Subcommittee hearing on Goldman Sachs: A total joke.

The investigation by the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations into Goldman Sachs' practices leading into the recession are just another politcal ploy by politicians to gain momentum during an election year.

Led by Chairman Carl Levin, democratic senator from Michigan, the subcommittee has failed to make any gain over 10-plus hours of hearings. Senator Levin has even resorted to profanity and other unprofessional statements such as, "you shouldn't be selling crap."

Sen. Levin has continuously interrupted the Goldman Sachs representatives. He has rambled on about one thing and finished the statement with a question regarding something completely different. Often leaving Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein with a baffled look.

Chairman Levin refers to one example of Goldman receiving money owed to them by AIG. Blankfein explains the situation as AIG was prepared to default on a loan from Goldman. He continues to note that the loan was insured and Goldman would have received the money whether AIG defaulted or not. The United States government did not want AIG to default and therefore gave them a tax-payer funded handout to repay Goldman.

Techinally, Goldman Sachs received tax-payer money by-way of AIG. Goldman never requested that money because they would have been paid either way. Sen. Levin attempts to place blame on Goldman Sachs, even though he and his fellow elected officials were the ones that gave AIG the money.

If you believe the Senate hearings are a means of getting a finance reform bill passed in Congress, then you are right.

A subcommittee full of senators lacking expertise into the field they are investigating does no one any good. Unless you are a senator on that subcommittee and you need someone to place the blame on.

Remember the words tax-payer, bailouts and scape-goats. The government loves saying the first two and loves applying the third to Wall Street.

Bobcats season over; needs for next year;

After a first round sweep at the hands of the Orlando Magic, the Charlotte Bobcats season has come to an end. This series exposed many flaws in the Bobcats game. Here are the blemishes I believe they should apply cream to:

• Outside Shooting
• The Bobcats shot 27.9 percent from three-point range throughout the series. Only four players shot over 30 percent. If this doesn't define pathetic, then I never learned the true definition. Adding a long-range shooter should be one of the top priorities for the 'Cats this offseason or they'll have more ugly playoff exits in the future.
• Point guard play
• Raymond Felton averaged 11.8 points and 5.0 assists in 32.5 minutes against Orlando. D.J. Augustin scored 4.3 ppg and 1.0 apg in 18.3 minutes. Jameer Nelson averaged 23.8 and 4.5. With three centers keeping Dwight Howard from dominating offensively, the Bobcats' point guards failed to show up against Orlando, on offense and defense. Felton is an unrestricted free agent. Either re-sign Felton and hope for better or sign someone else and let Augustin play more minutes.
• The four spot
• Boris Diaw had a disgustingly awful performance against the Magic. Diaw is one of the teams many players with previous playoff experience. He was expected to be the third scorer after Gerald Wallace and Stephen Jackson. Diaw's poor performance, along with the poor point guard play and terrible outside shooting, were the keys to Charlotte's early playoff exit. Tyrus Thomas is free agent and should be re-signed by the Bobcats. I would find a way to move Diaw to another team and open up minutes for rookie Derrick Brown.

UPDATED: Panthers deal veteran defender

Update: The Carolina Panthers have made the deal official. Chris Harris is now a Chicago Bear and Jamar Williams to the Panthers. Williams will add much needed depth to the Panthers linebacking corp. Harris was expendable with the young safeties currently on their roster.



Veteran safety Chris Harris of the Carolina Panthers posted to his Twitter account today that he will be traded to his former team, the Chicago Bears.

ESPN's NFC South blogger, Pat Yasinskas, says that the deal has not been finalized. He adds that the player coming back in return for Harris would be linebacker Jamar Williams.


You can follow Chris Harris here: @ChrisHarrisNFL and Pat Yasinskas: @ESPN_NFCSouth

NFL announces decision on Roethlisberger

NFl spokesman Greg Aiello announced today that the NFL would suspend Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for the first six games of the season. Roethlisberger will have to attend comprehensive behavioral evaluation as well.

Roethlisberger will be suspended without pay.

The Steelers must have been prepared for a lengthy suspension. they signed Byron Leftwich this past week.;

ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that the Steelers are now shopping Roethlisberger for a top-10 pick in this years draft.

Excerpts from Goodell's letter

Bobcats at Magic Game 2

Charlotte travels to Orlando for game two of the best of seven playoff series. Game two will be tonight at 7p.m. on TNT.

The Bobcats tightened up their top-ranked defense in the second half of game one against the Magic but were unable to comeback for the win. Hopefully they guard the three point shot better in game two or they'll be flying home to Charlotte down two games to none.

Stephen Jackson is expected to play. There are no other players suffereing from injuries worth noting.