Snow

In December? Too early. At the bank today, they closed at 3pm, instead of 5pm, on account of the weather. I wish I could work abbreviated bank hours.

How about them UVA Cavaliers? Great hire of Greg Brandon as OC (former HC at Bowling Green).

7-7

The Bengals are amazing! I can't believe they've lost a game this year. They are going to be tough in the playoffs.

Five people I don't want coaching the Redskins in 2009.

5. Vladimir Putin - Wouldn't grasp cap considerations.
4. Mike Groh - We should have seen the warning signs when he designed plays on Electric Football with the board upside down.
3. Tony Stewart - He's already bailed on Joe Gibbs once.
2. Hal Sutton - 'Be the right cover two, to-DAY!'
1. The Swedish Chef - Too existential, and no one would understand him, except maybe Portis.

Moron!

"Developer Wilbur Ray Todd Jr. bought the house for $450,000 shortly after Vick was indicted on federal dogfighting conspiracy charges. At an auction last December, Todd rejected a bid of $747,000, which is the assessed value of the property for tax purposes but less than the $1 million Todd wanted. The house was put on the market but remained unsold."

$297,000 wasn't enough of a profit? What a greedy knucklehead. I hope it never sells.

Likes I Used to Hate

Growing up, there were so many things (mostly brought on by my parents) I couldn't stand, but I've come around to enjoy.

1.) The Christmas Music Station - 97.1 in DC. Listening to Christmas music in the car drove me crazy, and queued eye-rolling and slumping in my seat. Today I can't get enough of the station. I even have my favorites, anything off the Beach Boys Christmas Album is auditory delight.

2.) Diet Soda - Or cola, as it was at the time. Used to be unable to stomach it, now it is all I drink. I'll even pick up a 2-Liter of Diet Rite on occasion.

3.) Yogurt- I used to not be able to stand the texture, now it is an enjoyable breakfast or snack. Granted, yogurt has come leaps and bounds since the 80s (better flavor, more variety)but the Elmer's Glue viscosity still remains.

Wil Collins and Q School

The PGA Qualifying school is a study in expectations and agony, and makes for understated (and under appreciated) television drama.

Wil Collins was attempting to make the tour for the seventh time, and was 0 for 6 reaching the Final Stage of Q School. He is getting married in the spring and, presumably, would pursue another occupation if he were to miss qualifying. After four marginal rounds he was even placed in the course rotation for guys just looking to earn tour status in 2009. However, after the subsequent 35 holes of he had improved his position to -19, on the number, to qualify for the PGA.

His 90th hole was the 2nd toughest on the Nicklaus Course, 460 yard par 4 with a water hazard hugging the right side of the fairway, through the green, and rough/mounding on the left. Needing a par to reach the PGA, Collins tentatively pulled his drive left, where it parried left off the mounds, to a blind shot to the green. He elected to lay up to @ 150 yards for his 3rd, and, into the sun, put his approach 20 feet under the hole. Needing a one-putt to secure his Card, is putt broke 14 inches to the right, and on its last rotation settled into the cup. Par. PGA. While his caddie was overcome with emotion, Wil smiled, handed him his putter, and walked off the green to sign his card. Why revel in the biggest golf shot of your life?

Few stories are written about PGA Qualifying School, and fewer still on guys who earn their tour card on the number. In 2009 Wil Collins will be walking the fairways of the PGA Tour, with my support.

Your 2009 Masters Champion

Won in a playoff over Robert Karlsson, Henrik Stenson. Is there a golfer on the planet playing better?

Why is it I think Stenson is about 6'5"? Probably for the same reason(s) I think Michael Turner is 6'4".

What did you have for breakfast?

You know, the usual.

Virginia v. Minnesota

Good effort, albeit in a loss, for UVA tonight. Despite the inability to quickly rotate on defense, I am cautiously optimistic. Granted, not this year, but for the next two. If I am Leitao, I start Landesberg (3), Zeglinski (1), Sene (5)(freshman), Farrakhan (2), and Scott (4) (sophomore). The lineup is going to be fluid throughout the season, with Baker and Jones getting major minutes, but I'd like to see Diane buried on the bench.

I love USC relinquishing a timeout to wear their red jerseys, and UCLA offering up one of their own for fairness. I'd like to see UCLA develop for a Neuheisel/Carrol rivalry, but good stuff.

Tough Two Week Stretch...

...for my beloved Redskins. They definitely need to win one of the two games, between today v. NYG and next weekend @ BAL. The BAL game is 8:15, and, having been to M&T Stadium, it will be like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The post apocalyptic scene will actually benefit DC on account of fans quick to turn on Flacco, or to out of their minds to even make it to the game.

Thank goodness for television, you couldn't entice me to attend the game with free tickets, parking, and a flame-thrower.

Regarding the Redskins schedule, my predictions swing on a weekly basis, which is unsettling, considering it is Week 13. Having 3 of the final 4 games on the road is unfortunate, but they play better on the road. A win today wouldn't have me thinking 11-5, like most would, but 10-6, which would be enough to put us over the hump. A loss won't bring the exaggerated doom predictions either. If we are 7-5 after today, I predict 9.5 - 6.5, which puts us on the bubble for the playoffs. Add to the equation a loss to Portis would be devastating, and we also need to keep Springs spry enough to play. Neither are practicing during the week, I put the chances @ 30% for both to occur over the next five weeks.

Wow, that was a frustrating paragraph to type.

GM and WS

Must reads:

General Motors

Michael Lewis on Wall Street

Respect

I've gained respect, over time, for Bernhard Langer. At 50+ he is competitive on both the Senior and regular Tours (T3 heading to Sunday on the Euro Tour USB Honk Kong Open, in a playoff at the Byron Nelson two years ago), was a great Ryder Cup Captain, and has overcome adversity throughout his career. I despised Langer in the mid-80's, and couldn't have been happier to see him lose the Ryder Cup at Kiawah. In retrospect, I was dealing from a 32 card deck, as Langer has endured well documented putting woes to maintain consistency and be a true ambassador to the game. I look forward to watching him tomorrow morning, safe in the knowledge win or lose, he is a gentleman of the game.

Two Masters titles is also pretty nice.

What I Like

Today I like -

The evolution of 'She Talks to Angels'. Now a lesson in brevity, every note & instrument in the song serves a purpose, yet leaves great leverage for the voice and deliver of Chris Robinson. Sublime.

UVa 107 - VMI 97. RPI helper? Mike Scott 28/18 (10 offensive), Sylven Landesberg 26/8/8 in his college debut. UVA favoring youth over resume/tenure, and hopefully starting 4 Fr/So as the season evolves (Ladesberg, Zeglinski, Scott, Jones).

Tuesday Nuggets

Listening to Cowherd on the commute to the office, and he makes a salient point how athletes take steroids not to win, but for the money (extended & exaggerated contracts). Until infractions receive fiscal penalties, athletes will continue to use steroids. I can't imagine the difficulty passing measure requiring the contracts of those found guilty of using steroids to be null & void. Rather, potential remove the year of largest value from the contract? Retract a % of the signing bonus? Or, write the penalty into the language of the contract before it is signed?

Need to get back into the Capitals. Lately, great sports team in DC is an anomaly, I need to enjoy.

PGA Tour 2009

The 2008 PGA Season concluded today, and I already cannot wait until 2009, for many reasons. Today's reason: some serious talent is matriculating from the Nationwide Tour. Quite a few recognizable golfers from their Amateur exploits.

Colt Knost
Casey Wittenburg
Peter Tomasulo
Spencer Levin
Ricky Barnes
Bryce Molder

My Official Thoughts

Another blog worth checking out.

Not Again!

Today's lunch discussion revolved around Halloween, how it should be assigned to the last Friday in October, not the 31st, and the worst Halloween offerings, in lieu of candy.

4. Apple(s) - I hope your house doesn't have windows.
3. Raisins - Why did I waste my time walking up your driveway?
2. Mott's Applesauce - I guess if I come back next year, you'll give me the spoon with which to eat it, it will still be 'fresh'.
1. Roll of pennies - You may want to wear rec. specs and overalls the next time you mow the lawn, to mitigate the copper shower you are going to receive.

C-QUEL

Less words, more stuff.

Nine Things at Once

I have come to the realization my attention span shrinks as I get older, especially at work. I will literally leave something mid-sentence to attend to another matter. What is scary is I do it sub-consciously, making it what I consider to be the norm.

Any suggestions on how I can alter my behavior to be less skittish, more analog, more relaxed? Completing this post in one shot was a start.

Whew

An exhausting weekend spent in Charlottesville for the PDT 135th Anniversary. Gorgeous weather, a UVA win, and a great round of golf at Spring Creek. I cannot remember playing a course with perfect conditions, but it was extremely close. Additionally, nice to see ZJ pick up a PGA Tour victory. A very gutsy golfer, won with a birdie on the last hole.

Ryder Cup Champions

I am extremely proud of Team USA. Great golf was played over the last three days. Boo Weekley's personality was infectious. Azinger couldn't have been a better captain, his decisions were prescient. Who should be captain in 2010? To steal a quote from Herm Edwards, 'you play to win the game', and PA should be awarded another two years at the helm. I was wowed by the game and tenacity of Anthony Kim and the quiet (unnoticed) courage by Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell. Curtis had an awful Friday, unbelievably played again on Saturday, and found his game Sunday, when it counted. BC and CC had to wait, and watch the matches transpire, before teeing off. CC realized he would need a rock-solid game to upset Harrington, and he held serve.

Congrats Team USA. Well done.