The Roundup: Less Than Two Weeks to X-Mas
Baseball, College Basketball, College Football, Golf, Locker Room Nudity, NFL, Track & Field December 12th. 2008, 8:02am
Elizabeth Banks, with Anne Hathaway after the jump …Senate blocks the auto bailout; before we ask where to send thank you letters, here’s hoping Paulson doesn’t step in and save that dying industry … the mattress stuffers … Bobcats owner wants to help folks in Charlotte who are behind on their mortgage … if you’ve saved, then plan on targeting beachfront property in a couple years … we know Joey Porter’s protected when this sort of thing comes to America, but are you? … new crush: From the Apprentice to CNBC … probably too grim for Friday: Is American on a downward slope? … snakes, babysitter, exposure – Florida, obviously …
“The BCS is a joke … the BCS is a disgrace.” Lots of hands motions. Lots. (Where I Stand)
The Nats and Tex? Ha! (Nationals Enquirer)
Maurice Greene, access denied. (TMZ)
Skip Holtz passes on Syracuse. (Commercial-Appeal)
Finally, the naked Viking story is dying down. (Star Tribune)
Sour Czech Republic economy has forced brothels to turn to golf shops. (Golf Girl’s Diary)
The Stephen Curry nickname project: He’s called Babyface Assassin and Prime-Time, neither of really strikes us as incredible. (Yahoo Sports)
Angels prepare to go after Jake Peavy. (LA Times)
We advise anyone near Redding, CA to steer clear of KFC. (NY Daily News)
FOX 10 in Mobile, Alabama is reporting that Auburn has lured Will Muschamp away from Texas to coach Auburn. (Sparty & Friends)
The Jen Aniston quasi-nude slideshow, in the event you haven’t seen them. (GQ)
Let’s see how the Cavs handle no Z in addition to no Boobie Gibson. (Plain Dealer)
Trying to ascertain whom the best mid-major hoops league is. (Rush the Court)
86 Responses to “The Roundup: Less Than Two Weeks to X-Mas”
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December 12th, 2008 at 8:16 am
excellent choice this morning…i guess this one would have been NSFW for the TBL crowd (as already seen on S&Fs and MLJ)
December 12th, 2008 at 8:25 am
The progression continues…
December 12th, 2008 at 8:26 am
If S&F reported it then I know its not true, those guys are frauds.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:26 am
we did not report it.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:29 am
regurgitated, is more like it.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:33 am
So what is Romo, “the Hang Loose, Just Have Fun Fuck Up” or the “Motorboating, Matriculating, Pick-Sixing Wisconsin Wonder”?
December 12th, 2008 at 8:34 am
That’s a tremendous picture of Elizabeth Banks btw. Somebody send me a picture to use in the PM Roundup.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Anne Hathaway’s looking a little Stepford right there.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:38 am
CRM
- How about you use her every once in a while. She’s severely underrepresented around these parts.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
why would that be so funny? didn’t A-Rod go to the highest bidder? Texas had no shot at winning anything and he signed there anyway.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
sanders, you ready for romo? i woke up a bit late, still crafting the post.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:40 am
read the link
December 12th, 2008 at 8:42 am
isn’t that rebecca jarvis?
December 12th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Sounds like TBL is rooting for a larger and longer downward slope. Sounds like you are rooting for more jobs lost…perhaps a few million. Sounds like you want all GM employees to be looking for jobs, along with all their suppliers and their employees. Plus, when the suppliers go under, they also supply not just GM, but Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Mazda, Honda and others in the US. Sounds like you want this and like the idea of the economy taking further.
Sounds like you are a complete fucking idiot.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:43 am
rosario dawson on GMA
damn
wow
hot
December 12th, 2008 at 8:44 am
The stock market is poised completely blow up today, maybe you can hold your thanks for another day.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:45 am
If that is true about Muschamp, thats what I hate about these coach in waiting deal. The coach has all the power, he can just leave anytime and now he’s going to get a ton of money from Au because he’s got that extra leverage, well Texas wants me soooo pay up.
The school is stuck, what if his performance drops off, now youre stuck with a guy when better people are out there. That said I think he’ll be fantastic there.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:45 am
bsanders-link is busted, but i prefer Lois over Lana.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:47 am
sparty
- Really?
December 12th, 2008 at 8:47 am
TBL-no time to read your links!
December 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
any stock market guesses? down 400 today?
December 12th, 2008 at 8:49 am
bsanders-really
December 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Sparty
- Sustained. There’s really no wrong answer here. I think this site would benefit from more appearances by both. Speaking of beneficial:
Awesome.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Anne Hathaway’s looking a little Stepford right there
Anne Hathaway’s looking a little big chested
/fixed
December 12th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I echo Chelsea Chris and cracker jack’s comments. Check yourself, TBL.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
yes! never watched apprentice, but she’s on CNBC now and looking HOT
December 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I think Chelsea Chris was a bit strong in his wording, but yeah, that many people hitting Jobless Street is never a good thing.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Lana Lang>Rebecca Jarvis
x1,000
December 12th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Yes, stupid decisions and bad business deserve tax-payer subsidies. That’s the ticket to a healthy economy.
Now where’s my check?
December 12th, 2008 at 8:57 am
i’ve only seen her on CNBC, had idea she was an apprenticeite
December 12th, 2008 at 8:57 am
the big three are doomed. that is the bottom line. you pump in $25 billion and then in six months, then what? you’ve got to think long term here, guys. the way those companies do business is not sustainable.
December 12th, 2008 at 8:59 am
pancakes on Anne Hathaway. nasty
Thank you all for making Dwight Howard the early leader in votes for the ALL Star Game. Dwight Howard: 775,933 votes Lebron James: 643,786 votes. my work is done here
December 12th, 2008 at 8:59 am
There are now just over 1,600 people in the “A Man With a Vagina (The Tony Romo Story)” group on Facebook.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Tommy Callahan saved his car supply company without the help of any fucking “bailout”.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:00 am
irish-check back when the voting is done. a lot of times, NY votes are tallied until later.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:01 am
perhaps my wording was a bit harsh. and detroit’s going to be hurting. but national debt and super inflation are worries that in the next few years could ruin america. i wasn’t for the wall street bailouts, either.
you can’t socialize the losses while you privatize the gains.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
Jenifer Aniston is not hot. She did that shit to get attention because she is lame.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:03 am
I’ve got no sympathy for the American Car makers, everything about the way they have conducted business is wrong. They were making the the Hummer 2 when the foreign companies were making smaller more fuel efficent cars (I own a Civic Hyrbid, and do indeed inhale my own farts) then you got these Unions getting the best fucking benefits and all sorts of deals. The foreign carmakers who have factories here dont have Union work and while they arent rolling in dough (no is right now) they are far better off.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Too busy making up lies about SEC coaching vacancys.
/but I had a source
//Sparty’d
December 12th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Here’s a good read, TBL:
December 12th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Tampa Bo doesn’t even know how to use meme’s…
December 12th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I’m telling you…Hathaway looks like a Real Doll.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
tommyp – do yourself a favor and rent havoc this weekend. you may do a lot of fast forwarding, but im positive you will rewind two scenes many, many times.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Mike, if the big 3 go down, toyota, bmw, etc with US plants will lose suppliers, so those plants could be gone as well. no one, NO ONE, knows what is going to work and what won’t. i’d prefer to see tax payer money spent to keep people working and plants open while those businesses work to restructure and ride out the credit mess that is doubly fucking them.
who’s going to buy a car from a bankrupted company? your warranty is one of the obligations they’re canceling. the supplier for the parts could get his accounts receivable canceled, putting him out of business, making your warranty worthless even if it isn’t canceled. bankruptcy for an airline is one thing, that’s a $350 dollar purchase. bankruptcy for the second largest purchase most people ever make is another ballgame.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:18 am
@Mike — I also want no bailout for GM/Chrysler, and I think the bankruptcy solution is an obvious one.
But that article pretty obviously has an anti-union agenda. To say UAW has a “death-grip” on the business is doing a pretty big favor to a lot of other folks in GM/Ford/Chrysler who deserve plenty of blame.
That last UAW contract (just renogiated) gives new UAW employees $14 an hour plus all the wonderful benefits. That seems entirely reasonable to me. Do they need to go further and cut off some of the pay on the top end too? Yeah, I’d say so.
But employee pay is one of many problems, not THE problem. And anyone who places all the blame on the union like that guy does is making their agenda pretty clear.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:22 am
+ kudos
December 12th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Not me.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:29 am
why not let professional bankruptcy lawyers/judges dig in, bust up the big three and figure out how to come back with a lean model?
who actually believes their Senator/Rep read the bill? Hands? I don’t trust RCB to read jack, understand it, cast a coherent vote for me.
Let the people who do debt restructuring as a career handle this.
Painful yes, but in my silly opinion, a better long term option.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:30 am
John – fear not. GWB will step in today and save the big 3.
i agree with herd. let them file for bankruptcy.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Maybe you haven’t noticed, but no one’s buying their cars anyway. I think a pretty simple, easy to understand argument can be made that bankruptcy court is best for these companies long-term.
The difference between a bankruptcy judge and this “car czar” is that the bankruptcy judge will actually make things happen.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:32 am
the people who know how to restructure companies are the financial firms that were bailed out in the first place.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Jesus, that is a scary notion.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:36 am
GWB rhymes with BW3’s
December 12th, 2008 at 9:38 am
no one’s buying cars because credit is difficult to get. i’m not saying that I know this is the best way to go, but a gov’t loan seems like a better solution than bankruptcy. but i don’t think that anyone can say that either is definitely the right solution.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Strip club expenditures #1?
A rare + kudos from spence re: the Tommy Callahan mention?
I have to second that.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:46 am
markets only open down 130. i feel if it hits 400/500, GWB will make some sort of speech.
remember, the auto guys are the ones who line the pockets of politicians …
December 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Are they?
Wall Street blows up 100’s of billions and don’t get called to capital hill, don’t get hammered for driving their Bentley’s, and get bailed out asap. I would argue they are the true greasers of palms in DC.
December 12th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Yeah, that will help.
I think this applies to “Wall St Guys”, “Oil Guys”, “Defense Industry Guys”, “Telecom Guys”… so I don’t understand what you mean?
December 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Bankrupcy is not a solution but an enhancement of the problem. If they go into bankrupcy then the small business suppliers almost immediately go under. And as I said earlier and has been echoed, a lot of these suppliers are not just suppliers for the Big 3 but also Honda, Mazda and other foreign manufacturers in the US.
If GM announced bankrupcy today, lots of dealers would close up shop tomorrow. Lots of plants would begin layoffs. Lots of suppliers would follow. Lots of small businesses around these plants would close. If this is what you want to see, then we do not envision the success of failure of our country the same way.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:06 am
W. wont let this go down, hes gonna get Paulson to use the TARP funds
December 12th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Some companies go out of business. There is no guarantee of success.
Welcome to capitalism.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Nice call.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Some companies go out of business. There is no guarantee of success.
I’m all for the free market, but I think there are fundamental differences between a start-up and a 100-year old company like GM. If the start-up goes down, you pull the car back into the garage and move on to the next venture. If GM goes down, I don’t think another automaker is going to come in and grab up all the infrastructure and people they’d be leaving behind.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:20 am
I see and know all
December 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
some .. some of the supply chain will be absorbed by the survivors.
its not this apocalyptic the end scenario for everything down stream.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:27 am
This is a bigger worry.
http://www.reuters.com/article/InvestmentOutlook09/idUSTRE4BA5CO20081211
December 12th, 2008 at 10:45 am
I find it disconcerting that we would allow companies that desinged and implemented horrendous business plans to get, what would essentially be, a blank check courtesy of the taxpayers. Face it, you failed. Get over it and move on.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:50 am
No.
However, I absolutely love the Banks photo. Now there’s a woman…
December 12th, 2008 at 11:04 am
AIG is laughing their asses off. They got bailed out because: a)they are financial and not manufacturing. b) White collar and not blue collar. c) East coast and not midwest. Take your pick.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Very true.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
WOW. Your knowledge of the US auto industry is impressive, TBL.
When you say that the Big Three build vehicles nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in the U.S. GM was the world’s No. 1 automaker beating Toyota by 3,000 units.
When you claim inferior quality comes from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers.
Did you realize Big Three’s gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg Malibu that beats the Accord. And for ‘09 Ford introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford’s Focus beats the Corolla and Chevy’s Cobalt beats the Civic.
When you ask how many times are we going to bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.
When you criticize the Big Three for building so many pickups, surely you’ve noticed the attempts Toyota and Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years Ford’s F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new ‘09 F-150 you’ll agree this won’t change soon.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.
It’s 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid models than Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford alone has invested more than $22 billion in research and development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel, clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.
It’s 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of Detroit are once again the best in the world.
We live in a world of free trade, world economy and we have not been able to produce products as cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it’s not enough.
Some point the blame to corporate management. I would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005, closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future product is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford. This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality and corporate management have improved light years since the nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the best auto company management team in the business.
The financial collapse caused by the secondary mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a $700 billion bailout of the industry that created the problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations. Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4 percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the country’s largest industry, there is obviously oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits of the problem with $700 billion unconditionally, and ignore the victims?
Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any manufacture would cost retirees their health care and retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11 with a better business plan with much less expense. So who foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the intent of repayment.
So while it is debatable whether a loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a LOAN is definitely better for the taxpayers and the economy of our country.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
USA Today headline:
BUSH WEIGHS AUTO BAILOUT
he doesnt want his legacy to be that he was the one who let the Big 3 go under … throw them a 6 month lifeline, and then let the blood be on Barry’s hands. smart move, GWB!
December 12th, 2008 at 11:09 am
@Chelsea — Did you catch Monday’s Daily Show? Stewart made a similar argument.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:11 am
detroit – link to all that?
December 12th, 2008 at 11:13 am
While I’m with you that this is likely what he’s thinking… there’s no salvaging his legacy at this point.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Did his argument include the $25B the Big 3 have already received?
December 12th, 2008 at 11:39 am
+100 to Chelsea Chris and DetroitChick.
TBL, you know I love this site and its content, but in all honesty, my friend, what you know about the auto industry could fit in a thimble.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:44 am
It was the usual tongue-in-cheek stuff, but if you really care I believe comedycentral.com has the episode.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Wow. Slow clap for detroitchick.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:57 am
My Malibu doesn’t get that gas mileage. When the hell did this happen?
December 12th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I know TBL hates the bailout but if the auto industry doesn’t get the bail out it affects many more than just those industries. It affects advertsising agencies and other forms of media.
Since I’m in ad sales, I’m praying for a bailout otherwise I’ll be out of a job.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
No offense taken. I just know what I’ve read, and formed and opinion.
Not Detroit, but check the name at the end of the first pargraph – from 2001. anyone a subscriber? would love to read the rest …
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB989019667829349012.html
December 12th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
well obviously im torn on the bailouts. I know people that are being affected by the housing situation (and readers here by detroit). Obviously im rooting for you guys. It’s like voting – do you vote what is best for the long term viability of the country, or in an individual sense?
December 12th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
TBL..
I don’t think you are looking at this from the standpoint of .. The U.S. is on the brink of a depression. Yesterday, jobless claims hit a 26 year high. A 26 year high! Add a few million to that and we will be discussing a 80+ year high. This is not about bailing out a couple of companies but keeping America as we know it!
December 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
DetroitChick – American made cars are junk. That’s all that needs to be said.
December 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaange!