Week 9: So Dumb, Really Dumb, Forreal Awards

Annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd here we go!

Winners include: Cam Newton, AL Gold Glove Voters,  Wiz Khalifa, the Miami Heat, Gilbert Arenas. Hit the jump.

Just Some Stuff.

I’ve said the worst words in the English language come in twos. Sometimes I think the most inspiring ones – for me – come in twos too.

Everyday epiphany, infinite possibility, necessary angel [one of my favorite quotes that talks about writing], so ambitious…Sometimes I have thoughts of getting a small tattoo on my arm. Nothing huge. Just small enough so I can cover it with a watch.

latenightwisdom: “Life’s not meant to be lived in a straight line.”
latenightwisdom: “A woman’s fury is like a storm – it too, shall pass.”

Quick Thoughts on the NFL Draft.

Winners from yesterday’s first round [yes, I'm aware it takes 3 years to fully grade a draft class]:
Niners – baffling for them to move up 2 slots and grab a guy that likely would’ve been available to them anyway, but they got two prospects who look to massively overhaul our offensive line, which was like a sieve last year. Very happy. Fantasy implications: Frank Gore [REALLY up], Alex Smith [up], Michael Crabtree/Josh Morgan/Vernon Davis [up].

Jets – their offseason moves have been extremely aggressive; picking up Holmes and Marshall, and Jason Taylor, as well as moving for Cromartie. Now, with the addition of Kyle Wilson [who I love], they have a deadly nickel package, and potentially a shut down guy in a few years to pair alongside Revis. Either way, I’m pegging them for an AFCCG. Maybe a Super Bowl appearance. Colts better watch out. Fantasy implications: Every offensive team playing against the Jets [down].

Packers – Got great value with one of the highest ranked OTs in the draft falling to them at 23. Should help out massively, as Aaron Rodgers took the most sacks in the NFL last year…and in a division that now boasts Ndamukong Suh, Julius Peppers, and Jared Allen/Ray Edwards…that can only be good. Fantasy implications: Aaron Rodgers [about even. Best fantasy QB in the league last year. Can't get any better than that.], Packers passing game [up], Ryan Grant [slightly up].

Lions – Ndamukong Suh. What more is there to say on this guy? Possibly the best player available in the draft, just a dominant freak that plays defensive tackle. Should help. Perhaps more interestingly, they moved back into the first round to grab Jahvid Best, as well. Is he perhaps injury prone? Yeah, but I think he’s healthy now, and he’s a really explosive gamebreaker that they can pair with Megatron. Fantasy implications: Best [average. I'd target him first out of any offensive rookie this year, though...Ryan Mathews has no line - seriously, the Charger run game sucks...and CJ Spiller has nothing to work with in Buffalol. So, Best is gonna get carries. Trust on that.]
-Note: I see the Lions winning four games this year.

Seahawks – new OT to replace Walter Jones, and a player I’m very high on in Earl Thomas. Both look to be starters for a long time. Good work up there by Carroll.

Losers:
What the hell is going on in Denver? Josh McDaniels has gotten rid of Marshall [fine, he's a cancer, I get that, wants to get paid, all that good stuff.]…and replaced him with a guy from a triple option offense. He traded down three times, and then back up a fourth time last night. Now, I can subscribe to the philosophy of stockpiling picks, sure. But you’re not the Patriots West, Josh…Belicheck has Tom Brady. You have Neckbeard. That’s the difference. He’s a winner. You are not. Most baffling was the decision to reach for Tim Tebow, an obvious project, at 25. Sure, Tebow won’t start for a few years – maybe not ever. Sure, he’s a Wildcat option and all that good stuff. But you could’ve easily gotten him in the second, maybe even third round. If you wanted a real QB, Clausen – and even McCoy – would’ve gone here. In short, I am not sure what he’s planning. Outside of an okay Knowshon Moreno [978 on 3.8YPC], I don’t see many weapons there. Eddie Royal’s gone M.I.A. Scheffler is gone.

So what the hell are you doing? I have yet to figure out. Oh well. You’re not getting past the Chargers. And I haven’t forgotten how your team melted down last year, either. Playoff position right into 8-8.

Jaguars – massive reach for Tyson Alualu. I love Cal players. I loved Tyson Alualu. But he would’ve been available in the second, most likely. They don’t exactly have the best luck with DL prospects, either…See: Derrick Harvey/Quentin Groves.

Buffalol – CJ Spiller enters a 3 headed back situation with Fred Jackson [who I thought had a solid lock on becoming the starter after last year], and Marshawn Lynch, who they invested a first rounder in too. Not gonna get that many touches, probably not much of a factor this year. Maybe an X-factor in the return game…but unless Lynch moves, I don’t think Spiller’s gonna rock anyone’s world next year. I thought they really could’ve used a QB – I had Clausen here. But they wanna roll with Fitzgerald, fine by me.

Dallas – I know Dez Bryant is a tremendous talent, I’m just baffled as to why they would pick him. They have TONS of weapons – Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice, Jason Witten, Roy E. Williams [who is rumored to be coming to an end], Miles Austin, Patrick Crayton.. – not enough footballs to go around. Probably going to turn into a winner pick in a few years, I just don’t know how it’s gonna work out.

As far as my Eagles go…I was so excited to see them move up…I thought it was going to be Earl Thomas. I had visions of our safeties finally being able to tackle, finally not chasing Miles Austin or Jason Witten down from behind. It was Brandon Graham. I have no problem with him personally – and I see the logic behind the pick – they don’t think Ju’qua is gonna cut it, fine…I just felt that safety help would be more important. Still, Nate Allen and Taylor Mays are on the board… [I really hope it's not Taylor Mays...and maybe even Myron Rolle...? <3]. Offensive line help [particularly at guard] would be nice too.

The Niners for later today: I just really don't want to see Jimmy Clausen. It'd be a nice value pick here, but we've handed the keys to Alex Smith. Let him keep them. No, I think safety help would be nice too. Or a corner. Though I'm not sure any top flight corners are left…I wouldn't mind Sergio Kindle, either.

Yeah, that's it from me.

One Month In [AKA, Post #75]

I love Berkeley. I honestly do. The atmosphere, the people, the clubs, the learning…all of it. The last thing to really fall into play for me was the academics. As I’ve detailed before, I didn’t think I was smart enough to be here – but I got a real surprise on my first paper for English. My GSI told me that it was a B+/A- level, and that I have a very good ear for syntax, flow and grammar. Extremely surprising, and more than I could’ve hoped for. What’s even more surprising is how well Barrett has prepared me for college.

Spencer’s main comments were that I didn’t open up the issue enough.
Barrett always wrote on my papers that I need to “follow through”, or open the issue up MORE.

The workshop’s lecture on thesis building is identical to Barrett’s. Right down to “So what?”

Honestly I think I’ve been really lucky to been given all these tools for success. [Thank you too, Miss Maroun, for helping me discover how subtle - and infinitely useful - syntax is.] Now, I’m not about to get complacent or anything…but it’s encouraging to know that I’m at least not at the wrong school. LOL. That paper was ungraded though, so the real thing starts this Friday.

I’ve been working all week on Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, trying to write my paper on proving the secret of the book [which Blanton alludes to] is more about art than it is homosexuality. Coming along pretty well, I think. Right now I’m taking a break to update my blog.

What’s happened since the last time I wrote?

Right. Super Bowl. Colts lost that game when they refused to put pressure on Brees, letting him pick them apart. A bigger commitment to the run game in the second half would’ve helped. Had a really great time with my boys, singing and watching the game. Thumbs down for Extreme Pizza, which cost me 100 bucks for 3 XL pizzas. Goddamn. Poor Peyton…you had a chance to move into the top 3 of all time [which, you still will be at the end of your career], but you blew it. You could’ve been the greatest of all time. But now, it’s clear – you are only an average QB. Better than anyone in the regular season [seriously, 7 come from behinds this year?] but can’t get it done during the Big One. Sorry, man. That doubly sucks, because I really think you’re a funny dude.

The aforementioned Rock the Block concert was so dope. You couldn’t understand the artists too well, but there’s just this massive energy at hip-hop concerts. I LOVE S4HH. They make my Tuesday nights, really.

Magic is easy, but I’m too shy to hang out or play with other people. Mostly I sit there by myself and do the homework for the next week. Speaking of which, they thought my decklist for week one was excellent. This week’s assignment? Make a deck with 5 of the worst 100 cards in Magic. I did it reanimator style, though this assignment really sucked ass. I was not happy with how the deck piloted at all [but that's probably because I'm not a black player].

Italian Studies? I probably couldn’t tell you what’s happening, I’m asleep half the time…And I have that paper due Wednesday. Woot, way to go, massively behind. Hahahahahaha.

While the day to day details of my life aren’t quite as interesting, let me take a moment out to rail on some phenomena in my life. I touched on this with my last post, but why is it that you can give everything to people, not get a thing back but backstabs and heart break, and still somehow YOU’RE wrong? Are you fucking kidding me? Fuck ungrateful ass friends and people who don’t put the effort in.

The view from Free Speech Movement cafe is really nice. Definitely date material worthy.

Ended up buying GTA 4 and NBA Street Homecourt. Homecourt is fun, but a little too easy [at least on medium]. I picked it up fairly well, but I haven’t been able to play either GTA or Dead Space yet. I may not be able to for a while, with school picking up and stuff.

Hope all you guys had a good Valentine’s Day/Lunar New Year. I gotta jet though. Magic awaits. Also, my laptop battery is dying.

I love Cal.

On: The NFL Playoffs.

Outside of the GB-Arizona game, I’d have to say these are the worst NFL Playoffs I’ve remembered in quite some time. I’m not just saying that because I’m 2-6 through two rounds, either. Most of the games aren’t even remotely competitive: DAL-MIN being a great example. I’m not just bitter my own team got crushed, either. That was to be expected after the way we laid a huge egg in week 17.

What a terrible playoffs though. Still, my predictions for this week…

IND vs NYJ – I don’t know how New York made it this far. Good for them. But no matter how good your defense is, or how well you run the ball, Peyton Manning will find a way to win. 7 4th quarter comebacks this year, and the masterful showing in Miami proved that. I do think that this spunky New York Jets team will keep it close, though. They did play Indy pretty well in week 16. Colts by 4..because their kicker [presumably] won’t choke and miss 3 FGs, and because the quality of their weapons behind Reggie Wayne are better than San Diego’s.

MIN vs NO – Brett Favre can go to hell. Yeah, I’ll say that. I hate the guy. The last thing I want to endure is another round of media slurping if he wins/makes another Superbowl, especially in purple. That being said, they look much better than New Orleans right now. The game hinges on whether or not the New Orleans run D can contain Peterson [which looks good, because he hasn't had a 100 yard game in quite some time. Perhaps he's not healthy?], and how they use Reggie Bush [who was an absolute stud last week. Keep your eye on him for next year, if he keeps running like this in the postseason]. This game is much tougher to predict, and I could go either way with this matchup. Favre has been kind of streaky, and New Orleans only looked good against a fatally flawed Cardinals team this month.

No matter which winner I end up picking from this game [and I'll probably edit it in on Friday], I think Indianapolis wins the Super Bowl. Period.

My next NFL column will probably highlight a few of my favorite fantasy players for the next year. I hope no one in my league is reading. Hahahaha.

Just My Thoughts [Again]

-Everybody went back to college. So here I am, with nothing to do, waiting anxiously for the next two weeks to pass. Real glad I got to go see everybody I wanted to see, though. It’s good to know some people never change.

The State of Life – December 23rd, 2009 [MEGA Edition]

It’s been a long while since I had enough time to write a long ass post. Luckily, I now have the time. Hit the jump and check out what I’ve been up to the last few weeks, plus my thoughts on Million Dollar Baby, Borderlands, Assassin’s Creed 2…etc.

Liveblogging the New York Giants vs the Philadelphia Eagles

5:20 – Heeeeeeeeereeeeeeeeee we go. Eagles have to win this to get a solid hold on the NFC. I like their chances; test that heel of his with relentless pressure. Eagles to receive with Macho Harris. I was really happy to get him in the 3rd round. Al Michaels just mentioned the 3 year extension for Reid, which I think is fair. While he’s bungled his fair share of games by refusing to run the ball, he’s also led us to the most success of any NFC team this decade.

The State of Life – November 28th, 2009

The following entry is written at a bunch of different times

Liveblogging The San Francisco 49ers vs The Indianapolis Colts

Games like this make me wish it was 2010.