I didn't know Beckett has a sore back. I was wondering why Francona didn't use him last night on three days rest, and set up the possibility of bringing him back for game seven. That makes sense, but what was Melvin thinking, using Owings instead of his only ace on Monday? I guess using your best pitchers on three days rest during the play-offs is a thing of the past.

As for a Cleveland vs. Colorado World Series, network executives might not like it, but baseball fans are going to love it. I expect this to be the best series in recent memory.

Oh yeah, I had a co-worker from India who didn't care about the logo, but resented the Hell out of Cleveland's nickname. didn't they used to be called the Spiders? That would be a better name for World series that is to be played during Halloween.

How about that annoying mophead Tucker Carlson?

That is brilliant. I hope Howard Dean reads your comment.

All states operate under the same rules and hold their primaries on the same day. This California resident is goddamn sick of the tail wagging the dog.

I'm in favor of abolishing the Electoral College, but even more importantly, for the presidential race, all states should operate under the same laws. Nebraska, Maine, and certainly not my home state of California, should be allowed to march to a different drummer. Here are some necessary reforms.

1) All states use the same tamper-proof, verifiable, re-countable voting machine.

2) All states issue free voter ID cards that make it impossible to vote more than once, or allow ineligible people to vote.

3) All states hold their primaries on the same day, and have the same laws regarding primaries.

4) Voters should be allowed to vote in any and all contested primaries.

5) Public financing.

6) All congressional districts must be re-drawn by computer and should be geometrically square.

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I also like the suggestion that if a candidate fails to get a majority, you go to an automatic run-off system.

BTW you don't need a Constitutional amendment to eliminate the Electoral College. All it would require is for California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Michigan to enact the law that Maryland just passed. Small states have more than enough protection from the Senate. It's well past time to prevent the tail from wagging the dog.

I've only read the first paragraph and I usually only comment here to say what a pompous nitwit Camille is, but her response to Frank Baldino's oft repeated lie is spot on.

Now I'll go back and read the rest of her blog. I'm sure there will be plenty of pompous nitwtisms to dissect.

Israeli soccer fans who chant "Death To Arabs"?

REAPER is the best of the new shows this season, it doesn't need more cowbell. Perhaps Heather is a tad too mature for it.

I like PUSHING DAISIES, Bryan Fuller is one of my favorite writers, but I agree with jlj, it might be hard to maimtain. It might be better as a movie.

That I voted for Dianne Feinstein, three times in fact. She depresses the Hell out of me and yet I have no real choice. If a Republican had won her seat, then they would control the Senate committees. We're damned if we do, and damned if we don't. I don't even think Glenn mentioned her questionable ethics, where she helped her husband's corporation get a government contract. Let's just say Feinstein is no Barbara Boxer, a pity that.

Is your head as pointy as your heels? Sheesh!

You may be a lawyer, but even Daniel Webster couldn't make the argument that Harang deserves the Cy Young over Peavy. Let's review the facts, Peavy is going to win the pitcher's triple crown and he's battling to get get the Padres into the play-offs. Harang is clearly the second or third choice, and the voting will reflect that. I predict Peavy will win unanimously, if that is even possible.

O.J. killed his wife, "Charlie" killed Ron Goldman.

The NHL should have scheduled that outdoor game on the Sunday before the Super Bowl. In fact they should make it a tradition.

The answer to Timbuktom's question is Josh Beckett.

He's a Republican.

I saw that post, but I still say Omar is a mythical character. Jesus Christ was based on a real person also. The way I interpret THE WIRE is that Omar represents good, Brother Mauzone represents evil, and Lester Freamon represents mankind.

David Simon has a different take, no doubt.

How 'bout Deadwood?

Surely, I'm not alone in considering the Deadwood opening sequence to be superb. Art and reality combined.

-- Robert Simms

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The opening credits for DEADWOOD are pretty average, but the way they cut to the closing credits and the songs they use are outstanding.

David Simon did say in an interview that the only character in the show not to have been drawn from his and Burns's years on the street is Omar, who might have been the hero of a Sergio Leone western.

-- rebeccah

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Not to dispute David Simon, but I think, besides Omar, there are two other "mythical" characters in THE WIRE, Lester Freamon and Brother Mauzone.

Great topic! Some of my favorites not shown or listed in the comments, SECRET AGENT, THE AVENGERS, VERONICA MARS, ROCKFORD FILES and THE DREW CAREY SHOW. Someone did just mention PETER GUNN, I've got to agree, I recently watched that via Netflix, just for the theme song.

THE WIRE is the best show ever, no doubt. THE SOPRANOS is terrific also, but there isn't one character that the audience can identify with. They were, to a man and woman, utterly loathesome, and I would have been perfectly happy if Chase had killed them all off.

THE WIRE on the other hand brings out the humanity in even the worst criminals. As I just noted on the BUFFY AWEARD thread below, THE WIRE, when all is said and done, will be considered the greatest artistic accomplishment of the 21st Century.