And with that, Carl Pelini spoke the mindset of not only a team but an entire state. Though it has seemingly passed in the blink of an eye, the past 7 months have dragged by, a monotonous stream of slow summer news, everyone waiting counting the days until fall camp started. Well, the wait is over. All over the country, fans are shaking off the cobwebs in giddy anticipation of another season of college football. So many questions surround the upcoming season, not only for our Huskers but for teams nationwide.
Will our defensive back seven be ready to return the defense to Blackshirt status (or at least a level above mediocre?) How many touches will Roy Helu and Q take from Lucky? Will the Big 10 continue it's slide down the conference rankings, or are they already so lowly regarded that nobody cares? How will Pelini and Company do in recruiting with a full season of campus visits to work with? Does Chase Daniel have enough goobers in his nose to feed him for the duration of the season? And will Jimmy Clausen finally come out of the closet? So many things to think about, it boggles the mind...but in a good way. The Huskers, 8 years removed since their last CONFERENCE title, are beginning yet another "new era", and while we're all drinking the Kool-Aid, I think this flavor is going to leave a much more satisfying taste than the last one we had, which might as well have been named "Callahan-sucks-berrymuch". Or it could have been "Cool Cosgrove Collapse". And yea, both of those are reaches. But I couldn't think of a flavor that was funny without having to resort to profanity. But just think, with Pelini in charge, at least we can go with "BO-dacious Berryfying Blast" and other things like that. See, it's not just coaching he's a better fit for.
But as excited as we all are, it comes with the realization that only thing going on today and for the next four weeks is practice, which we will breathlessly dissect and analyze, only to begin anew once actual games start. Really, the only thing we can hope for is the rapid development of the younger guys, as well as the good Lord having mercy on our secondary and sparing their knees/patellas/etc; from any harm. That and that no renegade TV sets attack any femurs.
I'm going to make it my personal goal to do daily postings throughout camp (with this week being an exception, as I'll be punishing my liver from Wednesday through Sunday at the country music festival WeFest in Northern Minnesota). I've been somewhat (OK, extremely) lazy this summer when it comes to writing here, and I want to change that. Part of it is that we are woefully understaffed at work (taking away a lot of my writing time), and part of it stemmed from the fact that thanks to Pelini ratcheting up the discipline, there was relatively little in the way of off-the-field incidents, the hallmark of summer college football news. But those days are over now. Nationwide, there is a bevy of topics to discuss, whether it Tim Brewster getting paid 1 million dollars per win in Minnesota or Texas Tech making another futile attempt to overtake the Big 12 South (more on both of those in a later post). I have several topics I plan on writing about, but in the interest of better involving the 4 or 5 people who commonly read this column, I do accept ideas for topics......so if you want me to write about/make fun of any topic pertaining to college football, feel free to drop me a line at cfballer58@yahoo.com, I'd love to hear some potential ideas to make fall camp pass faster.
Either way, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, yet another season of God's greatest game is upon us, and nationwide everyone's day is a bit brighter with the knowledge that in a matter of weeks, the beer will flow, the brats will cook, and the slightest of fall breezes will again stir the hearts and hopes of college football fans nationwide. Maybe, just maybe, this is our year.......
Monday, August 4, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Just some Independence Day Thoughts
So I hope everyone's Independence Day celebrations went off with less police interference and more drunkenness than mine did. I say Independence Day because I think it's important to remember the true significance of the holiday, rather than just calling it the 4th of July and shooting off some fireworks. Maybe it's the history degree I earned, but I've always found the revolution and the formation of the United States to be one of the most interesting and history-altering events in the history of mankind, and I think that more people should think about the sacrifices (and gargantuan balls) it took to give the English the middle finger and decide we could do it our own way without their interference. Plus, we really just didn't want to pay taxes when we weren't being represented. But over 230 years later, here we are, the great melting pot experiment, chugging along (albeit with a faltering economy and a lack of a true national identity). But enough about that. Hope it was a good time for all of you, and hopefully your liver is in better shape than mine.
My holiday was marred by one cop and his day-altering decision to be a dick and not only give minors to kids with a BAC of .005, but take our six cases of beer and several bottles at 2:00 in the afternoon. Now, I understand that they don't want minors drinking. So fine, give them the ticket (even though that's about one sip of beer). But to take 15 people's alcohol supply on a sunny holiday? That's just un-American and a douche-tastic move of epic proportions. The other 3 boat cops with him were all apologizing to us quietly on the side, all the while the prohibition officer who apparently stole the Delorean and came to ruin our party was confiscating a couple hundred bucks worth of our beer. We even offered to pour all of it out right in front of them, but we know that wasn't an option, because it was pretty apparent that Turd Sandwich and his buddies were planning to dispose of it in their own mouths. I'd rather have seen all that golden brew be dumped into the lake than in the hands of a power-hungry jackass with a power trip that was obviously compensating for his low IQ and feelings of penile inadequacy. But hey, maybe I'm just bitter.
Other than that, I still had a good weekend. Any weekend you can spend in the company of good friends with a beer in hand is one to be cherished, because it's stuff like that that gets you through your weeks at work where you wonder why you keep plugging away with no end in sight. Life is about memories, and while there was one bad one this weekend, I made others that more than make up for it. Hope everyone had a good one, and (this never fails to sound cheesy, but I really do mean it when I write it) God Bless America.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Summer Update
Wow, there isn't much to write on here in the summer months, what with coach Pelini cracking down on the drunken shenanigans of our players. That's a good thing of course, as nobody likes to see anyone missing time because of spending time in the police blotter.....On the other hand, that leaves me with next-to-nothing to write about, whereas last year we had the Mo saga to talk about. So you're probably wondering what exciting escapades have been happening with me......No? Well tough sh*t, because I gotta write about something, and dammit you're going to have to suck it up and read it.
First off, summer actually only started about two days ago when we finally broke through the 70-degrees-and-breezy mark. Don't get me wrong, I usually love that weather. Plus, I'm sure there's people in Iowa and Illinois that would kill for it over the flooding they have been dealing with (more on that later).But it's really not conducive to fun boating trips, and it sure as hell doesn't heat up our lakes. We are finally hitting 80+ the next five days, and with it has come the patented Minnesota humidity, capable of killing small children, animals, and drunks who don't properly hydrate. Thus far, it's been the usual bar hopping and working, so it's been a lackluster summer. Next weekend I head down to my farm in Western Iowa to hang out with some family and pick up my brother, who is working there this week. Most people wouldn't get excited about a trip to Iowa, but you'd be surprised how much fun townie bars can be (something city folk will never understand), particularly when you run into people you haven't seen in five or six years.
I was excited to see Kevin Garnett and the Celtics win the title, like pretty much every other Minnesota resident. In doing so, the C's proved my previous post about Kobe Bryant, as he was for the most part ineffective for the entire series (he only had one good game), and they completely shut down his penetration (though someone telling him no hasn't stopped before, hey-oh!). All jokes aside, it was a fun series to watch, with several historic comebacks and a complete annihilation to clinch it. Unfortunately, with the end of basketball season, it means all we really have to do the next two months till camp and the Olympics start is watch baseball.......yeah, baseball.......ugh...
Getting back to the floods in Iowa, I just wanted to say that it's difficult to watch the suffering taking place in America's heartland. I lived in Iowa during the flood of '93, and I can vividly remember that you wanted to, you could have jet-skied from town to town, the valley was flooded that bad. So when I hear that this one is even worse, I can't help but feel sick for the farmers and townsfolk of those communities along the Mississippi. What is truly terrifying is that there appears to be no lull in the immediate future, as more rain and storms are forecast throughout the summer, and as bad as that is for Iowa, it spells trouble for Missouri and other states as well. Factor this disaster with our already-troubled economy, and it's looking like a tough year for a lot of people. My prayers go out to all of those affected, as corny as that sounds.
Hope everyone else's summer is going well. Hopefully nobody on the team will give me any reason to get on here again any time soon. After all, no news is good news, even if it makes for a slow and boring summer. GBR
First off, summer actually only started about two days ago when we finally broke through the 70-degrees-and-breezy mark. Don't get me wrong, I usually love that weather. Plus, I'm sure there's people in Iowa and Illinois that would kill for it over the flooding they have been dealing with (more on that later).But it's really not conducive to fun boating trips, and it sure as hell doesn't heat up our lakes. We are finally hitting 80+ the next five days, and with it has come the patented Minnesota humidity, capable of killing small children, animals, and drunks who don't properly hydrate. Thus far, it's been the usual bar hopping and working, so it's been a lackluster summer. Next weekend I head down to my farm in Western Iowa to hang out with some family and pick up my brother, who is working there this week. Most people wouldn't get excited about a trip to Iowa, but you'd be surprised how much fun townie bars can be (something city folk will never understand), particularly when you run into people you haven't seen in five or six years.
I was excited to see Kevin Garnett and the Celtics win the title, like pretty much every other Minnesota resident. In doing so, the C's proved my previous post about Kobe Bryant, as he was for the most part ineffective for the entire series (he only had one good game), and they completely shut down his penetration (though someone telling him no hasn't stopped before, hey-oh!). All jokes aside, it was a fun series to watch, with several historic comebacks and a complete annihilation to clinch it. Unfortunately, with the end of basketball season, it means all we really have to do the next two months till camp and the Olympics start is watch baseball.......yeah, baseball.......ugh...
Getting back to the floods in Iowa, I just wanted to say that it's difficult to watch the suffering taking place in America's heartland. I lived in Iowa during the flood of '93, and I can vividly remember that you wanted to, you could have jet-skied from town to town, the valley was flooded that bad. So when I hear that this one is even worse, I can't help but feel sick for the farmers and townsfolk of those communities along the Mississippi. What is truly terrifying is that there appears to be no lull in the immediate future, as more rain and storms are forecast throughout the summer, and as bad as that is for Iowa, it spells trouble for Missouri and other states as well. Factor this disaster with our already-troubled economy, and it's looking like a tough year for a lot of people. My prayers go out to all of those affected, as corny as that sounds.
Hope everyone else's summer is going well. Hopefully nobody on the team will give me any reason to get on here again any time soon. After all, no news is good news, even if it makes for a slow and boring summer. GBR
Friday, May 30, 2008
Indy recap & other thoughts
So I know I promised that I'd try to take some pictures at Indy to give you guys an idea of what goes on there, but I didn't take a single photo the entire weekend. Not that it mattered, there wasn't much that would have stood out anyways, we were all too intoxicated to really walk around, and despite the large crowd on Sunday, it was somewhat quiet on the streets the night before. There were a few highlights though. My brother's friend tagged along for the trip, and in a drunken state, tried to hit on a fine-looking girl Saturday night, which led to this exchange:
Ben: "Hey, how's it going?"
Girl: "No!"
You know your prospects aren't good when a girl doesn't even let you make a pitch before shooting you down. How do you come back on that? "Wait, you haven't even heard my line yet, it's a good one!" Ben responded by just walking away dumbfounded, which made it even more classic.
As I predicted, Danica didn't win. And I don't think she ever will there, despite being on one of the best teams in the sport. What made it even funnier is that ALL THREE women in the race wrecked. But I wasn't surprised, that happens pretty much every year.
Some other thoughts:
-Sam Keller in the Arena League? Did these guys watch any of our games last year? The last thing you want in that game is a QB who stands in the pocket for 15 seconds, waiting for someone to get open when he should have thrown it after three steps....I just remember him getting hit as he threw nearly every time last year, and unfortunately for him, in the AFL, there's not going to be a tailback to check down to after every other option is closed off. He's going to get hit. A lot. What makes it almost comical is that on the article (like every other article ever written about him in the post-ASU era) is that it brings up his big game against LSU and his Sun Bowl MVP game against Purdue. At what point do people realize that those games were aberrations, not something you should count on? Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for his effort at NU, and I wish him nothing but the best of luck, but let's face it, he's not a great QB, particularly for a league that is predicated on getting rid of the ball in less than 2 seconds.
-Typical Minnesota: We get one perfectly sunny day (yesterday, on Sunday), followed by a week with rain forecast for every f***ing day. I know it gets old, me bitching about it, but seriously, I'll ask again: Why does anyone live here?
-Lakers vs. Celtics is going to be the first Finals that I will watch in it's entirety since.....well, probably the mid-90's.....I say Lakers in 6, though I'm hoping that I'm wrong, since I'm hoping for KG to get a ring. I will admit though, it is fascinating to watch Kobe Bryant now. He's playing near a level that Jordan was back in the early-to-mid 90's. I know that's borderline sacrilegious to say, given Jordan's stature in the game, but Kobe does what he wants, when he wants, just like MJ used to do. He can bring his team back from 20 point deficits by himself, or do it by dropping 10 or 12 assists if he needs to. He makes his teammates better, but at the same time knows instinctively when he needs to just put them on his back and carry them. He's a lot of fun to watch, and on the plus side, he somehow seems more likable now that he dropped that perfect McDonald's posterboy image that he used to have. I don't know how that makes sense, but it seems the more real and asshole-ish he is, the easier it is to admire his skill as a player. He used to be kind of fake in his early days, and now he's just being himself it seems. And he, and the Lakers, are better off because of it.
Let me make it clear: I'm not saying Kobe is as good as MJ. I'm saying that there are spurts where he plays like him.
-Fall camp can't get here soon enough. I need college football back, and soon.
Ben: "Hey, how's it going?"
Girl: "No!"
You know your prospects aren't good when a girl doesn't even let you make a pitch before shooting you down. How do you come back on that? "Wait, you haven't even heard my line yet, it's a good one!" Ben responded by just walking away dumbfounded, which made it even more classic.
As I predicted, Danica didn't win. And I don't think she ever will there, despite being on one of the best teams in the sport. What made it even funnier is that ALL THREE women in the race wrecked. But I wasn't surprised, that happens pretty much every year.
Some other thoughts:
-Sam Keller in the Arena League? Did these guys watch any of our games last year? The last thing you want in that game is a QB who stands in the pocket for 15 seconds, waiting for someone to get open when he should have thrown it after three steps....I just remember him getting hit as he threw nearly every time last year, and unfortunately for him, in the AFL, there's not going to be a tailback to check down to after every other option is closed off. He's going to get hit. A lot. What makes it almost comical is that on the article (like every other article ever written about him in the post-ASU era) is that it brings up his big game against LSU and his Sun Bowl MVP game against Purdue. At what point do people realize that those games were aberrations, not something you should count on? Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for his effort at NU, and I wish him nothing but the best of luck, but let's face it, he's not a great QB, particularly for a league that is predicated on getting rid of the ball in less than 2 seconds.
-Typical Minnesota: We get one perfectly sunny day (yesterday, on Sunday), followed by a week with rain forecast for every f***ing day. I know it gets old, me bitching about it, but seriously, I'll ask again: Why does anyone live here?
-Lakers vs. Celtics is going to be the first Finals that I will watch in it's entirety since.....well, probably the mid-90's.....I say Lakers in 6, though I'm hoping that I'm wrong, since I'm hoping for KG to get a ring. I will admit though, it is fascinating to watch Kobe Bryant now. He's playing near a level that Jordan was back in the early-to-mid 90's. I know that's borderline sacrilegious to say, given Jordan's stature in the game, but Kobe does what he wants, when he wants, just like MJ used to do. He can bring his team back from 20 point deficits by himself, or do it by dropping 10 or 12 assists if he needs to. He makes his teammates better, but at the same time knows instinctively when he needs to just put them on his back and carry them. He's a lot of fun to watch, and on the plus side, he somehow seems more likable now that he dropped that perfect McDonald's posterboy image that he used to have. I don't know how that makes sense, but it seems the more real and asshole-ish he is, the easier it is to admire his skill as a player. He used to be kind of fake in his early days, and now he's just being himself it seems. And he, and the Lakers, are better off because of it.
Let me make it clear: I'm not saying Kobe is as good as MJ. I'm saying that there are spurts where he plays like him.
-Fall camp can't get here soon enough. I need college football back, and soon.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Memorial Day Weekend Potpurri
Memorial day weekend is a special time of year for me. In addition to an important and overlooked holiday (more on that at the end), this weekend also is when all the men in my family pile into an RV and head for Indianapolis, where we take in the Indy 500 and all the drunken festivities that come with it. I'll be honest, the race is pretty damn boring. I mean, for all the hoopla, it's cars driving in circles. But you don't go for just the race, you go for the spectacle of it all, the pomp and circumstance, the EVENT. It's not a race, it's a three-day tailgate with 300,000 other people.
The highlight is Saturday night, when everyone has officially gotten into town and you take to the streets with your coolers of beer and let the night take you where it may. You see your fair share of not-in-their-prime boobs, and drink way more than your fair share of Coors Light, but maybe that's what makes the aforementioned breast-eses even passable. Either way, it makes for a great weekend trip, and it's one that I have failed to adequately capture on film during my previous 16 trips. That is something I plan on remedying this year, and I'll try my best to properly document the fun and post it on webshots so those of you who read the blog can look at them and get an idea of what I am talking about.
Some thoughts on various topics before I get out of here:
-Danica Patrick is not going to win the Indy 500. I even made a sign saying she can't, which I will bring to the race with me. Yea, she won the race in Japan, but that was mainly due to the fact that the three or four guys in front of her had to pit on the last 5 laps. I still don't think she can win a race of this magnitude, despite the media's infatuation with her. I'm not sexist, I just think it's unfair that the better drivers on the circuit don't get the respect they deserve. Of course, if she does win, I'll be showered in beer and food as I try to run out of the track with my anti-Danica sign........so for my sake, she HAS to lose.
- So when I was running the other day at the health club, NFL Live came on. At first, I was psyched......"Oh, good, there's going to be some football stuff on, that'll make this run tolerable at least"........but for the next half hour, all I got was analysis of Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells' relationship (which was supplemented by heavy doses of "highlights" of Taylor's run on Dancing with the Stars), followed by more Spygate news......which brings me to my next question: At what point do we just come to the conclusion that maybe we don't need an NFL show in May? If this is all they have to talk about, isn't it time to call it off until fall camp? I watch NFL Live to hear about actual news, not see some giant doing the tango while his relationship with the front office is discussed. Totally pointless, and unfortunately, NFL coverage is only going to become more and more saturated with crap like this. People have an insatiable appetite for any football news, but can't we agree that this doesn't qualify?
-I wish someone at the 'ol Alma Mater had sat me down and really explained to me just how utterly useless a history degree is. I mean, I knew it wasn't the most attractive BA, but I had no idea that it literally had no applicable use in the work force....unless of course, you want to sell insurance.....to be completely honest, I'd like to wipe my ass with it and mail it back to them. So I am presently looking at either grad school or an officer program with the Marines....if anybody has any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
- You know what is one of my favorite parts of the spring and summer in the Midwest? The annual tradition of the DOT blocking off entire roads...........and then not doing anything to them. It's especially fun when they funnel it down to one lane, and then you look at all those closed-down lanes with absolutely no construction being done. Right now, in my own neighborhood, they've completely gutted nearly ever road, only to leave them that way. I don't mind driving on gravel, but it's especially frustrating when I have to follow all these city folk who drive about 5 miles an hour because they don't want the rocks to scratch their 1992 Dodge Stratus.
- Listening to the radio all day, I am often subjected to some really crap-tastic fare that today's youth considers music. Lately it has become somewhat of a passion of mine to try and spread music such as Creedence, Zepplin, and Skynyrd to my friends and those younger than me. Sure enough, most everyone that hears it and gives them a chance is converted, and one by one, we'll show the younger generation what real music is. Because you know what it isn't? Talentless, studio-manufactured skidmarks like T-Pain (if you're over 30, just look him up on YouTube. You'll see why you should be concerned about what your kids call music). And I'm not capping on the entire rap or hip-hop genre. Some artists still put out real quality stuff (Kanye, T.I.), but now there are so many dime-a-dozen pieces of s*it like Soulja Boy that it sickens me. If you try to explain to an 18 year-old how good someone like Dr. Dre or Tupac was, they just stare at you blankly. I don't understand how you can claim to be a fan of something and not understand it's beginnings and best artists. It'd be like saying you're a basketball fan without having watched Jordan.
The last thing I wanted to say before I sign off for the weekend: Thank a veteran. They deserve both our respect and thanks for the sacrifices they made to make this country great. I'm not going to make some long impassioned plea. Just do the right thing, and say thanks.
The highlight is Saturday night, when everyone has officially gotten into town and you take to the streets with your coolers of beer and let the night take you where it may. You see your fair share of not-in-their-prime boobs, and drink way more than your fair share of Coors Light, but maybe that's what makes the aforementioned breast-eses even passable. Either way, it makes for a great weekend trip, and it's one that I have failed to adequately capture on film during my previous 16 trips. That is something I plan on remedying this year, and I'll try my best to properly document the fun and post it on webshots so those of you who read the blog can look at them and get an idea of what I am talking about.
Some thoughts on various topics before I get out of here:
-Danica Patrick is not going to win the Indy 500. I even made a sign saying she can't, which I will bring to the race with me. Yea, she won the race in Japan, but that was mainly due to the fact that the three or four guys in front of her had to pit on the last 5 laps. I still don't think she can win a race of this magnitude, despite the media's infatuation with her. I'm not sexist, I just think it's unfair that the better drivers on the circuit don't get the respect they deserve. Of course, if she does win, I'll be showered in beer and food as I try to run out of the track with my anti-Danica sign........so for my sake, she HAS to lose.
- So when I was running the other day at the health club, NFL Live came on. At first, I was psyched......"Oh, good, there's going to be some football stuff on, that'll make this run tolerable at least"........but for the next half hour, all I got was analysis of Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells' relationship (which was supplemented by heavy doses of "highlights" of Taylor's run on Dancing with the Stars), followed by more Spygate news......which brings me to my next question: At what point do we just come to the conclusion that maybe we don't need an NFL show in May? If this is all they have to talk about, isn't it time to call it off until fall camp? I watch NFL Live to hear about actual news, not see some giant doing the tango while his relationship with the front office is discussed. Totally pointless, and unfortunately, NFL coverage is only going to become more and more saturated with crap like this. People have an insatiable appetite for any football news, but can't we agree that this doesn't qualify?
-I wish someone at the 'ol Alma Mater had sat me down and really explained to me just how utterly useless a history degree is. I mean, I knew it wasn't the most attractive BA, but I had no idea that it literally had no applicable use in the work force....unless of course, you want to sell insurance.....to be completely honest, I'd like to wipe my ass with it and mail it back to them. So I am presently looking at either grad school or an officer program with the Marines....if anybody has any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
- You know what is one of my favorite parts of the spring and summer in the Midwest? The annual tradition of the DOT blocking off entire roads...........and then not doing anything to them. It's especially fun when they funnel it down to one lane, and then you look at all those closed-down lanes with absolutely no construction being done. Right now, in my own neighborhood, they've completely gutted nearly ever road, only to leave them that way. I don't mind driving on gravel, but it's especially frustrating when I have to follow all these city folk who drive about 5 miles an hour because they don't want the rocks to scratch their 1992 Dodge Stratus.
- Listening to the radio all day, I am often subjected to some really crap-tastic fare that today's youth considers music. Lately it has become somewhat of a passion of mine to try and spread music such as Creedence, Zepplin, and Skynyrd to my friends and those younger than me. Sure enough, most everyone that hears it and gives them a chance is converted, and one by one, we'll show the younger generation what real music is. Because you know what it isn't? Talentless, studio-manufactured skidmarks like T-Pain (if you're over 30, just look him up on YouTube. You'll see why you should be concerned about what your kids call music). And I'm not capping on the entire rap or hip-hop genre. Some artists still put out real quality stuff (Kanye, T.I.), but now there are so many dime-a-dozen pieces of s*it like Soulja Boy that it sickens me. If you try to explain to an 18 year-old how good someone like Dr. Dre or Tupac was, they just stare at you blankly. I don't understand how you can claim to be a fan of something and not understand it's beginnings and best artists. It'd be like saying you're a basketball fan without having watched Jordan.
The last thing I wanted to say before I sign off for the weekend: Thank a veteran. They deserve both our respect and thanks for the sacrifices they made to make this country great. I'm not going to make some long impassioned plea. Just do the right thing, and say thanks.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Potpourri
Well, now that we've settled into the dead period between spring ball and fall camp (also known as "pray there are no arrests or freak TV moving injuries" time), it's gotten pretty quiet around the Husker blogosphere. For those of you desperate for continued Husker coverage, I suggest clicking on the other blog links to the right, as you'll find that unlike me, many other Husker blogs continue to crank out quality stuff. DXP continues to impress with it's statistical analysis, as well as their new project of naming the best Huskers in history for every uniform number. I would have love to have done that, but unfortunately, my memory only goes back about 14 years, so with the exception of the role players of the early-to-mid 90's and the obvious stars, I don't think my list would have been nearly as good as theirs.
A few things I wanted to weigh in on:
-The whole Eight Belles Kentucky Derby saga. Look, I don't deny that it's unfortunate. It's too bad to lose such a beautiful animal, and I have no doubt that the trainer cared about it much like I do my dog. But as for the whole outcry from PETA and others? Hey, it's a f**king horse, OK? Can we please try to remind ourselves of that? There are 100,000 people likely dead in Myanmar, there are probably 50,000 more in China because of the recent earthquake, and these people are bitching because a horse broke it's ankles and had to get sent to the glue factory? There are bigger issues going on in the world right now, how 'bout we focus on that? The same sh*t happened with Barbaro a couple of years ago, and we had to sit there and watch while Sportscenter devoted hours of coverage to the doomed horse's attempted recovery, before it finally succumbed and had to be put down, all while there were more relevant and real sports that could have been talked about. Surely I can't be the only one who thinks that PETA needs to stop bitching and moaning about it, right?
- Spygate is over, OK? They cheated, they got caught, fined, and embarrassed. Despite the scrutiny, they nearly had a perfect season, which would have been great, because then we never would have to hear about the '72 Dolphins every time someone started the season 5-0 again. Either way, to hear Specter call for an independent investigation is ridiculous. The guy needs to find some real problems he could work towards solving. As Ted Kennedy (someone I loathe usually) said to the Boston Globe :
"With the war in Iraq raging on, gasoline prices closing in on $4 a gallon, and Americans losing their homes at record rates to foreclosure, the United States Senate should be focusing on the real problems that Americans are struggling with."
Damn straight. I'm so sick of hearing about this, it even surpasses the Eight Belles thing. I'm tired of watching NFL Live devote an entire half-hour every day to Matt Walsh (who is really just an attention whore, if you ask me) and Spygate when they could be talking about position battles and personnel decisions throughout the league. You know, football stuff. Let's just let this thing die so we can stop talking about it for the first time in 9 months.
-If you like the Spurs, you apparently support soccer on hardwood. Every time I see these d-bags flop whenever someone breathes on them, it sickens me to think that these guys are so respected by the public as a team who "plays the right way". Really? Tim Duncan whines more than my 6 year-old cousin, and if I have to see that bug-eye look with his arms up in frustration every time he thinks he's fouled (which apparently every time someone someone comes within 5 feet), I'm going to vomit. I really, REALLY hate the Spurs. If I played for the Hornets, I'd lower my shoulder and give them a real reason to fall down. If they are going to fake it every time, why not make it real and earn my foul?
-----One more note about this series: If you haven't watched Chris Paul this postseason, you are missing out. Best point guard I've ever watched. I'm serious when I say that I think I could average 10 points a game in the NBA if I played with him. He's that damn good.
-Can NOBODY in the state of Minnesota drive? I can't adequately describe how irritating it is when people tailgate and then blow by me when I'm already going 10 miles over the speed limit. What makes it even more hilarious is when they slingshot around me, cutting me off to gain ONE F**KING CAR SPACE on me. Really, what did that save you on your commute, 4 seconds? At what point do these assholes realize that even if you drive like a complete douchebag, you're probably only going to get to work approximately 2 minutes before I do?
-Not surprised at all by the O.J. Mayo situation. Hell, if there was a way I could have wagered on him taking money before the college basketball season started, I would have.
Back nest week with some more Potpourri, as well as preview of the Indy 500, which I go to every year.
A few things I wanted to weigh in on:
-The whole Eight Belles Kentucky Derby saga. Look, I don't deny that it's unfortunate. It's too bad to lose such a beautiful animal, and I have no doubt that the trainer cared about it much like I do my dog. But as for the whole outcry from PETA and others? Hey, it's a f**king horse, OK? Can we please try to remind ourselves of that? There are 100,000 people likely dead in Myanmar, there are probably 50,000 more in China because of the recent earthquake, and these people are bitching because a horse broke it's ankles and had to get sent to the glue factory? There are bigger issues going on in the world right now, how 'bout we focus on that? The same sh*t happened with Barbaro a couple of years ago, and we had to sit there and watch while Sportscenter devoted hours of coverage to the doomed horse's attempted recovery, before it finally succumbed and had to be put down, all while there were more relevant and real sports that could have been talked about. Surely I can't be the only one who thinks that PETA needs to stop bitching and moaning about it, right?
- Spygate is over, OK? They cheated, they got caught, fined, and embarrassed. Despite the scrutiny, they nearly had a perfect season, which would have been great, because then we never would have to hear about the '72 Dolphins every time someone started the season 5-0 again. Either way, to hear Specter call for an independent investigation is ridiculous. The guy needs to find some real problems he could work towards solving. As Ted Kennedy (someone I loathe usually) said to the Boston Globe :
"With the war in Iraq raging on, gasoline prices closing in on $4 a gallon, and Americans losing their homes at record rates to foreclosure, the United States Senate should be focusing on the real problems that Americans are struggling with."
Damn straight. I'm so sick of hearing about this, it even surpasses the Eight Belles thing. I'm tired of watching NFL Live devote an entire half-hour every day to Matt Walsh (who is really just an attention whore, if you ask me) and Spygate when they could be talking about position battles and personnel decisions throughout the league. You know, football stuff. Let's just let this thing die so we can stop talking about it for the first time in 9 months.
-If you like the Spurs, you apparently support soccer on hardwood. Every time I see these d-bags flop whenever someone breathes on them, it sickens me to think that these guys are so respected by the public as a team who "plays the right way". Really? Tim Duncan whines more than my 6 year-old cousin, and if I have to see that bug-eye look with his arms up in frustration every time he thinks he's fouled (which apparently every time someone someone comes within 5 feet), I'm going to vomit. I really, REALLY hate the Spurs. If I played for the Hornets, I'd lower my shoulder and give them a real reason to fall down. If they are going to fake it every time, why not make it real and earn my foul?
-----One more note about this series: If you haven't watched Chris Paul this postseason, you are missing out. Best point guard I've ever watched. I'm serious when I say that I think I could average 10 points a game in the NBA if I played with him. He's that damn good.
-Can NOBODY in the state of Minnesota drive? I can't adequately describe how irritating it is when people tailgate and then blow by me when I'm already going 10 miles over the speed limit. What makes it even more hilarious is when they slingshot around me, cutting me off to gain ONE F**KING CAR SPACE on me. Really, what did that save you on your commute, 4 seconds? At what point do these assholes realize that even if you drive like a complete douchebag, you're probably only going to get to work approximately 2 minutes before I do?
-Not surprised at all by the O.J. Mayo situation. Hell, if there was a way I could have wagered on him taking money before the college basketball season started, I would have.
Back nest week with some more Potpourri, as well as preview of the Indy 500, which I go to every year.
Monday, April 28, 2008
A Disappointing Draft
Another NFL Draft marathon come and gone, and another disappointing result (on many fronts). My original plans had called for morning golf followed by drinking and draft watching. However, due to the fact that the state of Minnesota is stuck in some kind of winter purgatory that has no end in sight (it felt like 25 degrees with snow throughout the day Saturday), we were relegated to sitting inside and drinking, along with several games of NCAA 2008, a tournament that yours truly dominated easily.
In addition to weather that is causing many Minnesotans to contemplate suicide, the draft sucked even worse due to lack of draftable Husker prospects. Many expected Carl Nicks to go in the 3rd round (some people speculated he was a 2nd rounder), yet he fell all the way to the Saints late in the 5th round. He is expected to come in and challenge for playing time after some development time. We could see him helping Reggie Bush get 3 yards a carry sometime in a couple years if he comes in and impresses. This continues to make the Saints a popular place for ex-Huskers in the league, as they have both Scott Shanle and Josh Bullocks on their roster in addition to Nicks.
The real surprise was oft-injured CB Zach Bowman being drafted by the Bears early in the 5th round, making him the first Husker selected this year. At one time, before suffering his two knee injuries, Bowman was considered a first-round talent. Obviously, teams were wary of his injury history, but the Bears' medical staff obviously thought that the worst was behind him, and that at 100% he could be a good project to work into their secondary. They already have good corners in Nathan Vasher and Ricky Manning, but this gives them someone who could develop into a contributor once he is completely done rehabbing and gets worked into the rotation. Also, if everything were to pan out perfectly (a longshot), we could see two Huskers in the same secondary: Husker legend Mike Brown, and Bowman.
The last Husker drafted may have landed himself in the best situation, depending on whether or not he can make the team. Bo Ruud was drafted in the 7th round by the Patriots, whose linebacking corps is the NFL equivalent of an old folk's home. Aging vets Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau, Mike Vrabel, Larry Izzo, and Adalius Thomas are all on the wrong side of 30, some of them well past it in NFL years. While that bodes well for Ruud's prospects of making the team, the bad news is that in addition to Bo, the Pats also drafted Jared Mayo out of Tennessee and Shawn Crable out of Michigan, both linebackers. Bo's best shot is to impress in camp with his smarts and maybe make the squad as a special teamer and work his way into the rotation over time. Many will write him off immediately due to his lack of agility, but I think a lot of his struggles at NU were due to the fact his defensive coach was Kevin Cosgrove. Last time I checked, Bill Belichick is a somewhat more highly regarded defensive mind.......
5 Picks I liked......
1) Glenn Dorsey, DT, Kansas City
A great pick for the Chiefs, whose interior defensive line has been terrible for years. After some misfires (Ryan Sims, anyone?), KC finally has a guy who can anchor the inside for the foreseeable future and quickly make an impact on this fast-improving defense.
2) Jordon Dizon, LB, Detroit
While some say the former CU Buffalo lacks the size to play outside backer in the NFL, they were saying the same thing about Ernie Sims a couple of years ago, and he's turned out to be pretty good in the League. While Dizon isn't the physical specimen that Sims is in terms of speed, he is a consistent player who does what is necessary to make the plays. He has a high motor, and is always around the ball. He's going to be a great fit with Marinelli in Detroit, and should get time on special teams right away in addition to getting a look at OLB.
3) Limas Sweed, WR, Pittsburgh
Taken in the 2nd round, the big-bodied Longhorn is the perfect fit for the Steeler's offense, and he'll work in with a talented group that includes an aging Hines Ward and former 1st-rounder Santonio Holmes. Factor in stud TE Heath Miller, and Big Ben is going to have plenty of options to throw to. Look for Sweed to be a big factor in the red zone this coming season.
4) Martin Rucker, TE, Cleveland
Yes, I realize that my "Picks I liked" section is a bit Big12-heavy, but these are the guys I've spent a lot of the past few years watching, so of course I'm going to feel a bit more comfortable evaluating their talent. Some of you might be saying "Wait, the Browns already have Kellen Winslow", but he is used more out of the slot in a H-back role than a traditional tight end, which is what Rucker is. While he's a bit slower than the elite pass-catching tight ends, I think he's going to be a very serviceable pro, particularly for a 4th rounder.
5) John David Booty, QB, Minnesota
While I absolutely hate to give the Vikings credit for anything they do, I thought this was a great pick so late in the draft (5th round). The QB situation in Minnesota is one that needed bolstering, with still-doubted Tavaris Jackson starting and Gus Frerotte and Brooks Bollinger backing him up. Booty was once considered a Heisman candidate, has an adequate arm for the Vikings west coast offense, and has experience in the pressure cooker of a big-time program in college. Reminds me a lot of Tom Brady way back in the day, when people slept on him coming out of Michigan.
5 Picks I didn't like...
1) Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta
Arthur Blank on the BC product's first day in Atlanta: "Mr. Ryan, welcome to the Falcons! I'd like you to meet the guys that you'll be competing with for our QB position: Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and DJ Shockley. Please, don't make us look any dumber than we already do. As long as you don't sanction any dog fights, we're already headed in the right direction!"
I still think Ryan is going to be a bust in the NFL. I've thought so for a couple of years now, and I'm sticking to my guns on this one.
2) Vernon Gholston, LB, NY Jets
A huge upside, but an inconsistent college performer. For the amount of guaranteed money he's going to get, you would expect more from him than he gave in college. An absolute freak physically, he has the potential to be a game-changer or a huge underachiever. I like the player, but not in the top 10.
3) DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia
An explosive but incomplete player, Jackson will immediately boost the Eagles' return game, but he's an spotty route-runner and is waaaay undersized (5'9", 175). He didn't produce that much in college either, despite his freakish speed. If he turns into a Devin Hester-type player though, you can't argue with the pick.
4) Brian Brohm/Matt Flynn, QB, Green Bay
Two QBs to back-up your new starter, Aaron Rogers? Seems like kind of overkill to me. Some see this as a message to Brett Favre that he needs to just stay retired. I see it as a waste of at least one draft pick. Flynn is one thing, but to grab Brohm as well is a bit much, though I guess the Packers figure they have a young and deep team and that they can afford to take a few gambles.
5) Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore
I think he has the tools to be an NFL QB, but he's a couple of years away to me, and this is a Ravens team that is aging quickly, particularly on defense. The window is closing, and they don't have time to sit around and wait. It's a good thing they have Kyle Boller there to.......oh wait, nevermind.....
Closing thoughts
A high of 40 degrees here in Minneapolis........I was waiting for spring, but apparently we're going to skip that and just go from winter to summer, probably in early June. It will be 42 and windy, and then the next day will be 96 with 94% humidity and baseball-size mosquitoes........damn this place sucks...
-Wish Danny Woodhead had gotten drafted, thought he had a really good shot.....
-Octo signed a free agent deal with the Chiefs, giving them two former Huskers at LB (the other being Demorrio Williams, who came over from Atlanta). Should be interesting to see what Octavien can do and if he can stay healthy.
-Reports from the LJS have Mo Purify going to camp with the Bengals
-Courtney Grixby signed a FA deal with Carolina
In addition to weather that is causing many Minnesotans to contemplate suicide, the draft sucked even worse due to lack of draftable Husker prospects. Many expected Carl Nicks to go in the 3rd round (some people speculated he was a 2nd rounder), yet he fell all the way to the Saints late in the 5th round. He is expected to come in and challenge for playing time after some development time. We could see him helping Reggie Bush get 3 yards a carry sometime in a couple years if he comes in and impresses. This continues to make the Saints a popular place for ex-Huskers in the league, as they have both Scott Shanle and Josh Bullocks on their roster in addition to Nicks.
The real surprise was oft-injured CB Zach Bowman being drafted by the Bears early in the 5th round, making him the first Husker selected this year. At one time, before suffering his two knee injuries, Bowman was considered a first-round talent. Obviously, teams were wary of his injury history, but the Bears' medical staff obviously thought that the worst was behind him, and that at 100% he could be a good project to work into their secondary. They already have good corners in Nathan Vasher and Ricky Manning, but this gives them someone who could develop into a contributor once he is completely done rehabbing and gets worked into the rotation. Also, if everything were to pan out perfectly (a longshot), we could see two Huskers in the same secondary: Husker legend Mike Brown, and Bowman.
The last Husker drafted may have landed himself in the best situation, depending on whether or not he can make the team. Bo Ruud was drafted in the 7th round by the Patriots, whose linebacking corps is the NFL equivalent of an old folk's home. Aging vets Tedy Bruschi, Junior Seau, Mike Vrabel, Larry Izzo, and Adalius Thomas are all on the wrong side of 30, some of them well past it in NFL years. While that bodes well for Ruud's prospects of making the team, the bad news is that in addition to Bo, the Pats also drafted Jared Mayo out of Tennessee and Shawn Crable out of Michigan, both linebackers. Bo's best shot is to impress in camp with his smarts and maybe make the squad as a special teamer and work his way into the rotation over time. Many will write him off immediately due to his lack of agility, but I think a lot of his struggles at NU were due to the fact his defensive coach was Kevin Cosgrove. Last time I checked, Bill Belichick is a somewhat more highly regarded defensive mind.......
5 Picks I liked......
1) Glenn Dorsey, DT, Kansas City
A great pick for the Chiefs, whose interior defensive line has been terrible for years. After some misfires (Ryan Sims, anyone?), KC finally has a guy who can anchor the inside for the foreseeable future and quickly make an impact on this fast-improving defense.
2) Jordon Dizon, LB, Detroit
While some say the former CU Buffalo lacks the size to play outside backer in the NFL, they were saying the same thing about Ernie Sims a couple of years ago, and he's turned out to be pretty good in the League. While Dizon isn't the physical specimen that Sims is in terms of speed, he is a consistent player who does what is necessary to make the plays. He has a high motor, and is always around the ball. He's going to be a great fit with Marinelli in Detroit, and should get time on special teams right away in addition to getting a look at OLB.
3) Limas Sweed, WR, Pittsburgh
Taken in the 2nd round, the big-bodied Longhorn is the perfect fit for the Steeler's offense, and he'll work in with a talented group that includes an aging Hines Ward and former 1st-rounder Santonio Holmes. Factor in stud TE Heath Miller, and Big Ben is going to have plenty of options to throw to. Look for Sweed to be a big factor in the red zone this coming season.
4) Martin Rucker, TE, Cleveland
Yes, I realize that my "Picks I liked" section is a bit Big12-heavy, but these are the guys I've spent a lot of the past few years watching, so of course I'm going to feel a bit more comfortable evaluating their talent. Some of you might be saying "Wait, the Browns already have Kellen Winslow", but he is used more out of the slot in a H-back role than a traditional tight end, which is what Rucker is. While he's a bit slower than the elite pass-catching tight ends, I think he's going to be a very serviceable pro, particularly for a 4th rounder.
5) John David Booty, QB, Minnesota
While I absolutely hate to give the Vikings credit for anything they do, I thought this was a great pick so late in the draft (5th round). The QB situation in Minnesota is one that needed bolstering, with still-doubted Tavaris Jackson starting and Gus Frerotte and Brooks Bollinger backing him up. Booty was once considered a Heisman candidate, has an adequate arm for the Vikings west coast offense, and has experience in the pressure cooker of a big-time program in college. Reminds me a lot of Tom Brady way back in the day, when people slept on him coming out of Michigan.
5 Picks I didn't like...
1) Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta
Arthur Blank on the BC product's first day in Atlanta: "Mr. Ryan, welcome to the Falcons! I'd like you to meet the guys that you'll be competing with for our QB position: Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and DJ Shockley. Please, don't make us look any dumber than we already do. As long as you don't sanction any dog fights, we're already headed in the right direction!"
I still think Ryan is going to be a bust in the NFL. I've thought so for a couple of years now, and I'm sticking to my guns on this one.
2) Vernon Gholston, LB, NY Jets
A huge upside, but an inconsistent college performer. For the amount of guaranteed money he's going to get, you would expect more from him than he gave in college. An absolute freak physically, he has the potential to be a game-changer or a huge underachiever. I like the player, but not in the top 10.
3) DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia
An explosive but incomplete player, Jackson will immediately boost the Eagles' return game, but he's an spotty route-runner and is waaaay undersized (5'9", 175). He didn't produce that much in college either, despite his freakish speed. If he turns into a Devin Hester-type player though, you can't argue with the pick.
4) Brian Brohm/Matt Flynn, QB, Green Bay
Two QBs to back-up your new starter, Aaron Rogers? Seems like kind of overkill to me. Some see this as a message to Brett Favre that he needs to just stay retired. I see it as a waste of at least one draft pick. Flynn is one thing, but to grab Brohm as well is a bit much, though I guess the Packers figure they have a young and deep team and that they can afford to take a few gambles.
5) Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore
I think he has the tools to be an NFL QB, but he's a couple of years away to me, and this is a Ravens team that is aging quickly, particularly on defense. The window is closing, and they don't have time to sit around and wait. It's a good thing they have Kyle Boller there to.......oh wait, nevermind.....
Closing thoughts
A high of 40 degrees here in Minneapolis........I was waiting for spring, but apparently we're going to skip that and just go from winter to summer, probably in early June. It will be 42 and windy, and then the next day will be 96 with 94% humidity and baseball-size mosquitoes........damn this place sucks...
-Wish Danny Woodhead had gotten drafted, thought he had a really good shot.....
-Octo signed a free agent deal with the Chiefs, giving them two former Huskers at LB (the other being Demorrio Williams, who came over from Atlanta). Should be interesting to see what Octavien can do and if he can stay healthy.
-Reports from the LJS have Mo Purify going to camp with the Bengals
-Courtney Grixby signed a FA deal with Carolina
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