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v12

Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.

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My newborn son: WILL! What are you doing here?!

The death of Leon Kompowsky has been sadly underreported - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog

Monday, June 29, 2009

The death of Leon Kompowsky has been sadly underreported

Leon Kompowsky



Requiescat in pace

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posted by WFY @ 8:15 AM | |

Courtesy is a strong suit of D.C. area drivers and soon John Hinckley will be one of them - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Courtesy is a strong suit of D.C. area drivers and soon John Hinckley will be one of them

Road rage: D.C. drivers 6th most courteous - WTOP
Uh huh. Four percent of those surveyed think ramming ones car into another is appropriate too, but apparently they always remove their hat before doing so. What gentlemen! Or ladies!

I'm mainly posting this obviously incorrect news as an excuse to put the Mr. Wheeler cartoon up.



In other motoring news...

Hinckley to Gain Driving Privileges, Longer Visits - The Post
That's John Hinckley, Jr. would-be presidential assassin, not Mike Hinckley who was merely a bad Nats relief pitcher. I know the Reagans will not be happy (neither am I), but what about Jodie Foster?

Man, I wish I could commute via Metro.

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posted by WFY @ 12:00 PM | |

Mr. Wheeler returns!

# posted by Blogger Fritz : Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:30:00 PM  

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Steroid anixety comes to D.C.: Alleged dealer names Caps, Nats - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Steroid anixety comes to D.C.: Alleged dealer names Caps, Nats

This morning Washington sports fans woke up to news that an alleged steroids dealer in Florida named the Nationals and Capitals as clients following his arrest. As Dan Steinberg notes of DC Sports Bog notes, the situation is being played up by the authorities for sensationalism.

This story is just starting and very little is actually known. We know from the Mitchell Report and other sources that past Nationals who have tested positive include Mike Stanton, Jose Guillen, Gary Bennett, Nook Logan and Paul Lo Duca, all thankfully not part of the organization. Current reliever Ron Villone was also cited, but he just joined the team. Frankly, that list (and the Nats record) is pretty good argument against using PEDs, isn't it? MLB has testing now and nobody on the Nats has been busted yet so I am not too worried about the Nats.

I don't know much about the NHL's testing though, so I don't know what to make of it.

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posted by WFY @ 12:10 PM | |

Star Wars > Star Trek - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, May 08, 2009

Star Wars > Star Trek

I've blogged a little about Star Trek lately and I am looking forward to seeing the new movie, but Star Wars is still way cooler.



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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Uptown not showing Star Trek - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, May 07, 2009

Uptown not showing Star Trek

I just assumed that the new Star Trek would be playing at the best theater in the area -- D.C.'s Uptown always gets the blockbusters, especially the space operas. Instead of showing Star Trek Uptown has State of Play. I was really looking forward to going to Cleveland Park for this movie. I so rarely go to the movies that I like making it an event and going up there. What is AMC Loews thinking?

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

I agree, Uptown would be an excellent venue for Star Trek. My last visit there was almost a year ago, for Indy 4.

# posted by Blogger Fritz : Thursday, May 07, 2009 2:03:00 PM  

I think the last time I was there was for Spider-Man 3. Overall, the movies I've seen there are:

Spider-Man 3
King Long err Kong
Superman Returns
Star Wars Episodes I-III
Spider-Man 2

I am probably forgetting something, but I did see Star Wars movies there a few times.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Friday, May 08, 2009 6:09:00 AM  

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Really, I was joking when I suggested a Snuggie tailgate - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Really, I was joking when I suggested a Snuggie tailgate

DIY Nats Snuggies
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When I saw these two women in do-it-yourself curly W snuggies, I just had to take a photograph. A while back I was joking on Facebook friends about a Snuggie tailgate. It turns out these Suzanne Igo of Manhattan Beach and Colleen Kennedy of Ashburn had the same idea and they executed it. Dan Steinberg of DC Sports Bog saw them too and got the whole story.

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Stan Kasten should know better - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Stan Kasten should know better

Stan Kasten Sings a Hymn to Philly Fans - DC Sports Bog
Dan Steinberg keeps saying that the Nats will be a big draw once they start winning and I agree with him. Until that time being a Nats fan is going to be a tough road for those of us "true believers" who are just so damned happy that a team wears Washington on its jerseys. That being said, it would be preferable if those running the club would stop going out of their way to be embarrassing.

After a tough, but image enhancing spring, Stan Kasten has gone out and blown a lot of good will by taking a page out of the Abe Pollin playbook and marketed Nats Opening Day to another team's fanbase. In this case, he went on a Philadelphia radio station and plugged, unprompted Opening Day tickets to Phillies fans. I though Kasten was smarter than that -- pennywise, pound foolish. How about going on D.C. radio stations to shill tickets? Duh! Call it a hunch, but maybe the (potential) fanbase in your own neighborhood might be a better long-term investment. Doesn't Kasten realize that the franchise has been in disarray since the Montreal days and there is still a great deal of negativity surrounding the team. They have a lot of things working against them, so perhaps they ought not be chasing away the fans willing to pay for their poorly regarded product.

Earlier today, I was going to ask why the Nationals were such a punchline when there are worse franchises in the sport, but now I won't be asking that any more.

The tone of this post was not helped by the fact the Nationals were down 8-0 in the fifth inning when I started it.

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posted by WFY @ 8:36 PM | |

Perhaps Yogi Berra is not as transcendent as I thought - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, March 26, 2009

Perhaps Yogi Berra is not as transcendent as I thought

I do not think I am suffering from the myopia of being the son of a former Yankees employee and grandson of a 161th St., South Bronx native when I say I was shocked to learn a co-worker was completely unfamiliar with Yogi Berra. I find it hard to believe that an American, one from the east coast even, could get through life this long (she is almost exactly two years younger than I) and not know about Yogi, even though she has no interest in sports. I thought Yogi was shared cultural capital in this country.

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posted by WFY @ 2:00 PM | |

Blogger does not know what day it is - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog

Blogger does not know what day it is

Blogger does not know the date
This is a capture of a notice on Blogger's dashboard. It has been up since last night.

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

PENN STATE BEATS ILLINOIS AGAIN! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, March 06, 2009

PENN STATE BEATS ILLINOIS AGAIN!

Lions battle to last second - The Collegian
Talor Battle drove almost the full length of the court and hit the game winner with .3 second left as Penn State beat #23 Illinois again, 64-63. It looks like it was epic -- David Jones of the Patriot-News calls it a miracle comeback. The final rebound was grabbed by Jamelle Cornley, who had earlier left the game with what sounds like a dislocated shoulder. Did the students storm the court? You bet!

13,091 were there last night, but about 50,000 are going to claim that they were.

A win over Iowa this weekend probably seals a tournament bid, though a loss there can probably be made up for with a strong showing in the Big11Ten tournament.

ESPN.com lead with this game today:


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posted by WFY @ 5:36 AM | |

I agree. Beat Iowa and its a lock. That could be a tough game, given the really short turn-around (how did the schedule makers give PSU a road game that TIPS OFF 41 HOURS after their previous one?) Iowa is tough at home too.

I "think" we are in now. Winning a game in the Big Ten tourney could be tough, especially if we end up playing Wisconsin.

# posted by Anonymous TMBC : Friday, March 06, 2009 8:20:00 AM  

I could watch that all day! Go State!

# posted by Blogger Kevin McGuire : Friday, March 06, 2009 9:35:00 AM  

The Iowa game isn't just a win-and-in game. We're talking about revenge from football season!

Huck the Fawkeyes!

# posted by Blogger Brad Stratton : Friday, March 06, 2009 4:27:00 PM  

It will take a lot more than a regular season basketball win to make me forget football losses to Iowa. Penn State will have to defeat the greatest Iowa football team ever in Kinnick Stadium with the captains marching off the field with the daughters of the head coach and great-great-grandaughters of Nike Kinnick jumping into the arms of the senior co-captains, forsaking their Hawkeye heritage and pledging eternal devotion to Joe Paterno.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Friday, March 06, 2009 4:47:00 PM  

Well, seeing as how Bowden now has to forfeit 14 wins from the '06 and '07 seasons, that pledging thing shouldn't be all that difficult.

# posted by Anonymous Muha : Friday, March 06, 2009 7:48:00 PM   Post a Comment

Report: Smiley Gonzales is a phony! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Report: Smiley Gonzales is a phony!

Nationals prospect falsified identity - Sports Illustrated
Remember when the signing of Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez was the ballyhooed signing that was suppossed to be an example of The Plan working? Well, it turns out that 16 year old prospect is really named Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo and four years older than he said.
"This signing is symbolic of the Lerner family's and incoming club president Stan Kasten's pledge to become an industry leader in scouting and player development,'' Washington general manager Jim Bowden said at the time of the deal.
Nearly three years later, it certainly is a symbol, isn't it?

Yet another reason to fire Jim Bowden. Remember, he and assistant GM Jose Rijo (former Red), are under investigation from the FBI for their actions with Dominican prospects.

More reactions in the Google Reader links on the right and at lunch.

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posted by WFY @ 6:45 AM | |

I think I'll be quitting Facebook over their new Terms of Service - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I think I'll be quitting Facebook over their new Terms of Service

Revised TOS Gives Facebook Perpetual Rights to User Content - Marketing Vox
The headline just about says it all. Frankly, Facebook is not that important to me and if they don't change these terms by COB Friday, I'm done with the service on Saturday morning.

Facebook has a rebuttal up, but I am not satisfied with it -- change the TOS if you really mean it, Zuckerberg.

H/T: Ted's Take

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posted by WFY @ 8:00 AM | |

Nats predicted to go 78-84 -- really?! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Nats predicted to go 78-84 -- really?!

As noted by Chris Needham of NBC Washington, stats guru Nate Silver says the Nats are going to win 78 games.
Silver created a method of predicting baseball stats called PECOTA. Basically, it looks for players who've had similar careers, played similar styles, and have similar physical talents. Silver punches all in to his supercomputer, and it spits out likely stat lines for our favorite players.
Okay, that still strikes me as incredibly optimistic and I expect a big improvement this year. I would take it though.

Last year Silver predicted 72-90, in case you were wondering like I was until I asked Needham.

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posted by WFY @ 3:00 PM | |

Baseball Prospectus is predicting a 79 win season for the Nationals.

# posted by Blogger Kevin McGuire : Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:19:00 AM  

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Phyrst, family split - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Phyrst, family split

Phamly feud leads to new home - The Collegian
The Phyrst Family is no more -- for now at least.
The band and the bar cut ties after sparring last month over payment for a Saturday show at which three Phamly members performed in place of the usual four. According to an e-mail from Hesketh posted on a "Boycott the Phyrst" Facebook group, "As we were gathering our equipment to leave, the owner showed up at the bar, headed straight for [banjo player] Steve [McQuay] and shoved him. It then took two to three bartenders to break them apart."

The fight began after Phyrst management suggested paying the band less because not all of the band's members performed, according to the post.

Phyrst manager Mike Fullington said.

representatives from the Phyrst had no comment by press time Tuesday.

A statement released by the families of former Phyrst owner and band leader Ernie Oelbermann and Phyrst Phamly founder Terry Countermine said Saturday night "Phamly" shows are a Phyrst tradition and will continue with a new lineup. A new Phamly will resume the weekly Saturday sing-along this weekend.
Sounds pretty ugly, but I'd bet a beer at the Phyrst (if I knew when I would be able to complete the wager) that they reunite by fall semester.

I used to go to the first on occasion, in fact it was the first "bar" I went to in Happy Valley after my 21st birthday. Other than table wars (too fratty), I liked the place, but I probably have not been back since 2002 Homecoming.

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posted by WFY @ 7:30 AM | |

Don't forget Blue/White 2006! When it was a torrential downpour and the Hammes, Basiles, Yuraskos, and company ended up watching the game at The Phyrst.

# posted by Blogger Fritz : Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:42:00 AM  

Of course -- the Phyrst family wasn't there though.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Wednesday, January 14, 2009 8:50:00 AM  

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Happy Birthday J.J. - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Happy Birthday J.J.



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posted by WFY @ 7:47 AM | |

Milton Bradley on Bowden's radar; Paker Bros. apparently unavailable - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, January 02, 2009

Milton Bradley on Bowden's radar; Paker Bros. apparently unavailable

Nationals in serious pursuit of Bradley - nationals.com
Why? Bradley is a malcontent/misanthrope and the Nats already have 37 outfielders. Getting another one won't exactly make the others easier to trade for quality either, no?

GM Bowden not done improving Nats - nationals.com
Has he even started? *rimshot*

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posted by WFY @ 12:32 PM | |

Misanthrope compared to whom?

Barry Bonds? Brett Myers? Keith Olbermann?

# posted by Anonymous Hendo : Friday, January 02, 2009 1:03:00 PM  

Bowden is not trying to sign those guys.

Yet.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Friday, January 02, 2009 1:06:00 PM  

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You are on thin ice with me Blogger - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, December 31, 2008

You are on thin ice with me Blogger

Here is the problem. If you are seeing this post, they have fixed it -- at least temporarily.

I am leaning towards moving to a real CMS, but have been advised Joomla isn't great for blogging. What about Drupal? I would hate to put the effort of upgrading everything for just WordPress.

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posted by WFY @ 12:02 PM | |

Monkey its what's for dinner - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Monkey its what's for dinner

Monkey Meat Is Confiscated at Dulles - The Post
Customs officials searching the bags of an African man who flew into Dulles International Airport on Friday discovered three charred monkeys in his luggage, as well as deer meat and dried beef, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said yesterday.
While it is very odd and possibly concerning, the monkey meat found in someone's luggage at Dulles Aiport means at least one thing -- a replay of Mike O'Meara's classic "Monkey, its what's for dinner" ad.

I still miss Monkey Tuesday.

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posted by WFY @ 1:30 PM | |

The Star Wars Holiday Special at 30 - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, November 21, 2008

The Star Wars Holiday Special at 30

Happy 30th "Star Wars Holiday Special"! - starwars.com
The RSS teaser said: "A whole week commemorating the 30th anniversary of "The Star Wars Holiday Special" starts today."

Why?! Its awful, even worse than Star Trek V.

If you get the chance to watch this, don't! Not even to speculate on how much booger sugar a certain actress must have snorted before singing the Life Day song.

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posted by WFY @ 10:00 AM | |

Penn State elms in grave danger - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, November 07, 2008

Penn State elms in grave danger

Disease threatens to wipe out Penn State elms - CDT
The stately, century-old elm trees on Penn State's campus are in danger of falling victim to elm yellows. The disease, spread by the elm leafhopper insect, has no cure. According to a University Relations, the prospect of losing what is perhaps the nation's largest strand of elms is very real if not likely.

This saddens me tremendously, I really enjoyed the elms on the Allen Street Mall between the University Gate and the Pattee library. I admired them from my favorite spot in front of Carnegie building and really hope they can be saved. Over the years I have given to the Class of 1996 Elm endowment, but I fear it won't be enough.

UNIVERSITY RELATIONS PRESS RELEASE: Tests show elm yellows disease still threatens campus trees | Frequently Asked Questions about Elm Yellows and the Penn State Elms | Still Life: Elm yellows disease threatens campus trees

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posted by WFY @ 10:15 AM | |

Snubbed in D.C., Gillick basks in glory of Phillies parade - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, October 31, 2008

Snubbed in D.C., Gillick basks in glory of Phillies parade

Thom Loverro: Hey, Nats fans: Gillick could have been yours - The Wash. Times
In 2004, Pat Gillick openly campaigned for the Nationals GM job, but was not even interviewed for the job at a time when MLB owned the team. Gillick instead took the Phillies job and well, right now he is in a parade on Broad Street in the city of brotherly love. Whether MLB (remember, Bud Selig thinks we could have a flagship franchise here) did not interview him due to incompetence or fear of upsetting the cowardly Peter Angelo$ is unknown. What we all know too well is MLB hired a GM with a track record of 1 playoff appearance in a decade, an affinity for toolsy outfielders, scrap heap pitchers, segways and leather pants. Unfortunately, Nats fans are still stuck with this GM, Jim Bowden, because ownership likes him kissing their butts.

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posted by WFY @ 12:57 PM | |

Huh? AC/DC on music distribution - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Huh? AC/DC on music distribution

He's also concerned about the concentrated power of iTunes. "I get scared when one big monster rules music. Maybe I'm a bit daft and old-fashioned, but I see shades of George Orwell."
-- Brian Johnson of the band AC/DC. The only retail outlets carrying the album are Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.

(Source: USA Today)

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posted by WFY @ 12:03 PM | |

Yeah this is senseless to me. Why limit the buyer's choices to purchase the album? AC/DC is clearly stuck in a time when they really did mean something.

# posted by Blogger Kevin McGuire : Tuesday, October 21, 2008 1:00:00 PM  

Oh LawdBabyJeebus,

Please fulfill my satirist's secret wish that WalMart one day will re-name some advertising peridiocal of theirs the "Big Saver".

TWH
MofP of the WWN

# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Wednesday, October 22, 2008 10:21:00 AM  

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Hey comrades! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, October 06, 2008

Hey comrades!

Joe McCain Says Inner Suburbs Are "Communist" - The Post
A presidential candidate's brother says I live in a communist city and used to live in a communist county. That must be why property taxes are the lowest in the region in my new home. I could not afford to buy a house in my previous municipality, but I hear that they lowered property taxes too (We Love DC).

The candidate's brother apologized. The worst part about all of this is some McCain campaigners stopped by yesterday and I had not heard the news yet. Oh that would have been fun.

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posted by WFY @ 7:00 AM | |

ESPN Gameplan NOT working! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, September 27, 2008

ESPN Gameplan NOT working!

For the second week in a row, I'm not seeing the game. Apparently, ESPN is having trouble delivering the GamePlan feed to Comcast in Alexandria.

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posted by WFY @ 8:22 PM | |

Yeah. I tried to order ESPN GamePlan for today's (friday's) Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State Game. They said "are you sure the game is today? it is listed for tommorrow". I said, "YES! I'm looking at it right now on the ESPN website!!. Incompetence. They were nice on the phone, but they had no clue had to get the game delivered to me. I could even press "info" on channel 701 and see "Mississippi vs. Mississippi State", but they still couldn't order the game for me. Terrible.

# posted by Blogger Bert : Friday, November 28, 2008 4:24:00 PM  

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Ted Lerner needs to back off - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Ted Lerner needs to back off

Nationals 'miserable' on, off field - The Wash. Times
Team in crisis
According to this article, Ted Lerner is way too involved in running the franchise and is nickel-and-diming everything.
"Clearly, every decision of any significance is made ultimately by Ted," a city official familiar with the Lerners' baseball operation said. "The decision-making and the whole approach starts at the top and remains at the top. And I don't think anything is going to change significantly as long as Ted is running the team."
Ultimately, this story just confirms the suspicions of many.

Stan Kasten does not have the control he was expecting and may be leaving; others have already. None of this comes off as surprising at this point, but is still incredibly disappointing nonetheless. Obviously, what needs to happen is Lerner and his sons need to back off and let the baseball people run things. You almost feel sorry for Kasten.

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posted by WFY @ 12:10 PM | |

Somebody screwed up: BTN overflow channel on Comcast not working - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, September 20, 2008

Somebody screwed up: BTN overflow channel on Comcast not working

ARGH! None of the Big Ten Network overflow channels are showing a picture, meaning that we cannot watch the Penn State vs. Temple game that is going on right now. I called Comcast and they are aware of it, in fact the rep said, "Penn State?" when I mentioned the game was not on.

I'm kind of annoyed that Penn State is not the regular telecast here anyway since it is about 215 miles away from here and Temple is even closer. BTN proper went with OSU vs. Troy instead. I don't believe either school is within 450 miles of here.

I will be calling Comcast's billing dept. for a refund on Monday.

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posted by WFY @ 12:28 PM | |

The telecast finally came on with :29 left in the first half. I'm eager to get an explanation of what happened.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Saturday, September 20, 2008 3:39:00 PM  

We had a similar problem during the 1st game vs. Coastal Carolina. That PSU game was on the ONLY overflow channel that wasn't working. Fortunately in our area today, they had the PSU game on the main channel so there were no problems. You didn't miss anything in the first quarter. I did call Comast to complain that day and it took them most of the first half to fix the problem.

# posted by Anonymous The Maryland Bureau Chief : Saturday, September 20, 2008 4:32:00 PM  

Why are you staying with Comcast? Comcast could not be any worse even if they declared 'screw the customer' was their official business slogan & philosophy.
Go get a dish! I did, and I am never making complaints (except when heavy storm clouds knock out reception for 10-15 minutes.

# posted by Blogger SoloVita : Saturday, September 20, 2008 5:35:00 PM  

solovita: The triple-play is a pretty good deal and they have been pretty reliable overall. I barely watch TV, so I'm not sure if getting the dish when I still need phone/internet is cost effective.

FIOS, on the other hand...

# posted by Blogger WFY : Sunday, September 21, 2008 7:53:00 AM  

i followed comcast's troubleshooting tips.

i lost all digital channels, including btn and overflow channels. i then had to wait around for a rep to come out. they said they woud be there between 12-3.

they arrived at 5. i missed the game, and wasted my afternoon.

in short, i hate comcast, and cannot switch due to not being able to have a dish on my townhouse.

# posted by Anonymous jd : Sunday, September 21, 2008 12:35:00 PM   Post a Comment

Pa. dentist apparently responsible for medical waste in Avalon - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, September 05, 2008

Pa. dentist apparently responsible for medical waste in Avalon

Montco dentist reportedly admits dumping medical waste in Shore - The Inky
A fishing boat rocked against a dock yesterday at Dr. Thomas W. McFarland's scenic Shore home. But the Wynnewood dentist apparently has been doing more than jigging for flounder.

McFarland turned himself in to Avalon, N.J., police on Tuesday in connection with the dumping of needles, cotton swabs and other medical waste into the waterways, several news organizations reported.
What this Pennsylvanian is alleged to have done gives the whole Shore and state a black eye. If this guy is convicted, I hope he spends a long time behind bars; Rahway would probably be a good spot. Oh and if he had done this the week I was up there, I would have sued him.

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posted by WFY @ 6:30 AM | |

Half of D-line suspended for Oregon State - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Thursday, September 04, 2008

Half of D-line suspended for Oregon State

Paterno: Evans, Quarless, Koroma will not play against Oregon St. - The Collegian
Penn State defensive tackle Abe Koroma, defensive lineman Maurice Evans and tight end Andrew Quarless will not play Saturday against Oregon State, Joe Paterno said on the Nittany Lion Hotline tonight, adding cornerback Willie Harriott has been removed from the team.

Police said they found on Tuesday a small amount of marijuana at a Nittany Apartments residence, whose most current residents are Quarless, Evans, Koroma and cornerback A.J. Wallace, according to a search warrant. No charges have been filed in the incident. Police have said they are still trying to determine who had possession of the marijuana.
Basically, there was a noise problem the cops came and asked to search the place, the residents said no so the cops got a warrant. In doing so, a little bit of weed was found, probably not enough to get anybody convicted, BUT any is way too much for a football letterman to have in his apartment, no? They may not have even known, but they choose to make a lot of noise that the cops get involved.

Stupid.

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posted by WFY @ 9:16 PM | |

They all look the same - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, August 11, 2008

They all look the same


Wow, John Lannan looks a lot like Ryan Zimmerman. He seems to be wearing the same number too.

I forgot which blog I stole this bit from, thanks though. Nothing like making a copy editing mistake look like more than it is, right?

After the Walks, a Walk-Off in Milwaukee - The Post

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posted by WFY @ 12:33 PM | |

Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, August 04, 2008

Overheard: Henny's to be sold, demolished

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STONE HARBOR, N.J. -- I was surprised to hear the rumor that Henny's, now in its 77th summer, may not see a 78th. Apparently, the land is for sale and a potential buyer has been found. The new buyer would knock the venerable Stone Harbor institution down and replace it with a hotel.

When I was a kid Henny's had honey-dipped fried chicken that I thought was out of this world. When I started going back to Avalon/Stone Harbor, I was kind of disappointed they did not have it. Henny's has been Yurasko favorite for most of those 77 years, it will be sad to see it go if this rumor is accurate.

UPDATE: Some specifics from Cape Cuisine, courtesy of Jen Miller of Down the Shore with Jen.

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posted by WFY @ 9:30 AM | |

Henry Aaron disagrees - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, July 28, 2008

Henry Aaron disagrees

On Saturday evening, Erica and I were watching the Yankees vs. Red Sox game on FOX. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver were talking about Boston starter Tim Wakefield's rookie season with the Pirates when he won two NLCS games against the Braves. Of course, those wins merely prolonged the inevitable for Pittsburgh as they lost in game 7 when Francisco Cabrera knocked in Sid Bream to win the NLCS. McCarver then added it was the most famous hit in Atlanta sports history.

Huh?



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posted by WFY @ 9:34 AM | |

Tim McCarver hasn't said anything intelligent...EVER.

One Henry Aaron does disagree, but everyone in Pittsburgh knows that Barry "I don't do 'roids" Bonds didn't get the ball to the cutoff guy cleanly (maybe because he didn't hustle like you're taught way back in Little League), allowing Bream to make it home.

Funny how it's easy to blame State College's own Stan Belinda for leaving one out there to hit, but it makes more sense that Bonds drug it out.

# posted by Anonymous Muha : Monday, July 28, 2008 7:18:00 PM  

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WTF is going on at the Vienna Inn?! - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, July 26, 2008

WTF is going on at the Vienna Inn?!

Police: Vienna Employee Injured in Malicious Attack - WJLA
An employee got stabbed at the Vienna Inn early this morning:
Police say they received the 911 call from the victim himself, who said he had been attacked. Police responded to the 100 block of Maple Avenue in the town of Vienna shortly before 3 a.m. Officers say the victim suffered from life threatening stab wounds and was given first aid to control the bleeding until rescue crews arrived on the scene. It has been reported that the victim was stabbed inside the Inn's restaurant.
Yikes, hopefully the employee will recover and the assailant will be brought to justice.

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posted by WFY @ 5:07 PM | |

You were quite cavalier about the stabbing at Tony's Big Easy, but when its YOUR bar...

# posted by Anonymous M.C., M.A., WWN O'man : Monday, July 28, 2008 9:35:00 AM  

The Big Easy lost its standing with me before the stabbing.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Thursday, July 31, 2008 8:32:00 AM  

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Didn't we all get loaded on our 21st birthday and ransack the Lasch Building? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, July 25, 2008

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

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.

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posted by WFY @ 12:33 PM | |

Brilliant. Where do they find these idiots?

# posted by Blogger Erica Yurasko : Friday, July 25, 2008 6:23:00 PM  

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Why does Jim Bowden think Cristian Guzman is worth $8 million a year? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, July 23, 2008

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

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.

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posted by WFY @ 6:11 AM | |

The Guzman deal may not make much sense, but apparently the Rauch trade was more Rizzo than Bowden. With what Arizona is doing right now, you can't complain too much about the Nats trying to import as many people from the Diamondbacks as possible.

# posted by Blogger Caps Nut : Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:09:00 PM  

I'm also willing to give Rizzo the benefit of the doubt on the player acquired, but wonder why Bowden could not get more. Actually, I am not wondering that, I'm just frustrated with Jimbo for about the last four years.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:10:00 AM  

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True Oldies? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, July 22, 2008

True Oldies?

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?"

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posted by WFY @ 10:30 AM | |

This was a Collegian editorial? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, July 16, 2008

This was a Collegian editorial?

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.

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posted by WFY @ 12:00 PM | |

Well, this is what to expect these days. It's more important to be as crude and unprofessional as you possibly can (take a look at most modern MSM outlets for proof, no matter where you sit along the aisle) than it is to be truly objective and try emphasize a point.

Besides, why be critical of the Animal at all? He's trying to give back to the community as an entrepreneur. But then again, I forgot that there's something wrong with you if you try to create and run your own business. Has to do with that EEEEEEEEVIL corporate mindset.

And we have a family friend on staff at the Commu...er, Collegian. Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed, because she can do so much better.

# posted by Anonymous Muha : Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:03:00 AM  

I don't get the Daily Collegian = Daily Worker arguments, but this was a pointless editorial.

# posted by Blogger WFY : Thursday, July 17, 2008 8:45:00 AM  

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Bowden, Rijo in hot water with FBI? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Saturday, July 12, 2008

Bowden, Rijo in hot water with FBI?

Sources: Bowden, Rijo investigated in pair of probes of Dominican signings - ESPN
Federal authorities and Major League Baseball are investigating Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo for their possible roles in a growing financial scandal involving the signing of players from the Dominican Republic, several sources familiar with the probe told ESPN.

Anyone implicated could face felony fraud charges, sources familiar with the investigation said. Numerous MLB employees in the United States and the Dominican Republic are under suspicion in the probe, which allegedly involves the skimming of signing money allocated for Dominican prospects. Bowden, a 23-year veteran of MLB front offices and a general manager on and off since 1992, is the highest-ranking official known to be under investigation.
Bowden is denying any wrongdoing. Here are the follow up articles and blog posts:

FBI Interviews Bowden as Part of Probe - The Post
More on the Dominican -- from Rijo, Bowden - Nationals Journal, washingtonpost.com
Bowden denies wrongdoing in Dominican - The Wash. Times

I have never been a Bowden fan, and have actively advocated his dismissal, but I can't be the only one saying "not like this."

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posted by WFY @ 7:09 AM | |

It is really frustrating when your team just doesn't get it - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, June 16, 2008

It is really frustrating when your team just doesn't get it

Nats Confront Indecency - DC Sports Bog, washingtonpost.com
The Nats are cracking down on shirtless guys now?! Who cares? Wasn't Stan Kasten suppossed to be the "big picture" guy?

Sigh.

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posted by WFY @ 6:31 PM | |

Just Dukes being Dukes, dawg - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Just Dukes being Dukes, dawg

RF Elijah Dukes has been on thin ice ever since becoming a National. Last night, following Lastings Milledge home run, Dukes and Manny Acta got into it in the dugout wiht players coming between them. After the win, Dukes pulled back on a post-game high five with Acta, who was not amused.



This seems like an odd decision by someone with a zero tolerance policy as Dukes. Will the team say they have had enough or bump him up to double-secret probation? I'm sure there will be much discussion about this in the Natmosphere and beyond which is very unfortunate, because it will overshadow the Nats improbable come from behind win. How improbable was it? Prior to last night, Washington was 0-35 when trailing after 8 innings.

H/T Deuce of Davenport

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posted by WFY @ 9:00 AM | |

Friday tabs made the same New York Climbs pun - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Sunday, June 08, 2008

Friday tabs made the same New York Climbs pun


Both tabloids had the same idea for the cover -- New York Climbs in a gothic typeface similar to the old gray lady's flag (not masthead, as it is mistakenly called). I appreciate the Daily News one more because it included the definite article.

Apparently, designers of the relatively new New York Times building had not considered how easy it would be to climb the 52-story skyscraper (The Times) at 8th and 41st. Two climbers, one a stuntman from France and the other from Brooklyn, both did it on the same day.

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posted by WFY @ 9:40 AM | |

Another quote of the day - 05.30.2008 - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, May 30, 2008

Another quote of the day - 05.30.2008

I am the original Sex in the City fan.
CBS Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer on the Byrd, Doyle & Jones Show, WWWT radio.

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posted by WFY @ 12:30 PM | |

Drunk "Vader" attacks Jedi "temple" - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Drunk "Vader" attacks Jedi "temple"

Darth Vader spared jail for lightsaber attack - Telegraph (UK)
The force was with Arwel Wynne Hughes on March 25 this year, however the courts took a very dim view of him using it on two Star Wars fans.

He donned a black bin bag for a cape and confronted Barney Jones with the metal crutch while Mr Jones and his cousin Michael were being filmed playing with lightsabers.

Hughes, who has a chronic alcohol problem, jumped over a garden wall in Holyhead, North Wales, and bellowed "Darth Vader" as he assaulted the Star Wars obsessives, who were shooting a documentary to promote their Jedi Church which was formed last year.
Please, please, please let this video find the way to YouTube.

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posted by WFY @ 12:19 PM | |

Boycott Camden Yards - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Monday, May 12, 2008

Boycott Camden Yards

On Friday, I got an email from nationals.com titled "See your Nationals play at Camden Yards next week" offering me a chance to buy tickets for upcoming series in Baltimore. While Camden Yards is certainly an attractive ballpark (though the seats don't all face the field) and about 90 minutes away I will not be going. Long-time readers of the blog know what is coming -- don't go there. Not now, not next week, not ever. No Washingtonian should attend any Orioles game so long as Peter Angelo$ or his heirs own the O's and the Nationals do not control their own broadcasting rights. Giving an additional subsidy to Angelo$ would be akin to "providing aid and comfort to the enemy."

As a reminder of the problem, here is an excerpt of last year's list of grievances against Baltimore's most cowardly millionaire and his pathetic franchise:
  • Angelo$ was the only owner to vote against the Expos relocating to Washington.

  • Remember how most of us couldn't watch the Nationals regularly for two seasons? That was Angelo$ doing. Angelo$ and MLB made a corrupt bargain to put the Nats TV rights in the hands of someone who had an interest in limiting the ability of a "competitor" to succeed. Thomas Boswell accused Angelo$ of trying to "kill the baby in the crib." This cost the Nationals from getting full media exposure during the crucial first year which could have sold more tickets and contributed to the D.C. treasury.

  • He is duplicitous and hypocritical -- remember when he said "there are no baseball fans in Washington D.C. that's a fiction." If that is true Petey, why you "need" the TV rights. Also, take a look at his past rhetoric for use of the term "monopolists." Isn't it something how he forgets that he sought to retain his monopoly of baseball in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

  • The production values of Malevolent Angelo$ Sports Network -- players being named incorrectly, poor A/V fidelity, and treating the Nats like the visiting team on their own network. Malevolent Angelo$ Sports Network screwed up a Penn State telecast last season too.

  • He has recklessly thrown money away (see Belle, Albert; Ponson, Sidney), but now finds it more convenient to blame Washington for his inability to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox. This is the basis for his subsidy argument when in truth 15 years of bad franchise management got his team where it is now, not having another team 35 miles (and 90 minutes away on game nights) to the south.

  • It has been said Angelo$ wanted to by mayor of Baltimore and governor of Maryland. Clearly the people of that city and state knew better and are not falling for his "look, it stuck it Washington, so you should love me" actions. Washingtonians shouldn't have to suffer because Baltimore had to the good sense not to empower him from the ballot box.

    In short, Angelo$ has wielded his disproportionate power to keep the Nats from fully realizing the potential of their market for petty, personal reasons and to keep himself from having to work hard. The Nats can not realize their full revenue potential because they have to subsidize Angelo$' mediocrity. Do you really want to reward that kind of bad behavior?
  • May the reign of failure continue for Angelo$.

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    posted by WFY @ 12:11 PM | |

    Though I can't dispute anything here, I'm still boycotting the Nats rather than the Orioles. Part of it is family history -- my mom's side of the family is from the Eastern Shore. Part of it is that I can usually keep my opinion of a team separate from my opinion of the owners, as plenty of Redskins fans might also tell you. (The number of Orioles implicated in the Mitchell Report bothers me a little bit more than Angelos.)

    But the truth is I probably won't see either team this year, just as I didn't last year. And that's because the manner in which the Nats came to Washington soured my impression of MLB in general. They extorted hundreds of millions of dollars from a municipality that can't even tell its schoolkids where they're supposed to go for class. I simply can't support that.

    Bottom line is that there's something unsavory about both teams. How much tolerance we have for it is sure to depend from person to person.

    # posted by Blogger bdure : Tuesday, May 13, 2008 7:57:00 AM  

    Neither MLB or the District distinguished themselves during the negotiation. That being said, I think it winds up working out very well for D.C. because a lot of the money coming in will be from suburban fans, money that would have been spent elsewhere. Additionally, the development going around the ballpark is quite impressive. The schools could learn a lot from the way the construction was managed (on time, on budget) and just well might. Allen Lew, the chief executive for the Sports Commission, moved onto lead the school system upgrade last year.

    # posted by Blogger WFY : Friday, May 16, 2008 12:26:00 PM  

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    Four captains? Five captains? Scirrotto? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Tuesday, April 29, 2008

    Four captains? Five captains? Scirrotto?

    Nittany Lions Announce Captains for 2008 Season - Intercollegiate Athletics
    Defensive end Josh Gaines (Ft. Wayne, Ind.) and safety Anthony Scirrotto (West Deptford, N.J.) were named the defensive captains. Center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) and wide receiver Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.) were named the offensive captains.

    In addition, linebacker Sean Lee (Pittsburgh) will serve as an honorary captain in 2008. Lee suffered a serious knee injury earlier this month that will likely keep him off the field this season, but he is planning to return for the 2009 season as a fifth-year senior.
    Do they really need four captains? Remember when it was just two and occasionally a special teamer like Maurice Daniels? Also, Scirrotto has no business being captain after the happenings of early April 1, 2007.

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    posted by WFY @ 5:15 PM | |

    BREAKING: Ovechkin headed to Sunshine State - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Monday, April 28, 2008

    BREAKING: Ovechkin headed to Sunshine State


    NHL Star Called Up To Big Leagues To Play For NFL Team

    "Covering all sports and hockey too."

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    posted by WFY @ 7:11 PM | |

    What has happened to my alma mater's football team? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Wednesday, April 09, 2008

    What has happened to my alma mater's football team?

    On the right is yesterday's Collegian. The highlighted areas are stories about the legal problems of current and past Penn State football players.

    Just off of the top of my head, here are Penn State football players, current and former, who have had legal problems over the last year or so.

    Anthony Scirrotto
    Chris Baker
    Chris Bell
    Austin Scott
    Knowledge Timmons
    Tyrell Sales
    Phil Taylor

    This is MAJOR problem and like it or not, Joe Paterno is going to be held accountable for the actions of his players by the university. These arrests, more than anything else, may mean the end of his career after his contract expires. Something is very wrong with this team and clever ideas like cleaning a section of Beaver Stadium are not fixing the thuggery problem that is running rampant. Yes, Paterno has kicked Bell off for good, but what has he done about Anthony Scirrotto? Nothing yet. Too much is going on and he can't blame the media or Old Main for it. Working at home is not going to make this go away either.

    Penn State football has been falling short of its potential on and off the field for several years with 2005 now looking like an abberation. Too many players are getting in legal trouble and big wins are rare. The Grand Experiment to win with well-rounded football players is in the rear-view mirror right now. With each new incident, the thought of seeing someone other than Paterno roaming the sidelines becomes less shocking and more welcome.

    Paterno needs to stop picking fights with Old Main and the media and start figuring out why his players can't keep their noses clean. The university does not owe him (or his assistants, who are complicit with the direction of the program) a job. If Paterno is willing to let his standards slide, the university should find someone who will commit himself to success with honor. If they have to go outside the program to do it, so be it.

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    posted by WFY @ 12:54 PM | |

    The tipping point for me was the September game vs. Michigan.

    Look, JoePa is the greatest, but there comes a time for everyone to move on. He wants respect for all he's done, and for good reason. But the University has tolerated a lot as well. Major college programs don't keep coaches who have 4 out 5 losing seasons ('00-'04) and don't consistently beat their rivals (Michgan or Ohio State). The off-the-field stuff is even worse, because it reflects poorly on the entire university. And the working from home thing is ridiculous. We'd all like to work from home--get to the office! I don't think Joe will be coaching in '09.

    # posted by Anonymous The Maryland Bureau Chief : Thursday, April 10, 2008 8:10:00 AM  

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    Off Target - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Monday, March 10, 2008

    Off Target

    In the last week, twelve posts about a certain big-box store opening in Columbia Heights have come through my Google Reader. Twelve!

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    posted by WFY @ 12:00 PM | |

    The real reason Starbucks is closed right now - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Tuesday, February 26, 2008

    The real reason Starbucks is closed right now

    Starbucks is closed right now (Seattle Times) so employees can "be trained in creating the perfect shot, steaming the milk and all the pieces that come together in a drink." Not just the local Starbucks, all Starbucks. Seems a little odd doesn't it? The truth is more disturbing:

    Starbucks To Begin Sinister 'Phase Two' Of Operation - The Onion

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    posted by WFY @ 5:51 PM | |

    WHOA! Penn State beats #8 Michigan State - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Sunday, February 03, 2008

    WHOA! Penn State beats #8 Michigan State

    Lions spring upset - Patriot-News
    Hubris can be funny:
    STATE COLLEGE - A Lansing, Mich., TV personality named Hondo Carpenter took the Jordan Center court two hours before Michigan State's game at Penn State and pre-taped his postgame opening. It went something like this:

    "Welcome to the Northwestern of the East where, before 6,000 fans, the Spartans whipped Penn State."
    For the record, there was an announced crowd of 11,159 fans, some of whom rushed the court after Penn State won by nine. Final score: 85-76.

    About once a year, Penn State shows signs of life and beats a men's basketball good
    team. That happened yesterday when Michigan State came to town.

    Now build on it cagers! The season doesn't have to be a total loss, you have a winning record and can still make the NIT.

    Video! - ESPN

    Penn State upsets No. 8 Michigan State - The Collegian

    A giant leap - CDT

    UPDATED: Big11Ten Network video



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    posted by WFY @ 8:07 AM | |

    We're so romantic...or not - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Tuesday, January 29, 2008

    We're so romantic...or not

    Pop Candy alerts us that Alexandria, my current home, is the most romantic city in the United States of America according to amazon.com. My previous location, Arlington is #9 while Washington D.C. is #11. The Ombudsman works in the #2 city, Cambridge, Mass.

    While Old Town Alexandria and the roof of Riverhouse in Arlington have their advantages, I never thought of either place as particularly romantic. I would have expected San Francisco (#15) to be higher and that New York would be on the list.

    It has been suggested that perhaps the criteria amazon.com uses, "sales data of romance novels, relationship and sex books" indicates a lack of romance. Seeing that we're lumped in with Cambridge and Ann Arbor supports that statement -- what do Cantabs and Wolverines know about amore anyway?!

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    posted by WFY @ 6:05 AM | |

    Schrag on Dulles-Tysons Metro situation - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Friday, January 25, 2008

    Schrag on Dulles-Tysons Metro situation

    This morning, I asked Zachary Schrag, assistant professor of history at George Mason University and author of The Great Society Subway: A History of the Washington Metro, if he had any comments on the letter FTA chief James Simpson sent to Governor Kaine about the Dulles-Tysons Metro extension. Dr. Schrag responded:
    In June 2007, James S. Simpson told the APTA Rail Conference, "we have one shot at building these projects; so we need to build them right and we need to build them to last. Perhaps by thinking big again, we can develop the kind of national consensus we need to assure that we get the kind of cities, and nation, that we want, and find the resources to pay for them."
    Remarks: James S. Simpson, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, APTA Rail Conference, June 4, 2007

    I find little of that approach in his January 24 letter to Governor Kaine. What does Simpson think Tysons Corner should look like a century from now? What does he think Loudoun County should look like a century from now? Unless he explain what kind of metropolitan area, and what kind of nation he wants, I don't see how he can evaluate the Dulles Line proposal.
    Thank you for you input Dr. Schrag.

    EARLIER TODAY:
    FTA to Dulles corridor Metro: DROP DEAD

    2006 INTERVIEW:

    Q & A: The Great Society Subway

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    posted by WFY @ 12:23 PM | |

    FTA to Dulles corridor Metro: DROP DEAD - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog

    FTA to Dulles corridor Metro: DROP DEAD


    Dulles Rail Project All but Dead - The Post
    Virginia officials are saying the Federal Transit Administration has blindsided them with the announcement that the Metro expansion on the Dulles corridor is not likely to receive $900 million of federal funding. The Post obtained the letter FTA chief James Simpson sent to Governor Tim Kaine (PDF).

    Not surprisingly, a Post editorial wonders why the FTA took so long (after many millions of dollars were already spent) to announce its intentions. It also raises the question of how much administration ideology played a part (The Post) in the FTA's handling of the Dulles corridor Metro.

    These recent developments are bad news for Northern Virginia and greater Washington D.C. There has been failure at just about every possible level along the way. Hopefully, this is just a setback, albeit a large one, to bringing mass transit to the 17th largest business district and 16th busiest airport in the country.

    More from The Wash. Times: Years of planning, investment unravel at likely death of Dulles Rail

    UPDATES:

    Post columnist Marc Fisher chimes in on Raw Fisher.

    Eric McErlain wonders what happens to all of that toll revenue that was suppossed to fund the project on Off Wing Opinion

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    posted by WFY @ 6:16 AM | |

    Tysons-Dulles Metro in jeopardy - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Thursday, January 24, 2008

    Tysons-Dulles Metro in jeopardy

    Dulles Rail Project Verging on Collapse - The Post
    The details are still emerging, but it appears the Silver Line linking West Falls Church to Ashburn via Tysons and Dulles is in serious jeopardy. The Federal Transit Administration is very reluctant to provide $900 million in funding for this much needed project.

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    posted by WFY @ 7:42 PM | |

    Jerry Reinsdorf : Still obnoxious after all of these years - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog

    Jerry Reinsdorf : Still obnoxious after all of these years

    Capital Punishment found this Yeas & Nays article (The Wash. Examiner) about Chicago White Sox & Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf receiving an award from his alma mater, George Washington University. Reinsdorf took the occasion to note that he didn't want the Expos to come to the nation's capital.
    "Whatever you do, don’t give me Washington," he said Selig told him.

    That's exactly what they did, although Reinsdorf said the decision had "nothing to do with my love for D.C." (he got his bachelor’s degree from G.W. in the '50s) but was "strictly business.

    Nevertheless, he said he preferred Northern Virginia over downtown due to its "better fan base." Then he told the crowd, which included Nats principal owner Mark Lerner, that he "would have requested a different location" in the city.

    "We were sold on the idea that there would be enough parking," he said. "I'm afraid that's not the case. I would have insisted on [the RFK site]."
    Clearly these are words from a man who loves D.C. Also, as CP noted, he showed his love for D.C. when he strong-armed the city to hiring his son's firm (for $3.7 million) as a ballpark consultant. What a jerk (actual word much stronger, but I try to keep it clean)!

    The parking situation will be worked out eventually; a year or two of parking problems beats 30 years of having a Northern Virginia franchise that wouldn't draw from east of the Potomac.

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    posted by WFY @ 12:02 PM | |

    Regarding Selig's desire that Reinsdorf not give him Washington, why not just state the obvious--he didn't want to deal with Peter Angelos's inevitable meddlings.

    # posted by Blogger Fritz : Thursday, January 24, 2008 1:41:00 PM  

    While Peter Angelo$ can generally be blamed for much of what ails D.C. baseball, in this case I think Reinsdorf is just a jerk.

    # posted by Blogger WFY : Saturday, January 26, 2008 10:07:00 AM  

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    Ovechkin's contract is a 13 year monster - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Friday, January 11, 2008

    Ovechkin's contract is a 13 year monster

    You have to give it to Ted Leonsis, he's got guts signing Alex Ovechkin to such a huge contract, both in terms of years (13) and dollars ($124 million).
    "I'm a risk-taker," Capitals owner Ted Leonsis said. "And if you're going to make a long-term investment, who else would you do it with?"
    I'm blown away. It probably goes down as either the smartest or dumbest decision in Capitals history, but we won't know for a long time; I'm expecting the former. Five years from now, $9.5 million a year for Ovechkin could very well look like a bargain.

    On Frozen Blog, which has been on top of the story all along, took video of the announcement last night at the season ticket-holder party.



    Leonsis has likely charted the course for the Washington Capitals for the rest of his tenure as owner. This erases all doubt about his intentions, not that I had any.

    Ovechkin did this without an agent too, so he really cashes in. Scott Boras, eat your heart out.

    Ovechkin Scores Big Deal - The Post

    Jackpot - The Wash. Times

    Sunday's game should be fun.

    UPDATE:
    Here is how On Frozen Blog pulled off the big scoop.

    Leonsis has made a leap of faith about Ovechkin, Washington sports fans, and the NHL in general. May his gamble pay off handsomely.

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    posted by WFY @ 5:34 AM | |

    Wow, what a deal for the kid! I generally hate deals that are made for so long because I don't know if younger players have earned that yet. I like Ovechkin though and even I may have come up with an 8 year deal, ten at the absolute most. But you are right, down the line this could be a great deal.

    I like that they announced it at this ticket holder event though. Good luck to the Capitals in the long run!

    # posted by Blogger Kevin McGuire : Friday, January 11, 2008 6:15:00 AM  

    This means that Crosby deserves $11+ million a year as soon as his contract is up.....

    # posted by Anonymous The Maryland Bureau Chief : Friday, January 11, 2008 3:12:00 PM  

    So let me get this straight...

    They outed their source, admitted to being a plant, and admitted to going against the wishes of the team to keep things under wraps while patting themselves on the back about upholding mainstream journalistic standards in the process?????

    Yeah...

    Ted's right, it is a blackeye for them. Only, as usual, they're too stupid to realize it.

    # posted by Blogger Caps Nut : Friday, January 11, 2008 9:38:00 PM   Post a Comment

    Follow-up to "Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.?" - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Thursday, January 10, 2008

    Follow-up to "Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.?"

    Another article wonders why New York keeps getting destroyed in movies:

    Filmmakers view New York as a disaster waiting to happen - NY Daily News

    I understand it isn't as good a narrative for aliens destroy Indiana because a burning Wal-Mart isn't a vivid as skyscraper, but still destroying New York is a cliche that actually happened.

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    posted by WFY @ 5:40 AM | |

    New book about HST coming - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Monday, January 07, 2008

    New book about HST coming

    STRAY SHOT FROM GONZO JOURNO - NY Post
    A new book, "The Kitchen Readings; Untold Stories of Hunter S. Thompson" will confirm that Dr. Hunter S. Thompson was as crazy and dangerous as we thought.

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    posted by WFY @ 5:38 AM | |

    Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Friday, January 04, 2008

    Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.?

    When I saw a commercial for the movie Cloverfield the other day, I lamented to myself that it was yet another movie that destroys all or part of New York City. I have never really seen the appeal of these movies especially since IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. At this point, in addition to being unsettling, it is lazy storytelling since it has been done so many times.

    I thought about cataloging these movies and writing up a post about the phenomenon, but a Brooklyn born Post-Gazette columnist beat me to it.

    Commentary: Filmmakers enjoy laying waste to New York

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    posted by WFY @ 12:23 PM | |

    Big Dig officially done next Monday - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Wednesday, December 26, 2007

    Big Dig officially done next Monday

    DSCF0270
    An old Central Artery ramp, circa 2006 (PHOTO BY WILLIAM F. YURASKO)

    On Dec. 31, It's Official: Boston's Big Dig Will Be Done - AP/The Post
    The $2.6 million $14.8 billion Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project will be declared complete on Dec. 31. I'm glad Boston is no longer bisected by an ugly highway, but to all involved, you blew it for the rest of us with all of the massive overruns and shoddy workmanship. It will be a generation before this sort of urban reclamation gets attempted again.

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    posted by WFY @ 4:50 PM | |

    Mermaids: more mammal than fish - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Saturday, December 22, 2007

    Mermaids: more mammal than fish

    DSCF0062
    SAN FRANCISCO -- In Ghirardelli Square, there is a statue of two mermaids in a fountain. One is nursing a mermaid baby, so I guess they are more mammal than fish.

    According to a description of the statue the debut was controversial. I have never understand why are people offended by a mother nursing? We're mammals, what's the big deal?!

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    posted by WFY @ 8:03 AM | |

    Another Hazleton funny - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Monday, December 03, 2007

    Another Hazleton funny

    Eye in the sky catches naughty image at Harman-Geist field - The Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Penna.
    Courtesy of Run Up the Score!, I have learned that the high school football field in my early "college town" was vandalized. Vandalism of high school football fields is not unusual except that this time it occurred when a satellite took a photograph for Google Maps (Funny, though possibly NSFW).

    The field has since switched to fake turf.

    Also, I did not know that Rudy Gilliani's third/current wife, Judith Nathan, was from there.

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    posted by WFY @ 5:31 AM | |

    Maxwell House <i>hates</i> D.C. - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Friday, November 16, 2007

    Maxwell House hates D.C.

    Maxwell House creating a stir with toll-free travel - USA Today
    How can coffee giant Maxwell House give away free tolls and subway fare and skip D.C.?
    Between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., Maxwell House coffee will pick up the tab for all motorists at toll plazas in eight U.S. cities — Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, Dallas, Miami, Denver, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. It also will distribute fare cards at five New York subway stations.
    Wait a minute, how can they do this in ever other major city in the Northeast Corridor and not include D.C.? This is like when the Mooninites skipped us. Even more insulting is Maxwell House has gone onto second and third tier cities instead of us. The second largest subway system in the country is here and the Dulles Toll Road comes as close to D.C. as the toll roads around Denver and Pittsburgh. I'm soooo offended.

    From now on, I'm not buying any Maxwell House coffee.

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    posted by WFY @ 6:15 AM | |

    Don't you think it may have something to do with the fact that paying for tolls in the D.C. Metro area would require coordination with the District, Maryland, and Virginia; whereas these other cities only require Maxwell House to deal with one agency? Or it could be that no one in D.C. would be caught dead with a coffee that costs less that US$2.50 a cup, and Kraft just knows their market. Do you people even know how a percolator works?

    # posted by Blogger Matthew : Friday, November 16, 2007 12:13:00 PM  

    In those other cities, they only needed to talk to one agency as they were only picking up the tolls at one location. The Dulles Toll Road would be the choice here. If Maxwell House went with free subway fares, they could have worked with WMATA. It is self-evident that this didn't happen because they hate Washingtoninans. I shall ask a local elected official to make an inquiry on this snub.

    Lastly, I note the interested coincidence that someone named Matthew is lamenting that "no one in D.C. would be caught dead with a coffee that costs less sic that US $2.50." I happen to know a Matthew and he always went to Starbucks while visiting me.

    # posted by Blogger WFY : Friday, November 16, 2007 1:27:00 PM  

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    Dante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!) - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Friday, November 09, 2007

    Dante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!)


    THIS VIDEO IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

    Long story short -- every year, my friends Tom and Wiley head to Jersey for Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon. After day two of the 2006 Vulgarthon, Tom went back to the room to sleep instead of going to the after party. When Wiley met Brian O'Halloran, best known as Dante from Clerks, he mentioned what Tom was doing. O'Halloran was not amused and Wiley got it on video. After over 1½ years, they finally got the video up. I'm looking forward to watching this when I get home.

    Tom promises a rebuttal.

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    posted by WFY @ 12:01 PM | |

    Oh . . . dear . . . Lord . . .

    That was priceless!!!!!

    # posted by Blogger Fritz : Friday, November 09, 2007 12:57:00 PM  

    That was hilarious! Awesome!

    Props to Wiley for being able to hold the camera upright while laughing hysterically.

    # posted by Anonymous TMBC : Friday, November 09, 2007 1:16:00 PM  

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    Pitt student, Pi Kappa Alpha charged - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Friday, November 02, 2007

    Pitt student, Pi Kappa Alpha charged

    Student, fraternity charged - The Collegian
    University of Pittsburgh student Richard Eisenberger, Jr., 20, of Easton has been charged with disorderly conduct and harassment based on video clips of him throwing beer at Ohio State fans. He is a Pi Kappa Alpha "brother" who was up for the weekend. One of the OSU fans is also "brother." I wonder how throwing stuff at your "brothers" advances the vision of Pi Kappa Alpha:
    Pi Kappa Alpha will set the standard of integrity, intellect, and achievement for our members, host institutions, and the communities in which we live.
    The frat was also charged with disorderly conduct. Hopefully the university will go a while before considering allowing Pi Kappa Alpha to have any affiliation with the university.

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    posted by WFY @ 12:11 PM | |

    Your stupid just for posting that.

    # posted by Anonymous Anonymous : Monday, December 24, 2007 9:01:00 PM  

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    Stupid beer throwing Pi Kappa Alpha frat boys make Penn State look bad - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
    Wednesday, October 31, 2007