CBS Sports: NBA 1984-ECSF Game 1- New York Knicks @ Boston Celtics: Highlights

Source:CBS Sports- The New York Knicks & Boston Celtics from 1984.

Source:The Daily Press

“Opening game of the legendary 1984 ECSF series between Boston Celtics and New York Knicks. Game 1 was all about the best frontline in basketball history; Bird, McHale and Parish dominated in the first encounter of 7-game war.

Larry Bird: 23 points, 12 assists (amazing passes by prime Bird), 9 rebounds, 10/16 FG.

Kevin McHale: 25 points, 11/14 FG.

Robert Parish: 19 points, 12 rebounds, 9/16 FG.

Celtics won this one 110:92”

From Larry Legend

The Celtics-Knicks, a rivalry with a great history. This was a classic series in one of the best rivalries and two of the best franchises in the NBA, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, where you have four Hall of Famers in it in Bernard King for the Knicks and Larry Bid, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Dennis Johnson for the Celtics, should also be in the Hall of Fame, but thats a different story.

The Celtics actually had four Hall of Famers if you include their head coach K.C. Jones. And that is really the difference in this series. The Knicks were so dependent on one player in Bernard King, whereas the Celtics had several great players and great role players. People like Cedric Maxwell, Danny Ainge, Scott Wedman.

The Knicks, similar to the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls of the mid and late 1980s, were very dependent on one great scorer to lead the way. And when that one player was having a good game that would free up scoring opportunities for other players. The Hawks, had Dominique Wilkins and the Bulls of course had Michael Jordan. But neither team had another great scorer they could go to when their best player had an off game.

All great scorers in the NBA have off games, but if they’re playing on very good teams, those teams have other scorers and generally multiple scorers that can pick up the slack when their best scorer has that off game. With the Knicks, it really was Bernard King. And sometimes Bill Cartwright and Ray Williams. But they needed King at his best for most games.

I believe that was the main difference in this series. The great team in the Celtics, vs the great player in Bernard King. If King has one of those great games and scored in the high thirties and forties, the Knicks could play with the Celtics, if they played good defense.

But the Celtics had Larry Bird who by himself was about as great of a scorer as the NBA has ever seen. The reason why he didn’t score as much as the other great scorers was because he didn’t have to. Teams would do a lot to stop him and Legend was such a great passer and playmaker and would free up his teammates for scores. As well as a great rebounder and team defender. He didn’t have to have a great scoring night to beat the Knicks. Because he had a lot of help and did so many other things for the Celtics.

CBS Sports: NCAA Basketball 1982- Final Four Semifinal- Georgetown Hoyas vs Louisville Cardinals: Full Game

Source:CBS Sports- coverage of the 1982 NCAA Basketball Final Four.

Source:The Daily Press 

"Louisville vs Georgetown 1982 NCAA Final Four (FULL GAME)" 

From Justin Bowen

Hoyas head coach John Thompson’s first trip to the final four and they beat the 1980 national champion Louisville Cardinals. When you look at this game you see a lot of NBA talent in it. Including Hall of Famer Pat Ewing and Eric Floyd for the Hoyas. The Louisville Cardinals had Rodney McCray, who had a very solid career and was a key role player for the Houston Rockets on their 1986 NBA Finals team. Derek Smith, a very talented guard/forward, but dealt with leg injuries his whole NBA career. Which limited his time and production. 

The two head coaches with Denny Crum for the Cardinals and John Thompson for the Hoyas, are both in the Hall of Fame. The Cardinals won the National Championship just two years earlier. The 1980s was a great decade for them and they would win the championship again in 1986. The Hoyas played in three Finals Fours in the 1980s and won the championship in 1984. This was a matchup between two of the top basketball programs and head coaches in the 1980s. And was a great game as a result.

Bob Parker: ABC News 45-85- Post-World War II

Source:Bob Parker- ABC News anchor Ted Koppel.

Source:The Daily Press

"45/85 Part 1 an ABC News television documentary. It aired on September 18, 1985. The three-hour program combined archive film and television footage with new interviews to document post-World War II history, focusing especially on the Cold War. Hosted by Ted Koppel and Peter Jennings. End of World War II, Levittown." 

From Bob Parker

It would be another thirty-years until I was born when World War II was officially over in 1945. So it’s not like I can talk about post-World War II America with any personal experience. I’m going off of what I’ve learned about it from books, publications, and documentaries. But this was a time when America came back and came back stronger than it ever was, at least to this point. The Great Depression was finally over and America was moving again. Emerging as the economic, diplomatic and military power of the world. Russia was obviously a major competitor to us from both a military and diplomatic perspective. But America was the power because of what we stood for.

America transitions from a depressing time of economic depression and war, to a period of peace at least abroad, but not at home. To where we were the military and economic power of the world. And where we could influence any part of the world that wanted what we already had. Peace, freedom an independent and developed economy. 

America helps rebuild Europe after Europe destroyed themselves. We rebuilt Japan after they attacked us and we practically destroyed them to end that war with them. America had it all from an economic and military perspective and we're prepared to use it to further our interests around the world. When Harry Truman became President of the United States in 1945, he really was inheriting a powerful great giant of a country. That had never been stronger.

America was not just moving again, but moving to not just be as strong as we can at home, but abroad as well. Neoconservatives I think loves this time, because America was fighting to expand democracy and freedom around the world. Not just in Europe, but in the Orient in Japan and the later Korea. America perhaps overestimating their strengths and power and underestimating China’s and Communist Korea by trying to unite all of Korea under a democratic system. And as a result we left Korea deadlocked between a communist North and a democratic South in the 1950s. But South Korea thanks to America, is one of the strongest countries in the world today as well. This was an incredible time when America almost seemed invincible.

History Channel: The Manson Family Murders

Source:Lane Hodges- with a look at the world of Helter Skelter?

Source:The Daily Press

“The first victims fell on August 9, 1969, at the home Roman Polanski had rented located at 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, an area just north of Beverly Hills.”

From Lane Hodges 

This photo is from a 2009 History Channel documentary about Charles Manson and his Manson Family Cult, which was really a hippie crime family, that operated in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and into the 1970s.

Source:History Channel- Take a trip back to the 1960s

From the History Channel

Charles Manson had the perfect group to do his evil deeds  (so to speak). Because his group was similar to him in the sense that they didn’t seem to fit in very well in mainstream society. Even though Manson’s soldiers all came from solid middle class backgrounds and could’ve all ended going to college before they went to prison for their murders. But instead ended up with Charlie Manson, because they felt for some reason that their families no longer wanted them.

Charlie, had just gotten out of prison for the last time, in 1967-68 and ends up in the San Francisco area. And meets up with these very young women and Tex Watson, in their late teens. And sees that they are lost and offers them his love and takes them in. And they embraced him and the Manson Crime Family is formed as a result.

The Onion: Senator Ted Cruz: ‘Fills Few Hours of Marathon Speech With Rousing Pro-ObamaCare Argument’

Source:The Onion- in a marathon Senate floor speech Senator Ted Cruz, finally ran out of Tea Party propaganda and decided to embrace ObamaCare. If he had five more minutes, he would've endorsed President Barack Obama for a third term. But every man has to eat and even use the bathroom, go to sleep before they crash on the Senate floor from exhaustion, etc. Not necessarily from The Onion. LOL

Source:The Daily Press

“The world’s insect leaders meet at the G20,000,000,000 Summit, a bullied 8th grader incorrectly thought classmates would leave him alone during a field trip to the 9/11 memorial, and a man experiencing his first real moment of peace in years is resuscitated. It’s the week of September 27, 2013. More from The Onion." 

From The Onion 

Only The Onion would report that Ted Cruz spoke in favor of so-called ObamaCare. Otherwise Senator Cruz could be both drunk and high and awake for seventy-two hours straight at the Guantanamo Bay Prison and even forced to take truth serum and still find away to be against ObamaCare.

Actually, maybe Senator Cruz’s speech happened at Guantanamo Bay Prison on one of his visit’s there after visiting his relatives in Cuba. And decided to stay back and give his big speech there, instead of flying back to Congress to speak on the Senate floor.

Or maybe Senator Cruz just ran out of things to say. That even phone books have a limited amount of pages that you can go through and read. And he was starting to fall asleep reading the phonebook, or got tired of listening to the presiding officer snore in their chair.

Or perhaps the Senator just lost his train of thought. But actually he doesn’t much have much of a train of thought to begin with, because he keeps missing that train. And decided after going into every single thing that he doesn’t like about the Affordable Care Act, including a lot of the stuff that is actually not in the law, he would then go through what he actually likes about the law.

Me personally, every time I see a story from The Onion, I gotta take it with at least one grain of salt. I realize they report more facts than Fox News even and perhaps are the most trusted news organization for Millennial’s. But hear them report that Senator Cruz, whose perhaps the most prominent Tea Party member in Congress, come out in favor of the Affordable Care Act, would be like hearing Rick Santorum come out on favor of prostitution and bigamy, in the same speech.

But again you give a twenty-hour speech and anything can happen, including finally running out of stuff to say and saying things you don’t believe.

Philadelphia Phillies TV: MLB 1981- Chicago Cubs vs Philadelphia Phillies: Full Game

Source:Classic Phillies TV- with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies from 1981.

Source:The Daily Press 

"October 1981 - Cubs vs Phillies" 

From Classic Phillies TV 

1981 was an interesting season for Major League Baseball to say the least. It was a strike shorten season and the genius’ at MLB decided to do a minor league play. Which was to have the division leaders of the first and second halves of the season be the playoff teams of each league. Instead of the division winners being the teams with the best overall records in each league for the entire season. 

Because of the 1981 MLB playoff format, the Cincinnati Reds even though they had the best overall record in the NL West in 1981, didn’t win that division. Because the Los Angeles Dodgers had a better record in the second half of the season. 

1981 was the first four game playoff series in MLB because of the strike shortened season. The Cubs were the Cubs in 1981, finishing in last place. They parked themselves there early on that season and never left. The Phillies were again very good and trying to defend their 1980 World Series Championship.

NBC Sports: MLB 1988- World Series Game 1 – Oakland Athletics @ Los Angeles Dodgers: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports- Kirk Gibson, at the plate to face, in game 1, to face Dennis Eckersley, in game 1 of the 1988 MLB World Series.

Source:The Daily Press

“Oakland Athletics 4 at Los Angeles Dodgers 5, F — The Dodgers, already serious underdogs against the A’s and Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, are given even less of a chance with injured star Kirk Gibson on the shelf. Canseco’s second-inning grand slam gives Oakland a 4-3 lead until the bottom of the ninth, when dominating closer Dennis Eckersley comes on to finish it up. But with the tying run on first, Gibson limps up to pinch hit and makes World Series history with a spine-tingling, game-winning two-run homer in his only at-bat of the Series.”  

From MLB Vault  

“LOS ANGELES — What baseball fan has not seen video of Kirk Gibson pumping his arm while limping around the bases after smashing one of the most memorable home runs in the sport?

It was the stuff of legend. Gibson was the National League’s most valuable player that season, but he was unable to start that night because of leg injuries. He came off the bench with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to pinch-hit, then blasted a game-ending, two-run home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dennis Eckersley, a future Hall of Famer. 

It was Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, and the A’s never recovered. It was also the last World Series title the Los Angeles Dodgers won. 

Thirty years later, the ball Gibson sent into the right-field pavilion at Dodger Stadium still has not been located.”

Source:New York Times- "Vin Scully's greatest calls: Kirk Gibson's home run."

From The New York Times 

“I don’t believe what I just saw!” Which of course was Jack Buck’s famous call of Kirk Gibson’s famous home run for the Dodgers in-game 1 of the 1988 World Series off of Dennis Eckersley of the Athletics. Referring to the fact that Gibson essentially had no leg strength in that at bad, because he had two bad legs. I believe two broken ankles, perhaps just one broken ankle, but the other leg was hurt as well. And Gibson hits that home run off the best closer in MLB who was a power pitcher and for a time in the late 1980s early 1990s almost un-hittable. 

The Eck was the Mariano Rivera of his generation. The Gibson home run, Kirk’s only hit in this World Series, is just an example of how great a player and hitter he was. And had he only been able to stay healthy, we are talking about a five tool player headed to first ballot status in the MLB Hall of Fame.

ABC Sports: MLB 1988- NLCS Game 4- Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Mets: Full Game

Source:ABC Sports- Los Angeles Dodgers LF Kirk Gibson.

Source:The Daily Press 

“Los Angeles Dodgers 5 at New York Mets 4, F/12 — Backed by homers from Darryl Strawberry and Kevin McReynolds, Dwight Gooden and the Mets enjoyed a 4-2 lead in the 9th, and seem poised to take a 3-1 series lead. But Mike Scioscia, who had only three home runs all season, had other ideas, and his two-run homer forced extra frames. Then in the 12th, Kirk Gibson foreshadowed his forthcoming World Series dramatics with a solo, go-ahead dinger off Roger McDowell. But it wasn’t over yet. In the bottom half of the inning it looked as though Gibson’s heroics might go to waste, as the Mets put two men on against Tim Leary. So Manager Tommy Lasorda called on his “bulldog,” Orel Hershiser, to close it out. Despite having pitched into the ninth in Game 1, not to mention seven innings pitched in Game 3 the night before, Hershiser recorded the final out to tie the series at two games apiece.”

From MLB Vault 

The Mets and their fans have to feel that 1988 was a year that got away from them. Because the Mets and Oakland Athletics were the two best all around teams in MLB that year and neither one of them won the World series.

1988 goes to show you that baseball is a game where if you get great pitching and play great defense, all you need to do is score enough runs to win. Which is one more run than your opponent for every game that you win. That you don’t need a great lineup and even a very good lineup to win and be successful and even win the MLB World Series. 

The 1969 Mets proved that you don’t need a good, let alone very good, or great offense, to win the World Series. So did the 1985 Kansas City Royals proved that and the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers proved that as well. Probably the three worst World Series champions at least since divisional play started in 1969.

Movie Clips: Rounders (1998) ‘KGB: I Stick it in You!’

Source:Movie Clips- John Malkovich as KGB.

Source:The Daily Press

“After losing a heads-up game of poker, Teddy KGB (John Malkovich) tries to goad Mike (Matt Damon) into playing a re-match.”

From Movie Clips 

One of the best scenes from Rounders, with Mike McDermott (played by Matt Damon) just beating his long time nemesis KGB. (Played by John Malkovich) And KGB obviously not feeling satisfied by that and trying to goad Mike into playing another around to get that money back. With Mike having two options: walk away and leave up from where he started and able to pay back his debts. Or get all of his money back and risk losing even more. Safe play obviously is to walk way, but like Mike said you can’t win what you don’t put in.

I’m not an expert on poker and gambling in general, but it obviously is gambling. And yes there’s skill involved and you need good skills at it to be successful and perhaps a little luck involved as well. But there’s gambling and there’s gambling and there are risks in doing anything really, especially professionally. And the good gamblers make calculated and educated risks. They just don’t walk away with money, leave owing money, because they had all the good hands at the game, or most of them. Or had almost none of the good hands.

Successful gamblers play their good hands and leave their bad ones without giving their opponents much if any idea when they have good hands and when they’re short. Which I think is the point that the Mike McDermott character played by Matt Damon was making, that gambling is not pure luck or about pure luck. But that you need good skills in it in order to be successful at it.

Accidentally In Love: 'Marilyn Monroe- Amazing'

Source:Accidentally In Love- with a tribute for Hollywood Babydoll Marilyn Monroe.

Source:The Daily Press 

“Just a quick vid i shot together . Enjoy 🙂 ……. feel free too comment”

From Accidentally In Love 

Amazing can really sum up the short life of Marilyn Monroe. You can really do it in one word, it’s just that you have to apply it to so many aspects about her. Because there was nothing average about Marilyn in the thirty-six years that she lived from her very humble childhood.

Marilyn from being discovered in her early twenties, to her becoming the star that she became and how she presented herself throughout her career and as the star that she became. 

Marilyn died fifty-one years ago and is still missed today and had she matured and learned to take care of herself, she could very well still be alive today and perhaps still out in public as a goddess in her late eighties. 

If anyone could be a Hollywood Goddess in their 80s today, she would be one of those women. The woman had so many talents, physical and professional, but lacked the maturity to see them through. Marilyn Monroe was like the star cheerleader of the high school football team, who apparently peaked in high school and never developed much after that.

Amazing is a great way and perhaps tribute to honor Marilyn Monroe, because in her 13 years or so in Hollywood, she accomplished a lot as far as leaving a lasting mark for so many other women in Hollywood to try to be like and who use her as a role model.

Ragma Loka: Killing John F. Kennedy (2013) Starring Rob Lowe

Source:National Geographic Channel- Rob Lowe, as President John F. Kennedy.

Source:The Daily Press

“Recounting the chaotic events that occurred in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963, PARKLAND weaves together the perspectives of a handful of ordinary individuals suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances: the young doctors and nurses at Parkland Hospital, Dallas’ chief of the Secret Service, an unwitting cameraman who captured what became the most watched and examined film in history.”

From Ragma Koka 

I saw bits and pieces of this movie and I didn’t think it was very good. Which is probably why I only saw bits and pieces of it. I’ve caught a little more of it when it has come back on with its repeats.

The movie about Kennedy from Reelz in 2011, I thought was much better and perhaps that is why they covered the entire Kennedy presidency, at least his years as President. And I thought Greg Kinnear did a much better job playing Jack Kennedy than Rob Lowe.

In 2013, there will be several movies about JFK because of the fiftieth anniversary of the JFK assassination. Including a film from PBS about the life of JFK, which I believe will be the best film.

Killing Kennedy is fairly interesting, but it really just about the last year or so JFK, including the Bay of Pigs fiasco in 1962 and the Cuban missile crisis. And this movie doesn’t go into great detail about John F. Kennedy as President.

What you see in this movie, is the stuff that is better suited for tabloid news and tabloid news fans. The women of JFK including his wife Jackie and of course all the affairs that President Kennedy had, including in the White House and including with women with dangerous organized connections. Including Judy Exner and Lee Oswald’s last year or so leading up to him assassinating President Kennedy. This movie I would give a 7.5 or 8, but it’s not a great movie.

Lamar Matic: NBA 1986- Eastern Conference 1st Round Game 1- Washington Wizards @ Philadelphia 76ers: 4th Quarter

Source:Lamar Matic- the Wizards and 76ers from 1986.

Source:The Daily Press 

"One of the greatest NBA comebacks ever. The Washington Bullets are down by 17 with 4 minutes left and seems like have lost the first playoffs game of 1986. However, veteran Dan Roundfield scoring on one end and Charles Barkley with Julius Erving choking on the other lets the Bullets get back in the game and win it with an impossible game winning three by Dudley Bradley. 1986 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs Round 1 Game 1." 

From Lamar Matic 

Definitely one of the most surprising comeback victories of all-time and perhaps the best comeback in Bullets playoff history. 

You come back from eighteen points with four minutes left in the game especially in a playoff game, you are getting a lot of breaks with the team with the lead falling asleep and thinking they’ve already won the game. Which is what the 76ers did, as well as the Bullets never giving up and coming up with a lot of great plays. Especially on defense, but scoring every time they had the ball. 

When you have a big lead like this, all you really have to do is work the clock, don’t turn the ball over and hit your foul shots. You do all of those things and even if the other team scores every time they have the ball, they won’t have enough time to come all the way back. The 76ers failed to even do these basic fundamental things late in this game.

The Onion: Anthony Weiner 'Announces Bid For Whatever's Left'

Source:The Onion- unemployed New York City career politician Anthony Weiner, desperate for work at taxpayers expense.

Source:The Daily Press 

“Apple unveils a panicked man with no ideas, Bashar Al-Assad tries a tiny bit of sarin gas on himself to see what it’s like, and a billboard alerts commuters to the existence of a situational comedy starring stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld. It’s the week of September 13, 2013. For more breaking news:The Onion." 

From The Onion 

Too bad for Anthony Weiner, or can we call him Tony now: I mean seriously, why is The Weiner the only man in America that can’t go buy a nickname? Does his sexting scandal really make his so much more special than anyone else?

Too bad his first name isn’t Richard and he’s not short, because Little Dick would’ve been the perfect nickname for him. I hear there are real job openings for real jobs out there in New York City and perhaps Tony should apply for one of them. Unless the job requires him to keep his pants on the whole time he is working. Perhaps Tony should look for a real job and get out of politics.

Apparently Tony Weiner is the only career politician/workaholic who can’t find a job. So that would be something that would make him special. If you saw The Onion report about the guy with the 42,000 jobs back in 2012, maybe that is why Tony can’t find one, because that workaholic has every job that was still available in New York City.

Being a workaholic without a job must be tough. That would be like a fish with no water and trying to learn how to swim. Or being an institutionalized prison inmate who has spent most of your life in prison and learning that every prison and jail in America is about to be closed. And you’ll be released on the outside as a result.

With Tony Weiner’s professional background and that the fact that he’s a Weiner, he shouldn’t have any real trouble finding work in New York City. Wait, Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg closed down most of the strip clubs in New York. So maybe Tony will support the nanny state less now since it is now costing him work that he’s qualified for. But he’s a former U.S. Representative and sexter, so he would be perfect in Washington, if he wants to come back. And he could get himself involved in sexy scandals there, without worrying about it costing him his job.

Movie Clips: Rounders (1998) Atlantic City Suckers

Source:Movie Clips- Actress Famke Janssen in Rounders. 

Source:The Daily Press

“The rounders including Mike (Matt Damon), Petra (Famke Janssen), and Knish (John Turturro) dominate the card table against some unsuspecting tourists.

In this film, law-student Mike McDermott gives up gambling after losing his entire savings to Russian club owner Teddy KGB. His girlfriend Jo is concerned when Mike’s former gambling buddy Worm is released from prison. She has good reason to worry, since Worm draws Mike back into poker action.”

From Movie Clips 

Pros vs suckers in poker: the suckers having no idea what they were up against and get taken for a ride as a result.

What I really like about Rounders is that it gives you a really good look at the world of professional poker. At least from the perspective of people who perhaps aren’t as good to play the tournaments for a living and make hundreds of thousands of dollars winning championships, or at least doing very well on those tournaments. But people who can literally earn their living from card games at clubs and people’s homes and going to Atlantic City and so-forth.

What you see in this scene, is literally people who do that who are full-time poker players and perhaps are good enough to play on the big stage, going up against players who do this for fun. Who go to Atlantic City on the weekend and see how good they are and if they can make some money. Who can afford to lose money and perhaps knows that ahead of time.

The pros are straight-faced the whole time never giving away anything. With the amateurs giving away all of their hands. Excited when they have a good hand and freaking out over bad hands and looking nervous. Setting themselves up for huge losses against the pros.

YouTube Movies & TV: Rounders (1998) The Fifteenth Anniversary

Source:YouTube Movies & TV- left to right: John Turturo & Matt Damon.

Source:The Daily Press

"Academy Award(R) winner Matt Damon (GOOD WILL HUNTING, Best Original Screenplay, 1997; THE BOURNE SUPREMACY) and Edward Norton (THE ITALIAN JOB) star in this story of passion, risk, and the extreme price of friendship! After losing a high-stakes card game, Mike (Damon) gives up gambling for law school and a fresh start with his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol -- CRADLE WILL ROCK). But then his best buddy (Norton) gets out of prison and in over his head with a ruthless card shark (John Malkovich -- BEING JOHN MALKOVICH). From there, Mike's strong sense of loyalty --- and the lure of the game --- draw him back to the tables in a game he cannot afford to lose! Also starring John Turturro (O BROTHER, WHERE ARE THOU?) and Oscar(R) winner Martin Landau (ED WOOD, Best Supporting Actor, 1994).  2011 Miramax" 

From YouTube Movies & TV

The 15th anniversary of my favorite cards movie Rounders.

If you’re a true poker fan and have been a fan of it for a long time, or most of your life, or you just started getting into like ten years ago, or so when celebrities got into and it became cool, Rounders is a great movie for you. 

This movie came out in 1998 about five years before Hollywood made card games cool thing to follow and be part of. When ESPN started putting so many poker tournaments on. (Even though poker is not an athletic sport) Not saying that Rounders is the cause for the celebrity exposure of poker and other card games in America, but it came out right before that fad.

Rounders is about two young borderline professional poker players who the only money they’ve ever  made at this point is playing poker. 

Mike McDermott (played by Matt Damon) is a recovering compulsive gambler who lost all of his money a few years back. And is now driving a truck trying to pay back his debts and get through law school. 

Worm (played by Ed Norton) is a compulsive gambler and an ex-con who just got out of prison, small-time white-collar criminal. Who owes a lot of money to a loan shark (played by Michael Imperioli) and needs to win a lot of that money back quickly. And goes to his long time buddy Mike to help him win it back.

Rounders is a great movie about how very smart, street smart people who read people very well and can tell the real people from the fakers and people trying to be someone else, who have something to hide. Poker is not just about having good cards, but knowing what your opponent has as well by being able to read them so you know when to play and when to hold. Because you know when your opponents cards aren’t as good as yours. 

Rounders shows you how good poker players are successful and why the wannabes leave games owing more money that they started with. It is also a movie with a lot of sarcasm and quick-witted humor. Ed Norton and John Malkovich are very funny in it. And it is one of my favorite movies.

Scott McGee: Kim Novak: 'TCM Star of the Month For September 2013'

Source: Scott McGee- Hollywood Goddess Kim Novak, being honored by Turner Classic Movies for Star of The Month, September, 2013. Well-deserved.

Source:The Daily Press

“:60 promo for Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month Kim Novak, September 2013. Written/produced by Scott McGee. Edited by Jay Bellissimo. Voiced by Sylvia Villagran.”

From Scott McGee

A gorgeous, sexy, baby, who always leaves you wanting to see more of her movies and appearances. I haven’t seen many women who are that gorgeous, sexy, as well, as baby-face adorable, who makes her characters seem so real, because she makes her characters part of her. Which is how Kim Novak acted and why she’s been so successful.

The phrase always leaves you wanting more can almost sound negative if not insulting, because it implies someone, or something is not good enough. But in Kim Novak’s case, that means she’s so hot and great that you want to see as much of her as possible. Like in:“Please, don’t go away.”

I believe Kim Novak is almost an under appreciated Hollywood Goddess and actress, because she gave up her career pretty quickly. She was finished acting by the late 1960s when she was in her mid-30s when she probably would have at least one if not two more great decades ahead of her where should could have had a great movie career. Or perhaps done TV as well and had a whole list of great roles in front of her. Because she was versatile and could play anyone. That goes to the always leaves you wanting more. Because she was so good and looked so great that you never wanted to see her go away.

Kim Novak or Baby Kim (as I call her) is truly one of the best actress’s I have ever seen and one of the best looking. This hot, baby-faced, woman, with the great body who was also a hell of an actress who again made her characters seem and brought them to real-life. Who also had this adorable silly side that could make you laugh. And yet her career as an actress was only about 10-15 years and that might even include her brief return in 1985 to work on prime-time soap operas. Who could have had a long great career and be remembered as one of the best actress’s of her generation, if not all-time.

Terrie Hawkes: In Tight Leather Jeans in Boots

Source:The Daily Press- Leather jeans in boots.

Source: The Daily Press 

“Terrie Hawkes walking in tight leather pants and boots.” Originally from Terrie Hawkes, but the video has since been deleted or blocked on YouTube.

Didn’t get to see the face of Terrie Hawkes, whoever she is and if I’m ignorant about that, I apologize, but we didn’t get to see her face until the end of this video. But the quick look of her, she looks like a gorgeous blonde and of course with a great body. Tall and well-built, with the perfect outfit to highlight those features.

The skin-tight leather jeans in boots and with a great walk to show people who she looks and sexy she is. And I just love women who know they are sexy and proud that others see that as well. I just would’ve made this video at least two-minutes longer with the same woman and the same outfit and gotten to see more of her face and you would’ve gotten a very good look at her face and body in the same shots in that great outfit.

The tight leather jeans in boots that she pulls off perfectly and about as well as it can be done. I just wish she did it longer and this would’ve been a great sexy, but tasteful video of a gorgeous sexy women in a very stylish outfit and not looking like a porn star.

Bob Dylan & Joan Baez: 1963 March on Washington

Source:Reuters- Joan Baez & Bob Dylan performing at the 1963 March On Washington.

Source:The Daily Press

“Singers Joan Baez and Bob Dylan perform together during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in this August 28, 1963 file photo shot by U.S. Information Agency photographer Rowland Scherman and provided to Reuters by the U.S. National Archives in Washington on August 21, 2013. In the coming week, Washington will play host to an array of events marking the 50th anniversary of the march and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech.

REUTERS/Rowland Scherman/U.S. Information Agency/U.S. National Archives (UNITED STATES – Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY ENTERTAINMENT) ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS.THIS PICTURE IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY REUTERS, AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS”

From Reuters 

“Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, the Freedom Singers, and Len Chandler performing ‘Eyes On The Prize’ at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, August 28th 1963. The song is a well-known folk song largely associated with the Civil Rights Movement.

Source is straight from the archives, albeit covered with a logo and timestamps.” 

Source:History In Motion- Eyes On The Prize performed by Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and others.

From History In Motion 

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez 1963 March on Washington. Acesse:Laura Chiatti." 

Source:An Blog- 1963 March On Washington.

From An Blog 

Eyes On The Prize is the perfect song I believe to close out the 1963 March On Washington, because it told the American Civil Rights Movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King and his followers not to lose focus and that there’s still much work to do.

Keep in mind, this is in the late summer of 1963 in Washington, when it’s still hot and humid around there and a few months before President John F. Kennedy was assassinated and just a couple months after President Kennedy publicly endorsed the civil rights legislation that was in Congress.

The 1964 Civil Rights Law hadn’t even been passed yet, that didn’t happen to the summer of the 1964. Which meant African-Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities could still be denied their constitutional rights and access to American society simply because of their race or ethnicity.

I think what the summer of 1963 is about with the March On Washington sort of being the Super Bowl of that summer (even though the Super Bowl was 4 years away) is that to paraphrase Bob Dylan: times were a changin. I believe the 1950s finally ended in the summer of 63 culturally and a lot of younger Americans recognized the new America where America would be for everyone. Not just for Anglo-Saxon males.

The civil rights movement was part of the new America, but Hippies come into force politically and culturally in 1965 with so many Americans now feeling the freedom to be themselves and not have to live and think just like their parents and grandparents.

Chicago Tribune: NFL 1963-NFL Championship-New York Giants @ Chicago Bears: ’63 Bears Reflect on Championship Season’

Source:Chicago Tribune- The 1963 Chicago Bears: the last of the great George Halas teams.

Source:The Daily Press 

“Chicago Tribune photographer Michael Tercha sat down with former Bears players to talk about the chemistry and attitude of the 1963 team. For more video, visit:Chicago Tribune." 

From the Chicago Tribune 

This was an end of an era because this would be the last time that the Giants and Bears would play each other for the NFL Championship. Because even though both teams were still competitive for the rest of the 1960s, they were no longer NFL Championship contenders. And by 1970 they were now playing each other in the same conference what is today known as the National Football Conference, after the NFL/AFL merger.

So the 1963 NFL Championship wasn’t the end of one of the best NFL rivalries, but it certainly changed and was no longer very important as far as the current league. Because both teams were fairly mediocre for the rest of the 1960s. Both teams were bad in the 1970s, only making the NFL Playoffs a total of two times. The Bears both times in 1977 and 79. With both clubs not becoming contenders again until the 1980s.

Frantz Kebreau: Malcolm X- Black Democrats Are 'Traitors'

Source:Frantz Kabreau- talking about African-American Democrats.

Source:The Daily Press

“Stolen History... Share away!! The second from the Malcolm X series. Although I do not agree with his early philosophy, he sets the record straight and reveals the Truth about the Democratic Party!!

Correction Sen. Fulbright is from AR not AK.”

From Frantz Kebreau

Malcolm X explaining perfectly why African-Americans (and I would add any race of people in America) shouldn’t be tied down to any political party in America. Because once a political party feels that certain voters will always vote for them and that they have no other place to go, that is when they get taken advantage and the party leadership feels we no longer have to listen to them: “Because they are going to vote for us anyway.”

African-Americans in the 1950s and 60s were politically taken advantage by the Democratic Party. They got taken advantage of by the Democratic Party because the right-wing Dixiecrats in Congress, the Southern Caucus were blocking civil rights legislation, while Republicans in Congress were in favor of it especially in the Northeast and Midwest. And today the parties have essentially flipped flopped geographically and ideologically.

Minister Malcolm X: Message To America

Source:Islam 6639- Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X.

Source:The Daily Press

"Malcolm X delivers speech Message to the Grass Roots

Northern Grass Roots Leadership Conference

Detroit, Michigan" 

From Islam 6639

"Malcolm X - Message to the Grassroots" 

Source:Straight Shine- Nation of Islam Minister Malcolm X.

From Straight Shine

"On December 10, 1963, while still the leading spokesman for the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X gave a speech at a rally in Detroit, Michigan.  That speech outlined his basic black nationalist philosophy and established him as a major critic of the civil rights movement.  The speech appears below... 

Source:Black Past- "Malcolm X, Martin Luther King press conference, March 26, 1964"

From Black Past

Malcolm X was correct in the sense that the racial discrimination that African-Americans faced from the time the African slaves were freed in the 1860s, until the 1960s with the civil rights laws, was a human rights problem. But where he was wrong was that the U.S. Government was able to solve these problems at least in the sense that all Americans are supposed to be treated under law equally with the same constitutional rights. And generally that is true now with the passage of the civil rights laws of the 1960s.

All Americans are entitled to the same rights and responsibilities as every other American in America. Regardless of race, ethnicity, gender or religion. Does that mean that all the laws are always enforced equally for all Americans. Of course not, because any system that is run by humans won’t be run perfectly. Mistakes will be made and you’ll have bad apples (so to speak) and bad people in any system.

Bad apples, are people who feel some people because of their race shouldn’t be treated as well as other Americans of a different race. But under law we are all entitled to the same rights and responsibilities. And under law we are all supposed to be treated equally under law. That wasn’t the case pre-1960s civil rights laws. And that is one thing that Malcolm X never understood, but unfortunately he didn’t live long enough to see that. 

As far as this Malcolm X speech, I don't agree with him on everything. At least pre-1964, before he went to Saudi Arabia and got to be with Muslims of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, he was basically an African-American Nationalist, a racial Nationalist, a racist even. There are good people and bad people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, including European-Americans. And it's only the bad people that he saw when it came to the European-American community.