Friday, October 06, 2006

Weekly Picks

Started off the season with a 2-1 week, which is not bad (despite what Freedo says), 67% is my stated goal. I could have had a perfect week if not for the Chargers allowing a late touchdown. Adam and Harley picked up some ground in their pool but there is still work to do.

GREEN BAY PACKERS +3.5 st. louis rams
Brett Favre is such a wild card because he can be so unpredictable in his style of play. If he plays smart they can win, if not he'll throw INTs and they'll lose. After Monday Night's misery I'll give Favre another chance and take the Packers at home.

CHICAGO BEARS -10.5 buffalo bills.
These are not the old Chicago Bears. This team can score. Do not pick against the Bears.

CAROLINA PANTHERS -8.5 cleveland browns
The Panthers are another unpredictable team and they have yet to cover a spread this season. I feel like Charlie Frye is starting to come along and the Browns are a frisky team who will keep this one close.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS -9.5 miami dolphins
The only reason why the spread is even this small is because of the big expectations the Dolphins had coming in. They are an awful horrible team right now. The only thing I worry about is that the Patriots are coming off a huge win and the Dolphins a demoralizing loss. I can see Miami keeping this close but I think the Patriots will win 31-21.

ARIZONA CARDINALS +3.5 kansas city chiefs
All the preseason expectations for the Cardinals are out the window. Kurt Warner is horrible and now they are turning to Matt Leinart. I thought Vince Young would be ok in his first start, and I was wrong. I won't make that mistake again but going against type, I will pick the Chiefs to win by at least 4, even though they won by 41 last week, and the Cardinals lost by 22. But I could see the Cards finally relying on James and keeping it close.

The NFL is Poop - Week 4

Not Dead Yet
The New England Patriots showed once again why they will always be a threat as long as they have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. They don't need no stinkin secondary. They destroyed the Bengals just as they were about to be annointed as the Pats' replacement.

Blowouts
I can understand Dallas beating Tennessee by 31 and the Chiefs beating San Fran by 41, but the Seahawks losing by 31. Weren't they in the Super Bowl last year? Didn't they dismantle the Giants last week? Yikes!

Throw Him Out of the League
Titans lineman Albert Haynesworth deserves more than a 5-game suspension for stomping on the head of Dallas lineman Andre Gurode. At least one year, maybe permanent banishment.



Enough Already
The Brett Favre hype machine was in full effect Monday Night. Joe Theismann praised Favre for being able to throw of his back foot AND off his toes. Never mind that when he throws off his toes he gets intercepted, at least he's more versatile than the good NFL quarterbacks. Then on the radio, I think it was Boomer Esiason, lauded Favre as a weapon because no matter how much the Packers were down they were still a threat because of him. Never mind that at 17-9 when they would have been a threat with any NFL QB he threw an INT (maybe not his fault, but maybe thrown too hard) and then at 24-9 he threw a horrible pass for another INT to kill his team's chances. He just doesn't seem to care anymore.

Game of the Week
Indianapolis 31 New York Jets 28. This game didn't seem like it would be a close, especially at the start when the Colts held the Jets to negative yards and forced a fumble on their first 3 offensive possessions. But the Jets scored, then made a smart but risky play work, to try an onsides kick. It worked and resulted in a touchdown. The game stayed close until the end when the Colts scored late and thought they had sealed the game. But Justin Miller took the ensuing kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown. That sent Peyton Manning back onto the field, and he was able to lead the Colts to the game-winning touchdown.

Game to Watch
Pittsburgh at San Diego. I still think the Chargers are the best team in the NFL and they are coming off a tough loss in the final minute to the Ravens. The Steelers have struggled with Roethlisberger and would fall to 1-3 with a loss. A big game for both teams.

Cheerleader of the Week
Asian fetishists, meet Baltimore Ravens cheerleader Dorothy. She's 5-4, single, enjoys shopping and working out. She has a maltese puppy named Ralphie.



A Brief Rant About the Redskins
The offense finally came alive (I don't count the Texans) as the Redskins even their record at 2-2. Brunell had a great game rekindling the magic he had with Santana Moss last year. The game-winning touchdown in overtime was a great pass and a great move by Moss. Now if only the defense of the first two weeks would show up. After taking a 27-17 lead the Redskins allowed 3 scores in the final 12 minutes to let Jacksonville tie the game up. The Redskins are 2-0 this season when I watched the game and 0-2 when I didn't. An even worse omen: I am going to the Meadowlands on Sunday for the matchup against the Giants.

If the Super Bowl Were Played Today
The Bears would beat the Ravens 34-7. The Chicago Bears right now are clearly the best team in football. Their defense is dominating and their offense is doing a hell of a lot more than "just enough." I chose the Ravens over the Colts as the loser of this game because the Colts eked one out against a mediocre at best Jets' team, while the Ravens snuck by the Chargers, whom I love.

Back Again

Game 2 was another great game to attend. I got to Shea Stadium early (4:30, 210 minutes before game time) and got a spot under the overpass again, putting my total savings on parking up to $52. I reclined my seat, took a nap, woke up at 5:15, read a magazine, had a sandwich and met my dad to get my ticket.

He of course had to go in to see batting practice but I wanted to wait until 7 to meet Nails, The Concierge, Reissberg and Focks.

Reissberg and I engaged in a spirited discussion about who should have been the 25th man on the roster, Ring or DiFelice. I said Ring because he can be used in a blowout to save the arms of the more valuable relievers. Reissberg suggested DiFelice would allow the Mets to use Castro as a pinch hitter.

When the rest of the guys arrived Focks was wearing a blazer, Reissberg said he must not have changed after work, I said he probably wore a jersey to work and changed into a blazer for the game. Nails and the Concierge took advantage of the LIRR's lax policies about alcohol and were screaming.



We posed for this fan photo and sent the brothers back to their seats. They were sitting right behind Jerry Seinfeld and Matthew Broderick.



The crowd was really into it chanting something for almost every player. Reyes' "Jose, Jose, Jose" chant was the loudest but "En-dee Cha-vez" was also spirited.

Sat one section over from Pinman who has now taken over for Cow-Bell Man as stupidest idiot at a Mets game. He wears a Mets jersey that says Pinman on the back, and on the jersey he has probably a couple hundred pins, meticulously arranged between the pinstripes on his jersey. I have no idea how or even if he washes that thing.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Drunk Bear



And of course, who could forget trampoline bear:

Going to the Game

Traffic was horrible, but I was able to find a spot under the overpass beyond the center field fence. Saved $26 on parking (what a ripoff) but it took forever to get home after the game.

Most of the outfield is closed off for construction, no parking spots, and you can't even walk around.

As I was circumnavigating the stadium I hear someone yelling "Paul's Poop! Paul's Poop!" I turn and see Greenspan aka Juice sitting on a concrete block. He was meeting a potential ticket opportunity that he found on Craigslist. Not sure if he ever got in.

Tailgated a little in the outfield with Greco, Beers, Isaacs and Shawn. Cops were out in full force but it seemed they were more concerned with scalpers than open containers.

Weather was great, Isaacs brought pretzels and beers (but we had to sit in the back seat to fill them up and drink out of opaque cups).

tailgating

The security line was ridiculous, took about 15-20 minutes to get through and they weren't even wanding people.

Sat with my dad, Mike and Vee Dubbs. Mike was going nuts pretty much the whole game. Vee Dubbs spent the first half of the game on his Blackberry. Then once Willie left Mota in to bat Vee Dubbs freaked out and was ready to kill someone. Once the game turned in the Mets favor though, the stands were rocking and everyone in our section was really into.

Read my recap of the game action.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Worried

I'm about to get into my car and drive to Shea Stadium to witness John Maine starting Game 1 of the Division Series. I am very worried about this playoff series and the postseason in general because expectations are so high, anything less than an NL pennant will be a disappointment.
Championship teams need luck, and the Mets have had all bad over the past few weeks. Championship teams have magic, and I don't feel anything like that surrounding this team.
Let's hope that starts to change in the next 3 hours.

Let's Go Mets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Maine Attraction

John Maine is going to get the ball in Game 1. He has pitched well and the Mets have won a large portion of his starts. He just needs to keep his composure and not let the playoff atmosphere get to him.
El Duque was left off Division Series roster entirely. He was replaced by Oliver Perez. The Mets also added Royce Ring instead of Mike DiFelice to have an extra arm in the bullpen.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

A Foley in Trouble

The following is an instant message exchange a former page says he had with Rep. Foley in 2003. Warning: sexually explicit language, reader discretion is advised.
MAF54 is obviously Foley, the xxxx is the underage boy. The conversation is not as long as it looks, it's double spaced and responses are short. TON, please read the whole thing.


Maf54 (7:25:14 PM): hey

Auto response from Xxxxxxxxx (7:25:14 PM): scrounging for food...brb

Maf54 (7:25:25 PM): ok

Maf54 (7:25:35 PM): kep scrounging

Xxxxxxxxx (7:31:51 PM): boo

Maf54 (7:32:13 PM): bo dude

Xxxxxxxxx (7:32:17 PM): lol

Xxxxxxxxx (7:32:26 PM): whered ya go this afternoon

Maf54 (7:33:39 PM): i am in pensecola...had to catch a plane

Xxxxxxxxx (7:33:47 PM): oh well thats fun

Maf54 (7:34:04 PM): indeed

Xxxxxxxxx (7:34:14 PM): what are you doing in pensecola

Maf54 (7:34:21 PM): now in my hotel room

Xxxxxxxxx (7:34:39 PM): well ..like why did you go there

Maf54 (7:35:02 PM): for the campaign

Xxxxxxxxx (7:35:29 PM): have you officialy announced yt

Maf54 (7:35:45 PM): not yet

Xxxxxxxxx (7:36:06 PM): cool cool...

Maf54 (7:37:27 PM): how my favorite young stud doing

Xxxxxxxxx (7:37:46 PM): tired and sore

Xxxxxxxxx (7:37:52 PM): i didnt no waltzing could make you sore

Maf54 (7:38:04 PM): from what

Xxxxxxxxx (7:38:34 PM): what do you mean from what

Xxxxxxxxx (7:38:42 PM): from waltzing...im sore from waltzing

Maf54 (7:39:32 PM): tahts good

Maf54 (7:39:32 PM): you need a massage

Maf54 signed off at 7:39:37 PM.

Maf54 signed on at 7:40:35 PM.

Xxxxxxxxx (7:40:44 PM): got kicked off?

Maf54 (7:41:24 PM): must have

Xxxxxxxxx (7:41:57 PM): ugh tomorrow i have the first day of lacrosse practice

Maf54 (7:42:27 PM): love to watch that

Maf54 (7:42:33 PM): those great legs running

Xxxxxxxxx (7:42:38 PM): haha...they arent great

Xxxxxxxxx (7:42:45 PM): thats why we have conditioning

Xxxxxxxxx (7:42:56 PM): 2 days running....3 days lifting

Xxxxxxxxx (7:43:11 PM): every week

Xxxxxxxxx (7:43:14 PM): until the end of march

Maf54 (7:43:27 PM): well dont ruin my mental picture

Xxxxxxxxx (7:43:32 PM): oh lol...sorry

Maf54 (7:43:54 PM): nice

Maf54 (7:43:54 PM): youll be way hot then

Xxxxxxxxx (7:44:01 PM): haha...hopefully

Maf54 (7:44:22 PM): better be

Maf54 (7:46:01 PM): well I better let you go do oyur thing

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:07 PM): oh ok

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:11 PM): have fun campaigning

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:17 PM): or however you spell it

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:18 PM): lol

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:25 PM): ill see ya in a couple of weeks

Maf54 (7:46:33 PM): did any girl give you a haand job this weekend

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:38 PM): lol no

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:40 PM): im single right now

Xxxxxxxxx (7:46:57 PM): my last gf and i broke up a few weeks agi

Maf54 (7:47:11 PM): are you

Maf54 (7:47:11 PM): good so your getting horny

Xxxxxxxxx (7:47:29 PM): lol...a bit

Maf54 (7:48:00 PM): did you spank it this weekend yourself

Xxxxxxxxx (7:48:04 PM): no

Xxxxxxxxx (7:48:16 PM): been too tired and too busy

Maf54 (7:48:33 PM): wow...

Maf54 (7:48:34 PM): i am never to busy haha

Xxxxxxxxx (7:48:51 PM): haha

Maf54 (7:50:02 PM): or tired..helps me sleep

Xxxxxxxxx (7:50:15 PM): thats true

Xxxxxxxxx (7:50:36 PM): havent been having a problem with sleep though.. i just walk in the door and collapse well at least this weekend

Maf54 (7:50:56 PM): i am sure

Xxxxxxxxx (7:50:57 PM): i dont do it very often normally though

Maf54 (7:51:11 PM): why not

Maf54 (7:51:22 PM): at your age seems like it would be daily

Xxxxxxxxx (7:51:57 PM): not me

Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:01 PM): im not a horn dog

Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:07 PM): maybe 2 or 3 times a week

Maf54 (7:52:20 PM): thats a good number

Maf54 (7:52:27 PM): in the shower

Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:36 PM): actually usually i dont do it in the shower

Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:42 PM): just cause i shower in the morning

Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:47 PM): and quickly

Maf54 (7:52:50 PM): in the bed

Xxxxxxxxx (7:52:59 PM): i get up at 530 and am outta the house by 610

Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:03 PM): eh ya

Maf54 (7:53:24 PM): on your back

Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:30 PM): no face down

Maf54 (7:53:32 PM): love details

Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:34 PM): lol

Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:36 PM): i see that

Xxxxxxxxx (7:53:37 PM): lol

Maf54 (7:53:39 PM): really

Maf54 (7:53:54 PM): do you really do it face down

Xxxxxxxxx (7:54:03 PM): ya

Maf54 (7:54:13 PM): kneeling

Xxxxxxxxx (7:54:31 PM): well i dont use my hand...i use the bed itself

Maf54 (7:54:31 PM): where do you unload it

Xxxxxxxxx (7:54:36 PM): towel

Maf54 (7:54:43 PM): really

Maf54 (7:55:02 PM): completely naked?

Xxxxxxxxx (7:55:12 PM): well ya

Maf54 (7:55:21 PM): very nice

Xxxxxxxxx (7:55:24 PM): lol

Maf54 (7:55:51 PM): cute butt bouncing in the air

Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:00 PM): haha

Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:05 PM): well ive never watched myslef

Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:08 PM): but ya i guess

Maf54 (7:56:18 PM): i am sure not

Maf54 (7:56:22 PM): hmmm

Maf54 (7:56:30 PM): great visual

Maf54 (7:56:39 PM): i may try that

Xxxxxxxxx (7:56:43 PM): it works

Maf54 (7:56:51 PM): hmm

Maf54 (7:56:57 PM): sound inetersting

Maf54 (7:57:05 PM): i always use lotion and the hand

Maf54 (7:57:10 PM): but who knows

Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:24 PM): i dont use lotion...takes too much time to clean up

Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:37 PM): with a towel you can just wipe off....and go

Maf54 (7:57:38 PM): lol

Maf54 (7:57:45 PM): where do you throw the towel

Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:48 PM): but you cant work it too hard....or its not good

Xxxxxxxxx (7:57:51 PM): in the laundry

Maf54 (7:58:16 PM): just kinda slow rubbing

Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:23 PM): ya....

Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:32 PM): or youll rub yourslef raw

Maf54 (7:58:37 PM): well I have aa totally stiff wood now

Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:40 PM): cause the towell isnt very soft

Maf54 (7:58:44 PM): i bet..taht would hurt

Xxxxxxxxx (7:58:50 PM): but you cn find something softer than a towell i guess

Maf54 (7:58:59 PM): but it must feel great spirting on the towel

Xxxxxxxxx (7:59:06 PM): ya

Maf54 (7:59:29 PM): wow

Maf54 (7:59:48 PM): is your little guy limp...or growing

Xxxxxxxxx (7:59:54 PM): eh growing

Maf54 (8:00:00 PM): hmm

Maf54 (8:00:12 PM): so you got a stiff one now

Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:19 PM): not that fast

Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:20 PM): hey

Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:32 PM): so you have a fetich

Maf54 (8:00:32 PM): hey what

Xxxxxxxxx (8:00:40 PM): fetish**

Maf54 (8:00:43 PM): like

Maf54 (8:00:53 PM): i like steamroom

Maf54 (8:01:04 PM): whats yours

Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:09 PM): its kinda weird

Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:14 PM): lol

Maf54 (8:01:21 PM): i am hard as a rock..so tell me when your reaches rock

Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:23 PM): i have a cast fetish

Maf54 (8:01:27 PM): well tell me

Maf54 (8:01:32 PM): cast

Xxxxxxxxx (8:01:44 PM): ya like...plaster cast

Maf54 (8:01:49 PM): ok..so what happens

Maf54 (8:01:58 PM): how does that turn you in

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:02 PM): i dont know

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:04 PM): it just does

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:08 PM): ive never had one

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:16 PM): but people that have them turn me on

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:27 PM): and if i had one it would probably turn me on

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:29 PM): beats me

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:32 PM): its kinda weird

Xxxxxxxxx (8:02:50 PM): but along with that i like the whole catholic girl look....thats our schools uniform

Maf54 (8:03:02 PM): ha thats wild

Xxxxxxxxx (8:03:14 PM): ya but now im hard

Maf54 (8:03:32 PM): me 2

Maf54 (8:03:42 PM): cast got you going

Maf54 (8:03:47 PM): what you wearing

Xxxxxxxxx (8:04:04 PM): normal clothes

Xxxxxxxxx (8:04:09 PM): tshirt and shorts

Maf54 (8:04:17 PM): um so a big buldge

Xxxxxxxxx (8:04:35 PM): ya

Maf54 (8:04:45 PM): um

Maf54 (8:04:58 PM): love to slip them off of you

Xxxxxxxxx (8:05:08 PM): haha

Maf54 (8:05:53 PM): and gram the one eyed snake

Maf54 (8:06:13 PM): grab

Xxxxxxxxx (8:06:53 PM): not tonight...dont get to excited

Maf54 (8:07:12 PM): well your hard

Xxxxxxxxx (8:07:45 PM): that is true

Maf54 (8:08:03 PM): and a little horny

Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:11 PM): and also tru

Maf54 (8:08:31 PM): get a ruler and measure it for me

Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:38 PM): ive already told you that

Maf54 (8:08:47 PM): tell me again

Xxxxxxxxx (8:08:49 PM): 7 and 1/2

Maf54 (8:09:04 PM): ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Maf54 (8:09:08 PM): beautiful

Xxxxxxxxx (8:09:38 PM): lol

Maf54 (8:09:44 PM): thats a great size

Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:00 PM): thank you

Maf54 (8:10:22 PM): still stiff

Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:28 PM): ya

Maf54 (8:10:40 PM): take it out

Xxxxxxxxx (8:10:54 PM): brb...my mom is yelling

Maf54 (8:11:06 PM): ok

Xxxxxxxxx (8:14:02 PM): back

Maf54 (8:14:37 PM): cool hope se didnt see any thing

Xxxxxxxxx (8:14:54 PM): no no

Xxxxxxxxx (8:14:59 PM): she is computer dumb though

Xxxxxxxxx (8:15:01 PM): it makes me so mad

Maf54 (8:15:04 PM): good

Maf54 (8:15:08 PM): haha

Maf54 (8:15:11 PM): why

Xxxxxxxxx (8:15:23 PM): cause she cant do anything

Maf54 (8:15:31 PM): oh well

Xxxxxxxxx (8:15:41 PM): she couldnt figure out how to download a file from an email and open it

Maf54 (8:15:53 PM): haha

Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:14 PM): and she only does it like a million times a day

Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:16 PM): oh well

Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:18 PM): whatever

Xxxxxxxxx (8:16:53 PM): well i better go finish my hw...i just found out from a friend that i have to finish reading and notating a book for AP english

Maf54 signed off at 8:17:43 PM.

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At the Recap

Another calf injury puts El Duque's status for Game 1 of the NLDS in doubt.
Lastings Milledge gets left off the playoff roster.
Season stats summary.