So the proverbial "next step" has at least been spoken by those who, thanks to $150K from four area companies, did a study on where to put a replacement for the Richmond Coliseum and how big it should be built.
Of the four proposed locations, they like a parcel of land next to the current Coliseum, which opened about 40 years ago. Sadly, this parcel is the smallest of the four and provides the least flexibility for parking.
(Insert pause to fume slightly here.)
Meanwhile, the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park is withholding judgement on the site, because it is currently seen by them as a bridge connecting their endeavor with VCU Medical Center.
So, according to the article in the Times-Dispatch, here are some "good points":
1) The Mayor likes the recommended site.
2) The Greater Richmond Convention Center and the Convention and Visitors Bureau likes it, as it keeps the arena next to them. The article also states how it keeps it close to entertainment venues, which I can agree with if we're talking The National and Richmond CenterStage. Shockoe Bottom? Not so much.
-----------------------------------------
Now for my thoughts......
1) Why pick the smallest parcel of land available? If this parcel is adjacent to the Coliseum site, why not use a block or two of it as well? Especially in light of the two most important things, in my view.
PARKING AND SEATING CAPACITY......
2) This article, as many before it, use the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as a "measuring stick" or "holy grail" of sorts as to what kind of seating capacity you'll need in a new arena in order to successfully bid for events of this nature. Right now, the plans are around 14,000 with a stage, 15,000 in the round. Apparently some people connected with this study think 15,000 seats are plenty to get the Tournament back to Richmond for the first time since 1996.
I was there when the Tournament first came to Richmond in 1990. It was an incredible experience, the type Richmond rarely gets to enjoy and take advantage of. The nation's eyes watched us. In 48 hours, there was a major upset due to a 28-foot shot near the end of a game, the end of Terry Holland's career as head coach of UVA, both Jim Boeheim and Digger Phelps brought their teams to play, and future NBA stars like Derrick Coleman took the floor. CBS Sports was there, in fact, their "A" team, at the time, of Brent Musberger and Billy Packer were there. Yes, there were three other sites playing games on the same two days, but suffice to say Richmond, Virginia got its name all over CBS that wonderful March weekend. You can't buy that sort of publicity, even today.
I do NOT think 15,000 seats will be enough to make this a reality again in the RVA. Let's look at the sites being used for the 2011 Tournament, remember that there's now four "play-in" games as the field is up to 68 teams.
PLAY-IN GAMES: University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH--Capacity: 13,455
(Note: Dayton has hosted the one play-in game in previous years since 2001....)
FIRST/SECOND ROUND: Verizon Center, Washington DC--Capacity: 20,173
McHale Center, Tucson, AZ--Capacity: 14,545
Pepsi Center, Denver, CO--Capacity: 19,155
St. Pete Times Forum, St. Petersburg, FL--Capacity: 20,500
Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH--Capacity: 20,562
Time Warner Arena, Charlotte, NC--Capacity: 19,568
United Center, Chicago, IL--Capacity: 20,917
BOK Center, Tulsa, OK--Capacity: 17,839
We see the following trends:
1) Only two arenas seat less than 18,000. The smallest, in Tucson, is on a college campus (University of Arizona) with a long history of tourney success, though not recently.
2) Five of the eight arenas are used by NBA teams.
3) Richmond's best (and in my opinion, only) hope, by building a 15,000 seat arena, would be to steal the first games from Dayton. But, trust me, to many die-hard March Madness fans, the one game these past 10 years have been forgettable. Heck, people don't even count them in the office and online pick 'em games and pools. Now, the two-night doubleheader concept starting this year may add some luster to it, but frankly, if you want any chance of having the best teams in any given year to come to your town's arena in the first two rounds, you better have the seats available to host what I still call Rounds One and Two, but will henceforth be called "Rounds Two and Three".
-------------------------------
Away from basketball, Richmond is constantly in competition with other metro areas for major arena "events" (concerts, wrestling, MMA, preseason NHL and NBA, etc.), and, Richmond usually loses. With the opening of the beautiful John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville a few years back, C'Ville actually jumped ahead of Richmond when it came to a great choice for concert promoters, et al. This was a collective slap in the face to Metro Richmond.
So why would Richmond now build something new that has essentially the same seating as Charlottesville? Don't we need to differentiate ourselves from JPJ?? As for concerts, the lure of JPJ being located at a place as prestigeous (and full of 20-somethings) as the University of Virginia sure looks better to me than the Richmond response of VCU, as a fair number of students there don't live on campus.
-------------------------------
So, Richmond, if you're gonna build a Coliseum, and I know it may not be a reality for another ten years, take this time and opportunity to build in increases in seating, parking, and amentities (suites, etc.) so two things happen:
1) When it opens, Richmond FINALLY has a first-class arena worthy of a city twice our size, rather than settling for one which is equal to one in a city MUCH SMALLER than us 1.3 hours up I-64....
2) Thus, build it for the year 2040, not the year 2020. I expect 20,000 seats will be needed for events long before 2040 due to natural population growth.
CLOSING: My fear is they build a 15K seat arena that will disappoint. My hope is that they would take some space from the current Coliseum site, if they adjoin, and make it an 18-19K seat arena that will position Richmond for a number of economic opportunities in the future.
After all, did any of you think, 15 years ago, that Oklahoma City, with a population even with Richmond, would be home to a successful NBA franchise? I bet someone was forward-thinking in OKC years ago, which made this a reality.
WHY NOT RICHMOND?
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Random Football Thoughts.......
1) Now I'm a fan of Oakland Raiders punter Shane Lechler for two reasons. First, he's a good punter on my favorite team. Second, he's got guts to speak his mind over the inane decision by good ol' Al Davis to let Tom Cable go as head coach. Just as it looks like the Raiders are FINALLY pointing the ship in the right direction, they let go a coach loved by the players. And the old-timers, like Lechler, have now seen six coaches come and go
2) Another bad domino falling here is the development of Jason Campbell. Yes, if Hue Jackson is promoted to head coach, the offensive scheme will stay, but what if he goes to San Francisco? How many times did Campbell have to change offensive schemes during his Washington tenure with their "coordinator coaching carousel"? Coming to Oakland was supposed to end that.
3) They (the Raiders) better keep McFadden and Bush happy. The only way our renaissance continues is with the continued improvement of our running game. Look where Kansas City is thanks in large part to Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
4) Could someone please show Derrius Heyward-Bey the door? Our first round drafting in odd years lately has been, ah, suspect.
2009: Heyward-Bey
2007: JaMarcus Russell (oh my word....)
2005: Fabian Washington (now in Baltimore)
Thankfully, we can look back at 2003 and see success in Nnamdi Asomugha.
2001: Derrick Gibson (retired)
1999: Matt Stinchcomb (retired after leaving for Tampa Bay)
Needless to say I am not holding out much hope for the 2011 Draft, but at least we won't be picking in the Top 5, right? :) BTW, if the Raider War Room needs advice, draft DEFENSE! Only exception is to get a can't miss offensive lineman.
----------------------------------------------------
ITEM: Vince Young and Tennessee part ways. Excellent move by the Titans. I don't think Young's career is over, he just has to land in the right spot where there are people who can put up with him. He also needs to stay healthy! And, yes, I'm already hearing rumblings about Vince and the Raiders. Just what we need, THREE possible answers to "Who's at quarterback this week??"
I'll look back at my 2010 Preseason predictions soon. I whiffed on some (San Francisco, anyone?), nailed others (Cincinnati) and was right in saying no team coached by Wade Phillips or Norv Turner would make it to a Super Bowl.......
Unlike most TV and internet talking heads, who now "re-predict" the post-season, since my original Super Bowl picks are alive, I'm staying with them. It'll be an NFL miracle if they make it, but if they do, the Colts and Packers both will have to win three to get there, and Green Bay will have to do it ALL on the road (Indy gets the Jets at home Saturday night in their Lucas Oil finale.....)
We'll see! In the meantime, check out my new favorite weather site, where the buzz is of a possible southern snowstorm come Tuesday.
2) Another bad domino falling here is the development of Jason Campbell. Yes, if Hue Jackson is promoted to head coach, the offensive scheme will stay, but what if he goes to San Francisco? How many times did Campbell have to change offensive schemes during his Washington tenure with their "coordinator coaching carousel"? Coming to Oakland was supposed to end that.
3) They (the Raiders) better keep McFadden and Bush happy. The only way our renaissance continues is with the continued improvement of our running game. Look where Kansas City is thanks in large part to Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
4) Could someone please show Derrius Heyward-Bey the door? Our first round drafting in odd years lately has been, ah, suspect.
2009: Heyward-Bey
2007: JaMarcus Russell (oh my word....)
2005: Fabian Washington (now in Baltimore)
Thankfully, we can look back at 2003 and see success in Nnamdi Asomugha.
2001: Derrick Gibson (retired)
1999: Matt Stinchcomb (retired after leaving for Tampa Bay)
Needless to say I am not holding out much hope for the 2011 Draft, but at least we won't be picking in the Top 5, right? :) BTW, if the Raider War Room needs advice, draft DEFENSE! Only exception is to get a can't miss offensive lineman.
----------------------------------------------------
ITEM: Vince Young and Tennessee part ways. Excellent move by the Titans. I don't think Young's career is over, he just has to land in the right spot where there are people who can put up with him. He also needs to stay healthy! And, yes, I'm already hearing rumblings about Vince and the Raiders. Just what we need, THREE possible answers to "Who's at quarterback this week??"
I'll look back at my 2010 Preseason predictions soon. I whiffed on some (San Francisco, anyone?), nailed others (Cincinnati) and was right in saying no team coached by Wade Phillips or Norv Turner would make it to a Super Bowl.......
Unlike most TV and internet talking heads, who now "re-predict" the post-season, since my original Super Bowl picks are alive, I'm staying with them. It'll be an NFL miracle if they make it, but if they do, the Colts and Packers both will have to win three to get there, and Green Bay will have to do it ALL on the road (Indy gets the Jets at home Saturday night in their Lucas Oil finale.....)
We'll see! In the meantime, check out my new favorite weather site, where the buzz is of a possible southern snowstorm come Tuesday.
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Short Pump Lottery Ticket: $250,000 Ticket Sold in Short Pump, VA - wtvr
No multi-millionaire, but someone in the area is at least $250,000 richer today.
Early Wednesday Random Thoughts.....
Our first two deaths of note for 2011:
1) Gerry Rafferty--I owned several 45s of his music in the late 70s; he was easily one of the most underrated male pop vocalists of that era. One reason? Radio played "Baker Street" to death and ignored other songs that were as good or better (Home and Dry, Get It Right Next Time, Right Down The Line, The Royal Mile....). I suspect some thought all these years he was a one-hit wonder. Only 63. Sad.
2) Hanover County loses a fixture as Gospel Chickenhouse founder Ray Pollard passed away at age 89. I remember it opening in Montpelier in the 1970s and going there as a little boy and all the excitement that little idea on a farm generated then, and continues to do so. Ray may be with the angels, but the ministry, I hope, will keep on rolling (if I may use an egg analogy).
-------------------------
TV, RADIO, INTERNET, et al.......CUT the Christmas commercials. NOW! I'm sick of Lexus and Hyundai specifically. It's January 5th. That "December to Remember"? Only a memory now, guys. Enough is enough.
-------------------------
Congrats to Jason Paige for becoming the new Production Director over at Main Line Broadcasting (The Wolf, Liberty, Big Oldies). Good find. I would have loved to have been offered the position, but alas. One day my ship WILL come in.
-------------------------
Note to ESPN---I am available to fill Ron Franklin's position, and will refuse to call any woman there "sugarcakes" or whatever it was he was stupid enough to say. Good Lord, it's 2011, not 1911!
-------------------------
There MUST be more worry than being let on in public around inner NFL circles about a possible work stoppage in 2011. In any other year, with so many coaches on the grill, would we see this little activity? No. Marvin Lewis? Gone. Gary Kubiak? Probably out. Jack Del Rio? Maybe.
But instead, Minnesota keeps their interim (good move!), Dallas may end up doing the same, Carolina is looking at some OC's and DC's around the league, while Jacksonville, Houston, and, shockingly, Cincinnati are staying put. And the name Bill Cowher is not coming up much at all.
All of this non-action is telling me that things aren't as sure-fire for an eventual deal as this fan would hope.
The NFL has THE BEST thing going in sports today, bar none. No one comes close. For the love of Pete (Rozelle), how could these sides NOT go in and just hammer out an agreement to keep this money machine rolling.
Because if they DO have a work stoppage and even the pre-season is affected, it will affect the NFL. They are playing with so much dynamite it isn't funny. Please, do not add 2011 to 1982 and 1987.
Just ask the NHL what cancelling a season does........
Or baseball canning a World Series in the middle of a hot pennant race......
Enjoy the playoffs, gang. It could be all for awhile.
1) Gerry Rafferty--I owned several 45s of his music in the late 70s; he was easily one of the most underrated male pop vocalists of that era. One reason? Radio played "Baker Street" to death and ignored other songs that were as good or better (Home and Dry, Get It Right Next Time, Right Down The Line, The Royal Mile....). I suspect some thought all these years he was a one-hit wonder. Only 63. Sad.
2) Hanover County loses a fixture as Gospel Chickenhouse founder Ray Pollard passed away at age 89. I remember it opening in Montpelier in the 1970s and going there as a little boy and all the excitement that little idea on a farm generated then, and continues to do so. Ray may be with the angels, but the ministry, I hope, will keep on rolling (if I may use an egg analogy).
-------------------------
TV, RADIO, INTERNET, et al.......CUT the Christmas commercials. NOW! I'm sick of Lexus and Hyundai specifically. It's January 5th. That "December to Remember"? Only a memory now, guys. Enough is enough.
-------------------------
Congrats to Jason Paige for becoming the new Production Director over at Main Line Broadcasting (The Wolf, Liberty, Big Oldies). Good find. I would have loved to have been offered the position, but alas. One day my ship WILL come in.
-------------------------
Note to ESPN---I am available to fill Ron Franklin's position, and will refuse to call any woman there "sugarcakes" or whatever it was he was stupid enough to say. Good Lord, it's 2011, not 1911!
-------------------------
There MUST be more worry than being let on in public around inner NFL circles about a possible work stoppage in 2011. In any other year, with so many coaches on the grill, would we see this little activity? No. Marvin Lewis? Gone. Gary Kubiak? Probably out. Jack Del Rio? Maybe.
But instead, Minnesota keeps their interim (good move!), Dallas may end up doing the same, Carolina is looking at some OC's and DC's around the league, while Jacksonville, Houston, and, shockingly, Cincinnati are staying put. And the name Bill Cowher is not coming up much at all.
All of this non-action is telling me that things aren't as sure-fire for an eventual deal as this fan would hope.
The NFL has THE BEST thing going in sports today, bar none. No one comes close. For the love of Pete (Rozelle), how could these sides NOT go in and just hammer out an agreement to keep this money machine rolling.
Because if they DO have a work stoppage and even the pre-season is affected, it will affect the NFL. They are playing with so much dynamite it isn't funny. Please, do not add 2011 to 1982 and 1987.
Just ask the NHL what cancelling a season does........
Or baseball canning a World Series in the middle of a hot pennant race......
Enjoy the playoffs, gang. It could be all for awhile.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
New Years Day---New Normal
New Years Day ain't what it used to be.
Once upon a time, college football ruled the day.
I know, some of you are thinking I'm nuts, because, what, six games were played today? But only one "mattered", and even that one has no implication on a so-called 'champion'.
New Years Day used to mean the Cotton Bowl on CBS with Lindsey Nelson, the Sugar Bowl on ABC with Keith Jackson, the Rose and Orange Bowl doubleheader on NBC, and the crowning of a 'mythical' National Champion. No BCS. Heck, I remember when the Fiesta Bowl was first moved to New Years Day!
Thus, no meaningless bowl games. Even if the two teams playing in a New Years Day bowl didn't have a chance to be voted number one, you were guaranteed the absolute best teams were playing.
As opposed to today, where Connecticut falls to 8-5 and Penn State 7-6. Texas Tech beats Northwestern. Yawn.
What should have happened today:
--Oregon beats Wisconsin in the traditional Pac-10/Big Ten Rose Bowl matchup.
--Arkansas outlasts Stanford in the Cotton Bowl
--Auburn beats Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl
--TCU upends Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
The AP votes Auburn, the UPI votes Oregon #1. And we all get to talk.
Yeah, yeah, this year we get to "settle it" on the field. But, do we really? TCU is unbeaten and proved today it can hang with "the big boys". No matter who wins in Glendale on 1/10, they won't be the only undefeated team.
And thus, not really "National Champs".
--------------------------------------------------------------
In other thoughts to kick off 2011---
--Long live the NHL Winter Classic! Even with the rain, the game was awesome. Whoever came up with this idea should replace Gary Bettman as Commissioner. Immediately.
--Robbie's room is painted in one night. He, Travis, and later Rachel, get the job done. So, some of Robbie's UPS-made money goes to a room makeover. Red with some black. Carolina Hurricanes? Yu-Gi-Oh?
--New Years Day on a Saturday throws me off. Monday morning is gonna jolt alot of people, I suspect.
--Oh, and it sure didn't feel like New Years Eve/New Years Day. For the first time, last night driving home from Stafford and moving Daniel, Krista and Cora in, it didn't "feel" like NYE.
Bring on week 17 of the NFL! :)
Once upon a time, college football ruled the day.
I know, some of you are thinking I'm nuts, because, what, six games were played today? But only one "mattered", and even that one has no implication on a so-called 'champion'.
New Years Day used to mean the Cotton Bowl on CBS with Lindsey Nelson, the Sugar Bowl on ABC with Keith Jackson, the Rose and Orange Bowl doubleheader on NBC, and the crowning of a 'mythical' National Champion. No BCS. Heck, I remember when the Fiesta Bowl was first moved to New Years Day!
Thus, no meaningless bowl games. Even if the two teams playing in a New Years Day bowl didn't have a chance to be voted number one, you were guaranteed the absolute best teams were playing.
As opposed to today, where Connecticut falls to 8-5 and Penn State 7-6. Texas Tech beats Northwestern. Yawn.
What should have happened today:
--Oregon beats Wisconsin in the traditional Pac-10/Big Ten Rose Bowl matchup.
--Arkansas outlasts Stanford in the Cotton Bowl
--Auburn beats Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl
--TCU upends Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.
The AP votes Auburn, the UPI votes Oregon #1. And we all get to talk.
Yeah, yeah, this year we get to "settle it" on the field. But, do we really? TCU is unbeaten and proved today it can hang with "the big boys". No matter who wins in Glendale on 1/10, they won't be the only undefeated team.
And thus, not really "National Champs".
--------------------------------------------------------------
In other thoughts to kick off 2011---
--Long live the NHL Winter Classic! Even with the rain, the game was awesome. Whoever came up with this idea should replace Gary Bettman as Commissioner. Immediately.
--Robbie's room is painted in one night. He, Travis, and later Rachel, get the job done. So, some of Robbie's UPS-made money goes to a room makeover. Red with some black. Carolina Hurricanes? Yu-Gi-Oh?
--New Years Day on a Saturday throws me off. Monday morning is gonna jolt alot of people, I suspect.
--Oh, and it sure didn't feel like New Years Eve/New Years Day. For the first time, last night driving home from Stafford and moving Daniel, Krista and Cora in, it didn't "feel" like NYE.
Bring on week 17 of the NFL! :)
Monday, December 27, 2010
Ad Watch--Taxes and Bob Barker
I am VERY hard to impress when it comes to creative commercials. I've written and produced so many, heard so many, et al, that it takes a really good one to catch my eye/ear and gain my applause.
I've actually seen two in the past hour watching a meaningless bowl game.
1) H&R Block---great answer to the question, "How do you refresh an age old message of 'let us do your taxes'." Send some Block reps to a public location, invite people to bring their past returns, and they'll see what they might be able to find in $$$ that you shoulda gotten back but didn't. The best part? At the end, having the group together with "real people" coming onstage revealing to all in attendance (at a food court, perhaps?) how much "new" money they have thanks to H&R Block.
Old story, told in an effective new way simply by changing the scenery. It's not the stuffy agent talking to someone you don't care about at a cubicle at one of those temporary H&R Block locations. It's now shown as an event. Great work.
2) State Farm---if singing their jingle really changed your life instantly, I'd leave my current insurance, sign with them, sing the jingle and scream "FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT!" But I digress. The newest spot has a guy opining for the one and only Bob Barker, who, in turn, introduces a new car.
Bob Barker never gets old. BUT, State Farm should note that since I've now seen this spot 3 times in 45 minutes, they should worry quickly about rotation burnout (see "Geico" spots!!).
I've actually seen two in the past hour watching a meaningless bowl game.
1) H&R Block---great answer to the question, "How do you refresh an age old message of 'let us do your taxes'." Send some Block reps to a public location, invite people to bring their past returns, and they'll see what they might be able to find in $$$ that you shoulda gotten back but didn't. The best part? At the end, having the group together with "real people" coming onstage revealing to all in attendance (at a food court, perhaps?) how much "new" money they have thanks to H&R Block.
Old story, told in an effective new way simply by changing the scenery. It's not the stuffy agent talking to someone you don't care about at a cubicle at one of those temporary H&R Block locations. It's now shown as an event. Great work.
2) State Farm---if singing their jingle really changed your life instantly, I'd leave my current insurance, sign with them, sing the jingle and scream "FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT!" But I digress. The newest spot has a guy opining for the one and only Bob Barker, who, in turn, introduces a new car.
Bob Barker never gets old. BUT, State Farm should note that since I've now seen this spot 3 times in 45 minutes, they should worry quickly about rotation burnout (see "Geico" spots!!).
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
My 30 Favorite Beatle Songs--30 Years After John's Passing
I went to sleep that Monday night 30 years ago before Howard Cosell announced the death of John Lennon near the end of Monday Night Football.
I learned the next morning around 6am, when I started hearing Beatle songs on every radio station and wondering why. Then I heard the news.
I was never a Beatle disciple, and certainly didn't care for some of their life choices, but I loved their music. So, the sadness for me that morning was realizing that the hope that the Fab Four would, at some point, reunite for something special, was now dead, too. The Beatles, in the flesh, were history.
So, 30 years removed from that night, how about looking at my 30 favorite Beatle tunes. I like focusing on the music anyway. :)
30) Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
29) Rocky Raccoon
28) Maxwell's Silver Hammer
27) Love Me Do
26) The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
25) When I'm Sixty-Four
24) I Am The Walrus
23) The Night Before
22) Something
21) Please Please Me
20) Paperback Writer
19) Lady Madonna
18) Ticket To Ride
17) Back in The USSR
16) Twist and Shout
15) Eleanor Rigby
14) It Won't Be Long
13) Eight Days A Week
12) Anytime At All
11) I Feel Fine
10) Tell Me Why
9) A Hard Days' Night
8) Got To Get You Into My Life
7) Revolution #9
6) It's Only Love
5) Lovely Rita
4) Drive My Car
3) She Loves You
2) I Wanna Hold Your Hand
1) Hey Jude
I learned the next morning around 6am, when I started hearing Beatle songs on every radio station and wondering why. Then I heard the news.
I was never a Beatle disciple, and certainly didn't care for some of their life choices, but I loved their music. So, the sadness for me that morning was realizing that the hope that the Fab Four would, at some point, reunite for something special, was now dead, too. The Beatles, in the flesh, were history.
So, 30 years removed from that night, how about looking at my 30 favorite Beatle tunes. I like focusing on the music anyway. :)
30) Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite
29) Rocky Raccoon
28) Maxwell's Silver Hammer
27) Love Me Do
26) The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
25) When I'm Sixty-Four
24) I Am The Walrus
23) The Night Before
22) Something
21) Please Please Me
20) Paperback Writer
19) Lady Madonna
18) Ticket To Ride
17) Back in The USSR
16) Twist and Shout
15) Eleanor Rigby
14) It Won't Be Long
13) Eight Days A Week
12) Anytime At All
11) I Feel Fine
10) Tell Me Why
9) A Hard Days' Night
8) Got To Get You Into My Life
7) Revolution #9
6) It's Only Love
5) Lovely Rita
4) Drive My Car
3) She Loves You
2) I Wanna Hold Your Hand
1) Hey Jude
Friday, December 03, 2010
BORING, DEATHLY BORING FRIDAY NIGHT....
So, I sit here in darkness. The girls are at Starbucks visiting a friend before she moves away (what is it about wifey and her BFF's? They all move away eventually.) The boys are dueling, and let's just say "Friday Night at the Yu-Gi-Oh" isn't my cup of tea.
This is my first Friday night at home since September 3rd. I hate it.
This is the worst Friday night of the year. Every year. What Friday, you ask?
The first Friday that I DON'T have a high school football game to cover.
I was TRULY blessed in 2010, in that we had good weather every Friday, so no "Monday makeup" games, plus the radio station where I call the Patrick Henry games was able to put together a package for another county team when they proceeded into the playoffs. That extended my "season" for two weeks, delaying this inevitable night...
....until now.
It's 9:30 and I'm ready for bed. No high school highlights to wait for. The state semifinals are tomorrow afternoon. Robbie's alma mater has to play in Virginia Beach and if I had money, he and I would hit the road to root for the Herm.
But, as I approach the end of my 15th month of unemployment (save these few football games), who's got money?
Alas, all the more reason to go to bed.
This is my first Friday night at home since September 3rd. I hate it.
This is the worst Friday night of the year. Every year. What Friday, you ask?
The first Friday that I DON'T have a high school football game to cover.
I was TRULY blessed in 2010, in that we had good weather every Friday, so no "Monday makeup" games, plus the radio station where I call the Patrick Henry games was able to put together a package for another county team when they proceeded into the playoffs. That extended my "season" for two weeks, delaying this inevitable night...
....until now.
It's 9:30 and I'm ready for bed. No high school highlights to wait for. The state semifinals are tomorrow afternoon. Robbie's alma mater has to play in Virginia Beach and if I had money, he and I would hit the road to root for the Herm.
But, as I approach the end of my 15th month of unemployment (save these few football games), who's got money?
Alas, all the more reason to go to bed.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
NFL's Top 100 Players----Top 10 Revealed Tonight
It's on at 9pm here on the East Coast.
I've figured out nine of the ten:
Jim Brown
Johnny Unitas
Joe Montana
Jerry Rice
Reggie White
Walter Payton
Lawrence Taylor
Dick Butkus
Peyton Manning
....but I can't figure out #10. I thought Sammy Baugh, who came in at #14, deserved to be in the top 10, and not Peyton Manning. Peyton never punted, never intercepted a pass, and only has one title.
I've figured out nine of the ten:
Jim Brown
Johnny Unitas
Joe Montana
Jerry Rice
Reggie White
Walter Payton
Lawrence Taylor
Dick Butkus
Peyton Manning
....but I can't figure out #10. I thought Sammy Baugh, who came in at #14, deserved to be in the top 10, and not Peyton Manning. Peyton never punted, never intercepted a pass, and only has one title.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
LIVE BLOG: Election Night 2010
Alright friends, at 10:50pm, I end live blogging. More tomorrow. :)
10:45pm: CBS reports money advantage to the GOP of $100 million this election cycle, out of around $3.2 billion spent. Sharyl Attkisson admitting, "not as big an advantage as people were saying". I'm telling you, they're smoking weed at the CBS Broadcast Center tonight.....Eric Cantor on CBS in a few, BTW.
10:43pm: MSNBC says nothing from White House tonight. Oh, I'm sure. They've buried their heads in their hands. Tomorrow's 1pm Presser should be very interesting.
10:41pm: US Chamber of Commerce gave $750K to Feingold's opponent in Wisconsin. Oooh....spooky! LOL!!!
10:37pm: Wilder thinks Americans don't mind taxes. He didn't hear the electorate tonight. MSNBC now calls Feingold a loser in Wisconsin, saying it was "close all night", though it is a 15 POINT MARGIN. Wonder if Olby has urinated under the desk yet tonight? Oh, and when a Dem loses tonight, MSNBC always blames "outside money". Robinson says Feingold losing is a "shock". He doesn't listen to the American people, does he?
10:36pm: Doug Wilder on MSNBC admitting he gerrymandered Bobby Scott's Virginia Congressional District 20 years ago. Thanks, Doug!!!
10:32pm: More GOP gains in the House. MD-1, LA-3, PA-7, PA-10, ending Carney's four-year run. My friend Blonde Sagacity must be happy.
10:27pm: Palin vs. Ferraro on Fox News right now. Geraldine calls Pelosi, "smart as hell". Apparently not smart enough to keep her Speakership.
10:23pm: Diane Sawyer wants to know Ed Rendell (D-Pa)'s "feelings" because she heard something in his voice. Oh, God. BTW, will Sawyer be drunk on the air again like she was after the inauguration of her buddy, Barry?
10:17pm: Chris Matthews recalls Obama's 2004 DNC speech when he talked about exceptionalism of America and he wishes he'd go back to that. Chris, he won't do that. Remember, he doesn't believe in it like the typical American does.
10:14pm: Laura Ingraham notes how the China/Free Trade issue being big in 2012, especially since it may have saved Sestak in Pennsylvania. Indeed, China SHOULD be a big issue. We owe them way too much! On an unrelated note, Laura looks like she's got a bad cold. :(
10:11pm: Meanwhile, back to PMSNBC. "People are frustrated with lack of progress. We're not moving our economy fast enough."---Ed Schulz Duh. He doesn't think Tea Partiers know how to create jobs. Oh, and now he bemoans the "corporate contributions" that will be around for 2012. Like Dems can't raise any corporate money. Heard of Harrah's, Schulz??
10:06pm: ABC's Jonathan Karl speculates on Pelosi's future. She stays if the GOP majority is just a few seats. If it's a drubbing? "Virtually everyone I've spoken to says she would go back to California....", i.e.---she'll be gone. Diane Sawyer steps in to defend her.
10:04pm: "It is a big referendum on Barack Obama...."---Katie Couric. Bob Schieffer concurs. "The Administration raised these expectations above the moon."--Bob Schieffer.
10pm: Katie Couric muddles her way through a CBS News update. Stop drinking, Katie! Meanwhile, the returns begin from Nevada. Meanwhile, Donna Brazille leaves CNN for ABC. "This is a woman who fought for America's families,", Brazille says about Nancy Pelosi. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid, Donna.....
9:56pm: "We feel really strong about the ground game there....", DNC Chair Tim Kaine on the Nevada Senate race. Must be talking about the union thugs desperate to get their rank and file on buses at Vegas casinos to vote. Don't know what I'm referring to? Click HERE.
9:51pm: Doug Wilder now on Fox Business. Three GOP pickups in the House in Virginia alone tonight. Wilder: "It is big", commenting on GOP picking up PA Governor slot. Wilder: "If Democrats don't get their act together, they're gonna be some tough times coming about....", as he notes the 2012 Presidential Campaign, correctly, starts tomorrow.....
9:47pm: My thoughts going in were a gain of 62 seats for Repubs in the House, 7 in the Senate, giving us a split Congress. We'll see......
9:40pm: Christine O'Donnell concedes, a moment of glee for MSNBC, as they are talking of how big the margin of victory is. They talk of how her future as a polished TV personality and so she'll end up at Fox News. O'Donnell talks of the losses in the "Palin column". These guys have NO clue. Matthews says the Tea Party will be around in two years. DUH! Eugene Robinson asks, "which Tea Party?" Poor elites, they don't understand anything grassroots.....
9:35pm: Liberals across the nation are peeing in their pants. Marco Rubio giving an incredible speech. 2012, anyone?
9:31pm: Marco Rubio speaks in Florida after winning the US Senate seat. Goodbye Charlie Crist. Wonder if MSNBC's panel will spend time talking about how a Latino-American won tonight.......nah, he's the wrong kind of Latino-American!
9:29pm---Screw MSNBC, turn on CNBC! Spirited discussion on debt, spending and the future! Robert Reich is getting his head handed to him. 48 percent of voters on CNBC's exit polling say repeal health care, and 40 percent disapprove of Obama. Carl Quintana says he and Money Honey's jaws are "on the floor" over those. If they'd been listening to America the past year, they wouldn't be surprised at all.
9:25pm: "We have to talk about the spending, that will take care of the deficit."---CNBC Commentator Michelle Caruso-Cabrera to former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich. He doesn't respond.
9:22pm: "The rebuilding starts tomorrow."--Senator Elect Joe Manchin, West Virginia. Will he tell that to Obama face-to-face?
9:21pm: Ed Schulz throws in a "birther" reference. They're all aghast. I love it! Still waiting for the "news anchors" to take over on that network. Oh, they don't have news anchors? What? Brian Williams too busy with those 90 second updates on NBC when The Biggest Loser isn't on??
9:12pm: MSNBC reaction to Rand Paul....
1) "A rousing, if somewhat boilerplate speech..."---Keith Olbermann
2) They debate the quote Paul used as the mantra for his speech, to make him look stupid, of course.....
3) "If you got him under sodium peninthal...."---Chris Matthews
4) O'Donnell tries to kill Rand Paul on stopping debt by having to raise the debt ceiling, which the liberals created, of course. I love it, Lawrence wants to hold us hostage and MAKE US raise the debt ceiling....."worldwide depression!!", he says.
5) Maddow recalls the '95 government shutdown. Oh, I'd LOVE the government to shut down awhile.
9:11pm: Ut oh, Paul used the term "enslaved". Somehow people will say that means he's racist. Oh, those Tea Party Racists......
9:09pm: "America is exceptional because we embraced freedom."--Senator Elect Rand Paul. Let's hold him accountable, Kentucky!!
9:05pm: MSNBC the last channel to join the Rand Paul victory celebration in Kentucky. I know it so pains them.
8:56pm: Keith Olbermann has to cut off Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) due to time, which is understandable, but the least he could do is LOOK AT THE CAMERA when speaking to her!!!! RUDE!!!!!
8:54pm: Sad. Both Luke Russert AND Michael Steele can't pronounce Rick Boucher's last name correctly.......
8:51pm: MSNBC FINALLY calls Alan Grayson the loser tonight in Florida CD8, saying he was a "scalp sought by the Republicans". Couldn't be that his constituents were tired of his work.....
8:48pm: Good analysis by Campaign Carl Cameron on Fox News as to how Manchin helped himself win the West Virginia Senate seat. Manchin positioned himself as a social/fiscal conservative, meaning he, if he keeps his word, would be voting against Obama policies, because his win tonight is only for two years to finish the Byrd term. He faces the voters again in 2012, this is not a full six-year term victory. If MSNBC'ites are celebrating Manchin's win, they sure are grasping at straws!
8:44pm: MSNBC bemoans the loss of an Obamacare vote and will commiserate by talking to a Union head. Their election night bumper music sounds like they're at a funeral! What, no hopey changey for ya? :)
8:41pm: GOODBYE ALAN GRAYSON! There's a dirty politician that got what he deserved!
8:39pm: Rachel Maddow thinks Dick Blumenthal, who LIED about serving in Vietman, would be a great leader for the Democrats on returning veterans issues. Yeah, first he needs to gain their trust, since they SERVED and he DID NOT.
8:35pm: Burr returns from North Carolina. HURT WINS Virginia District Five! That Obama trip to C'Ville didn't work......
8:32pm: I could watch Shannon Bream read the dictionary. :)
8:25pm: How can Maryland send Barbara Mikulski back to DC? Good Lord.....
8:22pm: Just finished cooking hot dogs. I see O'Donnell loses in Delaware (no surprise) and Rubio wins in Florida (no surprise). Tim Kaine is on CNN now spinning like mad. Think his job is in jeopardy??
Boucher and Periello STILL down. Looking good. :)
7:46pm: MSNBC blames EVIL unknown money from Karl Rove-types for Rand Paul winning. No, couldn't be Obama isn't popular in Kentucky. Again, MSNBC and elite Libs say Americans can be BOUGHT and are STUPID. Keep digging your grave, guys.
7:45pm: Time for hot dogs on the grill. More blogging to come. I'm sure it pains Keith Olbermann to say that Rand Paul won Kentucky. LOVE IT!!!!
7:35pm: Hurt leads Perriello by 15, but only about 12 percent of the precincts in. LONG way to go here. Wonder how many votes Jeff Clark has. A friend of mine just told me on Facebook that he's the "third party" candidate that MSNBC didn't bother to find his name or face but are praying he helps Perriello pull out a win.
7:31pm:
1) Is anyone in Pennsylvania mourning the loss of Arlen Specter's name on today's Senate ballot?
2) Polls now closed in North Carolina and Ohio and West Va. Welcome Rob Portman to the U.S. Senate. We'll be watching you. :)
3) Rick Boucher is behind here trying to hold onto his House seat in Southwest Virginia.....ut oh.
7:24pm----Well, Rand Paul is in the U.S. Senate. MSNBC is hoping third party conservative candidates will derail GOP hopes to take the House, but no one in their graphics department even took the time to find the NAME and FACE of the third party candidate in Virginia District 5. Yet they pray he/she kills Robert Hurt's hopes.
I didn't even know there was a third candidate and TV spots for D5 candidates have been all over the place the past ten days.
The media spin coming up tonight will be monumental, and VERY SAD.
Oh, MSNBC allows "commentators" to anchor election coverage (Olby and Matthews).
Fox News, that EVIL network, does not.
10:45pm: CBS reports money advantage to the GOP of $100 million this election cycle, out of around $3.2 billion spent. Sharyl Attkisson admitting, "not as big an advantage as people were saying". I'm telling you, they're smoking weed at the CBS Broadcast Center tonight.....Eric Cantor on CBS in a few, BTW.
10:43pm: MSNBC says nothing from White House tonight. Oh, I'm sure. They've buried their heads in their hands. Tomorrow's 1pm Presser should be very interesting.
10:41pm: US Chamber of Commerce gave $750K to Feingold's opponent in Wisconsin. Oooh....spooky! LOL!!!
10:37pm: Wilder thinks Americans don't mind taxes. He didn't hear the electorate tonight. MSNBC now calls Feingold a loser in Wisconsin, saying it was "close all night", though it is a 15 POINT MARGIN. Wonder if Olby has urinated under the desk yet tonight? Oh, and when a Dem loses tonight, MSNBC always blames "outside money". Robinson says Feingold losing is a "shock". He doesn't listen to the American people, does he?
10:36pm: Doug Wilder on MSNBC admitting he gerrymandered Bobby Scott's Virginia Congressional District 20 years ago. Thanks, Doug!!!
10:32pm: More GOP gains in the House. MD-1, LA-3, PA-7, PA-10, ending Carney's four-year run. My friend Blonde Sagacity must be happy.
10:27pm: Palin vs. Ferraro on Fox News right now. Geraldine calls Pelosi, "smart as hell". Apparently not smart enough to keep her Speakership.
10:23pm: Diane Sawyer wants to know Ed Rendell (D-Pa)'s "feelings" because she heard something in his voice. Oh, God. BTW, will Sawyer be drunk on the air again like she was after the inauguration of her buddy, Barry?
10:17pm: Chris Matthews recalls Obama's 2004 DNC speech when he talked about exceptionalism of America and he wishes he'd go back to that. Chris, he won't do that. Remember, he doesn't believe in it like the typical American does.
10:14pm: Laura Ingraham notes how the China/Free Trade issue being big in 2012, especially since it may have saved Sestak in Pennsylvania. Indeed, China SHOULD be a big issue. We owe them way too much! On an unrelated note, Laura looks like she's got a bad cold. :(
10:11pm: Meanwhile, back to PMSNBC. "People are frustrated with lack of progress. We're not moving our economy fast enough."---Ed Schulz Duh. He doesn't think Tea Partiers know how to create jobs. Oh, and now he bemoans the "corporate contributions" that will be around for 2012. Like Dems can't raise any corporate money. Heard of Harrah's, Schulz??
10:06pm: ABC's Jonathan Karl speculates on Pelosi's future. She stays if the GOP majority is just a few seats. If it's a drubbing? "Virtually everyone I've spoken to says she would go back to California....", i.e.---she'll be gone. Diane Sawyer steps in to defend her.
10:04pm: "It is a big referendum on Barack Obama...."---Katie Couric. Bob Schieffer concurs. "The Administration raised these expectations above the moon."--Bob Schieffer.
10pm: Katie Couric muddles her way through a CBS News update. Stop drinking, Katie! Meanwhile, the returns begin from Nevada. Meanwhile, Donna Brazille leaves CNN for ABC. "This is a woman who fought for America's families,", Brazille says about Nancy Pelosi. Keep drinking the Kool-Aid, Donna.....
9:56pm: "We feel really strong about the ground game there....", DNC Chair Tim Kaine on the Nevada Senate race. Must be talking about the union thugs desperate to get their rank and file on buses at Vegas casinos to vote. Don't know what I'm referring to? Click HERE.
9:51pm: Doug Wilder now on Fox Business. Three GOP pickups in the House in Virginia alone tonight. Wilder: "It is big", commenting on GOP picking up PA Governor slot. Wilder: "If Democrats don't get their act together, they're gonna be some tough times coming about....", as he notes the 2012 Presidential Campaign, correctly, starts tomorrow.....
9:47pm: My thoughts going in were a gain of 62 seats for Repubs in the House, 7 in the Senate, giving us a split Congress. We'll see......
9:40pm: Christine O'Donnell concedes, a moment of glee for MSNBC, as they are talking of how big the margin of victory is. They talk of how her future as a polished TV personality and so she'll end up at Fox News. O'Donnell talks of the losses in the "Palin column". These guys have NO clue. Matthews says the Tea Party will be around in two years. DUH! Eugene Robinson asks, "which Tea Party?" Poor elites, they don't understand anything grassroots.....
9:35pm: Liberals across the nation are peeing in their pants. Marco Rubio giving an incredible speech. 2012, anyone?
9:31pm: Marco Rubio speaks in Florida after winning the US Senate seat. Goodbye Charlie Crist. Wonder if MSNBC's panel will spend time talking about how a Latino-American won tonight.......nah, he's the wrong kind of Latino-American!
9:29pm---Screw MSNBC, turn on CNBC! Spirited discussion on debt, spending and the future! Robert Reich is getting his head handed to him. 48 percent of voters on CNBC's exit polling say repeal health care, and 40 percent disapprove of Obama. Carl Quintana says he and Money Honey's jaws are "on the floor" over those. If they'd been listening to America the past year, they wouldn't be surprised at all.
9:25pm: "We have to talk about the spending, that will take care of the deficit."---CNBC Commentator Michelle Caruso-Cabrera to former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich. He doesn't respond.
9:22pm: "The rebuilding starts tomorrow."--Senator Elect Joe Manchin, West Virginia. Will he tell that to Obama face-to-face?
9:21pm: Ed Schulz throws in a "birther" reference. They're all aghast. I love it! Still waiting for the "news anchors" to take over on that network. Oh, they don't have news anchors? What? Brian Williams too busy with those 90 second updates on NBC when The Biggest Loser isn't on??
9:12pm: MSNBC reaction to Rand Paul....
1) "A rousing, if somewhat boilerplate speech..."---Keith Olbermann
2) They debate the quote Paul used as the mantra for his speech, to make him look stupid, of course.....
3) "If you got him under sodium peninthal...."---Chris Matthews
4) O'Donnell tries to kill Rand Paul on stopping debt by having to raise the debt ceiling, which the liberals created, of course. I love it, Lawrence wants to hold us hostage and MAKE US raise the debt ceiling....."worldwide depression!!", he says.
5) Maddow recalls the '95 government shutdown. Oh, I'd LOVE the government to shut down awhile.
9:11pm: Ut oh, Paul used the term "enslaved". Somehow people will say that means he's racist. Oh, those Tea Party Racists......
9:09pm: "America is exceptional because we embraced freedom."--Senator Elect Rand Paul. Let's hold him accountable, Kentucky!!
9:05pm: MSNBC the last channel to join the Rand Paul victory celebration in Kentucky. I know it so pains them.
8:56pm: Keith Olbermann has to cut off Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) due to time, which is understandable, but the least he could do is LOOK AT THE CAMERA when speaking to her!!!! RUDE!!!!!
8:54pm: Sad. Both Luke Russert AND Michael Steele can't pronounce Rick Boucher's last name correctly.......
8:51pm: MSNBC FINALLY calls Alan Grayson the loser tonight in Florida CD8, saying he was a "scalp sought by the Republicans". Couldn't be that his constituents were tired of his work.....
8:48pm: Good analysis by Campaign Carl Cameron on Fox News as to how Manchin helped himself win the West Virginia Senate seat. Manchin positioned himself as a social/fiscal conservative, meaning he, if he keeps his word, would be voting against Obama policies, because his win tonight is only for two years to finish the Byrd term. He faces the voters again in 2012, this is not a full six-year term victory. If MSNBC'ites are celebrating Manchin's win, they sure are grasping at straws!
8:44pm: MSNBC bemoans the loss of an Obamacare vote and will commiserate by talking to a Union head. Their election night bumper music sounds like they're at a funeral! What, no hopey changey for ya? :)
8:41pm: GOODBYE ALAN GRAYSON! There's a dirty politician that got what he deserved!
8:39pm: Rachel Maddow thinks Dick Blumenthal, who LIED about serving in Vietman, would be a great leader for the Democrats on returning veterans issues. Yeah, first he needs to gain their trust, since they SERVED and he DID NOT.
8:35pm: Burr returns from North Carolina. HURT WINS Virginia District Five! That Obama trip to C'Ville didn't work......
8:32pm: I could watch Shannon Bream read the dictionary. :)
8:25pm: How can Maryland send Barbara Mikulski back to DC? Good Lord.....
8:22pm: Just finished cooking hot dogs. I see O'Donnell loses in Delaware (no surprise) and Rubio wins in Florida (no surprise). Tim Kaine is on CNN now spinning like mad. Think his job is in jeopardy??
Boucher and Periello STILL down. Looking good. :)
7:46pm: MSNBC blames EVIL unknown money from Karl Rove-types for Rand Paul winning. No, couldn't be Obama isn't popular in Kentucky. Again, MSNBC and elite Libs say Americans can be BOUGHT and are STUPID. Keep digging your grave, guys.
7:45pm: Time for hot dogs on the grill. More blogging to come. I'm sure it pains Keith Olbermann to say that Rand Paul won Kentucky. LOVE IT!!!!
7:35pm: Hurt leads Perriello by 15, but only about 12 percent of the precincts in. LONG way to go here. Wonder how many votes Jeff Clark has. A friend of mine just told me on Facebook that he's the "third party" candidate that MSNBC didn't bother to find his name or face but are praying he helps Perriello pull out a win.
7:31pm:
1) Is anyone in Pennsylvania mourning the loss of Arlen Specter's name on today's Senate ballot?
2) Polls now closed in North Carolina and Ohio and West Va. Welcome Rob Portman to the U.S. Senate. We'll be watching you. :)
3) Rick Boucher is behind here trying to hold onto his House seat in Southwest Virginia.....ut oh.
7:24pm----Well, Rand Paul is in the U.S. Senate. MSNBC is hoping third party conservative candidates will derail GOP hopes to take the House, but no one in their graphics department even took the time to find the NAME and FACE of the third party candidate in Virginia District 5. Yet they pray he/she kills Robert Hurt's hopes.
I didn't even know there was a third candidate and TV spots for D5 candidates have been all over the place the past ten days.
The media spin coming up tonight will be monumental, and VERY SAD.
Oh, MSNBC allows "commentators" to anchor election coverage (Olby and Matthews).
Fox News, that EVIL network, does not.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
LIVE Blogging: TNA--Before The Glory
9:00pm---Already off to a horrible start, as Abyss "kidnaps" Dixie Carter. Ugh, ugh, and double ugh. He should be fired now that he's the equivalent of "going postal".
And I had such high hopes for the show tonight........
9:04pm---Oh, boy. Eric Bischoff. There's some muscle. Think Eric and Abyss are in cahoots?
9:06pm---Wolfpac, with the Pope playing the role of Konnan. Welcome back to Thunder!
9:13pm---Konnan, er, ah, Pope faces off with Bischoff. Lots of talk about nothing.
9:18pm---Hogan's 8th back surgery. Bischoff offers himself as a sacrificial lamb. This whole Hogan back surgery, Twittering updates.....fishy. Or maybe I've seen one too many wrestling angles.
9:19pm---MICKIE'S BACK!!!!! About time!!
9:26pm---Nice package on the title match. TNA's strongest production element is their backstage work. Looks investigative, rather than staged WWE backstage dialogue.
9:27pm---I was about to tell you to count the fake blondes, but one just showed up in true colors! LOL-----
9:30pm---Miss Hancock....er, ah, Alexandra York....no, no....Miss Tessmacher is watching with a clipboard. So 1989.
9:34pm---Nice to see Mickie back. Hail Patrick Henry hail! :)
9:43pm---Gonna fire Abyss, eh? Well, if I were the boss, I would.
9:43pm---Here comes my favorite wrestler, 10 years removed from when he should have retired! Flair/Foley would have been money......a LONG time ago.
9:47pm---Crimson mask alert! Crimson mask alert! Foley better not go after Dixie with that bat, he'll be fired, too.
9:51pm---Is it possible Flair will bleed out by the time we get back from break?
9:52pm---Hitting Foley with a book. Hilarious!
9:53pm---"For those not familiar with office supplies, those are thumbtacks."--Thank you, Taz!!
9:54pm---How convenient. I mean, I always make sure there's a board of barbed wire near me wherever I go.
9:56pm---Oh, and let's not forget to have a table around, just in case. I'd really be impressed if someone pulled a blender or microwave from underneath the ring, just for variety's sake.....
9:58pm---Wait! Flair's top rope move NEVER works. Look at those boots. I'm glad it's over. Getting too nasty for me.
10:01pm---Please, we can skip the kissing part. UGH!
10:06pm---Wait. In weeks past, they handled office gripes in private. Why not fire Abyss backstage? Will they give him a "future endeavors" box to carry Janice in? I bet he blew severance after kidnapping the boss.....
10:12pm---RVD pleads for Abyss' job? Well how ironic is that?
10:13pm---Ooops, cut off Bischoff live to go to Philly. So far, only noticeable glitch of the night.
10:18pm---Oh no, an Orlando Jordan sighting. Ugh. I bet this quarter hour is the lowest rated of the night. We'll find out in a couple of days and this site will post. Best wrestling news site around.
10:26pm---I am officially lost. Eric Young is nuts.
10:27pm---"Home of the Lethals"? How would you like to move into your new home, and, upon answering the door, someone is on your porch with a Bundt cake saying, "Hi! We're your neighbors, The Deadlies. Welcome to the neighborhood!" :)
10:32pm---Burger King commercials only get worse. No wonder they have problems....
10:33pm---Aw....Dixie trusts RVD. Who's turning?
10:34pm---Oh, dear. The Shore? Hey wait! My son is Robbie!!! HE deserves that name when HE makes TNA! I'm officially throwing a fit..... :)
10:37pm---The clicking noise you hear outside is 300,000 households leaving TNA for another channel.
10:40pm---Another good film package promoting the PPV.
10:41pm---Will the ring intros for the battle royal last longer than the battle royal itself?
10:43pm---Oh, gauntlet style. My bad. :)
10:45pm---Commercial break during an intro during a gauntlet event. Bad move. Should have treated this commercial-free. Makes it a bigger deal, now it feels like any other main event, even with the money on the line. It's the little things, folks!
10:49pm---Jeff Jarrett arrives to the sounds of crickets.....
10:53pm---Wait? ANOTHER break????
10:58pm---And Kevin Nash has walked...SLOWLY...to the ring.
11:02pm---Do you blame Abyss? He's fighting for his last paycheck.
11:03pm---I hope Rhino isn't paid by the hour......
11:04pm---Can someone remind Samoa Joe to NOT come off the ropes running full steam?
11:07pm---Abyss has a future as a bouncer.
11:07pm---That was a LONG 45 second interval between the last wrestler and RVD. Someone's Timex backstage quit ticking.....
11:08pm---Can someone remind RVD to NOT come off the ropes running full steam? And did Abyss mess up that spot?
11:09pm---Kurt wins $100K. $33K to the government, probably $15K to Karen.
FINAL SCORE: 6.5 out of 10.
BEST?---
1) Mickie James is back!
2) Flair/Foley was better than I thought it would be.
3) Film production setting up angles and PPV.
WORST?---
1) Kidnapping a woman.
2) The continued misuse of Samoa Joe.
3) Any TV time devoted to Orlando Jordan.
FINAL THOUGHT: That thing that Dixie signed was not what Eric said it was. It was probably a form giving Eric full control of TNA, setting up Dixie for her to get duped by "them".
Thank you, and good night. :)
And I had such high hopes for the show tonight........
9:04pm---Oh, boy. Eric Bischoff. There's some muscle. Think Eric and Abyss are in cahoots?
9:06pm---Wolfpac, with the Pope playing the role of Konnan. Welcome back to Thunder!
9:13pm---Konnan, er, ah, Pope faces off with Bischoff. Lots of talk about nothing.
9:18pm---Hogan's 8th back surgery. Bischoff offers himself as a sacrificial lamb. This whole Hogan back surgery, Twittering updates.....fishy. Or maybe I've seen one too many wrestling angles.
9:19pm---MICKIE'S BACK!!!!! About time!!
9:26pm---Nice package on the title match. TNA's strongest production element is their backstage work. Looks investigative, rather than staged WWE backstage dialogue.
9:27pm---I was about to tell you to count the fake blondes, but one just showed up in true colors! LOL-----
9:30pm---Miss Hancock....er, ah, Alexandra York....no, no....Miss Tessmacher is watching with a clipboard. So 1989.
9:34pm---Nice to see Mickie back. Hail Patrick Henry hail! :)
9:43pm---Gonna fire Abyss, eh? Well, if I were the boss, I would.
9:43pm---Here comes my favorite wrestler, 10 years removed from when he should have retired! Flair/Foley would have been money......a LONG time ago.
9:47pm---Crimson mask alert! Crimson mask alert! Foley better not go after Dixie with that bat, he'll be fired, too.
9:51pm---Is it possible Flair will bleed out by the time we get back from break?
9:52pm---Hitting Foley with a book. Hilarious!
9:53pm---"For those not familiar with office supplies, those are thumbtacks."--Thank you, Taz!!
9:54pm---How convenient. I mean, I always make sure there's a board of barbed wire near me wherever I go.
9:56pm---Oh, and let's not forget to have a table around, just in case. I'd really be impressed if someone pulled a blender or microwave from underneath the ring, just for variety's sake.....
9:58pm---Wait! Flair's top rope move NEVER works. Look at those boots. I'm glad it's over. Getting too nasty for me.
10:01pm---Please, we can skip the kissing part. UGH!
10:06pm---Wait. In weeks past, they handled office gripes in private. Why not fire Abyss backstage? Will they give him a "future endeavors" box to carry Janice in? I bet he blew severance after kidnapping the boss.....
10:12pm---RVD pleads for Abyss' job? Well how ironic is that?
10:13pm---Ooops, cut off Bischoff live to go to Philly. So far, only noticeable glitch of the night.
10:18pm---Oh no, an Orlando Jordan sighting. Ugh. I bet this quarter hour is the lowest rated of the night. We'll find out in a couple of days and this site will post. Best wrestling news site around.
10:26pm---I am officially lost. Eric Young is nuts.
10:27pm---"Home of the Lethals"? How would you like to move into your new home, and, upon answering the door, someone is on your porch with a Bundt cake saying, "Hi! We're your neighbors, The Deadlies. Welcome to the neighborhood!" :)
10:32pm---Burger King commercials only get worse. No wonder they have problems....
10:33pm---Aw....Dixie trusts RVD. Who's turning?
10:34pm---Oh, dear. The Shore? Hey wait! My son is Robbie!!! HE deserves that name when HE makes TNA! I'm officially throwing a fit..... :)
10:37pm---The clicking noise you hear outside is 300,000 households leaving TNA for another channel.
10:40pm---Another good film package promoting the PPV.
10:41pm---Will the ring intros for the battle royal last longer than the battle royal itself?
10:43pm---Oh, gauntlet style. My bad. :)
10:45pm---Commercial break during an intro during a gauntlet event. Bad move. Should have treated this commercial-free. Makes it a bigger deal, now it feels like any other main event, even with the money on the line. It's the little things, folks!
10:49pm---Jeff Jarrett arrives to the sounds of crickets.....
10:53pm---Wait? ANOTHER break????
10:58pm---And Kevin Nash has walked...SLOWLY...to the ring.
11:02pm---Do you blame Abyss? He's fighting for his last paycheck.
11:03pm---I hope Rhino isn't paid by the hour......
11:04pm---Can someone remind Samoa Joe to NOT come off the ropes running full steam?
11:07pm---Abyss has a future as a bouncer.
11:07pm---That was a LONG 45 second interval between the last wrestler and RVD. Someone's Timex backstage quit ticking.....
11:08pm---Can someone remind RVD to NOT come off the ropes running full steam? And did Abyss mess up that spot?
11:09pm---Kurt wins $100K. $33K to the government, probably $15K to Karen.
FINAL SCORE: 6.5 out of 10.
BEST?---
1) Mickie James is back!
2) Flair/Foley was better than I thought it would be.
3) Film production setting up angles and PPV.
WORST?---
1) Kidnapping a woman.
2) The continued misuse of Samoa Joe.
3) Any TV time devoted to Orlando Jordan.
FINAL THOUGHT: That thing that Dixie signed was not what Eric said it was. It was probably a form giving Eric full control of TNA, setting up Dixie for her to get duped by "them".
Thank you, and good night. :)
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Thursday, September 09, 2010
Rob's Fearless 2010 NFL Predictions
Everybody else does 'em..........so why not? :)
You'll see predicted order of finish for each division, wild card choices, Conference Championship Game picks, and my fearless (probably way off) Super Bowl XLV prediction at the end. You can't stand the suspense, can you? :)
-------------------------------------------------------------
NFC East
1) Dallas Cowboys
2) New York Giants
3) Philadelphia Eagles
4) Washington Redskins
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers
2) Minnesota Vikings
3) Detroit Lions
4) Chicago Bears
NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints
2) Atlanta Falcons
3) Carolina Panthers
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West
1) San Francisco 49ers
2) Arizona Cardinals
3) Seattle Seahawks
4) St. Louis Rams
DIVISION CHAMPS: Dallas, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco
WILD CARDS: Atlanta, Minnesota
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Green Bay over Atlanta
------------------------------------------------------------
AFC EAST:
1) New England Patriots
2) New York Jets
3) Miami Dolphins
4) Buffalo Bills
AFC NORTH:
1) Baltimore Ravens
2) Pittsburgh Steelers
3) Cleveland Browns
4) Cincinnati Bengals
AFC SOUTH:
1) Indianapolis Colts
2) Tennessee Titans
3) Houston Texans
4) Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC WEST:
1) San Diego Chargers
2) Kansas City Chiefs
3) Denver Broncos
4) Oakland Raiders
DIVISION CHAMPS: New England, Baltimore, Indianapolis, San Diego
WILD CARDS: Tennessee, Houston
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Indianapolis over Baltimore
SUPER BOWL XLV: Indianapolis over Green Bay
NOTES:
---I have been on the Green Bay bandwagon for a Super Bowl Champ pick until tonight. I heard someone on TV (that's dangerous) talk about Peyton Manning having a bad taste in his mouth after the Saints' loss. With Bob Sanders and Anthony Gonzalez returning, a DEEP receiving corp, Donald Brown emerging in the run game, and Freeney sacking QB's, I can now see Peyton making this a season of redemption for that team. I wouldn't want to be in their way. Thus, my last minute migration to the Colts in a rematch of that wild preseason shootout, won, ironically, by Green Bay.
QUICK THOUGHTS ON EACH TEAM:
DALLAS: They're talented, but Wade Phillips is their coach. That means a playoff appearance and exit.
NEW YORK GIANTS: What happened to their defense? And their running game? I only picked them 2nd in the division because.....
PHILADELPHIA: Kevin Kolb jerseys won't be flying off the shelves as Christmas presents this year. Can Mike Bell and LeShon McCoy save him? Doubt it. And Vick isn't the answer, either.
WASHINGTON: Lucky to get five wins. Shanahan is in for a LONG year. McNabb will probably miss 7 or 8 games due to injury. Another lost season in DC.
GREEN BAY: See paragraph on Super Bowl.
MINNESOTA: It's possible Brett Favre won't even throw a TD pass to Sidney Rice this season. By the time Rice gets back from injury, Favre may be on the shelf. He won't last 17 weeks. BTW, I'm really rooting for Toby Gearhart to do well, I really liked his power running style at Stanford last season.
DETROIT: If they were in the NFC West, they'd challenge for the division crown. Jahvid Best is a stud, and Stafford takes the next step.
CHICAGO: Who does Cutler throw it to, when he's not throwing it to the other team? Knox? Hester? Not impressed. This may be Lovie's swansong, which sucks because I admire him.....alot. He can come to Oakland after we fire Cable. :)
NEW ORLEANS: Offense keeps clicking, but defense won't be the same without Darren Sharper. And they better not lose Brees. Can you name their #2 QB?
ATLANTA: My comeback pick for 2010. Healthy Turner and Ryan to go with White, Gonzalez, et al, and I think they'll do very well. Of course, I picked Atlanta to play Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIV....shows what I know. :)
CAROLINA: Matt Moore. My jury is out. RB's keep getting hurt, and I'm ticked they didn't keep Josh Vaughn (Hermitage, U of R).
TAMPA BAY: Quick---name their wideouts.
SAN FRANCISCO: I LOVE Mike Singletary. Alex Smith? It's time for him to put up or shut up. A healthy season out of Frank Gore will do wonders.
ARIZONA: Good move cutting Leinart. Bad news? You're left with Derek Anderson. I may regret picking Larry Fitzgerald for one of my fantasy teams.....
SEATTLE: They only finish third because.....
ST. LOUIS: With the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.......
NEW ENGLAND: If Randy Moss pulls an Oakland on them, they'll be fine with Welker and Edelman. Defense is young.....but I think that's a positive.
NEW YORK JETS: MOST, MOST, MOST overrated team of 2010. The Colts try to win their regular season game and the Jets aren't even in the playoffs. They jettison leaders like Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Alan Faneca, give Revis the preseason off basically, and Rex Ryan can't shut up. 9-7 tops, 8-8 more likely.
MIAMI: I can't get fired up over Chad Henne. If he does better than I think he will, this team might finish 2nd instead of the Jets, but neither make the playoffs.
BUFFALO: Edwards can throw the deep ball. C.J. Spiller is a stud. But who's blocking?
BALTIMORE: My alternate AFC Super Bowl choice. Flacco has so many weapons now. Imagine the Ravens DEFENSE being the question mark......wow.
PITTSBURGH: They survive September, get Ben back, and still miss the playoffs. They will be a tough win for anyone who does get the "W" over them. Love Mike Tomlin.
CLEVELAND: Delhomme has a one-year resurgence, and Josh Cribbs runs up and down every field he can find. But it's only enough for six wins.
CINCINNATI: One word---MELTDOWN. Second most overrated team of the year. T.O. and Chad won't survive the season together, and Cedric Benson? Well, I'll believe him when I see him duplicate '09. Prediction: Marvin Lewis is out after lackluster, super-disappointing season.
INDIANAPOLIS: See Super Bowl paragraph......
TENNESSEE: Watch out. I really think Vince Young is ready and Kenny Britt is going to explode onto the scene this year. This is a gut call, but I trust Jeff Fisher. He wouldn't have placed so much hope in Young if he didn't know a payoff was coming.
HOUSTON: Will battle Tennessee for 2nd in the division, but both teams make the playoffs by winning their NFC matchups and games outside the division.
JACKSONVILLE: Sorry, Jack. Jones-Drew can't do it all; they go 0-6 in the division.
SAN DIEGO: They win the division by default. Norv Turner is their coach, which guarantees a playoff exit (See: Dallas and Wade Phillips above).
KANSAS CITY: Jamaal Charles gets help from Thomas Jones, takes some pressure off Matt Cassell, and their running game helps turn the franchise around to a seven-win season.
DENVER: Calling Tim Tebow. How about the resurrection of John Elway? It's gonna get ugly in the Rockies.
OAKLAND: Boy, I really want my boys to improve, but, even with Jason Campbell at QB, the wideouts are STILL Murphy and Heyward-Bey and Darren McFadden is still in uniform. McClain looks good, and at least Russell and Fargas are gone. Still another 10 plus loss season, though.
So, what do YOU think? :)
You'll see predicted order of finish for each division, wild card choices, Conference Championship Game picks, and my fearless (probably way off) Super Bowl XLV prediction at the end. You can't stand the suspense, can you? :)
-------------------------------------------------------------
NFC East
1) Dallas Cowboys
2) New York Giants
3) Philadelphia Eagles
4) Washington Redskins
NFC North
1) Green Bay Packers
2) Minnesota Vikings
3) Detroit Lions
4) Chicago Bears
NFC South
1) New Orleans Saints
2) Atlanta Falcons
3) Carolina Panthers
4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West
1) San Francisco 49ers
2) Arizona Cardinals
3) Seattle Seahawks
4) St. Louis Rams
DIVISION CHAMPS: Dallas, Green Bay, New Orleans, San Francisco
WILD CARDS: Atlanta, Minnesota
NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Green Bay over Atlanta
------------------------------------------------------------
AFC EAST:
1) New England Patriots
2) New York Jets
3) Miami Dolphins
4) Buffalo Bills
AFC NORTH:
1) Baltimore Ravens
2) Pittsburgh Steelers
3) Cleveland Browns
4) Cincinnati Bengals
AFC SOUTH:
1) Indianapolis Colts
2) Tennessee Titans
3) Houston Texans
4) Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC WEST:
1) San Diego Chargers
2) Kansas City Chiefs
3) Denver Broncos
4) Oakland Raiders
DIVISION CHAMPS: New England, Baltimore, Indianapolis, San Diego
WILD CARDS: Tennessee, Houston
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Indianapolis over Baltimore
SUPER BOWL XLV: Indianapolis over Green Bay
NOTES:
---I have been on the Green Bay bandwagon for a Super Bowl Champ pick until tonight. I heard someone on TV (that's dangerous) talk about Peyton Manning having a bad taste in his mouth after the Saints' loss. With Bob Sanders and Anthony Gonzalez returning, a DEEP receiving corp, Donald Brown emerging in the run game, and Freeney sacking QB's, I can now see Peyton making this a season of redemption for that team. I wouldn't want to be in their way. Thus, my last minute migration to the Colts in a rematch of that wild preseason shootout, won, ironically, by Green Bay.
QUICK THOUGHTS ON EACH TEAM:
DALLAS: They're talented, but Wade Phillips is their coach. That means a playoff appearance and exit.
NEW YORK GIANTS: What happened to their defense? And their running game? I only picked them 2nd in the division because.....
PHILADELPHIA: Kevin Kolb jerseys won't be flying off the shelves as Christmas presents this year. Can Mike Bell and LeShon McCoy save him? Doubt it. And Vick isn't the answer, either.
WASHINGTON: Lucky to get five wins. Shanahan is in for a LONG year. McNabb will probably miss 7 or 8 games due to injury. Another lost season in DC.
GREEN BAY: See paragraph on Super Bowl.
MINNESOTA: It's possible Brett Favre won't even throw a TD pass to Sidney Rice this season. By the time Rice gets back from injury, Favre may be on the shelf. He won't last 17 weeks. BTW, I'm really rooting for Toby Gearhart to do well, I really liked his power running style at Stanford last season.
DETROIT: If they were in the NFC West, they'd challenge for the division crown. Jahvid Best is a stud, and Stafford takes the next step.
CHICAGO: Who does Cutler throw it to, when he's not throwing it to the other team? Knox? Hester? Not impressed. This may be Lovie's swansong, which sucks because I admire him.....alot. He can come to Oakland after we fire Cable. :)
NEW ORLEANS: Offense keeps clicking, but defense won't be the same without Darren Sharper. And they better not lose Brees. Can you name their #2 QB?
ATLANTA: My comeback pick for 2010. Healthy Turner and Ryan to go with White, Gonzalez, et al, and I think they'll do very well. Of course, I picked Atlanta to play Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIV....shows what I know. :)
CAROLINA: Matt Moore. My jury is out. RB's keep getting hurt, and I'm ticked they didn't keep Josh Vaughn (Hermitage, U of R).
TAMPA BAY: Quick---name their wideouts.
SAN FRANCISCO: I LOVE Mike Singletary. Alex Smith? It's time for him to put up or shut up. A healthy season out of Frank Gore will do wonders.
ARIZONA: Good move cutting Leinart. Bad news? You're left with Derek Anderson. I may regret picking Larry Fitzgerald for one of my fantasy teams.....
SEATTLE: They only finish third because.....
ST. LOUIS: With the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.......
NEW ENGLAND: If Randy Moss pulls an Oakland on them, they'll be fine with Welker and Edelman. Defense is young.....but I think that's a positive.
NEW YORK JETS: MOST, MOST, MOST overrated team of 2010. The Colts try to win their regular season game and the Jets aren't even in the playoffs. They jettison leaders like Thomas Jones, Leon Washington, and Alan Faneca, give Revis the preseason off basically, and Rex Ryan can't shut up. 9-7 tops, 8-8 more likely.
MIAMI: I can't get fired up over Chad Henne. If he does better than I think he will, this team might finish 2nd instead of the Jets, but neither make the playoffs.
BUFFALO: Edwards can throw the deep ball. C.J. Spiller is a stud. But who's blocking?
BALTIMORE: My alternate AFC Super Bowl choice. Flacco has so many weapons now. Imagine the Ravens DEFENSE being the question mark......wow.
PITTSBURGH: They survive September, get Ben back, and still miss the playoffs. They will be a tough win for anyone who does get the "W" over them. Love Mike Tomlin.
CLEVELAND: Delhomme has a one-year resurgence, and Josh Cribbs runs up and down every field he can find. But it's only enough for six wins.
CINCINNATI: One word---MELTDOWN. Second most overrated team of the year. T.O. and Chad won't survive the season together, and Cedric Benson? Well, I'll believe him when I see him duplicate '09. Prediction: Marvin Lewis is out after lackluster, super-disappointing season.
INDIANAPOLIS: See Super Bowl paragraph......
TENNESSEE: Watch out. I really think Vince Young is ready and Kenny Britt is going to explode onto the scene this year. This is a gut call, but I trust Jeff Fisher. He wouldn't have placed so much hope in Young if he didn't know a payoff was coming.
HOUSTON: Will battle Tennessee for 2nd in the division, but both teams make the playoffs by winning their NFC matchups and games outside the division.
JACKSONVILLE: Sorry, Jack. Jones-Drew can't do it all; they go 0-6 in the division.
SAN DIEGO: They win the division by default. Norv Turner is their coach, which guarantees a playoff exit (See: Dallas and Wade Phillips above).
KANSAS CITY: Jamaal Charles gets help from Thomas Jones, takes some pressure off Matt Cassell, and their running game helps turn the franchise around to a seven-win season.
DENVER: Calling Tim Tebow. How about the resurrection of John Elway? It's gonna get ugly in the Rockies.
OAKLAND: Boy, I really want my boys to improve, but, even with Jason Campbell at QB, the wideouts are STILL Murphy and Heyward-Bey and Darren McFadden is still in uniform. McClain looks good, and at least Russell and Fargas are gone. Still another 10 plus loss season, though.
So, what do YOU think? :)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Terry Sisisky: 1952-2010
Long live the T-Man. He will be missed greatly. Read my thoughts on Terry's impact at my Patrick Henry Sports website here.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Monday, June 07, 2010
BREAKING--CCM Pioneer Dana Key Passes at 56
Dana Key, one half of the legendary CCM duo DeGarmo & Key, has passed away at the young age of 56 due to complications from a blood clot.
No other details are available at this time. Please keep Dana's family in your prayers. Praise the Lord for the incredible music legacy he left, both with Eddie and as a solo artist.
No other details are available at this time. Please keep Dana's family in your prayers. Praise the Lord for the incredible music legacy he left, both with Eddie and as a solo artist.
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
So It Stormed In Chicago Today........
Hmmmm......
A wide open opportunity here to wonder out loud if the Almighty really wasn't interested in what President Obama had to say on Memorial Day, so he sent an "interruption" to Chicagoland today......
Talk amongst yourselves......
A wide open opportunity here to wonder out loud if the Almighty really wasn't interested in what President Obama had to say on Memorial Day, so he sent an "interruption" to Chicagoland today......
Talk amongst yourselves......
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