Confirming that Jerry Krause is still a tool, five (or perhaps 10?) great reasons to watch "The Vampire Diaries" and a dictatorial return in Russia

- Jerry Krause is a tool. We’ve known that for a long time, as evidenced by his crotchety, prickly bitterman routine over the years. He’s a FAT, multiple-chinned bitterman who almost no one likes. Him not attending Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Friday because the Hall has not inducted legendary coach Tex Winter is not going to help his case for likeability. Simply put, Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time and not attending his induction ceremony when he played the entire relevant portion of his amazing career for your team is unforgivable. Michael Jordan’s induction into the Hall of Fame is not the vehicle for your political BS about who you think should be in the HOF. Quit hijacking other people’s moments in the sun for your own agenda, J. "Michael's the greatest player who ever played a team sport," Krause said. "He's given me and my family and everyone who has been associated with the Bulls, everything. We all benefited from Michael being there, and I'm happy for him and his special day. But the Hall of Fame thing is personal with me. I'm not walking back in there until Tex Winter is acknowledged." I tell you what, a-hole, how about you use some of your free time to print up a few signs and placards at your neighborhood Kinko’s and go to the Hall to picket every day instead of refusing to attend when the greatest player in the history of your franchise and sport is inducted into that sport’s most elite club? Sure, Winter, 87, is recognized as the person who created the triangle offense that has been made famous by the Los Angeles Lakers and current coach Phil Jackson. The Bulls also used that offense during the six Jordan-led championship teams in the 1990s, while Winter was an assistant coach. So yes, Winter was a key part of those six championships and I’m not disputing the fact that he should be in the Hall of Fame; I’m merely decrying Krause’s choice to commandeer Jordan’s big moment to use as the setting for his own campaign to get Winter inducted into the HOF………

- I wasn’t planning on watching the new CW show “The Vampire Diaries,” but I may have to reconsider that decision. For one, shows about vampires just don’t hold a lot of interest for me and secondly, the CW has quickly become the most prolific producer of ubar-crappy, unwatchable shows that center entirely on rich kids in either New York or Southern California and their lives of exclusive parties and upper-class living. Not sure that “The Vampire Diaries” fits into that mold, but based on its premise and the previews I’ve seen, I have received no motivation to watch the show - until now. My change of heart has nothing to do with the show itself, its acting or its writing. No, it has everything to do with the fact that five actresses from the show were arrested after allegedly dangling off a Georgia overpass and flashing drivers. Nina Dobrev, Sara Canning, Kayla Ewell, Krystal Vayda, and Candice Accola were drunk out of their minds, er, out having a good time and they blessed some fortunate motorists in the ATL with the sight of their nice racks. Maybe they were trying to see if they could get someone to wreck by distracting them, I don’t know. What I do know is that the tools who called 911 on Aug. 22 to report seeing the young women flashing drivers on I-75 from the side of the Rumble Road overpass just north of Macon are the ones who need to be arrested. Either enjoy five hot, young actresses showing off their bodies or stay out of the way of those who are trying to enjoy it. Also arrested was cameraman Tyler Shields, who would seem to substantiate the actresses’ claims to Monroe County authorities that they were just filming for the show. Sure it’s a ridiculous claim and yes, it almost certainly has no basis in fact, but who cares? When was the last time a crew of five beautiful actresses decided to flash drivers from an overpass in YOUR city? For my money, the fact that these lovely ladies were charged with disorderly conduct is the true crime. Arrest them? You should be giving them each the key to the city and informing them that they are welcome to come and flash your citizens any time…….

- Color me freaking stunned. Russia’s former Communist czar/dictator and the country’s current premier, is considering a run for president in 2012? Not that the dude has ever really left power, not with his handpicked successor President Dmitry Medvedev taking his orders, er, leading the country. In a discussion with some 45 Russia experts from around the world, Putin talked about he and Medvedev “deciding” who will represent their party in the despot/presidential election of 2012. Putin lied and said that he and Medvedev will decide together who should run for president in the next elections and that their decision will be based on the situation in the country, their own personal plans, and the wishes of the United Russia party. Given that Putin is the party’s leader and he’s basically Medvedev’s political godfather, figuring out who will run in 2012 shouldn’t be too difficult. Sure, Bad Vlad could have merely given a giant middle finger to the Russian constitution in 2008 when it called for him to step down after two successive terms in office. That same constitution has conveniently been changed since that point to allow dictators/presidents to serve terms of six years in office instead of four. That means if Putin reinstalls himself in office/is “elected” by the people in 2012, he could potentially remain until 2024. And of course V. Putin rejected suggestions that such a process would be undemocratic. Lastly, he moved quickly to quash any rumors of tension between he and his boy Medvedev. “There won't be any tension in 2012," he said. I bet there won’t be, Vlad. If you decide to run, your boy Medvedev had better fall in line or it’s off to the gulag for him. Heck, I’m interested to see how Medvedev survives until 2012, given the fact that he recently ripped his country for its oil-dependent economy, rampant corruption and "weak democracy." Let’s overlook that last part, because I think he’s confusing a Communist government disguised as a non-existent democracy with “weak democracy.” He then followed up those scathing, misguided words by urging a slow, cautious path toward reform. Make up your mind, Dmitry. Just don’t worry about 2012 because your friendly national dictator V. Putin will make that choice for you…….

- Know your product. That’s a freaking ironclad rule for drug dealers and drug users worldwide. You need to know your product because a) you’re either paying or receiving a lot of money for it, b) both buyer and seller are typically violating one or more laws to make the transaction c) using and selling drugs can both be deadly propositions if you don’t have or receive the right stuff and d) getting high/buzzed/stoned is an essential part of any druggie’s day and as such should be taken seriously. For all of those reasons, Timothy Ogburn of Clarksville (perhaps he rode the last train there) is not what I would call a respectable druggie. Ogburn spotted two teenage girls walking home from school and decided that it would be a good idea to point a pistol in their faces. Why would he do that? Well, because he thought they had weed in their purses, that’s why. Apparently, someone spotted a baggie in one of the girls' purses and told the Ogburn and his crew that she had marijuana. He then spent what I’m sure were five thoughtful seconds contemplating his next move before approaching the girls, pulling his piece and demanding their bag of the chronic. The girl toting the purse with the aforementioned bag willingly surrendered it to the Ogburn and his boys, only to reveal that it was not the hippie lettuce but rather oregano. “Is this what you want? It’s just oregano,” she explained to these two tools. Ogburn, Victor Little and a third individual received no tree on this day and instead were charged with aggravated robbery with a $25,000 bond. None of this would happened if they knew their drugs and didn’t haphazardly act on false information without taking time to verify it. A good stoner, heck, a good addict of any illegal drug would have known this and wouldn’t find themselves in this position. Burned in a meth lab explosion, perhaps, but not in this particular position……..

- With Smallville set to return Sept. 25 at 8/7c on the CW, the show is still finalizing some key details for its ninth season. For the duration of the series, Terence Stamp has voiced Jor-El, Clark Kent’s Kryptonian father, but Julian Sands will be playing the on-screen role this season as the Man of Steel’s other-worldly father shows up on screen thanks to a unique plot twist. Basically, the arrival of Kryptonian bad guy Zod (Callum Blue) on Earth is going to bring a wide range of alien visitors with him. Although Zod is unaware of Clark Kent and who he'll grow to be, Zod and his fellow galaxy travelers will undoubtedly bring a lot of complications into CK’s life. No doubt the arrival of Jor-El, Clark's biological dad, will take things in an interesting direction. But Jor-El won't appear until the season's seventh episode, which is titled "Kandor." Executive producers Brian Peterson and Kelly Souders hinted at the chance to see a living Jor-El this season during their appearance at Comic-Con last month. “You'll learn pretty quickly -- in Episode 2 -- what happens," said Peterson. He also pointed out that Stamp will still be heard from this season, so there are clearly a lot of moving pieces in this puzzle that will be falling into place throughout the season. Personally I’m pumped for this season, even if I will have to deal with the heartbreaking reality that this will be the first season of the show in which the über-hot Kristin Kreuk won’t appear. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to weep quietly in the corner……….