The hedge fund manager addressed the hot button issue ofregulation at a time many Americans are demanding new andstricter oversight for banks, hedge funds and others afterblaming them for accelerating the economic crisis. But Griffin said it would be a mistake to throw out allcurrent regulations and begin anew. Instead he said the lawsthat are in place must be enforced better. "Overall, the regulatory frameworks are solid, but therewas a lack of will around enforcement," Griffin said. "This isnot the time to rewrite it in the next 12 months." Griffin's own industry -- the $1.3 trillion hedge fundbusiness -- has also come under increasing scrutiny, withcritics pushing for more transparency as well as otherrestrictions Griffin testified before Congress about thematter last year. (Reporting by Svea Herbst; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn) Stocks Regulatory News Global Markets Funds News ETFs News.
Welcome to my weekly NFL column, known as 4th and Long.Item 1: Brett Favre Photo Wins ContestThe photo shown above of Brett Favre is called 'First Down'. It was taken by Steve Apps of the Wisconsin State Journal. Apps' work won him the Dave Boss Award of Excellence in the 40th Annual NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Photo Contest.Nice work and congratulations, Steve. Item 2: ESPN Finally Gets ItThe NFL Draft has traditionally started at noon, EDT. This has always been a bad time - for everyone, including ESPN. Guys with families have kids things or shopping to do; single guys are still hungover from Friday's festivities. It was even worse for our west coast friends, who had to get up at 9am to tune in.ESPN finally got smart and moved the draft to 3pm. This helps all of us, but it benefits them the most. By moving the draft to later in the day, they will not only compete directly with the sports coverage by CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX, they will spill over into prime time and grab a chunk of that audience. Rounds 1 and 2 will transpire from 3pm to 11pm on Saturday. Rounds 3-7 will begin at 10am on Sunday and conclude around 7pm. Item 3: Udeze Gets Some Good NewsMinnesota Vikings DE Kenechi Udeze, who was diagnosed with leukemia on February, got some good news from doctors this week. The disease is in remission and a bone-marrow donor (his brother) has been located. Udeze is not out of the woods, yet but this news is very encouraging for the 4th year pro out of USC We wish him well.
Item 4: Raider Fans on Bleacher ReportPeople I refer to bleacherreport have asked me why there is so much Raider noise on this website. You would think given the team's recent performance that Raider fans would be in hiding. I tell them, you don't know this group, they are fanatical about this team. It's a good thing. But there is one thing that Raider fans are wrong about.They are not hated. People I have talked to - from all cities and teams - bear no ill will towards Raider Nation. We are not sure where this false notion has come from.Do they really think that fans of other teams hate them or are jealous of them?Why would fans of the Patriots, Giants, Steelers, Eagles, Redskins, Jets, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Cardinals, Cowboys and Colts hate the Raiders?All of those teams either have won or lost the Super Bowl in the new millennium, gotten new stadiums - or both. Football is thriving in those -and other - cities.The Raiders are the last thing on their minds. . Bel to Release First Quarter Results Thursday, April 30, 2009; Webcast Set for11:00 a.m.