I'm hoping that the title line to this post isn't somehow copyrighted by some nerd with a college basketball website or a b-rate sports website like cbs or fox. Sorry for the one week hiatus there sports fans, but sometimes work gets you down. Hopefully this will distract you from watching bad Monday night football, but not prevent you from catching as much of the 24 hours of hoops that you can. This is my projection of the NCAA tournament field in March. I'll go bracket by bracket starting with the #1 overall seed moving toward the #4 overall seed in each of the four fields. These projections are compliant with the NCAA specs, but I can't be held accountable for knowing all the regular season schedules and any repeat games with bad teams.
1 Kansas v 16 Prairie View A&M/Mt St Mary's
8 GA Tech v 9 Vandy
5 Louisville v 12 Old Dominion
4 Illinois v 13 Western Kentucky (Payback time)
6 Dayton v 11 Wake Forest
3 Cal v 14 Holy Cross
7 Michigan v 10 Seton Hall (Rumeal Robinson anyone?)
2 Kentucky v 15 Oakland (Kentucky is vastly overrated, but so is the SEC)
1 Purdue v 16 Morehead St (Not homerism, just a good team)
8 Clemson v 9 UCLA
5 Oklahoma St v 12 Utah St
4 Butler v 13 Portland
6 Ole Miss v 11 Kansas St
3 UNC v 14 Long Beach St (UNC is another overrated team with no guard play)
7 Tulsa v 10 South Carolina
2 UConn v 15 Radford
1 Michigan St v 16 Morgan St
8 Oregon v 9 Maryland (Oregon is my sleeper team this season)
5 Mississippi St v 12 Houston (I clearly did my rankings before Miss St lost their opener)
4 West Virginia v 13 Charleston
6 BYU v 11 Southern Illinois
3 Oklahoma v 14 Belmont (The Big 12 might unseat preseason favorite Big 10 for Conf of Year)
7 Georgetown v 10 Wisconsin
2 Duke v 15 Texas A&M - Corpus Christi
1 Villanova v 16 Weber St
8 Texas A&M v 9 Northern Iowa (Watch out for a Northern Iowa v Tenn game this weekend)
5 Minnesota v 12 LaSalle (I wish I could revise after the top recruit was booted from Minny)
4 Washington v 13 Buffalo
6 Ohio State v 11 Siena (Another payback game for the Big 10)
3 Tennessee v 14 Vermont
7 Boston College v 10 Cincinnati
2 Texas v 15 Cornell
That should pretty much do it for my preseason projections. Top teams left out of my brackets were Syracuse, UMass, St. John's, Notre Dame, Wichita St, Memphis, Iowa St, Mizzou, Wyoming, Gonzaga, Nevada, George Mason, VCU, and Niagara. Don't sleep on the Niagara Purple Eagles this year. The MAAC may get two bids.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Where do all the tickets go?
How many people end up asking themselves that question when a big show comes into town? Recently, I've found myself asking this question way too many times this week. First, I was looking for Big Ten Tournament tickets that were released in mid October only to find 300 level seats available. Something tells me they haven't filled the lower bowl in Conseco just yet. Next, I spent two hours yesterday being completely shut out for the Second City reunion performance and the Jeff Garlin show. Their website didn't even work during the first hour and a half. Well done guys, stick to comedy. I found out this morning that 10AM presale means sometime around 10AM when LiveNation gets their link to Ticketmaster figured out.
You want to know why more people don't go to more things in a down economy? Because all the good seats are taken. HDTV is way too good and there are way too many other entertainment options to be stuck with bad comedy, concert, or sports tickets. How do you solve this? You don't. Just keep refusing to pay scalpers and eventually they'll go under. Until then, I'm going to buy myself a general admin ticket to the local high school football playoff contest tonight. Well, unless the seats are bad.
Parlay Time
Well 8-5 was a much better showing for the second version of pick 'em. That's good enough to make some money at the window, so we'll keep trying this segment out. If I win again this weekend, maybe I'll actually have to start using real money and not just cyberspace.
Arizona +3
Cinci +3
Green Bay -10
Indy -9
Jax -6.5
Miami +10.5
Washington +11
Carolina +13.5
Seattle -11
San Diego +5
San Fran -4.5
Phily -3
Denver +3
That's the skinny this weekend. My lock of the weekend would have to be the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars -6.5 against the awful and getting worse KC Chiefs. I don't see a good moneyline upset outside of maybe San Diego or maybe Miami versus Belichick.
You want to know why more people don't go to more things in a down economy? Because all the good seats are taken. HDTV is way too good and there are way too many other entertainment options to be stuck with bad comedy, concert, or sports tickets. How do you solve this? You don't. Just keep refusing to pay scalpers and eventually they'll go under. Until then, I'm going to buy myself a general admin ticket to the local high school football playoff contest tonight. Well, unless the seats are bad.
Parlay Time
Well 8-5 was a much better showing for the second version of pick 'em. That's good enough to make some money at the window, so we'll keep trying this segment out. If I win again this weekend, maybe I'll actually have to start using real money and not just cyberspace.
Arizona +3
Cinci +3
Green Bay -10
Indy -9
Jax -6.5
Miami +10.5
Washington +11
Carolina +13.5
Seattle -11
San Diego +5
San Fran -4.5
Phily -3
Denver +3
That's the skinny this weekend. My lock of the weekend would have to be the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars -6.5 against the awful and getting worse KC Chiefs. I don't see a good moneyline upset outside of maybe San Diego or maybe Miami versus Belichick.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Shower Thoughts
So since my once a week second wind decided to hit me at 11:30 on Wednesday night, I figured why not get ahead of the game. Nothing helps late night blogging like some tunes. Tell that one to iTunes though. Never there for you in a pinch. Every single time I think, Hey I'd like to listen to some tunes to help my calm, BAM, time for another useless iTunes download update. I'm sure version 9.0.2 is groundbreaking. Thanks for your hardwork champ.
Anyhow, my advice for the week isn't advice so much as it is rambling. The advice would be to ramble more often. Utilize your stream of consciousness. No better time to do that than after a long shower. How many of us have had some excellent ideas in that shower to only throw them away by heading off to bed? Well I'm going to buck that trend and spew them onto the worldwideweb, so I can use them at a later date. Another bit of advice: don't force shower thoughts. If you're preoccupied and already thinking about something, you're not going to come up with any good ideas.
I got to thinking about the chili recipe, then I thought what if I just did the ground beef and pulled out a few other ingredients. I could add some Open Pit bbq sauce, ground mustard, brown sugar, and spice rub to make one hell of a hot dog topping. That right there is a new summer party idea. Get some jumbo roasties from the grand champions over at Ream's, make some "coney" sauce if you will, get some nice aged cheddar, then instead of raw onion, make some cracker breaded vidalia straws for a topping. That covers the hot dog entry, so what about the burger.
Why not put together a homemade burger bar. Do an all natural 80/20 ground beef burger with just kosher salt and cracked black pepper, a ground sirloin burger soaked with worchestershire sauce and garlic herb rub, and a lamb burger with mediterranean seasoning. Make some fire roasted cherry tomato topping with balsamic and thyme for the ketchup substitute, grilled buttered vidalia onions, multiple cheeses like gouda, havarti, and swiss, fresh dilled cucumbers, nice bibb lettuce, and red wine/shallot/garlic reduction/steak sauce. Take some feta and create a feta-laced tzatziki sauce for the lamb burger along with some pitted fresh olives and cured lemon confit. Now that's a burger bar with options that takes advantage of the garden freshness. I'd take some fire roasted sweet and spicy peppers too.
What about getting a little crazy and making a crabcake burger grilled on a plank? Serve than openfaced with a slice of lettuce on brioche and a spritz of lemon? That's living right there. How about the porktastic "burger." A split hunk of smoked sausage, topped with some fresh pulled pork slathered in bbq sauce, then topped with two perfect strips of applewood bacon. That is sandwich heaven.
That's what I came up with tonight in my shower. I wasn't hungry and it wasn't a long shower. My stream of consciousness just moves faster than spawning salmon. Something tells me that I might have a few more attendees to my next shindig next summer after posting this potential menu. Anybody else come up with anything good in the shower lately? I think this complete menu would be served on opening night of my future restaurant. A small place with about ten tables open five days per week serving a different menu every day. Call it Today's Special. Yes, I stole that from my favorite Nickelodeon cartoon when I was a wee lad. We're talking early 80s with this one. Place your future orders now.
Ode to Nader
This will be a pretty random endorsement, but not insignificant. I'm a proud eater of Terra Chips. Danielle loves the beets and sweets along with the mixed vegetables, but I would say try the new regional flavors. In particular, I go for the Chesapeake Bay and Beer seasoned kettle chips. Don't be afraid to kill a whole bag the first time around. You don't know what you're getting yourself into. A little bit of spice, a nice sweet finish, and beautiful beer flavor is what awaits you inside this perfect bag of goodness.
Don't worry now that I'm done, iTunes is updated. F'in sweet. Hey look, it's Carrie Underwood week. Yippee. So let me get this straight, they decide to make it Carrie Underwood week, yet fail to litter the entire site with pictures of Carrie Underwood. Shame on you iTunes, shame on you.
Anyhow, my advice for the week isn't advice so much as it is rambling. The advice would be to ramble more often. Utilize your stream of consciousness. No better time to do that than after a long shower. How many of us have had some excellent ideas in that shower to only throw them away by heading off to bed? Well I'm going to buck that trend and spew them onto the worldwideweb, so I can use them at a later date. Another bit of advice: don't force shower thoughts. If you're preoccupied and already thinking about something, you're not going to come up with any good ideas.
I got to thinking about the chili recipe, then I thought what if I just did the ground beef and pulled out a few other ingredients. I could add some Open Pit bbq sauce, ground mustard, brown sugar, and spice rub to make one hell of a hot dog topping. That right there is a new summer party idea. Get some jumbo roasties from the grand champions over at Ream's, make some "coney" sauce if you will, get some nice aged cheddar, then instead of raw onion, make some cracker breaded vidalia straws for a topping. That covers the hot dog entry, so what about the burger.
Why not put together a homemade burger bar. Do an all natural 80/20 ground beef burger with just kosher salt and cracked black pepper, a ground sirloin burger soaked with worchestershire sauce and garlic herb rub, and a lamb burger with mediterranean seasoning. Make some fire roasted cherry tomato topping with balsamic and thyme for the ketchup substitute, grilled buttered vidalia onions, multiple cheeses like gouda, havarti, and swiss, fresh dilled cucumbers, nice bibb lettuce, and red wine/shallot/garlic reduction/steak sauce. Take some feta and create a feta-laced tzatziki sauce for the lamb burger along with some pitted fresh olives and cured lemon confit. Now that's a burger bar with options that takes advantage of the garden freshness. I'd take some fire roasted sweet and spicy peppers too.
What about getting a little crazy and making a crabcake burger grilled on a plank? Serve than openfaced with a slice of lettuce on brioche and a spritz of lemon? That's living right there. How about the porktastic "burger." A split hunk of smoked sausage, topped with some fresh pulled pork slathered in bbq sauce, then topped with two perfect strips of applewood bacon. That is sandwich heaven.
That's what I came up with tonight in my shower. I wasn't hungry and it wasn't a long shower. My stream of consciousness just moves faster than spawning salmon. Something tells me that I might have a few more attendees to my next shindig next summer after posting this potential menu. Anybody else come up with anything good in the shower lately? I think this complete menu would be served on opening night of my future restaurant. A small place with about ten tables open five days per week serving a different menu every day. Call it Today's Special. Yes, I stole that from my favorite Nickelodeon cartoon when I was a wee lad. We're talking early 80s with this one. Place your future orders now.
Ode to Nader
This will be a pretty random endorsement, but not insignificant. I'm a proud eater of Terra Chips. Danielle loves the beets and sweets along with the mixed vegetables, but I would say try the new regional flavors. In particular, I go for the Chesapeake Bay and Beer seasoned kettle chips. Don't be afraid to kill a whole bag the first time around. You don't know what you're getting yourself into. A little bit of spice, a nice sweet finish, and beautiful beer flavor is what awaits you inside this perfect bag of goodness.
Don't worry now that I'm done, iTunes is updated. F'in sweet. Hey look, it's Carrie Underwood week. Yippee. So let me get this straight, they decide to make it Carrie Underwood week, yet fail to litter the entire site with pictures of Carrie Underwood. Shame on you iTunes, shame on you.
New Sunday Tradition
If you're looking for that go-to Sunday afternoon meal especially during football season and long winters, then I have exactly what you need. You need to partake in my red steak chili. I wish I could stop myself from eating it long enough to take a picture for you, but I failed on multiple occasions this week to do so. This is an American chili with no beans to be found. I typically eat this with some good sharp cheddar piled on top and a fresh bag of Fritos scoops. Let's get after it:
1 pound of ground round (basically a ground beef that is lean because you don't need the fat)
2 to 2.5 pounds of tri tip (you can substitute steak cuts like New York and Ribeye or mix in stew meat if need be), cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 yellow/sweet onions diced
3 strips of good bacon diced (applewood smoked is suggested)
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 poblano pepper diced
1 sweet pepper diced
3 chipotles with adobo sauce blended (I add a dash of water and whip it in the magic bullet)
2/3 C of chili powder (guajillo is good if you can find it)
1/3 C of paprika (you can add more paprika and less chili powder and vice versa to adjust temp)
1 T of cumin, thyme, and oregano each
8 cloves of pressed fresh garlic (garlic press is a must have kitchen utensil)
1 shallot diced
28 oz can of whole san marzano tomatoes (you know tomato quality is important here)
3-4 T of tomato paste
2 cans of beef broth
salt and pepper to taste
You want to start with a good dutch oven and melt a tablespoon of butter to slightly brown, then add the bacon. Once the bacon starts to brown, add the onions, shallot, and garlic. This combo should sweat down really well, then add the ground round. Brown the meat and season this mix with salt and pepper. Now add the poblano and sweet peppers to the mix and give a few minutes to sweat. While cooking each of these components you can add the other tablespoons of butter as needed if the mixture gets dry. Now add in the beef. It doesn't need to be browned up as it will stew for awhile to cook.
Mix the pot together at this point and add the chipotle blend, all dry spices, some more salt and pepper, the can of tomatoes with sauce, 3 T of paste, and at least one can of beef broth. Stir this mixture to see if you need the second can of broth. It is likely that you should need both. Bring the pot to a simmer and stir to combine. Use your wooden spoon or spatula to smash the whole tomatoes down. The pot will now simmer uncovered for at least 2.5 hours. Continue to monitor and stir every 30 to 45 minutes. With roughly 30 minutes left, check the consistency and add the last tablespoon of paste if additional thickening is necessary. Also, taste the chili for any additional seasoning. After 2.5 hours, check one of your meat cubes for tenderness. If the meat is done, then the chili is done. Feel free to keep any leftovers in the fridge and reheat in a sauce pan on the stove with some water to thin out. We like to use the leftovers with some cheese on top of a baked potato for another meal option a few days later. That's the whole secret to my red chili. No holding back, so have at it. You shouldn't need a restaurant option this week.
1 pound of ground round (basically a ground beef that is lean because you don't need the fat)
2 to 2.5 pounds of tri tip (you can substitute steak cuts like New York and Ribeye or mix in stew meat if need be), cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 yellow/sweet onions diced
3 strips of good bacon diced (applewood smoked is suggested)
3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 poblano pepper diced
1 sweet pepper diced
3 chipotles with adobo sauce blended (I add a dash of water and whip it in the magic bullet)
2/3 C of chili powder (guajillo is good if you can find it)
1/3 C of paprika (you can add more paprika and less chili powder and vice versa to adjust temp)
1 T of cumin, thyme, and oregano each
8 cloves of pressed fresh garlic (garlic press is a must have kitchen utensil)
1 shallot diced
28 oz can of whole san marzano tomatoes (you know tomato quality is important here)
3-4 T of tomato paste
2 cans of beef broth
salt and pepper to taste
You want to start with a good dutch oven and melt a tablespoon of butter to slightly brown, then add the bacon. Once the bacon starts to brown, add the onions, shallot, and garlic. This combo should sweat down really well, then add the ground round. Brown the meat and season this mix with salt and pepper. Now add the poblano and sweet peppers to the mix and give a few minutes to sweat. While cooking each of these components you can add the other tablespoons of butter as needed if the mixture gets dry. Now add in the beef. It doesn't need to be browned up as it will stew for awhile to cook.
Mix the pot together at this point and add the chipotle blend, all dry spices, some more salt and pepper, the can of tomatoes with sauce, 3 T of paste, and at least one can of beef broth. Stir this mixture to see if you need the second can of broth. It is likely that you should need both. Bring the pot to a simmer and stir to combine. Use your wooden spoon or spatula to smash the whole tomatoes down. The pot will now simmer uncovered for at least 2.5 hours. Continue to monitor and stir every 30 to 45 minutes. With roughly 30 minutes left, check the consistency and add the last tablespoon of paste if additional thickening is necessary. Also, taste the chili for any additional seasoning. After 2.5 hours, check one of your meat cubes for tenderness. If the meat is done, then the chili is done. Feel free to keep any leftovers in the fridge and reheat in a sauce pan on the stove with some water to thin out. We like to use the leftovers with some cheese on top of a baked potato for another meal option a few days later. That's the whole secret to my red chili. No holding back, so have at it. You shouldn't need a restaurant option this week.
HD Music
Let me tell you that I have recently discovered the real reason for the HD upgrade. It is musical performances my friends. The sound and picture quality exceeds the sports upgrade that we all pined for. Palladia is basically the primary HD music channel, and check the schedule to find some gems like Soundstage and festival coverage. Don't sleep on PBS though with the new season of Austin City Limits currently airing. DMB, Ben Harper, and Kenny Chesney have been the well known acts up to this point with Pearl Jam and a few others yet to come.
The live performances only cover half of it though with plenty of on demand HD music programming available. Artists are now making HD music videos, and a wide variety can be viewed by simply using the on demand schedule. If you're looking for a nice mix, try recording a some of the HD music video blocks that play on Palladia overnight. Just think how many options would be available if MTV and VH-1 still played music since their HD channels are now more widely distributed.
Digital Ditty
I'm going off the beaten path with a pair of middle of the decade tunes that are pretty deep alternative radio cuts. College radio might be a better definition for these eclectic offerings, but I submit for your approval Wasted and Ready by Ben Kweller along with Too Much Too Soon by Llama. I have no idea if these musical entities are still performing or recording, but these two songs are fixtures on my iPod and always brighten my day.
The live performances only cover half of it though with plenty of on demand HD music programming available. Artists are now making HD music videos, and a wide variety can be viewed by simply using the on demand schedule. If you're looking for a nice mix, try recording a some of the HD music video blocks that play on Palladia overnight. Just think how many options would be available if MTV and VH-1 still played music since their HD channels are now more widely distributed.
Digital Ditty
I'm going off the beaten path with a pair of middle of the decade tunes that are pretty deep alternative radio cuts. College radio might be a better definition for these eclectic offerings, but I submit for your approval Wasted and Ready by Ben Kweller along with Too Much Too Soon by Llama. I have no idea if these musical entities are still performing or recording, but these two songs are fixtures on my iPod and always brighten my day.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Big Ten Buckets
Who else is ready for some college hoops action? Well the exhibition season is starting to tip off, and real buckets are a little over a week away. This will finally be the year that the Big Ten takes down the ACC in their annual challenge. It is like the Big Ten finally grew up enough to beat their older sibling. Numerous conference teams have stacked their preseason schedules with road tilts, tournaments, and home and home series with some major conference foes. The Big Ten has the opportunity to ascend to the top of the college hoops world, and I think they will seize the day.
The top of the conference begins with last year's national runner up, Michigan State. They have as much or more talent along the roster than anyone. Kalin Lucas is the cog in the engine and will take this team far throughout the season. I feel that the loss of Walton and Suton is understated for their leadership, toughness, and defense. Those losses could be filled by guys like Morgan and Roe, but that remains to be seen. The other front runner is Purdue which returns its top 6 scorers from the Sweet 16 team a year ago. This year marks the Boilers' best run at a league title since the late 90s with balance across the roster. Watch for JaJuan Johnson to beat out Evan Turner for conference player of the year.
The next tier is still an outstanding bunch of top 25 squads led by Illinois and their influx of backcourt talent. McCamey and Legion will certainly be pushed by the likes of Paul and Richardson this season. Davis and Tisdale will need to take control in the paint for this to be a special season. The Buckeyes are once again stocked with talent, but we're all watching for the basketball version of Ron Zook to do some coaching of that talent. This squad is overrated in my opinion and it starts with William Buford. Minnesota will come after a lot of teams this year with the constant pressure applied by Tubby. They brought in the two best recruits in the conference to help an already deep lineup from last season. Michigan also will compete for a Sweet 16 berth based on some three point shooters and the best 1-2 punch in the league in Harris and Sims.
Moving on down the line, Wisconsin is a gritty group led by Trevon Hughes. We'll see if Hughes is finally ready to deliver on all his potential. Northwestern will put on a full season of basketball in the north suburbs and look to gain their first ever entry into the big dance. Coble and Thompson lead a veteran squad, but the Naperville kid must replace the shooting from Moore. Penn State also falls in this next block, but Talor Battle just doesn't have enough help to make a serious run.
Indiana falls in their own tier as the Hoosiers have a whole new roster again with Rivers transferred in from Georgetown and a bounty of new recruits. These 3 and 4 star players will be the body of Tom Crean's work for the next three years. There will certainly be enough firepower to compete in conference play this year, but the wins are likely few and far between given the only relevant returnee is Verdell Jones.
Iowa rounds out the conference and I won't waste another second talking about a team that will not win a conference game.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
The fantasy football season is in full swing, and this week you need to start deciding if you're in buy or sell mode in your keeper leagues. It is time to start adding Cards, Saints, and Pats for the playoff run. The key is setting up your defenses for the next few weeks and the playoffs. Good defenses are not better than good matchups this year given the weakness of some teams. Some new guys I like now are Malcolm Floyd and Kevin Walter. These two should fill the voids left by Chambers and Daniels. Shonn Greene is not a decent play unless the matchup is spectacular. He's barely a breather for T. Jones, who should be a primetimer the rest of the way. I'd sell my way out of New York if I could in all leagues. They're both headed south. Matt Leinart is a guy to keep an eye on given the condition of the Cards O-line and the favorable matchups down the road. At some point, you've got to be able to get the ball downfield to Fitz. Speaking of downfield, I don't know how much impact Megatron makes the rest of the way. Detroit seems content with their single victory. No more Browns, Redskins, or Bucs on fantasy teams. Josh Freeman takes over in St. Pete this weekend, and it should be a disaster of epic proportions. Not just because of the old creamsicle jerseys either. He's the bastard child of JaMarcus Russell and Sherri Shepard. Hell he went to K-State. How'd that work out for Raheem Morris and Michael Bishop? Poorly, that's how, poorly.
The top of the conference begins with last year's national runner up, Michigan State. They have as much or more talent along the roster than anyone. Kalin Lucas is the cog in the engine and will take this team far throughout the season. I feel that the loss of Walton and Suton is understated for their leadership, toughness, and defense. Those losses could be filled by guys like Morgan and Roe, but that remains to be seen. The other front runner is Purdue which returns its top 6 scorers from the Sweet 16 team a year ago. This year marks the Boilers' best run at a league title since the late 90s with balance across the roster. Watch for JaJuan Johnson to beat out Evan Turner for conference player of the year.
The next tier is still an outstanding bunch of top 25 squads led by Illinois and their influx of backcourt talent. McCamey and Legion will certainly be pushed by the likes of Paul and Richardson this season. Davis and Tisdale will need to take control in the paint for this to be a special season. The Buckeyes are once again stocked with talent, but we're all watching for the basketball version of Ron Zook to do some coaching of that talent. This squad is overrated in my opinion and it starts with William Buford. Minnesota will come after a lot of teams this year with the constant pressure applied by Tubby. They brought in the two best recruits in the conference to help an already deep lineup from last season. Michigan also will compete for a Sweet 16 berth based on some three point shooters and the best 1-2 punch in the league in Harris and Sims.
Moving on down the line, Wisconsin is a gritty group led by Trevon Hughes. We'll see if Hughes is finally ready to deliver on all his potential. Northwestern will put on a full season of basketball in the north suburbs and look to gain their first ever entry into the big dance. Coble and Thompson lead a veteran squad, but the Naperville kid must replace the shooting from Moore. Penn State also falls in this next block, but Talor Battle just doesn't have enough help to make a serious run.
Indiana falls in their own tier as the Hoosiers have a whole new roster again with Rivers transferred in from Georgetown and a bounty of new recruits. These 3 and 4 star players will be the body of Tom Crean's work for the next three years. There will certainly be enough firepower to compete in conference play this year, but the wins are likely few and far between given the only relevant returnee is Verdell Jones.
Iowa rounds out the conference and I won't waste another second talking about a team that will not win a conference game.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
The fantasy football season is in full swing, and this week you need to start deciding if you're in buy or sell mode in your keeper leagues. It is time to start adding Cards, Saints, and Pats for the playoff run. The key is setting up your defenses for the next few weeks and the playoffs. Good defenses are not better than good matchups this year given the weakness of some teams. Some new guys I like now are Malcolm Floyd and Kevin Walter. These two should fill the voids left by Chambers and Daniels. Shonn Greene is not a decent play unless the matchup is spectacular. He's barely a breather for T. Jones, who should be a primetimer the rest of the way. I'd sell my way out of New York if I could in all leagues. They're both headed south. Matt Leinart is a guy to keep an eye on given the condition of the Cards O-line and the favorable matchups down the road. At some point, you've got to be able to get the ball downfield to Fitz. Speaking of downfield, I don't know how much impact Megatron makes the rest of the way. Detroit seems content with their single victory. No more Browns, Redskins, or Bucs on fantasy teams. Josh Freeman takes over in St. Pete this weekend, and it should be a disaster of epic proportions. Not just because of the old creamsicle jerseys either. He's the bastard child of JaMarcus Russell and Sherri Shepard. Hell he went to K-State. How'd that work out for Raheem Morris and Michael Bishop? Poorly, that's how, poorly.
Friday, October 30, 2009
When the WWF Didn't Refer to Pandas
What happened to the good old days of professional wrestling when all you wanted was a guy in face paint to jump off the top rope? We didn't need 10% clothed women, lots of swearing, sexual innuendos, and specialty matches. We also didn't have pay per views every stinking month. In the glory days, it was Royal Rumble, Wrestlemania, Summerslam, and Survivor Series. The reason we had four was because the royal rumble event was 30 guys in a ring until one was left and survivor series were teams of four battling each other until one team was fully eliminated. There are so many guys now that they have two leagues for two different shows. Are you kidding me? Maybe start cutting some of these mediocre "talent."
It is no mistake that the old school wrestlers are the ones with the biggest following. You could put a 60 year old Hulk Hogan out there tomorrow and outdraw Triple H or John Cena. I guarantee that I could get bigger numbers from a Macho Man v Ultimate Warrior reunion match than a Stone Cold and Goldberg duel. These days if there isn't something special like a bullrope, ladder, cage, or other weapon involved, no one cares. If you really want some good times, turn on ESPN Classic on a late weeknight for some AWA wrestling. Sure half the roster is dead today, but give me some Curt Hennig v Bruiser Brody anyday.
This topic is pretty random, but that is what Fridays are for. Blame this one on Always Sunny last night that not only pulled out a Rowdy Roddy Piper, but got I am a Real American stuck in my head all morning long. That was one catchy tune. I think the entrance music was the best part of the WWF back in the day. That and the action figures of course. Thank you eBay.
Parlay Time
I proved last weekend that I know nothing about picking college football upsets, but luckily I didn't share that with all of you. Off to a clearly mediocre start with a 7-6 record ATS last week, so we'll try to get a better profit margin this weekend.
Chicago -13
Baltimore -3
Buffalo +3.5
NYJ -3
Phily +1
SF +13
Seattle +10
St. Louis +4
San Diego -16.5
Green Bay -3
Tennessee -3
Carolina +11
Atlanta +10
The story this weekend will be taking the heavy underdogs and the points. These teams won't continue to win by huge margins. You start to lose your edge.
It is no mistake that the old school wrestlers are the ones with the biggest following. You could put a 60 year old Hulk Hogan out there tomorrow and outdraw Triple H or John Cena. I guarantee that I could get bigger numbers from a Macho Man v Ultimate Warrior reunion match than a Stone Cold and Goldberg duel. These days if there isn't something special like a bullrope, ladder, cage, or other weapon involved, no one cares. If you really want some good times, turn on ESPN Classic on a late weeknight for some AWA wrestling. Sure half the roster is dead today, but give me some Curt Hennig v Bruiser Brody anyday.
This topic is pretty random, but that is what Fridays are for. Blame this one on Always Sunny last night that not only pulled out a Rowdy Roddy Piper, but got I am a Real American stuck in my head all morning long. That was one catchy tune. I think the entrance music was the best part of the WWF back in the day. That and the action figures of course. Thank you eBay.
Parlay Time
I proved last weekend that I know nothing about picking college football upsets, but luckily I didn't share that with all of you. Off to a clearly mediocre start with a 7-6 record ATS last week, so we'll try to get a better profit margin this weekend.
Chicago -13
Baltimore -3
Buffalo +3.5
NYJ -3
Phily +1
SF +13
Seattle +10
St. Louis +4
San Diego -16.5
Green Bay -3
Tennessee -3
Carolina +11
Atlanta +10
The story this weekend will be taking the heavy underdogs and the points. These teams won't continue to win by huge margins. You start to lose your edge.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Happy Halloween!
With Halloween comes the deluge of copius amounts of candy, and I have no problem with that. Dessert is great, but sometimes candy is all you need. I'm a big fan of the underdog candies unlike Snickers, Milky Way, M&Ms, and Reese's. I'll take a sleeve of Rolos or a Special Dark bar. Dark chocolate is in my wheelhouse no matter how you use it. I even spotted a Reese's dark chocolate peanut butter cup for the first time recently, and I'm still waiting for a report back from my mom on that one.
Chocolates are good for me when kind of hungry and wanting something sweet. I generally go towards a Snickers Almond since it has unofficially become the replacement for my all-time favorite the Mars bar. Overall, I'm a fan of candies. I love Red Vines red licorice, Dots, Ju ju bees, and tootsie pops especially. I now have officially become old enough to miss my favorite candies growing up. Who else used to love going to the grocery store to hit the Pick-A-Mix bins from Brachs. Count me in for the nougats, Royals, and filled chocolates. Butterscotch discs and root beer barrels rounded out my bag.
I still remember going to the smoke shop, liquor store, or other small shops and picking out five to fifteen cent candies like jolly ranchers that came in a strip, circus peanuts, and Chuckles. I recently found my old friend Chuckles at a specialty candy store for a mere $1.25. Are you kidding me? Dude, it's five overgrown gum drops, and I don't even eat the licorice flavored one. No matter what your favorite Halloween candy is, I hope you enjoy it on Saturday without guilt for at least one day. My suggestion is to get yourself a bag of Child's Play and go to town on all Tootsie related products.
Restaurant Recap
I'm going to go region specific on this one to a budding chain in the far northwest suburban market known as Country Donuts. It's not a knockoff brand or some generic donut. These are serious homemade donuts that cater to the cake dough and fluffy dough donut lovers. I personally suggest the blueberry, cherry, or any of the classic glazed cake donut flavors.
Chocolates are good for me when kind of hungry and wanting something sweet. I generally go towards a Snickers Almond since it has unofficially become the replacement for my all-time favorite the Mars bar. Overall, I'm a fan of candies. I love Red Vines red licorice, Dots, Ju ju bees, and tootsie pops especially. I now have officially become old enough to miss my favorite candies growing up. Who else used to love going to the grocery store to hit the Pick-A-Mix bins from Brachs. Count me in for the nougats, Royals, and filled chocolates. Butterscotch discs and root beer barrels rounded out my bag.
I still remember going to the smoke shop, liquor store, or other small shops and picking out five to fifteen cent candies like jolly ranchers that came in a strip, circus peanuts, and Chuckles. I recently found my old friend Chuckles at a specialty candy store for a mere $1.25. Are you kidding me? Dude, it's five overgrown gum drops, and I don't even eat the licorice flavored one. No matter what your favorite Halloween candy is, I hope you enjoy it on Saturday without guilt for at least one day. My suggestion is to get yourself a bag of Child's Play and go to town on all Tootsie related products.
Restaurant Recap
I'm going to go region specific on this one to a budding chain in the far northwest suburban market known as Country Donuts. It's not a knockoff brand or some generic donut. These are serious homemade donuts that cater to the cake dough and fluffy dough donut lovers. I personally suggest the blueberry, cherry, or any of the classic glazed cake donut flavors.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Bands Reunited Part 1
I'm guessing that I'm one of a classroom-sized number of people that not only watched but still remember the show Bands Reunited on VH-1. Yes, VH-1 did stand for video hits one, and they did care about making musical related shows at one point in time. I didn't always have a rooting interest in seeing the band reunite, but it was fun to watch New Kids turn it down only to come back a few years later when more desperate. It was also entertaining to find out that even one person on earth gave a damn that Squeeze and Berlin both came back together for one off shows. Does anyone really need to hear Take My Breath Away again that bad?
Nonetheless, I'm pilfering this early 2000s idea for a monthly or so thought about bands that I'd like to see reunite. Maybe some of these are still possible, and others may require some fill-ins based on the pulses or lack thereof of some of the original members. I'm getting this kickstarted with Soundgarden. All the members are alive and only one of them actually has a job currently. Matt Cameron is currently on tour smacking sticks for Pearl Jam as a full fledged member at this point. After the Backspacer tour runs dry this year or next, it would be a nice time for these boys to hit the tour circuit again while they still have something left. If Alice can find a new singer, Weiland can get sober for twenty minutes, then Cornell and Thayil can pick separate rooms for a few last shows.
Why would they do it? They probably wouldn't unless they need money, but maybe they could decide that a new generation deserves to hear some stone cold rock and roll music. Not genre related, just rock and roll. All the heavier stuff from the early days like Rusty Cage and Fell on Black Days with some Jesus Christ Pose to the big time hits like Spoonman, Blackhole Sun, and Pretty Noose. I'd like them to blow up the outside world one last time. Come on Chris, prove you didn't really mean to go solo again, kill two great bands in the process, and team up with Timbaland. You're better than that.
Digital Ditty
I'll keep with the old school Seattle rockers for this Tuesday's twofer to deliver the new Alice in Chains track Check My Brain. It gets catchier every day, and I hear the new album is great. I'm still not yet on that bandwagon, but when I finally jump, you'll be sure to read about it. On a total random note, I'm going to also select the last recording from another nineties rock favorite of mine. I doubt you have it in your old school collection, so go ahead and add All in the Suit that You Wear from Stone Temple Pilots. It can be found on the greatest hits album Thank You. And as always I thank you for partaking in this week's music segment.
Nonetheless, I'm pilfering this early 2000s idea for a monthly or so thought about bands that I'd like to see reunite. Maybe some of these are still possible, and others may require some fill-ins based on the pulses or lack thereof of some of the original members. I'm getting this kickstarted with Soundgarden. All the members are alive and only one of them actually has a job currently. Matt Cameron is currently on tour smacking sticks for Pearl Jam as a full fledged member at this point. After the Backspacer tour runs dry this year or next, it would be a nice time for these boys to hit the tour circuit again while they still have something left. If Alice can find a new singer, Weiland can get sober for twenty minutes, then Cornell and Thayil can pick separate rooms for a few last shows.
Why would they do it? They probably wouldn't unless they need money, but maybe they could decide that a new generation deserves to hear some stone cold rock and roll music. Not genre related, just rock and roll. All the heavier stuff from the early days like Rusty Cage and Fell on Black Days with some Jesus Christ Pose to the big time hits like Spoonman, Blackhole Sun, and Pretty Noose. I'd like them to blow up the outside world one last time. Come on Chris, prove you didn't really mean to go solo again, kill two great bands in the process, and team up with Timbaland. You're better than that.
Digital Ditty
I'll keep with the old school Seattle rockers for this Tuesday's twofer to deliver the new Alice in Chains track Check My Brain. It gets catchier every day, and I hear the new album is great. I'm still not yet on that bandwagon, but when I finally jump, you'll be sure to read about it. On a total random note, I'm going to also select the last recording from another nineties rock favorite of mine. I doubt you have it in your old school collection, so go ahead and add All in the Suit that You Wear from Stone Temple Pilots. It can be found on the greatest hits album Thank You. And as always I thank you for partaking in this week's music segment.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Jam Session
NBA Jam or Space Jam? Either option certainly ensures unbridled mid nineties entertainment especially if you have the big heads code or you're a closet Quad City DJs fan. It also takes us back to a time when the NBA was mainstream and relevant. Let's face it, most people are more interested about what stupid shit Charles Barkley is going to say and what color suit Craig Sager is wearing during an NBA telecast. Quick quiz, which teams are Rick Carlisle, Flip Saunders, and Rick Adelmen currently coaching? Indiana, Minnesota, and Portland would be all wrong answers. I actually don't know the right ones, but I'm pretty sure they all have jobs. Hell George Karl and Mike Dunleavy do. Throw in Jerry Sloan still sticking it out in Salt Lake, and all we have to do is get Pat Riley out of the management box and locate Paul Westphal to have a Michael Jordan beat my ass in the Finals marathon.
How does the NBA not have a huge corporate deal with recycling? They do it better than a crew of naked hippies at Bonnaroo. While other sports long to produce the best version of their craft at the professional level, the NBA actually tries to make their version worse on purpose. Let's get rid of travelling, certain kinds of defense, and make everything a foul. You can keep that trash and I'll take a Big Ten game in the thirties. The kids can't shoot worth a damn, but they know how to play defense and run a motion offense. More than I can say for the halfwits who took 9 hours of pottery and child rearing to stay eligible for their only season on campus. How's that working out for you so far Greg Oden?
On the lighter side of the start of the NBA season, the young guard play throughout the league should continue to improve. We've got kids like Roy, Deron, and Gordon out west, and Rose, Rondo, and D.Wade in the east. You've got to enjoy watching the evolution of the swing man as Durant and Granger are the future of the game. I can't lie, I don't even remember who the #1 pick in the draft was let alone who the break out rookies will be. I just know that central Indiana got themselves another white boy. I also know that the Bulls took a couple of nondescript college guys who make the squad instantly more mediocre. LeBron can go big time with Jay-Z, just bring me D. Wade and Amare, and Rose will lead the Bull back to the promised land.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Here's my lone fantasy basketball tip for the season, get Gerald Wallace. I love Gerald Wallace. He's a stat stuffer.
Time to start making trades in all your leagues with all your teams. It is just more fun that way. I would be looking at playoff schedules. You know who the bad defenses are, so try to exploit them. You should also start looking to get younger at the running back position as the season grows older. Possession receivers will also become a highly sought after commodity as the weather starts to get colder and dicier.
How does the NBA not have a huge corporate deal with recycling? They do it better than a crew of naked hippies at Bonnaroo. While other sports long to produce the best version of their craft at the professional level, the NBA actually tries to make their version worse on purpose. Let's get rid of travelling, certain kinds of defense, and make everything a foul. You can keep that trash and I'll take a Big Ten game in the thirties. The kids can't shoot worth a damn, but they know how to play defense and run a motion offense. More than I can say for the halfwits who took 9 hours of pottery and child rearing to stay eligible for their only season on campus. How's that working out for you so far Greg Oden?
On the lighter side of the start of the NBA season, the young guard play throughout the league should continue to improve. We've got kids like Roy, Deron, and Gordon out west, and Rose, Rondo, and D.Wade in the east. You've got to enjoy watching the evolution of the swing man as Durant and Granger are the future of the game. I can't lie, I don't even remember who the #1 pick in the draft was let alone who the break out rookies will be. I just know that central Indiana got themselves another white boy. I also know that the Bulls took a couple of nondescript college guys who make the squad instantly more mediocre. LeBron can go big time with Jay-Z, just bring me D. Wade and Amare, and Rose will lead the Bull back to the promised land.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Here's my lone fantasy basketball tip for the season, get Gerald Wallace. I love Gerald Wallace. He's a stat stuffer.
Time to start making trades in all your leagues with all your teams. It is just more fun that way. I would be looking at playoff schedules. You know who the bad defenses are, so try to exploit them. You should also start looking to get younger at the running back position as the season grows older. Possession receivers will also become a highly sought after commodity as the weather starts to get colder and dicier.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Daily TV Schedule
So a few weeks ago we talked about the start of the fall television schedule, so now that I've had time to digest the new lineups and avoid the Jay Leno show like the swine flu, we'll tackle what to watch each night.
Monday- Start your primetime schedule with How I Met Your Mother on CBS, then head straight to ESPN for Monday Night Football. If your fantasy team has crushed your interest in football, you can catch up on the DVR or catch Big Bang Theory on CBS at 8:30 and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the food network at 9.
Tuesday - Pickings are pretty slim on Tuesdays, and so are the women of 90210. I'm still hanging onto the guilty pleasure at 7PM on the CWBUPN whatever the hell channel 9 is. No matter how hot the blonde chick on Melrose Place is, I can't wrap my head around that crapfest. I typically choose an alternate form of entertainment for the rest of Tuesday. I would personally suggest DVRing the 30 for 30 special at 7 on ESPN, so you can watch that afterward. The Baltimore Colts band and USFL specials were both pretty top notch.
Wednesday- The schedule fills up a little more on Wednesdays with Modern Family on ABC at 8. That is hilarious and probably the best new addition to any fall lineup. Top Chef Vegas on Bravo and Ultimate Fighter 10 on Spike duel on my DVR during the 9 o'clock hour. I'm not an ultimate fighter junkie, I'm just waiting for former Purdue classmate Matt Mitrione to hit the octogon.
Thursday - Pretty much just DVR the entire NBC lineup on Thursdays. Community, Parks and Rec, and the Office are all great. I don't watch 30 Rock because I don't react well to shows that I'm told to watch by experts. That's just the way I am. I'm sick of Grey's Anatomy and can no longer feign interest in that garbage. Always Sunny in Philadelphia is better than it has ever been, so you definitely need to be clued into that at 9 on FX. Next week, The League starts on FX at 9:30, and I'm looking forward to that one.
Friday - I can't say that I spend a lot of time watching tv on Fridays, but I would suggest setting the DVR for Big Ten's Best at 8 on the Big Ten Network. It is a top ten list and only lasts a half hour, but it offers some great interviews about some classic childhood players and games.
Weekend Wonderment
It's going to be cold and rainy, so there aren't too many interesting things for me to suggest. Maybe you want to start your holiday shopping or find a good costume for a Halloween party. I'm going to provide an additional service or disaster in this time slot. I'm going to attempt to see how hard it is to pick each NFL game against the spread. I'll use the Friday USA Today lines, so away we go.
Houston -3
KC +4.5
Indy -13
NE -15
Minny +3.5
GB -7.5
Carolina -7.5
NYJ -7.5
Cinci -1
ATL +3
Miami +7
Zona +7.5
Phily -6.5
My lock of the week would be Indy -13 and my upset of the week is Miami on the moneyline.
Monday- Start your primetime schedule with How I Met Your Mother on CBS, then head straight to ESPN for Monday Night Football. If your fantasy team has crushed your interest in football, you can catch up on the DVR or catch Big Bang Theory on CBS at 8:30 and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the food network at 9.
Tuesday - Pickings are pretty slim on Tuesdays, and so are the women of 90210. I'm still hanging onto the guilty pleasure at 7PM on the CWBUPN whatever the hell channel 9 is. No matter how hot the blonde chick on Melrose Place is, I can't wrap my head around that crapfest. I typically choose an alternate form of entertainment for the rest of Tuesday. I would personally suggest DVRing the 30 for 30 special at 7 on ESPN, so you can watch that afterward. The Baltimore Colts band and USFL specials were both pretty top notch.
Wednesday- The schedule fills up a little more on Wednesdays with Modern Family on ABC at 8. That is hilarious and probably the best new addition to any fall lineup. Top Chef Vegas on Bravo and Ultimate Fighter 10 on Spike duel on my DVR during the 9 o'clock hour. I'm not an ultimate fighter junkie, I'm just waiting for former Purdue classmate Matt Mitrione to hit the octogon.
Thursday - Pretty much just DVR the entire NBC lineup on Thursdays. Community, Parks and Rec, and the Office are all great. I don't watch 30 Rock because I don't react well to shows that I'm told to watch by experts. That's just the way I am. I'm sick of Grey's Anatomy and can no longer feign interest in that garbage. Always Sunny in Philadelphia is better than it has ever been, so you definitely need to be clued into that at 9 on FX. Next week, The League starts on FX at 9:30, and I'm looking forward to that one.
Friday - I can't say that I spend a lot of time watching tv on Fridays, but I would suggest setting the DVR for Big Ten's Best at 8 on the Big Ten Network. It is a top ten list and only lasts a half hour, but it offers some great interviews about some classic childhood players and games.
Weekend Wonderment
It's going to be cold and rainy, so there aren't too many interesting things for me to suggest. Maybe you want to start your holiday shopping or find a good costume for a Halloween party. I'm going to provide an additional service or disaster in this time slot. I'm going to attempt to see how hard it is to pick each NFL game against the spread. I'll use the Friday USA Today lines, so away we go.
Houston -3
KC +4.5
Indy -13
NE -15
Minny +3.5
GB -7.5
Carolina -7.5
NYJ -7.5
Cinci -1
ATL +3
Miami +7
Zona +7.5
Phily -6.5
My lock of the week would be Indy -13 and my upset of the week is Miami on the moneyline.
Bad Taste or Awesome?
Guess what, if you're asking that question, then the answer is always awesome. Let me provide the first example courtesy of champion blog Deadspin http://deadspin.com/5385651/there-goes-the-greatest-halloween-costume-that-ever-lived The answer is yes, that is the greatest costume of all time. The time and dedication that it took to put together that entire package and idea is truly outstanding.
I will admit that even I have limits in the realm of bad taste. If you dress up as Michael Jackson for Halloween this year, please don't tape/attach a doll to your crotch. We understand the issues that he had while he was alive, and I'm certainly last in line to throw a memorial for the creepy bastard but that's too far. How do you know the difference? People don't want to see it. Is your first reaction a smile or a slightly queesy feeling? That should give you an idea. Unless that initial sickness turns it to quick unadulterated laughter, you should probably err on the side of caution with your costumes, jokes, or ideas.
Ode to Nader
I'm going to go slightly off base and not endorse a single product, but rather a store with this one. Support your local Binny's in the Chicagoland area. What a superstore of goodness. They have an outstanding wine selection with many people there to help define your tastes. Bigaro is also back in stock my friends. They host numerous wine tastings, whiskey samples, and beer extravaganzas throughout the year at each and every location. They just bought out Sam's, so they are pretty much the monopoly here in Chicagoland at this point. They have a wide selection of imports, but their regional US brew selection is unmatched with Bell's, Three Floyd's, Southern Tier, O'Fallon, Dogfish Head, Sam Adams, Goose Island, and just about any other primary regional brewer you can think of. They also offer a great selection of cigars and some pretty high end food items. Give the pretzel bread a go for your next sandwich.
I will admit that even I have limits in the realm of bad taste. If you dress up as Michael Jackson for Halloween this year, please don't tape/attach a doll to your crotch. We understand the issues that he had while he was alive, and I'm certainly last in line to throw a memorial for the creepy bastard but that's too far. How do you know the difference? People don't want to see it. Is your first reaction a smile or a slightly queesy feeling? That should give you an idea. Unless that initial sickness turns it to quick unadulterated laughter, you should probably err on the side of caution with your costumes, jokes, or ideas.
Ode to Nader
I'm going to go slightly off base and not endorse a single product, but rather a store with this one. Support your local Binny's in the Chicagoland area. What a superstore of goodness. They have an outstanding wine selection with many people there to help define your tastes. Bigaro is also back in stock my friends. They host numerous wine tastings, whiskey samples, and beer extravaganzas throughout the year at each and every location. They just bought out Sam's, so they are pretty much the monopoly here in Chicagoland at this point. They have a wide selection of imports, but their regional US brew selection is unmatched with Bell's, Three Floyd's, Southern Tier, O'Fallon, Dogfish Head, Sam Adams, Goose Island, and just about any other primary regional brewer you can think of. They also offer a great selection of cigars and some pretty high end food items. Give the pretzel bread a go for your next sandwich.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sausage That Eats Like a Meal
You know you're in trouble when you tell the butcher that the new sausage sounds good, then you ask what you should eat it with and he has no damn clue. You created it my friend, so you had to have something in mind. You could throw it on the grill, he says. Listen up asshole, it's 42 out with a strong chance of rain for the next five days, so maybe you can do a little better than that. Well he couldn't so we had to come up with our own plan. There are many great sausages out there like the Amylu line of chicken sausages and the various types of Aidell's packaged meats. I prefer to get the raw sausages at the butcher shop since they typically have the freshest seasoning and can take more flavor.
When you see a white wine and garlic turkey sausage, you can't help but be intrigued. Making that into the centerpiece of a meal is another story. We chose to go the typical pasta route, but wanted to switch up how things came together. Our theory was that if the flavor is in the sausage, it probably pairs well with the sausage.
Start by browning your sausage in a stainless steel pan with a little olive oil. Once browned on all sides, toss in a thinly sliced shallot and a few cloves of smashed garlic. Feel free to add more oil if necessary, but not too much. Sweat the aromatics with some salt and pepper for a minute or so, then throw in four full leaves of swiss chard or rainbow chard. Wash the chard, then slice into strips across the leaves and stems. Use both parts. The chard should wilt down after about two minutes, then you can put the chard and sausages on a plate. Throw some white wine into the pan to deglaze the remaining garlic and flavor bits. Let the wine reduce, then remove the heat, add a pat of butter to thicken, and toss in any type of pasta cooked al dente. Finish your plate with some parmesan and you've got yourself a nice meal.
Restaurant Recap
I think I've changed my Mexican food allegiance from Chipotle to Qdoba now that they've entered into the St. Charles market. They have a fajita ranchera burrito that is outstanding. Some lemony/tomato sauce that isn't spicy, but adds plenty of flavor is the key to this combination. The grilled vegetables are also on point. They also have a nice savory pesto made with poblanos that can be used as a sauce or a bold/spicy bbq sauce. These flavors make all the difference. Be careful with the salsas because they pack some serious heat. The green medium salsa puts some hot salsas to shame. I'm looking forward to trying the 3 cheese queso at some point despite its nuclear apperance. I would not recommend the guacamole that is really just mashed up avocado with a sprinkle of cilantro. I suggest you stop by for a visit when you see yourself by one of these fine establishments.
You Can Put it on the Billboard
I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not as young and hip as I once was especially when it comes to the music scene. I would have to venture a guess that many of you are in the same boat that I am. I don't spend long hours in my car listenening to the radio. I usually either go with my newest collections of cds or I'm on sports talk radio. I like to flip to Q101 or my latest favorite 89.1 but this is pretty infrequent. ITunes is nice with their 30 second snippests to preview their songs, but I always scan the billboard weekly lists to keep myself up to date.
Personally, I tend toward the modern rock and mainstream rock single lists for the latest artists or new material from old favorites. Once a month is really plenty of time to spend on this site because the charts don't change too often. I'll usually find one or two immediate downloads, then I'll let those previews of the other tunes marinate for a few days. If I still remember the song, then it is probably worth the 99 cents. I'm certain that you can apply this method to any form of music whether it be dance, country, or hip hop.
Digital Ditty
I'll throw out a few personal favorites that have joined my download list off the recent billboard charts. I would start with Jars by Chevelle. This here is probably the most relevant local Chicago band producing music at the moment. I'm hoping to catch a live show in the coming years at a local club. If you want something with a bit different sound, I suggest you try out Uprising by Muse. They deliver some serious power in a slightly odd way.
Personally, I tend toward the modern rock and mainstream rock single lists for the latest artists or new material from old favorites. Once a month is really plenty of time to spend on this site because the charts don't change too often. I'll usually find one or two immediate downloads, then I'll let those previews of the other tunes marinate for a few days. If I still remember the song, then it is probably worth the 99 cents. I'm certain that you can apply this method to any form of music whether it be dance, country, or hip hop.
Digital Ditty
I'll throw out a few personal favorites that have joined my download list off the recent billboard charts. I would start with Jars by Chevelle. This here is probably the most relevant local Chicago band producing music at the moment. I'm hoping to catch a live show in the coming years at a local club. If you want something with a bit different sound, I suggest you try out Uprising by Muse. They deliver some serious power in a slightly odd way.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Boiler Up!
The fans graced the field of Ross Ade Stadium for the first time since late November in the year 2000. It was also the first victory over a ranked opponent since Wake Forest of all teams in 2003. To say that Purdue needed that victory on Saturday would be a massive understatement, the entire campus needed something to go right on their football field for the first time in years. Ohio State is an especially ripe victim after some absolute heartbreakers over the past decade including the 4th down pass that propelled them to the national championship.
Danny Hope proved that he could be the man to bring this team back to the top of the Big Ten. He's got enough fire and guts to make the tough calls and live with the consequences. He's envigorated the recruiting and hired some capable assistants. I certainly respect and admire all of the guys that compete for my alma mater, but a good deal of the gentlemen currently on scholarship simply don't have the talent to contend at this level. Hope will find men who will, whether it is scanning the Midwest or offering every senior across the state of Florida. I certainly believe that he made some headway with any high school seniors in attendance this past weekend.
Joey Elliott has now earned the right to finish as the starter in every game for his senior year. He is the right man for the job and should lead the Boilers to at least two more victories if not a .500 record in Big Ten play. Ryan Kerrigan proved that he is one of the ten best defensive linemen in the country and was honored as such. Mike Neal, Brandon King, and Aaron Valentin all showed that they deserve a look at the next level when the combine rolls around. Keith Smith has admirably filled the void left behind after Dustin Keller graduated. He's fearless and takes the game to all of the defensive backs that get in his way. He'll be all conference by the end of the year and could put himself in great position to play on Sundays after next season. Hopefully some of the younger guys and the redshirt QB have learned some things from these older guys who have to fight and scrap for any success. It looks like the train is back on the tracks.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Hopefully I've helped some of my readers with their issues this year because I certainly can't solve my own problems. I'm writing this column to avoid watching the inevitable on Monday night, which involves my team falling to 2-4. Bye week fillers are incredibly important. Do not take bye week maneuvers lightly because whenever you think you can't compete, there are guys out there who can bring you home a victory. You never know what your opponent's players will do or when he'll make a bad play.
Some guys to keep in mind this week are Sammie Stroughter of the Bucs. They love this kid in Tampa and I tried telling that to a friend before he went for 65 yards and a punt return TD this past weekend. Stick with guys that continue to perform at the tight end position. Shiancoe, Heath Miller, and even Greg Olson have proved to be far better plays than high talent guys like Finley or Keller. Stay away from quarterbacks on bad teams even if they throw a lot. What did it get Kerry Collins' owners this past weekend? The time has come for you to focus on younger backups at running back and wide receiver. The longer the season goes, the higher risk for injury. Always be aware of the upcoming schedule along with the playoff schedule. Pattern your trades to maximize these factors and always try to be a week ahead on roster moves if your bench can afford you that. Don't get married to bad bench players either. It will cost you an opportunity to get a valuable player.
Danny Hope proved that he could be the man to bring this team back to the top of the Big Ten. He's got enough fire and guts to make the tough calls and live with the consequences. He's envigorated the recruiting and hired some capable assistants. I certainly respect and admire all of the guys that compete for my alma mater, but a good deal of the gentlemen currently on scholarship simply don't have the talent to contend at this level. Hope will find men who will, whether it is scanning the Midwest or offering every senior across the state of Florida. I certainly believe that he made some headway with any high school seniors in attendance this past weekend.
Joey Elliott has now earned the right to finish as the starter in every game for his senior year. He is the right man for the job and should lead the Boilers to at least two more victories if not a .500 record in Big Ten play. Ryan Kerrigan proved that he is one of the ten best defensive linemen in the country and was honored as such. Mike Neal, Brandon King, and Aaron Valentin all showed that they deserve a look at the next level when the combine rolls around. Keith Smith has admirably filled the void left behind after Dustin Keller graduated. He's fearless and takes the game to all of the defensive backs that get in his way. He'll be all conference by the end of the year and could put himself in great position to play on Sundays after next season. Hopefully some of the younger guys and the redshirt QB have learned some things from these older guys who have to fight and scrap for any success. It looks like the train is back on the tracks.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Hopefully I've helped some of my readers with their issues this year because I certainly can't solve my own problems. I'm writing this column to avoid watching the inevitable on Monday night, which involves my team falling to 2-4. Bye week fillers are incredibly important. Do not take bye week maneuvers lightly because whenever you think you can't compete, there are guys out there who can bring you home a victory. You never know what your opponent's players will do or when he'll make a bad play.
Some guys to keep in mind this week are Sammie Stroughter of the Bucs. They love this kid in Tampa and I tried telling that to a friend before he went for 65 yards and a punt return TD this past weekend. Stick with guys that continue to perform at the tight end position. Shiancoe, Heath Miller, and even Greg Olson have proved to be far better plays than high talent guys like Finley or Keller. Stay away from quarterbacks on bad teams even if they throw a lot. What did it get Kerry Collins' owners this past weekend? The time has come for you to focus on younger backups at running back and wide receiver. The longer the season goes, the higher risk for injury. Always be aware of the upcoming schedule along with the playoff schedule. Pattern your trades to maximize these factors and always try to be a week ahead on roster moves if your bench can afford you that. Don't get married to bad bench players either. It will cost you an opportunity to get a valuable player.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Hypocrisy
I'm not really sure what triggered the topic to write about today for random advice, but it is certainly the biggest of my pet peeves. In my world, outside of actual criminals or other unsightly behavior that physically/emotionally impacts the lives of others, the worst thing that a person can be is a hypocrit. This trumps being lazy, dumb, dirty, or greedy and all of the other seven dwarves of bad. Don't tell me what to do, when you don't do it yourself. I don't want to hear Dr. Phil tell me how to eat, and I certainly don't want parenting advice from Jon and/or Kate. One good media-related example over the past week would be the outspoken NFL players that say they would refuse to play for Rush Limbaugh due to his political stance, past comments, etc. So just to get all my ducks in a row, they're perfectly fine with taking money from families that run companies overseas, donate to South Africa, and do a host of other things that are truly unsightly actions. That's outstanding.
My favorite hypocrits are the overly excitable Christians that love to turn their nose up to anyone who doesn't do exactly what they do. So again, just so I get this straight, the way to heaven is to show up to church each Sunday, then spend the rest of the week trying to screw over anyone in your path, yell at your kid's teachers, and generally do no good. It's that other guy who doesn't make it to mass, but helped his neighbor build a deck then spent the nights last week helping coach his kid's soccer team who really doesn't know what being a Christian is all about.
Those are just a few examples of some of the types of behavior that I find outstandingly bad. Hopefully, you all feel the same way I do about these sorts of things and make sure you practice what you preach before you incite it onto others. Don't be like these asshats, make a difference, be a good person, and try not to judge others without first judging yourself.
Ode to Nader
If you like reading this blog or really just come here because you want to kill work time, then I have a product for you. Keep your eyes peeled this fall for the Black Friday ads, then run out to your local Best Buy, OfficeMax, or Office Depot and get yourself a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse. This glorious combo is ergonomically correct, requires no mousepad, and gives you the freedom you need at your desk or home office. I would recommend these to anyone, but I'll warn you; it doesn't work if you keep your keyboard/mouse in a drawer. You'll have no room for the sensor.
My favorite hypocrits are the overly excitable Christians that love to turn their nose up to anyone who doesn't do exactly what they do. So again, just so I get this straight, the way to heaven is to show up to church each Sunday, then spend the rest of the week trying to screw over anyone in your path, yell at your kid's teachers, and generally do no good. It's that other guy who doesn't make it to mass, but helped his neighbor build a deck then spent the nights last week helping coach his kid's soccer team who really doesn't know what being a Christian is all about.
Those are just a few examples of some of the types of behavior that I find outstandingly bad. Hopefully, you all feel the same way I do about these sorts of things and make sure you practice what you preach before you incite it onto others. Don't be like these asshats, make a difference, be a good person, and try not to judge others without first judging yourself.
Ode to Nader
If you like reading this blog or really just come here because you want to kill work time, then I have a product for you. Keep your eyes peeled this fall for the Black Friday ads, then run out to your local Best Buy, OfficeMax, or Office Depot and get yourself a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse. This glorious combo is ergonomically correct, requires no mousepad, and gives you the freedom you need at your desk or home office. I would recommend these to anyone, but I'll warn you; it doesn't work if you keep your keyboard/mouse in a drawer. You'll have no room for the sensor.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
One Pot Italian Classic
If nothing works better for you on a Sunday evening that a nice pot roast, then you need to upgrade yourself to the meal in a pot known as Osso Buco. It's a fancy Italian term for stewed veal shank. If you're morally opposed to utilizing veal, then feel free to try this same recipe with a lamb shank, turkey leg, or short ribs. Cooking times may vary if you change the meat. This meal is quickly become the favorite through colder weather in my household, and I guarantee that you'll be hooked once you try it. Keep in mind that this is not a cheap date, so the larger portion you make the more you can spread the wealth. The main price points in the recipe are the shanks themselves and the whole bottle of red wine required. You can also combo this recipe with a soup or stew later in the same week to utilize the remaining vegetables. I suggest serving up the gloriously meaty calf bone on a heaping pile of garlic mashed potatoes or a simple risotto. You can get crazy and make some soft polenta or even pappardelle.
The start of the recipe involves chopping one to two celery stalks and two peeled carrots into a regular dice. You'll also need to dice a whole yellow onion, mince or press four garlic cloves, and grab two bay leaves. The last bit of prep is to peel a lemon using a vegetable peeler. Try to remove as much rind with minimal pith as possible. If you struggle, just use the top of your peeler to scrape off the white stuff.
Now put your dutch oven on medium heat, add two to three counts of oil and two tablespoons of butter. While that comes to temperature, season your shanks liberally with salt and pepper, then apply a light dusting of flour to all sides. Note: your shanks should be left at room temp about 30 minutes prior to cooking and shake off as much flour as possible. Once the pot is ready, brown your shanks. This recipe can be done for four shanks or as few as one. You can usually brown two at a time in the pot. They need a light brown on all sides, then place them on a plate for the time being.
Once the meat is browned, you can dump in all the aromatics that you chopped in stage one at the same time including the rind and bay leaves. While these start to sweat, give them some salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, and such. These items will cook down for about five or so minutes, then you can place the shanks back in the pot and add an entire bottle of Cab Sav or whatever red wine you like/have. This step requires at least 20 minutes to reduce by half. The more reduced, the richer the flavor. Once reduced, you can add one can of low sodium beef broth and a 28 oz can of whole tomatoes. The whole tomatoes should be hand crushed prior to entering the pot. You can pour in all the sauce and juice from the can. Like you learned earlier this year, always try to use San Marzano tomatoes.
Stir up this concoction, add salt and pepper if necessary, then put the lid on and place the pot in a 375 degree oven for 90 minutes. After 90 minutes of alone time in the oven, remove the lid and cook for an additional 30 minutes in said oven. After those 30 minutes have elapsed, remove the pot from the oven, carefully place the shanks on a plate, then put the pot back on the stove at medium/medium high heat. As you're finishing up all the rest of the meal components, the meat will have time to rest and you can get just a bit more reduction on that sauce. There is no time limit and this step is not necessary if your sauce looks ready to go. Remove the two bay leaves and spoon that dark red goodness all over everything on your plate.
Restaurant Recap
I know I'm going off the beaten path with this one, but with the alma mater on my mind, I'm breaking out a suggestion from good old West Lafayette. Bruno's in the Levee is the place to be on gameday or just on any day. They have by far the best pizza within 60 miles of Purdue's campus, and as advertised on ESPN they have fried pizza dough balls coated in italian herbs and parmesan cheese. You have to appreciate all cultures of pizza and these guys use scissors to cut the pizza into strips. It is great stuff and worth a shot for any pizza fan.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Old Skool
If you're between the ages of 14 and 50 then you should probably check out VH-1 over the next few days and kick it old school with the Hip Hop Honors ceremony for 25 years of Def Jam. This special will bring you back or educate you on the past of a great era of hip hop artists gone by. I mean who knew DMX was not only still alive, but not in jail? This special reminded me that artists used to actually rhyme, create beats, and have meaningful lyrics. There is a reason that Yo! MTV Raps was created and Midwestern white suburbia used to dress in ridiculous clothes and get their sneakers stolen on the wrong part of town.
While no one wants to remember the days when you couldn't wear North Carolina colors or sport a new pair of Nikes, the rappers of the 80s and early 90s had a message that still rings true today. Maybe the current crop have it too good or didn't have the same level of life experience that these guys had, or maybe they need to get back to travelling in groups. Think about that for a minute. We used to have the Wu Tang Clan, Ruff Ryders, N.W.A., Bone Thugs & Harmony, Cash Money Millionaires, Murder Inc, D-12, and the list goes on. These all-star rap teams brought the best rhymes to a generation of listeners, but now what is left. Somebody please start another east-west rap feud. I must say that I fell on the west side of that one. I remember thinking to myself when I bought a Notorious BIG album that I was cavorting with the enemy. I also used to wonder what would happen if Dr. Dre and Chuck D ever actually got into a real fight. Clearly the world would have exploded.
Those were simpler times. When a young lad could turn on MTV and think that Terminator X was not a DJ, but an actual terminator sent to do the business that Arnold could not finish. Like he was sent here to take over the world in the name of large clock necklaces. Damn shame Flavor Flav had to go crazy and waste a good rap group. You have to give credit to these guys though. Rappers are like pro athletes. They entertain millions for like 10-15 years, then they disappear and spend money. You know things went horribly wrong for this genre when you see Ja Rule and Onyx perform and think about how good things used to be. Son, if you can't bring a rap stronger than Ja Rule, then you need to rethink what you're doing for a living. So it is time to put on your Pump sneakers, grab your shaggy Kangol hat, break out the gold chain with your high school number at the end of it, mount up your fellow regulators, and fight the power.
Digital Ditty
I was well known thoughout the southwest suburbs of Chicago in the late 90s and early part of this decade for completing the best rap mixes known to white people. I think the final album was my seventh compilation. There was a broad spectrum of talent and rhymes, but I'll try to limit you to a few powerful tracks. You definitely need Don't Believe the Hype by Public Enemy and my favorite rap track of all-time is still Dre Day by the Doctor himself. Those two should peak your interest to explore the glory days of the street chorus.
While no one wants to remember the days when you couldn't wear North Carolina colors or sport a new pair of Nikes, the rappers of the 80s and early 90s had a message that still rings true today. Maybe the current crop have it too good or didn't have the same level of life experience that these guys had, or maybe they need to get back to travelling in groups. Think about that for a minute. We used to have the Wu Tang Clan, Ruff Ryders, N.W.A., Bone Thugs & Harmony, Cash Money Millionaires, Murder Inc, D-12, and the list goes on. These all-star rap teams brought the best rhymes to a generation of listeners, but now what is left. Somebody please start another east-west rap feud. I must say that I fell on the west side of that one. I remember thinking to myself when I bought a Notorious BIG album that I was cavorting with the enemy. I also used to wonder what would happen if Dr. Dre and Chuck D ever actually got into a real fight. Clearly the world would have exploded.
Those were simpler times. When a young lad could turn on MTV and think that Terminator X was not a DJ, but an actual terminator sent to do the business that Arnold could not finish. Like he was sent here to take over the world in the name of large clock necklaces. Damn shame Flavor Flav had to go crazy and waste a good rap group. You have to give credit to these guys though. Rappers are like pro athletes. They entertain millions for like 10-15 years, then they disappear and spend money. You know things went horribly wrong for this genre when you see Ja Rule and Onyx perform and think about how good things used to be. Son, if you can't bring a rap stronger than Ja Rule, then you need to rethink what you're doing for a living. So it is time to put on your Pump sneakers, grab your shaggy Kangol hat, break out the gold chain with your high school number at the end of it, mount up your fellow regulators, and fight the power.
Digital Ditty
I was well known thoughout the southwest suburbs of Chicago in the late 90s and early part of this decade for completing the best rap mixes known to white people. I think the final album was my seventh compilation. There was a broad spectrum of talent and rhymes, but I'll try to limit you to a few powerful tracks. You definitely need Don't Believe the Hype by Public Enemy and my favorite rap track of all-time is still Dre Day by the Doctor himself. Those two should peak your interest to explore the glory days of the street chorus.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Bizarro World
Welcome to NFL Bizarro World where Miles Austin is the new Cowboy record holder for single game receiving and you can win an NFL game when your quarterback goes 2 for 17 for 23 yards and a pick. That pretty much sums up your NFL Sunday sports fans. If Steven Jackson wasn't so angry all the time, the Rams might just be fun bad. I do think that the Bucs have entered fun bad though as every week they do one particular thing well and everything else terrible. Hey Bucs congrats for shutting down Phily's running game, too bad you lost 33-14 after DMac threw for 350+ and 3 touchdowns.
Does it get any more bizarre than the Denver Broncos? I thought this team would be 3-13 with the Marshall escapades and Josh McDaniels being a douche rocket. Turns out Orton can play a little and apparently Larry Coyer knows a little bit about defense. While we're on the topic, I wouldn't be a fake Chicago journalist without tackling the Orton-Cutler debate. There really is no debate though. Both teams got what they wanted. Denver has a good young line that can protect a pocket passer. McDaniels needed a guy to stick to the gameplan, believe in his calls, and distribute the ball. Chicago needed a QB savior to run around, make plans, and make the offense look like an NFL squad. Jay Cutler on the Bears is like having the senior high school starting QB pick a bunch of kids off the frosh squad to play the JV team. Usually he can make enough plays on his own to make the guys look good, but if they aren't in the right spots they'll make him look real bad. The Broncos wouldn't be 5-0 with Cutler, and the Bears wouldn't be 3-1 with Orton. They are different players that do different things. Look at what Orton has done and respect the fact that he is an NFL QB, he has an NFL arm and IQ, and he needs time to process and distribute the ball to playmakers. Guess what Chicago radio analysts, Jay Cutler didn't make those receivers out there. They are just good. He certainly has made the rag tag group in Lake Forest look like NFL guys though.
Now on to less biting topics, do I hear a Who Dey off in the background? I didn't watch the Sunday night game for fear that Collinsworth was going to show up in his old jersey and start telling Ken Anderson stories. How about all the talent they have on offense? Carson Palmer has a rocket, and Caldwell and Henry will be playmakers before this year is out. If you want to figure out how to rebuild a defense, watch Rivers and Maualuga then draft a few USC linebackers. Don't fret Bear fans, this isn't the same Ced Ben that you cut last year. He finally decided to be an NFL player. He's hitting the holes hard because he trusts his linemen and he's not looking over his shoulder. Oh yeah, he isn't getting paid bank either.
I love one of the announcers this weekend that said Jared Allen is making a claim for NFL defensive player of the year. Really? Does that mean Peyton Manning is making a claim for NFL offensive player of the year too? How about MVP asshole? Go ask an opposing tackle or quarterback who would get their MVP vote. That said, Manning is flat out outstanding. Hey Wally Pipp, I mean Anthony Gonzalez, the team has moved on my friend. Go tell some stories about Big Ten championships with Art Schlister. Colts/Buckeye reference anyone?
On a parting note for this week's sports column, I would like someone to tell me how firing Dick Jauron or Jim Zorn would make either of those teams better tomorrow. Will that magically drop an NFL QB into one of their laps? It certainly won't tank the season hard enough to beat the Bucs, Rams, and Chiefs out for the first three picks in the draft. If you fire Jim Zorn will Clinton Portis' legs grow back? If you fire Dick Jauron will Trent Edwards learn to read a defense or Lee Evans learn how to run routes? Something tells me it will just further alienate your fan base and cause a few local blackouts.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Well we saw signs of life from a few high picks like Roddy White, Eddie Royal, Michael Turner, and Donovan McNabb this weekend. If the Eagles give any job outside of janitor to Kevin Curtis when he becomes healthy, Andy Reid should be forced to observe Ramadan. Yes, that is a fasting joke. I wouldn't run out to sign Mike Crabtree even though he did just that finally. Jeremy Maclin certainly looks like a boom or bust play that could make a lot of teams better at this point. I still have no reason to believe that the Cardinals will ever figure out how to run the football. Just start giving Steve Slaton the ball on the goalline already. Congrats to 49ers defense owners after last weekend, how'd that work against Hotlanta? I think you might get another play or two out of Jamal Lewis during the bye week stretch. Speaking of teams that can't run, go get yourself a Seahawks receiver pronto. MohMass gave you exactly what you deserved if you thought a Brown receiver was going to help your team. Good luck and God bless if Romo is your QB the rest of the way. It took him 3.5 quarters to be relevant on Sunday against the Chiefs/Texans...AFL style. Bad news for some team owners, the blocking for Brady isn't going to get any better. Sell now while you still can. Another parting shot...after five weeks you should know if your team has enough talent to compete. If you're not sure yet, then you don't have enough talent to compete.
Does it get any more bizarre than the Denver Broncos? I thought this team would be 3-13 with the Marshall escapades and Josh McDaniels being a douche rocket. Turns out Orton can play a little and apparently Larry Coyer knows a little bit about defense. While we're on the topic, I wouldn't be a fake Chicago journalist without tackling the Orton-Cutler debate. There really is no debate though. Both teams got what they wanted. Denver has a good young line that can protect a pocket passer. McDaniels needed a guy to stick to the gameplan, believe in his calls, and distribute the ball. Chicago needed a QB savior to run around, make plans, and make the offense look like an NFL squad. Jay Cutler on the Bears is like having the senior high school starting QB pick a bunch of kids off the frosh squad to play the JV team. Usually he can make enough plays on his own to make the guys look good, but if they aren't in the right spots they'll make him look real bad. The Broncos wouldn't be 5-0 with Cutler, and the Bears wouldn't be 3-1 with Orton. They are different players that do different things. Look at what Orton has done and respect the fact that he is an NFL QB, he has an NFL arm and IQ, and he needs time to process and distribute the ball to playmakers. Guess what Chicago radio analysts, Jay Cutler didn't make those receivers out there. They are just good. He certainly has made the rag tag group in Lake Forest look like NFL guys though.
Now on to less biting topics, do I hear a Who Dey off in the background? I didn't watch the Sunday night game for fear that Collinsworth was going to show up in his old jersey and start telling Ken Anderson stories. How about all the talent they have on offense? Carson Palmer has a rocket, and Caldwell and Henry will be playmakers before this year is out. If you want to figure out how to rebuild a defense, watch Rivers and Maualuga then draft a few USC linebackers. Don't fret Bear fans, this isn't the same Ced Ben that you cut last year. He finally decided to be an NFL player. He's hitting the holes hard because he trusts his linemen and he's not looking over his shoulder. Oh yeah, he isn't getting paid bank either.
I love one of the announcers this weekend that said Jared Allen is making a claim for NFL defensive player of the year. Really? Does that mean Peyton Manning is making a claim for NFL offensive player of the year too? How about MVP asshole? Go ask an opposing tackle or quarterback who would get their MVP vote. That said, Manning is flat out outstanding. Hey Wally Pipp, I mean Anthony Gonzalez, the team has moved on my friend. Go tell some stories about Big Ten championships with Art Schlister. Colts/Buckeye reference anyone?
On a parting note for this week's sports column, I would like someone to tell me how firing Dick Jauron or Jim Zorn would make either of those teams better tomorrow. Will that magically drop an NFL QB into one of their laps? It certainly won't tank the season hard enough to beat the Bucs, Rams, and Chiefs out for the first three picks in the draft. If you fire Jim Zorn will Clinton Portis' legs grow back? If you fire Dick Jauron will Trent Edwards learn to read a defense or Lee Evans learn how to run routes? Something tells me it will just further alienate your fan base and cause a few local blackouts.
Dear Mr. Fantasy
Well we saw signs of life from a few high picks like Roddy White, Eddie Royal, Michael Turner, and Donovan McNabb this weekend. If the Eagles give any job outside of janitor to Kevin Curtis when he becomes healthy, Andy Reid should be forced to observe Ramadan. Yes, that is a fasting joke. I wouldn't run out to sign Mike Crabtree even though he did just that finally. Jeremy Maclin certainly looks like a boom or bust play that could make a lot of teams better at this point. I still have no reason to believe that the Cardinals will ever figure out how to run the football. Just start giving Steve Slaton the ball on the goalline already. Congrats to 49ers defense owners after last weekend, how'd that work against Hotlanta? I think you might get another play or two out of Jamal Lewis during the bye week stretch. Speaking of teams that can't run, go get yourself a Seahawks receiver pronto. MohMass gave you exactly what you deserved if you thought a Brown receiver was going to help your team. Good luck and God bless if Romo is your QB the rest of the way. It took him 3.5 quarters to be relevant on Sunday against the Chiefs/Texans...AFL style. Bad news for some team owners, the blocking for Brady isn't going to get any better. Sell now while you still can. Another parting shot...after five weeks you should know if your team has enough talent to compete. If you're not sure yet, then you don't have enough talent to compete.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Better Things to Do
It's time for us to rise up and take back Fridays. Who actually gets anything worthwhile accomplished on a Friday anyway? Two more hours per day for the first four days of the week and we're talking about permanent three day weekends. Something tells me that internet usage is vastly higher on Fridays as well. Sure every once in awhile we'll have to play catch up for screwing off earlier in the week, but even at that point doesn't most of it just get pushed into Monday.
Really this won't lead to much more free time, it basically frees up Friday for odd jobs and house chores that are also work. The beauty in this is that every weekend will actually have two free days for whatever you need to do. I know that this won't work for everyone since they'll just push an inordinate amount of kid's sporting events into this time frame, but it might save you an early Saturday morning.
There has to be more to gain economically from the added consumer interest from the extra weekend day than time lost. Face it, I'm typing this at work now and it won't affect my bottom line at month end or year end. We all just reach our breaking points by this time on Friday afternoons.
Weekend Wonderment
So you're coming to me for advice on what to do this weekend? Did you not just catch that I have such little going on inside my head at this point that I just blabbered about free Fridays for three paragraphs? OK, two and half paragraphs. Given the impending weather in the midwest and the time of year, I suggest that you take in a movie like Couples Retreat or the Invention of Lying. Not because I've seen them, but because I would like to. Outside of that, you're on your own this time around. Catch up on sleep for the week ahead.
Really this won't lead to much more free time, it basically frees up Friday for odd jobs and house chores that are also work. The beauty in this is that every weekend will actually have two free days for whatever you need to do. I know that this won't work for everyone since they'll just push an inordinate amount of kid's sporting events into this time frame, but it might save you an early Saturday morning.
There has to be more to gain economically from the added consumer interest from the extra weekend day than time lost. Face it, I'm typing this at work now and it won't affect my bottom line at month end or year end. We all just reach our breaking points by this time on Friday afternoons.
Weekend Wonderment
So you're coming to me for advice on what to do this weekend? Did you not just catch that I have such little going on inside my head at this point that I just blabbered about free Fridays for three paragraphs? OK, two and half paragraphs. Given the impending weather in the midwest and the time of year, I suggest that you take in a movie like Couples Retreat or the Invention of Lying. Not because I've seen them, but because I would like to. Outside of that, you're on your own this time around. Catch up on sleep for the week ahead.
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