I love Ireland, I think they got shafted but their request for a 33rd team was so ridiculous it got me thinking.
How about FIFA allow a 33rd team of players who will miss the World cup in 2010. Guys that if it was up to FIFA would be in over almost anyone on Algeria, North Korea, New Zealand, Slovakia, Chile and South Africa
So here it is the World Cup's 33rd Team.
The 25 Man Roster of Players You won't see in 2010.
RULES:
1. There may be no more than 1 player from any country represented per position. Ex. Shay Given and Robbie Keane can be on the team, but Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko can't (unless we get creative and make Arshavin a winger)
2. There must be at least one player from each of the six associations (UEFA, CONCACAF, COMNEBOL, AFC, OFC, AFRICA)
3. The team must have a fair breakdown of players on it's 22 man roster. Ex. No team would carry 2 GKS, 5 Defenders, 5, Mids, and 13 Strikers
Goalkeepers 3--
Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea) - Cech isn't as good as he once was, but there is no doubt he is the best goalkeeper not going to South Africa. In 2008, he was voted the #4 keeper in the World behind Casillas, Buffon and van der Sar.
Shay Given (Ireland, Man City) - The argument that Given should be there anyway and the fact that we already have young inexperienced goalkeeper in Navas is why I put him on the squad over Igor Akinfeev (Russia, CSKA Moscow)
Keylor Navas (Costa Rica, Saprissa) - Navas is only 22 and already considered the third best keeper in CONCACAF. I know what your thinking, it's CONCACAF who cares? Considering he's behind Tim Howard and Guillermo Ochoa, that's not a bad spot to be. Akinfeev is better, but UEFA has enough on this team.
Defenders 8 --
Yuri Zhirkov (Russia, Chelsea) - Zhirkov is a left-back and the only defender to be named to the EURO 2008- All Tournament team that won't be playing in South Africa.
Sami Hyppia (Finland, Bayer Leverkusen) - The former Liverpool centre-back, will probably never see a World Cup. He plays for Finland and he's 36. But with 103 caps, and over 500 club matches he a good veteran fit with the next guy.
Jonny Evans (Northern Ireland, Manchester United) - Currently on loan to Sunderland, Evans is a 6'2, center back and only two months older than me. He might be a World cup away from really contributing to this team, but I'm pretty sure Northern Ireland isn't seeing the WC in 2014 either.
Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur) - You can never have enough good left-backs. Bale can even move up to a wing position. Him and Zhirkov would make it tough for a coach to choose who starts
John O'Shea (Ireland, Manchester United) - O'Shea is one of three Irishmen on the team, his abillity to move up into a defensive mid role is important, but he's likely start at CB along with Hyppia.
Christian Fuchs (Austria, VfL Bochum) - Fuchs is extremely versatile he can play in back, he can play central mid, and he can play winger. It certainly doesn't hurt him that he plays for Bochum either.
Ivan Cordoba (Columbia, Internazionale) - This guy has played 280 games for Inter Milan, pretty hard to leave him off the team. Yeah he's 33, but as of this moment the team doesn't have a right-back. At 5'8, Cordoba isn't a typical back, but his leaping ability is fairly well noted.
Darjo Srna (Croatia, Shakhtar Donetsk) - Srna is the captain of both his national team and his club team. However he takes much different roles. At Skakhtar he's the starting right-back. With Croatia he's a starting mifielder.
Midfielder 7 --
Yossi Benayoun (Israel, Liverpool) - Benayoun still might have a shot at playing in a World Cup, as Israel just keeps getting closer and closer to a big tourney. It seems like he's been around for a long time, but he's only 29. The most dynamic player in Israel, he scores pretty much everywhere he goes.
Kim Kallstrom (Sweden, Lyon) - It's rumored that he once knocked out teammate Adreas Isakkson on a free kick in training. Kallstrom is a natural born playmaker and can be put in any midfield role. Use him on the left-wing here and watch him create chances for Ibrahimovic and Berbatov.
Tomas Rosicky (Czech Republic, Arsenal) - The problem with Rosicky is that he plays the same position as Benayoun, is the same age and has really battled injury woes. The guy deserves the spot on this team, but might not be a starter.
Christian Noboa (Ecuador, Rubin Kazan) - Another attacking mid, but Noboa can play the wings as well. Easily the best midfielder in Ecuador, at 24 he's a name to watch.
Andrei Arshavin (Russia, Arsenal) - Is it cheating to call him a midfielder only so that Pavlyuchenko can get on the team? No, because Pavlyuchenko doesn't make the team. Arshavin plays mid on my team, because in a 4-5-1 my wing-mid should be a striker.
Luka Modric (Croatia, Tottenham Hotspur) - Since Srna plays defense for his club, it gives us a chance to put Modric into the team.
Hamit Altintop - (Turkey, Bayern Munich) - Altintop can fall into a defensive mid role, and that's the only reason I include him. I think there are better players out there.
Striker 7 --
Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, Barcelona) - Arguments that Ibra is the most in form player in the world right now might be true when it comes to club.
Osea Vakatalesau (Fiji, Ba FC) - The required Oceania choice might not be that bad. It's hard to know much about a player like him. All I know is that he played for the best club in Fiji and is on loan to a team in New Zealand. I can also tell you he has scored 36 goals in 23 international appearance. Granted the competition is not top class, but it's still and impressive run.
Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United) - honestly I don't care for him all that much, but he certainly belongs here.
Kenwyne Jones (T&T, Sunderland) - Trying to get some CONCACAF love here. Just goes to show that the teams that made the Cup are the teams that probably should have. (The same goes for Asia) With Costly, Palacios and Suazo at Honduras, and everyone else from USA or Mexico. It's just not a good conference.
Robbie Keane (Ireland, Tottenham Hotspur) - How can you leave the greatest scorer in Ireland history, and arguably the best in Tottenham history off this team? It can't be done.
Yasser Al-Qahtani (Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal) - Asia's only representative, Al-Qahtani is probably good enough to play for Championship English club. But the money in Saudi Arabia is better, he was a Saudi Premier League record transfer of 8.1 USD in 2005
Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo, Manchester City) - I almost forgot Adebayor, and now I'm worried I forgot about a lot of African players. There are some very good African players, that we have no idea who they play for, we just no they are African, out there, and that's why I hate not being in the same Pot as them.
Honorable Mention
Igor Akinfeev (Russia, CSKA Moscow) - Akinfeev is going to be really really good, he's easily the best Goalkeeper in the World under 23 [and that's coming from a guy who really really like Joe Hart from Birmingham City]
John Arne Riise (Norway, Roma) - Riise is easily my favorite defender to score an own goal that sent a team through in Champions League. Riise is a strong defender and while that own goal may have cost him his job at Anfield, he fits in well at Roma.
Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia, Tottenham Hotspur) - Very tough to leave him off the list, but I can't feel that bad for the Russians, unlike Ireland, they shot themselves in the foot during the playoff.
Mido (Egypt, Middlesbrough) - On loan to El Zamalek where he started his career. Mido was once a top player but has since fallen off a bit.
Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine) - just not what he used to be anymore, but still good enough to score goals in the World Cup.
Eduardo (Croatia, Arsenal) - he's good but if he picked the right team he wouldn't need to be on this list.
Damien Duff (Ireland, Fulham) - I just really like him so I'd bring him as a reserve.
Darren Fletcher (Scotland, Manchester United) - I thought fletcher was much older than 25, maybe I need to rethink that.
Seydou Keita (Mali, Barcelona) - midfielder finding his role well with Barcelona, gets the nod over Mahamadou Diarra (Real Madrid) and Mohamad Sossoko (Juventus) both Malian midfield mates.
Antonio Valencia (Ecuador, Manchester United) - still young but not quite ready to be in a group of players like those above
Marc Janko (Austria, FC Red Bull Salzburg) - same as Valencia, except he's a 6'6 striker.
Edin Dzeko (Bosnia, VfL Wolfsburg) - the 23 year old Christiano look alike is going to be a name that you get familiar with in a couple years
Mohamed Zidan (Egypt, Borussia Dortmund) - the simple fact he plays for BvB puts him behind Berbatov.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Professional Cricket League
As you can see by the invisible second and third editions of the EPL kits preview/review, I'ven't been writing much. But I finally found something to write about... cricket.
The USA Cricket Association (USACA, which is a great name in and of itself) announced earlier today that "it hopes 'top-class international cricket' will finally take root in America by launching the first professional competition, the USA Premier League." It's hard to believe that the crowd noise decibels at any event could ever match the name of the event. Seriously how many cricket players can you name? I can name 3, Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and a 4th guy and that's only because they were the 4 multiple choice answers for the 10,000,000 rupee question.
Investors have come up with numerous half-baked and/or poorly marketed sports ideas. For example pretty much every failed women's league of the past 10 years, the XFL comes to mind as half-baked, World TeamTennis the third time (only because I don't know if it was successful the first time) being another one. Oh you didn't know World TeamTennis came back?
The idea of a professional cricket league in the states is nearly as ridiculous as the idea that a professional curling league would be successful and here's why.
Look at nearly popular sports in the US... football, basketball, baseball and even the less popular ones like soccer and lacrosse. They can all be somehow adapted to a pick-up style game, in which full teams are not necessary and full field size is not necessary. Even hockey can be played with roller blades, a kick ball and a broom. Cricket doesn't work like that. It's played on a gigantic pitch... sorry boundary (this the proper term), and if you have never seen a game, basically it's baseball that is played in every direction. Where is a kid going to find 21 friends and a big enough place to play a game that none of the other 21 kids have ever seen in their lives?
New sports have to have a way to catch on with a young active generation (I say this knowing that the generation is not that active, but the ones who do go outside and play are the ones that are targeted by new sports). It's the reason more kids don't take up golf or tennis, they see it as standing around. Another reason it won't catch on with youth is... the awkward pitching motion. It's bad enough that Little Leaguers blow out their arms trying to throw curveballs. What's going to happen when they start trying this.
GOOD LUCK!
The scoring is confusing. Think running bases, with fielders everywhere. The one good thing Cricket might do is teach kids how to hit the cut-off man. Here's an example of a scorecard.
Rules. There are so many rules in baseball that the average fan doesn't know, imagine taking all those average fans and multiplying the rules by two. You might have cricket.
As you know I am a huge soccer fan and sadly I know that soccer will always be behind football, baseball and basketball... even if the US does finally win a World Cup. But soccer certainly has it's niche. People who love soccer watch soccer. Do I think the MLS is a great league, absolutely not. Do I watch it? Yes, because I love to watch the game. Do I ever think I will watch a cricket match or test or whatever it's called? NO, absolutely not.
USACA seems to think they have a marketable sport that people will latch onto, saying "it wants to unlock the sport's potential in a 'massive market' and use the revenues from the new league to help spread cricket across the U.S. and form a competitive international team." My question to them, cricket has been played since the 16th century, and international matches have been played since 1844, very similar to when Baseball first started. The Ashes which is likely the sports biggest event after the World Cup began in 1882. If it hasn't even become a niche sport in 150 years, what makes them think a professional league is going to suddenly gain attention.
Before USACA goes through with this, they should really check their history. The XFL could not compete with the NFL, the ABA could not compete with the NBA and these are sports that are the same already American known games. Anyone would thinks that cricket could be successful in the States has apparently never watched a baseball game.
The USA Cricket Association (USACA, which is a great name in and of itself) announced earlier today that "it hopes 'top-class international cricket' will finally take root in America by launching the first professional competition, the USA Premier League." It's hard to believe that the crowd noise decibels at any event could ever match the name of the event. Seriously how many cricket players can you name? I can name 3, Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and a 4th guy and that's only because they were the 4 multiple choice answers for the 10,000,000 rupee question.
Investors have come up with numerous half-baked and/or poorly marketed sports ideas. For example pretty much every failed women's league of the past 10 years, the XFL comes to mind as half-baked, World TeamTennis the third time (only because I don't know if it was successful the first time) being another one. Oh you didn't know World TeamTennis came back?
The idea of a professional cricket league in the states is nearly as ridiculous as the idea that a professional curling league would be successful and here's why.
Look at nearly popular sports in the US... football, basketball, baseball and even the less popular ones like soccer and lacrosse. They can all be somehow adapted to a pick-up style game, in which full teams are not necessary and full field size is not necessary. Even hockey can be played with roller blades, a kick ball and a broom. Cricket doesn't work like that. It's played on a gigantic pitch... sorry boundary (this the proper term), and if you have never seen a game, basically it's baseball that is played in every direction. Where is a kid going to find 21 friends and a big enough place to play a game that none of the other 21 kids have ever seen in their lives?
New sports have to have a way to catch on with a young active generation (I say this knowing that the generation is not that active, but the ones who do go outside and play are the ones that are targeted by new sports). It's the reason more kids don't take up golf or tennis, they see it as standing around. Another reason it won't catch on with youth is... the awkward pitching motion. It's bad enough that Little Leaguers blow out their arms trying to throw curveballs. What's going to happen when they start trying this.
GOOD LUCK!
The scoring is confusing. Think running bases, with fielders everywhere. The one good thing Cricket might do is teach kids how to hit the cut-off man. Here's an example of a scorecard.
Australia - 1st InningsI imagine that would make a bit of sense if I had a clue what some of the intricate rules meant. But I don't which leads to the next problem...
M. Taylor c. Richardson b. Snell 12
M. Slater LBW. Donald 57
D. Boon b. de Villiers 68
M. Waugh not out 184
A. Border c. Rhodes b. Donald 0
S. Waugh c. Snell b. de Villiers 34
I. Healy c. Snell b. de Villiers 6
S. Warne run out 35
M. Hughes st. Richardson b. Cronje 10
C. McDermott b. de Villiers 41
G. McGrath LBW. de Villiers 9
Extras 16
Total 141 overs 10 for 472
Rules. There are so many rules in baseball that the average fan doesn't know, imagine taking all those average fans and multiplying the rules by two. You might have cricket.
As you know I am a huge soccer fan and sadly I know that soccer will always be behind football, baseball and basketball... even if the US does finally win a World Cup. But soccer certainly has it's niche. People who love soccer watch soccer. Do I think the MLS is a great league, absolutely not. Do I watch it? Yes, because I love to watch the game. Do I ever think I will watch a cricket match or test or whatever it's called? NO, absolutely not.
USACA seems to think they have a marketable sport that people will latch onto, saying "it wants to unlock the sport's potential in a 'massive market' and use the revenues from the new league to help spread cricket across the U.S. and form a competitive international team." My question to them, cricket has been played since the 16th century, and international matches have been played since 1844, very similar to when Baseball first started. The Ashes which is likely the sports biggest event after the World Cup began in 1882. If it hasn't even become a niche sport in 150 years, what makes them think a professional league is going to suddenly gain attention.
Before USACA goes through with this, they should really check their history. The XFL could not compete with the NFL, the ABA could not compete with the NBA and these are sports that are the same already American known games. Anyone would thinks that cricket could be successful in the States has apparently never watched a baseball game.
Friday, June 26, 2009
New EPL Kits Part 1
I'm due for another blog entry and it just so happens to be a jersey segment. I haven't checked Uniwatchblog, in order to see if they've already done it, so if they have well too bad.
Thankfully Newcastle have dropped out of the Premiership and we won't have to see this hideous away kit. I always though yellow and white stripes would look kind of cool, but yellow and creme never crossed my mind.
So we will go in alphabetical order...
If you are familiar with the Arsenal crest you know that it contains two shades of red, gold, white and navy. So they went with this as their away kit. I've never been much for the Gunners away kits 08/09 and 07/08. But the 09/10 kit is not terrible much better than some of the rumored designs.
Aston Villa are choosing not to go with brown and orange, despite their massive success under owner Randy Lerner, they will stick with claret and sky blue (not to be confused with West Ham who also wear claret and sky blue ... here's why.) Villa also sticks with Nike and came up with this. Interestingly enough, the back story is that the team has produced many great players for the England National Team, and they wanted to honour that. I find it funny that the jerseys look eerily similar to a different National Team kit (Villa is owned by an American and both keepers are US Internationals, in fact the only country with more than one player representation on the squad is the US.
Perennial, stay-uppers Birmingham City... put out this lousy effort as their away kit. Did Umbro even try? I wore this kit as a U-11 for Eastside Kickers, just replace the sponsor with three yellow stripes and a white stripe.
I've always kind of had a crush on the Blackburn half and half kits of old, in which one side of the jersey would be blue with the other being white. It was always different, then they had last years Away Kit, which I find classy. This year's away kit is less than intriguing, but it serves it's purpose.
Bolton, YIKES just a tad bit to much going on there. I feel like if I look at the bottom part long enough, a bear might pop out in 3D, I don't understand the point in having weird patterns on the part that should be covered by your shorts, but when untucked it's even worse. And BTW that patch is a POCKET! Just in case you forgot to leave your keys in the locker room. This is a Reebok Kit, but Reebok is no longer the lead sponsor, maybe they are trying to take vengeance here.
Burnley are making their first appearance into the EPL, and they wear... claret and sky blue. Simple seeing as how there is a good chance they are going to be right back in Championship after 38 games or so.
And my boys Chelsea are taking some knocks for this weird sublimated sports bra home kit
I'm actually a bit disappointed in these kits, because I hadn't heard the Abramovich was putting a team in Le Tour de France until I saw these. As much as I am not feeling the home kit, take a loot at the away kit and 3rd kit. They both have the weird bra thing going on, which is supposed to be clima-cool, but the stripes make it a bit less obvious. What sucks is that the Big Clubs change their jerseys every single year, my Yellow kit. Not just kits, but colors, after a few years of yellow they have gone away from it.
Thankfully Newcastle have dropped out of the Premiership and we won't have to see this hideous away kit. I always though yellow and white stripes would look kind of cool, but yellow and creme never crossed my mind.
So we will go in alphabetical order...
If you are familiar with the Arsenal crest you know that it contains two shades of red, gold, white and navy. So they went with this as their away kit. I've never been much for the Gunners away kits 08/09 and 07/08. But the 09/10 kit is not terrible much better than some of the rumored designs.
Aston Villa are choosing not to go with brown and orange, despite their massive success under owner Randy Lerner, they will stick with claret and sky blue (not to be confused with West Ham who also wear claret and sky blue ... here's why.) Villa also sticks with Nike and came up with this. Interestingly enough, the back story is that the team has produced many great players for the England National Team, and they wanted to honour that. I find it funny that the jerseys look eerily similar to a different National Team kit (Villa is owned by an American and both keepers are US Internationals, in fact the only country with more than one player representation on the squad is the US.
Perennial, stay-uppers Birmingham City... put out this lousy effort as their away kit. Did Umbro even try? I wore this kit as a U-11 for Eastside Kickers, just replace the sponsor with three yellow stripes and a white stripe.
I've always kind of had a crush on the Blackburn half and half kits of old, in which one side of the jersey would be blue with the other being white. It was always different, then they had last years Away Kit, which I find classy. This year's away kit is less than intriguing, but it serves it's purpose.
Bolton, YIKES just a tad bit to much going on there. I feel like if I look at the bottom part long enough, a bear might pop out in 3D, I don't understand the point in having weird patterns on the part that should be covered by your shorts, but when untucked it's even worse. And BTW that patch is a POCKET! Just in case you forgot to leave your keys in the locker room. This is a Reebok Kit, but Reebok is no longer the lead sponsor, maybe they are trying to take vengeance here.
Burnley are making their first appearance into the EPL, and they wear... claret and sky blue. Simple seeing as how there is a good chance they are going to be right back in Championship after 38 games or so.
And my boys Chelsea are taking some knocks for this weird sublimated sports bra home kit
I'm actually a bit disappointed in these kits, because I hadn't heard the Abramovich was putting a team in Le Tour de France until I saw these. As much as I am not feeling the home kit, take a loot at the away kit and 3rd kit. They both have the weird bra thing going on, which is supposed to be clima-cool, but the stripes make it a bit less obvious. What sucks is that the Big Clubs change their jerseys every single year, my Yellow kit. Not just kits, but colors, after a few years of yellow they have gone away from it.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Wedge has to go.
Are the Indians a bad team this year? Or are they a good team with a manager who is unable to motivate them?
Obviously the bullpen issues can not be blamed on anyone but the pitchers in those situations, but there is no reason that the pen should be this bad.
In Friday's Plain Dealer, there is an article that says Wedge call out bullpen for... being lousy or something like that. This is after blowing a 7-0 lead to lose 8-7. Wedge was also ejected in this game, but one has to believe he still has say in the pitching decisions. There is no excuse for not going to a closer in a game that you should win. Instead they bring in a guy who hasn't pitched in three months, as the Guinness guys would say BRILLIANT!
However I'm not putting last night's loss entirely on the bullpen. The Indians are 2-2 in their last 4 games, and the two that they have lost, they have lost by one run. However, in both of those games an outfielder's inability to hit a cut-off man cost the team two unearned runs.
Ben Francisco's throw was way off line four days ago, which allowed both runners to move up and both of the runners scored on a single.
Shin Soo Choo throwing from Right-Field to third base to try and get Evan Longoria out bounced over DeRosa/Peralta's head and allowed Longoria to score and whoever hit it to move up to second. That guy also scored.
So the bullpen may be sucking but there is a lack of fundamentals on this team and that needs to be blamed on Eric Wedge. I've never been a big Wedge fan and I think it's time to move on.
Obviously the bullpen issues can not be blamed on anyone but the pitchers in those situations, but there is no reason that the pen should be this bad.
In Friday's Plain Dealer, there is an article that says Wedge call out bullpen for... being lousy or something like that. This is after blowing a 7-0 lead to lose 8-7. Wedge was also ejected in this game, but one has to believe he still has say in the pitching decisions. There is no excuse for not going to a closer in a game that you should win. Instead they bring in a guy who hasn't pitched in three months, as the Guinness guys would say BRILLIANT!
However I'm not putting last night's loss entirely on the bullpen. The Indians are 2-2 in their last 4 games, and the two that they have lost, they have lost by one run. However, in both of those games an outfielder's inability to hit a cut-off man cost the team two unearned runs.
Ben Francisco's throw was way off line four days ago, which allowed both runners to move up and both of the runners scored on a single.
Shin Soo Choo throwing from Right-Field to third base to try and get Evan Longoria out bounced over DeRosa/Peralta's head and allowed Longoria to score and whoever hit it to move up to second. That guy also scored.
So the bullpen may be sucking but there is a lack of fundamentals on this team and that needs to be blamed on Eric Wedge. I've never been a big Wedge fan and I think it's time to move on.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Cain Park 2009
Cain Park has released it's 2009 schedule for what I believe to be the first time in The Plain Dealer Friday magazine. Being a supporter of the Arts in the Heights (not by money, but by title) let's talk about it a little bit.
The following are shows that must be paid for. So Rootstock and Terrence Simien "fingers crossed" do not appear on the schedule.
The season kicks off on Wednesday, June 13 in the Evans Ampitheater with Anne Cochran. Cochran is best known for her hit single "Someone is Missing at Christmas" and for touring with Jim Brickman. Just what Cleveland needs a Christmas singer in June!
INTEREST: ZERO
The day before (Tuedsay, June 12th) in the Alma Theater is Harry Bacharach, a dead politician from Atlantic City. I'm assuming this is not that Harry Bacharach but with the attendance at some of the shows last season, maybe a dead guy would draw as well. A little more research shows me that Bacharach is a Cleveland based blues/jazz piano guy. A quick sample of one of his songs isn't to bad
INTEREST: FOUR
Another Alma Concert Series show on 6/16 is Gershwin '29. I would expect this to be some type of Gershwin Tribute. Though I'm not big on Gershwin, this show will probably do well.
INTEREST: THREE
JUNE 18TH sees the third show of the Alma Concert Series... September Songs, and again I have no idea what this is. Maybe a cover badn playing hits like Earth, Wind and Fire's "September" or The Temptations "September in the Rain"
INTEREST: N/A DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
Finally we are back to the Evan's for Kelly Bell Band. They are not related to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" hottie Kristen of the same last name. In fact Kelly Bell is a pretty cool looking blue playing black guy with dreads (he even has his own bobble-heads). I'm not much of a blues fan, but these guys look like they might be fun.
INTEREST: SIX
Playrights Weekend is the 19-21.
Big Cool Cats Music Festival on June 20th... Who's on the bill?
-70 Lewis, "a young alternative/progressive pop band featuring soulful vocals similar to Freddy Mercury on top of the pop sensibilities of Ben Folds." Sounds like fun!
-Cats on Holiday w/ the Mifune horn section. I played soccer with the guys from Mifune and they are a cool group. Mifune will play later. Here is there take on Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash .
-Mo Mojo a zydeco band
-Magpies indie/folk revivalists, Cleveland Scene "best Americana band"
-Mifune, afro-electronique they've got a really cool sound
-Ital, "old school reggae"
The show concludes with a jam session on the colonnade. It's a unknown Cleveland band festival, so it will be interesting. 70 Lewis looks real cool.
INTEREST: EIGHT
Long Road: Unbound in the Alma series It's the Budin group doing another benefit concert that people will flock to see. Not me, If i want to hear a cover band sing folk songs, I'll turn on Gone Country! on GMC.
INTEREST: THREE
"Happily Ever After" on 6/24 is a kids theater show, that will not star Hilary Duff despite it being dubbed a Cinderella tale.
INTEREST: TWO, unless Duff is there NINE
June 25 see Eric Bibb, who is not a member of the Bee Gees, maybe he is like Jon Bovi from SNL. Doubt it though, he is actually a blues guitar player. Because there are enough of those playing at Cain Park.
INTEREST: THREE
Groundworks Dancetheater... not reviewing
The first gig that people will have actually heard of comes on the 27th of June. She may be 69 but she's a Grammy Winner and that's Judy Collins. I'd rather see Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell but hey you can have every 60 something folk singing activist. Folk singing activists are so good because they are double negatives... folk singing and activist.
INTEREST: SIX, someday I can say I went to a Judy Collins concert, none of the music was relevant to 2009 when we had a Black President, and could have had a woman president.
The last concert in June is in the Alma and it's Cleveland guitarist Brian Henke. Henke puts on a good show, but I don't understand why people pay to see him when you can see him for free and the Metroparks.
INTEREST: FIVE
Livingston Taylor, who is the New York Jets of his family's musical talent, will be back for the upteenth year in a row. Just once could we get James to come along? maybe? just ocne it's all I ask.
INTEREST: THREE
That same night which is July 2nd is Juliette Regnier in concert. She's a singer that does not interest me.
INTEREST: ZERO
Arts Festival is the next weekend in between and a quick look at the schedule allows me to uncross my fingers, Yes I've been typing this with crossed fingers the whole time of course.
Brings us to July 17th for the band Eclectica, one would think that Eclectica would be a band of all sort of varieties, like having a band called Miscellaneous or Variety. Rather they are a jam band Supergroup bringing together the likes of Tracy Silverman on electric violin, Roy "Futureman" Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on drums and Steve Forrest on bass. Here they are without Forrest, but with Wooten and Silverman and a high school orchestra
INTEREST: EIGHT
How about pairing up two of the greatest folk legends ever when Arlo Guthrie and Richie Havens take the stage on the same night. I don't know if it will be together or not, but should be a great show. That's on July 18th.
INTEREST: SEVEN
Of course 5 days later you can hear another folk legend, at least in terms of satirical music in John McCutcheon. McCutcheon will play a Kidzart show the day before.
INTEREST: SIX
As an usher we were told either Big Bad Voodoo Daddy or Squirrel Nut Zippers would be there, obviously you can't have two contemporary swing groups in the same summer. So obviously go with the lesser known one because odds are they are cheaper. So on July 25th you can come watch the Squirrel Nut Zippers. These guys haven't released a single since 1998, but there music has appeared in a bunch of films (mostly starring Brendan Fraser) like "Blast from the Past" and "Monkeybone" since 2001
INTEREST: SIX
Pointe of Departure takes stage on July 31st they are not Human but Dancer.
Pippin begins that night and runs through 8/23. Due to nobody watching "old musical theater," by old I mean, not Wicked, Avenue Q, and stuff that my generation thinks is good musical theater anymore the Park is going with one "show." Honestly I know nothing about.
Tartan Terroes come to town oon August 1st, and likely the Scots will be out of World Cup Qualifying by then. These guys look like tons of fun, what Celtic group isn't. There most popular song is Scotland Depraved. Got to love a group that says, "be aware we wrote this song after non-alcholic drinks... American Beer"
INTEREST: TEN
Verb Ballets more dancing. When is Soulja Boy gonna come to the Evans.
Over the Rhine on August 8th, not sure how to describe them. Here is what the website says "post-nuclear, pseudo-alternative folk-tinged art pop." Heres the classic Hallelujah, yes the song from Shrek which sounds much different than the song "The World Can Wait"
INTEREST: SEVEN
Soul and Heart Festival on the 14th, is Budin's group that already played earlier in the season Long Road, along with his brother Noah. Prayer Warriors (pop-gospel) and Kristine Jackson (contemporary blues, which I think means Aimee Mann?)
INTEREST: FIVE, If not to hear what the Prayer Warriors have to offer.
The next day brings in Canadian crooner Matt Dusk, those Canadians always working for less money than Michael Buble or Robin Thicke. Hmph, still he has a good voice and I think with the right promos the girls will go crazy for this one.
INTEREST: SIX
On the 16th a band you may have heard of called The Beach Boys take over and I'm guessing we won't be able to use our vouchers. Do I need to say anything about The Beach Boys?
INTEREST: TEN
Dancing Wheels more dancing
Everyones favorite 3 hit wonder? Maybe two hit wonder, but I can name three of their songs. Possibly the most under-appreciated band of the 90s. Gin Blossoms & Tonic Tour become the penultimate concert this summer on 8/21. Tonic Tour is a group I don't knwo anything about, possible an a capella group based on a wiki search, but I'm not sure.
INTEREST: ELEVEN!
Fan favorite Pavlo finishes the year up on August 22nd. I haven't seen him yet, but the Mediterranean "master showman" is supposed to be brilliant. Maybe this is the year.
INTEREST: SEVEN
Also there are five $2 Tuesday concerts you might want to check out. For $2 even if they suck, you only payed TWO FRICKIN BUCKS
-6/16 Steve Jochum and Big Zipper - I guess he is pretty well known in Cleveland, a rock-guitarist
-6/30 Walkin' Cane and Megan Slankard. Walkin' Cane is a blue guy who sounds pretty good on all his instruments. Megan Slankard might be hot, but I need to see for myself. Listed as a rock singer/songwriter, upon first look I have a feeling she is going to be a Fiona Apple or Liz Phair type artist. I like her and she only 5 years older than me, lol.
-7/14 Skinny, innovative pop-funk, whatever that means. I think I'm an innovative blogger, if I wasn't I certainly wouldn't be charging $2 for you to read this.
-7/28 Jonathan Kingham, a songwriting contest winner, and by the looks of things it was a pretty big contest National Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest (ever heard of it?)
-8/11 Arrogant Worms. These guys are a can't miss comedy trio. Think The Wiggles grow up and meet They Might be Giants who then crash a Barenaked Ladies concert and you have what I would describe the Arrogant Worms as. Check our Carrot Juice is Murder and Rippy the Gator. You might like Rocks and Trees, a brilliant anthem for Canada.
The following are shows that must be paid for. So Rootstock and Terrence Simien "fingers crossed" do not appear on the schedule.
The season kicks off on Wednesday, June 13 in the Evans Ampitheater with Anne Cochran. Cochran is best known for her hit single "Someone is Missing at Christmas" and for touring with Jim Brickman. Just what Cleveland needs a Christmas singer in June!
INTEREST: ZERO
The day before (Tuedsay, June 12th) in the Alma Theater is Harry Bacharach, a dead politician from Atlantic City. I'm assuming this is not that Harry Bacharach but with the attendance at some of the shows last season, maybe a dead guy would draw as well. A little more research shows me that Bacharach is a Cleveland based blues/jazz piano guy. A quick sample of one of his songs isn't to bad
INTEREST: FOUR
Another Alma Concert Series show on 6/16 is Gershwin '29. I would expect this to be some type of Gershwin Tribute. Though I'm not big on Gershwin, this show will probably do well.
INTEREST: THREE
JUNE 18TH sees the third show of the Alma Concert Series... September Songs, and again I have no idea what this is. Maybe a cover badn playing hits like Earth, Wind and Fire's "September" or The Temptations "September in the Rain"
INTEREST: N/A DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS
Finally we are back to the Evan's for Kelly Bell Band. They are not related to "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" hottie Kristen of the same last name. In fact Kelly Bell is a pretty cool looking blue playing black guy with dreads (he even has his own bobble-heads). I'm not much of a blues fan, but these guys look like they might be fun.
INTEREST: SIX
Playrights Weekend is the 19-21.
Big Cool Cats Music Festival on June 20th... Who's on the bill?
-70 Lewis, "a young alternative/progressive pop band featuring soulful vocals similar to Freddy Mercury on top of the pop sensibilities of Ben Folds." Sounds like fun!
-Cats on Holiday w/ the Mifune horn section. I played soccer with the guys from Mifune and they are a cool group. Mifune will play later. Here is there take on Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash .
-Mo Mojo a zydeco band
-Magpies indie/folk revivalists, Cleveland Scene "best Americana band"
-Mifune, afro-electronique they've got a really cool sound
-Ital, "old school reggae"
The show concludes with a jam session on the colonnade. It's a unknown Cleveland band festival, so it will be interesting. 70 Lewis looks real cool.
INTEREST: EIGHT
Long Road: Unbound in the Alma series It's the Budin group doing another benefit concert that people will flock to see. Not me, If i want to hear a cover band sing folk songs, I'll turn on Gone Country! on GMC.
INTEREST: THREE
"Happily Ever After" on 6/24 is a kids theater show, that will not star Hilary Duff despite it being dubbed a Cinderella tale.
INTEREST: TWO, unless Duff is there NINE
June 25 see Eric Bibb, who is not a member of the Bee Gees, maybe he is like Jon Bovi from SNL. Doubt it though, he is actually a blues guitar player. Because there are enough of those playing at Cain Park.
INTEREST: THREE
Groundworks Dancetheater... not reviewing
The first gig that people will have actually heard of comes on the 27th of June. She may be 69 but she's a Grammy Winner and that's Judy Collins. I'd rather see Joan Baez or Joni Mitchell but hey you can have every 60 something folk singing activist. Folk singing activists are so good because they are double negatives... folk singing and activist.
INTEREST: SIX, someday I can say I went to a Judy Collins concert, none of the music was relevant to 2009 when we had a Black President, and could have had a woman president.
The last concert in June is in the Alma and it's Cleveland guitarist Brian Henke. Henke puts on a good show, but I don't understand why people pay to see him when you can see him for free and the Metroparks.
INTEREST: FIVE
Livingston Taylor, who is the New York Jets of his family's musical talent, will be back for the upteenth year in a row. Just once could we get James to come along? maybe? just ocne it's all I ask.
INTEREST: THREE
That same night which is July 2nd is Juliette Regnier in concert. She's a singer that does not interest me.
INTEREST: ZERO
Arts Festival is the next weekend in between and a quick look at the schedule allows me to uncross my fingers, Yes I've been typing this with crossed fingers the whole time of course.
Brings us to July 17th for the band Eclectica, one would think that Eclectica would be a band of all sort of varieties, like having a band called Miscellaneous or Variety. Rather they are a jam band Supergroup bringing together the likes of Tracy Silverman on electric violin, Roy "Futureman" Wooten of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones on drums and Steve Forrest on bass. Here they are without Forrest, but with Wooten and Silverman and a high school orchestra
INTEREST: EIGHT
How about pairing up two of the greatest folk legends ever when Arlo Guthrie and Richie Havens take the stage on the same night. I don't know if it will be together or not, but should be a great show. That's on July 18th.
INTEREST: SEVEN
Of course 5 days later you can hear another folk legend, at least in terms of satirical music in John McCutcheon. McCutcheon will play a Kidzart show the day before.
INTEREST: SIX
As an usher we were told either Big Bad Voodoo Daddy or Squirrel Nut Zippers would be there, obviously you can't have two contemporary swing groups in the same summer. So obviously go with the lesser known one because odds are they are cheaper. So on July 25th you can come watch the Squirrel Nut Zippers. These guys haven't released a single since 1998, but there music has appeared in a bunch of films (mostly starring Brendan Fraser) like "Blast from the Past" and "Monkeybone" since 2001
INTEREST: SIX
Pointe of Departure takes stage on July 31st they are not Human but Dancer.
Pippin begins that night and runs through 8/23. Due to nobody watching "old musical theater," by old I mean, not Wicked, Avenue Q, and stuff that my generation thinks is good musical theater anymore the Park is going with one "show." Honestly I know nothing about.
Tartan Terroes come to town oon August 1st, and likely the Scots will be out of World Cup Qualifying by then. These guys look like tons of fun, what Celtic group isn't. There most popular song is Scotland Depraved. Got to love a group that says, "be aware we wrote this song after non-alcholic drinks... American Beer"
INTEREST: TEN
Verb Ballets more dancing. When is Soulja Boy gonna come to the Evans.
Over the Rhine on August 8th, not sure how to describe them. Here is what the website says "post-nuclear, pseudo-alternative folk-tinged art pop." Heres the classic Hallelujah, yes the song from Shrek which sounds much different than the song "The World Can Wait"
INTEREST: SEVEN
Soul and Heart Festival on the 14th, is Budin's group that already played earlier in the season Long Road, along with his brother Noah. Prayer Warriors (pop-gospel) and Kristine Jackson (contemporary blues, which I think means Aimee Mann?)
INTEREST: FIVE, If not to hear what the Prayer Warriors have to offer.
The next day brings in Canadian crooner Matt Dusk, those Canadians always working for less money than Michael Buble or Robin Thicke. Hmph, still he has a good voice and I think with the right promos the girls will go crazy for this one.
INTEREST: SIX
On the 16th a band you may have heard of called The Beach Boys take over and I'm guessing we won't be able to use our vouchers. Do I need to say anything about The Beach Boys?
INTEREST: TEN
Dancing Wheels more dancing
Everyones favorite 3 hit wonder? Maybe two hit wonder, but I can name three of their songs. Possibly the most under-appreciated band of the 90s. Gin Blossoms & Tonic Tour become the penultimate concert this summer on 8/21. Tonic Tour is a group I don't knwo anything about, possible an a capella group based on a wiki search, but I'm not sure.
INTEREST: ELEVEN!
Fan favorite Pavlo finishes the year up on August 22nd. I haven't seen him yet, but the Mediterranean "master showman" is supposed to be brilliant. Maybe this is the year.
INTEREST: SEVEN
Also there are five $2 Tuesday concerts you might want to check out. For $2 even if they suck, you only payed TWO FRICKIN BUCKS
-6/16 Steve Jochum and Big Zipper - I guess he is pretty well known in Cleveland, a rock-guitarist
-6/30 Walkin' Cane and Megan Slankard. Walkin' Cane is a blue guy who sounds pretty good on all his instruments. Megan Slankard might be hot, but I need to see for myself. Listed as a rock singer/songwriter, upon first look I have a feeling she is going to be a Fiona Apple or Liz Phair type artist. I like her and she only 5 years older than me, lol.
-7/14 Skinny, innovative pop-funk, whatever that means. I think I'm an innovative blogger, if I wasn't I certainly wouldn't be charging $2 for you to read this.
-7/28 Jonathan Kingham, a songwriting contest winner, and by the looks of things it was a pretty big contest National Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Contest (ever heard of it?)
-8/11 Arrogant Worms. These guys are a can't miss comedy trio. Think The Wiggles grow up and meet They Might be Giants who then crash a Barenaked Ladies concert and you have what I would describe the Arrogant Worms as. Check our Carrot Juice is Murder and Rippy the Gator. You might like Rocks and Trees, a brilliant anthem for Canada.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
NFL Draft
It's been a while. I apologize. A wise man once said "never let facts get in the way of a good story," hence I have no facts for why it's been so long.
Apparently there is this thing coming up on Saturday called the NFL Draft, and for the next 36 hours or so, we will hear every rumor imaginable...
-New York Jets make three way trade for Sage Rosenfels and Rex Grossman. One will start on Rosh Hashanah the other will star on Yom Kippur.
-Brady Quinn still on the board.
-Detroit Lions draft a receiver with the #1 pick.
However what we here in Cleveland are looking for is a pick that is not botched. I'm looking to get rid of Braylon Edwards and Derek Anderson as well, but it seems that only the Browns think Edwards is still worth a a 1st and a 3rd round pick. Not to mention how bad D.A. looked last night for the Fusion... his trade value is falling more and more each day.
Here are what some NFL guys have the Browns doing and what I think
Scott Wright of www.draftcountdown.com -- Michael Crabtree WR, Texas Tech
STUPID. Unless they trade Edwards they don't need Crabtree, especially when it been proven that late round receivers can have impact. Crabtree is not going to win games for this team, look at Calvin Johnson in Detroit. He's a great receiver, but they went 0-16 last year.
Mel Kiper of www.overrateddraftniks.com -- I'm not paying to read his crap analysis so I'll have to wait until Saturday when I hear him babble constantly during the draft.
Todd McShay of ESPN --BJ Raji DT, Boston College
Sure why not, I understand he can possibly play linebacker as well and assuming Aaron Curry is gone, he might be the best defensive player available.
draftzoo.com -- Aaron Maybin DE, Penn State
Not bad, I think him Orakpo are going to have similar careers, so why not take the guy with less injury history
WalterFootball.com -- Brian Orakpo DE/OLB, Texas
see above
Those are a few mock draft. Here are some things I do not want to see happen.
-Browns trade Brady Quinn and/or pick Mark Sanchez... Sanchez is not going to be that good, I'm not ready to give up on Brady Quinn
-Any Ohio State player or any player from the state of Ohio going to Pittsburgh... I'm tired of that, Holmes, Roethlisberger and Harrison.
Things I want to see happen.
-Browns trade Edwards and use the pick they get for Beanie Wells or Knowshon Moreno in that order
-Browns draft Pat White out of WVU
-J'Nathan Bullock ends up with the Browns be it with the 7th rounder or a Undrafted FA
-Detroit to take Mark Sanchez and get him off the baord so the Browns don't take him.
-Randy Lerner brings on of the Brad's from Aston Villa to punt on Sundays.
Apparently there is this thing coming up on Saturday called the NFL Draft, and for the next 36 hours or so, we will hear every rumor imaginable...
-New York Jets make three way trade for Sage Rosenfels and Rex Grossman. One will start on Rosh Hashanah the other will star on Yom Kippur.
-Brady Quinn still on the board.
-Detroit Lions draft a receiver with the #1 pick.
However what we here in Cleveland are looking for is a pick that is not botched. I'm looking to get rid of Braylon Edwards and Derek Anderson as well, but it seems that only the Browns think Edwards is still worth a a 1st and a 3rd round pick. Not to mention how bad D.A. looked last night for the Fusion... his trade value is falling more and more each day.
Here are what some NFL guys have the Browns doing and what I think
Scott Wright of www.draftcountdown.com -- Michael Crabtree WR, Texas Tech
STUPID. Unless they trade Edwards they don't need Crabtree, especially when it been proven that late round receivers can have impact. Crabtree is not going to win games for this team, look at Calvin Johnson in Detroit. He's a great receiver, but they went 0-16 last year.
Mel Kiper of www.overrateddraftniks.com -- I'm not paying to read his crap analysis so I'll have to wait until Saturday when I hear him babble constantly during the draft.
Todd McShay of ESPN --BJ Raji DT, Boston College
Sure why not, I understand he can possibly play linebacker as well and assuming Aaron Curry is gone, he might be the best defensive player available.
draftzoo.com -- Aaron Maybin DE, Penn State
Not bad, I think him Orakpo are going to have similar careers, so why not take the guy with less injury history
WalterFootball.com -- Brian Orakpo DE/OLB, Texas
see above
Those are a few mock draft. Here are some things I do not want to see happen.
-Browns trade Brady Quinn and/or pick Mark Sanchez... Sanchez is not going to be that good, I'm not ready to give up on Brady Quinn
-Any Ohio State player or any player from the state of Ohio going to Pittsburgh... I'm tired of that, Holmes, Roethlisberger and Harrison.
Things I want to see happen.
-Browns trade Edwards and use the pick they get for Beanie Wells or Knowshon Moreno in that order
-Browns draft Pat White out of WVU
-J'Nathan Bullock ends up with the Browns be it with the 7th rounder or a Undrafted FA
-Detroit to take Mark Sanchez and get him off the baord so the Browns don't take him.
-Randy Lerner brings on of the Brad's from Aston Villa to punt on Sundays.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Missed Promotions (AL East Edition)
DJ Gallo of ESPN's Page 2 gave his Best and Worst MLB Promotions a week or so ago. (read here)
But what about the promotions that didn't quite make it on the schedule.
AL EAST
The one they did
Tampa Bay Rays
Check out the Post-Game concert lineup Ludacris, Pat Benatar, Smash Mouth, Daughtry, B-52s, Big & Rich, and The Beach Boys
The one they missed
Bindi the Jungle Girl and the Crocmen. Check out "Animal Life" & "Trouble in the Jungle"
If you don't get it, then you and I clearly don't have the same sense of humor.
The one they did
Boston Red Sox
NOTHING, they don't have promotions listed on the website.
The one they missed
ABSOLUTly nothing, if your not going to do any promotions at least get a sponsor to not do any promotions
The one they did
New York Yankees
Dunkin Donuts Gift Card Night
1st 18,000 fans 21 and older receiver gift cards of a non-descript demonination
The one they missed
After the game you can sell back your gift cards to Jonathan Albaledejo (6'5 260) and CC Sabathia (6'7 290)
The one they did
Toronto Blue Jays
Magnet Schedule Day, Magnet Schedule Day, Magnet Schedule Day
Yes they gave away magnet schedules all three games during Opening Week
The ones they missed
Toronto F.C. Magnet Schedule Day, they draw more and have a chance to compete in the East.
Teetotaler Day... oh wait
The one they did
Baltimore Orioles
Orioles Alumni Autograph Series "Every Monday and Thursday home game at Camden Yards, come meet some of your favorite former Orioles! Two to three former players will be signing autographs at the MASN Booth on Eutaw Street (near Gate A) from one and a half hours before the game until 30 minutes before the first pitch."
The one they missed
Sidney Ponson Autograph Series "Every Monday and Thursday home game at Camden Yards, come meet some of your favorite former Orioles! Two to three former players will be signing autographs at the MASN Booth on Eutaw Street (near Gate A) from one and a half hours before the game until 30 minutes before the first pitch."
But what about the promotions that didn't quite make it on the schedule.
AL EAST
The one they did
Tampa Bay Rays
Check out the Post-Game concert lineup Ludacris, Pat Benatar, Smash Mouth, Daughtry, B-52s, Big & Rich, and The Beach Boys
The one they missed
Bindi the Jungle Girl and the Crocmen. Check out "Animal Life" & "Trouble in the Jungle"
If you don't get it, then you and I clearly don't have the same sense of humor.
The one they did
Boston Red Sox
NOTHING, they don't have promotions listed on the website.
The one they missed
ABSOLUTly nothing, if your not going to do any promotions at least get a sponsor to not do any promotions
The one they did
New York Yankees
Dunkin Donuts Gift Card Night
1st 18,000 fans 21 and older receiver gift cards of a non-descript demonination
The one they missed
After the game you can sell back your gift cards to Jonathan Albaledejo (6'5 260) and CC Sabathia (6'7 290)
The one they did
Toronto Blue Jays
Magnet Schedule Day, Magnet Schedule Day, Magnet Schedule Day
Yes they gave away magnet schedules all three games during Opening Week
The ones they missed
Toronto F.C. Magnet Schedule Day, they draw more and have a chance to compete in the East.
Teetotaler Day... oh wait
The one they did
Baltimore Orioles
Orioles Alumni Autograph Series "Every Monday and Thursday home game at Camden Yards, come meet some of your favorite former Orioles! Two to three former players will be signing autographs at the MASN Booth on Eutaw Street (near Gate A) from one and a half hours before the game until 30 minutes before the first pitch."
The one they missed
Sidney Ponson Autograph Series "Every Monday and Thursday home game at Camden Yards, come meet some of your favorite former Orioles! Two to three former players will be signing autographs at the MASN Booth on Eutaw Street (near Gate A) from one and a half hours before the game until 30 minutes before the first pitch."
Friday, April 10, 2009
RIP Nick Adenhart
There isn't really much to blog about here. It's frustrating that drunk drivers still drive and put themselves and others in dangerous situations, I can get on my high-horse about how stupid drunk-driving is, but what purpose would it serve?
I can tell you about how I've been following Nick Adenhart for the past few years, as a fantasy player, but more importantly as a baseball fan. This kid was going to be something special, I really believe that. Not just because Baseball America tells me so, but Adenhart seemed like a good kid, with a good head on his shoulders and excellent stuff. He was one of a new class of pitchers that wasn't going to change the game, but bring flare. Adenhart along with guys like Maz Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Brandon Morrow (until he went rogue closer on us) are guys I would to pay to see pitch. I'll watch Zambrano and Webb on TV, but the young guns are what people want to see. But even after a paragraph of that, I don't feel like I've given you any useful insight.
However, I think the thing that hits me hardest about this tragedy is tragedy itself. Unfortunately we live in a world where tragedy happens; kids bring guns to school, terrorist bomb buildings and Juliet fakes her death while Romeo never gets the memo. But sports are supposed to be our escape from the real world. Stuff like this is not supposed to happen, NFL Players are not supposed to drown on fishing trips, fans are not supposed to be trampled in stampede, team buses and planes are not supposed to crash.
I can tell you about how I've been following Nick Adenhart for the past few years, as a fantasy player, but more importantly as a baseball fan. This kid was going to be something special, I really believe that. Not just because Baseball America tells me so, but Adenhart seemed like a good kid, with a good head on his shoulders and excellent stuff. He was one of a new class of pitchers that wasn't going to change the game, but bring flare. Adenhart along with guys like Maz Scherzer, Clayton Kershaw and Brandon Morrow (until he went rogue closer on us) are guys I would to pay to see pitch. I'll watch Zambrano and Webb on TV, but the young guns are what people want to see. But even after a paragraph of that, I don't feel like I've given you any useful insight.
However, I think the thing that hits me hardest about this tragedy is tragedy itself. Unfortunately we live in a world where tragedy happens; kids bring guns to school, terrorist bomb buildings and Juliet fakes her death while Romeo never gets the memo. But sports are supposed to be our escape from the real world. Stuff like this is not supposed to happen, NFL Players are not supposed to drown on fishing trips, fans are not supposed to be trampled in stampede, team buses and planes are not supposed to crash.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Don't Look Now... BUT
Some may call it rude to discuss physical attractiveness in terms of sports?
The WNBA can clearly attest to that, it's why nobody watches. Quick name the hottest player in the WNBA... waiting, waiting, waiting. Quick name a player in the WNBA... waiting, waiting, waiting. For the three of you that named Rebecca Lobo for the latter... she retired in 2003, for those who named her for the former... you should probably have that checked out. For those of you who named Rebecca Rushin... two points for you.
For years men have turned to European tennis girls for physical attractiveness. Anna,
Maria, Daniela, and Rafa. Every once in a while the States turn out a presentable racketeer like Alexa Glatch (currently 111th in the world), but unless you want to stretch and count Serena Williams and maybe Chris Evert, in her prime, the US has never provided the tennis world with a dime-piece like the Russians can.
American "hotties" come from otherwise un-talked about Olympic sports. Tennis is in the Olympics but the Olympics aren't even one of the 4 most important events and they only happen every 4 years, which by my math means there are 16 events more important than the Olympics every 4 years. The US has produced Amanda Beard and Natalie Coughlin- swimming, Misty May and Kerri Walsh - beach volleyball (look at them when they were younger what guy would not want to go to high-school or college with them), Jennie Finch- softball, a you-pick-it of pint-sized Gymnastics cuties and Sasha Cohen (honestly who didn't see that coming) - ice skating. Hope Solo (who I don't like, but can't argue that she is hot) and Heather Mitts (2004 ESPN Page 2 hottest female athlete) and yes even Mia Hamm (though not playing anymore), make appearances every couple years for a tournament like the Olympics or the World Cup.
Other than Danica Patrick and all of her overratedness, who can be seen in Nascar/Formula One/Funny Car Road Rallies all the time. We lack the weekly source of American hotties in sports.
So after the longest set-up to a blog ever I'm gonna tell you,
Don't Look Now... BUT you may want to start checking out the LPGA Tour. Yes the same LPGA Tour that gave us these women (1) (2) (3). Has now given us Natalie Gulbis (2002), and in the past 4 years, Erica Blasberg (2005) Paula Creamer (2005), , Brittany Lincicome (2005), Charlotte Mayorkas (2007), Tayor Leon (2008), Anna Rawson (2008), Tina Miller (Futures Tour) Courtney Erdman (Futures Tour). What's even better is that Rawson is the only non-American.
Oh yeah and by the way, the best player on the tour, Lorena Ochoa, is certainly not one to scoff at. So who's watching the Corona Championship in 2 weeks?
*(First full-time tour card, not when they became professional)
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Art of the No-Look Pass
In terms of skill and excitement the No-Look Pass is right up there with the alley-oop, the bicycle kick and the back-handed glove flip byt the shortstop to the second basemen, who relays the throw to first, spinning around to set his body while jumping over the base-runner sliding at him to get the double play.
However there is a fine-line between the No-Look Pass and the Look-Away Pass, and the line increasingly gets crossed the more and more sports that make it on TV. At this rate when the Scrabble Championship shows up on The Ocho, somebody will blindly give up their turn, not even looking at the tiles. However if that same person contemplates their tiles for a minute and then looks elsewhere and says "pass," the result is the same but reached in a different way.
For example ... Steve Nash- No-Look or Look-Away? This one is a No-Look because when he releases the ball he can't see his teammate Grant Hill in the corner. But if you pay close attention, he pump fakes to him at 0:07, so he does sort of Look-Away
However this one ... Ronaldinho- No Look or Look-Away? At 0:12 which way is the "world's most creative player" looking??? DIRECTLY AT THE GUY HE IS GOING TO PASS IT TO!, if you didn't see that through ball coming than, there is no reason you should be playing in French Ligue 1. While Ronaldinho's passing takes skill to accomplish, a through ball of that variety is not easy, ask any high-school soccer player, he has single-handedly destroyed the No-Look Pass. He's made a name for himself performing the No-Look Pass by staring down his receiver as if he were Derek Anderson and then turning his head like Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil. Ronaldinho - No-Look or Look-Away 2, Ronaldinho - No Look or Look-Away 3, Ronaldinho - No-Look or Look Away 4... Is it essential that we need a 5th one? YES Ronaldinho - No-Look or Look-Away 5. And that is not the same play as #4, although they look pretty darn close. U14's make these passes and when succesful the coach (usually the kid's Dad) applauds as if he did something only Ronaldinho can do, while said father is halfway correct, his kid just made a big deal about a simple square ball, it is not that impressive because most 13-year-olds playing soccer have full mobility range in their necks and are capable of turning their head.
So here are a few more
LeBron James -No-Look or Look-Away?,
Jason Kidd- Definite No-Look!
Douchebag Wannabe- No-Look or Look-Away? Does it matter?
I checked Urban-Dictonary for a "hood" definition of a No-Look Pass. And needless to say didn't find what I was looking for. So I went to the next most reliable source Wikipedia. In the section Basketball moves, this one-of-a-kind pass is defined as ...
However there is a fine-line between the No-Look Pass and the Look-Away Pass, and the line increasingly gets crossed the more and more sports that make it on TV. At this rate when the Scrabble Championship shows up on The Ocho, somebody will blindly give up their turn, not even looking at the tiles. However if that same person contemplates their tiles for a minute and then looks elsewhere and says "pass," the result is the same but reached in a different way.
For example ... Steve Nash- No-Look or Look-Away? This one is a No-Look because when he releases the ball he can't see his teammate Grant Hill in the corner. But if you pay close attention, he pump fakes to him at 0:07, so he does sort of Look-Away
However this one ... Ronaldinho- No Look or Look-Away? At 0:12 which way is the "world's most creative player" looking??? DIRECTLY AT THE GUY HE IS GOING TO PASS IT TO!, if you didn't see that through ball coming than, there is no reason you should be playing in French Ligue 1. While Ronaldinho's passing takes skill to accomplish, a through ball of that variety is not easy, ask any high-school soccer player, he has single-handedly destroyed the No-Look Pass. He's made a name for himself performing the No-Look Pass by staring down his receiver as if he were Derek Anderson and then turning his head like Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil. Ronaldinho - No-Look or Look-Away 2, Ronaldinho - No Look or Look-Away 3, Ronaldinho - No-Look or Look Away 4... Is it essential that we need a 5th one? YES Ronaldinho - No-Look or Look-Away 5. And that is not the same play as #4, although they look pretty darn close. U14's make these passes and when succesful the coach (usually the kid's Dad) applauds as if he did something only Ronaldinho can do, while said father is halfway correct, his kid just made a big deal about a simple square ball, it is not that impressive because most 13-year-olds playing soccer have full mobility range in their necks and are capable of turning their head.
So here are a few more
LeBron James -No-Look or Look-Away?,
Jason Kidd- Definite No-Look!
Douchebag Wannabe- No-Look or Look-Away? Does it matter?
I checked Urban-Dictonary for a "hood" definition of a No-Look Pass. And needless to say didn't find what I was looking for. So I went to the next most reliable source Wikipedia. In the section Basketball moves, this one-of-a-kind pass is defined as ...
Blind pass
Also known as a no-look pass, the blind pass is performed when a player looks in one direction but passes the ball to his target in another direction. Blind passes are risky and infrequently attempted, but when done correctly, can confuse the defense. The no-look pass has been popularized by players such as Pete Maravich, Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, and Steve Nash.
As you can see clearly this is not a reliable soure, because Kobe Bryant hasn't made a pass since 2002.
So what can we do to fix this fairy-tale that is the No-Look Pass? The wikipedia definition gets it mostly correct. When a player looks in one direction but passes the ball t his target in another direction. GOOD. Blind passes are risky and infrequently attempted, but when done correctly, can confuse the defense. GOOD. But there is nothing about the release of the pass. In order for a real No-Look Pass to occur the guy who makes the dish should
A. be looking the opposite direction when "beginnning the motion to release the ball." When Ronaldinho begins to play his passes he is looking at his target and then looks somewhere else. As I have stated numerous times, NOT A NO-LOOK!
B. be looking the opposite direction for at least the final 2/3rds of the time involved in the play. If the exchange takes three seconds he better be looking a different direction for the final two seconds of that play. (Like in Steve Nash's pass earlier, he never actually looks at Grant Hill once the play begins, but the pump fake alerts the viewer that he knows he is there). If the exchange only takes 1 second, for those of you scoring at home, you should probably avoid that road next time. But the basketball player better be looking a different direction for .67 seconds of that play.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
USMNT vs El Salvador Live Blog
Full Time
Down 2-0 you can't really complain about the draw. We stay top of the table, though I lost 55 cents on Centsports.com. Grades for each player
Guzan 6: Didn't do anything spectacular, didn't do anything atrocious. But Guzan doesn't have the presence back there of Howard, Friedel or Keller.
Pearce 5: Didn't get into the attack at all
(BRILLIANT HEINEKEN AD JUST SHOWED)
Bocanegra 5: A lot of wasted offensive passes
Califf 6: He's certainly not Gooch and at the end just kept chucking long balls in, with lots of time left. However his long ball was the reason they tied the game.
Hejduk 8: In a game that you should have won and you end up with a draw, nobody can get a 10 but Frankie was involved in both goals and he is your right back. Though he did get beat on the second goal, though that was one heck of a cross.
Beasley 5: Never went at anyone, never changed speeds, didn't really attack much. I think he got caught in a bad spot when Jozy came on for Pearce as he needed to drop back a bit.
Bradley 6: Just like against Mexico, Bradley was "in the picture" all the time. You know how they talk about a football player getting on the film at the end of a play. Bradley runs all over, not always with great purpose, but he is always in on 50/50 balls and works hard.
Dempsey 5: Got stuck taking to many touches way to many times.
Donovan 3: Is his loan at Bayern over? Did the Galaxy have a game tonight? Because he certainly wasn't anywhere on this pitch.
Ching 3: Squandered to chances to win the game. And didn't do anything good. When is Bradley going to realize that this is not the Big Ten. We don't need big physical bodies that can't put the ball in and/or through the net.
Altidore 8: Just think if he had been playing at Xerez how good he would be. Maybe Bradley will play start him. Scores a great goal and almost sets up a winner unfortunately he was passing to Ching.
Torres 5: He didn't get much chance to do anything. In his short amount of time he stepped on the pitch and we gave up a goal. He played the ball on the game tying corner. If he is supposed to be the next great midfieler we are going to need to start brewing some midfielders.
Edu N/A: Unlike the idiots at ESPN who will give Edu a 5 and say something stupid. I will not give him a grade he came on for 90 seconds due to a freak accident.
90+7
Ching goes for a bicycle kick instead of turning and facing the goal which he had time to do as the keeper was on the ground. Squanders his second opportunity to win the game. See 90+6
90+6
Brian Ching blows the game winner by kicking it right at the keeper. See 86th minute.
90+5
Edu for Bradley on a blood injury without enough time to fix. Guzan just tried to give anyone wearing red tonight a heart attack.
90+4
Bocanegra dribbling up the field with no pressure and throws it away on a terrible pass to Beasley. We've got about 4 minutes up stoppage time left, depending on what's going on with Bradley
90+2
US Corner kick from Torres lefty outswinger, Bocanegra or Dempsey couldn't quite tell goes for the bike after Gomez (keeper) scrambles around his 6.
90th minute
How much stoppage are we going to have should be no less than 5 minutes. They just showed it 7 minutes. That is a crapload of time for a goal.
87th minute
Corner after Danny Califf throws his third Hail Mary of the last 4 minutes. And my boy Frankie Hejduk puts it in. Anyone who says he's to old, doesn't watch him play enough. The hardest working guy on the field. The US should be looking at 3 points, this keeper is shaking, they have all the momentum and El Salvador is doing exactly what teams can't do. Play not to lose.
86th minute
Hey look, Brian Ching can't catch up to a ball lofted in for him. See 77th minute.
85th minute
This team doesn't have much depth in the midfield. In terms of shape and guys on the bench. Torres is not showing me anything here.
82nd minute
Ladies and Gentleman I present the gay-elected politician in El Salvador... his name is MILK. He will continue to be in power for the next 8 minutes + stoppage time.
77th minute
JOZY! JOZY! JOZY!
Dear Mr. Bradley
Brian Ching is useless, please play Jozy Altidore more often.
Sincerely,
Kyle
75th minute
SLV keeper is done, this is our chance to get some chances. This guy has to be nervous.
71st minute
US needs to score soon. Torres comes in and has a -1 goal differential without being on the pitch for 15 seconds. Guzan is not ready for the World Cup or a qualifier.
58th minute
Free kick play it like a corner, Beasley to hit a left footed in swinger. Over the bar. Good opportunity, and now the El Salvador keeper is hurt. Can't see much in the replay, they are treating it like cramps. But I don't think he's staying on. And Jozy Altidore is coming on!!! They bring out a defender. Will this look like a straight 3-4-3, or does someone drop back. We are approaching 4 minutes from the time of the free kick and the keeper still isn't up yet.
56th minute
Michael Bradley yellow card, first American to get his name in the scorebook. Well Done!
50th minute
Ching on his own and can't do anything with it. What good is a striker that can't take on a defender?
Halftime
After a little excursion in our reptile room, I'm back. I've got to say the US is playing like shite. Luckily El Salvador hasn't been that good either. The goal was nice, but that's all they've really done. They need to come out better in the second half.
23rd minute
Another good opportunity for the US spoiled. They've got a free kick here with a chance. This blogging thing is not as fun as I had hoped. There is to much action to keep typing. I'm done until halftime, unless something cool happens.
17th minute
Corner kick for the US and the female yells Go Gringos. I don't know what she's talking about (nor does she), but gringos, sounds like something hispanic. So I said no more of that.
15th minute
US standing around and jumping in and watching the guy dribble around GOAL to El Salvador. You could see that one coming from the time they started the run. US has owned possession and run of play, very unfortunate.
13th minute
I'm giving Ching the benefit of the doubt on that pass, but he just stood there and waited for the ball. I love when the announcers start talking about how good someone looks 13 minutes into the game. Dellacamera and Harkes saying that Bradley and Kljestan are doing a great job in the midfield because theya re touching the ball.
11th minute
El Salvador earns the games first corner. I'm not huge on Guzan so lets hope that nothing to close comes in on a corner.
8th minute
Great chance for the US, though the player who put in the cross certainly looked offside and then Kljestan (I think) miss hit the finish.
4th minute
First no call of the game... and it's a good one. Ching took a horrific 23 yard shot, shot #1 down earlier. Dempsey also got one off, that was saved.
9:08 PM
A couple friends came over to watch the game with me (YAY! I'm not alone), and the female insists on making brownies, so I have to show her where everything is in the house. But here we go... Bradley goes with pretty much the same lineup as Mexico except Califf comes in for Onyewu and Howard on yellow card suspension (which I maintain that he did on purpose) is replaced by Guzan.
Ching Donovan
Beasley Bradley Kljestan Dempsey
Pearce Bocanegra Califf Hejduk
Guzan
And the Ching drinking game begins shortly. USA in white. El Salvador in blue.
9:02 PM
Pregame begins, lots of blue!
7:49 PM
I owe you guys a blog. It's been a long time and while I'm working on my Miami trip memoirs, I felt it would be a nice token to give you a live World Cup Qualifier blog. I've always wanted to do a live blog (and actually do it live, not type it and then post it). I figure rather than tweeting or status updating, I'll do it in my blog. I'm finally watching Heroes... from Monday the 23rd, so I'll be back shortly.
Down 2-0 you can't really complain about the draw. We stay top of the table, though I lost 55 cents on Centsports.com. Grades for each player
Guzan 6: Didn't do anything spectacular, didn't do anything atrocious. But Guzan doesn't have the presence back there of Howard, Friedel or Keller.
Pearce 5: Didn't get into the attack at all
(BRILLIANT HEINEKEN AD JUST SHOWED)
Bocanegra 5: A lot of wasted offensive passes
Califf 6: He's certainly not Gooch and at the end just kept chucking long balls in, with lots of time left. However his long ball was the reason they tied the game.
Hejduk 8: In a game that you should have won and you end up with a draw, nobody can get a 10 but Frankie was involved in both goals and he is your right back. Though he did get beat on the second goal, though that was one heck of a cross.
Beasley 5: Never went at anyone, never changed speeds, didn't really attack much. I think he got caught in a bad spot when Jozy came on for Pearce as he needed to drop back a bit.
Bradley 6: Just like against Mexico, Bradley was "in the picture" all the time. You know how they talk about a football player getting on the film at the end of a play. Bradley runs all over, not always with great purpose, but he is always in on 50/50 balls and works hard.
Dempsey 5: Got stuck taking to many touches way to many times.
Donovan 3: Is his loan at Bayern over? Did the Galaxy have a game tonight? Because he certainly wasn't anywhere on this pitch.
Ching 3: Squandered to chances to win the game. And didn't do anything good. When is Bradley going to realize that this is not the Big Ten. We don't need big physical bodies that can't put the ball in and/or through the net.
Altidore 8: Just think if he had been playing at Xerez how good he would be. Maybe Bradley will play start him. Scores a great goal and almost sets up a winner unfortunately he was passing to Ching.
Torres 5: He didn't get much chance to do anything. In his short amount of time he stepped on the pitch and we gave up a goal. He played the ball on the game tying corner. If he is supposed to be the next great midfieler we are going to need to start brewing some midfielders.
Edu N/A: Unlike the idiots at ESPN who will give Edu a 5 and say something stupid. I will not give him a grade he came on for 90 seconds due to a freak accident.
90+7
Ching goes for a bicycle kick instead of turning and facing the goal which he had time to do as the keeper was on the ground. Squanders his second opportunity to win the game. See 90+6
90+6
Brian Ching blows the game winner by kicking it right at the keeper. See 86th minute.
90+5
Edu for Bradley on a blood injury without enough time to fix. Guzan just tried to give anyone wearing red tonight a heart attack.
90+4
Bocanegra dribbling up the field with no pressure and throws it away on a terrible pass to Beasley. We've got about 4 minutes up stoppage time left, depending on what's going on with Bradley
90+2
US Corner kick from Torres lefty outswinger, Bocanegra or Dempsey couldn't quite tell goes for the bike after Gomez (keeper) scrambles around his 6.
90th minute
How much stoppage are we going to have should be no less than 5 minutes. They just showed it 7 minutes. That is a crapload of time for a goal.
87th minute
Corner after Danny Califf throws his third Hail Mary of the last 4 minutes. And my boy Frankie Hejduk puts it in. Anyone who says he's to old, doesn't watch him play enough. The hardest working guy on the field. The US should be looking at 3 points, this keeper is shaking, they have all the momentum and El Salvador is doing exactly what teams can't do. Play not to lose.
86th minute
Hey look, Brian Ching can't catch up to a ball lofted in for him. See 77th minute.
85th minute
This team doesn't have much depth in the midfield. In terms of shape and guys on the bench. Torres is not showing me anything here.
82nd minute
Ladies and Gentleman I present the gay-elected politician in El Salvador... his name is MILK. He will continue to be in power for the next 8 minutes + stoppage time.
77th minute
JOZY! JOZY! JOZY!
Dear Mr. Bradley
Brian Ching is useless, please play Jozy Altidore more often.
Sincerely,
Kyle
75th minute
SLV keeper is done, this is our chance to get some chances. This guy has to be nervous.
71st minute
US needs to score soon. Torres comes in and has a -1 goal differential without being on the pitch for 15 seconds. Guzan is not ready for the World Cup or a qualifier.
58th minute
Free kick play it like a corner, Beasley to hit a left footed in swinger. Over the bar. Good opportunity, and now the El Salvador keeper is hurt. Can't see much in the replay, they are treating it like cramps. But I don't think he's staying on. And Jozy Altidore is coming on!!! They bring out a defender. Will this look like a straight 3-4-3, or does someone drop back. We are approaching 4 minutes from the time of the free kick and the keeper still isn't up yet.
56th minute
Michael Bradley yellow card, first American to get his name in the scorebook. Well Done!
50th minute
Ching on his own and can't do anything with it. What good is a striker that can't take on a defender?
Halftime
After a little excursion in our reptile room, I'm back. I've got to say the US is playing like shite. Luckily El Salvador hasn't been that good either. The goal was nice, but that's all they've really done. They need to come out better in the second half.
23rd minute
Another good opportunity for the US spoiled. They've got a free kick here with a chance. This blogging thing is not as fun as I had hoped. There is to much action to keep typing. I'm done until halftime, unless something cool happens.
17th minute
Corner kick for the US and the female yells Go Gringos. I don't know what she's talking about (nor does she), but gringos, sounds like something hispanic. So I said no more of that.
15th minute
US standing around and jumping in and watching the guy dribble around GOAL to El Salvador. You could see that one coming from the time they started the run. US has owned possession and run of play, very unfortunate.
13th minute
I'm giving Ching the benefit of the doubt on that pass, but he just stood there and waited for the ball. I love when the announcers start talking about how good someone looks 13 minutes into the game. Dellacamera and Harkes saying that Bradley and Kljestan are doing a great job in the midfield because theya re touching the ball.
11th minute
El Salvador earns the games first corner. I'm not huge on Guzan so lets hope that nothing to close comes in on a corner.
8th minute
Great chance for the US, though the player who put in the cross certainly looked offside and then Kljestan (I think) miss hit the finish.
4th minute
First no call of the game... and it's a good one. Ching took a horrific 23 yard shot, shot #1 down earlier. Dempsey also got one off, that was saved.
9:08 PM
A couple friends came over to watch the game with me (YAY! I'm not alone), and the female insists on making brownies, so I have to show her where everything is in the house. But here we go... Bradley goes with pretty much the same lineup as Mexico except Califf comes in for Onyewu and Howard on yellow card suspension (which I maintain that he did on purpose) is replaced by Guzan.
Ching Donovan
Beasley Bradley Kljestan Dempsey
Pearce Bocanegra Califf Hejduk
Guzan
And the Ching drinking game begins shortly. USA in white. El Salvador in blue.
9:02 PM
Pregame begins, lots of blue!
7:49 PM
I owe you guys a blog. It's been a long time and while I'm working on my Miami trip memoirs, I felt it would be a nice token to give you a live World Cup Qualifier blog. I've always wanted to do a live blog (and actually do it live, not type it and then post it). I figure rather than tweeting or status updating, I'll do it in my blog. I'm finally watching Heroes... from Monday the 23rd, so I'll be back shortly.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Kyle XY
This blog post can be summed up in one three-letter text lingo. WTF?
That was possibly the worst ending in the history of entertainment. But for a little bit of fun let me discuss some of my least favorite endings in other aspects of life.
Movies: In Good Company, after all that nothing happens. I saw this movie with three guys "no homo," and we wanted so badly for Topher Grace to end up with Randy Quaid's daughter Scarlett Johansen. Maybe we were all spoiled from Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, but the ending of this was very disappointing.
Music: Punk Goes Pop 2, thank goodness I didn't buy it. I listened on Youtube, and every single song was pretty much terrible. So I guess the beginning, middle and ending sucked.
Sports: see 1997 World Series or any other Cleveland sporting event you choose.
Beverages: Dr. Pepper, the ending of any Dr. Pepper 12 oz can, 20 oz bottle, 2 liter bottle, 21 oz fountain cup, is disappointing.
Food: Let's not even go there.
That was possibly the worst ending in the history of entertainment. But for a little bit of fun let me discuss some of my least favorite endings in other aspects of life.
Movies: In Good Company, after all that nothing happens. I saw this movie with three guys "no homo," and we wanted so badly for Topher Grace to end up with Randy Quaid's daughter Scarlett Johansen. Maybe we were all spoiled from Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, but the ending of this was very disappointing.
Music: Punk Goes Pop 2, thank goodness I didn't buy it. I listened on Youtube, and every single song was pretty much terrible. So I guess the beginning, middle and ending sucked.
Sports: see 1997 World Series or any other Cleveland sporting event you choose.
Beverages: Dr. Pepper, the ending of any Dr. Pepper 12 oz can, 20 oz bottle, 2 liter bottle, 21 oz fountain cup, is disappointing.
Food: Let's not even go there.
The Beverage Section 2
We hath moved on through the month, it hath now been a fortnight since I hath become years of 20 plus one. The fair city of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin hath reached with open arms towards me a flavor unmatched by the beverage of everyman. This wonderlust of flavor cometh in a 12 oz bottle of Leinenkugel's Sunset Wheat.
Yes, it may be a bit citrusy, but it's okay because I am very in touch with my feminine side. I first experienced this bit of liquid heaven in the form of a draft at BW3s after my indoor soccer teams' first victory of the year, on Monday the 9th. To date it is the best beer I have had, and I am happy to call it my "old reliable"
We followed up that game with a second win on Thursday the 12th, that night I went for a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale. My hopes were high but, just like Newcastle FC, OVERRATED. I was extremely disappointed. It was just kind of there. Because I was not driving that night, I also took in my first Cleveland beer. I know all about the Great Lake Brewing Company, but I hadn't yet tried one. So I told our fearless leader and team captain to pick me something good. He hooked me up with a Holy Moses White Ale. Once again I've already decided I'm not big on the light beers, but this wasn't bad. I don't think it's one that I would consume again though.
In addition to those three, I had a Guinnnnness at dinner today with Corn Beef (St. Patrick's Day early). I also bought my first bottle of spirits, Lauder's Scotch. I'm sure I will have more to report next week, as I travel to Miami this weekend in hopes of a Sweet 16 appearance for the Vikings.
Yes, it may be a bit citrusy, but it's okay because I am very in touch with my feminine side. I first experienced this bit of liquid heaven in the form of a draft at BW3s after my indoor soccer teams' first victory of the year, on Monday the 9th. To date it is the best beer I have had, and I am happy to call it my "old reliable"
We followed up that game with a second win on Thursday the 12th, that night I went for a pint of Newcastle Brown Ale. My hopes were high but, just like Newcastle FC, OVERRATED. I was extremely disappointed. It was just kind of there. Because I was not driving that night, I also took in my first Cleveland beer. I know all about the Great Lake Brewing Company, but I hadn't yet tried one. So I told our fearless leader and team captain to pick me something good. He hooked me up with a Holy Moses White Ale. Once again I've already decided I'm not big on the light beers, but this wasn't bad. I don't think it's one that I would consume again though.
In addition to those three, I had a Guinnnnness at dinner today with Corn Beef (St. Patrick's Day early). I also bought my first bottle of spirits, Lauder's Scotch. I'm sure I will have more to report next week, as I travel to Miami this weekend in hopes of a Sweet 16 appearance for the Vikings.
Friday, March 13, 2009
The Night Cap
Orange/Mountaineers (ESPN 206)
Cavs/Kings (FSOH 660)
Sun Devils/Huskies (MSG+ 635)
Matadors/Banana Slugs (ESPNU 614)
Fliers/Dukes (MASN 640)
Eagles/Blue Devils (ESPN2 209)
Nittany Lions/Boilermakers (BTN 610)
Cougars/Aztecs (CBSC 613)
Those are listed from most interesting to least interesting.
With the earlier evening games finishing up and/or not even close...
Maryland knocks off Wake which moves them closer to the Big Dance, probably hurting the Vikings. (Joe Lunardi has just put Maryland in, moving Florida out)
Baylor knocks off Texas, putting them one win away from the Big Dance as they go to the championship against the winner of OK State/Mizzou. Baylor is not in unless they win, but it is hard to believe that the Big 12 Champions even at 5-11 in conference, gets lower than a 12 seed.
Tennessee is up on Alabama by 23, the SEC is really bad.
Buffalo over Ball St by 9, and it has been right around there for two or three minutes.
Temple over Xavier could also move them closer to the tourney, they were a possible at-large candidate. With a win in the A-10 final they are obviously in, not sure without it.
Illinois held serve, making Ohio State the only Big 10 team to get an upset in the tourney with Purdue up 21-12, ten minutes into their quarterfinal.
Cavs/Kings (FSOH 660)
Sun Devils/Huskies (MSG+ 635)
Matadors/Banana Slugs (ESPNU 614)
Fliers/Dukes (MASN 640)
Eagles/Blue Devils (ESPN2 209)
Nittany Lions/Boilermakers (BTN 610)
Cougars/Aztecs (CBSC 613)
Those are listed from most interesting to least interesting.
With the earlier evening games finishing up and/or not even close...
Maryland knocks off Wake which moves them closer to the Big Dance, probably hurting the Vikings. (Joe Lunardi has just put Maryland in, moving Florida out)
Baylor knocks off Texas, putting them one win away from the Big Dance as they go to the championship against the winner of OK State/Mizzou. Baylor is not in unless they win, but it is hard to believe that the Big 12 Champions even at 5-11 in conference, gets lower than a 12 seed.
Tennessee is up on Alabama by 23, the SEC is really bad.
Buffalo over Ball St by 9, and it has been right around there for two or three minutes.
Temple over Xavier could also move them closer to the tourney, they were a possible at-large candidate. With a win in the A-10 final they are obviously in, not sure without it.
Illinois held serve, making Ohio State the only Big 10 team to get an upset in the tourney with Purdue up 21-12, ten minutes into their quarterfinal.
6 OTs, UNC and the Buckeyes Start Soon
Mr. Pibb and Red Vines equals CRAZY DELICIOUS! Today equals Lazy Friday. No classes, not heading to Milwaukee for the Women's Semi-final but plenty of basketball to watch.
And it starts with a game that didn't end until today. Syracuse/UConn, this game obviously had big time ramifications for the irrational CSU fans like me, who think that we can move up to an 11 seed. If The 'Cuse wins the Big East tourney, their RPI would skyrocket (they went from 18 to 14 with the victory over UConn). Meanwhile, West Virginia's (a team that CSU held to 53 points) domination of Pitt shot them from 26 RPI to 19. Obviously the more that CSU opponents win the better. So when Syracuse and WVU meet tonight, either way it's going to help the Vikes in terms of RPI, whether it will help their seed is up to the committee.
As the Michigan St/Minnesota game just didn't peak my interest I had to watch the Hokies take on UNC, which of course stand for University of No Calls. Obviously the ACC did not want Va Tech to win this game. I may be a bit biased, because I really don't like Tyler Hansborough, Roy Williams or any ACC team in North Carolina, but Hansborough gets to do whatever he wants, and never gets called. He didn't foul out twice like Hasheem Thabeet did last night (at least 7 fouls were not called at the Garden in that OT fest). But like I mentioned before there has never been a basketball game in which one team has committed 9 fouls and another team has committed 3 fouls. That might be the way it gets called, but that does not happen. The Hokies could not overcome the foul disparity, unlike the Vikings who overcame the Horizon League's three best officials, Tim Donaghy, Graham Poll and Brad Stevens.
And it starts with a game that didn't end until today. Syracuse/UConn, this game obviously had big time ramifications for the irrational CSU fans like me, who think that we can move up to an 11 seed. If The 'Cuse wins the Big East tourney, their RPI would skyrocket (they went from 18 to 14 with the victory over UConn). Meanwhile, West Virginia's (a team that CSU held to 53 points) domination of Pitt shot them from 26 RPI to 19. Obviously the more that CSU opponents win the better. So when Syracuse and WVU meet tonight, either way it's going to help the Vikes in terms of RPI, whether it will help their seed is up to the committee.
As the Michigan St/Minnesota game just didn't peak my interest I had to watch the Hokies take on UNC, which of course stand for University of No Calls. Obviously the ACC did not want Va Tech to win this game. I may be a bit biased, because I really don't like Tyler Hansborough, Roy Williams or any ACC team in North Carolina, but Hansborough gets to do whatever he wants, and never gets called. He didn't foul out twice like Hasheem Thabeet did last night (at least 7 fouls were not called at the Garden in that OT fest). But like I mentioned before there has never been a basketball game in which one team has committed 9 fouls and another team has committed 3 fouls. That might be the way it gets called, but that does not happen. The Hokies could not overcome the foul disparity, unlike the Vikings who overcame the Horizon League's three best officials, Tim Donaghy, Graham Poll and Brad Stevens.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Another Post???
I know what your thinking, I'm posting something every few minutes it seems. Well as we all know this is the most exciting week in sports. The World Baseball Classic is on!!!
Anyway Baylor just upset Kansas in the Big 12 Tourney. I have decided I am cheering for teams that should not be in the tourney to win unless it is a team that we played. Baylor is not an at-large, so if they run the table they might bump CSU up to an 11 seed. The same goes for a team like Iowa or Georgia. Teams that would not be in otherwise. It's all conjecture but here is what I want in a few high-profile conferences.
Big Ten: Iowa or Ohio State wins
Big 12: Baylor or Kansas State wins
Big East: Syracuse or West Virginia wins
C-USA: anyone but Memphis
A-10: Temple or Dukwesnee
***Let's add Georgia Tech to that list. How about a team that went 2-14 in the ACC, with a loss to UIC, Virginia, Alabama and twice to NC State, in the tournament? No way they are a 12 seed.
Anyway Baylor just upset Kansas in the Big 12 Tourney. I have decided I am cheering for teams that should not be in the tourney to win unless it is a team that we played. Baylor is not an at-large, so if they run the table they might bump CSU up to an 11 seed. The same goes for a team like Iowa or Georgia. Teams that would not be in otherwise. It's all conjecture but here is what I want in a few high-profile conferences.
Big Ten: Iowa or Ohio State wins
Big 12: Baylor or Kansas State wins
Big East: Syracuse or West Virginia wins
C-USA: anyone but Memphis
A-10: Temple or Dukwesnee
***Let's add Georgia Tech to that list. How about a team that went 2-14 in the ACC, with a loss to UIC, Virginia, Alabama and twice to NC State, in the tournament? No way they are a 12 seed.
The Dream Tourney Run
Ah yes the speculation of where teams will be placed and what is going to happen. The following is not in anyway really going to happen, unless something crazy happens like the selection committee reads this blog and thinks it is really good. If they did read it they would probably find the ideas strong, the writer good looking, and all the content above average. Obscure reference alerts in case you are lost.
So anyway it looks to me that Cleveland State, who enters their first NCAA Tourney in 23 years, will be a 12 seed or a 13 seed. There is a little speculation that they could jump up to an 11 seed. And I am going to run with that for a few minutes.
Why? Well it appears that the game locations are already determined, but the teams that will be there are not. The 12s and the 13s play at Boise, Portland or Miami. As a college student fighting his way through these tough economic times, none of those are really legitimate destinations for a fan trip. (Italics are used for sarcasm, because I have always found money to burn holes in my pocket and always seem to be on tough economic times.)
However one 11 seed will find itself in the Wachovia Center home of the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers and the now-defunct-Kixx. That is a makable bus trip and/or carpooling road trip. I don't think that we can get their but if we did it would mean heading to Boston for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, before driving up to possibly the worst place to watch a basketball game Ford Field. I say this because the difference between a football field and a basketball court sums up to this; 12 players, approximately 23,000 square feet, and stuff actually happens more than every other minute.
Realistically that is probably not likely so here is my ultimate CSU Vikings journey.
As a 12 seed in the South (Memphis) Bracket the team would head to Miami, for their first round game against a 5 seed. Different predictions lead to very different ideas so some predict Gonzaga as a 5 other predict Gonzaga as an 8. Gonzaga having to come all the way to Miami, unfair as it may be fits perfectly into the 2 hour-rule (team traveling to a city more than 2 hours time difference of their home lose and Gonzaga is 3 hours). CSU would have the time zone advantage and the Jewish retiree advantage (how many Jews do you know in Spokane?) and the fact that they actually play defense working for them against The Bulldogs.
They would advance to the Round of 32. Some would argue a 4 seed Syracuse team is a great option here, but not in my books. A team like Syracuse isn't going to get caught sleeping against us again, and I don't think we can pull off that upset twice. Here we look to a Big Ten team like Illinois. CSU LOVES playing defense and Illinois lost in a game that was 38-33. That benefits a great defensive team that scores in bunches. So after we beat them, it's on to Memphis, a flight to Nashville is pretty cheap on Southwest, and I might ask my Uncle for a ride to Memphis in exchange for some quality time with his eldest nephew. In Nashville we take a #1 seed. I don't care who it is because the important part is we beat them. It will be a huge upset no matter who it is so I don't really care what team, though I do think J'Nathan can handle Tyler Hasbeenbroken. So a UNC #1 would be cool, but unlikely as they would get to play in Greensboro if they are a #1 seed. Anyway after that.
We stick around for the Elite 8 game against arch-rival Butler who got shafted into a 7 seed. They take out the 10 and the 2, Dayton and Kansas respectively. If Kansas doesn't choke against #15 seed Kent State in the first round. We beat Butler on a buzzer beater, evening the season series at 2-2, and 2-0 in favor of the Vikes in games that actually mean anything. It doesn't have to be a buzzer beater but it would be OH SO SWEET. Though the Horizon League might have to move their offices to Cleveland if we start winning games at neutral sites and not Hinkle Fieldhouse
We go to the Final Four in Detroit and I could not care less what happens next. We could lose 100-0 and I would still have had a dream season, that is unless the team doesn't put in their reserves until the third quarter.
So anyway it looks to me that Cleveland State, who enters their first NCAA Tourney in 23 years, will be a 12 seed or a 13 seed. There is a little speculation that they could jump up to an 11 seed. And I am going to run with that for a few minutes.
Why? Well it appears that the game locations are already determined, but the teams that will be there are not. The 12s and the 13s play at Boise, Portland or Miami. As a college student fighting his way through these tough economic times, none of those are really legitimate destinations for a fan trip. (Italics are used for sarcasm, because I have always found money to burn holes in my pocket and always seem to be on tough economic times.)
However one 11 seed will find itself in the Wachovia Center home of the Philadelphia 76ers, Flyers and the now-defunct-Kixx. That is a makable bus trip and/or carpooling road trip. I don't think that we can get their but if we did it would mean heading to Boston for the Sweet 16 and Elite 8, before driving up to possibly the worst place to watch a basketball game Ford Field. I say this because the difference between a football field and a basketball court sums up to this; 12 players, approximately 23,000 square feet, and stuff actually happens more than every other minute.
Realistically that is probably not likely so here is my ultimate CSU Vikings journey.
As a 12 seed in the South (Memphis) Bracket the team would head to Miami, for their first round game against a 5 seed. Different predictions lead to very different ideas so some predict Gonzaga as a 5 other predict Gonzaga as an 8. Gonzaga having to come all the way to Miami, unfair as it may be fits perfectly into the 2 hour-rule (team traveling to a city more than 2 hours time difference of their home lose and Gonzaga is 3 hours). CSU would have the time zone advantage and the Jewish retiree advantage (how many Jews do you know in Spokane?) and the fact that they actually play defense working for them against The Bulldogs.
They would advance to the Round of 32. Some would argue a 4 seed Syracuse team is a great option here, but not in my books. A team like Syracuse isn't going to get caught sleeping against us again, and I don't think we can pull off that upset twice. Here we look to a Big Ten team like Illinois. CSU LOVES playing defense and Illinois lost in a game that was 38-33. That benefits a great defensive team that scores in bunches. So after we beat them, it's on to Memphis, a flight to Nashville is pretty cheap on Southwest, and I might ask my Uncle for a ride to Memphis in exchange for some quality time with his eldest nephew. In Nashville we take a #1 seed. I don't care who it is because the important part is we beat them. It will be a huge upset no matter who it is so I don't really care what team, though I do think J'Nathan can handle Tyler Hasbeenbroken. So a UNC #1 would be cool, but unlikely as they would get to play in Greensboro if they are a #1 seed. Anyway after that.
We stick around for the Elite 8 game against arch-rival Butler who got shafted into a 7 seed. They take out the 10 and the 2, Dayton and Kansas respectively. If Kansas doesn't choke against #15 seed Kent State in the first round. We beat Butler on a buzzer beater, evening the season series at 2-2, and 2-0 in favor of the Vikes in games that actually mean anything. It doesn't have to be a buzzer beater but it would be OH SO SWEET. Though the Horizon League might have to move their offices to Cleveland if we start winning games at neutral sites and not Hinkle Fieldhouse
We go to the Final Four in Detroit and I could not care less what happens next. We could lose 100-0 and I would still have had a dream season, that is unless the team doesn't put in their reserves until the third quarter.
Whats the Diff?
This includes conference tournament results, but what separates these two teams so much in the mind of bracketologists?
TEAM A: 22-10 (12-6 in 12th RPI Conference)/ RPI 55/ SOS 111/ RPI Top 100 Wins: RPI 18, RPI 24, RPI 91, RPI 73 (2x)/Record Against RPI Top 100 5-7 Bad Losses: RPI 132 RPI 160 RPI 243
TEAM B: 23-6 (11-5 in 15th RPI Conference)/ RPI 46/ SOS 146/ RPI Top 100 Wins: RPI 72, RPI 43, RPI 23/Record Against RPI Top 100: 2-4/ Bad Losses: RPI 118, RPI 193
All I can see is the loss to the 243 RPI Team. And maybe the winning percentage.
I didn't put names because I'd like to see if anyone can guess. I'll give a hint. One of these teams was supposedly a strong at-large candidate, the other was definitely not.
CSU is Team A and St. Mary's is Team B. When you put the numbers together there is no explanation for why one week ago, St. Mary's was a possible 9 or 10 seed, while CSU was likely an 8 seed in the Not Invited Tournament (NIT).
Interesting to me, but maybe not to you.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Letter to the Commissioner
Dear Mr. LeCrone
Let me first begin by saying, I hope this letter finds you. I wasn't sure where exactly to send it, 201 S. Capitol Avenue or 510 W 49th Street. Then I realized if someone over at Hinkle receives it, that probably doesn't matter since Butler sets the rules, gets all the calls and runs the league anyway.
Saturday night, I understand that you witnessed something you had hoped would never happened. It's clear to me that you were disappointed from the comments your cronies made to the students sections of Cleveland State University and Milwaukee, both whom were cheering against the #2 seed Green Bay.
I am a firm believer that the Horizon League is an Equal Opportunity League, however it is the worst league to be a student-fan as you can only speak if you are being fair to both teams and the officials.
But if you are a Butler fan it is completely OK to whine about everything. Yes that's right. Butler fans can BOO or yell swear words at the officials when they first enter the building, when they make a good call, when they make a bad call, when Matt Howard does a Cristiano Ronaldo impression, when Gordon Hayward finally turns 14. They even BOO when they win, which doesn't make sense since the Hinkle officials are hand-picked by a fan-ballot. I am worried that if they lose, someone might get seriously hurt.
When I read that you felt the current tournament set up was working perfectly, I was fairly disappointed. Ever since the league offices moved to Brad Stevens' secretary's desk, no team had ever made the final without the double-bye. And then you had to watch the Vikings go screw up your brilliant system. Guess the system doesn't work as well as you thought it did. Hopefully this didn't affect the Horizon's favorable partnership with Playground Chalk, because its clear that nobody wants to see upsets in March.
You said "It gives kids a chance to play in front of bigger crowds," clearly your analysis was proven correct, as each student athlete got a chance to "play" in front of 9,870 people leaving before the game even started. And by "play" I mean they each got to see them all leave as they did start to warm-up.
Though I disagree with you on the above aspect, I must say though that charging $5 for people to watch online was a great idea. The fact that almost nobody actually got to see Friday night's games unless they wanted to donate money to the Bulldog Scholarship Fund was marketing brilliance.
I look forward to seeing some more of your ideas in the coming future. Here are a few I would like to propose...
1. Change the logo from the weird person shaped like a star to a blue and white bulldog.
2. Give Butler a bye into the trophy presentation and let everyone else play for a shot in the NIT or the Insider.com Tourney.
3. Give tazers to all security guards, any person in the facility not wearing Butler apparel, and talking should be tazed.
4. Since you want big crowds, play every game at the home of whichever team is eliminated first. The Detroit-Mercy fans will come out in droves to watch a team from Dayton play a team from Northwest Indiana.
5. Put every game on the Horizon League website and charge $10 for a live feed with a $5 fee for the gamecast.
Let me first begin by saying, I hope this letter finds you. I wasn't sure where exactly to send it, 201 S. Capitol Avenue or 510 W 49th Street. Then I realized if someone over at Hinkle receives it, that probably doesn't matter since Butler sets the rules, gets all the calls and runs the league anyway.
Saturday night, I understand that you witnessed something you had hoped would never happened. It's clear to me that you were disappointed from the comments your cronies made to the students sections of Cleveland State University and Milwaukee, both whom were cheering against the #2 seed Green Bay.
I am a firm believer that the Horizon League is an Equal Opportunity League, however it is the worst league to be a student-fan as you can only speak if you are being fair to both teams and the officials.
But if you are a Butler fan it is completely OK to whine about everything. Yes that's right. Butler fans can BOO or yell swear words at the officials when they first enter the building, when they make a good call, when they make a bad call, when Matt Howard does a Cristiano Ronaldo impression, when Gordon Hayward finally turns 14. They even BOO when they win, which doesn't make sense since the Hinkle officials are hand-picked by a fan-ballot. I am worried that if they lose, someone might get seriously hurt.
When I read that you felt the current tournament set up was working perfectly, I was fairly disappointed. Ever since the league offices moved to Brad Stevens' secretary's desk, no team had ever made the final without the double-bye. And then you had to watch the Vikings go screw up your brilliant system. Guess the system doesn't work as well as you thought it did. Hopefully this didn't affect the Horizon's favorable partnership with Playground Chalk, because its clear that nobody wants to see upsets in March.
You said "It gives kids a chance to play in front of bigger crowds," clearly your analysis was proven correct, as each student athlete got a chance to "play" in front of 9,870 people leaving before the game even started. And by "play" I mean they each got to see them all leave as they did start to warm-up.
Though I disagree with you on the above aspect, I must say though that charging $5 for people to watch online was a great idea. The fact that almost nobody actually got to see Friday night's games unless they wanted to donate money to the Bulldog Scholarship Fund was marketing brilliance.
I look forward to seeing some more of your ideas in the coming future. Here are a few I would like to propose...
1. Change the logo from the weird person shaped like a star to a blue and white bulldog.
2. Give Butler a bye into the trophy presentation and let everyone else play for a shot in the NIT or the Insider.com Tourney.
3. Give tazers to all security guards, any person in the facility not wearing Butler apparel, and talking should be tazed.
4. Since you want big crowds, play every game at the home of whichever team is eliminated first. The Detroit-Mercy fans will come out in droves to watch a team from Dayton play a team from Northwest Indiana.
5. Put every game on the Horizon League website and charge $10 for a live feed with a $5 fee for the gamecast.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The GISSER
Your wondering what kind of title that is. Well I'll explain, now for those of you who are not Fantasy Sports fans you will probably feel reading this is a waste of time. And I might agree with you. However you can still learn some interesting stuff by reading, even if it doesn't help you in your next Auction Draft.
Earlier today I was looking at two different baseball websites. A few of the guys and one lady from Church of the Saviour organized a Fantasy Baseball league last year, Major League Churchball. Clever eh?
So I was doing some research on ESPN.com as well as baseballdocs.com. I realized that the two websites had players ranked differently. (I didn't really realize this, it's common knowledge, but for the purpose of wording I realized it). Every site is going to have players ranked differently, the question is why? Not only why? but which players do I need to know why and which players are not ranked all that differently in the grand scheme of things. Alex Rodriguez is #1 on ESPN and #2 on BaseballDocs, that really doesn't matter, if you have pick No. 1 you are taking the guy that you want (most likely Rodriguez, Pujols, or Hanler Ramirez). The guys that matter are guys like James Shields who is #85 on BaseballDocs and #54 on ESPN or Rafael Furcal who is #114 on BaseballDocs and 72 on ESPN. So I present you the GISSER (Gauging Indications of Statistical Standing and Estimated Rating). It can also stand for Garbagy Idiotic Stupid Suggestions Estimated Randomly, but I prefer the first one as it is more truthful.
I know! Your anxious! What is this magical device!
I have to tell you that it is not so much magical as an exact science, and if it were magical I would not be able to tell you. This takes time to do, you can't just subtract and figure it out. You need a graphing calculator as well as FOUR hilighters.
Oh yeah what does it do, maybe I should explain that first. Basically you can take any two groups of rankings and find out what players have major discrepancies in the rankings. I would suggest using the site that your league is hosted on as well as a site you find searching in Google. Olaf's Oakland Athletics Blog is probably not a good one, because Eric Chavez and Jason Giambi have not been good for Fantasy owners for at least 5 years. For example in performing the GISSER I learned that while AJ Burnett is ranked 99 Overall by BaseballDocs and 125 Overall by ESPN (20th Best SP by BaseballDocs ad 28th Best SP by ESPN) The 26 player differential is really not as big as it looks.
Why that might be depends. For example BaseballDocs and ESPN had the first 9 pitchers ranked exactly the same in terms of position, but ESPNs first 9 were all rated significantly higher than BaseballDocs in terms of overall (no less than difference of 5, which is half a round in a Fantasy draft). What this means is that ESPN values a Top 10 pitcher more than BaseballDocs, but they agree on which pitchers should go in what order. What you must decide when drafting is how much you value a Top 10 pitcher and whether you agree with these so-called experts. After performing the GISSER I found that the rankings for the First 12 Pitchers by both websites were close enough that the only real discrepancy is value vs other positions, not the stats they will give you. When you get deeper down you find much more difference (Gavin Floyd has a positional difference of 30+, that is a red flag).
Step 1: You now have your two websites, write down the O-Ranks (overall ranking) and the P-Ranks (positional rank) for the amount of players you think will actually be drafted one position at a time for now(In a 10 team league 70 pitchers is resourceful enough in most cases, 20 catchers is more tha enough, and your probably looking at 60 outfielders). With pitchers I used BaseballDocs top 63 and then threw in a handful I've guys I like.
Step 2: You are now going to subtract the difference between the websites for each player (overall-overall and positonal-positional). Burnett has a O-Rank Diff of 26 (that's absolute value, depends on which one you wrote down first).
Step 3: If you are using a graphing calculator add all your values into a list. There are two ways to do this, you can include negatives or you can use absolute value. I used absolute value for pitchers and JUST REALIZED I DID IT DIFFERENTLY FOR CATCHERS AND SHORTSTOPS. Good thing I'm writing this to you guys.
Step 4: After performing an outlier test that tells me that players who have a differential of 55 or more are outliers, and getting rid of their values from the list. I perform the 1-Variable Stats function. This tells me that the mean, that's average in laymens terms, is 21.3. The standard deviation is 13.9. I decided that any time a player's Rank Diff is more than one standard deviation away from the mean, I will check to find out what the reason is. This is also a player I want to go check a third website for information on, and see which one is closer.
Step 5: Get out your hilighters. I used 4 because I had four different things to look for.
Conclusion: Now you are sitting doing one of two things... Wondering why on earth you spent your time reading this, you have not come out any more knowledgeable about Fantasy Baseball and you don't think this equation really means anything. Or you are getting your 2B rankings out and preparing to do some fancy math. I have succeeded. You have read this and you are going to try it and use my advice, or you won't use it and I will be a better Fantasy Player than you.
Earlier today I was looking at two different baseball websites. A few of the guys and one lady from Church of the Saviour organized a Fantasy Baseball league last year, Major League Churchball. Clever eh?
So I was doing some research on ESPN.com as well as baseballdocs.com. I realized that the two websites had players ranked differently. (I didn't really realize this, it's common knowledge, but for the purpose of wording I realized it). Every site is going to have players ranked differently, the question is why? Not only why? but which players do I need to know why and which players are not ranked all that differently in the grand scheme of things. Alex Rodriguez is #1 on ESPN and #2 on BaseballDocs, that really doesn't matter, if you have pick No. 1 you are taking the guy that you want (most likely Rodriguez, Pujols, or Hanler Ramirez). The guys that matter are guys like James Shields who is #85 on BaseballDocs and #54 on ESPN or Rafael Furcal who is #114 on BaseballDocs and 72 on ESPN. So I present you the GISSER (Gauging Indications of Statistical Standing and Estimated Rating). It can also stand for Garbagy Idiotic Stupid Suggestions Estimated Randomly, but I prefer the first one as it is more truthful.
I know! Your anxious! What is this magical device!
I have to tell you that it is not so much magical as an exact science, and if it were magical I would not be able to tell you. This takes time to do, you can't just subtract and figure it out. You need a graphing calculator as well as FOUR hilighters.
Oh yeah what does it do, maybe I should explain that first. Basically you can take any two groups of rankings and find out what players have major discrepancies in the rankings. I would suggest using the site that your league is hosted on as well as a site you find searching in Google. Olaf's Oakland Athletics Blog is probably not a good one, because Eric Chavez and Jason Giambi have not been good for Fantasy owners for at least 5 years. For example in performing the GISSER I learned that while AJ Burnett is ranked 99 Overall by BaseballDocs and 125 Overall by ESPN (20th Best SP by BaseballDocs ad 28th Best SP by ESPN) The 26 player differential is really not as big as it looks.
Why that might be depends. For example BaseballDocs and ESPN had the first 9 pitchers ranked exactly the same in terms of position, but ESPNs first 9 were all rated significantly higher than BaseballDocs in terms of overall (no less than difference of 5, which is half a round in a Fantasy draft). What this means is that ESPN values a Top 10 pitcher more than BaseballDocs, but they agree on which pitchers should go in what order. What you must decide when drafting is how much you value a Top 10 pitcher and whether you agree with these so-called experts. After performing the GISSER I found that the rankings for the First 12 Pitchers by both websites were close enough that the only real discrepancy is value vs other positions, not the stats they will give you. When you get deeper down you find much more difference (Gavin Floyd has a positional difference of 30+, that is a red flag).
Step 1: You now have your two websites, write down the O-Ranks (overall ranking) and the P-Ranks (positional rank) for the amount of players you think will actually be drafted one position at a time for now(In a 10 team league 70 pitchers is resourceful enough in most cases, 20 catchers is more tha enough, and your probably looking at 60 outfielders). With pitchers I used BaseballDocs top 63 and then threw in a handful I've guys I like.
Step 2: You are now going to subtract the difference between the websites for each player (overall-overall and positonal-positional). Burnett has a O-Rank Diff of 26 (that's absolute value, depends on which one you wrote down first).
Step 3: If you are using a graphing calculator add all your values into a list. There are two ways to do this, you can include negatives or you can use absolute value. I used absolute value for pitchers and JUST REALIZED I DID IT DIFFERENTLY FOR CATCHERS AND SHORTSTOPS. Good thing I'm writing this to you guys.
Step 4: After performing an outlier test that tells me that players who have a differential of 55 or more are outliers, and getting rid of their values from the list. I perform the 1-Variable Stats function. This tells me that the mean, that's average in laymens terms, is 21.3. The standard deviation is 13.9. I decided that any time a player's Rank Diff is more than one standard deviation away from the mean, I will check to find out what the reason is. This is also a player I want to go check a third website for information on, and see which one is closer.
Step 5: Get out your hilighters. I used 4 because I had four different things to look for.
- ESPN O-Rank is lower than BaseballDocs O-Rank (pink)
- ESPN O-Rank is higher than BaseballDocs O-Rank (orange)
- ESPN P-Rank is lower than BaseballDocs P-Rank (blue)
- ESPN P-Rank is higher than BaseballDocs P-Rank (yellow)
- BY THE WAY, HIGHER MEANS BETTER... 1, 2, 3 IS HIGHER THAN 46, 47, 58. IT DOES NOT REFER TO THE NUMBER, BUT THE RANKING.
Conclusion: Now you are sitting doing one of two things... Wondering why on earth you spent your time reading this, you have not come out any more knowledgeable about Fantasy Baseball and you don't think this equation really means anything. Or you are getting your 2B rankings out and preparing to do some fancy math. I have succeeded. You have read this and you are going to try it and use my advice, or you won't use it and I will be a better Fantasy Player than you.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Beverage Section
As some of you know today is my 21st birthday. Hip Hip Hooray. Since I'm not at a college where I can go crazy, or really into that kind of thing, one might say it's been uneventful. However I am going to disagree. The great thing about turning 21 is not that you can get drunk, it is that you can drink. I plan to take the next few weeks or so to take in the great beverages that my elders have experience for longer than I have.
Last night I served up a few Mango Mojitos for the family, which leads me to my first lesson about drinking. Never follow the instructions on the back of the cocktail mix bottle. I should have probably realized this but, because of course they want you to buy more of the mix. So 3 oz of mix and 1 oz of light rum. We happened to have some of the stuff with the bat on it (find out why there is a bat on it here). Here is how that conversation went;
Family: Cheers!
Keith: Umm
Kyle: yeah it's kind of sour, I followed the directions on the bottle
Keith: kind of sour? all I can taste is the mix
Becki: are you sure you did it right?
Kyle: yeah, (laughing and spitting at the same time)
Becki and Keith : (nearly spit it out)
Kyle: next time I'll use a little more rum.
Even before that had happened I went to CVS so I could buy my first legal beer. With limited choices that I had not already tasted (I had tasted Heineken, Corona, Miller Hi-Life etc.) I chose The Great American Lager, Budweiser. If Budweiser is the King of Beers apparently Barqs is the Queen and IBC is the Court Jester. Maybe the Clydesdales somehow got into the brewery, because it was terrible (use your inference skills here). I can't imagine how weak a Bud Light would be if when the real thing taste like dish water. Leads me to Lesson #2 if you have had beer in a foreign country, you probably are not going to like anything that you find in a drugstore. American beer is WEAKER than a Friedberg and Seltzer movie at Cannes.
That is where we stand at appx. 1:58 PM, the rest fo the day hold in store a "Create Your Own Six Pack" that I got from World Market. That includes the six and I will be letting you know what i think as the day goes on.
The Short Stubby Ugly Bottle I was a little disappointing, to me this was just another beer. It was good, but nothing special. Hey, You can't win 'em all. Just goes to show you that great ad campaigns don't necessarily mean great product.
Eine Königin unter den Bieren which literally translates to "A Queen Among the Beers," can't wait to compare it against "the King" The one I've been waiting for, I saved this for last because I knew how good it was. This was easily my favorite mass-produced beer in Deutschland when I went in 2004 (Drinking age 16 BTW) so I knew I would still like it. And I did. Though my parents questioned my decision to finish it in about 15 minutes. I didn't think it was that big of a deal.
The Chosen Beer no not LeBron's favorite beer, but a Kosher beer. I really liked this one, I have been drinking out of the bottle mostly, but I decided to pour this one into a glass to see the color (though for some reason all of our frozen beer mugs, have bits of frozen peppers, or ceiling plaster in them so I just poured it into a regular glass). A deep reddish brown, and it was delish. If it Kosher for Passover I could see myself having Matzoh Ball Soup, Fruit Gels and He'Brew a couple times during those 8 days.
Chocolate Beer I have heard this called "a mouth orgasm," sounds like fun. I think. Maybe Not, when you really think about it. took a sip at about 7:30pm, ended up giving the rest to my Dad, not feeling it. Kind of tasted like someone spilled beer in your morning coffee, not my cup of tea (no pun intended)
HofBrau Munchen Original a Bavarian classic finished around 3:15 pm Ah yes that is what a real beer should taste like. You can actually taste it.
HopDevil it had a cool label, and sounded like an American beer that might actually have flavor. Finished at about 8:45. It had hops alright. Definitely 'menacingly delicious.' Victory Brewing Co has another one that looks like fun called "Golden Monkey" a Belgian style ale, with Asian spices.
I still have to go on the official Beer and Football Sponsorship Tour where I do Newcastle Brown, Guinness, Strongbow, Krombacher, T-Mobile etc.
Tonight for dinner is Don Tequila's Mexican Restaraunt, so I have to decided between a Dos Equis or a Modelo Negro.
Lesson 3 when you start to reach for your wallet to pull out your ID before the guy even asks you what you want, they are not likely to ask for your ID. This was the instance in my Mexican Restaraunt escapade. I ended up getting Modelo Negro, and I was feeling it. Not completely sure what to do with the awkwardness of the lime; do you squeeze it; take it out and watch it sit there; try to drink with it there; drop it in the drink. It's a debatable subject for many. Mine fell in anyway so I didn't have much choice.
Last night I served up a few Mango Mojitos for the family, which leads me to my first lesson about drinking. Never follow the instructions on the back of the cocktail mix bottle. I should have probably realized this but, because of course they want you to buy more of the mix. So 3 oz of mix and 1 oz of light rum. We happened to have some of the stuff with the bat on it (find out why there is a bat on it here). Here is how that conversation went;
Family: Cheers!
Keith: Umm
Kyle: yeah it's kind of sour, I followed the directions on the bottle
Keith: kind of sour? all I can taste is the mix
Becki: are you sure you did it right?
Kyle: yeah, (laughing and spitting at the same time)
Becki and Keith : (nearly spit it out)
Kyle: next time I'll use a little more rum.
Even before that had happened I went to CVS so I could buy my first legal beer. With limited choices that I had not already tasted (I had tasted Heineken, Corona, Miller Hi-Life etc.) I chose The Great American Lager, Budweiser. If Budweiser is the King of Beers apparently Barqs is the Queen and IBC is the Court Jester. Maybe the Clydesdales somehow got into the brewery, because it was terrible (use your inference skills here). I can't imagine how weak a Bud Light would be if when the real thing taste like dish water. Leads me to Lesson #2 if you have had beer in a foreign country, you probably are not going to like anything that you find in a drugstore. American beer is WEAKER than a Friedberg and Seltzer movie at Cannes.
That is where we stand at appx. 1:58 PM, the rest fo the day hold in store a "Create Your Own Six Pack" that I got from World Market. That includes the six and I will be letting you know what i think as the day goes on.
The Short Stubby Ugly Bottle I was a little disappointing, to me this was just another beer. It was good, but nothing special. Hey, You can't win 'em all. Just goes to show you that great ad campaigns don't necessarily mean great product.
Eine Königin unter den Bieren which literally translates to "A Queen Among the Beers," can't wait to compare it against "the King" The one I've been waiting for, I saved this for last because I knew how good it was. This was easily my favorite mass-produced beer in Deutschland when I went in 2004 (Drinking age 16 BTW) so I knew I would still like it. And I did. Though my parents questioned my decision to finish it in about 15 minutes. I didn't think it was that big of a deal.
The Chosen Beer no not LeBron's favorite beer, but a Kosher beer. I really liked this one, I have been drinking out of the bottle mostly, but I decided to pour this one into a glass to see the color (though for some reason all of our frozen beer mugs, have bits of frozen peppers, or ceiling plaster in them so I just poured it into a regular glass). A deep reddish brown, and it was delish. If it Kosher for Passover I could see myself having Matzoh Ball Soup, Fruit Gels and He'Brew a couple times during those 8 days.
Chocolate Beer I have heard this called "a mouth orgasm," sounds like fun. I think. Maybe Not, when you really think about it. took a sip at about 7:30pm, ended up giving the rest to my Dad, not feeling it. Kind of tasted like someone spilled beer in your morning coffee, not my cup of tea (no pun intended)
HofBrau Munchen Original a Bavarian classic finished around 3:15 pm Ah yes that is what a real beer should taste like. You can actually taste it.
HopDevil it had a cool label, and sounded like an American beer that might actually have flavor. Finished at about 8:45. It had hops alright. Definitely 'menacingly delicious.' Victory Brewing Co has another one that looks like fun called "Golden Monkey" a Belgian style ale, with Asian spices.
I still have to go on the official Beer and Football Sponsorship Tour where I do Newcastle Brown, Guinness, Strongbow, Krombacher, T-Mobile etc.
Tonight for dinner is Don Tequila's Mexican Restaraunt, so I have to decided between a Dos Equis or a Modelo Negro.
Lesson 3 when you start to reach for your wallet to pull out your ID before the guy even asks you what you want, they are not likely to ask for your ID. This was the instance in my Mexican Restaraunt escapade. I ended up getting Modelo Negro, and I was feeling it. Not completely sure what to do with the awkwardness of the lime; do you squeeze it; take it out and watch it sit there; try to drink with it there; drop it in the drink. It's a debatable subject for many. Mine fell in anyway so I didn't have much choice.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Spring Training Strike Three
I got to watch the game today and am not going completely off the box score.
Three Up
1. The play that Luis Valbuena made in the 9th was B E A utiful. Who cares if the guys was safe, plays like that will make people forget many guys that played middle infield for the Indians. This guy, this guy, maybe this guy, Tony Fernandez, but never this guy.
2. VICTOR!!! Two no-doubt-about-it jacks.
3. Matt Herges pitched well again and Kobayashi hot-dogged it out of a jam. (Yeah, I know really old joke).
Three Down
1. Grady will miss the WBC because of a groin injury. I think the WBC is a joke, but I still think the idea of representing your country is cool and I think he would give them a better chance to win.
2. It seems way to easy to hit home runs at Goodyear Park.
3. Ryan Garko in left, hehe. I think Garko is an underrated bat, but if Victor and Shoppach are hitting he won't see much time. He didn't screw up at all, but he's way to slow to play in the outfield. So it sucks in a cyclical way.
By the way Kellen Winslow certainly got out of here fast. He already had a press-conference in a Buccaneers polo. But he insists that Cleveland treated him right. Elsewhere in the news Harvey Dent was traded from DC to Marvel.
Three Up
1. The play that Luis Valbuena made in the 9th was B E A utiful. Who cares if the guys was safe, plays like that will make people forget many guys that played middle infield for the Indians. This guy, this guy, maybe this guy, Tony Fernandez, but never this guy.
2. VICTOR!!! Two no-doubt-about-it jacks.
3. Matt Herges pitched well again and Kobayashi hot-dogged it out of a jam. (Yeah, I know really old joke).
Three Down
1. Grady will miss the WBC because of a groin injury. I think the WBC is a joke, but I still think the idea of representing your country is cool and I think he would give them a better chance to win.
2. It seems way to easy to hit home runs at Goodyear Park.
3. Ryan Garko in left, hehe. I think Garko is an underrated bat, but if Victor and Shoppach are hitting he won't see much time. He didn't screw up at all, but he's way to slow to play in the outfield. So it sucks in a cyclical way.
By the way Kellen Winslow certainly got out of here fast. He already had a press-conference in a Buccaneers polo. But he insists that Cleveland treated him right. Elsewhere in the news Harvey Dent was traded from DC to Marvel.
The Browns made their first significant roster move of the off-season earlier today when they traded Kellen "I'm 'a kill 'em" Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This opens the door for my boy Martin Rucker, I've been talking about Rucker since his senior year at Mizzou. The guy has great hands and is built very similarly to Winslow. (Rucker is 6'4 260 compared Winslow's 6'4 248.) Their 40 times are similar (Rucker ran a 4.63 and Winslow ran a 4.51). If you've never seen Rucker play check out his highlight reel. Winslow will now get to catch passes from one of the 7 McCown brothers.
Assuming that the Browns got a 3rd or 4th rounder for Winslow, I think this is a good trade. A fifth or sixth round pick it's not bad. Randy Moss went for a 4th round pick when he was traded to the Flying Elvi.
A couple guys that might be around at the end of the 3rd round in this upcoming draft. Brian Robiskie (Ohio State), PJ Hill (Wisconsin), Ian Johnson (Boise State), Derrick Williams (Penn State) and those are just offensive players.
What this also does is affect the Browns cap space. Maybe with the 6 million or so that they save they can go out and sign Ray Lewis, Derrick Ward, James Farrior or re-sign Sean Jones, which I think they will do anyway.
Until we get more, which I'm sure we will tomorrow, it's hard to say what the trade will do, but I definitely am on Mangini's side on this one. Winslow was not good for the locker room, and I'm not talking about the fact he had staph.
What's next??? I was really hoping to package Winslow and DA for something. Now that Shaun "weight issues" Rogers wants out after a great year, they have to trade him. If you outright release him, you just gave up your shutdown corner and a third round pick for a Pro-Bowler who helped the team to a 4-12 record and then complained that he can't make weight. Heck, Braylon probably wants as well, since he is a marked-man coming from Michigan. I actually could see Mangini bringing in Laveranues Coles, who was released yesterday.
I think this trade is going to bring on a lot of roster changes, some that we may or may not agree with, but this first one is a good start.
Assuming that the Browns got a 3rd or 4th rounder for Winslow, I think this is a good trade. A fifth or sixth round pick it's not bad. Randy Moss went for a 4th round pick when he was traded to the Flying Elvi.
A couple guys that might be around at the end of the 3rd round in this upcoming draft. Brian Robiskie (Ohio State), PJ Hill (Wisconsin), Ian Johnson (Boise State), Derrick Williams (Penn State) and those are just offensive players.
What this also does is affect the Browns cap space. Maybe with the 6 million or so that they save they can go out and sign Ray Lewis, Derrick Ward, James Farrior or re-sign Sean Jones, which I think they will do anyway.
Until we get more, which I'm sure we will tomorrow, it's hard to say what the trade will do, but I definitely am on Mangini's side on this one. Winslow was not good for the locker room, and I'm not talking about the fact he had staph.
What's next??? I was really hoping to package Winslow and DA for something. Now that Shaun "weight issues" Rogers wants out after a great year, they have to trade him. If you outright release him, you just gave up your shutdown corner and a third round pick for a Pro-Bowler who helped the team to a 4-12 record and then complained that he can't make weight. Heck, Braylon probably wants as well, since he is a marked-man coming from Michigan. I actually could see Mangini bringing in Laveranues Coles, who was released yesterday.
I think this trade is going to bring on a lot of roster changes, some that we may or may not agree with, but this first one is a good start.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Spring Training Day 2
Same thing as last time. Three good things and three bad things. I again didn't see the game, because I was at school this time. Remember don't pay much attention to this stuff, it's essentially useless, until pitchers are pitching 4 innings.
Wednesday Feb. 25, 2009 L 10-7 vs ARI
Three Up
1. Josh Barfield looks good. if he gets on track, I think he is better than Asdrubal, and I really like Asdrubal.
2. 16 runs in two games. Today they didn't rely on the longball.
2.5. Doug Davis is likely Zona's #3 this season, we hit him hard.
3. Matt LaPorta likes to swing the bat. And is being compared to Ryan Braun
Three Down
1. Matt LaPorta likes to swing the bat. And I'm not buying comparisons to Ryan Braun at all, other than being an average fielder (read it's a good thing he wasn't a 3rd Basemen).
2. The guy playing first base, Jordan Brown, had two throwing errors. I think I'll get to see him play here for at least the first part of the season. I can accept 1 throwing error from a 1B, but 2 is kind of ridiculous.
3. A couple really bad innings by relief pitchers again. Ohka had to deal with a couple errors, but Cassel just didn't have much stuff today. Belichick must have gotten to him.
Ishikawa Udpdate- Went 1-2 with a run. I thought about his numbers a bit and 16-20 HR is not that great from a Fantasy 1B (3 in 33 games). I'm still on the bandwagon, but I'm not going to pass up Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman or even Caros Delgado for him.
Wednesday Feb. 25, 2009 L 10-7 vs ARI
Three Up
1. Josh Barfield looks good. if he gets on track, I think he is better than Asdrubal, and I really like Asdrubal.
2. 16 runs in two games. Today they didn't rely on the longball.
2.5. Doug Davis is likely Zona's #3 this season, we hit him hard.
3. Matt LaPorta likes to swing the bat. And is being compared to Ryan Braun
Three Down
1. Matt LaPorta likes to swing the bat. And I'm not buying comparisons to Ryan Braun at all, other than being an average fielder (read it's a good thing he wasn't a 3rd Basemen).
2. The guy playing first base, Jordan Brown, had two throwing errors. I think I'll get to see him play here for at least the first part of the season. I can accept 1 throwing error from a 1B, but 2 is kind of ridiculous.
3. A couple really bad innings by relief pitchers again. Ohka had to deal with a couple errors, but Cassel just didn't have much stuff today. Belichick must have gotten to him.
Ishikawa Udpdate- Went 1-2 with a run. I thought about his numbers a bit and 16-20 HR is not that great from a Fantasy 1B (3 in 33 games). I'm still on the bandwagon, but I'm not going to pass up Albert Pujols, Lance Berkman or even Caros Delgado for him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)