Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Are you FREAKING kidding me?!!!

I'm writing this here because pretty sure Alex and Lounge Readers don't want to listen to my SC/NCAA/Cam Newton Rant. But Hot Damn, this is pure cow bull crap!

It took the NCAA committee four years and a fake photo to conclude that there was wrong doing by USC regarding Reggie Bush and Bush's parents getting money (house). And in a matter of weeks, the NCAA has concluded that Newton's father and another nameless person requested money for Cam to attend a school but Cam knew nothing and therefore is completely eligible. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went on record saying that I think the NCAA acted too harshly with false evidence, but I cut Reggie out of my life. I said, F U, you hurt my program. I played along. Walked around spouting Bowls are for Salads and wore the probation with pride. And now you're telling me that someone who ACTUALLY cheated, THE SCHOOL THAT ACTUALLY RECEIVED A BENEFIT where as USC received nothing, (Bush was persuaded to leave not stay) GETS NO PUNISHMENT! Newton can compete, can win a national championship AND WIN and keep a heisman! This is bogus. Newton is a great player. I think he has earned the Heisman, but based on what happened to Reg and USC, there is no way that this kid should be playing and get the Heisman. I WANT OUR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BACK!!! I want to scream from the top of my lungs that this is officially the stupidest day in the history of days (sports related - look at me being logical mid rant, I am so cool!)

Today's trip to the gym is going to be a good one, a lot of angst today. I AM FULL OF RAGE. ANGRY JAYME!!! I WANT MY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BACK AND I WANT TO GO TO A BOWL!!

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Attention please

So I have an announcement to make. I have decided to sit down in the Lounge.

Alex has hired a girl!

Therefore if you wish to keep following my tails of Packer fun, or the drama of FNL or things of the like, you should head on over to the lounge and pull a chair up next to the couch. Stay a while.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

FNL- Epi 2; On the outside...

So peeps, my recap is a couple days late, but its here nonetheless.

Let's start with the best part of the show, Luke traded a pig for Becky. It was rally girl selection time at East Dillon. Vince got himself the slutty redhead - those gingers are tricky - but declined cause he has Jesse. Tink got Becky. Luke look dismayed, "but we made a baby." Later after a "wild" party, where Luke is pissed cause he's suspended, the slutty red head drinks a lot and Jesse throws up, we find out that Luke has traded his beloved pig to Tink to have Becky as his rally girl. The beginning of all great love stories. Becky arrives home to the Riggins' house after learning her worth to find Mindy - who was previously threatened by Becky's young and skinny-ness - and Billy waiting up for her. She's worth a pig and has an ex-stripper caring about her. She's hit the bank!

Principal/guidance counselor Tammy Taylor is still having troubles at East Dillon, but makes some strides in this epi. She convinces the poorly named Epic to stop smoking in the school parking lot, and gets her to come to a meeting. She also goes out to happy hour with the very bitchy teachers at E.D. and gets some drink spilled on her. This warms the heart of the meanest of the mean girls and looks like the after school tutoring session might not be for naught.

But the real story is on the field. The Lions don't get ranked. And the board of some important group is reviewing Luke's awesome tackle for the previous game. Turns out, most people aren't happy with the Lions winning. The players complain the whole epi about not being ranked. Coach Taylor tries to calm the storm, until he finds out that Luke's suspension is also bs and due to people hatin' on them. So pregame Coach walks into the locker room and writes the word STATE on the board. We have ourselves a battle.

Next week, on a very special episode of FNL, we examine a you tube video of the "wild" party. Very drunk, slutty red head is shown and then shots of the Lions players in attendence. We see clips of a speech in response to the video from Coach Taylor and I can now fully imagine what it must have been like in the Bengals locker room. So, thus far, we have a tackling issue and a character issue; is Roger Goodell now a script writer for FNL??

Also, I don't want to leave out that Vince is awesome. He received many letters of interest from schools, and got his momma a job.

Can't wait for more episodes. I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!

CLEAR EYES, FULL HEART, CAN'T LOSE! STATE!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Packers and Dallas

A new BrentFavre post is up. I really like it.

Props to Mr. Rodahl for being the best history teacher ever.

Green Bay and Dallas - Ready to Fight This Battle

Monday, November 1, 2010

Boo! Did I scare you?

Halloween weekend did not fail. Highs and lows (lower than low lows) but like I said last week, I'll trust in the Packers to pick it all back up.

The sports weekend started Saturday afternoon. Vidic, in all of his glory hit a perfect header off of a Nani free kick, giving Man U the lead in the first half. But the real fireworks of the game came toward the end, when after Nani was brought down in the box and no penalty was given, Tottenham keeper Gomes placed what he believed to be a dead ball on the ground. In what I can only describe as a mass of confusion, it seemed like no one on the field - including the refs - knew if the ball was live or being set for a dead kick. Nani capitalized on the confusion and kicked the ball into the net giving Man U a 2-0 victory. Nani had every right to go for the goal. I wouldn't want anyone on my team who would try to capitalize on every single opportunity. I don't know if the refs should have allowed it, though. Here's my slightly biased opinion of what happened. Nani was taken down in the box, clearly, and should have had a penalty kick. However, it wasn't called. While on the ground, expecting the PK call, Nani handles the ball. Seeing as the PK wasn't given, the ball was still live and therefore Nani touching it was illegal and should have stopped the play. Gomes then picks up the ball and places it for what he believes to be a goal kick. The refs did not see the hand ball. And when Gomes placed it, believed the ball to be live and therefore available for Nani to kick it.

I know a lot of Man U haters. And take their abuse far far too often (esp since I never publicly diss their teams), but on Saturday all I could do was laugh at all the hatred. Anyone who says that Nani was wrong is lying. And anyone who wouldn't want their player to do the same, is lying. With all the flopping in soccer, or in the NFL when a receiver begs for pass interference even though they tripped on their own accord, when the play isn't reviewable you play to what the ref can and can not see. This isn't golf; players are not self policing. If you want to go back and prove that the handball would have negated the goal, then you also would open the door for them to go back and see Nani clearly taken down in the box.

I spent the rest of my Saturday desperately searching for something red to wear for #redout. I missed watching the game though. It wasn't on here. And it was Trevor's birthday, so the family all went out. Followed along on my phone and really, I think SC hung in their longer than most people expected. I was rather bitter though at the loss and tried to drink away my sorrows. Didn't help that I was now being harassed on twitter by Ducks fans. Takes a big man to not say a word to me the week leading up the game and then after victory is secured talk all the trash you want. I told one such fan off Sunday morning, as I tried desperately to nurse away the hangover and the pain. He tried to give me shit for tweeting him, calling him out at 5 in the morning. I then explained to him that there are different time zones in the USA and I woke up at 8:00 am to a tweet from him, so I responded. I didn't start anything, but when attacked, I will fight back. He then said, "have a nice day." What is this world coming to with the trash talk? I literally was called a B$@tch because my team lost. Twitter makes people lose all sorts of inhibitions and social norms.

And that brings us to Sunday. "I could really use a hug to make today better, and I'm hoping that hug comes from the Green Bay Packers." I really believed that the Packers would win. I also believed that the game would be a shoot out. I thought that Sanchez would struggle, the Jets would then go to LT and he'd be able to run on our patch work defense and then ARod, coming off the momentum of Monday night would keep up. I was half wrong. The Packers won. And boy did they! Holding the Jets scoreless, and scoring 9 points is a big deal. For a win, there were a surprising number of haters - wait, haters upsets them - severe doubters. And I agree that MM and his play calling left much to be desired. But at the same time I'm not ready to set him out to pasture for it. MM knew what kind of a game he was in. He knew that the defense was going to carry the team. Is that "fair" on the D - as soooooo many people lamented? Yes, yes it is. You want to know why? Cause sometimes your d carries the team, sometimes your offense does. Either way, you're a team. But getting back to McCarthy. There were more long passes on third and short, which is still frustrating and mind boggling. But then there also was the genius of the three run plays at the end of the game. Some people hated that. I got texts from two different people wondering what MM was doing. You know what he was doing, he was being smarter than us. He forced New York to use their time outs. While the fan base clamoured for passes and the first down, MM knew that making the Jets waste all their time outs, was more valuable. They weren't going to be able to move the ball. Was it risky? yes. But it would have been just as risky to throw it up, have the receiver drop it or go out of bounds, and give the ball back to the Jets with time and with a time out. I am not defending MM's play calling in total. But given the day of perspective, I don't think everything he did yesterday "sucked".

Also, is there no happy medium between sucking and greatness? It has seemed to me lately that if someone makes a mistake in game they now suck. Case in point, Mason Crosby sucked yesterday according to more than five people I talked to after he missed his second kick. Forget the wind, forget that Mason is having a decent season, forget that the guy kicked two more field goals for the Packers and forget that the Jets kicker also missed, Mason Crosby sucks. Give me a break! You want to run around saying everyone sucks, good for you, but then be prepared for my eye rolls.

But anyways, back to happier notes. The game rocked. This defense is awe-inspiring. I don't even know everyone on the team, it does feel like we just picked up some people off of the street, and yet we blanketed the Jets. A few snap shots that I liked: 1. after giving up a big play, the D did not fold. That's key. In prior games this season if the other team made a big play, they almost always scored on that drive. But not yesterday, the D dug in their heels and said "no more." 2. Rushing three on third down began to work. Could our three get to Sanchito? No, except for that one time, but the coverage down field held up and the three did not allow Sanchez to scramble for the first down. That's the point of rushing three and it started to work. 3. The D finally managed to combine being opportunistic and while maintaining tight coverage. All of the turnovers were won because our guys fought for them. But at the same time, there wasn't a lot of jumping routes and letting people go.

And lets also give out a big hand for the special teams. Minus the one run back to open the half, ST looked great. Masthay's finally came together. He's shown us glimpses that this performance was in him, but would still manage to shank at least one punt a game. Not yesterday, in a defensive and field position battle, Masthay proved to be invaluable. And lets give it up for the coverage. They were right their with him. Hustling and working hard. Even on the fake punt - which it now comes out was a decision made by the punter (think Rex has some choice four letter words for him) - I was impressed by the Packers hustle and drive on the play.

Am I worried about our offense. Yes, somethings not there. But I'm not ready to start pulling out my hair. We play Dallas next week (which I'm a little worried we might over look), and then its the bye week. I really feel that the Packers are back on track. And I'm excited for the rest of the season.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Who Moved My Cheese Curds 10.28.10

From tonight's episode of Cheesehead Radio:

Growing up I rarely listened to the TV announcers during football games, my Grandmother had a deep, passionate love for Jim and Max which was carried on through me. When I moved away from Wisconsin, I felt like a child thrust into a new world without my friendly and competent radio broadcasters. Since then, I have always been a little more than harsh TV football announcers, but this year it seems to be worse than ever.

During my Monday drive home, listening to a Cincinnati local sports broadcaster, who I generally don't like, this face was ever more so drilled into my skull. Apparently, the CBS team on Sunday decided to list Antwan Odom in the starting line up for the Bengals versus the Falcons. Odom is hurt. And suspend and was definitely NOT on the field. And while this bothered the radio jockey a little, he then spent the next ten plus minutes detailing what CBS got right that Sunday - and I'm quoting from his blog here - CBS got "multiple shots of a pretty solid-looking Falcon cheerleader squad." The host and his sidekick then went on to debate the quality of the Falcon's cheerleaders versus that of the Ben-Gals, and which NFL teams have the best cheer squad. I turned the radio off before hearing the end of the debate.

I get that I'm not in the typical demographic of sports watchers, and I understand that the majority of 18 to 40 year old guys like cheerleaders, but have we really sunk so low in our expectations that all that is required are quality shots of the cheerleaders.

The CBS crew is not alone in its lapse. Packer fans have had to endure hearing announcers say that Dorsey Levens is in the back field and how tired Cullen Jenkins must be after playing...not a single snap. And apparently no one can say the name Kuhn. And I'm still waiting to find out who Trey-mon Williams, Mike Flynn and Jeremiah Finley are. Let's face it, the quality of broadcasting this year has been pathetic. Announcers and their technical crew have only one game to prepare for each week - it shouldn't be so hard. So announcers, networks, step it up! Learn the roster, at least know the starters! Because my standard is higher than you simply being able to make hot chicks appealing.

la Dia de la roja

Calling all USC fans!

1. Where is your cardinal? Is it clean? Is it ready to go at the butt ass crack of dawn on Saturday? Prepare yourself!

2. While you're digging through the closet and trying on different looks, read this. Chuckle, get pumped up and crush some duck!

RED OUT!

Friday Night Lights - Expectations

I can't help but think the title of the premiere of the final season of Friday Night Lights had to do not only with the plot of the show but also with us fans. Expectations. After a long long off season (at least for those of us who didn't watch it on NBC) and much anticipation and media hype, there are at least a couple of expectations for the final season.

But let's get into the show. I was not disappointed. I rarely am. We start with our Lions, fresh off of last seasons final game victory against the now evil Panthers. They are the talk of the town. And are going to play some clearly stronger opponent that the person on the radio thinks they have no business playing. We see Luke and Vince running together, topless - thanks Directv no better way to start the show then making me feel like a cougar, and therefore we know they're totally cool now and are leaders of the team. Tink - who will later kiss a pig and is a pretty awesome guy is driving the car next to them. Fat jokes abound in my head.

Then we take a trip to the joint to visit Matyr Tim Riggins. He's still tough, telling Billy that he doesn't need as many visits from Billy and Becky, and he's still got his whit "can't be your biggest cheerleader, I'm in jail." Billy wants to coach football, as that's the way to right the gigantic wrongs in his life and apparently will learn to stop making dumb choices through osmosis of standing as close to Coach Taylor as possible. This news seems to upset Tim. "Coach coached me." But he's in jail so tough for him. The producers clearly made the right choice and placed Tim in white as the usual prison orange would have been very unflattering.

Becky meanwhile is living at her mom's house with her step mom. (still not fully clear how that set up worked) Mom is on a boat, dad is in a truck and step mom likes to drink and smoke around the baby while being concerned about the kid choking. So Becks goes to live with the Riggins, why not? They're her family now.

Julie and Landry are leaving for college. Julie argues with her mom because Mrs. Taylor now has the ever demanding job of guidance counselor at the poor school. And Landry wants "an epic" last night so he plans a Crucifictorius show. The show isn't the biggest hit, despite having fans that seem to know the words to the songs....and he ends up at the Landing Strip thanks to Julie, who then ditches him there. He also stops by Matt's grandma's house, and she's wearing shoes and nail polish. She now apparently likes Landry and has his music on her "mp" player. Mostly the scene makes Matt look like a douche, but I think its just trying to play a nice little wrap up for us. Matt's still gone, grandma still has problems and now there's a nurse involved - one that since Matt isn't here, he can't sleep with. Julie leaves for school and I tear up, but not before playing one last game of ping pong with Coach.

Jesse is now with Vince. And is now the sole parental figure in her household. Her dad left to turn the store into a franchise and the Aunt only seems to be around at convient script times. With Landry leaving, there needs to be another corner to our love triangle. Enter Hastings Ruckle. Tall, kinda wierd looking, perfect for Jesse. Coach Taylor commits the apparently outrageous crime of "stealing" a basketball player for the football team, and hippie runs a route at the end of the game and out jumps the defender to score the go ahead touchdown.

That brings us back to the game. The Lions go down early. Of course, but they fight back and on a great play fake on the two point conversion at the end of the game, the beat whatever better team they were playing. They're on the map now. What will our underdogs do now that they aren't so scrappy? We will have to wait and see. Will principal Taylor be able to save some of the wayward children? Will Crucifictorius be enought to bring Landry back to Dillon? Will crazy named Hastings cause some drama? and will Vince go to USC? only time will tell. I'm in for the ride, and I hope you are too!

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

ouch charlie, that really hurt

everytime I watch Charlie bit me, I laugh. And I don't feel bad about it. Contexually, its really funny. But having worked in day care for over two years I have very real life experiences with children biting other children. It's not a laughing matter. Some kids draw blood; others leave bruises that last for weeks. And parents, parents never take kindly to the news that their child was bit or that their child is "the biter". There have been many tense moments staring into a parent's face giving them the news or icing a child's arm wiping their tears. Yet Charlie biting his brother is hysterical to me.

Sports injuries are no laughing matter. Lately there's been a lot of talk about knees and heads. I don't want anyone to get hurt. I am one of the strongest supporters of the NFL's new concussion and helmet to helmet policies. And being a fan of a professional team that can nearly field an NBA team with the number of people they have on injured reserve; there logically should be no reason for me to laugh at a sports injury. And while I didn't laugh, or even chuckle, I would be lying if I said I didn't crack a smile when B Favre ended his super strange post game press conference by grabbing on to the railing and hobbling off stage. I'm not over joyed that he has broken his ankle in two seperate places, but I'm not crushed. This probably makes me a horrible person, but truthfully I'm okay with that.

I admired Favre's toughness for most of the years of my life. From spitting up blood on the sideline versus Pittsburgh to not being able to feel his arm in 2006. From leaving games and havng TJ Rubley fumble the snap and knowing that of course Favre would be back. I don't sit at home at night and wish his start streak would end for any other reason than he finally decides to leave us alone and retire. I would like Favre to take this ankle opportunity and sit. End the streak where it began. Take some time to really evaluate this injury. But Favre doesn't do what I want. He doesn't do what anyone but Favre wants. And so we'll all just have to wait and see what he feels like doing on Sunday. If he does start the game simply to get one snap and then sit, I will be singing a different tune, and probably be driving somewhere to yell or smack someone.

In other news, Friday Night Lights starts up again tomorrow. And I plan to try to do a recap/review for this last season.

Poetic Justice

Last night SB brought to my attention something that I am almsot ashamed to say that I did not think of on my own. It would be nearly perfect if Favre's streak were to end now. It started and then ended at Lambeau. I have no idea if Favre will play Sunday; history tells me that I will have grandchildren before Favre hangs it up. However, if he really can't go, I will acknowledge the monster achievement of his starting streak, and think it would be pretty sweet if it were the Packers and Lambeau to be the ones to end it.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Victory Dance and Sleepy Eyes

I woke up this morning at 7:42. And with losing my keys, I still made it to work - dressed, hair brushed and make up on - by 8:10. I consider that one of the many great victories from this weekend.

Let's recap; Chicharito es muy perfecion y te amo! Rooney wanted to leave Man U and then realized he didn't so he stayed and then turned 25. Vidic also had a birthday. Another number one team in college football fell, Oregon despite killing fUcla did not become number one in the BCS - computers hate Ducks - and hopefully never will be number one, as USC will crush them on Saturday at homecoming. Not many SC fans read my blog, but if you do and you're going to homecoming, wear red. I got a new SC shirt this week, and found the most perfect cardinal eyeshadow so I'm all set for Saturday.

And then there was last night.

There are no words. Mostly because I am a zombie at work today and my brain has lost the ability to properly function. So I will let this picture speak for me



What made the game even more perfection was Favre's post game presser. Sounded like a really old grandfather at a family dinner telling a story that rambles on without a point, that you can't follow and you have to keep leaning in to hear what they're saying cause they talk so low....and then he limped off the stage.

In other news, yesterday also marked Greg Bedard's last game covering the Packers. I heard he cried this morning. Wuss! :) He will be missed.

Also, I will be on Cheesehead Radio this week, and for the next three weeks (? don't quote me on that, there might be a week off, brain can't do math). So don't miss it.

Another also, SB might have broken his wrist yesterday playing soccer. Doctor's appointment today. I'm so over people who think soccer is a whimpy sport. Players run for approx. six miles a game with metal spikes on their feet and the only protection is a flimsy piece of plastic on their shins.

In completely non sports news, I found out today that I am allergic to fake nails. :)

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

the battlefield

I came out of the weekend unscathed. But unfortunately not every one else was as lucky.

USC lost again on a last second field goal. I lost my feed after they scored the go ahead touchdown. I spent the rest of the night mad at SB for not letting my watch the rest of the game.

Then it was the showdown in our living room. He won; I lost. Luckily I had Brian Carriveau and the rest of the cheesehead tv gang to keep my company and distracted. I wanted a hug from SB, but he brought me a beer. As my best friend Katey said, "that's hug in guy speak."

I can definitely say that I am more impressed with the way SB and I handled ourselves (although I did have a mini freak out pregame as I was making breakfast and was running late and didn't get to enter MM's quotes into the live blog) than I am impressed with the way the Redskins and the Packers handled themselves. I think I will live with the "dunk" sound of Mason's kick hitting the upright for a really long time.

I said on the post game show, while the injuries seem nearly insurmountable - and quite honestly I can't even figure out what our starting defense will be, I don't think that's our biggest problem. Two clear things are different this year from last year. 1. production on third down and 2 the big play making ability - ie. turnover - of our defense. Last year Arod was the best quarterback on third down, right now we have an abysmal third down conversion rate. Last year, if the other team was driving late, I felt pretty confident that eventually Nick Collins would step in front of a pass and end the whole thing. Yes, the injuries play a role, but if we could somehow find a way to better our production at turnovers and third downs the world would be a much happier place.

In other news, slightly non -sports related, I started my new job this week. My availability on here and twitter might be lessened during the day, but I am really happy about where things are right now and this new opportunity.

Also, I have a lot to say about Favre/Dongs/Interceptions, but I'm saving that for a BrentFavre post hopefully to come out sometime this week.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

And scene...

Late night, Chilly's office

BF: Dude man, we need to talk. You didn't tell me this team would be crap.
Chilly: Well maybe if there weren't so many intercept...
BF: WHAT did you just say to me? I'm Brent Favre, no wait, Lord Voldemort, oh hell, you know who I am, I am perfect, I am a god, this is not my fault. You need to fix this.
Chilly: (cowering in corner) Yes, Brent, I'm mean Lord, I mean...
BF: you know what to call me
Chilly: Sorry, Yes Daddy, but what should I do?
BF: Get that guy Moss in here, the one the Packers wouldn't give me, not the other one. He'll know how to catch my balls.
Chilly: Yes Daddy. Anything else?
BF: Where's my phone, and my crocs, and my balls, I got work to do!

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

More crazy make up lesson

More Packer Make Up tutorials.

Can't embed it but seriously, there's just so much make up involved. I will say though, this chica did incorporate old Packers music like "I'm a cheesehead baby" and "The Packerena"

So Much make up

This one let me embed.

Monday, October 4, 2010

I'd be "lion" if I said I was happy about this weekend

Oy VEY!

We need to take this in steps.

1. USC.
I don't like playing Sark. Can we just say that from now on? How many years will pass until this stops being a payback/welcome back/old friends and foes game? Honestly, I didn't want the game. Ridiculous, I know. I had more pressing issues of a 4 year olds birthday. But anyways, I think I handle this loss well. Perhaps because I was following the game via gamecast from the front seat of my car parked in the Bigg's parking lot, or perhaps because honestly the number of losses really doesn't affect anything this year. For the next two years USC can define itself differently than before. Yes, we want to win games. But winning all games gets us no further than winning no games. This year really is about the team and the school's ability to fight on. So, I'm taking this loss in stride, walking as arrogantly as possible shouting (okay, not really shouting more like whispering under my breath) "You can't sanction the end zone" and "Lane F#$%ing Kiffin!" I really want us to weather this storm.

2. Manchester United.
So not even the locker room wanted Man U to win. A sewage pipe burst in the Manchester United locker room before the game causing a twenty minute delay of kick off, a very unpleasant odor and the loss of many suits. But more distressing was the starting line up. Hey, so Rooney's hurt. That's okay, we got Berb. Oh, but wait, lets not start him. Let's start Owen and Macheda! Owen has been playing decent ball with the B team and reserves, but throwing him up there by himself, not the wisest. And Macheda...okay we all remember those couple of games late two seasons ago when he was the hero. But starting, really? I would have much preferred Owen and Berb starting with Macheda and Chicharito as subs off the bench. Chicharito did get to sub in, but failed to provide the spark that was so desperately needed. Man U is in third right now, so its not completely time to panic, but their ship seems off course, and if they keep dropping points, walking away with ties, this could end up being a very long season for the red devils.

In other EPL news, West Brom (yes, WBA) is 6th. SIXTH right now. And Liverpool is in the relegation zone.

3. The Packers.
I love one o'clock games. LOVE them. Get to fully enjoy the pregame, and when the game is done, get enough time to rest off the beers before bed time. Coming off the loss to the bears (who looked completely awful versus the Giants and the Packers got a look at what Monday night could have been if they wouldn't have shot themselves in the foot) the Packers needed to bounce back. The game should, like most games thus far this season, the promise and the weakness of the team. When given the opportunity, there seems to be nothing that Aaron Rodgers can't do. But the game plan did not allow for that. For about half the snaps, it seemed like the offense finally got it, you can't run Jackson up the middle, and Kuhn can't run to the side. But on the other half of the snaps, the play calling made little sense. Send Kuhn out on a wide run on a short third down. Start drives off with a long bomb with a receiver double covered. To me, it seemed like half the calls were scripted and did not necessarily match the spot on the field, the down and distance, or the timing of the game. The offense seemed to be completely on track on its first and its last drive of the game. What happened in the middle is beyond me.

And then there's the defense. Its starting to remind me of Pete Carroll's defense at USC in his final years there. They cause big plays, sacks and turnovers, but they don't always stop the drive. I will say that holding the Lions to field goals at the end did turn out to be the winning formula, but again we are faced with the question, is this enough for a team with super bowl aspirations? And then there were the injuries. Rookie stand out Morgan Burnett out for the season. News just came out that perhaps Chillar could be out for the season as well. We still have two games until the PUP guys can even think about coming back, and who knows about their conditioning and game readiness. I fully believed after the Chicago game that this was a team that can solve its problems. And to a point, I still believe that. But every week it seems that new problems arise as we solve the old ones. Case in point, against the Lions the Packers only had three penalties, Crosby managed to keep all kicks in bounds, and Tramon looked better than average in the return game. As we solve some of these problems, Jordy Nelson decides to present us with a new one, he's decided to stop hanging on to the ball. And Matshay decided that kicking the ball as far as I can is far enough.

Let me say this, I am not off the bandwagon. In fact, I was "yelling" at people on Sunday, reminding them during their complaining that the Packers were, in fact, winning the game. But I am a little cautious. I believe that the Redskins game will be a big one for the Packers. The Redskins are a little like the Packers. Good pieces, slightly inconsistent play. What the Packers need to do is to stop the bleeding now. Make some choices, even tough ones on areas that we are struggling, replace the injured people with either someone consistent who can play the role or with a couple new packages. If the Packers go into FedEx field and beat the Redskins, even if it is a little sloppy, I believe we will be righting the ship. Go in and play like they did versus the bears, and there could be some rocky seas ahead. Also to note, SB is a Redskins fan. He was swearing at the TV yesterday. Seeing as we're both emotional sports watchers, I stated now that it just is not a good idea to watch the game together. For the sake of our relationship, and the ear drums of our neighbors.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Who moved my cheese curds 9.30.10

In case you missed it, here's my rant from tonight's Cheesehead Radio (thanks again to them for letting me on air!!)

This week, there were actually many, too too many, things to rant about. McCarthy’s infatuation with the challenge flag, Mason Crosby’s complete infatuation with the sideline, and everyone complete infatuation with penalities…but this week I would like to focus not on the Green Bay Packers Players, despite their many attempts to earn it, no, I’m focusing on us. Here is my two-fold rant on the fans.

1. Being a fan of professional sports has always been an act of believing in the miraculous. I have little respect for the fans that midway through Monday Night’s third quarter were hanging up their towels and calling it a year. Did the Packers look atrocious? YES! A very emphatic yes. But they also demonstrated the ability to perform lights out, at will. I was raised to believe that even with :02 seconds left in a game, you still stood, chanted, prayed, paced, etc willing your team to victory. I have vivid memories, as I’m sure most fans do of the waning moments of the 1997 super bowl. I walked in circles around my kitchen table until the very last moment of Chumra laying on the turf the ball bouncing away from him. Painful yes. But I’m glad I watched. I also remember the Monday Night San Francisco game from 1996, when Robert Brooks got hurt and it felt like our entire year was going to slip away. And then Antonio Freemen gets up after the ref decided Marquez Pope did not down him, and runs and runs and runs. And Chris Jacke made the great 53 yard kick to secure victory. Both of those plays were purely magical and were only witnessed and performed by those who did not give up. Giving up in the third quarter, giving up three games in is not a true fan. So you know what, I’m still saying Super Bowl or Die and its because I still believe it.

2. Fan involved in the altercation with Nick Collins, I’m looking at you now. Back in the fall of 2000, as a bright eyed freshmen at USC I was involved in an altercation in the stands. The Trojans were awful that year, and Notre Dame was playing great football. As the final game of the season came to a close and the Trojans accepted their 7th defeat that year, a couple of very drunk Notre Dame fans entered the student section and began to taunt us. Annoyed, disheartened and angry that they were on our “turf” I threw my pom pom at them. Looking back now I am not completely proud of that moment, but there we were fans jarring with other fans. Fans have every right to talk trash to other fans. Fans have no right to talk to
trash, especially on a personal level, to a player. The player actually was on the field, actually working and making plays, you mister yell slurs as a player is walking to the locker room, you sat on your butt all game. You want to talk trash to a player, then learn to play the game, spend hours/months/years training and maybe then you can say something. Until then, sit down, joke with your friends
about the greatness of Jay Cutler, and no mouth guards will be thrown at
you. And Mr. Collins, I get that you regret your actions, it’s a feeling I am familiar with, but I sir am behind you 110% and I probably would have thrown a lot more than a mouth guard.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Loss #1

I started the season predicting the Packers would go 12-4, so a loss should not really be any surprise. I have to admit though, this one was shocking!

I could dissect it, say we gave the game away - which we did - with our 18 (18!!!!) penalties, horrendous special teams play and complete lack of a running game, but quite honestly I can't even be mad about it anymore. There were so many issues with players, with coaches (why the challenge, and why not just let them score????), with a complete lack of discipline that left this very elite team looking a hot mess, but I can't "get up" for it. I shouldn't have to yell. So I'm not going to. These are professional coaches and players, and yes its the same old mistakes (who needs special teams and time outs??), but I am going to reserve my yelling unless this happens again. I would be lying if I said that I didn't think the Packers had that type of performance in them. Any true Packer fans, sports fan, knows that at least once (hopefully not terribly more than that) your team will implode upon itself (most likely when the most people are watching) and be completely exposed for the fraud that it is. I am not surprised this happened; I want to see the reaction. How will the Packers come out against the Lions (poor Lions) this weekend? Will any changes be made? Will veterans stop making rookie mistakes? will Crosby stop kicking the ball out of bounds? Will McCarthy stop wasting challenges? I know things look bleak, especially in MM's presser from yesterday (Mike, there was no run game, it wasn't productive, and Clifton does have a performance issue), but if there's one thing I have learned as a die-hard Packer fan, its holding out hope that the ship will right its course. There are enough good pieces (GREAT pieces) to this team that when every thing is clicking, the Packers can be unstoppable. If Monday night showed us anything, its that other teams can not stop the Packers, the Packers can stop the Packers. So I'm not jumping ship - in fact I'm Leo running up to the front (don't know ship terms) with arms outstretched. We've seen the worse. It can only go up from here.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Bears Still Suck Day 8

This guy has one very clear message. The Bears Suck. And it is hysterical.



And you have to hand it to these guys! There's a puppet.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

A Random Football adventure

Yesterday in the middle of the first quarter of the USC game, a friend invited me to the University of Cincinnati vs. Oklahoma game at Paul Brown Stadium. The SC game had all the makings of a blow out, so I abandoned my post in front of the tv and headed down town, still clad in my SC gear. We tailgated with her family outside the stadium, and at nearly every tailgate was a group of people playing cornhole. After a couple beers we headed into the stadium and were pleasantly surprised by the number of people at the game. We had pretty good seats, sandwiched between the student section and the band in the corner of the end zone.


Jenn, a UC fan, was realistic regarding the game, and we both expected UC to get crushed. Having watched Oklahoma destroy FSU, I didn't think we were in for much of a game.






A few snap shots from the game:


We really like peanuts


We thought this guy should invest in a new jersey


This lady has a very interesting outfit



At half time a fUcla fan walked past and said the SC sucks. Jenn jumped to my defense. And the guy continued to say that fUcla was great because they beat Texas earlier in the day; I kept thinking/saying 4 and 0! The whole situation allowed me to say the word fUcla a lot in a family setting and I appreciated that.

The game got pretty intense in the second half, and we pounded on the backs of seats and made as much noise possible whenever on defense. The pounding would help explain why my hand is a little numb today.

UC couldn't pull off the upset though, and the Sooners (which are covered wagons) walked away the victors. Personally, in a battle between a bear cat and a wagon, I'm pretty sure the bear cat would win. As we were leaving, a very very drunk college kid tried to hit on me.

Kid: Hey, I like USC
Jenn: Yeah? who's their quarterback?
Kid: I don't know. But I like Carson. And Mike Sanchez.
Kid stumbles nearly falling into us.
Me: His name's not Mike.
Kid: I like Jarret Booty
Us: Jarret?
Kid: John Booty
At this point, I put my hand on the kid and tried to direct him back to his friends who were trying to pull him away from further embarrassment.
Me: that's still not his full name.
Kid's friend: Sorry he's really drunk.

After the game we went to Old Willies and watched Boise State overtake Oregon St. and wondered how the QB can spot his receivers wearing blue on that blue field. Then, after two more beers and a shot of Jamo, my body decided it was time to go home, I got the hiccups and SB - who met us at the bar, drove me home.

It was a really random day, but definitely very fun. I highly recommend going to a game where you are not emotionally invested and wear gear of a team that is not playing. When I lived in San Fran one of my roommates and I went to a San Fran/Philly game and I wore my Ahman Green jersey and she wore a Redskins jersey. Situations like those make me laugh and make for a good time.

Bears Still Suck Day 7

Found this on answers.yahoo

10 reasons the bears suck?
1. Hester is not a WR, too small, should only be doing KO and PR.
2. O-line cant block my grandmother.
3. I could pick apart a D that only runs Cover2.
4, cant get pressure on any QB.
5, Cutler hates his life and his teammates.
6. Tillman tries to punch the ball rather than tackle the ball carrier.
7. Lovie couldnt motivate a virgin to screw a playboy bunny.
8. Ron Turner run a college offense (never runs the ball with the D spread out)
9. Who is Jason Mckie? and why is he still on the team?
10. There best WR is a TE?

Also just realized that you could get this awesome picture as a T-shirt. LOVE IT. 1. its from 1989 and 2. our QB was still the Majik man. I wonder if it would be possible to order one as I think the site's been abandoned. MUST look into.

In non-bears still suck news a friend sent me this joke for the Cowboys and Vi-queens.

Knock,Knock
Who's there?
Owen.
Owen Who?
Owen Three Bitches!

Hope everyone enjoys a nice relaxing day of football.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Bears Still Suck Day 4

Some Chicago Bears jokes for your entertainment.

Bears QB Jay Cutler has been rumored to be dating Hills Star Kristin Cavallari.
Truth is he made a pass at Heidi Montag, but Kristin intercepted it.


Q: Did you hear the new penalty for speeding in Illinois?
A: On the first offense they give you Bears tickets, and on the second offense, they make you use them.

Q. How do you keep a Chicago Bears player out of your yard?
A. Put up goal posts.

Q. Where do you go in Chicago in case of a tornado?
A. Soldier Field - they never get a touchdown there.

Q. What do the Chicago Bears & possums have in common?
A. Both play dead at home & get killed on the road.

Q. How can you tell when the Chicago Bears are going to run the football?
A. Forte leaves the huddle with tears in his eyes.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Bears Still Suck Day 2

Today's Bears Still Suck Moments courtesy of youtube.

Look at that Leap!


Game Winner!

You Can't Sanction the End Zone

So far this year Reggie Bush has broken: 1. my heart and 2. his leg. Anyone who has read me before, knows that I am holding what can only be described as more than a slight grudge against Reggie. Having said that I don't wish injury on anyone, even VY. However, this morning when I started talking about Reggie's leg with SB he said, "poor guy. He's had a rough week." And I agree, in part. I'm sure it is very hard to give back the Heisman, to be the center of a scandal, and then to break your leg on top of it. But its not like these things "just happened" to him. He gave back the Heisman as, in my opinion, a brilliant PR move, and the scandal and reasoning behind the move are all direct consequences to Bush's own actions. Should I feel terrible for a guy who made a mistake and now has some consequences. Especially when it seems he is getting off lightly with respect to the sanctions that USC is facing? I do feel bad about his leg. It hurts, both physically and his team. But he'll be back and playing this year. And I feel that the Saints will be fine without him. I don't think anyone deserves an injury, but I am definitely not losing sleep over this. Karma is a b$tch.

In other SC news, JamieSC on twitter turned me on to this blog, Lost Angeles, yesterday, and let me just say, it is brilliant. I am more than slightly envious of this dude. Everyone should check it out, informative and highly hysterical.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Winnings

You know what makes Monday's "bear"-able? When all your teams win on the weekend!

USC won and managed to slip only two spots in the poll. I am considering that progress. The game started off slowly. But eventually Barkley and Kiffin turned the ship around and USC took over Minnesota. Highlights of the game: USCpyscho's text about Minnesota fans complaining about the USC Marching Band playing the same song over. Which it turn prompted me to download the virtual piano app for my phone and try to pluck out Fight On.


Sunday morning I woke up early (I'm sure 8:30 is normal for most people but its not for me) to watch the very crucial match up between Manchester United and Liverpool. Midway through the second half, it felt like the same old story, Man U goes up and then lets a team come back, but Berbatov finished his hat trick late in the game, and sealed the victory for the Red Devils. I must say that I am supremely excited about Berbatov. He's also lagged behind his promise after signing with Man U, but lately he has really stepped it up as a leader of the team and with his ability to make plays. This is one case of the hair cut helping the player. I tried to find a video feed of his magnificent second goal, but the FA has taken them all down, so this picture from ESPN.com will have to do for all who missed it.

And then it was on to the Packers. Tried to get a mini pre-game nap in, but with Corey and Brian unable to be on the blog, felt like Alex and I were kids left alone for the weekend and trusted with the house. Can't disappoint. Things I took from the GB game. 1. CM3 is my hero (got a twitter DM later in the day from a fellow USC alumni who is now a converted Packers fan all because of Clay). 2. The Offense scored on its opening drive, while they should have scored a touchdown on that defense, any points off the bat is a step in the right direction. 3. I'm not really sure what went wrong with the offense in the second quarter, but I was relieved to see adjustments that fixed whatever was wrong 4. AND most importantly I was impressed with the Packers offense ability to stick the game plan and wear down the Bills. While the Packers were vastly superior to the Bills I really don't think at this stage of the season with this team, the Packers will be jumping out to many quick leads of a couple touchdowns or more. The Packers have to stick to their brand of football and know that by the middle of the third quarter, the other team will be worn down and the thumping will begin. I felt the same way regarding the SC game.

This weeks agenda:
1. The Bears Still Suck
2. Write for brentfavre.com
3. Guest host Cheesehead Radio on Thursday!

The Bears Still Suck Week

One of the first jokes I learned to tell as a child.

A young cub talking with a social worker

Social Worker says, "You can go live with Papa Bear."
Cub "Papa Bear beats me."
Social Worker says, "You can go live with Mama Bear."
Cub "Mama Bear beats me too."
Social Worker says, "You can go live with the Chicago Bears, they can't beat anyone."

Welcome to the Bears Still Suck Week. I'll be here all week.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Wow. Thanks for Cheeseheadtv.com for finding this. I will admit to having my game day make up, but man this girl puts me to shame. There is one time when living with "Roommate" (and yes I honestly called her that) and her vast make up collection that I found the perfect cardinal and gold for my lids for an SC game, but still no where near as intense as this chica. Am now watching the series.

The Rumor Hawk

Last night the Green Bay Packer twitter world was all ablaze with rumors of possibly trading A.J. Hawk to the Buffalo Bills for Marshawn Lynch. Hawk's house in DePere is up for sale, the Bills are thin at linebacker, the Pack is thin at running back, Hawk is currently under preforming his contract, all the pieces seem to fit. The Bills tried to hush it all by announcing that they are standing pat and not open to trading Lynch; Hawk's agent said his client would be open to a trade. I'll go on the record here and say I really don't have a firm opinion either way about the trade. I do believe that Hawk is under performing and I am a little worried about our running back situation. However, I also know TT and his line of thinking. When has he ever jumped at signing a veteran when some unknown players could fill the role just as well? Also, I would like to see at least one game with Bjax in the starting role, and I would like to see how the Packers adjust before jumping off the bridge and trading away a player. On the plus side, the Bills play the Packers this Sunday. Its the perfect scout game. How does Lynch run? We'll see. How will the Packers backs step up after the Grant injury? We'll see. How will Hawk respond to the trade rumors? We'll see. How desperate are the Bills at the linebacker position? We'll see. Should be an interesting game.

And the Oscar goes to....Derek Jeter

So I didn't watch the Yankees game last night. Big surprise there. Finale of Top Chef was on and then Top Chef just desserts, clearly there were more important things on my agenda besides another baseball game. But apparently I missed out. Woke up this morning to quite the drama surrounding Derek Jeter.



Honestly I can't help but laugh. Such a performance, Drogba and Ronaldo would be proud. And while, clearly the ball did not strike Jeter and yes he "cheated" and acted for an extended period of time to get on base, I really don't think its that bad. This is definitely not bringing about the end of civilization.

Every sport has its bit of acting. Every one's heard of soccer players diving to draw a foul/penalty kick/gain advantage. And anyone who's watched a game of football I'm sure can recall at least one receiver who after getting beat on a long ball turn to the ref and pull on his jersey, hands raised in the air, pleading for the pass interference penalty. Like it or not, its part of sports. Is it cheating? In some ways, yes. But it is also a very real part of the game. In soccer when a player dives, they also risk getting carded themselves for diving. Its the competitive nature of sports. No holds bar. And while annoying, its not going anywhere. So Derek Jeter, thanks for making me laugh.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

And a big green and gold welcome to...

Dimitri Nance.

The Packers have signed rookie running back, Dimitri Nance, off of the Falcons practice squad. Nance played for ASU, but honestly I don't remember him from last years game. Word on the street is that he's a low runner and has dreads, can't be all bad right?

In other break your ankle news, Antonio Valencia was carted off with oxygen and immediately taken to the hospital following this tackle. I put it as a link as really its not for the squeamish.

Also, in breaking my heart news, Reggie Bush has announced he is returning his Heisman Trophy. Really, its the right thing to do. They ruled him ineligible and therefore he shouldn't have been able to win the award. I don't think it should go to anyone else, as I don't think I could stand the site of VY holding the trophy. I wish Reg would have said something more in his release about returning the trophy. Perhaps an apology. But alas, that day may never come.

So Ahman...

Ryan Grant. IR. Done for the season. Not confirmed yet by the Packers but Glazer is reporting. Guess I know what they'll be talking about on Packer Transplants tonight.

Why Win?

There was so much wrong with the Jets offense last night, Mark Sanchez becoming best friends with check downs, complete nonsensical play calling and then this:



Its so bad, its classic!

Monday, September 13, 2010

The weekend of intense endings

Oy, so much happened this weekend, and I wanted to sleep through all of it.

Glory, Glory?

First off Fergie sat Wayne Rooney. Why? Because he didn't want Rooney to have to suffer the abuse from the Everton fans. Gag me. First off, I don't think that's the sole reasoning. Like David Moyes, I believe Sir Alex gave Rooney a big F U, you're not above the team and we will sit you. Second, tomorrow starts the beginning of the Champions League campaign. Third, Rooney has always been booed, etc at Goodison Park. No matter how many prostitutes he sleeps with while his wife is pregnant, Everton fans will always dislike him. That's how soccer works.

So Rooney didn't play, and honestly I don't think the outcome of the game would have been different if he had. It was just another case of Man U not seeing a game through. They had the striker power, and Berb looked great, but they didn't hold their ground (which ended up being a theme of my weekend).

In other EPL news, Chelsea won. Again.

Also, I should add that this game started at 7:45 am my time. (yes, eastern time is now considered my time). So promptly after the end of the game, I crawled back in bed.

Fight ON!

Spent the rest of my day following TommyCam (for non USC peeps, its the constant live stream of the Tommy Trojan Statue in the middle of SC campus) and wishing I was tailgating.

Finally made it out of bed for the 10:30 kick off. And what followed was one of the sloppiest and most boring SC games I have ever seen, and I lived through the Paul Can't Hackett years. In total there were 24 penalties costing the teams almost 250 yards! On the plus side, the defense finally learned how to tackle, but the offense forgot how to score. Following the theme started by Man U, after taking a ten point lead with five minutes left, USC allowed UVA to scored. Granted there were only 4 seconds left on the clock, but for reals, lets try to end some games.

Other NCAA news, James Madison just shot Boise St. in the foot. Beating Virginia Tech was supposed to be Boise State's big quality win, now VT is a two loss team, with one loss coming against a vastly inferior opponent. Gotta love the BCS.

Other highlights. The Michigan QB was photographed in game doing the Heisman pose. If that isn't the coolest thing ever, I don't know what is. Also, FSU got ran over.

Go PACK Go!

Ah, the start of the NFL. Is there anything more sacred? Prior to the start of the game I told SB I was worried about our defense, going out with only 4 d linemen! hello! and we really hadn't proved the ability to stop anything or anyone most of the preseason. I predicted a shoot out game. I was wrong.


Apparently the only thing the GB defense needs is a healthy Clay Matthews. He was a beast on Sunday, 7 tackles, and he seemed to be everywhere on the field. Speaking of the field, maybe it lays over an old Indian burial ground or something, because there was a lot of bad luck going on there. Three players out for the season, two concussions, and a couple more sidelined for extended period of time. WTH!

Speaking of WTH moments:


Stewart Bradley clearly is having some trouble. I'm not a doctor, but I'm also not blind. Something is not right there. Last year the NFL changed its concussion policy. A player is not to return to the field if there is an inability to remember assignments or plays, a gap in memory, persistent dizziness and persistent headaches or the player has lost consciousness. Futhermore: Once removed for the duration of a practice or game, the player should not be considered for return-to-football activities until he is fully asymptomatic, both at rest and after exertion, has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing and has been cleared to return by both his team physician(s) and the independent neurological consultant. I fail to believe that the Philadelphia team doctors had enough time to fully evaluate Bradley and determine his mental state.

I'm being critical about the concussion issue because as the potential lockout and labor issues loom, one of the main touching points is long term care, medical insurance, and financial security for the players. If I'm going to ask players to put their bodies on the line for my entertainment week in and week out, then I'm going to be concerned about Bradley, and any other player, risking having long term damage and no way to take care of themselves. Therefore, I have no problem with the NFLPA and fully support them.

But I digress...
I'm proud of the way the GB defense stood up and stopped the Eagles when they could. As another game against the Eagles came down to a fourth down, I clutched on to my beer can as tightly as I could. This would not be another 4th and 26th. The Packers survived. The can did not.

Other quick reactions to the game
1. I hope we never have to play against Michael Vick again
2. Bjax can run, but is best at the delay. Once you get him in the second tier, he's taking people down
3. Where was AJ?
4. We need more people active on the D line. We were clearly gassed at the end of the game.
5. Poor Justin Harrell


Quick reactions around the league:
1. They should change the rule that cost the Lions the game.
2. Congrats to Big Mike Williams
3. Um, Bengals?

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Day One.

It is finally HERE! The NFL season starts today, and brings with it the ever growing potential that Favre will be sacked and intercepted, A LOT!

In other news, I feel like crap. Stupid summer cold/flu is killing me! I'm finding it hard to even get half excited for tonight. So on my way to "work" today (I use that term loosely, as right now it just feels like I'm working towards unemployment), I thought back to the start of last year's NFL season. Oddly enough, I barely made it for that game too. I was fighting a fever and crawled downstairs to watch the game with some of SB's brother's friends. There was one guy there who is/was the pro-typical Cincinnati homer. 1. The Steelers were on so we spent the entire game talking about how incredibly awful Big Ben is 2. The Steelers were on so we spent the entire game talking about how they tried to kill Carson Palmer 3. The guy repeatedly and emphatically stated that had Carson not gotten hurt by the Steelers, Cincinnati would have won the Super Bowl. NO QUESTION!

I realize that I live in this town now and am friends with a lot of the Who Dey supporters, so I'm sorry if this offends, but the Super Bowl was not Cincinnati and Carson's to lose that year. Yeah, him getting hurt, took away practically any chance the team had, but that chance wasn't 110% guaranteed.

I'm thinking that tonight I will be laying on the floor in my living room watching the game, cursing the weather change, snarling at Childress, doped up on sinus meds, and enjoying some quality live blogging with cheeseheadtv and cheeseheadradio! Thursday Night Live Blog

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Men of Character

One of my first posts revolved around the constant "character" issue in the NFL. Tebow vs Rolle vs Johnson. Here's the Outside the Lines story about two brothers who are showing what true character and faith mean.

Lookin Like a Fool with your Favre on the Ground

New Brentfavre.com post is up!

Lookin' Like a Fool with your Favre on the Ground

Friday, September 3, 2010

Lucky Number 100

Welcome to my official 100th post. I feel so old now!

Taking a break from the non stop job search (ugh) to tell a special story.

Last night was the packers last preseason game (thank god!!) and the first game on the Kiffin Era at USC. I am exhausted today. I know this is my east coast bias but really its just not right for Hawaii to host week night games. Kick off was at 11:00 pm eastern. At 2:00 AM we hadn't even broken into the fourth quarter. No lie, this week was draining on me, getting the news of my job closing and then Packer Transplants followed by Cheesehead Radio followed by a night of non stop football, it can only be expected that I watched the USC season opener curled up on the couch. (which is actually where I slept last night, so I could fall asleep to the end of the game and not wake SB - I'm such a great girlfriend). I posted this picture on my twitter feed. FoundinIdaho (aka Colleen) commented, "cute bear" and it got me thinking about that bear and how special he is. So here's his story.

Freshman year at SC was beyond exciting. I felt so cool, being far away from home, living it up in LA. So when Christmas rolled around I planned on getting everyone in my family USC gifts. USC discretionary account was my first introduction into the world of credit, and man, I lived it up. All the aunts and uncles got mugs, my Grandmother, who helped raise me got the bear. I know everyone says that they love their Grandma, but I really really did. I moved in with her when I was 13 and we developed a very close and special relationship. She has always been the most stable and loving person in my life. As a teenager, I'm sure I never told her this enough. And in my freshman wisdom I assumed a bear, clearly superior to the coffee mugs everyone else was getting, would suffice to explain my love and appreciation. My Grandmother loved that bear. Every time I came home from college, or when I eventually moved back to Wisco and came over to visit, he was always perched up right on a chair in the living room. When she had to sell her house a lot of things were sold or given away in an attempt to downsize and when she moved into her hospice/assisted living facility, all of her possession were contained in one small room; on the chair next to her bed, was the USC bear. The doctors told us a few days before she passed that the end was near. Numerous visitors came to say good bye, to share last moments, and they sat in the bear's chair. He took up residence at the foot of my Grandmother's bed, facing her. She passed in the middle of the night, peacefully, while she slept. The bear, with her, on her bed the whole time.

The bear now lives with me. As does the chair he used to sit on. Generally he has a place on the tv stand in my room, but he never misses a USC game.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Stafon Fights On.

Peter King wrote the following in his Monday Morning Quarterback piece for SI.com. I've linked the whole article here.

This is the Stafon part. Reading it makes me proud and honored to be part of the USC family. I will be routing for Stafon for hopefully many years in the NFL. Forget Tebow, I have my NFL inspiration right here:

"Stafon Johnson: "God don't put nothin' on my plate I can't eat.''

"Don't feel sorry for me,'' Stafon Johnson said over the phone from the Titans trainers' room the other day. "My story's not a sob story.''

Sure seems it to me. Last September, the USC running back was lifting weights in the football program's weight room, and a bar with 275 pounds in the bench press came crashing down on his neck. His larynx was crushed. If not for the football strength in his neck, the bar might have broken it. But he survived, and the former mid-round prospect got a free-agent invitation to Titans camp this year. Coach Jeff Fisher, a Trojan himself, was so excited for the first preseason game this year, in Seattle, that he conferenced with the game officials before the game and told them he wanted to be sure that after the first carry of the game by Johnson, the officials took the ball out of play and sent it to the Tennessee sideline. "After all the kid has been through, I want him to have that ball,'' Fisher told the crew.

Johnson made a nifty move on his first carry midway through the second quarter, gaining six. The ball was tossed to the sideline, put in an equipment box by the Titans. Late in the third quarterback, he caught a pass and tried to get away from two Seahawks, and he was tackled, and his leg twisted awkwardly.

"I don't remember too much.'' Johnson said. "But I looked down and my knee was facing coach Fish, and my foot toward the pylon. I figured I was in trouble.''

He broke his leg and dislocated his ankle. His first thought, he said, was "Why? Why now?'' But he said that by the end of the night, "I was thanking God that I was here. I went from being almost deceased to being in the NFL, playing in an NFL game.''

When the team gathered in the locker room, Fisher spoke. "Life's not fair sometimes,'' he said, and he went on to tell the players about the ball he had for Johnson, and he told his players to go into the trainers room and be with Johnson.

"We're not getting rid of him,'' said Fisher, though Johnson was waived injured, then placed on injured-reserved for the season. "He had very successful surgery, and he'll be back with us next year in camp. I expect him to have a good shot.''

That he should. He'll only have all of America rooting for him."

FIGHT ON!

Is This Real Life?

Remember that you tube clip, David after dentist?



Sometimes that's how I feel about Fantasy Football.

On Friday, SB called me on his way home from work. The league he's in with an out of town friend was short a couple people. I've avoided Fantasy Football like the plague since it started. But reluctantly I agreed, what kind of girl friend would I be if said no. And besides I was promised I could draft A Rod. In the end, turns out they didn't need me. And I was relieved. SB said I could join his other league, but honestly I don't want to. I have absolutely no desire to play fantasy football.

When it first came around, I hated it. I hated that instead of highlights during my half time show, we had to talk about fantasy points leaders. At my core, I'm sometimes a purist when it comes to sports. Just run the with the ball, knock someone over, call it a day. Why all the gimmicks? Who needs something to make football more entertaining? But as I held firm, the world around me changed. Everyone I knew was joining leagues, starting leagues, either asking advice, asking me to join or wondering if so and so running back would get any receiving yards....So I walked back on my completely anti-stance and started becoming helpful. Why have all this football knowledge and let it go to waste right? But I still refuse to play. I'll sit next to you why you draft, and shake my head when you contemplate a Phily WR, but I will not participate.

During the World Cup, I joined a fantasy league. and I consider it the one and only time I will ever play such a game. It just has no appeal to me. I like watching my team and hoping for plays to happen simply for how it will benefit the Packers. I don't even like betting on the Packers. Last season a friend wanted to wager a 12 pack of Miller Lite that the Packers would be over 9-7. I couldn't do it. It made me very uncomfortable to think that once the Pack acheived that ninth win, my motivation for cheering might be tainted. Back in 2005, Katey and I joined the Harp's (awesome little Irish Bar in mke) football pool. We kicked butt. The pool didn't last the whole season - something tells me the guys at the Harp didn't enjoy losing to Team Skirt who filled out their pool in hot pink magic marker every week. And when it ended, no lie I was a little happy. Maybe I'm old school. Maybe I'm naive. But when I'm stuck watching NFL network pregame as three guys around me frantically try to get their last minute line up changes in, I feel like David. Is This Real Life? Is It Going to Last Forever?

The answer is, yes.

Friday, August 27, 2010

brentfavre

a new post is up at brentfavre.com
Check It!

The Name Game

I get it, Preseason football is a time for everyone to shake off the rust; fans, players, coaches, refs, and announcers. But this preseason I have noticed an unsettling trend. Announcers repeatedly getting players names wrong. So here's a list of people that do NOT play for the Packers yet apparently the announcers think they do. If you can, please pass this list along to Jon Gruden, Mike Tirico, the Cleveland Browns announcing crew, the people who called the intersquad scrimmage and anyone even thinking of stepping into the box to call a GB game.

1. Brett Favre
2. Dorsey Levens
3. Mike Flynn
4. Jeremiah Finley
5. Trey-mon Williams

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Champions League Draws

Group A
1. Inter
2. Werder Bremen
3. Tottenham
4. Twente

Group B
1. Lyon
2. Benfica
3. Schalke
4. Hapoel Tel Aviv

Group C
1. Manchester United
2. Valencia
3. Rangers
4. Bursaspor

Group D
1. Barca
2. Panathinaikos
3. Kobenhavn
4. Rubin Kazan

Group E
1. Bayern
2. Roma
3. Basel
4. Cluj

Group F
1. Chelsea
2. Marseille
3. Spartak Moscow
4. Zilna

Group G
1. AC Milan
2. Real Madrid
3. Ajax
4. Auxerre

Group H
1. Arsenal
2. Shakhtar Donetsk
3. Braga
4. Partizan

THESE are the Champions!


Are you a typical American who doesn't follow soccer, but every four years gets wrapped up in the world cup? Well then, I HAVE THE THING FOR YOU!

Meet Champions League.

Today is the annual Champions League group draw and its every bit as exciting as the World Cup group draw! And I'm not joking here folks, they're both riveting. I'm not exactly sure the lure of hollowed out ping pong balls is but it's real.

Champions League is like soccer with benefits! It takes the top teams from all of Europe's club leagues and pits them against each other in a winner take all cage match. ... Okay, not exactly, but kind of.

Here's why its genius, and here's why you should be watching:

1. Only the top teams play each other. No bottom barrel "boring" soccer teams here. We're talking cream of the crop here people; if you're a newbie why come in at some bottom level? get to know the best, watch the sport played at its highest level and maybe more people will appreciate it.
2. Its a bracket. Us Americans, we LOVE our brackets and play offs! Champions league is set up nearly identical to the World Cup. A round robin group stage, top two teams advance and get bracketed in the knock out stages. Of course, Champions league has to be difficult and throw in the home-home and aggregate scoring, but we'll get to that when we need to. And it all ends in one, winner take all game.
3. No vuvuzelas. Novice soccer fans tuned into the World Cup and wondered if that noise is at every soccer game. Guess what peeps, its not.
4. It surprises you! Champions league is not crammed into a four week whirlwind. No, its spread out over months. Groups stages start half way through September and the championship game isn't until May 28th. While that might take away from the intensity for some, I argue that the added gift of waking up one morning and realizing Champions League is on that day is one of God's small gifts.
5. The Champions League theme and lead in music, sponsored by Heinekin is simply awe inspiring.


So if the World Cup got you thinking of maybe giving soccer a try in your life, I suggest you start with Champions League. The draw is today at noon, which I'm sure I'll post "results" of here, and groups stage begins September 14th. Mark your calendar people, its going to be a great Champions League season.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Because We Can

If you want to know how I feel about the USC sanctions and don't want to listen to me drunkily go on about picture sizing, then watch this video.

Thanks to the infamous, USC Psycho for linking to it on twitter.

Greatest Players by Numbers

SI.com posted this article (00-49) and this article (50-99)naming the top players by number. A lot of the QBs are obvious choices, but the most noteworthy thing for me, check out the worthy of considerations for numbers 27 and 30. Buckley and Green.

Out with the OLD


This morning Reggie Bush tweeted that will never get used to seeing guys cut from the team. "You spend so much time with your teammates that they become family!" Honestly it makes me sick to hear him talk this way.

There is something incredibly familial about college football. You live on campus, walk to the games, attend classes with the players; it truly is integrated into your daily routine. USC is my family. And should be Reggie's too. And after everything that has happened, that he has done to hurt SC, my family, his family; I don't really believe anything he has to say about loyalty to a team. USC's new AD was on the Dan Patrick show (full article here) and said, "Reggie Bush was a great player, an exciting player, but the NCAA report says that we must disassociate ourselves from Reggie."

I have no problem with the school distancing itself from Reggie (and O.J. Mayo). Its time to move on. He got off scott free, which kids who never even played with him are accepting the punishment. I can't wait for September 2nd when the new era of SC football will begin! FIGHT ON!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

The Glove part 2


I didn't have a picture of it when I posted my original post, so here it is in all its glory, my worn down - way too big for my little hands - yellow packer glove. Also in the picture, the mini helmet that my grandmother had in her basement. Its ridiculously old and I love it!