Wednesday, October 29, 2003

"Weasel of the Week"

Sharpton is a jack ass. I don't know why or how we started caring about what he said enough to print it in the papers each day. Please. I guess this time he is seeking a seat in the White House (doesnt he always), but still no matter what happens the media feel obligated to have us listen to his twisted views on life. His latest doozy is against Howard Dean who is one of the few that are standing out in the Democratic debates.

Here is his quote:

"Howard Dean's opposition to affirmative action, his current support for the death penalty and historic support of the NRA's [National Rifle Association's] agenda amounts to an anti-black agenda that will not sell in communities of color in this country," Sharpton said in a statement."

WOW. Maybe I SHOULD vote for Dean. Heck I argreed with almost everything there. Color me a bigot I guess. DAMN. I had no idea.

Okay people debate about the Afirmative Action all the time, and I would have to see what he has to say about it. The big problem that I have with it is I think it should be based on more of how much someone makes. For example a lot of white people I know make "too much money" to get help to pay for college.


I recall a friend of mine in Rowan who happened to black telling me how he had no idea what he was going to do with all the extra money they gave him. Not only was he from what he told me as well of as many of my white friends who make too much money, but they gave him almost 2 grand more than he even needed. He was almost embarressed I guess he knew that the money could have gone to someone else. I have heard other minorities offer similar stories. Meanwhile there are white people who are told time and time again their hard working but underpaid parents are too rich. I have a problem with that.

Sharpton would never debate anything like this. He just tells everyone they are bigots or want to bring down all the African Americans everywhere. He never backs up his claims I don't even no what the NRA has to do with being black. What is he saying more white people have guns? Al Sharpton is a true weasel.

Sunday, October 26, 2003

TUCKER'S WORLD RINKSIDE

“Behind Waviers”

The NHL wavier draft is usually confusing or often over looked by the casual hockey fan. Even I have trouble with some of the “rules” but that’s the NHL for you. The Waiver Draft has been affected by the pending NHL lockout next season. Some unique stuff has happened.


To set up the recent events lets try to establish the point of the draft and how it works. It isn’t like the entry draft it deals with players already on NHL & AHL teams. The Waiver draft starts right around the start of the season and its main purpose is mainly to spread the wealth so to speak. If a player is played on waviers he can be picked up by another NHL team. You can only protect so many people at one time. Now not everyone has to be protected rookies are off the hook.

Also off the hook are players who don’t have an NHL contract but actually have a two way contract. The two way contracts are for players on the brink of breaking into the NHL like Jimmy Vandermeer or fring players like Mark Grieg. He can be sent to the Phantoms ( Vandermeer likely will be soon) and he doesn’t have to clear waivers. Although this can be only done X amount of times in one season, so they can’t jerk the poor guy around I guess, Peter White had to clear waivers one time after being called up too many times. Anyone else that is sent to the Phantoms like Chris Therien recently has to clear waivers.

In years past other teams would have loved to gotten their hands on certain semi big name players (and did players like Straka were picked up in the past) who were put on waivers like Curtis Joseph did this past weekend. He was sent to the minors, and since no one wants to pay him his huge salary he cleared and is in the AHL. Since Hasek came back he is number 1 goalie. Number 2 is Many Legace who they think will be # 1 right now. As a seldom used back up he makes very little money by NHL standards and would be snatched up. So they sent CUJO down knowing he would clear.

So the draft that’s purpose for the struggling teams to be able to get talented players who weren’t being used is negated. A team that NEEDS Joseph can’t afford him, and could lose out if there is no hockey next season.

This past week the Flyers inked tough guy Steve Webb (who the hell knows why) and the sneaky little GM that Bob Clarke is he didn’t let it publicly known. The media didn’t even know. Webb was signed to an NHL contract I guess they figured the had a spot for him. Now in order to sign him they would have to put someone else on waivers. The Flyers didn’t want to risk losing anyone else so they kept the signing hush, hush. They actually put Webb on waivers andhoped no on would notice their new player chilling on Waivers. However the Pittsburgh Penguins did and they scopped him right up. Webb thought he was going to play in Philly had no choice but to go west. Since the Penguins didn’t sign him they don’t have to put anyone on waivers. So basically they could have waited for him to come out of the Skate zone one day threw a bag over his head and thrown him into a SUV heading for Pittsburgh.
"Closings & Movings"


For all my local readers here is the DISH on the local businesses in the area. Some places closing their doors. Others moving around.

Well some of my readers might know that I have a “ban” on Sharkey’s on nights that they have a DJ. Sharkey’s a place ideal for cheap beer and some good wings is a good spot to go if you actually want to hear what your friends are saying. However recently they decided to have a DJ there on the weekends and it might even have spread to Thursday nights. I had hoped it would flop, but I drove past there a few times on those nights and it was pretty busy. Another indication is the rival bar the Warwick Tavern now supposedly has a DJ on Thursday nights. The plague is spreading. If I wanted to hear club music and stay local I would go to Vallaries. I dunno, maybe I will just have to lift a ban.

Meanwhile the obscenely named Cuccis Pizza has closed down after only a year or so under the new management. It was run by a Sterling Alumni for the past year that I couldn’t picture successfully running a business well. Not to mention the food went downhill big time. I will miss their unique bread. It always made me pick them over Nuncios. There is now a place to rent on what Ryan and I nicked named the “Statford Boardwalk”. Although it might be a tough sell since its next to a porn shop.

The Burger King in Voorhees is going to pack their bags and move into the former home of Ponderosa in Stratford on the White Horse Pike.

Meanwhile Starview Diner might be feeling some heat from their arch enemy the Stratford Diner, because they have been running coupons in the Courier-Post for almost a month now in Friday’s South Jersey Beat section. Keep it here for more useless information about what is going on in your backyard.