Week 8: Tampa Bay vs. Giants

The most important thing that happened today (on the field):
The Giants defensive line stayed in Gradkowski's grill all day. The rookie didn't look bad, but large men with long last names and Michael Strahan were on him crazily and he seemed to be running for his health all afternoon.

For me:
Consistent tipping from Giants fans. thank you. $80. killer. serious ups that was nice.

Most crucial thing today:
The wind there were gusts of up to 50mph at the stadium today. Once my hair and twice my empty case gusted out of my control when stepping into the tunnel from the stands.

Plaxico Burrus made a touchdown grab in the first quarter that snaps a lot of fans back into realizing why they would agree to pay those millions to a guy that can seemingly zone out of the most basic plays at times. 17 stabbed the pass from Eli Manning with his left hand to end what might have been a competative play in the back corner of the end zone and score 6 points. This was a play most guys even in the NFL cannot make and what helps to make Plax special - to the extent that he has been during his career.

Giants football is not particularly exciting. They led 14-0 after the first quarter. 14-3 at half, and won 17-3. Lots of quiet in the crowd moments good for hollering things like, "hot dogs! pretzels! Crrack-ah Jacks!!"
which i did a lot to some profit.

However, every 3rd down for the defense they'd get rowdy, and then so would the defense (blitzes from all over plus a strong rush from the front four) and then it was over punt, commercial quiet again. And the offense really just protected the lead mostly.

There was less than 500 yards total offense combined in this game so it was not like the G-men were doing things on offense worth hooting about. (and thank you beer for helping grown men not need a reason to hoot at ...)

Some really old guys who won the 1956 championship and are still alive were honored at halftime. Some members had to be carted both on and off the field. Only 12 minutes in the nfl halftime - there is not time for the oldtimers or the average Dan/Jan in the stands to get any where and back. So get a cart or let me come to you. Message to home fans everywhere... the early 3rd quRTER there is no NO NO 12th man not in new jersey.

Week 7: Detroit vs. Jets

While waiting for the freight elevator to come take me to the 3rd floor for the beginning of the 3rd quarter I saw the guy I was seated next to on the front row of the bus for the ride over to the game. Our initital encounter was at 11:09am.

How is a parking lot so full hours before the game and the stadium be so empty for the beginning of the game?

I had hustled around the lower level of the stadium with the camera trying to get an action shot of Roy Williams the NFL's leader in receiving before I went upstairs to make money for serious. Most of the the candy vendors dont service the lower level this early in the afternoon, but it was a little too good down there. Every time I tried to stop and snap a picture someone wanted some overpriced candy too bad to let me silently have my moment.

The Jets dominated the play on the field from the early going. Even when the fans got in the stadium they were (suprise) sedated in their football team's success. Perhaps the Jets' fans themselves are noticibly less than impressed by victories over the Titans, Bills, Dolphins, now Lions - combined record: 5-21.

Maybe actually making the playoffs will get the Jets fans' to the ballpark in time for kickoff. Of coarse, I still think the Jets will get squeezed out in the numbers game of the AFC playoff picture, and catching New England to win the division/host a post-season game is not likely. So even in that event the Jets fan will just have to make sure to stumble into the bar on time a much easier proposition since moter skills are not required for as long to get there.

Week 6 Miami vs. Jetshttp://beta.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The traffic becomes excruciatingly slow when tyring to enter the Meadowlands complex from the expressway, but only when the stadium is vizable. Tantalizing.

What perfect autumn day for football. I got to sell candy on the sunny side of the top deck. I didnt even mind that Joey Harrington was there. This is why God invented football americano.

Jets fans are notoriously late to the game. Furthermore, known inside the stadium for drinking a lot they stay out in the parking lot to drink more before the game. Guys with 2 $7 bottles of domestic beer then find it ridiculous that candy would sell for $3. Once the crowd got into this game - about 7 minutes into the 1st quarter - they immediatly continued drinking. The first report of a drunken passing out came in the 2nd quarter and for the rest of the game, in the upper deck at least, there were more people droppinh than there were crews to assist them.

The guy pictured this week is Laverneous Coles. He was easily the player of the game. He broke it wide open in the 3rd quarter with 2 huge touchdowns that put the Jets up by enough to hold on and win in the 4th quarter.

I did not have him on either of my fantasy teams; however I did have a great deal of interest in this game when it came to fantasy stats.
Chris Chambers
Randy McMichael
Jets Defense (twice)

Week 5: Washington vs. Giants

I have never see a football game ruin such a fine day. Sure, I am biased, I am a Cowboys fan, but who cares, look it took me 2 days to force myself to write about this for this blog.

Personally, it was frustrating. The day was gorgeous and I forgot my camera. They had no candy to sell. I was doing great still selling lemon ice. but then, they sold out of that as well. I left with 14:00 left to play in the 4th quarter and sold under $400 worth of product.

The game whatever, Washington scored a feild goal with the opening kickoff and then remembered they were the redskins offense (they had forgotten for 2 weeks) and the Giants scored a very boring and unimpressive 19 points in the last 55 minutes of the game.

Boring and i was only kinda watching.

Week 4: Indianapolis vs. Jets

This may well have been the best experience possible to have at this job. Personally, the day was great. Good sales - going over $800 in sales got me the $20 bonus - a great game and magnificent weather.

I hustled around the lower level of the stadium for about 45 minutes (11:45-12:30) trying to snap a picture of peyton manning. I got antsy and started rolling around even took the freight elevator to the 3rd floor just to get a burlap sack originally intended for peanuts. It worked out I had time.

As you can see from the picture here the Jets have a late arriving crowd; this picture is taken less than 20 minutes before kickoff. It is very difficult to sell at Jet games in the 7 minutes before and after kickoff. That's the 14 minutes 70% of the crowd chooses to come in.

This isn't a chiq thing like a Friday night regular season Laker game at Staples Center. This is a Jersey middle class desire to get as loaded as possible in the parking lot built on a swamp in the shadow of Manhattan thing, and the guy that runs the frieght elevator informed me of this today, uncolicited. The stadium was still half empty for the national anthem.

I guit cheering for UT with my heart in late september of 1997 after another drilling in the swamp. Peyton got smashed again. Charles Woodson only made that easier by and when archie's boy couldnt even show up for the 2nd half against nebraska to help michigan out I was fussy and quit thinking knoxville orange in the same way. for more on my college football ideas please chack out this

It was easier to watch the game today for some reason. i saw most of the plays... I was behind the wall counting and securing money when the Jets successfully executed an onside kick

I was happy when my morning decision to take dante stallworth off my starting team and bring Dominic Rhodes off my bench paid off before I had made it through the shady south end of the stadium. manning's numbers were not huge because the colts ran the ball 35 times. They were a more physical team and they made the plays on defense. Oddly, they won like New England today.
Stats from nfl.com

The most indelible play of the game to me is an incomplete pass from manning to marvin harrison in the back of the end zone near the end of the 2nd quarter. They have another level of timing and rythym so impressive. It didnt work only because the Jets had a guy wait specifically to bat down a ball lobbed just outside the back of the endzone, a play you have seen 18 and 88 make many times in the last 9 years. They new it was coming and still the guy has to make a spectacular play to.

also i think about how I remember watching the Jets lose to the Colts at Giants stadium on september 9, 2001. only i was on a couch.

Indy star report
From the jets team site

Week 2: New England v. Jets

The time of this game was changed about 2 weeks ago to accomodate a larger TV audience at the 415pm sunday time slot. This allowed for some devine, if ever shrinking, sunshine to illuminate the north side of the field in the most perfect way. I am deeply sorrow for not carrying a camera this week i cussed under my breath. it just came out when I walked around the halls on the first level and saw that field glow that way, with the best team of this decade so far on it, and I knew I didnt have my camera. dah _____.

I will miss the weather from this day dispite my decreasingly intense diaphoresis
(buckets)

I did not sleep on the bus ride over. I sat in the front left seat just behind the driver next to a fellow who can really only be acuratly recounted in this report as your regular old coot. Yeah, seriously. He had is head band and head phones on already and I was wondering if he would actually talk to anyone all day.

I sold candy on the top level and rode the frieght elevator on the north end of the stadium twice up and down with the middle trips coming just before halftime. My timing and execution (big up the seth on this) of the tray's refill was remarkably efficient and i only took about 7 minutes to get back in the flow. Jets fans didnt steal form me as i suspect someone in the Giants crowd did last week, but they also do not tip as much. still, a good day for me personally, financially.

Fireman Ed was a big part of that turnaround the Jets had just to be in the game. He was up leading chants at the earliest stages of the comeback, in the middle of the 3rd quarter, down by 24 and 17. Some dude had him on his shoulders up and down the aile bordering their section. Screaming...

J! E! T! S! - JETS! JETS!! JETS!!! JETS!!!!

Know that in the section coming just below this paragraph fireman ED was near the point of seizure.

with between 4 and 5 minutes left on the game clock near the end of the 4th quarter a timeout was called and I had a decision to make. For real this time....I thought about leaving with about 7:15 to play with the Pats in a 3rd and 5, but not seriously, the Jest had the momentum and would surely tie this up and put it into overtime. Brady to Caldwell, 6 yds. Again at 6 minutes even I looked at the clock while waiting for change, and the liberty fighters in a 3rd and 5, but kept climmbing the stairs cus the crowd was in it and so were the Jets

I chose to call it a day with New England at a 3rd and 7 after the JETS called a timeout with 4:08 to go.

I didnt know it was Troy Brown until later, but I figured some guy that 12 threw to just got a first down 8 yards by the lack of crowd noise. Game over basically. I was down the hall, pressing the buttion for the freight elevator. Tom Brady runs a game in a way that keeps/puts his team in the position to win the game play after play, and you can bank on it. I did today.

as sorry as i am for not capturing the picture i tried to describe the beautiful scene of late afternoon football in the first paragraph, i am just as regretful to report the circumstances

this picture is old I actually took it last week knowing that this day would come where I would wait 2 hours after the games ends to catch the bus back to 42nd street/Port Authority. Missed the first 40 game minutes of Redskins v. Cowboys. This is very boring even on a nice night.

Week 1: Indianapolis v. Giants

I did not sleep on the ride over to the game. There was an exciting buzz on the bus of Giants fans listening to the radio pregame, listening to the Dallas/Jacksonville, or checking cell phones and Trios to find stats, scores and reports from the first full day of NFL '06. I was excited as well, but more anxious over the Dallas game which had taken a turn for the worse since I had left the house.

They handed out little American flags at the game as people walked in and this guy was on the Jumbotron all night shaking peoples' hands. The timing of 3 black hawk helicopters to the last line of the national anthem was impeccable and so low that all 3 made me wince when passing on account of their proximity to NBC's field camera zip line strung up at the top of the stadium.

I sold Candy (starburst, skittles, sweedish fish, twix, reese's cup, snickers, sour patch straws, kit kat, twizzlers, as well as both peanut and regular m&ms) and a heavy old bag of peanuts that people seemed far less interested in than usual on this night.

It is hard in an NFL game that is well attended to make it around the stadium's upper deck, with product in tow in less time that it takes to play the game. This assumes you hawk as I do and trudge up the narrow staircases to the top, as I do. That takes time.

When paused at the top of the East end of the stadium late in the 1st quarter Dallas Clark caught a long pass from Peyton Manning to silence the crowd. A patron looked at me smiling, forcing me to admit, "I got mixed feelings on this one, 44's on my fantasy team." this explanation seemed to suffice and I moved along as he shuffled into his seat.

Sometimes people drink to many $7 plastic bottles of domestic beer. I firmly believe this people are wack when repeatedly resorting to this behavior.

I left this one with the game still slightly in doubt. I headed for the bus back to NY after the 2-minute warning and with the Colts up 25-21. The game ended that way, and I missed little of consequence. the picture you see is from just before the Colts kicked through the final 3 points of the game.

Game info:
ESPN drive chart
AP story from si.com

Eagles @ Jets (preseason)

Yet, again I slept on the way to game.

I sold hot dogs and cracker jacks all night. both all the time and only.
about $500 in gross and $15 in tips.

Some dudes (other vendors) get territorial and be like, "what are you doing to me?!" calling from behind.

"I got this my man", but I just stare at the replay board for a minute and go down a couple of rows. Its all good he can have it tonight. I will leave at halftime.

Not bad since it felt like an early November rainstorm as the beginnings of Ernesto (why he's gotta be Hispanic, its so bad i mean "panic" is in the name); thusly, the stadium was roughly 30% full and sales were not shabby given that all combined with a second straight night of visiting marquee QB not in the lineup.

(Yet no-one says McNabb-less Eagles...?)

The Eagles, advanced primarily under the .25-backing of Jay Feeley, led 17-0 at halftime. But, Brad Smith (remember the athletic quarterback from Missouri that was so good the last few years) led some 4th quarter comeback I missed completely and learned about only when sitting down to do this blog you have read.

The bus ride home was revealing only in the level of hopelessness. Giants fans don't feel the need to talk about a meaningless preseason game 'cus they are riding so high, the Jets fans talk of superfluous things on account of a strong desire to avoid talking. Upon, further reflection, much of the bus that was real J!E!T!S!-fandom was simply quiet and trying to focus on their busy life in New York City.

Yeah man I will leave at halftime be outta the monsoon, miss catching cold or flu or whatever your feeble immune system will leave plaguing you as you nurse that ankle/wrist/tailbone you slip on the skinny wet cement on and be fine for a soccer game on Wednesday.

CBS' sportsline wire account

Patriots vs. Giants (preseason)

I slept yet again on the bus ride through the Hudson and eastern most part of New Jersey.

I was in the stadium about 40 minutes before kickoff and watched some players warm up on the field, its very hard to identify them from the east end upperdeck. From the spirals above gate C, one can take in quite a clear view of the Manhattan skyline - this is true on the night's horizon as well.

The child who is playing the title role of the national tours "Annie" revival sang the national anthem. wow wee wow wow. She was extraordinarily good. And her hair was straight too. That crowd got jacked up for that performance. It was wonderful. And I really don't like the national anthem, but this area has a tremendous amount of talent in the pool to choose from in events such as these.

A Tom Brady-less Patriots offense marched down the field on strong running and nice execution by some dude named Cassel. And, despite having a FG-attempt blocked to finish their first drive, the Giants dominated much of the play. This makes them perfect (4-0) for the preseason.

Back-up running back Brandon Jacobs (27) did a great job carrying the load for extended service. The Giants look good like a professional football team functioning/operating on a high level should. I don't particularly like the Giants unless they play the Redskins, but I can recognize this.

In a particularly profitable portion (for me) of the 3rd quarter the best edition of the wave I have ever been a part of went down. There were lots of kids in the stadium and I suppose this drove it. In Giants Stadium the lower level can go faster (similar to the centrifugal principles seen in track events), but in the moments when the 2 large level coincided there was tremendous energy for being only 60% full by then and added an odd intensity to a preseason game devoid of any known quantity 1st stringers.

Back to the wave for a minute, there was seeming full participation, like this doesn't normally go on in major sports stadiums or something. It was just the wave, kept staring at it in disbelief cus I have been there for international soccer crowds and never seen a wave with this furor and passion. I actually started yelling "Best wave ever!"

Then on the bus ride home I couldn't sleep through the girl behind me recollect the recent minutiae of her not so ugly as betty devil may care about prada existence and turn down an "industry" VMA party (see and I thought this took away from the crowd, but this city is so big it had Agassi winning another epic on the other side of town) and wack silly story of some dude she flirted with too much. Finally she and the spineless hipster/scenster (probably not cool enough for either) dude she was sitting next to opted for a cheaper more laid back time playing beer pong. its amazing how loud and honest people are when the unplugg the head phones and talk thinking everybody has them in still. So loud. But, the guy next to me did listen to shakira, "hips dont lie".

this was a FOOTBALL game right?



dollar slice is unbeatable off that bus, don't go, I like the line being short. Seriously, I am not telling you where it is. Shame on the guy that told me.



ESPN REPORT

Giants vs. Jets (preseason)

I slept on the bus ride over, nestled in the front window seat directing behind the driver.

I worked the upper deck that filled slowly on into the second last moments of the 1st qtr. Sold pretzels, hot dogs, popcorn and cracker jacks. (about $575 in sales)

The Giants took about 7 plays -including a taunting penalty blessing from the Jets secondary after a stud hit on Plaxico Burrus- to score a touchdown and perhaps the only competitive scoring of note in the entire game.

The Jets will struggle to find points this season. I was afraid of this before the game began and nothing from scrimmage assuaged these fears. It is even stranger for these 2 teams to play and have the Jets be the home team in GIANTS Stadium.

On the bus ride home I sat next to an old fellow. One of the best conversations I have heard in all my time on this bus in the last year was had by he and I.

Suffice it to say he and I traded brief life stories and he confided in me that he has had season tickets the Jets since "before Namath took them to the Super Bowl" Yikes, it was still Johnson's War then!!! We agreed the jets are going to have a rough one this season. We would have hugged, but it turns out he goes for the Redskins in the NFC so no dice.

view means...
ESPN
JETS
GIANTS

...again the Jets hosted the Giants in Giants stadium. A building, both built for, and named after the visiting team.

The old adage is...

That a series does not begin until the home team loses a game.
This is true, but the point needs to be refined for the sake of this playoff season.
In a 7 game series the 3rd games outcome can serve as a matchpoint for a series crossroads.
Case in Finals point. Tuesdsay night the series began when the home team won the 3rd consecutive game in this championship series.

Thanks to Flash acting like MJ and The Big guy going clutch from the line to trim the lead to 3 at a critical point.

The series began then, and actually one would have to say kinda ended there as well.
At halftimme of game 1 M. Wilbon said on the air that it seemed like the Mavs had withstood the best shot of the heat and [thanks to dirk's last second jumper still up 2 at half when Miami was on fire in the first quarter and may have not played better the enitire series

Let's start this over

The only two topics this blog will discuss in the next 40 days will be the NBA Finals/draft/free agency and the World Cup:

Try these haircuts on for size. I see pretty comparable stuff each normal day here in New York.

Also in the NBA, prepare for an all American Airlines hosted finals.

2 yankees games, and coming of soccer season

Yankee's v. Devil Rays april 27, 2006

Great $5 game to go to and sit in tier 34. Yanks won.

15 days later same stadium
Yankee's
Free main box tickets, about 10 feet foul of the right field pole. Yanks won.

Still a game behind the red sox as they were half a month ago.
HOWEVER, SOME THINGS HAD CHANGED....
Sheffield on the DL

Matsui out for the season

This put Bernie in right, with one of two very weak arms. The Yankee's infield made some very impressive plays and Wang pitched a dominant 8 innings of 3-hit ball.





also
I have been to 3 RED BULL NEW YORK (formerly known as metrostars) gamesand made cash
but the joint was jumping tonight. Ecuador vs. Columbia (double header after the metrostars game)

Here's a local radio report of this game, well no, its an AP report.
This jam was mad fun to be present, then to make over 100 bucks. First soccer game I have been to where they spilled onto the top deck. No other vendors chose to trek up there. I spent more time climbing the spirals.
here is the espn report of the game as well.


Someone told me there are NHL (p)layoffs going on. Can anyone confirm to this blog if that is true?

something new

I never thought I would leave watching a major championship in men's golf with the utmost confidence that Phil Mickelson would ease to victory.
It happened Sunday.

My beloved Boston Celtics will not be making the NBA playoffs this year, ensuring a lottery selection and my complete objective analysis for the upcoming postseason.

The 2 New York teams are likely to score a bazillion runs this season, make the playoffs and lose in the first round on account of no pitching. But, boy will it be fun to go see them this summer.

G to the 7

Final Game

Actually, by the time the game was set to tip had told my father that I had been wrong. "After seeing UCLA the past 2 saturdays (in particular a 3 dunk sequence to begin the 2nd half verses LSU), and recalling that Florida had been racked in the top 10 for much of the season and had even gotten to no. 1 at one point, including

I can be ok with one of these 2 teams winning the championship this season. I do not cheer for either of these teams, but I can accept that they will go down/be remembered/historically present themselves as the best team this season in college basketball
Not to mention that both teams won their conference this season.
And no one else can boast a 5 game win streak now.

So like it or not, I settled in to see what I was also certain to be a competative game.

Noah and Brewster were the best two players on the court and UCLA kept having their shots blocked. I wasn't like it was when the watching Jabbar and Walton played and UCLA dominated title games. This was Noah's night of no-no's. So many blocked shots from Florida's gang of ball swatters, that phantom pump-fakes slowed stretches of UCLA's failed comeback.

It was like testing day in gym class for Florida on offense in the 2nd half tonight. A race to see who could do the most pull-ups on the rim. The vaunted Bruin defense was overpowered down low early and often throughout the game. Florida got to the rim when and how they wanted to, and erased such opportunities on the other end.

I hate that fight song. May it be Florida's first and last NCAA championship.

The national semi-finals

Are you excited about the George Mason/Florida match-up we have been waiting for all year?

How about the prospects of UCLA's defense and LSU's free throw shooting mixing for another sub-50's ballgame this deep in the tounrnament?

I wrote that on wednesday of last week. I kept thinking more would be coming.. More thought I would have to point out interesting things. But, nothing.

The games were as boring as I was afraid they could be. Mason was out matched and LSU was never in it with UCLA.

Coach Howland's basketball philosophy is certainly effective, but my so ugly to watch. A free throw with 1:55 left gave LSU its 40th point of the game.

Memphis and LSU combined for 90 points total the last two satuday evening contests verses the Bruins.

However, UCLA did play an exceptional game. The three consecutive dunks to begin the second half contained some of the best execution of basketball strategy I have seen in a long time. Surgically removing the tigers heart, and if you dont beleive that go take a look at Tyrus Thomas face on the bench the entire second half.

So its basically all over for me

When Adam Morrison began crying while his team was still only down 3 with time onm the clock I got a bad feeling. Only seconds earlier it looked as though Gonzaga would advance and I would have selected the first 4 teams of the elite 8 correctly.

Even as it was I had 5 of 8 correct going into Saturday's Regional Semifinal games. I cheered for LSU, but had picked Texas earlier despite my great dislike for that school. I tried to watch UCLA/Memphis, but falling in and out of coma my attention lagged. Memphis' high-powered offense only crossed the 40-point mark with less than 14 seconds remaining on the clock.

Then Sunday.
I went into the day fairly sure UCONN would advance. Honestly, how can an 11-seed get to the final 4. Sure, there was LSU in '86. but, that is a big school from a power conference. No matter.
This was the biggest upset in the last ... I dont know a bigger upset in the history of the NCAA tournament. George Mason from the CAA. WHAT!?

Still Villanova would get in, and I at least would have one team in the Final 4.
Denied again.

So for the first time in the last all of my life I did not select a single team correctly for the Final 4. In 1993 I selected all of the teams correctly. I had 3 of them right in 2004. This year, not one. And keep in mind going into Saturday I still had all 4 teams alive that I had selected.

so now i say... nothing, predictions saved for another day.

Biggest Tournament Confessions

I was watching that 70's show on syndication instead of the last sequence of Texas/WVU.



i give you this happy picture not as an indication of my choice for the final 4, but as a reminder of tournament dominance, something not coming this year. If only UCLA this year were as beautiful to watch as Lew was when disallowed to dunk.

so close to busting it open...

Gonzaga had it. I was all set to start this off gloating about how i had picked all four winner of tonights game even before the tournament started.
and up 5 with 60 seconds to go I was not worried.
and bam like that it was over and Morrison was crying.

Unlike earlier in the night, when JJ Redick left his last college game crying; I did not laugh at Adam Morrison. But, he shares deep white-boy disappointment with Redick (and all of West Virginia) on this night... those guys have to make a shot down the stretch to close/pull out a victory.

Morrison too cried, even before the game was over. Probably both Redick and Morrison were crying about thoughts like this:
"&%$#, if only i had made a shot down the stretch this game would have been different."
Morrison may have also been thinking "maybe my blood sugar is low" or "these socks, my hair, this attitude, maybe being cool isn't enough" or "at least I got more point than redick".


Despite not making a play the SEAL a victory in the last minute, Morrison at least had 24 points and several big rebounds. Still, I argue that superstars HAVE to make a play to win games at this point. That what makes them super. Plus he gets points for the sock.

Not having Diabetes as a built-in excuse Redick once again forced to wonder if he can really play competatively at an elite level. Yes, his jumper is wet, but he takes it to the hole just about as effective as GW Bush can plan a foreign policy. All 4 years at Duke have ended in this guy vanishing in the big games.

1. (ok i went back and saw some highlights he does put Duke ahead with a jumper with about 3 minutes to play, so he's not a bum, but he is not Jerry West or even Steve Kerr, but he could be John Paxson)

And here is a tip for Texas - I :
Do not take it up soft against LSU.

Lost in all this is Memphis cruising to the Elite 8. Tiger/Bruins, hey that happened once...
1973 NCAA Basketball Championship
UCLA d. Memphis St. (87-66)
Over/Under on how many times they reference that game in saturday's broadcast: 7

saturday night (8/16 = 1/2 of the sweet ones)

Klark Kellogg said, "that is a nice penetrating move". on a live look-in for UCLA/Alabama. And for a moment I am 14.

I cant stand Duke. This picture is for props the Sheldon Williams. He is good, but I dont like him, or Duke, and i think he looks ridiculous here.

I would like now to talk about the commercials in these games. CBS has always provided a great deal of repetition not just with its promos, but also for the redundency of its advertisers and the corperate partners of the NCAA.

Try this--I still associate Steve Nash almost immediately when I see the brand logo for the dockers clothing company mostly on account of the night he had in '93 beatng Arizona in a 2-15 (the last two numbers need to be checked, but that's how i tell it to the kids at the park).
(yikes way of coarse)


US Army drama. Square shook my hand....
This type of imperialist drivel in sheep's clothing make me wanna act out violent.

"where did you get that from"
changed man

economic opportunity for minorities (specifically Black MEN). How distgusting to fein concern for the economic plight of minority (perhaps single-parent) families, while recruiting for the war machine.
In this commercial the young, good-looking, articulate, atheletic, afro-american 17.5 yearold comes to his mother at dinner and begins to tell her he has his future planned out. She is skeptical at first, but
Belief that joining the army will provide unique opportunity for the intended applicant is sad thing indeed if/when one considers the obvious REALITY that consitutes the critical situation this empire's army is ungulfed by.

Know this young man(woman), if you get in the army now, you are going to war. You can go to college when the war is over assuming you live through it. But, ask you self two things:
1. Is/when/how is this world going to end?
2. If I am in the army for my own reasons, and and so are the people I work with, and we all are together because we are looking out to take care of ourselves, then how effective a team will we be?




Applebees shrimpy Gilligan song.
That crap is no good. I am talking the song. I am talking the two dweeby wannabe folk stars that are singing in the water and other fake sets. I am talking about the actual shrimp it is crap and it is in my head. GILLIGAN'S ISLAND THEME with crapplebee's skrimps with spicy powder.
I dont even like the fake drip=droplet of water that the white lady wipes from her eye in the very last cut.
Annoying, and the foreknowledge of an inferior product make this the most infuriating commercial of the first weekend. However it does not lead you into thinking that joining and active war effort is a good idea when considering how best to secure your future.



The best commercial is easily the Sonic tater rejection piece.
a. it has decent sports analysis to start off
b. be its funny when the guy interrupts himself to smack away the tater tot
c. that term he calls it that i cannot remember. funny.

There is no dominent team in this tournament

That's why I still like UCONN, they are he closest to being dominant.

Duke looks vulnerable because they are. GW is trouble for them. I think coach K has his own parking space at the Greensboro Colessium

I was afraid of my nevada pick like i said, i was ready to put them in the sweet 16; i am glad i did not. The 'cuse losing did not really surprise me, that happens a lot. no. 3 going 0 for the field did surprise me. aTm is a good team even if there coach looked like a deer in headlights numerous times in the last 10 minutes.

this may be the first time in a decade i did not lose a sweet 16 team on the first day.

will adam morrison average over 35 points for the tournament?

NCAA tourneymentiicianodislamboda

thats just the madness talkin'.

This my final four and my final gripes.

Duke gets all the benifits of doubt, both on and off the court. lots of big schools get them. Duke gets them more.
They will wilt as they have in the past few seasons once they are exposed. UNC did it four days after FSU did. this just happened about 10 days ago. Here's how it goes down:
-Redick misses more/is guarded well by an guy a few inches longer/ jumps a foot higher/can defend/ is a step quicker.
-They get out rebounded.
-The oppenent gets excpetional gaurd play.
Really only 2 of these 3 things has to happen for Duke to fall by the elite 8. Kryzeweski seems to hold fast to a system that is not built for late season play, or the plan simply lacks Shane Battier.


Nevada is a team I wish were seeded elseware and i would pick to go deep into the tournament. I kinda fear they might be the 12-5 busters this year. But, I still picked them to win.

I can see Gonzaga going deep this year. This is the best team they have probabaly had since the 1999 team. My heart wants to seee them in the final.

Beware UK in the sweet 16. It would hurt my brackets.

Here's a shocker. I think the games will be very competative.
And, they will be fun to watch.


My final 4 is this

Texas
UCONN (i said them in January and i am going to stand by it)
Memphis
Villanova



BC wouldnt shock me.
Anyone picking UNC has my impression of courage medal award trophy.

after valentines day

I will be much more excited to see the Datona 500 when the musical guest in Kanye West and not soft rock in cowboy hats like Bon Jovi. Sad that this is a mark fo progress for this sport. Do you think Bush will mention how we are a nation addicted to oil before the race this year?

Shani Davis was nice. Why did he not seem happy, wasn't NBC just really mad that he didnt seem more proud to be an American?

Brent Musburger addicted to "flush/easy flush" comments.
Reddick, Morrison, and the young guy at UNC. Are the best two players and the best freshman in the NCAA this year all white?
If no, who's better that is not white.
UNC/Roy Williams has a little scrappy white point gaurd who makes wrong decisions with the basketball a great deal (well he did a lot today against Wake). Bizzarro...

Watching the NBA all-star game.

olymics first days

I dont care.
and nbc makes it more so than it would.
hold on i think dick cheney shot someone.

I was way wrong

could it be an all AFC west super bowl
like a espn sunday night game at the kingdome in 1988 with mike harden intercepting dave kreig in the endzone to set up elway win the game on a drive that features vance johnson.
give me football
give me football violence i gimme both of this week's road teams
panthers steelers
the bus
fast willie
steve smith needs a nickname fast
bad boys in that panthers locker room
cower gets to the super bowl in denver?
what if all the quarter backs in the super bowl were names jake?


mvp steve smith or shawn alexander?

Patriotism.. . better than what

Success against the blitz

Givens dropped his touchdown like he did in October. Perhaps thinking about his move.
then he threw a pick

Champ ran it back ... then pulled up.

watson a gator out hussles champ bailey a bulldog. On this play that really is my main concern.
If you are Champ Bailey you should be able to relax. The last 10 minutes

Its some sort of subjectivity like this that 15 year from now some empowered body will discuss while musing the cases for Champ
What to show your team about what it is to play this game.

Brady manages the game that has the patriots
demands a timeout from a tired Al Wilson after Wilson makes 2 fine tackles on defense.

Vinitieri misses.
Brown muffs his punt.
an easy touchdown for the ponies

NE scores in 2 plays.

Picks for this NFL weekend

Divisional Playoffs

Seattle over Washington
(is it odd for announcers to say Washington is in Seattle today, isnt that like saying a rectangle is a square or something)

why:
Shawn Alexander
8-0 record at home this season
The Redskins' offense will not generate enough production

Patriots beat Broncos

why?
Tom Brady is a very good quarterback
They are the patriots and champions don't lose until they are beaten, this Broncos team even in Denver cannot beat them.
Jake will make to many mistakes

Colts slam Steelers
How come:
They will slow the Pittsburg running game enough
Payton Manning will throw for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns
Edgeren James will control the game physically

Bears barely over Panthers
why?
The game is in Chigago
They have a better defense... Steve Smith and Deshaun Foster will not find such easy treading as they did in New Jersey.
Rexy will get just enough more out of that offense

JRN and GTN on January football

JR wrote
yeah i watched the game last night and Vince Young showed that he was a dominate SCRAMBLING QB. He ran for over 200 yds. and 3 tds but NOOO passing touchdowns. Reggie Bush on the other hand a bad night with only 1 td, but atleast he got over 200 yards. But what's funny is that Lendale White was the star of this with atleast 3 TD's. Who do you got winnijng this weekend? Skins @ Bucs, Panthers @ Giants, Jaguars @ Pats, and Steelers @ Bengals?

I got Steelers, Pats, Panthers, and Skins

Write back
JR

GTN wrote:
i will be at the panthers game
i sell peanuts at giants stadium

pats, bucs, steelers, giants (secretly silently rooting for the panthers)


JR wrote:
That's sweet that you work at Giants Stadium. Yeah i believe that the Redskins will put it out cause of their crucial D and their Smashmouth O, but anyways. I believe Vince Young should stay in school for two reasons. One he needs to gain a better grasp on the meaning of QB and actually throw the ball more and 2 he has a full scholarship, so if he ever got hurt he'd have an education. And anyways i think that Leinart will be picked before Young.

Grant wrote:
errr body says what you say about vince but he led the nation in
passer efficiency
that includes matt linart
i went into that game only knowing one person for texas
after the game i only know one person for texas
that is number 10 vince young
that is as close to one person winnign a championship as i have ever seen
he ran cus his receivers were covered
he is the second wave of the future with michael vick/ron mexico being the first
your point on education is well taken but i think he'd find a way to manage
the boy has crazy skills

JR wrote:
Grant, your not listenin because Matt Lineart is a Heisman winner. He's thrown for almost more TD's than any before. He's got 2 championships to Vince's 1. Vince is still an amzing athlete, but today teams are looking for a pocket passer instead of a rushing, look what happened to Eric Crouch. Then second if the Texans get Reggie, which most likely they will, The saints will most likely go with Lineart because they would like a pocket passer instead of a scrambler. That's why Aaron brooks is looking for a Job.

Grant wrote:
geno torreta
andre ware
ty detmer
chris "grandpa" wienke
these are all heisman winners since 1990 that have...
well
lets just say they have not performed ....
well can you even tell me what pro teams drafted these people?
pro teams want to win games and sell tickets sometimes not even in that order
you have to be mobile in todays NFL
as for aaron brooks he went to UVA
really what good can come from that