Tuesday, December 18, 2007

11/18/07 Posting from website

11/18/07 - Great fall weather right now. Cool in the day and cold at night. Had a cigar on the back deck this evening and only needed a pullover and wool cap. Only downfall is a little too cold for cards.
NCAA football – Said it for a while, but it now may be impossible: LSU vs. Oklahoma in the BCS title game. Won't happen anymore. Not with OU's loss to Texas Tech. LSU, Kansas, and Missouri control their own destiny. Win out and they’re in. But Missouri and Kansas have a showdown this weekend. How great will this shootout be? Reesing, coached by the sideline version of Jabba the Hut, against Daniels and Mizzou. My pick: Mizzou wins 37-35. Then the winner will face OU. The Sooners may be out of it, but they can still shake it all up. West Virginia and Ohio State both need help, but are equally dangerous. Perhaps overstated, but it truly seems to be the craziest season in recent memory. Little did we know Appalachian State’s victory in The Big House would be a harbinger of things to come. And speaking of The Big House, will Les Miles leave the Bayou for Michigan? It won’t be announced until after the season, but I think he’ll be clad in Big Blue next year. Talk about heating up one the greatest rivalries in sport? Tressel vs. Miles…

FSU – There’s a reason to hope. I know most of you will think I’m crazy, but I had a feeling FSU was going to win at BC. A couple linemen were returning from injury. It was declared a sod game. After seeing Virginia Tech beat BC for almost the entire game, and lose in the last four minutes, I didn’t really think BC was the 2nd best team in the land. And I was right!!! Before the VT game, did not have the same feeling. Thought VT would play with a chip on their shoulder. Little did I know that freshman QB Taylor would appear to be the reincarnation of Michael Vick. Yes, Vick’s a pariah now, but when he was at VT he took them to the national title. I remember the game quite well, FSU won. Therefore let me rephrase the statement about Taylor. He did what no other VT quarterback had done since ’75, beat the ‘Noles.Rooted for Clemson against BC. Wanted to see them in the ACC title game. Whoever wins the Virginia/VT versus BC game, will love going to the Orange Bowl in Miami. It’s a great city, especially at that time of year. Break out your shorts, hit South Beach, have a mojito, and go see some ponies race. Then top it off with a football game. Not too shabby!
NFL – Hate the Patriots, but like the Rams when they were the “greatest show on turf,” the Pats remind me of playing Madden. Tonight they’re up 35 – 7 over Buffalo at the half. Are you kidding me? It’s only halftime. Randy Moss only cost a 4th round pick? Remember this too, they have the 49ers’ 1st round pick. That means they could wind up with a top 5 pick in the draft. Maybe they’ll start to pile up injuries like the Colts, not that I’m wishing injuries upon anyone. But some sprains and a couple missed games, that’d be nice. Anything but winning the SuperBowl.
Best surprise of the year: Cleveland Browns. 6-4 heading into Thanksgiving. What were the odds on that? Watching Derek Anderson mature and develop chemistry with Braylon Edwards is fun to watch. Just another example of good quarterback = win games. Matt Schaub in Houston is another example. Geat deep passes to Andre Johnson.
Most disappointing team of the year: Baltimore Ravens. They won 13 games last year. This year they look old and their offense looks inept.
Questions: Why aren’t Owens and Moss in double coverage on every play? When will Oakland finally put number one pick JaMarcus Russell on the field? Are any Chargers fans wishing Marty Schottenheimer was still their coach? Will the Panthers finally cut their ties with Dan Morgan?
One more NFL note: the Thanksgiving night game will only be on the NFL network. That’s means over half the country will not be able to see it. Maybe this game will finally force Time Warner Cable and the NFL to settle their differences.
Homebrew – Brewed a ten gallon batch of TBA (my wife’s blonde ale) last week. Used a neighbor’s brewpot and burner. An ingenious system of cutting the top out of an old 15.5 gallon keg & drilling a hole in the side for a ball valve. About a quarter of the price of fancier brewpot like the kind on http://www.northernbrewer.com/. Northern Brewer’s got a very thorough forum on it. Recommended to me as a resource for feedback on recipes and troubleshooting. The TBA is a slightly altered version of the Long Legged Blonde on http://www.ratebeer.com/. Racked it to a secondary fermenter today. It’ll be a couple days early, but will keg it on Tuesday night and attach the CO2. On Thanksgiving I can give thanks with a pint and pay homage to pilgrims and founding fathers alike.
Dodgers – Love the signing of Joe Torre. Absolutely love it. Told my Dad after Torre was released if I owned a team, which I probably never will unless it’s on a video game, I’d sign him immediately. And sure enough, the Blue Crew signed him.
Hollyfest 5K - Beat last year's time by almost two minutes. Satisfied, but not thrilled. With age comes the need for more training.
Don’t watch much primetime TV, but 30 Rock is hilarious. Watched a rerun of Chapelle Show on Saturday. Forgot how great he is. If you see one of the episodes with his impersonation of Rick James, you’ll be quoting him for a week.
Old Guy Radio – Used to be a segment on the Tony Kornheiser radio show. Thought of it the other night when I listened to a Frank Sinatra Greatest Hits CD. Unmistakable voice. Strangers in the Night and It was a Very Good Year are two classics. Hell of an actor too. Watch From Here to Eternity some time. Won an Academy Award as Maggio. Great foil to Montgomery Clift’s charcter, and both are transposed against Burt Lancaster’s granite-like performance as Warden. Classic stars, classic scenes. Classic Sinatra CD. “That’s a trifecta, baby!” as the Rat Pack would say.