The State Of The Chargers...In My Mind

The NFL draft is this weekend and I think most every year I make sure to make an entry stating how I really am not that interested in the draft and how over hyped the draft is and this year is no exception.  As per usual...Let me know when the draft is over, who the Chargers have signed and are these new players going to be any good and help the team win a Super Bowl?

But this offseason is an offseason that reminds of what it is like to be a Charger fan...there really isn't much to look forward.  But what makes this offseason sting even just a little bit more for me is the fact that it has been validated that Dean Spanos is cheap (in the wrong areas) and not committed to winning a Super Bowl.  You see, this offseason is the aftermath of Dean's "gamble" and stay the course with two bozos that did nothing to earn their retention.  That move stunned and shocked me and when last season played out the way it did, most fans that share my sentiment simply sat back and could say that it should have been expected, because it was for me.  Norv Turner proved one thing and one thing only while he was the coach of the Chargers...and that was how inept he was at coaching.  Former GM AJ Smith, the "genuis" behind hiring Norv, followed Norv's inept coaching style with reckless draft picks, paying too much for unproven players and basically leaving the Chargers thin at almost every position and "hoping for the best".

So why is hope still very faint this offseason you ask?  While let's start at the top...again and as usual...and that means Dean Spanos.  It is clear that when he is hiring a GM and a coach, affordability is his number one criteria.  Going after anyone proven or "high dollar" (Parcells, Cowher, etc.) is not even an option in his personelle searches.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind grabbing some young "up and comer" but those people are usually already making some waves before they do ascend to those positions.  The Chargers hired, as their coach, someone who essentially held the clipboard for Peyton Manning last season.  Does anyone think that Mike McCoy was drawing up and calling the plays for the Broncos last season?  Of course not...when the Broncos got Manning they instantly sat him down and said what plays do you want to run Peyton?  And then during the game, Peyton essentially decides what play to run at the line of scrimmage...yep, the head coach of the Chargers is the guy that would pat Manning on the back and say good job after every score and that was about it.  I think hiring McCoy as the coach is Spanos' way of trying to get some cheap intel on the Broncos rather than improve his own team.

McCoy, along with new GM Tom Telesco, have a variety of interesting challenges coming up...the Chargers are essentially short a running back, the entire offensive line, 2 dlinemen, at least 2 db's, at least 3 lb's among other needs.  And, as per usual, the Chargers don't sign any high profile free agents to fill any of those needs so now its either up to trades or the draft to fill those spots.

Do I have much hope for the Chargers next season?  No, not really.  But like I tend to ALWAYS say...I hope to be proven wrong...unfortunately I went into last season expecting a 6-10 season and the Chargers surprised me (and everyone else) by winning a game in Pittsburgh - something they have never done in the regular season - and thus made it to 7 wins...but the signature of last season was the game against Denver when the Chargers were up 24-0 at halftime and then Phillip Rivers, and company, bumbled, fumbled and stumbled that game and the season away.  That was just one of several games the Chargers had a lead and then surrendered it in glorious, flame out fashion...proving that they were not a team made up of winners but quitters.

Every season, it seems, that a team that was horrible last season makes significant improvement and become relevant again.  The Chargers haven't been competitive in the NFL for the past 2 seasons...maybe Mike McCoy and Tom Telesco are just what this team needed and things begin to improve.  To their advantage, the Chargers are in one of the weakest divisions in football ... but not for much longer... the Broncos are a respectable team again, the Chiefs are young and I think they could be very good.  If the Chargers don't turn things around this season they could certainly be in contention, with the Raiders, for the doormat of the AFC West.

Manti Te'o's Fake Girlfriend Exposes Lazy Journalism

By now most everyone has either read or heard about the Deadspin article exposing Notre Dame's star linebacker, Manti Te'o and now we are in the "aftermath" period of that story.  Here's are the points that I find the most interesting in this entire story, for I am not a big Notre Dame or Manti Te'o fan, I was unaware of how "big" this story was at the time and now how big it has become.

The first is the lazy journalism.  Sure, people are quick to say, are you really going to fact check every time someone says they are in remorse because someone died?  No, you don't have to do that...but when you look at the circumstances of this entire episode, you would think that the impact this "girlfriend" had on Te'o's life - he broke down and cried more than once - you would think at one point someone that was putting together their "feature" on Te'o they would have tried to contact someone that knew the deceased girlfriend to get some comments from them...a family member, neighbor, co-worker, friend, etc... but no, neither ESPN nor Sports Illustrated nor did any of the other media outlets that were quick to pick up Te'o's story and run with it.  What likely happened, is the journalist made a half-hearted effort to contact someone but because of deadlines and what not if that part of the story fell through, oh well, the "meat" of the story, Manti Te'o, is still there for ya.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg for shoddy reporting...we can go on and on about how the major media, once again, didn't let facts get in the way of a good story.

So let's move to the phase this story is in now, namely that Te'o is saying he was "duped".  Notre Dame, ESPN and other media outlets are going along with that angle and even making up excuses as to why it could be plausible that this happened.  To that I say HA HA!  The only reason Notre Dame, ESPN and the others are trying to stick up for this liar is because they don't want to admit that they were swindled...but EVERYONE knows that Te'o and his pal were doing this knowingly and for personal gain.  All ESPN, Notre Dame and the others that are defending this guy's excuse is to simply put a plea to their viewers...that buy into everything they say..."is hey, we were swindled just like you!"  But the reality is, if ESPN and the others don't like it when they dictate the story...ESPN likes to manipulate the story to their liking and here they were manipulated...but they can't be wrong, so they side with Te'o and say that he is just an idiot...which is still true...but he is also ranked as one of the biggest lying scumbags of all time as well.

ESPN: Lazy Documentary

As most know I try and avoid ESPN as much as possible, but being a sports fan there are times when ESPN lures me into their web and I usually regret it.  This is just another example of that.

I have had people tell me how wonderful ESPN's 30 for 30 series is and I have occasionally watched one but it wasn't until I watched the Bo Jackson episode that I noticed that the "analysts" raving about Bo Jackson and commenting on his past were all ESPN employees.  That just goes to show you how lazy ESPN has gotten..."Let's do a show on Joe Montana...send the intern up the third floor and get all the tv personalities to come down and talk about Joe Montana, then we'll just throw some highlights together, dramatic music and bam...new show."

But here's the funny part...that during that Bo Jackson episode their "analysts" were never labeled as an ESPN employee!  It's like they knew they would get spotted on their laziness because Mike Greenberg was a "Radio Host", Marcellius Wiley "Former NFL Player", Chuck Klosterman "Author".... and all of them are actually all ESPN employees.

ESPN is horrible and this is just another example of how they are ruining sports. 

Chargers Lose, Rivers Continues To Stink

The San Diego Chargers traveled to Tampa Bay to try and get a rare east coast win under Norv Turner but the Chargers and, more specifically, Phillip Rivers continue to stink.

Right when you thought Rivers would be snapping out of a "funk" that has had him making poor decisions and turning the ball over...as he had 3 touchdowns and over 200 yards in passing against the Bucs as the Chargers had a 21-17 lead...but then Rivers and the Chargers quickly converted themselves into the team we have seen for the past 3 seasons.  A team that turns the ball over, the defense can't stop the other team and even more distressing these days is the fact that Phillip Rivers just plain stinks.  With the lead and the Chargers inside the 30 of Tampa Bay, Rivers throws a pick six and the Chargers wouldn't see the lead again.

The Chargers scored a measly three points in the second half and end up losing 34-24.  That's a 17-4 run to close out the game. 

Is there really anything left to say?  There doesn't need to be any more examples to anyone to see that he is a bad coach and is getting out coached in EVERY GAME!  After halftime the Chargers are thoroughly trounced by any capable team (sorry KC you are horrible!) and even if the Chargers have the lead at halftime, no lead is safe with them...and really even if the Chargers had any lead going into the 4th quarter, they would be more likely to lose than win because their defense is so paper thin it is pathetic.  Even with the Chargers unable to mount any offense in the second half the defense had it's chances to simply stop Tampa Bay from driving the entire length of the field...but couldn't do that.

Norv Turner is horrible.  Phillip Rivers is awful. And the Charger defense is bad.  I think that about sums up this season and I don't see much hope on the horizon...Denver won't let the Chargers go up by 24 next week and are going to totally put the boots to this Charger team...it will be over by halftime and Peyton Manning will be doing interviews from the sideline halfway through the third quarter...probably won't have much to do other than watch the defense return Rivers' interceptions.

Does It Mean Anything If The Chargers Beat The Browns?

The San Diego Chargers, fresh off two of humiliating losses, where they held double digit leads and end up losing, going away, both games.  Where Monday night's loss wasn't just losing a 24 point lead, it was the revelation that the Chargers are exactly who we thought they were...again...and that is bad.

So now they travel to play the Cleveland Browns after having a week off to stew in the cauldron that fans have ignited a bonfire under.  But will the Chargers actually accomplish anything this weekend?  The short answer is no and no matter the outcome, the Chargers are still losers...it is just a matter to what degree.

If the Chargers beat the Browns, which I don't think anyone is penciling in as a guarantee, it should be expected...heck the Chargers were once the best lousy team in the NFL and now hover above just being a bad team...which the Browns are.  So if the Chargers lose this game, and depending on how bad they look, the Chargers will certainly move themselves into being one of the worst teams in the NFL this season.

So the Chargers are in a "no win" game this weekend...but clearly, they would rather have the win and let the fans and media continue to see them as epic chokers or lose and let everyone know that the descent to the bottom of the league is complete.

Last Night's Loss Shakes Chargerland

I knew last night's epic choke and loss against the Broncos was huge, but I didn't think it would rattle many of the "all is fine" Charger fans.  Heck the Chargers are still tied for the lead in the AFC West, they have a bye and when the left tackle that has played almost 2 games is back, it will be full steam ahead to the Super Bowl.

But not after this loss.  After this loss there is more than one "homer" that has finally taken the step off the bandwagon and joined the "dark side" with many of us other Chargers...where I have essentially been for the past 3 seasons.  The other "homers" have simply disappeared.  They can no longer stick up for Norv Turner or AJ Smith and be taken seriously.  Last season was suppose to free the Chargers of those miserable louses and instead we just get another season of the same courtesy the owner, Dean Spanos...thanks again.  Norv Turner should have been fired last season and this is what the Chargers get for not doing so...a humiliating, prime time, Monday Night Football debacle.  As I was driving to work and listening to the sports talk radio - note, not from San Diego - and during the "casual conversation" regarding the game one person said "You almost come to expect San Diego to self implode because they do it so often." and that is why the Chargers get no respect...nor do they deserve any.

I thought the Chargers were at least a pretty good lousy team, now I think they are just a lousy team trending to becoming a bad team.  Unfortunately, I wish I could say this is coming as a surprise to me but this blog is evidence I am fully aware of how awful this team is now and has been.

Preseason Wrapping Up - Chargers Hurting

Even though many of the starters for the San Diego Chargers either didn't play at all or saw limited action in last week's preseason game against the Vikings, the Chargers continue to have a roster full of injured players.  One bright spot is that their starting running back, Ryan Mathews, is doing running drills during practice.  The downside to that, is the sooner Mathews gets into the lineup the sooner he will be hurt.  It's too bad for him and the Chargers...

Today's big news from Charger camp is that the Chargers have 6 cornerbacks and 4 of them are hurt.  What I find funny is that out of the 6, none of them are very good...sure Jammer is still fairly solid but he has clearly lost a step, the rest of the bunch just plain stink.  Cason was burned by the Vikings more than once and if he is a starter, I think other teams will prey on him with delight.

The other big news is that Jared Gaither,  supposed starting left tackle for the Chargers, will have another MRI and may not play in week one.  If you are tuned into the homers of Chargerland, this is devastating news.  The Chargers offensive line is pretty weak as is, and now this...it doesn't paint a pretty picture right now for the Chargers offense.

Oh, and the replacement refs...if the preseason is any indication as to how well or poorly they will be in the regular season it doesn't bode well.  I did watch a bit of the Chargers-Vikings game and there were 2 CLEAR fumbles...in regular time, that the refs in both instances called incorrectly.  Norv Turner, in a rarity, made 2 successful coach challenges, but the plays should have never resorted to a challenge because it seemed very clear, cut and dry, that the ball was fumbled and recovered by the Chargers...

Chargers have one more preseason game against the 49'ers.  Rivers and others didn't play in the last game so it will be interesting to see if they see some action in this last game or if it will just be scrubs for the entire duration.

Homer Charger Fans Have Excuses In Hand And Ready

The preseason is barely half over and if a person read the San Diego Chargers injury list, you'd think it was the midseason.  It is littered with names that are suppose to be "impact" players this season for the San Diego Chargers.  So the blind homers in Chargerland, that predicted a 12-4 (or better) season next year are already getting their excuse sheet filled out.  We lost because our fourth best receiver is out until October.  We lost because our runningback was out until week 4.  We lost because our offensive line is hurt.  We lost because, we lost because, we lost because....yet, other teams that WIN despite their 4th best receiver being hurt or their runningback is dead or they have no offensive line is not a valid comparison when comparing them to the Chargers.

So, making my forecast for next year's Charger team is really taking all these blind homers for what they say.  Prior to the preseason, the Chargers had an elite running game...with the loss of Ryan Mathews the Chargers (apparently) have no running game.  The Chargers had an elite passing attack but because they lost Vincent Brown, their receiving corps are decimated...this despite him likely being a #4 receiver for the Chargers.  And their re-signed, backup left tackle, Jared Gaither, hasn't played a down in the preseason meaning the offensive line is of no effect.

Yet, those in Chargerland figure the Bolts will easily take double digit wins next season...I still contend that it will be double digit losses and using their own logic against them....

Charger Thoughts, Part II: The Schedule

Right when I thought I would slow up on posting, I start surfing the Charger forums and my blood gets going...

My recent observation trying to forecast how well (or poorly) the Chargers will do next season led me to a forum where members were discussing the Chargers schedule and a "basic" consensus was that the Chargers should be the favorite, if not win, all their home games next season... I about had a heart attack brought about from the bouts of laughter upon reading that statement.

So just to illustrate the ridiculousness of this logic and to further shine the light of absurdity upon those Charger fans detached from the real world, let's take a quick look at the Chargers schedule for next year and see what we got...

@Oak, Ten, Atl, @KC, @NO, Den, Bye, @Cle, KC, @TB, @Den, Bal, Cin, @Pit, Car, @NYJ & Oak

So their home games are Ten, Atl, Den, KC, Bal, Cin, Car and Oakland - out of those 8 home games, I think the Chargers could possibly win 3.  Really ... all of them?  Baltimore - guaranteed loss.  Den, KC & Oak - Chargers will be lucky to beat one of those teams once at home.  Cincinnati beat the Chargers 2 years ago with scrubs in a game the Chargers had to win to make the playoffs ... they've improved since then...the Chargers haven't.  Atlanta...should have little problems with the Chargers... I can see Micheal Turner in prime form as he runs over hapless Charger defenders.  So the other game that the I think the Chargers could win at home might come from Tennessee or Carolina...and probably more likely from the Titans...Cam Newton single handedly beat teams last season and with the Chargers defense roughly in the same (poor) state as it was last season and not to mention Carolina's coach is the former defensive coordinator of the Chargers, I think the Panthers have little problem with the Bolts...

I don't know why I torture myself with reading the endless posts of optimism and hope, but I have at least got to go somewhere and just call BULLSHIT on all these "homers" because I can't do so on their homer forums because only talk of going to the Super Bowl is tolerated ... anyone that speaks the truth or about reality will be quickly ridiculed and labeled as a moron.

 

Summertime Approaching, Some Charger Thoughts

Summertime is almost upon us and my blogging, which was slowed due to work related issues, will likely continue to be fairly sporadic.  You can of course tune into the Drunken Logic Podcast and hear my rants from my own voice if you want to keep up with my goings on.

But in the meantime...

The San Diego Chargers (fan driven) hype machine is in full gear.  I don't visit any other fan sites or forums other than the ones for the San Diego Chargers, so I don't know how looney other team's fans are.   But I can safely say there are plenty of Charger fans that live in a different universe than I because of what I am seeing and reading...all with accompanying "logic" and I will just briefly and lightly touch on a few things that have caught my eye...

Laughable point #1:  Well, first...let me not gloss over the obvious.  I refuse to believe the San Diego Chargers are even going to be a factor next season and I only need to say two words as to why ... NORV TURNER.  I have already written off next season, as I did last season, on the mere fact that Norv Turner is the head coach of the San Diego Chargers.  Turner has proven he could take a great team deep into the playoffs but he also has proven that he destroys great teams after that.  Two years of not making the playoffs filled with embarrassing losses to horrible teams.  Of course those that promote how well the Chargers are going to do next season don't factor in a bad coach dragging the team down, but Turner has proven he can do just that.  Any thought that Turner is going to improve this team next season is just wishful thinking...so far his past has proven to be the otherwise.

Laughable point #2: The Chargers run game will be elite next season.  I just read this article from a blogger and I about laughed myself silly.  Of course, like most Charger fan sites, their article is filled with a bunch of hopefully's, if's and's but's.  And really, then anyone could make any declaration and assume partial correctness if you use that type of logic.  Yes, the San Diego Chargers will be Super Bowl Champions IF they make the playoffs and IF they can win in the playoffs...etc... But making a declaration that the Charger run game will be "elite" next year is nothing but wishful thinking.  Based on the facts and the past...the Charger run game will be below average to average at best.  Ryan Mathews has been wishfu" thinking since he was drafted to replace LaDainian Tomlinson but he hasn't done anything impressive (except for the meaningless last game of each of the last two seasons) since being drafted except get hurt and fumble.  It's also well known that Mathews is a horrible third down back and a poor pass blocker ... doesn't sound like a good runner to me at all.

Laughable point #3: The Chargers have upgraded at wide receiver.  The Chargers let Vincent Jackson sign with Tampa Bay...this I wasn't too upset about, he would have commanded too much money and I was beginning to sour on his play anyways.  But I will not discount the fact that VJ was a decent receiver...maybe not top 10, but decent for Charger standards.  Who do the Chargers get to replace them?  First, Robert Meachum ... a #3, 4 guy on the Saints with Drew Brees throwing for record yards last season ... yes, stat hounds will point out that his numbers are good, but any receiver on the Saints is the benefactor of Drew Brees and the offensive system they are in.  And then Eddie Royal ... a punt returner for Denver...there's, apparently, the Chargers best wide receivers.  Oh sure, there are a couple of Chargers receivers, that didn't do jack shit last season except get hurt or drop balls,  Saying the Charger's have improved at the wide receiver position is just wishful thinking.

Laughable point #4: The Chargers have upgraded on both the defensive and offensive line.  Again, just more wishful thinking.  I'm trying to figure out how resigning the majority of both lines, that sucked last season, is an improvement.  Hopefully with more experience comes better play, but again, both lines proved to be greatly outmatched on most Sunday's ... how will they not be outmatched next season when they are virtually the same group of doormats?

Was I expecting the Chargers to really make a splash this off season?  No, not really and what the Chargers did do, to me, seemed almost expected.  Get some low dollar free agents to hopefully replace some holes on the team.  But the Chargers are still extremely weak in the secondary and runningback positions.  The Chargers also have, what seems to be, a 100 linebackers on the roster right now...none of them have been an impact player in the past and the Chargers, as expected, are gambling that they can find 4 that can play football.

I still haven't committed to making my final season prediction, but as of this point, 6-10 is looking like wishful thinking for me ... I'd also like to think that it would guarantee Norv Turner getting fired, but we all know that would just be wishful thinking as well.

VJ Signs With Tampa, Chargers Sign Meachem

The Chargers did what most had expected...the let their #1 wide receiver and player they franchised last year, Vincent Jackson, sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The Bucs signed him to a 5 year deal worth $55 million...more than the Chargers wanted to dole out to him.

But don't fret Charger fans, the Chargers then promptly signed (former) Saints wideout Robert Meachem. We'll have to see if Meachem can fill the role of being a #1 wide receiver, so I am a bit leery about this acquisition because to me, the receiving corps of the Chargers (currently) seem to be lacking.  VJ was really the only bright spot last year with everyone else getting hurt...so this year it is suppose to be Meachem filling the void while the rest of the Charger scrubs fight each other for spots on the bench?  To put it another way, other than VJ, what wide receiver from the Chargers would get signed to a nice contract some where else?  The answer: none.  Now the Chargers sign a number 2 wr from another team and high expectations are placed on this player.

So far, after less than one day of free agency the Chargers are doing exactly what most thought they would...bargain shop and shake the dice on 2nd stringers...the only surprise is that they actually signed a player within the first 24 hours...

NFL Free Agency Begins Today - Chargers Look To Stick With Crap

This afternoon the NFL free agency period begins today and really it has been a "non-day" for the Chargers and their fans.  While other teams tantalize their fans by swooning high profile free agents that could be the final piece to the puzzle for their squads, the Chargers GM, AJ Smith, will likely continue to not sign any impact free agents. What Smith and the Chargers will likely do is target veteran players that are now "damaged goods" or players that were essentially second or third string players on other squads.

There is a faction of vocal Charger fans that are sticking by the owner's decision to retain Smith and head coach Norv Turner....I am not one of those fans.  I am tired of the same old "plan" that AJ Smith has employed...that hasn't produced anything and I am sick of Norv Turner having this team completely unprepared to play football on most Sunday's.

There is nothing that this team has done in the past 12 months that makes me feel optimistic about next season and, in fact, I think the team will be even worse than it was last season...as it stands right now.

Best Winter Ever!

I've been holding off for a while and I hope I don't jinx this ... but this has been the best winter EVER for this region and I am now starting my 4th decade of winters here, so I've got a little personal data to base this declaration on...

First, we'll talk cold.  Usually, at least once a winter, typically in January and February, there will be a stretch of just brutal, brutal cold.  I'm talking the temperatures don't get above 0 degrees (Fahrenheit) at all for days at a time.  There was one winter where essentially the entire month of January the temperature was below zero...day and night.  And with the cold temps, it usually is accompanied by a steady, stiff breeze...really adding some bite to the cold temps.  Wind chills are sometimes 20, 30 below for an entire day.

So far this winter, there has been, I think, a total of 3 days where the temperature has been below zero...and 2 out of those 3 days the temp got above zero by mid afternoon.  In fact, right now, the temperature is in the low 30's (which is very nice for this time of year) and the forecast for the foreseeable future is roughly the same type of weather.  Oh, and it is sunny and calm.  And that's what it has been, essentially all winter this season...

Next, we'll talk snow fall.  Since I've moved into my house, which has been well over 10 years now, I know we have had a fairly significant snow fall.  I know most winters I would have to snowblow my walks and drive ways at least once a week, if not more.  Last year, we had tremendous blizzards over the Christmas and New Year's holiday...both of which dumped a lot of snow and shut the town down.

This year we haven't had anything that even resembles a blizzard and we've had a couple of days with some significant snowfall, but for the most part, we have been mostly snow free.  In fact, the snow that is on the ground right now was dropped about a month ago and with the mild temps of this week, we might be completely snow free before February is done.

February might be just a hair early to call this the best winter ever because there is still the chance that we could get some blizzards or even sink into a cold snap.  March and April are both months where the weather is a virtual grab bag.  But the truth is, no matter how bad winter gets from this point, we've likely passed what has typically been the more brutal parts of winter and it has been great!

Valentine's Day And How Girl's Can Keep It Special

Today is Valentine's day, a day that has been engrained in many people's minds as a special holiday.  A day when women get showered with gifts by the men that love them.  But let's get real...if you've been married for any length of time (more than 4 years is the mark now-a-days) and/or have kids, Valentine's day will likely be just another day.

When you are in a relationship and aren't married, Valentine's day is a huge day...I almost feel sorry for the poor saps that are in this predicament but then remember it once was me so it's really nothing new.  When you are not married or even newly married, Valentine's day HAS to be special.  A man is essentially required to take the wife out to an expensive dinner after giving her roses and candy.  Then after the meal you will snuggle and exchange mentions of loving each other and hopefully seal the deal with some hanky panky later on if everything is up to the women's standards...and you will be fully aware of how horrible a Valentine's day it is if you indeed fail on your part to totally pamper your girl.

What am I going to do for my wife of over 16 years on this Valentine's day?  The same thing I do every Valentine's day...buy her some flowers.  If I am lucky I will get a thank you in return, but I'm not holding my breathe.  Why don't I shower my wife with gifts, take her out to supper and make her feel special on Valentine's Day?  Well, it's simple...when your wife let's you know that you have an exactly 0.0001% chance of any hanky panky, on any night, let alone Valentine's Day, a man's desire to treat his wife special is greatly diminished.  Oh and here they come...the chorus of women who are shouting "That's because that's all men care about is sex!"  If I wasn't such a pig and wouldn't want (or expect) sex from my wife, then she would return that affection.  No, wrong.  At a certain point most married women no longer have any interest in having sex like they once did and especially after having children.  If I have sex with my wife more than once every 2 months I think something must be wrong or she must be trying to get pregnant again.  When women begin this period they then also begin to use sex for leverage and try to gain favor, and you'll see many men in this type of married relationship.  When the guy knows the women is in favor of having sex and all he has to do is be her man servant until the deed, that guy will be hovering around that women like a bee making sure her every whim is taken care of pronto.  But eventually women will fail to follow through with that and then their power of sex over men is worthless and then the fires of romance in your relationship have been fully extinguished.  What is the end result with any romantic intentions?  Yes, the generic to show and receive love answer will be accepted but anyone that knows the "game" knows that's just the first inning.

And let's really boil down what the end result of Valentine's day really is...by most accounts you buy flowers, which will die soon and have an expensive dinner, which obviously won't be around for long either all for what?  To reaffirm your love to each other?  Ok, make her think that, but the truth is Valentine's Day is a day that is marked for men to "score" with their ladies.  Once the ladies no longer are interested in playing the game and letting the guy score, then the guy isn't interested in playing either and thus, you no longer will get flowers and candy.

The women that really treat their men nice in bed are the ones that have the huge bouquets sent to their workplace, maybe even accompanied by a singing delivery person.  They are picked up from work and driven straight to a spa and pampered with a facial, manicure, pedicure, massage and what have you.  Then whisked to a candlelit dinner at a romantic restaurant which is followed with some wine on the couch with the lights down low.


But the moral to this all is that women, if you want to keep romance in your life you can not douse the flame.  I'm more than willing to buy the biggest bouquet and have my wife delivered by horse drawn carriage on Valentine's Day, but the game has to be started again and for that to happen...well, she has the ball.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

State of North Dakota Fighting For Fighting Sioux Update

It what seems like it has become a yearly event, it has been almost a year but here we are again, at the verge of the State Of North Dakota taking the NCAA to court over the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname that the University of North Dakota uses.

So, in case you've missed it, here's what's happened since my last post...

The bill passed the ND legislature and was made law, then lawmakers met up with the NCAA to see if they could hash out some sort of deal...no deal was struck and the lawmakers came back and basically withdrew the law and took it off the books...but now, people from the state collected enough signatures to put the whole issue to a state wide vote which will happen in June.  If that measure passes, upholding the law that says the State of North Dakota will sue the NCAA if it tries to sanction or ban the university, then buckle up, because it's go time.

I think the NCAA would be foolish to go to court and have all its hypocrisy revealed.  And how much money does the NCAA want to waste on this endeavor in the first place?  I think they better take notice of the resolve the people of North Dakota have towards keeping the name and if they are willing to do all this to keep this nickname, the NCAA better have just as much of a desire to eliminate it, or else it will be no contest.

Of course this all comes down to a vote in June... I give the measure a 50/50 chance ... I know I will be voting to keep the nickname and I will be hoping for a court showdown...

Super Bowl Should Be Moved To Saturday

The Super Bowl is set for this year...a repeat of the New England Patriots and the New York Giants ... a Super Bowl I am not too interested, but will watch none-the-less.

The real purpose of this submission is to begin clamoring for the Super Bowl to be moved to Saturday if the NFL is going to continue to have the kickoff as late as it is now, or even later.  At some point the NFL decided to have the Super Bowl begin at 6:30 PM EST ... which, is much later than it was even just a few years ago.  By doing this, it has ruined the Super Bowl experience...imo.

Years ago when I would attend a Super Bowl party, the game was essentially the "kickoff" of the party.  We (me and the people I would be with) would eat, drink and enjoy the game and then continue to party until dark.  The party would be packed with people from the start until when most everyone agrees it is time to wrap it up.  But now, with the late start, last year I noticed that as soon as the game concluded the place cleared out fairly quickly...but by looking at the time, you can see why... it was already approaching 10:00 PM and Monday is a work day for many.

I think many people also are very excited about the Super Bowl so they begin their "festivities" by mid afternoon and by halftime, there are many people who are essentially "done" and I am sure you've been with people that watch the game somewhere until halftime and then either go home or do something else.

Having the Super Bowl on Saturday night would be great.  The NFL could schedule the game to start at 8:00 Eastern and people would party all night, instead after the game most try to get to their beds as fast as possible.

May 1994-May 1995 Greatest Year ... Ever?

I'm getting old...too old.  A "game" I have played with myself for pretty much all of my life is I try to reflect back to what I may have been doing at this time 10, 20, 30 years ago ... sometimes bad/sad memories are recalled, other times they might be happier memories and other times it may just be recalling "my life" at the time.  As I've played this game for most of my life I also try to somewhat "rate" my time...were the times generally good or were they generally bad for whatever reasons.  And through that process, I have determined that I think I was the happiest, most enjoyable time to be alive was a period from 1994-1995 ... when I was 24 and then turned 25.

I often look back at my "times" in the early 90's ... this is a period of time where I graduated from college and didn't have a job in my field.  I was either working a crappy retail job or sold and delivered auto parts.  I look back and wonder how I was so much more happy and enjoyed life so much more when I had a crappy job I didn't care about, didn't make any money and had no money.  But it is like most things in life ... the more things suck the more a person can make it better. 

So what made that time so enjoyable?  Well let's look at some factors:

1. The Workplace: Even though my job, at the time in 1994-95, wasn't nearly as prominent as several I have had since and the pay was pretty low I was friends with all my coworkers.  It was common for all of us to go out for drinks after work, I remember chipping in to buy pay-per-view boxing fights and watching them at a coworkers house with all the other coworkers.  Our company picnics were simple affairs but always fun. 

Now, I have an office and can almost dictate my own work hours.  My pay is easily 100% more than what I once made.  My job is noteworthy and many people are impressed.  I haven't attended a Christmas party in 8 years and haven't had drinks or attended a work social event in about the same.  There are "cliques" where I work now, just like high school, and since I've been relegated to the "loser" clique because I like loud rock music, I'm not invited to any social events...not that I'm disappointed because it would be extremely awkward if I ever did show up.

2. The Home: In 1994-95 I was living in a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 of my friends and it was a blast.  Most every work day was the same routine: I would get up, usually hungover, and get to work by 8:00 AM, get off work at 5:30 PM.  I would usually eat something but it certainly wouldn't be any elaborate meal ... PB&J and soup was a common supper meal for me.  Depending on the time of the year, go for a mountain bike ride, fishing or whatever would/could take place after supper.  Then at about 10:30 our room mate that worked at a movie theater would get home from work and would coax at least me into going out drinking for most of the rest of the night...did I mention I would be hung over most every morning?

Now, I live in a house with a wife and two children.  My wife is currently going to school to become a nurse and because of that works nights and weekends...so I am the main parent in the house with my kids on most days.  So now, when I get home, I am usually greeted with the words "Dad, what's for supper?" before I can get my shoes off.  Then after picking up the house of the litter that the kids have generated from being home for 2 hours unattended, emptying the dishwasher and making a full meal for the family which I then get to clean up with no assistance from the kids all the time being hounded to "hurry up" so that I can drive one the children to their friends house 20 minutes away before I can come home and sit down for 5 minutes before I have to drive 20 minutes to pick my child up from their friends house.  I "go out" maybe once a month if I am lucky.  Money is still tight so eating out is a rarity at this time.

3. Friends/Friendships: In '94-95 I had numerous "pals".  On most any Friday or Saturday night there would be a good 5-10 of us just hanging out.  We loved to play cards, drink, go to concerts, drink, mountain bike, drink, etc... In 1994, me and 3 others drove a "white trash" van to the Sturgis Bike rally ... drank and had a blast.  We could walk into our "regular" bar and likely meet up with someone we knew and a festive time would be had by all.  Not to mention I lived with probably my 2 best friends at the time.  We all three got along pretty well so living together wasn't a problem at all.

Now, I would say that I have about 3 friends that I associate with.  This, like many of the other factors, is simply because of the family.  I don't get out as much and much of my time is simply tending to family needs.  A card game that was started has ended years ago and my friends (and me as well) work on many weekends so right now getting together with any of them is asking for stars to align ... and occasionally they do, typically for a show of some sort.  And don't get me wrong, I think I still have lots of "friends" its just that I don't get the chance to talk or do much with them anymore.

It is this process that reminds me of Kevin Spacey in the movie American Beauty.  I often do yearn to quit my job and return to a meager existence.  As I have mentioned a couple times in this piece, at almost every stage of my life I have always been essentially broke...so what's the difference of what profession I do have when my net gain is exactly the same...nothing. At least back then I seemed to be enjoying life, whereas today it seems more like a chore.

Yet Another Reason ESPN Sucks

Its not really anything new to anybody but just another example of why ESPN sucks and proof that they only care about the Yankees and Red Sox.

So Jim Thome hit his 600 hr last night...if he had been a Yankee or a Red Sox, ESPN would have live coverage and an endless lovefest with Thome.  But because Thome has always played in small market teams, ESPN folks barely even know who Thome is.  To prove this, this morning as I was driving to work I tuned into a little Mike And Mike show to hear what they were yapping about, because I knew it wouldn't be about Thome...but I was incorrect.  They actually did mention Thome's feat, but the crux of their discussion was how much bigger a story Derek Jeter hitting 3,000 hits was versus Thome's 600 hrs.  Are you f'ing kidding me?  ESPN can't even stop their endless Yankee lovefest for one frickin' morning and talk about Thome's accomplishments in MLB?  Nope, they have to tell you why some Yankee and anything that Yankee does is more important because more people care about the Yankees than any other team... GIVE ME A BREAK!  ESPN SUCKS!

Dick Ebersol Leaving NBC, Sports May Return To Network

I think I might be the only person in the USA that isn't sad to see Dick Ebersol leave NBC Sports.  In almost every article and interview with the guy praise is just heaped upon him... he is given numerous flattering titles and genius like qualities.  But not me.  I have never been a fan of Dick Ebersol because, to me, Ebersol essentially destroyed the NBC Sports that I loved and turned it into the NBC Sports of today, that I hate.

Dick Ebersol first rubbed me the wrong way when NBC gave up the NFL.  Bryant Gumbel and Bob Costas were two of my favorite NFL announcers, now without a sport.  And, if you fast forward to today, all Dick Ebersol has really accomplished for NBC, other than getting rid of all four of the major sports off of their airwaves, and Ebersol's claim to fame, the Olympics.  Well, for the most part, I think the Olympics suck and I especially think the network coverage of the Olympics suck.  What does a person get to watch on NBC during the Olympics?  Gymnastics ... every stinking night.  Sure they will throw some track and swimming in there but for "premiere" events always showcase gymnastics.  And of course there is the opening and closing ceremonies as well.  So, in my eyes, all Ebersol has done is create programming that resembles sports but appeals to mostly women.  Well good for him but it will not earn any praise from me.

Coming Soon To A Court Near You: State Of North Dakota vs NCAA

It happened...the North Dakota Senate passed a resolution that now will become law that the University of North Dakota has to use the nickname "Fighting Sioux" and it is illegal to change it and if the NCAA has a problem with it, then the state will sue the NCAA.

Unfrickinbeliavable is all I got to say.

The debate over this nickname will never end...at least not in my lifetime...