Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, we always traveled to Ohio for Thanksgiving at my grandparents’ house and spent time with my mom’s side of the family. You can’t go wrong with a holiday that has it’s emphasis on the three F’s, Family, Football, and Food. Through the years, I’ve developed a system to ensure I’m able to eat as much as physically possible.
I have a lot to be thankful for this year. This year, I’m thankful for that same family I used to visit in Ohio traveling to Colorado to spend Thanksgiving in Evergreen with my cousin Jeff. Tomorrow will truly be reminiscent of all those fond Thanksgiving memories I have stored away. It will also be my first Thanksgiving with my beautiful wife, who I am most thankful for this year.
I hope your Thanksgiving will be memorable and enjoyable as you gather with friends and family. Have a wonderful turkey day and go Broncos! Speaking of Thanksgiving and football, here is a link to a great article on SI.com about the two. And now, the NFC edition of my NFL Thanks List:
Cowboys-After all the distractions that have come their way via T.O., the answer has to be Tony Romo.
Giants-Despite their current two game losing streak, they’re still tied for first. And Eli’s got to get better, right?
Eagles-I was going to say McNabb, but now….
Redskins-With Portis done for the year, they now have a green light to go for the Brady Quinn sweepstakes.
Bears-Where do I begin? Brian Urlacher. Bernard Berrian. Good Rex. Tommie Harris. Alex Brown. Lance Briggs. Monster D. Devon Hester. The Monday Night Miracle. Lovie. Good as Gould. Get to play the Lions, Packers and Vikings twice a year. And if Favre decides to hang em up after this season, his last game will be a nightmare in Soldier Field.
Lions-Roy Williams and Kevin Jones have shown flashes of brilliance while the Lions toil away in another wasted season. With McMillan in charge, should they be thankful they’ll have another top draft pick?
Packers-Favre’s INTs have gone down. And the Aaron Rogers era starts next season. That’s about it.
Vikings-Hutch and the transformed O-line. If only they had some offense to protect.
Falcons-Mike Vick’s athleticism.
Panthers-Their two monsters on each side of the ball, Steve Smith and Julius Peppers.
Saints-Can you say Drew Brees MVP? And Marques Colston, a 7th round draft pick from Hofstra possibly winning Rookie of the Year? And they got Reggie Bush? I think everyone is thankful for the Saints’ success.
Buccaneers-Chris Simms is healthy and Bruce Gradkowski provided a nice story line for a few weeks. Now it’s time to be thankful there is a next year.
Cardinals-Matt Leinert looks like he’s poised to lead this team into prosperity. In a few years.
Rams-Torry Holt and his amazing acrobatics. They’re struggling right now, but they have an offense like a lightning bolt.
49ers-Alex Smith is maturing, Frank Gore looks like the next big thing, and the 49ers are 5-5 and in second place. Things look bright in San Fransisco.
Seahawks-Even with the injuries to Alexander and Hasselbeck, the Seahawks are still in first place and will get healthier as the playoffs approach.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I thought we’d look at what NFL teams are thankful for this year (other than the billions of dollars the NFL will collectively earn this year). The Colts have a lot to be thankful for, while the Raiders have, well, next year. Along those lines, we’ll start off with the AFC.
Bills-They don’t have to worry about losing in the Super Bowl this year. And the A-Train already has double the rushing TDs as McGahee in half the carries.
Dolphins-The fact that victory is technically possible even after rushing for negative yardage. And Jason Taylor.
Patriots-Tom Brady.
Jets-Chad Pennington’s arm hasn’t fallen off yet. Those two offensive line picks in the draft didn’t hurt either.
Ravens-Steve McNair’s been healthy and Cincy and Pittsburgh keep tripping on their own two feet.
Bengals-The offense has awoken from it’s coma. Probably had something to do with Chad’s mohawk.
Browns-They can’t move the team away again. Can they? At least the Buckeyes are good.
Steelers-Last year.
Texans-Besides surpassing last year’s win total, the emergence of David Carr and Andre Johnson has been uplifting.
Colts-Peyton Manning.
Jaguars-Maurice Jones-Drew looks like a fine replacement for old man Taylor whenever he hangs them up. Also, Garrard has looked impressive filling in for Leftwich.
Titans-Despite completing less than 50% of his passes, Vince Young has still scored a total of 9 TDs.
Broncos-Champ Bailey and a solid D carrying an unimpressive offense. And that the Jake Plummer era may be approaching it’s end.
Chiefs-Larry Johnson. And Damon Huard for keeping the ship upright. But mostly Larry Johnson.
Raiders-They won two more games than anybody thought they’d win.
Chargers-The NFL Draft:1. LaDainian slipped to the 5th pick in 2001 NFL Draft 2. The Giants traded Phillip Rivers, Shawne Merriman and Nate Kaeding for Eli Manning. But mostly for L.T.
Filed under: Baseball, Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs, Football, MLB, NFL, Sports
In the matter of a couple of hours, the city of Chicago won a battle on two different fronts. On the first, the Bears overcame an anemic first half performance with strong defense and a commanding effort from Mark Bradley to defeat the New York Jets 10-0 to complete the Big Apple Sweep. On the second, the Cubs reportedly signed prized free agent Alfonso Soriano for 8 years and $135 million. We’ll get to the Bears a little later.
This free agent signing, as well as the contract, are the biggest in team history. Soriano has the ability to bat lead off, with a respectable average and 40+ stolen bases, he fits the mold. However, he also has a strong bat, belting over 40 home runs last season. This gives the Cubs several options. Theoretically, they could bat him anywhere from 1-5 in the lineup. If the Cubs are able to resign Juan Pierre or sign Gary Matthews Jr. for center-field duty, Soriano would probably see the most amount of at-bats in the 2 or 4 spot, with Derrek Lee owning the 3 spot if healthy. If the Cubs are unable to make any more offensive acquisitions, my projected lineup looks like, vs. if they signed Pierre or Matthews:
1. Soriano CF 1. Pierre/ Matthews Jr. CF
2. DeRosa 2B 2. DeRosa 2B
3. Lee 1B 3. Lee 1B
4. Ramirez 3B 4. Soriano LF
5. Barrett C 5. Ramirez
6. Jones RF 6. Barrett
7. Murton LF 7. Jones RF
8. Izturis SS 8. Izturis SS
9. P 9. P
I’ve heard the complaints. Eight years for a 30 year old. Obviously, this deal is only being reported right now and we don’t know what the entire makeup is. The Cubs possibly have an option after six years. Who knows. Once the signing is announced tomorrow (as expected), we’ll have a better understanding of the components of this historic signing. But even if it is for 8 years, one thing is for sure. The Cubs front office is making a very strong push to win the World Series this year. Before we debate whether Soriano is worth the money or the eight years, we must all agree this is the player that would help the Cubs the most this year, and we signed him.
Onto the Bears.
I once remarked that the Bears were the NFL’s version of a Madden team playing a skill level too low. Rex runs way too far back in the pocket then guns it down the field, he attempts passes you’re not supposed to make and completes them for big gains, they score at will, the turnovers always bounce their way, and usually annihilate their opponent. If that’s the case, then in the first half against the Jets (or Giants for that matter), the Bears looked like they were playing on the All-Madden setting and only being prepared for Pro. It seemed every pass Rex attempted was way off the mark. Numerous times throughout the game I wondered who he was actually aiming for. It was amazing.
But like always, the defense refused to let go. Interceptions by Urlacher and Vasher highlighted the effort and saved possible points, and it seemed the Jets never really threatened. Eventually, Mark Bradley sparked the offense with a 50+ yarder for the score with a nasty spin move. From there, the defense held their ground, and notched another shutout.
Bears in the Super Bowl. Cubs in the Series. Can you smell it?
Filed under: A-Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Colorado, Keystone, Snowboarding, Vail
I officially have myself a boarder babe.
On Saturday, McNeill and I taught Chloe and Missy how to snowboard at Breckenridge. It was a trying, frustrating experience, but we kept our patience, and the girls thrived and really enjoyed it. Missy enjoyed it so well, she decided she liked it better than skiing, which she’s been doing for two years since we moved out here. Personally, I’m ecstatic. I’ve always dreamed of being able to go riding through the snow with the gal I love. Chloe also enjoyed her time on the mountain, meaning our new mountain crew is a gang of snowboarders. Now we just have to get Missy new equipment….
While not thrashing it on the mountain, Missy has done a great job compilling the mountain of information I’ve thrown at her and put together a terrific Ski & Snowboard Section to www.daveandmissy.com. This wealth of information can be used as a resource for vacation planning and research. We have included a snow report and snow forecast, as well as current Colorado highway conditions. On top of that, we have mountain stats for our five main mountains, A-Basin, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail. Each mountain we profile includes a link to it’s official snow report, web cam, and terrain status.
We’ll try to update the mountains we profile as quickly as possible. I could do a write up on Crested Butte and Monarch since I only visited them last year, but too much time has passed since I’ve visited mountains such as Snowmass, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Streamboat for my write-up to be relevant. As I keep notching more of the 26 resorts in Colorado off my list, the more info we’ll supply. Keep checking back for updates, and I will reference major updates here in Chicalorado.
Think Snow!
The joy that came to my heart upon reading that Aramis Ramirez signed a 5 year deal to stay with the Cubs could not be explained. Joy and relief. I think the loss of Ramirez would’ve been so devastating to the Cubs, it would’ve completely offset any major free agent aquisitions. Now the Cubs have the backbone for building a World Series contender. At the corners, we have Lee and Ramirez. Both are locked up for several years and well paid. We have a gold glove winning shortstop with Cesar Izturis, and several options at second. Assumming Mark Prior is healthy (which is a big assumption), the rotation consists of Zambrano, Prior, and Rich Hill. They’ll be throwing to 2005 Silver Slugger winner Michael Barrett. In the outfield, all that’s for certain is Jacque Jones. Therefore, the Cubs are 1 or 2 pitchers and 1 or 2 outfielders away from upgrading from a last place laughing stock to World Series pretender.
Oh yeah, in other news, the Cubs also re-signed Kerry Wood to a one-year deal.
If there is one right we get as Americans that I think is most important, I would have to go with the right to vote. We as normal people do not normally get to participate in the daily happenings of our government, but for one day, we get our voices heard loud and clear. That’s what makes voting so special. For just one day, we get to tell our government what to do, instead of the other way around.
Here in Colorado, aside from electing a new governor and state representatives, we had the opportunity today to decide on an almost overwhelming amount of issues, ranging from equal rights for same sex couples, raising the minimum wage, legalizing marijuana, and raising taxes to fund pre-schools. I have really enjoyed voting on ballot measures since I’ve lived here. I think it’s much more important to give the voters the choice instead of relying on politicians that much of the time are out of touch with normal constituents. Look at Colorado’s own Marrilyn Musgrave. Aside from being named one of the most corrupt members of Congress in the most corrupt Congress ever, she thinks the most important issue facing America today is gay marriage. Yeah that’s right, gay marriage.We’ve lost almost 3,000 men in the war in Iraq. We have North Korea test firing nuclear weapons. Iran and Syria are also emerging as threats. Global warming is slowly melting our polar ice caps that will one day turn Manhattan and Florida into Atlantis. The soccer moms in their gas-guzzling SUVs are depleting our natural resources. Social Security looks doomed. But God forbid a couple that loves each other want to get married. This woman has lost all touch with the pulse of the public as well as reality. That’s why it’s so important to vote. When politicians forget about you, you have to remind them what you want and what you stand for. Remember, they are supposed to be representing us, not telling us what to believe. That’s what democracy is, “of the people.”
I’ve never understood how people can be so opinionated yet so unmotivated and lazy to actually vote. And of course, these are the ones that complain the most. Lets keep this simple, if you don’t vote, shut up. You don’t deserve to complain if you can’t even take a few minutes out of your day to cast your ballot. You lose that right. Now, I’m not telling you to subscribe to the Wall St. Journal, watch three hours of PBS a night and be able to write a dissertation on school vouchers. You just need to get off the couch and do your duty as an American.
This is a very crucial election. With G.W.’s approval ratings hovering around 35% and the Iraq war having about the same popularity as Steve Bartman in Chicago, it’s time for change. And the best way to change Congress is to change who goes to Congress.
Do your American duty. Vote. Even if you’re going to vote Republican. Let your voice be heard. Vote.
A couple of notes from the Bears game Sunday:
I guess we got the answers to a couple of questions. Like…
Was the Arizona game the real Rex Grossman?
Can the Bears find a running game?
Will the defense be able to function without Mike Brown?
Can Rex learn to check it down?
Why I didn’t bet on this game is beyond me. I guess the 16 point spread kind of scared me. Every team in the NFL has a chance to beat any team. And as dominant as the Bears have been, 16 points is still a lot. That could’ve been the spread for the first quarter. Once the second quarter started, I started making more fun wager options like: Will the Bears score 50? Will the Bears allow the ‘Niners to reach the 30? Will Lovie pull Rex before halftime? Is Urlacher not only a given to repeat as Defensive Player of the Year, but also a viable MVP candidate?
By halftime, I figured the only way to make the rest of the game interesting was for the Bears to get raging drunk.
And I have some questions about Pat Sumerall. Was it possible Madden just got a bad rep because he was paired with Pat for so long? I mean, Pat kept calling Moose “Moo-ham-med” and rambling about god knows what. But then I watched Sunday Night Football. And Madden was babbling on about the difference between pulled pork and pork chops before he announced he had no idea. I haven’t found an NFL announcer I really like yet. I like Bill Simmons idea. For next week, put me and my buddy Keith (a diehard Dolphins fan) in a room together with a twelve pack and it’ll be comedic gold.
I guess I’ve procrastinated writing this because I figured that once I wrote it, I’d be in the “acceptance stage.” And I don’t want to accept it. Especially after what happened last year. Of course I’m talking about the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals.
The past four World Series Champions have been pretty rough for Cubs fans to swallow. In 2003, our hearts were broken by an overzealous fan, an incredible error at short, and the fact that by the time the NLCS came around, Dusty had pretty much pitched Prior and Wood’s arms off. The Florida Marlins end up beating the Yankees to win their second championship since they came into the league as an expansion team. They’ve won more championships since their inception than the Cubs have in 99 years. The next year, Sports Illustrated picks the Cubs to win it all. We barely miss the playoffs and watch as the Boston Red Sox, the other cursed baseball team, rally from a 3-0 series deficit to the Yankees to win 7 straight games to take the Series. In 2005, I sat in my basement in horror as I watched the White Sox, our eternal evil enemy, sweep the series. I realize for the next year they will be referred to as the World Series Champion Chicago White Sox and it stings. And now it’s the Cardinals, our NL Central rivals.
Sometimes when I think about it, I thank God I don’t leave in the Midwest, let alone Chicago anymore. Beside the obvious advantages (mountains), I don’t have to hear obnoxious Sox or Cardinals fans constantly rubbing my face in the fact that they’ve won a championship more recently than us. It jabs at you in an awkward way. I was three years old when the Super Bowl Shuffle swept through the NFL (although it looks like the Bears are gonna do it again this year). The Bulls did win 6 championships in the 90’s, but I was much more of a Michael Jordan fan than a basketball fan. Still am. The Cubs won in 1907 and 1908 and since then…futility. A Cubs championship now would be different. It would mean more.
I can’t imagine how many Cubs fans have born and died without experiencing the ecstatic joy of watching and cheering your team onto victory. The city and the fans deserve a championship. We deserve two. It really is the only remedy to compinsate for nearly an entire century passing without a trip to glory.
Reportedly, the Cubs are willing to do whatever it takes to win the Series “next year and the year after that.” Also, I hear in order to do this, they plan on increasing the payroll by $20 or so. This excites me yet scares me to bejesus at the same time. I’ve known the Cubs for far too long to know the end of this story. They get my hopes up, overpay on a veteran way past his prime, and sadly disappoint. Again.
But I’m optimistic. I want to believe, I want to get my hopes up. I want to start bragging to everyone that the Cubs are going all the way this year and there’s nothing you can do about it. Because this will be the 99th year since we’ve felt that joy. If it doesn’t happen this year, it will reach triple digits. An entire century.
I believe in you Cubs. I believe you’ll do the right thing and pay Aramis his money while you still have exclusive negotiating rights. I know you’ll sign Alfonso Soriano or, hopefully, Carlos Lee. I know you’ll also sign two more stud pitchers and hopefully bring back Juan Pierre. I know you’ll deliver because I have to, I’m a loyal Cubs fan. And I can’t wait to shove it in the Sox and Cardinals face.
