plus 3, Rivera's fire took root in kids' games - New York Post

Rivera's fire took root in kids' games - New York Post
OFPP to refine agency-contractor relationship - FederalNewsRadio.com
Perfect bracket could win you $5,000 cash! - ESPN Soccernet
'Little Billy' punks VIPs in wide-eyed letters - AP ... - Salon

Rivera's fire took root in kids' games - New York Post

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 01:40 AM PST

TAMPA -- In many ways, Mariano Rivera is the Yankees' MOst Valuable Player. Just think where this franchise would be without the great Rivera. To truly understand Rivera, you have to go back to his days growing up in Panama. Listen to this story about how Rivera forged his winning ways playing baseball:

When he was 8, 9, 10 years old, each team would put up 25 cents, winner takes all.

"Whoever scored 10 runs first was the winner," Rivera explained last night at Steinbrenner Field. "Are you kidding me, 50 cents, that was gold for us! And we fight to the end. It was beautiful. It don't matter what we have to do, we fight to the end. Most of the time we came up winners. And my team was small, but a lot of hitting. We beat a lot of teams.

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"I always had that determination to win," Rivera said. "I was disciplined to win. I hated to lose. I hate to lose at anything, with my cousins, anything. I was very, very competitive. That's the point. We didn't want to let that 25 cents get away without fighting."

All the young pitchers in the Yankees organization should heed Rivera's words.

"You have to fight for that goal -- it ain't going to be given to you, no one is going to hand you anything," he said with passion. "You have to fight for it. You have to earn it." Terms of the financial deal have changed. It's no longer 50 cents, but Rivera has had the same determination throughout his career.

Rivera owns 526 career saves, the most in AL history, and only Trevor Hoffman (591) has more. The way Rivera is going, he will be the all-time leader. He has another 39 in the postseason. Rivera is 40, but he may be in the best shape of any Yankee.

He looks back to those days when he was a kid and how those games shaped his approach to the game. Win or lose, he knew he did the best he could and moved on to the next game.

He still never looks back.

"It's a blessing, but that's something I learned playing those games as a kid," he said. "If we lost, we gave our best."

And here's the best part. "If we won," Rivera said, "we all went to the little store to buy a big liter of soda and oatmeal cookies and we share."

That's what winning is all about.

The Yankees may have issues with the fifth starter, but once again pitching is the strength of this team. The addition of Javier Vazquez solidifies the rotation. He was the Braves' best pitcher last year, and with a solid four starters, that puts the Yankees where they need to be, because they can always count on Rivera.

Come contract time at the end of the year, the Yankees cannot afford to lose Rivera. He said he has no concerns about that because, "I have a job."

He keeps it simple. "Business is business," he said. That means Rivera expects to be treated fairly by the Yankees at the end of the year. No matter what happens, he has no worries at all. He may be the most together athlete to ever play this game.

"Why should I worry about something I don't control?" Rivera said. "I have a job right now, so I rejoice in it."

Rivera has been in great spirits all spring. He is expected to pitch in a game for the first time on Tuesday. The only other player who has the same type of mental edge that Rivera has is Derek Jeter. They are the competitive cornerstones.

"That's the beauty about this," Rivera said of the challenge to win another championship. "Every year is a new beginning. With that comes new challenges. You have to be up to the challenge. Definitely, I'm up to the challenge. Do it again."

Find a way to win to take that 50 cents.

kevin.kernan@nypost.com

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OFPP to refine agency-contractor relationship - FederalNewsRadio.com

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 01:32 AM PST

By Jason Miller
Executive Editor
Federal News Radio

Dan Gordon doesn't believe major acquisition changes to the federal processes are on the horizon as agencies saw in the 1990s. But the administrator in the Office of Federal Procurement Policy also knows status quo isn't working.

So Gordon, who has been in office for 100 days, has his eye on a few high-profile areas in need of major reform.

"During the 1990s, there was massive statutory and regulatory change," he says. "I am not going to tell you that there will be no change because there will be change. But I do not expect the kind and degree of change in terms of statutory and regulatory change we saw in the 1990s. We will have change by way of refinement and correcting specific matters."

Gordon, who detailed three broad priorities Thursday at an event sponsored by the Coalition for Government Procurement in Washington, says improving the agency-contractor relationship is among the top issue he is dealing with.

This effort includes revamping the definition of functions that are considered inherently governmental, those closely associated with inherently governmental and those considered critical. He also is reviewing on multiple award contracts and whether there are too many of them for the same goods and services throughout government.

Gordon adds he wants agencies to justify why they need these redundant contracts. He says there could be a valid reason, but he is skeptical.

"One of the first things I did as administrator in terms of written guidance to the agencies was send out a memorandum if you have blanket purchase agreement for goods under the Federal Supply Schedule check to see your discounts," he says. "If you are not getting any discounts beyond the FSS, you may want to consult with counsel and see if you can renegotiate forthwith to get a discount."

Reviewing multiple award contracts is something the last administration started, but never made much progress on. Gordon says having so many contracts doesn't make sense for agencies or for industry.

Agencies and vendors' wait may be over soon for the new definition of inherently governmental. Gordon says he expects to issue a draft policy letter in the Federal Register by the end of March.

"The goal is to get public comment, eventually finalize this OFPP policy letter and then be sure everyone knows the rules of the game and that we are providing concrete guidance for the government and for industry," he says. "The point is not to take work away from contractors, but we need to do a better job of managing our contracts. We are so thinly stretched that I've heard stories that agencies are relying on contractors to manage other contractors. We can't have that happen."

There is a lot interest and concern about the new definition. OFPP has tried to redefine inherently governmental twice in the last 20 years-once in 1992 and again during the 2003 rewrite of OMB Circular A-76.

Agencies need the new policy as the administration wants insourcing pilots this year. OMB is asking agencies what functions that are currently contracted out could be brought back in house because they are considered inherently governmental.

Industry is concerned about the affect the new definition could have on its employees as well its contracts.

Bill Gormley, a former GSA official and president of the Washington Management Group, says he is taking a wait-and-see approach on the updated definition, but it will not be easy to do make work.

"Inherently governmental will bring in a lot of legal opportunities for law firms and a lot of legal discussion," he says. "No one has ever been able to define inherently government. I admire him and his office for taking this on."

Another piece to the agency-contractor relationship is the increased use of strategic sourcing. OFPP and GSA are considering several commodities including office supplies, copiers, printers and other multi-functional devices and wireless phone capabilities.

Gordon says too often the government doesn't use its purchasing power to its advantage.

This wouldn't be the first time OFPP is trying strategic sourcing. Under the Bush administration, GSA created the SmartBuy program for software. A broader initiative never got off the ground as well.

SmartBuy has been relatively successful, help agencies avoid paying more than $100 million over the last five years.

Gormley says any strategic sourcing initiative must do what GSA and the Defense Department did to be successful.

"Industry will not make a move and offer some very favorable conditions unless there is some type of guarantee here," he says. "Dan talked about that he knows this is a chicken and egg and I think the way you crack the egg is the government needs to have some type of guaranteed minimum."

Gordon says he hopes the prices, terms and conditions of these contracts will give agencies no choice but to use these vehicles.

He also points to a recent request for quote GSA issued Monday for office supplies as a possible model for future strategic sourcing efforts.

"One of the helpful things in the RFQ GSA issued for office supplies was a request for tiered pricing so as the volume goes up, the prices goes down," Gordon says. "The government is not asking industry to give very low prices where there will not be volume buy. The question is in the RFQ, if the volume goes above $10 million, $50 million or $100 million what prices will you offer? That strikes me as directly responsive to industry's concern that the government is asking for good prices, but isn't giving large quantities."

Gordon says the RFQ also asks agencies for commitment letters in terms of using the blanket purchase agreement.

Along with the agency-contractor relationship, Gordon is focusing on the acquisition workforce. He met with officials at the Federal Acquisition Institute, the Defense Acquisition University and individual agencies to discuss how to improve the hiring, retention and training of these workers.

Gordon says he is hiring a senior executive in his office to focus almost entirely on workforce challenges.

"We are developing intern and mid-career development programs," he says. "We have a real gap in how we recruit and hire people in their 30s and 40s who have some experience, but are not on the verge of retirement."

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Perfect bracket could win you $5,000 cash! - ESPN Soccernet

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 12:50 AM PST

It's difficult to envisage how things could get much better for Wayne Rooney. Winning goals in Madrid in May and Johannesburg in July would probably do it, but nevertheless, the Manchester United striker is enjoying the richest vein of form of his career and has got the world talking about just how much of an impact he can make at this year's finals in South Africa.

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The Champions League has history of bringing out both the best and worst in Rooney, from a scintillating hat-trick on his Old Trafford debut against Fenerbahce in 2004, to a petulant red card against Villarreal in the group stages in 2005 - the only season in which United have been eliminated before the knockout rounds in the past 14 years.

On Tuesday, in a 4-0 demolition of a Milan side that just three years ago sent United packing at the semi-final stage, Rooney again demonstrated why he is fast becoming the favourite to usurp Lionel Messi as the world's best player. It was the latest in a series of headed goals, something that he credits to both practice and favourable follicles.

"It was a great performance by us," Rooney said on the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour. "I think AC Milan are one of the great teams and to beat them 4-0 is a great achievement for us, so obviously I'm happy with the result. Of course [I practice a lot], I think probably it's coming off my bald patch and that's helping me score! But of course I've been working on my heading a lot and thankfully that's paying off."

Rooney's impressive goal haul this season has vindicated those who have called for him to play in the position in which he has been most comfortable since playing on the parks of Merseyside as a youngster - an out-and-out striker. And it seems Sir Alex Ferguson may have been watching the way England boss Fabio Capello deployed Rooney in that very position, after seeing him plunder nine goals in World Cup qualifying.

"I think I've been in the box a lot more" Rooney explained. "I've been working on my timing and on my finishing and I've also played up front in every game this season when I've played - I think that's definitely the main reason for me scoring a lot of goals.

"I've played a lot of games up front on my own and when you're the lone striker you know you have to stay up the pitch because you need to be the focal point in your team. I'm not running back quite as much but I'm doing all my work more in the opponents' half."

It is Capello who is rubbing his hands the most as he knows that he has one of the most dangerous weapons at his disposal in South Africa. Rooney admits that while he is fully focused on the task at hand with United, it is difficult not to keep one eye on the biggest spectacle in world football.

"You try not to think too much about the World Cup because you need to do the job with your club first. But it's always there in your mind and when it comes it's a dream to play for your country in any competition and at the World Cup it's an unbelievable feeling.

"I thought we played really well in our qualifying games and I was a bit gutted that we lost the last game because it would have been nice to go through the whole campaign and win every game so that left a bit of a bad taste. But we played really well in the qualifying campaign and we fully deserved to go through.

"I remember watching Michael Owen in 1998, his goal against Argentina, I was still a young boy and I think when he scored that goal, not just for myself, but for everyone in England, it was a great feeling and a great moment. I watched it at my Nan's house - whenever there was a World Cup on I'd sit around with all my family and watch it, so to play in it knowing that my family will be there or be watching it is a great feeling."

This year, Rooney hopes it will be he who steals the headlines that were reserved for his current United team-mate 12 years ago, and he is undoubtedly one of the players who has garnered the most attention from opposition managers.

He has been described as "extra-special" by Australia coach Pim Verbeek, "unstoppable" by Germany coach Joachim Low and "the complete player" by Leonardo, after he saw the England striker net four goals in two matches against his AC Milan side. But despite all the praise, Rooney insists it is only the opinion of a select few that matters to him, and was quick to point to the contribution of his team-mates to his form.

"Obviously it's nice for top coaches to say good things about you but if I'm being honest I don't really read into it too much. I listen to my manager at England and my manager at Manchester United, and my family and friends - if they tell me I'm doing well I'll listen to them.

"My team-mates know for sure that I'm getting the goals but I wouldn't be getting the goals without them so they've been a big part of my success this year and hopefully we will be successful as a team at the end of the year.

Over the past two years, it has been clear to see a change in Rooney - but it is not simply because he has now been charged with spearheading the United attack in the absence of the departed Cristiano Ronaldo. Yes, the Portuguese forward's transfer to Real Madrid has allowed him to be the focal point of the team, but more than that, Rooney's temperament has mellowed, though crucially, he has not lost his irrepressible energy and passionate approach to playing the game.

He is clearly benefitting from better anger management, and Rooney reveals that the birth of his first son, Kai, last November, has given him even greater motivation to develop a calmer persona.

"I think I've changed a lot over the last couple of years, obviously becoming a father you have to change and you have to be a role model to your son and someone he can look up to so that's what I've done. He's been to a few games although he probably doesn't know what's happening. The important thing for me was when he came to watch at Everton - the two teams I've played for and the teams who he'll support as well.

"It's something I'm looking forward to. I've got little cousins who come to the games and you see what it means to them to watch you play and for me to know that there watching me. When my son comes to watch me every week it will be an amazing feeling and something that I will be proud of.

Clearly enjoying both fatherhood and football, 2010 could potentially be the most memorable of Rooney's 24 years, and though he never likes to be too confident about his club and country's chances of silverware, there's certainly nothing wrong with having a little bit of optimism.

"We're in a great position with Man United, top of the league at the minute and through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League and obviously with England it's going well and we're preparing right and hopefully by the time we meet up with England, we'll have a great tournament and you never know, we might have this [trophy] back at the end of the end of July."

Wayne Rooney was speaking at the London leg of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, sponsored by Coca-Cola.

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'Little Billy' punks VIPs in wide-eyed letters - AP ... - Salon

Posted: 12 Mar 2010 12:57 AM PST

"Little Billy" was in a jam: His parents blamed him for dismembering his sister's doll, but the dog did it. How could he clear his name?

He scribbled a note to Robert Shapiro, the high-priced O.J. Simpson attorney, who counseled him to gather forensic evidence, examine the doll's body for tooth marks or dog saliva, or find an alibi witness who would get him off the hook. No charge for the advice.

Advice from such a high place was not unusual for Billy. Over the years diplomats, politicians, celebrities -- even notorious criminals -- offered guidance in response to the grade-schooler's handwritten inquiries.

It was all a big setup. Little Billy was actually grown-up Bill Geerhart, punking the famous and infamous by writing letters to them asking questions out of the mouths of babes. Their correspondence back -- humorous, head-scratching, poignant -- is compiled in a book, "Little Billy's Letters," out this week.

Geerhart, latest in a line of hoax letter-writers to fool public figures over the years, collected the letters starting in the mid-1990s while he was killing time as an unemployed writer in Los Angeles.

Most of the letters in the book go back to a time before e-mails took over written communication. But some are recent. In 2008, Sarah Palin's dad, Chuck Heath -- handling the deluge of mail for his daughter, the Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate -- declined to take Billy hunting wolves by air. "No wolf hunting from helicopters here," scribbles Heath.

For career advice, Billy -- who was leaning toward convenience store clerk because he would have access to video games on the job -- polls those in other fields, including assisted-suicide figure Dr. Jack Kevorkian. From his prison cell, Kevorkian responds, "sometimes I wish I was a 7-Eleven clerk!"

As Billy mounts a campaign for third-grade class president, he gets good-luck wishes from former President Gerald Ford and former Vice President Dan Quayle.

Less civic-mindedly, Billy writes to brewer Anheuser-Busch asking "if there is a beer for kids" and asks Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt if there's a version of his publication for the pint-sized. No dice.

"Hang in there -- you'll be 18 before you know it," Flynt writes. "Until then, you should read the Sears & Roebuck catalog." An Anheuser-Busch executive rats on him, sending his parents a brochure on how to talk to kids about drinking.

Shapiro, part of the legal "dream team" that won O.J. Simpson's acquittal in the 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend, was full of ideas when Billy wrote about wrongly taking the rap for the destroyed doll.

"Is there any forensic evidence that will support your theory that the dog killed the doll?" Shapiro replied. "Were any scraps of doll clothing found near his dog house, perhaps? How about tooth marks on the doll's remains (assuming there were remains)? If so, a good forensic dentist should be able to match them to the dog." A witness could prove Billy's innocence or a DNA test could confirm the presence of dog saliva on the corpse, Shapiro wrote.

When Billy ponders whether to drop out of school, David Berkowitz -- the Son of Sam slayer who killed six women in a late-1970s rampage in New York City -- tells him "don't do self-destructive things" and opens up about his own grief and guilt. Murderous cult leader Charles Manson merely beefs that he's not getting his Los Angeles Times in prison.

Seeking the wise counsel of retired diplomats for how to stop incursions by his sister "Connie" into his treehouse, Billy gets former secretaries of state James Baker and Henry Kissinger to bless a handwritten, one-year "treaty" that would keep Connie out -- though Baker thought the pact should last two years.

The ever-curious Billy also asks Supreme Court justices what food they like at McDonald's, learning that then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor favors the Big Mac; colleague Clarence Thomas replies, "I like almost everything there." Then-Justice Harry Blackmun advises: "Almost anything they put out is acceptable. I like to go to Roy Rogers, too, for a beef sandwich. But I hope most of all that you eat something more than what these fast-food places put out."

Little Billy's exploits once caught up with Geerhart, who now is a Los Angeles record producer and curator of a Cold War pop culture Web site.

As Billy contemplated which religion to join, he asked officials at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to verify that "you get to wear cool underwear and have extra wives." The inquiry earned Geerhart a visit from a pair of Mormon missionaries wanting to meet the youngster. Geerhart concocted an excuse for Billy's absence and dutifully snapped a picture of the tie-clad missionaries in his disheveled apartment.

Naturally, he includes the photo in the book.

------

EDITOR'S NOTE -- "Little Billy's Letters" is published by William Morrow. It runs 240 pages and sells for $19.99.

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