Emily lost her first tooth this morning. The darn thing has been wiggly for three or four weeks. In fact, the new tooth has been growing in behind it (causing the delay, I guess).
Finally, in her sleep, the tooth came out. Luckily, she didn't swollow it! Rather, she felt it moving around reach in ... and was very excited to see it was out. She came bolting into our room at 4:45am - "Look, my tooth came out!" It was very cute, even for quarter of five.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Oh it Hurst
Side comment based on a Globe Red Sox Blog post:
"Bruce Hurst, who had a 145-113 record in 379 games over his major league career, was hired by the team to be a special instructor for player development. In the role, Hurst will travel around to minor league clubs a couple of times a month to help out with minor league players, evaluating their development. With an 11 year old child at home, he wasn't interested in going full-time on the road, but did want to become involved.
Hurst played for the Sox from 1980-1988. He is coming off four years as the pitching coach for the China national team. "
Huh? Wasn't interested in a full-time position because he has an 11-year old child? Ummm. He's spent the last four years in CHINA! He had a 7, 8, 9 and 10-year old child during each of those times.
"Bruce Hurst, who had a 145-113 record in 379 games over his major league career, was hired by the team to be a special instructor for player development. In the role, Hurst will travel around to minor league clubs a couple of times a month to help out with minor league players, evaluating their development. With an 11 year old child at home, he wasn't interested in going full-time on the road, but did want to become involved.
Hurst played for the Sox from 1980-1988. He is coming off four years as the pitching coach for the China national team. "
Huh? Wasn't interested in a full-time position because he has an 11-year old child? Ummm. He's spent the last four years in CHINA! He had a 7, 8, 9 and 10-year old child during each of those times.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Best Pizza Slices Evah
I took the kids skiing to Shawnee Peak in Maine for the long weekend, and it was a blast. It was a long trip up, but we had the benefit of staying at my sister's awesome house up there. Overall, it was probably one of the most fun vacations we have had together and that includes two trips to Disney World.
The kids' skiing ability was amazing. They happily took on any challenge presented to them. We tackled greens, blues and even an occational black diamond [caveat - Shawnee's black diamonds are hardly mogul-filled cliffs, but rather green, blue and black are differentiated by degrees of steepness]. The kids just employed their pizza-slice skiing stance, and zig-zagged their way down the hill. Even when we took a black trail that was too steep and they fell a lot, they laughed it off. I, on the other hand, was able to ski off to the side, let them get ahead, and still enjoy the run. It was the best of all worlds. I don't think there was a section of the mountain that we didn't attack together. Their behavior was exemplary. There was no crying, whining, or frankly a discouraging word on the slopes. I was amazed. I really look forward to future skiing trips.
The kids' skiing ability was amazing. They happily took on any challenge presented to them. We tackled greens, blues and even an occational black diamond [caveat - Shawnee's black diamonds are hardly mogul-filled cliffs, but rather green, blue and black are differentiated by degrees of steepness]. The kids just employed their pizza-slice skiing stance, and zig-zagged their way down the hill. Even when we took a black trail that was too steep and they fell a lot, they laughed it off. I, on the other hand, was able to ski off to the side, let them get ahead, and still enjoy the run. It was the best of all worlds. I don't think there was a section of the mountain that we didn't attack together. Their behavior was exemplary. There was no crying, whining, or frankly a discouraging word on the slopes. I was amazed. I really look forward to future skiing trips.
Bizzaro Sports World
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1416353120080215
In all of the pre-Super Bowl media hype, I read a story about Giants Defensive End Osi Umenyiora who grew up in Nigeria. When Osi was real young, his grandmother went to the United States and returned with a blanket with the Oakland Raiders logo embroddered on it as a gift. Osi had no idea who or what the Raiders were, but loved the logo. It wasn't until he came to the U.S. that he finally understood who and what the Raiders were.
After reading the above article link, can't you just imagine a Bizzaro sports world, where little children of third world countries are running around thinking about these great teams that never really existed. At least someone in the world can celebrate an undefeated Patriots season. However, these kids probably think the Buffalo Bills are four time Super Bowl champs, and the Colorado Rockies are the 2007 World Series Champions.
In all of the pre-Super Bowl media hype, I read a story about Giants Defensive End Osi Umenyiora who grew up in Nigeria. When Osi was real young, his grandmother went to the United States and returned with a blanket with the Oakland Raiders logo embroddered on it as a gift. Osi had no idea who or what the Raiders were, but loved the logo. It wasn't until he came to the U.S. that he finally understood who and what the Raiders were.
After reading the above article link, can't you just imagine a Bizzaro sports world, where little children of third world countries are running around thinking about these great teams that never really existed. At least someone in the world can celebrate an undefeated Patriots season. However, these kids probably think the Buffalo Bills are four time Super Bowl champs, and the Colorado Rockies are the 2007 World Series Champions.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Liar Liar
We watched the all-important Congressional Baseball Steroids Hearing at work yesterday. I am puzzled by the partisan division on this topic and am frankly dismayed by the Republican approach. They looked like fools in their questioning.
I'm no fan of Dan Shaughnessy, but this exert from the Boston Globe today says it all:
"It was pretty clear that most of the congressmen and women came to the hearing with their minds made up. Clemens last week visited more than 20 representatives - an outrageous parade that compromised the hearing and painted numerous elected officials as fanboy/sycophants. Listening to the questions yesterday, you could pretty much tell which reps got autographed baseballs and signed photos for their office walls.
Representative Dan Burton, Republican of Indiana, was buffoon of the day (did you notice the Lone Star cuff links?), bashing the media, reminding us that Roger is a "titan" in baseball, and invoking the old Ray Donovan question - "Where do I get my reputation back?" Burton was shocked, shocked, that McNamee lied to reporters when asked about steroids back in the pre-Mitchell days."
Please. I give you this: McNamee loved Clemens and how Clemens treated him. He was confronted by Federal Marshalls with proposition of 'tell the truth or go to jail.' He gave up Pettitte and Knoblauch - and potentially some others. Clemens took care of him, why give up Clemens? If you say nothing, Clemens remains your friend and helps you. Why drag Clemens in even if he is guilty? Because you know that Pettitte will tell investigators that Clemens is guilty, and if that happens and McNamee said he was clean - McNamee goes to jail! There is NO motivation for McNamee to lie about Clemens when the other guys all admitted that he was telling the truth!
All that said: Our government has better things to do with its time.
I'm no fan of Dan Shaughnessy, but this exert from the Boston Globe today says it all:
"It was pretty clear that most of the congressmen and women came to the hearing with their minds made up. Clemens last week visited more than 20 representatives - an outrageous parade that compromised the hearing and painted numerous elected officials as fanboy/sycophants. Listening to the questions yesterday, you could pretty much tell which reps got autographed baseballs and signed photos for their office walls.
Representative Dan Burton, Republican of Indiana, was buffoon of the day (did you notice the Lone Star cuff links?), bashing the media, reminding us that Roger is a "titan" in baseball, and invoking the old Ray Donovan question - "Where do I get my reputation back?" Burton was shocked, shocked, that McNamee lied to reporters when asked about steroids back in the pre-Mitchell days."
Please. I give you this: McNamee loved Clemens and how Clemens treated him. He was confronted by Federal Marshalls with proposition of 'tell the truth or go to jail.' He gave up Pettitte and Knoblauch - and potentially some others. Clemens took care of him, why give up Clemens? If you say nothing, Clemens remains your friend and helps you. Why drag Clemens in even if he is guilty? Because you know that Pettitte will tell investigators that Clemens is guilty, and if that happens and McNamee said he was clean - McNamee goes to jail! There is NO motivation for McNamee to lie about Clemens when the other guys all admitted that he was telling the truth!
All that said: Our government has better things to do with its time.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Super Bowl Rehash - Part I
Watching a game in person provides a different perspective than watching it on TV. In person, you can watch certain aspects of the game, but miss how they fit into the big picture. Television allows you to see the action as well as the nuances that instant replay allow.
In the last week and a half, I had resolved myself to the fact that the Giants played a better game, and the Patriots came out flat. Living in New York, I don't hate the Giants (I only hate Tight End Jeremy Shocky, but that story is for another time). In fact, the Giants are my "favorite NFC team." Dubious praise, I realize, but given my feelings for some of the other New York teams, its a big step. If we had lost to the Green Bay Packers, it would have been easier because I wouldn't have to see all the hats, gear and TV coverage. However, inside my hurt that the Patriots lost, I actually have a sliver of happiness for Giants' fans.
However, I finally got the courage to watch Super Bowl XLII on TV. I can't believe we lost that game!
The Patriots first and last drives of the game were pure Patriot things of beauty. The middle was a misery of bad play calling mixed with terrible adjustments.
Let's look at the game in pieces:
First half:
At Football Outsiders, we have done work on what we refer to as fumble luck. In general, defenses and offenses have about equal odds of recovering a fumble, and therefore (1) fumbles are really bad for the offense, and (2) fumble recoveries are pure luck. The Giants fumbled two times in the first half. The first on their own 30, Bradshaw fumbled and Pierre Woods fell on the ball. At that point, the Patriots had good momentum, and deep in the Giants terrirory would surely have scored something. However, somehow, Bradshaw goes under Woods and takes the ball back. Fumble recovery luck is one thing, losing a fumble recovery when you are laying on the ball is in completely another realm! Later in te half, Thomas strip sack of Manning sent the ball flying. Vrabel has a lock on the ball, but one of the Giants is able to illegally bat it forward and Steve Smith recovers. It didn't lead to points, but it massively changed field position.
Manning threw one interception (actually it was really a Steve Smith drop), but should have thrown another. In the first half, while backpeddling, Manning lobbed up a duck into triple coverage, Randall Gay with a hurting arm, can't get his hands to close on it.
The Patriots final drive of the half was another good drive, but for a strip sack of Brady on the Giants 30. Fumble luck again falls in the Giants favor - New York recovers.
In the first half, the Patriots defense played quite well. Two of the biggest plays of the first half were big Giant push offs. The long bomb to Toomer is well documented. He clearly pushed Hobbs by the facemask to create seperation. However, what has gone unnoticed was the push off on the Giants first 1st down of the game. The situation was 3rd and 5, from mid-Giant territory. Burress ran a route that plowed into Randall Gay, and then he thrust his arms into Gay sending him back 1-2 yards, and proceeded to curl into the now open middle for a nine yard reception and a continuation of the Giants drive. Announcer Troy Aikman criticized Gay for "sitting on the route" and praised Burress for "finding the hole for a simple pitch and catch." This wasn't a ticky-tacky kind of thing, but a blatent push. I am surprised the announcers completely missed it.
Overall, both defenses played well in the first half. The Patriots were blitzing, but not getting to Manning. Nevertheless, they held the Giants to 3 points. The Giants were doing an excellent job of disguising the blitz. With a spread offense and quick throws, Brady was still able to make his quick reads. However, on longer developing plays, he didn't have enough time. They were trying a couple of different things on offense that didn't work two 3-and-outs. One drive was a lame attempt at running the ball, and one resulted in back-to-back sacks. Yet they had successes, and clearly halftime adjustments would be made.
If you had told me that the Giants fumbled twice, threw two interceptible balls, and only scored 3 points, I would have responded that the score must have been 21-3.
In the last week and a half, I had resolved myself to the fact that the Giants played a better game, and the Patriots came out flat. Living in New York, I don't hate the Giants (I only hate Tight End Jeremy Shocky, but that story is for another time). In fact, the Giants are my "favorite NFC team." Dubious praise, I realize, but given my feelings for some of the other New York teams, its a big step. If we had lost to the Green Bay Packers, it would have been easier because I wouldn't have to see all the hats, gear and TV coverage. However, inside my hurt that the Patriots lost, I actually have a sliver of happiness for Giants' fans.
However, I finally got the courage to watch Super Bowl XLII on TV. I can't believe we lost that game!
The Patriots first and last drives of the game were pure Patriot things of beauty. The middle was a misery of bad play calling mixed with terrible adjustments.
Let's look at the game in pieces:
First half:
At Football Outsiders, we have done work on what we refer to as fumble luck. In general, defenses and offenses have about equal odds of recovering a fumble, and therefore (1) fumbles are really bad for the offense, and (2) fumble recoveries are pure luck. The Giants fumbled two times in the first half. The first on their own 30, Bradshaw fumbled and Pierre Woods fell on the ball. At that point, the Patriots had good momentum, and deep in the Giants terrirory would surely have scored something. However, somehow, Bradshaw goes under Woods and takes the ball back. Fumble recovery luck is one thing, losing a fumble recovery when you are laying on the ball is in completely another realm! Later in te half, Thomas strip sack of Manning sent the ball flying. Vrabel has a lock on the ball, but one of the Giants is able to illegally bat it forward and Steve Smith recovers. It didn't lead to points, but it massively changed field position.
Manning threw one interception (actually it was really a Steve Smith drop), but should have thrown another. In the first half, while backpeddling, Manning lobbed up a duck into triple coverage, Randall Gay with a hurting arm, can't get his hands to close on it.
The Patriots final drive of the half was another good drive, but for a strip sack of Brady on the Giants 30. Fumble luck again falls in the Giants favor - New York recovers.
In the first half, the Patriots defense played quite well. Two of the biggest plays of the first half were big Giant push offs. The long bomb to Toomer is well documented. He clearly pushed Hobbs by the facemask to create seperation. However, what has gone unnoticed was the push off on the Giants first 1st down of the game. The situation was 3rd and 5, from mid-Giant territory. Burress ran a route that plowed into Randall Gay, and then he thrust his arms into Gay sending him back 1-2 yards, and proceeded to curl into the now open middle for a nine yard reception and a continuation of the Giants drive. Announcer Troy Aikman criticized Gay for "sitting on the route" and praised Burress for "finding the hole for a simple pitch and catch." This wasn't a ticky-tacky kind of thing, but a blatent push. I am surprised the announcers completely missed it.
Overall, both defenses played well in the first half. The Patriots were blitzing, but not getting to Manning. Nevertheless, they held the Giants to 3 points. The Giants were doing an excellent job of disguising the blitz. With a spread offense and quick throws, Brady was still able to make his quick reads. However, on longer developing plays, he didn't have enough time. They were trying a couple of different things on offense that didn't work two 3-and-outs. One drive was a lame attempt at running the ball, and one resulted in back-to-back sacks. Yet they had successes, and clearly halftime adjustments would be made.
If you had told me that the Giants fumbled twice, threw two interceptible balls, and only scored 3 points, I would have responded that the score must have been 21-3.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Ugh
That about sums its up. Ugh.
In the end, I pulled down some pretty good tickets to Super Bowl XLII. Club section for FACE value. Now that is a score. I must go out of my way to thank Chris, my brother-in-law, and Jonathan, his cousin, got tickets from ... the New York Giants. Oh, the irony. The package included a hotel room, and we were "guests of the Giants." Omen #1
The weekend started well. My buddy Ross and I were able to grab a direct flight to Phoenix on Friday morning. Once there, we took a trip out to the Giants team hotel to get credentials for transportation and such (we were politely denied because such credentials were for players and family only). However, we mulled about the team hotel and grabbed dinner at a nice restaurant there.
The place was empty, except one table next to us. That table was Cris Carter - the HBO Sports commentator and former NFL wide receiver who was nominated for the Hall of Fame, and due to hear the results the next day - and his entourage. They were relaxed and reminicing about great plays of Cris' career. As they got up to leave, I contemplated dropped a "good luck," but chose to just leave him alone. He didn't get in.
From there, we hit Scottsdale and soaked in the atmoshere. One club employee tells us that the Giants were all in there earlier in the week, but no one had seen the Patriots. That makes me feel good.
Saturday morning, we played Whisper Rock Golf Club. Whisper is a reclusive, private course that maybe sees 25 or 30 players a day. There were 270 golfers there for a shotgun start Saturday morning. I ran into Jerome Bettis, the former Steeler running back, and Kordell Stewart, the former Steeler QB, in the pro shop. Kordell is semi-famous/notorious for his postgame quote after the Patriots beat the Steelers a few years ago in the AFC Championship game, that "sometimes the better team doesn't win." Omen #2.
Preparing for the shotgun start, a rumor among the caddies is that Peyton and Eli are both there. Again, I feel good, but come to my senses and realize there is no way Eli is there on Saturday morning. He isn't. However, who stolls up to the golf cart in front of us - Peyton Manning. Joy that Peyton is playing golf on Super Bowl weekend - priceless. Omen? You tell me?
Golf was great. I never actually saw the final scorecard, but I played with mixed results. A couple of pars, a legitimate putt for birdie, plus a few triple bogies.
We had invites to the Marquis Jet/Jimmy Johnson party on Saturday. Originally, we thought it was Saturday night, but it turns out it was from 1-6. Grr. Golf ended around 3. We hustled over there for the last hour and a half. We heard Jimmy Johnson speak, but missed the speech given by, none other than, Bill Belichick. We heard from numerous attendees that Belichick was pleasant and ineresting. He toook questions and gave REAL answers. Hmmm. Belichick who has been strangely gitty all week, was pleasant ?!? That should have been Omen #3.
Saturday was capped off by a nice dinner with our friend Aaron who had hosted us for golf earlier in the day.
Game day started off well. Transportation to the satdium was a looming issue; however, we grabbed an open cab around 11am, and made our way. Although we didn't have passes to any pre-game events, the stadium has a nice bar/restaurant area. We got into this place, Shout, before they started charging a cover. Shout was an interesting place. They had dueling pianos with bar-type singers at each. The all-request show involving tipping the pianoman to play your song. Suprisingly great fun. Each teams fans requesting local favorites, while the other team tipped the players to stop playing. I must say, the Pats fans were surprisingly cocky! It was unsettling. Omen #4 - when did New England sports fans become so fate-tempting. They requested songs like, "We are the Champions." Let me be clear, I fully expected the Pats to win, but I would never tempt karma by singing along to "We are the Champions" 2 hours BEFORE THE GAME!
On that note, I see a guy headed into the stadium with a red, white a blue face paint of 19-0. Oh the shame.
The seats were great. The game was painful. The Giants were throwing everything they had at the Patriots and ... it was working. Brady had no time as the offensive line (particularly Matt Light) was getting buried. When I go to games, I don't always watch the ball. I try and watch things that you typically don't see on TV. Countless times, I watched Moss move a step past his defender, only hear the crowd make a roar - Brady sacked, hit, or forced to dump it off.
Halftime was an uncomfortable 7-3 lead. Ross and I had gone through match-ups all weekend long, and were convinced that the Patriots would dominate. 7-3 was unthinkable. However, there was solice in mid-game adjustments to come. The only problem was they didn't.
When the Patriots took the lead on a real drive capped off by a Randy Moss touchdown pass with 2:40 left - it was over. I knew the Patriots would win. The only problem was they didn't.
The Manning spin out of a sack was sureal, and the Burress TD pass was a dagger. The place erupted on that play, and I flopped back into my seat wanting to throw up. Like Bill Belichick, I too was out before the final tick ran off the clock. Stunned.
Frankly, the loss would have been easier if they were 16-3. The sole fact that this game meant so much, made the season feel worthless. I felt robbed. The Giants played well - very well - but what a time to pick to play your worst game of the year.
Ross caught the redeye home (I had meetings in CA on Monday and Tuesday), and Chris and Jonathan invited me to the Giants team post game party. Although it was very kind of them to invite me, I was in no mood to party. I went to bed - feeling empty.
I have yet to see the TV version of the game, and will likely have comments after that.
For now, its just - ugh.
In the end, I pulled down some pretty good tickets to Super Bowl XLII. Club section for FACE value. Now that is a score. I must go out of my way to thank Chris, my brother-in-law, and Jonathan, his cousin, got tickets from ... the New York Giants. Oh, the irony. The package included a hotel room, and we were "guests of the Giants." Omen #1
The weekend started well. My buddy Ross and I were able to grab a direct flight to Phoenix on Friday morning. Once there, we took a trip out to the Giants team hotel to get credentials for transportation and such (we were politely denied because such credentials were for players and family only). However, we mulled about the team hotel and grabbed dinner at a nice restaurant there.
The place was empty, except one table next to us. That table was Cris Carter - the HBO Sports commentator and former NFL wide receiver who was nominated for the Hall of Fame, and due to hear the results the next day - and his entourage. They were relaxed and reminicing about great plays of Cris' career. As they got up to leave, I contemplated dropped a "good luck," but chose to just leave him alone. He didn't get in.
From there, we hit Scottsdale and soaked in the atmoshere. One club employee tells us that the Giants were all in there earlier in the week, but no one had seen the Patriots. That makes me feel good.
Saturday morning, we played Whisper Rock Golf Club. Whisper is a reclusive, private course that maybe sees 25 or 30 players a day. There were 270 golfers there for a shotgun start Saturday morning. I ran into Jerome Bettis, the former Steeler running back, and Kordell Stewart, the former Steeler QB, in the pro shop. Kordell is semi-famous/notorious for his postgame quote after the Patriots beat the Steelers a few years ago in the AFC Championship game, that "sometimes the better team doesn't win." Omen #2.
Preparing for the shotgun start, a rumor among the caddies is that Peyton and Eli are both there. Again, I feel good, but come to my senses and realize there is no way Eli is there on Saturday morning. He isn't. However, who stolls up to the golf cart in front of us - Peyton Manning. Joy that Peyton is playing golf on Super Bowl weekend - priceless. Omen? You tell me?
Golf was great. I never actually saw the final scorecard, but I played with mixed results. A couple of pars, a legitimate putt for birdie, plus a few triple bogies.
We had invites to the Marquis Jet/Jimmy Johnson party on Saturday. Originally, we thought it was Saturday night, but it turns out it was from 1-6. Grr. Golf ended around 3. We hustled over there for the last hour and a half. We heard Jimmy Johnson speak, but missed the speech given by, none other than, Bill Belichick. We heard from numerous attendees that Belichick was pleasant and ineresting. He toook questions and gave REAL answers. Hmmm. Belichick who has been strangely gitty all week, was pleasant ?!? That should have been Omen #3.
Saturday was capped off by a nice dinner with our friend Aaron who had hosted us for golf earlier in the day.
Game day started off well. Transportation to the satdium was a looming issue; however, we grabbed an open cab around 11am, and made our way. Although we didn't have passes to any pre-game events, the stadium has a nice bar/restaurant area. We got into this place, Shout, before they started charging a cover. Shout was an interesting place. They had dueling pianos with bar-type singers at each. The all-request show involving tipping the pianoman to play your song. Suprisingly great fun. Each teams fans requesting local favorites, while the other team tipped the players to stop playing. I must say, the Pats fans were surprisingly cocky! It was unsettling. Omen #4 - when did New England sports fans become so fate-tempting. They requested songs like, "We are the Champions." Let me be clear, I fully expected the Pats to win, but I would never tempt karma by singing along to "We are the Champions" 2 hours BEFORE THE GAME!
On that note, I see a guy headed into the stadium with a red, white a blue face paint of 19-0. Oh the shame.
The seats were great. The game was painful. The Giants were throwing everything they had at the Patriots and ... it was working. Brady had no time as the offensive line (particularly Matt Light) was getting buried. When I go to games, I don't always watch the ball. I try and watch things that you typically don't see on TV. Countless times, I watched Moss move a step past his defender, only hear the crowd make a roar - Brady sacked, hit, or forced to dump it off.
Halftime was an uncomfortable 7-3 lead. Ross and I had gone through match-ups all weekend long, and were convinced that the Patriots would dominate. 7-3 was unthinkable. However, there was solice in mid-game adjustments to come. The only problem was they didn't.
When the Patriots took the lead on a real drive capped off by a Randy Moss touchdown pass with 2:40 left - it was over. I knew the Patriots would win. The only problem was they didn't.
The Manning spin out of a sack was sureal, and the Burress TD pass was a dagger. The place erupted on that play, and I flopped back into my seat wanting to throw up. Like Bill Belichick, I too was out before the final tick ran off the clock. Stunned.
Frankly, the loss would have been easier if they were 16-3. The sole fact that this game meant so much, made the season feel worthless. I felt robbed. The Giants played well - very well - but what a time to pick to play your worst game of the year.
Ross caught the redeye home (I had meetings in CA on Monday and Tuesday), and Chris and Jonathan invited me to the Giants team post game party. Although it was very kind of them to invite me, I was in no mood to party. I went to bed - feeling empty.
I have yet to see the TV version of the game, and will likely have comments after that.
For now, its just - ugh.
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