Those times in you life...

Times when you want to go to sleep...

And you don't want to awaken...

You just want to keep sleeping...

And sleeping...

No...

You don't want to die...

You just want to sleep...

And not wake up...

So you go to sleep...

And you eventually awaken...

But you are not ready to wake up...

Because you are afraid of the consequences...

So you go back to sleep...

And you keep sleeping...

And then it happens again...

You wake up...

Back to sleep...

Or you just lie there...

Pretending to be asleep...

Hoping everybody will think you're asleep...

But you're not...

You're just lying there...

You don't want to talk to anybody...

Because you want to avoid in the inevitable...

And that inevitable is the talk...

The talk about what you don't want to talk about...

Because it hurts...

Deep inside...

Real deep...

You know you will eventually get over it...

To a point...

But the pain will always be there...

But for now...

You just want to mourn...

You know you can't mourn forever...

But you'd like to think so...

The pain seems to never end...

So back to sleep you go...

Because it's all you can think about...

Getting up and keeping busy won't help...

Because the pain just tags along...

And you're afraid...

Afraid that someone just might mention it...

And you'll have to talk about it...

And there will be a time when you can talk about it...

A time when it won't hurt as much...

But for now...

You're not ready for that...

It's the feeling you get when you have a break up...

The feeling you get when you lose a dear loved one...

Or when you know a person is mad at you...

And that person will yell at you...

Whether you are right or wrong...

They just keep yelling and yelling...

And you just bury your head in the pillow...

Because you don't want to face the music...

The reality...

The reality that you have failed...

And failed miserably...

Failed in such a way that no one will ever forget...

Not that you didn't care...

Not that you didn't try your best...

But you still failed...

And failed miserably...

And you are an embarrassment...

And a laughing stock...

You could have succeeded...

But you failed...

You choked...

You blew it....

You had a nine game lead not too long ago...

You had an eight and a half game lead not too long ago...

And you let it slip away...

Forever...

You are the players of the Boston Red Sox...

And the Boston/Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves...

You suck...

And you know it...

Good night again...

You sleep tight...

And hope that the bed bugs won't bite...

But they probably will...

Because they know that you suck, too...

dvt

http://mvduet.homestead.com/files/Sleeping-labs-on-the-Monk-w.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1033/567726321_6308d0af18.jpg

BOSTON RED SOX 2011

Highlights

I’m not sure how to start this I just witnessed the Red Sox complete the biggest choke in the history of their franchise. My thoughts are going wild. Here is the way I see it they were a team that couldn’t take care of business . A team that hasn’t won 2 games in a row since they swept a doubleheader from the A’s on August 27^th.. A team that had their chances to put this thing away and cruise into the playoffs. While they were stumbling and bumbling away September a little quirky team in Tampa just kept playing and even when they would have a little set back they would just keep playing. Yeah! They got a little help from the Yankees last night as the Yankees rolled out 11 pitchers. It still took coming back from 7-0 and winning in the 12^thon Evan Longeria homer run that was about a whisker from the foul pole but clear enough to put no doubt in anybody’s mind it was a home run.

 Not to be Confused with Eva Longeria

Of Course she has nothing to do with the content of this blog  but it made me feel better about the Sox

Mean while in Camden Yards the one steady rock in September with the Red Sox was Jonathon Papelbon, he cruised with nasty stuff sending the first two Orioles down and looking invincible to at least get the Sox to a playoff then the wheels fell off the bus. A double to right, A ground rule double to center and a base hit with a bad throw to the plate and the party was over all just a few seconds before Longeria put the Rays in the playoffs. I will admit even with the Sox loss I think I ahd more fun watching baseball last night than I have all season. I kept going back and forth from the Red Sox to the rays to the Braves who also lost killing their chances for a playoff. It was just fun right up until that is the Sox losing.

In reality blowing a 9 game lead was worst than the collapse in 1978. They Sox were playing decent in the last week that year to force a playoff and the Sox and the Yankees were hall of Fame teams not all- star teams back then. In 1978 they still won 99 games .

This was inconsistent pitching, and high priced free agent just not getting it down. A few injuries along the way and bang a huge collapse. However, there was enough talent on this  Red Sox team that they could have one a few more games and not even put themselves in that position. I think Carmine the computer that the Sox relie on was out drinking Vino and eating canoli’s instead evaluating needs and players that could help.

So I’m venting and I wish all the playoff teams well that includes the New york Yankees. They don’t seem to be buying talent unlike Carmine’s bosses who have turned the Sox into the Yankees of old. I suspect that this will fall on Terry Franconia’s shoulders but like any other manager he did the best he could with what Carmine and his bosses provided. Franconia is the best manager I have ever seen with this team . I hope they retain him some how I think he maybe he will be wearing White Sox instead of Red next season.

I suspect a major shake up on Landsdowne street and that could be with both the manager and the GM. I also suspect that the Sox maybe paying John Lackey to play elsewhere. But I’m emotional right now . Congrats Joe Maddon you got it done.

This is the part where a usually talk football. But the Patriots second half against Buffalo was like The Red Sox in September it was awful. I was talking to a friend of mine who grew up in Buffalo and has become a Patriots fan over the years. He said his brothers in Buffalo were giving a rash via text. I also said I liked the Joe Ferguson looking Bills uniforms new this season. Now I don't know how true this is . He says Ferguson was the reason the Bills went to Red helmets. He couldn't tell who was who when the played the Patriots, Dolphins, and Oilers all wearing white helmets at the time.

Joe Ferguson

The Pats will bounce back and be in the mix. I honestly look forward to see what they do against a very aggressive Raider Defense this week. The Jets lost too so it’s not so bad. Like I have commented I hope Buffalo is the real deal. I also hope the Lions who I wasn’t totally sold on but the negation process is starting and they are selling more and more each week.

Hey Gabbers. So, I did it again. I just finished up an assignment in which i had to come up with about 30 different lesson plans. It's due tomorrow at about 5. I got 'er done though, despite having weeks to do it. Gotta love that procrastination. Anyways, i kinda have poetry on the brain, so forgive the beatnick vibes, man.

Still, I think i made some good stuff. I didn't reinvent any wheels, but I adapted some good stuff to my purposes. I think my favorite lesson involves war correspondence, letters home from big wars, and war poetry. Some of the men out serving our country have written some pretty great poetry. Here's a little sample I got from a soldier who simple signed his name Chris. He served in Afghanistan.

A Soldier’s Winter

What is this cold?
Where is this white
Is this real, or just a fleeting moment of life, of my life

I see no longer the greens and reds,
Where have the autumn leaves gone?
This must be the first signs of a new winter?

I see trees, I see sky, I see clouds,
All winter white,
Can I reach upward to touch the falling flake?
I try but never seem to connect, 

And as I lay there staring at the sky
is my body cold ?
As I lay I hope I am not forgotten

But here I am alone.
I close my eyes and try to think of home
is this really happening to me?

This isn’t real this is only a dream
I never have felt this way before, cold, weak and exposed,
but strangely at ease
With a tear I draw my parting breath
I’m looking down on my body below

I understand now this is winter….this is my winter

Chris, a soldier serving in Afghanistan. 

I also thought I'd throw in this little bit i found for our blues fans. Someone set Langston Hughes poem "The Weary Blues" to music. Pretty good video, too, as it really captures the time period.

Anyways, I got to go to my old team's homecoming game. We got beat pretty good, 54-7. Guess we gave the other team a chuckle, as one of our boys told a d-lineman from the other squad to go easy on him because all he was trying to do was go to the dance and get laid. Still, it was good to see some of the guys I coached and some of my old coaches. (Coach Coll says hi, IHM). I told a few that were seniors that I'd be at their last game and didn't want to see them slump off like the last few years. I told him he ought to get his boys together and make one last lap around that field. They'll all miss it one day.

Still, I can't help but notice the lack of wrapping up I see anymore. It's not just in high school either. Has anyone noticed more guys in college and pro games just trying for a knockout shot only to end up bouncing off the runner? It seems all to common anymore. Hook the knees and push! Wrap up, men!

Tomorrow we see out the regular season in the MLB. It seems like it only just began. We seem so enthusiastic about the beginning of the year, but i figure a lot of people will be bummed when this is all said and done. I know either Boston or Tampa will be. They're tied in the wild card with a sole game remaining. Given the choice, I'd like to see Boston make it, despite their showing against the Tigs this year. They may not deserve it with the skid they've been on, but it's hard for me to hate Boston. I'm some percentage Irish anyways.

The slumping Braves gave up their lead and are now tied with the Cards in the NL. I initially picked the Braves to go, so I'll stick with the horse I rode in on. I am something of a Cards fan though. I feel like I'm in a can't lose here. I really just want to see all four teams win so we have some play in games. But, I'll take the Sox and Bravos to win.

Forgive me for keeping it a little short, but this beatnick needs his sleep, dig? Thanks for stopping by to chill and read up on the haps. I also thank you for any comments. I've been a bit down on answering, but I've been pretty busy so please excuse my rudeness. Let's conclude todays buzz with our weekly vocabulary word, man.

layout bitching, noun/verb

Usage example:

I think those guys need to chill out with some nice chai. Later gabbers.

Keeping in the spirit of my fellow columnists putting hot females up, I figured I would salute the teams whom their play will now garner more attention than the cheerleaders

Hey-Ho Buffalo, the Bills are 3-0

The Motor City can have more "Pride" than just the cheerleaders

Greetings from the Hoodwood, where the fall colors are just starting to emerge. No real header this week, the column is all over the places

Even though I picked it, I was hoping that I was going to be wrong. I just could not believe that the Lions…you know the same old sorry ass Lions would roll into Minneapolis and beat the Vikings (Yes, I am an unabashed Vikings fan) I was living in Minneapolis the last time that the Lions beat the Vikings in 1997 (Not 1993 as I mistakenly put in my Week 3 preview) I didn’t think much of it, especially when the next year I got to see the Vikings hammer the Lions 29-6. I didn’t also think that would be the last season that Barry Sanders would be playing. But 13 years later the Lions couldn’t win in Minneapolis. The old line was “when in doubt bring the Lions out” Well it’s a new day for the team once known as the Motor City Kitties. They rallied from a 20-0 halftime deficit to win in OT. Lions fans have every right to be excited, in previous years they would have rolled over and hibernated. This year they rallied smartly and got the win…

But as I mentioned before, I am a Vikings fan and this is getting beyond the point of exasperation. I know the mantra of its not over till its over, but really how big of a fucking lead does a team need to have to feel like that they have the game iced. I know, I know, the Vikings have scored all of 6 points in the second half in 3 games. 6…two field goals… I am also starting to wonder about the playcalling of Vikings Head Coach Leslie Frazier. I think that he is suspiciously cut out of the mold that was Brad Childress, the former Vikings coach that I took great pains to despise. The curious play call of giving the ball to Toby Gerhart on a 4^thand 1 when Adrian Peterson was the one waving the field goal unit back and should have gotten the carry was maddening. I don’t know. If the Vikes lose next week in Kansas City…oh Lord help us.

The Bills are the other team that seems to have gotten fully off the mat and done so swinging. Their rally from 21-0 to beat the Patriots was nothing short of masterful. When Tom Brady throws four picks in one game…he only threw four picks all of last season kids. You know you are doing something right. The Bills have ratcheted up the excitement something fierce in Western New York. No one is making fun of Ryan Fitzpatrick being from Harvard now (bet the Bengals wish they had've kept him) Everyone is scrambling to figure out where Coe College is (Its in Iowa, I had a girlfriend that almost went there) The bandwagon is getting full real fast. I'll attribute the Bills fast start from last year when they got up off the mat to rally and outgun the Bengals after spotting them a 28-7 lead, that win gave them the moxie to think that they could indeed rally from any point and they have done so twice this season. Guess who the Bills get to face this week and will likely go to 4-0???

Switching gears as the MLB season begins to wind down all six of the divisional races have been settled but as usual the respective wild card slot are coming down to the last day. Atlanta is trying to hold off a hard charging St. Louis squad that was all but written off as late as ten days ago and has tried every type of meltdown to fade from the Wild Card race, but the Cards are just a game out as the last three games of the season commence. They also have a highly favorable matchup, the Braves have to deal with the irrepressable Phillies who are set to crack the 100 win mark, while the Cards are getting (hold the laughter please) the Astros who have already lost more than 100 games and mailed it in back on Memorial Day...

If there was anyone I dont mind lashing out at is the New York Yankees (or Jankees as my friend Jaime would call them) already safely ensconced in the playoffs as AL East Champs for the umpteenth billionth time the Yankees are trying to get their rotation set for the playoffs, but Joe Girardi is already complaining about the turnaround between the seasons last day tomorrow and the start of the playoffs on Friday.  I guess the Yanks would like it better if all their playoff games were in the Bronx and that they could claim a win as soon as they got the lead. Girardi was quoted at ESPN New York.com voicing his displeasure "I think we're in a tough position and one of the reasons we're in a tough position is you only got one day off,'' Girardi said. "I think you should have two days off. Then you can manage the last game of the season accordingly.'' Whine whine, fucking whine. It isnt enough that your team has all the advantages and lords it over everyone...Sheesh

Does anyone really truly care about the NBA lockout/labor dispute? I mean when the NFL was locked out many people, your humble scribe included was doing some serious jonesing…even though aside from the Hall of Fame game there were no games lost, the sporting world sat with baited breath to see if we would lose any football. The NBA saw what happened to the NFL and thought that a major power play of its own was needed. So what if the game was at its healthiest and most popular since before the last lockout, so what if TV ratings were higher than ever, so what if two network broadcasting and your own TV network were pulling in boffo ratings and revenue. All Stern and his ilk are doing is itching for a fight and claiming that salaries that they propogated are too high. Im still trying to figure how the NBA owners lost $300 million last year. With the start of training camps now delayed and the 11-12 season in real danger. The owners and players have returned to the bargaining table today. Will it help? Will it do nothing more than fan the flames of a conflagration that is already out of control and the larger question, will anyone really care? I usually don’t really start watching the NBA till at least Christmas and not fully pay attention to it till about the time the NCAA tourney starts. I remember the 50 game sprint in the 1999 season. (I don’t say 98-99 because there were no games played until after the calendar turned.) That was intense albeit sometimes sloppy basketball.

Phat Dap/ Head Slap

Phat Dap

This one goes to the Minnesota Lynx, the WNBA team that will be making its first championship appearance in franchise history. I have a soft spot for this team because in a small subtle way I helped Minnesota get their franchise. Lets rewind back to 1998 when your humble scribe was just about to graduate from Brown College in Minnesota with a BA in Applied Science-Broadcasting. I had an assignment to write and produce a radio commercial. Out of ideas for a spot, I did something I did often I cracked open the sports page. I read that the WNBA was in the process of granting expansion franchises and that Minnesota was on the short list to get a team. The one catch was that the team had to get 5000 season ticket orders to get the franchise. Inspired, I wrote, voiced over and produced a commercial , urging Minnesota residents to get their ticket orders in. I turned the commercial in and got my usual A grade (I did graduate with honors from Brown in 1998). My instructor told me when he gave me my spot back “Hey this is really good, did you ever think about selling this spot?” I made a few phone calls and was put in touch with the group that was trying to get the franchise. I sold them the spot for $1000 and a few days later nearly drove off the road when I heard my voice on the radio. Of course Minnesota got its franchise in the Lynx and the group I sold the sot to sent me a letter telling me that I have seats available to me for any Lynx game. It was kind of hard to do so after I moved away from Minnesota but have had lots a friends use them. I got the chance to use my own tickets for the first time in ten years, when I went up for my recent birthday.  Courtside tickets so rock! But serious dap to the Lynx for winning their first Western Conference title in franchise history.

Head Slap

To Tajh Boyd of Clemson who if there was ever an “Oh nooooo what are you doing?!” moment it was  this play against the Florida State on Saturday

His knee looked like it was down, but on the for real you cant do stuff like that.

Bandits Football Update

The Butler County Bandits left 40 points on the bench with Joe Flacco, and left 27 points on the bench in Ryan Fitpatrick opting to go with top QB draft choice Matt Ryan, still the Bandits managed to upset the defending HHFL champion Doberman Gang 98-96 to get their first win of the season.

The Chocolate City Black Bandits did not fare so well despite 37 points from top draft pick Drew Brees, they fell to the Dark Knights 62-56 and are now 1-2.

Usually the column is a bit longer but this week your humble scribe is battling the stomach flu and was lucky to get this out....ewww bad choice of words considering everything that has been coming out of both ends... I'll have my picks posted at the end of the week...gotta do hella better than week 3.

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

What's up Gabbers?

Well, it looks like Cam Newton decided to come back to earth today as the Panthers got their first victory of the season by defeating the Jaguars 16-10 in what was probably the worst football game I've ever seen in my life.

Let's forget about Cam for a few minutes. (He looked like a rookie, going 18/34 for 158 yards with 1 TD and 0 INT, and getting 27 yards rushing on 7 carries with 0 TD's. But, given the weather, the end result, and the fact that he played his best football in the 4th quarter when it counted most, I'll take it.) 

Did anyone actually see this game? They played in a literal monsoon. I have never seen so much rain during a football game in my entire life. It was so bad at one point that I couldn't even see the field because the cameras were fogged up from the rain.

Apparently the officials couldn't see either, because they made some of the stupidest calls I've ever seen in my life. For example, Jonathan Stewart caught a screen pass and appeared to be tackled for a minimal gain. Well, next thing everyone knows he's running down the field (no whistle had blown). Turns out, he did a barrel roll on the defender, and realizing that no one downed him he kept running. Since the play happened within the 2 minute warning of the first half, it was subject to booth review. Well, after the booth review, even though there was no conclusive evidence he was down by contact, the officials changed the call. 

Why am I bitching about this? Two reasons: 1) they got it wrong, and fucked Stewart out of a lot of yardage (fantasy implications), and 2) the end result of the swing was a Jacksonville touchdown (albeit it was because of shitty tackling, but that's not the point). 

If you watch the video below you will see what I'm talking about: there's no conclusive evidence that his elbow hit the ground. Keep in mind, the call on the field was that he was not down by contact...and there isn't enough to over turn it if you ask me (even if I were a Jaguars fan, I'd feel the same way). Also, you can see what I was talking about when I said the weather was shitty, because you can barely see the action on the field due to the rain.

Anyway, check it out for yourself:

http://www.nfl.com/videos/carolina-panthers/09000d5d8228fd07/Stewart-s-big-run-gets-called-back

Well, what do you think? I can't see any way the officials could over turn that call...but perhaps I'm biased. (I still don't think it should have been over turned, regardless of which team I root for.)

But at any rate, the Panthers won the game and that's all that matters. They won because Cam showed up in the 4th quarter when he hadn't played very well for the first 3 quarters (was off with many of his throws, and then the monsoon hit making things even worse) and took the team down the field and led them to the go-ahead touchdown drive to give the Panthers a chance to win. They also won because apparently Jack Del Rio thinks it's 1947...because I can't think of any other reason why he would run the ball as much as he did. I know they have Maurice Jones-Drew...but if you want to win in this league you have to be able to throw and run...and the Jags weren't able to do that today.

So now the Panthers are at 1-2 and are hopeful they will be at .500 next week after their date with the Bears in Chicago, and even though Cam didn't drop 400+ yards on the Jaguars, I still can't be happier with the strides he's made and the way the team as a whole has played so far this season. My only hope is that it continues and they have a respectable year this season, and are back in playoff contention next year. (Let's be real: I know this is a 6-10 team at best...even I don't think they're going to go 11-5, though I won't be mad if they do, lol.)

Normally this would be the time where I would talk about the Gamecocks, since they're 4-0 and are now ranked #10 in the nation, but I can't bring myself to say anything about them other than this: Stephen Garcia sucks. If the Gamecocks had any semblance of a real QB this team could compete for the BCS Title, but there's no way in hell they get anywhere with this cocksucker (forgive the pun) as the QB...he plays like ass 90% of the time, and the other 10% he's worse than ass.

My God...he threw 4 interceptions against Vanderbilt...fucking Vanderbilt. If not for Marcus "my legs are gonna fall off soon if you don't stop running me coach" Lattimore, this would be a 1-3 team falling into the abyss. But thankfully they have a running back, because they sure as hell don't have a quarterback worth a shit.

But, being undefeated was nice while it lasted...they've never started 4-0 since Spurrier took over, and even though they'll be 4-1 by next Saturday night after Auburn whips their ass, at least they got to 4 wins before their first loss. (I know Auburn isn't as good as they were last year, but for some reason Carolina can't beat Auburn to save their lives...I look for this trend to continue on Saturday.)

Well, I'm going to wrap this up and watch the rest of the Colts/Steelers game. All I've got to say about that is: Big Ben, don't fuck up...you're starting for me in the Gab league, and I need a win.

That's it for me this week folks. If you've got anything you'd like to add, feel free to add it in the comments section.

Until next Monday...