Friday, March 28, 2008

Friday 5, Opening Day, Fantasy Baseball

Opening Day is 3 days away, and I am getting psyched. I really hope the weather is semi-cooperative with the game, because last years snow out, although fun, was a little bit of a downer because I was totally looking forward to watching a full baseball game, and not freezing my ass off. This year it's looking like 40 degree temps, and a chance of rain. I can deal with the 40 degree temps, rain would suck hard though.



Speaking of baseball which will probably be 90% of this post and this blog for the next 6 months, Craiggers and I drafted a pretty solid team last night on CBS Sportsline. I will be serving as Craig's assistant GM, which is a cool way to run a fantasy team because being the HNIC in fantasy baseball gets tough especially with drafting, trade requests, and working the waiver wire. All and all I think the Cleveland Sports Curse Team has a helluva chance of winning the entire league...Plus we drafted Kevin Kouzmanoff, so there is no way we can be beat!



There is a sweet article in ESPN the Magazine on CC Sabathia, I realize he is probably headed out of Cleveland, but it is hard to read this article and not like the guy. Just like it was hard not to like Jim Thome before he left, and just like it was hard not to like Manny Ramirez before he left. Basically what I am saying is CC's grace period with me will only last while he's wearing the red, white, and blue of the Tribe...go elsewhere and feel my wrath Carsten!



Now without further discussions on players who rue the day they ever messed with me...I give you my Friday 5.

1. Opening Day in Cleveland



2. Ninja Gaiden "Dragon Sword" for Nintendo DS.



3. The Ultimate Fighter Team Rampage Vs. Team Griffin April 2nd



4. Arizona Diet Iced Green Tea with Ginseng



5. Sumo Boy's King Spider Roll


Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Wicked Awesome Hat Wednesday

This weeks Wicked Awesome Hat is from Major League Baseball in the late 70's an era where Reggie Jackson wore killer sweet brown sunglasses, Oscar Gamble's afro reigned supreme, most players were on cocaine, greenies, or completely liquored up, and they even experimented with a neon orange baseball. Despite all of this chicanery the Seattle Mariners came out with an awesome hat with a simple down turned trident that forms an M. I love this hat because it is simple, but at the same time screams I am a long shoremen looking for VENGEANCE! If you rock this hat with yellow hip waders on, with a flannel underneath, and throw in an eye patch for good measure people will not mess with you.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Weekend Wrap Up

My wife and I got to check out No Country for Old Men this weekend and were pretty blown away. If you haven't seen the movie I would definitley recommend it. If for nothing else than to help explain the last 10 minutes to me. Seriously though this movie didn't pussy foot around, you were basically dropped right in the middle of a completely effed up situation between a bunch of eccentric characters. I was also very impressed with Travis Hafner's acting ability as he turned in an Oscar caliber performance as Anton Chigurh.



My NCAA brackets are still semi-intact which I feel pretty good about, especially with the rash of upsets this year. My Cinderella pick of Siena didn't come through as I expected, but if someone would have told me that the sweet 16 would include Davidson, Western Kentucky, West Virginia, and Villanova, I probably would have taken that bet.



1 week from today is opening day folks, and I honestly CANNOT WAIT! I looked at the forecast and it is supposed to be in the upper 50's next Sunday, so I am just hoping that we can enjoy a game without snow or rain that is played in temps above freezing.

Friday, March 21, 2008

Friday 5, Wicked Awesome Hat Wednesday

I was in Orlando on business this week, so WAHW was postponed. Good times were had in Orlando as I exposed my glowing white skin to some actual sun shine and temperatures above 30 degrees. The question begs to be asked though, if I lived in a warm climate permanently would I ever be motivated to do anything productive? The weather in Orlando was frigging awesome with temps in the 80's, light breeze, and only one day with some reasonable cloud cover. I got to check out the city a bit after business hours, and got to rock the pool, hot tub, so I can't complain.

A few pretty hysterical things happened on the trip which I will list below:

When we asked an Asian waitress at the hotel bar if she recommended any good local non-touristy sea food places she replied with the options of either Red Lobster or Arbys. Because I was 1/2 embalmed with Red Bull and Stoli it was pretty hard not to laugh hard enough to soil myself. I scratched my chin to feign deep thought and said "Red Lobster...interesting?!?". I am still trying to figure out Arby's as a sea food recommendation. I am sure they have some 2-$5 fish deal going on with the Lenten season, but even if you are completely foreign wouldn't Arby's not come off like a sea food place?



For some reason alot of the local places in Orlando card EVERY person who orders a drink. Not just people who look younger than 38 or whatever number. Later in one evening I was carded and submitted my AAA card for age verification. Not sure why I did this, but it took the waitress, at least 2 minutes to realize my chicanery. Good times.



This actually happened to my boss, not to me, but it is worth mentioning. A guy sitting next to him on the flight was asked if he would like the in flight snack. He responded with "As long as there is enough for everyone." Of course this was pretty odd, but no one paid it much mind, until he later requested a glass of water under the same stipulation. The same guy had a pretty rough time during the flight, and pretty much was convinced that the plane was going to burst into flames at any moment. He closed and opened his window shutter at least 30 times during the flight.



We went down to a city near Orlando called Celebration, and were kind of weirded out with how nice it was. Imagine being on the set of the movie Pleasantville but more perfect than that. Usually you'd think being in such an amazing setting would be cool, but it was strangely disconcerting. I wanted something bad to happen just to feel more normal about things. While we were there I don't think I saw one car older than 2005, and most of the cars driving around were luxury models. There were also an insane amount of the "Smart Cars" or souped up golf carts on the roads which just made things weirder.



The security guards at the Orlando World Center Resort all rock Segways. Which was pretty hysterical. There is nothing like chilling poolside with a beer in awesome weather, and having a dude in a 3 piece suit roll past you on a segway.



This weeks Wicked Awesome Hat comes to us from the AAA Affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. The Iron Pigs look honors Lehigh Valley’s role in producing much of the steel that built America. The primary logo includes a stylized pig head made of iron and the words “IronPigs” riveted together in bold letters. The team’s official colors Brick Red, Furnace Blue and IronPigs Steel are colors of the old Bethlehem Steel mills. “Iron Pigs” is derived from “Pig Iron,” the raw iron used to make steel. The iron was called Pig Iron because it ran into a row of molds, said to resemble a litter of pigs.



Now without further discussion on the delicious sea food from Arby's I give you my Friday 5.

1. Cadbury Eggs



2. Ashley Judd



3. Fight World Magazine



4. Rob & Big




5. Hero with Jet Li


Monday, March 17, 2008

Weekend Wrap Up

I checked out Juno this weekend, and really enjoyed it. Alot of times when indie films get Oscar hype they are pretentious, or about a "buzz topic" so therefore I end up hating them. Juno was not your typical indie flick with Oscar buzz. All the characters were likeable and believable in their roles, and the dialog was funny, realistic, and current. If you can still catch this in a theater around you it is a good movie going experience

.

Tournament time is here, and I am psyched! I still like Siena making some noise, and I also think Butler is going to suprise some people. I am really anxious to see when the Gonzaga/Davidson game is going to be. I like this match up because Davidson is a legit upstart with more than a punchers chance against Gonzaga who used to be everyone's favorite Darkhorse. I think this game is going to be pretty sweet. I think Wisconsin got screwed with their #3 seed after winning the big ten. They are going to sneak up on people if thats possible for a 3 seed. After looking over the brackets I think the biggest meat grinder of any region is the East they have UNC, Tennessee, Louisville, Notre Dame, and Washington State. I think the winner of this region is going to the championship game against UCLA.



I ended up purchasing MLB 2K8 for PSP, and so far it is a pretty decent game. I still can't wait until EA can start putting out MLB games again (2010?) but for the most part it is enjoyable. The one glitch, that is actually kind of hilarious is that the commentators call Victor Martinez "Pedro" all of the time. If you set Victor up outside they'll say "Pedro's looking for the pitch low and outside." if Victor is at bat they'll say "Pedro is one of the best offensive catchers in the game today." I dropped an email to 2K Sports about this, maybe I'll hear something back or get some free shit out of the deal.



Here's a lil gangsta, short in size
A t-shirt and Levi's is his only disguise
Built like a tank yet hard to hit
Ice Cube and Eazy E cold runnin shit
--N.W.A. Gangsta Gangsta

Friday, March 14, 2008

Friday 5

I am loving the Elliot Spitzer debacle. Sure it isn't nice to enjoy watching someone's career, and family go up in flames, but man for all the hard nosed straight arrow persona this guy put off, it is damn funny as more and more illicit details come out about his tryst with a hooker from the Emperors Club. Plus, not that I condone what he did or anything, but if your going to jeopardize your career, maybe he should have done so with a smoking hot call girl, and not just an 8 at best. Maybe he should have shopped around or done some more research on the Emperor's club website?



I am a bit suprised the Browns spent the money to extend Gary Baxter on Thursday. I am pulling for the guy to make it back from having two torn patellar tendons, and I realize the 1 year deal probably isn't for a huge amount of money, but it just seems like a pretty decent cap risk when he may not be able to help us out in the secondary.



I am pretty amped about the NCAA Tournament coming up. I don't watch a ton of college hoops during the regular season, but I start following during conference championship week, and am totally into filling out brackets and watching upsets throughout the tourney. My tournament dark horse this year is going to be The Siena College Saints who beat Rider to win the MAAC Championship. Siena has a young and quick team that is steadied by strong and deep play at the guards. All of their guards can shoot the three, so I think as long as they don't draw a team with a massive front line and get killed on the boards Siena is going to be a dark horse and make it through a round or 2 upsetting some better known teams. I also love the fact that their mascot is an angry Saint Bernard. I'd also like to point out that their mascot isn't carrying a rescue barrel around his neck like a typical St. Bernard, this is an obvious indication that he is out for VENGEANCE!


Maybe it's because I hate the Yankees with every ounce of my being, and maybe it's because Billy Crystal has done nothing funny since the 1st City Slickers, and I think he's an arrogant hack, but why is it such a big story that he batted lead off for the Yankees. A much bigger story would have been Paul Maholm beaning him in the face with a mid 90's fastball.



Speaking of March Madness and tournaments Darrern Rovell @ CNBC.com has a tournament pitting the best logos in minor league baseball against each other. I am partial to the Savannah Sand Gnats logo...That Sand gnat looks pissed!



Now without further discussion on hookers and Saint Bernard's I give you my Friday 5.

1. 300



2. Panera's Frontega Chicken Panini



3. March Madness



4. "Rich Girls" by The Virgins



5. Midnight Club 3 Dub Edition for PSP

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Wicked Awesome Hat Wednesday

In anticipation of selection Sunday and the beginning of March Madness, this weeks WAHW comes to you from the college ranks. I present you with the Providence Friars "Dark Horse" Franchise cap from Twins Enterprises...This hat is awesome because Providence usually upsets a higher seed, and it is awesome too root for underdogs in the tournament. Plus it helps you stand out from all the douche bags in UNC and Duke gear.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Weekend Wrap Up

You know what would be sweet? If it would stop effing snowing already! Seriously after the 1st foot of snow I got the point. The next foot of snow just plain chapped my ass! I accept I live in an area where it snows, but this weekend was re-god-damned diculos! Shoveling snow can tug a nut!



I did get to finally finish off American Gangster this weekend. I have had the movie for like 2 weeks, but with a 2 year old checking out violent movies isn't the easiest thing to get away with unless I watch it late at night. Anyway, American Gangster was pretty awesome. I have to say I liked Russell Crowe in his role as the prosecutor/special detective. I haven't liked him that much since A Beautiful Mind or Gladiator. Both of which were more good stories than fantastic acting. Denzel Washington was pretty good in this movie also. I still struggle with him being a bad guy, but he is convincing.



Other than checking out some flicks, I also researched baseball games for the upcoming season. I am having a hard time deciding between MLB 08 "The Show" and MLB 2K8. Both look pretty awesome, but I am not sure which one is going to be more realistic, and which one is going to have good mini-games. I also have to consider which one will translate the most options to the PSP, because that is essentially the only platform I still rock. I do still have the PS2, but with a rash of Thomas the Train, and Go Diego Go, I don't get to rock the PS2 that much anyway.

Friday, March 7, 2008

The Friday Five

Home Run Derby has a pretty awesome list compiled of the best promos going on this season in Major League Baseball. The Indians are once again doing a "Free Money" night where you’ll get an envelope. with between $1 and $10,000. The Indians will be giving away $50,000 dollars to 32,849 fans at this game on June 28. I also like Cowbell Night at the with the Florida Marlins on June 7th. There is nothing more god awful for an opposing team than hearing a large group of people ringing cowbells in unison after a good play for the home team.



I am still pretty happy with the Browns free agency acquisitions, but I think things have gotten a wee bit more interesting now that the Eagles have released Takeo Spikes after 1 season in which he amassed 136 tackles. I realize Spikes may not be the 2 time pro bowl Line Backer he was with the Bengals and the Bills, but I would LOVE to see the Browns sign him to a short term incentive laden contract to see if he could help us against the run. It will be interesting to see if Phil Savage makes a play for Spikes in the upcoming week.



Now without further distraction from the noise of 40,000+ cow bells ringing in unison I give you my Friday 5.

1. The Lotus Elise-When my mega millions numbers hit this will be one of my 1st purchases



2. The Zesty Chicken Border Bowl at Taco Bell




3. NBA 08 for PSP-The conquest mini-game is like digital crack!



4. Waterproof Cellphone cases-the second best thing in this picture



5. Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise



I like to picture Jesus in a tuxedo T-Shirt because it says I want to be formal, but I'm here to party.
--Cal Naughton Jr.