Rick Rude and Tiger Crude

Recently, I saw the newest Star Trek movie. Thought it was pretty good, I liked how they explained the story. All of this happened because of time travel and parallel universes, and fun stuff like that.

Fast forward to this morning, and the Tiger Woods press conference.  He was contrite. Some say he was sincere, others say the opposite. Before it started, I kept thinking back to what someone else said (Bill Simmons, I believe), “wouldn’t it be cool if Tiger Woods turned heel”. So, sitting there, waiting for him to come out, I had a quick dream. It went a little something like this….

Before I go on, I guess I should explain some things for those who don’t get the lingo. In pro wrestling, the terminology for a good guy is, Face. A bad guy is a Heel. Sometimes the term Baby Face is used for the really good guys. Anyways, most wrestlers go from being Face to Heel, Heel to Face over the course of time.  One of the key ways for a wrestler to switch from Face to Heel (aside from an attitude adjustment) is to grow facial hair. Shawn Michaels was the king of this tactic. Another thing that needs to be stated is my dream took place in an alternate reality.

Friday, 2/19/10, 8AM Pacific Time (yeah, I had already been up for two hours, and I don’t even have a job). Also, this takes place in a parallel universe. Also, this wasn’t a friends only thing, this was a full fledge press conference.

With the audience packed with reports, Tiger Woods makes his first public appearance since this ordeal started.  Wearing a suite with no tie, and sporting a stubble beard, Tiger looks at his audience as he stands at the podium.

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I know, it’s already started, but forgive me, I needed some inspiration (USA up 1-0 over the Swiss after period 1).

I am not nearly the hockey fan I once was, but I certainly have a decent grasp on the league and know the stars. So here is my take…

Bronze- USA. You have to give it up to Brian Burke, he told the old guys, no thanks. Lots of less name value talent on this tea, like in ’80, he tried to put together the best team.  I will not pick against anyone with the last name Langenbrunner. USA getting the bronze would be a solid effort. They could even get the silver, but I think…

Silver- Finland. Yes, this pick is based on goaltending tandem of Backstrom and Kiprusoff. Sure the Finn’s lack the stars on the ice, but when you have that tandem, Finland will be in a lot of close games.

Gold- Canada. The home team is unmatched in talent. Every single forward is a serious threat. The defense is tough and two way. They have to be motivated as the home team. Sidney Crosby is playing as well as anyone in the world.  Ovechkin has lost the coveted status as best player. I don’t like to admit it, but it is true. Tack on, Heatley, Iginla, Marleau, Nash, Thornton and Toews!!!!!! Oh my. Just too much.  Patrolling the blue-line, Niedermayer and Pronger.  It will be interesting to see how long a leash Brodeur has. Not having his best year, and is aging. Wont play all the games and that gives Luongo an opening. Still, this is one of the greatest teams ever assembled. Perfect mix of young and old.  If they don’t win gold, it will probably be a blow to the reputation of several key plays.

USA up 3-0 int he 2nd.

Looking forward to this, hopefully no Bruins are injured. With their luck, Chara will break his foot.

First, my picks.

Preliminary Card

James Te-Huna vs Igor Pokrajac, I don’t know either of these guys, So when in doubt, pick the guy with the hyphen in his name.

C.B. Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic, CB is a total meathead, So I will go with Goran.

Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster, Lytle doesn’t fight to his strengths, he fights for Fight of the Night bonuses. So, I will go with Foster. Plus this is in Australia and Foster is not only Australian for beer, its also Australian for Foster.

Stephan Bonnar vs Krzysztof Soszynski,  Bonnar really hasn’t done much of late, except beat and old man and test positive for steroids. The Polish Experiment is the pick.

Elivs Sinosic vs Chris Haseman, this is just for the local crowd.  I will go with Haseman.

Main Card

Mirko Cro Cop vs Ben Rothwell, Rothwell all the way. Cro Cop is a she of his former self and never looks like he wants to fight in the Octogon.

Keith Jardine vs Ryan Bader, The Dean of Mean is due for a win, I will go with Jardine.

Joe Stevenson vs George Sotiropoulos. I am going to pick Stevenson here. The guy with the long name will be the crowd favorite of the night, but Stevenson is a gamer and I really think he wins this one via decision.

Wanderlei Silva vs Michael Bisbing, Silva is 1-3 in his latest run in the UFC. Granted he has faced elite fighters in every fight, he just is not the same fighter he once was. Bisbing  has a lot to prove after Hedno KO’d him at UFC 100, beating Kang was step one, Silva will be step two.

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria vs Cain Velasquez, Big Nog will win this fight, Cain is not able to outsmart him. I see Nog winning via choke in the 3rd round.

Now for Mr. 1978 Quarter

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To start this website, my first post was about the Colts loosing the Super Bowl. This is not they way I really wanted to kick this off. My first post should be about something that was meaningful to me. So, after a bit of thought, I decided on the subject. It had to be the 2001 New England Patriots. So lets hope in the Delorean, hit 88 MPH, and go back to a key date 9/9/01. That was of course two days before our generation lost its innocence. It was also the opening day of the 2001 NFL season. Boston fans had not won a championship since the 1986 Celtics (6/8/86). What followed for the next 15 years was heat ache and failure. The very next opportunity at a championship was the heart breaking 86 Red Sox. Buckner took the blame, but there is plenty of blame to go around. The Celtics were decimated by injury (Bird, McHale) and death (Len Bias and Reggie Lewis). The Sox were never serious contenders, same with the Bruins. The Patriots had made the in the 96 season, but were out matched by Favre and the Packers. Then Pats fans had to watch Bill Parcells not even take the plane home with the team after the Super Bowl. He would be coaching the Jets next season. There really was not a heck of a lot to cheer about from the Boston faithful. Pedro and Nomar electrified Fenway on a flawed Sox team, but that was about it.  The Bruins were an after thought. At the same time, the Yankees were a legit dynasty, winning their fourth World Series in five years (and third in a row in 2000). A tough pill to swallow.

Then here we were getting ready for the 2001 NFL season. The Patriots were coming off a 5-11 season. Bill Belichick was not the evil genius he is now. Rather he was a coach whom the Patriots gave up draft picks for, including a first rounder. Drew Bledsoe was the face of the franchise. The former number one pick in the 1993 draft, did put up solid stats that made him appear to be a good QB, but it wasn’t so. In 8 seasons, he lead the league in passing attempts 3X, completions 2X, passing yards 1X, and interceptions 1x. His record as a starter was 63-58. Four times he lead the Pats to the playoffs, record 3-4. In 1996 they made the Super Bowl, but the only reason was that Jacksonville upset Denver in the divisional round, giving the Pats home field for the AFC championship. So, Bledsoe wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire. Plus he had a nack for coming up short when the Pats needed him most. Too many examples, so take a look for yourself.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BledDr00/gamelog/

In the offseason, the Pats loaded up on cheap role players (Vrable, Andruzzi, Patten), potentialy washed up guys (A.Smith, Phifer, Cox) and a special teams whiz (Izzo). Lets just say none of these guys inspired much confidence. With the 6th pick in the draft, the Pats took Richard Seymour. Local writers had been pining for David Terrell. Will McDonough Ron Borges was lead to believe that Terrell was the pick and ran with it. When the Pats drafted Seymour his already rocky relationship with the Pats (over his relationship with Parcells) disintegrated further.  This was a catastrophe. The Pats were supposed to get Bledsoe another weapon, not go for defense. Back then, Terrell was a stud WR and Seymour was a lesser know DE. Now, looking back this was the first great choice that molded the 2001 (and future) Pats.

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I have always wanted to have my own website, one that would contain my rants and raves and whatever. After much thought, Bakedthoughts was launched (with considerable help). The meaning of the name is that my posts will be like food. There will be some cooking aka thought involved before I release them to the masses (or the few who read this).

Topics will range from movies, tv, sports, politics… whatever is on my mind.

So the first post, with a peculiar name.

Last night, was supposed to be the night that Peyton Manning took his post. Last night he was to be anointed “The Greatest QB of All Time”. Let there be little doubt that when all is said and done, he will certainly be near or the top of that list. However, last night he took a step back. He was not the G.O.A.T., but merely the goat. Of course, it is very unfair to blame the Colts loss entirely on Manning. He was the MVP, and is the single most important player to his team in football. He will inevitably retire with almost every significant passing record to his name. BUT, last night was a trip down memory lane……

I have to fess up, I thought the Colts were going to win, easily (this is the reason that I do not bet on sports). The Saints got to the Super Bowl thanks to some vintage Brett Favre. Aside from the Colts shameful lay down to the Jets, they were the best team in the NFL. Yet, they shunned a chance at history. That should have been the warning sign, yet I ignored it. I had been brainwashed by all the talk of Manning as the G.O.A.T..

So as the boring first half unfolded, it looked like the Colts were in good position to win. I liked the attempt of 4th down by the Saints, but hated the play call. The closest path between two points is a straight line. Why the Saints ran wide twice, I will never understand. Of course this is only a footnote, and will be forgotten.

After a wonderful first half spread of fresh grapes, pita chips, and  hummus, things were quite nice. No heavy foods to make me run to the can, but the second half would bring me the two best treats of the night… a delicious home made mozzarella, pesto and red pepper panini  along with a side of Manning Failure.

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