Dogs were executed
by hanging, drowning,
and crushing

Can anybody tell me what Martin McNeal is attempting to say in today’s piece about Michael Vick? He talks a lot about the “race card” and how it doesn’t really exist. I haven’t really been paying much attention to the media coverage of this scandal. It seems like he’s trying to say that the Bonds home run chase and the Vick scandal point out that black and white people think differently, but I don’t understand what specifically he means. Are people saying that Vick is being unfairly prosecuted? And what exactly does Barry Bonds, who probably rubbed cream on his butt to make his muscles bigger, have to do with Michael Vick, who probably allowed his friends to torture animals and made money off it? I’ll assume they belong in the same sentence only because the scandals are “dropping” in the same calendar season.

Also, in his conclusion about war, is he saying that American soldiers or Iraqi citizens are equivalent to dogs? One or the other.

The Mrs. and I haven’t been riding our bikes much this summer. Ok, to be honest we haven’t ridden our bikes at all this summer. Mainly because they’ve been stuck in the back of the garage since the move and all the tires were flat. So, any thought of a bike ride first started with the concept of attacking a Jenga-like mound of garage detritus, then pumping up the tires (only to find that the tires had leaks, in all probability), and then giving up out of sheer desperation. This was, until last week. With a free weekend day, we attacked the garage, pulled out the dormant velos and piled them onto the car so they could be examined by professionals.

For no other reason than proximity, we schlepped the units over to Carmichael Cycle on the corner of Arden and Fair Oaks Blvd. Contrary to previous raggers’ general cyclery experiences, our transaction at this bike shop was great. The staff was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and didn’t look down on us at all for not wearing tight shorts with gel inserts. By the time our repair jobs were finished on our three separate bikes the bill came to a only a modest amount. On the way out, the staff helped us load the bikes back onto the car and told us in parting, that we had the “coolest bikes ever.” Sure, he says that to all the people not wearing gel shorts, but it gave us the warm fuzzies anyway.

Carmichael Cycle, 5141 Arden Way, Carmichael- Highly Recommended

FRIDAY- Improv at the Sacramento Comedy Spot, 8pm.  Come check out Sacramento’s best Broadway theater, 1716 Broadway, that is.  It’s only $6 for a hilarious night of improv comedy.  You might also catch a glimpse of fromer local hero Ty Johnson, that’s right, THE Ty Johnson.

SATURDAY- 12 Hours at Cool Night Run, timed to coincide with the Perseids meteor shower .  The race is a nine mile loop, and the more serious of the runners will see who can complete the most laps between 7pm Saturday until 7am Sunday.  Runnergirl will be hitting the trails for this neat event, while I will sit at basecamp, strummin’ on the old banjo. 

Others will be going to the “Coexist Comedy” show featuring none other than Keith Lowell Jensen.  Check website for details.

SUNDAY- If the ultra-sexy Patty Souza is correct, temps should be in the mid 80’s on Sunday, a great day for gardening, outdoor recreation or just sitting in those new lawn chairs you bought at the August closeout patio furniture sale.  In the evening, check out the Sacramento International Film and Music Festival’s “10X10″ show, ten short films by ten local directors.  7:00pm.  $10

That’s right, the nation as a whole reached a new milestone last night.  It was months, nay years, in the making, but it’s about time that I admit what I’ve known for while:  The A’s aren’t making the playoffs this year.

Yes, that’s right, I, the biggest Oakland Athletics stooge in the Sacramento area, have given up hope.  After last night’s dismal loss to the Texas Rangers, I hold out no hope that the A’s will pull their late season heroics and push their way into the the post-season via the wild card.  Hopefully, this isn’t a trend and things can get back on track next year, and maybe every player won’t get injured, but we’ll just have to wait and see.  My tears are real and salty at this moment.

…Oh yeah, and some giant-headed dude in San Francisco  launched a home run for like the 40 zillionth time or something, but I don’t follow the National League so I’m a little fuzzy on the details.

Sorry for the lapse in entertainment recommendations last weekend.  We hope to make it up to you with a prime time, Sacramento-sized deep fried bucket of weekend entertainment:

FRIDAY- Perhaps the greatest musician to come out of Berkeley High School, and a former Sacramento resident, Charlie Hunter and his ultra funky 8-string guitar (that’s 3 strings of bass and 5 strings of guitar for those keeping score at home) will be performing with his trio tonight at Marilyn’s on K St.  I’ve personally seen Charlie dozens of times, from his formative gigs in Bay Area clubs to his more polished later group outings.  He is one of the most popular figures on the jazz scene and only comes to Sacramento once every two or three years.  Check him out.  Buy tix here.

SATURDAY- (from Runnergirl) If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to run up what people ski down, here’s your chance this Saturday.  It’s the Squaw Mountain Run and it’s a 3.6 mile jaunt up from the valley floor to the Escarpment. At the top, participants will enjoy music, food, beer, and raffles.  The less energetic can take the cable car to the top of the mountain and take part in a three mile “flower walk.” This is also the first few miles of the Western States course, and the views of Lake Tahoe are amazing. Continue reading “Watcha Doin’ This Weekend?” »

As a counterpoint to the lengthy calendar sections of the local media outlets, we here at the ‘Rag will not inundate you with events and happenings and cultural brouhahas that may not appeal to you.  We will, however, tell you what we, the writers of the Sac Rag, plan to do this weekend.  Please keep in mind that not only are we independently wealthy, but also attractive and tied in to the local scene tighter than a fat chick’s Wranglers.  So, here’s what we’re doing this weekend.  We don’t want to tell you what to do, but be aware, if you choose to join us in any of these outings, you will be a better person for it.

Continue reading “What Are We Doing This Weekend?” »

Northern California’s only NHL hockey team, the San Jose Sharks, have reached round two of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs, and are currently leading the Detroit Red Wings in that best-of-seven series 1-0 in games. The next game is tomorrow night.

The Sharks have had a strong season. After eliminating the Nashville Predators in the first round, San Jose and Detroit are renewing old playoff hostilities:

The teams also have some playoff history dating back to the Sharks’ post-season debut in 1994. San Jose shocked the top-seeded Wings, ousting their highly favoured foes in a seven-game classic.

However, the Wings returned the favour the following season, sweeping the Sharks in the second round.

If the Anaheim Ducks (who play in the same arena that is the rumored future home of the Sacramenno Kings) dispatch with the Vancouver Canucks in round two and the Sharks get by Detroit, it’s quite conceivable that round three of the NHL playoffs will feature an all-California Western Conference Final, with the NorCal Sharks playing the SoCal Ducks. Those would be some bragging rights. The winner of that series would then go on to play in round four - more relevantly known as the Stanley Cup Final - against the best team in the east.

Run M and C and their
terrible terrible friend

I’m gonna “show my Norcal” today and throw a shout out to the Golden State Warriors, my — and probably many Sacramentans’ — first favorite basketball team. The team will host its first playoff game in 13 years tonight.

The Bee’s report by Scott Howard-Cooper highlights an expected 50% increase in season ticket holders by the start of the next season that got a jump-start even before the playoff berth was official. That’s great news for a franchise that has been in the dumps since dumping Chris Webber. Hey, wait a minute…

Update: Plumwin called it: put a fork in Musselman.

The word on the street is not so good for Kings Coach Eric Musselman. The Bee adds up a meeting between Geoff Petrie and Musselman today and Petrie going on a scouting trip Sunday night and suggests that the hammer will come down today. What do you think?

[poll=3]

It’s on like donkey kong!

Jim Rome, the nationally syndicated sports radio host - and sports radio icon - of “The Jim Rome Show” (heard daily on KHTK 1140AM from 9 AM to 12 PM) is holding his “Smack Off” on Friday, May 4, 2007.

What is the Smack Off? According to Wikipedia:

The Smack-Off is an annual competition on The Jim Rome Show, held in mid-to-late spring and which takes up the entire program on a Friday. The contest is a way to recognize the best callers to the show, as well as a means of determining the best caller of the year. Show host Jim Rome has referred to the Smack-Off as the most important show of the entire year.

Continue reading “Rumble in The Jungle” »