Chargers 28 Chiefs 20

Chargers made the game interesting, but it should have never came to that... Chargers haven't had their bye and have had a brutal schedule.

If all goes as the 'master plan'... that I've set out for the Chargers, they should beat the Jets handedly next week, have their bye and begin the domination....

Broncos are still over-rated...

The Chargers should be 8-0...

Antonio Gates is awesome...

And don't give up on Tomlinson....the reason the Chargers look so good is because every team they play has to devote at least 3 players to cover Tomlinson on every play... and if you choose not too, be prepared to lose...


In conclusion... Go Chargers!

PS:

Bazooka Joe inspired post.

Random Thoughts

Ok, so I've been slacking...but for good reasons... it's the fall and I'm fairly busy at work.. but I got a little free time, so here are some random thoughts from me...

1. I don't listen to country music, but have had to work a few country music concerts here in the past few months and is it just my imagination or are all these "popular" country music acts just taking rock 'n roll songs and countrifying them?

2. I was really happy that the Yankees and Red Sox both got beat and didn't make the World Series. It was a rare treat to see the national media literally deflate when both teams failed to make the Championship series. I was hoping for a better series, but two years in a row and only 4 games needed to wrap things up. Congratulations White Sox.

3. A friend recently acquired the Mad Season DVD of their live performance at the Moore Theatre... it is awesome. Only about 40 minutes, but I enjoy it very much. I was never a big Alice In Chains fan, but this collaboration is really good, imo.

4. Some football talk: The San Diego Chargers should be 7-0 right now. I think the Broncos aren't as good as all the hype, nor are the Steelers. Living smack-dab in the middle of Viking country it is kind of fun being the person who supports a 'real team' for a change...and I get no qualms from Viking fans...they understand that their team stinks. The Randy Moss trade didn't work out as well as they all hyped it when it happened.

5. Gas prices - sure is odd how gas prices rose during the hurricanes and the 'line' the media and producers were citing was that they were merely passing the increase(s) down to the consumer that were being initiated from other sources...yet now all oil/gas producing companies are coming out with their 2nd quarter and 3rd quarter finacial reports and all are reporting record profits - Exxon/Mobil with a 75 percent revenue increase from this same time as last year, Royal Dutch Shell had 67 percent increase and BP, 37 percent. And none of them intend to increase production - and why would they? They will make a truckload of money as long as they can keep prices high.

6. Have you ever noticed that when a person is attending college, many feel they are 'superior' and smarter than everyone else? Many college students think they have all the cures to the world's ails...just that no one will listen to them... I remember going to college and thinking of how much money I was wasting listening and learning things that I will never, ever use in the real world...

7. Do all movies suck these days? I know, there is probably a good movie released every now and then, but for the most part, I think that 99.9% of all movies coming out of Hollywood these days is pure garbage.

8. The same goes with music...I like the 'heavier' sounding stuff, I won't deny that, but watching the music video channels I notice that a lot of these newer bands just scream...as if that is all 'heavy' music needs to be. But I still think there is a lot of good music out there, it just isn't getting played on the radio... I currently have been listeing to the latest Static-X, Pennywise, Fu Manchu and of course, Clutch - who I will be seeing live on November 29th, in Minneapolis.

Alright, that's it for now...

I know I forgot a score prediction last week... so I'll do it now... Chargers 31 Chiefs 20.

Week In Review

As I mentioned last week, my wife and kids were going to be out of town for 4 days...so I was left home alone...a very rare occurance for not just hours, but multiple days... so here's what I did - and note, it would have been more exciting, but I had to work 3 of the 4 days:

Thursday:

Didn't do too much, went over to a friend's house, drank some beers and played Madden '06.

Friday:

Started out after work, went out and had some food and drinks with a buddy then went to a local bar and saw a band play. The band was pretty good, my friend got trashed...went to the weekly card game around 1:00 AM and played cards until 3.

Saturday:

Worked from 10 AM until 5 PM. Went home, napped for an hour, then went to a friend's house watched Game 1 of the World Series. Drank some beers. Then went to a bar within walking distance of my house and hung out with some buddies - shut the place down at 2 and then stumbled home.

Sunday:

Chargers game on at noon...man that's too early when you stay up so late! Game 2 of the WS and off to bed.

No work on Monday and was good to get some rest in before going to work...

So yeah, nothing too exciting and if you eliminate the time I slept, the time I was actually at home for those four days was probably less than 2 hours...

Heartbreaker...

Chargers 17 Eagles 20

Chargers lose a game that they easily had locked up...

1. First half penalties...again. Almost every play there was a flag.
2. No LT - the Eagles had 11 guys on Tomlinson on every play.
3. Brees looked good.
4. Defense looked good - biggest surprise there.
5. One play and the Chargers went from almost assuredly winning the game to losing it...and even then if Caldwell hadn't fumbled on the last Charger play, the Chargers were still in position to force overtime or possibly win the game... bad breaks at the wrong time.

Perusing many Charger forums, some are thinking the Chargers are destined to lose, that the coaching is what is costing the Chargers their 3rd loss this year, all after leading in the fourth... I think the Chargers are still a good team and this Philly game is the last of the really 'tough' ones for a while. Frustrations from this week's loss should be taken out next week with a KC beat down...

Let The Party Begin

Our daycare provider is taking today and tomorrow off. No school for the kids, so my wife is taking the kids to visit relatives in the cities. I have to work, so I'll be at home alone for the next four days... I'll try and take it easy tonight and tomorrow, but I make no promises for Saturday after I get off work...

Chargers Dealing

It looks as if the Chargers are positioning to move Phillip Rivers - or at least that's my speculation. They traded with Miami to get A.J. Feeley, to be the backup QB. I'm guessing they may make the trade in the next week or two (before the deadline) for a team that is in desperate need of a starting QB right now but also look to fill that spot for years to come...which could be any number of teams... Baltimore, NY Jets, Arizona, Chicago...

The Chargers also traded disgruntled OG Toniu Fonoti to the Minnesota Vikings. Fonoti started the season as a starter on the Charger line, but after breaking his hand and being replaced and then outplayed, wanted to be traded. The Fonoti was a first rounder 3 years ago, and although a respectable run block for most games, but a very poor pass blocker...and not to mention gaining weight each year and this season coming in extremely heavy.

I like both moves, except the Chargers aren't really getting a lot in return... two seventh round picks (one from each Miami and Minnesota) and Miami also gets Cleo Lemon, the Chargers 3rd string quarterback. But I think these two moves are just positioning for a bigger deal with a team and terms to be named later...hopefully for some secondary or defensive line help and some high picks next year...

Chargers 27 - Raiders 14

Moss went down early...

Tomlinson dominated....

If you let Tomlinson dominate you, which he can, you will lose...

Give the ball to Tomlinson....

I love when the Chargers prove me wrong and they do it all the time...

So I'm picking against the Chargers from now on... ;)

(As David Puddy would say..."Got to support the team." ... I'm just not committed enough to become a face painter right now... but if I have to, I will...

Chargers at the Raiders

San Diego travels to Oakland tomorrow, the Chargers coming off another last second loss to Pittsburgh on Monday night sit at 2 -3. While the Raiders beat the Cowboys two weeks ago and are coming off their bye week.

The keys for San Diego's success remains the same... keep the defense off the field. Effectively move the ball and control the tempo of the game. Unfortunately, Charger-Raider games typically are close fought contests and the Chargers, this season, are unable to come out on top of those such tilts, again, primarily because the defense can not make the big stop or play to stop the game winning drive. The Chargers are a good team, but until they prove they can win a close game, until the defense can prove they can stop a team when it needs too, they will remain just a good team, but very beatable.

Raiders win in a close game 31-28...Janikowski has been missing so far this year, so it might leave the door open a crack for the Chargers to eek out a win...

Bazooka Joe

New favorite shot: Bazooka Joe. A shot of Bacardi Limon dropped in a glass of Red Bull... tastes like bubble gum... good stuff...

Forecasting Warmer Winter

NOAA is forecasting a warmer winter than normal for my region... which, if true, would be great. The energy bill for my house is going to be insane this winter, so much so I am trying to get a new furnace and air conditioner installed before the cold weather gets here...

I just wanted to post this map because I don't think weather forecasters have a clue, especially when making long range predictions, and I can rip on them in March when the high isn't above 30 degrees yet...

Drinking Comments Stir The Pot...

Well, it appears as if my HARSH remarks regarding all the local college kids drinking themselves unconscience riled some folks up...

First, let's make sure we are all clear as to what my comments were, they were:

Drinking until they are unconscience (or close)... but this is the barren wasteland and that's what living here might lead you to do...if you are an idiot.

The rest of the of that entry is simply an article from the local paper, The Forum.

And I stand by my comments and am not in the least bit feeling guilty about making them.

A person can have a 4.0 GPA, be a rocket scientist and literally the smartest person on the planet. But if you are sucking on the end of a vodka bong with one intention, to get so drunk that you will black out and/or possibly die... I'm sorry, you are an idiot.

Then there's the comments about alcoholics and I don't know what underlying problems they may have... now, I know I'm making an assumption, but I think it is going to be fairly safe... these kids are IN COLLEGE and all of them are MINORS. Now sure, they may be full blown alcoholics, but I'm willing to bet that each and every one of these cases the person made the choice to consume the almost lethal amount of alcohol that they did.

Then you go to today's article: "Death Won't Curb Drinking", whose opening line is:

"The death of one student and the arrest of others on alcohol-related charges grab headlines but do little to change behavior, several Minnesota State University Moorhead students said Monday.

“I’ve heard just as many people wandering around going, ‘I’m going to get totally smashed tonight,’ as I had before,” said Zac Wendler, a junior.."

My point is, is that these kids are making a totally idiotic decision. Yes, when I was younger and in college I liked to go out and party just like anyone. But I NEVER went out with the intention of drinking so much liquor that my life (and others) would be jeopardized. Power Hours - drinking 21 shots in one hour... that's just plain stupid. Vodka bongs, just plain stupid.

Sure, come up with social, political or whatever other excuse you want to pass the blame onto. But the bottomline and the truth of all this, is that these kids CHOSE to drink and then CHOSE to drink more and then CHOSE to drink more and then CHOSE to drink more and then CHOSE to drink until they black out. I think their CHOICE is DUMB. Trying to find fault somewhere else or someone else is just trying to pass blame onto anything that isn't the true cause.

Chargers Lose - 24-22 to Steelers

No offense in the first half.

Way too many penalties...

Failed 2-point conversion...

Chargers either win big or lose close...

Chargers - Steelers Preview

Well, I best get my thoughts on tomorrow's Monday night game, Pittsburgh at San Diego, while I can...

The last two games the Chargers have played like the team I expected to see all season. It proves to everyone, including me, that they are indeed a good football team at this time. The Steelers are coming off a bye week after a loss from New England, a team that the Chargers throttled just last week. The reason the Steelers lost was because on the final drive Brady effectively drove the Patriots down the field for the game winning field goal. Which really gives the Chargers the road map to this, and every game henceforth. The Charger defense isn't anything special and if the Chargers are going to win ball games, the defense shouldn't be called upon to do so. The Charger offense needs to control the ball and the tempo of the game...and just look to last week's Charger win over the Patriots.

Having said that, with the game being played in San Diego, on Monday night, Chargers donning their powder blues, the crowd should be jacked... I like the Chargers. I think if Brees can effectively pass, Tomlinson will be running wild and the game could easily be dictated by the Charger offense. Chargers win 42-31. (Chargers need to score 40 points or more to win...imo)

Blackjack

Ok, so I was playing blackjack last night and I can't believe how DUMB people are when playing this game, so I thought I would do everyone a service here and explain how simple this game is...

PREFACE: I am by no means a gambling expert... nor claim to be.

Background:
Here's a little of my blackjack past. When I turned 21 and first (legally) set foot inside a bar, I was lured to blackjack. As I've mentioned in the past, I've always liked playing cards, so it is no wonder I would be attracted to a gambling, card game. So I started playing blackjack...and did I play. I would play and play and play. Most of my trips to the bar weren't to drink, but to play blackjack. And sure, the more you play, the better you get...but there is no question, the more you play the more you lose. Oh, I loved playing blackjack. Then I decided to get a second job while going to college and what better 2nd job than becoming a blackjack dealer. So I did... I dealt blackjack for a little more than 2 years. And that is what opened my eyes to the game. My thirst to play blackjack was quenched shortly after I began dealing...because it is/was very easy to see 'patterns' as the game is played...that is the game is very cyclical. I now play blackjack on some occassions and will very rarely will play more than $20.

Here's just some tips out there for some novice players:

Insurance (when the dealer is showing an ace), you are able to put up 1/2 your original wager to 'insure' your bet against a blackjack. This is the dumbest bet any player can make EVER. Insurance is strictly a house bet. The BEST case scenario if you insure your hand is that you will not lose (well duh) and that is the BEST that can happen to you if you insure your hand, you will get all your money back and not lose...of course you've won nothing. The WORST case scenario is that not only will the dealer not have blackjack - and thus take your insurance bet - but also beat your hand outright and now you've just not only lost your insurance bet, but also your original wager. Anyone that ever tells you that betting insurance is a smart or good move is a MORON. Never, ever bet insurance.

Go against an ace. Going hand-in-hand with insurance is playing against a dealer with an ace showing. Toughest hand to beat, in my opinion, why? Well if the dealer doesn't have blackjack, they then could have a winning hand without taking any cards, and if they don't have a winning hand, the dealer would have to take at least two cards to bust. So the dealer is essentially showing a hand that, as a player, you know needs two cards to bust, if that is possible... so playing against an ace up, I do try to make my hand as strong as possible.

Which leads to my next point. I NEVER hit anything higher than a 14...EVER. At 14, there are 6 cards that will bust you and 7 cards that help you. At 15, reverse those numbers. So you can see that by simple math (which I never claim to be a math whiz), that the odds are slightly in your favor in not breaking your hand if you hit a 14. Many times I see players that will hit 14, 15 and even 16's when they are up against a 8, 9, 10 or an ace but then see the dealer bust. There is nothing more frustrating than busting your hand only then to see the dealer do the same...so I try to minimize my own busts, as much as possible.

Doubling down - after your first two cards, you are allowed to double your bet, but can only receive one card to make your hand. Obviously the best time(s) to double down is when you have a 10 or 11 showing...and I advise making that bet under the stipulation that the dealer is showing a 2 thru 6. Many times I see players doubling down anytime they have a 10 or 11 regardless of what the dealer has...often times up against a ten or even worse an ace. Well, these people just deserve to lose their money. Sure, they may luck out a few times, but in the long haul, doubling down against a good up card for the dealer is just plain dumb.

Splitting - when you have 2 like cards dealt to you, you then can match your original bet and play two hands - if matched again, you can repeat and most places will let you play up to 4 hands. The exception is aces, where splitting them will only get you one card per ace and no resplitting...so a maximum of 2 hands can be played if dealt 2 aces. Splitting cards is a risky play, regardless of the dealer's upcard...of course if the dealer is showing a loser, it might be tempting. But a player should only split 7's, 8's or 9's, in my opinion. Even 7's I would be leary of. 8's against a almost any upcard is actually not a bad play, imo, because 16 is crap and hopefully you can salvage one of the two hands to break even on the hand. If you ever split 10's, you could just write me a check for the money you want to gamble and I will gladly accept it and save you the time and trouble of actually having to play and lose at blackjack.

These are just some of my basic strategies, and although I never really win a lot of money, I typically can play for a while, which most of the time is the only reason I am playing, to kill some time...but with any gambling card game, if you don't get the cards, it doesn't matter how good of a player you are.

Enough Spam

Ok, I had to turn on the word verification feature for comments...which means after you leave a comment, you will be asked to type in a word that is shown to you as a graphic...

Apparently my blog is so huge, the spammers have it in their sites. I use to just delete the comments from the spammers, but anytime I make a post, I have 4 spams instantly and more that follow...

So I do apologize if this inconveniences anyone...

Party's Not Over Yet...

What's with these college kids? Drinking until they are unconscience (or close)... but this is the barren wasteland and that's what living here might lead you to do...if you are an idiot...:
An 18-year-old Minnesota State University Moorhead student with a blood alcohol content more than double the legal limit was taken to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo on Thursday night, the fifth reported case since last Friday.
Police were called about 9:50 p.m. to MSUM’s Grantham Hall, where they found Mark Adam Muirhead intoxicated and unresponsive in the second-floor bathroom, Sgt. Chris Carey said in a news release.
Police and paramedics then escorted Muirhead, stumbling and smelling of alcohol, to the hall’s main floor, where police gave him a Breathalyzer test.
His blood alcohol content registered 0.192 percent. The legal limit is 0.08.
“I failed,” Muirhead said, his speech slurred.
Muirhead was taken outside and placed on an ambulance stretcher. He thanked personnel for helping him.
He was then transported to MeritCare.
Nick Fredrickson, a 22-year-old MSUM student, helped lead Muirhead inside the hall after finding him in the parking lot.
Fredrickson brought Muirhead to the second-floor bathroom, where Muirhead began walking under his own power. But then the 18-year-old fell down again, prompting Fredrickson to call MeritCare. The hospital referred him to police.
Police will seek charges of minor consuming alcohol, Carey said in the release.
Officers were unable to determine how Muirhead obtained the alcohol.
In the other cases:
- Concordia College student Kendra Bell, 18, was hospitalized at MeritCare for intoxication early Wednesday after police found her incoherent in a dorm room.
- Concordia student Jessica Vandeusen, 19, was hospitalized at MeritCare on Sunday after being found conscious but intoxicated in a house at 603 9th St. S. in Moorhead.
- Jenna xxxxxx*, 19, 137 Prairiewood Drive, Fargo, was taken from her home to Fargo’s Innovis Hospital by paramedics on Saturday after she passed out while drinking vodka.
- And last Friday, Concordia student Jesse Ringdahl, 19, was taken to Innovis Hospital after a passer-by found him semiconscious in the front yard of a home at 919 5th St. S. in Moorhead.
The four were treated and released.
Concern over underage drinking was heightened after the body of Minnesota State University Moorhead student Patrick Kycia, 19, was pulled from the Red River on Sept. 27. He had been missing for five days and was last seen drinking at a party at an MSUM fraternity house.
Larson said Moorhead police have been putting extra officers on patrol around MSUM to discourage drinking. That partnership has not yet been duplicated at Concordia, he said.

* Updated 10/15/2010 - Last name removed as per request.

OLN Hockey Review

OLN stepped onto the major sports scene last night and wasn't too bad.

Their studio team was (former ESPN hockey commentator) Bill Clement, hockey 'insider' Neil Smith and former player Keith Jones. I really liked Gary Thorn and Bill Clement when they would do hockey on ESPN...by far (I thought) the best tandem in the business. The studio coverage just didn't have any 'umph' for me. All three of the studio analyst's seemed suited as an 'analyst' and Bill just didn't have that flair that a John Buccigross has, imo. They really didn't add any excitement to opening night, which really isn't that bad... I say amongst hockey fans, it was a better move to be non-offensive on opening night than to be an in-your-face type program. With all the new rule changes, hockey fans are just looking for any reason to walk away from the sport forever.

From what I saw from last night's action, the rule changes were well received. I think the game flows better and I think scoring will increase...and for the record, I never really wanted to see scoring increase, I enjoyed a 1-0 goalie battle just as much as a 7-6 shootout.

OT: I haven't tuned into OLN before, but apparently according to their commercials all they air is PBR (Professional Bull Riding) and re-runs of Survivor...so unless a fantasy PBR league fires up, NHL will be the only thing I'll be watching on the OLN...

Skip Fall - Straight To Winter

A week ago it was 90 degrees and sunny. Today the high won't even be 45 degrees, it's windy and cloudy. We missed the snow and the real bad weather that hit the state out west.

And it looks like the weather should rebound by the weekend... predicted highs back to 60, which is typical fall weather for these parts....

NHL Is Back!

For the record...

I'm glad the NHL is back. I think the rule changes are going to help the game. The shootout is going to attract new fans.

A big reason I got DirecTV is because my local cable company doesn't carry OLN and I would not even get to see one game on opening night...FSN isn't carrying the Wild season opener, which is at home against Calgary...which would be a good game...

Instead I'll be watching Rangers@Flyers...

(Screw baseball - Roid monkeys)

Chargers Throttle Pats, 41-17

So where do I start?

Well, with the obvious... it was a HUGE win for the Chargers. Beating the reigning world champions, in their house, breaking their 21 home win streak. Of course all the nay-sayers are going to point out that the Patriot defense has been weakened. But I doubt anyone is really counting the Patriots out of the playoffs...they are still a good team.

How'd the Chargers do it? As I said their chance to win this game had to be done... execute 'Marty Ball' to perfection, and that's what was done. The Chargers in the second half kept the ball out of the Tom Brady and the Patriot's offense. Brees did not turn the ball over. Tomlinson was effective all day. Big plays to Gates and Caldwell. A perfect blend of attack that kept the Patriot defense on their heels the entire second half.

Big Monday night game against the Steelers, who are coming off a bye... then the Chargers play the Raiders...who will be coming off a bye, then they play Philadelphia who (guess?) are coming off their bye... man what did San Diego ever do to piss off the NFL schedulers? (Have I mentioned how brutal the Charger schedule is yet?)

Party's Still Going

Another underage drinker in Moorhead was taken to the hospital early Sunday, the third in three days in Fargo-Moorhead and the fourth since a Minnesota State University Moorhead student apparently drowned in the Red River after drinking at a party Sept. 22.

Moorhead Police Sgt. Brad Penas said Jessica Vandeusen, 19, a Concordia College student, was taken to the hospital at her own request after police found her conscious but intoxicated in a house at 603 9th St. S.

Moorhead Police Sgt. Joel Scharf said officers were called at 2:42 a.m. to break up a loud party at the house, where revelers were setting off fireworks.

While they were clearing the house, officers discovered Vandeusen on the second floor, Scharf said.

The woman, who was conscious, was brought down to the first floor. Scharf said she was given a breath test and registered .233, nearly three times the legal limit for intoxication in Minnesota.

“I think she made the choice herself that it would be in her best interests to go to the hospital,” Penas said.

An ambulance crew was called and she was transported to MeritCare Hospital, Scharf said. A MeritCare nursing supervisor said she was not listed as a patient there Sunday night.

Reached by telephone late Sunday night at her dorm room, Vandeusen declined comment. She said only that she was not aware her blood alcohol registered that high.

Several citations were issued to the home’s tenants, but neither Scharf nor Penas knew exactly what they were issued for.

Sunday’s was the latest in a sudden spate of alcohol-related hospitalizations of young people in Fargo-Moorhead over the weekend.

On Saturday, Jenna xxxxxx*, 19, 137 Prairiewood Drive, was taken from her home by paramedics after she passed out while drinking vodka, Fargo police said. On Saturday afternoon, she was not listed as a patient at either Fargo hospital.

On Friday, 19-year-old Concordia College student Jesse Ringdahl, was taken to Innovis Hospital after a passerby found him semiconscious in the front yard of a home at 919 5th St. S. in Moorhead. He was released from the hospital later that same day.

Moorhead police said Ringdahl had been drinking from a vodka bong, which funnels a large amount of alcohol directly into the drinker’s mouth.

Concern over drinking by young people was spurred last week after the body of Minnesota State University sophomore Patrick Kycia, 19, was pulled from the Red River on Tuesday.

Initial autopsy reports said Kycia drowned, but police believe he drank heavily Sept. 22 at the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, 611 10th St. S. in Moorhead.

The day after Kycia’s body was found, former fraternity member Alex Daniel Olson, was arrested in connection with the discovery of 152 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms in the Phi Sigma Kappa house. The drugs were found in a search of the house connected with Kycia’s death.

That case remains under investigation and toxicology results from Kycia’s autopsy have not yet come back.

* Updated 10/15/2010 - Last name removed as per request.

Great Game!

Great game - more to follow!

PS:

Glad I was wrong! ;)

Party Town USA

Man these kids are partying it up around here lately:

For the second day in a row and the third time in a week and a half, local police dealt with a dangerous drinking incident involving underage people.

Fargo Police Sgt. Kevin Volrath released a statement to media saying that officers were called just before 5:30 a.m. Saturday to 137 Prairiewood Drive to help an ambulance crew with an unresponsive female.

When police arrived, they found Jenna xxxxxxxx*, 19, unconscious. xxxxxxxx shares the apartment with Jared Miller, 19, and Tyler Finck, 18, both of whom also were there.

xxxxxxxxxx came to just before paramedics took her out, Volrath said. Officers determined that the trio was drinking vodka and the woman passed out.

xxxxxxxx was taken to Innovis Hospital, Volrath said. She was not listed as a patient either there or at MeritCare Hospital on Saturday afternoon.

All three residents of the apartment were cited for minor in possession, minor consuming and minor under the influence, Volrath said.

Neither xxxxxxxx nor her roommates have a listed telephone number. An attempt to reach her by e-mail was unsuccessful.

The incident happened about 24 hours after a 19-year-old Concordia College student, Jesse Ringdahl, was taken to Innovis Hospital after a passerby found him semiconscious in the front yard of a home at 919 5th St. S. in Moorhead. He was released from the hospital later that same day.

Moorhead police said Ringdahl had been drinking from a vodka bong, a container that funnels a large amount of alcohol directly into the drinker’s mouth.

On Tuesday, police pulled the body of Minnesota State University Moorhead sophomore Patrick Kycia, 19, from the Red River.

Initial autopsy reports said Kycia drowned.

Police believe he drank heavily the night of Sept. 22 at the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity in Moorhead.

Kycia left the party at 611 10th St. S. sometime after midnight, heading for his home several blocks away, but disappeared.

The day after Kycia’s body was found, a former fraternity member, Alex Daniel Olson, was arrested in connection with the discovery of 152 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms in the Phi Sigma Kappa house. The drugs were found in a search of the house connected with Kycia’s death.

That case remains under investigation.

Fargo Police Sgt. Shannon Ruziska said while it’s unusual to have three such similar, high-profile cases in such a short time, it’s difficult to say whether that means anything.

“Throughout the years that I’ve been here, if we had any individual who (drank) so much they’ve been hospitalized, and they’re a minor, it’s been picked up by the media pretty well. It’s an unusual spike in the amount we have. I wouldn’t be able to say if it indicates anything yet.”

Chargers - Patriots Preview

Alright, here's my thoughts on this weekend's San Diego Chargers at the New England Patriots...

First, a personal protest. The Charger - Patriot game was slated to be seen on my local CBS affiliate, but because Brooks Bollinger - Grand Forks, ND product - is starting tomorrow they switched the game to be seen to the NY Jets and the Baltimore Ravens...man, only in North Dakota. That just means I'm going to the bar, but I could have saved some dough by getting some offsale and watching the game at a friend's place...but I'll manage somehow...

Ok, now on to the game...

The big story has been that the Patriots defense has been weakened, is battered and bruised. But that's all great and stuff, but the Charger defense has been less than stellar...in fact, down right awful. Tom Brady and the Patriot offense could easily have a field day and their defense take a breather...

So if the Chargers are going to have a shot at winning this game, they are going to have to keep the ball out of Brady's hands. The offense needs to execute 'Marty Ball' to perfection. No turnovers, and nice methodical drives that use a lot of clock and move the ball. The Charger defense shouldn't be put into the position to win the game, because they have yet to prove they can. So special teams is could also play a big part of this game and I think the Chargers are pretty solid on special teams, hopefully they can execute and be a factor in this game.

I do think the Chargers COULD win this game...but I really can't see it happening. I don't know of Tomlinson can reel of 192 against this defense, even as 'battered' as the media makes it out to be. It be nice to not see Brees throw a pick, but I think he is going to be good for at least one...

I think Patriots are going to win - although I hope I'm wrong - 31-20.

As Promised...

A picture of my 3-year old son, Matthew in his first ever football jersey...he likes it, and so do I!