Airplane Cast.

Read it, don’t read it, I don’t care…just needed to get some things off my chest.

In no particular order of chronology or importance…

Not on the clock (but picked an exit row over the back of the plane in my age old debate when in the A’s on Southwest, and therefore don’t have an open seat next to me).  Yes, an airplane cast.  Wednesday afternoon cast (posted at night-no WIFI on plane).  Semi-speed version (not a long flight).  Let’s turn and burn.

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1. Greetings and salutations, people. Thanks for coming aboard (the boat).  Plane in this case.    Let’s move.  Lots to hit on.  I have nowhere to go in this tiny airplane seat, a USA Today and Sports Weekly in my seat pocket, and a good enough list to ramble.
2. I lied, bossman Steve. I said Sundays were my truly rambling casts.  Well, I forgot about the airplane casts.  These are random too.
3. My intern is sick this week.  Sorry for any grammatical errors.  No editing.
4. Heading to the great city of Seattle (been there once and loved it) but staying nowhere close to the city of Seattle. Ahh, the story of selling to remote, middle of nowhere tribal casinos.
5. I actually will be packing and unpacking a lot over the next three weeks. Washington, New Mexico, SoCal.  Lots of airplane casts I guess, whether you consider that good or bad.  I have more fun because they are internet blind and catered to my flight schedule.  Some people like them better.
6. Should we first talk about the “biggest soccer match outside of World Cup history for US Soccer first?” Yes?  Let’s do it.  Don’t worry.  My notes are brief as I was too depressed during it to write much.  Glad I saved a bar tab by not going out last night.  Got stuff done before and during last part of second half when I was too sad to keep watching.
7. All forwards starting were from MLS as opposed to other leagues, and starting Wondolowski turned to NOT be a brilliant move.
8. No shots on goal.   Maybe LeBron James can take up soccer.  The team and him had the exact same stats against Argentina.
9. The execution of the first corner by Argentina, the short played one, was half brilliant and half caught the US flat footed.
10. Watching the difference in ball possession was just flat out depressing. I realize our soccer team is not getting the best athletes as opposed to other countries, but does that stop us from getting 3 or 4 consecutive midfield passes in a row?  Embarrassing really.
11. The demolition was even still a demolition with two gray area possible penalty kicks that might have been called. Thanks, refs.  We were trying not to be 7-0 Mexico.
12. That MIGHT be the only thing that makes me feel better. Southern neighbors got destroyed too.
13. The Messi free kick was brilliant. Kind of scary when the best player on the best team takes time off the clock retying his shoes right before he did THAT.  Absolutely amazing free kick.  I didn’t yell in celebration when it happened…but I did…yell.
14. At 3-0, I stopped writing stuff. I think Argentina was so bored that they were saving players when someone got injured by not even subbing for them in any real hurry.  Just playing a man down against us and in no rush…
15. Onward and upward to some OTHER stuff.
16. EURO: All the power teams are in the same part of the bracket, Ronaldo saved his Portugal team in dramatic fashion and advanced, and ICELAND moves on with first win.  WOW, Iceland.  Well deserved.
17. With Pullman dying and Will Smith not in it, I am of the opinion that the only two things that the new Independence Day offers to me are cool alien special effects…and Jeff Goldblum.
18. Wow, Davone Bess really doesn’t like traffic violations.
19. Read the article. That is crazy.    That ex-NFL WR is crazy.
20. Glad the Warriors are just saying they want everyone going to free agency. Voicemail limits are being tested for KD, Dwight Howard, Al Horford, and Joakim Noah.
21. Crying in the Rain is on my iPod right now. Said it before and will say it again.  Opening song on that CD with Still of the Night, Here I Go Again, and Is This Love was an unreleased treasure with just sick, sick guitar and drumming.
22. Don’t go to the Warriors, KD. KD is holding his own free agency discussion with all interested teams in L.A.  Dude can just make any rules he wants at this point.  He will stay in OKC I think after enjoying the dating scene.
23. How much longer until college and pro football? I know I have two golf Majors and some baseball to hold me over, but still a trying time.
24. In baseball, with the Blue Jays making a little run, I still like my Blue Jays over Nationals preseason pick. Would I pick it again?    Not only do I agree with Hoban on it, but their record is showing it.  The Giants are doing ok hitting AND have a vicious rotation for the postseason.
25. Yes, I think picking the Cubs was and still is too easy.
26. What is truly scary about the Cubs is that they are not a team that went all in on present day assets. Their minor leagues are STILL full of prospects.  Theo built this team the right way.
27. The Astros did too, but no one has any idea what was wrong with them. Scary for other clubs they are back to .500.
28. Can’t wait to pick my fantasy football team and somehow get Anquan Boldin as a third WR. Not even sure if he is playing this year, but I will get him, retired, playing, or unemployed.  After a few pops at draft time, I decide he is a sleeper.
29. Body Issue is released and people can look at soft porn and say it’s a sports magazine.
30. Yes, SI, I know you have your little thing over there too.   When it is released, your sports site flags my work computer I feel like.
31. The new C gate area is pretty cool at DIA. That being said, this is the second flight in a row where I had a C24-C25-C23 gate and had to walk halfway the other way to use the restroom.  Why?
32. Proud to say this and next week are my LAST flights ever where I have to wait in normal lines. Global entry here we come.
33. I am just entertained to see “Yankees” and “sellers” in the same sentence.
34. You know you care that the Lynx are now 13-0 and the Sparks are 11-1. That’s what I am here for.  One beat the other if you care.
35. MLB says it will consider Vegas for a home base for an expansion team. Everyone just stop it.  It will be bad.  Don’t do it.  Aside from gambling worries, let’s all close our eyes and imagine Yasiel Puig in that town all the time.  Plus, with the gambling on all sports and teams going on, I am not seeing many diehard fans being created.
36. I am undecided whether Rory truly pulled his name from the Olympics because of Zika or because of that last US Open round he shot.
37. Cleveland is having a parade, and no one is fully sure if JR Smith has put his shirt back ON at all, taken his Game 7 jersey shorts OFF, or slept for more than an hour.
38. I feel like we have been hearing that Tiger Woods is “progressing and needs to just get in golf shape” for about the last ten years.
39. Luckiest misplaced paperwork the kid will ever have possibly. Almost Baylor WR Devin Duvernay has chosen Texas over TCU in his little sweepstakes.  Glad you escaped, kid.  Wish you would have returned the calls from Bob Stoops though.  You really HAVE to have goals, people.  Not sure how he will top it next, but ex-NFLer Joseph Randle got charged with something new WHILE serving time for the last arrest.    Keep it up.  The Rant Squad you own presently until Johnny Football does ANYTHING.
40. The USA Today didn’t really have anything of interest in it today, unless you want me to tell you Game of Thrones nearly DOUBLES any other cable shows on TV and quadruples and then some any amount of tweets a show generates.
41. NBA Draft talk.
42. Calipari is saying his kid, Jamal Murray, wants Minnesota to draft him. Sounds about right.  The towns in Minnesota could suck more than I am aware and kids probably want to go there.  Playing time, up and coming team, and possibly being or playing by a superstar very, very soon.
43. Most of us knew Ben Simmons was going #1 about 4-5 years ago. Glad to hear he “WANTS” to get that fire we all thing his ridiculous athletic frame lacks, but still not sure if you can create that will.  I am sure MJ became who he was by being apathetic for his grade school and high school years.  That being said, the kid still is the best player out there.
44. All of those Lakers who are secretly glad Kobe is gone have to be elated that Mr. Ingram will be coming to help their rebuild. Mad skills, awesome frame, and class act.
45. Think it is funny that the Celtics stockpiled crazy picks the last couple years and now no one wants to trade with them at #3.
46. I hope Bender goes to a GM who is a GOT fan. MAN, those will be some fun team ads if he becomes good.
47. I have seen Buddy Hield anywhere from 3 to 9 in mock drafts. His ceiling is probably a Jason Terry in his prime but what’s nice is his floor is probably a JJ Reddick.  Hope he hits his prime faster than Reddick if that is what he becomes.  Plus, I think Hield can D up 10 times better than Reddick could coming out of college.
48. Kris Dunn is probably the one kid you can get in the draft that is ready to go.
49. Chriss, Brown, Davis, Murray, and Ellenson I group together. Extremely high ceiling kids that could also make you wonder a couple years from now “what was I thinking?”
50. I hear that Poeltl was “just” a lottery pick until his workouts when he was draining everything. Oh shit.  The kid can shoot too.
51. I bet you people wish they saw the Nerlens Noel product a little more thus far before reaching out for Labissiere. Similar players in some ways.
52. The Nuggets and Suns can pretty much just hope to hit one out of three picks since they have that many first round picks. Might see one of these two teams heavy on the trade phone lines too.  Problem for both of them is they BOTH just have a lot of young somewhat unproven talent.
53. I see in some places that Utah is projected to take a look at Wade Baldwin. Are they stockpiling guards?  When you are a fringe playoff team like them, I am looking or trading for immediate starters…not bench players.
54. Do not draft Sabonis if you want a possible star, but the kid will be a SOLID rotational player for a 6 or 8 years in the NBA minimally.
55. Make sure you know about the knee, but I am DEFINITELY taking Denzel Valentine as a pick if I have multiple first round picks…and maybe even if I don’t.
56. I want Furkan Korkmaz, Ante Zizic or Timothe Luwawu to become All Stars, if only because of their names having MAD nickname potential.
57. Syracuse’s Final Four run did wonders for some of their kids and their recruiting. If I am a team with multiple first rounders, I make take a flyer on Malachi Richardson.
58. Not being a homer, but if my targeted guy after pick 10 or 15 gets taken before my team picks, I am taking Malcolm Brogdon. Dude will not be special by any means, but will be serviceable starter or an incredible backup PG or SG.
59. I get the physical aspects on why Brice Johnson is not a lottery guy, but I like him, and I would apply the same logic as my Brogdon logic.
60. Taurean Prince doesn’t care who drafts him-he just wants out of Baylor.
61. Skipping some prospects and moving this along. Demetrius Jackson is a ready to go backup PG who can shoot the rock.  Someone who wasn’t Cleveland this year and didn’t win it all will be getting a solid player from Notre Dame.
62. I can’t believe Diallo is a fringe second round pick considering where he was before his time at KU.
63. I can’t believe Stone is a fring second round pick considering where he was before his time at…Maryland.
64. I understand that this is why they call it a “MOCK” draft, but wow there are some good players predicted to not get guaranteed first round money. Damian Jones, Onuaku, and Uthoff just to name a couple.
65. SOMEONE take Gary Payton II. You would have invited him to camp just because of name before this past year, but he did enough on the court to deserve a draft pick.
66. I get it. Not all the things there physically.  But says here Yogi Ferrell becomes a spark plug on someone’s bench and has a career in the NBA.
67. Ron Baker too. He will find a way.
68. I am taking Kyle Wiltjer closer to the top of the second round. Sure, he has defensive liabilities, but he is tall and can shoot that beautiful jumper OVER people.
69. I just realized that I am spewing all of this stuff and I am on a return flight tomorrow night. What am I worried about?  I will think of more stuff to say.
70. I might not go to one Widespread Panic show for the first time at Red Rocks since I moved here in 1997. I probably will rally and do it regardless, but just forgot to get the tickets when they went on sale, have lost ties with people who probably have them, and just really don’t feel like enduring the laborious (or expensive) effort of getting them.
71. I probably will still go. Who am I kidding?
72. Two final thoughts.
73. Congrats to Mort getting the highest honor a sports writer can get. Well deserved.
74. I feel like if I had followed the path of sports right out of college, I might have followed the career path of Bill Simmons to a tee. Including getting fired from ESPN.  I feel like him and I are both sports knowing, 40 something, jackasses.
75. That’s it. Will I blog tomorrow?  That is a CLOWN question (especially since I fly back tomorrow).