Thanks, White Sox

Well the season is over for me. While a first round elimination is a little disappointing 3 years removed from a World Series Championship, I can't complain too much about the White Sox this season. Yes, they lived and died by the long ball (chicks still dig it though...), but they were only expected to finish 3rd or 4th in the Central this year.

So thanks, White Sox for exceeding expectations. Thanks, White Sox for stumbling into AL Central champions in stellar fashion. Thanks for Swish even though he slumped. Thanks for the true ROY Cuban Missile. Thanks, White Sox for the beautiful sight of The Kid in your uniform. And absolutely most important of all, thanks, White Sox for staying in the playoffs one game longer than the Cubs! But please trade choker Javier Vasquez. Ozzie was right. You know he would have lost 3 in a row if you made it to game 5.

Aside: sorry to the two readers I have left for not posting. It's been a crazy hectic semester. I'll try harder once I get through these two presentations I have to give at a conference next week, and the midterm right after them!

Comcast SUCKS

OK, I take back all the good things I ever said when I found out that Comcast was going to carry the Big Ten Network. Why, do you ask? Let me tell you. This morning, while video chatting with my mom so she could see her grandson, I noticed the clock said 11:00, so I swore, jumped up and switched the channel to Big Ten Network HD. I didn't want to miss kickoff for the Illini. Anyway, what was on TV? The Northwestern University Wildcats versus the Southern Illinois University Salukis.

WHAT? Last week they showed a few seconds of another game and then it switched to the Illini, so I waited. Then I waited longer. Then I went online to see if they actually kicked-off yet, and it was already like 3 minutes into the game! I called BTN and they said they were already on the phone with Comcast, and Comcast was just showing the wrong game in our area.

So I waited. Sat in my chair, watching the crappy Wildcats, the butt of Big Ten Football, play the "Football championship subdivision" Salukis. What the hell? So now it's halftime, and I already tried talking to Comcast. Local numbers were busy, and I was on hold for 15 minutes with their nationwide 800-number before hanging up, since I'm sure they were aware of their HUGE MESS-UP. I was also 95th in line for online chatting, but then I had to feed Louis. Anyway, it's halftime and I call BTN back since they answer their phone in like 2 rings with no automated menus! Yeah, you heard right, BTN had no automated menus. Bravo, BTN. Ok, so the lady who answered after the 2nd ring said they got ahold of Comcast right after everyone called in at kickoff, and that Comcast said they were "working on it." YOU CAN'T PUT THE RIGHT GAME ON AFTER A WHOLE HALF OF FOOTBALL??? Somebody needs to get fired.

It's now almost through the 3rd quarter and the only Illini I've seen is the updates they give in the NW game (which proves their equipment is actually working since they showed clips, so someone really does need to get fired, because it's airing somewhere out there, but not 2 MILES FROM THE STADIUM).

Ocho Cinco

I can't wait to see "Ocho Cinco" on the back of Chad Johnson's, oops, I mean Chad Ocho Cinco's jersey again this year. I love that he legally changed his name to stick it to the NFL for fining him when he did it before.

Never mind the fact that it should really be "Ochenta y cinco."

One Month

My son is one month old today. If you never got a link to his blog, let me know. That's where all the pictures are. Anyway, I had a bunch of cool stuff to talk about here, but I either forgot about it, or I'm too tired to type it out right now. I've really been concentrating on keeping Louis IV's blog updated so that everyone knows what's been going on and who he's been meeting, so my blog is kind of riding the pine right now. It's really hard too. I don't know how many times each day some random thought pops in my mind, or something neat happens, or I read something amazingly cool, and I just don't have time to write about it. I would say it eats at my insides, but if it really ate at my insides I would just blog instead of playing Call of Duty 4 in my free time. Speaking of that, I'm really kicking butt. I don't know what happened, but something just clicked one day. That's for another post though, that will probably not get posted. Excluding my brother and brother-in-law, I'm pretty sure there's only one other dude who even cares. He knows who he is.

I guess I'll just ramble quickly about some other things since I don't really want to post anything else after this post for a day or two, since I don't want to overshadow a post about my son, even though it was only about him for a second. How about those White Sox? I don't know what to think anymore. Every time they start winning, they just go back to losing (see: tonight). Oh well, hopefully they can hang on until October. It's almost like the collapse of 2005, except that they had about a 16 game lead before tanking in the second half. I remember it well, I was scared for my life. Luckily the game I picked to go to was when they broke their longest (7 games) losing streak of the season by hitting 4 homers in a row against Randy Johnson. That was amazing to watch. That season turned out o.k. though... Oh, and what do you think about that Brett guy? I dislike the Packers greatly, but I've always had a great respect for Brett's playing. Unfortunately this month long stink has left a bad taste in everyone's mouth.

Alright, I'm up for feeding the little dude, hopefully I'll get my posterizer ramped up again soon.

Joe Crede

So for the past 3-4 years (except when injured last year) I've said that Joe Crede is perhaps the most talented defensive 3rd baseman in baseball, and a pretty damn good clutch hitter too. Here's what Mark Grace (longtime Cub) had to say on the Fox broadcast of the Sox-Cubs game today:

Not a better defensive third baseman in all of baseball.

Thanks Mark! Now go tell all the people who keep giving Eric Chavez the Gold Glove!!! Joe should have had at least one by now, and if he doesn't get one this year I'll have a serious problem respecting the Gold Glove awards in the future.

I'm done jumping up and down now

I'm back in my seat. I can't believe the stuff I missed being behind reading my RSS feeds. If you click the title link you'll read a wonderful article, perhaps the most wonderful article I've read in quite some time. On August 15th, just in time for football, Comcast will be carrying the Big Ten Network! That's like 30 football / basketball games I won't have to miss anymore. Ahhhh, a sweet sigh of relief.

Come out already!

For at least a few months (probably when they changed our due date from 7/16 to 7/7) Linnea and I have thought that we would have our baby quite a bit earlier than the due date. Well, it's less than 3 weeks away, and Linnea is feeling just about as normal as usual, besides the fact that we know he's in position to go. The window is closing I guess, and we're getting the feeling that he's not going to come early at all. Obviously this is fine if he's not ready yet, if not everything is fully developed yet. But based on his size, we thought that he was, and it would be nice to have him soon, as we're dying to be parents and Linnea is ready to sleep on her stomach and back again. Also, I'm ready for my 2 week vacation from work. Oh well, he'll come when he comes I guess.

Congrats to the Celtics. I was absolutely disinterested in this series, but man, the Celtics laid a beatdown tonight.

We found this little par 3/4 9 hole course right down the road from us today! I'm so excited, it only costs $8! There's a range there too, with heaters for cold weather. It looks like a tiny, crappy course, but for the money (and the location), it looks to be an easy option to go swing the clubs within an hour.

Weekend recap

I guess I forgot to post about all the awesome stuff that happened this weekend. First of all, my parents and brother came down to visit, so that was cool for Fathers' Day. We went golfing on Saturday, and I won! Granted, I shot a 104, but hey, I still won. Oh, by the way, that's a 104 playing by all the rules, like the actual rules in the rule book, unlike everyone else I know who says they shoot in the 80's and suck worse than me. O.K., so I accidentally dropped my ball on the green once and didn't give myself the 2 strokes, but it rolled down the hill and I was putting up the hill, so I saw no gained advantage there.

Sunday was eventful too. First we went to church, then had my dad's famous fried eggs. In case you live in a hole, this thing called the U.S. Open was going on, with a dude named Tiger in the lead after Saturday's round. He's never lost the lead in the 4th round of a Major tournament. Never. Well, he sort of lost it during the final round, but fought back and made a huge birdie putt on 18 to force an 18 hole playoff on Monday, messed up knee and all. It was crazy. So Monday it was Tiger vs. Rocco Mediate, a 45 year old with a bad back. This dude is awesome. Now normally playoffs are sudden death, and EVERYONE crumbles under the pressure of playing against Tiger. This playoff was a whole extra round, and Tiger was up 3 on Rocco at one point. It's in the bag. But no, Rocco somehow jumped back ahead of Tiger by one stroke by the last hole! How awesome is that dude? At this point I'm torn between rooting for Tiger or Rocco, but I stick to my guns and root for Tiger and his messed up knee (almost made him fall to the ground after shots). So what happens? Sand for Rocco, and Tiger birdies to tie it back up! Now, after 90 holes of golf, they're going to sudden death. Tiger wins the first sudden death hole as Rocco hits the beach again. Too bad for Rocco, but he might be the only 2nd place finisher everyone remembers, a truly awesome performance when most would crumble. Anyway, congrats to Tiger. He won his 14th Major and set a record for most wins at a single course (7 at Torrey Pines, I played there - 98 I think).

FINALLY, Dale Jr. won! For the first time in over 2 years. He won on a fuel mileage deal, but I don't care, HE WON!!! He's got enough top 10's this year to prove he's as good a driver as anybody in NASCAR, and this win is a huge morale booster for a team already 3rd in points. I can't wait to see what happens now.

Golf

So I was going to write a post on how amazing Tiger's second nine was today in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines (the front nine, but played after the back; I totally played this course - South - a year an a half ago and broke 100 right before the Buick Invitational), but then I thought about how I posted so excitedly about the White Sox, who then lost 3 straight. But then they won again today, so I said "what the hell."

Tiger Woods is freaking awesome. Flat out amazing. He didn't play a full round between the Master's (April) and earlier this week, due to knee surgery. He didn't even walk that 18 holes earlier this week. His first round pretty much sucked (for him), finishing +1. The interesting topic all week was the top 3 in the world paired together (Tiger, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott). They were all mediocre yesterday. But today, they were even worse! All three were about +3 after 9 holes. Then what happens? Tiger shoots one shot off of the lowest score for 9 holes EVER to end the day -2 and T4. Obviously Lefty and Scott continued mediocrity in the face of greatness. Gosh, I wonder what would have happened to them had Tiger been healthy and about 5 shots in front of everyone else? This is his most successful course after all.

In closing, lets just think about how freaking awesome Tiger Woods is one more time... O.K., great.

I know, but I can't help it

I know you're probably sick of hearing about the Sox, but I just can't help it! They are just stomping on the Twins. They're through 3 of 4 games with the Twins, and we'll just say the Twins are lucky the AL central is down, because we just put them under 0.500 and they're still in second place by about 4 games over the Indians. Anyway, it has got to be the best feeling in the world when your team plays the team they are fighting with, and just cleans up with them! Here's some of the awesomeness that's been going on, but don't worry, I got it all from one article, I'm not that devoted to the stats:

6 game winning streak
33 runs in the last 3 games
Gavin Floyd (HUGE acquisition, thanks Kenny) 9 Ks tonight
15 or more hits in 3 straight games, first time since 1932

Man, I can't get enough. As side sporting notes: did you see that almost comeback by the Lakers tonight? That was almost crazy. I'm also happy to see Kyle Busch finish dead last at Pocono today. Junior's still in 3rd (4th place finish today), but about 120 points closer to first.

Crashing the top 10

I just thought I would mark this day in history as the day the White Sox crashed the top 10 plays on SportsCenter tonight:

Top play #8: Orlando Cabrera charges in hard and makes a bare-hand play to first.
Top play #7: Paul Konerko makes a jumping/diving catch of a line-drive down the line.
Top play #2: Jermaine Dye makes a diving catch near the line to end the game. Sox win.

I don't think I've ever seen one of my teams get 3 plays on the list in one night. Awesome. They also hit 4 homers tonight. I think they did that a couple of games ago too.

Side note: The Sox have won 4 in a row (granted, 3 against the Royals) since Ozzie's last antics. Personally, I think it was over-hyped, but hey, I guess it worked if he did it on purpose.

You can put it on the board.....Yes!

Thanks Hawk and D.J. for that oh so exciting homer call over the years. Back to the post at hand: Go White Sox! Hopefully that amazing walk off homer by Paulie will bust him out of his .200 BA slump, because it's pretty pathetic. I guess a previous post was proven about needing Tums for Bobby Jenks after he blew the 2 run lead in the 9th to send this thing 15 innings. It's not often you can turn the game on in the 7th inning and still see a 9 inning game. Grueling. I almost fell asleep.

Side notes: Welcome back Esteban Loaiza, I guess. I haven't heard anything about him in a while, so I don't know whether to be happy about returning one of our former All-Stars or not. We'll see I guess. Also, too bad Alexi Ramirez is basically the best thing since sliced bread, maybe even better than acquiring Carlos Quentin, because I really like Juan Uribe, but it looks like he may not be starting anymore. Dude made 4 bare-handed last second plays at second base last night! How about writing him into the All-Star ballot along with Quentin??

Now to the sports

It's been a pretty awesome week in terms of the teams I root for. First off, the White Sox have been playing decently well, at least they've been winning games and are in first place. Carlos Quentin is the best thing since sliced bread. Too bad Paul Konerko is tanking horribly, and I still love Swisher's attitude even though he's struggling at the plate too. Final White Sox thought is, does anyone else get heartburn watching Bobby Jenks throw? I mean, the guy is great (14/16) but he ALWAYS lets runners on and then has to work out of the jam with K's or popups. Where's my Tums?

Bulls: Besides the Noah crap, the Bulls are still looking good with the #1 pick. Hopefully they don't trade it.

Illini: So I'm pretty sure I'm the only person who never turned on Bruce Weber. For real, you can ask my dad. I've been sticking up for him the last 2 years, telling people that his recruiting will get back on track and he'll be more than fine. So now all the bandwagon jumpers can EAT IT, because ESPN.com just ranked his 2009 class as #2! Go Bruce!

NASCAR: Yes, I'm slightly redneck. And yes, I like Dale Jr. See my first ever post for my defense on that. Anyway, by the slight chance anyone reading this watched the race last Sunday, Jr. was leading the race, looking like he'd win it when he cut a tire and rode the wall for about half a lap. Thanks to some awesome pit work and last minute top-off he cruised from about 21st to 5th as others either crashed out or had to pit for fuel. He's still sitting pretty 3rd in points. Awesome.

P.S. My wife just confirmed to me that I literally said "Bruce will be fine, just look at his 2009 class." Oh yeah, the class they just ranked second in the nation. Granted, the standings will shift, but hey, (I'd say "Bruce is back" here, but I know that he never left).

Busy week...

I guess it was a busy week, because I didn't even think about blogging, and when I did, I had absolutely nothing to talk about. Oh well. I did give myself a buzz-cut this week, so that was nice. It's funny how whenever you get a haircut, the usual response is "oh, did you get a haircut?" Now, I can understand that with a simple trim or something, but I've been getting it with the buzz. Yes, I got a haircut. Obviously. There's like 1/4" there. It used to be like 1 1/2", now it's 1/4". Quite noticeable. I guess I'll accept excuses from my friends whose second language is English, and may not know how else to bring up my new cut. But otherwise, I'll give you a funny look.

This week was pretty big in sports for me too. First, unfortunately, we must say goodbye to Deron in the playoffs. Too bad he had to meet the machine that is Kobe. Anyway, first floor Scott '03 still loves you Deron. I'm so happy the White Sox have turned it around. They won 8 in a row, 3 of which to the slumping Indians, solidifying their AL central lead. Carlos Quentin has to be the best move EVER. Also, congrats to the Bulls for the first pick in the draft, and all 1.7% chance they had to get it. Not sure who they should get though. Beasley would be a good front court addition, but Rose has more star potential.

Oscar Pistorius

Congratulations to Oscar Pistorius. He won a long battle with sport's higher powers and he is now allowed to attempt qualification into the Olympic games as a double amputee sprinter. Yes, he has no feet, and has a chance to be in the Olympics this summer. The debate over whether he should be allowed to run or not has been hotly debated. Check out the old articles on ESPN.com or something. Anyway, a researcher in Germany conducted "research" that proved his carbon fiber blade prosthetics gave him a metabolic advantage over normal runners, so the IAAF banned him from competing. That's why I got so interested in this. I personally do research in human locomotion, and I can tell you for an almost fact that this "research" probably only proved he consumed less oxygen than if he had feet. So now everyone thinks they're an expert in biomechanics and think that this German dude is the be-all end-all and think that Oscar is "cheating" by having this so-called advantage. They forget to realize that HE HAS NO FEET, or calf muscles for that matter. Have you ever realized how big sprinters' calf muscles are? I would assume anyone who didn't have to power their calves would consume less oxygen. And no calf muscles = MUCH less running power. So think what you will. Anyway, an even higher power (CAS) overruled the ruling, and he can now compete. The only problem is that his past times wouldn't qualify him into the Olympics. Anyway, I wish him all the luck to compete for the equality of disabled athletes.