And yes, I have enlisted the dog to help me drink.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Irish Blogger Gathering: Sparty Edition - The Posts
Gents and Ladies, the posts that are up for this week's IBG:
Over at Subway Domer, the founder of this gathering discusses drinking. And other things that are less prominent in my life in a post-meltdown weekend.
Her Loyal Sons relive the Ty days (but not in a bad way).
At Charlie's Nasties, our childhood friend Grimace encourages bad behavior. I approve.
Another individual making a living practicing this whole law thing over at Domer Law Blog remembers that, win or lose, no one goes wrong with an excellent tailgate.
One Foot Down spices our pre-game prep up this week, and breaks out the John L. Smith rant. You know I approve.
Brawling Hibernian reminds me of something I forgot - the on-air radio meltdown after the 2006 come-from-behind win.
Let me know if you have posted and are not up - I'm doing this on a Thursday night post-tailgate prep/mid-liver warm-up, so perfection is not exactly something I am going to even hope to claim at this point.
Over at Subway Domer, the founder of this gathering discusses drinking. And other things that are less prominent in my life in a post-meltdown weekend.
Her Loyal Sons relive the Ty days (but not in a bad way).
At Charlie's Nasties, our childhood friend Grimace encourages bad behavior. I approve.
Another individual making a living practicing this whole law thing over at Domer Law Blog remembers that, win or lose, no one goes wrong with an excellent tailgate.
One Foot Down spices our pre-game prep up this week, and breaks out the John L. Smith rant. You know I approve.
Brawling Hibernian reminds me of something I forgot - the on-air radio meltdown after the 2006 come-from-behind win.
Let me know if you have posted and are not up - I'm doing this on a Thursday night post-tailgate prep/mid-liver warm-up, so perfection is not exactly something I am going to even hope to claim at this point.
Irish Blogger Gathering: Sparty Love
It's late, I am waiting for food to be ready for tailgating this weekend...in other words, time to answer my own questions for this week's IBG. Before I even start, I need to admit to two things.
First, my high school didn't even bother to hide its ripping off of MSU - we were the green and white Spartans, right down to the team logo of MSU. I still have to train my mind to root against the first amateur team that I had an active role in loving.
Second, the part of me that traces its roots to Greece traces those roots to what, in this day and age, we would consider suburban Sparta.
In other words, it can sometimes be hard for me to root against Sparty. Yet, I overcome this hardship, and strenuously root for the utter destruction year after year. And so, without further ado, I get to some discussion of that sentiment.
1. Still trying to get the taste of last weekend's game out of my mouth, so let's start with something fun. With Sparty on its way into South Bend, give me your favorite memory of the ND-MSU series. I don't care what it is: John L. Smith losing it, the image of MSU guarding against nothing, an actual game memory, whatever.
Not so much a game memory as a pre-game memory that has previously been brought up on this blog. My sister, her friend, and I, in a parking garage in East Lansing because we couldn't find a normal parking spot, grilling, drinking, and otherwise enjoying ourselves to the utmost. We *may* have missed the entire first half, but, as ND had pulled out to the early lead, was not really missing anything important.
2. Since 1997, Michigan State has won 9 of 12 games against the Irish. I view this as a classic case of Sparty having ND's number. What worries you most about Michigan State this weekend?
Personally, I am worried that the hangover from losing a game that should have been won will carry over to this game. MSU is not a bad team, any hangover from last week's debacle will spell absolute disaster for the Irish.
3. Between my lingering bad feelings from last weekend and the history of this series in the last decade plus, give me a good reason or two or three to feel optimistic about a change in fortune for the Irish, because right now, I could use some optimism.
I wouldn't have asked the question if I had an answer.
4. As it is my week, I get to address my current ND obsession. Have the last two games changed your opinion/reinforced your opinion re: Charlie in the box versus Charlie on the field?
I have been extremely in favor of Charlie in the box since the Hawaii game. I remarked to those unfortunate enough to have to deal with me during last week's game that I was convinced that the numerous issues with getting plays off had to deal with the communications problems that result from having someone who is not calling the plays down to someone who is on the field. We have Charlie on the sidelines, and in a matter of seconds, he needs to communicate with those individuals who can see the field from above, interpret their communications, deal with players, decide on the play, relay that play in to the game, and deal with whatever other issues are currently being presented to him from those coaches and players who are not in his immediate circle of responsibility as the effective OC (among other things that I, never having played football don't immediately recognize). I don't the Charlie is effective enough as a motivator or influencer of on-field situations to warrant his presence on the field. I view him as a distraction at this point, and think he should be in the box.
5. If nothing else, I can count on one thing to look forward to on Saturday - tailgating. Anyone have a good recipe for me to try? I make no limitations on what it can be - a drink recipe, dessert, appetizer. So long as it can be made on a grill, camp stove, or ahead of time, I am happy to listen. The better the suggestion, the more likely you are to get invited to my own tailgate.
My easiest, most fail-proof recipe:
Make-Ahead Post-Game Pulled Pork
Ingredients:
1 can beef broth
3-4 pounds pork shoulder or pork butt
1 package BBQ sauce
1 package hamburger buns
Combine the beef broth and pork in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 10 hours and drain. Add BBQ sauce. Transfer pork to a disposable aluminum pan. Store in fridge/cooler until ready to eat. Re-heat on the grill, add more BBQ sauce to taste, and enjoy. So, so easy, yet so, so tasty.
6. Finally, any predictions for the game? I encourage your predictions to involve something other than a final score, but otherwise, I make no suggestions.
A beautiful day in north central Indiana. MSU arrives at the storied stadium of the Fighting Irish, over-confident in their own abilities and their perception of a lack of abilities in their opponent. After staking out an early lead on several questionable calls by the refs (really? MSU only needs to be within two feet of in-bounds for their catches to be considered? Good to know!), ND overcomes the obvious refereeing bias and destroys the Spartans to the tune of 30 points. [ed. - I originally had something about a goat up here. I have no idea what the point of that was, other than it probably seemed to make sense at 3:00 in the morning after several glasses of wine.]
Monday, September 14, 2009
Irish Blogger Gathering: Sparty Edition
Welcome to this week's edition of the Irish Blogger Gathering. Here are the questions for Michigan State week; I should have answers up in a bit (as well as listing the posts as they come in). Now, without further ado, the questions:
1. Still trying to get the taste of last weekend's game out of my mouth, so let's start with something fun. With Sparty on its way into South Bend, give me your favorite memory of the ND-MSU series. I don't care what it is: John L. Smith losing it, the image of MSU guarding against nothing, an actual game memory, whatever.
2. Since 1997, Michigan State has won 9 of 12 games against the Irish. I view this as a classic case of Sparty having ND's number. What worries you most about Michigan State this weekend?
3. Between my lingering bad feelings from last weekend and the history of this series in the last decade plus, give me a good reason or two or three to feel optimistic about a change in fortune for the Irish, because right now, I could use some optimism.
4. As it is my week, I get to address my current ND obsession. Have the last two games changed your opinion/reinforced your opinion re: Charlie in the box versus Charlie on the field?
5. If nothing else, I can count on one thing to look forward to on Saturday - tailgating. Anyone have a good recipe for me to try? I make no limitations on what it can be - a drink recipe, dessert, appetizer. So long as it can be made on a grill, camp stove, or ahead of time, I am happy to listen. The better the suggestion, the more likely you are to get invited to my own tailgate.
6. Finally, any predictions for the game? I encourage your predictions to involve something other than a final score, but otherwise, I make no suggestions.
1. Still trying to get the taste of last weekend's game out of my mouth, so let's start with something fun. With Sparty on its way into South Bend, give me your favorite memory of the ND-MSU series. I don't care what it is: John L. Smith losing it, the image of MSU guarding against nothing, an actual game memory, whatever.
2. Since 1997, Michigan State has won 9 of 12 games against the Irish. I view this as a classic case of Sparty having ND's number. What worries you most about Michigan State this weekend?
3. Between my lingering bad feelings from last weekend and the history of this series in the last decade plus, give me a good reason or two or three to feel optimistic about a change in fortune for the Irish, because right now, I could use some optimism.
4. As it is my week, I get to address my current ND obsession. Have the last two games changed your opinion/reinforced your opinion re: Charlie in the box versus Charlie on the field?
5. If nothing else, I can count on one thing to look forward to on Saturday - tailgating. Anyone have a good recipe for me to try? I make no limitations on what it can be - a drink recipe, dessert, appetizer. So long as it can be made on a grill, camp stove, or ahead of time, I am happy to listen. The better the suggestion, the more likely you are to get invited to my own tailgate.
6. Finally, any predictions for the game? I encourage your predictions to involve something other than a final score, but otherwise, I make no suggestions.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Irish Blogger Gathering: Let the Kool-Aid Flow
I know you've all been waiting anxiously for my answers to this week's first IBG of the season, hosted over at Domer Law Blog. Well, wait no longer. Another lawyer, checking in.
1. My season preview included music video footage for each position group. What song or video do you feel typifies this year's Notre Dame team heading into the season? Embed a youtube or other similar video if possible.
I had real trouble with this. Then, I thought, something fun, something upbeat. A little something that opens with a line like, "On your mark, ready set, let's go":
2. Post a picture that to you portrays the attitude of this year's team and discuss.
Awww, a little deer. Here's the deal. Look at this dude. He's feeling OK. You know, figured out the whole standing up thing at this point. But, there's a lot left to prove. It only takes one mountain lion (or car) to derail this whole growing up thing. But, if you can avoid the mountain lions (and cars), you're pretty well set. Like ND - things have been going OK. They're looking like they're going to get better, but it won't take much to screw that up. So, you know, avoid the lions. And the cars. And the people with guns.
3. What do you perceive as the team's biggest weakness heading into the season?
I was going to go with swagger/confidence/similar term, but that seems to be popular. Instead, I am wondering if I can get away with saying having Charlie on the field. I saw the Hawaii game. Put him back up there until ND loses again.
4. With the exception of the 1990s, Notre Dame has won a National Championship in every decade since the 1920s. What are the chances (a) that Notre Dame wins a championship this year, and (b) if not this year, when do you predict the next championship for the Irish?
(a)I'm going with a 25% chance ND wins a National Championship this year. The talent is there to win every game on the schedule, or drop one and still make it there. I'm optimistic, what can I say?
(b) Next year.
5. Nevada runs the Pistol offense, Navy the Triple Option, and Michigan the Spread Option. Which offensive scheme do you think is the most difficult to prepare for, and why?
Pistol. Was going to go with the others, but we see those on occasion. The pistol? Not so much. Anything that you don't see regularly is going to give you fits. I don't like fits. Plus, you know, at this point in the week, I am pretty convinced that Nevada is the best team ND will face all season (don't worry, I'll feel the same about Michigan this time next week).
6. Is Colin Capaernick the best quarterback we'll see this year? If not, who is?
I'll go with yes. And yes, most of this is the fact that I have spent the last month scaring the crap out of myself thinking about this game, rather than actual reasons. Colin Capaernick is, in my mind, with less than 48 hours until game time, perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time.
7. Prediction time. We have to get on the record before the season kicks off. Give me:
A video to go with my predictions:
(1) Overall prediction for wins/losses: 12-1
(2) Projected bowl game and result: National Championship and WIN.
(3) Predicted final ranking: #1
(4) Best player on the team: Michael Floyd
(5) Heisman trophy winner: Jimmy Clausen
(6) National Champion: Notre Dame
(7) Prediction for Nevada game, including score: ND wins, 37-24
1. My season preview included music video footage for each position group. What song or video do you feel typifies this year's Notre Dame team heading into the season? Embed a youtube or other similar video if possible.
I had real trouble with this. Then, I thought, something fun, something upbeat. A little something that opens with a line like, "On your mark, ready set, let's go":
2. Post a picture that to you portrays the attitude of this year's team and discuss.
Awww, a little deer. Here's the deal. Look at this dude. He's feeling OK. You know, figured out the whole standing up thing at this point. But, there's a lot left to prove. It only takes one mountain lion (or car) to derail this whole growing up thing. But, if you can avoid the mountain lions (and cars), you're pretty well set. Like ND - things have been going OK. They're looking like they're going to get better, but it won't take much to screw that up. So, you know, avoid the lions. And the cars. And the people with guns.
3. What do you perceive as the team's biggest weakness heading into the season?
I was going to go with swagger/confidence/similar term, but that seems to be popular. Instead, I am wondering if I can get away with saying having Charlie on the field. I saw the Hawaii game. Put him back up there until ND loses again.
4. With the exception of the 1990s, Notre Dame has won a National Championship in every decade since the 1920s. What are the chances (a) that Notre Dame wins a championship this year, and (b) if not this year, when do you predict the next championship for the Irish?
(a)I'm going with a 25% chance ND wins a National Championship this year. The talent is there to win every game on the schedule, or drop one and still make it there. I'm optimistic, what can I say?
(b) Next year.
5. Nevada runs the Pistol offense, Navy the Triple Option, and Michigan the Spread Option. Which offensive scheme do you think is the most difficult to prepare for, and why?
Pistol. Was going to go with the others, but we see those on occasion. The pistol? Not so much. Anything that you don't see regularly is going to give you fits. I don't like fits. Plus, you know, at this point in the week, I am pretty convinced that Nevada is the best team ND will face all season (don't worry, I'll feel the same about Michigan this time next week).
6. Is Colin Capaernick the best quarterback we'll see this year? If not, who is?
I'll go with yes. And yes, most of this is the fact that I have spent the last month scaring the crap out of myself thinking about this game, rather than actual reasons. Colin Capaernick is, in my mind, with less than 48 hours until game time, perhaps the greatest quarterback of all time.
7. Prediction time. We have to get on the record before the season kicks off. Give me:
A video to go with my predictions:
(1) Overall prediction for wins/losses: 12-1
(2) Projected bowl game and result: National Championship and WIN.
(3) Predicted final ranking: #1
(4) Best player on the team: Michael Floyd
(5) Heisman trophy winner: Jimmy Clausen
(6) National Champion: Notre Dame
(7) Prediction for Nevada game, including score: ND wins, 37-24
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