During Leonard Downie’s tenure the Post won twenty five Pulitzer prizes. He was also faced with very difficult management decisions. In the world of Internet news and declining newspaper readerships across the country the Post was also hit. Leonard Downie was forced to reduce his workforce from about 900 to approximately 700. That being said, the Post, under Leonard Downie’s watch has become one of the premier online newspapers.

An Ohio native, Leonard Downie started all the way back in 1964, working his way up through the ranks. If ever there was a prototypical newspaper career his would be it. From summer intern to number one man. Of course Leonard Downie has made many monumental publishing decisions during his career including using the word Fuck, quite the line to cross for a major newspaper but the word was relevant as vice-president Cheney had used it during a public discussion. Leonard Downie also published the Unabomber Manifesto when the government asked him to do so. Leonard Downie will be missed as chief of the post but not completely forgotten in the public’s eyes as his new novel will be published next January.

In ‘65 he was the Dogers’ only hitter with a record of .300 and even tied his own record in his league in home runs. That’s pretty nifty, especially considering that he was indeed a pitcher. In that year he led his team to be world champions for the third time. Drysdale unfortunately had to quit his beloved sport early due to an injury. If he were able to continue on who knows if he would have made or broken a handful or two more records.

It seems that the Don Drysdale record knack for making or breaking interesting statistics was a familial trait. His wife was the first woman to join the NBA and to be a part of the national team for basketball. Even their marriage was a first; it was the first time that two hall of fame players from each of their sports of interest got married.

Even once off the field he couldn’t be kept away from his sport. After a few years away from the game he became a broadcaster and worked with the Dodgers, the Angels, the Expos, the White Sox and even the ABC television network.

Sometimes it seems as though the players of the past were more fun to watch, more enjoyable to learn about and just produced and overall atmosphere that was generally more wholesome and good than what’s available to be watched or heard today. Perhaps it is because of the current problem with drug abuse in the league or maybe it’s generational, each group of fans, either of now or of before, like to think of the good old days.

Drysdale was the host of Radio Baseball cards, a nationally syndicated radio show. Of the more than 160 episodes produced the ones that were most memorable, and there were a lot of them, featured memories of Jackie Robinson. Stories or anecdotes told by those who knew him, played with him, played against him or just loved him for the great player he was.

“The trick against Drysdale is to hit him before he hits you.” Drysdale may have been a nightmare to stare down at the mound but for those who had the opportunity to be hit or struck out by him, those who were able to play a game with or against him, can say that they were a part of what he accomplished. Will any of the players in the game today, breaking crappy maple bats as they swing with juiced up forearms bulging, be regarded with as much appreciation as Drysdale was and is? On va voir.

Juan Romero busboy did what many immigrants did at that time, moving from job to job until about 1974 when he finally married and settled in the San Jose area. He was contacted on a few occaisions years later by Time magazine. His life was never glamorous but perhaps fulfilling. He has three children, is now a grandfather. Romero worked in the paving business and provided well for his family all while following his own father’s advice that you should never profit from another man’s tragedy. At one point he even declined a paid tuition that was being offered for his story.

For all eternity iconic, presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy will be engraved in people’s minds alongside a humble simple man representing all that Mr. Kennedy believed in and supported; a good life for all that are willing to work hard.

* The Kennedy clan, while often pictured as a group of three handsome young men, Bobby, John, and Ted, were actually a band of four brothers. Eldest brother Joe Jr. died in an aircraft accident during world war two.

GMC trucks and suv sales have declined by 38% over the same period last year. That is a lot of trucks. It’s not that people have stopped buying, the decline in truck sales has been replaced by sales in more fuel efficient cars. I don’t think it’s a case of folks getting wiser. I think it’s simply a case where they can no longer afford it. Most people are reluctant to drop old habits and would like to keep on driving their gmc trucks until they are forced to change. The escalating fuel costs has finally forced that change. Many families are reconsidering buying GMC trucks and considering hybrid trucks or just plain jane fuel efficient cars. One of the big problems however is that as Honda and Toyota are actually selling more cars than they did last year the gms trucks plant in Ontario as well as others across the US and Mexico are closing. With tens of thousands of jobs lost it will only increase the economic problems already being felt.

“May was a watershed month. We are, as an industry, catching up with the breathtaking choices customers are now making,” Ford Sales chief Jim Farley said in a conference call with media and analysts.

If it seemed obvious to me five years ago that this would probably be the case today why on earth could the execs at Ford and GM see it coming. I’m sure they knew that people would eventually drift towards fuel efficiency or even hybrid trucks. Why are they so slow to react. It’s a dog eat dog world and if Ford Pickups and GMS trucks get surpassed by hybrid trucks and a pile of Nissans and Hondas well, whose fault it that?

If they turn Ouija Board into a film, would they then invent a ride next to The Haunted Mansion and the Pirate Ship based on the movie? Would there then be a novelization of the film to give that character development and depth that will almost surely lack from whatever is produced? They could even release an updated version of the board game with the faces of the cast on the box.

When they run out of board game ideas and rides to turn into movies they might go after currently untouched toys. GI Joe is already fodder but they haven’t touched Game Boy or Easy Bake Oven yet. Perhaps they can combine the two. Make a film based on a Game Boy game featuring a character that has to produce various types of cakes and cookies. That’s a sure hit.

The way films are made has been changed drastically since computers have been around. Not only in way of special effects but in every way a film is produced and presented. Movies like Toy Story that are completely computer generated are a definitive step in a direction that will end who knows where. Perhaps filmakers and board game designers should get together on projects. How far away are we from a completely computerized actor? Will the Pacino film S1mone have hit the nail more on the head than is currently expected? When technology progresses to a point where we have androids running around will their artificial intelligence be used to create fully computerized films of their own? A movie written, produced and directed completely digitally with actors that amount to nothing more than ones and zeros by a robot with a brain made of computer chips. Actually, I’d probably pay to see that.

Till then I’ll dust off my Scrabble game and see if I can come up with an interesting and thought provoking plot for a script with characters who search for a treasure of black letters printed on small pieces of wood rather than cash. Think of the possibilities; there may one day be a ride of words and letters and even a Saturday morning cartoon. Hmmm.. we need better board game ideas.

Wine tours greatly affected by California Drought

Things are going from bad to worse as California experiences worst spring drought in 150 years.

“We’re in a dry spell if not a drought,” said California Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman. “We’re in the second year, and if we’re looking at a third year, we’re talking about a serious problem.”

Agriculture, which consumes about 80% of California’s water, is being hit the hardest. Many farmers are switching to crops that are less dependent on large volumes of water. A few avocado farmers cut all their trees down to stumps saying that they’ll wait until the water situation corrects itself before resuming their trade. It’s possible for farmers to switch crops but what of California Wine. It has taken some time but California wine has finally established itself as a respected wine. On top of the maturing of the California wine market there are tens of thousands of tourist that take part in California wine tours.

“We’re facing some pretty grim circumstances that call for some bold action - recycling water, desalinating water,” said Tim Quinn executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. “Above and beyond that, we have to invest in the sustainability of this system that our grandfathers constructed in the middle of the last century. It was developed with the convenience of human beings in mind, not aquatic beings.” from the San Francisco Chronicle

This from the Sacramento Bee, not directly about those who operate California wine tours but gors to show how difficult things are becomming…

Daniel Weintraub: Old idea that’s new again: Rainwater harvesting — With California on the edge of drought and water restrictions already beginning in some areas, the state might soon be looking toward an ancient practice that is attracting renewed interest around the world: rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting wouldn’t be a panacea, but for many people, it might at least be the difference between having a green yard or a brown one, or provide enough water to wash their car when they want to.

On top of the water problem operators of California wine tours have to worry about the effects that cold snap in April may have on their vines. The frosts hit all over northern California and will surely affect the size of the harvest. It could also have damaging effects on the buds that will produce the 2009 grapes.

It is not the best of times for California wine makers and the guys that operate California wine tours. Water problems, cold problems, the price of fuel for operating the vineyards and whatever else may be in store this summer. Personally I love California Wine so I hope they can put this year behind them and look a little further forward to many great years down the road.

Clinton to be offered a dignified exit within days

I wonder if anybody would have asked Mrs. Clinton a years ago, the Mrs. Clinton that had awesome name recognition, a few truckloads of cash and contacts up the wazoo, is she could foresee blowing 150 million and then have to figure out what ‘other’ job she wanted. What she should have seen coming was that after eight years of Bushie, people would be eager for real change. She needed to perhaps play up being female (that would certainly be a change) and other ideas that would have separated herself from the old guard. She needed to prove that she was different. Promoting experience and her years in Washington and in the White house were probably not the best associations to brand in delegates minds. It will interesting to see what role she ends up playing in government (and how dignified her exit really will be) assuming Obama can beat McCain.

Usain Bolt has broken the 100 meter tarck record with a time of 9.72s.

Even though Bolt is only twenty one he is no stranger to the podium. At fiftenn he won the World Junior Championship. At seventeen he became the first junior to run under the twenty second mark in the 200 meter. With the Olympics coming up this summer in China and the World’s Fastest Man label typically assigned to the winner of the prestigeous Olympic 100 meter race, Bolt’s timing could not be better. There’s nothing like a bit of drama leading into a marquee event. With Powell and Bolt lining up against an always strong and deep American squad this could be a meet that will be remembered for quite a while. Until then Usain Bolt can lay claim to being The World’s Fastest Man.

Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith

in Championship Mixed Martial Arts Fight

Robbie Lawler is currently ranked #5 in the middleweight category by MMA Weekly and Sherdog. Originaly from San Diego he went to Mixed Martial Arts school in BettenDorf Iowa. Mixed martial Arts school may not be for everybody but if you want to get to the top you need proper training. Robbie is a protoge of Pat Militich, one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighter ever.
Robbie suffered a torn biceps muscle that kept him out of action for the first part of this year but he looks to be fit and ready to go. He will be fighting to defend his belt against Scott Smith on May 31.

Mixed Martial Arts champ Lawler has always been know for his power. 12 of 15 of his wins have been by knockout or TKO. His opponent smith, who also went to mixed martial arts school, is also a heavy hitter having knocked out Kyle Noke.

Lawler says “I’m going to try and not get hit so I don’t feel his power, not getting hit - that’s my game plan.” Wow - I wonder if brilliant remarks like that were taught at Militich’s school. Mixed Martial Arts is in for a big night tonight, being featured on CBS at prime time. It should be a great fight, with other mixed martial arts fighters going at it as well.