MORNING INTELL: Terrorist Gets Truth Serum Treatment, NFL, Oldest Pot Stash

BLOGOSPHERE NEWS:
December 4 2008



THE SCOOP:
* Russian Warships to Go Through Panama Canal
* The Atlantic Takes Up Obama Citizenship Question
* ChiTrib Runs Obama Citizenship Apologia
* UK school: Christmas celebration, OUT; Eid, IN
* World's Oldest Pot Stash Found
* Pakistan Navy Trained Mumbai Terrorists
* Mumbai Bombers Took Cocaine, LSD Beforehand
* Indians use Truth Serum on Terrorist
* NFL Power Ratings--Week 14

---

A WORLD OF NEWS

1. Remember when it was an American possession? Russian warship to cross Panama Canal.
   

   A Russian warship will sail through the Panama Canal this week for the first time since World War II, the navy announced Wednesday, pushing ahead with a symbolic projection of Moscow's power in a traditional U.S. zone of influence.

   
   Another legacy of the great Jimmy Carter years.
   
   
2. Not good: We were trained by Pak navy: Captured terrorist.
   

   Azam Amir, the terrorist who was held by the Mumbai Police, has made some striking revelations regarding the Mumbai terror attacks. Azam has disclosed that the Pakistan Navy had trained the terrorists in boating and swimming to carry out the attacks in Mumbai. Azam was arrested on Wednesday from Girgaum Chowpatty in an encounter with the police. Ismail Khan, an accomplice of Amir, reportedly died in the gunbattle.

   
   Obviously, Pakistan's new president needs to get segments of its military under control.
   
   
3. And how do you suppose the Indian authorities got the information out of Azam Amir? Mumbai police to use truth serum on 'baby-faced' terrorist Azam Amir Kasab.
   
   
4. MORE MUMBAI. The real drug war might be in India: Mumbai bombers 'took cocaine and LSD' before carrying out attacks. A little buzz before the bombing takes the edge off--or puts it on.
   
   

---

QUICK HITTERS

• World's Oldest Pot Stash Found: Huge Stash of Marijuana Found in Ancient Tomb.
  

  An ancient Caucasian people, probably the Indo-European-speaking Yuezhi whose fair-haired mummies keep turning up in Xinjiang province, seem to have buried one of their shamans with a whopping 789 grams of high-potency pot 2,700 years ago.

  
  If that mummy had been caught in Cleveland with 1.75 pounds today, he would face another burial.
  
  
• Minneapolis discovery costs Franken 36 votes
  

  Elections officials in Minnesota's largest city today discovered that one precinct came up 133 ballots short of election day totals, resulting in a net loss for Democratic challenger Al Franken of 36 votes.

  
  That negates an earlier pickup of 37 votes for Franken in Maplewood.
  
  
• Saxby Hearts Sarah: Chambliss: Palin Key To My Win. Although Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee came into Georgia to help Chambliss, only Sarah Palin went around the state, speaking at four different locations on the final day before the election.
  
  
• IS OBAMA's BIRTH CERTIFICATE GOING MSM? Marc Ambinder, The Atlantic, discusses Townhall discussing Obama's citizenship questions: Discourse Watch: Obama's Citizenship A Legit Topic?.
  Ambinder: "The birth charge is specious and has been convincingly refuted." Of course, it hasn't, but what else would readers expect Ambinder to write? Much easier to link to snopes and their COLB digital image than to do a bit of independent research on his own.
  
  
• The obligatory Chicago Tribune Obama citizenship apologia: Tax activist's ad challenges Obama's eligibility for office
  
  
• Hillary Clinton Ineligible: Judicial Watch Announces Hillary Clinton Constitutionally Ineligible to Serve as Secretary of State. Supporters are calling it a "technicality". But aren't all laws?
  
  

---

---

---

SEE ALL, KNOW ALL

1. Harvard's endowment takes it on the chin. The financial crisis has walloped the lib university to the tune of over $8 billion.
   

   Harvard University's endowment suffered investment losses of at least 22% in the first four months of the school's fiscal year, the latest evidence of the financial woes facing higher education. The Harvard endowment, the biggest of any university, stood at $36.9 billion as of June 30, meaning the loss amounts to about $8 billion. That's more than the entire endowments of all but six colleges, according to the latest official tally.

   
   
   
2. Maybe he's gonna write about night life? Meet Slate's New Columnist: Eliot Spitzer.
   
   
3. HO HO ALLAH AKBAR: School cancels Christmas nativity in favour of Muslim Eid celebrations .
   "A primary school has cancelled its Christmas nativity in favour of Muslim festival of Eid celebrations because it would be too much for the children to do both."
   Of course.
   
   
4. Michelle Goldberg's annoyed at Newt for not signing onto anti-Christian bigotry: Newt Gingrich Hasn't Gotten The Memo.
   Who's Goldberg? An author of an upcoming book on "the rise of Christian nationalism". Maybe Goldberg's next book will be the "rise of the Illuminati"?
   
   
5. Jeb Bush to GOP: Don't Become 'Democrat-Lite': "Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tells Newsmax that the GOP must broaden its appeal to avoid becoming “the old white-guy party,” and recommends that Republicans create a “shadow government” to engage Democrats on important issues as the incoming Obama administration seeks to enact its agenda."
   
   

---

MEATY LINK FUNK GOODNESS

• Orwellian Airport Security and Brain-fingerprinting Technology
  
  
• Offshore Drilling Record Set in Gulf of Mexico
  
  
• Bill and Hill's price: Giving up the Con (Always Hurts)
  
  
• Community Activist Helps Squatters Infest Other People's Houses: "
  Being a community activist is the perfect job for moonbats. With the media behind you, you get can all the way to the White House. Even if you don't, you can have lots of fun helping to dismantle civilization."
  
  
• MICHELLE MALKIN: Obama finally lets Fox News ask a question.
  
  

---

• Charlie Weis coming back for 2009 Irish encore: Has Notre Dame finally lowered its standards?
  
  
• TOP 3: Giants, Titans, Steelers. Sports Illustrated NFL Power Ratings--Week 14
  
  
• Just Go, Plaxico, Just Go: Vacchiano: Giants have had enough of Burress.
  

by Mondo Frazier
images: dbkp file; hot air

POLL: Which NFL Team Will Win Super Bowl XLIII

POLL: Which NFL Team will win this year's (2009) Super Bowl?

December 1-8 2008

---

Which team will win the 2009 Super Bowl?

Depends on who you ask.

We'll provide the records of those who are possible to make the playoffs. Records after this week's games:

NFC

New York Giants - 11-1
Dallas Cowboys - 8-4
Washington Redskins - 7-5
Philadelphia Eagles - 6-5-1

Tampa Bay - 9-3
Carolina - 9-3
Atlanta - 8-4
New Orleans 6-6

Minnesota - 7-5
Chicago - 6-6
Green Bay - 5-7
Arizona - 7-5

AFC

New York Jets - 8-4
New England - 7-5
Miami 7-5
Buffalo 6-6

Tennessee 11-1
Indianapolis 8-4

Pittsburgh 9-3
Baltimore 8-4

Denver 7-5
San Diego 4-8

OTHER means all teams not listed; we provided a few to jog your memory.

---

Poll Opens: December 1 2008
Poll Closes: December 8 2008

---

The New York Giants are the defending champions and are favored to repeat in some quarters. Of course, being favored doesn't guarantee anything.

We'll publish the results of our poll (Nov 11-30) on media bias later today.


by Mondo
image: dbkp file

NFLNFL Parity Scheduling: Some Playoff Teams Are Dogs

NFL Parity Scheduling:
Who Will be 2008's Parity Dog?



Parity Dog Winners 2003-2007
Likely 2008 Parity Dog Contenders

---

For casual followers, the National Football League's scheduling is rigged.

It's not an accusation: it's a fact--and one of which the league is proud. It's called parity scheduling by the NFL.

Parity scheduling has a purpose: it allows some not-so-good teams a chance to make the playoffs. Fans from even the worst teams have reason to cheer every other year.

Some might call it "planned mediocrity". The NY Times calls it "socialized football". From N.F.L. Parity Ensures Anxiety Is Shared Equally :

Coach killers are not rebel players or doomed franchises or the injury fates. What kills a coach most often — whether he is fired, quits or retires — is N.F.L. parity. Or socialized football brought to you by the hard salary cap.

The league put in the hard cap in 1993 to provide every team, no matter how large the owner’s wallet, an even chance to compete for the Super Bowl. Basically, these league landlords devised a system to promote mediocrity while insisting their teams rise above it. In essence, owners are desperate to hire safe crackers for their own homes.

The concept behind scheduling for parity is simple: if you have a good record, you'll be schedule against tougher opponents the next year. If you have a bad year, you'll get a break.

The weak sisters of the NFL therefore get to play each other and the best of the previous year's losers has a chance to make the playoffs--and usually a quick trip home after a sound thumping by one of the team which survived a tougher schedule.

Let's call this manufactured playoff team, the "Parity Dog".

There is a formula for each NFL team's 16-game schedule and it goes something like this:

• Home and away games are played against their three division opponents, totaling 6 games.
• There are four teams from another division that are rotating on a three year cycle within its conference, totaling 4 games.
• There are four teams from another division (non-conference) that play on a rotating four-year cycle, totaling 4 games.
• The last two inter-conference games are based on the prior year’s last standings totaling 2 games. The games are matched against a first place team and the first place team in a two same conference division team. This is not scheduled to play in that season. The same cycle is matched for second, third, and fourth placed teams each year.

It's these last two games that put the "par" in "parity". If a team wins its division, the next year, it will face two other division winners. If the team finishes last in its division, its reward: two games against two other last-place teams.

Not all bad teams get easy schedules: Cincinnati's 2008 schedule is an example. Call it the (bad) luck of the 2008 draw.

The Bengals are in the AFC North. This is the year the AFC North's non-conference opponents come from the NFC East (NY Giants, Washington, Dallas, Philadelphia). All of those NFC teams are tough this year and all have winning records.

The AFC North's matched up with the teams from the AFC South (Indianapolis, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Houston) in 2008. None are push-overs. Intra-divison rivalry games are always tough, so that gives Cincinnati 12 tough games and two easy ones.

Who's likely to be 2008's parity dog(s)?

Who were the parity dogs from the last five years?

Let's take a look.

---

PARITY DOG ELIGIBILITY



QUALIFYING CRITERIA:

Teams which 1) had one of the 10 easiest schedules (according to their record the previous year); 2) made the playoffs; and 3) made a quick exit.

STYLE POINTS: If the Parity Dog contender gets blown out the first round of the playoffs, extra consideration will be given to that team.

TWO DOGS in the FIGHT: (With apologies to Michael Vick)
If two Parity Dogs meet in a first-round playoff game, the winner is not eliminated from Parity Dog consideration, but a playoff victory makes it very difficult to lay claim to being a Parity Dog.

---

The 12 Easiest 2008 NFL Schedules
(based on 2007 final records of their scheduled 2008 opponents):

• New England - .387 (99-157)
• San Diego - .422 (108-148)
• Oakland - .438 (112-144)
• Denver - .445 (114-142)
• New Orleans - .449 (115-141)
  Buffalo - .449 (115-141)
• Kansas City .453 (116-140)
• New York Jets - .457 (117-139)
• Atlanta - .461 (118-138)
• Carolina - .465 (119-137)
  Miami - .465 (119-137)
  Arizona - .465 (119-137)

2008 Records of the 12 Teams with the Easiest Schedules

• New York Jets 8-3
• Carolina 8-3
• Atlanta 8-3
• New England 7-4
• Arizona 7-4
• Denver 6-5
• Miami 6-5
• Buffalo 6-5
• New Orleans 6-5
• San Diego 4-7
• Oakland 3-8
• Kansas City 1-10

Only three of the 12 teams with the easiest schedules have losing records.

This is not good news for Kansas City and Oakland: when you have one of the easiest schedules in the league and your record is 1-10, you've got some problems. San Diego has only managed four wins thus far this season.

For the Chargers, it may be that injuries, talent, team chemistry and coaching are too much for even an easy schedule to cure.

Of the 12, parity dogs abound.

The NY Jets, Carolina, Atlanta, New England, Arizona and Denver have the best chances at making the playoffs at the moment. New Orleans, Buffalo and Miami have outside chances.

And that might be a blessing: all three are likely to meet a quick demise in the playoffs--if they qualified.

Best bets for 2008 Parity Dog honors: Arizona, Denver and Atlanta.

All are suspect, regardless of what their boosters claim. In fact, Denver would be slinking off into the sunset in every other division but the NFC North.

---

The 10 Toughest 2008 NFL Schedules
(based on 2007 final records of their scheduled 2008 opponents):

• Pittsburgh - .594 (opponents won 153 and lost 103 combined in 2007)
• Indianapolis - .592 (152-104)
• Jacksonville - .559 (143-113)
• Minnesota - .551 (141-115)
  Baltimore - .551 (141-115)
• Cincinnati - .547 (140-116)
  Houston - .547 (140-116)
  Cleveland - 547 (140-116)
• Detroit - .543 (139-117)
  Tennessee - .543 (139-117)

--Toughest NFL Schedules 2008



2008 Records of the 10 Teams with the Hardest Schedules

• Tennessee 10-1
• Pittsburgh 8-3
• Baltimore 7-4
• Indianapolis 7-4
• Minnesota 6-5
• Houston 4-7
• Jacksonville 4-7
• Cleveland 4-7
• Cincinnati 1-9-1
• Detroit 0-11

So, as can be seen, half of the teams with the toughest schedules are playing .500 or better in 2008; half are not. There may be more reasons for Cincinnati and Detroit's woeful record than injuries, talent, the front office or coaching.

Four of the teams with the toughest schedules have reasonable hopes for the playoffs: Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Tennessee and Baltimore. Minnesota has hopes; how reasonable they are is debatable.

---

Who Were the Parity Dogs of the Last Five Years?

2007

Playoff Teams:

• New England 16-0
• Dallas 13-3
• Green Bay 13-3
• Indianapolis 13-3
• San Diego 11-5
• Jacksonville 11-5
• Pittsburgh 10-6
• New York Giants 10-6
• Tennessee 10-6
• Seattle 10-6
• Tampa Bay 9-7
• Washington 9-7

Parity Dog Contenders
(Teams with the 10 easiest schedules which made the Playoffs)

Tampa Bay (29th), Seattle (24), Green Bay (23)

* Seattle won over Washington 35-14
* Tampa Bay lost to NY Giants 24-14
* Green bay won over Seattle 42-20
* NY Giants won over Green Bay 23-20(OT)


PARITY DOG of 2007:



Tampa Bay Buccaneers

---

2006

Playoff Teams:

• San Diego 14-2
• Chicago 13-3
• Baltimore 13-3
• Indianapolis 12-4
• New England 12-4
• New York Jets 10-6
• Philadelphia 10-6
• New Orleans 10-6
• Kansas City 9-7
• Dallas 9-7
• Seattle 9-7
• New York Giants 8-8

Parity Dog Contenders
(Teams with the 10 easiest schedules which made the Playoffs)

Chicago (32), Seattle (30), New York Jets (28), New England (26)

* New England 37, New York Jets 16
* Indianapolis 23, Kansas City 8
* Seattle 21, Dallas 20
* New England 24, San Diego 21
* Chicago 27, Seattle 24, OT
* Indianapolis 38, New England 34
* Chicago 39, New Orleans 14
* Indianapolis 29, Chicago 17


PARITY DOG of 2006:



New York Jets

---

2005

Playoff Teams:

• Indianapolis 14-2
• Seattle 13-3
• Denver 13-3
• Jacksonville 12-4
• Pittsburgh 11-5
• NY Giants 11-5
• Tampa Bay 11-5
• Carolina 11-5
• Chicago 11-5
• Cincinnati 11-5
• New England 10-6
• Washington 10-6

Parity Dog Contenders
(Teams with the 10 easiest schedules which made the Playoffs)

Seattle (29), Washington (28), Chicago (25), NY Giants (23)

* Washington 17 Tampa Bay 10
* Carolina 23 NY Giants 0
* Seattle 20 Washington 10
* Carolina 29 Chicago 21
* Seattle 34 Carolina 14
* Pittsburgh 21 Seattle 10


PARITY DOG of 2005:



New York Giants and Chicago Bears (Tie)

---

2004

Playoff Teams:

• Pittsburgh 15-1
• New England 14-2
• Philadelphia 13-3
• Indianapolis 12-4
• San Diego 12-4
• Atlanta 11-5
• NY Jets 10-6
• Denver 10-6
• Green Bay 10-6
• Seattle 9-7
• St. Louis 8-8
• Minnesota 8-8

Parity Dog Contenders
(Teams with the 10 easiest schedules which made the Playoffs)

Denver (29), Philadelphia (28), Green Bay (26)

* Indianapolis Colts 49 Denver Broncos 24
* Minnesota Vikings 31 Green Bay Packers 17
* Philadelphia Eagles 27 Minnesota Vikings 14
* Philadelphia Eagles 27 Atlanta Falcons 10
* New England 24 Philadelphia 21


PARITY DOG of 2004:



Denver and Green Bay (Tie)

---

2003

Playoff Teams:

• New England 14-2
• Kansas City 13-3
• Philadelphia 12-4
• St. Louis 12-4
• Indianapolis 12-4
• Tennessee 12-4
• Carolina 11-5
• Baltimore 10-6
• Denver 10-6
• Seattle 10-6
• Dallas 10-6
• Green Bay 10-6

Parity Dog Contenders
(Teams with the 10 easiest schedules which made the Playoffs)

Seattle (31), Green Bay (30), St. Louis (28), Kansas City (25)

* Green Bay Packers 33 Seattle Seahawks 27 (OT)
* Indianapolis Colts 38 Kansas City Chiefs 31
* Carolina Panthers 29 St. Louis Rams 23 (2OT)
* Philadelphia Eagles 20 Green Bay Packers 17 (OT)


PARITY DOG of 2003:



Seattle Seahawks

---

PARITY DOG Award Winners 2003-2007



2008: ? [Leading contenders on 11-28-2008: Arizona, Denver and Atlanta]
2007: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2006: New York Jets
2005: NY Giants, Chicago Bears
2004: Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers
2003: Seattle Seahawks

---

Originally, it was intended to name Parity Dogs from 1998-2007, but finding the strength of schedule for those earlier years proved to be time-consuming. We'll add those earlier years in an upcoming article.

So, there's a few things the reader can take away from all of this.

1) If your favorite NFL team finished in last place in their division, you'll have a shot at the playoffs next year, courtesy of the National Football League's parity scheduling. You'll get all of the help the NFL can offer a team that's down-on-their-luck.

Then, next year, your team will be in the running for the coveted 2009 Parity Dog honors.

2) If your favorite NFL team grabbed one of the highly-prized Parity Dog tags, try to look on the bright side: at least they made the playoffs.

In other words, you had a dog in the hunt.


by Mondo Frazier
images:
* 4-legged.com
* dbkp file
Sources:
* Schedule favors these five teams
* 2007 Strength of Schedule
* NFL Play-off Results, 2006-7
* 2006 NFL Strength of Schedule
* NFL Play-off Results, Schedule
* 2005 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings
* Strength Of Schedule - Win/Loss

Sports Headlines: World Series, NFL, College Football, NHL

Sports - October 23, 2008






WORLD SERIES: Stifling Phillies, Rays even World Series


COLLEGE FOOTBALL: WVU scores 31 straight to beat Auburn


NFL:

* Why you should watch the NFL in London

* Favre Should Have Quit While He Was Ahead


NHL: Crosby, Pens score four in third to shock 'Canes

DBKP Sports Headlines for October 23, 2008

NBC's NFL Green Moment: NFL's Response is No Response

"Can you help me? I'm trying to find somewhere else to live.
Besides NBC, I mean."

The news of NBC's attempt to get an "NFL Greenest Hightlights" bandwagon rolling by Hot Air, sends off alarm bells in conservative NFL fans. The addition of Keith 'Barking When Not Raving' Olbermann to the sports team was something remedied by turning off the sound. Now that NBC Sports has come out of the Green Closet and turned off the lights, what's left?

From Hot Air:

Geez. Football used to be one of the few places on earth you could escape moonbattery and politics in general. But not anymore, at least not on NBC. Noooo. First they had to put Keith Olbermann in their coverage. And now they pull a lame green stunt on their pre-game show by turning off some lights.

Exactly. It's not enough that NFL fans pay through the nose for everything connected with pro football. Now their ears are forced to bleed, a natural reaction at having Left Wing political views forced on them during telecasts.

Contacting the NFL's corporate offices took a bit of digging, to secure the phone number. After some confusion by the switchboard as to who should be consulted, Human Resources was rung. Matthew Kinney was not at his desk, but another Human Resources number was provided. That too proved to be a dead end.

After switching gears, the NFL Media office was contacted, but a voice message informed the caller that Meredith wasn't available either. Meredith wasn't available on several other tries. Maybe out marching in a "Save the Polar Bears" parade?

Oh well. More attempts will be made later.

In any event, no NFL response was able to be secured on what the football big-wigs thought about NBC's game show tactics. It's just as well, the NFL's calculus, as well as ultimately, NBC's, is weighted toward profit. If enough people are annoyed by having environmental messages unsubliminally supplied along with their football, they may turn off or switch channels on their TV.

Turning off the TV may turn the lights on.

by Mondoreb
Hot Air Trackback



Back to Front Page.