Sunday, March 27, 2005
Cleveland Rocks, Part 2
OK, compared to Rosemont IL, Cleveland really rocks. Instead of trying to center a village around Rosemont, they should just go ahead and incorporate the O'Hare Airport as a town. The upside of losing (to the overall #1 seed by the way) is that we didn't have to spend anymore time in that convention-center-ridden wasteland of Rose-fucking-mont. Not only was the location absurd, the venue (Allstate Arena....what?!) looked like a White Castle hamburger joint on steriods. And while I rant, boo on the NCAA for allowing such a lop-sided potential audience (for the "home" team, overall #1 seed) in this bracket: easily a 8 to 1 ratio, Illini to Panthers crowd. Rucking fidiculous.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
How Sweet 16 It Is (or Cleveland Rocks, Part I)
The best thing about this whole deal is that students, alumni, and community of a (predominately) "commuter college" is gaining a taste of what it is to have big-time college athletics as a part of their collegiate experience.
And because we rarely meet other quality groups (its the Horizon League for God's sake!), it was good for my kids to hear/feel the contribution of a mini-$1,000,000 Band and West Virginia's (loud-as-snot) group. It was also good for them to know how well we do compared to a Wake or BC.
Spending six days in Cleveland with people in other departments and/or upper administration can be a blessing or a curse. I'm pleased to report that the kids stepped up, did their jobs extremely well, and covertly enjoyed their pleathura of off-time.
St. Patrick's Day is a huge deal in Cleveland. It definitely made getting around town on Thursday an ordeal. But when you can go out for a beer and a shot at almost any bar at 6:00am, it becomes "the best part of waking up." When we returned from the 'Bama game in the late afternoon, the parade had finished, the town (most people take the day off) had marinated for about 8 hours already, and we saw many a disheveled, long-toe-shoed diva doing the stumble of shame on the way back home.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum was a nice, but do get the GROUP rate for students if you go. In my opinion, it was not worth more than the $11.00 we all paid to see old hanging costumes and high school report cards. Normal admissions are upwards of $20-$25.
We were able to assemble a surprise "Happy Birthday" serenade for Coach Pearl when they returned from Saturday's practice...he seemed appreciative, and the kids got a thrill out of being able to do that for him.
All in all, the town was nice. Everything: the Jac, Browns Stadium, Gund Arena, bars, hotels, are all centrally located and pretty easy to negotiate on foot. I'm sure it's even more of a blast when the Indians are in town....gotta do that.
And as everyone knows, winning makes everything easier. Go Panthers! More to come...
And because we rarely meet other quality groups (its the Horizon League for God's sake!), it was good for my kids to hear/feel the contribution of a mini-$1,000,000 Band and West Virginia's (loud-as-snot) group. It was also good for them to know how well we do compared to a Wake or BC.
Spending six days in Cleveland with people in other departments and/or upper administration can be a blessing or a curse. I'm pleased to report that the kids stepped up, did their jobs extremely well, and covertly enjoyed their pleathura of off-time.
St. Patrick's Day is a huge deal in Cleveland. It definitely made getting around town on Thursday an ordeal. But when you can go out for a beer and a shot at almost any bar at 6:00am, it becomes "the best part of waking up." When we returned from the 'Bama game in the late afternoon, the parade had finished, the town (most people take the day off) had marinated for about 8 hours already, and we saw many a disheveled, long-toe-shoed diva doing the stumble of shame on the way back home.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum was a nice, but do get the GROUP rate for students if you go. In my opinion, it was not worth more than the $11.00 we all paid to see old hanging costumes and high school report cards. Normal admissions are upwards of $20-$25.
We were able to assemble a surprise "Happy Birthday" serenade for Coach Pearl when they returned from Saturday's practice...he seemed appreciative, and the kids got a thrill out of being able to do that for him.
All in all, the town was nice. Everything: the Jac, Browns Stadium, Gund Arena, bars, hotels, are all centrally located and pretty easy to negotiate on foot. I'm sure it's even more of a blast when the Indians are in town....gotta do that.
And as everyone knows, winning makes everything easier. Go Panthers! More to come...
Monday, March 14, 2005
Sunday
Sunday was a full and satisfying day. Here 'tis:
Woke up without the use of an alarm clock.
Looked up a recipe online.
Gave driving directions to a lovely young woman.
Went food shopping.
Prepped the ingredients.
Invited the lovely young woman into the house.
Opened a bottle of wine.
Grilled a fillet outside in 30 degree weather.
Shared steak and pasta.
Went to a contemporary opera that didn't completely suck.
Played the pep rally for Selection Sunday show.
Attended a great chamber music performance by our Youth Ensemble kids.
Took the lovely young woman back to her car.
(Deleted scene with the lovely young woman.)
Talked to Mom and Dad in South Cack-O-Lackie.
Received a text message from the lovely young woman.
Went to a Senior horn recital and had catered reception food.
Had drinks at the pub with the boys.
Went to sleep with a buzz.....hmmmmm.
Off to Cleveland tomorrow. Best to all.
Woke up without the use of an alarm clock.
Looked up a recipe online.
Gave driving directions to a lovely young woman.
Went food shopping.
Prepped the ingredients.
Invited the lovely young woman into the house.
Opened a bottle of wine.
Grilled a fillet outside in 30 degree weather.
Shared steak and pasta.
Went to a contemporary opera that didn't completely suck.
Played the pep rally for Selection Sunday show.
Attended a great chamber music performance by our Youth Ensemble kids.
Took the lovely young woman back to her car.
(Deleted scene with the lovely young woman.)
Talked to Mom and Dad in South Cack-O-Lackie.
Received a text message from the lovely young woman.
Went to a Senior horn recital and had catered reception food.
Had drinks at the pub with the boys.
Went to sleep with a buzz.....hmmmmm.
Off to Cleveland tomorrow. Best to all.
Friday, March 11, 2005
The debaucle
There was a Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal (www.jsonline.com) article this week that mentioned the UWM Champagne Debaucle.
First, the reason I involve you folks in this reaction. Since being in Athens, the term "debaucle" conjures up images of Redcoats vs. The Landing in 1999, and of the fall-out from said incident. Though I didn't experience the "Florida Debaucle" first-hand, when I came off the turnip truck from SC to the Classic City, believe you me it was fresh on EVERYBODY'S mind!
The "UWM Champagne debaucle" was a report in the paper that members of the UWM basketball team were spraying each other with champagne in the locker room after winning the conference regular-season and (then) tournament titles. There was no documentation that under-aged team members were drinking, but were in possesion, and spraying each other and their coaches in the traditional way after a championship win.
Interestingly enough, the NCAA does not have any precedent of any such event. The closest and most recent incident involved the Illinois Women's team, who were rumored to have had alcohol while on a return flight back from the NCAA tournament (fucking losers!).
We are eager for Selection Sunday when we find out for sure that we're going some place lame (meaning a bus ride) like Indy or Cleveland. The best we can hope for is a first-round win in Cleveland, in order to buy time to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on our day off.
First, the reason I involve you folks in this reaction. Since being in Athens, the term "debaucle" conjures up images of Redcoats vs. The Landing in 1999, and of the fall-out from said incident. Though I didn't experience the "Florida Debaucle" first-hand, when I came off the turnip truck from SC to the Classic City, believe you me it was fresh on EVERYBODY'S mind!
The "UWM Champagne debaucle" was a report in the paper that members of the UWM basketball team were spraying each other with champagne in the locker room after winning the conference regular-season and (then) tournament titles. There was no documentation that under-aged team members were drinking, but were in possesion, and spraying each other and their coaches in the traditional way after a championship win.
Interestingly enough, the NCAA does not have any precedent of any such event. The closest and most recent incident involved the Illinois Women's team, who were rumored to have had alcohol while on a return flight back from the NCAA tournament (fucking losers!).
We are eager for Selection Sunday when we find out for sure that we're going some place lame (meaning a bus ride) like Indy or Cleveland. The best we can hope for is a first-round win in Cleveland, in order to buy time to go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on our day off.
WTF?
I'm new, so I chalked my inability to post a comment up to stupidity/inexperience, but after reading B's response to Kit regarding Trina, sounds as if it's not just me?!
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
His Honor, Bruce Pearl
This guy could have just about anything in the world (or at least Milwaukee) right now. Just as any head basketball coach worth his/her salt should be, he can be slicker than owl shit.
There, in the midst of a sea of yellow, gold, or whatever t-shirt color was cheapest for the giveaway, the first words out of his mouth after the game were, "We might have the conference player and coach of the year, but tonight, you fans, YOU were the MVP of this game!!"
And boys, it was a nail-biter all the way...only led twice (the one time when it really counted). Free-throw percentage in the first half: less than 30%. A short old fuck of a ref that didn't make a correct call all night (either way). And home rims that seemed to have been edged with anti-Milwaukee juice (bad stuff).
As far as summing it all up, Bruce had a classic "pearl" of wisdom (paraphrased), "They may have deserved to win that game tonight, but for this whole season, we deserved to win the championship. Maybe it just carried over."
More to come. For now, off to practice my White-Man's-Overbite.....just gotta dance!!! (Anywhere but INDY!)
There, in the midst of a sea of yellow, gold, or whatever t-shirt color was cheapest for the giveaway, the first words out of his mouth after the game were, "We might have the conference player and coach of the year, but tonight, you fans, YOU were the MVP of this game!!"
And boys, it was a nail-biter all the way...only led twice (the one time when it really counted). Free-throw percentage in the first half: less than 30%. A short old fuck of a ref that didn't make a correct call all night (either way). And home rims that seemed to have been edged with anti-Milwaukee juice (bad stuff).
As far as summing it all up, Bruce had a classic "pearl" of wisdom (paraphrased), "They may have deserved to win that game tonight, but for this whole season, we deserved to win the championship. Maybe it just carried over."
More to come. For now, off to practice my White-Man's-Overbite.....just gotta dance!!! (Anywhere but INDY!)
Monday, March 07, 2005
More cheers from Wisconsin
When you tune into ESPN tomorrow night at 9pm eastern, feel free to intone as many (or as few) of the following verses that you'd like. They were composed by a collection transplanted Southerners, who, compared to the resident native Cheese-heads, are the epitome of passion for collegiate sports. They were/are an attempt to infuse some real spirit into a team that has found its way into the mid-major limelight. Enjoy!
Cheese to the left,
Cheese to the right,
C'mon Panthers,
Go, go, go
(the old bait-and-switch)
I gotta brat!
You wanna brat!
Goooooo Panthers!
From our Bayou Bengal Brethern:
Rah-rah-ree,
Rah-rah-rap,
Maidson girls have the...
(insert sound effect: bring hands sharply together 3 times in quick, rhythmic succession)!
And in our on-going attempt to use Wisconsin cities/towns as parts of speech other than their usual proper noun-age:
Oconomowoc!
Oconomowoc!
Sheboygan from behind!
The parts of speech thing is an interesting passtime, and truly does shead light on how we see these places. Wendy AuClair said it the best when she claimed that she was "feeling quite Racine." Nice job, lady.
Cheese to the left,
Cheese to the right,
C'mon Panthers,
Go, go, go
(the old bait-and-switch)
I gotta brat!
You wanna brat!
Goooooo Panthers!
From our Bayou Bengal Brethern:
Rah-rah-ree,
Rah-rah-rap,
Maidson girls have the...
(insert sound effect: bring hands sharply together 3 times in quick, rhythmic succession)!
And in our on-going attempt to use Wisconsin cities/towns as parts of speech other than their usual proper noun-age:
Oconomowoc!
Oconomowoc!
Sheboygan from behind!
The parts of speech thing is an interesting passtime, and truly does shead light on how we see these places. Wendy AuClair said it the best when she claimed that she was "feeling quite Racine." Nice job, lady.
Dickens, a la Frasier Crane
For a premier post, I was trying to think of something profound; something memorable, lasting throughout the ages. Something like, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...." from "A Tale of Two Cities." That's fresh on my mind, as I was watching an old "Cheers" re-run on Nick-at-Nite, and in an attempt to elevate the cultural knowledge of the regular stool-sitters in the pub, Frasier began to read to Norm, Cliff, et al, the aforementioned literary classic. They quickly became disinterested in the verbose syntax and confused by the list of opening polarities. That is, until Frasier (picking up on their disinterest) began to assist Mr. Dickens by adding fights, explosions, gunfire, and other "action movie" elements to his oration. This sub-plot continues through the episode until the end when Frasier "reads," "'...tis a far, far better thing that I have ever done before. And 'tis a far better...uh, umm, buttkicking that I have ever...errr...buttkicked!" The group, huddled around Fraiser like their fourth grade teacher reading "The Red Badge of Courage " to them, explodes into cheers for their hero.
You're invited here as often as you'd like. I hope you'll enjoy and/or comment on the entries......or at least as much as I can get down while I rough up these two big guys in ski masks who just broke into the living room. I love my Louisville Slugger.
You're invited here as often as you'd like. I hope you'll enjoy and/or comment on the entries......or at least as much as I can get down while I rough up these two big guys in ski masks who just broke into the living room. I love my Louisville Slugger.
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