Holiday Season

First off I'll have to apologize to all the Huguenuts out there for my (our) absence from the blog. Hopefully we haven't driven all of our endearing fans away.

I just thought that I would reach out to all of our fans and wish all of them and their families a very happy and happy holiday season. In addition to the presents, annoying family members, tacky holiday sweaters or posters of Harley the average sports fan gets to sit back and watch 30 something college bowl games, NBA Hardwood, cold ass NFL games and especially college hoops!

Iona vs. UCONN, Kobe and Lebron, Big Blues departure from "the stadium" and New Years day football, that's our weekend! Sorry mom and dad your presents don't mean crap compared to the emotional wins Iona gives me or the tears in my eye to see Big Blue wave goodbye to the seats! Not to mention the thrill of watching 30 bowl games while holding your parlay sheet like Tom Landry and Scotty Bowman held game notes!

I went to Iona v. FDU last night, Jay will be in East Rutherford on Sunday while Mike, Brendan and my self will be in Hartford to watch the Gaels do battle the Huskies. All of us would have been at the Iona/FDU game last night but, Mikey5 had gotten up at 4am to purchase the new Jordan's, Jay was in CT getting fit for a tuxedo for a big sports award ceremony in April and Brendan had one of his 11 holiday parties for his sports junkie family! See, all of our lives revolve around the games we live, love and play!

Make sure you tune in to the Iona/UCONN game and have a very Merry Christmas!

The Big 13, 14, 15???

No fluffy bullshit today folks, let's just get done to business.

Now there's a million things I could discuss today...Tiger's Debacle, Saints/Colts drive for perfection, the recent deals made by the Red Sox and Yankees, the untimely passing of Chris Henry, but one story has more impact on me than any other...Big Ten Expansion.

I make no bones about it, since my childhood days when I first saw my father don Penn State gear, I've had a crush on the Big Ten. The oldest conference in America boasts some of the most elite and well-known universities in the country. Their endowments would do much to help ya boy Obama get us out of the financial crisis. Their love of sports, legendary. I was probably 9 or 10 when I decided that a Wolverine just sounded more ferocious than a Nittany Lion and I've bled Maize and Blue ever since.

I don't want Big Ten Expansion folks...there's too much history here, too much personality (no doubt all of you reading this know there are not 10, but 11 institutions in the Big Ten, just check out the logo and look closely).

Ya, I know it worked for the ACC and it even turned out to be a good thing for the Big East (by default), but the Big Ten is better than that.

But Brendan, they would be able to add a Championship Game, play past Thanksgiving, and it would give them a better shot at a national title year in and year out.

I can't disagree with you kids, but I'm simply asking that for once, tradition trumps monetary gain.

With the exception of Penn State gaining membership in 1993, the Big Ten Conference has remained largely untouched since 1896....the same can't be said for the Pac-10, Big 12 or SEC.

So Pac-10 take your beautiful women, Big 12 enjoy your fantastic, pro-style QB's, and the SEC can continue to shell out 4.2 second 40-yard dash times each year...I'll take my slow, methodical, plodding, 11:00AM local kickoff time, run between the tackles, Big Ten style any day of the week.

Which team would be the best?

Seeing as how Joe Pa has been begging for expansion ever since the mid to late 90's, I'll appease him to at least disclose (if it had to be done!), which team(s), I'd pick.

Obviously, Notre Dame on location and prestige alone would be fantastic. Besides half the teams the Irish seem to play each year reside in the nation's oldest conference. Let's be honest here though folks....Notre Dame loves it's label as one of only three independents left in the country (Navy and Army being the others), and over my dead body will they give up a lifetime TV contract with NBC.

So how about Pittsburgh...has a natural rivalry with Penn State, it's already in pseudo Big Ten country, has a big time football program? Sounds good huh? Ain't gonna happen though for one reason and one reason only...the Big Ten likes to play its games on campus before packed and frenzied crowds....the Panthers play at Heinz Field....the Big Ten doesn't like corporate.

How about UConn or 'Cuse? They'd certainly up the ante on the hardwood! Sorry folks, this deal, like the 2004-2005 exodus in the Big East, is all about the pigskin and the Orange and Huskies just don't cut it. Besides, both schools are so closely linked, you'd figure either both would go or neither.

I'm not even going to entertain the thought of Missouri, Nebraska or Iowa State....they already all play in the Big 12, no sense in leaving.

So who does that leave? Ahhh, the State University of New Jersey, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Now before I go into this, understand that I think Rutgers and the Big Ten go together like eskimos and heat, I'm just talking from the Big Ten's prospective. Let's see...they play on campus, access to the New York media market, outstanding academics, a football tradition that dates back to 1873!, half the kids that play Big Ten football already come from the New Jersey area, and the last few years Greg Schiano's bunch has been quite formidable. Seems like the obvious choice if you ask me?

Big Ten....your notoriety is in your tradition....don't give that up!

You bet your ass, I'll be on my way to Piscataway for that first Rutgers-Miiiiiiiiiiiichigan game though!

I'm Baccccccccck!!!

After a month long hiatus, I'm back with a shit load of things to say.

Let's start off on the gridiron....

The two college football teams (R.I.P. Gaels!) to which I devote my undying loyalty too will have coaching changes for next season. Charlie, I'm sorry bud, but I don't think you could win a big game with Joe Montana at quarterback! And frankly, I'm not all that sorry to see you go. Your defense is atrocious and the offense is largely uneventful. You're an NFL head coach with an NFL mindset. Folks, I've watched a true college coach in action...chatting with boosters, shaking hands with faculty and staff, even eating 24 square meals a day with students (the name's Freddy "Boom Boom")...this just ain't Weis.

Who's next up in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus? My money's on Cincy coach Brian Kelly (no, not that 'BK' Iona fans!). Kelly is fiery and exciting...just what South Bend needs! The task won't be easy though...the lure of Notre Dame ain't what it used to be, and likely will never be again. Cue the 75-year old man reading this who's now saying, "Well back in my day, Knute Rockne and the Four Horsemen...blah, blah, blah." Listen oldtimer, pop in those dentures and turn up those heading aids....where would you rather be in October and November? Sunny Florida, Texas or California, with a D-cupped biddy in one arm and an "A" on the basket-weaving exam you had your friend "Spencer" take in the other, or 30 degree South Bend, Indiana watching old tapes of Rudy. Hey, it's not easy for me to accept either, but that's the reality in 2009!

As for my boys up North, "Bitch" Rod, your days are numbered my friend. Excessive practice time, running your bullsh*t spread offense in the Big Ten, pissing off alumni, no ties to the school...Miiiiiiiichigan, the winningiest, most prestigious, most heralded college football program in the nation, deserves better! I have some insider information for you 501 fans...don't be fooled by the extension Jim Harbaugh is reportedly signing at Stanford...Ann Arbor is calling! Jim, I know that heart is maize and blue, do it for Bo!! By the way, I have zero issue with Jim allowing the Cardinal to go for two when they were up 30 on USC this past weekend...Pete Carroll before you ask "what's up" during the post-game handshake, recall how many times your Trojans hung 60 or 70 on someone in the past decade!

How about Sunday football....

Ahhh, Billy, Billy, Billy...what were you thinking?!?! On the road, 4th and 2 on your own 28, up 6!! That's a call you make in your backyard on Thanksgiving with your Uncle Bill at wide receiver and your cousin Stanley at cornerback, not in the biggest game of the regular season thus far!!! Regardless of what The Robot says it was a spur of the minute decision. If he was thinking of going for it on 4th down all along, he would have ran it on 3rd down, maybe gotten the first, but at least melted the clock down to the 2-minute warning and saved his timeout. How must that defense be feeling this week???

Off to Sin City...

Is there a more exciting two minutes in sports than the ring introductions by Michael Buffer for a big time Saturday night boxing match! Sure the folks down in Death Valley, South Carolina will argue it's when their Tigers, decked in bright orange and purple, storm the field on their way past Howard's Rock, but ask Derek Jeter, Will Ferrell, Magic Johnson and Mark Wahlberg (all in attendance for Pacquiao-Cotto) and you'd be told otherwise.

Pacman is the real deal! The second coming of Roberto Duran, the last boxer to take on as many weight classes, is the king of the boxing world. Next up, Floyd "Pretty Boy' Mayweather Jr.? Well, that of course remains to be seen, but what an event that would be! Floyd Sr. has already accused Manny of being Manny, claiming the 5'6" bowling ball must be using performance enhancing drugs, giving his son a built in cope-out should he choose it.

My prediction is that this fight will in fact take place, but not until at least next spring. Some boxers couldn't care less about the outcome, only the pay day. Mayweather isn't one of those guys. He wants to retire undefeated, and fighting the Filipino southpaw would certainly be putting that 40-0 record in jeopardy. What a match-up it would be though...the power of Pacquiao facing off against the technical brilliance of Mayweather! I'm hearing reports that the fight would likely take place in -gulp- the new Texas Stadium! Why? Arguably, the world's premier venue and no state taxes in Texas! Why not in Yankee Stadium you say? Talk to your boy Governor Patterson! Boxing super-promoter and NY resident Bob Arum states that the boxers would lose as much as $12 million in taxes alone should the fight take place in The BIG Apple!

$ Prediction: My crystal ball says Pay Per View would charge $79.95 for the fight...some say the century mark, but PPV is smarter than that. Charge $100 and you'll have boxing parties with 20 people, charge $79.95? More people willing to host the fight in the comfort of their own homes.

On to the hardwood...

Tobacco Road, 40 Minutes of Hell, The Pit, Nova's triumph over Georgetown, Jordan's shot from 16ft, Cameron Indoor, Cinderella, 1 vs. 16, The Wizard of Westwood, Kentucky Blue, Phog Allen Fieldhouse, Dickie V, March Madness, The General...they all mean one thing! College bball is back! Today marks ESPN's College Basketball 24-hour marathon! St. Peter's tipped off against Monmouth at 6am this morning!!!!!!! Live, on the East Coast mind you!

I think we are headed for a rather crazy season. Carolina will certainly be a bit down with the graduation of Psycho T and Mr. Lawson, and Kentucky, with John "I'll screw a program and then leave" Calipari, already had a major scare. Thanks to super-frosh John Wall, the bluegrass was still smelling sweet this morning!

Final Four Precition Sure to Go Right (Hey, I finished in the top 150 in the nation last year in ESPN's Bracketbusters!): Georgetown, North Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee

Championship Game: Georgetown over Tennessee, 74-68

To the ranks of the professionals...

Mark my words, this will be the best NBA season in two decades. Don't give me they don't play hard, they're all criminals, there's no defense...there's never been more young talent in the Association than this very moment....LeBron, Carmelo, CP3, Amare, Deron Williams, D-Wade, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin (when he suits up)...the list goes on and on. How about seasoned vets? Kobe, Steve Nash, KG, Dirk, Paul Pierce, Tony Parker. All good, marketable guys. In baseball I can name one...Derek Jeter, and rarely, if ever, does he speak.

Quick aside...basketball already is the second most popular sport behind soccer in the world, the NBA will soon overtake MLB as the second most popular league after football (the NFL will never be overtaken) in the United States.

But the ratings for The 2009 World Series were great says the 80-year old man who you see buying the morning paper and a cup of Joe! In my day, we had Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Honus Wagner....ya, and George "f*cking" Washington! Baseball fans are getting older folks, it's a dying sport, literally! And the great ratings? Take the Yankees out of the equation and they'd suck, just like last year. People west of Chicago couldn't give a lick about the diamond! Maybe San Fran, but don't give me LA! You see many sold out Dodger games?

NBA Finals Prediction: Celtics over Suns in 6...Suns at last get revenge on the Lakers by beating them in the playoffs, but KG, Rajon, PP, and Ray Ray are too much to handle.

Good to be back 501 fans!

Hello...Jobs Are You Out There??

Well, as of last night I have completed all my credits towards my MBA in Finance and now I'm ready to get out there and find my next career path, only one problem, where is it?

We've been told by FED that the recession is over because the country has had two consecutive periods of a positive GDP growth. OK then tell that to the kid graduating college or the local small business owner or even the primary food shopper in your home and they'll paint you a very different story.

What am I to expect now that I have this glorious degree? Should I expect phone calls or the heads of fortune 500 companies beating down my door for my services or mind? Should I expect 70-100K salaries or illustrious bonuses? Or should I expect an entry level position because now an MBA, or any other post graduate work has deflated to bachelors degree and where that has now become a high school diploma. It seems that everyone has one of those, and now with the economy and the country in tough economic times people are going back to school. So these recent graduates aren't even looking for a job rather staying home with Mom and Dad and jumping right into graduate school. All that's happening now is the creation of a supersaturated educated pool of unemployed youth.

We've been told that the current unemployment rate is a little over 10% which is a complete farce. In all actuality its probably around 16%, now mind you that a healthy unemployment rate is never zero, it's actually around 4%. To label someone unemployed means that they are out of work but actively seeking employment, so the person sitting on the couch collecting welfare not doing anything to actually go out there a get a job, or the poor farmer who cannot sell any of his crops therefore is earning a deficit, and they are not considered in the formula to create the percentage. So they can only count for the people that have been out of work and then employment else where, so that's your 10%!

This country needs something, and needs something fast, and a $600 stimulus check from Uncle SAM is not the answer. Instead of sending each tax payer a check where either they saved it or paid off their CREDIT CARD debt, they should just suspend TAXES for three to six months. That would entice consumer spending, or shit I don't know stop IMPORTING EVERYTHING!

These are just some of my own thoughts as I try and hit the job market, thanks for listening!

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS............ OF THE WORLD!!!!!

The Yankees are on top of the world and so am I. After sharing many a beers, shots and even a plastic cup of champagne with Cips at the BYP we couldnt have been happier!!! They are back and i am going to glow about this until spring training of next year.......sorry droge!

PS. You have to admit that in the photo above are two of the best baseball players to ever play the game and including Andy and Jorge, Four of the classiest and best players that ever donned a Yankees uniform. Whenever it happens they will retire as some of the Yankees Best Ever!

Stress vs Talent or Yankees vs Phillies

Those of you who follow 501 Huguenot have probably been wondering where i have been. Well i am glad you asked! i actually have been saving the world from skin eating worms that would have destroyed the world hadnt i killed them all. But now that we have that out of the way we need to talk about something. As 75% of 501 Huguenot knows and loves, the yankees are back in the world series (thank god) and yes they have a great team and blah blah blah. I am extatic that they are back but i know we have a few issues to discuss. First off is that the yankees behind ummm oh yea NO ONE sucked the house that jeter built out of emotions last night! The phillies behind Cliff Lee destroyed us and i will be the first one to say right now 'I AM SCARED'!!! Now i am not blogging right now because i want to seem like i have given up on the yankees or am blowing the phillies, that is not the reason. The reason i am blogging is to get your take on the value and reasons a team WINS! Now most of the north east was watching the game last night and it got me to thinking while the phillies piled the runs on, are the phillies kicking our ass right now because they are having fun (i have never seen a team more relaxed and just playing for fun in a world series game in my LIFE) or because they are more talented. Now the phillies are a great team dont get me wrong, i am scared of all of their batters but does it make a difference if a team is relaxed because they say "shit we won this last year, we arent supposed to win this year, lets go out and have fun and maybe just maybe we can win this thing." My own personal Jay view is ABSOLUTELY!!!! The yankees last night looked scared, nervous and on tilt the whole entire game. The yankees have as much talent as the phillies but i am worried that the new york and world media to have the yankees win are getting to them and if they dont change their views and attitudes i have a feeling it will be a SAD :( Sunday night for yankee fans. But two last things, one i am glad we arent the red sox golfing right now and LETS GO YANKEES!!!!!

A RUSH to Judgement

Ok now let me get this straight... American radio host and well-known conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh is alleged to be part of a group led by Dave Checketts, chairman of the St. Louis Blues and former CEO and president of Madison Square Garden, to purchase the St. Louis Rams. Several NFL players have stated vehemently that they would not play for a Limbaugh-owned franchise.

The beef?

In 2003, on ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown, Limbaugh stated of Philadelphia's Donovan McNabb: "I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well."

Was it inappropriate? Ya, probably was, especially when you take into account the ultra-sensitive, racially-polarizing world we live in.

Was it an entirely false statement? Not really sure, that's for the you, the individual, to decide.

What troubles me most here is not Limbaugh's comments, but the fierce stance of NFL players against Limbaugh.

Now, let's put aside racial-sensitivity...the NFL is 65% African American, there's no debating that.

You know what else is fact? The NFL is comprised of many, many players who have blatantly and egregiously violated the law. Guess what? The vast majority of them are black too. Guess what else? Nearly all of them have gotten a second chance.

Leonard Little, Pacman Jones, Tank Johnson, Chris Henry, Michael Vick, Braylon Edwards, Plaxico Burress, Donte Stallworth, Marshawn Lynch, Rae Carruth, Ray Lewis...the list goes on and on and on.

These aren't petty crimes folks! These gentlemen have ruined and taken innocent lives...homicide, DUI manslaughter, weapons possession, domestic violence!!!

But how quickly are these NFL players, mostly black, to embrace the returns of Michael Vick or Pacman Jones. How quickly are they to say these men deserve a second chance!

Is Rush Limbaugh what the NFL wants and needs? Probably not.

Are many of his comments off-color? No doubt.

But these players have got to be kidding me!

What's worse guys? A man making what he feels is an honest statement, regardless of its insensitivity, or a man who murdered hundreds of dogs, beat his wife or girlfriend, or got in a car drunk and mowed down a innocent person?!?!

Wake up fellas! I'm not saying you should embrace Limbaugh, just don't make a rush to judgement before taking an honest evaluation of the men you share a locker room, a huddle, and a way of life with.

Back to the Olympics at Last!

Well, it's been a long time coming...like 92 years long, but rugby is once again an Olympic sport. Announced today by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the world's second most popular sport (after the beautiful game of course) and golf will be added to the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

It'll of course be the more watchable, more fan and sponsor friendly, more exciting version of rugby...7's.

This is a HUGE step for the rugby community around the world, particularly in the States. My only concern is that with all the focus being on 7's, will the 15's game (the way rugby was designed to be played) suffer as a result.

What will be the ultimate achievement in the sport...a Rugby World Cup title or an Olympic Gold Medal?

In addition, the head-honchos of USA Rugby will likely not be taking anyone over the age of 23 or 24 into the Olympic pool, whereas the USA Eagles 15's team routinely has men in their late 20's and early 30's.

This will surely benefit co-eds who desire to jump from math class to the world's biggest stage, but how will it adversely affect our men's clubs. The beautiful of rugby is that the gap between the an Eagle and the guy you play with on Saturday afternoons really isn't that large; certainly nowhere near the gap between an NFL player and your friend who plays flag football. This added focus on younger, 7's-type players, may lead to our men's level players being left in the dust.

As a rugby player, I love playing 7's...the creativity, quickness and back-yard football nature are a blast, but when I think rugby (and what I hope most people think when they hear rugby) is a 15 v. 15 grudge match with full scrums, full lineouts, an 8-man, flankers, locks and a fullback.

This is a great day for rugby...let's not forget though, the origins of this sport.

Little known fact (even amongst rugby aficionados)...rugby was last an Olympic sport in the 1924 Paris games...the gold medalists that year?

You guessed it...the United States of America

Two Cities for the Price of One

The tradition started nearly 20 years ago...my grandfather, uncles and father journeyed every summer North to The Fens to take in a Sawx game. As I got older, myself and my cousins one by one would be allowed to join in on The Big Trip. Lesser trips were made to Pawtucket and New Britain, home of the Red Sox AAA and AA affiliates respectively, every summer as well; everyone was allowed to attend those ones...only a select few made it to the big leagues. There was of course one class of people who didn't receive an invite to these getaways...aunts, mothers, sisters, female cousins...sorry ladies, no fallopian tubes here!

As much as we loved Boston, the city, as beautiful as it is, started to get a little boring. How many times can you visit Faneuial Hall or Quincy Market, sit next to the statue of Red smoking his infamous cigar, walk past the Old Boston Garden or drink a Sam Adams...ok ok, some things never get older! So the thought came up, why not travel to a different city each summer? What a great idea it was said my uncle! I'll go tell Dad (his father in law).

My uncle: "Dad, we are thinking of going to a different city this year, catch a game at Wrigley or something. What do you think?"

My grandfather's exact response and I quote..."Why in the Hell would I want to do that!"

Not quite the response we were looking for. My grandfather, a stubborn, hard-nosed, old-school kind of guy (Rest in Peace), only cared about one team and one team only...His Boston Red Sox.

And so the journey around the United States began!

My father, my Uncle Rob, Uncle Steve and I...thus far our travels have hit Chicago, Philly, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

This year we were off to the Great White North...Minnesota, eh!

We should have known the trip was off to a bad start when we received a phone call early Friday morning that American Airlines was re-routing our flight through St. Louis and not Chicago. Things got worse when 10 feet before touching down in the Gateway City, the pilot suddenly sent the 737 straight back up..."Sorry folks, we hit a bad wind stream on the way down...let's try this from another angle."

Whew! I thought we were coming in a bit fast anyway!

Long story short and many angry encounters with AA Gate representatives later, our flight to Minneapolis was delayed several times before finally being canceled. Our intentions were to witness the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Axe the following morning so we figured, we'll rent a car and drive. How far canSt. Louis be from Minnesota anyway? 9 1/2hours that's how far!!! F*ck, I just figured it would be like driving from New York to Philly!

So stuck in St. Louis...an absolute dump of a town with the worst airport in America, we made the best of it. The Red Birds were hosting The Brew Crew that night so off to the New Busch Stadium we went! After scoring box seats for less than half face value, we were seated..peanuts and beers in hand!

What a beautiful park! The St. Louis Arch in the background, classic franchise on the field and well, that's about it! If you have any desire to go to St. Louie, I'd advise you to change your travel plans.

The next morning we jetted to the airport at 4:30AM hoping to catch the 7AM to Minny...hey, what do you know? AA cancels yet another flight! Normally, with glasses of tomato juice in hand, we write on napkins on the flight where we want to go next year...we decided to instead do this now with 6 1/2 hours to spare until we are finally off to Minnesota. For the first time since beginning this venture, everyone was in agreement...San Fran and Oakland in 2010!

Well, we missed the Minnesota-Wisconsin game, but we certainly didn't miss the after party! Goddamn, now this is college football. After sneaking into the stadium as everyone was exiting, it was off to grab some post game food and beverages. Tailgating as far as the eye can see!!!!! Beers flowing like the piss I took this morning and crisp brats on the grill!!!!!

New York is a great place, but we miss something that is central to the core of American society. Big Time College Football!!! I'd argue Minnesotans (not sure if that's a word) are as passionate, if not more so, about their Golden Gophers than Twins, Wild, Wolves and Vikes combined!

Saturday night was one to remember...we hit up The Local...home to the world's finest Jameson; so says the bar front at least. Jamesons and a few pints down...off to Dan Kelly's. A few rounds of Guinness and there's my uncle accepting a Car Bomb Challenge from a groom to be wearing a leopard print shirt.

Housed him like a true New Yorkaaa should!!!! By the way, everyone in this city is as nice as can be!

Sunday morning was the Twin Cities Marathon....Jesus Christ, between the Twins, the Marathon, the Minnesota/Wisconsin game, Brett taking on his old mates on Monday night and the Wild opening their season up Tuesday night...this is the sports capital of America!!!!!!

Now off to the Metrodome...The Homer Dome, The Dome, The Met...whatever you want to call it. Christ is this place TREMENDOUS!!!! And completely unfit for baseball, but the locals love it and opponents hate it!! I heard more positive things about The Dome, than excitement about the newly created, outdoor Target Field. A post-game tribute to former Twins, including the most famous of all..Kirby Puckett, had most fans in attendance in tears.

Props to the grounds crew for having the joint ready to go for Monday Night Football the following night...and back again today for the Twins against the Tigers in a sudden death playoff!

More observations about The Dome...it looks like they are playing on green carpet, ear drum-exploding loudness, a steeper stair climb than most mountains, terrible sight lines and beyond strange seeing baseball indoors.

Slight interlude....there's something really special about living in a city with four major teams. Everyone lives and dies with their team...no Yanks vs. Mets or Giants vs. Jets. All Vikes, all Twins!!!!

Back to the hotel we went to drop off our commemorative "Last Regular Season Game at the Metrodome" Certificates. We noticed immediately, we seemed to shrink a few inches since we were last in the Marriott. "God these people are big!"

What a minute....those are players on the Green Bay Packers!!!!!!!! In our hotel!!! I didn't see anyone I recognized, but it was sure as hell them!

The night ended with another tour of bars in downtown Minny, ending as always at an Irish Pub...O'Donovans was the place...beautiful music, beautiful rugby paintings, beautiful Guinness!

Back to New York we traveled yesterday, through Chicago this time...O'Hare International Airport decorated to the "T" in Chicago 2016 Olympic gear...touch break for the Midwesterners! The airport workers were just getting around to taken down all the posters.

Quick interruption...throughout most of this weekend, my Uncle Rob donned a Penn State sweatshirt; now he never attended Penn State, he's never been to Beaver Stadium or even been to the campus...at a minimum, 50 people said to him, "Hey I graduated Penn State in "X" year, "Go Joe Pa!," "Ya, Nittany Lions!" "Happy Valley baby!" My point...you could spend 50 days in New York with a (insert college name) shirt on and not have 50 people make a comment. The rest of this country has a fanatical, bodering on religious/unhealthy, obsession with collegiate athletics...we need this in the Northeast and we need it now!

People yelling, horns honking, cabbies screaming...ahh back in NY!!!

There's something beautiful about the middle of this country...land, serenity, peacefulness...not really my thing though.

Can't wait for the West Coast next year!

More Thoughts

- Most of our trips thus far have been to the Midwest...flying over Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc., you come to realize something...90% of this great country is farm land. Here's the problem...the US was and is based on the agricultural system (that's why our schools are off during the summer), but very few people are farming anymore. We import most of our fruits and vegetables so in effect we are left with more vacant land than we know what to do with and because no one wants to farm (and believe me, I don't blame them...probably no tougher lifestyle), our country is in the trillion dollar debt it's in. There's too many smart people in this country to let this issue persist...use the land for something, encourage people to farm, stop importing!

- Along the same lines as the first point, there are really only four major cities in this country (by my count anyway)...New York, LA, Chicago and Houston...there are of course, a few others that are close, but I wouldn't call them major...Atlanta, Boston, Philly, Dallas, Phoenix. As we continue our journey throughout the US, I've come to realize that what most people in this country consider a city, is really nothing more than a large town with some skyscrapers (and most ain't scraping shit!). New York is home to over 8 million people! Minneapolis has barely 300,000!!!! Very few people around the US actually have a desire to live in the city the way many people in the New York area do. I also am more understanding why people who have never been to New York, are so intimidated or nervous when they arrive. Noise, police sirens, traffic, congestion, people honking horns...this isn't the case in other cities. Rush hour yesterday in Minneapolis had less people than you see on Route 110 at 2:00AM on a Wednesday!

- These first two points led to this question...if few people work in these cities and even less live there and we have all this vacant land that nobody is farming, what in the name of Hell do people do for work!!!

Rage Out

So pissed off right now!

I know I have spoken on this subject before, or at least I think I have. Regardless I'll vent on it now!

So basically I feel like taking some NOexplode and drive my fist through a concrete wall. You know those feelings of just complete explosion! Where you feel like the only thing that's going to make the hurt go away is to drive your self to complete exhaustion.

Damn this world we live in, I'm just going to listen to some PJ and sit in my office all day! Then 5:00 Rugby practice!

Social Suicide

Breaking news out of Oneonta, NY!!

It has come to my attention that some how my mother sent an unbelievable hysterical email concerning my sister to the whole student body, faculty, staff and random facility workers! More on this in just a few paragraphs...

Early Sunday morning my sister (who we will call "Lauren") arose from a deep slumber to take a tinkle, she crept out of her dorm room and quietly tip-toed down the hallway towards the bathroom. To her astonishment she felt like she wasn't walking the straightest of lines, instead she felt quite dizzy. After what must have felt like hours, my sister now arose from the hallway floor with the feeling of "where am I and what just happened?"

She now aggressively stomped back down the hallway and flung the dorm room door open simultaneously scaring her roommate out of her High School Musical 3 feet pajamas, (for social suicide purposes we'll call her roommate "Paige"). "Paige" immediately asks, "Lauren", "uhhh wtf mate, are you f'n crazy waking me up like this! (In a British accent because "Paige" is from Liverpool, where coincidentally so are/were The Beatles). "Lauren proceeds to say, uhhh "Paige" I don't feel to well, I think I may have bumped my head!"

"Paige" quickly replies, "I have bumped me head, shit Lauren you did a little more than that, your f'n bleeding all over the place!" Thankfully "Paige" in just here second year is studying nursing at this prestigious school on top of the hill. "Paige" then yells out "Medic, I think this girl is fucked". Then without haste bandages "Lauren" up like a midget mummy and explains try and sleep and if its worse in the morning we'll go to the hospital. I guess concussions is next week's topic.

In the morning "Lauren's" cut was just as bad so the lot of them proceeded to the local hillbilly hospital where the secretary gave my sister her stitches, (because why wouldn't she wait for a plastic surgeon, she's only an aspiring day time soap actress, yeah all those girls have the Joker's scars!!!)...Sorry protective brother.

So blah blah, "Lauren" gets stitches...

Now its Tuesday, and the weekly email that gets sent out to the master distribution list about health updates is sent. At this particular school this type of email also gets sent to the parents of all the students.

Now my mother, who is the most tech savvy person out there reads this and figures shes got something to add.

I don't know how, or why this feature exists on this type of email but my very loving and concerned mother hits "Reply All"

This email which I can mostly likely bet my Wayne Gretzky farewell to the game figurine (that stares at me every day and says, You can be great to one day Matt) that she probably wrote this email in all caps, with maybe a few dozen run on sentences and abbreviations.

Well this email now gets returned to at least all the faculty, staff and administrators who now have been emailing my sister, calling her dorm and cellphones, writing get well soon cards and leaving them in her mailbox, announcing it in their classes to everyone so they can keep an eye on the girl who randomly passes out, and coming up to her asking them if she is OK!

Can this be any more hilarious, but shitty for her any more. Talk about a girl who is probably the shyest girl around too. I won't be surprised if she returns to her dorm and the football team is nailing mattresses to the floors and walls, or bubble wrapping the bathroom with a few inner tubes and bumpers!

Hey at least she has the sense of humor to call me up laughing about it!

Love you Mom!

True to the term "Evolution"

As of all you know I (since I have posted on them previously) Pearl Jam is my favorite band and performers. The same can be said for the rest of the members of 501, as I'm sure many Huguenuts as well.

I've decided to write another blog about them since they just released their latest single off of their 10th original album. That's not including their Greatest Hits, their guest appearances on albums, Sound Tracks or Eddie's solo albums. This album is labeled "Backspacer", and their latest single is "The Fixer". If you haven't heard the The Fixer I expect you to click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj-sFIHQWLY

How can you not be impressed with this band? Haven't they stayed true to one of their biggest singles, Do the Evolution. For the love of Seattle they just keep going while creating great music! They even stared in the 1990's hit movie, Singles, not to mention was personally asked to do the entire sound track for the 2007 film Into the Wild and major contributions to the Sean Penn hit, I am Sam. I believe its safe to say that this Grammy winning band is nothing less than multi-talented and pisses into Ponce de Leon's fountain of youth!

Granted the PJ of ole was a bit more rough around the edges trying to make a name for them selves but like Eddies pre-performance ritual of downing a bottle of red wine, they get better with age! From Gonna See My Friend to The End, Back Spacer is filled with a touch of the ole Jam!

Put some of Eddies onstage political antics aside, wouldn't you want to be him for just one performance? Shit, the man made a whole in the stage with the mic stand then crawled into it and continued his performance from inside the whole! Are you serious!

Just go out and buy this album!

Raise Your Glasses 501 Fans!

Today we honor the one and only Arthur Guinness. Uncle Arthur as he is fondly known is the man we have to thank for the rich, full-bodied, burnt-barley flavored stout we all know and love to consume...ahhh a frosty pint of Guinness!

On this, the 24th day of September in the year 2009, Ireland and certainly all the world toast this heavenly libation as we celebrate it's 250th birthday. Two and half centuries ago Mr. Guinness, the son of a land steward, made a decision fit for a drunken Irishman...sign a 9,000-year lease on a run-down brewery in Dublin's St. James' Gate.

An instant success...the dark ale, known for its thick creamy head which is the result of the beer being mixed with nitrogen when being poured, quickly spread throughout the globe and it is said that some 10 million pints are now downed everyday in 150 countries.

So let us raise a toast to Uncle Arthur ladies and gentlemen, and repeat after me...

You know you're drinking a beer when you're drinking a Guinness!

Cheers!

Is Parity in Sports Really A Good Thing?

Parity, parity, parity...that seems to be all we hear about in sports today. Commissioners strive for it saying it helps the little guy and that it'll keep more fans interested if more teams are in the hunt. Some baseball GM's like the idea of revenue sharing, some (like The Steinbrenner's despise it). But what has all this love and good will for all teams ultimately led too?

SHIT TEAMS!!!

Look at baseball right now. Sure you can say it's an oddity that happens once in a while, but other than the AL Central Race, virtually every other divisional or wild card race has been finished and finished for a while.

Toronto, Baltimore, Kansas City, Cleveland, Oakland, New York (Mets), Washington, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Houston, San Diego and Arizona flat out suck. That's almost half the league!!!! Many of these teams are virtually unwatchable. You then have a host of other teams...Tampa Bay, Chicago (White Sox), Seattle, Chicago (Cubs), Milwaukee that are borderline awful, leaving only 12 teams that were really ever in the hunt for the playoffs this year.

Think it only extends to baseball? I know we are only in Week 2, but already it's clear in the NFL who sucks.

Washington, Detroit, Tampa Bay, Carolina, St. Louis, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Kansas City and then you have that second level of teams who may not be much better...Cincinnati, Buffalo, Houston, Tennessee, Seattle and Chicago.

Now I'm not saying the Jets or 49ers couldn't make a spectacular run to the Big Game in Miami but in truth, you'd probably have confidence in only eight teams as Super Bowl caliber: New York (Giants), Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, New Orleans, Minnesota, New England and maybe Indy.

A fourth of the league? Is this the parity we are looking for?

How about the days when there were 5 or 6 great teams, another 15 or so good teams and then the rest awful.

Dynasties are ok folks. Teams love building and other teams love tearing them down.

Let's stop always worrying about the quantity of the league and focus more on the quality!

Victims??? These Guys!?!?

By now, I'm sure everyone has heard about the alleged gang rape that took place this past weekend at Hofstra University. According to an initial report, an 18-year old female was lured out of an on-campus hot spot by a young man who stole her cell phone. The gentleman who stole the cell phone, along with 3 other friends (only one was a Hofstra student), brought the coed back to a dormitory where she was tied up in a bathroom stall and brutally raped. Days after accusing these men, the student's story changed completely claiming the acts were consensual.

The once accused men, all in their late teens/early 20's, are now being praised in many circles as victims worthy of our sympathy. Now, had they been convicted and sent to prison for a crime they didn't commit it would have an absolute atrocity. Just as if the three Duke lacrosse players suffered the same fate. The law is the law and in both situations, no person committed a crime worthy of sentencing. And far be it for me to blame the men and their families for being happy about their exoneration, I can't even imagine the apprehension, stress and now relief they must be feeling. What is very troubling to me, however, is the photos of smiles, laughter and "thumbs up" by the gentlemen when they were released from jail.

Has our society fallen so far that morals no longer play any role whatsoever? Have we forgotten that these men, though innocent of the crime they were alleged to have commit, did in fact engage in what amounts to an outright orgy? Do we just ignore that one of the gentlemen used his phone to record the incident? Do we overlook that from a purely humane standpoint, what occurred at Hofstra University is grotesque regardless of how it stands up in the face of the law?

Hofstra University should certainly not go without blame here either. The campus, one I've been on many times, offers little security and numerous options for access from the outside community. The bars its students frequent are dangerously close to nearby Hempstead. In truth, this incident should be stunning to no one.

At the end of the day, both at Hofstra and at Duke, no one should be smiling. Lives, names and reputations, both the individuals involved and the institutions, are damaged. In both cases, a group of men took advantage of a female, consensual or not.

Hofstra and Duke should be embarrassed, the females should be scorned for their lack of true testimony, the men should be admonished for their disgusting behavior and WE should think for second about what is right and what is wrong from a HUMAN and not just a LAW prospective.

WAKE Me Up

I attended a wake last week for a co-worker whose father died. It wasn't a particularly sad wake, the gentleman had been sick for sometime so it wasn't a complete shock and by all accounts, he lived a full and enjoyable life to the age of 96! Standing in the funeral home, surrounded by people I don't know as a dead man lay in rest in the front of the room got me thinking...when analyzed on a very simple level, is there anything stranger on the planet than attending a wake!?!?

Consider...you park your car in the funeral home lot and you are already beyond nervous...am I dressed appropriately?, how long will I stay?, will I find the room easily?, what's their nationality (Italian, probably going to be a bit more somber; Irish, damnit I forgot my 5-piece drum set!), will I know anybody there?, will him or her be there?, is my cell phone off?, do I even know the deceased's name or anything about he or she?, I'm starving and goddamnit, that's right, there's no food served here!

Now step into the funeral home...you immediately look for the bathroom, even if you don't actually need to use it! Once out of the bathroom, let me make sure I find the right room (believe me, there is nothing more embarrassing or unnerving then getting on the wrong line to see the family...I've been there!!!!)...oh shit! I forgot my friend's maiden name...Oh, Christ, what's her name! Oh fuck, I just said fuck and Christ in a funeral home! I'm going to Hell!!!

Ok, I found the right room...jeez, that smell! That funeral home smell, you can't describe it, you just know it's there. Into the room you walk...Oh God, I'm definitely in the wrong room, I don't recognize a soul! Damnit, used the Lord's name in vain again! Ok, ok, there he/she is. Now, do I jump on the line and hope he/she is there when I get up to the front or do I go ahead, kneel in front of the dead person and say a prayer for someone I don't know! (And you know damn well, half the people who go up there, just kneel and don't say a word!). And who among us hasn't thought for a second what if the dead person's eye flickers or hand moves! Oh shit, I think it just happened!!!!

Boom, you smack right into your friend! Hi (insert name), I'm so sorry about your loss. Your loss? Does that even make sense?? Nobody is missing and your friend didn't hit the rim on a game winning jump shot...so why do we say loss? How about, I felt terrible when I heard so and so died. Terrible? Did you really feel terrible? Or did you say, shit! Now, I have to go to the wake because he/she came to the wake when my (insert friend or family name) died! And how about when someone says of the deceased, he/she looks great! Looks great!!!! The man is going to be buried six feet under in 2 days!!!!

After your heartfelt words are expressed and you've starred aimlessly at photos of people you don't know or recognize you begin to walk....Hey (insert your name), there you are!? Oh motherfucker you say in your head, what's this guy's name and why does he always remember mine!!! Hey (think about blurting out a name, but decide not to), how are you doing? Then you think, how good can he be doing, he's at a wake, there's a good chance it's a relative or friend and fuck, I still can't remember his name. Hey (says the man you don't know), come meet my wife. Hey Susie, this is (insert your name). Oh hi, I've heard so much about you she says. Please use your husband's name, please use it! You two go back a long way! (Damnit, she didn't say his name!!!). After minutes of trying to figure out your friend's name and how you know him, you excuse yourself...it's been great talking to you man!

Oh well, I messed that up, but let me get some food! Oh fuck!!!!!! There is no food here! This is the only time in your life when friends and family are gathered together and no one has as much as a baby wiener dog!

Out to the car you return, only one thought in mind...couldn't have messed up that anymore than I did!

I apologize if anyone was offended by the preceding scenario, obviously ceremonies to honor the people in our lives that have died are important and to be taken serious, but you can't for a second deny their weirdness!!!

9-11 Remembered

" We shall never forget" These words have been etched in all of our minds for the past 8 years. I believe everyone in this great nation and especially New Yorkers can close their eyes and envision that horrific day, we can remember where we were and what we were doing. We can see the visions of the the towers on every news station, we can see the smoke, we can see the hysteria.

It's on this day we are supposed to remember, maybe not so much the tragedy it self but the the memories of our loved ones. Because on this day we lost a lot more than just steel and concrete, we lost fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, cousins, neighbors and heroes.

Images have altered, the New York city skyline while crossing the Whitestone now looks like something is missing, the NYC subway map seems incomplete, firefighters morphing from civil service positions to modern day warriors.

Feelings have altered too, we have a new sense of security. Some still feel a little uneasy about traveling through the air, entering the city, seeing suspicious characters and packages. We look twice constantly and unsuspecting changes. There's no more "ehh never mind," or "something about this doesn't feel right", instead of shaking it off people just don't do it.

We have seen new rules and laws enacted, we have decided to go to "war", all while none of us really decided to any of this. We were forced to change all our lives, that is one of the hardest aspects to swallow. On this day we will always remembered that not just those buildings were hit, we were hit with the horrific feeling of helplessness, and that not one person that past way did anything to provoke their untimely death. Most of our loved ones went to work that day, like every other day they woke up and went to work.

I don't think there is one person that doesn't know someone that lost their lives on that Tuesday morning. On this day its not about anyone's view on this matter or the politics that surround it, its all about our loved ones who are unfortunately not with us. All I can say now is to please prey for our loved ones and please please "Never Forget"

Rest In Peace

Lt. Kevin Dowdell

John Anthony Spataro

John T. Vigiano II

Joesph Vigiano

Lt. Raymond Downey

Farrell Lynch

Simply Put...THE MAN

There will never be another like Him...I don't care about the hype "X" player gets in high school, don't tell about how he floats in the air like Him, don't compare his passion and drive to His Airness... Michael Jeffrey Jordan is one of a kind...sure, Kobe will surpass him in total points, Bill Russell obviously owns more jewelry and LeBron may exceed his endorsement numbers, but no one in any sport then, now or in the future, will make time stop like Him.

You remember those days...those Sunday afternoon games on NBC, waking up early to get your chores done so you could watch Him take on Larry, Magic, Isiah, Patrick, Charles, Hakeem, Clyde, Karl and John. Everything stopped for Bulls vs. Knicks, Pacers, Celtics, Lakers, Trailblazers, Pistons, Rockets, Suns and Jazz. There you sat on your couch, not alone though...there was your Dad, Mom, sister, brother, friends...many of these people probably never picked up a basketball in their lives, but they were there with you to watch Him.

He transcended the game and life like no one else...good-looking, well-spoken, candid... people from here to China wore his jerseys, gobbled up his sneakers and filled their bowls with Wheaties. It wasn't that long ago guys, seems like a century ago I realize, when we heard..."A shot on Ehlo, good! The Bulls win it, they win it!" or Marvelous Marv praise his soaring, down the lane layup against The Lake Show..."Ohhh, a spectacular move by Michael Jordan!"

The Basketball Hame of Fame seems a bit small for MJ doesn't it? Seems like we should dedicate a building to Him or something? You almost feel bad for John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer for having to share a stage with Him later today.

His list of accomplishments and accolades (6 championships, two gold medals, his 69 point performance) are too lengthy to mention, his highlights (the Flu Game, the trifectas against Portland, the Duel with Dominick) too numerous to be retold, but one stat has always expressed to me how unbelievable Michael Jordan was.

Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Dominick Wilkins Reggie Miller, Gary Payton...NBA legends, some of the greatest to ever step on the hardwood...but all of whom never won an NBA Title because of one man...Number 23, Michael Jordan! (And remember, Hakeem the Dream, The Admiral and The Diesel only won titles when Jordan wasn't in the league!...I don't count the years in Washington).

Name for me another professional athlete who prevented a similar collection of talent from reaching their sport's ultimate prize...you can rake your brains all you want folks, but you can't and you won't.

There will never be another like Mike.

Close the door to your office, pull down the shades, turn up your speakers and recall His Greatness...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK0au1lJe-k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owY34aRiBNU&NR=1

Quick Hits

Even though this is quickly turning into the day from Hell, there's a few things I have to get off my chest...

Eric Mangini...Mangenius?? We know that nickname is long gone after the bitter end to his three-year tenure in The Big Apple, but this whole fiasco about not telling anyone who the Browns starting QB will be this season, even though we all know it's Brady Quinn...Jesus Christ Eric, are you f*cking Houdini or something?? As much as you want to be like your mentor and Chi Psi fraternity buddy Bill Belichick, you're not...look in the mirror and admit this...I'm a bad coach who looks like a cross between Rudy Ruettiger, The Penguin and former North Avenue Burger King regular Fred "Boom Boom" Mariani!

Brett Favre...Christ Brett, let it go!...it didn't work out with the Jets, why bring up this horsesh*t about them convincing you to continue playing when they knew you had a torn bicep. For starters, your ego is the size of Boom Boom's lunch order so we all know damn well you don't want your starting streak to end and secondly, even if they did make you play when you were hurt, they paid you a fortune and you with a wounded wing is infinitely better than Kellen Clemens.

And if that's not enough, we heard from Mr. Viking himself that he may not make it through a 16-game season and would have no reservations about sitting a few games out. Is this whole situation turning into an episode of Days of Our Lives or what?!?! Brett, quarterbacks in the NFL hope to play at 16 games a season, if you're body doesn't permit that, you never should have came back. Prediction That I'll Bet My Left Nut On: Brett would sooner take to Lambeau Field in a wheelchair than sit out a game against his former Packer mates!

Shawn Merriman...I guess your gal pal Tila didn't realize your off the field Lightning Bolt Dance involved grasping her around the neck. Now, I admire your desire to prevent a drunken Tequila from hoping in a car, but come on man, she's gotta be no taller than five feet and maybe the century mark on the scale! I suspect your days are numbered out on the Left Coast!

Predicition for Tonight's Matchup: Football is back baby!!! Great, physical matchup to tune into tonight that will whet our appetite for the season to come. Steelers 23 Titans 19

Tackling The Globe

Through the "Watch Instantly" feature on Netflix I have had the opportunity to watch a series that aired a few months back called "Dhani Jones Tackles The Globe," which originally aired on the the Travel Channel. Let me be the first to tell you that this show was awesome!

The premise of the show is that Dhani who is a NFL linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals travels to different nations to participate in one of their home grown sports! The best part of it all is that he actually does well in most of the sports. Besides just training and playing, he explores the cultures of the cities he's in along with the people, dining and entertainment.

I have to say my favorite episodes were when Dhani attempts to tackle Rugby in London, England, Hurling in Dublin, Ireland, Jai Lai in the Bask region of Spain and Sailing in New Zealand. Even though he's in top NFL shape you can see how these different sports require different training and conditioning.

As a rugger my self I loved it when he tried using the whole I'm an explosive athlete, football is tougher, routine on the English ruggers. Then he played. On later episodes he uses that same point as a negative for him self, saying all he has to do is get amped for a few seconds then rest, whereas these other sports truly don't stop! In all, he's an animal, we all know that, you have to be to play linebacker for America's most winningest and prestigious collegiate football programs in the U.S.; Michigan and of course in the NFL!

You can either watch the whole season on Netflix or you can purchase the first season on DVD, I definitely recommend it!

Is THIS The Answer?

When athletes tweet, we listen...Shaq, Ochocinco, Lance Armstrong, and so today, yet another Twitter message made front page headline.

"God Chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career."

This from arguably pound for pound, the greatest scorer in NBA history...notice I didn't say player though because Allen Iverson, for all his talent, has never quite been that leader a team is looking for. Yes, he took an undermanned Sixers team to the NBA Finals, but recall how bad the East in those days...little scoring and no dominant big men.

So the man who once owned Philly like no one since Rocky is on his way to a third team in less than a year. Let's break down this decision shall we?

Now if the deal is solely to sell tickets than it's a fantastic, can't-lose move. AI certainly isn't the draw he used to be, but he'll surely put some extra asses in the FedEx Forum. Memphis isn't going anywhere anytime soon so in a bad economy, why not?

If, however, the Grizzlies brass looks at this as an opportunity to have its young players...O.J. Majo, Mike Conley, Hasheem Thabeet, Sam Young and Rudy Gay, learn from a grizzly veteran who's been through it all, it ain't gonna happen. Iverson is tough, fearless and exciting, but he's never been a team guy...he'll pour in 20, but he'll do it missing 15 shots and dishing out 3 assists. Take a look at those names I just listed...Proven NBA talents? Absolutely not, but talented and raw? Hell Yes! Why create a situation where your product could be damaged?

I don't own Twitter and it'd probably take a 20-page handbook to get me to understand why and how to use it, but if I did, I'd have tweeted today..."God gave Memphis the wrong Answer."

Get Ya Tickets Here!

Yesterday, Roger Goodell and the NFL brain trust announced that a number of cities, 12 to be exact, were in danger of blackouts due to low ticket sales. The Jaguars, Chargers, Lions, Browns and Chiefs are the teams I've heard, please feel free to send in ones I have not mentioned. By rule, the league blacks out games that are not sellouts...translation: 95% of the seats have not been sold by the Thursday leading up to the game (they will sometimes push that to Friday). No matter what way you slice this issue, the result is lose/lose. The NFL loses because their product is pulled from the air and the fans lose because they don't get to watch their favorite team on TV. The NFL needs to wake up here...no matter how under or overstated you believe this economic depression is, the reality is many, many people have lost their jobs and there will surely be more to come.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out a solution here Mr. Goodell. Now as a man with a background in business, I understand and appreciate that revenue and profit are the undeniable kings of any company...I don't want to hear about goodwill in the community, helping a non-profit organization or donating money to charity...the bottom line is money and at the end of the day, that's all that matters.

Last I checked, the NFL, who has multi-million, if not billion, dollar contracts with CBS, NBC, FOX and ESPN, and oh by the way, owns it's own network, isn't on line waiting for food stamps.

With that in mind, how about these suggestions:

- After announcing to the world it's understanding of the current economic landscape, the NFL purchases the remaining tickets needed to make the game(s) a sellout and donates them to a local charity in that city

- Workout a deal with the aforementioned teams to announce NOW, that season tickets for this year will remain the same, but next year they will be reduced, even if only slightly (likely would encourage alot of former season ticket holders who may have lost their jobs to consider purchasing their tickets back)

- Purchase a select number of seats and have the teams run a "Free Ticket(s) for the Best Fan" Contest...have the fans prove how loyal they are and reward them with a free ticket

- Hire interested fans to volunteer to help cleanup the stadium in preparation of or following the game, each fan that does gets a free ticket (you could do the same with a local park in that city that needs repair)

- Workout an "NFL Economic Loan Plan," like any bank, have the season ticket holders pay a certain designated amount up front, and then give them a certain amount of time to pay the rest (of course, charge them some interest)...unlike our friends at Lehman Brothers, Bear Sterns and AIG, make sure these people actually have the money or at least, some substantial plan, to repay the loan!

- Host an NFL job fair...I'm sure various teams could use some cheap labor or interns...throw a few tickets to these guys as compensation

Are any of these solutions going to push the NFL further into the black...well, maybe, maybe not...perhaps, their willingness to go above and beyond for their loyal fans results in an increase of viewership, attendance, etc. On the other hand, maybe the only result is that a handful of fans get to watch their favorite team in person and is that really a bad thing...the NFL's product isn't blacked out and fans are happy.

Come on Roger...wake up and look around your neighborhood! Do the right thing!

More Ticket Issues
As reported today in Newsday (Newsday Everyday!), a little over 700 tickets will be sold to the general public for Yankee playoff games at the New Stadium. Why so low? According to the report, 37,000 tickets are reserved for their season ticket holders, 9,500 for MLB officials and the remaining are split amongst the media and player's families and friends.

Yankee fans...you can't have it both ways. Many of you bitched and moaned when tickets were too expensive months ago (I don't disagree with you), but you all were given the opportunity to buy them...now come playoff time, those that did take advantage will be rewarded first. Now, the nearly 10,000 tics to MLB officials? I'm with you on that, seems pretty ridiculous. But let's remember, despite what our esteemed President is trying to do, this great country is built on capitalism...if you want something, go ahead and get it, no one is stopping you! Should you choose to wait, however, there's a good chance that something will be gone.

Women of Asphalt

I have to believe that people don't always see things my way or even in my perspective, and I have to admit I'm not always right. Therefore I can understand why people don't always agree with my predictions, statements or conclusions....fine.

I know that many things cant get under my skin or piss me off to the max of my pisstivity...fine.

I know being such a rock ribbed conservative cold heart doesn't make me the most sensitive to certain situations, but hey that's just me!

But you what really reall pisses me off is...women construction workers! Sorry ladies you just really make me mad when I see 12 guys working under ground or 1000 feet below it, covered in ash, soot, dirt, mud, or god knows what chemical, and your in the fucking street with capris and and sandals wearing your clean vest and even cleaner helmet holding the fucking slow/stop sign while cars pass like a goddamn crossing guard (who I have more respect for).

I know jobs are scarce right now and the economy is in a rebuilding period but that doesn't mean you should be paid the same wages as the people doing all the work. I'm sure there is probably a few female construction workers that actually do some work, so to you few I apologize for my rant.

By no means am I some kind of sexist, I believe you should go out and work, and assist in the bill paying. Hey, you did go to college, you shouldn't just have babies and then quit, then my ass is stuck paying all the bills.

I just can't see how you can call your selves construction workers or even employees at all. You don't work for the company, your just paid by the company! Big difference. Voting really came at a high price fellas.

It's Time To Go

I know you haven't been in Ann Arbor long Rich, but it's clearly time to go. Your spread offense, your 3-9 2008 campaign, your messy divorce from West Virginia, your alleged violation of NCAA rules and of course, your none Michigan roots...they don't belong on the campus of the winningest and arguably most famous college football team in all the land.

Your bullshit tears yesterday at your press conference will do nothing to sway the tide. Your own team threw you under the bus Rich! That stuff happens in the NFL, not in college! If your players liked you, they wouldn't have told a soul, sucked it up and moved on, knowing the loyalty and love they have for their guy.

And how could they love you, when your Michigan resume includes the following...

- Most losses EVER by a Michigan football team

- First losing season since 1967

- First missed bowl game in 33 years, breaking the nation's longest streak

- Previously worst 7-loss season done 2 worse by Rodriguez

- First loss to a MAC team. (previously 24-0)

- Becomes only the second head coach in 90 years to lose his career opener vs Ohio State

- First time since 1962 that Michigan did not win 2 games in a row.

Many college football powerhouses have gone through down years...USC, Notre Dame, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, even our friends at Ohio State, but your ruining the culture and mystic of the Maize and Blue...I urge all 501 fans to go to this website!

http://firerrod.com/

I pray to the ghost of the late, great Bo Schembechler that AD Bill Martin wakes up and remembers that the head football coaching position at the University of Michigan is reserved for a Michigan man and a Michigan man only!