AFL

The Tampa Bay Storm in a word simply stink. I cannot really fault them since the entire league format stinks too.

Yesterday, my little dude and I went with a friend and his son to a Storm game. The Storm were playing another terrible team from OH. I have been to several Rattler games (by far more entertaining... at least the atmosphere etc.), Dragon games, and now a Storm game. Unlike most of the readers of this blog, I have enough experience to make these statements. I have been to ten NFL games including 3 at Candlestick or 3.com park, 2 Giant games, 2 Jet games (which as we all know really means 4 trips to the same field), a Ravens game, and last but certainly least 2 Cardinal games at Sun Devil Stadium. I won't get into College games, but I have been to over 24. With all this history I can say with authority that AFL ball stinks. The lack of talent is apparent. The lack of play calling is obvious (3 play offense for the most part) and the field looks ridiculous. A total of 50 yards and maybe 25 yards across???? I have watched better high school ball!

My little dude loved the experience, so really what does all that hot air equate to? I will be going back again. (YEAH - not!) The ride home... he was talking football! The price of admission is wonderful since I will simply tell him he went to NFL games and omit the AFL reference or the third class show we viewed yesterday.

Did I come across too negative? I am sorry - I am just an impatient NFL fan waiting for the next season. Thanks Andy for the tickets... no reflection whatsoever... the company was great!

16 Inches...

That is right. I said sixteen inches. That is the length of the bass my friend caught two nights ago. This is what I am fishing for. Yes, I use worms to catch these. No, I am not a bass channel watcher. Yes, I know for a fact it works, however this one was caught on a lure. Big popper or something...

P.S. I will be assisting in the construction of a proper platform to fish from in the near future. That - I am sure - will be lots of fun. If he waits a little bit longer... it will be hot enough to keep mosquito's away. Personally, I would choose the flyer's that never bite me over the heat, which could kill us or make us slow enough to be eaten by the 4 ft gators out there.

P.S.S. This is not going to become a fishing blog, but I will update my favorite list!!

Gone Fishing - II

Yesterday, the whole clan went over our friends house to do some more fishing. Have you ever heard the phrase it pays to be lucky?

After a good 15-20 of our bait in the water, the next door neighbors come out and decide to join the fishing outing. Our friends house does not have a deck at present and I am slated to do some heavy lifting to improve that situation in the coming weeks, but the next door neighbor does.

After co-fishing, Joe (the neighbor) yells out... throw some chum in the water to lure the smaller fish in and the bass will follow. Now the only word the actually registered for me was chum. What the heck are we fishing for that requires chum. To me, chum refers to sharks and shark fishermen... not bass fishing on a pond I could walk around in 7-8 min. Without a moments notice, my friends shouts back.. what are you chumming with? I am sorry, but even worse than using the word chum is to use it in connection with BREAD!! Yes, sir they chum the pond with bread... after a good solid laugh... we continued to fish.

Would you know it... FISHING RESULTS:

7-0

We lost. Plus they reeled in a snapping turtle. My eldest broke the news to me gently... Dad - we did not catch anything. Why are you using worms?!?!

Islanders

In case you did not know, I am an avid Islander fan. I love hockey. I like to attend games when the tickets are free; I love the sport for the speed and violence; but most of all I love hockey because the playoffs are so exciting. No other sport can match the intensity and mental toughness needed to prevail.

From the old days until now, the Islanders have been a mystery. Why does a team with the market strength of Long Island have a problem hiring the best talent and wining more consistently??? These are questions that only one family can answer, but if I was as rich as the current owners and I loved hockey... I would do it right. Heck, I would be as avid an owner as the crazy Cuban!

Out of the League Tourney!

Before I get too serious, let me just set the record straight. When I learned I lost by forfeit - I was very pissed off.

I no like to lose. I no like to lose cheap. I especially do not like to lose twice to a player I can and should beat, but failed to do so the first time I had the chance.

I messed up the schedule and did not realize the game was played on a different day. Anyone that knew me specific to this topic knew, at least in my mind, the game was Thursday. Well, that was just not the case. The game was Wednesday and my friend made several attempts to reach me, even going as far to come to my house when learning I was not there. Thanks Andy for going the extra mile.

The part that is actually the most frustrating is my desire to play from a position of underdog. Let's face it, this player beat me straight up and I wanted a rematch. I won't get that chance in all likelihood, since he won't win the tourney and not move up to Purple with me.

Oh well!

I am still not pleased with my time management skills.

As a side note, I was discussing some racquetball topics with players up at the Y and a player from the Purple division over heard me and pulled me aside to "straighten me out!"

Of course, I am gonna spill the details as they are so interesting I cannot be silent. After hearing me say, "I want to compete in a division where I will win 3 out of 10 games." This person took it upon themselves to tell me that I should just shut up and play and not worry about my record. It offended them since they are in Purple and they are going to do everything in their power to make sure I win less than that. Surprised by the comment and reasons for pulling me aside, I asked them several questions:

• Correct me if I am wrong, but are we in a competitive league?
• I have asked to be moved up more aggressively, but is it my fault that I was placed in the wrong league level to start off with and have subsequently won every league I have played to date?
• Lastly, I am willing and able to learn how they play at their level and if I lose in the process so be it. Are you prepared to deal with your issues if I happen to beat you?
  (To my self I really wanted to address the facts... I'm 34-4 in competitive play (1 of those the forfeit loss I just took)... should I not move up for the challenge???)

Obviously, I was not happy with the side-bar and I've had one other confrontation with a player. The other player did not agree with me playing them as if it was the first point in game one - for every point in a match! I am sorry, but if being competitive is a point of issue with anyone else, then stuff it! I am not changing a darn thing.

As another perfect example which highlights how I approach things... when the DIAW brothers are kicking my butt all over the place as I readjust back to Halo2 play... I am not happy, but I also like the push back that says... you have been weighed measured and found to be wanting! It is the same deal. Competition is always present... at least with me. I love it!

NFS - Carbon

For my b-day, I went out and bought Need for Speed - Carbon. I obtained some recommendations and did my homework on the game variations. I do not buy a lot of games, so I like to know exactly what I am getting!

The game is pretty awesome. The graphics are wonderful and the game play is fairly realistic. The achievement points are pretty stingy, which is also good as I like a challenge.

As I progress through career mode, I may comment on specific elements. Otherwise, please consider this my recommendation to rent or own the game.

Good Stuff!

P.S. There are no sexist comments or visuals and no blood splattering going on in the game... take that as a positive or negative - its up to you. I find it refreshing! If you want to break some one's neck without them knowing it until it is too late... well for that come play SCDA!

Too Fast; Too Furious

The tourney is upon me. The number one spot has some pressure, especially since some of my opponents feel they could have won during league play. Laughable, I know but here is how my first match went.

My opponent lost to me during the season in just less than 20 min. He advanced to this game by virtue of a forfeit win. This is just bad luck for my opponent, since this match ended up lasting only a few minutes longer that our league match.

My serve was on and jumping from the get go. If you refer to the picture of the racquetball court in a previous post, I serve on the extreme left, but far enough from the left side not to break the drive serve line with my racket. 75% of my serves will stay on that side of the court by design optimizing the fact that most players are right handed. Since a backhand return shot is usually much less effective than a forehand return shot, this ends up serving my needs nicely. Unless I hit a poor serve, there is only one or two shots players at my current level can return and both I am ready to kill as soon as they do. 25% of my serves go to the back right corner, which can be devastating since most opponents creep over to the left to handle the main serve. Usually, they do not even move or give a vain attempt to return serve.

Like I said earlier... the serve was on and jumping! My opponent was down 7-0 before the 2 min mark. At this point, the game is over since he was not able to even return serve. I hit a right side serve and he does not even move. 8-0 and visibly unhappy with how this are going, my opponent calls time out. You get two of these each game for 30 seconds. After 2-3 minuets he gets back on the court – ‘grrr’ that is just poor sportsmanship!! I usually pace around the front court to stay in rhythm and await their return. The TO works, since he returned a solid serve and eventually killed a shot to give him side out. One serve and I hit a kill shot from 38 feet... I am pretty happy and proceed to take a 13-0 lead. At this point, I mail it in and allow a few points to be scored and take game one 15-4.

Game two is no different and starts and ends almost the same way. I won 15-7 and took the match. After the game, we are cordial, but I know he is pissed and I am very pleased with the beating I handed out. I am a fish out of water in this division and the other players know it, but it is still fun to win lop-sided matches! I honestly think people expect opponents to change how they play to have a competitive game. It is an interesting concept, since I sometimes do that very thing without planning or forethought. In those cases, I think that player wins the mental game over me and controls tempo and rhythm. I try never to let another player hang around and usually hit the ball as hard on point 15 as I do on point number one! To each their own!!

My next match is on the 18th and it is versus the only player to hand me a loss during the league play. I have wanted a rematch and I got it!! As long as I do not fall 0-8 down, I should be in great shape! ;)