COLLEGE BASKETBALL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS CONTINUE

February Frenzy continues as the NAIA’s Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference joined in the fun last night by tipping off their conference tournament.

ius_logoThe top-seeded INDIANA UNIVERSITY SOUTHEAST GRENADIERS got more than they bargained for from their First Round opponents the 8th seeded POINT PARK UNIVERSITY PIONEERS. The game’s Halftime tie of 42-42 off a 3-point buzzer beater from the Pioneers was just one of 12 ties and 19 lead changes throughout the game. Both teams stayed within 4 points of each other for virtually all of the 2nd Half until clutch Free-Throws from the Grenadiers at last gave them a 99-94 victory. For IUS Cameron Mitchell led the scoring with 22 points followed closely by Aishon White with 21 and Jake Simpson with 20. In defeat Gabe McNeal notched 30 points for the Pioneers.   

Berea MountaineersThe BEREA COLLEGE MOUNTAINEERS came into the conference tournament as the 5 seeds but managed the upset of the tourney so far by toppling the 2nd seeded ASBURY UNIVERSITY EAGLES. Ironically the Eagles had defeated the Mountaineers in both of their regular season games but it will be Berea moving on to the semifinals. Asbury scored the first points of the game but trailed 35-31 by the break and played from behind the entire 2nd Half. The Mountaineers weathered several comeback attempts by the Eagles and prevailed by a final score of Continue reading →

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MOVIE REVIEW: THE WORLD’S A STAGE (2014)

Would ALEC BALDWIN find the plot of this movie a little too close to reality?

Would ALEC BALDWIN find the plot of this movie a little too close to reality?

The World’s A Stage (2014 – Glitternight productions) – This independent film, though set here in the 21st Century, is reminiscent of ancient Greek political satires like the ones penned by Aristophanes, Eupolis and Cratinus as well as the parathespian comedies of Strattis. A traveling troupe of actors visit an unnamed town and are a huge hit in a play dramatizing the heroics of a group of honest politicians. The citizens are bowled over by their performances and elect the men and women of the theatre troupe to actually govern their town.

Naturally the shallow and vain thespians are in way over their heads when it comes to dealing with real-world responsibilities and problems. Their egotistical need for applause and approval also makes them unfit for office, especially when it comes to Continue reading →

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FEBRUARY FRENZY: COLLEGE BASKETBALL CONFERENCE TOURNAMENTS ARE UNDERWAY

The NAIA’s Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference as always leads the way for the nation and tipped off its 2014 college basketball tournament last night. In addition the post-season is underway in the NJCAA as well.

calumetcollegecrimsonwaveathleticsThe CALUMET COLLEGE CRIMSON WAVE traveled to take on the PURDUE UNIVERSITY- CALUMET PEREGRINES in a clash of cool-named teams. In the first five and a half minutes of the game the Crimson Wave took control and held the whip hand the rest of the way. Calumet College won this First Round matchup by a final score of 72-50, with the Crimson Wave’s Robert Jackson contributing 22 points to lead all scorers. Franqlin Gatson was right behind his teammate with 21 points and Noah Allen’s 11 points made him the only Peregrine to reach double digits. Calumet College shot 52% from the field and, amazingly, FIFTY-NINE PERCENT from 3-point range.

Roosevelt U LakersIn the other First Round game in the CCAC last night the ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY LAKERS battled the INDIANA UNIVERSITY- SOUTH BEND TITANS in an undeniable hardcourt epic. These two familiar foes played a very physical game that saw the score knotted up 10 times through most of regulation, and then in the final fraction of a second the 11th tie sent them into Overtime courtesy of a Free Throw from the Titans’ Chris Beam. The Lakers came out reenergized for the extra session and churned out a 7-1 run that put them in control. The final score was 73-68 with Joe Harks from Roosevelt University leading all scorers with 21 points and 15 more tossed in by Tyree York. For IU- South Bend the Beam Brothers – Chris and Brandon – scored 18 points each to lead their team.

*** NJCAA *** Continue reading →

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A SHOUTOUT TO BACKBONE

Typical Obama supporters - mindless and unquestioning fascists - are in sharp contrast to the spirited citizens of other countries

Typical Obama supporters – mindless and unquestioning fascists – are in sharp contrast to the spirited citizens of other countries

Welcome back to Balladeer’s Blog, the only site on the web that is truly nonpartisan in its criticism of American Liberals and American Conservatives. I just wanted to make a quick shoutout to the Ukraine where the people took to the streets and their Parliament, which has far more backbone than the United States Congress does, stayed true to their constituents and saw through the ouster of their abusive chief executive.

Even in Venezuela people are taking to the streets hoping to squeeze a little freedom out of their oppressive government so I’ll throw a shoutout their way, too. And maybe even a belated shoutout to the people of Egypt for refusing to accept Barack Obama’s stooge Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood.

That kind of dynamic activity is in stark contrast to the United States, where we Continue reading →

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS FROM FEBRUARY 20th

Central State Marauders logoONE HUNDRED SIX ON THE NOSE – 106 was a popular score in yesterday’s games. The CENTRAL STATE MARAUDERS clobbered the visiting OHIO VALLEY UNIVERSITY FIGHTING SCOTS by a score of 106-78   ###   The STILLMAN TIGERS notched the same three-digit score to better the 82 points put up by the LANE COLLEGE DRAGONS   ###   Meanwhile the BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY KNIGHTS crushed the ST JOSEPH’S PUMAS in their own house 106-63.

Simon Fraser University ClanCENTURY CLUB – Outside of the orgy of 106 point games yesterday the SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY CLAN (as in Scottish clan) led the CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY WILDCATS at Halftime by a score of 58-39 and cruised to a 112-99 victory   ###   And the Continue reading →

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MOVIE REVIEW: THE BADLANDS BEAUTY (2014)

THE BADLANDS BEAUTY (2014)

THE BADLANDS BEAUTY (2014)

The Badlands Beauty (2014- Glitternight Productions) is an explosive action film starring the supermodel known as M*E*T*A*L. Regular readers of Balladeer’s Blog will remember M*E*T*A*L as the beautiful woman who poses as Edward Wozniak’s Neo-Pulp superheroine the Matriarch.

M*E*T*A*L is moving into acting in what may be the most memorable movie debut since Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours. Our gorgeous heroine is an outlaw biker babe who can out-drink, out-shoot, out-fight and out-ride all of the male bikers in her dangerous circles. While M*E*T*A*L – called Nomad in the film – is partying hard at a dive in an unnamed town in northern Mexico she Continue reading →

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL RANKINGS FROM BALLADEER’S BLOG

Indian Hills WarriorsDIVISION ONE – 1. INDIAN HILLS COLLEGE WARRIORS   ###   2. VINCENNES UNIVERSITY TRAILBLAZERS   ###   3. KILGORE COLLEGE RANGERS   ###   4. COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN IDAHO GOLDEN EAGLES   ###   5. SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE TEXANS   ###   6. SHELTON STATE BUCCANEERS   ###   7. MCLENNAN COLLEGE HIGHLANDERS   ###   8. NORTHEASTERN COLLEGE PLAINSMEN   ###  

Cincinatti State Surge 2DIVISION TWO – 1. CINCINATTI STATE SURGE   ###   2. RICHARD BLAND COLLEGE STATESMEN   ###   3. NIAGARA COLLEGE THUNDERWOLVES   ###   4. OWENS COLLEGE EXPRESS   ###   5. Continue reading →

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SIXTEEN FORGOTTEN SECRETARIES OF STATE

For President’s Day here’s a look at some of the men and women who proved pivotal to the administrations of the Presidents of the United States. From America’s very first Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson all the way up to John Kerry in the present day a variety of colorful figures have served in the premier cabinet post of the country’s Chief Executive. Many of those Secretaries may not be household names here in the 21st Century but they would definitely stand out on any staff. Here is an examination of sixteen such figures in chronological order. Figures like James G Blaine, William Seward, Hillary Clinton and Henry Kissinger are so well-known that they are not included on this list.

Timothy Pickering1. TIMOTHY PICKERING (1795-1800)

Served under: Presidents George Washington and John Adams

Noted for: Conspiring with Alexander Hamilton to undermine some of the policies of the Washington and Adams administrations. When Adams discovered this he ordered Pickering to resign, but Pickering refused, forcing Adams to fire him. Pickering remains the only Secretary of State to officially be fired by the President.

2. HENRY CLAY (1825-1829)

Served under: President John Quincy Adams

Noted for: Fighting a duel with Continue reading →

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VICE PRESIDENTS: A LOOK AT HISTORY’S SECOND BANANAS

John Adams

John Adams called the Vice Presidency “the most insignificant office that ever the invention of man contrived.” A very old joke went “Once there were two brothers. One ran away to sea and the other became Vice President. Neither was ever heard from again.” In George S Kaufman’s and Morrie Ryskind’s classic stage work Of Thee I Sing one of the characters turns down an offer to be Vice President because he’s ashamed to have his mother know. He’s persuaded to accept the office when it’s pointed out that if he doesn’t tell her about it she’ll never find out.

The office has featured eminently forgettable figures as well as comic relief buffoons like Dan “The Global Village Idiot” Quayle and Joe “Koo Koo For Cocoa Puffs” Biden. In the light-hearted style of Balladeer’s Blog’s look at U.S. Presidents here’s a look at the men who got to hang around and see if the country’s Chief Executive wound up six feet under. I’m omitting VP’s who went on to actually become President, so no John Adams or Thomas Jefferson, etc.

AARON BURR

Served Under: Jefferson 

Noted for: Shooting dead more Treasury Secretaries and hatching more plots to start his own country than any other Vice President.

GEORGE CLINTON

Served Under: Jefferson and Madison

Noted for: Leading American Rebel forces against the British troops of Continue reading →

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COLLEGE BASKETBALL RESULTS FROM FEBRUARY 14th AND 15th

CENTURY CLUB – DIVISION TWO – The SINCLAIR COLLEGE TARTAN PRIDE were hosting the COLUMBUS STATE COUGARS yesterday and put up 100 points to the 78 scored by their guests   ###   The ESSEX COUNTY COLLEGE WOLVERINES meanwhile outdid even the Tartan Pride by scoring an incredible 125 points on the road to defeat the MANOR COLLEGE BLUE JAYS by a score of 125 to 96   ###   And the GLENDALE (AZ) COLLEGE GAUCHOS notched a tight 102-98 OT victory over the SOUTH MOUNTAIN COLLEGE COUGARS.    

Brookdale College Jersey BluesCENTURY CLUB – DIVISION THREE – The top-ranked defending champions, the BROOKDALE COLLEGE JERSEY BLUES, were on the road against the PASSAIC COLLEGE PANTHERS and went home boasting a 107-82 victory   ###   Meanwhile the WYTHEVILLE COLLEGE WILDCATS won a 105-89 catfight with the visiting CENTRAL CAROLINA COUGARS   ###   And the OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE VIKINGS made the SUSSEX COUNTY COLLEGE SKYLANDERS rethink their Continue reading →

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