So the Braves lost a one run game AGAIN, making them 0-8 in one run games this season. So they lost it in the bottom of the 12th after they had taken the lead 2-1 in the top of that inning and Manny Acosta walked in the tying run and Carlyle gave up the walk-off single all with no outs. So what Mike Hampton had to leave his Richmond rehab start after 3.1 innings and having surrendered one run on three hits. So what that Jair Jurrgens in the second best healthy pitcher on the Braves right now. So what Smoltzie was put on the DL yesterday and he may not pick for four weeks.
The REAL key was the quote Smoltz released to atlantabraves.com. "I'm coming back as a reliever first and then we'll see what happens. I'm content with this."
YES!
This is GREAT NEWS. All those worries about the bullpen? FLUSH THEM. Now Soriano, when he returns, can be a nasty 8th inning guy, where he is better suited. Now Moylan can be the 7th inning guy. Gonzo can be a lefty flamethrower. No one is being forced to do something he isn't comfortable with. AND CLOSING THE DOOR IS THE BEST BRAVES CLOSER EVER! The guy was 154 for 168 during his stint as closer from 2001-2004. Smoltzie had 55 saves in 2002, the National League record. Eric Gagne DREAMED he was Smoltz.
This is such good news.
Assuming Hampton can be back by Memorial Day, your rotation is
1 Hudson
2 Glavine
3 Jurrgens
4 James
5 Carlyle/Reyes/Bennett/pickup (maybe you can trade Gonzo for someone?)
Soriano and Moylan (with Ring, Resop, Acosta[in his defense, when he blew the save, it was his third inning of work] OH-MAN in the pen)
and Smoltzie closing down The Ted every night.
Wow. The Braves JUST got back into this thing.
Good work Smoltzie. Way to take one for the team.
as for the game, Matty Diaz is struggling. It might be time to call up Josh Anderson or Brandon Jones for leftfield. The Blano/Diaz platoon isn't working out right now. He is hitting .168 v righties? Oops.
Chipper is ripping the ball, which is fantastic, just keep him healthy. Too bad Martin Prado never played first and committed that error that wiped out the double play in the bottom of the 12th.
Oh, and KJ, get better my friend. Your swing is too sweet to be out for too long.
And if we are thinking about options for next season should Bog Tex leave, can we resign Kotsay and teach him 1st base? or send him to left (letting Schaeffer roam center) and put Diaz at first? He LOOKS like a first baseman, doesn't he?
Just putting this stuff out there.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I am CLAIMING IT NOW!
I want to put it out there that at 4:28 on Wednesday, April 30, 2008, I trademarked Thomas DimWITroff in referencing the Falcons' new GM. Not that I will have to use it, but....wait, did you SEE the team's draft? Yeah.
Thomas DimWITroff
Thomas DimWITroff
Midweek entertainment report 4/30
Paula drinking on live TV, Tila's second shot at love and PUT SOME CLOTHES ON MILEY! It's the midweek entertainment report!
Clapclapclapclapclapclap!
Last night on Idol, the 45 seconds I DID manage to catch, saw Paula commenting on Jason Castro's first song AND second song, EVEN THOUGH he hadn't done his second song yet. TRUE the format was changed so the judges JUST commented after all 5 went once, and TRUE Paula did sit in on the dress rehearsal, but COME ON. REALIZE where you are Paula. You should have KNOWN by just sitting for 30 minutes that the singers had only gone once. Give me a break. Oh, but she's never been drunk ONCE before in her life. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright.
Tila Tequila is BACK and looking for love again (either Bobby cheated on her OR the MTV cash was too much to pass up. I am guessing the latter is true. But I guess "looking for love" means making out with people you just met 30 seconds prior. Whatever. It happens at bars in Athens. But usually it is because some a-hole spiked a chick's drink) Anyways, in last night's episode, Tila decided to keep the Stalker and send home the South American. Fine because the producers couldn't afford to send the crew to the Southern Hemisphere for the "Meet the parents" episode, but don't cut him NOW. Wait until AFTER the creepshow leaves. And Fame was sent home? Thank goodness. Wow. What a terrible voice. Plus I think the MTV/VH1 family ALREADY has one talentless black chick with her own show. She's called "New York". Sorry Fame. You are a little late. But finally, I DID think it was funny that George had to remember when his dead mother's birthday was. Are you kidding me? Come on George. You saw the writing on the wall after your horrible date with Tila and pulled out a big card to stay safe. IF you make it that long, won't that be ackward when Tila meets your mom. "Wait I thought you were dead. ANd what do you mean three weeks ago WASN'T YOUR BIRTHDAY?
Finally, Miley Ray Cyrus, put some clothes on! Not because it is ruining your image to your young fans, but because YOU ARE ONE UGLY NAKED CHICK! Wow, did you see the images that Vanity Fair will run? Yesh. (PS, is it a rule that in order for a female to appear in Vanity Fair, they MUST pose naked, save for a sheet covering the whooo haaaa?) But I will say that she is getting nailed for showing her bra? Come on. Brit didn't wear underroos and you people slam her. Hannah Montana IS wearing a bra and you slam her for that? Come on. Get your story straight. Also, she is laying across a boy's lap? She is also still sporting that ring that promises she will wait for marriage before having the sex. Just LAYING on a boy isn't bad. Get a grip people. (This is the second time I have defended Ms. Spanish Mountain. I need to check myself, before I wreck myself)
Clapclapclapclapclapclap!
Last night on Idol, the 45 seconds I DID manage to catch, saw Paula commenting on Jason Castro's first song AND second song, EVEN THOUGH he hadn't done his second song yet. TRUE the format was changed so the judges JUST commented after all 5 went once, and TRUE Paula did sit in on the dress rehearsal, but COME ON. REALIZE where you are Paula. You should have KNOWN by just sitting for 30 minutes that the singers had only gone once. Give me a break. Oh, but she's never been drunk ONCE before in her life. Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright.
Tila Tequila is BACK and looking for love again (either Bobby cheated on her OR the MTV cash was too much to pass up. I am guessing the latter is true. But I guess "looking for love" means making out with people you just met 30 seconds prior. Whatever. It happens at bars in Athens. But usually it is because some a-hole spiked a chick's drink) Anyways, in last night's episode, Tila decided to keep the Stalker and send home the South American. Fine because the producers couldn't afford to send the crew to the Southern Hemisphere for the "Meet the parents" episode, but don't cut him NOW. Wait until AFTER the creepshow leaves. And Fame was sent home? Thank goodness. Wow. What a terrible voice. Plus I think the MTV/VH1 family ALREADY has one talentless black chick with her own show. She's called "New York". Sorry Fame. You are a little late. But finally, I DID think it was funny that George had to remember when his dead mother's birthday was. Are you kidding me? Come on George. You saw the writing on the wall after your horrible date with Tila and pulled out a big card to stay safe. IF you make it that long, won't that be ackward when Tila meets your mom. "Wait I thought you were dead. ANd what do you mean three weeks ago WASN'T YOUR BIRTHDAY?
Finally, Miley Ray Cyrus, put some clothes on! Not because it is ruining your image to your young fans, but because YOU ARE ONE UGLY NAKED CHICK! Wow, did you see the images that Vanity Fair will run? Yesh. (PS, is it a rule that in order for a female to appear in Vanity Fair, they MUST pose naked, save for a sheet covering the whooo haaaa?) But I will say that she is getting nailed for showing her bra? Come on. Brit didn't wear underroos and you people slam her. Hannah Montana IS wearing a bra and you slam her for that? Come on. Get your story straight. Also, she is laying across a boy's lap? She is also still sporting that ring that promises she will wait for marriage before having the sex. Just LAYING on a boy isn't bad. Get a grip people. (This is the second time I have defended Ms. Spanish Mountain. I need to check myself, before I wreck myself)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
I DON'T CARE IF HE'S OUT OF OPTIONS!
So Blane Boyer is out of options. THAT is why he is still in Atlanta. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I don't care. Throw him on waivers. IF he makes it, send him to SINGLE A to get him straight. If someone claims him, FINE. NO REAL LOSS! Oh he can throw a curveball? DOESN'T matter if he is always behind in the count 3-1!
The Braves went up early 1-0 and Glavine only gave up the two back to back solo HRs, then Chipper tied it up in the 6th with a solo shot. Awesome. Top of the 7th, two on, NO OUT and the Braves can't push a run across. CRAP. WOuldn't you know in the bottom of that inning with BOYER in, of course the bases get loaded and of COURSE Blane surrenders a double. then the other two runs come in with Jorge on the mound, but they are charged to Boyer.
Nice job BLANE! Good work!
As for Chipper, dude, we need you healthy! You are earning another contract right now, and a few years back, I would have said to let you go for a Starbucks at The Stick (or the Pad or the Nugget. see previous post if you don't get the reference), but NOW, I say the Braves need you. Especially if the Ted remains the Ted and Liberty media doesn't pony up to keep Tex (who at last check, STILL doesn't believe in Spring Training.)
The Braves are trying to hang around, but they certainly need to start putting some of these gimmie games away, otherwise, what does a sweep of the Dodgers really matter. The good news is the Marlins are leading the division and you KNOW they will fall back. The bad news, the Mets and Phils seem ready to take over. The Braves hopefully will get this thing turned around soon, but as it stands now, they may be hanging around, hanging around, but hanging too far back. The sights SHOULD NOT BE THE WILDCARD. It should be the division. The D-Backs will take the NL West, but the Dodgers pitching should give them the Wildcard. The Braves can't depend on that this year. They need the NL East crown. They MUST get back on track and a nice long homestand would seemingly give them that, but they haven't had one in a while. Let's get it going guys! Split the road trip these next few days then let's win a bunch at home!
And that is the game. The Braves had a CHANCE in the top of the 9th with Chipper serving as the tying run at the plate, but he flew out to center to end things. Oh well. Chances, but the Braves should have scored in the 7th to put the pressure on the Nats. The Bullpen has seemed to do well preserving the lead, but not holding a tie. Get their minds straight and stop wasting the efforts of Glavine. he might be this year's tough luck guy like Huddy was last season.
The Braves went up early 1-0 and Glavine only gave up the two back to back solo HRs, then Chipper tied it up in the 6th with a solo shot. Awesome. Top of the 7th, two on, NO OUT and the Braves can't push a run across. CRAP. WOuldn't you know in the bottom of that inning with BOYER in, of course the bases get loaded and of COURSE Blane surrenders a double. then the other two runs come in with Jorge on the mound, but they are charged to Boyer.
Nice job BLANE! Good work!
As for Chipper, dude, we need you healthy! You are earning another contract right now, and a few years back, I would have said to let you go for a Starbucks at The Stick (or the Pad or the Nugget. see previous post if you don't get the reference), but NOW, I say the Braves need you. Especially if the Ted remains the Ted and Liberty media doesn't pony up to keep Tex (who at last check, STILL doesn't believe in Spring Training.)
The Braves are trying to hang around, but they certainly need to start putting some of these gimmie games away, otherwise, what does a sweep of the Dodgers really matter. The good news is the Marlins are leading the division and you KNOW they will fall back. The bad news, the Mets and Phils seem ready to take over. The Braves hopefully will get this thing turned around soon, but as it stands now, they may be hanging around, hanging around, but hanging too far back. The sights SHOULD NOT BE THE WILDCARD. It should be the division. The D-Backs will take the NL West, but the Dodgers pitching should give them the Wildcard. The Braves can't depend on that this year. They need the NL East crown. They MUST get back on track and a nice long homestand would seemingly give them that, but they haven't had one in a while. Let's get it going guys! Split the road trip these next few days then let's win a bunch at home!
And that is the game. The Braves had a CHANCE in the top of the 9th with Chipper serving as the tying run at the plate, but he flew out to center to end things. Oh well. Chances, but the Braves should have scored in the 7th to put the pressure on the Nats. The Bullpen has seemed to do well preserving the lead, but not holding a tie. Get their minds straight and stop wasting the efforts of Glavine. he might be this year's tough luck guy like Huddy was last season.
The return of THE HILLS men
Last night was fantastic in that I was able to catch up on the Hills, including last week's episode that I missed as I was in San Diego.
I do like how the producers OBVIE read my blog and made Lo put on a UCLA sweatshirt and pretend to study so she wouldn't look 40 anymore. Way to go Adam Divello. (or whatever your name is)
One thing I think should be pointed out is, why does LC like ShePratt so much. She disowned Heidi for dating Spencer, but it is cool for ShePratt to hang around even though she is Spencer's sister? I don't get it. Also, since LC is now freaking out that Audrina is hiding being friends with Heidi, why does she overlook the fact that ShePratt is BEST FRIENDS with Heidi?
I DO like the symmetry that the producers used to show BOTH Spencer AND Heidi questioning the "loyalty" of ShePratt. They both used the word loyalty. Nice work writing staff.
Is it just me or does it feel like ShePratt would be friends with Charles manson just to get on TV? Oh it wasn't just me who thought that?
(PS, sorry for the random single line thoughts here. I am not trying to be like that ugly stand-up comic from the first season of that NBC show Last Comic Standing, but this is what happens when I try to remember an episode from last night on nearly NO sleep and I don't immediately bang one of these blogs out. Sorry again, but you know you still love it!)
I DO like that Justin Bobby is BACK in the picture. I think the producers TOTALLY gave he a bad light last season, and though he MAY have burped in the face of Audrina, tell me, what guy HASN'T done that to his girl? I think in Thailand, that is a sign of love. Heck, in some cultures, the Red Eye is a sign of friendship!
Finally from last week's episode, obviously Lo and Audrina AREN'T still living together because if they still are, and Audrina saw how Lo DIDN'T want her living in the house with she and LC, she probably would be looking to move out RIGHT NOW!
Now the big news... ol' Stephen returned (minus the black socks). I am thinking that he needed some pub after Hayden dumped him or something. This is a guy that had Kristin AND LC fighting over him, and somehow he lost them both because he chose Kristin over LC, then tried to get LC back, but then thought he was back in the game with Kristin (who was I think drinking from Leinart's beer bong at that point). What an idiot. This guy...then he gets the chick from Remember the Titans and he manages to BLOW that! Then last night LC seemed ready to jump back into the Stephen game and he pulls the "let's just keep this on the platonic friends level." This dude is CRAZY! Either that or he is trying to break Tom Cruise's record for hottest beards in a career.
Stephen, bro, you have some game, but you keep trying to trade up when you need to just stick with LC. You will never find anything better (because face it dude, you rock the black socks and she is the ONLY one that thinks it is cute.) Just settle down already with her and star in MTV's new Newlyweds show with her. The network would LOVE that. (Well other than a Heidi/Spencer newlywed show, but whatever.)
Hopefully Stephen sticks around for a few more episodes, but he probably just needed the appearance for a resume builder. He is likely shooting for a reality tv gig somewhere and needed to remind folks who he was. Either that or he is targeting Ashley Tisdale and he told her to watch him work.
On an unrelated note, I wasn't at first, but I think I am a fan of that Taylor Swift song Teardrops on my guitar. I heard it this morning and sort of liked it. The only reason I mention it is Taylor Swift is probably another girl on Stephen's list before eventually going back to LC or coming out. Oh, he might also want to try the chick from Newport Harbor.
And also, can we please get an all-star cast of LC, Stephen, Kristin, Clay, Grant, the fat friend of Allie, Chrissy, and Talon, oh, and Jessica, put them in Catalina and watch them Survivor style? That would be fun. Come on MTV and CBS. Let's make this happen. All those pampered kids having to eat the rice and stuff. The fat chick would FREAK OUT and eat all of the rice. OR she would be the GREATEST fisherwoman in the history of the show due to her motivation. I think that would be funny. The backbiting, the bickering. MAKE IT HAPPEN, Cap'n!
I do like how the producers OBVIE read my blog and made Lo put on a UCLA sweatshirt and pretend to study so she wouldn't look 40 anymore. Way to go Adam Divello. (or whatever your name is)
One thing I think should be pointed out is, why does LC like ShePratt so much. She disowned Heidi for dating Spencer, but it is cool for ShePratt to hang around even though she is Spencer's sister? I don't get it. Also, since LC is now freaking out that Audrina is hiding being friends with Heidi, why does she overlook the fact that ShePratt is BEST FRIENDS with Heidi?
I DO like the symmetry that the producers used to show BOTH Spencer AND Heidi questioning the "loyalty" of ShePratt. They both used the word loyalty. Nice work writing staff.
Is it just me or does it feel like ShePratt would be friends with Charles manson just to get on TV? Oh it wasn't just me who thought that?
(PS, sorry for the random single line thoughts here. I am not trying to be like that ugly stand-up comic from the first season of that NBC show Last Comic Standing, but this is what happens when I try to remember an episode from last night on nearly NO sleep and I don't immediately bang one of these blogs out. Sorry again, but you know you still love it!)
I DO like that Justin Bobby is BACK in the picture. I think the producers TOTALLY gave he a bad light last season, and though he MAY have burped in the face of Audrina, tell me, what guy HASN'T done that to his girl? I think in Thailand, that is a sign of love. Heck, in some cultures, the Red Eye is a sign of friendship!
Finally from last week's episode, obviously Lo and Audrina AREN'T still living together because if they still are, and Audrina saw how Lo DIDN'T want her living in the house with she and LC, she probably would be looking to move out RIGHT NOW!
Now the big news... ol' Stephen returned (minus the black socks). I am thinking that he needed some pub after Hayden dumped him or something. This is a guy that had Kristin AND LC fighting over him, and somehow he lost them both because he chose Kristin over LC, then tried to get LC back, but then thought he was back in the game with Kristin (who was I think drinking from Leinart's beer bong at that point). What an idiot. This guy...then he gets the chick from Remember the Titans and he manages to BLOW that! Then last night LC seemed ready to jump back into the Stephen game and he pulls the "let's just keep this on the platonic friends level." This dude is CRAZY! Either that or he is trying to break Tom Cruise's record for hottest beards in a career.
Stephen, bro, you have some game, but you keep trying to trade up when you need to just stick with LC. You will never find anything better (because face it dude, you rock the black socks and she is the ONLY one that thinks it is cute.) Just settle down already with her and star in MTV's new Newlyweds show with her. The network would LOVE that. (Well other than a Heidi/Spencer newlywed show, but whatever.)
Hopefully Stephen sticks around for a few more episodes, but he probably just needed the appearance for a resume builder. He is likely shooting for a reality tv gig somewhere and needed to remind folks who he was. Either that or he is targeting Ashley Tisdale and he told her to watch him work.
On an unrelated note, I wasn't at first, but I think I am a fan of that Taylor Swift song Teardrops on my guitar. I heard it this morning and sort of liked it. The only reason I mention it is Taylor Swift is probably another girl on Stephen's list before eventually going back to LC or coming out. Oh, he might also want to try the chick from Newport Harbor.
And also, can we please get an all-star cast of LC, Stephen, Kristin, Clay, Grant, the fat friend of Allie, Chrissy, and Talon, oh, and Jessica, put them in Catalina and watch them Survivor style? That would be fun. Come on MTV and CBS. Let's make this happen. All those pampered kids having to eat the rice and stuff. The fat chick would FREAK OUT and eat all of the rice. OR she would be the GREATEST fisherwoman in the history of the show due to her motivation. I think that would be funny. The backbiting, the bickering. MAKE IT HAPPEN, Cap'n!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Take that you bandwagon jumpers!
Let me start by saying that in NO WAY will I be jumping on the Hawks bandwagon. In fact I was OPENLY rooting against them tonight (not rooting for the Celtics and thus jumping on their bandwagon, but rooting against a Game 6, and thus no Extra Innings on Friday night)
I WAS in attendance tonight though with Score Atlanta, and, with the exception of a Philips Arena official threatening to make my life "hard" because one of my fellow Score ATL people only doing what the attendant at the VIP told him to do, it was a CRAZY, fun night. By the time the game had started, the stands were packed, but I got a pretty good view of the folks coming into Philips tonight. And the crazy part was how many "Boston" fans were entering the doors.
I seriously wanted to ask them, "Where did Dee Brown go to college" or "What was McKale's number" or "How do you spell ML Carr?" These weren't fans. These were bandwagon jumpers from Atlanta that wear the LeBron jerseys when the Cavs are in town and the Kobe 24s when the LakeShow arrives.
I could SMELL the new jersey smell of all of those Garnett 5s. Sports Authority must have LOVED the Celtics coming to town, so they could sell all those new jerseys to Boston's new fans.
The absolute worst was the 14 year old girl wearing the Garnett jersey with a Boston 2007 World Series Champs hat on. Give me a break. I wanted to ask her if she wanted to marry Tom Brady, but every girl wants to marry Tom Brady. If she had been wearing a Bruins hat, fine. I would know that she really is a Boston fan. But it was clear that she was JUST AS FRONT-RUNNING AS 98% of those Florida Gator fans are. PLUS, this chick wasn't alive even in 1986. It doesn't really faze me though. I think it would suck to have actually been a REAL Boston fan through all of those dry years, only to now be going through a GREAT time, and having all of these hangers-on.
But the funniest thing about tonight was, when the Hawks jumped up at the half then stormed back in the 4th, thanks to Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, all those "Boston Fans" started cheering when JJ would slide through a double team and connect on a layup. They would "forget" about their new Paul Pierce threads when JSmoove would drain a three. DID YOU FORGET YOU WERE A BOSTON FAN?
All I know is, Boston WILL win game 5 in Beantown and Atlanta will be invaded again Friday by a bunch of NON-Boston area Boston fans that strangely will look a LOT like my Sandy Springs and Norcross neighbors, and just MAYBE if the Hawks can eek out Game 6, those same fans will be rooting on the home team. I don't think Atlanta can win a game in Boston, but heck, why NOT push this thing to Game 7. If Joe Johnson can look this good in Atlanta, maybe just maybe he can play out of his head when ALL of the refs will be opening calling for the Celtics in game 7 because Stern will tell them to do so. Basically, if my show on Friday gets cancelled, I at LEAST want it to be for a Hawks win.
And to make FOOLS out of all of those Boston poseurs. Go back to pretending to be a "lifelong fan" in Boston. I guess you have to do it down here because up there people will call you out on it. GUESS WHAT?! I called you out tonight. And I did so at Philips too. You know who you are that I openly questioned. You felt stupid because you were faking. Yeah, I may be an ass, but at least I am REAL!
I WAS in attendance tonight though with Score Atlanta, and, with the exception of a Philips Arena official threatening to make my life "hard" because one of my fellow Score ATL people only doing what the attendant at the VIP told him to do, it was a CRAZY, fun night. By the time the game had started, the stands were packed, but I got a pretty good view of the folks coming into Philips tonight. And the crazy part was how many "Boston" fans were entering the doors.
I seriously wanted to ask them, "Where did Dee Brown go to college" or "What was McKale's number" or "How do you spell ML Carr?" These weren't fans. These were bandwagon jumpers from Atlanta that wear the LeBron jerseys when the Cavs are in town and the Kobe 24s when the LakeShow arrives.
I could SMELL the new jersey smell of all of those Garnett 5s. Sports Authority must have LOVED the Celtics coming to town, so they could sell all those new jerseys to Boston's new fans.
The absolute worst was the 14 year old girl wearing the Garnett jersey with a Boston 2007 World Series Champs hat on. Give me a break. I wanted to ask her if she wanted to marry Tom Brady, but every girl wants to marry Tom Brady. If she had been wearing a Bruins hat, fine. I would know that she really is a Boston fan. But it was clear that she was JUST AS FRONT-RUNNING AS 98% of those Florida Gator fans are. PLUS, this chick wasn't alive even in 1986. It doesn't really faze me though. I think it would suck to have actually been a REAL Boston fan through all of those dry years, only to now be going through a GREAT time, and having all of these hangers-on.
But the funniest thing about tonight was, when the Hawks jumped up at the half then stormed back in the 4th, thanks to Joe Johnson and Josh Smith, all those "Boston Fans" started cheering when JJ would slide through a double team and connect on a layup. They would "forget" about their new Paul Pierce threads when JSmoove would drain a three. DID YOU FORGET YOU WERE A BOSTON FAN?
All I know is, Boston WILL win game 5 in Beantown and Atlanta will be invaded again Friday by a bunch of NON-Boston area Boston fans that strangely will look a LOT like my Sandy Springs and Norcross neighbors, and just MAYBE if the Hawks can eek out Game 6, those same fans will be rooting on the home team. I don't think Atlanta can win a game in Boston, but heck, why NOT push this thing to Game 7. If Joe Johnson can look this good in Atlanta, maybe just maybe he can play out of his head when ALL of the refs will be opening calling for the Celtics in game 7 because Stern will tell them to do so. Basically, if my show on Friday gets cancelled, I at LEAST want it to be for a Hawks win.
And to make FOOLS out of all of those Boston poseurs. Go back to pretending to be a "lifelong fan" in Boston. I guess you have to do it down here because up there people will call you out on it. GUESS WHAT?! I called you out tonight. And I did so at Philips too. You know who you are that I openly questioned. You felt stupid because you were faking. Yeah, I may be an ass, but at least I am REAL!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Honeymoon, The G-rated edition
As you may have guessed, I am back from the honeymoon with the wifey, and I thought I would share our experiences on the trip with you....at least as much as I can with this still being a clean blog. You never know. Kids may be reading this. Who am I kidding? Only Roomie reads this blog.
Anyways....
Monday 5:45 am. MAN was that alarm my enemy. Wifey had to get up first and take a shower, which bought me a little time in bed, but it didn't last long as Chimer was clicking around, trying to get out. The ride to the airport was very quiet as I think Wifey fell asleep and the MIL and FIL I think were also a bit asleep while driving us there.
7am. The line at the airport was long, but we eventually got through, even though a kid in front of us was screaming how he didn't want to take off his "magic" shoes to go through the metal detector. I sort of felt bad for the kid, then I remembered Black Hawk Down where sometimes the kids were the bombs. I wanted him scanned.
7:30 we get to our gate and we see that 56 people had signed up for an upgrade to first class. I tried to work my magic and drop the whole "It's our Honeymoon trick" but the guy at the desk just said "Congrats, but sorry I can't move you up." Listen, I didn't except to be moved up to first class, as only ONE seat was available and again there were LITERALLY 56 people that had signed up ahead of us, but just throw us on there at 57 and 58. WOULD THAT HAVE KILLED YOU?
With a little time to go before our 9am flight, I enjoyed a $4 bacon biscuit. I did promise myself that I wouldn't worry about money on this trip, but COME ON! $4 for two pieces of bacon and a crappy stale biscuit? YOU ARE KIDDING ME!
Once on board apparently I fell asleep with my mouth open and MAYBE I snored a bit. Oh well. Wifey called me a mouth-breather. That was nice.
11am, I have ordered two ginger ales and a coke and Wifey has ordered Juno on her TV screen. Meanwhile, MY TV screen isn't hooked up, so I can't watch any movies or even TV. NOPE. i can only look at my neighbor's DISCOVERY Channel and GUESS at what the EXTREME Fishermen are saying. HONEYMOON!
We land at 10:40am Whale's Vagina time (That's San Diego, if you haven't caught on. The city was founded by the Germans in 1906) and we get our rental car (A Ford Focus) and we have 6 hours to kill before we can check in. We decide to head to the Gaslamp district and enjoy a fish taco.
11:30 we arrive and park in the downtown area known as Gaslamp (for more thoughts on this, see my blog about wanting to turn ATLANTA into San Diego. I kept a tally going and SD beat Atlanta 67-4. Yeah) So we go to Tin Fish and I get a grilled Swordfish Taco and Wifey gets a fried fish taco. Pretty good. No taco bell, but very good. I'd eat it again. Maybe with fried flounder the next time. Hmmmmmmmmm
We walk around Gaslamp and REALLY enjoy ourselves for the next few hours. We ate at a Ghirreldinis (however you spell it) and the Peanut Butter melt was superb. I bought an entire bag of those chocolates for the rest of the trip. Great stuff, and apparently there are only 7 of those stores in the entire country. I felt like we should get a members only jacket or something.
3:30 we start heading to our hotel, the Paradise Point Resort and Spa on Vacation Island in Mission Bay. When we get there...WOW. I am sure we will show everyone pix, but that place was SO nice. 6 pools, lagoons, on-site restaurants, putt putt, tennis, hot tubs. You name it. We get to our room, a bay bungalow, and we are at the base of the horseshoe of bungalows and we look STRAIGHT out past the bridge over the bay, right into the Pacific. Wow. I can't even describe the view. WOW. I couldn't wait to get naked and look at the view. Once we got inside, we had a bottle of champagne on ice and we were set.
5:15 we had a couple massage planned for 6pm and I didn't know what to wear to this thing, so I called the front desk while Wifey was in the shower. I asked if I needed to wear a bathing suit, or what and the lady said, "Oh, no, we will have a robe and slippers for you." I said what about afterwards for our hot tub soak. "Well, sir that is up to you, but it is private time." Then she hung up. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
6pm, we show up for this massage and I try to slyly as the guy at the front desk, "so how does this work?" Oh sir, you go and change into your robe and slippers and leave your belongings in the locker. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRight. Well I left my boxerbriefs on, because, well COME ON. Wifey this told me that I could have gotten naked if I had wanted to, but I felt a little weird about that. GOOD THING TOO...
6:20 during the massage, as I was covered by the sheet, the masseuse "reveals" one part of you at a time to rub and when she did my leg, she tucked the sheet RIGHT INTO MY STUFF. If I had been boxerbrief-less, I would have had to buy her a drink. Yeah. I am pretty sure it would have been like Chandler's tailor in that one episode of FRIENDS.
7, after the massage, we got private time in this hottub, and THERE I felt the need to get naked. Don't worry, no one could see me...not that that has ever stopped me in the past.
8. after the massage and hottub time, we get back to the room and drink our champagne and then around 10, we start feeling a little hungry. We decide to walk up to the bar, which is open until midnight according to the guestbook, but by the time we get there at 10:12, the waiter says, "Oh no, we stop serving food at 10, we only serve drinks until midnight." If I hadn't been tipsy on 4 glasses of da bubbly, I might have slugged him. Oh well
10:22, we get back to the room and order room service and get a club sandwich, hamburger and a bottle of wine...for $78. Yeah. WOW. Well we start to eat outside, then we hear what we think is our neighbors putting their room service outside. It keeps going and going. I think, either a family of 97 Mexicans is next door, or a squirrel is in their stuff. I walk over to shoo the nuisance away when I see that it is a FREAKING SKUNK. I quickly herd Wifey inside, and we enjoy our sandwiches inside.
Tuesday
We slept in and then hit up the pool in the morning, after walking around the resort. We walked all around the lagoons, saw all the different types of rooms (Ours was the best) then we settled in at the "Beach" portion of the pool. The chairs were all in sand and the first few steps on the pool had sand at the bottom. Pretty cool. But the water was cold and there were a few kids in the hot tub, so we ventured back to the room around noon.
1pm, we decided to head over to LaJolla and take in some of the sights. La Jolla was beautiful and we both REALLY enjoyed the ocean hitting the rocks. We walked down on the beaches and we saw the seals and the birds on Bird Rock. We settled in at Bull and Bear Pub for a quick snack and drink (cheese fries BABY!) and then hung around long enough to grab dinner at Georges, which was a rooftop restaurant that allowed us to catch the sun setting into the water. Though, the timing of our meal was a bit off. We ate ssssssssssslllllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwlllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy to try and stick around long enough. Then I ordered another drink (by the way, they have NO sense of humor when you mispronounce Mojito on purpose) then we got dessert. But the high bill was worth it. That sunset was gorgeous.
Wednesday
We wanted to head up to Newport this day, but the trip was a little farther than we thought it was. We had planned on eating lunch up there, but we stopped at Jack-In-the-Box before we got there, because when Wifey is hungry, she can get grumpy. We got honked at by a guy that was apparently in line at the drivethru, even though he was parked in a spot. Whatever. (PS, Cali drivers are VERY RUDE. They have No patience for each other, much less a rented Ford Focus with Texas Tags). Newport was a bit of a letdown. We did get a Balboa Bar at the Balboa pier, but the experience was tainted a bit when the ferry was out of commission AND some pigeons (AKA rats with wings) attacked us. NOT KIDDING. I think I peed my pants. We then drove to Laguna Beach and that made up for it a bit. NICE Houses there and we also stopped in on Newport Harbor High, home of the Sailors, but alas, NO GRANT or Clay. (Though I doubt we would have found Clay. He probably would have just blended in with the wall since it has more personality that he does)
The Drive home was stressful as I-5 gets BUSY in the afternoon, but we made it and changed in plenty of time to make it to the Padres game on time
Petco Park was REALLY NICE (again, see previous blog) and I bought a sweatshirt that said Padres, (old school-style) and I ended up sitting next to a Mets fan. I told him I host the Braves post game show on 790 The Zone, and he ACTUALLY seemed pissed at me. He said, "I guess we'll kick your ass this weekend!" he proclaimed. Interesting, I didn't know that he and I had beef, but whatever.
If only Trevor Hoffman had closed the door on that game, we would have seen a 1-0 win for Maddux and his entrance to Hells Bells would have been worth it. Wifey thought that was a LOT of buildup for little follow through. I said, "get used to it. you married me" She laughed....nervously.
Thursday
We spent ALL day at the zoo and Wifey used up ALL of her digital camera space and we had to go back and delete some previous pictures so she could take more. WHO NEEDS WEDDING pics, when you can have 18 more shots of the panda bear? PS, if you are thinking about eating at the ZOO, DON'T eat at Albert's. The food is WAY overpriced for NOT BEING GOOD AT ALL.
6pm, after walking around all day, we decide to go eat in Little Italy and the food was FANNNNNNNTASTIC. Well, except that mine tasted a little like maybe they made me shrimp alfredo, then remembered I ordered Chicken alfredo, so they took the shrimp out and added the chicken. But OTHER THAN THAT, it was great. Wifey really enjoyed the mini bottle of wine they brought us. She thought it was SO CUTE. I was just glad that she drank nearly the entire mini bottle herself. SCORE!
Friday
We woke up and drove first to Cornado, then to Del Mar. That was nice. But once you've seen one mini beach shopping strip, you've seen them all. Wifey felt the same way. We then drove through "Old Towne" which was apparently the "Birthplace" of California. Yep, the place with all of the drunken homeless mexicans gave birth to Silicon Valley. NICE.
Finally we made our way up to Solona Beach where we were going to take a balloon flight at sunset. We got there a little early and went exploring. We came across Fletcher Cove and of course I had to have a picture. Well when we got down to the Cove, we see about 13 news trucks and 6 reporters going live. Apparently there was a shark attack and a guy died. I just so happened to be wearing my 790 The Zone golf shirt and several folks thought I was media. They told me all sorts of stories, and I didn't have the heart to tell them that I was just a dude wearing an Atlanta sports radio shirt. Oh well. It got us the story.
7. We go up in the balloon and fly quite a ways. It really was pretty watching the sun set over the ocean.
Then around 8 we crashed into the ground, but apparently that is how you LAND balloons. By crashing into the ground. OH WELL.
Saturday
We woke up early and made it to the airport in plenty of time, the only problem was there is a first class security line and a regular line. Well, the regular line was roped off by the TSA so we were in line, waiting to be unroped, and when they finally did, maybe 20 of the folks in front of us IMMEDIATELY ran to the first class line, not knowing that it was first class, while the rest of us, WHO WERE LITERATE started walking towards the regular line. Well, an old man in a Hawaiian shirt and hat was in front of us and HE STARTED towards the first class line, actually got out of the regular line and went towards first class, then realized what he had done and went back. Well at this time I had decided that Wifey and I would go to the regular line (because I don't reward mediocraty or IDIOTS, I was going to make him lose his place. He goes, "Umm GUYS!" right towards Wifey and myself, MAD at us for passing his stupid butt BECAUSE HE LEFT THE LINE. I then responded, "well we weren't stupid enough NOT to read the sign." but Wifey pulled me back and let the guy pass. It is ok, because the Karma police got him when he got up to the front of the security line. He chose the wrong screener and he was held off to the side to be searched for something, while Wifey and I went right through in our line. HA! TAKE THAT CRUSTY Illiterate old man-taking your anger at yourself out on the NEWLYWEDS! HA!
Overall it was a nice trip and I CERTAINLY dropped the "We're on our honeymoon" line quite a few times. It got us free parking, discounted tickets to the zoo, a NICE seat at the sunset dinner, and a 4-door car when we only paid for two. Also it got us some extra champagne at the balloon ride. Good for us.
It is nice to be back though. Our doggies were happy to see us return. And I am glad to be back where people KNOW what sweet tea is. I was nearly FORCED to drink wine and beer out there because NO ONE knew what this sweet tea I spoke of was.
Atlanta 7, San Diego 67.
Anyways....
Monday 5:45 am. MAN was that alarm my enemy. Wifey had to get up first and take a shower, which bought me a little time in bed, but it didn't last long as Chimer was clicking around, trying to get out. The ride to the airport was very quiet as I think Wifey fell asleep and the MIL and FIL I think were also a bit asleep while driving us there.
7am. The line at the airport was long, but we eventually got through, even though a kid in front of us was screaming how he didn't want to take off his "magic" shoes to go through the metal detector. I sort of felt bad for the kid, then I remembered Black Hawk Down where sometimes the kids were the bombs. I wanted him scanned.
7:30 we get to our gate and we see that 56 people had signed up for an upgrade to first class. I tried to work my magic and drop the whole "It's our Honeymoon trick" but the guy at the desk just said "Congrats, but sorry I can't move you up." Listen, I didn't except to be moved up to first class, as only ONE seat was available and again there were LITERALLY 56 people that had signed up ahead of us, but just throw us on there at 57 and 58. WOULD THAT HAVE KILLED YOU?
With a little time to go before our 9am flight, I enjoyed a $4 bacon biscuit. I did promise myself that I wouldn't worry about money on this trip, but COME ON! $4 for two pieces of bacon and a crappy stale biscuit? YOU ARE KIDDING ME!
Once on board apparently I fell asleep with my mouth open and MAYBE I snored a bit. Oh well. Wifey called me a mouth-breather. That was nice.
11am, I have ordered two ginger ales and a coke and Wifey has ordered Juno on her TV screen. Meanwhile, MY TV screen isn't hooked up, so I can't watch any movies or even TV. NOPE. i can only look at my neighbor's DISCOVERY Channel and GUESS at what the EXTREME Fishermen are saying. HONEYMOON!
We land at 10:40am Whale's Vagina time (That's San Diego, if you haven't caught on. The city was founded by the Germans in 1906) and we get our rental car (A Ford Focus) and we have 6 hours to kill before we can check in. We decide to head to the Gaslamp district and enjoy a fish taco.
11:30 we arrive and park in the downtown area known as Gaslamp (for more thoughts on this, see my blog about wanting to turn ATLANTA into San Diego. I kept a tally going and SD beat Atlanta 67-4. Yeah) So we go to Tin Fish and I get a grilled Swordfish Taco and Wifey gets a fried fish taco. Pretty good. No taco bell, but very good. I'd eat it again. Maybe with fried flounder the next time. Hmmmmmmmmm
We walk around Gaslamp and REALLY enjoy ourselves for the next few hours. We ate at a Ghirreldinis (however you spell it) and the Peanut Butter melt was superb. I bought an entire bag of those chocolates for the rest of the trip. Great stuff, and apparently there are only 7 of those stores in the entire country. I felt like we should get a members only jacket or something.
3:30 we start heading to our hotel, the Paradise Point Resort and Spa on Vacation Island in Mission Bay. When we get there...WOW. I am sure we will show everyone pix, but that place was SO nice. 6 pools, lagoons, on-site restaurants, putt putt, tennis, hot tubs. You name it. We get to our room, a bay bungalow, and we are at the base of the horseshoe of bungalows and we look STRAIGHT out past the bridge over the bay, right into the Pacific. Wow. I can't even describe the view. WOW. I couldn't wait to get naked and look at the view. Once we got inside, we had a bottle of champagne on ice and we were set.
5:15 we had a couple massage planned for 6pm and I didn't know what to wear to this thing, so I called the front desk while Wifey was in the shower. I asked if I needed to wear a bathing suit, or what and the lady said, "Oh, no, we will have a robe and slippers for you." I said what about afterwards for our hot tub soak. "Well, sir that is up to you, but it is private time." Then she hung up. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.
6pm, we show up for this massage and I try to slyly as the guy at the front desk, "so how does this work?" Oh sir, you go and change into your robe and slippers and leave your belongings in the locker. RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRight. Well I left my boxerbriefs on, because, well COME ON. Wifey this told me that I could have gotten naked if I had wanted to, but I felt a little weird about that. GOOD THING TOO...
6:20 during the massage, as I was covered by the sheet, the masseuse "reveals" one part of you at a time to rub and when she did my leg, she tucked the sheet RIGHT INTO MY STUFF. If I had been boxerbrief-less, I would have had to buy her a drink. Yeah. I am pretty sure it would have been like Chandler's tailor in that one episode of FRIENDS.
7, after the massage, we got private time in this hottub, and THERE I felt the need to get naked. Don't worry, no one could see me...not that that has ever stopped me in the past.
8. after the massage and hottub time, we get back to the room and drink our champagne and then around 10, we start feeling a little hungry. We decide to walk up to the bar, which is open until midnight according to the guestbook, but by the time we get there at 10:12, the waiter says, "Oh no, we stop serving food at 10, we only serve drinks until midnight." If I hadn't been tipsy on 4 glasses of da bubbly, I might have slugged him. Oh well
10:22, we get back to the room and order room service and get a club sandwich, hamburger and a bottle of wine...for $78. Yeah. WOW. Well we start to eat outside, then we hear what we think is our neighbors putting their room service outside. It keeps going and going. I think, either a family of 97 Mexicans is next door, or a squirrel is in their stuff. I walk over to shoo the nuisance away when I see that it is a FREAKING SKUNK. I quickly herd Wifey inside, and we enjoy our sandwiches inside.
Tuesday
We slept in and then hit up the pool in the morning, after walking around the resort. We walked all around the lagoons, saw all the different types of rooms (Ours was the best) then we settled in at the "Beach" portion of the pool. The chairs were all in sand and the first few steps on the pool had sand at the bottom. Pretty cool. But the water was cold and there were a few kids in the hot tub, so we ventured back to the room around noon.
1pm, we decided to head over to LaJolla and take in some of the sights. La Jolla was beautiful and we both REALLY enjoyed the ocean hitting the rocks. We walked down on the beaches and we saw the seals and the birds on Bird Rock. We settled in at Bull and Bear Pub for a quick snack and drink (cheese fries BABY!) and then hung around long enough to grab dinner at Georges, which was a rooftop restaurant that allowed us to catch the sun setting into the water. Though, the timing of our meal was a bit off. We ate ssssssssssslllllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwwlllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyy to try and stick around long enough. Then I ordered another drink (by the way, they have NO sense of humor when you mispronounce Mojito on purpose) then we got dessert. But the high bill was worth it. That sunset was gorgeous.
Wednesday
We wanted to head up to Newport this day, but the trip was a little farther than we thought it was. We had planned on eating lunch up there, but we stopped at Jack-In-the-Box before we got there, because when Wifey is hungry, she can get grumpy. We got honked at by a guy that was apparently in line at the drivethru, even though he was parked in a spot. Whatever. (PS, Cali drivers are VERY RUDE. They have No patience for each other, much less a rented Ford Focus with Texas Tags). Newport was a bit of a letdown. We did get a Balboa Bar at the Balboa pier, but the experience was tainted a bit when the ferry was out of commission AND some pigeons (AKA rats with wings) attacked us. NOT KIDDING. I think I peed my pants. We then drove to Laguna Beach and that made up for it a bit. NICE Houses there and we also stopped in on Newport Harbor High, home of the Sailors, but alas, NO GRANT or Clay. (Though I doubt we would have found Clay. He probably would have just blended in with the wall since it has more personality that he does)
The Drive home was stressful as I-5 gets BUSY in the afternoon, but we made it and changed in plenty of time to make it to the Padres game on time
Petco Park was REALLY NICE (again, see previous blog) and I bought a sweatshirt that said Padres, (old school-style) and I ended up sitting next to a Mets fan. I told him I host the Braves post game show on 790 The Zone, and he ACTUALLY seemed pissed at me. He said, "I guess we'll kick your ass this weekend!" he proclaimed. Interesting, I didn't know that he and I had beef, but whatever.
If only Trevor Hoffman had closed the door on that game, we would have seen a 1-0 win for Maddux and his entrance to Hells Bells would have been worth it. Wifey thought that was a LOT of buildup for little follow through. I said, "get used to it. you married me" She laughed....nervously.
Thursday
We spent ALL day at the zoo and Wifey used up ALL of her digital camera space and we had to go back and delete some previous pictures so she could take more. WHO NEEDS WEDDING pics, when you can have 18 more shots of the panda bear? PS, if you are thinking about eating at the ZOO, DON'T eat at Albert's. The food is WAY overpriced for NOT BEING GOOD AT ALL.
6pm, after walking around all day, we decide to go eat in Little Italy and the food was FANNNNNNNTASTIC. Well, except that mine tasted a little like maybe they made me shrimp alfredo, then remembered I ordered Chicken alfredo, so they took the shrimp out and added the chicken. But OTHER THAN THAT, it was great. Wifey really enjoyed the mini bottle of wine they brought us. She thought it was SO CUTE. I was just glad that she drank nearly the entire mini bottle herself. SCORE!
Friday
We woke up and drove first to Cornado, then to Del Mar. That was nice. But once you've seen one mini beach shopping strip, you've seen them all. Wifey felt the same way. We then drove through "Old Towne" which was apparently the "Birthplace" of California. Yep, the place with all of the drunken homeless mexicans gave birth to Silicon Valley. NICE.
Finally we made our way up to Solona Beach where we were going to take a balloon flight at sunset. We got there a little early and went exploring. We came across Fletcher Cove and of course I had to have a picture. Well when we got down to the Cove, we see about 13 news trucks and 6 reporters going live. Apparently there was a shark attack and a guy died. I just so happened to be wearing my 790 The Zone golf shirt and several folks thought I was media. They told me all sorts of stories, and I didn't have the heart to tell them that I was just a dude wearing an Atlanta sports radio shirt. Oh well. It got us the story.
7. We go up in the balloon and fly quite a ways. It really was pretty watching the sun set over the ocean.
Then around 8 we crashed into the ground, but apparently that is how you LAND balloons. By crashing into the ground. OH WELL.
Saturday
We woke up early and made it to the airport in plenty of time, the only problem was there is a first class security line and a regular line. Well, the regular line was roped off by the TSA so we were in line, waiting to be unroped, and when they finally did, maybe 20 of the folks in front of us IMMEDIATELY ran to the first class line, not knowing that it was first class, while the rest of us, WHO WERE LITERATE started walking towards the regular line. Well, an old man in a Hawaiian shirt and hat was in front of us and HE STARTED towards the first class line, actually got out of the regular line and went towards first class, then realized what he had done and went back. Well at this time I had decided that Wifey and I would go to the regular line (because I don't reward mediocraty or IDIOTS, I was going to make him lose his place. He goes, "Umm GUYS!" right towards Wifey and myself, MAD at us for passing his stupid butt BECAUSE HE LEFT THE LINE. I then responded, "well we weren't stupid enough NOT to read the sign." but Wifey pulled me back and let the guy pass. It is ok, because the Karma police got him when he got up to the front of the security line. He chose the wrong screener and he was held off to the side to be searched for something, while Wifey and I went right through in our line. HA! TAKE THAT CRUSTY Illiterate old man-taking your anger at yourself out on the NEWLYWEDS! HA!
Overall it was a nice trip and I CERTAINLY dropped the "We're on our honeymoon" line quite a few times. It got us free parking, discounted tickets to the zoo, a NICE seat at the sunset dinner, and a 4-door car when we only paid for two. Also it got us some extra champagne at the balloon ride. Good for us.
It is nice to be back though. Our doggies were happy to see us return. And I am glad to be back where people KNOW what sweet tea is. I was nearly FORCED to drink wine and beer out there because NO ONE knew what this sweet tea I spoke of was.
Atlanta 7, San Diego 67.
CHANGE THE NAME!
Just a suggestion as I watch John Smoltz struggle through the first two innings in the rubber match against the Mets. (Wow, the Braves WIN the Jair Jurrgens game, then lose the huddy game and they are down 3-0 after two with Smoltzie on the hill. To Quote Weezer, the world has turned and left me here. turned upside down if you will)
But if the Braves REALLY wanted to keep Big Tex next season even though everyone is saying how much he will cost, I have a suggestion for the new owners, Liberty Media. SELL THE NAMING RIGHTS TO THE STADIUM.
Yeah, it is nice that the Braves owner decided to name the stadium after himself after the Olympics back in the day, but come on. That would be a big source of income RIGHT THERE. THe Indians just got 57.6M for 16 years to call Jacobs' Field Progressive. Are you telling me Home Depot or Delta or Chik-fil-a wouldn't jump on the chance to name that stadium?
Now if you are worried about not having a cool nickname for the stadium like you do now with The Ted, then let me help you guys out.
Sell it to Chik-fil-a and call it The Nugget
Sell it to Cheetah and call it The Strip
Sell it to Home Depot and call it the Shed.
Or my two favorites,
Maxi Field and call it The Pad
or Tampax Stadium and call it The Stick
It could work. Just putting it out there. If you REALLY want to resign Tex, sell the rights to Tampax for 100M for the next 20years and then find another 80M and keep the switch-hitting/doesn't believe in spring training beast locked in that cleanup spot. More on this topic on Friday's Extra innings show. be sure to tune in
Finally, the Braves lost the final game of the three game series with the New York Mets 6-3 today as the biggest chance to get back into the game was squashed with the Braves down 4-3, the Mets got a run to make it 5-3 after the Braves had rallied from down 4-0. In the 7th, I believe Big Tex hit one to the wall with a runner on, but it was snatched by Ryan Church JUST before he collided with Beltran, but he held on to the ball. Drats. A run in the bottom of the inning made it 6-3 instead of a tied 5-5 score and the Braves were done in by Wags for the second straight night. Wow, it must be nice to have a strong closer like that. Hopefully Gonzo can be our Wags.
Also, I can't believe Smoltzie went out like that. 4 innings before bowing out of the game, having surrendered 4 runs. Yesh. Come on Top of the Rotation. Huddy and Smoltz aren't supposed to fold like that with a chance to sweep the Mets. Oh well. The Braves now sit at 12-13 and at least 2.5 games behind first and 1.5 behind the Mets. Still a long season to go and Chipper was out the last two games. That offers hope that if they can HANG around (alligator blood) maybe they can take this thing when the bullpen gets healthy.
But if the Braves REALLY wanted to keep Big Tex next season even though everyone is saying how much he will cost, I have a suggestion for the new owners, Liberty Media. SELL THE NAMING RIGHTS TO THE STADIUM.
Yeah, it is nice that the Braves owner decided to name the stadium after himself after the Olympics back in the day, but come on. That would be a big source of income RIGHT THERE. THe Indians just got 57.6M for 16 years to call Jacobs' Field Progressive. Are you telling me Home Depot or Delta or Chik-fil-a wouldn't jump on the chance to name that stadium?
Now if you are worried about not having a cool nickname for the stadium like you do now with The Ted, then let me help you guys out.
Sell it to Chik-fil-a and call it The Nugget
Sell it to Cheetah and call it The Strip
Sell it to Home Depot and call it the Shed.
Or my two favorites,
Maxi Field and call it The Pad
or Tampax Stadium and call it The Stick
It could work. Just putting it out there. If you REALLY want to resign Tex, sell the rights to Tampax for 100M for the next 20years and then find another 80M and keep the switch-hitting/doesn't believe in spring training beast locked in that cleanup spot. More on this topic on Friday's Extra innings show. be sure to tune in
Finally, the Braves lost the final game of the three game series with the New York Mets 6-3 today as the biggest chance to get back into the game was squashed with the Braves down 4-3, the Mets got a run to make it 5-3 after the Braves had rallied from down 4-0. In the 7th, I believe Big Tex hit one to the wall with a runner on, but it was snatched by Ryan Church JUST before he collided with Beltran, but he held on to the ball. Drats. A run in the bottom of the inning made it 6-3 instead of a tied 5-5 score and the Braves were done in by Wags for the second straight night. Wow, it must be nice to have a strong closer like that. Hopefully Gonzo can be our Wags.
Also, I can't believe Smoltzie went out like that. 4 innings before bowing out of the game, having surrendered 4 runs. Yesh. Come on Top of the Rotation. Huddy and Smoltz aren't supposed to fold like that with a chance to sweep the Mets. Oh well. The Braves now sit at 12-13 and at least 2.5 games behind first and 1.5 behind the Mets. Still a long season to go and Chipper was out the last two games. That offers hope that if they can HANG around (alligator blood) maybe they can take this thing when the bullpen gets healthy.
You GET Classy, Atlanta
This also appears on www.790thezone.com for my weekly article
After I returned from my Honeymoon in San Diego this past Saturday, I turned on the NFL draft and a certain Mel Kiperism struck a chord with me: upside potential. The City of Atlanta has a ton of upside potential. While in San Diego, my new bride and I visited Petco Park and took in a Padres game. The stadium, which opened in 2004 was nice, but hardly breathtakingly better than Turner Field. The Skyline view of San Diego was about the same as the Ted’s view of the ATL and in fact, Turner Field was way more kid-friendly with Tooner Field and the other amenities.
But what made San Diego better was the Gaslamp District. Petco sits right in the heart of this area of remodeled downtown and roughly 200 shops and eateries are within easy walking distance of the stadium. Fans can grab a bite before the game, then enjoy a celebratory spirit afterwards at one of the many bars or clubs.
I wish an Atlanta city official and a Braves official or two could hop aboard a plane, fly to San Diego and study how this remodel was done. The Gaslamp model could be the start of a regentrification movement around the Ted that would certainly boost attendance and get people excited about baseball again. The Padres are terrible this year, but the downtown area helped fill up the stadium on a random Wednesday night. The first step: sell off those parking lots, put up decks and get some bars/restaurants in there. Baseball is NOT a tailgating sport like football. Most people go and park and head in to drink and eat. Build the decks and let people wander past the sweet smelling grills and packed patios and see if they don’t spend some money to benefit local businesses on their way in. I know I would grab a smoked sausage and a brew at one of the new pubs before entering in and cheering on the Braves.
Also, clean up some of those shabby buildings surrounding the stadium and make the area more attractive. We have had callers tell us on Extra Innings that they would take their families to more night games if they weren’t afraid of the area. Turn those rundown looking buildings into brightly lit fun zones and people will come. To paraphrase the voice that talked to Kevin Costner, if you build it, they will come.
San Diego perfected the model, now go get it and GET CLASSY!
After I returned from my Honeymoon in San Diego this past Saturday, I turned on the NFL draft and a certain Mel Kiperism struck a chord with me: upside potential. The City of Atlanta has a ton of upside potential. While in San Diego, my new bride and I visited Petco Park and took in a Padres game. The stadium, which opened in 2004 was nice, but hardly breathtakingly better than Turner Field. The Skyline view of San Diego was about the same as the Ted’s view of the ATL and in fact, Turner Field was way more kid-friendly with Tooner Field and the other amenities.
But what made San Diego better was the Gaslamp District. Petco sits right in the heart of this area of remodeled downtown and roughly 200 shops and eateries are within easy walking distance of the stadium. Fans can grab a bite before the game, then enjoy a celebratory spirit afterwards at one of the many bars or clubs.
I wish an Atlanta city official and a Braves official or two could hop aboard a plane, fly to San Diego and study how this remodel was done. The Gaslamp model could be the start of a regentrification movement around the Ted that would certainly boost attendance and get people excited about baseball again. The Padres are terrible this year, but the downtown area helped fill up the stadium on a random Wednesday night. The first step: sell off those parking lots, put up decks and get some bars/restaurants in there. Baseball is NOT a tailgating sport like football. Most people go and park and head in to drink and eat. Build the decks and let people wander past the sweet smelling grills and packed patios and see if they don’t spend some money to benefit local businesses on their way in. I know I would grab a smoked sausage and a brew at one of the new pubs before entering in and cheering on the Braves.
Also, clean up some of those shabby buildings surrounding the stadium and make the area more attractive. We have had callers tell us on Extra Innings that they would take their families to more night games if they weren’t afraid of the area. Turn those rundown looking buildings into brightly lit fun zones and people will come. To paraphrase the voice that talked to Kevin Costner, if you build it, they will come.
San Diego perfected the model, now go get it and GET CLASSY!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Falcons fumble first day, Skins' Castle made of sand
As we all know, I am a Redskins fan (if forced to watch football on Sunday. Come on, we all know REAL football is teed up on Saturdays!), but as I now live in Atlanta, I also follow the Falcons for part of my job. Therefore I followed today's first day of NFL Draft 2008 with great interest. And I must say, the Redskins started off with gangbusters, dealing their first round pick TO the Falcons (along with a third rounder and a fifth for the Falcons' Oakland second, Houston second, and the Falcons' fourth. A pretty even trade if you ask me. At first I thought Washington just got the 2 seconds in exchange for the one first, a REAL FLEECING of Atlanta, but then after seeing the whole shakedown, it turned out to be an even trade.)
Then the Skins were able to nab Devin Thomas, a 6'2 receiver with that first second rounder, a guy that they probably would have taken with the number 21 overall. PLUS they wouldn't have to pay him first round money. I was excited. Then came Fred Davis, the USC TE at #48 (the Houston pick from Atlanta) I really liked Davis, but thought it was weird that the Skins took him, especially since they have Pro Bowler Chris Cooley at TE/H-Back, but more weapons for Jason Campbell and Zorn. FINE. But then to see the Skins with their own #51 take Malcolm Kelly, another WR, when Quentin Groves the DE from Auburn was there. Now, I know that BOTH Thomas and Kelly were first round talents, but REALLY, BOTH WR in the second round? Did the Skins REALLY need them both with Santana Moss and Randle-El both there? I know Lloyd is gone, as is Caldwell, but two Rooks thrown in with another rookie TE? And not paying attention to the defense at all? No CBs? Just wondering. I love the trade with ATL, but I am not certain taking the two WRs, plus Davis, a WR in a TEs body was the way to go. Maybe Zorn will just try and outscore people this year. I think the potential castle was made of sand and the tide may be coming in.
As for the Falcons, what a WASTE this draft has become. I think TD and AB will go home tonight and wish they could hit the restart button on the PS3 of life. I hate hearing that Mattie Ice has "the potential to be a solid QB." Ummm think about that statement made today by Mort I believe it was. The POTENTIAL (meaning he isn't there yet) to be a solid QB (meaning NOT a superstar.) So, if he is the next Matt Hasselbeck, OK, but why take him #3 overall. You really want a guy that COULD be a Matt Hasselbeck when a Glen Dorsey is sitting RIGHT THERE at Number 3? Glen Dorsey will be wearing a gold jacket in 20 years. I don't think we can say that Ryan will be donning one at this time. Why go with a risky thing that could turn out to be OK when you have a SURE thing RIGHT NOW. With Matty Ice under center the Falcons go 3-13. With Joe Harrington/Chris Redman they go 3-13. With Dorsey in there though, they go 5-11 and have a chance to REALLY start something.
Moving on to the trade of the two second rounders for another first...let me start by saying that I don't fault the Falcons at ALL for this. Especially when you get another third in this trade AND you have a chance to land another first rounder, DO IT. But trading up to grab Sam Baker? He would have TOTALLY been there with that pick in the second round. And you could have nabbed Baker there, BROHM with the #37 (because you would have taken Dorsey at Number 3) and then get Groves/Cal Campbell/Davis/Tyrell Johnson at 48...wow I think the Falcons blundered this one away. I really do.
Overall, I say the Dolphins did well getting JLong then Merling in the second. The Chiefs did an outstanding job in landing Dorsey and Albert and Flowers, and even the Cowboys (it pains me to say this) pulled in players that will help them in Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins. I can't understand why the Patriots traded down to #10 to take Jared Mayo, but they have three rings, and I just have one (a wedding ring). Finally with Brian Brohm in the fold in Green Bay, Aaron Rogers can't love life TOO much right now, with Favre talking about maybe coming back. Was this a message to Brett? Interesting call here.
Can't wait for day two. Don't worry I will blog all about it tomorrow, with some intelligent insight which is more than I can say for some of my peers, no names mentioned, but everyone SHOULD know of whom I am speaking. Yeah, a guy that can't hold my jock, nor would I want him to. But so glad he gets to talk about this thing while I can only write about it. He should watch out though. I am coming.
Extra Innings this Friday PS. I will be back blogging about the Braves tomorrow, and I begin the Braves beat for Score Atlanta after tomorrow's deadline. So not this Wednesday, but the following Wednesday, LOOK OUT!
Then the Skins were able to nab Devin Thomas, a 6'2 receiver with that first second rounder, a guy that they probably would have taken with the number 21 overall. PLUS they wouldn't have to pay him first round money. I was excited. Then came Fred Davis, the USC TE at #48 (the Houston pick from Atlanta) I really liked Davis, but thought it was weird that the Skins took him, especially since they have Pro Bowler Chris Cooley at TE/H-Back, but more weapons for Jason Campbell and Zorn. FINE. But then to see the Skins with their own #51 take Malcolm Kelly, another WR, when Quentin Groves the DE from Auburn was there. Now, I know that BOTH Thomas and Kelly were first round talents, but REALLY, BOTH WR in the second round? Did the Skins REALLY need them both with Santana Moss and Randle-El both there? I know Lloyd is gone, as is Caldwell, but two Rooks thrown in with another rookie TE? And not paying attention to the defense at all? No CBs? Just wondering. I love the trade with ATL, but I am not certain taking the two WRs, plus Davis, a WR in a TEs body was the way to go. Maybe Zorn will just try and outscore people this year. I think the potential castle was made of sand and the tide may be coming in.
As for the Falcons, what a WASTE this draft has become. I think TD and AB will go home tonight and wish they could hit the restart button on the PS3 of life. I hate hearing that Mattie Ice has "the potential to be a solid QB." Ummm think about that statement made today by Mort I believe it was. The POTENTIAL (meaning he isn't there yet) to be a solid QB (meaning NOT a superstar.) So, if he is the next Matt Hasselbeck, OK, but why take him #3 overall. You really want a guy that COULD be a Matt Hasselbeck when a Glen Dorsey is sitting RIGHT THERE at Number 3? Glen Dorsey will be wearing a gold jacket in 20 years. I don't think we can say that Ryan will be donning one at this time. Why go with a risky thing that could turn out to be OK when you have a SURE thing RIGHT NOW. With Matty Ice under center the Falcons go 3-13. With Joe Harrington/Chris Redman they go 3-13. With Dorsey in there though, they go 5-11 and have a chance to REALLY start something.
Moving on to the trade of the two second rounders for another first...let me start by saying that I don't fault the Falcons at ALL for this. Especially when you get another third in this trade AND you have a chance to land another first rounder, DO IT. But trading up to grab Sam Baker? He would have TOTALLY been there with that pick in the second round. And you could have nabbed Baker there, BROHM with the #37 (because you would have taken Dorsey at Number 3) and then get Groves/Cal Campbell/Davis/Tyrell Johnson at 48...wow I think the Falcons blundered this one away. I really do.
Overall, I say the Dolphins did well getting JLong then Merling in the second. The Chiefs did an outstanding job in landing Dorsey and Albert and Flowers, and even the Cowboys (it pains me to say this) pulled in players that will help them in Felix Jones and Mike Jenkins. I can't understand why the Patriots traded down to #10 to take Jared Mayo, but they have three rings, and I just have one (a wedding ring). Finally with Brian Brohm in the fold in Green Bay, Aaron Rogers can't love life TOO much right now, with Favre talking about maybe coming back. Was this a message to Brett? Interesting call here.
Can't wait for day two. Don't worry I will blog all about it tomorrow, with some intelligent insight which is more than I can say for some of my peers, no names mentioned, but everyone SHOULD know of whom I am speaking. Yeah, a guy that can't hold my jock, nor would I want him to. But so glad he gets to talk about this thing while I can only write about it. He should watch out though. I am coming.
Extra Innings this Friday PS. I will be back blogging about the Braves tomorrow, and I begin the Braves beat for Score Atlanta after tomorrow's deadline. So not this Wednesday, but the following Wednesday, LOOK OUT!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
A little Vaca, post-wedding break!
Sorry to break your hearts (and all you ladies' hearts) but I am getting married Saturday and will be away from the computer for a while.
Yep, I am taking the big plunge and getting hitched, so that means no blogging for a while. But don't worry, I will be back and blogging better than ever on April 28. I may even through out a few wedding blogs on Sunday if I get a chance.
Also, be sure to tune in on Sunday to www.790thezone.com after the Braves game for Extra Innings. I thought I'd sneak one in before the honeymoon!
Talk to you soon!
Fletcher
Yep, I am taking the big plunge and getting hitched, so that means no blogging for a while. But don't worry, I will be back and blogging better than ever on April 28. I may even through out a few wedding blogs on Sunday if I get a chance.
Also, be sure to tune in on Sunday to www.790thezone.com after the Braves game for Extra Innings. I thought I'd sneak one in before the honeymoon!
Talk to you soon!
Fletcher
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Now we are REALLY in trouble
Our ace in the hole couldn't make it past the third inning. The Braves MAY be doomed. I am just playing. It is WAYYYYY to early to be saying the Braves are done for the year, but tonight certainly didn't help your season. You have just lost two straight and you need a BIG performance from Huddy the stopper.....
That being said, I don't think he should have been collared with the loss. Maybe I am biased.
The Braves lost a golden chance in the top of the 7th as Chipper had some runners on and down only one, but a grounder to third ended that rally. Then in the bottom of the 7th, the Marlins waited for a walk, then blasted a homer to go up three.
That would be huge as in the top of the eighth, Tex JUST missed a home run then Frenchy JUST missed a home run and stroked a double. The two would score, but a double play from Kotsay would end the rally with the Braves down 1 still.
In the top of the 9th the Braves couldn't get anything started and the big bats were left in the dugout as not rally was mounted.
The walks in this series have been troubling and now the Braves turn to the elder statesman of the pitching staff to try and end this skid. Smoltzie needs to put together a quality start and DARE the bullpen to blow it. Hopefully the pen can keep this thing on lock, and it MAY be a good idea to NOT LET BENNETT PITCH today.
If Smoltz is smart with his pitches, lets his defense help him out and if he can get some support, he might go 7+ then let Manny Acosta wrap this thing up. He seems to be the only HEALTHY arm down in the pen these days.
That being said, I don't think he should have been collared with the loss. Maybe I am biased.
The Braves lost a golden chance in the top of the 7th as Chipper had some runners on and down only one, but a grounder to third ended that rally. Then in the bottom of the 7th, the Marlins waited for a walk, then blasted a homer to go up three.
That would be huge as in the top of the eighth, Tex JUST missed a home run then Frenchy JUST missed a home run and stroked a double. The two would score, but a double play from Kotsay would end the rally with the Braves down 1 still.
In the top of the 9th the Braves couldn't get anything started and the big bats were left in the dugout as not rally was mounted.
The walks in this series have been troubling and now the Braves turn to the elder statesman of the pitching staff to try and end this skid. Smoltzie needs to put together a quality start and DARE the bullpen to blow it. Hopefully the pen can keep this thing on lock, and it MAY be a good idea to NOT LET BENNETT PITCH today.
If Smoltz is smart with his pitches, lets his defense help him out and if he can get some support, he might go 7+ then let Manny Acosta wrap this thing up. He seems to be the only HEALTHY arm down in the pen these days.
Marlins Walk Hard to win over Braves
Sorry for the Dewey Cox reference there, but last night the Braves wasted a better than decent effort from Jair Jurrjens as the bullpen walked two runs in during the 8th inning.
But one could argue the game was already over at that point since, in the top of the 8th, KJ and Yunel Escobar reached and the heart of the lineup due up but Chipper couldn't get the job done.
Oh-MAN, who I had previously defended on this blog then started the walk party after coming in for Ring I believe, and this was done with two outs! A double on a questionable fair/foul call put a runner on second, then Bobby ordered the intentional base on balls. A single up the middle loaded the bases and the Braves then got a pop fly out. And then a walk. then another walk, after the count was 0-2.
I am just NOT a fan of the intentional pass because it ended up biting them. Oh well.
In the 9th, the bats were AGAIN cold (opposite from recent games when they seemed to wake up when it was too late) and Frenchy was utterly confused up there, swinging at stuff he shouldn't have and not at stuff he should. Big Tex just WATCHED strike three plop in the heart of the plate, then Mac just hit a lazy fly to end the game.
Thank goodness Huddy is going tonight to bust this losing streak.
He seems to be our stopper this year, the ace, and good thing because this ship has sprung a leak and he and Smoltzie seem to be the only ones capable of plugging it.
We thought Glavine would be able to step in, AND HE MIGHT, but he must get over his leg injury. Jair is throwing well, but GIVE HIM SOME SUPPORT. First in Colorado, now here.
And Hampton, could you PLEASE give us SOMETHING this season? It is my hope that you CAN give the Braves something this season, then IF YOU CAN come back at a BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE (like the league minimum maybe) and be the 5th starter again next season. BUT IF YOU ARE REALLY DONE, then just retire and don't take some other team's money next season. That's all I ask
But one could argue the game was already over at that point since, in the top of the 8th, KJ and Yunel Escobar reached and the heart of the lineup due up but Chipper couldn't get the job done.
Oh-MAN, who I had previously defended on this blog then started the walk party after coming in for Ring I believe, and this was done with two outs! A double on a questionable fair/foul call put a runner on second, then Bobby ordered the intentional base on balls. A single up the middle loaded the bases and the Braves then got a pop fly out. And then a walk. then another walk, after the count was 0-2.
I am just NOT a fan of the intentional pass because it ended up biting them. Oh well.
In the 9th, the bats were AGAIN cold (opposite from recent games when they seemed to wake up when it was too late) and Frenchy was utterly confused up there, swinging at stuff he shouldn't have and not at stuff he should. Big Tex just WATCHED strike three plop in the heart of the plate, then Mac just hit a lazy fly to end the game.
Thank goodness Huddy is going tonight to bust this losing streak.
He seems to be our stopper this year, the ace, and good thing because this ship has sprung a leak and he and Smoltzie seem to be the only ones capable of plugging it.
We thought Glavine would be able to step in, AND HE MIGHT, but he must get over his leg injury. Jair is throwing well, but GIVE HIM SOME SUPPORT. First in Colorado, now here.
And Hampton, could you PLEASE give us SOMETHING this season? It is my hope that you CAN give the Braves something this season, then IF YOU CAN come back at a BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICE (like the league minimum maybe) and be the 5th starter again next season. BUT IF YOU ARE REALLY DONE, then just retire and don't take some other team's money next season. That's all I ask
Mid-week entertainment report 4/16
Carmelo WAS wearing clothes, David Cook wants YOU to always be his baby and a THIRD Roomie for LC?
It's the mid-week entertainment report CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP
This story is a few days old now, but Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets forward, former Syracuse MOP, and "rapper" was pulled for DUI recently. According to Colorado law, you aren't automatically arrested for DUI when pulled over. If someone is willing to come to where you are and pick you up, you are turned over to their custody without being arrested or charged. (WOW on that note.) But apparently his girlfriend LaLa was NOT willing to come and pick him up. Yeah, she wanted to sleep at 2 in the morning opposed to come and pick up her man, who is paying for the house FYI....... But the reason for this story was, originally I thought the story said he was naked at the time he was pulled. But that story has been shot down. So he WAS wearing clothes. That would have put this story over the top for me. Not just that his girlfriend WOULDN'T come and pick him up, but if he had been nekked! Alas, no.
I caught this week's Hills last night. Nothing much to report except that Heidi is an idiot about Spencer. He had a good point. SHE brought up "Relationship Vacation" which meant she wanted a break. She was going to clubs every night (if you believe the show) and Spencer was sitting at home. So SHE is allowed to go out on girls' nights and no doubt flirt with guys, but he isn't allowed to go and flirt with girls? Heidi, Hypocracy is holding on line one for you. But the real story is Audrina went out with Heidi and then lied about it to LC. Then in the previews for next week it looks like LC and the 40 year old Lo are thinking about moving into a house together and Audrina is shocked. I guess Heidi was right. DON'T CROSS LAUREN. She will just MOVE OUT on you. If LC is THAT torn up about Audrina dating Justin Bobby again and then talking to Heidi again, then WOW. LC is slowly crossing friends off her list. She is down to just the 40 year old Lo, and Whitney. (I also thought it was funny that LC was so excited to get a job offer from Whitney's place. She does realize she PROBABLY won't just be able to text and IM at that job like she does at Teen Vogue, right?)
Finally on Idol last night. I try not to weigh in too much on this since EVERYONE else on the web does, including seanowensullivan.blogspot.com, but I wanted to give my thoughts on last night. The guys were all great. The girls all sucked.
David Cook's version of Always be my baby was fantastic. I wouldn't have recognized it as Mariah Carey, had it not been her night. That was a great song.
Jason Castro sang yet another Fratastic song that will be making the Sorostitutes swoon next year on his nationwide campus tour.
David A just did ANOTHER Disney movie song. Just what he will do his entire career. He is the next Josh Groban, just glad the AJC guy FINALLY picked up on that. I've only been saying it since Hollywood week.
As for the ladies, I actually think Kristy Leigh Cook will be safe this week. She turned that Forever song, a song she couldn't have done straight up, but throw a country twang into it, and it worked out.
Carley and Syesha and Brook will be bottom-fishing this week.
Carley has been largely disappointing, but Brook does the same thing every week and it is getting boring.
And Syesha is just stubborn. The judges KEEP telling her to stop with the Whitney and Fantasia and Mariah because while she is a solid singer, taking on those songs will only have people compare you, and she can't stand up to those gals. She needs to STOP trying. She is only hurting herself.
I think Carley goes home
It's the mid-week entertainment report CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP
This story is a few days old now, but Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets forward, former Syracuse MOP, and "rapper" was pulled for DUI recently. According to Colorado law, you aren't automatically arrested for DUI when pulled over. If someone is willing to come to where you are and pick you up, you are turned over to their custody without being arrested or charged. (WOW on that note.) But apparently his girlfriend LaLa was NOT willing to come and pick him up. Yeah, she wanted to sleep at 2 in the morning opposed to come and pick up her man, who is paying for the house FYI....... But the reason for this story was, originally I thought the story said he was naked at the time he was pulled. But that story has been shot down. So he WAS wearing clothes. That would have put this story over the top for me. Not just that his girlfriend WOULDN'T come and pick him up, but if he had been nekked! Alas, no.
I caught this week's Hills last night. Nothing much to report except that Heidi is an idiot about Spencer. He had a good point. SHE brought up "Relationship Vacation" which meant she wanted a break. She was going to clubs every night (if you believe the show) and Spencer was sitting at home. So SHE is allowed to go out on girls' nights and no doubt flirt with guys, but he isn't allowed to go and flirt with girls? Heidi, Hypocracy is holding on line one for you. But the real story is Audrina went out with Heidi and then lied about it to LC. Then in the previews for next week it looks like LC and the 40 year old Lo are thinking about moving into a house together and Audrina is shocked. I guess Heidi was right. DON'T CROSS LAUREN. She will just MOVE OUT on you. If LC is THAT torn up about Audrina dating Justin Bobby again and then talking to Heidi again, then WOW. LC is slowly crossing friends off her list. She is down to just the 40 year old Lo, and Whitney. (I also thought it was funny that LC was so excited to get a job offer from Whitney's place. She does realize she PROBABLY won't just be able to text and IM at that job like she does at Teen Vogue, right?)
Finally on Idol last night. I try not to weigh in too much on this since EVERYONE else on the web does, including seanowensullivan.blogspot.com, but I wanted to give my thoughts on last night. The guys were all great. The girls all sucked.
David Cook's version of Always be my baby was fantastic. I wouldn't have recognized it as Mariah Carey, had it not been her night. That was a great song.
Jason Castro sang yet another Fratastic song that will be making the Sorostitutes swoon next year on his nationwide campus tour.
David A just did ANOTHER Disney movie song. Just what he will do his entire career. He is the next Josh Groban, just glad the AJC guy FINALLY picked up on that. I've only been saying it since Hollywood week.
As for the ladies, I actually think Kristy Leigh Cook will be safe this week. She turned that Forever song, a song she couldn't have done straight up, but throw a country twang into it, and it worked out.
Carley and Syesha and Brook will be bottom-fishing this week.
Carley has been largely disappointing, but Brook does the same thing every week and it is getting boring.
And Syesha is just stubborn. The judges KEEP telling her to stop with the Whitney and Fantasia and Mariah because while she is a solid singer, taking on those songs will only have people compare you, and she can't stand up to those gals. She needs to STOP trying. She is only hurting herself.
I think Carley goes home
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hey JK, QUIT MAKING SUCH A FRIGGIN' PRODUCTION!
JK Rowling is suing an American for his Harry Potter Lexicon and in the process she is saying that she is losing the "will to write."
First off JK, how many times are you going to bust out this line of "I am losing the will to write" "I want to stop writing because I don't want anything to happen to the characters" "I just can't finish it"
But you ALWAYS keep writing, why? THE MONEY. Don't pretend like you "couldn't possibly finish it" because then you wouldn't get paid. I remember you once saying that you "wanted to break your arm" so you wouldn't write the next part. Ummm then you would have just had to wait until it healed.
I have an idea, you don't want a character to die, DON'T KILL HIM OFF IN THE BOOK. YOU ARE THE AUTHOR. YOU HAVE CONTROL.
(Continuing on this note, we knew you were never going to kill off Harry. Then your cash cow would be dead. Even though you said this was your last book, you didn't kill him off, just in case your money somehow ran out I am guessing. If you really wanted that to be it, kill the dude off. But you didn't. SHOCKER!)
But back to this law suit. You are angry that a guy in America is making money off your Harry Potter character by "plagiarizing" your work. Hmmmm interesting. Move along from the fact that he is simply putting your works into an encyclopedia-like form. Nothing wrong with that. What you are REALLY pissed about is he is doing it now and you wanted to do it in 2-3 years (according to the AP article) but you are afraid people will buy his and not want to buy yours. Ummm you wrote the books and made all of the money already. Someone else in a different country wants to do this where your copyright laws don't have grounds and you are angry.
Interesting.....
You know what JK, go ahead and lose the will to write already. I am sick of your drama that YOU like to create. I guess you were out of the spotlight for too long, so you jumped back in by creating this story.
And the worst part of the article...reading that you had three kids, but it was a ficticious character that brought you sanity. From the salon.com piece.. "In sometimes emotional testimony, Rowling recalled starting work on the first book in 1991 when she was 25 and so destitute that she sometimes had to choose between buying typewriter ribbon and food. She said the Harry Potter characters helped her escape from the hard work of raising a child on welfare.
"It was a place into which I liked to vanish, and it was a discipline that was very important in keeping me sane," she said.
That is kind of messed up. How about you love your kids the way you loved Harry. Buy them food when they are hungry, maybe? Or did they eat the paper when you messed up an episode of the Golden Child Harry?
All I am saying JK is just admit that you are a spotlight whore and this is all it is. You want MO Money, even though you have more than anyone could EVER want. You want for everyday at 8:13am for people to think about you for 12 minutes. You know you do. I am just sick of your constant need for attention.
Write a book or don't. but make a decision QUIETLY and get on with your life so I can get along with mine without yahoo putting your lastest fart on its homepage!
First off JK, how many times are you going to bust out this line of "I am losing the will to write" "I want to stop writing because I don't want anything to happen to the characters" "I just can't finish it"
But you ALWAYS keep writing, why? THE MONEY. Don't pretend like you "couldn't possibly finish it" because then you wouldn't get paid. I remember you once saying that you "wanted to break your arm" so you wouldn't write the next part. Ummm then you would have just had to wait until it healed.
I have an idea, you don't want a character to die, DON'T KILL HIM OFF IN THE BOOK. YOU ARE THE AUTHOR. YOU HAVE CONTROL.
(Continuing on this note, we knew you were never going to kill off Harry. Then your cash cow would be dead. Even though you said this was your last book, you didn't kill him off, just in case your money somehow ran out I am guessing. If you really wanted that to be it, kill the dude off. But you didn't. SHOCKER!)
But back to this law suit. You are angry that a guy in America is making money off your Harry Potter character by "plagiarizing" your work. Hmmmm interesting. Move along from the fact that he is simply putting your works into an encyclopedia-like form. Nothing wrong with that. What you are REALLY pissed about is he is doing it now and you wanted to do it in 2-3 years (according to the AP article) but you are afraid people will buy his and not want to buy yours. Ummm you wrote the books and made all of the money already. Someone else in a different country wants to do this where your copyright laws don't have grounds and you are angry.
Interesting.....
You know what JK, go ahead and lose the will to write already. I am sick of your drama that YOU like to create. I guess you were out of the spotlight for too long, so you jumped back in by creating this story.
And the worst part of the article...reading that you had three kids, but it was a ficticious character that brought you sanity. From the salon.com piece.. "In sometimes emotional testimony, Rowling recalled starting work on the first book in 1991 when she was 25 and so destitute that she sometimes had to choose between buying typewriter ribbon and food. She said the Harry Potter characters helped her escape from the hard work of raising a child on welfare.
"It was a place into which I liked to vanish, and it was a discipline that was very important in keeping me sane," she said.
That is kind of messed up. How about you love your kids the way you loved Harry. Buy them food when they are hungry, maybe? Or did they eat the paper when you messed up an episode of the Golden Child Harry?
All I am saying JK is just admit that you are a spotlight whore and this is all it is. You want MO Money, even though you have more than anyone could EVER want. You want for everyday at 8:13am for people to think about you for 12 minutes. You know you do. I am just sick of your constant need for attention.
Write a book or don't. but make a decision QUIETLY and get on with your life so I can get along with mine without yahoo putting your lastest fart on its homepage!
Reality Show pitch
The wedding is mere days away and my future in-laws have made it into Atlanta and will stay with us until we depart for Athens on Thursday. They were telling us last night about how the renters in one of their Tucson properties has moved out and they are trying to decide what to do with the property. Well with myself marrying the younger daughter and the older daughter getting married in 3 weeks, I think there is only ONE THING TO DO HERE!!!!!
(In deep announcer voice)
These two are newly weds (Picture of bride-to-be and me)
These two are newly weds (Picture of bride-to-be's sister and her beau)
These two are sisters (Picture of bride-to-be and her sister)
And these are their landlords.....and their parents! (picture of my in-laws)
Find out what happens when the newly weds move in together and have to deal with "Dad"
Thursdays on W.E.
Think Everybody Loves Raymond meets Survivor meets the Real World, with a little Hills thrown in there.
We would have to move to Tucson and find new jobs, plus we would be "competing" to be better than the other couple (covertly, of course) and then for the first year of marriage, we'd have to deal with the in-laws RIGHT THERE THE WHOLE TIME! Dogs would be involved, new stresses of marriage, both ours and theirs.
This show could NOT FAIL! You know you'd watch.
(In deep announcer voice)
These two are newly weds (Picture of bride-to-be and me)
These two are newly weds (Picture of bride-to-be's sister and her beau)
These two are sisters (Picture of bride-to-be and her sister)
And these are their landlords.....and their parents! (picture of my in-laws)
Find out what happens when the newly weds move in together and have to deal with "Dad"
Thursdays on W.E.
Think Everybody Loves Raymond meets Survivor meets the Real World, with a little Hills thrown in there.
We would have to move to Tucson and find new jobs, plus we would be "competing" to be better than the other couple (covertly, of course) and then for the first year of marriage, we'd have to deal with the in-laws RIGHT THERE THE WHOLE TIME! Dogs would be involved, new stresses of marriage, both ours and theirs.
This show could NOT FAIL! You know you'd watch.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Our Masters' reporter, Paul Mac!
He was there and we had him give us his thoughts on the weekend.
A tradition unlike any other...Paul Mac blogging...
I was there, the course was very fair for a championship major golf course. Everyone roughly had the same opportunities and the field was very close together. The problem was they started too late in the day obviously for TV. The early players from Friday to Sunday had it easier because the greens were damp and slower and there was far less wind. You can't do anything about the wind.
There is no rough. It's certainly not 3 inch US open rough, you can almost get backspin from the second cut. As far as accuracy is concerned by the time you're a
pro... take off the diapers and hit it strait, it's far form being unfair the long hitters hit it long and strait and just goofed their second shots or pulled putts. Tiger over read almost every putt in the weekend he took to long and he pressed he made all kinds of amazing shots from the fairway and off and just nutted up when he took the putter out. Most of those he'll tell you were unforgivable. Brand Snedeker chipped and putted at times unbelievably from all kinds of distance.
Blame the players... not the course for the poor play. Last year it was frigid and not conducive to scoring which is not the fault of the course design, this year it was windy at times but that doesn't forgive having to chip to the 10th fairway or the 9th fairway on 18 because you couldn't hit it strait or you miss hit it. The course was not unfair. It's a major and it's difficult and it should be. The emphasis at that course has always been shot making, you aren't so much
penalized for hitting in the second cut or even the pine straw which is far nicer than most of the countries fairways. Immelman double bogeyed 16 because he put it in the water mainly because he had a brain fart and hit it left with the wind coming down the hill that way.
The major difficulties at Augusta National to the pro player besides elevation change; natural undulations and weather are the greens. People whine about pin placement but largely these guys have seen this course forever... They know where to play if they want to stay up and what's out of bounds, it's classic risk reward and it adds to the drama when players are playing well (tigers chip on 16)
By far all week the best shot maker and the player who put himself in consistent positions for success won the tournament. That's the way it's supposed to be in a major, they can blame the wind if they want, surely it was a factor... but you have to earn it in a Major
Tiger had his opportunities as did Snedeker and others... they just didn't make the putts they needed when they had the opportunities. There were plenty of roars all over the course this weekend they just didn't follow it up consistently... well except for Immelman who was brilliant. The shots he made on the 13 green were unreal. He also got a little luck from the weather, without the rain dampening the course and the wind dying that shot on 15 would easily have been in the water.
I said 66 or 67 for tiger on Saturday and he shot 68. Had he shot 69
on Sunday... (3 measley 4ft putts) we go to sudden death. By all rights,
his iron play put him in position both days to shoot 67 or 68 easily and his putter let him down.
Yeah he missed everything, he couldn't find the hole from 4 ft with a shotgun. It was really disapointing. I don't mind Immelman winning it, just give me a show dang it. We were of course on 15 when he nearly spun it off. The weather was damn near perfect Friday and much of Saturday after the rain, Sunday was really nice too just windy. The course was really fair and really beautiful, a lot of guys simply hit
poor shots or misread putts. Disapointing definitely but the best man won. Tiger, needs to go back to the drawing board putting, he was killing drives Sunday though 359 I think was the longest he could have been that far too as well.
I thought snedeker was going to do it when he sunk the really long Eagle on 2. Nice to hear the huge roars across the course again. That was fun. As always... I hated to leave.
A tradition unlike any other...Paul Mac blogging...
I was there, the course was very fair for a championship major golf course. Everyone roughly had the same opportunities and the field was very close together. The problem was they started too late in the day obviously for TV. The early players from Friday to Sunday had it easier because the greens were damp and slower and there was far less wind. You can't do anything about the wind.
There is no rough. It's certainly not 3 inch US open rough, you can almost get backspin from the second cut. As far as accuracy is concerned by the time you're a
pro... take off the diapers and hit it strait, it's far form being unfair the long hitters hit it long and strait and just goofed their second shots or pulled putts. Tiger over read almost every putt in the weekend he took to long and he pressed he made all kinds of amazing shots from the fairway and off and just nutted up when he took the putter out. Most of those he'll tell you were unforgivable. Brand Snedeker chipped and putted at times unbelievably from all kinds of distance.
Blame the players... not the course for the poor play. Last year it was frigid and not conducive to scoring which is not the fault of the course design, this year it was windy at times but that doesn't forgive having to chip to the 10th fairway or the 9th fairway on 18 because you couldn't hit it strait or you miss hit it. The course was not unfair. It's a major and it's difficult and it should be. The emphasis at that course has always been shot making, you aren't so much
penalized for hitting in the second cut or even the pine straw which is far nicer than most of the countries fairways. Immelman double bogeyed 16 because he put it in the water mainly because he had a brain fart and hit it left with the wind coming down the hill that way.
The major difficulties at Augusta National to the pro player besides elevation change; natural undulations and weather are the greens. People whine about pin placement but largely these guys have seen this course forever... They know where to play if they want to stay up and what's out of bounds, it's classic risk reward and it adds to the drama when players are playing well (tigers chip on 16)
By far all week the best shot maker and the player who put himself in consistent positions for success won the tournament. That's the way it's supposed to be in a major, they can blame the wind if they want, surely it was a factor... but you have to earn it in a Major
Tiger had his opportunities as did Snedeker and others... they just didn't make the putts they needed when they had the opportunities. There were plenty of roars all over the course this weekend they just didn't follow it up consistently... well except for Immelman who was brilliant. The shots he made on the 13 green were unreal. He also got a little luck from the weather, without the rain dampening the course and the wind dying that shot on 15 would easily have been in the water.
I said 66 or 67 for tiger on Saturday and he shot 68. Had he shot 69
on Sunday... (3 measley 4ft putts) we go to sudden death. By all rights,
his iron play put him in position both days to shoot 67 or 68 easily and his putter let him down.
Yeah he missed everything, he couldn't find the hole from 4 ft with a shotgun. It was really disapointing. I don't mind Immelman winning it, just give me a show dang it. We were of course on 15 when he nearly spun it off. The weather was damn near perfect Friday and much of Saturday after the rain, Sunday was really nice too just windy. The course was really fair and really beautiful, a lot of guys simply hit
poor shots or misread putts. Disapointing definitely but the best man won. Tiger, needs to go back to the drawing board putting, he was killing drives Sunday though 359 I think was the longest he could have been that far too as well.
I thought snedeker was going to do it when he sunk the really long Eagle on 2. Nice to hear the huge roars across the course again. That was fun. As always... I hated to leave.
Hey Kiper....SETTLE DOWN!
The draft isn’t until next week, but I thought I would weigh in now just in case Thomas Dimitroff is listening to suggestions now and will cut off all media next week. Draft Glen Dorsey DT of LSU and don’t think twice about it. You are probably hearing everyone from Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr, to some media “experts” from here in Atlanta yelling that YOU NEED A QUARTERBACK. Well they are right, as Chris Redman, DJ Shockley and Joey Harrington don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of your division rivals, but that doesn’t mean you have to take one. Don’t JUST take the “top” QB because you need one at the moment. Don’t you think the Texans would love a redo back in 2001 when they selected David Carr over Julius Peppers? They could have taken Carson Palmer the next year. He was a worthy first pick QB, not Carr. And you could tell that as they were coming out of college.
If you step back from the draft order this year and simply rank the top players in an order of “who is the best regardless of position,” is Matt Ryan in the top 10? Shoot, is he in the top 15? No. So don’t take Ryan at No.3 just because. And don’t trade some of the picks you have acquired to move into the late first round to grab Flacco or Henne only because “you need one.” It isn’t worth it. Take one when the time is right and he would fit your system. If that means waiting until next year, so be it. Don’t hurt the rest of the team to take that QB. You have a chance to build this team the right way: from the inside out. Don’t sacrifice that because society and the “experts” say take a QB! That’s why those guys are breaking down the draft and not taking part IN the draft.
Therefore start with the lines, both offensive and defensive then work out from there. I would take Chris Long, but he most likely will be gone. CHRIS LONG? you say. But you just took Jamal Anderson in the last draft! No. Rich McKay took him in the last draft and that is why McKay doesn’t call the shots anymore, because he screwed up enough of these things to be replaced. Chris Long is a guy you can draft to makeup for that pick, plus, depth never hurt anybody, especially when John Abraham is on the other side. The guy made plays last year, registering 14 sacks, forcing two fumbles, intercepting a ball and racking up 79 tackles. But assuming CLong is gone, take Dorsey and his 12.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups. He led his team to the BCS Championship, despite facing double and triple teams all year and having Auburn trying to take out his knees. If those two are gone, then go for Jake Long. While considering him, remember Robert Gallery. I don’t think Long is “can’t miss” but I’d take him over Matt Ryan.
Bottom line, I’d take a guy to solidify my core and watch my team get better. Matt Ryan might come in and move some jerseys. (He will need a bunch, since he’ll have grass stains all over his every week from getting sacked.) Glen Dorsey though will sell out the Dome by winning as he is the first step to rebuilding this defense. (And the team can take its franchise QB next season in when the QB class looks a lot deeper)
The old regime would have taken Matt Ryan with the No.3. I don’t believe this new regime will do that. Those that forget history are doomed to repeat it. Dimitroff is smarter than putting all of his eggs in the basket of a guy that isn’t a sure thing, since the last all-eggs-in guy is now playing out The Longest Yard. Dorsey IS a sure thing. Go with that!
If you step back from the draft order this year and simply rank the top players in an order of “who is the best regardless of position,” is Matt Ryan in the top 10? Shoot, is he in the top 15? No. So don’t take Ryan at No.3 just because. And don’t trade some of the picks you have acquired to move into the late first round to grab Flacco or Henne only because “you need one.” It isn’t worth it. Take one when the time is right and he would fit your system. If that means waiting until next year, so be it. Don’t hurt the rest of the team to take that QB. You have a chance to build this team the right way: from the inside out. Don’t sacrifice that because society and the “experts” say take a QB! That’s why those guys are breaking down the draft and not taking part IN the draft.
Therefore start with the lines, both offensive and defensive then work out from there. I would take Chris Long, but he most likely will be gone. CHRIS LONG? you say. But you just took Jamal Anderson in the last draft! No. Rich McKay took him in the last draft and that is why McKay doesn’t call the shots anymore, because he screwed up enough of these things to be replaced. Chris Long is a guy you can draft to makeup for that pick, plus, depth never hurt anybody, especially when John Abraham is on the other side. The guy made plays last year, registering 14 sacks, forcing two fumbles, intercepting a ball and racking up 79 tackles. But assuming CLong is gone, take Dorsey and his 12.5 tackles for loss, and four pass breakups. He led his team to the BCS Championship, despite facing double and triple teams all year and having Auburn trying to take out his knees. If those two are gone, then go for Jake Long. While considering him, remember Robert Gallery. I don’t think Long is “can’t miss” but I’d take him over Matt Ryan.
Bottom line, I’d take a guy to solidify my core and watch my team get better. Matt Ryan might come in and move some jerseys. (He will need a bunch, since he’ll have grass stains all over his every week from getting sacked.) Glen Dorsey though will sell out the Dome by winning as he is the first step to rebuilding this defense. (And the team can take its franchise QB next season in when the QB class looks a lot deeper)
The old regime would have taken Matt Ryan with the No.3. I don’t believe this new regime will do that. Those that forget history are doomed to repeat it. Dimitroff is smarter than putting all of his eggs in the basket of a guy that isn’t a sure thing, since the last all-eggs-in guy is now playing out The Longest Yard. Dorsey IS a sure thing. Go with that!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
adding insult to injury....
The Braves lost today 5-4 after taking the first two games of the series with the Nationals, but the bigger issue may be Tommy Glavine's leg injury. He was forced to leave the game in the first with an apparent leg injury and you just have to wonder how long he might be out. Glavine was brought in to Atlanta to be the team's third starter and hopefully to turn Chuck James into Glavine Jr. But Chuckie is down in Richmond right now and Glavine may be on the shelf for a week or two, depending on this injury.
Bennett came in and held the fort as best he could for the second time in two weeks (the Hampton start as well) but the team couldn't contain the opposition and overcome the loss of a big-name pitcher.
You just have to hope that Glavine can come back soon, otherwise it will be Smoltz and Hudson and pray for rain, like it was last year. Having those two can get you wins in the postseason, but first you must MAKE it to the post-season.
That said, the Braves were down 5-3 in the 8th and Frenchy ran hard with two outs and scored on the error by Wily Mo Pena (I REALLY like that name. Wily Mo Proctor for my first born, regardless of gender!) Then in the ninth after Bryan Pena K'ed and KJ popped out, Yunel worked a walk (really maturing. I like it) and Chipper doubled, but Yunel wasn't running on the play and couldn't tie the game up. A walk to Big Tex (thank goodness his rep is preceding him because he STILL isn't hot yet) chased the Nats' closer and in comes a guy BMac is 0-8 lifetime against. Make it 0-9 as he swings first pitch to hit a lazy fly to end the game. Oh well. I like that the Braves are not giving up this year, but they need to not get in so many holes and they need to COME THROUGH more often. BMac. Make the pitcher at least throw twice before you swing. Make him find a rhythm. But YOU are the professional and I'm just the hack beat writer.
Overall, let's just get Tommy healthy and be glad we took the series. Now finish strong on this roadtrip and get hope in a hurry!
Bennett came in and held the fort as best he could for the second time in two weeks (the Hampton start as well) but the team couldn't contain the opposition and overcome the loss of a big-name pitcher.
You just have to hope that Glavine can come back soon, otherwise it will be Smoltz and Hudson and pray for rain, like it was last year. Having those two can get you wins in the postseason, but first you must MAKE it to the post-season.
That said, the Braves were down 5-3 in the 8th and Frenchy ran hard with two outs and scored on the error by Wily Mo Pena (I REALLY like that name. Wily Mo Proctor for my first born, regardless of gender!) Then in the ninth after Bryan Pena K'ed and KJ popped out, Yunel worked a walk (really maturing. I like it) and Chipper doubled, but Yunel wasn't running on the play and couldn't tie the game up. A walk to Big Tex (thank goodness his rep is preceding him because he STILL isn't hot yet) chased the Nats' closer and in comes a guy BMac is 0-8 lifetime against. Make it 0-9 as he swings first pitch to hit a lazy fly to end the game. Oh well. I like that the Braves are not giving up this year, but they need to not get in so many holes and they need to COME THROUGH more often. BMac. Make the pitcher at least throw twice before you swing. Make him find a rhythm. But YOU are the professional and I'm just the hack beat writer.
Overall, let's just get Tommy healthy and be glad we took the series. Now finish strong on this roadtrip and get hope in a hurry!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
That's what I am talking ABOUT!
To quote Frank Costanza....
The Braves bats FINALLY woke up, much like I asked them to do this morning. Frenchy hit two shots and totaled 7RBI (nice work, but did you look at the GM and yell PAY ME?) Chipper played (thank goodness) and scored a run in the first. Good Work there Chip. And Big Tex even got into the early action, singling in a run.
I can't say enough about Matty Diaz and his hustle. Pete Rose was Charlie Hustle, Diaz should be called Matty Hustle. Even on routine grounders, he runs hard because you never know. He is that one kid in little league that wasn't as talented as others, but he made the all-star team as a coach's pick because he hustled his butt off. Great example Matty.
McCann continues to impress from the plate as he hit a homer and went 3-4 if I recall correctly (sorry between Augusta and the technical difficulties Sports South had it was hard to keep up)
But what a job by Smoltzie. 6 innings after laboring for 50 pitches after just three innings. The guy's arm is close to falling off, but he just goes out there and toughs out a win. (Attention Mike Hampton. Read the last sentence) Smoltz also got an RBI thanks to Diaz's hustle.
And finally, I know Oh-MAN finally gave up his first run of the year, but he looks like he could really be something out of the pen. And Acosta got the final few outs. The pen has pieces. Once Gonzo gets back and Soriano can drop to the 8th inning, this thing has a chance.
Good work on the bats today Bravos. Now let's win one for Glavine tomorrow to make up for last Monday. 5-6, let's get it to .500! Take down the Marlins!
The Braves bats FINALLY woke up, much like I asked them to do this morning. Frenchy hit two shots and totaled 7RBI (nice work, but did you look at the GM and yell PAY ME?) Chipper played (thank goodness) and scored a run in the first. Good Work there Chip. And Big Tex even got into the early action, singling in a run.
I can't say enough about Matty Diaz and his hustle. Pete Rose was Charlie Hustle, Diaz should be called Matty Hustle. Even on routine grounders, he runs hard because you never know. He is that one kid in little league that wasn't as talented as others, but he made the all-star team as a coach's pick because he hustled his butt off. Great example Matty.
McCann continues to impress from the plate as he hit a homer and went 3-4 if I recall correctly (sorry between Augusta and the technical difficulties Sports South had it was hard to keep up)
But what a job by Smoltzie. 6 innings after laboring for 50 pitches after just three innings. The guy's arm is close to falling off, but he just goes out there and toughs out a win. (Attention Mike Hampton. Read the last sentence) Smoltz also got an RBI thanks to Diaz's hustle.
And finally, I know Oh-MAN finally gave up his first run of the year, but he looks like he could really be something out of the pen. And Acosta got the final few outs. The pen has pieces. Once Gonzo gets back and Soriano can drop to the 8th inning, this thing has a chance.
Good work on the bats today Bravos. Now let's win one for Glavine tomorrow to make up for last Monday. 5-6, let's get it to .500! Take down the Marlins!
2 down, 17 more to go
Tim Hudson was masterful last night as the Braves defeated the Nationals 3-0. He gave up only three hits in 8 innings and only two runners even reached second if I recall correctly. Huddy has been great this season and his record stands at 2-0 with a 2.17 ERA, and even that shouldn't be as high, if not for opening night when Frenchy's throw to Yunel was missed because Yunel backed away.
Yunel made up for it tonight though with a solo homer in the 6th. Until then it was 0-0. Matty Diaz added some Geico Insurance runs in the top of the 9th and Moylan got the save in the bottom of the 9th, striking out Zimmerman to end the game. (The last time Moylan faced Zimmerman in Nationals' Park the game ended, as Zimmerman crushed the game winning HR.)
But Smoltzie is slated to get the start today with Glavine going tomorrow. The Braves' bats REALLY need to wake up. It would have been a shame if Huddy would have lost this one or gotten a no decision because the Bravos couldn't score many runs of Matt Choo Choo or whatever his name was. This no name shouldn't be able to match pitches with Huddy. Oh well.
And PS, Chipper aggravated his leg running out a ball. Nice. Who had April 11 in the pool? That didn't take long. The worst thing about this potential injury, he was ACTUALLY hitting the ball, unlike the rest of the offense. Maybe Big Tex can step it up now...Maybe. Same with Frenchy? Maybe?
Yunel made up for it tonight though with a solo homer in the 6th. Until then it was 0-0. Matty Diaz added some Geico Insurance runs in the top of the 9th and Moylan got the save in the bottom of the 9th, striking out Zimmerman to end the game. (The last time Moylan faced Zimmerman in Nationals' Park the game ended, as Zimmerman crushed the game winning HR.)
But Smoltzie is slated to get the start today with Glavine going tomorrow. The Braves' bats REALLY need to wake up. It would have been a shame if Huddy would have lost this one or gotten a no decision because the Bravos couldn't score many runs of Matt Choo Choo or whatever his name was. This no name shouldn't be able to match pitches with Huddy. Oh well.
And PS, Chipper aggravated his leg running out a ball. Nice. Who had April 11 in the pool? That didn't take long. The worst thing about this potential injury, he was ACTUALLY hitting the ball, unlike the rest of the offense. Maybe Big Tex can step it up now...Maybe. Same with Frenchy? Maybe?
Friday, April 11, 2008
I'm your Huckleberry
Next time I see Jim Nantz I am going to punch him in the face and say, "I am NOT your friend!" Then I will kick him in the shin and yell, "And that's for NEVER TALKING TO ME!" Next I will spit on him and say, "Fletcher Proctor. Nice to meet you." Finally I will help him up and say, "There, now we can be friends again," in my best Doc Holliday accent.
(If you don't get what I am talking about, watch the Masters today at 4 p.m. when Jim Nantz opens the coverage by saying, "Hello Friends."
(If you don't get what I am talking about, watch the Masters today at 4 p.m. when Jim Nantz opens the coverage by saying, "Hello Friends."
Why is the winner suing?
I saw this on yahoo. Ummmm I am confused. The winner (who won the right to be the runner-up? why didn't they just give that to the person who was second place in the original contest?) was wrongly crowned, yet SHE is the one suing not the one that should have won? Read this....
Christina Silva, the beauty queen who was first crowned Miss California USA 2008 before being informed there had been a miscount, has sued the Miss Universe Organization over the ordeal, which her legal camp refers to as a "sorry tale of greed, deceit, incompetence and disloyalty and their inevitable consequences."
The former Miss Los Angeles was named the winner of the run-up to the Miss USA pageant on Nov. 25; three days later Miss California officials informed her of the "human error" that led to the screw-up and asked her to please call the real winner, Miss Barstow Raquel Beezley, to pass on the news.
Silva was told she could keep the actual crown and the $4,500 Miss California USA necklace she had been given—as well as recoup her $1,500 entry fee and compete again for free—but that apparently didn't cut it for the scorned Silva, who turned out to scorned second runner-up.
Alleging fraudulent concealment and misrepresentation, negligence, false advertising, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and several other torts, she is seeking at least $500,000 in damages to compensate for the "public humiliation, mental anguish and distress, lost opportunities, lost prizes and lost monies paid to and expended on her behalf."
In her account of the experience, Silva also alleges that another defendant, pageant executive director Keith Lewis, "demonstrated preferential treatment toward some of the more 'anglo-looking' contestants."
Silva is of Ecuadorian and Mexican descent, while Beezley is reportedly part Filipino.
The "winner" is still allowed to keep everything. What is the problem? That you AREN'T number 2 anymore? Is that like if Memphis, after losing to Kansas in the Championship game, played UNC and lost, then UNC would be allowed to be number two? I don't get this.
I also don't get how a chick that is part Ecuadorian, part Mexican can say that the pageant is favoring a Filipino because she looks more "anglo-looking." Really? That is like saying Florida fan suing me because I am more closely resembling a Russian Cosmonaut.
Christina Silva, the beauty queen who was first crowned Miss California USA 2008 before being informed there had been a miscount, has sued the Miss Universe Organization over the ordeal, which her legal camp refers to as a "sorry tale of greed, deceit, incompetence and disloyalty and their inevitable consequences."
The former Miss Los Angeles was named the winner of the run-up to the Miss USA pageant on Nov. 25; three days later Miss California officials informed her of the "human error" that led to the screw-up and asked her to please call the real winner, Miss Barstow Raquel Beezley, to pass on the news.
Silva was told she could keep the actual crown and the $4,500 Miss California USA necklace she had been given—as well as recoup her $1,500 entry fee and compete again for free—but that apparently didn't cut it for the scorned Silva, who turned out to scorned second runner-up.
Alleging fraudulent concealment and misrepresentation, negligence, false advertising, intentional infliction of emotional distress, breach of contract and several other torts, she is seeking at least $500,000 in damages to compensate for the "public humiliation, mental anguish and distress, lost opportunities, lost prizes and lost monies paid to and expended on her behalf."
In her account of the experience, Silva also alleges that another defendant, pageant executive director Keith Lewis, "demonstrated preferential treatment toward some of the more 'anglo-looking' contestants."
Silva is of Ecuadorian and Mexican descent, while Beezley is reportedly part Filipino.
The "winner" is still allowed to keep everything. What is the problem? That you AREN'T number 2 anymore? Is that like if Memphis, after losing to Kansas in the Championship game, played UNC and lost, then UNC would be allowed to be number two? I don't get this.
I also don't get how a chick that is part Ecuadorian, part Mexican can say that the pageant is favoring a Filipino because she looks more "anglo-looking." Really? That is like saying Florida fan suing me because I am more closely resembling a Russian Cosmonaut.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
A New Office and Olympic protests?
Let me just get this off my chest before I go off on the people protesting the Olympic Torch in San Fran. The Office is new tonight and the episode had better not suck. I know that a bunch of the actors also write the show and they were very vocal during the strike (how did that work out by the way? Was it worth it? No? Didn't think so). And several of the show's main characters refused to work to support the writers (Dwight, and Steve Carrell in particular) All I have to say is, this episode had better be good. Don't throw a stinker out there because you spent all of your time picketing. Some of the writers were still working on scripts during the strike. I hope you guys were too. All I am saying.
Speaking of picketing and protesting....I saw where the Olympic Flame was brought to San Francisco, but because the Olympic Committee was afraid of protesting, the route was changed and it went down back roads and most of the people that took off work to watch the parade didn't get to see it. In fact the "closing" ceremony was held at the airport and no one really knew about it? If you are going to do that, then don't even have a "parade." If you are going to let protests ruin the route, then just cancel it. Do you not have police to protect the flame? And PS, isn't this kind of like flag-burning? It is just a flag, even though it is a symbol? Just because someone tries to throw water on the flame, does that mean the Olympic spirit is put out? No. Also, if you want to protest China for the entire Tibet thing, how is throwing water on an Olympic torch in San Francisco doing anything?
But I guess you were glad you hippies could hate on something besides Bush/Iraq for a few hours.
I think the planned protests (since the Olympic Committee basically let them win by moreorless cancelling the route/parade) ruined a great thing, the torch going through the World on the way to an event held once every four years. Way to ruin it for a 6 year old in San Francisco who will probably never have it return to her town. True in four years it will come back to America, but it will go to a different city/state. Good job you jerks. Way to ruin something for a child or dying person whose last wish was to see the flame, because YOU wanted to Free Tibet. Yeah, I bet the Chinese Gov't is thinking, "Hey maybe we should rethink our position on Tibet because people are protesting the flame in San Francisco and Paris. Hmmm."
Good job you jerks. The free concert hasn't worked yet, but this protest would? Doubt it. Get a grip. Or better yet. A job!
Speaking of picketing and protesting....I saw where the Olympic Flame was brought to San Francisco, but because the Olympic Committee was afraid of protesting, the route was changed and it went down back roads and most of the people that took off work to watch the parade didn't get to see it. In fact the "closing" ceremony was held at the airport and no one really knew about it? If you are going to do that, then don't even have a "parade." If you are going to let protests ruin the route, then just cancel it. Do you not have police to protect the flame? And PS, isn't this kind of like flag-burning? It is just a flag, even though it is a symbol? Just because someone tries to throw water on the flame, does that mean the Olympic spirit is put out? No. Also, if you want to protest China for the entire Tibet thing, how is throwing water on an Olympic torch in San Francisco doing anything?
But I guess you were glad you hippies could hate on something besides Bush/Iraq for a few hours.
I think the planned protests (since the Olympic Committee basically let them win by moreorless cancelling the route/parade) ruined a great thing, the torch going through the World on the way to an event held once every four years. Way to ruin it for a 6 year old in San Francisco who will probably never have it return to her town. True in four years it will come back to America, but it will go to a different city/state. Good job you jerks. Way to ruin something for a child or dying person whose last wish was to see the flame, because YOU wanted to Free Tibet. Yeah, I bet the Chinese Gov't is thinking, "Hey maybe we should rethink our position on Tibet because people are protesting the flame in San Francisco and Paris. Hmmm."
Good job you jerks. The free concert hasn't worked yet, but this protest would? Doubt it. Get a grip. Or better yet. A job!
at least it was more than one run
The Braves lost yet AGAIN last night, though this was the first loss of the year by more than one run. (Not sure if that is a good thing or not)
This was the first game all season where the starting pitcher didn't give the team a chance to win. Usually the starting pitcher has given a quality start (6 innings, 3 or less runs) but Chuckie James went only three and allowed 6 runs.
True he was making his first start of the season and it was at Coors field, but he just couldn't keep his pitches down. (In his defense, he was coming off a rotator cuff injury that the Braves didn't want to talk about. I have my sources on this)
Even in the first two innings, he was playing with fire before he was creamed in the third. He had runners on first and third in the first. He walked the leadoff in the second inning. Then he gave up that BOMB in the third. Not pretty.
The Braves ran into some bad luck too in this game. After Brian McCann doubled in Francoeur early in the game, he would have scored on a hit up the middle from Mark Kotsay, but the ball struck Redman's leg and stayed in the infield. Next batter popped a bunt up and McCann was doubled off third for no more runs. The Braves only got one that inning with a chance to put it away maybe and were sunk after the third. While McCann hit a two run dong in the 8th, it was too little too late as the Rockies responded with a home run off Resop.
Resop has such good stuff, he had the batter 0-2 and screwed around, trying to be cut instead of just MOWING HIM DOWN like he did for strike 1 and 2, eventually getting to 3-2 and was forced to throw the fastball down the middle and the Rockie tattooed it to dead center. Oh well.
Also it should be noted that Yunel Escobar is afraid of people bearing down on plays at second. It happened on a throw in the Opening night game when Nick Johnson was sliding in, but Frenchy's throw beat him, and Escobar bailed. Then last night, McCann had a runner caught stealing DOA, but Escobar bailed on the throw and gator armed the throw. That runner eventually scored. Escobar has GOT to stay in there or be quicker about turning his body or something. Marcus Giles would stay in there. Yunel, you need to as well
Hopefully Tim Hudson can give the Bravos a quality start this afternoon in the snow and the Braves can take one of four from Colorado.
This was the first game all season where the starting pitcher didn't give the team a chance to win. Usually the starting pitcher has given a quality start (6 innings, 3 or less runs) but Chuckie James went only three and allowed 6 runs.
True he was making his first start of the season and it was at Coors field, but he just couldn't keep his pitches down. (In his defense, he was coming off a rotator cuff injury that the Braves didn't want to talk about. I have my sources on this)
Even in the first two innings, he was playing with fire before he was creamed in the third. He had runners on first and third in the first. He walked the leadoff in the second inning. Then he gave up that BOMB in the third. Not pretty.
The Braves ran into some bad luck too in this game. After Brian McCann doubled in Francoeur early in the game, he would have scored on a hit up the middle from Mark Kotsay, but the ball struck Redman's leg and stayed in the infield. Next batter popped a bunt up and McCann was doubled off third for no more runs. The Braves only got one that inning with a chance to put it away maybe and were sunk after the third. While McCann hit a two run dong in the 8th, it was too little too late as the Rockies responded with a home run off Resop.
Resop has such good stuff, he had the batter 0-2 and screwed around, trying to be cut instead of just MOWING HIM DOWN like he did for strike 1 and 2, eventually getting to 3-2 and was forced to throw the fastball down the middle and the Rockie tattooed it to dead center. Oh well.
Also it should be noted that Yunel Escobar is afraid of people bearing down on plays at second. It happened on a throw in the Opening night game when Nick Johnson was sliding in, but Frenchy's throw beat him, and Escobar bailed. Then last night, McCann had a runner caught stealing DOA, but Escobar bailed on the throw and gator armed the throw. That runner eventually scored. Escobar has GOT to stay in there or be quicker about turning his body or something. Marcus Giles would stay in there. Yunel, you need to as well
Hopefully Tim Hudson can give the Bravos a quality start this afternoon in the snow and the Braves can take one of four from Colorado.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Very Early Top 25 for CBB 2008-09
I know that Kansas JUST cut down the nets, but I wanted to look ahead to the 2008-09 year. I put together a little top 10 list and decided to give my thoughts on who should be cutting down the nets next season.
Warning, I am taking into account those players that SHOULD go pro vs those who I don't think should, and I will also mention those that shouldn't but will BECAUSE THEY ARE STUPID.
With no further ado...
1) UNC. Psycho T should be coming back and so should Ty Lawson, same with Ellington. Roy Williams should be able to talk these guys back by promising them a championship that slipped away this year. They got close enough to taste it. I think all three come back and I think maybe the go close to an undefeated run.
2) USC. Call me Crazy, but I think OJ Mayo comes back along with Taj Gibson and the team adds Demar DeRozan, the top recruit in the country and they are a solid two. OJ had a disappointing season and his stock certainly took a hit. A great sophomore year in LA means this guy is the Top Pick in 2009
3) Texas. With AJ and DJ back (neither should leave. DJ might leave though. wouldn't be smart) and the big man James coming back, this team wouldn't lose much and they are quite talented. Too bad Rick Barnes coaches them...
4) KU, but this could certainly change depending on how many of them leave for the Pros. Rush and Arthur are gone and Robinson and Kahn were seniors. But Collins and Chalmers and Aldrich should make this team strong. And if Bill Self stays, he will have some decent pieces in place for a repeat. Reminds me a LOT of the leftovers Maryland had in 2003.
5) UCONN was playing balls out by the end of the year. An early upset may motivate this team, but how fast can Price come back from an ACL injury?
6) Purdue. most of their team last year were freshmen. Now they will all be sophomores as none should turn pro. The Hummel (spelling) guy was really outstanding last season.
7) Duke. It PAINS me to put them up high, but they were a year away this year, meaning next year they will make a run. The only thing is, they lose DeMarcus Nelson, who turned out to be VERY good and though Kyle Singler will probably go, he didn't offer much of a post presence anyways. His leaving will open up a spot for Scheyer in the lineup. Their young guys should be ready to play next season. Stupid Dook!
8) Notre Dame led by Luke Harangody will MAYBE win the Big East. Wait, I thought Notre Dame wasn't in a conference. Nevermind that is only when the Fupa is involved. That guy is a genius!
9) Pitt. Fields might be the nation's second best PG (behind Lawson ahead of Augustine and Mayo, sorry bud you AREN'T A PG)
10) Tennessee. I have to have an SEC in the top 10. Just have to. Tyler Smith is back, but Lofton and JuJuan Smith are gone. Bruce Pearl is a heck of a coach. He's never won and SEC tourney (like Felton has) but still a heck of a coach!
K-State is losing Billy Walker and Michael Beasley
Memphis is losing Dorsey, Rose and CD-R
Stanford is losing the Lopez twins
UCLA is losing the entire team (KLove, Westbrook, Collison, Shipp, Mata)
Wazzou lost everyone
UK should lose Patterson and Bradley
Florida is still too young plus they lose Speights.(spelling)
Wake's best recruit just shot a woman with a BB gun
Georgetown lost Hibbert, Ewing, and Wallace, and while they still have Summers that isn't enough
Arizona is losing Budinger and Bayless
Louisville is losing Padgett, Palacios and Clark. too much to ask Sosa to do there
Indiana is losing Gordon and most of the rest of their starting 5 (But they have Crean)
Marquette may have James and McNeal back but they lost Crean. TOO MUCH!
Michy State lost Neitzel and while they have other pieces, not good enough for the top ten.
West Va could make some noise if Joe Alexander comes back and he probably should. Plus they have Huggins.
And I MIGHT EVEN PUT UGA in the top 25 if I made my list today.
As for my rumor, I think that Bill Self stays at KU, and I hear the Okie State is going after Billy Gillespie of UK. He would go, no doubt (a fool would turn down 3.5/year with a 6M signing bonus) Then UK would target Billy Donovan (I think he MIGHT go this time) but assuming he says no, UK then targets Dennis Felton. AND HE WOULD GO to UK. And if I am Georgia, let him go. Then go get Anthony Grant of VCU or Gregg Marshall from Wichita State.
UGA should be pretty good next year. In a rebuilding EASTERN DIVISION of the SEC, I think UGA has JUST as good a shot as "Coming down" Tennessee and "Hopefully they'll care this year" Florida. As for Kentucky, if Patterson goes, should I be scared of Jodie Meeks? Vandy lost Shan Foster and should lose Ogilvey. Finally SoCar blew their chance to hire Marshall, instead taking a coach from Western Kentucky. That doesn't work out the first 4+ years. But that 5th SEC Tourney, WATCH OUT!
Warning, I am taking into account those players that SHOULD go pro vs those who I don't think should, and I will also mention those that shouldn't but will BECAUSE THEY ARE STUPID.
With no further ado...
1) UNC. Psycho T should be coming back and so should Ty Lawson, same with Ellington. Roy Williams should be able to talk these guys back by promising them a championship that slipped away this year. They got close enough to taste it. I think all three come back and I think maybe the go close to an undefeated run.
2) USC. Call me Crazy, but I think OJ Mayo comes back along with Taj Gibson and the team adds Demar DeRozan, the top recruit in the country and they are a solid two. OJ had a disappointing season and his stock certainly took a hit. A great sophomore year in LA means this guy is the Top Pick in 2009
3) Texas. With AJ and DJ back (neither should leave. DJ might leave though. wouldn't be smart) and the big man James coming back, this team wouldn't lose much and they are quite talented. Too bad Rick Barnes coaches them...
4) KU, but this could certainly change depending on how many of them leave for the Pros. Rush and Arthur are gone and Robinson and Kahn were seniors. But Collins and Chalmers and Aldrich should make this team strong. And if Bill Self stays, he will have some decent pieces in place for a repeat. Reminds me a LOT of the leftovers Maryland had in 2003.
5) UCONN was playing balls out by the end of the year. An early upset may motivate this team, but how fast can Price come back from an ACL injury?
6) Purdue. most of their team last year were freshmen. Now they will all be sophomores as none should turn pro. The Hummel (spelling) guy was really outstanding last season.
7) Duke. It PAINS me to put them up high, but they were a year away this year, meaning next year they will make a run. The only thing is, they lose DeMarcus Nelson, who turned out to be VERY good and though Kyle Singler will probably go, he didn't offer much of a post presence anyways. His leaving will open up a spot for Scheyer in the lineup. Their young guys should be ready to play next season. Stupid Dook!
8) Notre Dame led by Luke Harangody will MAYBE win the Big East. Wait, I thought Notre Dame wasn't in a conference. Nevermind that is only when the Fupa is involved. That guy is a genius!
9) Pitt. Fields might be the nation's second best PG (behind Lawson ahead of Augustine and Mayo, sorry bud you AREN'T A PG)
10) Tennessee. I have to have an SEC in the top 10. Just have to. Tyler Smith is back, but Lofton and JuJuan Smith are gone. Bruce Pearl is a heck of a coach. He's never won and SEC tourney (like Felton has) but still a heck of a coach!
K-State is losing Billy Walker and Michael Beasley
Memphis is losing Dorsey, Rose and CD-R
Stanford is losing the Lopez twins
UCLA is losing the entire team (KLove, Westbrook, Collison, Shipp, Mata)
Wazzou lost everyone
UK should lose Patterson and Bradley
Florida is still too young plus they lose Speights.(spelling)
Wake's best recruit just shot a woman with a BB gun
Georgetown lost Hibbert, Ewing, and Wallace, and while they still have Summers that isn't enough
Arizona is losing Budinger and Bayless
Louisville is losing Padgett, Palacios and Clark. too much to ask Sosa to do there
Indiana is losing Gordon and most of the rest of their starting 5 (But they have Crean)
Marquette may have James and McNeal back but they lost Crean. TOO MUCH!
Michy State lost Neitzel and while they have other pieces, not good enough for the top ten.
West Va could make some noise if Joe Alexander comes back and he probably should. Plus they have Huggins.
And I MIGHT EVEN PUT UGA in the top 25 if I made my list today.
As for my rumor, I think that Bill Self stays at KU, and I hear the Okie State is going after Billy Gillespie of UK. He would go, no doubt (a fool would turn down 3.5/year with a 6M signing bonus) Then UK would target Billy Donovan (I think he MIGHT go this time) but assuming he says no, UK then targets Dennis Felton. AND HE WOULD GO to UK. And if I am Georgia, let him go. Then go get Anthony Grant of VCU or Gregg Marshall from Wichita State.
UGA should be pretty good next year. In a rebuilding EASTERN DIVISION of the SEC, I think UGA has JUST as good a shot as "Coming down" Tennessee and "Hopefully they'll care this year" Florida. As for Kentucky, if Patterson goes, should I be scared of Jodie Meeks? Vandy lost Shan Foster and should lose Ogilvey. Finally SoCar blew their chance to hire Marshall, instead taking a coach from Western Kentucky. That doesn't work out the first 4+ years. But that 5th SEC Tourney, WATCH OUT!
Mid-week entertainment report 4/9/08
Mrs. Jigga-Man, Idols are boring and Absolut-ly a boycott
Ladies and Gentlemen, the mid-week entertainment report.
Clapclapclapclapclapclapclap
So Jay-Z and Beyonce got married huh? I guess he was right. He had 99 problems, but a b!tch really wasn't one. He had that area covered. Congrats Beyonce, if it weren't for you, Jigga-man would have had 100 problems. And that might have sent him over the edge. It really would have been a Hard-knock life. Not sure he would have had the Blueprint to figure it all out. Ok, I'm done.
American Idol was a tad boring last night, though David A did a great job with Angels. Even though it was a bit-you know- at times I still really liked it. I love that song, the Robbie Williams version, and David switched it up enough to make it really good. I also liked Jason Castro's Over the Rainbow. The guy just needs to stop that goofy DARRRRRRRRRR smile when Ryan is talking to him. PLEASE! The rest, David Cook included did NOTHING for me.
Finally....
I saw this on yahoo.com and I just have to say, if people are offended over this, SERIOUSLY, get a life.
The distillers of Sweden’s Absolut vodka have withdrawn an advertisement run in Mexico that angered many U.S. citizens by idealizing an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as Mexican.
The billboard ad has the slogan "In an Absolut World" slapped over a pre-1848 map showing California, Arizona and other U.S. states as Mexican territory. Those states were carved out of what had been Mexican lands until that year.
Although it was not shown in the United States, U.S. media outlets picked up on the ad, and after a barrage of complaints, Absolut’s maker said on Sunday the ad campaign would cease.
Defending the campaign last week, Absolut maker Vin & Spirit said the ad was created "with a Mexican sensibility" and was not meant for the U.S. market.
"In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," a spokeswoman wrote on Absolut’s Web site.
"Instead, it hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal," she wrote.
Absolut’s blog cite has received more than a thousand comments since the ad campaign was launched a few weeks ago, with many calling for boycotts of the Swedish company.
"I have poured the remainder of my Absolut bottles down the sink," one blogger wrote.
A war between Mexico and the United States from 1846 to 1848 started with Mexico’s refusal to recognize the U.S. annexation of Texas and ended with the occupation of Mexico City by U.S. troops.
At the end, Mexico ceded nearly half of its territory to the United States, forming the states of California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Mexicans remain sensitive about the loss and the location of the border. At the same time, the United States is fortifying barriers to keep out undocumented Mexican migrants.
Some Mexicans use the term "Reconquista" (reconquest) to refer to the growing presence in California of Mexican migrants and their descendants.
Number one, if life was better for Mexicans back then, then by all means, QUIT trying to get into our country and instead get a history book and recall the good times back in your own country. Are you, as illegal aliens trying to reconquer that land by wrecking our cars while you don’t have insurance one car at a time?
Oh, I’d love to go back to the middle 1800s where I would have had to fight in the Civil War and get my leg cut off while I drank whiskey and bit a stick to dull the pain. Yeah, and good thing I could have jumped into my car and gone to Kroger to get plenty of gatorade.....wait. NO LIFE SUCKED back then.
The fact that some people fondly recall that life....
And the topper is the guy that said he JUST POURED the last of his Absolut down the drain. REALLY? You are boycotting the beverage because of this?
I can’t believe people are THIS upset over this. But then I guess if Absolut made a map of the eastern US with Florida having gobbled up GA and the entire state was Orange and Blue (Gator colors) implying that UF owned UGA, I might be a little pissed. But it would be in good fun. No one would boycott the stupid liquor.
PS, The ad was meant for Mexicans NOT Americans. That should be noted too. Not that that excuses them, but it sort of does. Boycott it if you want, I just think it is stupid to get upset over this ad. There are too many MAJOR things in this world to get upset over, not a dumb ad you were never meant to see.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the mid-week entertainment report.
Clapclapclapclapclapclapclap
So Jay-Z and Beyonce got married huh? I guess he was right. He had 99 problems, but a b!tch really wasn't one. He had that area covered. Congrats Beyonce, if it weren't for you, Jigga-man would have had 100 problems. And that might have sent him over the edge. It really would have been a Hard-knock life. Not sure he would have had the Blueprint to figure it all out. Ok, I'm done.
American Idol was a tad boring last night, though David A did a great job with Angels. Even though it was a bit-you know- at times I still really liked it. I love that song, the Robbie Williams version, and David switched it up enough to make it really good. I also liked Jason Castro's Over the Rainbow. The guy just needs to stop that goofy DARRRRRRRRRR smile when Ryan is talking to him. PLEASE! The rest, David Cook included did NOTHING for me.
Finally....
I saw this on yahoo.com and I just have to say, if people are offended over this, SERIOUSLY, get a life.
The distillers of Sweden’s Absolut vodka have withdrawn an advertisement run in Mexico that angered many U.S. citizens by idealizing an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as Mexican.
The billboard ad has the slogan "In an Absolut World" slapped over a pre-1848 map showing California, Arizona and other U.S. states as Mexican territory. Those states were carved out of what had been Mexican lands until that year.
Although it was not shown in the United States, U.S. media outlets picked up on the ad, and after a barrage of complaints, Absolut’s maker said on Sunday the ad campaign would cease.
Defending the campaign last week, Absolut maker Vin & Spirit said the ad was created "with a Mexican sensibility" and was not meant for the U.S. market.
"In no way was this meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues," a spokeswoman wrote on Absolut’s Web site.
"Instead, it hearkens to a time which the population of Mexico may feel was more ideal," she wrote.
Absolut’s blog cite has received more than a thousand comments since the ad campaign was launched a few weeks ago, with many calling for boycotts of the Swedish company.
"I have poured the remainder of my Absolut bottles down the sink," one blogger wrote.
A war between Mexico and the United States from 1846 to 1848 started with Mexico’s refusal to recognize the U.S. annexation of Texas and ended with the occupation of Mexico City by U.S. troops.
At the end, Mexico ceded nearly half of its territory to the United States, forming the states of California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming.
Mexicans remain sensitive about the loss and the location of the border. At the same time, the United States is fortifying barriers to keep out undocumented Mexican migrants.
Some Mexicans use the term "Reconquista" (reconquest) to refer to the growing presence in California of Mexican migrants and their descendants.
Number one, if life was better for Mexicans back then, then by all means, QUIT trying to get into our country and instead get a history book and recall the good times back in your own country. Are you, as illegal aliens trying to reconquer that land by wrecking our cars while you don’t have insurance one car at a time?
Oh, I’d love to go back to the middle 1800s where I would have had to fight in the Civil War and get my leg cut off while I drank whiskey and bit a stick to dull the pain. Yeah, and good thing I could have jumped into my car and gone to Kroger to get plenty of gatorade.....wait. NO LIFE SUCKED back then.
The fact that some people fondly recall that life....
And the topper is the guy that said he JUST POURED the last of his Absolut down the drain. REALLY? You are boycotting the beverage because of this?
I can’t believe people are THIS upset over this. But then I guess if Absolut made a map of the eastern US with Florida having gobbled up GA and the entire state was Orange and Blue (Gator colors) implying that UF owned UGA, I might be a little pissed. But it would be in good fun. No one would boycott the stupid liquor.
PS, The ad was meant for Mexicans NOT Americans. That should be noted too. Not that that excuses them, but it sort of does. Boycott it if you want, I just think it is stupid to get upset over this ad. There are too many MAJOR things in this world to get upset over, not a dumb ad you were never meant to see.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
yet ANOTHER one run loss
Guys, this is getting a little much, don't you think? The Braves lost yet ANOTHER one run game tonight, this one 4-3. Although in this one the Braves rallied back from 4-1 to only lose 4-3. Of course, it also deserves mentioning that the Braves yet AGAIN had the 1-0 lead after one, but the pitching staff let Matt Holiday again do his thing to help the Rockies win. 3-4, 2RBI with a big double.
MAN!
But on the plus side, Jair Jurrjens turned in a pretty solid showing, considering Coors Field and his Defense's strange positioning at times.
Mark Kotsay certainly played well, but this team is TOO reliant on the 3-run home run. When it doesn't come, the team is sunk.
Guys, at some point, will some one OTHER than Chipper get a base hit with a runner in scoring position. It isn't hard. Guys have gotten on, let's get them in. Big Tex was the tying run on second base in the 8th, but.....he was stranded at third. Let's manufacture some runs at some point. HUH?
I know Bobby loves to play for the three run home run, but maybe manufacturing runs is something we could MAYBE look in to? Possibly? Oh a guy on second, let's hit a grounder to the right side to get him over. Now let's hit a deep fly ball as a sacrifice fly? IT COULD WORK!
Last night the lineup wasted a gem of a game by Glavine. Tonight the lineup couldn't bring home the tying run when need be. Chipper is playing his heart out, and Kotsay played a nice glove and hit a home run, but he also struck out with Tex at third. Let's get the bat OFF our shoulder and get some of these guys home.
We can still tie the series by winning the next two. Let's look into it maybe?
and on a side note: Wow about Jordan Schaffer. 50 games on an HGH suspension. yeouch. The Braves were planning on using this guy, should any of their starting outfielders go down, and he CERTAINLY would have been a late season call-up. SHOOT, this guy is next year's CF. The ONLY guy happy about this right now is Mark Kotsay (and maybe Josh Anderson and Possibly Brandon Jones). He NEEDS to be playing right now, because I believe his numbers are slumping a tad this year. Something like .114 average. Not good. This guy did some things right in spring training. I hope it wasn't because he was HGHing.....
MAN!
But on the plus side, Jair Jurrjens turned in a pretty solid showing, considering Coors Field and his Defense's strange positioning at times.
Mark Kotsay certainly played well, but this team is TOO reliant on the 3-run home run. When it doesn't come, the team is sunk.
Guys, at some point, will some one OTHER than Chipper get a base hit with a runner in scoring position. It isn't hard. Guys have gotten on, let's get them in. Big Tex was the tying run on second base in the 8th, but.....he was stranded at third. Let's manufacture some runs at some point. HUH?
I know Bobby loves to play for the three run home run, but maybe manufacturing runs is something we could MAYBE look in to? Possibly? Oh a guy on second, let's hit a grounder to the right side to get him over. Now let's hit a deep fly ball as a sacrifice fly? IT COULD WORK!
Last night the lineup wasted a gem of a game by Glavine. Tonight the lineup couldn't bring home the tying run when need be. Chipper is playing his heart out, and Kotsay played a nice glove and hit a home run, but he also struck out with Tex at third. Let's get the bat OFF our shoulder and get some of these guys home.
We can still tie the series by winning the next two. Let's look into it maybe?
and on a side note: Wow about Jordan Schaffer. 50 games on an HGH suspension. yeouch. The Braves were planning on using this guy, should any of their starting outfielders go down, and he CERTAINLY would have been a late season call-up. SHOOT, this guy is next year's CF. The ONLY guy happy about this right now is Mark Kotsay (and maybe Josh Anderson and Possibly Brandon Jones). He NEEDS to be playing right now, because I believe his numbers are slumping a tad this year. Something like .114 average. Not good. This guy did some things right in spring training. I hope it wasn't because he was HGHing.....
Be careful with Lauren...one day she might snap at you
To be honest, with the Braves and the NCAA CG on last night, I missed the first part of the first episode, but I think I got the gist of what happened. Apparently She-Pratt went to LC's birthday party (which is weird since I thought we celebrated LC's birthday party last season, which was less than a year ago. oh well) and this upset BOTH Spencer and Heidi.
When confessing to Spencer about it She-Pratt started crying and he said "You made yourself cry," which she did. She wanted to badly to be on TV she chose a celebreality over her own brother. Then she pretended to cry on TV and that probably really DID piss Spencer off. It would have with me. To be fake when I might actually be angry with you.
Then Heidi is angry with She-pratt after S-P tells her that she is hanging with LC. Heidi says something along the lines of, "she'll be your friend, then one day, she'll just snap and stop being your friend. Watch your back and be careful." Well She-Pratt remember those words of wisdom when you are about to spread a vicious rumor about your friend so your pretend, only-in-a-relationship-with-you-so-he-can-be-on-tv boyfriend can be "famous." Imagine that. You spread a rumor about someone and when that rumor comes back to that person they get angry with you for starting it? Hmmmm.
Well by episode two, Heidi and She-Pratt are over their spat. OK. Heidi is ready for some girls-night-out action so she and She-Pratt hit up the clubs (I am surprised they didn't go to Les Deux, but whatevs). They "run into" Audrina. WOW! and Heidi and Audrina talk. Meanwhile Whitney is making an enemy at her new job as one of the women there doesn't do her job, and Whitney comes up with an idea to "save" the event. Thank goodness the Producers didn't set that one up.
Well LC is jealous of Whitney's new job and wants to go "not work" at that job too.
Whitney is also describing her new job and her first day and interestingly enough it sounds like JUST what she did with her Teen Vogue job, but we won't get into that.
LC then goes and helps out LC and while she is there, Heidi comes over to get her stuff from her apartment which she hasn't gotten in what, a year? (Audrina lets her in after LC yells at Audrina for just talking to Heidi. WOW) Then when LC finds out that Heidi was in the apartment, she goes off on Audrina AGAIN. Wow. sensitive much LC? She came to get her stuff. HOW DARE SHE!
In our next episode, it looks like LC gets a "job" offer from Whitney's new company to go and NOT work there. That would be nice. I wonder if LC can text and IM at this new job. That could be a deciding factor.
When confessing to Spencer about it She-Pratt started crying and he said "You made yourself cry," which she did. She wanted to badly to be on TV she chose a celebreality over her own brother. Then she pretended to cry on TV and that probably really DID piss Spencer off. It would have with me. To be fake when I might actually be angry with you.
Then Heidi is angry with She-pratt after S-P tells her that she is hanging with LC. Heidi says something along the lines of, "she'll be your friend, then one day, she'll just snap and stop being your friend. Watch your back and be careful." Well She-Pratt remember those words of wisdom when you are about to spread a vicious rumor about your friend so your pretend, only-in-a-relationship-with-you-so-he-can-be-on-tv boyfriend can be "famous." Imagine that. You spread a rumor about someone and when that rumor comes back to that person they get angry with you for starting it? Hmmmm.
Well by episode two, Heidi and She-Pratt are over their spat. OK. Heidi is ready for some girls-night-out action so she and She-Pratt hit up the clubs (I am surprised they didn't go to Les Deux, but whatevs). They "run into" Audrina. WOW! and Heidi and Audrina talk. Meanwhile Whitney is making an enemy at her new job as one of the women there doesn't do her job, and Whitney comes up with an idea to "save" the event. Thank goodness the Producers didn't set that one up.
Well LC is jealous of Whitney's new job and wants to go "not work" at that job too.
Whitney is also describing her new job and her first day and interestingly enough it sounds like JUST what she did with her Teen Vogue job, but we won't get into that.
LC then goes and helps out LC and while she is there, Heidi comes over to get her stuff from her apartment which she hasn't gotten in what, a year? (Audrina lets her in after LC yells at Audrina for just talking to Heidi. WOW) Then when LC finds out that Heidi was in the apartment, she goes off on Audrina AGAIN. Wow. sensitive much LC? She came to get her stuff. HOW DARE SHE!
In our next episode, it looks like LC gets a "job" offer from Whitney's new company to go and NOT work there. That would be nice. I wonder if LC can text and IM at this new job. That could be a deciding factor.
Why would Patrick Ewing be a LOCK for the HoF?
This point is now moo since Ewing got into the Hall of Fame yesterday, but I read yesterday on ESPN that he was a "Lock" for the Hall before the vote came out. This was the email I sent to Sportsbyfletch contributor Paul Mac...(And before you comment that the word is actually "Moot," I was referencing the Friends episode where Joey explained it as Moo, like a cow's opinion and how it doesn't matter. It's Moo. If you didn't get the reference, maybe you shouldn't be reading my blogs. Or better yet, you SHOULD be reading them even more, so you can collect these pop culture references and use them in your everyday life and impress you friends.)
He never won a title. He never won an MVP. He took his team to the NBA finals where they lost to the Rockets and he was OUTPLAYED by a REAL Hall Of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Ewing even missed a potential game-winning shot in one of those games if I recall.
He was beaten time after time by first the Celtics, then the Pistons, then the Bulls, then the Pacers then the Bulls and the Heat. Several times They weren't even in the Conference Finals Patrick led them to defeat. Usually they lost to the Bulls or Pacers before the Eastern Conference Finals rolled around.
In fact, NY's best shot at a title came after he was out in 1999 and Spree and Allan Houston and Co nearly shot the Knicks to the title.
Then Ewing went to Seattle and Orlando. He was a joke.
A Hall of Famer? For what? An above average career? Give me a break. I'd take David Robinson over him. I'd take Hakeem over him. Laimbeer, Shaq OR Zo.
Every center we went up against in the playoffs, he was not as good as, except for Rik Smits and the Bulls guys (Cartwright, Wennington, Perdue, Longley) and even
then his team lost. He was always undone by another team's guard because THAT guy (RMiller or Isiah or JORDAN) would always be the better guy on the floor.
For being his team's best player, he could NEVER take them to the promised land that is an NBA championship.
A lock hall of famer? I think not. But he'll get in because he played for the Knicks. If he had been a Cleveland Cavalier, we wouldn't even be talking about this
And sure enough that NEW YORK MEDIA got their boy elected to the Hall. Good job Patrick. Way to mediocre yourself in. I don't reward that type of thing, but hey, the NBA HoF voters do. Congrats!
He never won a title. He never won an MVP. He took his team to the NBA finals where they lost to the Rockets and he was OUTPLAYED by a REAL Hall Of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon. Ewing even missed a potential game-winning shot in one of those games if I recall.
He was beaten time after time by first the Celtics, then the Pistons, then the Bulls, then the Pacers then the Bulls and the Heat. Several times They weren't even in the Conference Finals Patrick led them to defeat. Usually they lost to the Bulls or Pacers before the Eastern Conference Finals rolled around.
In fact, NY's best shot at a title came after he was out in 1999 and Spree and Allan Houston and Co nearly shot the Knicks to the title.
Then Ewing went to Seattle and Orlando. He was a joke.
A Hall of Famer? For what? An above average career? Give me a break. I'd take David Robinson over him. I'd take Hakeem over him. Laimbeer, Shaq OR Zo.
Every center we went up against in the playoffs, he was not as good as, except for Rik Smits and the Bulls guys (Cartwright, Wennington, Perdue, Longley) and even
then his team lost. He was always undone by another team's guard because THAT guy (RMiller or Isiah or JORDAN) would always be the better guy on the floor.
For being his team's best player, he could NEVER take them to the promised land that is an NBA championship.
A lock hall of famer? I think not. But he'll get in because he played for the Knicks. If he had been a Cleveland Cavalier, we wouldn't even be talking about this
And sure enough that NEW YORK MEDIA got their boy elected to the Hall. Good job Patrick. Way to mediocre yourself in. I don't reward that type of thing, but hey, the NBA HoF voters do. Congrats!
Braves lose an Ironic game in Denver
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife. Like the guy that was afraid to fly, then died on his first plane trip.
Yep, when I ironic loss, I mean the loss SUCKED. Alanis Morissette once sang about all these "ironic" situations and maybe in Canada Ironic means something else, but her song wasn't what ironic means in a land with dictionaries. Oh well.
The Braves traveled to the thin air of Coors last night and scored only ONE run in a 2-1 loss to the Rockies. The Braves struck in the first as Escobar scored on a Chipper Jones double, but then the Braves didn't have another baserunner until a walk in the 5th, and they didn't have another hit until the ninth. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? And was the pitcher Roger Clemens circa 2002-04 or Pedro Martinez circa 1999-2001? NO. Aaron Cook. WHO? Yeah.
Good thing Glavine pitched a strong 6.1 only giving up 3 hits himself. Blaine Boyer took the loss here, and I am not going to rake him over the coals here. He gave up a two run Rocky Mountain DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG, Colorado in the 9th, to Matt Holi-dong and the Braves lost 2-1.
The only problem I have is, BRAVES YOU ONLY MANAGED THREE HITS? Glaving pitched his butt off and you guys only get three hits? Come on.
Oh well, all of the Braves' losses this year are by one run and the team is now 3-4. Better than getting blown out I guess. You have been in every game this season, which is a good thing. I just want the Braves to WIN some of these close ones. Jair Jurrjens is on the hill and hopefully he can give another great start like last week. If the Braves can only manage 3 hits and one run, he'll need to pitch his butt off, but it still might not be enough.
Ironic, huh?
Yep, when I ironic loss, I mean the loss SUCKED. Alanis Morissette once sang about all these "ironic" situations and maybe in Canada Ironic means something else, but her song wasn't what ironic means in a land with dictionaries. Oh well.
The Braves traveled to the thin air of Coors last night and scored only ONE run in a 2-1 loss to the Rockies. The Braves struck in the first as Escobar scored on a Chipper Jones double, but then the Braves didn't have another baserunner until a walk in the 5th, and they didn't have another hit until the ninth. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? And was the pitcher Roger Clemens circa 2002-04 or Pedro Martinez circa 1999-2001? NO. Aaron Cook. WHO? Yeah.
Good thing Glavine pitched a strong 6.1 only giving up 3 hits himself. Blaine Boyer took the loss here, and I am not going to rake him over the coals here. He gave up a two run Rocky Mountain DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG, Colorado in the 9th, to Matt Holi-dong and the Braves lost 2-1.
The only problem I have is, BRAVES YOU ONLY MANAGED THREE HITS? Glaving pitched his butt off and you guys only get three hits? Come on.
Oh well, all of the Braves' losses this year are by one run and the team is now 3-4. Better than getting blown out I guess. You have been in every game this season, which is a good thing. I just want the Braves to WIN some of these close ones. Jair Jurrjens is on the hill and hopefully he can give another great start like last week. If the Braves can only manage 3 hits and one run, he'll need to pitch his butt off, but it still might not be enough.
Ironic, huh?
Monday, April 7, 2008
Could the Hawks beat the Celtics?
We are getting down to it. Playoff basketball and it seems like Atlanta will play Boston in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Yes the Boston Celtics, who last week clinched the best record in the league, and thus the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks will most likely limp into the playoffs with AT BEST a 41-41 record and 99.999% of America will have them be the sacrificial lambs to be slaughtered by Boston. But I have one question. What if the Hawks knock off the Celtics?
(I will wait for you to stop laughing before I continue.) The Celtics pushed all of their chips into the center before the year started and acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the hope that those two would bring them an NBA title. Only recently did they do something to sure up their point guard situation (signing an OLD Sam Cassell after spending much of the year with Rajon Rondo) and Doc Rivers is still the head coach there.
Meanwhile the Atlanta Hawks FINALLY pulled the trigger and got their point guard in Mike Bibby and he has done nothing but put this team on his back in recent weeks and led them to victory after victory. And if you look back at Bibby’s history of playoff runs on his first year with a team, the Arizona Wildcats won an NCAA title and Sacramento got jobbed out of a Finals appearance, despite Bibby going OFF that entire series against the LA Lakers. I don’t think Bibby can be checked by a too-young Rondo or an ET-clone Cassell. I also like Bibby taking my last shot if I am a Hawks fan, opposed to Ray Allen fighting Cassell for the last shot in Boston.
The number 8 seed also has a history of pushing the number 1 seed. Last season the Warriors knocked off the Dallas Mavericks, who had the best record in all of the NBA and a few years back Denver beat a seemingly unstoppable Seattle squad in a short series. It can happen. Expectations can leave a team tight as the pressure gets to the star players and sometimes they can choke. Ask KG about that next time you see him. It took him HOW long before he advanced past the first round?
Look, I totally see Boston blowing out Atlanta in game one and probably winning game two in Bah-stin, but when the teams come down here, I think Atlanta fans WILL come out and support this team in game three. Atlanta is COMPLETELY a bandwagon town, just look at all of the support the Thrashers got last year for their first playoff game. And after the Hawks take out the Celtics in that game three, I think the team is fired up even more behind Joe Johnson and company. That momentum can take game four. Joe Johnson can and SHOULD be firing up the team as he can call on his experience in the playoffs back with Phoenix. In fact, that is what he said he wanted to do when he signed here with Atlanta, right? Lead them in the playoffs? At least I thought that’s what he wanted to do, not just come here and take the Hawks’ money without giving anything in the playoffs. This guy is an all-star and he might represent the USA in the Olympics. He should step up and I believe he will. As for Josh Smith, you want a big contract, Big Boy? Earn it right here. Marvin, you want people to stop saying Atlanta should have taken Chris Paul? Show us right here. The Hawks just need to step it up. They all have motivation. Now follow through on it.
If the team can send this series back to Boston and then maybe somehow get it back to Atlanta, you never know. Doc Rivers may freak out. KG might get tight. Paul Pierce might try and take over games and get out of control like he has in the past. Rondo might play like the inexperienced guard he is. The Hawks certainly have a chance…. But then Boston could just sweep Atlanta. Then my only question would be “How bout those Braves?”
(I will wait for you to stop laughing before I continue.) The Celtics pushed all of their chips into the center before the year started and acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett in the hope that those two would bring them an NBA title. Only recently did they do something to sure up their point guard situation (signing an OLD Sam Cassell after spending much of the year with Rajon Rondo) and Doc Rivers is still the head coach there.
Meanwhile the Atlanta Hawks FINALLY pulled the trigger and got their point guard in Mike Bibby and he has done nothing but put this team on his back in recent weeks and led them to victory after victory. And if you look back at Bibby’s history of playoff runs on his first year with a team, the Arizona Wildcats won an NCAA title and Sacramento got jobbed out of a Finals appearance, despite Bibby going OFF that entire series against the LA Lakers. I don’t think Bibby can be checked by a too-young Rondo or an ET-clone Cassell. I also like Bibby taking my last shot if I am a Hawks fan, opposed to Ray Allen fighting Cassell for the last shot in Boston.
The number 8 seed also has a history of pushing the number 1 seed. Last season the Warriors knocked off the Dallas Mavericks, who had the best record in all of the NBA and a few years back Denver beat a seemingly unstoppable Seattle squad in a short series. It can happen. Expectations can leave a team tight as the pressure gets to the star players and sometimes they can choke. Ask KG about that next time you see him. It took him HOW long before he advanced past the first round?
Look, I totally see Boston blowing out Atlanta in game one and probably winning game two in Bah-stin, but when the teams come down here, I think Atlanta fans WILL come out and support this team in game three. Atlanta is COMPLETELY a bandwagon town, just look at all of the support the Thrashers got last year for their first playoff game. And after the Hawks take out the Celtics in that game three, I think the team is fired up even more behind Joe Johnson and company. That momentum can take game four. Joe Johnson can and SHOULD be firing up the team as he can call on his experience in the playoffs back with Phoenix. In fact, that is what he said he wanted to do when he signed here with Atlanta, right? Lead them in the playoffs? At least I thought that’s what he wanted to do, not just come here and take the Hawks’ money without giving anything in the playoffs. This guy is an all-star and he might represent the USA in the Olympics. He should step up and I believe he will. As for Josh Smith, you want a big contract, Big Boy? Earn it right here. Marvin, you want people to stop saying Atlanta should have taken Chris Paul? Show us right here. The Hawks just need to step it up. They all have motivation. Now follow through on it.
If the team can send this series back to Boston and then maybe somehow get it back to Atlanta, you never know. Doc Rivers may freak out. KG might get tight. Paul Pierce might try and take over games and get out of control like he has in the past. Rondo might play like the inexperienced guard he is. The Hawks certainly have a chance…. But then Boston could just sweep Atlanta. Then my only question would be “How bout those Braves?”
Sunday, April 6, 2008
OK Tex, You're off the hook
Big Tex, I must start by saying that I'm s.....ure my calling you out the other day lit a fire under you (What, you thought I was going to apologize?) I called out your "spring training isn't important" statement and you saved the game for the Braves today. The Braves won 3-1 over the Mets, earning a mini-sweep of the New York joke of a team. The Bravos are now back to .500, which is good.
Several things, Johan looked pretty good for the Mets, but not unbeatable. He got into a bit of trouble in the 4th, 5th and 6th, but he got out of it each time. The one run the Braves got for Smoltzie looked like it would hold up until Chipper and Big Tex both scored on Tex's long ball in the 8th. I am glad the Braves had the 3-0 lead because Soriano didn't look comfortable in that closer role. When Gonzo comes back, Bobby SHOULD think long and hard about putting RS back in the 8th inning role and having Gonzo finish the games. He did it in Pitt, I think he could do it here.
Smoltz only went 5, giving up 2 hits, striking out 6, pitching 75 or so pitches. I guess since his spot in the order was up, they went ahead and took him out. The bullpen looked good, up until Soriano. Smoltz I am guessing will go maybe 90 pitches next time, then 100 then get turned loose?
Finally, Kotsay continues to look good out there. His approach at the plate is solid, just raking the ball to all parts of the field. And fielding wise, the dropoff from Andruw I don't think is that great.
Good series for the Braves, and now they go on the road and let's hope they can keep winning series after series. That is Bobby Cox baseball, and if they win 2 of every 3, with an occasional sweep, you are looking at 96 wins and a division.
Several things, Johan looked pretty good for the Mets, but not unbeatable. He got into a bit of trouble in the 4th, 5th and 6th, but he got out of it each time. The one run the Braves got for Smoltzie looked like it would hold up until Chipper and Big Tex both scored on Tex's long ball in the 8th. I am glad the Braves had the 3-0 lead because Soriano didn't look comfortable in that closer role. When Gonzo comes back, Bobby SHOULD think long and hard about putting RS back in the 8th inning role and having Gonzo finish the games. He did it in Pitt, I think he could do it here.
Smoltz only went 5, giving up 2 hits, striking out 6, pitching 75 or so pitches. I guess since his spot in the order was up, they went ahead and took him out. The bullpen looked good, up until Soriano. Smoltz I am guessing will go maybe 90 pitches next time, then 100 then get turned loose?
Finally, Kotsay continues to look good out there. His approach at the plate is solid, just raking the ball to all parts of the field. And fielding wise, the dropoff from Andruw I don't think is that great.
Good series for the Braves, and now they go on the road and let's hope they can keep winning series after series. That is Bobby Cox baseball, and if they win 2 of every 3, with an occasional sweep, you are looking at 96 wins and a division.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
My Man Hudson
Tim Hudson just picked up his first win of the year as the Braves beat down the visiting Mets 11-5 in the first game of their series. (Last night's game was rained out, thus no Extra Innings. Sorry if you tuned in)
The Braves certainly came out ready to play as they jumped up early. Even when the Mets tied it up, the Braves came back and back and back. Every time the Mets came with something, the Braves ANSWERED. That bodes well for the year. Hudson showed why he is the new ACE of the team (sorry Smoltzie, but Huddy is the new NUMBER 1, at least for me)
Chipper played well, Kotsay did some things right, McCann and Frenchy played well and Big Tex, you may be starting to bring it. Your two hits equaled your season total thus far, but you drew some walks and scored so I might stop killing you for a while on this blog. (Sorry, but I did have to bring it up on Extra Innings Thursday night.)
The other thing that should be looked at. While Martin Prado got on base a few times, his deal is with Fielding. And he made a few mistakes in the field today. Throw in the fact that Kelly Johnson hit a pinch hit GRAND SLAM and I think it is time for KJ to man the 5 again. I told Paul Mac last week that KJ's C+/B- defense, but sweet swing is a better option than Prado's B+ fielding yet D- batting. It just is. While I think KJ should be farther along in being a second baseman, I think he is getting there and you can't keep his swing and bat out of that lineup. Plus I want him hitting leadoff and letting Escobar hit second.
Finally, are we still paying Jorge Sosa? Is that why he pitched so poorly against us today? Just wondering. And Santana/Smoltz is still on for tomorrow. That should be classic. I think Smoltzie in front of the home fans will give one for the ages.
But Huddy is still Number One.
The Braves certainly came out ready to play as they jumped up early. Even when the Mets tied it up, the Braves came back and back and back. Every time the Mets came with something, the Braves ANSWERED. That bodes well for the year. Hudson showed why he is the new ACE of the team (sorry Smoltzie, but Huddy is the new NUMBER 1, at least for me)
Chipper played well, Kotsay did some things right, McCann and Frenchy played well and Big Tex, you may be starting to bring it. Your two hits equaled your season total thus far, but you drew some walks and scored so I might stop killing you for a while on this blog. (Sorry, but I did have to bring it up on Extra Innings Thursday night.)
The other thing that should be looked at. While Martin Prado got on base a few times, his deal is with Fielding. And he made a few mistakes in the field today. Throw in the fact that Kelly Johnson hit a pinch hit GRAND SLAM and I think it is time for KJ to man the 5 again. I told Paul Mac last week that KJ's C+/B- defense, but sweet swing is a better option than Prado's B+ fielding yet D- batting. It just is. While I think KJ should be farther along in being a second baseman, I think he is getting there and you can't keep his swing and bat out of that lineup. Plus I want him hitting leadoff and letting Escobar hit second.
Finally, are we still paying Jorge Sosa? Is that why he pitched so poorly against us today? Just wondering. And Santana/Smoltz is still on for tomorrow. That should be classic. I think Smoltzie in front of the home fans will give one for the ages.
But Huddy is still Number One.
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