Aug 31, 2007
Snowball
Just to let you know, I'm now checking scores on my raggedy old cell phone at work. I'm really thinking about leaving the company. Onto some ramblings.
- I gave a head nod to a 4 year old boy eating dinner next to me and I absolutely believe he gave it back to me.
- During the same dinner, Carol and I were eating next to a family of 5. Carol and I were joking around and being a little bit loud and I guess the table next to us got pretty quiet as they were trying to listen to our conversation. As I paid the check and was getting up to leave, for some reason our conversation turned to the wonderful subject of "snowballing". Yes boys, snowballs. Carol didn't know what it was, so I explained it to her and as we got up to leave, we made eye contact with the family next to us and it was obvious they were listening to our conversation and the parents had this blank scared look on their face as they heard my explanation. Priceless and classy.
- Last weekend Carol and I went to a Flaming Lips concert in San Diego. I've never seen them live and WOW. If you ever have a chance to catch them, please make an effort. Very solid live performance.
- Now it helps that the concert was put on by Southern Comfort, which promoted me to drink like a fish for some reason. I was completely hammered on Soco and cokes and some fruity frozen Soco drink. Ended up blacking out which isn't a good feeling at 31.
- And of course this led to a very interesting 3:00am wake up because I had to go to the bathroom. I made my usually B-Line to the toilet which was interrupted by me walking into a wall. It took me about 20 seconds to realize that I wasn't in my room but some strange dark evil room. As I Helen Kellered by way out of the room I see that I forgot to take out my contacts. Ugh...terrible rest of the morning.
- I'm taking a break from the track. Got killed last weekend.
- Good news is that I'm heading out to go see Eric. I'm sure we will be heading down to the river boats.
- Mark my words- Falcons 9-7.
- Mega Millions is up to $360 million. If I won I'm thinking who would be in my entourage. The combinations are endless and hillarious.
Aug 30, 2007
Aug 29, 2007
FedEx Cup = Joke
All summer long I've ignored all the lame comments about the PGA's FedEx Cup and players chasing points. Secretly, I was hoping it would go away. It didn't.
I decide to to do a bit a research and understand more about the system hoping it wasn't as lame as I thought it would be. I was wrong. At the end of the day, this a way for the top dogs to get richer. #123, whoever that might be has very little chance.
Reasons why this is lame.
1) This is billed as the "playoffs." However, there were 9 players that made the cut last week that aren't playing this week. Someone tell me how you finish in the top half of a tournament, which is billed as the "playoffs," and then don't get to play the following week.
2) Tiger finished the regular season with ~30,000 points, 2nd place was at ~19,000. After the adjustment to start the "playoffs", Tiger has 100,000, 2nd place 99,000. I hope no one is confused as to whom the best golfer was this season ...and why not make it 1,000,000 points to start with, that sounds much more impressive than a measely 100,000 pts.
3) Tiger didn't play round 1 (and Ernie isn't playing round 2). Finchen claims that his models show you have to play in all 4 to have a chance to win. Apparently, Tiger's model says something different.
4) The big money is differed, so how does the caddie get paid? I've read quotes for more than one player that stated ...well, I guess I'll pay him when I get the money, which might be in 15 or 20 years. Ya, thats a good plan. Your caddie has no health care, no retirement plan, you can fire him tomorrow for no reason and he pays his own travel expenses. Here is an idea, pay him now or carry your own bag (like us amateurs do) you lazy jerk.
5) According to Golf Week, there is only a 10% chance that someone outside the top 15 wins the "playoffs." The current 15th rank player earned $2,450,000 this year. how does one survive on that. (note, I have no argument with giving the regular season champ an advantage, but this is really one sided).
Wow, thats enough for now.
I decide to to do a bit a research and understand more about the system hoping it wasn't as lame as I thought it would be. I was wrong. At the end of the day, this a way for the top dogs to get richer. #123, whoever that might be has very little chance.
Reasons why this is lame.
1) This is billed as the "playoffs." However, there were 9 players that made the cut last week that aren't playing this week. Someone tell me how you finish in the top half of a tournament, which is billed as the "playoffs," and then don't get to play the following week.
2) Tiger finished the regular season with ~30,000 points, 2nd place was at ~19,000. After the adjustment to start the "playoffs", Tiger has 100,000, 2nd place 99,000. I hope no one is confused as to whom the best golfer was this season ...and why not make it 1,000,000 points to start with, that sounds much more impressive than a measely 100,000 pts.
3) Tiger didn't play round 1 (and Ernie isn't playing round 2). Finchen claims that his models show you have to play in all 4 to have a chance to win. Apparently, Tiger's model says something different.
4) The big money is differed, so how does the caddie get paid? I've read quotes for more than one player that stated ...well, I guess I'll pay him when I get the money, which might be in 15 or 20 years. Ya, thats a good plan. Your caddie has no health care, no retirement plan, you can fire him tomorrow for no reason and he pays his own travel expenses. Here is an idea, pay him now or carry your own bag (like us amateurs do) you lazy jerk.
5) According to Golf Week, there is only a 10% chance that someone outside the top 15 wins the "playoffs." The current 15th rank player earned $2,450,000 this year. how does one survive on that. (note, I have no argument with giving the regular season champ an advantage, but this is really one sided).
Wow, thats enough for now.
Help!!!
All hell is breaking loose here at the office. Mother Zurich came and shut down all access to politcal and sports' websites during working hours. My employees are more upset at this than their raises at the end of the year. I have 20 favorites saved and only two work. This site and Drudgereport. I don't know what I'm going to do. This sucks!!!!
Aug 28, 2007
Thoughts piled up in a corner....
Please forgive me for the possible mood swings; I am posting here in with the Tribe up in the bottom of the 8th, 4-3, which means Joe Borowski will be coming in the game. Should be a fun rollercoaster.
Random thoughts from the past week:
1) I'm already sick of Michael Vick. He's yesterday's news. Some dumb ass reporter asked Goddell if Vick is going to overshadow the start of the 07 season.
I'll answer that..... let's say Brett Favre committed a triple murder, LaDanian Tomlinson was found to be half-man, half alien, and Tom Brady was found in bed with Terrell Owens....
I'd STILL be highly concentrating on the 3rd WR position battle for the Browns.
These are other teams' problems - not mine. Lord knows the Browns have enough problems to think about.
2) Which brings us to Brady. Peter King is urging us to start Frye and have Quinn "grow" on the bench. I understand the thought - but our primary concern should be to win games. Does Brady give us the best chance to win 9/9 vs Pit (and 9/16 vs Cin)? If yes, then he starts. No questions asked.
We can talk about the future all we want - but all we can control is the present. All the experts can say "oh, just wait......Quinn will be fine in the future" - but we don't know what will happen in 08,09 and beyond. Ask Dan Marino. Ask Reggie Miller. "Oh, they'll get back there". No they didn't. We can't bank on the future. We try to win games now.
This team - if they get a lot of breaks - can go 10-6. I believe that. It encourages me to hear that Mortensen predicted this team will win 3 divisional games. If so, we are going 9-7, 10-6. For now, I am predicted 7-9 - but something better can happen. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot early on by playing our second-best players.
Cleveland has scored in the 8th - it-s now 5-3 Indians; the Royals lead the tigers 3-1 in the 5th.
3) Surfing Sirius the other day in the afternoon......actually stopped on the broadcast of the Urugauy vs Canada FIBA preliminary game. I was actually interested in the color commentary - the analyst was criticizing the Uruguayan coach.
Then I snapped out of it. What the hell are you doing? You bought Sirius for this? A chance to listen to this crappy basketball game that
S-SEEK Alert: "Iko Iko" by The Belle Stars
Ok, one of my top 20 songs is starting. Thank God I am rescued from FIBA....
"See that boy all dressed in green?
Iko Iko an nay
He's not a man, he's a lovin' machine
Jockono feena nay"
Borowski in, now up 6-3. Kansas City retires the Tigers finally; after 4 1/2, Royals 3, Tigers 1.
4) I forget the adrenaline of a pennant race.....gees, every game now matters from here on out. And I can't stay relaxed with this guy on the mound....thank goodness our starting pitching is carrying us so far. One more month of it - can the fivesome of CC, Carmona, Byrd, Westbrook and the rookie Laffey hold up?
DAMMIT! Leadoff HR. 6-4, Tribe.
5) A side question: if I read a post on the Browns board, mostly agree with it, and then see that the poster's tag line (his signature, I guess) is:
"Milk, Milk, Lemonade.... around the corner, fudge is made"
um....should I assume the poster is 9 years old? And be ashamed of actually agreeing with it?
One out, bunt single. Now the tying run at the plate. C'mon, Joe......
6) Golf note:
*interruption*
GEESSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh
Double....2nd and 3rd, 1 out.....6-4. Now Hunter is up.
And now a Sac Fly.
6-5, 2 out. Who's up? Cmon, Sportsline......
oh God - Morneau
Ball 1
strike 1
We CAN'T blow this.
I don't even care that the Devil Rays put up an 8 spot in the 8th vs. the O's.
strike 2
foul
he strikes out looking. Game over. Somehow, we win, 6-5.
That's it. We can't go on like this. This is not a rarity, folks. It's gas on the fire every time he comes in. We can't last another month like this, can we? But what can Wedge do? Can you demote him now? Can you actually demote the AL Saves leader for the stretch run? Betancourt (ERA of 1.50 or so) is so much better than Joe (ERA of 5.50). But what can he do?
An 11-spot for the D-Rays in Baltimore. Dear Lord......Wow.
Ok, I'm done. Thanks to Joe, you get no golf updates. You will have to hear about the "best triple-bogey 7 I ever saw" (as quoted by my playing partners) another time.....
Random thoughts from the past week:
1) I'm already sick of Michael Vick. He's yesterday's news. Some dumb ass reporter asked Goddell if Vick is going to overshadow the start of the 07 season.
I'll answer that..... let's say Brett Favre committed a triple murder, LaDanian Tomlinson was found to be half-man, half alien, and Tom Brady was found in bed with Terrell Owens....
I'd STILL be highly concentrating on the 3rd WR position battle for the Browns.
These are other teams' problems - not mine. Lord knows the Browns have enough problems to think about.
2) Which brings us to Brady. Peter King is urging us to start Frye and have Quinn "grow" on the bench. I understand the thought - but our primary concern should be to win games. Does Brady give us the best chance to win 9/9 vs Pit (and 9/16 vs Cin)? If yes, then he starts. No questions asked.
We can talk about the future all we want - but all we can control is the present. All the experts can say "oh, just wait......Quinn will be fine in the future" - but we don't know what will happen in 08,09 and beyond. Ask Dan Marino. Ask Reggie Miller. "Oh, they'll get back there". No they didn't. We can't bank on the future. We try to win games now.
This team - if they get a lot of breaks - can go 10-6. I believe that. It encourages me to hear that Mortensen predicted this team will win 3 divisional games. If so, we are going 9-7, 10-6. For now, I am predicted 7-9 - but something better can happen. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot early on by playing our second-best players.
Cleveland has scored in the 8th - it-s now 5-3 Indians; the Royals lead the tigers 3-1 in the 5th.
3) Surfing Sirius the other day in the afternoon......actually stopped on the broadcast of the Urugauy vs Canada FIBA preliminary game. I was actually interested in the color commentary - the analyst was criticizing the Uruguayan coach.
Then I snapped out of it. What the hell are you doing? You bought Sirius for this? A chance to listen to this crappy basketball game that
S-SEEK Alert: "Iko Iko" by The Belle Stars
Ok, one of my top 20 songs is starting. Thank God I am rescued from FIBA....
"See that boy all dressed in green?
Iko Iko an nay
He's not a man, he's a lovin' machine
Jockono feena nay"
Borowski in, now up 6-3. Kansas City retires the Tigers finally; after 4 1/2, Royals 3, Tigers 1.
4) I forget the adrenaline of a pennant race.....gees, every game now matters from here on out. And I can't stay relaxed with this guy on the mound....thank goodness our starting pitching is carrying us so far. One more month of it - can the fivesome of CC, Carmona, Byrd, Westbrook and the rookie Laffey hold up?
DAMMIT! Leadoff HR. 6-4, Tribe.
5) A side question: if I read a post on the Browns board, mostly agree with it, and then see that the poster's tag line (his signature, I guess) is:
"Milk, Milk, Lemonade.... around the corner, fudge is made"
um....should I assume the poster is 9 years old? And be ashamed of actually agreeing with it?
One out, bunt single. Now the tying run at the plate. C'mon, Joe......
6) Golf note:
*interruption*
GEESSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHh
Double....2nd and 3rd, 1 out.....6-4. Now Hunter is up.
And now a Sac Fly.
6-5, 2 out. Who's up? Cmon, Sportsline......
oh God - Morneau
Ball 1
strike 1
We CAN'T blow this.
I don't even care that the Devil Rays put up an 8 spot in the 8th vs. the O's.
strike 2
foul
he strikes out looking. Game over. Somehow, we win, 6-5.
That's it. We can't go on like this. This is not a rarity, folks. It's gas on the fire every time he comes in. We can't last another month like this, can we? But what can Wedge do? Can you demote him now? Can you actually demote the AL Saves leader for the stretch run? Betancourt (ERA of 1.50 or so) is so much better than Joe (ERA of 5.50). But what can he do?
An 11-spot for the D-Rays in Baltimore. Dear Lord......Wow.
Ok, I'm done. Thanks to Joe, you get no golf updates. You will have to hear about the "best triple-bogey 7 I ever saw" (as quoted by my playing partners) another time.....
Aug 22, 2007
Aug 19, 2007
Superbad and other items
This weekend has been one of the laziest in months. Now, I'm having to spend the day inside procrastinating before my football draft and the two reports that I have to do by Monday. Onto some random thoughts.
Superbad- This movie is going to get over-hyped very quickly. Carol and I saw it on Friday, and while it was excellent, I'm still not sure if it is in the Caddyshack category. I'm trying to think of who the two kids remind me of with their over the top swearing and sex talk and it hit me the yesterday that it is a combination of Currier back in high school and Ben over the past year. I remember hearing the way that Curr talked back in 9 grade and thinking WOW!!! And Ben has taken it to another level, with basically nothing being out of bounds at all times. If you like Ben and Currier, you will absolutely love this movie.
Superbad Continued- The movie theater that we went to was one right next to our house. You rarely find a theater in a residential neighborhood, but we have one and its kind of nice. The only bad thing is that you have about 100 unsupervised teenagers running around and acting up during the movie. Last week Carol and I went to go see the Borne movie and she actually got up and walk about 7 rows back up to tell two girls to "Shut the Fuck Up". It worked and I was so proud of her. Anyway, when we were actually going into the theater there was a bouncer checking IDs. All the kids were getting turned away since they were well underage. At that point I knew this movie was going to be great. And what a surprise? The theater was half empty and quiet.
Superbad Continued again- Take my review for what its worth. I am a sucker for high school movies involving jocks, nerds, cool kids, outcasts, and dorks. I actually enjoyed Can't Hardly Wait. And this movie follows the traditional high school plot line of two nerds trying to hook up with two hot girls. But it is the execution and perfect casting that makes this movie excellent.
Seth Rogan- I really hope he doesn't follow in Adam Sandler's footsteps. I'm really worried that he is going to get cocky and start to pump out some crap comedies. He is doing very well with 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and now Superbad.
National's TV Coverage- What the fuck guys? My camera angle is from behind the catcher? First it was cool, but now I feel like I'm watching the local cable access coverage of some high school game. And the quality of the picture and sound for some reason is always below average on MASN.
Mo Vaughn- Did anyone watch outside the lines this morning? It was nice to see Mo doing very well and actually being a active member of his community. If someone told me that Mo was 400 pounds and was a bouncer at a local strip joint, I would of been less surprised than hearing what he is actually doing now. Very nice story.
Went out in Irvine last night at the Spectrum with Ben and Carol. Its like this super outside mall (probably 200 stores outside) with about 25-30 big time restaurants. Very family oriented. As we were leaving around 10:00pm, we saw a group of young kids absolutely hammered. Two of the guys were carrying one of the guys while another one was just yelling "21st Birthday". Ben and I were laughing, but the majority of the other people were disgusted. Then Ben and I were thinking how fucked up we were on our 21st B-Days and how thankful we were that it was in a College setting since these guys were sticking out like a sore thumb. But when we got hammered we just looked like one of the normal college kids.
Superbad- This movie is going to get over-hyped very quickly. Carol and I saw it on Friday, and while it was excellent, I'm still not sure if it is in the Caddyshack category. I'm trying to think of who the two kids remind me of with their over the top swearing and sex talk and it hit me the yesterday that it is a combination of Currier back in high school and Ben over the past year. I remember hearing the way that Curr talked back in 9 grade and thinking WOW!!! And Ben has taken it to another level, with basically nothing being out of bounds at all times. If you like Ben and Currier, you will absolutely love this movie.
Superbad Continued- The movie theater that we went to was one right next to our house. You rarely find a theater in a residential neighborhood, but we have one and its kind of nice. The only bad thing is that you have about 100 unsupervised teenagers running around and acting up during the movie. Last week Carol and I went to go see the Borne movie and she actually got up and walk about 7 rows back up to tell two girls to "Shut the Fuck Up". It worked and I was so proud of her. Anyway, when we were actually going into the theater there was a bouncer checking IDs. All the kids were getting turned away since they were well underage. At that point I knew this movie was going to be great. And what a surprise? The theater was half empty and quiet.
Superbad Continued again- Take my review for what its worth. I am a sucker for high school movies involving jocks, nerds, cool kids, outcasts, and dorks. I actually enjoyed Can't Hardly Wait. And this movie follows the traditional high school plot line of two nerds trying to hook up with two hot girls. But it is the execution and perfect casting that makes this movie excellent.
Seth Rogan- I really hope he doesn't follow in Adam Sandler's footsteps. I'm really worried that he is going to get cocky and start to pump out some crap comedies. He is doing very well with 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and now Superbad.
National's TV Coverage- What the fuck guys? My camera angle is from behind the catcher? First it was cool, but now I feel like I'm watching the local cable access coverage of some high school game. And the quality of the picture and sound for some reason is always below average on MASN.
Mo Vaughn- Did anyone watch outside the lines this morning? It was nice to see Mo doing very well and actually being a active member of his community. If someone told me that Mo was 400 pounds and was a bouncer at a local strip joint, I would of been less surprised than hearing what he is actually doing now. Very nice story.
Went out in Irvine last night at the Spectrum with Ben and Carol. Its like this super outside mall (probably 200 stores outside) with about 25-30 big time restaurants. Very family oriented. As we were leaving around 10:00pm, we saw a group of young kids absolutely hammered. Two of the guys were carrying one of the guys while another one was just yelling "21st Birthday". Ben and I were laughing, but the majority of the other people were disgusted. Then Ben and I were thinking how fucked up we were on our 21st B-Days and how thankful we were that it was in a College setting since these guys were sticking out like a sore thumb. But when we got hammered we just looked like one of the normal college kids.
As the Browns turn....
Every year, NFL training camps open, and a few teams have a QB competition between 2 quarterbacks. For example, this year with Kansas City - should it be Croyle or Huard?
In rare years, some teams actually have a QB competition between 3 QBs. I believe Jacksonville had this a few years ago.
Well, we have a first here in Cleveland. A real, true 4-way QB controversy. Should the Browns:
1) start Charlie Frye, the defacto starter from last year but can't avoid the mental mistake, especially in the red zone?
2) start Derek Anderson, who played OK at the end of last year, has a good arm but has shown absolutely nothing in preseason games this year?
3) start Brady Quinn, the rookie who is still learning the new offense but has poise and talent - and led the Browns to 2 fourth quarter TDs last night?
4) start Ken Dorsey, who is the "veteran" of this crew and plays with smarts - no mistakes - even though the talent may not be there? And he led the Browns to a touchdown in the early 3rd quarter last night?
to be fair, no one is calling for Anderson anymore, but people have made cases for #1, #3 and #4 above. My head hurts just thinking about it.
(and - it's 9:54 on Sunday morning - and Kamerion Wimbley is still a STUD.)
In rare years, some teams actually have a QB competition between 3 QBs. I believe Jacksonville had this a few years ago.
Well, we have a first here in Cleveland. A real, true 4-way QB controversy. Should the Browns:
1) start Charlie Frye, the defacto starter from last year but can't avoid the mental mistake, especially in the red zone?
2) start Derek Anderson, who played OK at the end of last year, has a good arm but has shown absolutely nothing in preseason games this year?
3) start Brady Quinn, the rookie who is still learning the new offense but has poise and talent - and led the Browns to 2 fourth quarter TDs last night?
4) start Ken Dorsey, who is the "veteran" of this crew and plays with smarts - no mistakes - even though the talent may not be there? And he led the Browns to a touchdown in the early 3rd quarter last night?
to be fair, no one is calling for Anderson anymore, but people have made cases for #1, #3 and #4 above. My head hurts just thinking about it.
(and - it's 9:54 on Sunday morning - and Kamerion Wimbley is still a STUD.)
Aug 18, 2007
Question of the Day
Is it acceptable to have sex while watching Chris Hanson on MSNBC on his "Perverted Justice" sting operations? I say yes, Carol says no. We opted in changing the channel to the Corey Brothers on A&E which distracted me so much so that we had to stop and wait until the show ended. I need to remove the tv from our bedroom asap!!!
Aug 16, 2007
Caption contest
If you can't laugh while viewing this insane picture, then you have no sense of humor.
That person with the Cup is FOX's own Ryan Seacrest.
Thursday Ramblings
Man, it has been almost impossible for me to get on here lately. I'm really disappointed in myself, especially with BuckSuperStereo changing his site and adding new tags onto his posts. Screw that. Onto the ramblings
- BuckSuperStereo- Good to see that you still have the old pizza cooker. I remember playing Bottom of the Ninth and having pizza cook off challenges (excuse for both of us to eat mass amounts of pizza)where you would use that pizza cooker and I would use the stove. Mine was better of course.
- Listening to the Pirates radio team the other night and boy are they terrible. Its like giving Gus Johnson 10 pounds of morphine. And since there wasn't a big crowd at the game, there was just so much dead silence. Oh and Curr, it was Slovak night yesterday.
- Detox- On Monday and Tuesday I went on a detox diet. Protein Shake, one piece of fruit every two hours, and veggies for dinner. Wow. One of the hardest things I have ever done. Really puts everything in perspective. How much food plays into my everyday activities, how big my portions were before this, and how poorly I ate. Don't know if I lost any weight, but I'm really thinking about changing how I eat.
- I love these. While the minor league blow ups tend to get old, the Earl Weaver one is priceless. I never heard the extended version one before.
- How the Fuck are the Yankees back in this thing. If the Yanks go the playoffs I'm either holding Jay or Eric responsible. I now feel like a boob for telling Jonny that he was crazy to think that the Yanks were still in this thing a couple of months. Come on Tribe.
- I regret not making it to Wiz's bachelor party. The text message I received from Lee on Saturday was priceless. "Just lost credit card roulette for $XXX". I want to maintain Lee's privacy, but let's just say that he set a record here.
- So happy Hardknocks is back on HBO. Herm Edwards is so much fun to watch, since everytime he gets animated I always flash back to the "You play to win" post game conference. And I love how NFL films makes every team look like they are going to win the Super Bowl. And for those of you that think that Priest Holmes will be ready for the start of the season? Um no. He ran two plays and couldn't go anymore since he was tired. He stated that he hasn't done anything for 2 years which included exercise or conditioning.
- Eric, I'm going to want your Browns prediction soon.
- Is it bad that I'm already getting excited about the Vegas trip? I'm committed for golf which I'm actually looking forward to, we have an excellent set up for dinners, and the crew looks outstanding with Lee making a comeback.
Aug 15, 2007
RIP, Phil Rizzuto
As you all know, I'm not a Yankee fan and I think the media is WAY too NY-focused, but my condolences are with the Yankees with the passing of Phil Rizzuto.
What is my first connection with Scooter? See the link below. This commerical seemed to be aired every day at 3:00 pm in the early 1980's on Ch 5 in Washington on Ch 45 in Baltimore when "The People's Court" was on.
Aug 14, 2007
What am I not understanding?
Detroit - Cleveland: 2-2. Big game in the AL Central.
Bottom of the 9th; our newly acquired outfielder Chris Gomez leads off with a double.
Next batter: Jhonny Peralta. What to do, what to do.....hmmmm..
well, apparently, Peralta can't bunt SINCE HE WAS NEVER GIVEN the sign to bunt! He never even tried!
Peralta struck out
Gutierrez sturck out
Barfield struck out.
Do major leaguers NOT know how to bunt? Dammit Wedge, what the hell goes on in practice??
If we lose this game......
Bottom of the 9th; our newly acquired outfielder Chris Gomez leads off with a double.
Next batter: Jhonny Peralta. What to do, what to do.....hmmmm..
well, apparently, Peralta can't bunt SINCE HE WAS NEVER GIVEN the sign to bunt! He never even tried!
Peralta struck out
Gutierrez sturck out
Barfield struck out.
Do major leaguers NOT know how to bunt? Dammit Wedge, what the hell goes on in practice??
If we lose this game......
Aug 10, 2007
Its been a long time
Some ramblings to hold you all over until the weekend.
- Somethings took place over the last two weeks where I felt the need to change my posting name and login. Depositions and lawsuits will do that to you. It starts to make you think what will attorney's ask me about?
- You know what gets under my skin? People that don't take responsibility for being ignorant. For example, someone buys a product they don't take the time to understand and then complains when that product doesn't deliver what they think it should. Its one thing to be upset at yourself for not taking the time to understand what the product can do for you, but its another thing to push all the blame onto someone else and take no ownership. "I went to Bestbuy and I asked the sales guy for a TV. He recommended one to me and when I got home I realized that it wasn't HD. That sales guy is an ass. Its all his fault that I bought a non HD TV. This is what our society has turned into for the most part. No one takes any ownership in anything that they do anymore.
- Bonds- I now view baseball records like I view football records. Who really cares? I cared about Bonds breaking the record as much as I cared about Marino breaking the TD record. I really don't give a shit. And I'm sure in upcoming years the baseball HOF will be in the same category with the football HOF. No one really cares about it.
- Be careful everyone, Eric is very sensitive right now. He is probably very upset with everyone on the blog for not doing their homework.
Aug 8, 2007
F&J Homework
Essay test for all of you out there. This is a real question, and if the winning answer is used, I may treat to a free $100 bet in Vegas of the winner's choice.
Please submit your reasoning on how a Christmas Tree Stand is a "household appliance". Your reasoning must be sound enough to be accepted by an insurance claim representative.
P S - unfortunately, I am serious.....
Please submit your reasoning on how a Christmas Tree Stand is a "household appliance". Your reasoning must be sound enough to be accepted by an insurance claim representative.
P S - unfortunately, I am serious.....
NutriSystem and me
I swear the following story is absolutely true.
Our son, Freddie (age 6), is starting to become a typical American consumer. Whenever he watches TV and a commercial comes on, he calls one of us over and asks if we can get whatever is being sold on TV. It could be Floam, the automatic Juicer, or Strawberry Shortcake. If he sees it, he falls hook, line and sinker for the ad.
Anyway, this morning I got up and turned on ESPN2 to watch Mike and Mike for a bit; I then headed into the shower. When I got out of the shower, Freddie has woken up and is watching ESPN2 in my room.
"Daddy - you need to buy this!"
Hmmm... I wonder what it is.
"It's food that will make you thin!"
He's watching those NutriSystem commercials that feature Don Shula, Dan Marino and Mike Golic. You know - they lose 20, 30, 40 pounds once they start the Nutri System diet.
"You can eat breakfasts, dinner, even dessert with this food!"
I think he memorized the tag line.
And the worst part? He comes over to me as I am wearing nothing but a towel.
"You should buy this food - call 1- 8-0-0-6-9-8... " and then he stopped because the next four numbers were "T-H-I-N", but I think he got confused seeing letters where numbers should be...
and then he slapped me on my stomach.
"See? Call this number and you can get rid of this just like the guys on TV!"
Our son, Freddie (age 6), is starting to become a typical American consumer. Whenever he watches TV and a commercial comes on, he calls one of us over and asks if we can get whatever is being sold on TV. It could be Floam, the automatic Juicer, or Strawberry Shortcake. If he sees it, he falls hook, line and sinker for the ad.
Anyway, this morning I got up and turned on ESPN2 to watch Mike and Mike for a bit; I then headed into the shower. When I got out of the shower, Freddie has woken up and is watching ESPN2 in my room.
"Daddy - you need to buy this!"
Hmmm... I wonder what it is.
"It's food that will make you thin!"
He's watching those NutriSystem commercials that feature Don Shula, Dan Marino and Mike Golic. You know - they lose 20, 30, 40 pounds once they start the Nutri System diet.
"You can eat breakfasts, dinner, even dessert with this food!"
I think he memorized the tag line.
And the worst part? He comes over to me as I am wearing nothing but a towel.
"You should buy this food - call 1- 8-0-0-6-9-8... " and then he stopped because the next four numbers were "T-H-I-N", but I think he got confused seeing letters where numbers should be...
and then he slapped me on my stomach.
"See? Call this number and you can get rid of this just like the guys on TV!"
Aug 7, 2007
Hey batta, hey batta...
ESPN's perennially, wistful feature reporter/former kurt loder caddy at mtv news, Chris Connelly, just did a story about a little league in ohio that had banned dugout chatter for its inherently inciteful quality as hate speech or something along those lines. More alarming was the counterpoint little league in this story. A group of tennessee kiddies had developed a catalogue of ridiculous, sing-songy, field chants for in-game use. No more just swing batter, or way to fire, or one more tommy. This was like stuff japanese cheerleaders do on top of dugouts. And then at times they would just break into a chorus of "eeehhhh" that sounded like a swarm of ciccadas. Just awful.
And to think chatter was once such a nobel tradition; Frank D. tormenting young Chris Trout, Curr teaching DooWayne english one phrase at a time.
And to think chatter was once such a nobel tradition; Frank D. tormenting young Chris Trout, Curr teaching DooWayne english one phrase at a time.
Aug 6, 2007
Iverson vs Edwards
So Derek and I had a little argument this weekend that we need to settle on the web site.
I was called to be a last minute sub for our men's softball league on Friday night. It was the playoffs - the semis of the winners bracket.
Just an aside - I would compare myself to a Rich Dauer type hitter. OK fielder, and definitely no power.
Well, guess who came up in the top of the 6th with the bases loaded and us down, 4-3? Yes, here I come.
On a 3-1 pitch, what did I do?
Ball Four! The game is tied!
Derek was completely offended by this turn of events. He channeled his inner Iverson.
"We're talking about softball here. Church league softball. Swing the bat, you wimp! This is softball....softball! You don't take walks!"
I then threw a little Herm Edwards at him.
"You PLAY to WIN the Game! This is the playoffs! I need to do anything I can to WIN- you PLAY to WIN!"
Even though I got thrown out at the plate later that inning, we ended up winning 6-4.
So I throw it to the jury..... acceptable to take walks in a men's softball playoff game?
(By the way, my line score for the night:
ab r h bi bb so
0 0 0 1 3 0
Aug 4, 2007
Meditation, anyone?
I mentioned earlier that Candace, my kind-of-sister-in-law, is in the middle of a 10 day meditation retreat. I got a email from Janice's brother Jeff which gave more details on what actually happens during these 10 days. The email is written by a former attendee who gives a first-hand experience. It's posted below.
My first thought is that I wouldn't make it past hour 6 at this place. And I'm not sure I want to look at myself "objectively" - I would then create a checklist of things I need to work on and that list would number in the hundreds, I believe.
**********************
...let me go ahead and tell you what I experienced. It is something I would recommend everyone to go through - it is only 10 days in a whole big lifetime.
The 10 day course aims at putting you on a path of self-discovery and correction with the final objective of making you a more sensitive, sensible, ego-less and balanced individual who is able to take the good and bad life has to offer, with equanimity.
You start after taking an oath to not speak for the entire duration of the course. It is not normal silence, but 'noble silence'. You do not communicate verbally, through actions, in writing not even using your eyes. You are not expected to look anybody in the eye, your eyes have to be downcast all the time. In essence, you live the life of a monk for those 10 days. Halfway through the course the silence really hits you.....
Additionally you also agree to (for the duration of the course): 1) not kill any living creature 2) abstain from lying (not very difficult as you are not talking) 3) abstain from stealing 4) abstain from sexual activities (sexes are segregated, so virtually impossible). 5) not use any intoxicants.
The course itself is very practical in nature and aims at experiential learning. The day starts early, at 4:00 am, which is the wake-up time. At 4:30 am you start meditating and this goes on till 9:30 pm, with recess for breakfast(6:30 - 8:00 am), lunch(11:00 am - 1:00 pm) & tea(5:00 - 6:00 pm). There is no dinner. In the first 2 days you realize 2 things - one, that you have a subconscious mind (or unconscious mind) that is nothing more than a junkyard, and; two, it is not in your control.
By the end of the first 4 days, all you manage to do is to get your mind to focus on a small triangular part below the nostrils with the line of the upper lip as the base. You think of nothing else but the breath coming in & going out of your body. Other than this, your mind is unaware of everything else happening around you & inside you. Then you use this heightened (sharpened) awareness to probe into yourself over the next 6 days.
You are trained to look at yourself objectively - at a physical level, as you meditate you feel pleasurable as well as painful sensations all over your body. You are expected to deal with both kinds of sensations with equanimity/equipoise/ indifference, being the observer. The underlying concept is that everything in life is impermanent, so learn to deal with highs & lows with a smile, objectively.
***********************
My first thought is that I wouldn't make it past hour 6 at this place. And I'm not sure I want to look at myself "objectively" - I would then create a checklist of things I need to work on and that list would number in the hundreds, I believe.
**********************
...let me go ahead and tell you what I experienced. It is something I would recommend everyone to go through - it is only 10 days in a whole big lifetime.
The 10 day course aims at putting you on a path of self-discovery and correction with the final objective of making you a more sensitive, sensible, ego-less and balanced individual who is able to take the good and bad life has to offer, with equanimity.
You start after taking an oath to not speak for the entire duration of the course. It is not normal silence, but 'noble silence'. You do not communicate verbally, through actions, in writing not even using your eyes. You are not expected to look anybody in the eye, your eyes have to be downcast all the time. In essence, you live the life of a monk for those 10 days. Halfway through the course the silence really hits you.....
Additionally you also agree to (for the duration of the course): 1) not kill any living creature 2) abstain from lying (not very difficult as you are not talking) 3) abstain from stealing 4) abstain from sexual activities (sexes are segregated, so virtually impossible). 5) not use any intoxicants.
The course itself is very practical in nature and aims at experiential learning. The day starts early, at 4:00 am, which is the wake-up time. At 4:30 am you start meditating and this goes on till 9:30 pm, with recess for breakfast(6:30 - 8:00 am), lunch(11:00 am - 1:00 pm) & tea(5:00 - 6:00 pm). There is no dinner. In the first 2 days you realize 2 things - one, that you have a subconscious mind (or unconscious mind) that is nothing more than a junkyard, and; two, it is not in your control.
By the end of the first 4 days, all you manage to do is to get your mind to focus on a small triangular part below the nostrils with the line of the upper lip as the base. You think of nothing else but the breath coming in & going out of your body. Other than this, your mind is unaware of everything else happening around you & inside you. Then you use this heightened (sharpened) awareness to probe into yourself over the next 6 days.
You are trained to look at yourself objectively - at a physical level, as you meditate you feel pleasurable as well as painful sensations all over your body. You are expected to deal with both kinds of sensations with equanimity/equipoise/ indifference, being the observer. The underlying concept is that everything in life is impermanent, so learn to deal with highs & lows with a smile, objectively.
***********************
Aug 3, 2007
Quick Question
Fantasy Football is just around the corner and I want to come up with a new team name in honor of one of the scandals going on in sports. Any ideas?
Aug 2, 2007
Random Notes
- Well my mom is in town this past week and its been pretty uneventful. I taught her some new things like, you can use a credit card in the grocery stores and you can leave windows open at night and nobody will break in to the place. After this week, I'm really nervous about getting old. You become so out of touch with society. Maybe its just my mom, but I'm beginning to think its just a by product of getting old. Ugh.
- Ahhh, finally some good news at work. The high priced company attorneys were able to get my name removed from a pretty large lawsuit that I mentioned about 6 months ago. Once again, this is the only time I was happy to be seated across two Duke graduates. As they said, the greatest defense for a defamation case is that it is the truth. I will be joining these two Dukies today in four days of depositions of the two guys that are suing our company for wrongful termination and a million other little things. $500 an hour we are paying these guys and they are worth every penny. Attorneys are now added to the list of things that you don't cheap out on, which includes toilet paper, scotch, TVs, and whores.
- Carol has been gone for the past couple of weeks and I have been able to play 2 seasons of NCAA 2007-College Football. The Terps are on a 22 game winning streak and have brought home two national championships. With my mom cooking dinner every night and having the fridge stocked with beer, it has been a wonderful week.
- I want to bring something up that RRD posted a little bit ago that has me very concerned. What is wrong with wearing khakis, brown shoes and blue socks? Please help me out here. I have some light brown socks, but I don't like the way that they look. I've conquered the matching belt with shoes issue and no more pleats and I thought I was on my way. But now I hear this and I'm a little worried.
- And Eric, I know that you are feeling bad about golf right now, but I know that I speak for many of us readers here that if you don't improve and stop shooting in the 80s, you will be band from writing about your golf outings.
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