THE MESSAGE

Peeling off that crusty and stained boa feather, it is once again time for POINTLESS PONDERING. That unretiring showgirl pulling her nipples out of her socks.



It is tough to say goodbye for some. Sports is not exempt from this. We have seen guys like Muhammed Ali hang on too long, and guys like Jim Brown get out ahead of the game.


Sports has said farewell to a few lately in different ways.


John Madden got off the bus, and now will chill at home full time. Madden was known as an intense coach in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders, an actor in several commercials, a long time sports journalist, and a video game mogul.




The Onion is a humor "news"paper. They did a tribute to Madden by doing timeline on him. Many were funny, but the one I liked best said, "1936: Mary Margaret Madden feels what she believes is her child kicking, but is in actuality her unborn son John eating his twin brother."






There are rumblings about the return of Brett Farve




Teams know what they get with him as far as an experienced Hall of Fame bound player. There is that much talked about moxie and flare. There are other opinions, but let's just stick with facts. In 273 regular season games, Favre has coughed up the ball 376 times to the opposition. That is an average of 1.4 turnovers per game. I just hope Vinny Cerrato, of the Washington Redskins, isn't trying to convince owner Dan Snyder to sign him. Still, I wish Brett well. It is America, and he should play as long as both he and any interested team wants it to happen.




I almost feel like waving adios to the Washington Nationals already. Has ANYONE even noticed that Ryan Zimmerman is in the midst of an electric 29 game hitting streak? It is the second longest by any third baseman in the history of major league baseball. I have been a fan of this man since the day he put on a Nationals uniform. He has the best glove in thre hot corner since Brooks Robinson, the greatest ever. The Nationals may not be winning much, but they aren't selling many seats in their ballpark either. This is how D.C. has lost two baseball teams already. It is time for the Nationals public relations department to get busy, because this is a rare feat that Zimmerman is achieving at present time.



Then there are departures through mortality itself.

Here are a few recent partings that has me thankful for the moments shared, and saddened by the realization there will be no more.


Goodbye Dom DeLuise aka Captain Chaos






Peace Harry Kalas


Harry and Ritchie Are Back Together Again








A Bike Ride Is Ending, But The Mission Continues. Spread the Word!

http://www.orphanagefundraiser.com/

The Kids Still Need Our Help!




My friend did an interview with me recently, and I might put some of it in this blog. He is on tour, so grab a ticket for yourself if he heads your way.






MY Favorite Instrumental By Him



Well, it's that time to make like a baby and head out. Like they say on Ol' Mexico = A.M.F.

Bike Ride OF Love : Joe DeLamielleure Asks You To Help

Joe DeLamielleure, an NFL Football Hall of Fame member who played for the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns, and Eljay Bowron, Former Director of the Secret Service for the United States are riding their bikes 2000 miles from the football stadium at Michigan State University to Matamoros Mexico, as a fundraiser for this project along with John Shinksky. Shinsky, a former orphan, Academic All-American College Football player and recent cancer survivor along with his wife Cindy are the founders of the orphanage


The Buffalo Bills Alumni Association will be selecting 3 winners from all donors to the *Orphanage Fundraiser Bike Ride* at the $100 level or greater.



Donors will have one chance for every $100 donation to receive any one of 3 promotions, which include:

1 set of 2 tickets to the 2010 Superbowl in Miami Florida (worth $1600. per set of 2 tickets), or another set of 2 Superbowl tickets,

or a Personal Cookout hosted by Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure at your home. (Priceless).



The winners of the first set of 2 Superbowl tickets will be selected on June 1, 2009. The 2nd set of Superbowl tickets will be given away on January 1, 2010 and posted on the fundraiser website at :

http://www.orphanagefundraiser.com



Donations to the orphanage can be made on this website, or a donation can be sent to the :



Capital Region Community Foundation (CRCF) at 6035 Executive Drive, Suite 104, Lansing, MI 48911.



Tax free contributions can be made to: The City of Children Orphanage. CRCF is tax exempt [501(c) (3)] for charitable gift purposes.



"This bike ride is very special to me because 2 of my 6 children are adopted and I know the poor conditions and terrible life they would have had if we weren't blessed to become a family. Please support our efforts in striving to give abandoned and abused children a better life, just like my children." - Joe DeLamielleure



The Purpose of the Bike Ride

There are thousands of children around the world whose living conditions and daily lives are deplorable. One of those situations is in Matamoros Mexico where many children roam the streets soliciting donations, living in the dump trying to get food and various goods to sell or use, lacking education, and having no opportunity to escape the poverty and abuse that has become a routine part of their lives.



We have been blessed with the opportunity to change these conditions for children, by building a safe and supportive orphanage that will begin to reverse this tragic situation that no child should experience.



John Shinsky, Joe DeLamielleure, and Eljay Bowron are committed to generating the necessary resources to support abandoned, abused, and neglected children by riding bicycles 2000 miles from the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing Michigan, to the orphanage in Matamoros Mexico.



With the love, support, and generosity of many people, they are completing the 12 building, 33,000 square foot facility that will provide a home, food, safety, love, education, bilingual and vocational training for hundreds of children who are abandoned, physically, sexually, and emotionally abused.



Six buildings have been constructed thus far at a cost of $30. per square foot. 100% of all the donations that have been given to the project go directly to supporting this facility named, “The City of Children of Matamoros Mexico.”



John, Joe, and Eljay hope that the financial resources generated from this bike ride through per mile donations, Ambassador Club memberships, short and long term donations, will give them what they need to open up a new world of opportunity for abandoned and abused children.



Please visit their website at www.shinskyorphanage.com to see more details regarding the orphanage and consider making a donation to this worthy cause.



Tell a Friend

The success of the fundraiser greatly depends on the number of people who contribute to the cause. Therefore, it would be extremely helpful to fundraising efforts if every person who accesses the bike ride website would share the fundraiser and orphanage information with as many people as possible.



You can access the email system by going to the “Bike Ride Fundraiser” homepage and selecting the icon on the left titled, “Tell A Friend.”



The more people who know how to help those in need, the more abandoned and abused children will benefit from their support. Please send out as many emails as possible.



Join the Ambassador’s Club and/or making a per mile or personal pledge to the bike ride fundraiser, along with contacting others to inform them of this very special cause.



The site has designed an easy-to-use email system where all you have to do is type in the email addresses of your friends, family, colleagues, Christmas list, etc. and send them information about this fundraiser.



It is a very worthwhile project designed to help children in desperate need. 100% of the donations made to this cause go directly to the project, without any administrative costs involved.



Thank you for your consideration of supporting this very worthwhile cause.




http://www.orphanagefundraiser.com