I can't say I understand it either... snow, cold, YUCK!!! I hate it! I'm a warm/hot weather kinda guy, I've lived down here 2 1/2 years, this past winter it got down to 40's some days (brrrrrr) too cold for me! But hey, to each their own! Now I'm just jealous... The "Mrs." is on a eating healthy kick =|
JYD Ive always been a cold weather kinda guy....but after 6 years in Louisiana/Texas I am used to the heat. I never thought I would see the days when it was 90 degrees and I think its a "nice" day outside and wear jeans.
I am in Arizona and the winters are mild at worst compared to Cleveland. I have a friend that lives just outside of Pittsburg and we text sbout the weather every other day in the winter and joke about my 60 to his 11. That said my 115+ in the summer will scorch the hide right off any northerner and melt the Canadian. I accept that temperature because I have to but give me the lower temps and even a higher humidity for the northern states in the summer. It goes both ways.
BEREA, Ohio ? Documents filed in federal court Thursday allege that Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam III's Pilot Flying J company has engaged in fraud for "many years" in a scheme to keep money owed to customers in gas rebates. According to the documents, Haslam knew about the fraud committed by top sales officials at the company. In a news conference earlier this week at Pilot Flying J headquarters in Knoxville, Tenn., Haslam denied any wrongdoing and expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved. Haslam is back with his football team in the Cleveland suburb of Berea, but he didn't participate in the Browns' pre-NFL Draft news conference Thursday afternoon. Browns CEO Joe Banner said Haslam previously was scheduled to be with the team Thursday and Friday and that the Browns' operations were proceeding "as they would have been all along." The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported contents of the 120-page affadavit late Thursday afternoon and linked to the document, which said that the investigation dates back to May 2011 and alleges the scheme lasted five to seven years. FBI and IRS agents executed search warrants at Pilot Flying J's headquarters on Monday and again on Tuesday. Haslam stepped down as Pilot Flying J CEO last year after his bid for the Cleveland Browns was accepted by the NFL but later returned to the job. Next week's draft will be the first for the Browns under Haslam, who was announced this past summer as the buyer from previous owner Randy Lerner and was officially approved by the NFL in October. Haslam sold his shares of the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier this month. "I think Jimmy made a statement the other day," Banner said when asked to address the issue at Thursday's news conference. "There's not much I can add to it." Great just great now were going to have an owner setting in his box wearing ankle bracelets so he cant run .. why couldn't that hilljack still own part of the Steelers ?? Why us ?? when does this crap end .or will it ever ? Dixie Mafia
The FBI and IRS allege new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam's travel center company Pilot Flying J engaged in a fraud scheme "for many years" to keep money owed to customers as gas rebates. Documents filed by the FBI in court Thursday claim Haslam was aware of the fraud scheme, "committed by top sales officials" at his family business. They also allege Haslam was present for discussions about the fraudulent activities. According to the FBI and IRS, Pilot Flying J targeted companies that were "too unsophisticated to catch that their agreed-upon deal with Pilot was being changed to benefit Pilot without the knowledge of those customers." The NFL has long bragged about its thorough process for vetting prospective owners, but either missed something or didn't do its due diligence with Haslam, who is estimated to be worth $1.8 billion by Forbes. Haslam's brother Bill Haslam is the sitting governor of Tennessee. The league has declined comment.
By Fred Greetham OBR Senior Browns Reporter Posted Apr 18, 2013 For the first time since Michael Lombardi was introduced to the media as a player personnel director, he met with the local media as general manager. Here is what he had to say. 1 Comment BEREA?The long awaited day that GM Mike Lombardi was made available to speak to the media arrived and ended with little fanfare. Lombardi had not been made available to the media since the day he was introduced as the team?s Player Personnel Director because CEO Joe Banner referred to him as a ?lightning rod? when asked why Lombardi hasn?t been made available before. Lombardi and Banner answered questions for about 27 minutes. However, it was Banner who offered more insight than Lombardi did. During the session, Banner said the Browns have assigned about 18 to 20 players a first-round grade. He said it is his experience that since other teams assign different grades to different players, the Browns should be able to get a player they like even trading to the bottom of the first round. ?We?re not with the conventional wisdom and we think there are some very good players at the top of the draft that will serve us well.? Banner said the team has had preliminary discussions with many teams, exploring trade options to either move up or back in the draft. At least three national publications see the Browns trading down to the 11th spot with the Chargers. ?You prepare for everything,? Lombardi said. ?It?s just about being prepared and being thorough.? The Browns currently do not have a second-round choice due to selecting Josh Gordon in the second-round of the supplemental draft last summer. ?If we feel trading up or back gives us more value, then we?ll do it,? Banner said. ?If it?s value to move up or move back, we?ll consider it.? Banner thinks there will be interest in the Browns pick, if they desire to move. ?I think there are teams interested in moving up but there are also teams that are interested in moving down, depending on who?s there (at the time),? Banner said. Banner said that it is normal to put feelers out before the draft since teams get just 10 minutes once they?re on the clock in the first-round. ?It?s normal at this time to be talking with teams,? he said. ?You?re trying to get a feel and you exchange opinions and see who is open to moving up or down. There are really no specific conversations, but more feel you out conversations.? Banner was asked if he would be disappointed if the Browns can?t trade down. ?No. I think we?d only be disappointed if we made a pick that we don?t want and I can?t see that happening.? Banner did indicate if the Browns trade out of the six spot, it will most likely happen while they are on the clock. ?It?s highly likely if there?s going to be a trade.? Banner also said that there isn?t a limit on how far the Browns would trade down, if they feel the situation warrants it. ?If you have 18 players on your board, you almost certainly will get one of them all the way through the first round.? Other topics covered during the session: Q: What position do you feel is the more important on defense, cornerback or pass rusher:? Lombardi: ?Can I say both cornerback and pass rusher?? Q: Who will be in the war room?: Banner: ?Myself, Mike, (Assistant GM Ray Farmer, R ob (Chudzinski) and Jimmy (Haslam). Those will be the primary people.? Q: How is your role different than when you were with the Eagles regarding the draft?: Banner:?Yeah, but nobody knows what I was doing with the Eagles. I?m doing what I did with Philadelphia, but nobody knows that. I?m very involved as much as I was in Philadelphia.? Q: How will the collaborative effort work?: Lombardi: ?We?ve been very clear on a collaborative effort. It takes more than one person to make a decision.? Banner: ?The real function is if there?s a player two of us like and two don?t. If there?s a strong difference of opinion, we?ll probably move to a different player. It would usually a better move to switch to the consensus of opinion. There?s not one player at that point and there?s going to be a player that has a consensus of support.? Q: Is your draft board set?: Lombardi:?We have a lot of information, but there are a lot of things have to be determined.? Q: Do you feel the group of outside linebackers is deep in this draft?: Lombardi: ?There are outside linebackers as pass rushers in most draft guys and guys who can rush the passer. I think there are a lot of rushers. There are always certain levels, but it is important that you get the right guy for your team.? Q: Is that a priority considering Paul Kruger was drafted? Lombardi: ?Rushing passer is always a priority.? Q: Why have you spent so much time evaluating the quarterbacks?: Banner: ?I think as Mike said you have to prepare for any possibility. We certainly don?t want to under evaluate and be thorough in everything. We?re trying to be very through. There are quarterbacks in this draft that are intriguing and seeing what is available.? Lombardi: ?I think every year there are always quarterbacks who do positive things and this draft offers this. ? Q: Do you feel this is a deep draft?: Lombardi: ?I think every draft is unique and different. The right seven players for your team is what is important.? Q: Are there certain positions you feel you need to address?: Lombardi: ?I think you have to build the team based on the criteria. You have to evaluate the draft and move forward. There?s an ongoing evaluation process.? Q; Do you see Brandon Weeden as the starter going into the draft?: Lombardi: ?I thought Joe handled (that topic) well. I?ve been busy studying the draft.? Q: Do you feel this draft is deep at cornerback?: Lombardi: ?Because of college football?s passing game, a lot of guys cover, and there is a lot of depth to it.? Q: What was your strategy about addressing the cornerback position in free agency?: Lombardi: ?The strategy was to be sure we got good players at positions of need and that?s how we addressed it.? Q: Being your first pick as GM, do you think it?s more important to make a safe pick?: Lombardi: ?I think in the draft it?s about taking good players.? Q: What are your thoughts on Ziggy Ansah fitting as more of a 3-4 or 4-3 player?: Lombardi: ?Ziggy?s a good player and I?m sure he can do both.? Q: Will torn labrum injuries to Dion Jordan and Dee Milliner affect your evaluations of them?: Lombardi: ?Injury medical grades are about today and also the future.? Q: Do you feel there is a lot of pressure on this first draft?: Banner: ?There?s a lot of pressure, mostly self imposed for us to be successful. We want to resist the temptation to do something quickly and not being able to sustain it. We want to be patient and build it the right way so we don?t sneak into the playoffs once and not do it the right way.? Q: Have you talked to the players you criticized when you were on NFL Network:? Lombardi: ?I?ve talked to all the players and have seen the players. That was when I was with the NFL Network. I?m with the Browns now and excited to work with them.? Q: Could you update us on the Pilot Flying J situation?: Banner: ?I think Jimmy (Haslam) made a statement the other day and I can?t add a lot to it. The Browns operations will remain the same.?
The Browns schedule, with the home games in capital letters: Sept. 8 MIAMI DOLPHINS Sun., Sept. 15 at Baltimore Ravens Sun., Sept. 22 at Minnesota Vikings Sun., Sept. 29 CINCINNATI BENGALS Thur., Oct. 3 BUFFALO BILLS Sun., Oct. 13 DETROIT LIONS Sun., Oct. 20 at Green Bay Packers Sun., Oct. 27 at Kansas City Chiefs Sun., Nov. 3 BALTIMORE RAVENS Sun., Nov. 10 BYE WEEK Sun., Nov. 17 at Cincinnati Bengals Sun., Nov. 24 PITTSBURGH STEELERS Sun., Dec. 1 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Sun., Dec. 8 at New England Patriots Sun., Dec. 15 CHICAGO BEARS Sun., Dec. 22 at New York Jets Sun., Dec. 29 at Pittsburgh Steelers
Hope everyone is watching the news. One of the Boston bombers is dead and they're closing in on the other one.
On Tuesday, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam that it will be ?business as usual? for his football team as Haslam deals with an FBI and IRS investigation of the family-owned billion-dollar business he runs. Browns fans would agree completely. A franchise that has spent a generation in turmoil now has more of it. According to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland, the ongoing investigation into alleged fraud committed during the application of customer discounts and rebates could result in Haslam temporarily relinquishing control of the team. ?This is worse than a dark cloud. This is a funnel cloud,? a source with knowledge of the legal system and the inner workings of the NFL told Grossi. Haslam was attending draft meetings on Thursday when the news broke of the 120-page affidavit that supported the issuance of a search warrant at the Knoxville headquarters of Pilot Flying J. ?I maintain that the foundation of this company is built on its integrity and that any willful wrongdoing by any employee of this company at any time is intolerable,? Haslam said in a statement issued on Thursday. The league hasn?t commented, but according to Grossi one possibility would be to appoint a family member who falls completely beyond the reach of the Pilot Flying J investigation to oversee the operations of the Browns during the investigation. It really shouldn?t matter; Haslam has hired Joe Banner to run the team. Banner has hired Mike Lombardi to run the front office. And the Browns have hired Rob Chudzinski to be the coach. The owner, whoever it is, simply needs to get out of the way. For example, what meaningful input could Haslam possibly provide in draft meetings on Thursday? ?I once saw that guy play against UT. He?s pretty fast.? So it really won?t matter if Haslam doesn?t have his hands at controls he?s not qualified or skilled to operate. Still, the mere existence of the investigation is a body blow to a franchise that has been crippled by poor performance and periodic controversy since the team was resurrected in 1999. As a a result, plenty of fans likely are pining for the good old days, when the team was run by (as Grossi once accidentally put on Twitter) the world?s most irrelevant billionaire. Sometimes, it?s good to be regarded as irrelevant. Especially by the federal government.
seen that Duff ..i figured it was homegrown from the get go . we give there family asylum and this is how they repay us . put two in there coconuts a piece ..no trial . no wasting anyones money . just kill them all . bullets are cheap ..if you can find them . they cant keep ammo on the shelves .i would give anything well almost anything for a box of 9mm
send the rest of the family members back to that craphole they come from with a sign attached to there ass ..dont come back !
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Thoughts on the Browns and owner Jimmy Haslam: 1. Haslam has lots of problems, starting with the FBI and the fraud charges swirling around his Pilot Flying J truck stop company. The FBI report is not a good reflection on the man who has officially owned the Browns for only seven months. The wiretaps suggest that his company was ripping off customers -- and some people even were taking delight in doing so. 2. The FBI believes Haslam knew about the alleged fraud of small trucking companies on "rebates" for fuel sales for years. That probably will be up to the courts to decide, as Haslam has strongly denied all the charges. 3. But I've been receiving emails and Facebook posts such as this from Daryl: "Not a good indication that this owner is able or willing to run a reputable NFL football organization." 4. Or as Ray posted on my Facebook page: "Hard to believe someone who defrauds his customers. Do you really think he'll treat Browns fans any better?" 5. Jeffrey posted this on my Facebook page: "Just because the Feds say they have a case doesn't mean they have a case. I have seen the Feds blow fraud indictments before." He is right, there is reason to be patient and see how it turns out. 6. But fair or not, you can understand why Browns fans are hurt and suspicious. This is not business as usual. The owners of pro franchises do not have their companies raided by the FBI. Doubts are raised. It seems pretty clear that his company was playing very bad games with some trucking companies. The big question is what (if anything) Haslam knew about it. 7. This also won't help his truck stop business. Bad publicity isn't exactly a magnet for customers. 8. It also creates a public-relations nightmare for a team that recently dropped PSLs in an attempt to sell tickets, and has shattered the hopes of fans who were initially so excited when Haslam bought the team from the Lerner family.
New item in the team shop for this season .. Orange & Brown shackles just like the ones JIm Bob will be wearing in the owners box . funny this came out right after he sells his Steelers shares what a mess ......AGAIN !
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the league has "no plans" to ask Browns owner Jimmy Haslam to take a leave of absence while the FBI investigates his trucking company. Oftentimes just the appearance of a scandal is enough to rile the league office, but it will treat Haslam as innocent until proven guilty, as it should. Haslam will make a statement at 4ET Friday, but will not take questions from the media. It's going to be a long summer in Cleveland.
TGIF Lounge Houndz The first round is on me. Duff supersize mine. (_)> A moment of silence for the victims involved in the Boston bombings. As to the events surrounding Jim Haslam the new ownership of the Browns; [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plZRe1kPWZw[/video] Spoiler [video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo[/video] Well, enough doom and gloom for this week. Funnies from the archives: One of my favorite lines from the old DPL: Bluez is off in a corner somewhere with a Dr Seuss book in his lap... One of my favorite posts of all time? Couldn?t help it Irish I still get a kick outta that quote. And a classic tale? Come and listen to a story about a man named Duff A poor beer tender, with nuthin better to do, Then one day he was a tailgating visiting w/ his crew, And out from the tap came his bubblin' brew. Kool-Aid that is, brown and orange w/ a touch of elf magic. Well the first thing you know ol' Duff?s a millionaire, Bluezhound said Duff move away from there Said DPL is the place you ought to be So he loaded up the still and moved to DAWG POUND. Lounge, that is. Browns fans, Brownies. The Cleveland Browns ! Well now it?s time to say good-bye to Duff and all his kin. And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in. You're all invited back again to this locality To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality KOOL-AID that is. Set a spell. Take your shoes off. Y'all come back now, y'hear? Have a great weekend all...
You should have spelled it all out Bluez, proudly stating: The New Dog Pound Lounge Because "the new DPL" looks like some sort of Advert for a package delivery company. You should see if Tim can change it so it shouts: This is a BROWNS place and Proud (even if we're all Hatter mad and have no rational reason for that display of Pride)
