Showing posts with label seattle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seattle. Show all posts

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Officially a fan of an 0-2 team

The Seahawks are now 0-2 which sucks. The sad thing is once they get healthy, they will probably win the division... it's that bad in the NFC West. I will just be glad when we can get a play in the offense that goes for over 20 yards in the playbook. If you don't believe me watch the Hawks play--quite ugly.


Since a lot of people aren't political I'll be a little light today. Here's some good humorous political commentary that anybody can enjoy from Jon Stewart, the video below characterizes the flipity floppity floop nature of the Republican Party these days.




Here is also a story of the McCain marriage that you probably don't know about. CNN did a report on this when they exposed the "real" John McCain and Barack Obama during a special back in August. John McCain was a jerk based on that CNN report. Basically this story exposed that he was dealing with some "issues" and his ex-wife had to deal with all of his antics.

From this report he is an inhumane scumbag, to say that lightly. Thanks to Tarik Pain for finding this. I don't think it is morally acceptable for someone to put another person through that situation especially knowing she has an unconditional love that will not tear you down. Drawing from a similar situation, former President Clinton was scum for extramarital affairs that occurred while he was in office. Right now, we know about extremely dirty misdealings and have the opportunity to prevent such a man going into office. I vividly remember the attacks President Clinton's character took while the sex scandal went on... but I doubt there will be similar actions taken.

In music stuff F-150 face Curtis Jackson bka 50 Cent dissed Kanye, video below. I am by no means a Kanye fan but this is just lame. The fact that people still 50 is a sign the world is coming to an end. Really we need to get it together America.


Ramadan is going well and I am developing the spiritual connection that is essential to growth and development during such a time.

OH! And the San Diego Chargers lost a game today because of a rule... I am thinking we should make sports rule books like the constitution or the Bible and interpret them as living documents. Ed Hochuli (Mr. Man of sports referees) knew he blew the call but because of the rulebook he couldn't make it right. Now the Denver Broncos are 2-0 and the San Diego Chargers are 0-2. What did we learn today? Politics are screwed, music is screwed and sports is screwed... good luck out there in this cold, cold world!

Salute

Friday, September 12, 2008

Saturdays and Sundays are gonna suck for a while

I am going to find solace in the fact that "Montlake" Jake Locker will be in Seattle for two more years and Mike Holmgren is retiring... but still it is going to really suck getting thru this football season. I won't even address October--when basketball starts and I have to start being a fan of a new team.

Hurricane Ike hit Texas and pretty hard it sounds like. There aren't official damage numbers or death tolls, but I am sure there will be a significant amout of damage and a far higher number of deaths than should be. For whatever reason some people did not heed the warnings and decided they would just chill. Yesterday, I saw footage on CNN of some guys walking with their dog right up where the water was surging over barriers... bleepin' stupid.

Gas prices rose dramatically, as there are a great deal of the country's oil refineries are located in Texas. Gas has risen 6 cents nationally, I think about 20 cents in Kentucky and certain areas in Texas don't have gas at all. I wouldn't be surprised if gas stays a few cents higher after all of this is resolved. That's what they do.

I would say this is further proof that we need to find something else to do besides drill for oil and build pipelines. The fact that we are having exponential increases in price of gas because of a seasonal natural disaster is even more proof. A pipeline from Alaska and offshore drilling aren't solving this problem either. You cant completely get rid of oil dependency, but you can definitely become less dependent.

For those who are not as cynical as I am, here's a little story about the U.S. Interior Department in relation to oil companies.
It is pretty lengthy, but definitely worth the read. We have so many problems in this country that need exposure... this is a really big step.

Since I took the semester off in Fall '05 I have been more up on what goes on in national news. From that point I have heard quarter after quarter of record profits by the oil companies as prices rose and rose. This article alleges that there were improper benefits, not collecting federal royalties, drug usage, sexual impropriety, and many other ethical practices and actions. This is just plain sickening considering the American people are feeling the brunt of said decisions... and those making the decisions and enforcing rules can't keep their pants on, their noses clean or their minds right.

Back to sports, I didn't think Ty Willingham was on the hot seat going into the season, but considering the field goal attempt before the half with 1 second on the clock, I think he just put himself in that seat. You're down 34 and you need to score points, you gotta go for the TD. The kicker missed the field goal, so it's easy to criticize the decision, but if you're down at that point, you go big or go home.

I feel really bad for this Husky team because the schedule has been tough, facing three top 25 teams in the first three games of the year. Not only that, but the team isn't getting any breaks going back to last year. I keep waiting for them to turn the corner and get back to that prominence that I grew up accustomed to, but it just isn't working. Last year they lost a lot of close games to a lot of good teams and many fans figured this year things would yield a few more wins, but it hasn't worked out that way.

It will go a long way when they get their act together and gain that confidence and swagger that you see from winning teams, but until then Jake Locker & Co. are really struggling with being a young, inexperienced, not good team. Jake Locker is capable of turning in a Herculean effort that will inspire his team to glory and I feel that effort coming very soon. The team WILL be galvanized by these experiences, mark my words!

I still have hope for the Huskies, like I do the country which is in the midst of being dealt a lot of bad breaks, especially politically. If more of the injustices and misdealings are exposed the United States can turn it around. Go Huskies! And Go USA! After November 4th you'll get your leader that will deliver the Herculean effort.

Salute

Done for the week

This is the third update for the week... I am now therefore done with you people and this blog LOL. Contractually, I guess that's true, but I am sure this weekend I will want to write something about something.

School sucks and not because it's school, but because it takes up so much time. If I could barely get paid and run around and try to fix stuff on campus, I guarantee I would be a much more likable person--and I wouldn't have to make myself blog three posts a week as they would just naturally flow.

Shifting to actual stuff of real quantifiable value Reuters.com ranked the city with the best looking people and Miami came out on top.

Not that it's a bad thing to be good looking (I do it so well LOL), but if you read on further Seattle was ranked #1 for having the most intelligent locals. Again proving that there is more to life than being really, really, ridiculously, good looking. I would much rather go to Seattle than Miami anyways.

My new second city Portland, Oregon was voted the cleanest city in the U.S. another accolade I am proud to claim for my people (Pacific Northwest). Having had the opportunity to visit a lot of places in the States, I think cleanliness is one of the better titles to hold as well... anybody can be good looking, but it takes good home training, discipline, and near obsessive compulsiveness to truly be clean.



If the Republicans have their way, this will be their Vice President. I know I am biased, but what if Barack were to not know what the Billy J. Clinton economic plan entailed. Not only would he be an idiot, but he would be directly slapping in the face surrogates who were better prepared to run the country, even though it was Hillary and not Bill running for the Democratic Party's nomination.

Plain and simple, the Democratic Ticket is better than the Republican ticket. Luckily there will be substantive debates and interviews forthcoming to expose these truths... that way when Barack doesn't get elected there will be mass outrage for the injustice done by an uninformed and extremely -ist society. What I mean by that is we have so many societal problems that end in is racist, classist, prejudicedist and other ists in the most negative sense.

Fortunately, I don't believe there is any way Mr. Obama can lose and I won't have to experience the letdown of another stolen election like we have endured the last two elections. Just imagine if one of them had of been won by the other side... especially if it was the first one...

Salute

Saturday, September 6, 2008

A Disappointed Seattle/Washington Fan

Right now is not at all a good time to be a sports fan in the state of Washington. I don't know where to start... so I will start with what I saw less than half an hour ago.

The University of Washington Huskies was a powerhouse in the Pac-10 as I grew up and a couple of years while I have been in Kentucky. Recently that has not been the case, but currently UW is lead by Tim Tebowesque quarterback named Jack Locker. The problem is the rest of the team is no where near as talented as Florida, and consequently, Locker has not had the ability to develop as much as Tebow. Well, just a little while ago UW drove down the field against #15 BYU and scored with 2 seconds left. Jake Locker being the man that he is, made a gutsy play to run into the end zone, bringing the game within an extra point of being tied. After scoring the TD locker threw the ball behind his head and celebrated with his team... 15 yard penalty, PAT blocked. Game over.

I am not necessarily mad that BYU won because it was a good game from the jump. I just have a problem with the referees taking the game out of the hands of the players. The officials clearly were on the field during the game, so they knew the struggles Washington was endured over the course of the game. Not to mention, the celebration wasn't any more excessive than the touchdown that lead to the game tying PAT in the Ole Miss/Wake Forest Game--and even then, you cant take away the game from the players like that. I realize the Huskies had the opportunity to convert the PAT from 35 yards... but think about that for a second. A celebration with your teammates with 2 seconds left taking away the game. I guess they call them the same. Make a play and celebrate with your team on the field 15 yard penalty. Make a play and your entire team runs on the field to celebrate 15 yard penalty. What a joke.

As far as basketball, I will be brief. I am now a Portland Trailblazers fan. They have a couple Seattle guys on the team and are right down I-5 from Seattle. Howard Schultz former Seattle Supersonics owner rescinded his lawsuit against the current Oklahoma City Thunder management so the team is gone for sure. Lame. But I am glad there is some closure.

Brandon Morrow, the Mariners top draft pick from a couple of years ago made his first major league start last night and looked incredible. That's something to look forward to. Also, the Seahawks will no longer be coached by Mike "playnottolose" Holmgren after this season, so I won't have to worry about my team snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Remember last year's NFC divisional playoff game against the Packers? The Seahawks were up 21-0 and went to prevent offense and promptly 3 and outed 4 straight series. Green Bay went on to win obviously and I was a sad Seahawk.

Optimism courses through my veins and I know the Mariners will be alright eventually. The people in charge keep saying stupid stuff and will be fired sooner rather than later. The Huskies will return to prominence if they just hang in there and do things the right way. Ty Willingham has struggled yes, but he is bringing in his players and getting close and starting this season, and if he is around next year, the Huskies will make significant progress. The Seahawks will learn to step on teams throats and really be successful starting next year. And the Blazers will be a dominant team. I know Seattle will get another team once the city gets it together, but I don’t know if I can go back…


Salute

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The newest member of the hated club

This blog is about love (check the title) and even though I am considered a hater, I really only hate a select few such as DJ Clue, R. Kelly, Derek Jeter, Sarah Silverman, (I had to remove Kenny Mayne from this list because he is from Washington), and a few others. Seriously it is hard to make this list.... I will play devil's advocate, or try to get people to properly value an individual or a subject, but that’s only for arguments sake. However right now it's time to induct a new member to the club: the great David Stern. Hell, send him to the top of the list.

David Stern used an elaborate smoke screen to suit his long term agenda of total control of the NBA, by robbing the city of Seattle of their basketball franchise; a loss which has broken many Seattle Supersonics fans like myself. Well to add insult to injury this PAB is now essentially saying the NBA will be greater than the law if it were to come down to a dispute between the two. Here’s the story:

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=432663

Howard Schultz (the lame owner who sold the Sonics to the current ownership group headed by the evil Clay Bennett) is suing to regain control of the club. His case is that the Oklahoma City based ownership group did not "in good faith" attempt to keep the team in Seattle. There is no legal precedent to overturn the sale, and quite frankly its a last ditch effort to save face and maintain the tiniest sliver of respectability in the city that earned Schultz his wealth. But, David Stern and the NBA say otherwise.

"The process for approving new owners is critically important to the success and long-term stability of the NBA, as it ensures that the proposed owner will conduct the operations of the team only in conformity with the rules and regulations of the league and will possess the economic resources and managerial skills to the successful operation of a member of the NBA." That’s according to David Stern's crony NBA VP Richard W. Buchanan.

Basically the law doesn't fit in with the leagues constitution. And no matter what the law has to say about contracts and legally binding agreements the leagues constitution supersedes it, cause David Stern says so.

I understand the point that you don't want to disrupt the move of the team and your precious league, but c'mon. Get over yourself Stern.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

A very sad day in my life

Today is one of the saddest days in my life, not just my sports life. This is far more heartbreaking than Ken Griffey Jr leaving Seattle. This is more scarring than all of the sports teams I grew up with, save the Seahawks, having losing records... Its a life trauma. 100 years of losing and a curse does not compare to this. I hardly have words to describe it.

My most vivid childhood memories are tied to sports, mostly baseball and basketball, but some football too. And its those memories that keep me coming back as a fan. That said, this time I can't go back. It has been ripped away from me.

The Seattle SuperSonics are no more.

Now somebody may say, "Wesley, you have lived in Kentucky almost 8 years! You haven't been to a Sonics game in 4 years! And every remnant of the team that was around before you moved left when Rashard Lewis signed that mega-deal in Orlando." And I say yes this is true, but being a true fan(atic) is more than just players, names, colors and records.

Being a true fan is why I will probably never be able to love the NBA the same anymore.

But true fandom is what fuels me to follow the worst team in baseball is if its 2001 and they are on pace to set the A.L. single season wins record ....Or why I love a team that has never won anything, and in their only chance to win played like dogs and plagued by a host of terrible calls, including a 15-yard clipping penalty on a quarterback that made a tackle after throwing an interception. It's why my first pair of player signature shoes were those of none other than Gary Payton. Why I nearly cried when Ken Griffey Jr. was traded. And why Brian Blades is my favorite football player of all-time.

Adult life has brought many disappointments to me that have been much worse, but none have hurt this much. I understand why people die, why relationships go sour, why things change whether you like it or not--but I just don't understand how a team with an NBA championship can be stripped from a city to be taken to a city with no professional sports, only a brief history of supporting a team, and a much smaller population with less of, well everything, you need for a major sports franchise.

The second the team was sold to Clay Bennett's ownership group these rumors started, well not rumors. It was pretty clear that Bennett wanted to move the team out of the city, even to ESPN.

I have no idea what the politics and circumstances are surrounding the situation. I know that Qwest Field and Safeco Field have been built within the last ten years and that has not been forgotten by tax payers. I know that the second Howard Schulz DECIDED to sell the Sonics there was very little effort to field a competitive team, evidenced by role players such as Antonio Daniels not being resigned. (Daniels was key in the Sonics taking the eventual NBA champion Spurs to a game six with two of their top three scorers, Vladimir Radmonovic and Rashard Lewis, injured after game 2). I know that David Stern is the most agenda driven sports figure, and if he wants something, done one way or the other, it gets done. But I don't know why this is happening. I am literally in a daze.

I was going to bed. I can't. This is top 5 worst days of all time. I still have all the memories I had earlier today of the Reign man (Shawn Kemp), the Glove (Gary Payton), Mac-10 (Nate McMillan, who coincidentally was offered an insulting contract offer to remain in Seattle as coach), and even Steve Scheffler.... the thing is they are no longer connected to a great franchise, in the magnificent city of Seattle, in the beautiful state of Washington.

The city will get anther team. But it doesn't matter. This is a dirty deal and all parties are wrong here involved in this are wrong, starting with the ownership, current and former for setting it up the sale. The city is responsible for not stepping up to the plate and allowing history to walk away. David Stern and his smug attitude that holds a city hostage, making the public fund a private businesses place of operation. (Ownership in Cleveland and D.C. ponied up major cash for arenas). I even blame fans for not seeing through the smokescreen and taking care of a team that is conspicuously doing everything right NOT to stay. I am included in that group. And still, there is much more blame to go around.

I can take a lot.... not this.