Mondays Rumbling

Not A Regular Feature

Reviewing sports this year, who would have guessed the Tampa Bay Rays would have been in the World Series? Who would have ever thought that the Detroit Tigers, the best team Little Caesars money could buy, would finish in last place. There is always next year!

Since the miracle on the frozen tundra known as Lambeau Field failed to materialize Sunday, the Detroit Lions set a record that probably will never be broken, unless the National Football League, in its infinite wisdom, expands the season to 18 games.

Fifty One years, and only one playoff victory, seems like a long enough wait for some resemblance of a winning franchise. William Clay and Bill Ford, Jr., should bow out and let an owner, who is willing to strive for excellence instead of mediocrity, take the helm. Again, there’s always next year!?

The New York Yankees, better known as the best team any amount of money might buy, has spent $423.5 million on three players – CC Sabathia (seven years, $161 million), A.J.Burnett (five years, $82.5 million) and lastly, Mark Teixeira (eight years, $180 million) – in one week.

It seems the Steinbrenner Kings, George III and Hank, have an inside edge with the Treasury Department. One only has to remember, that King George was convicted in a matter involving illegal campaign contributions to King Richard of Nixon, to realise he knows how to manipulate the political system.

Speaking of the Treasury Department, it will single-handedly keep all employees busy in the upcoming year. The Department also will continue utilizing the people in charge of that unique blend of fabric and paper we print money on, as well as the ink suppliers busy.

Turning to the matter of Bernard “Mad Dog” Madoff, his dealings already have resulted in one of the people, who previously associated with him, committing suicide. One can only wonder how many other cohorts will follow the same path by taking the coward’s way out. The greed mongers on Wall Street and in the banking industry should be that lucky – that jumping out of windows is an option. Those guilty should all be prosecuted with fraud and swindling charges and sentenced to hard time in real prisons, not country clubs with tennis courts and swimming pools.

Last but not least (corny hey), on Christmas Eve Day Wall Street staged what was called a Santa Rally. The Dow Jones increased a whopping 49.88, and oil fell below $36.00 a barrel. Can the good times be far behind with amazing numbers like these? Or was this really only a twinkle in the fat man’s eyes?

“Come on baby let the good times roll”