Saturday, July 31, 2010
Rays overpowered, fall 4-5 to Yankees
Posted by Kevin Tall on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 11:57 PM
Realistically, any baseball fan worth his or her salt knows a one-run lead will not stand up against the New York Yankees. It may have worked for the Tampa Bay Rays in Friday’s 3-2 victory but with the bankroll this team has to buy power, it’s just a matter of time before they come back and get ya. It happened Saturday night, a game that saw the TB have some success in grinding out runs, just not enough to get it done against the best richest team in baseball.
Starting pitcher Matt Garza, fresh off his no-hit performance Monday night against the Detroit Tigers, allowed four runs on five hits with a walk. He struck out nine Yankees batters through seven innings of work. Garza, ever the pro, took the blame for this one, saying that he just didn’t get it done after being spotted a lead.
“I had these guys beat; I just gave it away,” Garza told the press after the game.
Concert review: Dave Matthews Band and Gov't Mule rock the Gary Amphitheatre in Tampa (with photos and complete setlists)
Posted by Alison Chriss on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 6:06 PM
The recently re-named 1-800-Ask-Gary Amphitheatre welcomed Dave Matthews Band and support act Gov’t Mule this past Wednesday, July 28. The place looked surprisingly sparse when we arrived around 7 p.m., even in the general admission pit, where fans were pressing in close to the stage and vying for the first glimpse of Dave. [All photos by Tracy May.]
He made his first appearance with Gov’t Mule as they took the stage, giving them a proper introduction to kick off the evening of music. The jam rock foursome sounded as though they were channeling Neil Young with their driving country Americana-flavored blues rock, which was marked by the muscular riffs of guitarist/singer Warren Haynes [pictured right], twangy melodies and fluid transitions.
Gov’t Mule closed their set with an intense rock n' roll jam session complete with a sweet saxophone solo, establishing the laid-back vibe of the concert and warming up the crowd for DMB.
People trickled in steadily throughout the Mule's set and were pouring in by 8 p.m., the formerly sparse-looking venue now packed. The beer was flowing and we watched as the GA pit -- an area that I’d heard an avid DMB fan claim was a necessity to enjoy their shows -- became too full for most of the fans to move, let alone dance.
Dave Matthews Band took the stage at around 8:30 p.m. and the crowd gave a roaring welcome. When Dave launched into the first song, "Proudest Monkey," the intensity in his voice paired with the vibrant post-thunderstorm sunset established a surprising sort of romantic ambiance, the band's style and music more exhilarating and entertaining live than I’d imagined, even during this slower number.
The lights and video screens made the stage seem like a very groovy place. It was clear Dave was feeling every note he played from head to toe, his closed eyes tight as he soloed, his foot keeping time to each strum. His positive energy radiated off the stage, adding to the vibe, and the crowd was feeding off it like they were at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Dave's expressive, sensual vocals soothed the soul and could make his harshest critics fall head over heels. I admit I had a love-hate relationship with DMB for a long time. When I was younger, I thought they were overrated and couldn’t stand that “I Did It” song. But when I gave them a chance, I fell for them hard and while my husband couldn’t name one single DMB song, he’d heard most of them and I caught him rocking out and singing to a few. [Photo galleries & setlist after the jump.]
Rays 2010 deadline deals
Posted by Kevin Tall on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 12:51 PM
Well folks, the Rays have made their first deadline move of the day. They picked up right-handed relief pitcher Chad Qualls from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named. Speculation is that this will allow Tampa Bay to include a bullpen arm in a potential trade for a decent bat, perhaps Adam Dunn of the Washington Nationals.
Hometown home run heroics: Rays beat Yankees 3-2
Posted by Kevin Tall on Sat, Jul 31, 2010 at 10:52 AM
Alex Rodriguez failed to hit his 600th* home run Friday night and the Tampa Bay Rays failed to show up offensively until the bottom of the sixth, looking early-on like they may have shot their load sweeping the Detroit Tigers earlier in the week. Or maybe their bats did make it through the luggage check; oh wait, we’re in the middle of the longest home stand of the year… Must have left them at home instead. Fortunately, Tampa-native Matt Joyce found his in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and John Jaso and Carlos Pena already aboard, Joyce popped his fourth homer of the year on a 2-2 pitch to take a 3-2 lead (check out the Yankees fan around the 14-second mark; thank you, sir). The Yankees’ Derek Jeter had led off the game with base hit, followed by a Nick Swisher long ball to give New York a lead they held for the better part of the game. Both teams were held to four hits apiece in the Rays' 64th win, putting them 26 games over .500.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Pat Donovan's Deep Fried Sports: The "let me get to 1 Buc" print edition
Posted by Patrick Donovan on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 6:08 PM
What's up, Creative Loafers? Today I've got to hit the road and get over to One Buc Place to pick up some credentials so everyone here at Creative Loafing can give you the best Buccaneers coverage possible!
The Rays won their 6th game in a row yesterday behind another strong performance from David Price. Price went 6.1 innings, giving up just 2 runs on 7 hits, while striking out 9. He picked up his 14th win of the season, which ties him for the team record for most wins in a season. That feat is even more amazing when you consider the Rays still have over 60 games remaining this year, giving Price around another dozen starts.
Carlos Pena continued to swing a hot bat yesterday, driving in all 4 runs on 3 hits, including a
The Yankees come into town Friday night for a 3-game set to determine first place in the American League East. Wade Davis, 3-0 in the month of July, will take the mound tonight for the Rays against the Yankees' young stud, Phil Hughes, who enters the game at 12-3 with a 4.04 ERA.
The debate on labeling chicken as 'natural'
Posted by Katie Machol on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 5:15 PM
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is taking another look at their policy towards the labeling chicken as "natural". As it stands, a poultry product can be labeled "natural" as long as it doesn't contain artificial flavors or chemical preservatives. But many politicians and health advocates are bringing up the issue that about a third of the chicken sold in the US is injected with additives that can account for up to 15% of its weight, doubling and even tripling its sodium content.
Due to the concern, new rules on food labeling will be issued this fall by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
The poultry producer Perdue is also backing these new labeling policies and has even joined Truthful Labeling Coalition.
Perdue spokesman Luis Luna stated, "Our labels say natural or all natural only if there is nothing added. Under no circumstances is it acceptable to label poultry that has been enhanced with water or broth or solutions as natural, or all natural."
Hillsborough County Commission candidates slam St. Pete City Council for Amendment 4 "gamesmanship"
Posted by Mitch Perry on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 3:53 PM
Last week the St. Petersburg City Council alienated a block of the community when they voted to amend their comprehensive land use plan in the event that Floridians approve Amendment 4 this November. The Hometown Democracy constitutional amendment would require local governments to have voters have a say in any changes to such a comp plan. But critics say they've planted a decoy map, instead, and some opposition has been fierce (they will have a second reading on the proposal in September).
Today at a forum at the Straz Center in Tampa with a slew of candidates running for Hillsborough County Commission seats this August and/or November, most said they were opposed to Amendment 4, but many also slammed the St. Pete City Council for their actions last week as well.
Former Tampa City Councilman and District One candidate John Dingfelder began the discussion by saying he acknowledged it sounded "a little snippy," but he didn't like what St. Pete did. "Everyone should vote on it," he said.
Traditional family values, vacation houses, boats and Obama jumps the shark.
Posted by Kelly Cornelius on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 2:31 PM
![2961289825_56a7c49005[1]](/imager/2961289825_56a7c490051/b/original/2122690/4287/2961289825_56a7c4900511-299x300.jpg)
Photo credit: johnnyalive @Flickr.com
This week in review once again proves that political corruption, circumventing the rules, and the love of boats are all bipartisan
1. Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman, R is still not saying which investors paid for his wife's $400,000+ vacation home in Arkansas (that his name is not on). Doesn't this separate finances claim seem to fly in the face of traditional marriage that Norman preaches about so often? For instance, when Commissioner Kevin Beckner tried to drag Hillsborough county out of the dark ages and provide domestic partner benefits to county employees, Norman, who is in contention for the Commission's biggest homophobe, opposed it. Norman also supported a discriminatory board policy which could cost the county taxpayers a fortune (just like the Kevin White lawsuit did) due to a faulty policy. I wonder..............since the Normans don't seem to practice traditional family values when it comes to things like sharing their finances on vacation homes, do we taxpayers foot the bill for Mrs. Norman's health benefits? If we do I don't think we should have to any longer. In related news, reading a few of the comments under these Norman stories over the past week shows that the Salvation Army( which pays Mr. Norman over $90,000) should see their donations drop significantly this year as citizens seemed appalled at this ahem..........development. Norman's pontoon boats at his wife's vacation house were also called into question since they might be worth over $1000.
2. The Tribune just endorsed Norman's opponent Kevin Ambler over Norman. This is like picking a heart attack over a stroke. Yeah, if I have to I'll take the heart attack too.
3. Ex-Commissioner Brian Blair, R is a loser..............again. Looks like current Commissioner Kevin Beckner kicked Blair's ass... again. This time in court as the judge ruled last week that Beckner did not defame Blair during their campaign back in 2008. After that stinging loss and subsequent public meltdown, Blair sued Beckner for the statements used against him during the campaign. Trouble for Blair was that they could be backed up by media reports. It is always nice to see a good guy win one and let's just hope Blair had to spend a fortune on this case. He is currently running for State House District 47 since he lost his commission seat to Beckner. Please don't send him to Tallahassee.
4. Josh Burgin,R (Brian Blair's former aide now running against Mark Sharpe for a countywide seat on the BOCC) got a pretty nice campaign donation severance package from Republican power broker Sam Rashid (whose full name as Chris Ingram recently educated us on is Samad Sultan Rashid) As Rashid's influence certainly seems to be diminished, it begs the question whether or not the Sultan still deserve the title of power broker? Sharpe should win this one handily and he already has the endorsement of the Tribune, the Times and even this NIMBY.
5. John Kerry, D is in some hot water over his 7 million dollar yacht regarding taxes or lack of them. Moral of this story..............it pays much better to be a Senator than a Commissioner. Who wants a pontoon boat when you can have a 7 million dollar ride? Maybe Kerry should have put the boat in his wife's name?
8. President Obama was a guest The View this week. We are in the middle of two wars, staggering unemployment numbers, the worst environmental disaster the country has ever faced and he finds time to ham it up with the ladies of The View? How Presidential of him. This on the heels of blaming the media (Fox News) for his premature decision to fire Shirley Sherrod. Looked like he was able to easily charm the View hostesses where Behar asked him about Lindsey Lohan and Mel Gibson.
9. Disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich never spoke in defense of himself in his federal corruption trial. According to this account from the Chicago breaking news one of the items the prosecution focused on this week was:
Prosecutors also focused on Patti Blagojevich, saying she received tens of thousands of dollars from Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko without doing any work for it. Prosecutors allege the money was a kickback to the then-governor. Noting that the defense in opening statements told jurors that Blagojevich didn't make a dime off the alleged schemes, Niewoehner said, "Follow the money. How many dimes are in hundreds of thousands of dollars?"
In conclusion, boys.............put the vacation houses, the boats, and anything else of value in your wife's name but also remember to always marry up (see Christ, Charlie) so nobody can question if your wife can afford these luxury items for you. If your wife isn't independently wealthy then have your favorite developer or campaign contributor (who could be one in the same) give her a fat job or a good deal on a house with the help of a influential political fundraiser (and developer) like Tony Rezko (see #9.) Rezko was recently found guilty of fraud and bribery (hey, it worked for the Obamas). If that doesn't do it then get a good "severance" package (see Bean, Pat). And finally when you want to soak your wounds and try to rehab your falling popularity, show up of the View where the only thing missing was the actual shark for Obama to jump over.
“Non-performin'” Norman needs a job
Posted by Chris Ingram on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 2:29 PM
Never content to be outdone by Kevin White, Jim Norman is equally disgraceful.
A satirical look at Norman’s latest plea for help
By Chris Ingram
Dear sycophant Kool-aid drinking Republicans:
As you know, it’s tough being an elected official when the darned media starts asking questions about where you got your lakefront resort home in Arkansas and a pair of nice boats to go with it. What they don’t realize is it is tough being a county commissioner; and I need those boats for recreation – especially fishing for some big Bass! I have done my best to keep who paid for my wife’s house from you and the media because I don’t like to see people get upset. And that’s what you would be if you really knew where the coin came from. You would say: “that smells like something Kevin White dragged in.” And Lord knows I don’t want to be associated with him. As you know I am committed to fighting increasing taxes and mandates that continue to burden you – unless it happens to be a multi-million dollar sports complex with my name on it, or if the Feds. are paying for it on the backs of our children and grandchildren.
The reason I have chose to run as your State Senator in District 12 is, I really need a job. Flying back and forth to Arkansas is about to break me. So even some low-paying job in the state legislature will help pay the bills the wife doesn’t pay. And while yes, the pay in Tallahassee stinks, you don’t have to work real hard, there are lots of free dinners and receptions to go to, and the people I meet up in Tallahassee who couldn’t give two piles of dog poop about you have deeeeeep pockets!
Fellow career politician Senator Victor Crist has reached the limit of his term in office and has endorsed my campaign as have all the bought and paid for “leaders” of our party. These are the guys who will give me plum committee assignments so I can shake down the lobbyists with the fattest bank accounts – so long as I do EXACTLY as they say. Oh, and I forgot to mention, one of the reasons I (like Victor Crist) am running for state legislature is because I am also term-limited. In short, my six-figure “job” on the county commission is as out of reach for me as the truth about my lake house is to you the voters and the media. So after twenty years of ignoring the real problems facing Hillsborough County (traffic being the big one people are always bitchin’ about), and focusing on irrelevant things like the sports park, I’m ready to take my knuckle-headedness to Tallahassee and be a voice for, uhm, err, uh, you. Yeah, that’s it. I’m going to work for you!
Keeping in mind that you need me, let me just say, I need you. I need you to walk, make calls, and talk to your friends about “nonperforming Norman!” Wait a minute, did I say that? Ah, forget it. Just come help volunteer.
I’ll be at the lake house if you need me.
Your incompetent pal,
Jimbo
p.s. If you’re interested in making things hard for the media to find, go to Arkansas. They have real convenient rules about disclosure, public records, and stuff like that – why do ya’ think ol’ Clinton lived there?
(Editor’s note: Norman’s “real” plea for help follows).
Ride the lightning with the musical vibrator, the Freestyle
Posted by Shawn Alff on Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 2:13 PM
OhMiBod's sound sensitive vibrator, the Freestyle, gives new meaning to songs like "Ride the Lightning," "Sex Machine," "Rock Me All Night Long," "All by Myself" ...
OhMiBod is trumpeting in a new wave of sex toys, leading the industry in vibrators that hum along to your favorite songs. The mobile ClubVibe bullet can have you quaking to the vibrations in any public setting: a dance club, a concert, work, your car while driving through the night with the music pounding. However, while the ClubVibe was built for discreet public play, it's not ideal for bedroom antics: the wires seriously threaten to put a choke-hold on any approaching cock. But, where the ClubVibe fails, the Freestyle picks up the orgasmic torch.
The Freestyle looks like a
