I love that Dirty Water - Boston your my home! Many thanks to my lovely wife who spent 2 hrs yesterday driving to Braintree to get our insurance stamp of approval and then spending another 3 at the DMV to get our new "fancy plates" - VERY NICE!
(Speaking of) I was 0-2 on Red Sox games this year. We went 2 weeks ago with Jim "Moon" Burrough, and apparently he brought the golden horseshoe. The Sox dominated with a run filled explosion 12-8. We finally got to hear "Dirty Water". Here we are at the end.
Here is a shoddy wannabe bandstand with one of the worst lip-syncing jobs ever by the Standells, Boston's own little 60's garage band. Whenever the Red Sox win a game, this song plays promptly upon the last out.
I came to terms with something this weekend. I love horse racing. Thank God I don't have a penchant for gambling (speaking of which, did anyone see Charles Barkley nail a spectator in the face 15 ft in front of him with his drive at the golf Pro-Am this week?). I always get fired up for the Kentucky Derby when May rolls around. I look for the Knob Creek or the Woodford Reserve and my nearest mint sprig. I love the build up and then the inevitable race. If NASCAR had no restrictor plates and was only 10 laps, I would be in like Flint. We also celebrate the movie Seabiscuit in this house - heck, it's got The Dude in it. I even tried this year to have a Derby party but couldn't make it happen. You can bet that next year it will come to fruition.Regardless, the Preakness took place on Saturday. As the second leg of the Triple Crown, all eyes were on the Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird. Seeing as Bird was a huge upset win along the lines of Giacomo from years ago, not many were expecting a repeat performance. Even his jockey, Calvin Borel, jumped ship for another horse. He decided to ride Rachel Alexandra, a filly, who didn't even feature in the Derby. Apparently, she's the second coming. Looks like they were right. She took the lead from the 13th position (that's like the 8th lane in track - the furthest from the inside) and never gave it up. At the halfway point, Mine That Bird found himself dead last. Then much like the Derby, he flipped a switch. In the Derby, he went last to 1st squeezing through the eye of the needle on the rail. The other jockeys knew he was coming this time. The rail was shut off. MTB went to the outside and passed every single horse in the last 1/4 only to finish on the heel of Rachel Alexandra. Were this race another 100 yards, the Bird would have won - NO QUESTION. It was a great race. Alexandria became the 1st filly winner in over 80 years. Can't wait for the Belmont Stakes, the longest race of the Triple Crown. The Bird might stretch it out!
Jay Cutler was just traded to the Chicago Bears from Denver. After months of squabbling with the firing of coach Mike Shanahan, the hiring of Josh McDaniels and the attempted trade of Jay Cutler, the attempt is good! I loathe anything from Bill Belichek or the New England Patriots - Josh McDaniels included. With 3 other Vanderbilt Commodores playing for the Bears (WR - Earl Bennett, OL - Chris Williams, and LB - Hunter Hillenmeyer), any Vandy fan has got to have a little space in their heart for the Windy City. Can't wait to re-kindle the Cutler to Bennett flame! I'm getting a replica jersey on the 1st pressing.......
Well for all you non footies out there, January and August serve as the Transfer Windows in the world of Soccer/Futbol. No matter the league or the country, it turns into an all out free-for-all to sign players, sell players, spend money, and make money. My lowly Fulham Cottagers have just sold the heart and soul of their team for a measly 5 million quid. Really? Fulham's owner is Mohammed Al-Fayed. Like he or the team needs another 5 million especially for the engine of their team. Jimmy Bullard is their central midfielder and the player that takes all free kicks. His final free kick last year careened off the head of Danny Murphy for the goal that kept Fulham in the Premier League. Around the goal, his kicks strike fear in the hearts of keepers as he bends his shot wicked good. Yes, he has had a lackluster year compared to the heroics of last. Alas, it is all gone. He his now at Hull City. Blegh! Now what will we do?
Here is a shot from the old boy last year (fast fwd to 1:30 to see the replay)
I really can't type/think straight right now...... I'm about to put this laptop through the TV.....
The game was BASICALLY settled on the field. TN had 3 turnovers INSIDE the 30 yrd line - costly. They lost Chris Johnson and never recovered offensively. They had 12 penalties (many of which were chippy personal fouls).
Regardless, the picture above will forever haunt me. Had Baltimore simply marched down the field and scored on the final drive, I would sleep fairly well tonight. BUT - this penalty was NEVER called, and the Ravens got a 1st down on this play. Had they not, they would have punted and settled for overtime....3rd and 7 is a mile from 3rd and 2 for a team that hadn't exactly had a great offensive day. Thank the backjudge and the rest of the refs and thank your lucky stars. Stupid Ravens....
The Tennessee Titans roll on! They have had their way with the Colts and the Packers in less than a week. With a dominating defense and a relatively mistake-free offense, the boys in baby blue have blasted their way to 8-0. They are the last undefeated team, and I think they will be in Tampa facing the Giants for the Super Bowl. The secret to their success (besides the defense and mistake-free offense) is their running game. Lendale White is their butterball battering ram and the Sawyer's neighbor. He is THUNDER. When you need the short hard yards, he's our man. On the other hand, Chris Johnson runs a sub 4.2 second 40-yard dash. The fastest man in the draft last year and the Titans' 1st pick has sliced through defenses like a knife through sashimi. He is LIGHTNING. When you have Thunder & Lightning, you best run for cover.
It was 5 yrs ago today, October 14, 2003, the playoffs, Cubs vs. Marlins, the 8th inning, Game 6. Mark Prior had a 3-hit shutout through 7 with 1 out in the 8th for the Cubs up 3-0. Luis Castillo to the plate with 1 out, and the Cubs only 5 outs from the World Series. Castillo with a foul ball down the left field line.....With his little sweatshirt, Bartman , a known headphones aficionado, reached out and took the 2nd out OUT of the outstretched glove of Moises Alou (a Chicago Cub - for whom Bartman was a fan). The ump said NO fan interference. WHAT?!? Castillo went on to draw a walk and was driven in for a score of 3-1 and much worse to come. As the Cubs came to the plate in the bottom of the 8th, they found themselves DOWN 7-3. A 7-run 8th inning set off by superfan, Steve Bartman.
Bartman has never granted an interview and has never returned to Wrigley (he was escorted out). The Cubs have not won a single playoff game since-despite making the playoffs twice since. If you make your way to Wrigley, be sure to stop by the Bartman seat (Section 4, Row 8, Seat 113). Steve-o goes down in the books of curses with the Great Bambino for the Red Sox, the Black Cat crossing the field at Shea Stadium for the Mets, and the Cubs barring of Billy Sianis (sp?) and his billy goat from Wrigley that has cursed the Cubbies for over 95 years. Here's to you Bartman, the poor guy....pour one out for him tonight. GO RED SOX!!!
Nevertheless, this was a decent weekend. On Friday, Whitney and I went to the North End for Giacomo's with Leann & Will from the ECS reunion. I had some excellent shrimp and scallops over linguini with the Giacomo/Fra Diavolo combo sauce. Delicious. We then walked to Caffe Vittoria for coffee, liqour, and gelatto. On top of all that, I didn't have to drive, and Whitney let us take the T. Bless you. OH, did I mention that the Sox won AGAIN in Anaheim.
On Saturday, I went to the Mass Periodontal Society meeting at the Crowne Plaza. I know. Can you imagine the excitement? The speaker was from Charleston...awesome. Until I realized that he was an egotistical Elephant Killer. Literally, the guy showed pictures of his safari and pictures of 3 elephants that they HAD to kill because they attacked them......nice guy. SO, I left at lunch (b/c Vanderbilt had Gameday, and b/c I had Giacomo's left overs). I then watched the DVR of Fulham losing to West Bromwich Albion (the one black-eye of my weekend) and the DVR of Gameday. Awesome. The next couple of hours consisted of me on the couch girating and watching the clock slowly tick towards 6:00 pm and kick-off. Whit made Chicken Chili, and the game began. Down early, Vandy came back and won. Hurray! Still hasn't registered, yet.
Sunday kicked off with sleeping late which I NEVER DO. We had lunch at Zaftig's consisting of my Feta, Tomato, Spinach omelet w/ home fries, rye bread and challah. Challah Back, y'all! We hit Bed, Bath and Beyond for space heaters, tupperware and curtain rods. All in all, pretty wonderful Sunday. Not to mention, the Titans came back and defeated the evil Baltimore Ravens. We filled our time until the Red Sox game with a little Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. It's pretty alright. It's kind of like Can't Hardly Wait meets Adventures in Babysitting with a little Scorcese's After Hours. Oh, wait. This is a remake of After Hours? Kind of. It wants to be Juno 2: Bleeker Get's Ready to Go to College. It's not. It does have a tuna canned indie rock soundtrack that I'm sure you'll download and tell all your friends that you knew Bishop Allen before there was a Nick n Norah (I did and you did too if you heeded my requests on this blog for you people to download that you never read or care about - so, I wonder why I even take the time.) ahem! This flick namedrops for street cred like I've never heard: Arlene' s Grocery, the Bowery Ballroom, the Mercury Lounge, insert band here ____. All in all just bring your Purell. That's all I'll say. Whitney wanted to shower after this - not a movie for germaphobes. We are currently topping the night off with some steak fajitas, Red Sox/Angels, and an Amstel Light. (side Note) Happy Birthday, Blake Sloan. 30 never looked so good (kidding, I know you're 29). War Eagle all you Aubies and have a great week!
Thanks Gameday! And thank you, Lee Corso. Thanks for picking Auburn. Your "curse" continues! Vandy is 5-0 for the 1st time since FDR was in office after downing Auburn 14-13. They are boldly going where no other Vandy team has gone before! I am speechless!!!!!
Hell has frozen over....ESPN's College Gameday is coming this Saturday to Vanderbilt University! As they take on the Auburn Tigers, Lee, Chris and Kirk will be there with Desmond in tow for the 1st time in the history of the show! Crazy! The 4-0 Dores go head to head with the 4-1 Teagles who narrowly escaped an inept UT last Saturday. Here's hoping that Corso puts on Aubie's head!
The Ryder Cup has begun! We have gotten destroyed the last 3 times by Europe. For all the ladies that are reading this and don't know what this is (if you are a guy and you don't know - shoot yourself), the Ryder Cup is the United States vs. Europe in a weekend of team golf competition in various formats. The last time we won (I could be wrong....) was when Payne Stewart and co. took down the Europeans in a fury of USA, USA chants. Sadly, that was the last we saw of Payne Stewart. He had a great year in 2000, he won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and then the triumph in the Ryder Cup. Payne died in a plane crash that fall...
After the 1st day today, the U.S. is in the lead! With no Tiger and our recent run of failures in the Cup, we did not stand a chance!!! Ryder 1st timer Boo Weekley has fired up the crowd with his good ol' boy persona and laissez-faire attitude. If you have never seen Boo (most of the few who read this blog - both of you....), he is a trip. Straight out of the backwoods and swamps of Milton, FL, there is no one like Boo Weekley. He shot up the leader board last year at the PGA Championship and nearly broke the single round record for a major (63).
Here was his press conference afterwards - PRICELESS!
Should I say, "Hidden Passports?". Whatever. The Chinese/Chianese scare me. They are the modern day USSR. OH! They are also massive cheaters. My favorite event in the Summer Olympics is women's gymnastics. This was secondary to my crush on Shannon Miller from 1992-1996 (yes, I know she is white trash - I was 12). The women's team came up short the other night pulling in the Silver medal. The Chinese won the Gold - period. They were great. Even if poor Alicia Sacs (Sacrimoni) hadn't had 2 major errors, the Chinese would have won. So, I don't want any tears shed by that poor girl. She is a champ. Regardless, the Chinese team was suspect and has been suspect from day one. Media outlets all over the place are reporting China team members Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, and He Kexin are 13/14 years old. When He (Kexin) was in competition last fall a Chinese AP report spoke of rising Chinese stars....like the 14 year old He.......this report came out yesterday. The link to that article is now gone along with the article......weird.......thanks Chinese government. The government has verified all their gov issued passports showing that the girls are over the 16 yo as of Jan 1, 2008 minimum. They're not suspicious at all though...............He Kexin's birthday............Jan 1, 1992. WOW! Way to not make it obvious. I know you people have seen these kids. Yes, kids. Bela Karolyi basically had to be cut off by Bob Costas the other night, b/c he kept slipping in, "Well, they ARE using 14 year old girls...". In a completely NON-dirty way, Karolyi with his 30 years of gymnastic coaching knows what 14 year olds look like. Tonight on NBC news, they ran a story on China's Project 119. This is their Hitler Youth camps for children training to be dominant in the Olympic games. That's it. It's SOLE purpose. WHO CARES??????? I love the Olympics, but it isn't everything. This project is insane and sad. If anything, those kids could be much better used sewing my new shirt from J.Crew (sic). Yippee! Hurray! Zoolander much?
The Chinese even cheated with the opening ceremonies. The fireworks were computer generated. The little girl singing was 7 years old and lip syncing for a 14 year old (again that age thing........).At the end of the day if these girls ARE of age, these girls must be kept in a box like veal, so they can't grow. They are let out the day of competition and see light for the 1st time. It's like Plato's allegory of the cave (what? not really).
ERHH!!! CHEATERS!!!!!!! *%^$!@*^%$#*^$!&^!!!!
(editors note/addendum 8/18/08) - wow, so now the judges are just morons from Turkmenistan, Grenada, Australia (insert random country here) - The Judges botched everything! Not one of the judges can be from a competing team's country. These yoyos are ALL from countries that have NOT ONE MEDAL IN GYMNASTICS EVER between them - BLURGGG!
Great Job, USA! Who didn't cheer their socks off for these two? Whitney sure did.....
Like the Packers were going to let another NFC team have Fav-ruh! Great move by them sending him to the AFC. The Pats' world in the AFC east just got interesting. I knew I stayed up late for something. Say bye-bye, Chad Pennington!
About 2 months ago, the new Nike Soccer commercial directed by Guy Ritchie was released. I still love seeing it. It's a 1st-person job as if we're looking through your eyes while climbing the ranks of the futbol world into world renowned celebrity. The clip is a who's who in European soccer featuring YOU against Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), being tapped by Arsene Wenger to come to Arsenal, subbing for Gallas, scoring after an assist from Cesc Fabregas, losing a tooth via Ibrahimovich, walking the Red Carpet, high fiving/getting a lesson from Ronaldinho, taking the field with the Dutch National team, Huntelaar and Ruud Van Nilsteroy against Portugal, and it is after the jump. Oh, Guy Ritchie...you're cooler than Madonna.... Well, maybe not....
The Euro Cup began last weekend and is one week in. This is basically a mini-world cup for the national teams of Europe (like the World Cup - it's every 4 years). The defending champs, Greece, are about to be eliminated, while Spain and the Netherlands look poised for dominance. The Italian and French sides couldn't win if you paid them (my what difference 2 years makes after an Italy/France World Cup Final in 2006). Check it out on everyday for the rest of the month on ESPN2 and ESPN Classic every day at 12:00 and 2:45 (we watch it in our resident's room while we eat our lunch). You can also watch it for free on ESPN360.com if your internet provider allows it. Viva Espana!
Well, the weekend is over.....Trevor Immelman was basically a wire2wire champ. Tied with Justin Rose after day 1, he held his own everyday until he was adorned with the green jacket today by last years champ Zach Johnson. Ironically, Zach Johnson was the name of a guy in the class behind me at MBA (much like the feel good story of the weekend, Brandt Snedeker). The difference is that unlike the Zach Johnson I know, this was the Brandt Snedeker. While Immelman carried the burden of being the leader, Snedeker was right behind him in 2nd for most of the weekend and at times sharing and taking the lead. Playing together in the final group on Sunday, Immelman played through the ups and downs cool as a cucumber, while Snedeker felt the weight of the spotlight. Other than eagle on the par 5 #2 and a few birdies here and there, Snedeker had little else to cheer for. As his 2nd shot on #13 trickled into Rae's Creek, so trickled away his shot at the green jacket. Nevertheless, you would never know his round and tournament were falling apart by the look on his face. With the downs being more prevalent than the ups, Snedeker carried on with a turn of the cheek and a shake of the head all with a smile and twinkle in his eye. After rounds of 69, 68, and 70, Snedeker closed out the weekend in Augusta with a +5 (77- T-3rd). As he walked off the green on 18, he received a standing ovation from the gallery while Immelman waited to roll in his final put. He left the same way he came in - with a smile. Clearly though, the weekend had taken its toll on him as you'll see on the clip below. Snedeker can and should hold his head up high. He played very well and will be a household name after this weekend. This is not the last we'll see of this young man. Today was not his day, but it may not be too far down the fairway....
Augusta, your dogwoods and pines they play on my mind like a song......
Amen Corner
Give a little love to Brandt Snedeker, last year's PGA rookie of the year. He's a rising star on tour and a Vanderbilt graduate. OH, and he was in the class below us at MBA. Currently -4 under... (co-leader 6:32pm)
For all the tree hugging liber Massachusans blahblahblah that complain that women should be able to be members at Augusta National.....Here's a lovely protest across the street from Magnolia Ln. at the 2004 Masters. Check out my boy in the back.....
Enjoy one of the best weekends in sports and what I've come to call: "Tiger Watch"
After a near upset of Maryland in the first round last year, I would not shut up about a relatively unknown guard for little ol' Davidson. When I thought Davidson, I usually thought Brew Davis or Georgia Yowell or maybe Mr. Fraley, my 7th grade English teacher who was fresh out of Davidson and Dr. Bueno's roomate. (As I remember, Mr. Fraley, who we were never to call Jeff unless we wanted to die, always called me Jeb and vice versa. Jeb was also derided for his love for eating chalk and the BB lodged in the side of his temple like Chas Tenenbaum's hand....ah, memories...) ANYWAYS, I annoyed Whitney to death last year telling her how her beloved ACC conference had spurned the likes of Dell Curry's progeny leaving him to sign with a school along the size of Sewanee and Rhodes that was merely nearby these giant programs. Papa Dell had a sweet stroke like Chuck "the rifleman" Person or Reggie Miller for over 15 yrs in the NBA . As we know now, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Like an "off broadway" play risen to stardom, Stephen (pronounced Stef-uhn not steven or stef-ahn) Curry charmed the pants of most of America (and my foreign classmates, too) in this year's NCAA tourney. If you didn't watch Davidson play, shoot yourself. Stephen Curry was amazing setting the record for most points scored in a single NCAA tournament (the rest of the top 10 are players that made the finals and usually won). Losing on Sunday to Kansas, Davidson had to settle for the Elite Eight. They were nothing short of elite. Curry was their star, but the team as a whole outplayed their competition. If you watched them, you probably know Andrew Lovedale, their power fwd who over powered the sequoia sized big men from Georgetown, Kansas and Wisconsin (during the regular season, Davidson also played UNC, Duke, and UCLA only losing to the latter by more than 10) On top of lauding the players, Davidson's coach, Bob McKillop, has to get the raise of the century or he is going to end up at a prime time program. He out coached the whole field. His dedication to film and strategy paid off in dividends (clearly). Then again it is not hard to out coach Bill Self, who is a chump and has been exposed countless times while consistently underachieving at Kansas. At the end of the day, the clock struck midnight, and Cinderella lost her slipper. Suck it, Gonzaga. You were never America's team or sweetheart - Davidson owns our hearts. We were all charmed by the little engine that could this year. As the NBA scouts look a little closer, they'll have to wait longer and quinch their thirst with us at next years tourney. Curry is staying in school. He is out of the shadows, and he has taken the spotlight....
Good Luck to all in your pools and your brackets! Of course, good luck to everyone's favorite teams! (ahem.....GO VANDY!.......and the vols - I'm not totally heartless)
How in the world did Fulham beat Everton? America's team holds off the death rattle for another week with a header to win by an American, Brian McBride! Leland, we're coming for your Magpies! (that's Newcastle people) Come on Cottagers!
