Just because the $8,000 tax credit has come and gone, doesn’t mean you can’t find creative ways to buy your first home. And don’t forget, there are many tax breaks still available.
For starters, look to borrow some of that IRA money you’ve stashed away since starting your first job. It’s one of the few penalty-free options Uncle Sam allows for IRA withdrawal before you’re 59 ½.
You can use up to $10,000 of your IRA funds toward the purchase of a first home. If you’re married and both of you are first-time buyers, you’re eligible for $20,000.
There’s also some fine print regarding the IRS’ definition of a first-time home owner. According to bankrate.com, “you qualify under the tax rules as long as you, or your spouse, didn't own a principal residence at any time during the previous two years.”
But first, how do you accrue the money to withdraw for that first house. Remember, the easiest money to make is the money that’s free from your employer.
Many employers match half of your contributions up to 6 percent, which means if you make $30,000 per year, your total contributions (including 3 percent from the employer) would make $2,700. If you’ve been in your job a few years, you could easily pay for the closing costs, which for a $100,000 home are generally around $4,000. If you make $40,000 per year, you could almost pay for closing costs after working for a year. But I don't recommend draining your entire retirement account after a year, it was just an illustration of how quickly you can accrue funds.
If you decide to use this option, one important tip to remember is the timing of your IRA withdrawal. You must use the IRA funds within 120 days of withdrawal to pay qualified acquisition costs. This includes the costs of buying, building or rebuilding a home, along with any usual settlement, financing or closing costs. Also realize that you must have your Roth IRA open for five years before you withdraw funds for your home purchase.
Buying a home is an important life decision that shouldn't be rushed. Here are some calculators to measure your affordability.
How much house can you afford?
Should you rent or buy?
Here are the other seven ways to avoid the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Stanley Cup Final preview: Flyers vs. Blackhawks
This year’s Stanley Cup Final, which starts on Saturday in Chicago, seems to have a freshness to it. Neither team, Chicago or Philadelphia, has been here in more than 10 years, and there are plenty of easy-to-root-for story lines.
For the NHL – and television partner Versus – this is as good a matchup as Gary Bettman and the suits could hope for, especially without superstars Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Both teams have plenty of stars and personalities to make for great highlights and off-day headlines.
It was only a few years ago that the Blackhawks were an afterthought, pretty much irrelevant. Then they drafted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Now, their playoff run has been buoyed by the rough-and-tumble Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien was moved up to the top line alongside Toews and Kane, and has been a thorn for opposing defensemen and goalies because his wide frame (6-4, 257) is tough to move. His three game-winning goals against San Jose in the Western Conference final have helped make him one of the faces of this championship.
As James Mirtle wrote in the Globe and Mail this week, the Blackhawks’ forwards are aggressive and not afraid to get a little dirty. Not to mention that sharpshooter Marian Hossa is on the second line.
Playing against those talented forwards will be the veteran pair of Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen, who play separately even strength, but excel on special teams. Pronger, although he seems like a graybeard, was one of the keys to the Flyers’ historic comeback against Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals.
The top pairing on the other side is expected Norris winner Duncan Keith, who may be best known for losing seven teeth against San Jose, and his partner, Brent Seabrook.
Philly’s forwards, led by the Big Four of Daniel Brière, Mike Richards, Simon Gagné and Jeff Carter, play a lot bigger than they’re listed in the program. They’ll need to keep the puck in Chicago’s zone to keep pressure off of their defense, which is expected to struggle against the Blackhawks’ front line. Gagne (seven goals) and Daniel Briere (18 points) are playing like they did five years ago.
There are plenty of parallels in this series. Both teams have considerable Cup droughts: Philly hasn’t won since ’75 and Chicago hasn’t since ’61. Both have relied on unknown goalies that have hit a hot streak at the precise time their teams needed them. Antti Niemi for the ‘Hawks was a free agent from Finland who many wondered if he was good enough even in the regular season. Then the Flyers’ Michael Leighton, who stepped in for the injured Brian Boucher and had three shutouts against the Canadiens, has a .948 save percentage in seven games.
The key to the series will be Pronger and Matt Carle. If they can slow down the Blackhawks’ big line, Philly has a shot. Pronger, after all, is in his third Cup final in the last five years since he’s become a bit of a journeyman (Hartford, St. Louis, Edmonton, Anaheim and now Philly).
But given the Flyers’ two-pronged comeback against Montreal (down 3-0 in the series, then down 3-0 in Game 7) it’s difficult to count them out. And Chicago’s seven game road winning streak has to end sometime.
Still, count me in the chorus that says Blackhawks in six games.
For the NHL – and television partner Versus – this is as good a matchup as Gary Bettman and the suits could hope for, especially without superstars Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby. Both teams have plenty of stars and personalities to make for great highlights and off-day headlines.
It was only a few years ago that the Blackhawks were an afterthought, pretty much irrelevant. Then they drafted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. Now, their playoff run has been buoyed by the rough-and-tumble Dustin Byfuglien. Byfuglien was moved up to the top line alongside Toews and Kane, and has been a thorn for opposing defensemen and goalies because his wide frame (6-4, 257) is tough to move. His three game-winning goals against San Jose in the Western Conference final have helped make him one of the faces of this championship.
As James Mirtle wrote in the Globe and Mail this week, the Blackhawks’ forwards are aggressive and not afraid to get a little dirty. Not to mention that sharpshooter Marian Hossa is on the second line.
Playing against those talented forwards will be the veteran pair of Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen, who play separately even strength, but excel on special teams. Pronger, although he seems like a graybeard, was one of the keys to the Flyers’ historic comeback against Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals.
The top pairing on the other side is expected Norris winner Duncan Keith, who may be best known for losing seven teeth against San Jose, and his partner, Brent Seabrook.
Philly’s forwards, led by the Big Four of Daniel Brière, Mike Richards, Simon Gagné and Jeff Carter, play a lot bigger than they’re listed in the program. They’ll need to keep the puck in Chicago’s zone to keep pressure off of their defense, which is expected to struggle against the Blackhawks’ front line. Gagne (seven goals) and Daniel Briere (18 points) are playing like they did five years ago.
There are plenty of parallels in this series. Both teams have considerable Cup droughts: Philly hasn’t won since ’75 and Chicago hasn’t since ’61. Both have relied on unknown goalies that have hit a hot streak at the precise time their teams needed them. Antti Niemi for the ‘Hawks was a free agent from Finland who many wondered if he was good enough even in the regular season. Then the Flyers’ Michael Leighton, who stepped in for the injured Brian Boucher and had three shutouts against the Canadiens, has a .948 save percentage in seven games.
The key to the series will be Pronger and Matt Carle. If they can slow down the Blackhawks’ big line, Philly has a shot. Pronger, after all, is in his third Cup final in the last five years since he’s become a bit of a journeyman (Hartford, St. Louis, Edmonton, Anaheim and now Philly).
But given the Flyers’ two-pronged comeback against Montreal (down 3-0 in the series, then down 3-0 in Game 7) it’s difficult to count them out. And Chicago’s seven game road winning streak has to end sometime.
Still, count me in the chorus that says Blackhawks in six games.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Man caves: Friends or foes?
To many, they are an escape to relax without the stress of smudging the coffee table. They come equipped with an easy access beer fridge. Fashion and décor are often traded for comfort and convenience. Not usually in the main living room, most are tucked away from regular guests.
Of course, we’re talking about man caves or mantuaries. One definition calls them, “a part of a home specifically reserved for adult male activities, such as drinking beer and watching TV; often a garage or den.”
Images of these usually are described by poor lighting, food stains, pizza boxes and general clutter. But not these at the DIY Network, some of the more sophisticated ones I’ve seen, which include poker tables, humidors and slot machines.
http://www.diynetwork.com/man-caves/show/index.html
The size and sophistication of a cave, though, should reveal plenty about the relationship. Mostly, those relationships fit in two categories.
One is the embarrassment category, which means the woman is so embarrassed to acknowledge the items that end up in the cave that she only allows them away from the main part of the home. She might recognize the importance of items – old newspapers chronicling sports championships, faded jerseys, or dust-filled trophies – but refuses to allow them into an area that would force her to explain their existence. Or they simply don’t complete the balance of a room aesthetically.
The other is the woman who enjoys sports, and might even help to decorate the cave (which could be a violation of the man code) but she likes it wrapped up in a cute little package. You can have your sports, she might say, but only in small doses on certain days of the week.
Then there’s the Kristi category. She balks at the typical definition of a cave and instead prefers to call them the “sports room” or “red and black room” substituting your favorite team’s colors. She also says the existence of a cave insinuates a man’s lack of comfort in the rest of the house. (This spins the discussion back to how decoration and arrangement of the rest of the house is divided and, well, we all know that general breakdown.)
My dream cave would consist of pictures or artwork of famous stadiums or fields, a collection of bobbleheads or other memorabilia and framed newspaper headlines.
My brother in law has turned his garage into a quasi man cave with a work bench, tools, radio, refrigerator, and at one point had a TV. My sister says he doesn’t spend much time out there, but, “it’s just the idea that he can.”
Put another way, my friend Brent said, “I think wives are probably OK with sacrificing a room in the house so they can send their husband there and get them out of the way.”
Check out the “official” man cave site here:
http://www.mancavesite.org/
Of course, we’re talking about man caves or mantuaries. One definition calls them, “a part of a home specifically reserved for adult male activities, such as drinking beer and watching TV; often a garage or den.”
Images of these usually are described by poor lighting, food stains, pizza boxes and general clutter. But not these at the DIY Network, some of the more sophisticated ones I’ve seen, which include poker tables, humidors and slot machines.
http://www.diynetwork.com/man-caves/show/index.html
The size and sophistication of a cave, though, should reveal plenty about the relationship. Mostly, those relationships fit in two categories.
One is the embarrassment category, which means the woman is so embarrassed to acknowledge the items that end up in the cave that she only allows them away from the main part of the home. She might recognize the importance of items – old newspapers chronicling sports championships, faded jerseys, or dust-filled trophies – but refuses to allow them into an area that would force her to explain their existence. Or they simply don’t complete the balance of a room aesthetically.
The other is the woman who enjoys sports, and might even help to decorate the cave (which could be a violation of the man code) but she likes it wrapped up in a cute little package. You can have your sports, she might say, but only in small doses on certain days of the week.
Then there’s the Kristi category. She balks at the typical definition of a cave and instead prefers to call them the “sports room” or “red and black room” substituting your favorite team’s colors. She also says the existence of a cave insinuates a man’s lack of comfort in the rest of the house. (This spins the discussion back to how decoration and arrangement of the rest of the house is divided and, well, we all know that general breakdown.)
My dream cave would consist of pictures or artwork of famous stadiums or fields, a collection of bobbleheads or other memorabilia and framed newspaper headlines.
My brother in law has turned his garage into a quasi man cave with a work bench, tools, radio, refrigerator, and at one point had a TV. My sister says he doesn’t spend much time out there, but, “it’s just the idea that he can.”
Put another way, my friend Brent said, “I think wives are probably OK with sacrificing a room in the house so they can send their husband there and get them out of the way.”
Check out the “official” man cave site here:
http://www.mancavesite.org/
Monday, May 24, 2010
In World Cup, U.S. has tough battle to win games, fans
The World Cup begins in less than a month, and interest is starting to build for the event being hosted by South Africa.
This always reverberates the discussion of the state of U.S. soccer. Many wonder why the sport is the most popular among our country’s youth, but the Americans are lucky to be in the top 10 of the world.
Because there’s such little mainstream interest, the only way the World Cup will get any attention is if the Yanks somehow win their pool, and challenge one of the world’s powers, like the 2002 team that reached the quarterfinals before falling to Germany.
Because it’s summer, people will at least give it a chance. There isn’t a lot of competition for the regular sports fan, and some might stop the clicker long enough to see something different than baseball. But if the Americans play poorly, or get thumped early, a lot of fans will reach for the remote or head for the pool.
The sport has such a ways to go in this country, both in talent and interest. It’s at least fifth on most sports fans’ ranking of favorite sports, and young stars such as Freddy Adu haven’t panned out yet after a lot of hype. Combine that with the overwhelming talent and interest around the world, and this is an uphill climb on a treadmill to make a splash here, even in the summer.
This always reverberates the discussion of the state of U.S. soccer. Many wonder why the sport is the most popular among our country’s youth, but the Americans are lucky to be in the top 10 of the world.
Because there’s such little mainstream interest, the only way the World Cup will get any attention is if the Yanks somehow win their pool, and challenge one of the world’s powers, like the 2002 team that reached the quarterfinals before falling to Germany.
Because it’s summer, people will at least give it a chance. There isn’t a lot of competition for the regular sports fan, and some might stop the clicker long enough to see something different than baseball. But if the Americans play poorly, or get thumped early, a lot of fans will reach for the remote or head for the pool.
The sport has such a ways to go in this country, both in talent and interest. It’s at least fifth on most sports fans’ ranking of favorite sports, and young stars such as Freddy Adu haven’t panned out yet after a lot of hype. Combine that with the overwhelming talent and interest around the world, and this is an uphill climb on a treadmill to make a splash here, even in the summer.
Thumbs down to cold weather Super Bowl
The NFL owners this week are voting on the site of the 2014 Super Bowl, and the chatter surrounds the new $1.6 billion stadium in the New York/New Jersey area that the Giants and Jets will share. It appears that will beat out the other candidates, Miami and Tampa, Fla. Cold weather aside, there’s some thought that the owners will vote for this for several reasons: the league offices are in Manhattan, it would benefit two teams and the league has rewarded teams for building new stadiums with Super Bowls.
The problem is it brings into account poor, and more importantly, unpredictable weather, such as the back-to-back nor’easter storms of last winter. Not to mention regular temperatures in the 20s. Early February in the Northeast isn’t pretty. The Super Bowl should remain in warm weather climates or in cities with a dome or retractable roof stadium. You might say, well, the final part of the regular season and all of the playoffs is usually played in cold and/or sloppy weather conditions. And if you’re a championship-caliber team, you should be equipped to play anywhere.
The problem is that’s more of a chance of the conditions playing a factor in the outcome, and you don’t want that in the marquee game of the most popular league in the country. A fluke play, or a freak injury to a star player is not how a fair championship is awarded.
There’s no way you can account for all weather, or avoid the rain, for example, that fell during the Colts Super Bowl win over the Bears in Miami. But a warm weather location is a much better idea for the NFL’s annual two-week showcase.
The problem is it brings into account poor, and more importantly, unpredictable weather, such as the back-to-back nor’easter storms of last winter. Not to mention regular temperatures in the 20s. Early February in the Northeast isn’t pretty. The Super Bowl should remain in warm weather climates or in cities with a dome or retractable roof stadium. You might say, well, the final part of the regular season and all of the playoffs is usually played in cold and/or sloppy weather conditions. And if you’re a championship-caliber team, you should be equipped to play anywhere.
The problem is that’s more of a chance of the conditions playing a factor in the outcome, and you don’t want that in the marquee game of the most popular league in the country. A fluke play, or a freak injury to a star player is not how a fair championship is awarded.
There’s no way you can account for all weather, or avoid the rain, for example, that fell during the Colts Super Bowl win over the Bears in Miami. But a warm weather location is a much better idea for the NFL’s annual two-week showcase.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
When do you open a gift?
If you were given a gift a month before your birthday, would you open it? How about a week before? A Christmas present at Thanksgiving? How about wedding gifts weeks before The Big Day?
This very topic was discussed recently between Kristi and I when we (she) ordered a gift for friends getting married in early June. The gift wasn’t “perishable.” Or something they needed to use immediately. But in Kristi’s mind, and most women I informally polled agreed, the type of gift is an afterthought. It’s the opening that counts. From what I gathered, if a woman is given a gift, you better put on shoulder pads and duck, because paper, tape and elbows are about to fly.
The alibi, they say, is the sheer volume of wedding gifts, for example, that force the couple to get a head start on thank you notes. Of course, no one wants to tick off Aunt Esther if her thank you note doesn’t arrive in the allotted time of Etiquette 101. And depending on your living situation, and preference, you may need a set of plates and forks for a few weeks, even if only one person is moving into a new house.
Still, this raises the question of willpower. Is it possible, or reasonable, to stack gifts in a corner, or closet, until the big day? Much less open something, then set it aside? As my friend Megan said, that’s not even an option.
“It wouldn't be possible for me to either not open it, or open it and not use it.”
Put another way, my friend Emily said, “We girls love our presents! Especially when they are big and sparkly or spa-y and pamper-y!”
If opening at the first chance, why set aside the big day as an official holiday on the calendar? Why not have Christmas on Dec. 19? Again, most women subscribe to the theory that opening gifts simply prolongs the celebration period. In my mind, it dilutes the meaning of the holiday.
As I’ve come to learn, a happy woman is a powerful and valuable thing. And not something you can measure, or put a price tag on. So by all means, let her open her gifts precisely when she wants.
This very topic was discussed recently between Kristi and I when we (she) ordered a gift for friends getting married in early June. The gift wasn’t “perishable.” Or something they needed to use immediately. But in Kristi’s mind, and most women I informally polled agreed, the type of gift is an afterthought. It’s the opening that counts. From what I gathered, if a woman is given a gift, you better put on shoulder pads and duck, because paper, tape and elbows are about to fly.
The alibi, they say, is the sheer volume of wedding gifts, for example, that force the couple to get a head start on thank you notes. Of course, no one wants to tick off Aunt Esther if her thank you note doesn’t arrive in the allotted time of Etiquette 101. And depending on your living situation, and preference, you may need a set of plates and forks for a few weeks, even if only one person is moving into a new house.
Still, this raises the question of willpower. Is it possible, or reasonable, to stack gifts in a corner, or closet, until the big day? Much less open something, then set it aside? As my friend Megan said, that’s not even an option.
“It wouldn't be possible for me to either not open it, or open it and not use it.”
Put another way, my friend Emily said, “We girls love our presents! Especially when they are big and sparkly or spa-y and pamper-y!”
If opening at the first chance, why set aside the big day as an official holiday on the calendar? Why not have Christmas on Dec. 19? Again, most women subscribe to the theory that opening gifts simply prolongs the celebration period. In my mind, it dilutes the meaning of the holiday.
As I’ve come to learn, a happy woman is a powerful and valuable thing. And not something you can measure, or put a price tag on. So by all means, let her open her gifts precisely when she wants.
Horse racing needs shakeup
This week’s news that not even one horse will run in all three of the Triple Crown horse races this summer breathes life into the argument that the sport needs to re-think its schedule, and marketability.
Since the biggest side effect of enhanced breeding practices is the reduced stamina and durability of elite 3-year-olds, horse racing needs to space out its schedule. One idea is to have the Kentucky Derby in its traditional spot of the first Saturday in May, move The Preakness to the first Saturday in June, back three weeks, and move The Belmont to July Fourth weekend, back a month.
While that might lead critics to scream for an asterisk, since horses like War Admiral, Secretariat and Affirmed, who won all three legs, didn’t have that luxury, it’s needed to restore interest in the sport. Television ratings from this year’s Preakness plummeted after the Derby was seen by 16.5 million fans.
Some might remember the days when horse racing and boxing were at the forefront of the sports lexicon, but there are many more entertainment options these days, and like the lack of a true heavyweight in boxing, horse racing has lacked a true star that could challenge for the Triple Crown. The closest might’ve been Smarty Jones in 2004. That’s why it needs to manufacture interest.
The lazy idea to restore the missing passion is have a Triple Crown winner, since it hasn’t been done since Affirmed in 1978. But a consolation could be a true rivalry, like Sunday Silence and Easy Goer, or even Seabiscuit and War Admiral. One of those that has animosity between all the connections, from the owners to the grooms.
Since all major sporting events are played or run in prime time now, horse racing needs to catch up. Churchill Downs has experimented with summer night racing to roaring success. It would add an element of intrigue for the purists, and bring in casual fans, who may be bored by the once a year circus.
This Triple Crown season feels like it was over before it got out of the paddock. Before the sport becomes truly irrelevant, major moves need to happen to reach the mainstream fan with plenty of entertainment choices.
Since the biggest side effect of enhanced breeding practices is the reduced stamina and durability of elite 3-year-olds, horse racing needs to space out its schedule. One idea is to have the Kentucky Derby in its traditional spot of the first Saturday in May, move The Preakness to the first Saturday in June, back three weeks, and move The Belmont to July Fourth weekend, back a month.
While that might lead critics to scream for an asterisk, since horses like War Admiral, Secretariat and Affirmed, who won all three legs, didn’t have that luxury, it’s needed to restore interest in the sport. Television ratings from this year’s Preakness plummeted after the Derby was seen by 16.5 million fans.
Some might remember the days when horse racing and boxing were at the forefront of the sports lexicon, but there are many more entertainment options these days, and like the lack of a true heavyweight in boxing, horse racing has lacked a true star that could challenge for the Triple Crown. The closest might’ve been Smarty Jones in 2004. That’s why it needs to manufacture interest.
The lazy idea to restore the missing passion is have a Triple Crown winner, since it hasn’t been done since Affirmed in 1978. But a consolation could be a true rivalry, like Sunday Silence and Easy Goer, or even Seabiscuit and War Admiral. One of those that has animosity between all the connections, from the owners to the grooms.
Since all major sporting events are played or run in prime time now, horse racing needs to catch up. Churchill Downs has experimented with summer night racing to roaring success. It would add an element of intrigue for the purists, and bring in casual fans, who may be bored by the once a year circus.
This Triple Crown season feels like it was over before it got out of the paddock. Before the sport becomes truly irrelevant, major moves need to happen to reach the mainstream fan with plenty of entertainment choices.
Enjoy it, Reds fans
As someone who grew up watching Lou Pineilla and the 1990 wire to wire
Reds, it's refreshing and long over due that Cincinnati is back in
first place.
For the loyal, and long-suffering fan base, it's a
deserving time to celebrate. More than 20 years, it seems like a
generation since Jose Rijo and the Nasty Boys bullpen swept the
seemingly powerful Oakland A's. And nine years since the Queen City
enjoyed a winning season.
Those fans have sat through injuries to
hometown boy Ken Griffey Jr., countless strikeouts by Adam 'Country
Strong' Dunn and growing pains to prospect Homer Bailey. The last
time the Reds enjoyed first place for more than a day was 2006.
The two obvious differences in this season from the previous nine is
veteran leadership and quality pitching. Guys like Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera. And for the first time since opening 'Pretty Good' American Ballpark, the Reds have quality pitching.
What's more, super prospect Arnoldis Chapman is still in Triple-A
Louisville. Aaron Harang appears to have shaken two sub-par seasons,
Bronson Arroyo is known again for his day job instead of guitar. And
youngsters Johnny Cueto and Bailey helped the staff turn in a 7-1
record in their previous eight games before taking over first place on
Sunday.
Because the Reds have put together hot streaks before, albeit without
reaching first place, the fan base is understandably hesistant to
print playoff tickets. But don't worry, Reds fans, with that pitching
staff, you won't have to cling to 'In Dusty we trusty.' A wild card
might reach the steamboat stacks before the Bengals' sideshow begins.
Reds, it's refreshing and long over due that Cincinnati is back in
first place.
For the loyal, and long-suffering fan base, it's a
deserving time to celebrate. More than 20 years, it seems like a
generation since Jose Rijo and the Nasty Boys bullpen swept the
seemingly powerful Oakland A's. And nine years since the Queen City
enjoyed a winning season.
Those fans have sat through injuries to
hometown boy Ken Griffey Jr., countless strikeouts by Adam 'Country
Strong' Dunn and growing pains to prospect Homer Bailey. The last
time the Reds enjoyed first place for more than a day was 2006.
The two obvious differences in this season from the previous nine is
veteran leadership and quality pitching. Guys like Scott Rolen and Orlando Cabrera. And for the first time since opening 'Pretty Good' American Ballpark, the Reds have quality pitching.
What's more, super prospect Arnoldis Chapman is still in Triple-A
Louisville. Aaron Harang appears to have shaken two sub-par seasons,
Bronson Arroyo is known again for his day job instead of guitar. And
youngsters Johnny Cueto and Bailey helped the staff turn in a 7-1
record in their previous eight games before taking over first place on
Sunday.
Because the Reds have put together hot streaks before, albeit without
reaching first place, the fan base is understandably hesistant to
print playoff tickets. But don't worry, Reds fans, with that pitching
staff, you won't have to cling to 'In Dusty we trusty.' A wild card
might reach the steamboat stacks before the Bengals' sideshow begins.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
This and that
Kobe goes for 40. A popular topic on sports talk radio today was Kobe Bryant’s 40 points in the Lakers’ Game 1 win over Phoenix Monday night. As is typical, the performance opened a bigger picture of where Kobe is ranked all-time among Lakers. (The consensus opinion was behind Magic and Kareem.) And whether Kobe chose to “answer” critics who have been consumed by LeBron James in the last week. Perhaps Kobe wanted to remind everyone of his playoff trademark. What was most impressive, though, is Kobe did it after missing practice for a week, having his right knee drained of fluid and with a broken finger.
Fredi Gonzalez goes old school on Hanley Ramirez. The Marlins’ manager used his star shortstop’s laziness after booting a dropped fly ball on Monday as a platform for the “old school” manager. Ramirez was benched, and didn’t play in Tuesday’s game against the Phillies. While Gonzalez likely gained a lot of support in the blue hair generation, and gained respect in his clubhouse by not showing favoritism, he might have also started the process of the organization parting ways with Ramirez. It’s a tough line Gonzalez just walked: do you cater to a former batting champion, or take the step to show the rest of the team that everyone will be treated the same?
With Lawrence Taylor’s arrest last week, a lot of chatter centered on the Hall of Fame comparisons between baseball and football. Taylor, arguably the best defensive player in the history of the NFL, is enshrined in Canton. But many argue that steroids, for example, are treated differently between the two sports, especially in fans’ minds. The Hall of Fame, in any sport, should be a reflection of what happened on the field, and not a museum of morality. Because in most sports, what you do between the lines would likely get you arrested or fired in any other walk of life. It’s also important to note that many Hall of Famers, most notably Ty Cobb, were not the kind of people you’d invite to Sunday dinner. But they could play, and that’s why they’re in the Hall of Fame. It’s also dangerous to try to edit the Hall of Fame retroactively.
Fredi Gonzalez goes old school on Hanley Ramirez. The Marlins’ manager used his star shortstop’s laziness after booting a dropped fly ball on Monday as a platform for the “old school” manager. Ramirez was benched, and didn’t play in Tuesday’s game against the Phillies. While Gonzalez likely gained a lot of support in the blue hair generation, and gained respect in his clubhouse by not showing favoritism, he might have also started the process of the organization parting ways with Ramirez. It’s a tough line Gonzalez just walked: do you cater to a former batting champion, or take the step to show the rest of the team that everyone will be treated the same?
With Lawrence Taylor’s arrest last week, a lot of chatter centered on the Hall of Fame comparisons between baseball and football. Taylor, arguably the best defensive player in the history of the NFL, is enshrined in Canton. But many argue that steroids, for example, are treated differently between the two sports, especially in fans’ minds. The Hall of Fame, in any sport, should be a reflection of what happened on the field, and not a museum of morality. Because in most sports, what you do between the lines would likely get you arrested or fired in any other walk of life. It’s also important to note that many Hall of Famers, most notably Ty Cobb, were not the kind of people you’d invite to Sunday dinner. But they could play, and that’s why they’re in the Hall of Fame. It’s also dangerous to try to edit the Hall of Fame retroactively.
Wild free agent summer hooks casual fan
Don’t get used to any hard-hitting NBA analysis here, but what’s most intriguing about the “Association” these days is the off-the-court news (mostly because the stuff on the court has been a yawn-fest), which has brought in non-traditional fans.
To grab a non-NBA fan like myself into the big storylines means The LeBron Story is mainstream on many levels. The Summer of ’10, the much ballyhooed season of never-before-seen NBA free agency, has hooked a guy who usually only tunes in for the playoffs, and mostly the Finals.
(IMHO, the Association could get my attention on a more regular basis if it put it shot clock to at least 30 seconds. And eliminated the rule where you can call a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt. Those two rule changes would do wonders for the tired and weak argument from the casual fan that the league “doesn’t play defense.”)
The LeBron Story is intriguing mainly because James has elevated himself above the usual pro sport free agent: someone who goes for the biggest payday. Because of his overflowing endorsement checks, not to mention his hefty regular paycheck, LeBron has said he’ll choose which team he plays for next season based on its chances of winning championships. Like most all-time greats, LeBron realizes he’ll only be measured by championships, and entering his eighth season, he needs to start collecting some jewelry. No matter if he could be one of the first billion dollar athletes.
Several teams have positioned their salary cap to make a move to hook LeBron and other top free agents, knowing that he, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, among others, likely won’t sign with a team without a quality supporting cast.
One twist unique to the NBA is something called the "Larry Bird rights" which basically means the player's current team (Cleveland) can pay him the most money. Or exceed the salary cap to pay their own players. The Boston Celtics were the first team permitted to exceed the salary cap to re-sign one of their own players, Larry Bird.
What also appears unique is LeBron’s entourage of high school buddies, “the Fab Five,” other friends, agents and managers that influence his decisions on some level. People like the infamous Worldwide Wes, who has extended the plot twists to include Kentucky coach John Calipari.
Because LeBron has reached out to such financial power brokers as Warren Buffett, he’s not the typical megastar. That’s why this summer will be so intriguing, because it won’t be dictated by the usual big wallet teams. The team that gets LeBron, and others, will be one with a shrewd general manager, and front office, that figured out a way to budget for the max contract, and still afford the rest of the starting lineup.
To grab a non-NBA fan like myself into the big storylines means The LeBron Story is mainstream on many levels. The Summer of ’10, the much ballyhooed season of never-before-seen NBA free agency, has hooked a guy who usually only tunes in for the playoffs, and mostly the Finals.
(IMHO, the Association could get my attention on a more regular basis if it put it shot clock to at least 30 seconds. And eliminated the rule where you can call a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt. Those two rule changes would do wonders for the tired and weak argument from the casual fan that the league “doesn’t play defense.”)
The LeBron Story is intriguing mainly because James has elevated himself above the usual pro sport free agent: someone who goes for the biggest payday. Because of his overflowing endorsement checks, not to mention his hefty regular paycheck, LeBron has said he’ll choose which team he plays for next season based on its chances of winning championships. Like most all-time greats, LeBron realizes he’ll only be measured by championships, and entering his eighth season, he needs to start collecting some jewelry. No matter if he could be one of the first billion dollar athletes.
Several teams have positioned their salary cap to make a move to hook LeBron and other top free agents, knowing that he, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, among others, likely won’t sign with a team without a quality supporting cast.
One twist unique to the NBA is something called the "Larry Bird rights" which basically means the player's current team (Cleveland) can pay him the most money. Or exceed the salary cap to pay their own players. The Boston Celtics were the first team permitted to exceed the salary cap to re-sign one of their own players, Larry Bird.
What also appears unique is LeBron’s entourage of high school buddies, “the Fab Five,” other friends, agents and managers that influence his decisions on some level. People like the infamous Worldwide Wes, who has extended the plot twists to include Kentucky coach John Calipari.
Because LeBron has reached out to such financial power brokers as Warren Buffett, he’s not the typical megastar. That’s why this summer will be so intriguing, because it won’t be dictated by the usual big wallet teams. The team that gets LeBron, and others, will be one with a shrewd general manager, and front office, that figured out a way to budget for the max contract, and still afford the rest of the starting lineup.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Introduction
The purpose of this blog is to bring together three of my passions: sports, relationship humor and personal finance tips.
Because I've loved sports all of my life, and am often asked my opinion or insight into the headlines of the day, I'll post my thoughts here on everything from LeBron James' impending free agency, to the Georgia quarterback situation, to the Cubs hiring Ryne Sandberg to manage the team in 2011.
Why should you care? I listen to at least three sports radio shows a day, read dozens of tweets and breaking news alerts, and have a group of friends who are as obsessed as me.
Thousands of books have been written about relationships between men and women, but not many take the roundabout humorous look at things like duvets, shams and reasons to root for a particular team like Kristi and I do. We also tackle such arguments as when to open a gift, especially if it's given before the designated day.
All you need to know about my saving habits started when I was a 14-year-old who took $2,000 to open a Roth IRA instead of buying a Nintendo 64. Since then, I often check retirement calculators, and am well-versed in company 401(k) language. My latest homework is looking into converting a portion of an IRA into a down payment on a house.
If you haven't hit the snooze button yet, you might soon read about the best sports month of the year, how to feather your hair, or which bank has the best interest rate for high yield savings accounts.
Because I've loved sports all of my life, and am often asked my opinion or insight into the headlines of the day, I'll post my thoughts here on everything from LeBron James' impending free agency, to the Georgia quarterback situation, to the Cubs hiring Ryne Sandberg to manage the team in 2011.
Why should you care? I listen to at least three sports radio shows a day, read dozens of tweets and breaking news alerts, and have a group of friends who are as obsessed as me.
Thousands of books have been written about relationships between men and women, but not many take the roundabout humorous look at things like duvets, shams and reasons to root for a particular team like Kristi and I do. We also tackle such arguments as when to open a gift, especially if it's given before the designated day.
All you need to know about my saving habits started when I was a 14-year-old who took $2,000 to open a Roth IRA instead of buying a Nintendo 64. Since then, I often check retirement calculators, and am well-versed in company 401(k) language. My latest homework is looking into converting a portion of an IRA into a down payment on a house.
If you haven't hit the snooze button yet, you might soon read about the best sports month of the year, how to feather your hair, or which bank has the best interest rate for high yield savings accounts.
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