Sunday, April 27, 2008

Statues crumble for me

I think last week's blue post was primarily weather-driven. Later that day I went outside and did a little work and walked around on the soggy lawn. I felt better in the cool breeze and warm sunlight.

Better days ahead ... this weekend is/was the NFL Draft. We're that much closer to the start of a new season. And a new season means ... anticipation. The first year without Brett Favre. Now, I'm not ready to do my Brett Favre reflections quite yet. The more I contemplate it, the less I'm sure when I'll be ready.

But what I am ready for is to see what Aaron Rodgers can do. I'm excited to see it. I want to move forward. Not that I have any animosity towards Favre, but the off season chatter makes me feel so stagnant. It's not as easy as putting away the helmet and walking off the field into the sunset. It's a life full of speculation and I'm getting sick of it.

Do I wish they would have signed Randy Moss or a multitude of other play makers? Do I wish Brett would have come back for one more year? Yes. In the same vein, am I ready for Brett to retire? ... yes.

Don't get me wrong, if he could give the Packers 10 more years of his "best level" of performance, I'd take it. Without a second thought.

But it had to happen sooner or later. In a fitting sort of way, it ended on an interception, in the NFC Championship. (and it hurts to even type it)

I guess my point is that it happened. And we all better start accepting it and moving on. Stop reading between the lines "some thing's bound to happen." Stop wishing he'll come back. Don't start booing Rodgers after the second interception and don't start chanting "We want Favre."

Because FYI--the magnificent Brett Favre leads the league in all-time interceptions. Remember we lived by Favre, we died by Favre. And when we died, it was often by a massacre.

I've learned to never say never, but I don't think he's coming back. And I'm even more positive that he wouldn't go to another team. I've said it before, it's a win now league. And to do that Favre would have to invest a lot of time and effort to learn new coaching schemes, a new playbook and new personnel. Mentally tired and 50+ learning hours a week don't skip down any beaches hand-in-hand.

So just stop it already.

Okay, okay, rant aside (I guess I needed to get that out). I think his little stint on Letterman was an audition to see if he had a future in broadcast/commentary. Sports jacket over the jeans and nice shirt. In-depth break down of his last game and the Super Bowl Champions.

And now back to the draft. I'm very happy they picked up a quarterback. They need some depth in that position. Last year at one time, didn't the Packers place one of the wide-outs in the QB slot on the depth chart? I was hoping for John David Booty---but I guess the Packers drafted best player at the time ... and I only know JDB b/c he got a fair amount of air time on ESPN Radio.

I don't know much about the other players they selected, but I'm sure I'll learn more this week. A fan calling in to ESPN Radio just said they should have picked up someone in the secondary and an offensive line tackle. Then they said something about the aging team and the QB they drafted was too short at 6'2".

The Packers do need some more help and depth in the secondary. But this is a better acquisition by free agent or trade. I think the secondary is one of the hardest areas for a young player to succeed. Traditionally, the Packers have done much better to bring in veteran.

Offensive tackle: yes there is some age with Clifton and Tauscher, but in that point of the draft most of the OT's (or maybe the OT's that they wanted) were taken. This should be another position they could get on the free agent market. Plus the current duo have been very reliable and don't traditionally miss a lot of games due to injury.

Aging team---hello, where have you been the past two years? The Packers were the youngest team in the league (and that was with Favre skewing their average).

6'2" too short for a QB (somewhere Doug Flutie spit out his Flutie Flakes): I think the roster lists Favre as 6'2". No more to say here.

It's amazing to see how quickly the screen fills when I'm blogging about football.

I've been doing softcore runs in KoL lately. Really going after trophies/tattoos (and being a mall whore, but it's so exillarating to see the meat roll in). I have 23 trophies, 57 tattoos and 4,531,546 meat.

I think I've gotten all the easy trophies. And I'm working on some that will take forever... 420 herb brownies, 80 around the worlds and the last run I've gotten my first tomato daquiri. Yes, around 23 acesnions, who knows how many exploded chef-in-a-boxes and 1 tomato daquiri. I battled each dungeon of doom monster 120 times and made a pretty good chunk of change from all the bang potions I put in my store.

I'm almost out of Ronin, but I wish they would make it easier to do mass-pulls from Hagnks. It's so tedious to go item by item. After Ronin, I typically just take it all out. This of course makes my inventory huge and makes it a longer process to put things in my store. They revamped the combat format with the new bar. So why can Jick & Co. put a little effort into Hagnks? Afterall, the poor guy just got a new facility, he could use a little help inside too.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

I foresee the dark ahead, if I stay

This blogger window sits in front of me ... empty and intimidating. Nothing exciting to write about.

Tempted by the sunshine outside. I hope it stays so I can get out and enjoy the fresh air.

I have a couple of things I brought home from work, but I don't know if I'll do any of it. The past month I've been bringing small projects home to do because there's just not enough time in the week to get to it all. I think I'm getting a little burned out from it. It still needs to get done though, so I'm not sure what my solution is.

Last night on Doctor Who was the last episode with Christopher Eccleson as The Ninth Doctor. Oh, it was such a good show! The new doctor looks funny ... but I'll miss Eccleson.

I'm kind of in a music rut too.

Oh happy days, is this spring fever or Sunday morning blues?

Over and out ... and hopefully, on to better things.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

A bag of bricks made of chocolate

I had a chocolate craving, it hit me all of a sudden, like a bag of bricks ... made of chocolate. So I made a devil's food cake. And waited. And waited. And waited while it baked.

Now I'm not hungry anymore. Gah.

The pope is making a visit to the United States. I'm not Catholic, and I'm going to share my views about the religion or the church institution in general, at least, not in this post. But what is up with the Papel Stadium Tour? He's doing a Washington stadium tonight and tomorrow making an appearance at Yankee Stadium.

So what if you're a devote Catholic and a Red Sox fan? Ponder that.

And I swear, if Natalie IS NOT evicted tonight, I WILL NOT watch the rest of this Season.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The risk that might break is the one that could save

Okay, so it was a huge misconception that spring was here. Nothing like three days of snow and a total accumulation of around four inches to put a person back in their place. A miserable place with no spring in sight.


I think it's safe to say that this has been the longest winter in our recent memory.


A Green Living Update: I got my canvas bags and haven't used a plastic or paper bag for grocery shopping since. My next goal will be to use it in other shopping avenues. I've also tried soy milk. Very good, slightly more expensive than that from a cow. Much more drinkable though and the power used to process it is a renewable resource. I find it funny though that I buy soy milk but cream cheese and yogurt. Oh well, I suppose, baby steps.


On a completely different topic, I didn't realize Phil from The Amazing Race was Scottish. I always knew there was something different about his accent. He's doing a story on the sunday morning show, and while putting across Scotland, his brogue (is it a brogue from Scotland? or is it only a brogue if it's from Ireland?) is coming through.

My latest viewing addiction (in this post-writer's strike world) is Dexter. This series originally airs on Showtime, and by some television act of genius, they are re-airing cleaned up versions on CBS. I first was exposed to Dexter when Jeanne gave me a tape of Season 8's (the one with Evil Dick, was that 8?) Big Brother After Dark, the not-for-broadcast-television footage of drinking, swearing and sometimes raunchy behavior---though this 8 hour footage was awfully mundane.

Anyways, as I was fast-forwarding through the commercials (and the less interesting parts of the show), I caught glimpse of Darla (Julie Benz) the immortally evil vampire, sire of Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She played that role so well I still get a shiver down my spine when I see her. I stopped and backed up a little, but it was just a montage of the different series on Showtime. It only showed her and a guy.

But as luck would have it, the next commercial block had more. It showed the average looking man who appeared with Darla, narrating his average looking life ... and here's the twist ... he's a serial killer. Oh yeah I read something about this show, a crime series told by the perspective of the murderer. Interesting.

Dexter, our favorite serial killer, is a blood-analyst at a Florida police department/crime lab. He's the best at what he does, and has killer instincts when it comes to habits of the criminals the detectives are investigating.

We learn Dexter was adopted after surviving (and possibly witnessing) a horrible event. His adopted father, a detective, recognized Dexter was different from other children. He taught Dexter how to act normal and control his urges to do murderous things. Soon, Dexter lives by the code he was taught, only killing people who deserve it--people who escaped punishment from the justice system.

Dexter nicks the cheek of each of his victims, saving a drop of their blood on a slide before he dismembers their bodies and dumps them in the ocean.

But Dexter finds himself admiring the work of another serial killer who drains the blood before he dismembers bodies. And this killer--dubbed the Ice Truck Killer--soon takes interest in Dexter. It's cute mutual admiration with breaking and entering, cut up barbie dolls, kidnapping and mutilation.

This show works because other than the urge to kill people and social awkwardness, Dexter is an all around decent and nice guy.

The opening credits are great too. It's just Dexter getting ready in the morning: shaving, eating, tying his shoe, flossing his teeth. But they show it in such a visceral way that it makes it look like he's in the act of killing someone.

Top two photos: Easter eggs this year. I played with putting wax on to get different colors. I tried to do stripes and polka dots but just couldn't control the wax enough to make it work.

Last photo: A picture of the start of my omelet this morning. It looked so much like a yin-yang that I had to take a picture. Now it also reminds me of Dexter's breakfast scene, but this is much more peaceful than his.

Sunday, March 30, 2008

I hope this works ... because those would be awful last words

Last week started out pretty rough. I twisted my ankle Monday afternoon. It swelled up pretty badly. Monday night I put ice and heat on it and Tuesday I elevated it the whole day. And it still hurts when I move it wrong.

Tuesday I burned my finger. I heard the skin sizzle. It turned a weird color and broke open almost immediately.

At work we're doing a time study. It was so complicated and confusing--plus they wanted our numbers from 2007.

I can't remember how many hours I worked on various projects on Monday (literally). So you can only imagine the pain of trying to recall the prior year.

So there was a lot of bickering. And I made sure I very plainly noted the 3.5 hours working on the time study ... in my time study.


Only a short post this week kids. I spent most of my allotted blogging time updating the look of my blog. I wanted to give it a little face lift. I couldn't commit to a color overhaul quite yet, so I added a couple new layout/content features. Enjoy.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Make me wanna drop

I had a very busy, stressful week. Tuesday I barely slept and felt the heavy effects the next day. The toll escalated and by Thursday night all my muscles hurt. They were fighting each other on who could ache and who could be stiff. For whoever won this contest, I received the short end of the stick.

The exhaustion overwhelmed me and I slept well, but the stress hangover still persisted.

So Friday night, I had my fill of DVD special features, so I found my MP3 player. I listened to about an hour's worth of music. I felt the relief almost instaneously. The stress melted out. I felt lighter, clearer, happier.

It was such a strong feeling that I took pause to reflect. I realized it was the first day of the week that I had listened to music.


Above Left: A photo of my messsssssy desk. It was one of those...I'm going so crazy so in an effort to not freak out, I'll divert myself by taking a picture of what's making me so crazy. Yeah.

Saturday, March 15, 2008

There is still hope


I have spring fever. Along with everyone else I know. Last night it snowed four inches. Let me tell you about a complete blow to a person's will to live. Utterly disheartening. But this morning, by about 9 a.m. it started melting off the roof. That was one of the most surreal things I have experienced.

All of the snow melted off the roof and was raining down in sheets of water for 45 minutes. The sun was shining, there was snow everywhere else.

And I was behind my very own private waterfall.

Photo Above Left: This picture wasn't from the waterfall day, but one of the many snows after it. Enjoy the bleek grey sky that blends so seamlessly with the bleak grey ground.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

No, the snow's still there.

Two nights ago I had two pretty vivid dreams. The first was that the snowbank under my window melted and I could see the grass.

This is out of the ordinary because we have around 90 inches of snow and my coworkers and I are speculating how long it'll take to melt away. The second reason is that I was convinced that I was awake and truly thought the snow was gone. So much so that it took me five minutes this morning to come to terms that it really was a dream.

The other dream was that my class had a high school reunion, held at the high school. The reunion pretty much took place in the hall where our lockers were. There were some heart warming moments. Nothing so interesting that I should share here. Then at the end of the reunion we had to clean out our lockers and say goodbye. Lony turned to me and was somewhat awkward and I said, "Well, I'll see you around on Facebook because I haven't seen any of the people in our class since graduation and I doubt the next six years will be any different."

He laughed and said that's what he was thinking but didn't want to seem rude

My cousin Tim and his son Aaron were in the parking lot.

How very odd.

Sunday, March 2, 2008

My apologies, we're all out of time ...

The black hole month of the year is finally over. This February, compared to most, was okay, but I'm happy it's over nonetheless.

I got a much needed haircut on Thursday, and am quite happy with the results. I'm growing it out a little. Back in the day when my hair took three hours to dry, it didn't seem like a big deal to grow hair. Now it's a painfully slow task. There were many awkward hair days in this growing out period.

Thank goodness for the person who learned how to "thin out" and layer hair. I love him/her. I truly do. And oh happy day, I'm still able to use my hair wax with this new cut. That's another marvel of mankind I enjoy. The day after look is always enjoyable too. Nothing like hair standing straight up to start the morning.

What else, what else. Sundays are so empty without football. I thought the joy of the Super Bowl would last me until at least April. Don't get me wrong when I hear Super Bowl Champion Giants and 18-1 Patroits my heart soars. But it also feels eons ago that it all happened. At least the free agency period has started (Dear Randy Moss, Green Bay maybe?) and the draft will be here in April .... oh but then the long summer months until August preseason. *Sigh*

On ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike in the Morning, Greenberg suggested that the ultimate wide out pairing would be Moss & Owens (order purely alphabetical) in Dallas. Whoowee. Can you imagine? Here, I'll wait a sec, try to imagine it.

...
...

Wow! That's truly mind blowing stuff, isn't it? Other than the fact Dallas would become the new Patriots (and I'd be afraid to draft either in fantasy football, because with that much ego looking for the ball, I'd be nervous that neither would get it, but of course I'd also be sick to pass up on any of the action) I would pay some money to see the drama.

Last night they had a Jimmy Kimmel celebrates Jimmy Kimmel (three year, nine month anniversary show). I think it was previously aired ... so that leads me to believe that the only reason it was on was to further push the phenom that is the Sarah Silverman-Matt Damon-Jimmy Kimmel-Ben Affleck video hype. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, hop on over to You Tube and search it. Watch the Matt Damon video first. Truly hilarous. I favor the Matt video, but I am a biased party.

If the powers that be aired that show last night to push the hype, I applaud them. Because I watched that hour for the last four minutes---and it was entirely worth it. I knew what joke was coming, how they would play it out, and I probably could have imagined it, but it was still worth it. I don't think I'd go as far to say the whole farce is comedic genius, but Kimmel (plus Matt & and now all the celebrities who are playing along) get uber points for sticking with it and being so committed.

Well, that's about all I have for this morning. Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Inflation never hits the items you need it to hit

The inevitable happened. I got sick, again. This cold hit me much harder than the one in January did. Miserable, completely miserable. The only thing that makes me feel better is that I don't have the horrible flu bug that's going around (knock on wood).

Yesterday it was really warm. Now, I'm trying to quantify it, but not sure if I have the capabilities to do so. Is it warmer because spring is coming? Or is it warmer because we've been averaging a high of zero?

I'm starting to get out of my writer's block. Which is good, considering about 75 percent of my job is writing. Can we say screwed? Oh yeah, I was saying it about 20 times a day for awhile.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Eating while you spin 360 degrees is fun, but cold

Many apologies for the lack of posting. January flew by ... very busy at work and lots of changes.

Then February came in, complete with the Best Super Bowl Ever. Yay! New York Giants World Champions! Who had Eli's back this whole season? Yeah, that's me. I believed, baby.

The prep for this day was epic. Not really, but it sounded really cool in my head. Well though, I did cook all Saturday and Sunday morning for that awesome spread. And then toasted the Giants' win with sparkling wine. That's right, that's how I roll.

Someone must have put something in my tea. The words typed by my fingers this morning are silly.

We just got back from a conference in Indianapolis. Nice city. Not nearly as warm as I hoped it would have been. After all we were south of Wisconsin, right? I thought at least 40's were in order, instead of 20's. True, WI weather was about 17 degrees colder, but still.

Our hotel was in the center of downtown (at least, i'm assuming it was the center). The capital was on our right (and right out our window) and the RCA Dome (home of the Indianapolis Colts) was on our left. Awesome.

It was an enjoyable conference. The first night we were treated to a keynote speech by the CEO of the national organization. And I was able to enjoy two sessions with the ultra-hot-and-sexy national director of my department. ohhhhh yeah. (I learned stuff too.)

That's about all i have to say. The trip lent quite a few ideas for my book. So I'm excited to get to that.

Until another time ~

Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year!

Here is another edition of a year in review ... for purely entertainment, non-historical purposes.

My favorites ...

TV Show: Three way tie: Grey's Anatomy, Family Guy and CSI:NY
New TV Show: Pushing Daisies
CD: +44: When Your Heart Stops Beating
Song: No It Isn't ~ +44
Movie (in Theater): Bourne Ultimatium
Movie (Rental): Big Fish
Football Player: The Ever Impressive: Brett Favre
Football Player I'd like to watch more: Big Ben Rothelisberger
Biggest NFL Surprise: Green Bay Packers! & the Cleveland Browns
Biggest NFL Disappointment: the New Orleans Saints
I'll turn the channel when: any thing with the Patriots is on!
Celeb I'm sick of: Tiki Barber
Gift Given: new MP3 Player for mom
Gift Received: Lap desk
Best new tradition/habit: Get Fuzzy! 365 days a year
Commercial: Dallas Yawn ~ Pepsi Max
Traveling: to New York City for a week ~ with 7 inches of rain! Theatre Tour: 5 shows, Comedy club, Regis & Kelly ~ Starry Night at the MoMA and RENT!!!
KoL: Roll out of NS13, a less than 2 week run, 3 million meat (whoohoo!)
Wine: 17 bottles, Wollersham Winery, Domaine Reserve

Other Notables: CSI teased that Sara Siedl was going to die. When she didn't, i refused to watch the show again.

Best Blog: Grey Matter~blog of the writers from Grey's Anatomy, new post after each show, unforunately cut down because of the writer's strike.

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 64

The Packers don't secure home field advantage throughout the playoffs because of the loss to the Chicago Bears in week 16. Punter Jon Ryan suffered the most in this wind-blown, water-logged game. He fumbled a snap, had two punts blocked, one returned for a touchdown and one go for nine-yards.

Quarter Breakdown:
* First Quarter: 0-3 ~ Bears *
* Second Quarter: 7-13 ~ Bears *
* Third Quarter: 7-28 ~ Bears *
* Fourth Quarter: 7-35 ~ Bears *
In the match up against the Lions, the team is able to close the regular season on a positive note, improving special teams coverage and blocking. It put together a good game even though several key players were inactive and Favre plus many of the starters were pulled after the first quarter.
Quarter Breakdown:
* First Quarter: 14-3 ~ Packers *
* Second Quarter: 21-10 ~ Packers*
* Third Quarter: 31-13 ~ Packers *
* Fourth Quarter: 34-13 ~ Packers*
On to the Playoffs!

Friday, December 28, 2007

What a bunch of CRAP!

Tonight, CBS aired a promo that Saturday they would air the Patriots-Giants. I was slightly disappointed, I would prefer a game with teams I cared about.

Later in the night on FOX I saw an NFL Network commercial: the Pats vs. the Giants. Saturday.

Uh.....wtf? Was I hallucinating with the CBS thing?

Whatever, okay.

So I'm watching Leno still later at night: NBC presents the Patriots and Giants, battling head-to-head.

Okay....what the hell is going on? Three networks? Did you hear me? THREE NETWORKS. For a regular season game that has no implication on the playoffs.

I understand about the magnitude of the game historically. And the importance of giving the fans the opportunity to watch it and reminisce for years forward (I remember when the Giants creamed the Patriots in their quest for the epic undefeated season. Oh the look on Tom Brady's face when it happened, we thought Moss was going to cry (wishful thinking...Giants win Saturday, Giants win Saturday)).

I get that, and it's great that they are airing it on network television, when the NFL prides itself on being America's True Pastime--and the most accessible league. But we can air it on one network. And get this ... in New York and Boston markets, ABC has rights to the game. For those without math skills that will be four---how is anyone making money on this diluted market? They should all re-do their promos: Patriots vs. the Giants on CBS (and NBC. And the NFL Network. And, if you live in Boston or New York, ABC.)

But let's all be honest here, with all of my dislike for Bill Belicheck, the sickening dynasty talk and the golden boy quarterback who looks great because, oh by the way, he's throwing to the best wide receiver in the league--------this game has two possibilities, and neither of them is making me jump out of my chair to watch it.

1) Absolute blow out -- regardless of who plays, Brady, Moss, Manning or their third string understudies... because again, this game has no meaning in the grand scheme of the playoffs which last time i checked, were pretty damn important because they determined who plays in the Championship game and the magnificent Patriots aren't just ushered in unless congress makes a new law (which I realize is entirely possible since the Patriots are indeed that fucking great) to make the Super Bowl the Patriots vs. whichever team (and hey why don't we have a playoff system where NFC vs. AFC teams play to decide which team is good enough to be whopped on by the Patriots in the Super Bowl) and while we're at it, let's rename it.... how about the Chowder Bowl? Or the Patriots are Fantastic Bowl? Or This is Irrelevant a Because We All Know the Patriots Are Really the Best Ever Bowl (TIBWAKPRBEB for short).

2) Extremely, Close & Hard Fought Game

With either option ... and with either first string or those unnamed bench warmers, #1 will only be amusing to Pats fans. (And really people, when the Packers are up by 20+ points, I start feeling sorry for the other team and start to lose interest--don't you check out in the fourth quarter too?)

The second option would be the only one worth watching ... but it still doesn't merit three networks carrying it. I'm not even going to address that less than 40 percent of the nation (and the only people in Wisconsin who got to see it was those living in Green Bay/Milwaukee ... because the rest of the state wouldn't really mind they didn't get to see it, apparently) saw a game with actual importance to the actual reason they don't just hold a lottery system to which two teams will play in the Super Bowl (oops, sorry the TIBWAKPRBEB) in the first place. (i.e. Packers-Cowboys, which decided home field advantage for NFC Playoffs)

Yes, I obviously have animosity towards the Patriots and the whole world being swept up into calling them the best team ever and saying they'll go 19-0 by week 6. But, three networks?!?

SERIOUSLY?!

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Purging & the two Tic-Tac Spider

Tonight I felt the strange need to purge. Maybe it was because too much stuff was piling up on my desk (and if so, ironically, I didn't clean my desk at all), or maybe it was because it was nice not to have every corner of every room no longer occupied by gifts, wrapping paper or other accessories to make our surroundings holly and jolly.

Right now I'm leaning on an uncomfortable lump of blankets, so it's only a matter of time before I'll take a break to make my bed. But, I've gotten off track.

Clausterphobic. That's what I was feeling. When I start feeling clausterphobic in my space, I know it's time to clean. To clear this feeling, I decided to do some slight rearranging in my room. I wanted to move my end table next to my bookcase and the CD holder to the other side of my dresser. Mix things up a little bit without doing too much heavy lifting.

I cleaned next to my bed so I could put the end stand there, and moved the CD holder--which, of course, came apart. Then I needed to clean the stand and put the stuffing sitting on it on my desk so I could move it. Okay, done. Now I pick up the stand, it's heavier than I remembered, and put it next to my bookcase.

But since the bookcase is on an angle it sticks out too much, which is the exact reason why I didn't put it there in the first place. Damn, I remember now. And now sinceI recall that, I know I can't put it next to the dresser because it sticks out too much so that I can't walk through to my bed.

Sweaty and disgusted I sit down next to the night stand, still beside the bookcase, to survey the room. Disaster--ugh.

Since I'm sitting there--and in need of a victory, no matter how small--I organize my basket that I keep my lotion, perfume and stuff in. As I am finishing that up I saw a huge fucking spider (the size of two tic-tacs placed side by side--I hate spiders, that's huge for me) crawl along the floor on to my three-tier corner table.

We have company so I can't freak out or get spider-killing help like I normally would. So now I feel all creepy-crawly-icky-like. Eww.

I resign that I moved all that stuff for no reason and start working to put it back.

With everything back where it started, though less dusty, I still feel the need to purge. To fulfill this urge I pull out a bag and stuff it with random knick knacks and stuffed animals I've collected over the past five years. I'll throw the bag in the corner of the extra bedroom. Thank goodness for junk rooms.

My only problem with this scenario is I could have gotten rid of (and actually thrown away) a lot more. I have random things that stay for the sheer reason they have sentimental value. Little trinkets I've had since I was a baby, the first (and only) picture I won at the fair, a gift from a family friend and stuff I've gotten from relatives who've since died. They fill my shelves, but I'm unwilling to part with them.

Oh well, I guess.

Other than seeing that spider, I'm no more worse for the wear.

Monday, December 24, 2007

The walls will fall before we do

Friday night was the season finale of The Next Great American Band. Now if you've seen this show (or promos for it) you'll know why it glued me to the television.

Yes, Johnny Rzeznik, frontman for The Goo Goo Dolls (only my absolute favorite singer and band) is a judge.

What a treat to see John every week and gleen a little more information about him. Oh. Yeah.

The first two weeks of the live shows he had some trouble handling the crowd boo after his comments. I'll cut him some slack on that since I'm sure it was an adjustment to go from artist to judge. He had a little too many "you guys are great, what more can I say?" type comments, but when he did give criticizm it was thoughtful and right on (in my opinion).

But now my weekly indulgence in Johnny is over. The Goo Goo Dolls performed Black Balloon on this finale show, far outshining the performance of his fellow judge Shelia E and the actual contestants of the show. I, of course, am biasis on this matter.

I was nervous about the series (what if JR acted like a loser or real jackass?) or what if the network execs hated it and pulled it from the airwaves before it finished the competition? But it didn't disappoint. The actual music was too country/folky for my tastes. I did enjoy Dot Dot Dot and Rocket (I totally agree with Johnny, the lead singer of Rocket need to work on her singing).

I'm hoping it's picked up again and more importantly, Johnny is still a judge. The host did say We'll see you again next year... so here's hoping.

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I want to complain about certain aspects of Christmas cards, but don't want to piss people off who do what I don't like.

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Last week on American Dad's Christmas Show, Stan Smith died and met God--who was voiced by Seth MacFarlane. "It's true! I knew Seth MacFarlane is a god!"

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Our 13 day wait for the arrival of Crimbo themed adventures was slightly unbearable. The wait was worth it, I'm enjoying adventuring in the Sinister Dodecahdron for the 12 days of Crimborg. This holiday season was festooned with references from Star Trek's Borg & the Collective as well as many Terminator references. I'm quite satisfied, this Crimbo season has been as enjoyable as the others I've participated in.

I'm frustrated by the stat scaling---I wasn't used to having to hit an enemy more than once, so I'm sure NS is going to be a bitch to defeat. I think I'll give her a try tomorrow.

It's such a huge disappointment that I won't be able to use all these items in a run for my main adventurer The long run has enabled me to reach Level 16 as a Seal Clubber, so I was able to gain pulverize the new nuances to this skill have been interesting/exciting/frustrating.

I've spent most of my time in the Toy Factory, collecting as much material as I can I'll keep each of the items Uncle Crimbo makes and sell the rest. I know, I'm such a mall whore. I've lost count of how many doll hives I have so I'm swimming in Tiny Plastic Series 2.

And from my visit with Rudolph the Red, I think Father Crimbo may come back, oh what a plot twist we could be in for!

(Non-KoL related babbled): I've started reading Wicked but I'm not very far because there was so many other holiday related things to get done. I'm going to try to read more in the new year.

I've been playing a lot of free cell solitare lately--do you think that makes your brain function better like crossword puzzles are supposed to?

It's been snowing and blowing all day, so I might have to draw a picture for dad's tractor instead of taking a picture. The BackStory: Dad wanted a compact tractor (but didn't want to spend his own money for one) so mom and I combined our money and bought him one. It cleaned out my mad money for shopping and entertainment that I had saved. So that's going to be his Christmas, birthday, Father's Day gift for the next 12 years (I'm not kidding, I did the math).

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 63

December 16, 2007
Green Bay Packers at Saint Louis Rams

Koren Robinson takes the opening kick to the Packers 43. The Packers start their first drive with its "Big Five" wide receiver set up. QB-Brett Favre completes a pass to Robinson for six-yards. Favre can't handle the high snap but the play was whistled dead on a defensive offsides. A holding penalty give the Packers a first down. Later, on a third and six, from shotgun Favre hist RB-Verdand Morency to the Rams' six. RB-Ryan Grant takes it in for the touchdown.

Rams RB-Stephen Jackson rushes for six-yards. Returning from sitting out two games because of concussion, QB-Marc Bulger's fake play doesn't work as planned and LB-Nick Barnett sacks him. Rams go three and out.

On the first play of the next Packers series, WR-James Jones brings in a 21-yard pass. Grant fumbles a reception and the Rams recover. Green Bay challenges the fumble, but the call is upheld and the Packers lose a timeout.

Bulger hits WR-Torry Holt for 10-yards. Then the Rams RB-Antonio Pittman rushes for 13-yards Bulger fires from the 20, but Holt drops the pass in the end zone. The Rams spread the field with four wide receivers, but Bulger sees defensive coverage he doesn't like and calls a time out. He then connects again to a wide open Holt in the back of the end zone with CB-Al Harris on coverage.

* First Quarter: 7-7 ~ Tie *

Special teams continues to produce with key blacks with a Robinson run back of 43-yards. It could have been twice that, but Tramon Williams was called for holding. Favre hits WR-Donald Driver for a gain of 37-yards. Driver does some fancy footwork on the sidelines to keep the play alive and gain that extra yardage. TE-Donald Lee pulls in a touchdown pass.

Packers fumble a punt return on the Rams 12 Bulger airs one out to WR-Issac Bruce for 40-yards. S-Atari Bigby, who won NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, intercepts Bulger to stop the drive.

WR-Greg Jennings receives a six-yard pass to the 35. Favre is intercepted by S-Oshiomogho Atogwe to end the half.

* Second Quarter: 17-14 ~ Packers *

Bigby ends the Rams first drive of the second half with his second interception of the game.

Favre hits Jennings for a 44-yard touchdown.

Barnett records another sack against Bulger and CB-Charles Woodson seals the drive by breaking up a third down play causing a 4th and 25.

Favre breaks Dan Marino's career passing record with a quick slant to Driver.

* Third Quarter: 27-14 ~ Packers *

The Rams start picking up penalties for sloppy play and unsportsmanlike conduct, but Atogwe intercepts Favre again.

Packers close the afternoon with back to back sacks first by DE-Aaron Kampman and LB-AJ Hawk and DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

* Fourth Quarter: 33-14 ~ Packers *

With this win, Packers clinch a first round bye in the playoffs. In other playoff news, the Cowboys lose to the Eagles, tying the Packers record. Another Cowboy loss gives the Packers home field advantage if Packers win their remaining games.

Packers offense is ranked third in the NFL (1 & 2 are Patriots and Cowboys). Packers defense is ranked 11.

Ryan Grant is the leading NFL rusher the past five weeks and Packers wide receivers lead the league in yards after catch.

Aaron Kampman is fourth in the league in sacks. Packers named to the Pro Bowl are Kampman, Al Harris, Donald Driver and Brett Favre.

NFL News
After talking to the Atlanta Falcons and all but signing the contract, Bill Parcells becomes the Executive Vice President of Football Operations of the Miami Dolphins.

In the Dallas-Eagle game, RB-Brian Westbrook takes a knee at the one yard line, preventing the score. The Eagles then take a knee, running out the time, thus winning the game.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 62

Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers

From their own 28, on a third and four, Oakland QB-Josh McCown runs for six-yards and a first down. DE-Aaron Kampman hits McCown as he throws and the ball is nearly intercepted by S-Atari Bigby. McCown connects with RB-LaMont Jordan for six-yards, but it's not enough for the first down, and Raiders punt.

On the Packers first play, RB-Ryan Grant rushes for 13-yards. Play action to TE-Donald Lee for a gain of 11-yards and Grant took the ball again three more times for a total of 33-yards. On fourth and four, QB-Brett Favre and WR-Donald Driver do not connect and Packers turnover the ball on downs.

S-Nick Collins hits McCown for a loss of one, and Oakland turns over the ball on downs to the Packers on the Oakland 48.

It's a short Packer drive when S-Stewart Schweigert intercepts Favre on the Oakland 18.

* First Quarter: 0-0 *

In a balanced drive of rushing and passing, Grant runs in a touchdown for six-yards.

Will Blackman takes a punt back for the touchdown for 57-yards.

CB-Al Harris intercepts McCown on Green Bay's 21 and returns it 17-yards. K-Mason Crosby's field goal is wide right.

McCown hits WR-Tim Dwight deep in the middle for 22-yards. Then he connects with WR-Jerry Porter for 20-yards and again for the score for 25-yards.

* Second Quarter: 14-7 ~ Packers *

Out of shotgun, Favre makes a short pass right to WR-Greg Jennings. Jennings catch and run totals 20-yards. Robinson takes the ball down to the Oakland 33 after a 37-yard strike from Favre. Crosby tops off the drive with a 44-yard field goal.

Oakland goes three and out. The first pass after this punt is a touchdown strike from Favre to Jennings for 80-yards.

Packers punt and Dwight fumbles on the return. Blackman picks up the ball and returns it for a touchdown. The play is called down by contact, but the Packers challenge and it's reversed for the score.

* Third Quarter: 31-7 ~ Packers *

Crosby misses a 52-yard field goal.

Starting on their own 33 from a Oakland turnover on downs, RB-Verdand Morency owns the drive with six rushes for 19-yards. Favre punches in the score with a 46-yard pass to TE-David Lee.

* Fourth Quarter: 38-7 ~ Packers *

Packers clinch NFC North Division Title and Playoff Berth.

Packer Post -- Installment 61

Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
November 22, 2007 ~ Thanksgiving Day

Green Bay DT-Ryan Pickett is injuried early in the game, but returns in the third quarter. The Lions use the ground attack to move the ball down field, using three different backs to rush the ball. On a third and 20 at the Packers 28-yard line, DE-Aaron Kampman sacks QB-John Kitna for a loss of six-yards. K-Jason Hanson's 47-yard field goal is good.

On the first play of the series, QB-Brett Favre's fumble was recovered by the Lions, but Kitna is unable to complete a pass. Hanson's 41-yard field goal is good.

Neither team is able to produce a scoring drive for the remaining of the quarter.

* First Quarter: 0 - 6 ~ Lions *

In the first play of the second quarter, Kitna's pass, intended for WR-Calvin Johnson is intercepted by S-Aaron Rouse at Detroit's 45. Rouse returned the interception to the Detroit 11 and then Favre hit WR-Greg Jennings for an 11-yard touchdown.

On the next Packers' drive, Favre finds WR-Donald Driver deep for 38-yards. Then he was able to connect with WR-James Jones for 18-yards and again to Driver for another 19-yards. RB-Ryan Grant ran to the right for a five-yard touchdown.

Lions still have no luck in the passing game, and on a 3rd and seven, DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacks Kitna for a loss of six-yards. KGB is injured during the play and does not return. Hanson boots a 45-yard kick through the uprights to put more points on the board for the Lions.

Packers K-Mason Crosby kicks a 20-yard field goal to end the quarter.

* Second Quarter: 17-9 ~ Packers *

From shotgun, Favre makes an aerial attack to four different receivers, the longest to WR-Koren Robinson for 43-yards. He caps it off with a short pass to the right to Jennings for four-yard touchdown.

Kitna takes command, progressing the Lions to the Packers' 33, but settles for a Hanson 52-yard field goal.

Favre opens the drive with style by a 24-yard strike to Jennings. Grant breathes life into the running game for 31-yards and the drive is completed with a three-yard touchdown pass to WR-Ruvell Martin.

(And did you check out the United Way Halftime show featuring The Goo Goo Dolls?? Be still my heart!! ~~ Best Thanksgiving game EVER ~~)

* Third Quarter: 31-12 ~ Packers *

Crosby kicks a 20-yard field goal for the Packers.

The Lions begin their drive on their own 25. Kitna makes a short pass up the middle to Johnson for 12-yards. Going no huddle, out of shotgun, Kitna scrambles left for six-yards. Packers help advance the ball with two personal fouls. Kitna finds succcess again from no huddle, under shotgun, connecting with Johnson for a six-yard touchdown.

Packers go three and out on the following drive and Lions gain momentum. Kitna hits Johnson twice for a collective 32-yards. And Jones caps it off with a one-yard touchdown run.

* Fourth Quarter: 37-26 ~ Packers *

Thursday, November 29, 2007
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys (aired on the NFL Network)

KGB & Charles Woodson do not play in this game and Favre is knocked out of play early in the game. Dallas has the number one seed in the NFC and will have homefield advantage over the Packers, unless they finish the season with a worse record.

* First Quarter: 10-13 ~ Cowboys *
* Second Quarter: 17-27 ~ Cowboys *
* Third Quarter: 24-27 ~ Cowboys *
* Fourth Quarter: 27-37 ~ Cowboys *

For game details, highlights and more, visit: http://www.packers.com/gameday/2007/11-29/

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Are Hat Tricks Unlucky if they're Green?

There's a saying that bad luck come in three's. And I think I've achieved my own hat trick with my car.

I got new tires (not bad, but it was an inconvenience to be without my car on a work day--and if we're going to quibble over the merit of bad, the bill was a couple hundred dollars, so that's bad enough in my book).

When it was getting new shoes, they discovered a wheel bearing was out. Before it could go in again, I noticed it was really pulling. So I asked the mechanic to take a look at the alignment. That wasn't it, but guess what he found: A Nail in my new tire.

After I got it back my windshield wipers split apart. I got my three bad things, I should be good for awhile.

Last weekend, I watched the last episode of MASH. I've never seen it before.

When it got right down to it, I really didn't want to watch the episode. Just like the Harry Potter series, I didn't want it to be over. I've been watching MASH since I was a kid and even though it ended the year I was born I still absolutely loved it.

It took years for me to realize Hunnicutt and Trapper weren't the same person and then more time to be able to remember the right name.

About two years ago, I started buying the collection and it was such a treat to watch it in broadcast order. I'm sad that little era has ended: I'll never see another new MASH episode. But it'll still remain a favorite.

So back to the final episode. I cried. Yeah, of course I did. Crying at fiction is a great release. It's a pay off to an emotional investment but also a good cleanse of the soul. This is true especially when you can cry without being worse for the wear other than your hydration level.

Last night I was flipping through the channels and i stumble on Bob Dylan singing "Mr. Tambourine Man." I pause and listen to a little bit and move on to the next channel. At least 10 minutes later I come back to Bob Dylan ... singing the same part of the song that he was at when I flipped it the last time.

I just had to laugh.

As an aside, his son Jakob is smoking hot and has a soulful voice.

Why is green such a persecuted color? From Kermit lamenting about how hard it is to be green, Shrek, the Grinch, the Wicked Witch of the West, envy and it's the color of money which spawns greed...

Yepper this was a random blog.

Packer Post -- Installment 60

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers

In the first seres S-Aaron Rouse intercepts QB-Vinny Testeverde on the 38-yard line. Rouse, a rookie his first NFL start in place of an injured S-Nick Collins.

Packers can't get a first down and the 52-yard K-Mason Crosby field goal attempt is blocked.

A fake end around progresses the Packers down the field 18-yards. WR-Donald Driver takes a direct snap for a gain of five-yards. The defense falls for a fake hand off to the right and WR-Greg Jennings catches a pass to the left for 12-yards. QB-Brett Favre steps up in the pocket and is sacked by DE-Julius Peppers.

* First Quarter: 7-3 ~ Packers *

On a fake play action Favre hits Driver for 47-yards. A series of short run plays and quick passes set up the touchdown to Jennings for four-yards.

Three punts later ...

RB-Ryan Grant rushes three times for 26-yards, and Favre connects with TE-Donald Lee for the 26-yard score.

Testeverde can't get his offense clicking, and takes a sack. Pass interference on CB-Jarrett Bush gives the Panthers 25 yards. The next play, Testeverde is sacked on the Green Bay and fumbles. DE-Aaron Kampman recovers the fumble.

* Second Quarter: 21-3 ~ Packers *

Koren Robinson returns the opening kick 67-yards, giving the Packers excellent field position. Favre hits Lee for another touchdown.

Woodson makes an interception, but Crosby's 49-yard field goal is wide right.

Panther's RB-DeShaun Foster rushes for 33-yards and TE-Christian Fauria finishes the drive by pulling in a two-yard touchdown pass.

* Third Quarter: 28-10 ~ Packers *

The fourth quarter opens with three punts. But Testeverde mounts a comeback drive with two passes for big yards, setting the Panthers up on the Green Bay five yard line. He passes up the middle to WR-David Carter for the five-yard score.

Crosby puts more points on the board with a 47-yard field goal.

The Panthers offense struggles with dropped passes and can't put together a final scoring drive.

* Fourth Quarter: 31-17 ~ Packers *

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 59

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
November 11, 2007

On second and five, former Badgers QB-Brooks Bollinger rushes for four yards. LB-Brady Poppinga hits RB-Adrian Peterson for a loss. Vikings punt.

From the Packers' 18 QB-Brett Favre completes a pass to TE-Donald Lee for seven yards. Favre's pass to WR-James Jones is incomplete. On third and three, Favre connects RB-Verdand Morency up the middle for six yards. packers continue to move the ball down field with short passes On first down, WR-Greg Jennings can't pull in a deep pass RB-Ryan Grant rushes to the left for 30-yards and a touchdown. This is Grant's first career touchdown.

K-Mason Crosby kicks the ball out of bounds, so the Vikings start on their own 40. Their longest gain is a 12-yard Peterson run to the right.

Packers punt on their following possession.

* First Quarter: 7-0 ~ Packers *

Vikings go three and out With a balance between run and pass Packer drive down field. From Minnesota's 45, Favre hits TE-Ruvell Martin for 25-yards Crosby's 39-yard field goal is good.

Packers offense is limited to a second field goal for 24-yards.

* Second Quarter: 13-0 ~ Packers *

Packers open the second half on their 28. Grant continues the ground attack, allowing Favre to strike deep right to Jennings for 34-yards Favre caps the drive off with a one-yard touchdown pass to TE-Donald Lee.

DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacks Bollinger for a loss of four-yards. Vikings punt.

Favre adds more points to the board with a eight-yard touchdown pass to Martin.

* Third Quarter: 27-0 ~ Packers *

Vikings drive down to the seven-yard line, but CB-Charles Woodson makes an interception to end the drive.

Favre makes quick works of the drive with a 16-yard pass to WR-Koren Robinson. Then he connected with WR-James Jones for 37-yards. The final score of the game was a 17-yard pass to Martin.

* Fourth Quarter: 34-0 ~ Packers *

Shut out and Sweep of the Vikings.

NFL News
Vikings' Troy Williamson takes personal time away from the team to attend services of his maternal grandmother. He did not play in that week's game and therefore, was not paid. Veteran players met with Head Coach Brad Childress. By midweek, Williamson received the withheld check, which he donated to charity.

Quote of the Week: "Steve Smith was seen weeping at the end of the game quite possible because he had to watch it," Keith Olberman of NBC's Sunday Night Football--Football Night in America.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Who knows ....

Driving home on a 70+ degree October day I saw a man in small shiny blue short runnning down the sidewalk. Bronze. Glistening. Didn't know whether I should be disgusted or rear end the car in front of me.

Earlier that same day i had pulled up to a light and an expensive, white sporty looking car pulled up next to me. I glanced at the plat for some reason to see ExPaid4. I questioned what type of person would flaunt it like that.

I love the Mercedes-Benz commercial where there a shot of the car and a simple voiceover "Why did/do we ..." and a sandy blond steps out from in or behind the car "Because we promised you a Mercedes-Benz, that's why"

I LOVE his voice and the way he says that!

Monday, November 5, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 58

Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs

November 4, 2007


In Kansas City's opening drive, T-Corey Williams sacks QB-Damon Huard on their 19, forcing a three and out.


QB-Brett Favre starts with two passes for first downs to WR-James Jones and TE-Donald Lee. the drive is cut short with CB-Patrick Surtain interception returned to the Kansas City 31-yard line.


The Chiefs combine a short yard pass and a RB-Larry Johnson rush for a first down. DE-Aaron Kampman sacks Huard for a loss of four on third down.


Starting on their own three, RB-Ryan Grant rushes for 9-yards on two attempts. On 3rd and three, Favre hits Lee for 11-yards. Grant starts getting a rhythm with two rushes for 13-yards. Favre fumbles, but T-Mark Tauscher falls on it for a loss of five yards.


* First Quarter: 0-0 ~ Tie *


Packers aren't able to regain momentum and K-Mason Crosby kicks a 48-yard field goal.


Huard passes to TE-Tony Gonzelas for eight-yards, short of the first down. CB-Charles Woodson gets caleld for holding gives the Chiefs the first down Huard doesn't complete a pass for the rest of the series and they punt.

Packers aren't able to regain momentum and K-Mason Crosby kicks a 48-yard field goal.

Huard passes to TE-Tony Gonzelas for eight-yards, short of the first down Woodson gets called for holding and gives the Chiefs the first down. Huard doesn't complete a pass for the rest of the series and they punt.

Favre is sacked and fumbles the ball, recovered by the Packers and they punt.

Gonzalez pulled in a deep pass of 25-yards to the Kansas City 30. Williams sacks Huard later in the drive for a loss of eight. Chiefs punt.

Third and eight on the Packers 30, Favre passes to Lee for 48-yards. Packers make it to the 18, but settle for a Crosby field goal.

Chiefs go three and out but get a second chance with an interception, by Sapp to the Green Bay 30. Johnson goes down the middle for a one yard touchdown with 18 seconds left on the clock.

*Second Quarter: 6-7 ~ Chiefs *

Crosby misses a 52-yard field, and the Chiefs get the ball on their own 49. LB-AJ Hawk intercepts a pass intended for RB-Priest Holmes. Favre hits Grant for 15-yards and Grant rushes for 12 yards on a 1st and 20. Favre passes to WR-Greg Jennings for a 13-yard touchdown.

* Third Quarter: 13-7 ~ Packers *

Starting on their 43, Kansas City complets short yard passes and rushes down field until Huard hits Johnson for a 30-yard touchdown.

Packers start o their own 40, Favre hits WR-Donald Driver for 49-yards. That's the extent of their drive, ending in a 32-yard Crosby field goal.

Chiefs respond with a 10-yard rush by Johnson, but he's hurt on the next play and doesn't return to the game.

Huard passes deep left for Gonzalez for a 17-yard touchdown. They attempt the two-point conversion three times, because of defensive penalties and Holmes pushes it up the middle for the two.

Favre matches the scoring drives with 11-yard passes each to Driver and WR-Koren Robinson and then a 60-yard touchdown strike to Jennings.

After a revered call that took away a 36-yard pass to WR-Jared Webb, Gbaja-Biamila sacks Huard for a loss of seven and Chiefs go three and out.

Crosby kicks a 45-yard field goal after a 19 second drive.

Woodson intercets Huard and treturns it for 46-yards and a touchdown.

* Fourth Quarter: 33-22 ~ Packers *

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 57

Green Bay Packers at Denver Bronocs
Monday Night Football
October 30, 2007

This game was on ESPN, so you're going to have to dig for your game facts yourself.

Packers' game center with all the goodies can be found here

First Quarter: 7-7 ~ Tie
Second Quarter: 13-7 ~ Packers
Third Quarter: 13-10 ~ Packers
Fourth Quarter: 13-13 ~ Tie

Overtime: 19-13 ~ Packers

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 56

Week 6: October 14, 2007
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers

Both teams punt on their first possession.

QB-Brett Favre passes 60-yards to TE-Donald Lee on the first pass of the second series. First and goal on the three, RB-DeShawn Wynn runs it in for a touchdown.

The Redskins QB-Jason Campbell answers after a drive down field with a touchdown run.

* First Quarter: 7-7 ~ Tie *

CB-Charles Woodson intercepts Campbell, but Packers aren't able to capitalize off the turnover.

DE-Cullen Jenkins sacks Campbell. But he recovers well a series later with a 14-yard pass to TE-Chris Cooley.

* Second Quarter: 7-14 ~ Redskins *

K-Mason Crosby misses his first of two field goals, this one for 46-yards.

Favre throws his record-breaking 278th interception. Redskins go three and out.

RG-Mark Tauscher holding call negates a touchdown and Packers settle for a field goal.

The defense scores some points with a Woodson 57-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown.

* Third Quarter: 17-14 ~ Packers *

LB-AJ Hawk recovers a fumble on the Redskins 10-yard line. In what should have been a force-out call, TE-Bubba Franks catches the ball in the end zone. But the non-call negates the touchdown. Favre is sacked on a third and goal, Crosby's field goal is no good. Franks is carted off the field for a knee injury.

DE-Aaron Kampman sacks Campbell on a third and long and then the next possession on a second and ten with 53 seconds to go. Redskins don't have a timeout for an injury and 10 seconds is run off the clock. A false start penalty on the offense ran off another 10 seconds.

* Fourth Quarter: 17-14 ~ Packers *

Commentary
NASCAR racers Dale Earnhardt Jr and Matt Kennesth are on the sidelines of the game. I didn't know they were buddies and Junior is wearing Skins colors. But I'll forgive him, cuz he looks good in red.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were also at the game. While JT is watching the action on the field, Biel got a little action from behind from her girlfriend on the sidelines. hmmm

THANK YOU! 4 TDS FROM LT -- ABOUT DAMN TIME!

Sunday, October 14, 2007

*Heavy Sigh*

*Heavy Sigh*

It's been a hard morning. The Naughty Sorcerous is Kicking. My. Ass. Seriously.

I've lost count of how many times she's handed it to me. But it's been enough that she's pretty much depleted my whole inventory of combat items and I think I've spent around 40,000 meat on healing items. I don't get it. Yeah, I've been having a harder time with her than I had before NS13. But nothing like this.

Our grey kitten was killed this morning. He was a man of many names: Grey, Neville, Luke, Collins ... and I'm sure the black and white kitten will miss him.

What else? I'm really digging myself out of a hole for the fantasy game this week. If I win, it will be a miracle.

And tonight. I'm so excited. Dallas vs. Patriots. I'm rooting for Dallas, and I love it. I'm sure a little part of my soul died. I really don't want to hate the Pats...but I do. Very much so. I thinking the "hating" came after the second Super Bowl win when the Dynasty talk started. Everyone thinks about them above the game. Unbeatable. Even when they lose. I guess that's the anti-mainstream part of me screaming out .... don't like them because everyone else does! I also have huge issues with Belicheck.

I'm trying not to hate the Patriots, I really am.

But nonetheless. I plan to have a fan-tab-ulas day and I promise to get the Week 5 game online today and start writing for week 6.

Sunday, October 7, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 55

Week5: October 17, 2007
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

Deanna Favre is an honorary captain for National Breast Cancer awareness month.

RB-DeShawn Wynn starts the running game out hot with three rushes for 56 yards and an opening drive touchdown. NBC shows a stat that 21 quarterbacks have started for the Bears durng Brett Favre's 15 year tenure.

Bears go three and out..

Favre throws to WR-James Jones for 23-yards. Wynn leaves the game for cramping but is expected to return. Favre is sacked on first down but the Packers then drive down the field with a first down pass to TE-Donald Lee. Jones fumbles the pass and the Bears recover on their own 16, but go three and out.

Jones fumbles on the slant, but again the Bears aren't able to captialize.

* First Quarter: 7-0 ~ Packers *

Chicago converts their first, first down 17 minutes into the game. Bears put their first points on the board with a RB-Cedric Benson 10-yard touchdown run.

On a third and two, Favre passes to WR-Greg Jennings for a 41-yard touchdown. K-Mason Crosby closes the half with a 43-yard field goal.

* Second Quarter: 17-7 ~ Packers *

QB-Brian Griese connects with TE-Desmond Clark for 20-yards, but the Bears settle for a 44-yard K-Robbie Gould field goal.

Packers returner Tramon Williams returns the kick off for 65-yards. Wynn is back in the game and makes a 16-yard gain on a screen and then rushes for six-yards. Crosby kicks a 37-yard field goal.

A Favre pass intended for Jones is intercepted by LB-Brian Urlacher on the Green Bay 19. Griese hits the end zone, passing to TE-Greg Olsen for a 19-yard touchdown.

* Third Quarter: 20-17 ~ Packers *

Neither offense can put points on the board early in the fourth quarter. Griese propels the Bears to the lead with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Clark.

With a 1:58 left on clock, Favre tried to mount a comeback. Poor time management, short yardage gains and a interception deep downfield brought the Packers their first loss.

* Fourth Quarter: 20-27 ~ Bears *

Injuries
Tampa Bay RB-Cadillac Williams is out for the season with a knee injury.
San Francisco QB-Alex Smith out for 2-3 weeks with a separated shoulder.
Carolina QB-Jake Delhome out for the season with an arm injury that requires surgery.
St. Louis QB-Marc Bulger out with knee and rib injuries, with no indication of return.
New Orleans RB-Deuce McAllister is out for the season.
Miami QB-Trent Green has a concussion on low block on a defensive end on an interception return. He's placed on IR in Week 7--With a history of concussions his career in the NFL is in jeopardy.
Arizona QB-Matt Leinert is out with a broken collarbone, Week 6-back up QB-Kurt Warner injured.

Commentary
Good quarterbacks find a way to win, even if the team (or the quarterback himself) make mistakes. With the Bears former QB-Rex Grossman in the game everyone else needs to play perfect because he'll find a way to screw it up. The team gets that mentality and it's hard to break.

I've felt the same way when the Pack is losing--I will them to not make mistakes, because hwo are they going to get out of it if they do?

Dallas QB-Tony Romo plays like Brett Favre--he has fun playing. New England QB-Tom Brady dowsn't have that pure passion and joy. He throws a touchdown like how other people get a cup of coffee. It's a mundane experience, because it's happened before and it'll happen again.

ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd's Guarantees:
- Dallas scores
- Peyton Manning is great
- The Moss-Brady thing is working
- The rest of the league is up for grabs

So, why is it that when New England, (the former) St. Louis, Vikings (in the Moss Era) offense is pass-heavy, high powered and "the best show on turf" but without a running game no one makes a fuss about it? But the Packers or the Colts last year don't have a run game and they're one-dimensional?

The Packers run screens for short yardage which effectively operates as a run game moving the ball down the field. Wynn is getting bursts of yardage and improving by the carry, but he's not at the point where the Packers need to be to have a consistent rush attack. So why when you're pass game isn't hurting you, and even more, scoring points, why would you try to pound out the run when it's not working?

Packer Post -- Installment 54

Week 4: September 30 2007
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings

Vikings open the game with good protection of QB-Kelly Holcomb, but they are unable to capitalize and are forced to punt.

The first Packer offensive yardage came from a Vikings defensive penalty. The second would have been a S-Darren Sharper interception but illegal contact was called, wiping out the play and giving the Packers their first, first down. Packers punt on this series.

The defense needs to cover the wide receivers tighter. They are getting too much separation the defense isn’t able to defend the ball properly. This let the Vikings gain at least 10-yards each pass.

CB-Charles Woodson is called for pass interference, the result of the play is a first down in Packer territory. Woodson could have made up for this by intercepting the ball and run it in for a 58-yard touchdown. Unfortunately the touchdown is called back for illegal contact on Woodson—first down Vikings.

Pressure on Holcomb and the ball is striped. Jolly recovers the fumble on the Vikings 48. Favre floats a pass to WR-Donald Lee, who catches it between two defenders on the 19—Sharper on coverage.

Favre changes the play at the line of scrimmage, and it looks like it’ll be a broken play. Favre throws to WR-Greg Jennings for the record breaking 421 touchdown. Game is stalled for a message from Dan Marino, a standing ovation from the crowd (including Viking fans) and a hug from Deanna and Britney.

LB-Aaron Kampman sacks Holcomb for a loss of eight-yards, but the Vikings continue to drive down the field with big yard throws to WR-Simion Rice.

* First Quarter: 7-0 ~ Packers *

With the blitz coming, Favre throws to WR-Ruvell Martin for 36-yards. Favre connects with Lee, but he is striped and fumbles the ball, Vikings recover on their own six.

Vikings defense end a great Packer drive down field with a sack on third down K-Mason Crosby kicks the field goal.

Packers fake a punt and get a first down, but are unable to maintain momentum and lose yards on a reverse to WR-Donald Driver.

* Second Quarter: 10-6 ~ Packers *

Vikings stomp downfield but Harris pushes Williams out before he can make the catch. Vikings stomp downfield but Harris pushes WR-Bobby Wade out before he can make the catch. Holcomb hands it to RB-Chester Taylor for two yards. DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacks Holcomb and Vikings punt.

Harris leaves the field to get an X-Ray on his hand, but returns later in the game. S-Nick Collins is shaken up on the play but stays in the game. Vikings’ K-Ryan Longwell kicks a 35-yard field goal.

* Third Quarter: 13-9 ~ Packers *

Crosby kicks a 33-yard field goal and Vikings go three and out on their next possession.

Vikings try to challenge the call that an incomplete pass was a fumble, but the rule is the play is “unchallengable.” Later in the drive, they challenge the sp[ot of the ball and lose the challenge and their timeout. Favre connects with WR-James Jones for a 33-yard touchdown.

Vikings run a hurry up offense and go deep, but Harris knocks the ball down and Collins almost gets an interception. Holcomb passes to WR-Visanthe Shiancoe for 13 yards. Gbaja-Biamila sacks Holcomb, forcing a third and 13, but a facemask call gives the Vikings a first down on the 40. Packers pressure with the front four and DT-Ryan Pickett sacks Holcomb. Holcomb passes to Rice for the touchdown.

Driver recovers the onside kick, but RB-Ryan Grant fumbles giving the Vikings the ball and the chance to tie. On the 30, Kampman pressures, incomplete pass. S-Atari Bigby catches his first career interception. The booth challenges the call, but the ruling on the field stands.

* Fourth Quarter: 23-16 ~ Packers *

Packers lead the division, go 4-0 for the first time since 1998.

Favre is FedEx Air Player of the Week and Nick Barnett is the Defensive Player of the Week.

NFL News
The Miami-Oakland game was delayed for lightning. QB-Daunte Culpepper leads Oakland to victory, scoring five touchdowns.

Chicago Bears QB-Rex Grossman is benched and his replacement Brian Griese throws three touchdowns in the Bears loss to the Lions.

A high snap out of shotgun goes over Dallas Cowboys QB-Tony Romo’s head. He picks it up, fumbles, chases the ball, kicks it and finally is able to recover it. He rushes for a first down, a four yard gain. Then Romo takes it in for a 15-yard touchdown run. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

Steelers lose to the Cardinals, undefeated teams are: Patriots, Colts, Cowboys and Packers.

Commentary
The Packers are still the youngest team in the NFL, but this year Favre says he’s more comfortable with his receivers. It’s the first time since he’s had that attitude in three years (the last time they won the NFC North).

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Packer Post--Installment 53

Week 3: September 16, 2007

San Diego Chargers at Green Bay Packers


The offensive line stepped up this week and provided great protection for QB-Brett Favre. Because he had plenty of time to look at the field and let receivers get open, he had a big day passing.

The Packers ended their first possession on the Chargers 39 yard line after failing to convert on a fourth and two.

A pass interference call on CB-Charles Woodson put the Chargers on the Packers 25 yard line. QB-Phillip Rivers threw deep to WR-Vincent Jackson for a 27-yard touchdown.

Chargers were called for a personal foul--leading with the helmet--putting the Packers on the Chargers 35. Driving downfield, Favre scrambles, reaches line of scrimmage, fires and is almost intercepted in the end zone. K-Mason Crosby's 28-yard field goal is good.

* First Quarter: 3-7 ~ Chargers *

During an exciting second quarter, the Chargers reverse to RB-LaDanlian Tomlinson for a loss of five. Next play, DE-Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sacks Rivers and the Chargers punt.

On a Packers third and 10, Favre passes to WR-Donald Driver for 46 yards. A pass to WR-Greg Jennings, back in his first game of the season, goes nine yards. First and inches, Chargers recover a Favre fumble. Packers challenge the call, it’s ruled as an incomplete pass: Packers ball. Second and goal on the five, Favre pump fakes then passes to TE-Bubba Franks for the touchdown.

Chargers drive down field. Rivers passes to Jackson for 12 yards, good for a first down. Rivers passes to Davis for 12 yards--first down. Rivers passes to TE-Antonio Gates twice for a combined 12 yards and a first down. DE-Cullen Jenkins pressures Rivers, incomplete. Rivers to WR-Craig Davis for the touchdown.

* Second Quarter: 17-14 ~ Packers *

Tomlinson scores a 21-yard touchdown on a reverse.

* Third Quarter: 17-21 ~ Chargers *

Packers give the Chargers the ball back on another turnover on downs in the redzone. But Chargers punt after a drive of 27 yards.

In the pass seen around the league, Favre hits Jennings, 57-yards for Favre's 420 touchdown, tying Dan Marino.

LB-Nick Barnett intercepts Rivers and returns the ball to the two. RB-Brandon Jackson takes it in the end zone for the score. Packers put two touchdowns on the board in 64 seconds.

Trying to come from behind, Chargers kick an onside kick after they score a 43-yard field goal. Driver recovers the kick, sealing the Packers 3-0 start to the 2007 season.

The Packers defense makes a stand, allowing 73 yards rushing, 306 passing and 2 sacks.

* Fourth Quarter: 31-24 ~ Packers *

Packer News
Coach Mike McCarthy was Week 2's Coach of the Week. Favre was the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. RB-Verdand Morency still hasn't played a game.

Driver propels himself to the Packers record book with the most catches: 214 receptions.

NFL News
Miami Dolphin's Zack Thomas is out with a concussion.

New York Jets QB-Chad Pennington plays again after being booed off the field last week.

Buffalo Bills TE-Kevin Everett, who suffered a life threatening injury in the first week is transported to Houston for further recovery and rehabilitation. Doctors report he’ll be walking within a couple of months.

Bills QB-JP Lossman is injured and won’t play in week 3-5 at least.

Oakland Raiders QB-Josh McCown is out, Daunte Culpepper will start.

Four teams returned kicks for touchdowns: Texans—84-yards, Jets—98-yards, Ravens—75-yards and Steelers—98-yards.


Commentary
I wish I could go back in time to truly see how many people thought the Packers might win this games—and not just the optimistic cheeseheads. Because I certainly didn't think they had it in them. This was one of the four losses I thought they'd have.

I don’t like the new nfl.com. It takes too long to load. And I have to get used to the new arrangement.

I remember why I don’t watch FOX Sports pre game/post game shows anymore. It’s because they’re stupid. I enjoy Jimmie Johnson, and at times, Howie Long. But put the three (add Terry Bradshaw) together, remove James Brown and throw in random people that have nothing to do with sports and you just completed the recipe for crap. CBS has a much more intelligent crew that discusses the actual games, players and various implications they could have in the NFL.

They have also found the balance between male banter and testosterone. Banter is witty and fun, testosterone belongs in bars.

I came to these realizations after watching FOX’s OT. CBS didn’t have a late game, so I was relying on FOX to give the late scores. They covered the early scores (that they had covered during half time) scrolled through the early games’ stats and then went on to cover next week! I got so fed up after 10 minutes that I flipped the channel. Thankfully NBC had started their coverage of Sunday Night Football, and I was able to obtain my information.

Who would have thought? It figures.

The Simpsons should not come on at 7 p.m. What the hell is FOX thinking? The season premiere started at about 7:15 because the Giants-Redskins game and the following FOX post game coverage didn't end in time.

I didn't see the opening sequence, but didn't think anything of it because I was flipping the channels. A laugh here, a chuckle there and then the closing screen pops up. What?! That was it? How unsatisfying. I didn't realize I didn't see a full episode until I glanced at the clock: 7:30. Oh look: King of the Hill.

Click. (that was the sound of my remove flipping the channel to NBC)

On the other side of premiere Sunday and not a disappointment: Family Guy: The Star Wars Episode.

I was nervous about what it might be like, but it was freakin' sweet. I can't believe Lucas Films let them make half of the jokes--especially "the force" references and everything involving Obi Wan Kanobi/Herbert.

The whole thing made me want to watch Star Wars. And I couldn't help but marvel at the artful animation.

Yes, Seth MacFarlane continues to be my hero. Brilliant, genius, witty. (Seth's first downfall is that he doesn't like Rent)

My second hero is Shonda Rimes, creator and resident writer of Grey's Anatomy. Last season she dismantled our beloved Seattle Grace hospital staff--even those we love to hate. So flash back to the hospital--17 days later. It truly feels like we're back from summer vacation. The first episode was full of twists and turns--everything we've come to expect. We still want to keep Der-Mer together, knowing there will be those ups and downs. Curious at the prospect of Izzy and George. And if Karev can soften there's hope for all of us. Finally when everything gets just a little too heavy we always have McSteamy to cheer us up (even if it's just the memory of him stepping out of that shower).

But enough of my Grey's gushing.

CSI. I'm never watching it again. Mark my words. They teased me over the summer with the hope of Sara's demise. I flipped back and forth Thursday, just waiting to watch her die. But of course that never happened. No long, slow, painful death. While the impact of my loss of viewership may not break their hearts--they lost my loyalty nevertheless.

I stopped watching when they revealed Sara and Grissom were involved. And one season later, I haven't missed them in the slightest. I am never watching CSI again.

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Season Picks

Here is my second annual evaluation of the schedule and season picks. Below are my picks in writing so I can be embarrassed or vindicated in February:

NFC:

North
Bears: 13-3 :1
Packers: 12-4 :5
Vikings: 7-9
Lions: 4-12

South
Saints: 11-5 :4
Panthers: 6-10
Falcons: 6-10
Buccaneers: 1-15

East
Cowboys: 12-4 :2
Eagles: 11-5 :6
Redskins: 5-11
Giants: 3-13

West
Rams: 12-4 :3
49ers: 11-5 :6
Seahawks: 7-9
Cardinals 2-14

AFC:

North
Ravens: 14-2 :2
Steelers: 11-5 :5
Bengals: 11-5 :6
Browns: 4-12

South
Colts: 14-2 :1
Titans: 7-9
Texans: 7-9
Jaguars: 7-9

East
Patriots: 11-5 :4
Dolphins: 7-9
Jets: 6-10
Bills: 3-13

West
Chargers: 14-2 :3
Broncos: 9-7
Chiefs: 6-10
Raiders: 1-15

NFC Wild Card
49ers vs. Rams—49ers
Packers vs. Saints—Packers

NFC Divisional
Packers vs. Cowboys—Cowboys
49ers vs. Bears—Bears

NFC Conference: Cowboys vs. Bears—Cowboys

AFC Wild Card
Bengals vs. Chargers—Chargers
Steelers vs. Patriots—Patriots

AFC Divisional
Chargers vs. Ravens—Chargers
Patriots vs. Colts—Colts

AFC Conference: Chargers vs. ColtsColts

Super Bowl: Cowboys vs. Colts—Colts

Packer Post -- Installment 52

Week 2: September 16, 2007


Green Bay Packers at New York Giants


QB-Eli Manning started and played the game, seemingly unhampered by the injured right shoulder.


Both teams stutter on their opening drives, K-AJ Feely and K-Mason Crosby missing 37 and 43-yard field goals.


Pass Interference was called on an incomplete pass intended for WR-Ruvell Martin, putting the ball on the Giants 25 for a Packer first down. A quick pass to WR-Donald Driver for five yards and then a play action pass to WR-James Jones got the first down for a gain of seven yards.


* First Quarter: 0-0 ~ Tie *


DE-Strahan almost intercepts the ball on a tipped pass, forcing a fourth down. S-Gibril Wilson gets called for roughing the punter, giving the Packers a first down. But a tipped pass intended for Driver is intercepted by Wilson.


On Green Bay's 19 yard line Manning throws deep on third down to TE-Jeremy Shockey. S-Atari Bigby defends the ball, knocking it away in great fashion. LB-Brady Popinga almost blocks the punt on show of special teams prowess that we haven't seen from the Packers since 1998.


Favre throws deep to Jones for 46 yards to the Giants' 30. Screen to RB-Ryan Grant for a gain of 20 and first and goal. A fake throw to RB-DeShawn Wynn, touchdown.


Manning to WR-Amani Toomer, Woodson slips on coverage, gain of 40 yards to Packers 26 yard line. Manning has a huge amount of time to get the ball 26-yards to WR-Plexico Burress for a touchdown.


The next Giants drive, on a third and three, Manning throws 19-yards to Shockey to the 38. LB-Aaron Kampman goes offsides, and in this free play, Manning throws to Shockey again, for a gain of 17 yards. After this catch Shockey spiked the ball, drawing a delay of game penalty. The Kampman-offsides and Shockey-delay of game penalties offset for a replay of third down. Giants lose the 19 yards resulting from the play and the ensuing first down. Drive ends in a 48-yard Feely field goal.


* Second Quarter: 7-10 ~ Giants *


CB-Tramon Williams takes the kickoff for 42-yards, Packers start on their own 48. RB-Brandon Jackson can't get the running game rolling, so the offense advances down the field by two 10-yard passes to FB-Korey Hall. Jones catches two passes for 22-yards. Pass Interference called of CB-Sam Madison, puts the ball on the Giants 11. Favre connects to TE-Bubba Franks for the touchdown.

Pass interference call on CB-Al Harris gives the Giants a first down on Packers 21. Four plays later Toomer gets called for unsportsmanlike conduct for a loss of 15 yards on the Packers eight. This stalls the drive and the Giants settle for a field goal.

* Third Quarter: 14-13 ~ Packers *


Favre hits four receivers for 75-yards, touchdown to WR-Donald Lee.

Packers recover a RB-Ahmand Bradshaw muffed punt return on the Giants 22. Favre hits Driver for a 10-yard touchdown pass.

Manning's short attempt is intercepted by DT-Corey Williams. Wynn runs 38-yards for a touchdown.

* Fourth Quarter: 35-13 ~ Packers *

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Packer Post -- Installment 51

September 9, 2007 ~ Opening Day
Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers

Both teams go three and out in their opening series. CB-Al Harris is injured while on punt coverage during the Eagle’s second series. On this punt, WR-Greg Lewis muffs the catch on the 20, it squirts around and the Packers recover it in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Eagles next possession ends with a LB-Nick Barnett interception on a 3rd and 13.

Packers are driving down the field and G-Daryn Colledge is called for a false start. Third and 11, an illegal contact call is not made against the Eagles and the ball is incomplete to WR-Donald Driver. K-Mason Crosby makes a 53-yard field goal.

More mediocrity from the offense when CB-Sheldon Brown intercepts a pass intended for TE-Bubba Franks.

* First Quarter: 10-0 ~ Packers *

The defense shuts out the Eagles in the redzone, and holds them to a 33-yard K-David Akers field goal. The next series, QB-Donovan McNabb wings a nine-yard pass to WR-Jason Avant to even the score at 10.

QB-Brett Favre scrambles, is nearly intercepted then shovels the ball to RB-Brandon Jackson for a gain of six yards.

Later in the drive, Favre is sacked the first of four times, by DE-Jevon Kearse, who limps off the field.

Poor clock management, and the Packers end the quarter without a field goal attempt.

* Second Quarter: 10-10 ~ Tie *

Harris breaks up a touchdown pass and the Eagles settle for another Akers 47-yard field goal.

Crosby matches Aker’s foot by booting through a 37-yard field goal.

* Third Quarter: 13-13 ~ Tie *

DT-Cullen Jenkins sacks McNabb on a third down, but an illegal contact call on the defense gives the Eagles a first down. But DT-Corey Williams gets a sack on the 3rd down to end the drive.

Favre overthrows a deep pass to WR-James Jones on a third and one, Eagles get the ball back with six minutes left in the game.

Personal foul-unsportsmanlike conduct on the Eagles punt coverage puts Packers drive at their own 34. Drive ends when Kearse recovers a Favre fumble.

One possession later, Eagles fumble on the punt and the Packers recover on the 30. Mason kicks a 42-field goal to win the game.

* Fourth Quarter: 16-13 ~ Packers *


NFL News
In the Chargers-Bears game, the Chargers were at the inches mark in the redzone. The Bears Thomas Harris went into the neutral zone, causing the center to snap and fumble the ball, which the Bears recovered. And there was no call. It was more than clear that the Bears should have been called for encroachment, but since it was a “no call” it couldn’t be challenged. So the Chargers lost a guaranteed touchdown.

Buffalo Bills TE-Kevin Everett is injured on special teams coverage. In the replays, you can see he goes instantly limp after helmet-to-helmet contact. They bring the ambulance on the field and remove him and he undergoes emergency surgery soon after. Later in the week we learn his third vertebrae was crushed into the fourth, but the quick work from the ambulance staff and the hospital, they’re able to limit swolling so it doesn’t sever the spinal cord. Everett is able to “voluntarily move” and doctors say he’ll be able to walk again.

Injuries
Giants QB-Eli Manning separates his throwing shoulder, and leaves the game with a little more than two minutes left in the fourth quarter.

New York Jet Fans get ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike’s Just Shut Up Award for booing QB-Chad Pennington as he hobbles off the field after finishing the series injured.

NFL confirms that the Patriots were breaking the rules (cheating) when they video taped the Jets Defensive coaches as they were sending calls to the team. Patriots were fined $250,000 and a first round draft pick. Coach Bill Belichek was fined the maximum $500,000.

Teams have also accused the Patriots for scrambling frequencies so the opposing teams' radio equipment didn't work on key plays--which stopped players from receiving the plays.

Turns out the holy Patriots and all the "dynasty" entails isn't as shiny and as untouchable as they would like us to believe.

Commentary
I’m surprised at the penalties and poor coverage from the offensive line. Favre didn’t have enough time to let the receivers complete their routes before he had to scramble and unload the ball. He was sacked four times and hurried many more. The Eagles have always had a respectable defense, but I didn’t think that they would be capable of owning the O-Line the way they did. Pull that together a little more, and with more experience for the receivers and running backs, the offense will be less dismal than they looked last Sunday.

Okay. Why… The hell... Was… Al Harris... Covering... Punts? I heard on the radio that after he banged up his elbow in that opening punt he decided he’s not going to volunteer for punt coverage anymore. Ya think?

And what did they do to special teams to make them all shiny and good? Or were the Eagles special teams just that bad?

With the whole Tiki Barber incident, it made me start thinking about what hills Eli Manning has to climb. It must be hard to be Eli Manning in the NFL World. He’ll forever be (until he wins a Super Bowl and at least one MVP) Archie’s son and Peyton’s brother. When he plays, you always hear the commentators or pre-game guys say “Peyton would have done …”

Eli really just can’t come out on top, because to be anything in that legacy he needs reach the very top. And that apex has been set pretty darn high because of his older brother (and no, I don’t mean Craig Manning). Just think, if Drew Brees would retire today, he would be thought of as a pretty good to excellent quarterback. But match his cards up to Peyton’s? Well, then his deck is barely half full.

Like I said in a previous blog, I don’t have a soft spot for Eli Manning by any means. I’m just saying, it must be pretty tough to be Eli.

Week 1 Questions:
Are they really that bad? Saints, Falcons, Giants Defense, Cleveland?

Are they for real? Oakland, Detroit, Vikings, Cowboys?

My Week 1 NFL Picks: 13-3

Fantasyism: The first half the Charger-Bear game when the Chargers didn’t score a point (more so my No. 1 Draft Pick: LaDanian Tomlinson didn’t score a point) was karma slapping me for hating on Phillip Rivers while Brees had his tenure at the Chargers.

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Enough Drama, Get to the Football

Tiki Barber, former New York Giants running back, now a commentator for NBC Sports, made comments about his former team and quarterback in August. The long and short of it, he bashed QB-Eli Manning and said he wasn't a leader. Eli respectfully defended himself, and the team rallied behind him.

I've always had respect for Tiki Barber, he seems like a good guy off the field. But, I think he's absolutely wrong for calling out his team and Manning so unprofessionally.

Now, don't think I'm saying this because I have warm and fuzzy feelings for Manning or the Giants. I don't.

I agree that Barber needs to comment and offer his opinions about his former team--it's his job. Okay. But what I take offense with is that he wasn't professional with the way he did it. Because Tiki didn't just offer his thoughts. He slammed Manning. It all felt like very personal comments, and not an objective point of view.

And isn't it funny that no one from the Giants has said that what Tiki did was okay, because he was just doing his job. Of course, they don't agree---but they don't hold any ill will against him. I think Barber crossed a line and burned a whole lotta bridges in the process.

The whole Michael Vick drama deluted the pre-season experience for me. After he made his deal, I thought everyone would settle down and move on to football. Unfortunately, Whoopi Goldberg (and since they've started talking about it on ESPN Radio again) others are defending Vick because dog fighting is ingrained in his culture. He was brought up with it so he doesn't know any better. I'm sorry, but those rationalizations are inexcusable. I would tend to agree if it was a child, high school kid or someone who's never left the "old neighborhood."

You can't say a grown man who has millions of dollars, college education, works and lives in the framework of the NFL doesn't know any better than to brutally murder a living creature. He absolutely knew that it was illegal. And entering into a contract where there are certain expectations of your behavior on and off the field, he knew that in the eyes of the NFL it was wrong.

Look at all the men who've raised themselves above that old behavior. There are so many players that do so much good with their money and celebrity.

I've never been a Vick cheerleader, but I've never had any gripes against the guy away from the field. I'm not feeling as forgiving as most. That apology wasn't enough.

"The second half was a mob hit. No one saw it coming." ~ Eric
Caslious, ESPN Radio

Referring to the Colts scoring 41 points in the season opener,
shutting out the Saints in the last half of the game.