Sopranos return to television

HBO's hit television drama about America's favorite crime family returns to television tonight after a two-year hiatus. Reportedly, this is the last season and will be full of surprises and obviously, lots of people will die. Will the writer's have a "Who Shot JR?" episode with Tony? Will have to wait and see. There's been lots of talk this week about whether or not "Desperate Housewives" and "Grey's Anatomy" will continue their lock on Sunday night television. But my question (feel free to post in the comment section) is does it really matter? With the replaying of episodes on HBO2 through HBO18, the magic of DVR and Video-on-demand, the purchase of episodes via iTunes and dating myself technologically by mentioning that old dinosaur the VCR, there is ample opportunity to watch all three programs. However, I'll be tuned into HBO just to hear the sweet sounds of "Woke up this morning" and watching the stress Tony deals with everyday-it always makes me feel better about my own lot in life. Salut Tony!

Citadel Basketball Coach Pat Dennis Resigns

Pat Dennis announced yesterday his resignation as head coach of the Citadel’s basketball program. For the past 14-years, Coach Dennis had only three winning seasons during his tenure and holds El Cid’s records for the most wins 158 and most losses with 232. For more information click here to go to the Bradford Report. The word on the Street is that the Bulldogs are wining and dining former-El Cid player and nephew of Pat Conroy. I’ll let Brad keep you posted.

Check Mate!

This has to be the best headline in any newspaper this week, “Man attacks three others during chess games”. The Sun News reported the story on Tuesday, March 7th. Evidently, a day of drinking and chess playing and I am guessing a few “check-mates” pushed one Myrtle Beach resident to grab an axe handle and show his opponents that he meant business. I have not read the official report, but I’ll go out on a limb here and say he assaulted his two opponents and one innocent by-stander in fewer than four moves.

Remembering Biggie! (the Notorious B.I.G.)

And still no answers…Notorious B.I.G., the man who along with help from Sean (P-Diddy) Combs and Wu-Tang revived the East-Coast rap style was gunned down on this date in 1997. Christopher Wallace (aka the Notorious B.I.G.) died from gunshot wounds resulting from a drive-by shooting at the young age of 24. Biggie's killers were never brought to justice.

I just realized today is my birthday!

“No . . . I just remembered that to-day’s my birthday." I was thirty. Before me stretched the portentous, menacing road of a new decade...Human sympathy has its limits, and we were content to let all their tragic arguments fade with the city lights behind. Thirty—the promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning brief-case of enthusiasm, thinning hair. But there was Jordan beside me, who, unlike Daisy, was too wise ever to carry well-forgotten dreams from age to age. As we passed over the dark bridge her wan face fell lazily against my coat’s shoulder and the formidable stroke of thirty died away with the reassuring pressure of her hand...So we drove on toward death through the cooling twilight." F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

I thought that I would share this photo with you all of Marcia Johnson, Trabert and Brooke Johnson. I know many of you will have apprehensions about a photo of Brooke on my birthday blog, and it will cause my dear sweet mother confusion as she is still in denial about the break-up from a year ago, but you can't white-out parts of your life just because you had a little heart ache. No one was lying during that time and we had many great moments to outweigh the bad. Plus, this is a great picture that I thought needed to be shared.
On the day of my birth, my mother's, Sheila (Trabert) Brown, marathon of 23 hours and 8 lbs. 7 oz. came along side the sweet sounds of the Four Seasons' number one hit that day, "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)". To find Billboard's number one song on the day you were born click here. Make it a great day, and Cheers from the Bushido!

I tried to keep this thing under wraps, but well, enough said...

What Trabert is doing for his birthday!

I am going to see Wilco baby! Jamie Mellen bought me a ticket and we have sweet seats. The usual suspects will all be there and I hope to give a glowing response tomorrow or the next day. Happy birthday to Bob Ailstock who will be at the show as well.

My 30th Birthday by Jim Trabert

I figured that I would say good-bye to 29 in style. So for the next couple of days, I will post pics and the fun memories of the last year of my twenties.

Pictures of my buddy Jamie Teske (Goldfinger) and his girl Emily, James Trabert and Brooke Johnson.









Mr and Mrs Josh Tarokh, Trabert and Brooke Johnson













Betsy (Baby McDaniel) Craig Blackmon, J.Trabert and Brad Hiers (Bobo)











From Rich & Claudia's Wedding: (Mark Campbell & Leslie Abercrombie, Craig Blackmon, Mr& Mrs Peacock, Trabert and Bobo.

Happy Birthday to Pat Mellen

Happy Birthday to Noel P Mellen! The Old-Guard at its' finest. Thank you for having a unique perspective that you so graciously share and keep us all on our toes. For those of you who don't know Pat and his beautiful wife Erin, they adopted the Bushido as one of their own so many years ago and have done their best to see me and my friends through both the good times and the bad. Happy Birthday Mr. Mellen!

Blast you Edgar Stiles!

This is the last obit that I am writing this week! Edgar Stiles-DECEASED! Blast You Edgar! You made Chloe cry-her first sign of emotion since she joined CTU! Why couldn't you have sent a security guard down with Agent McGowan to check on the environmental-security breach? Why couldn't you have joined "hog-jog" and got back into shape to help with your speed?

God, I need a life. Seriously, the two-hours of '24' was a bit much for my senses and I need to relax a bit; you know, unwind a bit, chill...Damn you Edgar! And another thing, can we not kill all of the friggin terrorists? It would be nice to have one or two around to interrogate...

All right, that's it. I am done for the day now.

ACC Tournament Practice Schedules

All 10 practices are open to the media and to the general public.

ACC Men's Basketball Tournament Open Practice Schedule Greensboro Coliseum - Wednesday, March 8
#9	Clemson	10:00 a.m.
#5	Florida State	11:00 a.m.
#12	Wake Forest	12:00 noon
#7	Virginia	1:00 p.m.
#10	Virginia Tech	2:00 p.m.
#6	Maryland	3:00 p.m.
#11	Georgia Tech	4:00 p.m.
#8	Miami	5:00 p.m.
#4	NC State	6:00 p.m.
#3	Boston College	7:00 p.m.

Note: #1 Duke and #2 North Carolina chose not to accept their optional practice time on March 8.

Kirby Puckett passes

Baseball lost a living legend this evening as former Minnesota Twin and Baseball Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett passed from complications after suffering a stroke. We only had Kirby 45-years, but he left his mark on baseball and all of those who met him. Despite numerous personal issues which he faced after baseball, Kirby is still the loveable guy and leader on the field who brought the Twinkies back from facing elimination through motivational leading and hitting a clutch-walk-off homer in game 6 against the Braves’ pitcher Charlie Leibrandht in the 1991 World Series. (The next night Jack Morris pitched a 10-inning shut-out and the Twins took home a World Series victory.) As you may know many of us Braves' fans have not forgotten that one, or the long-ball Puckett went yard with-check out the Bradford Report for more commentary from a Braves’ fan point of view.

Kirby Puckett ended his career with 6-Gold Gloves, two Championships, a .318 lifetime batting average, and more hits in his first two-seasons than anyone in history (2,040 hits). Puckett and Lou Gehrig are the only two members of the Hall of Fame to pass while still alive. Enjoy the great Cooperstown in the sky Kirby-we will miss you!

(Photo compliments of Twins-sports.com)

Dana Reeves Passes

Dana Reeves the widow of actor Christopher Reeves died today of lung cancer at the age of 44. Sadly enough, she never smoked a cigarette in her life, but was still struck down by the disease. Her husband Christopher died back in October 2004 at the age of 52. The Christopher Reeve Foundation will continue to the Reeves' vision to help people with spinal-cord injuries and to make life more liveable for those suffering from paralysis. (AP/Photo)

Ali Farka Toure passed today as well. Known as the "bluesman of Africa" the performer is probably best known in the States for his Grammy winning collaboration with guitarist Ry Cooder on "Talking Timbuktu". (I am not trying to make this an Obit-blog, but I guess these things come in threes sometimes.)

2-Hours of Jack Bauer's '24' tonight starting at 8 pm!

All right, I'll admit it. I am a serious fan of the television show "24", by far the best show on television. It is a show that I don't miss, I am glued to the tube, hooked-give it a name! I know what you are thinking, what could be better than my weekly-hour long fix? That's right two-hours of "24". I don't know if for my birthday a few of my friends pulled some strings with Fox, but they made it happen. Thanks Gang!









I am headed home to prepare barbeque-pork, washed down with cold beer and venison sausage to put me in a borderline-digestive-coma before the 2-hours of pulse-rate redlining brings me back to complete regularity. Also, in case you are new to the show, Jack's daughter, Kimberly Bauer (who thinks he is dead still) will return this evening. Kimberly Bauer is played by actress Elisha Cuthbert (see photo)

Also, tonight the new X-Men movie trailer will be aired during the commercials. Visit here for the X-Men 3-the Last Stand movie web-site.

Economic Calendar for March 6th

Monday, March 6
Jan. Factory Orders: -4.5 percent. Consensus: -5.5 percent.
Previous: 1.6 percent, revised.
Jan. Pending Home Sales: -1.1 percent. Previous: -3 percent.

Tuesday, March 7
7:45 a.m. ICSC Store Sales Index For March 5 Wk. Previous:
1.5 percent.
8:30 a.m. Fourth-Quarter Revised Productivity. Consensus:
-0.2 percent. Previous: -0.6 percent.
8:55a.m. Redbook Retail Sales Index For March 5 Wk. Previous:
Unch.
3 p.m. Jan. Consumer Credit. Consensus: $5.5 Bln. Previous:
$3.3 Bln.

Wednesday, March 8
No major economic indicators are scheduled for today.

Thursday, March 9
8:30 a.m. Initial Jobless Claims For March 5 Wk. Consensus: - 4K. Previous: 15K. 8:30 a.m. Jan. Trade Deficit. Consensus: $67 Bln. Previous:
$65.7 Bln.

Friday, March 10
8:30 a.m. Feb. Non-Farm Payrolls. Consensus: 218K. Previous:
193K.
8:30 a.m. Feb. Unemployment Rate. Consensus: 4.8 percent.
Previous: 4.7 percent.
8:30 a.m. Jan. Wholesale Inventories. Consensus: 0.5 percent.
Previous: 1.0 percent.

Source: Dow Jones

Lady Mocs Win SoCon Title

Davidson Wins SoCon Title

The Davidson Wildcats are the 2006 SoCon Champs beating UT-Chattanooga 80-55. As mentioned in a previous post, Brendan Winters was on fire, scoring a career-high 33-points. Other leaders for Davidson was Boris Meno with 12-points and Ian Johnson with 10-points. Coach Bob McKillop won his third SoCon Title tying a Davidson coaching record set by Coach Lefty Driesell. Congratulations to the Davidson Wildcats for making their first trip to the Big Dance since 2002.

Leaders for UT-Chattanooga were Keddric Mays with 13-points and Ricky Hood with 10-points. Chattanooga did improve their shooting percentage from 25% in the first half to 35% in the second half. The coach for the Mocs, John Shulman, is now 5-1 in the SoCon tournament.

Davidson's Brendan Winters is named SoCon's Most Outstanding Player of the year!

Davidson guard/forward Brendan Winters is named the SoCon's Most Outstanding Player! Winters hails from Denver, Colorado playing for Mullen/Worcester Academy. The senior scored a career-high 33-points besting the 31-point high he set as a freshman. In the SoCon title game against UT-Chattanooga he went 13 of 21, 6 of 10 behind the arc (tying the caree-high treys he had in last year's NIT game against Soutwest Missouri State.) Brendan will lead the Wildcats in the SoCon's slot to the Big Dance. Good luck to Brendan Winters and the Davidson Wildcats!

Davidson plays Chattanooga in the So-Con Tournament Final Today

Davidson plays UT-Chattanooga for the SoCon Tournament Championship today at 2 pm. The game will be televised on ESPN2. The winner of today's game will get the SoCon spot for the NCAA Tournament! (Photo compliments of Davidson Athletics)
Update #1
Davidson is leading Chattanooga 35-20 at the half! The Senior G/F, Brendan Winters-#32 (6'5", 205 lbs, from Denver, CO-Mullen/Worcester Academy) is leading the Wildcats with 12-points in the first half.

UT-Chattanooga defeated App State 78-75. (more later) They will play the winner of Elon v Davidson tomorrow for the SoCon Tournament Championship. The Elon v Davidson game just started and Davidson has a 6-point lead after 4 minutes into the game. You can watch all of the action on CSS Sportsnetwork.

The College of Charleston lost to UT-Chattanooga by two! We were robbed by quite possible the worst officiating that I have ever seen at the SoCon Conference Tournament-strike that, the worst officiating that I have seen in my life! Draper hit that three from the arc at the buzzer and the basket for Chattanooga at the end to break the tie was a charge!

I am headed with Mellen and Teske to catch the Cougars v Clemson baseball game in Mt. Pleasant! I'll give a better recap later.-Jet

The Southern Conference Tournament began yesterday at the North Charleston Coliseum. The SoCon only has one slot for the big dance (there can only be one!) The #4 seed-College of Charleston Cougars (17-10) have their work cut out for them as they face UT-Chattanooga today after the noon game (#8 App State v #1 Ga.-Southern). Chattanooga are the defending SoCon champs, but the Cougars did beat the Mountaineers 67-53 at the Kresse Arena back in January.
Game 8 should face the Cougars against the #1 seeded Georgia Southern which the Cougars do have the ability to beat. However, the Coll. of Charleston was swept by Ga-Southern during the regular season. Yet, the Cougars did have a chance to beat the Eagles in each of these games. Hopefully, the Cougars will not feel the pressure and the self-inflicted curse against the team from the South parts of the Peach state.

Winning this game would post the Cougars against Davidson-if the Wildcats can get past the Citadel-in the Championship game on Sunday. Davidson has beat the Cougars in their last five meetings, but this is the So-Con tourney and as we saw yesterday, anything can happen. The Cougars have not reached the final since 2000, and haven't been to the quarter-finals in 2-years. That being said, the Cougars are playing great basketball and have won 8 of their last 11 games. So, by all means, get your Maroon shirts out of the closet and get to the North-Chuck Coliseum tonight to support the Cougars and cause some Maroon Madness to help the Cougs win the So-Con and make their first trip to the Big Dance since 1999.