Hey Joe Pavelski, you down to switch places? Columbus is totally cool brah.
I’ve been a fan of exactly 4 teams my entire life. Well, 5 if you want to include the Packers, but they mainly serve as my NFC team. And no, I didn’t just jump on the bandwagon last year or this year. I’ve been a Packer fan since the mid-90′s. I even briefly wrote about it in my Tumblr here, here and here.
Wait, I thought this was a hockey post…???
And it’s not like I have to name them — you need only read a couple posts on this blog to find out who they are. But for those lazy ones who don’t like to read, those aforementioned 4 teams are the Raiders, Warriors, A’s, and Sharks. I’ve been through highs and lows, ebbs and flows, good years, bad years, JaMarcus Russell, “WE BELIEVE”, Giambi not sliding, 2009 NHL playof– oh wait, never mind, no…that never happened. That’s a whole lot of passion and fandom collected over my short lifespan.
Okay? Get to the point.
Clearly, I have spent a lot of time and attention to my teams (something I’m going to have to start re-evaluating if I want to have a life). I’ll admit it, my obsession is a little over-zealous at times, but hey, we all have our vices right?
Vices? JaMarcus? You’re losing me, hun…
And while I’ve tried to come up with a creative lede to this post, I’ve ended up rambling about something that doesn’t really have much relevance to the topic I want to speak about. So we’re just going to ignore what I said above, and flat out say what I’ve horribly tried to transition to: Rick Nash. If you’re really feelin lazy, I have bullet points somewhere after the jump if you’d just like to start there. Also, I have some exciting news at the very end of this post, if you wanted to check that out, too.
Just a hunch, but something tells me this SuperBowl won't be as fondly remembered as last time...
There was a point during the NFL playoffs this year where I felt I wasn’t going to be able to watch the SuperBowl. That point came the moment I realized there was a very strong possibility that the Patriots could play the 49ers for the title. I was desperate for the Giants to beat the Niners in the Conference Championship game for reasons even I think are ridiculous, in hindsight, but the following actually happened:
I was becoming a very mean and spiteful person, probably losing some friends along the way. (Well, if I’m being honest with myself, they weren’t REAL friends anyway.)
My mood was getting progressively worse with every Niner win. I swear I needed a valium or zoloft or something to calm me down because I was getting way too serious about a stupid football team.
Much to my dismay, I was actually cheering for the Patriots in their championship game only because I had to think of which team of the two (them or the Ravens) had the best chance of beating the Niners should the Niners advance. In my mind, the Pats were that team (although, I may have been wrong in that assertion). Consequently, if the SB ended up being Pats vs the Niners, I was convinced I would burst into flames if I had to cheer for the Patriots two weeks in a row. I know what blasphemy is, and I know it’s a sin. So I told myself I just wouldn’t watch the game if that were the case.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to worry about any of that.
I was glad I didn’t have to avoid the SuperBowl this year, and I could watch it in peace.
But I wasn’t exactly excited about the game. In fact, I found myself gradually becoming disinterested in the game as the two weeks went by. The ESPN propaganda machine was in full-force spouting out wall-to-wall bullshit about this being another great New York-Boston rivalry, and the greatness of Tom Brady and whether or not Eli Manning is elite and is the greatest defense ever and blah blah blah. To be honest, I don’t know if that’s true because I avoided ESPN for two weeks, but I have to think that was close to the coverage on the channel.
Even though the revenge factor was in play, the game still did not have the same allure as the 2007 matchup. The fact that the Patriots were undefeated and lost to the (at-the-time) lesser Manning brother who threw a prayer into the air that was caught on the helmet by a guy who is no longer in the NFL was a story only told in Hollywood. The league couldn’t have written a better script than that. And for Raider fans, that game closed a chapter* (not the book yet) when Brady was pummeled by a guy named Justin Tuck in the end, who, ironically, put down Brady in a key moment on Sunday, as well.
*That chapter is probably titled “Karma’s a bitch and his name is Tuck. Suck it, Brady.”
The ill-advised safety via intentional grounding was exhilarating at the beginning, but then the game just kind of lost steam and became a defensive enigma. I actually fell asleep for part of it. I did wake up to see Madonna though. Two thoughts: 1) Way better than the Black Eyed Peas (but that’s not really that hard to top) and 2) For a 50-year old, that grandma moves better than either you or I can. Gotta give Madge props for that. And as bonus thought: 3) M.I.A. flipped off the camera? Big whoop. No one will ever top Janet so stop trying.
To keep myself awake, I made a couple prop bets. My cousin bet me this: the Patriots will run 3 running plays in a row. I said no. To hedge my bet, I said Eli Manning will throw a 40-yard pass in the 3rd quarter. He said no. Neither of it happened, so we broke even. Oh we also had an informal prop bet (or I guess it’s just a drinking game) that every time they showed a non-football celebrity or the owners box, that we’d drink. It gave me a decent buzz, but it probably made me fell asleep.
Sure, the end got exciting for a bit there. Ahmad Bradshaw’s touchdown was one of the funniest and most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. Gravity was not his friend. It was surreal to think that he could have possibly been the first person ever to be crucified for scoring a touchdown, but it was even crazier to think if he had sat down at the 1-yard line, wouldn’t it have been even more awful(ly hilarious?) if the kicker missed the FG? In retrospect, even though that wasn’t his intent, he did the right thing. Got as many points on the board as possible.
Many people will point to Manningham’s tightrope sideline catch at the biggest moment in the game, but to me, the biggest moment in the game was a missed one. Sure-handed Wes Welker missed a bulls-eye pass from Brady. 9 times out of 10, he makes that catch, and I think this was an even bigger shock than the Manningham catch. Granted, Manningham’s catch was spectacular, I’m not trying to downplay it. But Welker lost out on a HUGE miss opportunity for the Pats, and it was there I think they lost the game.
But other than all this, the game wasn’t all that thrilling. I didn’t even feel that much of satisfaction when the Giants won. It was more of a semi-enthusiatic, slightly disinterested kind of apathy. I also didn’t really remember any of the commercials, unlike the Darth Vader Volkswagen one last year. But we did figure out the formula for the commercials this year — cute animals do something cute and/or funny. Those will usually elicit a high approval rating from the audience.
And yeah…I really don’t know what else to say about that.
How about The Darkness? THE DARKNESS!
And seriously, a phone with a pen stylus? Really Samsung? What year is it 2005? I think it’s about time both Samsung and RIM throw in the towel. They’re both fighting a losing battle.
With the NHL All Star Game and the NFL Pro-Bowl being on this weekend, I thought maybe it’s a good idea to say how much of a waste of time both games really are. I mean, seriously. What’s the point?
Okay, All Star games aren’t completely pointless. The NBA All Star game is mostly enjoyable. Partly because the players’ unflinching disregard for the rules becomes acceptable, if not, completely encouraged. LeBron will take 3 steps to dunk a ball during a regular season game, whereas during the All Star game he gets 5. Double-dribbling is fine as long as Chris Paul can connect on a sweet behind the back alley-oop pass to teammate Blake Griffin who hangs on the rim 10 seconds too long. But that’s okay…cause it’s the All Star game, see.
The MLB All Star game doesn’t really lose any of it’s appeal. It plays just like a regular season game, just with a dream lineup and pitching staff. You can’t really argue it’s a slower game or less physical game because baseball isn’t that type of sport.
But when it comes to the sports that rely heavily on physicality, the mid-season exhibition games because snooze-worthy affairs.
The Warriors are the popcorn flavor. Good every once in a while but if we're being truthful, it's actually kind of crappy.
Up. Down. Up. Down.
Those were pretty much my emotions over the last few days in the sports world. Allow me to illustrate.
Friday: UP
I got home from my first full week at a new job, and all I wanted to do was drink a glass of red wine, kick off my shoes, plop down on the couch, and watch whatever game was on. I scrolled through the channel guide and found the Minnesota Timberwolves versus the Los Angeles Clippers. I don’t think this game has ever been on my radar, ever. I think I’ve watched more curling matches* than I have T’Wolves and Clippers games combined.
*I’ve actually watched a lot of curling surprisingly. The only reason I watched so much was because during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, curling was ALWAYS the event that was on prior to hockey. So I’d watch curling just to get to the hockey game. For the record, I still don’t understand what the hell goes on in that game. Do you?
But I digress…anytime I get to watch Ricky Rubio play, I will tune in. It’s just become an automatic response at this point in the season. What a stinker of a game he was playing though, until the fourth quarter, that is. Granted, he didn’t score much, and didn’t rack up a ton of assists, but I guarantee if you were watching that game, you would have noticed him. If only because the commentators were slobbering over his play and couldn’t stop pointing out all of the positives in his game. Then he hit that 3-pointer, and I’m pretty sure Rubio’s fan club (including the president, yours truly) went bonkers. That was fun. Oh and Kevin Love’s shot to seal the deal was fantastico. Probably one of the best basketball games I’ve seen in the past couple of years.
Friday: DOWN
While watching T’Wolves vs Clips, I was simultaneously watching the Warriors vs Pacers game, and that, too, was going down to the last second. There’s no need to relive the memory nor is there a need to get pissed about the fact that the refs blew the kick-ball call on George Hill. What I’ve come to notice with Monta Ellis, especially with the clock dwindling down, is that he takes way too much time off the clock. A lot of times, he ends up with no time left or taking an off-balanced or ill-advised shot. Yeah, I know he’s lightning quick, but he has to make decisions faster so he can, in turn, make better decisions. Sure, the Pacers game wasn’t his fault. But if he had made a decision sooner, there may have been more time on the clock for the Warriors to get the ball back after the free throws.
I am a basketball coach, after all. I know these things.
Saturday: UP
Anytime the Sharks play the Canucks, my blood starts to boil. I just want to beat them so bad. Sometimes, I think I want to beat them more than the Sharks do. But then Jamie McGinn leveled Dan Hamhuis over the boards. And Joe Pavelski (JOE PAVELSKI!) stepped up and fought Keith Ballard in only his second career fight. And let’s not forget, Brad Winchester responded to my Twitter request and went full-speed decking my favorite player in the whole wide world, Alex Burrows, with a hard shoulder. Ok, I said to myself. I like that the Sharks want to kill the Canucks. I can dig that.
Saturday: DOWN
Too bad it was all for naught. They lost.
Sunday: WAY UP
I have been miserable the past 3 weeks because of the 49ers. They have singlehandedly ruined my mood. Let’s just say, I have not been a very pleasant person to be around if you’re a Niner fan. So when they lost on Sunday, thanks to my new hero, Kyle Williams, I said to myself, “This must be what heaven feels like.” I will elaborate more on this and the Niners later this week, but needless to say, this was one of the best feelings in a while.
I still don’t understand why Williams didn’t go after the ball. Didn’t he feel the ball touch his leg? Did he not think anyone saw it? Did he not remember that there’s this thing called replay in the NFL, and they WILL use it? That was one of the most boneheaded plays I’ve ever seen (and I’m a Raider fan, people).
I’ve come to realize that while I hate the Niners (I truly do), I hate bandwagon fans the most (of any team). And that’s usually where most of my hate is directed towards. Again, more on this later in the week.
Sunday: DOWN
My elation was stifled once I realized I was going to be bombarded with New York-Boston propaganda again for the kajillionth time in my brief years of existence on this planet. As if the media doesn’t hype this up enough, it’s going to be overkill for the next 2 weeks. I may have to avoid ESPN until February — ehhh, probably June.
Monday: UP
Well, got damn. The Sharks are kind of on a mini losing streak, but they’re playing Edmonton, who are like, one of the worst teams in the league, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is out and Taylor Hall can only see out of one eye, so this should be cake. They’re the only team I can really count on. And it’s the first of a back-to-back. This is great. MOAR HAWKEY PLEEZ.
Monday: WAY DOWN (What’s further down than hell? Yeah I’m past that.)
OMG. Brent Burns. I think I just shed a tear. Please be okay or I might die.
Usually, I would wish for someone to return the favor to Ales Hemsky, but he seems to do a pretty good job of that himself.
OUTLAW THE SHOOTOUT.
Let’s be grateful that the All Star break is basically here. The team needs it. Badly. Hell, I need it.
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I’m on an emotional rollercoaster, lovin you ain’t nothin healthy
I love your glorious city. I love it so much I went to school there for 5 years.
I’ve lived there. I’ve worked there for most of my adult life. In fact, I get sad when I don’t get a job there because I love it so much.
I love eating delectable food from all the restaurants around the city, from the popular ones to the holes-in-the-wall, nothing beats San Francisco food. I mean, you guys are kinda known for it.
I love bar-hopping and getting wasted in the Mission, dancing at whatever grimy new nightclub opens up in SOMA, and meeting Tim Lincecum in the Marina. Seriously, cool.
Contrary to popular opinions, I love your weather. I’m from California, but I’m a cold weather baby. I love dressing in layers with boots and scarves and gloves. Yeah, you can get cold at times, but it’s not that bad. At least you’re not Winnipeg (h/t BattleOfCali for the info!). And yeah, maybe Ocean and Baker Beach see sun like, maybe one day a year (okay, two days), but when the fog clears up and the sun gleams over the cityscape, nothing is more beautiful than seeing the blue Pacific Ocean move serenely into the bay underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. And you don’t get scorching hot, which I love even more.
I love your hippie way of life. Thanks for turning me into the ultimate San Francisco-tree huggin’ stereotype. I’m currently sitting at this indie coffee shop, with my Trader Joe’s reusable shopping bag, drinking water out of a BPA-free Klean Kanteen bottle. Life-changing.
I love you so much that I even broke my number one rule when it comes to sports: DON’T BE A BANDWAGON FAN. When the Giants made it to the World Series in 2010, I couldn’t help it. I’m an Oakland A’s fan, at heart, but I couldn’t resist the urge to cheer for the Black and Orange. Like, I became a serious fan, albeit for 2 weeks, but I really was a fan. When they clinched the title, I went to the city that night to wander the streets gleefully with fellow Giants fans. The championship parade was right down the street from where I worked, and I basically missed work for the day just to go (Shhhh! Don’t tell my boss.) I have video of all of this for proof! I even got myself some Giants World Series Memorabilia. I was a Giants fan. Only because I love you, San Francisco. I truly do. Please don’t ever forget that…
But I’ll be damned if I utter a single word that even hints to me cheering for your football team today. In fact, you have my permission to pelt me with stones, if I do.
There is no need to explain what this post is about. You knew it was coming. Here it is.
Why I hate the firing of Hue Jackson:
Hue Jackson’s a good coach. Sure, his personality came off a little brash and egotistical, at times, and him calling the Palmer trade “the best trade in all of football” was a little too outrageous (even for my liking) but seriously, who cares. Bill Bellicheck is the epitome of an asshole, but he gets shit done. And Rex Ryan says a lot of stupid shit, but people love him.
The Raiders were a different team under Hue. The players liked him, and they wanted to play for him. He was creative on offense, and utilized the strengths of the players as best as he could. As any Raider fan (or any NFL fan, for that matter) knew, the offense was NOT the problem. For the first time in a long time, they actually looked like a competent football team. They were putting points on the board. They also lost Darren McFadden for more than half of the year, and McFadden WAS the best running back in the league until he got hurt. Losing a key piece like that will be a detriment to any team. On top of that fact that they had an already crippled offense, they lost Jason Campbell, Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore in the following weeks…all players who were absolutely VITAL.
Hue recognized that the scoring for this team was going to be the equivalent of an Alex Smith-led offense if he didn’t do something soon, so he went after Carson Palmer. While I still believe the price paid was a bit steep, it was absolutely necessary. And Palmer did his darndest to convince me that giving up all those picks was worth it. Yeah he threw a bunch of interceptions but he also threw a ton of touchdowns, too. And he was without McFadden the entire time. Yes, let that sink in — Carson did not have McFadden for even ONE game at all this season.
Ooh look, it’s me. You can listen to me bitch rather than read it.
I apologize in advance if the volume is really low (I’m sick), and if the lighting is shitty (I have a degree in Radio & Television, that’s unacceptable!), and if I say stupid things (this is a given and will probably happen often). I don’t really say anything of substance, or much at all so this is probably really boring. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to do this, so this was more or less a test run. This was originally a long video, but I split it up because shorter is better (or is it???). There’s another part of this video that I didn’t edit about the NBA, and I might put that up later in the week.
But until then, I hope you enjoy these two videos…and if not…uhm sorry?
And yes, that’s Allen Iverson’s game-worn shoe in the left hand corner for anyone wondering. And it’s autographed. The only one of its kind.
P.S. I’m very excited about a lot of things, obviously.
