On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Men’s Basketball Season and The East Williston School District Budget Vote

May 1, 2021

May 1, 2021

This is not an easy newsletter for me to write. There are two parts: one concerned with Hofstra’s 2020-21 basketball season and one concerned with the upcoming East Williston School District (EWSD) budget vote. There is bad news on both subject matters. In any event, here goes.

  1. Hofstra’s 2020-21 Men’s Basketball Season

In case anyone forgot, Hostra won its first Colonial Athletic Association (CAA Men’s Basketball Championship) in March 2020, defeating Northeastern 70-61. The teams’ combined wins over its past two years include 26 wins in 2019-20 and 27 wins in the 2018-19 campaign. These 53 wins placed them 14th nationally and was the main reason they won consecutive regular season titles. In addition, Isaac Kante was exceptional with a 65 percent field goal average – 9th in the nation. They were worthy champions in 2020 but, alas, the COVID-19 struck and the NCAA Tournament was cancelled.

The bad news continued following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season when coach Joe Mehalich took sick and has retired from basketball. The new season brought forth a new coach with Kante selected on the CAA’s preseason first team plus Jalen Ray and Tareq Coburn were preseason honorable mentions. I was pretty certain they were going to have another great year. But, the team’s performance turned out to be less than stellar. They arrived at the CAA Championship Tournament with high hopes but failed miserably.

My notes on this past season are listed below:

  1. They continued to play zone defense; even mediocre teams don’t play zone.
  2. There was no hustle on defense – a characteristic of many zone defenses with players confused at times as to who was guarding who.
  3. They couldn’t hit 3-pointers with any consistency.
  4. There was often poor shot selection.
  5. The other teams were simply better.

What makes for a winning team? Here is what legendary coach Rollie Massimino offered in my Basketball Coaching 101 book: “Every team has an identity and for me it is family. The magic word is WE. We are all together. Most of our family of players, coaches, etc., regularly contact each other for Christmas. I also still get calls from my gang at the beginning of each season wishing me well.” The Hofstra team? They looked like a pickup team; it was as if the 5 players had just been introduced. The bench? It appeared comatose most of the time. I once half-jokingly mentioned that “if you hope to win a championship, you’d better be with people you love.” Now I don’t think of it as a joke.

Next season? Look for them to rebound with a new coach. The new coach? What a great choice: Craig “Speedy” Claxton. Speedy played at Hofstra and won the Haggerty Award (top New York metropolitan player) as a senior. He followed that with 7 years in the NBA. Hopefully, he will not follow in the same footsteps as Chris Midlin. One thing we know is that Hofstra has had a really fabulous record of recruiting top guards and this included both Speedy and Juan’ya Green plus my favorite – Charles Jenkins. More recently, Speedy was apparently responsible for not only recruiting but also developing Justin Wright-Foreman and Desure Buie. Let’s hope the tradition will continue since it is guards who bring home championships. Regarding Speedy, my dear friend and mentor, Jack Powers, former Executive Director of the NIT, had this to offer: “He is a wonderful kid, a quality person, a credit to our sport, and certain to succeed. Rick Cole made a great choice.” My sentiments … exactly.

II. The East Williston School District (EWSD) Budget Vote

Over the years, I have been critical of teachers for taking yearly salary increases at a time when many people in the private sector are being laid off, taking salary cuts, or losing their benefits. Such is the situation this year.

A question we engineers often ask when evaluating a scheme, proposal, contract, etc., is as follows: Is it cost-effective and is there sufficient accountability? When applied to education, most school boards, school administrators, and teachers have conveniently avoided answering this question. In fact, these individuals continue to try to convince concerned taxpayers that taxes need to be raised further if our children are to receive a quality education. Our teachers also maintain that they are dedicated professionals. What in the world is the rest of the workforce? To hear the teachers you would think they were God’s gift to society. Regarding our teachers, I have more respect for the NYC teacher, who I believe is as dedicated, if not more, because they are exposed to combat duty, often on a daily basis. Furthermore, one need only compare the recent conduct of teachers with 9/11 first responders and the COVID-19 pandemic health care workers.

Needless to say, I shall vote against the budget since it contains increases and not reductions in teachers’ salaries and benefits. I suggest District taxpayers do likewise. Remember, it is Okay to vote NO on the budget.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS

JUNE 1:                      On Memorial Day VI

JULY 1:                      On Purely Chaste, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XXXI

AUGUST 1:                On Great Eats VI

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Technical Writing

OCTOBER 1:             Zzzabuu V

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Every attempt should be made to exploit the team’s offensive capabilities against the opponent’s defensive weaknesses.
  2. Players should learn to dribble with either hand.
  3. Players should learn to shoot with either hand.
Advertisement

Leave a Comment » | Basketball, East Williston, Education, Politics, School Board, Views from Others | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON ZZZABUU IV

March 31, 2021

April 1, 2021

Zzzabuu is his name. He arrived earlier in 2003 from the planet Zzokki in a faraway galaxy, having been dispatched to Earth on a fact-finding trip involving politicians. Zzzabuu had been selected once again by The Superiors in 2021 because of his great intellect, analytical mind, and his love of gambling.

On reaching Earth, Zzzabuu set out immediately to accomplish his specific assignment: to determine details (both pros and cons) of gambling investment opportunities on Plant Earth. As per instructions from the Superiors, Zzzabuu met with an outspoken chemical engineering professor (who shall remain nameless); he had earlier published a book titled, “Probability and Statistics for Environmental Engineers and Scientists”. Part of the material in the well-received text addressed games of chance, including dice, cards, football pools, Lotto, etc. The professor proved an invaluable source of information despite being dubbed “The Chemist” by his friends and colleagues because of an uncanny ability to turn their money entrusted to him into horse manure.

Several weeks of intensive study followed. After obtaining all the facts, Zzzabuu prepared his report in a manner that any Zzokkian could relate to and understand. The executive summary in his z-mail to The Superiors follows.

“The financial alternatives of any game of chance can often be measured by the cost of the game / investment. This cost effectively represents what the gambling industry charges the investor for the opportunity to gamble. For example, a 5% cost figure could represent the “takeout”, that is, a measure of what percentage – on average – of the investment that the gambler automatically pays for this opportunity. Alternatively, it could represent what percent – on average – one would expect to lose with a particular game of chance. This information follows for a host of gambling options.

            Lotto                           50%

            Pari-mutuel Racing* 16%

            Real Estate Industry* 5%

            Sports Wagering*       5%

            Roulette                      3.5%

            Slots                            1-5%

            Dice                            0.5%

            Blackjack (“21”)*      0.1%

            Securities Industry*   0%

Each Zzokkian should note that the five activities with asterisks are not truly games of chance since each individual can control his / her own destiny, i.e., chance of winning, by intelligent gaming decisions. For example, with thoroughbred pari-mutuel wagering, the ability to select winning horses could negate the 16% takeout and result in a profit. The same applies with investing in securities via the Internet where the only cost could be as low as $6 for a multi-million dollar investment.

Most of the inhabitants on Planet Earth, including the nefarious professor, delve into most – if not all – of the above games of chance. Obviously, Lotto is a game for those individuals whose IQ is in the 2-digit range and in need of a grade school refresher course in arithmetic. The game of blackjack offers some interesting possibilities since one may employ a “counting” technique that actually could convert the odds to slightly favor the gambler. Finally, the real estate and securities industries have a track record that, on average, have produced significant profitable returns over the years to investors.

The Superiors need to realize that the aforementioned term probability must be an integral part of any gambling study or analysis. Webster defines probability as ‘the number of times something will probably occur over the range of possible occurrences, expressed as a ratio.’ For me, probability can be interpreted subjectively as a measure of degree of belief, on a fractional scale from 0 to 1 or 0 to 100 on a percent basis, that an “event” occurs. This interpretation is frequently used in ordinary conversation. For example, if someone says, “The probability that I will go to the movies tonight is 90%”, then 90% is a measure of the person’s belief that he or she will get to the movies. This interpretation is also used when, in the absence of concrete data needed to estimate an unknown probability on a basis of observed concrete data, information and / or facts, the personal opinion of an expert is sought. For example, an expert might be asked to estimate the probability that a stock will double in the next six months; the estimate would be based on the expert’s familiarity with the stock market.

The Superiors and / or Earthlings may obtain additional details on all of the above games of chance at no charge by calling (516) 742-8939.”

In order to accommodate some of my readers, future articles – Zzzabuu V, VI, VII, and VIII – addressing pari-mutuel wagering, stock market investing, casino gambling, and sport book betting, respectively – will provide specific details on each of these four topics. I will provide not only pertinent odds but also helpful hints in these write-ups. And yes, I am significantly involved in all four pursuits.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS

MAY 1:           On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season / EWSD Budget Vote

JUNE 1:          On Great Eats VI

JULY 1:          On Technical Writing

AUGUST 1:    Zzzabuu V

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. If trailing with more than a minute to go, attempt (perhaps via a timeout) to prevent any delays in inbounding the ball by your opponents.
  2. Practice various defenses when your opponents are in-bounding the ball from various locations on the court.
  3. Finally, never forget that defense is 50% of the game. Coaches, are you reading this? Players, are you reading this? DEFENSE IS AS IMPORTANT AS OFFENSE. You can never lose a game if your five starters have the capabilities of shutting down their opponent. However, you can lose a game even if your 5 starters have the capability of scoring at will.

Leave a Comment » | East Williston, Economics, Horseracing, Sports | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ IV

February 1, 2021

February 1, 2021

As indicated in III, this has become one of my favorites. But, this one is a little different. It is solely political in nature and each statement to follow requires either a true or false answer. And, there is no correct answer … it is basically your call. The 40 comments to follow concern events/ actions that occurred during the 2016-2020 time period. You are asked to provide a true or false response.

I personally will not take a position on the results/grade of your true – false test. But, based on your number of true answers, I feel that you would be classified in one of the five categories:

  1. 0-8:     a staunch liberal
  2. 9-16:   a liberal
  3. 17-24: a moderate
  4. 25-32: a conservative
  5. 33-40: a staunch conservative
  1. The stock market increased at a near exponential rate, no doubt due to a turnaround robust economy, commitments to job creation, and a decline in poverty levels.
  2. Our nation is now classified as energy independent (remember the price of gasoline is now $2.00/gal)
  3. Contrary to earlier predictions, there was a return of manufacturing jobs.
  4. Black colleges and universities received an unprecedented increase in financial aid from the Federal government.
  5. The U.S. military prowess increased dramatically.
  6. The air, water, and land (soil) was never cleaner.
  7. Despite a departure from the Paris Peace Accord, CO2 emissions decreased below expectations.
  8. NAFTA was dissolved and replaced.
  9. New rules were put in place to stop the exploitation by China.
  10. Built nearly all the Southern wall and stopped illegal immigration across the Southern border.
  11. The majority of the public came to realize that the media was corrupt, self-serving, and un-American.
  12. The Washington establishment – consisting primarily of career bureaucrats, often referred to as “The Swamp” – was corrupt, self-serving, and un-American.
  13. Stopped the ISIS killing and torture.
  14. Several elements of the Obama Health Care Act were eliminated.
  15. Reduced the North Korean threat.
  16. For many citizens, there was a return of pride and love of country.
  17. Contrary to earlier predictions, our presence in foreign wars was significantly reduced.
  18. Abuses in veterans’ hospitals were significantly reduced.
  19. The COVID-19 pandemic was responsibly addressed medically and economically.
  20. Delivered ventilators and hospital beds immediately to an ill-prepared NYS.
  21. Delivered the COVID-19 vaccine in 7 ½ months, not 5-10 years (as predicted).
  22. Taxes were lowered for the middle class.
  23. The President was impeached based on a telephone conversation with a third-world country that was interpreted in a questionable manner.
  24. Unemployment levels for Blacks reached an all-time low.
  25. The Food Stamp Program was significantly reduced.
  26. Per capita wealth increased at a near exponential rate.
  27. Property values increased at a near exponential rate.
  28. Many companies, after moving abroad earlier, returned home.
  29. The MS-13 presence in our country was reduced.
  30. Eliminated the presence of ISIS in the Middle East.
  31. Our soldiers are now coming home.
  32. The Iranian threat was significantly reduced.
  33. Contrary to earlier concerns, no nuclear wars were initiated.
  34. The US was the first country to stop to and fro travel with China.
  35. Unemployment levels for Hispanics reached an all-time low.
  36. Unemployment levels for Asians reached an all-time low.
  37. Unemployment levels for women reached an all-time low.
  38. Contrary to failed promises from a host of past presidents, the US Embassy in Israel was relocated to Jerusalem.
  39. The economy and newly created jobs grew at an unprecedented and exponential rate.
  40. Contrary to the prediction of nearly all the bureaucrats, peace treaties were signed between Israel and several Arab nations.

How many true answers did you come up with? Where do you think Trump would be classified? Biden? Pelosi? Cuomo? Pence?

Note: For some of my fans, I recently co-authored an Amazon book ($7.99) titled “Virus Contacts”. The lead author is Ann Marie Flynn.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

MARCH 1:                 On Technical Writing

APRIL 1:                     On Great Eats VI

MAY 1:                       On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Every shot, particularly of an “outside” variety, should be contested — unless you are the size (5’ 6”) of the author.
  2. Every attempt should be made to exploit your team’s defensive capabilities against the opponent’s offensive weaknesses.
  3. If fouls committed by your team are low relative to your opponent, substitute for your star or key players – assuming they need a breather anyway – since the officials are more prone to call “touch” fouls on your team.

Leave a Comment » | Basketball, East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON PURELY CHASTE, PRISTINE, AND RANDOM THOUGHTS XXX

January 1, 2021

January 1, 2021

Here we go again, but, given the present political climate, this one is strictly devoted to political thoughts. I hope you find the nearly 2 dozen comments interesting.

  • It’s bad enough the media chose not to initially cover the “Hunter” fiasco, but they still have essentially chosen to ignore it.
  • The fanatic liberals now claim there is an “assault on democracy” by the Republicans. How would one describe their conduct during the last 4 ½ years?
  • Pelosi and her fanatics impeached Trump based solely on an inert call to a fifth-world country. Will they also now attempt to impeach Biden for his thieving, lying, and traitor-type conduct?
  • Trump unquestionably made the best decisions on the pandemic given the knowledge and resources available from the CDC (ugh!) and WHO (ugh!). As a successful businessman, he foresaw what was going to happen and took appropriate action.
  • The liberal fanatics claimed it would take at least 5 years to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Trump claimed we would have it before the end of year. Who was right?
  • There was no coordinated response from the CDC on nursing homes, the epicenters of death, until Trump took action.
  • The electorate obviously has little to no knowledge of social, economic, and scientific matters.
  • Since 1986, all elected officials have avoided taking action on the immigration crisis and border security. Trump is the only one who fought for the safety and security of the American people.
  • The Democratic Party’s agenda is perfectly clear: destroy Trump…not to serve the electorate.
  • Since Day 1, Trump has been betrayed by Washington insiders, the Democratic Party, and the Republican Party.
  • Liberals appear hell-bent on frustrating and embarrassing Trump, no matter what the cost to our nation. They claim he is a traitor. Based on his track record on peace and economics, I claim he should be President of the world.
  • Mueller will go down in history as a biased incompetent Special Council who, during his witch hunt, believed in two codes of justice while applying Gestapo tactics.
  • Mueller and his henchmen have for obvious reasons, refused to investigate and indict those, e.g., Comey, Clinton, etc., who have repeatedly committed criminal offenses.
  • I could be wrong but I believe that Pelosi is an evil person with mental problems.
  • Schumer strikes me as a conniving and untrustworthy individual.
  • I have three new acronyms: FTF – Fauci The Fraud, BCF – Biden Crime Family, and CTD – Cuomo The Dimwit.
  • I can’t think of anyone more stupid than Joe Biden, although Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters are close seconds.
  • The aggressive, belligerent behavior of many of the fanatical liberals regarding three recently Supreme Court appointees, Republican elected officials, Trump fans, Catholic school kids, etc., has been approved by both the corrupt fake-news media and Democrats.
  • The ten Democratic senators who questioned Kavanagh, accusing him of rape-related activities, should have been removed from office and jailed. Their concerted effort to destroy this man was unforgiveable.
  • Democracy cannot exist with a biased media. We are about to approach this state.
  • I’m accused of being a racist and un-American because I have no sympathy for those individuals planning to illegally overrun our borders. Is it old age, or am I missing something?
  • I still believe most Americans believe in supporting hard working individuals, not illegal immigrants.
  • I’m one to give credit where credit is due. Contrary to Republican claims, Cuomo definitely deserves an Emmy for absolving himself of the nursing home fiasco that resulted in the death of 40,000 seniors. Remember that it was Cuomo who issued a directive on March 25th that “no resident should be denied readmission to a nursing home if they test positive for the coronavirus.” What a slimy egomaniac.

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

FEBRUARY 1:           On Technical Writing

MARCH 1:                 On Great Eats VI

APRIL 1:                     On the EWSD Budget Vote

MARCH 1:                 On Hofstra’s 2020-21 Basketball Season

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Until one learns otherwise, one should assume the offensive player dribbles with the right hand.
  2. Until one learns otherwise, one should assume the offensive player shoots with his right hand.
  3. Until one learns otherwise, one should assume the offensive player drives to the right.

2 Comments | East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

On a Baker’s Dozen

November 1, 2020

November 1, 2020

  1. Trump or Biden? That’s the question that needs to be answered this election. I won’t pussyfoot around, so here’s the answer. It simply must be Trump and it definitely should not be Biden. Justification? Here it is.
  2. The liberal democrats attempted to remove President Trump from office. This was – plain and simple – a coup, and a coup is a treasonous act that is punishable to death. It’s now clear that Obama, Biden, Comez, Brennan, Etc., were all involved in this disgraceful act.
  3. The liberal democrats plan to “pack the Supreme Court, an act that would essentially eliminate the balance of power between the President, Congress and the Supreme Court. FDR tried nearly a century ago and even his own supporters rejected it.
  4. Black Lives Matter (and ANTIFA). Their acts of burning and looting is indefensible. Black lives do in fact matter, but not the organization. Threatening, brutalizing, and murdering innocent citizens must stop. Ditto with the police. These people have taken to the streets – destroying homes and business, violating curfews, desecrating statues and monuments, etc. There is only one person who has condemned this from the street. The dishonest BLM needs to be destroyed.
  5. The lies, manipulation, and deceit. Lying, manipulation, deceiving has become a way of life for the liberal democrats, and this particularly applies to Obama, Biden, and the Hill.
  6. The conduct of the news media is sickening. I’m not an English or Journalism major, but one only needs to read the headlines in The New York Times to appreciate how these individuals have sold their soul. The words professionalism, integrity, and ethics, are simply no longer in their vocabulary.
  7. The conduct of almost all sports figures, entertainers, and educations is now a spectacle. Sports and entertainment concreate hope and provide opportunities to minorities. Today, it is being used to develop racial barriers. For what it is worth, I no longer watch either the NFL or the NBA.
  8. During the 2016 Republican nomination process, I initially ranked Trump last amongst the 17 (I loved Dr. Ben Carson – having read his autobiography). But as time went on, and the more I heard of Trump’s analysis of the “swamp” and his promises to attempt to reform a broken bureaucratic system, the more impressed I become. I voted for him in 2016 with some trepidation. He honored his promise to the American people these past four years—something that rarely occurs these days–and my concerns are gone.
  9. The stock market has gone through the roof thanks to President Trump’s actions and policies. Even though I am essentially not in the market, the market’s rise has been good for both the rich and poor. Most agree that the market will nosedive and our economy will be left with another 1929-type of depression if Biden is elected.
  10. President Trump will continue to do everything in his power to stop illegal immigration, enforce border control, and deport those illegals who deserve to be deported. You can be certain that Biden’s “free everything for the illegals” will not occur.
  11. When the President got into office, his opponents claimed that he was a war monger, would escalate our involvement in foreign wars with more Americans dying and probably start a nuclear war. Well? What happened? He destroyed ISIS, is talking to both North Korea and China, effectively isolated Iran, and has brought back most of our soldiers.
  12. Mayor Giuliani described Joe Biden as a “crook.” After 47 years of bureaucratic service in government, he and many members of his family are multi-millionaires. But, then again, nearly all bureaucrats serving the government (liberals and conservatives alike) are millionaires. Just look at the Hill and Obama. Joe’s son Biden is simply the icing on the cake.
  13. Someone needs to stop the conduct of these fanatics. They have a hatred for President Trump that is both shocking and unjustifiable. Look at the conduct of Pelosi, Schumer, Schiff, etc. It has gotten so bad that it is almost impossible to carry on a civil discussion with liberals. I can’t remember how many times they’ve shut me up with “I don’t want to discuss it.”
  14. How in the world can anyone vote for a racist (the tapes are the proof) babbling idiot like Biden. He was a moron from Day 1 and failed third rate attorneys like Harris who will inherit the throne soon after the election. Did you watch the Harris-Pence debate? Did this talentless, smirking woman look presidential? Can you see her in negotiations with our enemies? We would become the laughing stock of the world. This is a pair that could probably be defined as a disaster in the making. Shame on anyone who votes for these two…you’d be getting what you deserve.

No discussion on the election would be complete without reference to COVID-19. Here’s what happened. China caused and should never be forgiven for what ensued. The incompetent WHO, an absolutely useless organization, was MIA from Day 1; they don’t deserve any financial support from any nation. The equally incompetent CDC, whose stated mission is to “protect” us, did just the opposite. But, then again, the CDC is manned by career bureaucrats, e.g., Dr. Fauci, who initially incorrectly claimed the masks didn’t work and China was being open and cooperative. The entire organization should dissolve and be replaced. Thankfully, President Trump kept the damage down to a minimum, contrary to the classes of the Monday morning quarterbacks of the liberal media.

No discussion on the election would also be incomplete without reference to Biden and his family plus the accompanying conduct of the media.  In recent days, we are now rapidly moving close toward a Fascist state with the liberal corrupt media’s attempt to suppress not only the opposition but also the opposition’s views and the corrupt conduct of Biden and his family.  As Jefferson once put it:  “If we are to guard against ignorance and remain free, it is the responsibility of every American to be informed.”  The bottom line is that while bragging is a way of life for The Donald, lying and exploitation has long been a way of life for Biden.

Finally, this election is personal for me. Both my parents, who couldn’t speak English, were teenagers when they emigrated from Greece in 1920. My father’s formal education ended when he was 10 years old. When he was 49 years old, one of his dreams came true when they bought a two-family attached house in Astoria. Prior to that, I was brought up in a slum (Hell’s Kitchen). My success story (am I bragging?) can primarily be attributed to our country, democracy, and capitalism. If Biden-Harris are elected, fewer youngsters will be provided with the opportunities I experienced during my developmental years. I don’t want that to happen. So vote for Trump. He’s my savior and the savior for our great nation.

God Bless America!

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

DECEMBER 1:           On Great Eats IV—Burgers and Pastrami

JANUARY 1:              On Hofstra Men’s Basketball—The 2020-21 Season?

FEBRUARY  1:          on Purely Chase, Pristine, and Random Thoughts XXX

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Offensive teams often have a set or sets of plays at decision time near the end of the game. Defense(s) should be put in place to counter these plays.
  2. Do anything within the team’s capabilities not to play zone and accept the fact that zone defense is a weak replacement for a man-to-man defense.
  3. Defense should be played with intensity; it is NOT a time to relax and/or rest.

1 Comment | East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics, Views from Others | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON THE ULTIMATE QUIZ III

October 1, 2020

October 1, 2020

This has become one of my favorites. You know the routine – 5 points for each correct answer. A grade of 90 indicates that you are brilliant; anything below 60 is, well…Answers appear at the end.

  1. What famous movie actor said in Rooster Cogburn: “Well I’ll be damned if she didn’t get the last word in again.”
  2. Who keeps advocating that one should never play zone defenses in basketball?
  3. How long ago did the BIG BANG occur?
  4. Who never put in an honest day’s work in their life?
  5. What famous movie actor said in The Maltese Falcon: “It’s the thing that dreams are made of”?
  6. True or false: The moon is approximately 240,000 miles from our plant.
  7. What metropolitan major league baseball player won the Cy Young award two years in a row (and may win it this year)?
  8. Name the capital of either North or South Dakota
  9. Who is the greatest heavyweight champion of them all?
  10. Name the capital of Iceland.
  11. What famous comedian actor repeatedly used the phrase: “And away we go”?
  12. What two US presidents continue to attempt to rewrite history?
  13. Who is the man of the 20th century? Hint: He’s a British diplomat.
  14. True or False: The temperature in the center of the sun is approximately 29MM°
  15. Who is the toughest Greek who ever lived?
  16. Name the top university in the U.S.
  17. Who is the greatest US president?
  18. What happened in the interim following the BIG BANG?
  19. What famous president said: “Take down this wall”?
  20. What famous (and beautiful) actress said in Casablanca: “Play it again, Sam”?
  21. What corrupt organization recently cancelled racing at Belmont Park from 9/2 to 9/18?

That’s it? Congratulations, if you did well… If not, better luck next time with IV.

ANSWERS:

  1. John Wayne
  2. Well, yours truly, of course
  3. Approximately 13 billion years ago
  4. Career bureaucrats, plus educators (that includes yours truly!)
  5. Humphrey “Bogie” Bogart
  6. True
  7. Met’s pitcher DeGrom
  8. Bismarck and Pierre, respectively. An extra 5 points if you got both capitals.
  9. Full credit here. For me, it was Gene Tunney.
  10. Reykjavik
  11. The great one – Jackie Gleason; he was indeed the greatest of the great.
  12. Full credit for either Carter or Obama.
  13. Winston Churchill, hands down.
  14. From what I have read, it is TRUE.
  15. I have two choices: Alexander the Great or Leonardas.
  16. Full credit. For me, it’s Northwestern followed by Rice.
  17. George Washington. He put everything on the line, including his life for our country.
  18. Full credit. Approximately 4-5 billion years ago, our galaxy was formed (which included planet Earth).
  19. Ronald Reagan
  20. Ingrid Bergman
  21. The New York Racing Association (NYRA). There is probably only a few places in the world more beautiful than New York in early September. So what did NYRA do? Cancel racing at Belmont Park – the most beautiful racetrack in the world – from 9/7 – 18. How did someone as clueless at Cuomo get elected and even worse, where did they find these NYRA executives?

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

NOVEMBER 1:          On Election Time

DECEMBER 1:          On Great Eats IV – Burgers and Pastrami

JANUARY 1:              On Hofstra Men’s Basketball – The 2020/21 Season?

FEBRUARY 1:           On Purely Chase, Pristine and Random Thoughts XXX

———————————————————————————————————————

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

  1. Every attempt should be made to exploit the team’s offensive capabilities against the opponent’s defensive weaknesses.
  2. Players should learn to dribble with either hand.
  3. Players should learn to shoot with either hand.

Leave a Comment » | East Williston, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON PURELY, CHASTE, PRISTINE AND RANDOM THOUGHTS XXIX

August 1, 2020

 

August 1, 2020

 

Here’s a couple for you to think about.

  1. It’s baseball time. The Mets are going to have a tough time with their division but I still bet on them.
  2. When are baseball batters going to wake up and figure out to go the other way when the shift is on?
  3. I could never function effectively today without Mary holding my hand in this high tech society.
  4. My new book on “Water Management” arrived earlier this year. It could be doing better.
  5. Our second edition of the classic 1950 chemical engineering book “Process Heat Transfer” by the legendary Donald O. Kern is surprisingly doing well. I say surprisingly because all my books have one thing in common – they don’t sell.
  6. There’s a great local Italian restaurant named The Sicilian. It’s connected and a tough place. A really tough place. The hat-check girl’s name is Angelo and their special featured dish on Friday night is broken leg of lamb.
  7. Another tough winter. They keep getting tougher and tougher. Really appreciated the move to spring and summer.
  8. Dear friend and noted sports historian Arthur Lovely gave me two new-gems: The two most important words in the English language are “love” and “thanks”.
  9. Finally make contact and had a great conversation with Patricia Pyke, an old flame who (at that time) didn’t know I existed. We reminisced about growing up in Hell’s Kitchen during the Depression, World War II, and several subsequent years.
  10. The highlight for me during the winters is my trip to West Palm Beach and visiting my superstar guard (once the face of Playboy Magazine) Richie Bennett, Cooper Union classmate Arnie Weiss, and first cousin (paternal-side) Nora.
  11. Despite the claims of the environmentalists, air quality has never been better.
  12. I loved growing up in New York City (especially Astoria) because that was where the action was. Sorry to say that it is no longer true.
  13. Still love doing crossword puzzles, Jumbo, and cryptograms. I think it’s the “aha”, “gotcha”, and “eureka” moments that make them exciting.
  14. If you have money, which I don’t, invest in sports book stocks. Bought some William Hill and immediately went down.
  15. Biological terrorism has become a major concern and is apparently here to stay.
  16. Have yet to make it to “6” at Jones Beach. Ouch!
  17. Hoping to do a book on viruses (that I know nothing about). The invisible kingdom and reactions of bacteria and viruses may ultimately destroy civilization as we know it. Hopefully, the CDC and WHO will be displaced and replaced by competent agencies and individuals.
  18. Here is a given from 9 months ago: Biden will NOT debate Trump.
  19. Cuomo seems hell-bent on rewinding the tape of history. After sending the 6200 COVID patients to senior care facilities resulting in thousands of deaths, he is now bragging about his accomplishments and blaming others for his failures. What a guy. I’m also convinced Cuomo is an idiot. Not as dumb as Biden, but close.
  20. The term “peaceful protests” has disappeared from the English language.
  21. How about the teachers, who have forever claimed their dedication to students. Unlike our health care workers, they are now balking at going back to work because of safety concerns.  What a disappointing and parasitic group of non-professionals.
  22. Democrats, liberals, anarchists, socialists…call them what you may, appear hell-bent on personally humiliating Trump, irrespective of the negative political fallout on our nation. They are all traitors whose conduct is disgusting, e.g., Obama’s speech at Lewis’ memorial. Bottom line: Trump is fighting alone for America without the help of the Republican Party and the enemy are fighting Trump.
  23. My neighbor claims that if vandalism arrives at your door, it will be a white kid-with a rich father-attending an Ivy college where a professor has assured him that it is appropriate and proper to loot, maim, and destroy.
  24. Recently saw a TV program on The Battle of Midway (WW2-South Pacific). I wonder if these Bernie thugs and anarchists appreciate the sacrifices Americans made to help ensure our present way of life for those of us who truly love our country.
  25. Never underestimate the stupidity of the electorate: nearly half plan to vote for Biden along with Pelosi, Schumer, and Bernie’s thugs.

 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

NEXT POSTINGS:

 

SEPTEMBER 1:         On Four Issues II: The New York Racing Association (NYRA)

OCTOBER 1:              On the Ultimate Quiz III

NOVEMBER 1:          On Election Time

———————————————————————————————————————

 

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

 

  1. Practice putting the ball in play; there should be several options available (and known) without the need to take a time out.
  2. Always run on offense; the only exceptions being if:

a. The bench is weak, and

b.  A key player is in foul trouble (shorten the game).

3. Motion offense is a must, otherwise your grandmother                    can  guard you.

Leave a Comment » | Barack Obama, East Williston, Education, Health, Politics, Sports | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON THE CORONAVIRUS II

July 1, 2020

July 1, 2020

 

Four months ago, I put forth an article concerned with the coronavirus. This is a follow-up piece that details my thoughts on some of the major players in the field.

 

Two things have occurred in the interim. I am now planning on writing a book on viruses (even though I know nothing about the subject) titled “Virus Contact Agencies and Organizations: A Resource Guide”, and secondly, the virus pandemic has been ebbing at this time. Nonetheless, here are my thoughts on seven of the aforementioned players in the field.

 

  1. Mayor DeBlasio. Ouch! Is this guy dumb or is he an anarchist? He apparently has his priorities on the police and rioters reversed. How in the world could anyone vote for him?
  2. Governor Cuomo. Here is another wimp whose only positive position is that he hates DeBlasio. He is still desperately trying to act presidential during daily press conferences while bragging about his accomplishments and at the same time attempting to rewrite history. His idiotic blunder on the nursing home patients and failure to purchase ventilators cost at least a thousand lives and will forever haunt him. He, like DeBlasio and NYC, is destroying our state — which may explain, in part, why he appears to be losing his mind. What a loser.
  3. President Trump. The Donald just can’t seem to do anything wrong. He guessed right on the early travel ban, approached the pandemic problem as only a competent non-bureaucratic individual would, and set us on the right path to rid ourselves of this menace. Furthermore, the economy (including the stock market) seems headed to bigger and better things. And to top this, it now appears with a high degree of certainty that Barack Hussein Obama and his henchmen in the FBI and DOJ did attempt a coup, an act (if proven) is punishable by death; these guys are really in hot water.
  4. The Media. Many of them belong in jail. I just can’t believe the blatant lies and distortions on CNBC (or what Hannity justifiably refers to as CDNC) and CNN. Their accusations regarding Trump and the pandemic are, at times, actually unbelievable. Their hatred for Trump just simply doesn’t make sense.
  5. The New York Times. Once a great newspaper. Still a great paper except for their coverage of the news and their raw hatred for Trump. I ask the reader to just read the headlines on the first page each day. No fair and learned individual could possibly claim that they are neutral and objective.
  6. Fauci. A fraud. A legitimate fraud who the Donald flushed out early in the pandemic. In March, Fauci proclaimed during a news conference that face masks serve no useful purpose. In April, he revised his position from March, claiming that the masks protect people around you. Then finally in May, he was back on TV telling us that masks were essential. With the coronavirus around for years, how could a so-called expert not know what was going on? His projections, based on poor data and faulty models, also failed us. I’ve written two books on and taught statistics and can assure even the novice or anyone who has taken a high school stat course would have known better. We now know he was wrong – flat out wrong – and should have not extrapolated the models. His advice was anything but science. In addition, he was no doubt attempting to protect the standard and traditional protocol of his profession and also help insure additional so called “critical” tests on oxychloroquine. Write this guy off!
  7. The Center for Disease Control (CDC). They are no different than any other bureaucratic organization… looking to survive and prosper, irrespective of the impact on us. It was founded in 1946 with a 10 million dollar budget. Its budget today is 1500 times larger and is manned with thousands of government employees. It advertises itself as “commitment to excellence”, the “premiere health prevention and preparedness agency”, and (get this) “protect America from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S.” I’ve taught numerous courses titled “Emergency Planning and Response” and “Risk Assessment” (and associated calculations). Firemen take similar courses and can no doubt better attend to this issue than the CDC. In any event, one needs to answer two questions.
  8. Did the CDC do a good job (not ever excellent) of preventing and controlling this virus?
  9. Was the CDC prepared for this once in a decade (or is it century?) the pandemic?

They obviously failed miserably on both counts. This pandemic has made it clear that a significant part of the bureaucracy failed us. Fortunately, we Americans always respond to a crises.

We have been taught a painful and expensive lesson. Has the bureaucracy? I doubt it; they’re still employed, collecting checks, and attempting to dictate national policy. Bottom line: The CDC is a typical failed and useless bureaucratic organization.

 

Enough already. Let me know what you think.

 

Note: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publisher. Opposing views are welcomed.

 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

 

NEXT POSTINGS:

 

AUGUST 1:                On Four Issues II: The New York Racing Association (NYRA)

SEPTEMBER 1:         On the Ultimate Quiz III

———————————————————————————————————————

 

Next month’s article will contain three defensive suggestions (from a total of 59) from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

 

2 Comments | East Williston, Health, Politics, Uncategorized, Views from Others | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON MEMORIAL DAY IX

May 23, 2020

May 31, 2020

 

Once again, it’s Memorial Day. Another holiday and a day off for most. How easy it is for many to think of this as another of the 365 days in the year (actually, 366 this year). We normally barbecue and party…but not this year, thanks to the Coronavirus. Some may give thought to our fallen heroes. Others may pray for peace while others could care less. And then, this holiday that is observed in honor of those who paid the ultimate price, is gone.

 

Every Memorial Day, I am reminded of a passage in the 1957 James Michener book “Tales of the South Pacific,” a story of his experiences in Southeastern Asia during WWII. In part of this passage, a young American soldier expresses his feelings on visiting a cemetery on the island of Hoga Point.

“Before me lay the dead, the heroic dead who took the island. Upon a strange plateau, on a strange island, in a strange sea, far from their farms and villages, they sleep forever beside the lagoon which bore them to their day of battle…”

This passage, in part, describes the sacrifices the men and women made for our country.

 

D-Day, which occurred in June three-quarters of a century ago last year, attempts to recognize the sacrifices made by so many to end wars.  Wars have unfortunately become inevitable during my short stay (86 years) on this planet. But, as long as there have been  wars, our nation has had many who unfortunately gave their lives for a better future. These are the individuals we should never forget. Why? Here is but a short list of things we do today–normally taken for granted–that these brave soldiers will not be able to experience:

  1. Keep company with the loved ones in your life
  2. Enjoy a delicious meal
  3. Watch a classic movie on TCM
  4. Bet the races at Gulfstream Park
  5. Take a leisurely walk
  6. Talk with friends and loved ones by phone
  7. Interact virtually with friends and loved ones
  8. Read a great book
  9. Sit in the backyard under a canopy
  10. See the flowers begin to bloom

Here are a handful of things that we will not experience today thanks to our fallen heroes.

  1. War
  2. Starvation
  3. Drought
  4. Being deprived of our liberty and freedom
  5. Experiencing loss of most, if not all, forms of energy
  6. The disappearance of love in our lives

Yep, we have much to be grateful for…despite the present pandemic. Thank you fallen heroes and let us celebrate America and pray for another year of peace.

 

P.S.: Mother’s Day came and went. Hats off to these special persons. My mother? All I can say is that she sacrificed everything for her two children. Thanks Mom.

 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

 

NEXT POSTINGS:

 

JULY 1:                      On the Coronavirus II

AUGUST 1:                On Four Issues II: The New York Racing Association (NYRA)

SEPTEMBER 1:         On the Ultimate Quiz III

———————————————————————————————————————

 

Here are this month’s three defensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

 

  1. Know who to foul and who not to foul near the end of the game.

 

  1. If losing, consider substituting after a foul shot in order to better set the defense.

 

  1. Practice various backcourt defenses and defensive strategies.

 

Leave a Comment » | East Williston, Education | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

ON THE 2020 EAST WILLISTON SCHOOL DISTRICT ISSUES AND THE CORONAVIRUS

May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

 

May 1 articles are normally devoted solely to the EWSD budget vote. But due to the corona episode, I will only devote one short paragraph to the budget. Because of the crisis we are experiencing, I am also providing my thoughts on the coronavirus and the conduct of a handful of the major players.

 

The budget vote? It’s the same old story. Our district has fallen on hard times, thanks to the earlier self-serving behavior of David Israel and Susan Bergtraum, plus the present school administrators and board. Is there a solution? I doubt it, as the deck is stacked against the students, parents, and seniors; the waste, ridiculous salaries, and indifference to the plight of our seniors are the main culprits. Maybe the Village will finally decide to take action. It’s now obvious, and a fact, that spending money like a drunken sailor on education will not correct the problem. In the meantime, is there any chance this incompetent board will demand the teachers take a pay cut during this period when so many of our community are suffering financially? Sorry, you already know the answer. So do yourself a favor and vote NO on this year’s budget sometime after June 1. Yes, it’s OK to vote NO. Don’t be a glutton for punishment and stop being taken for a fool.

 

On to the Wuhan Chinese coronavirus. There are traitors amongst us. A good number of them are our elected representatives to Congress and the media. These are the individuals who put their own interests above all else. These are the same individuals who shockingly savaged both Kavanagh and Gorsuch plus chose the impeachment path to destroy our President, plus….  .  And now, these same individuals are at it again; this time doing immense damage to our nation.

 

Fortunately , we have a President who has somehow withstood merciless attacks from not only his own party, but also the democrats, the unions, educators, Hollywood, fanatics/liberals, and (worst of all) a totally biased corrupt media. Trump is an executive who surrounded himself with experts, and drawing on their knowledge and experience, reached sound decisions and then delegated authority. It’s exactly what you want out of a CEO and that is why our nation prospered like never before prior to the virus. It is frightening to think what would have happened if Obama, or Biden, or the Hill, or … were in charge: corruption would reign supreme and all businesses and other decisions would be based on politics, not the best interests of our nation. You don’t believe this? Look how the Democrats conducted themselves during the Kavanaugh hearing and the impeachment trial. They belong in jail for the way they behaved.

 

In any event, it is essentially impossible (I mean impossible) for two large groups of individuals (Democrats and Republicans) to vote in a totally polarized manner without one group being corrupt. It is simply impossible from a statistical perspective! And, I leave it to the reader to determine which group is corrupt.

 

My thoughts on some of major individuals and organizations follow. Here are eight (8) 1-liners:

 

Pelosi:  An evil, wicked woman who is mentally deranged and a traitor who commented that Biden “is the best individual who can solve our nation’s problems”.

Biden:  Three years ago I wrote: “Joe Biden is the dumbest individual in Washington” and I repeated these words three times since; you can also add: perhaps the most corrupt. Maybe I’m a little smarter than I look.

Obama:  Lazy and incompetent best describes this guy.

Pence:  Has come up smelling like roses during this virus episode.

New York Times:  All you have to do is read the headlines to realize how corrupt this paper is. This appeared last Sunday: “GOP Planning is to Make China its Scapegoat – A Way to Deflect Virus Blame from Trump”. Truly pitiful.

CNN:   Traitors galore; it is sad to watch their behavior on clips on FOX.

Newsday:  Local paper that has seen better days.

Democrats in Congress:  Almost all traitors. Playing politics with taxpayers’ money when it comes to the virus.

 

A short paragraph on Cuomo. What a loser–worse than his father. Cuomo is presently frantically trying to place the blame elsewhere.  He obviously is thinking about running for President despite his failures to purchase the ventilators recommended by his own committee in 2015. His daily chats, where he lectures us and insults the President, are sickening; it is his attempt to act presidential. But most importantly, he should explain to us why our state’s virus per capita death rate is astronomically higher (yes, astronomically) than in not only our country but also the world. Incompetence led to his mismanagement of the virus crisis. No wonder we lead the nation in numbers leaving our state.  We would not be experiencing a pandemic if New York State and New York City had been so totally unprepared or if New York were not factored in the virus analysis.  Prediction: He will continue to blame Trump for our problems and demand a bailout.

 

I close with my thoughts on elected officials and career bureaucrats. It is important for all Americans to understand that most (not all, but mostly all) government employees have never earned an honest day’s pay and/or had a legitimate job. They are not only adverse to putting in an honest day’s work but also fearful of making decisions. They are the main reason our government has been effectively paralyzed in the past. The arrival of Trump three years ago, who works 16 hours a day and prides himself on making decisions, even difficult ones, has created numerous problems for these freeloaders. As far as the upcoming election goes, we should not underestimate the stupidity of many of the voters — there is still a chance that Trump will be defeated. Ouch!!! A colleague recently commented to me that Trump is a bully. Well , yes! In government and academia you get promoted if incompetent or lazy. With Trump, you get fired! It is now apparent that the only hope for the media and the liberals is to successfully portray Trump as a liability to our nation. They know if they fail they will add Republicans to the Senate and lose the House.  That is why they can’t say anything (and I mean anything) positive about Trump, his appointees, and his supporters.

 

Visit the author at:

www.theodorenewsletter.com

or

Basketball Coaching 101 (Facebook)

 

NEXT POSTINGS:

 

JUNE 1:                      On Memorial Day V

JULY 1:                      On Four Issues II: The New York Racing Association (NYRA)

AUGUST 1:                On the Coronavirus

———————————————————————————————————————

 

Here are this month’s three offensive suggestions from the upcoming second edition of my “BASKETBALL COACHING 101” book.

 

  1. If playing on the visiter’s court, check the integrity of the basketball rim before, and if possible, each half.

 

  1. Practice should include big players bringing up the ball; this could prove invaluable against a team with a great defensive guard.

 

  1. If applicable and possible, attempt to have the opponent’s weakest defensive player guarding your best offensive player.

2 Comments | Barack Obama, East Williston, Economics, Education, Politics, School Board | Permalink
Posted by The Theodore Newsletter

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »