Youn Gala: ‘NBA Legends & Players Explain How SCARY GOOD PRIME Patrick Ewing Was’

Posted on June 8, 2023 by FredSchneiderUS

The New Democrat_ Youn Gala_ 'NBA Legends & Players Explain How SCARY GOOD PRIME Patrick Ewing Was'Source:Youn Gala– Shaquille O’Neal talking about a player that he says is better than him.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Patrick Ewing is a New York Knicks Legend!!!

NBA Legends And Players Explain How SCARY GOOD PRIME Patrick Ewing Was”

From Youn Gala

Just a couple things from this video and then I’ll get into how I personally feel about The Great Patrick Ewing.

Shaquille O’Neal saying that Patrick Ewing is not only a top 5 NBA center of all-time, but that Ewing is better than him. I have heard Shaq say that Pat was the toughest center that he ever had to play against, but not that he was a better player than him. I think this says a lot because even though I think Shaq is overrated myself, he’s still a top 10-15 centers of all-time and he’s one of the smartest and honest men, whose ever played in the NBA.

As far as Pat Ewing and what I feel about him: imagine the last 25 years of the NBA is really just the longest national nightmare in pro sports history and the game today is still basically the same today as it was, let’s say pre-2000s:

centers are real centers, not beefed up small forwards, trying to play center or even natural power forwards, trying to play center

point guards were expected to run the offense, not sport up for 3’s every chance that they get.

power forwards run the wings on the break looking for a slam dunk or a layup, not spotting up for 3’s on the fast break and they have inside responsibility on offense, not running screens to free themselves up for a 3-pointer

the center position was still around, instead of big, tall, strong, guys, thinking they could be the next great point forward.

Imagine the NBA today was basically the same league today, as it was in the late 1980s, as far as the quality of teams, players, the style of play and you are looking for the next great center and have this guy whose 7’0, 255 pounds of all muscle, who runs like a horse, can block jump shots, who can hit a 20 foot jump shot, who doesn’t even know how to take a play off and rest, who went to and graduated from Georgetown, so you know he’s smart and was coached by John Thompson and you are tying to win a championship. You are tying to knock off the Boston Celtics or Los Angeles Lakers to do that, maybe you are Pat Riley running this team, after leaving the Lakers. You would be braindead not to draft Pat Ewing, if he’s available when your pick comes up.

In the 1990s, there were really only 3 centers in the NBA who were good, strong, big, and disciplined enough to play Shaquille O’Neal on defense, not really stop him for the most part, but make him have to work hard on offense, so he couldn’t just be able to dominate you.

Shaq said Ewing was the toughest player that he ever had to play against, because he made him work for position in the post and then was able to make Shaq work on defense, even in the post, because Ewing had the size, the strength, the quickness, the footwork, etc, to score against Shaq. Even though Ewing even in his prime, was probably giving up 40-50 pounds to Shaq, he still had the upper body and leg strength to play Shaq on defense and not get dominated and score against him on offense, even in the post.

The other two centers in the 1990s that had these qualities to play Shaq well, were Hakeem Olajuwon and Alonzo Mourning. In case anyone wanted to know.

The reason why Patrick Ewing doesn’t get more respect and recognition as being one of the top 10 NBA centers ever, even though he is a top 10 center, because he didn’t win an NBA championship.

The New York Knicks probably had the better team in 1994 and should’ve beaten the Houston Rockets, probably could’ve done it in 6 games. And I understand all of that. But the fact that the Knicks were even in a game 7 in the NBA Finals in that era, is because of Pat Riley and Pat Ewing, the co-MVP’s of the New York Knicks Organization.

Ewing played with a lot of good players, a lot of very good players. He never played with another great player, another Hall of Fame player.

You go try to win an NBA Finals in the 1990s with Charles Smith, whose a center and you are trying to make him your small forward.

You try to win the NBA Finals in the 1990s with John Starks, who would’ve been a 3rd guard, someone who could play the 1 and 2 equally as well, but he would’ve been a 3rd guard on most NBA championship teams, maybe even the 4th guard and he’s just starting 2-guard, who misses 14-17 jump shots in game 7 of the NBA Finals.

I think Charles Oakley, Anthony Mason, Derek Harper, and Herb Williams, were the right pieces for a good NBA championship team:

But where is Michael Jordan without Scottie Pippen today?

Where would Shaquille O’Neal be today without Kobe Bryant?

And you could go on. The 90s Knicks were probably 2 players short and one of those players being a great player, from winning an NBA championship in during that decade.

If you want my all-time NBA center list: I’ll give it to you anyway:

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2. Wilt Chamberlain

3. Bill Russell

4. Hakeem Olajuwon

5. Moses Malone

6. Patrick Ewing

OK, that’s just 6 and hopefully you get the idea. I have Pat Ewing at 6, because if you look at the 6 best centers ever and what they brought to the game and what they could do and did do personally, I don’t think there are 5 better NBA centers ever. Guys who won more championships, more MVP’s, etc, sure. But if you look at the center position and what centers are supposed to be able to do, there aren’t 5 better offense or defensive centers better than Patrick Ewing. And that’s where I come down.

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The Fugitive: Fear in a Desert City (1963) Vera Miles Stars

Posted on June 7, 2023 by FredSchneiderUS

the fugitive_ fear in a desert city (1963) - Google SearchSource:IMDB– Vera Miles & David Janssen. I don’t think you need Superman’s vision to tell who is who.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Being a physician with keen clinical acumen, Kimble is quick to pick up on the husband’s dangerous paranoia, but is confronted with an internal moral conflict to flee in the interest of self-preservation versus to stay out of Hippocratic devotion to the desensitized pianist and her son.”

From IMDB

“Pilot,S01 Ep01,The Fugitive,Fear In A Desert City,1960s Full Episode. 1960s American Television Series.”

The New Democrat_ The Fugitive_ Fear in a Desert City (1963) Vera Miles StarsSource:Johns Films– Brian Keith as Edward Welles.

From Johns Films

The Fugitive is not a TV series that I can watch all the time or am interested in every episode. I think it got off to a great start with the pilot film and with this pilot episode and it closed with what I would say perfectly with the movie at the end, where the one-armed man is finally caught in Stafford, Indiana. And in-between the pilot film and the series finale, there are episodes that really do stand out, with excellent plots, writing, and guest stars. This episode is a perfect examples of that.

Most of the cast members in this episode either had major movie or TV careers or both. We’re talking about excellent character actors, as well as lead actors and actresses, who all had major TV and film careers. I think that’s one way you can tell if a show is not just an excellent show, but a memorable show, something that’s shown over and over and has a long run either in syndication or in cable. Shows like that, are shows that people want to work on because they know they’re working with great people both actors and writers, as well as directors. The Fugitive was one of those shows.

Just look at the cast of Fear in a Desert City:

David Janssen – Richard Kimble

Vera Miles – Monica Welles

Brian Keith – Edward Welles

Barry Morse – Phillip Gerrard

Harry Townes – Sergeant Burden

Barney Phillips – Cleve Brown

William Conrad – the narrator

The Fugitive was not some TV series that starts out in syndication and then struggles just to get through one season, with most of the cast just looking for any break that leads them to something big and better. This was a show that good, successful, intelligent, people in Hollywood, wanted to part of and work on.

Vera Miles as usual, plays the beautiful pussycat, who seems too cute to scare a fly. But as usual, she plays a woman whose a lot tougher than her adorable disposition. And unlike from the Columbo episode, she really is too cute to kill a fly.

Richard Kimble (played by David Janssen) of course is The Fugitive whose simply trying to survive on the run and avoid capture, who simply wants a job to support himself in the latest town that he’s hiding in. But as most things in life, it’s never as easy as someone might want it to be. He meets Monica Welles (played by Vera Miles) a co-worker of his at this casino bar, who has her own problems and he falls in love with her and helps her out.

The pilot film where the murder and trial goes down, where everyone actually gets to meet Dr. Kimble’s wife, is a great way to start off a TV series. But this episode just keeps that ball moving and you see why this series was as good as it is and why the reruns are still on cable today.

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Columbo: Lovely But Lethal (1973) Peter Falk & Vera Miles Star

Posted on June 6, 2023 by FredSchneiderUS

lovely but lethal (1973) film - Google SearchSource:Columbo Phile– left to right: Vera Miles & Sian Barbara Allen.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Beauty industry Empress Viveca Scott (Vera Miles) has fallen on comparatively troubled times. Sales are down, she’s lost some high-profile outlets, and the vultures – namely arch-rival David Lang (Vincent Price) – are circling. She needs a miracle, and she seems to have found one in the shape of a ground-breaking skin cream that makes wrinkles disappear!

There’s a fly in the ointment, though. The formula has been stolen by handsome young chemist Karl Lessing (Martin Sheen looking very young and handsome), who has diddled Viveca and and co out of the correct formula and is willing to sell it to the highest bidder – who just happens to be David Lang.”

From Columbo Phile

“Viveca Scott runs Beauty Mark, the cosmetics company whose products are in every woman’s home. With sales dropping, she’s counting on the miraculous new beauty cream created by her chief chemist to boost sales and overtake her rival, David Lang, but the chemist’s assistant steals the formula. Scott attempts to negotiate with him but, in a rage, knocks him over the head with a heavy microscope, killing him. Her rival’s secretary finds out and attempts to blackmail her, but the cosmetics queen’s worst news is that the rumpled, redoubtable Lt. Columbo is on the case.”

lovely but lethal (1973) film - Google Search (1)Source:IMDB– Vera Miles stars.

From IMDB

“A cosmetics manufacturer is suspected of murdering an employee (Martin Sheen) who stole a wrinkle-removing formula.”

'Lovely but Lethal' in 10 Minutes _ Recap - S03 EP01 _ ColumboSource:Columbo– Vera Miles & Peter Falk. Perhaps you can tell for yourself which one is which.

From Columbo

In one of these photos the caption coming from Viveca Scott (played by Vera Miles) is: “I couldn’t kill a fly.” That’s not completely true. More like Viveca Scott (played by Vera Miles) couldn’t scare a fly. She’s so cute and sweet and to a certain extent charming on this show, that you would think that she would be one of the last people in the world, (or perhaps just one of the last people in Los Angeles) who could kill anyone.

But Vera’s adorableness in this film is one thing that makes her a perfect murderer suspect, if not murderer, because no one would expect that 5’3, maybe 110 pound babydoll like Vera Miles, (even though she’s 44 at this point) could murder anyone. For that reason alone, Vera would’ve made a great CIA assassin, a TV vice detective, perhaps a detective sergeant with her own crew, similar to Angie Dickinson on Police Woman in the mid 1970s.

I got into this episode of the Columbo series 4-5 years ago and was blown away by the fact that Vera Miles was on it. And thanks to Sundance and COZI-TV, probably seen this film 10 times now and even have it on DVD. Only 70 minutes, not a dull moment in it and that plus Vera’s presence and her being so cute and beautiful on it and just comes off as a total sweetheart on it, (at least for a two-time murderer) I can see it over and over again, to the point that I wanted to write about it.

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Oxygen: ‘The Infamous Case of Pamela Smart’

Posted on June 5, 2023 by FredSchneiderUS

Oxygen_ 'The Infamous Case of Pamela Smart'Source:Oxygen– showing a clip from the NBC Dateline piece on this story.

Source:The New Democrat 

“Pamela Smart is often considered one of the first true crime “celebrities,” a seemingly normal everyday woman accused of murdering her husband. Messy theories, a tampered crime scene, and a series of strange factors made for a heavily publicized case leading to her eventual imprisonment. Watch new episodes of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, Wednesdays at 8/7c on Oxygen.”

From Oxygen

I was in junior high when this story broke in early 1990. Actually, I just a few years younger than William Flynn, who Pamela Smart hired to kill her husband. I might have heard a little something about this story when he broke in 1990, but it’s really the last 5-10 years when a real effort on her part has been made to get herself a sentence reduction and give her a chance at freedom on the outside again, that I’ve been following this story closely.

I guess it’s her guilt that’s never been a question for me. I think she’s definitely guilty as far as I’m concern and has even finally admitted that the last few years. It’s her sentence that I’ve always had a problem with. Her accomplices are currently free, even though they’re the ones who actually killed Greg Smart (Pamela’s husband) and did it in first degree and killed him simply because Pamela wanted them to and perhaps promised sex in exchange.

I think had Pam Smart just confessed and to her part in the crime which was hiring the boys to murder her husband, she might not be a free woman right now, (and I’m not a lawyer) but I doubt she would’ve received life without the possibility of parole. Maybe 25-30 years to life and have a real shot at freedom, especially with the life that she’s had in prison and what she’s done with her time the last 30 plus years or so.

I think even if she never confessed to the crimes, since her accomplices who actually murdered her husband are currently free, life without no possibility of parole, especially in a state like New Hampshire, which obviously doesn’t have a lot of murderers in it, that’s known as the live free or die state, I think 30 to life would’ve been more acceptable. And then the parole board could say: “We appreciate everything that you’ve done with your time in prison. But if you want to get out, you have to pay full responsibility for your role in this crime.”

Pam Smart has really been her own worst enemy in this case, staring with hiring teenage boys to murder her husband. And then denying her involvement in the crimes the last 30 years and trying to get released and off free for them.

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CNN: Inside Politics: ‘Donald Trump’s House GOP Allies Travel To New York To Discredit Manhattan DA’

Posted on April 17, 2023 by FredSchneiderUS

Trump’s House GOP allies travel to New York to discredit Manhattan DASource:CNN– U.S. Representative Jim Jordan (Republican, Ohio) vs Manhattan, New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

Source:The New Democrat

“House Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are exemplifying the lengths they are willing to go to discredit Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s criminal case against former President Donald Trump with a New York field hearing on Bragg’s home turf.”

From CNN

I know I’m not a lawyer and if that is not a newsflash for anyone, you really do have no idea who I am. But, you have a U.S. Congressional committee, in this case, the House Judiciary Committee, led by Representative Jim Jordan (Republican, Ohio) trying to interfere, with American tax dollars, into a municipal criminal investigation, against one of their own residents, who also happens to be a private citizen as well, in Donald J. Trump.

Where’s the jurisdiction here? What standing does a Federal institution, (in this case the U.S. House of Representatives) have to investigate into the affairs of a municipal investigation? (Meaning the Manhattan, New York District Attorney’s Office) I’m not qualified to give out legal advice, but I think that’s what would be the argument for Manhattan DA, against the House Republicans.

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Real Time With Bill Maher: ‘How The Left Was Lost’

Posted on January 29, 2022 by Erik Schneider

New Rule_ How the Left Was Lost _ Real Time (HBO)Source:Real Time With Bill Maher– telling the Far-Left in America to grow up.

“Bill slams this ridiculous new era of mind-numbing partisanship, where simply speaking truth to your own party can make you an instant hero to the other side.”

From Real Time With Bill Maher

Because of America’s crazy and outdated two-party system, you have two, large, political parties in America, that have two crazy factions in it. Which means you have a Democratic Party that believes in both liberal democracy, quality of opportunity, equal rights, and equal justice, as well as personal freedom is dangerous, capitalism is racist, free speech is bigoted, minorities and women should be treated better than the majority population and Caucasian men. Because the Democratic Party has a Center-Right and Center-Left, that believes in liberal values that I mentioned before and a Far-Left that believes in the crazy values that I just mentioned.

So America has a Democratic Party that looks and acts like the adults in the room, but only because they are the adults in the room. Who tend to run the Democratic Party and don’t need a gerrymandered district to get elected to anything, who can not just get elected statewide in swing states, but who can get elected statewide in Democratic states. (Where Far-left Democrats can’t, like in California) And a Far-Left that really should be in the Green Party (when they’re not occupying mental institutions) who can’t get elected anywhere, to anything, that doesn’t just have an overwhelmingly Democratic population, but left-wing Democratic population.

I’m not saying America should have a parliamentary political system, because that would make me a crazy leftist as well. But the two-party system is why America has a Democratic Party that has two political factions that simply don’t agree on much, because the Far-Left has nowhere else to go, because they represent such a small percentage of the country. And the Green Party is simply to small for them to get elected to anything, that’s worth anything in America.

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Real Time With Bill Maher: ‘Monologue: Time’s Up for Governor Cuomo’

Posted on August 11, 2021 by FredSchneiderUS

Real Time With Bill Maher_ 'Monologue_ Time's Up for Governor Cuomo'Source:Real Time With Bill Maher– talking about the downfall of Governor Andrew Cuomo (Democrat, New York)

Source:The New Democrat

“Bill recaps the top issues of the week, including Barack Obama’s birthday plans and the growing pressure on NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign.”

From Real Time With Bill Maher

At risk of stating the obvious, which I can assure you this is not the first time I’ve taken this risk: Governor Andrew Cuomo had to resign. He literally had no choice, because it was either that or he gets impeached convicted his own party in the New York Legislature (Assembly and Senate) and he would be like the Richard Nixon of New York (for anyone who was born in the 20th Century, or remembers hearing about it) where his own party leadership tells him: “Dude, we don’t even want you as Governor anymore. Leave now and we won’t kick your ass out.”

Now having said all that: if you look at the politics of this, now the new Governor Kathy Hochul will have a clean slate and be able to run for Governor herself next year and not with a thousands pounds of baggage that New York Democrats would have to carry around with them every time, including when they try to catch a flight or even go to the bathroom.

New York Republicans will have to try to run on their own records and perhaps even away from Donald Trump (like the Japanese tried to run from Godzilla) if they’re running statewide. And have to try to convince New York voters, even upstate voters of why they’re better qualified to run the New York Government, than the Democrats. So the Cuomo resignation could become a political boomerang.

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Jack Bauer: Falling Down (1993) Park Beggar Scene

Posted on July 26, 2021 by FredSchneiderUS

Jack Bauer_ Falling Down (1993) Park Beggar SceneSource:Jack Bauer– Michael Douglas at his best.

Source:The New Democrat

“Falling Down – Park Beggar Scene (1080p) Pretty funny scene.”

From Jack Bauer

The title of this scene could’ve been “how to spot a phony” because that’s exactly what William (played by Michael Douglas) does in this scene.

The beggar (played by John Fleck) sees William as his next target and thinks the guy must have money because he has a briefcase, is wearing a white shirt and tie. He must also think that William is a dipshit (to be frank) because his gives him this bullshit (to be frank) story about a guy down from Santa Barbara whose just run into some bad luck and would like William to help him out.

But William who has just been fired and isn’t doing so well himself wants nothing to do with the bum in the park and calls bullshit on him and puts the bum in his place, which is this park where he belongs.

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Emma Lover: Julia Roberts & Billy Crystal- America’s Sweethearts (2001)

Posted on July 23, 2021 by FredSchneiderUS

Emma Lover_ Julia Roberts & Billy Crystal- America's Sweethearts (2001)Source:Emma Lover– Billy Crystal and Julia Roberts in America’s Sweethearts (2001)

Source:The New Democrat

“Emma Roberts in America’s Sweethearts 2001. Emma is the girl with a purple shirt in the back.”

From Emma Lover

Just to give you a little background about the Kiki character (played by Julia Roberts) in this movie, hopefully before you watch the video: Kiki is a recovering food addict, (or whatever the obese term is for alcoholic) a woman who lost 100 plus pounds and now looks like Julia Roberts. (I wonder why) Who tells Lee (played by Billy Crystal) “This is what falling off the wagon looks like” meaning her eating a tone of food in one sitting.

Kiki’s is the personal assistant of her sister (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones) who is a very popular actress in Hollywood. I mean if you are familiar with any of the Real Housewives shows, you have a very good idea of what Gwen (played by CZ Jones) is like: very attractive, but very narcissistic and when she can’t get her way exactly the way she wants it, she goes out of her way to make others feel as badly as she does.

So in this scene the latest argument between the two sisters is about Eddie (played by John Cusack) who just happens to be Gwen’s husband, but they’re separated. And now Kiki and Eddie are falling in love with each other and Gwen can’t seem to handle that and takes it out on her sister Kiki and that’s why Kiki falls off the wagon (as she said) because of her sister Gwen.

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Chris Cillizza: Why Wokeness Is The Biggest Threat to Democrats in 2022

Posted on July 22, 2021 by FredSchneiderUS

CNN_ Chris Cillizza- 'Why Wokeness Is The Biggest Threat to Democrats in 2022'Source:CNN– Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Democrat, New York) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Democrat, California) the two Democratic leaders of Congress.

Source:The New Democrat

“As Democrats gear up for the 2022 midterms, they know their biggest challenge likely comes from within their own party: the rise of “woke culture” on the far left. In the latest episode of The Point, CNN’s Chris Cillizza explains how Democrats need to navigate this self-made minefield and push back on Republicans’ anti-woke messaging if they want to score big wins in the upcoming election.”

From CNN

Just on a personal note: doesn’t Chris Cillizza look like the comedian or comedic actor Jeremy Piven? They’re only about 5-10 years apart in real life and I think they have similar sense of humors.

As far as what Chris Cillizza and James Carville are arguing here: I agree with almost everything that they are arguing here, except for two points. Replace the word liberal with just about anything else, except for progressive, like I don’t know, hippie, bedwetter, children, and my two favorites, Socialist and Communist and I would jump on that train blindfolded to get on board with Chis Cillizza here.

I’m not sure the Far-Left of the party (unless they can’t escape their favorite coffee house and Apple Store long enough to vote in 2022) is the biggest threat to Congressional Democrats in 2022.

A lot of other factors could hurt Democrats more like another dip in the economy with inflation and higher interest rates becoming factors. Or rising crime with Democrats looking like they don’t want to adequately fund law enforcement, could be even bigger weights for Democratic incumbents and candidates to have to carry around, than the Far-Left that might represent 20% of the country at this point.

If the Far-Left only represents 20% of the country that might be 33% of the Democratic Party, (Bernie Sanders entire coalition) so Democrats need these folks on board to be successful in 2022. But 67% always beats 33% (at least according to my calculations) and the 67 is the mainstream, establishment, progressive wing of the Democratic Party.

If Far-Left Democrats want a major role in the Democratic Party, especially at the leadership level and not been seen as 5 year olds who are always stuck at the kiddy table, they need to get on board and do their part to help the Democratic Party in 2022. And then have their ideological and cultural battles in 2023.

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