One of the things that people always comment on is the fact that the cup holders in my car are filled with loose change. What I typically do is put any change that I get right into the cupholders and it never sees the inside of my pockets. I've had a couple girls point out that it makes any cup put in there pretty unstable, since the cups can't get level with the bottom. I, in response, ask them who told them they could bring a drink into my truck. I like having a lot of change in my car, because I would rather it be there than in my pockets, where it is very likely to fall out. It comes in the most handy whenever you are at any drive-thru. There is a great satisfaction in handing the teller exact change and only having to deal with bills coming back at you. Also, given the people who work in fast food, it's better to not have to make them do math.
-You know, I grew up with older sisters and also have seen footage of what goes down at department store sales, so I've known for a while that the whole "girls are made up of sugar, spice and everything nice" is a load of crap. But, this girl from New Mexico takes it to a whole other level.
I get she was being jostled with and that part of sports is you need to be ready to retaliate when someone messes with you. But if someone is pulling on your shorts, an appropriate level of response would be perhaps a shove, maybe a takedown. It is not pulling her to the ground by her hair. That is taking it up a notch. You have now seen why guys keep their hair short. The fact that this girl never got more than a yellow card just shows that officials in this game were terrible.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
I Don't Need To See This
The other night I was lying in bed, flipping channels and all I wanted to see was a box score from the Nuggets/Blazers game, because I had a bet going over who would score more points, Carmello Anthony or Brandon Roy. I first flipped on ESPN and found that my timing sucked, because the Yankees had just won the World Series (here's my official take on that, by the way: Eh, whatever). Ok, that was a little inconvenient, because now they were going to be slurping the Yankees for a solid hour, so I instead tried ESPN2. No luck, as it was a football game between terrible schools on the West Coast. ESPN Classic and ESPNU also proved to be useless. I then gave a glance over at ESPNews. Nope, they were showing the Yankee press conferences. This is something ESPN does that drives me crazy. There is no need to show them on TV, yet they always cut into the highlights to show us the post-game press conferences.
Look, I love sports and even I think these are stupid. During my time in radio I got to go to Celtics practices, Patriot games as well as Red Sox games and attend a bunch of press conferences. You know what I learned about them? They're really freakin' boring. They just feature either the winning or losing coach spouting off cliches about the game and no one says much of anything. That's why reporters are there - so they can cut out the boring stuff and report the one interesting thing a guy may say during his 20 minutes of rambling. ESPN exists to show us the highlights of events, but they are literally making themselves unnecessary. If I can watch the press conference myself, why do I need to watch your show where you recap what is said at that same press conference? The only people who benefit from these things being on TV are newspapers who have had to cut their budgets so much they can't afford to send reporters to cover the games anymore. And it's never the good press conferences that are televised live, it's always the boring ones. The ones that are good enough to be turned into beer commercials are always on tape-delay.
This is where Division 3 schools are superior to Division 1 schools - no press conferences. When I was at Curry I had to cover a game where the team got blown out the gym by 40 points. After the game, I was walking towards the coach when she looked in my direction, saw the pad and pen in my hand and just said, "No." Fair enough. This was for everyone's benefit. What could she possibly say to explain the lack of effort? And how many different ways could I be expected to ask the question, "What the hell is wrong with your team?" By simply denying me, she saved both of us 5 minutes of our lives. If this was a D1 school she would be expected to stand in front of a podium for 20 minutes, creatively trying to come up with several different ways of saying, "We sucked." So, sure she made less money, had less fame and far less talent to work with, but at least there was one positive in there.
Look, I love sports and even I think these are stupid. During my time in radio I got to go to Celtics practices, Patriot games as well as Red Sox games and attend a bunch of press conferences. You know what I learned about them? They're really freakin' boring. They just feature either the winning or losing coach spouting off cliches about the game and no one says much of anything. That's why reporters are there - so they can cut out the boring stuff and report the one interesting thing a guy may say during his 20 minutes of rambling. ESPN exists to show us the highlights of events, but they are literally making themselves unnecessary. If I can watch the press conference myself, why do I need to watch your show where you recap what is said at that same press conference? The only people who benefit from these things being on TV are newspapers who have had to cut their budgets so much they can't afford to send reporters to cover the games anymore. And it's never the good press conferences that are televised live, it's always the boring ones. The ones that are good enough to be turned into beer commercials are always on tape-delay.
This is where Division 3 schools are superior to Division 1 schools - no press conferences. When I was at Curry I had to cover a game where the team got blown out the gym by 40 points. After the game, I was walking towards the coach when she looked in my direction, saw the pad and pen in my hand and just said, "No." Fair enough. This was for everyone's benefit. What could she possibly say to explain the lack of effort? And how many different ways could I be expected to ask the question, "What the hell is wrong with your team?" By simply denying me, she saved both of us 5 minutes of our lives. If this was a D1 school she would be expected to stand in front of a podium for 20 minutes, creatively trying to come up with several different ways of saying, "We sucked." So, sure she made less money, had less fame and far less talent to work with, but at least there was one positive in there.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
I'm Just Going To Pretend I Don't See It
Despite the best efforts of the women in my life, I'm still a pretty nondescript dresser. You would think that I would be better at it by now, but no; my wardrobe is a collection of jeans and tee-shirts. To make matters worse, I really don't even vary my tee-shirts that much. I have a rotation of about 15-20 that I wear around the house and use as undershirts on the random days that I actually need to wear a shirt with a collar. I have a dresser full of perfectly nice shirts, but still, I stick with the same ones over and over again. I think it's because guys have a special connection with their tee shirts. If we find a tee-shirt that fits well we'll wear it until there are holes in it... and then we'll keep wearing it until the hole gets too big (then it becomes a "working around the house" shirt - those can be made of holes for all we care). If it's a shirt that celebrates a team championship then you may have to tear that shirt off of us while we sleep.
I bring this up because I notice yesterday that one of my usual tee-shirts has developed a hole in it. Now, if it was a small hole in the back or even under an armpit I could ignore it and most likely forget about it. The problem is that the hole is front and center. I can only assume that this hole is going to get bigger with every wash. Therefore, this clearly is the beginning of the end for my Patriots "3X Super Bowl Champions" tee-shirt. Damn, and it was broken in just how I like my shirts.
-I almost feel bad for Urban Meyer and Florida (almost). Suspend a kid for just half a game when he tries to jam his fingers into an opponent's eye sockets and you're too lenient. Have the kid appease the world and suspend himself for the second half of that game and it looks like the players are in charge. Not to mention the fact that they're playing Vanderbilt this weekend and Meyer already has everyone questioning whether or not he'd have the guts to suspend his star linebacker if they were actually playing an opponent they couldn't beat with their second string. It's kind of a lot heaped on the guy at one time. But then I remembered he shunned Notre Dame to go to Florida and I go from feeling bad for the guy to hoping they plummet back to Earth when Tebow leaves.
I bring this up because I notice yesterday that one of my usual tee-shirts has developed a hole in it. Now, if it was a small hole in the back or even under an armpit I could ignore it and most likely forget about it. The problem is that the hole is front and center. I can only assume that this hole is going to get bigger with every wash. Therefore, this clearly is the beginning of the end for my Patriots "3X Super Bowl Champions" tee-shirt. Damn, and it was broken in just how I like my shirts.
-I almost feel bad for Urban Meyer and Florida (almost). Suspend a kid for just half a game when he tries to jam his fingers into an opponent's eye sockets and you're too lenient. Have the kid appease the world and suspend himself for the second half of that game and it looks like the players are in charge. Not to mention the fact that they're playing Vanderbilt this weekend and Meyer already has everyone questioning whether or not he'd have the guts to suspend his star linebacker if they were actually playing an opponent they couldn't beat with their second string. It's kind of a lot heaped on the guy at one time. But then I remembered he shunned Notre Dame to go to Florida and I go from feeling bad for the guy to hoping they plummet back to Earth when Tebow leaves.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Steroids, Dolphins, Bats and Pedro...
...yeah, it's been a weird couple of days.
-Congrats, PGA Tour, you've had your first steroid suspension. Sure it's a journeyman golfer who most people haven't heard of, but now you can declare that your testing policy works, point to a specific example, have ammo next time a blogger questions whether or not someone is on the juice and then the conspiracy theorists will still cry that you're shielding your stars from the harshest tests. You're just like baseball. Personally, I never thought that steroids would help a golfer and it's all about swing techniques. I'm fairly certain I can bench more than Josh and yet he can usually out-drive me because he just has a better swing (I have since decided that I can also blame this fact on equipment). Also, steroids will not help you putt. Besides, does this look like a body on performance enhancing drugs?
-Listen, Phillies fans, occasionally I know what I'm talking about. Just like I said would happen, now you've got Pedro pitching in Yankee Stadium for a do-or-die Game 6 against a lineup that will feature a professional designated hitter instead of an American League pitcher trying to figure out which end of the bat you swing with. Please, take my advice on this one - if Pedro gets you through the 5th inning and he's only given up a run or two, consider that found money. Do not push your luck and try to coax him through the 6th inning.
-Whenever a Division 1 school loses to a Division 2 school it's pretty embarrassing. Adding the fact that the Division 1 team was ranked in the Top 25 just puts fuel on the embarrassment fire. But to lose to a team nicknamed the Dolphins, from upstate New York where there are no dolphins for hundreds of miles? For shame, Syracuse.
-This clip of Manu Ginobili taking out a bat is all kind of nuts, but the more amusing part was when the trainer showed up with the Purell, like that was all you need after handling wild animals. Not surprisingly, Ginobili later had to get a couple rounds of rabies shots. Think it through next time, Manu. I would also like to know who the guy who just casually accepts the bat from Manu is. I hope he at least works there.
-Congrats, PGA Tour, you've had your first steroid suspension. Sure it's a journeyman golfer who most people haven't heard of, but now you can declare that your testing policy works, point to a specific example, have ammo next time a blogger questions whether or not someone is on the juice and then the conspiracy theorists will still cry that you're shielding your stars from the harshest tests. You're just like baseball. Personally, I never thought that steroids would help a golfer and it's all about swing techniques. I'm fairly certain I can bench more than Josh and yet he can usually out-drive me because he just has a better swing (I have since decided that I can also blame this fact on equipment). Also, steroids will not help you putt. Besides, does this look like a body on performance enhancing drugs?
-Listen, Phillies fans, occasionally I know what I'm talking about. Just like I said would happen, now you've got Pedro pitching in Yankee Stadium for a do-or-die Game 6 against a lineup that will feature a professional designated hitter instead of an American League pitcher trying to figure out which end of the bat you swing with. Please, take my advice on this one - if Pedro gets you through the 5th inning and he's only given up a run or two, consider that found money. Do not push your luck and try to coax him through the 6th inning.
-Whenever a Division 1 school loses to a Division 2 school it's pretty embarrassing. Adding the fact that the Division 1 team was ranked in the Top 25 just puts fuel on the embarrassment fire. But to lose to a team nicknamed the Dolphins, from upstate New York where there are no dolphins for hundreds of miles? For shame, Syracuse.
-This clip of Manu Ginobili taking out a bat is all kind of nuts, but the more amusing part was when the trainer showed up with the Purell, like that was all you need after handling wild animals. Not surprisingly, Ginobili later had to get a couple rounds of rabies shots. Think it through next time, Manu. I would also like to know who the guy who just casually accepts the bat from Manu is. I hope he at least works there.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Glimpse Into The Future
Despite the fact that I will watch just about any two teams play football, I usually don't have a rooting interest in games in which I don't have a team playing. I want to see a good, close game and then usually I want to see the upset. But, I tuned in with extra interest to the Brett Favre return to Green Bay, because I wanted to see how he was greeted by the fans in Wisconsin. I wasn't sure which side of the argument to come down on, because neither the Packers nor Favre came off particularly well during this mess. But, I was looking to the Green Bay fans for guidance, because sooner or later every fan will have to go through this same scenario.
It's a well known fact that there is no loyalty in sports anymore and to see one guy starting and ending a career in one city should be considered the exception, not the rule. So, the question of "to boo or not to boo" is one that will be revisited time and time again over the next couple of years all over the country. For example, what kind of reception are Yankee fans going to give Jorge Posada when he's hitting .215 for Baltimore in a couple years? If Brett Favre can get booed in Green Bay, then I think everyone is fair game. I don't like it when sports reporters try and tell fans how they should or should not act in this scenario. Personally, I feel that every fan should only be held to 3 rules at every game:
1. Stand up and shut up during the National Anthem. It's two minutes out of your life and a stadium is not the place for a political protest.
2. Don't throw anything onto the field. Don't even know if I have to expound on this one.
3. Keep wives and children out of anything said in a player's direction. Just because you paid $40 for your ticket doesn't mean you can leave your common decency at the door.
In essence, the "to boo or not to boo" argument comes down to a couple factors: player's tenure with a team and team they currently play for. In the example of someone like Johnny Damon, he wasn't with the Sox long enough for fans to overlook his signing with the Yankees. But a guy like Ray Bourque, the fans were openly rooting for him to get traded to a good team and there was no ill will. Hell, he got a parade in Boston for winning a Stanley Cup in Colorado. Apparently to Packers fans, 16 years of service can be erased by signing with the Vikings. So, I guess if Tom Brady is wearing a Jets jersey in 6 years, I have my answer.
It's a well known fact that there is no loyalty in sports anymore and to see one guy starting and ending a career in one city should be considered the exception, not the rule. So, the question of "to boo or not to boo" is one that will be revisited time and time again over the next couple of years all over the country. For example, what kind of reception are Yankee fans going to give Jorge Posada when he's hitting .215 for Baltimore in a couple years? If Brett Favre can get booed in Green Bay, then I think everyone is fair game. I don't like it when sports reporters try and tell fans how they should or should not act in this scenario. Personally, I feel that every fan should only be held to 3 rules at every game:
1. Stand up and shut up during the National Anthem. It's two minutes out of your life and a stadium is not the place for a political protest.
2. Don't throw anything onto the field. Don't even know if I have to expound on this one.
3. Keep wives and children out of anything said in a player's direction. Just because you paid $40 for your ticket doesn't mean you can leave your common decency at the door.
In essence, the "to boo or not to boo" argument comes down to a couple factors: player's tenure with a team and team they currently play for. In the example of someone like Johnny Damon, he wasn't with the Sox long enough for fans to overlook his signing with the Yankees. But a guy like Ray Bourque, the fans were openly rooting for him to get traded to a good team and there was no ill will. Hell, he got a parade in Boston for winning a Stanley Cup in Colorado. Apparently to Packers fans, 16 years of service can be erased by signing with the Vikings. So, I guess if Tom Brady is wearing a Jets jersey in 6 years, I have my answer.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Drive-Thru Ramblings
The other day I was a co-pilot on a quest to find Wendy's gift certificates to give to the nieces in lieu of candy on Halloween (both sisters, by the way, have no idea where my mom got the idea that the girls couldn't have candy). While waiting outside at a Wendy's I saw car after car turn into the parking lot and totally miss the drive-thru lane. This was very unusual sight to me. It was clearly marked with a yellow line but I must have seen 4 cars turn in, get all the way to the window, only to realise they over shot the menu board and were in the wrong lane. They would then slam on their brakes, throw the car in reverse and backup, usually without seeing if anyone else was behind them. I share a road with these people and they aren't sure how a drive-thru works. I would have thought it was covered on day one of driving school around here.
-I must confess, I had my own awkward drive-thru moment the other day. I was picking up lunch for a couple people, only almost everyone already had a drink and I was the only one getting fries. When you order a lot of food, but only one drink, you immediately assume that guy taking your order thinks all that food is just for you (because that is what you would think should the situation be reversed) and you get the urge to clarify. "Can I have 6 McChickens, 2 cheeseburgers, a large chocolate shake and a medium fries? ...Uh, and just so you know, only 2 of those McChickens are for me."
-Dear Owen Daniels,
I first want to congratulate you on your fine half-season. You were on your way to a Pro Bowl-caliber year. Secondly, I want to apologize for adding you to my fantasy team before this weekend. That you would blow out your ACL two plays into the very next game seems almost obvious right now. My bad. Next year, I promise, I'll stay away.
-I must confess, I had my own awkward drive-thru moment the other day. I was picking up lunch for a couple people, only almost everyone already had a drink and I was the only one getting fries. When you order a lot of food, but only one drink, you immediately assume that guy taking your order thinks all that food is just for you (because that is what you would think should the situation be reversed) and you get the urge to clarify. "Can I have 6 McChickens, 2 cheeseburgers, a large chocolate shake and a medium fries? ...Uh, and just so you know, only 2 of those McChickens are for me."
-Dear Owen Daniels,
I first want to congratulate you on your fine half-season. You were on your way to a Pro Bowl-caliber year. Secondly, I want to apologize for adding you to my fantasy team before this weekend. That you would blow out your ACL two plays into the very next game seems almost obvious right now. My bad. Next year, I promise, I'll stay away.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A Proposal and More Halloween Pictures
After yesterday, I want to float an idea out to the world - let's make Halloween a movable holiday and have it always be on the last Saturday in October. I know that it's supposed to be the day before All Saints' Day on November 1st (there are all the years of Catholic schooling shining through), but Easter is a much bigger deal and that is never on the same date. There are just so many benefits when Halloween falls on the weekend. If you're too old to trick-or-treat, but you don't have any kids you can go out Friday... say, to Salem, Massachusetts where there is still a lot going on, only with half the crowd that is there on Halloween... then spend Saturday watching college football, gorging on Halloween candy once it passes 9 o'clock at night and then you've got Sunday as a day of recovery. If you do have kids you can shuttle them around to whatever relatives want to see them in their costumes during the day, still start trick-or-treating right when it gets dark and get the little ones off the street before the older kids take over. Everything just works out so much better. I like this idea, we need to get the ball rolling on it.
And now, some pictures from Halloween '09...
And now, some pictures from Halloween '09...
Not only does Madeline look adorable, but that costume doubles as pajamas.
Stylish, yet practical.
Here's why Abigail should not enter the spy game:
a week before Halloween I asked her what her costume was. Her response?
"It's a secret! It's a secret! ... Snow White."
Charlotte is somewhere under all those frills, I swear.
The Brenizer ladies were matching scary witches,
only Addison stepped it up with the scary nail polish.
Shivaun was supposed to be Flo from the Progressive Insurance ads,
but I think she just really wanted to go as "Amy Waldron's sister."
Also, I think Marshall will be breaking out that Han Solo costume
even when it's not Halloween anymore.
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