Week 4: Chargers vs Ravens

After the bye week the 2 and 0 Chargers take on the 3 and 0 Baltimore Ravens. After thinking the bye week would help the team of course a big off field distraction needs to happen. Safety Terrence Kiel got arrested for shipping codeine based cough syrup. Add in the Steve Foley shooting incident and the Chargers will soon be threatening the Bengals for most criminally active team. Terrell Owens' attempted suicide easily stole the headlines so this story got only minimal air time so far in the sports world...so far.

But let's turn our attention to Sunday's big game... I did watch the Cleveland-Baltimore game this past weekend. Baltimore should have, could very easily have lost that game. Cleveland shut down the Ravens for most of the game - except the final drive and then still forced a 52-yard field goal from the Ravens to win it. The Raven defense may be good, but I think it is beginning to show its age. Charlie Frye seemed to have little problems passing. I think the Ravens defense is beginning to resemble that of the Chargers of previous years, that being the rush defense will stop anyone from running but they are incapable of stopping a competent passing offense.

My prediction... it is a road game for the Chargers and many an analyst is saying that this will be the first true test for the Chargers this year. So I think they will get up for the game. I don't know how big of a distraction the whole Kiel situation is and hopefully it won't be a factor in the game. I think if Rivers is effective the Chargers should win. I don't see Tomlinson running a lot but I think Gates, McCardell and Parker all have good days.

My prediction: Chargers win 20-10.

ESPN: No Credibility And Getting Even Less

In 3 days ESPN's crack reporting staff posted some stories that probably emphasis how reliable ESPN is and really spotlights their true goal...to sensationalize any and everything no matter what nature it might be.

Early Monday ESPN reported that Matt Leinart was going to start for the Cardinals this week. Later that day Dennis Green (head coach of the Arizona Cardinals) announced that Kurt Warner was the starter this week.

Early today, Terrell Owens alleged suicide attempt... ESPN essentially scratched any programming for the day and covered this story exclusively. At 2:30 CT Owens comes out to refute any and all suicide claims and was even at the team's practice prior to the press conference. Although the facts of his story may not all be known at this time, ESPN was at the forefront of putting out plenty of 'talk' about what may or may not have occured without knowing many of the actual facts.

ESPN continues to exhibit journalism skills of the 21st century and the credo of "Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story."

Zappy Full Show - 9-23-2006

And here is the full show... Party Joke and 12% are both mostly missing due to technical difficulties...

She's Wide - Zappy Live 9-23-2006

She's Wide
Zappy
9-23-2006
Dempsey's Public House

Ride My Horsey - Zappy Live 9-23-2006

More Zappy!

Ride My Horsey, enjoy!

Skoal Brothers - Zappy Live 9-23-2006

Here we go, the first video is here...

Skoal Brothers
Zappy live at Dempsey's Public House
9-23-2006

Zappy Reunion

So Zappy - a band comprised of my friends that were huge in Junior High School/High School throughout the 80's...so they've played 20+ years but haven't played actively together for probably 10 years or more. But once every 4, 5 (or more) years they will get together and rock out all the hits their fans grew up with like 12%, Skoal Brothers, Bug On Your Lip, Ride My Horsey, Party Joke, She's Wide and the list goes on....

Last night was just that occassion and I wasn't expecting what this one show would bring. A good group of folks drove at least 100 miles with several at least twice as far. I saw many old friends that I haven't seen in quite some time. Someone even flew in from San Francisco to see the show...alright, I'm not totally confident if he flew in just to see the show, but for some reason it wouldn't surprise me...Zappy fans are a rabid bunch. I have dubbed the show the "Reunion" because it was just like going to a reunion but the common denominator is Zappy which thus equals drinking and have a fun time.

I think the best comment regarding someone getting to this show was this one:

I was at a wedding and I told my wife we had to leave to get to the Zappy show. We weren't even finished eating yet. She was pretty peeved about this and gave me guff all the way to the bar. When we got there I told Bert (co-owner of bar) this and he said "That the chances of you getting divorced and back together are better than you getting another chance to see Zappy live. You made the right decision!"

I will have some videos up here shortly and I do plan on having the full show uploaded as well...so stay tuned for your fill of some Zappy!

The show was a great time and of course the aftershow has plenty of footnotes to add to the fun time by all!

Burnout

Here's a Camaro doing a burnout...



(I heard Zappy is playing tomorrow...videos will hopefully follow!)

Firecracker II

Good firecrackers! Get some, you won't be disappointed! Blowing up a turntable... is vinyl dead?

Firecracker I

So some crazy bastard I know got a video camera and I can edit video, know how to upload it and have a blog... what took so long? Just add beer and you get videos like this...




We will challenge all crazy fuckers! ... or maybe not, depending on how crazy you are! (I'll hold the camera!)

People That Make Me Laugh

So I am in a free poker league, I like to play cards. Last night was the first night at a new venue for myself and the location for this particular league and I wasn't sure what to expect...but I was in for a treat!

So as I stated in the first sentence, this poker league is FREE - so keep that in mind - but there are some fairly good prizes to those that can advance up from their location, namely travel expenses and buy-ins at WSOP and WPT events which are fairly respectable prizes. I would say the majority of the players there are playing just for fun. But of course there are the exceptions and they are the ones that give me a good chuckle...

So last night there was a group of 3 people - who knew each other - 1 male and 2 females. Each came equipped with their CD player and the male also made sure to have his sunglasses with as well. And note here, that they each brought a CD player, not an MP3 player, IPod or any other device that would fit in a person's pocket, but an actual circa 1995 portable CD Player...right there you know these folks are real 'players'. Once seeing this I made a challenge to myself that I would hope to outlast these three doorknobs.

So girl 1 spills her beer on herself and her chair before even 1 card is dealt. Girl 2 is eliminated before the blinds even increase even 1 level (20 minutes), so I'm thinking things are ending up about as I figured. Then time has come to merge tables and the male ends up sitting right next to me... I'm licking my chops and just hoping to get involved with a pot with this dolt but he goes all-in and loses to someone else...but he does not leave graciously. He grabs his coat from the back of his chair and storms off in obvious anger that he lost. I'm sure he is trying to figure out how he lost on a pair of 8's when the entire board was filled with over-cards? I find out later that he is a 'great' poker player and would take anyone to the cleaners if they so choose to, after finding this out me and some others are trying to get a game going with him.

But the best is girl 1. Yes, after she spills her beer and now is at least moderately intoxicated - we've been playing for an hour or so by now - is so in love with her cd player and music that she makes sure everyone at the table knows exactly what song she is listening too. Then after 1 song is complete she takes out the cd and inserts another to listen to one song and repeat. And to complete her profile, every song that 'she loved' (Oh, I love this song!) was from my high school days. AC/DC, Guns N Roses, Poison, Kiss - she had all the hits - and to top it off, she would ask if any of us like and/or have heard of any of these chart-top hits from just yesterday... another guy and myself started to mock her by saying "No, I have not heard of this band you call Warrant. Are they any good?" And she would then go on a lengthy explanation of how 'awesome' they are and sing the wrong lyrics to most of their popular songs... So then every hand the action comes to her and every hand we have to tell her to either bet, check or fold. And she would say "What? Oh, I'm sorry. How much?" How about you just stay home next week so you can rock out to some more Tesla and let us play cards? Then catastrophe strikes...her batteries in her vintage cd player have gone out and she needs to get more. She asks the table if we would wait for her while she ran to go get some from her car... it got quite a laugh. Oh please, let me go get the batteries for you and is there anything else I can do for you since you seem to think you are the only one that matters that is playing cards? Oh, but that's right, your a girl...even if your stupid, you still think just being a girl is a free pass to be annoying to everyone...

Oh, I succeeded in my challenge and outlasted all three of them... that in itself was a good prize for me!

Early NFL Bye Weeks - BLOW!

Ok, so the NFL implemented the bye week many years ago when the league was at 31 teams and as a result, teams had to have a bye. After the league expanded to 32 teams the NFL decided that the bye week is a good thing and has since kept a bye week for every team. This year (and seemingly every year) the Chargers get their bye week in week 3. How worthless is that? The bye week was kept to help teams rest players, a mid-season breather and just basically a week off for every team during the regular season grind. But to have teams take their bye week anytime before November is basically worthless and why should some teams luck out and get their bye week at a more opportunistic time in the season - namely later - while other teams are just basically given the shaft and given an early bye week?

To make the bye week fair for all teams the NFL should have all the byes for every team in November. 8 teams per week for 4 weeks. You only drop 4 games per week and all NFL teams get their bye week within a month of each other, whereas now, the Chargers bye week and those that get a week 9 bye is a month and a half apart...seems too fair to me...

Skateboarding Fun

Got some beer and a skateboard?

Charger Domination - 40-7: Throttle The Titans

Charger defense looks tight...

Tomlinson used early, lots of all-purpose yardage, 2 TD's...

Rivers looked good, no mistakes...

Turner in garbage time is money... out rushes LT....

But the defense is still the word...for now....

Would of been, could of been a shutout....but 40-7 will suffice... an early bye ( bye week rant to follow, stay tuned) next week...

Bert Blyleven Swears

Rivers Passing Against Raiders - 9/11/06

Week 1 - Chargers 27 Raiders 0

Week 1 of the 2006 NFL season is in the books and the last game of the opening week had the Chargers in Oakland as part of a Monday Night Football double-header.

There really wasn't much of a game. The offensive and defensive lines of the Chargers totally dominated the Raiders. Marty-ball was on full display. It was Tomlinson, Tomlinson and more Tomlinson. LaDainian had over 100 yards rushing in the first half (89 in the first quarter).

Many of us Charger fans were anxious to see how Phillip Rivers would do since it was his first start with the team and unfortunately we will have to wait at least another week to really get a good look at Rivers. Winning the first game of the '06 season is great but not many more games will be won this year with the game plan the Chargers had. One-dimensional and an almost obvious distrust in Rivers.

When Rivers was allowed to pass he looked pretty sharp. A deep ball to Parker, a 3rd down conversion to McCardell and a short-yardage touchdown to Gates. In the end though, Rivers was 8 for 11 and passed for just over 100 yards.

The defense was extremely impressive and Shawne Merriman was on a tear recording 3 sacks out of the 7 total the Chargers put on the Raiders. It wasn't long after the game got underway that it became clear the Raiders' offensive line would not be able to handle Chargers blitz and what made the blitz work last night, where in years past it had failed, was because the secondary was in excellent coverage all night.

It's difficult to say how good the Chargers were in their season opener because of how poor the Raiders were on both sides of the ball. Next week is the Chargers home opener against Tennessee and Charger fans like myself would like to see some more Phillip Rivers worked into the playcalling...especially when you have an all-pro tight end in Antonio Gates on your side. If Marty continues to put the bulk of the workload on Tomlinson's shoulders, he will be run down by week 12.

Good win for the Chargers but definately not an exciting one. Shutting the Raiders out at home hadn't been done since the early 90's. With the Chiefs and Broncos both losing over the weekend means that it is official... the Chargers are in sole possession of the AFC West lead after week 1!

TV On Your Computer

Well it's about time! Watch TV on your computer, all the major networks, Comedy Central, ESPN(s), HBO, news channels and more... nice quality. This internet thing is getting cooler by the day!

TVU is the program and download it here and enjoy... it is freakin awesome!

DJ Unknown

A SayOw Blog exclusive and internet debut, DJ Unknown.

Some of my friends screwing around...but yet, will sweep the nation!

*** Updated 9/19/06 ***

Charger Preview & Prediction

Well, I best get on the record as to how I think the Chargers are going to do this season...

I'll start out by saying that I think the Chargers schedule is considerably easier than it was last season. Of course starting out in Oakland in week 1 and having an early bye week (week 3) may seem as the contrary. But out of their first 8 games only Pittsburgh seems as the only really 'tough' game. Of course Kansas City is in there and being a division foe will no doubtedly be tough. If the Chargers can emerge at 6-2 or better would be paving the way for a potential playoff run. Of course though, the second half of their schedule is a bit tougher, of course the donkeys (Broncos) twice, Cincinnatti and Seattle will be no easy games so I would love to see the Chargers out of the gate quick and better than 5-3 because all their games on paper look winnable - remember they should have beat the Steelers last year in the regular season. And although the first part of the season is not make or break for the Chargers it certainly means they would be more or less likely to make the playoffs as to how they emerge from their first 8 games this season.

But the Chargers can not rely on the schedule, it's the team that needs to win the games and I think the team is good. I think the secondary is better than it was last year by drafting Antonio Cromartie with their first pick and picking up free agent safety Marlon McCree. Of course the loss of Steve Foley will have an impact on the linebacking corps, but the Chargers are pretty deep at that position and may stop trying to shop Donnie Edwards around. I think the defense is better because they improved their secondary.

Now on the offensive side of the ball there are some question marks. Of course the biggest one being Phillip Rivers. Is he going to get the job done? I think it simply comes down to the offensive line and there again, lies some question marks. The offensive line was not very good last year. The Chargers essentially have the same line with a rookie (Marcus McNeil) starting at left tackle. If the line can pass protect well I think Rivers will do fine. But then we come to the next question mark on offense, the receivers. Keneen McCardell we all know is solid, but he is getting old. I like what I saw in Malcom Floyd in the preseason and Vincent Jackson is another young, big receiver...but will either see any time or make an impact? Eric Parker is slated as the number 1 reciever with McCardell at #2. Parker's speed is unquestioned and he has accumulated the experience where this could be his break out year. Rivers has been touted as to having a better arm and deep-ball threat than Brees so it would be great to see some long passes to take some pressure off of the offensive line and give Tomlinson some room to run.

Of course we can not overlook the 'studs' on the Chargers offense, Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson. I think both are going to be solid contributors to the offense...duh... and really it will come down to the coaching to make sure that both Tomlinson and Gates are used to effectively move the ball down the field. And that is probably my biggest concern. I have not been satisfied with the coaching of Marty Schottenheimer since the Jets loss in the playoffs 2 years ago. I don't like a lot of the play calling when the Chargers are in the lead in a game when it is late. I think the offense gets over conservative and too much pressure is put on the defense and that really needs to change for the team to have any success in big games.

I seriously think the Chargers should challenge for the AFC West title. I also think they should go 11-5. But I think it is important for the Chargers to win as many of their first 8 games as possible, as does every team but the difference with the Chargers is that I think they could legitimately do so.