David Tyree Destroys His Super Bowl legacy Over Anti-Gay Marriage Tirade in NY
June 22, 2011 No CommentNow, who is David Tyree? If you’re a football fan and watched the Giants play the Patriots in 2008, you might have seen one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history as the game was winding down. Eli Manning escaped a sack, threw a Hail Mary third down pass deep over the middle of the field and a fourth string receiver named David Tyree miraculously caught the ball pressed up against his helmet with one hand. That play led to the Giants defeating Tom Brady’s 15-0 new England powerhouse team for an improbable win. Tyree was never anything special as a player, but became a local hero and got a book deal out of the legendary play. Unfortunately, he was hurt soon afterwards and was gone from football. Now he’s come out of the woodwork to become a vocal leader against marriage equality as the NY state bill legalizing gay marriage is in its final stages. With the legislative session in overtime and the votes of a handful of Republican state senators up for grabs, the fate of a “gay marriage” bill that would make New York the largest and most influential state to redefine marriage remained uncertain Tuesday. Why is Tyree’s behavior so egregious? He has come out and said that he would have dropped The Catch of the Ages on purpose if it meant that the bill would not pass. That’s right, he’s willing to trade a Giants Super Bowl win in order to be sure gay rights would be defeated. That’s sick. David Tyree, hero of Giants’ Super Bowl upset of Patriots, said he’d trade win to block gay marriage – Giants 2007 Super Bowl hero David Tyree said he’d trade “The Catch” and the team’s unlikely championship to keep marriage between one man and one woman.– Tyree, who called the catch a “gift” he couldn’t repeat if he tried, said “there’s nothing worth more than [maintaining heterosexual marriage] right here for me.” Asked if he’d give up the Super Bowl to stop gay marriage, Tyree said: “Honestly, I probably would.” “Nothing means more to me than that my God would be honored,” he said. “Being the fact that I firmly believe that God created and ordained marriage between a man and a woman, I believe that that’s something that should be fought for at all costs.” “So I’ll lay down everything I am to preserve the honor and integrity of the God that I serve.” He said his new role as a gay marriage opponent sheds deeper meaning on his Super Bowl catch. “Perhaps God orchestrated that play to give me a platform for what I’m doing here today: To urge political leaders all over our nation to reject same-sex marriage,” he said. Tyree said he doesn’t fear his stance will tarnish his image with Giants fans who support gay marriage. To think that Tyree would undermine his teammates, the fans, the league, 97.5 million viewers and his bosses for an ideological homophobic viewpoint is unconscionable. His stance on gay marriage doesn’t bother fans like myself because he has a right to believe what he wants, but to tie that into how he performs on the field is something that should tarnish his image forever. It’s nuts. Many professional athletes are in the religious right camp, but fans watch to enjoy the competition. Many readers know I follow sports and its Media Village because, well I enjoy sports, but also because AM sports talk radio and even ESPN has a lot of influence on local elections. It was critical in electing Scott Brown when Martha Coakley made a huge mistake about Curt Schilling. She ran a terrible campaign, but radio talkers roasted her on Boston sports talk and it definitely had an positive influence for Scott Brown. And Margery Eagan of the Boston Herald said the exact same thing on CNN: EAGAN: Well, she got very good press from “The Boston Globe,” not from my paper, “The Boston Herald.” But you know something? People don’t like — TV journalists and newspaper journalists do not like to talk about the influence of talk radio. Let me tell you something. There was a nonstop hammering of Martha Coakley on the AM stations here, on the huge sports stations here. She was the evil incarnate and Scott Brown was the next coming. And, you know, the New England Patriots in the playoffs lost early on. It was as if there was this transference from Tom “Terrific” Brady, the quarterback of the Patriots, to Scott “Terrific” Brown. You look at the rallies for Scott Brown, they were very white, they were very suburban, they were Gillette Stadium fans, and there was almost this… I could make numerous analogies about this to David Tyree, but as an ex-professional athlete he has spit the bit, jumped the shark and crossed the line. I’ll always remember Super Bowl 42, but Tyree has damaged himself. If Curt Schilling came out in 2008 and publicly said he would have lost game six on purpose against the Yankees in the 2004 playoffs to end the curse just to make sure McCain won in 2008, I wonder how Red Sox fans would feel?
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ABC and NBC have delivered fawning coverage of First Lady Michelle Obama's visit this week to South Africa and Botswana, oozing over the “celebrity” and “excitement” of the “patented Michelle power” on display. To its credit, CBS has largely taken a pass on the idolatry. [Video after page break] On the June 20 edition of ABC's “World News,” anchor Diane Sawyer raved: “Wherever she travels, she travels with a signature message, hope, health, and laughter for the young…She's already proven she's the one person who can modernize any ancient protocol…Seven days, three generations of American women, signaling they're ready to dance to any song.” NBC's Kristen Welker repeatedly framed Mrs. Obama as a rock star, depicting locals who are “having a hard time putting their feelings into words” and who “could not be more excited” to see the First Lady. During her June 21 “Today” segment, Welker interviewed a scholar for the liberal Brookings Institution, who exalted the Obamas as “instant celebrities.” Covering Mrs. Obama's unannounced meeting with Nelson Mandela, ABC's John Donvan on the June 21 “World News” drew a tenuous connection between the former South African president and U.S. President Barack Obama: “Mandela's peace prize was perhaps a great deal more earned than was Mrs. Obama's husband's. But both of these men, with Africa in their heritage, had much to overcome.” Perhaps? Fuller transcripts of the above quotes can be found below: June 20, ABC “World News”: DIANE SAWYER: First Lady Michelle Obama has just touched down in South Africa this evening. Officially there to encourage youth leadership. With her, her daughters, there in those South African blankets. Her mother is there, as well as a niece and a nephew. And they are taking the patented Michelle power to a new part of the world. Wherever she travels, she travels with a signature message, hope, health, and laughter for the young. Maybe it's hop scotching with kids in India, or closing a greeting in Spanish. Pouring a pint of Guinness in Ireland, or just showing up at those State Dinners. And in every hemisphere, reminding students that dreams are not so different. MICHELLE OBAMA, First Lady: Back when we were young, no one could have predicted that one day we would become the President and First Lady of the United States of America. Our stories are not unique. SAWYER: She's already proven she's the one person who can modernize any ancient protocol, a hand on the back of the Queen. In Indonesia, a conservative Muslim country, wearing pants and a headscarf as a sign of respect. But even a conservative minister who doesn't believe in shaking hands with a woman, eagerly reached for hers. Later, had to say he was just being polite. And wherever she goes, there is a subtext. Her follow-up trip to Haiti, in effect saying her husband cares, too. And seeming to bring him to South Africa and Botswana, even though he has yet to visit the south of the continent. Seven days, three generations of American women, signaling they're ready to dance to any song. June 20, NBC “Nightly News”: KRISTEN WELKER, NBC News correspondent: Good evening, Brian. There is a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding the first lady's trip to South Africa and Botswana. And people here tell me they're having a hard time putting their feelings into words. Michelle Obama and her daughters touched down in Pretoria this evening. She is on a mission of diplomacy and goodwill, America's first African-American first lady visiting her ancestral homeland. June 21, ABC “World News”: JOHN DONVAN, ABC News correspondent: Consider his guest today. By the time she was just starting school, in South Africa Mandela was already well into his 27 year prison term here on Robin Island. At Princeton, she was just graduating when he, still here, refused to renounce violence in exchange for his freedom. And it was only a few months after a Christmas trip to Hawaii with the new man in her life that Mandela, fully victorious, finally walked free. Mandela's peace prize was perhaps a great deal more earned than was Mrs. Obama's husband's. But both of these men, with Africa in their heritage, had much to overcome. A link between them that neither of them has ever discussed in public, though perhaps Mandela referred to it when he wrote the new U.S. president in 2008, “Your victory was demonstrated…no person…should not dare to dream.” And if Mandela had helped him dream, perhaps that's what Obama meant in a recording celebrating Mandela when he turned 90 two years ago. June 21, NBC “Today”: KRISTEN WELKER, NBC News corespondent: Well, good morning to you, Matt. The first lady's visit is the big news here in South Africa. This paper really says it all, “Michelle Touches Down.” You see her here with daughters Malia and Sasha. A lot of people here telling me they could not be more excited. Michelle Obama arrived in Pretoria Monday night. The president wasn't with her, but she certainly wasn't alone. Daughters Malia and Sasha, her niece, nephew and mother also on this sub-Saharan trip. They got a very warm welcome. Malia and Sasha were given African blankets to guard them from South Africa's winter chill. The first daughters have been abroad before. Earlier this year they accompanied the president to Brazil. They've met the queen at Buckingham Palace. But this might be their greatest foray onto the world stage. MELVIN AYOGU, Brookings Institution: They are instant celebrities. It would be very nice to see the first children of America coming to South Africa and actually interacting with the–we've never–you know, the continent has never had that chance. –Alex Fitzsimmons is a News Analysis intern at the Media Research Center. Click here to follow him on Twitter.
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51 Miss USA delegates on if evolution should be taught in schools. I weep. [Via TDW] Arnold Schwarzenegger started paying child support before filing for divorce. [Popeater] Justin Bieber checked out Selena Gomez’s tits. [The Superficial] Rihanna and Chris Brown are getting back together? [Bossip] Gisele is getting Madonna arms. [Celebslam] Playmates Lauren Anderson and Jaime Edmondson talk underboob… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Blemish Discovery Date : 21/06/2011 19:54 Number of articles : 5
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Essex 19-year-old charged with five offences after arrest linked to cyber attacks by LulzSec group A British teenager has been charged with five offences of computer hacking. Ryan Cleary, 19, was charged with offences, including a cyber attack on Monday on Britain’s Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca). Cleary was arrested on Monday evening at his family’s home in Wickford, Essex. His arrest was linked to a series of cyber attacks by a group called LulzSec, which investigators believe had targeted websites including ones belonging to the US government and the electronics giant Sony. Cleary was charged over cyber attacks on targets including the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and the British Phonographic Industry as well as on Soca. The investigation into whether he is involved in any other attacks is continuing. The Metropolitan police said: “A 19-year-old man has this afternoon been charged with offences under the Criminal Law Act and Computer Misuse Act by officers from the Metropolitan police service’s police central e-crime unit (PCeU).” Scotland Yard cyber crime detectives spent Tuesday and Wednesday questioning Cleary, 19, over the attacks carried out by the LulzSec group, which mostly targeted websites belonging to institutions and companies in the US. Computer equipment seized from his home was examined to see if it contained evidence linking him to the attacks. Cleary will appear at City of Westminster magistrates court on Thursday morning. The events leading to the arrest of Cleary involved an investigation by British police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI’s involvement, plus the nature of the targets, raised the prospect that Washington may seek the teenager’s extradition to the US. LulzSec Hacking Internet Vikram Dodd guardian.co.uk
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Press face curbs on frontline reporting, internet links and translators, as insurgents go on alert for Gaddafi spies Rebel authorities in the besieged Libyan city of Misrata have introduced tough restrictions on foreign media, banning travel to the frontline, cutting internet access and ordering journalists to work only with officially approved translators. Insurgent leaders had previously encouraged journalists to move and speak freely throughout the city and frontlines. Frontline units said they were under instructions not to allow journalists access because of suspicions that some would be working for other interests. “We are afraid of spies from Gaddafi,” said Mohammed Durat, head of the Misrata media centre and a member of
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Ryan Dunn’s ‘Jackass’ co-star Bam Margera breaks down when talking to a Fox reporter in Philadelphia about the car accident that killed his friend this week. (June 22)
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While in South Korea to launch an exhibition of photographs that he took in Tibet, Richard Gere visits a temple and experiences their Buddhist culture. (June 22)
Continue reading …Jim Dean, DFA director, is a huge fan of Crooks and Liars and urges us all to stay involved and keep fighting.
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The Food and Drug Administration released nine new graphic warnings for cigarette packages today — the first new labels in more than two decades. The new warnings, which depict the negative health impact of cigarettes, are required to cover at least 50 percent of every pack of cigarettes sold in the U.S. by mid-2013. Scroll down for photos of the new warnings “The introduction of these warnings is expected to have a significant public health impact by decreasing the number of smokers, resulting in lives saved, increased life expectancy and lower medical costs,” the FDA’s web site states. The new labels replace the smaller, text-only warnings that have appeared on packages for more than 25 years and feature jarring images, including a man with a tracheotomy hole and a mouth filled with rotting teeth. They are a result of The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, passed in 2009. It gave the government authority to regulate the marketing and labeling of tobacco products, which are currently responsible for nearly 450,000 deaths in the U.S. every year. #playerWrapper1 { margin-right:10px } Last fall, the FDA released 36 potential warnings, which featured images like a mother blowing smoke in her baby’s face and a a grey, damaged lung. The labels were made available to public comment and were the subject of some concern among experts who questioned whether they went far enough. Joanna Cohen, PhD, director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at Johns Hopkins University explains that the key to effective warning labels is their ability to spark emotion, be it empathy or fear. “What we’ve seen in terms of best practices globally is that you want pictures and accompanying text that elicit an emotion from the viewer,” she said. “It makes people react.” She also said that the size of warning labels is important. “Bigger is better, just because people notice [the labels] more,” Cohen explained. She thinks that the FDA’s requirement of 50 percent of a pack is “respectable,” though it doesn’t necessarily “push the boundaries in terms of what’s happening globally.” (Earlier this month, Australia proposed plain packaging on all cigarette packs, meaning they would be stripped of all logos, colors and branding and just contain the product name alongside a large health warning.) Research has shown that warning labels are effective in getting smokers to consider quitting. A recent Centers for Disease Control study found in 13 out of 14 countries that ratified a World Health Organization treaty requiring warning labels on cigarette packs, a quarter of smokers who noticed them indicated they were considering quitting. And in six of those countries, more than half of the smokers who saw them said they were considering quitting because of the warning labels. But intent to quit is different than actually quitting, Cohen cautioned, adding that warning labels are only part of a very serious and costly picture. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and, according to CDC estimates, costs the economy some $200 billion per year in medical costs and lost productivity. “Graphic images are probably not as important as raising the price [of cigarettes] or eliminating them from the work place,” concurred Dr. Richard Hurt of the Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center. “But it’s a good first step.”
Continue reading …After Touting Huntsman’s Promise to be ‘Civil,’ ABC Slams Republican With Obama Talking Points
June 22, 2011 No Comment
When Good Morning America's Robin Roberts conducted a softball interview with Barack Obama on Friday, she sought out questions from basketball stars. On Wednesday, however, George Stephanopoulos grilled Republican Jon Huntsman with queries taken straight from the White House's 2012 reelection team. Stephanopoulos played up the presidential candidate's promise for ” a civil campaign ” and an ABC graphic reminded, ” Huntsman's Promise to be Civil .” Yet, the journalist quoted an Obama spokesman warning that Huntsman “would slash our commitment to education.” After reading this attack, Stephanopoulos parroted, “He says you're proposing a return to the failed economic polices that led us into the recession.” The co-anchor, who previously worked for the Clinton administration, continued to repeat Obama talking points: “But, they're saying your embrace of the Ryan budget is going to hurt senior citizens, hurt middle class families.”
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