- The NFL rules for a reason. Week 17 rocked, with an early playoff feel.
- I like Tony Romo, but it's hard not to question if he can win a big game.
- I like Wade Phillips too, but something has to change in Dallas. How can a team with that much talent miss the playoffs? Maybe the Yankees have the answer.
- Nice choke job by the Bears.
- Congrats to long-suffering Vikings fans. The Super Bowl title drought won't end this year either, but the Bears, Packers, and Lions wish they had a division title.
- Time for Brett Favre to retire. For real this time.
- The Dolphins just proved even the Chiefs have hope next year. (Though it's hard to imagine right now.)
- Cutler vs. Rivers should go steel cage.
- My NFL MVP is Peyton Manning. Andy likes Matt Ryan.
- Can't wait to see Springsteen at the Super Bowl.
- The feedback for this blog is often more entertaining than the blog itself.
- Mediacom just added the History Channel to the HD tier. I didn't care much until I noticed all 10 episodes of "Band of Brothers" back to back this weekend. Television at its absolute best: educational and entertaining, kind of like SoundOff (insert joke bubble over your own head here).
- "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" is unlike anything I've ever seen. If I had to compare it to something it would be "Forrest Gump", though Gump's a better movie. "Button" is nearly three hours long, but never boring. It also makes you think about what's important in life, never a bad thing.
- "Bedtime Stories" is exactly what you'd expect from a PG Adam Sandler movie. And I'm okay with that. Kids loved, I liked.
- Cyclone fans need to be as patient as possible with Greg McDermott. He has everything you'd want in a coach, including the desire to stay in Ames. I don't understand why Iowa State looks so bad at times, but Cyclone fans would be wise to give Mac more time to figure it out. More talent wouldn't hurt either, and it's on the way.
- It's a chicken or the egg question, but Hawkeye fans are making Steve Alford look right about one thing: Iowa's a football school. The Hawks show promise, and the stands remain half empty. Alford hangover or Lickliter system?
- Iowa should win the Outback Bowl, but fans seem way too overconfident to me. Iowa looked good in the Big Ten, but Wisconsin did the conference no favors in bowl game 1. South Carolina looked bad at times in the SEC, but it's the SEC. It's also Spurrier.
- How tragic is it that five former Cyclone football players died within the past five years, all of them way before their times? A sad coincidence that's shaking up the Cyclone Nation.
- It appears Drake's basketball team won't have the magic carpet ride it had last season, but how could it?
- Our family spent a day at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom right before Christmas. Even after all these years, the place still casts a spell on kids like no other. We had a blast. I worked there in high school, and as I dropped fries in the fryer, I'd think how just a few yards away people were having the times of their lives.
- I remember as a kid receiving the video game "Pong". I wouldn't have dreamed of a world with XBox 360 in it. Kids now probably can't believe we were thrilled to have a paddle hit a ball against a wall for hours.
- As I surveyed the aftermath of Christmas morning in our house, one thought hit me: what recession? It's hard not to spoil your kids.
- A big group of us went out to celebrate the holidays. Mike Kiernan can't sit still long, so under his direction, we went to Cafe Di Scala, Carl's, Bistro Piano Bar, and the Underground. I think as a City Councilman at large, he feels he needs to show off as much of Des Moines as possible. I'm glad he did.
(Editor's update: Michael Kiernan's attorney informs us that it was Shawn Terrell who demanded all of the location changes as part of Mr. Terrell's never ending quest to meet Mrs. Terrell. Murphy's Law regrets the error.)
(Editor's update #2: Shawn Terrell's publicist would like to point out that Mr. Terrell only requested one venue change Saturday evening, because shawn knew the Grand Piano Bistro would provide "peppier" live music than was being played at the Underground.
Mr. Terrell's publicist would also like to point out that it was Shawn's friends who were looking to find Mrs. Terrell, not Shawn. Mr. Terrell was perfectly happy chewing, drinking, and screaming for more Pearl Jam at a piano bar.
Murphy's Law regrets this latest error.)
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31 comments:
Other than the two most recent, who are the other cyclone players who have passed away? I didn't realize there were so many - so young, and so very sad.
Regarding the Hawks (basketball)... it's true they're not a great team this year, but I don't think it's fair to look at the most recent game and say that's a product of the Lickliter system... the students are on Winter Break so there were *no* students present, essentially. Add that to a lackluster opponent right after a major holiday, and of *course* you're going to have a low turnout.
Former Cyclone football players who have died too young since 2003 include Justin Eilers, Stevie Hicks, Cris Love, Ennis Haywood and Matt Grosserode.
I think Todd Lickliter is a good coach and Iowa's fortunate to have him. However, the system he teaches is on the boring side when the team playing it is losing. I've heard from many Hawk fans who says it's hard to watch, and one reason they're not into basketball.
The Hawks are young and improving. Once Lickliter gets it going, Iowa will win---a lot---and no one will complain about style of play (see Tim Floyd at Iowa State).
The crowds at Carver-Hawkeye Arena are much smaller than the announced attendance. It's half-empty most nights. That will change in the Big Ten schedule, but sellouts remain a memory.
Thanks.
Keith
"I think Todd Lickliter is a good coach and Iowa's fortunate to have him. However, the system he teaches is on the boring side when the team playing it is losing. I've heard from many Hawk fans who says it's hard to watch, and one reason they're not into basketball."
That's a cop-out by those fans Keith...For one, they're 10-3 and despite getting smacked by Drake, they're showing A LOT of promise for the future...On top of that, if they were a team of high flyers who couldn't shoot for crap, people would be complaining about a "lack of fundatmentals"!This "style" of raining 3's offensively and playing tough defense, isn't much different than what Drake did to captivate the state last season, save the full court press, so it all comes down to buying back in, and that will take a winning streak, a winning season and hope for next year...but until then, everyone always thinks the grass is greener on the other side...
It's always been like that and in this jaded society we live in, with terrible attitudes and a "what have you done for me YESTERDAY" mentality, it may not get any better anytime soon...
And someone needs to go in and grab that "t" out of "fundatmentals" for me...I'm still not utilizing that "preview" feature...
Shane,
I agree. I also think buzz was building, slightly, and that beatdown by Drake deflated it.
I should try the preview too. I wrote the following in the previous comment: "I've heard from many Hawk fans who says it's hard to watch." Who says it's hard to watch? Nice.
Well, since you are ripping yourself up about grammar, I noticed you wrote, "We had a blast. I worked their in high school, and as I dropped fries in the fryer......"
Hmmmmmmph -- vacation does that to people.....still like your writing....or 'riting' as you say....and all your bullet points were dead on.....
We are Hawkeye basketball season ticket holders, but have not been able to go to some of the games due to the icy, snowy, blizzarding weather. We like the Hawk team and Lickliter; the weather is our excuse.
I think Bob Bowlsby needs to come up with better season ticket packages. Like 5-6 game packages with a couple of good teams and a few cupcakes for cheap. Also, they should think about selling beer and wine at games, I bet that will make more people come, plus the extra sells would be good for the school.
Tim & Janice,
It's now there, not their. Thank you, not ewe.
Keith, not Kieth
Yeah... the Metrodome sold booze and look how well Hawk fans did there just recently..... ;)
No thanks
Ummm...I didn't think the Hawkeye basketball team had that bad of a record...I mean, you can't win them all.
Watching people have sex in the bathroom would be better than watching Licklighter's horrid Hoosier style basketball.
So did Mr.Terrell meet Mrs. Terrell? I was was there and saw him with hot blonde... Just wondering?
"Watching people have sex in the bathroom would be better than watching Licklighter's horrid Hoosier style basketball."
You're obviously not a Hawkeye fan, but thanks for coming...as for your statement though...depends on "who" really...
Keith,
Are you trying to tell me that you type like Andy reads e-mails???
I've been a Hawkeye fan for 20+ years, I just would rather watch strangers have sex in a public bathroom while drinking a cold one, than that 1950's style basketball we are playing.
The Big Ten is going to eat us up, and I want a little sumthin sumthin for the money I'm laying out for a ticket.
You feel me Shane?
I'm almost embarassed to ask this as a Hawkeye fan but was there a "Hawkeye Classic" this year? I did not hear anything about it.
---
Part of the problem is that none of the bball games are on television anymore. It used to be that if you turned it to Fox 17 the game was there. Now you need to search high and low to find them. I think I've only seen 3 games thus far.
Yeah I know what you mean Shane. While I am clicking through the channels to find the Iowa game I usually stumble across the Family Guy or an Adam Sandler movie. By then I have forgetten all about the Hawks.
FYI...The Hawks play tomorrow (Wed.) at 3:05 on the BTN against Ohio St. I agree though, it's a pain to figure out when they're on and what channel. I've just gone to saving their homepage to look up the games.
I think I remember someone saying back when the BTN started that it would hurt the viewership of the games...was that you Murph???
Melinda, you can't blame BTN for Iowa being stuck on ESPN U and mediacom...they don't own the rights to the out of conference games...If FOX, 13, 8 or whoever, decided they wanted to buy up those games, they can. ESPN U jumps at the chance, hoping people will pressure their cable/satellite provider into picking up their crappy network.
As for watching sex in the bathroom, I'd much rather participate and NO, I'm not feeling you...ain't enough beer in Milwaukee...I do wonder though if soaring football ticket prices are effecting basketball ticket sales...
Don't give up on the basketball team...they're going to get better...A LOT better, over the next year or so...and how bad would it look for Hawk fans over the next season or two, to say "I LOVE THE HAWKS!...but I don't know anything about them because I stopped watching when they were a young, struggling team and could've used the support"?
If you're not following them now, you're the worst kind of fan...a fair weather fan...not to mention you'd be making a prophet out of Steve Alford and his declaration of "Iowa's a football school"...even though he helped caused that...
minus the "d" I put on cause(d)...son of a...
I'd love to follow them more, but I can't go to every game, and like I said before not everyone has cable so we all can't see all the games. It's sad in that this day and age, we can't get all of the games on an over the air station. If the local channels can pay for their rights then why don't they? I suppose channel 13 has better things to spend the money on, like a cast of 4 sportscasters that think they are the next Jerry Lewis. How about they stick to sports and stop trying to be stand up comedians.
Maybe you're right about it not being the BTN's fault and we do have to look at the cable/sat. dish networks. But it would be nice to have some of these games on the local channels since these are "state/public" schools. Why not take some of the "reality" shows off and let us watch some "reality" basketball instead. :)
Keith, I agree on Benjamin Button. It probably reminded you of Forrest Gump, because it was written by the same guy. The only question I had leaving the theater, though, was "at what exact age did I stop thinking about Cate Blanchett as a wilf?" I have to admit, I think the number got a bit too high for me.
And don't worry about Iowa basketball. It will return to glory as soon as that other Hawkeye sport concludes Jan 1st.
And also a question posed for Shawn T: What is the greatest Pearl Jam song of all time?
I can't decide between Crazy Mary, Nothing Man, or Yellowledbetter.
Nobody has answered my question yet. Was there an Amana Hawkeye Classic or Gazette Hawkeye Challenge, or whatever they call it now a days this year??
Look it up dummy.
I would but I've been too busy with your Mom and Wife. Sorry, I'll get to thst when I can a**hole.
Happy Holidays.
Well my mom is dead and my ex-wife now weighs 400 pounds. Hope you enjoyed.
"I'd love to follow them more, but I can't go to every game, and like I said before not everyone has cable so we all can't see all the games. It's sad in that this day and age, we can't get all of the games on an over the air station. If the local channels can pay for their rights then why don't they? I suppose channel 13 has better things to spend the money on, like a cast of 4 sportscasters that think they are the next Jerry Lewis. How about they stick to sports and stop trying to be stand up comedians."
Your petty jealousy has been noted...oh, keep on watching and complaining...
Melinda,
Maybe in the future, BTN, to make money, could sell rights to an over the air station in Big10 states...not sure if that's possible, but it would be nice, for those who don't have cable or satellite.
I would like to be Mrs. Terrell!! LOL As for the best Pearl Jam song...what about Better Man, Jeremy, and Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town? Which is quite possibly the funniest song name ever! :)
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