Thursday, January 28, 2010

Obama Drama: President Calls Out Recent Supreme Court Decision

Did anyone else catch Obama's slam directed at the U.S. Supreme Court justices during his State Of The Union speech last night?

Obama had taken the unusual step of scolding the high court. "With all due deference to the separation of powers," he began, the court last week "reversed a century of law that I believe will open the floodgates for special interests - including foreign corporations - to spend without limit in our elections."

Judge Samuel Alito made a dismissive face, shook his head repeatedly and appeared to mouth the words "not true" or possibly "simply not true." A reliable conservative appointed to the court by Republican President George W. Bush, Alito was in the majority in the 5-4 ruling.

And was it only me who thought there was plenty of catcalling going on during the speech. I'm not referring to the "spontaneous applause" either. That's customary (not to mention tedious). I'm saying that parts of Obama's speech that didn't merit any reaction, got reaction and vice versa. Strange. I don't recall these outbursts happening under Reagan, Bush or Clinton. Perhaps this is further evidence of the erosion of civility in this country.

One further note: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg should refrain from buying green banannas in the interim.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Tuesday Quick Hits

Tuesday Quick Hits:

For the record, Brett Favre's last three "retirement games" all ended with him throwing an interception. See Heel, Achilles.

So I was 50% correct on my Super Bowl prediction. And allow me a correction: Colts/Cowboys was Super Bowl V, not Super Bowl III (aka, Namath's guarantee). The Daily Del Franco regrets the error.

Larry Brooks, the usually reliable and on-point NY Post columnist covering the Rangers, has allowed his feud with coach John Tortorella to seep into his columns. Why do I say? Slowly, phrases such as "lost the locker room" and "players quitting on the coach" have found their way into recent columns without an attribution or even an unnamed source. Brooks should know better. Take a page from the Godfather, Larry. "It's business, not personal."

Hope For Haiti aired on so many stations Friday night, I was never so relieved to find an episode of Ice Road Truckers. And not to be Ned Negative but where is all the donations and money going? I wonder who's measuring how many pennies on the dollar actually go to the charity (in this case, Haiti).

On first blush, the Mets recent signing of Gary Mathews Jr seemed like a mistake. However, it's a steal given the Angels are eating the majority of Mathew's (awful) contract. A suspected steroid cheat, Mathews signed a big contract with the Angels following a career year before reverting back tomodest career numbers last year. At least he can go get 'em in the spacious Citi Field expanses. One of these days, a column should be devoted to the all-time worst sports contracts. Until then, Carl Pavano, Mike Hampton and Hideki Irabu can rest easy.

Alert the Arden Ave. faithful: I will be in Staten Island for the Super Bowl. Note to Mama Gooch: Start building the monuments...

Conan's Classy Last Words

Conan's Classy Last Words...

Those expecting a tear-jearker for Conan O'Brien's final Tonight Show were likely disappointed. Though the show didn't rival Carson's 1992 tear-jerker ("I bid you a very fond good night.") , it was heartfelt. I loved all the bits (Steve Carell doing an exit interview, Tom Hanks, beluga caviar sprayed on a Picasso) save for Will Ferrell's forced bit at the end. Was it me or did the bit seem like a ripoff of Jim Carrey's "Jim Morrison" impersonation at the Video Music Awards?

At 12:20 am, Conan's final words were these:

"There has been a lot of speculation in the press about what I legally can and can't say about NBC," he said. "To set the record straight, tonight I am allowed to say anything I want. And what I want to say is this: Between my time at 'Saturday Night Live,' 'The Late Night' show and my brief run here on the 'Tonight Show,' I have worked with NBC for over 20 years. . . . This company has been my home for most of my adult life. I am enormously proud of the work we have done together, and I want to thank NBC for making it all possible."

"All I ask of you, especially young people . . . is one thing. Please don't be cynical," O'Brien said. "I hate cynicism -- it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen."

Neil Young sang it best: Long may you run. Long may you run.