Friday, April 23, 2004
R.I.P. PAT TILLMAN
Army Ranger and former Arizona Cardinal’s DB Pat Tillman was killed Thursday evening while serving in Afghanistan.
Not much is know yet about his death but plenty is known about his life. And while I don’t know enough about him to write a long winded tribute, I will write enough to pay my respects.
Pat Tillman is the embodiment of a hero. He walked away from friends, family and a multimillion dollar football contract in order to serve his country overseas. After the tragedy of September 11th, Tillman said, “People are being trapped in buildings and I’m here playing a game.” Putting honor and loyalty above fame and fortune, Pat became a soldier for the USA and fought bravely in Afghanistan until his untimely death, all the while avoiding the media spotlight. Why? Because he knew that never for one minute was he risking anything less than the people who were fighting alongside him.
Whether you agree with his politics or not, we should all pay tribute to him and the hundreds of others who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country they believed in.
In this age where kids grow up admiring athletes who are womanizers, murderers and drug addicts, it’s good to know that there are still people like Pat Tillman around to be looked up to. I’ll certainly keep his family and the families of all the soldiers still overseas in my thoughts during these troubled times.
May God bless them all.
Army Ranger and former Arizona Cardinal’s DB Pat Tillman was killed Thursday evening while serving in Afghanistan.
Not much is know yet about his death but plenty is known about his life. And while I don’t know enough about him to write a long winded tribute, I will write enough to pay my respects.
Pat Tillman is the embodiment of a hero. He walked away from friends, family and a multimillion dollar football contract in order to serve his country overseas. After the tragedy of September 11th, Tillman said, “People are being trapped in buildings and I’m here playing a game.” Putting honor and loyalty above fame and fortune, Pat became a soldier for the USA and fought bravely in Afghanistan until his untimely death, all the while avoiding the media spotlight. Why? Because he knew that never for one minute was he risking anything less than the people who were fighting alongside him.
Whether you agree with his politics or not, we should all pay tribute to him and the hundreds of others who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country they believed in.
In this age where kids grow up admiring athletes who are womanizers, murderers and drug addicts, it’s good to know that there are still people like Pat Tillman around to be looked up to. I’ll certainly keep his family and the families of all the soldiers still overseas in my thoughts during these troubled times.
May God bless them all.
JUST WONDERIN...
All this talk about what Archie Manning wants for his son, Eli, just seems like a lot of fluff journalism. "What did you say, Archie?" "Who did you say it to, Archie?" No one is asking him the tough questions:
Archie Manning, father of Eli and Peyton, will you be willing to sell your DNA to molecular physicists in order for the U.S. Government to genetically manufacture quarterbacks at Area 51 in the Nevada desert?
That's the question I want an answer to, dammit...and NO ONE is asking it. Sheeesh.
All this talk about what Archie Manning wants for his son, Eli, just seems like a lot of fluff journalism. "What did you say, Archie?" "Who did you say it to, Archie?" No one is asking him the tough questions:
Archie Manning, father of Eli and Peyton, will you be willing to sell your DNA to molecular physicists in order for the U.S. Government to genetically manufacture quarterbacks at Area 51 in the Nevada desert?
That's the question I want an answer to, dammit...and NO ONE is asking it. Sheeesh.
PREDICTING NFL DRAFT DAY ‘04
Ok, so here’s just a few thoughts on who is taking who this coming Draft Day 2004. Mind you, I’m not predicting everything. Just the most talked about players and picks. Let’s see how wrong I am after this weekend.
San Diego Chargers
This team seems content in their losing ways. They’re up at the top of the draft board every single year, yet they still haven’t managed much progress. I don’t think they LIKE losing, but I don’t think they hate it either...which means whichever poor soul they pick had better be prepared for it. Now, the rumors are abound that they will pick Eli Manning, but the fact of the matter is that Eli and his father, Archie, don’t want him going there. Who can blame him? I believe it’s a good possibility they will trade down to the New York Giants and end up drafting Phillip Rivers. Even if they don’t, I doubt Eli Manning will be a Charger when the season starts. But whatever happens, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the player selected.
Oakland Raiders
I think they wanted Mike Williams, the USC receiver. However, it looks like Mike won’t be in the draft this year because of the NFL rule preventing Sophomores from entering. Al Davis likes speedy receivers, so they could take Larry Fitzgerald, but something tells me they’ll grab Texas wideout Roy Williams. Fitzgerald is too nice of a guy and WAY WAY too classy of a person to fit in with the Raider mystique.
Arizona Cardinals
I’m so happy to see Dennis Green back coaching again. I was a big fan of his when he was in Minnesota and and so glad he’s gotten another opportunity, albeit with the perennial losers in Arizona. Aforementioned Larry Fitzgerald was a ball-boy for the Vikings back when Green was their coach and they forged a good bond. Plus, Fitzgerald seems pretty can’t miss to me. They’ll take him at #3.
New York Giants
Somehow or another, Eli Manning has on a Giants uniform next year. I still think they will wind up with that first pick, and this seems to be the guy they want.
Cleveland Browns
I assumed Robert Gallery would go earlier before but now I think #5 is about where he'll end up. People assume him to be a can't miss offensive line standout. I think he'll do well, Cleveland sure could use him. Besides, Mr. Gallery majored in elementary education at Iowa. Everybody now..."Aaawww." But don't let his gentle giant image fool you...this guy is tough as nails.
Detroit Lions
My favorite football team has so many needs that it won’t be solved in one draft. They need help on offense. Help on defense. And everything in between. It’d probably be a good idea for them to draft Sean Taylor, a safety out of Miami, but if fellow teammate Kellen Winslow Jr. is available, they’ll probably take him to help solve their tight end worries.
Roethlisberger
I think that Ben Roethlisberger will end up in Pittsburgh. Tommy Maddox was a fun story when he came out of the XFL, but he is not going to be a long term solution there at QB. Roethlisberger just might be the guy to get it done.
That’s all for now. Short post, I know. I barely predicted anything. But if I come up with anything else, I’ll just come back to the ol’ web-blaawg and amend this to include whatever I feel like.
Ok, so here’s just a few thoughts on who is taking who this coming Draft Day 2004. Mind you, I’m not predicting everything. Just the most talked about players and picks. Let’s see how wrong I am after this weekend.
San Diego Chargers
This team seems content in their losing ways. They’re up at the top of the draft board every single year, yet they still haven’t managed much progress. I don’t think they LIKE losing, but I don’t think they hate it either...which means whichever poor soul they pick had better be prepared for it. Now, the rumors are abound that they will pick Eli Manning, but the fact of the matter is that Eli and his father, Archie, don’t want him going there. Who can blame him? I believe it’s a good possibility they will trade down to the New York Giants and end up drafting Phillip Rivers. Even if they don’t, I doubt Eli Manning will be a Charger when the season starts. But whatever happens, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the player selected.
Oakland Raiders
I think they wanted Mike Williams, the USC receiver. However, it looks like Mike won’t be in the draft this year because of the NFL rule preventing Sophomores from entering. Al Davis likes speedy receivers, so they could take Larry Fitzgerald, but something tells me they’ll grab Texas wideout Roy Williams. Fitzgerald is too nice of a guy and WAY WAY too classy of a person to fit in with the Raider mystique.
Arizona Cardinals
I’m so happy to see Dennis Green back coaching again. I was a big fan of his when he was in Minnesota and and so glad he’s gotten another opportunity, albeit with the perennial losers in Arizona. Aforementioned Larry Fitzgerald was a ball-boy for the Vikings back when Green was their coach and they forged a good bond. Plus, Fitzgerald seems pretty can’t miss to me. They’ll take him at #3.
New York Giants
Somehow or another, Eli Manning has on a Giants uniform next year. I still think they will wind up with that first pick, and this seems to be the guy they want.
Cleveland Browns
I assumed Robert Gallery would go earlier before but now I think #5 is about where he'll end up. People assume him to be a can't miss offensive line standout. I think he'll do well, Cleveland sure could use him. Besides, Mr. Gallery majored in elementary education at Iowa. Everybody now..."Aaawww." But don't let his gentle giant image fool you...this guy is tough as nails.
Detroit Lions
My favorite football team has so many needs that it won’t be solved in one draft. They need help on offense. Help on defense. And everything in between. It’d probably be a good idea for them to draft Sean Taylor, a safety out of Miami, but if fellow teammate Kellen Winslow Jr. is available, they’ll probably take him to help solve their tight end worries.
Roethlisberger
I think that Ben Roethlisberger will end up in Pittsburgh. Tommy Maddox was a fun story when he came out of the XFL, but he is not going to be a long term solution there at QB. Roethlisberger just might be the guy to get it done.
That’s all for now. Short post, I know. I barely predicted anything. But if I come up with anything else, I’ll just come back to the ol’ web-blaawg and amend this to include whatever I feel like.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
THE SPORTS PAGE
NCAA Basketball Tourney
Well, the UConn Huskies did it. Truth be told, during preseason I had picked Kentucky to win it all versus this UConn squad. Therefore, when it came down to picking my final four bracket, I had to go with the Wildcats. However, once UK went out in an early round, I stuck with UConn to win. Actually, I figured they’d be playing Oklahoma State, but I was rooting for Georgia Tech to go all the way. I really felt for those guys. They were picked to do nothing all year. They were supposed to be nobodies. But they stepped up and made it all the way to the finals. It’s a shame they got beat so bad by the Huskies, but they’ve got most of their team coming back next year. I’ll be pulling for them.
Detroit Tigers
Who would have thought that the Detroit Tigers would start off the year 2-0? Not me, and I’m a huge fan. Actually, as a Tiger’s fan, you have to think unrealistically. It’s really about the only way you can stay sane. You have to believe the Tigers are gonna kick ass no matter how gloomy the outlook appears to be. Otherwise, you obsess over little tidbits like the fact they haven’t had a winning season since 1993. How pathetic is that? But, I always look at the bright side when it comes to my beloved little team that could, yes I do. We had a hell of a lot of moves in the offseason that should help our club tremendously. We’ve got a new starting pitcher is Jason Johnson. We’ve got Guillen at shortstop, Vina at second base and a solid hitting outfielder in Rondell White. All this and Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate. So yes, I’m excited. And yes, I’m optomistically unrealistic. World Series, here we come.
NBA Playoff Outlook
A few weeks back, I posted something on this site about how the Cleveland Cavaliers were building great momentum into the playoffs during their seven game winning streak. Well, since I posted that, the Cav’s have taken a turn for the worse and have practically flatlined. Doesn’t look like they’re gonna make it to the dance. Poor guys, I was pulling for them too. Guess I’m a jinx.
The Detroit Pistons, however, are going to make the playoffs. They’ll be seeded 3rd and it looks like we’ll play the Miami Heat in the first round. I like how we’ve been playing lately. We’re kicking ass on both sides of the ball and we finally scored a huge win over our chief Eastern Conference rival, the Indiana Pacers. In fact, we shut them down real good, only allowing them to score 61 points. This makes me feel great about our chances. Sure, there’s a lot of basketball left to be played, but I got the Pistons and the Pacers duking it out for the East and The Spurs and Kings for the West. Let’s see how accurate I end up being. Just remember though, I’m a jinx.
Orlando Magic
Just a thought...How awesome could these guys be with a returning Tracy McGrady, a healthy Grant Hill and a certain surefire prospect named Emeka Okafor? Wow! That would be quite a sight. I hope I get to see it next year.
Blood on the Ice (A Brief Red Wing Playoff Look)
I’m a Red Wings fan. It pisses me off that we got swept out of the first round of playoffs last year. But this year is different. We’ve got Manny Legace, a career backup goalie, kicking the hell out of the opposition at nearly every turn and he’ll be starting in net for us tonight in first round action. I’ve got to believe that with the way we’ve been playing, it’ll be the Wings going all the way through to the finals, eventually capturing Lod Stanley’s Cup. Can’t wait!
More To Come....
Eventually, when there’s more worth talking about, I’ll dish on the NFL. Oh, and someday I’ll write a bit more about my favorite drama on television, the Shield. Until then...
NCAA Basketball Tourney
Well, the UConn Huskies did it. Truth be told, during preseason I had picked Kentucky to win it all versus this UConn squad. Therefore, when it came down to picking my final four bracket, I had to go with the Wildcats. However, once UK went out in an early round, I stuck with UConn to win. Actually, I figured they’d be playing Oklahoma State, but I was rooting for Georgia Tech to go all the way. I really felt for those guys. They were picked to do nothing all year. They were supposed to be nobodies. But they stepped up and made it all the way to the finals. It’s a shame they got beat so bad by the Huskies, but they’ve got most of their team coming back next year. I’ll be pulling for them.
Detroit Tigers
Who would have thought that the Detroit Tigers would start off the year 2-0? Not me, and I’m a huge fan. Actually, as a Tiger’s fan, you have to think unrealistically. It’s really about the only way you can stay sane. You have to believe the Tigers are gonna kick ass no matter how gloomy the outlook appears to be. Otherwise, you obsess over little tidbits like the fact they haven’t had a winning season since 1993. How pathetic is that? But, I always look at the bright side when it comes to my beloved little team that could, yes I do. We had a hell of a lot of moves in the offseason that should help our club tremendously. We’ve got a new starting pitcher is Jason Johnson. We’ve got Guillen at shortstop, Vina at second base and a solid hitting outfielder in Rondell White. All this and Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate. So yes, I’m excited. And yes, I’m optomistically unrealistic. World Series, here we come.
NBA Playoff Outlook
A few weeks back, I posted something on this site about how the Cleveland Cavaliers were building great momentum into the playoffs during their seven game winning streak. Well, since I posted that, the Cav’s have taken a turn for the worse and have practically flatlined. Doesn’t look like they’re gonna make it to the dance. Poor guys, I was pulling for them too. Guess I’m a jinx.
The Detroit Pistons, however, are going to make the playoffs. They’ll be seeded 3rd and it looks like we’ll play the Miami Heat in the first round. I like how we’ve been playing lately. We’re kicking ass on both sides of the ball and we finally scored a huge win over our chief Eastern Conference rival, the Indiana Pacers. In fact, we shut them down real good, only allowing them to score 61 points. This makes me feel great about our chances. Sure, there’s a lot of basketball left to be played, but I got the Pistons and the Pacers duking it out for the East and The Spurs and Kings for the West. Let’s see how accurate I end up being. Just remember though, I’m a jinx.
Orlando Magic
Just a thought...How awesome could these guys be with a returning Tracy McGrady, a healthy Grant Hill and a certain surefire prospect named Emeka Okafor? Wow! That would be quite a sight. I hope I get to see it next year.
Blood on the Ice (A Brief Red Wing Playoff Look)
I’m a Red Wings fan. It pisses me off that we got swept out of the first round of playoffs last year. But this year is different. We’ve got Manny Legace, a career backup goalie, kicking the hell out of the opposition at nearly every turn and he’ll be starting in net for us tonight in first round action. I’ve got to believe that with the way we’ve been playing, it’ll be the Wings going all the way through to the finals, eventually capturing Lod Stanley’s Cup. Can’t wait!
More To Come....
Eventually, when there’s more worth talking about, I’ll dish on the NFL. Oh, and someday I’ll write a bit more about my favorite drama on television, the Shield. Until then...
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
COMING SOON...
I'll talk about the NCAA Basketball tourney as well as the start of baseball season with some comments on my beloved Detroit Tigers. I will also probably add a few words about the Detroit Pistons over there in the NBA, maybe talk some hockey briefly and blab about the NFL. In other words, a lot of sports chat. But I'll also dish on what's cool on the tube and I'll even tell the tale of how I became an ordained Minister. All that and more...sometime soon.
I'll talk about the NCAA Basketball tourney as well as the start of baseball season with some comments on my beloved Detroit Tigers. I will also probably add a few words about the Detroit Pistons over there in the NBA, maybe talk some hockey briefly and blab about the NFL. In other words, a lot of sports chat. But I'll also dish on what's cool on the tube and I'll even tell the tale of how I became an ordained Minister. All that and more...sometime soon.
I SAW BILL COSBY LIVE!!!!
Ok, well I’ll preface this by saying that I am a huge Bill Cosby fan. When I was a kid, I watched the Cosby Show on television all the time and seeing his commercials always gave me a hankerin’ for Jello Pudding Pops. I couldn’t help it, he has just always had a big influence on me.
When I was about 17, me and my friend Adam discovered we had a mutual admiration for him. One day, while at his house, he showed me a bunch of Cosby’s comedy albums that his mom had on cassette. Well, we probably spent weeks upon weeks every single day holed up in his room listening and re-listening to old Cosby routines on cassette. We wore those tapes out. We’d devour his perfect comic timing on classics like “Driving in San Francisco,” imitate his delivery to each other, then rewind and listen to it again. Eventually, I had to have these albums for myself. Listening to them at Adam’s wasn’t enough. I wanted them for home listening pleasure as well. So, being a cheap ass, I just dubbed them off of Adam onto blank cassettes of my own that still lay in close proximity to my bedside stereo setup until this very day.
Since those days I’ve gotten to be a little bit less of a tightwad, so I’ve purchased a few of the albums on CD for easier listening. Cash flow permitted, I’ll end up buying more. But even with all the enjoyment I got out of his TV shows and many albums, I’ve always wanted to see him live. Well, this past Sunday, on April 4th, I finally got my chance.
I live in Toledo and, truth be told, Mr. Cosby breezes through town every couple of years. I’ve just never had the money to be able to buy tickets before. I’ve regretted it each and every time I’ve missed him, But I always hoped for another opportunity. Thanks to Ebay, I heard the proverbial knock and answered it loud and clear: “Two tickets for Bill Cosby, please.”
I was able to score that very pair of tickets for $50, which ended up being about half of what I would have paid through Ticketmaster. I got decent seats too. Not right up front, but close enough to be completely satisfied.
I ended up taking my dad to see the show with me. I found this kind of humorous because I could tell by the looks on the faces of my age group at the show that it was their parents who had drug them along to see this so called legend. Well, I made it a point to tell my dad that I was dragging him. With the diverse age range in attendance, I was proud to say it.
We took our seats and I stared in anticipation at the middle of the stage at the Stranahan theater. Alone in the dim spotlight was a single chair with a sweater draped across it that read “Hello Friend” in multicolored lettering. I know the phrase has a very special meaning to Mr. Cosby because it is the greeting his son, Ennis, would use with friends and strangers alike whenever he met them. After Ennis’s untimely death a few years back, I’ve seen Bill wear a sweater with those words many times.
Promptly at 4pm, the show began. Without warning, Bill Cosby himself walked on stage and took his seat. He was dressed in a Toledo Mud Hens ball cap and jersey to delight the hometown fans. The crowd roared with joy and a recognition fitting the show biz luminary.
He began by paying tribute to the troops overseas, the living and the dead, and their families waiting at home. Following that, however, was 2 straight hours of almost non stop sidesplitting laughter. As I stated earlier, I’ve heard Cosby’s classic routines over and over again to the point that they are burned into memory. But, even with all that time to fill, he only delved back into the catalogue once. And that was just to close the show!
Still, the prepared material he delivered was amazing. The improv he did with the audience was awesome. Even the old bit he did to close the show felt fresh even though I have heard it a hundred times or more by now. The show, in a word, was inspirational.
His comedy is timeless and I believe any age group can relate to it. He talks about lazy kids, crabby wives and mothers and complacent fathers and husbands. And the way he verbalizes it, coupled with his wonderful sense of timing makes it feel like you are hearing the nuggets of wisdom and truth straight from the mouth of your favorite granddad.
Yes, there is a reason Bill Cosby is held in such high esteem. It’s simply because he is just that good. Chris Rock himself said that after seeing him live a year or two ago that it was, without a doubt, the best comedy show he had ever seen in his life. As a long time comedian himself, Rock has seen plenty of them come and go. So, there must be something to seeing Cosby live then, huh? Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more.
Ok, well I’ll preface this by saying that I am a huge Bill Cosby fan. When I was a kid, I watched the Cosby Show on television all the time and seeing his commercials always gave me a hankerin’ for Jello Pudding Pops. I couldn’t help it, he has just always had a big influence on me.
When I was about 17, me and my friend Adam discovered we had a mutual admiration for him. One day, while at his house, he showed me a bunch of Cosby’s comedy albums that his mom had on cassette. Well, we probably spent weeks upon weeks every single day holed up in his room listening and re-listening to old Cosby routines on cassette. We wore those tapes out. We’d devour his perfect comic timing on classics like “Driving in San Francisco,” imitate his delivery to each other, then rewind and listen to it again. Eventually, I had to have these albums for myself. Listening to them at Adam’s wasn’t enough. I wanted them for home listening pleasure as well. So, being a cheap ass, I just dubbed them off of Adam onto blank cassettes of my own that still lay in close proximity to my bedside stereo setup until this very day.
Since those days I’ve gotten to be a little bit less of a tightwad, so I’ve purchased a few of the albums on CD for easier listening. Cash flow permitted, I’ll end up buying more. But even with all the enjoyment I got out of his TV shows and many albums, I’ve always wanted to see him live. Well, this past Sunday, on April 4th, I finally got my chance.
I live in Toledo and, truth be told, Mr. Cosby breezes through town every couple of years. I’ve just never had the money to be able to buy tickets before. I’ve regretted it each and every time I’ve missed him, But I always hoped for another opportunity. Thanks to Ebay, I heard the proverbial knock and answered it loud and clear: “Two tickets for Bill Cosby, please.”
I was able to score that very pair of tickets for $50, which ended up being about half of what I would have paid through Ticketmaster. I got decent seats too. Not right up front, but close enough to be completely satisfied.
I ended up taking my dad to see the show with me. I found this kind of humorous because I could tell by the looks on the faces of my age group at the show that it was their parents who had drug them along to see this so called legend. Well, I made it a point to tell my dad that I was dragging him. With the diverse age range in attendance, I was proud to say it.
We took our seats and I stared in anticipation at the middle of the stage at the Stranahan theater. Alone in the dim spotlight was a single chair with a sweater draped across it that read “Hello Friend” in multicolored lettering. I know the phrase has a very special meaning to Mr. Cosby because it is the greeting his son, Ennis, would use with friends and strangers alike whenever he met them. After Ennis’s untimely death a few years back, I’ve seen Bill wear a sweater with those words many times.
Promptly at 4pm, the show began. Without warning, Bill Cosby himself walked on stage and took his seat. He was dressed in a Toledo Mud Hens ball cap and jersey to delight the hometown fans. The crowd roared with joy and a recognition fitting the show biz luminary.
He began by paying tribute to the troops overseas, the living and the dead, and their families waiting at home. Following that, however, was 2 straight hours of almost non stop sidesplitting laughter. As I stated earlier, I’ve heard Cosby’s classic routines over and over again to the point that they are burned into memory. But, even with all that time to fill, he only delved back into the catalogue once. And that was just to close the show!
Still, the prepared material he delivered was amazing. The improv he did with the audience was awesome. Even the old bit he did to close the show felt fresh even though I have heard it a hundred times or more by now. The show, in a word, was inspirational.
His comedy is timeless and I believe any age group can relate to it. He talks about lazy kids, crabby wives and mothers and complacent fathers and husbands. And the way he verbalizes it, coupled with his wonderful sense of timing makes it feel like you are hearing the nuggets of wisdom and truth straight from the mouth of your favorite granddad.
Yes, there is a reason Bill Cosby is held in such high esteem. It’s simply because he is just that good. Chris Rock himself said that after seeing him live a year or two ago that it was, without a doubt, the best comedy show he had ever seen in his life. As a long time comedian himself, Rock has seen plenty of them come and go. So, there must be something to seeing Cosby live then, huh? Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more.
