taiwan Jones has to share honors with two other Big Sky Players...

In a rarity, the league has selected tri-Players of the Week on Offense with Montana quarterback Andrew Selle, Weber State QB Cameron Higgins and Eastern Washington running back Taiwan Jones all sharing the honor. For the second straight week, Eastern Washington linebacker J.C. Sherritt is the Defensive Player of the Week. Portland State’s Aaron Woods is the Special Teams Player of the Week.

Jones has 190 yard on just 15 carries and 4 touchdowns. That's Barry Sanders numbers right there. Meanwhile Selle and Higgins both had good performances under center but their numbers are something that happen every weekend by a QB in the Big Sky Conference. Jones' running numbers are something of a rarity.

He scored on nearly a THIRD of his carries.

Ridiculous Big Sky Conference, don't even try and pretend you're a real league office.

Area high school football player dies due to head injury

This sucks in the worst possible way...

A 17-year-old high school football player from Spokane died after suffering a head injury during a game Friday night.

Andrew “Drew” Fremont Swank, a junior at Valley Christian School, was pronounced dead at 9:42 p.m. Sunday, according to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Swank was a star player for the school’s football program, which began in fall 2007, according to news archives. The team was playing Washtucna High School at Washtucna, south of Ritzville.

Several kids die each year playing high school football, and i remember recently hearing about a high school coach being put on trial after one of his players died from heat exhaustion. While risk is inherit with the game of football, you hate to see this sort of thing and this should be a reminder to everyone how vigilant everyone has to be about the game of football.

From manufacturers of the football equipment, to the designers that are coming up with "concussion-proof" helmets, to the coaches being very careful about head injuries and teaching the players to tackle properly, to the emergency response and trainers at the actual games making to proper diagnosis.

One thing that really irks me about high school football is when coaches send players back into the game when they're a little hazy after a big hit. After seeing some high school coaches be very, very careful about their players and respecting their health over the results of the team, it only makes the other "coaches" that couldn't care less about a high school students condition seem worse than the scum at the bottom of the locker room showers.

I'm not saying this has anything to do with this death, but Swank's passing should be another wake up call for people around the country.