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Big 12 BCS Barn Burner

Gosh, I love alliteration.With the final weeks of college football upon us, excessive dissection and misguided predictions have troubled many fans. I blame it on the pick ‘em. I’m running through my picks last night with one of my friends. Since I’ve racked up a 65%+ success rate the last 5 or 6 weeks against SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Big 12 BCS Barn Burner", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/11/21/big-12-bcs-barn-burner/" });Gosh, I love alliteration.

With the final weeks of college football upon us, excessive dissection and misguided predictions have troubled many fans. I blame it on the pick ‘em. I’m running through my picks last night with one of my friends. Since I’ve racked up a 65%+ success rate the last 5 or 6 weeks against the spread, all of a sudden I’m the guru. (Excuse me a sec…I’m gonna finish eating my piece of humble pie).

As I explained each of my picks for this weekend (where in the hell did Georgia Tech come from, BTW), the gerbils in my head started running at alarming speeds.

Could there be an all-Big 12 BCS Championship Game?

Yeah. I was sure of it. Let’s assume OU ruins Texas Tech’s spotless season…or they don’t…whatever. If the Big 12 Champion is OU, Texas, or Tech with a 12-1 record (OU still has to play Oklahoma State) and Florida loses to FSU but beats Alabama, the National Championship game could be all Big 12, right? Lest we forget LSU made it in last year with 2 losses. So, who’s to say the computers won’t like Florida enough to leapfrog one of these Big 12 teams for a shot at the title?

I’ve been arguing with my friends about the possibility of an all-Big 12 BCS Championship game. Forget it’s improbability. I’m just asking “is it possible”. Sure. But the explanation above wasn’t good enough for them especially with the two-loss Florida caveat. So this guru decided to consult the real BCS guru: Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times.

I won’t take the time to qualify the guy. I mean he writes for the L.A. Times, trust me, or read this BCS article. I shot Chris a quick email to get his take. His scenario is this:

A three-way tie at 11-1 in the Big 12 South — which means OU beating Texas Tech and then all three teams winning their last games — could do it. Let’s say OU goes to the Big 12 title game versus Mizzou based on highest BCS ranking. Now you have Texas and Texas Tech each at 11-1 waiting in the wings. Missouri with two losses beats Oklahoma in Big 12 game.

Meanwhile in the SEC, Florida loses to FSU next week but beats Alabama in SEC title game. Now, the likely title game is Texas vs. Texas Tech…second and third in Big 12 South.

Chris also added that “the big thing is that since the BCS just altered its own rule that prohibits three teams from one conference playing in the BCS, in my scenario Missouri, Texas, and Texas Tech can all be in BCS games. Mizzou would go to the Fiesta Bowl as auto qualifier.”

Wow. I think my gerbils are dead…resting maybe. Seriously, though…that is a much better explanation. We’ll find out if any of this analysis is worth anything starting tomorrow. Parity is a bitch.

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Source || Under Business by Geeko - few hours ago


Called Up From The Minors?

In true Derrich fashion…the prefaceMy BlackBerry Bold includes the phone numbers of just about everyone I call or text and vice versa regardless of how often that may be. So when I get a call from a phone number not programmed to a name in my little black Bold, it generally gets the “ignore” accompanied SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Called Up From The Minors?", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/11/21/called-up-from-the-minors/" });In true Derrich fashion…the preface

My BlackBerry Bold includes the phone numbers of just about everyone I call or text and vice versa regardless of how often that may be. So when I get a call from a phone number not programmed to a name in my little black Bold, it generally gets the “ignore” accompanied with an evil cackle.

Well, earlier this week that happened. Not only was it unnamed, it was from a different area code (cue the mystery segue music). It was followed by a voicemail.

“. Ben Cherington with the Red Sox. Thanks for your message…”

Did I just hear that right? And who’s Ben Cherington? Well he’s the Vice President of Player Personnel with the Boston Red Sox. THE Boston Red Sox. The Curt Schilling bloddy Red Sox (well, one sock). The AL MVP Dustin Pedroia Red Sox. I could continue to digress…


Anyway he proceeded to leave his mobile number. Now the debate was whether or not to call the guy and tell him he got the wrong number. A little common courtesy. After rehearsing about 10 times what exactly I would say, I decided to call. Voicemail…something like this.

“Hey, Ben. Just wanted you to know you called my phone on accident in case you need to get a hold of . Well, that and it’s not everyday you get a call from the VP of Player Personnel. Thanks.”

I know. Kinda weak. Despite my guarantee to Ben not to share his number with anyone, I’m sure he will (if he hasn’t already) change his number. Understandable. I mean I doubt it would bring the same attention as, say, if Paris Hilton’s phonebook got loose. Just gotta respect the guy’s privacy.

So that’s it. No happy ending like he hooked me up with some tickets…or he’s sending my son a signed ball by Dusty P…nor was it a prank in Kyle Kendrick fashion saying I was being considered by the Sox to hurl some balls down the 60′6″.

It might happen in Snoop Dogg’s world, but this stuff doesn’t happen everyday in mine. I doubt Ben Cherington will ever read this, but in case he does — hope you got in touch with . Best of luck next season.

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Source || Under Business by Skrishnasantosh - few hours ago


Bailout Blunder

“This is about much more than just Detroit. It’s about saving the U.S. economy from a catastrophic collapse.”These were the words out of Rick Wagoner’s mouth when addressing the Senate Banking Committee (SBC) tonight. It was based on this thought that my initial stance was to give these guys the money with some conditions SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Bailout Blunder", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/11/18/bailout-blunder/" });“This is about much more than just Detroit. It’s about saving the U.S. economy from a catastrophic collapse.”

These were the words out of Rick Wagoner’s mouth when addressing the Senate Banking Committee (SBC) tonight. It was based on this thought that my initial stance was to give these guys the money with some conditions primarily to preserve jobs that would otherwise be eliminated if these companies go down the drain. After listening to about 2 hours of this hearing, I was reminded of how companies tend to dance around pressing and pertinent issues. When asking for $25 billion, it’s probably a good idea to have some answers.

These companies are bleeding money. That was plainly evident after hearing about the billions of dollars per month (about $3B or so if I heard correctly) spent by each of these companies. And when the executive panel was questioned about the seemingly arbitrary $25 BILLION need, the responses were less then erudite. One of the SBC members (I forget which) immediately jumped on that by reminding the execs of their position in the company suggesting they should know these things…how they arrived at that figure. In defense of the executive panel, there were definitely a few questions posed by the SBC that were a little too detail-oriented.

Finally, Christopher Dodd (D-SEN) brought up executive compensation and accountability. And that sucked the remaining wind out of the auto execs’ sails. At that point, it almost didn’t matter if they offered to work for free. The SBC as a whole was quite skeptical toward the strategy of the companies suggesting they’d be back for more money. But after something like 4 hours of questioning, the execs were on the defensive.

What about the alternative? Yesterday in the New York Times, Andrew Ross Sorkin recounted prepackaged bankruptcy, which provide some (for the lack of a better word) tactless options for the automakers.

Bankruptcy would give G.M. enormous leverage with its debt holders — and, perhaps more important, with the U.A.W., whose gold-plated benefits are one reason G.M. is no longer competitive. A bankruptcy filing would also give G.M. the cover to close plants, rid itself of unprofitable brands and shed dealerships. In fact, unless G.M. files for bankruptcy, state laws would make it prohibitively expensive to shut dealerships.

Tactless. But probably necessary.

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Source || Under Business by Marker - few days ago


The Bold & The Beautiful - BlackBerry or Nokia?

Phone geeks beware — you’ll hate my review if you even call it that. This is meant for those of us who don’t spend all day on HowardForums or BGR…both of which I enjoy visiting. On to the comparo…It’s been awhile since two mobile phones have simultaneously captured my attention like the BlackBerry Bold and SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Bold & The Beautiful - BlackBerry or Nokia?", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/11/07/the-bold-the-beautiful-blackberry-or-nokia/" });
Phone geeks beware — you’ll hate my review if you even call it that. This is meant for those of us who don’t spend all day on HowardForums or BGR…both of which I enjoy visiting. On to the comparo…

It’s been awhile since two mobile phones have simultaneously captured my attention like the BlackBerry Bold and the Nokia E71. Like two prized heavyweight fighters…or MMA fighters depending on your disposition, these two devices come to the table with a number of strengths.

It’s hard to compare two evenly matched phones. Both don the QWERTY. Both wear the proverbial camera. Speed comes 3G. Both boast improved stamina with impressive battery life. And both operating systems still show great agility, but can definitely use a refresher.

Round 1: LOOKS. As the title might suggest, the E71 wins this round handily. The Bold is no sloutch. For the sake of comparison, imagine Jennifer Aniston (Bold) and Jessica Biel (E71). Both are women are beautiful, but one of them is likely to piss off your wife or girlfriend more than the other. When comparing pictures of the two online, I was misled in both instances.

The Nokia looked larger than it actually is, and the Bold smaller. The E71 is sleek with it’s stainless steel finish and neatly placed buttons. And it’s as heavy as it looks adding a sense of quality. The Bold is lighter than past QWERTY BlackBerrys, and is finished off nicely with a chrome bezel and a leather battery cover. The screens are virtually the same size…the Bold a tad wider by virtue of its physique.

Round 2: PHYSIQUE. Typing is pretty easy on both; but if you’re used to the somewhat staggered QWERTY on the BlackBerry, you might find the perfect grid created by the E71’s keyboard frustrating at first. But it’s definitely something you’ll get used to. The Bold is thick. You would think it is more substantial than the Nokia. But you’d be wrong. The E71 is heavy…in an impressive manner: one that suggests great quality. It’s definitely in line with my previous Nokias. I’m ending my nearly two-year relationship with a BlackBerry Pearl (don’t drop this phone), so the Bold and the E71 are much more impressive to me. Go ahead and toss these around.

Round 3: STAMINA. With all of the apps and functions (WiFi, 3G, antenna) on both phones, comparing battery life was nearly impossible to measure accurately (or I’m too lazy to do a proper comparison). BlackBerrys in my experience have always had remarkable battery life. Unfortunately all I remember about my Nokia N70 is how often I had it plugged into the wall. Not so with the E71. It takes alot to knock the E71 down. That said, the Bold battery was right on. The winner of this round is decided with a coin flip.

Round 4: COMMUNICATION. More specifically email. The BlackBerry needs no introduction. So far, my only issue with email on the Bold (using my Hotmail account) is that email reconciliation doesn’t work from both sides. While a deleted email on the Bold removes it from the device and my Inbox, a deleted email from the Inbox does not remove it from the device. A minor (and temporary) glitch, I’m sure. Meanwhile, the E71 was simply frustrating. Most freeemail geeks blame my issue on Hotmail. The only way I could get this email to my phone is to use a push service like Izymail to get my Hotmail on my Gmail, which is ridiculous. Even the latest Nokia Email service won’t spar with Hotmail. Booooo! This one goes to the BlackBerry.

Round 5: PAYOUTS. It’ll cost about the same for either. I bought the E71 unlocked through Dell for $349…and I picked up the Bold from Best Buy with a new 2-year commitment to AT&T for $350.

A proper conclusion to a comparison would be to declare a winner…but I digress. I’m hooked on BlackBerrys. Let’s get that proclamation out of the way. I love having instant access to my email. That’s the most important feature to me, which may be different for you. The E71 is handsome and will cause plenty of double takes, and it is very capable. And while there are many features I may have missed (GPS, radio, music, photo quality), those features I did discuss were at the top of my list. Ok. Fine. I’ll do it. My winner by decision is the BlackBerry Bold…by a tight margin.

Hey, Nokia. Get a better email service…and you win this one.

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Source || Under Business by Dotrock - couple of weeks ago


In Memoriam: Nathan Alden Robinson Remembered On The Office

To get ready for the new episodes of The Office, which airs next Thursday, I watched the mini marathon of the show tonight. It included the last few episodes from the last season. The show threw a refreshing curveball into the credits: a YouTube-ish video of some kid playing the show’s theme song. So I SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "In Memoriam: Nathan Alden Robinson Remembered On The Office", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/04/03/in-memoriam-nathan-alden-robinson-remembered-on-the-office/" });To get ready for the new episodes of The Office, which airs next Thursday, I watched the mini marathon of the show tonight. It included the last few episodes from the last season. The show threw a refreshing curveball into the credits: a YouTube-ish video of some kid playing the show’s theme song. So I searched for it.

The kid in the video is 15-year-old Nathan Alden Robinson. We share at least one thing in common — his first instrument was the piano. Actually two things. He was a fan of The Office. According to his obituary in the Boston Globe, Nathan and a friend were discussing the show. One thing led to another, and Nathan was playing the theme song…and here’s the video:



…and to think my contribution to the show was only the best spoof of The Office on YouTube. Nathan passed away in March as a result of methicillin-resistant Staph, pneumonia, and flu. Thank you for sharing with us, Nathan.

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Source || Under Business by Gajatheking - 1 month ago


Congratulations, Manu!

Congrats to San Antonio Spurs guard, Manu Ginobili, for being named the NBA’s best sixth man for 2007-08 season.Ginobili received 615 out of a possible 620 points, including 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Congratulations, Manu!", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/04/21/congratulations-manu/" });Congrats to San Antonio Spurs guard, Manu Ginobili, for being named the NBA’s best sixth man for 2007-08 season.

Ginobili received 615 out of a possible 620 points, including 123 of a possible 124 first-place votes, from a panel of 124 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Leandro Barbosa of the Phoenix Suns finished second with 283 points and Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks finished third with 44 points.

In order to be eligible for this award, players had to have come off the bench in more games than they started. Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.

Courtesy, APWhat I want to know is who’s the clown that didn’t vote for Manu. Seriously? I mean…I don’t want to take anything away from Leandro Barbosa. The guy is definitely lights out. But Manu clearly had the strongest argument. His efforts are clearly missed on the court when he’s injured. And he led all Spurs scorers with a career-high 19.5 points per game.

So, I went searching through pages and pages on the Internet to see if I could find the culprit. All I could find is this page published on April 15, 2008 on ESPN.com of NBA award picks. ESPNmag writer, Chris Palmer, chose Leandro Barbosa. I thought graduating from Howard University implied intelligence. C’mon, CP. (Ok, I admit…I’m biased. But I think my contention is valid…right?) I definitely figured CP would pick Manu for his Xtreme Sports-like play on the court (Chris also covers extreme sports for ESPN).

Anyway congrats again, Manu!

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Source || Under Business by Dotrock - 1 month ago


7 Ways To Spend Money From Uncle Sam

It’s not “free money”, Lesko!It’s tax time! According to data from IRS.gov, the average return for a single person in tax year 2005 was $4,983 (estimate based on all income levels for taxable returns). Obviously everyone’s situation is different; however, whether or not I suck at math, I’m going to assume a majority of you SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "7 Ways To Spend Money From Uncle Sam", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/03/03/7-ways-to-spend-money-from-uncle-sam/" });It’s not “free money”, Lesko!It’s tax time! According to data from IRS.gov, the average return for a single person in tax year 2005 was $4,983 (estimate based on all income levels for taxable returns). Obviously everyone’s situation is different; however, whether or not I suck at math, I’m going to assume a majority of you will get some sort of tax return. And don’t forget those Economic Stimulus payments we are supposed to be getting in May. In most cases, these rebates will range from $300 to $600 for individuals.

So, what do you plan on doing with this money? Many believe it’s your patriotic duty to put that money right back into the economy. However, I’ve got 7 ideas to consider that are sure to add stimulus to your life.
(more…)

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Source || Under Business by Iread - 1 month ago
Grab one now!


Kevin Borseth vs. Ed Harris

Last week, I wrote about Michigan women’s head basketball coach, Kevin Borseth, and his meltdown. I also added that he reminded me of Ed Harris…and apparently so did someone else. One of the DERRICH.com readers, Joe Sabia, was kind enough to send me the link to the video, which was added to YouTube over the SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kevin Borseth vs. Ed Harris", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/03/03/kevin-borseth-vs-ed-harris/" });Last week, I wrote about Michigan women’s head basketball coach, Kevin Borseth, and his meltdown. I also added that he reminded me of Ed Harris…and apparently so did someone else. One of the DERRICH.com readers, Joe Sabia, was kind enough to send me the link to the video, which was added to YouTube over the weekend. Check it out.



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Source || Under Business by Chandruxp - 1 month ago
Grab one now!


Custom Car Builder, Boyd Coddington, Dead At 63

I have to be honest…I may be a car guy, but if it weren’t for the show “American Hot Rod”, I wouldn’t have really appreciated Boyd Coddington’s rides. I knew the name. I knew it mainly for his wheels. But once I saw the show, I really began to realize that his designs were brassy SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Custom Car Builder, Boyd Coddington, Dead At 63", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/02/28/custom-car-builder-boyd-coddington-dead-at-63/" });I have to be honest…I may be a car guy, but if it weren’t for the show “American Hot Rod”, I wouldn’t have really appreciated Boyd Coddington’s rides. I knew the name. I knew it mainly for his wheels. But once I saw the show, I really began to realize that his designs were brassy and intrepid (not to be confused with the fugly car), and influenced other builders and manufacturers alike. The Hawaiian shirt, perfectly Flowbee‘d beard, and his testy attitude were always a kick to watch.

Coddington also surrounded himself with talent. Alumni from his shop include Jesse James and Chip Foose, who went on to open their own shops and star in reality TV shows.

Coddington twice won the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award and he was inducted into the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame and the Route 66 Wall of Fame.

Courtesy — Jeff Wilson, Associated Press

Here are a few of the cars he created and influenced over the years:


1965 Mustang GT Fastback


1936 Delahaye


Porsche Cayenne Turbo


1957 Chevrolet Bel-Air (aka, “Chezoom”)


1946 Cadillac Cadzilla for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

See more of Boyd Coddington’s cars at BoydCoddington.com

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Source || Under Business by Marker - 1 month ago


New Video Feature

I invite you to check out the new video feature on DERRICH.com. It’s located over on the sidebar, and it includes the last 5 videos shown on the site. And given the frequency with which I’ve been posting lately, this is your key to entertainment when visiting the blog. If you have a video you SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "New Video Feature", url: "http://www.derrich.com/2008/04/16/new-video-feature/" });I invite you to check out the new video feature on DERRICH.com. It’s located over on the sidebar, and it includes the last 5 videos shown on the site. And given the frequency with which I’ve been posting lately, this is your key to entertainment when visiting the blog. If you have a video you think I should include, don’t hesitate to send it to me!

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Source || Under Business by Gajatheking - 1 month ago


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