My take on the Seahawks-Chargers game (9/26/10):
Offense:
- Matt Hasselbeck is still struggling. He only had an ok game today. He overthrew and underthrew MANY receivers today.
- Forsett is solid. Not great, but solid. If he has a few good games, he could be a 1,000 yard rusher, our first since Shaun Alexander.
- Golden Tate, Deion Branch, and Mike Williams may be our best top three receivers we’ve had in a long time.
- Where was Julius Jones? The announcers even commented on that.
- When John Carlson gets involved, this offense does well. Every time. He needs to get the ball as much as possible.
- HORRIBLE decision at the end of the 2nd half. First, we waste our timeout right after the two minute warning. Then, when we’re near the goal line, we spike the ball, even though we had plenty of time to run a play. Then, with NO TIMEOUTS, Hasselbeck tries a quarterback draw and gets stuffed. We ended with zero points when we should have gotten three. Poor time management there. VERY POOR. I don’t know who is to blame: Hasselbeck, Carroll, or Bates? One of them could have cost us the game.
- It was the third straight week where the offense has started slowly. The Seahawks have ABSOLUTELY ZERO FIRST QUARTER POINTS SO FAR THIS SEASON. This offense is TERRIBLE at the start of games.
- However, for the first time this season, we did manage to score first. We got a field goal in the 2nd.
Defense:
- When we rushed Rivers, we forced him to get off a bad throw. When we didn’t rush him, he almost always found a LONG completion to either Gates, Floyd, or Naanee.
- Which leads to me saying that there’s something wrong with our zone defense. There were GAPING holes in it.
- The Chargers had technically FOUR tries to tie the game. The first TD pass to Gates was taken back (holding), but he still ended up getting the TD on the next play. Then, on the two point conversion, Legedu Naanee got a conversion but it was taken back (illegal touching—he went out of bounds), but he still managed to get the conversion on the next play. We did not take advantage after either penalty. If we had just taken advantage once, the game would not have been tied.
- Earl Thomas may become a better defensive player than Aaron Curry. AND, if he keeps it up, he’ll be in the running for defensive rookie of the year.
Special Teams:
- LEON WASHINGTON! What else can I say? Let him return kicks all year long. But it also was a bit the poor special teams coverage of the Chargers.
- Golden Tate also needs to stay as our punt returner. Although he needs to stop catching punts inside the 10 yard line.
Officiating:
- The officiating was generally good for this game. The reviews went a bet overboard in the final two minutes of the first half. Also, they made a terrible mistake which could have cost the Chargers. While they were determining something (I can’t remember what they were trying to figure out), the play clock kept running and the Chargers got penalized with a delay of game on their 2nd to last drive. That certainly didn’t help. They ended up turning the ball over on downs.
Other:
- Crowd appeared to be ecstatic! Four false starts and three delays of game! Great job by the 12th man.
- I liked Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts. They are better than most Fox announcers. Especially Dick Stockton and his pronunciation of Olindo Ma-RAY!
All in all, solid win. Next week, at the Rams. The Rams are 1-2 and just beat Washington. This is a game we probably should win. We’ve had success their recently, so I don’t see why that would change.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
My Take on the Seahawks/Chargers Game
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Top 20 Survivor Players Ever
Top 20 Survivor Players Ever
Well, since my girlfriend made this list and pressured me to do one too, here it is. My top 20 Survivor players ever. Following this list is a list of players who just barely missed the list.
20. Nick Brown – The Australian Outback
The Australian Outback was the first season of Survivor that I saw, and one of the players I immediately became a fan of was Nick Brown, as he is from Steilacoom, Washington. He made the merge and the jury, but didn’t come close to winning. But I still liked his game. He was quiet, played fair, and did his best.
19. Brianna Varela – Guatemala
You’re probably thinking to yourself, who? She was the third person voted out of one of the least memorable Survivor seasons, yet she makes my list. Why? Well one, she’s from Edmonds, Washington, and two, I had a major crush on her. I was rooting for her to go far, but sadly she did not.
18. Brian Corridan – Guatemala
Another one you probably haven’t heard of. Brian Corridan was on the same season as the aforementioned Brianna Varela, and he got a little farther, finishing in 12th place. He had the strategy to go far, and I envisioned him as the next, even better, Rob Cesternino, but unfortunately it never panned out. Also, he was one of two Brian’s ever on Survivor.
17. Amanda Kimmel – China, Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains
Amanda is one that I kind of liked, but not too much. I never was a huge fan of hers, I have to admit, but I do think she deserved to win (she gave three good shots at it). She’s also not bad on the eyes, either, which you’ll see common amongst the woman on my list here. Her downfall was always the final tribal council where she always come off pretty badly.
16. Stephenie LaGrossa – Palau, Guatemala, Heroes vs. Villains
Stephanie is one of the true fighters I’ve seen on the show. What I mean by that is someone who never gives up and always strives to win. She is the complete opposite of Osten and Janu, notable quitters of Survivor. She deserved to win once, that’s for sure. And she’s the only person in Survivor history to be the last remaining member of her tribe before the merge.
15. Erik Reichenbach – Micronesia
Oh, Eric. You fool. “I would like to give my Immunity necklace to Natalie.” DOH! Oh well. I was so rooting for Erik that season, but he made one of the biggest bonehead moves in Survivor history. Who knows what would have happened if he hadn’t done that. Probably would have finished 2nd to someone. But I loved his enthusiasm and knowledge of the game… and his profession: Ice cream scooper, haha.
14. Danielle DiLorenzo – Exile Island, Heroes vs. Villians
Ok, I gotta admit. If it wasn’t for her amazing body, she wouldn’t be on this list. She’d be close, but she wouldn’t be on here. That aside, she still managed to make the final two in one game and prove to be a force in an “All-Stars” type game. I did like how she played the game, and she was probably the one person who I didn’t think belonged on the villains.
13. Russell Hantz – Samoa, Heroes vs. Villains
Let me get this cleared up. I do not like Russell. I don’t think he’s a great guy. I do, however, respect how he played the game. He made getting to the finals look EASY. Sure, he did some scumbag things, but he also managed to fool people even older than him (Shambo for one). I wish that if I were to somehow get on Survivor myself, I could play the game as… cunningly… as he did.
12 and 11. Jenna Morasca and Heidi Strobel (tie) – The Amazon (Heidi and Jenna), All-Stars (Jenna)
Jenna and Heidi are two of the hottest women to ever be on Survivor. Jenna won her season and Heidi ended up marrying a star baseball pitcher (Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies). Of course, their most memorable moment was when they stripped for chocolate cookies and peanut butter. That’s the first, and still only, time in Survivor that a woman has gotten naked deliberately in front of a man on camera.
10. Tyson Apostol – Tocantins and Heroes vs. Villains
Tyson didn’t play the game particularly well either time he played. But he makes my list because he is without a doubt the funniest guy to ever be on Survivor. His jokes, albeit sometimes crude, are the funniest things the show has had. I wish they would bring him back for a third season just to hear what he would say. He loved giving Coach a hard time.
9. Chris Daugherty – Vanuatu
Not to be confused with the former American Idol contestant and frontman for the band Daughtry, Chris Daugherty did something so amazing in Survivor that I’m not at all surprised it hasn’t been repeated since. Chris made it to the final seven… as the ONLY MAN. The other six in the final seven were women. So obviously, he had a target on his back. But he somehow, miraculously, won. How, I’ll never know. Jeff Probst even considers him one of the most unlikely Survivor winners.
8. Yul Kwon – Cook Islands
Yul played the game probably better than anyone in history. He always analyzed things, thinking of “what if” scenarios, and he did it absolutely right. Besides those things, there’s also no reason to dislike Yul, unless you happen to be racist towards Asians. He has got to be one of the least hated Survivors ever, and for good reason.
7. Sandra Diaz-Twine – Pearl Islands, Heroes vs. Villains
Sandra is the only player to ever win the game twice, so she’s got to be on this list. I like how she tells things how they are and is up straight with people. She also lived in Fort Lewis, Washington, while her husband was stationed there. I was happy when she won Survivor. Both times.
6. Brian Heidik – Thailand
The only other Brian (besides Brian Corridan) to play survivor is Brian Heidik. Brian dominated his game. He was easily the best and only interesting Survivor that season. Unfortunately, he got into a bit of trouble with the law after the game, so he drops down a few notches. He was charged with shooting a dog with an arrow, which he thought was a coyote. And he used to do soft-core porn. So yeah…
5. Colby Donaldson – Australian Outback, All-Stars, Heroes vs. Villains
Colby is one of the most well-liked players to ever play Survivor. In his first season, he dominated challenges. Unfortunately, he made the wrong move taking Tina Wesson instead of Keith Famie to the final 2. He had two “all-star” appearances after that, but failed to win both times. However, he has always played with integrity and loyalty.
4. Rupert Boneham – Pearl Islands, All-Stars, Heroes vs. Villains
Rupert is probably the most well-liked Survivor ever and probably will always be. He never backstabs anyone and he plays 100% all the way through the game. He never actually won Survivor, but he got to the jury in each of his seasons. Probably the reason he hasn’t been to the finals is because if he did, he would most surely get all the jury’s votes. But since he never won, he settles for fourth on my list.
3. Ethan Zohn – Africa, All-Stars
What a guy. The way he played Africa has to be one of the best Survivor “performances”, if you will, of all time. He is one of the most well-liked Survivor winners and, if it wasn’t for his battle with cancer, probably would have been on Heroes vs. Villains. He truly is a warrior, a fighter, and a great man, and I wish he could have played one more time.
2. Aras Baskauskas – Exile Island
Ok, so he only played once, yet he won, but he’s 2nd on my list. I don’t know what to say. Aras is the survivor who I connected to the most. He’s the survivor I’d most model my game after, if I were to go on the show. I love how he mocked Terry in one of the final challenges of the season, and he totally bested Danielle in a battle of words at the final tribal council. It’s a shame he never played again, because he could have gone far again.
1. Parvati Shallow – Cook Islands, Micronesia, Heroes vs. Villains
She’s made the finals twice, made the jury three times, and has probably the cutest smile on Survivor. Parvati is without a doubt my favorite survivor ever. She could write a book on how to play Survivor. She uses her charm and bubbly personality to woo over other players. She’s the perfect Survivor player because she’s not a huge threat, yet she’s just manipulative enough to get to the finals and win. Yet, no one really considers her a threat. That’s why Parvati Shallow is my favorite Survivor ever.
Just missed the cut: JT Thomas, Stephen Fischbach, Coach Ben Wade, Spencer Duhm, Michael “Frosti” Zernow, Taj George, Neleh Dennis, Tom Westman, Danni Boatwright, Bobby Jon Drinkard
Monday, September 20, 2010
My Top Ten Favorite TV Shows Ever
Top Ten TV Shows Ever
I’ve been meaning to do a blog on this, so here is my Top Ten Favorite TV Shows ever. This includes every TV show that had a plotline, from cartoons to comedies to dramas. Before I announce the top ten, here are the runners up:
That 70s Show
The Drew Carey Show
Doug
Pokemon (Anime series)
The Big Bang Theory
Hey Arnold
Two and a Half Men
Glee
And here are the Top 10:
10. Whose Line Is It Anyway
Whose Line Is It Anyway is a rare type of show that relies on improvisation and unwritten and unscripted performances and routines done by four talented comedic actors, usually comprising of Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, and Wayne Brady, and one other. This show has made me laugh more than any other. It is a total shame it’s not on anymore, or at least another version of it. Perhaps someday some people will bring it back with a new cast.
9. Rugrats
My favorite childhood show, I grew up with Rugrats. I grew up with Tommy, Chuckie, Phil and Lil, and Angelica. The show had a great run. I’ve some episodes at least 10 times. I don’t watch it anymore, but I sure learned a lot from this show on what it means to be a friend and doing the right thing. I also watched two of the movies they came out with. The show went downhill after introducing Kimy unfortunately, then completely jumped the shark when they abandoned the “babies” concept and went with “All Grown Up”, which didn’t last long.
8. Heroes
I have to admit losing interest in this show in its final year before cancellation, but that was a lot later than most Heroes fans lost interest. I just thought they had well-written characters that you could root for, like Claire, Hiro, and Noah Bennett. The show kind of veered off course from what it was successful at in its first season, which was developing characters and giving them goals and sticking to them. It’s a shame Heroes ended the way it did, but it is still one of my favorite dramas of all time.
7. Family Guy
I got into the show after watching clips of it on Youtube, laughing my you-know-what off. I then started watching the show on FOX and immediately go into it. It’s not realistic, but they go places almost no other show will go (except maybe South Park). The characters never really progress or age, but what do you expect of a cartoon? Bart and Lisa have been the same age for twenty years!
6. The Office
I admit, I actually did not get into this show until less than a year ago. A year ago today I had never seen an episode of The Office, and now it’s my number 6 favorite TV show ever. One day, I was sort of bored and noticed Netflix had all the episodes of seasons 1-5 available to watch online, so I did. And I got hooked. I finished five seasons in just a couple months. I can’t wait to see further seasons.
5. American Idol
Probably the most successful reality show of all time, American Idol is in my top ten because since 2004, I have followed this show every year. I have also dreamed of one day trying out and competing on the show. Yes, the show is starting to slide and may be on its way towards much lower ratings, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a show I’ve followed more closely than American Idol for the past 6 years.
4. Survivor
Survivor is without a doubt the best reality show I’ve ever seen. They’ve come out with twenty seasons, and I’ve seen all but the very first season (I plan on watching it someday). They’ve had hundreds of contestants on the show. And since 2002, I have been an avid fan of the show. It is just a great hour of television. And no one could do a better job of hosting it than Jeff Probst.
3. How I Met Your Mother
Interestingly, I got into HIMYM after hearing that Britney Spears was going to be on the show. Intrigued, I decided to watch the show, and I was hooked. HIMYM is one of the best comedies I’ve ever seen. I absolutely love the mystery element in the show where you have to try to wonder and guess who the mother is future Ted is talking about. And it is, as of 2010, my favorite TV show still on air.
2. Friends
My favorite comedy of all time. I got into the show in high school and I have now seen each episode at least five times, something I cannot say for any other show. I have learned so much about dating, relationships, and friendship, all from this one show. Friends is without a doubt in my mind, the best comedy of its generation.
1. LOST
I’ve already made a blog post entirely to this one show. LOST is the greatest television show I have ever seen. It has drama, action, comedy, romance, thriller moments, mystery, and suspense. I got into the show right before season two started. Oddly enough, during the fall of 2004, I had a choice between two shows to watch on Wednesday night at 8pm. One was LOST on ABC. The other was this show called “North Shore” on FOX, a drama about surfers in Hawaii, which intrigued me. I chose North Shore, and chose wrong, as it was cancelled after one season. Fortunately, after missing the first season of LOST, I was able to catch up and fall in love with it. LOST is without a doubt my favorite TV show ever.
Friday, September 3, 2010
2010 NFL Season Predictions
2010 NFL Season Predictions (Along with extensive Seahawks predictions)
Italics indicate changes made since this was first posted. So far, I've just changed the NFC West and primarily, how the Seahawks will do this year.
Well, the 2010 NFL Season is almost upon us and so it is time for me to pick how I think each team will do. I will go team-by-team, giving them what I predict their record to be and a short one or two sentence reasoning for it. I will also go more in depth for my favorite team, the Seahawks, and predict each of their games as well as my three areas of concerns and three areas of confidence with the team. And last but not least, I predict the NFL postseason and the winners of the NFL awards. Enjoy!
AFC East
Jets: 11-5 – Sure, Revis is still holding out, but I think Sanchez only gets better and the addition of L.T. will help.
Patriots 10-6 (Wild Card) – Not a thrilling year for the Pats, who are aging. Randy Moss is 33.
Dolphins: 7-9 – Very average and slightly boring team will fall out of the playoffs in the last few weeks. Brandon Marshall won’t be much help, I’m afraid.
Bills: 4-12 – A team that will show it is in rebuilding mode, maybe looking to grab Jake Locker in next year’s draft.
AFC North
Ravens: 12-4 – I see a stellar year for the Ravens. Sure, some of their players are aging, like Ray Lewis, but they have a lot of young talent like Flacco, Rice, Oher, and Ngata to power this team.
Bengals: 9-7 – Decent team will just barely miss the playoffs. T.O. will prove to be a distraction.
Steelers: 8-8 – They will struggle without Big Ben and he will only be so-so when he gets back.
Browns: 5-11 – Seneca sees some snaps in the Holmgren era, but they can’t avoid last place.
AFC South
Colts: 11-5 – Another good season for Manning and co. on their way to another playoff berth.
Texans: 9-7 (Wild card) – This young team will barely squeak into the playoffs for the first time.
Jaguars: 8-8 – I see a surprising year out of these young cats. They aren’t getting much respect anymore.
Titans: 7-9 – I see Vince Young having his issues again and/or a Chris Johnson injury.
AFC West
Chargers: 9-7 – The AFC’s worst division will be won again by the slowly declining Chargers.
Broncos: 7-9 – It will be a while before McDaniels and co. turn this team into a consistent contender again.
Raiders: 7-9 – The Raiders will have their best season in a while, but nothing to jump up and down for.
Chiefs: 6-10 – Cassel and co. will show some signs of greatness, but this team is still young and rebuilding.
NFC East
Cowboys: 11-5 – Romo and his ‘Boys will have a great regular season, but again will struggle in the playoffs.
Giants: 10-6 (Wild Card) – The Giants are still a good team and since they are they will continue to make the playoffs.
Redskins: 8-8 – The Redskins will have an up and down year, that’s for sure.
Eagles: 7-9 – I can’t see the Eagles having too much success with a new QB and RB, especially with an inexperienced Kolb at QB.
NFC North
Packers: 12-4 – Rodgers will have a great year, but their defense will be the shining spot.
Vikings: 10-6 (Wild Card) – Favre will lead the Vikes to the playoffs again.
Bears: 7-9 – They will be inconsistent and neither their offense nor their defense will be spectacular.
Lions: 5-11 – A young team on the rebound will make a slight improvement.
NFC South
Saints: 10-6 – Brees and the offense will shine, but the defense will falter at times.
Falcons: 9-7 – Yet another near miss from the playoffs. But Matt Ryan’s time will come some day.
Panthers: 7-9 – Matt Moore proves to be only ok, perhaps not good enough to lead them to the playoffs.
Buccaneers: 4-12 – The Bucs will have a hard time winning games with such a young core of players.
NFC West
49ers: 8-8 - The 49ers will win the weakest division. They will, however, not win a playoff game.
Cardinals: 7-9 – The Cardinals are in transition mode, and Derek Anderson might not start every game.
Rams: 5-11 – Sam Bradford will prove to be the quarterback of the future for the Rams, as they make some progress this season.
Seahawks: 4-12 - The Seahawks have made too many moves of late to really compete. They will have too many players that aren't used to our team yet.
SEAHAWKS
2010 Schedule:
vs. San Francisco (Loss, 0-1), @ Denver (Loss, 0-2), vs. San Diego (Loss, 0-3), @ St. Louis (Loss, 0-4), @ Chicago (Loss, 0-5), vs. Arizona (Win, 1-5), @ Oakland (Win, 2-5), vs. New York Giants (Loss, 2-6), @ Arizona (Loss, 2-7), @ New Orleans (Loss, 2-8), vs. Kansas City (Loss, 2-9), vs. Carolina (Win, 3-9), @ San Francisco (Loss, 3-10), vs. Atlanta (Loss, 3-11), @ Tampa Bay (Loss 3-12), vs. St. Louis (Win, 4-12).
Home record: 3-5
Away record: 1-7
The Seahawks will struggle mightily this year, starting out 0-5 and three different losing streaks of 5, 4, and 3 in the season and finish 4-12. I have realized that we are definitely in rebuilding mode, and I can't expect much from a team that is changing so many players. Pete Carroll will remain coach, but of course, there will be a few fans who will want him fired. The Seahawks will be eligible for one of the top picks in the draft, and I think a quarterback might be what they'd take (Jake Locker, anyone?)
Three areas of concern:
1) Running game – This team needs a running game to win. They cannot be one dimensional. They showed nothing in the preseason, and Forsett will show his lack of experience this year.
2) Big plays allowed – I’m worried with an aging Lawyer Milloy and an inexperienced Earl Thomas that they might allow a lot of big plays. And they probably will with that bad combination. The loss of Josh Wilson will hurt them, as Kelly Jennings would not start on most teams.
3) Scoring early – The Seahawks have been plagued the past two years by not being able to score early in ball games, especially on their first few possessions. The offensive line being shaken up (Losing Gibbs, Okung being hurt) will hurt the offense mightily. Hasselbeck will have just as much pressure as the past two years, and the running game won't be any better, either.
Three areas of confidence:
1) Passing game/Wide receivers – I really think the passing game will do not too badly this year. Mike Williams will have a solid, but not great year, and will be in the running for comeback player of the year. Tate and Butler will make strides.
2) Stopping the run – I’m still fully confident in our ability to stop the run. I don’t see us allowing many 100 yard rushers this year.
3) Special teams – Mare and Ryan are an excellent pair of kickers. We’ll have a good return game, too, I expect.
NFL Playoffs
AFC Wild Card
Patriots (5) at Chargers (4) – Patriots
Texans (6) at Jets (3) – Jets
AFC Divisional
Patriots (5) at Ravens (1) – Ravens
Jets (3) at Colts (2) – Colts
AFC Championship
Colts (2) at Ravens (1) – Ravens
NFC Wild Card
Vikings (5) at Cardinals (4) – Vikings
Giants (6) at Saints (3) – Saints
NFC Divisional
Vikings (5) at Packers (1) – Vikings
Saints (3) at Cowboys (2) – Cowboys
NFC Championship
Vikings (5) at Cowboys (2) – Vikings
Super Bowl XLV
Ravens at Vikings – Vikings
So, there you have it. The All Purple Super Bowl goes to The Minnesota Brett Favres. After his 2nd Super Bowl win, Favre finally decides to retire for good.
Awards:
Coach of the Year: John Harbaugh
MVP: Peyton Manning
Offensive Player of the Year: Aaron Rodgers
Defensive Player of the Year: DeMarcus Ware
Offensive ROY: Ryan Mathews
Defensive ROY: Ndamukong Suh
Comeback player of the Year: Mike Williams
Top 10 Things I Am Looking Forward To Most in My Future
Top 10 Things I am Most Looking Forward to in My Future
For this blog post, I wanted to make another Top 10. This Top 10 is about things I am most looking forward to in the future. I must preface the list by saying that some of these events may not happen. There’s no guarantee for any of them. Some don’t involve me too much, but I want to see them happen. Anyway, here they are, in order, the Top 10 Things I am Most Looking Forward to in My Future:
Honorable mention: Getting my own car
Yes, I am desperate need of my own car. This is the one on this list that might happen soonest. I am tired of having to borrow one of my parents’ cars. Sure, there will be car insurance bills, paying for gas, maintenance and care for it, but it will so be worth it, since I will be able to drive anywhere whenever I want.
10. The end of How I Met Your Mother
I know, it’s just a TV show, but I am so looking forward to the end of the show and finding out who the mother is, who is the woman Ted ends up marrying. This and LOST are the two shows I have most anticipated the end of. I cannot wait to see who the Mother is. And when it’s all said and done, How I Met Your Mother will go down as one of the best comedies of its generation.
9. Getting my own pet (probably a cat)
I’m really looking forward to having my own pet. Perhaps this won’t be until I’m married and settled down, but I can wait. It will probably be a cat, since I am more of a cat person than a dog person, but along with having kids, I’ve always wanted to have at least one pet. Pets are like people that can’t talk or understand anything. They are great companions.
8. Mariners winning the World Series/Seahawks winning the Super Bowl
For my entire life I have rooted for the Mariners and Seahawks and for my entire life they have both not won a championship. All I want to have happen is at least one of them winning just one championship, just one. The city of Seattle would be in a state of euphoria. We have long waited for a national champion in a major sport. And it would be one of the greatest days of my life if it were to happen. With how much money the Seahawks and Mariners are willing to spend on players, there just has to be a championship from at least one of them in my lifetime.
7. Moving Out
Yes, I’m 21 and still living with my parents, but I’m waiting until I’m financially ready to move out, but I will also say that I can’t wait to move out. It will be so nice to either have a place to myself or to live with someone new. It’s gonna be a bit sad for me, because I have so many memories in my current house, but I will have a new home to look forward to.
6. Living Near Amanda
Like I said, the future is not set in stone, but I cannot wait until the day that one of us moves to the other. It’s going to be such an amazing change from having to fly to see each other every couple months. It’ll be so nice to do stuff with her that I haven’t had the chance to yet. Plus, she’ll be another person I could rely on in case of an emergency.
5. Travelling to Places I’ve Never Been
For my entire life I have been contained to the Pacific Time Zone. I just recently expanded past the Pacific Northwest and went to California, but now I want to visit other places. I want to visit the east coast of the US, most notably New York City. I want to visit Europe, most notably England and/or Germany. I want to visit Hawaii. I know it may be a long time before I go to those places, but I can wait. I waited 20 years to go to California. I can wait another 20 years to leave the West Coast.
4. Buying my first house
From what I’ve heard and seen, there’s some satisfaction you get from purchasing your first home that you can’t get from anything else. Finally, once you buy your own house, you have a place you worked hard for, saved up for, and a nice place you can call “home”. A place to start a family in. That’s what I want some day, and I am so looking forward to it.
3. Landing my Dream Job
I am currently a checker at Safeway and I’ll definitely admit it is not my dream job. But my problem is that I do not know what is. I have many aspirations, but settling on one is hard for me to do. Someday I will figure out what my dream job is, then I will do whatever it takes to obtain it.
2. Getting Married
I have always wanted to get married. I never wanted to end up alone. I want to be the head of the household, the man of the house, and somebody’s husband. This is way off into the future for me, but it’s something I have looked forward to for a long time, ever since I got interested in girls. Spending the rest of my life with someone I love more than anything would be a dream come true for me.
1. Having Kids
I love kids. Love them to death. Well, not actually to death—that’s just a figure of speech. I love kids the appropriate amount… as allowed by law. Haha I had to take that quote from Friends. But yes, I do love kids. I get along great with them. I am really looking forward to having kids of my own and being the one to take care of them. I’ve wanted to be a dad for as long as I can remember. I definitely want to wait until I’m ready, both financially and mentally. But when I do have kids, the day they’re born will be the best days of my life.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My Favorite to Least Favorite MLB Teams
ULTIMATE FAVORITE TEAM EVER
1. Seattle Mariners
Without a doubt, not only my favorite baseball team, but my favorite sports team, period. They have tons of great promotions, the best and classiest fans in the game, and Safeco Field is the best semi-new MLB stadium. Their jerseys are beyond awesome. Sure, they haven’t done much since 2001, but it will be there time again soon, and when it is, man it will be fun to be a Mariners fan. GO MARINERS!
I LIKE THESE TEAMS
2. San Francisco Giants
The only other MLB team that I’ve been to the home game of is the San Francisco Giants. They’ve also got great fans, great players, and a good history. They haven’t won a World Series since their move to San Francisco from New York, but they will. They’ve got many likeable players such as Lincecum, Posey, and Sandoval. And their stadium is one of the best in the majors. The Giants are my favorite NL team and my 2nd favorite overall team.
3. Cleveland Indians
I’ve lost a lot of favor in this team. They are now with the Royals as the bottom dwellers of the AL Central. They used to consistently be one of the best AL teams, year in and year out, with guys like Ramirez, Justice, Alomar, and Thome. Now, all they have is Sizemore. I can’t believe I have them this high since in 1995 they knocked the Miracle M’s out of the playoffs. Thanks a lot, guys.
4. Colorado Rockies
They have awesome team colors, black and purple. They always have some of the best players in the league on their roster. And their commercials are some of the best in baseball. Coors Field is still one of the best places to watch a baseball game as well. Their mascot, Dinger, is one of the most unique mascots. Hard to not root for this team.
5. Florida Marlins
They know how to win without spending hundreds of millions of dollars. They’ve already won TWO World Series Championships in their 18 year history. The Mariners have zero in almost twice the time. What can I say, I’m jealous. But I’m also impressed. Sure, with the way they produce players, it’s hard to have a dynasty, but they still manage to win a couple World Series. Sure, their stadium and fans suck, but at least they don’t overpay and lose.
6. Minnesota Twins
They just opened up a beautiful new ballpark. They have loyal fans. And they have some of the most likeable players, such as Joe Mauer, in the game. They play to win, not to make money. The Twins are a team I almost wish I was a fan of. Some year, with Joe Mauer, they will get to the World Series. And it will be very hard to not root for them.
THESE TEAMS ARE OK. I DON’T MIND SEEING THEM WIN.
7. Atlanta Braves
I don’t know what it is. Perhaps that their games used to be broadcast on TBS so I could watch a few of their games from right here in Seattle. Perhaps it’s that they hold onto their truly great players (for the most part) like Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, and John Smoltz. Their Braves chant, or whatever it’s called, is pretty awesome. And their stadium is nice too.
8. Chicago Cubs
I’m not necessarily a fan of this team, but I sure feel their pain. They haven’t won a World Series in how many years? 90? And it’s also been a while since they won just a pennant. I put them this high because I feel for Cubs fans, I really do. I felt for them during the Steve Bartman incident. Those kinds of things happen to my Mariners too. And Wrigley Field, you can’t beat that.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks
They, like the Marlins, started out not too long ago and already have a World Series championship. Like the Marlins, I’m insanely jealous. They’ve had some great players, such as Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, and Curt Schilling, and I love their stadium with the pool in right field. They always seem to do something every year, whether it’s one of their pitchers throwing a perfect game or them making the playoffs unexpectedly. They just are hard to hate.
10. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals always seem to have one of the best power hitters in the game, McGwire, Pujols, Musial… anyway, they not only boast great players, but a nice stadium, great uniforms, and a loyal fanbase. If I moved to St. Louis I could easily become a Cardinal’s fan. Heck, that would be way easier than becoming a Rams fan (see my post on NFL teams). They’ve got a World Series title recently, and in this past decade, they just always seem to be in the playoff race.
THE TWO ENIGMAS
11 and 12 (TIE). New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox
What can I say, I can’t make up my mind. Sometimes, I like the Yankees more than the Red Sox. Other times, I like the Red Sox more than the Yankees. But they get way too much attention from the media, such as ESPN. I hate them for beating up on my Mariners, but I’m always ok with seeing them win it all, for the most part. They both have rich histories and great stadiums.
THE “MEH” TEAMS
13. Philadelphia Phillies
They’re hard not to root for because of their fans, their players, and the fact that Cory Matthews from Boy Meets World is a huge Phillies fan. Plus, the city of Philadelphia goes through about the same amount of heartbreak as Seattle does. And I mentioned great players… they’ve got so many likeable ones from Utley to Howard to Halladay and now to Roy Oswalt.
14. Chicago White Sox
I really don’t know what to say about this team. Their uniforms are like a rip-off of the Yankees’. Their stadium is average. Their players are ok. I have no reason to dislike this team, however. They completely let the 2000 Mariners walk all over them in the 2000 AL Division Series. Sort of sparked the 116 win 2001 team. Thanks ChiSox!
15. Kansas City Royals
They share a team name with my Junior High, so there’s something. There is absolutely zero bad blood between them and the Mariners. So, it’s not too hard to like the Royals, except that they almost always suck. Ever since the days of George Brett it’s almost a routine thing to see the Royals at the bottom of the division. They’ve lost great players like Carlos Beltran, Raul Ibanez, and Johnny Damon. But they’re like the Bad News Bears. Hard not to root for the underdogs.
16. Tampa Bay Rays
Well, they are now one of the most competitive teams in the league, and they boast great young, likeable talent in Longoria, Crawford, and Price. Their stadium still kind of sucks (they should totally play in an open air stadium), but their uniforms are pretty nice… maybe a bit too nice. Ever since their recent uniform reveal a few years ago, I’ve noticed their uni’s are like a ripoff of the Mariners’. So they get knocked down a few notches for that. But hey, they’ve managed to get to the World Series already.
TEAMS I DON’T REALLY CARE FOR EITHER WAY
17. Pittsburgh Pirates
I feel your pain, Pirates fans, I really do! Poor team hasn’t had a winning season since I was 3. They have one of the nicest looking ballparks in baseball, and they never boast any multi-million dollar earning players on their roster anymore. That gets some respect from me. But they share a city (and a color scheme) with my most hated football team, so that drops them down to 17th.
18. Detroit Tigers
They have never really been a nemesis of the Mariners. And, when their park first opened, I thought it was amazing. It was also fun cheering for them in their 2006 World Series run. They always seem to have one of the game’s best players, and currently they do with Miguel Cabrera. I don’t like the Tigers a ton, but I certainly have no reason to hate them.
19. San Diego Padres
They’re the so-called NL “Rival” of the Mariners. The A’s get the Giants, the Rangers get the Astros, the Angels get the Dodgers…. And we get the Padres. Nice. Anyway, the Padres do have a nice park and uni’s, and the Mariners do play them a bit in spring training. And they have exchanged quite a few players over the past decade. They have a few ties to the Mariners, which is cool.
20. Los Angeles Dodgers
Great history, stadium, fans, and one of the most legendary announcers ever, Vin Scully. At times, it’s hard to not root for them, but then again, they are the biggest rival of my 2nd favorite team. They have many actors and famous faces attending their games, such as Alyssa Milano and Shia Labeouf. But asides from all that, they’re just another team to me.
TEAMS THAT ANNOY ME
21. Texas Rangers
Yes, they are a division rival of my Mariners, but they hardly ever beat up on us, and when they do, it’s because we suck. They always seem to have some of the best power hitters in the game. They definitely don’t crack the top 20 because they stole away Alex Rodriguez from us. Granted, they just wanted a good player, so yes, I mainly blame A-Rod, but these guys are still a team I’d rather see lose than win.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
Who doesn’t love a sausage race? And their stadium…. Man I would love to visit Miller Park some day. And they always play to win instead of make money. Sure, they are formerly the Seattle Pilots, and that’s why they don’t crack the Top 20. This team is sort of MLB’s version of the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. Two former Seattle teams… oops, I guess that’s their only similarity.
23. New York Mets
They have collapsed in recent seasons greater than I’ve seen teams collapse. It’s almost hilarious. Thanks for the entertainment. They are also from New York, which, although I’ve never been there, I have a certain fondness for. And their mix of dark blue with orange is a great color scheme for a baseball team.
24. Washington Nationals
Sure, they suck, but at least they’re building up for the future. They’ve already got the best young pitcher in Strasburg and just recently drafted the best young hitter in Bryce Harper. They’re going to be very good some day, and when they are, they will rise higher on this list. I’m not a huge fan of teams that relocate and rename, but it’s the city of Montreal’s fault, anyway.
25. Houston Astros
I really have no reason to support this team, but I also have no reason to root against them. They hardly ever play the Mariners. And let’s face it, Minute Maid Park is awesome. Their color scheme is ok, but they’re a lot better than their old Astrodome uniforms. I support them somewhat since they haven’t had a rich history, much like my Mariners.
TEAMS THAT I WISH DIDN'T EXIST
26. Toronto Blue Jays
Finally, another AL team. Again, I really don’t have a reason to root for this team. They’re the only Canadian team left now. I often see a lot of empty seats whenever the Mariners visit them. They won the World Series almost 20 years ago. I certainly don’t hate the Blue Jays. But I can’t find a reason to like them.
27. Cincinnati Reds
I kind of surprised myself for putting this team so low. I don’t really have a reason. They stole Ken Griffey Jr. away from us, I guess. I’m not a huge fan of the city of Cincinnati, either. They’re pretty good right now, but I kind of wish they weren’t. Oh well.
28. Baltimore Orioles
This team is just annoying. I can’t really say anything else. They totally tricked us into taking Erik Bedard. They whooped our butts in the 1997 ALDS. And they stole Adam Jones from us! I’m also not a huge fan of the uniforms or their stadium. This team is like a pest to me. Like a fly. That just won’t go away.
TEAMS I DESPISE
29. Los Angeles Angels
I went back and forth with this team. I couldn’t decide if I tolerate them of if I hate them. Turns out, I hate them. They always kill the Mariners, they are ALWAYS winning the division, and they’re making the Mariners look HORRIBLE while doing it. And what the heck is with the Rally Monkey? Whose bright idea was that? Honestly! So yeah, I hate this team, and I love seeing them lose.
30. Oakland Athletics
What can I say? They’re the division rival and the cross-town rival of my two favorite teams. Their uniforms are butt ugly, and their stadium is a piece of junk. Also, they really never have players on their team to root for. It would be really hard for me to name 10 or more guys that have played on their team in the past few years, and they play the Mariners almost 20 times a year. They’re always letting their good pitchers go (Zito, Hudson, Mulder) and I’ve just always despised them.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Top Ten TV Best Friends
Top Ten TV Best Friends
Here are what I believe are the ten pairs of best friends I’ve ever seen on TV. For this top ten, I assigned each pair a score (out of 20) based on four different ratings from 1-5 on how often they fight (F), how many things they do together (T), how long they’ve been together (L), and how likely one of the friends is to help out the other in time of need (N). Oh, and I didn’t include any friendships that also had a romantic relationship at some point. In other words, there aren’t any boy-girl pairs here. Anyway, here they are:
10. Hurley and Charlie, LOST – 13 (F: 4, T: 3, L: 2, N: 4)
9. Doug and Skeeter, Doug – 14 (F: 4, T: 4, L: 3, N: 3)
8. Leonard and Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory – 15 (F: 4, T: 4, L: 4, N: 3)
7. Marshall and Ted, How I Met Your Mother – 15 (F: 5, T: 3, L: 4, N: 3)
Marshall and Ted, former college roommates and now current best friends. They know each other, they rarely fight, and they get along pretty well. They have hardly ever quarreled in the series, unless I’m mistaken. But they lose points for notdoing a lot of stuff together, and for Barney almost being their best friend too.
6. Arnold and Gerald, Hey Arnold – 15 (F: 4, T: 3, L: 4, N: 4)
5. Rachel and Monica, Friends – 16 (F: 4, T: 3, L: 4, N: 5)
4. Chandler and Joey, Friends – 16 (F: 3, T: 4, L: 4, N: 5)
3. Kenan and Kel, Kenan and Kel – 17 (F: 4, T: 5, L: 4, N: 4)
2. Cory and Shawn, Boy Meets World – 17 (F: 3, T: 4, L: 5, N: 5)
1. Tommy and Chuckie, Rugrats – 18 (F: 5, T: 5, L: 3, N: 5)
And the best pair of best friends on TV is Tommy and Chuckie from the Rugrats! Tommy and Chuckie are excellent buddies, and they earn major points for how often they do things together, and how one will often help the other in a time of need. They even continue their friendship into the All-Grown up series. They weren’t together for very long in the original Rugrats series, because obviously, they were only babies. However, they rarely ever fought, and one was almost always willing to give in to the other, usually Chuckie giving in to going on Tommy’s adventures.