mauiguy90

This week, Tuesday thru Thursday, ESPN is televising 9 Maui Invitational basketball games. The following week they will be showing the ACC/Big 10 Tournament. Hope this is a sign that we'll be seeing more college BB this season.

Greg

That's great! Wasn't aware of that and will check the schedule!

Thanks Greg

I've forwarded the following letter to UBC([email protected]). I encourage anyone who loves NCAA basketball and wants to see increased coverage of collegiate basketball to write to UBC. It is very possible that such letters will make no difference in their coverage. However, if you don't ask, nothing will change... (In Hawaii we would say, "No ask, no get..." )

To:

Kantima Kunjara, Director for Communications

Chulathai Salidupta, Senior Manager for Programming

Dear Sirs:

I am writing this letter to encourage TrueVisions to provide increased coverage of NCAA Basketball games from ESPN. As one of many American viewers who enjoy collegiate basketball, I did enjoy watching the #3 ranked Memphis Tigers game against the University of Connecticut, which True Visions broadcasted this weekend. It was a terrific game and I look forward to seeing many more.

I am not sure that your company realizes how popular collegiate basketball is in the United States. The NCAA basketball tournament, which showcases the top collegiate basketball teams, is one of the top sports shows in the U.S. It is much more popular than NBA basketball, which TrueVisions tends to showcase. If you check with your contacts at ESPN, am sure that they can confirm this.

NCAA basketball is exciting because the teams tend to play each other, once or maybe twice during the whole season. Possibly because of this, the level of intensity of the games tends to be much higher than a typical NBA games. Players dive for balls, run till they drop, scream in exaltation and cry in desperation during these sometimes once in a lifetime encounters. The players rarely have household names. Most will never make it to the professional level but for one game, play their hearts out for the glory of their teams. It is competition at its best, with no money involved, just pure desire.

The teams come from the Atlantic Coast Conference, the Big East, the Southeastern Conference, the Big Ten, Pac10 and many more. The team names, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Georgetown, Florida and more. The tradition goes back to the roots of basketball. The legendary coaches like Adolf Rupp and John Wooden are rooted in NCAA basketball. If you love basketball, you love NCAA basketball. If you've watched the NCAA tournament or "March Madness" as it is better known, you will be hooked forever.

I realize that there is a lot of competition for time on your sports channels. However, be assured that your American viewing audience will be most appreciate to see their favorite NCAA team on UBC. You will make many fans of basketball happy that they have UBC service, especially if UBC covers the NCAA tournament, as well as weekly games.

Thank you for your kind attention to my email. I patiently await your response.

Sincerely,

Member of thaivisa.com

On another note, although UBC has limited coverage of the NFL, they did manage to cover the Colts-Chargers game, as well as the Browns-Steelers game, which were both close games. (Manning had an awful game!) The Steelers made a tremendous comeback, best I've seen for awhile.

Here's a cool Steeler's You Tube video:

Heavy Metal: Steelers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjf3AvEa_oY

Just watched the whole thing now...oops!!!

Best rates for currency exchange is the money changer on the corner of suk soi 7/1 opposite the Subway sandwich outlet.

Thats in the building at the rear of the travel agency (closes 6pm?) and not the mobile bank exchange booth on wheels that pulls into the soi in the evenings.

Name of the exchange is "Vasu" 02-253-1706-7.

I'm a fan of college basketball(American). Right now, I'm watching a game between the #3 ranked Memphis Tigers and UConn(Connecticut). Its not on the monthly schedule but I'm hoping there is more of this to come. If UBC could get two games on ESPN per week with ACC, the Big East, SEC, Pac10 and/or other major conferences, it would be fantastic.

Actually, I'd be happy if they would telecast a couple games a week during the NCAA tournament, or March Madness, as it is better known. I'm going to draft a letter to UBC and I hope others interested in watching NCAA basketball are willing to do the same.

My "incessant bragging" has been about the 2007 New England Patriots, who are undefeated, with no insinuations of any "cheating", or other questionable activities, since the confiscation of the video camera, before its' recording could be viewed, during the Jets game. This team has not had a single question raised about the reasons for its success by any informed, intelligent football analyst, or fan, for that matter.

Guess you haven't been reading my posts, my man! I have loads of quotes from people, especially players and coaches, that question the Pats success because of their "cheating ways". Don't make me post them again!

By the way, where are your quotations and links to those quotations from all these people claiming that the Pat's didn't cheat. Verify, verify, verify,... I'll give you a head start! When you start your search, look under "New England Patriots Cheating".

P.S. If you don't bother to post links, I'll understand that you couldn't find any... Of course, you may find lots from Howie Long and Madden from the Raiders, who are famous for dirty play themselves!

Sorry, didn't realize you still wanted to play...Thought we had a truce but ho, hum... Guess I couldn't expect less from a loyal Pats fan. After all, if Pats fans don't support their team, who will?

But you have me all wrong! I have always said that they the Pats are an excellent team. However, its been established already that the coaching staff cheated this year, cheated last year(accdg. to Mangini) and likely continue to cheat this year as well.

Matt Estrella, 26, ... videotaped hand signals from the Jets' defensive coaches on the sideline, defying an edict from Goodell, who warned teams before the season that he wouldn't tolerate cheating..."(The Jets) knew they did it," the person with knowledge of the situation said in an e-mail to the Daily News. "They caught the guy a year ago, but couldn't do anything about it. When Eric came, he said that's what they used to do. Bill is going to be (ticked) at Eric. He kissed and told."

Yes, the Patriots will make the playoffs and will go far, maybe even win the Superbowl. Yep, the Pat's are part of sports history now--"Cheating Sports History".

http://www.newspapertree.com/sports/1679-b...-sports-history

Belichick and New England Part of that Cheating Sports History

by Drew Bonney

From Barry Bonds steroid issues (which everyone has to be sick and tired of hearing about) to NBA referees gambling on games and making calls that will save their knee caps from getting shattered by big mob bosses -- where is the honesty?

Posted on September 24, 2007

There are a few timely definitions in The Merriam–Webster Dictionary that refer to the word "cheat."

I'm going to use one of them. "Cheat – to violate rules (as of a game) dishonestly."

The sports world is, again, clouded with new controversy. This time on the freshly cut, green grass at Giants Stadium. The New England Patriots blew away the New York Jets 38-14 in what was a laugher. Newly acquired wide receiver Randy Moss kept slipping by Jets defenders on his way to a 183-yard day and a touchdown.

But, the Patriots were cheating.

Jets head coach Eric Mangini, a former assistant coach under Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, came armed, according to the New York Daily News. Mangini had knowledge of the Patriots' surveillance methods and finally decided to act.

National Football League security confiscated a video camera on the sidelines during the Jets-Pats Spy vs. Spy game. The camera was locked up and sent to the League offices. NFL commissioner Rodger Goodell determined, from the tapes, that the Patriots broke the rules.

Mangini said the Patriots got away with the same thing last season. Now, the Green Bay Packers have accused the Patriots of doing the same thing last year. They had a cameraman escorted off Lambeau Field after he was questioned.

Even a couple of teams from Pennsylvania have, now, questioned the Patriots 'sharp' play calling.

Now, the Philadelphia Eagles are suspicious that few of their blitz packages too suspiciously didn't work during Super Bowl XXXIX. Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown said that every time defensive coordinator Jim Johnson signaled a blitz, the Patriots would use short dump passes or screen passes to break up the play. Brown said it seemed to happen every time a blitz was called.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is also suspicious that the Patriots had some inside information during the 2001 AFC Championship game. Hines stated that they knew a lot of Pittsburgh's calls.

Now I know why Mangini and Belichick stopped giving each other post-game hugs at mid-field.

There isn't anything to be done with all the hind-sight accusations that are surfacing. It would be a waste of time to point fingers. Eagles all-pro running back Brian Westbrook said, "…It's not worth my time."

There are so many cameras on NFL sidelines these days that it's hard to know just what all of them are really shooting.

Mangini may have exposed Belichick's 'scouting' on the sidelines.

Never mind that some observations have it that the Patriots would have won the game anyway, but just not as easily. The Patriots later came out in Week Two and showed up the San Diego Chargers on national television, 38-14.

Cheating has existed in the sports world since, well, the beginning of time. Now it has been thrown in our face everywhere we turn. Technology is probably the reason. There is more media coverage than ever before. We can watch Sports Center for six hours straight and never get tired of it. The World Wide Web has helped expose controversies as well.

From Barry Bonds steroid issues (which everyone has to be sick and tired of hearing about) to NBA referees gambling on games and making calls that will save their knee caps from getting shattered by big mob bosses -- where is the honesty?

Let's look at some cheating controversies in the last century.

The year is 1919. "Say it ain't so, Joe." The Chicago White Sox are facing the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. The 'Black Sox' were implicated in throwing the series to the Reds. Their names and reputations were tarnished and many baseball fans turned their back on America's Past Time.

The Olympics are known for producing national heroes. And in 1988 Canada thought they had one. Ben Johnson had broken the world record, running a 9.79 in the 100. But, it was not to be. Johnson had been taking steroids since 1981.

Now for boxing. I'm not sure if this was cheating, but why not. Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fought in 1997 and Tyson took a bite out of both ears of Holyfield. What was he thinking? Was he hungry? If he was trying to "cheat," he was just plain stupid. Tyson claimed he bit the both ears, due to Holyfield's constant head butts. Referee Mills Lane didn't see it that way.

Yes folks, another baseball incident. Danny Almonte was to be known as the 'Little Unit' (kind of like Randy Johnson being called the 'Big Unit'). He threw a no-hitter in the 2001 Little League World Series and was ready to lead his team to the title. But, there was one 'little' problem with this 'Unit': he wasn't 12-years-old. He was 15-years young.

And finally, Floyd Landis was caught for illegal levels of testosterone after the Tour de France from last year. He was America's sweetheart for a couple weeks. Then, nope, he was caught on the dope, or "doping" as it is called.

Remember what Hank Williams said way back when:

"Your cheatin' heart will make you weep,

"you'll cry and cry and try to sleep.

"But sleep won't come the whole night through.

"Your cheatin' heart will tell on you."

However, I know you won't have trouble sleeping tonight. You would stick with the Pats no matter what they did! Sleep tight...

I agree that MBK 5th floor is a good place to start. The entire floor is composed of furniture stores so you can compare quality, prices and appearance, all in one place. Although you may end up buying somewhere else, this is the best place to start, since so many stores are in one place. Shop till you drop!

There are also a bunch of furniture shows and many seem to be held this time of year. They are held in many locations including the Impact Arena and the Queen Sirikit Center. Of course, most of the vendors go to every show. Look for big signs on buses, at the sky train, etc. Most of them are written mainly in thai so you may need to have someone read for you. At these shows, there are often specials that are hard to beat, so they are worth going to. As well, you can generally bargain with the vendors, so if you enjoy that, its fun(relatively).

Found this link for furniture fairs. Apparently they have one at the end of the month at the Bangkok Convention Center in Ramkamhaeng.

http://www.eventseye.com/fairs/event_tc84_113_1.html

You can also find furniture at Chatuchak market, in the area with the more permanent shops(on the Saphan Kwai side). They tend to have a lot of wood furniture and not so much in terms of sofas, etc.

Grace deodorant, a crystal made from Alum is available in Thailand. I found mine in a small pharmacy.

I have used Deo-Nat, which is made from Ammmonium Alum. Found it in the pharmacy just to the left side of Robinson's Asoke branch. Cost about 150 baht.

Hawaiian Isles Kona Mac Nut coffee w/brown sugar...Um, um, good ....

I recently ordered above named package from amazon.co.uk. I received 2 CD's and nothing else.

parts of the CD seem to refer to a textbook (voice says 'page number X'...etc) but no textbook came with the package.

I e-mailed amazon.co.uk who replied saying they would send me a replacement package. the replacement came yesterday, but again no textbook.

has anyone done the course? should a textbook accompany the CD?

cheers

game

I have used this series of books. Although I also studied at an intensive language school, I thought that this series was great. In addition to the beginner, intermediate and advanced books, they also have 3 books on slang, idioms and proverbs, which have a wealth of thai phrases which are difficult to learn elsewhere. Have fun studying!

I want to buy a cheap little condo in thailand. I dont really care where since i find it beautyful everywhere. The condos that are on the market in thailand from swedish real estate agents are all deadly expensive. Does anyone know how to get one in a not so touristic place? And what are the prices?

Please check other similar posts. Check craigslist for good leads at http://bangkok.craigslist.co.th/

Also check the following link:

http://www.bahtsold.com/index.php?region=3...=11&price=4

Best of luck!

[/b]

Are there any parts of Thailand where you could buy a condo for around 400000THB....if so any help would be appreciated, I keep hearing of all these cheap properties but on the internet condos I find run into the millions.

Thank you in advance

Check on craigslist thailand http://bangkok.craigslist.co.th/rfs/. They will have lots of leads. The Don Muang area generally has cheaper condos and also parts of Lad Prao, although that area tends to be more expensive. Here's a link that I previously found on craigslist that has/had 3 listings 4-500,000 baht.

http://www.bahtsold.com/index.php?region=3...=11&price=4

Greetings all.

We've just moved to Bangkok and are in the process of looking for apartments. We've seen a nice one in Sukhumvit Soi 8 but are a bit concerned if this Soi is 'safe' and not sleazy. Basically I'd like to know if this is family friendly for my wife and kids.

All comments and views would be much appreciated.

Sukhumvit 38, which is right next to the BTS Thonglo station, is quite nice and has several decent to good apartment complexes. One of the subsois has a bunch of tennis courts. Most of the area is pleasant and not congested. Take a drive there and see if you like what you see. I think this soi has a combination of being convenient to major shopping and entertainment(Emporium, Thonglo, Ekkamai) yet is quiet and family friendly. Good luck!

Now, why did he do it? I have no idea... I don't know...

...Drop it, will you please. Let's try to focus on the game of football, and stop this idiotic witch hunt of the "evil" Bill Belichick.

Now, now, now, ....let's not get so sensitive about this. If you don't know, don't get all bent out of shape. After all, its just a game! I'm just putting information that's available out there on the net so that people can judge for themselves whether the Pats "cheated" or not. I'm also responding to some angry retorts from some posters (you), which are at times, quite obnoxious. (I will continue to respond to such retorts with information on the net rather than justifications made out of thin air.)

Sadly, just a couple posts ago, I thought we were getting to a point of agreement regarding Belichick.

Here's a link that may truly express your feelings about Belichick:

You Tube: Leave Bill Belichick alone

Since he's such a great guy I've included a couple other links as well:

Belichick Shoves Photographer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwDJ_7L8zi0

Belichick F-bomb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUSH8X5Be8o

P.S. I will drop it as long as you stop your incessant bragging about your New England Patriots. Just tone it down a bit. Its annoying to read about the "great" New England Patriots when question marks about the team and their coaching remain unanswered. Let's leave it at that!

Of course, you have a history of not answering my questions...

"A. The Patriots accomplishments are "tainted" by the videotaping of signals from an restricted area of the stadium .....and very little is actually gained by it in a game. "

"...Bill Belichick, for reasons known only to him, defied the NFL rule against taping defensive signals from the field. "

My point is, so why do it then?...

To win maybe???

B. It is a natural human, or at least, American, instinct to want to see the top guy brought down, unless you're personally attached, in some way.

My point is, you are personally attached, in a large way. I don't think that anyone could convince you that what they did was wrong, was cheating and gave them an unfair advantage over other teams.

My question is, what would it take?

Somehow, after this post, you decided to switch the subject... Guess its okay to avoid my questions...After all, its something he (Belicheat) would do!

P.S. Its ok to switch the subject again like you did the last time!

You should watch what your comments about NY. You've already said enough about the Jets, now you dis' their newspapers...What next?

Very generous of you to say that Mangini was right in "ratting out Belichick... You and I, and probably thousands of others question why he would want/need to do this against the Jets...

It is REALLY difficult to keep from falling off my chair laughing at this stuff. Have you SEEN the New York Jets this year? They are 1-8, for crissake!

You must have fallen off your chair and hit your head when you laughing since you failed to answer the question: Why did Belichick want/need to cheat against the Jets? Why?

Friend of mine has buddy broadband and says it's great! Problem is that not everyplace is setup to use their services.

I want to add one more significant comment to one of the questions in that poll. Question #4:

4) Did Jets head coach Eric Mangini break an unwritten rule by tattling on his former team?

75.8%No, the Patriots are his competition and he had no allegiances

24.2%Yes, he should not have given up the Patriots' secrets

*** Yes. He DID break an "unwritten rule" by ratting out a fellow coach, who also happens to have been his mentor, and the man who gave him the opportunity to become a Head Coach in the NFL. Is that "wrong"? How long is the list of "unwritten rules" in all areas of life that are "wrong"? ...It will be most interesting to see how Mangini's career proceeds, should he ever leave the Jets. ;-)

... If they wanted to ask whether fans thought Mangini was right in ratting out Belichick, they should have asked that question. The answer to the question they asked is clearly a YES, to anyone with a brain.

Very generous of you to say that Mangini was right in "ratting out Belichick... You and I, and probably thousands of others question why he would want/need to do this against the Jets...

I am including segments from a link about the seizure of the Jets-Patriots tape, which includes information about when the tape was actually confiscated and how it happened...

Eric Mangini exposes Bill Belichick's spy games

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football...py.html?ref=rss

Matt Estrella, 26, a Patriots video assistant, was nabbed just before halftime of the Jets' 38-14 loss on opening day. He allegedly videotaped hand signals from the Jets' defensive coaches on the sideline, defying an edict from Goodell, who warned teams before the season that he wouldn't tolerate cheating. Several teams have suspected the Patriots of stealing signs. So did the Jets, thanks to Mangini.

"(The Jets) knew they did it," the person with knowledge of the situation said in an e-mail to the Daily News. "They caught the guy a year ago, but couldn't do anything about it. When Eric came, he said that's what they used to do. Bill is going to be (ticked) at Eric. He kissed and told."

Mangini, hired last year by the Jets, coached under Belichick from 2000 to 2005 in New England. Their once-close relationship has frayed, and this latest chapter in the Border War has raised the hostility to all-time levels.

New details came to light yesterday. The cameraman, wearing a team polo shirt under the league-mandated sideline photographer's vest, was stopped by security as he tried to enter the New England locker room before halftime, sources said. An animated discussion ensued, involving league security, Jets security and Patriots security.

The dispute, which occurred in the bowels of the stadium, lasted more than an hour, virtually the entire second half. At one point, it became so heated that New Jersey state troopers were summoned as a precaution, a source said. The Jets apparently were trying to confiscate the videotape, which wound up in the possession of NFL security. The tape was placed in a box, sealed and forwarded to the league.

"He looked scared to death," one source said of Estrella.

It's unclear if the Patriots had a chance to review the tape before it was seized, raising the question of whether it helped them in the game. They certainly played like they knew the Jets' strategy. In the second half, Tom Brady completed 10 of 11 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.

"He seemed like he knew what we were doing," safety Kerry Rhodes said.

No video recording devices of any kind are permitted on the field, in the locker room or in the coaches' booth during a game, according to league rules.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said yesterday it would be inappropriate to comment directly on the accusations, but he hinted that the Jets' actions may have stemmed from being envious of his team's success.

So, you were 6 for 8 with me, mauiguy. And it's also interesting to note that 3 of the questions (2, 3, and 5) had responses that tend to side with the Patriots. I also have to add that I don't know what question #6 is doing here, since it has nothing to do with this issue; and that question #8 is ridiculous, unless this poll was conducted several weeks ago.

Actually I will count this as 6 out of 7 since you chose not to answer one of the questions. By the way, this poll was conducted by ESPN with over 65,000 people responding. I agree question 8 sounds stupid now, but this poll was probably written in September.

Question #6 regarding the use of using a radio to communicate with the defense, is something that confused me as well, when I first heard about it. It is actually a very relevant question since using such equipment would reduce or totally make the use of defensive coaching signals unnecessary. Issues such as "cheating" by video taping defensive signals would no longer occur. Consequently, cheating in this fashion would be obsolete. The use of equipment to communicate with the defense in this manner was voted on and defeated by two votes last season. Ironically, if such equipment were used this season, this scandal with the Patriots would not have happened. (Of course, cheating by intercepting radio signals could also be done. Then again, if teams/coaches want to to cheat, what can you do? )

Backtracking to question #1, I appreciate that you are open to admitting that Belichick is responsible for the "infraction" and possibly should have received further punishment.

I would also like you to notice that 82.6% of the respondents felt that the punishment was either too lenient or sufficient. Apparently, the respondents believed the Patriots committed a very serious "infraction" (i.e. they cheated).

Did a quick search with results as follows:

a) JW Marriot (Suk soi 2) at the Marriot Cafe 790 baht ++

02-656-7700

Novotel Bangkok (Siam Sq) 650 Lunch/890 Dinner ++(plus tax/tip)

02-209-8888

c) Grand Hyatt Erawan 1100 baht ++

02-254-1234

Better to confirm info by calling the hotel directly. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Bourbon St is nice but at those prices, might be better off going to a nice hotel.

I am using an international calling card that costs 2 baht a minute to call the US. Landline calls to other countries are generally about the same although the rates to call mobile phones are higher and vary. (i.e. Japan and Australia rates are 6 baht a minute to mobile phones; 2 baht to land lines).

Its the ZayHi card and can be purchased at most Family Marts and Post offices. Good sound quality and have never had a problem with connections. Check out their website at http://www.zayhi.com .

Carrefour will make free deliveries as well, assuming you make the minimum 1000 baht purchase. That's a lot of matzah balls!!!

ESPN Poll: Was the NFL's punishment of NE fair?

Take the poll yourself and compare with the overall results below.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation...g?event_id=3147

1) What is your reaction to the Patriots' punishment?

60.1%Too lenient

22.5%Just right

17.4%Too harsh

2) Should the Patriots' draft pick(s) be given to the Jets?

77.0%No

23.0%Yes

3) Would the Patriots have beaten the Jets without the videotape assistance?

58.7%Yes

27.9%Yes, but it would have been closer

13.4%No

4) Did Jets head coach Eric Mangini break an unwritten rule by tattling on his former team?

75.8%No, the Patriots are his competition and he had no allegiances

24.2%Yes, he should not have given up the Patriots' secrets

5) How widespread do you believe in-game videotaping in the NFL to be?

43.0%A few teams do it

24.0%Most teams do it

22.5%Only the Patriots do it

10.5%All teams do it

6) The NFL Competition Committee is considering a resolution that would allow a radio receiver in the helmet of one defensive player. Should teams vote to pass this resolution?

80.0%Yes

20.0%No

7) Considering Goodell's handling of Pacman Jones, Michael Vick, steroids and now the Patriots, how would you grade the job he has done as commissioner?

40.6%B

36.8%A

14.3%C

4.2%F

4.1%D

8) Will the Patriots make the playoffs and thus have to give up a first round draft pick?

88.8%Yes

11.2%No

Total Votes: 66,586

P.S. Highlighted answers are what I thought a true Patriots fan would answer.

Funny stuff.

If you didn't see the Letterman link, its hilarious as well:

You Tube: Letterman on Patriots Cheating

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN0FMGuc1gs

This "Patriots Spying Video Leaked" is funny as well altho' the implications are a bit serious.