Terrible Towel at Half Mast Today

Famed Steelers broadcaster Myron Cope died today.
I may not be a lifelong Steeler fan, but I remember the first time I heard his broadcast. The Schwab invited me over to his bachelor pad to an afternoon of football watching (this "date" should have tipped me off to his, oh, let's call it extreme appreciation, of sports).
The Steelers game was moments away from kick-off, the Schwab had his Terrible Towel at the ready, and then he did the unthinkable.....he lowered the volume on the television and turned up the radio....and I was greeted with the strangest sounding radio announcer voice...Ever. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, thousands of other fans did the same during the broadcasts, to here the radio announcer, and his proclomations of yoi and double yoi, call the game. The guy with the funny voice won me over that first day, as he did for fans for 3+ decades, before I became acquainted with him. He was an institution around these parts, a celebrity.....and very much beloved. And will be missed.......

ESPN! ESPN Everywhere!

The Schwab and I have moved. And while researching cable options, we decided to go with the fancy new fios offerings from Verizon, with their promised clear picture capabilities and millions of channels. Upon the departure of our helpful, friendly installer…..the Schwab began to channel surf (one of his all-time favorite past-times, closely followed by obsessive compulsively clicking through radio programs, making extended car rides a joy. Honestly.) and discovered…..every ESPN and NFL channel known to man. Joy. I was unaware of the proliferation of ESPN programming. A whole channel just for ESPN News. An entire channel dedicated to college sports. And on and on and on. And the NFL Network too! The Schwab, with visions of himself parked for hours in front of the T.V. with nothing but sports coverage to be consumed by, was delirious with anticipation and happiness.
I fear for my "sports widowdom", especially during football season. It's a good thing we have more than one television in the new pad.

Arlen Specter, You are an IDIOT

As mentioned in my baseball post below, intense congressional interest in sports is mind-boggling to me. And also, a colossal waste of time and my TAX DOLLARS!
What? Arlen Specter wasn't getting any more coverage for his cancer and crusade for stem cells, so he needed to get some publicity? And decided, "hmmmm? What will garner the most news coverage for me? I've got it! Let's resurrect a topic from 6 months ago, and insist that there is something more sinister going on......and pounce! That'll do it".
Idiot.
Is someone checking to make sure that all those medications haven't made him mental?
I'm hard-pressed to find one reason why Congress should give two sh!ts about whether or not the Patriots cheated. I hate the Patriots and I don't care that they cheated. I've said it before and I'll say it again, It's a Game. Let's repeat that to ourselves in a rational manner: It's a Game.
Does Congress have so much extra time on their hands now that they can worry about a game whose sole reason for being is for entertainment?
Hmmmm?
Because as an ordinary, somewhat well-informed citizen.....I think NOT.
I'm going to step off the soapbox now, still muttering to myself about our idiotic lawmakers, otherwise I will pull out all of my hair in frustration...and I'm not sure that I could pull off bald.

I Love Being Right.

I'm a little late on this post...but it has to be said:
I love being right.
I loved watching the Patriots leave Arizona with their tails between their legs. Loved watching Bill Belichek tersely answer questions after the big loss. Loved every minute of the mid-field celebration after the game.
Like I said, I wouldn't necessarily call myself a Giants fan, but I for sure jumped around the room a little bit as the final seconds ticked down and victory was confirmed. I then watched all the post-game analysis, as the "experts", shell-shocked by a Patriots loss, tried to make sense of the game...I particularly enjoyed that part. I love that they were wrong....and of course, I was right.
Did I mention....I was right? :)
I'm fairly certain the 70-whatever Miami Dolphin geezers were up late enjoying the sweet taste of icy cold champagne in celebration.

Super Bowl Red Carpet?!!!?! It's Wrong!

I am irate. And in shock.
Ryan Seacrest? Red Carpet? John f'ing Travolta?
None, not one of these things should be on the Super Bowl broadcast. NOT ONE.
It's wrong.
It's against the rules of the universe.
The Super Bowl is the annual ode to macho manliness. It calls for pizza and wings and beer (and not some pansy low-carb beer either......real, man beer). And if you can't handle it, tough.
Chicks can only participate if they know their way around a line of scrimmage. Luckily, this reluctant fan has logged many hours on the couch.......I'm ready for the game.
Please, give me Howie, give me Marino, Terry, The Tuna, Steve Young......those guys, speech impediments and idiosyncracies and all.......at least they know what they are talking about. John f'ing travolta? Ridiculous Ryan Seacrest? What's next? shows on E critiquing the outfits of the players? Discussing Michael Strahan's tooth gap? I only care about the game, I don' t care what any celebrity thinks about it......unless he happened to play football at some point, then, and only then.....it's okay.
Let me repeat: A red carpet is not Super Bowl appropriate. period.
Now, everyday shut up and let's play the game.
Go Giants!