Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The Wade Revolution.....



Another great read to share with you all: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=jackson/070423&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab5pos1

Now I am biased some, an MU grad who did have the chance to meet Dwyane once on campus while in school (probably before anyone new who he was) but this cat is more than any previous baller you want to compare him to. He has already won a title, and won it by taking over 3 straight games against Dallas. He has All-Star games, endorsements that pay him 4 times what he earns for 82 games a year, and a personality that only Tiger Woods could rival.

Dwyane is simply special, the kind of guy you would trust your kids with the first day you met him. Dwyane's ability on the hardwood is impeccable....on the same level with the greats today and yesterday, and his accomplishments will continue to pile up.

The fact that he takes everything farther is what makes him special. He really does seem to care about 'everything' else in life away from hoops. He really appears to give a damn about kids, family, commitment, and the truly valued things in life.

I am not sure if Dwyane will ever win a Nobel Prize, or even another championship...but you can count on that fact that his mark on the world will be made...and it will be deep enough to see for decades after he moves on to something bigger and better....

Keep it up Dwyane...I will be rooting for you the whole way!

Friday, April 20, 2007

100 year old Hole-in-One.....

Making it to 100 years old these days isn't as impressive as it once was. You hear about it all the time, may even know someone personally.

This spring chicken to the left is 100+ years old and jarred a 102 yard par 3 (with her driver) just this week. I don't know if she has had more than one ace during her century, but this accomplishment was very blog worthy.

My good pal nearly aced a much longer par 3 in Vegas (for ten grand mind you) and it was exciting.....the anticipation of not being able to see the ball as you approached the green....yada yada yada...but no such luck.

The amazing part to me is that this old bird probably had no clue she even holed it.....even with those coke bottle glasses, 100 yards is a long long way. Take a glance at the putting form and stroke though...she has game kids. Maybe she can give some advice to Michelle Wie?

I have played golf now for 15 years (much more in the last 5-7 years) and have been close to a hole-in-one a few times now. Close meaning that another revolution or two and I'd have it on the wall....(I recall the best one at Kohler's Meadow Valley course, signature hole #15, with Heath and Kevin, in the dark trying to finish. One of the best 7-irons I ever hit, to an inch or two). Getting a hole-in-one is really the icing on the cake for me. I don't think I will ever shoot a round at par (although I have on nine holes), mentally I am just not there....

The hole-in-one is that elusive (for some) part of golf that you think about now and again, but leave to luck. Since I am not lucky all too often, I best be on my way to the range.

Congrats to granny and her ace....I hope she leaves one or two out there for me and my pals....at this point seeing one of my buddies do it would be just fine (at least then I would know us hacks have a chance)!

Enjoy the sunny WI weekend kids....it's going to be a good one!

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Sports Fans (Good, Bad and Ugly)

I had to post something today other than the Virginia Tech massacre. I will pray for those folks, the lost, and even the troubled young man, but as mentioned in my latest post, dwelling on this and continuing to plaster this kind of event all over the media is wrong
(see http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070419/ap_on_re_us/okla__bombing_anniversary) for what not to do, even 12 years later). Leave these things alone, get every school in the country to commit to a PLAN for this, and move on.

With all the sadness, check this out for a good laugh:
http://www.czabe.com/mediaclips/index.shtml?a=showclip&id=735

I wanted to touch on a subject today that burns my ass every year. The terrible fans of the sporting world. Sure, every team has its great fan base, the die-hards, the guys that live and die with every play, pass, hit, tackle, etc.....but every team also has the shit-bag fans that act as if they could have made every play and called every shot better than the guys making millions. Unfortunately, some teams have many more than others (Chicago is full of them, Oakland, Philly, NY, and the list goes on).

I'll start with NY, mainly because evidence of this is very fresh in the minds of anyone that follows baseball. Even the novice baseball fan knows who Alex Rodriguez is....and that he makes $500 trillion dollars a year (actually roughly $27.7 million this year) to play for the Yankees. Now I have seen this first hand, so my opinion sticks on the wall like pancake mix, but Yankee fans suck. The vast majority of these morons know the game well, more than most fan bases nationwide as a matter of fact, but where the hell do they get off boo-ing one of the best players in the game for more than a decade??? They don't pay his salary, A-Rod didn't ask for more cash when he was traded from Texas, he simply wanted to play for a contender, for that chance at a ring. When I saw the Yanks play last year, (by the way, every Yankee fan should feel privileged to see games at that park, it's old sure...but what a feeling when you walk in, just like Lambeau for us Packer Backers, more history than any other park ANYWHERE, and I hate the Yanks, so it means a lot) and they lost to the Mariners. It was a great game though, Jeter making a running play in the hole and throwing off the jump as only he does so very well, a few long HR's, and a close finish. (This reminds me...Tuosto if you are reading this, call Tony (Sal Fasano's long lost brother minus the stache, and tell him he owes me a round of golf, and I will collect)

What pissed me off was that they boo-ed A-Rod every time he came to the plate, and after he batted, even when he got a hit. This boo-ing still happend all last year and even in the playoffs. Guess what??? A-Rod hit .290 had 35 HR's and 120+ RBI's and he stole 15 bases last year. IF that's not good enough in NY, send him to Milwaukee, we'll give you Gorman Thomas, Kevin Mench, $10Million in cash, and 5000 pounds of brats (with kraut) for him today, and we will never boo him and his piles of money.

What makes this all worse?? A-Rod is off to the best start in Yankee history....yep that's right kids...better than the Babe, the Mick, Joey D, Reggie, and any other Yank you can think of. He has 9 HR's in 13 games and 23 RBI's. If not for him, the Yanks would have 2 wins. Wake up New York, this guy is your only ticket to the dance these days. Your owner spends $200 Million a year on a line-up and you complain that it includes one of the best players in baseball, who's still the best baller on your entire roster.....grow up already, you won't have 27 titles anytime soon anyways!

Moving closer to home....ahhh Chicago. Love the city, it's not NY, but the next best thing. Food, drink, the lake, sports, great newspapers, and yet they still want to come to WI every weekend when the sun shines.....(makes you wonder just how great WI is, and we'll get to that).

Loving the city of Chicago as I do...I could git two turds about the people, mainly the sports fans. Now I know some of these folks personally, so I have a pretty solid opinion, but don't want to bird walk too far. I only cannot stand these folks when it comes to their Sox, Cubs, Bears, and Bulls (I could keep the Bulls out, but I am still bitter about the Jordan days...the guy was the best, no doubt, no argument, but the bandwagon was so full those 6-10 years that Mayor Daly was having to cut trees down in Grant Park to keep them all in one place. Look for a ticket to a Bulls game now, no problem, and they are pretty tough).

Bears fans...wow. They are horrible and even the good ones (my good buddy Jorge is pretty solid about being realistic) fall off the rocker now and again. Last year (ahh that hurts coming in second place, first loser, getting beat on, etc) is still fresh in my mind, and I know that all those Super Bowl Shuffling douche-bags were really sore after the Colts ran into the sunset. Now I don't dislike the Bears all that much, despite my love for the Pack, but cripes!!! Bears fans are as fickle as it gets. Soldier Field is nice now, and you could still get a ticket when the club was 8-0, and I'd bet you could get one even later than that without paying more than face value. In the last 10 years the Bears have had two solid teams, neither with an offense, that made it to the playoffs, and didn't seal the deal. Last year's team being the best of the two, was still not as good as the top 4 teams in the AFC. I'd have bet the farm on the AFC regardless of which team had gone (Pats, Chargers, Ravens, Colts). What's nice to know is that the Pack whipped that butt to end the year, and with key players making it clear that the organization sucked, leaving, and not caring if they sit out, the Bears will not be nearly as dominant, especially with Rex (Mr. 4TD's one week and 6 weeks off) as their QB. In all fairness though, the organization is junk. The owners have plagued that team for years. Now that they have a good coach, see if the folks of Chicago can dig up a new and improved ownership....cuz they WON'T win a ring with the ones in house now!

Staying in the windy City, but heading north....you have Cubs fans. Now, tickets are always sold, house is full, and the house is one of the best left. However, half of the assholes at Wrigley never see more than 3 innings of play. These pricks are too busy talking on their cell phones, typing on blackberry's, and worrying about what designer jeans they got on Michigan Ave the week before. It's a damn fashion/vanity palooza. I would wager that Stever Bartman knows more about Cubs baseball (and catches as well as many) than 80% of the folks that frequent Wrigley. Any team/fan base, that bashes a guy for doing WHAT EVERY OTHER FAN WOULD HAVE DONE TO A BALL COMING TOWARS THE STANDS, is lost and confused. They had to protect this guy at his home for weeks, for fear that one of Chicago's finest fans would jeopardize his health, physically...and when you really look back...the Cubs had no shot. Gonzalez booted a routine play at short, and they would have lost anyway. Will the Cubs ever win again....they may, but spending tons of cash on Soriano was the trick, the Brewers will win more games than the Cubs yet again this year and pay the team 50% less.

I won't touch on the WhiteSox at all....their fan base is so bad that the only city that would claim worse is Oakland, and for some reason those assholes are proud of the fact that they suck. Hell if Oakland's football fans shared "Comisky"with WhiteSox fans on the same day, the city of Chicago's literacy rate would drop farther than George Bush's presidency rating in a matter of hours, the local jails would be full, and illegal drug sales would sore past anything Nancy Reagan every imagined possible. Any place you go where fans run onto the field to abuse players, umpires, etc is junk. Making it worse, the Tribune tried to talk past these instances by stating that those fans "were not your typical WhiteSox fans". Really?? Seems to me they sat in some nice seats, next to people that appeared to be very similar in dress and socioeconomic status....and if you look around the stadium, you see a lot of the same...drunk, tactless, and poor sport fans.

We can skip Oakland (see above).
Philly, well see above (minus the fact that they actually know the game (football and baseball) and they always fill the stands).

I have touched on my love for the Packers...and I also follow the Crew and the Bucks, Warriors (MU), Badgers, etc. I will however start by ensuring that you know the Bucks suck. Buck fans in general suck. I think the NBA tried to get a second team in Chicago and just aimed to high. I cannot defend it, nor understand it, but Herby Kohl needs to sell that team to someone that knows a bit more about hoops.

College sports I have eluded so far, but if you can find me a better set of fans that UW has for football, and hoops, I'll be shocked. There are many on the same levels (ACC hoopsters have a solid gripe, and are probably better based on tradition, UT, FSU, Florida, etc for football all close, etc) but none that really surpass. Three years in a row SI has named Madison's campus as the best sports campus in the land, and if you have been, you know why. If you haven't, start saving for tickets to the UW/Michigan game this fall, you could spend $500 on tow tickets and not have spent too much, trust me. 80,000 fans, packed tight as hotdogs, screaming, waving and having the time of their lives. (If you haven't see the wave done in Madison, you haven't see the wave ever...slow motion, fast motion, reversed, and in tandem from one section to the opposite section, all so well done you'd think it was rehearsed weekly). Badger fans travel well too....they have purchased tickets for every bowl game, tourney games etc as well as any base in the country, and even when they lose, they still have a great time to finish off the weekend

Marquette, although much smaller, and in building mode thanks to savior Wade, is working very hard to create a similar tradition. I went to MU and when I was there we had three-four sell-outs a year, always the ESPN games on TV. Now a sell-out is much more frequent, and the yellow shirts are EVERYWHERE. Hopefully winning becomes the norm, and this tradition makes its way to the spotlight more in the Big East.

Packer fans....ahh what a group we are. Cheeseheads, Packer Backers, whatever you want to call us...we are the best sports fans there are. Losing seasons don't lose fans, Lambeau is always packed. Tailgating was invented in Green Bay, and if Lambeau held 20,000 more seats, they would be full, as soon as the last brat/bbq, and beer was finished in the parking lot. We have embraced a quarterback that others didn't give a chance, who has led us to the title, and who has made us go nuts in our living rooms, all while securing himself in history as one of the best of all time, ever. When you go to a game, and you hear his name announced, and he runs onto the field, you can literally feel the love....fans here LOVE our players, and Green Bay, as a city owns them. No sporting franchise in history has what GB has....ownership of its team. The Packers will never move, and no decision made in the organization is made without the major shareholders (the city of GB). Something that unique makes the fan base cherish the team, and truly respect what it provides that city, this state, and these people. There's a reason why you have to wait 61.6 years to get season tickets in GB....and it's simply because our fans are the best there are!

Obviously this blog represents my opinions, and any fan has similar feelings about their respective team, but claiming that your team's fan base is better than those in GB is really tough to swallow. New England's fans are solid, their ticket sales are great, their organization highly respected, and the successes recently all show great things.....and Buffalo, man those folks love their Bills and make it to games in 20 feet of snow....but it's not the same. It's just not the same.

At the end of the day....as a fan, you just hope that your teams following doesn't fall into the band-wagoner, drunken moron, law breaking categories. Fan bases can change...but the good fans have to take a stand, buy tickets, raise awareness, and keep out the garbage. For many teams out there this will take major change (removing Al Davis in Oakland, moving the Sox out of the South side of Chicago, banning cell phones at Wrigley, etc) but it can be done. Use GB as an example...and do your best to keep close......even if you are close, you are doing very very well!

Monday, April 16, 2007

Freedom, ahh how it has a price....

Folks....man, not sure how to even begin a post today.......
31 people are now dead....31. Why?? We'll know more soon, but it appears as though another troubled youth (speculation) went nuts at a school campus (VT) and decided to play God.

I am not going into the details...but would like to hear from readers out there....mainly why these things happen today. When I was a kid (granted from a small town in WI) we rode bikes, played ball, chewed gum, and built snowmen. The biggest trouble you caused was pulling your neighbor girl's pony-tail, toilet papering some one's house, picking on your siblings, lying about who broke what in the garage and left it there for Dad to find when he got home, etc.

As we got older, we may have gotten into a fight on the playground at school, or on the school bus, or a speeding ticket. Hell, kids I knew were afraid to get in too much trouble. Our parents would have whipped our ass. My mother showed up to my second grade classroom with a 15" X 4" (half and inch thick) paddle because I couldn't keep my trap shut (shocking huh). You think I talked much that afternoon....HELL NO!

My Dad was worse...(not bad, just scarier when he got mad at us). You KNEW that whatever he was going to do (or threatened) was as good as gold. He didn't play games....you got told something ONCE...and that was that. If you broke the rule (I did ONCE) you got the punishment (I'd share, but the ultra-liberal assholes out there might call for a protest and run the streets of Delavan worried about any fairly conservative parents out there still).

I am not going to say that you need to hit your kids to get a message across...you don't. What is missing in children today?? It's really easy to figure out. Kids in the 80's didn't shoot other kids, they didn't (at least not like today) rape other kids, they didn't even have the stabbings, gangs, etc.....they also didn't have parents filled with empty promises and threats. Kids today don't have FEAR. Fear is a fantastic motivator. I was scared that I wouldn't add up to the other kids when I was younger, and as I got older it held true. I didn't want to be less than average, or just average. I didn't want to beat the shit out of a few people that deserved it, or tell a bitch ass teacher to shove it....WHY???? Cuz I was scared of what would happen to me. I love my parents to death, but I feared them when I thought about punishments and disappointment.

Kids today have no fear. Parents give them what they want, make empty threats to punishments for poor behavior, allow them to talk back, provide access to games, tv, and other highly influential mediums that kids swarm to.

My previous post talks about the media, other focus on music (hip-hop, etc), but in the end our nation's parents SUCK. I am very new to parenting, but you can damn well mark it down that my kids will have respect for authority, elders, and everyone until the respect is unearned. Also to blame are the ultra-liberals in this country who have allowed for the lack of action a parent can take to reprimand bad behavior.

Guess what?? Spanking your kid is not wrong. People will say, oh, well there is a fine line there...sure there is. There is also a fine line with racism nowadays, gender discrimination, and sexual orientation. Slowly but surely, all of the freedoms people based this country on, are dwindling.

Tell me I am crazy, say my ramble here today is garbage, call me a fence riding, hair receding, cracker, I won't run to the nearest offices to punch in the media and raise holy hell. BUT, don't tell me that these 31 people died today because there are guns available (they have been available for years), don't tell me that parenting isn't somehow held responsible, don't tell me that our society didn't play a role in shedding lights on these horrific displays of murder by (whether we like it or not) martyring these folks as "extraordinary killers" or whatever crappy terminology they want to use. We bring up Columbine year after year...why? To remember the kids/teachers? Shit people, wake up! Leave these things alone, let them die and show the rest of the kids out there that these things will be quietly, yet highly effectively taken care of. Keep the media away...they make things worse every day. They got Imus fired, they blow up these murders, they give every asshole in this country a chance to make it LIVE.

From the Amorosa's on Trump's show (losing viewers like the Cubs losing games), to the Don Imus', to every asshole in pro-sports. If these folks, lie, cheat, rape, steal, etc, treat them just like every other person (just as we should in all cases)....put them in jail. For those folks in the public eye (or ear), when they say something dumb, targeted at you, or your general place in society, do waht mom told you when your brother picked on you or called you ugly....FUCKING IGNORE IT. Are we going to seriously fire everyone that makes a generalistic comment about race, even if not directed to piss on individuals?? If that was the case, our US workforce would be poorly under staffed. Ask yourself this to....had Jesse Jackson, Elton John, Arnold Governator, said something about whites, straights, or US citizens that was less than tactful, what would happen?? Would the media crush them, tell the story for a week, and help organizations scheme to get them fired, or chopped on the block?? My guess....nope...it would get swepted under the rug.

Again, Imus got what he deserved. My point, make it that way for everyone. Al Sharpton has been quoted as saying some pretty harsh things about "white America" yet he is rarely reviewed in the media at the level IMUS was. Hopefully Imus was fired becasue he called women he didn't know "HO's".....cuz from a racial perspective he said much less than other figures in media and was punished more severley than any (outside of Limbaugh).

For those kids that get wrongly accused (see Duke La Crosse players), punish the shit out of the accuser, and find a way to make peace with the victims (accused) and ease their transition into the mainstream. Again, thank you Mr. Media for ruining lives....amazing.

Media kids...media is the monster that keeps finding a way to keep the dark cloud over our country. Until they write about something of substance outside of crime, celebrity, and capitalism, and until they blow up stories on heroism, family values, and successes in life, it will look like rain....dark, and cloudy.

Hopefully I never get on CNN, they won't like what I have to say....

Friday, April 13, 2007

IMUS vs. RUTGERS (Pay Per View)

Ok, I may get fried for this....but I cannot stand any more of the press on the comments made by Old Man Imus (who is a moron to begin with) towards the "nappy headed ho's" on Rutgers' WBBALL team.

Was Imus wrong to say this, sure. In today's society (let me re-phrase), With today's media knocking at every door possible...one that serves the public domain (radio, media, sports, TV, Internet, etc) cannot say insensitive things about race, gender, or even religion without expecting backlash, fines, and public humiliation. I will stand up now and say that I am not sure all of these things are justified.

Imus, I will repeat is a moron. He has used poor taste and lacked tact his whole career (you don't need to know this directly, just read other quotes that came from his mouth in the last few years) - example "My goal is to goad people into saying something that ruins their life."

Guess what Imus, your life isn't ruined, but your career may be.

My problem with all of this is not so much targeted at what Imus said (although in poor taste) but how our media reacted to it, and how every damn person remotely close to this story is trying to grab marketing points and opportunities. Sure, Imus owed the girls and the school and apology...no questions asked. Imus also should have been suspended, easy, and fined if you ask me. Be clear, Imus was not fired because of what he said though. Imus was fired because the media broke this thing so wide open that his sponsors (many of them with him for years) were forced to step away, as to not be affiliated with the past comment, that was already apologized for.

I am not endorsing Imus (please be clear on that), the guy has been an asshole many times. He got his due I am sure of it. However, too many times our media plays this very same role and hurts people that made mistakes...mistakes we all make everyday, just not on TV or the radio. Our media has made issues of race. religion, and gender even more sensitive every day. These issues and biases, prejudices, stereotypes, etc will always be present...but they would not be nearly as evident in public forums if our media could sit on it a few times.

Other schools were getting press as follow up to this event (that's what it is now), Cal Ripken made the news for cancelling his appearance to the Imus show, next Oprah will have the girls on her show to bring it all back to a head again. I am sorry for them, someone called them a name...but the real story should have been UT's winning of the NCAA Tourney, and the only real press they got was when coach Summit was interviewed about Imus' comments and asked her perspective.

Bottom line, poor comment and our national media groups are the world's most profitable prostitutes...

My advice to the Rutger girls...use this situation as a lesson that there will be assholes all the way along the path of your life...and each asshole will look different. At the end of the day, you choose to keeping moving forward, or to look deeper into the asshole. If you spend your time looking at assholes, you'll miss out on all the great people walking with you, and those you haven't yet met.

My advice to Imus...I have none. You have been provided advice numerous times I am sure, and because you are one of the assholes along the path now for many, I hope you don't even generate a glance.

My advice to all of us...if you really want to be viewed as a good person and enjoy life, don't show your asshole to generate 15 minutes of fame, people may look, but they most surely will not like what they see!!!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

A Better NFL (Ghosts Get Pac-Man and Henry)


Too bad the executives for MLB and the NBA won't be visiting my blog. I am so thrilled with this decision by commissioner Goodell and his team. The message being sent to professional athletes in the NFL is now clear. Don't mess with the NFL!
Let's be honest now for a second...pro athletes of all kinds are treated differently. They have killed other motorists while drunk (Leanord Little, St. Louis Rams), allegedly made cocaine deals over the phone (Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns), been caught with multiple DUI's/DWI's, possession of drugs, reckless driving, even murder (Rae Carruth, Carolina Panthers).
More and more you see these young kids coming out of college, many of them early, to huge contracts for millions of dollars based on 'potential'. Michael Jordan was on Oprah not long ago with his pal Charles Barkley and echoed this. Back when Michael and Charles came into the NBA you were paid the going rate, no more, no less until you proved your worth. Now owners, corporate sponsorship directors, and everyone else who makes a dime off the brands (MLB, NBA, NFL, etc) are first in line to throw money at a 21 year old who has done nothing but excel on a field, court, or diamond with his/her PEERS.
Dexter Manley used to be the butt of a lot of jokes about reading skills (or lack of) for a man in his mid-20's. Dexter, of course wasn't alone in the 80's when this was a big problem. Guess what, he wouldn't be alone now either. Colleges, even high schools push these kids through too. Hell, high school coaches all over the US have been found helping great athletes along, most likely to be next in line for a payback should he/she make it big. Another big problem is the paychecks these kids get. I would really like to see one of the major prefessional organizations take a stab at an incetive based payroll system where each position is based a base salary and you are then paid based upon your performace (like all of us real world folks). Heck, if Peyton Manning doesn't throw a TD in 4 games, he still gets millions. Should Tom Brady trip over his three girlfriends and two bastard children, break his right arm, he still gets millions. If Michael Strahan has surgery to narrow his GAP, and he comes out of surgery less arrow-dynamic, he still cashes in. If I don't close a contract or two in a year, I lose my job. If I get hurt, I get 60% of my pay to live on. If I rape a chick in Colorado, she isn't going to settle out of court and my wife isn't going to stick around to have more kids....(mainly cuz I can't afford a $40K ring or a closet full of designer shoes).
Now, I am not going to get all Al Gore (my thoughts on Global Warming for another day) and think we are going to fix a problem with a few fancy seminars and some comedic reality, but I do think that the problem can only be fixed from the top down. The NFL is the first to take a serious position on combating the idiocy that seems to be growing with our pro athletes, our idols, and yes our public figured role models (Sorry Charles).
Being in the NFL is indeed a privilege, and not a right (Goodell)....all while being your damn job fellas. Part of your job is maintaining your respect in the public eye, whether you like it or not. Your code of conduct, even prior to today's decisions, states something to the affect that being an asshole will be cause for missing games, and hence your paycheck.
I am so excited about this footprint that Goodell is making. The NFL was on the verge of becoming the NBA, or even baseball before it's crack down on steroids. I have always said that the NFL was the best in show, and it still is. Goodell is simply taking out an insurance policy to make damn sure it doesn't stray.
For Pac-Man and Chris Henry....be happy that was all you got. The only reason I believe the punishment wasn't more "permanent" is because you were the examples. Tank Johnson, you're next (and you had no place in the Super Bowl, nor did Eugene Robinson years ago). Hopefully both players realize that this is a second (third, fourth, or whatever) chance to prove your worth.
My only changes to the punishment would have been to negate their contracts and make them lobby (once the punishment was completed) to negotiate a new contract after. Going without pay was nice, but let's ensure that the LAW takes the action they need to as well. Lord knows if I had been a part of a shooting and assault outside of MINXX when my group of friends was in Vegas last, I'd still be in Vegas. Lucky for Pac-Man, what happens in Vegas, doesn't always STAY in Vegas.
Thank you Mr. Goodell...clean them up, or ship them out....I am sure there's room for them in the NBA.

Monday, April 09, 2007

River Cat Easter Weekend....

This morning I wanted to touch on minor league baseball for a moment. During my visit to Sacramento this last week, I was searching for a home, and enjoying some local experiences (see previous post).

Taking a break from the home search, I attended the Sacramento River Cats' Opening Day game (they are the AAA team for the Oakland A's).

This was my first ever farm league game, and to my surprise it was a wonderful time. The stadium is fantastic, seats roughly 10-12K, and is nestled into downtown Sac with the Sac River Bridge in the background. A great setting. The River Cats happen to have the best attendance of all the teams in their division and I was surprised to see the place fairly full, with knowledgeable fans, budding families, and even a few old timers. The best seats in the house are only $20, and on Thursdays you get $1 dogs and $1 ice cream (really what more could you ask for, at $22 bucks?). They even had four guys signing free autographs before the game for 30 minutes each...(I got all four for Drew on an official ball).

The Cats won 8-7 in an exciting see-saw battle. According to the Sacramento Bee (local paper) there are 3-4 guys that could see action for the A's. The most impressive player was/is catcher Kurt Suzuki out of Cal-State Fullerton (he was on the College World Series Champion Team). This guy managed a great game, threw out two base runners, and hit the ball hard every at bat (2-3 with an RBI and a Walk). With Jason Kendell not getting any younger, this kid could see playing time sooner rather than later.

One of the autographs I got was of Daric Barton, a 22 year old 1B who has size and a bat. He crushed a huge HR out to right to get the Cats back in the game early.

I had a great time, and now that we are going to build a home only 30 miles from the stadium, I can see many more visits to come for the Skogen's. Consider me a fan...a River Cat Man...

Lastly, I hope all enjoyed family time for Easter. As you get older, the holidays become so much more about spending time with your loved ones...even relaxing and taking a nap watching the Masters is so much more fun with family...

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Sacramento vs. WI

Ok, this is a live post from the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento, CA, just south of the airport. I had to write about it....it's just too much fun.

I am in the Savanna Lounge of the Hotel (which should really be a Motel, all room entrances are from the outside, but the pool/common area is nice) and it happens to be Karaoke nite. I had a nice meal, wine, and now some Patron on the rocks, so all is good.

The Karaoke started about 15 minutes ago with two straight WI lived country songs I never even heard of, but definitely could be sung word for word by 91.22% of all Wi-ites north of Madison and Milwaukee (Ole, Jerm, and Kallio included).

The DJ/MC, whatever, is 6-5, and skinny everywhere but his belly, where he looks to be 2.5 years pregnant. Now we have Donny Osman's long lost cousin singing some crazy ass Roy Orbison song.....

A few minutes ago P-Diddy's entourage walked in, and then a few guys from the Shawano reservation. There's Bud, Heiny, fine wine, tequila, and So-Co running off the bar....and people are in line to sing. If this isn't Sacramento's version of American Idol, I don't know what is.

To be fair, a woman, who I could best represent as "bigger" sang a few songs now, and she could really blow....I mean she seriously has a fantastic voice.

Yeee-haw, now I feel like I am back in Marshall....Toby Keith...damn. And to think the guy looks like Pauly Shore....what the hell is going on?

In WI, this kind of shit happens too....but no one can sing...and we are all too drunk to care. In WI, this could easily be a wedding reception, where you get invited to share the kegger...like Lighthouse Lanes.

I have learned two things here in the last hour....moving to the norther areas of Sacramento won't be a whole lot different than home....less snow, just as many hicks, and bigger tires on trucks. The second thing...there's 18 different kinds of folks in here...and no one is segregated....

Whether you like where you live or not, good music and good people of all walks of life getting along and drinking all at the same time, is a good thing....

"Big wheels keep on turning.....wow, what a night....
WHO'S NEXT ON THE MIC.....sure as hell not me....

Tuesday, April 03, 2007

Chasing Aaron (Don't Do It Barry....!!!)



We have all read the stories...seen ESPN, Baseball Tonight, and every other sports telecast in the country. Now it is time for baseball's biggest cheater to step in the box and begin his chase towards the most coveted record in the league's history.

I have been a Hank Aaron fan my whole life....read his story as a kid and was convinced that he was one of the best ever....having endured true racism, threats, and playing in a day when technology wasn't a factor, and still bettering his peers in statistics and will. Henry's record over the Babe was legendary in its own right....and a record that will fall again to one of today's big hitters (I like A-Rod's chances, and Pujols will be right there next). But, Hank did it when it was deemed impossible, when bats were slugged out of Louisville and steroids weren't even used medically.

Barry Bonds, easily one of the top 5 players in MLB history (among others) has tarnished this great game, and will most likely tarnish its best record. I hope the day comes that Barry comes clean about his use of steroids as others have before him....to clean the slate. If we are going to have a new HR King, let's at least not have him be a liar too....

My son doesn't want the record to fall either, so he has pointed this canon towards the Bay Area, and hopes to shoot it off each time Barry swings his bat....hoping that he will strike out more often than not this year...

Andrew always has a back up plan too (I taught him that). Drew asked Uncle Clint to visit Barry should he approach 750 before the All-Star break....as you can see below...Barry wants no part of Uncle Clint....

Happy chasing Barry....but watch yo back brutha!


Monday, April 02, 2007

HOLY CHORIZO!!!!

I had to add a picture of the Chorizo's Opening Day debut! Yes, Chorizo has already had his RC Year pass, but this was his first start on Opening Day. Unfortunately, Albert's cousin the Italian Sausage took the blue ribbon, but Drew's cousin Chorizo, will be back to reclaim glory on a another Brewer day.....


Opening Day....!!!!!


First...a big thank you to Jerm for the Opening Day tickets! While he was shaping today's youth at school, Tyler and I got to enjoy opening day at Miller Park.
Walking up to the park....I kept thinking about the good ole days at County Stadium and the griping a lot of Milwaukee residents did about building the Brewer home of today. How much griping do you hear now...??? None, thank you Milwaukee!!!!
The flag came on the field, the fans cheered, and one of the most anticipated Brewer seasons in my lifetime took off like a rocket. Streamers, canon blasts, standing ovations for newcomers Suppan and Estrada (more on him later) and a huge roar fro Benny Sheets really got Miller Park excited.
There's something about the smell of brats, hotdogs, green grass, and Miller Beer that really makes one proud to live here in WI. With the Brewers new owner, the spending of money, and two key free agents on staff (one a World Series MVP) is FANTASTIC!
The Crew could easily have one of the best pitching staffs in the Majors this year, and they have some solid young talent to cover the rest. Hardy at short is as solid a defender as there is in the league (his bat is getting better all the time too).....Weeks, goes without saying that this kid could be one of the greats at second, Prince, well the lineage is enough and the giant Casey-like swings will become legend. Maybe I am a crazy fan, but this year feels different. I can really see the Crew challenging for the playoffs this year.....
Outside of a "pissing" incident in the 5th (imagine this, the Skogen boys were disrespected, and did not even clench a fist, and had a poor excuse for a fan dismissed), this game was a dream for the 45,000+ fans on a nice sunny day in Milwaukee. Sheets threw a 2 hitter (only run was a Kent HR), Billy Hall had a picture perfect, parallel to the ground, diving catch right in front of us, and Hardy stabbed one to save a run right behind second base. Defense, offense, pitching, all working together to get a big win.
Back to Estrada (sorry this is getting long). Here I am explaining to Ty that this guy will be a great pick-up....and he belts an RBI single to left on cue. I love the Suppan pick-up, but this guy will be the key to the season. If he can hit .300 sink 50-75 RBI's, and cover that plate like he did last year in AZ, the Crew will be dangerous.
I have 4 weeks left here in WI, and I aim to get back to the park at least once more. Drew needs to see the Crew one more time before we leave....and I aim to get him there, nice and close, to see it all!
Great day, great game, great company....!!!!
GO BREWERS!!!

Championship Monday AND Opening DAY!!!

Opening Day at Miller Park and the NCAA Championship game all in one day this year....what could be better?

I am sure I can dig up some pictures to share when the Crew knocks out the Dodgers....and I will be sure to post my thoughts on the big game tonight.

Predictions:

Brewers win a close one 5-4, with Sheets pitching a strong 7 innings and Weeks hitting his first HR of the year right in Ty's lap in the great bleacher seats provided my Mr. Rolloff, everyone's favorite gym teacher!

As for hoops, I will be hoping that the Big Ten pulls off the upset, but the Gators have lots of weapons and great depth. It should be a better game than the Final Four proved to be....but if I was a betting man...I would take Florida on the money line...

More tomorrow..