Catch Of The Day

The Biggest Little Blog

The Biggest Little Blog

By The Fillerbuster

The Cast 052319

SETTING:

This is mostly written on Wednesday, May 22nd in front of the tube.  Finished up on Thursday evening.  The theme is perfect for today before the blog is even written.  Actually, along with it being TIME to write a blog, it is also a night without basketball and hockey.  We are running out of teams.  Sad.  A little lonely.  I will do my best.  Imagine all that I would have to write about if I actually had time.  Well, this blog can’t be any worse than the Orioles fielding.  I feel the need…the need for speed.

Let’s turn and burn. 

Barely edited…one shot, one sitting, one writing…

EVERGREEN (topics that don’t fade away):   

STEPH

The Warriors are not better without Kevin Durant, so I would appreciate the media to stop even inferring this concept.  They are just DIFFERENT.  Basketball is chemistry, movement, and timing.  When Durant plays, it merely makes them indefensible on many levels, but changes the way they move the ball.  When Kevin Durant is off the court, you are asking for Klay Thompson to score more?  OK.  Not a problem.  He might be a Hall of Famer by the end of his career, so the extra touches are just what he needs.  You need more screen and rolls with Steph and Draymond?  OK.  Not a problem.  Let’s bring back more one of the most lethal screen and rolls since John and Karl.  But, what KD’s absence HAS done, without a doubt, is perfected Steph’s legacy.  It makes us aware more of the damage he used to do and COULD do on a nightly basis if he didn’t have another forty-point scorer on the floor.  It makes us appreciate how he accepted another superstar and changed the way he played regularly to accommodate.  It made us realize, if we had somehow forgotten, that he changed the entire sport and can go off any night he wants to, and half carry a beaten-up team missing three of its top six scorers…if he wants.  It brought us back to reality on what the Warriors are and were.  How dare you forgot, and not sure legacies or legends should need us to remind us of that fact.  You can hate or root against the Warriors, but DON’T forget in this microcosm of playoff games how Steph changed the game.  But, they would take KD any day of the week.

NUGGETS

The Nuggets need a believer.  The Nuggets need someone to take a leap.  In the words of Hall & Oates, they are so close, yet so far away.  But not that far.  Denver is a fantastic city, and I am proof that after stopping through this city in my wanderings out West, it got me permanently because of how incredible it is.  But, the city isn’t the only thing it offers.  We offer a basketball team with a star who needs help.  The rest of the team features young talent, where one would bet that ONE of them WILL rise to the next level in stardom.  But, it would be great to get an exclamation point.  We need a star to make the leap and take the Nuggets to the next level.  Can we do it without one?  Yes.  We have already had a team that was a little too young earn a #2 seed in the tougher conference of the two in the NBA.  Jokic will just get better, scary as that sounds after the year he had.  Murray will mature and harness his ridiculous talent.  The role players will develop.  Hopefully, Paul Millsap doesn’t age as fast in skill as Greg Oden aged in college pictures.  Want to make your own destiny and not have people say you are conspiring with LeBron or other superstars in trying to get a title?  Denver is your place.  They were a second half meltdown in Game 7 from getting a shot at the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.  Sure, they would have lost in 5 or 6 games, but it would have been fun regardless.  More fun would be to get a Batman or Robin for Mr. Jokic.  He doesn’t care which one he is.  Trust me.

CHRIS LONG

He was as talented, classy, and cool as Frank Sinatra.  He went to school in Charlottesville and was an All-American, and played a career that was transparent, sharing, and honest in everything he did.  He retires as one of the best still at his position.  He won two Super Bowls.  He put his hand on the shoulders of players that were fighting the man by kneeling during the anthem, showing that white people cared too.  He gave his entire salary away for a great cause…his ENTIRE salary.  He smoked pot, we just found out, but that just makes him even more real in this world.  Chris Long did it right.  He played well, he won Walter Payton Man of the Year awards, and he won titles.  He did it HIS way, which happened to be the RIGHT way.  What a career.  Wahoowa, Chris.

GET IN THE HOLE

It happened many, many times at the PGA Championship and could be heard on TV very clearly.  It disturbs me.  I would rather hear “mashed potatoes” on long Par 4’s then “get in the hole!”  It doesn’t make sense.  They are the best in the world, and they are not reaching the green.  Choose clever, reality-based things to yell out if you feel that need after a few pops while watching your favorite player drive the ball.  But, keep in mind down and distance, to steal another sport’s terminology.  I know you are there watching them, and I admit to being jealous of that fact, as Majors are the best to witness in person, but please don’t yell “get in the hole” on a 420 yard Par 4.  Thanks.

FIFA

It still will probably happen in 2026, but at least they scrubbed the expansion plans for 2022.  They are proposing a sixteen team expansion for the World Cup, and that will now not happen, as of this week, in the next World Cup in Qatar.  Thank you.  Listen.  You can love, hate, or be indifferent about soccer.  You can say the world sport stinks (it doesn’t).  But, know this.  We can have the NFL playoffs, tennis tournaments in England, March Madness, and the Stanley Cup Playoffs (the closest thing to what I am getting to).  But, the World Cup is the best layout and best distribution of a tournament the world has in any sport.  Easy to get in?  No.  Tough to get out of your group?  Yes.  Three points for a win, one point for a tie?  Yes.  Brilliant when then going to single elimination?  Yes.  They already expanded to 24 teams in 1982 and then 32 in 1998.  Twenty-four teams is still a little light, but I get historical etiquette.  Thirty-two teams was the equivalent of the NCAA hoops tourney going to 64.  Perfect.  Now?  Don’t touch it.  We have equilibrium.  Forty-eight would dilute it.  I want perennial powers still beating themselves up in qualifying and not making it certain years.  I want the U.S. to be pained when it falls short.  I want them to DESERVE entry.  The expansion will happen in 2026 and I will be disgruntled.  But, at least they are waiting one more time through to keep it where it is at.  It is the greatest world tournament on this planet.  Let’s not modify perfection.

DOG DAYS

Summer is about trips, outdoors, and beautiful weather.  I love these things.  Most people do.  But, as a sports guy, I get sad a little when those days (happening now) sneak up on us without NBA basketball or NHL hockey.  Switching from hockey to basketball and back again on the tube was my favorite thing over the last two months.  There are 162 games in an MLB season, so plenty of time to catch those games later in the season.  But, these are the days where I am sad about no sports on TV, and a little sad about how much time I spend watching games in general, to be honest (but not really).  So, now I can go outside or down the street to the place without TV’s.  It is different.  It is summer.  And I will maximize it, hike in the mountains, play frisbee at picnics, and take some trips anywhere.  But, all that being said, how many days do we have until college football begins again?

WEEK-FISH (current topics of interest in sports):

NFL

  • Any kind of curiosity is quickly squashed by remembering his age and the circumstances.  I think the last thing all of us in society needs is to see the now suppressed video of Bob Kraft getting taken care of at a spa.
  • A local, and possibly national story was Joe Flacco saying it is not his job to groom Drew Lock.  Totally agree.  Answer some questions, let him observe your methods, and know that the guy in the lead spot has a job.  It is to get ready to win games and not to train the guy trying to obtain his job.
  • I also love that a day after the story broke that Drew Lock said Flacco has been great to him.
  • Within 24 hours, the Jets fired their GM at a very odd time of the football year, made a coach a GM, who then made a horrible trade for their linebacker.  Other teams have their own problems, but if these were houses, the other teams have cosmetic repairs and need a new bathroom.  The Jets’ whole foundation is off under the ground.  Now they are fielding questions about trading Bell-hilarious.
  • A rule of thumb for players who talk a bunch of crap is probably to stay out of trouble and don’t get busted for anything football related.  Patrick Peterson, I believe, can continue to talk crap to anyone and everyone, but their counter material becomes MUCH easier after he got busted for PED’s and suspended six games.
  • Apparently, Dwayne Haskins is looking really, really good thus far.  Stephen A. Smith probably thinks he is scrambling really well also.  And maybe that he throws to Hunter Henry on third down.
  • The Colts picked up Chad Kelly this week as a backup QB.  The team dropping a player always has to make the statement after a break in moral etiquette, but today’s society will also give any player with talent a job at some point down the line.  #kareemhunt
  • The Buffalo Bills will give out the #32 jersey to a plyer for the first time in 1977.  This plot has a lot of subtitles.  Subtitles include that no one probably asked for a possible murderer’s jersey number, the Bills are in their own world of hurt as it is, OJ probably is doing something bad somewhere and doesn’t care, and most people had to Google the player asking this time.
  • The Patriots let go of a lot of players, never trade up in the draft, and give lots of players second shots.  Whatever they do, it is the Patriot Way and is apparently genius.  That being said, them resigning Edelman is a no-brainer both for the locker room and for the field.  Not the fastest, not the youngest, but if there was one guy who should ride into the sunset with Mr. Brady, it is him.  They are not only on the same page.  They are in the same paragraph on that page.
  • Tyrann Mathieu had an attempted extortion this week from a family member.  I believe this happened, but am surprised more of this doesn’t happen to these athletes ALL THE TIME.
  • Kindler, gentler, NFL.  Concussions, lawsuits, illegal hits that were once historic Ronnie Lott hits, and now they would prefer NFL teams to stop doing the legendary OU drill in practice.
  • After the NFL is hosted in Vegas, which is very exciting, they will host it in Cleveland, which I am not sure WHAT to do with.  Nice town,  but if you asked me on an IQ exam to identify the pattern “Nashville, Las Vegas, Cleveland,” I would have no idea of how to answer.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

  • Please stop telling me there are rumors being put down about Dabo Swinney going to Alabama someday.  And, IF that rumor is true and becomes true, then I suppose I have plenty of large mountain cliffs in Colorado to debate driving off of because there is no genuineness in life anymore.  He isn’t going anywhere, folks.
  • Well, Lane did it again.  He will take ANY ultra-talented, misunderstood college washed-up athlete.  Remember Francois from FSU?  He will walk on to FAU.  And, whether it turns out good or bad, it WILL be worth watching from afar.  Lane Kiffin makes it fun regardless.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

  • I didn’t predict the “#1 recruiting class” in exact language, but regular readers DO know I shouted from the mountaintop the MOMENT that Anfernee Hardaway got hired, that he would get that program back to elite status.  They just inked another five-star recruit, and officially moved definitively ahead of UK and others for the #1 class in the nation.
  • And, they just BARELY lost out on Trendan Watford, who went to LSU but had Memphis also in his top four schools pre-decision.
  • But, oddly, and bet you didn’t know this, Washington University is the only college in the recruiting rankings in hoops to have TWO top seven recruits.  Who would have thought that could happen in this day and age of perennials fighting for one-and-done kids?
  • I don’t care whether it works out.  It is almost like the Hardaway-Memphis thing.  Juwan Howard is the one guy from the Fab Five who could be a coach at that school.  Juwan Howard and Michigan have locked it up, and it is a great move for the program overall.  They have recently gone the older-guy basketball genius route, and now get someone who can tell top flight recruits exactly what it is like being a top tier prospect at that school.

NBA

  • The Sixers have some decisions to make and some moves will be made.  But, they fell in Game 7 on the road on the first buzzer beater in Game 7 history and shouldn’t beat themselves up too much.  The core is there, the chemistry and learning will improve, and they aren’t going anywhere in the Eastern Conference.  They have a big hill to climb, but pushing the Raptors to the limit isn’t the biggest letdown if you ask me.  It would help though if Simmons shot a couple of jump shots over the summer.
  • You might be in the court that Embiid is allowed to cry but not fall apart after his loss, but the nice letter by the 9-year-old sure was cute no matter whether you like or dislike his cry.
  • The Celtics have a nice core and possibly have a toxic best player in Kyrie.  That isn’t the disturbing part.  The fact that one of their elder statesmen, Terry Rozier, came out to the media and said he would leave Boston if they keep things as is IS disturbing.  A guy like that isn’t leaving that talent on the board unless there is something really fundamentally “broken” in the locker room.
  • It is in my links below, but of COURSE Dennis Rodman did something weird finally for the first time in a while.  If you had bets in the Rodman Stupidity Pool on destroying a yoga studio after stealing from it, you win the pool, and I assume you got at least 500-1 odds, so it should be a nice payout.  Congrats.  I had money on something in Vegas at a strip club at 3-1 odds, so I lost.
  • The NBA Draft Lottery got crazy last week.
    • The Pelicans put some pressure and excitement on the whole Brow situation.
    • In doing so, the Pelicans instantaneously went from 300-1 to 25-1 to win it all.  The Zion effect.  They would pair perfectly by the way.  They compliment each other so well.
    • The Knicks are drafting at #3, the perfect spot for everyone from NYC to hate their pick.
    • The Wizards draft in a spot that will make sure they are bad for another couple of years.
    • The Lakers jumped to a spot that makes the whole LeBron bandwagon raise eyebrows with hope.
  • Brook Lopez either gets no points or explodes.  It is exciting when you have guys like that on your roster, but I would like consistency as a GM.
  • Aside from them having LeBron, the Lakers are doing their best mirror plan of the New York Jets.  The fact that Magic would go on First Take and escalate this situation (Pelinka backstabbing comments) is further proof.
  • Tyreke Evans had problems off the court when he came out of college.  He had problems during his career, even though he was given 2nd and 3rd chances.  Now, he is 29 years old, and he gets suspended for two years.  No one is banking on him after that suspension.  Guy sealed his own fate.  Don’t feel sorry for him.  Talk about a guy who had it all in the palm of his hand and then jacked it up…
  • We experienced the first buzzer beater in a playoff Game 7 in the NBA last week, and we also got the first teammate triple double couple (hey, that rhymed) in playoff history by the Evil Empire Warriors.
  • Sure, they picked up KD during this run, but you can’t deny that five straight NBA Finals appearances is somewhat historical by the Warriors.  Michael would have done it (and won each time) had he not played baseball, and the Celtics obliterated that concept in the 60’s.
  • Tell your friends.  Interesting fact.  All five top picks in the NBA Draft last year made the All-Rookie team this year.  Last time this happened?  Hakeem, Perkins, Jordan, Bowie, Barkley.
  • Why is Drake poking the bear?  Be the biggest fan.  Yell during The Greek Freak’s free throws.  Be the Canadian Spike Lee.  But, stop giving Giannis shit, Drake.  Don’t give the best player in the league bulletin board material from the sidelines.
  • (and stop going at Broussard in your off time-go on tour or something useful)
  • Klay, you would have been SOOOOO much cooler if you dismissed the All-Pro snub.
  • If you read this blog and listen to it, then you KNOW I am RAKING on the Raptors right about now and you should be also.

MLB

  • I am not a diehard Angels fan, but man, I want to see Ohtani and Trout do a tandem All-Star act this year.  Ohtani is back and just hit is first HR.
  • Chris Sale was PULLED from a game after throwing 17 K’s in seven innings with a lead.  Process that.  I don’t care about pitch count.  You let that guy keep throwing in that particular game.
  • Here he comes.  Vlad Jr. just hit two HR’s in a game, and it will be far from his last multiple homer game, folks.
  • The Orioles pitching staff didn’t want the now legendary fielding to be the only winners/losers.  The pitching staff decided to be the fastest to allow 100 HR’s in a season.  Gleyber Torres from the Yankees has TEN alone against them.
  • We won’t realize it now, nor 2-3 years from now, but maybe 5-10 years from now, Carter Stewart might have changed the MLB game this week.  Instead of signing here, he signed a six-year, higher paying contract to play in Japan.  Everything has come full circle and now stars are STARTING across the pond instead of vice versa.  We will see how it plays out, but this is a little more than the Brandon Jennings version of MLB.
  • Crash Davis II.  Rajai Davis got the call up from the Mets, arrived in the THIRD inning, and homered in his first AB.  Storybook stuff.  Rajai is 38 years old.

NHL

  • Well, the way the NHL playoffs started, with all of the upsets, we should be pretty glad we even ended up with a couple of top tier teams at the end in the Stanley Cup Finals.
  • And the Sharks had Karma get back at them after the bad OT goal.  Not really Karma though.  The Blues looked better than them most of the time in that series.
  • I find it hard to go against the Bruins in this one, but I think it might go seven games.
  • I admit it.  I Googled it.  The REASON that the Blues play Gloria after a win these days is because the Philly guys on the team were watching the Eagles playoff game on January 6th against the Bears, and decided then and there that the song would be their victory tune.  Word spread, they kept winning, and here we are.  Now, the fans go crazy.  I almost want them to win JUST to hear that shitty 80’s tune.
  • I try to imagine the crybabies of the NBA doing the super-cool handshake thing from the NHL Playoffs and I laugh.  Not that classy.  Still one of the coolest things in sports…

MISCELLANEOUS

  • Not sure if you have caught the 104.3 radio show in Denver these days in the afternoon, but Tom Nalen is a fantastic addition to their team.  The chemistry between D-Mac and him is great.
  • The Kentucky Derby jockey was suspended for failure to “control his mount,” but you all do realize that we are basically getting mad at a horse running a little crooked in the mud, right?  A horse.  Not a human.
  • Tiger, blame that destroyed evidence on your girlfriend.  Things are going too well right now.  Or at least shun her kiss like Brooks did at your next Major.  You don’t need dead weight right now, especially dead weight doing a restaurant no-no.
  • It was funnier that Trump posted a 68 before we found out that he was hacked.  I feel like the President jokes would have had a total rewrite.
  • Well, the Preakness results made me glad that I forgot to bet all of my dumb $2 side bets.
  • But the no-rider Bodexpress thing was kind of cool.
  • Glad to see UVA lax back in the final four.  I feel like it has been a while, for a school where that school is pretty important.  VERY important, unless things have changed since I was in C-Ville.
  • Yes.  You read the score correctly.  Djokovic lost the first set 6-0 to Nadal in the Italian Open final.  Yes, Djokovic is the best player right now.  But, it is CLAY season.  This is where everyone just sits around and waits for Wimbledon and the grass, and Nadal has puppet strings on everyone on the red surface.
  • Why is McGregor talking smack to Khabib when fight fans A) haven’t decided if we even like Conor anymore and B) are even sure he is one of the best fighters to be in the ring anymore?
  • ESPN Mag:  thanks for the women’s World Cup coverage, but it took up like ALL of the issue.  I don’t need to read THAT much on the sport.
  • ESPN Mag: I really, REALLY enjoyed your page breakdown on why we should watch the Cricket World Cup and how each team compares to a team in a sport we all know.
  • St. Thomas is a football school who was booted from their small conference because they are too good and have won too much.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES:

  • Take those four consecutive bogeys out of play, and knowing that Brooks simply had to have someone come and GET him, it was pretty masterful how he won that thing.  We just aren’t used to someone being that out of reach after two days.  Winning a Major is not supposed to look that easy.
  • Breaking course records is one thing, while breaking tournament records is a whole other thing (even though I sort of think those records are different than Augusta because they are always on different courses each year).
  • Casey Martin was harder to jab at about his golf cart.  Yes, John Daly is hurt and older, but when he is driving around with a fountain drink, smoking a cigarette, it is kind of hard NOT to give him a little crap.
  • I feel like Tiger knew more than myself and the experts.  He KNEW he wasn’t going to compete well at Bethpage.  He rested, didn’t practice, didn’t mention it much, and basically let us get sucked into his Masters victory.  He is more realistic about what he can do than we are.  Sorry, Tiger.  It was really exciting what you put us through in Augusta!
  • Again, say what you want about the fans of Tiger, but the final day prices of the PGA tix SUNK after Tiger missed the cut.
  • It is mandatory that Charley Hoffman starts out the first few holes (or sometimes the whole first day) under par quickly.
  • At least Danny Lee tried to keep up with Brooks the first day.
  • Tell me that Jazz guy doesn’t have the coolest name on the tour.
  • Rickie Fowler could have at least finished in the second-tier guys so we could say “well, he might have won his first one here had Brooks not done what he did.”
  • New York crowds are awesome, and actually were pretty well-behaved for a Major.  I WILL say that the New Yorkers WILL cross the line by the time the Ryder Cup comes there in 2024.
  • Did you notice how tough the officials had it moving people back when a player missed the fairway?  Herding cats with northeast accents.
  • I am really confused as to when Jason Day is going to show up, and when he is not.  I seem to be betting opposite to what he does.  Not the same page.
  • Rory sure finished strong after being at seven OVER and four strokes off the cut after the 11th hole on Friday.
  • Padraig Harrington got really bad quickly.  Forty-seven isn’t YOUNG, but he shouldn’t be in double digits each Major either.
  • Of course, at least he isn’t hanging out with Mr. Filbert at plus TWENTY SIX.
  • I thought that this might be the course where Jon Rahm was really going to get around the course well, or at least not be one of the people to not make the cut.
  • I felt like Sunday was kind of like the last stage of the Tour de France…just a processional.
  • I actually let my wife some other TV for a few of the holes on Sunday, which previously was sort of sacrilegious to me.
  • No matter WHAT the media said about Brooks, using words like “struggle, gave away holes, etc.,” is wrong.   BACKING INTO A MAJOR is absolutely FINE.  Winning a Major doesn’t have to be pretty at all.  Just get there.
  • Golf bets are different than other bets for me.  I have to like rooting for them.  It is tough to endure four consecutive days of rooting for people you have money on but don’t really WANT to win.  It is OK to root for a team for a few hours that I hate that my wallet just wants some benefits.

THIS AND THAT (pop culture, Fillerbuster thoughts):

  • For anyone who watches The Voice, it became more clear this season than other season that the overall talent was a little diminished.  Therefore, although I didn’t watch any of the final shows start to finish, it seemed right that the singer that Linds and I pegged as the only true winning voice…won it.  Maelyn, and John Legend showed up for the first time as a judge and won it.  Bottom line is that they need to minimize fan voting and who gets to the final shows, because the fans left out some pretty good singers.  But, in the end, the best singer won.
  • And I guess five out of eight finalists doesn’t guarantee the win, Blake.
  • I talk about Billy’s Inn stuffed burger.  Had it again, and aside from having it with its typical stuff, bacon and cheese on the inside and outside of burger, I decided to top it off with jalapeno cream cheese.  Brilliant, and very healthy I might add.
  • They might not have a lot of years to enjoy it, but that Roundup couple who got the decision can definitely A) live it up as much as those people can and B) set up their family and C) know they took down the big company.  $2 billion is a lot of dough.
  • I Prevail is one of my workout bands, but didn’t have a clue they did a Taylor Swift remake years ago.  No clue.  The cover is incredible and takes a song that type of band would NEVER do, and made the song their own while still respecting Taylor’s cut.  Listen to Taylor’s Blank Space first.  Then, the remake by I Prevail.  Worth it.
  • The happy hour and Taco Tuesday special at El Jefe on 44th is pretty good to partake in, both food and drink-wise.
  • I am not good at fixing stuff nor building stuff.  Therefore, although boring by most people’s standards, me putting together patio furniture, a table for our vintage record player, and cubes for the dryer room was a hell of a week.
  • We are going on a sand dunes, Taos, Santa Fe CO/NM driving adventure for Memorial Day.  In out itinerary is some place called Meow Wolf.  Not only had I never heard of it previously, but apparently it is so hard to explain and so good that they are next bringing this entity to Vegas and Denver next.  I am excited to do whatever you do within its walls.  Probably not going to do the riddle thing though-just enjoy the bright lights and scenery.
  • And I am so excited to see these random sand dunes in the middle of southern Colorado.
  • Talk about bad luck.  My wife woke up, in two consecutive mornings, to a flat tire and a car break-in.  I think you at least need a day break in between those two car problem days.
  • A video wall at Mandalay Bay came crashing down, and that must have been a loud sound.  Lucky no one was beneath that mammoth of a thing.
  • ESPN is building a studio in Vegas at The Linq, and just though you should know.
  • We conducted a panel discussion for the #metoo movement at our work, it was moving and constructive, but the Chief Justice stole the show (pic below).  She was hilarious.  One quip was “I am not a judge anymore, so I am pretty much…no one these days.”  And when the guy next to her noted she taught him in college, she said “well, I also taught Ted Bundy, so…you know…that is not saying much.”
  • A house party at Nick’s place (friend of Linds) that starts in the afternoon SHOULD mean that we should go home by 10ish…that did not happen.
  • I have decided that an occasional work from home day (allowed at work) is therapeutic as hell.
  • I wonder if Connie, Art, and Nelson read this blog.  Inside work joke.  I think Art would be the guy who would hang out for a party like Nick’s.
  • The Jeep convoy for Kendrick after the Highlands Ranch shootings was something really good and really cool for a hero.  Hope he saw that from above.
  • Live Free, Die Hard, Throw a First Pitch That Doesn’t Bounce Before The Plate, Bruce Willis/tough guy.
  • There is a new guy at work who doesn’t understand that our work gym is on the sales floor, so therefore the typical tough dropping of weights doesn’t apply.  Stop dropping weights, dude.  They are going to blame ME.
  • There is also a guy at work who wears the same shirt working out every time I see him.  So, either A) he does laundry everyday B) he wears a different shirt when I personally see him or C) he is like the chick from Seinfeld and possibly has a closet full of shirts that say “U Bring the Ass.”
  • If you are an online shopper, and a dude, I would suggest to never click on the Deadspin website.  It is like the comfort food of material possessions.
  • I think I have accepted that missing Widespread Panic is OK at Red Rocks this year since I will be on a beach in Cabo.
  • I am also missing some festival with Great White, Vixen, Queensryche, Extreme, and Steel Heart, which is also a downer I am willing to overlook for Cabo.
  • A guy won $1.6 million on a penny slot at Valley View Casino outside of San Diego, just in case you thought penny slots or playing at tribal casinos was worthless to everyone.
  • A woman also bought her mother a $1.3 million lottery ticket just in case you all became non-believers in buying lottery tickets as good gifts.
  • Another lottery story.  A guy at work is good friends with this dude who just won the Children’s Hospital lottery, and now has a $2.3 million house outside of Morrison.
  • In the sad story of the week, a pregnant woman was killed trying to sell baby clothes when meeting her buyer.  Ugghhh.
  • Our house has the most elaborate set of sprinklers I have ever heard of for such a small yard.
  • The SAT’s will start curving scores based on economical background, and that sounds like it won’t work out in the end.
  • (but, glad people are still taking the SAT’s I guess)
  • I have no more company band stories or 20 questions stories, as I have decided the magic is done on both of those fun items.
  • The Backstreet Boys have released a 20th Anniversary edition of a song.  A) This isn’t really necessary to remind us who we used to listen to that was hip and B) they are still around?
  • Ever pick a password that sounds like a good plan but then you struggle in typing it in successfully for the next three months?  We all have.  I successfully picked one I can type easily in 2 seconds this time around.
  • The glory of the song Bow Down by I Prevail is that it is one of the few songs on this planet that actually is BETTER near the end.
  • I just didn’t go north on Tennyson far enough.  Local 46 is now one of my favorite area bars.  All the ingredients.  Patio galore, pool table, local brews, and live music.
  • (Sneaky Bastards was playing there when Linds and I went, and I will gladly hear them again)
  • Just a reminder to me on my blog list.  I am supposed to check out something called “Dead Honest Sports.”
  • I have no idea what these two entries on my list are:
sneaky van breaks down tomorrow
sneaky crows bruce
  • Lindsey loves cartoon movies, animals, and live music-again proven during Biggest Little Farm movie night, and Local 46 (except for the cartoons).
  • OHHHHHHH.  Sneaky sounds like Bruce Springsteen and Panic (later entry).  Now I got it.
  • I never had attended the Five Points Jazz Festival, but I say you should go next year, as it is probably the only time you can walk down that street and feel safe.
  • Spangalang Brewery is a hidden treasure on that street.
  • I have decided that shopping for beads WITH Linds is not the best call.  No support for my bracelets and necklaces.
  • Beecher Mac and Cheese is the best tasting out-of-the-box microwave mac and cheese out there possibly.
  • I have OCD and leave plenty of extra stuff in our Air BNB.  I don’t care how many people you have…going through three full toilet paper rolls in four days is suspicious on a couple of levels.  Or worrisome.
  • If you like hippy music and good sandwiches, The Grateful Gnome is a place on 44th you need to check out.
  • I think Good Love by Grateful Dead is one of my favorite covers ever.  It is just so freaking HAPPY.
  • Sounds like a picked the right week to go to a wedding in Tulsa…NOT last week (weather).
  • If you would like a bang for your buck pizza lunch, Pieology has a pretty good deal daily.
  • I am confused as to how many Men In Black movies there are, and why they are coming out with another one.
  • Our Denver weather right now is giving us a bad rap.  Snow, rain, and I guess Mother Nature is getting it all out of her system before blessing us with normal CO weather again that no one out East hears about.
  • If you have owned a drone, I would like to thank you for sending out important info to China apparently for the last few years.  I don’t know of any friends who use drones in a constructive way, so I am sure they are getting top secret information on people’s neighbors.
  • A couple in Spain, living with a buzzing white noise for a year or two, found out they had 80,000 bees in their wall, and I almost crapped myself reading the story.  I then went home and checked all walls and attics.  That would be my nightmare, whether they stung me or not.
  • If you haven’t checked out the gambler winning Jeopardy…he is still destroying everyone.  You still have plenty of time.
  • Man, not having Ralph at work sucks these days.  1.0 vs. .8 vs. .8 vs. .15 and below just blows.  And my motivation to swing the golf clubs seems to have diminished slightly this spring without him setting tee times and telling me where to be on the weekend.
  • In case you thought you accomplished something as a child, a Kansas high school kid just graduated this week from his high school…and Harvard.
  • There will be a New Coke reference in this summer’s Stranger Things, and anyone who lived through the New Coke experience can’t really explain it to others.
  • In our early days at my job, we had to do everything on our own because our company was so small.  I had to figure out how to mail something internationally the other day, and it ate up many, many hours of my day plus.
  • There are movies you just get caught in when checking out the guide on TV.  I forgot that when you get hooked on Ocean’s Eleven, that the WHOLE movie is pretty much the heist, so you are essentially watching the whole movie if you get hooked.
  • I was watching a South Park yesterday and realized I kind of phased out of that show when I really loved it.  Just not enough time in my life at the time.  Same thing with The Office.  South Park had the plot of making Christian rock bands by just replacing “baby” with “Jesus.”  Hilarious.
  • A Michigan guy got $1.5 million when someone else confessed to the crime he allegedly committed wrongly.  So, the other guy comes clean to clear his soul, and the 46-year-old lost some good years of his life.  I would blow at least $1.0 million of that in pure fun, dude.
  • Going to a chicken fight tonight.  No Little Jerry’s will be there, but more of a festival with competing chicken companies cooking.  I probably won’t find any tamales there.
  • (Seinfeld joke, people.  Come on.)
  • Chicken fight also plays into the theme quite well.
  • Finally found the solution to the cat sitting problem.  We are testing it this weekend.  Denver Pet Sitters.  They come TO your house for $15/ day.  Brilliant for my high level of maintenance felines that I never envisioned owning.
  • My wife just got a standup desk for work.  Very exciting for her.  We have them at our work.  I think I am one of the last 5-10 people to NEVER stand up at my desk at work.  I don’t know if mine even works to be honest.
  • And I am not sure why I didn’t incorporate this into my workout sooner.  I had here and there, but now it is a daily occurrence.  Instead of walking around briefly between sets, I now shadow box to keep the heart racing.  We don’t have a bag at work.  And it is VERY much a stress reliever along with making you sweat more.  Highly recommend this as an add-on to your workout.  Just imagine who you dislike for the day in the mirror and go to it.  Peacefully.  Ha.

GAME OF THRONES:

  • There will obviously be an Ayra spinoff.
  • Tyrion absolutely STOLE the last episode, and the dialogue was finally much tighter, much more thought out.
  • I haven’t seen commercials for any other GOT peeps, but glad Sansa is already set with her movie Dark Phoenix.
  • If you start the song during when the bell starts ringing in episode 5 before the dragon fires everything up, Hells Bells by ACDC matches up in a scary fashion.  Link is below, folks.
  • I think they did a decent job in tying up loose ends at the frenetic pace they had to, but VERY disappointed that Ayra didn’t do her face trick in any key part of the ending.  I totally thought she was going to throw her Jon Snow face off after stabbing Dany.  Why did we waste an entire season plus one to entertain that concept, except to see her kill the Night King?
  • People are so angry about this last season.  Why?  Nothing as brilliant as GOT has been can end the way we all end it.  They can just do their best.
  • I could have used a little more closure on Bran though.  Was he the white horse that saved Ayra?  Does he have a personality at all?  Well, regardless, he is king.
  • I thought that when they were all blessing Tyrion round robin that when it got to Sansa, he would interrupt and just say SHE should lead everyone.
  • He is king because somehow a prisoner was able to coerce the entire council of who the king should be.  And Grey Worm was totally cool with a prisoner speaking about it..
  • And Jon Snow just becomes a prisoner of Grey Worm’s after brutally murdering his queen?  Way to suddenly become mild mannered, Grey Worm!
  • The camera shot of Dany with wings coming up to the steps was magnificent.
  • I almost rolled out of my chair when Tyrion tore off his hand emblem and tossed it down the stairs.  That was so badass.
  • Dragons understand metaphors, folks.  THAT is why Drogon roasts the throne and not Jon Snow after he stabs Dany.  Smart dragon.
  • My wife watches Outlander, and that guy’s first speech, in my mind now, is from Outlander guy.
  • The anger is there.  Petitions are being signed to redo it, but the LEAST the crew could have done to prove effort is to get rid of the water bottle off the set two weeks after the Starbucks coffee incident.
  • Loved the bookend ending of Jon heading back to the Night Watch, even though I am not sure why a Night Watch is really needed anymore, with the Wildlings now friends and the White Walkers dead.
  • LOVED the separate walks of the Stark kids independently at the end.  Nice touch.  So badass and a symbol of how GOT forgets SOME things but does some things SO well.
  • LOVED the dialogue between Jon Snow and Tyrion in the cell, where he opened it with “Did you bring wine?” and then they had a five minute conversation that was very well delivered and thought out by the writers.
  • I am always intrigued as to how people yell so loud in these movies.  How were the people at the bottom of the steps hearing quiet little Dany yell all of those things?  Gladiator is a perfect movie, but same problems.
  • People are still catching up on the show and still behind.  Well, you will enjoy, but you missed the MOVEMENT, folks.  Too little, too late.  The week in between shows was the best watercooler talk ever.  Why were you behind to this point?
  • And Jon FINALLY pet Ghost.  Dammit.  About freaking time!  Dog lovers rejoice!
  • Watching the final episode at the Oriental was a great call again.  Nothing like enjoying the finality with 300 of your closest friends.
  • If you need more, this Friday night (and I would be going if we weren’t heading to NM) they are doing this.  If you like GOT and like Drunk History, then you should go for $15 a head.  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/game-of-thrones-the-drunk-history-of-westeros-tickets-60547984652?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR3k0QcH5CNAG7q3ahkqD-H7WjfyymmdHVCVWRjD3TxPrcoloT7ABq4TKMQ

MOVIE NEWS

My wife dragged me to see The Biggest Little Farm and I figured it was about animals and that I was doing her a favor.  I was wrong.  It was cheesy as much as it was true.  It was informative as it was moving.  It had animals, great cinematography, love, more animals, Mother Nature being good, Mother Nature being bad, lessons learned, and somehow fit this all into 90 minutes.  I walked in thinking I was doing my wife a favor.  I walked out extremely moved and deep in the best thought possible.  Want a game changer that reminds you of where we are in the whole scheme of things?  Want a movie to get you to take a step that has obstacles?  Want to feel more synergy in the world we live in?  Want to look at your freaking dog in a whole different way?  Want to almost applaud as the couple encounters a new obstacle by nature and then thinks outside of the box to fix that new problem?  It is like the farm version of Rocky.  Go.  See.  This.  Movie.

TWEET OF THE WEEK:

THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK:

  1. Bow Down-I Prevail (by FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2EjeMx4bSg
  2. Get Up-Shinedown (a happy workout song)
  3. My Name-From Ashes To New
  4. Save Yourself-Breaking Benjamin (getting better by the week)
  5. Aftermath-Royal Tusk (the underdog)
  6. Defying Gravity-The Veer Union (still hanging around)
  7. Monsters-Shinedown (the lyrics should scare you that I relate)
  8. Tourniquet-Breaking Benjamin (can’t get rid of this song)
  9. Runnin-Creed 2 (a boxers song)
  10. And ON THE RADAR:  Teaser just got released for The Veer Union “Healing” and it sounds incredible)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klL2kmdgwkw

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

(no approved quotes for the farm movie, so I will just have to steal one from a review)

And compared with the sky-is-falling tone of most eco-docs, that upbeat, motivational approach makes the biggest little difference.

Review on The Biggest Little Farm

We could turn around, or we could give it up
But we’ll take what comes, take what comes
Oh, the storm is raging against us now
If you’re afraid of falling, then don’t look down
But we took the step, and we took the leap
And we’ll take what comes, take what comes

The Wire by Imagine Dragons-came up this week and drives me every single day, little do you know…

“Do not become what you’ve always struggled to defeat.”
Varys advises Daenerys not to kill innocent civilians in her attempt to defeat Cersei’s new Golden Compass army.

“Without Littlefinger and Ramsay and the rest, I would’ve stayed a little bird all my life.”
Sansa assures the Hound, who said she should’ve left King’s Landing with him, that her violent marriages and experiences only made her a stronger woman.

LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE:

https://deadspin.com/dennis-rodman-accused-of-stealing-destroying-yoga-stud-1834736113
https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/arcade-games-ranked-1834763404
https://www.reddit.com/r/gameofthrones/comments/bo6gqw/spoilers_i_am_amazed_how_well_that_fits/
https://www.si.com/nba/2019/05/14/joel-embiid-note-child-fan-sixers-raptors-game-7-east-playoffs
https://deadspin.com/stephen-a-smith-wrings-emmy-worthy-performance-out-of-1834795788
https://www.si.com/nba/2019/05/15/nba-playoffs-don-nelson-warriors-blazers-bucks-raptors
https://deadspin.com/nick-kyrgios-says-hes-fucking-done-during-tantrum-an-1834820117
https://deadspin.com/this-lady-running-like-a-horse-is-really-really-good-a-1834820364
https://deadspin.com/boban-marjanovic-who-was-very-pumped-to-be-in-john-wic-1834817846
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/game-of-thrones-the-drunk-history-of-westeros-tickets-60547984652?aff=efbeventtix&fbclid=IwAR3k0QcH5CNAG7q3ahkqD-H7WjfyymmdHVCVWRjD3TxPrcoloT7ABq4TKMQ
https://deadspin.com/young-child-demonstrates-impressive-pigeon-throwing-abi-1834876310
https://www.theringer.com/game-of-thrones/2019/5/17/18629291/game-of-thrones-finale-predictions
https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/05/20/mike-trout-stats-hall-fame
https://deadspin.com/a-sneaky-hidden-ball-trick-sent-trine-to-the-d3-softbal-1834901784
https://www.si.com/golf/2019/05/20/brooks-koepka-pga-championship-bethpage-tiger-woods-dustin-johnson
https://deadspin.com/high-school-soccer-player-scores-wondergoal-with-his-bu-1834928277

BY THE NUMBERS:

(still reconfiguring this list-more to come)

THIS WEEK’S LIST:

What would I put on my farm?  Actually, I maybe should change that question to “what are my favorite TYPICAL farm animals?”

  1. (Wolf)
  2. Sheep dog
  3. Chicken (Little Jerry!)
  4. Llama (I have had some experiences with them)
  5. (Mongoose-it is MY farm)
  6. Pig (that I would try not to eat)
  7. (Buffalo-because we are in Colorado)
  8. Sheep (I DO already have the damn dog)
  9. Horse (I guess this is a staple, right?)
  10. Owl (keep the mongooses in check)
  11. (Cheetah-that probably wouldn’t work well)
  12. Turkey (just a presence and maybe more than one for the holiday)
  13. Cow (surprised he is this far down the list)
  14. Duck (I will have a pond)
  15. Goose (so I can play the game with the animals)
  16. Golden Eagle (to compete with the owls)
  17. Rabbit
  18. Mule
  19. Goat

THE RIDDLE:

The answers from last time:

Who I want to take the game winning three pointer:  Robert Horry

Who I want to win me one NFL football game at QB:  Joe Montana

Who I want to get me one single hit in the World Series:  Tony Gwynn (I know he didn’t get to play much in the postseason, but I loved him as a hitter the most)

Who I want to take a penalty shot in the Stanley Cup playoffs:  Wayne Gretzky

This week’s riddle:  None this week, folks.  Taking one off.  Need more submitted answers from readers to play this game for $20…submitted answers this week.  ZERO.  FU.

CLOSING:

The theme?  The movie The Biggest Little Farm gets the theme and my blessing (very occasional do I give full blessing on movies).  It is moving, warm, sad, happy, realistic, and has animals galore, nature’s struggles narrated, and the best video you will see in a while.  And this is the Biggest Little Blog, as I have a lot to say, am not scared to say it, it is happy, it is sad, it is angry, and it is still, for the moment, little.

That’s it for today.  Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed.  Remember two things.  First, feed yourself, feed your family, but always, always remember to…feed the wolf.  Second,  if you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.  Will I blog again?  That is a CLOWN question, bro.  As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.  Talk to you after our road trip to New Mexico, where the pics by my Pixel section will be much more exciting than the below this time.

PICS BY MY PIXEL:

New bracelet that will probably be on my wrist for ten years. Buckstein.
The lady of my life…
I should be a photographer…
She was very excited about this Garth Brooks sound a like who should be on The Voice.
We got those solar light working!
It was free and awesome!
This is Nick’s place. The party started at 2pm.
Jazzfest Five Points.
Sneaky Bastards… Bruce plus Bell…
The judge in the middle is the funny and brilliant one…

And, in case you care about what I threw back in the pond, here you go…

THROW IT BACK
tiger, girlfriend sued wrongful death
josh jackson arrested
site ok’d for new a’s stadium
beckham to attend some voluntary ota’s
juwan howard interviewing with wolves
brett brown will return for sixers
wings aces cambage trade
Tim Conway dies
senator asks kanter safety
griezmann leaving atletica madrid
de Jordan Adderall
dodgers urias arrest
knicks might target brow
ncaa athletes likeness
ab pleads guilty speeding
shots fired colts coach
zobrist on leave during divorce
wnba tags new commissioner
Patrick Kane all time us scorer
nba to move up free agent talks
browns hunt won’t mess this up
griz want morant?
andujar season ending surgery yanks
jets ship darron Lee chiefs
Dak wants to be cowboy for career
zion’s stepdad says they are excited
falcons asst gm steps down
ric flair in hospital
Wilder rebuked by wbc
Juventus manager out
Federer injured
kinsler outburst
ravens sign Shane ray
osu doctor 177 abused
Texans release te griffin
dq’d owner offers $5 mil challenge
psu qb xfers to miss st
man City fa title
Mickelson calves
Lyon women beat barca
Bayern Munich 7th title
hs track star challenges ginn
fsu four straight hrs
iggy mri clean
lillard rib injury
cubs won’t protest nationals
cano running
nets new gm trajan Langdon
cavs hire Bickerstaff
giannis brother new ad
d’antoni three years
wolves saunders
connely turns down wizards, staying with nugs
magic says pelinka backstabbing
Reuben foster carted off field.
kitchens supports hunt
Unser arrested dui
ezekial elliot handcuffed, no arrest las vegas festival
big ben admits he went a little too far with brown
cespedes breaks ankle on ranch
vogel says not looking over shoulder at kidd
bucs to release mccoy
urias reinstated back with dodgers
Trump tax records
Ford job cuts
new Muppet Karli
Packers Josh Jones wants trade
cooley turns down um, will stay with friars
no limitations for wentz in ota’s
yanks, red sox to face off on turf first time
coughlin’s ex-partner said he abused her
lillard blazers expect to agree to 191 mil extension
green offers to pay flight for random reporter subbing in for KD in huddle
bucs signing suh
partner accusers fraud
Nick bosa injures hamstring
Frazier eaton
blazers extend stotts
KD is 100% undecided on where he will go
landon collins blasting giants decisions
jay-z being sued roc nation
Brexit
Dallas transgender killings
Bengals Redmond peds
yanks stanton out 7-10 days
warriors confident about signing kd and Thompson
Gianni’s, harden, George mvp
ad where
jt withdraws pga.
wisconsin halts ou softball streak
apple owners can sue apple for monopoly

Prozingis demanded trade or back to Europe

KD Broussard feud

White sox turn first triple play

Dak Prescott negotiations going well

737 max resurfaces
Bradshaw insensitive remark Ken jeong
SNL Trump queen

Tiger to play in memorial Talk about jets trading