Exodus 38 and 39.
We're just hours before launch of a new baseball season. And I'm ready for a regression in results this year.
A lot of pundits consider the Cardinals to be superhuman and unstoppable. Just like the Natinals were last year, who wound up sitting at home in October.
They forget that until the last week of the season the Central Division was up for grabs.
They forget the Cardinals got hot at the right time of year in 2013.
They forget that until last year the Cardinals had not won this division since 2009, relying on the wild card to get in the post-season.
They forget the Cardinals scored so many runs due to a once in a generation ability to score with 2 outs. That won't happen this year.
They forget the Cardinals have in effect replaced David Freese with Kolten Wong.
They forget the team didn't hit many home runs last year and did nothing in the offseason to improve that.
The pitching, while good, will not be as good as last year, as the rest of the league starts to figure out these young pitchers. Who will then have to adjust.
So my prediction is they won't win 97 games again this year. I don't even think they will win their division. I didn't think they would last year, and I really don't this year.
But I'll be happy with a wild card again. And if that doesn't happen, only then will it will be a disappointing year for me.
I'm betting for everyone else they will end up calling such a finish a near disaster.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday And Friday Reading And The Tournament
Exodus 36-37.
I chose Wichita State, Creighton and Iowa State in my bracket to make the Final Four. As it turns out, it was just wishful thinking on my part.
But I can't help but root for teams that would stick a thumb in the eye of the NCAA, the most corrupt and indefensible of organizations the mind can conceive.
Which leaves me conflicted. I want UK to win the tournament, partly because they're my favorite and partly because I'm hopeful their coach will leave for the NBA if they win again.
But UK winning will probably make the NCAA happy.
Welcome to my mind. It's complicated in here.
I chose Wichita State, Creighton and Iowa State in my bracket to make the Final Four. As it turns out, it was just wishful thinking on my part.
But I can't help but root for teams that would stick a thumb in the eye of the NCAA, the most corrupt and indefensible of organizations the mind can conceive.
Which leaves me conflicted. I want UK to win the tournament, partly because they're my favorite and partly because I'm hopeful their coach will leave for the NBA if they win again.
But UK winning will probably make the NCAA happy.
Welcome to my mind. It's complicated in here.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
A Bunch Of Reading Up Through Today And The World's Best Bracket
Exodus 31-35.
They're calling this the world's worst bracket. I disagree.
That would be mine.
But it is the funniest one I've ever seen. My favorite part of it is BYU beating Oregon in the first round, but then Oregon advancing on into the sweet 16.
They're calling this the world's worst bracket. I disagree.
That would be mine.
But it is the funniest one I've ever seen. My favorite part of it is BYU beating Oregon in the first round, but then Oregon advancing on into the sweet 16.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Wednesday Reading, With Apologies To Wichita State
Exodus 28.
Bracket is done, I'm ready for the games.
But I do have to apologize to Wichita State.
It's not that I am not picking them. I am. Which is the reason I apologize.
Because I have officially jinxed them. I only remember picking the winner of this thing a couple of times, and both times I think involved Kentucky.
But I can't help myself. I watched more college basketball this year than I have in probably 10 years. And they were by far the best team I watched play.
They look big enough, strong enough, fast enough and experienced enough.
And did I mention they were Missouri Valley?
So despite the NCAA's attempt to destroy the strongest Mid-Major in modern tournament history, I look for them to get on a roll. Even though no one else is picking them, I am.
Which means they are sure to lose.
But I can't help myself. It's what I do.
Bracket is done, I'm ready for the games.
But I do have to apologize to Wichita State.
It's not that I am not picking them. I am. Which is the reason I apologize.
Because I have officially jinxed them. I only remember picking the winner of this thing a couple of times, and both times I think involved Kentucky.
But I can't help myself. I watched more college basketball this year than I have in probably 10 years. And they were by far the best team I watched play.
They look big enough, strong enough, fast enough and experienced enough.
And did I mention they were Missouri Valley?
So despite the NCAA's attempt to destroy the strongest Mid-Major in modern tournament history, I look for them to get on a roll. Even though no one else is picking them, I am.
Which means they are sure to lose.
But I can't help myself. It's what I do.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Weekend Reading And Cardinals Miscellany
Exodus 24 and 25.
I didn't realize I had such influence on the club. A Celebrity of the Month bobble head night coming this year, undoubtedly inspired by my January post.
I wouldn't mind going to this one either.
But I think they are scraping the bottom of the barrel of ideas with this last one.
And I wish I'd been on Jeopardy this night for this question. I'm not sure whether this was a top or bottom of the board question, but to me it had to be a top, no?
I didn't realize I had such influence on the club. A Celebrity of the Month bobble head night coming this year, undoubtedly inspired by my January post.
I wouldn't mind going to this one either.
But I think they are scraping the bottom of the barrel of ideas with this last one.
And I wish I'd been on Jeopardy this night for this question. I'm not sure whether this was a top or bottom of the board question, but to me it had to be a top, no?
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday And Friday Reading And Sheets Of Integrity
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday And Wednesday Reading And Case Closed
Exodus 20 and 21.
The Bears just proved my point again.
Let me summarize.
They fire Lovie Smith for going 10-6.
Then they hire a Canadian Football League coach.
They get rid of Urlacher after that.
Then when this year's season seems lost, they play a backup quarterback (Josh McCown) who keeps the team in the playoff hunt, only to be benched in favor of JAY CUTLER, who loses the last 2 games!
So, they go 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
After that sad outcome, they sign Jay Cutler to a contract for $22.5 million a year. JAY CUTLER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!
Then they release Devin Hester.
Then they let McCown get away.
And now they release Julius Peppers, the sacks leader for the Bears the past four years (37.5), including last year on a team that HAD NO DEFENSE to begin with (because they cut loose Lovie and Urlacher!).
I love how the ESPN article cites the reason for letting Peppers go is that his salary was "unsustainable" for the Bears.
UNSUSTAINABLE?!!! That is hilarious. A team that pays JAY CUTLER $22.5 million a year! Priceless.
The Bears have become the Cubs. Or at least the anti-Cardinals. Because they have no clue what they are doing.
I wish I could laugh instead of cry. But I have no idea what I'm going to do the next several years on Sundays, because I predict the Bears are about to become unwatchable. That's saying a lot, because I've suffered through some miserable seasons as a Bears fan and still managed to watch.
We'll check back in this December and see if I was right.
The Bears just proved my point again.
Let me summarize.
They fire Lovie Smith for going 10-6.
Then they hire a Canadian Football League coach.
They get rid of Urlacher after that.
Then when this year's season seems lost, they play a backup quarterback (Josh McCown) who keeps the team in the playoff hunt, only to be benched in favor of JAY CUTLER, who loses the last 2 games!
So, they go 8-8 and miss the playoffs.
After that sad outcome, they sign Jay Cutler to a contract for $22.5 million a year. JAY CUTLER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!
Then they release Devin Hester.
Then they let McCown get away.
And now they release Julius Peppers, the sacks leader for the Bears the past four years (37.5), including last year on a team that HAD NO DEFENSE to begin with (because they cut loose Lovie and Urlacher!).
I love how the ESPN article cites the reason for letting Peppers go is that his salary was "unsustainable" for the Bears.
UNSUSTAINABLE?!!! That is hilarious. A team that pays JAY CUTLER $22.5 million a year! Priceless.
The Bears have become the Cubs. Or at least the anti-Cardinals. Because they have no clue what they are doing.
I wish I could laugh instead of cry. But I have no idea what I'm going to do the next several years on Sundays, because I predict the Bears are about to become unwatchable. That's saying a lot, because I've suffered through some miserable seasons as a Bears fan and still managed to watch.
We'll check back in this December and see if I was right.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Sunday And Monday Reading And More From Sirius
Exodus 18 and 19.
Another memory bin exploded thanks to Sirius 70s on 7. Heard this for the first time in 3-4 decades on Friday.
Gotta hand it to Leo Sayer, he had a few really good hits.
Another memory bin exploded thanks to Sirius 70s on 7. Heard this for the first time in 3-4 decades on Friday.
Gotta hand it to Leo Sayer, he had a few really good hits.
Saturday, March 08, 2014
Friday And Saturday Reading And TV's Greatest Moments
Exodus 16 and 17.
The only thing more hard to believe than Ed actually hitting a pitch from Sandy Koufax is the fact they got the latter to participate in the following farce.
Good thing Ed was not playing on last year's Dodgers, or they most certainly would have taken down the Cardinals.
A couple of years ago I posted about TV's funniest episode and moment. Those probably still are, but at the time I wrote that I had forgotten about the following, a worthy rival for the title.
The only thing more hard to believe than Ed actually hitting a pitch from Sandy Koufax is the fact they got the latter to participate in the following farce.
Good thing Ed was not playing on last year's Dodgers, or they most certainly would have taken down the Cardinals.
A couple of years ago I posted about TV's funniest episode and moment. Those probably still are, but at the time I wrote that I had forgotten about the following, a worthy rival for the title.
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Wednesday And Thursday Reading And It's Official
Exodus 14 and 15.
Yes, it is official.
They've removed all doubt.
The Bears are idiots.
How many more Cub-like moves can they make?
Yes, it is official.
They've removed all doubt.
The Bears are idiots.
How many more Cub-like moves can they make?
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
Monday And Tuesday Reading And The Funnies
Exodus 12 and 13.
I was reading an old newspaper article about an old NFL bowl game in the 1960s when I saw a couple of comics on that page. One was Priscilla's Pop and the other was Out Our Way.
I had not had a thought about either one in years, probably decades, but remembering them did lead me to Google both, and lead me to an interesting website about comic strips.
Just going to the website and seeing the strips listed there joggled my memory about some others.
There is Captain Easy. Alley Oop. Apartment 3G (I think it must have been a chick strip, I never read it but remember it taking up useful space in the local paper's funny page). Gil Thorp (was in the Chicago Tribune I read in high school, I don't think it ever ran locally). Our Boarding House. Nancy (never liked it but for some reason always read it).
The whole thing makes me wonder how many other things are stored in bins up in my mind that I will never access again unless I'm reminded somehow of them.
These things are the "Apartment 3Gs" of my brain, just sitting there taking up space right now. Hoping they will be useful again some day.
So somebody say or write something clever to make me remember, huh?
I was reading an old newspaper article about an old NFL bowl game in the 1960s when I saw a couple of comics on that page. One was Priscilla's Pop and the other was Out Our Way.
I had not had a thought about either one in years, probably decades, but remembering them did lead me to Google both, and lead me to an interesting website about comic strips.
Just going to the website and seeing the strips listed there joggled my memory about some others.
There is Captain Easy. Alley Oop. Apartment 3G (I think it must have been a chick strip, I never read it but remember it taking up useful space in the local paper's funny page). Gil Thorp (was in the Chicago Tribune I read in high school, I don't think it ever ran locally). Our Boarding House. Nancy (never liked it but for some reason always read it).
The whole thing makes me wonder how many other things are stored in bins up in my mind that I will never access again unless I'm reminded somehow of them.
These things are the "Apartment 3Gs" of my brain, just sitting there taking up space right now. Hoping they will be useful again some day.
So somebody say or write something clever to make me remember, huh?
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Weekend Reading And 2014 Goal Tending
Exodus 10 and 11.
Been keeping up with reading every day. Check.
Been keeping up with posting. 44 so far. On track.
I'm at 3325 push ups and squats at 60 days. I'm on track for push ups, but behind on squats.
The really good news is my shoulder feels great.
Been keeping up with reading every day. Check.
Been keeping up with posting. 44 so far. On track.
I'm at 3325 push ups and squats at 60 days. I'm on track for push ups, but behind on squats.
The really good news is my shoulder feels great.
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