Catalina's Island

Hair update and other thoughts

2011-06-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

1. It's 2-2. I'm not nervous yet. But I seem to be taking more care of my hair lately. Extra conditioner. Cream rinse. Washing it at just the right temperature. What the Mavs did last night was gutsy. It could be 3-1 Mavs, but much more realistically, the series should be over. The Heat have been in control of every game, but are just abysmal in the 4th quarter.

2. The NFL owners and players are having secret meetings. Good news. Very good news. Maybe we won't have a doomsday scenario after all. The players have to negotiate now. They've fired all their legal bullets. Just get it done.

3. Terrelle Pryor is out at Ohio St. So is Jim Tressel. I don't feel bad for "The Vest." When you stick your neck out for someone who clearly has their own interests at heart, this is what happens. Ohio St. is about to get very burned. The worst part is that the university has done nothing until prompted by the media. Jim Tressel's resignation didn't come after it was revealed that he lied. It came after an interview in Ohio St.'s student newspaper, The Lantern, revealed that players had been accepting tattoos and cash for 10 years. And just before the SI article about even more violations. Yahoo Sports blew the lid off the whole thing initially. And Terrelle Pryor didn't leave the school until just 3 hours before an ESPN Outside the Lines report was to air about how he made up to $40,000 signing memorabilia. What's troubling about this is, Ohio St. should have acted on this immediately. When you only make big decisions when forced to by the media, it makes people think you have no moral compass. I think that AD Gene Smith and university president Gordon Gee will be the next to go. I can't see the board of regents at OSU thinking that keeping these 2 is good for their image. And clearly that's how they have made all their other decisions.

4. The Rangers look like they did last year. If the offense gets really going, watch out. They'll run away with the West again. But Ron Washington is spinning his wheels with Ian Kinsler in the leadoff spot. Ron, old buddy old pal, that ship has sailed.

5. I have a fundamental question about today's society. Why in this age of technology, if you are a Congressman, do you think that taking sexual photos of yourself and sending them to people is a good idea? You're going to get caught. Anthony Weiner you're a dufus. Have Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, Pam Anderson, and scores of other Hollywood idiots taught us nothing? Someone is always going to find your tapes and pictures. Always. Has Congress always been this full of idiots? Back in the day did people in the Original 13 have to worry about this kind of stuff? Do you think that Henry Clay ever sent a nude painting via Pony Express to a woman in another state? I am sure that Congress clamors for the good old days of the 1880s when you could have a mistress in peace.

6. Tony Romo is married now. How much do you want to bet that the first time he has a bad game that a group of Dallas fans blames the fact that he spends too much time with his wife? It's going to happen.

7. Is anyone else just flat out tired of Lady Gaga?

8. We drove a Hyundai Equus up to Dallas for the Mavs game yesterday. Awesome ride. Just awesome.

9. Do you think that NBA players have a hard time keeping up with their tattoos? Most of them seem haphazardly put together. Is there a method or do you just go in get a picture drawn on you and fill up the open space later? I am trying to understand. DeShawn Stevenson for one is all over the place. Someone help me out.

10. I am claiming that I am the only blogger to ever mention Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, 1800s Congressman Henry Clay, and DeShawn Stevenson in the same post. Prove me wrong I dare you.

That is all.

My Hair is in Jeopardy and other Thoughts

2011-05-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

1. The Mavericks keep winning. My on-air promise to shave my head if they win the title is 5 wins away. I am in a pickle here. It would be great if they won the title. The city of Dallas deserves a payoff. It's been a long time. But on the other hand, I don't think the bald thing is good for me. I went a long time with a buzz cut. Looking back, I really cheated myself out of some glorious locks. Hindsight is 20-20. I also think the Heat are starting to look locked in. We'll see. I am confident.

2. The Rangers are starting to click a little. I am still a little nervous about them. They need to stay healthy. The division is not that great. They could make a move soon to separate themselves. Bullpen depth is an issue they need to address. And Ian Kinsler needs to start hitting. Boy does he.

3. Don't look now but the AL East could be very interesting all year. The Red Sox have rebounded from a terrible April, the Evil Empire is going to win regardless, and the Rays are coming together. Not to mention that the Jays and Orioles aren't ready to become the Jays and Orioles just yet. Once again it looks like the Wild Card comes out of the East.

4. I saw Pirates 4 and Thor. Can't wait for Hangover 2 this week. Liked both films. Didn't love them, but I had a good time watching them. I'll post a review of Hangover 2 after I see it this week.

5. There's a new date for the rapture. October 21st. Really bro? Really? You are like 0-5 at this point. Why would anyone believe this yahoo?

6. Is there a dumber ownership group in the league than the Wilpons? They are caught up in the Madoff scandal, they have made terrible contractual decisions over the years (they are still paying Bobby Bonilla 13 years after he played for them), and they are sitting on a goldmine if they sold the team. Just do it fellas. The Mets and their fans don't deserve this madness.

7. I am going to say it right now. No one can change my mind. I am dead set. There are too many singing/dancing competitions on TV. They are all the same to me. And for what? You aren't buying albums from these people. You're not. Don't pretend like you are. Stop wasting your time.

8. If you aren't watching Sports Show with Norm MacDonald. You need to start. Seriously.

9. Rest in peace Macho Man Randy Savage. Even though I am not a fan of wrestling, I always enjoyed your enthusiastic demeanor. You were great in Spiderman as well.

10. Happy Birthday to my nephew, Leo. The Tater Tot turned 2. That's him above. So sweet, so innocent. So ready to tear apart my sister's house now that he is 2.

That is all.

P.S. Email me with your info, and you will be entered in the drawing to win 2 Schlitterbahn tickets.

Mavericks and Cowboys are Painfully Similar

2011-05-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

We talked about this on the show yesterday but I wanted to elaborate more on it. The Mavs and Cowboys are eerily similar. Maybe it’s the city of Dallas. Maybe it’s just me. But I just think that when you boil it down the parallels are too big to ignore. And I think it’s these parallels that have driven me to the edge as a fan. So here you go.

Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones are two peas in a pod. Both of them are the face of the franchise, no matter who their superstar might be. They are out in front all the time. Both of them love the spotlight. They are a far cry from the Rooneys and Maras of the world. Heck, both have appeared on Entourage. I doubt we’ll see Dan Rooney or Jeff Lurie hanging with Turtle and Ari.
Both teams’ rosters are often filled with all sizzle and no steak. Jerry Jones loves flash (Terrell Owens). So does Mark Cuban (Jason Kidd). But the bottom line is, not only do you need superstars, you need worker bees. Lunch pail guys. The post Jimmy Johnson Cowboys have been fairly devoid of these types. The Mavs are often criticized for “being soft.” Most recently by their own head coach. While you need studs to win the race, you need some mudders. Year in and year out, this seems to be the case.
Both superstar players produce like crazy until it gets down to brass tacks. Tony Romo has tons of regular season success. But when it comes to the postseason, he has yet to yank the Cowboys out of their current seat in playoff Hell. Dirk Nowitzki had the Mavs knocking on the door of a 3-0 lead on the Heat in 2006, but the Mavs lost game 3. And then Games 4, 5, and 6. After that point until the sweep of the Lakers, their postseasons have been full of huge embarrassing failures. Fair or not, Dirk and Tony are the leaders of these teams. They’ll get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses; it’s like being the President. But superstars drive the ship. And these two have been ramming their ships into rocks for years.
Anytime either team achieves the smallest bit of success, DFW goes bonkers. Maybe this is because they are longing for a title again. Maybe it’s just the way the fans are. But the bottom line is, and I as a media member am guilty of this too, we put the cart before the horse. In 2007 the Cowboys went 13-3. I was polishing the trophy. I was only scared of Tom Brady and the Pats. How foolish I was. The Mavs beat a Lakers team last week that was imploding. And now I am hearing that they are the favorites to win it all. Really? Is this just by default? Come on!! Let’s let things play out.
Both teams were actually almost ripped apart by a pop singer. The Mavs famously had 2 players dating Toni Braxton. Jessica Simpson is blamed by a host of idiots for being the reason those 2007 Cowboys lost to the Giants. Not real reasons for failure. But an eerie parallel none the less.
Both owners and fan bases love the conspiracy theories. When the Mavs lose, it’s always the refs. Never the fact that they may have played poorly. The Cowboys never lose. They were always screwed by a bad call. Sometimes you have to look into your heart, and just try to get better.
No one can seem to hire a coach that everyone gets on board with. Jerry had Bill Parcells in the building and that didn’t last. Although Bill’s track record says he wouldn’t have stayed much longer anyway. He replaced him with Wade Phillips. A coach who has won nothing. Avery Johnson was the Mavs coach, he had to go. And replaced with a coach. Rick Carlisle, who has won nothing. Am I being hard on Rick? Maybe. But where’s the ring?

I am sure there are even more that I didn’t go into, but you see my point. I am sending this out as a plea. Jerry, Mark, Dirk, Tony please listen. Please get us some titles. Please stop the excuse train. Get it done. I have faith in you. I do. For the most part. Make it so that I can’t write or talk about this anymore.

That is all.

P.S. Email me at paul@1660espn.com with your name, address, and telephone number and I'll enter you in the drawing for 2 free tickets to Schlitterbahn.

As Promised, my NFL Mock Draft

2011-04-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Here is my foray into the mock draft world. If I am wrong, so what? These things are unpredictable. Also this is based on no trades happening. I can’t predict the future. And neither can you.

Carolina (2-14) – Cam Newton QB Auburn

The Panthers won’t be able to resist. Although this is a team with about 10 areas of need.

Denver (4-12) – Marcel Dareus DE-DT Alabama

The Broncos need defense. Also don’t be surprised to see a team come and get this pick for Blaine Gabbert.

Buffalo (4-12) - Von Miller LB-DE Texas A&M

The Bills also have a ton of needs. A Ton.

Cincinnati (4-12)- A.J. Green WR Georgia

Who knows what the worst owner in the NFL is going to do? Seriously.

Arizona (5-11) – Blaine Gabbert QB Mizzou

The Cards need a QB. In the worst way. Don’t be surprised if a team moves up here to get Patrick Peterson of LSU.

Cleveland (5-11) - Julio Jones WR Alabama

The Browns need more playmakers on offens e. And Julio is just a shade below AJ Green.

San Francisco (6-10)- Patrick Peterson CB LSU

In my opinion the BEST player in the draft. Someone may trade up and get him.

Tennessee (6-10)- Nick Fairley DT Auburn

Scouts question his “want to” but he is a guy who can disrupt a game.

Dallas (6-10) – Tyron Smith OT USC

The Cowboys go OL here. The biggest area of need. Jerry is a bit of a wild card.

Washington (6-10)- Robert Quinn DE UNC

The Skins may reach for a QB here, but I am going to give Mike Shanahan the benefit of the doubt here.

Houston (6-10) – Aldon Smith DE-OLB Mizzou

Texans need defense. Some experts have them moving up to get Peterson. I don’t see that happening.

Minnesota (6-10)- Andy Dalton QB TCU

This is my shocker pick here. The Red Headed Stranger has been shooting up the boards. No Favre means you need a QB. Jake Locker could go here too.

Detroit (6-10) - Da'Quan Bowers DE Clemson

Bowers is falling due to injury concerns. But when healthy, he is to quote Kanye West “a @#%$% MONSTER!”

St. Louis (7-9) - Corey Liguet DT Illinois

Saw this guy in the Texas Bowl. He is dominant. Great pick for the Rams should they make it.

Miami (7-9) – Mark Ingram RB Alabama

QB is a need here. So is RB. Could be Jake Locker as well.

Jacksonville (8-8) – Ryan Kerrigan DE Purdue

Jack Del Rio has been trying to shore up the defensive front for years.

New England - from Oakland (8-8) – J.J. Watt DE Wisconsin

Perfect 3-4 end. Will flourish in Beantown.

San Diego (9-7) – Cameron Jordan DE Cal

Fits well in the defense there. Can shore up a unit that wasn’t as good as it needed to be last year.

New York Giants (10-6) – Anthony Castanzo OT Boston College

Not their biggest need, but a young tackle who you can build a line around. Don’t be surprised if this pick gets traded.

Tampa Bay (10-6) – Prince Amukamara CB Nebraska

Aquib Talib’s legal troubles makes this an area of need for the Bucs.

Kansas City* (10-6) - Gabe Carimi T Wisconsin

The Chiefs continue to build the OL.

Indianapolis* (10-6) – Nate Solder OT Colorado

Peyton Manning isn’t getting younger. The Colts need a tackle to look after him.

Philadelphia* (10-6) – Mike Pouncey OG- Florida

You could see Danny Watkins of Baylor here. But Pouncey may be ranked a touch higher on some boards.

New Orleans* (11-5)- Adrian Clayborn DE Iowa

The Saints biggest need is stopping the other guys right now. Clayborn fits that mold.

Seattle* (7-9) – Jake Locker QB Washington

Perfect pick. Perfect spot. Perfect situation for Locker.

Baltimore* (12-4) – Jimmy Smith CB Colorado

This is if the Ravens ignore numerous off-field troubles.

Atlanta* (13-3) - Justin Houston DE/OLB Georgia

As evidenced by the beating they took in the playoffs, the Falcons must shore up their defense.

New England* (14-2) – Marvin Austin DT UNC

Bill Belichick is probably going to trade this pick. Christian Ponder or Ryan Mallett could get drafted by a QB hungry team here.

Chicago* (11-5) - Derek Sherrod T Mississippi State

The Bears made a great run with a patchwork line. That changes here. Sherrod has great feet and is never out of position. That will help with a QB who likes to make it up as he goes, like Jay Cutler.

New York Jets* (11-5) – Phil Taylor NT Baylor

If you had asked me 2 years ago if this would happen, I would have said you were on meth. Seriously. His performance his junior year was terrible. He improved last season, but I still think this is a reach. But with his size and talent, Rex Ryan, Kris Jenkins and others to mold him, he has a HUGE upside.

Pittsburgh* (12-4) – Aaron Williams CB Texas

Secondary and OL are the only 2 areas of immediate need for a stacked Steelers team.

Green Bay* (10-6) Danny Watkins OG Baylor

As you all may know, we at ESPN Central Texas LOVE Danny Watkins. I could see him going higher, but he is a great fit for the Pack. They won the Super Bowl despite a ton of injuries, several along the O-Line. Watkins is a junkyard dog out on the field and will not let you get to his QB without paying for it. Aaron Rodgers will love him instantly.

So there you have it. My mock draft. Email me at paul@1660espn.com. You will be entered in the drawing to win 2 tickets to Schlitterbahn. Include your name, address, and phone number in the email.

It's Been a Long Time....

2011-04-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

I'm back to the blogosphere!!! Call it a month long writer's block, but after some time away I am lucid and ready to rock. Here's my list for this week.

1. I actually took batting practice at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Saturday. While I doubt Jon Daniels is working up a contract for me, I held my own. It's quite an experience. Great day all the way around.

2. The Mavs better get with it. The Blazers were the trendy pick to win this series. And now we can all see why. Portland plays great at home, and unless the mummy of Jason Kidd has his full powers, the Mavs don’t seem to have their best foot forward. Memo to Dirk and the gang- WHEN YOU HAVE A 20 POINT LEAD, DON’T LET UP.

3. The Spurs are in trouble too. I guess you could say they are showing their age, but to me that is just an excuse for not playing well. And it shows you how important a player Manu Ginobili is.

4. The NFL draft is this week. Usually I have a good handle on who is going where and why. But sans free agency, I really have no idea. I’ll give you a mock draft on Thursday morning. Promise. I will not promise that it will be any kind of accurate.

The Red Sox are slowly putting it together. Watch out. I never had any doubts. And by never, I mean constantly. I still have doubts. That’s my life. But still, watch out.
I am sorry to see that adult film star and Charlie Sheen “goddess” Bree Olson has ended her relationship with Sheen. If those two crazy kids and another woman with Daddy issues can’t make it, what hope do the rest of us have?
It’s almost summer movie season. My favorite time of the entertainment year. Lots of big budget stuff coming out. I could do without another Transformers movie. I just don’t care anymore.
Steve Carrell’s last episode of The Office is on Thursday. I am sad to see him go and I hope the show can carry on without him. Will Ferrell has been good, but he’s not a full time guy for the show.
Sports Show with Norm MacDonald is hilarious. Classic Norm. I have been a fan of his for a long time, so make your own decision. Take a look for yourself.
Can we please get some rain in Central Texas? I have forgotten what it even looks like.

That is all.

P.S. Email me at paul@1660espn.com and be part of the weekly drawing for 2 Schilterbahn tickets! I'll pick a winner towards the end of the week. Just put Schilterbahn tickets in the subject line.

Live from Surprise

2011-03-24T10:15:00.000-07:00

Smoaky and I completed Day 1 of our Arizona adventure. It's wonderful out here. If you haven't been I recommend you go. The only bad part is that out here in the suburbs, there aren't many unique to the area restaurants. Also, it's like South Canada down here. That's not a bad thing. Just kind of a surprise. A ton of Canadian Snow birds have retired here. It's a surprise that hockey is on it's way out. I have heard a ton of "Aboots" and "Eh's." But everyone is surprisingly friendly. South Canada. Go Figure.

As for this week's list.

1. Dez Bryant has given me a movie idea. Mallrats 2: When entitled pro athletes and their posses strike! Seriously Dez, the mall may have been in the wrong to harass you, but you need to act like a pro. There are worse places that he could be hanging out. But more warning flags go up about this guy. He needs some more stable influences in his life.

2. The Sweet 16 starts today. I am more fired up than ever. It has a TON to do with my beloved Noles being there. I hope they leave VCU bloodied and bashed. Either way, it's been an interesting tourney. I plan on never picking Pitt to do anything ever again. They do nothing but disappoint. The Panthers or should we just call them "Kitties" have lost to a lower seed the last 4 times out.

3. The Rangers pitching staff makes me nervous. Who is in the rotation? Who's the closer? Is the bullpen a little shaky and old? All these need to be answered. But the lineup is solid. One of the best in the league. Hopefully that can carry them for awhile. But we all know it always comes down to pitching depth.

4. There is another Bigfoot video up. http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=jGz8qqRgTVQ&feature=player_embedded Really dude? Really? Come on! When are we going to stop believing in this? Let me know.

5. The King's Speech is getting a PG-13 version. They have dropped several "key" words. It was a key scene, and a funny one at that. But if you have been worried about it, take the kids now. It's an excellent movie. It's not "MacGruber," but honestly what is?

Short list. I'm in AZ. Sue me.

That is all.

Kansas City is Awesome and other thoughts

2011-03-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

1. Kansas City is a great place. You need to come here. Awesome nightlife. Better food. Great people. We are having a blast here. I have enjoyed Stroud's Fried Chicken, Gates BBQ, and Arthur Bryant's BBQ. All of it was outstanding. The Power and Light district is great as well. No smoking and a 2:45 last call. Plus Boulevard Wheat, one of America's greatest beers, on tap everywhere.

2. The NFL CBA could or couldn't be reached today. I have no clue as to which way it's going. I am hoping for a miracle. Twitter is blowing up with contentious back talk. GET IT DONE NFL!!!

3. Chuck Greenberg is leaving the Rangers. I thought he was a great face for the team, but now Nolan Ryan takes over as CEO. Greenberg had a difference of opinion on some of the business matters with some other partners in Rangers Baseball Express. It's too bad, but the team is in good hands.

4. I am starting to enjoy the NBA again. It has been a long time, but I am becoming more intrigued. I can't tell you why, I just am. Don't judge me.

5. I have no idea who I am going to pick to win the NCAA tournament. I have not seen one team this season that knocks my socks off. I am interested to see Notre Dame in the tourney. They run their offense well, maybe better than anyone in the country. Maybe a 1 seed as well.

6. Men, go see Hall Pass. It's hilarious. I loved it. Jason Sudekis was awesome in it.

7. A little girl at the Lady Bears game just won Chik-Fil-A for a year. I am jealous. I love that place. I'd have to do a 12 step program to shake it. It's that great. I wish they would let media members participate. I would have dominated that race. DOMINATED.

8. Mark Cuban is talking to Charlie Sheen about doing a show on HDNet. If they strike while the iron is hot, people may actually start watching HDNet. Charlie is ratings gold. Unfortunately he spends that gold on coke and prostitutes.

9. I think I have a problem. My parents are watching after my dog this weekend and I called to check on him like he is a kid. Seriously. Is that weird? I know he's fine, so why did I HAVE to know? I need answers to this. Do all of the rest of you dog owners do this?

10. 2 weeks from now Smoaky and I will be in Surprise, AZ for Rangers Spring Training. Where do I need to go in the greater Phoenix area? Let me know. Your tips will be awarded with a big smile from yours truly.

This blog has been fueled this week by KC BBQ, Fried Chicken, and Boulevard Wheat.

That is all.

A few quick things

2011-02-28T10:59:00.000-08:00

1. Cam Newton had a bad combine weekend but it won't affect him all that much in the draft. He'll have a doozy of a private workout at Auburn I'm sure. My prediction is that he doesn't get past the 4th pick. Even though Blaine Gabbert of Mizzou and Ryan Mallet of Arkansas are more NFL ready.

2. How is Reggie Miller not in this year's National Basketball Hall of Fame Class? I know he'll get in, but you have got to be kidding me. He was easily one of the 3 most clutch players of his era. He CARRIED the Pacers.

3. The next time Jimmer Fredette is on TV, watch him. The most exciting player in college basketball in my opinion. He is fun to watch.

4. Von Miller ran a 4.46 at the combine. What a beast. After several years of not putting players in the NFL, A&M will make a big splash with Miller. That is a boost to Mike Sherman and staff.

5. The Baylor men keep hanging around. They need to win their next 2. They are better than Oklahoma St., but Stillwater is a tough place to play. And the Cowboys need the win too. And if the Bears win Tuesday, Texas is coming to town Saturday. Never an easy win.

6. The King's Speech cleaned up at the Oscars. I was mad that True Grit went 0 for 10. Social Network should have won Best Picture. That movie was awesome. I am on the fence about the hosts. Anne Hathaway is beautiful, but eh. James Franco is a funny guy, but I felt he was hardly on the show.

7. Charlie Sheen has lost it. He was on GMA this morning. I could make tons of coke and hooker jokes, but my one liners would not do this justice. Here you go-
Sheen said that he’s bored now with cocaine. But he said he “exposed people to magic” when they partied with him and that he loved doing drugs.
“What’s not to love?” he said on ABC. “Especially when you see how I party. It was epic. The run I was on made Sinatra, Flynn, Jagger, Richards just look like droopy-eyed armless children.”
“I am on a drug,” Sheen said. “It’s called Charlie Sheen. It’s not available because if you try it you will die. Your face will melt off and your children will weep over your exploded body.”
I rest my case. The man needs help. He is blaming CBS for the stoppage of the show, but had he not done what he did, the show would already be in the can for this season.

8. My top 5 shows you should be watching right now:
a) Modern Family
b) Parks And Recreation
c) Archer
d) Justified
e) Community

That is all for now.

I know it's been too long

2011-02-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

But I have a doozy of a list today. Been cooking it up for 2 weeks.

1. If the Cardinals don't give Albert Pujols everything he wants, they are crazy. Best player of this generation. His first 10 years compare to the GREATS. Gehrig, Ruth, Mantle, Mays, Williams, etc. In fact in certain cases he is better. Not only should they pay him, they should agree to whatever other demands he has; For example: ( and keep in mind this would be Albert Pujols demands. Not mine. Not mine at all.)

a) I want to be on an episode of CHIPS. What, CHIPS hasn't been on the air for more than 20 years? Reunion show then. Get it done.
b) I want a law passed that says Rascall Flatts can't perform in the USA anymore.
c) I want to meet Homer Simpson. Not the guy who does his voice, Homer Simpson. Make it happen.
d) I want the original Guns & Roses to get back together. And I want Axl to go back to his 1991 form. No excuses, get it done. I don't care if he is crazy.
e) No more movies about wimpy vampires. It's getting old.
f) I want Cee-Loo Green's Muppet back-up singers from the Grammys to follow me wherever I go.

These are just a few. Feel free to add your own.

2. The Rangers will get things worked out with Michael Young. There isn't a trade they can make that will be even close to beneficial for the team. And they shouldn't make a trade unless they can get a pitcher back in return.

3. Rob Ryan is a great hire for the Cowboys. He brings an edge they haven't had a on staff for awhile. I am already excited for the profanity laced tirades. Cowboy fans have been longing for a tirade. All they have gotten the last few years is crying.

4. Has anyone seen the cast for the Celebrity Apprentice? It includes Jose Canseco, Gary Busey, Meat Loaf, LaToya Jackson, Dionne Warwick, Lil Jon, and Star Jones among others. Actually I think this cast could very well be on Celebrity Rehab as well. What kind of Apprentice is Trump looking for? Bold prediction: Gary Busey tries to kill someone. I wouldn't spend 30 seconds alone in a room with that guy. Much less sleep anywhere in his vicinity.

5. Man the Spurs are good. This may be their last hurrah, but I would love to see a rag tag group of vets take the title. Everyone loves Boston vs. LA, but the Spurs are old school.

6. TCU needs some PR help. You pound your fist for years that you need to be taken seriously, even going so far as to say anyone, anytime, anywhere. And then when an opportunity comes up with Wisconsin and you have a legitimate scheduling conflict, you let them beat you to the punch on the news. It makes you look bad. Then when BYU left the conference, your head coach, Gary Patterson, warns them to "be careful what they wish for." A year later, TCU is on the way to the Big East. And you are playing them at Cowboys Stadium when your schedule wasn't final. Do you see how this makes you look TCU? I am on your side. Good luck in a BCS league. You deserve more credit than you were getting. But the incessant hypocrisy makes people not care about your plight.

7. A British actor is playing Superman. Henry Cavill is his name. He better be good. Not sure how I feel about a Limey getting a truly American role. We'll see.

8. The Kardashians made 65 million dollars last year. Are you kidding me? This should be a major talking point in the next Presidential election. You can make that much money for having people film what you were going to do anyway? Sign me up. Next week on "The Catalinas," Paul has a sandwich and goes to work out. Later on he hosts a radio show and goes home to relax. Maybe he'll have some beers with his friends. Riveting stuff.

Thank you. That is all.

Super Blog Days 2 & 3

2011-02-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

The last 2 days have been a madhouse here at Radio Row. 1st off the weather is absolute crap. Of course you know that. We are actually at the one spot in Texas that probably won't get a rolling blackout. Too much media here for that. So... sorry about that Texas. I am going to give you are rundown of the last 2 days.

Tuesday 6:15 AM- Smoaky and I do a TV interview with KWTX. I tried to look peppy. Tried.

8:30 AM-Buses slowly depart for media day at Jerry World. 25 miles an hour the whole way there.

9:30 AM-media day starts. What a circus. A lot of people trying to get noticed. And most of them aren't players and coaches. Inez Sainz, Ross the Intern, some dude in a super hero outfit. Crazy.

12:45-arrive back at radio row. Interview about 7 or 8 people.

7:15 PM-head to media party at the House of Blues. Moose Johnston, Michael Johnson, Pat Summerall, Roger Staubach, Frank Luksa, many others all in attendance. Old 97s played. LOVE LOVE LOVE the Old 97s. Free food. Chicken, waffles, BBQ, all just amazing. Open bar too. We'll just skip that part.

Wednesday-8:30 AM- With the open bar making me pay for it, we head to radio row. A flurry of interviews await us.

9:00 Leon Lett

9:20-Christian Okoye

9:40-Jerry Kramer

10:00-Arian Foster

10:45-Miles Austin

11:30 Wendell Middlebrooks-Miller High Life Guy

12:00-Erik Williams and Coach Billy Joe

12:45-Jay Mohr

And that takes us up to now. And we haven't even started the show or talked about signing day.

Tata for now.

Super Blog Day 1

2011-01-31T16:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, we are in the books for Day 1 of Super Week. It's crazy here. People come and push interviews on you like you wouldn't believe. Yet the people you want, you have to beg for. It's crazy. We are having a blast. Here are my Super thoughts for today.

1- Maurkice Pouncey doesn't look like a guy who is going to play. Tim Legursky is going to get eaten alive by BJ Raji if he isn't ready.

2- Is it just me or does Mike Tomlin look mad all the time? Even when they win. Seriously bro, stop and smell the roses. But whatever works I guess.

3-Had the worst steak of my life last night. Really the only downside to this trip so far. Just terrible.

4- For some reason Tony Shaloub, star of Monk, is scheduled to appear on radio row. Kind of hoping for that one.

5-It's going to be cold as all get out this week. ESPN TV is going to have to huddle together for warmth at Sundance Square in Ft. Worth.

I'll be back tomorrow.

It's the Steelers vs. Packers...ugh

2011-01-24T10:03:00.000-08:00

1. While I think it will be a good Super Bowl, it will be difficult to hide my disdain for Ben Roethlisberger. This article by Sports Illustrated in May should make your skin crawl. Hopefully he has changed since they wrote this article. He is the prime example of an entitled and spoiled athlete. I would also guess that because of this Big Ben is one of the most despised players in the NFL. Read the article.

2. Even as a lifelong Cowboy fan, I am really enjoying this Packers team. Aaron Rodgers is fun to watch. Great defense. They are a hard team to pull against. Plus they present HUGE matchup problems for the Steelers corners. Should make for a great game.

3. Did Jay Cutler quit? We'll never know for sure. The Bears medical staff said it was their call. It probably wouldn't hurt for Jay Cutler to come out and get mad that people think he quit on his team. His teammates didn't think so. But if you have been a cry baby in the past, it follows you.

4. The Jets run of trash talking is over. I think they should have done more of that this week. 2 AFC title games in a row and 2 losses. They aren't going anywhere. Young team, strong defense, brash but good coach.

5. The Mavericks are going all Euro. Peja Stojakovic, Sasha Pavlovic, Roddy Beaubois and Ian Mahimini are all now on the team with Dirk Nowitzki. They may never win the NBA title but they could win the Eurobasket in a walk. There's probably not a swimsuit that hits the knees in the whole bunch. Troubling. I say this all in jest, but I would like Mark Cuban to take this to heart. When you are trying to build a championship team, maybe bring in guys that have been there before. Jason Kidd was the first move of this nature that bothered me. Or go get Melo. That would help a ton.

6. I am not going to watch the Pro Bowl. If you do watch the Pro Bowl I can assume you are a.) 8-12 years old or b.) in a full body cast and not able to change the channel. I wish they would get rid of it. What a meaningless all-star game.

7. Finally saw the Social Network. Excellent film. Should win big time at the Oscars. If you haven't seen it yet, do it.

8. Parks and Recreation is back. Just for your personal growth here is the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness.

9. I am 6 days away from heading to DFW for our coverage of the Super Bowl. My personal goal is to become friends with a B-List celebrity. "Hey Paul, who keeps texting you?- Oh it's just my good buddy Kevin Dillon." I'd like to aim a little higher. But you get the picture.

10. Into Week 4 of TUF Boot Camp. It really takes rigorous exercise to realize how fat you are. You haven't been shamed until a 50 year old woman zooms past you on a stadium run. Granted she is in great shape, but still.

10 Things You Can Do to Make Strangers Not Hate You

2011-01-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

1. If you almost cut someone off in traffic and then the person is nice enough to let you in, give them a wave. This happened to me this morning and it irked me.

2. If you are at a buffet and don't know what you want, take a step back. Unless you have a severe vision problem, you can see the food from 3 feet back. Let the people on a mission do their thing. Looky loos are the worst.

3. Fellow chunky dudes. If your shirt doesn't cover your gut, it doesn't fit. And it doesn't cover your guy unless you can lift up your arms and not see gut. I know it's a struggle. I battle this myself. But either hit the gym or buy bigger shirts. (A guy at our remote yesterday had a beer gut that would rival Chris Farley and was wearing a shirt that cut off above the belly button. Not cool bro. Not cool.)

4. Along the same lines, if you want to wear a jersey from your favorite team, make sure that maybe you could pass for an athlete at a quick glance. If Vince Wilfork can't wear that jersey, neither can you. This one has some more leeway, but you get the picture.

5. If you don't know how to work your computer, either learn or give up. Please alleviate the stress on people in the know. This also goes for cell phones, microwaves, DVD players, etc. I know technology changes by the day. But take a little time. Read the manual. You have a 30 day grace period from the time you get a machine to ask questions. After that, it gets bothersome.

6. When you go to work out, don't wear jeans. Not functional at all and everyone will think you have a screw loose. Plus you run a serious risk of splitting your pants.

7. Other gym etiquette for dudes. No one wants to see the outline of your jewels. Wear some loose shorts. Also, there should be at least a 6 foot bubble for drying off post shower. There's plenty of space.

8. If you are into musicals, that's cool. But don't be in one ALL THE TIME. You don't have to sing all day. Chances are no one will join in behind you in a dance number. I could be wrong here, but I've never seen it happen.

9. Don't blame the people at the airport ticket counter for weather delays. The reason your flight is delayed in bad weather is so that you don't die in a plane crash. They are doing you a favor. Enjoy your stay in a new city. Or your extra time in your own city. If they could control the weather, airlines would make tons more money than they do right now.

10. Balding guys, no matter how long you grow your hair around the bald spot, everyone can still tell you are bald. Get some Rogaine and embrace your situation. Go see a stylist or barber and get some advice. You won't regret it.

Most of you reading this probably don't do any of this. But pass it along. Help a friend who might be doing one of these things.

So Talking Trash Actually Works and Yes I Watched the Globes

2011-01-17T10:20:00.000-08:00

1. Big up to Rex Ryan and the Jets. Way to back it up. Now you have to beat the Steelers. In Pittsburgh. Good Luck. Most of America will be behind you because Big Ben is probably the least likable player in the NFL.

2. Rob Ryan to the Cowboys. It's a novel thought. I think it will work. You need some contrasting personalities on staff. Plus he coached Nmadi Asoughma played under him in Oakland. Maybe that will help.

3. Aaron Rodgers is becoming a SUPERSTAR before our very eyes. He carved the Falcons like a Thanksgiving turkey on Saturday. Now he has to win in Chicago for the second time in a month.

4. Da Bears Da Bears Da Bears Da Bears. SNL may have to give George Wendt a call if "Da Bears" wind up in the Super Bowl. Guess all the Jay Cutler haters have to take some time off. That trade has certainly paid off.

5. I watched a lot of the Golden Globes last night. I think Modern Family keeps getting robbed by Glee. Chances are that if you are a Glee fan you don't read this blog or listen to the radio show. (Which you can do around the globe at 1660espn.com from 3-6. Thanks to SuperCentex.com) So I am going to unleash on Glee. I don't give a crap about your singing. In fact, if you want to stop I'll gladly abide you. And stop ruining good songs. And Britney Spears songs are bad when she sings them. Worse when you clowns do. There, I have said my peace.

6. January Jones. Not a Golden Globe winner in the sense that she actually has a trophy. But a winner in my book. Dang.

7. Two things I promise happen on this season of American Idol. 1- Steven Tyler is sued for sexual harassment. 2- Jennifer Lopez has someone killed for looking better than her. Yes I think she is that sinister. It's probably happened before.

8.. I am in Week 3 of boot camp. Lots of running today. Man I am out of shape. But getting there. A listener saw me running today and stopped to tease me. It didn't help that I was at the back of the pack and sucking serious wind.

9. We had our first weekend with no college football. I am adjusting slowly. I am being serious here, given a few different life choices I could have been one of these guys. I am that big of a college football fan. Glad I went a different way though.

That is all.

Coaching Changes, BCS Title Game, and Malcolm Jamal Warner

2011-01-10T11:47:00.000-08:00

1. Big Hire for Baylor. Phil Bennett is a top of the line defensive coordinator. They will see results in a hurry.

2. Ray Sherman is out as Cowboys WR coach. This could hurt the Cowboys in the short term, but Jason Garrett has run into issues with Terrell Owens, Roy Williams, Patrick Crayton all had run-ins with the Cowboys new HC. It's also good news that Jason Garrett can build his own staff.

3. I am torn on who to cheer for tonight. Leaning towards Oregon. I don't like cheering for teams with unresolved NCAA issues (Cam Newton). So I think I will quack instead of yell "War Eagle." But ultimately, I don't care FSU isn't in the game. So I can just watch as an outsider.

4. And speaking of NCAA issues, I am going to fight all my future traffic tickets with their standard new argument against suspension. "I didn't know." Cam Newton's defense that he didn't know his father was trying to broker a deal for his son at Mississippi St. has kept him eligible. Ohio St.'s Terrelle Pryor and the Free Tattoo Crew used it to play in the Sugar Bowl. The NCAA should be ashamed of themselves. They have opened a door that will be difficult to close.

5. Marshawn Lynch finally rolled into Beast Mode. It only took 5 years. The Seahawks were dominant on offense. Roman Harper was run ragged by the Matt Hasselback.

6. Our producer, Zach Burke, doesn't know who Malcolm Jamal Warner is. It's sad to me that an entire generation of our youth are unfamiliar with the former Theo Huxtable.

7. Is anyone else tried of Jersey Shore and the attention they are getting? MTV's mission statement has to be that they want to make America dumber 30 minutes at a time. What else could be the reason for such crap shows?

8. I have been going to TUF Boot Camp for 2 weeks now. Great workout. Now if I could only get my legs to work at the same time. Sore is not even the word.

9. Excited to see old friends Shaun "Fudge" Gaines and Mike Manasco at the AFCA convention in Dallas tomorrow. I would share some stories of our FSU days on this blog, but it could prevent all three of us from gaining employment in the future. Especially Manasco.

10. For a state that claims to be bigger and tougher than everyone, Texas sure gets frightened by winter weather. I watched a local news outlet do 5 minutes of stories on how to prepare your house for it to be 35 degrees and rainy. Look I am a weather wuss. I like warm weather. But I don't think we need to call FEMA if it isn't going to freeze. Please stop the madness.

Live From Houston

2010-12-27T07:58:00.000-08:00

Smoaky and I have arrived in H Town. We are broadcasting this afternoon from the Westin Galleria. The same tomorrow and then on Wednesday from noon-3 at Reliant Stadium leading up to the Texas Bowl. Last night we ate at P.F. Chang's. It was awesome. Here are some quick thoughts from the week past and looking ahead.

1. Hate to see Mike Singletary get the ax in San Fran. The NFL is a QB driven league and they never settled that spot. He'll be a coordinator somewhere and a head coach again. It just wasn't his time yet.

2. Thank you Texans for what will be a week long Valentine to Tim Tebow. Great. Just great.

3. David Buehler is terrible. If this experiment continues next year, the Cowboys will be 5-11 again. The NFL is not a league with great separation. Having a reliable kicker can mean the difference between 8-8 and 12-4 for some teams. I remember something that Buehler said in training camp. "I am not a kicker. I am a football player who can kick." As cool as that sounds, sorry DB, the Cowboys need a kicker. And sadly they need some football players too.

4. Haven't watched a bowl game yet. And I won't until Wednesday at the Texas Bowl. I just don't care about all these others.

5. Good move by the Rangers signing Brandon Webb. Could be a boon for them if he is healthy. No risk, high reward. And hopefully they still go get Matt Garza. You can never have too much pitching. NEVER.

6. Great places to eat in Houston? Tell me. I am here for 3 more days. I am hitting Ragin Cajun. Anywhere else?

7. I am catching up on Rescue Me. Just started season 4. Wish that I would have been watching all along. That show is crazy good. Denis Leary is awesome on it.

8. Had a great Christmas with the family. My sister has 2 sons. Luke is 4 and Leo is about 18 months. Kids make Christmas so fun. And yes you heard that from me. But the big news to report is that Leo has finally identified me as Uncle Paulie and my dog as Woodrow. For the last 3 weeks we have both been known as "Doggie." I am glad to finally have the proper nomenclature. Even though he hasn't quite grasped it yet.

9. I watched Christmas movies in this order. Bad Santa, It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story. Still haven't watched Home Alone or Christmas Vacation this year. But I will. And throw in Die Hard for good measure. Yes it's a Christmas movie.

That is all.

What a rough time to be a Houston sports fan and other thoughts from the Island

2010-12-20T10:29:00.000-08:00

1. The Texans are not going to the playoffs. Again. One day they'll make it. But who knows when that will be. And to be a sports fan in H-Town right now has to be a labor of love, because there is very little payoff. we've already talked about the Texans. The Rockets are nothing to celebrate right now and the Astros are bad and for sale. Keep your chin up Houstonians. It will all turn around. I don't know when though.

2. The Patriots have that championship feel. In a game that they didn't particularly play well, they still made the plays to win. Dan Connolly should get the ESPY for his 71 yard kickoff return. It was a banner day for lineman everywhere.

3. The Cowboys won. It wasn't dominant. They let a bad QB, Rex Grossman, carve them up in the 2nd half. But it's nice to see that the drama train left Dallas, at least temporarily, and has made stops in Minnesota and Washington. What the coaching staff is doing to Donovan McNabb is beyond me. I can't say they have handled anything right. One year in and McNabb will be looking for a new team.

4. Colossal choke by the Giants. Painful for their fans I'm sure. Matt Dodge is not punting in the right city to make a mistake like that. Wow. He is going to get booed when he fills up with gas. Tip for Matt Dodge, don't order food from a restaurant unless you don't care what's in your food this week.

5. Congrats to the Mart Panthers on winning the state title on Saturday. Hung in after making some costly early mistakes to win 28-7 over Goldwaithe. Smoaky, Lark Smith and I did the game. What a blast and a fun one to watch.

6. Zach Grienke to the Brewers? Have fun eating all that cheese and drinking all that beer. I actually think this is good news for the Rangers. Go get Matt Garza. He's a bulldog. He'll help.

7. Looking forward to watching Monday Night Football in a blizzard tonight. 6 inches of snow could fall before kickoff. Good luck Bears and Vikes. I'll be here in Central Texas for once thanking God that I don't play professional football for either of your teams tonight.

8. Ralph Friedgen is out at Maryland. Mike Leach is probably in. An upgrade yes, but Maryland handled it poorly. "The Fridge" was a good coach for the Terps, but the 2 seasons before this one have left sour tastes in the mouths of the Maryland faithful. Only a BCS berth could have saved them this year.

9. Almost got all the shopping done. One more foray into the breach tonight and I'll have it locked up. Thank you Amazon.com!!!

10. Going to see True Grit on Wednesday. Can't wait. I'll review it here on Thursday.

Cliff Lee must love cheesesteaks and other thoughts

2010-12-14T09:07:00.000-08:00

1. Less money and fewer years to go back to Philly for Cliff Lee. It really is about winning. Nasty staff. My guess is Roy Halladay, Lee, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels in that order. But mix and match. Whatever. And if they average 5 runs a game, they will 105 games. It stinks for Rangers fans, but the silver lining is that they have more money in the coffers now. Go get someone else. And if anyone overpays for Adrian Beltre, I hope it isn't Texas. If you look at his career arc, only good in contract years.

2. Poor Texans. Charge all the way back with two 90 plus yard drives in the final 6 minutes only to throw a pick 6 in OT. Gary Kubiak has to be scratching his head over this team's continued bad luck. Is a coaching change the answer? We'll see. The lockout may save him.

3. Brett Favre's streak is over. I am just guessing America doesn't feel the same pain they did when Cal Ripken Jr. sat down. Maybe because of all the drama. I was thinking last night that Brett Favre should run for Congress. What after all is more Congressional than waffling over decisions, creating tension, and making advances to younger female underlings? I give you Senator Favre, the gentleman from Mississippi.

4. Excellent finale for Dexter. The tension on that show just never ceases. Can't wait for next season.

5. Will Muschamp to Florida and Al Golden to Miami. Muschamp is a great hire for the Gators, even though many fans don't know it yet. Yes Gator Nation, I know you think that Mike Shanahan is coming back or the Jon Gruden has always pined for that job. But neither of those is happening. You got an upcoming young coach. (Odd side note-FSU coach Jimbo Fisher and Muschamp are buddies from their days at LSU together.) As for Al Golden, he did a phenomenal job at Temple. But didn't beat any of the good teams in the MAC. Miami might be reaching here. He is very buttoned down. Never been a good quality for a Hurricane coach. As a Nole grad, the one who scares me more is Muschamp. But we'll see.

6. I have yet to do any Christmas shopping. The mad dash starts next week really. Maybe get some done soon. Any tips? What's a good gift? If I got my Dad a bottle of Aqua Velva would that be awesome or lame?

That is all.

10 Thoughts from the Island

2010-12-07T09:32:00.000-08:00

1. If you think that either Tom Brady or Bill Belichick are overrated, please turn in your brain and try and find a new one. The Pats are getting better by the week. They have a young athletic defense and they have Tom Brady on offense. This is a team built for the long haul. They mauled the Jets. I am somewhat surprised that Rex Ryan's sweater didn't look shredded in the post game presser. He did get attacked by a large animal called the Pats after all.

2. Jason Garrett is going to be the next Cowboys head coach. It would be great to get Jeff Fisher or Jon Gruden, but I think that Jerry is going to feel very justified in his hiring of The Red Headed Genius 4 years ago. He is a fumble short of being 4-0 and against some good teams. 3-1 with wins over both Mannings is nothing to sneeze at.

3. Auburn vs. Oregon is going to be fun. TCU vs. Wisconsin should be a dandy. Stanford vs. Va Tech should be good. OU vs. UConn....not so much. But who knows, they could all be terrible. That's why they play the games.

4. The Cam Newton ruling is very scary. Parents are good at keeping things from their kids. And duplicitous parents are good at teaching their kids to lie and not leave a paper trail to show that they ever had contact with some of these people. Cecil Newton, Cam's dad, solicited money from Mississippi St. and never got it. Did he then let Cam go to Auburn for free? And if Cam really didn't know, did he wonder why his Dad was pushing Miss St. so hard? There are so many questions. And unfortunately for these young players, they are going to have to pay for their parents transgressions if this is going to stop. Maybe Cam didn't know, but the NCAA can't do anything to Cecil Newton or any parent to make it stop.

5. I missed my fantasy football playoffs by a point. 1 point. Uno. Une. Eins. Un. Ena. As you can see I am not taking it well. Finishing 5-8 means that I need to go back to the drawing board. Awful RBs this year. They should be ashamed. And Peyton Manning over the last 3 weeks did very little to help a guy out. 11 INTs!!!! ARRRRRRGHHHH!!!!!!

6. If anyone gives Cliff Lee 5 or more years, they are asking for trouble. He'll be great for anyone, but the odds are that a 38 year old pitcher is not worth that much money. And after 5 years that's how old he'll be. The Rangers need to keep emotion aside and do what's best. Bring Cliff Lee back, sure. But don't do it to the long term detriment of the team. That's what cost Tom Hicks. Nolan Ryan, Chuck Greenberg, and Jon Daniels know this. Lee is probably getting fitted for those awful pinstripes. Zach Grienke could be a Ranger soon. Cliff Lee is great, but he's not the only one.

7. Adrian Gonzalez is going to dominate in Fenway Park. Great trade for the Sox. GREAT. They will get him signed to a long term deal. He makes that lineup far better. Ellsbury-Pedrioa-Youkilis-Gonzalez-Ortiz is pretty solid core. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Sox add another bat. Maybe Carl Crawford. That would really put them over the top.

8. There are several movies I am looking forward to. The Fighter with Mark Walberg and Christian Bale is high on the list. True Grit looks AWESOME. We never get westerns anymore. Tron Legacy looks good too. The Tourist has a very Hitchcock feel to it. Tons. I also still haven't seen Red, Unstoppable, and the Social Network. Also after seeing the trailer for Yogi Bear, I am glad I don't have kids. What a crap fest.

9. The finale of Boardwalk Empire was good, not great. But it set up next season very well. Great actors on that show. Really great.

10. I hate shopping. I really do. And I don't like decorating. But I love the Christmas season. How weird is that? By the way, we are having Catalina Christmas here in Waco this Saturday. 50 plus Catalinas in the same house. And many of them children who scream. If I am here blogging and talking on the radio next week it will be a miracle. A miracle I say. But I am looking forward to seeing the family.

That is all.

TCU to the Big East, All of us are now relieved that the whining can stop

2010-11-29T10:01:00.000-08:00

Congrats TCU! You are finally in an AQ BCS league. Maybe this will stop the incessant whining about how no one gives you your due. The Big East is the worst of the BCS leagues and your football actually raises the conference level. Basketball fans in Ft. Worth are not going to have fun though. Wow, what a meat grinder of a schedule. Either way, this is good news. The Big East can pick up a team that is actually good and has a talent base to draw from. The travel will be tough, but Horned Frog fans are used to that, having hopped around conferences for the last few years. I am happy for the Frogs. Football has certainly earned it, in spite of my teasing. They are a very good team.

That is all.

Thanksgiving thoughts

2010-11-24T09:01:00.000-08:00

Turkey day is upon us. That means football, gluttony, and napping. Three of my favorite things. I thought I would give you a list of things to be thankful for.

1. Black Friday. Not because of the door buster deals or a good stampede to get a 100 dollar computer, but because it takes all of the shoppers out of the non-shoppers hair for a day. It's like a door buster deal for people who hate to shop. You know exactly who will not be bothering you for a day and where to avoid. I do most of my holiday shopping online anyway. Takes the hassle out of it. (By the way is there anything more American than jamming all of your best consumer deals into one 18 hour period? I think not.) As a former retail employee myself, enjoy your shopping, but please be understanding. Most of the people at the stores you are shopping at work long hours for little money. Be nice to them as long as they are nice to you.

2. Netflix online streaming. Nothing can take the sting out of an 838 mile trip through the wilds of Texas like non stop episodes of Rescue Me. Thanks to a Verizon Mi-Fi card and a killer iPhone app, I was able to drown out good stretches of that trip. Although a word to Northwest Texas-please set up a few more cell towers in your area. Nothing is worse than getting right to the end of an episode and it being interrupted by bad cell service. Thanks.

3. Jason Garrett. The Cowboys interim coach has made a season that was about to get really boring and anti-climactic much more interesting and discussion worthy. Are the Cowboys going to the playoffs now? No. But at least it's not the same story every week with Coach Confused.

4. There's going to be a Green Lantern movie. No real reason to expound here, I am just happy about it. And Blake Lively is in it. She's a winner.

See what I mean. I am glad that she is going mainstream. I am not watching Gossip Girl.

5. The Big 12 in it's final year as a 12 team league is really intriguing. You mean someone other than Texas or OU can win it? Texas might not be going to a bowl game? Everyone hates Nebraska? Baylor and A&M are relevant? OK St has been the best team so far? Color me interested. Sorry Texas and OU fans, but your dominance of the league the last 10 years has made things a little bit predictable.

6. The Vikings are falling apart. The Cowboys have successfully passed this curse on to Minnesota. Brad Childress is out. Brett Favre is wrapping up his final season. Maybe there will be some normalcy to this NFL offseason. Oh wait, never mind. There is going to be a lockout. Great. Now I'll long for the annual Brett Favre retirement dance. Dang.

7. The League. Easily one of the funnier shows on TV. If you haven't seen it check it out. I believe Season 1 is available through Netflix. Season 2 has been even better.

8. The Miami Heat's struggles. Sometimes you can have too many captains and not enough sailors. Thanks for teaching us this lesson. Apologies to Erik Spoelstra, but you are going to get fired soon. Not your fault really. But Pat Riley is going to see this team as a potential Justice League. And at 8-6 you are making them look like the Care Bears. A change is afoot.

9. Turkey!!! Need I say more. I will. You can also be thankful for mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce and whatever else you want on Thanksgiving. Man I love this holiday. So much so that it is one of the very few official "Paulidays." Other Paulidays include Super Bowl Sunday, MLB Opening Day, Labor Day, St. Patrick's and Arbor Day. Why Arbor Day? Why not? What days aren't Paulidays? Valentines Day, Secretaries' Day, Boxing Day, and Groundhog Day.

Happy Thanksgiving!! That is all.

7 Quick Things

2010-11-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

1. Michael Vick was amazing last night. 20-28 passing for 33 yards and 4 TDs and a 150.7 QB rating. Add in 8 carries for 80 yards and two more scores and you have an all out whipping applied to the Redskins. I am not in anyway a Vick supporter really, but I am intrigued by the story. He's done everything right since getting out of prison. America loves a comeback story. Vick is rapidly becoming the Robert Downey Jr. of the NFL.

2. They are making a sitcom out of Colin Cowherd's life. Best of luck. The last time they tried something like that, we had Listen Up starring Jason Alexander as Tony Kleinman (a fictionalized version of Tony Kornheiser). It didn't last too long.

3. The Cowboys have a dress code now. Jason Garrett apparently means business. I am desperately hoping he does well. I can't take much more of this mess. But there is also part of me that is hoping for Jon Gruden to coach the Cowboys.

4. Color me disinterested in the plight of the non-BCS schools. I know you want your piece of the pie. I just don't care. I am trying to care. I really am. But for some reason you all just sound so whiny. If you get in, good for you. If not, sorry.

5. I haven't been to the movies since high school football started except to see The Town. I have a ton on my slate as soon as the season ends. But this week it looks as if that is impossible. Thursday Smoaky and I are in Humble for La Vega vs. Kirbyville. Friday we are in Seymour (which is just southwest of Wichita Falls and 400 gosh awful miles away from Humble) for Crawford and Spearman. Then back here in Waco Saturday night for what hopefully is a BU upset of Oklahoma.

6. Am I alone in hating cell phone rings? Just have your phone ring. I am surrounded by people in this office that have different ringtones. They all tick me off. Please stop this madness.

7. A high school in Alexandria, Virginia is dropping the F grade. And replacing it with I for "incomplete." Come on! Getting an F is a truly scary experience. Don't take that power out of a teacher's hands. They really don't have that much left. I am not pro-coddling. I went to Catholic school. I was just lucky I was at the front end of the no corporal punishment years. Even still, I have been open hand slapped by more than one nun. And I was a good kid! Not a trouble maker at all. My "rambunctiousness and misdmeanorin" didn't come until much later in life. But I am still a little scared of Sister Catherine. She'd fail you and slap you. All of us are better people for it.

So Smoaky wanted to buy meat from the back of a truck in Italy, TX

2010-11-11T14:16:00.000-08:00

While we were on the way to Ennis today, we saw a truck with a sign that read 20 ribeyes for 25 dollars. It took all of my might to get Smoaky NOT to stop. I don't have many rules when it comes to food, but buying red meat off the back of a truck is one of them. I am sure it's fine. But I am not willing to take the chance. You can't tempt fate like that. You never want to have to listen to a doctor lecture you about where you should buy your meat from. And how good could those steaks really be? Seriously little mark up. And where did they come from? Mark this as the 2nd time I have saved Smoaky from making a terrible mistake that could have cost him his very breath. Please tweet or reply your thoughts on buying meat from the back of a truck. I say it's bad mojo. Who's with me?

That is all.

Wade is out

2010-11-08T11:51:00.001-08:00

If you read the earlier blog, I predicted Wade could be out before you finished reading it. He is. Wade Phillips has been fired and Jason Garrett has been named the head coach.

Three Important Thoughts from the Weekend

2010-11-08T10:15:00.000-08:00

1. Baylor's defense needs to get a lot better down the stretch. They have 3 games left. A&M, OU, and the bowl game. They still have an outside shot at the title game but need lots of help now. A&M is playing with a lot of confidence. The win against OU was something that Mike Sherman and the Aggies needed so desperately. Should be a great one this week at Floyd Casey. Ryan Tannehill has turned the Aggies around. This is not the same team that lost to Missouri 30-9 last month. The Aggies will be a formidable opponent.

2. TCU needs EVERYONE to lose if they want into the dance. No matter what they do they can't make it in without Auburn, Oregon, and possibly LSU all need to lose to get them in. That's the long and short of it. As good as they are, they just don't have the national sentiment. It's unfortunate. Maybe Gary Patterson needs to eat some grass like Les Miles. Hey, whatever works.

3. The Dallas Cowboys are an absolute disgrace. A joke. A travesty. Whatever you want to call them. They have quit on their head coach. I am not sure there is a coach on the staff that can galvanize the Cowboys. It has to come from outside. When that will be is anyone's guess. Wade Phillips can't be held on to for too much longer. As a matter of fact, he may be fired by the time you read this. Again, who knows.

That is all.

Defense not required for admission to the Cotton Bowl

2010-10-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

No defense to be found in Fair Park today. The aptly named Shootout has lived up to it's name. Both teams need to step up when they don't have the ball. The tackling in this game is some of the worst you can see. Kids, if you are watching at home, don't take any advice on the art and execution of tackling from this game. If you are a fan of SEC type defense, this game is not for you. I am calling a final score of 63-59. Not saying who. No idea at this point. Wild game.

Wild 1st Quarter at the Cotton Bowl

2010-10-09T09:56:00.000-07:00

Long drives for both Tech and Baylor. 14-14 after 1. A crazy botched onside kick that was returned for a touchdown. Strange happenings inside Fair Park.

I can see now why Tech fans are getting nervous. Their team is a bit of an adventure. They can hope that it's kind of like the Goonies. Everything seemed really crazy for awhile but they found the treasure in the end.

Random Thoughts of the Week

2010-10-08T09:18:00.000-07:00

1. The umpiring in baseball is horrendous. The flaw is thinking that it's going to get better with expanded replay. It hasn't helped the officials in football get better. In fact in the NFL it has made them worse because they have a crutch. And the onus is on the coaches to challenge for the lion's share of the game. Human error is part of the game. It always has been. What all the leagues need to do (I am especially looking at you NBA) is make sure the officials don't use replay as a crutch and GET BETTER AT THEIR JOBS. I have known several officials in varying sports over the years and many of them have told me about how replay has caused guys to get a little sloppy. If MLB players, owners, and coaches are mad about the umpires then they need to get better umpires.

2. Randy Moss is back in Minnesota. A strange trade to say the least. He'll make the Vikes better. And the Pats are the one team that can trade a guy like that midseason and not miss a beat. Vincent Jackson or Deion Branch will find their way to New England. And Tom Brady will be happy. Brett Favre is thrilled. Hopefully for the Vikings, they can find their rhythm in a hurry.

3. The Rangers are dominating the Rays. The Yankees own the Twins. The Reds better hope that Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels forgot how to pitch. Tim Lincecum mowed down the Braves. Is it me or could the Division Series round be a little drab.

4. I don't care about the Big 3 in Miami. It's not April. Quit making me watch preseason basketball highlights ESPN. Talk to me at playoff time.

5. Why is Glee so popular? Why?

6. Taylor Martinez is good old school Nebraska. Now if we could just get old school FSU, Miami, Notre Dame, and Michigan to show up that would make for an interesting year.

7. The Big 12 is going to be a mess. Mark my words. A mess.

8. Three arrests at Baylor this week. Folks around here are reacting strongly. My advice to them would be to thank your lucky stars this isn't Austin, Miami, L.A., or any other major college town. This week happens all too often in too many areas. Hopefully the Baylor situations will be resolved swiftly.

9. How are they going to do The Office without Steve Carrell?

10. Going to the State Fair of Texas tomorrow. America's deep fried Mecca. Should be a grand time.

What's the deal with OU?

2010-09-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

A scare vs. Utah St. A throttling of FSU. A scare against Air Force. Who are these guys? This may be the story for the entire Big 12.. Kansas is similar in that no one knows who they are. But they are not nearly as good as the Sooners. Could be an interesting year.

35-3 at half

2010-09-18T15:07:00.000-07:00

Well, the only thing I know about Baylor is that I really don't know anything. After 2 blowouts of sub par teams, the Bears are getting rolled by TCU. This team isn't ready to play a team of TCU's caliber yet. If this game was later in the year maybe. But the big issue still remains. Baylor doesn't have consistent play along either line. And sadly enough for the Bears that is TCU's biggest strength. That and Andy Dalton. Dalton has missed very few times in the 1st half. In fact he is 13-14. So that's once. And it was in the end zone. Maybe next week at Rice, Baylor will find a team that is more evenly matched. TCU is #4 for a reason. They are very good. Play this game 4 weeks from now and the Bears might actually be at a point that it would be competitive. But after this game, the film will be out. Baylor is soft against the run. The riddle has been solved in week 3. It's something they are going to have to fix in a hurry.

Baylor looks shaky after 1 quarter

2010-09-18T14:19:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Ft. Worth. The 1st quarter has come to a merciful end and it's been all TCU. 21-3 after 1. OWEEEEEEEE!!! Baylor is starting to move the ball a little, but has yet to stop the Frogs at all. The defense is getting run through like a wet paper sack. This Horned Frog team is so strong up front, it's tough for Baylor to get big stops. Not to mention Andy Dalton has been sharp. Cutco sharp. Ginsu sharp. Ninja sword sharp. Feel free to add your own. Baylor needs a TD early in the 2nd.

Crazy opening week in the NFL/ACC Dumpster Fire

2010-09-14T09:29:00.000-07:00

Week 1 of the NFL season has come to a close. And all we really know is that half the teams are 1-0 and the other half are 0-1. Are the Chiefs really better than the Chargers? Are the Colts really that bad up front on both sides? Will the Jets stumble through the season on offense? Are the 49ers really not going to live up to the hype? Are the Cowboys really that stupid? Maybe. Maybe not. What we learn in Week 1 is that we can't really learn much in week 1. It gets turned up when the games count. Some teams are ready, some aren't quite yet. It's a cliche, but it really isn't how you start it's how you finish. Now the thing to worry about is that if you start very poorly, it may not matter how you finish. So if your team didn't play well, don't go overboard yet. Things change throughout the season.

Before I move on to college football, let's dive into the Cowboys. Wade, Jason, and staff need to get their heads right. 1st of all, there is never any shame in taking a knee down 3 with 70 yards to go before half. There is however shame in letting your team think it was imperative that you score and then give up a TD going the other way. It was one of the worst coaching decisions I have ever witnessed and I was privy to an Texas A&M vs. OU game in which Dennis Franchione forgot how to add. The Alex Barron holding call was bad, but the play at the end of the 1st half was much more egregious. Hopefully the Cowboys will get their heads on straight.

Now to college football. The ACC is an absolute travesty. James Madison tops Va Tech. Kansas bounces back after losing to North Dakota St. by topping Ga Tech. Ohio St. dispatched Miami and hardly broke a sweat. FSU got boat raced by OU ( I was there. It was horrible. It was kind of like watching all of the Saw movies at once.) North Carolina may lose out on a very promising season because of a scandal. What's left? Boston College? Virginia? NC St? Duke? The ACC's season looks as bleak as Kevin Federline's music career. (Yeah folks, a K Fed reference) These teams need to get better in a hurry or the ACC will be less relevant than the Big East. And no one wants that. College Football is better when Miami and FSU are good. Let's hope this week was just a blip on the radar.

That is all.

Ahh Football Season

2010-08-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

Back again folks. Sorry about the absence from the blogosphere. It's seems as Google didn't believe I was really me for about 10 days.

Football season is here. High School Football started on Thursday and continued through the weekend. I saw two very good games. Lorena vs. West and Mexia vs. China Spring. I will be following around Mark Bell and the Cougars this season and I see promise. But with a new QB and a run heavy offense, adjustments to the new style need to be made. I am sure they will be. Coach Bell is one of the best X and O men in the state. And his non district schedule is brutal. They already have a trip to mighty Mexia and Doug Gentry under their belt and will face both Liberty Hill (Sept. 10) and Brownwood (Sept. 21) on the road. They will be very ready for the 19-3A grind when it starts in early October.

Another nugget from the HSFB weekend is that Mexia's Doug Gentry is a BEAST. In a game that he would call so-so he racked up over 200 yards and 2 TDs. I have been covering this kid for 2+ years now and he is one of the best backs you will ever see at the high school level. Hopefully he can overcome the small town bias that most universities seem to have now and get a big time opportunity somewhere. In my opinion he is a Big 12/SEC type talent and deserves a shot at one of those schools.

But my favorite time of year starts this Saturday. College football. I miss it so terribly when it's gone. I am glad it's back. The most enjoyable and highly debated sport in the USA always gets me going. I am hoping to a return to prominence for several of the old school powers, Notre Dame, Michigan, UCLA, Stanford, and of course my beloved Noles at Florida State. College Football is better when they are all good. It will also be an interesting year for the Big 12. I wonder how we would all react if Nebraska won it in their last year. I am sure Big Red Nation would lap it up for eternity.

10 Things to Love About 2010

2010-08-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

After thinking about it all weekend, I'll bring some love to the blogs. Sometimes you can be too angry in the blogosphere. The Black Eyed Peas once saying "Where is the Love?" Well Black Eyed Peas, it's right here.

1. The Texas Rangers are relevant. And they have awesome new owners that completely overshadow the waste of space that was there before. After much turmoil and strife, the Boys from the Ballpark are under control of Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan. They are playing really well and are a very likable team. DFW is the nation's 4th largest media market. It's time they had teams that lived up to that.

2. Katy Perry. Not her music, which is annoying. Her. Wow. Wow. Wow. Russell Brand is a lucky dude.

3. The ending of Lost. No better way to wrap it up. Loved it. I know that some of you fellow Losties didn't care for it. But I thought it was well done.

4. College football is now Tebow-less. Maybe we can move on and pay attention to other players and teams. It's a great sport and one player was given far too much attention for too long. Probably to his own detriment. Thom Brennaman gushing over Tim Tebow caused more outrage than it probably should have, but it was just the tipping point for what a lot of people (inside and outside of Gainesville) where feeling. Enough already. We know he's a good guy. We know he's good. You don't have to keep saying it.

5. Inception. Movie making at it's finest. I don't think I have enjoyed a movie more this summer. Awesome. And if you still hate Leo DiCaprio, you have problems. The man can act. Straight up and down.

6. Some new faces on the MLB scene. The Padres are playing well. The Braves look like a playoff team again. The Reds are fun to watch and are very much a contender. I guess the Rays started this trend 2 years ago, but I like what's going on.

7. The Year of The Pitcher. No Hitters. Perfect Games. Near perfect games. 1 hitters. All over the place. Balance has come back to baseball, even if it's just for a year. Should make for an interesting playoffs.

8. Jerry Jones on Entourage. Jerry + Ari Gold = Awesome. I hope they can find a way for him to get on to some more episodes. Unfortunately for Ari, it looks like the NFL has moved on. But it does seem like a natural fit. Name another NFL owner who could (or would) do Entourage.

9. Some classic college football powers may be back on the uptick. Nebraska, Miami, Florida State, and Michigan might actually be relevant again. Nebraska already is and should be fun to watch in their last year in the Big 12. They will be painted as a villain in Big 12 Country (and they deserve it) but that will make so it so much more enjoyable.

10. Archer and East Bound and Down. If you haven't seen either of these shows you need to. Hilarious. Also honorable mention to Louie starring Louis CK. Great stuff.

That is all.

10 Things to hate about 2010

2010-08-13T08:56:00.000-07:00

Good Morning all,

This morning's post is a precursor to 10 things to love about 2010, but I wanted to get all my rage out early in the day so that I can be productive for the rest of it. 2010 has been a strange year so far and I just wanted to point out a few things that have bothered me about it.

1. Fox News gave Sarah Palin an outlet to talk more. If there is something we learned in 2008, it's that even if you have a platform, it doesn't mean you should use it. This is not a Democrat vs. Republican thing. Not at all. In fact, I lean more towards the elephants than the donkeys. Much more. This is a smart person vs. moron thing. The woman is a loose cannon. Be advised. And where 1 moron speaks into a microphone, more are sure to follow. Especially a pretty moron. And one who is intentionally divisive. But I digress. I like to watch the news and when they get her on to talk about her take on something it just drives me up the wall.

2. Tim Tebow got drafted in the 1st round of the NFL draft. My Seminole bias comes through here a little bit, but this is more about the Broncos making an impulsive choice and not being responsible. Sure Tebow was fantastic at Florida. All the guy did was win. But this is more about Josh McDaniels proving that he is a true QB genius. He thinks he is the man who built Tom Brady and Matt Cassel, and certainly he deserves some of the credit. But Tim Tebow is a product of Urban Meyer's spread option offense. Alex Smith just recently showed some flashes and he is not nearly as run dependent as Tebow. This draft pick will either make McDaniels look like a genius or a joke. But it stinks of an impulse buy.

3. Vampires aren't scary anymore. When I read the book Dracula, I was scared out of my wits. Vampire movies from my youth were terrifying. Now Twilight has taken hold of our nation and won't let go. And I am pretty sure I could take any one of those wimpy vampires. I worry first about America's youth. They aren't being scared to an appropriate level. And vampires have been romanticized to a level where people think that being would be cool and not just awful.

4. Tiger Woods all of a sudden sucks at golf. I mentioned this in an earlier post. But it's driving me insane. Tiger- FIX IT!!!!!

5. Hockey and Soccer had to come onto my sports radar. USA Hockey was a fun team to watch in the Winter Games. The USA Soccer squad captured my attention in the World Cup. Now they are taking up space in my brain. Dang it. Just when I had sufficiently forgotten about them. It's a vicious cycle.

6. Dudes who wear skinny jeans. Men, this has to stop. For obvious reasons, you are not allowing yourself, well, full comfort. Plus you look like an idiot.

7. Flat billed baseball caps. It's an epidemic. I am looking at you Matt Purke. You are the most dominant pitcher in college baseball. Yet you like like a washed up skater. Stop it. I was in California a few weeks ago and the desire for these hats is so great, you can't find a regular cap without asking. Please stop the madness. Fix your cap.

8. Jersey Shore. MTV has decided that one day we will all be idiots. They started the onslaught on America's brain with the Real World. Then it was Road Rules. Then The Hills. Now the confluence of morons of Jersey Shore. It really makes my people, Italian Americans, look bad. Really bad. At least with the mob stereotype there was some level of fear there. These kids are a joke. Stop watching them. They'll go away.

9. College football made more news in 2010 than in 2009 and the season hasn't started yet. The Big 12 almost fell completely apart. The Big 10 got bigger. The PAC-10 did as well and tried to undo all reason in college football with the PAC-16 plan. Crooked agents are everywhere. Reggie Bush is a bad guy all of a sudden. Coaches are yelling at reporters for publishing direct quotes. Rich Rodriguez practices too much no matter where he goes. It's madness. Let's start the season already.

10. How in the cornbread heck are we supposed to say this year? Is it "twenty-ten?" "Two-thousand ten?" "2K10?" We have 90 more years of this. Let's settle on a way and go with it. Gosh I miss the 1900s. (Special thanks to Tony, Jessica, and Zach for an assist here.)

More to come on some things to love about 2010. Please give me your thoughts.

That is all.

Paging Tiger Woods. No not you. The REAL TIGER WOODS!!!

2010-08-06T11:48:00.000-07:00

An Open Letter to Tiger:

Tiger, first off, this letter is not a condemnation of your transgressions. We all know what happened and the only people you need to apologize to are your family and friends. What I do want, is for you to fix whatever has gone wrong with your golf game and please get back to being you. Your struggles lately are really killing golf for me. It is so much more enjoyable when you are playing well. Whatever it is that is still weighing on your mind, I offer my services to help you get over it. As a completely unlicensed motivational speaker and sports therapist (again understand I have not been trained at all) I will help you get through this rough patch. My upcoming book, "Cut the Crap and Do Your Job," should help. (Note to readers: There is no book, but I love that title.) All I and the rest of your fans want is for you to be you again. I am willing to help. And my fee will seem like a snack machine compared to what you have been paying I am sure.

I am not a doctor, but I have seen them on TV. I am here for you Tiger. Please get better so I don't have to find another golfer to root for.

That is all.

The Big Auction

2010-08-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Cuban vs. Nolan.

For the sake of the Rangers I hope that whatever the outcome of the auction today is best for the team. Let's face it, they haven't exactly been blessed with stellar ownership over their history. Tom Hicks is just the latest, a man who got caught up in the early 2000s blitz of predicting money would be there at the end of the investment rainbow, when there's never a guarantee. A man who still owes Mickey Tettleton 1.4 million bucks. So I hope and pray that whoever wins the team will do what's best and produce a winner on a regular basis. I am optimistic either way. Mark Cuban is a passionate sports fan who will do what he can to make the team interesting and marketable, and in contention. Nolan Ryan has already proved to be an asset to the team. I really wish there was a way to combine these 2 groups. We'll see. Just another tumultuous chapter in the history of the Rangers.

That is all.

Here we go again

2010-08-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

Death, Taxes, Lindsay Lohan doing something stupid, and Brett Favre retirement talk. All things that are veritable certainties. Favre is at it again, according to multiple sources, saying he has called the Vikings to tell them he will not join them this year. And the dance begins again. Favre told coach Brad Childress that his ankle is not responding well to treatment and surgery. But let's be honest here, if by Week 4 or 5 the ankle starts feeling better, doesn't everyone think he'll be back? Actually, I'll have to see an entire season played without Favre to believe he is really done. And it's sad really, no Favre means less fun in the NFL. I am not a Favre hater, although I have grown weary of this yearly trend. But if this the end, thanks for the memories Brett.

That is all.

Checking in from lovely Southern California

2010-07-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hello loyal followers and minions,

I am writing to you from my vacation with my 2 college roommates here in Southern California. I have already experienced 2 fantastic ballparks in the L.A. area. Tomorrow the gang checks into Petco Park in San Diego. It's been fun, but I miss the radio station. And I miss LaceDarius Woodrow Dogg, my chocolate lab puppy for those who don't know. I'll catch you up on the trip so far.

Day 1 had us helping Rusty, who lives here, clean up and paint his new house. Not ideal vacationing, I know, but at least the 3 of us were together again hanging out.

Day 2 was my favorite day so far. Dodgers vs. Mets at Dodger Stadium. Afternoon game, great weather, and Dodger Stadium is a gem. One of my faves of all time. It has a very 1960s charm to it. Easy to move around in as well. Even with a large crowd. Joe Torre's boys won 1-0, the run scored in the bottom of the 8th. If you get the chance go to Dodger Stadium. A must for any baseball nut. An interesting side note here: Anson Williams, Potsie from Happy Days, sang the national anthem and God Bless America. Very strange. The Super Dodger Dog was also delicious. (This of course comes before the OTL report on ballpark food.) After the game we ventured into Hollywood to eat at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. Let me just say that it was one of the best meals I have ever had. I know fried chicken and waffles sounds like an odd combo, but my oh my it's fantastic. Do yourself a favor and go there as well if you are ever in Los Angeles.

Day 3 was a relaxing day in Riverside. Nothing more. Just hanging out.

Day 4, Angels vs. my beloved Red Sox at the Big A. The Nation triumphs 4-2 due to the efforts of the all too unstoppable Jed Lowrie. Never doubt him. Ever. When Jed Lowrie jumps in a lake he does not get wet, the lake gets Jed Lowried. Angel dog was pretty good and I saw no rats (their big snafu in the OTL report). Plus the Rangers are now 8.5 games up and rolling into Anaheim this weekend. The Big A is very nice, and the folks are very entertained by a video of a monkey jumping up and down. Great night, especially since the Sox won.

Also, Dez Bryant wouldn't carry my luggage when I got on the plane. When will that guy ever learn? It would be Cowboys camp without a minor dust up leading to a major front page headline. And will the Rangers please start giving Cliff Lee some run support? What else can the guy do?

That is all.

How am I so busy right before vacation?

2010-07-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

So much to get done this week, I almost forgot to blog.

Never fear. I am here. Even though no one else seems to be.

Looking forward to SoCal, I will however miss not being at Cowboys Camp with Smoaky. In this post I will just throw out some random things for you all to think about.

1) Chris Paul wants to be traded. Mark Cuban wants him badly. This would be great for the Mavs and for Dirk.
2) When did Mel Gibson fly off the rails? Wow. You stop doing Lethal Weapon movies and BAM you're crazy.
3) Does anyone feel bad for Lindsay Lohan? I don't. If you haven't already figured this out-you go nowhere by doing cocaine.
4) Have the Cowboys done enough to really be considered a Super Bowl Contender? I guess we will find out soon enough.
5) Will the Steelers suffer an image hit this year due to the Big Ben situation? this may have already passed, but let's see how the fans respond after his suspension.
6) The Rangers are in bankruptcy court. Nolan Ryan may not wind up having anything to do with this team. If that happens, how angry will you be as a Rangers fan?
7) Josh Hamilton is amazing. .357 batting average. Tons of homers, hustles like crazy.
8) Roy Oswalt wants his entire contract picked up. It doesn't seem unreasonable to me. pay the man.
9) When it comes to stewed prunes, are 3 enough? Are 4 too many?
10) Anybody else sick of Twitter? I feel like the unpopular kid at school with my desperate on air attempts at more followers.

That is all.

Catching you all up

2010-07-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

First off my apologies for having only one blog post last week. It won't happen that way too often, but it was a strange week.

Just to let you all know I will be updating my blog from Southern California next week as I head out there for vacation. There will be travel updates from Dodger Stadium, the Big A, Petco Park, Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, possibly the Comedy Store, and who knows where else. If you have any suggestions on SoCal destinations shoot me an email at paul@1660espn.com. I am hoping that the trip takes us in crazy directions. My lone goal is to ask a celebrity for directions, like Hurley from Lost or Uncle Joey from Full House.

Also, I have a movie recommendation for all of you. Go see Inception. It will absolutely blow your mind. Very well shot, written, acted, and everything you want. Excellent twists and turns abound. It is by far the best movie I have seen this summer.

And I do have a major announcement regarding me competing in an athletic event coming soon. (Stop Laughing. I really do.)

That is all.

Only the Rangers

2010-07-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

9 IP, 6 ER, 9 HITS, 0 BB, 2 K, AND 3 HR ALLOWED. That my friends was Cliff Lee's stat line in his first start as a Texas Ranger. I was there watching high above from section 331. A near sellout crowd saw the lefty ace's foray into Lone Star Baseball. The excitement was so high for Cliff Lee's arrival, that the 20 minute ceremony honoring Michael Young before the game was not even the most important thing happening in Arlington. It was the Rangers biggest night in a decade. And what happens? Their new ace looks anything but "acey" and the mighty Chris Tillman had a no hitter going into the 7th for Baltimore, the worst team in the league. Only the Rangers can quell their fan base's fervor like that. Not only do you get one of the best pitchers in the league going into the All-Star Break, you are in 1st place in a division you haven't won since 1999. You have a comfortable lead. And then you get swept by the worst team in baseball. Really Rangers? Really?

Now I know that Cliff Lee will probably be fine. Especially when he pitches on the road away from the Ballpark. But for one night it would have been great to see the Rangers capture the excitement that was in the air. They didn't. And it has become an all too common occurrence for a team that seems to have no luck. In fact, they have a chance this week to go from a terrible ownership situation to one that is tailor made for them. But the Greenberg-Ryan group may not get the chance. And the greatest Ranger in history (Nolan Ryan) will be shown the door by a new ownership group if this happens.

Only the Rangers my friends. Only the Rangers.

That is all.

Party in the City when the Heat is on

2010-07-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Rumor Mill spins to a halt today as "The Decision" is announced. It can't come too soon. A one hour special tonight on ESPN will finally answer the question about LeBron James' team for the foreseeable future. Like I mentioned in an earlier blog post, I really don't care where he goes. This entire process to me is like the movie Transformers. Tons of hoopla and special effects, but in the end the story was just bad. If he does go to Miami to form a basketball super group with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, it will be more interesting than if he stayed in Cleveland. (Town motto: Cleveland Rocks. Even though it doesn't. Miami's town motto is: Miami! As corrupt as Louisiana or Chicago, but a touch more scenic.) And let's not pass over the fact that it would be a total waste of America's time to have a one hour special to talk about how you are not changing anything. Of course some measure of this has been a waste of America's time anyways, so why stop now?

LeBron in a city like Miami is also marketing gold. Coming from the Gulf Coast of Florida, I have a much different perspective on that city than most. I think it is dirty, crowded, not as pretty as everyone thinks, and riddled with crime. But it does have South Beach. Does Cleveland have South Beach? Does Chicago? Does New Jersey? Nope. I can see the new Nike Ads now. LeBron in spoofs of Miami Vice, Scarface, and if we're lucky...Golden Girls. I can't see him guest starring in an episode of "Hot in Cleveland." (By the way, that's 2 different Betty White shows in 2 sentences. ) I can see him on CSI Miami or Burn Notice. So I am going to change direction on this. All along I have said he stays with the Cavs. But now it looks like Miami has been calling his name all along.

Enjoy "The Decision" tonight. I have to watch it. It's my job. But I'm not happy about it. And I get the feeling that the people in Cleveland won't be happy either.

That is all.

Things I just don't get

2010-07-05T06:06:00.001-07:00

I consider myself to be a reasonably "with the times" kind of a guy. In fact I am not a fan of the phrase "Things were so much better back when." The world has problems, but I never think that the whole world is falling apart. Things are cyclical and may be bad now, but they will change. Most of the time for the better. But two things that don't change ever, and I have never really been entertained by, are parades and fireworks. I just don't see the draw. My parents stuck me in about 30 parades as a youth. I always said I hated it, yet they kept doing it. I had a great childhood, but if a therapist ever asks me what the worst part was I'll say it was all those damned parades. It's just decorated traffic, moving slowly, throwing stuff at you. I will make an exception, Mardi Gras. But that is because if you are in the French Quarter during Mardi Gras, the parade is very secondary to what you will be watching. Trust me. I have found many people that agree with me on my "anti-parade" stance. But on this next issue, I may stand alone.

I am less than enthusiastic about watching fireworks. I've seen it. It's pretty much the same every time. Yet every year on the 4th of July, I am made to stand outside and watch them. I'd rather do something else. I understand that most people love fireworks. I just don't. And no one can ever give me a good reason why I should like them. I always get "It's the 4th of July." Or "I don't know. Just watch them." Those are not reasons. They are simply statements. So I propose a new tradition for the extremely quiet "Fireworks are boring" minority. Letting us continue to eat and drink without making us stare up at the sky watching the same thing every year. I call it celebrating my Independence Day independently. I'll catch up with you after the fireworks. Well, if I haven't fallen asleep.

That is all. God Bless America.

Lebron Sweepstakes Bores Me

2010-07-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

The biggest story in sports this summer is the LeBron James sweepstakes. The blogoshpere, Twittwerverse, and mainstream media is abuzz with rumors over where King James is headed. Respected sports journalists have"confirmed" that Bron Bron is headed to Miami to play with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Or that LeBron to the Bulls is "all but done." None of this is confirmed by LeBron James or his people. As a matter of fact, most of it is probably his agent, World Wide Wes, sending out bad info to help spin this out of control. And more than likely, because of the amount of money he can make in Cleveland, he's not going anywhere. Someone wake me up when something actually happens. We've been talking abut it all year. And guess what, nothing is really going to change. Maybe a Chris Bosh moves on from Toronto. Maybe Amare Stoudemire leaves Phoenix. If this was a summer blockbuster, it would be Ishtar. Tons of build up, 2 big stars, but just an awful movie. So for the sake of all of us LeBron, DWade, Bosh, etc just get it over with.