After struggling in their season opening win against I-AA squad Samford last week, the UCF Knights (1-0; 0-0 C-USA) are moving right into Conference USA action this week as they take on their Golden Eagle foes of Conference USA’s Eastern Division. The Golden Eagles are coming off of a 52-0 blitz of I-AA Alcorn State last week and are under the helm of new head coach Mike Fedora. The Golden Eagles are a favorite among many sportscasters to win Conference USA and are returning some key starters from last season. After sustaining a severe compound fracture during USM’s 2008 bowl game against Troy State, wide receiver DeAndre Brown is returning to the Golden Eagle’s starting lineup this week as soon as team physicians give him clearance. The Knights shocked fans that packed Bright House Networks Stadium last week after showing ineptitude on both offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Starting quarterback Rob Calabrese sputtered in the first few offensive drives and was quickly replaced by backup senior and Wake Forest transfer Brett Hodges, who led the Knights on all 4 of their scoring drives. Despite Hodges’ success, offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe is sticking with Calabrese on Saturday: “If I didn’t see the potential he has on the practice field, then you might consider another direction,” Taaffe said. “But Rob can do it, he can play. He just has to take that next step, which is to transfer it to the game field. So he’s still young and early in his career, and the only way he’s going to get better is playing.” Kickoff is set for 7pm (ET) Saturday. The game will be nationally-televised on CBS College Sports Network. LET’S GO KNIGHTS!!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
UCF Takes on Southern Miss Golden Eagles Saturday
Monday, September 7, 2009
Dems FINALLY Call a Spade a Spade!
After laughing quite loudly the past few weeks at the ridiculous “I don’t want my child listening to President Obama” crybabies of the still pouting Republican Party, I was VERY pleased to see Democratic leaders finally calling out this “mock” controversy today for what it really is: Sour Racist Grapes! Complaints about the presidents speech are ridiculous according to School Board Member Bob Parks and the 150 Democrats who gathered Monday at Pompano Beach Community Park. Parks was blunt in his assessment of whats motivating the controversy. I believe a part of it is underlying racism, and of course the Republicans arent in power. In overwhelmingly Democratic Broward County, Parks said, there really isnt all that much public angst over the speech.
Parks, who represents a northeastern district, said hes received only about 15 critical e-mails. Echoing Parks in suggesting a racial element to the controversy was Michael Albetta, president of the Dolphin Democrats gay and lesbian political club. The racists are waking up and theyre finding out theres a black man in the White House and its not the butler, Albetta told the crowd. Broward Democratic Chairman Mitch Ceasar said he sees a different motive. I see this less as racism than an extreme power grab. This is all about trying to weaken our president to pick up more seats in the next congressional cycle by stirring the pot with fictional ingredients. With their “Tea Parties,” Townhall fiascos and other ridiculous antics, the Republicans continue to show their true ignorance and underlying motives…
UCF Knights Struggle in Win Against Samford
The UCF Knights took home their first victory of the 2009 season Saturday night against the Samford Bulldogs; but it sure wasn’t pretty. The Knights struggled both offensively and defensively, almost losing to a I-AA squad that was a 19.5 point underdog. The Bulldogs capitalized on a pile of UCF mental errors. Starter Rob Calabrese couldn’t effectively move the offense down the field, although he didn’t get much help from his offensive line and wide receivers. Calabrese was only 3-10 for 29 yards and one sack. Senior backup Brett Hodges had better luck, going 10-of-17 passing for 129 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also lead the Knights on all 4 of their scoring drives. Sophomore Brynn Harvey rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns while true freshman Quincy McDuffie fired up the Knights with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Penalties proved costly as did turnovers, a missed field goal, and a missed PAT. The Knights (1-0, 0-0 in C-USA) have to make major improvements this week to prepare for a tough Conference USA game at Southern Miss. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 52-0 win over Alcorn State, living up to Coach Larry Fedora’s promise to be aggressive in all facets of the game. Southern Miss’ no-huddle offense and star RB Damion Fletcher will be major obstacles for UCF. (Excerpts courtesy Orlando Sentinel).
Friday, September 4, 2009
UCF Knights Begin Season Tomorrow
The UCF Knights will begin their football season tomorrow against the Bulldogs of Samford University of Birmingham, Alabama. Going in as 19.5 point-favorites, this game will most likely serve as a scrimmage for UCF. But Knights’ fans are PUMPED and ready to turn the page on last year’s abysmal 4-8 season. As of early Thursday, the UCF Athletics Office reported less than 2,000 seats remaining within UCF’s 52,000 seat Bright House Networks Stadium. After this week’s matchup, the Knights will immediately enter Conference USA competition with a game against the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, who many sportscasters predicted will be this year’s Conference Champions. UCF will take the field under new leadership on the offensive front.
Tim Salem was handed a demotion at the end of last season and made the Tight Ends Coach. Charlie Taffe took over the reigns as Offensive Coordinator and will be infusing new offensive schemes into the Knights’ attack this season. UCF returns quite a few players from last season, including most of its strong defensive line. The offense remains under the gun of quarterback Rob Calabrese. Practice reports and comments made by head coach George O’Leary indicate Calabrese has made significant improvements during the off-season. And receiver Rocky Ross is also returning after a clavicular fracture prematurely sidelined him after the second game of the 2008 season. Tailgating parties for the Alumni Associations of the College of Health & Public Affairs and the College of Nursing start at 1:00pm in the area of Memory Mall right behind the Fairwinds Alumni Center. Kickoff is at 7:30pm. The game will be televised on Bright House Networks Florida Sports Network.
Green Day’s Musical “American Idiot” Opens in San Francisco
American Idiot, the musical stage production composed by Green Day featuring songs from the band’s smash hit album American Idiot and this year’s release 21st Century Breakdown opens today in San Francisco. Per Playbill: Johnny, Extraordinary Girl, Whatsername and St. Jimmy characters from neo-punk group Green Day’s 2004 American Idiot album officially become part of the American musical theatre landscape Sept. 4 with the first preview of a new musical of the same name. Produced by not-for-profit Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Green Day’s Bay Area stomping ground, American Idiot stars Tony Award-winning actor John Gallagher, Jr., who reunites with Michael Mayer, his Tony-winning director from Spring Awakening. The project, co-conceived by Mayer and Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, will play the Rep to Nov. 1 (which represents a recently announced three-week extension). Opening night is Sept. 16 at the Rep’s Roda Theatre.
Green Day won two Grammys Best Rock Album and Record of the Year for its multi-platinum American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. Here’s how Berkeley Rep characterized the show: “With an onstage band, American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East. In an exhilarating journey borne along by Green Day’s electrifying songs, they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration. This high-octane show includes every song from the album, as well as several songs from Green Day’s new album, 21st Century Breakdown. The world premiere takes off at Berkeley Rep, the Tony-winning playhouse that launched last year’s provocative rock musical Passing Strange.” (Pictured: Green Day supervises rehearsal on their first staged musical production American Idiot).
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Madonna’s Tour Ends Leaving Record Books Smashed!
Last night marked the final performance of Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour, which concluded in Tel Aviv, Israel. Not only was this tour the highest-grossing tour for any solo artist in history, but the Material Girl also destroyed the record books in foreign markets as well. After playing 85 shows since its launch in August 2008, Madonnas Sticky & Sweet Tour has drawn more than 3.5 million fans in 32 countries and has grossed $408 million, it was announced today by Live Nation, the tours global producer. Sticky & Sweet is also the second highest grossing tour of all time. Madonna set an attendance record for the biggest crowds in history in Zurich, Switzerland, where she drew the largest audience ever assembled for a show in that country (72,000). Her Gothenburg, Sweden show, seen by 119,000 fans, broke the record for highest grossing multiple shows in the countrys history. In Helsinki, Finland, Sticky & Sweet sold more than 85,000 tickets, making it the biggest single show by an artist in history for all of Scandinavia. Other highlights on the tour included stops in Buenos Aires, Argentina (256,000), Santiago, Chile (146,000), Sao Paulo, Brazil (203,000), Tallinn, Estonia (72,000), Warsaw, Poland (79,000), Bucharest, Romania (69,000), and Sofia, Bulgaria (54,000). With Sticky & Sweet Madonna has proven yet again that there is virtually no limit to what she can accomplish both creatively and commercially, said Arthur Fogel, Live Nations Chairman of Global Music and CEO of Global Touring. Sticky & Sweet broke Madonnas previous record of most successful tour by a solo artist with her 2006 Confessions Tour, which grossed $194 million.
Lower Education Levels Key to Passing of Florida’s Amendment 2
A study released today from Dr. Dan Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida indicates lack of education at the college-level was a significant factor in how Florida’s ban on gay marriage was passed at the ballot box in November. Nearly 62 percent of Florida voters cast ballots in favor of Amendment 2, which amended the state constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and woman. Controlling for political and socioeconomic factors, the study found each additional 1 percent of a county’s population with bachelor’s degrees correlated with a 1 percent decrease in support for the amendment. “There’s a lot of evidence showing increased education leads to greater tolerance,” Smith said. While this research is definitely important, it’s not shocking. There is a multitude of social science studies, including my own, indicating a major difference in attitudes towards gay persons among people who are college-educated versus those who are not. The sad point here is that ignorance and lack of education permitted the passing of a statewide amendment that took away civil rights of thousands of people who will lose health insurance and other vital benefits. Of course, all of this to “protect” marriage does nothing more than increase the burden on taxpayers who will now have to subsidize health and social services for these people. Conservative moronism continues to cause major social problems for everyone.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Celebrate with Madonna!
Madonna released the video for her single Celebration from her forthcoming 2-disc greatest hits anthology Celebration today. Not expecting anything less from the Queen of Pop, the video is awesome and fun and even features Madonnas daughter Lourdes. Madonna has only released the video for 2 days. If you miss it, watch MTV for it. Celebration releases September 29th and will mark the final release for Madonna and her former label Warner Brothers Records.”Celebration” is available now in retailers nationwide or through digital dowload from iTunes.
Lady GaGa Writes Michael Bolton’s New Tune
Metro UK is covering the release of Michael Bolton’s new single, “Murder My Heart” written by none-other-than pop sensation Lady GaGa: “Bolton, 56, said it was Gaga who first approached him. And he was won over in just one listen of her catchy chart-toppers. ‘I was taking a break from production when my manager and the label tag-teamed me on the phone about writing with a young artist named ‘Lady Gaga’ who I had never heard of – but they were raving about – they said that she was a huge fan of mine and wanted to write with me,’ Bolton revealed. ‘No one I knew had heard of her,’ he said. But Bolton was quickly won over: ‘Less than a minute into ‘Just Dance’, I thought ‘this CD is gonna be huge!”‘ He added: ‘When I met her in the studio later that night, I realised she was not only about to have a big hit record but Gaga was a superstar about to launch – her energy was so high and her focus excited me. She reminded me of a young Madonna – with more exuberance and emphasis on the art rather than the marketing.'” Listen below:
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Circumcision to Become Major CDC Recommendation in US
After a multitude of studies have found circumcision can reduce HIV infection by almost half in heterosexual men, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is strongly considering making a national health recommendation that all newborn boys be circumcised. Research, largely conducted in Africa where circumcision is rare, indicated the cells which makeup the foreskin of uncircumcised men are highly susceptible to the HIV retrovirus, which greatly enhances the likelihood of HIV transmission and infection from female body fluids during sexual intercourse. While the recommendation is important, the research has not been replicated in gay and bisexual men, who continue to comprise the largest group of Americans who are infected or who are becoming infected with HIV.