Almost a wrap

Technorati tags: Virginia Tech, Hokies, ACC, Georgia Tech, Miami Hurricanes

It's not quite a wrap but it's damn close.  With the flailing Hurricanes falling to Georgia Tech Saturday, the Hokies quest to be a factor in determining the ACC champion every year they are in the conference looks to be coming to an end. 

The Hokies would have to win out and have Georgia Tech lose two conference games to get into the title game.  NC State may prove capable of an upset, but with North Carolina and Duke part of the remaining schedule, it would take a phenomenal collapse (or Calvin Johnson injury -- I'm not wishing that, I'm just saying) for GT not to win the Coastal division.

Almost a wrap

Technorati tags: Virginia Tech, Hokies, ACC, Georgia Tech, Miami Hurricanes

It's not quite a wrap but it's damn close. With the flailing Hurricanes falling to Georgia Tech Saturday, the Hokies quest to be a factor in determining the ACC champion every year they are in the conference looks to be coming to an end.

The Hokies would have to win out and have Georgia Tech lose two conference games to get into the title game. NC State may prove capable of an upset, but with North Carolina and Duke part of the remaining schedule, it would take a phenomenal collapse (or Calvin Johnson injury -- I'm not wishing that, I'm just saying) for GT not to win the Coastal division.

Season Opener Promo

Technorati tags: Lakers, LAL, Season Opener

 

This year, the Lakers are coming out strong. Young. Hungry. Team.
This season the Lakers are a tribe, battling opponents each and every game.
It’s going to be a journey, and everyone can go on it with them. The Lakers are ready.
There is the new, players like Radmanovic, rookies like Farmar, Kobe's number.
There is the continuum, Lamar will dominate, Kwame will flex, Luke will flow.
And all of them will play as a team.
It’s going to be an exciting season, and you won’t want to miss a game.
STAPLES Center will be transformed to bring the focus back to the game.
In the past, lights were so bright everywhere that attention from the court drifted.
This year, the focus is the game.
This season, it's Lights Out.
It's our building, it's how we play, it's what we do.
It's Lights Out.
October 31st, 2006

Looking up

Today, Mrs. Xpinionated has definitely shown improvement today.  At a cost, however, as she was weakened most of the day and having trouble holding down food. 

Good news is that they have stopped her magnesium drip which was causing her weakness.  The baby still looks good.  She has slowly gotten her strength and appetite back. 

I'll let you know more......when I know more......

Now that is Hokie Football

Technorati tags: Virginia Tech, Clemson, Hokies, Football, ACC

I'm not here to toot my own horn.  I'm not here with the frothing at the mouth with "I told you so's" and a grin.  I'm ecstatic.  Excited that I can be excited about Virginia Tech football again.  Increasingly excited that the coaching staff returned to the gameplans that had yet to fail.  Enthusiastic about upcoming games . . . particularly Miami and Wake Forest. 

In two games, Brandon "Iron" Ore has rushed for over 400 yards.  Prior to his huge game against Southern Miss, the Hokies were averaging less than a hundred yards a game. 

Sean Glennon surprisingly showed some pocket presence last night, often avoiding sacks (except for the fumble near the end of the first half) and getting the ball back to the line, if not gaining yards.

Most impressive, though, had to be the Hokies defense.  'You will not run on us!  You will not pass on us!  You will punt...and punt again!!'  And punt they did!  After the initial quarter, Clemson's offense was frustrated and bottled up like a freshman boy watching the senior cheerleaders practice on the band field. 

Next up is Miami.  Oddly enough, this week Hokies fans should be cheering for Miami against Georgia Tech.  Georgia Tech losses push Va Tech closer to a possible ACC championship birth.  Let's win out...and let the cards fall as they may.

Kobe, D-Wade, King James-Let the comparisons begin. . . .

Technorati tags: Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Lebron James, NBA, MVP

The following quote from si.com says it all, in my opinion, in regards to the leading candidate for the 06-07 NBA MVP:

Our verdict: Wade's championship credentials have made him the fashionable pick, LeBron is an appearance in the Finals away, but when, as a scout says, "you are the player all others compare themselves to," well, Kobe can take the last shot for us, anytime.

But if you really need to read the whole article, here ya go

Weis not Wise

Technorati tags: Notre Dame, Charlie Weis, AP Poll, Media Poll, BCS, College Football

Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis is confused by the Fighting Irish's fall in the polls.  His conundrum is that since his team won, they should not fall.  Hmm...a comeback against an unranked (and start the flame wars now) and west coast team does not shout top 10. 

"One of the teams (Tennessee) that jumped us had the same game that we had. They're down, they're playing at home and they win by a field goal," Weis said Tuesday. "Another team (Florida) that jumped us wasn't even playing. They were home eating cheeseburgers and they end up jumping us. That befuddles me."

Alabama and Tennessee are a rivalry.  There is adrenaline, tradition, and the intangibles that make the Vols victory a little more impressive than N.D. beating UCLA.  And Charlie, should you really be chastising anyone for eating cheeseburgers?

I apologize.  The last statement was not necessary.  I don't like getting personal to prove a point.

Texas, which needed a 22-yard field goal to beat Nebraska 22-20 with 23 seconds left, passed the Irish in the Bowl Championship Series standings, dropping the Irish to No. 9.

"Tell me how that works?" Weis said. "Maybe I'm just stupid. Tell me how that works?"

This one here is pretty simple...Nebraska was ranked.

The really funny thing about the praise Weis has received along with Notre Dame's infamous hype this year:  Weis is still playing with Ty's guys.  These aren't players recruited by Weis, they are players that happened to mature together when he took over the reins.  But, let's face facts...Weis' influence on those kids in South Bend will not show until at least next year at the earliest.  Let's stop the media's hype machine from taking our focus of that which is sustenance in football....look behind the lies lines of the journalists and come up with your own lies......

Arrington Out For Year

Technorati tags: Lavar Arrington

New York Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington likely is out for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys on Monday night.

I'm not cheering for the dude's injury.  At the same time, given his tenure with the 'Skins, a season ending injury sounds like what I'd expect from him.

The Tarnish of a Legend

Technorati tags: Brunell Sucks, Redskins, Gibbs, Mark Brunell, Jason Campbell, Al Saunders, Washington Redskins

Joe Gibbs.  One of the most revered in the Redskins family.  Perhaps twenty years from now, his current stint as head coach will fade into the background of his accolades.. .. . but that is in twenty years.  Right now, he's simply tarnishing his past, being stubborn, and seemingly enjoying it.

The talk shows and chat rooms might be clamoring for Jason Campbell to replace Mark Brunell, but coach Joe Gibbs doesn't plan to give the quarterback -- for whom he traded three draft picks to take in the first round in 2005 -- practice reps with the first team during their two bye week practices. "We love Jason," Gibbs said. "At some point, his time is going to come. Right now, that's not something that's a focus of mine."

If that's not a focus, how about winning?  Is that a focus?  At this point, does it matter?  Three draft picks for a quarterback we're not using.  Another draft pick for TJ Duckett whose number as a Redskin I don't know because he gets even less time in DC than he did in the ATL....and by less time, I mean no time.  So that's four picks that we aren't going to use for players that we aren't using....and this makes sense how?

At 2 - 5, the only under .500 team in the division, the only team in the division without a division win, and on a three game skid, why not put Jason Campbell in?  Why not at least show that you're willing to adapt?  Yeah, you hired Al Saunders to call the plays but then you limit his ability by keeping broke Brunell under center.  What's the point of spending money on every position offensively, and then keeping the most limited player on the field.  Think how often has Mark Brunell been sacked before he even took three evasive steps.  The guy is done...I don't care how good he may look in practice...he's done, and has been done for a while.  Yeah, he had 2 good games this year but if it takes seven games for him to havetwo good ones, is it worth it.  6 and 10 this year is a long shot

Gibbs, take a hint from your counterpart Bill Parcells:  at some point you have to let go of 'your guy' and do what's best for the team...right now, Brunell ain't it!

Even the computers say Shaquille Sucks

In June's NBA finals, for instance, the Lenovo Stat showed the best combination for the champion Miami Heat included Dwyane Wade, James Posey, Gary Payton, Antoine Walker, and Alonzo Mourning. Missing from the list is O'Neal, the 7'1" Miami Heat center who is an 11-time NBA All-Star and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in league history. But it was with Mourning -- rather than O'Neal -- that the Heat had the greatest point advantage during the championships, according to the Lenovo Stat.

Find the full story here

A First

For the first time in quite a while, I am not particularly eager to catch a VT game.  In fact, I wasn't sure what time the game even started until today.  I did know who we were playing but that was about it. 

Interesting fact, we are currently 102nd in the country in rushing.  ONE HUNDRED AND SECOND.  IN RUSHING.  You know what makes it more interesting?  The fact that Branden Ore averages 5 yards a carry and we are 102nd in rushing.  Great average, horrid ranking....perhaps not playing to our strength????

Southern Miss preview

The Next Day

Mrs. Xpinionated is currently on bed rest.  Momma Xpinionated has driven from Indiana to join her which I'm sure is a comfort to both.  Updates on what the doctors are saying will have to come tomorrow as I am dead tired and type this only waiting for a load of clothes to finish. 

I do want to express my sincere and complete gratitude to all of our family, friends, and co-workers (almost redundant since the aforementioned have become extended family and friends if they weren't considered as such previously) for their prayers, thoughts, and support.  We are extremely lucky to have people like you in our lives.

Scared and not out of it yet

As I arrived home Tuesday night, I decided to give Mrs. Xpinionated a call because she said I may need to pick her up from work.  To my surprise, a co-worker answers.  My first thought is that Mrs. X had to catch a ride because my cellphone was dead. 

Instead, B (the coworkers Xpinionated alias as of now) tells me that Mrs. X is in the hospital.  She has been bleeding and they need me to get to the hospital as soon as possible. 

Fear, sadness, worry crowded my thinking.  I turn around and start to head out of the neighborhood.  Then I realize I have no idea where the hospital is and my phone is dead.  So I turn back around and go to the house to get instructions.  My mind is racing, my decision making is hindered and I'm about to get on the interstate. 

Amazingly, I was less aggressive than usual.  I kept thinking, I'm no good if I get into an accident, no good in an accident.  I arrive at the hospital and after travelling the Labryinth that is Northside Hospital, I found my wife.. . . . smiling

She was listening to Devin's heartbeat and that was all she needed to calm down.  I, on the other hand, took a few hours before I could calm down. 

Although we're not out of the woods, mother and baby are doing well.  Though there is still bleeding, neither appear to be in harm's way right now.  I'm sleepy but don't want to go to sleep quite yet.  Her contractions seem to have stopped and I think she is actually sleeping now.  Gonna go . . . .

The U -- In all it's glory

Lamar Thomas, former University of Miami football player turned short time commentator, was fired for comments made during the brawl with FIU, yet another embarassing Miami moment. 

"Now, that's what I'm talking about," Thomas said as the brawl raged out of control. "You come into our house, you should get your behind kicked. You don't come into the OB playing that stuff. You're across the ocean over there. You're across the city. You can't come over to our place talking noise like that. You'll get your butt beat. I was about to go down the elevator to get in that thing."

That was followed by:

"I say, why don't they just meet outside in the tunnel after the ball game and get it on some more? You don't come into the OB, baby," Thomas said. "We've had a down couple years but you don't come in here talking smack. Not in our house."

It just goes to show, not only does Miami recruit thugs, but it grooms, them and sends them out into the world. 

In all honesty though, jokes aside, has anyone really seen the saddest part of this incident?  The university of Miami got into a brawl with FIU -- Florida International University.  How many folks outside of Miami-Dade county knew what FIU stood for before Saturday night?

Devin's a Busy Dude

Technorati tags: new dad, expecting father, fetus movement

A glorious Saturday morning to ya!  Devin was quite the active fella the past 14 hours.  We went to see 'The Departed' last night (more on that in another post).  Loud theater, lots of gunshots.  We are officially at that point where he will respond to loud noises.  I was literally sitting at the theater with my hand on Momma Xpinionated's stomach and he was kicking me like he was playing Francis Costello (reference to 'The Departed', Costello was Jack Nicholson's part) in the movie. 

Again this morning, entirely too early but I guess I'll have to get used to that, Devin was awake and active.  The kicks or punches or elbows or whatever my lil man is doing have definitely gotten stronger.  Kinda amazing really. 

'The Departed' - Bloody Good!

Technorati tags: movies, The Departed, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, One of the Baldwin's

Since I went out on Thursday night to watch the joke that is currently Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's football program, I decided to take a Friday night off.  I told the wife we could go see a movie if she wanted figuring I'd either sit through something I truly had no desire to see, or take a nap -- something I have become exceptionally fond of doing in movie theaters (it could be worse, ain't that right Pee Wee).  To my surprise, the wife picked a movie that she kinda wanted to see but that she thought I would like.  Like, indeed I did.  In fact, loved.

A bad guy-good guy flick with enough headshots to make you think it was a video game instead of a cinema feature.  No cranium was safe, and the best part (in a sick, slightly twisted way) was none of the headshots were expected....and the resulting splatter was grotesquely good. 

Indeed, the only disappointment was a result of incorrect expectations set by Yahoo Movies.  They mentioned the flick was rated 'R' for strong sexual content among other things....a woman in her bra and thongs engaged in foreplay is hardly strong sexual content.  Hell, that's a saturday night at the mall!

I'm not a movie reviewer so don't expect some intricate analysis of the acting, plot, directing, lighting et cetera and so on.  Actually, don't expect anything...you'll never be disappointed that way ;)

Suckalitis

I can't think of a single reason right now that I should continue to watch Hokie football.  They talk about running and come out with WR screens, even on third and one.  The defense is not to blame for the ass-whipping gobbled up by the Fighting (only in name) Gobblers of Va tech.  When no matter what you do, your offense sucks ass, there is nothing to fall back on.  At one point, BC led 13 -3 with 13 points off turnovers.  Sean Glennon's fault?  Nope, coaching staff.  Glennon's pocket presence is questionable, but if you (wild idea forthcoming) run the freakin' ball on 1st AND 2ND DOWN maybe, just maybe you can run some of those tricky, sneaky WR screens. some of those play actions, or (next wild idea coming) a screen to Branden Ore.  Much like T.O. earlier this week, why is Ore here if not to carry the ball.

It's like Beamer and staff have decided since they don't have a mobile quarterback, then there is no need to have any faith in the rushing game.  Instead, let's pass 2 out of 3 downs, usually for 1 - 5 yards and hope for the best.

Personally, I have had it this year.  Someone asked me during the game:  What was VT's best game this year?  My response?  We haven't played it.  This is like Anthony Michael Hall and that short dude from Weird Science have cloned the VT coaching staff on a contract from Tranglsehfesae (Big East President) in order to make the Hokies a laughingstock.

We don't deserve to be ranked.  Any hopes of contending for an ACC championship are completely out of our hands.  In fact, as a heckler reminded me at the bar......think Blue Field....because right now playing a bowl game in Boise is a challenge.....

Catching On?

Technorati tags: Collegiate Times, Va Tech, Football, rushing, BC, Boston College, Hokies

 

“I think we need to get our running game going,” Beamer said. “I’m pleased with how we throw the ball right now. Sean has been good, and the receivers have been good. For us to win, we have to be able to run the ball and stop their run.”

Really now?  Run the ball.  Something I've been saying for much of the season.  Now it dawns on the coaching staff that running the ball is in the Hokies best interests????  Try not to be bitter X

Dropped Ball

Technorati tags: Redskins, Washington Redskins, NFL

The 'skins had a chance to get back in the NFC East race this past Sunday.  I didn't see the game but my at the bar correspondent said we looked absolutely pitiful. 

I would keep my head up by saying we have Tennessee this weekend but they gave Indy a run for their money last week so this game may not be easy like the Texans were.

Sensitivity Training

Technorati tags: diversity, harassment, training

If I'm offended by sensitivity training, who do I report that to?

I was going through the required training for my new gig.  Today's lesson was the anti-harassment training.  So many classic moments to mention that I'm not quite sure I can list them all:

• Asking the black guy to play on the rec league team because black people have 'leaps' and white guys and Koreans do not.
• Heather's glandular problem being diagnosed as too many cheeseburgers and too little treadmills
• Confused on whether being grabbed and kissed during happy hour should be reported as harassment

Funny stuff was captured in these videos.  But the funniest moment of the day was when I was talking with a new employee who went through orientation yesterday.  He was talking about the diversity section of the training and said,

What's the group for the straight white male?

I promptly replied,

Management

Sensitivity Training

If I'm offended by sensitivity training, who do I report that to?

I was going through the required training for my new gig. Today's lesson was the anti-harassment training. So many classic moments to mention that I'm not quite sure I can list them all:

• Asking the black guy to play on the rec league team because black people have 'leaps' and white guys and Koreans do not.


• Heather's glandular problem being diagnosed as too many cheeseburgers and too little treadmills


• Confused on whether being grabbed and kissed during happy hour should be reported as harassment

Funny stuff was captured in these videos. But the funniest moment of the day was when I was talking with a new employee who went through orientation yesterday. He was talking about the diversity section of the training and said,

What's the group for the straight white male?

I promptly replied,

Management

Mistake made?

Technorati tags: career, life, time

The way work has been lately, I'm starting to wonder if I made the right decision staying when I had the opportunity to take off.  I'm hoping to get off my current project which has me doing the same thing I'd been doing for more money.  I thought the more money would pacify me for a while but no such luck there.   Patience I 'spose is my best option....

On another note, I feel very overwhelmed.  Too many things I want to do but never enough time to do them.   I want to work on my web page, play video games, work out, ride my bike, do some things around the house (this is more of a need to than a want to), detail my car. . . . I mean really detail it, go to Jeffreys, read some books...but all I seem to get to do is drive to work, work, drive home, and maybe get a game or two in before I gotta go to bed to start it all over again.

Pops Thoughts 10/5/2006

What ever happen to lets make love not war?

While making love did we create these monsters?

Smile, have happy Thoughts and maybe this will be contagious to others. :-)

Quotes from the Pros

Two great quotes. With the Giants hosting the Redskins in a big time NFC east matchup, the talk has been about former 'Skin new Giant Lavar Arrington's dismissal. When assistant coach Dale Lindsey was asked about Arrington's ability to help the Giants prepare for the
'Skins he replied:

"He didn't know anything when he was here. What makes you think he'll know something up there?"

In other news, Randy Moss stated when asked if he was concerned with the Raiders 0 - 3 start, according to Hot 107.9 in Atlanta (not verbatim): "No I'm not concerned because no one else cares."

Baby Movement

I felt Devin move Wednesday night for the first time. He was quite the excited fellow too. And yes, we have decided to spell it Devin instead of Deven. My theory goes that if we are pronouncing it like Kevin with a 'D', then we should spell it as such also!