We Are the Champions!

Can't you just hear the Queen music in the background?

Congratulations to the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for winning the annual Captain's Cup Flag Football Tournement.

The road to the Captain's Cup Flag Football Tournament Championship was not an easy one. After a heartbreaking two-point loss to the Ceremonial Guard in the first round of the double elimination tournament, the NAVSEA team faced a daunting task, five victories needed to reach the finals, seven total victories needed to win it all. Three consecutive games on the second day, four consecutive games on the last day. The NAVSEA team met the challenge and took home the championship. Besting in consecutive games, teams from: NAVFAC, PSD, US Coast Guard, White House Mess, Ceremonial Guard, and Naval Research Lab (Twice). With clarity of purpose, and ultimate grace, this team has woven a legacy that transcends time with its ability to stir the imagination.


The Captain's Cup Tournament Championship Roster:

Anthony McNair # 7
Harry Sherman # 9
Aaron Ratliff # 33
Jarreau Robinson # 3
Brian Hurley # 12
Morris Fields # 75
Lewis Weaver # 37
Kyle Hart # 1
Emmie Patron # 23


"In their fleeting moments of truth these magnificent athletes test their courage, and measure their resolve. Finding what is heroic in a game that is a contest, not only of skill, but of will. And while it is their physical grace that we come to marvel at, it is their unconquerable spirit that captures our hearts."

GO SEA DOGS!

Taking One For the Team, Why the WAC is so Whack...

Granted it's about a couple of weeks late but I couldn't just keep this to myself:

Boise State's last hurdle to go undefeated and to a BCS at large bid was a very tough Nevada (tough for the WAC at least).

The stats on Nevada, a semi-respectable 8-3, won their last 4 games by an average score of 44-7 including shutouts in their last two games. Not to mention a whipping of San Jose State by a score of 23-7, a team that Boise State struggled to defeat by only a field goal. And the best part, Nevada had the Broncos at home in Reno, not on the blue field (aka the Smurf Turf) of Boise where Nevada (and lots of other teams) struggles to find the perfectlycamouflagedd Broncos on the Blue Astroturf before they reach the red end zone.

However Boise St. took Nevada behind the woodshed... 38-7

Oliver Stone Moment (kind of like a Senior Moment with a bit more suspicion):

I could have just left this alone, however, I believe Nevada just laid down, took one for their "WAC" Conference and let Boise State win convincingly in order to get them that BCS berth.

The only reason I say this is because we (Virginia Tech) could have been an attractive BCS at large bid had Boise St. lost (behind Wisconsin and Auburn perhaps but in the mix at least, Wisconsin should be a lot more ticked off than we are). I don't have much against Boise St, in fact they are very good against the spread when they are on the Smurf Turf, but I don't think they stand a chance against a team from a real conference (There's only one team in all of the PAC 10, and Oregon St. isn't one of them).

It will be just like when Boise St. played Georgia in the first game of the 2005 season. When they stepped into a real stadium against a real school with no blue field to hide in, they were exposed for the pretenders they were. Not going to be any different this year. In fact, Oklahoma was a completely bogus non-reviewable play away from competing in the national championship considering how the cards fell late in the season.

And where did that leave Nevada? They accepted the MPC Computers Bowl and will play Miami (the reward for letting Boise State trash them). If they beat Miami, I will know if Nevada pulled a Don King(er) for the WAC. And the last piece of irony, the MPC Computers Bowl is in BOISE, IDAHO... ON THE SMURF TURF...

Coincidence? I think not. But it is Larry (the) Coker's last game as the Canes coach. I've never been a big fan of Miami, but I hope they completely trash Nevada.

Quote of the Day

"I used to think it was a terrible thing that life was so unfair. Then I thought, 'what if life *were* fair, and all of the terrible things that happen to us came because we really deserved them?'

Now I take great comfort in the general unfairness and hostility of the universe."

-Marcus Cole (Babylon 5)

Are You Ready for Some (Fantasy) Football?

Yes ladies and gentlemen (actually a lot of neither play Fantasy Fooball so bear with me),

It is that glorious time of year again where we dust off the old draft cards, compile the offseason notes, upgrade the cable or satellite subscription, and start the trash talkin'...

There is a tower in NFL Headquarters called the Tower of Football: a black tower which rises high into the sky like a spike. At the summit of that tower hangs the Bell of Portents. It is an ancient thing, massive as a building and adorned with dark runes, its peal like the scream of an anguished god. It is tolled but once when the season begins. Its wailing moan of joy lasts long and reaches the ears of millions, and its tones penetrate the unifying ether of humanity turning the thought of countless billions towards the beginning of Fantasy Football Season.

Consider it rung...

THIS IS MY YEAR!

Signed: For whom the bell tolls...

Are You Ready for Some Futbol???

That's right peoples, the World Cup!

Yes, that special time every four years that the soccer fan in me comes out of the proverbial closet.

I don't know what it is, maybe it's one of those events that nations all over the world (except for most of the US) take it down a notch, sit back, and yell their hearts (and/or lungs) out for their respective motherlands...

Or maybe it's because I like cheering for underdogs (unless they're at Lane Stadium).

Or just maybe I like the level of competitive fire. National pride is at stake and all the players will play as if their very lives depended on it (just ask Colombia)...

But this week's 64 cent question:

Who does Pope Benedict XVI cheer for? Does the Bishop of Rome go with the new hometown or the Fatherland?

A Victory for the Soul Patrol!!

This post is a bit late in coming but better late than never (especially if you're always late).

Aside from the Weather channel in the morning, the History channel before I go to bed, and the occasional Sportscenter blurb whenever there's a valuable football tidbit (Fantasy Football is coming!!!), I don't watch that much television when football is in the off season.

However this year, in between billiards, basketball, jogging, the occasional salsa refresher/lesson, trip(s) to the driving range, and of course the girlfriend, I found myself occasionally making time for American Idol (when my favorites were performing).

Now I know what you're thinking (I haven't crossed over to the dark side). If you know me, you know that I loathe reality TV with a passion. I'm far to cynical to actually think the shows have anything to do with reality in general. Not to mention I think that television is far too saturated with reality shows. After 9-15 hours of work per day, I want a little escape from reality every now and then (non-chemically of course)

And most you know that I have loathed American Idol for the past 4 seasons, (especially season 2 when they unleashed Clay Aiken on the world, but that's another story) mainly because the most talented people on the show (in my opinion) were voted off because they they didn't "look" the part.

This year however, I must say was special. This is the first year I made it past the first few days of the show where Simon completely trashes the people that really shouldn't be there (or in the Oliver Stone viewpoint, are paid to be there for "Simon Fodder").

This season, I could see myself acquiring each of the three finalists music (select MP3's or whole CD's).

Two people inparticular really caught my attention, Elliot Yamin and Taylor Hicks.

My first impression of Eliott was that he could have used some dental work. I completely erased that thought when I heard him sing. And to know he had no formal training and is almost completely deaf in one ear impressed me even more (of course being from Richmond, VA also didn't hurt).

He had some decent song choices thrown at him, but when the Stevie Wonder episode came and he did "Knocks Me Off My Feet," he became my favorite (the song is one of my all time favorites).

His biggest downfall, other than the inability of the Central Virginia telecommunications infrastructure to handle the outgoing call volume, was his choice of songs. My favorite Eliott performance had to be "A Song For You" by Donnie Hathaway (Originally Leon Russell).

However, I don't think many people have heard of Donnie Hathaway (I sure didn't), and when Eliott did another Donnie Hathaway song (remake of Ray Charles' "I Believe to My Soul"), while it was performed beautifully, I don't think many people in the typical American Idol age demographic could relate and he was sadly gone. But a top three finish will most likely ensure that we will hear from him again.

As for Taylor Hicks, my first impression was that he was some other American Idol hopeful's father. He didn't look the 29 (years old) he claimed to be. But again, when I listened to his voice, I completely forgot any shortcomings that I saw.

Not only blessed with a good voice (not better than Eliott's but good) he had more stage presence than anyone I've ever seen. He regularly wandered into the audience while performing his songs, had the craziest dance moves and the flashiest clothing.

But most of all, of all the contestants, he looked like he was having the most fun, and most importantly, he seemed to be singing and performing because he enjoyed music, and he sung from his soul, not for the publicity. It was refreshing to actually see someone in the business fueled by the love of music and the excitement of the fans instead of the search for the next payday (of course there's time for him to be jaded and corrupted by the system).

And of course: The Soul Patrol...

Best Performance: Vocally, Joe Cocker's "You are so Beautiful", his best performance period had to be Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark."

And of course unless you were under a rock or have no television, Tayor won American Idol Season 5. And the best part, Simon didn't vote for him to go to Hollywood, and said he'd never make the finals...

Soul Patrol!

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Any Holiday commemorating a French defeat is worth celebrating! So go out and have a nice cerveza... Viva Mexico!

Disclaimer: The above statement does in no way represent the views and opinions held by the authors (including the poster) of this blog concerning the current immigration debacle.

The "Adams" Double Play

The week I've been having:












Quote of the Day:
"The rock-solid principle on which the whole of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation is founded - our fundamental design flaws are completely hidden by our superficial design flaws."

-Douglas Adams
(From: So Long and Thanks for All the Fish)

Sometimes even isolationist anti-UN wackos get one right

I mean, WTF is this? On 10 APR 2006, Iran's delegation was tapped as Vice-Chairpersons of the UN's Disarmament Commission. Call me crazy, folks, but I don't feel Iran has either the track record of integrity or a currently objective position on the issue.

What's next? North Korea on the Human Rights Council? Hell, why not? China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Cuba are already candidates. (China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and the Sudan are on the current Commisssion on Human Rights.)