William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog

Didn't we all get loaded on our 21st birthday and ransack the Lasch Building?

2008-07-25T12:33:00.004-04:00

No?! Really? Don't tell that to Daniel Costenbader (junior-electrical engineering).

Lasch thief caught - The Collegian

After Penn State Police took Daniel Costenbader (junior-electrical engineering) into custody, he admitted to making the false fight report -- and to causing the damage to the building -- all while wearing a stolen football helmet.

Before he called police at 3:15 a.m., an intoxicated Costenbader chased tackling dummies in the practice field, damaged property in the Lasch Building wearing a Penn State football helmet and picked up the Alamo Bowl trophy and various equipment, according to court documents.

Couldn't he have at least stolen the Land Grant Trophy?

Oh.

Stinkin' playcalling/Morelli!

As for Costenbader, just leave my university. Now.

Penn State, Nittany Lions, Daniel Costenbader,

Another reason to fire Jim Bowden

2008-07-24T13:45:00.000-04:00

Nats320 makes the case that Jim Bowden did Chad Cordero and ultimately the Nationals a disservice by announcing Cordero would be non-tendered.

By the way, the Nats look to salvage the last game of the Giants series at 3:45 p.m. today, so watch or listen if you can.

Washington Nationals, Nats, Jim Bowden, Chad Cordero

JoePa will stand up to Old Main, but not Morelli

2008-07-24T12:29:00.002-04:00

Two interesting stories about Penn State head coach Joe Paterno:

Paterno's sign to president, AD: Keep off the lawn - Post-Gazette

Penn State president Graham Spanier says Paterno won't be offered another contract after the upcoming season, but does Joe need a contract to be head coach?

Not in his mind.

Does he need to be on the sideline to be head coach?

Not necessarily, in his mind.

Does he have to be at practice during the week and in the meeting rooms to be head coach?

Not really, in his mind.

Given its posture to this point, you might wonder if the university thinks it would be overstepping to insist that the head coach be alive.

Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley are in a kind of self-induced paralysis from which there is no evident escape. Shooed off Paterno's lawn once already with their sample resignation papers, the administrators seem no closer to any sort of succession plan than was in place in 1978.

Joe Paterno: hardly ordinary - Reading Eagle

I think maybe I made a mistake last year. Jay (Penn State assistant coach Jay Paterno) kept talking about playing Clark a little more to change things. I turned him down on that because I didn't want to get into where (Anthony) Morelli was looking over his shoulder. I didn't think that would be good for the kind of kid that Morelli is. This year it might be a whole different situation.

Maybe he is just trying to make his son Jay look good, but coddling Morelli was a disaster and supports my brother's theory that JoePa has "lost the will to win."

It could be a very interesting season. I think it will be better than last year, but it should be much better. Does the head coach have it in him? I am in no hurry to see him go, having Joe Paterno as head coach is a special thing, but only if he is really JOE PATERNO.

Penn State, Nittany Lions, Joe Paterno

Possible NHL or NBA team in Baltimore?

2008-07-24T12:10:00.004-04:00

Baltimore wants to build a new arena (The Sun) that could support a franchise from either the NHL or NBA. I think Baltimore could support a NBA team, but am skeptical about the NHL. Either way, should a team be placed there, the established D.C. team should be granted 90% of the new Baltimore team's television rights. After all, what is fair for Baltimore is fair for Washington, right?

By the way, which bird would be the new Baltimore team's nickname?

Baltimore, arena, NHL, NBA

D.C. bowl game to Nationals Park

2008-07-24T12:01:00.001-04:00

The first Congressional Bowl between Navy (if they win six games) and the ACC 9th place team (!) will be at Nationals Park on December 20 (The Post). RFK Stadium, which hosted the Redskins for over 35 seasons was also considered. I would have preferred RFK Stadium because it has an actual football field designed into it and is completely enclosed and wouldn't have been fun to see some midshipmen rocking the movable stands? However, the seating layout would only be better there than at Nationals Park for fans on the lower level. Those seats at RFK are oriented for football, but the upper deck is shaped for baseball, so the sightlines are not much better than the upper deck at Nationals Park. Other pluses for having the game at Nationals Park include the HD scoreboard and food.

I may go this game, we'll see. I would almost certainly cheer for Navy, who would be my third favorite college football team if I had one.

Congressional Bowl, college football, D.C.

Open letter to the guy who did Stop Shuler and The Coach is Killing Me

2008-07-23T12:30:00.000-04:00

Sir

I have enjoyed you Web sites Stop Shuler and the Coach is Killing Me. I am a frustrated Nats fan who has had enough of Jim Bowden, the terrible general manager that is inexplicably employed by the Washington Nationals baseball club. Bowden has spent the last four years giving away pitchers, signing overweight, token All-Stars to absurd contacts, lusting after "toolsy" outfielders like Wily Mo Pena and acting like an overall asshat. Have you heard about his jumpsuits, leather pants and tricked out Segway?

I beg you to start a new blog called "The GM Ran Me Over With His Segway." We need your help, only you have the magic touch to make things better.

Sincerely,

William F. Yurasko

Washington Nationals, Nats, Jim Bowden

"Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II" coming Nov. 16

2008-07-23T12:00:00.000-04:00

'Robot Chicken: Star Wars' sequel in works - The Hollywood Reporte
Good news, Robot Chicken is doing another Star Wars episode.

Many members of the voice cast from the first special, including original "Star Wars" actors Carrie Fisher and Billy Dee Williams -- reprising their roles as Princess Leia and Lando Calrissian, respectively -- are back. Also returning are Seth MacFarlane as Emperor Palpatine, Conan O'Brien as Zuckuss, Breckin Meyer as Admiral Ackbar and Boba Fett, and Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks. Green will voice several characters, including Ponda Baba. Joining the voice cast this time around is Andy Richter.

As for the creative direction in the sequel, "we decided to focus on the bounty hunters a bit and explore their stories," "Robot Chicken" co-creator Matt Senreich said. "It's a geek-fest for us all."

The first one was hysterical and WAAAAAAAAAAY better than the overrated and rarely funny Family Guy Star Wars episode.

Some clips from the last time:

H/T: Pop Candy

Star Wars, George Lucas, Robot Chicken, Cartoon Network

Happy Birthday Dad

2008-07-23T10:15:00.000-04:00

Whiffenpoofs, Yale, Bright College Years

Why does Jim Bowden think Cristian Guzman is worth $8 million a year?

2008-07-23T06:11:00.002-04:00

It turns out that being the token All-Star for the Nationals is the way to GM Jim Bowden's heart. Last year's All-Star, DH Dmitri Young^*, cashed in for $5 million a year, despite being a overweight diabetic. Young is now on the DL because his blood sugar is out of control. Hopefully he can get that straightened out because that is scary stuff. It kind of proves that spending $5 million on him was perhaps an uneccesary risk.

This year, Cristian Guzman, yes that much-maligned Cristian Guzman, was rewarded by Bowden with a 2 year, $16 million contract. Seriously. This two the player that was regarded as a major bust for several seasons at $4 million.

Now, I am no sabrmetician (or whatever a stats lover is called), but a quick look at his baseball-reference.com page last night produced these numbers.


2005 27 WSN NL 142  456   39  100  19  6   4   31   7  4  25  76  .219  .260  .314   
2007 29 WSN NL  46  174   31   57   6  6   2   14   2  0  15  21  .328  .380  .466  
2008 30 WSN NL  96  416   56  129  26  3   5   34   3  3  16  36  .310  .339  .423

It is just a coincidence that the most recent pull from baseballreference broke down so neatly. Guzman played 142 mostly awful games in 2005. Since then, he has played exactly 142 more games over parts of the last two seasons. A bum shoulder kept him out of all of the 2006 season. His bad shoulder is certainly part of the reason for being so awful in 2005, as was the fact that he was um, blind -- he got laser vision correction before 2007. That being said, his numbers in the last 142 games are pretty good, but the guy still swings at the first pitch he sees after the previous batter walks on four pitches an awful lot. He is not much of a fielder either, so I got to wonder what Bowden is thinking? Is the market for shortstops really $8 million a year? I cannot help but think that this is an incredibly irresponsible decision. How can this work with THE PLAN of developing within and spending money on free agents when the team comes closer to contention? It just does not make any sense to me. How could Stan Kasten, architect of THE PLAN sign of on this one? Since nothing happens without his stamp of approval, I don't think we will get our wish.

Sigh.

Nationals Deal Rauch, And Re-Sign Guzmán - The Post

Guzmán, the team's lone all-star this season, had wanted a three- or four-year deal, he said, but was receptive to something shorter in large part because of sympathy. His first three years with the Nationals had been wasted by injuries and underperformance. Said Guzmán, "They had to pay for a player who was not on the field every day."

Guzmán was "sensitive to what we went through with his last contract, the four years where he was hurting for the most of it," Bowden said. "He gave back to the club by signing a two-year deal and he knows on the free agent market he gets the four years."

Asked about the length of Guzmán's contract, Bowden said: "We preferred two. We went through four years of injuries with Cristian. We didn't want to have another contract and all of a sudden we have injuries again."

Nothing like doubling someone's salary to make them sympathetic. Methinks Bowden just got grifted. You have overpaid Cristian Guzman twice Jimbo!

Oh and on the Jon Rauch for Emilio Bonifacio trade, I am not too impressed yet, but I am willing to view it with an open mind. I think Distinguished Senators has addressed it the best:

We got some papally-named infielder I ain't never heard of in return. Is this good? Well, here's how I look at it: Jim Bowden seems committed to spending his time exploring, like a tracksuited Magellan whizzing around on a Segway, novel forms of bad behavior. Every minute he dedicated to exiling Giant Jon to the desert was a minute he wasn't stealing money from Dominican teenagers, so whatever the outcome from a practical point of view, morally the trade's a winner.

I will miss the big guy though, it was entertaining having the tallest player in the majors ever on the roster, even more so than having the only two Marlons at one time. In fact, much more so, Rauch was solid out of the bullpen.

Guzman agrees to two-year extension - nationals.com

Oh and the Nats lost in San Francisco last night.

^*This is problematic as the Nats play in the NL where there is no DH.

Washington Nationals, Nats, Cristian Guzman, Jim Bowden

True Oldies?

2008-07-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

Overheard in the car..."that was Manfred Mann with 'Blinded by the Light' on True Oldies 105.9."

If 105.9 is really true oldies, shouldn't they have played Bruce Springsteen's version of "Blinded by the Light?"

Blinded by the Light, Manfred Mann, Bruce Springsteen, true oldies 105.9

Music Tuesday: Bitchin' Camaro

2008-07-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

I'm going down to the Shore on Sunday, so I figured I'd celebrate that with this Dead Milkmen classic that starts off with some talk about the Shore.

I like the animation too.

Washington Nationals, Nats, ,

Nats average almost 10 runs a game during series victory in Atlanta

2008-07-21T08:30:00.001-04:00

Yes, you read that right, the Washington Nationals averaged almost 10 runs a game this weekend. Were it not for some mental errors by P Tim Redding (Don Sutton was angry!) on Friday night they would have had a sweep. Oh well, winning a series on the road is much needed for this team and the sudden offensive surge is as shocking as enjoyable. Willie Harris is looking pretty good out there, maybe someone will want to part with some prospects for him. Probably not, so hopefully he will continue to play well because when it comes down to it, there really is not anybody else left who can try.

Sunday Boxscore 15-6

Saturday Boxscore 8-2

Friday Boxscore 6-7

Washington Nationals, Nats

Everybody hurts

2008-07-18T12:30:00.002-04:00

Nats just hoping health matters - The Wash. Times
This grim season is in part to the fact that every starter on the Nationals except Cristian Guzman has been hurt. Hopefully, getting players like Ryan Zimmerman back will make the team more exciting and add some more curly W's to the standings.

Washington Nationals, Nats

Seeing double, almost triple on NY tabs backpages

2008-07-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

The Mets' ten wins in a row have vaulted them into first place. Even with that, I think the "First & 10" headline is not terribly strong and is kind of forced. It did not stop with the two city tabloids' back pages either.

Newsday, Long Island's paper of record, went with the identical sounding "First & Ten" headline, but used a different photograph than the other two.

The Ombudsman can't be too happy to see his Phillies in second place.

New York Tabloids, Daily News, New York Post, Mets, Newsday

Will a #1 pitcher emerge from the minors?

2008-07-18T06:21:00.003-04:00

Nats See Pitching Growth On Farm - The Post
The Nats have some promising pitching prospects like Jordan Zimmermann. However, that may not be enough.

Scouts tend to believe that Washington's system is flush with arms that might reach the majors, but almost none that will dominate there.

I cannot get too concerned though. If the system develops five #3 starting pitchers, I would be ecstatic for a couple of reasons. One, five guys who win 12-15 games probably equals post-season. Two, the final piece of the puzzle, a dominant starter, could possibly come free agency. Three, that much pitching depth provides leverage to build the team through trades. So, hopefully the scouts are on to something here.

Washington Nationals, Nats

Tony's Big Easy in big trouble with liquor board

2008-07-17T14:00:00.000-04:00

Bars fight to regain licenses - The Collegian
Three State College bars, including my former favorite Tony's Big Easy, might be losing their liquor licenses.

The future of Tony's Big Easy and two accompanying bars is uncertain after the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) declined to renew their parent company's liquor license last week.

After multiple incidents and violations on the premises -- including a murder in 2006 and a February fight which saw four arrests and a crowd of 200 surge into the street -- the board voted against renewing the license for Sammark Inc., owner of Tony's Big Easy, Lulu's Nightspot and Candy Bar & Lounge, all located at 129 1/2 S. Pugh St.

The Big Easy, circa 1998-99 was one of my favorite bars ever. It had good background music -- jazz, salsa, swing, big band, and great martinis. That Penn State's sweet young things thought the bar was worthy of little black dresses also had something going for it too. However, in the years after I graduated, the bar went downhill. The music was changed the same thing in every other bar in town and the service went downhill. After a lackluster evening their the night before I got married, I decided I would not bother going back, it was merely a shell of the bar it used to be.

Three Pugh St. bars face dry times - CDT

Tony's Big Easy, State College, Penn State, liquor control board

Last known functional phone booth in BeltwayLand no longer functioning

2008-07-17T12:39:00.000-04:00

VIENNA, Va. -- Remember when I recently debunked The Post's claim that the last working phone booth in the area was gone? Back in April they claimed the one in Clarendon was the last hold out, but I proved otherwise about a month and a half ago when I discovered a functional phone booth in front of the Vienna Inn:

In more operational times, like May

That phone booth is not functioning any more -- the phone was gone on a recent trip there. By now, the booth may be gone too. Sadly, my phone batteries were too low for a photograph of the phoneless phone booth.

And Superman wept.

PREVIOUSLY
No more phone booths - 04.14.2008
Greater D.C.'s last phone booth - 11.23.2007

Verizon, phone booth, Vienna, Virginia, VA, 22180

Coverage is lacking

2008-07-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

Looking for a Nats story in The Post today, I found none. Now, I realize this is the All-Star break and all, but a quick survey of all other leading newspapers along the Northeast Corridor had coverage of their home teams in them. Ignoring the home team during the middle of the season is an odd choice for sports editor Emilio Garcia-Ruiz to make, no? Garcia-Ruiz does have a staff article on a team from another city though, one that is owned by a someone who tried to kill the hometown team. To me, that is rewarding bad behavior, if not promoting it outright. Is this good news judgment?

Over on New York Ave. NE, despite a much smaller circulation and budget, they are committed to covering the Nationals. They also boast the best writer on the beat these days. The Dick Heller column is pretty stupid though and will not get linked.

Nationals First-Half Report Card - The Wash. Times

Washington Nationals, Nats, Washington Post, Emilio Garcia-Ruiz

This was a Collegian editorial?

2008-07-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

Suggestions for stellar scene setting - The Collegian
I read this editorial, which is the centerpiece of any opinion page, making fun of LaVar Arrington for reopening the old Sports Cafe as the new Linebacker U. bar and wondered what the point was and the overall appropriateness of it in general. It would be one thing if it was just a bad column with a byline, but an editorial?

An alumnus, in a letter to the editor, did not care for the editorial either.

It is going to be a long year for Collegian readers methinks.

Lavar Arrington, Penn State Nittany Lions, Daily Collegian, Linebacker U

Nats chats 07.16.2008

2008-07-16T09:30:00.001-04:00

Washington Nationals - The Post
"Washington Post Nationals beat writer Chico Harlan will be online Wednesday, July 16 at 2 p.m. ET to take your questions and comments about the Washington Nationals."

Nationals Chat 06-18-08 - The Wash. Times
~~"Nationals beat writer Mark Zuckerman answers all of your Nationals questions this Wednesday at 1 p.m."~~

Nevermind

Washington Nationals, Nats

No Bob Shepherd tonight

2008-07-15T12:15:00.002-04:00

Good Sheppard - The Sun
P.A. announcer Bob Shepherd is still not well enough to resume his duties at Yankee Stadium for tonight's All-Star game. He has been the p.a. announcer since Joe DiMaggio was playing center and Mickey Mantle was playing right in 1951. I am hopeful he can resume his duties in time for my trip to the Stadium.

PREVIOUSLY: Get well, Bob Shepherd

New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, Bob Shepherd, All-Star Game

Praise for the ballpark

2008-07-15T12:13:00.000-04:00

The Ballpark's Hits - The Post
This just in -- fans like Nationals Park, particularly the outfield bars. The "traffic nightmare" that was hyped for months has not come close to happening and Metro is getting the job done. Surely, this news will disappoint the defeatists out there who were so opposed to the ballpark being built that they wanted to see a $611 million project fail just for the sake of saying "I told you so."

There remain problems between the District and the Lerners, but they can all be worked out and Mayor Fenty thinks they will be taken care of appropriately.

The food prices are understandably disliked, but the food selections are easily the best in D.C. sports, so paying a dollar or two more is a better value.

I really like Nationals Park and may fall in love with it yet. I cannot wait to go back and catch a game. I wish there were more weekend games this month, but I guess I'm circling August 3 on my calendar since it is the next Sunday game.

How do you feel about the park? -- vote here.

Washington Nationals, Nats, Nationals Park

It was 20 years ago today...

2008-07-15T10:30:00.000-04:00

...that I went to my first baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Tonight of course is the final All-Star Game there, so just about every sports section in the country has stories about America's greatest stadium. I bet this irritates non-Yankee fans to no end, but I'm not minding it at all. My grandfather was born and raised on 161th Street and mother worked for the Yankees for almost two years.

In addition to 1988, I saw games there in 2000 (I think) and 2003. I plan on going to my final game there a month from tomorrow. Anybody have a pair of tickets for sale?

New York Yankees, Yankee Stadium, ,

Music Tuesday: Classical Gas (Live)

2008-07-15T08:30:00.001-04:00

You've heard it a million times, but may not have ever known the name of the song or that it was by Mason Williams. He was also a comedy-writer for the Smothers Bros.

This was probably taped from The Ed Sullivan Show.

Classical Gas, Mason Williams

Upwelling continues at the Shore

2008-07-15T06:09:00.000-04:00

Here's why toes are turning blue at Shore - The Inky
Yikes, upwelling is still a major problem down the Shore. I am less than two weeks from hitting the beach in Stone Harbor and concerned the water won't be warm enough.

upwelling, Jersey Shore, beach