Back It Up.
Back It Up
The Cast
Date: 21 August 2020
FILLERBUSTER’S ELEVEN
BACKGROUND: This started as a long-winded numbered blog. It transformed into an organized long-winded category blog. Now, it is a quick-hitter to ease your pain. I lack time. So, the preparation of the blog actually made me procrastinate from writing the thing. Let’s see who makes the cut. Barely edited as usual unfortunately, so please excuse any mistakes during my stream of consciousness. I feel the need…the need for speed. Let’s turn and burn.
SETTING: This is written on Friday after work. I tried to continue to stick to one subject only per sport until “This and That.”
- EVERGREEN 1: PORZINGIS. I hated this through and through. Look at one of my tweets of the week below. Playoff basketball is different than regular season basketball. And I am tired of today’s political line. True, Porzingis SHOULD have known he already had a technical (a really bad, weak one), and not pushed anyone. But, BOTH were bad overall. Keep the stars in the game in the playoffs. Keep the playing fields leveled UNLESS someone breaks the rules in such an obvious fashion that you are forced to blow the whistle. Just separate, warn, and call it a day. The Mavs even came out with a hobbled Porzingis in Game 2, and won the game evenly matched. I am not saying that the Mavs’ year is this year. I am not saying that I don’t want the Lakers and Clips in the conference finals. I am just saying that this is the playoffs. Let the players play, keep the stars in the game when you can, remember the 80’s and 90’s when fisticuffs didn’t even get you kicked out, and put DOWN the whistle.
- EVERGREEN 2: TATIS. I love old school baseball. I love the unwritten rules. But, things have changed. Someone write down these “unwritten” rules, please. Someone don’t give crap to a young Trout-like special player who just wants to do his best at the plate each and every time. Fernando Tatis hit a grand slam on a 3-0 count up 10-3. I don’t care if a sign was missed. Tatis was involved previously in a comeback that was similar. The Rangers beat a team once 30-3 way back when and they weren’t crucified. We, the fans, love home runs. Give this one a rest. Love the unwritten rules. Let’s not lose sleep over a missed sign and a guy wanting to excel. Both the Rangers and Tatis were right by the way. They both have a point, but we don’t need to point a finger at either.
- NFL: JUJU. This has nothing to do with me being a Steelers fan. This is not about bias. This is not me trying to create a homer hook about nothing. No. The story about JuJu Smith-Schuster not being concerned about his contract is a refreshing story in a world of egotistical athletes demanding trades seemingly on a daily basis. JuJu just wants to play ball, and thinks things will work themselves out. Is he underpaid? Yes. Has he overachieved his contract? Without a doubt. Is it nice to hear that he just wants to ball and work out things with the classy organization who DOES take care of the athletes they need to. Heck, they even took care of a rapist (allegedly), so this is kind of a blessing. Glad Bell and Brown hit the road and I wish them all the misfortune professionally evermore. Thank you, JuJu, for allowing me to continue to believe that not all athletes fall into the selfish stereotype.
- COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FAILURE THUS FAR. The NBA bubble has worked…because it is a BUBBLE. And, we like to think it has more mature athletes past their collegiate immaturity. Are we concerned about college football? Yes. OU had nine positive tests. UF had four players sit out. UNC had non-athletic problems. Some players are opting out fully. Recruiting wars have taken a COVID twist with the Big 10 and Pac 12 sitting out. Betting has halted on college football. Petitions by kids who want to play hoping to achieve 4000 signatures are past 200,000. This is a mess. AND, the students are JUST coming back! I love college football. I assume, since you are reading this blog, that you probably do too. But, this is not going down people. Well, actually and unfortunately, technically it IS going down, but in the way that it is not happening, or at least in the pure sense we want it to. Sad, a shame, and we are basically hoping things clear up by doing the same thing at each university where positive tests keep happening. Positive tests are positive tests, but God forbid if we lose a life at any university during this experiment. Then, it will go away very quickly. The season will start, and then stop, folks. Get ready for that truth.
- COLLEGE BASKETBALL: I heard an interview with Coach K about the near future of college hoops. He is right. He said they NEED to have the tourney this year. If we need to postpone the season, do it. If the regular season is not as just. So be it. But, he said March Madness allows the NCAA to receive about 98% of its earnings, so we need to figure out a way. There is time to adjust. There will probably be a vaccine by the smart people. Perhaps people will ALL start wearing masks outside of their house. However we do it, again, he is correct. March Madness MUST happen. Plus, I really went through withdrawals this past year, so we need it for my selfish reasons too.
- NBA: PLAYOFFS. In this time of adjustment, masks, social distancing, and bubbles, what else can you POSSIBLY ask for in the NBA? They have zero positive test results. James Harden seems to have forgotten that the GM thought he needed Russell to win a title. There was a play-in game. Dame Time is all the time apparently except when he hurts his non-shooting hand, and he became the first player to score 40 or more in three straight wins when his team won by three or less (sounds like a Bill Walton statement). The Spurs oddly aren’t in this year after 22 freaking years. The Suns went 8-0 and still didn’t make it. Donovan Mitchell scored 57 in a game. Luka had the most amount of points ever for a first playoff game performer. The Celtics looks unstoppable even without Hayward. The Sixers look like they will use losing Ben Simmons as their excuse. The Raptors look like a Clippers-Raptors final would have all KINDS of storylines. The Nets are young and getting beat down, but we remember that Irving and Durant will join the party next time. The Warriors just landed the #2 pick and they aren’t even IN the bubble and will be a favorite next year. Klay Thompson has commercials about his REHAB. Did I already mention Luka? I did? Good. My guy. The Bucks look like a higher skilled Nuggets team when it comes to bringing energy to the table. Two #8 seeds beat two #1 seeds in their Game 1. The Miami Heat play defense and light you up from deep…as a unit. This is all that and a bag of chips, folks. Tune in, and enjoy the bubble ride.
- NHL: The Avs are winning this, folks. I said before the year started, and I will say it again after they just won their series 4-1. Book it. I am going to have an internal struggle if my Flyers end up on the losing end in the Finals, but I can’t get past the talent on the Avs’ roster.
- MLB: BUY-IN. As NOT buying in is what I am talking about. There is no bubble in MLB. They aren’t in a hub. But, there still are rules. Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac “went out” in Chicago the other night, totally breaking team and MLB rules. And they are part of a badass Cleveland Indians’ rotation that has promise. Now, this is insulting on a lot of levels. One, it breaks trust with your teammates, who are roughing through the same semi-bubble that you are. Two, it is a 60-game season, and it is a sprint, not the usual marathon. Every game is important. Three, it is endangering teammates health by bringing in possible COVID, and those teammates have loved ones who care. Clevinger was supposed to pitch two days later. Embarrassing.
- MISCELLANEOUS: You ever have the most trivial piece of information come across your desk that makes you feel really, extra old? I had one today. Hidden in small print, and since it is his only option, Phil Mickelson will play a Senior Tour event to help prep for the US Open. I had to back it up (Cueing George Costanza in Seinfeld and the beeping truck noises). First of all, he is OLD enough? Ugghhh. He is. Second, I have literally watched his entire career from start to finish, and now he is on the Senior Tour??? Man, that aged me more than trying to recognize the new songs and the old songs on the radio. My wife is thirteen years my younger, so I do a good job of staying “hip,” (aged term also) but damn you, Phil. Thanks for turning 50. Ugghhh again.
- THIS AND THAT: RANDOM THOUGHTS. My favorite part. Rambling. Boston University will give someone a degree if they die during their education now from COVID. https://dailyfreepress.com/2020/08/12/boston-university-to-issue-degrees-to-students-after-death-starting-this-fall/ I listened to Kamala’s first speech the other day. Can she just be President? Is The Weekend’s new song SUPPOSED to sound like every other song in 1986? What am I missing? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NRXx6U8ABQ I have been to La Jolla once. Fancy place. THIS hole in the wall goes for WHAT???? https://lajollaresidential.com/homes-for-sale-details/604-RUSHVILLE-ST-LA-JOLLA-CA-92037/200036849/5/ In my journal about how the world is slowly ending, we are already at “J” in the Hurricane alphabet and it is August. AMC is opening up again soon, and movie tickets are $.15, and I believe pre-COVID we were all bitching about how much movies cost. A GOP governor compared kids going back to school with Osama bin Laden. A Russian power lifter fractured both knee caps while attempting to do a 900 lb squat, and you are damn right I didn’t watch the video. America might not put on a sign that we are hoping for herd immunity, but we apparently are subconsciously doing it as a unit. Sturgis just had a BUNCH of positives ride out from their motorcycle get together all over the country. That should help things. If you have never hiked Hanging Lake by Glenwood, then you are missing out, and although I hear the fire didn’t officially burn the lake area, they are unsure of the biological effect. For those of us who have hiked it, we know you can’t even swim in the perfectly balanced beautiful ecosystem. Wife went out the other night, and I went solo to Billy’s Inn and had a socially distanced burger within TV view. It was awkwardly beautiful and delicious. A driver hit a school bus and was at fault, then saved some of the kids, before keeling over and dying. I watched a special on how a Pacific Octopus dies from starvation watching their 100,000 eggs. Wow. I heard a horrible song on the radio at a restaurant. Wife says “Do you know who this is?” I said “since it sounds like the worst thing ever, I assume it is Natalie Imbruglia?” “You are correct, Mark.” I kind of dig the song Midnight Sky by Miley Cyrus, and I hated her aside from her The Voice appearances. A guy in Colorado beat down a mountain lion last year. An Australian surfer just punched a shark to save a woman. I don’t want much, but I hope my legacy is beating the hell out of some otherwise unstoppable animal force. That would be cool. If there is a Clueless reboot, does that mean I have to watch the first one? If there is Who’s The Boss reboot, does that mean I have to make my wife watch the first one? Death Valley is really living up its name, as it posted 130 degrees the other day. Last time a temperature like that was hit, it was like 80 years ago…in Death Valley. My wife just informed me that there might be a pepperoni shortage, and I think I know my Friday night meal since she is away (she is at a fancy resort in Mexico that apparently is about to get hit by a tropical depression-that is weird). Water World is closed, the USA sucks at COVID, and Wuhan is having water park parties with no masks. Ugghhh. In my opinion, there are only two prime rib/French dip sandwiches to DIE for. #1. White House in Aspen. Far down at #2. American Elm on 38th in the Highlands. Every one I have had besides those two are WAAAAYYYY down the list of levels. Also, at American Elm, they carry the Bang Bang Double IPA by Station 26, and that quickly went to #2 on my IPA list…right behind Shane McConkey and right ahead of Moral Panic. There is a pet photo contest, and since I have said since the beginning that our munchkin cat, Charlee, is our ticket to retiring in Belize, I have spent the time while Lindsey is out of town taking cute pictures of my millionaire producing feline. I had Jimmy John’s the other day, and I realized that I lost a good 10 years of my life by somehow picking Subway over Jimmy John’s when I was driving and needed a quick sandwich. JJ so much rocks more. Has anyone invented the mask hanger yet? I assume so, but the masks around our house are mounting up. I hear that Trump wanted to swap Greenland with Puerto Rico and that sounds about right for something that he would do. Florida will release 750 million genetically engineered mosquitoes, and this just feels like the wrong time to have a mini Jurassic Park experiment in our most bipolar state. I hung up on Marriott robot who said I won a contest for a free stay, and I feel like I made a mistake. Tenet has been advertised since pre-COVID, and I am ready for another Deja-Va/Inception confusing movie in this weird time. Wolverines returned to Mount Rainier Park and I might have to watch Red Dawn while Lindsey is away (trying to NOT watch The Wire without her, but very tough).
- TWEET OF THE WEEK
ALTERNATE CATEGORIES THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT:
- THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK (because the best song this week IS the best song ever…for now):
- QUOTE OF THE WEEK
- LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE
- TRAVEL
- THIS WEEK’S LIST
- MY NUMBERS
- GONE FISHING (the riddle for money):
- PICS BY MY PIXEL (pictures from my phone):
- LIFEGUARD ENTRY:
- THE FILLERBUSTER
The theme? Well, with no clear cut favorite or mention, anytime Seinfeld is mentioned, it wins. Point blank. Back it up. You should rewatch. It happens at the end of the 1:36 clip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhKQfrE1KTE
And our weekly reminder of the greatest sequel ever made coming out next summer… Top Gun 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8z1rqA8jRw&vl=en
That’s it for today. Hope you enjoyed or are at least more informed. Remember two things. First, feed yourself, feed your family, but always, always remember to…feed the wolf. Second, if you can’t spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker. Will I blog again? That is a CLOWN question, bro. As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.
| THROW IT BACK IN THE POND |
| jerry jones not releasing anthem policy |
| buckeyes day wants january start |
| celtics stevens contract extension |
| giannis suspended one game-headbutt |
| Joe Kelly suspension reduced |
| boys pick up de griffen vikes |
| le’veon bell says best ever |
| griffin felt like cinderella hc for a day |
| senators framing future college sports legislation |
| zion ready to get body where it needs to be |
| fsu wr’s call out covid process at school |
| jets dc says adams might not be as involved in seattle |
| LeBron dodgers stadium poll station |
| Tyler Adams abroad goals |
| raptors Griffin domestic violence charges |
| habs julien |
| laureano suspension reduced |
| uab linebacker dies gunshot wound |
| usps |
| qanon |
| Isaiah’s jersey beach lice |
| ohio state iowa parents mad at postponed season |
| gruden calls mariota playmaker |
| Packers Clark highest paid nt |
| fda saliva testing funded nba |
| Alex smith cleared |
| bruyne top epl player |
| gerald mccoy-knee injury cowboys |
| russia investigation |
| belarus |
| cuse accidentally sends out acceptance letters |
| barca fires setien |
| sec unveils opening game |
| jam master Jay killers found |
| James recalls saving melo |
| Idaho transgender law |
| tatis pile on grand slam makes other team unhappy |
| Hayward ankle injury |
| two rangers suspended for actions after tatis slam |
| flores pearson pro football hof |
| barca pres now manager, messi to stay |
| Nick markakis covid |
| Amsterdam collapsing |
| ot um mayfield to draft |
| Ortega Jung Oct ufc |
| John focke bobcats twitter slur |
| NBA ok’s non restart teams for mini bubbles |
| Jill Biden speaks dnc |
| drone bear air force 1 |
| hoodie not ruling out platooning cam and stidham |
| lakers still focused on taylor case |
| 2 women say guice raped them lsu |
| kiffin says allow big ten players to transfer |
| cook-vikes impasse contracts |
| NFL secure environment |
| Bauer free Joe Kelly cleats |
| brennaman anti gay slur |
| pac-12 gives merton hanks football operations position |
| liverpool will open vs. leeds |
| obama rebuke on trump |
| arians says gronk of old is in camp |
| jenkins says saints tighter after brees talk |
| ga state qb heart condition covid |
| nflpa preparing for free agency delay |
| steve bannon-fraud |
| jets owner issue |
| kittle 5/75 contract 49ers |
Biden dnc speech
California wildfires
Lebron calls out ad campaign for misusing tweet
Lillard injury-ok
Lori Loughlin to do time
Sean mcdermott extended
| jalen hurts injures knee |
| ravens have dez bryant in for workout |
| dez leaves ravens camp with no deal |
| chiefs ban headresses, paint, looking at chop |
| seahawks waive rookie cb for sneaking female into hotel |
| dion dawkins lt bills contract through 2024 |
| chiefs kelce 4/57 mil extension |
| Emmert no fall titles except football for now |
| Snyder being forced to sell? |
| 7 nfl officials op out for season |
| sec coaches heated over other two opponents |
| Chris Hogan joins 4th AFC east team |
| Alex smith healed cleared |
| washington hires jason wright as team president, first black, fourth player ever |
Pacman jones burns delivered haden jerseys
Rivera-cancer
| steve levy, louis riddick, brian griese new mnf team |
| big 12 posts revised slate |
| betting on college football halted at all sportsbooks |
| big east cancels fall |
| dabo says no big ten, pac-12 doesn’t devalue title |
| economic effect of no football on college towns |
| #1 recruit to train hs senior year, enter osu early-jack sawyer |
| #1 recruit ewers Texas 22 |
| Justin fields petition |
| Kennedy Brooks opts out |
| ou-nine players positive |
| justin fields petition at 175k plus |
| kary vincent jr lsu cb opts out |
| four Florida players sit out practice |
| saban says opt outs might turn football into JV |
| big ten parents going to HQ |
| big ten might kill their recruiting |
| fiww buys smartspace |
| Saturday workout |
| no driving range |
| last day stylist hair |
| mom piano video |
Back to pasta when linds is gone
coach k says we NEED to have tourney this year-money
| as of august 5, still zero positives |
| westbrook injury-playoffs |
| lue where |
| heat bam second youngest at 15-10-5 in season-oscar |
| remaining bubble games- |
| griz-blazers play-in |
| bulls fire boylen |
| divac out dumars in kings |
| gentry dismissed-he got wronged |
| Conley leaves bubble birth child |
| draft combine virtual |
| ujiri-new video shows he was shoved first |
| joe harris leaves bubble non-medical issue |
Amazing players ALL in bubble
Zach collins out for season
| avs start series Arizona |
| tuukka rask opts out before game 3 |
| betting on flyers |
| betting on avs |
Women comment by announcer
| Rockies |
| charlie blackmon is .500 for season |
| strasburg gets ejected wearing street clothes in stands |
| joe kelly scalls astros snitches |
| betts three homers record tying 6th time-sosa, mize |
| judge ir |
| reds-pirates postposned positive test |
| plesac, clevinger breach trust of indians-went out |
| twins maeda almost no no |
| astros alvarez may be done for season |
| mets, marlins-yanks postponed |
Strasburg has carpal tunnel
| Wyndham pga |
| fans boo mls kneelers during anthem |
| thursday in august: No Rockies game. No Avs game. No Nuggets game. No Broncos game. No Rapids game. |
| venus-serena play match |
| bubble next year? |
| local caddie costs golfer round after touching sand in match play |
| bayern beats barcelona 8-2 in ucl semi’s |
| austin dillon positive, will miss daytona |
| cornier miocic |
| Wyndham pga |
| jon jones vacates light heavyweight titel |
| tiger woods kid, charlie, wins junior golf tourney |
| koepka out injured |
| de la Hoya returning to ring |
| tiger playing again 68 |
Ncaa will give fall athletes extra year eligibility
| prince Harry Meghan buy in sb |
| goofing 30 women groping |
| pentagon to investigate ufo sightings |
| circa stadium swim is sick |
| Fire-cali-colorado, etc. |
| mahomes, lebron join voter suppression group |
| usps-election 2020 |
| unc-4 clusters of positive tests |
| democratic national convention kicks off |
| clueless reboot |
| new jersey invasive bugs-spotted lanternfly |
| Ohio newlyweds donate serve food homeless shelter |
| 20 20 hustlers |
| Michelle Obama speech |
| 20 states sue usps |
| ms down to final five flag designs |
| wall street hits new high-first since pandemic started |
| students asking for tuition discounts |
| ufc fight |
| bang bang double ipa is my new favorite |
| alamo drafthouse reopening |
| charlee’s big break |
| Billie eilish at dnc |
| rob spin |
| american airlines stops service to 15 cities |
Sprinklers during quarantine
Fog in hunger games like covid
