Here we are for the last This Week’s Picks of the year.
I cannot go without commenting on the soap opera called, “As Urban Turns”.
Saturday I was listening to Leonard Cohen, of all people, when my wife told me that Urban Meyer had resigned. Health problems. Then Sunday he decided to take a unspecified leave of absence. By the end of the week, I'm betting he’ll just take a PTO day.
Urban stopped to smell the roses and decided that was over-rated.
All of that seems reasonable compared to the Mike Leach Head Trauma Unit at Texas Tech. The latest is that Leach, who was suspended by the University for placing the son of a high profile Texan in a small electrical closet due to a mild concussion, is filing suit to be able to coach in the Alamo Bowl. This can’t be good.
Last year, I made a pick in every single bowl game. I did okay. I think I might have been 50-50. This year, my schedule got the best of me with I decided to just go with the Big Five Bowl games.
This Week’s Picks!
The Ruse Bowl: Oregon vs The Ohio State University. Every single blessed year you have the Buckeyes going to Pasadena to lose in the Rose Bowl. This year should not be any different. Ducks win.
The Sugah Bowl: Florida vs Cincinnati. Timmah’s last game as a Gator has been over shadowed by whatever movie is going on in Urban’s head. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is the high powered offense, but, it has never seen a defense like Florida’s. Florida win and Timmah gives all the praise to the Lord.
The Cop-Out Bowl: TCU vs Boise State. The Aroused Frogs and The Blue Carpet Bunch both play in a conference that is not a ‘BCS’ conference so instead of having them play a BCS school, the powers that be decided to have them play each other. Whatever. Both are good teams and this may be the best bowl game of the bunch. I’m going to with the Toadies on this one.
The Urange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs Iowa. Last year, the Bees got killed in the Chick-fil-a Bowl by LSU. The people that know this sort of thing think that a team can prepare for the Triple Option if they have a month. Iowa is not LSU. Bees win.
The Mythical National Championship: Alabama vs Texas. Can Texas win this game? Sure. Bama had some scares this year and Texas is not a bad team. If Utah had not stomped Bama so bad last year, I might have thought Texas could pull an upset. I just cannot see Nick Saban letting that happen again. Alabama’s defense is just too good. Bamy wins.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Christmas In The Heart
You are a rock and roll legend. You rushed through middle age by constantly touring. You are now past retirement age of the people you grew up with and you have tried everything that show business has to offer. But there is one thing you have not tried. This is what you think (translation is offered for the Bob Dylan impaired)
“A Crismus albem (Christmas Album). Yeah, just like that ones they sold at Westurn Otto (Western Auto), with jangle buells (jingle bells) and background singers like Bang C’sby (Bing Crosby) and Per Cumo (Perry Como)”.
The legend of all legends, Bob Dylan, has recorded a Christmas album titled, Christmas In The Heart, and to say the least, it is different. Because when one thinks of Christmas, Bob Dylan does not leap to mind.
Christmas is comfort and joy. Christmas is merry and bright. Christmas is about hope and light.
None of these things are close to the image of Bob Dylan. Dylan has become very rich by being sarcastic, moody, pessimistic, and snarky. When you think of Nat King Cole, you think of a man smiling about the thought of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. When you think of Bob Dylan, you think of a man scowling at the thought of those stupid chestnuts having the nerve to roast on an open fire while people aren’t allowed to be free.
You cannot understand Bob Dylan without understanding that he is all about music. It’s the only true love of his life and he likes all of it. As with the last three or four albums, Christmas In The Heart, is a tip of the hat to the songs and the songwriters that he heard as a youth in Hibbing, Minnesota.
While it is great that Dylan is acknowledging the poetic work of “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”, it must be noted that most Bob Dylan fans want to hear him song his own songs. It has to do with his voice, which, like cappuccino, is an acquired taste. I like Dylan singing “Like A Rolling Stone”. Dylan singing, “Ave Maria” would be another matter.
I need to stop right here and confess that I am a Bobcat. I have been with Bob every step of the way since Slow Train Coming. I liked some of Budokan and I was there for Empire Burlesque. I think Love and Theft ranks right up there with all the great rock and roll albums.
However, his version of “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” (or as he says, “Hurk The Harawld Anjells Sing”) should be used to torture prisoners at Gitmo. This is not a track to listen to-this is a track to avoid. If someone behind you at church sounded like this, you would drop your hymnbook, turn around and stare at him.
The pattern Dylan uses in Christmas In The Heart is a “secular” song followed by a hymn or religious song. Dylan does better with the secular songs like “Christmas Blues” and “Christmas Island” than he does on the religious songs, although his version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Little Drummer Boy” are surprisingly good, considering what he did to the Herald Angels.
The best performance on the album, “Must Be Santa”, provides another one those patented Dylan surprises: a polka that rocks.
Dylan is accompanied by his band, led by bass player Tony Garnier (my nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize since he has worked for Dylan for twenty years) who prove that they can just about play anything, anyway, at any time. The background singers, who have taken some heat in the Dylan internet world, are great. There are times when you wish Bob would lay down his weary tune and let them sing.
Only Bob Dylan could record a “controversial” Christmas album. It should be noted that all of his royalties from Christmas In The Heart are going to the charity Feeding America.
Just for fun, here is a link to the video for "Must Be Santa". Yes, Dylan is wearing a wig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus
“A Crismus albem (Christmas Album). Yeah, just like that ones they sold at Westurn Otto (Western Auto), with jangle buells (jingle bells) and background singers like Bang C’sby (Bing Crosby) and Per Cumo (Perry Como)”.
The legend of all legends, Bob Dylan, has recorded a Christmas album titled, Christmas In The Heart, and to say the least, it is different. Because when one thinks of Christmas, Bob Dylan does not leap to mind.
Christmas is comfort and joy. Christmas is merry and bright. Christmas is about hope and light.
None of these things are close to the image of Bob Dylan. Dylan has become very rich by being sarcastic, moody, pessimistic, and snarky. When you think of Nat King Cole, you think of a man smiling about the thought of chestnuts roasting on an open fire. When you think of Bob Dylan, you think of a man scowling at the thought of those stupid chestnuts having the nerve to roast on an open fire while people aren’t allowed to be free.
You cannot understand Bob Dylan without understanding that he is all about music. It’s the only true love of his life and he likes all of it. As with the last three or four albums, Christmas In The Heart, is a tip of the hat to the songs and the songwriters that he heard as a youth in Hibbing, Minnesota.
While it is great that Dylan is acknowledging the poetic work of “O Little Town Of Bethlehem”, it must be noted that most Bob Dylan fans want to hear him song his own songs. It has to do with his voice, which, like cappuccino, is an acquired taste. I like Dylan singing “Like A Rolling Stone”. Dylan singing, “Ave Maria” would be another matter.
I need to stop right here and confess that I am a Bobcat. I have been with Bob every step of the way since Slow Train Coming. I liked some of Budokan and I was there for Empire Burlesque. I think Love and Theft ranks right up there with all the great rock and roll albums.
However, his version of “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” (or as he says, “Hurk The Harawld Anjells Sing”) should be used to torture prisoners at Gitmo. This is not a track to listen to-this is a track to avoid. If someone behind you at church sounded like this, you would drop your hymnbook, turn around and stare at him.
The pattern Dylan uses in Christmas In The Heart is a “secular” song followed by a hymn or religious song. Dylan does better with the secular songs like “Christmas Blues” and “Christmas Island” than he does on the religious songs, although his version of “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and “Little Drummer Boy” are surprisingly good, considering what he did to the Herald Angels.
The best performance on the album, “Must Be Santa”, provides another one those patented Dylan surprises: a polka that rocks.
Dylan is accompanied by his band, led by bass player Tony Garnier (my nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize since he has worked for Dylan for twenty years) who prove that they can just about play anything, anyway, at any time. The background singers, who have taken some heat in the Dylan internet world, are great. There are times when you wish Bob would lay down his weary tune and let them sing.
Only Bob Dylan could record a “controversial” Christmas album. It should be noted that all of his royalties from Christmas In The Heart are going to the charity Feeding America.
Just for fun, here is a link to the video for "Must Be Santa". Yes, Dylan is wearing a wig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8qE6WQmNus
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
This Weeks (Heisman) Picks!
No picks on games this week. Just too busy with Jingle Bell rocking around the Christmas tree at my wife office’s party. Plus, the boy is coming home from his first semester in college. Plus, Christmas shopping. Plus getting my wife’s car fixed. Plus a million other things.
Aside for the Army-Navy game, the Division One season ended last week. Division Two is having their championship in Florence, Alabama! If there is one thing that says, ‘well done’ it is a trip to Florence, Alabama. Grand Valley will play Northwest Missouri. Actually, it is a pretty fun game, but I wouldn’t know who to pick.
The FCS is in their semi-final round with Appalachian State facing Montana and William & Mary playing Villanova. Just a hunch, but I think Appy State will crush Montana, simply because of speed. I think Nova will beat Bill and Mary
It is now time for me to give my Heisman pick! (The sound of trumpets).
First of all, let me say of all of the awards that are given in this world, the Heisman has always been the one that never made a lot of sense. It is supposed to be for the “best player”, if that player happens to be a quarterback or a running back.
This year there are five candidates. Two of them are on it for the career, not their season stats. One is someone most of the nation has never seen play and another has a name nobody can pronounce. Additionally, there is one player, C.J. Spiller of Clemson, who not even on the list, but should be.
The two quarterbacks, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy have had incredible careers, but this year, they just haven’t been the dominant player that the winner of the Heisman should be. McCoy damaged his chances last week against Nebraska. Frankly, the Tim Tebow show has gotten a little stale. He’s a great everything, but it is just not his year.
Toby Gerhart of Stanford is second in the nation in rushing and first in scoring. He goes to Stanford, which is a Brainiac school, plus he is a rare White running back (I just thought I’d throw that in for the haters). However, he plays in the Pac 10, which brings him down a notch for me.
What do you do with a problem like Ndamukong Suh? He is the dominate defensive tackle. The Heisman, however, has a bias against defensive players. My solution: if the Heisman is the best player, make all of the winners of the various position awards (Like the Johnny Unitas award, and Butkus award, etc) on the stage of the Heisman. That way, the average fan could appreciate the career of an Ndamukong Suh as much as he would a quarterback)
That leaves Mark Ingram of Alabama. He was the best player on the best team. That to me equals the Heisman Trophy.
There seems to be a push from the media for Gerhart. He might win it. I don’t know if the Heisman voters have been able to watch a lot of his games. If this were the Oscars, I would think Gerhart and Ingram would split the halfback vote with McCoy and Tebow splitting the qb vote. That would make Suh the first defensive lineman the winner.
I just don’t see any of that happening. I think Ingram will win with McCoy somehow coming in second.
On a personal note, I must comment on the resignation of Scott Jones as the Head Football Coach of the Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs. The Mighty Mustangs had a poor record this year and they have never been to the playoffs. So it wasn’t quite unexpected. However, Scott is a good guy and he treated my son well.
I hope for him and his family all the best. Our time in the program was enjoyable and I was able to see first hand all of the work that goes into being a head coach. It is easier to criticize a head coach than to be a head coach.
Aside for the Army-Navy game, the Division One season ended last week. Division Two is having their championship in Florence, Alabama! If there is one thing that says, ‘well done’ it is a trip to Florence, Alabama. Grand Valley will play Northwest Missouri. Actually, it is a pretty fun game, but I wouldn’t know who to pick.
The FCS is in their semi-final round with Appalachian State facing Montana and William & Mary playing Villanova. Just a hunch, but I think Appy State will crush Montana, simply because of speed. I think Nova will beat Bill and Mary
It is now time for me to give my Heisman pick! (The sound of trumpets).
First of all, let me say of all of the awards that are given in this world, the Heisman has always been the one that never made a lot of sense. It is supposed to be for the “best player”, if that player happens to be a quarterback or a running back.
This year there are five candidates. Two of them are on it for the career, not their season stats. One is someone most of the nation has never seen play and another has a name nobody can pronounce. Additionally, there is one player, C.J. Spiller of Clemson, who not even on the list, but should be.
The two quarterbacks, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy have had incredible careers, but this year, they just haven’t been the dominant player that the winner of the Heisman should be. McCoy damaged his chances last week against Nebraska. Frankly, the Tim Tebow show has gotten a little stale. He’s a great everything, but it is just not his year.
Toby Gerhart of Stanford is second in the nation in rushing and first in scoring. He goes to Stanford, which is a Brainiac school, plus he is a rare White running back (I just thought I’d throw that in for the haters). However, he plays in the Pac 10, which brings him down a notch for me.
What do you do with a problem like Ndamukong Suh? He is the dominate defensive tackle. The Heisman, however, has a bias against defensive players. My solution: if the Heisman is the best player, make all of the winners of the various position awards (Like the Johnny Unitas award, and Butkus award, etc) on the stage of the Heisman. That way, the average fan could appreciate the career of an Ndamukong Suh as much as he would a quarterback)
That leaves Mark Ingram of Alabama. He was the best player on the best team. That to me equals the Heisman Trophy.
There seems to be a push from the media for Gerhart. He might win it. I don’t know if the Heisman voters have been able to watch a lot of his games. If this were the Oscars, I would think Gerhart and Ingram would split the halfback vote with McCoy and Tebow splitting the qb vote. That would make Suh the first defensive lineman the winner.
I just don’t see any of that happening. I think Ingram will win with McCoy somehow coming in second.
On a personal note, I must comment on the resignation of Scott Jones as the Head Football Coach of the Kennesaw Mountain Mustangs. The Mighty Mustangs had a poor record this year and they have never been to the playoffs. So it wasn’t quite unexpected. However, Scott is a good guy and he treated my son well.
I hope for him and his family all the best. Our time in the program was enjoyable and I was able to see first hand all of the work that goes into being a head coach. It is easier to criticize a head coach than to be a head coach.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
This Week's Picks!
As a lot of you already know, this week was Cardiac Catheterization week here at Picks Central. It seems my annual EKG showed something called a “left bundle block”, which is not something out of Lombardi’s Packer days. As people say, it’s complicated and leave it at that.
Anyway, during my catheterization, I saw bright light. I walked closer to the light because I heard…..barking. Out of the light came UGA VII!
I said, “Where’s the Lord?” UGA said, “They didn’t even put you to sleep, Alan, or should I call you, Adam Lambert? Anyway, The Lord, Momma, Daddy, and Elvis all told me to tell you that it is not your time and to stop being such a big baby”.
I asked our late four legged friend, “How’s Heaven?” He said. “Oh, it’s great. Three squares a day and you get to sit on a block of ice next to a cheerleader. Wait that was my life. Anyway, I get to peer into the future. Did you know the next Palin grandbaby is going to be named, ‘Popcorn’?”
“So UGA”, I continued, “You can help me with This Weeks Picks!”
He said, “First of all, I’m a dog, not a genie, so don’t think you’re going to get something out of me besides the Palin grandbaby thing and that President Tebow’s wife has triplets and he resigns the Presidency to become a missionary to Cambodia and that each one of the triplets eventually goes on to win the Heisman trophy”. “Tim Tebow becomes President?” I asked. UGA shrugged and said, “Yeah, the future is really ruff.”
This week’s picks!
Division Two Playoffs: It’s down to four teams in D2: Carson-Newman, Grand Valley State, California (PA) and Northwest Missouri. Grand Valley and Northwest Missouri wins.
Division Three Playoffs: Let’s just say Mount Union and UW-Whitewater Six Flags will be playing for the championship and skip this next week.
Huskers of Corn vs. Texsas: It would make things interesting if Nebraska would beat the Longhorns, but it is not going to happen. Texas wins big to set up a chance at the Mythical National Championship.
Hippie vs. Hippie State: The last time an Oregon-Oregon State game mattered to anyone outside of Oregon was….never. All I know is that uniform-wise, you don’t watch this game in HD or you will get motion sickness. Ducks fly to the Rose Bowl.
The Only Game That Matters: Florida vs. Alabama. You know, you could make a case for either one. I tend to think Florida is the better team, but not by much. If Mark Ingram plays like the Heisman contender he is, Bama just might beat the Gators. But, if Florida stops him like Auburn did, it will be a long night for the Tide. Florida wins, but I’m not thrilled with it.
Anyway, during my catheterization, I saw bright light. I walked closer to the light because I heard…..barking. Out of the light came UGA VII!
I said, “Where’s the Lord?” UGA said, “They didn’t even put you to sleep, Alan, or should I call you, Adam Lambert? Anyway, The Lord, Momma, Daddy, and Elvis all told me to tell you that it is not your time and to stop being such a big baby”.
I asked our late four legged friend, “How’s Heaven?” He said. “Oh, it’s great. Three squares a day and you get to sit on a block of ice next to a cheerleader. Wait that was my life. Anyway, I get to peer into the future. Did you know the next Palin grandbaby is going to be named, ‘Popcorn’?”
“So UGA”, I continued, “You can help me with This Weeks Picks!”
He said, “First of all, I’m a dog, not a genie, so don’t think you’re going to get something out of me besides the Palin grandbaby thing and that President Tebow’s wife has triplets and he resigns the Presidency to become a missionary to Cambodia and that each one of the triplets eventually goes on to win the Heisman trophy”. “Tim Tebow becomes President?” I asked. UGA shrugged and said, “Yeah, the future is really ruff.”
This week’s picks!
Division Two Playoffs: It’s down to four teams in D2: Carson-Newman, Grand Valley State, California (PA) and Northwest Missouri. Grand Valley and Northwest Missouri wins.
Division Three Playoffs: Let’s just say Mount Union and UW-Whitewater Six Flags will be playing for the championship and skip this next week.
Huskers of Corn vs. Texsas: It would make things interesting if Nebraska would beat the Longhorns, but it is not going to happen. Texas wins big to set up a chance at the Mythical National Championship.
Hippie vs. Hippie State: The last time an Oregon-Oregon State game mattered to anyone outside of Oregon was….never. All I know is that uniform-wise, you don’t watch this game in HD or you will get motion sickness. Ducks fly to the Rose Bowl.
The Only Game That Matters: Florida vs. Alabama. You know, you could make a case for either one. I tend to think Florida is the better team, but not by much. If Mark Ingram plays like the Heisman contender he is, Bama just might beat the Gators. But, if Florida stops him like Auburn did, it will be a long night for the Tide. Florida wins, but I’m not thrilled with it.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
This Week's Picks!
Last Saturday was one of those weird days in college football in which nothing made sense. For example, take the Harvard-Yale in which Yale was leading Harvard 14-10 late in the fourth quarter. While still in their own territory, Yale had a fourth and twenty-two. Seeing that Yale is one of the top colleges in the world, if not the universe, you would think Yale would punt and have their defense stop Harvard.
You would be wrong.
Yale decided to do a fake punt, gained only fourteen yards and turned the ball over to Harvard. On the first play from scrimmage, Harvard scored the winning touchdown. It is not known if the Yale coach has accepted a position with the Obama economic team.
However, that decision seemed down right scholarly compared to Les Miles’ Brain, um, Flatulence against Ole Miss. Ole Miss was compelled and determined to give the game to LSU when Les Miles and his clock management team managed to lose the game. Here’s what Pat Forde of ESPN said, channeling Les Miles barking instructions to Jordan Jefferson: “Jordan, it's all on you. You're 19 years old and doing this for room, board and tuition. I'm making $3.751 million a year. But you're on your own now, and if this goes badly I'm throwing you in front of the post game media train without hesitation”
I also need to mention that the Edinboro Fighting Scots, the official Division Two Team of This Week’s Picks lost to West Liberty University by the final score of 84-63. This proves the old football proverb, “If you can’t keep a team to less than 80 points you don’t deserve to go to a Division Two Championship game”.
And the dog died.
After UGA VII died, you could sense that something was seriously wrong at the University of Georgia. I mean, a “memorial service”, for a dog. What could you say besides, “He was a good dog”? It’s not like he told good jokes or was handy around the house.
I knew it was going to be a middling year for UGA. I just didn’t think it would include losses to Tennessee and Kentucky. I accept the yearly beat down from the Gators. But Kentucky? That’s like running for President and getting beat by Jimmy Carter.
This Week’s Picks!
Sick Puppies vs. Mighty Bees: In your heart of hearts, you know it would be so cool if UGA, as down as they are now, slays the mighty Yellow Jackets. Look, if they can’t beat them with Stafford, they ain’t going to beat them with Joe Cox. Tech wins and Georgia says, “Hello Shreveport”. (I was on “Hello Shreveport” in the late 70’s).
Rolling Tide vs. Warring Eagles: Awe-burned is getting better and has a better shot at beating Bama than UGA does Tech. They’ll still lose to Bama.
Timmah vs. Bobbah: It would be funny if both Tim Tebow’s last game as a Gator is the same game as Bowden’s last game as coach of FSU. It won’t happen. Twenty years from now we are going to wonder when the 100 year old Bobby Bowden is going to retire. Gators win.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Picks Central!
You would be wrong.
Yale decided to do a fake punt, gained only fourteen yards and turned the ball over to Harvard. On the first play from scrimmage, Harvard scored the winning touchdown. It is not known if the Yale coach has accepted a position with the Obama economic team.
However, that decision seemed down right scholarly compared to Les Miles’ Brain, um, Flatulence against Ole Miss. Ole Miss was compelled and determined to give the game to LSU when Les Miles and his clock management team managed to lose the game. Here’s what Pat Forde of ESPN said, channeling Les Miles barking instructions to Jordan Jefferson: “Jordan, it's all on you. You're 19 years old and doing this for room, board and tuition. I'm making $3.751 million a year. But you're on your own now, and if this goes badly I'm throwing you in front of the post game media train without hesitation”
I also need to mention that the Edinboro Fighting Scots, the official Division Two Team of This Week’s Picks lost to West Liberty University by the final score of 84-63. This proves the old football proverb, “If you can’t keep a team to less than 80 points you don’t deserve to go to a Division Two Championship game”.
And the dog died.
After UGA VII died, you could sense that something was seriously wrong at the University of Georgia. I mean, a “memorial service”, for a dog. What could you say besides, “He was a good dog”? It’s not like he told good jokes or was handy around the house.
I knew it was going to be a middling year for UGA. I just didn’t think it would include losses to Tennessee and Kentucky. I accept the yearly beat down from the Gators. But Kentucky? That’s like running for President and getting beat by Jimmy Carter.
This Week’s Picks!
Sick Puppies vs. Mighty Bees: In your heart of hearts, you know it would be so cool if UGA, as down as they are now, slays the mighty Yellow Jackets. Look, if they can’t beat them with Stafford, they ain’t going to beat them with Joe Cox. Tech wins and Georgia says, “Hello Shreveport”. (I was on “Hello Shreveport” in the late 70’s).
Rolling Tide vs. Warring Eagles: Awe-burned is getting better and has a better shot at beating Bama than UGA does Tech. They’ll still lose to Bama.
Timmah vs. Bobbah: It would be funny if both Tim Tebow’s last game as a Gator is the same game as Bowden’s last game as coach of FSU. It won’t happen. Twenty years from now we are going to wonder when the 100 year old Bobby Bowden is going to retire. Gators win.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Picks Central!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
This Week's Picks!
Good news everybody: In last week’s playoff game, The Fighting Topless Skirt wearers, I mean The Fighting Scots of Edinboro defeated East Stroudsburg (College Motto: Don’t Confuse Us With West Stroudsburg) in an exciting game that will long be remembered at every Perkins in central Pennsylvania. The Scots will take on West Liberty for the opportunity to play the winner of California of Pennsylvania and Shippensburg. Now say with me: who? No! Say with me: Go Fighting Scots! It is good that at least one pugnacious Anglo-Saxon nicknamed team is in the hunt for the real National Championship. Here's a team picture:
http://www.gofightingscots.com/page.cfm?sport=345&show=roster
On top of that, the Division Three Brackets are out! Can you believe that Ohio Northern wasn’t selected for the playoffs? No, politics won out and Washington and Jefferson (the school) won the final seed and get to play Mount Union. Odd, Mount Union and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Six Flags are on different sides of the bracket page almost insuring that they meet, once again, in the Division Three Championship in Salem Virginia. When those people from Wisconsin hit Salem, look out!
This week’s picks!
Go in Dumb/Come out Dumb Too vs. Shep Smith’s School: Son, if these schools were in Division Three we would not worry about Mount Union. LSU seems to get stronger and stronger, while Ole Miss whipped Tennessee (Lane’s excuse this week: Team in jail). LSU is just meaner, stronger, and better…except at quarterback. Doesn’t matter, they’ll beat Ole Miss.
The Ohio State University vs. Meechigan: For a while there, it looked like Michigan was back. For a while in 1972, I thought I’d might grow up to be at least 5’10”. That didn’t pan out either. The Buckeyes have won the Big Ten. Ugh. Ohio States wins this one too.
Dawgies vs. Kentucky: What do you know? UGA won a game against a rival. I would feel better about this game if A.J. Green was playing. Still, it is Kentucky football. I’m going with the Dawgs.
Aroused Frogs vs. Male Cows: Ha, just a little racy humor. Everyone knows that Horned Toad is a lizard. Did you laugh when Yosemite Sam would say, “Great Horny toads”? I know I did. Anyway, TCU is the BCS buster of the year. Wyoming hasn’t had a good team since Pat Dye was the coach (whoa…trivia). TCU wins.
Eagles vs. Citadel: Everything was going okay for the Mighty Eagles of Statesboro and then they met Ap State. But, I have faith, One More Time! Eagles win.
http://www.gofightingscots.com/page.cfm?sport=345&show=roster
On top of that, the Division Three Brackets are out! Can you believe that Ohio Northern wasn’t selected for the playoffs? No, politics won out and Washington and Jefferson (the school) won the final seed and get to play Mount Union. Odd, Mount Union and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Six Flags are on different sides of the bracket page almost insuring that they meet, once again, in the Division Three Championship in Salem Virginia. When those people from Wisconsin hit Salem, look out!
This week’s picks!
Go in Dumb/Come out Dumb Too vs. Shep Smith’s School: Son, if these schools were in Division Three we would not worry about Mount Union. LSU seems to get stronger and stronger, while Ole Miss whipped Tennessee (Lane’s excuse this week: Team in jail). LSU is just meaner, stronger, and better…except at quarterback. Doesn’t matter, they’ll beat Ole Miss.
The Ohio State University vs. Meechigan: For a while there, it looked like Michigan was back. For a while in 1972, I thought I’d might grow up to be at least 5’10”. That didn’t pan out either. The Buckeyes have won the Big Ten. Ugh. Ohio States wins this one too.
Dawgies vs. Kentucky: What do you know? UGA won a game against a rival. I would feel better about this game if A.J. Green was playing. Still, it is Kentucky football. I’m going with the Dawgs.
Aroused Frogs vs. Male Cows: Ha, just a little racy humor. Everyone knows that Horned Toad is a lizard. Did you laugh when Yosemite Sam would say, “Great Horny toads”? I know I did. Anyway, TCU is the BCS buster of the year. Wyoming hasn’t had a good team since Pat Dye was the coach (whoa…trivia). TCU wins.
Eagles vs. Citadel: Everything was going okay for the Mighty Eagles of Statesboro and then they met Ap State. But, I have faith, One More Time! Eagles win.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Parent Discussion: On Colleges
It is that time of year when high school seniors are learning if the work (if any) that they did in the three years previously in high school (right) will get them into the college of their choice.
The college of their choice is always some place else. Another city, another state, another country, another planet (“Dad, Mars has some of the best facilities to study red dust in the solar system”). The one thing the college of their choice has in common with all of the other colleges of other kids is that it literally costs an arm and a leg to pay for it. Unless they give you scholarships, which sounds good but often times ends up being no big whoop, like the Camden County Toastmasters Scholarship-$100.00 a school year. This means they give you $50.00 a semester. So your bill of $12,000.00 a semester is now $11,950.00. Welcome to college. (Oh yeah, I'm not including books, meals, the various do-dad fees, and of course, spirit wear)
I’m going to let you in on a dirty little secret. It really doesn’t matter that much where they go to school. What matters is that they join a fraternity or sorority.
Ha! Just a little of that college humor. As far what they learn, it is true that when you pick out a college, you are picking out a name just as much as you are anything else.
Now granted, if you go to an Ivy League school, that will mean a whole lot more than going to my alma momma Kennesaw State University (Home of The Fighting Owls) when you go apply for job. However, once you get the job, if you call in sick every other day, work on Facebook more than your assignment or get into political discussions with your boss, no diploma is going to help you.
My son is a college freshman, so last year I’ve become reacquainted with the college process. Most boys choose a college on the basis of the football team.
I cannot describe the importance of going to a school that has a football team. When I was at Kennesaw, it did not even have a basketball team. There is something about football which gives a school an identity. However, the one good thing about a no football team college is that you can be a fan of another school. In fact, I think a majority of fans of the various SEC football teams have never stepped foot in their favorite team's classroom. Just like the players.
On the other hand, girls, who let’s face it are light years ahead of boys in maturity, brains, color co-ordination, etc, choose colleges on the basis of academic reputation.
Hate to break it to you Mom, but them ain’t boys lifting up their shirts going “whooo”. Girls tend to go where their friends are going so they all can search for romance together, somehow get a degree, and become the President of company that builds houses for homeless widows and rabbits. And a place where they can drink and get pooped faced with the boys.
Having said all of that, there are lots of colleges/universities out there.
The Large State University
Every state has one or two large state universities. These schools are massive entities unto themselves that have their own personality and traditions. They usually don’t cost as much as a private college but they have large classes and often the dorms (like at the University of Georgia) are dumps. But, they usually have good food and rock bands (my favorite name of a college band: The Shut Ups). You don’t have to explain where you went to school. If you say, “Illinois” people have an idea of your academic background versus going to ‘Northwest New Hampshire Polytechnic State College and University'.
The Directional State University
Every state has a university that somehow has a direction in the name and is an up and coming college. Southern Mississippi. East Carolina. Western Michigan. My son goes to Georgia Southern.
When I was going to college, Georgia Southern had a reputation of being a party school, kind of like a chicken fried Animal House. I’m happy to say that after all of these years, it still has that reputation. I mean, the motto on the school seal is “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” (rim shot).
The truth is (Mom, sit down), all colleges are party schools to one degree or another. I have a friend of mine that went to Georgia Tech (a really hard college that enjoys torturing its students) tell me that he was walking down North Avenue when right in front of him was a splat of human vomit. He looked up and there was a fellow student up in a tree (this was when they still had trees on North Avenue) that had delivered the payload of throw up.
I told my son that I was quite aware of the legends of Georgia Southern parties. I’ve heard alums tell me things that I hope Jesus didn’t see. But I told him that college always looks fun. That’s how they market colleges: Come build your future and have fun doing it. But the fact of the matter is that if you are at Georgia Southern or Georgia Tech or wherever, if you don’t do your work, you are going to flunk out.
Next time: Other Types of Colleges
The college of their choice is always some place else. Another city, another state, another country, another planet (“Dad, Mars has some of the best facilities to study red dust in the solar system”). The one thing the college of their choice has in common with all of the other colleges of other kids is that it literally costs an arm and a leg to pay for it. Unless they give you scholarships, which sounds good but often times ends up being no big whoop, like the Camden County Toastmasters Scholarship-$100.00 a school year. This means they give you $50.00 a semester. So your bill of $12,000.00 a semester is now $11,950.00. Welcome to college. (Oh yeah, I'm not including books, meals, the various do-dad fees, and of course, spirit wear)
I’m going to let you in on a dirty little secret. It really doesn’t matter that much where they go to school. What matters is that they join a fraternity or sorority.
Ha! Just a little of that college humor. As far what they learn, it is true that when you pick out a college, you are picking out a name just as much as you are anything else.
Now granted, if you go to an Ivy League school, that will mean a whole lot more than going to my alma momma Kennesaw State University (Home of The Fighting Owls) when you go apply for job. However, once you get the job, if you call in sick every other day, work on Facebook more than your assignment or get into political discussions with your boss, no diploma is going to help you.
My son is a college freshman, so last year I’ve become reacquainted with the college process. Most boys choose a college on the basis of the football team.
I cannot describe the importance of going to a school that has a football team. When I was at Kennesaw, it did not even have a basketball team. There is something about football which gives a school an identity. However, the one good thing about a no football team college is that you can be a fan of another school. In fact, I think a majority of fans of the various SEC football teams have never stepped foot in their favorite team's classroom. Just like the players.
On the other hand, girls, who let’s face it are light years ahead of boys in maturity, brains, color co-ordination, etc, choose colleges on the basis of academic reputation.
Hate to break it to you Mom, but them ain’t boys lifting up their shirts going “whooo”. Girls tend to go where their friends are going so they all can search for romance together, somehow get a degree, and become the President of company that builds houses for homeless widows and rabbits. And a place where they can drink and get pooped faced with the boys.
Having said all of that, there are lots of colleges/universities out there.
The Large State University
Every state has one or two large state universities. These schools are massive entities unto themselves that have their own personality and traditions. They usually don’t cost as much as a private college but they have large classes and often the dorms (like at the University of Georgia) are dumps. But, they usually have good food and rock bands (my favorite name of a college band: The Shut Ups). You don’t have to explain where you went to school. If you say, “Illinois” people have an idea of your academic background versus going to ‘Northwest New Hampshire Polytechnic State College and University'.
The Directional State University
Every state has a university that somehow has a direction in the name and is an up and coming college. Southern Mississippi. East Carolina. Western Michigan. My son goes to Georgia Southern.
When I was going to college, Georgia Southern had a reputation of being a party school, kind of like a chicken fried Animal House. I’m happy to say that after all of these years, it still has that reputation. I mean, the motto on the school seal is “It’s 5 o’clock somewhere” (rim shot).
The truth is (Mom, sit down), all colleges are party schools to one degree or another. I have a friend of mine that went to Georgia Tech (a really hard college that enjoys torturing its students) tell me that he was walking down North Avenue when right in front of him was a splat of human vomit. He looked up and there was a fellow student up in a tree (this was when they still had trees on North Avenue) that had delivered the payload of throw up.
I told my son that I was quite aware of the legends of Georgia Southern parties. I’ve heard alums tell me things that I hope Jesus didn’t see. But I told him that college always looks fun. That’s how they market colleges: Come build your future and have fun doing it. But the fact of the matter is that if you are at Georgia Southern or Georgia Tech or wherever, if you don’t do your work, you are going to flunk out.
Next time: Other Types of Colleges
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