After a half dozen failed attempts, I finally got to meet the ever elusive Mr. Mike Lee. He was limited on time but made the hike from his hotel over to The Colbert Report to meet up with Brian & I. While the usual post taping event is dinner at Sammy's, Mike only had about an hour so we talked east on 54th to Broadway and stopped into the Applejack Diner.

Tonights word is "Appreciation" in honor of bagging two seats to a taping of The Colbert Report. I had emailed the show all week in an effort to get some seats so I could take Brian and Mike Lee. Unfortunately I was shot down repeatedly, but thanks to my Hiptop I tossed out one final email to mark and he told me to come on over!

Since, the show is taping at the old TDS studios, I was dying to check out the changes they had done. Brian & I got the studio right on time, after walk/running 10 blocks,. When we got inside I expected the place to be packed full of VIPs but there was only about 12. Shortly after we were herded like cattle into the studio and seated, after a quick set by the warm up comic to get us loose, Stephen came out and took a few questions from the audience. The show was an absolute riot, I haven't enjoyed a taping as much since last years TDS Election Night Special.

Since photos of the studio are permitted, I had to sneak this one as we left.

I also got the hoop up for tickets on Nov 14, Nov 28, Nov 29, and Nov 30. Anyone interested in going?

Running around the city and this store on 340 Madison caught my eye, it's an exhabit for five Smart cars, the two-seat vehicles produced by Daimler Chrysler in Europe that have gas mileage figures that would make an S.U.V. driver blush. Not currently sold in the United States, altho there are being sold in Canada, the cars get about 65 miles a gallon in highway driving in some tests.

This chick and her sign were outside 1515 Broadway, MTV studios, where Green Day were the guests for TRL.

Her sign says it all:

"You Are All Whores Of Corruption."

Preach on sister!

Slapped a Hiptop sticker on one of the printers at the New York Public Library.

It used to be on 259 West 55th, that's where the MWS clan ate when they were in town. But it closed down a year or two ago and moved over to 42nd Street & 5th Ave, right across the street from the New York Public Library and right next to a TMo store.

The same rules apply but I won't eat there now. Its too corporate, it looks too clean now, not like its old place where rats probably shit in the soup and that's what gave it its charm.

I didn't even see Al Yeganeh, the 'Soup Nazi' himself behind the counter. It was staffed by a bunch of kids.

Heading into the city for a BeeSoreUs meet up. Mike Lee might join us as well with possible walk ons by Mr Versatal and Deblirious.

They dominated their sports. They championed their country, race, or sex. They helped others to achieve. The names are instantly recognizable: Muhammad Ali, Billie Jean King, the 1980 United States Hockey Team, Lance Armstrong. On and off the playing field, athletes have broken records for themselves and broken barriers. But he greatest champions stand for more than the records they break: They change the way we think about our world.

Sports: Breaking Records, Breaking Barriers brings sports history together with American history, examining how sports illuminate and transform a society, changing lives, affecting politics, fueling the economy, and shaping the culture.

Hank Aaron's Milwaukee Brewers uniform (3). He wore this uniform to finish out the last two seasons of his career. In photo six (6) it's a prototype roller skate from 1860, invented and patented by James L. Plimpton (5), and a rubber swim fin designed by Owen Churchill (4).

Seven (7), eight (8), and nine (9) belong to the greatest boxer of all time, Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.). It's the robe he wore while training for his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" and autographed it in 1976. Over the span of 21 years, some of the milestones Ali achieved include an Olympic gold medal (1960), his first heavyweight title (1964), his refusal to serve in Vietnam on religious grounds for which he was stripped of his title (1967), his vindication by the Supreme Court (1970), his recapture of the title (1974), and a third title victory (1978).

Next up, is an autographed baseball (11) signed by Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1952, the year they took the National League pennant. Robinson was the first African American to play baseball in the Major Leagues. Geese Ausbie’s uniform is in photo thirteen (13). "Geese" was a member of

the Harlem Globetrotters for over 20 years, I still remember seeing him live when I was a kid.

In his 15 seasons with the Yankees, Babe Ruth and his team won seven pennants and four World Series. "The Sultan of Swat" hit more than 40 homers per season in 11 seasons, a record never equaled and 60 in one season. Before he retired in 1935, Ruth hit 714 career home runs, a record few players have even approached. The baseball pictured (14) was signed by Ruth and 26 other Yankees, this ball was a get well gift for Elliot Spencer, a young neighbor of the Yankees' manager.

Brian Boitano, Olympic Gold Medal Skater at 1988 Calgary Olympics, donated the skates (17) that he wore for all three events (compulsory, short program, and long program). While over in photo nineteen (19) is Sandy Koufaxs left-hander's glove during his career with the Dodgers. Pelé’s New York Cosmos uniform (21) from 1976. Pelé, the world's greatest soccer player in the world's most popular sport, joined the Santos soccer team in Brazil at the age of 15. He led the national team to World Cup championships in 1958, 1962, and 1970. With dazzling skill, speed, and ball control, Pelé set every scoring record in Brazil.

Finally, is the belt (23) that belong to heavy weight champion, John L. Sullivan. The “Boston Strong Boy” toured the world defending his title and burnishing his image. This son of poor Irish immigrants rose above the prejudice of his day, and his celebrity demonstrated a national shift towards the acceptance of Irish Americans.

Though boxing was illegal in most states, the press-savvy Sullivan won fans from every walk of life, including the president of the United States. At the high point of his career, Sullivan's supporters bought him a diamond-encrusted belt which was presented to him by the mayor of Boston. "The Great John L." lost only one of his nearly 50 career fights, falling to James "Gentleman Jim" Corbett in 1892.

New Yorkers have witnessed historic events in every major U.S. sport from boxing, horse racing and soccer to basketball, baseball, football and hockey. From bicycling and golf to tennis and running.

I went and checked out Miracles: New York's Greatest Sports Moments at the Empire State Museum today. The exhabit focuses on top sports moments, miracle makers and memories that have captured the country's collective consciousness from the great state of New York.

The number 1 pick was the U.S. hockey team's "Miracle on Ice" which occured at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. Second was Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Additionally, there was a display for the ninth NY sports moment which was Don Larsen's perfect game, and rounding out the top ten was Secretariat's Triple Crown victories in 1973.