Just North of Wrigley Field

posted by James - 6:08 PM

Skippy... you know what they say. If you don't start nothin', there won't be nothin'.

And by the looks of the Philadelphia-New York game, Chris and I are currently watching, it looks like there's going to be a whole lotta somethin' next weekend.

The Eagles currently have a touchdown lead over the Giants with just under ten minutes left. If the current score holds, Chris' Seahawks will find themselves reliving earlier nightmares of this season with a trip back to Soldier Field and a rematch with DA CHICAGO BEARS!

I'm not going to say much until it actually happens, especially with the Bears sporting half the defense from the previous game and the Seahawks having Shaun Alexander healthy. I'm firmly confident in the Bears' ability to beat either team they might play next weekend... but there are no sure things in this year's NFL.

While I play poker, I firmly deny that I am a poker player... much less a degenerate poker player... but then again, Chris would know one if he saw one. He does look in the mirror every once in a while.

After all, it is ALL HIS FAULT!!! But the winning at poker is all me.

Yes... I've left the Friendly Confines of Wrigleyville. I've returned to the Pacific North West and brought a pretty harsh winter with me. I miss Wrigleyville, but I love having my brothers back.

I'm still living and dying with my Bears and Cubs. As of late, they've given me reasons to cheer and cry, and I'm never sure how they'll make me feel tomorrow.

Until next time... Onward Bears!!!

posted by CHRIS - 2:08 PM

Welcome Back, Sports Fans!!!

First, let me discuss a few rumors floating around about James, David and myself.

No, James is not in a mental institution because the Cubs hired Lou Piniella as manager.

Nor is he hiding in a cave somewhere waiting for the sky to fall because of the bad karma that Da Bears have hanging over their heads (4th and goal and you go for it when you are winning by 21... come on guys, really!).

James has moved back home to the great state of Washington. He has become a degenerate poker player, so you can't get him away from the table long enough to type a word on here. But don't worry fans we are trying to get him help.

As for David, I heard he got lost at sea... But no, he just works even more retarded hours than me, so he shows up whenever there is a threat of Slurpees. So don't fear I will get on him to make another Waste of Space post soon.

Someone told me they heard I ran off and joined the circus (Like Heather's sister once did). I can't believe anyone would believe that. Like I would ever do anything to embarrass myself. Oh wait, I do that all the time.

I also heard the people think I went into hiding thinking the Super Bowl Loser's Curse, the Madden Curse and the Chunky Soup Curse might effect all of us Seahawks fans as well. But never fear everyone, I am alive and well. In fact, Heather and I are expecting our first baby. Samantha Marie Bacon is due right around the Super Bowl. So it might be a Hospital Super Bowl for me. That's ok, though they'll have a TV in the room.

Ok, let's talk some sports now.

HOW ABOUT THEM SEAHAWKS!!!

That was the greatest game I have ever seen. I can't believe Tony Romo botched the hold on the field goal. The Seahawks had someone watching out for them because there was no reason they should have won that game. Dallas should have kicked the field goal, and we are planning vacations. But, sports are like that. You really never know what is going to happen. So for now, it's on to next week. Bring on Da Bears. GO HAWKS!!!

Well, I will discuss the rest of my sports world in my next post. I promise it won't take us another five months to post again, and I will get the other guys posting again soon.

But for now... this has been Skippy from Just West of Seahawks Stadium.

posted by James - 3:41 PM

Howdy, strangers!

Since the mecca of Cubs blogs isn't operational right now and I don't have a poker tournament to go take down at the moment, I feel compelled to come out of hiding and comment on a trade deadline hot tip concerning our Blue and Red Beloveds.

Now, this is definitely on the QT and very hush hush... but I have from a very reliable source received information the Cubs have traded four-time Cy Young Award winner and future Hall of Famer Greg Maddux to the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles for INF Cesar Izturis.

If this turns out to be wrong, I'll flog my source later, because neither parties have announced its officiality at the present time (1:30 PM Pacific), but I don't think he is.

With the Cubs trading INF Todd Walker to the Padres for a 19-year-old pitcher earlier today and the Dodgers acquiring (stealing?) INF Wilson Betemit from Atlanta a couple days ago, Izturis is extemely expendable to the Dodgers and a commodity to the Cubs.

At this moment, I'm on the fence about this trade. I have taken an admittedly irrational stance concerning Greg Maddux finishing his career in a Cubs uniform. He never, ever should have left in the first place. I'm not blaming him for leaving for greener pastures in Atlanta after winning his first of four conesecutive NL Cy Young Awards. The Cubs didn't do what it took to keep him then, and he went on to win a World Series. He obviously wasn't going to get that here.

I'm not convinced Izturis is worth the negative publicity of giving up Maddux a second time, this time actually getting something for him, and seeing him succeed or fail somewhere else. The Dodgers aren't going to care that he's Greg Maddux. If he doesn't pitch more to the form he had during the first month of the season, they'll get someone else and maybe send him to the bullpen.

Whether he had a 3.00 ERA or a 5.00 ERA, he was going to get to choose his own road with the Cubs, a team going nowhere fast. He could take the ball out to the mound anytime he wanted, or take the ball and go home too. He's Greg Freakin' Maddux... and that's the way I wanted it.

I wanted him walking off a mound at Wrigley Field, sometime this year or maybe next year with all 40,000 or so in attendance crying their eyes out, knowing this is the last time they'll see Greg Maddux in a Cubs uniform.

If he retires after this year and never makes it back to Wrigley Field, I'll feel cheated out of this whether Izturis goes on to win Gold Gloves and man shortstop for the next five years.

I know this is irrational, but I don't give a damn. It's not like they're going to win anytime soon... so we might as well squeeze all the positive emotions out of this team we can.

Maybe I'll get into the possible impact of Izturis on incumbent shortstop Ronny Cedeno and the infield for 2006 and 2007 after I get comfirmation of this deal later... but I've got about 500 fantasy baseball teams to try to pull out of last place.

Catch ya all later, Cubs fans.

posted by James - 5:57 PM

Oh, happy day in Wrigleyville!!!

ESPN.com has reported 1B Derrek Lee will spend the next five years in Cubs pinstripes!

I could not be happier about this, since he has retained his status as my NUMBER ONE FAVORITE CUB since GM Jim Hendry acquired him before the 2004 season for squat and less-than-squat.

Even though he greatly contributed to the demise of the Cubs World Series hopes in 2003, greedily winning the Florida Marlins' second trophy since their way-too-recent inception, I think I liked him instantly because of his on-basiness and his defense, how Cubs fans couldn't get over his strikeouts and how it took Triple Crown stats for Manager Dusty Baker to move him above sixth in the batting order.

Since he'll have spent seven years with the Cubs at the end of this deal which includes a complete no-trade clause, I'll match this trade against any of the past great Cub trades including the ones fitting Ryne Sandberg and Sammy Sosa for a Cubs uniform.

Now that Hendry has followed his own extension with his most-important acquisition's extension, Baker becomes the next focus for an extension. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting for it, because he hasn't convinced me he's worth it over the last three seasons.

How he treats my other sources of joy right now - Cubs youngsters OF Matt Murton, SS Ronny Cedeno and LHP Sean Marshall - will go a long way towards convincing me he should stick around next year, much less two or three years.

The credit for alerting me to the good news goes over to the diligent Goat Riders, but still no word where they got the scoop on this. As I posted on their site, I can assure you it did not come from me and it did not come from the bum who lives on the Southeast corner of Clark and Addison. Though, he did confirm for me the Cubs had scheduled a press conference for tomorrow morning, so maybe he knew more than he led on.

posted by James - 1:53 PM

It's time for some March Madness... no, not that silly college basketball tournament that nobody on earth could predict. It's time for some fantasy baseball.

The Just North of Wrigley Field fantasy baseball league is looking for some able-minded baseball enthusiasts to participate in a draft at 8:30 pm CST, Tuesday, March 28th.

All you need to do is get to yourself to Yahoo!, input the league id (273086) and the password (gocubs), pick an interesting team name and then prepare to get schooled!

After the conclusion of this draft, I'll post an update on the state of my fantasy baseball offerings for the 2006 season. I've already made one small trade that I'll be interested in following throughout the season.

Enough with the fantasy, on to the reality of the Chicago Cubs, where it was a fantasy to think they could keep "stud pitchers" Mark Prior and Kerry Wood healthy.

The Cubs are getting some good returns on Wood's recovery, but who knows what's going to happen with Prior. This means there could be some unfamiliar names in the Cubs rotation to start the year... well not to the Cubs fans who constantly look to the farm system to save them from 100 years of torture.

I'll get to that in a second, but right now we'll focus on the two hold overs from last year's pitching staff who get bumped up a few notches in the short term.

Even though they moved him in and out of the rotation last season when he really wasn't effective in either role, the Cubs still brought back LHP Glendon Rusch during the winter and gave him a two-year deal. I had a problem with it when they signed him, and I still have a problem with it even if they need the depth now.

If thought they needed to go after depth then, and committing multiple millions and multiple years to a player with his kind of track record didn't cut it for me. Remember, two years ago he was coming off four-straight, double-digit-loss seasons with ERAs only a Brewer pitcher or Met pitcher would love.

I'd feel a lot more confident about counting on him if the team didn't royally screw up his role last year, pitching him out of the bullpen and Ryan Dempster in the rotation after after preparing for the opposite the entire spring. Not having Dempster at the back-end of the bullpen and the Rusch in the rotation, cost this team any chance of competing last year.

The only bright spot about Rusch is he finished the season with four wins in five starts in September, proving he can be a competent pitcher with a defined role, but I have no confidence in this being the case, and I sure wanted the Cubs to do better than Rusch as a fall-back plan for the inevitable injuries to Prior and Wood.

Rusch has struggled this spring, but had a strong, five-inning performance last week.

The other holdover is RHP Jerome Williams. What can I say about Jerome other than I'm happy he's here and LaTroy Hawkins isn't? Ok, I have more to say than that, but anybody who tried to survive a Hawkins performance at the "Friendly Confines" knows what I'm talking about.

If the Cubs show GM Jim Hendry the door tomorrow, we'll still be thanking him for this deal years from now. Not only did Hendry fill a need on the team last year, and acquire another outstanding, nearly-ready young arm in David Aardsma, but he rid the team of an outright cancer in Hawkins.

I've talked about Hawkins here before. I don't hate him. I fully supported his signing for the 2004 season, but Hendry let Coach Dusty Baker abuse and misuse him. Once that ship left port, it was time to sink it. Hendry let Baker ruin what should have been the best signing of that offseason, and he owed it to us to make something out of it.

Williams started 17 games for the Cubs with a sub-4.00 ERA. I worry a little because he doesn't have a deep track record in the majors. He's never started more than 25 games in a season and his K/BB ratio doesn't inspire me, and his spring numbers are showing that as well. However, he's pitched much better in his last two outings and is stretching out his arm. At least for the first month of the season, he's going to be more than just a back-end starter. He's going to have to be on the mound for 6+ innings for the Cubs to be successful.

Unfortunately, these are the most experienced and entrenched options to fill the three rotation slots behind Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux. The Cubs won't need a fifth starter until April 15th, but when they do Wood, Prior or former Houston Astro Wade Miller have very little shot at being ready. This means a rookie is going to make that start, if not a sooner one.

I'm going to evoke my list fetish to illustrate my point of who should open up the season in the Cubs rotation.

1. Carlos Zambrano rhp
2. Mark Prior (DL)
3. Kerry Wood rhp (DL)
4. Greg Maddux rhp
5. Wade Miller rhp (DL)
6. Glendon Rusch lhp
7. Jerome Williams rhp
8. Rich Hill lhp
9. Angel Guzman rhp
10. Sean Marshall lhp
11. Jae Ryu rhp

Trips to Mark O'Neal's office notwithstanding, that's 11 names and one of the last four will make April starts for the Cubs if they don't acquire another arm.

Rich Hill has the benefit of starting four games for the Cubs last year, impressing in his first two starts before he figured out you need more than just hit-and-miss control of a baffling curveball to get MLB hitters out... at least I hope he did.

Angel Guzman has tantalized Cubs faifthful for many, many rotations around the Sun. This could finally be the year he puts his health issues behind him and makes his major-league debut. On Saturday, he pitched four hitless innings, with two strike outs and as many walks...

in relief of Sean Marshall, who despite having only four professional appearances above the single-A level, hasn't given up squat to opposing hitters, including pitching four no-hit innings of his own (the Cubs would lose the no-hitter in the 10th inning, but go on to win the game 1-0).

The 6-7, 23-year- old lefthander is the talk of spring training. As good as Rich Hill's curveball is, Marshall's might be just as good, and he knows where it's going and has other complimentary pitches.

Marshall has given up only three hits while striking out nine batters in 10.1 innings without giving up a run. He struggled with his control on Saturday, giving up four of his six spring walks, but he also struck out five. And it impressed me, he did it against Oakland major-leaguers Eric Chavez, Jason Kendall, Milton Bradley, Dan Johnson and Jay Payton, not a split-squad or, even worse, Kansas City.

I'm trying to temper my excitement. Everyone from John Sickels to Baseball America will tell you, Angel Guzman is a top-five prospect with a sound, healthy, stable arm and Sean Marshall ain't far behind him, even with a scant amount of AA experience to draw on. These are the kind of young pitchers that can set an organization up to succeed for many years with high-level production on the cheap.

...but take a look at the above list. They're, at best, behind seven guys who are going to get a chance to start for the Cubs at one point or another. The Cubs have committed to them as long as they're healthy. My point... is it worth it to jerk around these 23-year-old pitchers who haven't pitched a single inning at AAA or finished a full season of AA, risking their fragile arms and egos?

If they're not willing to give them a full-time rotation slot from the start, barring complete, abject failure, they should give make Hill the fifth starter, since he's pitched on a major-league mound, dominated AAA (6-1, 65 IP, 53 H, 92/14 K/BB!!!), and would probably make an even-better lefthander out of the pen when Wood, Prior, etc comes back.

I would love to see what Guzman and Marshall got, but seeing it in Iowa would be probably be best for the Cubs' future, and if they stayed there the whole season that would probably be best for the Cubs' present.

posted by CHRIS - 11:53 PM

Hey there, guys. Skippy here.

Just wanted to stop by and make a quick post about the band I saw the last two nights. Hollywood U2 played at the Suquamish Clearwater Casino, and they were absolutely amazing. You won't find them selling out world tours, but you will find them rocking your local casino or small venue bars.

If you couldn't have guessed by the name, they are a U2 cover band. They sound and even look like the real thing (see picture above). This was an especially thrilling weekend because one of my best friends, Scott, is not only a huge U2 fan, but an amazing singer as well. So I talked to a few people working with the band I knew (Casino management is more than willing to help out someone who has lost as much money as I have. Let's just say they knew me well a few years ago) and convinced them to see if the band would let Scott join them. The guys were all for it. About halfway through the third set, they pulled him up on stage and handed him the microphone to sing to a packed house. The place went CRAZY, the dance floor was jumpin' and the band was rocking (Like I said Scott is an amazing singer).

If that had been the end of the night, I think everyone we were hanging out with would have gone home with a smile and a great memory of this band that let our friend live out his dream, but the night didn't end there. The band came over to our table after the show was over and said hello and thanks for coming to everyone. Then when I asked if I could get some pictures of Scott with the band, they invited us to the dressing room and we all hung out and shared U2 experiences and random stories for well over an hour (not having any U2 experiences myself, I mostly listened and made small talk with Sherise, the drummer's wife who had spent most of the show sleeping in the dressing room).

When we realized it was approaching 3 a.m., we called it a night. Before we left, the band made sure we were coming to the show the next day (or later that night, depending on how you look at it). We were all for continuing the fun, and they said they would love to bring Scott back up on stage to sing with them (plus Sherise said she wanted someone to hang out with instead of sleeping through the show again).

When the Band hit the stage the next night, we were all there (plus about 10 people that hadn't seen the show the night before). The band had even reserved us front-and-center seats. As promised, they brought Scott up on stage and let him rock the house again. The show was great and the band was again very appreciative of our support. We hung out for a little while after the show to exchange phone numbers and addresses so we can keep in touch, but the night had to end there for me because I had to work the next morning. They asked if we wanted to stay and drink with them (which is hard for me to turn down), but I had to get some sleep. After two hard nights of partying, my 12-hour shifts only seem to get longer. So I said my goodbyes and headed for home. On the drive home, I rocked out to the newest, Grammy-winning U2 album "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" and thought about the great new friends I had met and the weekend of memories I will always have.

I just want to say again THANK YOU to the guys in Hollywood U2 for the great show and great experiences this weekend. You guys are the best (Oh yeah, Hi Sherise). Thanks for making Scott as happy as you have (I'm sure he will make me watch the DVD of the show over and over again).

Ok now back to Skip to my Sports!!!

posted by CHRIS - 4:23 PM

Just call me a Posting Machine!!!

I know I complained last week about how nothing was going on in my sports world. Boy was I wrong. It was just the calm before the storm. With free agency starting in the NFL, NBA teams hunting for playoff spots, MLB giving us some suprisingly interesting baseball with the WBC and my feeble attempts to fill out NCAA brackets... my sports world is crazy.

So, let's Skip To My Sports!

NFL free agency
What a amazing first week! Some major talent changed teams. Arizona signed the big name running back, they've tried to get for years in former Indianapolis Colt and multi-time Pro Bowler Edgerrin James. The Edge should add another weapon to a Cardinals offense with an already-good, young recieving corps. This could make them a real threat in the NFC West. It doesn't help Seattle seems to be losing more than they are gaining through free agency.

Yes, the Seahawks signed RB Shaun Alexander to the contract he deserves, but they have lost many players who played major roles in getting them to the franchise's first super bowl. WR Joe Jurevicius will play for the Clevland Browns after signing a four-year contract. S Marquard Manuel is now a Green Bay Packer. Pro Bowl LG Steve Hutchinson signed a huge offer sheet (7 years, $49 million) with the Minnesota Vikings. The Seahawks designated Hutchinson as a transition player, which means they can match the offer, but would receive no compensation for letting the former first-round pick go.

Of all of these signings. I really hate to see Jurevicius leave Seattle. I really thought he was a huge part of the team's run to the Super Bowl. The Seahawks should have locked him up to a multi-year extension before free agency started and used his experience and talent to solidify the reciver position.

Seattle now has to find pieces to fill all the holes left by cuts and free agency. It should be interesting to see how things shake out.

I will talk more about the other subjects later but I have to finish the Honey-do list. Yeah, married life is great!!!

posted by CHRIS - 4:04 PM

Ok, so I was told I needed to comment on the latest drama unfolding in the Utah Jazz Management offices and spilling onto the floor of the Delta Center.

Anybody who saw last Monday's Utah Jazz victory at home over the Orlando Magic, or watched ESPN SportsCenter saw Jazz owner Larry Miller berate his players on the court and then later in the locker room.

Larry, buddy, pal o’ mine… SHUT THE HELL UP! As the Rock once said, "KNOW YOUR ROLE AND SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" You own the team, but if you don’t like the players on your team or the way they are playing, walk your big fat ass down to GM Kevin O'Connor's office and tell him to do something about it. That's what you pay him for. If you think he won’t or hasn't done a good job, fire him and get one who will do whatever crackpot thing you want him to do.

But under no circumstances should you ever… and I mean EH-EH-EH-EEEEEEEVER... walk your big fat ass onto the court and into Coach Jerry Sloan's huddle and yell at his team. That's what you pay Sloan to do, and if you've ever sat courtside at a Jazz game, you know he does a good job of it. If you don’t like the job he is doing, fire him. (Just a side note... if you do, you are the dumbest S.O.B. I have ever met.)

You aren’t the reason the people of Utah have supported the team over the last 20 years. Stockton, Malone and Sloan are. I advise you to stay out of the huddle or, better yet, just stay out of the arena completely if you can't keep yourself in check.


Skippy out!!!

posted by James - 6:05 PM

When we should be acknowledging the loss of one of the greats, getting ready for the upcoming season, drafting our fantasy baseball teams and enjoying the great baseball the WBC is giving us right now, I'm not going to waste much time on my favorite subject of steroids in baseball and Barry Bonds. So, this will be it regardless of how many articles and books come out.

The Chicago Tribune has an article running right now saying MLB Commisssioner Bud Selig is thinking of suspending Bonds for the revelations SI detailed in their article about a soon-to-be-released book by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters. As if the myriad allegations against Bonds and the Grand Juries and Congressional hearings to this point shouldn't have been enough to get Selig to look into this a little closer, now he's going to bring the big Silver Hammer down on him.

Some are applauding him because a significant suspension or retirement coersion could protect the sanctity of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron's home run records without the messiness of an asterisk.

But there's something bigger here than just numbers. My problem with Bonds and Palmeiro and Giambi has always been the deception. They've lied and lied and lied and it took a Grand Jury to come close to coming clean. MLB should suspend them not just for the use of something legal for most of their careers, but for damaging the integrity of the game by lying about it.

I applaud MLB for taking control of the supplements (some of?) their players are going to use, but they also need to provide a list of who's using the supplements to anybody who wants to read it. For example, if a guy adds 40 lbs of muscle and the list says he's not taking anything, that's something to look into.

As far as the records go, Palmeiro and Bonds are probably still in the Hall, because there's no proof who was and wasn't using during that time, including the pitchers they faced.

...but how far should we go with this protection of records? Should we start testing AROD right now? He's well on a pace to eclipse Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron.

To come close to satisfying me, they should test everybody. The players union should shut up about it, because they never got out in front of this issue. None of their players can look me in the face and tell me their clean without the clean urine sample to back it up. They should random test everybody, and have a baseline test for every player done the second they put on a major-league uniform.

If I want to watch a sport where I question the validity of the performance I'm seeing, I'll watch professional wrestling... and even they've announced plans to do just what I've said above.

I sincerely hope I have better things to write about on this blog this year... or think about writing about, but get around to doing it two weeks later, but by that time I don't really care so I'd rather spend two hours fiddling with my 30 fantasy baseball teams.

posted by James - 4:44 PM

Kirby Puckett (1960-2006)

It was obvious he was the best player on the field from the second he ever stepped on one. Not just in the way he played, but the way he carried himself and led his teammates. I vehemently argue with anybody who wants to trivialize his hall-of-fame credentials. It's unfortunate the '94 strike cut short two of his best years, and then his career was over.

I took notice of him in the mid '80s when I was heavily into baseball card collecting. My dad had bought me the 1985 topps set. That was really when my love affair with knowing everything about baseball started. I knew how valuable this set was because of the Mark McGwire USA Baseball card, and the Darryl Strawberry card, Wade Boggs, Don Mattingly, Roger Clemens... the list goes on and includes Puckett. Even with its value, I still risked it and went through every one of the cards... very often. I wanted to immerse myself in all of this baseball knowledge (remember this was before baseball-reference.com existed). I would sort them by team and then alphabetically and then back to numerically... shampoo, rinse and repeat, always repeat. Even though the back of his bubble gum card didn't have any really impressive numbers on it going into just his second big-league year, getting to Puckett was always one of the highlights.

You just had an instant connection with the guy, whether he went 0-4 or killed the team he played. It didn't hurt that I got to see him impressively win two World Series in a five-year span. These days, it takes gaudy power numbers to catch a fan's eye or to even keep your team from replacing you, but Puckett hit only four homers in his first two years and didn't even touch a .400 SLG%.

Yes, he would explode in 1986-88 with 83 homers, but there were many years after that where he didn't have great power. Power wasn't really his game. He finished his career with only a .477 SLG% and it took two of his best power years in the final two years of his career to get it to that point. He's proof if you just concentrate on putting bat on ball, you're going to get extra-base hits and some of those are going to be doubles and some of them are going to find their way over the wall. I can only name Wade Boggs as a guy who I watched put bat on ball better. He was well on his way to 3,000 hits, but he might have only barely cracked 300 homers.

But unlike some Hall-of-Fame revisionists, I've never counted his lack of longevity against him. Even though his career ended too soon, he still had six gold gloves and 10 all-star appearances (1993 MVP) and led two teams to a World Series title. I don't care what your weight was. I don't care what your reputation off the field AFTER your playing days was. If you can say you did that, you're a hall of famer. And the fact he did that in only 12 seasons after being a #3-overall pick means there was never a doubt.

I'll end this with my favorite Puckett experience, which illustrates how loved he was. I went to the final game of the 1989 season for the Seattle Mariners - Ken Griffey, Jr.'s first big-league season - as they faced the Minnesota Twins. Puckett had battled with Oakland A's 3b Carney Lansford for the AL batting title up until the final day, and Lansford had already came up hitless in four plate appearances with a walk, clinching the title for Puckett. When he took the field for the first time, they announced his accomplishment to the Kingdome crowd of almost 12,000 (which was pretty good for the late 80s Mariners). The crowd gave him a round of standing applause and repeated before and after every at bat. Of course, he still went out with two doubles in five at bats with an RBI in the loss to the Mariners.

Kirby Puckett is the first player inducted into the Hall of Fame who's career I saw and remember in its entirety (Sandberg and Boggs are close, but I was too young to remember their early years, Junior and Clemens to follow).

There may be reason to tarnish some of his legacy because of his post-career indiscretions. He is paying for those now everytime his obituary includes the laundry list of substantiated and unsubstantiated claims against him, and the irresponsible respect he had for his own health alongside all the good he accomplished in his career. I'm choosing not to dismiss or give more weight to either, but he didn't owe me an apology or explanations for actions he may have felt remorse or atoned for. He was engaged to be married for the second time, which doesn't fit the mold of a man who's life is continuing to spiral downward. We may never know where Kirby Puckett's life may have taken him, because it ended far too early.

posted by CHRIS - 5:47 PM

In David's defense... I cant post stupid links either!

Ok, now on to Skip To My Sports...

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time, but let's just say I wasn't in the best of moods as far as the sporting world is concerned. The Super Bowl was a letdown and the Jazz are just one episode of Boozergate after another. Heck, I can't count on the Mariners to help me through the summer. It's pretty sad I am already looking forward to football (six months away) to see some real winning, and that's not a sure thing with the uncertain labor situation and the Super Bowl losers have a less-than-stellar record the year after the big game.

The only real sport where I can see someone I root for winning is the Olympics, and the US (with 18 medals as of Wednesday afternoon) isn't doing nearly as well as expected. Plus with teammates fueding and everything Bode Miller says getting airtime around the world, we really look like losers.

So this leads me to start thinking...

Is it possible I am the reason for all of my beloved teams never winning the big one? I have never been able to say any of my teams are World Champs (except for the Colorado Avalanche, but I don't follow them as much as I should).

The Utah Jazz make it to the NBA Finals and run into one of the greatest players and teams in the history of the game... TWICE!!! (I still can't watch the shot Jordan hit over Bryon Russell without shedding a tear or two.)

The Seattle Mariners tie a MLB record by winning 116 games and don't even make it to the World Series. From that season on, let's just say the M's have been less than spectacular. 'Nuf said!!!

Then there was Super Bowl Get Jerome a Ring (Oh, I mean XL). I have to say the Steelers did just enough to win this game... nothing more. The Seahawks just couldn't seem to get over the hill the Refs built for them. We had more than a fair chance to win, but just didn't show the killer instict we did in the previous playoff games and the regular season. As I look forward to the season to come, there are some serious questions determining whether I will celebrate our first Super Bowl victory next Feburary.

First... is Shaun Alexander going to run the ball for the Hawks or down their throats for another team? I can only hope the Seahawks can put something together to make Shaun happy. I also hope Shaun can be considerate enough to know he isn't the only big piece of the Super Bowl puzzle we need to re-sign and give the only team and the only fans he's ever played for a break on the salary.

Second... what are the Seahawks going to do about signing Joe Jurevicious, Rocky Bernard and the rest of their NFC Champion free agents?

Third... Welcome to Seattle, Mikki Moore!!! What does that have to do with the Seahakws? Absolutely nothing, but I loved the guy with the Jazz and can't wait to see him when the Jazz come to Seattle in a couple weeks.

Well, the wife is home, and I should finish doing the laundry. Until next time, this is Skippy reporting from Just West of Seahawks Stadium. Back to James and David in the studio.

posted by James - 11:50 PM

And I'd like to congratulate David on being the only blogger I know who can't post a link. HA HA! Keep up the good work, my friend.

This part of most years is the post-NFL sports doldrums, but the 2006 Winter Olympics of Torino, Italy are saving us a little bit. Of course, I always have wrestling (except when it's preempted by the Westminster Dog Show... thanks USA Network) and I can get into some NCAA Basketball sometimes (damnit Huskies! Stop losing to the effin' Cougars!) and Skippy always has the Utah Jazz (currently ninth in the Western Conference, 1.5 games behind Los Angeles for the final playoff spot), but I usually try to sleep through most of February.

This year we have some great action happening on the other side of the planet worthy of much TiVoing (yay... no commercials, figure skating or curling!) led by U.S. stars Bode Miller, Apolo Anton Ohno and Michelle Kwan... oh wait.

I'll take that in reverse order. Michelle Kwan didn't even deserve to be there. I don't fault anyone for wanting to represent their country, but she needed to not pursue a spot when she couldn't physically meet the demands... not only that, but she took a lot of advertiser's money to show up at the opening ceremony and take tv time from other athletes who actually deserved it, and then she doesn't even stay to support the rest of her team.

On the other hand, Emily Hughes has said all the right things and stayed ready to go just in case, missing out on her chance to walk into the Olympic Games under the banner of her country and enduring a massive snowstorm. Maybe she'll become the story of Torino, much like her sister, Sarah, was the talk of Salt Lake City for winning gold in the same event.

Now, let that be the last time I ever discuss figure skating here again.

On to Mr. Ohno... TiVo's been very good to me. Because of TiVo, I get to see all of my favorite events such as the luge, the snowboarding and skiing and speed skating. I can watch speed skating. Heck, it might be because of what Ohno did in 2002 in Salt Lake City and the City of Seattle treated him like the greatest hero to ever hail from the Emerald City... but he proved himself a bonehead in this year's Olympiad.

He cruised through his first heat into the semifinals, where he found himself securely in second place with about one lap left to go, guaranteeing him a spot in the finals. He then proceeded to try to pass the leader on the outside catching his hand on a skate, a barrier and a pretty woman in the first row (ok I made that last part up) completely losing out on a medal chance for the event. He then made a spectacle of himself by almost missing the consolation heat.

Finally, there's Bode Miller. There's a lot I appreciate about Miller. He's very American. Brash. Risk-taking. Ambitious. The media appreciates him a lot too. It's not his fault they put him on every major magazine cover before the games started. It's not his fault they made way too much out of him getting drunk before events. However, it is his fault he got drunk before events real people do every year. And let's not forget skiing isn't as safe as doing snow angels as far as winter sports go. Earlier this year, somebody died in the Cascade Mountains just for skiing too close to a tree and falling in its "well". I know people drink when they ski, and it's great Miller can do it while taking tight turns going 40 m.p.h, but it's not the safest thing someone can do and glorifying it makes it even worse.

Like I said before... not really his fault, though. Unfortunately, skiing in his first two events as good as he possibly can and having only a 5th-place finish and a DQ to show for it are his fault. If I were him, I wouldn't have anything to be ashamed about. He really did ski well in the downhill... four other skiers were just better... and he was on his way to gold in the combined when his skis straddled a gate. I don't even know what most of this means, but I do know he was nowhere to be found when his teammates were hoisting Ted Ligety on their shoulders after he won the combined event... and then he comes out and says, he's glad he got DQ'd so he wouldn't have to schlep off the mountain to Torino for the medal ceremony. Here's the link.

It's one thing to be calm and confident you'll get another shot, but what are you there for if even winning an event for your country would be an inconvenience? I'm hoping he was joking, but it wasn't funny. He should want to go to Torino, if only to support his teammate.

You can't extole the virtues of being an Olympian and representing your country, if you're only there for yourself.

Thankfully this Olympics has starred the Incrediblly Gold Duo of Chad Hedrick and Joey Cheek, the dominating U.S. Snowboarding Half Pipers and Down The Mountain Ligety Split instead of the Law Offices of Miller, Ohno and Kwan.

Ok... that's my last attempt at being funny.

I'm also very happy baseball gave me something to chew on today, as they released the rosters for Team USA's entry into the inaugural World Baseball Classic. I've looked forward to this for three years now, keeping track of what most of the North and Latin American teams would look like (I couldn't really predict they'd stretch it to include a team of Italian- and Greek-heritage players). I also didn't expect so many of the American players would bow out because of injuries. It doesn't really matter because they'll still field a strong team, but their pitching won't be as strong.

The big news for Cubs fans comes from Derrek Lee and Michael Barrett's inclusion on the U.S. team. Lee should see the majority of the time at first base (Rangers' up-and-comer Mark Teixiera will back him up and could start as the designated hitter) and bat fifth behind Yankees 3b Alex Rodriguez and Cincinnati cf Ken Griffey, Jr. and in front of the likes of Braves 3b Chipper Jones (who could see time in right field or at dh) and Teixiera.

Barrett will serve alongside Nationals c Brian Schneider backing up Boston c Jason Varitek. He'll probably see quite a bit of time, because USA Manager Buck Martinez has already said that very few players will play the full game, and Schneider is there more for his defense.

I would like it if Cubs players would focus the entirety of their spring efforts on winning a World Series. The spectre of losing Carlos Zambrano, Aramis Ramirez or even Michael Barrett to injury in this exhibition would haunt me the whole year.

But I'm a big fan of this event. It's good for baseball. It's good for the globalization of the sport, hopefully opening up further revenue and talent streams in Asia and Europe, necessary since the Olympics has rejected the sport for the next two games. Hopefully, the Cubs can benefit from the improved talent and recenue pool... and we fans get games that "matter" in March.

If I had to pick a winner right now, I'm going with Venezuela. Their pitching towers over Puerto Rico and probably even the Domincan Republic, and their offense isn't bad either. Cuba and Japan are major wild cards.

Venezuelan right-hander and Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano is already in mid-season, spitting-fire form, lobbying to pitch the WBC opener against Pedro Martinez and the Domincan Republic ahead of his left-handed teammate and former Cy Young winner Johan Santana.

As long as Zambrano keeps it under control, this is the Zambrano I look forward to taking the hill and the pill for the Cubs. He is what makes the difference between fourth place and a playoff team.

How about that, guys? Looking forward to the Cubs playing. Something I can honestly say I haven't said all winter.

posted by David - 9:03 PM

Well... My faith in pro-football is restored. There's just something about watching a bunch of grown adults playing a game like a bunch of little children that just brings back fond memories. Between all the gaffs, fumbles, picks, goofy-plays, laterals, mid-interception handoffs and other chicanery, I managed to laugh away a poorly refereed Superbowl.

It's for this reason I applaud the NFL for having their all-star competition at the close of their season. It allows one to brush back the trials of the regular season and watch some fan-favorites try to do silly things with a bunch of their teammates and rivals. It is a refreshing exercise I try and finish every season with.

No matter how bad the regular season, I often find enough to laugh about in the Hawaii special to make me smile again.

I feel like a posting machine. If I keep putting out garbage like this with consistency, I'll be arrested for littering... If I'm lucky.

Take it easy guys, and don't mind that this is a Waste of Space.

posted by David - 1:59 AM

David here.

I'd like to congratulate Pittsburgh on their victory in Superbowl XL. I wish the 'Hawks could have put a bit more effort into their game. Note to Holmgren: Sometimes, even when times are dark and you feel injustice has been done, you have to look deep inside and find your sportsmanship. Suck it up and congratulate your oppenent... even if you don't mean it.

As far as the game itself goes, I'd just like to point out that I'm biased, being a Seattle fan. So, instead of posting my own commentary on the game... I would just like to link a couple of things for the readers at home.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5310192

http://forums.espn.go.com/espn/thread?forumID=821&start=0&threadID=3134345&sortBy=null

http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?nfl12006

I stumbled across these while trying to find a neutral fan's perspective on the game. They speak for themselves... at some points with questionable spelling and colorful language. Use due caution if you decide to peruse the forums.

*Comment about dubious eyesight censored by author.*

This has been a Waste of Space

posted by James - 10:03 PM

Let's see... why haven't I talked much this postseason? Whose team is still playing? Whose team jobbed themselves out of a spot in the NFC Championship game with piss-poor personnel decision. My pain and outrage still has not met it's limit.

I tried not to jinx it by coming on this here blog and pumping up the Bears, but I decided to go the calm and quiet route. I could sit her and say that was a mistake, but I'm not going to take one ounce of credit for the Bears' poor showing. Besides, you could just take my prediction for the Panthers-Giants game and apply it to the Bears debacle and the Seahawks win... all you have to do is not let Steve Smith beat you. The Bears let him own them and the Seahawks made him bankrupt.

Of course, now I've had to endure the constant kudos from everybody telling me how happy I must be that the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl. I'm happy for the city of Seattle. I really am. The Seahawks finally gave Seattle their first Super Bowl or World Series team... they're the last city with an NFL and MLB franchise to get there.

But I am a Bears fan... I have always been a Bears fan. I've been a Bears fan since birth. I can't quite figure out how anybody who ever saw Walter Payton run isn't, no matter where they lived.

Like David, I'm happy this year's Super Bowl features two teams with a lot to play for and all the tools necessary to give us fans a tight, hard-fought game.

It's just too bad ESPN can't stop talking about Terrell Owens, Donovan McNabb, Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame, Jerome Bettis' homecoming story and those disrespected, forgotten Seahawks... which ticks me off since they're the one's doing the disrespecting and the forgetting. They have complete control over whether the rest of the world knows guys like RB Shaun Alexander, QB Matt Hasselbeck, OT Walter Jones, etc. Instead of telling us how disrespected they are... just start showing them some freakin' respect!

Right now, they're showing clips of Bettis rumbling for a touchdown... in high school. Where are the clips of Alexander demonstrating his overwhelming greatness. He's only the MVP and single-season record holder for rushing TDs.

How about show me the unending reel of Hasselbeck's pin-point accuracy? He's only the NFC Pro Bowl starter.

Nope... but please show me more of Ben Roethlisberger pimping Fat Heads. Done!

I'll admit I have no idea who's going to win the game tomorrow... but I'd be shocked if it were a blowout on either end or to see the Seattle offense score less than three TDs, as I've seen in a couple other predictions.

I'm not going to get out of this post without giving a prediction. As much as I want to say it will come to the play of the respective QBs, I just don't see Alexander vs Bettis and Willie Parker as an even matchup. The Seahawks defense I've watched play over the last half of the season will be able to contain Parker and keep the pressure on Roethlisberger. Alexander's ability to make adjustments even against a tough defense will make the difference.

James' Super Bowl XL Prediction: Seahawks 34, Steelers 30

Enjoy the game, everybody!

posted by David - 12:25 PM

David here with a special rant!

Just North, you are one of the slackingest slackers since they invented slacking. After all of your grandiose talk; You STILL haven't done any follow up posts for the playoffs. Well I have something to talk about. Yes it *IS* related to the fact that Superbowl XL is in a couple of days.

I have rooted for the Seahawks ever since I knew what football was. I watched when they won their division back when Dave Krieg would throw the ball to Steve Largent, who would then trip over a stegosaur. It was all good fun. I personally loved it when they would release the Wooly Mammoths during halftime. I've been a fan of the Hawks since most people viewed them as Jobber Team number 5 in the AFC West.

The only problem is... people still do. They finish with the best record in the NFC. They have the NFL MVP, all-time season rushing TD leader and a Pro Bowl starter at QB. They have one of the most versatile offenses in the NFL, and their defense lead the league in sacks. And they're going into the Super Bowl as underdogs to the No. 6 seed from the AFC that barely made the playoffs.

This doesn't bother me.

The Stillah's have a long-standing reputation as a contender. They are going to be playing with home-field advantage for the first time since the playoffs started. They have a terrific defensive squad, and a solid core group to move it down the field. They have a burger on a bus... Who could ask for more?

When I saw the matchup for the Superbowl, I was excited. Two solid, well-matched teams playing in a Super Bowl. Even the commercials haven't carried the Super Bowl in recent years, with the games lacking in interest, hype, etc. "This year will be a great matchup," I thought. "And we might get to see one of the best championship games in the history of the NFL."

Then the media coverage started.

Mostly, I blame the psychic friends network... most people call them ESPN (Extra Sensory Perception Network). They have pretty much declared there is no way some wussy team of coffee-drinking, computer poofters has any chance against the STEEEEEEEL curtain. (That was for you wrestling fans out there... Football might not have ladders and chairs...but they have CURTAINS! Gotta love the NFL.)

Anyway, for the last two weeks, I've been listening to a media network controlled by the east coast, in some places referred to the "First" coast, bash on the Hawks and push the yellow and black. I know black is a much beloved color and all, but I don't enjoy having my team spat upon by 70% of the nation's sports news coverage.

Heck, the only time during the season that the Seahawks get any mention it goes something like this.




Announcer 1: Wow, can you believe that?!? Three fumbles in one game. And speaking of fumbles, there's a clip from the Seattle game we'd like to show you. Check this out.

Announcer 2: Yeah, not only can't they seem to navigate a minivan, but Alexander has problems navigating a sea of arms here. * Show's clip of the NFL leading rusher fumbling against the Redskins *

Announcer 1: Wow, did you see that ball fly out? Maybe he forgot his glasses by his computer before drinking that quadruple latte this morning.

Announcer 2: I prefer Mocha's myself.... er.... Dang. I was supposed to insult the Pacific Northwest again... can we shoot that over? LIVE? NOOOOO! My career is over.


Well, in order to close this up, I'd just like to say this. My dreams have changed. No longer do I want my Hawks to just go to the Super Bowl and have a good game against a quality, but slightly-inferior opponent. If they do, they will likely be referred to as lucky, and there will be complaints about some call made by the officials. (The line judge that left his helper monkey in the locker room perhaps.) My only remaining hope is that the 'Hawks don't just bring a good game. I hope they can play with divine fury the likes of which hasn't been seen since the dinosaurs blew up their nuclear facilities and had to become birds and take up ninjitsu to survive. It seems that in order to gain ANY modicum of respect from the east-coast biased media, they will have to wash the steel curtain and hang them out to dry. (I know a machine they can do that with... they use it for cleaning anchor chains for aircraft carriers.... yes. They use a BIG coin-op laundry facility. No... you can't use it for your convertable... sicko.)

This has been a Waste of Space

posted by CHRIS - 2:17 AM

First off let me say that I appreciate the players that get in there and put themselves on the line to help win a game, but what about the fans? Less than a week after Hernia Surgery (yeah, just take a second to think about that), I will be upping the dose of pain killers (Drugs are good... MMMMkay) to make sure I don’t miss a second of the Seahawks vs. Redskins tilt on Saturday.

I've had nothing better to do this week other than lay in bed and recover (Thank God for the Food Network and ESPN, oh yeah, and don’t forget TiVo) so I have heard every analysts pick for every game this weekend.

But enough about me, let’s talk about some football. Let's get the obvious game out of the way first.

NFC West Champion Seattle Seahawks vs. NFC Wildcard #1 Washington Redskins

Could this be the season us Seattle fans have waited for? Could the Hawks really win a playoff game? OF COURSE THEY WILL!!! Seattle will win this game easily if the Washington offense looks like the team that showed up in Tampa last week. They tried to lose that game, but the Buccaneers wanted to lose even more.

Seattle has caught all the breaks this year as opposed to years past where they went to the other team. This year when we needed a break, we got it. Thanks, Mr. Feely.

However, the one team we didn’t get a break against was the Washington Redskins, who beat the Hawks back in Week 4 only because Josh Brown doinked a 47-yard field goal as time expired. In overtime, Washington got the ball drove down the field and kicked a field goal to win the game without the Seahawks ever touching the ball. I don’t think this game will come down to a last-second field goal though. Seattle wins 27-16.

AFC East Champion New England vs. AFC West Champion Denver Broncos

This game really could go either way. I personally have reasons I would like to see both teams advance in this game. I really want to see the winner of this game in the Super Bowl.

My late Grandfather (We’ll miss you, Grandpa) is a huge Broncos fan and I know he would love to see his Broncos get to another Super Bowl. On the other hand, I would also love to rub it into all of my friends and family in Utah (most of which are Broncos fans for some reason) if the Seahawks play the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

As far as New England goes, how can you not root for this team? It seems every year there is some reason why they shouldn’t play well and yet they seem to find a way to win. I think New England has the edge in this game, but this should be the tightest and the most exciting game of the weekend. I pick New England to win, 24-23.

I will cover the other two games of the weekend later. The Percocet is kicking in and I’m beginning to see two screens. Go Hawks!!!

posted by James - 11:38 AM

Hey... whenever someone calls my ass down to the ring, I respond, as Skippy knows too well from the number of lumps I've given him over the years. * Flying elbow off the top rope *

But David's right in that these games don't mean much to me, except to see which team the Bears are going to anihilate in the second round, en route to a NFC Championship showdown against the Seattle Seahawks... if they make it.

Let's get this started, because I'm at work and I'm sure I'll get kicked off this computer soon enough.

Game 1: Washington (10-6) at Tampa Bay (11-5)
This is the game which will determine who the Bears play, after their week in sunny... like it matters, I would just hope they wouldn't have stayed in this frigid sumbitch if they didn't have to.

The Bears played both teams, losing to Washington in week 1 without giving up a touchdown and beating Tampa Bay, but they didn't have RB Cadillac Williams running on fresh tires at the time.

If Washington wins this game on the strength of RB Clinton Portis and resurgent UW-alum QB Mark Brunell, who may not play, the Bears won't have to worry about the improvement of QB Chris Simms and Williams and the humungous chip on DE Simeon Rice's shoulder since his snub at the Pro Bowl... but I don't see that happening.

James' prediction: Tampa Bay 19, Washington 17


Game 2: Jacksonville (12-4) at New England (10-6)
I thing Dave's scenario of a last second touchdown to Smith is extremely plausable, but who is this guy Smith and when did he put on a Patriots uniform?

Ya see, my prediction has more to do with who's throwing the ball... Jacksonville will start a QB who hasn't played since November. If they played David Garrard instead of Byron Leftwich, I'd give them a better shot. However, the Patriots did what they've done four out of the last five years, find a way to make the playoffs and look impressive doing it, and their QB hasn't lost in nine playoff games.

Yeah, there's a first time for everything, even for Tom Brady, but it won't be this week.

James' prediction: New England 27, Jacksonville 20


Game 3: Carolina (11-5) at New York (11-5)
If I wanted an easy matchup for the Bears, I'd say go with Carolina. The Bears dominated the entire NFC South this year, but I've already predicted they'll face Tampa Bay, so I'm getting what I wish for anyway (be careful what you wish for, I know).

The Giants have the formula: great defense and RB Tiki Barber, running and passing and racking up huge chunks of turf.

Without a full-strength DeShaun Foster or Stephen Davis, the Panthers have little running game of which to speak... and they've pined for a complement to Steve Smith in the passing game all season. QB Jake Delhomme will have his hands full with the Giants pass rush coming at him without fear.

The Panthers could still win if Steve Smith takes over the game and Giants QB makes mistakes.

James' Prediction: Giants 34, Panthers 26


Game 4: Pittsburgh (11-5) at Cincinnati (11-5)
I sure hope the Bengals used their time off well, because that's what the last two weeks amounted to for them. The Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs stomped a mudhole in them and walked it dry... and those ain't exactly playoff teams. I feel worse about that since the lack of production from Rudi Johnson pretty much torpedoed any hopes of winning my two fantasy leagues.

I'm not bitter though. I'm open minded about the Bengals chances, but they haven't been tested in five weeks since they last played and beat the Steelers.

This is by far the hardest game of them all to call, especially after watching them both dominate the Bears, even though when the Steelers did it they ended the Bears' eight-game winning streak.

With the Bus finishing his career with a bang instead of anything resembling a sputter, I see them making it to the second round to face the Indianapolis Colts.

James' prediction: Pittsburgh 27, Cincinnati 21

That would give us Bucs at Bears, Giants at Seahawks, Steelers at Colts and Patriots at Broncos... that will be one hell of a football weekend.

posted by David - 9:31 PM

So, James gives me a call today about doing a blurb for the opening week of the NFL playoffs. The dialogue went somewhat as follows.

James: "You know Dave, I haven't been writing anything for my own blog lately. I think that it may have something to do with the fact that I'm lazy... or baseball season's over... or 'insert lame excuse here'."

Dave: "I see."

James: "Well, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind doing a blurb for the opening of the playoffs. I figured that Chrispy or I could do it... but things would end up a little biased with our love for the Seahawks and Bears, respectively. So I figured you could do something neutral and funny."

Dave: "Sure. I just have one question. Who's playing?"

James: "See, off with the funny already. Thanks for the help."

Thusly are you poor people subjected to a WoS entry for the opening round of the NFL playoffs. I guess since Chris is a Seahawks Supporter to the core, and James is a Bear Backer through and through... it falls to me to take care of Wildcard Weekend to cover the games they don't really care about.

I figured since I've either been busy working overtime or dying in a sickbed... the least I can do is comment on the matchups this weekend.

Game 1: Washington (10-6) at Tampa Bay (11-5)
-The number in parenthesis represent the hours their offices are open EST to take phone calls.-

Both teams emphasized defense down the stretch. Tampa bay going with the "I'm washing my hair" defense, and Washington with "I have to work". Everyone knows washing ones hair is a woman's ultimate defense. It's both a blatant call of buzz off, AND a legitimate excuse. Well... the former anyway.

The last time these teams met it was a wild west shootout as their defensive squads got lost in the airport security luggage check...and then wound up in Tahiti. I'm thinking playing at Raymond James stadium might give the Buccaneers the advantage...but Washington can counter with the motivation of NOT going back to... well... Washington, the District that is.

Dave's Prediction: Tampa Bay 24-21


Game 2: Jacksonville (12-4) at New England (10-6)
This game is going to be played in Foxborough, which is a might bit north of Jacksonville. The Jaguars have played a light schedule this year, still having to come from behind many times to win their games. (I'm avoiding the doggie style comment as they are felines.) The Patriots still managed to get into the playoffs despite a rocky start filled with numerous injuries.

The bookies are favoring the Patriots in this matchup. I think if I wanted to watch the wallet, I would too. I think Jacksonville will surprise some people by actually showing up... and mabye even showing some people how to play football. Their road record is impressive...and they ARE the last team to beat the Pats in a playoff game. I'm going out on a limb here and saying the Jaguars by one on a last minute touchdown to Smith.

Dave's Prediction: Jacksonville 28-27


Game 3: Carolina (11-5) at New Yawk (11-5)
New York has a strong winning streak at home. Not that I'm saying there is anything shady going on in New Yawk, but they did acquire Plaxico Burress this year, and I've heard things. (If Burresss sicks his mafia thugs on this post... well, you won't really know will you?) But there *IS* a lot of coastline around there. And no one in the city itself would really notice or care if 'Bruno' took an uncooperative ref 'fo a wauk on da coast'.

Long storym short... The Panthers have a slightly-stronger team, but the Giants are surging at the moment. I think Plaxico is going ta guarantee da win in dis game. Capiche? joo understand when Plaxico axes you da questions right?

All kidding aside, mostly it goes down to home field, and the Giants NOT coughing the ball up 5 times in da rematch. (You ain't callin' THAT a fumble is ya ref?')

Dave's Prediction: New York 31-21


Game 4: Pittsburgh (11-5) at Cincinnati (11-5)
Dis matchup... er... *Cough* Sorry. This matchup pits the Steelers, who've been on a good run the last few years, against the Bungles, who haven't. However, Cincy had a strong start at the beginning of this season. I think some people reminisced about the days of Icky and Boomer. (No... those names aren't from a UPN sit-com.) But as the season began to run on, the Bengals started showing their version of Seahawkitis (ed. note: If I could link to that fabulous post, I would. But maybe if you google it, I doubt anybody else came up with Seahawkitis.), which is to say that the Bungles started taking their place.

Now, if the Bengals actually show up, they're going to win. Right now though, it looks to be the Steelers and the Bungles. If that's the case, Rothlser...makeme a burger? will lead the yellow and black to victory. The fact the game is taking place in Cincinnati will just help the Bungles lose less badly. If things go as predicted, the Stillahs will win 35-10. If the Bengals show up, the score will be more like 21-24. I can't wait to sleep through this one when my meds kick in. WooT. Sometimes being sick is Bonus Time!

Dave's Prediction: Vicodin, baby.


If you have any problems with the scientific nature of this playoff preview... then you're probably an intelligent person that just lost 8 IQ points just by getting to this point. For those of you who know me, remember, all characters portrayed in this Blog are purely ficticious and NO I DON'T HAVE THE EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSTENT OF THE NFL.

Either way... this is a Waste of Space.

posted by James - 4:49 PM

Yeah, I've been very quiet. I haven't had any good reasons to make noise, and several reasons to keep my mouth shut.

To keep it brief... the other Chicago baseball team won a World Title. I have nothing to say about that except, congratulations to our "kindred" fans who waited so long... and WHERE'S MINE???

In the last week, I lost a very important entertainment figure in my life. I enjoyed his work when he was just starting his main-stream career... then as he flourished becoming more than just another member of his storied family... through his dark times and all-too-public battles with personal demons I know we all have faced at one time or another... to his even brighter successes. It's still too new for me to be over it, and I hope I never am.

And I lost an even more important member of my extended family, someone who meant so much to the people I care about. She loved my family, and my family returned that love to her family to the point where there really was only one family. That's how my family works, and she is a big reason why. Even though she has gone on to better things and better places, what she left behind will remain.

Thanksgiving is coming up next week... and I've never been more thankful for the people I've lost... not thankful that I've lost them, but for the time I spent with them.

This was supposed to be a precursor to talking about the Cubs and how they're not giving me reasons to talk about them... but I think I'll let this stand for a little bit and then give it a go.