"Then they ask me where I went to college, and I say New Orleans, and their excited expression turns to shame and all they can manage to get out is "oh", because instantly they know no story they can tell can top what I have done. I do not need to say a thing, they just understand. They know that their wildest night of college is just a regular Wednesday night for us Uptown. Their craziest Saturday night is business as usual for us on Bourbon. We New Orleans student are a special breed and trust me, everyone else is jealous."
(Ok, so this is entirely to boastful for my tastes, but the basic sentiment is there. Usually the basic "where did you go to school" question is a throw away and people barely listen to what you answer. But they all perk up their ears when they hear New Orleans and people get this sort of knowing tone and say "I bet that was interesting." Or something equally as vague but insinuating. Then I get Katrina questions. But the booze questions come first.)
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Fabulous Birthday Present
The wonderful boyfriend got me tickets for the MLS All-Star Game in Chicago. MLS All-Stars vs. Chelsea at the brand new Bridgeview Stadium, a nice shiny soccer specific stadium. I'll be in Section 119, just to the side of one of the goals.
SO excited!
SO excited!
Mahna Mahna
You know those Dr. Pepper commericials where the guy sings Mahna Mahna (sound it out)? This is the original Muppet Show with that song in it. I love that the little green guy "skat" Mahna Mahna's. Seriously, this never get old.
There's a version out there somewhere that I've seen that has the two old men at the end critiquing the show. They start with "That was great" and slowly get meaner until they say "It sucked" and start booing. Classic.
Oh yeah, and go over here Todd's birthday version of this for me.
You know those Dr. Pepper commericials where the guy sings Mahna Mahna (sound it out)? This is the original Muppet Show with that song in it. I love that the little green guy "skat" Mahna Mahna's. Seriously, this never get old.
There's a version out there somewhere that I've seen that has the two old men at the end critiquing the show. They start with "That was great" and slowly get meaner until they say "It sucked" and start booing. Classic.
Oh yeah, and go over here Todd's birthday version of this for me.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Oh Brewers
Found this little tidbigt on Cheesehead Sports:
Striking fact of the day? The Brewers have tried six pitchers in place of Sheets and TO and the team is 5-17 in those games. Had the fill-ins gone 11-11, the Brewers would be 50-40 and in first place.
Striking fact of the day? The Brewers have tried six pitchers in place of Sheets and TO and the team is 5-17 in those games. Had the fill-ins gone 11-11, the Brewers would be 50-40 and in first place.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
New kid on the blog...
Looks like I've been joined in the fray. Good thing, because Wisconsin blogs seem to be few and far between.
Check out http://badgersportsfan.blogspot.com/ for more Badger sports needs.
Check out http://badgersportsfan.blogspot.com/ for more Badger sports needs.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Support
So a few of these conglomerations are popping up, but I'd like to point you to
Sports Blog Daily - a compilation of sports bloggers broken down by what they cover.
Plus, I really like what he has to say about the importance of blogs:
Sports Blogs Daily is maintained by a sports fan who was looking for an alternative to the big-name writers that everyone reads every day. Those big-name writers are typically on assignment and don't have a feeling for the story about which they're writing. Here at SBD, I direct you to some of the best sports bloggers out there, all of whom are writing about the day's biggest sports stories. They have feeling, knowledge, and opinion, and can change the way we look at sports. If you want the same old, boring articles then go to ESPN.com. If you want insightful, relevent, opinionated writing without needing a subscription, you've come to the write place. I'll send you to the best of the bloggers. If you think your sports blog or website is good enough to be linked regularly, give it a try.
Sports Blog Daily - a compilation of sports bloggers broken down by what they cover.
Plus, I really like what he has to say about the importance of blogs:
Sports Blogs Daily is maintained by a sports fan who was looking for an alternative to the big-name writers that everyone reads every day. Those big-name writers are typically on assignment and don't have a feeling for the story about which they're writing. Here at SBD, I direct you to some of the best sports bloggers out there, all of whom are writing about the day's biggest sports stories. They have feeling, knowledge, and opinion, and can change the way we look at sports. If you want the same old, boring articles then go to ESPN.com. If you want insightful, relevent, opinionated writing without needing a subscription, you've come to the write place. I'll send you to the best of the bloggers. If you think your sports blog or website is good enough to be linked regularly, give it a try.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Not good hockey news
This article contains both good and bad news for the National Champion Badger Hockey Team.
Good news: Hobey Baker finalist goalkeeper Brian Elliot said he's coming back for next season.
Bad news: The Badgers' leading scorer of the past two seasons, Joe Pavelski, is apparently mere moments from signing a pro contract.
More bad news: Jack Skille is participating in Chicago Blackhawks summer camp. A good performance there could get him a contract offer he can't pass up.
If these two bad things happen, the Badgers will have lost their top 5 scorers from last season.
Ouch.
full story here
Good news: Hobey Baker finalist goalkeeper Brian Elliot said he's coming back for next season.
Bad news: The Badgers' leading scorer of the past two seasons, Joe Pavelski, is apparently mere moments from signing a pro contract.
More bad news: Jack Skille is participating in Chicago Blackhawks summer camp. A good performance there could get him a contract offer he can't pass up.
If these two bad things happen, the Badgers will have lost their top 5 scorers from last season.
Ouch.
full story here
Carlos Lee wants to stay in Milwaukee
Big time slugger Carlos Lee's contract is up at the end of the season and speculation has been that he won't be here after that. The most likely story thus far is that for such a big-time player he's never been courted and wined and dined and that he was going to take advantage of that this free agent period. It's likely, if that happens, that Milwaukee just won't be able to compete. Plus, Carlos had said recently that he wouldn't mind returning to Chicago, this time likely to the Cubbies. He considers Chicago home.
Plus, we can't afford him
But this article, from today's paper, says different about wanting to leave, but agrees we probably can't afford him.
"We've got a great team," said Lee, one of three Brewers on the National League all-star team. "If I have to choose where I'm going, I'll stay with the Brewers."
Plus, we can't afford him
But this article, from today's paper, says different about wanting to leave, but agrees we probably can't afford him.
"We've got a great team," said Lee, one of three Brewers on the National League all-star team. "If I have to choose where I'm going, I'll stay with the Brewers."
Monday, July 10, 2006
Apparently the World Cup media don't mind goons
Zinedine awarded Golden Ball as World Cup's best player
---
Because it sets a wonderful example for the youth of the world...
---
Because it sets a wonderful example for the youth of the world...
As promised, pics from Miller Park
Our seats were in the Loge Bleachers, which means 200 level, right outfield. We were section 205, if anyone is that interested. Happily, through the miracle of Ebay, I got the tickets for a total of $21, including shipping. This is about half face, for a sold out game! Can you tell I'm proud? The seats were in the absolutely last row of the section, which was a little weird because you felt a bit like you were in the walkway. However, we were totally out of the sun. There was a nice breeze. And we could hear the radio broadcast and Bob Uecker that they pipe into the walkways, so that was nice.
A view of the whole stadium from our seats.
There's a break between right and left field bleachers. This picture is from as far left as the right field bleachers go. Here we have the left field, where there's a Friday's restaurant with filed views, which is open 364 days a year. Also, that yellow slide is the home of Bernie Brewer. He slides down with every home run.
This is a pic of the field from the same point as the above.
Before the game little leaguers run out to every position, then as our lineup is introduced and runs out, they meet the kids, give them a ball and an autograph and the kid stands with them during the National Anthem.
A view of the whole stadium from our seats.
There's a break between right and left field bleachers. This picture is from as far left as the right field bleachers go. Here we have the left field, where there's a Friday's restaurant with filed views, which is open 364 days a year. Also, that yellow slide is the home of Bernie Brewer. He slides down with every home run.
This is a pic of the field from the same point as the above.
Before the game little leaguers run out to every position, then as our lineup is introduced and runs out, they meet the kids, give them a ball and an autograph and the kid stands with them during the National Anthem.
And of course, the famous Sausage Races
This time featuring a relay, with the regular Sausages racing first, then kid sized sausages finishing the race.
It's false hope like this that will just let me down in the future...
From a mid-season report card of sorts on ESPN.com.
"Milwaukee Brewers (44-46)
Buy or sell? The Brewers face a tough, but happy dilemma as they project the rest of the season. A hot streak (before losing three straight over the weekend) propelled them into the thick of the NL Central and wild-card chases. Everyone and their dog wants Carlos Lee. Does the Brew Crew sell him, hold him, or get some drapes and end tables and try to spruce up the place? Either way, building blocks like Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks aren't going anywhere, a good sign for the team's future, as well as its present. If the Brewers don't knock off the Cardinals this season, there's a good chance it happens in '07. "
"Milwaukee Brewers (44-46)
Buy or sell? The Brewers face a tough, but happy dilemma as they project the rest of the season. A hot streak (before losing three straight over the weekend) propelled them into the thick of the NL Central and wild-card chases. Everyone and their dog wants Carlos Lee. Does the Brew Crew sell him, hold him, or get some drapes and end tables and try to spruce up the place? Either way, building blocks like Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks aren't going anywhere, a good sign for the team's future, as well as its present. If the Brewers don't knock off the Cardinals this season, there's a good chance it happens in '07. "
Sunday, July 09, 2006
World Cup Final
Opinions desired.
On the Italy goal that was called back, were the Italians offsides?
I say yes, though the ever brilliant Marcelo Balboa said he didn't see it.
I had the game Tivo-ed and and went back through it a few times. It looks to me as though the French all took a step forward, leaving every one of the Italians offiside. Balboa doesn't comment on whether it's offside until someone touches the ball directly in front of the net. As we're all much more intelligent and knowledgable than him, we know that offsides is from when the ball is kicked.
You'll notice that the linesman's flag isn't up immediately, but I think he's waiting to see who touches the ball. Not that it matters, as the entire offensive front there is in offside position.
Anyway, what do you all think?
On the Italy goal that was called back, were the Italians offsides?
I say yes, though the ever brilliant Marcelo Balboa said he didn't see it.
I had the game Tivo-ed and and went back through it a few times. It looks to me as though the French all took a step forward, leaving every one of the Italians offiside. Balboa doesn't comment on whether it's offside until someone touches the ball directly in front of the net. As we're all much more intelligent and knowledgable than him, we know that offsides is from when the ball is kicked.
You'll notice that the linesman's flag isn't up immediately, but I think he's waiting to see who touches the ball. Not that it matters, as the entire offensive front there is in offside position.
Anyway, what do you all think?
Friday, July 07, 2006
One more reason we say good riddance to the Seligs
So first the Brewers were owned by Bud Selig. When he became commissioner, there was some uproar over the conflict of interest, so Bud handed the reins to his daughter, Wendy Selig-Prieb. There have long been question as to how much of an actual owner Wendy was and whether or not she was a convenient figurehead. These were dark times in Milwaukee.
And then finally, we stepped into the light. A very fabulous man named Mark Attanasio bought the team. Labeled a Los Angeles entrepeneur, we don't know a whole lot about him except that he's very obviously a fan of the game and we are very very happy to have him.
He's attends games (both here and on the road) in business casual and a team cap or jacket. He strolls the lower level boxes at Miller Park - the big spenders- and shakes hands and thanks people for coming. He's charisma and caring and character and everything that Bud never really understood that he needed to be. Attanasio seems personable and down to earth.
Today comes another story of why we're really happy to have him. On Mother's Day many players in the MLB used pink bats. Milwaukee's Bill Hall was one such player. He hit a game winning home run with said bat. Beforehand, the players had agreed to use the bats, sign them, and donate them to be auctioned off for charity.
Owner Mark Attanasio bid on the bat, eventually winning and paying over $25,000 for it. He then brought Bill Hall's mom into town and presented it to her as a surprise gift.
Can we honestly see Bud doing that?
And then finally, we stepped into the light. A very fabulous man named Mark Attanasio bought the team. Labeled a Los Angeles entrepeneur, we don't know a whole lot about him except that he's very obviously a fan of the game and we are very very happy to have him.
He's attends games (both here and on the road) in business casual and a team cap or jacket. He strolls the lower level boxes at Miller Park - the big spenders- and shakes hands and thanks people for coming. He's charisma and caring and character and everything that Bud never really understood that he needed to be. Attanasio seems personable and down to earth.
Today comes another story of why we're really happy to have him. On Mother's Day many players in the MLB used pink bats. Milwaukee's Bill Hall was one such player. He hit a game winning home run with said bat. Beforehand, the players had agreed to use the bats, sign them, and donate them to be auctioned off for charity.
Owner Mark Attanasio bid on the bat, eventually winning and paying over $25,000 for it. He then brought Bill Hall's mom into town and presented it to her as a surprise gift.
Can we honestly see Bud doing that?
ESPN Poll
"What's Best about College Sports"
quite a few Wisconsin opportunities on there, so vote away (link via Roll Bama Roll/Nico)
quite a few Wisconsin opportunities on there, so vote away (link via Roll Bama Roll/Nico)
Women and the World Cup
Found this article via Dodgy at Best. While it makes some good points about women and soccer, I ( in my rosy glasses sort of way) hate that we even need to point out that HEY! women like soccer, too! Maybe it's a strange concept to me because the reaction here in America is more "you like soccer? why?" and never so much goes into my gender.
The women of the World Cup
Increasing female participation in football culture is good for the game and good for the world.
June 15, 2006 03:55 PM Printable version
Enthralling though it is, especially for we who derive pleasure from the free-spending habits of Wayne The Wondertoe's girlfriend Colleen, there are other tales of females at the World Cup than those concerning the wardrobe selections and socialising of the WAGS (Wives And Girlfriends of the England players). More, too, than images of lady Brazilians with whistles in their mouths and physiques somewhat more lissom than that of their team's troubled striker Ronaldo. What the World Cup so far confirms is that women's participation in many aspects of the game continues to grow and, to my mind, serves as a metaphor (yes, Altrui, I have more!) for the ways that football culture has improved and demonstrates its potential for spreading goodness (as well as evil and lunacy) round the globe. Here are a few examples.
One: Female fans of Iran in Germany.
After Iran's opening World Cup game against Mexico Five Live carried a piece about their female supporters, who had been out in the streets enjoying the pre-match atmosphere, many without their heads or faces covered other than with face paints, which, thanks to the similarity of the two teams' colours, made them hard to distinguish from their Mexican counterparts. I don't know how many of these women have travelled from Iran itself, how many may be living abroad, or anything else about them. But their visibility and seeming autonomy has to be perceived as a blow against Iranian sexual apartheid, especially in view of football's recent importance as a vehicle for female liberation in that land. For more on this look here and here and here.
Two: Gabby Logan.
Now well-established as an ITV studio anchor, the daughter of former Leeds and Wales roughie-toughie Terry Yorath continues to prove that women are capable of holding a place in any media football line-up on merit. You may snort that being long, blonde and glossy had something to do with her landing the job in the first place. You may be right. But being merely decorative would not have been enough. Were that the case Gabby would not command the respect shown to her by the gentleman pundits she presides over so professionally. The nearest I've seen to any of the lads she's shared studio space with flirting with her was Ally McCoist calling her a Diego Forlan look-a-like. Which may have indicated something else entirely.
Three: Football women of England.
These days there's a bit more to female involvement in footie than simply washing the kit after a game. Increasing numbers consume and play, administer and watch the game at various levels, confounding gender purists everywhere. Indeed, as spectators, they have always been there to some degree and they are well-represented in England colours in Germany. They are unlikely to be among the few idiots wearing stormtrooper helmets or chanting "seig heil".
Four: Delia Smith. Legendary chair of Norwich City and, of course, The Guardian's World Cup grub correspondent. Read her recipes for today and I guarantee you'll be joining me at 5.45 in throwing together an Omelette Savoyard or two, assuming I can scare up a few bacon lardons in the meantime. Knocks spots of that Gordon Ramsay, too.
Five: My friend Jaime.
She's 20-something years old and makes a living as a carpenter and as a steward at big sporting events. She's also an Arsenal fan who fulfilled a great ambition after their final match at Highbury by getting kissed by Thierry Henry. But Jaime is no giggly swooner. While stewarding a match two seasons ago some hooligan smacked her in the mouth. What did Jaime do? She smacked him back, of course. Not exactly in the job description but deserves a winner's medal anyway.
So there's five good reasons for welcoming women's presence in football. Any advance?
The women of the World Cup
Increasing female participation in football culture is good for the game and good for the world.
June 15, 2006 03:55 PM Printable version
Enthralling though it is, especially for we who derive pleasure from the free-spending habits of Wayne The Wondertoe's girlfriend Colleen, there are other tales of females at the World Cup than those concerning the wardrobe selections and socialising of the WAGS (Wives And Girlfriends of the England players). More, too, than images of lady Brazilians with whistles in their mouths and physiques somewhat more lissom than that of their team's troubled striker Ronaldo. What the World Cup so far confirms is that women's participation in many aspects of the game continues to grow and, to my mind, serves as a metaphor (yes, Altrui, I have more!) for the ways that football culture has improved and demonstrates its potential for spreading goodness (as well as evil and lunacy) round the globe. Here are a few examples.
One: Female fans of Iran in Germany.
After Iran's opening World Cup game against Mexico Five Live carried a piece about their female supporters, who had been out in the streets enjoying the pre-match atmosphere, many without their heads or faces covered other than with face paints, which, thanks to the similarity of the two teams' colours, made them hard to distinguish from their Mexican counterparts. I don't know how many of these women have travelled from Iran itself, how many may be living abroad, or anything else about them. But their visibility and seeming autonomy has to be perceived as a blow against Iranian sexual apartheid, especially in view of football's recent importance as a vehicle for female liberation in that land. For more on this look here and here and here.
Two: Gabby Logan.
Now well-established as an ITV studio anchor, the daughter of former Leeds and Wales roughie-toughie Terry Yorath continues to prove that women are capable of holding a place in any media football line-up on merit. You may snort that being long, blonde and glossy had something to do with her landing the job in the first place. You may be right. But being merely decorative would not have been enough. Were that the case Gabby would not command the respect shown to her by the gentleman pundits she presides over so professionally. The nearest I've seen to any of the lads she's shared studio space with flirting with her was Ally McCoist calling her a Diego Forlan look-a-like. Which may have indicated something else entirely.
Three: Football women of England.
These days there's a bit more to female involvement in footie than simply washing the kit after a game. Increasing numbers consume and play, administer and watch the game at various levels, confounding gender purists everywhere. Indeed, as spectators, they have always been there to some degree and they are well-represented in England colours in Germany. They are unlikely to be among the few idiots wearing stormtrooper helmets or chanting "seig heil".
Four: Delia Smith. Legendary chair of Norwich City and, of course, The Guardian's World Cup grub correspondent. Read her recipes for today and I guarantee you'll be joining me at 5.45 in throwing together an Omelette Savoyard or two, assuming I can scare up a few bacon lardons in the meantime. Knocks spots of that Gordon Ramsay, too.
Five: My friend Jaime.
She's 20-something years old and makes a living as a carpenter and as a steward at big sporting events. She's also an Arsenal fan who fulfilled a great ambition after their final match at Highbury by getting kissed by Thierry Henry. But Jaime is no giggly swooner. While stewarding a match two seasons ago some hooligan smacked her in the mouth. What did Jaime do? She smacked him back, of course. Not exactly in the job description but deserves a winner's medal anyway.
So there's five good reasons for welcoming women's presence in football. Any advance?
Depression, thy name is Nicole
I've done a fairly good job of late of keeping personal stuff off of here. I'm fighting an inner battle here about whether or not to be sports only on this blog. I kind of feel its a lose-lose. I mean, the only reason to go sports only is to maximize exposure. But the thing about blog exposure for a journalist (or a wannabe, like myself) is that blogs don't get the respect that we would like professionally. And frankly, I think I'd feel pressure to post and cover and as this blog has been a good outlet for me, I don't really want to feel pressured into doing it. Plus, I feel like we've got a nice little blog circle going here and you all don't only want to read about Wisconsin sports.
Incidentally, I have wanted to post on here a lot lately about more personal life stuff, but I'm ever afraid of becoming too self-indulgent and frankly I'm certain I'm not that interesting.
It's been a rough few weeks already and we're heading into the home stretch. My big 2-5 is coming up a week from today. Normally, I'm one of the obnoxious birthday junkies. I'll admit, I'm that girl you all hate who wants everyone to make a big deal out of me.
The thing is, I'm fairly certain my birthday is jinxed. Nothing but bad things happen around my birthday. My grandpa died the week of my birthday and they were all set to have the funeral on my 16th birthday until I walked in the room and (in a very small voice) said maybe that wouldn't be so nice. Then my dad had his stroke a few days before my 19th birthday. Finally, my dad died 3 days after my birthday last year.
So frankly, this week is a crapload of bad memories. And I absolutely am not doing a very good job of coming to terms with the fact that my dad has been gone a year. Surreal isn't even the word.
On the upside, being preoccupied with that is helping to distract me from the rather alarming fact that I'm turning 25. And that I'm turning 25 while still living at home.
Finally, as if false hope were somehow the only thing needed to make this rather heady self-pity cocktail complete, Florida called this week. They wanted to know if I was sure that I couldn't move down there and take the job.
So, you know, invites going out this week for a rather spectacular pity party. I'll be the one in the pointy hat.
Incidentally, I have wanted to post on here a lot lately about more personal life stuff, but I'm ever afraid of becoming too self-indulgent and frankly I'm certain I'm not that interesting.
It's been a rough few weeks already and we're heading into the home stretch. My big 2-5 is coming up a week from today. Normally, I'm one of the obnoxious birthday junkies. I'll admit, I'm that girl you all hate who wants everyone to make a big deal out of me.
The thing is, I'm fairly certain my birthday is jinxed. Nothing but bad things happen around my birthday. My grandpa died the week of my birthday and they were all set to have the funeral on my 16th birthday until I walked in the room and (in a very small voice) said maybe that wouldn't be so nice. Then my dad had his stroke a few days before my 19th birthday. Finally, my dad died 3 days after my birthday last year.
So frankly, this week is a crapload of bad memories. And I absolutely am not doing a very good job of coming to terms with the fact that my dad has been gone a year. Surreal isn't even the word.
On the upside, being preoccupied with that is helping to distract me from the rather alarming fact that I'm turning 25. And that I'm turning 25 while still living at home.
Finally, as if false hope were somehow the only thing needed to make this rather heady self-pity cocktail complete, Florida called this week. They wanted to know if I was sure that I couldn't move down there and take the job.
So, you know, invites going out this week for a rather spectacular pity party. I'll be the one in the pointy hat.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Capuano to All-Star voting: Bite me!
Just hours after voting ended for the last spot on this year's All-Star rosters and he came in second, Chris Capuano pitched a complete game shut out.
Ok, Bud Selig, put me on the All-Star roster or I'll fist you
Reappropriated
Pippa's friend had this before her post in response to the below asininity. I've seen it before and thought I'd appropriate it for myself in light of resent posts.
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. ~Voltaire
Oy vey (or why my ovaries prevent me from talking about anything but them)
So this douche-y lady journalist over in England wrote the following column:
Mary Dejevsky: There's a good reason why women don't write blogs
Men seem to take it for granted that they've something to say and that the rest of us want to hear it
Published: 29 June 2006
Iain Dale is a Conservative pro-Cameron MP. I do not know him, and I am just as certain that he does not know me. He does, though, put himself about. He writes one of the more prolific blogs (www.iaindale.blogspot.com**) to come out of this Parliament, purveying commentary, analysis, gossip and the like via his website, with what seems like hour-to-hour, if not minute-by-minute, frequency.
Iain - as I am sure he would like me (and you) - to call him, recently made an observation that simply leapt out of his stream of consciousness. "It doesn't matter whether you're talking about Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem bloggers," he wrote, "you won't find many written by women." He went on to observe, admitting the sexist stereotype, that women, "being much better gossips than men ought to be ideally suited to the world of blogging". I curtail his prolixity, but he concludes: "There must be some reason why women don't blog as much as men in the political sector."
Well, Iain, I venture to correct you on one point. It is not just in the political sector, as you call it, that fewer women blog. Except in areas such as childcare and gynaecology, it is across the board that women bloggers are few and far between. And it does not take a huge of the imagination to suggest at least two reasons why.
The first is that, for all the efforts to educate men and women equally, to encourage them to compete for honours, even to feminise the examination system by introducing coursework, women (still) tend to be more bashful than men about what they think. It is not that, as veteran male gender-warriors might growl, we have much to be bashful about. It is rather that we tend to be less confident than men that the rest of the world wants the benefit of our opinion.
Men seem to take it for granted not only that they have something to say, but that the rest of us should find it worth hearing - or, in the case of the blogosphere, reading. Iain Dale is not the only verbal incontinent who ploughs on, apparently regardless of who might be listening or reading. Alas, his confidence is repaid by the dozens who seem to respond to every post. The cacophony of so many (mostly male) opinions is deafening.
Our female bashfulness, I submit, may be gradually being drummed out of us by a combination of good teaching, co-ed schools and colleges, and the example of opinionated women expressing forthright views in other parts of politics and the media. The second reason why women don't blog, however, is more serious, because it is more intractable: women simply do not have the time.
Earlier this week, I heard Finland's minister for foreign trade and development, speaking in London to celebrate the centenary of women's suffrage in Finland. They were the first women in Europe to gain the vote. And the record of women's participation in Finnish life is as laudable as one would expect from Scandinavia.
Yet, as Ms Paula Lehtomaki noted, without the diffidence that might attend the same observation in this country, the next frontier had to be the home. Women had come a long way: safeguards against discrimination, for equal pay and opportunities were all in place and largely observed. But the fact was that in joining the workforce on equal terms, women were all too often tied to two jobs: equality, even in enlightened Scandinavia, all too often stops at the front door.
How many homes are there - here, or in tech-savvy Finland - where the man will think it quite excusable to shuffle in late for dinner because he has been reading or writing his online diary, but would greet with ridicule or fury the prospect of dinner being late (or non-existent) because his partner had been delayed in the blogosphere?
And for dinner, we can substitute baby's bathtime, the children's high-tea, the regular taxi-service families run between sports and after-school clubs, the elderly parents that need looking after. It is this old-fashioned, and persistent, division of responsibilities that frees men to indulge in the time-consuming fashion of the day; and the gadgetry and self-aggrandisement involved in blogging only make it that much more attractive.
Iain Dale calls his blog "Iain Dale's diary". Those of us of a certain age - I can faintly recall the signature tune - know this to be an allusion to the fictitious radio diary of a GP's wife and receptionist which was broadcast on weekday afternoons. It was a soap opera for its day, very BBC Home Service. More tied to the Fifties way of life than The Archers, it did not survive into this more hurried, less homely age.
But there is a point here. In the days of Fifties-style, essentially segregated working, Mrs Dale had the time to keep a diary. Today's Mrs Dale would be the doctor herself, rushing in to the surgery from the school run and organised enough to assemble dinner at the end of the day. She would be too tired at the end of it all, or have more pressing things to do, to advertise her thoughts in the blogosphere. Diary-keeping, unlike family responsibility, has entered the public sphere and crossed the gender-divide.
_______
Ok, numero uno, according to some Britons, the first sentence alone contains two factual innaccuracies. This Iain chap ran for office, but didn't win.
And numero dos, let's talk about the irony of a woman, in her nationally published opinion column, saying how women are too bashful to express their opinions. (I stole this observation from one of the commentors here)
I don't need to comment on the asininity of this column, as it's self-evident.
I just want to know why this woman has a job and I don't!
This tidbit brough to our attention by Pippa
Mary Dejevsky: There's a good reason why women don't write blogs
Men seem to take it for granted that they've something to say and that the rest of us want to hear it
Published: 29 June 2006
Iain Dale is a Conservative pro-Cameron MP. I do not know him, and I am just as certain that he does not know me. He does, though, put himself about. He writes one of the more prolific blogs (www.iaindale.blogspot.com**) to come out of this Parliament, purveying commentary, analysis, gossip and the like via his website, with what seems like hour-to-hour, if not minute-by-minute, frequency.
Iain - as I am sure he would like me (and you) - to call him, recently made an observation that simply leapt out of his stream of consciousness. "It doesn't matter whether you're talking about Conservative, Labour or Lib Dem bloggers," he wrote, "you won't find many written by women." He went on to observe, admitting the sexist stereotype, that women, "being much better gossips than men ought to be ideally suited to the world of blogging". I curtail his prolixity, but he concludes: "There must be some reason why women don't blog as much as men in the political sector."
Well, Iain, I venture to correct you on one point. It is not just in the political sector, as you call it, that fewer women blog. Except in areas such as childcare and gynaecology, it is across the board that women bloggers are few and far between. And it does not take a huge of the imagination to suggest at least two reasons why.
The first is that, for all the efforts to educate men and women equally, to encourage them to compete for honours, even to feminise the examination system by introducing coursework, women (still) tend to be more bashful than men about what they think. It is not that, as veteran male gender-warriors might growl, we have much to be bashful about. It is rather that we tend to be less confident than men that the rest of the world wants the benefit of our opinion.
Men seem to take it for granted not only that they have something to say, but that the rest of us should find it worth hearing - or, in the case of the blogosphere, reading. Iain Dale is not the only verbal incontinent who ploughs on, apparently regardless of who might be listening or reading. Alas, his confidence is repaid by the dozens who seem to respond to every post. The cacophony of so many (mostly male) opinions is deafening.
Our female bashfulness, I submit, may be gradually being drummed out of us by a combination of good teaching, co-ed schools and colleges, and the example of opinionated women expressing forthright views in other parts of politics and the media. The second reason why women don't blog, however, is more serious, because it is more intractable: women simply do not have the time.
Earlier this week, I heard Finland's minister for foreign trade and development, speaking in London to celebrate the centenary of women's suffrage in Finland. They were the first women in Europe to gain the vote. And the record of women's participation in Finnish life is as laudable as one would expect from Scandinavia.
Yet, as Ms Paula Lehtomaki noted, without the diffidence that might attend the same observation in this country, the next frontier had to be the home. Women had come a long way: safeguards against discrimination, for equal pay and opportunities were all in place and largely observed. But the fact was that in joining the workforce on equal terms, women were all too often tied to two jobs: equality, even in enlightened Scandinavia, all too often stops at the front door.
How many homes are there - here, or in tech-savvy Finland - where the man will think it quite excusable to shuffle in late for dinner because he has been reading or writing his online diary, but would greet with ridicule or fury the prospect of dinner being late (or non-existent) because his partner had been delayed in the blogosphere?
And for dinner, we can substitute baby's bathtime, the children's high-tea, the regular taxi-service families run between sports and after-school clubs, the elderly parents that need looking after. It is this old-fashioned, and persistent, division of responsibilities that frees men to indulge in the time-consuming fashion of the day; and the gadgetry and self-aggrandisement involved in blogging only make it that much more attractive.
Iain Dale calls his blog "Iain Dale's diary". Those of us of a certain age - I can faintly recall the signature tune - know this to be an allusion to the fictitious radio diary of a GP's wife and receptionist which was broadcast on weekday afternoons. It was a soap opera for its day, very BBC Home Service. More tied to the Fifties way of life than The Archers, it did not survive into this more hurried, less homely age.
But there is a point here. In the days of Fifties-style, essentially segregated working, Mrs Dale had the time to keep a diary. Today's Mrs Dale would be the doctor herself, rushing in to the surgery from the school run and organised enough to assemble dinner at the end of the day. She would be too tired at the end of it all, or have more pressing things to do, to advertise her thoughts in the blogosphere. Diary-keeping, unlike family responsibility, has entered the public sphere and crossed the gender-divide.
_______
Ok, numero uno, according to some Britons, the first sentence alone contains two factual innaccuracies. This Iain chap ran for office, but didn't win.
And numero dos, let's talk about the irony of a woman, in her nationally published opinion column, saying how women are too bashful to express their opinions. (I stole this observation from one of the commentors here)
I don't need to comment on the asininity of this column, as it's self-evident.
I just want to know why this woman has a job and I don't!
This tidbit brough to our attention by Pippa
Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford arrested in Milwaukee on allegations of 3rd degree sexual assault
Police arrested Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brian Shackelford this morning based on allegations stemming from an incident with a woman at a downtown Milwaukee hotel on Monday, police said.
Shackelford, 29, was arrested shortly after midnight after a game with the Brewers at Miller Park on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault, police records show. Shackelford was moved at 9:40 a.m. from the jail at police headquarters to the Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility, where he remains. He is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Friday.
The complainant is an adult woman, said Anne E. Schwartz, department spokeswoman, who declined to give further comment because it is an on-going investigation.
Shackelford and the Reds had been in town since Monday for a three-game series. Police sources familiar with the case said Shackelford met the woman online and the two went to a hotel room, and took off their clothes. The woman told police her understanding was there would be just touching but there was sex, the sources said.
Shackelford was recalled from AAA just last Friday. The trip to Milwaukee was the team's first road trip since he was recalled.
In a statement, the Reds said, "The Cincinnati Reds are aware of the situation involving pitcher Brian Shackelford. We are not able to address this matter publicly because of the pending legal proceedings. We recognize the seriousness of the matter and do not condone behavior of the type alleged."
Assistant District Attorney Ken Berg said the investigation will continue between now and Aug. 21. No charges have been issued. Shackelford was released on his own recognizance without posting bail, Berg said.
from JSOnline.com
Shackelford, 29, was arrested shortly after midnight after a game with the Brewers at Miller Park on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault, police records show. Shackelford was moved at 9:40 a.m. from the jail at police headquarters to the Milwaukee County Criminal Justice Facility, where he remains. He is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Friday.
The complainant is an adult woman, said Anne E. Schwartz, department spokeswoman, who declined to give further comment because it is an on-going investigation.
Shackelford and the Reds had been in town since Monday for a three-game series. Police sources familiar with the case said Shackelford met the woman online and the two went to a hotel room, and took off their clothes. The woman told police her understanding was there would be just touching but there was sex, the sources said.
Shackelford was recalled from AAA just last Friday. The trip to Milwaukee was the team's first road trip since he was recalled.
In a statement, the Reds said, "The Cincinnati Reds are aware of the situation involving pitcher Brian Shackelford. We are not able to address this matter publicly because of the pending legal proceedings. We recognize the seriousness of the matter and do not condone behavior of the type alleged."
Assistant District Attorney Ken Berg said the investigation will continue between now and Aug. 21. No charges have been issued. Shackelford was released on his own recognizance without posting bail, Berg said.
from JSOnline.com
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Rickie Weeks and the Brewers back to .500
Most of the time I'm mentioning Rickie Weeks because I often have to utter his name in a loan groan, shortly after he commits an error. He leads the NL in errors. Also in Hit By Pitches. We've actually gone over and over why this kid should be on the roster, but he's our lead off, had a good on base percentage and quite a few stolen bases. If not him, we have no leadoff hitter.
Well tonight he had 3 hits, 3 RBIs, 2 singles, 2 walks, a triple and the game winning ground rule double that was marked a single because he never touched second, as the winning run scored.
The Brewers, in 13 innings, beat the Cincinnati Reds. Swept them actually (take that Mutton Chops!) In the top of the inning we gave up a run on a bunt gone awry, as Aurelia scored from second. So we needed to come from behind again - with the bottom of the order due up. Two well placed singles and a walk later and we've got bases loaded, no outs and the top of the order on the way. Which is where Rickie Weeks gave me a reason to not shake my head and cover my eyes.
We went through basically the entire bullpen, 8 pitchers. The Reds used 7. We had only the backup catcher left in the dugout for any sort of pinch possibilities. It took 4 hours and 19 minutes. But we're back at .500 baby and the Cubs in town for 4 games. I dare not jinx it, but I'll be at the game on Sunday, so I'll report back on the series then. Hopefully I'll remember the camera (though that's not bloody likely, I forget it all the time)
Once again, it's a comeback win for the Brewers. Seriously, they drive me nuts, they're constantly just flirting with .500, but I love this team.
Well tonight he had 3 hits, 3 RBIs, 2 singles, 2 walks, a triple and the game winning ground rule double that was marked a single because he never touched second, as the winning run scored.
The Brewers, in 13 innings, beat the Cincinnati Reds. Swept them actually (take that Mutton Chops!) In the top of the inning we gave up a run on a bunt gone awry, as Aurelia scored from second. So we needed to come from behind again - with the bottom of the order due up. Two well placed singles and a walk later and we've got bases loaded, no outs and the top of the order on the way. Which is where Rickie Weeks gave me a reason to not shake my head and cover my eyes.
We went through basically the entire bullpen, 8 pitchers. The Reds used 7. We had only the backup catcher left in the dugout for any sort of pinch possibilities. It took 4 hours and 19 minutes. But we're back at .500 baby and the Cubs in town for 4 games. I dare not jinx it, but I'll be at the game on Sunday, so I'll report back on the series then. Hopefully I'll remember the camera (though that's not bloody likely, I forget it all the time)
Once again, it's a comeback win for the Brewers. Seriously, they drive me nuts, they're constantly just flirting with .500, but I love this team.
Vote for Cappy!
Ok, so I'm fairly certain none of my reading public is baseball fans, so there should be no conflict of interest here.
For the All-Star game, they name the team and then let the fans vote in the final player, as chosen from 4 candidates.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano is up for the final spot in the NL and I implore you all to vote for him. You can reach the vote from here.
Pretty please to all my tens of readers!
For the All-Star game, they name the team and then let the fans vote in the final player, as chosen from 4 candidates.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano is up for the final spot in the NL and I implore you all to vote for him. You can reach the vote from here.
Pretty please to all my tens of readers!
Ignorance...
So this blogger's friend was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty by a man who it turns out was wanted for murder in Louisiana. This is her response:
And Katrina takes another….
When will the good people of this country stand up and be heard, and tell the Katrina parasites from Louisiana to go home? Mr. Nagin, you owe the rest of the country more than you can ever repay. You’ve got what you wanted, a subservient welfare culture, and you had them all bussed back to vote your dumbass back into office. Now, why don’t you send those busses back to where your voters now live, and make them come back home? You and your state’s Democratic policies are what have fostered this welfare, “gimme” mentality, and the rest of us are paying a very dear price for it.
When all is said and done, Louisiana will have paid a far lesser price for the damages done by Katrina. A year after the hurricane left, the parasites from New Orleans and the surrounding parishes continue to pollute society as long as they stay away from home. They demand their “rights” to free government housing, food, money, breast implants, jewelry, designer bags, etc. The time is now to get off your damn lazy asses and get your shit together. If you don’t like it here in Georgia, or in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, or any of the other places you’ve infested, then go the hell back home. We’re THROUGH with you here! I know our crime rate has risen immeasurably, and I for one am sick of it.
Mayor Nagin, and Governor Blanco… TAKE BACK YOUR CHOCOLATE CITY, so the rest of the world can get on with their LIVES! Too many Katrina evacuees are wreaking havoc in this country. Rapes, robberies, murders, fraud, theft, and the list just goes on and on. Enough is enough. Take it back, Mr. Chocolate City. No more free rides. It’s time to take responsibility for your actions and INactions. And don’t blame the federal government. Mississippi and Alabama have been on their feet for a long time now. Take your shit and go home.
Look, I can understand anger and hurt. But this is one of the most asinine ignorant things I've ever read. What kind of human being refers to another as a PARASITE? It seems to me the last time I head that terminology was Germany circa 1940.
I don't even deny some of this blogger's assertions. A lot of things are wrong with Ray Nagin, New Orleans, and Louisiana politics and that was the case long before anyone ever uttered the word "Katrina." There are some people, some evacuees, who have taken advantage of this entire situation. They ARE lazy and conniving and they have broken the law. And I'm sorry that this blogger has encountered one of them. But it's blanket accusations and assertions like this that just further these stereotypes and ignorant ideas.
Again, I'm assuming that much of the above is written out of emotion, but this blogger is not the only one to express ideas like this. And none of it comes from any more facts or education than a bit of heresay and personal experience. And that's worrisome to me.
I actually find what this blogger wrote personally offensive, but that's not really even my issue with it. It's the total lack of educated opinion and dirth of gross generalizations that really make me angry.
I wish this blogger could go to New Orleans and see what havoc was wraught. To say that since Mississippi and Alabama have gotten things together, New Orleans should to, is ignorant of the facts. Mississippi and Alabama aren't under sealevel. They weren't under 10, 15, 20 feet of water. They weren't unihabitable for months. I want this blogger to have seen what I've seen. I want this blogger to have seen what a crazy, backwards but vibrant city New Orleans was, and then go see it now. I want this blogger to meet New Orleanians who would give anything to be able to "take their shit and go home" as the blogger so flippantly suggests. Then I want the blogger to offer to de-mold their home. Or pay to have the home completely rebuilt. Or help do the rebuilding theirself. I want the blogger to lose absolutely everything they have ever owned. To have lost family members and friends and every single possession. And until the blogger has at least educated themselves a little bit to understand what happened to the people of New Orleans, I really don't respect what is being said.
I also enjoy the smear of Democrats, as if it were unclear that this blogger is a Republican. "You and your state’s Democratic policies are what have fostered this welfare, “gimme” mentality, and the rest of us are paying a very dear price for it." Because clearly Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco are "at fault" for Welfare. And they are also the first to advocate such a program, either nationally or in Louisiana. This clearly new concept is one that Ray Nagin himself concocted.
And finally, "you had them all bussed back to vote your dumbass back into office" as though the citizens of New Orleans, who's homes and lives were destroyed, were no longer granted the Democratic right to vote. Regardless of your opinion of their choice, these people are still Americans and last I checked, were granted the right to vote.
---- I know that I shouldn't let things like this get to me, but ignorance - of any form- really angers me. I absolutely respect everyone's right to an opinion, but I cannot stand people who spew random thoughts garnered from friends, the internet, TV and newspapers as fact. Even if I feel your opinions are uneducated, I still think you have the right to them. I just respect them and am more willing to listen and have discourse if the opinions have some sort of intelligent thought to back them up.
And Katrina takes another….
When will the good people of this country stand up and be heard, and tell the Katrina parasites from Louisiana to go home? Mr. Nagin, you owe the rest of the country more than you can ever repay. You’ve got what you wanted, a subservient welfare culture, and you had them all bussed back to vote your dumbass back into office. Now, why don’t you send those busses back to where your voters now live, and make them come back home? You and your state’s Democratic policies are what have fostered this welfare, “gimme” mentality, and the rest of us are paying a very dear price for it.
When all is said and done, Louisiana will have paid a far lesser price for the damages done by Katrina. A year after the hurricane left, the parasites from New Orleans and the surrounding parishes continue to pollute society as long as they stay away from home. They demand their “rights” to free government housing, food, money, breast implants, jewelry, designer bags, etc. The time is now to get off your damn lazy asses and get your shit together. If you don’t like it here in Georgia, or in Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, or any of the other places you’ve infested, then go the hell back home. We’re THROUGH with you here! I know our crime rate has risen immeasurably, and I for one am sick of it.
Mayor Nagin, and Governor Blanco… TAKE BACK YOUR CHOCOLATE CITY, so the rest of the world can get on with their LIVES! Too many Katrina evacuees are wreaking havoc in this country. Rapes, robberies, murders, fraud, theft, and the list just goes on and on. Enough is enough. Take it back, Mr. Chocolate City. No more free rides. It’s time to take responsibility for your actions and INactions. And don’t blame the federal government. Mississippi and Alabama have been on their feet for a long time now. Take your shit and go home.
Look, I can understand anger and hurt. But this is one of the most asinine ignorant things I've ever read. What kind of human being refers to another as a PARASITE? It seems to me the last time I head that terminology was Germany circa 1940.
I don't even deny some of this blogger's assertions. A lot of things are wrong with Ray Nagin, New Orleans, and Louisiana politics and that was the case long before anyone ever uttered the word "Katrina." There are some people, some evacuees, who have taken advantage of this entire situation. They ARE lazy and conniving and they have broken the law. And I'm sorry that this blogger has encountered one of them. But it's blanket accusations and assertions like this that just further these stereotypes and ignorant ideas.
Again, I'm assuming that much of the above is written out of emotion, but this blogger is not the only one to express ideas like this. And none of it comes from any more facts or education than a bit of heresay and personal experience. And that's worrisome to me.
I actually find what this blogger wrote personally offensive, but that's not really even my issue with it. It's the total lack of educated opinion and dirth of gross generalizations that really make me angry.
I wish this blogger could go to New Orleans and see what havoc was wraught. To say that since Mississippi and Alabama have gotten things together, New Orleans should to, is ignorant of the facts. Mississippi and Alabama aren't under sealevel. They weren't under 10, 15, 20 feet of water. They weren't unihabitable for months. I want this blogger to have seen what I've seen. I want this blogger to have seen what a crazy, backwards but vibrant city New Orleans was, and then go see it now. I want this blogger to meet New Orleanians who would give anything to be able to "take their shit and go home" as the blogger so flippantly suggests. Then I want the blogger to offer to de-mold their home. Or pay to have the home completely rebuilt. Or help do the rebuilding theirself. I want the blogger to lose absolutely everything they have ever owned. To have lost family members and friends and every single possession. And until the blogger has at least educated themselves a little bit to understand what happened to the people of New Orleans, I really don't respect what is being said.
I also enjoy the smear of Democrats, as if it were unclear that this blogger is a Republican. "You and your state’s Democratic policies are what have fostered this welfare, “gimme” mentality, and the rest of us are paying a very dear price for it." Because clearly Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco are "at fault" for Welfare. And they are also the first to advocate such a program, either nationally or in Louisiana. This clearly new concept is one that Ray Nagin himself concocted.
And finally, "you had them all bussed back to vote your dumbass back into office" as though the citizens of New Orleans, who's homes and lives were destroyed, were no longer granted the Democratic right to vote. Regardless of your opinion of their choice, these people are still Americans and last I checked, were granted the right to vote.
---- I know that I shouldn't let things like this get to me, but ignorance - of any form- really angers me. I absolutely respect everyone's right to an opinion, but I cannot stand people who spew random thoughts garnered from friends, the internet, TV and newspapers as fact. Even if I feel your opinions are uneducated, I still think you have the right to them. I just respect them and am more willing to listen and have discourse if the opinions have some sort of intelligent thought to back them up.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Italy-Germany
HOLY SHIT! I cannot believe that just happened.
Can someone explain to me how that play happened in the first place? How did that play develop through FIVE, count them, FIVE German defenders who were all standing flatfooted, IN THE BOX? Not to mention, how was he given absolutely the entire field in which to create that situation in the play before, that the keeper punched out and led to the corner kick that led to this goal. Amazing. Simply the most ridiculous, laid back defense.
Look, I know Italy hadn't known they're much noted, but rarely used "new attack" offense. But everyone knew about it. There's less than 2 minutes left in the overtime of the semi final and Italy knows they won't win in PKs. If ever there was a time they were going to break it out, don't you think this was it?
Can someone explain to me how that play happened in the first place? How did that play develop through FIVE, count them, FIVE German defenders who were all standing flatfooted, IN THE BOX? Not to mention, how was he given absolutely the entire field in which to create that situation in the play before, that the keeper punched out and led to the corner kick that led to this goal. Amazing. Simply the most ridiculous, laid back defense.
Look, I know Italy hadn't known they're much noted, but rarely used "new attack" offense. But everyone knew about it. There's less than 2 minutes left in the overtime of the semi final and Italy knows they won't win in PKs. If ever there was a time they were going to break it out, don't you think this was it?
Monday, July 03, 2006
Summerfest
Here in Milwaukee, we have a little thing called Summerfest. They bill themselves as the World's Largest Music Festival and are in Guiness for it. How one determines such things, I don't know.
But the point is, here in our little Wisconsin hamlet we have an 11 day outdoor music festival. It's rather fabulous. Check out the website here.
For $15 dollars you gain admission to a permanent festival grounds (none of this wide open field with some stages thrown up and some police lines for fences crap) that houses 9 stages. Each stage tends to stray to one type of genre, though that isn't always the case.
I could go on and on about Summerfest, but the point is that it's wonderful and all music lovers should check it out at some point. You can't get better money for your dollar.
There's also a main act every night at our Amphitheater, for which a seperate admission is charged. This year's headliners include Paul Simon, String Cheese & Rat Dog & Keller Williams (together), Pearl Jam and Tom Petty (together), NIN & Bauhaus, Alan Jackson & Carrie Underwood, and Counting Crows & Goo Goo Dolls, and Mary J. Blige. They try to cover every genre and audience with at least one headliner over the 11 days.
AND the people watching is the best I've ever encountered!
Anyway, the lineup isn't as prime as I would have liked this year. They're very much trying to attract an older, more affluent crowd and the side stage lineups reflected it, with bands like The Bangles, Styx, Lynard Skynard, and the like.
So I went Friday night to see Cowboy Mouth with my friend Jackie.
I feel like I should be a little embarassed to be a fan of CM, but frankly, I've never seen a better live show, they're from New Orleans and the make me nostalgic for my city.
Besides, I think it's funny that Jackie and I discovered CM in high school, at Summerfest, when we went early to get good seats for some other show, and CM happened to be on before them. We don't even remember the other show anymore, as it was utter crap and CM blew them out of the water. Living in New Orleans offered me many many opportunities to see CM and now I check them out whenever I can.
The show Friday was good times. They have a fairly new album that they ammended post-Katrina and added some songs about home. They are haunting and beautiful and gave me goosebumps (I'm SUCH a cheeseball!) and made me a little homesick.
But if you can't see CM live, don't even bother with the CDs. They pale in comparison and you just don't get the same feel for the band. And if you've never been, prepare for a lot energy, but also a lot of talking from Fred, the lead singer. Sometimes, I'll admit, you just want him to shut up and play, but mostly you're totally into what he's saying and you can feel his passion.
Besides, how can you not like a band who's lead singer is the drummer. And said drummer wears no sleeves, no shoes, and is sweat through by the 2nd song.
But the point is, here in our little Wisconsin hamlet we have an 11 day outdoor music festival. It's rather fabulous. Check out the website here.
For $15 dollars you gain admission to a permanent festival grounds (none of this wide open field with some stages thrown up and some police lines for fences crap) that houses 9 stages. Each stage tends to stray to one type of genre, though that isn't always the case.
I could go on and on about Summerfest, but the point is that it's wonderful and all music lovers should check it out at some point. You can't get better money for your dollar.
There's also a main act every night at our Amphitheater, for which a seperate admission is charged. This year's headliners include Paul Simon, String Cheese & Rat Dog & Keller Williams (together), Pearl Jam and Tom Petty (together), NIN & Bauhaus, Alan Jackson & Carrie Underwood, and Counting Crows & Goo Goo Dolls, and Mary J. Blige. They try to cover every genre and audience with at least one headliner over the 11 days.
AND the people watching is the best I've ever encountered!
Anyway, the lineup isn't as prime as I would have liked this year. They're very much trying to attract an older, more affluent crowd and the side stage lineups reflected it, with bands like The Bangles, Styx, Lynard Skynard, and the like.
So I went Friday night to see Cowboy Mouth with my friend Jackie.
I feel like I should be a little embarassed to be a fan of CM, but frankly, I've never seen a better live show, they're from New Orleans and the make me nostalgic for my city.
Besides, I think it's funny that Jackie and I discovered CM in high school, at Summerfest, when we went early to get good seats for some other show, and CM happened to be on before them. We don't even remember the other show anymore, as it was utter crap and CM blew them out of the water. Living in New Orleans offered me many many opportunities to see CM and now I check them out whenever I can.
The show Friday was good times. They have a fairly new album that they ammended post-Katrina and added some songs about home. They are haunting and beautiful and gave me goosebumps (I'm SUCH a cheeseball!) and made me a little homesick.
But if you can't see CM live, don't even bother with the CDs. They pale in comparison and you just don't get the same feel for the band. And if you've never been, prepare for a lot energy, but also a lot of talking from Fred, the lead singer. Sometimes, I'll admit, you just want him to shut up and play, but mostly you're totally into what he's saying and you can feel his passion.
Besides, how can you not like a band who's lead singer is the drummer. And said drummer wears no sleeves, no shoes, and is sweat through by the 2nd song.
More reasons Nike is the devil...
Oh, UniWatch hates Nike and there ever pushing to overbrand today's athletes. Also, he really really really hates asymmetrical colored sleeves and those silly dot matrices. But now he thinks Nike's gone too far!
Nike sleeves (preemptively) blamed for Mets not making 2006 postseason
Nike sleeves (preemptively) blamed for Mets not making 2006 postseason
Baseball on the radio
I actually listened to all of today's game on the radio. Plans were to go to the game, but we decided to save the money and hang out here. Turns out we missed a great game, but it was good times listening to Uecker on the radio.
This was an interesting game. Brewers "all-star" Derrick Turnbow, our closer, had his 6th blown save in almost 30 attempts. He walked 2 in the 9th and allowed the Reds to tie the game after the Brewers had come from behind to take a 6-4 lead.
Turnbow is one of those guy's that's crazy to believe when he's on, but absolutely painful to watch when he's off. And there is no middle ground. Whenever I'm at a game and he goes in, there's a general groan from the boyfriend and I, as in "Oh no, Tuuuurrrrrnnnnbowwwwwww" all gravelly like.
We pulled Turnbow and put in Matt Wise (he of the salad tong injury), who promptly walked two guys to fill the bases, but managed to get out of the inning.
Then Ricky Weeks, Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee all hit singles to win the game.
Bill Hall had an incredible game, with four hits and a home run. Two more of his hits were off the upper part of the wall, making him mere inches from a three homer game. Hall had been in a slump of sorts, but clearly broke out of it today.
I tease my boyfriend about Bill Hall being my favorite Brewer, as he's "sexy" on and off the field. Then we talk about how his play is decidedly unsexy, really. That he just gets the job done well and that's all there is to it. He's not particularly flashy. Then my boyfriend points out how Bill chews, and as that's also rather unsexy, my attempts to "make him jealous" aren't all that successful.
However, the Crew pulled it back together in the
This was an interesting game. Brewers "all-star" Derrick Turnbow, our closer, had his 6th blown save in almost 30 attempts. He walked 2 in the 9th and allowed the Reds to tie the game after the Brewers had come from behind to take a 6-4 lead.
Turnbow is one of those guy's that's crazy to believe when he's on, but absolutely painful to watch when he's off. And there is no middle ground. Whenever I'm at a game and he goes in, there's a general groan from the boyfriend and I, as in "Oh no, Tuuuurrrrrnnnnbowwwwwww" all gravelly like.
We pulled Turnbow and put in Matt Wise (he of the salad tong injury), who promptly walked two guys to fill the bases, but managed to get out of the inning.
Then Ricky Weeks, Bill Hall, Geoff Jenkins and Carlos Lee all hit singles to win the game.
Bill Hall had an incredible game, with four hits and a home run. Two more of his hits were off the upper part of the wall, making him mere inches from a three homer game. Hall had been in a slump of sorts, but clearly broke out of it today.
I tease my boyfriend about Bill Hall being my favorite Brewer, as he's "sexy" on and off the field. Then we talk about how his play is decidedly unsexy, really. That he just gets the job done well and that's all there is to it. He's not particularly flashy. Then my boyfriend points out how Bill chews, and as that's also rather unsexy, my attempts to "make him jealous" aren't all that successful.
However, the Crew pulled it back together in the
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Totally bored...
and completely uninspired.
The temp job I had this week was at a convention, so I was offline all day long and every day I'd think of a few things I'd want to post, but by the time I got home, I absolutely couldn't remember.
And since I spent the better part of the evening cruising for ideas and come up empty, this is a post free vone for a bit, until I either find some enthusiasm or read something to link to.
The temp job I had this week was at a convention, so I was offline all day long and every day I'd think of a few things I'd want to post, but by the time I got home, I absolutely couldn't remember.
And since I spent the better part of the evening cruising for ideas and come up empty, this is a post free vone for a bit, until I either find some enthusiasm or read something to link to.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Blog Poll questions
1. Education. List the region of the country you were born in, what universities you attended and at least one other you would have attended if your alma mater didn’t exist.
Born in Milwaukee, WI. Attened Loyola University New Orleans. Never wanted to go to University of Wisconsin, because something like half my high school goes there. I really wanted to go to Boston University. The only sports that played into this is that by going to a crappy NAIA school, I was able to play soccer in college.
2. Sports Affiliations. List your top 10 favorite teams in all of sports in decending order. For instance, your alma mater’s football team may be number 1, but perhaps there is a professional team that squeezes in before you get to your alma mater’s lacrosse team.
1. University of Wisconsin Football
2. University of Wisconsin Hockey
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. LSU Tigers Football
6. Marquette University Basketball
7. University of Wisconsin Basketball
8. U.S. Soccer
9. Milwaukee Admirals
10. all other University of Wisconsin sports
3. Movies. List the movie you’ve watched the most, your favorite sports related movie, the movie you secretly love but don’t like to admit it (possibly a chick flick or b film), and the movie you were (or still are) most looking forward to from this summer’s season.
Most watched: Remember the Titans
Fave sports movie: Victory or Slap Shot
Shame flick: American Anthem
4. Music. List your favorite band from middle school, high school, college and today. Also, as with the movies, include the song you secretly love but don’t like to admit. If Nickleback is involved in any of these responses, please give a detailed explanation as to why, god, why.
Middle school: Smokey Robinson
High school: Bush
College: there's no way I can pick one favorite band. Isn't college about experimentation??
Ok, I'll pick one: Almas Gemelas. You've never heard of them.
Shamelove song: Honestly, the entire N'Sync "No Strings Attached" album. It's the ultimate in horrific cheesiness. I love it!
5. Books. Favorite book you’ve finished, worst book you’ve finished and the book you really should read but haven’t gotten around to it.
Favorite: Little Women. Boring choice, I think, but still my fav. after many years
Worst: I can't think of any titles off the top of my head
Book we should read but haven’t: The entire Dickens library.
6. Travel. Favorite city you’ve every been to and the one place you still must visit before you shuffle off this mortal coil.
Fave city: Kilkenny
City we need to go to: Sevilla
7. What do you love most about college football in 20 words or less?
Unselfishness, purity, enthusiasm and participation .
Born in Milwaukee, WI. Attened Loyola University New Orleans. Never wanted to go to University of Wisconsin, because something like half my high school goes there. I really wanted to go to Boston University. The only sports that played into this is that by going to a crappy NAIA school, I was able to play soccer in college.
2. Sports Affiliations. List your top 10 favorite teams in all of sports in decending order. For instance, your alma mater’s football team may be number 1, but perhaps there is a professional team that squeezes in before you get to your alma mater’s lacrosse team.
1. University of Wisconsin Football
2. University of Wisconsin Hockey
3. Green Bay Packers
4. Milwaukee Brewers
5. LSU Tigers Football
6. Marquette University Basketball
7. University of Wisconsin Basketball
8. U.S. Soccer
9. Milwaukee Admirals
10. all other University of Wisconsin sports
3. Movies. List the movie you’ve watched the most, your favorite sports related movie, the movie you secretly love but don’t like to admit it (possibly a chick flick or b film), and the movie you were (or still are) most looking forward to from this summer’s season.
Most watched: Remember the Titans
Fave sports movie: Victory or Slap Shot
Shame flick: American Anthem
4. Music. List your favorite band from middle school, high school, college and today. Also, as with the movies, include the song you secretly love but don’t like to admit. If Nickleback is involved in any of these responses, please give a detailed explanation as to why, god, why.
Middle school: Smokey Robinson
High school: Bush
College: there's no way I can pick one favorite band. Isn't college about experimentation??
Ok, I'll pick one: Almas Gemelas. You've never heard of them.
Shamelove song: Honestly, the entire N'Sync "No Strings Attached" album. It's the ultimate in horrific cheesiness. I love it!
5. Books. Favorite book you’ve finished, worst book you’ve finished and the book you really should read but haven’t gotten around to it.
Favorite: Little Women. Boring choice, I think, but still my fav. after many years
Worst: I can't think of any titles off the top of my head
Book we should read but haven’t: The entire Dickens library.
6. Travel. Favorite city you’ve every been to and the one place you still must visit before you shuffle off this mortal coil.
Fave city: Kilkenny
City we need to go to: Sevilla
7. What do you love most about college football in 20 words or less?
Unselfishness, purity, enthusiasm and participation .
Thursday, June 29, 2006
also..
I plan to follow in Todd's footsteps tonight and be lame.
Well, not as lame as Todd, because I don't have that much time, but I do plan on answering the Blog Poll's latest roundtable questions because I think they're interesting.
Well, not as lame as Todd, because I don't have that much time, but I do plan on answering the Blog Poll's latest roundtable questions because I think they're interesting.
...but they're still the much maligned, often pathetic, very very bad Brewers
This is absolutely the funniest thing I've read in awhile. Apparently Brewers' middle-reliver Matt Wise is out of commission because he cut his finger on the the salad tongs at dinner earlier this week!
I couldn't make this stuff up!
Turns out this isn't Wise's only brush with bad luck, as he also sprained his shoulder earlier in the season when he slipped on a railing, going to the bathroom.
This is sports in Milwaukee, people.
I couldn't make this stuff up!
Turns out this isn't Wise's only brush with bad luck, as he also sprained his shoulder earlier in the season when he slipped on a railing, going to the bathroom.
This is sports in Milwaukee, people.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Love me some Brewers
I've said many many times this season, I may not be the biggest baseball fan, but man the Brewers are fun to watch this year. Even when they lose, they're good times. Hell, the game we lost 8-9 to the Mets in mid-May was actually the best game I've seen this year, what with the dramatic comeback and Derrick Turnbow blowing the save on his bobblehead night (somehow it keeps coming back to that creepy thing) What other team can you say that about? Plys, we're only 4 games back from St. Louis, who is giving every fan of the downtrodden false hope that we'll somehow be in this at the end of the season.
Last night it was 2 9th inning errors that led the Cubs to lose the second straight to the Brew Crew. Next up are day games at Wrigley today and tomorrow that I'm pissed I don't get to see. Let's see another two wins and take a look at some NL Central standings then!
Plus, check out oldy and inconsistantly goodie Geoff Jenkins laying out for one here. It's on June 27, 2006.
Last night it was 2 9th inning errors that led the Cubs to lose the second straight to the Brew Crew. Next up are day games at Wrigley today and tomorrow that I'm pissed I don't get to see. Let's see another two wins and take a look at some NL Central standings then!
Plus, check out oldy and inconsistantly goodie Geoff Jenkins laying out for one here. It's on June 27, 2006.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Excuse us
We interrupt the regularly scheduled programming to bring you pictures of the newest member of the Cute Sports household. Behold Flash!
Jazz, the amazingly fat and hairy Golden Retriever, was not a fan of not being the center of attention.
Jazz, the amazingly fat and hairy Golden Retriever, was not a fan of not being the center of attention.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Oh Stuart Scott
ESPN just aired a 13 inning, 4 1/2 hour baseball game, immediately followed by SportsCenter. Two minutes into SportsCenter, they ran a minutes worth of highlights from that game. Here's a tip: When SportsCenter is running an hour and 40 minutes late, the only people that catch the first 2 minutes of it just finished watching whatever you had run long. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!
Also, Stuart Scott doing World Cup highlights made my ears bleed.
Also, Stuart Scott doing World Cup highlights made my ears bleed.
Tonight we break from hotties to bring you a heartwarming tale of one athlete's grueling comeback from chronic fatigue syndrome, not playing since 1999 and being female to make Argentina's 2006 World Cup team.
Tonight, on Cute Sports, it's "Michelle Akers: Comeback Queen"
Oh, don't act like there's not a resemblance!
Hotties, Hotties, Hotties
And it's onward with the hotties...
Rodrigo Palacio, Striker, 24, Argentina. Plays club for Boca Juniors.
Carlos Edwards, 27, Midfield, Trinidad and Tobago. Plays club at Luton Town in England.
Andreas Isaksson, keeping the keeper hottiness going. Sweden, 24, plays for Rennes in France.
Paulo Wanchope, 29, Striker, Costa Rica. Plays club for Herediano.
Probably not your first choice, but cute and fabulous on the pitch, so there you go....
Alou Diarra, 24, Midfield, France. Plays for Lens. Was born one day after me! Funny, because my birthday is Bastille Day, but I'm in America. He's a day after, but in France. Ok, not so funny, but possibly interesting.
Mickael Landreau, Goalkeeper, 27, France. Club team Nantes. Hooray for the cutie keepers!
Rodrigo Palacio, Striker, 24, Argentina. Plays club for Boca Juniors.
Carlos Edwards, 27, Midfield, Trinidad and Tobago. Plays club at Luton Town in England.
Andreas Isaksson, keeping the keeper hottiness going. Sweden, 24, plays for Rennes in France.
Paulo Wanchope, 29, Striker, Costa Rica. Plays club for Herediano.
Probably not your first choice, but cute and fabulous on the pitch, so there you go....
Alou Diarra, 24, Midfield, France. Plays for Lens. Was born one day after me! Funny, because my birthday is Bastille Day, but I'm in America. He's a day after, but in France. Ok, not so funny, but possibly interesting.
Mickael Landreau, Goalkeeper, 27, France. Club team Nantes. Hooray for the cutie keepers!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Mas Hotties
Ok, so this hottie search is more difficult than I'd imagined. Apparently I've been paying too much attention to the actually match and haven't so much noticed any hotness.
Here are a few I've collected so far.
Niko Kranjcar, 21 year old Croatian midfielder. Plays club for Hajduk Split. This here mug was significantly hotter looking than anything I find via Google.
Martin Steklenburg from the Netherlands. 23 and plays club with Ajax. And a keeper no less. (Us goaltenders have to stick together!) This guy looks like an Ole Miss frat boy, and somehow we're ok with that. A bit pretty, but we're ok with that too!
Australian Harry Kewell looks rather nice here. We dig the grin and the slightly floppy hair. He's 27, a striker and he plays for Liverpool. However .....
...we also found this picture of him looking entirely too much like George Michael for our tastes.
German Tim Borowski. Look closely for the freckles. Ok, so he looks about 15 and he has that "my mom just cut my hair using a tupperware bowl" thing going. But hair is fixable, so he stays. 26, Midfield, plays for Werder Bremen
Somehow this ended up being the all whiteboy version of soccer hotties. Not sure how that happened. Maybe because I randomly clicked on team names, then randomly on names from their roster in hopeful search for hotness. I promise to check out some Italians, Ghanians, T&T-ers and South Koreans tomorrow.
Here are a few I've collected so far.
Niko Kranjcar, 21 year old Croatian midfielder. Plays club for Hajduk Split. This here mug was significantly hotter looking than anything I find via Google.
Martin Steklenburg from the Netherlands. 23 and plays club with Ajax. And a keeper no less. (Us goaltenders have to stick together!) This guy looks like an Ole Miss frat boy, and somehow we're ok with that. A bit pretty, but we're ok with that too!
Australian Harry Kewell looks rather nice here. We dig the grin and the slightly floppy hair. He's 27, a striker and he plays for Liverpool. However .....
...we also found this picture of him looking entirely too much like George Michael for our tastes.
German Tim Borowski. Look closely for the freckles. Ok, so he looks about 15 and he has that "my mom just cut my hair using a tupperware bowl" thing going. But hair is fixable, so he stays. 26, Midfield, plays for Werder Bremen
Somehow this ended up being the all whiteboy version of soccer hotties. Not sure how that happened. Maybe because I randomly clicked on team names, then randomly on names from their roster in hopeful search for hotness. I promise to check out some Italians, Ghanians, T&T-ers and South Koreans tomorrow.
World Cup Hotties
Over at Dodgy at Best they were nice enough to link to me, but then told me that Raul and Reyes are hotter. Honestly, I don't know what they're talking about.
Raul -- Looks like that creepy guy at the dance club who keeps grinding up on you and won't get the hint when you grab one of your girlfriends - all of your girlfriends - any random stranger - to try and relieve yourself of him. And the whole he's saying "bonita" "culo" and "besa" to you over and over again.
He also has an abnormally long face.
Jose Antonio Reyes -- Just doesn't do it for me.
Raul -- Looks like that creepy guy at the dance club who keeps grinding up on you and won't get the hint when you grab one of your girlfriends - all of your girlfriends - any random stranger - to try and relieve yourself of him. And the whole he's saying "bonita" "culo" and "besa" to you over and over again.
He also has an abnormally long face.
Jose Antonio Reyes -- Just doesn't do it for me.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
I love this commercial
This commercial has been playing on local TV and it cracks me up every time. On Deadspin today they had a link. Had I known this was on the Brewers website, I would have posted it earlier. So, via Deadspin, the Brewers and my own head, in which Derrick Turnbow is obsessed with his own super-creepy bobblehead.
Thoughts on Americans and soccer
I was reading over at Hey Jenny Slater about his being a casual fan of the game of soccer. He links to an article about Americans and soccer. I can't actually find where I saw the words - on the site or in the article - that basically say that somehow all Americans feel they need to fall into 2 categories: Crazy-About-Soccer-and-Fiercely-Defensive,-Calling-All-Who-Don't-Appericaite-Soccer-Stupid-and-unrefined OR Soccer-is-for-Lawn-Fairies,-Give-Me-American-Football-Any-Day.
And it's true. Soccer in America doesn't seem to find many casual fans.
I was going to comment on HJS's post about fans, but it got rather long so here I am posting on my own.
My theory on loving and enjoying soccer is simple, but I've not read anything like this, so I'm giving my own two cents.
I think you have to have played soccer to truly appreciate the game. There are so many nuances, and as I posted yesterday, it's easier to screw up in soccer than it is to do well. So I genuinely believe that to understand the nuances and really see a 90 minute, nil-nil draw as beautiful, you actually have to have put boot to ball.
And the soccer boom in America was a 1990s thing, so it happened too late for most Americans. Your average 30 year old has never played - has not even touched a ball. Though it's the biggest participation sport for kids now, that only encompasses the youngest set of the current adult population.
Soccer isn't easy to teach, or to learn. I've been coaching since I was in high school. I've coached teams and at camps. I've coached 4 year olds on up to high school girls, so I have some experience with this.
Soccer is a totally unnatural and foreign motion to us. We have a hard time learning to do something as simple as passing or trapping a ball. We don't know how to make the muscles do it. Even the 4 year olds here have a hard time just planting a foot and turing your toe out to be able to pass with the inside of your foot. You get fought every step of the way and usually I had to get on my knees and literally turn their leg out for them.
In America, we only use our feet and legs for transportation. The oddest thing we do it strap on some skates and glide.
Everywhere else, they're kicking a soccer ball before they can really even walk. It's a second nature situation.
Basically, because we were never taught it, Americans tend to find the game awkward and the movements uncommon. The no hands thing really throws us.
You really can't teach good soccer. Good soccer is all about touch. If you don't develop a good feeling, if you have no touch, no softness, no feel for the ball, you're screwed. Someone can teach you the basic skills, but you'll never have the finesse it takes to be a good player.
The thing about all the American sports is that yes, there's some touch involved, but it's all with your hands, where you have all the nerves for touch. And your hands aren't covered in socks and shinguards and leather boots. The finesse that's required for soccer is something we have no experience with.
I think a lot of what allows you to get into soccer as a spectator sport is an empathy for what they are doing, as well as awe for the things they're executing that you could never, in a million years, accomplish and if you've never played the game, you don't understand that. We true footies don't watch the game for the goals, which is why we don't care if it's a scoreless draw. The best American analogy for this I can think of is a pitcher's duel in baseball. The casual baseball fan, like myself, doesn't see the beauty in that. Soccer is much the same.
As an aside, the thing about the soccer boom for those of us that were already in the loop, is that we were kind of bitter. It was like we were the cool kids who knew about a band when they were still playing in a garage. Suddenly they get a record deal and EVERYONE knows your favorite band. It was a double-edged sword. It was great the exposure popularity got us, but we weren't so keen on sharing our fields or losing spots on the team to kids with no skill, but who were fast as hell. We took umbrage and offense when the kids on our team couldn't pass or trap. It was upsetting! It's like we were no longer the only ones who knew the big secret, but the new kids to the party didn't appreciate it like we did.
And it's true. Soccer in America doesn't seem to find many casual fans.
I was going to comment on HJS's post about fans, but it got rather long so here I am posting on my own.
My theory on loving and enjoying soccer is simple, but I've not read anything like this, so I'm giving my own two cents.
I think you have to have played soccer to truly appreciate the game. There are so many nuances, and as I posted yesterday, it's easier to screw up in soccer than it is to do well. So I genuinely believe that to understand the nuances and really see a 90 minute, nil-nil draw as beautiful, you actually have to have put boot to ball.
And the soccer boom in America was a 1990s thing, so it happened too late for most Americans. Your average 30 year old has never played - has not even touched a ball. Though it's the biggest participation sport for kids now, that only encompasses the youngest set of the current adult population.
Soccer isn't easy to teach, or to learn. I've been coaching since I was in high school. I've coached teams and at camps. I've coached 4 year olds on up to high school girls, so I have some experience with this.
Soccer is a totally unnatural and foreign motion to us. We have a hard time learning to do something as simple as passing or trapping a ball. We don't know how to make the muscles do it. Even the 4 year olds here have a hard time just planting a foot and turing your toe out to be able to pass with the inside of your foot. You get fought every step of the way and usually I had to get on my knees and literally turn their leg out for them.
In America, we only use our feet and legs for transportation. The oddest thing we do it strap on some skates and glide.
Everywhere else, they're kicking a soccer ball before they can really even walk. It's a second nature situation.
Basically, because we were never taught it, Americans tend to find the game awkward and the movements uncommon. The no hands thing really throws us.
You really can't teach good soccer. Good soccer is all about touch. If you don't develop a good feeling, if you have no touch, no softness, no feel for the ball, you're screwed. Someone can teach you the basic skills, but you'll never have the finesse it takes to be a good player.
The thing about all the American sports is that yes, there's some touch involved, but it's all with your hands, where you have all the nerves for touch. And your hands aren't covered in socks and shinguards and leather boots. The finesse that's required for soccer is something we have no experience with.
I think a lot of what allows you to get into soccer as a spectator sport is an empathy for what they are doing, as well as awe for the things they're executing that you could never, in a million years, accomplish and if you've never played the game, you don't understand that. We true footies don't watch the game for the goals, which is why we don't care if it's a scoreless draw. The best American analogy for this I can think of is a pitcher's duel in baseball. The casual baseball fan, like myself, doesn't see the beauty in that. Soccer is much the same.
As an aside, the thing about the soccer boom for those of us that were already in the loop, is that we were kind of bitter. It was like we were the cool kids who knew about a band when they were still playing in a garage. Suddenly they get a record deal and EVERYONE knows your favorite band. It was a double-edged sword. It was great the exposure popularity got us, but we weren't so keen on sharing our fields or losing spots on the team to kids with no skill, but who were fast as hell. We took umbrage and offense when the kids on our team couldn't pass or trap. It was upsetting! It's like we were no longer the only ones who knew the big secret, but the new kids to the party didn't appreciate it like we did.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Oh Micheal Owen, remember when you were the young phenom who burst onto the scene in England and you were tagged as the next big thing and people were saying "Beckham who?" in light of your pace and quick feet? Remember when you were 18 and playing for the England National Team and you were the toast of the 1998 World Cup? Remember how everyone talked about you and how you were only 18 and how you had years and years of playing to go and "oh, how good he could be."We remember and we want to know what has happened since then? We feel it's a bit early to be saying it, but how does one become near "has-been" status at 26? Are you capable of not being injured long enough to make some impact? How many metatarsals have you broken?
And do you have something personal against Sven Eriksson? Because your going out makes his choice of only bringing 4 strikers, one of them the questionably fit Wayne Rooney, look asinine. And, if so, what did Sven ever do to you?
And finally, are you as excited as we are to see how badly Sven falls on his face and whether or not 17 year old Theo Walcott is the next you?
Also, we think you're rather cute and we love the story that you married your high school sweetheart. But we think that if you're going to be only questionable on the field, you need to go the David Beckham route and either 1) find a new, super hot, moderately famous wife or 2) spice up your current wife for public viewing ... and then parade said hottie around. Wear "fashion forward clothing" or man capris a la Rafael Nadal. Give yourself a fauxhawk. Become famous for something other than getting injured and your injuries won't matter.
Good luck!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
From "The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup"
These particular paragraphs resonated with me today ... Especially having read a bunch of soccer bashing in the past few days (We get it - you don't like the game. You don't understand the game. Why do you have to spend thousands of words talking about how much you hate the game?) And remember now, football here means soccer!
"...Football is difficult to describe. Its texture is elusive and words make a poor fit with the game's graces and beauties; I don't quite know why. But I think at some deep level that the reason football snags us, and the reason it is difficult to write about - to write directly about what happens on the pitch - is connected though the idea of beauty. Good football is beautiful, with a strangely delicate beauty, a beauty you begin to learn about as you begin to play the game. Every time you kick the ball, it's more likely to not go where you aim it than it is to go there; or to go at the wrong speed, or to bounce too much; or it does go where you aimed but an opponent was standing there, or the teammate you were aiming at wasn't looking, or moved away, or failed to control it, or was tackled, or fell over, or immediately gave it away to an opponent. (Let's not forget the opponent. As Jean-Paul Sartre wrote, "in football, everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team.") It's easier; far, far easier to under-, over- or mis-hit a pass than it is just to pass. It's easier to knock yourself out, score an own-goal, or completely miss the call than it is to manage even a half-decent header, the kind any semi-pro in a graveyard league can execute flawlessly without thinking.
That's what you learn as soon as you start to play and watch football: that football is difficult and beautiful, and that the two are related. Players kick the ball to one another, pass into empty space which is suddenly filled by a player who wasn't there two seconds ago and who is running and full pelt and who, without looking or breaking stride, knocks the ball back to a third player who he surely can't have seen who then, also at full pelt and without breaking stride, crosses the ball at sixty miles an hour to land on the head of a fourth player who has run seventy meters to get there and who, again all in stride, jumps and heads the ball with, once you believe how hard this is, unbelievable power and accuracy toward a corner of the goal just exactly where the goalkeeper, executing some complex physics entirely without conscious thought and through muscle-memory, has expected it to be, so that all this grace and speed and muscle and athleticism and attention to detail and power and precision passion comes to nothing, will never appear on a score-sheet or match report and will likely be forgotten a day later by everybody who saw it or took part in it. That is the beauty and also the strange fragility, the evenescence of football."* By John Lanchester
*Many of the commas in that paragraph aren't as printed and are mine, as I refused to put this on my site as it was written.
"...Football is difficult to describe. Its texture is elusive and words make a poor fit with the game's graces and beauties; I don't quite know why. But I think at some deep level that the reason football snags us, and the reason it is difficult to write about - to write directly about what happens on the pitch - is connected though the idea of beauty. Good football is beautiful, with a strangely delicate beauty, a beauty you begin to learn about as you begin to play the game. Every time you kick the ball, it's more likely to not go where you aim it than it is to go there; or to go at the wrong speed, or to bounce too much; or it does go where you aimed but an opponent was standing there, or the teammate you were aiming at wasn't looking, or moved away, or failed to control it, or was tackled, or fell over, or immediately gave it away to an opponent. (Let's not forget the opponent. As Jean-Paul Sartre wrote, "in football, everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team.") It's easier; far, far easier to under-, over- or mis-hit a pass than it is just to pass. It's easier to knock yourself out, score an own-goal, or completely miss the call than it is to manage even a half-decent header, the kind any semi-pro in a graveyard league can execute flawlessly without thinking.
That's what you learn as soon as you start to play and watch football: that football is difficult and beautiful, and that the two are related. Players kick the ball to one another, pass into empty space which is suddenly filled by a player who wasn't there two seconds ago and who is running and full pelt and who, without looking or breaking stride, knocks the ball back to a third player who he surely can't have seen who then, also at full pelt and without breaking stride, crosses the ball at sixty miles an hour to land on the head of a fourth player who has run seventy meters to get there and who, again all in stride, jumps and heads the ball with, once you believe how hard this is, unbelievable power and accuracy toward a corner of the goal just exactly where the goalkeeper, executing some complex physics entirely without conscious thought and through muscle-memory, has expected it to be, so that all this grace and speed and muscle and athleticism and attention to detail and power and precision passion comes to nothing, will never appear on a score-sheet or match report and will likely be forgotten a day later by everybody who saw it or took part in it. That is the beauty and also the strange fragility, the evenescence of football."* By John Lanchester
*Many of the commas in that paragraph aren't as printed and are mine, as I refused to put this on my site as it was written.
John Stocco named to Maxwell Award watchlist
This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen. The kid is on a watchlist with Brady Quinn and Jeff Samardzija, Ted Ginn, JaMarcus Russell, Adrian Petersen (hasn't he graduated yet?) Drew Tate, Chad Henne...
I'm honestly baffled. Especially when Wisconsin's press release points out that only Matt Leinart, Vince Young and Boise State's Jared Zabransky led their teams to more victories over the past 2 years.
Unreal!
John Stocco - apparently really good and we just didn't know it
Wisconsin Men's hockey schedule announced
And frankly, I don't feel like making it look pretty, so if you want the pretty one, go here.
DAY DATE OPPONENT All Times Central
Fri. Oct. 6 at Northern Michigan% 7 P.M.
Sat. Oct. 7 at Northern Michigan% 7 P.M.
FRI. OCT. 13 NORTH DAKOTA 7:30 P.M.
SAT. OCT. 14 NORTH DAKOTA 7 P.M.
FRI. OCT. 20 MINNESOTA DULUTH 7 P.M.
SAT. OCT. 21 MINNESOTA DULUTH 7 P.M.
FRI. OCT. 27 BOSTON COLLEGE 7 P.M.
SAT. OCT. 28 BOSTON COLLEGE 7 P.M.
Fri. Nov. 3 at Alaska Anchorage 10:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 4 at Alaska Anchorage 10 p.m.
FRI. NOV. 10 DENVER 7 P.M.
SAT. NOV. 11 DENVER 7 P.M.
Sat. Nov. 18 at Minnesota TBA
Sun. Nov. 19 at Minnesota TBA
COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE
FRI. NOV. 24 MICHIGAN 7 P.M.
SAT. NOV. 25 MICHIGAN STATE 7 P.M.
Fri. Dec. 8 at North Dakota 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 9 at North Dakota 7 p.m.
BADGER HOCKEY SHOWDOWN
Fri. Dec. 29 Providence vs. Lake Superior State 4 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Clarkson 7 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 30 Clarkson vs. Providence/Lake Superior State 4 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Providence/Lake Superior State 7 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 5 at Denver 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 6 at Denver 8 p.m.
FRI. JAN. 12 MINNESOTA 7 P.M.
SAT. JAN. 13 MINNESOTA 7 P.M.
FRI. JAN. 26 MINNESOTA STATE 7 P.M.
SAT. JAN. 27 MINNESOTA STATE 7 P.M.
Fri. Feb. 2 at Colorado College 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 3 at Colorado College 8 p.m.
FRI. FEB. 9 ALASKA ANCHORAGE 7 P.M.
SAT. FEB. 10 ALASKA ANCHORAGE 7 P.M.
FRI. FEB. 16 ST. CLOUD STATE 7 P.M.
SAT. FEB. 17 ST. CLOUD STATE 7 P.M.
Fri. Feb. 23 at Michigan Tech 8 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 24 at Michigan Tech 8 p.m.
Fri. March 2 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m.
Sat. March 3 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m.
Fri.-Sun. March 9-11 WCHA Playoffs (Campus Sites)
Thur.-Sat. March 15-17 WCHA Final Five (St. Paul, Minn.)
Fri.-Sat. March 23-24 NCAA East and Midwest Regionals
(Rochester, N.Y. and Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Sat.-Sun. March 24-25 NCAA Northeast and West Regionals
(Manchester, N.H. and Denver)
Thur.-Sat. April 5-7 NCAA Frozen Four
(St. Louis)
Home games listed in CAPS.
% - Resch Center, Green Bay, Wis.
You'll notice teams from three other conferences for the Badger Hockey Showdown, which I like. Also, there's a non-conference set with Boston College. No bad blood there :/
DAY DATE OPPONENT All Times Central
Fri. Oct. 6 at Northern Michigan% 7 P.M.
Sat. Oct. 7 at Northern Michigan% 7 P.M.
FRI. OCT. 13 NORTH DAKOTA 7:30 P.M.
SAT. OCT. 14 NORTH DAKOTA 7 P.M.
FRI. OCT. 20 MINNESOTA DULUTH 7 P.M.
SAT. OCT. 21 MINNESOTA DULUTH 7 P.M.
FRI. OCT. 27 BOSTON COLLEGE 7 P.M.
SAT. OCT. 28 BOSTON COLLEGE 7 P.M.
Fri. Nov. 3 at Alaska Anchorage 10:30 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 4 at Alaska Anchorage 10 p.m.
FRI. NOV. 10 DENVER 7 P.M.
SAT. NOV. 11 DENVER 7 P.M.
Sat. Nov. 18 at Minnesota TBA
Sun. Nov. 19 at Minnesota TBA
COLLEGE HOCKEY SHOWCASE
FRI. NOV. 24 MICHIGAN 7 P.M.
SAT. NOV. 25 MICHIGAN STATE 7 P.M.
Fri. Dec. 8 at North Dakota 7:30 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 9 at North Dakota 7 p.m.
BADGER HOCKEY SHOWDOWN
Fri. Dec. 29 Providence vs. Lake Superior State 4 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Clarkson 7 p.m.
Sat. Dec. 30 Clarkson vs. Providence/Lake Superior State 4 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Providence/Lake Superior State 7 p.m.
Fri. Jan. 5 at Denver 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Jan. 6 at Denver 8 p.m.
FRI. JAN. 12 MINNESOTA 7 P.M.
SAT. JAN. 13 MINNESOTA 7 P.M.
FRI. JAN. 26 MINNESOTA STATE 7 P.M.
SAT. JAN. 27 MINNESOTA STATE 7 P.M.
Fri. Feb. 2 at Colorado College 8:30 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 3 at Colorado College 8 p.m.
FRI. FEB. 9 ALASKA ANCHORAGE 7 P.M.
SAT. FEB. 10 ALASKA ANCHORAGE 7 P.M.
FRI. FEB. 16 ST. CLOUD STATE 7 P.M.
SAT. FEB. 17 ST. CLOUD STATE 7 P.M.
Fri. Feb. 23 at Michigan Tech 8 p.m.
Sat. Feb. 24 at Michigan Tech 8 p.m.
Fri. March 2 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m.
Sat. March 3 at Minnesota Duluth 7 p.m.
Fri.-Sun. March 9-11 WCHA Playoffs (Campus Sites)
Thur.-Sat. March 15-17 WCHA Final Five (St. Paul, Minn.)
Fri.-Sat. March 23-24 NCAA East and Midwest Regionals
(Rochester, N.Y. and Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Sat.-Sun. March 24-25 NCAA Northeast and West Regionals
(Manchester, N.H. and Denver)
Thur.-Sat. April 5-7 NCAA Frozen Four
(St. Louis)
Home games listed in CAPS.
% - Resch Center, Green Bay, Wis.
You'll notice teams from three other conferences for the Badger Hockey Showdown, which I like. Also, there's a non-conference set with Boston College. No bad blood there :/
I probably find this funnier than I should
Stalking case filed by Uecker delayed
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE -- The stalking case filed by Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker against a woman he contends has been harassing him for years was delayed again Tuesday because the defendant could not be found.
Uecker filed a temporary restraining order against Ann E. Ladd, of Prospect Heights, Ill., earlier this month in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. A hearing was scheduled for June 15, but court records show the defendant had not been served with papers. The case was rescheduled for July 3.
Uecker, the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for more than 35 years, said the 45-year-old Ladd had been bothering him for six or seven years by sending unsolicited gifts, driving around his home in Wisconsin and contacting him in various cities.
Uecker said Ladd confronted him in late May at a hotel pool in Pittsburgh over his refusal to assist her charity work.
"In the past year, however, Ladd's pattern of harassment has escalated in frequency and intensity, and has resulted in repeated and serious invasions of my personal privacy," he said in the filings.
A message left at Ladd's home on Tuesday was not immediately returned. Messages left for lawyers of Uecker and Ladd were not immediately returned on Tuesday.
Uecker won a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 and played in Philadelphia and Atlanta before retiring in 1967. He starred in commercials and the television sitcom "Mr. Belvedere."
Associated Press
MILWAUKEE -- The stalking case filed by Hall of Fame announcer Bob Uecker against a woman he contends has been harassing him for years was delayed again Tuesday because the defendant could not be found.
Uecker filed a temporary restraining order against Ann E. Ladd, of Prospect Heights, Ill., earlier this month in Milwaukee County Circuit Court. A hearing was scheduled for June 15, but court records show the defendant had not been served with papers. The case was rescheduled for July 3.
Uecker, the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for more than 35 years, said the 45-year-old Ladd had been bothering him for six or seven years by sending unsolicited gifts, driving around his home in Wisconsin and contacting him in various cities.
Uecker said Ladd confronted him in late May at a hotel pool in Pittsburgh over his refusal to assist her charity work.
"In the past year, however, Ladd's pattern of harassment has escalated in frequency and intensity, and has resulted in repeated and serious invasions of my personal privacy," he said in the filings.
A message left at Ladd's home on Tuesday was not immediately returned. Messages left for lawyers of Uecker and Ladd were not immediately returned on Tuesday.
Uecker won a World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964 and played in Philadelphia and Atlanta before retiring in 1967. He starred in commercials and the television sitcom "Mr. Belvedere."
Monday, June 19, 2006
More USA-Italy and World Cup stuff
This is a story in the London Times that basically calls the USA-Italy game a hackfest and a disgrace to the beautiful game.
I found the link here, on this ESPN.com guy, Michael Davies', blog about the WC. I've been reading most of his stuff and I have to say I enjoy his attitude, that he's clearly just a fan who happens to have a killer press pass and that he's as excited about how America comes off to the rest of the world as he is about wins or losses.
His point in this post is that regardless of the outcome or the officiating in the USA-Italy match, it's flat out the best thing that could have happened for us. He talks about all the angry faces he encounters in the press room.
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LOSE!
Basically, the US went out and proved that we don't suck. We played with a 3 time champion. Nine of our guys outplayed 10 of theirs. ITALY. We played with ITALY!
The rest of the world will still only give us grudging, if any, respect.
"The "Working" Press Room, Stadium Media Center, 12:25 a.m.I'm still coming down from the high. Genuinely one of the best football games I've seen in my life. And make no mistake, that was football out there tonight. Hard-nosed, violent, every inch of the field contested, fan-inspired, battling -- in spite of the ref, dramatic, passionate, breathless football. The atmosphere was evangelical, a communion of faith, doubt, determination and fear between the opposing players and the opposing fans. All witnessed by the nonbelieving disciples in the international media.
It was such an instant classic, so enthralling, so mesmerizing, so unexpected, it needs a moniker -- like the War on the Shore, The Thrilla in Manilla.
I like the Pfight in the Pfalz.
God, look at all these miserable faces around me. Nothing they hate here more than the U.S. matching up to one of the best teams in the world. "
And he's right. It was just plain good football. And most people didn't think we were capable. Especially not after the display against the Czechs.
And though this seems to echo what he says, I promise these are things I thought on my own as well!
*I made the comment to my boyfriend while watching the match that I love Bruce Arena because he looks like an American football coach. He's got the paunch. He's more Fulmer than not. He throws his hands and rolls his eyes. You don't seem him in a suit. He's not prim and proper and stodgy like some of the other coaches. He's hilarious. I think that some of Arena's faces belong in the Pantheon of great faces. There's no 2 ways about it, I could watch a US telecast just for the shots of Bruce Arena. He's comedic genius!
*I have been pleasantly surprised and proud of the rapport, demeanor and class of our team. One thing I've always found in US soccer is a lack of the diving and theatrics that seem to be a staple of some of the European teams. I grew up playing this game. I'm as educated as a fan can be about the beautiful game. 20 years of playing, into college, and 6 years of refereeing can do that for you. I know that diving is a part of the game. I'm not saying we don't do it. But I enjoy the uniquely working man's attitude that I see from our teams year after year. Ironically, it's that Everyman working quality that the rest of the world hates about us.
*I love saying Oguchi Onyewu's name! It's stuck in my head. The kid is a monster. Most of the professional sportsmen of this country, in any sport, can't dream of having this kid's body. Yes he's rough. But he's not a hack. I appreciate that.
I love the World Cup for the same reason I love March Madness. Anything can happen. Only this is the biggest stage there is on the biggest scale there is. No one else does this. No other sport provides this worldwide level of international competition. It's so much fun to watch.
I found the link here, on this ESPN.com guy, Michael Davies', blog about the WC. I've been reading most of his stuff and I have to say I enjoy his attitude, that he's clearly just a fan who happens to have a killer press pass and that he's as excited about how America comes off to the rest of the world as he is about wins or losses.
His point in this post is that regardless of the outcome or the officiating in the USA-Italy match, it's flat out the best thing that could have happened for us. He talks about all the angry faces he encounters in the press room.
BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LOSE!
Basically, the US went out and proved that we don't suck. We played with a 3 time champion. Nine of our guys outplayed 10 of theirs. ITALY. We played with ITALY!
The rest of the world will still only give us grudging, if any, respect.
"The "Working" Press Room, Stadium Media Center, 12:25 a.m.I'm still coming down from the high. Genuinely one of the best football games I've seen in my life. And make no mistake, that was football out there tonight. Hard-nosed, violent, every inch of the field contested, fan-inspired, battling -- in spite of the ref, dramatic, passionate, breathless football. The atmosphere was evangelical, a communion of faith, doubt, determination and fear between the opposing players and the opposing fans. All witnessed by the nonbelieving disciples in the international media.
It was such an instant classic, so enthralling, so mesmerizing, so unexpected, it needs a moniker -- like the War on the Shore, The Thrilla in Manilla.
I like the Pfight in the Pfalz.
God, look at all these miserable faces around me. Nothing they hate here more than the U.S. matching up to one of the best teams in the world. "
And he's right. It was just plain good football. And most people didn't think we were capable. Especially not after the display against the Czechs.
And though this seems to echo what he says, I promise these are things I thought on my own as well!
*I made the comment to my boyfriend while watching the match that I love Bruce Arena because he looks like an American football coach. He's got the paunch. He's more Fulmer than not. He throws his hands and rolls his eyes. You don't seem him in a suit. He's not prim and proper and stodgy like some of the other coaches. He's hilarious. I think that some of Arena's faces belong in the Pantheon of great faces. There's no 2 ways about it, I could watch a US telecast just for the shots of Bruce Arena. He's comedic genius!
*I have been pleasantly surprised and proud of the rapport, demeanor and class of our team. One thing I've always found in US soccer is a lack of the diving and theatrics that seem to be a staple of some of the European teams. I grew up playing this game. I'm as educated as a fan can be about the beautiful game. 20 years of playing, into college, and 6 years of refereeing can do that for you. I know that diving is a part of the game. I'm not saying we don't do it. But I enjoy the uniquely working man's attitude that I see from our teams year after year. Ironically, it's that Everyman working quality that the rest of the world hates about us.
*I love saying Oguchi Onyewu's name! It's stuck in my head. The kid is a monster. Most of the professional sportsmen of this country, in any sport, can't dream of having this kid's body. Yes he's rough. But he's not a hack. I appreciate that.
I love the World Cup for the same reason I love March Madness. Anything can happen. Only this is the biggest stage there is on the biggest scale there is. No one else does this. No other sport provides this worldwide level of international competition. It's so much fun to watch.
Fernando Torres
Cute Sports Official World Cup Hottie* Fernando Torres, forward for Spain
*(this is not to say that there won't be more or future hotties. He is merely the current and first to catch our eye)
Sure, he's rather pretty. But we're ok with that. We're fairly certain it's the freckles. Also, the outstanding run and the outside-of-the-foot strike for a goal. We like that as well.
Football Valhalla
One more piece falls into place, as Michigan State announces an 8pm start time for the game against Notre Dame.
That means even if Michigan/Wisconsin is at 3pm, we have plenty of time to make both games.
(I feel like this road trip that I sure hope happens should have a logo. Maybe I'll get on that!)
That means even if Michigan/Wisconsin is at 3pm, we have plenty of time to make both games.
(I feel like this road trip that I sure hope happens should have a logo. Maybe I'll get on that!)
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Here we go Brew Crew, here we go!
Went to another great Brewers game today.
Got a retro Cecil Cooper bobblehead. This now brings the bobblehead count to 4: Carlos Lee, Derrick Turnbow, Damien Miller and Cecil Cooper. I don't particularly like bobbleheads. They're pointless and they take up space, but for some reason I've amassed a collection this year. The Derrick Turnbow one is still creepy.
That's not the point though.
The point is that we won! On a walk off home run. Again! The Cardiac Kids Strike Again! This is, I believe, our 14th victory on the last atbat. That leads the majors. We have won 20 of 24 at Miller Park coming from behind.
The Brewers are back at .500 for the first time since May 30, but the Tigers are coming to town and they've got the hottest record in baseball. They scored something like 22 runs against the Cubs in the past 2 days.
But enough of the scary thoughts of the future, for now I revel in a sweep of the Tribe on Carlos Lee's first ever walk-off home run.
We won last night on a deep double by Geoff Jenkins that brought home Corey Hart to end the game.
By far the best moment of the weekend, though, came in last night's game, when Carlos Lee was up to bat, clearly swinging for the fences. The cut was so mighty, it took Carlos to the ground. He got up looking a little sheepish and smiling. He made it to base and eventually, over to 3rd. The cameras close in on him talking animatedly to the 3rd base coach and it's so clear he's explaining what happened. "I swung and I turned and my ankle .. and then I fell down!"
VOTE FOR BUCKY!
So apparently there's a mascot hall of fame.
And Buckingham U. Badger is up for induction this year. He's been nominated and now we need to vote him in!
The Alabama Crimson Tide Elephant Thingamabobber isn't up, so you people have no excuse. Plus, you all pity me. So you know, kill a deer, vote for Bucky.
VOTE HERE!
Nuts and bolts. Nuts and bolts.
WE. GOT. SCREWED!
I just havent been too into the blogging thing this week ... residual accident issues, I'm sure. But I watched the US World Cup game today with a first timer and I literally couldn't figure out how to explain that this game isn't how soccer is played.
Silly me, I thought the players were supposed to actually play and have control of the game. I thought yellow cards were second warnings. That's what they taught me in my years as a fully licensed soccer referee.
And honestly, the officiating sucked, but what pisses me off is that it was against Italy. We got taken out of that game and we could have and likely would have won it. We actually showed up for this game and we looked GOOD. We looked better than I've seen us look in awhile. We could have beaten a frickin' powerhouse.
The best thing I can say about the officiating is that I'm glad that it will be the story. I'm glad that this will keep the uninformed know-nothing-about-soccer media from talking about how much we suck because we didn't win.
...
Also, Ghana flat out out-played Czech today. The second goal was brilliant. Watch all the short passes leading up to it. Watch the formation and teamwork. Absolutely brilliant tactical soccer. Good for them.
I just havent been too into the blogging thing this week ... residual accident issues, I'm sure. But I watched the US World Cup game today with a first timer and I literally couldn't figure out how to explain that this game isn't how soccer is played.
Silly me, I thought the players were supposed to actually play and have control of the game. I thought yellow cards were second warnings. That's what they taught me in my years as a fully licensed soccer referee.
And honestly, the officiating sucked, but what pisses me off is that it was against Italy. We got taken out of that game and we could have and likely would have won it. We actually showed up for this game and we looked GOOD. We looked better than I've seen us look in awhile. We could have beaten a frickin' powerhouse.
The best thing I can say about the officiating is that I'm glad that it will be the story. I'm glad that this will keep the uninformed know-nothing-about-soccer media from talking about how much we suck because we didn't win.
...
Also, Ghana flat out out-played Czech today. The second goal was brilliant. Watch all the short passes leading up to it. Watch the formation and teamwork. Absolutely brilliant tactical soccer. Good for them.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
I hath returned.
I'm sure no one missed me!
I've actually been on a much needed spur of the moment vacay instigated by my friend Christine. She called on Sunday and told me she was buying me a ticket to come see her at her Grandma's house in Baltimore. Christine lives in Key West and so we were supposed to be much closer to each other when I was moving to Florida. We'd already made plans for her to come stay with me for the 4th of July. Anyway, her very fabulous mommy bought me a ticket and I was in Baltimore, Washington DC and Philly for the past few days. The trip took some extra twists and turns, namely that I spent today in Philadelphia, when I was supposed to get into Milwaukee at 8 am this morning.
Frankly, it's late and I've had a long day. Also, it's the boyfriend's birthday today(Saturday) so I need to get some sleep in order to be non-boring birthday entertainment. But I'll catch things up by Monday.
I've actually been on a much needed spur of the moment vacay instigated by my friend Christine. She called on Sunday and told me she was buying me a ticket to come see her at her Grandma's house in Baltimore. Christine lives in Key West and so we were supposed to be much closer to each other when I was moving to Florida. We'd already made plans for her to come stay with me for the 4th of July. Anyway, her very fabulous mommy bought me a ticket and I was in Baltimore, Washington DC and Philly for the past few days. The trip took some extra twists and turns, namely that I spent today in Philadelphia, when I was supposed to get into Milwaukee at 8 am this morning.
Frankly, it's late and I've had a long day. Also, it's the boyfriend's birthday today(Saturday) so I need to get some sleep in order to be non-boring birthday entertainment. But I'll catch things up by Monday.
Monday, June 12, 2006
No Florida for me..
So it was really difficult, but I decided last night to turn down the job in Florida and stay here in Wisconsin.
Basically, I can't afford to move to Florida anymore. It was going to be a struggle before all this happened. I am driving my dad's old car, a 1990 Buick Skylark that frankly I don't even know is roadworthy. I am going to have medical bills coming out of my ears. UHaul is going to want to sue my ass.
Basically, I would have to scrape together money to drive down in a car I'm not sure would make the trip and then I'd have to work 2 jobs while I'm down there. Does that sound like a good time to anyone? I mean, I realize that one of those jobs is my dream job, but basically, that sounds like a miserable experience and a miserable existence.
As I told Todd, if I made a list of reasons to stay or go, the only reason to go to Florida is because I really want the job. Unfortunately, I'm about to be 25, not 19, and really wanting something just isn't good enough. At some point, I have to act like the responsible adult I'm supposed to be.
Plus, let's be honest, being here isn't so horrible. Summer in Wisconsin is great. My boyfriend has been beyond amazing through this whole situation, which would have made leaving him even harder. Now I'll be here for football season, and the Michigan holy trifecta trip is totally back on!
I feel like ultimately it came down to being miserable in Florida, all by myself. Or being miserable here in Wisconsin, with friends and my boyfriend and at least here I'll have a little spare money to be able to leave the house.
So you know, basically I moved to Southern Illinois for a few hours one time in June, 2006.
But OH I MISS MY CAR! I can readily admit that I was unnaturally attached to my car.
RIP Kremit!
Basically, I can't afford to move to Florida anymore. It was going to be a struggle before all this happened. I am driving my dad's old car, a 1990 Buick Skylark that frankly I don't even know is roadworthy. I am going to have medical bills coming out of my ears. UHaul is going to want to sue my ass.
Basically, I would have to scrape together money to drive down in a car I'm not sure would make the trip and then I'd have to work 2 jobs while I'm down there. Does that sound like a good time to anyone? I mean, I realize that one of those jobs is my dream job, but basically, that sounds like a miserable experience and a miserable existence.
As I told Todd, if I made a list of reasons to stay or go, the only reason to go to Florida is because I really want the job. Unfortunately, I'm about to be 25, not 19, and really wanting something just isn't good enough. At some point, I have to act like the responsible adult I'm supposed to be.
Plus, let's be honest, being here isn't so horrible. Summer in Wisconsin is great. My boyfriend has been beyond amazing through this whole situation, which would have made leaving him even harder. Now I'll be here for football season, and the Michigan holy trifecta trip is totally back on!
I feel like ultimately it came down to being miserable in Florida, all by myself. Or being miserable here in Wisconsin, with friends and my boyfriend and at least here I'll have a little spare money to be able to leave the house.
So you know, basically I moved to Southern Illinois for a few hours one time in June, 2006.
But OH I MISS MY CAR! I can readily admit that I was unnaturally attached to my car.
RIP Kremit!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Soca Warriors
Ok, so on the plus side, I got to watch the second half of the Sweden-Trinidad & Tobago WC match today, which was honestly the best half of soccer I've seen, live or on TV, in a long time. The Argentina-Ivory Coast game was also damn entertaining ball.
But Shaka Hislop, the Trini goalie who wasn't even supposed to start, made that game for me - and for Trinidad as well. And, you know, he's 37!
(My apologies for the crappy writing. Per the below post, things around these parts are a bit discombobulated and will likely be that way for a few days.)
Not in Florida.
So I really don't feel like telling a whole long story.
But I'm not in Florida. I'm in Wisconsin.
I hate Illinois!
I HATE IT!
About 1 am Thursday morning a deer appeared in front of my car. I swerved. I don't remember anything after that. My car, with trailer, jacknifed, turned around and then rolled 2 or 3 times and ended up in a ditch. My car and the trailer are totalled. I was helicoptered to St. Louis.
I'm fine. Miraculously most of my things are ok as well. My boyfriend has 1 scratch on him. After many xrays and 2 cat scans, I'm bruised, sore and concussed, but here. I'm back home.
I don't know what's going to happen.
So that's my story.
But I'm not in Florida. I'm in Wisconsin.
I hate Illinois!
I HATE IT!
About 1 am Thursday morning a deer appeared in front of my car. I swerved. I don't remember anything after that. My car, with trailer, jacknifed, turned around and then rolled 2 or 3 times and ended up in a ditch. My car and the trailer are totalled. I was helicoptered to St. Louis.
I'm fine. Miraculously most of my things are ok as well. My boyfriend has 1 scratch on him. After many xrays and 2 cat scans, I'm bruised, sore and concussed, but here. I'm back home.
I don't know what's going to happen.
So that's my story.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Happy Moving Day!!
The UHaul's* packed and I've only to wait for my partner in drive in order to go!
*I hate UHaul with a passion heretofore unacheived. I have had nothing but bad experiences with them. Unfortunately, they are the only company that rents trailers. Other places will rent you the whole truck, but if you want to rent a trailer, you have to go with UHaul. And trust me, they treat you like they don't care because they know you have no where else to go!
I would write more of this diatribe, but I'll just get myself upset again. Seriously, I was there for almost 3 hours this morning "picking up" my trailer. Also, yesterday, I couldn't get anyone to answer the phone, so I called customer service, and that guy just kept saying "there's nothing I can do for you" Some customer service!
Anyway, excuse the anger. I'll be back in a few days signing in from bright shiny hot Florida!
*I hate UHaul with a passion heretofore unacheived. I have had nothing but bad experiences with them. Unfortunately, they are the only company that rents trailers. Other places will rent you the whole truck, but if you want to rent a trailer, you have to go with UHaul. And trust me, they treat you like they don't care because they know you have no where else to go!
I would write more of this diatribe, but I'll just get myself upset again. Seriously, I was there for almost 3 hours this morning "picking up" my trailer. Also, yesterday, I couldn't get anyone to answer the phone, so I called customer service, and that guy just kept saying "there's nothing I can do for you" Some customer service!
Anyway, excuse the anger. I'll be back in a few days signing in from bright shiny hot Florida!
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Allelujia!
10 grammar mistakes that make you look stupid:
These days, we tend to communicate via the keyboard as much as we do verbally. Often, we're in a hurry, quickly dashing off emails with typos, grammatical shortcuts (I'm being kind here), and that breezy, e.e. cummings, no-caps look. It's expected. It's no big deal. But other times, we try to invest a little care, avoiding mistakes so that there's no confusion about what we're saying and so that we look professional and reasonably bright.
In general, we can slip up in a verbal conversation and get away with it. A colleague may be thinking, "Did she just say 'irregardless'?", but the words flow on, and our worst transgressions are carried away and with luck, forgotten.
That's not the case with written communications. When we commit a grammatical crime in emails, discussion posts, reports, memos, and other professional documents, there's no going back. We've just officially gone on record as being careless or clueless. And here's the worst thing. It's not necessary to be an editor or a language whiz or a spelling bee triathlete to spot such mistakes. They have a way of doing a little wiggle dance on the screen and then reaching out to grab the reader by the throat.
So here we are in the era of Word's red-underline "wrong spelling, dumb ass" feature and Outlook's Always Check Spelling Before Sending option, and still the mistakes proliferate. Catching typos is easy (although not everyone does it). It's the other stuff — correctly spelled but incorrectly wielded — that sneaks through and makes us look stupid. Here's a quick review of some of the big ones.
#1: Loose for lose
No: I always loose the product key.
Yes: I always lose the product key.
#2: It's for its (or god forbid, its')
No: Download the HTA, along with it's readme file.
Yes: Download the HTA, along with its readme file.
No: The laptop is overheating and its making that funny noise again.
Yes: The laptop is overheating and it's making that funny noise again.
#3: They're for their for there
No: The managers are in they're weekly planning meeting.
Yes: The managers are in their weekly planning meeting.
No: The techs have to check there cell phones at the door, and their not happy about it.
Yes: The techs have to check their cell phones at the door, and they're not happy about it.
#4: i.e. for e.g.
No: Use an anti-spyware program (i.e., Ad-Aware).
Yes: Use an anti-spyware program (e.g., Ad-Aware).
Note: The term i.e. means "that is"; e.g. means "for example". And a comma follows both of them.
#5: Effect for affect
No: The outage shouldn't effect any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage shouldn't affect any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage shouldn't have any effect on users.
Yes: We will effect several changes during the downtime.
Note: Impact is not a verb. Purists, at least, beg you to use affect instead:
No: The outage shouldn't impact any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage shouldn't affect any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage should have no impact on users during work hours.
#6: You're for your
No: Remember to defrag you're machine on a regular basis.
Yes: Remember to defrag your machine on a regular basis.
No: Your right about the changes.
Yes: You're right about the changes.
#7: Different than for different from
No: This setup is different than the one at the main office.
Yes: This setup is different from the one at the main office.
Yes: This setup is better than the one at the main office.
#8 Lay for lie
No: I got dizzy and had to lay down.
Yes: I got dizzy and had to lie down.
Yes: Just lay those books over there.
#9: Then for than
No: The accounting department had more problems then we did.
Yes: The accounting department had more problems than we did.
Note: Here's a sub-peeve. When a sentence construction begins with If, you don't need a then. Then is implicit, so it's superfluous and wordy:
No: If you can't get Windows to boot, then you'll need to call Ted.
Yes: If you can't get Windows to boot, you'll need to call Ted.
#10: Could of, would of for could have, would have
No: I could of installed that app by mistake.
Yes: I could have installed that app by mistake.
No: I would of sent you a meeting notice, but you were out of town.
Yes: I would have sent you a meeting notice, but you were out of town.
These days, we tend to communicate via the keyboard as much as we do verbally. Often, we're in a hurry, quickly dashing off emails with typos, grammatical shortcuts (I'm being kind here), and that breezy, e.e. cummings, no-caps look. It's expected. It's no big deal. But other times, we try to invest a little care, avoiding mistakes so that there's no confusion about what we're saying and so that we look professional and reasonably bright.
In general, we can slip up in a verbal conversation and get away with it. A colleague may be thinking, "Did she just say 'irregardless'?", but the words flow on, and our worst transgressions are carried away and with luck, forgotten.
That's not the case with written communications. When we commit a grammatical crime in emails, discussion posts, reports, memos, and other professional documents, there's no going back. We've just officially gone on record as being careless or clueless. And here's the worst thing. It's not necessary to be an editor or a language whiz or a spelling bee triathlete to spot such mistakes. They have a way of doing a little wiggle dance on the screen and then reaching out to grab the reader by the throat.
So here we are in the era of Word's red-underline "wrong spelling, dumb ass" feature and Outlook's Always Check Spelling Before Sending option, and still the mistakes proliferate. Catching typos is easy (although not everyone does it). It's the other stuff — correctly spelled but incorrectly wielded — that sneaks through and makes us look stupid. Here's a quick review of some of the big ones.
#1: Loose for lose
No: I always loose the product key.
Yes: I always lose the product key.
#2: It's for its (or god forbid, its')
No: Download the HTA, along with it's readme file.
Yes: Download the HTA, along with its readme file.
No: The laptop is overheating and its making that funny noise again.
Yes: The laptop is overheating and it's making that funny noise again.
#3: They're for their for there
No: The managers are in they're weekly planning meeting.
Yes: The managers are in their weekly planning meeting.
No: The techs have to check there cell phones at the door, and their not happy about it.
Yes: The techs have to check their cell phones at the door, and they're not happy about it.
#4: i.e. for e.g.
No: Use an anti-spyware program (i.e., Ad-Aware).
Yes: Use an anti-spyware program (e.g., Ad-Aware).
Note: The term i.e. means "that is"; e.g. means "for example". And a comma follows both of them.
#5: Effect for affect
No: The outage shouldn't effect any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage shouldn't affect any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage shouldn't have any effect on users.
Yes: We will effect several changes during the downtime.
Note: Impact is not a verb. Purists, at least, beg you to use affect instead:
No: The outage shouldn't impact any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage shouldn't affect any users during work hours.
Yes: The outage should have no impact on users during work hours.
#6: You're for your
No: Remember to defrag you're machine on a regular basis.
Yes: Remember to defrag your machine on a regular basis.
No: Your right about the changes.
Yes: You're right about the changes.
#7: Different than for different from
No: This setup is different than the one at the main office.
Yes: This setup is different from the one at the main office.
Yes: This setup is better than the one at the main office.
#8 Lay for lie
No: I got dizzy and had to lay down.
Yes: I got dizzy and had to lie down.
Yes: Just lay those books over there.
#9: Then for than
No: The accounting department had more problems then we did.
Yes: The accounting department had more problems than we did.
Note: Here's a sub-peeve. When a sentence construction begins with If, you don't need a then. Then is implicit, so it's superfluous and wordy:
No: If you can't get Windows to boot, then you'll need to call Ted.
Yes: If you can't get Windows to boot, you'll need to call Ted.
#10: Could of, would of for could have, would have
No: I could of installed that app by mistake.
Yes: I could have installed that app by mistake.
No: I would of sent you a meeting notice, but you were out of town.
Yes: I would have sent you a meeting notice, but you were out of town.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
I have a lot of stuff.
As in this doesn't even constitute a recognizable fraction of it. This is the stuff not in my room or already stored. I was going to take picture of my room, but they were too embarassing.
This is closer to actual fact...
And much more closely represents my feelings today. Of course, it's a metaphorical goodbye for ya'll, as I'm not really going anywhere site-wise. Basically, it's a pictoral representation of how forlorn I am today. As I told my boyfriend, I've done a pretty darn good job of not freaking out thus far. I get points for restraint.
not exactly the sentiment I meant...
But this is the best pic I found with a google image search for Goodbye and I couldn't resist.
Friday, June 02, 2006
WC 2006
I'm mostly posting this to remind myself to write more about the World Cup. I am very excited about it, even though I won't get to much watch of opening round stuff since I'll be doing that whole moving thing, but this poster is awesome and if for some reason someone reads this who is going, buy me this poster. I'll pay for it, I promise.
In the meantime, here's a funny breakdown for you non-soccer speaking folk. (link found on Deadspin)
Also via Deadspin, is this fabulous self-updating spreadsheet of WC.
Woo Hoo
Of course, it's only for about 9 days during which I have to pack, move cross country, say goodbye and unpack.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
