Musings on pop culture Friday and FB Weekend

Watched the last four episodes of season 2 of Louie last night.  What an amazing show.  The season actually ended like a month ago, but I had them saved up on the dvr for a night when I could control the television.  What a great program in television for adult men.  Gentlemen, if you're married or were married and have kids, you should really give Louie a shot.  Funny, intelligent, and yet it's serious at the same time.  The Afghanistan episode alone should be "Must See".

I was going to find a clip to post on here, but there are too many too pick from.  Just click on the website above.  There are some full episodes available at the site too.  Great show.

New Band To Me:  the Joy Formidable

After I got done watching Louie, I was flipping around and saw these guys on Letterman.  They really put on an excellent performance.  So, I got out the laptop and looked them up.  Really enjoyed what I heard from them.

Here is there video for "Whirring" which is the song they performed on Letterman.

College Football thoughts for this week:
The Red River Rivalry game is this weekend.  Texas vs Oklahoma.  I know Texas is much improved this year, but I'm taking Oklahoma big time in this one. 

Nebraska gets to play Ohio State this weekend, to try and get over the beatdown that Wisconsin threw on them last week.  Earlier in the season I thought this was a sure Nebraska win, but yikes, they need to fix that defense.

My South Dakota State Jackrabbits will try to end a four game losing streak at Youngstown State this weekend.  While I'm hopeful that this will happen, I'm not very optimistic.  It's been a rough season in Jackrabbit land, and Youngstown is much improved this year.

Also it sounds like TCU is now going to join the Big 12.  I think this is a good move for both TCU and the Big 12 Conference.  However, this probably isn't the best new for the Big East, who are reportedly prepared to go on without TCU.  This would bring them back up to 10 schools, but then word got out that Missouri would really like to join the SEC...  stay tuned to that soap opera... as the Big 12 turns...

Tebowmania
This weekend my San Diego Chargers will travel to Denver to play the Bucking Tebows.  I'm actually hoping he gets to play this weekend.  Mostly because that means the game is a blowout.  But also because he really isn't that good, and all the people that are clamoring for him to play need to get to watch it.  The Chargers defense has been surprisingly good so far this year, except in the New England game.

Speaking of New England, they get to play Mark Sanchez and the Jets this weekend.  Be interesting to see how the Jets respond after the pounding Baltimore put on them last weekend.  If the Jets lose this one, they are 2-3 and on a 3 game losing streak and falling far behind in the playoff race.

NCAA FB say what?

OK, I'm just going to come out and say it, NCAA FB makes no sense whatsoever.

The Big 10 has 12 Teams.

The Big 12 has 10 teams.

The ACC has 12 teams, but soon to be 14 as Pitt and Syracuse are leaving the Big East.

The SEC has 12 teams, but soon to be 13 because Texas A & M are leaving the Big 12.
So the Big 12 is down to 9 teams?

The Big East has 8 football schools, but two are leaving, so 6.  But TCU is joining, so 7.
(Because when you think big East, you think Forth Worth, Texas.)

The Pac 12 is looking to expand.

The SEC is looking to expand.

The ACC is looking to expand.

The Big 12(9) are looking to expand.

The Big East is looking to expand.

The Big 10(12) is not looking to expand (at this moment).

Notre Dame is an Independent.

I've heard talk, that it would end up something like 4 conferences of 16 teams, and that they would leave the NCAA and then have their "national playoff".

But that doesn't make any sense.  Don't the presidents of the Universities have to vote to change conferences?  And isn't it the presidents of the Universities who want to keep the Bowl system because of the money they make?  So why would they leave a system that makes them money?

How could you have a "FB Tournament" without Notre Dame?  I'm no Irish lover, but I do have an appreciation for that University's tradition in football.  And I think college football is better when Notre Dame is good. 

Also, what would the four conferences be?

ACC, Pac 12(??), SEC, Big 10(12), and Big 12(9) all make sense, but that's Five conferences. 

Some say the Big 12(9) should just die out, and then the other conferences (Pac12, SEC, etc) can raid the remaining schools to fill out their rosters.  And while I admit that having Kansas and K State in the Pac 16 sounds kind of dumb, so does Colorado.

Plus Texas and Oklahoma want to make the Big 12 work.  And let's be honest, those are the real jewels of the Big 12. 

 

According to an espn article today, the Big 12(9) have agreed to share tv revenues.  So, they then want to expand.  Who do they want to join?  Well let's have a look at the contenders:
BYU (Independent)
Louisville(Big East)
West Virginia(Big East)
Cincinatti (Big East)
South Florida (Big East)
Boise State (Mountain West)
Air Force (Mountain West)
TCU (Mountain West but soon to be Big East)

I did not mention Connecticut because they are already being linked to the ACC.  And to be honest if you look at the basketball part of it, UConn belongs in the ACC if Syracuse and Pitt are going.

So, what's going to happen to the schools in the Mountain West?  The WAC?  The MAC?  Conference USA?  The Southland?

I mean if these so called "Super Conferences" form, what will "the rest" do?  Will they be forced to move down a class and join the FCS?  Will they form another, seperate league or division between the "Haves" and the current FCS schools?

It's all a giant confusing mess.

No wonder you can't figure out a playoff, you can't even figure out who is going to be playing who.

 

Baseball was good last night, I guess

I woke up this morning to the news that last night was "The Best Day in Regular Season in Baseball History".

I didn't know, I went to bed early.  Which is really my point.  Baseball games take too long.  And yes, I know on average football games are about as long, but here's the rub... you can kinda guess when the football game is going to end.  Baseball...???  no idea.  Last Night's Red Sox game was "rain delayed" an hour an a half.  Unless it's lightning, football is playing right through that crap.

Anyway, congrats to the Rays for knocking the Red Sox out of the playoffs.  It saves me a ton of sportscenter time devoted to the "Sox" and their fans.  I've really kinda had it with the Sox and their fans.  They all still hate the Yankees, and yet they are really the exact same thing.  You have become what you most hated. 

And the Braves lost, so the Cardinals get in.  That figures.  In a season in which the Cubs are one of the worst teams in the league, the Cardinals should make the playoffs.  Also, I always feel bad for the Braves....they're like the Buffalo Bills of baseball, they were so good for so long, but don't have much to show for it.  At least the Braves did win one World Series.

The post-season will be starting soon, and I'll try to muster some interest.  I may even turn on some of the early round games.  And, just like the regular season , I'll stop caring.

I just can't get excited about a game, when half of the time is spent with 10 guys on the field (mostly) not moving. 


Other thoughts on baseball...

1.  Either get rid of the DH, or implement it in both leagues.  I'm a Cubs fan, so National League guy, so I don't like it.  But the fact that you still have two "Leagues" playing with different sets of rules is absolutely asinine.  It's like have a 3 point shot in one BB league, but not in another.

2.  Can we speed up the games somehow? 

• Basketball has a shot clock,Football has a play clock, how about a pitch clock?  After the batter is stepped in the box, you have so long to throw the thing.  And enough with the batters calling "time" right before a pitch, that's bs too, you got in the box - you're ready to hit.
• Time Outs - In football and basketball, you have a set limit of timeouts.  Baseball can have a "conference" at the mound pretty much any time they want?  Really?  There should be a rule on this, you can visit the mound 3 times a game.  Total.  And the manager has to come out there.  None of this crap where the catcher and the first baseman go "settle down the pitcher".  Seriously, this is like a Center and a Tight End surrounding a quarterback for a little "self esteem boost" at midfield.
• How long does a pitcher need to warm up?  Some guys, it seems like it takes all day.  There should be a rule on this.

3.  You need to do something with your financial system.  The fact that the Sox or the Yanks are going to end up in the playoffs every year, and this is just accepted by every one is astounding to me.  In the NFL if you knew that the Giants were making the playoffs every year, wouldn't that feel wrong, dirty, something? 

Personally, that's all it would take for me.  Notice I didn't even bring up the instant replay thing.  I don't care about that.  Get both leagues to play the same game, change some rules so the games don't take forever, and fix it so every team in your league has a chance?  That's all I'm asking for.

Fox's "The New Girl"

Has anyone out there caught "The New Girl" on Fox?

If not, here is a quick clip for you.

Very funny show, and Zooey Deschanel is amazing in it.  (and is also very cute, as well)

I think this is the only "new show" that has come out this year that I plan to add to my regular viewing schedule.

He's Back

The return of the sports doofus!

OK, I'm going to make an attempt to "re-try" this blog.

The thing is, I wanted to do a humerous sports blog, but I quickly figured out that:
1.  I wasn't that funny
2.  I wasn't motivated to write about sports all the time.
3.  I actually like alot of things.... music, movies, television, etc, etc...

So anyway, I'm "starting over".

Hope you enjoy the blog.

Live Blog Tomorrow!

Tomorrow Night, Live Blog for the Chargers vs Seahawks pre-season FB game.

The Pacers are good? Who knew?

Very short commentary today.

Was able to catch some of the Bulls/Pacers game 2 last night.

I have to say, I'm impressed with the Indiana Pacers.  For a team that finished 8 games below .500  for the season, they are really making the top seeded Bulls work.

That's a pretty nice roster they have there:  Danny Granger, Darren Collison, Roy Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough...no superstars, but lots of pretty good players.  Even their backups are pretty good.  TJ Ford, Mike Dunleavy, AJ Price, Josh McRoberts...

I really like watching them play.  If that team had a superstar, they'd be fearsome! 

Which is probably their problem, they are going to be too good to ever get a high pick, and they'd have to give up too much of their core in a trade to secure a star player.  So they'll probably never go anywhere as constructed, which is too bad.

Now, if I can wrap my Tarheel brain around the fact that I heard "Hansbrough passes to McRoberts", during the broadcast last night, I think I have a "new" favorite team in the Eastern Conference.

Even if they are an 8 seed.  Go Pacers.