I was just on the can and I read an article in the recent Esquire about Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson. He is the current coach of Oregon State, but Chuck Klosterman (I usually love his writing) decided to ask about a game of one-on-one he played with Barack when he and Michelle started to date. He was vetting Obama if you will and apparently decided Barack was a good enough guy to date Michelle. Well this story has spread like wildfire (Thanks to Stuart Scott of ESPN in that GROUNDBREAKING interview)and Klosterman called it the most important basketball ever. Apparently the game "partially and supposedly explains who Barack Obama is."
Huh? Really? this one-on-one game is THE most important game of basketball EVER played? Seriously?
Moreso than the Dream Team in 1992 which brought basketball to Europe and got Euros interested in the game?
Moreso than the Redeem Team that faced China in the recent Olympics which set an ALL-TIME record for viewers? The entire country of China was watching it and it was America reasserting itself as the head dog of basketball.
Moreso than when the USSR stole the 1972 medal from the USA? They had three cracks at a last show with two do-overs to final steal that game.
Moreso than Michael Jordan's 63 in the playoffs?
Moreso than MJ winning a sixth title with that last second shot?
Moreso than Wilt's 100 point game?
Moreso than the first game at MSG after 9/11?
Moreso than Texas Western knocking off UCLA?
Moreso than Dean Smith breaking the all-time wins record then Bobby Knight breaking that record?
Moreso than Duke over UK thanks to Christian Laetner (spelling)?
Moreso than Bird v Magic in the NCAA finals then meeting up in the NBA finals?
Moreso than LeBron's high school game where he introduced himself to the world?
I just have a hard time believing that this one-on-one game is REALLY THE most important basketball game ever played. Really? I know you are trying to sell magazines, but to make a statement like that is just too much. I feel bad for Craig if HE reads Klosterman and believes that line. But then, after reading about him and his lovely attitude towards his players, I don't feel bad for him. PS, Robinson had a Felton-like record last year. But I wonder if he will get canned or if he will get to stay on because of his sister's husband. (I am not sure Oregon State would want to go against the rest of America and the liberal media that would surely rake them over the coals for booting Robinson out.) All I can say though is, he had better start winning to be using that abusive language. Coach K and Bobby Knight can get away with it because they were winners. Robinson hasn't won a whole bunch while at OSU. Not sure he has earned the pass to do that stuff just yet.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Oh Happy Day
I cannot believe how many emails from so many people I have gotten since 9am today asking how excited I was about Dennis the Menace Felton getting the boot. Well, I cannot put into words how happy I am. He was FINALLY given his walking papers, with Damon Evans (likely after reading my blog) saying that he "wasn't needed anymore."
YOU ARE NOT NEEDED ANYMORE FELTON! NOW GET OUT! And don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord Split ya!
I laugh at all of the people that say, "Well now the program will be set back 2 years." With Felton staying on, UGA would have been set back 5 more years!
But the Georgia basketball program will now FINALLY get a coach in here that HOPEFULLY will put UGA basketball up on the map the way Florida and Tennessee have.
Some names being kicked around:Sam Mitchell, Anthony Grant of VCU (a name that sportsbyfletch said TWO YEARS AGO!), the kid from Butler and the guy from Dayton. Tubby Smith, Marquette's guy and Jamie Dixon are NOT coming here. Let's get Grant! Make it happen Damon! You clearly read my blogs!
Now that Felton is gone though, what will I do with my time? I COULD soon be writing about how great UGA basketball is, but what to do in the meantime.
Hmmmm, Real World: Atlanta. Georgia Baseball. Braves coverage.
I just hope that I don't get like Seth Cohen of The OC fame after he gets Summer. The chase is over (or in this case, chase is fired). I hope I don't get bored with nothing vexing me. And THINK of the money I'll save with not having to buy a season's worth of Kleenex at the onset of every season....
YOU ARE NOT NEEDED ANYMORE FELTON! NOW GET OUT! And don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord Split ya!
I laugh at all of the people that say, "Well now the program will be set back 2 years." With Felton staying on, UGA would have been set back 5 more years!
But the Georgia basketball program will now FINALLY get a coach in here that HOPEFULLY will put UGA basketball up on the map the way Florida and Tennessee have.
Some names being kicked around:Sam Mitchell, Anthony Grant of VCU (a name that sportsbyfletch said TWO YEARS AGO!), the kid from Butler and the guy from Dayton. Tubby Smith, Marquette's guy and Jamie Dixon are NOT coming here. Let's get Grant! Make it happen Damon! You clearly read my blogs!
Now that Felton is gone though, what will I do with my time? I COULD soon be writing about how great UGA basketball is, but what to do in the meantime.
Hmmmm, Real World: Atlanta. Georgia Baseball. Braves coverage.
I just hope that I don't get like Seth Cohen of The OC fame after he gets Summer. The chase is over (or in this case, chase is fired). I hope I don't get bored with nothing vexing me. And THINK of the money I'll save with not having to buy a season's worth of Kleenex at the onset of every season....
Real World Mulligans MTV wishes it had...
As I watched last night's Real World Brooklyn episode, I am guessing that MTV wishes they had a couple of mulligans when it comes to Sarah and Devyn. Not only does Devyn get out-sung by a she/he, (oh, but I forgot, she hadn't practiced or warmed up. NO amount of warming up would have helped you sing that crap), but she goes on to say how what JD did was "dismeaning." WHAT? you mean demeaning? Golly. And PS, Devyn, way to show up late for your audition. Good work there. PS, you sucked. When you were singing the national anthem, I wanted to emigrate to Canada. You were horrible. (I also thought it was funny when one of the roommates asked about the audition, you said, "Well we didn't have much time. Casting directors are really busy." Well when you show up 35 minutes late for a 45 minute audition, they can get testy....)
I am also guessing that MTV wishes it could have a do-over on Sarah. She had built up in her head that her Dad sexually abused her. There is nothing funny about that, but if we are going by her story of when he "sexually abused her" it was when the two of them went camping when Sarah was a teenager and the father only brought one sleeping bag. YOU'RE A TEENAGER! PACK ONE YOURSELF! If that was it, she is crazy. I am sure there is other stuff, in which case I will stop making fun of her, but if that is IT...come on.
And not that MTV wants a mulligan on JD (in fact, you always need the token drunk guy that goes crazy) but we have watched three episodes and in each, he has gotten drunk and made an ass of himself, with the she/he and making fun, then with mocking the mexican behind the counter.
But I don't think MTV should take a mulligan on that one. Every season there are roommates that you hate, but without this person, the show would be crap. They are needed, even though you hate them, because without them, NOTHING HAPPENS. Brooke from Denver is an example. Same with Amaya from Hawaii and Montana from Boston.
But I put together a little list of the top ten (in my opinion) of the mulligan-worthy housemates. If MTV could do it over, they'd probably leave them out because they offered NOTHING and in fact took AWAY from the show.
10. Sarah from Brooklyn. sexually abused because she forgot her sleeping bag?and we're not done yet. She could move up the list.
09. Matt from Hawaii. He got Ruthie committed and then fell in love with her IDENTIAL TWIN!
08. Lacey from Austin. Or Pastey as I call her. Hated her, plain and simple. I kept expecting her boyfriend to get out of his wheelchair and RUN away from her.
07. Parisa from Syndey. She caused drama by being an idiot. She loved Dunbar and got KelliAnne to spit at her after she kicked Trisha out of the house despite EVERYONE ELSE wanting her to stay. Parisa should have left. Waste of space.
06. Brianna from Hollywood. She was a stripper from a trailer in Philly. She kept having to fly back to go to court because she hit her abusive boyfriend. She missed when Johnny left the show. She had an audition, but smoked and got hammered the night before. Pretyboy offered the Drama and this chick was just a moron.
05. Melissa from Nawlins. She was offended by a southern tourguide that you could TELL was a racist by just looking at him. And she tried to play the race card for being BOTH black AND Filipino. And she kept chasing Jamie when he CLEARLY wasn't interested. Whenever she used to appear on the RWRR Challenges, I always wanted her to get voted out first.
04. Colie from Denver. Did she like Alex? Only when she was drunk? Wait, she had mono? She wasn't into one night stands, but she randomly hooked up with the Ropes course guy, got him fired, then dumped him? Her constant "I'm sick" moping bothered me. I loved it when her friend Jen (Whom she had known for all of 4 days when she decided she'd be in her wedding) stabbed her in the back at the Inferno challenge. LOVED IT! You still gonna put her in your wedding?
03. Devyn from Brooklyn. She has made QUITE the good first impression, huh? Whether it is her need to make BFF charts or making up works (dismeaning) or being late for an audition or being SO transparent with her cousin (and likely ruining the cousin's good name with the casting director) or SUCKING at singing and acting, she is fast becoming the WORST Real World roommate EVER!
02. Janelle from Key West. Her work in personal relations aside (think about it) she was such a sh!thead on her own season,(she almost got Johnny Bananas sent home!) she successfully ruined Real World Hollywood. Well not really, the cast of that show did, but she didn't help Will out.
01. Julie from Nawlins. If the show could have ONLY ONE MULLIGAN, I am CERTAIN they'd send Julie packing. She liked a guy from Tech. She was a mormon-virgin who added nothing to the show and she ruined several RW/RR Challenge seasons. I don't want to type anything more about her.
I am also guessing that MTV wishes it could have a do-over on Sarah. She had built up in her head that her Dad sexually abused her. There is nothing funny about that, but if we are going by her story of when he "sexually abused her" it was when the two of them went camping when Sarah was a teenager and the father only brought one sleeping bag. YOU'RE A TEENAGER! PACK ONE YOURSELF! If that was it, she is crazy. I am sure there is other stuff, in which case I will stop making fun of her, but if that is IT...come on.
And not that MTV wants a mulligan on JD (in fact, you always need the token drunk guy that goes crazy) but we have watched three episodes and in each, he has gotten drunk and made an ass of himself, with the she/he and making fun, then with mocking the mexican behind the counter.
But I don't think MTV should take a mulligan on that one. Every season there are roommates that you hate, but without this person, the show would be crap. They are needed, even though you hate them, because without them, NOTHING HAPPENS. Brooke from Denver is an example. Same with Amaya from Hawaii and Montana from Boston.
But I put together a little list of the top ten (in my opinion) of the mulligan-worthy housemates. If MTV could do it over, they'd probably leave them out because they offered NOTHING and in fact took AWAY from the show.
10. Sarah from Brooklyn. sexually abused because she forgot her sleeping bag?and we're not done yet. She could move up the list.
09. Matt from Hawaii. He got Ruthie committed and then fell in love with her IDENTIAL TWIN!
08. Lacey from Austin. Or Pastey as I call her. Hated her, plain and simple. I kept expecting her boyfriend to get out of his wheelchair and RUN away from her.
07. Parisa from Syndey. She caused drama by being an idiot. She loved Dunbar and got KelliAnne to spit at her after she kicked Trisha out of the house despite EVERYONE ELSE wanting her to stay. Parisa should have left. Waste of space.
06. Brianna from Hollywood. She was a stripper from a trailer in Philly. She kept having to fly back to go to court because she hit her abusive boyfriend. She missed when Johnny left the show. She had an audition, but smoked and got hammered the night before. Pretyboy offered the Drama and this chick was just a moron.
05. Melissa from Nawlins. She was offended by a southern tourguide that you could TELL was a racist by just looking at him. And she tried to play the race card for being BOTH black AND Filipino. And she kept chasing Jamie when he CLEARLY wasn't interested. Whenever she used to appear on the RWRR Challenges, I always wanted her to get voted out first.
04. Colie from Denver. Did she like Alex? Only when she was drunk? Wait, she had mono? She wasn't into one night stands, but she randomly hooked up with the Ropes course guy, got him fired, then dumped him? Her constant "I'm sick" moping bothered me. I loved it when her friend Jen (Whom she had known for all of 4 days when she decided she'd be in her wedding) stabbed her in the back at the Inferno challenge. LOVED IT! You still gonna put her in your wedding?
03. Devyn from Brooklyn. She has made QUITE the good first impression, huh? Whether it is her need to make BFF charts or making up works (dismeaning) or being late for an audition or being SO transparent with her cousin (and likely ruining the cousin's good name with the casting director) or SUCKING at singing and acting, she is fast becoming the WORST Real World roommate EVER!
02. Janelle from Key West. Her work in personal relations aside (think about it) she was such a sh!thead on her own season,(she almost got Johnny Bananas sent home!) she successfully ruined Real World Hollywood. Well not really, the cast of that show did, but she didn't help Will out.
01. Julie from Nawlins. If the show could have ONLY ONE MULLIGAN, I am CERTAIN they'd send Julie packing. She liked a guy from Tech. She was a mormon-virgin who added nothing to the show and she ruined several RW/RR Challenge seasons. I don't want to type anything more about her.
The Real World Atlanta: Episode 2
Previously on The Real World….
Kevin shouts, “ATL BABY!”… Jimmy and Cailie finally arrive and hugs are given all around. Carly seems happy that Jimmy is there. Cailie does not appear to be amused…. K-Dawg raps, “I’m riding with Carly, hot Carly from the mag, I swear before this is over I’ll have her in the bag,” while a miserable Carly has a look of HELP ME as they are stopped at a red light… Jimmy says “she cleans up nice. I bet you do too.” Cailie blushes a bit before punching Jimmy and proclaiming that they will be friends.
This is the TRUE STORY, of Seven strangers (you’re a rapper?), picked to live in a house (ATL BABY!), and have their lives taped (get the F*** out my face!) to find out what happens when people stop being polite (say it again, I DARE YOU!) and start being real. The Real World: Atlanta!
People are seen dining at Neighbor’s when Jimmy and Carly walk into Atkins Park.
Jimmy says, “So tell me the story about the magazine cover.” “OK, so I was down visiting the campus and the spring game was going on. I just walked in and my friend was actually who bought the hat. I snatched it from her because only students are allowed to go to the game. Well, I was wearing that and the ticket guy let me in and next thing I know some kid from the paper or something snapped my picture. I guess he sold it and it just took off.
“Wow, that’s pretty wild. My girlfriend Abby was in a photo shoot for the women’s soccer team at school. I told her that I’d support her if she wanted to go be a model, but she is hellbent on being a soccer player.”
“Do they have a professional women’s league in America?” asks Carly.
“No, she’d have to go to Europe most likely,” says a sort of sad Jimmy. Carly immediately pounces. “So would you go too?”
“No, I’d stay here, unless I could get a transfer to a European club.” Jimmy. “Or we’d have to end it, Don’t know, and I don’t want to think about it.
Back at the house, Cailie and Vlad are in the pool. “Oh man, what a nice day it is out here. It would be such a nice day to ride.”
“Ride? Ride what?” asks Vlad.
“Oh, I ride horses. I’m a professional rodeo rider.”
Vlad doesn’t seem to understand as he is already drinking.
“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking?” asks Cailie.
“Vodka, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.”
Confessional “I’m not sure. I think Vlad might have a drinking problem,” confesses Cailie. “but then, I might too.”
In the kitchen, Vlad and Dani are talking and Dani asks Vlad about his time in Poland. After Vlad explains how he came to America, Todd joins and Vlad pours him a drink. “Man, you are already drinking?” Todd asks.
“It is 11:45. I’ve been up since for 5 hours. I went for a run and now I am drinking with lunch.”
Dani asks Vlad straight up if he has a drinking problem and Vlad pours his drink out before stalking away.
In confessional, Vladimir sighs, “Jesus, why do these people think a drink is a drinking problem. Sorry I don’t sleep until 3pm. My grandfather could drink an entire bottle of rum in a sitting. That is a problem. I don’t do that. These people need to worry about themselves.
Kevin is shown putting on a FilA sweatsuit ala Trouty from My Boys. He walks downstairs and Dani and Todd ask if he wants to go get some lunch. “Hecks yeah.” They both roll their eyes.
The are shown eating at the Flying biscuit and Dani and Todd are talking about Todd’s black girlfriend. “You actually remind me a lot of her, from a physical appearance standpoint sure, but you guys even hold your forks the same and I’ve never seen someone put mustard on a roll straight up, but both of you do it.
“Is this sh*t all vegetarian?” questions K-Dawg.
“Yeah, idiot, you didn’t realize? (Back to Todd) I grew up on mustard sandwiches. In college we didn’t have a lot of money so we got bread from the grocery store and a bottle of mustard and ate. We took our money and spent it on going downtown.” Dani continues to eat mustard sandwiches.
Todd says, “so your parents were hippies?” “Yeah, we followed the Dead for a while, never really having a solid home, but that made me who I am. I learned about Free love, and the best thing my parents taught me was that I could love a person, regardless of gender. So far though, I just like women.”
“Heck’s yeah!” K-Dawg shouts.
“So if you met the right guy though, you think you’d make the switch over?” asks Todd.
“Don’t know, you offering?” Dani retorts.
Back at the house, Vlad is cleaning up a bit when Carly walks in. “So I heard you you were looking for a workout buddy?” asks Carly.
“Yes I guess. You work out?
“I’ve gotta stay in shape. I want to be a personal trainer or a model when I graduate from Florida State.
“Let’s go.”
Jimmy walks into the weight room where Vlad is spotting Carly. “Am I interrupting?”
“Interrupting what?” asks a clueless Vlad. “You want to lift?”
Carly moves to a treadmill as Jimmy tries to outlift Vlad. We see shots of Vlad pumping iron while Jimmy is clearly trying to outdo him.
In confessional, “I am the athlete of the house. I am competitive, I have to beat Vlad.” Confesses Jimmy. “I have to beat Vlad. I have to.”
Later we see everyone in the bathroom getting ready. “So I heard you got outlifted by Vlad today,” remarked a naked Todd to Jimmy.
“Oh shut up man.” A red-faced Jimmy shot back
“Come on bro. You gotta rep for America bro!” K-Dawg interjected into the conversation. “Who asked you? Jimmy barked at Kevin.
Dani walks in and slides her arms around Jimmy. “So I heard that Carly is now off the Jimmy bandwagon and is eyeing Vladdy.
“What? I don’t care,” Jimmy says. “So you don’t mind if I try and hit that?” Kevin puffs out his chest and asks.
About this time Cailie walks through and has dropped a bit of the tomboy. Carly walks in and shows off her “masterpiece.” What do you guys think about Cailie now?”
“Whoa, baby, you are BANGIN’!” K-Dawg yells, but Todd has taken notice too. Vlad has walked in and asks we ready?
The doorbell rings as a cab honks. Carly and Dani are putting on makeup and Cailie is nerviously moving around in her too short shirt. “So what do you think Cailie?” Carly asks. “I feel a little weird. I don’t wear this type of outfit.” Cailie responds.
“You’re hot. I’d do you” Dani reassures her.
We see the crew entering the Compound and Cailie catches the eye of a bartender. “He is REALLY cute!” Cailie is forced to yell over the booming music. “I think I’m going to the bar.”
Jimmy and Todd are standing off to the side when two females approach them.
Jimmy in a V.O. says “so these two ladies come over and start talking. I am trying to not make eye contact, but Todd is all about these girls.
“So where are you ladies from” Todd asks. We next see Todd dancing with the two ladies and Dani and Jimmy are standing in a corner. “I thought he had a girlfriend?” shouts Dani. “I did too,” Jimmy shrugs.
Cailie is now talking to the bartender and Carly doesn’t seem to like that her Frankenstein is getting the attention. The bartender gives Carly and drink, then steps away because he seems a bit annoyed that Carly is hogging in on his Cailie time. The two roommates return to Vlad and they all watch Kevin dancing by himself as no one will dance with him. “I think we should invite him back to the house. What do you guys think?” asks Cailie. “Yeah!” “Go for it.” Dani and Vlad both encourage her. Jimmy looks a bit miserable until Carly starts dancing on him. Dani rolls her eyes at this.
Cailie goes back to the bar and invites the bartender back to the house and he agrees. We next see Cailie and the Bartender Max, along with some of the other roommates in the cab on the way home. “So what’s your name?” asks K-Dawg. Max. “They call me K-Dawg. I rap!” Kevin is a little drunk. He tries to spit out a rap when a tipsy Jimmy and an overserved Carly crack up and tell him to shut up.
Back at the house Vlad is making drinks while Cailie and Max flirt. Carly puts on a VERY skinny two piece and her cowboy hat and Jimmy is sitting in the hot tub. Kevin is riding down the waterslide when we see Todd in the phone room. He is phoning Ray, his girlfriend asking how her night was. He says he loves her and really misses her. She realizes he’s drunk and tells him she is tired. Todd leaves the room and finds Dani. They retire to a couch as Todd asks her about her girlfriend. He is afraid he messed things up with Ray by just dancing with these other girls and Dani reassures him. She also warns him that he needs to be careful. He is a hot guy, she says and the temptation is going to be there. You’ve got to be smart.
“You’re so wise. You remind me of Ray. Thank you,” slurs Todd. Dani offers him a hug that lasts a bit too long. “You need to stop saying I remind you of your girlfriend. I don’t want to wake up with you in my bed.”
Back in the hot tub, Carly is now off Jimmy and flirting with Max again. It NOW is starting to make Cailie a little upset. “Hey, Max you wanna go someplace and talk?” asks a perturbed Cailie. Max says he is fine. Carly drunken says, “Yeah Cai, he’s fine!”
Max picks up on the vibe and tells Cailie he is going to leave. Cailie walks him out and he gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Call me. I’m working tomorrow.” Max gives her a hug and leaves.
“OK, I will. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Cailie shuts the door and then goes to find Carly.
“What were you doing? You can’t have everybody!” yells Cailie.
“What the F**k are you talking about?” a disbelieving Carly shouts back.
“You saw me talking to Max and you butted in.”
“Oh shut up, I’m going to bed.” Carly gives Cailie the hand as she walks back.
“Oh OK slut, walk away.”
A door slams as the credits hit.
Next time on THE REAL WORLD.
“You hurt my feelings last night Carly. I was interested in Max and you..” Cailie starts but is cut off by Carly.
“Max is a bartender and whatever. You called me a slut.”
Todd and Dani are shown talking, “Ray supported me finding my birth mother. She lives in Atlanta.” Dani says, “Oh you should TOTALLY look her up!”
Kevin says, “Yo Vlad, I’m going global baby. I’ve got an audition with Big Boi’s people.”
We see Carly flirting with Max and Cailie throws a drink and storms out of the bar.
Kevin shouts, “ATL BABY!”… Jimmy and Cailie finally arrive and hugs are given all around. Carly seems happy that Jimmy is there. Cailie does not appear to be amused…. K-Dawg raps, “I’m riding with Carly, hot Carly from the mag, I swear before this is over I’ll have her in the bag,” while a miserable Carly has a look of HELP ME as they are stopped at a red light… Jimmy says “she cleans up nice. I bet you do too.” Cailie blushes a bit before punching Jimmy and proclaiming that they will be friends.
This is the TRUE STORY, of Seven strangers (you’re a rapper?), picked to live in a house (ATL BABY!), and have their lives taped (get the F*** out my face!) to find out what happens when people stop being polite (say it again, I DARE YOU!) and start being real. The Real World: Atlanta!
People are seen dining at Neighbor’s when Jimmy and Carly walk into Atkins Park.
Jimmy says, “So tell me the story about the magazine cover.” “OK, so I was down visiting the campus and the spring game was going on. I just walked in and my friend was actually who bought the hat. I snatched it from her because only students are allowed to go to the game. Well, I was wearing that and the ticket guy let me in and next thing I know some kid from the paper or something snapped my picture. I guess he sold it and it just took off.
“Wow, that’s pretty wild. My girlfriend Abby was in a photo shoot for the women’s soccer team at school. I told her that I’d support her if she wanted to go be a model, but she is hellbent on being a soccer player.”
“Do they have a professional women’s league in America?” asks Carly.
“No, she’d have to go to Europe most likely,” says a sort of sad Jimmy. Carly immediately pounces. “So would you go too?”
“No, I’d stay here, unless I could get a transfer to a European club.” Jimmy. “Or we’d have to end it, Don’t know, and I don’t want to think about it.
Back at the house, Cailie and Vlad are in the pool. “Oh man, what a nice day it is out here. It would be such a nice day to ride.”
“Ride? Ride what?” asks Vlad.
“Oh, I ride horses. I’m a professional rodeo rider.”
Vlad doesn’t seem to understand as he is already drinking.
“Isn’t it a little early to be drinking?” asks Cailie.
“Vodka, it’s not just for breakfast anymore.”
Confessional “I’m not sure. I think Vlad might have a drinking problem,” confesses Cailie. “but then, I might too.”
In the kitchen, Vlad and Dani are talking and Dani asks Vlad about his time in Poland. After Vlad explains how he came to America, Todd joins and Vlad pours him a drink. “Man, you are already drinking?” Todd asks.
“It is 11:45. I’ve been up since for 5 hours. I went for a run and now I am drinking with lunch.”
Dani asks Vlad straight up if he has a drinking problem and Vlad pours his drink out before stalking away.
In confessional, Vladimir sighs, “Jesus, why do these people think a drink is a drinking problem. Sorry I don’t sleep until 3pm. My grandfather could drink an entire bottle of rum in a sitting. That is a problem. I don’t do that. These people need to worry about themselves.
Kevin is shown putting on a FilA sweatsuit ala Trouty from My Boys. He walks downstairs and Dani and Todd ask if he wants to go get some lunch. “Hecks yeah.” They both roll their eyes.
The are shown eating at the Flying biscuit and Dani and Todd are talking about Todd’s black girlfriend. “You actually remind me a lot of her, from a physical appearance standpoint sure, but you guys even hold your forks the same and I’ve never seen someone put mustard on a roll straight up, but both of you do it.
“Is this sh*t all vegetarian?” questions K-Dawg.
“Yeah, idiot, you didn’t realize? (Back to Todd) I grew up on mustard sandwiches. In college we didn’t have a lot of money so we got bread from the grocery store and a bottle of mustard and ate. We took our money and spent it on going downtown.” Dani continues to eat mustard sandwiches.
Todd says, “so your parents were hippies?” “Yeah, we followed the Dead for a while, never really having a solid home, but that made me who I am. I learned about Free love, and the best thing my parents taught me was that I could love a person, regardless of gender. So far though, I just like women.”
“Heck’s yeah!” K-Dawg shouts.
“So if you met the right guy though, you think you’d make the switch over?” asks Todd.
“Don’t know, you offering?” Dani retorts.
Back at the house, Vlad is cleaning up a bit when Carly walks in. “So I heard you you were looking for a workout buddy?” asks Carly.
“Yes I guess. You work out?
“I’ve gotta stay in shape. I want to be a personal trainer or a model when I graduate from Florida State.
“Let’s go.”
Jimmy walks into the weight room where Vlad is spotting Carly. “Am I interrupting?”
“Interrupting what?” asks a clueless Vlad. “You want to lift?”
Carly moves to a treadmill as Jimmy tries to outlift Vlad. We see shots of Vlad pumping iron while Jimmy is clearly trying to outdo him.
In confessional, “I am the athlete of the house. I am competitive, I have to beat Vlad.” Confesses Jimmy. “I have to beat Vlad. I have to.”
Later we see everyone in the bathroom getting ready. “So I heard you got outlifted by Vlad today,” remarked a naked Todd to Jimmy.
“Oh shut up man.” A red-faced Jimmy shot back
“Come on bro. You gotta rep for America bro!” K-Dawg interjected into the conversation. “Who asked you? Jimmy barked at Kevin.
Dani walks in and slides her arms around Jimmy. “So I heard that Carly is now off the Jimmy bandwagon and is eyeing Vladdy.
“What? I don’t care,” Jimmy says. “So you don’t mind if I try and hit that?” Kevin puffs out his chest and asks.
About this time Cailie walks through and has dropped a bit of the tomboy. Carly walks in and shows off her “masterpiece.” What do you guys think about Cailie now?”
“Whoa, baby, you are BANGIN’!” K-Dawg yells, but Todd has taken notice too. Vlad has walked in and asks we ready?
The doorbell rings as a cab honks. Carly and Dani are putting on makeup and Cailie is nerviously moving around in her too short shirt. “So what do you think Cailie?” Carly asks. “I feel a little weird. I don’t wear this type of outfit.” Cailie responds.
“You’re hot. I’d do you” Dani reassures her.
We see the crew entering the Compound and Cailie catches the eye of a bartender. “He is REALLY cute!” Cailie is forced to yell over the booming music. “I think I’m going to the bar.”
Jimmy and Todd are standing off to the side when two females approach them.
Jimmy in a V.O. says “so these two ladies come over and start talking. I am trying to not make eye contact, but Todd is all about these girls.
“So where are you ladies from” Todd asks. We next see Todd dancing with the two ladies and Dani and Jimmy are standing in a corner. “I thought he had a girlfriend?” shouts Dani. “I did too,” Jimmy shrugs.
Cailie is now talking to the bartender and Carly doesn’t seem to like that her Frankenstein is getting the attention. The bartender gives Carly and drink, then steps away because he seems a bit annoyed that Carly is hogging in on his Cailie time. The two roommates return to Vlad and they all watch Kevin dancing by himself as no one will dance with him. “I think we should invite him back to the house. What do you guys think?” asks Cailie. “Yeah!” “Go for it.” Dani and Vlad both encourage her. Jimmy looks a bit miserable until Carly starts dancing on him. Dani rolls her eyes at this.
Cailie goes back to the bar and invites the bartender back to the house and he agrees. We next see Cailie and the Bartender Max, along with some of the other roommates in the cab on the way home. “So what’s your name?” asks K-Dawg. Max. “They call me K-Dawg. I rap!” Kevin is a little drunk. He tries to spit out a rap when a tipsy Jimmy and an overserved Carly crack up and tell him to shut up.
Back at the house Vlad is making drinks while Cailie and Max flirt. Carly puts on a VERY skinny two piece and her cowboy hat and Jimmy is sitting in the hot tub. Kevin is riding down the waterslide when we see Todd in the phone room. He is phoning Ray, his girlfriend asking how her night was. He says he loves her and really misses her. She realizes he’s drunk and tells him she is tired. Todd leaves the room and finds Dani. They retire to a couch as Todd asks her about her girlfriend. He is afraid he messed things up with Ray by just dancing with these other girls and Dani reassures him. She also warns him that he needs to be careful. He is a hot guy, she says and the temptation is going to be there. You’ve got to be smart.
“You’re so wise. You remind me of Ray. Thank you,” slurs Todd. Dani offers him a hug that lasts a bit too long. “You need to stop saying I remind you of your girlfriend. I don’t want to wake up with you in my bed.”
Back in the hot tub, Carly is now off Jimmy and flirting with Max again. It NOW is starting to make Cailie a little upset. “Hey, Max you wanna go someplace and talk?” asks a perturbed Cailie. Max says he is fine. Carly drunken says, “Yeah Cai, he’s fine!”
Max picks up on the vibe and tells Cailie he is going to leave. Cailie walks him out and he gives her a kiss on the cheek. “Call me. I’m working tomorrow.” Max gives her a hug and leaves.
“OK, I will. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Cailie shuts the door and then goes to find Carly.
“What were you doing? You can’t have everybody!” yells Cailie.
“What the F**k are you talking about?” a disbelieving Carly shouts back.
“You saw me talking to Max and you butted in.”
“Oh shut up, I’m going to bed.” Carly gives Cailie the hand as she walks back.
“Oh OK slut, walk away.”
A door slams as the credits hit.
Next time on THE REAL WORLD.
“You hurt my feelings last night Carly. I was interested in Max and you..” Cailie starts but is cut off by Carly.
“Max is a bartender and whatever. You called me a slut.”
Todd and Dani are shown talking, “Ray supported me finding my birth mother. She lives in Atlanta.” Dani says, “Oh you should TOTALLY look her up!”
Kevin says, “Yo Vlad, I’m going global baby. I’ve got an audition with Big Boi’s people.”
We see Carly flirting with Max and Cailie throws a drink and storms out of the bar.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Stuckey's top condiments list.
We here at Sportsbyfletch are PROUD to welcome in a new correspondent to the blog, Anthony Stuckey. He wanted to respond to my love of Zaxby's and the Zax's Sauce with a little TOP 25 list of his favorite condiments of all-time. (He also told me that me agrees that Zaxby's is quite good, especially the homemade sauce from the Valdosta location that used to cure his hangover every Sunday morning.)
With no further ado, Stuckey's top 25.....
25. Heinz 57 Sauce
24. Callaway Gardens Vidalia Onion Cucumber Dill Dressing
23. Dill Relish (Any brand but homemade is best)
22. Mango Chutney
21. Chimichurri Sauce
20. Spinach and Artichoke Dip (put it on a sandwich, it's awesome, according to Stuckey)
19. Frenchs Yellow Mustard
18. Creamy Scallion Dip (homemade)
17. Zaxbys Zax Sauce
16. Grilled Corn Salsa
15. Kikkiman Soy Sauce
14. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
13. Jack Daniels Grilling Sauce
12. Arbys Sauce (though it was better from the bottle.)
11. Black Bean salsa
10. Sour cream.
09. Heinz Tomato Ketchup
08. McDonalds Hot Mustard
07. Chunky Guacamole
06. Sauza Tequila Fiery Hot Sauce
05. Callaway Gardens Muscadine Vinaigrette
04. Kens Steakhouse Balsamic & Basil Vinaigrette
03. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (put a dry pack of this one with #10....NICE!)
02. Guldens Spicy Brown Mustard
01. Hula Girl Hot Sauce
Just missing the cut: A-1 and Guthries Sauce
With no further ado, Stuckey's top 25.....
25. Heinz 57 Sauce
24. Callaway Gardens Vidalia Onion Cucumber Dill Dressing
23. Dill Relish (Any brand but homemade is best)
22. Mango Chutney
21. Chimichurri Sauce
20. Spinach and Artichoke Dip (put it on a sandwich, it's awesome, according to Stuckey)
19. Frenchs Yellow Mustard
18. Creamy Scallion Dip (homemade)
17. Zaxbys Zax Sauce
16. Grilled Corn Salsa
15. Kikkiman Soy Sauce
14. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
13. Jack Daniels Grilling Sauce
12. Arbys Sauce (though it was better from the bottle.)
11. Black Bean salsa
10. Sour cream.
09. Heinz Tomato Ketchup
08. McDonalds Hot Mustard
07. Chunky Guacamole
06. Sauza Tequila Fiery Hot Sauce
05. Callaway Gardens Muscadine Vinaigrette
04. Kens Steakhouse Balsamic & Basil Vinaigrette
03. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing (put a dry pack of this one with #10....NICE!)
02. Guldens Spicy Brown Mustard
01. Hula Girl Hot Sauce
Just missing the cut: A-1 and Guthries Sauce
Midweek Entertainment report 1/28/09
New pitchmen ready for Super Bowl, Michael Jackson the musical?, TO and publicist get a TV show, Ugly Betty going away and Portia dies off to appear on another show...
Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP.
Coming soon to a musical theater near you....THRILLER: The Musical! Some crackerjack has decided to expand the Thriller music video into a full length show and is trying to get Michael Jackson involved. (I am not sure how much success he will have once MJ figures out that a grip boy isn't what he thinks it is....) But really though? Zombies and a teenager turning into a werewolf? Can we include all MJ videos? Maybe a good knife fight right before intermission. Maybe a random trip to Egypt for good measure...
I saw where TO is getting his own reality show on VH1 and his publicist is coming along for the ride. Remember this chick? She was the one after TO's suicide attempt tried to spin that Mr. O had "24 million reasons to not kill himself." She should really be the main character because I want to know how someone so FREAKING STOOPID could get a job with a multimillionaire like that. Wait, unless she had sex with TO and then threatened to keep the baby unless she gave him a job. I hope the show goes into that story line.
At first I was a little freaked out by them, but now they have grown on me to the point that now I enjoy the commercials. The new Geico pitchman is NOT a caveman, nor a lizard or a famous D-list celebrity. Nope, it is a stack of bills with eyeballs that doesn't say a word. And I think they are great. I like the song. I like the "shark at the door" feel to the money. Good stuff. Geico's people are very creative. That's why I am insured with them. (wait, no it is because they are the cheapest. Nevermind). One marketing department though that has switched it up that I have to roll my eyes at is Pepsi. If you haven't noticed the new logo, just look at 84% of cars on the highway in . The ones with the Obama magnets, because Pepsi just copied that. And does anyone else think that all of the Obama stuff (plates, shirts, posters) is just taking advantage of a certain portion of the population? I feel really bad saying that, but I think there are people out there (living out the American dream, sure) but just taking advantage of others? No, just me?
ABC is apparently shelving Ugly Betty for a while and running Samantha Who and another new show in its place for a few months. That's a shame. It also likely means that the America chick will try and film Traveling Pants 3 which will lead to Wifey, Poon and Roomie to dress up as the characters and go see that movie in the theater then try and say they aren't trekkies....
I watched Nip/Tuck last night as well as A Double Shot at Love on mute. Nip/Tuck was crazy as a chick took out the old electric turkey carver and cut her boob off. Yeouch. Somehow she survived and Christian removed her other breastistis because she was afraid she would get breast cancer. Also we see where Portia de Rossi gets killed off, presumably so she can go star on that new ABC pilot. it is about time. The entire Julia is a lezbinen angle was dumb. (Kind of along the lines of Ryan Atwood is a cagefighter. Not quite Oliver level, but still pretty far down there...) We also see that Liz and Christian decide to have a relationship and a few seasons ago I'd ask Christian why, but Liz has lost some LBs and looks pretty slim. Good for her....
Someone or ones that DON'T look good in the morning, The ikki twins. The two took Rebekha and Scotty and Trevor to Vegas (I guess the ikki twins couldn't leave the country for Mexico?) and we see the twins at the morning-after breakfasts and they DO. NOT. LOOK. GOOD. Makeup girls. Tila looked alright the morning after, but she actually threw a little makeup on. Rikki and Vikki both looked like what came out after a cat ate dog poop them threw up all over a dirty baby diaper. Twins, please, WARN me next time. I nearly choked on my black cherry jell-o. But after not remembering any of Rebekha's date, I saw where Scotty fell alseep on his date (or passed out drunk, one or the other)after the girls performed on a stripper pole (SPOILER: THIS IS YOUR FUTURE GIRLS!) and then Trevor told both girls that he loved them. (Well he told Vikki that he NEVER wanted to leave her, then he left her to go tell Rikki that he loved her.) Rikki kicked T-Rev out RIGHT AFTER he said it. Nice. Vikki wouldn't have done that. Scotty was kicked off and You can see that Rikki is going after Trevor and Vikki will get stuck with Rebekha. Can't wait for THAT show to end. But I have to watch. I can't just NOT watch the finale. But it will be on mute.
Lie to Me is on tonight and we get to see more of "THE REAL SIDE of New York" tonight. Nice. Tomorrow, episode two of RW:The ATL.
Have a great one everybody!
Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP.
Coming soon to a musical theater near you....THRILLER: The Musical! Some crackerjack has decided to expand the Thriller music video into a full length show and is trying to get Michael Jackson involved. (I am not sure how much success he will have once MJ figures out that a grip boy isn't what he thinks it is....) But really though? Zombies and a teenager turning into a werewolf? Can we include all MJ videos? Maybe a good knife fight right before intermission. Maybe a random trip to Egypt for good measure...
I saw where TO is getting his own reality show on VH1 and his publicist is coming along for the ride. Remember this chick? She was the one after TO's suicide attempt tried to spin that Mr. O had "24 million reasons to not kill himself." She should really be the main character because I want to know how someone so FREAKING STOOPID could get a job with a multimillionaire like that. Wait, unless she had sex with TO and then threatened to keep the baby unless she gave him a job. I hope the show goes into that story line.
At first I was a little freaked out by them, but now they have grown on me to the point that now I enjoy the commercials. The new Geico pitchman is NOT a caveman, nor a lizard or a famous D-list celebrity. Nope, it is a stack of bills with eyeballs that doesn't say a word. And I think they are great. I like the song. I like the "shark at the door" feel to the money. Good stuff. Geico's people are very creative. That's why I am insured with them. (wait, no it is because they are the cheapest. Nevermind). One marketing department though that has switched it up that I have to roll my eyes at is Pepsi. If you haven't noticed the new logo, just look at 84% of cars on the highway in . The ones with the Obama magnets, because Pepsi just copied that. And does anyone else think that all of the Obama stuff (plates, shirts, posters) is just taking advantage of a certain portion of the population? I feel really bad saying that, but I think there are people out there (living out the American dream, sure) but just taking advantage of others? No, just me?
ABC is apparently shelving Ugly Betty for a while and running Samantha Who and another new show in its place for a few months. That's a shame. It also likely means that the America chick will try and film Traveling Pants 3 which will lead to Wifey, Poon and Roomie to dress up as the characters and go see that movie in the theater then try and say they aren't trekkies....
I watched Nip/Tuck last night as well as A Double Shot at Love on mute. Nip/Tuck was crazy as a chick took out the old electric turkey carver and cut her boob off. Yeouch. Somehow she survived and Christian removed her other breastistis because she was afraid she would get breast cancer. Also we see where Portia de Rossi gets killed off, presumably so she can go star on that new ABC pilot. it is about time. The entire Julia is a lezbinen angle was dumb. (Kind of along the lines of Ryan Atwood is a cagefighter. Not quite Oliver level, but still pretty far down there...) We also see that Liz and Christian decide to have a relationship and a few seasons ago I'd ask Christian why, but Liz has lost some LBs and looks pretty slim. Good for her....
Someone or ones that DON'T look good in the morning, The ikki twins. The two took Rebekha and Scotty and Trevor to Vegas (I guess the ikki twins couldn't leave the country for Mexico?) and we see the twins at the morning-after breakfasts and they DO. NOT. LOOK. GOOD. Makeup girls. Tila looked alright the morning after, but she actually threw a little makeup on. Rikki and Vikki both looked like what came out after a cat ate dog poop them threw up all over a dirty baby diaper. Twins, please, WARN me next time. I nearly choked on my black cherry jell-o. But after not remembering any of Rebekha's date, I saw where Scotty fell alseep on his date (or passed out drunk, one or the other)after the girls performed on a stripper pole (SPOILER: THIS IS YOUR FUTURE GIRLS!) and then Trevor told both girls that he loved them. (Well he told Vikki that he NEVER wanted to leave her, then he left her to go tell Rikki that he loved her.) Rikki kicked T-Rev out RIGHT AFTER he said it. Nice. Vikki wouldn't have done that. Scotty was kicked off and You can see that Rikki is going after Trevor and Vikki will get stuck with Rebekha. Can't wait for THAT show to end. But I have to watch. I can't just NOT watch the finale. But it will be on mute.
Lie to Me is on tonight and we get to see more of "THE REAL SIDE of New York" tonight. Nice. Tomorrow, episode two of RW:The ATL.
Have a great one everybody!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
You want the PERFECT chicken finger?
You've come to the right place. I was sitting in my car today, pondering where to go to get lunch and I started thinking about Zaxby's chicken fingers. Why? Because they FRIGGIN' ROCK that's why!
Too bad I could not find a Zaxby's where I was. There IS one near my new house up in Suwanee, but I am also trying to not eat fast food during the week. I need to get back to my target weight for Roomie's wedding. I need to drop about 7 lbs. and I should be good.
But why was I craving Zaxby's? Is that really the best chicken finger I've ever had? They are the best thing going right now, but over the years, this guy has packed away some pretty tasty chicken fingers/tenders/nuggets.
Some of my first memories EVER are getting Chicken McNuggets with my PeePaw while coming home from Preschool. Those MAC Nuggets as he used to call them were great. Little bits of goodness. They held a place in my heart until I got old enough to actually taste and recognize what I was eating: Chicken piecesparts. I am sure there were beaks and claws and whatever in those things. Recently MickyD's fixed them and they are quite good again, especially with that honeymustard they throw out there, but when I have other options, I have to go elsewhere.
Grade Components: A+ for the memories, C- for the taste. D for the batter. Final C
Salisbury Country Club. OK, so maybe this is cheating, but I used to make the ones where I would literally cut the chicken breast, then dip them in the buttermilk, into the breading and into the deepfryer. Some of the best EVER! Too bad I only worked in the kitchen for 9 months. I miss the food from Salisbury, but not the cleanup.
Grade: D- for memories, A+ for taste. A+ for batter. Final- B+
Wendy's. The five nuggets for 99 cents is tough to beat, but they are fuzzy. Not sure if that is mold or just weird batter.
Grade: N/A for memories (these can around in college. I was into the JBCs. C- for taste. D for batter. Final- D. Stick to the junior Bacon cheeseburgers!
Burger King. The chicken fries are weird, but kind of cool. I remember the commercials were funny enough (with the box of fries talking smack to the chicken.) that I thought I owed it to BK to try them out. If a commercial is cleaver enough, I will honor the company by testing out the product. While I prefer the Chicken sandwich, the chicken fries are a tasty alternative.
Grade: Memories B (funny commercial), Taste B-, batter C, Final- B-.
Guthries. We had a Guthries within walking distance from Creswell in Athens and you could go and get either a box or a plate. It was the same thing, only the box was to-go while the plate meant you were staying. And the rumor was that the sauce could clean a penny. That sauce was so good (better than Zax's Sauce. Yeah, sorry.) The bread was tasty as were the fries. Good sweet tea too. And the BEST part, they ONLY made chicken fingers, so they ALWAYS had them. And you didn't have to wait like you do at Zaxbys. AND, you could get a BUCKET of fingers. A freaking BUCKET. Too bad they closed the Guthries and turned it into so other Zaxby's knockoff. I heard there is one near Chamble-Dunwoody, but I haven't had a chance to explore over there.
Grade: Memories A- (I stopped going after I moved from the dorms. Starting hitting up Zaxby's. IT WAS CLOSER!), Taste A, batter A. Final A. Great sauce!
KFC. I have never thought that KFC was as good ever since I had Zaxby's and Guthries. The batter is just...enh. I like the popcorn chicken, but I have bad memories from one particular KFC visit. I don't want to get into it but it affected my future visits to the KFC.
Grade. Memories D. Taste C-. Batter D. Final- D+. I like the mashed potatoes though...
Chick-fil-A. The NUGGETS are the thing here. In Midlothian they had a C-F-A in the mall and when I got to Georgia, I thought it was so weird that they were stand alone. I also wondered is Sbarro was stand alone down here. The chicken sandwich is pretty good (sans pickle.) but the nuggets the the thing. I've tried the strips, nah. Go with the nuggets, but make sure you can go at a time when they AREN'T busy so they can finish cooking them. For WHATEVER reason, when the Chick-fil-as get busy, they stop cooking the nuggets when ONE starts to float so sometimes not all of the nuggets are crispy. If the nuggets are crispy, drop them in a mixture of the BBQ and mayo, and you are GTG!
Memories-B (too many times uncrispy!) Taste A when crispy C when not. Batter A. Final- we must give two grades A- or a B-. But the waffle fries have grown on me and I love the sweet tea. But don't be so stingy with the MAYO!
Arby's. I used to get the Chicken Fingers and Curly Fries EVERY Wednesday when my Dad would take me out to eat for our one night a week dinner. I'd scarf down these things (with a mixture of Arby's Sauce and Honey mustard) so I could get a peanutbutter sundae. I remember they were really good, but I don't get them anymore. Maybe if I can't get the peanutbutter sundae, there isn't any point eating the chicken fingers. OR maybe I can buy my own sundae and don't have to perform like a circus seal, so I cut out the middleman or in this case the middlefood. Dunno.
Memories-B+ Taste C+, Batter C, Final- 79.5 C+/B-. The Arby's Sauce made these worthwhile.
Locos. The chicken "fingers" were always flat and you could tell that they were the frozen kind. BUT, the honeymustard even Wifey likes and she hates honey mustard. She used to get the chicken fingers I think JUST for the honey mustard. She dipped EVERYTHING in the honey mustard. She would put the chicken, the fries, the garnish, even a quick finger swirl. THEN she stole my Gobbler because she realized she could just order a side of honey mustard for her fries.
Memories A+ ( I love me some Locos! I wish there was one in Suwanee!) Taste B-, Batter C Final B+.
Zaxby's Whether it is the fingers (to die for, with the batter..) the fries (seasoned, just how I like), the texas toast (nice and buttery) the Zax's Sauce (no Arby's sauce or Guthries, but still daggone good) or the sweet tea, I think I would choose Zaxbys as my final meal if I was on death row. I would. That is pretty much the highest honor I can give a chicken finger. Now if ONLY bacon could SOMEHOW get thrown in there......
Memories A+. Taste. A+ (but make sure you are crispy, see: Chick-fil-A). Batter A+. Final A+. Frankly, the BEST chicken finger out there.
Failing to make the cut-Popeyes (cajun-enh), Hardees (don't remember them. that's bad), Church's (Never had them), Applebees (nothing to write home about), Chili's (the chicken crispers are just too battery or something.) Kayson's (I wouldn't get them again.)
Too bad I could not find a Zaxby's where I was. There IS one near my new house up in Suwanee, but I am also trying to not eat fast food during the week. I need to get back to my target weight for Roomie's wedding. I need to drop about 7 lbs. and I should be good.
But why was I craving Zaxby's? Is that really the best chicken finger I've ever had? They are the best thing going right now, but over the years, this guy has packed away some pretty tasty chicken fingers/tenders/nuggets.
Some of my first memories EVER are getting Chicken McNuggets with my PeePaw while coming home from Preschool. Those MAC Nuggets as he used to call them were great. Little bits of goodness. They held a place in my heart until I got old enough to actually taste and recognize what I was eating: Chicken piecesparts. I am sure there were beaks and claws and whatever in those things. Recently MickyD's fixed them and they are quite good again, especially with that honeymustard they throw out there, but when I have other options, I have to go elsewhere.
Grade Components: A+ for the memories, C- for the taste. D for the batter. Final C
Salisbury Country Club. OK, so maybe this is cheating, but I used to make the ones where I would literally cut the chicken breast, then dip them in the buttermilk, into the breading and into the deepfryer. Some of the best EVER! Too bad I only worked in the kitchen for 9 months. I miss the food from Salisbury, but not the cleanup.
Grade: D- for memories, A+ for taste. A+ for batter. Final- B+
Wendy's. The five nuggets for 99 cents is tough to beat, but they are fuzzy. Not sure if that is mold or just weird batter.
Grade: N/A for memories (these can around in college. I was into the JBCs. C- for taste. D for batter. Final- D. Stick to the junior Bacon cheeseburgers!
Burger King. The chicken fries are weird, but kind of cool. I remember the commercials were funny enough (with the box of fries talking smack to the chicken.) that I thought I owed it to BK to try them out. If a commercial is cleaver enough, I will honor the company by testing out the product. While I prefer the Chicken sandwich, the chicken fries are a tasty alternative.
Grade: Memories B (funny commercial), Taste B-, batter C, Final- B-.
Guthries. We had a Guthries within walking distance from Creswell in Athens and you could go and get either a box or a plate. It was the same thing, only the box was to-go while the plate meant you were staying. And the rumor was that the sauce could clean a penny. That sauce was so good (better than Zax's Sauce. Yeah, sorry.) The bread was tasty as were the fries. Good sweet tea too. And the BEST part, they ONLY made chicken fingers, so they ALWAYS had them. And you didn't have to wait like you do at Zaxbys. AND, you could get a BUCKET of fingers. A freaking BUCKET. Too bad they closed the Guthries and turned it into so other Zaxby's knockoff. I heard there is one near Chamble-Dunwoody, but I haven't had a chance to explore over there.
Grade: Memories A- (I stopped going after I moved from the dorms. Starting hitting up Zaxby's. IT WAS CLOSER!), Taste A, batter A. Final A. Great sauce!
KFC. I have never thought that KFC was as good ever since I had Zaxby's and Guthries. The batter is just...enh. I like the popcorn chicken, but I have bad memories from one particular KFC visit. I don't want to get into it but it affected my future visits to the KFC.
Grade. Memories D. Taste C-. Batter D. Final- D+. I like the mashed potatoes though...
Chick-fil-A. The NUGGETS are the thing here. In Midlothian they had a C-F-A in the mall and when I got to Georgia, I thought it was so weird that they were stand alone. I also wondered is Sbarro was stand alone down here. The chicken sandwich is pretty good (sans pickle.) but the nuggets the the thing. I've tried the strips, nah. Go with the nuggets, but make sure you can go at a time when they AREN'T busy so they can finish cooking them. For WHATEVER reason, when the Chick-fil-as get busy, they stop cooking the nuggets when ONE starts to float so sometimes not all of the nuggets are crispy. If the nuggets are crispy, drop them in a mixture of the BBQ and mayo, and you are GTG!
Memories-B (too many times uncrispy!) Taste A when crispy C when not. Batter A. Final- we must give two grades A- or a B-. But the waffle fries have grown on me and I love the sweet tea. But don't be so stingy with the MAYO!
Arby's. I used to get the Chicken Fingers and Curly Fries EVERY Wednesday when my Dad would take me out to eat for our one night a week dinner. I'd scarf down these things (with a mixture of Arby's Sauce and Honey mustard) so I could get a peanutbutter sundae. I remember they were really good, but I don't get them anymore. Maybe if I can't get the peanutbutter sundae, there isn't any point eating the chicken fingers. OR maybe I can buy my own sundae and don't have to perform like a circus seal, so I cut out the middleman or in this case the middlefood. Dunno.
Memories-B+ Taste C+, Batter C, Final- 79.5 C+/B-. The Arby's Sauce made these worthwhile.
Locos. The chicken "fingers" were always flat and you could tell that they were the frozen kind. BUT, the honeymustard even Wifey likes and she hates honey mustard. She used to get the chicken fingers I think JUST for the honey mustard. She dipped EVERYTHING in the honey mustard. She would put the chicken, the fries, the garnish, even a quick finger swirl. THEN she stole my Gobbler because she realized she could just order a side of honey mustard for her fries.
Memories A+ ( I love me some Locos! I wish there was one in Suwanee!) Taste B-, Batter C Final B+.
Zaxby's Whether it is the fingers (to die for, with the batter..) the fries (seasoned, just how I like), the texas toast (nice and buttery) the Zax's Sauce (no Arby's sauce or Guthries, but still daggone good) or the sweet tea, I think I would choose Zaxbys as my final meal if I was on death row. I would. That is pretty much the highest honor I can give a chicken finger. Now if ONLY bacon could SOMEHOW get thrown in there......
Memories A+. Taste. A+ (but make sure you are crispy, see: Chick-fil-A). Batter A+. Final A+. Frankly, the BEST chicken finger out there.
Failing to make the cut-Popeyes (cajun-enh), Hardees (don't remember them. that's bad), Church's (Never had them), Applebees (nothing to write home about), Chili's (the chicken crispers are just too battery or something.) Kayson's (I wouldn't get them again.)
So how did it end again?
I was excited about my Monday lineup of shows last night (House, Bromance, The City), but I remember going to bed disappointed. House was fine, Bromance was quite funny, but The City really kind of pissed me off. It started out with such promise-the writers had Adam throwing a party, on both Kat and Allie would be attending. (I think this is kind of funny since New York has 8 Million people, and he picks a chick that is friends with Allie's friends, but whatever....And why does Sam need to go to this thing, much less Kat?)
After Kat tells Allie though, this whole episode just goes to crap. In fact, as I write this, I'm not really sure what happened. Adam kept telling Allie that Kat was lying. She didn't believe, then she did. He kept "lying" or maybe he wasn't. It gave me a headache.
Then Whitney and Jay got into a fight over it. WHAT? How did that happen? It was like Whitney was TRYING to start a fight.
As big a beyotch as Olivia is, she was right, THAT IS HIGH SCHOOL PEOPLE! If Adam wants to cheat on his not-so-hot model girlfriend with an ugly Katerina, let him do it. It was an UGLY CONTEST when the two of those girls talked at the party. Adam can do better than either of those chicks. I am guess though that Allie makes some serious coin and THAT'S why he is with her.
But in that case, why would he ruin his meal ticket to hook up with ANOTHER ugly girl? You'd think that if you are going ugly, at least go rich ugly. And maybe THAT'S why he is proclaiming innocence.
And maybe Allie realizes this too. And is Kat just saying this to be on TV?
And why did Whitney pick a fight with Jay? What happened with that?
Nevan needs more airtime.
Hopefully the return of Nip/Tuck will settle me down a touch.
After Kat tells Allie though, this whole episode just goes to crap. In fact, as I write this, I'm not really sure what happened. Adam kept telling Allie that Kat was lying. She didn't believe, then she did. He kept "lying" or maybe he wasn't. It gave me a headache.
Then Whitney and Jay got into a fight over it. WHAT? How did that happen? It was like Whitney was TRYING to start a fight.
As big a beyotch as Olivia is, she was right, THAT IS HIGH SCHOOL PEOPLE! If Adam wants to cheat on his not-so-hot model girlfriend with an ugly Katerina, let him do it. It was an UGLY CONTEST when the two of those girls talked at the party. Adam can do better than either of those chicks. I am guess though that Allie makes some serious coin and THAT'S why he is with her.
But in that case, why would he ruin his meal ticket to hook up with ANOTHER ugly girl? You'd think that if you are going ugly, at least go rich ugly. And maybe THAT'S why he is proclaiming innocence.
And maybe Allie realizes this too. And is Kat just saying this to be on TV?
And why did Whitney pick a fight with Jay? What happened with that?
Nevan needs more airtime.
Hopefully the return of Nip/Tuck will settle me down a touch.
Monday, January 26, 2009
What's your excuse now Damon?
BREAKING NEWS! STRUGGLING SEC SCHOOL FIRES IT'S COACH! (Well, actually he "resigned")
Sadly, it wasn't Georgia's Dennis Felton. Nope, he is still employed, but Alabama's Mark Gottfried stepped down about an hour ago. His top assistant will take over for the rest of the season while Alabama looks for a new coach. The worst part about this...Bama has the inside edge for the next big mid-major coach like the guy from Butler or Dayton (if you believe Mark Bradley).
There used to be a rule that you cannot get rid of a coach in the middle of the season. Well Bama thumbed its nose at that rule. Now I DEMAND UGA do the same! Dennis can go, he won't be the first one fired this season, but let's hope he DOES get the boot. And please Damon, DON'T say that you think he should get one more year to get Dustin Ware really going. I poohpooh that idea. This team wouldn't be so YOUNG if Felton hadn't kicked Billy Humphrey and Mike Mercer off the team. And I think Taikais Brown would have been a senior this season if I remember correctly. If you are keeping track, Mercer at point, Humphrey at 2, Wood at 3, Thompkins at 4 and Brown at 5. Pretty good team, especially in this VERY weak SEC.
But Felton made sure THAT didn't happen. Oh well. we are stuck with Ricky McPhee getting 16 second half minutes.
Fire him! You CAN now. Bama let you! They look like the bad guy, NOT YOU! Come on Damon. DO IT!
Sadly, it wasn't Georgia's Dennis Felton. Nope, he is still employed, but Alabama's Mark Gottfried stepped down about an hour ago. His top assistant will take over for the rest of the season while Alabama looks for a new coach. The worst part about this...Bama has the inside edge for the next big mid-major coach like the guy from Butler or Dayton (if you believe Mark Bradley).
There used to be a rule that you cannot get rid of a coach in the middle of the season. Well Bama thumbed its nose at that rule. Now I DEMAND UGA do the same! Dennis can go, he won't be the first one fired this season, but let's hope he DOES get the boot. And please Damon, DON'T say that you think he should get one more year to get Dustin Ware really going. I poohpooh that idea. This team wouldn't be so YOUNG if Felton hadn't kicked Billy Humphrey and Mike Mercer off the team. And I think Taikais Brown would have been a senior this season if I remember correctly. If you are keeping track, Mercer at point, Humphrey at 2, Wood at 3, Thompkins at 4 and Brown at 5. Pretty good team, especially in this VERY weak SEC.
But Felton made sure THAT didn't happen. Oh well. we are stuck with Ricky McPhee getting 16 second half minutes.
Fire him! You CAN now. Bama let you! They look like the bad guy, NOT YOU! Come on Damon. DO IT!
David Perno to appear on Zone Sports Saturday
I thought I'd throw out a WAY early teaser, but be sure to keep your radio/internet locked to Sports Radio 790 The Zone this Saturday from 2:30-5 pm as 2008 SEC Coach of the Year David Perno of the University of Georgia Diamond Dogs will call in for an interview. I was able to get a commitment from Perno for around 4:10 p.m. and we will preview the 2009 season and discuss the magical run for the 2008 Dawgs, when they came within just one game of the CWS championship.
Over his 7 year head coaching career, Perno has run up a 251-184 record with three trips to the CWS in the last five years. He has two SEC Titles and four postseason appearances all together, and he was named 2004 Baseball America Coach of the Year. This season he will look to replace two First Round draft picks and we will discuss who will step up for Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields.
We are still trying to get Georgia Tech head baseball coach Danny Hall on as well. I have talked to two of Tech's people, but we are still trying to nail down a time. Be sure to check back for more scheduling news.
The Score Atlanta Sunday Scoreboard show will also likely welcome in Jermaine Wiggins for our Super Bowl Coverage. Wiggins is a former Bulldog who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in the 2001-02 season and suited up for the 2003-04 NFC Champion Panthers. Catch that ALSO on 790 The Zone this Sunday from 1-4.
+++++++As of 5:42 on Monday night, GT baseball coach Danny Hall has agreed to appear on the show as well. We hope to call Coach Hall around 3:40 or 3:51. Should be a great show! Be sure to tune in!
Over his 7 year head coaching career, Perno has run up a 251-184 record with three trips to the CWS in the last five years. He has two SEC Titles and four postseason appearances all together, and he was named 2004 Baseball America Coach of the Year. This season he will look to replace two First Round draft picks and we will discuss who will step up for Gordon Beckham and Joshua Fields.
We are still trying to get Georgia Tech head baseball coach Danny Hall on as well. I have talked to two of Tech's people, but we are still trying to nail down a time. Be sure to check back for more scheduling news.
The Score Atlanta Sunday Scoreboard show will also likely welcome in Jermaine Wiggins for our Super Bowl Coverage. Wiggins is a former Bulldog who won a Super Bowl with the Patriots in the 2001-02 season and suited up for the 2003-04 NFC Champion Panthers. Catch that ALSO on 790 The Zone this Sunday from 1-4.
+++++++As of 5:42 on Monday night, GT baseball coach Danny Hall has agreed to appear on the show as well. We hope to call Coach Hall around 3:40 or 3:51. Should be a great show! Be sure to tune in!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Norcross looks to be on its way to ANOTHER state title
The Norcross Blue Devils hosted the Marriott Invitational this weekend and swept two Florida powers straight out of the gym. The Blue Devils got strong performances from Denzail Jones both nights, with the second night throwing in 18 points to go along with Taariq Muhammad's 19 points. The Blue Devils won 80-66 over Monsignor Pace the Florida Class AAAA No.1. Monsignor Pace featured Rakeem Buckles, a Louisville commitment had 27, but Blue Devils coach Jesse McMillan was proud of his team. "Buckles is really, really good. He had 27 on us be he had to work for every single one and we didn't let anyone else hurt us." Norcross post players Adrian Hubbard and Ariel Jones helped offset all of Buckles's efforts with 18 points and four blocks. "We played great both games and a lot of it had to do with our inside players picking up their play," according to McMillan.
Now Norcross will get back into region play, where the team is 11-0.
Now Norcross will get back into region play, where the team is 11-0.
A bad night for Georgia on Saturday
Between the loss to the "other" Dogs and losing out to Miss Indiana, Georgia took it on the chin Saturday. The evening started out rough when ESPN2 finally switched its coverage to Athens from an "exciting" CAA contest to find that 4 minutes in, Georgia was still without a point and trailing 5-0. Georgia would trail by as many as 19 (30-11) and Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes were trying to get people to stick around by wondering if one of Miss State's players was going to go for 68 (he had 21 in the first 14 minutes). At one point, I had to wonder what was going on in the game since I was just listening to the commentators and they were discussing the NCState women's coach that passed away FOR 4 straight minutes. Don't worry, it was NOTHING good for UGA that I missed. Dennis the Menace Felton (who DID decide to jump on a plane IMMEDIATELY after last Sunday's Kentucky beatdown to head to DC for the inauguration. Maybe you could have drawn up some plays on the flight?) decided that Ricky McPhee would get the team back in the game and went with the transfer down the stretch in the first half.
At halftime, Georgia trailed by ONLY 12 and Felton seemed encouraged. Great!
The team managed to scrap and claw to get the lead down to 5 with about 8 to go, then one of them hit a three to get it to 52-50 with about 6 to play, but Felton's team (who FINALLY seemed to be playing after the no-show in the first half, the no-show v Kentucky, 40 points against Vandy and the wet Nila wafer down the stretch performance against Tennessee) faded after no-doubt spending so much energy trying to get BACK into the game. The team was within 3 with about 20 seconds and had a few cracks at it, but NO ONE could hit a three pointer. And WHAT do I see? Trey Thompkins laughing with a Miss State guy as he is about to shoot a FT. Do I see Felton spending his TO is an appropriate manner? Nope, he calls them randomly down the stretch and never when the textbook tells you to.
Very frustrating, but don't worry, the team goes on the road now where I am SURE they will have success. They ALWAYS play well on the road with Felton at the helm... either Fletcher has lost his marbles, or that's the introduction to the opposite sketches.
THEN Wifey and I started watching Miss America 2009, hosted by Mario Lopez, which led to the debate on ranking the former SBTB stars. I had Kelly #1 with stints on 90210 and Melrose, with Zack #2 (NYPD Blue, Leverage, Commander in Chief) with Slater at #3 (Pac Blue, the Male View, etc), Lisa (nothing notable), Jessie (porn) and Screech (bad porn) rounded out the list. Wifey thought Zack should be ahead of Kelly, but also had Slater #3.
Regardless, Mario Lopez came off as really creepy like he was waiting for "Miss Ha-va-he" to come off the stage so he could try and "help her cause, if you know what I mean." (Seriously, he kept saying Ha-va-he. Umm Mario, there isn't a V in that state's name, a-hole. Say it once, fine, everytime? A bit much!)
As the 52 (DC and Virgin Islands were also allowed to play) got whittled down to 15, I was a little concerned that Miss Georgia wasn't going to advance and after they called out 11 names, Mario said "And that is our top 15." Miss Georgia wasn't called, but apparently the judges only picked 11 and America had ALREADY picked 4 from a pre-show or something. Whatever. Am I watching American Idol here? Georgia was part of it. Then the bathing suits came out and I am sorry to say, but I have seen 15 hotter chicks just walking to my English class freshman year at UGA. All of those chicks had tree trunk legs fake blond hair with so much makeup on their faces.... pageant girls, really.
Miss Georgia advanced to the talent portion and then to evening wear. As far as talent, some of them were stretching to call what they did "talent." I mean I can play a harmonica, but I wouldn't do it for a Mr. American contest. Then the evening gowns...wow some of them were borrowed from hookers that were no doubt working outside of the casino!
Then they announced the 5th place thru winner and Miss Georgia beat out Miss Florida (Georgia FINALLY wins SOMETHING over Florida!), but loses out to Miss Indiana. Second place for Georgia and it has been like that all year. Second. CRAP! I am hoping though that Mario Lopez tried to seduce Miss Indiana after the show so she will be DQ'ed and Georgia can "back into" yet another championship.
If there was anything I learned from watching the Miss America, it is that women from the Northeast/New England area are UGLY, same for women from the Pacific Northwest. The hottest chicks are from the South, and people from Texas, if they don't win or get left out, BOY do they cry. (wait, we already knew that from last football season!) I think the Miss American contest might be done (I actually didn't realize that women's groups still allowed this contest to happen. PETA is protesting Michael Vick and he's still in jail, but NOW is still letting these chicks prance around in swimsuits and such? Whatever. I guess they win since the girls aren't that hot), but if they DID want to tweak it some, just eliminate all of the states that don't really have a chance: Maine, Vermont, Alaska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Utah. Knock those guys out or combine them into a superstate and this thing might move a little quicker and be a little more exciting.
But Saturday was ultimately a disappointing night for Georgia: so close, yet so unsatisfying.
At halftime, Georgia trailed by ONLY 12 and Felton seemed encouraged. Great!
The team managed to scrap and claw to get the lead down to 5 with about 8 to go, then one of them hit a three to get it to 52-50 with about 6 to play, but Felton's team (who FINALLY seemed to be playing after the no-show in the first half, the no-show v Kentucky, 40 points against Vandy and the wet Nila wafer down the stretch performance against Tennessee) faded after no-doubt spending so much energy trying to get BACK into the game. The team was within 3 with about 20 seconds and had a few cracks at it, but NO ONE could hit a three pointer. And WHAT do I see? Trey Thompkins laughing with a Miss State guy as he is about to shoot a FT. Do I see Felton spending his TO is an appropriate manner? Nope, he calls them randomly down the stretch and never when the textbook tells you to.
Very frustrating, but don't worry, the team goes on the road now where I am SURE they will have success. They ALWAYS play well on the road with Felton at the helm... either Fletcher has lost his marbles, or that's the introduction to the opposite sketches.
THEN Wifey and I started watching Miss America 2009, hosted by Mario Lopez, which led to the debate on ranking the former SBTB stars. I had Kelly #1 with stints on 90210 and Melrose, with Zack #2 (NYPD Blue, Leverage, Commander in Chief) with Slater at #3 (Pac Blue, the Male View, etc), Lisa (nothing notable), Jessie (porn) and Screech (bad porn) rounded out the list. Wifey thought Zack should be ahead of Kelly, but also had Slater #3.
Regardless, Mario Lopez came off as really creepy like he was waiting for "Miss Ha-va-he" to come off the stage so he could try and "help her cause, if you know what I mean." (Seriously, he kept saying Ha-va-he. Umm Mario, there isn't a V in that state's name, a-hole. Say it once, fine, everytime? A bit much!)
As the 52 (DC and Virgin Islands were also allowed to play) got whittled down to 15, I was a little concerned that Miss Georgia wasn't going to advance and after they called out 11 names, Mario said "And that is our top 15." Miss Georgia wasn't called, but apparently the judges only picked 11 and America had ALREADY picked 4 from a pre-show or something. Whatever. Am I watching American Idol here? Georgia was part of it. Then the bathing suits came out and I am sorry to say, but I have seen 15 hotter chicks just walking to my English class freshman year at UGA. All of those chicks had tree trunk legs fake blond hair with so much makeup on their faces.... pageant girls, really.
Miss Georgia advanced to the talent portion and then to evening wear. As far as talent, some of them were stretching to call what they did "talent." I mean I can play a harmonica, but I wouldn't do it for a Mr. American contest. Then the evening gowns...wow some of them were borrowed from hookers that were no doubt working outside of the casino!
Then they announced the 5th place thru winner and Miss Georgia beat out Miss Florida (Georgia FINALLY wins SOMETHING over Florida!), but loses out to Miss Indiana. Second place for Georgia and it has been like that all year. Second. CRAP! I am hoping though that Mario Lopez tried to seduce Miss Indiana after the show so she will be DQ'ed and Georgia can "back into" yet another championship.
If there was anything I learned from watching the Miss America, it is that women from the Northeast/New England area are UGLY, same for women from the Pacific Northwest. The hottest chicks are from the South, and people from Texas, if they don't win or get left out, BOY do they cry. (wait, we already knew that from last football season!) I think the Miss American contest might be done (I actually didn't realize that women's groups still allowed this contest to happen. PETA is protesting Michael Vick and he's still in jail, but NOW is still letting these chicks prance around in swimsuits and such? Whatever. I guess they win since the girls aren't that hot), but if they DID want to tweak it some, just eliminate all of the states that don't really have a chance: Maine, Vermont, Alaska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, Utah. Knock those guys out or combine them into a superstate and this thing might move a little quicker and be a little more exciting.
But Saturday was ultimately a disappointing night for Georgia: so close, yet so unsatisfying.
Friday, January 23, 2009
"Those Guys" discuss the Braves 2009 chances...
Sleazy P Paul Mac and Fletcher Proctor, two of the hosts from 790 The Zone's Extra Innings Braves Postgame show recently discussed the recent Braves news that 16 prospects will be given an invite to spring training camp. Here's how the conversation went down...
Paul Mac: I'm sure you saw the new spring training invitees. I'm wondering if they think Heyward might be able to come in at some point this season? Perhaps that's why they as of yet haven't addressed Left Field other than Diaz? Maybe the dbag Tex trade didn't fleece the farm as much as we thought? They might have some very good players come up this year. We kind of knew they were playing for next year already... but maybe with the addition of Lowe there is some reason to believe things are looking up even though this year still is probably a wash with Huddy out. Last year both of us defended Frank Wren on many of his actions though they were unpopular. John Smoltz is still my favorite pitcher ever and I'll miss him here but Frank Wren seems to have addressed many of the issues that dogged his team last year. I can't say I'm too disappointed at this point. Center and Left are still huge question marks... but I think this team is perhaps better prepared than last year at least they are relying less on injury risks to compete. Still too much on Chipper's shoulders to really make a playoff run, but if they get some offense and the starters can finish innings, I think optimistically if they can turn around the 1 run games they can win 80 to 82 and maybe finish 2nd or 3rd in the division.
What say you?
Score Atlanta's Braves beat writer Fletcher Proctor responded...
well I have two things to say to you about the Tex trade: #1 the trade of salty didn't hurt us: clearly they like Clint Sammons better than Tyler Flowers and Salty. #2 the trade of Elvis Andrus will hurt the MOST about the Tex deal. You plug Elvis in there at short, move Escobar to second and you are good to go this season. Plop KJ out into leftfield and pray his arm doesn't fall off.
I have also heard that the team is asking the Orioles about Brian Roberts and he could get moved, but that would sap all of the remaining payroll from the offseason...not that that matters because they will move KJ into Left anyways.
As far as Heyward, he is still AT LEAST a year away. I am thinking he gets a June callup in 2010 and sticks. he might see some time at the end of 2009, but nothing REAL until 2010. Same with Freddie Freeman at first. Look in 2009 for the Braves to try and unload Casey Kotchman and definitely during/after the 2010 season. He has more value this year though in a potential trade with his nice and affordable salary.
The starting rotation will, come 2010 be Lowe, Jurrjens, Hudson (they will pick up his option, methinks), Hanson and Vazquez with Kawakami as an insurance policy. by 2011, Lowe, Hanson, Jurrjens, Hudson (possibly) and some of the younger kids. They have four REALLY good SP in AA-Miss this year (2009); which means AAA in 2010; and MLB in 2011 (or being dealt for other pieces)
I would LOVE to think that this team could make a playoff run, but they are sans cleanup hitter, ZERO power in the outfield. The best hitter (that stays healthy!) is McCann, your catcher and he will cool off by August, because of his knees (all catchers do). Kotchman MUST become a solid #5, McCann needs to go to #6 to help the guy out. Frenchy, you'd have thought would be able to go cleanup, but he can't right now.
Why do I think like this?
Who hits leadoff? Anderson/Blanco? Escobar at 2, Chipper 3, ? 4, Kotchman/McCann 5, McCann/Kotchman 6 Kelly Johnson 7 ? 8. [Frenchy goes to #4 or #8. Is Kelly playing left or second?]
Also Paul, who is driving in runs?
Just because the pitching staff can eat up innings, do they eat them up but still allow 4 in 7 innings? You lose it that's the case.
Unfortunately too many question marks for me to share your enthusiasm
For more, make sure to check out www.scoreatl.com or grab a weekly issue at any of the 1300 locations that distribute Score Atlanta! New issues every Wednesday!
Paul Mac: I'm sure you saw the new spring training invitees. I'm wondering if they think Heyward might be able to come in at some point this season? Perhaps that's why they as of yet haven't addressed Left Field other than Diaz? Maybe the dbag Tex trade didn't fleece the farm as much as we thought? They might have some very good players come up this year. We kind of knew they were playing for next year already... but maybe with the addition of Lowe there is some reason to believe things are looking up even though this year still is probably a wash with Huddy out. Last year both of us defended Frank Wren on many of his actions though they were unpopular. John Smoltz is still my favorite pitcher ever and I'll miss him here but Frank Wren seems to have addressed many of the issues that dogged his team last year. I can't say I'm too disappointed at this point. Center and Left are still huge question marks... but I think this team is perhaps better prepared than last year at least they are relying less on injury risks to compete. Still too much on Chipper's shoulders to really make a playoff run, but if they get some offense and the starters can finish innings, I think optimistically if they can turn around the 1 run games they can win 80 to 82 and maybe finish 2nd or 3rd in the division.
What say you?
Score Atlanta's Braves beat writer Fletcher Proctor responded...
well I have two things to say to you about the Tex trade: #1 the trade of salty didn't hurt us: clearly they like Clint Sammons better than Tyler Flowers and Salty. #2 the trade of Elvis Andrus will hurt the MOST about the Tex deal. You plug Elvis in there at short, move Escobar to second and you are good to go this season. Plop KJ out into leftfield and pray his arm doesn't fall off.
I have also heard that the team is asking the Orioles about Brian Roberts and he could get moved, but that would sap all of the remaining payroll from the offseason...not that that matters because they will move KJ into Left anyways.
As far as Heyward, he is still AT LEAST a year away. I am thinking he gets a June callup in 2010 and sticks. he might see some time at the end of 2009, but nothing REAL until 2010. Same with Freddie Freeman at first. Look in 2009 for the Braves to try and unload Casey Kotchman and definitely during/after the 2010 season. He has more value this year though in a potential trade with his nice and affordable salary.
The starting rotation will, come 2010 be Lowe, Jurrjens, Hudson (they will pick up his option, methinks), Hanson and Vazquez with Kawakami as an insurance policy. by 2011, Lowe, Hanson, Jurrjens, Hudson (possibly) and some of the younger kids. They have four REALLY good SP in AA-Miss this year (2009); which means AAA in 2010; and MLB in 2011 (or being dealt for other pieces)
I would LOVE to think that this team could make a playoff run, but they are sans cleanup hitter, ZERO power in the outfield. The best hitter (that stays healthy!) is McCann, your catcher and he will cool off by August, because of his knees (all catchers do). Kotchman MUST become a solid #5, McCann needs to go to #6 to help the guy out. Frenchy, you'd have thought would be able to go cleanup, but he can't right now.
Why do I think like this?
Who hits leadoff? Anderson/Blanco? Escobar at 2, Chipper 3, ? 4, Kotchman/McCann 5, McCann/Kotchman 6 Kelly Johnson 7 ? 8. [Frenchy goes to #4 or #8. Is Kelly playing left or second?]
Also Paul, who is driving in runs?
Just because the pitching staff can eat up innings, do they eat them up but still allow 4 in 7 innings? You lose it that's the case.
Unfortunately too many question marks for me to share your enthusiasm
For more, make sure to check out www.scoreatl.com or grab a weekly issue at any of the 1300 locations that distribute Score Atlanta! New issues every Wednesday!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Real World: Atlanta. Episode 1
Since MTV has apparently decided NEVER to come to Atlanta, I figured I’d go ahead and make up my own season of RW:ATL. I figured I would put together a fake cast with fake fishbowlers and do this strictly for my ATL crew that is pissed at MTV for not coming here. Hey, maybe this only lasts three weeks and I get bored….or maybe I do all 26 episodes. We shall see. So with no further ado…..THIS is the true story, of seven (ficticious) strangers, picked to live in a house, and have their lives blogged about, to find out, what happens when people STOP acting polite and start acting real. THE REAL WORLD: ATL!
The shot opens with a fish flying across the shot and a 25 year old white male wearing a Mariners hat and slickers catches the fish. “My name is Todd and I’m 25 years old and I live in Seattle, Washington.” Todd is shown playing with his dog and his black girlfriend in a park. “I decided to do Real World because after my mom died six years ago, I’ve had to give up so much. I dropped out of college and had to get three jobs to help out my dad. He lost his job and the house that we grew up in, you know, what can you do? I’m trying to help put my little brother through school (We see a shot of the little brother), and I’m trying to earn enough money to buy this lady right here a wedding ring.” Todd and his girlfriend Raylesha are sitting down to dinner with Todd’s dad and brother. “Ray’s parents don’t like me because I’m white, but I love Ray. She wanted me to go onto Real World for me. I’ve always wanted to be on the show and she says I deserve it. I’m going to miss her though.” (Todd kisses Ray in the video)
We move to Portland, OR, where Cailie is riding a horse. “My name is Cailie, I’m 19 and I’m the biggest Tomboy you’ll ever meet.” Cailie calls herself a tomboy, but you can tell that underneath her “boycut” haircut she is quite an attractive chick. He is a brunette with no piercings anywhere, no hint of jewelry or makeup and she is wearing a cowgirl outfit: jeans, a tacky denim shirt and a cowgirl hat. “I ride horses for a living and am one of the top female rodeo riders in the country.” We see shots of her room and trophies and pictures of horses. “I’m the youngest of six, the only girl. Dad was big into rodeos growing up and all of my brothers have been involved and that’s where Momma and Daddy met. He was a clown. I’m the best rider of the family though.” We see shots of her playing basketball with some of her friends. “I’ve never been in to girly stuff. I’ve always been one of the guys. I hope there aren’t any girly girls in the house. Won’t matter cause I’ll probably get along better with the guys anyways.
Philadelphia. “I’m Kevin, I’m 21 and I wrote rhymes.” Kevin or K-Dawg is a white guy but dresses as if he is auditioning for a spot in a future biopic on Tupac. He swaggers everywhere he walks and refers to himself in the third person at all times. “K-Dawg writes rhymes and my boy Stinky D lays down the beats. We’re gonna take down the rap music industry. Eminem has got NOTHING on K-Dawg.” We see K-Dawg passing out CDs and flyers to a show on a busy street corner. “K-Dawg wanted to be on The Real World because I’m ready to release the Dawg to the world. I’m Realer than anybody I know. Real World’s never been real before and I’m gonna drop what Real really is.” We see Kevin battling another rapper. “I used to have a problem with cocaine. I hit rock bottom when I stole my parents’ TV and sold it for $30 so I could get high that night. They kicked me out. I was 14. I’ve grown up, made something of myself, now K-Dawg is ready to POP!”
New York, “My name is Vladimir, I am 23 and I am a computer programmer.” Vlad is shown typing at his computer. “I came to this country from Warsaw, Poland to go to MIT, and from there I got a job as a computer programmer.” Vlad is seen lifting weights. “I got a job as a model to pay for a place to live. I did some modeling as a teenager in Europe, but it isn’t something you can do forever. Your MIND is will be there long after your looks.” We see Vlad playing hockey. “I think the dumb Polock jokes are stupid and anyone that uses them is small minded. I am proud to be from Poland and my parents are smart. I miss them, but they are happy I am in A-MERica, making something of myself. We are a proud people, I mean we invented the submarine with a screendoor.” He laughs at himself.
Florida, “I’m Carly, I’m 22 and I’m a student.” Carly is shown walking through the FSU campus. “A few years ago I got a little publicity when a picture of me wearing a cowboy hat and a Seminole tanktop ended up on a magazine cover. I had a bunch of offers to do photo shoots and I took a year off. Playboy offered me and I did it, but my dad got all mad if I was going to take my clothes off. I decided to do a shot in a jeanskirt wearing the hat with the top draped across my, well, YOU KNOW.” A shot of the playboy picture is shown. “Daddy still won’t talk to me, but hey, it’s my life. I’m going to do what makes me happy. I’m happy.”
Iowa City, “I’m Dani, I’m 24 and I save lives.” Dani is shown putting on her firefighter gear in the Iowa City fire station #2. “Being the only woman in all of the Iowa City’s firefighters Union, I look at it as an honor.” Dani is then shown driving a Subaru. “I figured out I was a lesbian when I was 12 and I came out that day to my folks. They were supportive, I guess. I think my dad thought it was a phase while mom didn’t care. She was a hippie that met Dad at Woodstock. They lived in San Francisco and New York and London before they moved back to Iowa when Grandpa got sick. They live “normal” lives now, but I like that they are still supportive of me.” Dani is shown walking down the street with her girlfriend Michelle. “Michelle is the love of my life, at least I think. We have an open relationship. We are two dynamic people, like bright stars. We’re together now, but eventually we’re going to burn out. I don’t think anyone today will stay together forever.”
Columbus, OH, “I’m Jimmy, I’m 23 and I play soccer.” Jimmy is seen playing soccer for the Columbus Crew of MLS. I played soccer at UVA and love the game. I want to eventually play in Europe, but right now I’m kind of having trouble finding the pitch.” Jimmy is black, 5’11 with a perfectly shaved head. A mustache-goatee lines his face and he looks like a he SHOULD be the face of American soccer-literally THE FACE. “I was named as one of People’s ‘sexiest athletes’ which my teammates raz me for, since I don’t really play. They ask me ‘are you an athlete? Do you play golf?’ HA HA! Not.” Jimmy is shown walking with his girlfriend Abby, a former soccer player herself at UVA. Abby is perfect for me and I love her so much. She understands my schedule and my sport. I think we’re going to be together forever. She gets a little jealous sometimes, but she knows she is the only girl for me.”
A shot of The Varsity finds Jimmy standing eating a Slaw Dog when Cailie walks up in full cowgirl gear. “Hi, I’m Cailie.” “I’m Jimmy.” The two shake hands and Cailie looks Jimmy up while Jimmy throws his wrapper away. “I really shouldn’t eat that. My trainer would NOT approve of that.”
“Are you a model?” asks Cailie
“No, I play soccer. What do you do?”
“I am a professional rodeo rider. So you play soccer. That’s cool. We should kick it around.
“A rodeo rider. I don’t know if I could keep up.”
Cailie appears smitten. “Are you single?”
Laughs… “Wow, you are direct. No I have girlfriend back home. I love her a lot.” Responds Jimmy.
“That’s a shame. But I still want to kick a soccer ball with you.”
A shot of Centinniel Park finds Vlad throwing a quarter into the fountain when Dani walks up. “Hi, I’m Dani.”
“Vlad. Nice to meet you.”
“That accent, where are you from?”
“Poland,” answers Vlad. “How about you?”
“Iowa. Wait, Poland? What are you doing here?”
“I went to college and now I work in New York. What do you do?”
“I am a firefighter, only female in Iowa,” proudly states Dani.
“A firefighter, that is dangerous, right? What does your boyfriend say?”
“I actually am into chicks. I thought the butch haircut would have given that away.”
Vlad looks puzzled. “Butch? You are a lesbian, yes?”
“Yes. Are you gay? You certain yourself in gay shape.”
“No I like to look at the females. I like to look at you. Should I not?” Vlad asks. Dani cracks up and they walk off.
K-Dawg is standing at the MLK Monument when Carly walks up. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh bleep. K-Dawg heard we were getting the model chick.”
“Hi, I’m Carly,” says a red-faced Carly, wearing the now-famous cowboy hat. “What was your name?”
“Kevin, but everybody calls me K-Dawg.” Carly extends her hand and Kevin kisses it.
“Wow!” says an unamused Carly says. “So what do you do?”
“I’m the next big thing, Baby. I rap,” proclaims K-Dawg.
“That’s cool. Have you ever been to the ATL?”
“Dirty South Baby! TI is from here, Outkast, my competition!” Kevin is boasting while circling around in a strut.
“Should we go?” asks Carly?
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport where Todd is grabbing his luggage. He is looking at the directions and asks another passenger, “What’s MARTA?” He gets pointed to the MARTA train and he boards. The doors close as REAL WORLD flashes on the screen and we go to commercial.
So Dani and Vlad are on a trolley headed towards the Virginia Highlands area.
“So you aren’t into men at all?” asks Vlad?
“No, I have always been with girls, ever since I figured out I was 12. I’m not saying I’d never be into guys, but the right one never came along.” She winks at Vlad.
“Are you asking if I would be that guy?”
“No, well maybe. Ya never know,” says Dani. “You are too hot to be a computer programmer.”
“ I was a model before I came to America,” says Vlad very meekly.
“Whoa, a model? Like Zoolander?” Dani does the Blue Steel look as Vlad seems confused.
“No I never worked at a zoo.”
We see Cailie and Jimmy in a limo and Jimmy is showing a clearly not interested Cailie a picture of Abby.
“This is my Abby. She played soccer at Virginia too.”
“Do you think you’ll stay together?”
“Oh yeah. We’ll get married once I get my contract,” predicts Jimmy. “Are you involved?”
“No. None of the guys ever really saw me like that. I guess the guys on tour are into more girly girls and I think regular guys are intimidated by my profession?”
“Maybe, but I think athletes are hot. Abby is a bit of a tomboy. But she cleans up nice too. I bet you do too,” wonders Jimmy. Cailie blushes a bit before punching Jimmy and proclaiming that they will be friends.
Kevin and Carly are riding in a cab. “So that picture really brought a lot of attention, that maybe I wasn’t ready for. I mean, I took time off from school to do some model work, but that’s not for me.”
“You ever do anything for Maxim or Playboy?” asks Kevin?
“I did a piece for Playboy…”
“Ahhhh shite…”
“No,” Carly shot out quickly. “I had clothes on.”
“No fun. I’m riding with Carly, hot Carly from the mag, I swear before this is over I’ll have her in the bag, She’ll be my sweetie, I had her since the greeting,” Kevin raps before Carly cut him off.
“You’re a rapper?”
“Yeah girl.”
“Oh?!” says a miserable Carly. She has a look of HELP ME as they are stopped at a red light.
Todd is the first to arrive at the Virginia Highlands house. He walks in, see the first bedroom off to the side of the foyer. He keeps walking past on of the sitting areas, a circle couch complete with fishtank floor. The pool table sits in between another sitting area and the kitchen area. The kitchen has a bartop area with a big island and a fully stocked fridge. He keeps walking to find a back deck that overlooks the intersection of Virginia and Highlands. There is a hottub that infinity-empties into a pool. The backyard has a chiminia and outside sitting area. The side yard features a basketball area. Todd walks back inside and goes upstairs where he finds all three bedrooms. Two have two beds each, the third has a three spot. The top floor is where the office is housed, as well as a gym and a balcony with a waterslide down to the pool. It is a twisty slide and Todd says, “SOMEONE’S gonna get in trouble with that!”
About that time he hears Dani and Vlad enter the house.
“Hello?” Dani shouts.
Todd runs downstairs and introductions are made.
Next we see Carly busting it into the house so get away from K-Dawg.
Todd recognizes Carly and Kevin walks up and tries to talk to everyone.
When Kevin is talking to Vlad, he finds out that Vladimir is Polish. “What, dude, your Polish?” asks Kevin.
“And you are a Dog?” responds Vlad.
In the confessional room, located off of the kitchen, Carly confesses that she is SO GLAD is can get away from Kevin. “K-Dawg? More like K-Tool. Hey Kevin, there are mirrors EVERYWHERE. LOOK INTO ONE, YOU’RE WHITE!”
Jimmy and Cailie finally arrive and hugs are given all around. Carly seems happy that Jimmy is there. Cailie does not appear to be amused. Dani and Todd are talking and Todd drops that Dani reminds him of his girlfriend. “Well probably not too much. I’m a lesbian.”
“Oh snap, we’ve got a lesbian!” shouts Kevin.
“Yep, I’m gay everybody. Anybody else?” asks Dani. Everyone else says they are straight.
“OK, who’s single and who is taken?” asks Kevin.
“I’m involved,” answers Jimmy as Carly looks disappointed
“I’m taken too,” says Todd
“Ladies, K-Dawg’s available,” says Kevin, as Cailie, Dani, and Carly all roll their eyes.
“I am single,” answers Vlad and Carly seems interested in his accent.
“Single,” answers Carley and Cailie shakes her head as to imply single status.
“I’m sort of involved,” reveals Dani.
“Wait, what does that mean?”
“Well I’m dating a girl right now, but I’m always open to every experience,” explains Dani.
“I want to check out the house!” yells Kevin.
“I want to hit the hot tub, who’s with me?” yells Carly.
Carly, Jimmy, and Dani are all in the hot tub when Vlad talks out and Carly whistles. Cailie walks out next in a one-piece bathing suit and Jimmy boos. “Come on, get a two piece. Cailie seems embarrassed. Kevin shouts from the top of the slide, “K-Dawg is making a splash down baby!”
Todd eventually comes to the hot tub with his Mariners hat and a bevie. Kevin splashes everyone and then gets into the hot tub.
“Alright, so here is to the ATL and our first hot tub!” toasts Jimmy.
“So where are we going tonight?” asks Carly? “I hear that the Highlands is the place to go.”
“That’s right over there, right?” Dani points over across the property to the VaHi area.
“ATL, Baby!” Kevin shouts as he pounds his drink.
“So what do you do?” Carly asks Vlad. “I am a model and a computer programmer.”
“ I saw you in that magazine, right?” inquired Jimmy to Carly. “That’s me and my hat.”
“So are you a cowgirl?” asks a hopeful Cailie. “No, just liked the hat. Kind of made me famous,” answers Carly.
“So who is going to hook up?” Dani throws out.
“Well I hope not me, because I have a girlfriend,” responds Jimmy. “I do too,” throws in Todd. “I think Vlad and Cailie,” guesses Dani. Cailie blushes as Vlad is apparently not listening.
“So should we get ready to go out?” “Let’s go.” Todd finishes his drink and everyone goes inside, leaving K-Dawg in the pool.
We see the crew walking down the street and into Atkins Park. Music is playing and though crowded, Carly tries to dance. “So she’s a party girl,” Jimmy says to his roommate Todd. They’ve decided to room together because they can’t stand Kevin and they have a bond in that they both have girlfriends. The three girls decided to room together as well, leaving Vlad and K-Dawg together. Vlad isn’t too happy about that. “I guess I’ll have to drink a lot.” Carly is OF COURSE wearing her hat and Cailie is in black leather pants and a cute top that Dani made her borrow. She is showing signs that she is pretty underneath the tomboy top. Jimmy takes notice and Cailie is drinking and trying to get Jimmy’s attention back from Carly.
Dani is talking to a guy and a girl and Kevin is alone at the bar drinking. Vlad is just standing off to a side with a drink. After a while Carly starts talking to a guy and Jimmy moves his attention back to Cailie. Todd and Vlad have to break up K-Dawg from arguing with some other bar patrons. Todd and Vlad take a kicked out K-Dawg back home as Dani, Cailie, Jimmy, and Carly go to Moe and Joe’s as it is near the house. They are sort of drizzunk and Cailie and Jimmy are seriously flirting. Carly is kind of pissed and Dani takes all of them back. Jimmy mumbles something to Cailie and she smiles before pushing him and telling him to go to bed and think about Abby.
As everyone goes to bed Todd is complaining about Kevin while Jimmy asks Todd to keep him away from Cailie when they are drunk. “I got ya bro.”
Meanwhile Carly and Cailie both think Jimmy is cute. Carly tells Cailie she doesn’t have a chance unless she “keeps throwing herself at him like she did tonight.” Cailie thinks that’s uncalled for and Dani agrees. “Guys, let’s just shut the f up and go to bed.”
The next morning Jimmy is eating breakfast and apologizes to a very tomboy looking Cailie. Cailie says there is no reason to apologize and they high-five. We’re cool, says Cailie. Alright. Carly then tells Cailie that she is sorry and they shouldn’t fight. We’re roommates, we should be friends. It is OK. They hug it out. We do need to be careful with Jimmy though. All’s fair in love and war.
This season ON The Real World: Atlanta, Kevin and Dani argue. Carly and Cailie are both seen yelling about Jimmy. Vlad is throwing a beer at Kevin’s head. Todd pushes a drunk Cailie away. Jimmy is hugging Carly. Carly is kissing Vlad. Dani is kissing Todd and Todd is crying on the phone. Finally Jimmy and Abby are seen together at the front door and Jimmy is apologizing.
The shot opens with a fish flying across the shot and a 25 year old white male wearing a Mariners hat and slickers catches the fish. “My name is Todd and I’m 25 years old and I live in Seattle, Washington.” Todd is shown playing with his dog and his black girlfriend in a park. “I decided to do Real World because after my mom died six years ago, I’ve had to give up so much. I dropped out of college and had to get three jobs to help out my dad. He lost his job and the house that we grew up in, you know, what can you do? I’m trying to help put my little brother through school (We see a shot of the little brother), and I’m trying to earn enough money to buy this lady right here a wedding ring.” Todd and his girlfriend Raylesha are sitting down to dinner with Todd’s dad and brother. “Ray’s parents don’t like me because I’m white, but I love Ray. She wanted me to go onto Real World for me. I’ve always wanted to be on the show and she says I deserve it. I’m going to miss her though.” (Todd kisses Ray in the video)
We move to Portland, OR, where Cailie is riding a horse. “My name is Cailie, I’m 19 and I’m the biggest Tomboy you’ll ever meet.” Cailie calls herself a tomboy, but you can tell that underneath her “boycut” haircut she is quite an attractive chick. He is a brunette with no piercings anywhere, no hint of jewelry or makeup and she is wearing a cowgirl outfit: jeans, a tacky denim shirt and a cowgirl hat. “I ride horses for a living and am one of the top female rodeo riders in the country.” We see shots of her room and trophies and pictures of horses. “I’m the youngest of six, the only girl. Dad was big into rodeos growing up and all of my brothers have been involved and that’s where Momma and Daddy met. He was a clown. I’m the best rider of the family though.” We see shots of her playing basketball with some of her friends. “I’ve never been in to girly stuff. I’ve always been one of the guys. I hope there aren’t any girly girls in the house. Won’t matter cause I’ll probably get along better with the guys anyways.
Philadelphia. “I’m Kevin, I’m 21 and I wrote rhymes.” Kevin or K-Dawg is a white guy but dresses as if he is auditioning for a spot in a future biopic on Tupac. He swaggers everywhere he walks and refers to himself in the third person at all times. “K-Dawg writes rhymes and my boy Stinky D lays down the beats. We’re gonna take down the rap music industry. Eminem has got NOTHING on K-Dawg.” We see K-Dawg passing out CDs and flyers to a show on a busy street corner. “K-Dawg wanted to be on The Real World because I’m ready to release the Dawg to the world. I’m Realer than anybody I know. Real World’s never been real before and I’m gonna drop what Real really is.” We see Kevin battling another rapper. “I used to have a problem with cocaine. I hit rock bottom when I stole my parents’ TV and sold it for $30 so I could get high that night. They kicked me out. I was 14. I’ve grown up, made something of myself, now K-Dawg is ready to POP!”
New York, “My name is Vladimir, I am 23 and I am a computer programmer.” Vlad is shown typing at his computer. “I came to this country from Warsaw, Poland to go to MIT, and from there I got a job as a computer programmer.” Vlad is seen lifting weights. “I got a job as a model to pay for a place to live. I did some modeling as a teenager in Europe, but it isn’t something you can do forever. Your MIND is will be there long after your looks.” We see Vlad playing hockey. “I think the dumb Polock jokes are stupid and anyone that uses them is small minded. I am proud to be from Poland and my parents are smart. I miss them, but they are happy I am in A-MERica, making something of myself. We are a proud people, I mean we invented the submarine with a screendoor.” He laughs at himself.
Florida, “I’m Carly, I’m 22 and I’m a student.” Carly is shown walking through the FSU campus. “A few years ago I got a little publicity when a picture of me wearing a cowboy hat and a Seminole tanktop ended up on a magazine cover. I had a bunch of offers to do photo shoots and I took a year off. Playboy offered me and I did it, but my dad got all mad if I was going to take my clothes off. I decided to do a shot in a jeanskirt wearing the hat with the top draped across my, well, YOU KNOW.” A shot of the playboy picture is shown. “Daddy still won’t talk to me, but hey, it’s my life. I’m going to do what makes me happy. I’m happy.”
Iowa City, “I’m Dani, I’m 24 and I save lives.” Dani is shown putting on her firefighter gear in the Iowa City fire station #2. “Being the only woman in all of the Iowa City’s firefighters Union, I look at it as an honor.” Dani is then shown driving a Subaru. “I figured out I was a lesbian when I was 12 and I came out that day to my folks. They were supportive, I guess. I think my dad thought it was a phase while mom didn’t care. She was a hippie that met Dad at Woodstock. They lived in San Francisco and New York and London before they moved back to Iowa when Grandpa got sick. They live “normal” lives now, but I like that they are still supportive of me.” Dani is shown walking down the street with her girlfriend Michelle. “Michelle is the love of my life, at least I think. We have an open relationship. We are two dynamic people, like bright stars. We’re together now, but eventually we’re going to burn out. I don’t think anyone today will stay together forever.”
Columbus, OH, “I’m Jimmy, I’m 23 and I play soccer.” Jimmy is seen playing soccer for the Columbus Crew of MLS. I played soccer at UVA and love the game. I want to eventually play in Europe, but right now I’m kind of having trouble finding the pitch.” Jimmy is black, 5’11 with a perfectly shaved head. A mustache-goatee lines his face and he looks like a he SHOULD be the face of American soccer-literally THE FACE. “I was named as one of People’s ‘sexiest athletes’ which my teammates raz me for, since I don’t really play. They ask me ‘are you an athlete? Do you play golf?’ HA HA! Not.” Jimmy is shown walking with his girlfriend Abby, a former soccer player herself at UVA. Abby is perfect for me and I love her so much. She understands my schedule and my sport. I think we’re going to be together forever. She gets a little jealous sometimes, but she knows she is the only girl for me.”
A shot of The Varsity finds Jimmy standing eating a Slaw Dog when Cailie walks up in full cowgirl gear. “Hi, I’m Cailie.” “I’m Jimmy.” The two shake hands and Cailie looks Jimmy up while Jimmy throws his wrapper away. “I really shouldn’t eat that. My trainer would NOT approve of that.”
“Are you a model?” asks Cailie
“No, I play soccer. What do you do?”
“I am a professional rodeo rider. So you play soccer. That’s cool. We should kick it around.
“A rodeo rider. I don’t know if I could keep up.”
Cailie appears smitten. “Are you single?”
Laughs… “Wow, you are direct. No I have girlfriend back home. I love her a lot.” Responds Jimmy.
“That’s a shame. But I still want to kick a soccer ball with you.”
A shot of Centinniel Park finds Vlad throwing a quarter into the fountain when Dani walks up. “Hi, I’m Dani.”
“Vlad. Nice to meet you.”
“That accent, where are you from?”
“Poland,” answers Vlad. “How about you?”
“Iowa. Wait, Poland? What are you doing here?”
“I went to college and now I work in New York. What do you do?”
“I am a firefighter, only female in Iowa,” proudly states Dani.
“A firefighter, that is dangerous, right? What does your boyfriend say?”
“I actually am into chicks. I thought the butch haircut would have given that away.”
Vlad looks puzzled. “Butch? You are a lesbian, yes?”
“Yes. Are you gay? You certain yourself in gay shape.”
“No I like to look at the females. I like to look at you. Should I not?” Vlad asks. Dani cracks up and they walk off.
K-Dawg is standing at the MLK Monument when Carly walks up. “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh bleep. K-Dawg heard we were getting the model chick.”
“Hi, I’m Carly,” says a red-faced Carly, wearing the now-famous cowboy hat. “What was your name?”
“Kevin, but everybody calls me K-Dawg.” Carly extends her hand and Kevin kisses it.
“Wow!” says an unamused Carly says. “So what do you do?”
“I’m the next big thing, Baby. I rap,” proclaims K-Dawg.
“That’s cool. Have you ever been to the ATL?”
“Dirty South Baby! TI is from here, Outkast, my competition!” Kevin is boasting while circling around in a strut.
“Should we go?” asks Carly?
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport where Todd is grabbing his luggage. He is looking at the directions and asks another passenger, “What’s MARTA?” He gets pointed to the MARTA train and he boards. The doors close as REAL WORLD flashes on the screen and we go to commercial.
So Dani and Vlad are on a trolley headed towards the Virginia Highlands area.
“So you aren’t into men at all?” asks Vlad?
“No, I have always been with girls, ever since I figured out I was 12. I’m not saying I’d never be into guys, but the right one never came along.” She winks at Vlad.
“Are you asking if I would be that guy?”
“No, well maybe. Ya never know,” says Dani. “You are too hot to be a computer programmer.”
“ I was a model before I came to America,” says Vlad very meekly.
“Whoa, a model? Like Zoolander?” Dani does the Blue Steel look as Vlad seems confused.
“No I never worked at a zoo.”
We see Cailie and Jimmy in a limo and Jimmy is showing a clearly not interested Cailie a picture of Abby.
“This is my Abby. She played soccer at Virginia too.”
“Do you think you’ll stay together?”
“Oh yeah. We’ll get married once I get my contract,” predicts Jimmy. “Are you involved?”
“No. None of the guys ever really saw me like that. I guess the guys on tour are into more girly girls and I think regular guys are intimidated by my profession?”
“Maybe, but I think athletes are hot. Abby is a bit of a tomboy. But she cleans up nice too. I bet you do too,” wonders Jimmy. Cailie blushes a bit before punching Jimmy and proclaiming that they will be friends.
Kevin and Carly are riding in a cab. “So that picture really brought a lot of attention, that maybe I wasn’t ready for. I mean, I took time off from school to do some model work, but that’s not for me.”
“You ever do anything for Maxim or Playboy?” asks Kevin?
“I did a piece for Playboy…”
“Ahhhh shite…”
“No,” Carly shot out quickly. “I had clothes on.”
“No fun. I’m riding with Carly, hot Carly from the mag, I swear before this is over I’ll have her in the bag, She’ll be my sweetie, I had her since the greeting,” Kevin raps before Carly cut him off.
“You’re a rapper?”
“Yeah girl.”
“Oh?!” says a miserable Carly. She has a look of HELP ME as they are stopped at a red light.
Todd is the first to arrive at the Virginia Highlands house. He walks in, see the first bedroom off to the side of the foyer. He keeps walking past on of the sitting areas, a circle couch complete with fishtank floor. The pool table sits in between another sitting area and the kitchen area. The kitchen has a bartop area with a big island and a fully stocked fridge. He keeps walking to find a back deck that overlooks the intersection of Virginia and Highlands. There is a hottub that infinity-empties into a pool. The backyard has a chiminia and outside sitting area. The side yard features a basketball area. Todd walks back inside and goes upstairs where he finds all three bedrooms. Two have two beds each, the third has a three spot. The top floor is where the office is housed, as well as a gym and a balcony with a waterslide down to the pool. It is a twisty slide and Todd says, “SOMEONE’S gonna get in trouble with that!”
About that time he hears Dani and Vlad enter the house.
“Hello?” Dani shouts.
Todd runs downstairs and introductions are made.
Next we see Carly busting it into the house so get away from K-Dawg.
Todd recognizes Carly and Kevin walks up and tries to talk to everyone.
When Kevin is talking to Vlad, he finds out that Vladimir is Polish. “What, dude, your Polish?” asks Kevin.
“And you are a Dog?” responds Vlad.
In the confessional room, located off of the kitchen, Carly confesses that she is SO GLAD is can get away from Kevin. “K-Dawg? More like K-Tool. Hey Kevin, there are mirrors EVERYWHERE. LOOK INTO ONE, YOU’RE WHITE!”
Jimmy and Cailie finally arrive and hugs are given all around. Carly seems happy that Jimmy is there. Cailie does not appear to be amused. Dani and Todd are talking and Todd drops that Dani reminds him of his girlfriend. “Well probably not too much. I’m a lesbian.”
“Oh snap, we’ve got a lesbian!” shouts Kevin.
“Yep, I’m gay everybody. Anybody else?” asks Dani. Everyone else says they are straight.
“OK, who’s single and who is taken?” asks Kevin.
“I’m involved,” answers Jimmy as Carly looks disappointed
“I’m taken too,” says Todd
“Ladies, K-Dawg’s available,” says Kevin, as Cailie, Dani, and Carly all roll their eyes.
“I am single,” answers Vlad and Carly seems interested in his accent.
“Single,” answers Carley and Cailie shakes her head as to imply single status.
“I’m sort of involved,” reveals Dani.
“Wait, what does that mean?”
“Well I’m dating a girl right now, but I’m always open to every experience,” explains Dani.
“I want to check out the house!” yells Kevin.
“I want to hit the hot tub, who’s with me?” yells Carly.
Carly, Jimmy, and Dani are all in the hot tub when Vlad talks out and Carly whistles. Cailie walks out next in a one-piece bathing suit and Jimmy boos. “Come on, get a two piece. Cailie seems embarrassed. Kevin shouts from the top of the slide, “K-Dawg is making a splash down baby!”
Todd eventually comes to the hot tub with his Mariners hat and a bevie. Kevin splashes everyone and then gets into the hot tub.
“Alright, so here is to the ATL and our first hot tub!” toasts Jimmy.
“So where are we going tonight?” asks Carly? “I hear that the Highlands is the place to go.”
“That’s right over there, right?” Dani points over across the property to the VaHi area.
“ATL, Baby!” Kevin shouts as he pounds his drink.
“So what do you do?” Carly asks Vlad. “I am a model and a computer programmer.”
“ I saw you in that magazine, right?” inquired Jimmy to Carly. “That’s me and my hat.”
“So are you a cowgirl?” asks a hopeful Cailie. “No, just liked the hat. Kind of made me famous,” answers Carly.
“So who is going to hook up?” Dani throws out.
“Well I hope not me, because I have a girlfriend,” responds Jimmy. “I do too,” throws in Todd. “I think Vlad and Cailie,” guesses Dani. Cailie blushes as Vlad is apparently not listening.
“So should we get ready to go out?” “Let’s go.” Todd finishes his drink and everyone goes inside, leaving K-Dawg in the pool.
We see the crew walking down the street and into Atkins Park. Music is playing and though crowded, Carly tries to dance. “So she’s a party girl,” Jimmy says to his roommate Todd. They’ve decided to room together because they can’t stand Kevin and they have a bond in that they both have girlfriends. The three girls decided to room together as well, leaving Vlad and K-Dawg together. Vlad isn’t too happy about that. “I guess I’ll have to drink a lot.” Carly is OF COURSE wearing her hat and Cailie is in black leather pants and a cute top that Dani made her borrow. She is showing signs that she is pretty underneath the tomboy top. Jimmy takes notice and Cailie is drinking and trying to get Jimmy’s attention back from Carly.
Dani is talking to a guy and a girl and Kevin is alone at the bar drinking. Vlad is just standing off to a side with a drink. After a while Carly starts talking to a guy and Jimmy moves his attention back to Cailie. Todd and Vlad have to break up K-Dawg from arguing with some other bar patrons. Todd and Vlad take a kicked out K-Dawg back home as Dani, Cailie, Jimmy, and Carly go to Moe and Joe’s as it is near the house. They are sort of drizzunk and Cailie and Jimmy are seriously flirting. Carly is kind of pissed and Dani takes all of them back. Jimmy mumbles something to Cailie and she smiles before pushing him and telling him to go to bed and think about Abby.
As everyone goes to bed Todd is complaining about Kevin while Jimmy asks Todd to keep him away from Cailie when they are drunk. “I got ya bro.”
Meanwhile Carly and Cailie both think Jimmy is cute. Carly tells Cailie she doesn’t have a chance unless she “keeps throwing herself at him like she did tonight.” Cailie thinks that’s uncalled for and Dani agrees. “Guys, let’s just shut the f up and go to bed.”
The next morning Jimmy is eating breakfast and apologizes to a very tomboy looking Cailie. Cailie says there is no reason to apologize and they high-five. We’re cool, says Cailie. Alright. Carly then tells Cailie that she is sorry and they shouldn’t fight. We’re roommates, we should be friends. It is OK. They hug it out. We do need to be careful with Jimmy though. All’s fair in love and war.
This season ON The Real World: Atlanta, Kevin and Dani argue. Carly and Cailie are both seen yelling about Jimmy. Vlad is throwing a beer at Kevin’s head. Todd pushes a drunk Cailie away. Jimmy is hugging Carly. Carly is kissing Vlad. Dani is kissing Todd and Todd is crying on the phone. Finally Jimmy and Abby are seen together at the front door and Jimmy is apologizing.
Enough of "winning with [his] players"
I am SO sick of people saying that a coach is winning with the previous coach's players. SICK OF IT!
Jon Gruden was recently canned from his position of head coach with the Tampa Bay Bucs. After he was fired, everyone said, "Well he never won with his own players. He won that Super Bowl title with Tony Dungy's players." One of my co-workers said that Ken Whisenhunt is in the Super Bowl with Denny Green's players.
Here is how I look at it: if the first coach could get the thing done, he'd still be the coach. But he couldn't and the next coach had to come in and HE could get it done. Tony Dungy's Bucs never even won the NFC, Jon Gruden's Bucs won the Super Bowl. Denny Green's Cardinals never reached the playoffs, Ken Whisenhunt's Cardinals are in the Super Bowl.
And furthermore, unless Dungy was also the player personnel guy like Shanahan or Holmgren were, then it WASN'T Dungy's team. True, he coached them, but he didn't put the team together. He may have had some say into who was drafted, but it was ultimately McKay or whomever was the GM of the team. I don't buy the whole "not his players" spcheil. I think that is an excuse that owners or GMs sometimes give JUST to justify a firing.
In college I can see a little more of the logic of the statement, but at the same time, if the guy could have gotten it done, he'd still be there. If Jim Donnan could have won an SEC Championship, he would have been there in 2002 and 2005. Oh, Mark Richt won the 2002 title with Donnan's players! REALLY? come on. David Greene never suited up for Donnan and Pollack was a FB. But it was OK in 2005 when Richt won with Shockley and his "own" players. Just because you don't recruit them doesn't mean they aren't yours.
I hate to say it but Urban Meyer won a title in 2006-07 AND in 2008-09. Who cares that he barely recruited the 2006-07 team. "His guys" certainly played a part in it (Tebow, Spikes, Harvin). Same crew did it this past season. If Zook could have won that BCSCG, why didn't he? If Dungy could have won one with the Bucs (like he did with Indy) why didn't he? And now with Whisenhunt, if he wins (and SbF is rooting for them!) it will be HIS TEAM! Or if Tomlin wins it with Pittsburgh, it will be HIS title. They won't go back and give Cowher a ring for working at CBS.
So enough of this "not your players, not your team!" Have you coached them all year? Did you coach them in the final game? You did? Congrats. Your team and your win. I wonder if anyone is saying that Mike Smith won with Petrino's guys.....
Jon Gruden was recently canned from his position of head coach with the Tampa Bay Bucs. After he was fired, everyone said, "Well he never won with his own players. He won that Super Bowl title with Tony Dungy's players." One of my co-workers said that Ken Whisenhunt is in the Super Bowl with Denny Green's players.
Here is how I look at it: if the first coach could get the thing done, he'd still be the coach. But he couldn't and the next coach had to come in and HE could get it done. Tony Dungy's Bucs never even won the NFC, Jon Gruden's Bucs won the Super Bowl. Denny Green's Cardinals never reached the playoffs, Ken Whisenhunt's Cardinals are in the Super Bowl.
And furthermore, unless Dungy was also the player personnel guy like Shanahan or Holmgren were, then it WASN'T Dungy's team. True, he coached them, but he didn't put the team together. He may have had some say into who was drafted, but it was ultimately McKay or whomever was the GM of the team. I don't buy the whole "not his players" spcheil. I think that is an excuse that owners or GMs sometimes give JUST to justify a firing.
In college I can see a little more of the logic of the statement, but at the same time, if the guy could have gotten it done, he'd still be there. If Jim Donnan could have won an SEC Championship, he would have been there in 2002 and 2005. Oh, Mark Richt won the 2002 title with Donnan's players! REALLY? come on. David Greene never suited up for Donnan and Pollack was a FB. But it was OK in 2005 when Richt won with Shockley and his "own" players. Just because you don't recruit them doesn't mean they aren't yours.
I hate to say it but Urban Meyer won a title in 2006-07 AND in 2008-09. Who cares that he barely recruited the 2006-07 team. "His guys" certainly played a part in it (Tebow, Spikes, Harvin). Same crew did it this past season. If Zook could have won that BCSCG, why didn't he? If Dungy could have won one with the Bucs (like he did with Indy) why didn't he? And now with Whisenhunt, if he wins (and SbF is rooting for them!) it will be HIS TEAM! Or if Tomlin wins it with Pittsburgh, it will be HIS title. They won't go back and give Cowher a ring for working at CBS.
So enough of this "not your players, not your team!" Have you coached them all year? Did you coach them in the final game? You did? Congrats. Your team and your win. I wonder if anyone is saying that Mike Smith won with Petrino's guys.....
Sleazy P Paul Mac weighs in on Willie to the U
The University of Miami (Fla) DCoordinator Bill Young has now officially gone back to his alma mater at Okie State (shoot, that bodes well for UGA's 2009 season opener! Miami's D SUCKED last year), but that could mean current UGA DCoor Willie Martinez might get a call from Randy Shannon to go home to his alma mater. Now let it be known that Sportsbyfletch was not killing CWM last season: he in fact thinks that Willie Martinez's scheme is just fine. He just gets in trouble when the personnel doesn't match up. Now could CWM adjust his scheme to his healthy players? yes and he didn't last year, as the team gave up 24.5ppg, second highest in UGA history. But I don't know who'd they get: Kirby Smart from Bama and a UGA alum?
Sleazy P decided to weigh in on this!Personally I think if he sticks around and gets Owens back along with the addition of Abry Jones and Tyson backing up the main two up front... it just makes them all around a lot better. People always want to blame the coaches when players don't play well but everything starts upfront and with scholarship limitations yes... you absolutely are relying on a couple of guys for your season. UGA lost two of the most important pieces they had in Owens and Sturdivant. That kept them from extending drives on one side and stopping them on the other... that was the problem. CWM has been much much better post the West Virginia Sugar Bowl debacle. They could have tackled better last year no doubt, but they got gun shy in August.... still won 10 games even playing like crap 95% of the year. They would have a better year if he stuck around for it maybe. Though I don't think UGA is losing all that much if he goes to Miami.
The only thing that sportsbyfletch editors would like to add is that CWM would be unemployed next year after Donna Schalala fires Randy Shannon and fires Tommy Tuberville. I dunno, maybe CWM gets to stick at The U after Tubs takes over, but he should also look at a coach in Shannon that fires his assistants at the drop of a hat to save his own hyde v a coach in Mark Richt that has your back. That should tell Martinez all he needs to make this decision.
Sleazy P decided to weigh in on this!Personally I think if he sticks around and gets Owens back along with the addition of Abry Jones and Tyson backing up the main two up front... it just makes them all around a lot better. People always want to blame the coaches when players don't play well but everything starts upfront and with scholarship limitations yes... you absolutely are relying on a couple of guys for your season. UGA lost two of the most important pieces they had in Owens and Sturdivant. That kept them from extending drives on one side and stopping them on the other... that was the problem. CWM has been much much better post the West Virginia Sugar Bowl debacle. They could have tackled better last year no doubt, but they got gun shy in August.... still won 10 games even playing like crap 95% of the year. They would have a better year if he stuck around for it maybe. Though I don't think UGA is losing all that much if he goes to Miami.
The only thing that sportsbyfletch editors would like to add is that CWM would be unemployed next year after Donna Schalala fires Randy Shannon and fires Tommy Tuberville. I dunno, maybe CWM gets to stick at The U after Tubs takes over, but he should also look at a coach in Shannon that fires his assistants at the drop of a hat to save his own hyde v a coach in Mark Richt that has your back. That should tell Martinez all he needs to make this decision.
How do they keep fooling people?
Seriously, how do people keep getting hoodwinked by Clemson basketball, Ohio State football, Notre Dame football and Sergio Garcia? HOW? Aren't sports people in the know as smart as me? I guess sports should just turn its rankings over to me. I can see through these teams....EVERY YEAR.
Last night I watched as #9 Clemson entered the Dean Dome and proceeded to get blown off the court by #6 UNC. This was just a few days after Clemson lost to Wake Forest. Ummm, Clemson scheduled a sack of crap to open the season (LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO), they race off to a fine start (but then again who DOESN'T FEAST on teams like UNC-OIB-wait, Felton can't beat Savannah State!) before crashing back to earth with a 7-9/8-8 conference slate-if they even win THAT MANY. But they do this EVERY YEAR! You'd think that people would catch on at some point. Yeah a 16-0 start to a 19-13 finish. EVERY YEAR! Catch ON people!
Ohio State football. If the Suckeyes hadn't lost to Penn State, they probably would have been playing OU or Florida for the national title AGAIN! Why? They beat up on the Big 11 after beating Ohio and Youngstown State? That qualifies them for a BCS appearance? They beat Indiana? Come on! At least they didn't lose the BCSCG, just the FREAKING FIESTA BOWL! How'd they get in there? Put ANYONE else in there instead. Seriously, let's STOP with putting the sweatervest in those big games. But people are starting to catch on with tOSU....just like they've ALREADY caught on with....
Notre Dame football. After two craptastic seasons people are finally starting to realize that the team is all hype, ZERO substance. Actually, I may have spoken too soon. Apparently they will be Preseason top 10 this coming season. This according to 680 The Fan's new morning show host, Leo Mazzone. Yeah. Enough said.
Finally, Sergio Garcia. The guy craps the bed EVERY time he's in a major field. And if he is anywhere near the final pairing on Sunday, he might as well wear brown pants, because he shites himself EVERYTIME. Put him head-to-head with Tiger: He's DONE. Put him with Harrington: HE's DONE! Heck, in the Ryder Cup (an event he used to dominate because the captains never put him against REAL PLAYERS) put him with Anthony Kim: HE'S DONEZO! But for WHATEVER reason NBC, ABC, ESPN and CBS think we want to watch him. WATCH HIM FAIL YET AGAIN! That's fun, but after a while, it is like rubbernecking at an accident.
Bottom Line, I'm not sure why these four sports entities keep getting due. Clemson bball has never done ANYTHING to warrant it; tOSU's sweatervest wearing coach sold his soul for ONE title and now is paying the reaper; Hey Notre Dame, it isn't 1940!; and Sergio isn't even the best player never-to-have-won-a-major: that's Anthony Kim imo! Come on guys, open up the eyes! Or just keep coming back to Sportsbyfletch to get straightened out. That's why I'm HERE!
Last night I watched as #9 Clemson entered the Dean Dome and proceeded to get blown off the court by #6 UNC. This was just a few days after Clemson lost to Wake Forest. Ummm, Clemson scheduled a sack of crap to open the season (LIKE THEY ALWAYS DO), they race off to a fine start (but then again who DOESN'T FEAST on teams like UNC-OIB-wait, Felton can't beat Savannah State!) before crashing back to earth with a 7-9/8-8 conference slate-if they even win THAT MANY. But they do this EVERY YEAR! You'd think that people would catch on at some point. Yeah a 16-0 start to a 19-13 finish. EVERY YEAR! Catch ON people!
Ohio State football. If the Suckeyes hadn't lost to Penn State, they probably would have been playing OU or Florida for the national title AGAIN! Why? They beat up on the Big 11 after beating Ohio and Youngstown State? That qualifies them for a BCS appearance? They beat Indiana? Come on! At least they didn't lose the BCSCG, just the FREAKING FIESTA BOWL! How'd they get in there? Put ANYONE else in there instead. Seriously, let's STOP with putting the sweatervest in those big games. But people are starting to catch on with tOSU....just like they've ALREADY caught on with....
Notre Dame football. After two craptastic seasons people are finally starting to realize that the team is all hype, ZERO substance. Actually, I may have spoken too soon. Apparently they will be Preseason top 10 this coming season. This according to 680 The Fan's new morning show host, Leo Mazzone. Yeah. Enough said.
Finally, Sergio Garcia. The guy craps the bed EVERY time he's in a major field. And if he is anywhere near the final pairing on Sunday, he might as well wear brown pants, because he shites himself EVERYTIME. Put him head-to-head with Tiger: He's DONE. Put him with Harrington: HE's DONE! Heck, in the Ryder Cup (an event he used to dominate because the captains never put him against REAL PLAYERS) put him with Anthony Kim: HE'S DONEZO! But for WHATEVER reason NBC, ABC, ESPN and CBS think we want to watch him. WATCH HIM FAIL YET AGAIN! That's fun, but after a while, it is like rubbernecking at an accident.
Bottom Line, I'm not sure why these four sports entities keep getting due. Clemson bball has never done ANYTHING to warrant it; tOSU's sweatervest wearing coach sold his soul for ONE title and now is paying the reaper; Hey Notre Dame, it isn't 1940!; and Sergio isn't even the best player never-to-have-won-a-major: that's Anthony Kim imo! Come on guys, open up the eyes! Or just keep coming back to Sportsbyfletch to get straightened out. That's why I'm HERE!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Frenchy wants 4M and Wifey wants a pony
Trust me, Wifey has a better shot at getting the pony, despite the fact the fact that I hate horses! (Barbaro killed the small modicum of "like" I had for the creatures.)
The Score Atlanta beat writer is reporting that Braves RF Jeff Francoeur is seeking $3.95M from the Braves for the 2009 season, while the Braves are offering (very generously, if you ask me) 2.8M. If the issue cannot be resolved, the two sides will go to an arbitration hearing next week. (PS, the Braves avoided arbitration with closer Mike Gonzalez, and will try to with Kotchman and KJ too, it seems.)
But seriously, where does Frenchy get off asking for 4M for next year as he comes off a season where he was demoted, pitched a fit, then was brought up to fall into a massive slump that lasted the entire season. Francoeur ended the year with his lowest career batting average, an Andruw-like .239 with only a .359 slugging percentage. His 11 home runs were nice, for a backup in the American League. OH, and he made only $460,000 last year. And he thinks THAT YEAR HE HAD LAST SEASON warrants a raise to just under $4M? He should be thanking his lucky stars that the Braves didn't offer him the MLB minimum!
I bet the former "Future Face of the Franchise" (now Brian McCann) wishes he had taken the deal the Braves thrown at him two seasons ago. I am sort of glad he turned that down. Now the Braves aren't stuck with another bad contract, like they were with Mike Hampton.
Now Frenchy could turn it around, but he just hasn't been the player he was during his first few weeks in the majors. He has turned into Andruw-lite with the refusal to change his swing or lay off the crappy pitches he sees. If you are a pitcher, do you even throw a pitch in the strike zone? NO!
I wonder if, when they DO go to arbitration, Frank Wren stands up and asks, "REALLY JEFF? REALLY? 4M? REALLY? You hit .239. REALLY?"
What is this guy thinking? I wonder if he is just pulling this stunt to get traded. He could be. And if he isn't careful, he's on the Royals in about three weeks. Careful Frenchy. Be careful.
The Score Atlanta beat writer is reporting that Braves RF Jeff Francoeur is seeking $3.95M from the Braves for the 2009 season, while the Braves are offering (very generously, if you ask me) 2.8M. If the issue cannot be resolved, the two sides will go to an arbitration hearing next week. (PS, the Braves avoided arbitration with closer Mike Gonzalez, and will try to with Kotchman and KJ too, it seems.)
But seriously, where does Frenchy get off asking for 4M for next year as he comes off a season where he was demoted, pitched a fit, then was brought up to fall into a massive slump that lasted the entire season. Francoeur ended the year with his lowest career batting average, an Andruw-like .239 with only a .359 slugging percentage. His 11 home runs were nice, for a backup in the American League. OH, and he made only $460,000 last year. And he thinks THAT YEAR HE HAD LAST SEASON warrants a raise to just under $4M? He should be thanking his lucky stars that the Braves didn't offer him the MLB minimum!
I bet the former "Future Face of the Franchise" (now Brian McCann) wishes he had taken the deal the Braves thrown at him two seasons ago. I am sort of glad he turned that down. Now the Braves aren't stuck with another bad contract, like they were with Mike Hampton.
Now Frenchy could turn it around, but he just hasn't been the player he was during his first few weeks in the majors. He has turned into Andruw-lite with the refusal to change his swing or lay off the crappy pitches he sees. If you are a pitcher, do you even throw a pitch in the strike zone? NO!
I wonder if, when they DO go to arbitration, Frank Wren stands up and asks, "REALLY JEFF? REALLY? 4M? REALLY? You hit .239. REALLY?"
What is this guy thinking? I wonder if he is just pulling this stunt to get traded. He could be. And if he isn't careful, he's on the Royals in about three weeks. Careful Frenchy. Be careful.
Norcross HS to host Marriott Invitational this Fri & Sat
High school basketball fans will be in for a treat this Friday and Saturday as teams from Georgia take on some of Florida’s best in the Marriott Invitational at Norcross High School. Each day will feature two games with Dunwoody and Norcross playing Choice Learning Academy (Miami, FL) and Monsignor Pace High School (Miami, FL) in a round-robin format. As the host school, the Blue Devils of Norcross will play in both night’s night caps. On Friday, the Dunwoody Wildcats will face Monsignor Pace, which is currently ranked as the No.1 team in the Florida state AAAA classification. The team is led by 6’9 Louisville-signee Rakeem Buckles, as well as guard Darren Stewart (Florida Atlantic commitment) and guard Christian Martinez (uncommitted, ranked in the top 30 Florida prospects). The first night wraps up with Norcross facing Choice Learning Academy, led by 6’8 Tony Mitchell (Kansas State) and 6’9 Noma Adjaito (VCU). The following night, Dunwoody faces Choice at 7 p.m. followed at 8:30 with Norcross squaring off against Buckles and Monsignor.
Norcross is currently ranked No.2 in the recent GACA Coaches’ Poll and No.4 in the ScoreAtlanta All-Class poll. The Blue Devils (14-1, 10-0) are led by Jeremy and Zach Lamb, as well as star guard Taariq Muhammad and Denzail Jones. The Duluth Wildcats meanwhile are unranked but enter the Marriott Invitational fresh off a victory over Peachtree Ridge.
Tickets are $7 for adults or $12 for a two day pass. For more information, contact the Norcross High School athletic department.
Norcross is currently ranked No.2 in the recent GACA Coaches’ Poll and No.4 in the ScoreAtlanta All-Class poll. The Blue Devils (14-1, 10-0) are led by Jeremy and Zach Lamb, as well as star guard Taariq Muhammad and Denzail Jones. The Duluth Wildcats meanwhile are unranked but enter the Marriott Invitational fresh off a victory over Peachtree Ridge.
Tickets are $7 for adults or $12 for a two day pass. For more information, contact the Norcross High School athletic department.
Midweek entertainment report and Entourage review
Yo Ari: Dump Vince, Tim Roth comes to TV, Hilary Duff grows up and Tom Cruise builds a time machine?
Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!
Hilary Duff has decided to leave Lizzie McGuire and Kim Possible behind and take up a new role in the NBC comedy Barely Legal. Apparently she will be playing a teenager that passes the bar exam in California and becomes an 18 year old lawyer. Doogie Howsier MD in the courtroom? What? And Hilary Duff is a main character? How soon before that goes the way of My Own Worst Enemy?
Tom Cruise recently told the Asian press that he always wanted to kill Hitler. "Even as a little kid, I used to wonder why someone didn't stand up and kill him. I've always wanted to kill Hitler." Ummmm, Tommy, Hitler IS dead. So you are good. I jest though, I shouldn't make fun of Cruise, I agree with him. Why didn't someone stand up and kill him? I watched a program on the History Channel where apparently 42 attempts were made on his life. AND NO ONE WAS SUCCESSFUL? The few that REALLY bothered me were the guys that were willing to ALSO die as long as Hitler died too. But the crazy thing was, they all were going to blow themselves up. If you are going to sacrifice yourself, why not just take a gun and straight out shoot him? True his bodyguards would have taken you into custody or likely have shot you back, but HEY, at least you'd have killed him. Just wondering why THAT never happened...
Lie To Me debuts tonight. I am excited about this show for some reason, the most excited I have been for any new show thus far this year. Tim Roth aka Mr. Orange will star and I am PUMPED. I wish Fox would bring back Justice too while they are at it. But I also wanted a conclusion to Reunion, and I never got that....
Finally, I have been Netflixing Entourage with the Wife over the last few weeks. I just finished Season 3, Part One, and in the last episode, Ari took on a partner in Babs Miller to form Miller-Gold and Vince got fired from Aquaman2 AND missed out on Medienne (spelling, I am sure). AND he just told the Hollywood Foreign Press that Queens Blvd would be held up because they colorized it. HEY ARI, DUMP VINCE! He keeps getting sh!tty advice from his "manager" E and he keeps ignoring Ari. I'd dump Vince now that I have Babs and her client list at my disposal. Vince with Johnny and E and Turtle, they aren't worth the headaches. Maybe when he was ALL Ari had, but now Ari has "major power players," according to that meeting with the "Five Families" Tell E to run Vince's career! He couldn't do it. Vince needs Ari and Vince would soon realize that. And as far as Wifey saying that "why would he dump Vince? He is a superstar!" I am sure that back in 2001-02 when Colin Ferrell was dating Britney Spears and starring in The Recruit and SWAT, no one told his agent to dump him DESPITE the coke problem. I would have. He did Alexander and dropped off the face of the earth before winning the Golden Globe for a Polish movie that no one saw. But honestly, dump the dude Ari. you don't need Vince. He is the star of ZERO movies right now and has done more to harm his career than he EVER has to help it. You don't need him, you are FREAKING ARI GOLD!
Ladies and gentlemen, the midweek entertainment report!
CLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAPCLAP!
Hilary Duff has decided to leave Lizzie McGuire and Kim Possible behind and take up a new role in the NBC comedy Barely Legal. Apparently she will be playing a teenager that passes the bar exam in California and becomes an 18 year old lawyer. Doogie Howsier MD in the courtroom? What? And Hilary Duff is a main character? How soon before that goes the way of My Own Worst Enemy?
Tom Cruise recently told the Asian press that he always wanted to kill Hitler. "Even as a little kid, I used to wonder why someone didn't stand up and kill him. I've always wanted to kill Hitler." Ummmm, Tommy, Hitler IS dead. So you are good. I jest though, I shouldn't make fun of Cruise, I agree with him. Why didn't someone stand up and kill him? I watched a program on the History Channel where apparently 42 attempts were made on his life. AND NO ONE WAS SUCCESSFUL? The few that REALLY bothered me were the guys that were willing to ALSO die as long as Hitler died too. But the crazy thing was, they all were going to blow themselves up. If you are going to sacrifice yourself, why not just take a gun and straight out shoot him? True his bodyguards would have taken you into custody or likely have shot you back, but HEY, at least you'd have killed him. Just wondering why THAT never happened...
Lie To Me debuts tonight. I am excited about this show for some reason, the most excited I have been for any new show thus far this year. Tim Roth aka Mr. Orange will star and I am PUMPED. I wish Fox would bring back Justice too while they are at it. But I also wanted a conclusion to Reunion, and I never got that....
Finally, I have been Netflixing Entourage with the Wife over the last few weeks. I just finished Season 3, Part One, and in the last episode, Ari took on a partner in Babs Miller to form Miller-Gold and Vince got fired from Aquaman2 AND missed out on Medienne (spelling, I am sure). AND he just told the Hollywood Foreign Press that Queens Blvd would be held up because they colorized it. HEY ARI, DUMP VINCE! He keeps getting sh!tty advice from his "manager" E and he keeps ignoring Ari. I'd dump Vince now that I have Babs and her client list at my disposal. Vince with Johnny and E and Turtle, they aren't worth the headaches. Maybe when he was ALL Ari had, but now Ari has "major power players," according to that meeting with the "Five Families" Tell E to run Vince's career! He couldn't do it. Vince needs Ari and Vince would soon realize that. And as far as Wifey saying that "why would he dump Vince? He is a superstar!" I am sure that back in 2001-02 when Colin Ferrell was dating Britney Spears and starring in The Recruit and SWAT, no one told his agent to dump him DESPITE the coke problem. I would have. He did Alexander and dropped off the face of the earth before winning the Golden Globe for a Polish movie that no one saw. But honestly, dump the dude Ari. you don't need Vince. He is the star of ZERO movies right now and has done more to harm his career than he EVER has to help it. You don't need him, you are FREAKING ARI GOLD!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
So does my 401k get fixed TODAY or tomorrow?
Because according to all of the liberals over the last few years "once Bush leaves office, all of the country's problems will go away!" So will Obama fix that this afternoon or will he do it after all of the parties tonight? JUST WONDERING....
Last night on The City, it seemed like Adam might have been the biggest doofus EVER. True Wifey says that he is delicious (and she said this on our 9-monthaversary. Thanks Wife!), but he is dating a model that gets flown around the world and then he goes off and makes out with other chicks? And that Cat chick wasn't even that hot! Not that his squeeze Allie is all that and a bag of chips (remember that expression?) but still........
And why did Allie believe his story? Maybe this is partly her fault for being so stupid that has enabled him. Did she really believe his story where he throws his friend under the bus and claims that he was just talking about "nothing!" and Whitney's friends created this lie. Interesting how the first thing you said to her was "Hey Babe, have you talked to Whitney?" Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
But Anyways, she knows that when you date better looking people, you MUST hold on tight and you give them a little latitude. They are more attractive! You are outkicking your coverage. I give Wifey a LOT of latitude since she is a 10 and I am about a 4.925. You just need to cater to your MUCH HOTTER better half. That's why they call it a "better half!"
And as far as Bromance goes, Wifey thinks she is going to quit her job to become a life coach. She thinks she can do that. And Gary got eliminated (homey!) because, well, he just wasn't enough.
HA! You'd get the reference if you watched the show. Oh well.
I'm off to check on World Peace and to make sure the economy is better than every and to see if my 401k is back! Wish me luck...wait I shouldn't need luck, we now have Obama (tongue in cheek)
Last night on The City, it seemed like Adam might have been the biggest doofus EVER. True Wifey says that he is delicious (and she said this on our 9-monthaversary. Thanks Wife!), but he is dating a model that gets flown around the world and then he goes off and makes out with other chicks? And that Cat chick wasn't even that hot! Not that his squeeze Allie is all that and a bag of chips (remember that expression?) but still........
And why did Allie believe his story? Maybe this is partly her fault for being so stupid that has enabled him. Did she really believe his story where he throws his friend under the bus and claims that he was just talking about "nothing!" and Whitney's friends created this lie. Interesting how the first thing you said to her was "Hey Babe, have you talked to Whitney?" Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
But Anyways, she knows that when you date better looking people, you MUST hold on tight and you give them a little latitude. They are more attractive! You are outkicking your coverage. I give Wifey a LOT of latitude since she is a 10 and I am about a 4.925. You just need to cater to your MUCH HOTTER better half. That's why they call it a "better half!"
And as far as Bromance goes, Wifey thinks she is going to quit her job to become a life coach. She thinks she can do that. And Gary got eliminated (homey!) because, well, he just wasn't enough.
HA! You'd get the reference if you watched the show. Oh well.
I'm off to check on World Peace and to make sure the economy is better than every and to see if my 401k is back! Wish me luck...wait I shouldn't need luck, we now have Obama (tongue in cheek)
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Warner punches TWO tickets: Tampa and Canton
With four touchdown passes today, including the game-winning flip to Tim Hightower with less than 3 minutes to go in the NFC championship game, Kurt Warner punched the Arizona Cardinals ticket to the team's first Super Bowl. (I believe I saw where the St. Louis franchise went to the NFL Championship game in 1961, but this would be the first Super Bowl). And this will be Kurt Warner's third career Super Bowl after winning one and losing another in St. Louis with the Rams. And it should WITHOUT question punch Warner's ticket for a bust in the Hall of Fame. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! The guy has won two MVPs and maybe should have won a third this season. He has taken the FREAKING CARDINALS, a team that one "pundit" said was the worst team EVER to make the playoffs (I think it was maybe the same genius that said the Falcons would go 1-15?) to the SUPER BOWL. He has helped Larry Fitzgerald turn into the best Wider Receiver out there today. Edge James has become revitalized, in part because of Warner. The Cardinals were LOSERS, but then Warner came out to the desert after grooming Eli Manning in New York and played LAST SEASON with one arm. This season, he beat out Leinart ONCE AGAIN and the Cardinals should thank their lucky stars because he has them one win (and they have just a tad of momentum, wouldn't you say?) from a Super Bowl title. WOW. Best QB in the franchise's history? Way better than Jake the Snake.
He has one title in the bag, the yardage marks, the completion percentage records, the ratings records, EVERYTHING. And there is NO Question he should be in Canton. So just go ahead and put him in there. Done. Not a fluke.
His opponent today Donovan McNabb is considered by some to ALREADY be in the Hall of Fame. I say, "WHY?" What has Donovan EVER done to get into Canton? He is Jim Kelly-lite. He chokes in the big games. He is as it stands 1 for 5 in the NFC Championship games. And the ONE that he won, he then vomited in the Super Bowl with a chance to go down the field for the win. He then got TO kicked out of Philly because suddenly Donovan wasn't the main attraction anymore. Ummmm, you are 0-4 in NFC Championship games without TO. Maybe you should have shared the spotlight with TO and tried for another Super Bowl? But you couldn't stand NOT being the man. So you and Andy ( your shoeshine boy) got TO run out of town. Smart move? And Andy Reid then had Jeff Garcia take him to the second round of the playoffs, but he couldn't imagine his life without Donovan, so he sent Garcia packing (straight to a division title with Tampa while Philly missed the playoffs last year.) The gamble worked out I guess as Donovan, despite not knowing rules of overtime, led Reid to another NFCCG, but he couldn't get it done YET AGAIN, thus the Jim Kelly-lite. Yeah, JK is in the Hall of Fame, but that's because he went to four straight SUPER BOWLS. He couldn't get it done there. DMac only went once, and threw up when he got there. Not Hall of Fame worthy if you ask me.
To sum up: Kurt Warner now 3-0 in NFCCG and 1-1 with a third TBD while McNabb is 1-4 in NFCCG with an 0-1 record in the Super Bowl. I just cannot put McNabb in the Super Bowl. Sorry. If I do, I have to put Rich Gannon of Oakland or Steve McNair of Tennessee in there too. Jim Hart of St. Louis went to the NFC championship game in 1975, 76, 77. Guy went to Pro Bowls from 1974-77. But he's not there and I just cannot put McNabb in there if Gannon (WITH an MVP) or McNair (co-MVP) are not. Sorry Philly fans.
AND PS, Sportsbyfletch is officially endorsing the Arizona Cardinals as his pick for the Super Bowl. PS#2, the AFC rep hasn't been decided yet, but we here at SbF are throwing our hat into the ring for Larry Fitzgerald and that future HoFer Kurt Warner! Go Cards!
He has one title in the bag, the yardage marks, the completion percentage records, the ratings records, EVERYTHING. And there is NO Question he should be in Canton. So just go ahead and put him in there. Done. Not a fluke.
His opponent today Donovan McNabb is considered by some to ALREADY be in the Hall of Fame. I say, "WHY?" What has Donovan EVER done to get into Canton? He is Jim Kelly-lite. He chokes in the big games. He is as it stands 1 for 5 in the NFC Championship games. And the ONE that he won, he then vomited in the Super Bowl with a chance to go down the field for the win. He then got TO kicked out of Philly because suddenly Donovan wasn't the main attraction anymore. Ummmm, you are 0-4 in NFC Championship games without TO. Maybe you should have shared the spotlight with TO and tried for another Super Bowl? But you couldn't stand NOT being the man. So you and Andy ( your shoeshine boy) got TO run out of town. Smart move? And Andy Reid then had Jeff Garcia take him to the second round of the playoffs, but he couldn't imagine his life without Donovan, so he sent Garcia packing (straight to a division title with Tampa while Philly missed the playoffs last year.) The gamble worked out I guess as Donovan, despite not knowing rules of overtime, led Reid to another NFCCG, but he couldn't get it done YET AGAIN, thus the Jim Kelly-lite. Yeah, JK is in the Hall of Fame, but that's because he went to four straight SUPER BOWLS. He couldn't get it done there. DMac only went once, and threw up when he got there. Not Hall of Fame worthy if you ask me.
To sum up: Kurt Warner now 3-0 in NFCCG and 1-1 with a third TBD while McNabb is 1-4 in NFCCG with an 0-1 record in the Super Bowl. I just cannot put McNabb in the Super Bowl. Sorry. If I do, I have to put Rich Gannon of Oakland or Steve McNair of Tennessee in there too. Jim Hart of St. Louis went to the NFC championship game in 1975, 76, 77. Guy went to Pro Bowls from 1974-77. But he's not there and I just cannot put McNabb in there if Gannon (WITH an MVP) or McNair (co-MVP) are not. Sorry Philly fans.
AND PS, Sportsbyfletch is officially endorsing the Arizona Cardinals as his pick for the Super Bowl. PS#2, the AFC rep hasn't been decided yet, but we here at SbF are throwing our hat into the ring for Larry Fitzgerald and that future HoFer Kurt Warner! Go Cards!
The New Norcross Coach is just fine
If anyone thought that the Norcross Blue Devils boys basketball team would lose a step after Head Coach Eddie Martin left the program, that person vastly underestimated new coach Jesse McMillan. All the long-time assistant has done in his first year at the head of the bench is run his team out to a 13-1, (10-0 region) record and a No.3 ranking in the latest GACA Coaches Poll. When Martin stepped away from the program, having just won the last three state championships, the Norcross program could have gone to any number of coaches. According to reports, nearly two hundred resumes flooded the desk of Norcross administrators, but the school decided to promote the six-year assistant McMillan to the head coach position. “I am very lucky to have served under one of the best to ever be on the sideline in the state of Georgia,” McMillan says. “Serving and working side by side with Coach Martin for six years was an immeasurable experience.”
When McMillan was handed the keys to the Norcross kingdom, he hit the ground running, and he needed to: with this job come state championship expectations. “There is pressure, yes, but no more than any winning program faces. One of the best things about the new position was the fact that I already had a good relationship with the team.” And that relationship has enabled the team to jump out to a 13-1 record thus far this season. Coach McMillan is quick to credit his players though as this team seems off to another state championship-caliber start. “We have a great makeup of kids, good size and a nice, athletic group off the bench. Our senior guards have been the epitome of consistency, each one playing their role perfectly.” Coach McMillan has also been pleased with the rebounding and the team’s offensive balance. While Taariq Muhammad and Denzail Jones grab the headlines and wow the crowd, McMillan noted that a pair of Lambs has impressed the coaching staff. Senior Zach Lamb was called the glue that holds the team together by McMillan while junior Jeff adds scoring off the bench and has averaged 14ppg since the Christmas break. “The Lamb brothers are fantastic kids and instrumental in our success.”
As much as every coach wants a win and to bring titles to a school, McMillan may have learned very early in his coaching tenure that sometimes a lost battle can win a war. The team traveled to Charlotte for the Bojangle’s Shootout where it played three games in three days, a “playoff setting,” and had the No.18 ranked team in the country, Bishop McNamara, dead in the water. The team had free throws to ice the game with :06 left but would lose 59-56. McMillan though knows his team learned from that. “In a way the loss was good for us. Obviously we wanted to win desperately…but sometimes you have to look at the greater scheme of things. After the loss we were able to refocus and come back and play great basketball the following games.” McMillan credits that experience with how his team has responded now back in region play, where the Blue Devils are 10-0.
Will these Blue Devils go on to win another state title and send multiple players to Division I schools to seek college glory? Time will tell. But Coach McMillan will certainly be following all of his players’ future adventures. “I try to talk to our former players as much as I can. I know when they are struggling and when they are doing well and try to talk to them and offer encouragement or congratulations.” McMillan said that while he never expected Kentucky sensation Jodie Meeks to drop 54 in a recent game against Tennessee, he did expect him “to be a special player, without a doubt.” McMillan also noted that Al-Farouq Aminu is “another one that will not let individual success cloud his judgment. He remains grounded and humble.” Aminu’s Wake Forest Demon Deacons are the only undefeated team left in DI.
“We've been very lucky to have great kids come through our program.” This is true, but coaching certainly helps and Jesse McMillan is hoping to maintain the success and carve out his place in Norcross history. “No one is completely prepared for being a head coach. I have to keep a level head and be the calming force. Obviously, for us to continue being successful we need to keep our sense of community and family.” So far, so good.
When McMillan was handed the keys to the Norcross kingdom, he hit the ground running, and he needed to: with this job come state championship expectations. “There is pressure, yes, but no more than any winning program faces. One of the best things about the new position was the fact that I already had a good relationship with the team.” And that relationship has enabled the team to jump out to a 13-1 record thus far this season. Coach McMillan is quick to credit his players though as this team seems off to another state championship-caliber start. “We have a great makeup of kids, good size and a nice, athletic group off the bench. Our senior guards have been the epitome of consistency, each one playing their role perfectly.” Coach McMillan has also been pleased with the rebounding and the team’s offensive balance. While Taariq Muhammad and Denzail Jones grab the headlines and wow the crowd, McMillan noted that a pair of Lambs has impressed the coaching staff. Senior Zach Lamb was called the glue that holds the team together by McMillan while junior Jeff adds scoring off the bench and has averaged 14ppg since the Christmas break. “The Lamb brothers are fantastic kids and instrumental in our success.”
As much as every coach wants a win and to bring titles to a school, McMillan may have learned very early in his coaching tenure that sometimes a lost battle can win a war. The team traveled to Charlotte for the Bojangle’s Shootout where it played three games in three days, a “playoff setting,” and had the No.18 ranked team in the country, Bishop McNamara, dead in the water. The team had free throws to ice the game with :06 left but would lose 59-56. McMillan though knows his team learned from that. “In a way the loss was good for us. Obviously we wanted to win desperately…but sometimes you have to look at the greater scheme of things. After the loss we were able to refocus and come back and play great basketball the following games.” McMillan credits that experience with how his team has responded now back in region play, where the Blue Devils are 10-0.
Will these Blue Devils go on to win another state title and send multiple players to Division I schools to seek college glory? Time will tell. But Coach McMillan will certainly be following all of his players’ future adventures. “I try to talk to our former players as much as I can. I know when they are struggling and when they are doing well and try to talk to them and offer encouragement or congratulations.” McMillan said that while he never expected Kentucky sensation Jodie Meeks to drop 54 in a recent game against Tennessee, he did expect him “to be a special player, without a doubt.” McMillan also noted that Al-Farouq Aminu is “another one that will not let individual success cloud his judgment. He remains grounded and humble.” Aminu’s Wake Forest Demon Deacons are the only undefeated team left in DI.
“We've been very lucky to have great kids come through our program.” This is true, but coaching certainly helps and Jesse McMillan is hoping to maintain the success and carve out his place in Norcross history. “No one is completely prepared for being a head coach. I have to keep a level head and be the calming force. Obviously, for us to continue being successful we need to keep our sense of community and family.” So far, so good.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Redskins off-season plans
The Jim Zorn era started with SUCH promise. 4-1 with St. Louis, Cleveland Detroit and Pittsburgh to go before a week 10 bye.
Then the team lost to the Rams....at home. Sure a comeback win over Cleveland and a not-as-dominant-as-the-scoreboard-said win over Detroit was nice, but Pittsburgh absolutely crushed the Redskins AT FEDEX FIELD the night before the election. After the bye week the team lost 5 of 7, including losses to the Cowboys and Giants at home, two teams that the Skins NEEDED to beat in order to have a shot at the playoffs. The Skins did beat Philly and Seattle, thus sweeping Philly and spitting on the team that knocked it out of the playoffs two of the last three years, but losses to Cincinnati and San Francisco REALLY hurt and turned a 10-6 season with a spot in the playoffs into an 8-8 year and out of the playoffs.
Now the Skins have decided to keep Zorn around (because Cowher likely said he wants to NOT coach one more season) and I'm sure while Jason Campbell likes that, most Redskins fans don't. Was 8-8 in a coach's first year EVER as a coach (remember, Zorn wasn't even a coordinator before taking the head role!) a bad start? Not necessarily. He had a better first year than (no, Mike Smith, Sparano, and Harbaugh were all better...)Scott Linehan did in 2007. I think the players stopped listening to Joe Gibbs, but they still respected his three Super Bowls. But with Zorn, they don't respect him. Clinton Portis called him, very sarcastically, a "genius!" I think he lost this team with the losing down the stretch and Portis went from MVP candidate to riding the pine. Dude was hurt, but STILL giving it his all.
Maybe the Redskins hurt themselves by turning the team over to the guys from THE U. Santana Moss, Portis and before he died, Sean Taylor. Those guys from the U usually like to do their own thing because they think they are special. They work out on their own (Taylor and Jeremy Shockey did that). They tend to pop off about things and while VERY talented, they think they are better than they actually are. They remind me of some of the guys you see your freshman year of college that still wear their high school lettermen's jackets. DUDE this is college! you want to scream at them. Hey MIAMI GUYS, this is the NFL! Not the Big East! I think too many of those former Hurricanes is NOT a good thing and that may have gotten the ship off course.
Jason Taylor's acquisition was a bust. I'll say it. he was hurt for a bunch and just never delivered the pressure I thought he was going to bring. Andre Carter did more. Now, did that come from not enough help on the inside of the line? Could have. The team didn't have much depth there because of injuries.
The two wideout rookies really didn't bring ANYTHING to the table in year one.
The offensive line is getting REALLY old.
Jason Campbell....is he REALLY the answer?
LaRon Landry is going to be good and the defensive secondary has Smoot,Rogers, Springs and DHall. Will they all be back next season?
Is London Fletcher going to get any help at linebacker? And he's getting a bit long in the tooth.
What does this team have going FOR it?
Antwaan Randle-El is a pretty good slot receiver and KR/PR. But he's getting paid #1 or #2 money when he's a #3.
Santana Moss is also a pretty good PR and #1 WR. He needs a guy to get him the ball
Clinton Portis is a beat on gamedays. Can he just shut his mouth other days? And Betts is a nice big back to complement him.
Chris Cooley is the MVP of the team EVERY YEAR it seems. What a weapon. Add in Fred Davis and his pass-catching ability that he flashed at USC and you have a nice set of TE/H-Backs
Andre Carter is good. Get him Philip Daniels and Kedric Goldston back and he'll be just fine.
This HAS to be the make-or-break year for Jason Campbell. I am not sure he is going to work out. Serviceable sure, but can he win a Super Bowl? I don't know. In the draft, the team might be able to steal Cullen Harper in the 6th round. I have killed him on this blog before about his mouth, but if he had jumped to the NFL last season, he's a first rounder. Get him in the 6th or so. Bring him along slowly as Zorn's pet project and maybe HE'S your QB of the future.
Between Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, ONE of those two has to work out right? Malcolm Kelly was injured the entire year last year. If finally healthy, he is the tall receiver this team needs. If Thomas can give you stuff from a 4th wideout, maybe even an occasional deep threat, then COOL. I think Kelly is the key there though.
The defensive line, they don't need to go out and sign Haynesworth. No, leave that spending to the Titans and Falcons. Get depth there. Take Albert's money and sign two "smaller" so you can rotate guys in and out. Next season's draft will be one to load up on a Jeff Owens or Brandon Antwine. Or if you can steal a Jeria Perry from Ole Miss or Ricky Jean Francois in the third round (which they'll be gone, but WHAT IF they slip?) Do it. Depth is the key for the DLine. You have plenty from the ends.
LB, maybe you can address in the draft. Dannell Ellerbe might be worth a late pick. Same with Clint Sintim from UVA. Some one though needs to help out Rocky and London.
The OLine is strong with Samuels, Kendell, Thomas, Heyer, Fabini, Jansen, Rabach, but injuries have taken a toll on Jansen and Kendell and Thomas and Fabini and Rabach are all getting up there in years. If the new wave is Heyer and Samuels, then WHAT ELSE? Who else? Depth here too.
So the offseason plans: Work on interior line depth, get Kelly healthy, and decide about the QB situation.
And hope Zorn grows up some and his second year finishes with the playoffs. It seems the Skins make the playoffs every other year these days. Maybe that means 2009-10 is a playoff year?
If we look at the other teams in the division: The Cowboys might get rid of TO, and Romo is still the QB (can't win past November). The Giants crumbled down the stretch and in the playoffs. Plaxico is the key there. It could divide the lockerroom PLUS Eli is still the QB. Third worst SuperBowl MVP EVER! (Desmond and Larry Allen) And the Eagles might disband the team after this season, but not likely if they make it to the Super Bowl. McNabb is injury-prone and his surviving this year mean's law of averages will get him next year.
The NFC North will STILL stink next season. The NFC West is transitioning so just one berth from each of those two divisions. The NFC South just got rid of Gruden (and likely Jeff Garcia), so Tampa Bay is out, Nawlins must fix whatever is rotten down there. The Panthers imploded and will likely lose Julius Peppers. Will Jake the Snake be back after 6 turnovers? Atlanta seems to have it going. One, maybe two spots from the NFC South.
That leaves two, maybe three from the NFC East. I think the Redskins should have been playoff bound THIS YEAR (St. Louis, Cincy and SF, two of the three go differently, they are a #5!) so if they sneak off with a 9-7 at worst, 11-5 at best, they are In the playoffs. Next year, 10-6!
Then the team lost to the Rams....at home. Sure a comeback win over Cleveland and a not-as-dominant-as-the-scoreboard-said win over Detroit was nice, but Pittsburgh absolutely crushed the Redskins AT FEDEX FIELD the night before the election. After the bye week the team lost 5 of 7, including losses to the Cowboys and Giants at home, two teams that the Skins NEEDED to beat in order to have a shot at the playoffs. The Skins did beat Philly and Seattle, thus sweeping Philly and spitting on the team that knocked it out of the playoffs two of the last three years, but losses to Cincinnati and San Francisco REALLY hurt and turned a 10-6 season with a spot in the playoffs into an 8-8 year and out of the playoffs.
Now the Skins have decided to keep Zorn around (because Cowher likely said he wants to NOT coach one more season) and I'm sure while Jason Campbell likes that, most Redskins fans don't. Was 8-8 in a coach's first year EVER as a coach (remember, Zorn wasn't even a coordinator before taking the head role!) a bad start? Not necessarily. He had a better first year than (no, Mike Smith, Sparano, and Harbaugh were all better...)Scott Linehan did in 2007. I think the players stopped listening to Joe Gibbs, but they still respected his three Super Bowls. But with Zorn, they don't respect him. Clinton Portis called him, very sarcastically, a "genius!" I think he lost this team with the losing down the stretch and Portis went from MVP candidate to riding the pine. Dude was hurt, but STILL giving it his all.
Maybe the Redskins hurt themselves by turning the team over to the guys from THE U. Santana Moss, Portis and before he died, Sean Taylor. Those guys from the U usually like to do their own thing because they think they are special. They work out on their own (Taylor and Jeremy Shockey did that). They tend to pop off about things and while VERY talented, they think they are better than they actually are. They remind me of some of the guys you see your freshman year of college that still wear their high school lettermen's jackets. DUDE this is college! you want to scream at them. Hey MIAMI GUYS, this is the NFL! Not the Big East! I think too many of those former Hurricanes is NOT a good thing and that may have gotten the ship off course.
Jason Taylor's acquisition was a bust. I'll say it. he was hurt for a bunch and just never delivered the pressure I thought he was going to bring. Andre Carter did more. Now, did that come from not enough help on the inside of the line? Could have. The team didn't have much depth there because of injuries.
The two wideout rookies really didn't bring ANYTHING to the table in year one.
The offensive line is getting REALLY old.
Jason Campbell....is he REALLY the answer?
LaRon Landry is going to be good and the defensive secondary has Smoot,Rogers, Springs and DHall. Will they all be back next season?
Is London Fletcher going to get any help at linebacker? And he's getting a bit long in the tooth.
What does this team have going FOR it?
Antwaan Randle-El is a pretty good slot receiver and KR/PR. But he's getting paid #1 or #2 money when he's a #3.
Santana Moss is also a pretty good PR and #1 WR. He needs a guy to get him the ball
Clinton Portis is a beat on gamedays. Can he just shut his mouth other days? And Betts is a nice big back to complement him.
Chris Cooley is the MVP of the team EVERY YEAR it seems. What a weapon. Add in Fred Davis and his pass-catching ability that he flashed at USC and you have a nice set of TE/H-Backs
Andre Carter is good. Get him Philip Daniels and Kedric Goldston back and he'll be just fine.
This HAS to be the make-or-break year for Jason Campbell. I am not sure he is going to work out. Serviceable sure, but can he win a Super Bowl? I don't know. In the draft, the team might be able to steal Cullen Harper in the 6th round. I have killed him on this blog before about his mouth, but if he had jumped to the NFL last season, he's a first rounder. Get him in the 6th or so. Bring him along slowly as Zorn's pet project and maybe HE'S your QB of the future.
Between Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas, ONE of those two has to work out right? Malcolm Kelly was injured the entire year last year. If finally healthy, he is the tall receiver this team needs. If Thomas can give you stuff from a 4th wideout, maybe even an occasional deep threat, then COOL. I think Kelly is the key there though.
The defensive line, they don't need to go out and sign Haynesworth. No, leave that spending to the Titans and Falcons. Get depth there. Take Albert's money and sign two "smaller" so you can rotate guys in and out. Next season's draft will be one to load up on a Jeff Owens or Brandon Antwine. Or if you can steal a Jeria Perry from Ole Miss or Ricky Jean Francois in the third round (which they'll be gone, but WHAT IF they slip?) Do it. Depth is the key for the DLine. You have plenty from the ends.
LB, maybe you can address in the draft. Dannell Ellerbe might be worth a late pick. Same with Clint Sintim from UVA. Some one though needs to help out Rocky and London.
The OLine is strong with Samuels, Kendell, Thomas, Heyer, Fabini, Jansen, Rabach, but injuries have taken a toll on Jansen and Kendell and Thomas and Fabini and Rabach are all getting up there in years. If the new wave is Heyer and Samuels, then WHAT ELSE? Who else? Depth here too.
So the offseason plans: Work on interior line depth, get Kelly healthy, and decide about the QB situation.
And hope Zorn grows up some and his second year finishes with the playoffs. It seems the Skins make the playoffs every other year these days. Maybe that means 2009-10 is a playoff year?
If we look at the other teams in the division: The Cowboys might get rid of TO, and Romo is still the QB (can't win past November). The Giants crumbled down the stretch and in the playoffs. Plaxico is the key there. It could divide the lockerroom PLUS Eli is still the QB. Third worst SuperBowl MVP EVER! (Desmond and Larry Allen) And the Eagles might disband the team after this season, but not likely if they make it to the Super Bowl. McNabb is injury-prone and his surviving this year mean's law of averages will get him next year.
The NFC North will STILL stink next season. The NFC West is transitioning so just one berth from each of those two divisions. The NFC South just got rid of Gruden (and likely Jeff Garcia), so Tampa Bay is out, Nawlins must fix whatever is rotten down there. The Panthers imploded and will likely lose Julius Peppers. Will Jake the Snake be back after 6 turnovers? Atlanta seems to have it going. One, maybe two spots from the NFC South.
That leaves two, maybe three from the NFC East. I think the Redskins should have been playoff bound THIS YEAR (St. Louis, Cincy and SF, two of the three go differently, they are a #5!) so if they sneak off with a 9-7 at worst, 11-5 at best, they are In the playoffs. Next year, 10-6!
Friday Night Football is BACK!
Last night Friday Night Lights returned to free TV and I must say that it was GREAT to have it back. It seemed at least in this first episode that the show will talk about MORE football, like season one had, instead of the character-based season two. I read an interview with one of the show's producers and he said that the writers felt they could go into more off-the-field stuff last season because of season one. That was a disaster though in my opinion as we got Landry killing a guy and Lyla becoming a Jesus-freak. I hardly remember any football from last season.
The good news is, season three picks up like season two NEVER happened, which I appreciate. Lyla and Tim are sleeping together, Riggins is back for his third senior year, as is Tyra. Matt Saracen is a senior (which keeps true to the story) as is Julie (also keeping true to the story) and Smash has graduated (finally, keeping true to the story).
Before I continue, I just have to point out something that is weird here about the story lines, and i am sure that I am not supposed to think about it this hard, but you are telling me that Jason Street a SENIOR from season one was dating the head cheerleader Lyla, who was a sophomore at the time? And Street's best friend Riggins was ALSO a sophomore at the time? That doesn't make sense. AND Riggins, as a 16 year old sophomore was sleeping with his next door neighbor, possibly 30? COUGAR! I guess though the producers realized that Riggins is the show's bread and butter and they couldn't write him out just yet.
As long as the show brought back the great writers though from season one (and left the season two guys at home), this show will be fine. You got to see the humor in the conversations between Billy and Tim, Coach and Mrs. Coach and the real conversations between Coach and Smash. I am looking forward to this season of FNL, because HEY, there just aren't that many well written shows on TV anymore. No more WestWing or SportsNight. House seems to have taken a step back and Grey's Anatomy is unwatchable as long as deer are talking and coming back to life. Maybe Lie to Me will be good....
(Oh, and if you wanted my thoughts on JD McCoy v Saracen for QB1, I think that Saracen made some nice plays in game one, but if McCoy-a REAL Texas name there boy-outplays him in practice, bring him in. Make it a JoeT3-Matt Stafford conversion. Or use the Chris Leak/Tim Tebow formula. I say the best player should play, regardless of age or class. That's what Pete Carroll does at USC, and except for games against Oregon State, it usually seems to work out for him!)
The good news is, season three picks up like season two NEVER happened, which I appreciate. Lyla and Tim are sleeping together, Riggins is back for his third senior year, as is Tyra. Matt Saracen is a senior (which keeps true to the story) as is Julie (also keeping true to the story) and Smash has graduated (finally, keeping true to the story).
Before I continue, I just have to point out something that is weird here about the story lines, and i am sure that I am not supposed to think about it this hard, but you are telling me that Jason Street a SENIOR from season one was dating the head cheerleader Lyla, who was a sophomore at the time? And Street's best friend Riggins was ALSO a sophomore at the time? That doesn't make sense. AND Riggins, as a 16 year old sophomore was sleeping with his next door neighbor, possibly 30? COUGAR! I guess though the producers realized that Riggins is the show's bread and butter and they couldn't write him out just yet.
As long as the show brought back the great writers though from season one (and left the season two guys at home), this show will be fine. You got to see the humor in the conversations between Billy and Tim, Coach and Mrs. Coach and the real conversations between Coach and Smash. I am looking forward to this season of FNL, because HEY, there just aren't that many well written shows on TV anymore. No more WestWing or SportsNight. House seems to have taken a step back and Grey's Anatomy is unwatchable as long as deer are talking and coming back to life. Maybe Lie to Me will be good....
(Oh, and if you wanted my thoughts on JD McCoy v Saracen for QB1, I think that Saracen made some nice plays in game one, but if McCoy-a REAL Texas name there boy-outplays him in practice, bring him in. Make it a JoeT3-Matt Stafford conversion. Or use the Chris Leak/Tim Tebow formula. I say the best player should play, regardless of age or class. That's what Pete Carroll does at USC, and except for games against Oregon State, it usually seems to work out for him!)
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