I just don't get it

Week 2 Picks

2009-09-22T16:17:00.001-07:00

Oops

Forgot to make 'em.

I had virtually every game right though, no lyin'

Week 1 Picks

2009-09-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!?!?!?

Week 1:

Pittsburgh - Tennesee (push - didn't get the pick in)

Atlanta -4 over Miami
KC + 12.5 over Baltimore
Philly -2.5 over Carolina
Minny -4 over Cleveland
NYJets +4.5 over Houston
Jacksonville +6.5 over Indy
Detroit +13.5 over New Orleans
Tampa Bay +5 over Dallas
San Francisco +6 over Arizona
Washington +6.5 over NYG
St. Louis +7.5 over Seattle
GB -4 over Chicago
New England +11 over Buffalo
San Diego +9.5 over Oakland

Facebook

2009-08-30T06:09:00.000-07:00

So I've been doing the Facebook thing for a while now. I've reconnected with some old friends from high school, which is cool. I'm able to keep track (somewhat) of my long lost nieces and nephews which is also goodness.

Most of my "Friends" are current or past colleagues from work. Not surprising, given my field of endeavor. Near as I can tell, they are just as boring outside of work as in :-)

All in all, I like it.

Week 10 Picks

2008-11-09T09:05:00.000-08:00

I Didn't get my pick in for the Thursday night game, so that will have to be a push.

Here's the rest of the picks:

Jacksonville -6.5 over Detroit

Chicago +3 over Tenn

New Orleans +1.5 over Atlanta

St. Louis +9 over NYJets

Miami -8 over Seattle

Minnesota -2.5 over Green Bay

Carolina -10 over Oakland

KC +14.5 over San Diego

Pittsburgh -3.5 over Indy

Baltimore +2 over Houston

NYGiants +3 over Philly

Arizona -9.5 over SanFrancisco

New England -3.5 over Buffalo

Last week: 5-9

Year to date:70-59-2

Week 9 Picks

2008-11-02T08:34:00.000-08:00

Houston +5.5 over Minnesota
Cincy +7.5 over Jax
KC +9.5 over Tampa
Cleveland -2.5 over Baltimore
Buffalo -5 over NYJets
Arizona -3 over St.Louis
Detroit +12.5 over Chicago
Tennessee -4 over Green Bay
Denver -4 over Miami
Oakland +3 over Atlanta
Dallas +8.5 over NYGiants
Seattle +6.5 over Philly
NewEngland +6.5 over Indy

Washington -2 over Pittsburgh

Last week: 9-5
Year to date: 65 - 50 - 2

Week 8 Picks

2008-10-26T09:50:00.001-07:00

Baltimore -8 over Oakland
New Orleans +3 over San Diego
KC +14 over NYJets
Miami over Buffalo
Tampa +2 over Dallas
Atlanta +9 over Philly
Carolina -5 over Arizona
Washington -7.5 over Detroit
St. Louis +9 over New England
Cleveland +7 over Jacksonville
Giants +3 over Pittsburgh
Seattle +5.5 over San Francisco
Cincy +9 over Houston
Indy +4 over Tennessee

Last week: 4-10
Year to date: 56-45-2

Week 7 Picks

2008-10-19T05:49:00.000-07:00

KC +9 over Tennessee
SD -1 over Buffalo
Pburgh -9.5 over Cincy
Miami -3 over Baltimore
Dallas -7 over St. Louis
Minnesota +3 over Chicago
Carolina -3 over New Orleans
San Fran +10.5 over NYG
Detroit +9.5 over Houston
Jets -3 over Oakland
Cleveland +7.5 over Washington
Indy -1 over Green Bay
Seattle +10.5 over Tampa Bay
Denver +3 over New England

Last week: 8-6
Year to date: 52-35-2

Week 6 Picks

2008-10-12T03:52:00.000-07:00

New England doesn't get any better than this weekend.
Glorious weather, magnificent foliage, apples everywhere.
Weekends like this help fortify us for the long winter ahead.
Enjoy while we can people.

On to the picks:
New Orleans -7 over Oakland
Baltimore +3.5 over Indianapolis
Cincinnati +9.5 over NY Jets
Detroit +13 over Minnesota
Atlanta +3 over Chicago
Miami +3 over Houston
Philly -4.5 over San Francisco
Dallas -4.5 over Arizona
GreenBay +1.5 over Seattle
Washington -13.5 over St.Louis
Jacksonville +3.5 over Denver
Tampa Bay -1.5 over Carolina
New England +5 over San Diego
NYGiants -8 over Cleveland

Last week: 8-5-1
Year to date: 44-29-2

Week 5 Picks

2008-10-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Indy -4 over Houston
Tennessee -1 over Baltimore
San Diego -6.5 over Miami
KC +10 over Carolina
Washington +6.5 over Philly
Chicago -3.5 over Detroit
Atlanta +5.5 over Green Bay
Giants -6.5 over Seattle
Tampa Bay +3.5 over Denver
San Francisco +3 over New Englan
Buffalo +2 over Arizona
Cincy +16 over Dallas
Pittsburgh +5 over Jax

Last week: 7-6
Year to date: 36-24

New Orleans -3 over Minnesota

Last wekk:

Week 4 Picks

2008-09-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

KC + 9.5 over Denver
Cincy -1 over Cleveland
Jax -6.5 over Houston
Arizona +1 over Jets
SanFran +4.5 over New Orleans
Carolina -6.5 over Atlanta
Tennessee -3 over Carolina
Tampa Bay -2 over Green Bay
St. Louis +8.5 over Buffalo
San Diego -8 over Oakland
Washington +10 over Dallas
Philly -3 over Chicago
Baltimore +5 over Pittsburgh

Last week: 11-5
Year to date: 29-18

Week 3 Picks

2008-09-20T07:40:00.000-07:00

The Pats, as expected, are the class of the AFC East, even without Mr. Brady, though Buffalo looks like they could provide a challenge.
The Giants have their work cut out for them in the NFC East, which is a beast this year. I fully expect the Gints, Eagles and 'Boys to all make the playoffs and will be surprised if two of those three do not meet for the NFC Championship.

On to the picks...

K.C. +6 over Atlanta
Oakland +9.5 over Buffalo
Tennessee -4.5 over Houston
Washington -3 over Arizona
Miami +12.5 over New England
Tampa Bay +3 over Chicago
Carolina +3 over Minnesota
St. Louis +9.5 over Seattle
San Francisco -4.5 over Detroit
New Orleans +5.5 over Denver
Pittsburgh +3.5 over Philly
Jax +5 over Indy
Cleveland +2 over Baltimore
Dallas -3 over Green Bay
San Diego -8.5 over NYJets
Cincy +13.5 over NYGiants

Went with the big dogs this week (Cincy, Miami, St. Louis,..) on the expectation that things will settle down and parity will continue to reign.

Last week: 10-5
Yeart to date: 18-13

Week 2 Picks

2008-09-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

Kansas City -3.5 over Oakland
Tennessee+1 over Cincninnati
Minnesota +1.5 over Indianapolis
Washington (PK) over New Orleans
Detroit +3 over Green Bay
NYGiants -8.5 over St. Louis
Buffalo +4.5 over Jacksonville
Tampa Bay -7 over Atlanta
SanFrancisco +6.5 over Seattle
Miami +6.5 over Arizona
New England +1 over NYJets
Denver (PK) over San Diego
Cleveland +6.5 over Pittsburgh
Philadelphia +6.5 over Dallas
Baltimore Houston postponed

Last week: 8-8
Year to date: 8-8

Week 1 Picks

2008-09-07T04:50:00.000-07:00

Here goes:

NYG -5 over Washington (Freebie)
Baltimore +2 over Cincy
NYJ -3 over Miami
KC +16 over NewEngland
Pittsburgh -6.5 over Houston
Tenn +3 over Jax
Detroit -3 over Atlanta
Seattle +1 over Buffalo
NewOrleans -3 over Tampa
Philly -8.5 over St.Louis
Cleveland +6 over Dallas
SD -9 over Carolina
SanFrancisco +2.5 over Arizona
Indy -9.5 over Chicago
Minnesota +2 over Green Bay
Oakland +3 over Denver

Serve & Volley

2008-07-04T17:56:00.000-07:00

It is as we had hoped on the men's draw:

Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal

On the distaff side, what a pleasant surprise, the Williams' Sisters do battle for the 3rd time to decide the Wimbledon Champion.

It may not be Borg vs. McEnroe, but it's good stuff

The Yankees Stink

2008-05-21T15:12:00.000-07:00

Wow, the Bronx Bombers are sinking like a rock.

The BoSox look invincible. Their pitching is incredible.

The Tampa Rays and Baltimore Orioles appear to be much improved.

Toronto has the pitching to make a run, if they can start to hit.

When does football season start?

The Two Best Weekends of the Year

2008-01-06T06:02:00.000-08:00

For a pro football junkie like myself, the two best weekends of the year are this one and the next. Four Playoff games, two on Saturday and two on Sunday. I remain in denial that the end of the season is near.

I got a buncha Sammies, cold in the fridge, the Wings are ready to go and the beloved Giants headline the first game at 1 PM this afternoon.

The kids are coming over, though they are sadly not Giants' fans, to join in the revelry.

What could be better?

Rock Band Rocks!

2007-12-25T16:55:00.000-08:00

The kids came over late this Chrismas morning and stayed until about 8PM, which qualifies as probably the longest visit of the year.

We opened presents in about 30 seconds flat. The big gift was the Rock Band Bundle from MTV games. It was a smash hit.

We spent most of the day alternating between trying out the new game and shooting a bunch of 8-Ball. The latter activity gave rise to the band's name, "The Miscubes" ( some sort of bastardization of the word miscue, because there were plenty, especially once the beers started flowing later in the day).

We also managed to wolf down vast quantities of buffalo wings, pigs in a blanket, shrimp cocktail and other finger foods, which is we always do on Christmas, rather than have a traditional sit down dinner.

I didn't really participate in the rock band, but watched my older son on guitar, my daughter on vocals and my younger son manning the drums. It was clear they were having a blast but I may have enjoyed it most of all, just sitting there and watching them engage each other.

All in all it was a very Merry X-mas for this father of three who doesn't get to see enough of his kids!

Tampa Bay or not Tampa Bay

2007-12-25T06:32:00.001-08:00

So the Giants are in the playoffs and their first round matchup is set. They'll be playing the Bucaneers in Tampa the first weekend in January. The exact date and time is not decided yet.

However, tickets are available, as are cheap flights and hotels. I have a trip lined up right now, including game tix, 3 nights hotel (supposedly less than a mile from Raymond James Stadium) and round trip air fare for under $600.

I can't decide if I should pull the trigger.

On the plus side, it would be awesome to see a Giants' playoff game, I've never been and I figure they have a decent chance to win or at least make it a competitive game. It's a great excuse to get out of the cold northeast for a long weekend (today's forecast, partly sunny and 77 degrees). We also have friends not too far from there...

On the down side, we just bought a house and cash is tight, I just bought a new HD TV and the games are awesome on it. Not knowing if the game is Sat or Sunday means I'd have to burn at least 2 vacation days to fly down on Friday and fly back on Monday. The kids want to go see their grandparents this coming weekend and I hate traveling, really don't want to do it two weekends in a row. Air travel is the worst. Last two trips I got stuck overnight, trying to get back to Manchester...

I guess it's a nice dilemma to have, but what's a football fan to do?

Joys of owing a Home

2007-12-25T06:08:00.000-08:00

So after 3 1/2 years living in a condo, where someone else does the gardening, mowing and the snow plowing, we moved into a house last weekend, just in time for the snow storms.

Naturally, the snow blower the previous owners left has issues. The shovel works just like I remember, except it seems to take a lot longer and I have to pause a lot more frequently, before the driveway is cleared.

The house is way too big for us and the furnace runs constantly. Lord only knows how much the electric bill will run every month...

On the plus side, the hot tub is awesome for soaking the tired old bones after a bout of shoveling.
The pool table (also inherited from the previous owners) means the kids come over a lot to play.

The neighbors have been great, and the pooch loves the big, fenced in back yard.

Maybe this owning a house isn't so bad after all...

You think we're done with snow until next December???

Phil Rizzuto

2007-08-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

It is with infinite sadness that I comment on the passing of the Scooter, Phil Rizzuto, one of the most beloved Yankee Icons of all time. He was a great player, and won 7 world series as the anchor at short for the Yanks in the 40's and 50's.

That was before my time. I know him best as the announcer for Yankee broadcasts. It was like watching/listening to the game with your crazy old Uncle Phil. I will miss him dearly.

He broadcast Yankee games for 40 years. As a trivia question, who can tell me why he stopped, after 40 years? Why would he stop? He was an institution.

On a personal note, I got to meet the great Scooter once, some 20 odd years ago at my buddy Robert's wedding. It was in Bennington, VT, at one of these deals with a banquet hall on one side and a restaurant/dining room on the other. Rumor had it that Scooter's daughter owned the place.

Sure enough, when we wandered across the dining room, on the way to the john, there was the great man, having dinner with his wife Cora and friends. Naturally, we dove in, interrupted his dinner and told him what a tremendous Yankee fanatic our buddy Robert was.

Gracious does not even begin to describe the Scooter's response. He walked back to the reception hall, shook hands, made small talk, posed for pictures. Truly amazing.

Rest In Peace Scooter.

Barry Bonds

2007-08-27T17:28:00.000-07:00

Unlike with Mr. Vick, I am not, in anway conflicted over Barry Bonds and his amazing accomplishment this summer. HE HAS HIT MORE HOME RUNS THAN ANY MAJOR LEAGUER IN THE HISTORY OF BASEBALL!!!

I listen to the talking heads talk about cheating and the importance of a level playing field and I shake my head and laughs.

Cheating is practically institutionalized in baseball. It always has been!

The notion of a "level playing field", I find particularly preposterous. One of the charms of our national pasttime is , there is no such thing as a level playing field. Every ballpark is different.

How many more home runs would Joe D have hit if his home park didn't have Death Valley, in left field?

How many fewer home runs would Hank Aaron have hit if he didn't play at the launching pad?
Lord have mercy, Davey Johnson hit 40 HRs one year in that bandbox.

Don't deny Barry his greatness. He's the best ballplayer you will ever see.

Michael Vick

2007-08-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty conflicted about the whole Michael Vick saga that has enfolded these last few weeks.

Two articles by journalists I respect a whole lot, one black (Jason Whitlock) and one white (Gregg Easterbrook), lend some much needed balance to the discussion. I mention their race because anyone who thinks race and culture is not central to this whole issue, is, in my opinion, simply deluding themselves.

Please read them if you get the chance.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7160334?MSNHPHMA
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=easterbrook/070816

Apart from Michael Vick, I recommend the writings of Messrs. Whitlock & Easterbrook very highly. Jason is a sports journalist. Mr. Easterbrook is the Tuesday Morning Quarterback on ESPN, but ranges farther afield. He is in fact, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institute.

The Yankees Stink

2007-05-20T05:57:00.000-07:00

18-23, 10 1/2 games behind the Sox.
You know what? I'm ok with that.

I've been a Yankee fan for over 40 years. Apart from this remarkable run of the last dozen years or so, and a couple great years in the late 70's, the Yankees have stunk for the vast majority of my time as a fan. I don't think they have to win the American League East every year, like they have for the past NINE years in a row.

The most encouraging sign I see is that the Yankees are returning to investing in the farm system. Forget the big bucks, quick fix (read Giambi, Rodriguez, Abreu...). Develop and bring up the youngsters (Cano, Cabrerra, Hughes..). As a fan, it is much more satisfying to root for a bunch of home-grown players, rather than mercenaries. I'm ok if it takes a few years before the Yankees are on top again. Give me a team I can root for!

People forget that the heart & soul of the great championship teams of the 90's (Jeter, Rivera, Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Posada, ) was entirely home-grown. In fact, with the exception of one ill-advised detour to Houston, this exceptional group of players have played their entire major league careers for the Yankees. That is nearly unheard of in today's game.

GO YANKEES! Do it right.

My only request is that we get Mariano, Derek, Jorge, et al one more ring before they call it a (great) career.

A New (old) Gig

2007-05-12T07:01:00.000-07:00

I started my new job last week.
I am working on something called the Lotus Notes client, for IBM.
It has been a little over eight years since I left Westford to seek my fortune in the WWW.

Some things have changed not at all.
Many things are very different.

I am a lot older and hopefully, somewhat wiser.

Go figure...

Amen

2007-04-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Forget the multitude of talking heads.

This amazing woman said it all....