Friday, December 30, 2011

Badgers uniforms

So Oregon needs flashy uniforms for Monday? This is what the Badgers are going to be wearing when they take down the Ducks. Clean cut and simple.
hrrus.jpg

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Interesting last investment

So Floyd Mayweather is heading to jail for 90 days, but he was able to get in one last payday. No, he didn't sneak in another boxing match. He decided to bet on the one and only Tim Tebow. And it wasn't a pithy little hundred-dollar bet. Floyd dropped a cool million on the Patriots to win last weekend. Apparently he felt he had nothing to lose. Fortunately for him, he didn't.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

This guy must have done something important.

Next parade, I want this with my face on it. Can't be good for gas mileage though.
Kim Jong-il funeral: A portrait of Kim Jong Il is carried during his funeral procession

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

For your afternoon enjoyment...

If you've never read Sports Pickle, you should start. They often have funny links that brighten my day.
http://www.sportspickle.com/opinion/9213/the-12-least-googled-sports-terms-of-2011

My favorite is "Pictures of Lamar Odom's wife"

Monday, December 19, 2011

Top Sports Stories of 2011

This is how the AP ranked the top sports stories of 2011. Any glaring omissions? What would you put first?

10. Japan shines at Women's World Cup
9. Syracuse associate head coach Bernie Fine fired amid child sex abuse allegations
8. Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon dies in Las Vegas race
7. Dirk Nowitzki and Dallas Mavericks win NBA championship, getting revenge on Miami Heat
6. Ohio State wins Sugar Bowl; five players suspended, Tressel resigns, Meyer named new coach
5. St. Louis Cardinals win World Series in amazing comeback
4. Conference realignment moves teams around ACC, Big 12, Big East, SEC
3. Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay Packers win Super Bowl, start off 2011 season 13-0
2. NFL/NBA lockouts come to an end after months of debate
1. Penn State coach Joe Paterno fired amid Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse charges

Cam Newton vs. The Icebox

The Panthers pulled a fumblerooski on Sunday, very similar to that of a famous 1990s movie.


Who pulled it off better?

Friday, December 16, 2011

More Tebow!

Don't judge. Three straight days of Tebow posts, but this is funny/sad. Apparently 40 or so New York high school students engaged in a spontaneous act of "Tebowing" in the hallways, and four of them were suspended for allegedly "blocking the school's hallways."

Schools need to calm the eff down.

Riverhead High students Tebowing (Connor Carroll photo)

Give it up, dude.

Apparently this guy reads WAY too much into a first date. A long ranting letter, based off of the apparent "signals" this chick was sending? Wow. Here's the letter for your enjoyment...

Hi Lauren,

I’m disappointed in you. I’m disappointed that I haven’t gotten a response to my voicemail and text messages.

FYI, I suggest that you keep in mind that emails sound more impersonal, harsher, and are easier to misinterpret than in-person or phone communication. After all, people can’t see someone’s body language or tone of voice in an email. I’m not trying to be harsh, patronizing, or insulting in this email. I’m honest and direct by nature, and I’m going to be that way in this email. By the way, I did a google search, so that’s how I came across your email.

I assume that you no longer want to go out with me. (If you do want to go out with me, then you should let me know.) I suggest that you make a sincere apology to me for giving me mixed signals. I feel led on by you.

Things that happened during our date include, but are not limited to, the following:

-You played with your hair a lot. A woman playing with her hair is a common sign of flirtation. You can even do a google search on it. When a woman plays with her hair, she is preening. I’ve never had a date where a woman played with her hair as much as you did. In addition, it didn’t look like you were playing with your hair out of nervousness.

-We had lots of eye contact during our date. On a per-minute basis, I’ve never had as much eye contact during a date as I did with you.

-You said, “It was nice to meet you.” at the end of our date. A woman could say this statement as a way to show that she isn’t interested in seeing a man again or she could mean what she said–that it was nice to meet you. The statement, by itself, is inconclusive.

-We had a nice conversation over dinner. I don’t think I’m being delusional in saying this statement.

In my opinion, leading someone on (i.e., giving mixed signals) is impolite and immature. It’s bad to do that.

Normally, I would not be asking for information if a woman and I don’t go out again after a first date. However, in our case, I’m curious because I think our date went well and that there is a lot of potential for a serious relationship. Of course, it’s difficult to predict what would happen, but I think there is a lot of potential for a serious relationship developing between us one day (or least there was before your non-response to my voicemail and text messages).

I think we should go out on a second date. In my opinion, our first date was good enough to lead to a second date.

Why am I writing you? Well, hopefully, we will go out again. Even if we don’t, I gain utility from expressing my thoughts to you. In addition, even if you don’t want to go out again, I would like to get feedback as to why you wouldn’t want to go again. Normally, I wouldn’t ask a woman for this type of feedback after a first date, but this is an exception given I think we have a lot of potential.

If you don’t want to go again, then apparently you didn’t think our first date was good enough to lead to a second date. Dating or a relationship is not a Hollywood movie. It’s good to keep that in mind. In general, I thought the date went well and was expecting that we would go out on a second date.

If you’re not interested in going out again, then I would have preferred if you hadn’t given those mixed signals. I feel led on. We have a number of things in common. I’ll name a few things: First, we’ve both very intelligent. Second, we both like classical music so much that we go to classical music performances by ourselves. In fact, the number one interest that I would want to have in common with a woman with whom I’m in a relationship is a liking of classical music. I wouldn’t be seriously involved with a woman if she didn’t like classical music. You said that you’re planning to go the NY Philharmonic more often in the future. As I said, I go to the NY Philharmonic often. You’re very busy. It would be very convenient for you to date me because we have the same interests. We already go to classical music performances by ourselves. If we go to classical music performances together, it wouldn’t take any significant additional time on your part. According to the internet, you’re 33 or 32, so, at least from my point of view, we’re a good match in terms of age. I could name more things that we have in common, but I’ll stop here. I don’t understand why you apparently don’t want to go out with me again. We have numerous things in common. I assume that you find me physically attractive. If you didn’t find me physically attractive, then it would have been irrational for you to go out with me in the first place. After all, our first date was not a blind date. You already knew what I looked like before our date. Perhaps, you’re unimpressed that I manage my family’s investments and my own investments. Perhaps, you don’t think I have a “real” job. Well, I’ve done very well as an investment manager. I’ve made my parents several millions of dollars. That’s real money. That’s not monopoly money. In my opinion, if I make real money, it’s a real job. Donald Trump’s children work for his company. Do they have “real” jobs? I think so. George Soros’s sons help manage their family investments. Do they have “real” jobs? I think so. In addition, I’m both a right-brain and left-brain man, given that I’m both an investment manager and a philosopher/writer. That’s a unique characteristic; most people aren’t like that. I’ve never been as disappointed and sad about having difficulty about getting a second date as I am with you. I’ve gone out with a lot of women in my life. (FYI, I’m not a serial dater. Sometimes, I’ve only gone out with a woman for one date.) People don’t grow on trees. I hope you appreciate the potential we have.

Am I sensitive person? Sure, I am. I think it’s better to be sensitive than to be insensitive. There are too many impolite, insensitive people in the world.

I suggest that we continue to go out and see what happens. Needless to say, I find you less appealing now (given that you haven’t returned my messages) than I did at our first date. However, I would be willing to go out with you again. I’m open minded and flexible and am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. I wish you would give me the benefit of the doubt too. If you don’t want to go out again, in my opinion, you would be making a big mistake, perhaps one of the biggest mistakes in your life. If you don’t want to go out again, then you should have called to tell me so. Even sending a text message would have been better than nothing. In my opinion, not responding to my messages is impolite, immature, passive aggressive, and cowardly. I spent time, effort, and money meeting you for dinner. Getting back to me in response to my messages would have been a reasonable thing for you to do. In addition, you arrived about 30 minutes late for our date. I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if a man showed up thirty minutes late for a first date with you.

If you’re concerned that you will hurt my feelings by providing specific information about why you don’t want to go with me again, well, my feeling are already hurt. I’m sad and disappointed about this situation. If you give information, at least I can understand the situation better. I might even learn something that is beneficial.

If you don’t want to go out again, that I request that you call me and make a sincere apology for leading me on (i.e., giving me mixed signals). In my opinion, you shouldn’t act that way toward a man and then not go out with him again. It’s bad to play with your hair so much and make so much eye contact if you’re not interested in going out with me again. I have tried to write this email well, but it’s not perfect. Again, I’m not trying to be harsh, insulting, patronizing, etc. I’m disappointed, sad, etc. I would like to talk to you on the phone. I hope you will call me back at xxx-xxx-xxxx> (if it’s inconvenient for you to talk on the phone when you read this email, you can let me know via email that you are willing to talk on the phone and I’ll call you). If you get my voicemail, you can a leave a message and I can call you back. Even if you don’t want to go out again, I would appreciate it if you give me the courtesy of calling me and talking to me. Yes, you might say things that hurt me, but my feelings are already hurt. Sending me an email response (instead of talking on the phone) would better than no response at all, but I think it would be better to talk on the phone. Email communication has too much potential for misinterpretation, etc.

Best, Mike

Thursday, December 15, 2011

God, Tom Brady and Tim Tebow.

Saw this little story that my cousin posted on Facebook. She's a Broncos fan, but it's pretty funny.

Tom Brady, after living a full life, died. When he got to heaven, God was showing him around. They came to a modest little house with a faded Patriots flag in the window. "This house is yours for eternity Tom, said God. "This is very special; not everyone gets a house up here." Tom felt special, indeed, and walked up to his house.

On his way up the porch, he noticed another house just around the corner. It was a huge 3-story mansion with Orange and Blue sidewalks and drive ways, a 50 foot tall flagpole with an enormous Broncos logo flag waving, a swimming pool in shape of a horse, a Broncos logo in every window, and a Tim Tebow jersey on the front door.

Tom looked at God and said "God, I'm not trying to be ungrateful, but I have a question. I was an all-pro QB, I won 3 Super Bowls, and I even went to the Hall of Fame."

 God said "So what's your point Tom?"

"Well, why does Tim Tebow get a better house than me?"

God chuckled, and said "Tom, that's not Tim's house, it's mine."

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

TEEEEEEEEEEEBOW!

Well the Packers already beat the Broncos once this season, but they didn't get to experience Tebow. The next chance they would have to play Denver would be the Super Bowl, and at this rate, who wouldn't want to see an 18-0 Packers team face the Fightin' Tebows? If you can't wait to see Timmy until the Super Bowl, you could always just put this on your wall.


Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Hoops fan earns dream job

Social media is a beautiful thing. Often times it's used inappropriately, but this story is pretty cool .The Philadelphia 76ers were looking for a new mascot, so two fans created fake Twitter handles to help promote the mascot choices.They were just helping out, not meaning any ill will. But then the guys received a "legally threatening email" telling them to stop, offering box seats and season tickets in exchange for control of the Twitter handles. But after the 76ers CEO looked at the situation a little closer and offered one of the guys a "full-time social media position with the team." It's amazing how stuff like that falls into some peoples laps.

Monday, December 12, 2011

My First Packers Game


So I've lived in Wisconsin for the better part of 20 years and I've been to Lambeau on a number of occasions, but yesterday was the first Green Bay Packers game I've ever attended in person. It's kind of fitting that the same week I buy stock in the Packers, four tickets fall into my lap. It really wasn't much of a game, considering Green Bay was up 31-0 at halftime, but the experience was unforgettable. Pictured are where our seats were. Ryan Grant's first touchdown came right in front of us, which was pretty memorable, being it was really the Packers' first play from scrimmage.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Alec Baldwin is ____________.

So Alec Baldwin is kind of a jerk. 

Sure, he's funny on 30 Rock, but he's another example of an entitled Hollywood actor. According to American Airlines, Baldwin wouldn't stop playing Words with Friends on his phone as the plane was about to take off. The flight crew asked him to to turn off his phone, which he didn't, so "The passenger ultimately stood up (with the seat belt light still on for departure) and took his phone into the plane's lavatory," an airline statement reads, in part, on its Facebook page. "He slammed the lavatory door so hard, the cockpit crew heard it and became alarmed, even with the cockpit door closed and locked. Baldwin was then removed from the flight.

Alec took too twitter to rant about the experience, even including the hashtag #nowonderamericanairisbankrupt. Sorry sir. You're just a dick.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Deep-Sea Diving


April of 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking, and if you have deep enough pockets, you can go check out the wreckage. For $60,000 you can take a two-week cruise through the Atlantic, stopping at the Titanic wreckage for an eight to ten hour dive. Per the New York Times: "With the centennial in mind, at least 80 people are expected to take the plunge down to the wreck, according to the company that runs the trips, Deep Ocean Expeditions." The New Republic has some words of wisdom if you're going to take the plunge.

Rose Bowl!

I wouldn't say it was a pretty game, but it got the job done. The Wisconsin Badgers defeated the Michigan Spartans by the skin of their teeth, thanks in large part to a roughing the punter penalty drawn by Brad Nortman in the closing minutes of Saturday's game. Wisconsin clinched their second straight Rose Bowl appearance, this time against the Pac-10 champion Oregon Ducks. I think the Ducks are a deserved 4.5 point favorite. The big story coming out of the weekend, however, is the rematch between LSU and Alabama in the national title game. I know it was a close game the first time a row and I know Oklahoma State lost to a far inferior opponent, but I think the Cowboys deserved their shot at the title. Here's a breakdown of how each of the coaches with a vote cast their poll. Take special note of how coaches with top 10 teams cast their poll, specifically Alabama's Nick Saban.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Interesting Concept

Nothing feels like throwing away money more than ATM fees, but apparently the universe is working to change that. According to TIME, ATM fees totaled $7.1 billion in 2010 alone. But a group out of NYC is working to change that by offering ATMs that just have you watch a short advertisement instead of paying a fee. Somehow the banks need to get paid, and I would much rather have that money come from advertisers rather than from you and me.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

This could be why I'm not exactly an animal person.

I love my dog, but I'd be furious if this happened. According to MSNBC.com and the AP, a bird hunter in Utah was shot in the buttocks after his dog stepped on a shotgun laid across the bow of a boat.

Box Elder County Sheriff's Deputy Kevin Potter says the 46-year-old Brigham City man was duck hunting with a friend 10 miles west of the city when he climbed out of the boat to move decoys.

And imagine this happening to you last week. A wild turkey apparently flew into an Eat'n Park restaurant on -- of all days -- Thanksgiving, according to The Pittsburgh Channel.com. The 15-pound turkey was found among a pile of shattered glass on the carpet near some booth tables around 3 p.m. (Unfortunately?) nobody was inside the restaurant on Frankstown Road, which was closed for the holiday. Check out the pictures here: http://www.wtae.com/r-slideshow/29852614/detail.html