Most of my friends that follow the band that I'm in invariably ask me one of two things:
1) When are you playing next?
2) When will your CD be done?
The true answer to both of those questions is "I don't know" at this point.
But, for #2, to tide you over, we've uploaded seven clips from the rough mixes of our album at our website. Zip over, click on "Downloads" and check 'em out.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
The suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked
30-0. At home. Against the 32nd-ranked defense in the NFL. In-fighting on the sidelines.
The offensive line is still awful. 4 sacks, 4 INTs for Frye, most of which were the result of him being about to get drilled by a sacker (one was a hail-mary).
Edwards needs to shut his mouth. He's still my boy, but I think we're on a bit of a break right now. Let things like your 22 yard, dragging-six-dudes-before-going-down play do the talking. To act like it's one person's or one unit's fault (depending on who you believe, he was either calling out Frye, or calling out the o-line) is ludicrous.
Crennel needs to do some coaching. There's no reason for your team to come into a game that flat. And no excuse for it.
I know the Browns aren't that bad, but they looked like the 1999 versions of themselves yesterday.
The offensive line is still awful. 4 sacks, 4 INTs for Frye, most of which were the result of him being about to get drilled by a sacker (one was a hail-mary).
Edwards needs to shut his mouth. He's still my boy, but I think we're on a bit of a break right now. Let things like your 22 yard, dragging-six-dudes-before-going-down play do the talking. To act like it's one person's or one unit's fault (depending on who you believe, he was either calling out Frye, or calling out the o-line) is ludicrous.
Crennel needs to do some coaching. There's no reason for your team to come into a game that flat. And no excuse for it.
I know the Browns aren't that bad, but they looked like the 1999 versions of themselves yesterday.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Winslow vs. Porter
Even better than the still photo, which was all I could find on Monday. The end-zone replay really gives you the best view:
Monday, November 20, 2006
OSU/Michigan - Colbert Style
I'm still recovering from a hectic football weekend (in which I watched both of my teams lose close games in rather dick-kicking fashion), but I felt that I should weigh in on the OSU/Michigan game as if I were Stephen Colbert. So, we're giving the game my...
Tips of the Cap / Wags of the Finger
Tip of the Cap
To the OSU fanbase. As much flak as I gave you before this game, and as much as I questioned your class (or lack thereof) regarding the Bo situation and the potential for riotous mayhem, the egg is on my face. By most accounts, there was nothing but respect for Bo, and only a few dozen arrests for various small crimes (such as couch burnings). It was all relatively tame. In addition, I got less shit this year for the game's outcome than in any OSU-winning year since I've lived here. I'm still sick of about 95% of you, but I have to give you the props you deserve for this weekend.
Wag of the Finger
To Lee Corso. Seriously... what the fuck? Why would you go and pick Michigan? Kiss of Fucking Death.
Tip of the Cap
To the Michigan coaches and players. Gave up a late second quarter touchdown to go down 28-14 going into halftime, and OSU was getting the ball back in the third quarter. It would have been easy to pack it in. But you didn't. That's all I could ask. OSU is clearly the best team in the country, and you gave them all they could handle on their home field. Bravo.
Wag of the Finger
To the defensive coaches for both teams. The #1 and #5 scoring defenses in the country give up 81 total points. To the Michigan coaches, I knew your secondary had the potential to struggle, but to struggle that badly AND give up those two HUGE running plays (your supposed strength)? To your credit, OSU has more athletes at skill positions than any team in the country, and I know they spread you out so much with the passing game, but your vaunted front four played probably the worst game of the year. Even your blitzes didn't work. You needed to find some way to get pressure and stop those pesky runs straight into your D-line, and you didn't. To the OSU coaches, I know your team gives up beaucoup yards, but always buckles down and creates a lot of turnovers, but Michigan's offense isn't *that* good. Trust me. I watched all but two of their games this year. 3 red zone rushing TDs, no turnovers, and making Henne look like a much better QB than he is? Not your finest hour.
Tip of the Cap
To Troy Smith. I'm not fond of you, what with your Tressel/politico speak, but I can't argue with your abilities. You didn't kill us running this year, but you didn't have to. It didn't matter what we threw at you; with the exception of the ball into double-coverage on a blitz that was tipped and picked off, you *always* threw it to the right guy. I hate you, but I can't knock your game. If the Heisman voting is even close, it's a travesty.
Heavy Wag of the Finger
To Shawn Crable. Nice hit, asshole. Third and long, Smith is running OUT OF BOUNDS and throwing the ball. No reason to hit him at all, really, but to lead with your helmet and go high is inexcusable. I'm not pinning the loss on you, but considering the pass was incomplete and OSU would have had to punt up only by 4 with 7 minutes left, and instead got a freebie first down, went down, and scored to go up by 11 with considerably less time on the clock, you certainly didn't help.
Tip of the Cap
To Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Neither of you have ever had success against OSU, but you certainly showed up Saturday. Hart carried the team on the ground and pounded out 140+ yards and 3 TD. Henne didn't throw the killer INT (as he's known to do) and led some very big scoring drives (including the opening drive of the game), and even though he was outshown by Smith, played a pretty damn good QB game.
Wag of the Finger
To Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Chad... how can you miss Manningham THAT BADLY down the sideline? That was 7 points, you had all day to throw, and he was so open that I didn't even blame his "woe is me" hands-out gesture as he watched the ball sail over his head. Simply momentum-killing. And Mike, shut your mouth. I know what you meant, and I know your comments were taken largely out of context (I know you were saying their defense wasn't anything special--which it wasn't on Saturday--NOT that their TEAM wasn't anything special like most are trying to spin it), but come on. Your team lost the game. Tip Your Cap and move on.
Tip of the Cap
To the BCS, for recognizing that Michigan is still the second best team in the country. To go into the unanimous #1 team's house--also home of the #1 scoring defense in the country--and hang up 39 points and lose only by 3 should earn them large amounts of respect. I know the pollsters jumped USC over Michigan, but the computers still know who's boss.
Wag of the Finger
To the BCS. I know USC can jump over Michigan if they beat Notre Dame, but what if they don't? It's the "if you lose your last regular season game and don’t win your conference, you probably don’t deserve a shot at the title" argument vs. the "it should be the two best teams" argument, which is a very subjective one. I'm in the camp of: there's no reason to have a rematch, because it will do one of two things:
1) it will reinforce the fact that OSU is the best team in the country while giving two other deserving teams (SEC champ, USC probably) no shot to prove otherwise, or
2) it will give the BCS national championship to a Michigan team that would have beaten OSU after losing to them already. The BCS doesn't split their championship; the winner of the title game gets it. If UM were to win, they should arguably have to play a third game to decide it, which would border on the ridiculous. All of that having been said, perhaps it's what college football needs to finally get a D-1 playoff system put in place. And, with THAT having been said, the homer in me says that a playoff would have made the OSU/UM game this weekend meaningless, because both teams would still be going to the playoff. And that's not cool either.
In summation, I was/am upset about the game, but in the end it was as good a game as advertised. If you had told me 81 points would be scored, I would have laughed. I can say, though it pains me, that OSU is the best team I've seen in the country. Their defense could use a little work, especially if they play a team like Arkansas that can run, or like USC that has great wide receivers and a good, balanced offense, but their offense can essentially run almost anybody off the field. Their depth at the skill positions is uncanny.
Bonus Tip of the Cap
To Kellen Winslow Jr.
Wait, wait. That's not it. That was a Wag of the Finger, that one.
Kellen, your completely emasculating throw-off of Joey Porter on that six yard out pass in the third quarter actually made me yell, "OHHHhhh, SHIT!!" out loud at the game yesterday.
Mini-Tip of the Cap to the Browns stadium staff that showed the replay of it from every angle at least twice on the giant stadium video boards after it happened. One of the most satisfying plays I've ever witnessed in person, even in spite of the game's outcome.
Tips of the Cap / Wags of the Finger
Tip of the Cap
To the OSU fanbase. As much flak as I gave you before this game, and as much as I questioned your class (or lack thereof) regarding the Bo situation and the potential for riotous mayhem, the egg is on my face. By most accounts, there was nothing but respect for Bo, and only a few dozen arrests for various small crimes (such as couch burnings). It was all relatively tame. In addition, I got less shit this year for the game's outcome than in any OSU-winning year since I've lived here. I'm still sick of about 95% of you, but I have to give you the props you deserve for this weekend.
Wag of the Finger
To Lee Corso. Seriously... what the fuck? Why would you go and pick Michigan? Kiss of Fucking Death.
Tip of the Cap
To the Michigan coaches and players. Gave up a late second quarter touchdown to go down 28-14 going into halftime, and OSU was getting the ball back in the third quarter. It would have been easy to pack it in. But you didn't. That's all I could ask. OSU is clearly the best team in the country, and you gave them all they could handle on their home field. Bravo.
Wag of the Finger
To the defensive coaches for both teams. The #1 and #5 scoring defenses in the country give up 81 total points. To the Michigan coaches, I knew your secondary had the potential to struggle, but to struggle that badly AND give up those two HUGE running plays (your supposed strength)? To your credit, OSU has more athletes at skill positions than any team in the country, and I know they spread you out so much with the passing game, but your vaunted front four played probably the worst game of the year. Even your blitzes didn't work. You needed to find some way to get pressure and stop those pesky runs straight into your D-line, and you didn't. To the OSU coaches, I know your team gives up beaucoup yards, but always buckles down and creates a lot of turnovers, but Michigan's offense isn't *that* good. Trust me. I watched all but two of their games this year. 3 red zone rushing TDs, no turnovers, and making Henne look like a much better QB than he is? Not your finest hour.
Tip of the Cap
To Troy Smith. I'm not fond of you, what with your Tressel/politico speak, but I can't argue with your abilities. You didn't kill us running this year, but you didn't have to. It didn't matter what we threw at you; with the exception of the ball into double-coverage on a blitz that was tipped and picked off, you *always* threw it to the right guy. I hate you, but I can't knock your game. If the Heisman voting is even close, it's a travesty.
Heavy Wag of the Finger
To Shawn Crable. Nice hit, asshole. Third and long, Smith is running OUT OF BOUNDS and throwing the ball. No reason to hit him at all, really, but to lead with your helmet and go high is inexcusable. I'm not pinning the loss on you, but considering the pass was incomplete and OSU would have had to punt up only by 4 with 7 minutes left, and instead got a freebie first down, went down, and scored to go up by 11 with considerably less time on the clock, you certainly didn't help.
Tip of the Cap
To Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Neither of you have ever had success against OSU, but you certainly showed up Saturday. Hart carried the team on the ground and pounded out 140+ yards and 3 TD. Henne didn't throw the killer INT (as he's known to do) and led some very big scoring drives (including the opening drive of the game), and even though he was outshown by Smith, played a pretty damn good QB game.
Wag of the Finger
To Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Chad... how can you miss Manningham THAT BADLY down the sideline? That was 7 points, you had all day to throw, and he was so open that I didn't even blame his "woe is me" hands-out gesture as he watched the ball sail over his head. Simply momentum-killing. And Mike, shut your mouth. I know what you meant, and I know your comments were taken largely out of context (I know you were saying their defense wasn't anything special--which it wasn't on Saturday--NOT that their TEAM wasn't anything special like most are trying to spin it), but come on. Your team lost the game. Tip Your Cap and move on.
Tip of the Cap
To the BCS, for recognizing that Michigan is still the second best team in the country. To go into the unanimous #1 team's house--also home of the #1 scoring defense in the country--and hang up 39 points and lose only by 3 should earn them large amounts of respect. I know the pollsters jumped USC over Michigan, but the computers still know who's boss.
Wag of the Finger
To the BCS. I know USC can jump over Michigan if they beat Notre Dame, but what if they don't? It's the "if you lose your last regular season game and don’t win your conference, you probably don’t deserve a shot at the title" argument vs. the "it should be the two best teams" argument, which is a very subjective one. I'm in the camp of: there's no reason to have a rematch, because it will do one of two things:
1) it will reinforce the fact that OSU is the best team in the country while giving two other deserving teams (SEC champ, USC probably) no shot to prove otherwise, or
2) it will give the BCS national championship to a Michigan team that would have beaten OSU after losing to them already. The BCS doesn't split their championship; the winner of the title game gets it. If UM were to win, they should arguably have to play a third game to decide it, which would border on the ridiculous. All of that having been said, perhaps it's what college football needs to finally get a D-1 playoff system put in place. And, with THAT having been said, the homer in me says that a playoff would have made the OSU/UM game this weekend meaningless, because both teams would still be going to the playoff. And that's not cool either.
In summation, I was/am upset about the game, but in the end it was as good a game as advertised. If you had told me 81 points would be scored, I would have laughed. I can say, though it pains me, that OSU is the best team I've seen in the country. Their defense could use a little work, especially if they play a team like Arkansas that can run, or like USC that has great wide receivers and a good, balanced offense, but their offense can essentially run almost anybody off the field. Their depth at the skill positions is uncanny.
Bonus Tip of the Cap
To Kellen Winslow Jr.
Wait, wait. That's not it. That was a Wag of the Finger, that one.
Kellen, your completely emasculating throw-off of Joey Porter on that six yard out pass in the third quarter actually made me yell, "OHHHhhh, SHIT!!" out loud at the game yesterday.
Mini-Tip of the Cap to the Browns stadium staff that showed the replay of it from every angle at least twice on the giant stadium video boards after it happened. One of the most satisfying plays I've ever witnessed in person, even in spite of the game's outcome.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Win it for Bo
To quote CNNSI.com:
Michigan has lost one of its greats on the eve of perhaps its biggest game.
I'm not usually one to get sentimental for things like this, but I really feel for Lloyd Carr right now. He's been at Michigan for 27 years, and on the eve before the biggest game he will ever coach (bigger even than the 1998 Rose Bowl that clinched him a national championship), he has to try not to let the death of his mentor cloud his focus.
Bo was the winningest coach ever at the winningest school of all time. That's really all that needs to be said about him. Michigan executive associate athletic director Mike Stevenson told the Ann Arbor News: "In the history of Michigan athletics, nobody had a bigger impact. He was passionate, bright, and an unbelievable leader. He loved Michigan."
There are two things that I hope:
1. The team is able to turn a negative into a positive and to inspire themselves to win this one game for Bo. It's one of the biggest games in the history of the program he loved. It's an unfortunate shame that he was not able to live long enough to see it.
2. I really hope that all the douche-bag Michigan-hatin' OSU fans (not saying ALL OSU fans, obviously; just the real jerky ones I talked about yesterday) can let the man rest in peace. I shudder to think about what I'm sure will be all of the classy signs that the gracious OSU fans will have on College Game Day tomorrow morning. I mean, it's not like there's a punk band called "The Dead Schembechlers" performing at a tailgate before the game1.
Rest in Peace. Win This One for Bo.
1. Per the comment from Kokotan, I want to reiterate that I don't harbor specific resentment for the Dead Schembechlers, since I know they've been together for over a decade, and are/were not a reactionary outcropping from Bo's death. It was meant more as a commentary about many of the harder-core, hatred-of-all-things-Michigan OSU fans who have been known to have less than better taste/judgement in situations such as these.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Alright, it's time to weigh in on the Big Game.
First off, let me say that I wished they could have played this damn game on Tuesday. I'm so sick of hearing about it, honestly. It's already been broken down from every possible angle, and reading Steve's posted article mentioning that the band Nickelback was trying to get tickets tells me all I need to know about what this game has become. Nickelback?? Really?
At any rate, being a lonely Michigan fan living here in Columbus, this week has been difficult. My own wife and I have made separate plans to watch this Game of the Century, due to my desire to be able to actually root for my team out loud. I'll be joining a small cabal of Michigan fans at an undisclosed location (lest our cars be flipped and our couches burned by the impending mob, regardless of outcome) and Melissa will be watching with friends and/or family. It kind of sucks that we won't be watching it together, but I think it's for the best, as both of us might be prone to saying things we later regret to each other during this game. Not that I'm overly competitive and sick and tired of the unnecessary bile spewed by EVERY OSU fan regarding anything Michigan.....
Here are two things I'd first like to get out in the open, just for the record:
- I'm first going to go on record (in the hopes that I won't have to hear so much about it if OSU wins) that I THINK OSU IS GOING TO WIN. Troy Smith has killed us every year, he's on some kind of mission, Michigan's secondary is weak, yadda yadda yadda. Please, Buckeye fans, spare me on Monday, should your team win the game. I'm pretty sure there are no stupid little "Don't give a damn about the whole state of Michigan/Carr should spell his first name with three 'L's HAAHAHAHA I'M FUNNY!" jokes that I haven't heard. I've lived in Columbus now for seven+ years, and believe me: they stopped being funny the 36th time I heard them five years ago. Seriously. You need some new material. And, let's be honest: It's a fucking football game! I want my team to win, too, but when the entire population of Columbus KNOWS ahead of time that there will be some kind of couch burning, car flipping riot after the game, it does not speak well of your fan-base. When you hear stories of people's cars being shellacked with rocks and bottles *just* because the license plate is from Michigan (never mind that it could be an OSU student who actually *gasp* lives in Michigan), and you yourself are tired of being called a "fucking pussy" (true story) by a total stranger for wearing a Michigan cap in the middle of summer, it goes beyond football rivalry.
- Along that same line, OSU fans need to fucking admit that Michigan is pretty good this year (I'm looking mostly in your direction, 1460 The Fan's Bruce Hooley). There are a lot of Columbus-ites already worried about getting airfare to Glendale, AZ, and who they will be playing in the National Championship. OSU is the most complete team I've seen this year, but Michigan is no slouch. Again, I'm NOT predicting any upsets, but let's be realistic; yes, your offense is good, but you've not yet played a team with a front 7 anywhere near as good as Michigans's.
Okay, all whining and griping aside, here are my keys to the game:
- Mike Hart: For Michigan to have any chance of stopping Ohio State's offense, the best course of action would be to keep that offense on the sideline. It's not a coincidence that, as Mike Hart goes, so goes the Michigan offense. They lead the nation in time of possession. Hart doesn't lose fumbles. Those two factors will come in very heavy in keeping OSU's offense off the field. If Hart can help to grind out long, time-consuming, and most importantly SCORING drives, Michigan has a good chance.
- The O-line: This goes along with the previous point. On these time-consuming drives, Michigan's senior-laden O-line has the potential to wear down a defense. Talk all you want about Joe Thomas, but Jake Long belongs in a discussion as the top tackle in the conference. Mark Bihl, Ruben Riley, and Adam Kraus are no slouches either.
- The Front 7: Michigan's front 7 is widely regarded as one of the--if not THE--best units in the country, and has masked some issues in the secondary all season. If they can slow Antonio Pittman (which I think they can do), then they must also get some pressure on Smith without having to continually blitz (thus having the ability for Shawn Crable or David Harris to "spy" him). If they can do that, they have a better chance of disrupting his uncanny rhythm. If they can't get pressure on Smith without having to sell out and bring the house, it's going to be a long day.
- Alex Boone vs. LaMarr Woodley: This is one of the key matchups. Boone hasn't played in three weeks. Woodley is one of the best defensive ends in the country, and is lining up most of the time next to Alan Branch, who commands a double team. How healthy is Boone? Will he be forced to stop Woodley one-on-one all day? If so, can he do it? Woodley played hurt in last year's game, and almost single-handedly kept UM in the game on defense.
- UM Secondary vs. OSU Receivers: This is the other key matchup. UM's secondary has been much maligned most of the year, and the receivers of OSU present many matchup problems. I imagine it's going to be Leon Hall on Anthony Gonzalez and Morgan Trent on Ted Ginn (based on Hall being our best cover CB and Gonzalez being the best pure receiver, and Trent and Ginn being the fastest but less "technical" of their respective units). Beyond that, Michigan's safety play is suspect, and OSU has other weapons at wide receiver that will also demand some attention (keeping UM from playing a cover 2 zone exclusively). If UM's front 4 can get pressure consistently and allow the outside backers to help clog the shorter routes on passing downs, that would be ideal for them. If they have to blitz and Smith has his bevy of wide receivers all one-on-one, it's going to be a long day.
What it all boils down to for me are the three keys to victory for UM:
1. Run the ball effectively with Hart
2. Control the clock
3. Get pressure on Smith without having to blitz
If Michigan can do those three things effectively, I think they can come out with the win. My heart says "Go Blue!" but my head says....
OSU 31, Michigan 24
Monday, November 13, 2006
Raise your hand if you saw this one coming...
The Browns much-maligned rush defense went into the Georgia Dome and shut down Michael Vick, Warrick Dunn, and the Falcons. 17-13. While certainly not a blow-out, and while our offense looked stalled for most of the second half, the Browns managed to get a lead early and hold onto it.
Our rock-headed quarterback was much less rock-headed (first game with no INTs, coupled with a nice slant TD pass to Edwards, a beatiful pump-fake/deep ball to Winslow, and then a throw in the fourth quarter on which Winslow made one of the nicest catches I've ever seen). We couldn't run all that much, but the game plan called for us to go after their banged up and 31st ranked pass defense. Frye's line: 16-22, 165 yards, 1 TD, 0 INTs. Rating: 101.9
This is what we need from Chuck Frye. He doesn't have to have eye-popping numbers. The strength of this team will be its defense. So far, the one huge difference that I've seen of the Jeff Davidson offensive era is that he goes into each game with a plan. The plan three games ago: the Jets suck at stopping the run... so let's run it on them. The plan yesterday: the Falcons suck at stopping the pass... let's move the ball passing.
Some observations:
- Sean Jones is the real deal at strong safety. Another INT yesterday, plus one more he could have had. I'm trying to think how good this kid might be right now if he hadn't torn his ACL in the summer camps before his rookie year. He deserves definite Pro Bowl consideration if he keeps it up, though I'm sure he'll lose out to Troy Polamalu (sp?) and Ed Reed.
- Keeping with the theme of the 2004 draft of Butch Davis, Kellen Winslow Jr. is a fucking beast. As much as I don't like the guy as a person, he can fucking play. That catch he made in the fourth quarter was downright sick. I still don't know what the Falcons were thinking when they matched a cornerback up with him. The fake he and Frye orchestrated in the first quarter to set up a 40 yard completion (which then also set up a touchdown) was a thing of beauty. If only he'd just shut his mouth...
- Whence came this rushing defense? Now, granted, 147 yards is not normally considered "good" rushing defense, but they held Dunn to 73 yards. All of Vick's rushing is hard to call "rushing" because it's really just pass protections breaking down most of the time. I honestly thought going in that the Browns would give up over 225 yards rushing. They held the Falcons to more than 50 yards under their season average.
- Speaking of the defense, I don't know if Crennel or Grantham gets more of the credit, but I don't know how they keep playing such good pass defense with their top 3 cornerbacks out. A lot of it is that Sean Jones and Brian Russell have been consistent, and that Pool has played well. But still... let us not also forget that Crennel had that last year in New England where they won the Super Bowl with several guys playing in the secondary that had been signed off the street/practice squad and with a normally starting wide receiver playing nickelback. An all around superb effort getting these guys up to speed. Davin Holly might have earned himself a spot as the #1 nickelback next year, assuming McCutcheon and Bodden are both healthy enough.
- Kamerion Wimbley. Each week, this guy does something else to impress me. This week, it was: a) sacking Michael Vick, and b) running Warrick Dunn down from behind. The more that he plays, the more you can see he's picking up the defense and the role of the 3-4 outside linebacker. He might not be the defensive rookie of the year, but he should at least be in the discussion. If he can stay healthy and continue to progress, he's going to be a beast for years to come.
- Braylon Edwards needs to keep doing more and more each week, but it was nice to see him get TDs in back to back games. Most people think he's going to be a bust. I still hold out hope, given my Michigan man-crush on him.
I still don't see the Browns winning more than 5 or 6 games total this season, but these last two weeks they've showed me something (and I think they've showed themselves something, too). Both games were games I thought the other teams would just roll over the Browns. Both games were a lot closer than most thought they would be. And both times, the Browns at least had a legitimate shot to win at some point.
If they can just keep building, there might be cause for hope. Until they all get tuberculosis and turf toe, which then ruins everyone's careers.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Tester wins in Montana
5 Senate seats down, 1 more to go!
Savor the flavor, George Allen. It's all over.
Savor the flavor, George Allen. It's all over.
That Was Quick
From the files of, "Oh shit! I'm probably going to get fired by the new Congress!" we have another Donald Rumsfeld pre-emptive strike.
Though a large part of me wants all of these neo-Thugs to have to answer publicly for the shit they've done, a small part of me still enjoys saying, "Don't let the doorknob hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!"
Though a large part of me wants all of these neo-Thugs to have to answer publicly for the shit they've done, a small part of me still enjoys saying, "Don't let the doorknob hit ya where the Good Lord split ya!"
How Sweep it Is!
Never in my wildest dreams did I think the Dems would take both the House AND the Senate. I knew they had a good shot at the House--only needing 15 seats--but I didn't know they'd take it back with such force! After all, they're the Democrats; they're notorious for fucking up even the surest of things.
But, to (most likely) get the Senate on top of that is purely icing on the political cake. Granted, lumping Joe "I'm a Sore Primary Loser" Lieberman in with the Dems is a bit of an assumption. He has said he will caucus with the Dems, but he generally always votes with the Republicans now. And to think, he was technically the vice president once.
Right now, it's 49-47 Republican, with two Independents (though, Sanders [VT] will vote with the Dems, and Lieberman was technically a Democrat before he lost the primary), so it's basically a dead-heat with Montana and Virginia still too close to call. But, Webb is ahead by 6,000 votes in Virigina, and Tester is ahead by around 2,000 in Montana.
So, in come the recounts. Let's just hope that all of the people who cried "Sore losers! Sour grapes! Cry-babies!" in 2000 and 2004 remember that now that the shoe's on the other foot and they try to spin recounts in the other direction (Hannity and Limbaugh, I'm looking in your collective direction).
Don't get me wrong. I don't think all of the Democrats are great. For example, in my Congressional district, I didn't necessarily *like* Mary Jo Kilroy, but ANYTHING would be better than Deb Pryce. Sadly, Pryce held on for her closest re-election in years. But, the most important point is that, assuming the Dems get both chambers back, George W. can't continue fucking up the country unchecked by his (formerly) rubber-stamp Congress.
And that, alone, is cause for celebration. That, and this:
"We took a whipping last night, and we understand that," Tom DeLay told CNN's "American Morning." "The Democrats didn't win, the Republicans lost."
Semantics, Tommy. Enjoy life in prison.
But, to (most likely) get the Senate on top of that is purely icing on the political cake. Granted, lumping Joe "I'm a Sore Primary Loser" Lieberman in with the Dems is a bit of an assumption. He has said he will caucus with the Dems, but he generally always votes with the Republicans now. And to think, he was technically the vice president once.
Right now, it's 49-47 Republican, with two Independents (though, Sanders [VT] will vote with the Dems, and Lieberman was technically a Democrat before he lost the primary), so it's basically a dead-heat with Montana and Virginia still too close to call. But, Webb is ahead by 6,000 votes in Virigina, and Tester is ahead by around 2,000 in Montana.
So, in come the recounts. Let's just hope that all of the people who cried "Sore losers! Sour grapes! Cry-babies!" in 2000 and 2004 remember that now that the shoe's on the other foot and they try to spin recounts in the other direction (Hannity and Limbaugh, I'm looking in your collective direction).
Don't get me wrong. I don't think all of the Democrats are great. For example, in my Congressional district, I didn't necessarily *like* Mary Jo Kilroy, but ANYTHING would be better than Deb Pryce. Sadly, Pryce held on for her closest re-election in years. But, the most important point is that, assuming the Dems get both chambers back, George W. can't continue fucking up the country unchecked by his (formerly) rubber-stamp Congress.
And that, alone, is cause for celebration. That, and this:
"We took a whipping last night, and we understand that," Tom DeLay told CNN's "American Morning." "The Democrats didn't win, the Republicans lost."
Semantics, Tommy. Enjoy life in prison.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Open Letter to Phil Savage and Romeo Crennel:
Dear Phil and Romeo,
Please, for the love of all things holy, SIGN A VETERAN QUARTERBACK!!
I was a Charlie Frye apologist for the first few weeks of the season, but the dude is KILLING this team right now. Bring someone in who can make quicker decisions; who can throw the ball away; who can NOT FUMBLE ON HIS OWN TWO FUCKING YARD LINE; who can see the field and actually find an open man, as opposed to throwing into triple coverage more often than not.
I want to like the kid. I really do. Semi-local boy, grew up loving the Browns, tough as nails. All positives. But he's not ready to be an NFL starting quarterback, and may never be.
You say you're going to "coach him out" of holding onto the ball too long and taking sacks? How about doing it with him on the sideline watching a veteran QB actually doing it??
There's still time to make this season at least respectable. You could have won that game in San Diego if Frye hadn't fumbled the ball into his own endzone for a Charger touchdown, and if you had a quarterback that could make good enough decisions to instill enough confidence in your offensive coordinator to actually throw the ball in the red zone. Six field goals was a neat team record, but four field goals and two touchdowns would have won you the game.
Seriously. I don't want a new QB in the draft (though I'm sure there are some out there *cough*Lars*cough* that want Troy Smith). I want a PROVEN VETERAN. Someone who can read the defense and throw to the open man/hot read and NOT take six sacks a game and/or NOT fumble/throw the ball to the other team with great regularity.
I don't think that's too much to ask. I also don't think the team is that far away from being *gasp* competitive, even considering how banged up they are.
Let's get on it.
Sincerely,
DP
Please, for the love of all things holy, SIGN A VETERAN QUARTERBACK!!
I was a Charlie Frye apologist for the first few weeks of the season, but the dude is KILLING this team right now. Bring someone in who can make quicker decisions; who can throw the ball away; who can NOT FUMBLE ON HIS OWN TWO FUCKING YARD LINE; who can see the field and actually find an open man, as opposed to throwing into triple coverage more often than not.
I want to like the kid. I really do. Semi-local boy, grew up loving the Browns, tough as nails. All positives. But he's not ready to be an NFL starting quarterback, and may never be.
You say you're going to "coach him out" of holding onto the ball too long and taking sacks? How about doing it with him on the sideline watching a veteran QB actually doing it??
There's still time to make this season at least respectable. You could have won that game in San Diego if Frye hadn't fumbled the ball into his own endzone for a Charger touchdown, and if you had a quarterback that could make good enough decisions to instill enough confidence in your offensive coordinator to actually throw the ball in the red zone. Six field goals was a neat team record, but four field goals and two touchdowns would have won you the game.
Seriously. I don't want a new QB in the draft (though I'm sure there are some out there *cough*Lars*cough* that want Troy Smith). I want a PROVEN VETERAN. Someone who can read the defense and throw to the open man/hot read and NOT take six sacks a game and/or NOT fumble/throw the ball to the other team with great regularity.
I don't think that's too much to ask. I also don't think the team is that far away from being *gasp* competitive, even considering how banged up they are.
Let's get on it.
Sincerely,
DP
Open Letter to the Cleveland Cavaliers:
Dear Cavs,
Seriously, what the fuck?
You go out and win the first two games against tough teams (including that amazing win on the road in San Antonio of all places) and get me believing.
You then go out and lay an egg against fucking Charlotte? Charlotte??
Don't go all 2006 Cleveland Indians on me, where you start off hot and get my (along with everyone else's) hopes up, only to gag.
Don't do it. You don't want to be like the Indians and Browns, do you?
Let's pick it up out there.
Sincerely,
DP
Seriously, what the fuck?
You go out and win the first two games against tough teams (including that amazing win on the road in San Antonio of all places) and get me believing.
You then go out and lay an egg against fucking Charlotte? Charlotte??
Don't go all 2006 Cleveland Indians on me, where you start off hot and get my (along with everyone else's) hopes up, only to gag.
Don't do it. You don't want to be like the Indians and Browns, do you?
Let's pick it up out there.
Sincerely,
DP
Saturday, November 04, 2006
So Sorry, Mr. Duncan
Not quite as ferocious as the dunk over Damon Jones a few years ago, but that's TIM FREAKIN' DUNCAN getting posterized by our boy.
Cavs 88, Spurs 81. First win for the Cavs in San Antonio since the 1988/89 season.
They just might be for real.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Some Thursday Night Observations
Some random notes after a crazy Thursday night:
The only other thing: Friday mornings suck when you don't go to bed until 1:30, but that's the price you pay, I guess.
- Bowling three games after not having touched a bowling ball in six months hurts your fingers. However, I was pleasantly surprised that it only took me about six or seven frames to get my form back. At the end of the night, I bowled a 124, a 177, and a 147, bringing my average to 149, which is just under my end-of-league 150 average from last year.
- After watching the West Virginia/Louisville game last night, I don't see how either of those teams could keep with with a Michigan or OSU. They don't play shit for defense, and UM and OSU both have great defenses. OSU and Michigan can both play some offense, too. It wouldn't even be close. If the OSU/UM winner plays Louisville in the national championship game, it's going to be a beat-down of Super Bowl XXIV proportions. I would take any of the 1-loss SEC teams or even Texas over Louisville right now.
- I think I know why no Louisville QB from the last few years ever has success in the NFL (think: Chris Redman, Dave Raggone, etc.). It's because they show up to their first day of mini-camp, and the coach tells them, "Now, Dave, when you're reading the defense, the first thing you should see..." and the QB interrupts them with, "Wait, wait, wait.... what the hell is a 'defense'?" My buddy Wad said it best: "It was like watching a Madden game with real players."
- I like Lost. I really do. And I know the actor that plays Eko wanted to be written off the show. But come on. Give me something I can use. These two new characters? Worthless and annoying! Ugh. There's a large part of me that's not sad this show is going on a break for half of the season. Right now, The Nine is more interesting to me.
- What I do like? My Name is Earl and The Office. Two shows that are well-written, well-cast, and well-acted. Seriously, could they have found better people to play Earl, Randy, Joy, and Darnell than they found? Could anyone be Jim or Pam or Dwight better than those three people? These are my two favorite shows right now.
- Heard the ~90% mix of the House of Cards album. There are a few tracks on there that are just unbelieveable, in my (obviously biased) opinion. Look for a CD in late November or early December.
The only other thing: Friday mornings suck when you don't go to bed until 1:30, but that's the price you pay, I guess.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Keep Larry Hughes Away from the Browns' Players...
...lest one of their Spanish-Inquisition-esque freak injuries latch onto him. It's no secret he's been a little bit injury-prone over the past few seasons.
If he stays healthy and the Cavs learn to shoot some freaking free throws, they will be a force. They played fairly ugly, shot 15-30 from the charity stripe, and still managed to beat a tough, tough Washington team.
James had a ho-hum 26/10/5 night when he really didn't shoot the ball well, only got to the free-throw line 6 times, and missed 4 of those 6 shots. The real story of the game was Hughes, who had 27 points and SHUT DOWN Gilbert Arenas. Arenas didn't even SCORE until late in the third quarter.
Washington is a tough team that will be there in the playoffs if they get better on defense. They have plenty of offensive weapons, which makes the Cavs' ugly win that much more impressive.
As much as LeBron may be the best player in the league, the Cavs will only go as far as a healthy Larry Hughes will take them. As well as they played in the playoffs last spring, Hughes is by far the second best player on the team, and they missed him. He brings the ability to score opposite James, which will be lethal as teams double LeBron and the Cavs pick up more of this motion offense. James is going to get doubled anytime he goes to the basket, and their new offense is designed to move people around and get them open cutting to the basket. James is a top-5 passer in the NBA, and the Cavs need a proven scorer to be making those cuts when he gets doubled, because he will ALWAYS find the open man.
Hughes also brings the ability to shut down the other team's primary small scorer, which is something the Cavs didn't have last year and sorely missed against Washington in the playoffs. If the Hughes from last night was in that series, it would have been a sweep because he was in Arenas's head last night.
All of this said, they need to play better than they did last night to be a potential Eastern Conference Championship team. Their new "motion" offense looked forced and rickety at times, especially in the first quarter when they passed the ball to the Wizards more often than they did to their own team. It's going to take time to get all of the nuances of the offense down, but they certainly have the passers to make it work with James and Hughes out top, and Big Z down low (an underrated passer for a big man). If only Ilgauskas could play some defense and actually score....
Their early schedule sets up for them to get off to a nice start, though. They'll probably lose tomorrow night at San Antonio, but after that they have a road game against Charlotte and three consecutive home games against Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston. There's no reason this team shouldn't start out 5-1. [edit] I'm an idiot... apparently we play Chicago at home instead of Philadelphia... big difference. So, pencil the Cavs in for 5-1, but 4-2 may also be reality.
And yes, loyal reader(s), I know I've just jinxed them to miss the playoffs.
If he stays healthy and the Cavs learn to shoot some freaking free throws, they will be a force. They played fairly ugly, shot 15-30 from the charity stripe, and still managed to beat a tough, tough Washington team.
James had a ho-hum 26/10/5 night when he really didn't shoot the ball well, only got to the free-throw line 6 times, and missed 4 of those 6 shots. The real story of the game was Hughes, who had 27 points and SHUT DOWN Gilbert Arenas. Arenas didn't even SCORE until late in the third quarter.
Washington is a tough team that will be there in the playoffs if they get better on defense. They have plenty of offensive weapons, which makes the Cavs' ugly win that much more impressive.
As much as LeBron may be the best player in the league, the Cavs will only go as far as a healthy Larry Hughes will take them. As well as they played in the playoffs last spring, Hughes is by far the second best player on the team, and they missed him. He brings the ability to score opposite James, which will be lethal as teams double LeBron and the Cavs pick up more of this motion offense. James is going to get doubled anytime he goes to the basket, and their new offense is designed to move people around and get them open cutting to the basket. James is a top-5 passer in the NBA, and the Cavs need a proven scorer to be making those cuts when he gets doubled, because he will ALWAYS find the open man.
Hughes also brings the ability to shut down the other team's primary small scorer, which is something the Cavs didn't have last year and sorely missed against Washington in the playoffs. If the Hughes from last night was in that series, it would have been a sweep because he was in Arenas's head last night.
All of this said, they need to play better than they did last night to be a potential Eastern Conference Championship team. Their new "motion" offense looked forced and rickety at times, especially in the first quarter when they passed the ball to the Wizards more often than they did to their own team. It's going to take time to get all of the nuances of the offense down, but they certainly have the passers to make it work with James and Hughes out top, and Big Z down low (an underrated passer for a big man). If only Ilgauskas could play some defense and actually score....
Their early schedule sets up for them to get off to a nice start, though. They'll probably lose tomorrow night at San Antonio, but after that they have a road game against Charlotte and three consecutive home games against Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Boston. There's no reason this team shouldn't start out 5-1. [edit] I'm an idiot... apparently we play Chicago at home instead of Philadelphia... big difference. So, pencil the Cavs in for 5-1, but 4-2 may also be reality.
And yes, loyal reader(s), I know I've just jinxed them to miss the playoffs.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
The Quest Begins Anew
Tonight, the Cavs kick off another season, and for the first time since I can remember there is talk of a run at a conference championship.
LeBron (who should be trying for his second in a row, no thanks to Steve Nash's blatant theft) will--barring injury--be the MVP of the league this year. He was last year, in my opinion, and he's only going to get better at the ripe old age of 21-going-on-22.
The Pistons have taken a step backward. Shaq has requited himself with another championship, and (combined with the Heat's lack of a point guard at present) will push the Heat back to the pack. That leaves a group of the Cavs, Nets, and Bulls as potential upstart threats in the East to the two prior stalwarts. Of those three, the Cavs are best suited1 to win a playoff series against the Pistons/Heat due to their interior presence with Ilgauskas (assuming he actually shows up this year in the post-season), Verajao, and Gooden (if he grows a pair).
And, when you have the best player in the league, that doesn't hurt.
Tonight at 7:00 PM against the Wizards, it begins again. And I, as an admitted total band-wagon fan2, will be watching.
1. Assuming, that is, that the Cavs play the same defense that they did in the Pistons series this past spring for an entire season.
2. If it didn't involve LeBron James or Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, Larry Nance, Craig Ehlo, and Hot Rod Williams, I didn't follow it. Guilty as charged.
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