Baker’s Game Part II
Baker’s Game Part II
The Cast
Date: 08/02/2019
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: I am sitting here Friday after work, wife is getting her hair done, and The Basketball Tournament in the background on the tube. And about to write my blog, one of my favorite things. Nothing wrong in the world.
No theme in mind yet, so that makes writing it even more fun. We will see what transpires…
- EVERGREEN 1: I have said this many, many times before, but since Thursday started the whole procession with the HOF Game, I feel like saying it again. I loathe people who talk about NFL preseason games as “games.” It is not a game. I am a diehard Steelers fan, and I will watch a matchup in the preseason if I am without my computer, my wife is out, the cats have hidden, the lawn is mowed, the gargage is spotless, and Seinfeld repeats are not on. Then, MAYBE I will tune in. It is a practice with lots of cameras that happens to be on the television. Let the coaches scout out their players, I will read the stats in the morning or when I get time, and the final product will be on the field in September for me to watch like a hawk and judge in odd detail like a gymnastics judge, with decimal points and stuff. Stop telling me you are going to watch the game. Stop talking about who won and who lost, as there are no winners or losers. And stop telling me about you going to the game and how great it was. It is second teams against second teams, glimpses of starters in a game here and there, and simply a tool to narrow down the roster. I am as excited as the next guy football is almost here, but it is NOT here yet, and stop telling me it is. Glorified. Practice.
- EVERGREEN 2: Disclaimer:I would like to think I would think the same and still write this hook whether I married into a Sooner family or not. Baker Mayfield is changing the game. He is changing the media. He is one of those loud Joe Namath, Deion Sanders, Muhammad Ali type of guys that talks the talk, and thus far in his previous stops, has walked the walk. He humbles us by having us hear that he had to pretty much stalk his present wife and fight for her love, he energizes us by yelling at established Pro Bowl receivers as a youngster, he makes us want to dance by…dancing, and he makes us smile when he wakes up and says he is feeling dangerous. Sure, he might fail overall, or fail to win anything, and struggle in mediocrity for his career. Doubtful though. Highly doubtful. I hate this because I am a Steelers fan, and I was raised to dislike highly the Browns on all levels. But, how can you NOT root for this guy? You wait to see his next throw, his next dance, his next comment, and his next…whatever. He has the story of being a walk-on twice, and people are still doubting this guy? Man, I am supposed to hate you, Baker. But, I will say that you have the talent, you have the arm, you have the mentality, you have the glamour, and right now…you are a playoff win or two from having the league.
- NFL: (in fluid style) Golden Tate is appealing a 4 game suspension and the Giants have about as many backup WR’s who will start as Le’Veon Bell has girlfriends. Zeke Elliott is holding out and training in Cabo San Lucas. He has “trained” there before, and what an odd spot to go train. Not sure if he is pulling a Creed 2 in the desert, or hanging upside down at the Giggling Marlin, but at least Alfred Morris is happy temporarily. At least, he is staying away from his car crash conspiracy. Big week for Zeke. Antonio Brown arrived to camp in a hot air balloon, and not sure if he meant that as a joke on himself and his hot air and big head. AJ Green messed up your fantasy strategy already as he will miss a couple of games, but not as many as Bell last year. Anyone else find it hard to believe that players are getting suspended right and left for some games, but Tyreek Hill is somehow suiting up? A Steelers fan got a JuJu tattoo, and that is one of the reasons why I say “I love my Steelers, and dislike most Steelers fans.” The Dolphins invented new problems to add to their usual problems by firing their offensive line coach one week in. Eric Reid will continue to kneel for the national anthem, and as you know, I don’t have a problem with him doing that, and only have problems with people who have problems with him. Free country, folks. Ryan Fitzpatrick is leading the Dolphins QB competition allegedly, and I feel like everyone should just listen to The Who for a week straight. Because they won’t get fooled again. But they are. Never mind. Not sure where I was going with that. I hate when face guys (guys who can only mess it up by talking by Sigma Pi UVA definition) complain about how they look in a video game. Kliff Kingsbury isn’t digging the Madden look. Dez Bryant says he has no interest in playing football, and that is because he simply wants to skip the hard training camp part of the process. We will talk to you in Week 6, bro. When I read about Michael Thomas getting $61 million guaranteed, I think about how I just paid $12 for a six pack but when I worked in a liquor store in high school, it was $5.99. You should be reading Why Your Team Sucks daily on Deadspin. Tom Brady says he has bulked up and that is adorable how more perfect he just seems to become. Melvin Gordon has requested more money and a trade, and who shouldn’t after Todd Gurley got what he got? I have no intention of trying Mahomes Magic Crunch cereal, but I have the same kind of Shark Tank jealously that he has his own cereal.
- COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Think the perennial programs don’t earn that title for a reason? Check out the preseason rankings. I named them in order before the rankings were even released. Boring? Maybe. But exciting nevertheless? Yes. Clemson, Bama, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Ohio State. All deserved, and even though we haven’t played a down yet, probably at least two of those teams will be in the college football playoffs…maybe three. You have the freshman phenom at #1, the Evil Empire at #2, the SO CLOSE the last few years team at #3, the yearly QB replace phenomenon at #4, and the most interesting transfer with a loaded recruiting class at #5. I love college football, and you should too. Can’t wait to kick this thing off. There will be surprise teams, but I would be happy with four of those teams getting in.
- COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Five-Star recruit MarJon Beauchamp announced he will forego college and train with Chaleleon BX (found a couple Chameleon BX’s too which oddly provide same service-someone is wrong) for the next 12 months in their NBA training program. MISTAKE. Listen, I still think kids should be able to go straight to the NBA from high school, but let’s leave that out of this hook. Go overseas. Go to college. But, do something competitive. You have to learn your skills from coaches who have seen everyone under the sun, play day to day against competition that is equal to you, and otherwise you will have no idea where you are in the pecking order. Not to mention that scouts will have no watch time of you. No exposure. Sure, you might get in the best shape of your life, shoot 500 jumpers a day beautifully, and win in games daily against lesser competition, but tree, forest, sound analogy. No one will know, and the ones that do will have a hard time taking you over a kid playing the Final Four. MarJon, I am not sure who is advising you, but you are making a mistake. Plus, it is not like you are a top five recruit. You are #TWENTY FOUR!
- MLB: Everyone was afraid to make big offseason moves, we expected a quiet trade deadline, and then BOOM. The last few days lit it up. The Phillies didn’t do anything dramatic or headline grabbing, but they added some necessary components to a squad that has the weapons, but just is playing under their skill level. I like the Jason Vargas and Corey Dickerson pickups. Bauer to the Reds, and Puig to the Indians. I get the element of treading water skills and young, high ceiling skills, but it seems wrong that a guy like Bauer should go to the cellar and a guy like Puig goes to a contender. Adorable that Puig got into a scuffle right before being traded. Closers, closers, and closers (really…three) for the Nats and Braves. The A’s got back Roark, and the Cubs picked up Castellanos. Solid, but not gaudy moves. The Mets just were weird and were the Mets and kind of stood pat with dreams of success in a division where that won’t happen. Two pitchers, no run support. But, the big story was Zack Greinke to the Astros. People, it is almost unfair. The Astros have some of the best young players in the league. But they also have older guys. They add Verlander previously, and now they add in Zack. That rotation is not only ridiculous, but especially will be foolproof in a short series and when they shorten the rotation. They are doing it the right way, the youthful way, and sneaking in some big name uppercuts while they are at it. In the words of Donna Chang from Seinfeld, it is kind of ridicurous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xb1PRxV0mpw
- MISCELLANEOUS: A bettor placed a $100k bet to win $2k on the Sixers making the playoffs. That is so perplexing. Yes, he will win, but why? He has to wait NINE months to win a couple grand after a huge wager. Same guy who did the similar Warriors bet to make the playoffs last year. A Columbian won the Tour de France, and we just assume he is cheating too. Thanks, Lance. Caeleb Dressel will be the man of the hour next year at the Olympics, folks. Learn his name (and the spelling). He just won EIGHT gold medals at the Worlds. The USWNT coach pulled an Elway and stepped aside at the top of the game. You might not notice the PGA cut going from 70 players to 65 making the cut, but the players will. I got caught up in the 30 for 30 from a couple years ago about Mat Hoffman (BMX guy) and I couldn’t stop watching. Amazing and scary stuff. He was obsessed with getting air, and paid for it many times. The guy who had the famous flying knee KO in UFC got a contract, which is not unexpected. The Little League World Series is this month, and the stories from years past are amazing. Who was in it, the towns that won it, and I only wish, origin or not, that they would not make one side of the draw fully the U.S. Let’s get rid of the America is #1 stigma. Bill Laimbeer was a Bad Boy, but he is a WNBA coach trying to make a difference while also winning. He tried to get the ladies first class plane tickets JUST to the All-Star Game. He didn’t succeed. Shame, financial problem or not. Watching the TBT with a winner take all for $2 million is highly entertaining, both for decent basketball and figuring out where all of those ex-NBA players or college players went.
- THIS AND THAT: Before you or I get sad about Kelly McGillis not getting asked to be in Top Gun Maverick next year, let’s remember she is 62 years old. But, they could have created some role for her. I can’t believe that damn immigrant wall is actually being built, but while reading about it, I found out there are seesaws down there so that kids from different countries can play with each other. Weird. Scary is the CA festival shooting, but scarier is that there is a guy who was at BOTH the Mandalay Bay shooting AND this one. I would hate to be part of the crowd when he picks his next social engagement. I like to be at places where odd things occur, and kind of jealous I am missing the grasshoppers in Vegas. If you think that Disney won’t own everything in 20 years, they just set their studio annual record…in July. Two teens whose parents keep asking them to go outside and play just won the Fortnite $3 million prize. I heard Linkin Park on 103.5 The Fox the other day…and that is our classic rock station. Ugghhh. I went to Woodstock 25, and was thinking about hitting up the Woodstock 50 event, but glad I didn’t, as it is cancelled. I hope everyone booked Southwest flights for a full refund. Lil Nas just broke the record for a song at #1 for the most weeks at SEVENTEEN. Great record, but I thought the attention span of youngsters these days wouldn’t allow that. A fifth grader is being charged with assault…in dodgeball. That Handmaid’s Tale just got upped for a fourth season, and I learned that from digital signage (what I sell). My wife is addicted to that show, and I have officially checked OUT of that show. Stormy Daniels was arrested for touching a customer, the cops who arrested her got busted for wrong process, and now she is suing THEM! What a life she leads. An accidental tsunami at a water park injured 44 people, and I found out in discussing this with my colleague that our water park doesn’t even do those waves things anymore. Shame. Saturday is National Mustard Day, so grab a hotdog and throw that yellow stuff on there. And finally, they found ANOTHER rocket launcher in a bag at an airport. Second one within a few weeks.
- THE FILLERBUSTER: Summer brew fest was good, but there was not a lot of IPA’s floating around Mile High Station. Love that event though. I lost two pool games out of four to start out our Beer Depot night, but ended with seven straight to set the record straight. I need a pool table to practice on basically. Highly recommend, if needing brunch in the Highlands area, Sarto’s. It is classy, but somehow still a fun atmosphere. We have not gotten back on Stranger Things, but that will happen this week. We had people over for the fight on Saturday, but luckily only three additional people came over, as DirecTV didn’t carry it. Our friends were nice about it though. I keep saying the line “stay in your lane” suddenly. Roadie, by Tenacious D, is my new favorite song, and the video is even better. This weekend is the reload of workout songs finally, so Bow Down and My Name might finally be supplanted. My colleague is helping us redo the speaker system that wiring already exists for. The plan is for me never to leave my couch in the fall. Ross and I had a conversation about things you don’t remember you need until you move, and #1 was TP, and #2 was the shower curtain. Had a conversation about parents with someone else and whether they push you to something as a kid, or let you do your thing. I will always treasure (and feel bad for) my parents because I wanted to be the best at everything, but changed sports constantly, and they weathered the storm, went to my practices, and supported everything I did as a kid. Not cheap sports either. Thanks, Mom and Dad. I still think I would have been the best swimmer in NJ had I not picked up a tennis racket. I don’t talk about work, but, keeping it vague, I won a deal this week no one internally thought I could win, in a place where we never had won, and I pulled a Baker Mayfield and planted a flag on the Ohio State logo at midfield (I feel a theme idea working here). Finally, in a conversation last weekend, we figured out my extreme hatred of Meryl Streep stems from her being in that Madison County movie, and it being a chick flick with Dirty Harry, and I think I spited her after that.
But seriously, listen to Roadie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b1acvZRvV4
- 10. TWEET OF THE WEEK
- 11.LIFEGUARD ENTRY: I sit next to the pop culture king at work now (Anthony), and he is the lifeguard because he hears a conversation, blows his imaginary whistle, and then enters conversation with insight, tidbits, and little known facts. The last grouping is his latest entries, but not-as-frequent readers should probably just read the whole thing from 2019. Enjoy.
| LIFEGUARD 2 |
| Ice cream cake IS the only kind of cake to be honest. |
| A hurricane would beat a volcano because A) the rain would harden the lava B) the storm system the volcano created would just add to hurricane strength |
| Neil Dimaond equals Jewish Elvis. |
| Lobsters do not die. They are immortal. |
| Frank Costanza wouldn’t have gone crazy had he continued with his Serenity Now, since it was an angry release of emotion. |
| You realize the first time people didn’t “drink the Kool-Aid,” they got shot, right? Johnstown |
| Polyphonic Spree is an example of bands with a lot of band members |
| There is perhaps no greater meal than the dinner breakfast. |
| Not drinking the Kool-Aid is misleading because drinking the Kool-Aid is really just choosing a easier way to die. |
| Spilling some liquid in flip cup is smart because the liquid forms a seal, making it easier to land the flip. |
| The progression of Thor movies age like a fine wine. |
| While in prison, Timothy Leary took a test determining his fate of security, a test which he designed at Harvard and ended up getting minimum security |
| You know, Bill Hader got fired from his movie theater job by telling a mother and son the ending of Titanic before they went in, and that Leo died. |
| When someone says they have a special treat for you, that is typically not the case. |
| (From Primary Colors) Let’s say you are take a dump in the woods. You see a bear. Do you pull your pants up fully and start running? Do you just start running? Do you drop the ducks in your hand and then pull pants up? |
| Spike Lee isn’t even the most Spike Lee person these days. Maybe Jordan Peele, for making movie purposes only. |
| Tricks are what whores do for money |
| Have you seen The Wire? (times 1000) |
| Ted Bundy would not eat people with tattoos, as it made the flesh taste funny. So, get tattoos and avoid cannabalism. |
| Who and when decided that Jeff Van Gundy was the preferred Van Gundy? |
| Interesting tidbit about Guiness Book of World Records, they had to eliminate largest animals because people were overfeeding their animals |
| Southpark episode where Randy taking biggest crap ever and thinks he did, and then scene where he calls Guiness. Where you wonder do people call Guiness every day with records like “I twirled a pen 1001 times with my right hand.” |
| You have early U2, then later U2. Later U2 is just about corporate money, and arms out to his side on stage like he is Jesus. I said there is early “raw” U2 (Sunday Bloddy Sunday), and early “refined” U2 (With of Without You). He concurred, and idea is accepted. |
| The reason they sing “where do we go now” in Sweet Child O Mine is because they were jacked up and actually didn’t talk about how to end the song. |
| F&*^ black olives. Any food you have to soak in brine for an extended period of time to make edible is not a food. |
| One of my darkest moments of childhood was my parents ordering pepperoni and black olives combo pizza and having to pick the black olives out of the thick cheese, ripping off the top of the pizza.. |
| On The Office, Michael has to order pizza for everyone in office. The great equalizer. Poor people love pizza. Rich people love pizza. White people eat pizza. Black people eat pizza. Leans over to colleague, and says “do black people eat pizza?” |
| Hot Ones quote: I like any movie where they have to take someone out of retirement. Rocky or Cobra? Cobra. Rocky is actually good. Point Break of Roadhouse? Roadhouse. |
| SNL skit: Van Halen-Jump, go ahead and jump. Teacher says I will be there to catch you. |
| The new action movie are super hero movies, and movies that don’t have super heroes have about a 10% success rate. |
| I am very depressed in our life’s technology and GMO advances that no one has invented a popcorn kernel that doesn’t get stuck in your teeth. Why can’t it disintegrate or just break apart easier? It is ridiculous. |
| The Vikings used to put bones in their swords, thinking you would get the strength of the bear or moose or whatever. The calcium carbonate would fuse with the steel and make a pretty much unbreakable sword. Those must have been killer stories hearing about your dad’s unbreakable sword over the campfire. |
| The Beatles started writing about love and drugs. I don’t think they were the best, but they were the first. They were the 60’s version of the Backstreet Boys. Like I Want to Hold your Hand. The Stones were more tied to rock and roll and blues. |
| The Beatles actually went into the studio years because they got bad in the U.S. playing in front of screaming fans, and they didn’t realize how bad they were now until the polite, quieter fans in Japan. |
| The Harry Potter guy wore the same clothes every single day so when paparazzi took photos of him, they were useless. |
ALTERNATE CATEGORIES
- 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):
- NHL
- NBA
The theme? It started with Baker in the Evergreen section, he got mentioned again, I married into a Sooner family, and I wrote a piece last year (I believe first 2018 entry) called Baker’s Game. And, Molly’s Game is about the greatest card game, poker, an excellent movie, and Molly is from Colorado. So, lots of stuff going on for the theme. Baker might be on a rival, but damn I am a fan still. Dammit. Be a wild card and drop the two games to my Steelers at least. Deal?
And our weekly reminder of the greatest sequel ever made coming out next summer… Top Gun 2. I watch it about three times a week now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqVVswa420
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. Will I ever STOP blogging? “Maybe so, sir, but not today (Maverick insertion).” As one shepherd said to the other shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.
PARTING PICS:
As I said last week, my wife went to yoga at Red Rocks. It is a THING. Thought it would be a couple groups of 20 people doing it. Had no clue. They freaking sell OUT the place. Like 2500 people. Her pics:
| THROW IT BACK IN THE POND |
| guatemala denied visas for us tourney |
| Rory 62 |
| Holloway over edgar |
| twins romo |
| nkemdiche released cards |
| rg3 thumb |
| Obama’s jersey up for auction |
| sabathia il knee |
| Lin fears NBA has given up on him |
| rays sogard |
| Bauer throws ball over fence |
| koepks wins |
| muhammad 400 m hurdles |
| saints cut Meredith |
| bolts vaselivskiy 8-76 |
| McAfee college football analyst. |
| brewers bring back lyles |
| nats scherzer on dl |
| bama lb anoma in xfer portal |
| josh johnson turns down ravens to replace rgiii |
| pac-12 considering earlier kickoff times |
| mlb fines bauer |
| reds indians bauer |
| zion plans on playing pels whole career |
| north Korea launches missiles |
| braves acquires martin |
| FRB interest rate cut being discussed |
| fins Hof buaniconti dies |
| Brady can’t imagine doing anything else but NFL |
| fan knows about Puig trade b4 him |
| felix atletica nike |
| FIFA new hq possible locations |
| pulisic scores two goals chelsea |
| west side story Harold tony dies |
| ashley Wagner says coughlin assaulted her |
| Griffin calls out lebron |
| mainwaring 41 counts track |
| Drummond Harrell exit fiba team |
| soccer player posts sex video reading news |
| Patterson clips |
| wrestler Harley dies |
| Kalil out of retirement jets |
| us withdraws nuclear treaty russia |
| us Navy seals problems |
| Saudi women can travel solo |
| man u pays defender Maguire a lot |
| 5 star bijan Robinson picks ut over usc and osu |
| Zion passed on massive deals |
| Francois xfer Hampton |
| bell aplogizies to fantasy owners |
| Ortiz out of hospital |
| stroman to mets |
| McCollum 3/100 mil |
| LeBron Griffin spat |
| I just remembered no melo in league, and now he wants in again-ugghhh |
| of course the clips will play lakers on xmas |
| mlb only has true buyers sellers |
| Cunningham final five schools |
| bj Boston commits uk |
| marvin bagley’s brother commits to asu-hurley |
| ussf says uswnt paid more than men |
| golfer olesen arrested assault on plane |
| canelo loses 160 lb title |
| A’s get diekman |
| griner multiple dunks in wnbA asg |
| storm Erick |
| origin book |
| debates |
| northeast heat and greenland heat |
| Canadian teens remote Manitoba |
| southwest employee hides overhead baggage |
| murder mystery Sandler shrimp |
| heat wave record |
