Get Those Puppies Organized.

Get Those Puppies Organized.

By The Fillerbuster

The Cast 041519

SETTING:

This is written in three small parts.  One, the night after Moving Day of The Masters.  Two, briefly in between things the afternoon after The Masters.  Three, touched up Monday night after work.   Anyway, I have a lot of ground to cover with my favorite golfer winning a week after my school won, some trips in the middle, GOT, Billions, NBA and NHL playoffs, etc., so probably better for all of us to get moving.

Therefore, I feel the need…the need for speed.

Let’s turn and burn.

EVERGREEN (topics that don’t fade away):   

TIGER

Hate Tiger.  Love Tiger.  Try to be indifferent if you can.  But, know this.  The Sunday show at The Masters was beyond special.  The roars were louder near the scoreboard on the back nine then they were for any guy’s great shot on the course not named Tiger.  Deny the Tiger Effect has no meaning anymore, and I know there was some wind, but tell me another tourney where FOUR guys out of six in the final two groups freeze up on 12 and under-hit it.  Tell me a football game that was louder than the 16^th green as Tiger’s ball trickled back towards the hole.  Tell me another time (besides any normal PGA tournament in AZ) when golf fans were chanting the victor’s name like he just scored the winning goal in the Stanley Cup.  Tell me about how you didn’t enjoy Tiger schooling the guys he got playing golf, with those guys probably were just hoping to remember watching him on TV and not experience the madness.  Tell me his redemption story isn’t to your liking.

Keep in mind a few things before moving on from my Tiger rant, which I COULD write a full blog about. Think about this. One way or the other, it is arguably the greatest comeback in sports history. Majors are one of the hardest sporting events to win…one of them. To come back after DUI’s, the cheating incident, and back injuries, and take down the primo one is something you can’t deny. If you disagree with his marital transgressions, ok. I get it. But, what he was after that final putt was something he WASN’T back in the early 2000’s. He was human. He showed overwhelming joy. He went and hugged his kid, who wasn’t even around when he won there last. He is half-bald. He showed frailty, emotion, and wasn’t larger than life for a little while. Is it your right to judge the athletes as humans and ask them to be perfect? To be not like us? If you don’t like him just because, then know he changed golf and demands your respect. He added love of the game, fans watching, money, and everything else to the boring sport no one wanted to watch. And he was not the white guy or foreigner we were used to in years past. He broke ethnic barriers in a sport that needed it. If you don’t like him because he is probably a jerk, then watch the end again. Players, who spend more time with him than we ever will, were lined up to congratulate him. They hugged him, shook his hand, and talked about how awesome it was in post-round interviews. Did he look like they hated that moment? We don’t know Tiger. You don’t. I don’t. But before you hate him, maybe think about what he just did. We were worried about him ever playing professional golf at ALL again. And what did he do? He went out and won the one of the four toughest tournaments in the world.

I have spent the last decade waiting for this moment, and babbling in people’s ears about how it WOULD happen again.  I thought he might win one again.  But, him winning at Augusta, and with the madness that came with it, was beyond my wildest expectations.  Did you wake up Sunday morning to watch it?  Are you mad you missed it?  If the answers to those questions were both no, then you are a different breed, and either really hate golf or Tiger.  Because that back nine was simply EPIC.

MASTERS

It is the greatest sporting event on earth.  Think about this.  I am ranking it above the Final Four.  The reason is this.  We KNOW Augusta.  It is a magical kingdom in the middle of a ghetto-town in GA.  It is where magic has happened year after year.  It is the only Major played on the same course.  We know the course.  The players know the course.  We know the hard left on 11.  We know the blind second shot on 8.  We know the creek you have to cross on 13 and 15.  We know how the ball trickles down to the hole on the 16th. And, of course, we know the 12th. We love the course.  I walked it last year.  It was magical before.  It is now more personal and magical now for me (and it really IS that green and perfect).  The Masters is the one event that you can get non-golf fans to watch and enjoy.  It is the Sunday you should stop your schedule for.  It is the ultimate sporting event.

VIRGINIA

I won’t go on and on about my college. I will just tell you this. You can take out the superstars on Duke, the experience of Tennessee, the coaching of a multitude of schools, the NBA talent on Gonzaga, the athletes on UNC, and analyze the whole season. The best team DID probably win, although most didn’t buy in because they are boring, nerdy, and play slow. They lost three times all year. First, MOST teams lose AT Cameron. You never really “count” a loss there. Second, they lost at home to a Duke team that came out ON FIRE. No one was beating Duke that day. When a non-three point shooting team starts out like they did, and you are playing catchup the rest of the way, you are probably in for a long day. Third, the FSU loss was in the conference tourney, which no one really pays attention to anyway, and was to the typical squad that CAN beat UVA on a good day. Tall, athletic, deep, with a couple of long range shooters. They didn’t lose any other game. Bottom line is this. Sure, they escaped from three straight games with wins in the final seconds, were down to the 16th seed once again, and apparently had the basketball gods smiling on them for six games. But, they won those games, and from start to finish, they were probably your best team this year. Wahoowa.

KYLE GUY

So interesting.  The guy hits three foul shots to advance his team.  He got hot the game before matching a guy who was banking in three’s.  Kyle is a Virginia legend now.  People who don’t even know basketball watched those free throws.  But, what will that get him?  He is a COLLEGE legend.  But, he is an undersized swing man and shooting guard, and too slow and no handle for a PG.  He is a tweener.  He is a college hero.  But, the truth is this.  The next level is the next level for a reason.  Kyle Guy is Adam Morrison.  He will be a failed JJ Reddick.  He is Luke Hancock.  He has done amazing things, but every time you doubt the NBA, think about the guys who didn’t make it.  It is amazing, to be honest.  Kyle Guy had his moment.  But then, he becomes a second-round pick if lucky.  Or, a Euro contract.  Or somewhere else across the pond.  Bottom line.  It is a shame.  You can hate the NBA.  But know this.  The guy who was the player of the Final Four has no future in the NBA, or will be a bench guy we never see.  And that is OK.  Because he made those three FT’s and won a title a game after. And he is a great, great college basketball player who closed. I love that Guy.

NBA

The regular season is over.  Hate the sport all you want.  Even apathetic Lakers fans now come out of the woodwork.   No LeBron.  No MJ.  The Warriors are the Evil Empire.  The Bucks are the big unknown.  The Nuggets are the local favorite.  Best of seven games throughout. Embrace it.  Yes.  NBA basketball is not as exciting as college basketball in the push, the drive, the energy, and the juice, but know this.  THIS is where the season gets real, and this is where legends have been made.

GOT/BILLIONS

I will keep it simple. 

Game of Thrones is the most entertaining show I have ever watched, and it has dragons.  And don’t get attached to a character, because that character WILL die.  They keep you on edge and show no caring about who they kill off.  And THAT is what makes it the most interesting. And the only thing I am worried about is this.  There are SO many story lines.  They are going to rush the final season.  They have to.  I don’t care.  It will be awesome. 

Billions:  the greatest show on TV.  Not watching?  Quality-wise, it reminds me of an investment firm West Wing back in the day.  Awesome each show, with fantastic acting, plot twists, and realism.  Whenever you thought it couldn’t get better?  It did.  Make time for Billions.  Do it now.

THE MASTERS

My random notes, when I felt like keeping notes:

• Paul Casey shot a +9 the first day.  Taking out my spite of him ruining one of my pools, I would say that he is a younger old guy.  He was hanging out with Angel, Ian, and others.  You don’t want to hang with the legends who are simply allowed to play for lifetime because they won.
• Justin Rose not making the cut, and me not picking him in ANY of my pools for the first year, surprised the heck out of me.  We had the most amount of players playing the weekend in a long time, and the fact that Rose wasn’t in the large group advancing is something no one saw coming…on a course he likes to play.
• I am pretty sure that Patrick Reed and Ian Poulter are the most unlikeable guys from the tour.
• Zach Johnson is a multiple Major winner, AND a guy who accidentally hit fans and a practice ball in the SAME tourney.  Even the pros have their odd strokes.  Even the pros can look like the weekend warrior here and there.  Tough game, golf is.
• I can see how suddenly chewing gum would be relaxing, Tiger.  More surprised you didn’t get an endorsement deal out of it beforehand.  It will be coming now that he has won.  The gum was new though.
• I would like the security guy who tripped Tiger on the Tonight Show if he wins this thing.
• (I would actually like that guy on the Tonight Show regardless actually.  Tosh minimally.  He could have fun with that video.)
• After Friday, I tweeted that The Masters leaderboard was guys with Majors chasing guys with Majors.  Typically, you have pretenders hanging out at least through midway on Saturday.  I felt like the pretenders had already been cleared out before end of round on Friday.
• MUCH more convenient when Tiger tees off when TV coverage begins.
• I love the latest and greatest stats, but not sure if I would name the swing rotation as the “pelvic rotation.”
• Yes, my wife had to tell me how to pronounce “Xander.”  Cut me some slack.  I see his name, but he never really was in contention much before this one.  I don’t know much about that name.  I was making it three syllables, I admit.
• I will catalog the tree bounce across the creek shot by Tiger on the par 5 13^th on Saturday as a small difference maker.  That could have ruined him.  Sunday on the 12^th was the obvious swing on that day.
• FOUR amateurs made the cut.  Two finished under par.  That is a sign of the talent coming up, and fans should be pumped.
• Not to say they don’t deserve it or aren’t cool guys, but Cantlay and Simpson invading the fun leaderboard kind of downed me a little.  Those guys are a little boring.
• The tee times were moved up until 920am on the East Coast.  Tiger announced after his Saturday round he will wake up at 345am.
• There is a big difference between a Tiger roar and any other roar for any other golfer.
• Some of the loudest roars on Sunday were people simply near a scoreboard that changed.
• Walking the course last year has changed my entire viewing experience of the event.
• There have been 22 hole-in-ones ALL TIME at the 16^th hole.  There were two alone on Sunday.
• I bet $75 on Tiger and won a grand.  My mattress money is different than others though.  Some dude walked in Vegas and threw down $85k on Tiger last Tuesday.  That netted him $1.19 mil.
• Jack Nicklaus knew Tiger would win after the 12^th hole.
• It is weird not to start talking about the US Open now, the traditional next Major.  They changed it up this year, and the PGA Championship is next, and in May.  Throws me a little off.
• Oddly, I have learned over the last couple of years, The Masters (and the other three Majors) is one event I can’t even have my laptop on my lap watching.  I am totally engrossed with everything going on and am useless in life aside from the golf.
• I chose Rory on my group team because he has been the hottest golfer in the world, but should just stick to guys I like.  Every time I pick Rory for anything, it fails.

WEEK-FISH (current topics of interest in sports):

NFL

• Not sure if I agree totally with the comeback, but Ryan Shazier is doing BOX JUMPS.
• Johnny Football is a cool nickname, and not sure if agree with him wanting to call him “John.”  You can’t choose your nicknames, T-Bone.
• (Seinfeld reference)
• Ramon Foster was the one calling out Antonio Brown initially, and now he wants AB to shut up about ragging on ex-teammates.  I would say to just let him do or say whatever.  Karma will figure this out in the end.
• I don’t really WANT to see the Kraft video because it will show…you know, but all of this struggling legally kind of makes you want to, doesn’t it?
• The Vikings paying Adam Thielen sounds about right.  Great route runner, class act, stats to back it up, and you need to hang onto him.
• Russell Wilson and the Seahawks are going back and forth on contract stuff.  The defense is a shell of its old self.  The offense lacks weapons.  Yet, the Seahawks were still in the mix.  He might not light it up stat-wise, but that team would be NOWHERE without Russell.
• The Eagles made a decision on their QB situation to stay with Carson Wentz.  Word is that his injury is still healing.  Here is hoping for Eagles fans that he doesn’t become the next Tracy McGrady.
• Antonio Brown settled the “balcony incident.”  At least he settled one thing recently.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Nothing this week

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

• Texas Tech beating MSU is something I didn’t expect.  I know Texas Tech was good, but thought that a week of prep would arm Tom with what he needed.  Makes it more impressive to me.  I expect Izzo to go down more with a big talent difference or a short rest, but not equal talent and a long week.
• Sure, there was a double dribble that wasn’t called on Ty Jerome, but the Kyle Guy foul vs. Auburn was legit and him making the three free throws was stellar.  Team of destiny, perhaps.
• Texas won the NIT, and shortly thereafter found out their star, Jaxson Hayes, was going pro.  Winning a tourney no one cares about, and losing a player we really didn’t get to know.  A semi-win and a big time loss
• The fact that Kyle Guy had to take down his wedding registry signifies that NCAA rules are ridiculous.
• (either that, or pay the players, NCAA)
• I think Jerry Stackhouse should have waited for Roy Williams to get old, but I am not faulting the Vandy hire.  They have shown glimpses, and he definitely isn’t walking into a football school environment to overcome.
• I wouldn’t have let Chris Mullin resign.  I would have given him more years.  Dude is a legend.  It is not like they have been on the brink before his time there.  How fast do you expect a 180 to occur?
• I hear that Bol Bol might have been paid alongside Ayton, and if anyone is surprised, please let me know.  When a big name like Bol Bol goes to a school with no other five stars, you have to wonder.
• LOVE that Rick Barnes didn’t jump to UCLA and stayed with Auburn.  Sort of mad he was even toying with the idea actually.
• Bruce Pearl got extended at Auburn, and I think you should pay anyone who makes a basketball school out of a football school.
• Remember when UCLA would have their pick of the litter for coaches?  Yes, Cronin will make them tougher, but didn’t they already try that concept with Jamie Dixon, and it won’t work this time around.  I would have made a few more phone calls.  It is not like I would be petrified that Cronin would get swooped up that fast anyway.
• I think the fact that Texas Tech fans rioted BEFORE the title game was a problem.  I guess the good news is that at least they got a day of celebration before their loss though.  Premature celebration should be right up there with uncalled for court storming.
• My buddy went to the title game, and told me something I already knew.  UVA fans don’t travel very well.  He said the scene before the game was all Texas Tech, and the seen after, when Tech fans were sad, was a typical Monday night at the bars.
• I don’t like pessimism, and my wife will vouch that I never lost hope in the Purdue, Auburn, and Texas Tech game.  I even paid the UVA CO’s alumni leader’s tab…out of spite.  He told me to simmer down and that we lost at the end of regulation in the Purdue game.
• (another Seinfeld reference-spite)
• Zion Williamson said he regrets nothing, and love that he didn’t feel cheated by the rules of the NCAA of having to go to school.  We, as fans of the game, certainly enjoyed watching a man playing with boys for a year.
• Let the kids have the option to just go pro though.  Zion proves this once again.
• Cam Reddish will be a lottery pick, but I must have missed when he was a lottery pick selection talent.  I saw inconsistency, lack of motivation, and too frequent of fading on a talented squad.
• (epic year, Cam (said on Twitter)?  You lost with a great team, the best player, and you averaged 13 points a game and disappeared at times)
• I thought the over/under of 120 in the UVA-Texas Tech game was a joke, which is why I won money on that, AND the money line.
• Someone will own the bar who knows all of the coaching stops of basketball mastermind, Eric Mussleman.  Arkansas is the latest answer.  Good hire though, for them, as the guy works hard and is a basketball genius in his own right.
• If I am a new recruit for VA Tech, which just built up it hoops team again, I am not unhappy about the Wofford coach taking over, but I am not happy either.
• I truly enjoy kids declaring for the NBA draft before they are ready, but love when the other kids recognize that they aren’t quite ready.  Thank you, Tre Jones, for coming back.
• Now, I just need Hunter and Jerome to come back.  I will get one of the two.
• East Coast time SUCKS.  920pm start time for a title game just sucks.
• I love that my wife laughs so hard at Bill Raftery saying “get your puppies organized” and that is kind of a new saying for us now.  With the kiss, onions, puppies being organized, etc. Guy makes the Final Four all that more special.
• UVA is apparently the 34st highest rated team of all-time title teams.  I will take that.  We were not dominant and kind of lucky to be honest.  We just got there.
• Once again, for the 8000^th time, it is very tough to win six straight games, even if the draw allows you to dodge all #1 and #2 teams.
• UVA is 5-1 to win it all next year.  If my dream happens and Hunter comes back, then that goes down to 3-1.
• I didn’t win a pool, but I might have put some decent money on them winning.  Might have.
• Steve Alford has already had a dream job at UCLA, and now has signed a TEN-year contract at Nevada.  Why didn’t he just sign a three-year deal and wait for Indiana to open up again?
• Glad I enjoyed UVA’s run.  Ty Jerome just declared, and I wanted to get one more year out of him.  They will be competitive next year still, but will definitely drop to the next lower tier in the ACC and nationally.  It was a good run.

NBA

• I understand the Warriors got the #1 seed in the West and will probably win the West, but the Bucks getting home court advantage is something.  The Warriors can write off the entire season and just focus in the playoffs.  Great.  But, I would kind of love for the Bucks to roll into the Finals and get four needed games at THEIR crib.
• The Nuggets got a master stroke.  They dodge the Rockets AND the Warriors until the Western Conference Finals.
• Quietly, Russell had another TD season.
• The Nets are in the playoffs.
• The Nets just beat the Sixers.
• I see things coming.  I am not stupid.  With LeBron on the Lakers now, and their worst season behind them, I NEVER saw Magic stepping down happening.  Don’t tell me you did either.
• I love that The Brow wore a “That’s All Folk’s” t-shirt to hist last game.
• Marcus Smart’s stats aren’t all that and a bag of chips, but he is IMPORTANT.  Him getting injured and missing 4-6 weeks of playoff basketball will down them I think.  They are already dysfunctional.  Missing a key element on their defense is not a great thing while being dysfunctional.
• Love how the Banana Boat Crew stopped by for Wade’s last game.
• Love more how he got a TD in his last game ever.  Epic.
• The Wade Budweiser tribute video was epic.
• LeBron out as a player from the playoffs, and then the Hornets also.  No MJ either.
• Did anyone NOT expect Luke Walton getting fired?
• But, also, did anyone else think he would be rehired so fast by another team?  Kings.  No direction, no clue, and now they have a young coach-guess that is something.
• Don’t hire Lue, Lakers.  Doesn’t matter who was right or wrong, it already was a failed experiment with LeBron and Lue.
• DeMarcus Cousins would preferred not to be named Boogie.  Listen, as we learned from Seinfeld, you CAN’T choose your own nickname.  T-Bone.  Coco.  Etc.
• (I chose The Fillerbuster because I needed a catchy site name.  Different.)
• I think the Sixers are in a world of hurt if Embiid’s knee continues to trouble him.  They can advance in the East without any of the other players.  They can’t advance without him.  Bottom line.

MLB

• I get that Trevor supported it.  I get that we are in a new age.  I get that pitch count was up.  But, I can NOT support taking a pitcher out during a no-hit game.  Did anyone else NOT see For The Love Of a Game?  Keep him in, Indians.  We are not at playoff time yet.
• Why do the Orioles care if Chris Davis started 0 for whatever when they are going to be horrible anyway?
• Him and Trevor Rosenthal can hang out and have drinks.

NHL

• There is NOTHING like playoff NHL hockey.  I just keep up on stats and watch a few games during the season, but when it comes to playoffs hockey, it is ON.
• I am amazed how hockey refs stay out of the way of the puck.  Truly amazed.
• I can’t believe this is the first Hurricanes playoffs since 2009.
• First time since 2010 that both Denver hockey and basketball professional teams are in the playoffs.
• The Lightning tied an NHL record with 62 wins, and then lost their first two games against the Blue Jackets.
• The Blue Jackets not only won their first game against the Lightning, but overcame a three goal deficit to do so in the first one.
• Then, they destroyed them in the second game.
• I like the new Flyers coach hire, Mr. Vigneault.  But, I am more concerned with consistency.  Let’s at least give this guy a few years to do it his way.  Stop pivoting.

MISCELLANEOUS

• The Masters is the greatest tournament on earth, aside from the US Open, The Open, and the PGA Championship.
• I admit to having to Google who won the women’s Final Four.  With UVA’s run, I totally lost site of it.
• I read every single MLB write-up in full preseason in two magazines, and I feel like I am prepped for the season.
• ….enough to know that the Mariners are blowing all of us away, fans, coaches, media, etc.
• If you are ever wondering what I am doing in my free time after The Masters, I am reading mock drafts.  And writing this of course.
• Shame about Denver hockey in the Frozen Four.  I watched the second half of the UMASS game.  There is nothing as painful as fighting back from a deficit and losing in OT, but here is the thing.  It is exhausting fighting back from a big deficit in any sport, and therefore the momentum of taking it to OT still has to combat being tired from getting there.
• I am amazed when a 26 plus mile race ends up with a two second delta.  That happened this week in the Boston Marathon.

THIS AND THAT (pop culture, Fillerbuster thoughts):

• I like two hour flights, but during flights to Miami, I sometimes wish Star Trek travel would get here sooner and in my lifetime.
• It is very confusing that I have stayed in two Nobu hotels, and they are both encased in two other hotels.  They can’t get their own hotel?
• We had a normal room, we were paying ridiculous money for an extra night, and eventually talked ourselves into a free upgrade to something that resembled an expensive room.
• With concerts and hotels, I have a limit of what I will spend.  $200 for a sporting event or concert, and $300 for a hotel room, unless I am on stage, on court, or have an in room jacuzzi.  I would say the $300 Nobu room was worth the extra night ONLY because we didn’t have to move our stuff.
• I like Miami for its personality, but I think it is one of those places I don’t have a hard time getting on the plane to go home.  A) East Coast B) Salsa parties C) no sports bars
• Although, I WILL say this.  Salsa parties are intriguing and a people watching mecca.  People pass each other off, all know the dance, and it is utterly must watch TV.
• Nobu rooms don’t have refrigerators.  They want you to spend money on their products.  Silly.  So, I am paying extra money for no convenience and no place to store my Lunchables.  The ice containers are tiny, and they don’t even have an extra sink to cool off Lindsey’s White Claws.
• Is the joke that Orange Vanilla Coke doesn’t need a jingle, or did they totally slack on that fact and that IS the joke?  Confused.
• I looked up why Arby’s says “meat…for sandwiches,” and I found out that it is because roast beef is termed an older person food, they want young people, and therefore think that “sandwiches” opens that flood gate.
• Every time I miss the East Coast, I sit in a traffic jam and don’t miss it anymore.
• Deadspin ranked the best Game of Thrones episodes of all time.  I was happy to see mine, Hardhomme, the best on their list also.  When Snow picks up a random sword, and kills the White Walker, and you realize that is how you do it, it is a game changer.
• There were some people at our retreat who hadn’t been to the beach in three days.  They eventually went there, but I am going to go jump in the ocean way before the resort pool anytime.
• If you want other places to go off your hotel property in Miami, stay south of 40^th street.
• Also, be aware there are like three 44^th streets if you DO stay north of that spot.
• The Nobu dinner, paid for by my President (thank you for doing that a day after (we were a day late, although she doesn’t read this), was the best meal perhaps I have ever had, and I don’t eat sushi.  I might be picky, but I do say “when in Rome.”  I eat sushi in Nobu restaurants, conch in Bimini, etc.
• I ordered a club sandwich at Nobu after a long pool/beach day.  You know when you just want a large sandwich and some fries after a day at the beac?  Yeah.  No.  It was a half sushi-like tiny Jetsons club with miniature fries (6 of them).
• I have started to say “we will workshop that” a lot more lately.
• Nikki Beach is a club in South Beach that used to be a night party club.  Without Googling, I led everyone to that club late Friday night.  They were closed.  They have turned into a DAY club apparently, which actually makes more sense.  Anyway, I apologize to no one, you didn’t have to follow me those 15 blocks, it DID exist, and remember I covered the tab at The Clevelander (and left it alone and decided to call it even after our long walk).
• (no one from that group reads this either-tree, forest, sound).
• (one person’s dad does though-lol)
• Sometimes age differences come into play.  My wife didn’t believe me that Key & Peele first became funny on Mad TV.  She didn’t realize I was the biggest fan of that show back in the day.  Kind of like when we discuss Dokken.
• Seriously, Ghost sounds exactly like Dokken, folks.  Why are you buying in?
• I think I loved the Sandbar Party on our trip.  One person at a time, people swam two football fields to the uplifted sandbar off the beach.  Pretty soon, we had about 20 people.
• You don’t watch sports in South Beach.  It is pretty much impossible unless you want to hear salsa, club mix, or pay inflated prices.  If you go that way, and need a hidden gem across the waterway, go to Mike’s at Venetia.  Dive bar oddly in a fancy hotel with reasonable prices.
• (again, Margot, thank you, as she made the 20 minute trip, watched Kyle Guy drain his free throws, and paid our tab in full)
• Want a north of South Beach bar that IS legit?  Sweet Liberty.  We had a blast, and as an ex-bartender, the flash isn’t with the bartenders, but the mixology is top, top notch.
• (after dancing to Rob Base, we left after Sweet Child O’Mine-no idea who requested THOSE songs)
• Out master stroke of the Miami trip was all my wife.  She found out they had a ferry that went to Bimini in the Bahamas.  Luna Beach was the corporate, resort beach that was gorgeous.  Radio Beach was the summit of the Miami-Bahamas trip and made the beaches of Miami look like crap when we got back.  Radio Beach is at the end of a one lane road, up a hill, served by a island guy smoking a blunt, surrounded by shacks, food by a café who just served the whole fish through a window, and was the bluest, most gorgeous water I have seen outside of two places.  British Virgin Islands at the Soggy Dollar, and Trunk Bay at St. John.  Pics below.
• My wife married into my name, and should just start a side business.  Trip Filler.  She is the most brilliant person planning a trip I have ever heard of.
• My colleagues (Will also doesn’t read this so whatever) missed the trip that day even though we were one of few people staying an extra day.  Shame on them (although one person was sick, which I get).  Lindsey and I pinched each other throughout the day, thinking this was a top five all time day for the two of us.  Golf cart, turquoise water, guys chopping coconuts, sunken ships, fish literally out of the ocean, sea glass, new friends, and the most perfect water ever.
• (basically, people, go to St. John or Bimini)
• The ferry ride, which we expected to sleep on, was amazing.  I ate three pizzas.
• I think I might have a thing for Halsey’s voice.
• We heard “Without Me” FOUR times on the way to Bimini on a two-hour ferry ride, and I can’t say it sucked.
• (my wife knows that-not a secret)
• Really a shame about the Notre Dame Cathedral burning today. I hope no one ended up being hurt, hope terrorism is not involved, and really a bad run of horrible crimes against churches. I have been there, and the place just FEELS like history.
• I have “marvin key and Eluthera” on my list but not sure what I meant.  Bimini was a long day. (on editing, I remember what they were-thanks, blog list). Nothing for the blog-just to do items (they are places we were told to visit someday).
• We saw a black German Shepherd on our way back to the ferry, and I put that on my wife’s list of dogs we might get.  Black GS and Golden Retrievers.  Talk about a serious and happy combo.
• If you go to Bimini, stop by Stuarts, or Sheri’s Paradise Café, the two top rated restaurants on the island.  We ate both our meals at those places, and both were pretty ridiculous.  Actually, if you go there, don’t just take my advice, just call me.  I will go again with you.  I had lobster ceviche at Stuart’s, which Will got me to eat by just telling me it is “fish salsa.”
• If you go to Bimini, rent golf carts from Renee and Sluggo’s.  Seriously.  They work, and you don’t want to get stranded.  Wife did the research.  And they go FAST.  Nothing like a guy with a beach cocktail in him driving on the opposite side of the street in a golf cart.
• Since hanging out with Page, the girlfriend of my colleague (Will), my wife says “hot second” a LOT more.
• Something we have done twice now and don’t regret it.  If you go to Miami, and are in South Beach, go to Playa Café.  They don’t speak English, and have bright cheesy pictures of their food, but portions are large, food is great, and price is cheap.  You will go in there and sit with a bunch of locals.  Great hidden gem.
• If you rent a bike in Miami Beach, please know they don’t allow actual bike riding on the boardwalk from 21^st to 41^st street.
• Cecconi’s in Soho is a decent place to go, but very aloof.  Lunch was ok, but service was by a cocky Miami server, and I don’t think they liked our baseball caps.
• Remember that South Beach includes gratuity.  Very hard for an ex-14 year bartender to remember.  Just throw a few bucks extra IF you loved your service.
• Fontainbleu is a place at least walking through, although I can’t imagine the price to stay there.
• We didn’t eat at Pizza & Burgers, but I wish we had.
• The GOT first episode just simply took the time in introducing everyone once again, both people in the show and watchers.  I expect mass carnage in round 2.
• Billions had ANOTHER incredible episode after it took off for a week with Chickentown.  Epic episode once again, with the two main characters pulling…some crazy, mad shit, to be honest.
• Go to Scarpetta’s in Miami.  Ask for Vigo.   Best service, best simple spaghetti I have EVER had.  Brilliant twist on a simple dish.
• I was jealous about my Texas Tech friend going to the game last minute, and was kind of sad he had to endure that.
• How to keep Lindsey happy:  Tito’s and Black Cherry White Claw.
• JazzFest added Widespread Panic after the Stones cancelled.  Jealous, but we have done that dance, and no time to do that now.
• Having a hotel room with a view of the ocean is beyond words and should always be.
• Yes, I knew that Prince played hoops, and cool little story they did on him before the title game.
• Miami or not.  Seafood or not.  I still think I ate pizza 14 times on my trip.
• I will never miss the bugs nor the humidity of the East Coast.  I love Denver.
• Rio by Duran Duran is one of the most underrated songs ever.
• How do you go to bathroom, look at the vendor on the toilet, and not want to sing Toto Africa?
• UVA did one thing as a team that won’t be forgotten.  They “told the story.”  They embraced being beaten by a 16 seed.
• Chile’s has breakfast, I found out, at the Miami airport, and it wasn’t bad.
• (watching the epic scene from Hardhomme from GOT-epic)
• Getting to go to Miami was free and awesome.  Getting a pair of Maui Jim sunglasses (retail $240) for me and my wife was extraordinary.  Thanks again, Margot!  I buy cheap sunglasses on purpose, but will treasure these.
• For the 1000^th time, HOW is that Southwest is the only airline that offers no charge change fees?
• Do you ever travel enough where you forget where you are coming back to?
• The DIA train broke the other day on my way back from Miami.  I don’t love DIA.  Here is my problem.  A train is fine, but when there is no workaround, walk around bypass that energetic people can take, then it is madness if something breaks.  Elaine on the subway, on the way to the gay wedding…
• (Seinfeld reference)
• I don’t mind bomb cyclones.  The first one was legit.  But, when the Nicholas Cage’s are bottoming out and predicting a second one, when it is rare for Denver, then I have a problem.  Just tell us we are getting some April snow.
• I put notes on my blog list of events.  Bobby Brown and BBD.  Noted.
• (I am so deep on both and my favorite song by BBD is Dope and not the more popular Poison)
• My wife’s friends picked the dates for Cabo San Lucas that run over Widespread Panic at Red Rocks.  It was an old tradition for me, just got back into it in the last two years, but she promised she will make it up to me, and that is one of the 100,000 reasons why she is special.  We might venture to Telluride, where they just got added to a show, and the only mountain town we are lacking in visits.
• The Royale burger is my favorite at Park and Co.  Not a top 5 burger overall in CO, bu it was nice to pay a normal price for a meal after being in San Diego and Miami for a week and a half.
• I had never been through a Menchies line until Lindsey took me through one on Tuesday.  Frozen Yogurt, with all options to make it unhealthy, all serving yourself.  Grand idea.  Not sure how I missed that one.
• So, I respect Progressive Insurance for so many cool commercial ideas, but don’t we now have Jamie with sons that don’t want him AND in a house married to a different chick singing Spanish music?  Which one do I follow?
• So, just in case your kid wants to drop out of college, isn’t the badass Jeopardy winner right now, breaking all kinds of records, just a gambler?  Got to have goals.
• Glad to be back in pocket from vacations.  Think I gained a few LBS.  Mad to get it back.  I need some Veer Union, some weights, and some routine.
• Still have not golfed yet this year…ugghhh.
• New black hole has been found.  Let’s go get it. Sign me up.  I am the type of person who flies right into a black hole and danger rather than just identify it.  Wait.  I am not an astronaut.  That is kind of impossible.
• One of my most fun things to do in life is to put 10 longshot bets for $2 on Masters guys.  Angel didn’t work out, but it was sure fun in placing the bet.  UVA paid for all of these bets anyway.
• I threw $75 on Tiger to win $1000.  That worked out as well as my pre-tourney bet on UVA.  Good week.
• SHOE DEALS are blocking some NBA stars from being in Space Jam 2.  SHOE DEALS.  That is the world we live in now, folks.
• I rely on CNN’s Five Things.  How come they don’t do it every day?  I feel lost without it now.
• The new Jimmy John’s sandwich, The Frenchie, pretty much contains all of my favorite words in life.
• It is really disturbing how you buy something online, and then when you go online to ESPN or another site, the margins contain those same products.  Big Brother crap.
• In my 20 questions presentations at sales meetings in the last 6 weeks, I have gotten everyone to dance, everyone to sing, one person to do a Rocky montage, sing fight songs, sing Bohemian Rhapsody, breakdance, do the Rubik’s Cube, etc.  It is fun.
• My wife threw in a Brazil-Argentina suggestion, but the plan next year is still African Safari or Fiji/New Zealand.  St. John this year.
• They still have boy bands.  And now they come from Korea?  And now they are just acronyms?  BTS?  Just watched an SNL with them.  Freaked me out a bit.
• In Chula Vista, if you are dying, a drone will answer your 911 call.  One step closer to Terminator, folks.
• Cream cheese is the greatest thing on earth.
• In my 20 questions, I asked my younger new co-worker about Glengarry Glen Ross.  He didn’t know the movie.  That disturbs me.  Boiler Room, Glengarry, Wolf, come on.
• You should take 7 minutes of your life and watch this.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PE2hSqVnk
• And that was before we knew that Baldwin was funny.
• What a Sunday.  Masters, Billions, GOT.  Lacked time for Barry.  Maybe Monday night.
• Not today, but I have decided that workout songs are by mood.  There are happy workout songs, pissed off workout songs, etc.
• For example, good mood workout:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeInLlD_-7o
• Another good mood one:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOhsP6F2RmQ
• A really good mood one?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4qh_9vH1Ww
• Bad mood (don’t listen to this, unless you really want an angry song (Mom, don’t click on this)): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRPxao3e_jY
• Bad mood:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAY2bCmm8e0
• Hopeless:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq_5XtooL64
• Should I get some UVA championship gear?
• April 25^th is “bring your child to work day” and I feel like I will oddly be sick that day.
• There are many things I see while ordering drinks that I am jealous I didn’t have in my 14 years of  bartending, but had a big one the other day.  Search grid for a tab.  WOW.  Mind.  Blown.
• FlyteCo is a cool bar off Tennyson in the Highlands.  When I left the other night, I passed along my improvement idea and they THEIR mind was blown.  They have a plane thing INSIDE their bar.  They just dimmed the lights.  I said that they needed a captain like voice to say “Folks, we are dimming the lights in the cabin now.”  Bartender thought it was genius.
• I don’t like peas, and I especially don’t like anything in my mac and cheese like peas, but Hops and Pies can do it without, and their mac and cheese is in my top 5 in the city without those bastardly things.
• Linds and I typically go to Tennyson Tap to see a band when we are on that side of town.  We did not.  I learned the term “Sludge death metal.”  I knew “death metal,” but I never knew it went to another level.
• We went to Beer Depot instead.  What I thought was a mirror was another room.  What I though was behind the bar, was the entrance to that other room.  As usual, we were judged when we walked in, but between my friend’s size, my wife’s social skills, and my pool skills, we were fine.  Love dive bars.
• Everyone loves my wife.  Seriously. 
• Like all dive bars, there were characters.  But, unlike a lot of Denver bars, there was a guy who I am pretty sure was straight out of Waterboy.  I didn’t understand anything he said, but he plays pool, and said nice things about my wife.
• Linds is cat-sitting.  It is nice to see a cat who takes in strangers without a hesitation.  Somehow, we have created two cats, who both can’t leave my side and sleep within 6 inches of us, but they don’t even confront anyone who comes in our doors.
• Matador lacks special attention, bartenders with a higher gear, and managers who don’t get the business, but that is our new place.  Fantastic food, drink, and prices. 
• Seinfeld reference.  YoY o Ma was in the news today.
• After having a fish taco at Blue Water Seafood Market and Grill in San Diego, it will be a regular visit every time I go to that city. Best fish taco I have ever had, and it is not even close.
  

TWEET OF THE WEEK (I didn’t tweet when in Miami, and didn’t pay attention to anything Masters weekend pretty much, so lacking a little material considering when I last blogged):

OH MY GOD PHIL, THAT MAN HAS A FAMILY!!!!

Cancel all bets and put them on Phil, he's spittin' hot fire this morning! pic.twitter.com/VXZDguvUo9

— Iain MacMillan (@IainMacOS) April 13, 2019

Tiger in the final group. A star studded field battling it out, racing to beat the storm. Threatening skies and swirling winds on the world’s most famous golf course. This, my friends, has all the makings. #TheMasters

— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) April 13, 2019

If your weekend plans don't include watching every possible second of this Masters, you're clearly doing it wrong.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelTAN) April 12, 2019

Things that should be eliminated from the NCAA tournament:

5. First Four
4. Uniform courts
3. No Gus Johnson
2. Final Four in football stadiums
1. 9:20 title game tip time pic.twitter.com/ZVVYhOzVpP

— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) April 8, 2019

THE BEST WORKOUT SONG EVER FOR THIS WEEK:

No time for updates lately, and my songs ARE getting a little stale to be honest. Runnin from Creed 2, Defying Gravity by Veer Union, and Tourniquet by Breaking Benjamin.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

“Get those puppies organized”

Bill Raftery

I didn’t have time to catalog any more.

Lots of stuff from GOT new episode

Lots of stuff from Billions new episode

LINKS TO SAVE YOU TIME IN LIFE:

https://deadspin.com/alex-carusos-putback-dunk-forces-lebron-to-learn-anothe-1833837273

https://deadspin.com/paris-saint-germains-eric-maxim-choupo-moting-delivers-1833871773

https://deadspin.com/texas-tech-students-might-have-gone-overboard-celebrati-1833870299

https://deadspin.com/witness-the-roller-coaster-of-emotions-that-auburn-fans-1833869596

https://deadspin.com/rangers-teammates-celebrate-two-run-dong-by-grabbing-ea-1833897835

https://deadspin.com/virginias-ugly-basketball-now-has-undeniable-results-1833900551

https://deadspin.com/antonio-brown-is-kind-of-a-dick-1833872924?utm_source=deadspin_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019-04-08

https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2019/04/09/ncaa-basketball-rankings-early-top-25-kentucky-duke-michigan-state

https://deadspin.com/jeopardy-contestant-crushes-single-game-winnings-recor-1833928180

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/theres-no-way-for-game-of-thrones-to-get-the-ending-it-1833917263?_ga=2.261451533.1642649921.1554745174-3935216655.1522192982

https://deadspin.com/dirk-nowitzkis-championship-stands-alone-1833951123

https://deadspin.com/tennis-broadcast-dominated-by-commentators-loud-wet-sn-1833950065

https://deadspin.com/fans-lustily-boo-umpire-who-did-finn-the-bat-dogs-job-f-1833948666

https://deadspin.com/tennis-player-goes-down-0-6-0-5-then-completes-one-of-1833945383

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26297350/everything-know-opening-round-2019-nba-playoffs

https://deadspin.com/a-lively-discussion-about-futuristic-bathroom-technolog-1833977410

https://jalopnik.com/watch-a-deeply-weird-video-of-toyotas-basketball-robot-1833910933

https://deadspin.com/dog-runs-grueling-desert-ultramarathon-just-for-fun-1834006536

https://io9.gizmodo.com/in-the-jawdropping-first-trailer-for-star-wars-the-ris-1832561630

https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/every-episode-of-game-of-thrones-ranked-1833941430

BY THE NUMBERS:

None this week. I was on vacation.

THIS WEEK’S LIST:

Best shows I am watching right now:

1. Seinfeld (always and forever)
2. Billions
3. Game of Thrones
4. Barry
5. Stranger Things (soon)

THE RIDDLE:

No riddle this week.

CLOSING:

The theme?  There was honestly too much to figure out ONE theme. So, I took the Raftery line because Tiger had his puppies organized, Kyle Guy had his puppies organized, the salsa dancers in Miami had their puppies organized, and Bimini’s Radio Beach definitely had its puppies organized. So, get your puppies organized, people, and wahoowa.

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. 

PICS:

This was the hardest part.  Limited time to write, lots of things happened, lots of pics by my Google Pixel 2.  I did my best.

sdsd

And, in case you care about what I threw back in the pond, here you go…

THROW IT BACK

gleyber yanks homers

hatchell unc racist remarks

bledsoe embiid

Russell Wilson contract

wade lsu ncaa

jets new uniforms

lonzo ball agent part ways

calipari didn’t know zion would be this good

rosen expected to be at cardinal workouts

browns pick up safety and ex-aaf qb

will wade outcome

vikings holton hill suspended 4 games

ex-wfan gets time for ticket fraud

humboldt victim prompts bunch of donors

mcvay home burglarized

zion player of the year

boys Lawrence 105 mil

divac, sikma among nba hof nominees

knight takes in iu baseball game

bengals waive walton third arrest

tuberville us senate

ucla coaching job

Bret Hart jumped Hof speech

ionescu to return oregon

gsw ceremony Nick young too long

brown juju back

puig scuffle ejected

panthers quenneville

halsey four times

Davis futility mark ,0-44

love frye

rousey suffers broken hand

dilfer calls haskins tom brady-ish

white house Cuban agreement

Donovan depressed after 2nd title

Rodgers McCarthy

Lester injury

taillon 102 mph to head

d’antoni virus

mullin stepping down

Archer puig suspended

xfl crazy rules

woman Sue’s Astros t shirt cannon

usada dillishaw

wade farewell by son, heat, lebron

curry mild foot sprain

dykstra sues darling

devils beat odds, get top draft pick

banana boat reunites at last heat game

aces take young #1 in wnba draft

giants shepard 4/40

baylor’s mulkey would welcome white house visit

tyson chandler discusses fallout lakers

58 arrested sex trafficking final four

assange arrested

UT jaxson hayes declares

gruden tells nw gm to not mess it up-mayock

cavs part with larry drew

jets add ty montgomery to back up bell

griz fire coach bickerstaff, gm

del rio says brown will be a pain the ass for raiders

haskins wore elway jersey to elway interview

former nd rb cierre wood charged with murder

clippers largest 1sr round underdog since 88

david griffin vp of pels

forrest gregg dies at 85

Hogan panthers

crolla crushed

Ewing rep lottery

Sanchez dl

Mills Robinson fight

Davis asks for ball after 0-54

osu punter proposal

edwards draft

no questions for deandre

Durant-beverly ejected

Adesanya classic ufc

Johnson-cell phone sixers

avs sign UMass kid for playoffs

mountain takes roids

lakers looking at 76ers Williams

stewart injury-could miss wnba season

cavs interview mosley, howard for coaching vacancy

nike to release new tiger commercial celebrating victory

wade reinstated lsu

avs split

no Griffin not good pistons