My neighbor got me into a college football pool before the season started. It only cost $20 to buy in, and you had to pick the winner of four games, every week of the season, and you had to pick them, before Labor Day.
Every game was assigned a point value from 2 to 5 points. At the end of the year, the guy with the most points, takes home 50% or 60% of the total buy in of everyone involved. I'm not even sure what the pay out would be. But after last week? I'm in first place, tied with another guy, so I'm doing OK. With 31 people in this thing, I think I would stand to make several hundred bucks at the end of the season if I win it.
And that's not even the reason I got in. I got in just so it gave me a reason to care about games other than the Ute game each weekend.
The 4 point game this weekend was USU v. BYU. I picked BYU. Keeping in mind that I had to make that pick in August, I would not have made it last week. But it's a big one for me. 4 of a possible 14 points is a big deal. You lose the two point game (this week it's Notre Dame v. Purdue. I took Purdue), you can recover. Lose the four point game? You won't win the week. The five point game is Nebraska v. Wisconsin. I went with the Badgers.
So tonight, I felt like a guy who punches a time clock at his job, if he still has one, who votes for Republicans. I was rooting against my own, economic self interest, hoping USU would beat BYU! I knew it was going to cost me money if they won, but Damn it, even though they are no longer relevant to college football at all, and especially not to anything that happens to the Utes, I just can't root for those bastards to win!
When they threw that game winning deflection, I was relieved and pissed off, all at the same time! How is that even possible?
I don't gamble much. I hate to throw my money away. I'll bet a college football game once in a while if I'm really confident. But this deal was kind of like buying into the office NCAA Basketball pool every spring. Even if you don't know anything about the game, you want to get involved, just so you have some reason to pay attention when Alcorn State is playing Arizona. You know Alcorn isn't going to win, but if you have picked U of A, you pay attention. It's fun!
I feel bad for Gary Anderson. He's a few bad plays away from being 4-0 instead of 1-3, and ranked in the top 25. And he's taken USU from abysmal to respectable in three years. They are a team that people, even those in the SEC have to take seriously. And he's done it in Logan. In a Conference that is only slightly better than the Sun Belt and might not be as good as The Mid America Conference since Boise State, Fresno and Nevada have bolted, or WILL bolt, next year. He's done some really good stuff up there.
So I don't think he's going to be there next year. No offense to USU, but if they are doomed to stay in the WAC, which might be doomed to not exist in a year or two, he would be better off to take another job offer. Don't be surprised to see him the next coach at New Mexico. Or UNLV. Or even, UCLA if they can't win a BUNCH more games this fall. And don't count on THAT.
Hell, if Boise State's coach gets a BCS school offer and leaves, Anderson could end up there! He's a natural for that job. It's just up the street. Figuratively.
So to paraphrase, The Stones, tonight, I got what I needed, not what I wanted. But that's alright. Still what? 8 weeks of college football left? I love every Saturday of it.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
High School. My Experience v. My Son's.
Tomorrow night is Murray High Schools Homecoming Dance. No, I'm not going. But my son is. And he and his friends have been planning this for weeks. And it's complicated.
When I wanted to go to Homecoming, or any other dance for that matter, 30+ years ago, at this very same, Murray High School, you asked a girl a couple of weeks in advance, they accepted (or not, I heard. I got turned down for all kind of other dates, but never for a dance), you ordered a corsage when she told you her dress color, and after the dance, you went out to dinner at, The Heather, The Della Fontana, or the restaurant that used to be on the top of, The Tri Arc Motel downtown and that was the end of it.
Now? Not so much.
My son and two of his soccer playing buddies are all going together, and they had to come up with unique ways of asking the girls out, a month in advance. Yard signs, covertly delivered messages to their houses in the middle of the night. What's next? Billboards, sky writing?
Then, the girls are responsible to respond in kind. My son's date responded affirmatively, but didn't put his name on whatever she delivered to him, so there was a day or two there where the conversation I heard between him and his mother left some doubt about whether or not she knew it was HIM who was asking her out!
I think for a while she though he was his friend, Jadon's, "mailman". Complicated.
As a parent, if he had asked me to drive him and his date to this dance and dinner, I would have done so. I would have had the Audi washed, too. Since he doesn't have his drivers license yet, I asked him if that's what he wanted. Nope. He and his buddies had a plan.
His two buddies come from large families. Both other families have large, SUV's, as a necessity. In my day, they would have been station wagons, or vans, but that's another blog. Anyway, they have the means to get there all together. And talking to the, "other soccer moms", I was convinced that they had worked all this out.
One mom would drive TO and the other HOME. Dinner BEFORE the dance these days and then home.
Not so fast. They have to have a day activity. Really? So now, you have to have all day transportation, buy everyone lunch, and admission to some amusement park in Draper (no, it's not Boondocks or that haunted circus thing, but I can't remember what he told me it was)? And you have convinced one of your mother's to go along with this and sacrifice her WHOLE day to drive you around? Yeah, or course, Dad. Well, sort of.
OK, here it comes.
Last night, Thursday, T-Minus less than 48 hours to this rocket ship taking off, I get informed that Soccer Mom #1 can't get off work and my son will have to take my car, drive himself and his mom (who, while blind, still has a valid Utah Drivers License so she can be the licensed adult in the car for his learners permit) and three others of his group, to the day activity, while his sister drives the other three.
"Son, have you talked to your sister about this?" Come to find out not only no, but Hell No, was her response.
Then the story changed. Soccer Mom #1 thinks I should have to share the driving, so we have to do it this way. Really? As many rides over the years I've given her kid to soccer practice, games, and meals I've fed him, I need to chip in? This does not sound right. Soccer Mom #1, (SM1 from here on out) would NEVER, in my wildest dreams, pull shit like that! She is not capable of thinking this way. But my son, and her son are.
23 years as a PO is starting to pay off. I'm connecting the dots.
I ask my wife to call SM1 last night and confirm this story. Because if it's true, the most seat belts I have in any car that I don't store at my mother's house is four. This will not get six teenagers to a dance. So I have to make arrangements to rent a seven passenger van, a limo, or get a taxi! My wife refused to do it. At 9:30 at night. It's too late. Really?
I'm so tired of being married to the most stubborn woman on earth. One of these days, I'm going to have to ask her, with the threat of ending our marriage, if she would call 911 if I shouted at her, "Debra Jo, CALL 911 NOW!" or if she would respond, "Why?" instead of, "I'm dialing, what do I tell them?" even if she can't see whats going on. She could HEAR the fight or the gun shots.
We've been together 28 years. You can't hear the gun battle I'm having with my son right now?
So, I call SM1 and tell her this whole story. I also tell her that if the problem is gas money? I'll be happy to buy some. If it's her schedule? I'll rent the van. If it's any other problem, I'll rent the van/limo/taxi, whatever it takes to let these boys go to their first high school dance, all together.
She asks me if I'm on drugs. She's been telling the boys for weeks that she has been planning on driving her big assed, SUV all day, so they can all go together, and YES, she will take them to the day activity. And YES, she will get them to dinner BEFORE, and the dance. And YES, SM2 has agreed to pick them up and take them home. And NO they knew full well I didn't have a car that could do this, so they didn't expect me to drive.
I told her, that in light of that, if she will come over and pick me up on Saturday afternoon, I would take her to Costco and buy her a tank of gas in said, SUV for her doing this. And happy to do it. God bless her. And I don't believe in God, so that's saying something.
They, it appears, also have to have an AFTER dance activity. This seems weird, but I guess I should be happy it's not what OUR after dance activity usually was. Many times involving a bottle of Annie Green Springs, a joint, and someone loosing their virginity.
They decide that they wanted to come over to my house, and light a fire in the bowl I have on the patio, and make Smoores until it's time for the girls to go home. Very wholesome, very appropriate. And I can watch their reflection on the windows while I'm watching college football late at night!
But tonight, my son, while up in his room, VIRTUALLY feet from me, sends me a message in Face Book chat instead of walking down here to talk to me and asks if I've, "cut wood" for tomorrow", meaning split some logs for his fire. And telling me they might go to a Haunted House after the dance instead, if I hadn't.
No you won't. You would stand in line for hours with your dates in dance dresses. Are you smoking crack? And by the way, what are you going to use to roast these marshmallows? And why, are you changing the plans again less than 14 hours before you pick up your dates!?
This whole first date/dance thing has been so screwed up, if he was still alive, it would be a Warren Zevon song. Or a Hunter S. Thompson short story.
Years ago, the NCAA had a rule that Freshmen, even on scholarship, could NOT play in Varsity games. They had to have a year to adjust to college life. And I'm thinking that would be a good rule in high school these days. Not in athletics, but in all high school activities!
You need to get you drivers license so your parents don't have to change their whole day to take you to a dance that lasts two hours! And, that dance that lasts two hours? It should NOT last ALL DAY!
And if you mother and I spend more than $200 dollars for you to go to a dance? WE should have some time alone to get laid! Even if you don't, "get lucky"? You already DID! You have US for parents and we pay for your shit!
Enjoy it. We'll make you miserable latter in life. Trust me.
Dinner and a corsage v. ALL THIS SHIT!? Yeah, I know, I'm getting to the point in my life where I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror when I go to shave and say, "Dad?". But still, I think this is a bit much for a Homecoming dance.
When I wanted to go to Homecoming, or any other dance for that matter, 30+ years ago, at this very same, Murray High School, you asked a girl a couple of weeks in advance, they accepted (or not, I heard. I got turned down for all kind of other dates, but never for a dance), you ordered a corsage when she told you her dress color, and after the dance, you went out to dinner at, The Heather, The Della Fontana, or the restaurant that used to be on the top of, The Tri Arc Motel downtown and that was the end of it.
Now? Not so much.
My son and two of his soccer playing buddies are all going together, and they had to come up with unique ways of asking the girls out, a month in advance. Yard signs, covertly delivered messages to their houses in the middle of the night. What's next? Billboards, sky writing?
Then, the girls are responsible to respond in kind. My son's date responded affirmatively, but didn't put his name on whatever she delivered to him, so there was a day or two there where the conversation I heard between him and his mother left some doubt about whether or not she knew it was HIM who was asking her out!
I think for a while she though he was his friend, Jadon's, "mailman". Complicated.
As a parent, if he had asked me to drive him and his date to this dance and dinner, I would have done so. I would have had the Audi washed, too. Since he doesn't have his drivers license yet, I asked him if that's what he wanted. Nope. He and his buddies had a plan.
His two buddies come from large families. Both other families have large, SUV's, as a necessity. In my day, they would have been station wagons, or vans, but that's another blog. Anyway, they have the means to get there all together. And talking to the, "other soccer moms", I was convinced that they had worked all this out.
One mom would drive TO and the other HOME. Dinner BEFORE the dance these days and then home.
Not so fast. They have to have a day activity. Really? So now, you have to have all day transportation, buy everyone lunch, and admission to some amusement park in Draper (no, it's not Boondocks or that haunted circus thing, but I can't remember what he told me it was)? And you have convinced one of your mother's to go along with this and sacrifice her WHOLE day to drive you around? Yeah, or course, Dad. Well, sort of.
OK, here it comes.
Last night, Thursday, T-Minus less than 48 hours to this rocket ship taking off, I get informed that Soccer Mom #1 can't get off work and my son will have to take my car, drive himself and his mom (who, while blind, still has a valid Utah Drivers License so she can be the licensed adult in the car for his learners permit) and three others of his group, to the day activity, while his sister drives the other three.
"Son, have you talked to your sister about this?" Come to find out not only no, but Hell No, was her response.
Then the story changed. Soccer Mom #1 thinks I should have to share the driving, so we have to do it this way. Really? As many rides over the years I've given her kid to soccer practice, games, and meals I've fed him, I need to chip in? This does not sound right. Soccer Mom #1, (SM1 from here on out) would NEVER, in my wildest dreams, pull shit like that! She is not capable of thinking this way. But my son, and her son are.
23 years as a PO is starting to pay off. I'm connecting the dots.
I ask my wife to call SM1 last night and confirm this story. Because if it's true, the most seat belts I have in any car that I don't store at my mother's house is four. This will not get six teenagers to a dance. So I have to make arrangements to rent a seven passenger van, a limo, or get a taxi! My wife refused to do it. At 9:30 at night. It's too late. Really?
I'm so tired of being married to the most stubborn woman on earth. One of these days, I'm going to have to ask her, with the threat of ending our marriage, if she would call 911 if I shouted at her, "Debra Jo, CALL 911 NOW!" or if she would respond, "Why?" instead of, "I'm dialing, what do I tell them?" even if she can't see whats going on. She could HEAR the fight or the gun shots.
We've been together 28 years. You can't hear the gun battle I'm having with my son right now?
So, I call SM1 and tell her this whole story. I also tell her that if the problem is gas money? I'll be happy to buy some. If it's her schedule? I'll rent the van. If it's any other problem, I'll rent the van/limo/taxi, whatever it takes to let these boys go to their first high school dance, all together.
She asks me if I'm on drugs. She's been telling the boys for weeks that she has been planning on driving her big assed, SUV all day, so they can all go together, and YES, she will take them to the day activity. And YES, she will get them to dinner BEFORE, and the dance. And YES, SM2 has agreed to pick them up and take them home. And NO they knew full well I didn't have a car that could do this, so they didn't expect me to drive.
I told her, that in light of that, if she will come over and pick me up on Saturday afternoon, I would take her to Costco and buy her a tank of gas in said, SUV for her doing this. And happy to do it. God bless her. And I don't believe in God, so that's saying something.
They, it appears, also have to have an AFTER dance activity. This seems weird, but I guess I should be happy it's not what OUR after dance activity usually was. Many times involving a bottle of Annie Green Springs, a joint, and someone loosing their virginity.
They decide that they wanted to come over to my house, and light a fire in the bowl I have on the patio, and make Smoores until it's time for the girls to go home. Very wholesome, very appropriate. And I can watch their reflection on the windows while I'm watching college football late at night!
But tonight, my son, while up in his room, VIRTUALLY feet from me, sends me a message in Face Book chat instead of walking down here to talk to me and asks if I've, "cut wood" for tomorrow", meaning split some logs for his fire. And telling me they might go to a Haunted House after the dance instead, if I hadn't.
No you won't. You would stand in line for hours with your dates in dance dresses. Are you smoking crack? And by the way, what are you going to use to roast these marshmallows? And why, are you changing the plans again less than 14 hours before you pick up your dates!?
This whole first date/dance thing has been so screwed up, if he was still alive, it would be a Warren Zevon song. Or a Hunter S. Thompson short story.
Years ago, the NCAA had a rule that Freshmen, even on scholarship, could NOT play in Varsity games. They had to have a year to adjust to college life. And I'm thinking that would be a good rule in high school these days. Not in athletics, but in all high school activities!
You need to get you drivers license so your parents don't have to change their whole day to take you to a dance that lasts two hours! And, that dance that lasts two hours? It should NOT last ALL DAY!
And if you mother and I spend more than $200 dollars for you to go to a dance? WE should have some time alone to get laid! Even if you don't, "get lucky"? You already DID! You have US for parents and we pay for your shit!
Enjoy it. We'll make you miserable latter in life. Trust me.
Dinner and a corsage v. ALL THIS SHIT!? Yeah, I know, I'm getting to the point in my life where I wake up in the morning and look in the mirror when I go to shave and say, "Dad?". But still, I think this is a bit much for a Homecoming dance.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
DADT Is History. About Time!
I didn't wake up one day and DECIDE to like girls. I always liked girls. I would rather hang out with girls than guys, every time. The girls had the vagina's. And every part of me wanted to get close to one of those when I was a teenager.
I should not have to even mention breasts here. EVERY guy wants to get next to the tits. It is the forbidden fruit we all want. We can't help ourselves. And if you are a 13 year old male and you don't lust after tits? You're Gay. This is how you tell. Trust me.
So as an adult, when I got to know a lot of people while working in Law Enforcement, I got to know some Gay folks. And without an exception (well, crazy assed, Valarie was crazy. So that's ONE), they were good Cops, and good people. They didn't CHOOSE to be Gay. Any more than I CHOSE to have curly hair.
So today, I'm so happy for my friend, Rich. He can now not have to worry about his military career because he's Gay. He's a great person, was a good Cop, and served his country with aplomb and dignity.
When he transferred to the SLC office of AP&P, it was obvious to me, that he was Gay. I had better, "Gaydar" than a lot of Gay guys. I'd been working Probation/Parole for a LOT of years. You can read people. You become a human lie detector. My kids hate it. They can't lie to me.
So when I hung out with Rich, I kind of tortured him until he came clean with me. We did an extradition together to Reno, and I took him to a stripper bar. There was a really pretty, Russian stripper who really liked him and I kept paying her to hang out with him. Bought him a cigar. Got him really drunk. It was fun. Years later, he's hanging out with my friends in the back yard having a cigar and he said to me, "You knew I was Gay when we were in Reno, didn't you?" Oh, HELL YEAH. And way before that.
So I got to fuck with him for not being honest with me from the word, GO. But that's OK. I understand. But I'm so Liberal, and I thought EVERYONE knew it, that I was kind of disappointed my friend didn't pick it up.
So today, I have to say, Good On Ya! It's a great day. And I'm proud to know you, Rich and I'm proud that my country has finally gotten over this bullshit. There is still a struggle to be fought. But this is a start and it's a great day.
Republicans suck ass. And, "Christians" aren't. Keep on keeping on!
I should not have to even mention breasts here. EVERY guy wants to get next to the tits. It is the forbidden fruit we all want. We can't help ourselves. And if you are a 13 year old male and you don't lust after tits? You're Gay. This is how you tell. Trust me.
So as an adult, when I got to know a lot of people while working in Law Enforcement, I got to know some Gay folks. And without an exception (well, crazy assed, Valarie was crazy. So that's ONE), they were good Cops, and good people. They didn't CHOOSE to be Gay. Any more than I CHOSE to have curly hair.
So today, I'm so happy for my friend, Rich. He can now not have to worry about his military career because he's Gay. He's a great person, was a good Cop, and served his country with aplomb and dignity.
When he transferred to the SLC office of AP&P, it was obvious to me, that he was Gay. I had better, "Gaydar" than a lot of Gay guys. I'd been working Probation/Parole for a LOT of years. You can read people. You become a human lie detector. My kids hate it. They can't lie to me.
So when I hung out with Rich, I kind of tortured him until he came clean with me. We did an extradition together to Reno, and I took him to a stripper bar. There was a really pretty, Russian stripper who really liked him and I kept paying her to hang out with him. Bought him a cigar. Got him really drunk. It was fun. Years later, he's hanging out with my friends in the back yard having a cigar and he said to me, "You knew I was Gay when we were in Reno, didn't you?" Oh, HELL YEAH. And way before that.
So I got to fuck with him for not being honest with me from the word, GO. But that's OK. I understand. But I'm so Liberal, and I thought EVERYONE knew it, that I was kind of disappointed my friend didn't pick it up.
So today, I have to say, Good On Ya! It's a great day. And I'm proud to know you, Rich and I'm proud that my country has finally gotten over this bullshit. There is still a struggle to be fought. But this is a start and it's a great day.
Republicans suck ass. And, "Christians" aren't. Keep on keeping on!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Gordon Monson Is Kind Of An Idiot
In this morning's Trib, Gordon Monson is singing the praises of Utah football. It IS better than BYU football these days. That part he got right. But, it seems to this reader, that he's so afraid of alienating the fans of tsds that he can't really commit to what he's saying. He keeps giving compliments to the Cougars.
Hint to Monson. The fans of tsds that would DROP their subscription to your paper because you offended them already subscribe to, "The Deseret Denouncer" and don't care what you write.
To quote him, "The Utes, who prove what they can do on the field, have supplanted the Cougars, who STILL DRAW MORE FANS TO GAMES, as the states pre-eminent college football presence." Italics/emphasis mine.
Well, DUH! They have what, 17K more seats in their stadium? Ours holds about 46K. If I remember correctly, theirs holds about 63K? We COULD draw more now. But we have no place to put them. We built our stadium with Olympic money. You think the Legislature would have approved of any plan that gave Utah a BIGGER stadium than tsds? If you do, you're smoking crack.
There has been talk of expanding our stadium to 50 or 60K. I'm not sure I'm for it. The trend in sports now is smaller stadiums with more expensive seats, because every game is televised. So if you really, really WANT to be there? You gotta pay a premium for it. I don't like that, but it's how they make money. Ask anyone who had Yankee's season tickets until last year.
Of course they draw more fans with a bigger stadium. And a loyal fan base. Of drones that root for them even when they didn't actually GO to school there.
Which is the ONLY similarity they have to Notre Dame.
Think about it. You can't swing a dead cat in this country without hitting a Dallas Cowboys/Pittsburgh Steelers/Green Bay Packers fan and how many of them actually have a tie to any of those teams? I'd bet less than 10% of their fans, nation wide, have any tie to those cities. But those teams win. And everyone wants to root for a winner.
Cougars are the same way. If you're a Mormon, you're a Cougar fan. Unless you went to college at Utah. The Cougars were, "The shit" in the 80's. Now? Not so much.
So yeah, they DRAW more fans. Do they HAVE more fans? At this point, they might, still. But it won't last. They will be more, and more irrelevant to college football as things shake out with super conferences. The ACC is growing, the Big East is dying, and the Big XII is dead. And tsds is left to float on it's own.
A few years from now, you will be hard pressed to sell 63K seats in Provo. And to GET 1 seat in Rice Eccles.
Hint to Monson. The fans of tsds that would DROP their subscription to your paper because you offended them already subscribe to, "The Deseret Denouncer" and don't care what you write.
To quote him, "The Utes, who prove what they can do on the field, have supplanted the Cougars, who STILL DRAW MORE FANS TO GAMES, as the states pre-eminent college football presence." Italics/emphasis mine.
Well, DUH! They have what, 17K more seats in their stadium? Ours holds about 46K. If I remember correctly, theirs holds about 63K? We COULD draw more now. But we have no place to put them. We built our stadium with Olympic money. You think the Legislature would have approved of any plan that gave Utah a BIGGER stadium than tsds? If you do, you're smoking crack.
There has been talk of expanding our stadium to 50 or 60K. I'm not sure I'm for it. The trend in sports now is smaller stadiums with more expensive seats, because every game is televised. So if you really, really WANT to be there? You gotta pay a premium for it. I don't like that, but it's how they make money. Ask anyone who had Yankee's season tickets until last year.
Of course they draw more fans with a bigger stadium. And a loyal fan base. Of drones that root for them even when they didn't actually GO to school there.
Which is the ONLY similarity they have to Notre Dame.
Think about it. You can't swing a dead cat in this country without hitting a Dallas Cowboys/Pittsburgh Steelers/Green Bay Packers fan and how many of them actually have a tie to any of those teams? I'd bet less than 10% of their fans, nation wide, have any tie to those cities. But those teams win. And everyone wants to root for a winner.
Cougars are the same way. If you're a Mormon, you're a Cougar fan. Unless you went to college at Utah. The Cougars were, "The shit" in the 80's. Now? Not so much.
So yeah, they DRAW more fans. Do they HAVE more fans? At this point, they might, still. But it won't last. They will be more, and more irrelevant to college football as things shake out with super conferences. The ACC is growing, the Big East is dying, and the Big XII is dead. And tsds is left to float on it's own.
A few years from now, you will be hard pressed to sell 63K seats in Provo. And to GET 1 seat in Rice Eccles.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Bill Maher Is Smarter Than Me.
This afternoon, I watched Friday night's, "Real Time With Bill Maher". I DVR'D it on Friday night because I was watching college football. And he summed up the argument I've been trying to make for years now, in a way I never could.
I have to paraphrase, because I didn't write the quote down, so it's not word for word. But I think I got the gist of it.
He said that trying to get Republicans to believe science was like trying to give your dog a pill. You have to wrap in a bunch of baloney, shove it down his throat and stroke his neck and the chances are he's still going to spit it out on the linoleum.
That about sums it up. If you don't believe in climate change, you're not paying attention. If you think it's a Liberal plot, you are a clueless idiot. If you think the deficit is Obama's fault, you forgot about the two, unfunded wars Bush started and refused to pay for. If you think the economy is failing because of THIS President, you don't read books.
I hate to have to give my dog pills. But I love to shove truth down the throat of Republicans.
I have to paraphrase, because I didn't write the quote down, so it's not word for word. But I think I got the gist of it.
He said that trying to get Republicans to believe science was like trying to give your dog a pill. You have to wrap in a bunch of baloney, shove it down his throat and stroke his neck and the chances are he's still going to spit it out on the linoleum.
That about sums it up. If you don't believe in climate change, you're not paying attention. If you think it's a Liberal plot, you are a clueless idiot. If you think the deficit is Obama's fault, you forgot about the two, unfunded wars Bush started and refused to pay for. If you think the economy is failing because of THIS President, you don't read books.
I hate to have to give my dog pills. But I love to shove truth down the throat of Republicans.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
And It Wasn't THAT Close...
Wow. Totally gobsmacked by the result. I have a buddy in Las Vegas this weekend who offered to put a bet in for me, and I declined, because I had NO idea what to expect.
That being said, can we now quit playing these guys? I really don't care to see them any more. And a loss to them would hurt our standing, beating them doesn't help it. So what's the point?
That school down south is a program in trouble. They know it. They know they held their breath and stomped their feet because Utah got invited to a BCS conference and they didn't, so they went independent and it was a HUGE mistake. But since they burned their bridges with The Mountain West and took the ESPN money, they are going to have to live with it. And the ass kicking's that are going to come with it.
54-10? Really? Hope all that ESPN money takes the sting out of that. Of course, it's still half of what Utah gets by going into the PAC 12. Ouch! THAT has to sting a lot, TOO!
Note to tsds, getting into the PAC 12 had as much to do with academics as football, and you aren't in our league there, either. Never were, never will be.
Riley Nelson! How's that leaving Utah State thing working out for you? Being the second best quarterback at your school, makes you the FOURTH best quarterback in the State of Utah. Behind the kid who took your place at Utah State, a surgically repaired, Jordan Wynn and the guy starting in front of you at tsds. Your parents must be so proud. Hope you don't plan to EVER show your face in Logan again.
I was really thinking that tsds was on their way to whatever Bowl game they grovelled their way into, but not so fast. The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl might not have a LOCK on the Cougars. Utah State is not to be dismissed. And three weeks in a row later this year, tsds has to play Oregon State, Idaho State and TCU. Not to mention New Mexico State.
Now, OSU is having a down year. Losing the opener to a team who lost the next week to Southern Utah (no, I will NOT call them a UNIVERSITY. Get over it Cedar City). And getting their ass handed to them in Wisconsin. But the truth be known? They are now looking to this as a possible win. They will come after you, Cougars.
Idaho State beat Northern Colorado by like, 50 points today. So they aren't push overs.
You have no shot at all to beat TCU. Nothing else needs to be said.
And USU is no longer a push over. Yeah, I picked you to beat them on my, "pick em's" list. But that had to be in before Labor Day, and since they beat your ass last year, I figured you wouldn't let that happen in you house. But after tonight? I'm not so sure. You are NOT Auburn, even in an off year. And pure luck let Auburn beat USU AT Auburn. After watching this, it appears that YOU do not possess THAT kind of luck.
Lets talk, for a minute about New Mexico State. Perennially, one of the worst college football programs in the country. They lost to UTEP tonight. Might I remind you tsds fans about YOUR history with UTEP? And a Bagley cartoon showing an old miner shooting your tsds F16 out of the sky with his flintlock rifle in, what year was it? 1986 or 87?
They beat Minnesota last weekend. Yeah, Minnesota sucks. Went 3-9 last year, and lost at home to South Dakota. Lost to USC in the first week of THIS season. By two points.
Still thinking NMSU is a, "gimme"?
It's going to be a long, hard, ride this fall Cougar fans. And not just THIS fall. EVERY fall you are an independent. So get back on your knees, and beg the Mountain West to take you back, because that's the only place you can land.
The Big XII is history. The Big East is done since Pitt and Syracuse are defecting to the ACC (Almost Competitive Conference) and it appears it could be approved as soon as today. The PAC won't take you. The Big East is too far away. Big 10? Forget about it.
You will be the second best school to Boise State in an expanded Mountain West Conference when they take Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State next year. It's your only hope. And if the Big XII dissolves, the Mountain West might, and I say, MIGHT get it's BCS qualifying spot. The powers that be might give it to CUSA. They have better TV markets. And that's what this is all about.
And now? The Utes OWN this one.
The Cougars won't fire Bronco Mendenhall, since no one else in his right mind would want the job.
And while we're at it, I'm going to quit calling him, Bronco Mendenhall. I'm going to do what George Carlin did to, "Refrigerator Freezer" since it was too long and just call it a, "Refrigadezzer". From here on out, he'll be, "Broncohall".
They won't fire, Broncohall because he's PERFECT for the job. In that he actually WANTS it! But at some point, 44 point ass kickings will no longer be acceptable and tsds will have to do one of two things. Drop down a division, or join a conference they would rather not be in just so they can start the season playing for SOMETHING! ANYTHING but being beaten by 44 points in your alleged, "rivalry game".
The rivalry is over. You lost. Get used to it.
Rose Bowl tickets, Ute fans? Could happen.
That being said, can we now quit playing these guys? I really don't care to see them any more. And a loss to them would hurt our standing, beating them doesn't help it. So what's the point?
That school down south is a program in trouble. They know it. They know they held their breath and stomped their feet because Utah got invited to a BCS conference and they didn't, so they went independent and it was a HUGE mistake. But since they burned their bridges with The Mountain West and took the ESPN money, they are going to have to live with it. And the ass kicking's that are going to come with it.
54-10? Really? Hope all that ESPN money takes the sting out of that. Of course, it's still half of what Utah gets by going into the PAC 12. Ouch! THAT has to sting a lot, TOO!
Note to tsds, getting into the PAC 12 had as much to do with academics as football, and you aren't in our league there, either. Never were, never will be.
Riley Nelson! How's that leaving Utah State thing working out for you? Being the second best quarterback at your school, makes you the FOURTH best quarterback in the State of Utah. Behind the kid who took your place at Utah State, a surgically repaired, Jordan Wynn and the guy starting in front of you at tsds. Your parents must be so proud. Hope you don't plan to EVER show your face in Logan again.
I was really thinking that tsds was on their way to whatever Bowl game they grovelled their way into, but not so fast. The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl might not have a LOCK on the Cougars. Utah State is not to be dismissed. And three weeks in a row later this year, tsds has to play Oregon State, Idaho State and TCU. Not to mention New Mexico State.
Now, OSU is having a down year. Losing the opener to a team who lost the next week to Southern Utah (no, I will NOT call them a UNIVERSITY. Get over it Cedar City). And getting their ass handed to them in Wisconsin. But the truth be known? They are now looking to this as a possible win. They will come after you, Cougars.
Idaho State beat Northern Colorado by like, 50 points today. So they aren't push overs.
You have no shot at all to beat TCU. Nothing else needs to be said.
And USU is no longer a push over. Yeah, I picked you to beat them on my, "pick em's" list. But that had to be in before Labor Day, and since they beat your ass last year, I figured you wouldn't let that happen in you house. But after tonight? I'm not so sure. You are NOT Auburn, even in an off year. And pure luck let Auburn beat USU AT Auburn. After watching this, it appears that YOU do not possess THAT kind of luck.
Lets talk, for a minute about New Mexico State. Perennially, one of the worst college football programs in the country. They lost to UTEP tonight. Might I remind you tsds fans about YOUR history with UTEP? And a Bagley cartoon showing an old miner shooting your tsds F16 out of the sky with his flintlock rifle in, what year was it? 1986 or 87?
They beat Minnesota last weekend. Yeah, Minnesota sucks. Went 3-9 last year, and lost at home to South Dakota. Lost to USC in the first week of THIS season. By two points.
Still thinking NMSU is a, "gimme"?
It's going to be a long, hard, ride this fall Cougar fans. And not just THIS fall. EVERY fall you are an independent. So get back on your knees, and beg the Mountain West to take you back, because that's the only place you can land.
The Big XII is history. The Big East is done since Pitt and Syracuse are defecting to the ACC (Almost Competitive Conference) and it appears it could be approved as soon as today. The PAC won't take you. The Big East is too far away. Big 10? Forget about it.
You will be the second best school to Boise State in an expanded Mountain West Conference when they take Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State next year. It's your only hope. And if the Big XII dissolves, the Mountain West might, and I say, MIGHT get it's BCS qualifying spot. The powers that be might give it to CUSA. They have better TV markets. And that's what this is all about.
And now? The Utes OWN this one.
The Cougars won't fire Bronco Mendenhall, since no one else in his right mind would want the job.
And while we're at it, I'm going to quit calling him, Bronco Mendenhall. I'm going to do what George Carlin did to, "Refrigerator Freezer" since it was too long and just call it a, "Refrigadezzer". From here on out, he'll be, "Broncohall".
They won't fire, Broncohall because he's PERFECT for the job. In that he actually WANTS it! But at some point, 44 point ass kickings will no longer be acceptable and tsds will have to do one of two things. Drop down a division, or join a conference they would rather not be in just so they can start the season playing for SOMETHING! ANYTHING but being beaten by 44 points in your alleged, "rivalry game".
The rivalry is over. You lost. Get used to it.
Rose Bowl tickets, Ute fans? Could happen.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
9-11 Videos. Religion Is Evil. All Of Them.
There have been a lot of videos posted on Face Book of the 9-11-01 attacks on New York City this last week. And I've watched a few. The one I saw about the boat lift off the island that morning was very moving. I'd never seen that story before. Had no idea.
But having visited Manhattan in 2008 (I had never been there before) I was struck by the views of the lower end, where the towers were. And how much I kept remembering the phrase, "Concrete Canyon" that has been used to describe cities for ages. It's really true.
You can't see whats in the next block. Could be a Cathedral, could be a stripper bar. There is no real continuity. Well there IS in that everything goes UP instead of OUT like a mall around here, but you don't know what's on the other side of the row of buildings you're looking at until you walk over there.
Around the block. A LONG way around the block.
So I was wondering why there is such a big bru-ha-ha over some Muslim's building a Mosque a block or two from the former site of the world trade center? You can't see it from there. It's not like these religious people, wanted to purposely give NYC the finger and build it across the street from the hole in the ground that is now a memorial.
And why all the Muslim hate? It's not the entire Muslim world who attacked us. It was a group of extremists, who think that anyone who doesn't live like THEY think, THEIR God wants us to live are infidels and should be killed.
I've lived in Salt Lake City most of my life. I don't know a lot of Muslims. But, I don't know a lot of Jews either. I know a lot of folks who claim to be Christians. And they claim they are a religion of peace, too.
But, Timothy McVeigh claimed to be a Christian. So did David Koresch. So do all the folks who shoot abortion doctors and want to keep women from making their OWN health decisions because THEIR God doesn't want them to live like that. As did the Atlanta, Olympic bomber. So do all the Priests that abused young boys, claim to be Christians, and that's done a lot of damage to peoples lives.
But when the current President shows up to make a speech, the, Teabaggers all show up wearing guns. Like they are afraid someone named Obama is going to take away their rights.
You don't see that group, armed, outside of the Republican debates. And THOSE folks in the debates are beating each other up to prove how, Christian they are!
The tenth anniversary of 9-11 just got me thinking, there are not a lot of Muslim's in this country and folks who claim to be of THAT religion attacked us once.
We've seen numerous terrorist attacks in this country by, Christians. No one is trying to stamp them out.
Hypocrisy, they name is, Teabagger.
So is the problem Liberalism? Is it well educated people who believe in science who attack our country and shoot doctors in their churches?
Or is it religion? Any and all religion, that inspires people to do very, unchristian things to each other in the name of it? Like Crucifixion, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the, "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the 9-11 attack, the shooting of doctors, the list is endless.
My money's on religion as the cause of all problems.
But not all Christians are bad. Just a small minority, or radical ones who will kill you if you don't believe EXACTLY like they do. I mean, I don't think ALL Baptists are going to shoot a doctor. I don't think ALL Christians will blow up a Federal Building with a day care center in it. But it could happen.
We should start tapping the phones of anyone with a mini-van, a crew cut and a polyester suit, who doesn't drink and buys too much ammunition. Oh, wait, that would put Mormons on the, "Watch List" too!
No one here in this state will get the irony. I know, I'm wasting my time. But I gotta put it out there. Even if they don't get the joke. I can't help myself.
But having visited Manhattan in 2008 (I had never been there before) I was struck by the views of the lower end, where the towers were. And how much I kept remembering the phrase, "Concrete Canyon" that has been used to describe cities for ages. It's really true.
You can't see whats in the next block. Could be a Cathedral, could be a stripper bar. There is no real continuity. Well there IS in that everything goes UP instead of OUT like a mall around here, but you don't know what's on the other side of the row of buildings you're looking at until you walk over there.
Around the block. A LONG way around the block.
So I was wondering why there is such a big bru-ha-ha over some Muslim's building a Mosque a block or two from the former site of the world trade center? You can't see it from there. It's not like these religious people, wanted to purposely give NYC the finger and build it across the street from the hole in the ground that is now a memorial.
And why all the Muslim hate? It's not the entire Muslim world who attacked us. It was a group of extremists, who think that anyone who doesn't live like THEY think, THEIR God wants us to live are infidels and should be killed.
I've lived in Salt Lake City most of my life. I don't know a lot of Muslims. But, I don't know a lot of Jews either. I know a lot of folks who claim to be Christians. And they claim they are a religion of peace, too.
But, Timothy McVeigh claimed to be a Christian. So did David Koresch. So do all the folks who shoot abortion doctors and want to keep women from making their OWN health decisions because THEIR God doesn't want them to live like that. As did the Atlanta, Olympic bomber. So do all the Priests that abused young boys, claim to be Christians, and that's done a lot of damage to peoples lives.
But when the current President shows up to make a speech, the, Teabaggers all show up wearing guns. Like they are afraid someone named Obama is going to take away their rights.
You don't see that group, armed, outside of the Republican debates. And THOSE folks in the debates are beating each other up to prove how, Christian they are!
The tenth anniversary of 9-11 just got me thinking, there are not a lot of Muslim's in this country and folks who claim to be of THAT religion attacked us once.
We've seen numerous terrorist attacks in this country by, Christians. No one is trying to stamp them out.
Hypocrisy, they name is, Teabagger.
So is the problem Liberalism? Is it well educated people who believe in science who attack our country and shoot doctors in their churches?
Or is it religion? Any and all religion, that inspires people to do very, unchristian things to each other in the name of it? Like Crucifixion, the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, the, "Troubles" in Northern Ireland, the 9-11 attack, the shooting of doctors, the list is endless.
My money's on religion as the cause of all problems.
But not all Christians are bad. Just a small minority, or radical ones who will kill you if you don't believe EXACTLY like they do. I mean, I don't think ALL Baptists are going to shoot a doctor. I don't think ALL Christians will blow up a Federal Building with a day care center in it. But it could happen.
We should start tapping the phones of anyone with a mini-van, a crew cut and a polyester suit, who doesn't drink and buys too much ammunition. Oh, wait, that would put Mormons on the, "Watch List" too!
No one here in this state will get the irony. I know, I'm wasting my time. But I gotta put it out there. Even if they don't get the joke. I can't help myself.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Hate Crimes Laws
It's pretty apparent that there is an organized group, or gang, or just a few friends, who are out assaulting Gay folks in Salt Lake City. There was another incident in American Fork the other night. Might be a stretch to connect them, but it shows a pattern.
We here in Utah are not very tolerant of other points of view, other lifestyles, religions, races or even political views. Kids have been kept off soccer teams because they weren't, "A member" according to one of the, "other soccer moms" I was talking to last night at my son's game.
I'm pretty sure that if you're reading this, you know I don't think being Gay is a, "Lifestyle". It's not a choice. I never choose the, "Hetero Lifestyle". It was, well, Gods will for me?
Being poor is not a choice. Who would choose that? Being Black is not a choice. Or Arab or Asian. And I would argue that for most folks, being Jewish, or Mormon, or Catholic, or Baptist is NOT a choice. Not for YOU. You're parents made that choice and you had to live with it. At least until you could afford to move out of your parents home.
I'm an Atheist. I made that choice. Because after thinking I wanted to be a Presbyterian Minister when I was a teenager, I went to college and learned HOW to think, instead of WHAT to think, and ended up a cynical, Probation/Parole Agent. And knowing HOW to think served me well.
I'm not a lawyer. I have no law degree. I'm not a Constitutional Scholar. I have a BS Degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in Criminology and Corrections and a Minor in Psychology. And 23 years experience in law enforcement.
I'm a Liberal. I'm a Democrat. And I'm going to tell you a couple of things about me that you won't think are congruent with those statements. I think hate crime laws are wrong, and I support the death penalty. And I'll tell you why.
Lets deal with the death penalty first. If you kill someone, society should kill you back. That's only fair. You took a life? You don't deserve to live. I'm not talking about by accident. I mean, if you shoot a Cop to keep from going to jail, or shoot your ex-wife because you don't want to pay your bills, you should get killed by society. It just proves we have one. And we're serious about you listening to the rules.
If you drink and drive, you deserve to go to jail. At least on the second offense. Any one can screw up once. If you steal from someone, same deal. You get one chance to prove you won't do it again, and if you do? You are going to get locked up.
Killing someone has no, "do overs". You can't offer your life as restitution. Only as the ultimate fine payment.
Now lets talk about hate crimes. And the Constitution.
Hate crimes are wrong. They are evil. We as Americans should be above this behavior! Whether its about religion, race, sexual orientation, politics, college football, or as proven this summer, MLB or NFL teams.
I'd like to include, "Creed" in this, because you always hear, "race, religion or creed". But creed, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, means, "A statement of the essential articles of a religious belief" and I think we have covered THAT.
Doing something to someone because you don't like what they are, Gay, religious, not religious, not YOUR religion, not your race, not your political affiliation is stupid. It's anti American! It's everything that we should hate in this country. It is wrong on EVERY level! I despise the concept of hate crime. The fact that it happens in this country lessens us, as a people.
That being said. I think the laws are Unconstitutional.
Have you ever heard the statement, "Your right to swing your fist, ends at MY nose!"? Well, it does. As long as you don't do something that hurts me, you're free to do it. Except smoke pot, I guess.
AND, and here's the key, you're free to THINK whatever you want to think in this country. You can be crazy enough to think there is no man made global climate change. You are free to think that there is an imaginary friend in the sky who planned the whole world and made it happen and evolution is, "just a theory that is out there" like, Rick Perry.
You can THINK there was no, Holocaust, even if you're wrong. You can THINK being Gay is a lifestyle, even though you're wrong. You can THINK that your imaginary friend in the sky gave, Joe Smith some gold plates and then took them back to heaven before anyone else saw them, even though your gullible as hell.
THINKING dumb stuff is NOT illegal. It's crazy, but it's not illegal. You can THINK anything you can possibly, THINK in this country and be Constitutionally protected. You can even publish your gibberish, and not face legal sanctions. So think what ever you want. THAT should not put you in jail. But it should get you put in a mental hospital sometimes. We can argue about when.
But WHAT you were thinking WHEN you committed a crime? That is totally irrelevant.
Committing the crime, IS the crime. If I punch you in the nose, in Utah, that's a Misdemeanor Assault. Should it be a Felony if I did it because of your religion, race or sexual orientation? No. I punched you in the nose. Does it really matter why? I think not.
Hate crimes criminalize thought. And as much as some thought is wrong and evil and crazy? It's JUST thought. Acting on that thought is the crime.
Punching you in the nose because you came to Utah to cheer for your college football team should not be treated any less serious than punching you in the nose because your Jewish. It's still a punch in the nose. And it shouldn't be teated any more severely, either.
So I hope they catch this group of Gay Bashers that's out in SLC lately. And some of the assault's seem to me, as an ex-Cop to rise to the level of, Aggravated Assault, and punish them accordingly. I'm pretty sure that punishment will be enough.
We here in Utah are not very tolerant of other points of view, other lifestyles, religions, races or even political views. Kids have been kept off soccer teams because they weren't, "A member" according to one of the, "other soccer moms" I was talking to last night at my son's game.
I'm pretty sure that if you're reading this, you know I don't think being Gay is a, "Lifestyle". It's not a choice. I never choose the, "Hetero Lifestyle". It was, well, Gods will for me?
Being poor is not a choice. Who would choose that? Being Black is not a choice. Or Arab or Asian. And I would argue that for most folks, being Jewish, or Mormon, or Catholic, or Baptist is NOT a choice. Not for YOU. You're parents made that choice and you had to live with it. At least until you could afford to move out of your parents home.
I'm an Atheist. I made that choice. Because after thinking I wanted to be a Presbyterian Minister when I was a teenager, I went to college and learned HOW to think, instead of WHAT to think, and ended up a cynical, Probation/Parole Agent. And knowing HOW to think served me well.
I'm not a lawyer. I have no law degree. I'm not a Constitutional Scholar. I have a BS Degree in Sociology, with an emphasis in Criminology and Corrections and a Minor in Psychology. And 23 years experience in law enforcement.
I'm a Liberal. I'm a Democrat. And I'm going to tell you a couple of things about me that you won't think are congruent with those statements. I think hate crime laws are wrong, and I support the death penalty. And I'll tell you why.
Lets deal with the death penalty first. If you kill someone, society should kill you back. That's only fair. You took a life? You don't deserve to live. I'm not talking about by accident. I mean, if you shoot a Cop to keep from going to jail, or shoot your ex-wife because you don't want to pay your bills, you should get killed by society. It just proves we have one. And we're serious about you listening to the rules.
If you drink and drive, you deserve to go to jail. At least on the second offense. Any one can screw up once. If you steal from someone, same deal. You get one chance to prove you won't do it again, and if you do? You are going to get locked up.
Killing someone has no, "do overs". You can't offer your life as restitution. Only as the ultimate fine payment.
Now lets talk about hate crimes. And the Constitution.
Hate crimes are wrong. They are evil. We as Americans should be above this behavior! Whether its about religion, race, sexual orientation, politics, college football, or as proven this summer, MLB or NFL teams.
I'd like to include, "Creed" in this, because you always hear, "race, religion or creed". But creed, according to The American Heritage Dictionary, means, "A statement of the essential articles of a religious belief" and I think we have covered THAT.
Doing something to someone because you don't like what they are, Gay, religious, not religious, not YOUR religion, not your race, not your political affiliation is stupid. It's anti American! It's everything that we should hate in this country. It is wrong on EVERY level! I despise the concept of hate crime. The fact that it happens in this country lessens us, as a people.
That being said. I think the laws are Unconstitutional.
Have you ever heard the statement, "Your right to swing your fist, ends at MY nose!"? Well, it does. As long as you don't do something that hurts me, you're free to do it. Except smoke pot, I guess.
AND, and here's the key, you're free to THINK whatever you want to think in this country. You can be crazy enough to think there is no man made global climate change. You are free to think that there is an imaginary friend in the sky who planned the whole world and made it happen and evolution is, "just a theory that is out there" like, Rick Perry.
You can THINK there was no, Holocaust, even if you're wrong. You can THINK being Gay is a lifestyle, even though you're wrong. You can THINK that your imaginary friend in the sky gave, Joe Smith some gold plates and then took them back to heaven before anyone else saw them, even though your gullible as hell.
THINKING dumb stuff is NOT illegal. It's crazy, but it's not illegal. You can THINK anything you can possibly, THINK in this country and be Constitutionally protected. You can even publish your gibberish, and not face legal sanctions. So think what ever you want. THAT should not put you in jail. But it should get you put in a mental hospital sometimes. We can argue about when.
But WHAT you were thinking WHEN you committed a crime? That is totally irrelevant.
Committing the crime, IS the crime. If I punch you in the nose, in Utah, that's a Misdemeanor Assault. Should it be a Felony if I did it because of your religion, race or sexual orientation? No. I punched you in the nose. Does it really matter why? I think not.
Hate crimes criminalize thought. And as much as some thought is wrong and evil and crazy? It's JUST thought. Acting on that thought is the crime.
Punching you in the nose because you came to Utah to cheer for your college football team should not be treated any less serious than punching you in the nose because your Jewish. It's still a punch in the nose. And it shouldn't be teated any more severely, either.
So I hope they catch this group of Gay Bashers that's out in SLC lately. And some of the assault's seem to me, as an ex-Cop to rise to the level of, Aggravated Assault, and punish them accordingly. I'm pretty sure that punishment will be enough.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Put A Fork In The Big 12. All Nine Teams? Yeah.
The Big 12 is dead, and Texas killed it. The final shot to the head, was, "The Longhorn Network". Texas A&M has had SO enough of their rival, that they don't even want to be in the same conference with them! They are going to the SEC. But wait. The SEC won't take them if any other B12 teams are still thinking about suing? And who's going to do that?
Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. The schools no one else wants. Missouri has the St. Louis and Kansas City markets, so they are, as bad as they are, going to get a pass and get invited to the Big East. The WORST conference with an automatic BCS qualification. Slightly behind the ACC. Neither of which could compete in the Mountain West.
In Missouri's favor, though. They haven't lost to Troy State this year. Yet.
Baylor, the right wing, Baptist school, who didn't allow dancing on campus until sometime around 1996, is willing to turn to Trial Lawyers to attempt to stay in a conference that matters. Oh, the irony. And it's in Texas! Irony, cubed.
Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State are in trouble. Even ESPN, which is getting rich on this Bullshit Championship Series stuff, and keeping any talk of a playoff, off their shows is saying that the, "Big Least" could take the Kansas schools and, "might at a later date, consider adding Iowa State." That has got to scare the one third of the folks in Iowa who give a shit. No one else in the country cares. Really. No one cares.
T. Boone Pickens, interviewed on tonight's Oklahoma State drubbing of Arizona on ESPN was saying that no matter what happens to Oklahoma, they are tied together with Oklahoma State and those two schools will move together. Because, his words, "Oklahoma is a small state, and it doesn't make any sense to split up the best thing we've got going." Well, if you live in Stillwater, you better hope he's right.
I know how rich this guy is, he said he gave OSU something like $300 Million. I understand how much clout he has in Oklahoma. I get it. But as late as yesterday, Oklahoma coach, Bob Stoops was willing to give Texas the kiss of death, saying they would move even if Texas didn't and he didn't care if they played again, because it wouldn't affect recruiting in Texas.
Oklahoma v. Texas is a Much bigger deal than Oklahoma v. OSU! Boone said it himself, "Oklahoma is a small state" and he's right.
The Red River Shoot Out is a national, network, TV game EVERY year. Even when one or both of the teams is having a down year. OU v. OSU? No.
So, this is my fearless prediction for how this is going to shake out. Oklahoma, OSU, Texas and Texas Tech to the PAC (16). A&M gets it's wish to go to the SEC, who will then raid the ACC for three other teams. Even though Virginia Tech rules the ACC right now, they will see the writing on the wall, and they and their Washington DC, metro area TV market, will grudgingly, move to the SEC. That MIGHT make the SEC take West Virginia or Pitt instead of another mediocre ACC team. The ACC will take what it can from the Big East to make up for it. Louisville, probably. South Florida? Nope.
Connecticut? You are lucky to be where you are, and are going no where fast.
So this having fallen into place, the Big "Least" will be forced to expand it's football footprint. No, Notre Dame isn't interested. So, Missouri and maybe the Kansas schools.
And they will have to kick Notre Dame's other sports out. The Gold Domers are going to be scheduling EVERY sport as an independent unless they can find a way to convince the Big 10 to take them. And I'm not sure they want to go that way. They like being a big deal in football as an independent.
But the thing is, they aren't that big any more. And they need a place for all their other sports to land. The Big East is a possibility, but I think, THEY think, they are too good to play football there. Yeah, if it was 1972 you are. Now? Not so much.
All this stuff makes Nebraska, Colorado and Utah look like the winners in this, because they all moved before it got ugly. Now it's going to get ugly. And I can't wait to see it!
As someone who's school proved it belonged in the BCS ages ago, (remember, "BCS Busting? We INVENTED it!") with ass kickings of Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl (worst Bowl Game atmosphere EVER!) and the total embarrassment and dismantling of Alabama, in their OWN back yard of New Orleans (BEST Bowl Game atmosphere, ever. Oh, wait. That was just New Orleans being, New Orleans!). I don't feel too sorry for guys like Baylor and Iowa State or anyone from Kansas. You cooked up this little deal. And now, like the bad meth lab it was, it's about to blow up in your face. Live with it.
Can't wait to watch the Utes play the Trojans this Saturday. Win or lose, my school is in a GREAT place for it's athletic programs. Now. How you feelin' Kansas? Oh, never mind. I don't really care.
Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. The schools no one else wants. Missouri has the St. Louis and Kansas City markets, so they are, as bad as they are, going to get a pass and get invited to the Big East. The WORST conference with an automatic BCS qualification. Slightly behind the ACC. Neither of which could compete in the Mountain West.
In Missouri's favor, though. They haven't lost to Troy State this year. Yet.
Baylor, the right wing, Baptist school, who didn't allow dancing on campus until sometime around 1996, is willing to turn to Trial Lawyers to attempt to stay in a conference that matters. Oh, the irony. And it's in Texas! Irony, cubed.
Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State are in trouble. Even ESPN, which is getting rich on this Bullshit Championship Series stuff, and keeping any talk of a playoff, off their shows is saying that the, "Big Least" could take the Kansas schools and, "might at a later date, consider adding Iowa State." That has got to scare the one third of the folks in Iowa who give a shit. No one else in the country cares. Really. No one cares.
T. Boone Pickens, interviewed on tonight's Oklahoma State drubbing of Arizona on ESPN was saying that no matter what happens to Oklahoma, they are tied together with Oklahoma State and those two schools will move together. Because, his words, "Oklahoma is a small state, and it doesn't make any sense to split up the best thing we've got going." Well, if you live in Stillwater, you better hope he's right.
I know how rich this guy is, he said he gave OSU something like $300 Million. I understand how much clout he has in Oklahoma. I get it. But as late as yesterday, Oklahoma coach, Bob Stoops was willing to give Texas the kiss of death, saying they would move even if Texas didn't and he didn't care if they played again, because it wouldn't affect recruiting in Texas.
Oklahoma v. Texas is a Much bigger deal than Oklahoma v. OSU! Boone said it himself, "Oklahoma is a small state" and he's right.
The Red River Shoot Out is a national, network, TV game EVERY year. Even when one or both of the teams is having a down year. OU v. OSU? No.
So, this is my fearless prediction for how this is going to shake out. Oklahoma, OSU, Texas and Texas Tech to the PAC (16). A&M gets it's wish to go to the SEC, who will then raid the ACC for three other teams. Even though Virginia Tech rules the ACC right now, they will see the writing on the wall, and they and their Washington DC, metro area TV market, will grudgingly, move to the SEC. That MIGHT make the SEC take West Virginia or Pitt instead of another mediocre ACC team. The ACC will take what it can from the Big East to make up for it. Louisville, probably. South Florida? Nope.
Connecticut? You are lucky to be where you are, and are going no where fast.
So this having fallen into place, the Big "Least" will be forced to expand it's football footprint. No, Notre Dame isn't interested. So, Missouri and maybe the Kansas schools.
And they will have to kick Notre Dame's other sports out. The Gold Domers are going to be scheduling EVERY sport as an independent unless they can find a way to convince the Big 10 to take them. And I'm not sure they want to go that way. They like being a big deal in football as an independent.
But the thing is, they aren't that big any more. And they need a place for all their other sports to land. The Big East is a possibility, but I think, THEY think, they are too good to play football there. Yeah, if it was 1972 you are. Now? Not so much.
All this stuff makes Nebraska, Colorado and Utah look like the winners in this, because they all moved before it got ugly. Now it's going to get ugly. And I can't wait to see it!
As someone who's school proved it belonged in the BCS ages ago, (remember, "BCS Busting? We INVENTED it!") with ass kickings of Pitt in the Fiesta Bowl (worst Bowl Game atmosphere EVER!) and the total embarrassment and dismantling of Alabama, in their OWN back yard of New Orleans (BEST Bowl Game atmosphere, ever. Oh, wait. That was just New Orleans being, New Orleans!). I don't feel too sorry for guys like Baylor and Iowa State or anyone from Kansas. You cooked up this little deal. And now, like the bad meth lab it was, it's about to blow up in your face. Live with it.
Can't wait to watch the Utes play the Trojans this Saturday. Win or lose, my school is in a GREAT place for it's athletic programs. Now. How you feelin' Kansas? Oh, never mind. I don't really care.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Celebrate Labor day If...
If you work for a living, and you get a pay check every week and you don't have to work every day for it you're pro Union. Because the American Labor Movement are the folks that brought you, "The Weekend".
If you work for a living, and your CHILDREN DON'T until they are no longer children, you're pro Union. Because the Labor Movement put an end to child labor.
If you work in a dangerous job like coal mining or law enforcement and your employer had to buy your safety equipment and bullet proof vest and has to pay to have you inoculated against Hepatitis, you're pro Union. Because without Labor Unions, they would have told you that if you want that shit? Go buy it yourself.
If you make minimum wage and you're glad to have it. You're pro Union. Because without the Unions and their support for Democrats, you would get paid what ever the Koch Brothers thought they could get away with.
If you've ever been hurt on the job and been paid while you recover, you're pro Union. Because without the Unions, you'd have been sent home to get better on your own, with no health insurance and when you did get better? Someone else might have your job.
If you like all the safety features that keep you from falling out of your forklift or bucket truck, or make sure the floors aren't slippery in your slaughter house or gas station where you work, you're pro Union. Because without Unions, none of that shit would be done VOLUNTARILY by your employer.
If you have EVER taken a PAID Holiday, and been glad to have it, you are pro Union. Because business men think Christmas is a, "Poor excuse for picking a mans pocket once a year". Ask Charles Dickens. And he's MUCH older than the AFL/CIO.
If you like guns, like I do, you're pro Union. Because a guy in The Machinists Union made yours. And mine, too.
If you like American, German or Japanese cars, you're pro Union. Because a Union member made yours. Guilds were started in Germany and they still exist. The Japanese have unions. And despite the best efforts of the Republicans, we still have the Auto Workers Union in this country.
But since we don't have a national health care plan like they do in Germany, or Japan, or Canada, our Unions can't build my Audi or even my, Camaro. The Camaro is made in Canada! How fucked up is that, America? OUR muscle car is made in Canada. By Union workers.
If you work for a city, county, state or the Federal government, you're pro Union. Because if you're not? You'd be working for $9 a hour because that's what politicians think the top end of the salary scale should be for you. According to a Utah Legislator from Cache County in the 90's when we were trying to get an increase in pay for Prison Officers.
If you like the fact that we have prisons and police officers and fire fighters and paramedics who respond when you call, you're pro Union. Because if it were NOT for collective bargaining agreements in OTHER states that insure a living wage and safe working conditions for them, because they have to be competitive here, no one would take that job in Utah!
And if you like the fact that you don't have to PAY for a private school. And that you have a choice to NOT send your kid to some private, Charter/LDS (and in this state, don't kid yourself, they are the SAME THING) school? YOU are PRO UNION! Because if it were not for the Teachers Union, you would have the Ogden School District. Which last week named a Lawyer to run it. He has no education in Education, but he's connected, and they are trying to destroy their Teachers Union, so he's the right guy.
Every time you fasten a seat belt? You're pro Union. If it's at work.
Every time you punch in your time card, and the clock reads the right time? You're pro Union.
Now, that being said. If you collect a pay check and work for an hourly wage and you're a Republican? You're an idiot.
If you work for a living, you're a Democrat. Because you're pro Union.
If you vote based on abortion or gun control and vote for Republicans? You're a moron. Because neither of those issues is going to change. But your economic self interest is. And only the Democrats have it in THERE interest.
Lets face it. The Republicans have controlled the the Congress, the Senate, the Presidency and the Supreme Court for MOST of the time since the Row V. Wade decision in 1973. Have they changed it? Of course not! They need the issue to be there, so they can keep promising they WILL change it, so you vote for them. Bullshit. They have been fooling you for ages.
But if you vote on THAT, or gun control? They get your vote and keep dismantling Labor Law! The rich get richer, and the poor keep supporting them in it! Bonus, Koch Brothers!
So this Labor Day, lets celebrate, Labor! The working man/woman! Unions! All the things that kept this country from becoming Soviet Russia, with a few people in charge of the means of production, and the political system.
Oh, wait. Too late. We have that here, now! And it's NOT the fault of the scary Black President! It's the fault of the rich white guys!
Happy Labor Day. To all you smart people who get it.
If you work for a living, and your CHILDREN DON'T until they are no longer children, you're pro Union. Because the Labor Movement put an end to child labor.
If you work in a dangerous job like coal mining or law enforcement and your employer had to buy your safety equipment and bullet proof vest and has to pay to have you inoculated against Hepatitis, you're pro Union. Because without Labor Unions, they would have told you that if you want that shit? Go buy it yourself.
If you make minimum wage and you're glad to have it. You're pro Union. Because without the Unions and their support for Democrats, you would get paid what ever the Koch Brothers thought they could get away with.
If you've ever been hurt on the job and been paid while you recover, you're pro Union. Because without the Unions, you'd have been sent home to get better on your own, with no health insurance and when you did get better? Someone else might have your job.
If you like all the safety features that keep you from falling out of your forklift or bucket truck, or make sure the floors aren't slippery in your slaughter house or gas station where you work, you're pro Union. Because without Unions, none of that shit would be done VOLUNTARILY by your employer.
If you have EVER taken a PAID Holiday, and been glad to have it, you are pro Union. Because business men think Christmas is a, "Poor excuse for picking a mans pocket once a year". Ask Charles Dickens. And he's MUCH older than the AFL/CIO.
If you like guns, like I do, you're pro Union. Because a guy in The Machinists Union made yours. And mine, too.
If you like American, German or Japanese cars, you're pro Union. Because a Union member made yours. Guilds were started in Germany and they still exist. The Japanese have unions. And despite the best efforts of the Republicans, we still have the Auto Workers Union in this country.
But since we don't have a national health care plan like they do in Germany, or Japan, or Canada, our Unions can't build my Audi or even my, Camaro. The Camaro is made in Canada! How fucked up is that, America? OUR muscle car is made in Canada. By Union workers.
If you work for a city, county, state or the Federal government, you're pro Union. Because if you're not? You'd be working for $9 a hour because that's what politicians think the top end of the salary scale should be for you. According to a Utah Legislator from Cache County in the 90's when we were trying to get an increase in pay for Prison Officers.
If you like the fact that we have prisons and police officers and fire fighters and paramedics who respond when you call, you're pro Union. Because if it were NOT for collective bargaining agreements in OTHER states that insure a living wage and safe working conditions for them, because they have to be competitive here, no one would take that job in Utah!
And if you like the fact that you don't have to PAY for a private school. And that you have a choice to NOT send your kid to some private, Charter/LDS (and in this state, don't kid yourself, they are the SAME THING) school? YOU are PRO UNION! Because if it were not for the Teachers Union, you would have the Ogden School District. Which last week named a Lawyer to run it. He has no education in Education, but he's connected, and they are trying to destroy their Teachers Union, so he's the right guy.
Every time you fasten a seat belt? You're pro Union. If it's at work.
Every time you punch in your time card, and the clock reads the right time? You're pro Union.
Now, that being said. If you collect a pay check and work for an hourly wage and you're a Republican? You're an idiot.
If you work for a living, you're a Democrat. Because you're pro Union.
If you vote based on abortion or gun control and vote for Republicans? You're a moron. Because neither of those issues is going to change. But your economic self interest is. And only the Democrats have it in THERE interest.
Lets face it. The Republicans have controlled the the Congress, the Senate, the Presidency and the Supreme Court for MOST of the time since the Row V. Wade decision in 1973. Have they changed it? Of course not! They need the issue to be there, so they can keep promising they WILL change it, so you vote for them. Bullshit. They have been fooling you for ages.
But if you vote on THAT, or gun control? They get your vote and keep dismantling Labor Law! The rich get richer, and the poor keep supporting them in it! Bonus, Koch Brothers!
So this Labor Day, lets celebrate, Labor! The working man/woman! Unions! All the things that kept this country from becoming Soviet Russia, with a few people in charge of the means of production, and the political system.
Oh, wait. Too late. We have that here, now! And it's NOT the fault of the scary Black President! It's the fault of the rich white guys!
Happy Labor Day. To all you smart people who get it.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Openning Weekend In College Football. Utes To Play In The, "Pac Prairie League" Next Year?
Kentucky losses to Western Kentucky, Georgia losses to Boise State, Ole Miss losses to BYU, and Auburn, the defending, "National Champion" escapes with it's life by having to stage a heck of a comeback in the last two minutes to beat Utah State. I've said it before, and I'll say again. The SEC is NOT the toughest conference in the country.
And, neither it appears, is the PAC 12 (soon to be the Pac Prairie League?). Oregon losses to LSU, Colorado losses to Hawaii, and Utah escapes with it's life beating Big Sky, Montana State while not being able to roll up 200 yards of offense, and mighty USC beats Minnesota by two points! Last year Minnesota went 3-9 and lost, at home, to South Dakota State. But those are all acceptable, first game of the year, screw ups. Oregon State, losing to Sacramento State, AT HOME, is not. And Oregon State should not win another PAC 12 game all year.
And speaking of our new league, were you paying attention to the crawl at the bottom of the screen on ESPN today? Looks like Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are thinking about joining now. Makes sense form a TV and recruiting standpoint. But it's not going to be good for us.
Don't get me wrong, we absolutely made the right choice to accept the invitation, and it's where we need to be. But enjoy your trips to the coast this year, Ute Fans, because if those schools sign on to make it a 16 team league, Utah and Colorado will join Arizona, Arizona State and the four new editions to form the Inland Division and the original 8 teams will be the Pacific Division, so that the current Northern Division teams, who are not happy with the new divisions, can go back to the California recruiting markets every year, again. Mark my words. We'll be lucky to get to LA for a game every few years.
So, start making plans to visit Norman, and Stillwater, Oklahoma (I'm pretty good at geography, but I have NO idea where, Stillwater, Oklahoma is) and Austin and Lubbock, Texas. And say goodbye to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Great Northwest.
It won't be too bad for me. My wife and I like Texas music, and have always thought that a trip to Austin to spend a few nights in, The Continental Club and, The Broken Spoke to hear some of our favorite bands would be fun. Now I'd have an excuse.
As for Lubbock? All I know is what Nancy Griffith said in one of her songs, about her grandmother, years ago. "She grew up close to Lubbock. But not too close. Nobody wants to be TOO close to Lubbock." I'll take Nancy's word for it.
But I've never had ANY desire to go to Oklahoma. With apology's to all the nice folks who live there, I really can't name a single tourist attraction I have longed to see in Oklahoma.
But I did meet a guy who was an OU alumni at a Jimmy Buffett concert in Las Vegas a few years ago who was as obnoxious about his college football team as I'm sure, some think I am, about mine. So I will have to say that I might very well agree with the folks in Texas who wear those shirts that say, "You can't spell cocksucker without OU!"
I just hope that if the teams do get together, the PAC is smart enough to make Texas agree that they don't have EXCLUSIVE rights to show their games. I don't want to have to pay for the, "privilege" of buying, The Longhorn Network.
This is going to be an interesting couple of months between here and the Bowl Season. Rivalry's will be dissolved, new ones created, and I might have to go figure out just exactly what a, "Red Raider" is.
Oh, I almost forgot. Duke got beat by University of Richmond today. Well, that's not a surprise. I've always said they don't PLAY football in the ACC. This just proves it.
And, neither it appears, is the PAC 12 (soon to be the Pac Prairie League?). Oregon losses to LSU, Colorado losses to Hawaii, and Utah escapes with it's life beating Big Sky, Montana State while not being able to roll up 200 yards of offense, and mighty USC beats Minnesota by two points! Last year Minnesota went 3-9 and lost, at home, to South Dakota State. But those are all acceptable, first game of the year, screw ups. Oregon State, losing to Sacramento State, AT HOME, is not. And Oregon State should not win another PAC 12 game all year.
And speaking of our new league, were you paying attention to the crawl at the bottom of the screen on ESPN today? Looks like Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are thinking about joining now. Makes sense form a TV and recruiting standpoint. But it's not going to be good for us.
Don't get me wrong, we absolutely made the right choice to accept the invitation, and it's where we need to be. But enjoy your trips to the coast this year, Ute Fans, because if those schools sign on to make it a 16 team league, Utah and Colorado will join Arizona, Arizona State and the four new editions to form the Inland Division and the original 8 teams will be the Pacific Division, so that the current Northern Division teams, who are not happy with the new divisions, can go back to the California recruiting markets every year, again. Mark my words. We'll be lucky to get to LA for a game every few years.
So, start making plans to visit Norman, and Stillwater, Oklahoma (I'm pretty good at geography, but I have NO idea where, Stillwater, Oklahoma is) and Austin and Lubbock, Texas. And say goodbye to Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Great Northwest.
It won't be too bad for me. My wife and I like Texas music, and have always thought that a trip to Austin to spend a few nights in, The Continental Club and, The Broken Spoke to hear some of our favorite bands would be fun. Now I'd have an excuse.
As for Lubbock? All I know is what Nancy Griffith said in one of her songs, about her grandmother, years ago. "She grew up close to Lubbock. But not too close. Nobody wants to be TOO close to Lubbock." I'll take Nancy's word for it.
But I've never had ANY desire to go to Oklahoma. With apology's to all the nice folks who live there, I really can't name a single tourist attraction I have longed to see in Oklahoma.
But I did meet a guy who was an OU alumni at a Jimmy Buffett concert in Las Vegas a few years ago who was as obnoxious about his college football team as I'm sure, some think I am, about mine. So I will have to say that I might very well agree with the folks in Texas who wear those shirts that say, "You can't spell cocksucker without OU!"
I just hope that if the teams do get together, the PAC is smart enough to make Texas agree that they don't have EXCLUSIVE rights to show their games. I don't want to have to pay for the, "privilege" of buying, The Longhorn Network.
This is going to be an interesting couple of months between here and the Bowl Season. Rivalry's will be dissolved, new ones created, and I might have to go figure out just exactly what a, "Red Raider" is.
Oh, I almost forgot. Duke got beat by University of Richmond today. Well, that's not a surprise. I've always said they don't PLAY football in the ACC. This just proves it.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
The Big XII Is Officially Dead. And The University Of Texas Killed it.
Texas A&M announced today that it's going to apply to another conference and if accepted, plans to leave the Big 12 in June of next year. Notice they didn't say they were going to LEAVE the Big 12, and hope to get ACCEPTED into another conference before June of next year. It's a threat right now, not a promise. So don't hold your breath, BYU. You're not going any where just yet. As a matter of fact, for the foreseeable future you will continue to go nowhere, fast.
Texas A&M is pitching the same fit that BYU did last year when Utah was invited to the new PAC 12 and they were left off the invitation list. But A&M is smart enough to not burn the bridge they MIGHT cross, before everything is said and done.
A&M is fed up with Texas. And so is the rest of the Big 12. Those bastards wouldn't commit to a Big 12 network, they started their OWN network. The Longhorn Network. So they can show high school football games of guys they want to recruit, and they don't have to share ANY of the money with the rest of the Big 12. Pretty smart. But they might have shot themselves in the foot, too.
Lets face it. The only teams with a national following from the Big 12 are Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. And I can't figure out why ANY of them are of any interest to anyone outside of Oklahoma and Baja Oklahoma (Texas). But at least with the Texas schools, they have a big, built in TV audience. Oklahoma? Who cares?
I mean, they play Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Missouri.
If Missouri didn't have the St. Louis TV market, no one would watch them. They are always rated in the top 20 to start the season then lose to Troy State in the second or third week, and end up in a car parts bowl no one will watch.
And Oklahoma State? They can't draw a crowd in their own state, let alone nationally. T. Boone Pickens cares about Oklahoma State. And he's rich. Or no one else would care about Oklahoma State. Here in a state that plays in the PAC 12, OSU means Oregon State. Not Oklahoma State.
Kansas and Iowa don't matter. Never have, never will. They are the definition of, "fly over state". No one on either coast is marking the UK/K State game on their calender. And short of their political primaries that seem to weed out the only SANE Republicans, nothing, nothing at all, that happens in Iowa matters. Now. Or ever.
There has been some speculation today that if A&M actually is silly enough to leave for, "some other conference" about who might get into the Big 12. Well, if the SEC sticks to it's guns and tells A&M that now is just not the time, "other conferences" are not going to be clamouring to take them. But, I'm pretty sure the guys in the Big East who voted to take TCU are now saying, "SHIT! If we'd have waited ONE more year!"
The speculation is that the Big 12 to stay viable should invite Notre Dame and Arkansas. Not happening. Arkansas is already in what everyone but me thinks is the best football conference in the country. And they know better than to leave.
Notre Dame is Notre Dame. They think they are, well, Notre Dame! They can write their own ticket. They are the most popular football college in the country and have been for ever! Well, now? Not so much.
They still think that, but it's wrong. They were told earlier this year, even if they had fingers in their ears and were saying, "Nah, nah, nah, nah..." when told it, that they shouldn't expect all their games to be on Network TV every Saturday starting this year. They will find themselves shuffled off to Verses, just like the Mountain West Conference. Imagine that.
The reasons for this are many, including the fact that for the last ten years or so, they suck. And that other conferences have cut better, more lucrative deals than they have, and networks might be more interested in, dare I say it, a Utah vs. Oregon game if it's to decide who goes to the Rose Bowl or the BCS Championship Game?
And I have no figures to back this up, so I'm just going out on a limb here as a guy with a Sociology Degree (if you vote for Republicans, Sociology is the study of groups) and using what I've observed traveling around the country. I'm guessing that more than half of the practicing Catholics in this country now, are Latino, and that they WAY outnumber people who trace their Catholisism to Europe. And they don't really care about American Football, because they are much more recent immigrants than the ones from Ireland. They like what we call, soccer.
If ND and UA don't want in, the, "experts" on ESPN think that the Big 12 might take TCU and BYU, but that's not going to happen. TCU is committed to the Big East, and the Texas schools don't want to compete in recruiting with them. Plus, if you're TCU, and you have a footprint in the Northeast now, wouldn't it be easier to recruit a kid from upstate New York to warm, Texas in the winter than one from down the street to a place that's not as cool as Texas? I think so.
BYU makes sense. But they face other hurdles to getting in. And we'll talk about that in a minute.
The next two teams the, "experts" at ESPN think the Big 12 should go after are Louisville and Pitt. WTF? Pitt fans will make a beeline to Texas Tech for road games? But with TV coverage, the question is would they even care to WATCH a game against Texas Tech?
I think not. But, I would have bet the ranch that Colorado fans wouldn't let their team go to a conference with USC and UCLA and leave their, "Prairie" rivals. So what do I know?
Yeah, Louisville and Pitt would expand their, "TV footprint". But so would West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Central Florida, Central MICHIGAN, and Buffalo! Would Pitt and Louisville leave an already BCS qualifier for an unknown market just to recruit in Texas? I don't think so.
Because the Big East is the weakest link in the BCS. So easy to win that who ever comes out of it couldn't compete in the Mountain West week after week.
And wouldn't be picked to win the New Mexico Bowl.
But there is something the, "experts" at ESPN are NOT taking into account. And it's politics. It's ALMOST an election year. And the problem here is not the Democrats. That ticket is set. They can ignore issues like this, and a college football playoff, It's the Republicans. And the folks running in the THAT primary, have to be crazier than the others to insure getting the nomination.
You think that doesn't matter? I'm going to tell you why it does. BYU fans? Pay attention here.
When the South West Conference dissolved, what? 14 years ago? Before the BCS. The big schools that formed the Big 12 left out, Southern METHODIST University, Texas CHRISTIAN University and tried to leave out, Baylor. A Baptist school.
None of them have the best academic reputation, but Rice does and they left them out too. Rice has a student body of less than 5000. So what's the common factor here? Religion.
Anne Rice was the Governor of Texas at the time. Arguably the highest office in the land short of President of The United States. And she was a Baylor Alumni. And she made it known that if the new, Big 12 DIDN'T take Baylor? It wasn't going to happen. They backed off and took Baylor even though they wouldn't let their teams play on Sundays, and didn't have a great academic reputation.
Switch to today. Rick Perry, the evolution, and science denying, dumb ass Governor of Texas is running for President! Like the last evolution denying, dumb ass Governor of Texas that ran for President wasn't ENOUGH of a disaster for this country? Can we, as a people be dumb enough to elect ANOTHER ONE? I hope not.
BUT, that being said, this guy, who wields enormous power, has to play to his evolution, science denying, dumb ass, teabagger constituency who is mostly Baptist. And those folks HATE Mormons! They think they are not Christians. And we know that Mitt Romney can't win the south, Jon Huntsman isn't even a factor in this election and Michelle Bachman, as dumb as she is, is a contender in the religious south, Perry is going to have to make an anti-Mormon statement at some point.
And just might make it by denying BYU a shot at any conference that would let BYU recruit and play in Texas.
He can't come out AGAINST Notre Dame (like they would go there, anyway). Too many Catholics. But he CAN come out against Mormons. So BYU might be shot down from joining the Big 12 just like SMU and TCU were years ago.
Just sayin...
It's something most college football analysts won't take into consideration. Especially, Trevor from, ESPN.
Texas A&M is pitching the same fit that BYU did last year when Utah was invited to the new PAC 12 and they were left off the invitation list. But A&M is smart enough to not burn the bridge they MIGHT cross, before everything is said and done.
A&M is fed up with Texas. And so is the rest of the Big 12. Those bastards wouldn't commit to a Big 12 network, they started their OWN network. The Longhorn Network. So they can show high school football games of guys they want to recruit, and they don't have to share ANY of the money with the rest of the Big 12. Pretty smart. But they might have shot themselves in the foot, too.
Lets face it. The only teams with a national following from the Big 12 are Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. And I can't figure out why ANY of them are of any interest to anyone outside of Oklahoma and Baja Oklahoma (Texas). But at least with the Texas schools, they have a big, built in TV audience. Oklahoma? Who cares?
I mean, they play Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Missouri.
If Missouri didn't have the St. Louis TV market, no one would watch them. They are always rated in the top 20 to start the season then lose to Troy State in the second or third week, and end up in a car parts bowl no one will watch.
And Oklahoma State? They can't draw a crowd in their own state, let alone nationally. T. Boone Pickens cares about Oklahoma State. And he's rich. Or no one else would care about Oklahoma State. Here in a state that plays in the PAC 12, OSU means Oregon State. Not Oklahoma State.
Kansas and Iowa don't matter. Never have, never will. They are the definition of, "fly over state". No one on either coast is marking the UK/K State game on their calender. And short of their political primaries that seem to weed out the only SANE Republicans, nothing, nothing at all, that happens in Iowa matters. Now. Or ever.
There has been some speculation today that if A&M actually is silly enough to leave for, "some other conference" about who might get into the Big 12. Well, if the SEC sticks to it's guns and tells A&M that now is just not the time, "other conferences" are not going to be clamouring to take them. But, I'm pretty sure the guys in the Big East who voted to take TCU are now saying, "SHIT! If we'd have waited ONE more year!"
The speculation is that the Big 12 to stay viable should invite Notre Dame and Arkansas. Not happening. Arkansas is already in what everyone but me thinks is the best football conference in the country. And they know better than to leave.
Notre Dame is Notre Dame. They think they are, well, Notre Dame! They can write their own ticket. They are the most popular football college in the country and have been for ever! Well, now? Not so much.
They still think that, but it's wrong. They were told earlier this year, even if they had fingers in their ears and were saying, "Nah, nah, nah, nah..." when told it, that they shouldn't expect all their games to be on Network TV every Saturday starting this year. They will find themselves shuffled off to Verses, just like the Mountain West Conference. Imagine that.
The reasons for this are many, including the fact that for the last ten years or so, they suck. And that other conferences have cut better, more lucrative deals than they have, and networks might be more interested in, dare I say it, a Utah vs. Oregon game if it's to decide who goes to the Rose Bowl or the BCS Championship Game?
And I have no figures to back this up, so I'm just going out on a limb here as a guy with a Sociology Degree (if you vote for Republicans, Sociology is the study of groups) and using what I've observed traveling around the country. I'm guessing that more than half of the practicing Catholics in this country now, are Latino, and that they WAY outnumber people who trace their Catholisism to Europe. And they don't really care about American Football, because they are much more recent immigrants than the ones from Ireland. They like what we call, soccer.
If ND and UA don't want in, the, "experts" on ESPN think that the Big 12 might take TCU and BYU, but that's not going to happen. TCU is committed to the Big East, and the Texas schools don't want to compete in recruiting with them. Plus, if you're TCU, and you have a footprint in the Northeast now, wouldn't it be easier to recruit a kid from upstate New York to warm, Texas in the winter than one from down the street to a place that's not as cool as Texas? I think so.
BYU makes sense. But they face other hurdles to getting in. And we'll talk about that in a minute.
The next two teams the, "experts" at ESPN think the Big 12 should go after are Louisville and Pitt. WTF? Pitt fans will make a beeline to Texas Tech for road games? But with TV coverage, the question is would they even care to WATCH a game against Texas Tech?
I think not. But, I would have bet the ranch that Colorado fans wouldn't let their team go to a conference with USC and UCLA and leave their, "Prairie" rivals. So what do I know?
Yeah, Louisville and Pitt would expand their, "TV footprint". But so would West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Central Florida, Central MICHIGAN, and Buffalo! Would Pitt and Louisville leave an already BCS qualifier for an unknown market just to recruit in Texas? I don't think so.
Because the Big East is the weakest link in the BCS. So easy to win that who ever comes out of it couldn't compete in the Mountain West week after week.
And wouldn't be picked to win the New Mexico Bowl.
But there is something the, "experts" at ESPN are NOT taking into account. And it's politics. It's ALMOST an election year. And the problem here is not the Democrats. That ticket is set. They can ignore issues like this, and a college football playoff, It's the Republicans. And the folks running in the THAT primary, have to be crazier than the others to insure getting the nomination.
You think that doesn't matter? I'm going to tell you why it does. BYU fans? Pay attention here.
When the South West Conference dissolved, what? 14 years ago? Before the BCS. The big schools that formed the Big 12 left out, Southern METHODIST University, Texas CHRISTIAN University and tried to leave out, Baylor. A Baptist school.
None of them have the best academic reputation, but Rice does and they left them out too. Rice has a student body of less than 5000. So what's the common factor here? Religion.
Anne Rice was the Governor of Texas at the time. Arguably the highest office in the land short of President of The United States. And she was a Baylor Alumni. And she made it known that if the new, Big 12 DIDN'T take Baylor? It wasn't going to happen. They backed off and took Baylor even though they wouldn't let their teams play on Sundays, and didn't have a great academic reputation.
Switch to today. Rick Perry, the evolution, and science denying, dumb ass Governor of Texas is running for President! Like the last evolution denying, dumb ass Governor of Texas that ran for President wasn't ENOUGH of a disaster for this country? Can we, as a people be dumb enough to elect ANOTHER ONE? I hope not.
BUT, that being said, this guy, who wields enormous power, has to play to his evolution, science denying, dumb ass, teabagger constituency who is mostly Baptist. And those folks HATE Mormons! They think they are not Christians. And we know that Mitt Romney can't win the south, Jon Huntsman isn't even a factor in this election and Michelle Bachman, as dumb as she is, is a contender in the religious south, Perry is going to have to make an anti-Mormon statement at some point.
And just might make it by denying BYU a shot at any conference that would let BYU recruit and play in Texas.
He can't come out AGAINST Notre Dame (like they would go there, anyway). Too many Catholics. But he CAN come out against Mormons. So BYU might be shot down from joining the Big 12 just like SMU and TCU were years ago.
Just sayin...
It's something most college football analysts won't take into consideration. Especially, Trevor from, ESPN.
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