Bracketbuster another bust for Hofstra
Again Hofstra plays a team that is below them in the RPI standings and therefore won't increase their chances for an NCAA bid.

The whole purpose of the ESPN bracketbusters is to have mid major teams take on dominant teams in the NCAA. Instead bracketbusters have turned into mid major teams versus mid major teams. All the teams participating in the event this year are on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament.

Last year, Hofstra played a weak Siena team last year which ultimately hurt their chances for an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. Can you believe a fixed game by ESPN bracketbusters damaging a teams chances for the tournament? Well, here we go again.

ESPN just wants a pat on the back for giving "mid-majors" (they abuse the term by the way) some publicity. Does ESPN really care about the event or is it just good PR?

By the way, has anyone noticed that ESPN advertises other scheduled college games straight up against the Bracketbuster? That's hypocrisy to the schools or 'mid-majors' they are trying to help. This is why the network deserves criticism.

The New MLS
With new additions to the league such as Beckham and Reyna, this year will inevitably be a little more exciting


Among the marquee names such as David Beckham and Claudio Reyna, many other big names have chosen America's MLS as their new home. Players like Brazilian striker Luciano Emilio, experienced player Ante Jazic (who will be playing with Beckham in LA) played in Croatia, Seria A, and Austria. And now there are confirmed reports that Brian McBridge is considering a move to Chicago.

With these new additions certain things are going to change in MLS. Here is a short list:

1. More competitive nature- At introductory press conferences, already new players in the league are stating their expectations for the 2007 season campaign. Luciano Emilio strongly stated this at his press conference: "Number one, I want to win a championship. Second, I want to win the goal-scoring title." Attitudes such as this makes it exciting to watch and game. Even the players and fans get fired up when confident or cocky players infiltrate the league.
   
2. More coverage- Already we have seen the media get involved with the big transactions done during this winter. With the competitive nature of MLS increasing, expect more media outlets for the league and advertising!
3. More fans- Expect attendance to increase this year. Not only because of offseason signings but the environment is going to be where it needs to be. It's not just going to be Mom & Pop sitting as if they were watching a baseball game. Fans will be chanting, swearing, and getting kicked out more often than they have in previous years.
   

Bah, Humbug!

Short list of Bahumbuggers this Christmas...

Isiah Thomas:
Christmas was just around the corner and it just kept getting worse and worse. Your team was having a horrible season and you stared at another loss your team would take and the criticism you would have to endure more about the direction you are taking the Knicks organization. So with time expiring you ordered a flagrant foul and initiated a brawl. Ten players later, your team still lost and your team still sucks in a very dismal division. So Bah Humbug to you, Isiah Thomas!


Terrell Owens:

Reasons: Too numerous to list in this blog. Spitting on Alanta Falcons cornerback D'Angelo Hall was not human. Bah, Humbug! Bah, Humbug! Bah, Humbug! and Bah, Humbug! to you!







Kramer:
Richards unacceptable behavior at the Laugh Factory made no one laugh. But that scene reflects his comically ugly character on Seinfeld a little bit. Still, however, he is a comedian and if someone heckles you in the crowd be more witty and clever about it. The only N-word you should be saying is NO. NO NO NO NO. Bad Michael Richards!


Politicians 2006:


Why, Oh, Why? There is a long list of Scrouge's in D.C. and a long list of things that just do not make sense. From Katrina to Iraq to Human Rights abuses-nothing this year looked good in American politics except maybe the Democrats getting back in. But lets see if they have a backbone and can get some things done.







Okay, now it's your turn. Add some Bahumbuggers on the comments!

Drinking on the holidays...

It's 5am and you just don't want the night to end. You feel yourself already hungover but you stumble into the next pub for just one more drink. It's the holidays and you know you don't have to work the next day. No ones going to call you from work, no emails are coming through- you're free and you're drunk.
As you get older holidays aren't all about opening gifts anymore, buying gifts turns into a hassle, and drinking turns into the spirit of christmas. The kisses on the cheek from Aunt Wilma and Gramma are that much sweeter after you have just downed a whole bottle of wine and that random reindeer sweater shocks the hell out of you when you rip it out of the box and its translated into pure joy.
I enjoyed the holidays when I could get out of school for a month but now I don't get any time off. Instead I drink all holiday long. So much, in fact, that Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus would be proud of me.

Where have all the bookstores gone?

There's something more genuine and refined about a Ma and Pop bookstore. Maybe it's the smell or the cluttered collection of books throughout the store. You feel more connected to the owner and he seems more approachable. The owner is not a store manager, more than that, and he/she doesn't have to follow a sort of protocol.
The trend has been occuring for a while but it still upsets me to see these bookstores close. Barnes & Noble is the Starbucks of books. And now that I think of it, Starbucks is in Barnes & Noble. The bookstore on 74 & Broadway has just closed-a haven for me whenever I was in that area.
Will Barnes & Noble be the only book distributor or is it already? How many Ma and Pop shops/bodegas/bookstores/etc. are left and how are they surviving? A report that came across me from work revealed that the trend is set and Manhattan will become only chain stores and franchises just like the middle America-beware Sales people!

Disgruntled as he should be. Another long list of reasons why the Comcast Sportsnet ownership in Philadelphia is hurting attendance, superstars, and fans.
In an ESPN interview, AI said he never demanded to be traded and never talked to Ed Snider about demanding a trade. Possibly it was Billy King, the GM, that was giving false information to the people up top. If you remember, trade talks were lingering at the end of last year and the summer when the team was in Barcelona. Billy King couldn't handle the job of dealing with a superstar and doesn't even know what to do with Chris Webber (he reportedly wants out). Here we are, developing for the long run when the team was supposedly developed.
Oh well, look at whats happened to the other franchise, the Flyers, playing in the Wacko Center. A developed team into a developing team. This all makes me very upset until you start looking at the Knicks.

Great Basketball @ MSG

On Dec. 28-29 there will be two days of doubleheaders with Hofstra vs. St. Joe's and St. John vs. Boston U. with the winners/losers of both playing the following day.

It's a must attend since one of those teams will definitely make it to the big dance...