I loaded you up before I left. Talk to you after the holiday. Enjoy your Labor Day.

August 30, 2017 Filler

Greetings and salutations. Thanks for coming aboard (the boat). Let’s move.
This is the first MULTI-chapter release of the blog. I am going to Vancouver for Labor Day and will be leaving you high and dry. So, I am writing a lot of this Saturday night, my fight notes on Sunday afternoon, my GoT notes on Monday morning (I CAN’T leave you without final GOT episode thoughts), and recent tidbits before checking out Wednesday evening. Anyway, let’s start moving with…
Chapter 1. And this is confusing. Since I am separating my sports and random thoughts with my personal stuff, you need to page down because my additions will actually be AFTER my Saturday personal stuff. I know. Another need for a flow chart. Just make sure you hear the Bryce Harper sign-off before clicking out of my cast.
(this might be a MONSTER blog-just a heads up)
I can’t imagine a more perfect night. I am sitting here blogging, watching the pre-fights on my couch, doing some laundry, and might not move for like 5 hours. My initial setup…
True. A) Phase 2 of my workout plan doesn’t start until September 5th B) it will not include Easy Cheese C) I went to the grocery store after work Friday hungry and therefore walked out with Easy Cheese. I say this because I know you can see it in the picture. Phase 1 was just working out. Phase 2 involves eating better things…except for pizza of course.
Just like I read magazines, I will go backwards in my blog notes.
People get “the fight,” and I think most of them just want an excuse to drink with friends. Because watching the prelims and these HUNGRY fighters listening to the same announcers is SO off the hook. The fight should be the entire afternoon and evening of boxing, and not just the main event.
I have to switch to pay per view now from Fox. Before I switched over, I freaked out because I find it AMAZING that Jeopardy is STILL on TV. George too. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvfZnCNFPJQ
Someone at work left a bottle of POWDER peanut butter. I can’t process that. The fact that I can’t talk until drinking a glass of milk IS why I eat peanut butter. Powdering it up seems like going the wrong direction.
What am I eating for the fight? Obvious. The greatest thing of all time. Mac and cheese with hot dogs. Given.
Side note: if you haven’t had the new DP Dough calzone with mac and cheese in the middle, then your life is slightly more shallow? I don’t have a picture of it because I ate it so fast last week, but order it.
Or, on a deeper level, maybe putting mac and cheese on everything is just the life plan. Where is Jack Handy when I need him?
I watched the Big3 Final today. Not only was it a good game with an exciting ending, not only does Rashad McCants probably now have a job with the Cavs (Lue was in attendance), but everyone could watch the game and then see all of the same people at the fight tonight. They just head across town. Must be great to be absolutely LOADED in cash. I looked under my mattress. Nothing substantial.
I seriously would run through the wall for anyone during the time that Rambo talks on the microphone to Murdock. Damn television for putting a Rambo-a-thon RIGHT after the fight. Testosterone was already flowing. They know.
CHAPTER 1A (yes, I am already mixing in the personal stuff but just keep on trucking in your reading).
We are through the slow season of sports. College football is back. NFL is not far behind. I KNOW college football and am using some of my future drinking money (now not used) towards betting about 5 games a day. Waiting it out until week 1 since this week is week “0.” So odd. In our Vancouver plans, I told my wife all STOPS during FSU-Bama, no matter HOW cool Vancouver is. Itinerary is posted later in “personal” section.
Just like I was the last person in the gym carrying around a belt with a huge Walkman, I probably will be the last person using an iPod Shuffle. Why change? It is so SMALL. Until the music just feeds directly into my head, I will be working out with my Shuffle.
I went to the grocery store Friday, and I envy the people who can go to store and walk out with bags. I go every two weeks and most people who pass me in the store ask whether I have more or less than 3 kids. Food content (cheese, turkey dogs, hot pockets, mac and cheese, pizza, etc.) and amount of items in cart.
You can hate my workout music, but if the Disturbed drummer is not one of the best drummers alive, then I don’t know anything. You can listen to Disturbed the BAND sometimes, or you can literally just focus on their drummer. Both listening experiences are awesome.
Excited to play on the piano not only the pre-music at my wife’s brother’s wedding, but also the walk-up music and wedding song. The walk-up song is beautiful, and I will destroy it (Turning Page). The wedding song is Celine Dion and another example of a time where I wish I was a fly on the wall during the decision making process and knowing that love is truly special for each couple, so Celine Dion it is.
Excited to go out to driving range tomorrow morning. Excited to know whether my lacking strokes every 2-3 hits is because my Spalding golf clubs were from 1973 or because of my skills.
What Chris Jackson/ Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf did during the Big3 Tourney was amazing. He kept them in the game today, and you old school readers know I was just happy that J-Will’s team made it as runner-up without him. Man, I love that guy.
But Chris Jackson was incredible for being 48.
Seriously, Chris Jackson in the Big3 is like:
Let the record show that is the LAST time I like Mr. Irving for any hooks unless they are negative.
I know. Irony. Gary Payton coached J-Will’s team and played the fourth quarter every playoff game when all of them got a ring with the Heat.
Put me on record for liking the Mavs as a darkhorse this year in the NBA West. They got Nerlens Noel again. I love Dennis Smith. I like that team IF Dirk can hang at a 20 pt a game clip at his ripe old age of 64. If the Mavs were in the East, they would cruise to a 5 or 6 seed.
FULL predictions of everything coming later on before I post.
Maria plays Halep FIRST round? THAT is a must watch tennis match, people. If only because of Maria’s sounds. If I am Halep, I am PISSED I have to play a career Slam player that early no matter WHAT her ranking is.
Nickname week in MLB. I don’t remember the last time I cared about anything less with something I typically WOULD care about. Flowchart needed once again. I am complicated.
I hear the Cavs-Celtics trade is in jeopardy (again with that word-might have to be a theme). I would ask for Jayson Tatum too now if I am the Cavs. Thomas is 28. That is tennis ancient, and basketball old outside of when MJ started ruling things. I.T. is not MJ.
No one is MJ. Ever.
Blake Bortles won the QB job for the Jags. Game ON. Him and Todd M. need to go have beers if he doesn’t do anything THIS year. Could end up biggest bust ever if he no shows this year. Don’t feel bad for him. He goes home to this internet phenom during the mock drafts before the jags took him:
Floyd will make $100 mil on this fight at 3pm today. I am trying to imagine what $100 million looks like. Maybe I will watch a heist movie to understand (searching “oceans”).
I am revising my prediction. Floyd will still win and dance after an initial onslaught attempt, but it will not be in 11. It will be in 9. Maybe 10.
You might not believe me if I am right as I suppose I could change it before posting. Read the last blog. I am on record for 11. And I am not editing this confusing time-line blog.
Doesn’t matter what happens-Conor will get TIRED. Train all you want. 12 rounds is much different than 5 rounds.
Hope he is clean. It WILL be fun to watch Stanton chase 63, which is the REAL number. He just bombed two more yesterday.
Screw 74.
LOVE that Noah Syndergaard picked Jon Snow in this fight.
I guess when you get a cameo in the show, you drink the Kool-Aid.
Well, if Jamaal Charles doesn’t make the Broncos, I have a feeling that a spot on the Chiefs is now open since Ware is now down.
Watch until the END. Dogs and frisbees. http://deadspin.com/flying-frisbee-dog-is-the-sports-highlight-of-the-day-1798435983
Watch WITH sound on because that is the best part. Bears and shrimp. http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/sorry-folks-but-the-bear-will-indeed-be-taking-your-s-1798438491
Seriously, did you WATCH at least ONE of them? Pick the second one for quality. Pick the first one for brevity.
To think the Pats can’t rebound to the playoffs without Edelman would be saying a square can’t fit…in a square hole. They adjusted without Gronk just fine last year. And now they have Cooks. So, Danny moves UP to be their slot guy? Wow. Must be nice to have that many weapons. I just hope my guys get home field advantage before getting their secondary torched again. Big Ben’s swan song NEEDS home field advantage if this is not going to end ugly.
Do you remember the old days when we actually cared that Ronda Rousey was getting married? Please tell me she is putting her groom in an armbar on the stage for effect and pics though. She went from sport and movie star to no one in a FLASH.
The WORM to get someone offsides in football. If you don’t click on this, then you are just WEIRD. http://usatodayhss.com/2017/video-glynn-academy-ga-uses-the-worm-in-ridiculous-attempt-to-draw-benedictine-ga-offsides
Seriously. CLICK on it. Not lying. In an actual game, a dude breaks out the worm dance.
I now like Kevin Hart. He tweets where he is doing a run each week? Come to Denver, bro. I will join you. You look ripped and now very much cooler to me.
Did you read my blog’s link to why the Broncos suck? My personal favorite was “Broncos fans are basically Steelers fans with mountains and legalized weed.”
Steelers fans DO suck. Like the people who beat up their mom for TV volume on a game.
Actual story. Not making that up.
God Bless soccer. God Bless Colorado. http://www.espnfc.com/video/mls-highlights/150/video/3184314/watch-jared-watts-disastrous-own-goal
I might as well get the NFL DirectTV ticket since I don’t booze anymore and don’t want to be that guy A) irritated at drunk people around me and B) drinking an Iced Tea ALL day for six hours with one appetizer and entree order (before I head home for night game).
STOP telling people you are going to a GAME, preseason NFL game attendees. Practice.
I can’t even WRITE the word “practice” without thinking of the greatest rant of all time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
Aguayo is basically like Rick Ankiel without the career. He totally lost the range and aim right after being one of the BEST at it. Think about it. That is really, really funny and I made that up.
I really hope to make time to update my drop downs on my website that I have NO idea how to fix if broken. Someday…not today though.
Just saw a shot of Ray Lewis at the fight with bracelets. If he AND Slash wear a bunch of wrist jewelry, then look OUT. I am going to load up with wrist jewelry and my usual neck beads.
Yes, I still plan on being Slash for Halloween this year.
I pulled off Howard Stern PERFECTLY back in the day, so assume I can pull another weird tall dude in sunglasses and black hair off again no problem.
My company said they were releasing a new employees handbook in July. It is August. They promised me cargo shorts approval. Let’s DO this. Why is that important to me? Because I am the only person you know who wears cargo shorts in sub 20 degree weather and snow, AND did it even when my Cherokee broke down half the days.
I even bought some CLASSY cargo shorts for this epic day.
Dabo has a title and definitely deserves a new contract. High recruiting class, and COULD be, and I will mind my words, the next Nick Saban…but with some personality.
I am not selling a lot at work this year, but WAIT. I am like Bill Pullman from Independence Day. Would I prefer to sell early and be stress free during the holidays? Yes. But, far from done, and “we will NOT go quietly into the night.”
Plow the road, and for old schoolers, you know how FUNNY that really is.
I LOVE Torchy’s breakfast tacos. But, do they ALL go on smoke breaks RIGHT when I walk in? Does the wait happen to other people also? Why does my breakfast taco take 15 minutes regardless of whether there are 1 or 25 people in the joint? They had a guy DIE outside from a knife fight, and STILL take their time. Must be nice to be a monopoly, as you would think they would be a little more umblemished since then. Or, maybe I am the idiot for continuing to go there each Friday and they KNOW this.
Not joking about the death. Guy died from homeless Freddy Krueger (literally a homeless guy with blades on his fingers) in the bottom left area of parking lot a month or two ago.
Not sure if you care, but, yes, I occasionally log onto my own blog when I have down time to read the stuff I just wrote. I especially like the fun pics.
You live your own life. I personally did NOT open ANY article on the coaches FORCING high school cheerleaders to do splits. Sounds painful just reading it. Sad that it is in Denver. Painful just to write one hook about it. I looked at the chick’s face in the photo and skipped.
You have to allocate your important time. I HAVE spent 1 hour reading hard to find articles about Anthony Davis going to the Celtics because I want KD and the Warriors to go DOWN. Evil Empire.
Join me. Waste some of YOUR time.
https://www.si.com/nba/2017/08/25/anthony-davis-celtics-rumors-trade-pelicans-kyrie-irving-lebron-james
The prelim fighter just done his fight just said “hurted him.” I love boxing, but I assume this guy was one of those guys who dropped out of school to become a prelim fight on the Conor-Floyd card.
I had a note to mention Hurricane Harvey. I mentioned it, but CNN can do better, and this is a sports/ personal blog, so I will let them say it better. Thoughts and prayers though.
KD said he admires Kyrie for his “courage.” Guess what? I respect, but hate BOTH equally now. Win NOTHING more, both. Stop JOINING other stars, people, and just play the hand you were dealt and try to BEAT them. Oh, Kyrie, your “hand” also had the greatest player of our generation. That was a little better than a pair of 9’s.
A busy signal sounds weird these days. I got one the other day.
Just got done watching fight. I said Floyd in 11 initially, and then changed it to 9 rounds a little bit ago. It was TKO Floyd in 10. SO close. Floyd is SO beautiful to watch fight.
I had to watch the end of 13 Reasons last night because my wife had it on in the background most days and curiosity got the best of me. I needed closure. Tapes/ episodes 11, 12, and 13 are INTENSE. My OVERALL assessment is that I would recommend NOT getting hooked at all and therefore bypassing that entire part of your life.
I am tired of people talking about Ozark at work so I watched the first episode. Possibly one of the best episodes of anything of any kind I have ever viewed. INTENSE. I will be unable to bypass THIS part of my life unfortunately. My OVERALL assessment is that I would recommend GETTING hooked on that show.
I feel like I will be 60 years old and Manu Ginobli will still be playing. Still find it odd he did a TWO year deal instead of a one year one.
So, those huge bets on Floyd panned out. Betting $880k to win $180k are brilliant I guess now.
Almost to the good teams… http://deadspin.com/why-your-team-sucks-2017-detroit-lions-1798382848
You might have thought about the Rally Cat. You might have cared about the Rally Cat. But you can’t tell me you thought the cat would have a LAWYER??? http://deadspin.com/rally-cat-now-has-a-lawyer-1798396006
Somehow, the number of my LinkedIn followers are shadowing my Twitter follower (much more important to me). 514 to 533. One is going up. One is going down.
You should follow me on Twitter. @mark_filler
Seriously, WHO keeps giving LeSean McCoy a MICROPHONE. I think I would watch the entire 13 Reasons show again rather than listen to his thoughts on Kaep.
I mentioned this in my last blog, but passing it along again. Read this. Coolest story regardless if it is true or not. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/man-gets-revenge-school-bully-10986761
Dez Bryant is mad people don’t think he cares about race relations. I would watch 13 Reasons a THIRD time rather than listen to this thoughts on anything not relating to a pass route.
I love lists. I make lists of everything. I noticed that at work this week I started a favorite word list. Here were my initial ones.
Fundamentally
Facetious
Organically
Logistics
Pandemonium
Concurrently
Reflective
Deflective
Riveting.
If you ask me about Thursday as far as my day, I will say that I got free pizza at 945am so things could only get worse from there.
Rich Hill. I can’t IMAGINE pulling a perfect game for 8 plus innings and then giving up a walkoff hit to LOSE the game. Painful. My bet is that looking at the standings and seeing you are up 40.5 games in your division makes you feel a little better after that.
Is there an over/under for amount of QB’s Michigan and UF will start next weekend?
Do Melo rumors do one week on and one week off?
Did you SEE the interview with Ahkmat MMA? Don’t watch. I watched it. It makes you scared that WarGames is still in play and that Russia is very, very mad at us all the time.
In case you missed it, Broncos fans. http://deadspin.com/why-your-team-sucks-2017-denver-broncos-1798341694
THIS is what I was trying to let you know about Steelers fans. It was later on my blog list. http://deadspin.com/report-family-attacks-grandmother-and-shaves-her-head-1798365042
Chapter 2.
From my Tulsa trip. Trying to tell someone your address must be tough sometimes.
Someone robbed Lindsey’s friends’ house. They broke into everything. They left THIS oddly. What an awesome calling card.
How this place existed 30 minutes from me without me knowing in my prime Widespread Panic days of life is beyond me. Incredible.
Another day where I find it strange that Colin Kaepernick has NO job at all in the NFL.
I think DeShone Kizer is going to be a star, but he has that eternal problem of being on the BROWNS.
It doesn’t help him past the fifth round, but I admit to NOT respecting Conor until reading about him and the book I have been told by about 50 people to read and his following of THAT book. The Secret. He lost but I am busting that book out ASAP.
Whenever you take yourself too seriously, just think of Lenny Dystrka. I helps. http://deadspin.com/hotel-owner-lenny-dykstra-trashed-room-stole-receptio-1798343546
Seriously have no idea what ESPN was thinking on the Robert Lee item. http://deadspin.com/welp-espn-shot-itself-in-the-dick-1798338890
Now that this spectacle is done, can we get ready for the REAL fight? GGG-Canelo?
I need more Ryen Russillo updates. He sounds like a fun guy.
Wayne Rooney retired at age 31. Timing is odd, and I am not reading too much into it, as I assume he will UNretire for the World Cup since it is next year.
Yes. I now feel slightly better on the Bell/ Steelers front.
Fight notes. I will keep it short. It went pretty much as I expected aside from Conor looking good for MUCH longer than I expected. It took Floyd about 5 rounds to figure him out. The lead glove definitely bothered and irritated him from Conor. Conor definitely almost reflexively did some illegal stuff. But, what happened after all of that intrigue? Fatigue. Once Conor got tired (about the 8th), the thing was over and boxing skill took over.
The post fight interview was fantastic. And before anyone gets offended by Conor’s Mexican remark, we are pretty sure he was just talking about the STYLE of fighting he made Floyd do. VERY aggressive, as traditionally those fighters are.
Chapter 3A.
GOT NOTES:
My, as always, random Game of Thrones notes:
The storyline in the finale was not as bad as some of the previous episodes. Actually, it was pretty good, and its only fault WAS that the previous storylines were weak.
For example, the presentation of the corpse actually went pretty well. But, the fact that they had lost a dragon GETTING that corpse meant that the scene happened BECAUSE of a previous storyline mistake.
You know. If Bran would have decided to tell anyone ANYTHING before this finale, then we wouldn’t have to deal with close relatives Jon and Dany sleeping together.
What are they? Aunt-nephew? Will they continue to bang each other after Bran breaks the news? Should Bran be a little to blame for keeping this info and allowing inter-family sexual relations?
What was Tyrion hanging outside for? Worried about the bigger picture, more stuck on Dany than he cares to admit, or doubting his corpse plan again in the hallway?
When did Tyrion go from the smartest person on the show to someone who keeps getting duped?
I hope Jon Snow learns to lie a little when he rules everyone.
Seriously, two of the funnier scenes in the finale when I chuckled were right after Jon Snow didn’t lie, and right after Sam asked Bran about what he has been up to.
So, Sam and Jon are boys. Sam is back in town. Dany and Jon have shacked up now. Should be fun and very awkward when Sam asks in passing what happened to his dad and brother.
Not sure when there is downtime, but the Hound needs to start doing some workouts if he is taking out the Mountain. Imagine THAT turnaround. The Hound could lose to a girl, and then beat up the baddest MAN on the show.
Odds are against the fact that they had Tortmund BARELY saved from the last battle to die in falling rock when we are shown no body. He is fine.
I believe that the White Walker gives dragon directions more than I believe Dany gives dragon directions on what to do and where to point their fire.
Overall, of course, I felt like we got closure on a good many stories before heading into the Great War, and the bump ins at the get together reminded me of an awkward class reunion.
Time/ distance problems, but I really need to let this go a little. When they had 10 stories going on at once, it didn’t bother us as much. With one primary story now all linking all of those other stories, we have nothing left to focus on. But, Dany and company sure did make it back home in this one quickly.
So, if Tyrion DIDN’T have the dumb plan of sending Jon Snow and friends north of the wall, the Night King wouldn’t have a dragon, and I would have been curious how he planned on slowly marching over that thing with Plan B. We will never know.
Give the Academy Awards this year to Arya and Sansa, because they sold EVERYONE that they were being duped by Littlefinger. If they already hadn’t MADE the episode, I would say they just changed that part of it because of reviews talking about it.
After ALL of this, I am surprised we got our main guy stuck with the name Aegon.
Couldn’t they have at least TRIED to make his dad a little different then the original dude, Viserys?
This is just a SHOW and the effects of the dragon welding open the wall was magnificent in all regards.
Are we and EVERYONE else DONE with thinking Cersei will agree to ANYTHING where team play comes into the discussion when advantages for BOTH sides isn’t quite obvious?
They NAME the episode “wolf” and then I get NOTHING from Ghost? Need some wolves with those dragons, people.
The fact that Tyrion is a Lannister HAS to play a bigger part at some point, and just not sure if that means officially Jamie is oddly on his side or not.
The dance with the Stark sisters and Littlefinger lasted a LONG time considering they already had some other beef on him.
The buildup to the big meeting was WELL done, and I was on eggshells throughout the discussion and demonstration.
Not buying into this whole Bran is the Night King thing, but my head might explode if that IS true.
I am fine with the storylines’ resolution overall, but I think GOT has lost its edge a bit. Its brilliance was NEVER fearing shutting down any ONE of the bigtime characters. The fact that we made it through this episode only losing Littlefinger really with REALLY close calls on Jaime and Tyrion make me think GOT has gotten a little soft in its own right.
IF we hadn’t already lost a dragon, I could totally have seen the writers playing into the whole Dragon Pit theme more when Dany arrived on one. I could see Cersei totally setting a trap already. But, we have a whole season left and need the wicked queen.
I don’t care if he fought heroically. I don’t care if he doesn’t have anything down there to hurt when fighting. I can say I really have lost all interest in what he is doing or not doing. He already had a chance to NOT jump off the boat and save his sister, but now Jon Snow not lying makes him suddenly want to go BACK to save her? Come on.
Bronn HAS to join Jaime on the northern road. Him teasing Jaime is too priceless to leave either of them solo.
The mercenary company is called the Golden Company??
And now?…Just a long 18 months or so until we get the resolution of all of this crap that has owned our life for a long amount of time. Damn, I love that show. No matter what questions I ask about the writing.
Oh, and for all of those people they DIDN’T kill this season being softer, I bet it is because they realized they haven’t even shot this stuff yet for the next season, so they might as well keep characters around until they figure this whole thing out.
Chapter 3B.
College Football: You want my picks? Here you go. I have Bama, Oklahoma State/ Oklahoma, Ohio State, and FSU. Yes. The loser of the opening weekend between Bama and FSU will run the table. The Pac-12 will have Stanford, Washington, and USC beat up on each other. I like Oklahoma State but won’t mind Blake doing special things and jacking up their plans. But, I think the Sooners lack the skill position weapons this year. Ohio State and Bama are just really, really good. I think FSU gets past CLemson and survives the top heavy ACC.
NFL? Biased? I have the Steelers over the Seahawks. Unbiased? I have the Pats over the Seahawks.
Heisman? Mason Rudolph.
PERSONAL (because NOTHING before this was personal (I am still TRYING to separate but my brain doesn’t work like that)):
I love my ride. You know this if you read this thing. Because I blew out a tire off-roading, I decided to get new tires because I needed them anyway. LOOK at how badass my still unnamed (coming before end of year-have to have something CALL out to me (Daphne is in the lead right now)) ride looks with Goodyear Duratracs.
She just needs me to WASH her now. If you see the scrapes on the side, that is because my paddleboard fell OFF the freaking car on my first tie down attempt on COLFAX. Damn, those tires look sweet though. Washing the car is kind of a change in lifestyle of the last 20 years.
Thanks for the advice, Drew (Lindsey’s brother who could probably BUILD his own car, let alone recommend tires). HIS 4Runner is a little more “off-road aggressive.”
By the way, if you are looking for a Denver place to take your car, I HIGHLY recommend Goodyear on 20th and Broadway in Denver. Ask for Loren-he is awesome and real (and coincidentally owns Duratracs). My old Cherokee, Eleanor, literally broke down with smoke coming out of the hood when no one could figure out her problem. They fixed it for $100, have never overcharged me even though I am an idiot with cars, and they are open on Saturday and Sunday full time too. Great place for repairs.
I had a lazy day today, and that is why this came up. Well, lazy as I took a nap, which happens every three months or so. Seemed like the right thing to do before getting all amped up on testosterone for the fights.
Wow. Now I love D Bar for its deserts AND for its breakfast burrito (walked right by it after dropping off ride, so I had to stop). Who puts a white cream sauce on their burrito? THEY do. Ordering extra white sauce next time. Highly recommend the place. Not good for my newfound sugar liking, as the “D” stands for dessert.
What is phase 2 of my workout plan now that I have cut the initial “been drinking too much” fat? Easy. I am at 212 after being at 227, and as of September 4th will actually stop eating whatever I see and maybe cut back on cheese…but not tonight.
Like in Gladiator…not yet. You will cut back on cheese eventually, but not yet.
Look at how RIDICULOUSLY organized my wife is. If you are curious about what we are doing for Labor Day.
As all trips with us, it is going to be a jam-packed trip.
I would probably just have gone and wandered around the cities aimlessly. If you are an old school reader, what she mapped out when we were in London and Paris for one day each was some of the most talented stuff I have ever even HEARD of someone doing.
We did Al Fresca last week. Outdoor dining on Larimer. You had to reserve months before, and you missed out. VERY cool.
Glad to know I have been fat the last few years. Dammit. Talk about more motivation to continue getting in MAD shape? My mom said I look less “pudgy” than the past few years. THAT is a reality check and thanks to her for telling me how it is. I guess I WAS in relation to who I was before then. You people I have only known for 5 years or so are going to be blown away when this is all said and done. I used to LIVE at the gym, like I am starting to again now.
Not a lot of female bassist out there. Here is one we saw two weeks ago.
And then another the next day! I might have to pick up some songs from this band. Iz Cali or something like that. Glam rock voice, jammy groove, and a very odd mixture of instruments.
I am a dog guy, but here are my cats in the meantime:
This is the cuter one who likes to hang out under the bed:
Other irritating one is at the end.
Don’t worry-he doesn’t read this blog that I know of.
My lady who picked up paddleboarding in about 10 seconds, and I have to go around the corner on the lake where she can’t see me to get off my knees and actually stand up.
I had been to Little Bear (coolest bar and SO Colorado) but I had never been to Evergreen Lake until this past weekend.
Little Bear. Was there in 1998.
Not similar at ALL. They did a bit about Limp Bizkit that had me rolling, even without booze.
We tried to grow plants. Our plants:
Neighbor’s plants:
Solar eclipse gear.
Coors Field and our view a couple of weeks ago. HR landed about 7 feet from us.
Tacolandia sucked because of the lines, but always find a bright spot. I don’t KNOW cars, but I know what nice cars look like.
Tacolandia. Those aren’t groups of people. Those are lines. Most frustrating thing? You had the chance of waiting in a line that ENDED before you got there because they ran out of food.
I wish I would have done a silent disco when I was drinking as dancing sober sucks.
A Tulsa lake where this was the CLOSEST we could get to the lake.
Chapter 4.
I didn’t want Rotoden at this point in my life because it was too tedious to go back and forth 5 times on edits when I am trying to work 60 hours a week AND write an NBA article ONLY all the time. I might start posting for SB Nation soon though. And, the end game is still there. It is very simple people. I am too old to be an intern, I KNOW I have the stuff to write stuff people want to read about in sports, and end game is IF Skip Bayless is famous with a show, then I HAVE to be famous…because he sucks. I can watch him speak for 10 seconds and want to be famous in sports again.
Want a freaking HUG? Not sure how to handle an ugly, skinny cat who decides he needs to shit ON the bed. First the guest bed, and now OUR bed.
Or him in his more real pose above.
Chapter 5.
Last minute quick hitter additions.
It would suck to be a Browns fan obviously, but when you read they want to trade one of their few GOOD players? THAT is frustrating even for us non fans. Love Joe Haden, and surprised they are finding reasons to get rid of him. One less locker room presence and great player in probably another tough year. They will be better, but the problem is that Cincy, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore are going to beat the HELL out of them.
By the way, Steelers, make him one of OURS before wheels down in Denver on Monday for me. Got it?
Rumors of Pliskova being a FULL pretender are false. She advances today.
Nadal plays abnormally well for late in the year when he seems to get bored. Straight sets win and advances.
Madison Keys won. LOVE her to win a Slam VERY soon.
Sometimes my wife doesn’t know my silent sacrifices. I chose to write this before leaving tomorrow after work and letting her watch Dateline in the background with me just refreshing the Tiafoe-Federer match score. Tiafoe IS the real deal, folks, and his time will come…about when the Big 4 get out of the way I guess.
Forgot I haven’t officially given my Open picks. I like Madison Keys or Venus on the women’s side. I like Nadal to squeeze one more in on the men’s side, but will be watching Zverev very closely. I picked Federer for Wimbledon correctly, so let’s not go overboard. Hard courts equalize things like age a little bit more.
Since Chapter 1 was started, SB Nation has reached out. Excited to be a contributor after my trip. More to come and thanks for the chance, Coach.
Chris Sale is the fastest guy to 1500 k’s. That is no small feat. If you look at the all time leaders in strikeouts, it is a pretty badass list. To be the first to any number on that list is amazing. That dude’s delivery would leave me laughing at the plate every single time, so props to anyone who DOES get a hit on him…or makes any contact.
I feel like Teddy Bridgewater is always “healing.” To give an example how I am not going crazy, my Minnesota friend even changed his fantasy team name from “In Teddy We Trust.” THAT is giving up slightly for reality.
My team? I am happy with it. I was the last pick in case you wonder about my receivers, but my depth I LOVE. THAT is when other guys are Googling pictures of who the hell they are picking.
And Jameis Winston, whether I hated him in college or not, is going to EXPLODE. Mark my words, no pun intended.
Steelers D? I don’t get offensive players from my team on my squad, because I never want to be rooting for one more reception for fantasy points when my team is late in the game on a 3rd and inches. Anyway, cheering for the DEFENSE is a different matter. I am just rooting for STUFF from ANYONE. Totally different.
Way to play along with your velvet image, KD, but I still hate you and your new sneaks.
I feel like Stanton is hitting HR’s while I SLEEP. Dude has had an 18 HR August and is at 51 total.
No time between work and packing to dwell on more Deadspin. Just do yourself a favor. Look daily-tell them I sent you.
Doing Car2Go instead of renting one for our trip. Had NO idea that THIS ride is marginally more than those tiny cars. So fancy, that I have to learn how to drive it. Which we did. Literally drove one from two blocks away to practice the system.
There are actually people who DO this. Someone put up $100k at a casino to win $100 NET that the Golden State Warriors would MAKE the playoffs. Maybe I read the article wrong. I don’t think I did. Lol.
Noticed Kerber lost too today. Not surprising.
One of the first few things in my Phase 2 is finding a wall to play tennis against. I am serious. The wall was how I became good in the first place. Walls don’t drink either, and are VERY consistent amazingly.
Yup. VERY excited the Steelers just put some depth at their weakest offensive position, the tight end position. I love the Vance McDonald pickup.
I know I make a lot of Tracy McGrady jokes. I get it. But, I have another comparison. David Wright amazed us briefly and now is an injury MACHINE. No title. He is the baseball version of McGrady right now.
Usually when you see a “scoreless” streak, it is good. NOT good for the Royals up until tonight (don’t know if that is continuing, but I guess I doubt it).
Watching early Family Guys is AMAZING. Same mentality, but just so raw. That show is so spot on. Just saw the most recent one. Still great stuff.
Word is that Floyd tried to put a bet on himself for a KO in 9.5 rounds or less. Glad you didn’t get THAT one in, bro.
Conor McGregor partied at Encore in Vegas after the fight and got up with the DJ. Glad I have already partied there, and that Skrillex concert was incredible back in the day.
Why glad? Otherwise, I would have been jealous if I missed that place in my more fun days.
Alabama football is so stacked with talent they sometimes can’t even keep that this is the time of year you hear a hopeful smaller school say “and we have that kid who transferred from Bama at QB or RB or whatever…”
So, there will be a 3 on 3 in the Final Four next year. Best losers get to still play? Yeah. We will care about THAT. I am sure the guys entering the draft want one more meaningless chance to blow out their knee.
With Brock losing the starting QB job in Cleveland, anyone else think about how IF he just would have stayed in Denver, he would still have a job and the Broncos would have one more first rounder?
I don’t care if it was marginal or not, Vontaze Burfict shouldn’t even be ALLOWED in preseason games. Guy is too dangerous.
Whoa. Maria beat Halep today? As I said in an earlier chapter, I am pissed if I am Simona of having to face a career Grand Slam winner in the FIRST round.
So, what do we have now? Stafford and Carr are two of the highest paid players? No titles between them. I agree that they are the next “guys” (along with Winston), but man all sports are shelling out serious dough for no title potential.
The Wolverines are wearing maize this weekend for their opener against Florida and for the record I LOVE them.
No college picks from me this week. You are on your own. No time to look yet AND post them. Too much going on.
If you are a Jets fan, are you happy you are starting a veteran who is experienced, or depressed as hell because that starter is Josh McCown?
No, Art Briles should NOT have a job with kids. Good call, CFL team.
Happy trails to Mr. Heathcote. Legend.
The next time I have a few days before I go on travel, I am just going to write quick casts to hold me over. I can’t even remember things I have covered days ago, and am not going back and reading what I wrote to confirm. This has been…a lot.
Staying with one team is pretty amazing these days. Staying with a team that switched cities in 1996, a year after you were drafted is more amazing. Shane Doan announced his retirement. Aside from a subpar last year, he excelled and led the Coyotes on all levels, and pretty much leads them in every single statistical category conjured up by the NHL. Happy trails, Shane.
I am hoping that this Kyrie mess sorts itself out by the time I return and maybe you and I can go over fun flow charts.
Another “why didn’t I think of this” moment. Players switch teams frequently as I mentioned when discussing Mr. Doan. Rep My Squad is a company where you pay a MONTHLY fee and just can switch out uni’s for your team. Someone gets traded? No sweat on an expensive jersey. Just sub it out.
A few hours before posting, I am seeing headlines with “Haden” and “Steelers” in them. Do it. Find a way. And you thought I was happy after they got McDonald? Wow. Look OUT Brady.
On Kaep as he STILL doesn’t have a job before I head out, which is ridiculous. Let me help everyone face their demons on this.
IF you are Group A, which thinks he is too much of a distraction, then know there are bad teams with HUDDLES of people kneeling, meaning whether or not you believe IN the movement, the movement is already MOVING, so therefore bringing him aboard is very little MORE distraction.
IF you are in Group B, which thinks he doesn’t deserve a roster spot, then keep smoking the crack cocaine and know that whether or not the Read Option is a bad QB option or not, he STILL is better than most of the 3rd stringers in the league.
So join me in Group C, which is a bunch of realistic people who know he should have a job.
Even Aaron Rodgers just came out and said Kaep should have an NFL job. You want to argue with Cheesehead King?
Rollie DIED? Man, him AND Heathcote ended this week. Rough week to say the least. Heathcote got a title with one of the biggest stars ever against the other biggest star ever, and Rollie beat the most odds on favorite like ever in the title game. Many stories have been told about that Villanova title team, and all end with the fact that HE got them there. That team was a fun college team. That team wouldn’t have gone anywhere without his guidance. And he took down Goliath and his friends with a pebble. Happy trails, Coach.
I just saw a headline that had “argument” and “kyrgios” in the same sentence. That dude is going to be one of the biggest wastes of a tennis racket if he doesn’t reel in ANY part of that temper he has. Guys out and guys hurt, and he STILL doesn’t recognize this Open was a little more…Open. Come on, Nick.
I am glad the Mariners think Mike Leake is the secret to going deep in the playoffs. That makes one of us.
My day was good at work, no free pizza, one home pizza reheated, no ice for my water, and a free ham sandwich…so a decent day. Free pizza would have made it much better of course. But, I got an invite for October for a free pizza function, so that is something.
Florida just lost two more players for the Michigan game. Do they have anyone left?
PLEASE sign Joe Haden, Steelers. PLEASE. What a great two days for my boys if they do.
That’s it for today and for the week. Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed. I assume the next one will be a lot of thoughts and pics of Vancouver and Seattle. Will I blog again? That is a CLOWN question, bro (.326, 29, 87, .419). This is Pudgy. Signing out. Peace.