Well, the Tigers signed some of their draft picks late, late last night. They draft these guys back in June but all the deals take until the last minute which is ridiculous. Baseball players aren't like other sports so these guys wouldn't get signed and go to the Majors immediately (albeit rarely it does happen) but if they came in sooner there's a change they'd be available for a September call-up. Wouldn't Stephen Strasbug be nice to see for the struggling Natinals fan? But instead, you'll have to go to Arizona Fall League to see him or wait until next spring. Ridiculous!
This is a classic clip from the greatness that is Battle of the Network Stars. It takes a couple minutes before the real action starts, but it is filled with great un-PC lines and arrogant bastards (well, one bastard).
My man from Florida State, Myron Rolle, is choosing Oxford over the millions from the NFL. Well, at least for a year. I hope he offsets any of that nonsense that FSU isn't a real school and doesn't care about its education (that might be too much pressure for the kid). Also, I was just reading this SI article about him just yesterday.
And speaking of reading, I had a post about him committing to FSU back in February 2006. And I forgot to boo C.J. Spiller.
I slept in, had a bagel, then moved to the couch. Then I started back on getting caught up on the dvr (I can't believe how many episodes of Molto Mario, Fringe and other assorted, unnamed shit I've got to sift through). That was several hours ago and almost forgot Florida State was playing their bowl game today (against Wisconsin in the Champs Sports Bowl). Bubba mentioned coming over and Aces might not be too far behind. Plus I need to get some shite unpacked and do something with my office. I guess I'll have to get off my ass.
Oh, here are some pics of the office I took before I left for Florida. I've got a new desk and two new book cases.
How is it possible that I'm tired even with two hour long naps today? I think it is called Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, it is Christmas. Well, the effect is the same. I finished dinner around 5 and then slept until around 6:15. And then I had a slice of cheesecake after I woke up. Goodness gracious.
I think I might've been wiped out by the card playing. I started researching the game we play all the time and can't find it. I know it is a variation of rummy and my folks have called it Liverpool Rummy but the definition seems off. The rounds are similar though we only play six rounds (as opposed to seven) and ten cards are only dealt. I'll have to keep doing some research.
A Christmas Story is on TBS! I can't remember not watching this on Christmas. Though it is more accurately Christmas Eve. Perfect timing, too, as I'm still recovering from stuffing myself with the dinner of ribs, baked potatoes, and veggies. Not the normal holiday dinner but damn good.
Speaking of traditions, I need to get my second wind before we start playing cards.
Heading up to Orlando to catch tonight's and tomorrow's NFL games at Renegade's place. Big games for me and him in fantasy, though much bigger for him (I'm playing for third place, he for first place). I believe it will be my only substantive escape from retirement community hell. From my parent's place it is a couple hours, but I'm going to make a stop by Ron Jon's Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach. I haven't been to that place in 14 years, back when I was actually young. I've got to pick up some nick nack patty wacks.
I figured I had enough of these guys who haven't done anything with their careers, why not get somebody who's good. So I picked up a Joe Dumar's #4 jersey. He's always been one of my favorite players and since he's running the Pistons I figure he's a safe bet.
Great line about the screw-job that is the NFL Network:
"So, you fortunate souls who'll be tuning in from your living rooms on Thursday, be sure to shed a tear for your deprived brothers and sisters in Austin and Madison. And take consolation in the fact that the residents of those fine cities who really want to watch this game will have some really good bars from which to choose."
Lots of wheeling and dealing have the Tigers lineup looking like this:
CF Curtis Granderson 2B Placido Polanco DH Gary Sheffield RF Magglio Ordonez 1B Carlos Guillen SS Edgar Renteria C Ivan Rodriguez LF Marcus Thames/Jacques Jones 3B Brandon Inge
I like that. Just as long as Inge plays better than last year.
Well, the NHL is back and the Wings are starting off unlike they ended the season, with a win of Anaheim. Too bad I didn't start Hasek in my fantasy league, but I'll take the Wings win over a fantasy victory any day.
TVs to the left of me, TVs to the right of me. Well, three in front of me, but I swear there's one right behind me, too. I don't know how I've survived football Sundays before.
The Wookie has landed. Well, on my desk in the sports corner. My award for having the highest scoring rookie in my league up in Michigan. They do such cool stuff in that league. And when I say “cool stuff”, I mean Jager.
With all the Monday Night Football excitement, I forgot to water my lawn. Good thing as its pouring down rain this morning. Too bad I forgot to bring in my lawn equipment and refuse bags. Even when I win I lose.
The power went out at the office. So after 25 minutes, I decided it was time to go the the bar. Next thing I know its 7 PM and I have the home to myself. Too bad I wasted my time listening to the Tigers blow another game to Chicago. Twice in the same day? Ain't good. Anyway, wonder when my brother's going to get back?
Along with the sauce with some macaroni, I made up a combination of yellow squash and zucchini and some garlic bread over to a friend's place. Now, I'm heading down to Cedar Street to see The Spazmatics. Hopefully I don't regret leaving the Tigers game.
I had a dream that the Lions were projected to win 13 games. But they were also projected to lose 16 games. So, the good news, in my dream word the NFL has 13 more games.
This is an exciting day: I'm voting for Jeremy Bonderman to get added to the American League All Star Team. When five players on the team wasn't enough. Go Tigers!
Some crazy spider in my pool intake. I've omitted the after pictures of it floating away all dead and such. Its death came right in the middle of a glorious day of sitting in the backyard and listening to the Tigers beat the Phillies. It almost felt like I was back in Michigan. Except I had a job and wasn't 13.
Well, I change my network login to be relate to the Tigers and guess what happens? Detroit Tigers no-hitter! With my boy Justin Verlander to boot. And they are back in a tie for first place. I think Geister might have been at the game. Good to see this overshadowing the ridiculous bad NBA finals.
Well, looks like Detroit sports are pretty much over. Unless the Tigers get out of their funk, I've got to look forward to the Lions? What kinds of crazy, mixed up world do we live in?
Ran into Tai Chi at the Houston airport and had a couple pops while waiting for this next flight. That kept me from strangling somebody while watching the Pistons game. What is wrong with them? All I know is this flight better not be delayed because of weather, I'm beat.
That was an ugly Pistons game. I don't know if I can sit through another of these (actually, I didn't sit through this one as I used the folks exercise room and then went on a long phone call. Still it was boring).
This place is nuts, not only have I made breakfast but I've got DINNER on the stove. And that was an hour ago. At least we're not eating dinner until 5:30 or so. Hopefully I won't sleep through the Red Wings game.
At least I got the ipod to work. Now if I could just get my parents to listen to me, I'd be batting a 1.00.
Jager corrected me; the Red Wings are already in the Conference Finals, the Pistons are the ones just getting in. I'm sure that's some sort of jinx and the Wings will lose their next several games. Well, two to be exact. Everyone can thank me for screwing it all up.
Thank the Maker that the Pistons finished off those pesky Bulls. Too bad the Wings couldn't keep up the momemtum and beat the Ducks. Oh well, at least one team's in the conference finals.
One day at the hospital knocked out and I'm already thinking of praying to some god for this thing to speed up. Number one, of course for my mom to feel better, but number two through eight to get me the heck out of this crazy place. I'm going stir crazy with none of my normal distractions (dvr, strippers, hookers, excessive boozing, moderate-to-semi-excessive boozing, even work). End it sure doesn't help that it sounds like work's all types of fucked up (convenient since I got my power cord, maybe I can hang myself with it). At least I can catch the last half of the Pistons game while keeping track of the Tigers battling it out with the Bosox and the Red Wings game out in Anaheim.
Great sports day for the city of Detroit: the Red Wings destroyed San Jose, the Pistons made that destruction look small by their manhandling of the Bulls, and the Tigers came from behind against Kansans City. Now, I go to the bar to celebrate.
Not only did I jinx the Red Wings last night, but I jinxed the weather (I scoffed at today's forecast for weather). For that gesture, I got dumped on whilst running to the grocery store.
Man, yesterday was a lot of work but I still managed to get up early to water the lawn. Chilly even managed to swing by and we had time to check out Children of Men (very good flick about a post apocalyptic near future starring a very good Clive Owen). I've got a wedding to half-way crash tonight so I'll have to manage to get some rest some time. That is between all the sporting events going on today (Wings and Pistons are all playing).
Well, not only did I decide to watch the Pistons game, I decided to make lunch. And not your normal sammich, not me! I pulled out a piece of this pork loin I bought, cooked that up with some asparagus, mushrooms & snow peas. Then I threw together a salad. And now I'm rushing the heck out the door to make my 9:00 am meeting.
Oh, and NBA TV showed the ticker with the Pistons score on it. Damn them!
Ugh! I went out for a couple drinks and ended up blowing nearly a hundred bucks on drinks and food. So much for saving money by not going out this weekend. And I was out until near midnight. It just ain't right that I had like seven whiskey and waters and still able to get up this early. Not your normal Monday night, though. Since I don't feel too bad I won't regret it too much, but still...
I think I'm going to be an idiot and try to watch the Pistons game from last night before heading to work. Darn DVR didn't record last night's so I had to re-record the rebroadcast.
Ok..I am in a pub in Marlow, England watching rugby. That's about an hour and a half outside of London. Using my friend's phone to make this post and it's a bit dodgy. Lots of beer has been drank and St. Patty's Day swaq acquired. Why can't this holiday be more than once a year?
This blows, I'm hours away from being able to give neolefty shit about the Suns-Pistons game in about a million hours. What's being on the internet of any value if I can't use it for evil? I'm in the second of the Stockholm airports today on my way to London. Heathrow this time. That'll be three of the four London airports. Please don't use me as a travel agent.
Well, Im in Rome. Funny thing about Europe is that my phone doesnt work here (and thats besides there being no apostrophe on the keyboard). So Ive been making do without a phone and doing splendindly so far. I just finished lunch which was right before the shutdown time at three. Chumps kept coming by and wanting to eat but unable to do so because they were not as knowedgeable as me. Im right outside the church where I think the wedding will be so thats something. And with that, Im off to the pub to see the England rugby match. And then a nap.
I've been watching a lot of Texas basketball recently. Even though my interest has not increased their winning, I've been more into watching this Kevin Durant kid just kill opponents. Though he can't do it all as the Longhorns dropped one to Texas A&M. Durant, a freshman, only had 28 points. I'm even going with The Saw and some folks to see them next Monday.
Oh, Borat is best while loaded, but even better if you eat some food. Unfortunately I missed that last part. I'm in a bit of pain today and the Lions piss poor performance (on and off the field) sure did not help.
So the couch will be my companion today as I need all my rest for tonight's Lady Sovereign show.
I love LaDainian Tomlinson! I might win my fantasy football game this week with the rest of my team having scored only 21. A miracle from heaven itself. Thought I'll be in trouble going forward with Donovan McNabb knocked out but I have an ex-Lion waiting in the wings: Joey Harrington!
Oh, and I'm going into my fourth week on Nano just on pace.
And the Tigers are officially dead. Only a team from Detroit could overachive, manage to disappointment, come back a couple times, but still end up disappointing.
And I've got an early class to boot. Hopefully nobody there knows anything about baseball.
Well, the Tigers game has officially been rained out. This is fun as it really throws off my weekend plans (I had thought Friday would be an off day so I actually have something to do). Worse, I bought another couple boxes of wine and I'm six or seven glasses in and am not feeling much. I hope I didn't buy the non-alcoholic variety.
I missed a lot of NFL games today (though my fantasy team still managed to put up 96 points in another win), but I did get to experience the joys of public transportation. There's a line that pretty goes from my place downtown. And, even more importantly, there's a stop right by the Crown.
Well, let's see if the Tigers can keep up the winning or will blow this lead.
Jager headed out of here a few hours ago and it let me get back to sleep for a bit. Now I'm doing something almost sacrilegious, I'm missing football for almost all day. Though I won't miss the Tigers evening the series up tonight.
I hear Tigers tickets go on sale later today, I think I'll try to buy some. The getting up to Michigan part might be a tad difficult, but I'll worry about that later.
Goodness gracious the Tigers beat the Oakland A's and are going to the World Series. I'm slightly underwhelmed, but that could be because I can barely breathe without coughing. Chilly and Flip-flop were over and got to see me shitting on assorted players who then happened to do something good. A couple games ago it was unwitnessed how my negative behavior got Brandon Inge to have a great day, but today they got to see me single handedly guilt Magglio Ordonez to homer twice. I think I dug out my old Tiger hat at the right time. Yes, it's all me!
Man, these Tigers are keeping me on the edge of my seat. That Todd Jones scares the hell out of me. But a win is a win. And up two nothing is better than being down two nothing. Or splitting the games.
Well, long day of traveling, but I'm all set back at my domicile trying not to fall asleep. I was able to see all four of my brothers today so that's quite the accomplishment. I'm a little disappointment I couldn't find any cool Tigers paraphernalia but my wallet is probably safer that way. Now I just need a serious infusion of sleep.
Well, the Tigers might be wining, but the Lions still stink. Me and S. Money saw that dreadful game before heading down to Fenton to meet up with his brother at this little place called the French Laundry. They had tons of beers, including this crazy beer from Unibroue brewery called Apple-Ephemere. We ran out of time and couldn't hit Joe and Lewie's Penalty Box Sports Tavern (long name, but it's a bar owned by folks associated with the Red Wings). Then we headed and met my brother at his place of work before arriving way too late in Ann Arbor for my other brother's taste. Oh well. Early start tomorrow for my return trip so I better hit it. Not like I can verify my fantasy football scores or anything. Damn no internet!
Woo hoo, the Tigers beat the dreaded Yankees. The reception was successful and now we're headed back to S. Money's place for some after drinking (and hockey watching). And I have a line on a bottle of absinth!
I actually made it into the office today, but really should've stayed home because I actually had to work. At least I'm all prepped up for the game. Let's hope the Tigers throwing a rookie pitcher works out for the better.
Good to see the Tigers blow five games in a row and lose division. And the Lions lost. Though my fantasy football team is looking in good shape, but reality sports blow right now for me.
I just survived an interception run back by Jacksonville defense that would've cost me a victory in fantasy football. Instead, my team remains undefeated. Good for me.
Speaking of sports, the Tigers have quietly won four of their last six. That doesn't keep them from having the second worst record in baseball since the All-Star break, but it's something to hang your hat on. Albeit a small hat.
Hey fellow Lions fans, losing 6-9 against the defending NFC champs is still a loss. Don't bleed me a river with talks about moral victories and building character. Matt Millen still needs to go far away (I'd say die, but don't want to be too morbid).
Went out with Aces and he originally started off the night saying he was rooting for Ohio State in the big game later today (he's a Nebraska fan), but he changed his tune after the drunken antics of the jackass Buckeye fans. I tried to tell him.
I don't know if I've chronicled my issues with my license plates, but it's been a big pain in the ass. I decided to set myself officially as Texas resident (and this is three years past due). It helped that my license and tags both expired on 8/10. First step was last Thursday to get my driver's license. So here is the breakdown:
Wait in line at the license bureau; I'm told I need to register my car first Go to register my car (another line); I'm told that I need to have my car inspected first I get my car inspected and wait about 45 minutes, but do get a Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich at the nearby gas station I head back to the register my car (another line, of course). I get my plates, but get to enjoy several uncomfortable moments where the clerk was telling me how lucky I was to be white because black people get pulled over for having expired registration. It's almost 4:45 when I leave and barely get back to the DMV to get my license; they say they've got time, but I don't have my social security card. And I don't know where that is, so I'll have to head downtown to get a new SS card.
Needless to say, I'm not getting my new license for a while. But then the fun part came:
I didn't have nuts or bolts for my front license plate, so I went to Lowe's to get some. The guy matched me up, but I got out to my car and they didn't work (and it was past closing time, so I was stuck for the night). I went to Autozone and matched up the screw exactly. There were length choices and the guy at the counter "guaranteed" the short ones would work. Headed to Chilly's place and the short ones didn't work so I stop and pick up the ones that did fit. I get back to my place, put in the front plate and I'm set. I go to the back and the right screw is stripped and I can't get it out and I end up tearing off my FSU license plate.
OK, the Tigers have got off the losing streak and beat Boston a couple times. I feel a bit better, though I still don't want them to ever lose. Only total victory will satiate me!
The nearly forty hours spent on the couch isn't nearly enough. Not enough! Though it can't make the stink of the Tigers losing their ass go away. Stink!
I got a call from Chilly asking what food's good at Comerica Park. He's on a whirlwind two day/three baseball field weekend and the Tigers-A's game was the middle chapter. Hopefully he gets me a program, but I'll forgive him if he doesn't.
I was really pretty ambivalent towards this World Cup final, but then I saw that French dude headbutt the guy on the other team and gained a modicum of interest. Just a modicum.
And I celebrated the Italian victory by eating some meatballs and vacuuming my pool. I'm hoping that the most exciting thing I do for a while.
I was too drunk and stupid yesterday to realize Steve Yzerman officially retired and Ben Wallace left the Pistons. I'm glad I'm half drunk still. God bless America!
Well, Edmonton blew it and now the Carolina Hurricanes skate with the Stanley Cup. I really didn't care that much either way, but I had hope for Edmonton to win because my brother (yet another of them) had made a bet that Edmonton would win. I think he got something like 25 to 1 so he wouldn't go some decent cash. Oh well. It was a good series, what I saw of it. I should be happy that hockey's back, but I still would've liked to have seen the Red Wings in the Finals. Not to sound like a broken bell, but Oh Well.