Maller: News & Notes 6/28/07

[Hostile]

Sorry, ladies, but it appears that Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez is officially off the market. Well, sort of officially. Tony G isn’t getting married, but he is planning a “formal commitment ceremony” on July 20 in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he’ll pledge his love to girlfriend October Russell. (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/168204.html) A formal commitment ceremony? That’s so California. At any rate, Tony G shared this information recently with Star freelance writer Ruth Baum Bigus. “We’re not signing any papers,” Gonzalez told her, “but I wanted the world to know that I love her and want to spend my life with her. I did it the best way for me.” Gonzalez and Russell met five years ago when Russell was working at a Newport Beach, Calif., restaurant owned by former NBA player Dennis Rodman. “She had a boyfriend at the time, so I waited,” said Gonzalez, who added that the couple started dating seriously about two years ago. Former Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson will oversee the ceremony, and yes, there will be vows exchanged, vows written by Tony G and Russell. Tony G’s 6-year-old son, Nikko, will be involved in the ceremony as well.


New England Patriots QB - and fledgling real estate flipper - Tom Brady is under fire by the Plumbers & Gasfitters Union who want their brothers on the job at Brady’s Beacon Street rehab installing all of the bowls - Super or otherwise! “We’re not going to any Pats games until he builds union,” said Francis Jensen of Local 12, who with about a half-dozen of his brethren threw up an informational picket line in front of No. 12’s Back Bay condo yesterday. (http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=1008630&format=text) Added union captain Tom Koney: “Here’s a guy who gets paid millions for what he does but he doesn’t believe in paying plumbers a decent wage.” The picket line was aimed at flushing out Tom’s plumbing contractor A&K Plumbing of Revere which, the plumbers say, doesn’t pay the “established community standard” wage of $61.75 an hour plus benefits and does not employ any women or minorities. ... The plumbers say that Brady was aware of their pipe gripes because they sent a letter to the two-time Super Bowl MVP’s agents before throwing up the picket line, and they never heard anything back. “Our members are great Patriots supporters, and we didn’t want to embarrass him,” Cotter said. “But we are disappointed he didn’t respond.” Cotter said Local 12 has a special place in their hearts for No. 12 - natch - and feel that the lack of response was a “slap in the face.”

(http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1183004988164740.xml&coll=1&thispage=2)
Atlanta Falcons player Allen Rossum heads the Healthy Kids Klub, an organization that promotes exercise and nutrition for youngsters. (http://www.ajc.com/health/content/health/stories/2007/06/27/0628rossum.html) As the HKK's "Chef Allen," he assembles simple snacks like trail mix and fruit salad; he demonstrates exercises in an "Instant Recess" DVD. He also enlisted the help of professional athletes like NBA player Jerry Stackhouse to spread the word that fitness is fun.

[burmafrd]

IF Gonz is "so committed" to her and she is "so committed" to him- why aren't they getting married? That is total BS.

[LowTech]

and why aren't they picking out china patterns :)




Welcome to the off season :starspin

[AtlCB]

New England Patriots QB - and fledgling real estate flipper - Tom Brady is under fire by the Plumbers & Gasfitters Union who want their brothers on the job at Brady’s Beacon Street rehab installing all of the bowls - Super or otherwise! “We’re not going to any Pats games until he builds union,” said Francis Jensen of Local 12, who with about a half-dozen of his brethren threw up an informational picket line in front of No. 12’s Back Bay condo yesterday. (http://thetrack.bostonherald.com/moreTrack/view.bg?articleid=1008630&format=text) Added union captain Tom Koney: “Here’s a guy who gets paid millions for what he does but he doesn’t believe in paying plumbers a decent wage.” The picket line was aimed at flushing out Tom’s plumbing contractor A&K Plumbing of Revere which, the plumbers say, doesn’t pay the “established community standard” wage of $61.75 an hour plus benefits and does not employ any women or minorities. ... The plumbers say that Brady was aware of their pipe gripes because they sent a letter to the two-time Super Bowl MVP’s agents before throwing up the picket line, and they never heard anything back. “Our members are great Patriots supporters, and we didn’t want to embarrass him,” Cotter said. “But we are disappointed he didn’t respond.” Cotter said Local 12 has a special place in their hearts for No. 12 - natch - and feel that the lack of response was a “slap in the face.”

:eek: I'm in the wrong business!

[CrazyCowboy]

Is that true about Brady's plumbers or just a joke?

[burmafrd]

That probably is the standard rate for a plummer there. Actually, compared to some places like san francisco and others like that, that is a LOW rate.

[AtlCB]

That probably is the standard rate for a plummer there. Actually, compared to some places like san francisco and others like that, that is a LOW rate.
How could that be a low rate for any area? :confused: They're friggin plummers.

[baj1dallas]

IF Gonz is "so committed" to her and she is "so committed" to him- why aren't they getting married? That is total BS.

maybe marriage is the BS. Why do you need the government to be involved in your love affairs? Marriage is an industry and has nothing to do with being committed to anybody anymore.

[burmafrd]

baj, you really are way out there on that one. Marriage is what you make of it- but it MEANS that you INTEND and WANT TO spend the rest of your life with someone. Its a STATEMENT. I am sorry for you if you think that way- that is very sad.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Is that true about Brady's plumbers or just a joke?
That whole Pipe Fitters Union thing made me laugh. Tom Brady makes millions so because of that, he should be stupid and pay more to have a Union outfit doing the work. Whatever.

[adamknite]

maybe marriage is the BS. Why do you need the government to be involved in your love affairs? Marriage is an industry and has nothing to do with being committed to anybody anymore.

damn hippie.


:D

[jterrell]

I guess poor Tony G just doesn't trust the pre-nups.

Can't say that I blame him.

[ThreeSportStar80]

How could that be a low rate for any area? :confused: They're friggin plummers.

Plummers have a very hard job actually...

[Hostile]

:eek: I'm in the wrong business!That hourly cost is not for the plumber only, that is probably a company cost, which would include truck charges, the plumber's hours, and the company's income. That amount is fairly close to what most will charge you.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Plummers have a very hard job actually...

I'll tell ya, it's hard to get a good plummer these days. I hired a guy just a few months ago and he came out and worked on my daughters bathroom shower faucet. For whatever reason, it was only pumping out Hot water. Basically, he came out, broke the fawcet all together, told me how much it would cost to replace and then billed me for time spent working on breaking my faucet and drive time to go get the replacement part, which he didn't have in stock and had to order.

Let me just tell ya, plummers customers also have a very hard job.

[Hostile]

I'll tell ya, it's hard to get a good plummer these days. I hired a guy just a few months ago and he came out and worked on my daughters bathroom shower faucet. For whatever reason, it was only pumping out Hot water. Basically, he came out, broke the fawcet all together, told me how much it would cost to replace and then billed me for time spent working on breaking my faucet and drive time to go get the replacement part, which he didn't have in stock and had to order.

Let me just tell ya, plummers customers also have a very hard job.BBB

Better Business Bureau

[ABQCOWBOY]

BBB

Better Business Bureau

I paid him for the time spent, told him to have the owner call me and got it squared away. I mean, still cost me 100 bucks or so but that was BS. I couldn't believe this guy was trying this. In truth, I was not home when the guy showed up. He was talking to my wife. I don't know what he thought. I guess he just figured she would whip out the check book and pay it.

Anyway, alls well that ends well.

[jterrell]

That hourly cost is not for the plumber only, that is probably a company cost, which would include truck charges, the plumber's hours, and the company's income. That amount is fairly close to what most will charge you.

It actually sounds like they are complaining because the company who is doing the work doesn't pay the actual plumbers that wage.

In NY and Boston it costs a small fortune to get any union work for any trade stuff.

A NYC electrical guy is over 100 bucks an hour monday-friday 8-5.

[ABQCOWBOY]

It actually sounds like they are complaining because the company who is doing the work doesn't pay the actual plumbers that wage.

In NY and Boston it costs a small fortune to get any union work for any trade stuff.

A NYC electrical guy is over 100 bucks an hour monday-friday 8-5.

Here in New Mexico, it costs one EMT Visit, the cost of one insulated set of wire snips and one trip to the barber shop.

The EMT is to revive me after I have electricuted myself, the wire snips are to replace the one's I've just fried and the barber shop is to shave me bald rather then walk around with my hair all kinked out from the shock.

:D

[Hostile]

It actually sounds like they are complaining because the company who is doing the work doesn't pay the actual plumbers that wage.

In NY and Boston it costs a small fortune to get any union work for any trade stuff.

A NYC electrical guy is over 100 bucks an hour monday-friday 8-5.They are complaining because that plumbing company doesn't hire union labor, probably offers a lower than union salary to its worker, and can thus charge customers less in hopes of drawing more business.

I've been involved in the construction trades for 10 years and have dealt with unions before. You cannot believe how jealous they are that people hire anything but union.

One guy I worked for hated union labor. He said, "if I want to fire someone who is a lazy son of a ***** I don't want the union telling me I can't because he's union." Sure enough they showed up at his job site one time and threatened to picket. At that point the owner who had hired us put a No Trespassing sign on her front lawn and threatened to prosecute them if they stepped one foot on her property. She was very well respected in her neighborhood and her neighbors soon did the same thing.

Ever marched on black asphalt in the middle of a street in Arizona in July? About 2 hours was all they could handle.

[theebs]

That whole Pipe Fitters Union thing made me laugh. Tom Brady makes millions so because of that, he should be stupid and pay more to have a Union outfit doing the work. Whatever.


I think there point was, he is a paid member of a union so they hope he would also hire other union businesses.

[Hostile]

I think there point was, he is a paid member of a union so they hope he would also hire other union businesses.Non union people in the area are praying he ignores their threats so they can have the tickets these men would otherwise buy.

:laugh2:

[03EBZ06]

That hourly cost is not for the plumber only, that is probably a company cost, which would include truck charges, the plumber's hours, and the company's income.
Yeah, it sure sounds like it. I know my company charges $125 per hour and $150 for prototype (advance design) to the government but us engineers don't see much of that money.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think there point was, he is a paid member of a union so they hope he would also hire other union businesses.


I'm sure that's true, however, his union doesn't protect him from lossing his job like other unions might. I mean, I'm sure there is a reason he's not using the Union and it's probably because of cost. Brady didn't get to be where he's at by being stupid. If he can hire a guy to do the work for less, why wouldn't he? Why picket the customer? If your going to picket, then picket the company who hires out none union. To me, that only makes sense.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Non union people in the area are praying he ignores their threats so they can have the tickets these men would otherwise buy.

:laugh2:



:laugh2:

Probably true.

[theebs]

I'm sure that's true, however, his union doesn't protect him from lossing his job like other unions might. I mean, I'm sure there is a reason he's not using the Union and it's probably because of cost. Brady didn't get to be where he's at by being stupid. If he can hire a guy to do the work for less, why wouldn't he? Why picket the customer? If your going to picket, then picket the company who hires out none union. To me, that only makes sense.

The truth is brady probably had an accountant of someone else do the hiring, I doubt he even had anything to do with it. Probably has someone that takes care of all that stuff.

[ndanger]

Here in New Mexico, it costs one EMT Visit, the cost of one insulated set of wire snips and one trip to the barber shop.

The EMT is to revive me after I have electricuted myself, the wire snips are to replace the one's I've just fried and the barber shop is to shave me bald rather then walk around with my hair all kinked out from the shock.

:D

That would be me as well ABQ, I don't get along with anything electrical , or anything else I can't see. :D

[Sam I Am]

I'll tell ya, it's hard to get a good plummer these days.

It's not just plumbers. We purchased a house that had a great foundation, but was poorly maintained over the last 7 years. We completely redid the entire house and I've fired more people during this process than I've ever fired at work. I mean I fired licensed plumbers for incompetence, not just some schmoe that said he could do plumbing.

We replaced all of our windows with Anderson 400 low-e high quality windows. This one guy we hired who I check references for and everything was playing musical chairs installing the windows! We are talking installing the same window in THREE DIFFERENCE PLACES! Needless to say, by the time I got home from work he knew to be gone and didn't even ask to get paid.

[ABQCOWBOY]

The truth is brady probably had an accountant of someone else do the hiring, I doubt he even had anything to do with it. Probably has someone that takes care of all that stuff.

Probably right. That guy is probably responsible for making good business decisions. I'd imagine that it's probably a simple case of looking at value. Union jobs are usually inflated where as, none union is cheaper. I'd have done the same thing but hey, I'm not Union, arguably the best QB on the planet and dating Gisel Bundchen. In short, nobody would care.

:laugh2:

[JonJon]

Sorry, ladies, but it appears that Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez is officially off the market. Well, sort of officially. Tony G isn’t getting married, but he is planning a “formal commitment ceremony” on July 20 in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he’ll pledge his love to girlfriend October Russell. (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/168204.html) A formal commitment ceremony? That’s so California. At any rate, Tony G shared this information recently with Star freelance writer Ruth Baum Bigus. “We’re not signing any papers,” Gonzalez told her, “but I wanted the world to know that I love her and want to spend my life with her. I did it the best way for me.”

I guess this is a good way to get all the benefits of a marriage, still keep your future options open just in case things go sour, and avoid a nasty divorce and the fees associated with it...pretty smart if you can find a female dumb enough to go along with it.

[ABQCOWBOY]

It's not just plumbers. We purchased a house that had a great foundation, but was poorly maintained over the last 7 years. We completely redid the entire house and I've fired more people during this process than I've ever fired at work. I mean I fired licensed plumbers for incompetence, not just some schmoe that said he could do plumbing.

We replaced all of our windows with Anderson 400 low-e high quality windows. This one guy we hired who I check references for and everything was playing musical chairs installing the windows! We are talking installing the same window in THREE DIFFERENCE PLACES! Needless to say, by the time I got home from work he knew to be gone and didn't even ask to get paid.

Believe me, I understand. It is hard to find good people. Over the years, I've just tried to learn how to do as much as I can and go from there. What I don't know, I hire out but it's always a cluster. Just the way it goes I guess. It's a shame really.

[Hostile]

Believe me, I understand. It is hard to find good people. Over the years, I've just tried to learn how to do as much as I can and go from there. What I don't know, I hire out but it's always a cluster. Just the way it goes I guess. It's a shame really.I can fix a lot of stuff if I know what you have and what is wrong. You have my number next time.

;)

[ABQCOWBOY]

I can fix a lot of stuff if I know what you have and what is wrong. You have my number next time.

;)

Keep that one on speed dial. With four kids, something is always broken.

:laugh2:

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'll tell ya, it's hard to get a good plummer these days. I hired a guy just a few months ago and he came out and worked on my daughters bathroom shower faucet. For whatever reason, it was only pumping out Hot water. Basically, he came out, broke the fawcet all together, told me how much it would cost to replace and then billed me for time spent working on breaking my faucet and drive time to go get the replacement part, which he didn't have in stock and had to order.

Let me just tell ya, plummers customers also have a very hard job.

:laugh2: Sounds like you need to find a friend that's in the business :thumbup:

[tunahelper]

IF Gonz is "so committed" to her and she is "so committed" to him- why aren't they getting married? That is total BS.

This is the greatest escape plan ever devised man!
:D

[Go Big D!]

I guess this is a good way to get all the benefits of a marriage, still keep your future options open just in case things go sour, and avoid a nasty divorce and the fees associated with it...pretty smart if you can find a female dumb enough to go along with it.

Actually, many states have common law marriages. So it wouldn't matter if the couple was technically married or not. I know Kansas recognizes common law. Not sure about Missouri. It would depend where Tony lives in/around Kansas City if he would have to go through divorice proceedings if they were to separate.

I personally do not need to get "married" to a man to know I'm committed to him. I've been in a "common law" relationship for the past 14 years. I just don't see the need to do so.

Oh, and I'm not a hippie :P

[JonJon]

Actually, many states have common law marriages. So it wouldn't matter if the couple was technically married or not. I know Kansas recognizes common law. Not sure about Missouri. It would depend where Tony lives in/around Kansas City if he would have to go through divorice proceedings if they were to separate.

I personally do not need to get "married" to a man to know I'm committed to him. I've been in a "common law" relationship for the past 14 years. I just don't see the need to do so.

Oh, and I'm not a hippie :P

I understand that. I hope you didn't think I was knocking women that agree to common law marriage, I was talking about this being a way to avoid the breakups and divorce that usually follow athletes and celebs. For Tony G, financially and publicly, this might be the best option if things don't work out in the future.

[Jarv]

Actually, many states have common law marriages. So it wouldn't matter if the couple was technically married or not. I know Kansas recognizes common law. Not sure about Missouri. It would depend where Tony lives in/around Kansas City if he would have to go through divorice proceedings if they were to separate.

I personally do not need to get "married" to a man to know I'm committed to him. I've been in a "common law" relationship for the past 14 years. I just don't see the need to do so.

Oh, and I'm not a hippie :P

The funny thing about common law is that there is no pre-nup...You are ruled by the laws of your state. At least with a marrige you can do the pre-nup thing to protect yourself if there is a divorce.

[DallasEast]

Sorry, ladies, but it appears that Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez is officially off the market. Well, sort of officially. Tony G isn’t getting married, but he is planning a “formal commitment ceremony” on July 20 in Huntington Beach, Calif., where he’ll pledge his love to girlfriend October Russell. (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/168204.html) A formal commitment ceremony? That’s so California. At any rate, Tony G shared this information recently with Star freelance writer Ruth Baum Bigus. “We’re not signing any papers,” Gonzalez told her, “but I wanted the world to know that I love her and want to spend my life with her. I did it the best way for me.” Gonzalez and Russell met five years ago when Russell was working at a Newport Beach, Calif., restaurant owned by former NBA player Dennis Rodman. “She had a boyfriend at the time, so I waited,” said Gonzalez, who added that the couple started dating seriously about two years ago. Former Chiefs fullback Tony Richardson will oversee the ceremony, and yes, there will be vows exchanged, vows written by Tony G and Russell. Tony G’s 6-year-old son, Nikko, will be involved in the ceremony as well.
There are two sides to every relationship (I hope that doesn't offend any posters who have ever been involved in a ménage à trois). If Russell isn't pressuring her multi-millionaire boyfriend into marriage, I have to commend her for remaining in the relationship out of love and not out of love for the $$$.

Cue Kanye West...

[Go Big D!]

I understand that. I hope you didn't think I was knocking women that agree to common law marriage, I was talking about this being a way to avoid the breakups and divorce that usually follow athletes and celebs. For Tony G, financially and publicly, this might be the best option if things don't work out in the future.


Gotcha! I do feel for those celebs/athletes that marry, divorce and get taken to the cleaners for all they're worth. But it still depends if the common law is applicable towards Tony as to whether or not she can get money from him if the relationship goes south. If he lives on the Missouri side then he should be okay. Though these days she could probably convince a court that she was, essentially, his wife.

I didn't think you were knocking women in common law marriages, btw. I just think I didn't express myself clearly is all. ;)

[ZeroClub]

Her name is October Russell.

Just doesn't sound like the marrying kind.