Zs Rants

2009-11-13T11:27:00.000-05:00

Look at the Math......McCain can't win

2008-09-03T09:48:00.006-04:00

This is not a political statement. This is a statement in math. There is little chance Obama is not our president come January 20th.

Looking at the map above which reflects the current electoral map makeup, you will see that Obama has 251 electoral votes which are either solidified or very likely leaning towards him. McCain has 227 electoral votes solidified or likely leaning. 60 votes are a dead-heat tossup, with 270 votes needed to clinch the presidency. In other words, Obama needs only 19 toss-up state points to clinch the presidency. If Obama does any of the following he essentially clinches the election:

-win Ohio (20 votes)
Or
-win Michigan (17 votes)
Or
-win Nevada (5) and Colorado (9) and New Mexico (5)

McCain must win both Ohio and Michigan to have a chance. The chances of McCain eek-ing out not one, but both of these states are just not plausible. These are two big industrial states which were dead heats in the 2004 Bush/Kerry election:
Ohio – Kerry 49% vs. Bush 51%
Michigan – Kerry 51% vs. Bush 48%
The presidential race will come down to Ohio and Michigan, with McCain having to sweep both.

How did this happen?
With Iowa and Virginia now heavily leaning towards Obama (Bush carried both in 2004), those 20 lost electoral votes are forcing McCain to have to win both Michigan and Ohio (Bush only won Ohio in 2004).

McCain’s road to the white house isn’t impossible. But it is very very unlikely.

The 2008 NBA Finals…….the Biggest Conspiracy Not Being Told?

2008-06-04T09:44:00.005-04:00

Enough with the nostalgia for a second? LA vs Boston. Russell vs. Wilt. Magic vs Bird. Bob Cousy, James Worthy, Cedric Maxwell, Elgin Baylor, Sam Jones, Jerry West, Kevin McHale. The renewal of basketballs greatest rivalry in this years NBA Finals is shady - yeah I said it. The effect that two former Celtics-Lakers players now employed (or formerly employed) by other teams have had on each teams rebirth and success needs to be repeated.

Boston Celtics – The original Kevin Garnett trade featured Minnesota receiving the #5 pick, Al Jefferson, and Theo Ratliff’s expiring contracts. After KG originally expressed his displeasure with going to Boston, the deal was ratified a few weeks later to only include Al Jefferson and expiring contracts (not the #5 pick which had been traded weeks earlier for Ray Allen). We all know this. Did Chicago not have the assets to offer a better deal? Rumors had it Golden State made an over-the-top offer for KG (Monta Ellis, Biedrins, and the #8 picked Brandon Wright). If Kevin McHale was not a former Celtics hero and Hall-of-Famer – does the Boston deal get done?

LA Lakers – The Pau Gasol deal is one of the most lopsided, strangest trades in NBA history. Memphis received not one quality asset back in the deal, except Kwame Brown’s expiring contract. Not 1 young stud. Not 1 high-talent player. Nothing. Was the Memphis deal engineered by the great Jerry West? The same Jerry West who just one year ago was the top basketball executive with the Grizzlies. The same Jerry West who has Memphis ownerships valued respect. Was Jerry West’s over-the-top speech during the Western Conference Finals trophy presentation an admission of something? The 3-minute speech (yes I counted) is found below. Does it illustrate anything we need to think about? Remember, Kobe’s tirades during the summer included bashing Mitch Kupchak, and demanding Jerry West return to LA as a front-office executive.

I am not accusing anyone of collusion or cheating. But it needs to be noted how both teams unbelievable fortunes are undoubtedly tied to two former Hall-of-Fame players and local heroes.

Only 14,130 Fans Show Up for Sixers Game 6

2008-05-02T09:13:00.002-04:00

Disgusting.

How do only 14K fans show up in Philly for last nights Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons? Pivotal game 6.

This Sixers team has showed guts, and has arguably been he biggest NBA surprise over the past two months. This young upset-minded team had the Pistons on the ropes for this entire series.

How do only 14,130 people show up for Game6? Are you kidding me? In fact, Philly did not sell out any of its home games this series. Games 3 and 4 in Philly each drew around 18K, below the Sixers capacity of 20K. Not a big deal about Games 3 and 4.

But 14K for a game6?

Let's be honest. Philly is a great football town. But its baseball and basketball support is questionable.