Balance.
BALANCE.
By The Fillerbuster
The Cast 080318
INTRO/SETTING:
Greetings and salutations, people. I am sitting here after mistakenly turning on TV when I got home from work and finding in passing The Karate Kid, so I got stuck. Then, flipping to the TBT championship game. Linds is at Red Rocks seeing Ben Harper with a girlfriend (no worries on my part as I have seen him twice). I am not as much in a rush but I have other stuff I would like to get to. In the meantime, I feel the need…the need for speed.
Let’s turn and burn.
No theme in mind when starting this. I guess let’s see what we end up with.
EVERGREEN:
- The Urban Meyer is a combination of complicated, confusing, and a sign of the times. It would be bad enough if the findings just indicated the facts about the domestic abuse case and that Urban knew about it. But, the fact that he spoke that he did not know about it, and then had to do an embarrassing 180 publicly adds another layer to the problem. Here is the thing. Unless you live in a bubble, we know there is cheating in recruiting, recruiting payments, recruiting parties, people taking exams for players, and sexual situations that are written off. But, post-Penn State scandal, to have a coach being paid on the staff WITH an existing hit on his record already and not do anything about it when knowing is just ridiculous. The fact it took a week to respond the right way, and then that right way still didn’t address certain problems in rhetoric indicate a far deeper problem. In the end, is it the end of the world in college athletics? Does it mean Urban Meyer is a bad person or coach? No. But, what we DO get out of this is that when you hide something like this, you might be hiding other things. And when you do this WITH the expanded sensitivity due to other scandals, then you are not on thin ice. You have kind of already fallen in.
- I am not splitting the atom here, but the new NFL helmet rule will be a problem this year on a couple of levels. One, it limits defensive backs from doing their inward and learned intuition. Two, it forces them to change their body extremely last minute to avoid penalties, which may in fact get THEM hurt. Three, it will slow down the game with reviews. Fourth, the rule is forgetting the fact that football is a violent sport. Here is the deal. I get it. Let’s do what we can to make the game safe. Concussions are bad. But, the regulations have hit a fork in the road. Do we just forget in our safeness that football is dangerous in nature? Do we forget that injuries will happen whether we safeguard plays or not? Do we forget that you can’t take away the very essence of the game for this safe need? Football is already under the violent umbrella. Make some rules. We already have. This one just might be over the top though. I am not saying I am in Sendejo’s court and want to “make football violent again” but let’s still regulate the regulations. As the lady in Enemy of the State said so eloquently (GREAT underrated movie by the way), “who is going to monitor the monitors?
- The Earl Thomas holdout reminded me of something that bugs me these days, but I know is not going away. Player control. Literally, in most sports, players can demand trades whenever they want. They can say they want out and exaggerate some reasons why. They force trades when players back in the day would never say a thing. I hate it. I know it is a part of the culture, but I really wish players would realize their sport is a business more than their business is a sport. I just made that up. I don’t care if it doesn’t make total sense. Owners provide. GM’s pick players. The players…play. Getting stuck in your prime on a bad team? Make the best of it, and realize some pretty legendary figures in sports in the last century stuck it out and we have more respect for them because of it. Getting in the perfect situation as a player is cool and all. It is cooler making something out of what looks like nothing. As Mr. Miyagi just said in the movie I am watching, “not everything is as seems.”
- You can hate Nebraska and Notre Dame as a lot of us do. You can hate the Warriors right now. You can dislike East Coast bias. You can dislike when your rival beats you. You can hate everything. But, know this. Whether you are a baseball fan or not, baseball IS better with the Yankees and Red Sox both being good. I am a Phillies fan, and still dig that the series this year mean more. Necessary evil if you ask me.
- The Nuggets took a chance on a projected top pick who had an injury problem. I loved the pick and might even toy with being a Nuggets fan this year (I follow players not teams). But, I almost would want to ask every draft pick what they plan on doing with the money first thing. Because I want a guy who gets paid and immediately buys her parents a car and posts the below on social media. He comes across as a…di…ummm….unlikeable guy. But, there might be more here. And I will wait to have him earn it one way of the other. I remember one time in regionals, I told my tennis coach I didn’t like the opponent’s #1 singles guy because he was cocky. He said when you get to be at that level, sometimes, to some level, it is advantageous to be a little cocky. And it is called confidence sometimes and not cockiness. Anyway, Porter rubbed me the wrong way in his brief one year stint in college. I am willing to give him a clean slate moving forward after seeing this humbleness and transparency:
Mom…I love you so much! It’s such a blessing for me to be able to bless you like this, it’s been a dream of mine! You are an angel to me and the most incredible mom in the world. There is so many things you’ve done for us kids that are so selfless of you I can’t comprehend it. I wanna say thank you for stopping your career of being a professional basketball player to raise 8 kids. Thank you for being a stay at home mom and homeschooling all of us. Thank you for being the last one to go to sleep and the first one awake. Thank you for the endless amount of clothes and dishes you’ve washed for us growing up. Thank you for all the food you’ve cooked for us. Thank you for making sure we all made it to our AAU tournaments and summer camps even when the money wasn’t always there. But most of all thank you and Dad for raising us to trust God’s word and lean on Him! I know I’m a knucklehead sometimes but I just wanna make you proud.
WEEK-FISH:
- The NFL HOF induction is close at hand. There is a part of me that wants T.O.’s speech somewhere else to be really, really good and from the heart. And there is another part of me kind of wishing he does something really, really stupid and jacks this thing up somehow.
- Adam Jones had a big and very respectful week. First, he vetoed a trade to my Phils because he earned that right with a long, loyal career in MLB. I totally respect this move. Just as I was saying that players control their destiny too much these days, there are times when a no-trade royalty is used in an honorable way. Maybe it was his teammates. Maybe it was the city of Baltimore (find that hard to believe). Maybe he wanted to keep his kids in school. Who cares? He wanted to stay and he acted accordingly instead of chasing a ring. Noble and righteous. THEN, today he gave $8.5 mil to a needy little league team asking for help. Yup. First he drew the line in the sand. Then, he made us weepy. What a great dude.
- I found out the gaming conference I attend annually, which has1-2 notable sports stars a year, has Scott Van Pelt speaking (on betting of course). Let’s make sure this blog is streamlined by then. Because at this type of conference, I can definitely get a few words with the guy.
- Nike won’t renew the endorsement contract of Jameis Winston. The kid did some bad stuff in college, and then came back as a winner. He now has done stuff as an NFL QB in the same ballpark of nature, and now we are here. Things happen to occur in groups of three, and any way you look at it, you would think he has created a bad pattern. Two factors. One, too much money is involved. Two, he has become far from a marketable figure.
- Miracles of science sometimes intersect with personal strength. They just did in the NFL. Packers player Bryan Bulaga has been cleared to practice fully now NINE months are his ACL tear.
- McGregor is coming back to UFC in October. Yes, we will watch. Don’t deny it. I am glad it is October. It might take me until then to be able to spell his challenger’s full name.
- I agree there needs to be write-ups of new guys like Lamar Jackson and more seasoned Patrick Mahomes. But, let’s keep the magnifying glass at a distance. I would say keeping the rule “don’t get too worried or too happy” would be a good idea in both cases. Learning curve.
- Don’t forget. Deadspin is doing its daily “Why Your Team Sucks” column and it is not only informational reading but entertaining and funny as hell. Today, locals? Your Broncos. I put the link in my links section for you.
- Just like I identified that your numbness of amusement park ride waits increases as you spend time in the park (example would be “look-that wait is finally under an HOUR-let’s go), I also think numbness affects us in other ways. The sports world for example. When I read that JR Smith threw someone’s phone at a nightclub, I just shrugged and truly just simple hoped for MORE. JR has numbed me effectively.
- Kind of like I shrugged when I read another ex-wrestler got elected as an official. Kane, the wrestler, is now mayor in Tennessee in some county we now know it with this story. I guess someone like me who has already experienced Ventura and Arnold being high ranking officials has also been effectively numbed.
- I think right now the theme of this thing is neck and neck between Karate Kid and “numb.”
- If “numb” wins, then I think I will call it Comfortably Numb.
- I ALSO put in the links an article on UVA football. So my wife’s team (Sooners) has a fan base that is sad when it doesn’t win the national championship. I am a UVA guy reading articles like what Deadspin posted. Basically, the site identifies that UVA MIGHT be an actual football program now.
- I love the trade deadline in MLB because big pickups before the playoffs really aren’t over even though there was a “deadline.” Teams just have to be a little more creative on the waiver wire.
- On cue. Dozier is starting out strong with the Dodgers. He hit a homer in his first game. Second half player, and some of the best stats in baseball after the ASG the last two years.
- As I watch this TBT final game for $2 million, I miss Jimmer. I know I won’t see much magic, and I only will write a hook on this again IF Overseas Elite DOESN’T win.
- I love the tournament in its White Men Can’t Jump 5 on 5 attempt, but the “target score” near the end is not good for the level of the game.
- If Overseas Elite wins this year, are they the $2 million version of the Warriors?
- Tiger and Phil are set for Thanksgiving. I am there. Suddenly, already I have a busy turkey day weekend forming. Tiger-Phil. Holiday. NFL football. College football. Steelers at Broncos.
- The story about Kobe coming out of retirement to join LeBron was silly. But, I can’t say TOO much about it. I opened it and read it. I would have had to become a Kobe fan if that happened. Whew.
- I love that my wife loves watching the Baker Mayfield show on ESPN. Easy compromise show.
- Serena had her most lopsided loss EVER the other day. ONE game, she won. As John McEnroe once said, “if you are going to miss, miss BIG.” She got the weekend off. And that other player, ranked 48th, can really just retire right now and tell her kids about how she beat the best of all time arguably very, very badly.
- I don’t know if McEnroe even said that. He might have. It sounds like him. I have been saying it for thirty years, so I can’t stop now.
- Have I missed headlines in the last decade or is two athletes getting hand, foot, mouth disease within a couple weeks or even in a calendar year weird, odd, and rare?
- I am not concerned with the Yankees losing to the Red Sox at Fenway with Sabathia on the mound. I am concerned with HOW they lost. They were up 4-0 and got SMOKED.
- But, they are still good enough on paper to move Sonny Gray to the bullpen and start their new acquisition, Lynn, without breathing too hard. Other teams are jealous.
- Well, except the Red Sox, who might have their best ever team, just with less glamour.
- That sounds about right. Tristan Thompson sucker punching Draymond Green. Just flows off the tongue and feels very natural.
- The college preseason rankings were released, and before you look for sleepers, are mad about Bama being #1, or hope inwardly there isn’t a Clemson-Bama IV, just remember these are all different players. It is not the Warriors-Cavs problem. Totally new roster, and in a game where the passion is deep.
- You KNEW that the NBA would cut a deal in the betting arena, it was just a question really if it would be MGM, Caesars, Cosmo, or Sands. MGM got it. Smart for both sides.
- Tiger is playing lots of tournaments as he preps for the PGA Championship. Thus, we will get a good sample. But, I will root for him this weekend at Firestone, but won’t count on it. Why? I think his first win in a while will come at a harder course to be honest. I think he is better winning in the 8-10 range under par. This weekend, someone will be in the ballpark of 15-20. I don’t think he can match the youngsters in birdies. I think his win comes in weather or on a tough course where mental toughness and saves count more.
- Talk about digging a hole for yourself. Censoring Colin Kaepernick on a video game? You messed up, EA. But that is some kind of mess up you just chose. Make sure EVERYONE dislikes what you did.
POP CULTURE/THE FILLERBUSTER:
- Daniel Laruso won by the way.
- Sharp Objects has me. Compromise show I decided to check out with Lindsey. The flash images are constant and clues, the acting is high level, the music is expertly put together for timing AND includes some great tunes all over the board, the plot moves along frustratingly only because it is so brilliant, and I just have to know now. How? Why? Since I can guess the bad thing that happened, and for how smart the show is thus far, I expect the secret to not be the obvious thing I think it is. Anyway, stay away unless you want to be hooked.
- Football is coming. Baseball playoffs are coming. And Ozark is coming back for another season.
- Today at work, someone was saying something totally different than my favorite word “pizza” but I still heard pizza. I then thought about pizza all day and when done with my workout, I came out to empty pizza boxes. It made me sad. Three free donuts today couldn’t turn that feeling around.
Maybe I will order pizza after this.
- I am proud to say I bought a repetitive pattern/pic shirt on my own before I found out they are “in.” That is a big step for me.
- I am one of those sports people who unfortunately has to find out by world events via other people, catching a news showing on the TV when someone else has the remote, or very good or bad events. But, I have found a solution. CNN does this “5 Things To Know” each day, and I now know things even when Trump isn’t insulting NFL anthem policies.
- They are making another Terminator? I hear Linda will be back for the Sarah Connor role, and I guess there won’t be any past stuff given the age of these folks. But, I am still excited now that they probably figured out the last one sucked.
- Or last two. I forget when I stopped watching.
- For example, if I didn’t read that CNN column today, I definitely would not have found out about the southwest Florida red tides. Daniel-san should not do the row boat balance routine in THAT area of the country.
- I was disgusted, sad, and dumbfounded when my poker playing buddy today he had never seen the movie Rounders, but caught the final scene last night and will definitely watch it. The END? That would be like…like…watching the last scene of The Sixth Sense first, or watching the end of Usual Suspects…or…horrible, horrible, horrible.
- It will still be GOOD, but he probably won’t fall off his couch like I did when I watched it for first time.
- Do what you want on the small airports and security, TSA. Just tell me the future will have global entry people have their own line to escape the increased amount of pre-check people since we paid $20 more for the extra questions.
- The company band practice is going fine. I never thought I would see the day when I had to know the song Edge of Glory by Lada Gaga like the back of my hand. But I will need to.
- My colleague, Anthony, I call the “Lifeguard.” Along with being good at his job, he also knows more about pop culture than anyone I have ever met. I call him Lifeguard, because you can be having a conversation twenty feet away about a movie or show, and he will stand up, come over, and add some “little known facts.” Like a lifeguard with a floatie running to aid of a swimmer, It is remarkable and usually begins my favorite work conversation of the day. After I attended the LaLa’s movie in the park (you are missing out yearly if not going to it-so cool), which was Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, I went to tell him how I forgot how good the movie was since it had been a while. Well, here is generally the dialogue.
- ME: Brilliant movie, and forgot how it was the perfect balance of 80’s cheesiness, signature lines, rebelling plot, and funny scenes
- ANTHONY: Well, Mark, little do people know that:
- A) Charlie Sheen actually went on a bender and stayed out all night the night before just so he could get “the look” that was needed for the scene.
- B) The conspiracy theory is that it is like Fight Club. There are a few items so out of whack in reality, that many people think there is NO Ferris Bueller, and that the whole movie is what Cam wished he could do. More realistic too since how could introverted Cam be ultra popular Ferris’s friend…
- And then, after you get his mind ON the movie briefly but focused, there is the walk back over to YOUR desk that you KNOW will happen, usually between 1-3 minutes after the initial conversation, with 1-2 additional insights.
- ANTHONY: C) Also, Mark, little do people know that the receptionist for Rooney in Ferris has “one of the best lines in cinematic history.” When Steve Martin, in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, is freaking out about transportation to his destination, she delivers perfectly the simple line “Oh. You’re fucked.”
- I know Tesla’s are expensive, but perhaps they should think about making an economy car after losing $430 million in Q2.
- Did I see the word “trillion” by the word “Apple” the other day?
- Han Solo’s COAT from Empire Strikes Back sold for $1.3 million.
- Judge Judy just bought a $9 million house in Newport, RI. Who would have thought a fake TV judge would be able to do this? Jealous as hell. Should have talked to that umbrella-drink guy (Cocktail reference).
- There are these people that exist in the real world who are…Fortnite TUTORS.
- The baseball betting has been fun and fills the void until football, but I DRAW THE LINE when someone even thinks I would THINK about betting on preseason NFL/practice.
- I literally will watch the third or fourth Steelers game if by chance I find it on TV and have to go do something I don’t feel like doing…like mowing the lawn or something.
- Finally, I don’t mind big trucks. But, when big truck people do buy big trucks, do they know that THIS is the visual that it creates. In my parking garage.
TWEET OF THE WEEK:
I find this funnier of course because my university ALSO called itself The University. Yes, I admit to having no UVA on my window…only a sticker on my 1983 Camaro (fit right in at the southern school) that said “The University.” And OSU thinks the same thing.
Oh, and this didn’t post correctly last time. Here is the amazing tweet from the week before again.
LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE:
Right before I posted this, I got the Johnny Manziel update. Four INT’s. IN THE FIRST HALF. HA! Should have watched that instead of Karate Kid.
Nah. I made the right choice. And then I wrote the blog. Now I will do something else. Tomorrow I will go to the gym. Tomorrow I will also go to Red Rocks. Balance.
When I am done here and turn on TV, hope I don’t run into Rounders next. There would go my night.
That’s it for today. Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed. I hope you have a great weekend. Will I blog again? That is a CLOWN question, bro.
Credit: Columbia Pictures
And, in case you care about what I threw out, here you go…
| THROW IT BACK |
| Sonny gray tweet |
| cueto Tommy john |
| asuna assault |
| cespedes surgery |
| Donahue 2nd dui |
| wr Baldwin out preseason |
| ex charger Shawnee merriman bare knuckle fighting |
| MLS vs Juventus |
| Ray’s pham |
| dbacks ziegler |
| Ray’s get meadows |
| tiger 5 of next 6 trnts |
| Pat’s release wr Matthews |
| obj Giants contract talks |
| hue Jackson mom bro die |
| hamels sharp and I bet |
| Diaz poirer |
| Ezekiel Elliott being sued for mil car crash |
| uf kadarius toney ar-15 in car |
| top rank boxing ESPN deal |
| briles italy |
| Titans cyprien tears acl |
| Pat’s sign decker |
| pitino more Bowen stuff |
| derwin james was robbed |
| AB hurt and sent back to pittsburgh, but saying minor |
| ravens bears |
| nats shawn kelley slams glove in blowout save, now DFA |
| brady was offered $1 mil fine and admittance instead of 4 game suspension |