So, the Vikings finally lost today to the Pittsburgh Steelers. They fought hard, but just drew the short stick today. It was a well fought game, with the Vikings actually outplaying the Steelers. But when push came to shove, the Vikes turned the ball over twice in the fourth quarter with each getting ran back for a touchdown.
So I guess you can get some positives out of this loss, even though it is a loss and the Vikings are now 6-1. We learned that Sidney Rice is a beast, punter Kris Kluwe can't punt, and Chester Taylor should not be in the game at the end. If AP was in instead of him, that play would have at least gone for five yards and the outcome could, and probably would have been different. And, of course, the blown call by the ref when Sidney Rice scored a touchdown, but was negated because of a bogus tripping penalty. This would have put the Vikings up in the game and the Vikings could quite possibly have still been unbeaten.
But enough complaining. The Vikes are still first in their division and will win the division. The Lions and Bears are terrible, and the Packers just don't have the defense or offensive line to win the division. Sure, the Lions are improving, but they aren't good. The Bears got demolished by the Bengals today and are highly overrated. The Packers fans also need to stop bragging. They are back in the division and just beat the Browns. No Big Deal. That was for you McGriddle.
Now, let's focus on the Packers next week and kick some Lambeau butt. After which, the Vikings will be 7-1 and the Packers will know who is the best in the NFC Central.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Piano Competitons
So, every year I take part in a piano competition in December. I have to memorize three pieces and play them in front of a judge, and then I get scores. You may be wondering, why is he telling us this? Why would we care? Well, calm your turtles, as my mom said this weekend, I'm about to get to the point. Here it is. Why would you want to work all this time on three pieces just to get scores from a random judge that may or may not impact the outcome of the latter part of your life? Well, as it is in athletics, musicians want to compete. It's just the competing sprit inside all of us. No matter what we do, we want to be the best. We'll do whatever it takes as long as we come out on top.
This is just the nature of the beast. You may laugh, but piano can get intense. I'm always on the edge of my seat waiting for my turn to play, and when it finally comes I am so nervous and try the hardest I can to concentrate, so I can get the best possible score I can achieve.
Sure, sometimes I wish that during the course of memorizing my songs for competitions I could just drop them and play something new. I mean, the same songs over, and over, and over, and over do get kind of tiresome. You constantly ask yourself, why? Why do I want to play the same songs over and over again?
And then it hits you. You want to be the best. You want to demolish the competition and get a trophy, just so you know that you were the best on that given day. It's just the competitive spirit inside us all, and proves that sporting competitions are not the only competitive competitions in this world. Musical competitions can be competitive as well. I am an athlete too, so pure musicians might not feel the same way, but for the most part this is true. Piano competitions are competitive.
We're Gonna Fight, Fight, Fight for Iowa!
Well, the Iowa Hawkeyes did it again. They just refuse to let this magical undefeated season come to an end. And what a thrilling way to win on Saturday night beating Michigan State 15-13 on a last second touchdown pass from Ricky Stanzi to Marvin McNutt. All I have to say about this is one word, BEAST!
This was a very interesting game before even the opening kickoff Saturday night. Despite being ranked sixth in the nation, the Hawkeyes were a one point underdog. WHAT?? How can you be an underdog in a game if you are ranked sixth in the nation, you are undefeated, and you're playing an unranked team? How is that possible? Maybe, they just keep picking the Hawks to lose, because they think one of these weeks they have to lose. I mean, eventually they have to lose, right? Wrong!
The Hawks are now 8 and 0 on the year, and are in the driver's seat for a Big Ten title and a BCS berth. They have four games remaining on their schedule, with only one real test left, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Sure the other three are pretty good. But there is no way that Iowa will lose to them. This season is just to magical for that to happen. It seems like the ball always bounces the Hawks way, and no matter how hard they try to lose, they can't. What makes this Hawkeye team even more dangerous, is the fact that they are not playing to their full potential, but they are still undefeated.
What made this weekend even better was the fact that Iowa moved up to number four in the BCS rankings! Nice! It seems like they are finally starting to get some respect around college football. Everyone was saying how the Hawkeyes were overrated, and how there is no way they will win the Big Ten. To rile up Hawks fans even more, earlier this week, Colin Cowherd said how no one wants to see Iowa play for a national title. Why not, Colin? How would it not be fun to see a great defensive team try to slow down an Alabama, Texas, or Florida team for a national title? I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in it.
This Iowa team has done so much more than expected coming into this season. I didn't think they were that good this year. I thought, maybe in a year or two we'd be right back in contention in the Big Ten. And for once in my life, am I glad a was wrong!
Underdogs to Michigan State? Give me a break. Undefeated season? Oh yeah! Watch out, here comes the Hawks.
This was a very interesting game before even the opening kickoff Saturday night. Despite being ranked sixth in the nation, the Hawkeyes were a one point underdog. WHAT?? How can you be an underdog in a game if you are ranked sixth in the nation, you are undefeated, and you're playing an unranked team? How is that possible? Maybe, they just keep picking the Hawks to lose, because they think one of these weeks they have to lose. I mean, eventually they have to lose, right? Wrong!
The Hawks are now 8 and 0 on the year, and are in the driver's seat for a Big Ten title and a BCS berth. They have four games remaining on their schedule, with only one real test left, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Sure the other three are pretty good. But there is no way that Iowa will lose to them. This season is just to magical for that to happen. It seems like the ball always bounces the Hawks way, and no matter how hard they try to lose, they can't. What makes this Hawkeye team even more dangerous, is the fact that they are not playing to their full potential, but they are still undefeated.
What made this weekend even better was the fact that Iowa moved up to number four in the BCS rankings! Nice! It seems like they are finally starting to get some respect around college football. Everyone was saying how the Hawkeyes were overrated, and how there is no way they will win the Big Ten. To rile up Hawks fans even more, earlier this week, Colin Cowherd said how no one wants to see Iowa play for a national title. Why not, Colin? How would it not be fun to see a great defensive team try to slow down an Alabama, Texas, or Florida team for a national title? I'm sure a lot of people would be interested in it.
This Iowa team has done so much more than expected coming into this season. I didn't think they were that good this year. I thought, maybe in a year or two we'd be right back in contention in the Big Ten. And for once in my life, am I glad a was wrong!
Underdogs to Michigan State? Give me a break. Undefeated season? Oh yeah! Watch out, here comes the Hawks.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Undefeated Iowa Won't Make National Title Over a One Loss Team?
Tonight, I watched the show College Football Final on ESPN. It was talking about the BCS standings that came out today ( click here to see them ). Iowa was ranked number six above one-loss USC at number seven. Some people are complaining about this, but there is no reason that Iowa should not be ahead of them. Iowa is undefeated and USC has lost. It's as simple as that.
But anyway, the point of this story was that they said that an undefeated Iowa team would not make the national championship ahead of a one-loss team. What! How is that possible? How could you be an undefeated Big Ten team and not make the national championship? That doesn't make any sense. This points very frustrating flaws out about the BCS bowl system that college football has in place. There is no way that a team who went to Wisconsin and Penn State and won, and, hypothetically, went to Michigan State and Ohio State and won. That is a tough schedule. And they are saying this would not be deserving of a national title bid? Wow, ridiculous.
I believe, and I know that I'm sort of biased being an Iowa fan, that if Iowa goes undefeated they will make the national championship. They have to. This year would just be so special if Iowa went undefeated. There is no way that if Iowa came out of this year unscathed they would not make the national championship game. Sure the Big Ten hasn't been as strong as it used to be, but look at Ohio State. They lost to Purdue, and a bunch of people are saying how Purdue sucks and that means that Ohio State sucks. But, you have to remember that Purdue almost beat Notre Dame, who everyone is so in love with. A team that I feel is overrated but barelty lost to USC yesterday. A USC team that could potentially edge out Iowa for a bid in the national title game. It might just be me, but it doesn't seem like the logic fits. This is just one of the many frustrating reasons that the BCS system is flawed.
I think this will pump up the Hawks and they will finish the year undefeated, and will make the national title game. All I can say is that they better. The BCS would have to put them in. I mean, come on, they would be the champions of the Big Ten and be undefeated. That sounds like a national title bid to me.
But anyway, the point of this story was that they said that an undefeated Iowa team would not make the national championship ahead of a one-loss team. What! How is that possible? How could you be an undefeated Big Ten team and not make the national championship? That doesn't make any sense. This points very frustrating flaws out about the BCS bowl system that college football has in place. There is no way that a team who went to Wisconsin and Penn State and won, and, hypothetically, went to Michigan State and Ohio State and won. That is a tough schedule. And they are saying this would not be deserving of a national title bid? Wow, ridiculous.
I believe, and I know that I'm sort of biased being an Iowa fan, that if Iowa goes undefeated they will make the national championship. They have to. This year would just be so special if Iowa went undefeated. There is no way that if Iowa came out of this year unscathed they would not make the national championship game. Sure the Big Ten hasn't been as strong as it used to be, but look at Ohio State. They lost to Purdue, and a bunch of people are saying how Purdue sucks and that means that Ohio State sucks. But, you have to remember that Purdue almost beat Notre Dame, who everyone is so in love with. A team that I feel is overrated but barelty lost to USC yesterday. A USC team that could potentially edge out Iowa for a bid in the national title game. It might just be me, but it doesn't seem like the logic fits. This is just one of the many frustrating reasons that the BCS system is flawed.
I think this will pump up the Hawks and they will finish the year undefeated, and will make the national title game. All I can say is that they better. The BCS would have to put them in. I mean, come on, they would be the champions of the Big Ten and be undefeated. That sounds like a national title bid to me.
A Snowy October
Today I watched the New England Patriots whoop up on the Tennessee Titans 59-0. 59-0! But that is something to talk about at a later date. What I was really intrigued with was the fact that in Boston, Massachusetts, where the Patriots play, was covered in snow today. Snow already? It's only October.
Now don't get me wrong, I love watching snow football. All the turnovers and the leanience on the ground game. It makes for a very interesting contest. As much as I love these kind of games, I can't imagine a football season where half of the season's games could be potentially played in the snow! Wow, this global warming is ridiculous! Jokes aside, this weather has set up for the possiblity of a lot more running and not as much passing in these games, which could potentially change the outcome of a game. With all the snow, Tom Brady and the Patriots still put up ridiculous numbers through the air, I was very happy that because of Welker's 2 touchdowns and 150 yards. But they are the Patriots and they were playing the terrible Tennessee Titans. I'm afraid other teams won't be so lucky through the air if this kind of weather continues in the North and the Northeast.
I know I'm kind of jumping to conclusions pretty quickly. I mean, it was just one weekend, and Mother Nature can be kind of weird sometimes. Just ask us Iowans. We had a few days during the summer when we had to wear jackets! JACKETS IN THE SUMMER!!!
I don't think the snow will stay for long, and will come back around November. But, in case it does, I'm just throwing out ideas of how I think it would affect this National Football League season. Anyways, this weather doesn't really affect us Viking fans as our Vikes play in a dome, where weather is never a factor. But that doesn't mean the Vikings won't be affected at all by this weather. They do have away games, and they play in the NFC North once a year at the Packers at Lambeau Field, the frozen tundra, and at the Bears at Soldier Field in the chilly city of Chicago. The Lions play in a dome so the weather is not a factor there either.
I'm just begging you Mother Nature. Please save the snow for November.
Now don't get me wrong, I love watching snow football. All the turnovers and the leanience on the ground game. It makes for a very interesting contest. As much as I love these kind of games, I can't imagine a football season where half of the season's games could be potentially played in the snow! Wow, this global warming is ridiculous! Jokes aside, this weather has set up for the possiblity of a lot more running and not as much passing in these games, which could potentially change the outcome of a game. With all the snow, Tom Brady and the Patriots still put up ridiculous numbers through the air, I was very happy that because of Welker's 2 touchdowns and 150 yards. But they are the Patriots and they were playing the terrible Tennessee Titans. I'm afraid other teams won't be so lucky through the air if this kind of weather continues in the North and the Northeast.
I know I'm kind of jumping to conclusions pretty quickly. I mean, it was just one weekend, and Mother Nature can be kind of weird sometimes. Just ask us Iowans. We had a few days during the summer when we had to wear jackets! JACKETS IN THE SUMMER!!!
I don't think the snow will stay for long, and will come back around November. But, in case it does, I'm just throwing out ideas of how I think it would affect this National Football League season. Anyways, this weather doesn't really affect us Viking fans as our Vikes play in a dome, where weather is never a factor. But that doesn't mean the Vikings won't be affected at all by this weather. They do have away games, and they play in the NFC North once a year at the Packers at Lambeau Field, the frozen tundra, and at the Bears at Soldier Field in the chilly city of Chicago. The Lions play in a dome so the weather is not a factor there either.
I'm just begging you Mother Nature. Please save the snow for November.
Does the Best Talent Always Win Championships?
Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz is known for recruiting the lesser recruits. He doesn't go after the four and five star recruits, he goes after the three star recruits that could fit the mold of what he wanted his football team to be. And man has it worked out for him. It seems like every year he is in NFL coaching conversations, and ex-players are always very complementary of Ferentz.
I think that talent doesn't always win championships. Sure a few talented players always help, Iowa has a few, but just having talent doesn't win you championships. You have to have chemistry and people that will mesh well together. Iowa is not outstanding individually, but as a team they are very good this year because they mesh together well. They are playing as a team and it shows, because they are 7-0 and ranked seven in the nation.
Ohio State and Penn State both have loads more of talent than Iowa, but Iowa is undefeated and both of them aren't. This is just another reason that the best talent doesn't always win championships. I'm not saying that Iowa is not somewhat talented, they are, but they do not have the talent individually that a Penn State or an Ohio State team has. But I guess it doesn't really matter. All that matters is wins and losses, and it doesn't matter how pretty your wins are. It just matters that you win.
Iowa is now in the driver's seat for a Big Ten title and a BCS bid. All they have to do is close, and I think they will because of the chemistry they have this year, and how well they are playing as a team. GO HAWKS!!!
"Above: Big Ten Conference Logo, http://gridirongoddess.files.wordpress.com"
Monday, October 12, 2009
An Unwanted Record
This weekend a new record was set, and it isn't a good record to get. Derek Anderson, quarterback of the Cleveland Browns, completed a grand total of two passes, a low in the history of the NFL.
You may be thinking, "How is this possible?"
All I need to say to answer that question is to tell you to watch the Cleveland Browns play. They aren't a good team. I may just go out on a limb and call them terrible. Sure they have some bright spots, sure Derek Anderson was a Pro Bowl quarterback a few years ago, sure they have a bright future ahead of them, but this is a terrible year to be a Cleveland Browns fan. I would say they were the worst team in the NFL, not simply because of their 1-4 record, but because of how bad they are this season. They got rid of their best receiver Braylon Edwards and are well on their way to one of the crappiest records in the NFL this year. But, I can't say they are the worst team in the NFL because of how bad the Oakland Raiders and the St. Louis Rams are this season.
But, back to the record. There is no way you should ever complete that low of a number of completions. Just throw some screen passes and you'll keep that record safe. But the Cleveland Browns are just that bad that they can't complete more than three passes and can only put up 6 points. Now they lucked out and got their first win because the Buffalo Bills only scored three points, but six points for an NFL team, no matter how bad you are, is pretty pathetic. And it doesn't seem like things are getting easier for Derek Anderson or the Cleveland Browns the remainder of this NFL season.
All I have to say to the Cleveland Browns is to just put Brady Quinn back in. You aren't going to make the playoffs this year and Brady Quinn is your future, not Derek Anderson. Just get Quinn some much needed playing time and get better as a team this year, so you can return back to a level of respectability in the NFL next year.
Plain Old Rap Isn't Music
While listening to the radio this weekend, I came across a song, if you can call it that. It had beats and lyrics, so I guess it was technically a song, but it didn't feel like a song. There was no singing period. Just all talking, or rapping.
Now I have nothing against rap. I like all kinds of music, and have various genres on my ipod. But when there is no singing, I cannot consider it a song. Now if you mix singing and rapping, then I consider that a song, and I probably would very well like it, but plain old rap isn't music. You can feel free to argue with me. I don't know why you would. I'm not going to change my mind, but feel free.
I'm willing to bet that someone will say, "Oh music is just poetry with melodies in the background."
Well, maybe not those exact words, but you get the picture. Sure rapping is great and very interesting. But to listen to four minutes of pure spoken word, is extremely boring and I don't consider it music. Anyone can rap but it takes talent to sing or sing and rap. I know not a lot of "songs" are like this, but I just feel that I need to separate pure rap from music.
If you are just free styling in person mono-on-mono, then that is fantastic. I'll probably watch and cheer along with all the others. It is actually very entertaining to watch and funny at times as well. But the radio is for music and songs not plain old rap.
Even if the lyrics to a song are the greatest lyrics you have ever heard, it is not music until they sing some of it. Do you consider reading "Paul Revere's Ride" while soothing music is playing in the background music? I don't think so. That is the same point I am trying to make about how plain old rap isn't music. Now if you mix in some singing and rapping, and put an interesting spin to a certain poem or song, you have something going. Or maybe you still don't, depending on your singing/musical abilities. But that's an argument for a different day.
All I'm trying to say is leave the radio to actual music, and plain old rap to freestyle battles with your arch-nemesis or your friend. Whatever floats your boat.
"Above: Stereotypical Rapper, http://rap.about.com"
First Fantasy Football Disappointment
As this weekend of NFL football is coming to a close, I already know the outcome of my fantasy football matchup this week. I going to lose for the first time, as I can now smell defeat.
Coming into this weekend, I was unscathed. 4-0 and confident about this weeks matchup. I was high on cloud nine, and felt like I was unstoppable. But my world came crashed back into reality after this weekend's fantasy football matchup. I was romped by over 40 points! 40 POINTS! I couldn't believe it, but I guess you can't win every week. Just ask the 2007 New England Patriots.
Now, for one, I didn't feel so bad. I was matched up against my friend. He has a good team. So I guess I didn't lose to a joke. Not naming any teams (cough Get-R-Dunne). But all jokes aside, ha punny, I didn't feel too bad. I'm still 4-1 and have a great chance of winning my fantasy football league. What really made me mad this week was that my top receiver got benched minutes before his game which gave me 0 points. C'mon Sims-Walker! Help me out! And to make matters worse, I decided to have Patriots wideout Wes Welker on my bench. And what does he do? He puts up 14 points! I have a waste of 14 points on my bench. I'm not sure if that would have made a difference, but I had to channel some of my frustration.
But all you can do after a disappointing week of fantasy football is keep your head high, and get ready for next week. I'm sure my team will perform better and I'll be back on the winning tract next week.
Now you may be thinking, Why does this guy care so much about stupid fantasy football? Well, first of all, fantasy football is not stupid. And second of all, you can tell when someone is really into something when they feel so strongly about it and check their fantasy football team every few minutes. Wow, sounds like a fantasy football nerd, right? Well, then I guess I am officially a fantasy football nerd.
Watch out Mikey J, here I come!
"Above: Jacksonville Jaguars Wide Receiver Mike Sims-Walker, http://cdn.picapp.com"
"Above: New England Patriots Wide Receiver Wes Welker, http://bostonherald.com"
Sunday, October 4, 2009
College Football
As much as I love NFL football, especially the Vikings, I have to admit, my favorite thing to watch is college football. My team is the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Why do I love college football so much? Maybe because every game matters. Losing one game could ruin your season. It is a sport for underdogs. There's nothing better than seeing an underdog pull off an upset and win against the opposing, heavily favored team. That is as long as the Hawkeyes aren't the favorites.
Over the past few years, college football has taken some criticism for their postseason. A lot of people feel their should be playoffs in college football. The top twelve teams face of against each other and see who comes out victorious. Others want to keep it the way it is with the current BCS bowl system. Both have its pros and cons. Playoffs could end a long tradition of bowls in college football and some complain that the atmosphere wouldn't be as intense. Then again, the non-BCS conference teams would have a chance to win a national championship. In the BCS system teams like Boise State never are going to make the national championship because they play in a weak conference. Now don't get me started on Boise State as I feel they should move to a harder conference to see what they're really made of. Then again the BCS is a great experience. Every team in the Big Ten conference looks forward to having a chance to play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California against another great team. And they usually can only get there if they win the Big Ten conference. What exciting seasons this causes in not just the Big Ten, but in all of college football.
I do know one thing, though. No atmosphere is better than at a college football stadium. At places like the Horseshoe, Happy Valley, the Rose Bowl, and the Swamp the crowd is electric. A stadium who can hold its own in crowd noise is Kinnick Stadium, the Hawkeyes home field. Those fans can get loud. Especially when the home team is talented like they are this year. There's nothing better than going to a Hawk game and watching my favorite team duke it out with any other team in college football.
There is, without a doubt, nothing greater in sports than college football.
"Above: Iowa Hawkeyes Logo. Courtesy of http://www.sports-logos-screensavers.com"
Table Tennis
What an awesome sport table tennis is.
Today I watched table tennis on ESPN. It was the championship match of the Hardbat Classic. It was a 73 year old against a 23 year old. The 23 year old won in straight sets. The prize for the winner was $100,000. I was excited. I love to play table tennis, I have a table in my basement, and I love to watch it as well. I guess you could call me a table tennis enthusiast. What made this table tennis matchup great was that the players weren't pros like they usually are on television. They were just ordinary guys playing for $100,000. How great the sport of table tennis is! In what other sport could a 73 year old man face off against a 23 year old man in the championship match of a tournament? No sport other than table tennis.
Now, to my disappointment the match wasn't very close. The 23 year old won in back-to-back sets to win the hundred grand. I still found it awesome, though, that this 73 year old man is doing something he loves to do and can compete at a high level. What an amazing thing?
Table tennis is great! It's a great sport to play with friends. Singles and doubles are both fun. I find it very cool that you can put so much spin on the ball, and pull off crazy shots. It has to be one of my favorite things to do in my free time. I'm not as devoted as my brother, even though we are pretty even, as he has bought his own paddle. I had to laugh at him a little at the time, I mean your own paddle. And to make it even better he bought a case as well. But after a while, i realized why he bought it. That paddle is amazing! It also made me realize just how crappy our other paddles are. I'm now sure what my next purchase is going to be. A new table tennis paddle, as lame as that may seem.
I do know one thing. Table tennis is the greatest family sport invented, and truly is a great sport for all ages.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Down and Out For the Northsiders
So, this week the Chicago Cubs finally managed to mathematically eliminate themselves from playoff contention this year. And what a disappointing year it was.
What started off as a pretty great season, turned into a nightmare very quickly after the Mid-Summer Classic, the All-Star Game. After the All-Star Game, the Cubs were in first place in their division over the main contender, the St. Louis Cardinals (won the division this year). Then the Cubbies get in a huge slump and start losing a lot of games. At the beginning of August they were in first place, and by the end of August, they were 8 or 9 games back. Then they started playing well the last month of the season, but it proved to be too little too late. That was just the kind of up-and-down year the Cubbies had.
With all the talent they had coming off of their division winning team last year returning, and a new hitter, Milton Bradley, coming to the North side of Chi-town, the Cubs figured to be shoo ins for the division this year. But no, the Cubs go and waste a talented team like they usually do, and now they are once again going to be watching October baseball on their couches at home. I'll give some credit to the Cardinals. They improved their team with the addition of Julio Lugo and Matt Holliday. They both had big impacts for the Cards this year, but the bigger impact was by Matt Holliday who tore up the National League this 2009 season.
I am frustrated, as I am sure all Cubs fans are. Not only because they didn't make the playoffs, but because the Cardinals won the NL Central division by the biggest margin in all of baseball. The race wasn't even close the past few weeks. That is unacceptable for Chicago baseball fans, because this 2009 team was so talented. But I guess talent doesn't win championships, and I guess Cubby fans are learning this the hard way this season.
But all you can do is be optimistic for next year. Go get 'em next year Cubs! Because they sure can't this year, much to the dismay and displeasure of the northsiders in the Windy City and Cubs fans everywhere.
"Above: Cubs fan crying. Image courtesy of http://www.ehow.com"
"Above: Two sad Cubs fans. Image courtesy of http://www.cubssuckclub.com"
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