And you say Packers fans are intense?

This might be the ultimate sign of a man-crush on Tom Brady.

Not the Best Week Ever

I’ve decided to make “Not the Best Week Ever” a weekly feature, even at the cost of infringement on VH1 because of their original series with a slightly more upbeat name, because I like it. That’s all the reason LPS needs. So here we go…

Bob Knight gets win #900: I am clearly opposed to this development, but I suppose you can’t fight history. Anyway, the good news is that he did it with his usual class, insulting Texas Tech fans after the win. If you wanted a sold out show every game, Bobby, you shouldn’t have let that whole IU mess develop and get fired.

Golfweek made a no-no: Apparently, when there’s already a fracas about a racial issue in golf, the editors of Golfweek could not stand idly by and let what Tiger said be the last word. Even though, you know, he was the guy Tilghman was talking about. I get that you might want to open up some dialogue on the issue, which has largely been ignored by the upper hands of golf. But putting a noose on the cover of your magazine? When it’s been such a charged image in the last year alone? Well, that might’ve been a bad choice. Like milk.

Green Bay cancels Seinfeld: This amazes me, if only for the fact that Seinfeld has been like a train on an unending track since before it went into syndication. It’s a quiet conglomerate, easily outperforming that Bee movie he did. The other thing that amazes me is that Green Bay would go to such an extent to acknowledge Eli has a favorite show. That Eli might be good enough to beat Favre if only he had his precious Seinfeld? The good news, for Eli at least, is that Seinfeld is from New York and apparently supports the Giants bid for the Super Bowl. This almost certainly means the Giants will win the Super Bowl and Eli will steal Peyton’s thunder. That might be worth it.

Pacman loses his Pimpjuice: This is when you know your life, albeit still supported by a world class job and payroll, is on a downhill slope. Pacman Jones lost his sponsor, Pimpjuice. Now, I’m not one to judge the character of those who drink Pimpjuice, but they probably wish to have a certain, “pimp” air about them. And if you’ve been to strip clubs so many times, involving various incidents (whether they are reported with falsity or not), that these people no longer want to be associated with you, you might want to take up another hobby. I’m just sayin’. Now Pacman, please don’t come after me.

Canadian Sports, or, How Not to Approach LeBron James

In a continuation of the thrilling account of childhood adoption in foreign countries from yesterday (don’t go to Africa Brangelina, go to Canada – much easier), I will attempt to comment on the other game The Canadian and myself saw, namely a Raptors/Cavs basketball game.

While not a Canadian sport itself, the game had its location in the beautiful Air Canada Centre (that’s -re, not -er, thank you) in Toronto.   The main focus of the game was LeBron James, as was apparent during the 3 minutes after he came on the floor, when the camera for the Jumbotron was focused solely upon LeBron and no one else.  I mean, let’s not even pretend that anyone else is on the floor, shall we?   And although The Canadian and I had great seats for the Leafs game, we had a clear view of the Jumbotron and LeBron’s actions because we were at eye level with it.  Maybe even above it.  Nevertheless, the Raptors game was much more entertaining than the Leafs.  Seriously, get your act together TPC.

Despite the abundance of pyrotechnics, flying free shirts and LeBron coverage by Raptors media, the new #23 seemed rather bored with the game, even as Toronto (Toronto!!) gained a healthy lead over the Cavs.  There were shots missed and free throws that were thrown away and a general look that if he happened to have a double-double (which it looked as though he would), it would happen quietly (The Canadian said that, btw).  So, while he was still the best player on the court, it just wasn’t what one comes to expect when one goes to see LeBron, in Toronto or anywhere else.

Then apparently, LeBron was taunted by certain peoples who were near the court, which resulted in the King dropping 24 points in the fourth quarter alone.  And so repeated the cycle of defeat for any Toronto-based team.

Two things:  Toronto isn’t a bad team.  In fact, if there had been no LeBron, they would have won handily.  But that leads into the fact that the Cavs really are a bad team, and without LeBron they would have lost to the Raptors.

I guess I should add a third thing, that everyone knows, which is that the factor of LeBron into any equation means there is a potential for greatness.  But as The Canadian and I discussed, we are pretty sure that Michael Jordan didn’t rest on his laurels.  He worked to win every game.  And I don’t know if it’s the fact that LeBron is with the Cavs or if he’s just been handed everything to him his whole life by virtue of God-given talent, but if he really wants to take over that #23, he’s going to have to try a little bit harder.

Quote of the day: “Apparently in Raleigh, “wintry-mix” translates into “blizzard.”  What’s up with that?”

Canadian Sports, or, How to Adopt at a Leafs Game

 

There are a lot of important things happening in the world today: OJ’s bond was doubled, Britney might be pregnant again, the after effects of Mitt Romney winning the Michigan primary, and Pacman has a problem (again).  Unfortunately, I haven’t been around to report these things to you, because clearly this is the first place to hear about important news of the world.  This is in part because for the first week of the year, I was in Canada, and now I am back in North Carolina.  And to answer your question, yes, it takes you an extra week to get used to normal society, once you’ve been in the frigid white north above us.

Part of my trip up north involved a Maple Leafs game with The Canadian (and yes, I realize that by now, at least in the NHL, that game is history).  The Leafs actually won, beating the Tampa Bay Lighting (threatening, I know) in a shootout.  Only my second NHL game and I already get to see a shootout! Yes!

But the shootout is not the real story.  The real story is the aura of Canadian-ness at this game.  The Canadian and I were lucky enough to get tickets, as a gift, for seats in the lower arena near the ice.  Unfortunately, this eliminates a lot of the Canadian-ness that can be found at NHL games.  Except for one case, this game lacked the color I found at the Hurricanes game I went to last year.  This case, is an exceptional one though.

The Canadian and I were seated next to the aisle on one side, and next to a man and his 5-6 year-old son on the other side.  The man wasn’t your corporate type, but seemed nice enough, even if were weren’t chatting him and his son up.  At some point during the first period, the kid managed to fall between two seats in the row in front of us, if that gives you any idea of how young he was.  In the second period, though, the father gets up, looks at The Canadian and myself and says, “Do you mind to watch him for me?” gesturing at his son, and getting out of the row before we can say no.  I’m absolutely serious.

The Canadian and myself are far from looking threatening or dangerous, but still, are you going to leave your kids with some twenty-something randoms you sat next to at an NHL game? I think not.  Needless to say, we watched the kid do what kids do at events longer than twenty minutes, which is to say, look around, pick at the seating and entertain himself.  As we kept an eye on him, because we are seemingly decent people, the time the father had been gone kept growing.  At one point I looked at The Canadian and said, “What are we going to do with him if the guy doesn’t come back?!”

Fortunately, the guy came back before the end of the period, albeit looking a little jumpy, if you know what I mean.  Anyway, this isn’t a typically Canadian thing to do, as far as I can tell, because our story was met with shock the next couple of days as we went to various events for a wedding we attended.  Still, I doubt that the same would happen at a ‘Canes game.

The worst part was that outside of the shootout, this was the most exciting thing that happened at the game (there was a lack of fights).  It illustrates just how riveting the NHL is.  Or rather, maybe the powers that be should start staging events like these at games in order to get people to stay?

Quote of the day: “Canada, it’s America’s hat.  It keeps us warm but it damn sure ain’t warm up there.”

School’s Back

Yes, for both myself and those bowl game fellows you’ve been watching for the past few weeks, school is back. In order to not get too excited about this whole writing bit, I’ll keep this post at a YouTube clip. This is of a Russian league hockey game from Tuesday. The Russians apparently don’t fight in their home country while on the ice, so this is kind of a big deal.  Also, very funny.

Bowling

 

I try not to make bowl game predictions, mainly because if I put them out there, they are usually wrong. But then again, I can’t stay away.  Today is, you guessed it, UK’s bowl game appearance.  The Wildcats are playing against the significantly depleted FSU Seminoles.  There is a chance that Bobby Bowden will be making an appearance if need be.  Possibly as a defensive lineman.

Music City Bowl, UK vs. FSU:  I take UK on this.  I know this has the possibility of jinxing my team, but having the ability to take 32 guys who normally would not be going to Nashville is not a good thing in Florida State’s case this time.  I mean, they’re taking redshirts.  People who literally cannot play.  In any case, I still think it will be a good game, and UK will not win running away.

Roady’s Humanitarian, Georgia Tech vs. Fresno State: I just wanted to include this one because it has perhaps one of the best names.  Roady’s Humanitarian.  I don’t even think those words go together, yet it creates a perfect symbiosis in a bowl game name.  Anyway, I call this for Georgia Tech.

Chick-fil-A Bowl, Clemson vs. Auburn: Besides the fact that both are tigers, this match-up should be interesting.  I give it to Auburn though, because I don’t think the ACC has provided enough of a challenge for Clemson to be prepared for Auburn.  I mean, they played Duke. Come on.

Outback Bowl, Wisconsin vs. Tennessee: I like this bowl because I have a friend who used to work at Outback and now literally throws up in her mouth any time it’s mentioned.  It’s pretty classic.  Anyway, I hate to call it for another SEC team because that’s so cliche at this point, but  Wisconsin was fourth in the Big Ten rankings with a 5-3 record.  To be fair, their losses came to three good or ranked teams, and they beat a #12 Michigan, but the rest of their schedule didn’t seem that tough to me.  I will say, however, that this is one in which the SEC theory of toughness will be tested and I could be completely wrong.

Rose Bowl, USC vs. Illinois: This is one I will be missing, as I will be arriving in Canada when it starts (yes, some people go to warmer places during the winter. I go to places where my nonexistent balls will even be freezing off).  Illinois did beat a #1 Ohio State, so it gives one cause to stop and ponder if they could be USC.  I just don’t think it will happen and USC will come out on top, because then it will give the Rose Bowl organizers even more reason to perpetuate the bowl system in general.

I spent a lot of time on lesser bowls, so I’m just going to cut to the chase, in case my international activities preclude me from posting next week.

BCS Championship, LSU vs. Ohio State: I take LSU on this one.  I don’t think either team is really that great, or that this will be a great game.  I think both had their great games earlier this season, and while they played well after that, just never really got that good lovin’ feelin’ back.  That being said, Ohio State will once again disappoint their crazy fans and send them back to their shivering lives in Ohio.  But then again, I’m biased.

Quote of the week: This dude.

The Sutton Will Rise Again

This isn’t exactly breaking or exciting news, but Eddie Sutton will make a return to coaching to win his 800th game, taking over the San Francisco program mid-season.  And personally, this is not an event I would like to see happen.  If you didn’t know it, Eddie Sutton is kind of a bane to UK fans.  Seeing as how a little envelope sent to a UK recruit was filled with money and the scandal brought the program to, well, today’s records, a UK will not be excited to see Eddie Sutton walking down the street.

I guess I can’t hate on the guy too much, but what else would I do with my time? It’s pretty clear that he has some problems, from incidents both at UK and Oklahoma, but he did come up with a great record at the latter. And I guess if you just want that number, going for the 800 after years of working, and a rather poor exit, is not dishonorable.  But really, how would you feel, as a USF player, if you knew your coach was only coming in to get some sort of record, and then would be promptly leaving?

In other news, the Pats game will be simulcasted onto NBC and CBS.  Long live powerful lawmakers who don’t have NFL Network!

Tonight we have the Holiday Bowl, with Texas and Arizona State.  I call it slightly for Texas, because the entire team can do the the Soulja Boy (see below).  I don’t really think ASU can compete in the random-dance-of-the-year contest, and that translates to the scoreboard, clearly.

And nothing else is going on, because it’s a slow week, which is illustrated by the fact that I’m reporting on Eddie Sutton’s status.  Exactly.

Merry Christmas Eve!

I probably actually have time to write a post tomorrow, because we’re not traveling as usual. But, I think this will suffice as a Christmas present. Also try: the instructional video on YouTube. Have fun!

Old School

A little holiday flavor for you. Who could imagine that a short, plump man with a large beard could’ve lost to Michael Jordan?? I mean, isn’t Santa supposed to be magic??

Lots of Exciting Things Last Night

Besides the fact that my undergrad college lost last night in a crippling game that looked too much like UK, lots of exciting things were going on last night.

The Poinsettia Bowl: I always kind of think this should be closer to Christmas Day, but since it would be “wrong” to make “unpaid” players play on such an important holiday, I guess that won’t happen.  Anyway, if you didn’t see it coming, Utah won, 35-32. More importantly, bowl season is here!  What part of the year do you like better – Christmas, or Bowl Season??? Oh, wait…

Kobe vs. LeBron: They’ve played each other before, but it’s always fun to watch the Cavs, of all teams, beat the Lakers.  If you didn’t catch it, Cavs won 94-90.  That doesn’t sound so impressive, but LeBron did beat Kobe individually.  Now the question is: if Kobe starts getting better as he gets older (and yes, I do realize how good he is), do we need to start testing him for steroids?

Thursday Night Football:  Willie Parker broke his leg last night.  While not inherently an exciting thing, it did let Najeh Davenport step up and the Steelers beat the Rams 41-24. This has to make that whole Patriots/Jaguars thing feel a little better…except 2/3 of the NFL fanbase didn’t get to watch it.

And Terrell Owens calls out Jessica Simpson.  Again, I give this another week and a half, maybe until after the New Years Eve/holiday season is over.  If the girl can’t understand a) athletes are picky about their superstitions and yes, she totally did jinx Tony Romo; or b) a joke, this relationship isn’t going very far.  This is just my conjecture of course, which means they’ll probably be married in a couple of weeks.