The Sooners steal one from the Horns

So let’s use some logic here. If two college football teams finish with the same record, wouldn’t it make sense that if team A beat Team B in the process, that Team A should win the Big 12 South?

Well, that didn’t happen. Oklahoma just virtually stole the Big 12 South Championship from Texas. Just another reason why college football should have a playoff system like they have in college basketball. It’s going to be a valid argument for Texas to object to these proceedings. Maybe in the future, logic will win out. We can only hope so.

Wherein We Probe the Phelps Phenomenon

So Michael Phelps has chosen the Vegas nightclub worker and oft-naked Caroline Pal (the one on the right) to take home to mother after two months of dating. (The link will take you to proof of the oft-naked part if nothing else.) We don’t have to imagine Mom’s surprise face; we saw it eight times or so in China. TMZ has the “facts” on this event and we invite you to follow the hyperlinked trail for more on this crucial bit of news. If you’ll follow us after the jump, though, we have a question for you, gentle reader.

Why do we care about Michael Phelps? The Olympics are over. Outside of a possible Alicia Sacramone reality show sighting or a May-Treanor sashay redux, these Olympians should be out of our lives by now. Not that we’re suggesting they should give up their desperate grasps for attention; more power to each of them. But why Phelps?

Sure, he won a metric buttload of gold medals, but even Mark Spitz only got one episode of “Emergency!” before he was shown the celebrity door. He’s not exactly a matinee idol. In fact, we’re pretty sure he was struck one time too many by the matinee Klieg lights. He’s not eloquent. He’s not exceptionally intelligent. He’s not even exceptionally rich once you realize he has maybe one more payday.

We get that we throw another celebrity hero up the pop charts every once in awhile and we obsess over lesser lights and blah blah paparazzi blah blah dangerous worship blah blah read Ulysses. We’re not talking about why we obsess over celebrities. We want to know why Michael Phelps is still a celebrity. We’re baffled.

So we turn to you: what makes him so damned appealing to our celebrity instincts? Is it merely that there are a phalanx of image managers that can pat themselves on the back about making such an average fellow so spectacular? Does he have some charisma we’re missing? Is it that we will post a picture of a woman in her bra with each post about him?

Starbucks, a great place to get over a relationship at

Have you been to a Starbucks lately? Well, if you are like me and about to celebrate Christmas alone, what better way to celebrate than to head on over to your local Starbucks for that Mocha Grande and internet access? As you may or may not remember, I have moved to my own place and I won’t have internet access until tomorrow (hopefully). In the meantime, I have to keep up with this here internets at the local Starbucks.

It’s really beginning to be fun to sort of watch other people while I see how many folks are reading my blog. Just yesterday, I saw a guy and a gal here at Starbucks make that magical connection to a new relationship. When I first got here, I sat at my usual table and they were right next to me. I couldn’t miss their conversation at all. I thought that he was giving her a job interview. He was telling her about his company, she was telling him why she was so people-friendly, and I actually anticipated him making her a job offer at any moment. Then, they shocked the hell out of me. He reached across the table and held her hand! I’m thinking, “what the hell?” And just like that, the conversation got more intimate, and with that, a new location was needed and they left. Wow. The conversation went from how solid his company was, and how great of a manager he was, to how shitty her ex became, and it was on like donkey kong. Freaking amazing. Of course, after thinking about them, it made since they had a desire for each other. He may have been in this country for a few months complete with broken English, and she covered the front of Starbucks with a huge shadow as they left, so I am wondering who’s getting the better of this deal? But it just goes to show me that relationships are never logical. Anything can happen.

I like how Starbucks has got the Christmas music going already. (not). I’m beginning to wonder which is more interesting to me at this moment. Sports or relationships? Man, that sounded gay didn’t it?

I’ll mention the blog is growing very well. Once again I want to thank everyone for tuning in. It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Sort of like drinking hot coffee too fast. Did you know Starbucks opens at 5:00 every weekday morning? This could become addictive.

I’ve had a couple of days to think about what happened to my own relationship of 12 years. Without going too much into detail, if I don’t have sex but about once a month, I sort of say what’s the use in trying right? That’s probably too much information, but hell, sometimes a person just needs to blurt crap out to start to recover. My apologies for all of the information, but hey, it’s real. I don’t want to sound negative about Kristi. Hell I have some bad things about me too. But if people are to progress, to be better the next time, shouldn’t we identify what went wrong so we can learn from that?

I like my new place. I still wake up about 3:30 in the morning and wonder what the hell is going on, but I go back to sleep around 5:00. It’s gonna take a while, but everything will be ok. My cousin Patsy told me yesterday I’m a survivor. I’ve been told that before, but when you get down to the bottom line you just have to survive. Besides, me and Wilson are doing ok. Now, let’s see if I can concentrate on at least keeping a job.

Familiarity Inbreeds Contempt During “Die in a Fire” Week

Normally, we Americans prefer to avoid conflict and band together to take on our common enemies. We avoid the petty infighting and divisive subjects that can tear apart people. In that way, we’re an awful lot like the Marvel Family. When the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man rear their ugly heads, we shout our battle cries and leap into the fray as one. That is, except every third issue when it’s time for battling each other because of a mind ray or an evil misunderstanding or our intra-state rivals meet in college football. Then, y’know, screw family. Screw ’em right in the lightning bolt.

First, a review of Friday’s festivities:

• Boise State pounded the ever-lovin’ snot out of Fresno State to the numerical tune of 61-10. The First Family of Idaho celebrated in style, we’re sure.

• We watched it, but we still don’t quite believe it: a Dave Wannstedt-led squad won a game that might have mattered as Pitt beat West Virginia 19-15. This shocks us more than trying to comprehend how Cincinnati could have won the Big East. We just assume Bob Huggins spoke to some of his old contacts. Dude always knew how to work a room.

• Mississippi State, please answer the white courtesy phone. Mississippi State, please answer the white courtesy phone. You missed your game against Mississippi. (Or so we assume. 45-0 non-Staters.) We believe these eggs have been whipped enough to froth the Orange Julius of our dreams.

• Bowling Green 38, Toledo 10. As promised in the pre-game wager, the losing team has to live in Toledo for another year.

If your favorite team isn’t listed, it’s because your favorite team blows and we hate them and you suck for liking them. (We’re looking at you, Arkansas and Louisiana.)

Today’s games have been covered by professionals, so we won’t try again. However, we should point out that Tennessee has allegedly won the affections of Lane Kiffen, meaning he will go from taking marching orders from Al Davis to those that sing Rocky Top while sober. (But not usually.) We predict he’ll call Al at his rotary phone within six months, begging to be let back into the asylum. Unfortunately, aspiring to SEC head coachhood encompasses all seven of the deadly enemies of man and that doesn’t even include Nick Saban. The Marvel family can’t help you now, Lane. Not even that faker Uncle Marvel.

Undefeated No. 9 Boise State routs Fresno, 61-10 [Rivals!]
Pittsburgh Beats West Virginia, Hands Cincinnati Big East Title [Bloomberg]
No. 25 Mississippi hammers rival 45-0 in Egg Bowl [Associated Press]
Bowling Green 38, Toledo 10 [Futon Report]
LSU Tigers foiled in season finale by Arkansas Razorbacks [LSU Beat]
Tennessee has allegedly won the affections of Lane Kiffen [Rivals!!]

Plaxico Burress Accidentally Shoots Self in Leg

Yep, you read that right. Jay Glazer is reporting that sometime last night, Burress fired a gun into his own leg and spent the night in hospital, but that the injuries are non life-threatening. More, obviously, as more becomes available. UPDATE: Apparently John Clayton is reporting the incident took place…at a club!

Giants’ Burress accidentally shoots self in leg [Fox Sports]

Ho, Ho, Ho, now gimme your money

Today is what is now called “Black Friday”, the day after that glorious holiday we call Thanksgiving. It seems like people go completely nuts this time of year. Waiting in line at Toys R Us for the store to open at 6:00 AM is not my idea of fun. But what the hell do I know?

This is exactly why I don’t think we will ever go through another Great Depression. There are just too many people that love to spend money. Somewhere along the line we have gotten the idea that the more money we spend on someone, that is supposed to mean we care for them that much more. Of course this coming from a guy that is just moving into my own one bedroom apartment at 57 years old. Go ahead and call me jaded. I’ll forgive you.

The Cowboys won yesterday. Good for us. Now let’s see if we can win more than two games in December. We suck in December. It doesn’t matter who the coaches are, or the players, our track record just sucks in December. That goes hand-in-hand with not making the playoffs since 1996. I have a theory as to why. Those of you who know me have heard this rant before, but let me go over this again. The Dallas Cowboys are jinxed. Yes, you heard me, jinxed.

Since the plastic-faced one has been the mascot, the Cowboys have never been in the playoffs. The great Whistling Ray was a heck of a Cowboys mascot. He would go up in the stands and mingle with the fans. It now looks like Rowdy has embarrassed enough people that his role is going to be deminished even more.

So as we get prepared to spend money we don’t have, please pray that Rowdy will somehow get fired by Jerry, and we can really start planning for the playoffs again. I don’t want to watch the Giants win again.

Thanksgiving and Cowboys, an American tradition for America’s Team

As a life-long Cowboys fan, I’ve been fortunate to have seen all of the Cowboys games in history (or listened to the games while in the military) and one of the best things about being a Cowboys fan is watching them on Thanksgiving Day.

My family would always get together on Thanksgiving and enjoy the holiday together and it always included the Cowboys. My brother Jacky and his family made Thanksgiving complete. My brother has gone on to be with all the Cowboy fans in heaven so this tradition means so much to me, now as it ever has.

There are plenty of memories indeed for the Thanksgiving Day games. Leon Lett’s fumble, the Hail Mary pass, and probably the m ost amazing game was the Clint Longely game. All of these unbelievable games occured on Thanksgiving Day.

I found a couple of videos that show that play with Clint Longely throwing the pass. He was a hero for a short time but he crossed paths with Coach Landry and was never heard from again.

From Wikipedia:

Howard Clinton “Clint” Longley, Jr. (born July 28, 1952 in Wichita Falls, Texas) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League. He played two seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and one for the San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Abilene Christian University.

Longley is probably most remembered for his performance in a Thanksgiving Day game in 1976 for the Cowboys against the Washington Redskins. Filling in for an injured Roger Staubach, Longley, then a rookie, threw two touchdown passes including the game winning 50 yarder to Drew Pearson with less an a minute remaining. The game was named the second-best in the history of Texas Stadium by ESPN in 2008.^[1]

Unfortunately for Longley, the story doesn’t end there. Less than two years later Longley left the Cowboys in disgrace after he landed a blindside punch on Staubach during training camp in Thousand Oaks, California. The infamous “sucker punch” occurred after Longley and Staubach had fought over a negative remark Longley made about receiver Drew Pearson. It is reported that Roger was putting on his shoulder pads when Clint hit him in the face without warning, requiring several stitches to close the wound on Staubach’s face. Clint was immediately traded to the San Diego Chargers where he finished his career with little more success.

After his NFL career, Longley went to Canada and played with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League for six games in 1977.

Well, so much for Mr. Longely. If you watch the following two videos you will see the amazing 50 yard pass to Drew Pearson.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving today. Maybe the Cowboys will make some history today.

December is gonna be fun!

From my pal Shelby, come plans for some December fun!

 

I hope we get alot of Cowboys fans together and rock the entire DFW area in December!

New Cop Car Designed For Cops, By Cops

The Carbon Motors E7 is a new police cruiser that addresses safety and performance issues neglected due to the current practice of retrofitting Crown Victorias/Impalas.

Right now fire departments, emergency medical technicians, the military, and even mail carriers all use vehicles built specifically for them. But the country’s 800,000 law enforcement first-responders drive dangerously retrofitted family sedans.

The E7 is being hailed as THE purpose-built vehicle for police officers. It was designed to jump curbs, safely detain criminals, be fuel efficient (40% more than current cruisers), and detect biological, chemical and radiation threats. In total, it has over 100 new features specifically requested by officers. Unfortunately, not a single one is a cup holder in the back.

Right on time…..

So today is Tuesday, 11/25/2008. A couple of days before Thanksgiving. I’m riding the train home and get a call from Kristi and the conversation goes like this:

Kristi: “Would you mind if I go out with some friends tonight? I’ll be home early, I have to work tomorrow.”

Now let me draw you a picture here. I’m moving out this Friday, why in the hell would she think she needs to ask my permission to go out for drinks? I am so way past that and I would have thought she would have been as well. I guess it was a courtesy call.

Well just as that conversation ended, my dear cousin Patsy called to invite me over for Thanksgiving dinner at her house. That was a call that was right on time. It could not have been planned any better as far as making me smile. My cousin and I have seen a lot in our lifetime, it was comforting to hear her voice on the other end of the phone. Of course I accepted her invitation, and look forward to spending the day with her and having a good meal and talking about old times.

You know, I’ll never understand the beginning or ending of relationships, how they happen, how people can be so cruel to each other….

I’ll be glad just to get to my own space and time.