Arkham Asylum

My interest is piqued.

Featuring Sit-Ups

Terrell Owens is going to have his own reality TV show on VH1. I'm sure the NFL is thrilled with the idea.

The Fan

So, after reading this article by Wojo, I assume WDFN is dead?

Wrong

A new ESPN Sportsnation poll on who the Lions should draft with the #1 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft shows Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford leading with 37% of the vote. Those 37% are morons.

UPDATE: Apparently Kiper has released his first mock draft and predicts that Lions will take Stafford #1 and USC linebacker Rey Maualuga at #20. I don't know if Mel endorses this pick or not. If the Lions take offensive tackle Smith #1 and Maualuga at #20 I might actually pay attention to them this season, otherwise I think they may be dead to me.

Happy Anniversary!!!

It was recorded in the "Down Memory Lane" section of your Cass City Chronicle that the Red Hawks defeated Deckerville 10 YEARS AGO. As you all know that night will live on forever in our hearts. Just thought I would celebrate this moment with everyone.

"THANKS"

Smells Like Teen Spirit

The International

I saw a TV spot for The International, starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts, while I was watching PTI. It looks as though the plot revolves around an evil bank killing people who threaten its business. Now, I know any film requires a suspension of disbelief, but could you choose a worse time to release this movie? Is anyone scared of banks right now? They look to barely be able to run their core business, let alone assassinations on the side. Needless to say, I'll skip it.

Cardinals Win

You know, as much as I hate to write it, if the Cardinals can go to the Super Bowl, then there has to be some hope for the Lions. It's actually been longer since the Cardinals won a championship than it's been for the Lions. Of course the Lions don't have Kurt Warner, one of the best to play the game (at least statistically speaking).

I don't know if anyone else saw it, but one Cardinals fan had an awesome sign inspired by former coach Dennis Green: "We are who we though we were."

Teaching Rocks

Yep, another "snow day." Well, I guess you call today a "Cold Day." Either way, I'm not working...and still getting paid! I'm starting the think about getting a second job, but during the day. I already have a second job officiating at night, so now I need something to do for all those "snow days."

I hate to rub it in, but I have to. Check this out: Since the week of Thanksgiving (Monday, Nov. 24), we've only had one completely full work week and that was last week (week of Monday, Jan 5th). That's a span of 8 weeks, including Christmas vacation. So let's recap. Only one full five day work week since the week of Nov. 24. Oh, and we don't have school next Friday either. So, let's just go ahead and call it one full work week in the past 9 after next Friday. And I guess while I'm at it, I'll go ahead and tell you we have a full week off Feb. 16-20 for "Winter Break."

The really surprising thing is that, in the past 8 weeks, not only have we had a lot of time off, many of those weeks were less than 4 full work days.

Mandy, on the other hand..."not so much." Oops, I forgot, that phrase has been banned.

Muse - Hysteria

More Jim Rome Show "bumper" music. I'm not a "live" fan, but I couldn't get the original music video. That sounds much better. Personally, I only listen to the song for it's first 40-second value. Hence the reason it's only "bumper" music.

Welcome to the Jungle

The New Guy

Seems that the Lions have a new coach. I'm indifferent. Good luck.

Dungy Done

Tony Dungy has decided to retire after 13 years as an NFL head coach, the last seven with the Indianapolis Colts. Dungy also took teams to the playoffs to the playoffs ten consecutive season, an NFL record.

Dungy plans to spend time with his family and work with various ministry outreach programs that he's involved with. He'll be missed as an NFL coach, but I'm sure he'll be doing more valuable work in Tampa.

I've heard the sports commentators already asking if Dungy will come back. I feel very confident in predicting he won't. As much as he loves football, the things he can do in ministry are far more important. He won't be lured back. Which is a shame for the NFL, because they lost the services greatest man they had today. I think it will be quite a while before we see another coach like Tony Dungy.

Sea Kittens

Okay, first I thought the real-life superheroes were unbalanced. Then the guy who got the "0-16" tattoo seemed pretty unhinged. But the insanity never ends: PETA wants to rename "fish" as "sea kittens".

No, seriously.

I think I have to stop there, because it doesn't feel right making fun of people so far removed from reality.

Morons. (Hmm, actually, it feels fine.) (Hat tip: Jonah Goldberg at The Corner)

Another Thought

Okay, I don't really care too much about who wins this game (though I'm leaning towards Florida), but could Fox's color commentator like Oklahoma a little more? I expect to hear him yell "Boomer Sooner!" any minute now.

One thought...

...before the national championship game kicks off. Commentators keep saying a lot about how many points Oklahoma has scored, especially in the latter part of the season. That's impressive, no doubt. But doesn't Oklahoma have a reputation of mercilessly running up the score on lesser teams? Scoring 61 pts against Oklahoma State says something good about your team. Scoring 57 pts against Chattanooga just says you're a jerk.

Don't take a QB.

I agree with everything Bob Wojnowski writes here. That is unless one of the draft experts he's thinking of is Mel Kiper Jr., whose hair I would not describe as poofy. I don't think there's a word in the English language that adequately describes Kiper's hair.

Tattooed

Okay, I just said those guys playing superhero were crazy. But they're looking pretty sane compared to this dude, who had "0-16" tattooed on his chest. Now, I'd be supportive of doing this to the players, but you're pretty nuts if you're a fan and decide to have this done. Nuts.

Real-Life Superheroes

There's some odd things on the internet, sites for all sorts of hobbies and interests. Some people juggle geese. But real-life superheroes? That's truly strange. I mean, sure, I see the appeal. Having your own symbol would be cool. Scaring criminals would be fun. But it's a lot of effort, and unlike Batman, most of us aren't independently wealthy. The cops probably aren't big fans. And, though I haven't actually confirmed this, I'm 100% sure I'm not bulletproof, so getting shot would be a real drawback. I think I'll leave it to the professionals.

Year in Review

Go read Dave Barry's Year in Review.

A sports related excerpt:
"In football, beloved Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre retires and embarks on a series of emotional farewell events, several of which are still going on when he signs to play for the New York Jets."

Fantasy Football Wrap-Up

Here's the top 10 performers in our league in the main positions:

Quarterback
Drew Brees, 421.35 pts
Philip Rivers, 386.85 pts
Aaron Rodgers, 386.60 pts
Jay Cutler, 372.30 pts
Kurt Warner, 366.90 pts
Peyton Manning, 348.20 pts
Donovan McNabb, 328.50 pts
Matt Cassel, 323.75 pts
Chad Pennington, 292.85 pts
Tony Romo, 290.50 pts

Runningback
DeAngelo Williams, 290.30 pts
Michael Turner, 273.20 pts
Matt Forte, 254.10 pts
Thomas Jones, 247.10 pts
Adrian Peterson, 244.70 pts
Maurice Jones-Drew, 242.30 pts
LaDainian Tomlinson, 236.00 pts
Steve Slaton, 231.90 pts
Brian Westbrook, 226.60 pts
Clinton Portis, 224.10 pts

Wide Receiver
Larry Fitzgerald, 234.30 pts
Andre Johnson, 228.50 pts
Calvin Johnson, 218.60 pts
Greg Jennings, 201.20 pts
Roddy White, 196.20 pts
Steve Smith, 195.70 pts
Anquan Boldin, 188.30 pts
Antonio Bryant, 183.60 pts
Terrell Owens, 180.30 pts
Eddie Royal, 179.10 pts

FF Top Scorers '08

Here are the top scorers from the fantasy football league. This will be updated weekly. * denotes current record holder for the year. All-time is based on '04 on, which I have records for. The scoring was changed for the '05 season to include points for receptions, and then in '07 to reduce points per yard for the QB. The highest team score in '04 was The Living Legend (Bader) with 206.95 pts. The highest team score from '05-'06 was Battletoads (Stack, '06) with 232.40 pts. See the '05 data here, the '06 data here, and the '07 data here.

Week 1
Top Player: Donovan McNabb, 36.35 pts
Top Team: Ninja Bulldogs, 115.25 pts

Week 2
Top Player: Jay Cutler, 42.10 pts
Top Team: New Record?, 144.80 pts

Week 3
Top Player: Ronnie Brown, 43.35 pts
Top Team: QB Killer, 114.50 pts

Week 4
Top Player: Brett Favre, 48.45 pts*
Top Team: QB Killer, 125.90 pts

Week 5
Top Player: DeAngelo Williams, 33.00 pts
Top Team: the Nearly Adequate, 132.85 pts

Week 6
Top Player: Drew Brees, 34.70 pts
Top Team: Ninja Bulldogs, 122.90 pts

Week 7
Top Player: Steven Jackson, 36.00 pts
Top Team: Ninja Bulldogs, 110.55 pts

Week 8
Top Player: Brian Westbrook, 34.10 pts
Top Team: New Record?, 123.65 pts

Week 9
Top Player: Kurt Warner, 28.90 pts
Top Team: Holy Cow!, 117.40 pts

Week 10
Top Player: Jay Cutler, 41.25 pts
Top Team: Holy Cow!, 153.40 pts

Week 11
Top Player: Matt Cassel, 46.20 pts
Top Team: Holy Cow!, 123.60 pts

Week 12
Top Player: Matt Cassel, 44.15 pts
Top Team: The Muscle, 165.95 pts*

Week 13
Top Player: Donovan McNabb, 39.40 pts
Top Team: QB Killer, 109.95 pts

Playoffs
Week 14
Top Player: Antonio Bryant, 33.80 pts
Top Team: New Record?, 111.65 pts

Week 15
Top Player: Tarvaris Jackson, 32.45 pts
Top Team: QB Killer, 123.30 pts

Week 16
Top Player: Philip Rivers, 38.05 pts
Top Team: Holy Cow!, 127.80 pts

All-Time
Top Player: Peyton Manning, 75.20 pts ('04)
Top Team: Battletoads (Stack, '06), 232.40 pts

Bring Me To Life

I caught part of "100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs" on VH1 over Christmas break and thought I'd post some of them over the next month or so:

Millen on TV

You've probably heard about this by now, if not seen it:

A Playoff Thought

The college overtime rules are ridiculously superior to the NFL rules. How asinine is it that the Chargers and Colts go into OT and we don't even get to see Peyton Manning on the field? On top of that the Chargers manage three first downs on penalties. Ugh.

Just A Thought

I just read this article about the Rose Bowl. USC dominated Penn State to win their 3rd-straight Rose Bowl. Now, this is quite a feat, and there's not much to be said in the Big Ten or Penn State's defense. But the author does mention is passing what seems to me to be a pretty important note: This is the first of those three games where USC actually played the Big Ten champion. The previous two USC played Big Ten #2 because the champion was playing in the national championship game. Not to say those teams would have beat USC, but shouldn't USC tone it down a bit since they haven't been playing the best. Also, my memory is a little fuzzy, what happened the last time USC had to play for a national championship instead of just talking about how they deserved one? Didn't they lose?

Hockey at Wrigley

Happy New Year. Are you ready for some hockey?