college football week 14 picks

people, this is from last year, 2007!!!!! week 14 of this year 2008, up 11-25-08.  week 14 2008 picks are on my front page as of now, 11-25-08, 10:50am pst. 

rivalry week 3.  yeah, they stretch it out now a days, don’t they?  seems to me everyone played rivalry weekend, in the olden days, on the same day.  so much for progress.  none the less i plod on.  just remember this is for fun only and if you take my picks and get your clock cleaned then you deserve whatever happens to your sorry ass.  don’t be stupid.

this week bodes lots of stuff.  league championship stuff and pac 10 stuff that is still to be determined.  plus, most sadly, this is the last weekend of the regular season.  ain’t no more college football till next september.  yes, of course, there’s the bowl games.  more on them later.  onward.

ucla at usc, usc favored by 20.  lots of points, and the bruins have been playing like, well, a team in search of something.  perhaps, a new coach?  that being said, it’s rivalry weekend and the bruins pulled off a win last year.  that was last year.  however, it might rain here on saturday.  ooofa, the sloppy field generally favors the crappier team.  um, not this time.  see the trojans taking care of biz at cal in the rain.  i really don’t think the bruins have it in them to win another one this year.  the trojans are too good and seem to be back on track.  take the trojans to cover or win.

oregon st at oregon, even up or off the board.  yeah, that’s what i’d do or favor the beavers.  sadly, without dixon, the ducks are a rudderless ship in a typhoon.  seems to me, bellotti, has some ’splaining to do’ for the alums and duck faithful, myself included.  yes, of course, it’s rivalry weekend and anything can happen.  yeah, right.  trust me, the beavers win.

washington at hawaii, hawaii favored by 14.  ok.  time for more cliches here.  the huskies are pac 10.  the huskies have a history as a great pac 10 football school.  ty willingham, is telling the boys that as i type.  count on it.  lots on the line here.  pac 10 history and hawaii as a no loss team against sorta ok football schools.  yes, yes, yes.  i’m sure the warrior faithful will be out in droves and primed at the pump for this outing against the pac 10.  if the warriors lose their hopes of any decent bowl game will evaporate in the oahu sunshine.  colt brennan versus a very good huskie qb and a red shirt freshman, jake locker.  jake’s a newbie but he has game.  if the huskie defense shows up and plays their best game of the year, the huskies cover or win.

arizona at arizona st, st favored by 6 1/2.  another epic rivalry game here.  seems like the sun devils have something to prove after a few set backs.  should be a good game.  arizona st covers or wins.  on a side note: does ellway’s kid red shirt or play next year?

virgina tech at boston college, tech favored by 4 1/2.  the acc championship game.  seems like virgina tech is here every year.  time for some one else to win.  the boston college eagles win or cover then get hosed by the bcs.

tennessee at lsu, lsu favored by 7 1/2.  hopefully, lsu loses.  simple easy.  but it might not be that easy.  tennessee has been all over the place this year.  lsu has been very lucky.  take the vols to cover or win. 

oklahoma at missouri, oklahoma favored by 3.  another qb battle royal in the making.  i’m going with age on this one.  plus, missouri probably has more guys who will play in sunday next year.  yes, the sooners beat them earlier.  so what?  missouri covers or wins.

pittsburg at west virginia, w virgina favored by 28.  that’s a lot of points.  then again i suppose pitt is that bad.  the mountaineers need this one in order to go to the big dance and get clobbered by whom ever.  though i suppose they could end up like byu did back in the day.  however, i’m going with this year’s history and i’m taking pitt to cover or even win.  the bcs #2 curse of 2007 continues.

don’t be a dumb ass and leave your wallet in your pocket where it belongs.  there ya go.  the last week of the regular college football season.  one of the more sadder days of the year.  when the day ends with the final gun sounding for the final game on saturday night the lights go out and life goes back to being pretty much mundane until next september.  crap, is it september yet? 

jmh

john zen, pi part 8

john stood there and watched, sheila may, go through the ornate train station doors.  he saw her stop at the first pay phone and drop a dime in the slot.  ‘well.  that about does it.  at least for now.’  john, said aloud.   he got back into his car and drove over to his downtown  l.a. office, thinking of sheila may as he drove.  it wasn’t much of an office building just three floors of walk ups with his office being on the second floor.  he parked out front and made his way up the used worn stairs.  reaching his floor he turned right and walked over to the second door on his left.  it was closed.  thinking that it was funny because, velda, should still be there.  it wasn’t that late and she liked having the door open.  velda, didn’t like surprises either.  the door was locked.

he found his keys and slipped them into the lock.  with his other hand he pulled out his .45.  opening the door he saw the note taped to the chair facing velda’s desk.  he closed the door but kept the gun in his hand.  the note was from velda, saying she had left early to help her mother do a few things that couldn’t wait for the weekend.  besides, she pointed out, it wasn’t like the world was pounding down the door for john zen’s services.  always a kidder, zen, thought with a smile.  he holstered his gun and sat at his desk.   

picking up his phone he called chief of detectives, don ray, in ontario.   the chief answered on the second ring. 

‘chief ray’. 

‘don, zen, here.  i just wanted to let you know that i helped, sheila may, skip town.’  

‘ok, but why bother?’  replied, don ray. 

’she was leaving anyway and i think someone thinks she knows something about what’s going on with the mob out there and maybe elsewhere.’ 

‘i see.  maybe i should have had a talk with her.  you could have swung by here on your way out of town.’ 

‘yeah, i know.  maybe.  though i doubt she would have said a word to you about anything.’ 

‘yeah.’  the detective sighed.  

’she did mention the fact that amos seemed to be like a go between the italians and possibly some jewish mobsters.’  added zen.  ‘i figure the hoods she saw with some italians to be jews from back east’. 

‘you may be on to something there, zen.  that would more or less give us something solid on the racing wire deal.  the jewish mobsters have had that action for years.’ 

‘just letting you know, my friend.’ 

‘thanks for the info and i’ll see what i can do with it.  are you still in town?  maybe we can have dinner at the iron skillet or sam’s place this evening.’  

‘no, don, sorry.  i’m back in l.a. for the night.  i have to see a man here in the morning about something that might shed a lot more light on the situation.’ 

‘alright then.  thanks for calling and keep me posted.  see you when you get back here.’

after hanging up, zen, leaned back and stretched out in his gnarled wooden office chair.  he lit a fresh pall mall and let the rich smoke do it’s job as it swirled about his head in the still office air. shafts of light coming through the venetian blinds sent sharp crisp black and white images through the smoke.  he sat thinking and hoping that miss sheila may was, by this time, safe and out of harms way from any of the violence that seemed to be coming  down the pike.  violence, that zen knew wasn’t over by a long shot.  as he sat smoking and watching the smoke drift through the shafts of light, he replayed that turn she made as well as the sweet smile of hers at the station.  not to mention the peck on the neck.  they were making him wonder if, well, just wonder.  life had it’s funny little ways of throwing stuff at you when you least expected it.  throwing stuff at you like a very attractive dark haired lady who made your heart skip a beat.

john zen, had spent the evening in the pacific dinning car enjoying a large steak and a bottle of red wine.  it was one of his vices.  he loved the dinning car and it reminded him of the simple diner out in the vineyards of cucamonga.  the only difference being the pacific dinning car was more gentrified and sedate.  that, and of course, the price of a meal was considerably more in the downtown eatery.  he missed having velda at his side during the evenings splurge.  she generally was his ‘date’ for those pricey dinners but not last night.  his date for the evening were his thoughts of, sheila may, and that lovely dark haired smile.  after dinner the mellow ride to his apartment seemed as if he was driving one of those lighter than air blimps.  he felt good.  he felt that things were coming together and just maybe other things as well.  sleep came easy for zen that night.  an almost dreamless night of little tossing and turning.  deep sleep of the kind he had not had in many years.

the alarm woke him 7am.  he took a hot shower and fixed a pot of coffee.  reading the paper he noticed that an unidentified body of a young man had been found out in ontario.  chief of detectives, don ray, figured it was some sort of mob hit.  the yet to be identified young man had been carrying a large amount of cash in a grease stained paper bag.  the bag had been found stuffed under the spare tire of the car the man had been driving.  whoever had killed the man had not found the cash, for whatever reasons.   it seemed to zen that the mob was in some sort of turmoil and the inland empire was taking the brunt of the action so far.  he hoped his talk later that morning with, ben morris, would shed some much needed light on the whole affair.  bacon and eggs rounded out his morning at home.

at 9am he drove over to main and flower st, and the bar of his friend, ben morris.   ‘hannigan’s’ was a neighborhood bar of sorts though at times it catered to a more underworld clientele.  at that hour of the morning there weren’t many street parking spots left so, zen, had to park in a garage and walk half a block to ben’s bar.  he knocked quietly on the door.  it was opened by the owner himself.  they shook hands then sat at the bar.  ben, opened a bottle of scotch and poured each of them a shot.  he left the bottle between them.  ‘i know it’s early but with what i have to tell you i think we’ll both need this.’  the two men hoisted their glass, clinked them together while saying, salute, in the italian manner.  

zen, sat sipping his drink.  he hadn’t said more than a greeting to ben and he was just waiting for his friend to deliver his news in his own time and way.  after a bit, ben, spoke.  ’john, you’ve really stumbled on to something here.  the italians and jews are working on something very big out in las vegas.  the jew’s guy out here for this one is, bugsy seigel.  of course, dragna, is the the italian mob guy.  though, seigel, has carved up some turf of his own in the county area here in l.a.  his keeper of that turf is, mickey cohen.’  ben paused to sip his scotch.  ’jack dragna, isn’t taking kindly to any of this.  eh, you can’t blame him, i guess.  he feels slighted.  bugsy is building a big hotel and casino out in vegas.  you probably heard about it.  there’s been some trouble with money and just about everything else that can go wrong with any big construction project.’  ben, poured each of them another shot then continued.  ‘it seems that your man, amos fly, was the prime contractor for bugsy’s hotel.  he was the main man subbing out all the work that needed to be done.  the dumb shit got himself involved with some local vegas politicians wife.  the local pol was not amused.  amos took him for a ride out to zzyx road, capped him, then planted him there.  the fucking mob went ballistic.  bugsy even more so.  the little ginch, amos, thought he was ok.  but, as we know, he wasn’t.  bugsy was also thinking that amos had something to do with all his hotel troubles out in vegas.  with all that vegas trouble, word is, it was bugsy who sliced amos up.  the mob sanctioned it.  it was to be a very loud warning for anybody else who thought they could do as they please in vegas.  of course, there’s been some ancillary hits as well.  you probably saw the one in the paper this morning.  just some kid out in ontario who did some bag work for one of dragna’s crews.  tommy… something or another.  anyways, things aren’t good here in l.a with the outfit back east stepping into jack’s turf.  there’s been other hits too.  stuff no one has stumbled on yet.’

this was more than enough information to keep john zen busy for a very long time.  blockbuster information he couldn’t really tell anyone else.  not even the cops.  ben, was his friend and only a few people knew what was really going on.  if things got out in any way, more heads would roll.  at some point, ben’s.  zen finished his drink.  thanked his friend and walked out into the cool morning sunlight.  

jmh

 

college football week 13 wrap-up

college rivalry week two went by with a few surprises to say the least.  my usual dismal performance was somewhat better but not much.  4 for 8 if you include my extra pick in the comments section.  week 3 of the rivalries looms large.  plus some division championship games but i’m getting ahead of myself.

usc/arizona st.  the trojans handle the sun devils rather easily once the offense kicked into high gear. are the trojans that good or are the sun devils that bad?  perhaps a bit of both.  or this is one of the oddest years in college football in a long long time?

arkansas/lsu.  this game was one of the week’s best.  maybe an all timer as well.  at least we won’t have lsu at the top of the leader board anymore.  thanks razorbacks and mr. macfadden in particular for his heisman like performance.  stunning.

boise st/hawaii.  colt brennan rolls along adding phenomenal numbers to his already huge stats.  boise just couldn’t manage much of anything. 

missouri/kansas.  happily one of my picks that actually worked out.  the curse of the bcs number 2 continues.  though missouri was/is a better team.

oregon/ucla.  this was a strange one indeed and difficult to watch.  i spent more time with the sooners and cowboys.  perhaps dixon was all the ducks had.  the rotating quarterback deal bellotti trotted out was bizarre at best.  then more injuries sent that idea to the locker room where it should have stayed.  the bruins defense saved the day and maybe karl as well.

washington st/washington.  the apple cup gone wild.  what college football rivalry weeks are all about.  plus any number of other cliches you can come up with.  this one had me riveted from the get go as it was, in my opinion, the best game of the day.  yes, of course, tenn and kentucky but then it wasn’t one of my picks and i just watched the final overtime of that one.  a drift.  hats off to cougar qb brink and his record breaking performance against the huskies.     

oklahoma st/oklahoma.  the cowboys never really showed up for this one or the sooners showed up for both of them.  regardless, it was more interesting than the bruin duck game.

auburn/alabama.  this one came up in the comments and i picked auburn.  an easy selection.

there it is in all it’s sad glory.  another dismal week of picking winners and losers.  if you are using my picks to make any money you aren’t making any and that serves you right.   see you wednesday for another go round.

jmh

college football week 13 picks

rivalry weekend part 2.  yes, it sorta got started last weekend and really doesn’t finish till next weekend as there are still some league match-ups that just might make a difference in who goes where or stays home for the up coming big dances.  remember, i use a compilation of odds from a couple of places and if they change after i do this it doesn’t matter as i go with what’s here right now.  this is also just for fun and if you get stupid with what i dish out you deserve whatever happens to your dumb ass.  hopefully i’ll do better than my one win last week.  onward.

usc at arizona st, usc favored by 3.  turkey night special.  nothing better though the only problem is we will probably have to suffer through clint brushbugger’s noun saying for the evening.  but that’s a drift and i just learned the game is on espn, so with any luck he won’t be around till some point on saturday.  this one is a must for both teams.  if the trojan offense clicks in and the defense does it’s usual fine job the men of troy should pull this one out.  usc wins or covers.

boise st at hawaii, hawaii favored by 3.  the point spread keeps dropping every week on the hawaiians.  this one is their second big time test of the year.  another game where both teams need to win if either wants a shot at one of the top 5 bowl slots.  hopefully, this one will be an old wac run up the score because we left the defense on the bus or back in idaho.  take boise st to cover or win.

missouri at kansas, kansas favored by 2.  not a true home game for kansas so this might make some sort of difference in what goes down though they will have more butts in the stands than missouri.  the winner of the game will depend on which qb has the better day.  that being said, if the winning qb has a stellar day then he’s my heisman guy, pure and simple.  missouri to win or cover.

oregon at ucla, oregon favored by 2.  the ducks might have a tough time again this weekend without dixon at the helm.  though leaf has had a week to settle in and he knows he’s the guy for the game.  oregon didn’t get to where they are just with dixon alone.  ucla has been on a roller coaster all season.  they have this one and the trojans next week.  can coach karl coach them to wins for both games?  are the bruins looking to next weeks big time rivalry already?  which bruin team shows up at kick off?  the ducks win or cover.  GO DUCKS!!!

oklahoma st at oklahoma, oklahoma favored by 11.  lots of stuff on the line here for the sooners.  the cowboys want to spoil that.  they just might do it.  this one could be a great game and one for the ages.  take oklahoma st to cover or win.

washington st at washington, washington favored by 6.  another big rivalry that could go either way.  though i doubt it.  coach ty has his boys up and ready for this game especially after last weeks win.  washington covers and wins.  then next week…yeah, next week is for next week.  if the huskie stay with that thought, no problem.

arkansas at lsu, lsu favored by 12.  some how or another i left this game out when i posted the blog earlier in morning.   not being fan of lsu, i hope the razorbacks hand them a nice loss to further muddy the bcs waters.  it isn’t out of the realm of posssibilty.  they do have a shot and i hope they make the best of it.  arkansas to cover or even win.

astute readers will have noticed only one home team was picked by yours truly for the week.  generally speaking that doesn’t bode well,  but, hey, this is only for fun.  just remember to keep your money where it belongs, in your wallets.  don’t be stupid.  happy thanksgiving and enjoy the games.

jmh

john zen, pi part 7

sheila may quickly finished packing and john zen led her to the stairway for the walk down the five floors.  ‘no sense taking the elevator.  we don’t want anyone to see you leave here with a suitcase in your hand.’   as they arrived at the ground floor, zen, stepped into the deserted lobby, looked about, then he grabbed sheila by the wrist and they made a quick exit out into the parking lot.  zen tossed the suitcase into the back seat as he started the car.  sheila may was already sitting in the front seat.  ‘get down so no one will see you leaving the hotel with me.’  she did as she was told and the two of them started their trip back to los angeles. 

they drove in silence for a few miles.  zen, lit a smoke and spoke. 

‘i think you know more than you are letting on.  come clean with me and maybe i can put a stop to all the madness in your life.  how did you meet this amos fly?’ 

‘fast eddie said there was going to be a party out at one of the wineries in cucamonga.  this was a few months back.  i’d been stuck at the hotel for awhile and just sorta drifted into a working girls life.  a girl’s got to eat you know.’ 

’sure. go on.’ 

‘well, me and a few girls took him up on the offer and we were driven out to the winery.’

‘do you remember which one?’ asked zen. 

‘it was dark but, yeah.  it was the big stone place out past archibald some where.’ 

‘ok.  that’s good. keep going.’ 

‘we got there and there’s a bunch of italians and a few other guys waiting and drinking in this very nice big room in the winery.  lots of food and drinks set out.  us girls were told to just mingle and if the guys wanted anything they would let us know.’ 

‘tell me some more about those other guys that were there.’ 

‘nothing much to tell other than amos was one of the guys, along with 4 or 5 of his friends, i guess.’ 

’so was amos the guy in charge or what?  i mean obviously the italian mob guys were hosting some sort of party.  who seemed to be the other big shot?’ 

‘oh, it wasn’t amos, that’s for sure.  it was some other really good looking guy along with this sorta dumpy side kick kinda guy.  amos seemed to know both groups of people.  the italians and whoever the other guys were.’   

’so how did you get to know amos from that evening?’ 

‘he wanted to get laid and he picked me.  he was pretty drunk and had some trouble.  i didn’t give him a hard time about it and i guess he fell in love.  simple as that.’   

john zen was beginning to see the picture.  to bring it to clarity he would need to have his talk with ben morris in the morning.   ‘i see.  so you do amos.  he falls in love and then won’t leave you alone.  right?’ 

‘yeah, that pretty much covers it.  the guy was creepy, ya know?  but look.  i needed the money and he was easy.’   ‘ok. understood.  did you happen to over hear anything while you were around amos or at this party?’  ‘what do you mean?  ‘i mean like anybody talking about business you weren’t supposed to hear.’

sheila sat and thought about that for a mile or two.  she finally spoke,  ‘yeah.  maybe.  see, we had gone between these two big redwood tanks for some privacy.  i don’t think anyone saw us go back there.  but while i was trying to get things taken care of i heard the big italian guy and the good looking guy with his dumpy friend talking about nevada and las vegas.  some stuff about a horse wire in los angeles that was going to go up big time up against the guys in chicago.’ 

‘jesus, honey, no wonder you’re scared.  yeah, you might be next in their hit parade alright.  someone saw you two back there and amos did something after that night that made some one very unhappy.’   

they drove the rest of the way into downtown los angeles in silence.  there was no way zen could really put it all together without some more info.  he had most of what he needed from sheila but the rest of what she had was probably just amos fly being a strange love freak.  nothing that would move things along as to why he was killed or just what the mob had in it’s plans.  or more importantly what amos had done to get himself so brutally murdered. 

the afternoon was bight and clear with very little left in the way of the santa ana winds.  the tail end of the devil winds was always most welcome.  that’s if there could be a good thing to the them.  the departure of the wind left the air and vistas scoured clean for a time.  or until things went back to normal and the smog rolled in from the pacific, from where it had been blown, to turn things back into that dappled wintertime southern california sunlight of transparent gray brown hues.  which reminded the locals of l.a. summertime without the oppressive heat.  it would stay that way until it rained or the next santa ana blew in to scour the air clean, once again.

zen exited the freeway at alameda st.  he turned right and drove the short distance to union station.  the city of lost angles’ beautiful spanish slash art deco train station.  usually the place where those with money arrived in l.a.   not the greyhound bus depot, just a few miles to the west.  where legions of howard hughes’ men preyed on the young women from corn country who came to l.a. without much of anything in their pockets other than a lust for the silver screen.  hughes’ men promised them motion picture work and a place to live.  all they had to do was sign on the line and mr hughes would take care of everything.  some of them were lucky enough never to see mr hughes. or the inside of a motion picture studio, for that matter.  others, well, others, just ended up as howard’s fuck toys.  living the life of lotus land while being used and abused by the jackals and locusts of tinsel town.  some made it out.  others never did.  just another seemingly endless sad story in the city of lost love.

zen pulled to the curb in front of the station.  there were some comings and goings but not enough for a porter rush him away from the curb.  he removed sheila may’s bag from the back seat and told her.

‘look, if you need anything at all, you call velda, understand?  i don’t like this but you’re a big girl and i can’t make you hide out with, velda, if you don’t want to.’ 

‘thanks, john, for all you and velda have done for me.  i just don’t want you involved anymore with me and my screw ups.  ok?  i’ll be fine.  my friend will pick me up here as soon as i call.  don’t worry.’ 

with that she gave zen a hug and a kiss on his neck then turned to walk into the station.   she went a few paces further toward the lobby doors then turned, and gave zen, a big wonderful smile.  a smile that made his heart skip a beat. 

jmh

college football week 12 wrap-up

what can you say about a week of picks where you only hit one of them?  probably nothing but there are a few things to be said.

oregon and arizona.  yes, dixon got hurt.  a sad thing and things may have been different if he hadn’t.  though i think the heat may have ultimately done the ducks in regardless.  no more bcs game with lsu for the ducks.  the number 2 curse continues.

hawaii and nevada-reno.  hawaii fails to cover the points for a second week straight.  next week is a big one for them.

byu and wyoming.  nothing to be said here other than wishful thinking on my part.

iowa st and kansas.  iowa st finally ran up against someone who just might make it to the big dance.  we shall see.

ohio st and michigan.  adios, coach carr.  i wish he could have pulled a win out against the dreaded buckeyes but it’s been his m o for the past few years.

california and washington.  i’ve said it all year long and will keep saying it.  ty willingham can coach.  no doubt about it.  this game really proves the point and his reaction yesterday when time ran out just goes to show you the man lives for his work.  if you know someone who is thinking about going to the university of washington on a football scholarship tell them they should take it.  take it because they will learn a few things from coach ty about playing football and life in general.  plus, the huskies are once again poised to make a break for the top of the pac 10.  count on it.

so, like always, if you didn’t take the picks to some place where you could lose your shirt or food money.  you did the smart thing.  if you didn’t you are stupid and deserve what ever happened.

jmh

college football week 12 picks

ok.  back from the great late fall road trip of 2007.  time for some more college football picks.  last weeks dismal dull affair was a borderline line god awful, 4 for 9.  making my re-tooled over all picks something like 7 for he’s got to be kidding me.  yes, well, ever dauntless i plod on.  only 6 this week and it might be too many as i haven’t paid any attention to much sporting stuff other than the occasional veer into something.  just remember these picks are for just for fun.  only an insane drunken fool would follow any advice handed out by this insane drunken  fool.

oregon at arizona st.  the ducks by 10 1/2.  this ought to be a good game.  though i think the points are a bit much as it’s bloody hot here in the southwest.  too bad the game wasn’t for this saturday.  at any rate, i have to go with the ducks heat or not.  stuff to prove and the only lsu match up i want to see is them in that game.  ducks win and or cover.  GO DUCKS!!! 

hawaii at nevada-reno, hawaii favored by 7.  i’m missing something here but that’s nothing new.  hawaii has had huge spreads all year.  of course they didn’t cover last week.  though there may be some other reason i don’t know about for this weeks game.  it’s their last easy one of the year too.  crap, hawaii wins or covers.

byu at wyoming, byu favored by 10 1/2.  an old days late season wac match up.  i love these games as anything can happen.  screw it, i’m taking the cowboys to cover or beat byu.

iowa st at kansas, kansas favored by 26 1/2.  yeah, they did it again.  iowa st is going to cover that and just might win.  i’m taking iowa st.

california at washington, cal favored by 7.  this one is ty’s bowl game.  well, and the up coming hawaii show down as well.  this one is their warm up.  the huskies win or cover.

ohio at michigan st, ohio favored by 4.  michigan wins or covers further adding to the buckeyes misery.  the wolverines step up to give coach carr a send off.

there ya go.  a bit late in the week but i’ve been busy as it were.  leave your money in your wallet where it belongs and things will be ok.  don’t be a dumb ass.

jmh  

john zen, pi part 6

ben morris, was one of those strange folks you come across in your life, zen, thought as the pall mall smoke swirled around his head.  a client from a few years back who john had helped get clear of some movie studio trouble and then, ben, became his friend.  ben, turned out to be a good friend to have.  after the studio madness soured ben to the hollywood scene he had grown up with, ben morris, became a business man and bar owner in downtown los angeles.  he cultivated many friends in his new business enterprise with his quick wit and vast knowledge of firearms among many other things.  friends, most folks would certainly shy away from.  friends, that on occasion would sell him firearms or come looking to him for something special.  something special for that special job.  ben morris, was also known for his loyalty to friends and his tight lips.  attributes his new friends appreciated.  

the ringing phone brought zen out of his reverie.

‘john.  ben.  look, i just heard about something going on out where you are.  does it have anything to do with our talk?’

‘yeah, most probably so.  find out what you can and i’ll be at your place tomorrow morning for sure.  first thing.’

‘ok.  see you.  keep your head down.’

ben rang off before zen could make his reply. 

things were beginning to come together.  if ben morris was already getting some info on the amos fly murder.  a murder that now was probably, most assuredly, a mob hit.  a hit that was made to make a statement.  a statement that was meant for someone to take deep into their heart.  lighting another smoke with the butt of the one he was smoking, zen, called velda at the office. 

‘john zen, pi’ answered the lilting voice. 

”hey, sweetie.  i’ll be back in town tomorrow morning.  things are beginning to move.  i’m going to stay out here for the day and try to talk to your gal pal, sheila may.  is she still staying at the orange hotel?’   

‘as far as i know, john’

‘fine.  see you late tomorrow morning.’ 

‘ok. john.  be careful.’ 

‘thanks.’

after locking up, zen, restarted the coupe and drove back north.  thinking the best way to handle things at the orange hotel would be a quick stop at ford’s lunch for a quick word with sam hobbs.  he parked along the curb, got out and went inside.  he saw his friend talking to some people in a rear booth.  the cafe was almost deserted as it was mid morning.  the breakfast crowd had thinned out to just that booth.  the lunch crowd was still an hour or so away.  zen, stood his ground.  when sam finished his chat he walked over to his friend. 

‘long time no see’, sam chuckled.  

‘yeah.  it’s been awhile.’ replied zen.  ’sam, i’m going back to los angeles this afternoon for some business.  but before i go i need to talk to a working girl at the orange hotel.  do you know which bellboy i talk to?  i want to keep this as simple and painless as possible.’  

’sure, john, i understand.  let me see, you want to ask for, fast eddie.  his real name is edward otto but everyone calls him, fast eddie.  he’s the guy you want to talk to.’ 

‘thanks, sam.  i’ll stay in touch and i’ll keep the house key.’ 

‘no problem, john, keep your head down.’ 

‘everyone keeps saying that.  i guess i’d better.’ 

the orange hotel was just a block and a half from ford’s lunch, zen, drove the short distance and parked the coupe in the lot out back.  john knew that going up to the desk and asking for sheila may’s room number would just be asking for trouble.  he also knew that finding fast eddie and asking about sheila was somewhat edgy as well.  as he stepped into the time worn lobby he bought a newspaper, went to the shoe shine stand and sat in the chair.  as the young man began to shine his shoes he began to read the paper.  after a few minutes john asked the young man which bellboy was, fast eddie.  the young man looked up from his work and said with a smile.

‘fast eddie?  this time of day?  mister, you must be crazy.  fast eddie don’t come to work till after 4 most days.’  

‘oh.  i see.  well, a friend of mine suggested i see him about this girl, sheila may.  he said if i was ever in the area to stop by and pay her a visit.’ 

as john said this he folded a five in half and handed it to the young man.  the youngster palmed the fin and said under his breathe,

’she be in room 548, mister.’ 

‘thanks’, replied zen, as the shine cloth snapped a few more times finishing up the job.   

after paying for the shoe shine he walked over to the elevator and lit a smoke as he waited.  getting in he he hit the fourth floor button.  at the fourth floor he got out and walked up the stairs to the fifth floor.  on the fifth floor he looked both ways to get his bearings.  he turned left and walked to room number 548.  before knocking on the door he took a deep breath and put his hand inside his jacket where he found his gun.  he knocked.  there was no answer but he could hear movement inside the room.  he knocked again.  this time louder.  ‘who is it?  what do you want?  i’m busy’, came the reply to his knocking.  ‘fast eddie sent me’, was zen’s reply. 

with that the door opened and a rather good looking dark haired woman stood in the door way with her hands on her hips.  ‘it’s too early for that.  besides i have to go out.  so scram’.  john pushed his way into the room while drawing his gun.  behind him he kicked the door closed.  quickly scanning the room he saw that, miss may, was packing her bags.  stepping to the bathroom he looked inside.  opening the closet door revealed there was no on else in the room other than the two of them. putting his gun back in his shoulder holster he said, ‘ john zen, pi.  you must be sheila may.  looks like you’re in a hurry here.’  ’so, you’re velda’s pi boss?  well, honey, you’re too late to help me now.  just get out of here and tell velda thanks but she can’t help me any more.’  with that she turned and began to pack more of her things into the open suitcase on the bed. 

‘look, sister, things aren’t that simple anymore.  someone is dead and it looks like you think you might be next.  talk to me before it’s too late.’ 

as sheila turned, tears ran down her face, streaking her make-up.   ‘ honestly, i don’t know anything.  all i know is amos fly is dead.  he was nothing but trouble for me.  see?  a strange little man with strange feelings about me.  i haven’t seen him since the cops got involved a few weeks back.  the guy was trouble.  i don’t know anything.  now he’s dead and i’m not sticking around to find out if i’m next.’   

‘where are you going?’ asked zen. 

‘back to l.a. i guess.  i don’t know.  but i’m not staying here.’  answered the scared lady.   

‘ok.  i’m heading that way myself.  why don’t i give you are ride back to l.a.  you can stay with velda.’ 

‘no, i’m not getting velda involved anymore than she already is.  i have a friend near downtown i can stay with.  i’ll take the ride offer and you can drop me off at union station.’ 

‘fine, finish packing and let’s go.’ 

jmh

college football week 11 picks

time again for the madness a very large number of us live for.  college football.  pure and simple.  i’m going to do 9 picks this week in a feeble attempt to  try and play catch up with last weeks train wreck of 3 for 8.  plus i’m going on a road trip tomorrow for a week.  i wouldn’t look for a wrap up this sunday but i might make it late sunday evening, maybe, if i can get on a computer and am sober enough to type something semi coherent.  the picks for next week will be later than usual if they show up at all.  i suppose they will show up at some point late in the week, before saturday’s games.  yeah, well, good enough.  check in a bit later than usual.  just don’t get overly excited and do stupid stuff with these picks cause they are just for fun and not meant as betting advice.  capice?  i hope so.

fresno st at hawaii.  the islanders favored by 17 1/2.  this is hawaii’s first real test of the season by a decent team with a solid program team that has won a few games.  all though fresno has been a bit disappointing thus far.  i’m thinking the points are a bit too much.  hawaii should win this but they won’t cover the spread.  take fresno st to beat the spread.

tcu at byu.  this one might be the sleeper wild one of the weekend.  maybe even more points than the hawaii game.  byu favored by 7 1/2.  byu should win or cover but it isn’t going to be easy.

colorado at iowa st.  the odds guys keep bringing the point spread down each week for the iowa cyclones.  this week has colorado favored by 5.  big deal.  iowa st covers or wins.       

air force at notre dame.  air force favored by 3.  the golden domers get another shot at trying to hold down an offense that isn’t very conventional.  good luck, charlie.  air force should win this one even with it being in south bend and the irish losing to  another pentagon team last week for the first time since i was a freshman in high school.

arizona st at ucla.  the devils favored by 7.  as well they should be.  though it’s still one of those deals where just which ucla team crawls on to the bus saturday morning and makes the drive to pasadena?  the well coached team or the poorly coached team?  guess it makes a difference.  maybe.  rumor mill has it that one of the boise st coaches might get offered the ucla job next year.  interesting.  will it happen if coach karl can beat the trojans again this year? is that enough?  i don’t think so.  regardless, i’m drifting, take arizona st. they win or cover.

auburn at georgia. bulldogs favored by one stinking point.  let’s call it a toss up.  i had georgia underlined as the team i was taking but i’m changing my mind and going with the auburn tigers.

kansas at oklahoma st.  kansas favored by 5 1/2.  the oklahoma cowboys have been playing some great football in recent weeks giving everyone a hard time.  i love it.  so that being said, in this weeks match up against the jayhawks the cowboys will cover the points or win outright.

usc at calif.  usc favored by 3 1/2.  it’s the saturday night game out here in the west.  i may get to see it maybe not.  if clint brushbugger is the noun sayer for abc i hope i don’t get to see it.  none the less, usc should win and or cover.

washington at oregon st.  toss up.  no points no nada zip zilch.  it might be a really good game and no one will get to see it.  well, unless you are in the stands.  ty’s huskies win this one.

boise st at utah st.  boise st favored by 24.  too many points.  this is almost a rivalry game.  or something.  another game no one gets to see unless you are there.  though this one might be on espn. utah st covers and maybe even wins.

ok.  there ya go.  another step up into the bowels of madness and college football saturday.  ain’t nothing better.  just remember to keep your money in your wallets where it belongs and no one will get hurt.  don’t be stupid.

jmh

john zen, pi part 5

the mad drive into the rising morning sun to the dead body of amos fly was over before john zen knew it.  his mind so wrapped up in the murder of the seemingly petty thug he was just about oblivious to everything.  the coroner arrived as he pulled into the quarry.  his friend, don ray, greeted him with a wave and beckoned him over with another.  amos fly’s corpse was already covered with the standard issue so california blue plastic tarp.  don ray asked, ‘you want to see?’  ‘yeah, let’s do it.’  flies had already found the mouth of amos fly.  they danced in and out in the early morning light and warmth.’shit.’  said john.  ‘yeah. that too. someone took their time on this one, zen.’  ‘no nightwatchman?’  ‘not last night.  the guy called in. his wife was having a baby.’   ‘convenient.’  ‘we already checked.  it’s legit.  the owners didn’t think one night without a guard would matter all that much.’  ‘i suppose, that is if you aren’t amos fly. christ they made such precise cuts.’  replied zen.  ‘yep. looks like surgical stuff.  the lab boys will check it out.’   don ray, backed off a step looked off into the mountains and the slowing winds, then spoke.  ‘the guy was a ginch.  but no one deserves to get it this way, zen.  he was chopped up and left here for the first guys that come in at 4am.  i got the call at 5am.’   ‘thanks for calling me, don.  i’ll be here all day looking around to see what i can find out.’  ’sure, zen, we go way back. i know you’re solid.  keep it close to the vest and keep me posted.’   ’sure chief.’  john zen shook the detective’s hand, looked once more at the bloody body of amos fly and walked back to his car. the slight morning winds helped get rid of the blood smell that lingered in his nose.  the pall mall smoke helped to clear the smell and his head. 

the drive into ontario for breakfast took him to ford’s lunch and his old friend, sam hobbs.  they greeted each other as only long lost friends can.  each talking in a rush and listening faster.  ‘ha ha. i know it’s not funny but i was out back in the store room yesterday when i heard the gun shots and tires screeching. i wondered what was going on.’  sam continued.  ’so you’re looking to stay here awhile, eh’   ‘yeah, sam, it would make things easier for me.’  ‘you can move into the guest house at my place, zen.  the couple that lived there moved out and since hattie died i haven’t had anyone to chat with.’   ‘ok, sam, thanks.’  sam handed him the key and said, ‘make yourself at home. the phone is still hooked up.  i put it in my name.’  ‘great, sam, thanks so very much.’  with that and a full stomach, john zen, pi, drove further south to the old hobbs place and a long forgotten youth.

he drove south to place where the gravillas and pepper trees ended.  to where the farms and dairies began.  to that place out of his past.  it stood on the northwest corner of euclid and ely.  maybe on a couple or three acres of land.  old long abandoned chicken coops and a small horse stable flanked one side of the property.  a nice one story house, still painted white, as the center piece.  though to john zen, the real center piece was the huge gnarled old fig tree that had stood in the courtyard for many many long years.  the tree trunk was a good 4 feet in diameter and the tree itself yielded up the best figs anywhere.  the sweet fruit and leaves gone now in the warm december.  the majestic tree of his youth grown even larger.  it’s bare limbs stretching out and covering the courtyard. zen parked his car under the broad lifeless limbs that cast broken shadows of winter light over the decaying asphalt drive.  he got out of the coupe and walked over to the tree and put both of his hands on the trunk.  catching up on old times, as it were.  the tree swayed gently in the breeze as if to welcome, john zen, home again.  zen, wished it were summer and the tree so full of fruit that it dropped every where, as if begging you to taste it’s sweet bounty.  all that fruit on the ground made you stop to sample some, while you hid from the hot bright summertime sun.   

he stood there and looked at the home where his mother had worked and the home he played in as kid.  often playing cards or parcheesi with his mother and hattie at the large dinning room table.  the laughter still rang in there, he thought.  his mother and hattie both gone now.  the laughter and joy of youth gone now as well, in a misshapen world of long ago dreams.  as he thought these and other thoughts he wiped away a tear and walked over to the guest house.  opening the door brought back many memories of others who had lived and loved there over the years.  the gambler and his wife, gone now as well, among others. 

inside he found the phone and called velda.  ‘hey,sis, it’s me.’   ‘oh, zen, finally.  what’s going on?  i’ve been calling you all morning.’  he filled her in on the events of the morning and gave her the number that was on the phone.  he told her to take some money from the stash and buy a big steak along with a bottle of dago red for dinner that night.   he hoped she would but she rarely did what he asked unless it was about the business.  he gave her a sisterly smooch and signed off.  while sitting at the kitchen table looking at the lifeless fig tree his thoughts weaved a tangled web. 

realizing he was miles away from his scheduled talk with, ben morris, he made another call.  ‘hannigan’s. and we ain’t open yet.  call back later.’   ’ben, it’s john.  something’s come up and i’m going to be stuck out in ontario for at least the day.  we still need to talk though.’  said zen.  ‘it concerns some friends of yours.’  ‘i understand.  the phone isn’t a place for that sort of conversation.  come and see me when you can.  i’ll be in early all week.’  ‘thanks ben, if you want to talk i’ll be at this number.’   after reading his friend the number, zen, hung up the phone and lit a smoke.  

jmh