Bloggin' around the Christmas Tree (oh yea, I went there)

I love Christmas time, and I'm not going to even attempt to say that it's for any original reasons. So here are some random thoughts on what makes Christmas the best time of the year...

For starters, let me mention the 3rd annual festive sweater party. A roaring success, I think it's safe to say that after year 3 this has become a staple of the holiday season. My winter break would quite simply not be the same without, so many thanks go out to Dennis and the entire Blanch family. Singing the classic Christmas songs on karaoke in a state of merry revelry in a room full of people dressed like 85-year old grandmothers is a unique feeling, I must say.

While we're on the topic of singing, my second notable Christmas-time event and a perennial all-star is the Campbell family Christmas Caroling/Christmas Dinner Combo party. The joy brought to the individuals in the nursing home, though great, is far surpassed by that felt by anyone who has had the pleasure to Carol with the Campbells in their holiday tradition. Singing is one of those things that is distinctly pleasurable ALL the time. Even when we hear something that doesn't please the ear, we can either make fun of it or critique it, two things most humans find enjoyable. And of course when it does sound good, the rewards need no explanation. I'm one of those people who can't get enough of the holiday classics in the month preceding December 25th. My personal favorite carol is "O Holy Night", which unfortunately went unsung in Campbell Carol Party 2008. If you haven't heard it or don't know the tune well, I would encourage you to listen asap. Both beautiful musically and incredibly powerful lyrically. Anyways, the caroling was awesome, and the grub back at their cozy Media home was as good going in the mouth as the Christmas jams were leaving it. The Meatball Sandwiches are a must and the brownies were spec-tac-u-lar. While we're on the subject of brownies...

I recently realized that I may have been underrating brownies as a dessert item. A moist brownie with some nilla i-keem may be the closest indicators to our taste buds of what heaven will be to our souls. They are absolutely outstanding, and the fact that every living being with estrogen makes it a point to be baking non-stop over the holiday season makes for an overabundance of brownies, cookies, cakes, and every other item chock full of sugary goodness. Just another reason I love the Christmas season...

Will be blogging more soon, but I definitely want to wish everyone a blessed Christmas. Although I definitely do not feel as close to my faith as I would like, it is during times like these that God's love seems more fathomable than ever. He is the reason for the season, and any good that exudes from me in spite of my struggles is from the waning, yet still radiant light of Him in my life.

Sunday TGIL

Quick picks that I like for the 4pm games because I was a bit late getting to the computer to put in something for the early ones. We can only assume that I would have nailed every 1 o'clock game.

CARDINALS (-3) over Vikings

Patriots (-7) over RAIDERS

Broncos (+7.5) over PANTHERS

Steelers (+2) over RAVENS

Giants (+3) over COWBOYS


BLOG PICKS: 43-36

Wife Beaters

I was drifting off thinking about underwear recently, probably in a subconscious effort to sabotage my studies. No, not lingerie to the average male reader's amazement. I was thinking about my undies. I've got this go-to pair of boxers that I've been rocking now for 3 years, clearly the ace of my underwear rotation (Note: Unlike a pitching staff, I have more that 5 items I rotate...just to clarify). These Tommy Hilfiger drawers are navy blue with a gray trim around the waste, and have a picture of a football(life obsession) and the year 1985(year of my birth) printed on. They are breezy, but not baggy, and purely a delight to wear. I get excited when I see that they're coming up in the rotation, and, I often times even plan when I am going to wear them. I know, I know, it's sounds pretty feminine but you know what, I'm coming clean about this issue.

You're probably wondering what in the world that previous paragraph has to do with wife beaters. Well, not much but it was a tangent my mind went on while thinking of the actual meat of this rambling: Wife beaters. After dating my current squeeze for about 3 months, her Mom recently came clean to me about her hatred of beaters.
(On a side note, it's incredibly refreshing to get along with a significant other's family. I had always made efforts to coexist with my woman's loved ones, but never actually enjoyed spending time with them as I do in my current situations. I think the whole husband&mother-in-law relationship is an extremely interesting, complex, and often times downright hilarious one, but I will get into that another time) Naturally, I understood her misgivings. I mean they're kind of trashy, that's pretty much where the root of their name lies, otherwise we would just call them sleeveless undershirts. The girlfriend quickly followed suit in the disparaging thought train.

I have to take a second and defend the undershirt trend that was started in trailer parks worldwide a few years back. The first thing I like about the beater is that its a natural sweat protector. When it's a sweltering summer day, I don't want my tee showing sweat stains. It's the perfect layer of protection so the shirt on top stays dry. Why is it better than a plain white-undershirt tee underneath? You have more range of motion in the shoulder regions and it looks better under any collared shirt, as long as the beater lines aren't showing through of course. Secondly, its a great type of undershirt to have on when trying on clothes. Any type of shirt can fit comfortably over it, and it's far less cumbersome than a full tee undershirt when checking out new duds. For these reasons--among others that I won't bore you with--I defend the wearing of a wife beater.

Just to clarify though, I do not support the brandishing of wife-beaters in public or as the only torso apparel that a guy would choose to wear out. I mean come on guys, why not just pop your collar? If you're trying to look like a complete tool box, it's the much better look of the two.

Anyways, went 5-3 with my picks last night and hope to improve on that tonight. Remember that my record is not simply on games that have even payouts. Unlike other handicappers, I will take underdogs straight up rather than with the points. Also I will take hockey and baseball spreads that pay out like dogs because of the difficulty there is in handicapping the lower-scoring sports. So on to the huge (10-free pick huge) Ry for Ry TGIL Saturday Edition:

Tennessee (-8) over TEMPLE

Ohio (PK) over DELAWARE

OKLAHOMA (-12) over Utah

KANSAS (-18) over Massachusetts

RICHMOND (+4) over Virginia Commonwealth

PURDUE (-24.5) over Indiana State

Wizards (+5.5) over SIXERS

Rockets (-4) over CLIPPERS

SENATORS (-1.5(+180)) over Lightning

BRUINS (-1.5(+115)) over Thrashers







BLOG PICKS: 39-30

Handicapping Round 2 of Fantasy Football Playoffs

So because I'm a fantasy nerd and because I am a procrastinator who should be getting schoolwork done, I have not only made lines for this weeks semifinals round of The Green Bleeders and Dan League but have also made predictions on the contests. (I factored in the Thursday Night Bears-Saints game in these predictions) Enjoy.


(5)Boom Goes Dynamite-Greenberg (+13) over (1)The Marble Ryes-Kurz

The Boom squad is destined for another third place finish, but it will be closer than people imagine. The difference in this matchup is in the QBs, where I see the advantage going to the MRs. Big-game Romo will have 257 yards passing and 2 tds, but one of the td receptions will go to a Dallas running back and Romo will also turn the ball over 3 times. Matt Ryan hooks up with Roddy White for a long touchdown and the rookie QB out of BC leads Kurz squad to victory, although the Boomers will cover the spread.

Marble Ryes 103 Boom Goes Dynamite 94



(6)Arabian Sandstorm-Anglin (-24.5) over (2)The Naked Kyledriver-Ramplin/Million

After the Thursday night that Anglin had, you have to lay the points in this matchup. Arabian Sandstorm may be the most dangerous 6-seed in league history. I see a blowout as both teams look to have low-scoring Sundays, but with an early lead, and Westbrook and LJ Smith going against the Browns on Monday night, this baby's gonna get ugly.

Arabian Sandstorm 83.5 The Naked Kyledriver 57


Next week I will handicap the Championship game, so stay tuned reader.

TGIF, it has been a long week! I'm gonna bring the workweek home with a strong night in Ry for Ry TGIL:

HEAT (-2.5) over Hawks

CAVALIERS (-10.5) over Sixers

BLAZERS (-8.5) over Clippers

GRIZZLIES (+2) over Bulls

CELTICS/Hornets OVER 189

WARRIORS/Rockets OVER 215

AVALANCHE/Blackhawks OVER 5.5

FLAMES/Panthers UNDER 5.5


BLOG PICKS: 34-27

First Ever Ry for Ry NFL Power Rankings

Time for the first-ever Ry for Ry NFL Power Rankings. They are long overdue. I think I may make this a weekly thing actually, but given my weird schedule I may not be too consistent with it. Anyways here they are:

1) New York Giants (11-2)
The Giants may have played a horrible game Plax-less, but the Eagles had their backs to the wall, and its really hard to maintain the level of play that Eli and company had for the entire regular season. The defense is still phenomenal. They still have the best running game in the league. The only problem they may have to overcome is if New Eli plays like Old Eli in the Playoffs. If that does not happen they will be repeat champs come February.


2) Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
Troy Polamalu is defensive player of the year to this point in the season. Every game I watch the Steelers in he seems to be near the ball on every play. Put that together with the year the linebackers are playing and the ability of Roethlisberger run the offense and I think this team, which has played by far the toughest schedule, is the team to beat in the AFC.

3) Tennessee Titans (12-1)
I know they have the best record in the league, but something just does not feel right about them. Not enough dominant performances against the elite teams in the league quite yet to put them above the 3-spot.

4) Carolina Panthers (10-3)
I hate to say it since the Birds have Carolina's first round pick next year, but they a really good. What Williams and Stewart did running the rock on a really strong Tampa defense really really impressed me. And they definitely are in the driver's seat for hosting a playoff game at home, where they have looked especially dominant.

5) Indianapolis Colts (9-4)
Peyton is a candidate for MVP, the defense is coming into form, and I didn't realize it, but they have won 6 straight and will probably end up going into the playoffs very hot. Bob Sanders is clearly the X-factor as far as what the team does.

6) Baltimore Ravens (9-4)
Watching the Ravens D is always an enjoyable experience. Last Sunday night I participated in an Ed Reed love-fest (that sounds weird but you get the point) with an amigo of mine. He is so much fun to watch. Between him and Ray Lewis refusing to age, not even a rookie QB--who actually is playing really well also--could prevent them from a strong finish to the season.

7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-4)
Tampa's an interesting team because there are very few big-name superstars, just seasoned vets at important positions (Ronde Barber, Jeff Garcia) , young contributors who have for the most part flown under the public radar

8) Philadelphia Eagles (7-5-1)
We are hot, and the season is alive. Win out, and we're probably in...not a team that anyone wants to draw in the first round of the playoffs. Then again, if the Bucs make the playoffs there's always the possibility that Don throws the Ronde Barber special.


9) Dallas Cowboys (8-5)
Tony Romo is not the Savior in Dallas, it's that simple. They may not even make the playoffs, it will come down to a tough divisional road game against a hot team that wants revenge, and a postseason berth of their own. I can not wait to see the Team Obliterator (Copyright Skip Bayless)meltdown as he watches his former squad kick him swiftly into vacation-mode.

10a, 10b, 10c) New York Jets, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins (All 8-5)
The division is up for grabs, and eventually someone is going to separate themselves from the pack. I still can't get over the fact that Miami is this good. What a difference a year makes.

13) Atlanta Falcons (8-5)
I love Matty Ice and After-burner Turner, but there is a reason that only Marino has led his team to the big dance as a rookie. I hate to say it but I think the wheels come off in the next few weeks, and even if they make the playoffs, they won't go deep.

14) Minnesota Vikings (8-5)
Adrian Peterson is great, so is Jared Allen. Same story as the beginning of the season though: You're not going to win with that quarterback situation.

15) Arizona Cardinals (8-5)
Kurt Warner is too prone to turning the ball over for the team to get far in the playoffs. Their schedule in that division was just too easy and made them look better than they actually are.

16) Chicago Bears (7-6)
Kyle Orton has improved dramatically from last year, but the team seems to remain the epitome of mediocrity.

17) Denver Broncos (8-5)
Love Jay Cutler, but the defense is too weak, and Jay and the other playmakers are too young. Give them a few years.

18) New Orleans Saints (7-6)
Another inconsistent squad. Can we please stop the Drew Brees MVP talk. Pretty please?

19) Washington Redskins (7-6)
Boy, how a season can change. We should have known this team was a phony one when they lost a home game to the Rams!

20) San Diego Chargers (5-8)
They've had some serious injuries on defense the worst being Merriman, but giving that division up to Denver is sad. How the mighty have fallen.

21) Houston Texans (6-7)
Nice win in Lambeau gives them the slight edge on the Pack in the rankings, but this team still can't hang with the Titans and Colts in the division, so they won't be playoff-bound this year. The future does not look too bad though.

22) Green Bay Packers (5-8)
Incredibly inconsistent team. One week they blow a team out, the next week they get blown out. Looks like they do miss Brett after all.

23) San Francisco 49ers (5-8)
San Francisco beat the Jets last week, which means one of 2 things. Either San Fran is on the up and up or the Jets aren't quite as good as advertised. I'm going to go with the latter. Patrick Willis still looks awesome, and is a great player to build a defense around.

24) Buffalo Bills (6-7)
Marshawn can't do it by himself. This team has just gotten worse and worse as the season has progressed. Home losses to the Browns and the 49ers are a good indicator that neither Trent Edwards nor JP Losman are the answer at the most important position on a football team.

25) Cleveland Browns (4-9)
I think Glenn Dorsey may be a better starting quarterback in the NFL than Ken Dorsey.

26) Oakland Raiders (3-10)
Their defense shows flashes, but Jamarcus Russell is clearly not the answer for Raider Nation. Unfortunately you have to throw the ball once and awhile to win games.

27) Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
When Sage Rosenfels and Kyle Orton make your defense look bad in back to back weeks, you know your team doesn't have a prayer. If no one else, at least Fred Taylor is definitely aware of the situation.

28) Seattle Seahawks (2-11)
Seneca Wallace looked good for most of the game against the Pats, but ended up blowing it late. Mike Holmgren's last season is not one that he would like to remember anytime soon.

29) Kansas City Chiefs (2-11)
Tony Gonzalez is having a surprisingly great year despite KC being absolutely awful. It's ashame Tony couldn't escape that situation and play for a contender as the year winds down.

30) St. Louis Rams (2-11)
And Marc Bulger looked like a legitimately good pick for my fantasy squad as a backup to Tom Brady, in case the unthinkable happened. If you did not know why my team finished in last, you do now.

31) Cincinnati Bengals (1-11-1)
Not even Chad Johnson or Ocho Cinco or whatever the heck he's calling himself these days can keep this team remotely watchable. At least the Lions have Calvin Johnson. Speaking of which...

32) Detroit Lions (0-13)
Poor, poor Calvin Johnson...



Ry for Ry Wednesday TGIL:

NUGGETS (-11.5) over Timberwolves

SIXERS (+6.5) over Cavaliers

SPURS (-6.5) over Hawks

Grizzlies (-2.5) over THUNDER

Texas Christian (PK) over INDIANA

Gonzaga (-5) over WASHINGTON STATE

DUCKS (-1.5 (+150)) over Blues

CAPITALS/Bruins OVER 5.5



Last Night's Picks: 5-3

BLOG PICKS: 31-22

Thankfully, Tuesday's Gone....Well, Almost

Tuesday has to be the worst day of the week, right? I mean, Monday's at least have football, and Monday is Tuesday's only real competition for the title of worst day. Even if you don't like football, Mondays still have more to offer than Tuesdays. If you had a great weekend, you're still basking in the glow of it on Monday, enough to at least carry you through the day. If you had an awful weekend, you can at least complain to others and distract yourself from the fact that it's the first day of the work/school week. Wednesday is mid-week and by Thursday, the coming weekend is drawing you in with visions of pleasurable relaxation. (I feel like it has rained on more Thursdays than on any other day of the week in my lifetime, but that's neither here nor there, and I like rain anyway)

Tuesday is when it hits you that you have a crapload of crap to sift through to get to your weekend. That's why I'm going out tonight...to raise a glass and toast the conclusion of the worst portion of the week. Anyways tomorrow I will give my NFL Power Rankings so stay tuned...





Tuesday's Ry for Ry TGIL:

Villanova (+3) over Texas

Davidson (+2) over West Virginia

Purdue (-12) over BALL STATE

CAVALIERS (-11.5) over Raptors

Lakers (-11.5) over KINGS

CAVALIERS/Raptors OVER 194

FLYERS (-1.5(+120)) over Islanders

AVALANCHE/Kings OVER 5.5


BLOG PICKS: 26-19

The Green Bleeders and Dan: Season Update

Year number 2 of The Green Bleeders and Dan (TGBAD) Fantasy Football League regular season has concluded, and the post season is now underway. It was a year of parity in the league, as 3rd place and 11th place were separated by 3 games. 3 GAMES!!! If anything is an indicator of how competitive the league's become, it would be that aforementioned fact. Here are a few highlights from the regular season:

The Departure of Mave for the armed forces in Pat Tillman-like fashion brought new manager KyKy Ramplin into a very nice fantasy situation. KyKy will likely play Dave Anglin's Arabian Sandstorm, a battle of 2 teams that have no lost love between them.

The emergence of Roman, the "outsider" of the league. If the fantasy football league were the NBA, team Click Clack would be the Toronto Raptors. After a weak Year 1, Rome has bounced back strong, although an early round playoff exit does loom.

The Thomas Jones deal proposed by Dan's B. Funston All-Stars, which sent the Jets Pro Bowl-bound running back and contributing wideout Antonio Bryant to Jake's Marble Ryes for Ryan Grant. The deal turned out to be the shift of power to the Marble Ryes in the League.

The Anna Benson Sweepstakes gold and silver finalists finish at the bottom. Probably karmic punishment for their petty wars of words in the Baseball league, Lacey and Lewis both have awful seasons this year in TGBAD League. Both have vowed strong returns in 09 as they watch the 08 playoffs from the golf course.

"Can't wait for the 09 season"...The smack talk has caused ill-will throughout the league to the number 1 seed and heavy championship favorite Marble Ryes. The "nobody believed in us" sentiment-- which apparently translates to the fantasy world-- has especially left a bad taste in Max 20 Characters owner Brian Murphy's mouth. Let's look out for a very emotional battle between the teams in 2009.



Projected 2009 Draft Order:

1) Lewis
2) Lacey or Doran (Currently owned team)
3) Lacey or Doran (Whoever takes over Caplan's team)

[Note, if those 2 can't figure out who gets which pick in the draft I say the other 10 teams decide the process by which this decision is made. Possible options include:
--30 minute Rock/Paper/Scissors marathon
--A one-on-one half-case race of a beer of the rest of the league's choosing
--A public dance-off in LOVE Park shirtless, to be judged by the rest of the league members
--If you are a league member, or just a reader of this blog, please send other suggestions]

4) Murphy
5) Carver
6) Ross
7) Zubarev
8) Blanch
9) Ramplin/Million
10) Greenberg
11) Anglin
12) Kurz

(NOTE: Keep an eye out for the TGBAD League Mock Draft to come following the conclusion of the 2008 postseason)




Ry for Ry TGIL Monday Edition:

LOUISVILLE (-27) over Lamar

PANTHERS/Buccaneers OVER 38.5

Magic (-3.5) over CLIPPERS

Rockets (-7.5) over GRIZZLIES

Rockets/GRIZZLIES under 192

HEAT/Bobcats OVER 186.5

BRUINS (-1.5(+120)) over Lightning







BLOG PICKS: 22-16

School Ramblings

If you know me, you've heard me whine about school at least once. I just hate it, plain and simple. It's utterly ridiculous to take a number of classes that have absolutely nothing to do with one's future career. The argument that it makes you a well-rounded person doesn't hold much weight either, because some of the most intelligent, educated people I know can't remember the great majority of things they learned in school. College, as it pertains to being a knowledge-distributing institution, is an appalling waste of time. Learning and schooling are NOT interchangeable terms. One can love to learn, but hate to be educated. I hate how many people who have gone to college seem to think that it is a necessary part of life. And anyone my age who speaks highly of college or just the importance of doing it seems to fall into three categories:

1) The type of person who is terrified to go against the grain
2) The people who enjoy college for their out-of-class experiences
3) The kind of people, like myself, who go because they think a stupid piece of paper is going to advance them in their career field

Trade school is one school that makes sense to me. Equipping people to be extremely skilled at a particular occupation seems to make much more sense than getting a "well-rounded education" and becoming a jack(ass) of all traits, but a master of none.

Big rebound night as I nailed 4 of 5 picks for you the public. I will bring the continuing success home tonight with a 6-pick slate.

NUGGETS (-4) over San Antonio

MAVERICKS/Suns OVER 206

Connecticut (-15.5) over BUFFALO

OKLAHOMA (-8.5) over Usc

RUTGERS/Louisville OVER 51

HURRICANES/Penguins OVER 5.5


BLOG PICKS: 19-13

"Life and Cigarettes" due out 8/31/11

So I haven't worked much on this Novel lately. Actually I haven't written a word of it since early summer, but that's mainly because I only formulated a rough plot for the thing about a week and a half ago. What kind of jackass sets out to write a novel without any idea about what its content is going to be, you ask? That would be me, the same idiot to come up with a catchy yet ambiguous title before figuring out a plot. Anyways, I do actually think the subject matter should be pretty enthralling, but I will not divulge any specifics at this time. I am writing this blog entry as a sub-conscious motivational scheme to get me to write it. (Thank you Scott Yesner for delivering this theory to me) Blah blah blah, I'm just rambling, then again, that's pretty much the purpose of a blog so I guess I'm doing the right thing...

Not a good Tuesday night of prognostication for me, but I'm gonna bust out some quick Wednesday favs in Ry for Ry TGIL:

SYRACUSE (-17.5) over Cornell

PITTSBURGH (-17.5) over Duqesne

Thunder (+9) over BOBCATS

CELTICS (-14) over Pacers

OILERS/Stars OVER 5.5



BLOG PICKS: 15-12

Tuesday Picks

Ry for Ry TGIL (The Games I Like):


Lakers (-8.5) over PACERS

KNICKS (+6.5) over Blazers

Villanova (-13.5) over Penn

MARQUETTE (-23.5) over Central Michigan

FLYERS (-200) over Lightning

CAPITALS (-1.5 (+175)) over Panthers


BLOG PICKS: 13-8