Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Update from last post:
It's shocking I know, but despite the best efforts of the weather geeks, we had NO SNOW at all Tuesday night or morning. In fact, the weather cleared up and the temperatures have hit the mid-50s during the day and Spring is slowly but surely making its way here to the South. Just thought you should all know.
Thoughts While Watching the Duke-Wake Forest game on ESPN:
1. It might just make my UK friends mad, but its true, oh its damn true: the ACC is by far the best conference in the country today. Unlike the last several years, the whole conference is not just coasting on a couple of top teams and history, but is solid all around. It should send 7 to the NCAAs, because of RPI, talent, big wins, and a conference schedule that is murder. There is no off night here, the case in point being Clemson beating NC State tonight just after State beat Duke Sunday.
2. If college basketball was like the WWE, Dick Vitale would play a perfect heel announcer like a Bobby Heenan in his prime when Vitale announces Duke games. Or at the very least come out in Duke colors to the Duke fight song or something. He's just that much of a Duke apologist, its not even funny. "Coach K this, Coach K that" Good freaking Lord. And let's not even get me started on the stupid catchphrases. Say what you want about Billy Packer, at least he TRIES to call it down the middle.
3. And yet, despite my visceral dislike of him, Vitale belongs in the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Why? He loves the game, and his heart is in the right place. And seeing all the crap that's been going on at Colorado, Georgia, Baylor, etc. somebody needs to step up and speak for the fans and the students.
4. Shoulda tried out for the ESPN Dreamjob show. Looking at the finalists, I guess all it takes to be on Sportscenter is a catchphrase and a loud voice. Although I've got to admit, "Ramalamdingdong" is kinda cool. Note to self: work into conversation at least once this week.....
Election 2004- Red State vs. Blue State
So Howard "I Have a Scream" Dean dropped out today. Honestly, even though he never won a single state, the Democrats should throw that man a parade or something. He reminded me of a Pat Buchanan, a guy who never had a chance in hell for the nomination but made the faithful mad enough to care again. The system only works when the parties are clearly separated, otherwise you get one group trying to out-wimp the other and that makes for very very boring politics. So Howard, here's a big "YEEEAAAAHHHH" for you.
Also, and this may sound odd to some, but Kerry needs Edwards more than Edwards needs Kerry. Kerry, despite all this "electability" mantra around him, is a really bad speaker on the stump. Competition is the only thing that keeps him on his best game, and with Edwards around, he stays sharp. Edwards at this point is just in it for the national exposure and waiting if Kerry really screws up (or an intern affair or something- although that quickly fell off the radar even with the Drudge Report pushing it). I guess that means that the old 90s sexual politics might have lost some of their power, but probably not....
And finally, a big BOO to the NC Democrats for canceling their primary in favor of a caucus. Yeah, Edwards was gonna win anyways, but I would have at least liked to throw another name in. Oh well.
Cool Random Link of the Day:
Here's a site I found that will generate a map for every state that you've been too. Here's mind, guess I've got some work to do in the South and West to fill it all out.
create your own visited states map
or write about it on the open travel guide
It's shocking I know, but despite the best efforts of the weather geeks, we had NO SNOW at all Tuesday night or morning. In fact, the weather cleared up and the temperatures have hit the mid-50s during the day and Spring is slowly but surely making its way here to the South. Just thought you should all know.
Thoughts While Watching the Duke-Wake Forest game on ESPN:
1. It might just make my UK friends mad, but its true, oh its damn true: the ACC is by far the best conference in the country today. Unlike the last several years, the whole conference is not just coasting on a couple of top teams and history, but is solid all around. It should send 7 to the NCAAs, because of RPI, talent, big wins, and a conference schedule that is murder. There is no off night here, the case in point being Clemson beating NC State tonight just after State beat Duke Sunday.
2. If college basketball was like the WWE, Dick Vitale would play a perfect heel announcer like a Bobby Heenan in his prime when Vitale announces Duke games. Or at the very least come out in Duke colors to the Duke fight song or something. He's just that much of a Duke apologist, its not even funny. "Coach K this, Coach K that" Good freaking Lord. And let's not even get me started on the stupid catchphrases. Say what you want about Billy Packer, at least he TRIES to call it down the middle.
3. And yet, despite my visceral dislike of him, Vitale belongs in the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Why? He loves the game, and his heart is in the right place. And seeing all the crap that's been going on at Colorado, Georgia, Baylor, etc. somebody needs to step up and speak for the fans and the students.
4. Shoulda tried out for the ESPN Dreamjob show. Looking at the finalists, I guess all it takes to be on Sportscenter is a catchphrase and a loud voice. Although I've got to admit, "Ramalamdingdong" is kinda cool. Note to self: work into conversation at least once this week.....
Election 2004- Red State vs. Blue State
So Howard "I Have a Scream" Dean dropped out today. Honestly, even though he never won a single state, the Democrats should throw that man a parade or something. He reminded me of a Pat Buchanan, a guy who never had a chance in hell for the nomination but made the faithful mad enough to care again. The system only works when the parties are clearly separated, otherwise you get one group trying to out-wimp the other and that makes for very very boring politics. So Howard, here's a big "YEEEAAAAHHHH" for you.
Also, and this may sound odd to some, but Kerry needs Edwards more than Edwards needs Kerry. Kerry, despite all this "electability" mantra around him, is a really bad speaker on the stump. Competition is the only thing that keeps him on his best game, and with Edwards around, he stays sharp. Edwards at this point is just in it for the national exposure and waiting if Kerry really screws up (or an intern affair or something- although that quickly fell off the radar even with the Drudge Report pushing it). I guess that means that the old 90s sexual politics might have lost some of their power, but probably not....
And finally, a big BOO to the NC Democrats for canceling their primary in favor of a caucus. Yeah, Edwards was gonna win anyways, but I would have at least liked to throw another name in. Oh well.
Cool Random Link of the Day:
Here's a site I found that will generate a map for every state that you've been too. Here's mind, guess I've got some work to do in the South and West to fill it all out.
create your own visited states map
or write about it on the open travel guide
Monday, February 16, 2004
So I'm watching the UNC-Maryland game last night, and all of a sudden my screen gets cut in half. What could it be, you ask? Another terrorist attack? A break in the Jackson case? Nope. Instead, all I got was the weatherman saying (this is an approximate quote here):
"Well, its snowing in Boone, and the snow is traveling, and it might get to Charlotte, but we can't tell even with this Doopler 25000 spiritedness of everything Radar system we have. So, I'll just go with 6 inches tomorrow and call it even. Now, back to the game."
Now, for those of you not lucky enough to live in the Old North State, Boone is out west in the mountains, home to Appalachian State and countless burnt-out hippies and outdoors types (not that I'm into stereotyping or anything mind you). It ALWAYS SNOWS THERE! It's a big deal when IT DOES NOT SNOW THERE! And, it's TWO HOURS NORTH of HERE! So what does this have to do with us? NOTHING!!!! But of course we had to interrupt the game and Maryland surging back from 24 points down in the second half, only to lose by three. So how much snow did we get? Nothing but a sprinkling? But wait, the weather geeks are predicting even more Tuesday night, so there goes TV again I guess.
Again, not that I'm bitter or anything.....
By the way, here's the link to the Weather Channel's Charlotte page. Let's see if we actually get this incredible snow storm or not.
www.weather.com
Random thought for the day: Is it just me or would a "Weather Channel's Greatest Hits CD" not work for those looking for a Midnight Storm type music, if you know what I mean? Just a thought....
"Well, its snowing in Boone, and the snow is traveling, and it might get to Charlotte, but we can't tell even with this Doopler 25000 spiritedness of everything Radar system we have. So, I'll just go with 6 inches tomorrow and call it even. Now, back to the game."
Now, for those of you not lucky enough to live in the Old North State, Boone is out west in the mountains, home to Appalachian State and countless burnt-out hippies and outdoors types (not that I'm into stereotyping or anything mind you). It ALWAYS SNOWS THERE! It's a big deal when IT DOES NOT SNOW THERE! And, it's TWO HOURS NORTH of HERE! So what does this have to do with us? NOTHING!!!! But of course we had to interrupt the game and Maryland surging back from 24 points down in the second half, only to lose by three. So how much snow did we get? Nothing but a sprinkling? But wait, the weather geeks are predicting even more Tuesday night, so there goes TV again I guess.
Again, not that I'm bitter or anything.....
By the way, here's the link to the Weather Channel's Charlotte page. Let's see if we actually get this incredible snow storm or not.
www.weather.com
Random thought for the day: Is it just me or would a "Weather Channel's Greatest Hits CD" not work for those looking for a Midnight Storm type music, if you know what I mean? Just a thought....
