So apparently Ann Coulter thinks that John Edwards is a 'faggot', and she plans to endorse Mitt for President. I suppose Edwards should feel offended by this, but looking at the spectrum of those Coulter hates - liberals, Democrats, agnostics, Muslims, widows of 9/11, African-Americans, journalists, and those she likes -- Joe McCarthy (her personal hero), Newt Gingrich, Sean Hannity... maybe he should be thankful. Coulter's disdain means that you are always on the right side of virtually every issue!
Imagine my surprise when in the middle of the Mich. - OSU game, I am subjected to a painful HOOTERS commercial featuring none other than Dick Vitale. Talk about your low budget commercials. Vitale looked like he was pasted into literally every scene. You would think HOOTERS has made enough money off of truck-driving middle America to pull off a better editing job than this. And you would think Vitale has enough self-respect to avoid such tasteless promotions...
So Mich St. loses a buzzer beater to Wisconsin in the Cheese State. I am certain Michigan State would have won the game had the refs been only slightly less biased. Never have I seen so many offensive fouls called in one game, and the vast majority of them went against State. The Big Ten is all about a physical, inside game. What were these refs hopped up on? Oh well, Wisconsin has history on it's side. The Badgers have only lost 5 games at home in the past six years. But next year baby! those Badgers are going to be nothing but road kill!
Who says Michigan players are not cheaters? I watched the Michigan - Ohio St. game and I can certainly attest to the fact that Sims poked his finger into Cook's eye. That seems like a not very sporting thing to do...
Apparently, Obama's maternal relatives owned slaves. Perhaps he can win the South after all? (just kidding... I think...)
Showing posts with label University of Michigan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Michigan. Show all posts
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Sunday, November 19, 2006
To Be the Best
After today, there seems to be little doubt that Ohio State is the #1 football team in the country. Sure their center could use a little extra work. But I was amazed by how awesome Troy Smith is. I don't care how many points Brady Quinn scores at USC, Smith is hands down the Heisman winner in my books.
The interesting question now becomes who is the best of all the rest? I would argue, as much as it pains me, that Michigan still belongs in the BCS Championship game... why, you ask? Well really it is quite simple...
The interesting question now becomes who is the best of all the rest? I would argue, as much as it pains me, that Michigan still belongs in the BCS Championship game... why, you ask? Well really it is quite simple...
- I can't help but wonder if Florida ran up the score in their 62-0 win against W. Carolina in an effort to curry favor with the BCS. Despite a less than convincing win against Spurrier's Gamecocks, of all the also rans, Florida may be the most deserving. The Florida St. game will be key.
- Booty and USC fail to impress me. They play all their hard games at home. If that and their pathetic loss to Oregon St. and near loss to Arizona St. don't drive down their BCS score, I don't know what will.
- Arkansas has been on quite a roll. If they can beat LSU, they could potentially make the case for a BCS bid. Their loss to USC was the first game of the season, and they have since knocked off Auburn (then No. 2) and Tennessee. It could be an interesting SEC match-up between Florida and Auburn.
- Notre Dame should be out. Wins over the Armed Forces (e.g., army, navy, air force) are expected and don't really help strength of schedule. Still I would like to see them crush USC.
- Rutgers. Oh poor, poor Rutgers. Well one could question if they really even beat Louisville, or if Louisville beat themselves. They are so out!
- The attack of the Big East continues with West Virgina. They look pretty good, but have only played one ranked team so far (Louisville) and lost. I say they are out.
- Now that Saban ditched them to, I feel a certain kinship with the LSU fan who was betrayed by a coach running toward the elusive pot of gold. However, going to 1-2 against ranked teams, I think LSU's case is far from compelling. Maybe next year?
- How the Big East teams are rolling through the Top Ten is beyond me! Still, Louisville presents an interesting case. Their only loss was to Rutgers and their flukey field goal. Still, I am uncertain that they have the strength of schedule required.
- And for shits and giggles, why not throw in Boise State. Besides Ohio State, they are the only remaining undefeated team in the country. Wow. If they were in the BCS Championship game. I am pretty sure they would get steam rolled. In fact, I would worry that they might get hurt.
So what you ask is the point of all my blabbering? Quite simple. Ohio State and University of Michigan need another face off. Fans will be happy. Media outlets will be happy as rating would likely be fabulous. And people would keep faith with the BCS, which in the past has created some seriously shitty match-ups.
As a side note, I loved the whole Fear Factor, name your favorite mascot campaign. My only pet peeve with the commercials is that they didn't include any Big Ten mascots. The FurFactor commercials can be found on the Capital One Bowl page.
In case you were wondering about the Michigan State game... quite frankly it is just too painful for me to talk about. What is funny is that both Michigan St. and Penn St. are at the moment being coached my lame ducks - John L. because he was fired and Joe Pa because he is old, fell and couldn't get up.
At least I can capture a small slice of football happiness with the knowledge that Princeton secured a piece of the Ivy League title (although technically they should have it outright since they beat Yale) and beat Harvard and Yale in the same year for the first time in over 10yrs. Ah. Happiness.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Football Round-up
There's something curious going on in the Big Ten. Sure there were the expected winners in Michigan and Ohio State, but they seemed weak. And there were unexpected losers.
No. 2 Michigan 34, Ball St. 26
Ball St 26? Yes, you did see that correctly. Ball St. had all of 46 rushing yards, yet still managed to put points on the board at the Big House. Looks like the Michigan pass defense is weak... I hope OSU was watching...
No. 1 Ohio State 17, Illinois 10
Is Illinois back? Have the ghosts of Florida finally left Ron Zook? Illinois could become a contender next year - compiled more total yardage than the Ohio State offense, held Ohio State scoreless in the second half. It looks like their bottom dweller days could be over. Woe to the Michigan State fan, looks like it is our turn to spend some quality time at the bottom.
The UMich-OSU game should be great. I do not care what BCS or stupid (and they are stupid) sports commentators say. The real Championship game is between OSU and UMich. There isn't really another team out there that has shown it can compare. Certainly not a team in the Pac-10. So all this talk of a BCS Championship game is utter nonsense, unless they have a UMich-OSU rematch.
No. 17 Wisconsin 13, Penn State 3
A low scoring game was not unexpected, but seeing the Wisconsin defense hold Penn State to under 50 rushing yards was. Not to mention all the bitching and moaning Joe Paw did, made him hurt his knee. The Paterno situation is sad. He really should just retire and preserve his legacy. Right now he is only damaging the way history, especially Penn State history, will remember him.
Northwestern 21, Iowa 7
How the mighty have fallen! Iowa was actually ranked at one point this season. And now they lose to Northwestern? Even Michigan State managed to beat Northwestern. Iowa still has a chance for a bowl game, but their season has effectively been a bust.
Purdue 17, Michigan State 15
Some how this score looked funny to me? 15 is not a number you see that often in football games. It does suggest some botched extra point kicks. Well, the MSU woes will now continue. They get Minnesota next which just routed Indiana. They have a lame duck coach, as John L had been sacked. Personally, I think this could be a mistake. Who is going to want to come into the toxic waste dump that is MSU football? And poor Drew Stanton... the fact that he rushed for 80+ yards should help him in the draft. Let's wait and see.
Minnesota 63, Indiana 26
Yes, the score is crazy! Equally crazy is that both offenses put up over 500 yards. Where's the Big D? Indiana is really going to have to step it up before they get Michigan next week. The Michigan D is certainly not going to let them put up 500 yards. Minnesota has it easier, as they get my sad and sorry Michigan State squad.
High School Football (aka. Pac-10 Round-up)
Well, didn't those USC Trojans bounce back from their loss to Oregon State with a stunning victory over Stanford. So they beat Stanford 42-0. Honestly, is that surprising? Stanford hasn't won a game this year. In fact, if USC hadn't put up as many points as they did, I would have been concerned.
Cal did have a somewhat convincing win over UCLA, 38-24. But unless you believe in the strength of the PAC-10 conference, which I certainly do not, their overall record is far less compelling.
In case it isn't clear, I have no use for the PAC-10. Their players generally suck in the NFL (e.g., Harrington, Leaf), their coaches can't seem to make it outside of the PAC-10 (e.g., Willingham), and they are a conference of the weak! with a couple dominant teams.
Other Games of Note...
No. 5 Louisville 44, No. 3 West Virginia 34. Louisville has Rutgers next in a game that looks increasingly important. Who would have ever guessed that Rutgers had the chance to be a spoiler. I wish I had the chance to watch the game. The teams seem to have very different styles of play (Louisville passing, WV rushing). This was probably the best game until the showdown in two weeks between UMich-OSU.
No. 2 Michigan 34, Ball St. 26
Ball St 26? Yes, you did see that correctly. Ball St. had all of 46 rushing yards, yet still managed to put points on the board at the Big House. Looks like the Michigan pass defense is weak... I hope OSU was watching...
No. 1 Ohio State 17, Illinois 10
Is Illinois back? Have the ghosts of Florida finally left Ron Zook? Illinois could become a contender next year - compiled more total yardage than the Ohio State offense, held Ohio State scoreless in the second half. It looks like their bottom dweller days could be over. Woe to the Michigan State fan, looks like it is our turn to spend some quality time at the bottom.
The UMich-OSU game should be great. I do not care what BCS or stupid (and they are stupid) sports commentators say. The real Championship game is between OSU and UMich. There isn't really another team out there that has shown it can compare. Certainly not a team in the Pac-10. So all this talk of a BCS Championship game is utter nonsense, unless they have a UMich-OSU rematch.
No. 17 Wisconsin 13, Penn State 3
A low scoring game was not unexpected, but seeing the Wisconsin defense hold Penn State to under 50 rushing yards was. Not to mention all the bitching and moaning Joe Paw did, made him hurt his knee. The Paterno situation is sad. He really should just retire and preserve his legacy. Right now he is only damaging the way history, especially Penn State history, will remember him.
Northwestern 21, Iowa 7
How the mighty have fallen! Iowa was actually ranked at one point this season. And now they lose to Northwestern? Even Michigan State managed to beat Northwestern. Iowa still has a chance for a bowl game, but their season has effectively been a bust.
Purdue 17, Michigan State 15
Some how this score looked funny to me? 15 is not a number you see that often in football games. It does suggest some botched extra point kicks. Well, the MSU woes will now continue. They get Minnesota next which just routed Indiana. They have a lame duck coach, as John L had been sacked. Personally, I think this could be a mistake. Who is going to want to come into the toxic waste dump that is MSU football? And poor Drew Stanton... the fact that he rushed for 80+ yards should help him in the draft. Let's wait and see.
Minnesota 63, Indiana 26
Yes, the score is crazy! Equally crazy is that both offenses put up over 500 yards. Where's the Big D? Indiana is really going to have to step it up before they get Michigan next week. The Michigan D is certainly not going to let them put up 500 yards. Minnesota has it easier, as they get my sad and sorry Michigan State squad.
High School Football (aka. Pac-10 Round-up)
Well, didn't those USC Trojans bounce back from their loss to Oregon State with a stunning victory over Stanford. So they beat Stanford 42-0. Honestly, is that surprising? Stanford hasn't won a game this year. In fact, if USC hadn't put up as many points as they did, I would have been concerned.
Cal did have a somewhat convincing win over UCLA, 38-24. But unless you believe in the strength of the PAC-10 conference, which I certainly do not, their overall record is far less compelling.
In case it isn't clear, I have no use for the PAC-10. Their players generally suck in the NFL (e.g., Harrington, Leaf), their coaches can't seem to make it outside of the PAC-10 (e.g., Willingham), and they are a conference of the weak! with a couple dominant teams.
Other Games of Note...
No. 5 Louisville 44, No. 3 West Virginia 34. Louisville has Rutgers next in a game that looks increasingly important. Who would have ever guessed that Rutgers had the chance to be a spoiler. I wish I had the chance to watch the game. The teams seem to have very different styles of play (Louisville passing, WV rushing). This was probably the best game until the showdown in two weeks between UMich-OSU.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Unbelievable!
Guess who is No. 2 in the polls. You would think I'd be happy seeing as how it is not Michigan, but strangely I am not. Most bizarre sensation. In any case, the BCS has proven yet again how un-friggin'-believable they are (and not in a good way). What on earth has USC done to merit such fanatical devotion on the part of the BCS? I do not understand how a 28-21 win over a no-name, nothing Pac-10 team should vault anyone to a No. 2 spot. BCS must die! I want the Rose Bowl to be the way it was supposed to be...
Ok. So North Korea has a bomb. In my world, this is a not such a good thing. Call me crazy... my roommate does! You'd think the South Koreans and Chinese might be a bit concerned about the nuclear threat at their doorstep. But apparently not. Instead they are planning to undermine the Security Council's economic sanctions against the North Korean regime. Honestly, I cannot believe we fought a war for this Peninsula. If South Korea wants to play kiss-ass, I say we pull our troops out and let North Korea have their way with them. Also, who wants to guess how many days 'til Iran denotes their bomb, given all the internation uproar and condemation it will bring (*snicker*). 10... 9... 8...
Liberals and the McCain love fest. I do not get it! He is all over Bush (seriously, the hugs and kisses are enough to make you nauseous), and liberals defend with talk of how it is only "party politics". Yet when Lieberman votes for the Iraq War, praises Bush, he is forced to run as an Independent. I just don't get it. McCain voted for the war too! He is against time tables for leaving Iraq. He blames Bill Clinton (remember your god you liberal yahoos) for North Korea; I mean forget that Bush labelled them a core member of the Axis of Evil and then promptly forgot their existence. He is anti-abortion. He spoke at Bob Jones University, which would probably never allow his Bangladeshi daughter to set foot on campus. He was a member of the Keating Five, S&L disaster. For all his protestations, he still voted for a Bush endorsed torture bill. Honestly, McCain to me is dangerous. He is not a moral maverick. He is a hard core conservative, maybe not a Christian conservative, but still a hardcore conservative, and liberals should beware...
Ok. So North Korea has a bomb. In my world, this is a not such a good thing. Call me crazy... my roommate does! You'd think the South Koreans and Chinese might be a bit concerned about the nuclear threat at their doorstep. But apparently not. Instead they are planning to undermine the Security Council's economic sanctions against the North Korean regime. Honestly, I cannot believe we fought a war for this Peninsula. If South Korea wants to play kiss-ass, I say we pull our troops out and let North Korea have their way with them. Also, who wants to guess how many days 'til Iran denotes their bomb, given all the internation uproar and condemation it will bring (*snicker*). 10... 9... 8...
Liberals and the McCain love fest. I do not get it! He is all over Bush (seriously, the hugs and kisses are enough to make you nauseous), and liberals defend with talk of how it is only "party politics". Yet when Lieberman votes for the Iraq War, praises Bush, he is forced to run as an Independent. I just don't get it. McCain voted for the war too! He is against time tables for leaving Iraq. He blames Bill Clinton (remember your god you liberal yahoos) for North Korea; I mean forget that Bush labelled them a core member of the Axis of Evil and then promptly forgot their existence. He is anti-abortion. He spoke at Bob Jones University, which would probably never allow his Bangladeshi daughter to set foot on campus. He was a member of the Keating Five, S&L disaster. For all his protestations, he still voted for a Bush endorsed torture bill. Honestly, McCain to me is dangerous. He is not a moral maverick. He is a hard core conservative, maybe not a Christian conservative, but still a hardcore conservative, and liberals should beware...
Saturday, October 14, 2006
The Woes of College Football - Week 6
Heisman Watch
Checking up on the Indiana - Iowa game early this afternoon, I noticed an interesting discussion on the ESPN GameDay message boards. The message was clearly left by a crazy, PAC-10 fanatic. According to the PAC-10 loon, Troy Smith is a mediocre quarterback at best who is only up for a Heisman because the field is so weak, and Smith can in no way compare to the USC QBs of late (e.g., Leinhart). I was tempted to reply to the joker, but decided it best not to dignify such nonsense with a response. Honestly, if Leinhart only had two interceptions (and he actually had 8 last year - I checked) it is because USC plays the weakest schedule of any "top" NCAA football team in the country. Leinhart is doing alright down in Arizona now, but I think Troy Smith will be a phenomenal pro-QB. He can run, move in the pocket, throw, I bet he can even tackle. I am a huge fan! And I dare anyone to come up with a better Heisman candidate.
Something about the Big, Blue, D
Michigan pulled out a 17-10 win in (Un)Happy Valley. And while the game seemed locked up at 17-3, with under 5 in the 4th quarter, Penn State and their 3rd string quarterback tried to make a game of it. But in the usual case of too little too late, it was simply not enough.
Sadly, in my opinion, this game will likely catapult UMich to a No. 2 ranking with the new polls are released. Something I find deeply troubling. Even more disturbing in my opinion though is the notion that Ohio State is a 1A team and Michigan is a 1B team (at least according to the ABC commentators who are clearly on some form of narcotic). I remain unconvinced that Michigan has been tested enough to be a No. 2. Likewise, I would be loathe to see USC in that position. Frankly, I would like to put Florida or another SEC team into the No. 2 slot. Their schedules are crazy hard and far more competitive. But since when do pollsters listen to me?
Also with regards to Michigan's defense, I get that they are good. (Holding Penn St. to negative rushing yards is pretty amazing.) But does that mean they need to become the decapitation squad? I understand that QBs have to take some pain. But the "bear hug of love" that Morelli received was clearly a late hit. Michigan deserved a penalty for it. I forget who made the tackle, all I remember was that he was big. Ok. So it was hard for him to stop... but he shouldn't have had his arms around the QB. I have less to quibble about the hit on Clark. But I think the Michigan defense could and should exercise a little more care in not winning by eliminating players. They seem to be doing it a lot lately, and it takes the luster off of their wins.
Invincible No More
Finally, the sports pundits have tired of the fad that is USC. The past couple years of USC adulation have been painful for this PAC-10 hater to watch. But the commentators are finally, finally calling it like it is. USC scraped by in this game. Booty call interceptions. 21 unanswered points by Arizona St. And this was the easy part of their schedule. With Cal, Oregon, and a revitalized Notre Dame still on their schedule, Pete Carroll & Co. should start worrying just a bit.
Crazy in the MidWest
Indiana over Iowa? You have got to be kidding me. At least that's what I thought. But at 31-28, Indiana pulled out a win to break into the top half of the Big Ten rankings at 2-1. I cannot remember the last time this happened. Sadly though, given they face Ohio St next weekend, their euphoria will be short lived. It will however be interesting to see what No.15 Iowa's response to this game will be. Iowa's next game entails a visit to AA. I am personally hoping they'll want some revenge after getting stomped on by Indiana. And here's to hoping they get it!
Random Aside
Surprisingly, the Ohio State/Michigan State game did not depress me as much as I had expected. In fact, it was a rather existential, out of body type experience. That said, there is a lot about Drew Stanton that reminds me of Troy Smith. And watching Ohio State play, reminded me of what I aspire for MSU to be. And I really believe they could be, if they could only stay healthy and play a clean game.
They also showed a clip of Lorenzo White during the game. Oh Lorenzo, how I loved thee. The last time (and technically the only time in my life) that Michigan State went to the Rose Bowl was when Lorenzo White was the star RB. This was back in 1988, well before the BCS turned the Rose Bowl into an utter travesty. It has been almost 20yrs since Michigan State's last trip to Pasadena. Even Northwestern has gone more recently. The only schools who have had to wait longer are Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. But Iowa did go to the Orange in 2003 and Illinois to the Sugar in 2002. So bottom line, State fans are due a good bowl game!
Checking up on the Indiana - Iowa game early this afternoon, I noticed an interesting discussion on the ESPN GameDay message boards. The message was clearly left by a crazy, PAC-10 fanatic. According to the PAC-10 loon, Troy Smith is a mediocre quarterback at best who is only up for a Heisman because the field is so weak, and Smith can in no way compare to the USC QBs of late (e.g., Leinhart). I was tempted to reply to the joker, but decided it best not to dignify such nonsense with a response. Honestly, if Leinhart only had two interceptions (and he actually had 8 last year - I checked) it is because USC plays the weakest schedule of any "top" NCAA football team in the country. Leinhart is doing alright down in Arizona now, but I think Troy Smith will be a phenomenal pro-QB. He can run, move in the pocket, throw, I bet he can even tackle. I am a huge fan! And I dare anyone to come up with a better Heisman candidate.
Something about the Big, Blue, D
Michigan pulled out a 17-10 win in (Un)Happy Valley. And while the game seemed locked up at 17-3, with under 5 in the 4th quarter, Penn State and their 3rd string quarterback tried to make a game of it. But in the usual case of too little too late, it was simply not enough.
Sadly, in my opinion, this game will likely catapult UMich to a No. 2 ranking with the new polls are released. Something I find deeply troubling. Even more disturbing in my opinion though is the notion that Ohio State is a 1A team and Michigan is a 1B team (at least according to the ABC commentators who are clearly on some form of narcotic). I remain unconvinced that Michigan has been tested enough to be a No. 2. Likewise, I would be loathe to see USC in that position. Frankly, I would like to put Florida or another SEC team into the No. 2 slot. Their schedules are crazy hard and far more competitive. But since when do pollsters listen to me?
Also with regards to Michigan's defense, I get that they are good. (Holding Penn St. to negative rushing yards is pretty amazing.) But does that mean they need to become the decapitation squad? I understand that QBs have to take some pain. But the "bear hug of love" that Morelli received was clearly a late hit. Michigan deserved a penalty for it. I forget who made the tackle, all I remember was that he was big. Ok. So it was hard for him to stop... but he shouldn't have had his arms around the QB. I have less to quibble about the hit on Clark. But I think the Michigan defense could and should exercise a little more care in not winning by eliminating players. They seem to be doing it a lot lately, and it takes the luster off of their wins.
Invincible No More
Finally, the sports pundits have tired of the fad that is USC. The past couple years of USC adulation have been painful for this PAC-10 hater to watch. But the commentators are finally, finally calling it like it is. USC scraped by in this game. Booty call interceptions. 21 unanswered points by Arizona St. And this was the easy part of their schedule. With Cal, Oregon, and a revitalized Notre Dame still on their schedule, Pete Carroll & Co. should start worrying just a bit.
Crazy in the MidWest
Indiana over Iowa? You have got to be kidding me. At least that's what I thought. But at 31-28, Indiana pulled out a win to break into the top half of the Big Ten rankings at 2-1. I cannot remember the last time this happened. Sadly though, given they face Ohio St next weekend, their euphoria will be short lived. It will however be interesting to see what No.15 Iowa's response to this game will be. Iowa's next game entails a visit to AA. I am personally hoping they'll want some revenge after getting stomped on by Indiana. And here's to hoping they get it!
Random Aside
Surprisingly, the Ohio State/Michigan State game did not depress me as much as I had expected. In fact, it was a rather existential, out of body type experience. That said, there is a lot about Drew Stanton that reminds me of Troy Smith. And watching Ohio State play, reminded me of what I aspire for MSU to be. And I really believe they could be, if they could only stay healthy and play a clean game.
They also showed a clip of Lorenzo White during the game. Oh Lorenzo, how I loved thee. The last time (and technically the only time in my life) that Michigan State went to the Rose Bowl was when Lorenzo White was the star RB. This was back in 1988, well before the BCS turned the Rose Bowl into an utter travesty. It has been almost 20yrs since Michigan State's last trip to Pasadena. Even Northwestern has gone more recently. The only schools who have had to wait longer are Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Iowa. But Iowa did go to the Orange in 2003 and Illinois to the Sugar in 2002. So bottom line, State fans are due a good bowl game!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Some Kind of Crazy
Divine Intervention (e.g. Punishment)
I have never quite forgiven Nick Saban for leaving the Spartans right when he was at the cusp of turning them into a real program. He left for LSU where he had a grand ole time stomping over the SEC, while State slowly sunk deeper and deeper into the Big Ten morass. But finally, it appears that Saban too will have to face the pain of mediocrity. Saban thy punishment is a PAC-10 quarterback, and to fans from the state of Michigan, not one held in particularly high regard. Maybe Joey Harrington can work some of his Duck magic down in Miami because he rarely showed it up in Detroit. But it is doubtful. Saban will have his comeuppance as he watches the Dolphins season turn into mush!
Sweet Revenge
Personally I think Manningham is a fabulous player and fun to watch and I will certainly cheer for him when he goes pro. But for now he is a Michigan player and I rather despise him. Although I generally take joy in the Wolverine's pain, it seems rude to smile over potentially injured players. Still the reports of Manningham's injury seem strange. I do not recall any really hard tackles. Yes, Hart was a little roughed up, but Manningham? Maybe I missed it. Looks like Penn St. may have their chance for some sweet revenge after all. And if they in fact get some, I think I may smile just a little wider.
Mushrooms
Generally, I hate mushrooms. Mushrooms in pizza, mushrooms in risotto, mushrooms in Thai food - I just can't stand it. 'shrooms, I have never tried. That being said, I do find the mushrooms and toadstools that grow in my mothers garden interesting in a clinical sort of way. But mushroom clouds are not interesting especially when being created by a silly, little, despotic man in the Korean Peninsula with a fixation on buxom, Swedish women.
How could Bush let this happen? Saddam for all his wonderfully, heinous qualities was quite nicely contained in the Middle East. All he wanted to do was lord over his own people and make occasional proclamations about his fabulousness. Kim Jong-Il is a bit of a psycho and no one knows what he wants. With Saddam, we kind of knew what he wanted. And now in North Korea gets to join the nuclear club as the most unstable member since Pakistan. Honestly, Saddam never scared me. But North Korea does. The Bush administration made a nice mess of this one by not talking to the Kim Jong-Il, and now there is really nothing to be done.
Buying YouTube
Everyone knows Google has money pouring out of its ears. And if I had money like Google had money, I too would go on a crazy, over-priced shopping spree. But I would like to think I wouldn't buy something, like say a baby pit bull, that could grow up to bite me in the ass.
As much as I love YouTube and trust me I do, it is a Napster waiting to happen. And with Google's deep pockets you better believe the media/content providers will be getting in line to get a piece of the pie. I feel rather bad for Google's internal counsel, they are going to be busy! And talk about a windfall for external council. If only I had gone to Law School. Instead of being an ambulance chaser, I could have been a Google-victim chaser.
I have never quite forgiven Nick Saban for leaving the Spartans right when he was at the cusp of turning them into a real program. He left for LSU where he had a grand ole time stomping over the SEC, while State slowly sunk deeper and deeper into the Big Ten morass. But finally, it appears that Saban too will have to face the pain of mediocrity. Saban thy punishment is a PAC-10 quarterback, and to fans from the state of Michigan, not one held in particularly high regard. Maybe Joey Harrington can work some of his Duck magic down in Miami because he rarely showed it up in Detroit. But it is doubtful. Saban will have his comeuppance as he watches the Dolphins season turn into mush!
Sweet Revenge
Personally I think Manningham is a fabulous player and fun to watch and I will certainly cheer for him when he goes pro. But for now he is a Michigan player and I rather despise him. Although I generally take joy in the Wolverine's pain, it seems rude to smile over potentially injured players. Still the reports of Manningham's injury seem strange. I do not recall any really hard tackles. Yes, Hart was a little roughed up, but Manningham? Maybe I missed it. Looks like Penn St. may have their chance for some sweet revenge after all. And if they in fact get some, I think I may smile just a little wider.
Mushrooms
Generally, I hate mushrooms. Mushrooms in pizza, mushrooms in risotto, mushrooms in Thai food - I just can't stand it. 'shrooms, I have never tried. That being said, I do find the mushrooms and toadstools that grow in my mothers garden interesting in a clinical sort of way. But mushroom clouds are not interesting especially when being created by a silly, little, despotic man in the Korean Peninsula with a fixation on buxom, Swedish women.
How could Bush let this happen? Saddam for all his wonderfully, heinous qualities was quite nicely contained in the Middle East. All he wanted to do was lord over his own people and make occasional proclamations about his fabulousness. Kim Jong-Il is a bit of a psycho and no one knows what he wants. With Saddam, we kind of knew what he wanted. And now in North Korea gets to join the nuclear club as the most unstable member since Pakistan. Honestly, Saddam never scared me. But North Korea does. The Bush administration made a nice mess of this one by not talking to the Kim Jong-Il, and now there is really nothing to be done.
Buying YouTube
Everyone knows Google has money pouring out of its ears. And if I had money like Google had money, I too would go on a crazy, over-priced shopping spree. But I would like to think I wouldn't buy something, like say a baby pit bull, that could grow up to bite me in the ass.
As much as I love YouTube and trust me I do, it is a Napster waiting to happen. And with Google's deep pockets you better believe the media/content providers will be getting in line to get a piece of the pie. I feel rather bad for Google's internal counsel, they are going to be busy! And talk about a windfall for external council. If only I had gone to Law School. Instead of being an ambulance chaser, I could have been a Google-victim chaser.
Monday, October 09, 2006
In Response to Comments - Simmer Down Michigan Fans
So I can admit that perhaps I slightly exaggerated the events of the Minnesota-Michigan game. My bad. Although in fairness Michigan was a little sluggish in the second half of the game.
But no one can honestly tell say that Arrington's first TD in the game was good. Please, please watch the instant replay before commenting. His foot never came in in bounds. The commentators were talking about this play the whole game! And the point is John L. did not even have a chance to throw down the red flag because (a) the refs were not looking at him and wouldn't have seen the flag in which case nothing would have been reviewed and (b) Michigan lined up its field goal team in like 2sec. It reminds me somewhat of the LSU-Auburn game two weeks ago. In any case, the play was clearly questionable, and if the refs were taking it upon themselves to review Stanton's TDs' later in the game they certainly should have reviewed Arrington's TD. As a Michigan State fan, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth...
Any how, you have to let us State fans blather on a bit. It's the only outlet we have in a very trying part of the year. I'll understand if you feel the need to do the same during the basketball season...
But no one can honestly tell say that Arrington's first TD in the game was good. Please, please watch the instant replay before commenting. His foot never came in in bounds. The commentators were talking about this play the whole game! And the point is John L. did not even have a chance to throw down the red flag because (a) the refs were not looking at him and wouldn't have seen the flag in which case nothing would have been reviewed and (b) Michigan lined up its field goal team in like 2sec. It reminds me somewhat of the LSU-Auburn game two weeks ago. In any case, the play was clearly questionable, and if the refs were taking it upon themselves to review Stanton's TDs' later in the game they certainly should have reviewed Arrington's TD. As a Michigan State fan, it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth...
Any how, you have to let us State fans blather on a bit. It's the only outlet we have in a very trying part of the year. I'll understand if you feel the need to do the same during the basketball season...
Sunday, October 08, 2006
The Agony of Defeat
Unless you are a moronic Michigan, USC, Florida, or Arkansas fan, today was a bloody, f-ing, awful day. It's painful to watch the teams you love lose and the teams you hate win.
After today, I have come to the conclusion that sports commentators are utter idiots. I mean pick a team/pick a position and stick with it, I can respect that. Or at least have some sort of rational thought process. But no, that would be asking for too much. These guys just sit there blowing hot air and getting paid millions. I wish I could get a gig like that.
Michigan 31, Michigan State 13
Honestly don't know what to say here, other than, did Michigan buy off the refs? If you read the ESPN game summary, you'd think that Michigan won all nice and clean. All I can say is hardly. I have seen Michigan cheat before, especially in basketball (remember the Fab-5 who got paid on the side?), but this was something else.
Michigan's first touchdown of the game wasn't even good. Arrington never came down in bounds. Did the refs review it as they should all questionable plays? No, of course not. Who are they to question the "Victors"? And did John L. get a chance to ask for a review? No. Because UMich decided to snap the extra kick ball, literally 2 sec later. And then the commentators have the nerve to talk about how great Michigan's play was. Puhleeze! That is cheating! Since when did ABC endorse cheating? Actually, scratch that. They do endorse lying. Remember the 9/11 docu-drama based on real events and the occasional Republican lie.
To add insult to injury, the refs called every single penalty conceivable against Michigan State. Roughing the kicker, offsides, etc. etc. As if! If the Michigan players weren't such drama queens this could have been a game. At some point though the refs decided to get some religion, which you might think would be good for State. But no, instead it just meant they would review every single offensive play State made. Including both of Stanton's touchdown attempts. Finally, finally, they let one count.
Aside from the bad calling, the other major downer was hearing all the talk about Michigan potentially getting a No. 2 ranking (and potentially being a National Championship contender) and Trannon getting hurt. He got hurt bad enough for the go-cart to come on the field. Not good. I swear the Michigan players were trying to kill our players. Their were some extra hard tackles against Stanton. Talk about blast from the past, it's how they won 2yrs ago. And they say cheaters never prosper... Michigan seems to be doing just fine.
John L. is looking increasingly embattled. I bet at this point he wishes he never left Louisville. They are ranked No.9 right now!
The commentators seem to think it is the players fault MSU is where they are, and not John L's. I am not sure I agree. The fumbles and the penalties, those are certainly the players fault. But things would be so different right now if Michigan State hadn't lost to Notre Dame. If they hadn't lost to Notre Dame, MSU would have ended the season 4th/5th in the Big Ten. They certainly would not have lost to Illinois and would have been significantly more competitive today.
The blame for the Notre Dame game lies squarely with John L. There was no reason to run down the clock the entire 2nd half against Notre Dame. You never ever count a team like that out, and you always, always try and put points up on the board. Especially when you are weak defensively. And today, with Ringer out, you don't run the ball against one of the best rush defenses in the country. Pass the goddamn ball. Let your quarterback and wide receivers put up yards and points. John L decided not to. I do feel bad for him, but I do blame him. If only, if only we hadn't lost to Notre Dame. This could have been the year.
Ohio State 35, Bowling Green 7
This isn't altogether unexpected. But with all the upsets today, it looks like Ohio State has solidified itself at the No. 1 spot. Honestly, I could care less about Ohio State. But given the level of hate and bitterness I feel for Michigan and USC, I'll be a Buckeye fan. No questions!
Elsewhere in the Big Ten
Penn State held on to beat Minnesota in overtime 28-27. Next up, Joe Pa's squad faces Michigan. I bet you can guess what I hope will happen! You gotta feel for Minnesota though. They put up 350yds in passing alone today and are still 0-3 in the Big Ten. It really doesn't do them justice considering the scares they have been giving everyone. Michigan barely got by them last weekend!
Indiana edged Illinois with a last second field goal 34-32, thus killing any chance Illinois had for back-to-back wins this decade. Kind of ironic that Illinois should lose on a last second field goal, since they beat Michigan State on one last weekend.
Northwestern gotten beaten by the guys from the Cheese State to keep MSU company at 0-2.
Iowa beat Purdue 47-17. Sadly for Iowa and Michigan-haters like me, they have to play UMich in AA. But here's to hoping they can pull some sort of hat trick.
The SEC Upsets
Tennessee 51, Georgia 33
SEC football is great. As much as I love Big-10 football, I think the SEC wins hands down. I wish I had been able to watch this game, but the pain of the Michigan State vs. cheaters game was too painful and the martinis were calling. Maybe Tennessee is back to its Peyton Manning, glory days.
Florida 23, LSU 10
Technically, this may not have been an upset. Unbeknownst to me, Florida is No.5 and LSU is only No. 9. That was shock No. 1. Shock No. 2 was seeing LSU play like hapless, bumbling fools. I expect better from a former Saban squad. But I guess they were down in the Swamp which can't be easy. It is however sad to see their national title chances slip away, especially after seeing them get the shaft the past couple years.
Arkansas 27, Auburn 10
Now this actually was an upset. I am not a huge fan of Auburn especially after all that academic nonsense. But it is mildly irksome to see Arkansas pull a 2-game lead in the SEC West. They may be good, but I do not think they are that good. And at this point is may be an impenetrable lead. Auburn and LSU are still better in my book.
As an aside I am starting to like SEC football more and more. I may have to become a conference switcher...
PAC-10 Drivel
USC 26, Washington 20
Does this mean we are going to see USC in the Championship game again? God, how I hate BCS. I wonder which Hilton sister Booty is dating. God his name is funny. I wonder if girls ever get Booty-calls. USC has had it easy so far. The real test comes when they face Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame in back to back contests which are conveniently at home, as was their only other ranked opponent Nebraska. Interesting...
Notre Dame 31, Stanford 10
La ti da. So Notre Dame beats Stanford. Who really gives a shit? It is a well established fact that PAC-10 teams suck at football, and Stanford is certainly no exception. If Brady Quinn wins a Heisman for this, I swear I will give up college football for life!
Cal 45, Oregon 24
Why are these teams even ranked? Oregon is #11 and Cal is #16. It is ludicrous. Oregon has one "legit" win against Oklahoma and Cal beat the barely even-ranked powerhouse of Arizona St., after being bumped off by a stellar Tennessee. Once again the powers that be in the world of football have shown their pro-PAC-10 bias. If Cal manages to crack the top-10 with this win, all I can say is un-friggin'-believable!
Happy Days in Detroit.
God knows Detroit needs something to be happy about these days. Go Tigers! I love seeing the Yankees lose, but I especially love seeing the Tigers win. And win well! Sadly, their win wasn't enough to take the edge off of the day.
After today, I have come to the conclusion that sports commentators are utter idiots. I mean pick a team/pick a position and stick with it, I can respect that. Or at least have some sort of rational thought process. But no, that would be asking for too much. These guys just sit there blowing hot air and getting paid millions. I wish I could get a gig like that.
Michigan 31, Michigan State 13
Honestly don't know what to say here, other than, did Michigan buy off the refs? If you read the ESPN game summary, you'd think that Michigan won all nice and clean. All I can say is hardly. I have seen Michigan cheat before, especially in basketball (remember the Fab-5 who got paid on the side?), but this was something else.
Michigan's first touchdown of the game wasn't even good. Arrington never came down in bounds. Did the refs review it as they should all questionable plays? No, of course not. Who are they to question the "Victors"? And did John L. get a chance to ask for a review? No. Because UMich decided to snap the extra kick ball, literally 2 sec later. And then the commentators have the nerve to talk about how great Michigan's play was. Puhleeze! That is cheating! Since when did ABC endorse cheating? Actually, scratch that. They do endorse lying. Remember the 9/11 docu-drama based on real events and the occasional Republican lie.
To add insult to injury, the refs called every single penalty conceivable against Michigan State. Roughing the kicker, offsides, etc. etc. As if! If the Michigan players weren't such drama queens this could have been a game. At some point though the refs decided to get some religion, which you might think would be good for State. But no, instead it just meant they would review every single offensive play State made. Including both of Stanton's touchdown attempts. Finally, finally, they let one count.
Aside from the bad calling, the other major downer was hearing all the talk about Michigan potentially getting a No. 2 ranking (and potentially being a National Championship contender) and Trannon getting hurt. He got hurt bad enough for the go-cart to come on the field. Not good. I swear the Michigan players were trying to kill our players. Their were some extra hard tackles against Stanton. Talk about blast from the past, it's how they won 2yrs ago. And they say cheaters never prosper... Michigan seems to be doing just fine.
John L. is looking increasingly embattled. I bet at this point he wishes he never left Louisville. They are ranked No.9 right now!
The commentators seem to think it is the players fault MSU is where they are, and not John L's. I am not sure I agree. The fumbles and the penalties, those are certainly the players fault. But things would be so different right now if Michigan State hadn't lost to Notre Dame. If they hadn't lost to Notre Dame, MSU would have ended the season 4th/5th in the Big Ten. They certainly would not have lost to Illinois and would have been significantly more competitive today.
The blame for the Notre Dame game lies squarely with John L. There was no reason to run down the clock the entire 2nd half against Notre Dame. You never ever count a team like that out, and you always, always try and put points up on the board. Especially when you are weak defensively. And today, with Ringer out, you don't run the ball against one of the best rush defenses in the country. Pass the goddamn ball. Let your quarterback and wide receivers put up yards and points. John L decided not to. I do feel bad for him, but I do blame him. If only, if only we hadn't lost to Notre Dame. This could have been the year.
Ohio State 35, Bowling Green 7
This isn't altogether unexpected. But with all the upsets today, it looks like Ohio State has solidified itself at the No. 1 spot. Honestly, I could care less about Ohio State. But given the level of hate and bitterness I feel for Michigan and USC, I'll be a Buckeye fan. No questions!
Elsewhere in the Big Ten
Penn State held on to beat Minnesota in overtime 28-27. Next up, Joe Pa's squad faces Michigan. I bet you can guess what I hope will happen! You gotta feel for Minnesota though. They put up 350yds in passing alone today and are still 0-3 in the Big Ten. It really doesn't do them justice considering the scares they have been giving everyone. Michigan barely got by them last weekend!
Indiana edged Illinois with a last second field goal 34-32, thus killing any chance Illinois had for back-to-back wins this decade. Kind of ironic that Illinois should lose on a last second field goal, since they beat Michigan State on one last weekend.
Northwestern gotten beaten by the guys from the Cheese State to keep MSU company at 0-2.
Iowa beat Purdue 47-17. Sadly for Iowa and Michigan-haters like me, they have to play UMich in AA. But here's to hoping they can pull some sort of hat trick.
The SEC Upsets
Tennessee 51, Georgia 33
SEC football is great. As much as I love Big-10 football, I think the SEC wins hands down. I wish I had been able to watch this game, but the pain of the Michigan State vs. cheaters game was too painful and the martinis were calling. Maybe Tennessee is back to its Peyton Manning, glory days.
Florida 23, LSU 10
Technically, this may not have been an upset. Unbeknownst to me, Florida is No.5 and LSU is only No. 9. That was shock No. 1. Shock No. 2 was seeing LSU play like hapless, bumbling fools. I expect better from a former Saban squad. But I guess they were down in the Swamp which can't be easy. It is however sad to see their national title chances slip away, especially after seeing them get the shaft the past couple years.
Arkansas 27, Auburn 10
Now this actually was an upset. I am not a huge fan of Auburn especially after all that academic nonsense. But it is mildly irksome to see Arkansas pull a 2-game lead in the SEC West. They may be good, but I do not think they are that good. And at this point is may be an impenetrable lead. Auburn and LSU are still better in my book.
As an aside I am starting to like SEC football more and more. I may have to become a conference switcher...
PAC-10 Drivel
USC 26, Washington 20
Does this mean we are going to see USC in the Championship game again? God, how I hate BCS. I wonder which Hilton sister Booty is dating. God his name is funny. I wonder if girls ever get Booty-calls. USC has had it easy so far. The real test comes when they face Oregon, Cal, and Notre Dame in back to back contests which are conveniently at home, as was their only other ranked opponent Nebraska. Interesting...
Notre Dame 31, Stanford 10
La ti da. So Notre Dame beats Stanford. Who really gives a shit? It is a well established fact that PAC-10 teams suck at football, and Stanford is certainly no exception. If Brady Quinn wins a Heisman for this, I swear I will give up college football for life!
Cal 45, Oregon 24
Why are these teams even ranked? Oregon is #11 and Cal is #16. It is ludicrous. Oregon has one "legit" win against Oklahoma and Cal beat the barely even-ranked powerhouse of Arizona St., after being bumped off by a stellar Tennessee. Once again the powers that be in the world of football have shown their pro-PAC-10 bias. If Cal manages to crack the top-10 with this win, all I can say is un-friggin'-believable!
Happy Days in Detroit.
God knows Detroit needs something to be happy about these days. Go Tigers! I love seeing the Yankees lose, but I especially love seeing the Tigers win. And win well! Sadly, their win wasn't enough to take the edge off of the day.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
A Chance at Redemption?
Quite frankly, I have been too better over the Notre Dame game to update my blog. I hate those bloody, f-ing, Domers. While MSU's defense was clearly on vacation, and John L. was trying to make the offense burn the clock for the entire friggin' 2nd half, I know in my heart (and in my mind) that Notre Dame cheated. And the sad thing is they used to be my 2nd favorite team. I mean what more does a girl want than a team that beats UMich every year and loses to Michigan State every year. It's like a dream come true. Except I got a nightmare this year. And now with Stanton injured things are looking more grim than usual. Still MSU may have a shot at redemption down in good old AA.
Factoids of note:
2005: MSU loss, 34-31 (OT) @ East Lansing
MSU was 4-0 entering the game. MSU then went 1-5 in their last six games. Talk about dismal. But this year, we have a better kicker... please no wide to the rights.
2004: MSU loss, 45-37 (3OT) @ Ann Arbor
MSU was doing just find until UMich decided to take a peice out of Stanton. bloody cheaters. MSU went 1-3 in their last four games. Ach so!
2003: MSU loss, 27-20 @ East Lansing
MSU was 7-1 entering the game, with wins over teams like Iowa and Notre Dame. But after succumbing the the vile AA-ers, went 1-3 the rest of the season. Although the sole win was an awesome spanking of Joe Pa's club.
2002: MSU loss, 49-3 @ Ann Arbor
Oh the pain. I cried that day. Oh, Smoker why did you have to start popping pills. To lose like this to a real Michigan QB is one thing, but John Navarre. Does anyone even remember who he is anymore? State ended the season going 1-2.
2001: MSU win, 26-24 @ East Lansing
Can you believe it? I hardly can. Sure the maize&blue complain about time calling nonsense. But a win is a win I say, and I'll take this one! Although, MSU won more than one game after beating down UMich, they lost to such spectacular teams as Indy-f-ing-ana. Consistency, where arth thou?
2000: MSU loss, 14-0 @ Ann Arbor
A shut-out. No way! Poor T.J. Duckett. He was robbed I tell you. Robbed. MSU ended the season 2-2.
1999: MSU win, 34-31 @ East Lansing
Plaxico what can I say. I loved you then, now if only you would score me some points for my ff team! The Tom Brady years, a boon for us State fans, who woulda thunk he would make it in the pros. MSU ended the season 4-2 with wins over Ohio State, Penn State, and Florida in the Citrus Bowl. This what MSU football was supposed to be about!
Factoids of note:
- MSU hasn't won at Ann Arbor since 1990. All winning streaks must come to an end. If Michigan can finally beat Notre Dame and Touchdown Jesus, surely Stanton can miraculously get well and save State fans.
- State has lost four in a row to Michigan. That's a dry spell if I ever heard one. And I can't remember having to go this long without a win in years!
- History suggests a loss in Ann Arbor would cause MSU to end the season with a record 4-8. Ouch! Typically, after losing to UMich, MSU takes a nose dive, and only wins one of their remaining games. If they beat UMich, they typically take 2 or 3 games, thus ending with a record of 6-6. Bowl game anyone?
2005: MSU loss, 34-31 (OT) @ East Lansing
MSU was 4-0 entering the game. MSU then went 1-5 in their last six games. Talk about dismal. But this year, we have a better kicker... please no wide to the rights.
2004: MSU loss, 45-37 (3OT) @ Ann Arbor
MSU was doing just find until UMich decided to take a peice out of Stanton. bloody cheaters. MSU went 1-3 in their last four games. Ach so!
2003: MSU loss, 27-20 @ East Lansing
MSU was 7-1 entering the game, with wins over teams like Iowa and Notre Dame. But after succumbing the the vile AA-ers, went 1-3 the rest of the season. Although the sole win was an awesome spanking of Joe Pa's club.
2002: MSU loss, 49-3 @ Ann Arbor
Oh the pain. I cried that day. Oh, Smoker why did you have to start popping pills. To lose like this to a real Michigan QB is one thing, but John Navarre. Does anyone even remember who he is anymore? State ended the season going 1-2.
2001: MSU win, 26-24 @ East Lansing
Can you believe it? I hardly can. Sure the maize&blue complain about time calling nonsense. But a win is a win I say, and I'll take this one! Although, MSU won more than one game after beating down UMich, they lost to such spectacular teams as Indy-f-ing-ana. Consistency, where arth thou?
2000: MSU loss, 14-0 @ Ann Arbor
A shut-out. No way! Poor T.J. Duckett. He was robbed I tell you. Robbed. MSU ended the season 2-2.
1999: MSU win, 34-31 @ East Lansing
Plaxico what can I say. I loved you then, now if only you would score me some points for my ff team! The Tom Brady years, a boon for us State fans, who woulda thunk he would make it in the pros. MSU ended the season 4-2 with wins over Ohio State, Penn State, and Florida in the Citrus Bowl. This what MSU football was supposed to be about!
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