UCONN Spring Weekend

Maybe people are being a little too hard on UCONN spring weekend. The 2010 was spring weekend was mostly quiet, sans an assault outside a bar that left a non-student in the hospital. This violent act was the worst of the 84 arrests.
Out of the 84 arrests, 70 of them were non student related, including the two from the assault. For you non Math whizzes, that leaves 14 student arrests. Not too shabby if you ask me.
Consider how many bar fights happen throughout the country on any normal weekend. The assault could have happened at any time, and practically anywhere, for the two non students, but it happened to come during this weekend of rowdiness.
If most of the arrests came from non-students, I’m not quite sure how one could say this is a black eye for UCONN itself. This has been a UCONN staple for 50 years, and has been much worse in the past.
Here’s a spoiler alert for naïve people, a lot of kids drink and party in college. Getting rid of this event will not stop that. Maybe there is something UCONN or the Storrs and state police could do to tame it down a little, but canceling the event all together is certainly not the answer.

Enough about Tim Tebow

At some point this year, everyone took a pill that made them completely forget the difference of the level of play from college football to the NFL.
Case in point, the lovefest that is showered upon Tim Tebow, I think it's high time everyone shut up about him.
Some probably consider what I just said blasphemous. Some will say "but Matt, he is such a competitor, he is such a gamer, look what he did at Florida." Again, just shut up.
 If anyone thinks for one second that him tweaking his throwing motion fixed the biggest hole in his game better wake up, he has a lot more work to do then that.
Consider the offense he ran at Florida. My high school ran it, University of Florida ran it, and what NFL team runs it as it's main offensive package? No one, and don't tell me the wildcat is made for Tim Tebow. The wildcat has been figured out and will never take the place of a throwing quarterback offense.
Tebow was always lauded for his toughness, because he would take off with the ball and deliver a hit to a defender. Show me a SUCCESSFUL (keyword) running quarterback (I swear if anyone says Michael Vick you should stop watching football).
I'll end on this, raise your hand if you know who Taylor Wyndham is. There's a few hands raised. He delivered a hit on Tim Tebow that gave him a concussion. Guess what's going to happen in the NFL, where EVERYONE can play, and is most likely better than Wyndham.
"If anyone can succeed, Tim Tebow can." I'm sick of that argument, I think it is a slap in the face to a lot of other people who were in the 2010 NFL draft, and Broncos fans should seriously start second guessing their organizations decision to draft Tebow in the first round.

Bad Ben

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ben Roethlisberger for the first 6 games of the upcoming season, following an incident that occurred in a Georgia nightclub between Ben and a 20 year old sorority girl.

Formal charges were never filed, and no arrests were made, so there are people, either dumb or Steelers fans or both, that will say "well how can Goodell suspend him? He wasn't found guilty!" Well, Ben's not a rockstar, he's an nfl quarterback, and he's been involved with questionable behavior before.

First and foremost, Ben is a 28 year old two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, representing the most decorated franchise in NFL history, from a city built on hard work and blue collar people. I think it's high time he checked his skirt chasing at the door. If you're Ben Roethlisberger, I doubt its hard to "scratch that itch," why put yourself in that idiotic of a situation, multiple times at that.

The case has come down to a lot of "he said, she said," and I cannot place the blame on one soul party. I cannot acknowledge allegations that Ben's bodyguards dragged this young lady into the bathroom and whatever happened was not consensual but forced by Ben, because that account is coming from drunk people who may be protecting their friend. That being said, I also cannot say that Ben wasn't doing anything wrong, because I think it's pretty clear he was.

I'm ok with the punishment for the crime, and hope that, in the days leading up to the draft, future NFL stars realize that it isn't just throwing touchdowns on Sundays, but there is a certain obligation and higher standard all NFL players should be aware of, and live up to.

Yankee Stadium

If you're not a Yankee fan, it's ok, nobody is perfect.

I've been a Yankee fan since I was young, I guess it started as a rebel against my Red Sox fan parents, but turned into a die hard passion.

My friend and I attended a game this past Sunday. If you have not had the chance to check out George Steinbrenner's Bronx crown jewel, do it, the place is very stunning.

Everytime I go, I usually go to the concession stands and ask myself the same thing, "why do I pay so much." For two bud lights at the stadium, I could buy a 30 pack outside it. For a hot dog, soda, and pretzel, I could buy a ticket to another game at face value.

Do I justify the spending based on atmosphere, or am I just an idiot? Don't answer that...

Playoff Beard

My face is itchy, the hair isn't coming in evenly, and I look borderline homeless, but I'm determined to stick with this playoff beard.

If you're not familiar with the term, check out the link here (yes it has it's own wikipedia).

The tradition in the NHL was started in the 1980's, but starts anew each and every NHL playoffs, and has even been adopted by some other sports.  I'm going to try and do it with them for the length of the NHL playoffs (almost a month). Here are some star playoff beard pics. And by the way, if you see me and my attempt, don't laugh.

 Sidney Crosby can't really grow a good one...

Ryan Miller a little better...

Roy Halladay, 25+ games winner this season

I know it's a bold statement. He'll make about 32-34 starts, and he'll win 25? C'mon man. Never fear, sports fans, I think odds are actually in Halladay's favor to win the 25. Let's look at some numbers.

If we look at just the past four seasons, Halladay is 69 - 33 with the Blue Jays, playing in the AL East, what some say is arguably the best division in baseball.  With lackluster run support from his team (not finishing in the top 10 of runs scored in those four seasons), Halladay has a record of 10-2 against the Yankees, arguably the best team in baseball and a top 5 run scoring team.

Halladay has had a below 3.00 ERA (an ERA in the 3's is considered really good, anything under is incredible) in 2 of the four seasons, a 3.19 and 3.71 ERA in the other two, seasons in which he won 16 games and finished in the top 5 of the Cy Young voting.

Omitting his numbers before these four seasons (including one that he actually won the Cy Young award), the numbers he's put up recently are amazing. After carrying a team on his back, having good record against the Yankees and the Red Sox (2 of the last 4 World Series winners), and facing a DH every time he pitched (not the opposing team's pitcher), Halladay has proven he's one of the best.

Now all of a sudden, he's transplanted to the NL as the Phillies ace, the same Phillies who have appeared in the World Series the past two seasons. The same Phillies who have led the National League in runs scored and RBI's 3 out of the past four seasons (finishing third in the other). You think Halladay would like pitching for a team that scores a lot of runs for once? Yea, I think so too.

After a season of facing lowly teams like the Mets, Nationals, Astros, Padres, Pirates, Diamondbacks, and Reds, I wil notl be shocked if Halladay is not only Cy Young winner, but a 25 wins guy as well.

Phil Master-ful, Tiger falls short

 You don't have to be a golf fan to appreciate what happened at August National golf course this past weekend. The story going in to the Master's Tournament was Tiger Woods, the story now is Phil Mickelson.

Now, more than ever, the two could not be more different. Black and White, a righty and a lefty, and now the poster boy for infidelity trying to salvage his image against the fan friendly Mickelson who's wife and mother-in-law were both diagnosed with breast cancer within six months of each other last year; events that jarred Phil and had him take time away from the tour to be with his family.

Phil's win was not only good for Phil, but also for Tiger. Tiger completed the weekend tied for fourth, and admittedly missed some shots over the four days that could have made him a contender come Sunday evening. The galleries embraced him warmly, and, after a near six-month absence, was able to waltz into the biggest tournament of the year and show that he is still Tiger the magnificent golfer.

Maybe the term "it played out like a movie script" is used too often or too loosely, but this was indeed an instance that called for the phrase.  Phil, the hero, Tiger, the new anti-hero to some, on the biggest stage of their sport, playing great and playing for reasons that extend beyond golf.

With Phil's win, the heat was off Tiger after he showed that he can still golf, still draw the crowds, and even with everything in his personal life, can still be liked.

After Phil sank his last putt to win the tournament by three strokes, a moment that words don't do justice occurred. Phil walked over to his wife Amy, who had not been on the golf course in 11 months and was in bed most of the week, and emotionally embraced her, an embrace that turned many eyes from dry to watery.

You can't make that stuff up.

Facebook: Too Much Information

Recently "South Park" had an episode about Facebook (which you can see here). It poked fun at the ever growing uber Facebook obsessed people that are in the world.

We're all on Facebook, or, if you're not, you probably know what it is. I enjoy Facebook, I think it's a fun distraction that occupies my time, allows people to find out more about me, and see some photos of things I do.

What I do not like is the people who view Facebook as a real "friend," and then try to rack up virtual friends, even though they have never spoken to them in real life. These types of people are the same people who use the Facebook status updates as venting material, posting inappropriate windows into their lives.

Listen random girl on Facebook that friended me, as upsetting as it is that you experience domestic violence with your boyfriend, I don't know you, or him, and think you probably should be telling someone with more authority that he just "totally went psycho and punched a hole in the wall," and not broadcasting that to your "friends" on Facebook.

The same goes for you, friend who just sent me an event reminder for "Genocide Awareness Week." The fact that I have Facebook on my phone beams the "Genocide Awareness" event directly to my pocket, when I could be enjoying a nice day out. I don't think I'll be attending that one.

While I'm sure everyone who's on Facebook has experience the "T.M.I." friend or event sender, I can't help but wonder, is it worse that people write this nonsense for all the world to see, or that I actually read it?

New Tiger Woods' Nike ad

Watch the new Tiger Woods commercial from Nike. I would say put your personal feelings about Tiger aside, but that's the beauty of this commercial, it not only plays off your personal feelings but is an attempt to play off his as well.

The voice in the commercial is that of his late father, Earl Woods. The splicing of that speech from Earl to Tiger, with a somber Tiger looking into the camera, and the questions "I want to know why you did it," and "did you learn anything," make this commercial memorable.

Some people may hate it. Some people may hate Tiger. Some people will say "Matt I hate you for loving this commercial." Well that's ok with me, and I bet you that's ok with Tiger.

Watch the Master's tournament at some point this weekend. Who will have the largest following? Who will get the biggest cheers? Tiger. The fact that he is playing in this tournament has me more excited about the Master's, on a Thursday no less, than I have ever been.

If you're no longer a Tiger fan, than you're probably not that big of a sports fan. Golf fans have not turned their back on Tiger. He doesn't need to win them back, and he may not even need to win anyone back. The people who have made him what he is will still support him. Nike, the biggest sports merchandiser on the planet still supports him.

I'm not saying what Tiger did was ok, and his personal life is his personal life. Nike's vision and genius in this commercial is a big step in the right direction at not only recognizing Tiger's troubles, but humanizing him even more, and going forward in the rebuilding process. At the very least, a memorable ad like this will sell a few more golf shirts.

Baseball Opening Night

If you haven't heard, the New York Yankees play the Boston Red Sox tonight at Fenway Park to open up the regular baseball season. With just 161 games to go after this, I'm sure all of you realize the importance of this one game.

Ok, maybe that was a little joke, but opening day is much different than your mid-June Yankees @ Royals epic.  First off, Red Sox Yankees doesn't get old for anyone outside the North East and secondly, baseball fans have waited 5 months to see their favorite players back on the field, and truth be told no one puts much stock into Spring Training.

Bracket (finally) Busted

Last night I officially tore up my bracket.  Many probably tore theirs up weeks ago (I'm looking at you, Kansas pickers), but I was in it until the end.

In my work bracket pool, I was one of only two people to get more than 1 final four teams correct. I had a whopping two, with West Virginia vs. Duke correctly picked.

So there I am, one game left and if West Virginia wins I win a bracket for the first time ever (as well as a little bit of cash but shh). If Duke wins, then the other person with two final four teams wins the bracket.

It's in the bag, I thought. West Virginia is too athletic, plays great defense, and is hot. Duke has a lot of shooters who could very well go cold. Duke didn't go cold, West Virginia lost by 20+, and that was all she wrote.

I should make it clear I hate losing, I wouldn't say I'm a sore loser, but coming in second will sting whenever I think of this tournament now. Next year when I try again, I'll probably have to win a 96 team bracket, as if 64 was not hard enough.

West Virginia didn't even make me think I would ever win last night, either. They were outplayed, out shot, out everythinged, Duke was a decisively better team.  Not to mention the fact that one of their best players blew out his ACL and the national viewing audience was treated to a very touching moment where West Virginia coach Bob Huggins consoled him on the court.

So that's that, the NCAA tournament had me almost right up until the end. Guess there is always next year.

Fighting Maureen Dowd

I think if I ever met Maureen Dowd, it would end in a fist fight.

It would be like a self proclaimed alpha male vs. an anointed alpha female.  There is no doubt that she is talented, maybe the most talented columnist in America. Her use of language, the way she constructs sentences, the weaving of humor, sarcasm, and thought provoking statements all make for incredible works of journalism.

Her exploitation of her talents, combined with her "woman in man's world" demeanor, have propelled her to the spotlight, a spotlight she claims to not want.  Well, Ms. Dowd, you have it, you know you have it, you're using it, so don't lie to me.

She claims to not be a feminist, yet her Pulitzer Prize winning columns, while angled at Wild Bill Clinton and the sex scandal, seemed to be her voice about stupid men everywhere.  Her book "Are Men Necessary" goes along the same lines, so forgive me if I were to think she was on a crusade against men.

While I cannot quite figure out if I full on hate MoDo or not, I'm pretty sure if there was a fight between her and I, she'd probably win.

NFL Changes Playoff Rule, It's About (over)Time!

The NFL owners recently voted to change the overtime rules during the playoffs, with a vote about the regular season coming soon. The fact that most overtime games are decided by a coin flip with both teams not getting a chance to touch the ball seemed like a good enough reason to change the rule, but why did it take so long?

ESPN's bottomline cited that the Saints vs. Vikings NFC championship game this past season, a game that went into OT and saw the Saints march down the field and kick a field goal to win, as a reason. Well, it is not as if no other game before that went into OT, where were these rules when my favorite team Green Bay dropped the NFC championship game to the Giants in overtime?

Maybe it has taken too long for the NFL to act on this, but at least they are acting. The new rule will give both teams a possession, at least some of the time, if the team that gets the ball first only kicks a field goal. Will this rule change make the game perfect? No, but I'd be willing to bet that it will make games more exciting.

Doddgeball

Let's assume I didn't know Chris Dodd already announced plans to not run for re-election, and I was left wondering whether or not recent information about his loan history would effect his re-election plans.

Now that we've established that, I think that maybe Dodd is getting a raw deal in the Countrywide Financial fiasco.  Robert Feinberg can go on CNBC and say whatever he wants about the V.I.P.'s of Countrywide Financial, but to say something such as Dodd saved $75,000 and not be able to back that up is something different entirely.

Online CT News, compare and contrast (just like in grade school!)

If A's were given out for effort, the CT Mirror would get one, but after effort they don't have much to offer. There is a void in local news that they are trying to fill, but they are doing it in a way that does not grab me at all.

The article they posted on the Senate Democrats passing the deficit reduction read more like "War and Peace" rather than a news article. Man did that thing just go on and on, I could not even get through it.

Jump to CT News Junkie, and the same story is, to me, much more engaging. The writing was tighter and to the point, and there were things going on around the article on the website that made it less intimidating to read, unlike the sea of text that was the Connecticut Mirror.

Is Google Making Us Stoopid?

Nicholas Carr's article raised some interesting questions about society today, how we are collecting information, and how little we are actually reading.

At the same time, while I may not have been struggling to get through the article, I did find myself at times checking my phone, looking at the TV, or checking scores of games amidst the article.

Maybe it is not just Google that is making us stupid, but all of technology. TV was going to be the thing that rots everyone's brain, now I feel my TV is trying to keep up with getting my attention at all.

OBAMACARE

For some reason or another, I always find myself surrounded by Republicans. Most of my friends claim to be Republican, and most say that Obama is doing a terrible job, and that the healthcare bill is socialist. Some Republicans representatives cried socialism, yet I’m still trying to figure out how.

Apparently they overlook the benefits of the near universal healthcare bill and write everything off as “socialism.” I’ll just chime in that most of my friends, and most of the people who are recent college

Pre-Oscar Blog

This will be a two part entry, we'll call this one "B.O." or "Before Oscars," the other will be entitled "A.O." for "After Oscars."

B.O. is an appropriate title because, to me, the Oscars tonight might in fact stink. This is just one guy's opinion, but if Avatar sweeps, it will be a travesty.

Quite frankly I liked Avatar the first time I saw it, when it was called Dances With Wolves.

Look, folks, once you get passed the 3D effects (which wares off about a half hour in) the movie wasn't especially good. An angry southern general who is bent on domination? Original, Mr. Cameron. The soldier who is sent on a mission in order to help Earth take over the Na'vi who then has to choose whether to be aligned with his human race or his new Avatar race, SPOILER ALERT we all knew what he was going to join the Na'vi.

I'm well aware of the budget exceeding 300 million to make the film. I'm well aware of the fact that it has generated over 2 billion dollars worldwide. You can throw all the numbers you want at me, but numbers don't make a best picture, and this was not the best picture.

In a field of 10 this year (which is a tad much in itself), Avatar is maybe 5th best. My pick? Up in the Air with George Clooney, one of the best films I've ever seen.

And I know you are all wondering my predictions for the other major categories, so here goes:

• Best Actor: Jeff Bridges
• Best Actress: Sandra Bullock
• Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
• Best Supporting Actress: Anna Kendrick
• Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
• Best Picture: Avatar (unfortunately)

We'll revisit my picks after the Oscars!

34,616 Fans Pack the Carrier Dome

Read that number again, 34,616 people were on Syracuse University's campus to watch the number 4 ranked Orange play number 8 Villanova, it was the largest on-campus crowd at a basketball game ever, and I was there.

The "LET'S GO ORANGE" chants were deafening, the team was playing well, and the fans were, shall we say, well lubricated and having a ball.

The total capacity of the Carrier Dome is 49,250, a number that is only attainable for things such as football games which use all the seats in the dome, but with half of the place cut off to put the basketball court down, the place still drew almost 35,000 rabid Orange fans.

To be a part of history at my Alma Mater is truly something special that I will never forget (and actually I was at the number 2 most attended on campus game in 2005 at the Carrier Dome also, man I love my team).

By the way, they dominated the game, and were just voted the number 1 team in the country, and I have a feeling I had something to do with it...

Angry

The title is how I feel after reading those links. Dr. William Petit summed it up with his statement outside of the courtroom, "Somehow it was OK for the defendants to bind us and beat us ... and rape us and torture us and set the place on fire, but you can't be held in a cell with the lights on," Petit said. "Somehow, there is something wrong with that, so that's a little difficult to process in your brain, that somehow there is some comparison to what both of these guys have done, to what the state may be doing."

I have no qualms about saying that when Steven Hayes tried to kill himself, I wouldn't have cared if he died. I'm convinced the world probably would have been a better place. Maybe it's because one of my best friend's fathers went to school with William Petit and is good friends with him still, maybe it's because I actually met Dr. Petit at my friend's graduation party and couldn't believe what he had been through.

I'm no expert on the legal system, but how does anyone live with themselves when they take the case as a defense attorney in a trial like this? I know it is Ullman's job to try and do everything for his client, and maybe he didn't want the case, but if his plea of saying the state isn't treating his client well, as if he deserves to be treated well, prevents justice from happening, then I know I won't be the only one left wondering what the hell is going on.