I've been using spare time recently to work on a new project.
http://hangingcurves.blogspot.com will be a place to find some articles on baseball that should prove to have some occasional unique value. It also will have some great links to other baseball sights that any fan should know about.
PS - Congrats to my Wolverines. Super-Regional Bound.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Friday, April 27, 2007
My Message Regarding Sports
I have a simple message regarding sports: it comes in two forms.
Message #1: If you call in a sports talk show, you not are bringing to light anything new that someone who is actually playing or coaching the team hasn't already noticed or addressed 10 times over. Simply put, if you do not like what you see, it is simply a difference of opinion between you and the coach/player. You may not like the athlete/coach's decisions or rationale, and you may be correct in second guessing it, but it never has to do with you discovering something that hasn't been addressed already. If you think you are coming up with a new idea or grand theory involving your favorite sports team, it is only new and grand to you. In reality, all that means is that it is terribly stupid - so stupid, in fact, that no other person on earth has been dense enough to offer it up as a thought. No, your suggestion of a 7 man pitching rotation to save the arms of your best pitchers is not a good idea. No, your idea of starting Kyle Orton over Rex Grossman is not a good one. No, the Cubs should not bat Carlos Zambrano in the #4 hole when he pitches. Listen, I hate to say it, but the reason why I have a hard time following sports coverage and sports talk isn't because I have low interest in the subject matter; I have a boundless interest. What I cannot listen to is people who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about proclaiming things like they are gospel when they haven't a clue what they are saying. Sadly, this isn't just addressed to the average dumb sports fan. This extends to media members who have been in the business for 30+ years. I once heard a favorite radio host of mine bet his life, on the air, that when there are runners on the corners and less than 2 out, that the correct play ISN'T to run for home plate immediately when the ball hits the ground off the bat (for those who played baseball, we know it is a contact play). Anyway, he mocked a caller who suggested that you WERE supposed to run, and then when the host had the audacity to call up the Sox third base coach Joey Cora to ask if running on contact was the right play, Cora made him eat crow when he told him "of course you go on contact, every team in the MLB does that - its not even a question." The host then tried to backpedal for 20 minutes, saying in his 20 years of covering baseball, he has never seen teams do that.
News flash for you buddy. They all do that. They have - forever. This isn't some new baseball thing - this is how the game is played, and the average fan has NO IDEA that things like that go on during the game, thats why he never noticed in 20 years. All the average fan does is see a guy score or get tagged out, and then say "what a great play" or "what a stupid play". The average fan couldn't even tell you why something like the contact play exists, and why it is the correct baseball play. In fact, I bet the average person reading this diatribe doesn't even follow what I am talking about.
This totally proves my point again. If you can't follow this, do not offer your sports knowledge. Ever. Please. Just cheer, be happy when there is a win, and sad when there is a loss. I am not saying you can't become an expert in a certain sport, but it takes some actual studying and some actual time.
Message # 2:
If you are an athlete or your kid is an athlete, and you think you are good and will become a big time pro one day, ask yourself a few questions:
1. Am I the best player I know at this sport?
2. Am I clearly more athletic than everyone else around me?
3. Do I do more than excel, do I utterly dominate?
If you are below the major college sports level and cannot answer yes to these three questions, I have some news for you. You are not as good as you think you are. In fact, you might not even be good. You MAY, if you work hard, have the potential to make it, and by that I mean a 1/10000th chance. But do not for a second think you are God's gift to a sport. Have fun, play hard. Laugh and have a good time. But please, understand the level of play you think you are one day aspiring to. Sports on TV look a lot easier than they really are, because the best 20-30 in the world at what they do are going at each other at any given event, and the skill levels tend to nullify each other. Are you a big, powerful hitter that can hit a homerun? Cool. Does that make you Alex Rodriguez? Not exactly. Think hitting 10 homeruns in a row in batting practice means you have skills? Can you do the same thing...off of a batting tee? Didn't think so. Again, let me reiterate, tens of millions of people end up competing for the spots you see on TV in your favorite sport(s). Many of these people are so physically gifted that it is borderline in-human.
I hope everyone achieves their playing dreams, lord knows I loved following mine. I do hope that everyone has some perspective on those things, however, and do not lose focus of what makes sports so great and so important - the lessons in life and the fun we derive from them.
The following clips cover a variety of sports and many do not even showcase the world's best talent at their sport (except for the soccer clips, which come from Premier League and World Cup caliber players). As you will see, these clips will bring to light a small portion of these athlete's outrageous athletic abilities. It will also clearly illustrate the point that there are not only a couple hundred people in each major sport that have ability well beyond the normal person's wildest fantasies, but also there are usually another 500-1000 or so right behind them that have the same ridiculous ability, but just can't put it to practice consistently enough to be the best in the world at what they do. Anyway, enjoy the videos. Next time you think you are athletic or think you are good at a sport, take a long, hard look at one of these and humble down.
Message #1: If you call in a sports talk show, you not are bringing to light anything new that someone who is actually playing or coaching the team hasn't already noticed or addressed 10 times over. Simply put, if you do not like what you see, it is simply a difference of opinion between you and the coach/player. You may not like the athlete/coach's decisions or rationale, and you may be correct in second guessing it, but it never has to do with you discovering something that hasn't been addressed already. If you think you are coming up with a new idea or grand theory involving your favorite sports team, it is only new and grand to you. In reality, all that means is that it is terribly stupid - so stupid, in fact, that no other person on earth has been dense enough to offer it up as a thought. No, your suggestion of a 7 man pitching rotation to save the arms of your best pitchers is not a good idea. No, your idea of starting Kyle Orton over Rex Grossman is not a good one. No, the Cubs should not bat Carlos Zambrano in the #4 hole when he pitches. Listen, I hate to say it, but the reason why I have a hard time following sports coverage and sports talk isn't because I have low interest in the subject matter; I have a boundless interest. What I cannot listen to is people who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about proclaiming things like they are gospel when they haven't a clue what they are saying. Sadly, this isn't just addressed to the average dumb sports fan. This extends to media members who have been in the business for 30+ years. I once heard a favorite radio host of mine bet his life, on the air, that when there are runners on the corners and less than 2 out, that the correct play ISN'T to run for home plate immediately when the ball hits the ground off the bat (for those who played baseball, we know it is a contact play). Anyway, he mocked a caller who suggested that you WERE supposed to run, and then when the host had the audacity to call up the Sox third base coach Joey Cora to ask if running on contact was the right play, Cora made him eat crow when he told him "of course you go on contact, every team in the MLB does that - its not even a question." The host then tried to backpedal for 20 minutes, saying in his 20 years of covering baseball, he has never seen teams do that.
News flash for you buddy. They all do that. They have - forever. This isn't some new baseball thing - this is how the game is played, and the average fan has NO IDEA that things like that go on during the game, thats why he never noticed in 20 years. All the average fan does is see a guy score or get tagged out, and then say "what a great play" or "what a stupid play". The average fan couldn't even tell you why something like the contact play exists, and why it is the correct baseball play. In fact, I bet the average person reading this diatribe doesn't even follow what I am talking about.
This totally proves my point again. If you can't follow this, do not offer your sports knowledge. Ever. Please. Just cheer, be happy when there is a win, and sad when there is a loss. I am not saying you can't become an expert in a certain sport, but it takes some actual studying and some actual time.
Message # 2:
If you are an athlete or your kid is an athlete, and you think you are good and will become a big time pro one day, ask yourself a few questions:
1. Am I the best player I know at this sport?
2. Am I clearly more athletic than everyone else around me?
3. Do I do more than excel, do I utterly dominate?
If you are below the major college sports level and cannot answer yes to these three questions, I have some news for you. You are not as good as you think you are. In fact, you might not even be good. You MAY, if you work hard, have the potential to make it, and by that I mean a 1/10000th chance. But do not for a second think you are God's gift to a sport. Have fun, play hard. Laugh and have a good time. But please, understand the level of play you think you are one day aspiring to. Sports on TV look a lot easier than they really are, because the best 20-30 in the world at what they do are going at each other at any given event, and the skill levels tend to nullify each other. Are you a big, powerful hitter that can hit a homerun? Cool. Does that make you Alex Rodriguez? Not exactly. Think hitting 10 homeruns in a row in batting practice means you have skills? Can you do the same thing...off of a batting tee? Didn't think so. Again, let me reiterate, tens of millions of people end up competing for the spots you see on TV in your favorite sport(s). Many of these people are so physically gifted that it is borderline in-human.
I hope everyone achieves their playing dreams, lord knows I loved following mine. I do hope that everyone has some perspective on those things, however, and do not lose focus of what makes sports so great and so important - the lessons in life and the fun we derive from them.
The following clips cover a variety of sports and many do not even showcase the world's best talent at their sport (except for the soccer clips, which come from Premier League and World Cup caliber players). As you will see, these clips will bring to light a small portion of these athlete's outrageous athletic abilities. It will also clearly illustrate the point that there are not only a couple hundred people in each major sport that have ability well beyond the normal person's wildest fantasies, but also there are usually another 500-1000 or so right behind them that have the same ridiculous ability, but just can't put it to practice consistently enough to be the best in the world at what they do. Anyway, enjoy the videos. Next time you think you are athletic or think you are good at a sport, take a long, hard look at one of these and humble down.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Turnabout.
So, it's 1:34 a.m.
I'm sitting at one of four tables left in a $25 tourney. Multi-table.
For the majority of the evening, I had nothing really going. I was hardly even playing, just blinding away as I got crap hand after crap hand.
I somehow caught QQ before the last break, and made it up to $6000 in chips, about 1/3-1/2 of the avg stack.
I then hit A9 over AQ.
A9 over A10.
AQ over KK.
Suddenly, I was up to 29000 in chips, in the money, and possibly on my way.
Then, I decided to start an entry.
I got KK. one raiser to me, I call.
Flopped J 8 6. I bet, get raised. I push.
He is all in. He calls. Flips.
QQ.
The turn is a Q.
I'm sitting at one of four tables left in a $25 tourney. Multi-table.
For the majority of the evening, I had nothing really going. I was hardly even playing, just blinding away as I got crap hand after crap hand.
I somehow caught QQ before the last break, and made it up to $6000 in chips, about 1/3-1/2 of the avg stack.
I then hit A9 over AQ.
A9 over A10.
AQ over KK.
Suddenly, I was up to 29000 in chips, in the money, and possibly on my way.
Then, I decided to start an entry.
I got KK. one raiser to me, I call.
Flopped J 8 6. I bet, get raised. I push.
He is all in. He calls. Flips.
QQ.
The turn is a Q.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
King-sized Folds
So after taking down another $100 in sit-n-go's last night after a brief pull-back a few nights ago, I have a few observations:
I don't think I've played in one tournament, big or small, where I moneyed and I didn't lay down at least one huge hand. For example, this past evening, I lead out with about 1/8th of my stack with KK, and got one caller. The flop hit A 8 5, and my bet on the flop was immediately raised. It was pretty obvious I was up against Aces, and when the A came on the turn, my check and eventual fold came as a bit of a disappointment. I was stuck with only 60% of my original stack, and I felt a little gypped.
45 minutes later, I took 3rd out of 18 and took home a little cash to soothe my ego.
Point being? I might have gotten bluffed out of that pot from a smaller PP, but that was the ONLY hand that could have bluffed me. QQ or JJ was a possibility, but every other hand that would've called me, typically A2-AJ, was more than likely what i was up against. Even though it would have been a "bad beat", there was more sense in swallowing a small defeat than trying to be macho and go down in flames.
The most common sign of an idiot player (and/or new player) is their insistence on playing cards that cannot win, just because pre-flop they had a monster. Listen, you may have gotten a caller and started a hand at an 80% favorite, but after the flop, you could be a 15% underdog. There's no glory in proudly emptying your pockets out trying to win on that 15%, just because you "should've won", and the guy that called you is "such a donkey".
It doesn't make a difference, you still lost all your money. Now who's the donkey?
I don't think I've played in one tournament, big or small, where I moneyed and I didn't lay down at least one huge hand. For example, this past evening, I lead out with about 1/8th of my stack with KK, and got one caller. The flop hit A 8 5, and my bet on the flop was immediately raised. It was pretty obvious I was up against Aces, and when the A came on the turn, my check and eventual fold came as a bit of a disappointment. I was stuck with only 60% of my original stack, and I felt a little gypped.
45 minutes later, I took 3rd out of 18 and took home a little cash to soothe my ego.
Point being? I might have gotten bluffed out of that pot from a smaller PP, but that was the ONLY hand that could have bluffed me. QQ or JJ was a possibility, but every other hand that would've called me, typically A2-AJ, was more than likely what i was up against. Even though it would have been a "bad beat", there was more sense in swallowing a small defeat than trying to be macho and go down in flames.
The most common sign of an idiot player (and/or new player) is their insistence on playing cards that cannot win, just because pre-flop they had a monster. Listen, you may have gotten a caller and started a hand at an 80% favorite, but after the flop, you could be a 15% underdog. There's no glory in proudly emptying your pockets out trying to win on that 15%, just because you "should've won", and the guy that called you is "such a donkey".
It doesn't make a difference, you still lost all your money. Now who's the donkey?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Poker:Music:Goodwill:Fitness:Humor:Me
Poker:
I won 4 straight single-table tournaments at the 20/2 level a couple of weeks ago. Talk about a crazy run. All in all, there was a stretch of 8 of 10 placed in the money. To be fair, I got some real lucky turns and rivers along the way - as well as one game in particular where I couldn't avoid getting dealt PP after PP. Sometimes the gods smile.
Music:
Songs Ive recently learned (piano):
Boston - Augustana
Brick - Ben Folds Five
A Message - Coldplay
Songs I want to learn:
Good -Better Than Ezra
Mad World - Gary Jules
Come and Go - Virginia Coalition
Songs I already know:
The Scientist
Clocks
Fix You (half)
Lightning Crashes (half)
1000 Miles
Goodwill:
I recently gave blood the other day, and they have this crazy machine that can separate your platlets from your red blood cells. THEN, it spits the platelets back into your arm! What I didn't understand is 1. Why does that count for 2 pints of blood instead of 1, and 2. Why do I need the platelets back in the first place? Wouldn't that make really runny?
Fitness:
I pulled my calf doing sprints the other day. I'm old. I can do 35 pullups in a row, but apparently can't make it through 8 sprints anymore without needing an ice pack and a rub down.
Humor:
Gaffigan, Silverman, Curb's 6th Season?
"Oh Rocco, I hope you die in your sleep tonight." (as she pets her dog in bed) - possibly the best line I heard over the past few months.
"Good Morning! You're about to call in sick." - possibly the best standup skit I've seen.
Me: Status Quo. Sickening.
I won 4 straight single-table tournaments at the 20/2 level a couple of weeks ago. Talk about a crazy run. All in all, there was a stretch of 8 of 10 placed in the money. To be fair, I got some real lucky turns and rivers along the way - as well as one game in particular where I couldn't avoid getting dealt PP after PP. Sometimes the gods smile.
Music:
Songs Ive recently learned (piano):
Boston - Augustana
Brick - Ben Folds Five
A Message - Coldplay
Songs I want to learn:
Good -Better Than Ezra
Mad World - Gary Jules
Come and Go - Virginia Coalition
Songs I already know:
The Scientist
Clocks
Fix You (half)
Lightning Crashes (half)
1000 Miles
Goodwill:
I recently gave blood the other day, and they have this crazy machine that can separate your platlets from your red blood cells. THEN, it spits the platelets back into your arm! What I didn't understand is 1. Why does that count for 2 pints of blood instead of 1, and 2. Why do I need the platelets back in the first place? Wouldn't that make really runny?
Fitness:
I pulled my calf doing sprints the other day. I'm old. I can do 35 pullups in a row, but apparently can't make it through 8 sprints anymore without needing an ice pack and a rub down.
Humor:
Gaffigan, Silverman, Curb's 6th Season?
"Oh Rocco, I hope you die in your sleep tonight." (as she pets her dog in bed) - possibly the best line I heard over the past few months.
"Good Morning! You're about to call in sick." - possibly the best standup skit I've seen.
Me: Status Quo. Sickening.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Not Welcome!
I've found some great websites where I am definitely not welcome.
Tallpeople.org
It says right in the description: TALL PEOPLE ONLY. Priceless.
Compassion over Killing
It's for people who don't eat meat. It's for people who stand for animal rights and the end of animal cruelty. It's a website aimed at educating others on social issues. I am totally against all of that.
Tallpeople.org
It says right in the description: TALL PEOPLE ONLY. Priceless.
Compassion over Killing
It's for people who don't eat meat. It's for people who stand for animal rights and the end of animal cruelty. It's a website aimed at educating others on social issues. I am totally against all of that.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
Monday, March 05, 2007
Deep Depression
So I haven't posted in a while - mostly because of one reason.
Internet poker is pretty much dead right now here in the U.S. And, quite frankly, it leaves me with the task of putting together little pieces on other topics -- and I'm struggling to find the inspiration. What is this without having good bad beat stories to vent about once in a while, or a story about a crazy tournament hand or priceless character at the table?
Personally, I'm dejected. I might have to take this in a different direction. UGH. CMON, U.S., this is a tired act. Since when is online poker morally reprehensible? How is this now illegal and fantasy football isn't? Just come up with some tax, and get it over with already. I want to play!
Internet poker is pretty much dead right now here in the U.S. And, quite frankly, it leaves me with the task of putting together little pieces on other topics -- and I'm struggling to find the inspiration. What is this without having good bad beat stories to vent about once in a while, or a story about a crazy tournament hand or priceless character at the table?
Personally, I'm dejected. I might have to take this in a different direction. UGH. CMON, U.S., this is a tired act. Since when is online poker morally reprehensible? How is this now illegal and fantasy football isn't? Just come up with some tax, and get it over with already. I want to play!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The "Cooler"
Poker tips for future Reno-goers:
* You'll find a preponderance of "2/4" games -- they are basically the same as slot machines. It might be "hold'em", but get serious.
* The morning tournaments at the casinos aren't serious either.
* When you are "the cooler", just stand up and cut your losses -- no matter how tempting it is that this is the only city anyone's ever seen "one-deck" blackjack.
* More later...
* You'll find a preponderance of "2/4" games -- they are basically the same as slot machines. It might be "hold'em", but get serious.
* The morning tournaments at the casinos aren't serious either.
* When you are "the cooler", just stand up and cut your losses -- no matter how tempting it is that this is the only city anyone's ever seen "one-deck" blackjack.
* More later...
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Destination: RNO
A little taste of the flavor of where I'll be...
Incidentally, should be the funniest movie since Borat - no question.
Incidentally, should be the funniest movie since Borat - no question.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Journalism rule: do not make yourself part of the story
ESPN Sportscenter feature #1 today: the fact that the production crew lost track of who was winning the 1979 Daytona 500 on the final lap.
ESPN Sportscenter most cited fact of broadcast: Southern Illinois vs. Butler was first ever Bracketbuster game between two ranked teams. 'Bracketbuster' is an arbitrary term coined by ESPN themselves.
Keep it up, dickheads.
ESPN Sportscenter most cited fact of broadcast: Southern Illinois vs. Butler was first ever Bracketbuster game between two ranked teams. 'Bracketbuster' is an arbitrary term coined by ESPN themselves.
Keep it up, dickheads.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
College Baseball 2007
Reprinted from Collegebaseballinsider.com.
Feb. 15
Up All Night
By Ritch Price
Kansas Head Coach
Editor's Note: Kansas and South Dakota State faced bad weather in Lawrence, Kan., over the weekend. Cancel the series? Not a chance. The Jayhawks and Jackrabbits rented out the Metrodome and played through the night - rather morning - on Saturday and Sunday to get the games in. CBI asked KU coach Ritch Price to share some thoughts...
Our starting pitcher, Andy Marks, may have made the greatest 4:30 a.m. start in the history of college baseball. He held South Dakota State to just one run on four hits... he was absolutely special...
rest of the story.
What an awesome story to kick off this year's college baseball season.
For those of you who aren't familiar with college baseball, I'm sorry. You're missing out on baseball's secret little pearl. At the major college level (Division I), there are about 260+ teams battling for 64 NCAA tournament spots, which are then divided into 16 regionals, which are then paired down to a "Sweet 16" if you will, who then battle to play in the greatest event in amateur athletics, the College World Series.
A little background on the sport:
There are some low-quality Division I programs that are seriously short on talent. They are like the 16-seeds in the NCAA tournament for basketball - often times playing at a lower class than their counterparts, even though technically they are still classified as "Division I". However, for the remaining 150 or so schools (all of the BCS conference schools, with additions of Big West, MVC, Big South, Southland, WCC, to some extent the Mountain West, and some indys) the level of play is around the "High Class A" level - teams are well coached, fundamental, and play hard-nosed team-oriented baseball. Raw talent level is sometimes slightly below an average minor league team, but you won't see a minor league team come close to a good Div. I college team when it comes to team-baseball, competitive nature, and spirit. Good Div. I college teams will ususally produce 1-3 major leaguers before they are said and done, which is about on par with a Class "A" affiliate. In a four-year span at a good college program, I've had the honor of playing with 19 professional baseball players and probably 4 who will end up having major league careers.
The funny thing about college baseball is the vast disparity in its popularity according to geography. At SEC, ACC, Big South, Big West, and some Southland Con. schools, baseball is often times viewed as the biggest sport behind football and basketball, and at many of these schools, ahead of basketball. In the north, schools in the Big Ten, MAC, A-10, Big East and others often times struggle to even gain major notoriety from their own universities, let alone make much revenue/attendance wise. Where the disparity between the two regions arises, interestingly enough, has little or nothing to do with the quality of play or talent level, but instead the time of the year that the sport is on the calendar.
A large chasm between the way southern schools are treated and the way northern schools are treated has developed ever since the sport became much more regimented in the late 70s - early 80s. When "regional" tournament bids no longer held any geographical connection, southern schools began to earn more and more bids to the NCAA tournament based on better winning percentages. These percentages are directly tied to the ability to play much more home games than a northern school can play, and also the fact that a southern school can start it's season whenever it wants to after Jan. 1st. A northern school must travel in order to play at any time before mid-March because of weather.
This has lead to two distinct injustices: One, southern schools are allowed to inflate winning percentages by playing more home games, and then in turn playing each other later in the season (often 'conference season' games), which is a good way to inflate their "strength of schedule" and have a disproportionally strong impact on the "objective" statistical measurement of the quality of an NCAA team, its Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). This index is used to justify the selection of NCAA baseball tournament teams, and often times seen on ESPN when they are showing a "resume" for an NCAA basketball team. (basketball has a similar RPI index, except in basketball it is much much harder to say that the number is skewed). The second injustice, which has perplexed many for a while, is that NCAA baseball is the only NCAA sport without a uniform starting date. This is equivalent to MLB teams just starting their seasons whenever they want. With a clear competitive advantage to be had by starting earlier, southern teams often take advantage of playing northern teams that are not only on the road, but usually playing for the first time outdoors all year.
Thus, records of good southern baseball teams often turn out to be 40-16, 35-21, etc.
The records of good northern baseball teams often end up being 34-22, 29-27..etc.
Then, for decades, selections for the NCAA tournament have included one representative from each conference, and 30+ "at large" bids that are awarded based upon record, conference record, and RPI-type statistics. With 2 of those 3 factors being clearly skewed in favor of southern schools, they have dominated the college baseball landscape for some time now.
Landing strong recruiting classes.
Getting undeserved NCAA bids.
In general, making northern schools hate them.
The time of change has begun, however. One of the two injustices, the non-uniform start date, has been altered and will take effect next season. Everyone has to start on March 1. Oregon St. (in the northern part of the country) is the defending national champion. Norte Dame, Ohio St., Michigan, and St. John's have began to establish themselves as NCAA tournament regulars, whether or not they win their conference.
But, in the end, the northern schools still hate the south. The southern schools don't like having their empire being taken apart slowly. There are 56 regular season games, 32 conference tournament titles, 16 regional titles, 8 College World Series spots, and one national champion. In baseball terms, its a drag race with some civil-war type hostility brought into it. NOT TO MENTION the various rivalries and amazing major-league lineages that so many of the schools bring to the table.
Oh, and did I mention there are still metal bats (although SERIOUSLY toned down from what they used to be - think restrictor-plate racing in NASCAR times 5)?
It's too bad college baseball isn't more popular - it's alot cooler than arena league football that's for sure. Maybe we can convince the NHL to go on another strike? One or two more years of major TV coverage of this sport, and there will be more to it than the college world series in the eyes of many. Heck, one day there might even be a video game (-;.
Feb. 15
Up All Night
By Ritch Price
Kansas Head Coach
Editor's Note: Kansas and South Dakota State faced bad weather in Lawrence, Kan., over the weekend. Cancel the series? Not a chance. The Jayhawks and Jackrabbits rented out the Metrodome and played through the night - rather morning - on Saturday and Sunday to get the games in. CBI asked KU coach Ritch Price to share some thoughts...
Our starting pitcher, Andy Marks, may have made the greatest 4:30 a.m. start in the history of college baseball. He held South Dakota State to just one run on four hits... he was absolutely special...
rest of the story.
What an awesome story to kick off this year's college baseball season.
For those of you who aren't familiar with college baseball, I'm sorry. You're missing out on baseball's secret little pearl. At the major college level (Division I), there are about 260+ teams battling for 64 NCAA tournament spots, which are then divided into 16 regionals, which are then paired down to a "Sweet 16" if you will, who then battle to play in the greatest event in amateur athletics, the College World Series.
A little background on the sport:
There are some low-quality Division I programs that are seriously short on talent. They are like the 16-seeds in the NCAA tournament for basketball - often times playing at a lower class than their counterparts, even though technically they are still classified as "Division I". However, for the remaining 150 or so schools (all of the BCS conference schools, with additions of Big West, MVC, Big South, Southland, WCC, to some extent the Mountain West, and some indys) the level of play is around the "High Class A" level - teams are well coached, fundamental, and play hard-nosed team-oriented baseball. Raw talent level is sometimes slightly below an average minor league team, but you won't see a minor league team come close to a good Div. I college team when it comes to team-baseball, competitive nature, and spirit. Good Div. I college teams will ususally produce 1-3 major leaguers before they are said and done, which is about on par with a Class "A" affiliate. In a four-year span at a good college program, I've had the honor of playing with 19 professional baseball players and probably 4 who will end up having major league careers.
The funny thing about college baseball is the vast disparity in its popularity according to geography. At SEC, ACC, Big South, Big West, and some Southland Con. schools, baseball is often times viewed as the biggest sport behind football and basketball, and at many of these schools, ahead of basketball. In the north, schools in the Big Ten, MAC, A-10, Big East and others often times struggle to even gain major notoriety from their own universities, let alone make much revenue/attendance wise. Where the disparity between the two regions arises, interestingly enough, has little or nothing to do with the quality of play or talent level, but instead the time of the year that the sport is on the calendar.
A large chasm between the way southern schools are treated and the way northern schools are treated has developed ever since the sport became much more regimented in the late 70s - early 80s. When "regional" tournament bids no longer held any geographical connection, southern schools began to earn more and more bids to the NCAA tournament based on better winning percentages. These percentages are directly tied to the ability to play much more home games than a northern school can play, and also the fact that a southern school can start it's season whenever it wants to after Jan. 1st. A northern school must travel in order to play at any time before mid-March because of weather.
This has lead to two distinct injustices: One, southern schools are allowed to inflate winning percentages by playing more home games, and then in turn playing each other later in the season (often 'conference season' games), which is a good way to inflate their "strength of schedule" and have a disproportionally strong impact on the "objective" statistical measurement of the quality of an NCAA team, its Ratings Percentage Index (RPI). This index is used to justify the selection of NCAA baseball tournament teams, and often times seen on ESPN when they are showing a "resume" for an NCAA basketball team. (basketball has a similar RPI index, except in basketball it is much much harder to say that the number is skewed). The second injustice, which has perplexed many for a while, is that NCAA baseball is the only NCAA sport without a uniform starting date. This is equivalent to MLB teams just starting their seasons whenever they want. With a clear competitive advantage to be had by starting earlier, southern teams often take advantage of playing northern teams that are not only on the road, but usually playing for the first time outdoors all year.
Thus, records of good southern baseball teams often turn out to be 40-16, 35-21, etc.
The records of good northern baseball teams often end up being 34-22, 29-27..etc.
Then, for decades, selections for the NCAA tournament have included one representative from each conference, and 30+ "at large" bids that are awarded based upon record, conference record, and RPI-type statistics. With 2 of those 3 factors being clearly skewed in favor of southern schools, they have dominated the college baseball landscape for some time now.
Landing strong recruiting classes.
Getting undeserved NCAA bids.
In general, making northern schools hate them.
The time of change has begun, however. One of the two injustices, the non-uniform start date, has been altered and will take effect next season. Everyone has to start on March 1. Oregon St. (in the northern part of the country) is the defending national champion. Norte Dame, Ohio St., Michigan, and St. John's have began to establish themselves as NCAA tournament regulars, whether or not they win their conference.
But, in the end, the northern schools still hate the south. The southern schools don't like having their empire being taken apart slowly. There are 56 regular season games, 32 conference tournament titles, 16 regional titles, 8 College World Series spots, and one national champion. In baseball terms, its a drag race with some civil-war type hostility brought into it. NOT TO MENTION the various rivalries and amazing major-league lineages that so many of the schools bring to the table.
Oh, and did I mention there are still metal bats (although SERIOUSLY toned down from what they used to be - think restrictor-plate racing in NASCAR times 5)?
It's too bad college baseball isn't more popular - it's alot cooler than arena league football that's for sure. Maybe we can convince the NHL to go on another strike? One or two more years of major TV coverage of this sport, and there will be more to it than the college world series in the eyes of many. Heck, one day there might even be a video game (-;.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
blinktwice4y, MIDI, and the Internet
So you'll need to read the whole story for you to participate.
An average dude who likes to check out new music on the Internet is using a day off to surf around YouTube. While trying to find a piano tutorial for Ben Folds' songs, he stumbles upon a great cover of...
The Luckiest.
Impressed by the cover so much, he gets totally distracted from finding tutorials. He clicks on the user's name in the corner of the screen to find out more about him.
He finds another great cover...
Everlong
And unlike "The Luckiest", everyone who reads this page has probably heard Everlong. Just about everyone that clicked on the video probably thought the guy was awesome now, too.
Back to the story, the guy then does some research and finds all of the stuff out he can on the musician, and that's when we really get to meet "blinktwice4y".
blinktwice4y isn't just talented - he's also aspiring.
Many of the videos posted on his page aren't covers. They are original work. So the guy clicks on one of the songs to check it out, and finds..
Sentimental
At this point, the random dude thinks this guy is no joke. In fact, the random dude is not the only one who thinks so. Far from it.
Enter Dwight Mallory.
Otherwise known as "dustypuppy" on YouTube, Dwight is a musician, piano expert and technician. He's also good with production and technology, and he decides to take Sentimental and give it a band to play with...
Sentimental with backup..
And there you have it, the random dude is sold. Not just on blinktwice4y, but also on the amazingness of the Internet. The dude then decides to post a video on the internet of the music, because he likes to share. However, he can't decide which one to pick.
So he puts them up in order, and he hopes that people listen to them in order. And then he hopes that people like it, and pass it along to their friends to listen. He also wants people to check out the direct link to the artist's page, and he hopes people can keep the word going and going.
And maybe someone else will come along and rip the YouTube video onto an mp3. And maybe it will surface on myspace or limewire. And maybe then people start googling the song, or the artist, or Dwight, or whatever. Or maybe someone will pass this link along to someone else, and then onto someone else, and then onto someone who works for a label. And that person's boss eventually sees it.
And then a star is born.
And then blinktwice4y will be rich.
And everyone here can say they saw him 'way back when'.
I think this guy has a future, no?
Check it out.
Pass it on.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=blinktwice4y
Sentimental
rest your head a little while
and I will try to explain of love
and all of that
see we were young and cavalier
and we have scars and tears to smile at now
we both knew what had to be done
but it turns out I'm not that brave or strong
so you had to be the one
because you had courage all along
we were lost and never found
you were hurt and i was proud
i was never there for you
and we forgot the things we knew
sentimental though it seems
you were mine love
though I tell you I'm alright
I lie love
sweetheart this is killing me
is it killing you?
but I know that things will work out fine
so I show my teeth when I laugh out loud
and pretend that wounds will heal in time
chorus bridge chorus chorus
the end
An average dude who likes to check out new music on the Internet is using a day off to surf around YouTube. While trying to find a piano tutorial for Ben Folds' songs, he stumbles upon a great cover of...
The Luckiest.
Impressed by the cover so much, he gets totally distracted from finding tutorials. He clicks on the user's name in the corner of the screen to find out more about him.
He finds another great cover...
Everlong
And unlike "The Luckiest", everyone who reads this page has probably heard Everlong. Just about everyone that clicked on the video probably thought the guy was awesome now, too.
Back to the story, the guy then does some research and finds all of the stuff out he can on the musician, and that's when we really get to meet "blinktwice4y".
blinktwice4y isn't just talented - he's also aspiring.
Many of the videos posted on his page aren't covers. They are original work. So the guy clicks on one of the songs to check it out, and finds..
Sentimental
At this point, the random dude thinks this guy is no joke. In fact, the random dude is not the only one who thinks so. Far from it.
Enter Dwight Mallory.
Otherwise known as "dustypuppy" on YouTube, Dwight is a musician, piano expert and technician. He's also good with production and technology, and he decides to take Sentimental and give it a band to play with...
Sentimental with backup..
And there you have it, the random dude is sold. Not just on blinktwice4y, but also on the amazingness of the Internet. The dude then decides to post a video on the internet of the music, because he likes to share. However, he can't decide which one to pick.
So he puts them up in order, and he hopes that people listen to them in order. And then he hopes that people like it, and pass it along to their friends to listen. He also wants people to check out the direct link to the artist's page, and he hopes people can keep the word going and going.
And maybe someone else will come along and rip the YouTube video onto an mp3. And maybe it will surface on myspace or limewire. And maybe then people start googling the song, or the artist, or Dwight, or whatever. Or maybe someone will pass this link along to someone else, and then onto someone else, and then onto someone who works for a label. And that person's boss eventually sees it.
And then a star is born.
And then blinktwice4y will be rich.
And everyone here can say they saw him 'way back when'.
I think this guy has a future, no?
Check it out.
Pass it on.
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=blinktwice4y
Sentimental
rest your head a little while
and I will try to explain of love
and all of that
see we were young and cavalier
and we have scars and tears to smile at now
we both knew what had to be done
but it turns out I'm not that brave or strong
so you had to be the one
because you had courage all along
we were lost and never found
you were hurt and i was proud
i was never there for you
and we forgot the things we knew
sentimental though it seems
you were mine love
though I tell you I'm alright
I lie love
sweetheart this is killing me
is it killing you?
but I know that things will work out fine
so I show my teeth when I laugh out loud
and pretend that wounds will heal in time
chorus bridge chorus chorus
the end
Monday, February 12, 2007
While I am on the subject...
I would say that there's nothing more nauseating than hearing some dumb douchebag oggle and gush about a hot chick on TV(except, of course, hearing a woman go on and on about Matthew McConaughey). For me, I do not see the difference between noticing an attractive woman on TV and noticing one in person. Both of which happen all of the time, but overall unless you have some action planned, I don't see the point of bringing it up repeatedly.
That being said, I must now totally defeat my own opinion.
Ladies and gentlemen, the two celebrity women that cannot be on TV enough:
Jill, the Mercury Milan Girl
and Elliott from Scrubs
That being said, I must now totally defeat my own opinion.
Ladies and gentlemen, the two celebrity women that cannot be on TV enough:
Jill, the Mercury Milan Girl
and Elliott from Scrubs
I will pay you to agree with me
AEI Will Pay Scientists to Dispute Global Warming
I just want to say that the more I dive into this internet thing - the cooler it becomes.
Comments?
PS - Check out the correspondent who has filed this report. As us thugs like to say, she is a "dime". WOW.
I just want to say that the more I dive into this internet thing - the cooler it becomes.
Comments?
PS - Check out the correspondent who has filed this report. As us thugs like to say, she is a "dime". WOW.
A stick save, and a beauty
The NHL All-Star Game.
Please click on the above for exclusive video of the NHL all-star game. Honestly, its pretty can't miss stuff and you can't find this on Youtube. Great work Guerreso, or should I call you "angry T"...
Please click on the above for exclusive video of the NHL all-star game. Honestly, its pretty can't miss stuff and you can't find this on Youtube. Great work Guerreso, or should I call you "angry T"...
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Tips from the pros
I can't quite figure out how this video hasn't gotten more circulation.
This is just an amazingly insightful guide to playing poker, and I wanted to share with you.
Enjoy.
This is just an amazingly insightful guide to playing poker, and I wanted to share with you.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Insight into today - "Signing Day", "XML", and "Iraq"
Most of the time its a better idea to check out stuff you can learn about/argue about/ponder about from other people than from me. Today is a great example.
Some good places to check out...
Absolute must watch on technology and information – How our lives are changing
A brief insight into the world of college athletics and recruiting. Must read. Not gospel, and not the whole story….
Recruiting is a sick business
Best Critique of Comedy Movies – degenerates as the article realizes its more of a history lesson on the evolution of comedies than actually saying something meaningful about them
Emotion Porn
Political article on Iraq intelligence, etc. Marginally important read. Not terribly great but good link to check out to see a gateway into political intelligence sources online and also a vast array of political opinion pieces.
Rawstory.com
Some good places to check out...
Absolute must watch on technology and information – How our lives are changing
A brief insight into the world of college athletics and recruiting. Must read. Not gospel, and not the whole story….
Recruiting is a sick business
Best Critique of Comedy Movies – degenerates as the article realizes its more of a history lesson on the evolution of comedies than actually saying something meaningful about them
Emotion Porn
Political article on Iraq intelligence, etc. Marginally important read. Not terribly great but good link to check out to see a gateway into political intelligence sources online and also a vast array of political opinion pieces.
Rawstory.com
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Monday, February 05, 2007
Smokin' Aces, Sun Valley Martinis, and Sushi Buffets: a trip to the biggest little city in the world.
It's almost that time of year for my annual trip to Reno, NV.
Before you out and out just ask "why?", know these important facts:
1. I won't get a chance to ski at Lake Tahoe.
2. I won't get a chance to hang with any friend(s) who even enjoy spending time outdoors.
3. There's a chance everything I own will smell like cigarettes + wet dog.
4. I'm gauranteed at least an 8 hour flight layover there and back.
Now we have that established, why in the world would I make such a trip?
***
The best way to describe the city of Reno, Nevada is to offer up a compare/contrast example. Everyone has probably heard about the Drive-Thru Wedding Chapels in Las Vegas, right? Some are "drive-thru", some are walk-in, all of them are used for haphazard legal unions that join two overserved individuals as one -- at least for the night. These are often times the oases that scared, excited young couples who run from home use to celebrate matrimony away from disapproving loved ones...etc.
Well, in Reno, they have these very same chapels. However, in the three days on earth that I have spent in that city, I never saw a couple stumble out of there giggling or laughing. I never saw two wild-eyed, lust-filled teens scamper in.
No. I saw groomsen. Bridesmaids. Half-dress/half-jean combos, cowboy hats with tuxedo pants and t-shirts with buttons. I saw best men and maids of honor. I saw family pictures and wedding vails galore.
You see, the walk-in chapels aren't used for that many exceedingly bad decisions made in haste.
They are home to exceedingly bad decisions made in earnest.
This fact is by far the best way I can characterize the city.
If that description doesn't sell you on why I can't wait to get back, than maybe knowing my extensive poker plans there will be enough.
I am set up to play in a nice home "bar" game the day I land in this paradise city. It is quite different in Nevada than it is back here in Chicago, as you can imagine. The bars out there are allowed to host their own poker tournaments without having to worry about anything. From what I hear it is a nice, low-limit game that is sure to lead to lots of laughs, smoke-filled eyes, and more than two or three stories to tell in the morning -- and that's if I don't happen to be lucky enough to win.
This will be immediately followed up by three days of touring the card-rooms of Reno -- something I haven't had the privilege of doing up until this point. If it is anything like the rest of the city, I am sure it is bound to be a little bleary-eyed, confused, and lookin' for a good ole time.
Still not convinced it would be a good trip? Well, then let me tell you about the real gems of Reno - the dive bars.
We've all been to dive bars. I would say they have an appeal to most anyone who enjoys a good time relaxing and hanging out, right? The dingy appearance, the cheap food, the regulars and the characters -- who doesn't love them?
I hate to say it - but until I went to Reno, I never truly understood the meaning of "dive bar". You see, what I was familiar with, what you remember, what the world pictures when it thinks of a dive bar has nothing on one in Reno.
First of all, they are on every corner in Reno. They are between every corner in Reno. They are under every burning lightbulb in the town. They are everywhere. They really don't have names. They are signified by an open door. You can smell them coming.
Carding? Please, no one inside one of these places even knows what a Nevada license looks like, much less all of the other states that someone who works 10 minutes in the bar industry would see in the state of Nevada.
The bar stools? Resplendid creations complete with broken legs, torn padding, and video poker for every station.
The bartenders? Typically people who couldn't balance a cash register if they tried, make up the drinks as they go along, and don't know a shot glass from a glass pitcher.
The entertainment? Pool tables, darts, etc. All of which are used as props. Props? Well, you see, you never really get to use the equipment -- its more to aid and abet the current bar fight or wild-eyed ballyhoo that is going on at the time. My two memories of a Reno pool table were 1. playing 9-ball on it for 15 minutes, and 2. watching 6 Australian soccer hooligans scream, dance, hug and glom while standing atop it until one of them wasn't wearing pants and two of them were making out with a giddy 65 year-old bachelorette in the corner. Put that on the tourist brochure.
Wait, did I mention most of the customers come in through the back door?
Wait, did I mention that these bars are open 24 hours?
Wait, did I mention that day and night blend together in these places worse than in Alaska?
I didn't think so.
Wait, did I mention half the town is "tweaking"?
IS THAT NOT ENOUGH? Well then, do this. Google "sun-valley martini" until you find out what it is. You will be in awe.
Well, that's it. I know I have done enough to justify this trip. I'm sure there are going to be requests for people to come with me. I can imagine the emails flooding in.
Nevertheless, if any of you need me to list any other reason why to visit this place, I guess I would be remiss if I didn't mention my oldest friend lives out that way. And, no it isn't this guy. . This guy isn't as creepy. Not to say he isn't creepy looking. Which isn't necessarily something I look forward to saying, because it has been suggested that we look alike. I doubt it - my nose is 1/10th his size. And I don't think I am going as grey.
Actually, people might say that because we pretty much share a sense of humor and perspective on the world that is hard to explain. Maybe we formed it throwing pillows at his grandpa's bedroom door during sleepovers - just to see what hilarity could ensue. Maybe we formed it grilling out and throwing snowballs at Kevin Vogt. Maybe we formed it during Sachs family vacations, where I was the "other son". Maybe we formed it discussing politics all night long after randomly awkward social encounters with varying groups of friends in high school. Maybe because we both always felt a little out of place, we ran in completely different social circles, went to different schools, and sometimes didn't share one single life choice for years at a time. But all that said, we never forgot our latest joke or our earliest. We never thought there was a bad time to call - or a bad time to drop in. If I had to bail him out of jail and give up my house in the process, I would demand that he at least buy me a beer once I did. If I needed a wingman or an accomplice in crunch time, he would take the fall quicker than a Niagra canoe. He would be the first person to call that a gay analogy, and then the first person to offer up a self-directed insult of his own.
When "hey I gotta go I'm busy" means that you are actually in the middle taking customer service calls while doing a double shift after school, you know that's a good friend. When that phrase doesn't come out until 20 minutes into the story, then that's a different level. We all have friends that find it tough to squeeze time for you into their hectic lives, and they will tell you all about it. I say cheers to those few people who never say that. It's because the last thing on earth they are going to let get in the way of a friendship is time.
With that being said, on with the festivities. In slightly over two weeks, I will be living it up in the biggest little city. Remember, google sun-valley martinis.
Before you out and out just ask "why?", know these important facts:
1. I won't get a chance to ski at Lake Tahoe.
2. I won't get a chance to hang with any friend(s) who even enjoy spending time outdoors.
3. There's a chance everything I own will smell like cigarettes + wet dog.
4. I'm gauranteed at least an 8 hour flight layover there and back.
Now we have that established, why in the world would I make such a trip?
***
The best way to describe the city of Reno, Nevada is to offer up a compare/contrast example. Everyone has probably heard about the Drive-Thru Wedding Chapels in Las Vegas, right? Some are "drive-thru", some are walk-in, all of them are used for haphazard legal unions that join two overserved individuals as one -- at least for the night. These are often times the oases that scared, excited young couples who run from home use to celebrate matrimony away from disapproving loved ones...etc.
Well, in Reno, they have these very same chapels. However, in the three days on earth that I have spent in that city, I never saw a couple stumble out of there giggling or laughing. I never saw two wild-eyed, lust-filled teens scamper in.
No. I saw groomsen. Bridesmaids. Half-dress/half-jean combos, cowboy hats with tuxedo pants and t-shirts with buttons. I saw best men and maids of honor. I saw family pictures and wedding vails galore.
You see, the walk-in chapels aren't used for that many exceedingly bad decisions made in haste.
They are home to exceedingly bad decisions made in earnest.
This fact is by far the best way I can characterize the city.
If that description doesn't sell you on why I can't wait to get back, than maybe knowing my extensive poker plans there will be enough.
I am set up to play in a nice home "bar" game the day I land in this paradise city. It is quite different in Nevada than it is back here in Chicago, as you can imagine. The bars out there are allowed to host their own poker tournaments without having to worry about anything. From what I hear it is a nice, low-limit game that is sure to lead to lots of laughs, smoke-filled eyes, and more than two or three stories to tell in the morning -- and that's if I don't happen to be lucky enough to win.
This will be immediately followed up by three days of touring the card-rooms of Reno -- something I haven't had the privilege of doing up until this point. If it is anything like the rest of the city, I am sure it is bound to be a little bleary-eyed, confused, and lookin' for a good ole time.
Still not convinced it would be a good trip? Well, then let me tell you about the real gems of Reno - the dive bars.
We've all been to dive bars. I would say they have an appeal to most anyone who enjoys a good time relaxing and hanging out, right? The dingy appearance, the cheap food, the regulars and the characters -- who doesn't love them?
I hate to say it - but until I went to Reno, I never truly understood the meaning of "dive bar". You see, what I was familiar with, what you remember, what the world pictures when it thinks of a dive bar has nothing on one in Reno.
First of all, they are on every corner in Reno. They are between every corner in Reno. They are under every burning lightbulb in the town. They are everywhere. They really don't have names. They are signified by an open door. You can smell them coming.
Carding? Please, no one inside one of these places even knows what a Nevada license looks like, much less all of the other states that someone who works 10 minutes in the bar industry would see in the state of Nevada.
The bar stools? Resplendid creations complete with broken legs, torn padding, and video poker for every station.
The bartenders? Typically people who couldn't balance a cash register if they tried, make up the drinks as they go along, and don't know a shot glass from a glass pitcher.
The entertainment? Pool tables, darts, etc. All of which are used as props. Props? Well, you see, you never really get to use the equipment -- its more to aid and abet the current bar fight or wild-eyed ballyhoo that is going on at the time. My two memories of a Reno pool table were 1. playing 9-ball on it for 15 minutes, and 2. watching 6 Australian soccer hooligans scream, dance, hug and glom while standing atop it until one of them wasn't wearing pants and two of them were making out with a giddy 65 year-old bachelorette in the corner. Put that on the tourist brochure.
Wait, did I mention most of the customers come in through the back door?
Wait, did I mention that these bars are open 24 hours?
Wait, did I mention that day and night blend together in these places worse than in Alaska?
I didn't think so.
Wait, did I mention half the town is "tweaking"?
IS THAT NOT ENOUGH? Well then, do this. Google "sun-valley martini" until you find out what it is. You will be in awe.
Well, that's it. I know I have done enough to justify this trip. I'm sure there are going to be requests for people to come with me. I can imagine the emails flooding in.
Nevertheless, if any of you need me to list any other reason why to visit this place, I guess I would be remiss if I didn't mention my oldest friend lives out that way. And, no it isn't this guy. . This guy isn't as creepy. Not to say he isn't creepy looking. Which isn't necessarily something I look forward to saying, because it has been suggested that we look alike. I doubt it - my nose is 1/10th his size. And I don't think I am going as grey.
Actually, people might say that because we pretty much share a sense of humor and perspective on the world that is hard to explain. Maybe we formed it throwing pillows at his grandpa's bedroom door during sleepovers - just to see what hilarity could ensue. Maybe we formed it grilling out and throwing snowballs at Kevin Vogt. Maybe we formed it during Sachs family vacations, where I was the "other son". Maybe we formed it discussing politics all night long after randomly awkward social encounters with varying groups of friends in high school. Maybe because we both always felt a little out of place, we ran in completely different social circles, went to different schools, and sometimes didn't share one single life choice for years at a time. But all that said, we never forgot our latest joke or our earliest. We never thought there was a bad time to call - or a bad time to drop in. If I had to bail him out of jail and give up my house in the process, I would demand that he at least buy me a beer once I did. If I needed a wingman or an accomplice in crunch time, he would take the fall quicker than a Niagra canoe. He would be the first person to call that a gay analogy, and then the first person to offer up a self-directed insult of his own.
When "hey I gotta go I'm busy" means that you are actually in the middle taking customer service calls while doing a double shift after school, you know that's a good friend. When that phrase doesn't come out until 20 minutes into the story, then that's a different level. We all have friends that find it tough to squeeze time for you into their hectic lives, and they will tell you all about it. I say cheers to those few people who never say that. It's because the last thing on earth they are going to let get in the way of a friendship is time.
With that being said, on with the festivities. In slightly over two weeks, I will be living it up in the biggest little city. Remember, google sun-valley martinis.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
What a way to go out - Colts 29 Bears 17
Well, at least the Bears played one of their worst games of the year.
At least they didn't have a chance to get up by 3 scores early in the game without making stupid miscues.
At least Manning didn't try to spot us 14.
At least we weren't still in the game with 11:00 to play, down 5 points with the ball, having only gained 120 yards of offense on 30+ plays.
At least we didn't almost go into the lead at halftime somehow.
2 dropped snaps. 2 deep throws slipping out of our quarterback's hand. I know from experience, if you have a smaller hand, the ball is ridiculously slippery when wet. My hands were so small the ball would slip out on the backswing everytime I tried to throw back in the day if it was wet/muddy. It's probably one of the most overlooked parts of football that can totally change the fate of a team. Teams should really have a plan for when their QB can't grip the ball. Ours clearly couldn't.
At least they didn't have a chance to get up by 3 scores early in the game without making stupid miscues.
At least Manning didn't try to spot us 14.
At least we weren't still in the game with 11:00 to play, down 5 points with the ball, having only gained 120 yards of offense on 30+ plays.
At least we didn't almost go into the lead at halftime somehow.
2 dropped snaps. 2 deep throws slipping out of our quarterback's hand. I know from experience, if you have a smaller hand, the ball is ridiculously slippery when wet. My hands were so small the ball would slip out on the backswing everytime I tried to throw back in the day if it was wet/muddy. It's probably one of the most overlooked parts of football that can totally change the fate of a team. Teams should really have a plan for when their QB can't grip the ball. Ours clearly couldn't.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Another Piano Vid: Brand New
A week goes by without a piano vid? Crazy.
An excellent job by this dude. Also, may I say I love how he plays like I do, right off the floor like Schroeder.
Brand New: All the quiet things no one knows
Also, some great weblinks to check out.
Beast Skills. Seriously.
Also, for those of you who love to understand the way the world works, here is some great science/math discussion blogs that are fascinating.
fascinating write-up on normal distributions
http://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/
An excellent job by this dude. Also, may I say I love how he plays like I do, right off the floor like Schroeder.
Brand New: All the quiet things no one knows
Also, some great weblinks to check out.
Beast Skills. Seriously.
Also, for those of you who love to understand the way the world works, here is some great science/math discussion blogs that are fascinating.
fascinating write-up on normal distributions
http://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Obituary: Nokia 6610
Not to get all personal with a post here, but amongst the 1000 things I wanted to get posted up here but haven't had the time is a story.
It is a story of a cell phone.
Saturday I took the plunge and went about buying a new phone. Some of you may or may not know what my cell phone looks like, but rest assured its at least 3 years old and in cell-phone terms, a total relic.
And with the new phone on the way from "corporate" (note: there is a total sidebar story here on the strange and completely counter-productive business practices of cell-phone companies, but anyway), there's a few days in here where my phone is sort of in this life-support stage, where I know and it knows its about to be put to sleep for good, but together we hang on for a little while longer.
You see, cell phones mean nothing to me, and I have no real reason to have an attachment to this one at all. Its ugly, awkward, the buttons rarely work, has a cracked screen, the battery is shot and it never got decent reception on a consistent basis the entire time I owned it.
Despite all of this, I admit I have some strange sentimental attachment to the thing.
It has bowling and parachute on it as games - games that I know shouldn't keep a 4 year old's attention for 5 minutes, but for some reason actually had enticed me to learn how to not just figure out the controls of each game, but how to beat it entirely.
It has the memory capacity for like 3 text messages at a time before it crashes. It wasn't something I ever really cared about until one day no one called each other - they only IMed each other using phones (i.e. texted). Still, I almost grew to like having to figure out how to text people without using the "r" "s" or "t" letters because the number 7 didn't work.
I'll also never forget the time that it wouldn't hang up - the end button stopped working - and I contemplated the notion that I could, theoretically, be on the phone forever one day unless the key decided to cooperate once again. I had secretly hoped one day I would call someone who had the same problem, and then we could keep our phone call going forever and see if those unlimited nights and weekends really were unlimited.
But that doesn't really match the time I lost the phone in school, and eventually found it laying in a corner of the ole' baseball house up on S. Fifth. Next to it was an empty dip-spit bottle, usually the most disgusting thing in the world. This time though, it was second. That's because I found the contents of that dip-spit bottle spilled all over the face of the phone.
Or how about the time I needed to put together furniture in my new apartment, and I had nails, I had wood, but I didn't have a hammer? I thought the phone doubled as an extremely useful one.
Could I count the number of times it had hit the ground? Heck, I couldn't even count the number of times I found it in a puddle.
And was there a trip I took with it where I actually remembered the charger? Was there anything funnier than coming home with another one, just to put it in a pile of chargers I had that all barely worked right and never actually made me remember to bring them with me the next time?
I guess some of these questions lead me to somewhat of an understanding. As bad as it was, the thing had been through a lot with me. I treated it terribly, but I couldn't shake it - like a bad habit. I needed that thing.
And so I guess someone could understand why I care. It was a trooper. It sucked, but it had been through a lot. That was worth a little something.
But really though, gimme a break. It's a cell phone. Why write about it, above 1000s of other topics? Respect is one thing, but why am I suddenly misty-eyed and sentimental? (tongue, meet cheek)
I guess, as they say, we have to go back to the start.
It was born the day I took the "phone that came before" it in hand while stuffing clothes into a gym bag. The "phone that came before" was in the hand with my gym towel, and after I managed to get all the clothes in the bag, it was time to stuff the towel in, too. As I typically do, I like to fit too many things in too small of a holder, and this was no different. There was no room for the towel unless I stuffed it in there. And stuff is what I did. As I swung my arm back for one last stuff, the "phone that came before" accidentally slipped from my grasp on the upswing. I felt "the phone that came before" release - and I turned my head and saw it sail through the air. It sailed gracefully through the open doorway and across the hall. The arc was magnificent, and so must have been the velocity, because it continued to sail all the way across the hall and through another open door - the bathroom door. Well, almost through the bathroom door. You see, had it gone cleanly through, the phone I am eulogizing today would never have been mine. Instead, "the phone that came before" gently glanced off the bathroom door and changed direction as it began its descent to the ground.
It would never meet the ground, however. The glance was enough to hurdle it towards the toilet, where it would find one final open door. The toilet seat was up, and provided no resistance to the "phone that came before"'s impending progress to a liquid doom.
SPLOOSH. It was in one sense horrific, in another sense immaculate.
The "phone that came before" never worked again, and it was buried with the honor of having the most tragic and fantastical death ever to strike a cell phone.
Until the phone we remember today. You see, this phone didn't just take a beating and keep on ticking, this phone took a deathlike plunge even more catastrophic and impossible.
It came the day after Halloween, and again there were many things to carry and not enough hands to hold them. Our heroic phone was joined by its late-brother, an equally heroic and memorable mega-wallet that held every business card, ID card, credit card and gift card a person could ever imagine all at the same time. The phone and the wallet were joined by some keys, and they were on a journey to watch the beloved Bears at a young rogue's abode. As harmless as this sounds, terror would strike the situation before anyone could even realize what had happened.
You see, two more elements were present on this journey of death. One was a half-filled case of Miller Light long necks. It was agreed that they would make the trip back to the young rogue's abode, and because of the state of it's fluid contents needed utmost care in its transportation - it required a whole index finger to carry it with.
In the other hand, a California Raisin costume that was donned by yours truly the night before was placed on a hanger and resting within a palm. It was requested by the merchant that loaned it to me - and because of the oppressive time restraints of our agreement required that the costume make the trip - and consequently take up much needed hand space.
So here we were, one costume, one beer case, one wallet, my keys, and our tragic hero. 11 floors up, no pockets to work with and time at a premium, there was no way to make two trips for this - this had to be taken care of in one mission. How to do it?
Evil is born. The idea of using the space in the half-empty case comes to me. I place the mega-wallet and our hero inside the space. Genius. Now the hanger is picked up with my left hand. The keys in my right palm, and the beer case in the steady crook of my right index finger. I open the door, lock it carefully and am on my way.
To doom. I hit the elevator button. The door opens - I get in and JUST as it is about to close, I hear a rustle and a hustle, and I lean forward quickly to try to stop the door from shutting.
Crash. The beer case has slipped free from its iron-like shackles.
Panic. Beer is spilling everywhere. Glass is strewn about the elevator floor. More mess is to come and something needs to be done - and fast.
Open the door, pick up the case. Panic. What to do? The beer is getting everywhere.
Eureka. I run to the left, down the hall. Full sprint now, I throw open the utility door and pull open the garbage chute.
I fire the case down the chute.
Relief.
As I walk back to the elevator, I begin to think about how I will clean up the beer, and how a small mess almost turned into a big one.
And that is the point when it hit me. Tragedy. Despair. Catastrophe.
The beer, the mega-wallet, and our hero - all plunged eleven floors, drowning in suds, helplessly to their doom.
Like a mourner in denial, I coerced management to look for the bodies. I somehow obtained a carcass removal device, and dug threw the disgusting wreckage until I found the physical remains of my beloved.
The mega-wallet and the tragic hero recovered, I cleaned up and took the costume and the keys to my car. I was a shell of a man, shocked and horrified, but somehow reluctantly glad that I got to see my friends one last time.
I started my car, and began to drive away. A few minutes passed, and I grabbed our hero to try to begin cleaning and grooming it for a proper burial.
Then it happened.
Remember how I said "deathlike"?
You see, "the phone that came before" has still taken the most fantastical and impossible death plunge in the history of phones.
That is because this phone, our hero, the one that I mourn today, SURVIVED.
Cracked screen and hops-coated, it miraculously lit up. With some intensive care and prayers - it plodded on.
And it was that moment, that miraculous second that I realized I didn't just respect this phone. I loved this thing.
Rest In Peace, NOKIA 6610. You have given me more than just crappy reception, poor battery life and complete lack of status with women and friends. You have given me inspiration - and for that I will never forget.
It is a story of a cell phone.
Saturday I took the plunge and went about buying a new phone. Some of you may or may not know what my cell phone looks like, but rest assured its at least 3 years old and in cell-phone terms, a total relic.
And with the new phone on the way from "corporate" (note: there is a total sidebar story here on the strange and completely counter-productive business practices of cell-phone companies, but anyway), there's a few days in here where my phone is sort of in this life-support stage, where I know and it knows its about to be put to sleep for good, but together we hang on for a little while longer.
You see, cell phones mean nothing to me, and I have no real reason to have an attachment to this one at all. Its ugly, awkward, the buttons rarely work, has a cracked screen, the battery is shot and it never got decent reception on a consistent basis the entire time I owned it.
Despite all of this, I admit I have some strange sentimental attachment to the thing.
It has bowling and parachute on it as games - games that I know shouldn't keep a 4 year old's attention for 5 minutes, but for some reason actually had enticed me to learn how to not just figure out the controls of each game, but how to beat it entirely.
It has the memory capacity for like 3 text messages at a time before it crashes. It wasn't something I ever really cared about until one day no one called each other - they only IMed each other using phones (i.e. texted). Still, I almost grew to like having to figure out how to text people without using the "r" "s" or "t" letters because the number 7 didn't work.
I'll also never forget the time that it wouldn't hang up - the end button stopped working - and I contemplated the notion that I could, theoretically, be on the phone forever one day unless the key decided to cooperate once again. I had secretly hoped one day I would call someone who had the same problem, and then we could keep our phone call going forever and see if those unlimited nights and weekends really were unlimited.
But that doesn't really match the time I lost the phone in school, and eventually found it laying in a corner of the ole' baseball house up on S. Fifth. Next to it was an empty dip-spit bottle, usually the most disgusting thing in the world. This time though, it was second. That's because I found the contents of that dip-spit bottle spilled all over the face of the phone.
Or how about the time I needed to put together furniture in my new apartment, and I had nails, I had wood, but I didn't have a hammer? I thought the phone doubled as an extremely useful one.
Could I count the number of times it had hit the ground? Heck, I couldn't even count the number of times I found it in a puddle.
And was there a trip I took with it where I actually remembered the charger? Was there anything funnier than coming home with another one, just to put it in a pile of chargers I had that all barely worked right and never actually made me remember to bring them with me the next time?
I guess some of these questions lead me to somewhat of an understanding. As bad as it was, the thing had been through a lot with me. I treated it terribly, but I couldn't shake it - like a bad habit. I needed that thing.
And so I guess someone could understand why I care. It was a trooper. It sucked, but it had been through a lot. That was worth a little something.
But really though, gimme a break. It's a cell phone. Why write about it, above 1000s of other topics? Respect is one thing, but why am I suddenly misty-eyed and sentimental? (tongue, meet cheek)
I guess, as they say, we have to go back to the start.
It was born the day I took the "phone that came before" it in hand while stuffing clothes into a gym bag. The "phone that came before" was in the hand with my gym towel, and after I managed to get all the clothes in the bag, it was time to stuff the towel in, too. As I typically do, I like to fit too many things in too small of a holder, and this was no different. There was no room for the towel unless I stuffed it in there. And stuff is what I did. As I swung my arm back for one last stuff, the "phone that came before" accidentally slipped from my grasp on the upswing. I felt "the phone that came before" release - and I turned my head and saw it sail through the air. It sailed gracefully through the open doorway and across the hall. The arc was magnificent, and so must have been the velocity, because it continued to sail all the way across the hall and through another open door - the bathroom door. Well, almost through the bathroom door. You see, had it gone cleanly through, the phone I am eulogizing today would never have been mine. Instead, "the phone that came before" gently glanced off the bathroom door and changed direction as it began its descent to the ground.
It would never meet the ground, however. The glance was enough to hurdle it towards the toilet, where it would find one final open door. The toilet seat was up, and provided no resistance to the "phone that came before"'s impending progress to a liquid doom.
SPLOOSH. It was in one sense horrific, in another sense immaculate.
The "phone that came before" never worked again, and it was buried with the honor of having the most tragic and fantastical death ever to strike a cell phone.
Until the phone we remember today. You see, this phone didn't just take a beating and keep on ticking, this phone took a deathlike plunge even more catastrophic and impossible.
It came the day after Halloween, and again there were many things to carry and not enough hands to hold them. Our heroic phone was joined by its late-brother, an equally heroic and memorable mega-wallet that held every business card, ID card, credit card and gift card a person could ever imagine all at the same time. The phone and the wallet were joined by some keys, and they were on a journey to watch the beloved Bears at a young rogue's abode. As harmless as this sounds, terror would strike the situation before anyone could even realize what had happened.
You see, two more elements were present on this journey of death. One was a half-filled case of Miller Light long necks. It was agreed that they would make the trip back to the young rogue's abode, and because of the state of it's fluid contents needed utmost care in its transportation - it required a whole index finger to carry it with.
In the other hand, a California Raisin costume that was donned by yours truly the night before was placed on a hanger and resting within a palm. It was requested by the merchant that loaned it to me - and because of the oppressive time restraints of our agreement required that the costume make the trip - and consequently take up much needed hand space.
So here we were, one costume, one beer case, one wallet, my keys, and our tragic hero. 11 floors up, no pockets to work with and time at a premium, there was no way to make two trips for this - this had to be taken care of in one mission. How to do it?
Evil is born. The idea of using the space in the half-empty case comes to me. I place the mega-wallet and our hero inside the space. Genius. Now the hanger is picked up with my left hand. The keys in my right palm, and the beer case in the steady crook of my right index finger. I open the door, lock it carefully and am on my way.
To doom. I hit the elevator button. The door opens - I get in and JUST as it is about to close, I hear a rustle and a hustle, and I lean forward quickly to try to stop the door from shutting.
Crash. The beer case has slipped free from its iron-like shackles.
Panic. Beer is spilling everywhere. Glass is strewn about the elevator floor. More mess is to come and something needs to be done - and fast.
Open the door, pick up the case. Panic. What to do? The beer is getting everywhere.
Eureka. I run to the left, down the hall. Full sprint now, I throw open the utility door and pull open the garbage chute.
I fire the case down the chute.
Relief.
As I walk back to the elevator, I begin to think about how I will clean up the beer, and how a small mess almost turned into a big one.
And that is the point when it hit me. Tragedy. Despair. Catastrophe.
The beer, the mega-wallet, and our hero - all plunged eleven floors, drowning in suds, helplessly to their doom.
Like a mourner in denial, I coerced management to look for the bodies. I somehow obtained a carcass removal device, and dug threw the disgusting wreckage until I found the physical remains of my beloved.
The mega-wallet and the tragic hero recovered, I cleaned up and took the costume and the keys to my car. I was a shell of a man, shocked and horrified, but somehow reluctantly glad that I got to see my friends one last time.
I started my car, and began to drive away. A few minutes passed, and I grabbed our hero to try to begin cleaning and grooming it for a proper burial.
Then it happened.
Remember how I said "deathlike"?
You see, "the phone that came before" has still taken the most fantastical and impossible death plunge in the history of phones.
That is because this phone, our hero, the one that I mourn today, SURVIVED.
Cracked screen and hops-coated, it miraculously lit up. With some intensive care and prayers - it plodded on.
And it was that moment, that miraculous second that I realized I didn't just respect this phone. I loved this thing.
Rest In Peace, NOKIA 6610. You have given me more than just crappy reception, poor battery life and complete lack of status with women and friends. You have given me inspiration - and for that I will never forget.
Monday, January 29, 2007
So Sorry
I haven't gotten to posting lately - so this really hasn't even been worth checking. Stuff is coming, though. Good links, tidbits, and even original (!) work.
Until then, Go Bears. Also, check out this awesome article on city politics. As you read, play this game: How many employees of the city of Chicago are currently on disability? How many are related to city politicians? My guess is a lot, and my second guess is the overwhelming majority.
Who signed the alderman's papers?
Who signed alderman's papers?
Rival claims forgery, Solis denies it
January 29, 2007
BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Staff Reporter
The charge is serious: Ald. Danny Solis (25th), the president pro tempore of the Chicago City Council, had someone forge his notarized signatures on his statements of candidacy and economic interest while he was on a fact-finding trip to Israel with other Hispanic aldermen.
He was back from the trip before the final deadline, but they had to be filed while he was away to make him eligible for the lottery for top ballot spot for the Southwest Side ward that includes Pilsen.
Solis' attorneys have said he signed the documents himself before he left, and they expect the lawsuit filed against him Friday will be thrown out just as the electoral board threw out the charge earlier.
But Solis reportedly was seen talking angrily to his Chicago staff on his BlackBerry while in Israel, and handwriting expert Diana Marsh says whoever signed "Danny Solis" to the statement of candidacy and economic interest is not the same person who signed "Danny Solis" on all of Solis' other documents.
Solis has his own handwriting expert, Jack Calvert, who says the same person signed all of the documents. Solis has the high-powered law firm of Shefsky & Froelich as well as election law expert Burt Odelson representing him.
At least until Mayor Daley named Miguel del Valle city clerk last year, Solis was regarded as Daley's top Hispanic ally and perhaps even Daley's heir apparent -- or at least the mayor's choice to succeed Luis Gutierrez as congressman if Gutierrez retires.
Objections were tossed out
Rich Means, the election attorney who filed the case against Solis, said he was initially skeptical that the signatures were forged. A brief glance with the naked eye finds them pretty close. But after going over them with Marsh, Means said he became convinced they were "skillful forgeries."
Means said he became more convinced "by the fact that Solis has consistently refused to swear under oath that the signatures are valid and he has also refused to voluntarily give proper samples of his handwriting under supervision."
But no hearing officer has ordered Solis to do that yet, and he may never have to. So far, the objection against Solis' candidacy keeps getting tossed on procedural grounds because it was filed in two parts, each part incomplete.
Anthony Sutor, a political operative for Solis rival Ambrosio Medrano, filed the objection but forgot to include Sutor's address. Sutor is a city Transportation Department employee who has taken extensive disability leaves over the years, his current one due to stress and panic attacks caused by his divorce, he told the Chicago Sun-Times last summer.
Medrano was allowed to stay on the ballot by a Cook County judge Friday despite his conviction for taking bribes when he was alderman.
Sutor filed an amendment including his address. But the election board docketed it as a new complaint. Means argues they should be joined together since both were filed before deadline. But Solis persuaded the electoral board to keep them separate.
Medrano is also trying to bounce former Ald. Juan Soliz from the race, saying Soliz actually lives in Orland Park. Soliz says that while his wife and children live there, he spends most of his time at his home in the ward.
Lawmaker's brother running
Also in the race is Cuahutemoc "Temo" Morfin, a juvenile probation officer who owns a gym and who has been active in immigration reform demonstrations. Candidate Joe Acevedo, like Sutor, is on disability leave from his job as a city sewer worker. Acevedo is a brother of state Rep. Edward Acevedo.
Candidate Aaron del Valle is a police officer. Both del Valle and Acevedo were active in the Hispanic Democratic Organization, which used to support Solis. City Clerk Miguel del Valle has accused Aaron Del Valle of using the same style campaign posters and trying to piggyback on his campaign. Candidate Martha Padilla is an attorney.
apallasch@suntimes.com
Until then, Go Bears. Also, check out this awesome article on city politics. As you read, play this game: How many employees of the city of Chicago are currently on disability? How many are related to city politicians? My guess is a lot, and my second guess is the overwhelming majority.
Who signed the alderman's papers?
Who signed alderman's papers?
Rival claims forgery, Solis denies it
January 29, 2007
BY ABDON M. PALLASCH Staff Reporter
The charge is serious: Ald. Danny Solis (25th), the president pro tempore of the Chicago City Council, had someone forge his notarized signatures on his statements of candidacy and economic interest while he was on a fact-finding trip to Israel with other Hispanic aldermen.
He was back from the trip before the final deadline, but they had to be filed while he was away to make him eligible for the lottery for top ballot spot for the Southwest Side ward that includes Pilsen.
Solis' attorneys have said he signed the documents himself before he left, and they expect the lawsuit filed against him Friday will be thrown out just as the electoral board threw out the charge earlier.
But Solis reportedly was seen talking angrily to his Chicago staff on his BlackBerry while in Israel, and handwriting expert Diana Marsh says whoever signed "Danny Solis" to the statement of candidacy and economic interest is not the same person who signed "Danny Solis" on all of Solis' other documents.
Solis has his own handwriting expert, Jack Calvert, who says the same person signed all of the documents. Solis has the high-powered law firm of Shefsky & Froelich as well as election law expert Burt Odelson representing him.
At least until Mayor Daley named Miguel del Valle city clerk last year, Solis was regarded as Daley's top Hispanic ally and perhaps even Daley's heir apparent -- or at least the mayor's choice to succeed Luis Gutierrez as congressman if Gutierrez retires.
Objections were tossed out
Rich Means, the election attorney who filed the case against Solis, said he was initially skeptical that the signatures were forged. A brief glance with the naked eye finds them pretty close. But after going over them with Marsh, Means said he became convinced they were "skillful forgeries."
Means said he became more convinced "by the fact that Solis has consistently refused to swear under oath that the signatures are valid and he has also refused to voluntarily give proper samples of his handwriting under supervision."
But no hearing officer has ordered Solis to do that yet, and he may never have to. So far, the objection against Solis' candidacy keeps getting tossed on procedural grounds because it was filed in two parts, each part incomplete.
Anthony Sutor, a political operative for Solis rival Ambrosio Medrano, filed the objection but forgot to include Sutor's address. Sutor is a city Transportation Department employee who has taken extensive disability leaves over the years, his current one due to stress and panic attacks caused by his divorce, he told the Chicago Sun-Times last summer.
Medrano was allowed to stay on the ballot by a Cook County judge Friday despite his conviction for taking bribes when he was alderman.
Sutor filed an amendment including his address. But the election board docketed it as a new complaint. Means argues they should be joined together since both were filed before deadline. But Solis persuaded the electoral board to keep them separate.
Medrano is also trying to bounce former Ald. Juan Soliz from the race, saying Soliz actually lives in Orland Park. Soliz says that while his wife and children live there, he spends most of his time at his home in the ward.
Lawmaker's brother running
Also in the race is Cuahutemoc "Temo" Morfin, a juvenile probation officer who owns a gym and who has been active in immigration reform demonstrations. Candidate Joe Acevedo, like Sutor, is on disability leave from his job as a city sewer worker. Acevedo is a brother of state Rep. Edward Acevedo.
Candidate Aaron del Valle is a police officer. Both del Valle and Acevedo were active in the Hispanic Democratic Organization, which used to support Solis. City Clerk Miguel del Valle has accused Aaron Del Valle of using the same style campaign posters and trying to piggyback on his campaign. Candidate Martha Padilla is an attorney.
apallasch@suntimes.com
Monday, January 22, 2007
Too much of a good thing
It's almost too perfect of a situation to frame this particular rant.
The Bears just demolished the Saints, 39-14. They are headed to the Superbowl, as underdogs, against the Indianapolis Colts.
Bookies had the Bears as 2 1/2 point favorites, and made a ton of money as people continually took their money and put them on the Saints.
What some people may not know is that in the span of 3 days, the line fell 3 POINTS from 5 1/2 to 2 1/2. What the hell happened in that amount of time that almost completely altered the line of the NFC Championship game?
No one was injured on the Bears - no one. The Saints, in fact, were the only team to lose a guy during the week when they declared Joe Horn officially unable to play sometime on Thursday. What did the bookies learn over those two days that made them think that the Saints could pull this thing off?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not one football thought or fact actually played into the line of the game moving. It moved because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, put money on the Saints. I don't know how they would have covered those losses had the Saints actually covered the spread, because 3 people on earth would have lost.
The bookies moved the line because they were scared shitless. When the money is almost even, the bookies do okay and don't really have to worry about who wins or covers the spread. However, when everyone and their mother takes a certain team, its panic time. Everyone winning = them losing, and they can't have that.
With the line lowered to 2 1/2, the action was still all Saints. My guess is that a bunch of odds makers actually, for the first time in playoff football history, considered actually changing who was the favorite of the game midweek (at least the first time when someone was almost a touchdown favorite).
But last second, someone said something logical. "If you look at this game honestly, I think the Bears are actually the real favorite to win this thing. Let's stick it out." I'm guessing a "if we lose this its your legs, buddy" type of deal amongst them all, and they decided to give football logic the benefit of the doubt ahead of mass football hysteria.
And wow, did that decision pay off. Congrats bookies. You didn't buy the story.
What story?
The sports story that was being sold to American people on a daily basis, courtesy of ABC/ESPN. You see, ESPN actually had every single one of it's "experts" pick against the Bears. They ran features on the Saints. They routinely played them up as "unstoppable", "poised"; a team of destiny. The Bears were continually portrayed as lucky and clumsy; their QB presented not as a first year starter being the central difference in his team making the Superbowl this year, but as a man so terrible at his job, they routinely called on faulty AP reports that he was going to be benched, and even had the audacity to frame his 282 yard performance against the Seahawks as sub-par.
What resulted is a real story. 100,000s of people are out big money, and look pretty stupid right now taking a dome-team road-dog in the NFC title game. People ate up this "analysis" like it was gospel, and they are all paying for it now.
You see, no one with a hint of football logic could be that shocked the Bears won. In fact, looking back on the game now, its almost ridiculous to see how the Bears weren't at least a 7 point favorite. A 5 1/2 point line was pretty tight considering all of the shortcomings of the Saints team.
But no one heard about those. It wasn't in the storyline. You see, ESPN is the network that changed the world as we know it. The fact is, almost everyone has an affinity for some sport or another (if not all). People use it as a way to come together, to converse, to celebrate, and most of all to get away. Humans will always love to have fun, and sports are just that - fun. We pay too much money to watch, we invest too much energy and time caring, we lose perspective on its real role in the world, and yet, this all being the case, it doesn't seem that evil after all. When the idea of televising sporting events on a daily basis, 24/hrs a day came into being, we ate it up. We watched sportscenter to see the scores, we watched ESPN2 to see stuff we never saw before. But then it became uncool to watch weird sports (when nothing else was on to televise), not universal enough to televise obscure collegiate sports or other semi-pro type events, and so ESPN eventually realized they had more airtime than they could conceivably fill with live sports or highlights of those sports.
But instead of staying true to the mission, and keeping the idea of ESPN an enjoyable experience for everyone - they took it in a different direction. Instead of covering the actual sporting events, they decided to talk about them, using opinion-based shows and interview-style highlight segments. While the connection between the sports world and the real world was one that they did originally try to cover (and did so pretty well), they eventually found that taking on real issues and real stories wasn't always exciting on a daily basis, so they decided they had to invent story lines. Suddenly it began to grow: The homerun chase of '98 was really the baptism of this type of sports coverage. Sosa and McGwire, crowned by the same network that is now out to tarnish them, were used to "save baseball" - and also save Sportscenter from actually covering sports news thoroughly and accurately. Later, Kobe vs. Shaq was one of the storylines that the network covered ahead of actual sports. Once that ended, there was Phil Jackson insanity, followed by Belicheck being crowned a genius, followed by the birth of the T.O. phenomena, which went right alongside the obsession they had with a certain sports agent, followed by an obsession with Bill Parcells, followed by all things Barry Bonds, followed by T.O..the Red Sox..Bartman...etc...
But stories are, although often untrue, usually popular. They become gossipy. They are debatable, mainly because so much opinion can be used and so little fact needs to be presented. And this, apparently, appeals to viewers and proves to be some form of satisfying entertainment for many. Although, for me it seems a lot more like Entertainment Tonight than an actual sports broadcast.
This isn't to say that sports doesn't ever produce storylines. But there's a difference between covering sports and seeing a story develop naturally, and trying to plant one where one just refuses to grow. Apparently, people want to hear these finely crafted stories more than ever - because ESPN is clearly a healthy corporate entity. But what if reality just flat out refuses to cooperate with the script?
Today, Bill Parcells, a huge ESPN character for many years, retired and an honest reporter was covering it for the "boo-yah"s. The story was presented, the facts were read, but before the guy could get off the air, the host of the show asked "Did he retire because of T.O.?"
One last try to squeeze this event into the world of an invented ESPN storyline. Simply stunning. To the guy's credit, the reporter completely dismissed the comment as strange and ridiculous and signed off. The dumbass anchor went on with his moronic monologue.
Which takes me back to the Bears/Saints game, as it compares to the Bears/Saints invented storyline.
The article currently on ESPN's NFL Tab, AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON MONDAY. Yes, this is what is on the website. I joked with a friend that we would have to listen to two weeks of Saints coverage before the Superbowl (even though they aren't in it). So far, I am right for the first day of week 1. No joke.
Once again, reality and the story just don't match, and the network that has created it cannot admit to being the spoon stirring the pot. There will continue to be a lack of resources and energy spent on covering the actual game this week as we head to Superbowl XVI. No doubt about it, the wrong teams won the game as far as ESPN is concerned, but they aren't going to let it stop them from jotting down a few more lines in their scripts.
And why not? Everyone loves ESPN. They are the worldwide leader.
Although, can we now safely ask them, "the worldwide leader of what?". It sure isn't sports.
The Bears just demolished the Saints, 39-14. They are headed to the Superbowl, as underdogs, against the Indianapolis Colts.
Bookies had the Bears as 2 1/2 point favorites, and made a ton of money as people continually took their money and put them on the Saints.
What some people may not know is that in the span of 3 days, the line fell 3 POINTS from 5 1/2 to 2 1/2. What the hell happened in that amount of time that almost completely altered the line of the NFC Championship game?
No one was injured on the Bears - no one. The Saints, in fact, were the only team to lose a guy during the week when they declared Joe Horn officially unable to play sometime on Thursday. What did the bookies learn over those two days that made them think that the Saints could pull this thing off?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not one football thought or fact actually played into the line of the game moving. It moved because everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, put money on the Saints. I don't know how they would have covered those losses had the Saints actually covered the spread, because 3 people on earth would have lost.
The bookies moved the line because they were scared shitless. When the money is almost even, the bookies do okay and don't really have to worry about who wins or covers the spread. However, when everyone and their mother takes a certain team, its panic time. Everyone winning = them losing, and they can't have that.
With the line lowered to 2 1/2, the action was still all Saints. My guess is that a bunch of odds makers actually, for the first time in playoff football history, considered actually changing who was the favorite of the game midweek (at least the first time when someone was almost a touchdown favorite).
But last second, someone said something logical. "If you look at this game honestly, I think the Bears are actually the real favorite to win this thing. Let's stick it out." I'm guessing a "if we lose this its your legs, buddy" type of deal amongst them all, and they decided to give football logic the benefit of the doubt ahead of mass football hysteria.
And wow, did that decision pay off. Congrats bookies. You didn't buy the story.
What story?
The sports story that was being sold to American people on a daily basis, courtesy of ABC/ESPN. You see, ESPN actually had every single one of it's "experts" pick against the Bears. They ran features on the Saints. They routinely played them up as "unstoppable", "poised"; a team of destiny. The Bears were continually portrayed as lucky and clumsy; their QB presented not as a first year starter being the central difference in his team making the Superbowl this year, but as a man so terrible at his job, they routinely called on faulty AP reports that he was going to be benched, and even had the audacity to frame his 282 yard performance against the Seahawks as sub-par.
What resulted is a real story. 100,000s of people are out big money, and look pretty stupid right now taking a dome-team road-dog in the NFC title game. People ate up this "analysis" like it was gospel, and they are all paying for it now.
You see, no one with a hint of football logic could be that shocked the Bears won. In fact, looking back on the game now, its almost ridiculous to see how the Bears weren't at least a 7 point favorite. A 5 1/2 point line was pretty tight considering all of the shortcomings of the Saints team.
But no one heard about those. It wasn't in the storyline. You see, ESPN is the network that changed the world as we know it. The fact is, almost everyone has an affinity for some sport or another (if not all). People use it as a way to come together, to converse, to celebrate, and most of all to get away. Humans will always love to have fun, and sports are just that - fun. We pay too much money to watch, we invest too much energy and time caring, we lose perspective on its real role in the world, and yet, this all being the case, it doesn't seem that evil after all. When the idea of televising sporting events on a daily basis, 24/hrs a day came into being, we ate it up. We watched sportscenter to see the scores, we watched ESPN2 to see stuff we never saw before. But then it became uncool to watch weird sports (when nothing else was on to televise), not universal enough to televise obscure collegiate sports or other semi-pro type events, and so ESPN eventually realized they had more airtime than they could conceivably fill with live sports or highlights of those sports.
But instead of staying true to the mission, and keeping the idea of ESPN an enjoyable experience for everyone - they took it in a different direction. Instead of covering the actual sporting events, they decided to talk about them, using opinion-based shows and interview-style highlight segments. While the connection between the sports world and the real world was one that they did originally try to cover (and did so pretty well), they eventually found that taking on real issues and real stories wasn't always exciting on a daily basis, so they decided they had to invent story lines. Suddenly it began to grow: The homerun chase of '98 was really the baptism of this type of sports coverage. Sosa and McGwire, crowned by the same network that is now out to tarnish them, were used to "save baseball" - and also save Sportscenter from actually covering sports news thoroughly and accurately. Later, Kobe vs. Shaq was one of the storylines that the network covered ahead of actual sports. Once that ended, there was Phil Jackson insanity, followed by Belicheck being crowned a genius, followed by the birth of the T.O. phenomena, which went right alongside the obsession they had with a certain sports agent, followed by an obsession with Bill Parcells, followed by all things Barry Bonds, followed by T.O..the Red Sox..Bartman...etc...
But stories are, although often untrue, usually popular. They become gossipy. They are debatable, mainly because so much opinion can be used and so little fact needs to be presented. And this, apparently, appeals to viewers and proves to be some form of satisfying entertainment for many. Although, for me it seems a lot more like Entertainment Tonight than an actual sports broadcast.
This isn't to say that sports doesn't ever produce storylines. But there's a difference between covering sports and seeing a story develop naturally, and trying to plant one where one just refuses to grow. Apparently, people want to hear these finely crafted stories more than ever - because ESPN is clearly a healthy corporate entity. But what if reality just flat out refuses to cooperate with the script?
Today, Bill Parcells, a huge ESPN character for many years, retired and an honest reporter was covering it for the "boo-yah"s. The story was presented, the facts were read, but before the guy could get off the air, the host of the show asked "Did he retire because of T.O.?"
One last try to squeeze this event into the world of an invented ESPN storyline. Simply stunning. To the guy's credit, the reporter completely dismissed the comment as strange and ridiculous and signed off. The dumbass anchor went on with his moronic monologue.
Which takes me back to the Bears/Saints game, as it compares to the Bears/Saints invented storyline.
The article currently on ESPN's NFL Tab, AFTER THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES ON MONDAY. Yes, this is what is on the website. I joked with a friend that we would have to listen to two weeks of Saints coverage before the Superbowl (even though they aren't in it). So far, I am right for the first day of week 1. No joke.
Once again, reality and the story just don't match, and the network that has created it cannot admit to being the spoon stirring the pot. There will continue to be a lack of resources and energy spent on covering the actual game this week as we head to Superbowl XVI. No doubt about it, the wrong teams won the game as far as ESPN is concerned, but they aren't going to let it stop them from jotting down a few more lines in their scripts.
And why not? Everyone loves ESPN. They are the worldwide leader.
Although, can we now safely ask them, "the worldwide leader of what?". It sure isn't sports.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Level on the Inside
My schedule the last few weeks has been like this:
Work.
Work.
Work.
Work.
Eat.
Work.
Repeat.
Right after I find some time to sleep, I will find some time to post. I've got some stories saved up too - plus, a Bears thing to write. Anyway.
Two recommendations:
One, 97.9 The Loop(chicago) in the mornings. A longtime Chicago radio DJ, Johnny B (Brandmeier), has a morning show that has totally grown on me over the last few weeks. Check it out, it's clever, laid back, and damn funny. It reminds me of being a kid and loving Kevin Matthews - one of two kids on earth who listened to that DJ religiously.
Two: this hard-to-find video is of a song that is clearly pretty 'up there' on my personal all-time favorite songs. You might even find a line from this song in my "about me". Anyway, its a great jam, it has a great message. The band isn't really around anymore, and the video leaves something to be desired (still only like 43 views on YouTube), but as far as music goes - its top shelf baby.
Work.
Work.
Work.
Work.
Eat.
Work.
Repeat.
Right after I find some time to sleep, I will find some time to post. I've got some stories saved up too - plus, a Bears thing to write. Anyway.
Two recommendations:
One, 97.9 The Loop(chicago) in the mornings. A longtime Chicago radio DJ, Johnny B (Brandmeier), has a morning show that has totally grown on me over the last few weeks. Check it out, it's clever, laid back, and damn funny. It reminds me of being a kid and loving Kevin Matthews - one of two kids on earth who listened to that DJ religiously.
Two: this hard-to-find video is of a song that is clearly pretty 'up there' on my personal all-time favorite songs. You might even find a line from this song in my "about me". Anyway, its a great jam, it has a great message. The band isn't really around anymore, and the video leaves something to be desired (still only like 43 views on YouTube), but as far as music goes - its top shelf baby.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Divisional Playoff Review
And...
The Bears won.
Rex was good.
And I went 1-3 vs. the spread.
Ha. Oh well, I totally called the Indy game.
By the end of the week, I will have another article on why the Bears will be going to the Superbowl.
Until then, its back to working every hour of every day, forever.
The Bears won.
Rex was good.
And I went 1-3 vs. the spread.
Ha. Oh well, I totally called the Indy game.
By the end of the week, I will have another article on why the Bears will be going to the Superbowl.
Until then, its back to working every hour of every day, forever.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Clocks
Okay. Two Comments.
First, I will send this man a donation for such a great tutorial.
Second, I have been screwing up a note when I play this song for like 3 months now.
So happy this guy came along.
First, I will send this man a donation for such a great tutorial.
Second, I have been screwing up a note when I play this song for like 3 months now.
So happy this guy came along.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Another Reason to Hate ESPN
They've actually created an archive of articles written by Linda Cohn.
http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=linda_cohn&rT=sports
Oh for the love of elevation!
What a disaster.
http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=linda_cohn&rT=sports
Oh for the love of elevation!
What a disaster.
Newsbreakers - When News Breaks...
It is my great joy to bring this to many of you for the first time.
This is a video from "Newsbreakers". What they do - basically - is have some fun with the news broadcasts that folks watch every evening over dinner, or every morning before work. In case many of you didn't know, there are varying degrees of quality journalism in news broadcasts across the country. Sometimes what is framed as news isn't what you think it is.
These people aim to let you know that.
I hope you like this video. I hope you get this video. If you wanna learn more, go to www.newsbreakers.org -- it gets explained...a little more.
Once done viewing, I recommend googling the term "Video News Releases" -- it might open your eyes to some of the things you didn't know about what is given to people as "news".
This is a video from "Newsbreakers". What they do - basically - is have some fun with the news broadcasts that folks watch every evening over dinner, or every morning before work. In case many of you didn't know, there are varying degrees of quality journalism in news broadcasts across the country. Sometimes what is framed as news isn't what you think it is.
These people aim to let you know that.
I hope you like this video. I hope you get this video. If you wanna learn more, go to www.newsbreakers.org -- it gets explained...a little more.
Once done viewing, I recommend googling the term "Video News Releases" -- it might open your eyes to some of the things you didn't know about what is given to people as "news".
Thursday, January 11, 2007
A quick word on endgame
Last night's $25/2 NL/Hold-Em $12,000 Gauranteed Tourney on Bodog was a delightful experience - I played with some "proper villians" who really could play some cards. There were about 1 or 2 wrong moves over the course of 200 + hands, which is very impressive.
I was fortunate enough to get 18th place, one out of the $150 payout, ending up only with $81.00 to show for my efforts.
The hand that essentially eliminated me was K10. Blinds were at 1000/2000 + 350 ante, I had about 26,000 in chips, and everyone at the table was somewhere between 45,000 and 10,000. The cards folded around to me, and I was in the classic "boy this is a bad hand to lose chips on, but its good enough that you have to play with position" type of deals.
Anyway, flop comes As Js 7c, two spades showing. I'm holding none. It costs me only 2,000 to see the turn so I pay it, and sure enough make my straight with a Qs of spades. There's three spades on the table, but I'm sure that if my opponent made a flush, he'd have either checked the flop on a draw, or bet it strong. Therefore, its pretty obvious to me that at this point I'm holding the nuts - albeit in a precarious position nonetheless. I bet half the remaining stack, about 10,000. To my demise, I get called. Had the odds swung in my favor, the call would have been huge -- I would've ended up aronnd 60,000 chips at the end of the hand. However, the river comes 10 of spades.
At this point, you know its over. No one would have called that without at least holding one spade to make the best possible hand (flush).
Checked down. Guy shows. 7 of spades, (pocket 7s).
The reason I tell this story?
For those who've never done online tournaments, they not only feature a lot of good players who make money playing (at the higher dollar levels), but they also feature some tough blind structures at the end that really make decisions tough. Did I make a mistake playing JQ to begin with?
Who knows.
Until next time...
I was fortunate enough to get 18th place, one out of the $150 payout, ending up only with $81.00 to show for my efforts.
The hand that essentially eliminated me was K10. Blinds were at 1000/2000 + 350 ante, I had about 26,000 in chips, and everyone at the table was somewhere between 45,000 and 10,000. The cards folded around to me, and I was in the classic "boy this is a bad hand to lose chips on, but its good enough that you have to play with position" type of deals.
Anyway, flop comes As Js 7c, two spades showing. I'm holding none. It costs me only 2,000 to see the turn so I pay it, and sure enough make my straight with a Qs of spades. There's three spades on the table, but I'm sure that if my opponent made a flush, he'd have either checked the flop on a draw, or bet it strong. Therefore, its pretty obvious to me that at this point I'm holding the nuts - albeit in a precarious position nonetheless. I bet half the remaining stack, about 10,000. To my demise, I get called. Had the odds swung in my favor, the call would have been huge -- I would've ended up aronnd 60,000 chips at the end of the hand. However, the river comes 10 of spades.
At this point, you know its over. No one would have called that without at least holding one spade to make the best possible hand (flush).
Checked down. Guy shows. 7 of spades, (pocket 7s).
The reason I tell this story?
For those who've never done online tournaments, they not only feature a lot of good players who make money playing (at the higher dollar levels), but they also feature some tough blind structures at the end that really make decisions tough. Did I make a mistake playing JQ to begin with?
Who knows.
Until next time...
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Why the Bears will end up in Miami
The unanimous decision by the national media to proclaim the Bears team as totally inept and their situation completely hopeless is like nothing I have ever seen, and I'd like to quote Lee Corso with a "not so fast my friend."
This week, the NFL playoffs really kick into high gear. The best teams from the NFL finally get to suit up and show why they earned home field advantage, and usually one team officially establishes itself as the darkhorse candidate for the Superbowl crown as well. This pattern doesn't vary a great deal from year to year: home teams in the divisional playoff round win 79% of the time, and it isn't hard to recall past Wild Card round darlings, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers of 2005-06.
Typically, no one settles on a sure-thing to upset in this round because of the home teams' amazing win/loss record, but this year, the media has decided the Bears are sure to blow another playoff game to the Seahawks.
Let's point out the fallacy in this argument. The number one reason people say the Bears will lose is because of Rex Grossman. They cite his horrible games with ratings of 1.3 and 0.0, and proclaim that he will find some way to blow the game for the Bears.
What they don't happen to mention, though, is that Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has had just as sketchy a season as Rex Grossman has. Hasselbeck, in fewer games, has been sacked more times and thrown for less yards per game. His rating is a whole 2 points higher than Rex's. (Both QBs ratings are lower than HB Thomas Jones', which only accounts for one pass for -3 yards.) So why is one QB going to blow the game, and the other one won't? That argument isn't logical - the QBs are a wash.
AND, on top of that, even when Grossman has blown it, he has only cost his team the game half the time!! The Bears are so good in the other phases of the game, that his failure to perform has not cost the team as many games as it could have (think Vikings, Cardinals victories). On the other hand, without a strong performance from Hasselbeck, the Seahawks' 7 regular season losses point out that the have no ability to cover up for a signal-caller's mistakes.
Debunking the hype over that popular argument then leads us to the question: of the other players on both teams, which would you have?
The Seahawks that you would rather have: LT Walter Jones, without question. WLB Julian Peterson, definitely. WR Deion Branch, possibly. HB Shaun Alexander, questionably, considering his recent performances, and K Josh Brown, only because he has made some huge pressure kicks this year.
However, 2 of those choices are clearly debatable (K Robbie Gould was the NFL's leading kicker for the majority of the regular season, making his share of pressure kicks, and the HB combo of Jones/Benson seems to be at least equal to the combo of HB Alexander/Morris in Seattle). The rest of the picks, you would absolutely be lying if you didn't say the Bears' guys. The CBs of Vasher and Tillman aren't even comparable to the random scrubs the Hawks have to throw out there this weekend. Though safeties Johnson and Harris aren't necessarily All-Pro caliber, you would still take them over Hamlin and Boulware, who have a reputation of not covering anyone.
LBs Urlacher and Briggs would be taken over any two LBs in the entire NFL, much less the combo of Hill and Tatupu. As for the D-line, yikes, the Bears DE's are far outperforming Grant Wistrom and co. (save Ogunleye, who has actuall come on of late) up in Seattle, and the Bears have much more depth there than the Hawks do.
On offense, we covered the backs. As far as the OL goes, you'd have to go with the unit that has given up fewer sacks (much fewer) and has paved the way for a more effective ground game throughout the season. That unit would be the Bears'. At wideout, WR Muhammad could be said to be less of a threat than WR Branch, but not by much. Neither are true #1 options, and as far as the second wideout goes, WR Berrian of Chicago has been a premier deep threat all year for the Bears, while WR Jackson is out for Seattle and his replacement (Burelson) is not an NFL starter.
At tight end, two former Pro-Bowl TE's are pitted against each other, where TE Stevens has a little more name recognition, but TE Desmond Clark of Chicago leads the way in catches, yards, and touchdowns.
As far as the rest of special teams goes, the Bears have the best returner (Hester), a far better punter (Maynard) and some of the best special teams coverage units in the league (rank 1st-3rd in almost every special teams category).
So, how exactly has this matchup been so celebrated as the upset special?
Previous meetings? Bears won 37-6, so there's no evidence there.
Previous home playoff losses for Bears? Though no one will ever seem to get this through their head, there is absolutely no correlation between what a team does one year and what they do the next. The Bears will not be thinking about last year's game while in the middle of playing this year's game. The Bears are no more prone to make playoff mistakes than any other team out there.
So, how can you say that the Seahawks are a great pick this coming Sunday?
You can only amount it to a hunch, one that is rooted in misinformation, speculation, and imagination.
This doesn't mean the Bears will win. But if they don't, it will be an upset, pure and simple. The Hawks could win, but a betting man wouldn't count on it.
MY NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF PICKS
Winners vs. the spread in bold.
Date & Time Favorite Spread Underdog
1/13 4:30 ET At Baltimore -4 Indianapolis
1/13 8:00 ET At New Orleans -5 Philadelphia
1/14 1:00 ET At Chicago -8.5 Seattle
1/14 4:30 ET At San Diego -5 New England
This week, the NFL playoffs really kick into high gear. The best teams from the NFL finally get to suit up and show why they earned home field advantage, and usually one team officially establishes itself as the darkhorse candidate for the Superbowl crown as well. This pattern doesn't vary a great deal from year to year: home teams in the divisional playoff round win 79% of the time, and it isn't hard to recall past Wild Card round darlings, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers of 2005-06.
Typically, no one settles on a sure-thing to upset in this round because of the home teams' amazing win/loss record, but this year, the media has decided the Bears are sure to blow another playoff game to the Seahawks.
Let's point out the fallacy in this argument. The number one reason people say the Bears will lose is because of Rex Grossman. They cite his horrible games with ratings of 1.3 and 0.0, and proclaim that he will find some way to blow the game for the Bears.
What they don't happen to mention, though, is that Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck has had just as sketchy a season as Rex Grossman has. Hasselbeck, in fewer games, has been sacked more times and thrown for less yards per game. His rating is a whole 2 points higher than Rex's. (Both QBs ratings are lower than HB Thomas Jones', which only accounts for one pass for -3 yards.) So why is one QB going to blow the game, and the other one won't? That argument isn't logical - the QBs are a wash.
AND, on top of that, even when Grossman has blown it, he has only cost his team the game half the time!! The Bears are so good in the other phases of the game, that his failure to perform has not cost the team as many games as it could have (think Vikings, Cardinals victories). On the other hand, without a strong performance from Hasselbeck, the Seahawks' 7 regular season losses point out that the have no ability to cover up for a signal-caller's mistakes.
Debunking the hype over that popular argument then leads us to the question: of the other players on both teams, which would you have?
The Seahawks that you would rather have: LT Walter Jones, without question. WLB Julian Peterson, definitely. WR Deion Branch, possibly. HB Shaun Alexander, questionably, considering his recent performances, and K Josh Brown, only because he has made some huge pressure kicks this year.
However, 2 of those choices are clearly debatable (K Robbie Gould was the NFL's leading kicker for the majority of the regular season, making his share of pressure kicks, and the HB combo of Jones/Benson seems to be at least equal to the combo of HB Alexander/Morris in Seattle). The rest of the picks, you would absolutely be lying if you didn't say the Bears' guys. The CBs of Vasher and Tillman aren't even comparable to the random scrubs the Hawks have to throw out there this weekend. Though safeties Johnson and Harris aren't necessarily All-Pro caliber, you would still take them over Hamlin and Boulware, who have a reputation of not covering anyone.
LBs Urlacher and Briggs would be taken over any two LBs in the entire NFL, much less the combo of Hill and Tatupu. As for the D-line, yikes, the Bears DE's are far outperforming Grant Wistrom and co. (save Ogunleye, who has actuall come on of late) up in Seattle, and the Bears have much more depth there than the Hawks do.
On offense, we covered the backs. As far as the OL goes, you'd have to go with the unit that has given up fewer sacks (much fewer) and has paved the way for a more effective ground game throughout the season. That unit would be the Bears'. At wideout, WR Muhammad could be said to be less of a threat than WR Branch, but not by much. Neither are true #1 options, and as far as the second wideout goes, WR Berrian of Chicago has been a premier deep threat all year for the Bears, while WR Jackson is out for Seattle and his replacement (Burelson) is not an NFL starter.
At tight end, two former Pro-Bowl TE's are pitted against each other, where TE Stevens has a little more name recognition, but TE Desmond Clark of Chicago leads the way in catches, yards, and touchdowns.
As far as the rest of special teams goes, the Bears have the best returner (Hester), a far better punter (Maynard) and some of the best special teams coverage units in the league (rank 1st-3rd in almost every special teams category).
So, how exactly has this matchup been so celebrated as the upset special?
Previous meetings? Bears won 37-6, so there's no evidence there.
Previous home playoff losses for Bears? Though no one will ever seem to get this through their head, there is absolutely no correlation between what a team does one year and what they do the next. The Bears will not be thinking about last year's game while in the middle of playing this year's game. The Bears are no more prone to make playoff mistakes than any other team out there.
So, how can you say that the Seahawks are a great pick this coming Sunday?
You can only amount it to a hunch, one that is rooted in misinformation, speculation, and imagination.
This doesn't mean the Bears will win. But if they don't, it will be an upset, pure and simple. The Hawks could win, but a betting man wouldn't count on it.
MY NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF PICKS
Winners vs. the spread in bold.
Date & Time Favorite Spread Underdog
1/13 4:30 ET At Baltimore -4 Indianapolis
1/13 8:00 ET At New Orleans -5 Philadelphia
1/14 1:00 ET At Chicago -8.5 Seattle
1/14 4:30 ET At San Diego -5 New England
Monday, January 08, 2007
A Big Thank You
Before I do my mandatory Bears preview post, I wanted to give a big shout out to the folks that have featured some small drops in the bucket so far.
Big thanks to Iggy! Below is a great link he posted of a classic Phil Hellmuth meltdown caught on TV. For poker fans, and for people who love to watch others make a total ass of themselves, this is for you.
Great video with Phil Hellmuth blowing up on the air.
Car Prank thanks to Iggy.
Also big thanks to The Postmen! They are fellow Bear fans and always have some great tidbits to check out that will make you...well, giggle. Here is a great shot of another hobby I want to take up...pogo-flipping!
Messy Breakups Through Facebook Groups
So, once again, thanks fellas!
Check back in real soon to see the only necessary bit of information anyone needs to know about why the Bears are going to the SuperBowl.
Big thanks to Iggy! Below is a great link he posted of a classic Phil Hellmuth meltdown caught on TV. For poker fans, and for people who love to watch others make a total ass of themselves, this is for you.
Great video with Phil Hellmuth blowing up on the air.
Car Prank thanks to Iggy.
Also big thanks to The Postmen! They are fellow Bear fans and always have some great tidbits to check out that will make you...well, giggle. Here is a great shot of another hobby I want to take up...pogo-flipping!
Messy Breakups Through Facebook Groups
So, once again, thanks fellas!
Check back in real soon to see the only necessary bit of information anyone needs to know about why the Bears are going to the SuperBowl.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Completely braindead individuals make up 1/4th the world's population. They also make up the entire population of Alabama.
In case you did not hear, noted scholar, orator, and football genius Nick Saban has accepted the Head Coaching Position at the University of Alabama.
This followed the typical course of completely ridiculous events: A school that is in a bad spot and needs a big-name solution quickly is throwing a hysterical sum of money ($32 Mil) at a coach that loves being wanted (think Larry Brown), is extremely overvalued thanks to his incessant insistence of his own importance, and ultimately proves once again he stands for nothing. Nick Saban is another coach that ironically is coming back to the "college game" - a place where he can "affect young people", "play a team-first style of game", and really "plant his roots" in a college town because his "heart loves this kind of lifestyle."
What a total joke. For once, I actually agree with someone who writes for ESPN. (However, realize that someone at ESPN only feels this way because they were being "disrespected", not because they actually stand for much of anything themselves.)
Before I continue about this, however, I want to show you a great video.
Okay, where to begin? First, I feel horrible for the children in this video. This is child abuse. Secondly, in case you can't figure out what this is, this is a home video of someone who actually drove out to the longest strip of pavement they could find in Tuscaloosa, AL (a.k.a. their regional airport) and waited until Nick Saban's plane landed. They then cheered the landing of the plane, and proceeded to waste valuable energy on stroking Nick Saban's inflated ego even more, by making him feel like a great guy.
Forget football for a second. There's probably over 100 people in this video. Possibly much more. They cheered for Saban's plane landing. These people are all "touched", I think. Of course, then I realized that in Tuscaloosa, behavior like this isn't even considered weird. I would bet 2000 people in Alabama went home that night cursing the fact that they couldn't make this landmark event. Who would really want to live in a place where they could be surrounded by these morons?
Oh wait. I know who. Someone who would love to be worshipped by stupid people.
Which takes me back to Saban. Which goes along with the Forde article that I linked to. Which goes along with my feelings on the state of sports and business, laws of contract and everything that probably goes along with it. I can't take this anymore. I hate how people can just stop honoring contracts they sign. If you are performing your duties as an employee, your employer cannot terminate your contract (unless you signed something that allows that, you dumbass). This is the whole idea of a contract: you are making an agreement with another party, you are exchanging services, and the contract is the binding element that allows both parties to be assured that they will not be violated in said agreement, because doing so would result in punitive action. However, people just seem to just be able to leave their end of the contract whenever they want, and there is nothing that can be done about it!
Coaches leave in the middle of a contract.
Players stop performing (holdouts) until they "get a better contract".
But it doesn't stop there. The same crap happens in the board room, director's office, sometimes even the sales floor. And it isn't just the fault of the employees - Unions strike, but employers also lockout, infringe, and (in sports at least) try to make up "diminishing value" clauses in contracts, etc.
It's all a sad, pathetic farce. You know what? I am so tired of sports setting this example. Coaches and players getting signed to contracts that are too long for either party's interests, just to stroke the ego of the player/coach or make them feel they are being compensated for his/her "true value". Sure, you want to be paid fairly, and an employer doesn't want to waste money paying someone who doesn't deserve it. But hey, tough. It should be that if you sign a contract, that it is actually binding. If you are paid to play professional baseball for $350,000 a year, and you signed a contract to be paid that for 3 more years, you should be paid that, period - no matter how good you get. Even if you "should" be getting $5 million in two years. You signed the contract. Wait until it ends, and then only sign something that is to your liking. And teams/organizations: if you tender an offer of 5 years to a player that will probably only be good for 3, I hope the player never lets you buy out of that thing. I also think that "diminishing returns" should be illegal. If a business violates the terms of its contract, it should be held legally responsible to exceed the terms of the contract sevenfold. If a player/employee tries to strong-arm his/her way to a better deal, while under contract, they should have to pay a penalty and go back to work under the terms of their agreement. You shouldn't be allowed to hold out, because it should be illegal for any other team within a professional league/identical profession to hire a player/coach who has violated the terms of his/her contract.
But, no. Unions negotiate "salary arbitration" as a part of "collective bargaining agreements". Ownership negotiates "franchise player" rules, initial contract length requirements and other ways to legally retain the services of an employee without just compensation. Now, you can't quite relate the sports world to the rest of the real world (because of the concept of trading), but other than that, there's not a big difference.
And what do we see? A bunch of people looking for workers, but publicly deny pursuing any (Check every time there is a free-agency/coaching vacancy issue with a team in sports, the General Manager/Pres. never will admit to talking to anyone about filling the position. So strange!) - many people looking for better contracts, but never admitting to it (See Saban, Brown, Francione, Butch Davis, Dennis Erickson, Gary Barnett, Phil Jackson, etc. etc. etc. - all of which were "not going to be coaching" at the places they ended up coaching at), ownership ponying up huge sums of money and time to appease fans, only to wish they hadn't done so later (Think Frank Thomas' "diminishing returns" stipulation, Manny Ramirez being pedalled constantly, etc.) and players deciding to go back on their word because they feel slighted (think T.O., T.O., T.O., oh wait, I can't think of another example as big as that douchebag's).
Oh well, legally I know nothing will change to end this insanity. Until then, all we can do is know this:
People who want out of their contracts do not value their own word. They should not be trusted to come through, and lack integrity and commitment. No matter what they say, nothing is more important to them than themselves. Words mean nothing to them, and you can only judge them on their actions. There are very real, very serious reasons why contracts can be terminated: Sickness, family tragedy, crime, business failure, a call to duty, or even unthinkable circumstances like death. Every person who has to leave a duty they agreed to perform for one of these various reasons should feel insulted every time some slime ball decides to blow smoke up everyone's collective ass when he opens his mouth, then goes ahead and does whatever he wants to do because the law is forgiving enough to allow it - and cross-eyed half-wits from Alabama and boo-ya's from Bristol are "touched" enough to celebrate it.
This followed the typical course of completely ridiculous events: A school that is in a bad spot and needs a big-name solution quickly is throwing a hysterical sum of money ($32 Mil) at a coach that loves being wanted (think Larry Brown), is extremely overvalued thanks to his incessant insistence of his own importance, and ultimately proves once again he stands for nothing. Nick Saban is another coach that ironically is coming back to the "college game" - a place where he can "affect young people", "play a team-first style of game", and really "plant his roots" in a college town because his "heart loves this kind of lifestyle."
What a total joke. For once, I actually agree with someone who writes for ESPN. (However, realize that someone at ESPN only feels this way because they were being "disrespected", not because they actually stand for much of anything themselves.)
Before I continue about this, however, I want to show you a great video.
Okay, where to begin? First, I feel horrible for the children in this video. This is child abuse. Secondly, in case you can't figure out what this is, this is a home video of someone who actually drove out to the longest strip of pavement they could find in Tuscaloosa, AL (a.k.a. their regional airport) and waited until Nick Saban's plane landed. They then cheered the landing of the plane, and proceeded to waste valuable energy on stroking Nick Saban's inflated ego even more, by making him feel like a great guy.
Forget football for a second. There's probably over 100 people in this video. Possibly much more. They cheered for Saban's plane landing. These people are all "touched", I think. Of course, then I realized that in Tuscaloosa, behavior like this isn't even considered weird. I would bet 2000 people in Alabama went home that night cursing the fact that they couldn't make this landmark event. Who would really want to live in a place where they could be surrounded by these morons?
Oh wait. I know who. Someone who would love to be worshipped by stupid people.
Which takes me back to Saban. Which goes along with the Forde article that I linked to. Which goes along with my feelings on the state of sports and business, laws of contract and everything that probably goes along with it. I can't take this anymore. I hate how people can just stop honoring contracts they sign. If you are performing your duties as an employee, your employer cannot terminate your contract (unless you signed something that allows that, you dumbass). This is the whole idea of a contract: you are making an agreement with another party, you are exchanging services, and the contract is the binding element that allows both parties to be assured that they will not be violated in said agreement, because doing so would result in punitive action. However, people just seem to just be able to leave their end of the contract whenever they want, and there is nothing that can be done about it!
Coaches leave in the middle of a contract.
Players stop performing (holdouts) until they "get a better contract".
But it doesn't stop there. The same crap happens in the board room, director's office, sometimes even the sales floor. And it isn't just the fault of the employees - Unions strike, but employers also lockout, infringe, and (in sports at least) try to make up "diminishing value" clauses in contracts, etc.
It's all a sad, pathetic farce. You know what? I am so tired of sports setting this example. Coaches and players getting signed to contracts that are too long for either party's interests, just to stroke the ego of the player/coach or make them feel they are being compensated for his/her "true value". Sure, you want to be paid fairly, and an employer doesn't want to waste money paying someone who doesn't deserve it. But hey, tough. It should be that if you sign a contract, that it is actually binding. If you are paid to play professional baseball for $350,000 a year, and you signed a contract to be paid that for 3 more years, you should be paid that, period - no matter how good you get. Even if you "should" be getting $5 million in two years. You signed the contract. Wait until it ends, and then only sign something that is to your liking. And teams/organizations: if you tender an offer of 5 years to a player that will probably only be good for 3, I hope the player never lets you buy out of that thing. I also think that "diminishing returns" should be illegal. If a business violates the terms of its contract, it should be held legally responsible to exceed the terms of the contract sevenfold. If a player/employee tries to strong-arm his/her way to a better deal, while under contract, they should have to pay a penalty and go back to work under the terms of their agreement. You shouldn't be allowed to hold out, because it should be illegal for any other team within a professional league/identical profession to hire a player/coach who has violated the terms of his/her contract.
But, no. Unions negotiate "salary arbitration" as a part of "collective bargaining agreements". Ownership negotiates "franchise player" rules, initial contract length requirements and other ways to legally retain the services of an employee without just compensation. Now, you can't quite relate the sports world to the rest of the real world (because of the concept of trading), but other than that, there's not a big difference.
And what do we see? A bunch of people looking for workers, but publicly deny pursuing any (Check every time there is a free-agency/coaching vacancy issue with a team in sports, the General Manager/Pres. never will admit to talking to anyone about filling the position. So strange!) - many people looking for better contracts, but never admitting to it (See Saban, Brown, Francione, Butch Davis, Dennis Erickson, Gary Barnett, Phil Jackson, etc. etc. etc. - all of which were "not going to be coaching" at the places they ended up coaching at), ownership ponying up huge sums of money and time to appease fans, only to wish they hadn't done so later (Think Frank Thomas' "diminishing returns" stipulation, Manny Ramirez being pedalled constantly, etc.) and players deciding to go back on their word because they feel slighted (think T.O., T.O., T.O., oh wait, I can't think of another example as big as that douchebag's).
Oh well, legally I know nothing will change to end this insanity. Until then, all we can do is know this:
People who want out of their contracts do not value their own word. They should not be trusted to come through, and lack integrity and commitment. No matter what they say, nothing is more important to them than themselves. Words mean nothing to them, and you can only judge them on their actions. There are very real, very serious reasons why contracts can be terminated: Sickness, family tragedy, crime, business failure, a call to duty, or even unthinkable circumstances like death. Every person who has to leave a duty they agreed to perform for one of these various reasons should feel insulted every time some slime ball decides to blow smoke up everyone's collective ass when he opens his mouth, then goes ahead and does whatever he wants to do because the law is forgiving enough to allow it - and cross-eyed half-wits from Alabama and boo-ya's from Bristol are "touched" enough to celebrate it.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
The Video - 2007 Fiesta Bowl Miracles
More to come. I am posting this courtesy of YouTube again. I don't think this video can be on enough websites. It should be on more.
Oh My God: Boise State Fan For Life?
For those of you who went to bed early, were working, or plain just turned off the Boise State vs. Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl, I am so so sorry.
You will hear all about the actual happenings of the game - I hope - very soon. Read the link for all of the specifics. I really don't believe it all just happened -I am still having a hard time processing all of the events. To go from a game that I really didn't care that much about to a "where was I when that happened" status is, well, staggering.
To be honest, the best way I can describe it is this: it was like some sort of strange collision of fiction and reality meeting in an alternate universe. This game was a wild combination of the 1994 movie Little Giants and the 2000 movie The Replacements. Bob Stoops became Ed O'Neill tonight (think Al Bundy. Yep, that's Ed). Jared Zabransky and Ian Johnson together morphed into Shane Falco, being both the goat(s) and then suddenly the hero(es). If you think that comparison is ridiculous, realize that right after the game, during the postgame interview, Johnson proposed to his girlfriend, who was BSU's head cheerleader in front of national television and 1000's of screaming Boise State fans. Seem too strange to believe? Well, don't worry, because BSU also won the game on the statue of liberty. I think Little Giants was actually viewed in the BSU film room all week long, that's the only way to explain this.
To be honest, I could be a bigger college sports fan. I like the atmosphere, but I don't root for anybody ever usually except my Maize and Blue, who wore it again in the Rose Bowl. I would be the kind of person who likes pro sports and college about equally, which I know to some people is pretty sacrilege. But this game was rediculous - this wasn't even just a good football game. This was like the best football game I've ever seen, the best movie I've ever seen, and potentially the most amazing reality-TV thing I've ever seen all rolled into one. I have a feeling I wasn't the only person who saw this happening, with nothing more than typical football-fan passing interest, and left actually shaking and wondering where to go with the rest of life. Seriously, what the hell just happened?
And I haven't even gotten into the part where BSU dominates most of the game, then pisses away a 18-point lead, then TOTALLY blows the game and breaks everyone's hearts. Wait, how is that possible? That happened, too??
This was a comedy, a tragedy, a nightmare and an inspirational tale all rolled into one. This game will inspire a book someday very soon. This story will be a bestseller. I would say there will also be a movie about this game one day, but the weirdest thing -- there are actually already two of them, and they don't do it justice at all.
You will hear all about the actual happenings of the game - I hope - very soon. Read the link for all of the specifics. I really don't believe it all just happened -I am still having a hard time processing all of the events. To go from a game that I really didn't care that much about to a "where was I when that happened" status is, well, staggering.
To be honest, the best way I can describe it is this: it was like some sort of strange collision of fiction and reality meeting in an alternate universe. This game was a wild combination of the 1994 movie Little Giants and the 2000 movie The Replacements. Bob Stoops became Ed O'Neill tonight (think Al Bundy. Yep, that's Ed). Jared Zabransky and Ian Johnson together morphed into Shane Falco, being both the goat(s) and then suddenly the hero(es). If you think that comparison is ridiculous, realize that right after the game, during the postgame interview, Johnson proposed to his girlfriend, who was BSU's head cheerleader in front of national television and 1000's of screaming Boise State fans. Seem too strange to believe? Well, don't worry, because BSU also won the game on the statue of liberty. I think Little Giants was actually viewed in the BSU film room all week long, that's the only way to explain this.
To be honest, I could be a bigger college sports fan. I like the atmosphere, but I don't root for anybody ever usually except my Maize and Blue, who wore it again in the Rose Bowl. I would be the kind of person who likes pro sports and college about equally, which I know to some people is pretty sacrilege. But this game was rediculous - this wasn't even just a good football game. This was like the best football game I've ever seen, the best movie I've ever seen, and potentially the most amazing reality-TV thing I've ever seen all rolled into one. I have a feeling I wasn't the only person who saw this happening, with nothing more than typical football-fan passing interest, and left actually shaking and wondering where to go with the rest of life. Seriously, what the hell just happened?
And I haven't even gotten into the part where BSU dominates most of the game, then pisses away a 18-point lead, then TOTALLY blows the game and breaks everyone's hearts. Wait, how is that possible? That happened, too??
This was a comedy, a tragedy, a nightmare and an inspirational tale all rolled into one. This game will inspire a book someday very soon. This story will be a bestseller. I would say there will also be a movie about this game one day, but the weirdest thing -- there are actually already two of them, and they don't do it justice at all.
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