Monday, November 21, 2005
Rest in Peace
Perhaps because I was denied access to the game, I did not find out until just now glancing at the post-game conferences... BB's dad, Mr. Steve Belichick died. I can't imagine what it was like for BB to coach that game today, and to not say a thing... my heart goes out to him; the grief must be unbearable.
Sunday, November 20, 2005
I Can't Comment on What I Can't See
I wasn't able to watch the game today. No, this was not the result of my crazy-being-out-all-night (but jeez I really am getting too old to do that). I was up in time to watch the game, though, and confused as I flipped through the guide. No coverage in Foxboro, least not in my area. For awhile I fumed at CBS-Hartford, which was showing the Raiders and Redskins. Who in the Hartford area could possibly care about that game beyond general love for football? But I looked and found that the Patriots game was the property of FOX this week.
It used to be that one network owned the AFC and the other the NFC, and I think they went by the home team. This is clearly no longer the case, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it this year, AND this weeks assignment meant that Connecticut fans of the New England Patriots were SOL today, no thanks to FOX 61, who chose to broadcast the Giants game instead. Now I understand that the Eagles/Giants seemed to be a more compelling matchup, but there is that any-given-sunday yada-yada... and frankly I don't care how boring the game is; I WANNA SEE MY TEAM! Clearly I was not the only person to feel this way, as FOX-61 had an apologetic statement on the subject posted on their website. They claimed to have applied for the right to broadcast both games, and that was denied.
WHY OH WHY, YOU BITCHY PEOPLE IN THE NFL OFFICES, WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US? Let me make this clear that I blame the NFL for improperly allocating the games in order to create this mess in the first place...if this game was only owned by CBS, we never would have had an issue, seeing as CBS owned the double-header this week and the Jets had a 4:15 game. Also I don't understand what is wrong with granting rights to both games. Clearly there are plenty of fans of both the Giants and the Patriots in Connecticut, and some party was bound to be pissed either way. What's the big deal? Do these NFL office people need to upset fans in order to feel powerful? Well there you go. You have the power. I'm upset. Hope that makes your day. It sure fucked with mine.
It used to be that one network owned the AFC and the other the NFC, and I think they went by the home team. This is clearly no longer the case, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to it this year, AND this weeks assignment meant that Connecticut fans of the New England Patriots were SOL today, no thanks to FOX 61, who chose to broadcast the Giants game instead. Now I understand that the Eagles/Giants seemed to be a more compelling matchup, but there is that any-given-sunday yada-yada... and frankly I don't care how boring the game is; I WANNA SEE MY TEAM! Clearly I was not the only person to feel this way, as FOX-61 had an apologetic statement on the subject posted on their website. They claimed to have applied for the right to broadcast both games, and that was denied.
WHY OH WHY, YOU BITCHY PEOPLE IN THE NFL OFFICES, WOULD YOU DO THIS TO US? Let me make this clear that I blame the NFL for improperly allocating the games in order to create this mess in the first place...if this game was only owned by CBS, we never would have had an issue, seeing as CBS owned the double-header this week and the Jets had a 4:15 game. Also I don't understand what is wrong with granting rights to both games. Clearly there are plenty of fans of both the Giants and the Patriots in Connecticut, and some party was bound to be pissed either way. What's the big deal? Do these NFL office people need to upset fans in order to feel powerful? Well there you go. You have the power. I'm upset. Hope that makes your day. It sure fucked with mine.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
New Stuff
I'm adding a bunch of links to the left, and I'm not nearly done yet. I've been meaning to do this for months, so of course it all adds up, and it should take me awhile to remember all I wanted to link to. All in good time.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Another Plastic Jewel for the Crown
Prince Purple-lips brought his gold-plated tin crown in today for fitting... a sparkling new rhinestone may ease the pain as he glances down at the bare hand. No ring? No matter; he'll just put his fielding glove on so nobody notices.
The votes came in today, and fielding outweighed clutch, at least to those voting for the official AL MVP. Apparently one needs not add actual value to a team's record to be considered most valuable to the league; As long as you've got the numbers, they really don't care how you got them. And I don't care either... about the MVP results, that is. This particular year's winner underscores how irrelevant this award actually is to the true value of a player, and promises to make this award less and less meaningful to people in years to come.
The votes came in today, and fielding outweighed clutch, at least to those voting for the official AL MVP. Apparently one needs not add actual value to a team's record to be considered most valuable to the league; As long as you've got the numbers, they really don't care how you got them. And I don't care either... about the MVP results, that is. This particular year's winner underscores how irrelevant this award actually is to the true value of a player, and promises to make this award less and less meaningful to people in years to come.
Sunday, November 13, 2005
A Win and a Smile
I'm sorry for the sad silence here at reb sox for the past week or so. Reb Sox commenting fave peter* e-mailed last week to make sure I had not been abducted, so I guess I should apologize for any concern I may have caused. Some of you read my other blog, and may have guessed that I just have a lot to figure out right now... still I need to make time to blog, for writing brings me clarity. Breaking silence is always tricky for me, as if I must dig out something very profound to make up for it. I have nothing profound for you today. Just words. But enough words about me, right? Let's get some about sports.
The game this past Monday seemed like a compelling subject, yet I had nothing to say about it. Nothing, that is, that I haven't said repeatedly about our Patriots this season. (1. PROTECT TOM- 2. Force Turnovers- 3. What the hell are we putting out there pretending to be an OL? We need to PROTECT TOM BRADY!) If we were able to solve those fatal flaws, we would have won that game. I knew going in, though, that if we could not protect tom we had no chance... beyond the freak occurrance of turnovers, which as it turned out went the wrong way last week.
It's pretty obvious by now that our boys in blue are vulnerable this year. Beyond the ol' "any given Sunday" routine, I really have watched the games with no confidence. To the casual fan this might be depressing. Certainly for me it is frustrating, but I must admit there is an aspect to it which I find refreshing. I am a FAN, you see, one who has seen my team at 15-1, and also 1-15, and watch for them to win all the same. As much as I hate to admit it, winning all the time can get dull. At least, the expectation to win, I mean- it takes the joy away from the actual winning.
The nice thing about our boys falling back to earth after their long stint at the top? We get the real excitement back. How many of you were jumping up and down with me yesterday, celebrating that final fourth-down stuff? How many times did you pump your fist and exclaim "yes!" after a first down, or even just a completed pass? How many times did google search out #44 "Heath Evans" for pats fans yesterday, as our eyes bugged out in pleasant surprise and we wondered "who the hell is this guy?" and "where did he come from?" and "where the hell has he been all season?" (Miami, BTW, so I guess he had a little bit to prove out there.)
The best thing about the mediocrity of this season is the hope we still hold from where we stand. After nine games we are barely above .500, yet our chances of making the playoffs are excellent. From there, as we know, anything can happen.
At this point in the baseball season, we knew the chances for our boys in red to make the playoffs were good... but without fixing the fatal flaws on the team (pitching and plate consistancy) we would not be able to do much there. And we didn't. Prospects for the boys in blue this year are similar. Our chances to make the playoffs are fairly solid, and may come down to the wire just like they did in MLB. We have the next seven games to fix the fatal flaws on this team (secondary health and the OL). If we don't- anything can happen, absolutely, but we won't expect much. The success we've seen in recent years allows us to see the team through clearer eyes, accept our shortcomings, and be happy to acheive whatever the team is capable of this year.
Knowing this should help us truly buy into BB's top-page mantra: One game at a time. We won that game in Miami, and I smile today for it, come what may. Starting tomorrow I will shift my focus to The New Orleans Saints, who, despite their meager record, can win easily if not taken seriously. They may only have two wins this year, but one was in Carolina, who in case you don't remember made us look downright foolish just one week later.
The game this past Monday seemed like a compelling subject, yet I had nothing to say about it. Nothing, that is, that I haven't said repeatedly about our Patriots this season. (1. PROTECT TOM- 2. Force Turnovers- 3. What the hell are we putting out there pretending to be an OL? We need to PROTECT TOM BRADY!) If we were able to solve those fatal flaws, we would have won that game. I knew going in, though, that if we could not protect tom we had no chance... beyond the freak occurrance of turnovers, which as it turned out went the wrong way last week.
It's pretty obvious by now that our boys in blue are vulnerable this year. Beyond the ol' "any given Sunday" routine, I really have watched the games with no confidence. To the casual fan this might be depressing. Certainly for me it is frustrating, but I must admit there is an aspect to it which I find refreshing. I am a FAN, you see, one who has seen my team at 15-1, and also 1-15, and watch for them to win all the same. As much as I hate to admit it, winning all the time can get dull. At least, the expectation to win, I mean- it takes the joy away from the actual winning.
The nice thing about our boys falling back to earth after their long stint at the top? We get the real excitement back. How many of you were jumping up and down with me yesterday, celebrating that final fourth-down stuff? How many times did you pump your fist and exclaim "yes!" after a first down, or even just a completed pass? How many times did google search out #44 "Heath Evans" for pats fans yesterday, as our eyes bugged out in pleasant surprise and we wondered "who the hell is this guy?" and "where did he come from?" and "where the hell has he been all season?" (Miami, BTW, so I guess he had a little bit to prove out there.)
The best thing about the mediocrity of this season is the hope we still hold from where we stand. After nine games we are barely above .500, yet our chances of making the playoffs are excellent. From there, as we know, anything can happen.
At this point in the baseball season, we knew the chances for our boys in red to make the playoffs were good... but without fixing the fatal flaws on the team (pitching and plate consistancy) we would not be able to do much there. And we didn't. Prospects for the boys in blue this year are similar. Our chances to make the playoffs are fairly solid, and may come down to the wire just like they did in MLB. We have the next seven games to fix the fatal flaws on this team (secondary health and the OL). If we don't- anything can happen, absolutely, but we won't expect much. The success we've seen in recent years allows us to see the team through clearer eyes, accept our shortcomings, and be happy to acheive whatever the team is capable of this year.
Knowing this should help us truly buy into BB's top-page mantra: One game at a time. We won that game in Miami, and I smile today for it, come what may. Starting tomorrow I will shift my focus to The New Orleans Saints, who, despite their meager record, can win easily if not taken seriously. They may only have two wins this year, but one was in Carolina, who in case you don't remember made us look downright foolish just one week later.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
Thank Theo
Thank you, JB, for setting up a site where we can express our overflowing gratitude and respect... and even hope he will read it!
I'm Just One Girl
I don't have to like a source or agree with it to keep coming back, as long as I believe the motives are true, but the scent of corruption drives me away in frustration every time. This is why I've barely glanced at DD in months, and read CHB so infrequently that I am personally amazed I actually read the offensive "dirty laundry" article (AND blogged about it) before it became an issue.
I wish I could do something about it. It makes me so sad that people read these guys. Just because their names are known, people are stupid enough to believe them, and keep coming back. Disgust with their falseness has been widely discussed and agreed upon in the blogger community for quite some time, so it seems amazing that the majority of people don't see it. But then again, I suppose the level of thought process required to blog makes bloggers a special breed.
Dirt continues to come out about the Globe via Sheriff Sully, so be sure to check out the site today. I have barely read the Globe lately anyway, but I definitely won't be going back until CHB is gone - no matter how long that takes. But I am just one girl, so who cares, right?
I wish I could do something about it. It makes me so sad that people read these guys. Just because their names are known, people are stupid enough to believe them, and keep coming back. Disgust with their falseness has been widely discussed and agreed upon in the blogger community for quite some time, so it seems amazing that the majority of people don't see it. But then again, I suppose the level of thought process required to blog makes bloggers a special breed.
Dirt continues to come out about the Globe via Sheriff Sully, so be sure to check out the site today. I have barely read the Globe lately anyway, but I definitely won't be going back until CHB is gone - no matter how long that takes. But I am just one girl, so who cares, right?
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Must Read
So you want to know how I feel? I'm too exhausted by my anger to fully describe it. It's been summed up pretty nicely by Beth in the fifth paragraph here. Or by Andrew here. But for even more perspective on the situation, don't miss this. Really, you MUST read it.
And this- shockingly, I've finally read something today that made me feel a little bit better. But only for theo. We, on the other hand, are screwed.
And this- shockingly, I've finally read something today that made me feel a little bit better. But only for theo. We, on the other hand, are screwed.
The Nation Falls
I've been sitting at my computer for over an hour, trying to find the words...
I feel so powerless.
The last three years, under the direction of a young and brilliant leader, we have seen the rise of a great nation. We have come together with more pride than ever before, we have suffered the sting of disappointment, we have celebrated a victory like no other, we have swelled with pride and hope for our bright future. Suddenly something has shot out the lights, and the nation panics in the darkness... the noble sir theo has been betrayed. He has left town, and no one can blame him, and citizens of the nation wonder how they can go on supporting what is left. We curse the roots that bind us here, once a source of great pride to us, but now imprisoning us to wait out the passing of a corrupt regime.
Why is it always the good who walk away, leaving power in the hands of the evil?
I feel so powerless.
The last three years, under the direction of a young and brilliant leader, we have seen the rise of a great nation. We have come together with more pride than ever before, we have suffered the sting of disappointment, we have celebrated a victory like no other, we have swelled with pride and hope for our bright future. Suddenly something has shot out the lights, and the nation panics in the darkness... the noble sir theo has been betrayed. He has left town, and no one can blame him, and citizens of the nation wonder how they can go on supporting what is left. We curse the roots that bind us here, once a source of great pride to us, but now imprisoning us to wait out the passing of a corrupt regime.
Why is it always the good who walk away, leaving power in the hands of the evil?
Consolation Prize
I won $100 tonight in a football pool in which I had bet $4. It was one of those where you pay $2/square, each square corresponding to a number for each team. The numbers are assigned randomly after all squares have been purchased. My squares were: Balt 0, Pitt 4; Balt 9, Pitt 0. I've never won on this grid before, but tonight I won the final.
I'm happy, really. I'm irritated that it involved the waving of terrible yellow towels, but I'll take it since I don't think it will affect the Patriots this year.
Still I'm having a hellava hard time feeling happy about anything. $100 is nice and all, but I am inconsolable. No theo, no smile. And for a poor girl like me, that's saying quite a bit.
At least in the process I have thoroughly numbed my emotions with Jack, Jameson, and Patron. For tonight.
I'm happy, really. I'm irritated that it involved the waving of terrible yellow towels, but I'll take it since I don't think it will affect the Patriots this year.
Still I'm having a hellava hard time feeling happy about anything. $100 is nice and all, but I am inconsolable. No theo, no smile. And for a poor girl like me, that's saying quite a bit.
At least in the process I have thoroughly numbed my emotions with Jack, Jameson, and Patron. For tonight.
