Can I still get a reference?
The story about the Manhattan maid who looted the homes of her rich and famous clients plays like a sequel to "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"-- a more entertaining "Maid in Manhattan." The woman reportedly told police upon her arrest that she only stole from people who failed to show her the proper respect. The deceitful domestic relieved Robert DeNiro's wife, Grace Hightower, Candice Bergen, and Renee Rockefeller of many of their valuables, while international charmer Isabella Rossellini was spared the washer's wrath. (Take that, Liz Smith.)It's always slightly enjoyable to watch the elite take a lesson in the practicality of respect, but this behavior does seem like a pretty cut and dried violation of the employee/employer social contract. Yet, I can't help but think-- that Isabella Rossellini is just adorable.
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Here's an interesting tidbit from the sports world north of the border. More than five thousand members of the Canadian Media Guild (camera operators, directors, and announcers) are locked out by the CBC television network. As a result, Canadian Football League games are being broadcast without commentary. The audio of the broadcasts amounts to nothing more than the natural sound of the arena.
Growing up in a family with a satellite dish, we used to stumble across the raw feeds of baseball telecasts, and I always found the viewing experience an enjoyable one. The absence of narration and commentary heightened the energy of the crowd. If I can't get a Vin Scully, Bob Costas, or Joe Buck, I'd just as soon go without. Alas, Salon.com's King Kauffman believes we're stuck with the Chris Bermans of the world as long as the networks need announcers to read promos and sponsorships.
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I stumbled across Ross Verba's name on the internet tonight. The Des Moines native is a former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL offensive tackle trying to catch on with a club for the '05 season. According to the major daily in Akron, OH, Verba's popping off last year about his employer, the Cleveland Browns, led to questions about his character. The eight year veteran is currently attempting to improve on offers in the one year, $1 million range.
On Wednesday, the society page of the Las Vegas Review-Journal had Verba "tossing about $800 in $1 bills into the crowd and at go-go girls at ICE (nightclub) on Saturday night.
"Verba, who reportedly blew a half-million-dollar Palms jackpot at a Green Valley Ranch pool party last month, was overheard offering the ICE deejay $7,000 to play an extra half hour."
Ross, maybe it's time to come home and visit the folks.
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This is kind of a fun article. Despite their recent slump, Richard Roeper still believes it's the White Sox year.
But the Cubs fans at the Heckler break the situation down this way.
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Joke of the day: What do you get when you cross an insomniac, a dyslexic, and an agnostic?
A guy who lays awake all night wondering if there is a dog.
posted by CM @ 9:51 PM
2 Comments:
I remember Ross "Boss" Verba shooting People with a squirt gun from his dorm room window. When the RA asked him to stop, he replied "Who complained?" That is my Ross Verba story.
I also have memories of Verba in college. We lived in the same building for a year. I'll say this about him: When I found out he was an only child, I wasn't surprised.
I googled his name this afternoon and among the countless number of comments from angry fans on Cleveland Brown blogs, I also found a 1997 article from a writer at Packer Plus. It's absolutely (but unintentionally) hilarious. The story starts out:
"At the tender age of 11, Ross Verba began clearing his path from Des Moines to the National Football League . . . with the family lawn mower.
"We had a field in the back -- it was really high grass," Verba said. "I took the responsibility of mowing it down." (Aaron's comment: Isn't this one of the best lines in history?)
The grass fell, as have nearly all the obstacles blocking Verba's path in the 13 years since then. That lawn had no chance, of course. Even the tallest grass is no match for a lawn mower. But think of that lawn mower -- a push mower, in this instance -- as natural ability. That, Verba has in abundance."
The only thing that would make this story better is if it had, indeed, been a riding mower.
Nevertheless, here's the website to copy and paste:
www.jsonline.com/packer/sbxxxii/news/ross120397.stm
Everyone should read this article. Don't miss the great quote about his studies in college - "For me, my degree was not an option. It was pro football. And I think that is how you become a first-rounder, with that attitude."
Also, check out the quote about how he "hasn't spent his money foolishly" and how he'd "like to go back in time and hang out with Jesus." Great stuff.
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