Blind Man’s Bluff?

Blind influences in my life have motivated me to write again.

I like playing poker.  Not very good at it…but I do know not to limp in on the small blind.  Sometimes, looking at my cards and making a value judgement is not a good thing.  Been suggested that I play blindly, and my game might improve. All I know is that I will gladly play with my son before he goes to camp so that he will have a better chance to win rather than lose gum this summer.

Blind ambition is a unique quality that I have been accused of in the past.  I choose not to mistake “blind” with directed, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Until, of course, I can prove that plowing forward was indeed the right decision.  Ah…to criticize is the easiest thing to do in the world…and it takes no talent to do it…

I was blind-sided with news that a more distant friend had struggled with cancer.  She was winning the fight, but I was uncomfortable with the fact that I did not know about her struggles until well after she was in treatment.  Things get by you when you are dialed in elsewhere.  Need to constantly hone my attention skills.

Not so good at turning a blind eye.  I had the opportunity to do so recently, and decided not to.  Glad for that.  Right is right.  Right also strains relationships, but is better than losing one’s self respect.

I have learned that the word blind in martial arts is multifaceted.  To fight as a blind man can mean to simplify attacks and defenses to play to your advantage.  Fighting a blind man means something else all together.  I am constantly looking for my opponent’s blind spot.

Time to stop.  Wouldn’t want to blindly wander off in dissertation…

 

The rest of the B(C)S

The last of the bowl games SHOULD BE the pinnacle of college football.  THE BEST OF THE BEST.  What we get is a smattering of wow, a little bit of huh? and a large portion of excrement.    I am sorry if you are a fan of K-STATE, Pitt, SMU…the list goes on, but what on the planet earth are you doing playing on New Years or beyond?????  The current BCS is a fracture in the femur of athletics that healed incorrectly, needs to be re-broken, re-set, and then maybe we might have the potential for a compelling post season.  Until then, we get the following:

The AllState Sugar Bowl

Michigan vs Virgina Tech

Michigan beat Notre Dame (yessss!,) Nebraska and Ohio State.  VA Tech lost to Clemson twice.  TWICE!  Look at page 42 in your Soivis guide to Sports and you will find a general principle clause.  If your team loses to Clemson once, I disregard any serious win.  Lose twice and I cannot pick your team…EVER.  Denard Robinson will run in a way that will make Superman reminisce about turning back the clock to bring Lois Lane back to life.  Michigan wins by 20.

The Discover Orange Bowl

West Virginia vs Clemson

Refer to page 42 again.  Someone please explain how both of these teams deserve to be in a high profile game.  Clemson cannot win because of general principles.  West Virginia has LOST to Syracuse and Louisville.  I predict a lot of injuries, turnovers and bad commercials.  WV to win by a safety.  The only way the public wins is if this venue gets leveled by a hurricane (no, not those hurricanes) and the game is cancelled.

AT&T Cotton Bowl

Arkansas vs Kansas State

Arkansas lost to Alabama and LSU.  They decimated everybody else.  By decimated, I mean scored at least 30 points…but mostly in the 40′s or 50′s.  They have a really good offense.  K-State um, ahhh…why are they here?  Arkansas wins 46-17.

BBVA Compass Bowl

Pittsburgh vs SMU

How much drugs over what period of time would you have to take to want to put these two teams on a field AFTER Oregon, Wisconsin, Stanford, Oklahoma State or even ULL???  The answer can only be offered by our great, fearless leaders at the NCAA.  I thought, growing up, that if you played on or after New Years Day, your team was pretty good.  I guess I am wrong, because both of these two teams deserve to be…watching bowl games, not playing in them.  Both teams are horrific.  Neither can raise their game to a level that is designed to play post season.  I have to pick one of these aberrations, right?  Fine…Pittsburgh 6- SMU 5.

GoDaddy.com Bowl

Arkansas State vs Northern Illinois

Another head shaker.  How…Why?  Oy.

Northern Illinois has a great passing attack.  Arkansas State has a really good Opthamology program.  And, they lost to Illinois.  Game Set Match.  NIU 450, ASU 3, so ASU will cover.

BCS National Championship Game

LSU vs Alabama

As difficult as it is to do, I am going to predict that LSU beats the Alabama Fighting Sabans twice in one year.  I cannot find a weakness in LSU, and I am hard pressed to find one in ‘Bama.  This will be another great game, with the only difference being the score and the margin for victory.  LSU 17-’Bama 13.  LSU’s defense is just too strong.  Then, in a post game celebration for both teams, they will all get into a double wide, drink cheap beer, and drive to the NCAA offices and have a “chat” with the brainchild that put the GoDaddy, Compass and many other of the fine, fine games that made no sense together.  Until 2012…Adieu!

Bowl-a-Sys Part Quad…Bowl Picks vs Mothra

No. 19 Houston vs. No. 22 Penn State* TICKETCITY BOWL OK.  This is an easy one.  Houston scores with a big, big passing attack.  Penn State scores with lots of big pre-adolescent attacks.  Unless the Cougar Quarterback, who most recently was busy setting NCAA records for offense gets rattled by a coaching staff that tries to break his concentration by offering him candy and a ride in an unmarked white van, Houston should roll through this game unscathed.

No. 20 Nebraska vs. No. 9 South Carolina* CAPITAL ONE BOWL Hmm…Nebraska was on its way to a great Big 10 (12) season when they suddenly forgot how to play football.  South Carolina is always entertaining, as their coach can sure talk a great game, for nothing else.  I think that the bruising, physical style that Nebraska offers will be enough to propel them to lose by 3.  Gotta go with Spurrier and his coloring books…

No. 17 Michigan State vs. No. 16 Georgia* OUTBACK BOWL This is tough.  MSU has had two straight strong seasons.  The only problem was that they took vacations against Notre Dame and the aforementioned Nebraska.  Georgia is one of the most schitzoid programs in NCAA history.  If MSU can stay focused, and give their passing attack a chance to roll, they should win this one by 10.

Ohio State vs. Florida* TAXSLAYER.com GATOR BOWL WTF???  How are these two teams playing in a bowl game?  One team committed, oh, a gagillion NCAA violations that cost them their coach, quarterback, 7 other key people, numerous recruits and next year’s bowl game.  The other is 6-6.  WTF?????  The NCAA deserves to have this game be a 0-0 tie until overtime, where both teams score 60 points each, and Florida loses on a turnover; only to have the NCAA vacate OSU’s win later because their mascot was found to be juiced.  Abomination on all levels.

No. 10 Wisconsin vs. No. 5 Oregon* ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY VIZIO Great game.  Although Oregon is really strong, I have to trust that Wisconsin will be able to control the line of scrimmage.  OK…maybe not.  Oregon 41 Wisconsin 33.

No. 4 Stanford vs. No. 3 Oklahoma State* TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL

I will always have bad Fiesta Bowl memories.  I hate picking this game, because I twitch when I think of Tostitos.  I hope that this turns out to be a classic.  Both teams are really good and well rounded.  If I have to pick a winner, I will go with humanity, for being able to witness the game.  OSU 36, Stanford 33.

2011 Bowl-Y-Sys Part III

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL

Florida State vs. Notre Dame

I am struggling with this game.  On one hand, I grew up in Michigan.  For those of you whom are unaware of Michigan tradition, we are allowed to HATE two teams:  Ohio State and Notre Dame.  So, I have a hard time shaking the responsibility of rooting for a ton of injuries, turnovers and penalties against the Fighting Irish.  On the other hand…

I really hate Florida State.  I attended the University of Florida, and have always rooted against the Seminoles in Every Sport Possible (including rowing!)

So, you can see my problem.  Objectively, I need to analyze the offenses, defenses, special teams.  Personally, I want to see Brian Kelly turn 5 shades of purple from yelling at his own players, and watch a Florida State kicker miss a game winning field goal wide left.  I am hoping for a tie…6-6.  Oh, and by the way, that would be three safeties a piece…more turmoil.

VALERO ALAMO BOWL

Washington vs. No. 12 Baylor

OK, I officially believe in RG3.  He is intelligent, well spoken, and a tremendous football talent.  THAT BEING SAID…Both teams are formidable on their home soil.  On the road, both turn into the Idaho Tap Dance Academy Team.  I noticed that this is called the Alamo Bowl, because it is played at the site of the Alamo (I researched it, and it is NOT at the site of a rental car facility).  The Alamo happened in Texas.  Baylor is in Texas.  Close enough for me…31-14 Baylor.

I feel the need to fast forward a bit, so here are the next few predictions without the banter:

BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL

BYU (9-3) v Tulsa (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) – BYU will win, unless tornado shows up.  Tulsa practices in those kind of winds.

NEW ERA PINSTRIPE BOWL

Rutgers (8-4, 4-3 Big East) v Iowa St (6-6, 3-6 Big 12) – Virtually a home game for Rutgers, and Iowa State is 3-6 in the Big 12.  Rutgers wins by 14.

Franklin American Mortgage Music City

Miss St (6-6, 2-6 SEC) v W Forest (6-6, 5-3 ACC) – Side note…it is hysterical that a mortgage company is hosting a bowl game.  Wake Forest wins for having a higher percentage of students not defaulting on their school loans.

2011 Bowl-a-sys Part Deux

Belk Bowl, Bank of America Stadium; Dec. 27, Charlotte, N.C.

Louisville vs. NC State

News Flash: After the game, Louisville is leaving the Big East and joining the NHL. During the game, David Amerson, safety for the Louisville Cardinal Sins, will intercept at least 3 passes (he leads the nations in pics, and AT LEAST two of them will be from the other team) and tackle more than 235 men, including some vendors. He is a beast. So much so, that he is a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, and WON the Jack Tatum award. Seriously, there is an award named after the guy that paralyzed a player by hitting him? I guess we have run out of guys to name awards after, so now we just let fly with irresponsible hitting. The Lyle Alzado Award for acting like a drug-crazed lunatic goes to… Louisville by 1.

Military Bowl Presented By Northrop Grumman, RFK Stadium, Dec. 28, Washington, D.C.

Toledo vs. Air Force

I find it amusing that The Air Force has the 114th ranked passing game. Given their horizontal passing attack, they better generate a big ground game to win. Luckily, they sport the nation’s 2nd ranked rushing attack. After the game, they will be changing their name to the Ground Attack, since they do not like to use the air anymore. Since Boise State beat both, but Air Force had to play the game against the blue ghosts (blue turf, blue socks, blue uniform…all you see are teeth coming at you…totally unfair), I pick them to eek out a win by 13. Funny M*A*S*H* paradox. Jamie Farr’s character, Max Klinger, is said to be from Toledo. Klinger worked tirelessly to get OUT of the Military on the series. Funny that the bowl game that includes his Toledo team would be in the Military Bowl. Also, who the heck is Northrop Grumman??? I think he owes me money or something.

Bridgepoint Education Holiday, Qualcomm Stadium, Dec. 28, San Diego

California vs. Texas

Cal coach Jeff Tedford was quoted as saying this about his team: “…I know we’ll be excited to play. We’ll prepare well and go out and give it our best effort.” Wow. I am so glad that he gives the insightful interview. Without that, I would think that Cal might mail it in. Given that they will give their BEST effort, and Texas has drifted into the body of a pot smoking 16 year old degenerate, I have to believe that Cal will emerge victorious. After the game, Texas will announce that they are leaving the Big 12 and starting their own conference that will be populated by high school teams so that they can get back to winning ways.

2011 Bowl-y-sis Part I

Last year, my analysis of the college football post-season was appreciated.  So much so, that last night, when all of the pairings were released, my fingers leaped on to the keyboard, and immediately typed this:

ladhg;fajhg

Never let your fingers just go where they want to.

Now, on to the most accurate way to pick winners since Ray Charles used a dart board to select Ohio State to beat Florida a few years back!

Dec 17, 2011

Gildan New Mexico,  Albuquerque, N.M.
Temple vs. Wyoming

I am happy that Wyoming, the most oft-forgotten state, gets a team in a bowl game.  They match up with some type of prayer building.  Temple, best known for their basketball “prowess” in the late 80’s and early 90’s, fields a team that, well, needs to pray a lot to win.  The pick goes to the uber-underdog:  Wyoming.  By the way, what is a Gildan?
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Ohio vs. Utah State

Misread…thought it said Ohio State vs Utah. Ok, that would have been relevant 10 years ago.  Either way, until I wrote this, I was not aware that there was a Utah State College.  Gotta pick the one that truly exists:  Ohio U.  All I know is, there better be a famous potato there, or I am changing the channel.
R+L Carriers New Orleans, New Orleans Mercedes-Benz Superdome
San Diego State vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

So San Diego State takes on the whole Louisiana-Lafayette suburb.  Considering true Cajuns do not play in pads (ref:  The Waterboy,) I am going to pick the San Diego State Whatevers to beat a bunch of people in overalls and no shirts.  Tho, I reserve the right to change my pick if the town of Louisiana-Lafayette is allowed to bring pitchforks to the game for some ‘gigging.

Dec. 20

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s St. Petersburg
Florida International vs. Marshall St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tropicana Field

Oh, I have several comments here:

1.  FIU will win if there is a fight before, during or after the game.  They thrive on primal energy.
2. Marshall will win if Mathew McConaughey jumps out of the stands and coaches.
3. What marketing genius names the company “Beef O’Brady’s.”  “Well sir, Bennigan’s is taken and I just don’t know where to go…I like cow, and we need some sort of Irish ethnic tie-in…I know!!!”

Take FIU, since it is played in the Sunshine State, and these boys are feisty in the sun, and if double-M does coach, he will most likely fail the drug test after the game.
Dec. 21
S.D. County Credit Union Poinsettia, San Diego, Qualcomm Stadium
TCU vs. Louisiana Tech

As mentioned somewhere in the past, the names of the bowl games are getting really silly.  Now we have a COUNTY CREDIT UNION sponsoring a bowl game.  I could picture one sponsoring a little league team, but a BOWL GAME.  Really???  Really???

On to the game…TCU lost to Baylor (Very respectable) by 2 and to SMU in overtime.  They score a lot of points.  Like a “Bugs Bunny constantly running scoreboard” kind of scoring.  Somewhere, sometime, the players from LA Tech will reminisce about the game they played in, and wonder how they gave up 430 points and 1000 yards of offense.
Dec. 22
MAACO Las Vegas, Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Arizona State vs. Boise State

Maaco will not be able to take all of the dents out of ASU after Boise gets through with them.  The Sun Devils are on a 4 game losing streak, 6-6 on the year, and somehow the bowl committee puts them with one loss Boise State???  I guess they do not drug test the bowl committee…just the players.

Sheraton Hawaii
Nevada vs. Southern Miss., Honolulu; Aloha Stadium
Dec. 24

Best win:  Nevada beat Idaho 56-3; Southern Miss. beat Houston (yes, the Houston vying for a BCS birth) by three touchdowns.  Why could they not put Houston and Boise on the same field???  Considering they can’t undo this travesty, Southern Miss is the pick – the spread should be under 50, but over 48.
AdvoCare V100 Independence
Missouri vs. North Carolina, Shreveport, La.; Independence Stadium
Dec. 26;

Why is it the V100, you may ask yourself?  Because 200 is too large for this kind of game.  North Carolina has a losing record in the ACC; Mizzou is mediocre at best.  I will go with the Tigers, based on UNC losing to Miami and Clemson in back to back weeks.  This year, that is pathetic.
Little Caesars
Western Michigan vs. Purdue, Detroit; Ford Field
Dec. 27

I thought that it was a mis-read…this game should be on the Food network, not ESPN.  Western Michigan vs Purdue is a non-conference Big Ten (12) regular.  This game is not special, and needs Paula Deen, Rachael Ray or SOMEBODY to dress it up so that it might be watchable.  OK, I got it…winning team gets to cook the losing team’s mascot during the post game interviews!  No?  Whaaaatever…  Purdue by 6.

The Days Before X-Mas

The Days before X-Mas

Twas the days before Christmas, and all through the Pole, Santa was pissed off, for he was three months in the hole.

The jail time he served for drunk and disorderly, has made him late in planning accordingly.

He looked at his staff, and frowned with disdain.  He had downsized to afford Wilkes and Romaine (P.A.)

So here he was faced with many a trouble: only five elves on staff and a new reindeer named “Stumble.”

So inventory he took, and not to his surprise,The gifts were sparse…meaning surely his demise.

The economy has made it difficult to afford solutions.  So off to Washington to find absolution.

On Dancer, on Prancer, on Larry on Jake; (Rudolph retired…he was old for goodness sake!)

When the sleigh entered restricted airspace, the military went ill.  But, he offered an explanation, so they took him to the hill,

He begged, he pleaded, he cried, he yelped.  Christmas is in jeopardy, YOU HAVE TO HELP!

Commercialism can’t fail, cried the Democrat from Montana.  But, the debate raged on, sparking arguments from Carolina.

As midnight struck, Santa became tired;  he was emasculated, and was now lacking desire.

To go on and fight for what he thought was right.  Supporting one’s religion with a box of goodies, or a stocking filled – what a sight!

But just as all hope was to be lost, a bill was passed, and cookies were tossed.

It was celebrated that capitalism would live on!

For TARP was allowed to bailout the icon…

Happy Holidays, my readers…