The 2012 Humboldt Blogger’s Tournament has been postponed

Due to business of a personal matter, we regret to announce that 2012 Humboldt Blogger’s Tournament will be postponed for an indefinite period.  Realizing that it is a showcase for local blogs, we intend to have the tournament in its entirety at a  time to be announced.

We thank you for your understanding and patience.

Compulsive Proofreader: WE MISS YOU!

My dear friend Mr. Pat discovered this gem at a mall in the Bay Area.  After a few trips to mall he had to point out the error to a retail clerk.  Funny they had not noticed it before.

I post this to show my respect for the Compulsive Proofreader.  A one time blogger who shared his compulsion with all of us.  I know he is very busy, but we miss him all the same.

A subtle, yet not so subtle attitude change (or two)

This week I realized that I am going through a change in my everyday mind set.  I really could not put my finger on it right away, but today it all came together for me.  This afternoon I realized that my attitude has changed in two very distinct arenas.  These are sports, and automobiles.  Being a sports fan has been second nature to me for as long as I can remember.  When it comes to automobiles, I know what kind of cars are going to cost a lot, which ones will use less gas, and those designed to roar down the highway.

 

So what was it that finally brought this all home for me?

I was walking out of the pet store in Henderson Center when I saw a Kia Rondo parked outside the post office.  Normally I just walk on by and not invest a thought in such an ordinary car.  However, now that I drive a Nissan Versa ( a car very similar to the Rondo), I found myself doing a visual comparison of the Rondo to my Versa.  First I could not help but notice the slightly bigger back seat area for the passengers.  Of course the Rondo is at least a half foot to a foot longer than my Versa, and the designers decided to use that increased length to enhance the comfort of the rear seat passengers.  Well the back of both cars seem to have similar storage space…

 

OK, what the hell am I rambling on about in my mind?  Where does this come from?

 

It is so simple.

I have stumbled upon the car show Top Gear.  Now I only watch the UK version of this show, because when you get down to it, this original English version is so much better than any of the versions created after the fact.  The three hosts of the UK Top Gear Show, Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond have developed an on air chemistry that drives the show like a rocket lifting an object into space.  In between their reviews of cars (both Super Cars, and everyday cars for us working stiffs), they dream up elaborate challenges that involve a car in someway.  It could be a race from one point to another, or a contest to see who can buy the best car for a minimal amount of money.  It is an edgy show (Clarkson is often the target of letters from people or groups he has offended), but for people who get it, Top Gear is a bastion for those of us who wish we could never grow up.  These three blokes have one of the best jobs in the world.  They drive very expensive cars on their test track, travel all over the world to conduct challenges, and in the process manage to make us learn a little bit more about cars.

 

What really got me interested in Top Gear was the 60 Minutes story that was done about the show.  I had to check it out.  Since then I have been hooked.  I am nearly through all of the shows that stream on Netflix.  I can’t say that I am now a true “Petrol Head”, but as I shared with you my experience sizing up the Kia Rondo to my Versa, the Top Gear experience has me seeing the automobile like I never have before.

 

Here is the link to the 60 Minutes Story on Top Gear.  Judge for yourself.

 

Top Gear’s Wild Ride

 

Now onto sports…

I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember.  I grew up loving the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, and the one time Los Angeles Rams.  Growing up on the 80’s I was used to rooting for winning teams, well maybe not the Rams.  As my knowledge of sports grew over the years I felt I was quite knowledgeable about most things sports related.  I guess I was right to an extent, but then I started listening to Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio, and something changed.

Colin came to ESPN Radio’s national line up after Tony Kornhierser “retired” from his radio show.  Tony’s  show was wildly popular, and so Colin Cowherd had quite a uphill battle to gain acceptance from an entrenched audience base.  However, Colin persevered, and eventually he found success.  I like Colin, because he makes me think.  If I just want minimal provocation and just laughs, I catch Jim Rome in the morning.  A funny thing happens when the clock strikes noon here on the North Coast; Colin will come on the air and provoke the masses.  He does not say anything outrageous or over the line.  He has done something to upset the natural order of all sports fans.  Colin has taken the emotion out of sports.  Yes, as fans we love our teams, and our attachment to our favorite stars can cause a blindness to some basic truths.

 

Listeners e-mail and call Colin on a daily basis to berate him and tell him he knows nothing.  Colin handles these “meatballs” as he refers to them by asking them to take the emotion out of the equation.  No matter how much we love our players and teams, big time sports are a business, and actions are taken.  Athletes make choices that often leave fans broken hearted, but Colin defends the “greedy” and “disloyal” athletes (as the listeners would refer to them) by reminding the audience that the business of Sports is just that:  A Business.

 

As I thought about the whole car thing, I also thought about my sports thing too.  I am now seeing all of my sports news and notes with less emotion.  I still like the games, and will root for my teams.  However, I do not find myself thumping my chest while bragging about this athlete or that team.  I find myself thinking two steps ahead, about how a player could relocate after the season, or how a team plans to compete for a championship while clearly lacking the pieces it needs to be successful.  Colin Cowherd made me a better sports fan.  Well at least a different kind of one.

Porn is where you find it (or where a city will provide it in a library) #16!

I do not have the entire story, and I do not know how explicit the “porn” was in this library.  I just saw the headline as I worked out on the cardio machine at my gym. 

How bad do you need to get your perv on if you are getting it at a public library?

We slowly climb back to life: Costco trip from Super Bowl Week

 

You can’t deny that the probability of this being invented by a woman is rather high.

What’s next?  A luxury sports car without the luxury?

I wonder who broke the bad news to Ruth…

Perhaps it is a blessing that there are being marketed to appeal to children.  Otherwise, God knows how hostile a work environment could get!

W T F ???

Made for people who really enjoy cutting loose with their fruit.

I would say no, they did not import this from the Castro in San Francisco… nor do I believe that any kind of fruit has super powers.

Rest in Peace Angelo Dundee

Angelo Dundee standing behind the most famous fighter he trained. He was in Ali's corner for all but two fights.

I hoped that one day I would meet Angelo Dundee.  I always heard that he told great stories about his career in boxing.  I kept telling myself that of all the sports people I could ever meet, I wanted it to be Angelo Dundee.  He was described with nothing but kind words, he was said to be one of the kindest souls in a sport that was so brutal and violent.  Angelo Dundee has passed away Wednesday night at the age of 90.

Angelo Dundee is in the Boxing Hall of Fame for his work as a trainer.  If you are not a sports fan, you still probably know who Muhammad Ali is.  Angelo was the trainer for all but two of Ali’s fights.  He also trained many other boxers in a career that spanned seven decades.

I am very sad today.  I guess I will have to wait until the afterlife to meet Mr. Dundee.  I look forward to hearing his stories.

Allow me to make it up to my friends who are not Sports Fans.

I was a bit of a bully with my last post.  It was way out of line, and it also proves that I am no poet.

This Sunday the San Francisco 49′ers have a chance to return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1995.  The last time the Niners played in a Super Bowl I was not old enough to buy beer legally, and I had  only known my good friend Mr. Pat for five months.  So now people up and down the North Coast are excited about the potential return to greatness the Niners have at their hands.

So to my dear friends who have little interest or need for sports… you no doubt will end up in a situation in the next two weeks where you are confronted by a group of wild sports fans who will be talking the Football talk.

You wanna mess up their minds a little, and drop some sports knowledge on them that will knock them off their feet?  Nothing like showing up the loud mouth who thinks he knows EVERYTHING about football.

OK, so here is the background:  The National Football league splits its teams into two conferences with 16 teams apiece.  The American Football Conference, and the National Football Conference.  The San Francisco 49ers play in the National Football Conference.  The Super Bowl will be played between the winner of the American Football Conference and the winner of the National Football Conference  in about two weeks.

Now:  In the 17 years since the last time the 49ers reached the Super Bowl, the National Football Conference has sent all but two teams to the Super Bowl.  In 17 years 14 teams have represented the National Football Conference in the Super Bowl.  Only two teams in the conference have failed to reach a Super Bowl in that time.

Wanna bet your loud mouth sports moop can’t name the two teams?  Well, you will be able to…

The Detroit Lions (who have never been to a Super Bowl ever) and The Washington Redskins (oye ve)

I look forward to hearing about how you “Non-Sports Fan” clowned some beer belly super fan with a quick jab of trivia!