My Hypothesis

Scholarship being my thing, I've given the following a lot of thought.

Al Davis, principal owner of the Oakland Raiders is a fan of Space Angel, the single greatest cartoon of all time.

How do I know? Davis obviously loves his Raiders. Now, check out the Raiders logo, which in my opinion is the coolest in all of football. But that is a subject for another post.


I read on Wikipedia that this was modeled after Scottius Maximus' distant cousin, Randolph Scott. But we all know sometimes Wikipedia is not a master of all the facts. And you'll soon see why.

Now, if you will please, turn your attention to my hero, Scott McCloud, a.k.a Space Angel.



Is there any doubt that the "Raider" in the logo is Space Angel, and not Randolph Scott? They just flipped his eye patch over from the left eye to the right.

It's all right there for those who have the courage to believe. Yep, Al Davis is a Space Angel fan.

By the way, Space Angels would be a great name for an expansion team.


You might think I'm crazy, but I believe history will prove me right.

So Long, We Hardly Knew Ye

Baseball has ended yet again. Which means much of what is now alive will die soon. Then comes the cold and gray of winter. It happens. A lot has happened since last February. Just think what the world was like back then and how far we've come.

Funny thing is, I missed the end. I watched quite a bit of first half football yesterday afternoon, jumping back and forth between Packers-Buccaneers and Chiefs-Broncos. Needless to say, I fell asleep. But when I woke up and clicked over to baseball, the game was already over. My heart sunk. Baseball was over. And I missed it.

A lot will happen before I see another game, and as more and more seasons pass, I begin to qualify that with if I ever see another game. None of us are getting any younger, and you never know when your time is up.

You think about such things when baseball season ends.

"And so long for just a while." - Jack Buck.

Wanna Feel Really Old?

Then keep readin'. You'll feel a cataract and a few blood vessels slam shut before I finish.

This has been a fun week. Nick at Nite ran a Cosby Show mini-marathon all last week, which we spent most nights watching. I'd forgotten how much I loved that show.

So I started doing a little reading about the show on Wikipedia and IMDB. I was stunned by the results of my research.

Did you know that the "girl", Sabrina LeBeauf, who played Sondra the oldest daughter, is now 50 years old? Yes, you saw that right- 50!!!

Did you know Lisa Bonet (Denise) is 40 and Malcolm Jamal Warner (Theo) is 38? And Tempestt Bledsoe (Vanessa) is 35?

Would you know this person?


That's 29 year old Rudy...errrrr...Keshia Knight Pulliam.

Even the little girl who played Olivia, Raven-Symone, is now 22.

There were many unique things about this show. Remember Kenny, who Rudy used to call "Buuuuuud", and his twisted 5 year old chauvinism. And Rudy's other friend Peter, who was plump and hardly spoke?

Or how about Bacon Burger Dogs?

And how great were the openings? The music and dancing was outstanding.

Every season had it's own unique intro. Well, except season 6 and season 7 were almost identical.

My favorite opening is definitely season 6 and 7, followed by season 2, season 3, season 4, season 5, season 1 and season 8.

YouTube has them all. But here's the link to my favorite.

NFL Week 4

Last week I was 13-3. For the year 34-13. ESPN experts here and here.

I've definitely got some opinions on some uniforms this year. I love Buffalo's throwback uniform and wish they'd just stick with it the rest of the year. Stay tuned.

There are now only 6 winless teams. The number did end up dropping quite a bit last week. But of the 6 teams left, I think 3 of them have a real shot at going 0-16. Detroit, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

On the state front, Ohio and Missouri both are winless at 0-6.

Cincinnati.
Tennessee.
Denver.
New Orleans.
Arizona.
Green Bay.
Carolina.
Jacksonville.
San Diego.
Buffalo.
Dallas.
Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh- Monday.

NFL Week 3

Last week was 10-5. This year's record stands at 21-10.

Still seems to be a chance for someone to run the table and go 0-16. The Rams look like the favorites, but don't count out the Chiefs. In fact, the whole state of Missouri is guaranteed to get single digits in wins this year. The only question is, how low can they go?

Of all the states with more than one team, what is the worst winning percentage ever produced? I don't know. I wish I still had a blog statistician to figure that one out. I had to let mine go due to budget constraints.

Detroit may have an outside shot. And don't think Cincinnati can't pull this off. Fact of the matter is, there are still 11 winless teams. The herd should thin a little, but not a lot, this week.

Atlanta.
Buffalo.
Chicago.
Tennessee.
Minnesota.
New England.
Giants.
Washington.
San Francisco.
Seattle.
Denver.
Philadelphia.
Indianapolis.
Baltimore.
Dallas.
San Diego- Monday.

Time Out

I'm taking a brief break today from the usual light-heartedness of this blog.

You have to take the time to listen to Brigitte Gabriel expound upon Western Civilization's ongoing, centuries old war with Islam, on Issues, Etc. from Wednesday.

NFL Week 2

Last week's 11-5 start was the best I have had in years. Probably due for a let down this week. The Bears surprised me last week, but I am not prepared to get my hopes up yet. This new RB looks intriguing, though.

The Rams stink badly. They may be the only team that has the potential to run the table for an 0-16 this year. The Dolphins look a lot better and are no longer in contention. After being of the opinion that the Raiders are improved before the season started, I've got to say, if they perform like last week, they could be contenders to run the table.

The real shocker to me was how good the Broncos looked, and now that the AFC is wide open, they might have a shot also. That, and how all the rats deserted the Patriots ship before it had even sunk. I'd like to wait to see how this Cassel guy performs before declaring them dead. They did win 18 games last year.

Tennessee.
Green Bay.
Kansas City.
Giants.
Indianapolis.
New Orleans.
Carolina.
Jacksonville.
Seattle.
Tampa Bay.
New England.
Arizona.
Denver.
Cleveland.
Dallas- Monday.

Can You Say Vocation?

Thought I might hire this dude. I have a few bushes that need a trimming.

September 10, 1974

Where were you and what were you doing?

I was listening to Jack Buck describe this, as I had all summer. Which just happens to be #7 on the list of the greatest moments at Old Busch Stadium.

I used to think his name was "Blue" Brock, not Lou Brock, when I was a wee lad.

Headline Of The Year

"Success! The world hasn't ended"

Really? Boy, this was a super day- I didn't read my obituary in the paper today, either.

Reformed Dudes

My favorite Reformed speaker and Christian apologist, Dr. R.C. Sproul, was on the White Horse Inn show with Michael Horton. They speak on the same topics bantered about Lutheran circles, such as Issues, Etc, so it's kind of interesting to see others lament the state of American Christianity in the same way. Worth a look if you have the time. Hat tip Ligonier blog.

NFL Week 1

Like last year's Pats, there's a lot of buzz about me going undefeated this year. Or not.

So far so good, though. I'm 1-0.

This first week is always the hardest because of all the newness around the league. You never really know what anyone's got for at least 2-3 weeks.

Detroit.
Buffalo.
Tennessee.
Jets.
New England.
New Orleans.
Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh.
Cincinnati.
San Diego.
Arizona.
Dallas.
Indianapolis.
Green Bay.
Oakland.

I Like Funny

Some pretty funny stuff going on the past 2 weeks. Definitely stuff for the history books, as they say.

Speaking Of Football

In the past I've limited myself to picks each week. This year I'm going completely Carnac on you and posting my picks for how the standings will look at the end of the season.

Which can only lead to a lot of fun in December, when we'll all look back at these picks and laugh at them. To my utter embarrassment.

NFC East
1. Cowboys.
2. Eagles.
3. Giants.
4. Redskins.

NFC North
1. Vikings.
2. Packers.
3. Bears.
4. Lions.

NFC South
1. Saints.
2. Panthers.
3. Buccaneers.
4. Falcons.

NFC West
1. Seahawks.
2. Cardinals.
3. Forty-niners.
4. Rams.

AFC East
1. Patriots.
2. Jets.
3. Bills.
4. Dolphins.

AFC North
1. Browns.
2. Steelers.
3. Bengals.
4. Ravens.

AFC South
1. Colts.
2. Jaguars.
3. Titans.
4. Texans.

AFC West
1. Chargers.
2. Raiders.
3. Broncos.
4. Chiefs.

Can You Feel It In The Air This Morning?

You know what I'm talking about, don't you know?

Wow, I haven't felt this much energy in a long time.

I can sense it among everyone I've been in contact with today. Something's different.

I didn't think something like this could have this kind of effect on people, but I guess it has. I didn't know people cared this much anymore.

I'll just come out and state the obvious.

Football is back tonight, baby!

And I've got the Giants in the opener.

Sorry

A lot of people don't get it. This movie, one of my favorites, is priceless camp, and I just had to post this. 'Cause I just felt like it.





And, of course, there's the climactic final fight scene!


Love the music. What a riot!

I Was Doing My Best To Avoid This Guy

But today's circumstances make that impossible.

We all know Michael Phelps doesn't need more publicity. He is a hot commodity right now, so I'm trying to avoid all things Michael Phelps to avoid being a pathetic bandwagoner.

But then, today, I saw this, and all that changed.

He's now my hero for life!

There are few things in life better than a bowl of Frosted Flakes- the single greatest cereal of all time! And now, our boy is going to be doing a little endorsing for said frosted flakes of corn.

"Olympic legend Michael Phelps will appear on boxes of the Kellogg's brand sugar cereal, drawing sharp criticism from health experts worried about the message he'll be sending to children across America."

Worried about the message? The message is simple- eat Frosted Flakes and you'll turn out just fine. What more could a kid ask for? In the kid universe, there's a party going on right now of epic proportions.

"I would not consider Frosted Flakes the food of an Olympian."

Me either. I consider Frosted Flakes the food not just of mere Olympians, but of the the single greatest Olympian of all time!

"I would rather see him promoting Fiber One. I would rather see him promoting oatmeal. I would even rather see him promoting Cheerios."

That's sissy food. Nope, only Frosted Flakes for the greatest Olympic champion ever.

Nobody eats that other stuff. Everyone eats Frosted Flakes. They just won't admit it.

"The announcement yesterday that Phelps, 23, winner of a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, would grace Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes boxes instead of the traditional athlete's choice of Wheaties left many perplexed."

Perplexed? Why perplexed? I'm not. Just listen to the tiger- they're grrreat!

What's puzzling to me is why anybody would eat Wheaties, not Frosted Flakes. That cardboard stuff made baseball card bubblegum taste good.

Besides, Frosted Flakes is obviously better for you. How many people who eat Wheaties have won 14 Olympic gold medals? Let's see...I know- NONE.

"Frosted Flakes has three times the amount of sugar as Wheaties and 1/3rd the fiber."

Yeah, tell us something we don't know. Why do you think it tastes so good? Duh?

Why do you think Michael has so much energy? Double duh?

And let me tell you something else. There's no way a guy who spends all day in the pool is going to eat something with a lot of fiber. If you get my point. One third the fiber sounds about right.

Keep eating those Frosted Flakes, Michael. Look where it's gotten you.

I'm now officially on board- Michael Phelps- greatest athlete ever!

Just Plain Peculiar

Denny McLain. Bob Gibson. Hat tip Viva El Birdos.

1968 was one whale of a cuckoo year, man.

8-8-08

The Olympics are starting. Technically they already have, I guess. They're not as big a deal as they used to be, partly due to the abundance of sports on TV now, partly due to the lack of the USA/USSR rivalry, and partly because of the participation of professional athletes. It was definitely better when we only had "amateurs"; at least amateurs competing for the US. Now, if Iran would develop into a worthwhile Olympic rival- then we'd have something going again.

However, it's still a big deal!

So, some Olympic questions for everyone:

What was the first Olympics you remember?
I remember vaguely the skating performance of Peggy Fleming in the 1968 Winter Olympics. However, I'd like to keep this Q&A limited to the summer games. I vaguely remember the '68 Summer Olympics, but the first ones I really remember getting into were the '72 Munich games.

Favorite Olympic Games?
1976 Montreal. Having "lost" on a controversial "do-over" of epic proportions in 1972, the US basketball team avenged that loss by taking the gold medal. It was much more meaningful because it was a group of collegians that accomplished the feat.

The 1976 US boxing team also was stellar, led by the immortal Ray Leonard and Leon Spinks! I believe the US-USSR match up hit its peak intensity at this Olympics. The fact that five US boxers won gold medals made the accomplishment seem edgier in that Cold War era.

Then there was the decathlon and Bruce Jenner's victory. Take that, Russkies! The track and field was fun to watch, too.

Most boring Olympics?
1984 Los Angeles. No USSR. No drama. Sorry Mary Lou.

Best Olympic athlete ever?
Since I'm too young to remember Jesse Owens, I've got to say Carl Lewis. It's too bad he went and spoiled his legacy by doing this.

Best Olympic performance?
Mark Spitz at Munich 1972- seven gold medals at one Olympic games still stands as THE performance standard.

Most dramatic moment?
I always have loved the 100 meter final- and nothing beat the Carl Lewis/Ben Johnson moment in 1988 at Seoul, South Korea.

Sport that used to get huge coverage and now doesn't?
Indoor volleyball. Now, it's all the beach variety.

Best Olympics that never was?
Well, at least from the American point of view, that would be 1980 in Moscow. Blame Jimmy Carter for that one. Just a few months after the Lake Placid Miracle on Ice, we missed out on a games with great dramatic potential. For no reason.

Because of this we had to wait until Rocky IV in 1985 to see an American go into Russia and take it to those Commies!

There are certainly some things I've overlooked. Any other thoughts?

Send Your Thanks Via E-mail

I'm about to save you a huge amount of time.

Now that Brett Favre has been traded to the Jets, the media circus is only going to intensify, not let up. Because he is now in the media capital of the world instead of little ol' Green Bay.

So that you don't waste the next six months of your life watching ESPN regurgitate every moment, just read the following and turn that network off.

Here's the next six months in approximately sixty seconds (depending on your reading abilities):

1) Brett Favre's plane lands in New York. There are camera crews to show him de-boarding.
2) Brett Favre holds a news conference telling everyone he's glad to be in New York and that he only wants to play football. He gets in a few subtle digs at the Green Bay Packers' management.
3) When asked about their reaction, the Packers wish Brett "well", but are glad to be "moving on".
4) Brett Favre shows up at Jets' training camp. His new teammates say in interviews they are glad to have him as a teammate.
5) Brett Favre plays a few exhibition games with the Jets. Media speculates about whether Brett is learning and adjusting to his new coaches and offensive schemes.
6) Brett Favre throws his first TD of the season. Media speculates whether Green Bay should have gotten rid of him. Bad move, Packers.
7) Aaron Rodgers throws first interception of the season. Media speculates again whether Green Bay should have gotten rid of Favre. Bad move, Packers.
8) Brett Favre throws first interception. Media speculates whether Jets should have given up so much for him. And that he is 38 years old. Bad move, Jets.
9) Aaron Rodgers throws first TD. Media speculates whether he can "fill Favre's shoes." Green Bay knew what they were doing.
10) The last four scenarios play themselves out continuously the rest of the season.
11) If someone goes down injured, media will swoop in to lambaste that team for entrusting their season to said QB.
12) Sometime before Thanksgiving, sources close to either Brett Favre or the Jets will speculate that this is Favre's last season.
13) Several times after Thanksgiving, sources close to either Brett Favre or the Jets will speculate that this is Favre's last season.
14) Favre will be asked whether this is his last season.
15) Season will definitely end with neither the Packers or Jets making the Super Bowl.
16) Media will begin Brett Favre Watch, as to whether Brett Favre is going to retire.
17) Brett Favre will issue statement at end of season regarding whether he will play another year.
18) No one will believe him.
19) Speculation will begin about whether Favre will really return or not.
20) Steps 1-19 will repeat themselves for the 2009 season.

There. No need to watch Sports Center. No need to listen to talk radio. No need to watch Jim Rome, Around the Horn or PTI.

As time goes on, if you ever start to wonder what's going on, just come back to this post. It's all right here.

Now, go enjoy the lifetime I have saved you.

Great Minds Think Alike

Thanks for listening!

Decision 2008

Tough choices are what election years are all about.

So, what is Tony LaRussa to do? I mean besides keep running Izzy and Springer out there.

I don't want to pick on Izzy any more. He's had a nice career- which is now painfully and obviously over. He's done.

Another blown save last night. Thankfully a victory ensued, but four run 9th inning leads should not feel unsafe.

The only answer to keep this team in the Hunt for (Red) October (get it?) baseball?

Why it's Wainwright to the bullpen, of course. He's due off the DL in a week or so and we have to have a closer down the stretch.

Hey- it worked two years ago. FOR GOODNESS SAKE, LISTEN TO ME TONY!!!

Let Me Get This Straight

Athletes going to China are concerned about pollution. Air pollution mostly. Smog, if you will.

They are concerned about the health effects of such pollution. And American cyclists showed up wearing black masks.

And yet, cyclists, at least as much as any other athlete, are the ones at the forefront of the doping scandals.

In other words, they don't have a problem with injecting their bodies with all kinds of abnormal/foreign substances- but they're afraid of the deleterious effects of a little smog?

Does anyone else see the irony? It's comical.

Weekend TV

Two exasperating baseball games. The bullpen does it again. They're very good at coming from ahead to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

That new HGTV show, Summer Showdown, was disappointing. Two bad designs that looked really cheap on camera. I've read this several times on HGTV message boards- what is up with the bowls of fruit? It seems obvious to me that's what passes for a finishing touch on anything Vern does.

Hear that contestants for Design Star season 4?

Speaking of Design Star, congratulations to Jen. Matt, according to the odds I made early in the show, was the favorite, but she pulled it off. Not a huge upset (I had never viewed her as a longshot) but I am surprised.

Dear Green Bay,

SIGN ME, SIGN ME!!! I'll stay away from your training camp for much less than $20 million.

But hurry up. The Bears are dangling me a fat offer to stay away from them.

Love,
Scottius Maximus



How can this world be so messed up that professional franchises that no longer want players will pay them not to come back, just so they won't play for some other team?

The next thing we'll see is some team, like the Yankees, sign some guy in the offseason that they don't need for outrageous money and send him home. They won't want him, they just don't want someone else having him.

This is how free agency must work on Bizarro. Teams pay players to stay home.

More Plant Peepage

Thanks to all the Tiger Lily fans, I now have one less UFO (unidentified flower object) in the landscape.

So, what say you all about this little critter?


It's about a foot tall but the flower is cool.


It's some kind of volunteer- I didn't plant it and it wasn't there last year.

Any guesses?

Plant Peeps- For Your Eyes Only

I need your help.

I have know idea what this plant is.


Actually, that's not true. I know it's a lily.


"Now, now, now...Lilly."

Down, boy, Herman.

There's a simple reason I don't know. I didn't plant it. And, it has never bloomed until this year.

The blooming thing is not necessarily my fault. You see, after we moved into this house 5 years ago, the plant was already here. But Lucy kept cutting it down. She thought it was a weed, I guess.

Last year I convinced her to let it grow. The foliage was kind of cool, and you could tell it was not a weed, but it never produced a single bud. I thought whatever magic it had left in its bulbs must have been spent.


"Darn, darn, darn, darn!"

This year we got a lot of spring and summer rain, so it took off growing at a tremendous rate compared to last year. I might have given it a bulb boosting fertilizer last year, too, but I can't remember.

I was extremely grateful when I saw the first bud in late spring. Then more came. I waited patiently while they grew.

Now the anticipation turned to what color blooms I would have. At first it was yellow. Then a bright orange-red.

When it finally bloomed, I was stunned. It was so cool. The petals completely opened up, so much so that the tips stretched curvily all the way back to the proximal bud. Like little orange parachutes. They were peppered with black spots.







I had to turn the camera completely up to get a good shot of the center of the flower.




When I took the upside down picture, my hand got littered with pollen.


Now I need your help- what is this thing called?

Speaking Of Names

Who started the trend (long ago) to name sports teams after articles of clothing? And why did it die out before we made our way through the whole wardrobe.

There are plenty of Socks (Sox). We have Knickerbockers. But what happened after this?

We just abandoned the idea. And in favor of what? The Heat? The Magic? The Wild? The Thrashers? What kind of names are these?

What about the Columbus Blue Jackets? Was this an attempt to make clothing names fashionable again? Or were they named for this guy?

Sports team names we should have but don't:
Lederhosen.
Flannels.
Kilts.
Brogues.
Tunics.
Tartans.
Hush Puppies.
Ascots.
Oxfords.
Capris.
Blazers.
Crew Necks.
Boxers.
Bath Robes.
Twills.
Sombreros.

Heck, I'd even settle for Pantaloons.

Just bring back the garment names, please. The possibilities are endless, and far more appealing than the current trend in abstract nicknames.

Ballpark Update

Doubtfully in response to my post last week, there is a new deal going forward to build the ballpark village.

By the way, Google maps provides a close up view of the hole, who some have dubbed "Lake DeWitt", after the team's principal owner. Zoom in to downtown St. Louis, street level view, and see it for yourself in all of its glory.

What If...

I've tried to remain quiet about the Cardinals' success so far this year. Somewhat out of fear of "jinxing" the team (as if my actions had any role in the team's outcome), but mostly because I didn't want to praise the team and then look stupid when it went in the tank.

I was quite excited going into this season due to the new faces and lowered expectations everyone else had. Although it received little love from the pundits, I liked this team a lot. It had gotten a lot younger and hungrier over the winter.

Now with the season past the half-way point, I have to say this has been one of the most enjoyable seasons to watch. Because the expectations were lower than past years, there has been no great frustration those few times when the team hasn't played well.

The opposite effect is also most certainly true- there is nothing more aggravating than seeing a team with supposedly great players struggling, like we've seen occur in past seasons.

This season kind of reminds me of the 2006 post-season. What made that whole thing so enjoyable was not just the ultimate victory that resulted, but the way the team played so loosely under little expectation of triumph. We just sat back in awe and enjoyed the ride. Let some other team grip while we just have fun.

To be only 4 games in back of the Cubs and leading the wildcard with the starting rotation stitched together like it is is simply a gift. It has been enjoyable.

IF things go according to plan, this team is about to get a lot better in the next month. I see no need to make a trade.

Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, the two best pitchers the Cardinals have, are set to return within the month. Carpenter hasn't pitched a meaningful game since Opening Night 2007, the game in which he was injured. But apparently all systems are go for his return as he has been sent out for a rehab assignment that could take up to 30 days.

Injuries are always the joker in the deck, so the outcome of a season is always in doubt. However, this season has to be labeled an unqualified success, regardless of what happens here on out.

Do I think we're going to see a repeat of 2006? No, not likely. Could it happen? Yes, absolutely. And to be able to say that heading toward August and September is good enough.