Wish List

As I was walking near the Oregon campus, I spotted a neatly folded piece of paper.  I picked it up to find a letter addressed to Santa for next Christmas.  I read the letter and thought I would share it with you.

Dear Santa,

I think I have been very good the last 4 years and have asked for little in return, but for next Christmas, I have a request.

I would like a ski.   I'm not greedy, I don't need a pair, I just want one.  I would like it to be of the Bachynski or Tarczewski variety.

Thanks,
Dana

Hmmm, who could this Dana be.....

Best Sochi Opening Ceremony Moments

Seeing hockey great Viacheslav Fetisov (front left), formerly of the Russian Red Army Team and Detroit Red Wings, carry in the Olympic flag was a highlight.  He can add this honor to his back to back wins of the Stanley Cup in '97 & '98.

By the way, I nearly had my wife convinced to name our second born Viacheslav. 

Watching Russian hockey legend Vladislav Tretiak light the Olympic flame also ranks with the best.   Hockey aficionados remember him as possibly the greatest goalie of all time. 








You may remember him as the goalie who was yanked at the end of the 1st period when the USA was on its way to pulling off the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

The Russian version of a wardrobe malfunction, the Olympic ring not unfolding, has to make the list. 

Rumors are that they doctored the video feed in Mother Russia to show a flawless unveiling.  Propaganda for the people!  Wait, I thought Communism was dead in Russia?

 

Daughter #2 told me a giant carried the flag in for Slovakia.  Well, sort of, it was all of 6'9" Zdeno Chara, captain of the Slovak hockey team.  As a Boston Bruin I cheer against him, as a Slovak player, I will cheer for him.

I will be torn in hockey's opening game - Slovakia vs the USA, should I yell for my ancestral roots or for the country of my birth?   Hmmm, well, either way I win.

But my top spot goes to

the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs choir's 

version of Daft Punk's Get Lucky.

This is the 3rd post of the video, 

YouTube keeps deleting, 

apparently NBC doesn't share well with others...

Funky cops, just what the Olympics ordered.

Lyrically Laughable

Louisville Hiring Bobby Petrino
Whoa, great hire, this guy reeks of integrity.

"...don't hand me no lies
and keep your hands to yourself."
-Georgia Satellites

Alabama Hiring Lane Kiffen
Get ready Tide, your 2014 Kiffen comes standard with an NCAA Investigator.

"You can't hide your lyin' eyes,
And your smile is a thin disguise."
-Eagles


Auburn's Tre Mason Declaring for the NFL Draft
More Auburn scandal on the way?  Stay tuned....

"Run, run, as fast as you can,
You can't catch me.
I'm a disciple of Scam.."
-The Ginger Bread Man (OK, slightly altered)


D'Anthony Leaving Early
If this NFL thing doesn't work out, Snoop Lion will hook you up with a job.

"Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho,
It's off for dough I go."
-The Seven Dwarfs (paraphrased)

Tampa Bay Trading LeGarrette Blount to New England

The Patriot version of LeG. Blount = 772 yards rushing
Tampa backs Doug Martin + Mike Demps + Mike James combined = 765 yards! 
Nice looking trade Tampa Bay, how are you doing in the playoffs, oh sorry, you haven't been there since 2007.....

"Tomorrow you'll be thinking to yourself
Yeah, where did it all go wrong?
But the list goes on and on"
-All American Rejects

Tragically True

Based on a statement by yours truly, here is a funny by JS

Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down

Marcus Mariotta returning for next year. 
Hawaii 5-0 theme will play again!




The Lions losing 6 of their last 7 to drop out of the playoffs.

Firing Jim Schwartz.  I usually empathize with coaches, having personally seen both the highs and the lows, but the Lions were not getting better and Schwartz had 5 years to move the Lions up another level.  It didn't happen.   So, he's gone.   Don't feel too badly, he gets the rest of his $12 million contract.

The Cleveland Browns firing Rob Chudzinski after one year!   Wow, talk unrealistic expectations by the Browns front office.  A turn around in one year?   Sure, and I hope you enjoy spend your lottery winnings when you cash in that winning ticket....

The Ducks Men's BB team on a roll
heading into the Pac-12 season.

Red Wings injuries.

ROKU streaming players!

Watching Netflix so much you realize it's
4 in the afternoon and you still have your pajama's on!

Those of you who read my blog.

Those of you who don't.

The NHL Winter Classic and the Olympic Hockey Tournament!

 

 

Happy New Year to you and yours 

or, as they say in Detroit, 

Happy New Year to yous.

Turn Out The Lights, The Party's Over....

      Original Monday Night Football commentator, Dandy Don Meredith, would croon his way through the old Willie Nelson song at the end of each broadcast.  It seems a fitting theme song for the failing and flailing Detroit Lions.   What happened to the 6 - 3 record and a lead in the NFC North?  It turned into a 7 - 8 record, not good enough for a spot in the post season.   Too many NFL analysts had said this is a team with top talent that should be a strong contender, but instead the only way they will get into the playoffs is to buy a ticket to watch. 

 

     I usually refrain from attacking coaches, having experienced the hounds at my door, but this has become too much for even the most understanding of Lion's fan to endure.   Ownership needs to start their search immediately for a replacement - and the new guy needs to possess the ability to rein in stupidity and inspire a blase' team into realizing their potential. 



 


     Additionally, they need to take off the rose colored glasses and call out Matt Stafford on his poor play.   Get him some help!!!  He might change, but the right mentor needs to be put in place - one more time, Jeff Tedford will you take a call?

"Turn out the lights, the party's over,

They say that all good things must end.
Let's call it a night, the party's over,

And tomorrow (and next year) starts the same old thing again"

With no change at the top, Lion Faithful will, in fact, 

face the same old thing, again. 

Say Goodnight Alice

     Emeralds manager John Underwood would mutter this phrase when one of our pitchers sent an opponent to their bench after a called 3rd strike.   After tonight's Monday Night loss by the Lions, I believe it is fitting to mutter it again.

     It comes down to the mental aspect of the game, something we have repeatedly seen the Lions lack.  Both concentration and discipline just simply disappear at the oddest of times.  Monday, Detroit's most reliable player, Calvin Johnson, seemed to fall victim to cranial flatulence.  Truly one of the NFL greats, he let two passes clank off his hands at critical times in the game.

     The best quote comes from Jimmy Johnson who said the Lions have the talent to win it all, if only they could get out of their own way. Detroit had chances to cement themselves on top of the NFC North.  Last week's loss to the Eagles and tonight's loss to the Ravens has them on the outside looking in, doubtful for a playoff berth.

     A change is inevitable in the coaching staff in Detroit, Jim Schwartz's job in on life support and the plug is about to be pulled.

     The obvious is painfully clear, Detroit has stagnated.  For the Lion fan you have to dwell on a fact that haunts us all, the Lions are the only non-expansion team failing to make a Super Bowl appearance.   No chance that will change after this season.

Say goodnight Alice, the Lions have turned off the lights.